South Africa: Condolences for slain KZN chief Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has expressed sadness at the untimely passing of Inkosi Zwelakhe Ndaba of Ntabamhlophe, in the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal. We are shocked and saddened by the senseless killing of Inkosi Ndaba who was reportedly brutally killed by unknown gunmen at his home last night near Estcourt, the Minister said in a statement. She said: As a department, we wish to join others from across the country in expressing our condolences to the family of Inkosi, the whole traditional sector, communities, the local house of traditional leaders and indeed the entire country. As a leader of his people, Dlamini Zuma said the chief led with diligence, and compassion and exuded the greatest wisdom which he imparted to all those whose lives he touched across his traditional area and uThukela District where he served diligently. We do not have words to express on such a barbaric act of cowardice that took Inkosi Ndaba from his family, his people and all of us. His untimely passing surely left a void and we will surely remember him and his indomitable commitment to serving his people, even beyond his own needs. She said Inkosi Ndaba was one of those traditional leaders who were passionate about the development of his people and ensuring that the greater uThukela District community received maximum benefit through partnerships from various projects and service delivery initiatives by government. His warmth and friendliness will be greatly missed. The institution of traditional leadership is much poorer without him. On behalf of the sector, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, and the community and we assure them of our support as they go through this difficult time. Our prayers are with the family and wish them strength to carry through in this difficult time. The Minister called on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned and make sure that the perpetrators of such a heinous crime are speedily apprehended. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-02-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Cyprus' outgoing president Nicos Anastasiades (R) votes at a polling station in Limassol, Cyprus, Feb. 12, 2023. The second round of presidential elections started in Cyprus on Sunday morning as more than 1,000 polling stations opened for voting. Two veteran diplomats are vying for the country's presidency for the next five years. (PIO/Handout via Xinhua) NICOSIA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The second round of presidential elections started in Cyprus on Sunday morning as more than 1,000 polling stations opened for voting. Two veteran diplomats are vying for the country's presidency for the next five years. Former Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides, who took the lead in the first round, will compete with Andreas Mavroyiannis, a former envoy to the United Nations (UN). Chief Returning Officer Costas Constantinou said he expects to announce the final result by 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), about two hours after all polls are closed. Fourteen candidates participated in the election campaign, with none winning an absolute majority in the first round. Christodoulides, running as an independent, garnered 32.04 percent of the ballots, compared to 29.61 percent by Mavroyiannis, who also ran as an independent and has the support of the left-wing AKEL party. Averof Neophytou, leader of the ruling DISY party, ended third with 26.11 percent of the vote and was thus left out of the race, ending the party's decade-long hold on power. Analysts said that the runoff's outcome is wide open and will be decided by disgruntled DISY supporters following Neophytou's failure. Christodoulides broke with DISY and quit as foreign minister in early 2022 to run as an independent with the support of three small middle-of-the-road oppositions. At present, voters of the right-wing DISY party have to choose between a "defector" of their own party and a candidate supported by the left. Though DISY has urged its supporters to vote at will, several party officials have openly expressed support for one of two candidates. While Christodoulides, 49, was trying to mend relations with the party by promising to offer government posts if he wins, Neophytou called him "Juda" and an "apostate," saying that DISY won't participate in any government irrespective of the outcome. Christodoulides also served as director of the Diplomatic Office of the President and a government spokesperson. Before entering politics, he was a university professor of political science and a diplomat. His wife is also a diplomat, currently leading the crisis management department in the Cypriot Foreign Ministry. With his campaign promises close to the policies of DISY, Christodoulides said that if elected, his priorities would be to preserve a strong economy, stem the downward spiral of illegal migration and revive the moribund negotiations on the long-standing Cyprus problem. Mavroyiannis, 66, served in various posts under several governments, such as diplomatic representative to the UN, the European Union and some European countries. He also acted as a negotiator for President Nicos Anastasiades in peace talks with the Turkish Cypriot side in 2014. Mavroyiannis said he would endeavor to resume the Cyprus peace talks and work with the UN, which has presided over the efforts for a Cyprus settlement for over 50 years. Mavroyiannis nominated a self-made business person for his finance minister ahead of the runoff to alleviate the fear that more austere economic policies may be introduced. However, many voters are still haunted by the memories of harsh austerity applied during the worst economic crisis in Cyprus 10 years ago, which was blamed on AKEL policies between 2008 and 2013. The Cypriot economy was saved from bankruptcy in 2013 by a Euro zone bailout, alongside cuts in salaries and pensions and a haircut on bank deposits. Andreas Mavroyiannis, a former envoy to the United Nations (UN), votes at a polling station in Nicosia, Cyprus, Feb. 12, 2023. Mavroyiannis also ran as an independent and has the support of the left-wing AKEL party. The second round of presidential elections started in Cyprus on Sunday morning as more than 1,000 polling stations opened for voting. Two veteran diplomats are vying for the country's presidency for the next five years. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) Former Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides (3rd R), running as an independent, votes at a polling station in Pafos, Cyprus, Feb. 12, 2023. The second round of presidential elections started in Cyprus on Sunday morning as more than 1,000 polling stations opened for voting. Two veteran diplomats are vying for the country's presidency for the next five years. (PIO/Handout via Xinhua) A man votes at a polling station in Nicosia, Cyprus, Feb. 12, 2023. The second round of presidential elections started in Cyprus on Sunday morning as more than 1,000 polling stations opened for voting. Two veteran diplomats are vying for the country's presidency for the next five years. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) A woman votes at a polling station in Nicosia, Cyprus, Feb. 12, 2023. The second round of presidential elections started in Cyprus on Sunday morning as more than 1,000 polling stations opened for voting. Two veteran diplomats are vying for the country's presidency for the next five years. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) Two men vote at a polling station in Nicosia, Cyprus, Feb. 12, 2023. The second round of presidential elections started in Cyprus on Sunday morning as more than 1,000 polling stations opened for voting. Two veteran diplomats are vying for the country's presidency for the next five years. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) 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. NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cyprus President-elect Nikos Christodoulides is ready to meet with the head of the estranged Turkish Cypriot community, his office said on Monday, a day after his election. Christodoulides clinched victory in a closely-fought election on Sunday. He will be representing the Greek Cypriot community if there is a resumption of peace talks on the ethnically-split island. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar called Christodoulides to congratulate him, a spokesman for Christodoulides's office said. "He (Christodoulides) said he would be ready to meet, even before March 1, and would reiterate this through the UN," the spokesman said, referring to the date Christodoulides formally takes over the presidency. The president-elect also conveyed to Tatar his deepest condolences over the deaths of Turkish Cypriots in the massive earthquake which struck Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6. Christodoulides, a former foreign minister, says a resumption of now-stalled peace talks is his priority. Parties supporting him have typically followed a hard line in reunification talks, and two of his backers reject the United Nations basis for the talks, which is uniting Cyprus under a loose federal umbrella. Tatar, who is also a hardliner, says the only solution for Cyprus is a two-state one, with each side holding equal sovereign rights. Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek inspired coup. The last round of intensive talks collapsed in mid-2017. (Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Toby Chopra) A drawing of a hand plucking a string out of a woman's head Looking for lists of people with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or OCD? No problem. There are lots of companies who would love to sell it to you. They can even include names, emails, home addresses, income, ethnicity, and details about peoples children. Its cheap too, with minimum purchases of just hundreds of dollars. One company offers records on the mental health of 10,000 people starting at $0.20, with a discount if you buy in bulk. A new study published by Duke Universitys Sanford School of Public Policy found nearly a dozen data brokers offering to sell mental health data at rock bottom prices, often with almost no vetting of the person trying to buy the data and minimal restrictions on how the information is used. Many implied they can provide identifiable details like names and contact information. Read more In the shadows of the internet, an ocean of data brokers scrape up the information that many of us dont even realize were leaving behind and repackage it for advertisers or anyone else who wants it. Many people assume there are laws that protect the most sensitive parts of our lives. That is not the case. There are data brokers which advertise and are willing and able to sell data concerning Americans highly sensitive mental health information, author Joanne Kim said in the report. The research is critical as more depressed and anxious individuals utilize personal devices and software-based health-tracking applications, which are not covered by HIPAA. You read that correctly. HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, does not protect your medical privacy. Its health data rules only apply to covered entities, which generally means doctors and health care providers, insurance companies, and businesses who work with them directly. Story continues But there are plenty of ways you give away your medical secrets when you arent interacting with health care providers and insurance companies. Mental health apps, visits to sites like WebMD, and even prescription discount services like GoodRx harvest information about your medical ailments, with zero protections from HIPAA. Regulators are only just starting to step in and do something about it, and it isnt even clear whether US law gives them the authority. Kim contacted 37 data brokers asking to buy mental health data. 26 wrote back, and ultimately 11 of them were willing to sell the data. The study doesnt name any data brokers due to confidentiality agreements the brokers asked for during Kims discussions. One data broker was so eager that sales representatives repeatedly called Kims phone when she was slow to respond to emails. The requests included a Data Elements Wish List, including specific ailments like depression and anxiety common antidepressants like Zoloft, Lexapro, and Prozac. The industry was happy to oblige. Collectively, the data brokers offered a wide variety of information going far beyond Kims requests, including data on DNA tests, insurance plans, connected medical devices, the costs of medical procedures, data on abortion clinics, details about peoples ability to pay for care, and a long list of other information. The data brokers also pair such data with other information like social security numbers, credit scores, net worth, unrelated retail purchases, details about pets and children in the house, exercise habits, criminal records, and religion (including data sets with names like active living Jews). This isnt the first time the data broker business was caught selling sensitive health information. Just after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a Gizmodo investigation found dozens of data brokers selling 2.9 billion profiles of U.S. residents pegged as actively pregnant or shopping for maternity products. The Federal Trade Commission just took groundbreaking steps to address our rampant health privacy problems, but the effort is on shaky ground. At the beginning of February, the FTC reached a settlement with GoodRx, fining the company $1.5 million for sending users prescription data to Google and Meta (owner of Facebook). Essentially, the settlement is an attempt to declare that its illegal to use health data for advertising without explicit consent. However, its not clear whether that will hold up in the long run. The FTC has the authority to regulate unfair and deceptive trade practices, and the GoodRx settlement uses that power as a legal justification to wade into health privacy. But we dont know whether that legal argument can survive a court battle, because the FTC and GoodRx settled instead of going to court. The health data buffet runs counter to many peoples expectations about medical privacy. A number of Democratic senators, who tend to be more privacy friendly, supported a bill that would enshrine protections for health information last year, including senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ron Wyden. The bill died after a lackluster response. Even at the state level, privacy laws offer little if any protections. For example, Californias CCPA, updated this year with a new law called the CPRA, generally forces consumers to take proactive steps if they want to do anything to protect their privacy, and it does very little to stop bad data behavior thats already happening. California and Vermont both have laws that require data brokers to register with the state, but they dont require any change in business practices. Californias list tops 400 different companies who probably have your data for sale. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Kelvin Verde WORCESTER A 23-year-old man wanted for murder whose photo police distributed Friday was arraigned Monday in Central District Court. Kelvin Verde, wanted in connection with a deadly Oct. 24, 2022, home invasion, was ordered held without bail Monday after turning himself in. Verde is the second man facing a murder charge in connection with the death of 28-year-old Andrew T. Barley, who was killed following an alleged home invasion at 480 Burncoat St. Berny A. Calderon Jr., 25, of Webster, made his first court appearance on the murder charge Jan. 4. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. A statement of facts in Calderons case remained sealed Monday. In a statement of facts filed in Verdes case, police allege Verde and another accomplice, one of whom was armed with a firearm, forced entry into the rear of the residence, ascended to the second floor, encountered the victim and fired at least two rounds. Police wrote that Barley is believed to have been struck once in the thigh and once under his left armpit. They said the second strike caused fatal internal injuries. Barley was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital, they said. 'Photographic' evidence gathered Police said Verde was identified to police as being involved by a number of sources, including information obtained from a named and identified witness who observed two suspects approach the victims residence and flee following hearing a loud noise; video evidence showing a vehicle used by Verde close to the home; and information from automated license plate readers and cellphone data placing him in the general areas of various known locations of the suspects prior to and following the murder. Police also wrote they had gathered unspecified documentary and photographic evidence. In court Monday, Assistant Worcester District Attorney Terry McLaughlin said Verde and the other suspect arrived at 480 Burncoat St. in a 2007 gray Chevrolet Malibu with New Hampshire license plates. Story continues The men went directly to the victims room after kicking in the door, McLaughlin said, and afterward drove to Pilgrim Avenue, where they parked the Malibu and took an Uber. McLaughlin did not say which man is alleged to have shot Barley. He said Verde has a five-page criminal history that includes jail time for violent" offenses. Verde's record is littered with defaults from court, McLaughlin said, and he has three restraining orders. A not-guilty plea was entered on Verdes behalf. He agreed to be held without bail without prejudice, meaning he can argue for bail at a later date. Verde is due back in court March 13. According to his obituary, Barley was born and raised in Worcester. He graduated from Worcester Technical High School and worked in construction with his father. Meantime, a third man, 30-year-old Luis Cotto, is facing lesser charges in the case. In November, he was arraigned in District Court on a charge of accessory after the fact to murder. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Days after authorities share his photo, suspect in Worcester slaying turns self in to police City employees in Dayton will now have a new opportunity to pursue a college education online. The City of Dayton and Western Governors University Ohio (WGU Ohio) have joined together to allow city employees to pursue four-year and graduate degrees through WGU Ohios online programs, spokespersons for both the city and WGU Ohio announced Monday. >> Balloons, aliens? What do we know about the objects shot down by the US over the weekend? Through the program, qualifying city employees will have the chance to apply for $2,500 scholarships to make the programs more affordable. Dayton Mayor Jeffry Mims, Jr. said access to the program will help employees further their education and advance their career readiness. As a former educator, I know the power of education in transforming lives, and this partnership will help our employees boost skills and pursue an in-demand degree, Mims said. >> Widows targeted with egregious romance scams for Valentines Day; AG office offers tips WGU was founded in 1997 by a coalition of 19 U.S. state governors. Ohio became the eighth additional state to partner with WGU in 2018. The city and WGU Ohio first announced employee benefits in a partnership with the university in 2019. Oleksii Reznikov, Defence Minister of Ukraine, has submitted documents for approval of candidacies for the positions of his deputies. Source: Reznikov on Facebook Quote: "On pressing issues. I want to inform you about a number of current decisions related to personnel and structural renewal of the Ministry of Defence to improve its work efficiency. There will be new deputy ministers. I have submitted the relevant documents for approval." Details: Reznikov did not reveal the number of potential deputies or their names. Earlier: Viacheslav Shapovalov, Deputy Minister of Defence, resigned due to the scandal over food procurement for the Ukrainian military at inflated prices. Shapovalov was handed a notice of suspicion; the court arrested him for 2 months and determined a bail in the amount of UAH402,600,000 [approximately US$11 million] Reference: The First Deputy Minister and Deputy Ministers are appointed and dismissed by the Cabinet of Ministers at the request of the Prime Minister in accordance with the proposals of the relevant Minister. Background: On 21 January, ZN.ua publication reported that the Ministry of Defence bought food for Ukrainian servicemen two to three times more expensive than these in Kyiv stores. The December agreement with Actyv Company was signed on behalf of the ministry by Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, who appeared in the case of embezzlement of 580,000 dollars during the purchase of military ammunition. The information about "chicken eggs for 17 hryvnias" gained particular publicity: in a journalist investigation, it was about the price per piece, although the price for 100 grams appeared in the document. The Ministry of Defence called the information on overpriced food misleading and manipulative, and promised to contact the Security Service of Ukraine, while Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov rejected the accusations against the Ministry of Defence. Later, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Reznikov admitted that he was too emotional and promised to carefully check all the facts revealed by the journalists. Viacheslav Shapovalov, Deputy Minister of Defence, resigned and was dismissed due to the scandal over food procurement for the Ukrainian military at inflated prices. Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, the head of the state procurement department at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, who is involved in a food procurement scandal, was also dismissed from his position. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal instructed to update the public procurement system for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which would provide for the publication of prices for products and goods. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Reznikov will meet with NATO defense ministers in Brussels "Tomorrow we will be joined by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov," he said. (Reznikov is coming) both to participate in the U.S.-led Contact Group on Ukraine, and to meet with NATO ministers. Read also: NATO to extend again term of office of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Stoltenberg added that the meeting is expected to discuss Ukraine's needs in the fight against Russian aggression. The NATO secretary general also reiterated that the alliance would support Kyiv as long as necessary. He emphasized the need to supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the necessary weapons before Russia seizes the initiative on the battlefield. Read also: Three lessons from Ramstein. About Germany, tanks and offensive weapons for Ukraine On Feb. 14, the ninth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (known as Ramstein format meetings, as they were first held at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany) will take place at NATO headquarters. The main topics of discussion will be Ukrainian air defenses, the formation of a tank coalition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, ammunition stockpiles, and training programs for Ukrainian soldiers. Read also: Ukraine could get new defense minister after Ramstein meeting On Feb. 14-15, the North Atlantic Council is scheduled to meet at the level of defense ministers in Brussels. It will be chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cited the flight pattern of the three objects that were shot down over the U.S. and Canada in the last few days as one reason the Biden administration decided to down them. We dont know if they were actually collecting intelligence, but because of the route that they took, out of an abundance of caution, we want to make sure that we have the ability to examine what these things are and potentially what they were doing, Austin told reporters after landing in Brussels on Monday. Austins comments did little to answer many of the other questions from lawmakers and the public, such as where the objects came from, what they were doing in U.S. airspace and what they had on board. The U.S. and Canada shot down three unidentified objects over Alaska, Lake Huron and Canadian territory in the last few days. The action comes after the U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month. But Austin reiterated the U.S. is not sure what the latest objects were, saying only they are different from the suspected spy balloon that was grounded earlier this month. He said they could have nefarious purposes and said the U.S. and Canada were engaging in recovery efforts to try to determine what the objects were. The three objects taken down this weekend are very different from what we were talking about last week, Austin said. We knew exactly what that was a PRC [Peoples Republic of China] surveillance balloon. Austin added that no debris from the latest three objects that were shot down have been recovered yet. The object in Alaska landed on sea ice, and weather has delayed the recovery time. The object downed over Canada landed in a very remote part of Yukon territory. Austin also said that the objects did not pose a military threat to the U.S. Austins comments come as Republicans have been critical of the Biden administration for its communication of the incidents, calling on the president to reveal more about the objects to the public. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Democrats are seeking to go on the offense against Republicans over past calls to slash Medicare and Social Security cuts, with President Biden leading the charge ahead of announcing his reelection campaign. Biden drew the ire of Republicans in the House chamber at his State of the Union address on Tuesday when he accused them of working to target the entitlement programs in potential spending cuts. Biden, who is preparing to launch his 2024 campaign, continued the line of attack during visits to Wisconsin and Florida this week. The choice of states is significant, given they are represented by Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who are both at the center of the debate. But it also reflects how Biden hopes to make the message, which was used by Democrats in 2022, a key part of his reelection plan. The very idea the senator from Florida wants to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block every five years, I find to be somewhat outrageous. So outrageous that you might not even believe it, Biden told an audience at the University of Tampa on Thursday. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee echoed Bidens message in a tweet during the State of the Union on Tuesday, accusing Senate Republicans of being dead set on putting Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block. On the House side, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) slammed the GOPs radical agenda. No matter how much they try to lie about their plans, Republicans are going to be held accountable for their dangerous and harmful threats to cut Social Security and Medicare from millions of Americans, said Nebeyatt Betre, a spokesperson for the DCCC. And its not just congressional Republicans who are being hit with the line of attack. On Friday, the Florida Democratic Party highlighted coverage of potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and their past stances on reforming social security. Story continues Every election comes down to a choice, said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright. And this presidential election, whenever it officially kicks off, will certainly be a choice between us and them. Theyre differentiating us versus the Republicans and why Republicans are trying to run full-steam backward from a policy position that a lot of them flirted with and embraced at some point during the midterm election, he added. The line of attack is similar to one used by Democrats in 2022, who tied Republicans up and down the ballot to Scotts plan to sunset all federal programs after five years. But Republicans, including Scott, hit back at the attack from Biden and Democrats this week. On Thursday, Scott, who is running for reelection in 2024, challenged Biden to a debate on the matter. And earlier this week, Scott rolled out an ad calling on Biden to resign in the wake of the attacks. Its telling that Joe Biden used his State of the Union speech to lie about my plan. If Biden had a single accomplishment to speak of, he wouldnt have to lie about me, Scott said in a statement this week. These lies arent going to work in the Sunshine State. Im excited for the opportunity to remind Floridians that Joe Biden is a liar and tax cheat. Scott also pointed to a 1975 bill from then-Sen. Biden that would have sunset federal programs between four and six years after passage. Other Republicans have accused the president of lying and using the issue to campaign ahead of his reelection bid. These are desperate lies from the President. House Republicans will continue pursuing reasonable limitations to rein in Democrats reckless spending just like every family in America would do to manage their budget, said Will Reinert, press secretary at the National Republican Congressional Committee. However, the issue is causing divisions among Republicans, many of whom have distanced themselves from Scotts plan. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Kentucky radio host Terry Meiners on Thursday that the idea of sunsetting Medicare and Social Security is not the GOP plan. Speaker [Kevin] McCarthy said Social Security and Medicare are not to be touched and Ive said the same, McConnell said. And I think were in a more authoritative position to state what the position of the party is than any single senator. The use of possible cuts to Medicare and Social Security could prove to be a political tool to appeal to voters outside of the Democratic Party. A YouGov poll released this week found that 89 percent of Americans who receive Social Security benefits have a favorable view of the program while 84 percent of respondents said the same about Medicare. Additionally, the poll found that 57 percent of respondents said that Social Security should be given more funding. Republicans and Democrats agree that its likely too early to tell whether Social Security and Medicare will be the main issue in 2024, and its still debatable how much of an impact it had in 2022. I think it was a buffet of things that gave us the outcome of the last election, Seawright said. But I think the common denominator in all of that was people voted against what they believe the Republican Party stood for from both a political and policy perspective. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ukraine received Caesar self-propelled guns from Denmark Denmark has given Ukraine all of its Caesar self-propelled howitzers, the agency said in a tweet, posting footage of the self-propelled guns being loaded and heading to Ukraine. Read also: Denmark to buy Leopard tanks from Germany and give them to Ukraine A true friend, who knows that our fight is Europes fight. Tak, Danmark! Earlier Copenhagen decided to transfer 19 Caesar self-propelled guns to Ukraine. Instead, it plans to replace them with Israeli ATMOS self-propelled artillery guns. Read also: Denmark and Netherlands to transfer Leopard-1 tanks to Ukraine The Danish government also plans to join the tank coalition and transfer Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Tens of thousands of Florida high school students take Advanced Placement courses every year to have a competitive edge heading into college. Now, Gov. Ron DeSantis says he wants to reevaluate the states relationship with the College Board, the private company that administers those courses and the SAT exam. And that has some high school students worried. I dont see how I could have gotten ahead without them, said Eli Rhoads, a senior at Pasco Countys Mitchell High School, who said AP courses helped him get a full scholarship to the University of Alabama. You almost have to have these courses to stand out. DeSantis has not made clear exactly what he plans to change, but his remarks come after the College Board on Saturday accused his administration of playing politics when it rejected its new Advanced Placement African-American studies course over allegations that it lacks educational value. This College Board, like, nobody elected them to anything, DeSantis said at a news conference Monday in Naples. They are just kind of there, and they provide a service and so you can either utilize those services or not. READ MORE: College Board accuses state of false and politically motivated charge in AP course dispute While DeSantis acknowledged the College Boards long-standing presence in the state, he said there are probably other vendors who may be able to do that job as good or maybe even a lot better. A College Board spokesperson said the organization had no comment on the governors statements. The dispute between the College Board and DeSantis is indicative of the Republican governors take-no-prisoners brand of politics. The board joins Walt Disney World in the ranks of companies the governor has wrangled with for not adopting conservative stances on education matters. This is about the governor trying to cancel the companies he doesnt like, said state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. Hes screaming and complaining about ideology being pushed onto our schools, yet what he continues to do is push his ideology onto us. Story continues As with Disney, Florida has long had a strong relationship with the College Board. AP classes are popular with Florida students The state pays for students to take Advanced Placement exams and provides teachers a bonus of $50 for each student they teach in an AP course who earns a test score of 3 or higher. The College Board offers eight AP courses in languages and culture, seven science-based courses such as physics and biology, six math and computer science courses including calculus, nine history and social science courses, two English and three arts courses. It also has a special diploma program called Capstone, which some Republican lawmakers are trying to include for credit toward Bright Futures eligibility. In 2021, nearly 200,000 Florida teens sat for more than 366,000 tests, for which they can earn college credit. It had the fifth highest rate of tests taken per 1,000 students in the nation. The College Board also administers the SAT exam, which students may use to help them complete graduation testing requirements, earn entry into universities and become eligible for Bright Futures scholarships. If the state were to move away from the College Board, though, other options exist. Students seeking advanced courses leading to college credits have International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Programme and dual enrollment classes available. They also can take the ACT exam instead of the SAT. Stella Tucker, another Mitchell High senior, will have taken 18 AP courses by the time she graduates in the top 10 of her class this spring. She said she finds the courses challenging academically more reliably so than dual enrollment while also preparing her for college. She predicted a strong backlash from Florida teens if the governor and Legislature were to propose scaling back or eliminating AP courses. I think that would really put the students of Florida at a disadvantage, Tucker said. Officials should look more closely at what AP classes are doing for the students of the state of Florida and get their perspective. Theyre the ones who would really be affected by all this. Florida students raised concerns about other aspects of the College Board during the height of the pandemic. They urged the state to change SAT exam requirements for state university admissions. But unlike most other states, the state did not back away from the mandate. In this latest round, DeSantis dispute with the College Board is over an AP African-American Studies course that included the study of Black scholars and authors on topics like Black Lives Matter, Black Queer Studies and reparations. On Saturday, the College Board said it is proud of its historic course, which has been crafted by renowned scholars. It acknowledged it made mistakes during the rollout and accused Florida of exploiting the situation. The vitriol aimed at these scholars is repulsive and must stop, the group wrote. DeSantis, who is eyeing a presidential run in 2024, has drawn national attention for his stance against what he calls woke indoctrination in schools, a stance that in the last two years has led to restricting certain aspects of race-related lessons. The governor said that he has started taking steps to figure out what to do in response to the College Boards footprint in the state. DeSantis said he had talked to House Speaker Paul Renner about the matter. Renners office did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment. However, the Palm Coast Republican has shown to be on board with some of the governors education priorities, such as making changes to how the state funds diversity, equity and inclusion programs at state universities and colleges. In practice, it remains unclear what actions would change Florida students educational options. Of course, our universities can or cant accept College Board courses for credit, maybe theyll do others. And then also just whether our universities do the SAT versus the ACT. I think they do both, but we are going to evaluate how the process goes, DeSantis said. As the capital murder trial of Hollis Daniels III entered its fourth day of testimony, jurors watched video of him taunting and cursing at police officers who were arresting him more than an hour after shooting and killing Texas Tech Police Officer Floyd East Jr. Daniels, 24, who pleaded guilty to capital murder last Monday, faces life in prison or the death penalty. He admitted to shooting East in the briefing room at the Texas Tech Police Department where the officer was working on his arrest paperwork for a drug charge. Jurors must find that Daniels presents a future danger and that there was no mitigating circumstances that would spare him the death penalty. In answering the future danger question, jurors do not have to believe that Daniels will kill again, only that he may injure or harm someone else. Defense attorneys told jurors their client did not present a future danger and that his actions the night he killed East were fueled by a suicidal blend of depression, drug addiction and desperation. They said Daniels is no longer that same person. However, prosecutors told jurors last week that Daniels' actions that night warranted the death penalty, including the way he bragged about his actions after his arrest. On Wednesday, jurors watched video of the deadly shooting captured on East's body camera, which the officer set on a desk opposite them. Despite knowing the officer's fate at the end of the video, jurors jumped in their seats as they watched Daniels shoot East before running away. About an hour and 1/2 later, Daniels was arrested on campus. Body cam videos from police officers who arrested him were played to jurors. In the videos, Daniels can be heard saying, "I killed your friend," "[Expletive] the police, you know you want to shoot me." At one point, Daniels asks the arresting officers, "How many years for this?" One officer replies, "More than you need to know." Story continues Daniels also spat in the mouth of one of the officers. Detective Thomas Bonds returned to the stand to testify about his interview with Daniels at the Lubbock police station. The 13-minute interview between Daniels and the detectives was played to jurors in its entirety. Prosecutors had agreed, before the trial, to redact portions of the the interview. However, since Daniels' has already pleaded guilty, his attorneys wanted jurors to watch the whole interview. In the video, Daniels enters the room handcuffed. A spit mask covers his mouth. The detectives ask him if he'd continue to spit if they take off the mask. He said he wouldn't. He asked officers what was the most likely possible outcome for his case. "I [expletive] up," Daniels tells the detectives. The detectives tell him that they needed to hear the whole story first. He asked if he should have an attorney present and the detectives tell him it's up to him, saying he could end the interview if he wanted. "I don't want to terminate the interview, I want to cooperate with you guys," he said. "I definitely want to have my attorney present as well." However, Daniels continues to talk, asking the officers what they wanted to know. He recounts the series of events that happened when he returned to his dorm room to find Texas Tech Police officers searching his dorm room, his arrest for the drugs found in his room and his thoughts before shooting East. "I can't have this third strike against me," he could be heard saying. "This is going to be it." He told detectives he wasn't thinking logically, that something "clicked in his head" and he "did something very illogical." "Something I'll regret for the rest of my life," he said. "I don't know how I'm going to make up for it." During the interview, Daniels asks to speak with his father and one of the detectives offers his phone. "I'm in trouble, and messed up very badly," Daniels tells his father at the beginning of the phone call. "What happened? Why would you do something like that?" his father asks him. "I don't know and it doesn't make sense," Daniels replies, saying he wanted to talk to him in person. Near the end of the phone call, Daniels tells his father, "I think they're going to put me away for a little while and there's nothing we can do about it." After the call, Daniels asks the detectives if he was facing a prison sentence of 25 to life. The detectives tell him that would be up to the District Attorney's Office. After the interview, Daniels was taken to a room where another officer took pictures of his body. He waited in that room as detectives finished up filling out his arrest warrant. Jurors watched video from the body camera of the police officer guarding him. As he waited, Daniels was allowed to call his father again. He can be heard apologizing to his dad for disappointing him, then described his situation, "a minor setback," in his life. He could be heard complaining about missing weeks of school. Then he talked to his father about the possibility of going to back to school once his case was over. When told that news of the shooting is spreading He says, "OK, well that's kind of cool." Throughout the call, Daniels is calm and upbeat, with no mention of remorse or concern for East or his family. However, after the call, as Daniels waits for the detectives, he continues to wait idly, mumbling and at times rapping to himself. He tries to strike up a conversation with the officer guarding him, asking for a cigarette, and about his case. At one point he asks the officer about the name of the man he killed. "That's my first killing ever," he tells the officer. "I don't know how I feel about it." He said he regrets asking East about his children before shooting him, saying that's going to stick him him for the rest of his life. Daniels then spoke about the thought that ran through his mind as he sat in the briefing room with East, armed with the stolen .45 pistol and surrounded by the drugs the officer seized from his dorm room. "I was just thinking if this goes down like that, there's no chance that I'll ever get back into Texas Tech," he said. Before the detectives arrived to tell him of his charges, Daniels tells the officer, "I'm going to make it big someday. "One day you're going to be like, that's that [expletive] I arrested." Bonds said after informing Daniels of his charge, he was taken to the Lubbock County Detention Center where his mugshot was taken. Prosecutors showed jurors the image, in which Daniels smirks at the camera. Bonds also read the medical and psychological intake forms Daniels filled out in which he denied having suicidal thoughts. However, Daniels provided conflicting information about prior attempts to kill himself. Bonds said met Daniels again the next day to obtain blood and DNA samples from the defendant. He told jurors Daniels believed that the people around them were looking at him and he appeared to enjoy the noteriety. Before the trial ended early on Friday, jurors heard from a jailer who told them Daniels cursed at and threatened him when he escorted him to the shower on his first day at the jail. Jurors also heard from a captain at the jail who said other than the threats Daniels made on his first day at the jail, he's had no other disciplinary issues in the five years he's been in custody. The trial resumes this week. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Hollis Daniels capital murder trial enters second week of testimony Digital Currency Group (DCG), the parent firm of failed crypto broker Genesis Global Capital, plans to transfer equity in another unit, Genesis Global Trading, to Genesis Global Holdco and eventually sell both companies to raise capital to pay back creditors, according to court filings on Friday. Genesis Global Capital and Genesis Global Holdco both filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors last month. See related article: Gemini agrees to put US$100 mln to Earn asset recovery efforts Fast facts Genesis today moved a step closer to a resolution for our lending business that maximizes value for all clients and stakeholders, Derar Islim, Interim CEO of Genesis Global Trading, said in a statement. We have filed with the court our previously announced agreement in principle with DCG and key groups of creditors. Genesis Global Capital was a lending partner of New York-based crypto exchange Gemini for the exchanges Gemini Earn program, which allowed investors to loan their crypto assets to Genesis for up to 8% interest. Genesis halted customer withdrawals on this program in Nov. 2022 following the collapse of Bahamas-based crypto exchange FTX in the same month. The crypto brokerage filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 20, with its aggregated liabilities as of the date of filings of between US$1 billion and US$10 billion to over 100,000 creditors. Last week Gemini agreed to put up US$100 million towards Earn users asset recovery as part of an in-principal agreement with Genesis and DCG and others to place all entities under Genesis Global Holdco. Genesis had a US$175 million exposure to FTX on its trading account and was looking to raise US$1 billion from investors to cover a liquidity crunch before it paused withdrawals and new loans in mid-November. See related article: Digital Currency Groups crypto brokerage Genesis Global Capital files for bankruptcy ID is serving up a new documentary that looks at the downfall of once celebrated spokesperson Jared Fogle. The former rep for Subway was thrust into fame after he shed 245 pounds by eating the chain's sandwiches, which was featured in the restaurant's commercials touting his successful weight loss. But the love for Fogle evaporated with his 2015 arrest. Fogle pleaded guilty to possession or distribution of child pornography and traveling across state lines to have commercial sex with a minor. He is currently serving a 15-year sentence at a prison facility in Colorado. The three-part series, "Jared from Subway: Catching a Monster," will premiere March 6, airing in its entirety beginning at 9 ET/PT and available to stream on Discovery+. According to a release, the docuseries "reveals the shocking, previously untold story of the investigation that exposed the monster insidiously lurking behind Fogles charming persona and how his true nature as a child sex predator was finally revealed." The docuseries features interviews with journalist Rochelle Herman and explores the charges against Russell Taylor, who ran The Jared Foundation, an organization aimed to provide education about childhood obesity. Both men were charged by federal authorities in 2015 in a child pornography investigation. An investigation launched in 2014 after a woman notified police that Taylor had offered to send her images of child pornography. In July 2015, Fogle's Indiana home was searched by state and federal authorities. Taylor and Fogle were arrested. Taylor pleaded guilty to 12 counts of producing child pornography and one count of distributing it. Lawyers said Fogle psychologically abused Taylor. A psychological assessment of Taylor included in court records contained allegations that Fogle wanted Taylor to get him date-rape drugs to use on "kids" and that Fogle would say to Taylor, "Daddy needs some pictures." Story continues Fogle must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence, meaning he will be at least 51 years old when he's released. His projected release date is March 24, 2029, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons online records. Contributors: Herald-Times, IndyStar and Associated Press Conviction of Jared Fogle's friend Russell Taylor overturned in child pornography case Subway spokesman Jared Fogle's top aide calls himself 'vile,' gets 27 years for child exploitation This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to Jared Fogle from Subway? New doc explores scandal Two months before the Pledge Dad Reveal Night at Phi Gamma Delta that left Danny Santulli with brain damage and no ability to speak, walk or talk, the Fiji international headquarters sent its investigation of a previous incident to the University of Missouri. The stated aim of the fraternity investigation was "to determine and eliminate the root of hazing in our chapter." The fraternity had been cited for hazing in the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021, according to documents obtained by the Tribune through a public records request. Phi Gamma Delta remained on disciplinary probation until September 2022, by which time it would be gone from campus. The Tribune received from the University of Missouri public records dating back to 2018 related to the discipline of Greek organizations. Because of the time frame, some of the more than 1,500 pages of documents related to violations of COVID protocols. More:Danny Santulli's dad one year after University of Missouri Fiji hazing: 'Everyone wants this to stop' 'Bystander effect' present in fraternity Fraternity members were interviewed for the fraternity investigation. "It became clear that there were members who were directly participating in misconduct, but many who believed it permissible to perform these acts," reads the Aug. 18, 2021 document. "A tightly-knit brotherhood, as indicated by our extremely high score on the Phi Gamma Delta survey (along with a high tolerance for hazing as opposed to other chapters) seems to be indicative of a 'bystander effect' within our chapter, where members remark that they believe hazing is wrong, but fail to act on their beliefs and stand up to offenders when necessary." An optimistic tone for a turnaround presented in the document didn't materialize. A little over two months later, Santulli would collapse at the fraternity's Pledge Dad Reveal Night and be tossed unconscious on a couch. Eventually, fraternity members loaded him into a waiting car and took him to the emergency department of University of Missouri Hospital, where health professionals struggled to revive him. Story continues Santulli now lives at his parents' home in Minnesota; they care for him around the clock. More:Former Missouri Fiji pledge Danny Santulli is back home but 'blind' and 'unable to walk or communicate,' attorney says A University of Missouri banner is taken down as a storm rolls over the Phi Gamma Delta house during the fraternity's move-out day Oct. 24, 2021. UM System president calls elimination of hazing a 'work in progress' There's a long history of hazing and alcohol abuse in Greek houses at the University of Missouri and it likely won't end with Santulli. Mun Choi, University of Missouri System president and MU chancellor, said this week that the university hasn't eliminated hazing. "I don't think any university has eliminated hazing," Choi said during a news conference after a Board of Curators meeting. "It is a continuing work in progress." It takes constant effort at education and setting and example, he said. "Hazing is not acceptable," he said. In this March 9, 2018 photo, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house at 405 Kentucky Blvd. is shown. Incidents of hazing and alcohol abuse on campus with University of Missouri Greek organizations There were 15 incidents of hazing or alcohol abuse during the time frame beginning in 2018 and ending in 2021. There were six alcohol violations, 12 hazing violations and three with both. Eleven Greek organizations were disciplined: Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Sigma Psi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Delta Sigma Theta, Delta Tau Delta, Delta Upsilon, Farmhouse, Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Chi. Beta Sigma Psi had three violations, while Alpha Tau Omega and Phi Gamma Delta had two each. The Delta Kappa Epsilon and Delta Tau Delta violations were related to alcohol but didn't involve hazing. Sigma Chi closed its MU fraternity chapter in 2019, with no explanation from the national fraternity or the university. The documents show Sigma Chi in the fall of 2018 was cited in an incident involving forgery, obstruction, physical abuse, alcohol violations and hazing. A Dec. 21, 2018, letter from Julie Drury, director of the office of student accountability and support, notified the chapter that its recognition would be withdrawn unless it successfully completed outcomes including implementation of a restorative justice program. Delta Upsilon violations in these documents were from Sept. 30, 2021, less than a month before Danny Santulli would be hazed at Phi Gamma Delta. More:Report details family's extensive care for Danny Santulli since Mizzou Fiji hazing One account from the documents reads, verbatim: "These boys were solicited to move into the DU (Delta Upsilon) house as a freshman without parental consent. After moving in they were hazed with alcohol and break ins. Causing loss of sleep and mental anguish. On September 5, their room was broke into with smashed alcohol bottles everywhere, damaging person property and floors. Video has been turned over to Chapter Advisory chair, Jeff Kreutz and chapter advisor, Chuck Hatley. As hazing - people being force to drink until vomiting/passing out - has been going on for years and continues to happen." That fraternity's disciplinary probation just ended on Feb. 1. The Interfraternity Council in March 2018 suspended all new member activities for two weeks at all 29 chapters during investigations into hazing allegations. At the time, Sigma Pi and Delta Upsilon had been suspended for two years over incidents, including one where a woman fell and hit her head at her dorm after leaving the Delta Upsilon house. The three violations at Beta Sigma Psi came in 2018 in quick succession; on Sept. 12, Sept. 29 and Oct. 11. The first and third violations involved hazing, but not alcohol, while the second violation was an alcohol violation, but not hazing. Described on its website as a national Lutheran college fraternity, it also was threatened with loss of recognition unless it fulfilled its requirements. It came off disciplinary probation on Feb. 1, 2020. The two hazing violations for Alpha Tau Omega came more than three years apart, on Sept. 13, 2018, and Nov. 14, 2021. The second was less than a month after Danny Santulli was hazed at Phi Gamma Delta. Here's an account from a witness to the 2021 violation: "I was notified at 2:30 a.m. within my chapter group chat about ATO members requesting trash from NashVegas to take to their house and throw all over in order to "f**k with their new members." I did not know ifthis until I woke up this morning, but I then proceeded to ask questions about why they would do such athing? I then proceeded to get more information that they were requiring their associate members to clean itup and that the members would have to be there until the whole house was spotless. I was also notified thatthey broke their own cleaning supplies and etc to make it more difficult." The university expelled six students over the incident. Alpha Tau Omega describes itself as a leadership development fraternity on its website. The Tribune attempted to contact local or national personnel with Alpha Tau Omega and Beta Sigma Psi, but there was no immediate response. More:Attorney in Santulli hazing case: defense trying to 'deposition cases to death' Students gather to honor Danny Santulli on the one-year anniversary of his hospitalization on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, at Peace Park on the University of Missouri campus. Documents show details of Fiji investigation after Danny Santulli's hazing Several documents related to the Santulli hazing were provided, including the family's civil lawsuit. Included is a March 4, 2021, communication to Julie Drury, assistant dean of students, from Rob Caudill, executive director of Phi Gamma Delta international. "I am writing to inform you that the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta has formally closed its Chi Mu Chapter at the University of Missouri, effective Feb. 25, 2022," Caudill wrote. "This follows the temporary suspension imposed on Oct. 20, 2021, which ceased all chapter activity at that time." Communication from an outraged observer also was included. "Why are the members seen in this video still allowed to be attending Mizzou? Why have you done nothing?And his sister gets to walk around and see them on campus? They violated alcohol policies, hazing policies,harassment policies, etc. And please do not give me a basic 'we are investigating,' the proof is right there.I will be reaching out to more news sources, and influencers on TikTok to make sure the school isbombarded with these requests unless something is done and those involved are expelled." More:Police statements reveal University of Missouri Fiji hazing defendants' varying involvement with Danny Santulli There's an Oct. 21, 2021 email from Drury to a recipient whose name is redacted seeking a meeting "to discuss the events from Tuesday night." The recipients couldn't be confirmed but based on the response, it appears to be to Santulli's parents. "Dear Julie, I appreciate your urgency with this matter and for your reaching out," the response reads. "My family has hired legal counsel and I was told not to make any comments/communication at this time. Thank you." Settlements in the civil lawsuits are paying for Danny Santulli's long-term care. Danny Santulli was rushed to a Columbia hospital after he became unresponsive following a hazing event at a Phi Gamma Delta party at the University of Missouri last October. Santulli suffered brain damage from alcohol poisoning, and he remains blind and unable to walk or talk. MU has disciplined 13 students over Santulli's hazing, but the form of discipline hasn't been made public and wasn't included in the documents. Now, 10 Fiji members are charged with felony hazing and another is charged with misdemeanor hazing. A defense attorney revealed in a court hearing last week that the prosecution plans to seek trials against two defendants against whom it has the strongest cases. The only acceptable settlement for the rest would be guilty pleas, said Santulli family attorney David Bianchi. "That would be okay as long as they're all guilty pleas," Bianchi said of the plan to try two defendants. "They all violated the statute. They need to be meaningful settlements." The hazing continues to happen because there are no consequences, he said. "All we ever see are slaps on the wrist," Bianchi said. "Unless you have a prosecutor with the courage to take these cases to trial, it's the wrong message and it's a dangerous message." Sixty-five students nationwide have died from hazing incidents since 2000, Bianchi said. Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Documents show frequent hazing at Mizzou fraternities DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Dubai again is planning for the takeoff of flying taxis in this futuristic city-state on the Arabian Peninsula, offering its firmest details yet Monday for a pledged launch by 2026. Since 2017, the commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates has offered promises to launch flying taxis in the city already home to the world's tallest building and other architectural wonders. A series of different types and companies have cycled through those promises as well, most timed to be included at Dubai's annual World Government Summit, which saw this year's edition begin Monday. Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced the relaunched flying taxi program on Twitter Sunday. This time, Dubai highlighted the six-rotor electric flying taxi made by Joby Aviation of Santa Cruz, California, in the promotional video. The inclusion of Joby Aviation, rather than the Chinese-made EHang 184 and XPeng X2 or the German-made electric Volocopter all previously displayed in Dubai, wasn't explained by Emirati officials. Joby aircraft featured at a stand at the World Government Summit on Monday. Were excited about the opportunity and actively exploring the possibility, said Oliver Walker-Jones, a spokesman for Joby Aviation. Ahmed Bahrozyan, an official in the emirates Roads and Transport Authority, similarly told the state-owned Dubai Eye radio station on Monday that "its early days for the plan. We havent yet signed with any partners yet," he said. Another difference in this year's promise on flying taxis is the release of specifics about the program. The city plans four vertiports by Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, downtown Dubai, the manmade Palm Jumeirah archipelago and Dubai Marina. Those points will include two launching pads and four charging points for the flying taxis. We believe those are attractive areas with business hubs and tourist hubs that could generate considerable demand, Bahrozyan said. Story continues The pricing for the flying taxis will be in the range of a limousine service in Dubai, maybe slightly higher, Bahrozyan said. The RTA describes limo services rates as at least 30% higher than taxi fares in the city. Taxis have a minimum fare of around $3.25 and charge $0.50 a kilometer. Another departure from earlier plans include the RTA planning to have piloted flying taxis at first, rather than autonomous ones as previously discussed. Dubai officials described the taxi as having a pilot with four seats for passengers on board, which match Joby's electric flying taxi. However, Bahrozyan said tests would continue with autonomous flying taxis as well. The Joby prototype can fly over 240 kilometers (150 miles) before needing a charge something which would put Abu Dhabi and other areas of the country within range. It takes off and lands vertically, while its rotors tilt forward in flight. It has a maximum speed of 320 kph (200 mph). Joby Avation Inc., which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, was at $4.20 a share before trading Monday. Its major shareholders include Intel Corp., while Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines also has invested. The video posted by Sheikh Mohammed's Twitter account also included the logo of London-based Skyports Infrastructure, which also refers to its support projects as vertiports. The company already is testing its vertiport model outside of Paris and is working with Joby. Skyports did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Opening the skies to flying taxis would add to the Blade Runner skyline of Dubai, while also easing the real-world grind of daily traffic thats only worsening as its population booms to over 3.5 million people. Rush hour on Sheikh Zayed Road, a dozen-lane artery running down the length of the Dubai, alternates between dense gridlock and sports-car slalom. Over 1.8 million Dubai-registered vehicles ply its roads, not counting those crowding in from the United Arab Emirates six other sheikhdoms. Theres also the desire to move away from carbon-belching gasoline and diesel vehicles as the UAE will host the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks later this year. Thats even as the Emirates hopes to expand its production of crude oil ahead of a promised carbon-neutral future by 2050. Meanwhile, Dubai hopes to have a quarter of all cars on its roads be driverless by 2030. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. Dunkin' has released outtakes from its hidden camera-style Super Bowl ad starring Ben Affleck. The Bostonian helped the chain strike gold with their first ever Super Bowl ad, and now, coffee and donut enthusiasts everywhere can see what didn't make the cut. "It's Boston, after all, so we had some rather coarse and agitated people who were willing to voice their displeasure in a colorful way, and I'm still lobbying to include the most interesting of those in some of the edgiest social spots," Affleck told the Wall Street Journal. It looks like his wish came true. The original ad, which was directed by the star's production company, featured Affleck working the drive-thru window in Medford, Massachusetts, taking orders and selfies with customers. At the end of the commercial, Affleck's wife, Jennifer Lopez, pays him a visit. "Is this what you do when you say you're going to work all day?" she asks incredulously, before reminding her husband to grab her a glazed donut on his way out. The outtakes are a little raunchier, with Affleck telling one customer in an exaggerated Boston accent that the chain is out of both coffee and donuts. "What do you got?" "Ah, water," says Affleck, as the customer elicits an expletive. "I'm trying to compensate with comedy for my ineptitude," the star responds. we did it ben, we did it Dunkin' (@dunkindonuts) February 12, 2023 Affleck also tells customers that they have to take the Dunkin' Run deal, which the ad is promoting, running through the menu at such speed that a customer asks him, "Are you alright this morning?" "Malfunction!" Affleck screams in another scene, angrily pressing on the touchscreen point of service system. "It's not as easy as it looks," he adds. Story continues Even so, Dunkin' stands by the actor's performance, which just might be his greatest yet. "We thought, 'who better to represent [our menu] than the ultimate Dunkin' runner, Ben Affleck?'" said Dunkin' chief marketing officer, Jill McVicar Nelson, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. "I'm not your typical Dunkin' technician," Affleck says in closing. "Usually, they're much smarter than me." Supermodel Karlie Kloss discusses computer coding camps for girls Professional matchmaker Maria Avgitidis on how to meet your person this year The untold story of the "New Orleans Four" By Maya Gebeily, Ali Kucukgocmen and Henriette Chacar ANTAKYA (Reuters) -The devastating earthquake to hit Turkey and Syria has fanned resentment among some Turks towards the millions of Syrian refugees in the country who are being blamed anecdotally by some for looting amid the destruction and chaos. Several Turks in quake-hit towns and cities have accused Syrians of robbing damaged shops and homes. Anti-Syrian slogans such as "We don't want Syrians," "Immigrants should be deported," and "No longer welcome" trended on Twitter. Syrians left homeless by the earthquake said they had been kicked out of emergency camps and a Syrian man opened a shelter in the city of Mersin just for his compatriots after they had faced racist slurs. "We stopped going to rescue sites to watch because people start screaming at us and pushing us around when they heard us speaking Arabic," said a Syrian man, who didn't want to be named. "People accuse us of looting all the time but that's just to create discord." Turkey's combined official death toll with Syria from the earthquake now stands at more than 37,000 and is predicted to rise further as hopes fade of finding many more survivors. Hundreds of thousands have been left homeless and have waited for days in some areas for food and emergency shelter. Residents and aid workers have reported looting and several foreign aid teams briefly stopped work because of a deteriorating security situation. Turkish authorities arrested 48 people for looting, the justice minister announced on Sunday, without saying where they were from. President Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to deal firmly with looters. TENSIONS ON THE RISE Turkey is home to nearly 4 million Syrian refugees, having opened its borders to those fleeing the civil war that erupted there in 2011. Many are concentrated in the south of the country close to the Syrian border. In the Turkish city of Gaziantep, badly hit by the earthquake, nearly half a million Syrians reside, making up a quarter of the population. Story continues Resentment towards the Syrians is not new, but the earthquake has aggravated tensions. Turkey has spent more than $40 billion since 2011 accommodating the refugees at a time of intense economic hardship in the country. Some Turks view Syrians as cheap labour taking over jobs and using services and the issue of Syrian refugees was set to be a major theme in this year's presidential and parliamentary elections. "Syrians walk around with their empty backpacks and fill them up from shops. There was a lot off looting here," said Ahmet, a dentist sitting across from the rubble of what used to be his surgery. Some offers of help on social media have been openly anti-Syrian. "Quake survivors are welcome to stay in my Ankara home for a year, on condition that they are not Syrian," said one tweet, with a picture of a wooden villa. Other offers of aid or temporary housing have set the same condition. Syrian former opposition politician Mustafa Ali is running a makeshift shelter in Mersin for about 250 Syrians and says he agreed with local authorities to keep them apart from shelters for displaced Turks. "There is a difference in culture, in the way of life, in the language, and this separation might resolve a lot of these problems," he said. "At first a lot of shelters didn't ask people if they were Turkish or foreigners. But the next day, when there was some hassle and some racist commentary, we thought maybe some problems might come up that both they and we can do without." Many Syrians initially considered Turkey as a stepping stone to a new life in Europe but then found themselves stuck after Turkey signed a deal with the European Union to halt the flow of migrants into Europe. Some Syrians living without proper paperwork in Turkey and displaced by the earthquake are afraid to reach out to authorities for help, fearing it might expose them to possible deportation. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday a new influx of refugees from Syria to Turkey was "out of the question". Abdallah Aqdi Al-Tayyar, 22, a Syrian refugee from Idlib who has been displaced from his house in Maras, said his requests for a tent had been denied so he was sheltering in a mosque. "Some people are saying that the earthquake is our fault," he said. "This racism existed before as well, but now it's worse. It's hurtful." (Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Christina Fincher) The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says a suspect has been arrested after a 15-year-old boys death in east Charlotte last month. CMPD officers were on Coriander Court around 4 p.m. on Feb. 12 for the shooting investigation. The street is located in a neighborhood off of Harrisburg Road. When officers arrived, they found a juvenile male victim who was shot inside the residence, CMPD Maj. Brad Koch told Channel 9. ALSO READ: Passenger shot, killed in car on Billy Graham Parkway, CMPD confirms Channel 9 learned the teenager, Steven Gomez, was accidentally shot. He may not have been aware that a real gun was being pointed in his direction. The victim was not holding the gun at the time, Koch said. And he was playing a video game when he was accidentally shot. On March 6, CMPD announced that a suspect was arrested in Key West, Florida, for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the case. The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Kendal Edward Morris. Hes expected to be extradited back to North Carolina in the coming weeks, CMPD said. EARLIER Someone living at the home told Channel 9s Anthony Kustura that Gomez was at his uncles house, and said one of his uncles friends pulled the trigger. We got to stop playing around with these guns, you know, Reggie Thompson, who lives nearby, told Kustura. Play with it at the proper place, you know what Im saying, a shooting range or something like that. But we got to be a little bit more careful, especially when weve got minors around, you know. Somebody lost their child, thats really unfortunate. ALSO READ: I still dont understand: Ethan Rivera remembered by loved ones a year after shooting The accident is one of several over the last six months where kids have been shot. Im a father, Koch said. I talk to the officers and the individuals that respond to the scene behind me, and calls like these -- you never want to have to respond to. He said its important for gun owners to make sure their guns are in a safe place, away from children. Story continues Anyone who purchases or owns a firearm is responsible for that firearm, Koch said. CMPD conducted the investigation into the evening Sunday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. (WATCH BELOW: 1 dead after shooting in Pineville, police say) A portion of a Norfolk Southern Railroad freight train derailed and caught on fire Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is continuing to monitor the air, water and soil impacts from a train derailment that happened in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month. About 50 rail cars, including 11 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in the village on Feb. 3, causing toxic chemicals to be released. No one was injured in the wreck. Here's a timeline of what happened. What we know:East Palestine train derailment Ohio train derailment: East Palestine residents file lawsuit seeking medical testing Feb. 3 A Norfolk Southern Railroad freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, at approximately 8:55 p.m., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said. Norfolk Southern reported the incident to the National Response Center at 10:53 p.m. The train was comprised of about 150 cars and 50 were affected. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 20 cars contained hazardous materials and 11 of those were impacted by the wreck. Smoke from the Feb. 3 train derailment could be seen in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 5. Feb. 4 Responders discovered contaminated runoff from the derailment impacting the nearby Sulphur Run and Leslie Run streams, the EPA said. Norfolk Southern contractors installed booms and underflow dams to restrict the flow of contaminated water. Residents near the derailment were asked to leave the area. Feb. 5 During a Feb. 14 press conference, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he was made aware that one car containing vinyl chloride was at risk of exploding Feb. 5. DeWine said officials were faced with "two bad options," allow the car to explode, which could launch deadly shrapnel with a near-one-mile trajectory, or vent and burn the chemical. The controlled release and burn of vinyl chloride caused a dark plume to rise over East Palestine, Ohio. Feb. 6 DeWine said Ohio and Pennsylvania authorities communicated with Norfolk Southern and decided to prevent the explosion. Remaining East Palestine residents within a 1-mile by 2-mile area surrounding the village were ordered to leave, and Norfolk Southern executed the controlled release and burn of vinyl chloride in five cars around 4:15 p.m., creating a large plume above the village. A federal lawsuit filed Feb. 16 estimates 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride were spilled during the fire and derailment. In a letter written to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on Feb. 14, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Norfolk Southern did not indicate to state and local responders that it was going to vent and burn all five cars with vinyl chloride, rather than just the one that was at risk of exploding. Story continues Norfolk Southern Railroad is planning a controlled release of the vinyl chloride at approx. 3:30 pm today. An immediate evacuation in a one-mile by two-mile area surrounding East Palestine which includes parts of Ohio & Pennsylvania has been ordered. More: https://t.co/8JSvDjtmXB pic.twitter.com/LjoYJmjjOO Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) February 6, 2023 Feb. 7 Both railroad mainlines were restored to service one day after the controlled chemical release, Norfolk Southern said. Feb. 8 DeWine, Shapiro, East Palestine fire chief and incident commander Keith Drabick and other officials from both states said East Palestine residents could safely return home. The evacuation order has been lifted, if you were asked to evacuate your residence due to the incident in East Palestine, you are permitted to return home. Please return in a safe and orderly manner. Beaver Co. Emerg Svc (@BeaverCounty911) February 8, 2023 NewsNation correspondent Evan Lambert was arrested for trespassing while attending DeWine's press conference about the derailment. In a statement, East Palestine police said they asked Lambert to stop his live report because he was being "loud," which resulted in an argument. Police said they arrested the broadcast journalist after he refused to leave the area. Lambert was held in custody for about five hours before he was released, NewsNation reported. DeWine said at the end of the press conference that he did not authorize the arrest. Feb. 10 Contractors with Norfolk Southern installed a dam and water bypass at Sulphur Run to prevent further contamination of downstream waters. The EPA sent a general notice of potential liability letter to Norfolk Southern, listing the areas the company may be liable for damages and cleanup pertaining to the wreck. According to the letter, some of the derailed rail cars contained vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, isobutylene and butyl acrylate. Feb. 13 Norfolk Southern submitted its remedial action plan to the EPA, detailing how it has responded to the derailment so far and what further actions it proposes. Feb. 14 At a press conference, DeWine said Norfolk Southern agreed to pay for the cost of damages and cleanup in East Palestine, and will stay in the village until the situation is remedied. In an open letter, Shapiro said Norfolk Southern's conduct is currently under investigation by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. National Transportation Safety Board said investigators identified the rail car that initiated the derailment. Residence surveillance video showed "what appears to be a wheel bearing in the final stage of overheat failure moments before the derailment," it said. The wheelset is being examined, and a preliminary report about the cause of the derailment is expected within two weeks. Feb. 15 The Ohio Attorney General's Office dropped all charges against NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert. The Ohio EPA said East Palestine residents could safely drink village water, according to a release issued by Gov. DeWine. East Palestine residents gathered for a town hall to voice their concerns about the derailment. Mayor Trent Conaway attended the meeting, as well as Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, and U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta. Norfolk Southern officials did not attend. Feb. 16 A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Van Buren Township, Michigan. None of the damaged cars were carrying hazardous materials and no injuries were reported. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw sent a letter to East Palestine residents pledging not to abandon the community. Feb. 17 The Biden administration said it would send more federal assistance to East Palestine following requests by DeWine and Ohio's congressional delegation. The Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will deploy medical personnel and toxicologists to conduct public health testing and assessments. The traveling plume of butyl acrylate a compound used in paints, plastics and other products that leaked into the Ohio River completely dissipated according to the latest testing, DeWine said. Feb. 18 Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance sent a letter to state and federal EPA officials urging them to test for dioxins, which are pollutants that are created when chemicals burn. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw visited East Palestine. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: East Palestine train derailment: A timeline of what happened Courtesy Wiebke Huester The art critic who accused prominent ballet director Marco Geocke of smearing dog feces on her face was petrified by the alleged attack that left her screaming and crying in the middle of a show at the Hannover Opera House on Saturday. He didnt just throw it at me. He pulled out the bag with the open side of the bag and rubbed it in my face brutally, so the dog poop would stick in my face, Wiebke Huester, a writer for Germanys Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, told The Daily Beast in an interview on Tuesday. One moment we were still talking and the next moment his fist was in my face. When I realized what he had done, I screamed. I was so shocked, so panicked. You cant imagine. The alleged attack came after Huester wrote an unfavorable review of In the Dutch Mountain, a production staged by Goecke with the Nederlands Dans Theater, which was performed in The Hague. In her review of the play, published the same day of the alleged attack, Huester said the production was disjointed, and could make people go insane and be killed by boredom while watching. The 57-year-old art critic told The Daily Beast that she had been more than willing to speak to Geocke when she allegedly saw him come up to her at the Hannover Opera House, where she was watching the premiere of his ballet performance, Faith - Love - Hope. He seemed to want to talk after I had given him a bad review. And I thought, Of course Ill talk to you. And then he starts talking and he said, No one should have let you in! Why are you here? No one should have let you in. You are always writing these bad personal reviews of me, she told The Daily Beast. I was telling him no, my words are not personal. Its not about you as a person. I see a big talent in you I didnt get to explain it to him because at that moment he pulled out the open poop bag out of his jacket and stuffed it in my face, brutally. After the alleged attack, Huester said she called her husbandher boss at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitungwho detailed the incident in a report headlined Attack on our dance critic Sunday. Story continues Marco Goecke attacked our dance critic Wiebke Huster first verbally, and then physically, the report said. Apparently provoked by her review he initially threatened her with being banned from the house. Getting more and more upset, Goecke finally got physical: He pulled out a paper bag with animal feces and smacked the face of our dance critic with the contents. After that, he was able to go his own way unhindered through the crowded foyer. According to German media outlets, the feces was taken from Goeckes pet dachshund, Gustav, who is frequently spotted alongside the award-winning director. Ms. Husters personal integrity was violated in an unspeakable way. We are appalled by what has happened and very much regret that the escalation has occurred, the opera house said in a statement on their website. With his impulsive reaction to the journalist, Marco Goecke violated all the rules of conduct of the Hanover State Opera and caused massive damage to the State Opera and the State Ballet in Hanover. The opera house added that they have asked Goecke to apologize comprehensively to the art critic. A police investigation has since been launched against Goecke, who was suspended from the Hanover state opera house on Monday. This newspaper considered the humiliating act beyond the fact of physical harm as an attempt to intimidate our free, critical art appreciation, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said in their report about the attack. Goeckes crossing of borders reveals the disturbed relationship between an artist and criticism. Huester, meanwhile, says shes been overwhelmed by the outpouring of supportive messages she has received in response to the alleged incident. I feel supported and protected, she said. Ever since I have received many texts and emails saying Please keep going. We always read your things. We love what you do. Please dont give up. Go back to work. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter and the worlds richest man, is currently facing criticism over his decision to restrict the availability of his Starlink satellite high-speed broadband service to Ukraine. When Russia first invaded its western neighbour on 24 February 2022, Mr Musk responded to an appeal for help from Ukraines vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov by generously dispatching 20,000 SpaceX Starlink terminals to the country. Since then, Vladimir Putins forces have relentlessly targeted Ukraines telecommunications infrastructure with missile strikes. This has caused Kyiv to rely on SpaceXs technology as a source of uninterrupted, independent and secure internet access, enabling lines of communication to remain open with its troops on the frontline of the conflict in the south and east. Starlinks small, portable terminals are ideal for the situation because they have minimal energy requirements and are difficult to hack. Over 100 cruise missiles attacked energy and communications infrastructure. But with Starlink we quickly restored the connection in critical areas. Starlink continues to be an essential part of critical infrastructure, Mr Fedorov tweeted in praise of the tech on 12 October. Mr Musk acknowledged its vital role in a tweet of his own from 31 January this year in which he also expressed discomfort about the Ukrainian military using the service to fly drones carrying anti-tank grenades over Russian positions. He said he would not allow the practice to continue. SpaceX Starlink has become the connectivity backbone of Ukraine all the way up to the front lines. This is the damned if you do part, he tweeted. However, we are not allowing Starlink to be used for long-range drone strikes. This is the damned if you dont part. SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell duly announced that the service would be limited in the country for military purposes but that it would remain available for communications and use in humanitarian endeavours, such as enabling Ukrainian hospitals to remain connected. Story continues Starlink was never meant to be weaponised, she said. Mykailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, responded to the move by issuing an ultimatum: A year of Ukrainian resistance & companies have to decide: Either they are on the side of Ukraine & the right to freedom, and dont seek ways to do harm. Or they are on RFs side & its right to kill & seize territories. SpaceX (Starlink) and Mrs Shotwell should choose a specific option. When ex-Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly called on Mr Musk to rethink the step, the tech magnate answered: Youre smart enough not to fall for media and other propaganda. Starlink is the main source of communication for Ukraine, especially at the front lines where almost all other internet connections have been lost. However, we will not contribute to escalation of conflict that could lead to World War 3. To his credit, Mr Musk has made his position on the matter abundantly clear, tweeting on 16 September: Starlink is meant for peaceful use only. He reiterated that argument on 12 February in defence of his latest actions, tweeting: SpaceX commercial terminals, like other commercial products, are meant for private use, not military, but we have not exercised our right to turn them off. Were trying hard to do the right thing, where the right thing is an extremely difficult moral question. Billionaire challenged Vladimir Putin to single combat in March 2022 (Reuters) Mr Musk has been more consistent in taking this line than he has on other projects the running of Twitter, for instance with the products terms of service even explicitly stating: Starlink is not designed or intended for use with or in offensive or defensive weaponry or other comparable end-uses. But this is not the first time he has placed the future of its role in the war in doubt and attracted criticism for doing so. Back in October, he began to gripe about the cost of his philanthropy, revealing in a tweet: This operation has cost SpaceX $80m & will exceed $100m by end of year. That same month, CNN reported that SpaceXs director of government sales, Bryon Hargis, had written to the Pentagon in September asking for the US Department of Defense to pick up the bill instead. We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time, he said, according to the report. The adverse public reaction to the story appeared to change Mr Musks mind on withdrawing funding and he tweeted: The hell with it Even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer dollars, well just keep funding the Ukrainian government for free. On the war more generally, Mr Musk raised eyebrows by challenging Mr Putin to single combat on 14 March, an odd attempt to introduce some levity among the brutality of war. I hereby challenge to single combat Stakes are Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022 Then in October, just prior to the Starlink controversy, the billionaire sparked international outrage when he tweeted his proposal to bring peace to Ukraine. The proposal suggested, among other measures, the concession of land to Russia, a red-line for most Ukrainians. Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is will of the people, Mr Musk said. Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchevs mistake). Water supply to Crimea assured. Ukraine remains neutral. This is highly likely to be the outcome in the end just a question of how many die before then. Also worth noting that a possible, albeit unlikely, outcome from this conflict is nuclear war. This is highly likely to be the outcome in the end just a question of how many die before then Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022 The thread was accompanied by a poll inviting Mr Musks followers to indicate whether or not they approved of his ideas: 40.9 per cent of respondents were in favour but 59.1 per cent were opposed. President Zelensky hit back with a Twitter poll of his own, asking his followers which version of Elon Musk they preferred: the one who supports Ukraine or the one who supports Russia. The pro-Ukraine incarnation of Musk drew 78.8 per cent of the vote. Which @elonmusk do you like more? (@ZelenskyyUa) October 3, 2022 Mr Musk responded: I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world. Kyivs ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, was rather less polite. F*** off is my very diplomatic reply to you Elon Musk, he said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was more sympathetic to the tycoons ideas, saying it was very positive that somebody like Elon Musk is looking for a peaceful way out of this situation. Elon Musk has weighed in on the takedown of an unidentified object over Lake Huron in Michigan with a dash of humour. On Sunday, US military fighter jets shot down an object over Lake Huron, the third such incident over the weekend since a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon was spotted last month, putting North American security forces on high alert. Defence officials said they are still trying to establish the nature of the Lake Huron object, when asked about unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The officials said they were not ruling anything out. Were calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason, US Air Force General Glen VanHerck VanHerck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) and Northern Command, said as he refused to rule out any explanation, no matter how far fetched. After the takedown of an unidentified object over Lake Huron in Michigan on Sunday, the Twitter boss sought to assuage his followers. Dont worry, just some of my alien friends stopping by, tweeted Mr Musk, using alien and UFO emojis. In a statement, the Department of Defense said the object was shot down over concerns about its potential surveillance capabilities. The Pentagon, however, said it is yet to ascertain where it came from. Dont worry, just some of my friends of mine stopping by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 12, 2023 A recent report, meanwhile, said China is preparing to take down another unidentified object flying near a major naval base in Qingdao. Relevant authorities are preparing to shoot down the object, a worker at a marine development authority in Qingdoas Jimo district told local news outlet The Paper about the plans, reported Bloomberg. Four vessels, including a suspected Chinese balloon that the US said was used for surveillance, had entered US and Canadian airspace since late January. Beijing denied the balloon was a surveillance airship, saying it was used to monitor the weather and had entered US airspace by accident. Etowah County property taxes were delinquent as of Jan. 1, and residents who didnt pay up before that deadline are being hit by both state and county penalties. The latter a $2 a day late fee per parcel, which maxes out at $300 was the subject of conversation Tuesday during public comments at the County Commissions meeting. Fred Zackery and Joseph Cole told commissioners that the late fee is a tax on a tax that is unfair to county residents, and asked that it be reconsidered. Commissioners disputed their description of the $2 daily charge as a tax, however, although they didnt rule out revisiting the issue at some point. The county late fee was authorized in 2021 by a local legislative act. Previously, the only penalty for delinquent property taxes was a $5 per month state assessment, which remains in place. Proceeds from the late fee are split three ways: 47.5% toward the maintenance, improvement, replacement and construction of roads and bridges in the county 40% toward the advancement, development and promotion of the NEAR Megasite and other industrial recruitment and economic development projects 12.5% to the revenue commissioners special fund for payment of reasonable and necessary expenses of carrying out that office's official duties. Zackery said he recently paid $46 to settle a $22 property tax bill after noticing that it was delinquent. Its just unfair for the state to give us a penalty for our property taxes and then you come back and try to rake in ... whatever you're going to use it for, I dont care, he said. Its unfair to the citizens. Zackery called the penalty a regressive tax, and said its not that people want to be late paying their property taxes, it's that they dont have the money. Cole echoed that. People are catching hell, he said. Theyre having difficulty putting food on the table and paying bills. The state already charges a penalty and I dont know why ... youd add a county tax, a double penalty, on what people already are paying. Story continues Cole said the county should be more concerned about its residents, people who work hard and are striving every day, and less concerned about filling its coffers. Commissioner Jamie Grant insisted the $2 a day levy is not a tax, its a late penalty, noting that property taxes are due on Oct. 1 and residents have a 90-day grace period to pay them before theyre delinquent. If you have a car payment due on the 1st, and you dont pay it until the 15th, its late and youre assessed a late penalty," Grant said. So, were not taxing you, its a late penalty. We need our money in order to pay our bills. All were doing is were asking you to pay it on time. And if you dont pay it on time, were encouraging you (with the penalty) to pay that tax in a timely manner. Cole brought up the existing state penalty, and Grant countered, That has nothing to do with the county. If you dont pay your credit card on time, what happens? If you dont pay your car loan on time, what happens? If you dont pay your house payment on time, what happens? He said, If you pay it on time, youll never see it, but Cole countered, If you could pay it on time. Most people dont (fail to pay their bills) because they want to. Cole questioned what the county did before the late fee was in place, and Commission President Craig Inzer Jr. said, We were negative on our bills. We have 300-plus employees to pay, plus our road department (to fund). The commission heard similar complaints in 2022 as the county penalty took effect, but Inzer said Revenue Commissioner Becky Nordgren had told him the number of delinquent taxpayers was basically the same this year as last. Nordgren confirmed that in a subsequent interview and noted that Etowah County has one of Alabamas highest property tax delinquency rates. She said she favors efforts to get people to pay their taxes on time and avoid having their property potentially put up for sale at a tax lien auction. However, Nordgren is concerned echoing what she said after complaints last year when the penalty took effect that the flat daily late fee can produce unfair situations where taxpayers with small tax bills that sit unpaid for a while could see their penalties hit an astronomical percentage rate before the $300 cap is reached. She also noted that many homes sit on multiple parcels of land, which could effectively increase the $2 daily penalty and $300 cap. Nordgren would favor a graduated penalty to account for such situations. Two commissioners, Tim Ramsey and Jeffery Washington, expressed similar sentiments during Tuesdays meeting and said the late fee needs to be revisited. Inzer said that could be discussed at a later time. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Etowah County's property tax late fee draws criticism By Tim Hepher PARIS (Reuters) -The boss of European planemaker Airbus has read the riot act to executives about disappointing deliveries in January and warned them that in 2023 Airbus cannot deliver fewer jets than its now-abandoned target for 2022, industry sources said. Until now, Airbus has blamed mounting delays on suppliers led by engine makers. But the structure, operational controls and performance inside Airbus are increasingly in the spotlight as several suppliers predict more aircraft delays, they said. Angered by the abrupt emergence of the last set of delays in late 2022, which derailed 2022 delivery targets, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury told managers last month's 33% drop in deliveries to 20 jets was another "wake-up call", they said. "He made it clear this cannot happen twice," said one person briefed on the remarks in a Feb. 8 executive webcast. Another described the usually measured French engineer as "furious". Airbus declined to comment on internal meetings. Shares in the planemaker were up about 1.6% in late trading. The showdown came amid supplier speculation of a possible new wave of delays from Airbus after a first round in mid-2022 prompted it to cut its 2022 delivery goal to 700 jets from 720, followed by the November setback which saw the goal abandoned. All eyes are on Feb. 16 earnings when the world's largest jetmaker is expected to outline cautious 2023 targets. So far, sources have said they expect a delivery goal not far above the original 720 for 2022, though Faury's remarks do not exclude a pain threshold as low as 700. Many analysts nonetheless expect a goal closer to 750, up from 661 in 2022. The first major test will be the first quarter for which suppliers say Airbus seeks close to 140 deliveries. After a weak January, that requires a steeper curve than in recent years. Facing markets during that quarter may be an interim finance chief as Airbus struggles to agree a permanent one - a politically sensitive topic which, along with a legal feud with Qatar, has distracted attention from day-to-day operations. Story continues Analysts say Faury will want to avoid spooking investors while insuring against the risk of more downgrades to guidance on deliveries from setting expectations too high. Airbus wants to understand any risks to guidance much earlier, by mid-year. Airbus declined any comment on numbers ahead of earnings. Its output woes have marred what should have been a celebration of resurgent demand with a record Air India order. It is producing 45 best-selling A320neo-family jets a month and is expected to seek rates of 65 by end-2024 and 75 in 2026 - months later than previously planned. With more potential delays in the pipeline, some suppliers say even that looks ambitious. On larger A350s, Faury said in October Airbus would lift monthly output to six from five in early 2023 and then explore more. But industry sources said Airbus throttled back to 4.5 a month in late 2022 and is now producing 5.6 on its way to six a month in 2024, where it may stay through 2025. While Airbus shapes 2023, the fortunes of 12,000 suppliers remain mixed. There has been an improvement in supplies of electronic chips as well as computers for production tests. Airbus has said it is close to weaning itself off Russian titanium, though some A350 supply risks remain. On the other hand, sources say steel capacity has moved up the list of concerns amid pressures including debt restructuring at supplier Liberty Steel, which had no immediate comment. Cabins are once again on the watch list with items as mundane as connecting rails for overhead "passenger service units" - containing light, fan and call button - running short. Last week, Airbus urged suppliers to hold more stocks. INTERNAL TASK FORCE Yet despite hot spots, sources say several key yardsticks of supplier performance like missing-parts-per-million are steadily improving. As they do, internal pressures are coming into greater focus and forcing Airbus to set up a special task force. Supplies of A320 fuselage shells from Nordenham, Germany, have been disrupted following tensions over a reorganisation. The result is work being done out of sequence which needs more time and labour. A220 cockpits are seen as similarly affected. Airbus declined detailed comment on operations and referred back to Faury's comments in January that it faced a "complex environment" as well as a fragile supply chain. Although many companies are struggling to stay abreast of disruption following COVID-19, some in the industry note a decision by Faury in 2019 to downgrade the top supply chain leadership post, which no longer reports to him directly. In 2021, Faury also appointed an operations chief well respected for running military aircraft activities but with limited experience of higher civil volumes. When snags do arise, many question whether they are cutting through layers of internal reporting as quickly as they should, especially following a slew of senior departures or retirements. "There is a loss of control of the production process. It is more important to fix internal problems and not point fingers at the supply chain," a person familiar with the procedures said. Some see signs of message fatigue. Following Faury's Feb. 8 web event, executives were told too few, or 57%, had logged in. Faury has, however, insisted that bringing the supply chain back to health and modernising Airbus' industrial fabric, as well as preparing for decarbonisation, are critical priorities. He told journalists in December that Airbus was investing in the next generation of digital factory production systems. (Reporting by Tim Hepher, Additional reporting by Eric OnstadEditing by Mark Potter) A gap in the U.S.-Mexico border wall is illuminated at night, Yuma, Ariz. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) A Russian military bomber engineer drove up to the U.S. Southwest border in late December, asking for asylum and offering to reveal some of Russias most closely guarded military secrets, according to an unclassified Customs and Border Protection report obtained by Yahoo News. The man and his family arrived in an armored SUV and asked to be admitted into the U.S. because he feared persecution for participating in anti-Putin protests in support of Alexei Navalny, an imprisoned Russian dissident. He then told CBP officials that he had information wanted by the U.S. government. He said he was a civil engineer and that his past employment had included working ... from 2018 to 2021 in the making of a particular type of military airplane at the Tupolev aircraft production facility in the city of Kazan in west-central Russia, according to a Jan. 11 unclassified CBP report obtained by Yahoo News. He described the aircraft type as an attack jet and said it was called White Swan-TU160, the largest military aircraft. Protesters in Dusseldorf, Germany, rally to support Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, April 21, 2021. (Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The CBP report is a daily roundup of items compiled by the agencys National Border Security Intelligence Watch and is produced to highlight emerging trends or notable events for leadership. The agency added a comment in bold italics after the paragraph detailing the engineers arrival and employment and explaining why his information could be valuable. The TU-160 White Swan, also known by the NATO reporting name Blackjack, is reportedly the most advanced strategic bomber in the Russian inventory and has been also used in a tactical airstrike role in the Ukraine war. According to open-source reporting, a major new construction program of an improved version of the aircraft as well as an upgrade program of existing aircraft got underway at the Tupolev facility during the past few years, according to the unclassified CBP Indications and Warnings Daily. CBP declined to answer Yahoo News questions or otherwise comment, citing agency policy to neither confirm nor speak to potentially improperly disclosed internal documents marked as law enforcement sensitive or for official use only. Story continues Customs and Border Protection agents at a processing facility in Brownsville, Texas. (Eric Gay/Reuters) Russian military expert Michael Kofman said he had no independent knowledge of this Russian engineer but spoke generally about the kind of information someone in his position could provide. An individual working at a defense industrial facility such as Tuplov could have access to a range of information on defense industrial production, specifications related to the Tu-160 bomber and its more recently developed modernized variant, various production processes, dependencies and where their limitations lie, said Kofman, director of the Russia studies program at the Center for Naval Analyses. Someone in such a position could accumulate knowledge by virtue of the types of information theyre exposed to on the job, some of which could prove valuable, he told Yahoo News. As the U.S. continues to lobby allies to send military equipment to Ukraine, details about this particular fighter jet, which underwent reproduction and upgrades during the time of the engineers stated employment, would constitute valuable information, said a senior military intelligence official. Would a site manager know if they modified the remodeled bombers to shoot hypersonic missiles? He might. And that would be a really big deal, if the White Swan was retrofitted to fire hypersonic missiles. They are fast and launched from much farther away, the official explained. We dont have anything that can defend against hypersonic missiles meaning, Patriot systems and all the rest of what we are supplying Ukraine, its useless. A Russian Tupolev Tu-160 jet bomber in flight. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The mans name and details of his arrival in the U.S. were included in an unclassified daily roundup of items of interest from around the country and the world. It is highly unusual and possibly unprecedented for this particular report to include the full name and detailed information of an asylum seeker, let alone of someone offering up military secrets of a foreign adversary that hunts down and poisons, launches from windows or otherwise kills its defectors. Yahoo News is withholding his name and details of where he arrived and applied for asylum after several officials raised concerns about the mans safety. Everyone Yahoo News spoke to said they were surprised the mans identity and detailed work history was included in an unclassified CBP report. There were several classified briefings around the time the CBP report was circulated that appear to have included information on this same man, according to three U.S. government officials to whom Yahoo News read the CBP report. The officials would not provide any additional details, citing the highly classified nature of foreign military defectors. When someone shows up at a U.S. port of entry asking for admission and claiming to have information of interest to the United States, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security are tasked with verifying the information provided. If the information is confirmed as true and the person is deemed credible, they are then passed off to the FBI. The deal with a walk-in is his ID has to be verified and his story checked as well that could take some time, explained one U.S. intelligence official. Getty Images If and only if he checks out, meaning he is who he says he is and worked where he said he did, if that were to happen, then the FBI would take over and whisk him away to probably a safe house where hed be questioned. For about a week and a half, CBP and the DHS worked to verify the mans identity and former place of employment. By around Jan. 11 he was deemed credible and of potential interest to the U.S., and was passed to the FBI for further questioning, according to two government officials. The DHS and the Department of Defense did not respond to Yahoo News requests for comment. The FBI also declined to comment. The engineer is believed to be inside the U.S. and is still being questioned by U.S. officials. He is likely being questioned about the restart of the Blackjack production, and the revamped or upgraded versions believed to have been worked on during the time of the Russian engineers employment." He is also likely being asked about matters unrelated to the bomber jet, which could include everything from the email system, software, staffing and manufacturer used by the aircraft production facility information that could be used to carry out targeted cyberattacks or for intelligence gathering or other efforts. We of course know the Russian bomber well. But specs, the real specs, nuclear capabilities there are certainly things we would be interested in hearing about, if this guy is credible. The big thing is: Did they retrofit it for hypersonic missiles? a military official explained to Yahoo News. Getty Images Im not saying he does [know the answer] and Im not saying he doesnt. Im not even saying we know if he does or does not have that information. Im just saying if he had anything that speaks to that, that would be significant. Retired CIA senior clandestine services officer Daniel Hoffman said that he didnt think this Russian engineers case was anything out of the ordinary. The guys here so hell be processed, hell go through our system and theyll talk to him and hear about what he used to do and thats it, its pretty simple, Hoffman said. You know, you'll talk to the guy about where he used to work and see what his access was and if theres anything valuable. Maybe we have that information, maybe we dont, I dont know. Theres nothing more that hes going to do for you, its all historical, Hoffman told Yahoo News. This kind of thing happens all the time. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced increasing pressure on Monday to put the brakes on his government's drive to enact sweeping changes to the Israeli judiciary, with hundreds of thousands of protesters taking to the streets. The courts overhaul plan has sparked unprecedented public anger since Netanyahu's coalition of hard-right and religious parties came to power late last year, and has also caused alarm among Israel's Western allies. WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEM WITH THE JUDICIARY? Critics of the Supreme Court including many in the coalition government say the bench is left-leaning and elitist and has become too interventionist in the political sphere, while often putting minority rights before national interests. WHAT DOES THE COALITION WANT? The government has been pursuing changes that would limit the Supreme Court's powers to rule against the legislature and the executive, while according coalition lawmakers more power in appointing judges. The panel for selecting judges currently requires politicians and judges who sit on it to agree on appointments. The present proposal would change that, giving coalition governments decisive sway. Netanyahu, who is formally barred from involvement in the initiative as he is on trial on corruption charges that he denies, has said such changes aim to balance and diversify the Supreme Court bench. He has also accused the media of misrepresenting the plan and fanning the flames of protest in order to topple his government. WHY ARE SO MANY ISRAELIS PROTESTING? Israel's democratic "checks and balances" are relatively fragile. It has no constitution, only "basic laws" meant to help safeguard its democratic foundations. In its one-chamber Knesset (parliament), the government holds a 64-56 majority in seats. Critics say the changes will weaken the courts and hand unbridled power to the government, endangering democratic rights and liberties with catastrophic effects on the economy and relations with Western allies, who have already voiced concern. Story continues A judiciary no longer seen as independent could also strip Israel of one of its main defences in potential international legal cases, which may include any allegations of war crimes in its long-running conflict with the Palestinians. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called on Saturday for the government to pull the legislation, saying disputes over the measures are threatening Israel's security, with thousands of army reservists joining protests and refusing call-ups for training. WHAT OTHER FACTORS ARE AT PLAY? Critics fear Netanyahu wants to leverage the judicial shake-up to void his graft trial or exert influence in any appeal at the Supreme Court. He has denied having any such intentions. The opposition also says Netanyahu's nationalist allies want to weaken the Supreme Court to expand Jewish settlements in occupied territory which the Palestinians seek for a state. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties in the coalition want to pass a law exempting their community from service in the conscript military, a step they worry might be struck down by the highest court if its powers are not cut back. Israel's ultra-Orthodox population has long felt hounded by the court with respect to military service. WHAT'S NEXT? The government had been aiming for final ratification of the changes to selection of judges by April 2, when lawmakers go on spring recess. Other changes, some of which have been approved at the first of three Knesset readings required for ratification, have been deferred until parliament reconvenes on April 30. But Netanyahu was on Monday widely expected to freeze the legislation after his decision to sack his defence minister, who proposed delaying the reforms, provoked a massive street protest. That also prompted other senior members of his party to call for a pause, while the main labour union went on strike. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell and Steven Scheer; Editing by Mark Heinrich) F-35B fighter jet. Illustrated | Gettyimages America's F-35 jet fighter is running into problems again. Bloomberg reports that production of the plane has "marred by excessive defects and rework" that have reduced U.S. military readiness even though Lockheed Martin has already built and delivered more than 800 of the jets. It's yet another in a series of setbacks that have plagued the fighter since it first entered production in 2006. The program has been "dogged by bad news," The New York Times reported in 2019, raising all kinds of questions about the effectiveness and costs of the Pentagon's weapons-development process. (National Interest labeled the jet "the most expensive weapon system in human history.) Why does the F-35 have such a troubled history? And what does it mean for American air superiority? Here's everything you need to know: What is the F-35's mission? "The F-35 was billed as a fighter jet that could do almost everything the U.S. military desired," Michael P. Hughes writes for The Conversation. The plane was designed for the Air Force, Marines, and Navy, as well as international clients like Britain, Italy, Norway, and Canada. (The American Legion's website once labeled it "The free world's fighter jet.") It was expected to replace earlier generations of fighter jets like the Air Force's F-16 and the Marines' Harrier jump jets. It was expected to be stealthy. It was supposed to be cost-effective. And it was expected to be light years ahead of anything that America's rivals could produce. The problem: "It's turned out to be none of those things." When did the F-35's problems start? Right from the beginning. The Vanity Fair's Adam Ciralzky reported in 2013 that the Joint Strike Fighter program was launched in 2001 with a plan to put entire squadrons of planes in the air by 2010, at a relatively paltry cost of $233 billion. More than a decade later, however, the plans were "at least seven years behind schedule and plagued by a risky development strategy, shoddy management, laissez-faire oversight, countless design flaws, and skyrocketing costs." Three years after that the project's cost had doubled from its original estimates, and CNN reported that late Sen. John McCain decried the plane's development as "a scandal and a tragedy with respect to cost, schedule, and performance." And those problems continue right up through the present moment. Even now, Business Insider reports the F-35 "still hasn't been approved for full-rate production and remains in limited procurement. Story continues So what are the problems? Where to start? Here's a short list. The F-35 has been troubled by "problems with its stealth coating, sustained supersonic flight, helmet-mounted display, excessive vibration from its cannon, and even vulnerability to being hit by lightning," Business Insider reports. (The irony? The F-35's official nickname is the "Lightning II.") There have even been troubles building a simulator for pilot training. Because of issues with the jet's tail section, the Pentagon has limited how long the aircraft can fly at supersonic speeds only short bursts of power are allowed. "The problem may make it impossible for the Navy's F-35C to conduct supersonic intercepts," Defense News reported in 2020. The program has also been plagued by a lack of spare parts for its $12 million engines: In February 2022, The Drive reports, "36 of the fleet of about 450 F-35s or about 8 percent were unable to fly because they had no working engine." In August, the Pentagon temporarily paused fighter deliveries because it discovered a Chinese-made part was used in production. And in December, deliveries were paused again after an F-35 crashed in Texas. (The pilot safely ejected.) How much does all this cost? A lot. The F-35 "remains DOD's most expensive weapon system program. It is estimated to cost over $1.7 trillion to buy, operate, and sustain," the Government Accountability Office reported in April. As of 2018, the New York Times reported, "flying an F-35A cost about $44,000 per hour on average about double the cost of operating the Navy's Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet." But that doesn't reflect the entire expense. In a separate report in December 2022, the GAO pointed out that the Air Force and Navy have both increased their budgets to refurbish decades-old fighters like F-16s and F-18s to keep pilots in the air. But that affects military readiness, the agency warned: "DOD's tactical aircraft capacity the size of its force available to meet operational demands can be adversely affected by extended periods of aircraft depot maintenance and aircraft retirement." Why not cancel the program, then? That's hard to do militarily, economically, and politically. At 1945, Brent Eastwood suggests it is an "inopportune time" to shut down the F-35 while Russia and China are fielding their own stealthy fighter jets. Canceling the program would cost thousands of jobs at Lockheed Martin, and it would be hard to accomplish politically. When then-President-elect Donald Trump fumed about the F-35's cost overruns in 2016, "Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz plus Representatives Marc Veasey and Kay Granger went to work lobbying the White House to leave the F-35 intact." What's next? Bloomberg reports the F-35 faces "a key combat simulation by mid-year" already years past due that will simulate the fighter's effectiveness "against the most advanced threats posed by Chinese and Russian aircraft and air defenses." The Navy Times reports the F-35 has to complete the test before "the F-35 Joint Program Office to move the fighter into full-rate production." You may also like Drinking water from the sea 5 entertaining cartoons about Biden's State of the Union address United Airlines flight plunged to within 800 feet of Pacific Ocean Feb. 12TRAVERSE CITY The Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday closed airspace over the northern part of Lake Michigan for just under two hours. No commercial flights were canceled or delayed as a result of this closure, according to flight data from Cherry Capital Airport. "The FAA briefly closed some airspace over Lake Michigan to support Department of Defense activities," FAA Public Affairs Specialist Rick Breitenfeld said to the Record-Eagle in a statement. "The airspace has been reopened." The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in their own press release this closure occurred around 12 p.m. on Sunday. They updated the statement at 1:51 p.m. to state the flight restriction had already been lifted. Cherry Capital Airport Director Kevin Klein said around 2:30 p.m. all operations into and out of the airport had already returned to normal. "This impacted our flight pattern so that aircrafts operating at TVC could avoid this area," Klein said in a statement. Neither NORAD nor the FAA have said exactly what caused the brief airspace closure. U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman later Tweeted "the U.S. military has decommissioned another 'object' over Lake Huron." Less than 24 hours prior to the Lake Michigan closure, both the FAA and NORAD announced a similar temporary airspace closure over Montana. NORAD said in a statement yesterday that in Montana they had "detected a radar anomaly and sent fighter aircraft to investigate." Once the aircraft searched the area, NORAD said they did not find any objects that could have been related to what they saw on the radar. Both cases are still under investigation by the FAA and NORAD as of Sunday afternoon. (Reuters) - Kosovo will on Friday mark the 15th anniversary of its declaration of independence from Serbia. Here are key facts about the small western Balkan republic: POPULATION: Around 1.8 million according to the most recent census in 2011, which local Serbs boycotted. Ethnic Albanians comprise more than 90 percent of the population, Serbs about 5.3 percent with ethnic groups such as Bosniaks, Turks and Roma making up the remainder. A fresh census is scheduled this year. AREA: Kosovo spans 10,908 square kilometres (4,212 square miles). It borders Serbia to the north and east, Macedonia to the southeast, Albania the southwest and Montenegro the west. CAPITAL: Pristina. LANGUAGE: Albanian and Serbian are official languages. RELIGION: Around 90 percent - largely ethnic Albanians - are Muslims. The other significant denominations are Orthodox Christians - mainly Serbs - and Roman Catholics. STATE & GOVERNMENT: A parliamentary democracy with a 120-seat legislature, including 10 seats reserved for Serbs and 10 for other minorities. Government is headed by the prime minister, with the president in a ceremonial role. ECONOMY: Landlocked and poor, Kosovo hopes its mineral wealth will eventually unlock the foreign investment it needs to tackle unemployment of around 30 percent. But many investors are deterred by volatile ethnic tensions. Corruption, smuggling and organised crime are other serious problems stunting development and undermining Kosovo's aspiration to EU membership. HISTORY & PEOPLE: Kosovo became part of the Kingdom of Serbia in the early 13th century, with a mixed population of ethnic Albanians, Serbs and Vlachs. The Nemanjic dynasty made Kosovo the spiritual heartland of Serbia, giving lands to the Orthodox Church and building monasteries that still stand today. Many Serbs left over the five centuries after the Ottoman Empire defeated Serbs under Prince Lazar in the 1389 Battle of Kosovo, while ethnic Albanians grew in number. Mutual expulsions and migrations to and from neighbouring Albania in the early 20th century changed Kosovo's ethnic makeup. Story continues VIOLENCE & WAR: Ethnic tensions escalated in the 1980s as federal, multinational Yugoslavia began to crumble and economic conditions deteriorated. Populist firebrand Slobodan Milosevic stoked Serb nationalism as a springboard to Serbia's presidency in 1989 and rescinded Kosovo's provincial autonomy. He accused Kosovo Albanians of persecuting local Serbs and restricted their rights in education and local government. After years of passive Kosovar resistance to Belgrade, an armed uprising flared in the late 1990s led by Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas, prompting a brutal crackdown by the Serbian-led Yugoslav federal army and Serbian security police. Western powers warned Milosevic they would not tolerate another wave of Balkan "ethnic cleansing" after wars in Bosnia and Croatia. Peace talks in France failed and in March 1999 NATO began bombing Serbia to force it to withdraw from Kosovo. Some 800,000 Albanians fled or were expelled to Macedonia and Albania before Milosevic gave in, 78 days later. As his forces pulled out and NATO took over, U.N. agencies said up to 200,000 Serbs and other ethnic minorities left as well. FROM LIMBO TO INDEPENDENCE: After almost a decade under transitional U.N. administration, backed by tens of thousands of NATO peacekeeping troops, Kosovo declared independence in February 2008. Its statehood has been recognised by over 100 U.N. member states, including the United States and 22 EU countries, but not Serbia, its big power ally Russia, or China. Serbia has vowed never to recognise Kosovo's independence. It backs nationalist minority Serbs in north Kosovo boycotting the state, creating a de facto partition. Half of local Serbs, or around 50,000, live in other parts of Kosovo and have become integrated into its political and economic life. In July 2010, the International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion that Kosovo's declaration of independence had not violated general international law. Belgrade and Kosovo have since engaged in years of sporadic, inconclusive talks on normalisation brokered by the European Union, but with no breakthrough to date. The stand-off in north Kosovo has been marked by repeated violent confrontations over the years, with Serbs erecting barricades and clashing with Pristina police trying in vain to impose state authority. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Mark Heinrich) (Getty Images) The long-awaited independent report into the chaos at the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris has been published. Here is a look at some of the factors which contributed to disorganised and worrying scenes at the Stade de France. Logistics A rail strike meant only one of the two railway lines to the stadium was fully operational, resulting in thousands of Liverpool fans travelling from the city centre all arriving at the same Stade de France Saint-Denis station. The 15-minute walking route to the stadium was not signposted and fans were directed into a built-up area and through a narrow subway and motorway underpass partially blocked by strategically-placed police vans to a checkpoint at the foot of a 30-foot wide ramp which was not designated as a main entrance. Ticket checks The amount of time to check tickets complicated by issuing a mix of paper and digital tickets resulted in huge congestion building up at checkpoints with an estimated 15,000 fans congested in that area more than two-and-a-half hours before kick-off. The French Senate report into the final accepted a risk of crushing did develop particularly traumatic for Liverpool fans, specifically Hillsborough survivors and ticket pre-checks were abandoned. Violent attacks Abandoning ticket checks allowed a number of local youths to access the perimeter of the stadium. A number of those either attempted and some succeeded to jump the fence or tried to steal tickets from fans penned in as the turnstiles had been closed. The Senate report estimated 300-400 locals committed numerous acts of theft with violence observed by the police. After the match local gangs ambushed fans exiting the stadium and with no police protection numerous were subjected to violent robberies by thugs with weapons. Police response Having allowed congestion to build up to dangerous levels outside the perimeter, the polices response was to indiscriminately pepper spray fans including children pressed up against the railings in an attempt to relieve pressure on the turnstiles. As the match drew to a close police in riot gear emerged inside the stadium and proceeded to position themselves around the Liverpool but not Madrids end. However, a lack of presence outside the stadium contributed to gangs running riot against defenceless supporters outside. Story continues UEFAs actions Kick-off was delayed initially for 15 minutes, eventually for 36 minutes, with an initial message displayed on screens inside incorrectly blaming Liverpool fans late arrival which prompted outrage from Reds supporters already inside. UEFA doubled-down on the blame after the match, issuing a statement relayed to broadcasters which said: The turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles. Local authority intervention French ministers had talked of Liverpool supporters as having been a major hooligan threat, contrary to the Merseyside Police intelligence, and it emerged police had acted on a misconceived view of the Hillsborough disaster and believed it meant they had to have riot police in force. French interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, claimed 30,000 to 40,000 Liverpool fans had forged or no tickets, alleging there had been an industrial scale ticket fraud. However, the Senate report stressed it was unfair to have tried to blame the Liverpool supporters for the disturbances to divert attention from the states inability to adequately manage the crowds and to curb the actions of several hundred violent and co-ordinated delinquents. Screenshot of a video showing a fireball falling over France Feb. 13, 2023. A dramatic fireball lit up European skies just hours after its discovery in space. Krisztian Sarneczky spotted the small asteroid at Konkoly Observatory's Piszkesteto Station, located some 60 miles (100 kilometers) northeast from Budapest, with a 2-foot (0.6-meter) telescope. The information was passed along to the European Space Agency, hours before it fell into the atmosphere around 10 p.m. EST Feb. 12 (0300 GMT Feb. 13). "I discovered this small body during a routine NEO [near Earth object] hunt," Sarneczky told Space.com senior writer Tereza Pultarova in an e-mail. "It was immediately obvious that it was an NEO, but it wasn't particularly fast across the sky, as it was heading right towards us, and it was faint," Sarneczky added. It's not the first time Sarneczky has given a heads-up for a dramatic fireball event, as the professional asteroid hunter did the same thing in March 2022. "At the time I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime event," he said. "I was wrong." Related: What are asteroids? Screenshot of a video showing a fireball falling over France Feb. 13, 2023. The discovery image of #2023 CX1 (aka #Sar2667) taken at #Konkoly Observatory's Piszkesteto Station with the 0.60-m Schmidt telescope. Three 4x25 sec stacked images. Nothing special at first. A normal 19.5 mag NEO. pic.twitter.com/1PaYtsv9tzFebruary 13, 2023 See more @esaoperations reported a 1 m meteoroid before it entered Earth's atmosphere over northern France early this morning: only the 7th time an #asteroidimpact has been predicted - but a sign of the rapid advances in global detection capabilities! #Fireball #Sar2667 https://t.co/MzYoIkRaF2February 13, 2023 See more You can clearly see in these shots how the viewing geometry of #Sar2667's meteor track changes from place to place: https://t.co/StkNPyf3AnFebruary 13, 2023 See more Story continues Asteroid Sar2667, about a meter in diameter, was expected to fall near the French city of Le Havre at 02:59h UTC. I drove to a photogenic spot close to home in the south of the Netherlands to capture it, just as the sky cleared.#asteroid #meteor @IMOmeteors @apod pic.twitter.com/MNZofhkrd7February 13, 2023 See more By coincidence, the fireball fell almost exactly 10 years after a six-story space rock unexpectedly exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia on Feb. 15, 2013, causing minor injuries and damage. Space agencies around the world reaffirmed their commitment to tracking such objects at the time, with NASA opening a Planetary Defense Coordination Office in the wake of the event. Most fireballs are completely harmless, however, and it is rare for any fragments to make it to the ground. NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and numerous other entities nevertheless keep a 24/7 watch on the sky for any asteroids coming near the Earth's orbit. Nothing critically threatening to our planet has been found in decades of searching, but the watch continues, just in case. The detection of the 3.2-foot (one-meter) meteoroid, called SAR 2667, is only the seventh time astronomers have been able to do so, according to ESA. "It's a sign of the rapid advances in global detection capabilities," the agency wrote on Twitter. RELATED STORIES: Meteor showers 2023: Where, when and how to see them This astronomer turns small Eastern European country into an asteroid-spotting powerhouse Scientists trace fireball to strange rocky meteoroid from the edge of the solar system The event generated 40 reports early in the morning local time (roughly 0300 GMT) in the United Kingdom and on the European continent, according to the American Meteor Society. Reports came from locations like England, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Editor's Note: If you snapped a photo or video of the fireball and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com. Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of "Why Am I Taller?" (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a book about space medicine. Follow her on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook. By Ju-min Park and Sakura Murakami UBE, Japan (Reuters) - On a crisp February morning, four elderly Korean men bowed their heads towards Japan's Seto Inland Sea as the surf lapped near their shoes. They were paying respects to relatives entombed in a coal mine deep beneath their feet 80 years ago - among thousands of Korean bodies scattered across Japan in an enduring symbol of a colonial past that has long blighted ties between the neighbours. But with renewed diplomatic efforts to improve relations, families of the men drafted to support Japan's war effort in what is known as the Chosei mine during its 1910-45 occupation of the Korean peninsula, see a last chance for closure. "It is now or never," said 75-year-old Yang Hyeon, whose uncle was among 136 Koreans and 47 Japanese killed when the leaky mine beneath the seabed on southern Japan's coast collapsed and flooded in 1942. "Now that things are apparently getting better with Japan, I'm asking the two governments to think about us." Yang, who attended the low-key ceremony in the town of Ube on Feb. 4, is part of a group of family members and residents urging the two governments to dig up the bodies and send them home. The remains of as many as 10,000 Koreans who died in forced labour, digging mines or building dams, are still in Japan, according to South Korean government estimates. Japan says it has identified 2,799 remains of Korean wartime labourers. Efforts to repatriate them have gone nowhere for more than a decade but since taking office last year, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has sought to settle historic issues with Japan and focus on shared, present-day threats such as nuclear-armed North Korea and China. Those overtures, which resulted in the first talks between the country's leaders in years in September, have given hope to the elderly relatives of the Chosei miners that they may still live to see their loved ones' remains returned home. Story continues "We're running out of time," said Son Bong-soo, a grandson of one of the victims, who at 65 is the youngest family member in the group. "Once we die, no one will care." In 2005, Japan announced a push to return the remains of Korean wartime labourers, but the initiative made little progress and petered out several years later amid souring relations. "We expect to have a positive conversation with Japan over repatriation of the remains as now South Korea and Japan both have a strong will to resolve the forced labour issues," South Korea's interior ministry, which handles colonial-era forced labour disputes, said in a statement. The ministry said it had not discussed specific cases such as the Chosei miners. Japan's foreign ministry said it had been in communication with South Korea about wartime labour issues but could not disclose details. GRIM CONDITIONS One of the challenges at Chosei is the expense and logistics of excavating bodies from a submerged mine that extends at least 1 km out to sea and nearly 40 metres underground. Japan's labour ministry, which said it had previously conducted a study of the incident, told Reuters the cost of an excavation would likely run into millions of U.S. dollars. But campaigners argue that is a price worth paying to recognise the hardship and injustice that the families endured. According to a 2007 report on the Chosei mine commissioned by South Korea, workers mainly drafted from poor farming towns in Korea lived in packed dormitories surrounded by high fencing and were regularly beaten by Japanese supervisors. Living conditions were so desperate that in 1939, more than 200 workers staged a protest, breaking windows and a telephone inside the mine's management office, the report said referring to a Japanese government statement at the time. In the months before the mine collapsed, there were constant leaks and pumps were installed to draw water out of the shaft to keep it operational, according to testimonies of surviving miners cited in the report. 'NEW PATH' Now 89 and using a hearing aid and walking stick, Jeon Seok-ho vividly remembers the morning his father died in the mine when he was eight years old. His teacher told him that there had been an accident and to go straight home. As he rushed back along the shore, he spotted columns of water spouting from the sea above the mine. Then he heard the wail of the villagers as they watched the waters rise up to the mine entrance, he recalled. "It ended just like that. I lost my dad," Jeon said. After the war, Jeon returned to Korea but his family struggled to live off the meagre income his mother made selling rice cakes and what he could muster driving cattle for farmers. Growing up, he said he often thought of his father, trapped in the water so far away, but as the years pass he is losing hope of ever bringing him home. "The governments are paying lip service to us but actually have done nothing," he said as he watched a video of the recent ceremony on YouTube at his home in Daegu, South Korea. His mood lifted when Yoko Inoue, the 72-year-old Japanese head of the campaign group pressing to retrieve the remains, appeared on screen. "Inoue-san, hang in there!" Jeon shouted, breaking into Japanese. Back in Ube, Inoue told Reuters that if left untouched, the bodies at Chosei would forever be a symbol of the two countries' bitter past. But if recovered, they would serve as a show of unity. "We have a great opportunity," she said. "There's momentum now, and the Japanese and Korean governments are trying to reconcile their differences." "That also means unearthing historical problems. But given that there are both Japanese and Korean people there, this could forge a new path if both governments could work together." (Reporting by Sakura Murakami in Ube, Japan and Ju-min Park in Daegu, South Korea; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Robert Birsel) [Source] Sung Kang, who most famously portrays Han Lue in the Fast and Furious franchise, recently revealed a memorable fan encounter in which he was mistaken for actor Jackie Chan. On Thursday, a promotional event for the next installment in the franchise, Fast X, took place at the L.A. Live Event Deck in Los Angeles. During the event, Kang told host Maria Menounos and the crowd about an incident that occurred during the film's production. Kang said he went to a nearby convenience store to buy milk when the employee at the counter expressed that he was a fan of his work in the film Rush Hour, mistaking Kang for Chan, who starred in the 1998 action-comedy film alongside Chris Tucker. More from NextShark: Tokyo Restaurant to Serve Custom 3D-Printed Sushi According to Your Health Needs After recognizing his mistake, the employee proceeded to apologize and let Kang have the milk for free along with a bag of snacks. This is apparently not the first time Kang has been mistaken for Chan. In a tweet from 2012, Kang expressed frustration at being repeatedly mistaken for Chan, noting that he found what he initially took as a compliment to be upsetting. More from NextShark: Jordan Clarkson ejected from game just days after $15,000 fine Kang did not appear to be upset when recounting his recent experience, but misidentification is a common experience among Asians and Asian Americans and is considered a microaggression by cultural critics. Kangs character was revived in the popular franchise with the 2021 film F9 after being killed off in the 2006 film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Hans first appearance in the franchise. Both films were directed by Justin Lin, who first featured the character in his 2002 film Better Luck Tomorrow. Lin was originally set to direct the latest entry in the franchise but stepped away from the project after a reported falling out with actor Vin Diesel. More from NextShark: School district in Wisconsin to make Hmong, AAPI history part of curriculum Directed by Louis Leterrier, Fast X is the 10th main Fast and Furious film and is set to hit cinemas on May 19. More from NextShark: San Jose Inspector Caught Taking Bribes, Raping Women at Asian Massage Parlors Louis Leterrier and Jason Momoa in "Fast X." Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images / Giulia Parmigiani / Universal Pictures "Fast X" director Louis Leterrier said he had to rework the script in "one night" with no sleep. Leterrier told Esquire Middle East that he was on set four days after being asked to direct. He added that the producers asked him to rework the third act while he was on a flight to set. "Fast X" director Louis Leterrier said he had to rewrite nearly the whole script on "no sleep" after being asked to change the third act on his way to set. Last year, Justin Lin, who had previously directed four "Fast and Furious" movies, stepped down from directing the upcoming blockbuster sequel one week after production began. Leterrier was hired in his place and in a new interview with Esquire Middle East, the "Now You See Me" director said he had just four days between getting the call to direct to being on the "Fast X" set. "I got a call from the heads of Universal saying, 'Can you call us back?' I thought it was a butt dial. I was like, 'I'll call you tomorrow.' He was like, 'No, call us now, this is not a mistake. Can you read a script by 5am?'" Leterrier said. "I read the script, and the script was incredible. It was Justin's script, and it was wonderful. Without knowing too much about it, I instantly said yes." Leterrier said that he had to go through a series of meetings with producers, actors, and the franchise's star Vin Diesel before he could start filming. During this time, the producers asked him to rewrite the third act of the movie. Vin Diesel and Rita Moreno in "Fast X." Universal Pictures "I read the script four times on the plane, and I said I had some ideas, and they said, 'Great, because the whole third act is changing. Can you rewrite it tonight?'" the director recalled. "I was literally on no sleep. I'd been on no sleep for days." Leterrier continued: "Obviously, this was not going to be set in stone. But I was like, 'Okay, yeah, I've got some ideas,' and started writing. And obviously, since the third act was changing, I needed to change the first act. And when you rewrite the third act, and the first act, the second act has to go. So basically I had to on the fly rebuild the airplane." Story continues Speaking to Variety at the trailer event for "Fast X," Leterrier said that he was nervous to take the director's chair because he is such a huge fan of the franchise. In the tenth installment of the action franchise, Dominic Torreto (Diesel) and his family have to go up against a new villain, Dante (Jason Momoa), the son of "Fast Five" villain Reyes. Dante appears to want revenge against Dom for killing his father and stealing his family's riches. "Fast X" is in theaters on May 19. Read the original article on Insider A dad-of-two was diagnosed with a brain tumour after thinking he could smell matches and fireworks burning. Neil Danziger, 47, started getting lightheaded and smelling things burning in December 2020. Neil decided to get his symptoms checked out as he had previously suffered from high blood pressure and cholesterol and his grandad, John Sive, had died of a heart attack at age 60. After a few tests, Neil was told that he had a brain tumour and was in complete shock. Neil, who works in recruitment, from Queens Park, London said: Since early December 2020 Id been having lightheaded moments. Often if Id been doing something Id need to sit down, and it was followed by a strong sense of smell. I felt surprised but ready for battle my game face came out. I felt as optimistic as I possibly could because it was so small, only 1cm. Id heard of people having plum or apple-sized tumours and I had a pea. So, I thought I have a pea, I can do this. After his diagnosis, Neil went to see a neurologist and had an operation to take the tumour out on February 8, 2021. Neil checked himself into The Wellington Hospital, North London and was in the operating theatre by the afternoon. He said: As far as they could tell, they had got it all. Everything went pretty well and they were happy with my recovery. The next day I was feeling OK but a bit sore on the side of my head, where theyd operated. After the operation, a biopsy of his tumour was sent off to the labs. Although initially identified as a low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma - slow-growing tumours that arise from cells. Neils tumour was found to be surrounding cells from a mutated gene more commonly found in high-grade diffuse midline gliomas - primary central nervous system tumours - which led doctors to recommend a more aggressive treatment plan. He went on to have six weeks of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy followed by six months of chemotherapy. The dad, who is being monitored with regular scans, said: Being diagnosed initially was a shock but I felt as optimistic as I possibly could because it was so small only 1cm. Story continues Id heard of people having plum or apple-size tumours and I had a pea, so I thought I have a pea, I can do this.I felt surprised but ready for battle my game face came out, Having raised more than 16,000 for Brain Tumour Research, February 8, 2022, Neil Danziger and his wife Victoria were invited to the charitys Centre of Excellence at the Queen Mary University of London. (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS) The hospital is leading the way in research into glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of brain tumour in adults. They spoke to scientists about their work to find a cure for the disease and placed six tiles on a Wall of Hope, each one representative of the 2,740 it costs to fund a day of research. Neil raised the money by taking part in the popular Brain Tumour Research Walk of Hope fundraiser last year.He said: The Walk of Hope was such a rewarding and enjoyable experience, and it was invigorating to be out having finished my fifth round of chemo just a few days before. I was joined by lots of my friends, including several who used to drive me to my radiotherapy sessions and then walk around Regents Park with me after, so to walk 13 miles across London with them was fantastic. A Canadian environmental publication has announced plans to sue the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), arguing it violated the rights of a photojournalist after she was arrested and detained while on the job. The lawsuit, if successful, could have significant implications for Canadian journalists reporting in areas where police try to limit both public and media access. Related: Outrage after two journalists detained at Indigenous protest in Canada In 2021, award-winning photojournalist Amber Bracken, who has previously worked with the Guardian, was arrested during a police raid on a protest camp in British Columbia. She was detained for three days before she was released. Police were enforcing a court-ordered injunction against demonstrators, more than a dozen of whom were also arrested. Bracken was on assignment at the time for the Narwhal, and editors with the environmental publication had previously notified police that Bracken was reporting in the area. She was provided with a letter of assignment and had identification tags on her cameras. On Monday, the Narwhal announced it was suing the police for damages for Brackens wrongful arrest, wrongful detention and a violation of her constitutional rights. Ambers arrest is seared into my memory. The text informing me that she had been arrested. The late-night phone calls with lawyers, the sense of helplessness as Amber was inexplicably held in jail for three days, Carol Linnitt, co-founder of the Narwhal, told reporters in Vancouver. Until now, Canadian police forces havent had to face real consequences for their infringements on press freedom. But that stops today. In 2019, a Canadian court in Newfoundland and Labrador recognized that injunction orders do not apply to journalists working in the field. But even though Bracken told police of the precedent, none appeared aware of the rights of media. Speaking to reporters, Bracken revisited the moments leading up to her arrest. Story continues A police dog barked and whined as officers broke in the door with an axe and then a chainsaw to arrest the people inside. In that moment, I was both trembling and absolutely rooted in place. I was determined not to let this moment go unreported, she said. She took hundreds of photos, many of which were published in newspapers across the country. I felt kidnapped. I have never been arrested before. And its the best word I can think of to describe being taken so abruptly from my life and from my work and in violation of my Charter rights. Bracken said she kept waiting for the police to realize their mistake but instead, she was kept overnight. A month later after her arrest, Coastal GasLink dropped the civil contempt charges against Bracken and Michael Toledano, a documentary film-maker who was also arrested. While Coastal GasLink has ongoing concerns with respect to the fairness and approach of these individuals, we do not believe, in this situation, further civil court actions are merited, TC Energy, who owns and operates Coastal GasLink, said in a statement at the time. Bracken was documenting simmering tensions over the 670km Coastal GasLink pipeline, a controversial project that would transport natural gas from the north-eastern part of British Columbia to a facility in Kitimat. Related: Canada: Wetsuweten sign historic deal to negotiate land rights The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) has argued the arrest left many questions unresolved, including the relationship between the media and the police in exclusion zones areas where the public is prohibited during police action. I dont know if its blissful ignorance, or just a blatant disregard for the law. But we want to make sure law enforcement understands this is the role of journalists: theyre not there as sort of an inconvenient troublemaker. Theyre there to document events and to support the publics right to know and to bear witness, CAJs president, Brent Jolly, told the Guardian. Despite all the efforts of law enforcement to criminalize journalism over the past several years, journalism isnt a crime. Bracken told reporters she has returned to the region to photograph, but wanted her case to help ensure police were aware of the rights of media. As a journalist, I never wanted to be the story. But the police took that decision for me when they finally made it impossible for me to do my job, she said. That day I stood my ground to report. Today we are standing up to hopefully prevent such an arrest and the resulting chill on reporting from ever happening again. In a statement, a spokesperson for the RCMPs British Columbia division said: At this time we are currently seeking clarity to determine whether the RCMP has been served with the Notice of Civil Claim. The RCMP is however aware of the claim, but, as we are subject to it and the court process, it would be inappropriate for us to comment. Once served, the Department of Justice will review and a statement of defence for the RCMP will be issued through the appropriate court process. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna joined the luxury automaker as CEO in September of 2021, after working at semiconductor manufacturing corporation STMicroelectronics. Giorgio Panacci/LiveMedia/NurPhoto via Getty Images Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna credited Tesla for accelerating progress in EV production. Ferrari is an "emotional car" while Tesla is a "functional car," he said. Ferrari plans to unveil its first fully electric car in 2025, taking it to market in 2026. Controversies aside, no one can say that Tesla's CEO Elon Musk doesn't have a talent for getting things moving. And Tesla certainly got things moving for the electrification of the automotive industry, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna told Bloomberg. "The big contribution that Tesla has made to the automotive industry?" Vigna said in an interview published on February 13th. "It was a wake-up call. Things used to happen too slowly. Tesla shook up the industry and accelerated processes and decisions." Vigna joined the luxury automaker as CEO in September of 2021, after working at semiconductor manufacturing corporation STMicroelectronics. While Vigna credited Tesla for its agility, he also stressed the differences between a Tesla and a Ferrari. "There are functional cars that have the goal of moving people from point A to point B, emitting zero carbon dioxide. You don't care about its brand; what really matters is that it moves you," he said. "Separately, there are emotional cars that give you a unique driving experience, like Ferraris." Ferrari plans to unveil its first full electric car in 2025. While investing in electric cars, it will "keep offering a mix of technology for as long as it's feasible. That means internal combustion engines, hybrids and fully electric models," Vigna said. The company unveiled its first ever SUV, the combustion engine powered Purosangue "thoroughbred" in Italian in September of 2022. As "functional" electric cars, to use Vigna's words, become more and more popular, luxury automakers like Ferrari are getting ready to enter the market. Rolls Royce is expected to roll out its first EV, the two-door Spectre, at around $400,000 in late 2023, while Cadillac will start production of its $300,000 Celestiq in December 2023. Read the original article on Business Insider The flag of Finland Finland has not yet made a final decision on the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, said Haavisto. The minister added the government is currently deliberating whether to provide Kyiv with tanks. Read also: Finland to send heavy weapons, ammunition to Ukraine in largest aid package to date The Finnish government hasnt yet made a final decision on the supply of Leopards, this issue will be actively discussed by the Finnish authorities, he said. Read also: Finland freezes EUR 187 million in Russian assets One way or another, we will be part of this initiative, so we constantly maintain a dialogue with Germany, Poland, and other countries. Read also: Finland will transfer tanks to Ukraine only after it joins NATO In January, Finland sent Kyiv its 12th military aid package, worth about EUR 400 million ($429 million). Earlier, Finnish Defense Minister Mikko Savola said that Finland would take part in the supply of tanks to Ukraine, but its going to be a small contribution. He also stressed that the country is ready to participate both in the supply of weapons and in training Ukrainian crews to operate and maintain the German-made Leopards. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Roswell firefighters were able to locate and free a bird stuck between its owners basement ceiling and the floor above it. On Thursday, Feb. 9, firefighters received a report of strange fluttering sounds coming from above the callers basement ceiling. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] They determined the source of the sound was the familys Conure bird, which became trapped after taking flight throughout the house. TRENDING STORIES: Firefighters found the birds exact location and carefully removed him from the void space. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Donald Trump takes the stage with laser lights during a campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on November 7, 2016. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Trump's lawyer said they turned over a folder marked "classified" to the DOJ The empty folder had been used by Trump in his Mar-A-Lago home, Timothy Parlatore told CNN. Trump used it to block a blue light on a landline telephone next to his bed, Parlatore said. Former President Donald Trump used an empty folder labeled "classified" to block a blue light on his nightstand that had been keeping him awake at night, one of his lawyers told CNN on Sunday. Timothy Parlatore was responding to reports last week that claimed Trump's lawyers turned over an empty manilla folder marked "Classified Evening Briefing" to the Department of Justice last month. The DOJ had issued a subpoena for the folder after prosecutors discovered that it was located inside the private quarters of the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, The Guardian and CNN reported. Parlatore, who represents Trump in the investigation into the handling of classified material, confirmed that they handed over additional classified documents to the DOJ and that one of them was the folder. He added, however, that it was empty and had been used by Trump as a way to block light in his bedroom. "He has one of those landline telephones next to his bed, and it has a blue light on it, and it keeps him up at night. So he took the manilla folder and put it over so it would keep the light down so he could sleep at night," Parlatore told CNN. "It's just this folder ... There is nothing illegal about it, there's nothing in it," he said. "When DOJ found out about it, they went crazy and they actually gave me the subpoena to say 'give us over this empty folder that means nothing,'" he added. The folder was found four months after the FBI seized the first round of classified documents and other presidential records from Mar-A-Lago during a raid last August. The search was part of a broader investigation into whether the former president violated federal laws, including the Espionage Act. Story continues Parlatore's comments echo those made by Trump himself earlier this year when he said on Truth Social that the FBI merely recovered empty folders from his Mar-a-Lago estate. "When I was in the Oval Office, or elsewhere, 'papers' were distributed to groups of people & me, they would often be in a striped paper folder with 'Classified' or 'Confidential' or another word on them," he wrote. "When the session was over, they would collect the paper(s), but not the folders, & I saved hundreds of them." "Remember, these were just ordinary, inexpensive folders with various words printed on them, but they were a 'cool' keepsake," Trump added. But photos released last summer by the Justice Department of materials seized from the estate paint a different picture. One image shows redacted documents in folders spread out on the carpeted floor of Mar-a-Lago, some of which are labeled "TOP SECRET." Parlatore represents Trump in both the special counsel investigation into his handling of classified material and the probe linked to the January 6 attack on the Capitol in 2021. A representative for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Stephen Satterfield Food writer and media entrepreneur Stephen Satterfield, who explores food origins from the African diaspora, knows food has power as a tool, gift and catalyst to create change and build relationships. "It is the only thing that all of us share in common," Satterfield, 37, said Thursday as guest speaker for Akron Roundtable. "Everything else insofar as the human experience, we are able to create silos and fragments of our experience as humans, whereas food is the central unifying experience of being a human." Satterfield, host of the 2021 Netflix docuseries "High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America," spoke about his work studying food origins and cultures around the world at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn in Fairlawn. Ideastream's Zaria Johnson led a moderated conversation with the Atlanta resident, who was making his first visit to the Akron area. 'High on the Hog' Satterfield's work on the four-episode Netflix series brought him from the large open market of Dantokpa in Benin, West Africa, to throughout the United States. It's based on the 2011 book "High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America" by Jessica B. Harris, who's in the show's first episode. The title "High on the Hog" comes from the term that refers to the location of the best cuts of meat on a pig. It has come to mean well off. Each "High on the Hog" episode is steeped in food history. The first, "Our Roots," takes place in Benin, which had one of the most active slave trade ports in Africa. Momo House:Akron restaurant is an adventure in Nepali cuisine | Local Flavor Satterfield traces his own history to a plantation in Georgia, where his great-great-great grandparents were enslaved. Visiting Benin felt like a homecoming, he said. "Somehow on a cellular level, I felt home. I felt that I had returned to a place that though I had never been, I was connected as if I had been born there," Satterfield said. At a mass grave of thousands of slaves in Benin, he felt the presence of his ancestors: "I felt like I could hear the ground screaming. I felt I could hear people wailing underneath my feet." Story continues Story of food, story of people The food writer stressed that the story of food and the story of people are interchangeable. That includes slaves who endured forced migrations from Africa to the United States. Satterfield grew up the son and grandson of "brilliant home cooks." Yet when he started culinary school as a a teen, the curriculum did not include Black culinary heritage. That omission has led Satterfield to devote himself to projects such as "High on the Hog," which assert African Americans' place in culinary history. "Any story that gives agency and power to Black people in our world, like Black chefs or like cooks, those stories were hard to find," he said. "And so now, a lot of the work that I'm doing is just simply about showing that we're here. We've always been here and these are the ways in which our contributions have defined this dominant culture." "High on the Hog" takes viewers on a culinary history journey shaped by slavery, the Civil War, Juneteenth and the present day what Satterfield describes as a chronological story of Black people through food. Along the way, he eats everything from West African stew to soul food to barbecue to fine dining. For Satterfield's luncheon talk Thursday, sold out at 350 attendees, Hilton Akron/Fairlawn chef Beau Schmidt created a special menu inspired by the foods in "High on the Hog." They included barbecue chicken breast, smoked turkey with collard and mustard greens, jalapeno cheddar macaroni and cheese and a corn muffin. In the third episode of "High on the Hog," "Our Founding Chefs," honors the ingenuity and resilience of African American cooks who've shaped American cuisine. They include renowned chef Hercules Caesar, slave to President George Washington; and James Hemings, the enslaved chef to Thomas Jefferson who made macaroni and cheese an American classic. Satterfield said he doesn't like either of their stories, which ended sadly. "I wish they could have just been free to really be culinary artists," Satterfield said. What is Stephen Satterfield's background? Satterfield founded Whetstone, a magazine and media company dedicated to food origins and world culture. He studied at Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon, and became a wine sommelier at 21. He's founder of the nonprofit International Society of Africans in Wine, which uses wine as a socioeconomic catalyst for Black wine workers in South Africa. Out of obscurity: Akron Symphony works to share genius of composer Julia Perry with world Folks looking forward to more "High on the Hog" got a teaser from Satterfield on Season 2, which he just finished filming and will run "at some point this year" on Netflix. "The second season will focus a lot on this theme around migration," he said. Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com. Food writer Stephen Satterfield holds a Don Drumm piece he received as a gift from Akron Roundtable Thursday. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'High On Hog' host speaks of power of food stories at Akron Roundtable Ford A pair of hands plugs my helmet into a filtered air feed, another clips the window net in place. In the seat next to me, Curt LeDuc, Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer, keys the intercom. "We're going to take it easy till the shock oil has warmed up." Oh, God. I peer past the reassuring lattice crash structure, into the interminable lunar topography of the Southern California desert outside, and ponder at which point my spinal cord will exit through the top of my skull. Starting at $295,000, the new ultra-hardcore DR for Desert Raceris Ford's ultimate off-road mission statement in its Bronco lineup. The DR channels a decades-long legacy of desert racing that began with a stock first-gen Bronco's class win of the legendary 1967 Baja 1000, an outright race win in 1969, further class wins in 1971 and 1972, and 15 Baja 1000 Class 3 wins for the '78-to-'95 model between 2002 and 2019. Ford Eager to retain the DR's lineage to the dealer-lot-variety Bronco, Ford deliberately eschewed the traditional tubular frame architecture of top-tier off-road racing Trophy Trucks, instead opting to build it from a production Bronco four-door frame with as many stock suspension and drivetrain components as possible. A standard-issue 10R80 automatic transmission delivers power to the independent electronically locking front and rear 4.70:1 differentials via a stock Ford electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case. The upper front suspension A-arms are production-Bronco, and a forward section of chassis stiffening, cut from the rear rollover frame of the production Bronco, is visible in the front wheel wells. The rear axle is stock F-150, giving the DR a widened track of 73.3 inches, and the brakes are stock Bronco, or in this case, optional Alcon units. The DR's power is from a largely stock 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 equipped with thunderous exhaust headers that instantly confute any notion of road legality (the DR is not road legal). As we buck gently across the landscape, concerns of my intervertebral discs being smashed to a frothy pulp are vanquished. The 80-mm remote-reservoir Multimatic spool-valve dampers give the racer over 50 percent more suspension travel than the production Bronco Badlands15.7 inches at the front and 17.4 inches at the rearwith hydraulic bump stops soaking up the last few inches of travel from the 37-inch BFGoodrich tires. The DR's structure is immensely stout, and the electric power-assisted steeringcompletely devoid of kickbackis full of feel, wildly direct, and confidence-inspiring. From the right seat, LeDuc relays 25 years of Dakar and Baja desert-racing wisdom, his casual wit as dry as the deserts of which it was born, and I begin to relax. Aside from being a tool built for a job, the DR, at this speed, is unexpectedly comfortable and enormous fun. The big spool-valved dampers have obviously warmed up, and LeDuc gestures ahead. "Okay, we can get on it." By now I have no idea how fast we're going, and at this rate, I can't really take my eyes off the trail to check. I listen to the mechanical chaos beneath us and wonder how much the DR can take. "You cannot break it," LeDuc reassures me. "Just don't turn during a jump." (It's not the truck that he's worried about.) Faster still, and the approximately 6200-pound DR begins to float atop the terrain like a speedboat on plane. After years of bucking across these same desert trails in my own lowly road-focused garbage, the stress of not even having to consider mechanical failure is a revelation. We break out onto a wide, smooth dry lakebed. "Full gas, let's go." I press the pedal to the floor, and the DR, now pushing out over 400 horsepower, thunders like industrial machinery. With nothing for miles around to provide a visual clue as to our speed, I glance at the center-mounted screen. We're at 100 mph, but the ride is so utterly liquid and stable that I would happily sit here for hours, in this Zen-like state, being gradually deafened by five liters of screaming V-8 as the desert gently rolls by. What a fantastic place to be. The press release describes the DR as "a turnkey racing solution for serious off-road competitors," but I suspect that many of the 50 cars Ford plans to build will end up in the hands of collectors or wealthy off-road enthusiasts who just wanna rip across the desert in the baddest Bronco there is. We're back at base now. I'm back on my feet but still floating from the experience. I look over to LeDuc, pleased to see that he's still smiling. "You were at about 40 percent of its capability," he says, grinning. "This thing is serious. With a bigger fuel tank, it'd do Dakar." I look for any sign of a wink or a nod, but he's just too dry to read. You Might Also Like DETROIT (AP) Ford Motor Co. plans to build a $3.5 billion factory in Michigan that would employ at least 2,500 people to make lower-cost batteries for a variety of new and existing electric vehicles. The plant, to be built on land being readied for industrial development about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Detroit, would start making batteries in 2026. It would crank out enough batteries to supply 400,000 vehicles per year, Ford said. The factory near the city of Marshall would produce batteries with a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which is cheaper than the current nickel-cobalt-manganese chemistry now used in many EV batteries. Consumers could then choose between a battery with lower range and cost, or pay more for higher range and power. The company wouldnt give any prices just yet. The whole intent here is to make EVs more affordable and accessible to customers, said Marin Gjaja, chief marketing officer for Fords electric vehicles. Ford says a wholly owned subsidiary would own the factory and employ the workers. But Chinas Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, or CATL, which is known for its lithium-iron-phosphate expertise, would supply technology, some equipment and workers. The announcement comes at a time when U.S.-China relations are strained, and the Biden administration is offering tax credits for businesses to create a U.S. supply chain for EV batteries. To get a full $7,500 per vehicle U.S. tax credit to customers, EV batteries wont be able to have metals or components from China in them. The structure of the deal allows Ford to take advantage of U.S. factory tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. Because it's not a joint venture, it could stem criticism about the company doing business with the Chinese. Last month the state of Virginia dropped out of the race for the same Ford plant after Gov. Glenn Youngkin characterized the project as a front for the Chinese Communist Party that would raise national security concerns. At the time Virginia had not offered an incentive package to Ford. Story continues The company says that buyers initially would get at least $3,750 in tax credits because the vehicles are produced in North America. Gjaja said that over time they could get the full $7,500 credit depending on sourcing of battery minerals. Lithium-iron-phosphate batteries would go into standard-range versions of Ford's EVs. For instance, the lowest price Mustang Mach-E electric SUV would get an LFP battery and would be able to travel 247 miles per charge. The long range version of the Mach-E will have a nickel-cobalt-manganese chemistry that takes it to 310 miles per charge. The plant was revealed Monday at a meeting of the Michigan Strategic Fund, which approved a large tax incentive package for the project near the junction of Interstates 94 and 69. We were looking not only in the U.S. We were looking outside of the U.S., as well," said Bill Ford, Ford Motor Co. executive chair. "There were a lot of places in play, because, as you can imagine, a lot of states and even countries would like this kind of investment. But Michigan really stepped up. I was always biased in favor of Michigan, because my familys been here for generations," he added. About $210 million came from Michigan's Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund, known as SOAR, set up to lure industry and jobs to the state. But the total size of the incentive package wasn't clear. The SOAR Fund has received nearly $1.8 billion from the states general fund since it was first created in December of 2021. A tax-relief bill passed in the Michigan House last week could send up to $1.5 billion over three fiscal years to the SOAR Fund in addition to an $800 million one-time deposit that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer outlined in her budget proposal last week. The tax-relief bill, which still needs state Senate approval, has been heavily criticized by Republicans for giving too little to taxpayers and too much to large corporations. Last summer, Ford announced that CATL will make lithium-iron-phosphate battery packs for Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs in North America this year and for F-150 Lightning electric trucks early in 2024. The batteries at first would come from China, then be switched to the Michigan plant in 2026, Ford said. The company expects to be able to produce electric vehicles at a rate of 600,000 per year by late this year. Whitmer said the plant will bring generational opportunities for west Michigan families. It will make sure that production lines aren't stalled by global shocks or shipping delays, she said. Lithium-iron-phosphate batteries already are in use in consumer electronics and some competitors vehicles, but all the batteries are imported, said Lisa Drake, vice president of industrialization for Fords electric vehicles. This project is aimed at de-risking that by actually building out the capacity and capability to scale this technology in the United States, with Ford controlling the manufacturing and the workforce. Conrad Layson, senior analyst with AutoForecast Solutions, says the new battery factory could supply multiple Ford models. As Ford increases the number of all-electric nameplates, the output from this factory could be used to make lower-cost versions of those future all-electric Ford vehicles, he said. ____ Associated Press writers Mike Householder and Corey Williams contributed to this report. Nicola Bulley - Peter Byrne/PA Wire A forensic specialist who searched a river for missing dog walker Nicola Bulley has offered to carry out investigations on land for her family. Peter Faulding, a rescue and forensic search expert, said he was privately consulting with the family about carrying out a land search for the 45-year-old. Ms Bulley vanished on Jan 27 while walking her dog in the village of St Michaels on Wyre. As detectives carried out renewed enquiries over the weekend and searched empty properties close to where she was last seen, Paul Ansell, her 44-year-old partner, left a ribbon on a bridge with the message: NIKKI I LOVE YOU! XXXXX COME HOME NOW. Ms Bulleys phone was found on a bench by the river, with the familys dog, Willow, running loose nearby and its harness on the ground. The alarm was raised and a search operation commenced. Police have said they believe Ms Bulley fell in the river, but a specialist search team led by Mr Faulding failed to find any trace of her. In an interview last week, Mr Ansell said he was 100 per cent convinced its not the river. Mr Faulding, the founder of Specialist Group International, said he was prepared to launch a land search, telling The Telegraph: Ive offered to go up privately and put my investigative mind to it Im visiting in my own time to discuss looking at other areas without interfering with the police operation. Normally you carry out land searches, thats what the family want. Mr Faulding repeated his belief that it was unlikely Ms Bulley fell in the river, saying: On the river on the day it wasnt running very fast. Ive spent a lot of time with the family and they said she was so cautious, did the same route every day, didnt go near the river and her fitbit shows she doesnt go near the river. She would have to be pushed really hard to be launched out into the middle of the river. There is lots of odd stuff here. If she isn't found then I would say something is not right. Police officers have been ringing saying they agree with me, this is an odd one. The police divers are very professional, they would have found her that day. There is no reason she would disappear. She was happy. Story continues Charlotte Drake, a friend of Ms Bulleys, said it was positive that police were carrying out fresh enquiries, adding: Someone knows something and everyone needs to keep an open mind. We just need some extra pieces to fit into this jigsaw, no matter how small. She also said that Ms Bulleys partner wanted to publicise the fact that her car keys were with her when she vanished. Lancashire Police has been facing questions over its handling of the investigation and Philip Flower, an ex-Metropolitan Police superintendent, said faith in the police risked being lost forever if the search was bungled. Writing for The Mail on Sunday, he said that officers may have made mistakes by failing to tape off the area where her phone was found. He said he was not the only person to suggest that the facts and evidence did not support the official hypothesis. Officers have widened their CCTV investigation to include the day before Ms Bulley went missing, and have requested footage from a local garage. Police have also been told of two men acting suspiciously near her dog-walking route the day before she vanished. Thanks to the combined efforts of state lawmakers, the governor and the private sector, New York is on the cusp a nation-leading effort to bring an end to so-called forever chemicals. With an assist from the federal government, the Empire State has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to forever rid its water supplies of these toxic chemicals. Its critical that we seize this opportunity and make the most of it. For this effort to succeed, public and private partners must collaborate. For decades, a class of fluorinated organic compounds known collectively as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have been used to make a wide range of modern products, including food packaging, nonstick cookware and stain-resistant clothing and fabrics, as well as in firefighting foams at airports and military bases. Levels of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, exceeding the federal health advisory level were found in the City of Newburgh's drinking water supply, Washington Lake, in 2016. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has connected a number of health effects with PFAS exposure, including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease. Because PFAS compounds are mobile in the environment and are very stable and extremely resistant to natural breakdown, they can impact local surface water, groundwater, and potentially human health. A 2015 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the National Research Council found PFAS in 97% of human blood samples collected across the United States. PFAS have been detected in communities across New York state, leading to the establishment of legal settlements and other financial mechanisms to fund cleanup projects and protect residents. These are important steps in the right direction, but much more needs to happen to truly mitigate the potential harm PFAS can inflict on our communities. For decades, the problem appeared unsolvable, with forever chemicals posing a seemingly endless threat to countless communities across New York and the nation. But that is changing. Through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, $10 billion is available to upgrade municipal drinking water treatment plants for those impacted by PFAS. Story continues In addition, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation this past summer reported significant progress in tracking and assessing threats posed by chemicals leaking into water sources from inactive landfills. And in November 2022, New York voters approved a $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act that will direct billions more in state funds to water quality improvements. And, in December, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation banning the sale of clothing with PFAS in New York by the end of this year. In her 2023 State of the State Address, Governor Hochul further pledged to establish a new program to offer financial assistance to municipalities to investigate sources of contamination and remediate contaminated sites over the next five years. None of this much-needed progress to protect communities and residents statewide will be possible without partnering with the private sector. In recent years, my company, Parsons, has expanded its environmental research, development, and treatability study lab in Syracuse, which has focused on and invested in the treatment of water contaminants for more than three decades including emerging contaminants like PFAS. The research conducted at this lab is producing technological breakthroughs that will accelerate the fight to detect, address, treat, and eventually eliminate forever chemicals across the state, nation, and globe. Parsons is also working with the DEC to support the Inactive Landfill Initiative. This $23 million, first-of-its-kind program addresses critical drinking water contamination concerns associated with emerging contaminants from inactive landfills, including PFAS compounds and other chemicals. Partnerships like these are how we eradicate the threat posed by forever chemicals once and for all. Federal agencies, Congress, state governments and the private sector must take a page from New Yorks playbook and work in lockstep to address this threat. Our combined talents and resources can have a far greater impact than when we act alone. The long-term health and safety of New Yorkers is riding on our success. With smart decisions, adequate resources, innovative solutions, and smart investments by the state and companies like Parsons, we can take advantage of this historic opportunity to show that nothing is forever not even forever chemicals and to set an example for other states to follow. Dan Griffiths is a senior project manager in charge of Parson's contaminated site investigation and restoration program. This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: NY 'forever chemicals' plans must me made Arend Lois J. Arend, M.D., Ph.D., of Baltimore, Maryland, formerly of Monroe, has been elected president of the Renal Pathology Society (RPS) for 2023. The RPS is the only professional pathology society committed to improvement and dissemination of knowledge regarding the pathology and pathophysiology of diseases of the kidneys. Arend has served the RPS as treasurer (2015-19), councilor (2019-21) and vice president (2022). As RPS president, she will focus on efforts to support and enhance diagnostic renal pathology services in developing countries. It is an honor to have been elected president of the RPS and a privilege to serve the members of our society throughout the world. As president, I hope to continue my emphasis on improving kidney health care for patients in all countries, Arend said. Arend was selected as an International Society of Nephrology Educational Ambassador to Mongolia and Ethiopia. At the State 2nd Hospital in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and St. Pauls Hospital and Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she assisted their pathology departments in establishing diagnostic renal pathology for patient care and presented lectures to the faculty and trainees of the pathology and nephrology departments. This fall, Arend will return to Ulaanbaatar to provide further support for their renal pathology and nephrology services. Arend is currently an associate professor of pathology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. She directs all clinical fellowships within the pathology department, as well as the Renal Pathology Fellowship Program. She is co-director of the Renal Pathology Diagnostic Service at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and is an internationally recognized expert in kidney diseases. Arend is a graduate of Monroe High School and continued her education at Michigan State University, where she earned her Ph.D. and M.D. degrees. She completed her pathology residency and renal pathology fellowship at the University of Michigan. Arend is the daughter of Richard and Lucille Arend of Monroe. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Former Monroe woman elected president of Renal Pathology Society Mark Jones claims that his former boss once told him, "I don't want a team of bald-headed 50-year-old men I want to change the dynamics." Thomas Barwick / Getty Images A former UK sales director will get more than $86,000 after alleging wrongful dismissal and age discrimination. Mark Jones, now in his 60s, claims his former boss said, "I don't want a team of bald-headed 50-year-old men." Jones says he was later put on a "sham" performance improvement plan that led to him resigning last year. A former sales director in the UK has been awarded more than $86,000 after his boss allegedly told him he didn't want a team of "bald-headed 50-year-old men." Mark Jones was a sales director at UK-based cell phone company Tango Networks. He began working at the company in January 2019, when he was 59 years old, according to a ruling late last month from the employment tribunal that made the decision in the case. In the UK, an employment tribunal is a judicial body that often handles disputes between employers and workers. In 2020, the company sought to hire a new salesperson. Jones claims that during that interview process, his boss, Phillip Hesketh, told him, "A lot of the candidates we were interviewing were a mirror image of me, white middle-aged men" and that "it was a shame that we did not attract more diversity into the application process." "I don't want a team of bald-headed 50-year-old men I want to change the dynamics," Hesketh allegedly said. As for Jones' departure from the company, he was put on a performance improvement plan, which he calls a "sham," a few years after joining. Hesketh claimed he was "underwhelmed" by his employee and that Jones "needed handholding," but the tribunal said it was "unable to find that the claimant was actually not performing adequately." Jones resigned in March 2021 and subsequently alleged wrongful dismissal and age discrimination. The tribunal ultimately ruled that Tango Networks had unfairly dismissed Jones and breached its contract with him. "In our view, everything that we have set out as the basis of the claimant's dismissal is tainted by age discrimination," the group said in its ruling. "Whether consciously or unconsciously, Mr Hesketh perceived the claimant as undynamic and he associated more dynamic people with the characteristics of younger people." Story continues Jones will receive 71,441.36, or more than $86,000, in damages. Tango Networks told Insider that Hesketh no longer works at the company. In a separate ruling from a different case last year, a UK employment tribunal decided that calling a man "bald" constitutes workplace sexual harassment. In the US last year, a white man who said he was fired from his marketing job because of his sex and race was awarded $10 million in damages by a North Carolina jury. Read the original article on Business Insider Zia Chishti - Afiniti The disgraced founder of Princess Beatrice's artificial intelligence firm has been accused by the company of stealing its technology and setting up a rival in China. Zia Chishti allegedly took source code and other trade secrets when he left Afiniti in 2021, following sexual assault allegations against him. Bermuda-based Afiniti, which previously boasted David Cameron as an adviser and employs Princess Beatrice as its vice president of partnerships and strategy, claimed Mr Chishti had taken the technology by refusing to relinquish his company computer when he resigned. He has since set up his own companies in Pakistan and China and started to offer technology to state-backed companies including China Mobile, according to the lawsuit filed in Washington DC. Mr Chishti, a high-flying Washington entrepreneur who founded Afiniti in 2005 after making a fortune as the inventor of Invisalign dental braces, was forced to step down in November 2021 when Tatiana Spottiswoode, a former employee, gave evidence to the US House of Representatives that he had assaulted her when she was on a work trip with him, leaving her with injuries. Ms Spottiswoode had been awarded more than $5m (4.1m) after a secret arbitration, and her public revelations in Congress forced Mr Chishti's resignation. Afiniti had been valued at more than $1bn. It kept a roster of high-profile advisers and directors on its payroll, including Mr Cameron and former US defence chief Mike Mullen, who both quit after the allegations against Mr Chishti. Jose Aznar, the former Spanish president, and John Snow, the former US Treasury Secretary, sit on the companys board. Afinitis lawsuit, filed earlier this month, says Mr Chishti conspired with his wife, Sarah Pobereskin, and others to set up an array of companies based in China, Pakistan, and elsewhere to improperly convert and commercially exploit Afiniti Trade Secrets. The companys technology is sold to customer service departments including AT&T, Sky and Virgin Media to more efficiently match call centre staff with customers. Story continues Afiniti claims that Mr Chishtis new entities targeted and hired Afiniti employees with specific knowledge of Afiniti trade secrets and operations, setting up in the same office as its former Chinese operation and mimicking its logo. The Chinese entity, Qinhe, translates as affinity in English. Larry Babbio, who replaced Mr Chishti as Afiniti chief executive, recently told staff: We will continue to vigorously enforce our legal rights, whether in China or elsewhere and we are confident that the action we are taking today will deliver the right result. Mr Chishti denied he had stolen technology. He said: Afinitis allegations are detached from reality. I have offered to Afiniti to promptly resolve the matter by reviewing Isbeis code base, meticulously maintained on Github. This will make it clear that there has been no misappropriation. It will be telling if Afiniti refuses this offer. In December, Mr Chishti and Ms Pobereskin launched defamation proceedings against Ms Spottiswoode. The US Congress later made public the previously-secret arbitration ruling against him, which awarded Ms Spottiswoode millions. It said his conduct had been outrageous in character and extreme in degree, going beyond all possible bounds of decency. Mr Chishti continues to deny the allegations. Afiniti declined to comment. Dinghies stored in a Port Authority yard - BEN STANSALL Four Afghan boys have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl at a school in Dover. Kent Police confirmed it was investigating reports of the attack, which took place at a school in the coastal town on 6 February. Four boys, aged between 13 and 16, were arrested as part of the investigation and have since been released on bail while inquiries continue, the force said. Sources close to the investigation told The Times that three boys, aged 13, 15 and 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are alleged to have pinned the girl down and acted as lookouts to stop her getting away while the fourth boy raped her. A Kent Police spokesman said it is "investigating a report of a sexual offence involving a teenage girl and a teenage boy in Dover on the afternoon of Monday 6 February 2023". They added: Four boys were arrested as part of the investigation and have since been released on bail while inquiries continue. The teenagers, who allegedly came to Britain unaccompanied, are reportedly in the care of Kent County Councils social services. The total number of migrants who have crossed the English Channel this year has exceeded 2,000, Home Office figures revealed. On Friday 110 people in three boats crossed the Channel, bringing the total number of people brought to the UK this year to 2,070. Last week, fourteen people were arrested following clashes outside a Merseyside hotel providing refuge for asylum seekers. They have been conditionally bailed pending the outcome of police inquiries. A police van was set on fire after a rally against refugees and a counter-protest by pro-migrant groups took place near the Suites Hotel, Knowsley. Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell has condemned the violence and said the government was seeking to limit the "excessive use" of asylum hotels. PARIS (AP) Frances defense minister has denounced the way he says French soldiers deployed in Africa appear to be depicted in the Marvel Studios superhero film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as false and misleading. Minister Sebastien Lecornu strongly condemned the similarity of a fictional group of villainous mercenaries with French armed forces members, in a tweet published Sunday about the film that came out in November in France and the U.S. The plot of the film involves a fictional African country, Wakanda, faced with Western nations seeking to control fictional metal resources across the continent. A scene from the film retweeted by the minister shows a group of soldiers with their hands tied behind their backs, wearing uniforms very similar to those of French troops deployed in Africas Sahel region, being brought before the United Nations in Geneva. FILE - French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu waits at the Elysee Palace on Jan. 26 in Paris. Lecornu denounced the way French soldiers deployed in Africa are represented in a Marvel's film as FILE - French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu waits at the Elysee Palace on Jan. 26 in Paris. Lecornu denounced the way French soldiers deployed in Africa are represented in a Marvel's film as "false and misleading." The movie scene depicts mercenaries captured by Wakandans after they attacked an outpost in Mali. I am thinking of and honoring the 58 French soldiers who died defending Mali, at its request, in the face of Islamist terrorist groups, Lecornu added. The issue is sensitive in France, which completed its withdrawal from Mali last year after nine years fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. Tensions have also grown over the past year between Mali, its African neighbors and Western nations after Malis transitional government allowed Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group to deploy on its territory. France has recently announced it is withdrawing troops from Burkina Faso this month following a demand by the West African countrys military rulers. About 3,000 French soldiers remain deployed in the Sahel region, many of those based in Niger and Chad. Related... Francis Holland School, Regents Park, which was attended by Sienna Miller, Cara Delevingne and Dame Rose Tremain - Aaron Chown/PA A leading independent girls school once attended by the actress Sienna Miller named its theatre after a fraudster following a 250,000 donation, a court has heard. Francis Holland School, next to Regents Park in London, accepted the donation in 2005 from Achilleas Kallakis, 54, who duped banks out of hundreds of millions of pounds between 2003 and 2008. The money was used to fund his extravagant lifestyle, which featured a fleet of chauffeur-driven Bentleys, a private plane, a private helicopter, a luxury yacht moored in Monaco harbour and a collection of high-value art works. The school accepted the donation when it was attended by Kallakis daughter Erinoula and it was raising money for a new wing. The wing was named after the fraudster after he negotiated the terms of the donation with the headmistress and bursar, said Christopher Convey, representing the Serious Fraud Office. Payments of 75,000 and 175,000 were made in 2005 from Kallakiss Swiss bank account controlled by Swiss lawyer and businessman Michael Becker, said to have been a co-conspirator but never charged in the UK, the court heard. However, the money came from the proceeds of crime, Mr Convey said. The court heard the school had an account in the Channel Islands, prompting the judge to ask: Isnt it rather unusual for a Church of England school to have an account in Jersey? Plaque removed The school removed the plaque and returned 92,500 after Kallakis was jailed over a sophisticated five-year property and luxury yacht scam in 2013. The SFO is seeking to seize the money at a confiscation hearing at Southwark Crown Court. Francis Holland School, which charges fees of more than 21,000 a year, boasts alumni including model Cara Delevingne, the late Nancy Mitford and the author Dame Rose Tremain. Kallakis' wife Pamela wrote to the headmistress in March 2020 recalling the small ceremony to open the theatre but complaining: It has come to my attention the school has removed the plaque... in breach of the contracted agreement made in 2005. Story continues In June 2020, Kallakis son Michalis launched a civil action in the High Court following the removal of the family name from the theatre and in July 2021 a settlement was reached for the school to pay 104,500 - including 12,000 in costs. Now the SFO wants the remaining 92,500 it says is an asset available to Kallakis or a tainted gift. The hearing continues. Mick Lynch of the RMT union has rejected Network Rail's latest pay offer, paving the way for another round of rail strikes - NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Commuters are facing fresh travel chaos over Easter after rail workers voted to stage further strikes over next month and April amid an ongoing row over pay. Union leader Mick Lynch said workers will be taking "sustained and targeted industrial action over the next few months", after blaming the Government for failing to allow train companies to make new, better offers. Mr Lynch, who heads up the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT), said: "The Government can settle this dispute easily by unshackling the rail companies. "However, its stubborn refusal to do so will now mean more strike action across the railway network and a very disruptive overtime ban." It comes days after the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) rejected train operators' "best and final" 9pc pay rise. Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, had last week signalled he was not willing to allow train operators to sweeten their deal with better terms on pay. It dashed hopes that the RMT was nearing pay deals from both train operators and Network Rail. The Telegraph recently revealed that Mr Lynch had been facing pressure from members to avoid further strike action. What dates are the next train strikes? The RMT announced this afternoon that rail workers at 14 train operators are due to stage four days of walkouts - on March 16, 18 and 20, and April 1. National Rail staff are also planning to strike on March 16. The RMT says it represents around 40,000 workers across National Rail and the 14 train operators, meaning major swathes of the train network will grind to a halt. Disruption is also expected to come from a planned overtime ban by National Rail workers who are members of the RMT. Which train companies will be affected? There are 14 train companies which will be affected by the staff walkouts, and it is expected that these will be the same ones which have been hit by earlier walkouts. These are: Chiltern Railways Cross Country Trains Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern South Western Railway Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains GTR (including Gatwick Express) Story continues Why are rail workers going on strike? Unions are demanding pay rises for their members who are battling soaring inflation, although train operators are limited in how much they can offer, given they require a mandate from the Government. Train bosses are also under pressure to cut costs to balance the books, after a slump in the number of people commuting into city centres every day. This means they are looking at introducing more technology. Union bosses have said they cannot accept so-called modernisation efforts, as it would result in "a severe reduction in scheduled maintenance tasks, making the railways less safe, the closure of all ticket offices and thousands of jobs stripped out of the industry when the railways need more investment not less". Will I be able to get a refund if my train is going to be cancelled? In previous strikes, National Rail has said that, if a train journey is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, passengers are entitled to a change or refund from wherever they bought their tickets. Customers with season tickets have also been able to claim compensation through the delay repay scheme, while National Rail has said that "weekly season tickets which have not started yet can be refunded, [although] a 10 admin fee may apply". CAIRO (AP) She remembers it all: How female relatives held her down when she was 11, legs spread and genitals exposed. The fear that stiffened her body. The stranger in black holding the scissors. And the pain. Like so many others, the 34-year-old Egyptian woman has lived with the psychological and physical repercussions of that day, when she was subjected to a practice many activists call mutilation. For N.S., who asked to be identified only by her initials to discuss the sensitive topic, the trauma continuing into adulthood was accompanied by a desire to reclaim control over her health and body. I had a feeling of being incomplete and that I will never feel happy because of this, she said. Its a horrible feeling. A global target aims to eradicate the deeply entrenched practice by 2030, and protect the next generations of girls, though campaigners acknowledge the difficulties in achieving that. The United Nations has designated an International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM, observed every Feb. 6. Meanwhile, some women living with the consequences have embarked on deeply personal journeys to heal. They search for answers, sometimes scouring the Internet, amid treatment gaps in many countries, or shame and possible related sexual complications. Prevalent in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, cutting has been performed in communities of different cultures and faiths. It can be viewed as a rite of passage or linked to beliefs about chastity or femininity and cleanliness, and be fueled from generation-to-generation by social pressure. Its an entrenched social norm and really deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and sometimes in religious beliefs, said Nafissatou Diop, an official with the United Nations Population Fund. So to be able to make any change, people need to be convinced that this is not threatening their culture. Its estimated that at least 200 million women and girls are living with the aftermath of the practice, which can include partial or total removal of their external female genitalia and can cause excessive bleeding and even death. Long term, it can lead to urinary tract infections, menstrual problems, pain, decreased sexual satisfaction and childbirth complications, as well as depression, low self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder. Story continues Some faith leaders have worked to eliminate the practice, while others condone it. In Egypt, where genital cutting has been widespread but illegal since 2008, top Islamic authorities condemn the practice. In online edicts or television appearances, they cite medical evidence of its harms and say its a custom with no sound religious basis. Still, theres opposition to the bans in Egypt and elsewhere. Besides resistance from some religious leaders and other traditional gatekeepers, Diop said the campaign to change minds is hindered by limited funding, lack of political will from some governments and a perception that ending cutting reflects a Western-led agenda. Meanwhile, some women suffering the aftereffects post anonymously online in the quest for healing. They express feelings of distress, discomfort in their own skin, embarrassment or fears that being cut could stop them from getting married or condemn their marriages to failure. Some want information on medical procedures. Some considering medical interventions have found specialized treatment, including in the United States and Europe, where opposition to the practice is longstanding. But in many countries, options can be scarce or too costly. There are so many treatment gaps in a lot of countries where FGM is really widely practiced, said Christina Pallitto, a scientist leading the work on FGM at the World Health Organization. A lot of health care providers receive no training at all. N.S. turned to a private clinic in Egypt, Restore FGM, that opened in 2020 and has promoted treatments on Instagram and other social media. Dr. Reham Awwad, a plastic surgeon and clinic co-founder, said many patients initial visits are emotional. One of the first things theyll say is, Ive never spoken about this to anybody, she said. The clinic, which also attracts clients from Sudan and elsewhere, offers surgical and non-surgical therapies. Psychological therapy is recommended, but many dont pursue it, Awwad said. N.S. has struggled with anger at her parents and low self-confidence. Shes wrestled with sensitive questions: Will sex hurt? Will cutting lead to sexual problems in a marriage? What about pregnancy and childbirth? She struggled with pain and difficulty reaching orgasm. At Restore FGM, she opted for reconstruction surgery to remove scar tissue, expose uncut parts of the clitoris and make that more accessible. But some experts view the procedure with caution. Surgeons who back it say it can improve function and appearance, and reduce pain. Others, including the WHO, call for more research and say there isn't adequate evidence to assess benefits, possible complications or long-term outcomes. We dont have a recommendation in favor of that at this moment because of the lack of evidence on the safety and the efficacy, said WHO's Pallitto. Any woman who has clitoral reconstruction should be offered sexual health counseling in conjunction with it." Neither the procedure nor such counseling is widely available in high prevalence countries, she added. Its been more than a year since N.S. underwent the surgery. After treatment for post-surgery bruising, she's feeling better. I no longer feel pain, she said. Sensation has also improved a lot. But her journey isn't over. I still need to work on accepting myself, accepting that this has happened to me and that it has been treated, she said. "The operation on its own is not enough. ... I dont feel like I am completely over the trauma and I still struggle with the idea of physical touch. She wants to pursue psychological therapy but says she can't afford it and worries about finding someone she can trust with such intimate details. Basma Kamel recalled bleeding badly days after getting cut at the hands of a doctor when she was 9. For a long time, the 30-year-old Egyptian couldnt trust her mother. Eventually, she concluded her mother didnt know better and didnt mean to hurt her. But feelings of being different lingered. After moving from Egypt to England, she started looking for answers and turned to an FGM clinic and charity group for talk therapy. She's made progress, but her self-acceptance work is ongoing. The goal is to find peace with myself and accept my body and accept that I am a normal person, she said. Even if I have, like, a missing part from my body, Im still a normal woman. Dr. Jasmine Abdulcadir, a gynecologist at Geneva University Hospitals, treats women, mostly from East and West Africa, who underwent genital cutting. The women have options for medical intervention, including a procedure to re-open a narrowed vaginal opening to help with everything from urination and menstruation to natural childbirth. Clitoral reconstruction surgery also is an option. Abdulcadir said the procedure for that includes meeting with a psychologist, who is also a trauma-trained sex therapist, and making sure patients are prepared if the surgery ends up being mentally triggering. She said some patients said they felt born again post-surgery, which she attributes to her practice's holistic approach. What is very important is that you are not just focusing on the clitoris, Abdulcadir said. Its really the health of the person. N.S. has yet to tell her family about her surgery. One day she might; she especially wants to tell her sister who was cut the same day she was. But she does speak up when she can. She threatened to call the police on learning some relatives were considering genital cutting for their daughters even though the practice is outlawed in Egypt. I didnt want anyone else to be tormented like I was, she said. Someone must put their foot down and say: Enough. ___ Deepti Hajela in New York contributed. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. A Georgia judge Monday ordered a partial public release of a grand jury's investigative report on former President Donald Trump's attempts to interfere in the 2020 election. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said three portions of the panel's report will be released Thursday, including a section expressing concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath, although the names of those witnesses will not be made public. McBurney also ordered the release of the grand jury's conclusions as part of a ruling that represented a partial concession to District Attorney Fani Willis who argued last month that disclosure of the panel's findings would damage an ongoing investigation. DOJ special counsel probe heats up: Mike Pence's relationship with Donald Trump gets even more complicated with subpoena Judge: Grand jury provided roster of who should or should not be indicted Fulton County, Georgia, Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney. While the judge rejected arguments from a media consortium, which called for immediate and full disclosure of the report as a "court record," he also noted the "compelling public interest in the proceedings and the unquestionable value and importance of transparency" as prompting the partial release. "Indeed it (the grand jury) provided the district attorney with exactly what she requested: a roster of who should (or should not) be indicted and for what in relation to the conduct (and aftermath) of the 2020 general election in Georgia," McBurney wrote, adding that the panel had done its work "by the book." The district attorney agreed with the ruling. I believe Judge McBurneys order is legally sound and consistent with my request. I have no plans to appeal todays order," Wills said Monday. Charging decisions in Georgia loom for Trump: Charging decisions on Trump now loom large in Georgia after grand jury completes its work DA Willis said last month that charging decisions were 'imminent' Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, right, talks with a member of her team during proceedings to seat a special purpose grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, on May 2, to look into the actions of former President Donald Trump and his supporters who tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The hearing took place in Atlanta. At last month's hearing, Willis acknowledged the intense public interest in the inquiry but requested the report remain sealed to protect "future defendants' rights." Story continues At that time, Willis told the judge that decisions on possible charges were "imminent." During that January hearing, prosecutors signaled that the grand jury's findings were so sensitive that they should not be disclosed while the investigation is ongoing. Fulton County prosecutor Donald Wakeford said there had been "no opportunity" to assess how the grand jury's findings could assist prosecutors in deciding whether criminal charges should be brought since the report was delivered two weeks ago. "It's dangerous," Wakeford argued. Report not released at January hearing: Decisions in Trump Georgia election probe are 'imminent', but no report yet Media organizations want the whole report released Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse on Jan. 28 in Columbia, S.C. Prosecutors strongly opposed efforts by a consortium of media organizations, citing an "extraordinary" public interest in the inquiry that has featured testimony from 75 witnesses, including some of Trump's closest former aides and advisers. Thomas Clyde, an attorney representing the media group, including USA TODAY, argued that "public faith" in the court system is at stake in the document's prompt disclosure, asserting that prosecutors had not made the case for continuing secrecy. "We believe the report should be released now and in its entirety," Clyde told McBurney. "There hasn't been any suggestion, evidence, or demonstration that there should be a sealing in this case." Presidents and classified documents: After Pence, Biden, Trump revelations, Archives asks ex-presidents to check for classified documents Trump urging GA secretary of state to 'find' votes in phone call prompted investigation Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger resisted pressure from Donald Trump, telling the president his claims of election fraud were false. Willis launched the inquiry shortly after Trump's Jan. 2, 2021, conversation with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which the former president urged Georgia's top election official to "find 11,780 votes" to tilt the 2020 statewide election in his favor. The inquiry subsequently expanded to include a wide-ranging examination of election fraud. Willis has said authorities also have been investigating possible conspiracy, oath of office violations, racketeering and election-related violence. Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Newt Gingrich are among the 75 witnesses Some of Trump's most senior advisers, including personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and former House speaker Newt Gingrich, have been among the 75 witnesses to be summoned before the special grand jury. As part of the inquiry, prosecutors have been examining the submission of an alternate slate of electors by Republicans in Georgia, one of seven states in which officials allegedly sought to reverse Trump's defeat. Giuliani a 'target': Rudy Giuliani now a 'target' in Georgia election interference investigation This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump Georgia investigation: Judge orders partial release of report Fulton County, Ga., Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney. (Ben Gray/AP) A Georgia judge's ruling Monday raised the prospect that allies of Donald Trump may have lied under oath when giving testimony to a grand jury about their efforts to flip the results of the 2020 election, opening the door for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to broaden a potential conspiracy indictment to include perjury charges. Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw a seven-months-long special grand jury investigation into the conduct of Trump and his allies in Georgia, issued an eight-page order directing that several portions of a recently completed report by the grand jurors be released on Thursday. But in perhaps the most unexpected part of the ruling, McBurney said that one of those portions to be released discusses concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath during their testimony to the grand jury. The grand jurors did not, however, identify those witnesses, the judge wrote. Still, that statement appears to be potentially quite significant and may expand the number of potential defendants who may be indicted, Clark Cunningham, a professor of law at Georgia State University, told Yahoo News. We know from past experience that sometimes the coverup is worse than the crime, he said. So, its possible that people may become defendants in a subsequent indictment not because of their direct involvement in an alleged illegal conspiracy to overthrow the election but because they lied to a special purpose grand jury in an attempt to cover up what they knew. Three weeks ago, Willis had urged McBurney not to release any of the report until she had completed her own investigation into the conduct at issue so as not to jeopardize the rights of future defendants comments widely seen as signaling she is actively preparing indictments. Fani Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, Ga., at her office in Atlanta. (David Walter Banks/Getty Images) McBurney apparently addressed those concerns by directing that the identity of any person the grand jury might recommend for criminal charges be kept secret until such time as Willis decides what actions she plans to take. And Willis, who has closely been overseeing the probe and personally reviewing the evidence with a small team of prosecutors, immediately accepted McBurneys hair-splitting. Story continues I believe Judge McBurneys order is legally sound and consistent with my request, she said in a statement on Monday after the judges ruling was released. I have no plans to appeal todays order. Anticipation about the contents of the report and what charges Willis might bring has been building for months, in part because the special grand jury and Williss prosecutors were able to question some witnesses who never testified before the House Jan. 6 select committee, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Williss investigation is not the only potential criminal probe confronting the former president. Just this week, special counsel Jack Smith appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November was reported to have subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence, a sign that his investigation into Trumps role in the events of Jan. 6, 2021, is still very much alive and active. Meanwhile, Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, has reportedly begun presenting evidence to a New York grand jury about Trumps payments of alleged hush money to former porn star Stormy Daniels under a theory that it might have violated state law. The House Jan. 6 select committee presents evidence pertaining to Donald Trump's Jan. 2, 2021, phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) But Williss investigation has long been viewed by many as the most serious threat to Trump because it began with a powerful piece of evidence: a tape of Trumps phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Jan. 2, 2021, in which he repeatedly urged the states top election official to find the necessary votes to flip the election results in that state and seemed to threaten him with the prospect of criminal prosecution if he did not. A recent report by the Brookings Institution asserted that Trumps phone call alone could subject him to prosecution under a Georgia statute for criminal solicitation to commit election fraud, a felony that carries a penalty of one to three years in prison. (Trump recently claimed on his Truth Social platform that his phone call with Raffensperger was perfect and he has repeatedly denounced Willis as a radical leftist prosecutor out to get him.) But as Yahoo News and other outlets have reported, Willis is also exploring bringing broader conspiracy charges under Georgias expansive Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act that would encompass other conduct during Trumps two-month long pressure campaign to alter the Georgia election results. Among those actions: potential false statements by Trumps chief lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to Georgia legislative committees and Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafers secret designation of so-called fake electors pledged to Trump that were then presented to Congress and the National Archives. The special grand jurys concerns about possible perjury could broaden any RICO claims, said Gwen Keyes Fleming, a former district attorney in neighboring DeKalb County and one of the authors of the Brookings report. She noted that perjury is specifically spelled out as a predicate act under Georgias expansive RICO law. It could be included in an indictment as part of the racketeering case, she said. By Joseph Ax (Reuters) -Portions of a Georgia special grand jury's report on Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election should be publicly released, but any recommendations on criminal charges will remain sealed for now, a state judge ruled on Monday. The panel's findings, which have remained sealed since the final report's existence was disclosed in January, could potentially serve as the basis for a prosecution of Trump or his associates who attempted to reverse Democratic President Joe Biden's statewide victory. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said three parts of the report will be released on Thursday: the introduction, the conclusion and a section in which the grand jury "discusses its concern that some witnesses may have lied under oath." The report also includes "a roster of who should (or should not) be indicted, and for what, in relation to the conduct (and aftermath) of the 2020 general election in Georgia," the judge said. But those conclusions will remain secret for now, he ruled, citing the due process rights of witnesses or potential defendants who were not afforded a full chance to respond to allegations during the grand jury process. Those concerns are particularly serious for individuals who never appeared before the panel, he said. Trump was not subpoenaed and did not testify to the grand jury. The decision on whether to file criminal charges ultimately lies with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. At a Jan. 25 court hearing, Willis told McBurney that charging decisions were "imminent" and urged him to keep the report under wraps to ensure future defendants cannot cry foul. Willis' investigation could make Trump the first former U.S. president to face criminal prosecution, months after he launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination to challenge Biden in 2024. Trump has denied wrongdoing and accused Willis, an elected Democrat, of targeting him for political gain. Story continues McBurney said he was delaying the report's partial release until Thursday to give prosecutors time to discuss with him whether any further redactions need to be made. A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Willis launched her investigation shortly after a January 2021 phone call in the waning days of Trump's term, when the president urged Georgia's top election official to "find" enough votes to deliver him the state. Days later, Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol seeking to stop Congress from certifying Biden's victory. Biden's Georgia win, the first for a Democratic presidential candidate in nearly three decades, confirmed the state's emergence as a political battleground, a status that has been underscored by a series of high-profile Senate races that have helped Democrats maintain a majority in the chamber. The special grand jury was convened last year at Willis' request as an investigative tool, in part because it had the authority to subpoena witnesses. The panel did not have the power to issue indictments but could make recommendations; if Willis decides to pursue charges, she would have to seek indictments from a regular grand jury. Over the course of around seven months, the jurors heard testimony from 75 witnesses, including senior Trump advisers such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and top Georgia Republicans such as Governor Brian Kemp. In addition to Trump's phone call, the wide-ranging investigation has examined a scheme in which an alternate slate of presidential electors falsely affirmed to Congress that Trump, not Biden, had won the state's electoral votes. The Georgia probe is among numerous civil and criminal investigations threatening Trump, his family and his associates. A special counsel is overseeing U.S. Justice Department investigations into both Trump's retention of classified materials after leaving the White House as well as his actions to invalidate the 2020 election. The Democratic attorney general of New York, Letitia James, has sued Trump, his real estate business and his children, accusing them of lying to insurers and banks about the value of their assets. The Manhattan district attorney's office is pursuing its own criminal investigation into Trump's business practices. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis and Lisa Shumaker) Annalena Baerbock, German Minister for Foreign Affairs, has said that the government in Berlin is not currently considering providing fighter jets to Ukraine. Source: Bild; European Pravda Quote: "This is not a subject of our debate," Baerbock said on Monday during a visit to Helsinki. Details: On Tuesday, defence ministers and military officials from Western countries gather in Brussels for another meeting in the Ramstein format. At the meeting, Western allies will discuss further arms supplies to Ukraine. The meeting is being held in parallel with a NATO ministerial meeting. Background: Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said on Monday that the Alliance is discussing the provision of Western-style fighter jets to Ukraine, and that the speed with which such assistance can be provided is important in this regard. Earlier, Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of Poland, said that any decision to supply fighter jets to Ukraine should come from NATO. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! [Source] Visitors of Japans Ghibli Park can look forward to the addition of Catbuses and attractions from "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Princess Mononoke." The popular theme park will reportedly collaborate with Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota to create six rideable Catbuses. The special electric vehicles (EVs), inspired by the grinning 12-legged cat in My Neighbor Totoro, will carry six people at a time and be released later this year, according to reports. To create the Catbuses, Toyota will reportedly use the Toyota APM, which was originally created for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as the base. Special wrapping and other features will be used to help the EVs look more like the popular fictional feline. Ghibli Park visitors should also keep an eye out for other new attractions, such as Hatters Hat Shop and a Princess Mononoke playground. More from NextShark: 103-Year-Old Filipina Tattoo Artist is the Last One of Traditional Kalinga Style The former, which is owned by the character Sophie Hatter in Howls Moving Castle, will be built in an area of Ghibli Park named Valley of the Witches. The two-story hat shop will reportedly open in spring 2024 and feature a workshop inside. Meanwhile, fans of Princess Mononoke can look forward to Mononoke Village, an area of the theme park that will include playground equipment based on the boar god Okkoto featured in the hit 1997 film. Ghibli Park, which is inspired by the beloved films of Hayao Miyazaki and his renowned animation studio, first opened on Nov. 1, 2022 and is located in Aichi Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute, Aichi. More from NextShark: 88Rising is Holding a Benefit Concert for Asian Mental Health The park was built at a cost of 34 billion yen (approximately $232 million), and all five areas of the park are expected to open later this year. So far, it already includes attractions such as the Grand Warehouse, the Hill of Youth and Dondoko Forest. Story continues More from NextShark: Black History Month, Lunar New Year overlap is the perfect time to share our stories and listen to others Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! NIKI releases short film shot in only 5 days The author and her family wearing shirts supporting her godson. Courtesy of Stephanie Malia Krauss In October, my godson was injured in a school shooting in Missouri. My oldest son had his first live-shooter drill in preschool. As a former teacher, I've had a gun pointed at me and removed one from a backpack. When my older son was in preschool, his first bus ride was part of a live-shooter drill. The school took my 3-year-old to an undisclosed location without telling me first. Two years later, his younger brother had his first drill. That night he told me not to worry if someone came to school with a gun. "I'm little, Mommy," he said in his sweet squeaky voice. "If a bad guy comes, I'll hide in my backpack and zip myself up." Their magical thinking is long gone. This year, my older son started middle school, where students must always wear IDs. It's a strongly enforced policy, and students who forget more than three times owe money and get detention. When I asked about it at a parent meeting, an administrator told me it was for safety reasons. She went on to say it was needed to identify bodies in case of a mass-casualty event. It made me sick to my stomach. My godson was injured in a school shooting Then in October, a shooting happened at my godson Brian's high school. A 19-year-old former student with an AR-15-style rifle and 600 rounds of ammunition entered the school, killing a student in the hallway before making his way to my godson's classroom. Brian's teacher was fatally shot while shielding Brian and his classmates with her body. Somehow by sheer adrenaline, the protection of their teacher, and the grace of God the students escaped, jumping out a second-story window. After landing, Brian ran and hopped a fence, then crossed the street to safety. Only then did he realize he had been shot. The author's godson after the school shooting. Courtesy of Stephanie Malia Krauss I was hundreds of miles away at a work meeting at the University of Virginia, which had a shooting a month later. Before my meeting, I saw a missed call from my husband and a text that read, "I need to update you on something, call me before you go on social media." Story continues I knew it was a school shooting. When my husband told me my godson had been shot, I felt the pain and panic reserved for a mother who loves her children. My godchildren are an integral part of our family. They've grown up with my boys, spending summers and school breaks together, and for a period when they were babies their family lived with us full time. I left the meeting in shock and had to tell my boys via FaceTime as I made my way to the airport. By the next morning I was with Brian and his parents in the hospital, learning the full extent of his injuries. Brian had been shot through both hands and had a bullet lodged in his jaw, centimeters from a major artery. He had broken bones from the shooting and the jump. We were told it was a miracle he survived. I hate that I can't promise my children safety The boys stayed home that week. We slept together in the big bed and held each other tight. I didn't want them in school, and I hated that I couldn't promise they'd be safe when they returned. I privately and unfairly hoped they had teachers like Brian's: heroes who would throw themselves between my babies and a shooter, acting as a human shield. I barely slept, constantly thinking about ways to keep them safe and stop these shootings. For years I've been trying to do my part to end gun violence. I've donated, marched, and written op-ed articles. I've dutifully called my elected officials, voted, and demanded action, mobilizing other mothers to act. As a former school leader and teacher, I've written and enforced safety policies, guarded students during lockdowns, had a gun directed at me, and removed a gun from a student's backpack. Now I'm the godparent of a survivor. I've expected a school shooting for a while, feeling as if the circle of terror was tightening. Columbine happened almost 25 years ago, shocking everyone; I didn't know anyone affected. Sandy Hook was 10 years ago, bringing every parent to their knees; my friend's children were in the building. Parkland was five years ago; our pediatrician's niece was in the building. By the time Uvalde happened, I sensed that the circle was a bull's-eye and that the bull's-eye was on my children. I believe we can keep children safe and use guns safely It's been four months since the shooting, and Brian is back at school. Every morning I hug my boys, make sure my older son has his ID, and send them back into buildings where their safety is not guaranteed. I listen to politicians pontificate about gun rights and think about how it violates my children's rights. At the same time, I'm raising my children in a community with responsible gun owners, many of who are parents and educators. I believe we can come up with solutions that protect our kids and schools while allowing people to own and use guns safely. I wonder what it will take for change to come. Last year there were nearly 300 shootings at schools in the US, a historic high. This is an American generational phenomenon. For now, our nation's protection of guns keeps us from protecting our children. Attending school means risking their lives. Stephanie Malia Krauss is a mom, educator, and social worker. Her book "Whole Child, Whole Life: 10 Ways to Help Kids Live, Learn, and Thrive" will be released on May 23. She is the founder of First Quarter Strategies and the author of "Making It: What Today's Kids Need for Tomorrow's World." Read the original article on Insider Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon made a difficult decision to cut about 3,200 jobs last month. Does he have any regrets? Yes. He wishes he had done it sooner, apparently. As the environment was growing more complicated in Q2 of last year, every bone in my body believed we should be much more aggressive in slowing hiring and reducing headcount, Solomon said Sunday at a closed-door gathering with about 400 Goldman Sachs partners in Miami, according to the Financial Times. The bank saw net profits tumble by nearly half in 2022 compared to the year before. It's been scrambling to cut costs, with partner bonuses taking a hit and the use of private jets coming under scrutiny. On what came to be known internally as Davids Demolition Day, a large number employees were let go on Jan. 11. Some employees were fired after showing up for what they thought was a routine meeting, for which they had been emailed a calendar invite. Solomon reportedly said in Miami that the layoffs and cost-cutting would have been less severe had he acted sooner, and he took responsibility for not moving faster. Solomon has taken heat for living a glamorous life amid the banks woes, leading some Goldman Sachs insiders to question his focus on leading the company. In addition to hobnobbing with celebrities and taking private jets to the Bahamas, hes known to DJ for live audiences as DJ D-SOL at clubs and events around the world. The board announced last month that Solomons pay for 2022 was $25 million. That was down 29% from 2021, but partners as a group saw their bonuses slashed in half. Some Goldman Sachs insiders are restive and have discussed who might replace Solomon, according to Insider. That hasnt been helped The Economist running a cover story entitled "The humbling of Goldman Sachs a few weeks ago. Meanwhile many workers who were laid off last month received no bonus, a major chunk of employee pay at Goldman Sachs. I was really looking forward to that bonus That would have helped me with some of my expenses with school and things of that nature that Im currently paying for, a former analyst at Goldmans Salt Lake City office told Fortune. Everybody deserves to get their bonus. Whether you were laid off or not, you deserve it. Story continues Fortune has reached out to Goldman Sachs for comment. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com More from Fortune: 5 side hustles where you may earn over $20,000 per yearall while working from home The 5 most common mistakes lottery winners make This is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $400,000 home The Billionaire Tax: how much the ultra wealthy could end up paying under Biden's new plan and what it means for your tax bill Stock photo of Google logo on office Google is growing its use of pre-bunking in the companys efforts to combat misinformation. Google plans to expand a campaign against online misinformation to Germany this week, and later India, as first reported by the Associated Press. The strategy, known as pre-bunking or attitudinal inoculation, aims to train people on how to recognize false information and manipulated facts on the internet before they even encounter them. In short videos and photosshown across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook in standard advertising slotsGoogle will continue its push to make pre-bunking a go-to method for dispelling disinformation. Read more A massive study published in August 2022 demonstrated the potential value of pre-bunking among a group of nearly 30,000 participants. After viewing pre-bunking videos that highlighted well-known disinformation tactics like emotional appeals, false dichotomies, and ad hominem attacks, the researchers found that people were 5% better, on average, at identifying these tricks when shown a variety of social media posts. That study was conducted by researchers from Cambridge and Bristol Universities, as well as partners from Alphabet-owned YouTube and Googles internet threat research arm, Jigsaw. Google has also run smaller tests of its own on U.S. audiences, focused on covid-19 vaccine misinformation. Beginning a few months ago, the company began to employ the pre-bunk strategy on a wider-scale, testing the method beyond closed research studies and in the real world. In fall 2022, the company started up tests in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia focused largely on combatting widely perpetuated, xenophobic, false claims about Ukrainian refugees (e.g. that refugees are criminal or steal jobs and housing). There, the company used videos, which offered viewers ways to recognize unreliable sources of information and were intended to increase awareness of efforts to manipulate public perception. Story continues In total, these videos were watched 38 million times, Google reported in a Jigsaw blogpost, published Mondaywhich is equal to more than half of the combined population of all three countries. Further, the companys internal researchers determined that those who watched the pre-bunk videos were more likely to easily pick out misinformation techniques and less likely to pass along online lies to others. Based on the Eastern Europe pilot, Google has determined its pre-bunk methods are successful enough to warrant growing the campaign across new borders. Learnings from this campaign including efforts to simplify critical messages and iteration on the survey questions to effectively measure knowledge gain will inform our future experiments as we seek to better understand the effectiveness of prebunking in the wild, wrote Beth Goldberg, Jigsaws head of research, in the blog. In Germany, the AP reports that the tech giants campaign will incorporate both still images and videos highlighting how easy it is to share misinformation. One timely example of misinformation that could be stymied through the method, provided by the AP: a video of a 2020 explosion in Beirut has been shared widely across European social media under the false explanation that it was an incident triggered by this months devastating earthquake in Turkey. If a video were to circulate highlighting that this often happens post-disasters, users might double-check the validity of earthquake content that they see. Google has yet to specify any of the details of its forthcoming project in India, beyond that it will be launched later this year. The company has struggled with misinformation in its search results, and of course, on YouTube. Counter to other methods of combatting disinformations spread, like increased content moderation and post-by-post fact-checks or addressing the underlying algorithms that direct people to increasingly extremist content, pre-bunking is likely a less resource-intensive strategy for tech companies. It also doesnt require that these corporations directly weigh in on individual, highly politicized issuesjust that they attempt to arm their user-base with the tools to recognize when a claim might not be all that it seems. But the strategy does have its downsides. For one, cultural differences and ensuring cultural relevancy could be super critical in creating impactful pre-bunk content. Though overall, Googles Jigsaw found that its Eastern European campaign was effective, the biggest impact was seen in Poland. In the Czech Republic outcomes were more mixed. In Slovakia, the campaign had no significant, observable effect. The company noted this could be because the Slovakian videos were dubbed as opposed to recorded specifically for that market, but Jigsaw noted that more research is needed. Unsurprisingly, the videos were also found to be more effective among people who watched the whole thinga challenge for even the most popular and prolific influencers on the web. Content volume is high and attention spans are short. Beyond the single test, its also widely accepted that viewing a single pre-bunk video doesnt lead to lasting shifts in attitudes or awareness. People need repeated inoculations or booster videos to keep up their skepticism and media literacy. And Google isnt exactly a perfect arbiter of whats true and whats false. Last week, the company even spread some misinformation of its own in a promotion for its new AI tool. Then, theres the potential for the pre-bunking format itself to be co-opted into disinformation campaigns, or simply be a stand-alone manipulation. Deciding what counts as disinfo and what the hallmarks of bad facts are is a political choice that aims to sway public opinion, whether or not tech companies see it that way. In the lead up to the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the U.S. State Department tried to do a sort of pre-bunk of its ownwarning people to look out for professionally produced Russian propaganda videos blaming terrorist attacks on the Ukraine. However, those scary, rumored, high-budget propaganda videos never really materialized on social media platforms. But regardless of the challenges, researchers see pre-bunking as a potential part of the fight against misinformation moving forward. As Jon Roozenbeek, one of the Cambridge University researchers on the August 2022 study, once told Gizmodo, What I dont think would be good... is if [Google and YouTube] just said, Well dont worry about our algorithms, well just pre-bunk everything. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. (FILES) In this file photo taken on June 27, 2022 a worker walks along a path at Googles Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. - Google on February 8, 2023 announced a slew of features powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it ramped up a battle with Microsoft to maintain its dominance of the web search industry. The latest announcements however fell short of investor expectations and Google's share price plummeted by more than seven percent on February 7 amid growing doubts that the company will fend off its rival. (Photo by NOAH BERGER / AFP) (Photo by NOAH BERGER/AFP via Getty Images) - NOAH BERGER/AFP via Getty Images Last week Google invited the world to marvel at how clever its latest artificial intelligence (AI) software is, but it all went horribly wrong. Over $100bn was wiped from the share price of Googles parent company Alphabet overnight as a result. Executives no doubt wish theyd kept the product to themselves. Interestingly the software actually did OK, as these things go. The haphazard answers spewed out by Googles new AI chatbot, Bard, were just as poor as those generated by the software it sought to eclipse: ChatGPT. In just a few weeks, OpenAIs chatbot has captured the imagination of the media, and created a minor speculative bubble in the tech world. Last week Microsoft began to introduce this automatic text generator into its search engine and its Office products like Word. Microsoft and OpenAI have introduced pretty much the same product with worse flaws but were met with adulation as opposed to derision, notes the former Nomura Securities analyst Richard Windsor, wryly. One reason is that journalists and analysts are not really dispassionate they see what they want to see. Much like audience members at an illusionists show, they become part of the performance, and in a sense, complete the magic trick. Later participants cant believe how easily they were bamboozled when the misdirection was so obvious. Critics who were thrilled by ChatGPT in December simply saw through the sleight of hand when the same trick was performed by Google. For a misdirection it surely is. ChatGPT faithfully churns outs pastiche text based on statistical models of material it has ingested. Similar services churn out amazing pictures too. Think of it as a spectacular, but completely dumb, version of the Autocomplete feature thats built into your word processor that completes your letter with a Yours sincerely and your name. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks during a keynote address announcing ChatGPT integration for Bing at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, on February 7, 2023. - Microsoft's long-struggling Bing search engine will integrate the powerful capabilities of language-based artificial intelligence, CEO Satya Nadella said, declaring what he called a new era for online search. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP) (Photo by JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images) - JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images In reality, it has no idea of what its doing. Windsor accurately calls it a clever innovation capable of creating the illusion of sentience, that is easily shattered with even a small dose of reality. Story continues These bots are not only very expensive to run, they are creating downstream social costs to which their makers seem oblivious. In 2023, our digital world is awash with spam and fakes, and we must navigate vast amounts of derivative and unoriginal material. Why would we want to unleash a tool that creates even more rubbish? Ah, say the AI advocates thats missing the point. ChatGPT will be useful because so many of our everyday exchanges already follow a predictable pattern or a template, and the bot recognises these patterns, and mimics them. An example often cited is generating the covering letter of a resume, which assuredly is not the place a job applicant should be getting funky and creative. But generating this filler may not be necessary at all. The author and education blogger John Warner captures the limitations of the latest generative AI very well in an essay entitled ChatGPT cant kill anything worth preserving. Right now, if generative AI can do something, he points out, that something probably isnt worth doing in the first place. Does the resume need a cover letter? Probably not. Could that two page analysis be condensed into three bullet points? Very probably. No wonder the waffling classes such as futurists and consultants are fascinated by it. AI automates the creation of waffle and piffle brilliantly and so demonstrates that organisations can do away with huge swathes of their consultants. Nevertheless, tech companies persist and AI chatbots are already racking up substantial social costs. Last week Frances elite university Sciences Po which has incubated six of the eight Presidents of the Fifth Republic became the latest institution to ban students from using ChatGPT to generate their essays without transparent referencing. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during a keynote address announcing ChatGPT integration for Bing at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, on February 7, 2023. - Microsoft's long-struggling Bing search engine will integrate the powerful capabilities of language-based artificial intelligence, CEO Satya Nadella said, declaring what he called a new era for online search. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP) (Photo by JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images) - JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images The sanctions for use of the software may go as far as exclusion from the institution, or even from French higher education as a whole, an administrator warned. If schools and universities need to, theyll disable Word, or uninstall it altogether a consequence that the market has not yet factored into Microsofts share price. Institutions are already thinking about how to redesign courses to reduce the amount of home learning where cheating is easy and rely more on in-hall exams, where they can be better invigilated. That isnt cheap. So this is pollution and it has a cost. Fortunately, economists know exactly what to do. The cost is what it is referred to as an externality. In 1920, the Cambridge economist Arthur Pigou, a winner of the Adam Smith Prize, introduced the idea of taxing these externalities so the polluter pays. Paul Sanders, a digital music entrepreneur, who like Pigou approaches the problem from a classical liberal perspective, explains it so: The external costs from ChatGPT are the teachers time and effort, and pupils lack of learning caused by cheating at school, incorrect advice followed, and the extra efforts human creators need to compete. A tax is the simplest and most effective way to deal with gains and losses that fall to those outside of a transaction. Big Tech will doubtless baulk at such a proposition. The industry is unable to acknowledge the pollution it creates. But we have an elegant and liberal solution to such digital effluence: Its time to tax the bots. On the heels of first-term New York Rep. George Santos allegedly lying about his life story to get elected, another new Republican representative appears to have made up critical aspects of her background. Like Santos, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is accused of lying about having Jewish heritage and other parts of her story. The post GOP Congresswoman Anna Paulina Lunas Family Claims She Isnt Jewish And Her Grandfather Fought For Nazi Germany appeared first on Blavity. The Washington Post recently published a story examining Lunas life and finding inconsistencies, possible exaggerations and apparent falsehoods. Most egregiously, the report questions Lunas claim that she was raised as a Messianic Jew by her father. Messianic Jews view themselves as Jewish but hold the Christian view of Jesus as the Messiah and are often closely identified with Evangelical Christianity. The Pew Center identifies Luna as the only current member of Congress to identify with this movement. In addition, Luna claimed she is also a small fraction Ashkenazi, referring to the subset of ethnically Jewish people who trace their ancestry to central Europe. However, the Post article cites several of Lunas family members as stating her father identified as Catholic, and none of them remember him engaging in Judaism. Furthermore, his father was a Catholic who moved to Canada from Germany after having fought for the military of Nazi Germany. However, he is not known to have identified as a Nazi. Author and human rights lawyer Qasim Rashid noted the hypocrisy of Republicans removing Rep. Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee and citing comments she made in the past but ignoring Santos and Lunas falsehoods and the latters alleged Nazi family ties. Republicans removed Rep Ilhan Omar from committee due to 'antisemitism.' Meanwhile, now two GOP reps have claimed they were Jewish, when in reality they were not, and in this case Luna is literally a Nazi's granddaughter and total acceptance from GOP. https://t.co/qaxiKywovg Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) February 10, 2023 The Post article points to other apparent exaggerations or inconsistencies in Lunas background. Story continues For example, she claims to have been raised by a single mother with little support from extended family or her father, who she and her mother claim was often imprisoned for various crimes. But relatives claim Luna received extensive support from other family members, and the Post could not find records of her father being incarcerated in Orange County, Florida, where they lived. Furthermore, though Luna has repeated a harrowing story of surviving a traumatic late-night home invasion, Lunas former roommate and police reports of the incident indicate there was a break-in while she was not home. The extra scrutiny given to Lunas background comes after Santos apparent lies and exaggerations were unnoticed until just before he took office. For example, Lunas claim of being Jewish is very reminiscent of similar claims made by Santos; when his ethnic and religious background was called into question, he amazingly clarified that he had claimed to be Jew-ish rather than Jewish. And both Luna, who has emphasized her Mexican American heritage, and Brazilian American Santos have gained prominence as Republicans from minority groups who espouse far-right conservative views. Both Luna and Santos, for instance, recently wore AR-15 lapel pins in Congress even as debates about gun control continue amid multiple mass shootings across the United States. With Republicans continuing to stretch or bend the truth even as they attempt to push through an ultra-conservative agenda through their slim House majority, politicians like Luna and Santos will continue under scrutiny. What will be the ultimate fallout from their apparent efforts to misrepresent themselves to their colleagues and the voting public remains to be seen. House Republicans are trying to pull off a seemingly impossible feat: Making the vilified practice of congressional earmarking both popular with the public and tolerable among their own naysayers. New rules that the GOP is hashing out are aimed at putting a new sheen on steering federal money to specific projects back home, a practice often derided within the party as wasteful government excess. The chambers new majority plans to limit the types of projects that are eligible for guaranteed cash. For instance, they would prevent lawmakers from locking in funding for items like city parks and county museums things that might brandish a members name. Lawmakers would still be free to secure money for projects like building bridges or water systems, according to six people familiar with the decision who spoke on condition of anonymity. We want to be even clearer about not doing commemorations, not doing monuments to me,' making sure theres absolutely no personal entanglements, said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the partys No. 2 appropriator in the House. The move is, in part, a result of Speaker Kevin McCarthys bargain with his Freedom Caucus detractors during the speakers race last month. Its also the latest step in a longtime push to defuse the political risk behind the GOPs overwhelming support for continuing earmarks which were banned by Congress more than a decade ago at the behest of Tea Party activists aggrieved by member abuses of them. Under the newest constraints, House Republicans can claim theyre cracking down on federal overreach, all while enjoying the spoils of a process that fiscal conservatives have famously derided as a gateway drug to spending addiction. But the new spin wont necessarily ward off ultimatums from the sizable group of earmark opponents who made themselves known after the November midterms. A quarter of the conference opposed the push to eliminate the GOPs conference-wide ban on earmarks in a secret-ballot vote a critical bloc that McCarthy and his team will need for broader spending bills this year. Story continues House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas) said in an interview that she has been socializing earmark ideas widely so none of the caucus 222 members are caught off-guard. I talk to as many members as I can, she said, because I don't want to make a decision that will be such a surprise to people. Embracing earmarks will afford Republicans more control under divided government, allowing them to dictate which projects will get billions of dollars in federal cash rather than leaving those decisions to the Biden administration. When people elect us, they have expectations that we will improve at least their district, Granger said. And as long as we do that, and it's perfectly open you'll know who did what and why. And I think that's what we owe the public. Republicans have little room for error. GOP leaders made promises to their more conservative members that each of the 12 spending bills will come to the floor individually something of a herculean task when Republicans can only lose four votes on the floor given their narrow majority. Already some members and senior aides are predicting that at least some of the bills wont make it past committee. Negotiations on earmarks are ongoing and details are tightly held. But the final guidelines could be announced as soon as this month. McCarthy is helping with the sales pitch, using the phrase federal nexus to describe what kinds of projects should be approved, Cole said meaning ones that have a direct tie to the federal government. And the speaker is consulting with members who represent his conference's wide range of ideological identities, from the Freedom Caucus to the Republican Governance Group, as he paves a path for the next two years of spending bills. Its not clear exactly how many changes Republicans will adopt. For example, some GOP members initially sought to cap the number of projects allowed per lawmaker from a limit of 15 to as few as 10. But other Republicans pushed back on that method, arguing it could benefit urban-area members, whose projects cost more on average than those in rural communities. Other adjustments have won more support, such as adding more steps to the application process to ensure each project is needed. Republicans also generally support reining in the types of projects. There's just an effort to tighten it, focus it, make sure it stays clean, Cole said. He offered an example of what constitutes an acceptable "federal nexus" earmark project in his home state: a monument to honor the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City domestic terrorism attack. A county museum, on the other hand, would not qualify. As for the tighter application process, he deadpanned: I cant believe Republicans are going to be this bureaucratic, but I think we probably are. In the Senate, spending leaders in both parties have already vowed to keep earmarks going this year and have not revealed any changes to the system. Keeping the earmark process clean is a concern prompted by more than just accountability multiple lawmakers served prison sentences for bribery and kickbacks before Republicans banned the practice in 2010. Democrats already drastically tightened earmark rules when they revived the custom during the last Congress, barring earmarks from going to for-profit recipients and to projects that could financially benefit specific lawmakers. No earmarks were allowed in the defense spending bill or the measures that fund congressional operations and the State Department. We were very, very careful, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), her partys top appropriator in the House, said this month about the earmark comeback. She added that she heard an overwhelming sentiment from members on both sides of the aisle that the return of earmarks was both a big success and enormously fair. The numbers back her up on that point, with earmarks attracting thousands of requests from lawmakers in both parties last term and ultimately steering more than $16 billion to specific projects in their districts during the current fiscal year. Tanya Snyder and Olivia Beavers contributed to this report. MADRID (AP) Greenpeace said Monday it will appeal a Spanish Supreme Court decision blocking public access, on national security grounds, to information on government export licenses for vehicle-mounted weapons systems sold to Saudi Arabia. The global environmental and human rights group argues that the Alakran 120 mm mortar system developed by the Madrid-based firm NTGS was deployed by the Saudi-led coalition on the border with Yemen, endangering civilian lives. The weapons use not only violates the Spanish law on arms trade control, but also the international Arms Trade Treaty signed by Spain, Greenpeace argued. Greenpeace asked the trade ministry in 2020 for copies of recent export licenses for the mortar system, but was denied on grounds of national security and official secrets laws. The Supreme Court upheld the ministrys decision on Feb. 7, arguing that the NGO had not demonstrated sufficient public interest to warrant declassifying the licenses. The court further argued that the right to access license details was subjective, and that Greenpeace had failed to prove that fundamental human rights would be harmed as a result of the ministry withholding the information. Greenpeace can appeal the decision before Spain's Constitutional Court, but vowed to take it to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. Only an informed citizenry can prevent human rights violations in any society," said Lorena Ruiz-Huerta, lawyer for Greenpeace Spain, in a statement. It is time for judges and courts to recognize Spanish men and women as citizens with full rights to truthful information on issues that affect human rights, she added. Spanish law prohibits weapons export licensing where human rights would be violated. As a longtime commercial ally of Saudi Arabia, Spain is the fourth largest provider of military equipment and weapons to the Gulf state, according to Amnesty International. Madrid canceled the delivery of 400 laser-guided bombs purchased by Saudi Arabia in 2018 following criticism from human rights groups. Yemens war began when the Iran-backed Houthis seized the countrys capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition armed with Western weaponry and intelligence entered the war on the side of Yemens exiled government in March 2015. Currently all sides appear to be looking for a solution after eight years of a war that has killed more than 150,000 people, fragmented Yemen and driven the Arab worlds poorest country into collapse and near starvation. (Derek Abella / For The Times) Two years ago, at my mothers house in San Diego, I asked my 86-year-old Puerto Rican grandmother, who lives there, if she could show me photos of her parents. We were spending a lot of time together during the pandemic in a COVID bubble. Abuelita Coco, a pale, parenthesis-slim woman, is losing her short-term memory. But she enjoys recalling fragments of her far-away past. She went to her bedroom to rummage through her closet. She pulled out photo albums of her life in Puerto Rico and placed them on her bed. We wore masks and were vaccinated, but I gave her space while she looked. Later, she brought me a photo of a wiry, white-passing man. That was my father, she said in Spanish, peering at the photo with smiling eyes. Y tu mama? I asked. She told me she had searched and searched for photos of her mother, and couldnt find any. Perhaps she never brought them from Puerto Rico, she said. I was perplexed. There was no way she forgot photos of her mother when she moved in with us when I was a teenager in the early 2000s. It occurred to me that maybe she didnt want me to see her mother. I recalled a conversation Id had with my father, from Mexico, when I was writing a book about his side of the family years before. He told me he thought my mothers mother had Black ancestry. He could see it in her face, in my mothers face. I objected that they look white. My father told me to look closer. But he said I shouldnt inquire. Hed asked Abuelita Coco once and it made her real mad. Without explaining myself, I asked Abuelita Coco for photos of her mother every time I visited. Each time, she thought I was asking for the first time. One evening, after weeks of gentle inquiries, she brought me a black-and-white photo. That was my mom, she said quietly. In the photo, a woman with high cheekbones and a coy smile rested her chin on Abuelita Cocos shoulder. She wore a casual white dress. She was beautiful and undeniably Black, with dark chocolate skin. Tu mama era afro-puertorriquena, I said. Story continues Abuelita Cocos face crumpled. Her skin was as white and as beautiful as mine, she replied in Spanish, lifting her shirt to expose her pale belly. When I replied that there is nothing wrong with being Black, her eyes filled with tears. Perhaps her mother was triguena, or wheat-colored, she said. But she certainly wasnt Black. Searching for public records online, I discovered that my great-grandmother Monserrate Torres was classified as C, or colored for Black, in the 1930 United States Census, which judged people with any detectable drop of Black blood as Black. On a later population schedule, Abuelita Coco, then 2, was also put on the Black side of the black-white binary. It wasnt just my mothers maternal side that was judged as Black. So was my mothers father. And his mother was a seamstress named Pura Feliciano, labeled mulatto, part Black, when that was a designation. Puras father was N, for Negro. Today, as I flip through Abuelita Cocos albums, Im bewildered by my former blindness to our afrodescendancy. On page after page I find photos of pale relatives beside relatives who look Afro Puerto Rican to me, including my moms brother, my Tio, who died of a heart attack more than a decade ago. Id met many of these people on trips to Puerto Rico. My Tio had visited us in San Diego. Why had I never seen anybodys Blackness? My brother was not Black, my mother tells me. She says he didnt identify as Black. He was white. I scrutinize the photos, confused by her conviction. Its true that when my Tio kept his hair short instead of his Afro and stayed out of the sun, he looked ambiguous. But activists and demographers recently mobilized to encourage more people in Puerto Rico to claim their Blackness to counter disproportionate white identification and to get a better idea of racial disparities that need addressing on the island. Dont you think if he were still alive he might identify as Black? Hed identify as Puerto Rican, she says. He was Puerto Rican. Its grating to talk with her about this. When I tell her about the government documents I found classifying her mother and her grandmother as Black, she concedes that her family had Black ancestry. But she sees me as obsessed with race; I see her as in denial about its ongoing role in this country. Were the human race, she says, sharply. Why are you looking at f race? To separate people like ganado, like caballos? I cant tell whose mind is more colonized, mine or my mothers. Racial identity is as personal as it is a product of how were seen. But how I see my relatives is different from how many of them see themselves. What if my mother is right, and Im racializing relatives through my assimilated eyes? Do you check Black on the census now? my mother asks, exasperated with me. No, I dont. I wouldnt feel right claiming that identity on a government form, as someone who has benefited from white-passing privilege. What I dont understand is why I didnt grow up encouraged to feel personally related to Black people. My mother doesnt deny the Blackness of my 8-year-old niece, whose father is Black. She encourages her to be proud. She understands that my niece cant be whole if she doesnt embrace her diverse roots. Why, then, is my mothers perception of her own relationship to Blackness so different? I want to understand why she and Abuelita Coco draw such a hard line between themselves and Blackness. How did we come to be so ruptured? The year 1898 is when the U.S. seized Puerto Rico from Spain. Soon, Anglo Americans imposed on the island a binary concept of race at odds with the color spectrum that Puerto Ricans saw: blancos, negros, triguenos, mulattos, morenos, etc. Puerto Ricans who thought they were a mix of white, Taino, African were seen by the Anglo Americans as Black. In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech celebrating peoples of white, or European blood expanding into lands of mere savages. In 1917, the U.S. gave Puerto Ricans second-class citizenship status: no voting rights or representation unless they moved to the mainland. As Puerto Ricans traveled across the U.S. to work in fields and factories, they saw the segregation, lynching and massacres of Black Americans. Distinguishing themselves as non-Black became a matter of survival. During the early 1900s, Puerto Rico experienced a mysterious surge in white people on census records. In a paper, How Puerto Rico Became White, sociologists Mara Loveman and Jeronimo O. Muniz observe that the surge in white Puerto Ricans didnt reflect a true increase in Puerto Ricans with white skin but rather an expanding concept of whiteness on the archipelago. The idea of who can be white became more inclusive due to a precipitous rise in the perceived and actual costs of being seen by Americans as nonwhite. Many Puerto Ricans retained their hypersensitivity in distinguishing Afro features, but did not see those features as creating Black racial identity. The erasure of Blackness was not entirely new; the cult of limpieza de sangre, or blood-cleansing, had been brought by Spaniards centuries before. Throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, Spanish colonizers created an elaborate caste system, with white people at the top, mixed-race people in the middle, and Black and Indigenous people at the bottom, enslaved or exploited for dismal wages. Theyd brought millions of enslaved Africans to replace Indigenous laborers decimated by genocide and plague. At the same time, that system used race-mixing and white immigration for blanqueamiento, or whitening of the population. The saying, Hay que mejorar la raza, or We have to improve the race, is still disturbingly common across Latin America. It means reproduce with a partner who will give you lighter-skinned children. Such bigotry is only beginning to be challenged. After I explained some of this history with Abuelita Coco, she was angry and nodded in recognition. Some people just think theyre so white, she said. She recalled a taunt she heard growing up in Puerto Rico: Im whiter than you! Im whiter than you! But she continued to insist that her mother wasnt Black. If anything, she was india. In Inventing Latinos, UCLA law and sociology professor Laura E. Gomez writes that identifying as indio over Black is typical in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In this context, it means mixed-race, another way of creating distance from the perceived bottom rung. To say one is indio is to effectively say, I am not black, Gomez wrote. Abuelita Coco had grown too frail and forgetful to transform her perception of her mother. But I didnt want to turn away from my great-grandmothers Blackness. In the middle of the last century, the Afro Puerto Rican poet Fortunato Viscarrondo wrote, Y tu aguela, aonde ejta? The title, which is in Puerto Rican dialect, means: And your grandmother, where is she? Its the poems refrain, directed at a light-skinned Puerto Rican who is racializing the poet, calling him Negro. The narrator repeatedly asks the light-skinned man where his grandmother is. The implication is that the light-skinned Puerto Rican is hiding her because shes Black. I read the poem after listening to a Code Switch episode featuring a song based on the poem, which is in the Puerto Rican dialect. At first, I struggled to comprehend the poem on the page, but when I sounded out the words, my ears heard a language of my childhood, the one my Abuelitos spoke before their accents changed from years in a state where most Latinos are Mexican American. (Puerto Ricans are less than 1% of Californians.) The spoken word conveys the poems meaning to my ears. The light-skinned mans grandmother is hidden po'que ej prieta de a belda. Because shes a Black woman. This poem helped me grasp why I had never seen a picture of my great-grandmother: her dark skin was proof that my family wasnt really white. Many white Americans concept of whiteness categorically excludes Latinos. But for decades, a majority of Puerto Ricans identified as white alone: 75% on the 2010 Census. Thats changing fast with the continuing economic crisis, discrimination and new racial justice movements. In 2020, the share of Puerto Ricans who identified as white alone plunged to 17%. Despite efforts to encourage Black pride and Black identity in Puerto Rico, most are still predominantly declining to identify as Black people, including many who would be seen as Black by white Americans. Instead, there was an explosion in those identifying as two or more races, from 3% in 2010 to half of all Puerto Ricans in 2020, as well as a jump in those identifying as some other race alone, from 8% to a quarter of them. The trends mirrored a drop in white identification among all U.S. Latinos, from more than half to 20%, and surges in those who choose two or more races (from 6% to 33%) and other (from 37% to 42%). Other is now the second-largest race in the country. The rise of the other is giving birth to a new way of understanding race in America: one that isnt rooted in a binary but rather a spectrum that resembles Puerto Ricans. The Biden administrations proposal to add Latino as a race category on the 2030 census is appealing to countless Latinos who cant find themselves in existing categories. The rise of this Other/Latino race is nerve-wracking to white nationalists and GOP propagandists who are openly plotting to encourage white identification among Latinos. If aspirational whiteness among Latinos goes extinct, so too may white supremacist rule. But if the Other/Latino race defines itself in opposition to Blackness, it could end up replacing white supremacy with something similar: mixed-race supremacy, or mestizaje, a common feature of the anti-Black and anti-Indigenous pigmentocracies in Latin America and the Caribbean, exhibited by Latino members of the Los Angeles City Council who disparaged Oaxacans and Blacks in the now-infamous leaked audio recording. What they failed to grasp, and what I failed see until finding my great-grandmothers, is that Blackness, like Indigeneity, is at the heart of who we are. Latinos must recognize, resist and reverse centuries of blanqueamiento. We the outcasts of Latin America must remember who we came from. Geographic proximity to Mexico made it easy for me to learn about my fathers country. As a child and teenager, I regularly crossed the border. Then I moved there in 2010. Living in Mexico City, I often heard the words indio (Indian), indigena (Indigenous) and negro (Black) hurled at dark-skinned people as synonyms for subhuman. This vitriol is not a Mexican problem but a European disease that has plagued Latin America and the Caribbean for centuries. Most Latin American countries, upon gaining independence from Spain, formalized equality. But descendants of colonizers clung to the wealth theyd derived from the exploitation of Black and brown bodies. They formed a devils bargain with Anglo elites, allowing U.S. corporate colonialism and militarism in Latin America, including U.S.-backed coups and massacres, to preserve the dominance of European-blooded people across the Americas. Even now, law enforcement across Latin America works with organized crime, armed with U.S. guns, to uphold white power, with assassinations and forced disappearances of hundreds of Black and brown people who resist foreign-owned extractive mega-projects. Latin America is the region of open veins, the Uruguayan journalist Eduardo Galeano famously wrote in 1971, explaining that everything in the region has long been robbed and turned into European or U.S. capital. Everything: the soil, its fruits and its mineral-rich depths, the people and their capacity to work. The parasitism is disguised as Black and Indigenous integration. In 1924, Jose Vasconcelos, Mexicos former education secretary, wrote the influential essay, The Cosmic Race, promoting mestizaje, or mixed-race supremacy. It conjured a synthetic race superior to all the rest, a mix of all races, via absorption of Black and Indigenous people rationalizing their continued rape, pillaging and dispossession. U.S. Latinos come from those displaced people. Amnesia about our origins inspires our self-destruction: participation in border vigilante groups , hate groups and absurd competitions based on imagined distance from Blackness, with many Dominicans looking down on Haitians and many Puerto Ricans looking down on Dominicans. In her 2022 book, Racial Innocence, Tanya Kateri Hernandez, a Fordham University law professor and Afro Puerto Rican expert on Latino anti-Black bias, critiques the delusion that Latinos' racially mixed cultures immunize them from being racist. Hernandez recalls the story of her mother, Nina, rejected by her family because of her darker skin and kinky curls pelo malo (bad hair). Some maternal relatives wanted her placed for adoption with an African American family. Any African American family would do, as long as baby Nina was removed from the household, Hernandez wrote. She was beaten, threatened with expulsion and denigrated, while her sister Monica was beloved for her lighter skin and straight hair. Their physical comparison was a constant obsession of the family with Nina being called monito (little monkey), and negrita bembe (little Black African-like girl), while Monica was simply called la nena (the little girl), she wrote. The story is sadly not uncommon among U.S. Latinos. One 39-year-old East L.A. resident who asked me to refer to her only as B told me that her Guatemalan mother often said her sister was beautiful because she took after the Spanish side, lamenting that B was morena, with a flat nose and darker face like her grandma who was 'indigena.'" Bs mother told her shed need a nose job as an adult. The abuse hurt Bs self-esteem and motivated her to wear green contact lenses and dye her hair blonde in high school. It impacted how much I was able to love and celebrate myself, and how confident I was in the world, she told me. Today, she encourages her son to be proud of his heritage. Internalized white supremacy functions as a kind of auto-immune disorder, turning us against our bodies in discrete and violent ways, from skin bleaching to self-cutting, substance abuse and suicide. It divides families. Some parents hide or physically alter children whose looks betray the familys Blackness or Indigeneity. As Puerto Rican-Dominican comedian Aida Rodriguez described on a Netflix special, her Puerto Rican relatives were always trying to blow-dry the Dominican out of me. Many Latinos are challenging such abuse and annihilation of Blackness and Indigeneity. Theyre raising their children differently, educating relatives and creating art to reshape the culture. Yosimar Reyes, a Mexican-born poet and activist, created a one-man show, Prieto, a term for dark-skinned, to subvert ideas about brownness as ugly or lowly. It was inspired by his brown queer youth in East San Jose with other undocumented people from Indigenous Mexico. I just grew up thinking we were ordinary, that there was nothing special, nothing magical about us, he recalls. Maybe if you had blue eyes or green eyes there was something interesting about you. But we were regular. They were farmworkers, dishwashers and other people who sustain the American economy in the shadows. Were like this mugre, this stain that people dont want to see, Reyes told me. But if you think about it, we are integral to everything. Black Latinas are similarly fighting for greater visibility. The way I look and my history is not what is promoted as Latina in mainstream Latin, Caribbean or U.S. pop culture, the Puerto Rican art curator Maria Elena Ortiz told me. Her exhibitions center what she sees as an Afro-Latin sensibility, such as a coming project with Marina Reyes Franco featuring Black Puerto Rican art at Puerto Ricos Museum of Contemporary Art. In her forthcoming memoir, American Negra, Natasha S. Alford explores growing up at the intersection of Black American and Puerto Rican identity. Black identity is often framed as a negative, she said of Puerto Rico. There, its often equated with slavery, in the sense of victimhood, not necessarily emphasizing their resistance or contributions. With her project Ancestral Black Women, the Puerto Rican writer Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro reframes Black identity by unearthing stories of Black women who rebelled against slavery. We have to rescue their stories, she said in a TedX talk. She urges people to ask: What do you know of your grandmother, of your bisabuela, of your tatarabuela? Also, Do you have any relic? Do you have any copy of a document? Illustration of two hands reaching out to each other. The left hand is light skin toned; the right hand is dark skin toned. Im grateful to my grandmother for showing me a photo of her mother, even if it took time. I believe it was brave, and in a way, an act of resistance against Black erasure. My appearance reflects generations of that Black and Indigenous erasure. But I know that I carry the remnants of my ancestors: a quarter of me is from Sub-Saharan Africa and Native America, per DNA tests. When I look in the mirror, I cant find my bisabuelas at first. I see the jawline of a white cop, my grandfathers father, who wouldnt recognize his mixed-race son until the boys mother Pura died. I see the green eyes of a Spanish man who raped my Mexican grandmother Carolina when she was a teenager. But farther down, on my left rib cage under my heart, theres a brown birthmark in the shape of an upside-down Mexico. I like to imagine that my Mexican tatarabuela Juanita, a curandera, or healer, descended from Indigenous Caxcans, left it there to say: No te olvides, gringa. Dont forget, gringa. I like to imagine that the women who preceded me, the ones who toiled in a caste-ordered world, can possess me. Its not me on that stage or TV. Its my bisabuela Pura, who died of pneumonia at 34, my age. She has come back to haunt todays bigots. My people and I have a heritage that encompasses half of the world. Our strength is cross-border and cataclysmic for those who aim to reduce humanity. At the core of our powers are the Black and brown women who cannot and must never be extinguished. Jean Guerrero's book "Crux" was published this month in paperback. @jeanguerre This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gwinnett County police is searching for a 90-year-old man who they said left his home at 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to police, Ronald Arpie, who suffers from dementia, left his home near Lawrenceville-Suwanne Road and Taylor Road and was last seen wearing a navy-blue blue zip up jacket, white/tan pants, and black sneakers. Arpies red 1997 Ford Ranger pick-up truck, Georgia tag 336YHH was last seen by Flock cameras in the area of Ackworth at 2:24 P.M. Sunday. TRENDING STORIES: If anyone has any information to share in this case, please contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Few have navigated the turbulent politics of the Trump era like Nikki Haley. In early 2016, the then-South Carolina governor said she was embarrassed by candidate Donald Trump and decried his reluctance to condemn white supremacists. Nine months later, she agreed to join his Cabinet, serving as a key validator as Trump sought to win over skeptical world leaders and voters at home. And shortly after Trump left the White House, Haley, whose resume by then included an ambassadorship to the United Nations, vowed not to step in the way if he ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Yet on Wednesday, she is poised to become the first major Republican candidate to enter the race against him. Its going to be quite the high-wire act, said veteran Republican strategist Terry Sullivan. She says shes always been an underdog. She will be again." The 51-year-old Haley may be the first to take on Trump, but a half-dozen or more high-profile Republicans are expected to join the GOP's 2024 presidential nomination contest over the coming months. Some would-be competitors may be more popular than Haley even in South Carolina, where she lives and has established a campaign headquarters. Likely rivals include Sen. Tim Scott, a fellow South Carolinian and perhaps the most celebrated elected official in a state where Trump has already locked up endorsements from the governor and its senior senator, Lindsey Graham. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence could also be formidable foes should they run, as widely expected. Indeed, on the eve of this week's announcement, there is broad agreement that Haley the only Republican woman of color expected in the 2024 contest, a politician who loves to remind people that she has never lost an election is about to be tested as never before. Trump, for instance, has already stepped up his attacks on Haley. But allies describe the former governor, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, as a savvy executive uniquely positioned to lead a new generation of Republicans. They understand that the fight ahead could get ugly. Story continues She took the bull by the horns and said, That doesnt matter to me, Im going to run,'" said longtime supporter Gavin J. Smith. "She did that when she ran for governor, and thats what youre going to see when she runs for president. Perhaps more than anyone this young presidential primary season, Haley personifies the Republican Party's shifting views on Trump. Her reversal on whether to challenge the former president was based less on concerns about his divisive leadership or policy disagreements than the growing belief within the GOP that Trump is losing political strength. New York-based Republican donor Eric Levine says he's convinced that another Trump Republican nomination would lead to his party's destruction. Haley, he said, is among the three favorite Trump alternatives. I think as a woman of color and a daughter of legal immigrants from India, she'd give the Democratic Party no reason to exist. All their woke crap goes out the window, Levine said. I think she's a spectacular candidate. Haley's announcement will take place Wednesday in Charleston, the historic coastal city where her campaign will be based. Almost immediately, she'll travel to meet voters in New Hampshire and Iowa. She's entrusted her campaign to a collection of senior staff led by longtime aides. Betsy Ankney, who heads up Haley's PAC, will manage the campaign, with the PAC's development director, Mary Kate Johnson, as finance director, Haleys team told The Associated Press. Longtime Haley adviser Chaney Denton and Nachama Soloveichik, who was a spokeswoman for recently retired Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, will head up communications. Strategist Jon Lerner will serve as senior adviser, and Barney Keller of Jamestown Associates will be Haley's media consultant. For Haley, this week's launch marks a significant step on a long road that began in South Carolina's Good Old Boys Club, she wrote in a Friday fundraising appeal. People thought I was too brown too female too young too conservative too principled, she wrote. Born in 1972 in rural South Carolina, Haley has long spoken of a Southern rural childhood in which she felt she didn't fit. She was raised in the Sikh faith with a mother who wore traditional saris, and a father clad in a turban. Nikki has been regularly underestimated, said Catherine Templeton, a Republican who served Haley in two roles, leading South Carolinas labor and public health agencies. But it makes her work harder. In her first campaign in 2004, Haley, formerly an accountant, defeated the longest-serving member of South Carolinas House. After six years in the Legislature, she was considered a longshot when she mounted her 2010 gubernatorial campaign. The GOP field was filled with more experienced politicians, and at times, she faced blatant racism. Then-state Sen. Jake Knotts appeared on a talk show and used a racial slur in reference to Haley. He apologized, saying it was meant as a joke. Still, Haley became the first woman and person of color elected South Carolinas governor and the nations youngest state executive. After winning reelection in 2014, her second term was marred by crisis. She spent weeks attending funerals of Black parishioners gunned down by a self-avowed white supremacist at a Charleston church in 2015. Later that year, she pushed for and signed legislation to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, where it had flown for more than 50 years. Haley's political skills were tested in a different way in 2016, as Trump went from late-night television punchline to serious Republican presidential contender. She endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ahead of South Carolina's high-stakes Republican primary, then backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz once Rubio was knocked out. Then, Haley described Trump as everything a governor doesn't want in a president." She also said she was embarrassed by his attacks against former President George W. Bush and condemned Trump's reluctance to disavow the KKK. But shortly after Trump won the presidency, she agreed to serve as the new administration's ambassador to the United Nations, a Cabinet-level position. I proudly serve in this administration, and I enthusiastically support most of its decisions and the direction it is taking the country," Haley said in a 2018 op-ed. Later that year, Haley abruptly announced her departure from the U.N. in the wake of an ethics probe, fueling speculation that she might challenge Trump in 2020 or replace Pence on the ticket. Neither happened. Instead, Haley returned to South Carolina, joined the board of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. and hit the lucrative speaking circuit, reportedly commanding fees as high as $200,000. She also penned two books. Her public support for Trump continued even after the attack on the Capitol. Im really proud of the successes of the Trump administration. Whether it was foreign policy or domestic policy, we should embrace those," she tweeted three weeks after the insurrection. It's unclear whether such platitudes will give Haley much cushion in a party that, for now, remains dominated by Trump and his supporters. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the No. 3 House Republican, has already endorsed Trump's 2024 bid. While she declined to comment directly on Haley's candidacy, she insisted that Trump would defeat any Republican challenger "by massive margins. It is time for Republicans to unite around the most popular Republican in America, she said of Trump. Rob Godfrey, a longtime Haley adviser who served for a time as her chief spokesman, said his former boss should be prepared to go on offense during what is sure to be a tumultuous campaign. She should approach this campaign as she has approached any other - disciplined, ignoring distractions, and ready to land a hard counter punch or two," he said. "When you are running against a chaos candidate, which she is until someone else jumps in, you never know what is around the corner. The New Hampshire Supreme Court will consider on Tuesday whether to grant Pamela Smart a chance at a hearing that could put her on a path to freedom. Smart was convicted in 1991 at age 22 of persuading her teenage lover, Billy Flynn, to kill her husband. She met Flynn, then a student, through her work in a New Hampshire school district. Soon after their affair began, Flynn fatally shot her husband, Gregg Smart, in the head. The press flocked to Exeter, a small New Hampshire town, to cover the case against Smart. Her trial, three years before that of O.J. Simpsons, was one of the first to be broadcast live and Smart quickly became the center of a saga that led to a fervor for true crime and an era of televised trials. MORE: Pamela Smart on teen lover who murdered husband nearly 3 decades ago: 'I loved him' Smart has now spent more than 32 years behind bars for conspiring to kill her husband. Flynn, who pulled the trigger, has been out of prison for nearly a decade. Her accomplices, including three other teenagers who were charged as adults in the killing, cooperated with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to lesser charges. They have all been released from prison. Smart was convicted at trial of accomplice to murder in the first degree and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Smart's Feb. 14 hearing will be the first time that she has had a chance to challenge the state's repeated denials to make a case for her release. PHOTO: In this March 4, 1991 file photo, Pamela Smart leaves her former home on Misty Morning Drive in Derry, N.H., where her husband was killed in 1990, while the Rockingham County jury tours the murder site. (Boston Globe via Getty Images, FILE) Smart maintains that she did not ask Flynn to murder her husband -- a factor the New Hampshire attorney general's office and her prosecutor from trial have said disqualify her from mercy. Smart says she does feel responsible for Gregg Smart's death but did not orchestrate his murder. Had she not had an affair, her husband would still be alive, she told ABC News. PHOTO: In this March 13, 1991 file photo, William 'Billy' Flynn, testifies on his 17th birthday in court in Exeter, N.H., how he shot Gregg Smart in the head and killed him in Derry, N.H., in 1990. (Jim Cole/AP, FILE) If the court rules in favor of her on Tuesday, Smart will have a chance to stand before the governor and his executive council to ask for a commutation -- which is a reduction of a sentence, often for good behavior, as opposed to a pardon which absolves someone of their crime. Story continues For Smart, who has exhausted all of her opportunities to appeal her sentence, a commutation remains her only hope to one day get out of prison. "In some respects the pieces are finally coming together," Smart, now 55, told ABC News on a phone call from Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York two weeks before the hearing. "It feels like the last straw, the last stand," she said. "If this doesn't work out, what is there after this?" MORE: Pamela Smart Maintains Innocence in Prison In 1993, Smart was transferred from a New Hampshire prison to Bedford Hills where she has been ever since. When she arrived at the maximum security prison, she found many people there knew about her case. In 1995, those who hadn't watched her trial learned about it from "To Die For," a Hollywood film starring Nicole Kidman, who played a character inspired by Smart. She says her reputation has followed her for years. In one instance, she says, a prison guard in 2003 leaked photos of Smart to the National Enquirer of her kneeling on her bed in her underwear, which sparked a new wave of headlines. MORE: Video Diane Sawyer interviews Pamela Smart in a Bedford Hills prison: Jan. 18, 1995 "It was like a nightmare my first 10 years here," Smart said. It was during that time Smart leaned into her studies. She began working on the first of three graduate degrees -- two master's, in law and English literature, and a doctorate in ministry. She also worked as a teacher's aide and, for those who needed extra help on her cell block, she taped a tutoring schedule to the unit's bulletin board. When Bella Gonzalez, 17, first arrived at Bedford Hills, Smart encouraged her to sign up for a slot. "She gave me a new word for my vocabulary every day," said Gonzalez, who at first spoke very little English. PHOTO: Pam Smart and Bella Gonzalez, who she taught English and became best friends with embrace at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. (Miles Cohen/ABC News) The two became close over their nearly 20 years in prison together. They played softball -- Smart in center field and Gonzalez at first base -- and they cried when Gonzalez's mom died. They also wept when Smart lost her appeals. Both young women confided in each other about their dreams of motherhood; for Gonzalez a possibility, for Smart a foregone conclusion. In 2005, the first two accomplices in Gregg Smart's murder were paroled. Vance Lattime Jr, the getaway driver who supplied the weapon, and Raymond Fowler, who helped plot the murder, were released from prison. That same year, Smart was denied her first request for a commutation hearing. While incarcerated at Rikers Island, Kelly Harnett had already heard that Smart was an effective jailhouse lawyer. But when she arrived at Bedford Hills in 2015 she found it was impossible to get a meeting with her. "People would even follow her into the shower" to ask about their cases, she said. Later that year, Flynn and another accomplice Pete Randall, who held the knife to Gregg Smart's throat, were released from prison. In 2018, New Hampshire rejected Smart's second attempt for a 15-minute hearing with the governor to review her sentence. By that point, all of Smart's appeals had been denied. Her friends, including Gonzalez, had been released and gone home. Gonzalez later had a daughter; she named her Pamela. PHOTO: Bella Gonzalez, who did 20 years in prison with Pamela Smart, poses with her daughter 'little Pammie' who she named after Smart. (Miles Cohen/ABC News) During a recent interview at Bedford Hills, Smart said she worried her ailing mother, Linda Wojas, 81, who has fought to clear her daughter's name, would die. "One day someone is going to walk in here, sit down where you are, and tell me my mom is dead," said Smart. "I just want to go home so she has one night knowing I'm free." In 2021, Smart compiled three decades of evidence to support what may be her last request for a commutation hearing. She said she handpicked hundreds of letters written by prison leadership and inmates who say she changed the trajectory of their lives. She turned in copies of her three degrees, and attached at least 28 certificates for completion of rehabilitation programs. On March 23, 2022 -- in less than three minutes -- New Hampshire's Executive Council unanimously recommended that Gov. Chris Sununu again deny Smart a hearing. Sununu has said he is considering a run for president. A commutation would "demean the value" of her slain husband, one member of the council reasoned. There was no mention of Smart's rehabilitation efforts, the basis for Smart's attorney's argument on Tuesday when he will challenge the decision. Smart thought back to the council's brief comments. "In two years, my release is still gonna 'demean' Gregg's life. In four years. In 87 years. That can never change. So what's the point?" she told ABC News. "If I'm not rehabilitated, when will I be?" New Hampshire Supreme Court will consider challenge to Pamela Smart's life sentence originally appeared on abcnews.go.com EVANSVILLE Just after 9:40 p.m. on Nov. 30, jurors filed into Vanderburgh Circuit Court to render their verdict against Heidi Kathleen Carter, who stood accused of aiding her romantic partner when he allegedly murdered a man and repeatedly raped a woman in 2021. After nearly 12 hours of deliberation, the case ended in a partial mistrial: Jurors found Carter, 37, guilty of carrying a handgun without a license, but they could not reach a verdict on the multiple felonies she faced in connection with the killing of 50-year-old Timothy Scott Ivy and the kidnapping and rape of Ivys girlfriend, who survived. Carters second trial is scheduled to begin Monday at 8 a.m., according to court records. Newly elected Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers tapped the county's former top prosecutor, Stan Levco, to try the case alongside deputy prosecutor Audrey Beckerle. Just days before Carters second trial was set to being, Levco and Beckerle dropped the felony murder charge Carter faced in connection with the 2021 killing. November Trial:Survivor in death, rape, kidnapping case describes 'sheer, blinding pain,' gruesome scene Carter accused of helping boyfriend commit murder, assaults Evansville police arrested Carter Oct. 19, 2021, after officers responded to the 1800 block of Stinson Avenue in reference to a possible murder-kidnapping. Inside the home where Carter had reportedly taken up residence, police said they found Ivy's lifeless body buried under a pile of clutter and Ivys girlfriend, who was injured but alive, tied up in a bedroom. Carters romantic partner, Carey David Hammond, is who police accuse of killing Ivy and repeatedly assaulting Ivys girlfriend. Hammond was shot and killed by officers when he emerged from the Stinson Avenue home holding what authorities thought was a gun. It turned out to be an object twisted into the shape of gun. Authorities later said they believed Hammond committed "suicide by cop." Story continues Prosecutors, alongside Ivys surviving girlfriend and other witnesses who testified during Carters first trial, accuse Carter of directly aiding, and at times encouraging, Hammond throughout the alleged murder-kidnapping. November Trial:Heidi Carter will not testify, prosecutors and defense rest case According to court records, Carter is charged with six counts ahead of Monday's trial: aiding, inducing or causing murder, a Level 1 felony; two counts of aiding, inducing or causing rape, a Level 1 felony, and three counts of aggravated criminal confinement, a Level 3 felony, The list broadly lines up with the slate of charges Carter faced during her three-day trial in November, which ended moments after a judge blocked prosecutors from presenting key evidence to jurors more than 600 pages of Carters Facebook correspondence with Hammond. Those records could have pointed to Carter's culpability as Hammond's alleged accomplice, but Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Judge David Kiely ruled the documents inadmissible, a major blow to then-deputy prosecutor Emily Hall's case. Kiely said there were too few certifications to show the records had been compiled accurately by Steven Toney, the Evansville Police Department detective who investigated the case. More:Here's why a second Heidi Carter trial could be significantly different than the first Carters defense attorney, Barry Blackard, also argued the records contained prejudicial information. Levco hired to prosecute high-profile cases In late December, Hall replaced Krista Hamby Weiberg as Magistrate of Vanderburgh County Superior Court. Moers tapped Levco, who served as Vanderburgh County Prosecutor for 20 years, to handle Carter's second trial. Moers, a Republican, told the Courier & Press she hired Levco, a Democrat, to try major cases for the county on a part-time basis after Levco approached her about a potential role at the prosecutor's office. "When we take cases to trial, I want to be knowing we have a team thats well-prepared to do it, and Stan Levco is going to be an integral part of that," Moers said at the time. More:Diana Moers is hiring Stan Levco for the prosecutor's office. Here's the backstory. During Levco's tenure as Vanderburgh County Prosecutor from 1991 to 2011, he tried more than 200 cases, including 20 murder cases. In the years since, Levco acted as a special prosecutor throughout Indiana. Algonside Beckerle, who became a deputy prosecutor in 2021, Levco could seek to present the Facebook records again during Carters second trial, in addition to the extensive eyewitness testimony, DNA evidence and video footage prosecutors presented to jurors in November. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday at 8 a.m. Kiely will address several pretrial motions filed by Levco and Beckerle Monday as well, according to court records. The filings seek to block certain pieces of evidence from being presented to a jury. Houston Harwood can be contacted at walter.harwood@courierpress.com. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Heidi Carter trial begins Monday following mixed verdict in November Heinz Insu Fenkl. Courtesy Image Novelist, translator, and writing professor Heinz Insu Fenkl is the author of Memories of My Ghost Brother, a widely taught autobiographical novel. His new prequel, Skull Water, follows a boy named Insu who seeks a cure rooted in ancient Korean myth. The Secret of Zen by Ardent Hollingsworth (2021) This recent book is not the typical feel-good New Age Buddhist memoir. It's a portrait of a spiritual quest carried out with uncompromising integrity. Hollingsworth's story is not only edifying, it also exposes the hypocrisy of Buddhist masters and the West's (perhaps willful) misinterpretation of Buddhism's fundamental truths. Buy it here. Fourth Uncle in the Mountain: A Memoir of a Barefoot Doctor in Vietnam by Quang Van Nguyen and Marjorie Pivar (2004) For those who know Vietnam only in connection with the Vietnam War, this remarkable memoir will be eye-opening. Nguyen, revisiting his life from 1950 to 1986, describes his spiritual initiation, his ordeals, healing practices, and his conflicts with the dark forces of a seductive spirit world. Buy it here. Obasan by Joy Kogawa (1981) Obasan is a heartbreaking glimpse into the Canadian internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, and also a poignant autobiographical story of a girl surviving terrible personal and familial traumas. It forever changed my idea of what a novel could or should be. Buy it here. Boy Genius by Yongsoo Park (2002) Park's frenetic coming-of-age novel is a kind of hallucinatory allegory, a narrative of identity, displacement, and postmodern synthesis. There's nothing else like it in the Korean-American canon. It also made me, as someone who also grew up under the shadow of dictator Park Chung-hee, feel uncomfortably at home. Buy it here. Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko (1977) Silko read a terrible genre story I wrote as a sophomore in college, and her advice was, "If you're going to write a vampire story, make it the best vampire story." I cherish that advice to this day. Ceremony a vivid, poetic, and magical tale about a half-Pueblo combat veteran and his struggle with PTSD after World War II is certainly one of the best of its kind. Buy it here. Story continues The Guide by R.K. Narayan (1958) The Guide is Narayan's literary response and counterpoint to Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha. Raju, a con man released from prison after many years, camps out in an abandoned temple and is mistaken for a holy man. This is the story of his accidental journey to becoming a true guru, despite himself. Buy it here. This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here. You may also like Drinking water from the sea 5 entertaining cartoons about Biden's State of the Union address United Airlines flight plunged to within 800 feet of Pacific Ocean U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson, F-22 Demonstration Team commander, performs during a practice at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., May 29, 2020. US Air Force photo by Lt. Sam Eckholm Four suspicious flying objects have been shot down over North American skies in recent days. The commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM explained why more of these objects seem to suddenly be popping up. NORAD changed its radar filters to help spot smaller, slower objects after a Chinese spy balloon drifted over the US. A US Air Force general overseeing commands tasked with defending US and Canadian airspace explained that there's a reason mysterious flying objects seem to suddenly be popping up all over the place. There has been a change in the ways the military looks for them. Four objects, one Chinese surveillance balloon and three other smaller objects, were shot down in the span of about a week, and the head of the military commands that have been involved in shooting down these objects flying over the US and Canada revealed in a briefing Sunday that the uptick in discovery and engagement follows a tweak of the radar filters after the Chinese spy balloon drifted across the continental US earlier this month. Gen. Glen VanHerck, the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command, said that NORAD started searching for much smaller, slower-moving flying objects, while also making adjustments to filtration based on altitude. Typically, NORAD's radar detection is searching for fighter jets or bombers, which move at high speeds. "What we're seeing is very, very small objects that produce a very, very low radar cross-section," VanHerck said. "These are very, very slow objects in the space, if you will, going at the speed of the wind essentially." VanHerck said he believes the increased ability to detect these objects can be attributed to the radar adjustments and that operators are on "heightened alert" and looking more closely for these smaller and slower objects. Since the US Air Force shot down the Chinese balloon in early February, fighter jets have downed three additional airborne objects. An F-22 Raptor, a stealth fifth-generation fighter jet, fired a single AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile to down the Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4, sending the large system plummeting over 60,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. Story continues Just days later, on February 10, an F-22 used an AIM-9X to down an unidentified object over Alaska. US officials said this object was flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet and posed a threat to civilian aircraft. On February 11, the next day, an F-22 fired an AIM-9X to take down an object over northern Canada. The F-22, which notched its first three air-to-air kills after nearly two decades in service, was finally given a rest on Sunday, when an F-16 still using the AIM-9X took down an object over Lake Huron that was flying at a low altitude of 20,000 feet, well below the cruising altitude of many commercial airliners. While the US identified the first object as a high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon, North American militaries have yet to explain publically what the other objects are aside from offering a few details about size and shape and what purpose they serve. A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, on February 1, 2022. Chase Doak/via REUTERS Melissa Dalton, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, said on Sunday that although the US has not been able to identify what these recent objects were from over the weekend, the decision to shoot them down was still made out of an "abundance of caution to protect our security and interests." She added that the recent objects did not pose a "kinetic military threat," but they were traveling in proximity to "sensitive" US military sites and that their relatively low altitude could possibly threaten civilian aircraft. "We have been more closely scrutinizing our air space at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase in objects that we've detected over the past week," Dalton noted. "We also know that a range of entities, including countries, companies, research organizations operate objects at these altitudes for purposes that are not nefarious, including legitimate research." As recovery teams work to collect debris from the downed objects, it's not immediately clear where they all came from. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a briefing last week that China operates a global network of surveillance balloons that extends across five continents and multiple regions, but it is unclear if the objects that were downed in the wake of the Chinese spy balloon were also of Chinese origin. February 13, 2023: This post was updated to reflect that both NORAD and NORTHCOM were involved in the downing of suspicious objects in US and Canadian airspace, with each command having authority over different missions. US Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck oversees both commands. Read the original article on Business Insider Faulty software, missing and improperly made parts are the culprits in the latest round of car recalls affecting over 131,000 cars this week. Honda, Toyota and General Motors each issued recalls. Check USA TODAYs automotive recall database or search the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations database for new recalls. The NHTSA allows you to search based on your vehicle identification number to see if your vehicle is under recall. You can also contact your vehicle's manufacturer for further information. What else is under recall?: Check out USA TODAY's searchable recall database; cars, consumer goods, food and more Last week's car recall roundup: Honda, Kia, Volkswagen among 67,000 latest vehicles on recall Honda recalls 114,000 cars over back-up camera issue Honda recalled more 114,686 Fit and HR-V vehicles because the display may fail to boot up, preventing it from showing the back-up camera video image, according to an NHTSA report. Affected vehicles: 2018-2020 Honda Fit Hatchback 2019-2022 Honda HR-V SUV Honda told the NHTSA that the recall involved vehicles with key ignitions only. The Japanese carmaker said in its report that the display circuit was improperly manufactured. The display unit sometimes fails to boot up when the car is ignited because the cranking causes the cars battery level to drop, according to the report. Over 200 warranty claims have been filed over the issue since 2018, Honda said, adding that it received no reports of injuries or deaths. Owners will be notified of the recall on March 13, and directed to an authorized Honda dealer where a software update will be performed, according to the report. Toyota Hybrid RAV4 may lose power at high speeds Toyota announced the recall of 16,679 hybrid RAV4 SUVs because defective software may cause the motor to suddenly lose power, increasing the risk of crash, according to an NHTSA report. Affected vehicles: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Toyota said in the report only RAV4 Prime SUVs that contain a control unit loaded with the faulty software are affected. Story continues If the vehicle is rapidly accelerated in cold temperatures after being driven continuously in electric vehicle mode, the battery voltage might drop to low levels and display a warning message before the hybrid system shuts down, according to the report. This would cause a sudden loss of power that could result in a crash, the report said. Toyota plans to notify owners from Feb. 27 to April 3, according to the report. A free software update will be offered at Toyota dealers. Small number of GM vehicles with missing, defective parts may roll away General Motors is recalling 20 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles because of a roll-away and crash risk. Affected vehicles: 2023 Chevrolet Blazer (8 vehicles) 2023 Chevrolet Traverse (2 vehicles) 2023 Cadillac XT5 (4 vehicles) 2023 Cadillac GMC Acadia (6 vehicles) GM said in an NHTSA report that it identified 10 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles with left-hand half-shaft assemblies that are missing an assembly ring. The missing part may cause the half-shaft inner joint to separate from the shaft, according to the report. Similarly, the recalled Cadillac and GMC vehicles have right-hand assembly shafts that may separate from the transmission because of a supplier manufacturer error, GM said in a separate NHTSA report. Is my car still insured?: What we know about State Farm, Progressive dropping some Hyundai, Kia cars Both issues can result in a loss of propulsion or prevent the car from being mechanically parked, the report said. GM said it would notify owners of the recall on March 24 and offer free shaft assembly replacements. Which brand of car is most reliable?: These are the most dependable vehicles on the market This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Car recalls: Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, Cadillac among latest recalls Dolores Dudley of New Philadelphia was a prominent "girl evangelist" during the 1920s. Dolores Lee Dudley of New Philadelphia was one of hundreds of young girl evangelists who preached the Gospel to Americans living in large cities and small towns during the Roaring '20s. Dudley was 17 when she conducted a revival at Cornell Memorial Methodist Church in New York City in 1930. She preached a fire-and-brimstone sermon with the message that the Big Apple faced certain destruction unless it changed its wicked ways. More local history:Hooked on History: Ann Charity met fiery end after witchcraft accusation "New York is getting more wicked every day," she told a newspaper reporter at the time. "I've heard all about it nightclubs, speakeasies, gambling, empty churches. The city will surely be destroyed unless the people repent and are saved." She was described at the time as "a lovely curly-haired girl, who has never seen a musical show, a nightclub or a talking picture." Girl evangelists were a phenomena of the 1920s and the early 1930s. Thomas A. Robinson, in an article published in the Assemblies of God Heritage magazine in 2013, explained that they were oddities in a decade that was obsessed with the odd, the quirky and the novel. "More than anything else, what brought the girl evangelists to public attention was that they appeared to the press and the public as an ideal countertype to the new image of the feminine that marked the age the flapper," he wrote. "Indeed it was the newspapers and newswire services that first saw a connection (and a contrast) between the flappers and the girl evangelists, pairing them off as the modern girl against the traditional girl." Most of the girls were associated with the Pentecostal movement. Converted to Christianity at age 9 Dolores Dudley was born June 6, 1913, in Washington County, Ohio, the oldest of the three children of Leroy and Lulu Rardon Dudley. The family soon moved to Cambridge, where they lived for several years. It appears that sometime in the early 1920s, Leroy and Lulu separated. Leroy remained in Cambridge, while Lulu and the children moved to New Philadelphia to live with her parents, Edward and Lizzie Rardon. The Rardons were active in the Foursquare Gospel Mission in Dover. Story continues Dolores was converted at a revival meeting at age 9. "I ran sobbing to the altar," she told a reporter. "I felt like a bird that is free. I didn't intend to be an evangelist then, but the pastor of the Foursquare Church, a tiny mission, began taking me round to prisons and infirmaries. I was so small that I stood on a chair, so they could see me when I talked. My message went straight to their hearts." At first, she spoke to churches around this part of Ohio. One of the largest crowds she spoke to was in Canton around 1924, when she appeared with famed evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson at a mass meeting. Dolores never planned a sermon in advance. She could speak for an hour at a time without notes, preaching salvation, healing, baptism and the second coming of Jesus. "I am inspired," she told a reporter. "I hardly know afterwards what I have said." Like many other girl evangelists, she attended a Bible school at the headquarters of the Foursquare Gospel Movement. She studied under McPherson, who pioneered the use of broadcast mass media, specifically radio, to reach large audiences. "Sister Aimee," as she was known, founded Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, one of the first megachurches in the U.S. Enthusiastic converts call her 'Angel' Eventually, Dolores began preaching outside Ohio, going to cities as far away as New York and Minneapolis. "In cities of the Mississippi Valley, where Dolores has preached her gospel for the past seven years, enthusiastic converts call her 'Angel,'" a newspaper article published in 1930 said. "They clamored to touch the hem of her white robe." A poster advertising her appearance at the Des Moines, Iowa, Full Gospel Tabernacle called her the "Famous Girl Evangelist." "Miss Dudley has a marvelous message," the poster said. "Hear her once, you'll come again." At the bottom of the poster was a quote from the Book of Isaiah, chapter 11, verse 6: "And a little child shall lead them." When she was a freshman at New Philadelphia High School, she dropped out of school to become a full-time evangelist. She traveled around the country with her mother, Lulu. Reservations about 'girl evangelists' The girl evangelist phenomena came to an end in the early 1930s. "In part, it declined as the flapper era declined, for in some ways both girl evangelists and flappers grew in the same soil, each representing opposite extremes of the cultural revolution of the 1920s," Robinson wrote in his article. In addition, the Pentecostal movement began to have increasing reservations about women and girl preachers. When Dolores Dudley was 21, she married Foster "Zeke" Sipprelle, a native of Canada, in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, 1934. They had one child. She died March 21, 1992, in Glendale, California. Jon Baker is a reporter for The Times-Reporter and can be reached at jon.baker@timesreporter.com. This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dolores Dudley of New Philadelphia gained fame as girl evangelist Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, speaks at a media event at the National Press Club on Jan. 30, 2023 in Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON Republicans on a House Oversight subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic are launching an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and whether U.S. funds were sent to a lab in Wuhan, China. The select committee on the COVID-19 pandemic is requesting information on the origins of the virus from current and former Biden administration officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci, formerly the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the president of EcoHealth Alliance, a non-profit pandemic prevention research organization. The American people deserve real answers after years of suffering through the coronavirus pandemic and related government policies," Select Subcommittee Chair Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, said in a statement. "This investigation must begin with where and how this virus came about so that we can attempt to predict, prepare or prevent it from happening again." Smart analysis delivered to your inbox: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Investigating the investigators: GOP creates panels to probe DOJ, China House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, demanded documents and information on COVID origins from the Biden administration last year. Republicans in the last Congress also sent letters to the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Understanding the origins of COVID-19 is essential to providing accountability and protecting Americans in the future, Comer said in a statement. Republicans vowed to investigate Biden and his administration when they won control of the House in last year's midterm elections. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House Oversight Republicans launch investigation into COVID-19 origins NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured "spokes" moving across Saturn's rings, a phenomenon that indicates the start of the planet's autumnal equinox in its northern hemisphere, CNN reports. The equinox will occur on May 6, 2025. Saturn with two smudges on left side. NASA, ESA, and Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI) The reason for the spokes has yet to be discovered, however the "suspected culprit for the spokes is the planet's variable magnetic field," according to NASA. "Planetary magnetic fields interact with the solar wind, creating an electrically charged environment." The space agency compares the phenomenon to the northern lights on Earth. NASA is hoping that Hubble's new data will either confirm or deny this theory based on the previous data from Voyager and Cassini, which was a designated Saturn probe. "Despite years of excellent observations by the Cassini mission, the precise beginning and duration of the spoke season is still unpredictable, rather like predicting the first storm during hurricane season," explained Amy Simon, a senior planetary scientist at NASA. The spokes were last seen in the 2000s. Like Earth, Saturn also experiences seasons, however since Saturn's orbit is much longer than Earth's, each season lasts around seven years. The spokes appear as the planet gets close to its equinox where the rings are tilted toward the sun. The spokes disappear near Saturn's summer or winter solstice. NASA also explains that while the phenomenon could also occur on other ringed planets like Uranus and Neptune, it has only been observed on Saturn so far. "It's a fascinating magic trick of nature we only see on Saturn for now at least," remarked Simon. You may also like Drinking water from the sea 5 entertaining cartoons about Biden's State of the Union address United Airlines flight plunged to within 800 feet of Pacific Ocean The head of the Foreign Ministry of Hungary Peter Sijarto and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Serhiy Aleynyk Szijjarto said in a Facebook post on Feb. 13 that "there is no peace without negotiations," and that "the war in Ukraine is getting tougher, and human lives need to be saved," although he did not mention Russia, which unleashed it. Read also: Lithuania calls for fighter jets for Ukraine, as Hungary and Austria oppose any arms deliveries On arriving in Minsk, he met with Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleynik and promised to present a "position of peace" at the talks in Minsk. "Obviously, many people will attack me because of my visit, but our position is clear: we need to keep the channels of communication open," Szijjarto wrote. If we did not behave in this way, I would not have been able to convey the message of appeal to peace today either. Read also: Tsikhanouskaya calls on Belarusians to plan in case of war on the territory of Belarus The Hungarian FM visited Moscow twice after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and also went to Sochi in Russia. The ministry said it favored a dialogue with Russia, while Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly made outrageous statements about Ukraine and has refused to hand over weapons to Kyiv or let them pass through his country. Ukraine has appealed to the international community to isolate the aggressor countries Russia and Belarus. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A 60-year-old Boise woman has been located and is safe, Idaho State Police said. Brenda Hardinger had last been seen Sunday walking out of a care center in the 10000 block of West Smoke Ranch Drive, according to a 12:30 a.m. alert and tweet from police that listed her as endangered. This is near the intersection of West Overland and South Five Mile roads. Idaho State Police said in a Monday afternoon tweet that Hardinger was located by employees of a Boise business and was now getting the care she needs. Thank you to everyone who helped look and share the message, police said in the tweet. IDS Ukraine responded to the competition for the search for a manager This is according to the official position of the company, as published on its website on Feb. 13. Read also: Chinese discover mineral on Moon that could be potential source of fuel for nuclear fusion The competition was announced by Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). "The company's management is concerned about the start of the selection process for the assets of the country's largest drinking water producer, as since the company's corporate rights were transferred to ARMA in November 2022, no actions from the company side have required the replacement of IDS Ukraine's management, including compliance with all imposed restrictions," IDS Ukraine wrote. Read also: Fired deputy economy minister to become top manager of state oil company The company believes it won't benefit from a change of management, as ARMA has not previously had any successful cases of working with the assets that came under its control. IDS Ukraine also said its management has been working effectively under the conditions of the Russian full-scale invasion. The company has maintained its market share as of 2021, although its sales have dropped by 29%. IDS Ukraine's management hopes that "the state is interested in preserving a large Ukrainian water producer and will not allow changes in the management structure, which has proven its effectiveness in the past, and in the current difficult conditions." Read also: Prominent mineral water producer suspends operations in Georgia due to sanctions On Feb. 10, ARMA announced the competition for the post of a manager for the seized Morshynska, Myrhorodska and Borzhomi mineral water producers. Last November, the shares of the plants that produce the popular mineral water was transferred to ARMA by a court decision. In addition, IDS Borjomi International, a company owned by Russian oligarchs, announced on June 13 that its majority shareholder was transferring a 7.73% stake in the company to the Georgian government for free, and would no longer have control over it. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine By Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Talks between the International Monetary Fund and Pakistan will resume virtually on Monday, a Pakistani official said, as the two sides look to reach a deal to unlock funding critical to keep the cash-strapped south Asian country afloat. The two could not reach a deal last week and a visiting IMF delegation departed Islamabad after 10 days of talks, but said negotiations would continue. Pakistan is in dire need of funds as it battles a wrenching economic crisis. "Duration (of the talks) cannot be confirmed but we intend to wrap these up at the soonest," Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh told Reuters in a text message, confirming that talks were resuming on Monday. Talks centre around reaching an agreement on a reforms agenda under the country's $6.5 billion bailout programme, which it entered in 2019. An agreement on the ninth review of the programme would release over $1.1 billion. Pakistan's international bonds slipped again on Monday after having suffered sharp falls on Friday following news that a deal with the fund had still to be reached. The dollar-denominated 2025 bond saw the biggest declines, falling nearly 2 cents in the dollar before clawing back some losses to trade down 1.4 cents at 48.1 cents by 0900 GMT, Tradeweb data showed. Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank have fallen to $2.9 billion, barely enough to cover three weeks of imports. A resumption of the IMF programme would also unlock other avenues of funding for Pakistan. An agreement, if reached, would still need to be cleared by the IMF board. (Reporting by Gibran Peshimam, additional reporting by Karin Strohecker Editing by Shri Navaratnam) An independent Tennessee Senate candidate alleges ballot manipulation skewed election results in the Senate District 21 race last fall in a complaint under a review by an ad hoc Senate committee. Rueben Dockery, who lost to District 21 Democratic incumbent Sen. Jeff Yarbro, alleges voting machines were tampered with by a "bug" that led to issues with the voting machines, including ballot switching. Dockery on Monday offered limited anecdotal evidence to support his allegations, which the Senate ad hoc committee found did not meet the legal standard for review. The committee gave Dockery another 30 days to bring additional evidence. "I don't see the allegations measuring up to the standard that we have," said Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston. "It's mostly the complainant's assertions on his unsupported information." Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, is seen here in 2020. An independent candidate in last year's election filed a complaint and an ad hoc Senate committee is reviewing. Dockery has called for an audit of paper ballots in the race. He first filed his complaint with Davidson County Chancery Court, before Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office argued the constitutional jurisdiction lies with the Senate. Dockery alleged voting machine flipped his vote during early voting, and he also spoke to a voter with the same experience. But Dockery did not identify or include an affidavit from that alleged voter in his documents provided to the ad hoc committee. Reach Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville candidate files complaint alleging Senate election fraud By Krishn Kaushik and Aditi Shah BENGALURU (Reuters) -Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday set out ambitions to more than triple annual defence exports to $5 billion over the next two years, as arms firms flocked to a major air show for a slice of the nation's massive import budget. The country is looking to sign defence deals worth 750 billion rupees ($9 billion) at the biennial five-day Aero India event, its biggest ever, as its airlines try to complete jetliner purchases to meet civilian demand and press global aircraft manufacturers to produce more locally, mainly through partnerships. India has been one of the world's biggest importers of defence equipment for decades, but it has punched below its weight in the global arms export market. New Delhi's export ambitions are a sign of its growing clout as it uses the leverage of huge imports to attract investment in its domestic industry. "Today, India is not just a market for defence companies, it is also a potential defence partner," Modi said in a speech at the show. "I call on India's private sector to invest more and more in the country's defence sector." India exports defence products to 75 countries, he added. Past Indian exports include Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Dhruv helicopters to the Philippines, Mauritius and Ecuador and Russia-India venture BrahMos Aerospace's supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. HAL has also offered its Tejas light fighter jet for sale to Malaysia. India has also exported other items such as offshore patrol vessels, coastal surveillance systems, avionics, chaff rocket launchers and spares for radars. The air show aims to promote exports of indigenous air platforms such as Tejas, Dhruv, HTT-40 training aircraft, Dornier light utility helicopter and the light combat helicopter. India also wants smaller domestic companies and start-ups to make parts for large defence products globally as well as to attract foreign investment for joint product development and production. Story continues Defence experts were circumspect about India's ambition. "From just a 0.2% share in global arms exports, becoming a major exporter is a long haul," said Amit Cowshish, a former financial advisor in the Defence ministry and a former distinguished fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi. "Some of the biggest importing countries, even if they are willing, will find it difficult to withstand pressures from Europe and the U.S. to consider buying whatever little we have to offer by way of major equipment and platforms," Cowshish said. PRESSURE TO DIVERSIFY At the Aero India event, held at the Air Force Station of Yelahanka near Bengaluru, officials cheered aerobatic displays by aircraft including Tejas and Russian-made Sukhoi 30 fighter jets. Sharing borders with nuclear-armed rivals China and Pakistan, India's largely Soviet-era air force fleet is in desperate need of modernising. Russia supplied India with around $13 billion of arms in the past five years, Russian state news agencies reported late on Sunday, and suppliers in the European Union and the United States have been lobbying for a bigger share of the market. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has made it imperative for India to further diversify its supply base, amid fears of possible Russian supply disruption and Western pressure on New Delhi to limit ties with Moscow. Exhibitors at the show include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos, SAAB, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, HAL and Bharat Electronics Ltd. India's airlines are also expanding, with Tata Group's Air India expected to announce a potentially record deal to buy nearly 500 jets from Airbus and Boeing, worth more than $100 billion at list prices. Although unlikely to be announced at the air show itself, the deal coincides with India's largest industry gathering where suppliers hope to win spin-off contracts from the country's defence and civil aviation expansion. ($1 = 82.7250 Indian rupees) (Reporting Krishn Kaushik, Aditi Shah and Sudipto Ganguly; Writing by YP Rajesh; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Jamie Freed and Toby Chopra) Indianapolis has agreed to pay $390,000 to settle a lawsuit by the mother of Dreasjon Reed almost three years after he was fatally shot by police following a vehicle pursuit. Demetree Wynn sued the city on behalf of her sons estate in June 2020, about a month after Reed's death. She brought multiple claims against the city and police, arguing that Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer DeJoure Mercer used excessive force when he shot Reed after a vehicle chase gave way to a foot pursuit. Reeds name became part of local activists' rallying cries in May 2020 as protests and riots over police killings of Black Americans gripped downtown. More:Dreasjon Reed shooting: What we know about the Indianapolis police shooting Indianapolis police and the city deny any liability. The settlement does not stand as an admission of wrongdoing, the agreement states. A 2020 grand jury investigation into Mercer found there wasn't enough probable cause to charge him with a crime. Following the grand jurys decision, Indiana State Police presented ballistic and audio evidence to the public that they say shows Mercer and Reed exchanged gunfire right before Reed was killed. Judge kept some details from the pending trial The settlement comes less than a month before the lawsuit was set to go to trial. Days before a settlement notice was submitted to the court at the end of January, Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana approved requests from both sides to shield certain pieces of evidence from landing before a jury. Dreasjon Reed shooting:Protesters march to IMPD Northwest District on 2nd night The city, for example, was told it could not present testimony by a woman named Evana Evans, who pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal recklessness with a firearm in December 2022. The charge stems from what she says was her role as the driver in an April 2020 drive-by shooting executed by Reed. Story continues Reed was never charged in connection with that shooting. Wynns attorneys argued that Evans statements were "self-serving." After pleading guilty she was sentenced to two years probation and a year of home detention in lieu of prison time. The judge also ruled to keep from a jury any evidence backing an allegation that Reed stole a firearm from a pawn shop in Texas. Wynns attorneys argued it wasn't relevant to the specific claims in the lawsuit. More:Grand jury: No charges for IMPD officer who fatally shot Dreasjon Reed 'Closed casket' comment would have been barred The city, on the other hand, won its request to keep any reference to the 2020 grand jury investigation into Mercer out of the trial. It also won its request to bar statements made by IMPD Officer Steven Scott, who was suspended from IMPD for several days after a recorded comment he made about Reed's body at the scene of the shooting: I think its going to be closed casket, homie. In October 2020 the court threw out Wynn's emotional distress claim against Scott, leaving instead the claims against Mercer and the city. More:IMPD detective who made 'closed casket' comment was suspended, reassigned, chief says Another piece of evidence that the jury would have never heard about: after the shooting IMPD Deputy Chief Kendale Adams one of the officers who initiated the vehicle pursuit of Reed said he delivered a $100 check to Reeds mom to help cover her sons burial expenses. The check was delivered on behalf of the local non-profit 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, a youth development organization. But the city argued theres no evidence the check was ever cashed. Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him at jmagdaleno@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis reaches $390k settlement with Dreasjon Reed's mom JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian court on Monday sentenced a former police general to death for orchestrating the murder of his bodyguard, in a case that has gripped the Southeast Asian country for months. Ferdy Sambo, an ex-inspector general and head of internal affairs with the national police whose trial began in October, appeared before a panel of three judges at a court in Jakarta. Sambo has been "proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing the crime of participating in premeditated murder," Judge Wahyu Iman Santoso said while reading out the ruling. Prosecutors had called for a life sentence. Sambo's lawyer Arman Hanis told reporters his legal team will study the ruling but declined to say whether it would appeal. Spectators in the courtroom reacted to the verdict with cheers and gasps while Sambo consulted with his legal team. The trial had raised concerns over impunity at the top of the Indonesia's police force. Police had initially said the bodyguard, 27-year-old brigadier Nopryansyah Yosua Hutabarat, was killed in a shootout with another officer at Sambo's Jakarta residence last year. During the trial, Sambo had said the killing was not planned and attributed it to his anger because he believed Hutabarat had raped his wife. But the judges on Monday dismissed the claim due to a lack of evidence. Kamaruddin Simanjuntak, a lawyer representing the victim's family told reporters he believed Sambo deserved the death penalty, while Hutabarat's mother, Rosti Simanjuntak, stood close by, clutching her son's photograph. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto and Johan Purnomo; Additional reporting Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Ed Davies, Kanupriya Kapoor) Boys folding boxes for Rowntrees Nux Chocolates in the packing department, Rowntree factory, York. Yorkshire, 1940. (Photo by Borthwick Institute/Heritage Images/Getty Images) Heritage Images Republicans in some states are proposing exceptions to child labor regulations. That's because the labor shortage has impacted industries like meatpacking and construction. Research shows that those industries could attract adult workers if they increased pay and benefits. The kids are alright and depending on who you ask, they'll be just fine doing manual labor. Lawmakers in Iowa and Minnesota have introduced legislation in the last month proposing exceptions to child labor regulations in their respective states, due to the persisting labor shortage hitting them particularly hard. Minnesota lost 90,000 workers alone during the pandemic, according to state demographers, making it one of the tightest labor markets in the country. Iowa's not far behind with roughly 75,000 open jobs in December. Which means lawmakers in those two states are returning to a practice common during labor shortages, economists told The Wall Street Journal's Jacob Bogage last week: hiring younger workers to fill open roles. "Because of the high demand for workers, where there are holes in the system, unfortunately child laborers can get caught up in staffing some of those holes," David Weil, a former wage and hour administrator at the Department of Labor, told The Post. The laws take aim at the number of hours that children are allowed to work and protect employers from liabilities due to sickness or accidents. In the case of the latter, those employer protections dovetail with the kind of dangerous industries the bills are looking to prop up: construction in Minnesota, and meatpacking plants in Iowa. The bills come as efforts to expand legal working ages in other states have ramped up recently, and as the US has seen an increase in child labor violations since 2015. The pandemic-era labor shortage, which looks to be a permanent one, isn't helping, with many businesses coming under fire for violations in recent years. And employers have learned that they can't rely on older workers to stave off retirement to fill the worker gap. Story continues State Senator Rich Draheim, chief author of the Minesota bill, told Insider that hiring youth employees is valuable experience for the teenagers involved, and that businesses often can't afford to pay employees more. "Eliminating work opportunities for youth just because of their age will make it even harder for businesses to find reliable employees," he said. "Businesses teach these youth workers skills that will prepare them for their future, and maybe even attract them to their industry for life." Debbie Berkowitz, a fellow at Georgetown University's Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, told The Post that it's mostly children from low-income families who are hired when labor regulations are loosened, and that the "experience" they get from those jobs is negligible. "A lot of the child labor jobs are menial jobs and those skills aren't transferrable," she said. "We need immediate help" It's not just in Iowa and Minnesota; the GOP-led Senate in Wisconsin recently passed a bill to expand legal working hours for 14 and 15-year-olds, although it was vetoed this month by the state's governor. Ohio reintroduced a similar bill this month that would allow expanded hours for those ages with a parent's permission. Minnesota's bill seeks to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to perform construction work. For Iowa's meatpacking industry, it would be 14- and 15-year-olds. The Iowa bill was more detailed than Minnesota's, and outlines a list of prohibited job sites for children under the age of 18, such as meatpacking, slaughterhouses, demolition work, and roofing operations. It also, however, allows for exemptions, as long as teens between the ages of 14 and 17 are "participating in work-based learning or a school or employer-administered, work-related program." Additionally, it requires that employers seeking exceptions must prove that children will receive "adequate supervision and training," in addition to safety precautions, and a stipulation that work will not interfere with a child's education. The proposed laws skirt around the child labor requirements outlined by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The law, signed into law by former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, prohibits all minors from working with power-driven meat processing machines and roofing, with the exception being for "16- and 17-year-olds who are bona-fide student-learners and apprentices." Iowa's meatpacking industry in particular took a massive COVID hit and the House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis found last year that plants around the country exposed tens of thousands of workers to high-risk conditions early in the pandemic. Many people quit their jobs at the plants in 2020, and they are having trouble attracting workers still. "We need immediate help," Karl Jones, the owner of Jones Farm Market in Michigan, told ABC News last year. "It's an aging workforce in this industry. A lot of my longtime guys are in their 60s, and they'll be retiring soon. It's kind of a dying business in a way. But it's a business we desperately need." Research shows that these workers aren't averse to meatpacking work entirely they're just not willing to do it for the current wage standard. One study of 1,000 respondents last year, led by Jeff Luckstead of Washington State University, Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr. of Texas A&M University and Heather Snell of Arvest Bank, looked at how COVID-19 exposure and pay in comparison to unemployment benefits influenced workers' likelihood of taking on meatpacking work. In general, Luckstead and his team found that people were willing to take on these jobs for more money, and not even much more than the average wage for slaughterers and meat packers, as well as "aggressive" signing bonuses, and health insurance benefits. "The results indicate that higher wages along with additional non-wage benefits would have expanded the labor supply," the study said. But for now, Republican legislators are starting to turn to teenagers. Read the original article on Business Insider To get a sense of who is truly in control of Water Intelligence plc (LON:WATR), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. With 46% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Water Intelligence, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Water Intelligence What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Water Intelligence? 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. Water Intelligence already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Water Intelligence's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Water Intelligence. Our data suggests that Patrick DeSouza, who is also the company's Top Key Executive, holds the most number of shares at 16%. When an insider holds a sizeable amount of a company's stock, investors consider it as a positive sign because it suggests that insiders are willing to have their wealth tied up in the future of the company. With 14% and 11% of the shares outstanding respectively, Plain Sight Systems, Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Asset Management Limited, Asset Management Arm are the second and third largest shareholders. Story continues On looking further, we found that 54% of the shares are owned by the top 5 shareholders. In other words, these shareholders have a meaningful say in the decisions of the company. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Water Intelligence The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. It seems insiders own a significant proportion of Water Intelligence plc. It has a market capitalization of just UK100m, and insiders have UK27m worth of shares in their own names. We would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 12% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Water Intelligence. 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. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 14%, of the shares on issue. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Water Intelligence that you should be aware of. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here When we invest, we're generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. And in our experience, buying the right stocks can give your wealth a significant boost. To wit, the Martin Marietta Materials share price has climbed 62% in five years, easily topping the market return of 44% (ignoring dividends). So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. See our latest analysis for Martin Marietta Materials There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Over half a decade, Martin Marietta Materials managed to grow its earnings per share at 14% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 10% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems the market isn't so enthusiastic about the stock these days. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We know that Martin Marietta Materials has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? You could check out this free report showing analyst revenue forecasts. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Martin Marietta Materials' TSR for the last 5 years was 69%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective While it's never nice to take a loss, Martin Marietta Materials shareholders can take comfort that , including dividends,their trailing twelve month loss of 4.1% wasn't as bad as the market loss of around 8.4%. Of course, the long term returns are far more important and the good news is that over five years, the stock has returned 11% for each year. In the best case scenario the last year is just a temporary blip on the journey to a brighter future. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Martin Marietta Materials (of which 1 can't be ignored!) you should know about. Story continues For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But in any portfolio, there are likely to be some stocks that fall short of that benchmark. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Canadian Utilities Limited (TSE:CU) shareholders, since the share price is down 13% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return of around 31%. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. Check out our latest analysis for Canadian Utilities While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Canadian Utilities saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 16% per year, over the last three years. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 5% compound annual share price fall. So, despite the prior disappointment, shareholders must have some confidence the situation will improve, longer term. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. This free interactive report on Canadian Utilities' earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Canadian Utilities, it has a TSR of 1.0% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective It's nice to see that Canadian Utilities shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 9.0% over the last year. And that does include the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 6%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Canadian Utilities . For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Lex Leto x The Christine Burke Ensemble practice during a rehearsal at Voxman Music Building in Iowa City, Iowa. Back row, from left: Laura Canelo Cohen, Justin Comer, Christine Burke and Gabi Vanek. Front row, Ramin Roshandel and Lex Letourneau. This is one of an ongoing series profiling creatives whove made an impact in the Iowa City area. If you've seen a performance by Iowa City's Lex Leto x Christine Burke Ensemble, you know it's an experience. Turns out, so is their rehearsal. The six ensemble members gathered in a corner of a room at the Voxman Music Building one January evening, practicing a nearly six-minute song that, to the listener, is unpredictable. Their instruments including a saxophone, melodica and flute emitted sometimes sharp, other times dissonant sounds. Some of the musicians wandered about the space, one lowering to the floor with a small smile as the others stood around. Another grabbed a handful of pencils, the noise adding to the song. This supergroup, as they've been dubbed, consists of Lex Letourneau, Christine Burke, Gabi Vanek, Justin Comer, Laura Canelo Cohen and Ramin Roshandel, all classically trained musicians who, in their words, depart from their roots in favor of aleatory, noise, and song. You may recognize their names or have seen them perform in other gigs. Comer is part of the Iowa City trio Wombat. Vanek founded Oxcart New Music, Little Village reported. Letourneau has performed with Elly Hofmaier, aka Penny Peach. Roshandel performed with Jean-Francois Charles at the Englert Theatre and the duo released an album. Burke has written for Duo Axis, among others, and Cohen is a recent University of Iowa alumnae who works at music4life in North Liberty. More:Press-Citizen People to Watch for 2023: Iowa City's Penny Peach becoming a musical force When they come together, their experimental, improvisatory, collaborative interests result in a theatrical, playful and compelling show that audiences at Iowa City's Mission Creek Festival, Gabe's, Public Space One and more have gotten the chance to experience. If you've missed their shows, the ensemble is recording an album with a $1,000 grant from the Iowa Arts Council. Filmmaker Rachel Lazar is working on a film about the making of the album. Story continues Now, bandleaders Burke and Letourneau, who performed as a duo for the opening night of the Refocus Film Festival in Iowa City, share how their paths led to an ensemble that embraces the unconventional and their musical interests. Exploring the experimental and the improvisatory Christine Burke, left, and Lex Letourneau practice during a rehearsal at Voxman Music Building in Iowa City. Its thanks to the experimental scene in Iowa City that Letourneau, who uses they/them pronouns, met Burke, getting involved in an ensemble that actually began in 2016. Burkes ensemble a group of individuals with a shared interest in a contemporary, improvisational, experimental music were booked for Comers monthly concert series iHearIC. Comer, who plays saxophones in the ensemble, introduced them as the Christine Burke Ensemble to the audience. Thats how they got their name, he explained. In 2021, the ensemble performed a show at Public Space One, and its that iteration of the ensemble that performs today. But for their Mission Creek Festival performance, Letourneaus name was added, and its remained that way since. Rehearsing and recording the first three songs they wrote for their Mission Creek Festival submission Letourneau recalled as magical. I just remember feeling like, Holy s***, we stumbled onto something here, they said. The way that everybody was just playing together and we were making something that we had never really heard before. The ensemble doesnt just play. They perform. Take The Fly, a song about Letourneau stuck inside, no sunlight and an annoying fly. On stage, Letourneaus fellow ensemble members antagonize them. In one case, that meant bassoonist Vanek whispering into Letourneaus ear using a brilliant Australian accent during their Mission Creek Festival performance. Lex always says that she has to practice not to laugh when we're around her at the center, Vanek said in an email. I had to see if I could make her crack and that silly voice was a good bet. In the piece, the ensemble members are improvising, though its not without direction. We've worked out within the idea of improvising what sounds work in this piece. What do we want to convey while we're improvising and what's the sequence of events, Comer said. It's not a completely do whatever you want. It's like, do whatever you want within this structure and attempting to convey this idea to the audience. Collaboration is important to the ensemble. For example, while a song may begin with Letourneaus written lyrics or melody, the ensemble members grow it through experimentation and suggestions, Burke explained. And every piece the ensemble plays isnt played the same way twice. Though the concepts remain the same, the exact sounds differ, Letourneau explained. You're experiencing something entirely new in the moment and it requires you to be incredibly present with yourself and with your ensemble members and theyre such skilled and intuitive musicians that that makes that really exciting, they said. You dont know exactly whats going to happen every time. Playing to each other's strengths Ramin Roshandel, left, and Laura Canelo Cohen practice with the Lex Leto x The Christine Burke Ensemble during a rehearsal at Voxman Music Building in Iowa City. How is it that there are six people in Iowa City who share these music interests and come together to perform? It's a question Letourneau and Burke ask themselves, though it could be explained away by a number of factors: programming such as Iowa City's Feed Me Weird Things, the university, fate or an agglomeration of things. Like the other ensemble members, Burke and Letourneau are involved in projects outside the ensemble. But they write music that plays to the strengths of their ensemble. In turn, the ensemble makes music that, in their words, makes listeners say, Wow, I never thought I could sing along to music this weird! Rest assured that the ensemble doesnt expect its audience to know what theyre getting into, if evident by the Iowa City music scene that supports the ensemble regardless of the level of familiarity people have with their music. What I found is that pretty much everyone that's into music in Iowa City is open to experiencing nearly anything, Comer said. How the ensemble fulfills different parts of Burke and Letourneau's interests One of Burkes earliest memories was listening to a Simon & Garfunkel album with headphones on. The experience of sound itself, it's something I think a lot about now in my own work, she said. Like so much for me is just about the experience of listening and like the pleasure of listening and that can get to be fairly subjective, I guess, but I think a lot of the sound material I end up picking in my own work and this translates to work with the group too but this is something I could listen to for six hours. Burke grew up in the Chicago suburbs before moving to Indiana as a high schooler. Music was part of Burkes life early on. Her mother, a pianist, introduced she and her siblings to classical repertoire. Her undergrad was at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. A clarinet player, composing grew as her passion because she got to create rather than just perform. I remember at somewhat of a younger age, realizing that I could think of sounds in my head, and that I could be completely in charge of directing wherever they go, which is like very opposite from my approach to composing now, Burke said. In her first few years of composing, Burke wanted to make every decision correctly. It wasnt sustainable, she realized, because it meant that if there is one correct decision, everything else is wrong. Being a rock star was Letourneaus dream as a child, but insecurities and a crippling performance anxiety meant the band, something communal, was the more sensible option. In spite of it, Letourneau forged on with performances, singing in high school choir to pulling aside peers at the University of Georgia to perform in front of and build their resolve. It was also during college where Letourneau interrogated the idea of performance in a classical music setting, unsatisfied with how little the interaction was between performer and audiences. For two longtime musicians exploring their craft, the ensemble fulfills what they know, and didnt know, they needed. For Burke, as a composer, the ensemble allows her to practice her artistic value: to not do the same thing. And she gets to do it with five other talented musicians on a consistent basis, their sound and approach never lacking in their integrity. For Letourneau, its both an exploration and an assurance of their identity. They knew they loved performing. But with the ensemble, they get to run around at Gabes yelling at people. They can be theatrical, a part of myself that I hadnt met yet. Making music with Christine and our bandmates felt, for me, like coming home to something that I hadn't known was quite there for me, Letourneau said. I was like, Oh, this is it for me. This is the project that I've always needed to make. Lex Leto x Christine Burke Ensemble Known for: Up-and-coming experimental music group based in Iowa City that dabbles performance art. What to look forward to: Their upcoming album. Where to find them: Catch the members at these shows, including Burke at Public Space One Feb. 25, Comer and Vanek as part iHearIC at PS1 Feb. 26, and Comer and Burke at the James Theater March 7. Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Meet the team behind Iowa City's Lex Leto x The Christine Burke Ensemble BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will visit France, Italy, Hungary and Russia from Feb. 14 to 22 at the invitation of the governments of the four countries, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced on Monday. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, will also attend the 59th Munich Security Conference, and deliver a speech at its China session to communicate the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security advocated by President Xi Jinping, make clear China's abiding commitment to peaceful development and share China's position on major international issues in light of the theme of the Conference. Its been two years since most people have thought about what Kristin Smith says will be the biggest regulatory item for the year. The executive director of the Blockchain Association was referring to the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that President Joe Biden signed into law on November 15, 2021. With it, he created a new tax rule that redefines a broker as any person who is responsible for regularly providing any service effectuating transfers of digital assets on behalf of another person. At the time, the crypto industry worried that that would include miners, developers, stakers and others who dont have a typical customer relationship with the people whose transactions they help facilitate. In 2021, tax experts said there wouldnt be much the crypto industry could do until the Internal Revenue Service figured out how it wanted to implement the rule. At the time, they estimated it would take at least two years before anything happened. Now, here we are. We do expect the IRS to take this up this year, Smith said during an interview on the gm from Decrypt podcast. She added: "I do think the IRS are reasonable people. Is that gonna get me in trouble for saying that?" If the Blockchain Association gets its way, the IRS will focus on requiring centralized exchanges to collect tax information from their customers. Our hope is that they focus on that, because its obviously going to be very difficult if they start [with] miners and validators and software providers, who help with the operation of a transaction but dont actually take control of customer funds, Smith said. It will be impossible for them to comply. When the spending plan was first introduced, Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Pat Toomey (R-PA) proposed an amendment that would have changed the language to specify that miners, developers, and network validators were not included in the broker definition. Their amendment had the backing of Coinbase, Block, Inc. (formerly Square), Ribbit Capital, Coin Center, and the Blockchain Association itself. Story continues Calling the provision as written "too broad and vague," Coinbase issued an official statement saying that crypto "should not be subject to potentially devastating legislation without public participation and public comment." "We support sensible reporting requirements that are consistent with those that apply to traditional financial services," the company wrote. But ultimately, the amendment failed to get enough votes, leaving in place a provision that Coinbase said would mean "a massive increase in financial surveillance." We stand with @Square, @RibbitCapital, @coincenter, and @BlockchainAssn about the digital asset provision in the infrastructure bill. And we applaud @ronWyden @senLummis @senToomey in proposing a thoughtful amendment to get the tech right. Read our official statement pic.twitter.com/YrkohsDny7 Coinbase News (@CoinbaseNews) August 4, 2021 Now, Smith is hoping that the IRS will implement the rule in the way Sens. Lummis, Wyden, and Toomey wanted in writing. She said its likely the rulemaking will play out over several rounds of proposed implementations from the IRSfollowed by invitations for the industry and tax professionals to commentbefore anything is finalized. This article originally appeared on Velo News Tadej Pogacar ripped to an emphatic solo victory Monday at the Jaen Paraiso race across Spains gravel roads in a telling preview of what lies ahead this spring. With all eyes on Pogacar, the UAE Team Emirates star didnt disappoint. He uncorked a long-distance attack with 45km to go that was eerily similar to his winning push in last years Strade Bianche. I couldnt be so happy than to start the season like this, Pogacar said. To finish first and in third place is a great job for the team. A puncture with 8km to go on the final climbing gravel sector added a bit of drama to the otherwise perfect Pogacar power play to pick up where he left off last season with a win. Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) crossed the line second on the heels of his first pro win over the weekend, and Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) was third. Also read: If there was any doubt about Pogacars fitness or ambitions coming into 2023, he dusted them in trademark style. With many calling the Jaen Paraiso race the Spanish version of the Italian classic, it was no surprise that Pogacar hit the repeat button with a searing solo attack on the gravel roads of Jaen. Pogacar was quick to say the races are very different. The gravel is completely different in both races, with different climbing, and different entrances. I would not compared the two races, Pogacar said. It was perfect teamwork today. We had a good game plan. I am managed to stay alone, and that gives me big confidence for the season. Pogacar attacked out of a select group as the course hit a steeper gravel sector in Spains mar de olivos -- sea of olives -- even if Turner made a brave effort to hold his wheel. He soon bridged out to the attacking Sergio Samitier (Movistar). In no time, Pogacar was all alone at the front. Story continues The plan was to attack there. Tim Wellens really set me up, and I could finish it off on the climb, Pogacar said. It went to plan, it was perfect. @ClasicaJaen Paraiso Interior !!Tadej Pogacar regala una exhibicion con un ataque en solitario a mas de 40 kms y se impone en las calles de Baeza!! Gorka Izagirre el mejor espanol #ClasicaJaen2023 pic.twitter.com/3eVvCDuM8p -- COPEdaleando (@Copedaleando) February 13, 2023 The gap grew to one minute with 35km to go as he powered across another gravel sector alone, and that grew to nearly two minutes with 15km to the line. Late puncture does not slow him down Pogacar soloes to victory Monday to open his 2023 season. (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images) Ineos Grenadiers had two riders in a nine-rider chase group, but UAE also had two, so the fight was soon on for the podium. Pogacar was so far off the front that a team car was allowed to follow through, allowing him to have a quick bike change, and maintain his winning gap to the line. Its a little bit scary with the puncture. I was lucky to have enough time to the second group to have a car behind me, he said. It was not so stressful in the end. Pogacars opening shot will set the tone for 2023 as he pedals into an ambitious spring campaign that includes a return trip to Strade Bianche and Tour of Flanders, a race hes bound and determined to win following his dramatic debut last year. LEquipe reported that Pogacar will swap out Paris-Nice for Tirreno-Adriatico in March, meaning that he will race on the gravel roads of Italy on March 4, and then fly to France to start Paris-Nice on the outskirts of Paris the following day. Pogacar races next at the Ruta del Sol starting on Wednesday, when he face off against Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) for the first time since the 2021 Tirreno-Adriatico. Results powered by FirstCycling.com 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. [Source] Jamie Lee Curtis has attributed her recent Oscar nomination to her Everything Everywhere All at Once co-star Michelle Yeoh. Curtis made the comments on the most recent episode of the podcast "Variety Awards Circuit." Curtis is nominated for Best Supporting Actress, her first Oscar nomination, for her performance as IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre in the Daniels hit A24 film. Michelle Yeoh is the reason that for the rest of my life, you will say, Oscar-nominated actress Jamie Lee Curtis,'" she said while being overcome with emotion. "Michelle Yeoh is the reason that is happening." "When my agent called me and said, '[Jamie], there's this movie with the Daniels' ... and he said, 'It stars Michelle Yeoh and you would play her nemesis,' and I said, 'I'll do it,' and he said, 'No, no, no, Jamie, you need to read this [the script], it's out there a little' ... I said, 'I'll do it.'" More from NextShark: Co-ed K-pop group Kard arrives to Ring The Alarm on first comeback in 2 years Curtis continued, "The reason I brought Michelle Yeoh up ... I believe originally it [the rock scene in the film] was going to be voiceover. And I think Michelle Yeoh was the one who said, 'No, it should be subtitled. It should be silent.' ... F*ck. F*ck. I mean, come on. ... So, Michelle Yeoh." This is not the first time Curtis has shared her admiration for her co-star. More from NextShark: Japanese American comedian gets standing ovation from Simon Cowell on Americas Got Talent In early January, the actor went viral for her excited reaction to Yeoh's Golden Globe win. Days later, she went viral again on social media for an Instagram post of herself wearing a gifted meme-ified shirt with a picture of her reaction. Everything Everywhere All at Once has 11 Oscar 2023 nominations in total, including Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Yeoh is notably nominated for Best Actress, while Ke Huy Quan is nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Meanwhile, Stephanie Hsu is also nominated for Best Supporting Actress alongside Curtis. Story continues More from NextShark: Keanu Reeves faces backlash, boycott threats from Chinese nationalists over Tibet independence stance With a career that spans over five decades, Curtis also shared some advice with "Variety Awards Circuit" about becoming an actor. There is no prerequisite to be in this business. Hustle, talent, timing, hard work boom! And if you have the acumen of a film degree, does that help you? Of course, but its not a requirement. Its about something coming alive on the screen, and I dont think you can teach that. Despite her prolific career, however, Curtis refers to herself as a "freelance" and "unemployed" actor, as well as "accidental" and "untrained." More from NextShark: Netflix announces Bling Empire: New York spin-off "Life is hinging on a couple seconds I never saw coming," she declared. Curtis' career appears to be long from over as she is set to join Amazon and Nicole Kidman for an upcoming adaptation of Patricia Cornwells Kay Scarpetta novels. TOKYO (Reuters) - Top diplomats from Japan and China are preparing to hold informal talks on the sidelines of an international conference in Germany, Kyodo news agency reported on Monday. China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, will attend the Munich Security Conference this month, China's foreign ministry said on Monday, along with visiting several other nations including Russia. Kyodo said arrangements were being made for him to meet informally with Japan's foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, on the sidelines. (Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Toby Chopra) (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will return to work on Monday afternoon after successful sinus surgery, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. Kishida had the surgery in a Tokyo hospital on Saturday to treat a chronic sinus condition. "We have heard that the surgery was a success, and his post-operative process is going well," Matsuno told reporters on Monday. Kishida at first planned to return to the office on Monday morning but changed the time to the afternoon of the same day, Kyodo reported. While Kishida's condition is good, he has difficulties "talking for long hours," the news agency said, citing sources. (Reporting by Eimi Yamamitsu) An upscale New Jersey restaurant has adopted a controversial new policy that may strike some as either heartlessly stuffy or just common sense: No kids under 10 allowed in its dining room. Nettie's House of Spaghetti, in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, recently announced the new rule on Facebook and Instagram, acknowledging that the ban on young children was likely to upset some patrons while saying it needed "to take control of the situation." "We love kids. We really, truly, do," the restaurant stated. "But lately, it's been extremely challenging to accommodate children at Nettie's." Nettie's cited high noise levels, insufficient space for high chairs and servers "cleaning up crazy messes" as some of the reasons for instituting the ban, which takes effect in March, when the restaurant reopens after a winter break. It also said that children running around the restaurant created a legal liability, putting servers carrying trays of food and drinks at risk. Nettie's added that the decision was not "made lightly, but some recent events have pushed us to implement this new policy." It did not specify how it will enforce the policy. The announcement drew an outpouring of reactions on social media, but opinions were mixed. "I think it's a good policy. And for the record, I have kids, grown now, and still agree with this," one commenter said. "Not all restaurants are fit for a 'family atmosphere,'" said another. Others felt personally rejected. "That is really sad to hear ... I was looking forward to trying out your place but with a well-behaved 9-year-old I'm not welcome ... sad ...," read another comment. "This is highly disappointing. I've taken my child to 2-3 Michelin-star restaurants who accommodated her since she was an infant, but I can no longer bring her to a pasta house in the suburbs? Lame," another commenter said on Instagram. Nettie's could not immediately be reached for comment. Eagles fans arent the only ones expressing their post-game rage. A Christian campaign called He Gets Us aired two commercials about their favorite dude during the Super Bowl Sunday night. The ads reported $20 million price tag, as well as their ties to Hobby Lobby founder and billionaire David Green, among others, is sparking backlash online. Those behind He Gets Us told Christianity Today in March 2022 that they were putting $100 million toward the campaigns national launch. Yet, the head of the branding firm behind the campaign told the same outlet this month that the campaign plans to spend $1 billion on He Gets Us over three years. The idea behind the campaign is to target millennials and Gen Z with a carefully crafted, exhaustively researched, and market-tested message about Jesus Christ: He gets us, per Christianity Today. But, a search on Twitter shows that users are receiving a completely different message. Something tells me Jesus would *not* spend millions of dollars on Super Bowl ads to make fascism look benign, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted Sunday night. Something tells me Jesus would *not* spend millions of dollars on Super Bowl ads to make fascism look benign Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 13, 2023 Other Twitter users agreed, while pointing out that the ads simplistic messages of kindness are funded by people with not-so-kind agendas. Others compared the commercials to Kendall Jenners controversial 2017 Super Bowl Pepsi ad. This year, a 30-second Super Bowl ad costs $7 million. The average K-12 public school lunch debt is about $22,600. To @RevJacquiLewis' point, the cost of that Jesus ad could pay off the lunch debt of 310 schools. As Christians, we need to walk the walk. This ad isn't walking. Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) February 13, 2023 jesus paid for our sins and also $100 million in ad time i guess morgan sung (@morgan_sung) February 13, 2023 Imagine how much food you could have bought hungry people for the cost of a Super Bowl ad. Do *that* in Jesus name. Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis (@RevJacquiLewis) February 13, 2023 It cost $7 million to play a 30 second Ad during the Super Bowl. Thats means they spent $21 million dollars to play 2 ads (30 + 60) about Jesus Tax the church mac (@MacDoesIt) February 13, 2023 You know what would be better branding for Jesus? Using those 100 million dollars on the priorities of Jesus: Feed the hungry Welcome the stranger Care for the sick Liberate the oppressed Love our neighbors Yes, He gets us. We dont seem to get him. https://t.co/x4E1y383nb Carlos A. Rodriguez (@CarlosHappyNPO) February 11, 2023 Hobby Lobby and other Christian groups paid $100 MILLION for Super Bowl ads rebranding Jesus These groups also fund anti-women, anti-choice & anti-gay campaigns Theyre trying to make Jesus the mascot for their hate and vagina-policing Dont buy their ChristoFascist bullshit Lindy Li (@lindyli) February 13, 2023 Somebody: We have lots of money. Jesus: You should give it to the poor. Somebody: What if we bought a Super Bowl ad? Jesus: Satan: Hoo Ha Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) February 13, 2023 kind of was hoping that commercial with the black and white photos of people yelling at each and fighting ended up being a commercial for like go daddy or something like that Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) February 13, 2023 The Jesus ad forgot these images. Did Jesus love these people too? Because Americans dont. pic.twitter.com/U7OSEmyUa5 MM (@adgirlMM) February 13, 2023 I was waiting for Kendal Jenner to hand Jesus a Pepsi at the end of the commercial Winston Bonnheim (@WBonnheim) February 13, 2023 The two spots which aired amid ads for mayo, beer and Ben Afflecks attempt to indoctrinate more Americans into the cult of Dunkin featured lessons Americans should remember about Jesus during our divisive times. Story continues The first ad featured photos and clips of children deploying acts of goodwill while backed by Patsy Clines If I Could See The World (Through The Eyes of a Child). It concluded with a line of text that read: Jesus didnt want us to act like adults. The second spot presumably featured us acting like adults with images of people often of different races engaged in conflict to emphasize a message of inclusion. This ad ended with the line: Jesus loved the people we hate. Although most of the donors for He Gets Us are anonymous, Green whose craft store Hobby Lobby has denied insurance coverage for contraceptives and tried to control which bathrooms employees can use has been public about his involvement in bankrolling the campaign. The campaigns website also says that it is run by Servant Foundation, a Kansas-based nonprofit that claims to be not left or right or a political organization of any kind. YetThe Lever reported that the Servant Foundation donated more than $50 million to the Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit known for fighting abortion rights and nondiscrimination laws, from 2018 to 2020. Bob Smietana, a national reporter for Religion News Service, told NPR that the ads are targeted toward those who feel at odds with modern-day Christianity like members of the LGBTQ community, those who lean left politically or those repelled by current scandals of abuse. I think spending that much money, again, is a kind of admission on their part that theres a problem, Smietana said. And, you know, there is a problem for organized religion in America. Its declining, congregations are declining. And these ads, too, are a way to chide their fellow Christians to say, This is what Jesus is like, and maybe we know it, and maybe were not acting like Jesus. The problem that American evangelicals in particular face is that their political ambitions and their deeply held religious beliefs and ethical beliefs are in conflict right now, he added. So the things that will help them win politically will alienate people. Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-3.49.14-AM - Credit: PBS Shocking family revelations are part and parcel of Finding Your Roots, the PBS genealogy show hosted by Harvard academic Henry Louis Gates. Using a mixture of historical research and DNA analysis, the docuseries has taught us that comedian Larry David not only descended from a slave-owning ancestor who fought for the Confederacy, but is also related to the politician hes so gamely portrayed on SNL: Bernie Sanders. Questloves ancestors came to the U.S. as slaves on the Clotilda, the last known American slave ship which operated a half-century after the slave trade had supposedly been banned, while Bill Maher is cousins with Bill OReilly (OK, that one tracks). The first two installments of Finding Your Roots ninth season divulged that Edward Norton is a direct descendant of Pocahontas, Julia Roberts real last name isnt Roberts but Mitchell, and Claire Danes ancestor was branded a witch and hung during the Salem Witch Trials. But the most eye-opening chapter is set to air on Feb. 9 and features the actor Joe Manganiello, of True Blood and Magic Mike fame. More from Rolling Stone If I have a short list of all-time greatest hits, Joe Manganiellos paternal ancestry is on that list, Gates tells Rolling Stone. During his episode, Manganiello, 46, discovered that his great-grandmother Terviz Rose Darakjian, who escaped the Armenian genocide after her husband and seven of her eight children were murdered in front of her by Turks, ended up in a refugee camp where she was impregnated by Karl Wilhelm Beutinger, a German officer. Beutinger then returned to his wife and three sons in Germany, one of whom became a Nazi SS officer. Even more surprising, however, was his fathers side: Joes DNA did not match anyone with the Manganiello name, and the man he thought was his grandfather, Emilio Manganiello, was in fact not. Story continues When Joes father submitted to DNA testing, Gates team determined that Joes biological great-grandparents were William Henry Cutler, who was Black, and Nellie Alton, who was white. They narrowed Joes grandfather down to one of three Cutler sons, all of whom were light-skinned African-American men. (Joes DNA revealed hes 7% Sub-Saharan African.) Gates and co. also learned that Joes fifth great-grandfather was a man named Plato Turner. Records indicate Turner was born in Africa, brought to America in bondage as a child slave, became a free man, and was one of 5,000 Black men who fought for the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. There is a monument dedicated to him in Plymouth, Massachusetts. According to Gates, the series has an ethics protocol when they encounter a non-paternity event like Manganiellos: Gates will call the guest, inform them of their findings, and ask if they and their family are OK airing these family secrets. We give them the option of getting out of the series if they want. Then nobody will know except me and a couple of producers. And there are a couple of people that have withdrawn over the years, Gates says. By Manganiellos estimation, it took around 10 months for Finding Your Roots to nail down his ancestry, though some of that may have owed to pandemic-related interruptions. Gates and Manganiello are hosting a special screening of his episode in Los Angeles on Jan. 15 a Finding Your Roots first. There is no such thing as racial purity, offers Gates. If you go far back, everyone was sleeping with everybody else. Rolling Stone spoke with Manganiello about the revelations of his groundbreaking Finding Your Roots episode and how hes taken the news. Going into Finding Your Roots, what were you expecting? I had known since I was a kid about the Armenian genocide survivor story and that there was this German soldier who was my great-grandfather. For the past ten years, Id been trying to get on a genealogy show to find out who that German was. I always got no. And about two years ago, we got a yes from Finding Your Roots because they felt that technology had gotten to the place where they might be able to make some headway. Now, I then got a phone call that they needed to speak to me and that, for only the second time in the shows history, they needed to give a subject the option of opting out on the episode. That happened. We went through with the episode, and once we filmed the episode, I had a lot of questions still. They directed me to a German historian in Europe, and I personally hired him to run down a bunch of questions that I had. Lets start with your maternal side, and the story of your great-grandmother, Terviz Rose Darakjian, surviving the Armenian genocide. Could you walk me through her ordeal? Its astonishing that she even survived. The odds of you being here are so low given what she went through. Its virtually impossible that I exist. In 1915, the Turks came into her village of Harput in Armenia. They killed her husband. Shot her. And she had the presence of mind to lay on the ground and pretend she was dead, even though she wasnt. Seven gunshots then went off as they killed her children while she lay there. They left the eighth child an infant to starve in the crib. After they left her house, she got up off the ground, took a piece of clothing from each one of the children, put the infant on her back and escaped the village. There were death marches where, after killing all the men, they would chain the women and children together. They released Kurdish prisoners, gave them coats, horses and weapons, and unleashed them on these Armenian women and children. She escaped past those death marches, got to the Euphrates River, and swam across it with the baby on her back. By the time she got to the other side of the river, the baby had drowned. She lived in a cave, and then she was picked up by German officers and put into a camp. We dont know the nature of it, but she was impregnated by a German officer in that camp who then went back to Germany and left her in that camp to fend for herself. And she gave birth to my grandmother, who was born in a camp. And then you discovered that your great-grandfathers name was Karl Wilhelm Beutinger, who after impregnating Rose returned to Germany to his wife and three children. And we learn that one of those children grew up be a Nazi SS officer during World War II. Theres this powerful moment in the episode where you discuss having family on both sides of a genocide the perpetrators and the victims. The idea that, yes, the oldest son was in the SS which is not just regular military, that means youre bought-in and the younger son was a Nazi soldier. Through my talks with the family, it turns out that the younger son was sent to a Gulag, tortured for years, and returned speaking only Russian and didnt recognize his children. Whats interesting is, I have a maternal and paternal grandfather who both fought during World War II for the United States. So once again, you have family members on opposite sides of a conflict. Its really wild. Im an avid watcher of Finding Your Roots, and when youre an actor they say, When someone criticizes you, you really cant take that fully to heart; and when someone praises you, you cant take that fully to heart. You have to take the good with the bad. And theres some of that with history. I think theres a tendency to say, Im so proud that my ancestors were on the right side of history, but thats not you thats somebody else. My roommate in drama school is a very famous cantor at a synagogue in San Francisco, and hes one of my favorite people in the world. Its not me, you know? Lets move to your fathers side. This isnt in the episode, but Gates told me your father would get very dark in the summertime and people would make jokes about it, and that your grandfather was cold to your father. How did Finding Your Roots fill in those gaps? People went to their grave with family secrets that Finding Your Roots was able to basically exhume. It was a real shock. To find out that your last name isnt really your last name, and that I was related to zero percent of the worlds Manganiellos is wow. I cant imagine what it must be like for my father to find that out at age 72, and anything I feel seems borderline inconsequential. Ive never understood what ground zero was for me or who I am. If you put me in a lineup of Italian people, I dont really fit in. You can tell that Im mixed with something else. When I saw the picture of the German officer whos my great-grandfather, I look more like him than anyone else in my family. My father would get super dark in the summertime. People would always ask me, Does your father look like Tom Selleck? and Id say, No. Honestly, in the summertime my father looks more like O.J. Simpson or even the late Franco Harris. It makes sense now that we know. Much of my fathers identity was rooted in the fact that he was full-blooded Italian or F.B.I., as they call it and theres a strong sense of that identity growing up in the ethnic neighborhoods of Boston. We learn in the episode that your fifth great-grandfather was a man named Plato Turner, who was born in Africa and brought to the U.S. in bondage as a child slave, and then became a free man, was one of 5,000 Black men who fought in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and theres a monument to him in Plymouth. We also learn that your great-grandparents were William Henry Cutler and Nellie Alton, an interracial couple who wed in 1887 in Rhode Island, which was quite ahead of their time. Im descended from survivors. To raise a child in a camp thats blonde when no one Armenian is blonde, without a father, and to come to the United States and raise that child under the scrutiny of other adults around? Thats tough. To come from West Africa in chains, on a ship, and to come to the United States and earn your freedom and also to not join the British Army, because there was a lot of pro-British propaganda at the time. Its so rare to think that youd have freed slaves fighting for the Colonies. And the other side of it is this: Plato is not his real name, clearly. That was a name that was given to him. And unfortunately, names like that were given to slaves in jest. It was done derogatorily giving them names of Greek philosophers. So, to have that happen, and then fight for the revolution in non-segregated units, and then the next time a war was fought completed unsegregated was Korea? You fight for the freedom and the promise that all men are created equal, and then a hundred years later theres the Civil War? To think of how backwards this whole thing went Had you done a 23andMe before, or was the revelation that you were seven percent Sub-Saharan African a new discovery? I did a 23AndMe prior, and the trick of the 23andMe was that I came up twenty percent Irish. I gave it to my mother, and her test came up zero percent Irish. So, I figured it had to be from my father. And as far as the African goes, Im Sicilian, so I chalked up whatever African I had to being Sicilian. Sub-Saharan African means that basically youre descended from slavery, as it pertains to the United States, and I didnt know thats what it meant until I was on the show. He told me that seven percent Sub-Saharan African is more than just about anyone who checks the box Caucasian on their SATs. How did this information land for your father and the rest of your family? I dont know. My father and I were not my father and I dont talk, so I cant speak to that. For me, its fascinating to know what I am, to be able to explore ground zero. I love history and storytelling, and its part of the reason why I picked my profession. Im grateful. The reveal on the episode took seven hours, which is way longer than it usually takes, and my mother and her sister and my cousin all watched via Zoom as it was all revealed, and I know it was really emotional for them to hear all the stories and face the truth. What was your wife Sofias [Vergara] reaction to all these revelations? I mean, she was shocked. But it all makes sense. Since I was a kid, when I woke up my hair would go straight up and out. To be able to tame my hair has been a lifelong task every morning. There are things that make sense now. Much like the glasses Im wearing, it feels like Ive spent my whole life looking at myself in a mirror completely out of focus, and the show is like handing me a pair of glasses at age 45. All of a sudden I can see myself clearly for the first time. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. John Lydon has opened up about his wife's illness. (Getty Images) John Lydon has admitted that his wife's Alzheimer's disease has helped shape him as he cares for her. The Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd frontman's wife Nora was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2018 and the punk legend has been her full time carer since 2020. Read more: John Lydon emotional about leaving wife to perform for his Eurovision bid In a new interview with The Sunday Times, Lydon has opened up about the effect the disease has had on he and his wife: All the things I thought were the ultimate agony seem preposterous now. Its shaped me into what I am. I dont think Ill ever get over it. I dont see how I can live without her. I wouldnt want to. Theres no point. John Lydon with his wife Nora Forster. (WireImage) He added: You make your commitment to a person and nothing changes. These are the cards life dealt, and my mum and dad were right: never show self-pity. Ever. Lydon also discussed his return to live performing in a bid to represent Ireland at Eurovision. With his band Public Image Ltd, Lydon competed for a spot at the singing competition but ultimately lost out to Wild Youth. Public Image Ltd's new song entitled Hawaii was written by Lydon as a "love letter" to his wife. Lydon performed the song on live TV, something he admitted he was "unprepared" for: "Will my ego come back? Its hard to go from 24/7 care to this. Im unprepared. I have to bring this illness up to the public but leaving Nora disturbs me. Its a rock and a hard place. But what do I do? John Lydon performing live. (Getty) Lydon married publishing heiress and music promoter Nora Forster in 1979. In the 1960s she worked with artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Yes before moving to London's punk scene to promote the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Slits. Watch below: John Lydon 'shaking' ahead of bid to become Ireland's Eurovision entry. A federal judge has ruled against a group of Taunton residents who sued the federal government in an effort to prevent the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe from building a casino in the city. The judges decision in U.S. District Court in Boston on Friday granted summary judgment to the U.S. Department of the Interior, which had placed 321 acres of land in Mashpee and Taunton into trust. The tribe, which has about 2,600 enrolled citizens, was an intervenor-defendant in the suit. Although establishment of the reservation returned only a small fraction of the tribes ancestral territory, Tribal Chair Brian Weeden said in a statement Monday that this reservation is crucial to our ability to exercise our sovereign right to self-governance, to preserve our language and culture, and to provide for our people. The anti-casino plaintiffs argued in the suit filed in February 2022 that the Biden administrations decision affirming the tribes reservation was arbitrary, capricious, and unlawful because the tribe isnt eligible for a reservation since it wasnt an officially recognized tribe in 1934, the year the federal Indian Reorganization Act became law. The Mashpee Wampanoags were not federally recognized until 2007. They also said that Taunton was not part of the Cape Cod-based tribes historical domain. The judges decision, however, said that the historical record indicates that the Mashpee have had a robust connection to the designated lands for over four centuries, and have called the area of southeastern Massachusetts home for thousands of years long before their first contact with Europeans, including the Pilgrims in 1620. A voicemail seeking comment was left Monday with an attorney for the anti-casino Taunton residents. The decision was the latest in a yearslong legal battle spanning three presidential administrations over tribal land and whether the tribe has the right to build a casino. Plans to build a $1 billion resort casino remain on hold. The tribe in 2016 broke ground on what was to be called the First Light casino, which was to include a hotel and shopping, dining and other entertainment options. Story continues But the gambling landscape in the region is much different now. Massachusetts has two Las Vegas-style resort casinos as well as a slots parlor, and the state last month started allowing sports betting. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A judge in Georgia has ordered public release on Thursday of a special grand jurys report that focuses on whether former President Donald Trump broke state law by pressuring local officials to change the 2020 presidential election results. However, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said he doesnt planfor nowto release the bulk of the grand jurys work, including the parts that address potential criminal liability for Trump or other individuals. In an order released Monday morning responding to requests from media organizations for access to the special grand jurys report, McBurney said he intends to put the introduction and conclusion to the summation on the public record this week, along with a portion of the report discussion about potential false statements made to the grand jury under oath. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis indicated last month that decisions on whether to charge any subjects of her investigation are imminent. Her year-long probe into whether Trump violated Georgia election law in part by urging Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find enough votes to reverse the outcome featured extensive efforts to compel testimony form some of Trumps top White House and campaign advisers, as well as his outside lawyers. Dispite Willis preferences on timing, McBurney said he had to prioritize the publics right to know about at least the general findings of the probe into alleged efforts to tamper with the 2020 election results. While publication may not be convenient for the pacing of the district attorneys investigation, the compelling public interest in these proceedings and the unquestionable value and importance of transparency require their release, McBurney wrote in his eight-page order. A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the judges order and whether she will seek to appeal it. McBurney ruled that aspects of the report that recommend whether to indict or not indict specific individuals should remain private for now in part because those individuals are not afforded the same due process rights during the grand jury process they would have in court if theyre charged. Story continues While witnesses were permitted to have their lawyers nearby during the grand-jury proceedings, those lawyers were not permitted to sit in on the interviews to help mount a defense or rebut questions from prosecutors and grand jurors. Willis office got court approval for the special grand jury investigation last January and impaneled the actual jury in May. The probe stems in large part from a phone call Trump held with Raffensperger on Jan. 3, 2021, asking him to locate more than additional 11,000 votes for Trump so that he could be deemed the victor over Joe Biden in the state. Raffensperger and other state officials repeatedly told Trump theyd looked into allegations hed made of fraud and hidden stashes ballots, but found nothing to support them. While the Georgia officials stood firm, a recording of the call indicates Trump continued to press, largely ignoring their explanations. But the probe significantly broadened over time to focus on Trumps larger effort to subvert the 2020 election, in part by pushing allies in several states to deliver false sets of presidential electors to Washington. Among the witnesses Willis compelled to appear in Fulton County: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Flynn, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Mark Meadows, all of whom lost court battles to resist her summons. Many legal analysts have said the call could amount to an illegal attempt to tamper with the election results, although Trump has described the call as perfect. The special grand jury also explored efforts other Trump supporters made to urge recounts or decertification of the election results in the days before Congress met to tally the electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021. Trumps lawyers did not seek to intervene in the litigation over releasing the special grand jurys report. The former presidents attorneys issued a statement last month saying they assumed the investigative body recommended no charges since it never subpoenaed him or sought a voluntary interview. Trumps attorneys did not immediately respond to a request Monday for comment on the judges new order. Under Georgia law, special grand juries cannot return indictments, but their results can be used by prosecutors to take a case before a regular grand jury to seek criminal charges. Feb. 12MANDAN, N.D. A Minnesota truck driver's hope for a clean slate has been shattered after a South Central District Court judge denied a plea deal agreement on Thursday in a case surrounding the fatal crash that claimed the life of Scott Walden. Hashi Shire, who was behind the wheel of his Freightliner semi-truck on a frigid and rainy March afternoon when he lost control of his vehicle, allegedly while distracted, crossed the median and fatally blocked the path of another vehicle on I-94, will now face a felony jury trial. Shire was charged with a class C felony for Negligent Homicide and class A misdemeanor for Aggravated Reckless Driving when the crash fatally wounded Walden and seriously injured his wife. The agreement, as previously reported, would have suspended prosecution on the matter for a period of six months and provided an opportunity for Shire to have all charges dismissed and completely removed from his criminal record. Shire was a Minnesota resident at the time of his arrest. The Minnesota and North Dakota Commercial Driver's License Manuals use identical language to discourage operators from being unsafely distracted by chatter in the cab. "Mental distraction activities that take your mind away from the road, such as engaging in conversation with a passenger or thinking about something that happened during the day," both manuals state. "Don't engage in complex or emotionally intense conversations with other occupants." Defense attorney Thomas A. Dickson filed a brief in support of the pretrial diversion agreement. "The State and Defense both agree the stipulated Pretrial Diversion Agreement is appropriate based upon the evidence in this case. In consideration of the proposed settlement, Mr. Shire has paid Ms. Walden's medical bills in the amount of $1,342.16," Dickson stated in the brief, which also noted that Walden is the plaintiff in a pending civil suit against Shire. Story continues South Central District Court Judge Pam Nesvig denied the proposed order Thursday, Feb. 9, on the grounds that it provided insufficient justice to the victims involved. "The Court, having considered such agreement, and finding that the disposition called for in the agreement is not in the best interests of justice based on the victim impact statement," Nesvig's order began, before denying the plea deal. A felony jury trial is tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 25. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs Uncut Gems actress and subversive fashion plate Julia Fox has never been one to shy away from a controversy, and that continues to be true during New York Fashion Week. This time, Fox is catching flack for walking the runway in a recent presentation by Alexander Wang, the prominent fashion designer and former creative director of Balenciaga who was accused of sexual misconduct by a number of anonymous victims in 2020. In response to a wave of social media commenters indignant that Fox would continue to engage with Wang, the actress posted the following (now-deleted) comment on TikTok, according to the Twitter account @juliafoxsource: 2 b frank I love cancel culture but we do need to leave room for rehabilitation & for those who put in the work & heal & learn from their mistakes. Three years ago, model Owen Mooney posted a TikTok accusing a really famous fashion designer of groping him at a club, after which several people reached out to the Instagram account @ShitModelMgmt to allege that Wang had, in some instances, given them bottles of water they were unaware had been laced with MDMA. One accuser, fashion archivist David Casavant, said that Wang once approached him at a club and suddenly pulled down his pants and underwear. Alexander Wangs Apology After Sexual Assault Allegations Is Disappointing and Familiar While Wang initially denied the allegations, calling them baseless and grotesquely false, he eventually changed his tune and posted an apologetic statement on Instagram. A number of individuals have come forward recently to raise claims against me regarding my past personal behavior, Wang wrote in March 2021. I support their right to come forward, and Ive listened carefully to what they had to say. It was not easy for them to share their stories, and I regret acting in a way that caused them pain. While we disagree on some of the details of these personal interactions, I will set a better example and use my visibility and influence to encourage others to recognize harmful behaviors. Life is about learning and growth, and now that I know better, I will do better. Story continues The Daily Beast has reached out to Foxs representatives for comment. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A Kansas City police officer was hospitalized with a gunshot wound sustained at police headquarters Sunday night, authorities said. The officer was struck by gunfire just before 9:20 p.m. at the Kansas City Police Department headquarters on Locust Street, Capt. Corey Carlisle, a spokesman with the department, said in an email early Monday morning. The injured officer was hospitalized with injuries that arent believed to be life-threatening, police said. The source of the gunshot is unknown and no suspect information is known at this time, Carlisle said. The shooting is under investigation by KCPD detectives. No other information was immediately available. Kanye West Rich Fury/VF20/Getty Images for Vanity Fair There have been more than two dozen antisemitic incidents in recent months, including multiple assaults, apparently inspired by Ye's rhetoric, according to a new report. The Anti-Defamation League says it has "documented at least 30 antisemitic incidents that directly reference Ye," the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, since October 2022, the month he threatened to go "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE." The report lays out all of the examples, which include "vandalism, banner drops, targeted harassment, and campus propaganda distributions." There were multiple instances of phrases like "Kanye was right about the Jews" being written in public places alongside swastikas, as well as Jewish people allegedly being harassed by individuals who expressed support for Ye. In one case, a man allegedly called a Jewish-owned restaurant and asked for "the Kanye special" before saying, "Death to all the Jews." In another case, 32-year-old Perin Jacobchuk allegedly physically assaulted a Jewish man in New York, shouting "F--k you, Jew" and "Kanye 2024!" A Jewish man was also allegedly "physically and verbally assaulted" in a grocery store by a group of people in Maryland who said, "Do it for Kanye!" The Anti-Defamation League additionally says that Ye's antisemitic statements have been embraced by extremist groups, and references to the rapper "have become mainstream shorthand for the hatred of or a desire to commit violence against Jewish people." Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement that Ye's antisemitic remarks "doubtlessly are having an impact and inspiring people to commit real-world acts of hate." The group previously condemned Ye for his "dangerous" social media posts, but he repeatedly doubled down on them before eventually professing his admiration of Adolf Hitler. You may also like Drinking water from the sea 5 entertaining cartoons about Biden's State of the Union address United Airlines flight plunged to within 800 feet of Pacific Ocean NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto has nominated Susan Koech, a career banker who has also served in top government posts, to be the second deputy governor of the central bank, a parliamentary document showed. The post has been vacant for more than five years after Ruto's predecessor failed to fill it when its previous occupant left. The bank has been running under the leadership of Patrick Njoroge as the governor, and one deputy, Sheila M'mbijiwe. The law stipulates that the regulator should have two deputies. Neither the central bank, nor the previous government, has ever commented on the vacancy for the second deputy. The process of filling it started after Ruto took office last September. Njoroge and M'mbijiwe's terms are set to expire in June, meaning Koech could serve as acting governor if their replacements are not be appointed beforehand, legal experts told Reuters. Koech's nomination is one of the messages from the presidency that will be read to the senate when it resumes sittings on Tuesday following a long recess, the senate said in the document posted on its website. Her nomination has to be approved by parliament, which is controlled by Ruto's Kenya Kwanza political coalition. Koech holds a doctorate in business from a local university. She previously worked in various positions with local top lender KCB Group for nearly two decades, before joining government in 2018, where she worked as a senior official in two ministries. (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Toby Chopra) North Korean North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae SOPA Images / Contributor/ Getty Images North Korean authorities are compelling girls and women with the same name as leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju Ae, to change it to something else, per a Radio Free Asia report. The report cited two anonymous sources from North Pyongan and South Pyongan provinces who said local government officials issued orders for women to change their birth certificates in the cities of Jeongju and Pyongsong. One of the residents told Radio Free Asia that "the Ministry of Security in Jeongju City summoned women registered with the resident registration department under the name 'Ju Ae' to the Ministry of Safety to change their names." Officials said the name is now reserved for persons of "the highest dignity," per the unnamed resident. Recent attention on Kim Ju Ae, the only one of Kim's children to be revealed to the public, "has led to speculation that she might be groomed to succeed her father," Insider wrote. Ju Ae, believed to be ten years old, made her public debut at an intercontinental ballistic missile launch late last year. She was also in attendance at a highly publicized state banquet, where she took photos with North Korea's top generals. The name change directive follows what The Guardian calls "a tradition upheld by the reclusive state's ruling Kim dynasty." The year before assuming the role as the country's leader, Kim ordered those holding the name "Jong Un," to change their birth certificates legally. "The directive was 'voluntary,'" Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst, told Insider, "but as we know, few things are voluntary in North Korea, especially when it comes to orders from the leadership." While "this most recent name ban is not anything out of the ordinary for North Korea," Kim says it's early to determine if Kim's daughter is being groomed for leadership. Still, she added that the recent public appearance shows that he wants his child to be seen. You may also like Drinking water from the sea 5 entertaining cartoons about Biden's State of the Union address United Airlines flight plunged to within 800 feet of Pacific Ocean Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Alamy Paul Tremblay has a fun party game he stores in his back pocket. Its a little twisted, considering he wrote The Cabin at the End of the World, the book upon which M. Night Shymalans new horror Knock at the Cabin is based. No, it doesnt involve asking, Who would you kill out of your two closest loved ones? Its actually a little darker than that. Whats the shortlist of movies that are better than the book? Tremblay asks me ,as we have coffee before his upcoming Q+A session at The Strand in New York City. He tells me he hopes Knock at the Cabin doesnt fall under this category. But if it does, heywhat are you going to do? Its fine. Tremblay says Jaws. I agree and add Jurassic Park, one of my favorite movies of all time, but he still makes a strong case for the original Michael Crichton novel. Its hard for Tremblay to prefer movie adaptations over the original book, however, especially after seeing how the process runs as he worked with Shyamalan on Knock at the Cabin. Hes even been watching The Last of Us with his family and taking more attentive notes on his daughters references to the original game, more conscious of how adaptations alter source material. Knock at the Cabin Is M. Night Shyamalans Return to Anxious, Heartfelt Form The daylight horror film follows the same plot as Tremblays 2018 novelfor the most part. Dads Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge) take their daughter Wen (Kristen Cui) to a secluded cabin where theyre forced to make the hardest decision of their lives. A band of four home intruders led by Leonard (Dave Bautista) tell them they must kill one of their trio or the world will end. Every so often, one of the four intruders will be killed, triggering a step forward in the apocalypseunless Eric, Andrew, or Wen murder their loved ones. (Warning: Spoilers ahead for the endings of Knock at the Cabin and The Cabin at the End of the World.) The ending, however, is where the movie diverges from the book. In the movies ending, Andrew agrees to kill Eric, so that he and Wen can live a full life together. Plus, the apocalypse is really happening, as we can see from big tsunamis, lightning bolts, an ongoing influenza, and thousands of plane crashes. Story continues In the book, Wen is accidentally killed when a gun goes off. But because killing a child is far too dark for a studio film, Knock at the Cabin keeps Wen alive. The fate of humanity, however, is more up in the air in Tremblays novel. Andrew and Eric decide to ignore their captors pleas for them to sacrifice themselves, rejecting the notion that theres a higher power who will trade one of their lives for those of the rest of humankind. And while Tremblay thinks the movies ending is actually darker than his, viewers and critics (including some of our own) have disagreed. Knock at the Cabin Could Have Had an Even More Shocking Ending These two men are like, In spite of what were living through, all these terrible things are happening to us and around us, but were going to stand up and say this is wrong. This is immoral. This should not be happening, Tremblay says. They say, Go fuck yourself, essentially. I find that hopeful. Below, Tremblay chats with The Daily Beasts Obsessed about why he prefers his original ending, the omission of his name in the films promotional material, and whats really the biggest difference between his and Shyamalans adaptation of the source material. Lets start with the ending. What was your reaction when you found out the final scenes of the novel would be changed for the film? I first found out in November of 2021, when I had my first phone call with Night. It was great. I appreciate that he was upfront in telling me, in broad strokes, what was going to change between the book and the movie. I knew then that it was going to be, pretty much: Theres something happening, and one of the dads will sacrifice the other. I had all that knowledge with me before I saw the movie, but seeing it is different than reading it on the page. I saw some people saying online, After you see Knock at the Cabin, dont even try to think about what youd do in that situation yourself. This would never happen! Do you think people should try placing themselves in the characters shoes? For Night, that was the draw for himthe question. What would you do? When I met with him on set, he was like, I jokingly told my family: Alright, who are we going to [sacrifice]? Like, jeez, Dad! I guess for me, with the book, the choice was there. It felt that it was a little bit moreI dont want to say complex, but it felt like the story was more than just that choice. The book became: I dont care whether or not the apocalypse was happening. It was all going to be about the choice Andrew and Eric were going to make. It was a metaphor for what we were living through, as opposed to, Are we going to save the world or not? [Its] the idea of rejecting fear and cruelty and hate for a little bit of hope. Paul Tremblay. Photo Illustration Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Alamy Ive seen publications calling your ending darker than the movies, including our own. In your recent interview with the L.A. Times, you said the opposite. Why do you think this divide is happening? I think people see my ending as darker because Wen died. That doesnt happen at the end [of the film]. Its undoubtedly super dark, but I think a lot of people are interpreting, Oh, these two men said no. Now, the worlds going to be over. I never said thats the ending. Its up to your interpretation. But I purposefully divorced myself from thinking about whether or not the apocalypse is happening when I wrote it. I wanted the evidence to be equal on both sides. My ending is defiantly hopeful. Whereas in Nights movie, when I first saw it, I felt so horrified and scared. I felt so sad for Andrew and Wen. Not only did they just decide to kill Eric, but how are they going to live with the knowledge that this incredibly cruel supreme being of the universe put them through that? I dont find that hopeful at all. Was keeping Wen alive a bigger change to your story than the movies new ending? M. Night has talked fairly openly about how once he read that she died, he was like, No, I cant. Thats it. For him, the stakes werent there any moreI felt the stakes were there. For me, one of the points behind her awful, accidental death, is that it makes the decision harder for both sides. In the book, the invaders that are left are horrified about: What is it that were doing if her death doesnt count as a sacrifice? In that same L.A. Times piece, you mentioned that The Cabin at the End of the World was partly inspired by the Trump administration feeling, to you, like an apocalypse. Luckily, thats over. Do you think this movie will resonate with apocalyptic fears in the future? Its a great question. In the late 80s, nuclear war was one of my biggest fears and something that still really upsets me. I cant usually watch movies or read books that involve that, because its too much for me. Part of Cabin was my fear of the apocalypse. The reason I wanted to leave [the ending] ambiguous was to reinforce the idea that, Hey, every time you turn on the TV or look at your phone, or look at your feed, it feels like the world is ending. This is just how we live. Did Trumps presidency manifest itself in your novel? The character Redmond in the book [Rupert Grint in the film] is reallyin anything Ive written, I usually dont have villains, I usually try to make [readers] empathize with them. You want to understand why theyre doing what theyre doing. Redmonds probably the only all bad, mustache-twisting villain that Ive ever written. His name, Jeff OBannonif thats his real nameI was playing with Steve Bannons name and Trumps first attorney general, Jeff Sessions. When I was writing, Trump decided to defund most of the WHO early action sort of stuff. What I mention in the book is that, as theyre watching the news, theres a bird flu. I partly wanted to not go overboard and be too didactic, but I also didnt want to go overboard naming specific religions, too. I wanted to keep it somewhat open-ended or say things out there in the general culture that could be applied to a number of different belief systems. Rupert Grint Finally Found His Post-Potter Niche: M. Night Shyamalan Star Its not just the endingthe title was changed, too. Why was that? That was all Night. He told me right away that this was what it was. I like mine better. I can see its close to The Cabin in the Woods [the 2012 comedy horror film from Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon]. At the same time, Knock at the Cabin is grammatically incorrect. I wouldnt have changed the title. I cant say for sure, because no one said this to me, but Night tends to like surprises. If they have the same title, its kind of obvious. Would you prefer that people read the book first and then watch the movie? Or does the order not matter to you? As long as they read the book! The truth of it is, and its a weird thingIve talked to other people whove been through the adaptation part of itmovies and television have been the dominant cultural force for a long time. Especially in comparison to books. A movie like this, so many more people are going to see the movie than read the book. Its the greatest problem in the world to have. But its a little weird to have this story out there, and have so much of it be the samebut in places, different. A lot of your fans were up in arms over the fact that neither you nor your novel were credited in the trailer or the posters for Knock at the Cabin. You also shared a tweet about the poster missing your name. Why do you think your fans jumped to your defense so vocally? When the first trailers were put out, some people were like, Hey, why isnt [Paul] being credited? It was a typical online argument where everyones an expert in things theyre not versed in. Ill admit, that [tweet] was pandering to some of my readers. Im very thankful that my readers who connected with that bookthere were a lot who didnt like that bookreally liked it. I was glad to see they were so vociferous about letting people know, Hey! This is his book. Did you want your name to be included in the marketing? Yeah, it doesnt need to be huge. Old-school posters used to have the billing block on them [with] all the names. In modern-day Hollywood, thats a workaround for some places, to not include everything. At the same time, as I was going through the adaptation experience and reaching out to other people to talk about their [adaptations], I heard unbelievable horror stories. Im not going to say, because theyre not mine. But some of the biggest writers you can imaginelike, man, why does it have to be that way? Publishing is money-driven, but coming from publishing to Hollywood, you see its even more money-driven. All writers should go in with their eyes open to that process. Would you ever agree to a Knock at the Cabin movie sequel? I honestly would have to look at my contract to see if I have any say. Typically, I dont. I would get certain money if theres a sequel. But Im not a series or sequel person. Whats next for you? I just finished a draft of a novel thatll be out in 2024 called Horror Movie: A Novel. I started it before I visited the set, but theres definitely somestuff. Its about a movie that didnt quite get made in the 90s, and theyre trying to reboot it now. Theres a little bit of satire on the Hollywood experience. Close to Cabin, its kind of grim. [Laughs] Did you base any of it on what you saw at the Knock at the Cabin set? Some of it. I think it was more from experiencemeeting with producers. For the most part, the producers Ive worked with have been great. But I've done a ton of pitch meetings that go nowhere. Sometimes, those conversations are bizarre. 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. President Biden Hosts Annual White House Easter Egg Roll Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, attends the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 18, 2022. Credit - Drew AngererGetty Images Hunter Biden is at the center of a political storm like no other offspring of a President before him. Ever since Joe Biden announced he was running for President in 2019, Republicans have scrutinized his son Hunter Bidens bouts with drug addiction and his business dealings in Ukraine and China with an eye toward weakening his dad politically. President Donald Trumps first impeachment was tied to a phone call in which he pressured Ukraine President Vladimir Zelensky to open an investigation into the Bidens. Now that Republicans have taken the majority in the House and control investigative committees, the spotlight on Hunter Biden has intensified, as members of Congress investigate his business dealings and whether they had any impact on Joe Bidens decisions as President or Vice President. Hunter Biden is also the subject of more than one criminal investigation. Heres what to know about Hunter Biden. More from TIME Who is Hunter Biden? Hunter Biden is the younger of President Joe Bidens two sons with his first wife, Neilia Biden, who died in a car crash in 1972 with their one-year-old daughter Naomi. Hunters older brother Beau, a former attorney general of Delaware, died from brain cancer in 2015. Hunter graduated from Yale Law School and has worked as a lawyer, a lobbyist and investor. Hunter Biden served on the board of the Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma Holdings from 2014 to 2019 and has worked on investments with Chinese companies. He is currently selling paintings through a New York art gallery. Whos investigating Hunter Biden? The House Oversight Committee is planning to hold hearings that look at Hunter Biden and his business dealings with companies in China and Ukraine over the years and whether those actions influenced Joe Bidens foreign policy decisions. Rep. James Comer, Republican of Kentucky and the new chairman of the House Oversight Committee, told TIME in October that the committee wasnt investigating Hunter Biden for political reasons. Were investigating Hunter Biden because we believe hes a national security threat, who we fear has compromised Joe Biden, Comer said. President Biden denies being involved in Hunter Bidens business dealings. Story continues Comers committee held a hearing on Feb. 8 that questioned former Twitter officials on decisions the social media company made in October 2020 to temporarily suppress a New York Post story about Hunter Bidens business in Ukraine that was based on data from a laptop that allegedly belonged to Hunter Biden. The House Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan, is planning its own set of hearings looking at Hunter Biden. So far, Jordan and fellow Ohio Republican Rep. Mike Turner, the House Intelligence Committee chairman, have requested documents from former senior U.S. intelligence officials who, while out of government, wrote an open letter weeks before the 2020 election saying that published information allegedly from one of Hunter Bidens laptops bore the classic earmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign. Some of the data and emails attributed to the laptop have since been authenticated by CBS News, The Washington Post and the New York Times. With a poster of a New York Post front page story about Hunter Bidens emails on display, Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY), Rep. Jim Jordon (R-OH) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) listen during a hearing before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Feb. 8, 2023. Alex WongGetty Images Hunter Biden is also reportedly the subject of criminal investigations into his tax filings and a statement he made on a form to purchase a handgun. In December 2020, weeks after President Biden won the 2020 election, Hunter Biden put out a statement that the U.S. Attorneys Office in Delaware was investigating his tax affairs. I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors, Hunter said in a statement at the time. According to the Washington Post, federal agents have given the U.S. Attorney in Delaware information about the amount of income Hunter Biden declared on his taxes and that he reportedly answered no to a question on a gun purchase form in 2018 asking if he was using illicit drugs. By Hunter Bidens own account in his memoir, he was using crack cocaine that year. Could Hunter Biden face criminal charges? Its unclear. It will be up to prosecutors to decide whether there is enough evidence to bring charges against Hunter Biden and whether those crimes would warrant the time and resources that might be required in a criminal trial. The lead prosecutor who would be handling those questions is the U.S. Attorney in Delaware, David C. Weiss. Weiss served in that office under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and was named to run it by Trump. When Biden came into office, Weiss was allowed to remain in place. If prosecutors charge Hunter Biden with tax evasion or filing a false return, he could face fines and jail time. A tax evasion conviction, where prosecutors must show that a person intended to avoid paying taxes they owed, can bring up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000. A conviction of filing a false return has a maximum fine of $100,000 and a jail sentence of up to three years. Hunter Biden paid off a tax liability in 2021, according to The New York Times. Then theres how Hunter Biden reportedly filled out the gun purchase form in 2018, checking a box saying he wasnt using drugs during a time he has publicly acknowledged he was. Lying on a Firearms Transaction Record is a felony and a conviction could carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years. But prosecutors rarely bring such charges. All of this puts Justice Department prosecutors in a tough spot, says Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor. If the Justice Department decides not to bring charges against Hunter Biden, they are likely to be accused of turning a blind eye because the case involved the Presidents son. If charges are brought for crimes that are rarely charged, then Hunter Biden could argue that hes being singled out for unfair scrutiny that another person would not face. If theres a decision not to charge, therell be criticism that the decision was infected by the fact that hes the Presidents son, says Mariotti. There is also a danger that if a prosecution is made on facts that would not ordinarily merit a prosecution, theres a good chance the Presidents son is going to argue that the only reason hes being prosecuted is because of who his father is. The DOJs reputation is going to be attacked regardless of what its decision is, says Mariotti. Did Joe Biden do business with Hunter Biden? Theres little public information, if any, showing that Joe Biden was involved in Hunter Bidens business transactions. Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, says that his committees investigation will look into a 2017 email allegedly found on a laptop that allegedly belonged to Hunter Biden. The email includes discussion of setting aside a certain percentage of a deal for the big guy. Comer claims the email text shows Joe Biden was aware of Hunter Bidens business with a Chinese company. Comer also claims those business ties influenced President Bidens policy choices toward China, but it is unclear how. Biden has kept the Trump-era tariffs on China in place and added new export controls on U.S. chipmaking technology since taking office. While he was campaigning for President in Iowa in September 2019, Joe Biden told reporters, I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings. President Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden board Air Force One at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, NY, on Feb. 4, 2023. Andrew Caballero-ReynoldsAFP/Getty Images Then theres the long-running and debunked conspiracy theory that Joe Biden, when he was Vice President, demanded the Ukraine government fire the countrys top prosecutor to halt an investigation into a scandal-plagued Ukrainian energy company that had Hunter Biden on its board. This is the conspiracy theory Donald Trump was chasing when he withheld military aid and pressured Zelensky, Ukraines President, to open an investigation into the Bidens during the famous 2019 presidential phone call. But Joe Biden wasnt alone in encouraging the Ukraine parliament to oust the prosecutor, Viktor Shokin. Concerns that Shokin wasnt doing enough to root out corruption were expressed by European diplomats and international organizations like the International Monetary Fund as well. The Ukrainian parliament voted to remove Shokin in March 2016. A 2020 Senate investigation led by Republicans found that Hunter Biden, his business partners, and their firms made millions of dollars doing business in Ukraine while Joe Biden was Vice President and those financial connections had negatively impacted diplomatic work in the country. But that same investigation uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing by Joe Biden in the matter. What about that big guy email? Data purportedly from a laptop that allegedly belonged to Hunter Biden included a May 2017 email from one of his business partners laying out how percentages of equity from a proposed venture with a Chinese energy company could be divided. One line of that email asks the question, 10 held by H for the big guy? Hunter Bidens former business partner Tony Bobulinski, who was one of Donald Trumps guests for a presidential debate in 2020, told Fox News that he believed H stood for Hunter and the big guy was Joe Biden. Beyond that, Fox News also reported that there was no evidence that any part of the business deals with the Chinese entities went to Joe Biden. It is also worth pointing out that in 2017, Joe Biden was no longer Vice President and was nearly two years away from announcing his candidacy for President. What is there to know about Hunter Bidens laptop? The story of Hunter Bidens laptop is a long saga. The owner of a computer repair shop in Wilmington, Del. named John Paul Mac Isaac says that a man he believes to be Hunter Biden brought three laptops to his store in April 2019, according to an interview Mac Isaac gave to Fox News. Mac Isaac told Fox he has vision problems and cant be 100% sure it was Hunter who dropped off the machines. On one of the laptops, Mac Isaac told Fox, he saw information that made him concerned. When the customer didnt come back for the laptop, Isaac said an intermediary helped him reach out to the FBI. The FBI then made a copy of the laptop hard drive and later came back with a subpoena for the device itself and confiscated it, Mac Isaac told Fox. When Mac Isaac stopped hearing from the FBI, he told Fox, he eventually got in touch with Robert Costello, an attorney representing Rudy Giuliani, who has often served as Donald Trumps personal lawyer. After that, computer files attributed to the laptop found their way to the New York Post, which published a story in October 2020 with the front page headline Biden Secret E-mails. Some copies of the laptops data that made it to various news organizations had changed hands repeatedly and been accessed by multiple computers, which made the entire trove hard to authenticate. But several news organizations have been able to confirm the authenticity of some of the information attributed to the laptop. Photos and videos attributed to the laptop and shared online also allegedly show Hunter Biden naked, using drugs and having sex. Republicans have taken to calling it the laptop from hell. Hunter Biden disembarks from Air Force One at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York, on Feb. 4, 2023. Elizabeth FrantzReuters In a new, aggressive legal strategy in response to the coverage of the laptops contents, Hunter Biden recently hired defense lawyer Abbe Lowell, who has sent letters asking prosecutors to investigate those involved in copying and sharing the contents of the laptop. On Feb. 1, acting on Hunter Bidens behalf, Lowell asked the attorney general of Delaware, Kathy Jennings, to investigate Mac Isaac for unlawfully accessing Hunter Bidens personal data and distributing that data to the political enemies of Joe Biden. Lowell sent a similar request to Matthew Olsen, the assistant attorney general for national security at the Department of Justice. These letters do not confirm Mac Isaacs or others versions of a so-called laptop, Lowell said in a statement to TIME. They address their conduct of seeking, manipulating and disseminating what they allege to be Mr. Bidens personal data, wherever they claim to have gotten it. Did Twitter temporarily suppress stories about Hunters laptop? Yes. In October 2020, Twitter executives temporarily blocked users for two days from sharing a New York Post story about Hunter Bidens business in Ukraine based on emails attributed to Hunter Bidens laptop. Internal Twitter emails released to Michael Shellenberger show that the FBI had been warning Twitter about a potential Russian disinformation operation to release hacked data in advance of the November 2020 presidential election, and Twitter executives debated whether the data used in the Post story was a part of a hack-and-leak operation. Twitter also temporarily suspended the accounts of then-White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, Donald Trump Jr., and the Trump campaign for sharing the story. The suspensions were reversed, and Jack Dorsey, the Twitter co-founder who was its CEO at the time, wrote it was unacceptable to block the sharing of the story link without explaining why. Republicans investigating Twitters actions accused the social media company of allowing itself to become an arm of the federal governments effort to suppress a news story. But Twitters actions didnt stop readers from finding the story directly at the New York Posts website and the story was still widely read and discussed at the time. Speaking to lawmakers during a House Oversight Committee hearing on Feb. 8, Twitters former deputy general counsel James Baker denied that Twitter was acting at the behest of the FBI when it blocked the sharing of the Post story. (Baker previously had been the general counsel for the FBI.) I am aware of no unlawful collusion with or direction from any government agency or political campaign on how Twitter shouldve handled the Hunter Biden laptop situation, Baker said. What does Hunter Bidens drug use have to do with all of this? During the years when Hunter Biden was working on deals with Chinese companies and serving on the board of the Ukraine energy company Burisma, he was also in a cycle of drug addiction, rehab and relapse that spanned 15 years. In his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things, Hunter describes in detail his crack cocaine binges, his confrontations with his family about returning to rehab, and his eventual sobriety and escape from the Crackocalypse when he married his current wife Melissa in May 2019. Anecdotes of Hunter Bidens drug use and photos purportedly from his laptop have been highlighted by Biden critics to suggest that Joe Biden is compromised by Hunters actions. Joe Biden has spoken openly about his sons struggles with drug addiction. This is a kid who gotnot a kid, hes a grown manhe got hooked on, like many families have had happen, hooked on drugs. Hes overcome that. Hes established a new life, Biden said in an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN in October 2022. Does any of this implicate President Biden in wrongdoing? It does not. What is known about Hunter Bidens business deals with Ukrainian and Chinese companies creates an impression that he was making a lot of money off the prestige of being Joe Bidens son, but there isnt evidence that Hunter Bidens business transactions have influenced decisions that Joe Biden made as Vice President or as President. There is also no clear evidence that money from Hunter Bidens business dealings ever made their way to Joe Bidens accounts. (House Republicans have alleged they dont have that evidence because of obstruction from the Biden Administration.) President Joe Biden hugs first lady Jill Biden, his son Hunter Biden and daughter Ashley Biden after being sworn-in during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. Carolyn KasterAP Hunter Bidens business connections and history of drug addiction are fodder for cable news appearances and committee investigations now that Republicans hold the gavel in the House. Theres no real evidence. Its very performative, says Asha Rangappa, a former FBI agent and now a senior lecturer at Yale Universitys Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. Its creating a lot of insinuations and then having a big hearing about it. For the record: 11:12 p.m. Feb. 13, 2023: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Mike Leum was part of a Los Angeles County Fire Department rescue team in Turkey. A 17-year-old boy was pulled from the rubble in Hatay, Turkey, on Monday after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake devastated Turkey and Syria last week, according to officials, and an L.A.-based search-and-rescue volunteer told The Times about his part in it. Mike Leum, an assistant director for the L.A. County Sheriffs Department, tweeted out the news, saying the teenager was "uninjured and talking." Leum told The Times that he and fellow volunteers were "going to get some sleep after a long (but great) day." A separate L.A. County team flew to Turkey last week to assist with earthquake relief efforts. By Wednesday morning, the team had arrived in the city of Adiyaman to begin rescue work. That team was sent by the U.S. Agency for International Development along with another from Virginia in response to the destructive earthquake and aftershocks. The death toll from the Feb. 6 earthquake is above 35,000. Officials have said the search for survivors is likely near its end. A crew wrested a 4-year-old girl from rubble in hard-hit Adiyaman, seven days after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck. The rescuers who retrieved the girl were among thousands of local and overseas teams, including Turkish coal miners and experts aided by sniffer dogs and thermal cameras, who scoured pulverized apartment blocks for signs of life. Seismologists have been warning Californians for years about the dangers of the type of massive quake that devastated Turkey and Syria. There will be 7.8s in our future. Absolutely. We have the faults, weve seen it in the past, it will happen again, seismologist Lucy Jones, a research associate at Caltech, said. The Associated Press contributed to this report This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. David Jude Jolicoeur, known widely as Trugoy the Dove and one of the founding members of the Long Island hip-hop trio De La Soul, has died. He was 54. His representative Tony Ferguson confirmed the reports Sunday. No other information was immediately available. In recent years, Jolicoeur, had said he was battling congestive heart failure and wore a LifeVest defibrillator machine. De La Soul was part of the hip-hop tribute at the Grammy Awards last week, but Trugoy was not onstage with his fellow bandmates. Tributes poured in on social media shortly after the news broke Sunday. Dave! It was a honor to share so many stages with you, wrote rapper Big Daddy Kane on Instagram. Rapper Erick Sermon posted on Instagram that This one hurts. From Long Island from one of the best rap groups in Hiphop # Delasoul #plug2 Dave has passed away you will be missed RIP. Young Guru added, Rest in peace my brother. You were loved. @plugwondelasoul I love you brother we are here for you. Smiles I love you bro. This is crazy and DJ Semtex wrote that it was heart wrenching news. Luke Cage showrunner and hip-hop journalist Cheo Hodari Coker wrote on Twitter that, "You dont understand what De La Soul means to me. Their existence said to me, a black geek from Connecticut that yes, hip-hop belongs to you too, and Trugoy was the balance, McCartney to Pos Lennon, Keith to his Mick. This is a huge loss. Jolicoeur was born in Brooklyn but raised in the Amityville area of Long Island, where he met Vincent Mason (Pasemaster Mase) and Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos) and the three decided to form a rap group, with each taking on distinctive names. Trugoy, Jolicoeur said, was backwards for yogurt. More recently hed been going by Dave. De La Souls debut studio album 3 Feet High and Rising, produced by Prince Paul, was released in 1989 by Tommy Boy Records and praised for being a more light-hearted and positive counterpart to more charged rap offerings like N.W.As Straight Outta Compton and Public Enemys It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back released just one year prior. Story continues Sampling everyone from Johnny Cash and Steely Dan to Hall & Oates, De La Soul signaled the beginning of alternative hip-hop. In Rolling Stone, critic Michael Azerrad called it the first psychedelic hip-hop record. Some even called them a hippie group, though the members didnt quite like that. In 2010, 3 Feet High and Rising was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its historic significance. Its a hip-hop masterpiece for the era in which it was released, Jolicoeur told Billboard earlier this year. I think the element of that time of what was taking place in music, hip-hop, and our culture, I think it welcomed that and opened up minds and spirits to see and try new different things. ... I think the innocence that we had back then was brave, but we were in a time where innocence was so cool. Not sampling James Brown, but sampling Liberace; I think it was shocking (when) we came out (that) we sampled Liberace. I dont know if itd impact the same way (now). They followed with De La Soul Is Dead, in 1991, which was a bit darker and more divisive with critics, and Buhloone Mindstate" and Stakes is High, in 1993 and 1996 respectively. De La Soul released eight albums overall and in March were going to make their streaming service debut, on Spotify, Apple Music and others after a long battle with Tommy Boy Records about legal and publishing matters. The 2021 acquisition of Tommy Boy Records by Reservoir, with masters from the likes of De La Soul, Queen Latifah and Naughty By Nature, helped move things along and the full catalog was set to debut on March 3. "You think that you own your stuff and that now its on cruise control, waiting for the checks to come in. But it is not that way at all. Theres a lot to do, Jolicoeur told Billboard. You do need collaborators, you do need help, you do need to rework back into the system and not necessarily be the lone commissioner of this project. You need allies, you need companies to work with, you need people to hire, and we learned a big lesson from that. It definitely wasnt just, We got our masters back! It aint that. Over the years, the group was nominated for six Grammy Awards, winning one for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration for the Gorillaz song Feel Good Inc. During the pandemic, he said, there were talks of solo albums and branching out which weren't new. We support each other in those ideas, but at the same time, I think the magic really happens when its the three of us, he said. Im not trying to crack that formula, and I dont think anyone else is, either. Asked what advice he would give to groups about how to stay together, he said you have to fight, but remember youre fighting for the team. Sometimes its about money, but then theres an element of: We dont get along because we havent been honest with each other. Get through that honesty, move on, and keep going because it feels good going. Fight it out, get it all out, and come back knowing that youre fighting for the team, he said. ___ This story was first published on Feb. 12, 2023. It was updated on Feb. 13, 2023, to correct the spelling of Erick Sermons name. Google told affected US staff in an early-morning email on January 20 that "we no longer have a job for you." Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images Laid-off Google workers were shocked that the tech giant let them go by email. "How Google behaved was not Google," one affected employee said of the abrupt emails. "It feels very much like they are just as cutthroat corporate as anybody else," another said. Laid-off Google workers say they're dismayed by the abrupt and impersonal way they were let go. Google told affected US staff in an early-morning email on January 20 that "we no longer have a job for you." Google has long been seen as a trendsetter in corporate culture, helping shape what's now become a standard among top tech firms, and staff say they're disappointed that after years of service, it terminated them by email. One security engineer, who found out he was laid off after he got a notification on his work phone overnight and realized he couldn't unlock his company devices, told Insider that being let go in this way was a "shock." "That wasn't the culture that we worked in, at least before that point," he said. "How Google behaved was not Google." Many laid-off workers spoke on the condition of anonymity over concerns speaking to the press could violate their severance package or because they may want to return to Google in the future, but their identities are known to Insider. Google is known for its rigorous interview process and its workers are frequently targeted by headhunters, but many choose to stay on because of the open culture, benefits like on-site laundry and gyms and job security. Paul Baker, a video production manager, told Insider that he "100% embraced Google culture" and would sometimes spend the whole day on campus. "I drank the Kool-Aid," he said. "Google felt like my home," a member of Google's analytics team who'd been there for around a decade told Insider. "It was a family ... You could feel it when you walked through the door." He said he felt "taken advantage of." The decision to lay staff off over email was "inhuman" and showed that Google was "just a company," he said. Story continues One laid-off technical program manager said she'd turned down other job offers and moved cross-country when she started her job less than a year ago. Reading the email, she "broke down in tears," she said. Other laid-off workers told Insider the email layoffs "came off as lazy," showed "cowardice," and "really stunk." "The mechanics of it all are very unpleasant," one said. Baker told Insider he was laid off while on paid carers' leave. A friend messaged him about the layoffs, and Baker realized he was affected when he couldn't log into his laptop. "This is kind of unprecedented because Google's never acted like this before," he said. "We're basically cut off and I'm still in a scramble trying to figure out: How does my severance work while I'm on carer's leave?" Other workers were laid off while on maternity leave. Baker said he wasn't resentful about the impersonal nature of the layoffs, "just extremely disappointed." Nicholas Whitaker, who worked in Google's people development team before being laid off, told Insider that when he saw messages from colleagues that morning asking if he was okay, he thought there'd been a shooting or a natural disaster. His initial reaction was "complete shock and dismay," he said, describing the lack of personal outreach as a "slap in the face." "The thing that stings the most is just the lack of respect and the lack of humanity in the way that it was approached." Laid-off workers said in many cases their managers reached out on other channels to offer support and express surprise at the layoffs after affected employees were swiftly cut off from corporate communication channels. Many managers appear to not have been told in advance about the layoffs or asked to help select employees. Two of the laid-off workers Insider spoke to said their managers had also been let go. Time zones created further problems. While many workers in the US woke up to their termination email or got it before they were due to start work, this wasn't the case for employees in Europe. Dan Lanigan-Ryan, a recruiter based in Ireland, told Insider that he gradually got locked out of company accounts, which other workers put down to tech problems, culminating in a call with a job candidate dropping. "I was blocked out of everything. And then I saw on the news about 15, 20 minutes later that Google was announcing 12,000 layoffs," he said. Google publicly announced the layoffs at around 2:30 a.m. PT, 5:30 a.m. ET, and 10:30 a.m. GMT. Lanigan-Ryan said that because he was a contractor, he didn't get a termination email from Google, instead just getting a message a few hours later from his agency. The 10-year analytics employee said that some US staff hadn't received the email, because Google had the wrong email address on file. Two decade-long employees who weren't affected by the layoffs told Insider that staff were now uncertain about their jobs and feared further workforce reductions. "Anything that used to feel special or like you really were a part of a mission not just a big money-making machine that feeling is I think gone," an engineer on the West Coast said. An East Coast engineer questioned what distinguished Google from other companies for remaining staff being headhunted now that their sense of job security was gone. "To preserve the culture of the company, I would've liked to see layoffs done in a more concerted and thoughtful way," one laid-off worker, who'd been at Alphabet's treasury for around five years, said. "I just can't understand why Google would've selected to squander the trust that employees have in the company by doing it this way." A technical writer at Google who wasn't laid-off told Insider remaining staff feel "expendable" and were having trouble focusing. She called the layoffs a "massive betrayal of trust." "It feels very much like they are just as cutthroat corporate as anybody else," a laid-off employee who'd been at Google Cloud for close to five years said. "The crown has fallen here." Were you laid off by Google? Or do you still work there? Contact this reporter at gdean@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Need last-minute Valentine's Day flowers? Join DoorDash DashPass for same-day delivery. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. As part of the shortest month of the year, Valentine's Day tends to sneak up on usand if you're not already aware, Valentine's Day 2023 is tomorrow, February 14. If you're starting to panic about getting something in your sweetheart's hands by then, look to DoorDash DashPass for the most convenient last-minute Valentine's Day deals. Sign up for DoorDash DashPass online Here's the deal: Subscribe to our Perks and Rec newsletter for daily savings on all the things you want and need. DoorDash offers same-day flower delivery through the platform, partnering up with over 3,000 local and national florists across the country (and over 19,000 merchants in general) so you can find something special in your city. Right now, if you sign up for a DoorDash DashPass membership, you can get up to 40% off your first order. What is DoorDash DashPass? DashPass is a subscription service through DoorDash that offers unlimited deliveries from thousands of eligible restaurants and retailers with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on all DashPass orders over $12 or more and eligible grocery store orders of $25 or more. How do you join DoorDash DashPass? DoorDash offers two DashPass membership plans: $9.99 a month for a monthly plan or $96 a year ($8 a month) for the annual plan. To join, simply enter your name, email address, phone number and a password. Within your account dashboard, select either the monthly or annual subscription plan. You will get a one-month free trial before your subscription plan kicks in. What benefits do DashPass members get? Right now, DoorDash is offering new DashPass members up to 40% off their first order. DashPass members always receive $0 delivery fee and lower service fees on eligible orders over the minimum subtotal, deals on same-day grocery delivery, exclusive members-only deals, easy cancelation process and more. One of the biggest perks is the convenience of finding same-day delivery or same-day pick-up options at a huge selection of grocery stores, retailers, flower shops and more. Story continues Amazon Presidents Day deals: Shop the best savings on Apple, Samsung, Instant Pot and more Valentine's Day 2023: 20 amazing last-minute Valentine's Day gifts that will still arrive on time How to order flower delivery through DoorDash Send stunning bouquets from local stores and national chains through DoorDash's website or app. If you're not sure where to shop for flowers or you're running out of time and need last-minute flower delivery, DoorDash makes it easy to explore local florists and discover gorgeous floral arrangements right from the app or website. Whether you're looking for flowers for your significant other, a friend or a family member, there are plenty of same-day delivery options to make your loved ones feel special. Simply open the DoorDash app or DoorDash's website and click on the flowers tile at the top of the app to discover local florist options and offerings. Choose the location of your loved one and browse the flower stores available in that area. Once you choose the flower shop and bouquet offering you like, you can personalize your delivery with a thoughtful digital Valentine's Day card to go along with the delivery. Just like ordering your favorite food through DoorDash, you'll be able to track your flower delivery and let your loved one know when it's on its way. Choose from classic red roses to unique arrangements from local shops. If you live in New York City, you can order stunning arrangements from top-rated shops like A&B Flower Shop, which features options like a classic dozen of red roses, a bouquet of rainbow tulips or a sweet arrangement of pink and purple flowers. Right now, you can get 20% off (up to $5) on your first order of $15 or more. For those in Los Angeles, shops like California Flowers offer gorgeous options like the "I Love You" black box of flowers that comes with a plush Valentine's Day-themed teddy bear. With DoorDash's discount, you can get $11 off any order of $75 or more for Valentine's Day 2023. Flower delivery by DoorDash is available beyond NYC and LA, so be sure to explore what florists are available near you. Download the DoorDash app for iOS Download the DoorDash app for Android The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews and more. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. This article originally appeared on Reviewed: DoorDash for Valentines Day 2023: Shop same-day flower delivery Lawyer Timothy Parlatore said on Sunday that former President Trump, whom Parlatore represents, used an empty folder that said Classified Evening Summary to block a light in his bedroom at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. He has one of those landline telephones next to his bed, and it has a blue light on it, and it keeps him up at night. So he took the manilla folder and put it over so it would keep the light down so he could sleep at night, Parlatore told CNN. Its just this folder. It says Classified Evening Summary on it. Its not a classification marking. Its not anything that is controlled in any way. There is nothing illegal about it. The folder was reportedly turned over to the Justice Department in December, months after the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, along with more materials with classified markings and a laptop belonging to a current Trump aide. Classified materials had reportedly been electronically copied onto the laptop. What youve seen here and also in the Biden and Pence investigations is that the White House does not have proper procedures for handling classified information. And these documents, when they get packed up and sent out when people leave office, they do keep showing up, if you will, Parlatore said. Hundreds of classified materials were recovered from Trumps Mar-a-Lago home last summer. In the fall and early this year, President Bidens team turned over to the DOJ a handful of classified documents from Bidens time as vice president and as a senator kept in an old office and in Bidens Delaware home. A small number of classified documents were then found at the home of Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence. The DOJ has been locked in a long-running effort to recover classified materials and records from the former president, kept after his tenure in the White House came to a close. The document discoveries have sparked scrutiny over the leaders document handling, and a special counsel has been appointed to probe both the Biden and Trump instances. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Lee Reed, who in July was released after 25 years behind bars, at the administrative office of Transitions Clinic Network in San Francisco. He is scheduled for back surgery. (Paul Kuroda / For The Times) Lee Reed hoped that upon leaving prison he could return to the manual labor jobs he'd worked as a younger man. But the 62-year-old suffered a debilitating back injury in prison, and despite requests for surgery, approval came only shortly before he was released, he said. It was too late. He would have to find a way to have the operation after getting out. After 25 years behind bars for assault, Reed in July returned to a transformed San Francisco. Many of his loved ones were dead. He had no money or home. Depression settled in. Im fighting myself, fighting the system, and I'm fighting to do paperwork, because it's hard to get up to get around. I can barely move, said Reed, who is living in a shelter. Californians who leave prisons and jails soon will have a better chance of success beyond bars. In January, California became the first state permitted to provide some benefits under Medicaid (known here as Medi-Cal) to incarcerated individuals. The new benefits would start 90 days before discharge in an effort to create a smooth transition to the community. The Department of Health and Human Services approved the state's request for a waiver of long-standing federal rules that prevented coverage of people behind bars. Eligible enrollees include those who are pregnant or have mental illnesses, substance use disorders or chronic physical conditions and disabilities, as well as anyone in a juvenile facility. "This is the first time in history Medicaid will be providing coverage to justice-involved individuals before theyre released," Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "It is a step forward in closing gaps in services this under-served community experiences, and I encourage other states to follow Californias lead. Becerra said the Biden administration is focused "on expanding access to healthcare across the country and doing so with equity in mind" a pledge that dovetails with the approval of California's request. Story continues Despite being a significant expansion of Medi-Cal and a break with past restrictions, the move has drawn support from corrections officials and conservative groups that more often oppose state spending programs. Some back the new policy because it means Washington will pick up part of the cost of inmate healthcare that is currently borne by state and local governments. Medi-Cal is jointly paid for by the state and federal governments, with Washington covering about 65% of California's Medicaid spending in the 2021 fiscal year. "It's always helpful to the state budget when California can draw down federal dollars," said Susan Shelley, vice president of communications for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., a nonprofit lobbying organization opposed to raising taxes. Arizona, Montana, Utah, Kentucky and Vermont are among about a dozen states with pending proposals to similarly change their policies, and many believe California is blazing a path. Our goal is really to improve people's health outcomes and behavioral health outcomes, as well as do it in a cost-effective way. And, if possible, change the trajectory of someone's life, said Jacey Cooper, California's Medicaid director and chief deputy director of healthcare programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Lee Reed, suffering from back pain, walks to his Uber ride, provided by the Transitions Clinic Network. (Paul Kuroda / For The Times) Nearly $235 million is earmarked for the new initiative in the state's proposed budget for 2023-24 which equates to less than 0.2% of the roughly $139-billion total annual Medi-Cal spending. The approved waiver also adds $410 million that correctional facilities, county behavioral health agencies and community-based providers will have available for planning efforts and developing infrastructure to implement the programs, said state healthcare officials. Even those who support the experiment stress that its success will depend on how it is implemented. Incarcerated people returning to the community face a slew of challenges, including life-threatening health risks. Stress surges as they seek to secure housing, find a job, access healthcare and reconnect to family and the fabric of social life. Many are simultaneously struggling with mental illness and drug addiction that are difficult to manage when theres a gap in treatment. The potential for peril is particularly acute in the period immediately after release. The risk of death in the first two weeks can be more than 12 times higher than in the general population, a 2007 study found a grim statistic driven by drug overdoses, suicide, homicide and cardiovascular disease. Under California's new policy, Medi-Cal will cover substance use treatment for eligible incarcerated people while they're inside and connect them to a community-based provider before they are released so they can continue getting care, according to federal officials. It also allows for certain mental health interventions, including access to long-acting, injectable anti-psychotic medications. As a condition of the approval, California is required to increase the amount it pays Medi-Cal providers for obstetrics and primary care. The state's proposed budget allots roughly $22 million for the rate increases. Prior to the approval, California rolled out reforms that didn't require permission from the federal government. Since the start of this year, anyone who enters a California jail, prison or juvenile facility must be screened and enrolled in Medi-Cal, if eligible; state officials estimate that encompasses 80% of the incarcerated population. The insurance is suspended while theyre behind bars but can be reinstated after release or before, if they meet eligibility requirements. Reed, 62, who ostensibly would have been helped by the program, remains skeptical about its chances. (Paul Kuroda / For The Times) Although the program has drawn praise, some experts and advocates worry that prison and jail officials will hold too much sway over the new benefits, pointing to what they say is often poor quality of healthcare in jails and prisons. Others fear it won't be paired with adequate investment in other parts of the fractured health system or will become a bureaucratic boondoggle. Just by having Medicaid existing inside these facilities doesn't mean that, all of a sudden, jails and prisons are going to become this therapeutic space, but it does present the opportunity to improve the quality of care that is being placed there because theres oversight, said Shannon Scully, senior manager of criminal justice policy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which supports fully eliminating the inmate exclusion policy. Dr. Shira Shavit, executive director of Transitions Clinic Network, which is dedicated to reducing health disparities for individuals returning from incarceration, called the policy shift a real moment for prevention. If we intervene, she said, we can keep people out of the hospital, keep people from dying, but also keep them from going back to prison and jail. Kory Honea, president of the California State Sheriffs Assn., said success for the policy would depend on whether people take advantage of the new services. "This is a challenging population to deal with," he said. "If people have substance abuse issues or mental health issues, oftentimes, when they're out of custody, they don't avail themselves of the services or programs that you set up." Reed who ostensibly would have been helped by the policy remains skeptical that it will make a difference. Before he left prison, Reed said, Social Security Administration employees in Kings County took his information to connect him with services. However, he said, they refused to transfer any of it to San Francisco, where he lives. (A spokesperson for the Social Security Administration said claims that are started during incarceration typically can be transferred to another office, but privacy laws prohibit discussion of Reed's case.) "I'm fighting myself, fighting the system, and I'm fighting to do paperwork, because it's hard to get up to get around," says Reed, who is living in a shelter. (Paul Kuroda / For The Times) And with many employees in social services and corrections still working from home, Reed said he has felt alone as he tries to maneuver within labyrinthine care systems. I really want to break down and cry, but I aint got the time," Reed said. "I just have to keep pushing. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which operates state prisons, said in a statement that the plan would provide releasing incarcerated individuals with access to critical healthcare resources in the community to ensure there is continuity of care upon release. Shavit said the "secret sauce" to successfully bringing incarcerated people back into the community is hiring those who have done time themselves for care teams. This approach provides a path to employment for the formerly incarcerated and offers hope in the neighborhoods where the teams work often low-income communities of color with few resources, said Joe Calderon, who spent nearly two decades behind bars and now trains formerly incarcerated community healthcare workers at the Transitions Clinic Network. "How can we save money, but more importantly, save lives and add quality of life to a community that's historically been forgotten about?" Calderon said, adding that he sees California's broader healthcare reforms as a step in the right direction. Change wont happen overnight. It's expected to take about three years to roll out the services across the state, starting with some county jails and juvenile facilities in April 2024, said Cooper, with the state Department of Health Care Services. The program is not expected to reach full maturity before the federal waiver ends in late 2026. The state will need time to develop guidance and dole out money to build needed infrastructure, then wait for facilities to develop programs and assess whether they're up to par. Not all of the programs will look the same, and they will launch in phases, Cooper said. "This is a transformation," Cooper said. "Transformation is a process; it's not an event." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Leslie Grace denies that the Batgirl film she made was unreleasable. (Photo: Robyn Beck / AFP) Leslie Grace disagrees that Batgirl was unreleasable. The actress who played the heroine in the $90-million film is speaking out about the way she found out the HBO Max film had been axed by Warner Bros. in August for the benefit of a tax break. She also responds to DC Studios's new co-chair Peter Safran standing by the decision last month, calling the film, co-directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, "not releasable." "I found out like the rest of you," Grace, 28, told Variety. And then my phone just started blowing up." She compared the feeling to "deflating a balloon." However, she was "so sure of the magic that happened in my experience and what I saw in my cast, in our team that I was like, 'This must be some crazy thing that we have no control over.'" Her co-star Brendan Fraser, who played her nemesis Firefly in the project, told the outlet he thought he was getting punked" after seeing the headlines. "When we were expecting XYZ amount of support and money to expand scenes to do pickup shots and those kinds of things that was a gut punch. But then we learned that it was in the interest of writing down some debt? That part really stung. Grace addressed Safran's comments, made on Jan. 30, about it being the right decision because "it would have hurt DC. It would have hurt those people involved." She said she had meetings with Warner Bros. Film Group CEOs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca, who shared what they felt about the project "things that were out of their hands, plans and budgets that were set in place before they were even part of the team." "There are a lot of things that I learned through the experience about moviemaking, that as an actress you have no control over," she said. "They werent really specific on anything creative in terms of what they felt about the film and how it wouldve hurt DC creatively. But Im a human being, and people have perceptions and people read things. And when words are expressed very lightly about work that people really dedicated a lot of time to not just myself but the whole crew I can understand how it could be frustrating." Story continues Leslie Grace on the set of the Batgirl movie in 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Grace said that the "one thing I asked for" was to see the film, which had poor test screenings. (One criticism was that it played like a TV pilot and not like a big film.) "I got to see the film as far as it got to; the film wasnt complete by the time that it was tested," she said. "There were a bunch of scenes that werent even in there. They were at the beginning of the editing process, and they were cut off because of everything going on at the company. But the film that I got to see the scenes that were there was incredible. There was definitely potential for a good film, in my opinion." She did acknowledge that there were obstacles just none that she thought would lead to such a drastic resolution. "Im not going to lie to you. In every film, there are obstacles, and our film was nothing short of that," she said. "Half of the shoot was night shoots in Scotland, where it never stops raining. So there were obstacles, but at the end of the day, because of the incredible crew, nothing that ever got in the way of us delivering what we knew we wanted to deliver for this film. At least from what I was able to see." Safran and his co-chairman at DC, James Gunn, werent there when the decision about Batgirl was made and haven't reached out to her, she said. However, she said she's "definitely had conversations about Batgirls future and how Batgirl can make a resurgence" not talking specifics. "Well just see where that takes us; I cant say one way or the other if that is a reality at this point," she said. "I cant speak too much about a future for Batgirl or guarantee anything. The last thing that I would want to do is give folks any kind of inkling of something that I have not much control over as weve learned." As she moves on to other projects, including QCode's new comedy-thriller podcast series How to Win Friends and Disappear People, she remains "optimistic" about her Batgirl experience. "I just really leaned on the beauty of the idea that I got to have this experience in my life," she said. "Even though I wouldve loved to share that with the rest of the world, nothing can take that experience away from us." Batgirl was also to co-star Michael Keaton as Batman and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. According to reports at the time, Warner Bros. Discovery not releasing the movie allowed the studio to benefit from a tax break by writing off the loss of the film. In an October SEC filing, it was revealed the company had written off between $2 billion and $2.5 billion worth of content in that time range, between July and September, in efforts to restructure its business. The animated sequel Scoob! Holiday Haunt was also scrapped. Toyota Weve officially got our first look at what Koji Sato has planned for Toyota when he takes the helm as CEO later this spring. The incoming CEO laid out three specific areas of development he aims to address, including new details on the automakers electrification plans. The incoming executive went as far as to reveal that Lexus will be responsible for leading the automaker into the electric era. Sato, who currently helms the Lexus brand globally, said on Monday that the time is right for Toyota to ramp up its electric vehicle development programs. He highlighted the importance that electrification will play in our pursuit of a carbon neutral society, and detailed how Toyota will approach this transitional period. The incoming CEO has centered his approach to this challenge around Lexus, not Toyota, leading the charge to market. To deliver attractive BEVs to more customers, we must streamline the structure of the car, and with a BEV-first mindset, we must drastically change the way we do business, from manufacturing to sales and service, said Sato. Lexus will lead this transformation. The luxury brands first EV on a dedicated platform is slated to arrive later this year by way of the Lexus RZ crossover. That said, the EVs estimated range figure of just 220 miles puts it far behind current segment competitors. Customers wont have to wait too long to see improvements however, as Sato confirmed the first batch of next-gen EVs will arrive in 2026 as Lexus-branded products. SEBASTIEN MAUROY Despite a new executive helming the transition, these plans for Toyota are not too different from what weve heard previously. Back in 2021, Akio Toyoda confirmed that Toyota intended to release 30 EVs by 2030. At that time it was also stated that Lexus would look to offer exclusively zero-emissions vehicles in U.S., Europe, and China by 2030. The rest of the global market would reach those same requirements by 2035 according to Toyodas prior announcement. That zero emissions requirement is important to note, as Toyota doesnt see battery electric vehicles as the sole solution. Sato confirmed that the brand will continue its work developing battery- and hydrogen-electric vehicles, as well as vehicles with combustion engines that burn hydrogen. Story continues The energy situation varies around the world, Sato said. We want to stay in tune with customers around the world and provide diverse options. Sato further explained that alongside electrification, Toyota will adopt a new focus on intelligence and diversification. This includes the development of new hardware and software systems, as well as a bespoke operating system known as Arene. The OS is expected to arrive sometime around 2025. Toyota will also begin to increase development of region-specific products under Satos leadership, which could spawn some exciting machines. Things are going to start changing at Toyota in the near future, and we cant wait to see what that means for the product. SEBASTIEN MAUROY You Might Also Like Class Disrupted is a bi-weekly education podcast featuring author Michael Horn and Summit Public Schools Diane Tavenner in conversation with educators, school leaders, students and other members of school communities as they investigate the challenges facing the education system amid this pandemic and where we should go from here. Find every episode by bookmarking our Class Disrupted page or subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher (new episodes every other Tuesday). In this episode of Class Disrupted, Michael and Diane dig deep in analyzing the big acquisition of nonprofit testing provider NWEA in the assessment market by Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt, one of the largest curriculum players in the United States. They conclude that we should be skeptical that the acquisition will improve teaching and learning for students or that it will pay off as much as HMH might like. Listen to the episode below. A full transcript follows. The 74 Class Disrupted S4 E9: Shake Up in the Assessment Market Diane Tavenner: Hey, Michael. Horn: Hey, Diane. Wacky weather is continuing to roll out across the country it seems. And I hope speaking of that, youve all stayed dry enough in California, which frankly is not a sentiment that I normally need to express to you. Tavenner: Well, Michael, the persistent rain has been a little bit strange, a little bit unfamiliar, but I will say, also welcome. Partly because we dont have any personal complaints. We havent experienced significant destruction or risk and others have, so I want to be mindful of them. But I will say, Michael, it does seem like our schools are never going to catch a break. Because with these storms have come power outages that have caused us to have to close several of our schools for several days, and honestly at this point we are kind of starting to wonder if were ever going to be able to consistently operate our schools with everyone in them. Horn: Its just insane to watch all this, Diane, and Ive been following some of this with my friends in the Bay Area on Facebook and so forth. Story continues But aside from weather and the normal question of our students in the schools themselves, which has been a recurring topic on a lot of our podcasts, Ive been looking forward to talking with you because there was a major announcement in the world of assessments. And obviously assessments and accountability and the challenges they posed to the kinds of innovation that we both want to see are something you and I have discussed a lot on this show. But given the latest news, Im just wondering if we can go much deeper on this topic. I have a bunch of thoughts loaded up that Im trying to sort out that are informed from the innovation side of my work on what this means for education. But Ill be candid, Im really excited to get on-the-ground perspective just to check my instincts on this. Tavenner: Oh, you know how much I love geeking out on assessments. So Im totally up for this. Before we dive in though, Im pretty positive were thinking about the same story, but just to be sure. Are you talking about the one where Houghton Mifflin, or HMH, one of the three big textbook companies acquired NWEA, which as many of us know is a nonprofit thats most known for what we call the MAP test. Which is basically an adaptive benchmark assessment and I think its used in about 10,000 school districts across the country and I will say personally I know used in a lot of charter schools. Horn: Yep, that is the announcement that Im talking about, Diana. It grabbed my attention. Tavenner: All right. Well, mine too. Im excited youre bringing it up today. Because you know Ive got a lot of feelings and thoughts about this topic in general and honestly this acquisition and so Im excited to dive in. But it sounds like you have some real questions that we should unpack, so Im curious about that. But before we do it, do you think I should give a bit of context and to help folks out? Horn: Yeah, I think that makes sense, just so everyones on the same page before we dive in and geek out. Tavenner: OK. Well, let me just, Ill talk from my experience, and I was thinking, I think my first encounter with MAP, or NWEA, was probably around 2011-ish. If you remember, this is around the time of Summits redesign. Its also a period of explosive growth for charter schools. And as a result, there were just a bunch of school leaders and philanthropists who were looking for ways to see if innovations, and I would say both charter innovations and school design innovations, were having an impact. And interestingly, this is also the time period when Common Core is driving the full assessment conversation and whats happening in the country. And so at least where we were in California, there was a bit of a space or pause on those big assessments while Common Core was coming into being. And so people were looking for things to fill the gaps during that time. Anyhow, folks started using the MAP assessments. And a fun fact. Back in that timeframe, I remember giving the assessment to our 10th graders for the very first time and realizing that only a little over 2,000 10th graders in the entire country had taken that particular test. Im sure well get into this as we start talking, but the number of people taking the test actually matters a lot given how its scored and what this test does. And certainly there were higher numbers in earlier grades. But the point is NWEA has grown pretty explosively over the last decade, at least from my perspective. And so we fast forward to today, and NWEA is either a math or an ELA assessment. Its administered three times a year and I think thats an important fact by schools and teachers. Its adaptive in that its on the computer and it feeds kids the next question based on how they did on the previous one. And its purpose really is to show school year growth for our students and to give teachers and schools quote, good information, at the start of the year and the middle of the year about which students are on track to meet the grade level standards or to pass the end of the year assessment. And so conceptually, teachers and schools can make grouping decisions or curricular decisions or tutoring support decisions for students based upon that information. But to be really clear, these arent really formative assessments that are embedded in curriculum itself. Theyre not even tied to the curriculum. So theyre not driving instructional decisions and the absence of being connected to the curriculum. Well, Ill just say it as the company says it, is they really seek to be content-agnostic, and so there is a real distance there between what youre doing in the classroom and these assessments. Let me just give one additional piece of context, and that comes from the perspective of a parent. Because my child took these assessments three times a year for many, many years, and they dont mean anything to students or families. I cant sugarcoat it. There is literally nothing that happens for students or families as a result of these tests. The reports and results are basically nonsensical if youre a student or a family and theres just not any information in them that I can act on or use. And so in my experience, what happens is kids rightly start to ask the question of like, Why am I taking this test so often? What is this for? Whats it doing? And as a school leader who was also that parent, I can tell you I spent a lot of my time trying to convince my own child and get him to convince his friends to do their very best on the test because it mattered for the school. And in reality it did because we were using those results for everything from charter renewal hearings to grant applications. And so Im going to stop there because thats a lot, and you havent even introduced what you want to talk about yet, Michael. But as you can see, this is a juicy topic and Im getting fired up already, so Im super curious to hear what its provoked for you. Horn: Well, I love this, Diane. I think its super useful context, and I love the passion and energy. I thought I would tap into it on your end, and so we have. But assessments more generally is something that I, as outside the classroom, as a non-educator, have really had to come up to speed over the last 15 years to better understand how different kinds of assessments can or cant be useful. What their function is, what they are capable or incapable of telling you. And I will say, I feel like Im a constant work-in-progress on this, which is why Im excited to check with you. But it is not really obvious to folks outside of the classrooms and schools oftentimes I think what an assessment says, and as a policymaker or someone like that making law about this stuff, it is very opaque, I suspect. Thats just further context. But as I look at this acquisition, one of the stated reasons I think for it, and this is from the companies, not from me, but from the companies, I think the purpose of this assessment is that. Look, you have this established assessment as a system that is used in lots of schools and districts across the country, and HMH now will basically be able to use those assessments to connect them with their curriculum and make personalized recommendations for each student. The theory, Im assuming, that they have at work is that theyll be able to do what you suggest, or implied at least would be helpful. Which is that assessment should be used to actually be embedded in the curriculum and drive learning choices themselves, and in turn help bolster more personalized learning opportunities. Now to be clear, theyve been clear about this. Each set of products will still be sold separately and under their own brands. But I think a major rationale that theyre making is that the possibility now exists to combine these, to combine the assessments with the curriculum and buy them as a package, if you will. Tavenner: I have to admit, Michael, Im deeply skeptical. Im really curious about the theory that suggests this is going to be a happy and productive coming together of these two very disparate things. Horn: Yeah, well look, this is the theory or the theoretical reason for the rationale behind the acquisition. And why I assume as a nonprofit, NWEA probably said, Look, this is for the good of our mission for the education sector. I imagine thats what theyre saying anyway. But for the moment, I want to put aside one of the structural things that you mentioned that causes your skepticism, which is that these assessments arent, at present anyway, actually embedded in any curriculum or tied to any specific curriculum or given an on-demand way to drive student learning. Were definitely going to circle back to that. But I want to instead introduce a totally different theory on my end to analyze this move and its impact, and its called the theory of interdependence and modularity, and its one that we used in disrupting class as well as my most recent book, From Reopen to Reinvent, and even in parts of Blended. And its a theory that sort of combines engineering with business is the way I would think about it. And as a refresher for those that dont know and dont geek out on the stuff routinely, the first half of the theory essentially says that when something is underperforming what customers or users need from it. And the way that two elements in the system interact are unpredictably interdependent, meaning the way one works and functions as dependent on the other one, the way it works and functions and vice versa. Then to make it good enough so that people will actually adopt it and use it, you have to do it in a proprietary structure and really have a proprietary design. And thats because the two sides really need to be designed interactively. So quick example from business, and then Id love you to reflect on what that means for education. But way back when in the 1940s and 50s when IBM came out with their mainframe computers, no one knew what a mainframe computer should look like or operator or anything. And so IBM just couldnt exist as a standalone assembler of computers or even a seller. They had to make every single part inside. The logic circuitry, the core memory, the operating system, assemble it, sell it, everything. Because each of those stages interacted in unpredictable ways with every other part of the process. And so if they had just thrown the operating system over the wall, if you will, to engineers on the other side assembling it, well, that wouldve impacted in unpredictable ways the performance of the fundamental computer and each side wouldve had to make unacceptable trade-offs. That just wouldnt have been good enough and no one wouldve bought it basically, Diane. Tavenner: OK, let me make sure Im getting this before we go on, let me try to bring it into this context and see if Im understanding it correctly. So in this case, we have curriculum, so textbooks, lessons, all of that, and a benchmark assessment, and theyre separate, theyre in separate organizations right now. But theyre interdependent because when youre educating a child, youre both assessing them and youre doing this curriculum. Which is kind of confusing because curriculum has assessment in it as well, but well leave that aside for a moment. Theyre interdependent, but they actually depend upon each other. But the key right now is its really unpredictable how that happens because, well, I guess Ill just describe from my experience. Sometimes it often felt, like when we were giving NWEA, that the results of that were totally disconnected and unpredictable based on what we were seeing in classrooms and our knowledge of students and things like that. Is that, am I getting it? Horn: Yeah, I think thats exactly right, that there is certainly a dependence and in some systems its a well-understood dependence. Its predictable. We can get into what that means later. But in many systems, its unpredictable. You make a change to the curriculum, that should impact the assessments because otherwise youre just not going to be getting reliable information and feedback on what a student actually has learned or knows now and can do with that information. And vice versa, if you make changes to the assessments, well that should mandate changes to the curriculum. And when theyre at arms length, they are not really feeding off each other. And when you think about all the personalization that we want to see in the world, because students have different learning needs at different times, those interact in very unpredictable ways right now. Particularly as you get into, think about math or something like that and the sequence of learning and the dependence of different topics on other topics, etc., etc. These things weave together in very interdependent ways. They impact each other. And so my sense is what you just said, which is that when you have the state of curriculum and assessment at arms length, separated from each other, theyre basically underperforming what schools need. Certainly Title 1 schools. I think you could make the argument in Lexington Public Schools where I am, thats not the case. But in Title 1 schools in particular, those that serve lower income populations, for example, they really need these to be connected to help drive choices for the students on the ground, themselves. And I think the evidence for this, Diane, actually, they dont just have to take my word or maybe your word for this, its actually in the market itself. Weve seen incredible traction and extraordinary growth of a different company over the past 15 years, which is this company called Curriculum Associates. And they make both the curriculum, the i-Ready curriculum, as well as the i-Ready assessments, and they use them as benchmark assessments, but theyre intricately tied to each other. And they essentially, in a closed-loop system, what you get on the assessment system determines what you do next in the curriculum and vice versa. And interestingly enough, Curriculum Associates over the last 15 years has basically come from essentially nowhere to become one of the digital players that I would argue is disrupting much of the textbook market over that period of time. And I think its driven by the fact that their assessments and curriculum have been designed in an interdependent fashion. And I think theres further evidence for that in the struggles, at least relatively speaking, of a company called Renaissance Learning. And Renaissance, for those that dont know, basically has historically offered the Star Assessments, another benchmark assessment instrument. And theyve been sort of stuck, at least my sense is, with assessments where theyve been trying to find partners, Diane, in the curricular space that they can align to, if you will, to provide information around. But its been kind of kludgy because youre integrating these curriculum that havent been built with the assessments in mind and vice versa, and you have a curriculum-agnostic assessment. And so theyve acquired or partnered with providers like Nearpod or more to essentially have both sides of the equation. But because they werent designed interactively, the feedback loop between them, or at least the theory would suggest And full disclosure, I cant make the judgments because I dont use them. But my sense is that the theory suggests that the recommendations and integration of the two just wouldnt be near as eloquent, if you will, as what Curriculum Associates offers because of the way theyve built both sides of those items. And so to be clear, that means in a not good enough world where these things are underperforming, that favors interdependence. Tavenner: Fascinating. What youre sharing is bringing up two things from me, and so I want to just keep checking my understanding of this with you. The first one is, it seems to me that maybe another example of this is the partnership between the College Board and Khan Academy. As folks began sort of pushing back on the SAT test as sort of these standalone assessments that are super high-stakes and they just felt like theyre disconnected and inequitable, the College Board partnered with Khan Academy to offer the learning curriculum part of the equation. The benefit there was its free, its to anyone who wants it. Bringing the equity piece. Is that a good example of this theory? Horn: Yeah, and I think well get into more how it is in a moment. But its sort of right, its this modular trying to build up into an integrated way, I think. Tavenner: The second thing that comes up to me, which probably youre like, Of course it comes up to you, is just what we did at Summit Learning. And it seems as youre describing the theory, that this is what we did intuitively. We built, as you know, an entire system of learning and assessment to be interdependent and integrated from the very start. And we just thought it was the only thing that made sense. And I know were not alone in this realm, but theres a reason that a lot of people dont do it. Theres a whole bunch of reasons. Thats probably a whole other episode. But it seems youre offering evidence for those instincts. But Im wondering about the modularity part of it, because we havent talked about that yet, and so how does it fit in? Horn: Yeah, so Im glad you asked because theres a trade-off in this and theres not one right place to be in this continuum. Because when youre optimizing for raw performance by creating a really proprietary interdependent system, the trade-off is that you cant get affordable customization. And this is a really important point, and its interesting actually because Summit Learning, you optimized for curricular modularity to create an interdependent system around parts that were underperforming, and so you made these sort of trade-offs. And thats the other piece of this, is that in practice, every system has some modular components and some interdependent ones, and you basically want to be interdependent where the performance isnt good enough and modular where youre overshooting so you can get that customization. And so in essence, what the theory says is that when you start to overshoot, thats where you need that customization because people demand it, they want affordable customization. They want to be able to mix and match different parts and just pop them in, and to do that, you need modularity. So the quick example, again, well go to computers, is Dell computers, say, in the early 1990s. If folks remember, Apple, IBM, they had started to over-serve what people needed. They werent willing to pay for some of the improvements in that paradigm. And here comes Dell and they dont make any of the parts inside of the computer and that means you can just jump on their website and be like, Id like this much memory, Id like this kind of drive from Seagate, Id like this kind of monitor, etc., etc. And they fit together in very well understood ways and so Dell just quickly snaps the parts together and 24 hours later, you got shipped out an affordable customized computer. And so I think you at Summit Learning know these desires very well. Because you chose to avoid purchasing on the open market a proprietary highly interdependent curriculum, and instead, as I said earlier, create something far more modular on that side because you wanted customized playlists and so forth for the students. And interestingly enough Ill try to make the argument for you I think you said that where the systems out there are really underperforming is in the integration or the interdependence, if you will, of the knowledge, skills and habits of success that are often broken apart and perhaps unfortunately so. And you said thats where we really need the interdependence in the Summit Learning system. Tavenner: I think that would be Horn: Yeah, go ahead. Tavenner: I think its all just clicking for me as youre talking. Weve never wanted or bought a textbook, because its so not customizable, and if youve ever been a teacher or know a teacher, you know that is the number one thing a teacher wants to do and needs to do, which is why those products dont get used with fidelity. And so we are just, I think as practitioners so keenly aware of what actually happens on the ground and pragmatic about that, that thats where we wanted customization. But super tight on the assessment part of it and the connection to it. And like you said, the connection of all the factors of learning, not just a single siloed content area, if you will. Horn: Yeah, and I think thats the big aha here, which is that you cant actually just jump into a modular design. Everyone wants customization, it sounds great, but you can only move to it once the interfaces between the different components are predictable, specifiable and verifiable. And I hear this all the time, Diane, in education circles, that we want an open system, we want an open this, we want an open that. As though open, in and of itself, is a good thing. And the only way though you can move to that kind of modularity is you really have to understand how each side works and functions and the impact of changes on one side with what itll do to the other. And that means you have to be at the level of predictable causality. You need to be able to create specs and essence for exactly how those parts fit together at the interfaces. You need to be able to verify that the parts in fact meet the specs. And then in the early stages of creating something new, when it underperforms, thats just really hard to do and its only when you get better and better and better, you start to over-serve people and you start to understand how these parts work. Then you can start to shift to modularity because you have a better sense of how the overall system is interacting and the science of studying them essentially allows you to get more predictable. So a decade hence, maybe we could start to modularize Summit Learning, but were not there yet. Tavenner: Im having a reaction that I commonly have when we are talking, putting theory to practice, and often in my mind, Im always putting it to our practice. And at first when you are describing the theory, my mind immediately goes to, oh no, we didnt do that. We need to go back and do that. Oh no, we messed that up. We werent good innovators. And then its funny, as we talk more and more, and I really calm myself down and think about it, I realize that a lot of what youre saying, Michael, we do or did and that the theory really describes our behaviors. Which I think is good because you dont want a theory thats actually not describing whats happening. And Ill be honest, the outcome of that work is strong. By designing a learning and assessment system from scratch that clearly prioritizes each and every student and incorporates the learning science and the full understanding of the needs and leverages technology, we really have created what I think is a very elegant and interdependent curriculum and assessment system that is highly modularized in the right places and thus customizable for the folks on the ground. Both students and teachers I would argue, and schools for that matter. And as I say that, Im cognizant that it sounds a little bit like bragging. But the point that I want to make is that its possible that what you and I are talking about, its not a fantasy, its not a future thing. It literally is happening right now in hundreds of schools across the country. And I just think thats important because we always want to take this sort of third way future-looking perspective and what I dont want this episode to sound like is just us criticizing a deal that happened without another solution. Because I do think there are other solutions and it doesnt feel like weve compromised in the combined offering. And honestly, this acquisition feels like a compromise to me. I suspect that a lot of people who care about seeing big rolled-up data and tracking and reporting on the percentage of kids in schools who are supposedly learning or not, they might be happy with this direction, Michael. But for those of us who care about literally every single child and if they can read or solve problems and if every childs motivated to come to school and knows how to learn, for those of us who think its unacceptable that were School systems are unable to simply tell families if their childs on track to be a skilled adult in areas that families care about in their life goals, and instead we send them these incomprehensible test scores in the mail months after a child took the test. Well, look, Im going to stop there because you could see Im getting fired up again. But this is possible what were talking about, the theory says we should be doing, and I dont think that this deal represents that. Horn: And this is where I ultimately want to go as well, Diane. And I think theres another issue as well underlying this, which is, it gets the multiple purposes that assessment serves. From driving learning to continuous improvement to accountability and transparency. And I think whats also interesting on this is that the interdependent approach, frankly, its always going to struggle to serve a public accountability function in my mind in which were making judgements about the schools themselves, even as the theory shows why its the best way to optimize the teaching and learning. And Ill say that, again, to analyze Curriculum Associates for example, and with immense respect for the predictability of i-Ready assessments on what a student will score in a summative year-end assessment. But essentially, Diane, if the i-Ready assessments I suspect some people are listening to us are just like, Well, why wouldnt we just use the i-Ready assessments to replace the summative year-end assessments. Theyre curricular tied. Great end of story. But you can imagine that then there would be a really slippery slope that would come into play in which Curriculum Associates And again, Im not saying that they do this nor that these incentives exist right now, but in this alternative system I just described the incentive I think would exist for them to basically just give rosy assessments to student learning to show, Hey, look, our i-Ready curriculum is really making a positive difference for students. Because thered be no check on the other end of it. And then if they made those changes, which are no longer reflective of actual performance, now that means that the assessments would no longer be as useful for guiding learning for students and teachers. Theres a big trust issue here, in other words, Tavenner: Michael, I experienced this in real life, where very few people actually take seriously the assessments built into Summit Learning as an outside valid way of measuring what were doing. I argue that they should because they can be completely valid and reliable in all of the things that we need. But theres very little pickup there, and I suspect whats underneath it is this trust issue that youre surfacing right now. Horn: Yeah, well, so I think this is where theres another approach from the theory, which works frankly though only in a world of mastery learning that weve discussed in the past on this show in which students work toward mastery of each and every competency and time becomes the variable, not the students learning as the present system holds. But that is if you have the interfaces clearly specified between curriculum and assessment, and thats a big if, then you could have modular assessments created by a third party. So not the curriculum company itself. That an individual school or a district, or yes, even a state as Louisiana has, could select based on its alignment to their curriculum. And in that world, those assessments could both serve to inform instruction. Theyre learning informative, but theyre also summative because the measures theyre giving are inherently of learning. Which is what your system does, just, to your point, its not third party, so people dont trust it. And the point being in that world, if I demonstrate mastery, I move on and that can be reflected and its more robust than a summative assessment because I can demonstrate it when I as a learner am ready to raise my hand in show mastery. And so to come back to NWEA, this is the curve ball it seems to me that HMH is walking into here, and youve alluded to it several times. But just to say it from the theory perspective. On the one hand, by controlling the assessments, they theoretically, theoretically, different from theory, will have the opportunity to make them in a proprietary fashion alongside their curriculum and benefit from the same way Curriculum Associates has. But to do that, they have to do it from starting with assessments that are not curriculum aligned. Thats going to be a major lift. And on the other hand, HMH cant exactly serve the modular use case that I just outlined because it doesnt have an array of assessments aligned to lots of different curricula that can be customized where the individual school or district or state or charter organization can select to drive learning. And it now owns both sides of the equation. So its sort of caught here, Diane. Now I think theres some silver lining here as well. Theres New Meridian, for example, a nonprofit. It exists as a newer third party provider seeking to offer modular baskets of assessments that you can pull off to match your curriculum. But Im just not sure that HMH can make this jump as weve outlined. So its possible, Diane, that itll be commercially successful as a sort of in-between solution, I guess in the market as the market maybe transitions over time. But Im frankly not sure that thats where the puck is going or frankly where it should go. And I really want to know how that lands on the ground for you. Tavenner: Well, you probably have guessed that the idea of a commercially successful in-between solution isnt landing very well with me. This is the thing that just really frustrates me about our sector and our work. I agree with your assessment, Michael, and I think this is another example of what holds us back in education at the broader scale. Weve got these two players who have a massive market share together. Well, I would call it massive, you might correct that, but it seems pretty big. And schools have to have curriculum and assessments and theyre under pressure to have something that tells them exactly where students are, especially coming out of COVID, so that they can help them direct resources to them. And just the expectations on teachers in schools continue to go through the roof around what they are expected to do. And so tons of schools are going to use this joint offering, and in their mind theyre going to be told and sold on the idea that its better somehow and its going to suck for kids. I dont know how else to say it. Its not better. Its not good, and its not what our kids deserve and whats possible. And whats frustrating about that is it pulls the vision, the mind share, the resources, the energy away from what doesnt suck, which is what we were describing before. Assessments that are embedded in project-based curriculum thats authentically assessed in a way that dramatically improves engagement and learning and self-direction for students and job satisfaction and impact for teachers and gives them local control and all of the things that we care about that we know matter. And we have the capability to do that today, do something significantly more meaningful. And I just think that this pulls us away from that work. It pulls everything away from that work. And I think it goes back to the conversation we had last episode, Michael, when we acknowledge that most people dont even think about students as customers. And in my mind, this approach sort of epitomizes that. As I read the transcript of the interview with the two CEOs, there was literally not a single mention of this acquisition in terms of how it was valuable to students. They got down to teachers and said, Teachers would have all this data and information. Of course, the way I read that was like, Wow, teachers have now a new expanded job. And having had that information, know how hard it is to actually work with it. So yeah, Im going to stop again because Im But thats how its landing with me honestly. Horn: Well, no, I think that makes sense. But something you just said in terms of all the information were going to get and all this stuff and so forth. Let me step out of my innovator hat on that for a moment and talk about one other problem, in my mind at least, with NWEA assessments more broadly through an explicitly education lens. And this surrounds how so many of us want to shift to measuring student growth instead of point in time learning. But the reality is that there are different ways to measure growth. And the public, and educators I think honestly, broadly speaking, dont understand the difference. So when they see a growth measure, they dont actually know what its telling them. And in this case, NWEA reports a norm reference growth measure as opposed to what would be called a criterion reference measure. Essentially what that means is a norm reference basically evaluates you relative to other students like you at your percentile, quote unquote, of your learning. Whereas a criterion reference is against that yardstick of curriculum, but it has to be curricular aligned to be able to do that. Now, as a result of that, frankly, the NWEA growth measure offers this incredibly false illusion where it basically, if Im, say, a student in the fifth percentile of seventh grade or whatever else, then basically its going to compare my growth relative to other students in that same segment. And so I might grow one and a half years relative to those students. But thats embedding all the lowered expectations and malaise of our education system in that growth measure. When a parent hears one and a half years of growth, thats not what theyre thinking. Theyre thinking, Oh, my kid grew from say the third grade to well into the fourth grade. Thats what policymakers, I think here, thats what I think educators and curriculum companies that use this stuff, I think thats what theyre hearing too, and its just not what its measuring. Plus, I think this gets back to what you said at the very beginning, and maybe this will start to wrap a bow around this. You mentioned that when you gave it to your 10th graders, only 2,000 kids in the country had used that. So now its driving a growth number relative to other students like them. Im not going to be able to do the math that quickly in my head, but like 100 percentile points, whatever, its not a lot of kids in each percentile. Youre driving a growth measure off of that. Thats even less meaningful, I think, Diane. Tavenner: Well, youre opening the can of worms, and I know at this point we should be closing it, so Ill be brief here. But I distinctly remember that conversation about those 2,000 kids. It stands in my mind a decade later because it was so clear to me, not initially, but when we really, really, really dug in to understand it, when the company rightfully said, Well, there really arent kids like a lot of your kids. So you have to take these results with a grain of salt because theres only 2,000 kids. And, I mean, Michael, we could do days on this, but lets just start with the concept of, yeah, youve reinforced why these results are meaningless to parents and students because how can anyone in their right mind understand what you just said when youre looking at a result or expect that thats what youre getting? You would just want something straightforward. Like, do I know this? Do I not? Am I good at this? Am I not? Yeah. Anyway. But the second piece is this concept of bias. So were going to just compare you to people who are like at that moment in time, if youre a quote lower performing student, what are the expectations? We know what our systems have in terms of expectations. We know what natural human inclination is. I just think this is so destructive, and Ill just share one last story about this. Part of those conversations with my son around this were so disturbing because he would come home and say, The kids would just sort of share their raw score with each other and they would just stack rank the scores. And what happened every time is quote the smart kid, the super smart kid, always got the top score. So in my world where Im caring about growth mindset and kids believing that hard work actually pays off, I was having to fight against what these results, the messages were sharing with kids, which was much more of a fixed mindset than a growth mindset. And we were doing battle against that in the context of the school because we were giving these tests, which I see the look on your face, and it just is like, its icky. Theres no other way around it. Horn: Its really crummy. Its really crummy. All right, well, lets not leave it there because I think there is hope on the horizon. And maybe Diane, frankly, as we see this acquisition, maybe it represents consolidation and often when you see consolidation in markets, it creates room for the disruptive plays underneath to gain market share. And so Im hopeful that we will move to content aligned assessments and have some third party players working hard to align to the different curriculums out there so you can select the right ones for you and move to this world where its both driving learning, but also giving parents and students the information that they want about their growth. So Im hopeful well get there, but I dont think this acquisition is the step. Tavenner: A perfect place to leave it, Michael. And before we sign off, I would love to hear what youre reading, listening to, or thinking about outside of our day-to-day? Add to my list? Horn: Yeah, you bet. Well, so Sal Khan sends a book every few years it seems to folks who are on his advisory board. And so I got the one in the mail from him, which is The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness by Epictetus. And the interpretation that he sent is by Sharon LaBelle. And I read it chunked, like a few lessons at a time over the last several weeks. And it was really helpful, Diane, at just resetting my own sense of how I think about my own life lived and what we can control and focusing on that. And so I really enjoyed it and was appreciative that Sal made the time to send it. Whats on yours? Tavenner: Well, thats awesome. I appreciate that. I have a fun one this week. So as were about to head to India, folks have been hearing about that for a long time. We watched a movie thats on Netflix, its called RRR. Its getting some positive press in the U.S. It is a Bollywood movie out of India. The hard part is its three hours, but I will say it is a fun three hours. It was joyful and interesting. Its packed with all sorts of over the top action and it is over the top in many ways. But we deeply enjoyed it. And I think on the sort of interesting part of it, potentially quite controversial, but it really is offering a different narrative about the drive in India to be their own independent nation and how they engaged and interfaced with the British. And the normal narrative we all have is surrounded by Gandhi and a peaceful approach and theres some folks who want to have a more fight struggle narrative. And so that is presented here for better or worse. Horn: Super interesting. Thats a major political current right there, I know. And so I cant wait to hear what youll learn from it as you come back if you choose to report on that. But for now, well leave it there. Thanks for engaging with me on this conversation. And for all of you listening, well see you next time on Class Disrupted. Michael B. Horn strives to create a world in which all individuals can build their passions and fulfill their potential through his writing, speaking, and work with a portfolio of education organizations. He is the author of several books, including the award-winning Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns and the recently released From Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)creating School for Every Child. He is also the cofounder of the Clayton Christensen Institute, a nonprofit think tank. Diane Tavenner is CEO of Summit Public Schools and co-founder of the Summit Learning Program. She is a life-long educator, innovator, and the author of Prepared: What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life. Russia has already begun its expected spring offensive in Ukraine, sending thousands of additional troops in an attempt to overwhelm Ukraine's defenses, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday. "The reality is that we have seen the start already," Stoltenberg said. "We see how they are sending more troops, more weapons, more capabilities." Stoltenberg, speaking ahead of a two-day meeting of defense ministers in Brussels, confirmed Ukraine claims that Russian troops appeared to be pushing forward with little regard for their own heavy losses. And he said NATO plans to increase its ammunition stockpiles that have been depleted by the war, while expressing concern that Ukraine is spending ammunition much faster than its allies can supply it. A proposal to provide fighter jets to Ukraine would be discussed, Stoltenberg said, denying Russian assertions that providing them would make NATO countries "direct" parties to the conflict. FIGHTER JETS COULD BE KEY: Ukraine sets its sight on warplanes Developments: In the Luhansk region of the Donbas, Russian troops pulled back after several days of intense fighting near Kreminna, Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai told Ukrainian TV. In the partially occupied southern region of Kherson, artillery hit more than 20 cities and villages including the regional capital of the same name recaptured by Ukrainian forces in November. A Ukrainian tank rides to its position in the frontline in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Feb. 12, 2023. Russia gains ground in Bakhmut: 'Little by little they are winning' The battle for the pivotal city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region has seen some of the fiercest fighting of the invasion. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office said the situation in Bakhmut's northern suburb of Paraskoviivka was difficult" amid intense shelling. Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian forces appeared to be adding manpower: Were seeing a very tough battle in which the Russians arent sparing neither themselves nor us. Story continues Moscow controls both main roads into the city, leaving one back route left a slender supply line, the BBC reports. "They have been trying to take the city since July," Iryna Rybakova, press officer for Ukraine's 93rd Brigade, told BBC. "Little by little they are winning now. They have more resources, so if they play the long game they will win. I can't say how long it will take. "Maybe they will run out of resources. I really hope so." Moldovan leader urges vigilance, says Russia sought to subvert government Moldovas president claimed Monday that Moscow was plotting to overthrow her government with the aid of external saboteurs to put the nation at the disposal of Russia and derail its European Union aspirations. President Maia Sandu said her nation's intelligence services had confirmed plans intercepted by Ukraine developed by the Russian secret services to destroy Moldova's democracy. "I want to ask you to stay vigilant, be attentive and trust the official information, as the most aggressive form of attack is the information attack," she said. "The Kremlins attempts to bring violence in our country will fail. We should keep calm. We should trust the Republic of Moldova." Ukraine officials blast former Italian premier Berlusconi Ukraine officials took former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to task Monday after he blamed Zelenskyy for the war. Belusconi, breaking with current Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the conflict, said Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if Zelenskyy would have ceased attacking the two autonomous republics of Donbas." Melonis office said her government maintains "solid and unwavering" support for Ukraine. Kyiv officials were more dramatic in their dissent. "Berlusconi's senseless accusations against Zelenskyy are an attempt to kiss Putin's hands, bloodied up to the elbows," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said on Facebook. He accused Berlusconi, a Putin supporter, of trying to "show his loyalty to the Russian dictator." Keeping Zaporizhzhia or capturing Luhansk? Russian military faces dilemma While making a push for the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin remains intent on retaining control of the southern Zaporizhzhia province, the British Defense Ministry says in its latest assessment of the war. The reason is Russia wants to establish a "land bridge'' from its Rostov region to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula it illegally annexed in 2014. That land connector would be threatened if Ukraine recaptured Zaporizhzhia. On the other hand, "Ukrainian success in Luhansk (province) would further undermine Russias professed war aim of liberating the Donbas,'' the ministry said. "Deciding which of these threats to prioritize countering is likely one of the central dilemmas for Russian operational planners.'' Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine updates: Russian offensive begins, tide turns in Bakhmut Tuesday marks the first Valentines Day Carol Bohlin, 76, will spend with her parents long-lost World War II-era love letters, thanks to the work of a dedicated heirloom investigator. Chelsey Brown, a New York-based genealogist who returns priceless treasures to families, used her knowledge of tracing family histories to track down a descendant of Claude Marsten Smythe and Marie Borgal Smythe, a couple married in the 1940s. The letters were written from 1943 to 1944. I recognize my dad's handwriting, said Bohlin, who now lives in Tinmouth, Vermont. It's been so long since I saw it, and so long since I heard his voice. Carol Bohlin, the daughter of Claude Marsten Smythe and Marie Borgal Smythe, was reunited with love letters sent between her parents during World War II. Genealogist and heirloom investigator Chelsey Brown facilitated the return of the letters found in Bohlin's childhood home by the homeowner, Dottie Kearney. The 18 letters Bohlin never knew existed, sent by her father to her mother as he served in the U.S. Navy during the war, had been tucked away for over 50 years in the attic of Bohlins childhood Staten Island home before a homeowner found them in the walls while renovating in 1995. AN ACT OF KINDNESS: A stranded elderly couple in Hawaii had no spare tire nor cell service. 'A guardian angel' saved the day. The homeowner saw Browns appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show and reached out for help getting the letters to the family. Months later, Brown connected with Bohlins son, who thanked her for returning the letters to his mother, via social media. I actually looked like the crying emoji when I first got that message, Brown said in a TikTok video Wednesday. Discovering lost heirlooms Bohlins family lived in the Staten Island home from about 1947 through 1974, when Claude Smythe died, according to Bohlin. Her mother died in 1961. My father was a policeman so he would keep things in his special place, out of reach of (me and my brother) by storing things up in the attic, Bohlin said. Dottie Kearney, who purchased the former home of Claude Marsten Smythe and Marie Borgal Smythe in 1995, found several of the couple's love letters hidden within the walls during a renovation. Kearney kept them nearly 30 years before getting a chance to return them to the family. Dottie Kearney, who bought Bohlins former childhood home in the winter of 1995, believed the letters had fallen through the attics floorboards when she found them inside the walls. Kearney held onto the documented precious love story for nearly 30 years in hopes of locating the rightful owners, but not being computer savvy, she said she had no luck finding relatives. Story continues GOOD NEWS: An Arkansas man returned a lost wallet to a grandmother. His kind act sparked an unexpected friendship. Kearney saw Chelsey Browns appearance last May on The Kelly Clarkson Show as she discussed returning family heirlooms, so she contacted her for help. Returning a piece of family history "During World War II, when you're apart for so long, this is all they had," Brown told USA TODAY. "(The letters) were really special." Of the artifacts she's helped return, Brown said the information included with letters addresses, dates and full names make them easiest to work with. That's the type of information you need to trace these families," she said. With information from Kearneys photos of the letters and envelopes, Brown searched the genealogy site MyHeritage.com for details on the Smythes living relatives. What she was looking for appeared among the top results. Pictured is one of the 18 letters exchanged between Claude Marsten Smythe and Marie Borgal Smythe in the 1940s. I knew instantly this was the person, Brown said. It didn't take me very long to trace the family." It took her longer to get in touch with Bohlin, she said. She found Bohlins son, Tim Bohlin, via Facebook, and he responded a couple of months later last August. Once he was convinced it wasnt a scam, he shared his mothers contact details. Brown then shared that information with Kearney. 'What a treasure' Kearney said the family was thrilled to receive the letters she sent them. It fills my heart with joy to know they have a piece of their (familys) history, Kearney said. Im so grateful I saved them (and) theyre now where they belong. HE SURPRISES HIMSELF: Toddler's excitement over first steps is contagious Reading the letters, which Bohlin plans to keep safe, brought alive the sweet memories she held of her father, she said. What a treasure, the mother of three sons and grandmother of two said of the discovery. I thought, what a beautiful thing to do, for someone to find and hold onto these letters for so long, and for someone to spend the time trying to find me so that I could receive these, it's just so lovely. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWII-era love letters returned to family 80 years later: Good news Does the February share price for Piedmont Lithium Inc. (ASX:PLL) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's 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 would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Piedmont Lithium Step By Step Through The Calculation 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. 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, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) -US$131.5m -US$305.2m US$44.9m US$62.4m US$79.8m US$95.8m US$109.8m US$121.7m US$131.6m US$139.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 38.96% Est @ 27.85% Est @ 20.08% Est @ 14.63% Est @ 10.82% Est @ 8.15% Est @ 6.29% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 8.5% -US$121 -US$259 US$35.2 US$45.1 US$53.1 US$58.8 US$62.2 US$63.5 US$63.3 US$62.0 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$63m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.5%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$140m (1 + 1.9%) (8.5% 1.9%) = US$2.2b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$2.2b ( 1 + 8.5%)10= US$966m 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$1.0b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$1.0, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. 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 Piedmont Lithium 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 8.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.101. 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 Piedmont Lithium Strength Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Current share price is above our estimate of fair value. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Expected to breakeven next year. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Has less than 3 years of cash runway based on current free cash flow. Looking Ahead: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess 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 Piedmont Lithium, we've compiled three fundamental aspects you should assess: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 3 warning signs for Piedmont Lithium you should be aware of, and 2 of them are concerning. Future Earnings: How does PLL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here On Wall Street, when buyers rush in to buy everything in a particular market, hand over fist, price be damned, it's called a "relentless bid." Usually this happens when investors see a bull market forming and want to get in early. It appears a relentless bid is hitting an adjacent market high-end luxury goods. Yahoo Finance has been writing about this phenomenon for some time now, whether it be high-end cars, watches, or even boats. There are even luxury ETFs that can capture this conspicuous consumption. Analysts assumed inflation would tame extravagant shoppers, but so far that's not been the case. Luxury shoppers are still buying at a clip despite price hikes. CHICHESTER, UNITED KINDOM - JUNE 23: The Ferrari Daytona SP3 seen at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022 on June 23rd in Chichester, England. The annual automotive event is hosted by Lord March at his Goodwood Estate. (Photo by Martyn Lucy/Getty Images) Ferrari needs more higher-priced cars Most recently this phenomenon was seen in Ferraris (RACE) financial results. The Italian supercar maker reported profit jumped 13% year over year, boosted by the sales of its ultra-high end cars, and expects 2023 to be even bigger. The automaker is expecting 2023 sales to hit a record 5.7 billion euros, with margins boosted by sales of its seven-figure Daytona SP3 hypercar, and upcoming Pursangue ultra-SUV. These figures provide the base for an even stronger 2023, fueled by a persistently high demand for our products worldwide, said Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna in a statement. Despite a complex global macro-scenario, we look ahead with great confidence. Ferrari said its mix/price variance was slightly negative because its multi-million dollar Monza SP1 and SP2 were phased out in Q1 2022, and Ferrari didnt have any ultra-high end, high-priced models for sale until later in the year. It seems Ferrari could have sold more higher priced cars, if it had any to sell. Watchmakers hike prices to keep up DAYTONA, FL - JANUARY 29: An up close view of the Rolex watch awarded to Helio Castroneves after the IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 29, 2023 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Watch conglomerate Swatch Group (UHR.SW), behind brands like Omega, Bregeut, and Blancpain, reported in its latest results that sales were up 25% in local currencies across all territories except China. Sales were so strong that Swatch saw the need to hike prices overseas of popular watches like the Omega Speedmaster, Seamaster, and Longines Hydroquest by 5-7%, this according to an analysis done by Jefferies. Story continues Bloomberg reports top luxury watch brand Rolex boosted prices earlier this year in the U.K. and U.S., and last fall in Europe, to counter rising costs and forex swings. The move was seen as unusual because Rolex only adjusts prices once a year, but as supply has dwindled at retailers and demand hasnt abated, raising prices from the brands perspective had no downside. Also noteworthy is what the CEO of global watch retailer Watches of Switzerland (WOSG.L) said following the company's earnings release this week, claiming brands like Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe and Zenith had raised prices since the beginning of the year by an average of about 4%. LVMH sees another record year; higher-priced goods drive growth Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, speaks during a news conference to present the 2022 annual results of LVMH in Paris, France, January 26, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Then there is the grandaddy of luxury, Paris-based Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. LVMH (MC.PA), which counts Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany, and Tag Heuer watches, reported record sales and profit for 2022, and hiked its annual dividend up to 12 euros per share, a 20% jump. LVMH, now the most valuable company listed in Europe, sees the good times rolling, despite macro economic uncertainty. During difficult years, whether thats for macroeconomic or geopolitical reasons, the LVMH group takes market share and progresses, which has been the case since 2019, LVMH CEO and controlling shareholder (and worlds richest man) Bernard Arnault said at LVMHs earnings press conference. The group was able to maintain the same operating margin as it did in 2022 by hiking prices in certain goods like fine wine and spirits, and seeing growth in higher-priced goods like watches and fine jewelry. The company also reported flagship luxury brand Louis Vuitton crossed the 20 million euro mark in sales for the first time last year. LVMH says the start of the year portends another strong performance to come, and the group is bullish on 2023 as China continues its reopening. With the month of January having started well and despite an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment, LVMH is confident in its ability to continue the growth observed in 2022, the company said in a statement. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube (Bloomberg) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni didnt paper over her contempt for the French President this past week and Emmanuel Macron made clear that the feeling was mutual. Most Read from Bloomberg The spat took place on Thursday after Volodymyr Zelenskiy met Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Ukrainian leaders request for dinner at the presidential Elysee Palace. Meloni, who was not informed about the dinner ahead of time or offered a seat at the table characterized the meeting as inappropriate, prompting Macron to retort that France and Germany have a special role in supporting Ukraine. Officials from both countries say the problem is that the leaders are fundamentally incompatible. Macron sees Meloni as an Italian equivalent of the French populist Marine Le Pen, who has spent years attacking his pro-market policies. For Meloni, the French president is just the kind of arrogant elitist that she built her movement to bring down. According to two people familiar with the dinner incident, such a failure of communication would not have happened when Melonis predecessor Mario Draghi was in power. Within Italy, the dinner incident has revealed the vulnerability of Melonis governing coalition, particularly around the war in Ukraine and the governments relations with France. While Melonis Brothers of Italy party has remained steadfast in its support for Ukraine, coalition parties the League and Forza Italia have in the past allied themselves with Russia and Vladimir Putin, and have clashed hard with Macron. In 2018, a junior member of Macrons cabinet said Italys migration policy makes you vomit. At the time, they were overseen by Matteo Salvini, Melonis current deputy and leader of the League. Story continues The following year, France recalled its ambassador to Rome after Italian deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio met with anti-government Gilet Jaunes protesters. Interpersonal tensions are undermining what should be a high point in relations between France and Italy. Earlier this month, the Quirinal Treaty, a cooperation pact that Macron signed to great fanfare in 2021 with Melonis predecessor, Mario Draghi, came into effect, easing the way for the counties to work together on issues such as migration, trade deals, and relations with Libya. While the treaty stipulates that the leaders must regularly schedule bilateral government meetings, arrange embassy personnel exchanges and develop joint strategies on Mediterranean policy and security, the ideological gap between Meloni and Macron has made meeting even the most basic requirements more challenging. A prime example, according to people involved in the planning, is Melonis first visit as prime minister to Paris, which has not yet taken place. French government officials say that Meloni has been welcome to visit since her first day in office; Italian officials say that planning conversations are still ongoing. A spokesperson for the Italian government declined to comment on the matter. Italian Newspaper la Repubblica reported Sunday that President Sergio Mattarella is concerned that the latest tensions could undermine the cooperation treaty and reverse gains made since it came it to force in February. Mattarella previously intervened to ease tensions after a spat between the two countries over immigration, the newspaper reported. The bickering among the two will only impact Meloni, who has shown limited political ability to handle relations with Paris, said Teresa Coratella, a political analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations in Rome. This will increase Italys isolation in the European Union. To be sure, bilateral relations between Italy and France remain solid, with diplomats and defense officials collaborating closely on a daily basis. The two countries have also committed to providing Ukraine with an anti-missile system know as SAMP-T, which they jointly developed and produced. Still, the clash at the very top is a stark reversal from recent years, as Draghi and Macron were personal friends, and relations between the countries hit an all-time high while the Italian was in office. An early indication of the trouble to come happened at the end of last year, shortly after Meloni was sworn into office. In November, interior ministers from both countries clashed over Italys decision to refuse entry to a boat carrying migrants. Italian officials demanded that France step in and help, leading to a row between the countries, and the Ocean Viking ship ultimately docked in the French city of Toulon. In a half-hearted attempt to ease tensions early on Friday, Macron referred to the joint SAMP-T project as an example of productive cooperation. But in a veiled criticism of Meloni, he added that he always respects other peoples choices. In an indication of how much the dinner incident had bothered her, Meloni said on Friday that the gathering was politically wrong and that she likely would not have gone had she been invited. (Updates with new lede and report on Italian presidents concerns in 12th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Russian troops keep storming the Vuhledar front but suffer heavy losses, particularly in armoured vehicles. The Defence Forces of Ukraine destroyed 130 pieces of Russian vehicles last week alone. Source: Colonel Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi, spokesman for the joint press office of the Defence Forces of the Tavria front, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda Quote: "The Russian army lost quite a lot of armoured vehicles on the Vuhledar front within the two weeks of the so-called major offensive. Last week alone, 130 pieces [of armoured vehicles] were destroyed, including 36 tanks. This is a battalion." Details: Regarding the previously posted photos and videos of the destruction of a column of military equipment in this area, Dmytrashkivskyi explained that there were days when Russian forces had been losing 15 to 20 pieces of equipment. photo: social media Separately, he praised the work of Ukrainian Rocket Forces and Artillery units, which carry out powerful attacks on the invaders' positions every day. Last week, a unit of Pion self-propelled artillery was put out of action, with one piece completely destroyed and four beyond repair. Russian invaders are suffering significant losses. The 155th Marine Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet has been almost completely destroyed. Its survivors have rioted, in part because of bullying and extortion. In particular, money is being collected from Russian soldiers to "help their fallen comrades", although it is worth noting that most of those killed are simply left on the battlefield, the colonel emphasised. At the same time, as Dmytrashkivskyi states, Ukrazaliznytsia [Ukrainian Railways] has allocated 20 refrigerated trucks to deliver the bodies of the dead occupiers to the border with Russia. According to Dmytrashkivskyi, Russian invaders use the so-called "Zhukovs tactic" near Vuhledar, i.e., attacking in waves, when a platoon of up to 30 people, with the support of armoured vehicles, is sent forward in a head-on attack through open terrain and, consequently, are killed. Story continues The colonel also noted that a large number of Russian soldiers had surrendered into Ukrainian captivity: in particular, Wagnerites and marines of the 40th and 155th Brigades of Russia. As the prisoners of war say, the training and preparedness of the personnel were not taken into account when manning these units. For example, the 155th Marine Brigade consists of ordinary sailors. There are also many AIDS-infected people and drug addicts among the Wagnerites. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Elaine Lies and John Geddie TOKYO (Reuters) -Once again, three men are set to lead the Bank of Japan (BOJ), underscoring the hurdles women face in reaching leadership positions in a country that ranks the lowest among advanced economies for gender equality. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to nominate academic economist Kazuo Ueda, 71, as BOJ governor on Tuesday, and Ryozo Himino and Shinichi Uchida as his deputies, officials with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. No woman has held any of the top posts in the central bank's 140-year history, though several were considered contenders for deputy roles this time. "This is a problem that is not going to change easily," said Momoko Nojo, a prominent campaigner for gender equality in Japan. "The BOJ, even now, from the entry level it's mainly men ... There's no diversity." The BOJ ranked 142nd of 185 central banks on gender equality, according to a report last year by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum. About 11% of central banks surveyed had a female governor, a record high, while 37% had female deputy governors. Japan's central bank has promised to improve its gender diversity, pledging two years ago to raise the ratio of female managers from 6% to 10% by 2023 through career support and training. That target is far below the European Central Bank, where women hold 30% of management roles. The BOJ said it was "working diligently" to achieve its target and that it was not in a position to comment on why it has never had a female governor or deputy governor as those roles are government-appointed. In its annual review last year the BOJ said it had "proactively recruited women" in the fiscal year to March, with women accounting for over 30% of recruits on track to be director, chief manager and above. SOCIETAL PROBLEM The issue is far bigger than the central bank. Kishida has just two women in his 20-person cabinet. Story continues The Cabinet Office said they do not have a specific plan to increase the number of women ministers but that they are working towards raising the number of women candidates in parliamentary elections to 35% by the end of 2025. Shinzo Abe, a long-serving predecessor of Kishida's, had touted "womenomics", vowing to make Japan a nation where "women can shine". But his government delayed from 2020 to 2030 its target of boosting the proportion of women in leadership posts to 30%. Japan has had two women foreign ministers but none as prime minister or finance minister. Tokyo elected its first female mayor in 2016. Women make up just 15% of Japan's senior public and private-sector officials and managers, according to data collected by the International Labour Organisation. Japan ranked 116 out of 146 countries on gender parity in the World Economic Forum's global report last year, the lowest of any country on the International Monetary Fund's list of advanced economies. Some were pleasantly surprised that three women - think tank head Yuri Okina, BOJ executive Tokiko Shimizu and former BOJ board member Sayuri Shirai - were being touted for a BOJ deputy role in recent weeks. "The fact that there had been a great deal of chatter about having women in the central bank's leadership was actually refreshing," said Shihoko Goto, deputy director for the Asia Program at the Wilson Center, a U.S.-based think tank. Goto said the BOJ and other top institutions needed to do more to nurture female leaders and stimulate a broader shift across private industry. Having women in prominent roles of public interest would help tackle "persisting gender discriminations" in Japan, said Kazuo Yamaguchi, professor of sociology at the University of Chicago. But Nojo, the campaigner, said the BOJ's slated appointments are just another example of the slow pace of change in a conservative, patriarchal society. "It seems to happen like this every time," she said. (Reporting by Elaine Lies and John Geddie in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard) Fort Collins police said they arrested a man at a downtown-area 7-Eleven on Sunday afternoon after he had barricaded himself in the store and started a fire. About 4:45 p.m., police were responding to a report of a man in someone's backyard who was making suicidal statements to the homeowner, according to a news release from Fort Collins Police Services. But while they were en route, the man went to the convenience store, 430 Remington St. Police said he broke a window into the store, threatened a clerk with a large rock, began damaging the store and barricaded himself inside. The clerk was able to get out of the store with help from two people who police described as good Samaritans. Police said the man set an item in the store on fire, so they broke a store window, allowing Poudre Fire Authority firefighters to extinguish the fire from outside. Public safety:Bicyclist dies in collision in Fort Collins A SWAT team responded and eventually subdued the suspect through "less lethal munitions" after he approached officers with a glass bottle, according to the news release. The suspect was transported to a hospital. He has been booked into the Larimer County Jail on suspicion of felony arson, felony criminal mischief, felony menacing, resisting arrest and obstruction. Fort Collins Police Services Lt. Mike Trombley said he was proud of the way the officers handled and resolved the situation. "I'm also thankful for the collaborative efforts of our partners at Poudre Fire Authority," he said. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime. More:Larimer County Sheriff's Office seeks suspect in vehicle thefts earlier this week This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Man accused of setting fire while barricaded at Fort Collins 7-Eleven A Miami County man is behind bars and facing aggravated arson charges after deputies said he set his own house on fire and critically injured his stepfather, according to investigators. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: At least one taken to hospital after house fire in Miami Co. Seth Zackary Ryan Johnson, 24, of Laura, was arrested in Fairborn early Sunday morning in connection with the house fire that investigators have determined as arson, Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak said. Seth Zackary Ryan Johnson Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the 100 block of East Pike Street Saturday just before midnight on a report of a house fire. First units on the scene reported the house was engulfed in flames. Before the fire broke out, witnesses told investigators of hearing an explosion, Duchak said in a media release issued Monday afternoon. >> Judges orders second opinion for competency of man accused of Butler Twp. quadruple homicide The only person inside the house, identified as the suspects 58-year-old stepfather, was able to get out of the house on his own. However he was suffering from burns and smoke inhalation and was transported to Miami Valley Hospital for treatment, Duchak said. The victim remains in the hospital in critical condition. The State Fire Marshals Office and the Miami County Sheriffs detectives also responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. The fire was determined to be arson during the initial investigation, according to a department spokesperson. Investigators identified the suspect as Johnson, who also lived in the home, however he had already left the scene. Nearly four hours after the fire broke out, Johnson was located in his car by Fairborn police and was arrested, Duchak said. >> 6 taken to hospital after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in Dayton Johnson was later arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail, where he remains booked. Detectives will bring Johnson back to Miami County and be housed in the county jail. Story continues Anyone that has additional information concerning the arson is encouraged to contact Det. Steve Hickey at 937-440-6085 EXT. 3987 or email at hickey.stephen@miamicountyso.com. Those wishing to leave an anonymous tip can be made on the sheriffs website. Eight departments from Darke and Miami counties responded to extinguish the blaze including Lara, Union Twp., West Milton, Pleasant Hill, Ludlow Falls, Pitsburg, Arcanum, and Gettysburg. This investigation is ongoing and we will continue to update this story as we learn more. Brett Exton before and after the tumour was removed (Collect/PA Real Life) A father-of-three who was at risk of losing his eyesight after a cancerous tumour on his eyelid swelled to the size of a cherry tomato, taking over his whole eye and weighing it shut, has praised his local Specsavers team and the NHS for saving his life. Brett Exton, 55, who lives in Bridgend, Wales, noticed a small lump on his right eyelid just before flying out to Mexico for a family holiday in August last year, but he believed it was just a pimple or a stye a round, slightly red lump on the upper lid by the eyelashes. The IT database manager said it was almost insignificant, but as the days progressed, the lump started getting bigger and bigger and bigger, so he visited a hospital in Mexico, where doctors drained the lump and glued the wound back together. Back home the lump continued to grow and, after he was unable to get an appointment at his regular opticians, he went into Specsavers where the team saw him immediately and referred him to the Princess of Wales Hospital the same day. Brett was later diagnosed with cancer and underwent four operations, and while he is now living with some debilitating side-effects and struggles with depression, he said he feels incredibly lucky that the cancerous tumour was diagnosed and removed so promptly. Im grateful to Specsavers and Im very grateful to the NHS, he said. The treatment that I had from the NHS, its all free its a marvellous thing that probably saved my life. (The doctor in Mexico) only glued the slit that shed made, shed used liquid glue, but because it was still going up, because it was still swelling, it literally then just tore through that; it just tore that open and carried on growing, Brett said. So by the time I got home, it was the size of a cherry tomato. The sheer weight of it its all on the top eyelid, its nothing to do with the bottom eyelid it could drag the eye down closed. Brett went to A&E in Bridgend, was given some cream, and was told by a doctor: I promise you, by Monday, youll feel the benefit, it will be going down. Story continues However, by Monday, Brett said it was no better and he decided to take matters into his own hands. Out of sheer frustration, I put my coat on and I went into Bridgend town and I walked straight into Specsavers, he said. I said to the person on the front desk, Look, anything you can do for this? And I took my sunglasses off, and it all then went from there. After being examined, Brett was referred to Princess of Wales Hospital and, a week later, after doctors had taken a biopsy of the eyelid, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma a form of skin cancer which is usually caused by sun exposure. The father of three said he received the news at 9am and went in for his first operation at 4pm the same day, only giving him a few hours to process the news that he had cancer. It was about four or five hours that I had to dwell on, Ive got cancer, before it was removed, he said. After the diagnosis in September, Brett had to undergo four surgical procedures in five weeks. The first was the biopsy, followed by the amputation of his top eyelid, which contained the tumour. After this, half of his bottom eyelid was removed to replace the missing upper eyelid, and Brett said at that point his eyelid looked like a sandwich that had been folded over. Then, to reconstruct his lower eyelid during the fourth operation, doctors used skin from the roof of his mouth and his temple. Brett said he now has no eyelashes on his right eye, but the evidence of the operations is hardly noticeable, adding: People say to me, God, I wouldnt even know youve had it done. However, despite appearing fit and well externally, he said the side-effects are absolutely chronic. People see the surgery completed, all the healing is done, but its a life-changing operation, he explained. I live literally with constant dry eye; Ive tried creams, Ive tried drops, Ive tried everything, and not one single thing medicinal works. If I go outside, the cold air blowing on my eye makes my eye water and stream, and thats quite blissful. Its heaven to be outside because you come inside and the dry air and the central heating makes it 10 times worse. On top of this, Brett explained that he experiences fatigue, eye strain and headaches and, due to the brutal impacts of the operations, both physically and mentally, he is now suffering depression. He said he always believed he was mentally strong, but some days it feels like his depression knocks (his) legs from underneath (him). Im thrilled to bits that I can look in the mirror and I dont look like a horror story, but the side-effects are truly debilitating, Brett said. Some days, you can be really depressed. Depression is another thing that just comes out of nowhere at you. You just dream about being well, but I know that Im never going to be well, so that can heighten the depression. You play these mental games with yourself dont be so ungrateful, dont be so hard on yourself so its a massive journey. Brett is having counselling, which he would recommend to anyone, and said keeping active, going outside, and completing tasks daily are all helping to keep his spirits up. He is still able to drive although he does not drive at night and his eyesight has not been too badly affected, as he still has perfect vision in his left eye. Although Brett is still learning to accept the long-term physical impacts of the operations, he is very grateful to Specsavers and the NHS, and he would advise everyone to listen to their bodies and to get any lumps checked. Be very alert There are parts of your body that tell you messages of, Im not well, he said. If a lump suddenly appears, well, you know that that wasnt there last week or yesterday, and to get it checked out as soon as you can. To find out more about Specsavers Bridgend or request an appointment, visit www.specsavers.com/bridgend Feb. 13NORTHWOOD, Ia. A 39-year-old man accused of fleeing law enforcement in front of a Planet Fitness late last year was apprehended in Iowa on Friday Feb. 10, 2023. Jesse James Johnson is accused of backing into the vehicles of law enforcement officers during an attempted arrest by the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office Dec. 14, 2022 . The Olmsted County Attorney's Office declined to charge a deputy who fired his weapon during the incident, calling the deputy's use of force reasonable. "He's definitely one of those prolific offenders that needs to be taken off the streets," Olmsted County Sheriff's Capt. Tim Parkin said. The Sheriff's Office was attempting to arrest Johnson on a warrant for failing to appear at a court hearing for a felony assault case. The charges listed for Johnson list several driving offenses, theft and eluding police. The arresting agency is listed as the Iowa State Patrol. The ISP did not immediately respond to a request from the Post Bulletin for more information. Johnson is currently listed as in custody in the Worth County (Iowa) Jail. Parkin said his agency is working on getting someone in contact with the Worth County Sheriff's Office. It's currently unknown when Johnson will head back to Minnesota, according to Worth County Sheriff Dan Frank, who wrote in an email that he still has to face charges in Iowa and there is an extradition process Johnson may go through. The WCSO also does not talk about transports as a safety concern for transport officers, Frank wrote. A man is accused of opening fire in the lobby of a Best Western hotel, killing a worker, Kentucky police say. The fatal shooting happened 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the hotel in Paducah, according to the McCracken County Sheriffs Office. Paducah is in Western Kentucky near the states border with Illinois. According to a news release, the incident began when Robert Pannell assaulted a couple in the hotels parking lot after they would not give him a cigarette lighter. He then entered the hotel, shot the worker and shot multiple rounds indiscriminately, the sheriffs office said. Pannell, a 55-year-old hotel guest from Palm Coast, Florida, threw his gun in the lobby of the hotel after the shooting, investigators said. He was found by deputies in the hotels parking lot. The female worker, whose name and age has not been disclosed, was shot in the head and body and was taken to a local hospital. She died that afternoon, the sheriffs office said. Multiple others were nearby when Pannell opened fire, but no one else was struck by the gunfire, the press release states. Its unknown why Pannell was in Paducah. He was charged with first-degree murder, along with assault and wanton endangerment charges. He remains in the McCracken County Jail as of Monday, Feb. 14. Housekeeper shot in chest after knocking on hotel room door, North Carolina cops say Active shooter suspect taken into custody after killing hotel clerk, Michigan cops say WASHINGTONThe U.S. military on Sunday shot down yet another unidentified flying object in North American airspace, the fourth in three days, raising additional questions about where the objects are coming from and putting President Joe Biden in a tough spot politically. On one hand, he's facing mounting pressure from Congress including from members within his Democratic party who want him to respond with transparency and strength. On the other hand, he is trying to de-escalate rising tensions with China after the U.S. Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon nine days ago off the South Carolina coast. After the latest flying object entered U.S. airspace and posed a "very real" threat to air traffic, according to White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, lawmakers want to know how many more are out there. Here's what we know: Where was the spy balloon shot down? In this photo provided by Chad Fish, the remnants of a large balloon drift above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina, with a fighter jet and its contrail seen below it, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. The downing of the suspected Chinese spy balloon by a missile from an F-22 fighter jet created a spectacle over one of the states tourism hubs and drew crowds reacting with a mixture of bewildered gazing, distress and cheering. Sunday night marked the first time in history that U.S. warplanes have shot down aircraft over or near the United States, according to Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. The extraordinary move was taken after the object shot down on Sunday was first detected by radar late Saturday afternoon about 70 miles north of the U.S. border in Canada, he said. F-15 fighter jets were scrambled but were unable to locate it. But it appeared again on radar Sunday near Wisconsin, he said, and was tracked across the state into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The object had been flying at about 20,000 feet over Lake Huron in a path and altitude that raised concerns about it being a hazard to civilian aviation, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. He said an F-16 shot down the object at 2:42 p.m. ET Sunday at the direction of President Joe Biden, firing an AIM 9X sidewinder missile. That's the same weapon used in the previous instances, including the suspected Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon shot down six miles off the South Carolina coast on Feb. 4 Story continues Three subsequent takedowns came Friday on sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaksa; on Saturday in the Canadian Yukon; and on Sunday 15 nautical miles off shore in Lake Huron. We did not assess it to be a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground, but assess it was a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities, Ryder said of the latest shootdown, indicating the possibility that it is another spy balloon. 'It was a success': White House says a second 'high altitude object' shot down over Alaska How many spy balloons have been spotted? Though many lawmakers continue to refer to multiple "spy balloons," Kirby wouldn't commit to that language Monday for the latest "objects" spotted in the sky. He said officials couldn't "definitively assess" what the latest flying objects were. Pentagon officials on Sunday evening acknowledged that they had a lot of unanswered questions about the latest three incursions, including whether they might have been civilian aircraft engaged in some kind of research. On Monday, a congressional aide told USA TODAY that the three objects shot down by U.S. fighter planes since Friday appear to have been balloon-like surveillance devices. The first object, shot down Friday over Alaska, has been described by the Pentagon as the size of a small car. The second device was metallic and balloon-like with a small payload attached to it, according to the aide who was familiar with briefings on the objects but not authorized to speak publicly. The Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina after floating across the country from Idaho also had a payload that U.S. officials say consisted of devices meant to snoop on sensitive communications. Efforts to recover debris from some of the subsequent shootdowns have been hampered by severe winter weather, limited daylight and the remote arctic terrain. Crews worked Monday to recover the most recent device from Lake Huron where it had been shot down by an F-16 on Sunday. More: Chinese spy balloon flew over other US missile and nuclear weapons sites, lawmaker says Balloon controversy raising tensions with China U.S. officials last week disclosed that they believe China has been engaging in a years-long balloon surveillance effort that includes many types of airborne vehicles that have been deployed over wide swaths of the globe. Meanwhile, on Monday morning, a senior Chinese official accused the U.S. of flying high altitude balloons over its airspace more than 10 times without permission since early 2022, according to reports by Reuters and other news agencies. Beijing's claim drew a swift denial from Washington. But it widens an already contentious rift between the two superpowers that began after the U.S. shot down the first object on Feb. 4, which it continues to maintain was a brazen attempt by China to spy on sensitive U.S. military and nuclear weapons sites. That prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a diplomatic trip to Beijing. Bloomberg reported that Blinken may meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, this week to discuss the situation. Was the U.S. ready for the balloons? That is one of the biggest unanswered questions, and one that has members of Congress clamoring for answers. On Feb. 6, VanHerck told the media that the Pentagon didn't know in real-time of at least one balloon that entered U.S. airspace at the early stage of the Biden Administration and at least three others that transited through during the Trump Administration. The general acknowledged that "every day as a NORAD commander it's my responsibility to detect threats to North America. I will tell you that we did not detect those threats. And that's a domain awareness gap that we have to figure out. But I don't want to go in further detail." More recently, Pentagon officials said that they are moving to identify and address such gaps, including working with Canada on improving NORAD's surveillance and detection capabilities and more closely collaborating with other U.S. allies internationally. Are we under attack by aliens? No, there is no indication that any of the unidentified flying objects are anything other than surveillance or research vehicles owned by foreign governments like China or civilian research agencies. But there has been much uninformed speculation about that, which intensified on social media after VanHerck refused to rule "anything" out. VanHerck's comment came in response to a question from a reporter who asked if aliens or extraterrestrials had been ruled out. "I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything," VanHerck replied. "At this point, we continue to assess every threat or potential threats unknown that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it." Elon Musk appeared to be among those attempting making light of the unanswered questions on social media. "Dont worry, just some of my friends of mine stopping by " Musk tweeted Sunday on Twitter, the social media platform he owns. Musk included an emoji for an alien and another for a flying saucer. By Monday morning, it had garnered more than 65 million page views. Kirby said Monday said there was no sign of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with the recent takedowns. Congress wants answers after flying objects shot down Two House members from Michigan, Reps. Jack Bergman and Elisa Slotkin, both said Sunday in tweets that they had been briefed by the Pentagon on fighter pilots shooting down an object over Lake Huron. The American people deserve far more answers than we have, Bergman, a Republican, said in a tweet. As long as these things keep traversing the US and Canada, Ill continue to ask for Congress to get a full briefing based on our exploitation of the wreckage, Slotkin, a Democrat, said in a tweet. The Senate is the only chamber in session this week, and all members are scheduled to have a classified briefing on the issue Tuesday morning. Similarly, a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday is set to examine global security, and its expected to include a lot of discussion about spy balloons. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he supports the effort of Sen. John Tester, D-Mont., to look into why it took so long for Congress, the U.S. military and our intelligence to know about the spy balloons. As Defense subcommittee chair, Tester said he is receiving regular updates from the Pentagon and intelligence community about incursions in American airspace. Ill keep demanding answers for the public, he said in a tweet Sunday. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Republican who also is on the committee, said late last week she is angry about spying objects in American airspace and expressed frustration that they aren't stopped first over her home state of Alaska. It seems to me the clear message to China is, We got free range in Alaska because theyre going to let us cruise over that until it gets to more sensitive areas, Murkowski said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How many spy balloons have been spotted? Congress demands answers Two neo-Nazis were arrested for threatening to attack electrical substations to "destroy" Baltimore. A "Boogaloo Boi" was arrested in Missouri for having a bunch of guns. And a Marine was promoted to a top intelligence job after being at the Jan. 6 insurrection (he has since been arrested). Plus: The FBI's hate crime statistics are "worse than useless," yet a congressional committee chairman claims the bureau inflates the issue of domestic extremism. It's the week in extremism. Raymond Duda, FBI Special Agent in Charge in Seattle, speaks Wednesday, as he stands next to a poster that was mailed earlier in the year to the home of Chris Ingalls, an investigative reporter with KING-TV during a news conference in Seattle. Officials charged a group of alleged members of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division for cyber-stalking and mailing threatening communications including Swastika-laden posters in a campaign against journalists in several cities. 'Hate-fueled attacks' planned on power stations A well-known neo-Nazi and his suspected accomplice were arrested last week and appeared in court Monday charged with plotting to attack power substations in Baltimore. Brandon Russell, who founded the white supremacist group Atomwaffen Division, had recently been released from prison, where he served three years for explosives charges. White supremacist was FBI informant: He publishes books on satanism and torture to inspire neo-Nazis. The FBI has paid him $140,000 Neo-Nazis arrested for plot: Neo-Nazi, woman accused of plotting 'hate-fueled attacks' on power stations, federal complaint says The arrests come as the FBI has been warning of increased attacks on the nation's power grid by extremist groups. Why? Attacks like this are a tactic in the playbook of "accelerationist" white supremacists. Accelerationists seek to hasten the demise of Western civilization and foment a "race war" by committing acts of terrorism. Atomwaffen was based on this philosophy. Deeper: As I reported last year, Atomwaffen was heavily influenced by the writings of Joshua Sutter. Sutter, it turned out, was on the FBI's payroll. Russel's suspected co-conspirator, Sarah Clendaniel, had also been recently incarcerated. She allegedly said she wanted to "completely destroy this whole city" and planned to target five substations situated in a "ring" around Baltimore, according to the criminal complaint. Story continues In this file photo taken on January 17, 2021 a member of the Boogaloo Boys stands armed with an assault rifle, gas mask and combat helmet outside of the Oregon State Capitol building in Salem, during a nationwide protest called by anti-government and far-right groups supporting US President Donald Trump and his claim of electoral fraud in the November 3 presidential election. Suspected 'Boogaloo Boi' arrested Federal law enforcement officers arrested a Springfield, Missouri, man in possession of 11 guns, a silencer, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor plates and several pounds of explosives last week. Timothy Zegar appeared in court Monday and is alleged to be connected to the far-right "Boogaloo" movement. Down the barrel of a gun: Down the barrel of a gun: How Second Amendment activism can be a gateway to extremist ideologies Who? Boogaloo is a leaderless, mainly online phenomenon, driven by a heavy emphasis on memes, iconography and in-jokes. Central to the movement is an anti-federal government ideology, an anticipation of a second civil war and an obsession with firearms. Zegar was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say he was trafficking firearms. Deeper: I wrote about how Second Amendment activism can be a pipeline to extremism in 2021. Context: The Boogaloo or "Boogaloo Bois" had largely faded away as a movement but underwent a brief resurgence after the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago last year. Joshua Abate, an active duty Marine, is among those charged with participating in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Jan. 6 rioter got intelligence role A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the arrests of three active-duty Marines for their alleged roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection. This week, The Intercept had a bombshell report that one of those Marines was transferred to "a highly sensitive intelligence assignment at the headquarters of the National Security Agency" after the insurrection. The Marine confessed to his role in the insurrection last summer but was arrested only in January. The Intercept reports: "Sgt. Joshua Abate, a special communication signals analyst, was assigned to the Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, which acts as a liaison between the Marines and the NSA at Fort Meade. The transfer into the liaison unit after the Capitol riot placed Abate inside one of the most sensitive facilities in the entire U.S. government." Context: As I reported back in 2021, the U.S. military has a significant problem with extremism in the ranks. Last week in extremism: The sad messages inside Alex Jones's texts This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marine in Jan. 6 got military intel; neo-Nazi power grid plot alleged Benjamin R. Dunham, age 18, Marion, is accused of hiding cameras in restrooms at the Marion Family YMCA and Ohio State Marion. He has been charged with one count of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony; one count of interception of a wire or oral communication, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of voyeurism, a fifth-degree felony, according to Marion Municipal Court records. A Marion man accused of hiding cameras in restrooms at a local recreational facility and on the Ohio State Marion campus is free on bond, but must comply with terms of a restraining order that has been filed against him or risk returning to jail. Benjamin R. Dunham, age 18, Marion, has been charged with one count of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony; one count of interception of a wire or oral communication, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of voyeurism, a fifth-degree felony, according to Marion Municipal Court records. Officers from the Marion Police Department arrested Dunham on Feb. 2 as part of the investigation after cameras were found concealed in restrooms in a building on the Ohio State Marion campus on Mount Vernon Avenue and the Marion Family YMCA on Barks Road East. According to the affidavit filed in support of the arrest warrant by Major Chris Adkins of the Marion Police Department, Dunham allegedly installed two cameras inside a restroom at the Marion Family YMCA. "One of these cameras recorded a minor in a state of nudity as she was in the restroom. The cameras were set up to surreptitiously record audio and video of individuals in the restroom," Adkins stated in the affidavit. During a preliminary hearing conducted Friday in Marion Municipal Court, Judge Teresa L. Ballinger issued a temporary restraining order against Dunham. He is required to have no contact (personal, cellphone, social media, etc.) whatsoever with the minor identified as one of the alleged victims in the case. The protection order also requires that he stay at least 500 feet away from the minor, which includes the individual's "residence, school, business, place of employment, daycare centers, childcare providers, and all the buildings, grounds, and parking lots at those locations," Judge Ballinger stated. The protection order also prohibits Dunham from using "any form of electronic surveillance on the protected person and the defendant shall not cause or encourage anyone else to do anything that he is prohibited from doing." Story continues Dunham is also prohibited from using "alcohol or illegal drugs" under terms of the protection order, Judge Ballinger stated. "The defendant may not violate this order even with the permission of the protected person," the judge said. Attorney Todd Anderson, who is representing Dunham, requested that the judge modify the bond for Dunham, which the judge granted. The bond, which remains at $75,000, was modified to cash, surety, or 10% bond. Bond for Dunham was posted Friday in the amount of $7,500 or 10% of the total amount. According to records from the Multi-County Correctional Center in Marion, Dunham was no longer an inmate there as of Friday afternoon. Under terms of his bond, Dunham is prohibited from having any contact or communication with the alleged victims in the case or their families, either personally or through a third party. According to police officials, in addition to the minor, two adults have also been identified as victims. Additionally, the judge ordered that Dunham is prohibited from visiting the campus of Ohio State Marion, the Marion Family YMCA, and Marion Harding High School. The judge is also requiring that Dunham participate in and complete a mental health evaluation. Failure to comply with terms of the temporary restraining order or the modified bond could result in Dunham being arrested and returned to jail. Anderson filed a motion for a continuation of the preliminary hearing. Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan told the judge that he was not opposed to either the terms of the modified bond for Dunham or the court granting a continuation of the hearing. Grogan said the victims in the case were informed of the terms and had agreed to them. The judge has scheduled the hearing to resume at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 27 in Marion Municipal Court, according to online records. Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion man accused of hiding cameras in restrooms free on bond ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. (WHTM) The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has fined Mars Wrigley Confectionary after two contractors fell into a chocolate tank at their Pennsylvania facility last year. The workers had to be rescued after they fell into a partially filled chocolate tank on June 9, 2022. Authorities had to cut a hole in the tank to rescue the two workers. Both were taken to the hospital, one of them by helicopter. According to OSHA, the fine has been labeled as a serious citation. The citation states that Mars Wrigley did not make sure that the employees had the proper knowledge of how to clean the chocolate tank located in the facility. OSHA fined Mars Wrigley more than $14,500 for the incident. The safety of our Associates and outside contractors is a top priority for our business. As always, we appreciate OSHAs collaborative approach to working with us to conduct the after-action review, a Mars Wrigley spokesperson said. The workers who were contracted to clean the tank were from an outside agency and did not work for Mars Wrigley directly. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Writer-director Martin McDonagh took a few passes at "The Banshees of Inisherin" before landing on the right focus. (Justin Jun Lee / For The Times) Several years ago, Martin McDonagh started work on a play called The Banshees of Inisheer. He didnt care much for it, but he liked the title, with its echoes of his plays The Cripple of Inishmaan and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. A few years later, he began writing a screenplay that included two friends who had come to an impasse in their relationship. The first five minutes were the same as our movie, but then it went to a very plotty place and it wasn't focused on that falling out, McDonagh said in a recent video call from his London home. So I kind of scrapped it. It didnt stay scrapped. About three years ago, McDonagh picked it up again and liked what he saw in those first five minutes: an intensive look at a friendship run aground. He realized that was the focus. And thats how The Banshees of Inisherin, a pitch-black comedy that garnered nine Oscar nominations, came into its howling, absurdist existence. A gorgeous movie fueled by pain (emotional and physical) and quiet volatility, Banshees is the least plotty film McDonagh has made. The story is minimalist. It often feels like a violent Beckett play, with a sense of comic timing to match its despair. The first sign that McDonagh might have something special came at the films world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September, where the audience hung on every word and erupted in a long standing ovation at the films conclusion. Venice audiences are known for such ovations, but this one went on and on and on. The Banshees contingent in attendance, including McDonagh and stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, stood and waved from the balcony, smiling sheepishly. Its slightly embarrassing, McDonagh says. You're appreciative of it, but then we're not the type who blow our own trumpet. McDonagh won the festivals screenplay award, and Farrell was named best actor. Both are now nominated for Oscars McDonagh for directing, writing and producing along with Gleeson and Barry Keoghan (both for supporting actor) and Kerry Condon (supporting actress). Story continues Set on the fictional Irish island of the title, Banshees is the story of a breakup, though not the kind were used to seeing onscreen. As the movie begins, Padraic (Farrell) stops at the cottage of his buddy Colm (Gleeson) to go get a pint at the pub. But Colm doesnt want to get a pint. In fact, Colm doesnt want to be Padraics buddy anymore. He finds Padraic dull and, in his advancing years, he figures he has no more time for dullness. But this isnt a modern city, where the aggrieved parties can retreat to the next distraction. Its a tiny island, in the year 1923. Theres nowhere to hide. From such humble loggerheads is the Banshees tragedy built, mirrored by an Irish civil war on the mainland, heard but never seen. For McDonagh, the central idea was simple. Sometimes, a platonic breakup can be even worse than a romantic one, he says. In a romantic breakup you get it, you've been through it before, you can understand the issues. I think there's something more deeply personal about a platonic friend not wanting to have anything to do with you, because that is basically about you and your personality. It's not like there's this vague romantic thing, which you didn't tick all the boxes for. This isnt McDonaghs first dance with Farrell and Gleason. In his 2008 film In Bruges, also Oscar-nominated for original screenplay, the pair play hit men dispatched by their boss (Ralph Fiennes) to the fairy-tale-like Belgian city of the title. Their chemistry is obvious. Farrell is the wounded, almost childlike naif who doesnt appreciate his surroundings. Gleeson is the older pro whod like to take a load off. There is tragedy here too, along with natural beauty and McDonaghs humor that makes one choke on the laughter. McDonagh knows what he has in his unassuming stars. They're not afraid to show the fragility and the pigheadedness of men, he says. They love each other, and it's crazy that no one else tried to get them together in the 14 years since In Bruges. One wonders if that's going to change, but I kind of feel a little proprietorial about that relationship. I don't want anyone else to get their hands on them. Martin McDonagh chats with Colin Farrell on set of "The Banshees of Inisherin." (Jonathan Hession / AP) The island of Inisherin is actually two islands: Inishmore, off the coast of Galway, is where Padraics home is located, as well as many of the roads and fields featured in the film. Achill, which sits off County Mayo, is where the pub and port are set. Born in London to Irish parents, McDonagh was thrilled with the locations, especially since his parents now live within hailing distance of the films Inishmore set. It was a complete joy, he says. On weekends, I could go back and see them. The cast and crew felt like a proper family trying to do a good one, literally on an island together. So there werent any people going away for the weekend. At nighttime you'd see each other in the pub, or walking around the island on weekends. So we really felt like we were in it together, doing a good Irish movie together. The Banshees of Inisherin is driven by a fruitful tension. Its core conflict gets quite nasty, almost like a biblical feud. But it all unfolds in idyllic surroundings. I wanted to have this horrible, ugly little war between these two guys happen in the most beautiful place, McDonagh says. That meant finding the perfect islands but also shooting at a time of the year that would allow us the most daylight, the most magic-hour time, the most sunsets, all of that. We wanted to show the difference between the horror of the story and the beauty of the island and just to make it the most cinematic thing possible. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Russian occupiers were located in the premises of the school in Nikolske Consequences of bavovna (lit. cotton in English, a euphemism used in Ukraine to describe an explosion in Russia) in Nikolske, he said. Read also: Invaders barracks near Mariupol hit by strong explosions, reports advisor to city mayor Four trucks full of ammunition were hit in addition to the invaders barracks. Thats why the (secondary) detonation (was heard). In his post, Andriushchenko described the explosions as harbingers of liberation. Read also: Russian troops number in Mariupol rises to 30,000, Andriushchenko says Earlier, the mayors advisor had reported that series of strong explosions had been heard near Mariupol in the evening of Feb. 12. In particular, three loud explosions were heard in the villages of Manhush and Nikolske, as well as all districts of the city of Mariupol, followed by the sounds of secondary explosions. Read also: Russians massing equipment, troops in Mariupol, mayor's adviser says Russian forces have positioned snipers at the exit points of the city, as Russias FSB security service has failed to deal with guerrilla activities in the region. Before that, Andriushchenko reported that the number of Russian troops in and near Mariupol had increased to 30,000 soldiers. On Feb. 7, another series of strong explosions was heard in Mariupol, this time in the area of the seaport. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday demanded answers from President Biden about the spate of unidentified objects the U.S. military shot down in recent days after a Chinese spy balloon traveled across the country earlier this month. After laying out the objects that were shot down over Alaska, Canada and Michigan on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively, McConnell issued a series of questions aimed at administration officials. What in the world is going on? Has the Biden administration just dialed the sensitivity of our radars all the way up? If so, what are the objects that we are just now noticing for the very first time? McConnell said on the Senate floor. Are they benign science projects and wayward weather balloons, or something more nefarious that weve somehow been missing all this time? President Biden owes the American people some answers, McConnell continued. What are we shooting down? Where do they come from? Whether they are hostile or not, is there coherent guidance about when to shoot them down? How did we get into a position where the greatest nation in the world doesnt know what is traversing our own airspace? Administration officials indicated on Monday that they did not know exactly what the objects were. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters the U.S. had yet to recover any debris from the three objects. For members of the upper chamber, some answers could be forthcoming. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that there will be a classified briefing for senators on Tuesday morning on the trio of unidentified objects. McConnells remarks also came after a week of questions surrounding the Chinese balloon that made its way across the country before being shot down in the Atlantic Ocean. Senators received an all-members briefing on the surveillance balloon late last week, but it did little to settle frustrations and questions. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Meadville restaurant that once was so popular it expanded to Erie County and other locales in northwestern Pennsylvania has filed for bankruptcy, listing as debts hundreds of thousands of dollars in overdue payments to a food supplier. Cannon's Chophouse, at 994 Market St. in Meadville, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Erie. Cannon's Chophouse, of Meadville, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Erie, located at the federal courthouse on Perry Square. Cannon's Chophouse is still in business Cannon's Chophouse remains open. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a debtor to stay in business as it reorganizes and develops a plan to pay its creditors over time. Cannon's Chophouse filed under the subchapter of the Bankruptcy Code that applies to the reorganization of a debtor that is a small business. How much does Cannon's Chophouse owe its creditors? The bankruptcy petition states that the restaurant's owner, T.G. Holdings, has assets of no more than $50,000 and liabilities of $500,001 to $1 million. The restaurant's largest creditor is Curtze Food Service, of Erie. Curtze is owed a total of about $403,000, according to the petition. Other creditors include the IRS and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Cannon's Chophouse once had other locations Cannon's Chophouse is known for its steaks, seafood and ribs. It now has the one location, on Market Street in Meadville. The business opened in 2009 as Montana's Rib and Chophouse. It was on Highline Drive, off Route 19 in Vernon Township near Meadville in Crawford County. The restaurant changed its name to Cannon's Chophouse in 2017. It opened in October 2021 at its current spot in Meadville, the site of the former 1776 Bar & Grill. Cannon's Chophouse opened a restaurant in the Erie area in 2018. It closed in 2019. That restaurant was located at 7165 Peach St. in Summit Township, the site of the former Famous Dave's restaurant. A Dunkin' now operates at that spot. Cannon's Chophouse also had restaurants in Hermitage and Grove City in Mercer County, south of Crawford County, as well as in Canonsburg in Washington County in southwestern Pennsylvania. Those restaurants are all closed. Story continues What led Cannon's Chophouse to file for bankruptcy? The restaurant's' bankruptcy lawyer, Michael Kruszewski, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The restaurant's owner, Charlie Bish, could not be reached for comment. Latest on restaurants:New year, new eats in Erie: Skunk & Goat adds breakfast, Middle Eastern place on the way Many restaurants suffered during the pandemic. Bish has indicated that Cannon's Chophouse was no exception. He told the Meadville Tribune in March 2021 that the restaurant's troubles were related to the COVID-19 outbreak, and that it had lost $1.5 million in sales in a year. Cannon's Chophouse was closed from March 2020 to September 2020. The reasons behind the bankruptcy could be disclosed in court filings to come. The initial bankruptcy petition included only the basic information that creditor must disclose in the earliest stage of a bankruptcy case. Pandemic-related challenges:These Erie businesses are making it in difficult times by upscaling, simplifying or adapting What happens next in the bankruptcy case of Cannon's Chophouse? The restaurant's bankruptcy lawyer will start working with the judge and creditors to develop a reorganization plan, which the judge ultimately must approve. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Carlota Bohm, based in Pittsburgh, is assigned the case. Bohm gave Cannon's Chophouse until Feb. 22 to file an updated bankruptcy petition, according to an order filed on Thursday. The order states that Bohm will hold a status conference on April 4 "to further the expeditious and economic resolution" of the case. The case typically would have been assigned to a bankruptcy judge in Erie because Cannon's Chophouse is in Crawford County. It is one of the 10 counties in northwestern Pennsylvania in the jurisdiction of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Erie, part of the Pittsburgh-based U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Erie's bankruptcy judge, Thomas P. Agresti, retired on Friday. The three remaining bankruptcy judges in the Western District of Pennsylvania are hearing Erie cases until the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appoints a new bankruptcy judge for Erie. Opening on the bench:Agresti retiring as Erie bankruptcy judge; federal appeals court to pick successor Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Meadville restaurant files for bankruptcy years after trying to expand Feb. 12Ryan Turley had his mind made up. He wanted to play college football at the Division I level, and that's what he'll be doing next fall. Turley, a senior at Merrimack High School, signed a National Letter of Intent last week and will continue his football career at Central Connecticut State University, an FBS program located in New Britain, Connecticut. CCSU competes in the Northeast Conference. "Ryan is a huge kid, who plays with a high motor, physical and catches the ball well," CCSU coach Adam Lechtenberg said in a news release announcing the program's 2023 recruiting class. "His upside is tremendous and he has the potential to be a team leader one day." Turley, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end, received a scholarship offer from CCSU during his official visit to the school in late January. "It was all good vibes when I was there and this offer was comparable to the other ones," Turley explained. "I ended up going home and discussing it with my parents a little further. I just ended up making the decision that this was my golden ticket. "I wanted to play at the highest level possible and my parents understood that. The scholarship was good enough so we just decided to go for it." Turley said Stonehill, Franklin Pierce, New Haven and Southern Connecticut State were among the other schools he strongly considered. "Many D2 offers, but the places I was really considering were FPU (Franklin Pierce), because it was a great scholarship almost one I couldn't refuse and then New Haven was high up on the list because they have beautiful facilities," Turley said. "I also was liking (Southern Connecticut) because I loved the coaching staff when I was there. They're great people." Turley, who is also a member of the track and field team at Merrimack, missed all but two games during his junior season because of a concussion he sustained during a game against Nashua North. He helped Merrimack advance to the Division I quarterfinals last season. "We're proud of Ryan's growth as a leader, as a player and as a person," Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. "I'm glad he overcame some obstacles as a junior, had a good senior year and was able to sign with a school where he felt comfortable." rbrown@unionleader.com MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's defence ministry said Sunday that security forces had arrested a suspected top cartel member accused of leading the region's production of fentanyl, which has killed thousands in the United States. The arrest, which took place on Thursday in the state of Sinaloa, came just weeks after U.S. President Joe Biden visited Mexico, and followed the recent high-profile arrest of cartel leader Ovidio Guzman. The suspect is described as being a leading logistics chief for the famed narco trafficker known as "Mayo Zambada," who jointly headed the powerful Sinaloa cartel. "It should be noted that the accused is considered the main producer of fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, in addition to carrying out the large-scale transfer of cocaine from Central and South America to the U.S," the ministry said in a statement. Following standard procedure in Mexcio, it named him as Jose "N", not giving his full name. (Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz; Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Bradley Perrett) Another high-altitude object was shot down Sunday afternoon, this one over Lake Huron in Michigan, three U.S. officials confirmed to ABC News, marking the latest in a string of such incidents. The object was shot down by a U.S. military aircraft, according to one of the officials. A senior administration official said President Joe Biden directed that the object be shot down "out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of military leaders." This official said the object shot down was detected on radar over Montana on Saturday and was seen again on radar over Wisconsin and Michigan on Sunday. The object was octagonal in structure, unmanned and traveling at about 20,000 feet, the official said. There is no indication of surveillance capabilities, but the administration cannot rule that out. A senior U.S. official said this object, like two others recently shot down, is not at all comparable to a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was first spotted in late January. "There is no sense they are anything but meteorological balloons or some sort of weather balloon, not spy balloons," the official said. None appeared to have any payload; they are much smaller, and such vessels are known to go off course, according to the official. Each is different and difficult to exactly identify, this official said. MORE: All 3 objects flying over US and Canada believed to be balloons, Schumer says: Congress must learn more "In light of the People's Republic of China balloon that we took down last Saturday, we have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase in objects that we've detected over the past week," Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, said during a Pentagon press briefing Sunday night. Because they "have not been able to definitively assess what these recent objects are, the president wanted to act out of an abundance of caution to protect our security and our interests," she continued. "We will remain vigilant." Story continues "The most recent objects do not pose a kinetic military threat, but their paths in proximity to sensitive DOD sites and the altitudes that they were flying could be a hazard to civilian aviation and thus raised concerns," Dalton added. The Pentagon's top spokesman said in a subsequent statement that the object was taken down by an F-16 that fired a sidewinder missile at 2:42 p.m. ET. "Its path and altitude raised concerns, including that it could be a hazard to civil aviation," Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. "The location chosen for this shoot down afforded us the opportunity to avoid impact to people on the ground while improving chances for debris recovery." "The object has been downed by pilots from the US Air Force and National Guard. Great work by all who carried out this mission both in the air and back at headquarters. We're all interested in exactly what this object was and [its] purpose," Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., tweeted. "As long as these things keep traversing the US and Canada, I'll continue to ask for Congress to get a full briefing based on our exploitation of the wreckage," Slotkin wrote. PHOTO: Turnip rock, a geological rock formation stands in Lake Huron near Port Austin, Mich. (Brian Sevald/Getty Images/iStockphoto) The downing is the fourth time in recent days that a high-altitude object was shot by the military over U.S. or Canadian territory. The first incident involved a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that was tracked across the continental U.S. and then shot down off the coast of South Carolina by a U.S. F-22 fighter jet on Feb. 4. That balloon caused bipartisan concern in Washington after it floated across Alaska, Canada and then through the U.S., passing over sensitive military installations, including at least one housing intercontinental ballistic missiles. The military waited to shoot it over the Atlantic Ocean out of concerns that downing it could risk people on the ground being injured by debris, officials have said. The delay nonetheless sparked criticism from Republicans and some Democrats that President Joe Biden and the Pentagon waited too long to handle the balloon. MORE: 4 flying objects have been shot down over North America: Timeline of key moments Since then, two more objects were shot down before Sunday -- one over Alaska and one over Canada -- both by U.S. F-22 jets. The military has not confirmed what kind of objects they were, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday they too were balloons, though smaller than the first one. Schumer linked them to the Chinese, who initially claimed the first balloon was a civilian weather craft. The episodes have only fueled bipartisan calls for more information from the Pentagon over the origin of the subsequent objects and their purpose, with diplomatic tensions between Washington and Beijing already ratcheting up over the initial balloon. PHOTO: The lighthouse at Fort Gratiot by Lake Huron in Port Huron, Mich., in an undated stock image. (Grandriver/Getty Images) One U.S. official attributed the rise in the sightings to boosted surveillance capabilities by the military and not a rush of new foreign objects flying over American airspace. "Northern Command has adjusted the parameters of their radar capabilities in a way that they can see more than they could before," this official said. They explained that the suspected Chinese spy balloon triggered a new state of vigilance for the U.S. military. "That's not to say they were blissfully ignorant before," the official said, "but there are lots of things floating around and now we are more finely attuned to it." The senior U.S. official echoed that, explaining how in light of the Chinese vessel, the system itself is now picking up objects that are being interrogated further. Military shoots down another high-altitude object, over Lake Huron, officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Militiamen killed 22 people in two separate attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Ituri province on Sunday and Monday, a local official and a human rights group said, in ongoing violence in the region. The DRC's government declared martial law in Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu province in 2021 to quell the bloodshed, but deadly raids have continued. The first attack on Sunday took place in the town of Mongbwalu, in Djugu territory, where 10 people were killed. Mongbwalu Mayor Jean-Pierre Bikilisende blamed the attack on CODECO, one of many militias operating in the DRC's conflict-ridden east. The group could not be reached for comment. Bikilisende told Reuters the rebels opened fire on a phone credit seller and then on other civilians standing on the same street before escaping in a car when police arrived. The second attack occurred around 60 kilometres (37 miles) away, in Irumu territory, during the night between Sunday and Monday. Christophe Munyanderu, coordinator of the local group Convention for the Respect of Human Rights (CRDH), said 12 villagers were killed. He said the attackers were from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan armed group that has operated in east Congo for decades. It has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and stages frequent deadly raids on villages. Munyanderu also confirmed the 10 deaths in Mongbwalu. The ADF could not be reached for comment and the DRC's army did not respond to calls. There was no indication as to the motive of either attack, but militia violence has racked the vast mineral-rich east for two decades despite local and regional military interventions and U.N. peacekeeping efforts. (Reporting by Erikas Mwisi; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bhargav Acharya and Sharon Singleton) Whitehall - Lauren Hurley/PA Ministers and officials racked up almost 150 million on government credit cards in the space of a year, an investigation has revealed. Public money was spent on a four-star trip to the Caribbean for prison staff and sparkling wine and free branded merchandise for civil servants. Labour, which compiled a dossier on the spending, said it showed the Conservatives were acting as though it was the last days of Rome. But government sources accused the party of bombarding departments with more than 350 questions and said providing the data already publicly available was likely to have cost the taxpayer more than 70,000. According to the figures, 14 Whitehall departments spent at least 145.5 million using taxpayer-funded credit cards in 2021. That tally compared with the 84.9 million spent 10 years earlier a 71 per cent increase in the space of a decade. Labour said there was evidence that officials used credit cards to go on end-of-year spending sprees before their budgets are reset every April. Among examples of their use was a trip taken by Prison Service officials to the Caribbean in March 2020 as the UK was locking down. The pair visited Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands on a fact-finding trip to assess the readiness of jails for a major hurricane. According to the figures, they were put up in four-star hotels throughout their fortnight-long stay at a cost of 6,427 to the taxpayer. Departments also spent around 25,000 on branded merchandise for staff, including coffee cups, to cheer them up after lockdown. In February 2021 Natural England, the environmental quango, bought 1,411 worth of mugs for workers in recognition for the difficult year of 2020. The Ministry of Justice paid 4,019 for USB cables featuring its logo, which were distributed to workers joining a virtual conference in September 2020. Around 225,000 was spent on alcohol in 2021, which included several orders for English sparkling wine that were mislabelled as other costs. Story continues Angela Rayner - Eddie Mulholland Angela Rayner, Labours deputy leader, said: Britain may be facing the worst cost of living crisis for decades, but whether as chancellor or Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has failed to rein in the culture of lavish spending across Whitehall on his watch. Todays shocking revelations lift the lid on a scandalous catalogue of waste, with taxpayers money frittered away across every part of government, while in the rest of the country families are sick with worry about whether their pay cheque will cover their next weekly shop or the next tranche of bills. A Labour government will get tough on waste, with an Office of Value for Money upholding transparency and high standards for all public spending, including on government procurement cards. Government officials said much of the cash was spent on diplomacy that yielded significant economic results for Britain. They also said that in many cases the cost of answering the parliamentary questions was greater than the value of the spending the questions were about. A Foreign Office source claimed Labour had selectively published a handful of responses whilst ignoring those that did not fit its agenda, saying: For every one of the hundreds of answers provided that didnt tick their box of excessive, they have cost the taxpayer thousands more than the actual cost of the hospitality. The Government welcomes scrutiny, which is why the information is public in the first place, but thats not the same as an industrial political phishing exercise completely dismissive, or seemingly unaware, of the cost to the taxpayers they claim to be asking on behalf of. A senior Tory source pointed out that Labour had introduced government credit cards and used them extensively while in power, saying: The Conservatives swiftly stopped their absurd profligacy, cutting the number of cards, introducing a requirement for spending to be publicly declared and introducing controls. Story at a glance Syphilis among newborns should be a thing of the past but in MS we have seen a >1000% increase since 2016, a former state health officer tweeted. He added that about 40% of expecting mothers who contract syphilis during pregnancy suffer miscarriages. Doctors recommend testing of pregnant people for the disease. (WREG) With the number of congenital syphilis cases rising in Mississippi, doctors across the Mid-South are expressing their concerns. Former Mississippi State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs, who led the states fight against COVID-19, expressed his concerns on Twitter last week, saying syphilis among newborns should be a thing of the past but in MS we have seen a >1000% increase since 2016. In another tweet, Dobbs said about 40% of expecting mothers who contract syphilis during pregnancy suffer miscarriages. Several MS newborns have died recently due to this entirely treatable problem, he added. Is canned tuna safe to eat while pregnant? Dobbs blames inadequate pre-natal health care, including lack of syphilis testing, for the increase. Steve Threlkeld, Medical Director for Infectious Disease at Baptist Memorial Healthcare in Memphis, Tennessee, understands Dobbs outrage. I think thats probably what the frustration was, locally, there. The numbers have been skyrocketing and I think, like so many people, the public health system has been stretched, he said. Threlkeld points to a large number of health care workers leaving their jobs following the COVID outbreak. He says there are not enough professionals to follow up with pregnant women who test positive for syphilis. This is just one of those examples where we have the data, we know about the cases but you have to have the manpower to diagnose the patients, then do contact tracing and follow up to make sure theyre continuing to come back for treatment, Threlkeld said. Story continues Threlkeld says most states suggest or require syphilis testing at least twice during pre-natal care. Some states suggest another test when the baby is delivered, particularly for women engaging in high-risk behavior. But Threlkeld stresses the rise in congenital syphilis is not unique to Mississippi. Mississippi has led the nation at some points in recent years in both gonorrhea and come close in syphilis as well. But its more of a problem, at least the congenital syphilis, particularly in the South and southwestern United States, he said. Threlkeld added that anyone who is pregnant, and engages in risky sexual behavior, should be tested. Youre not just protecting yourself. Youre protecting your newborn from something that can be a deadly infection, Threlkeld said. Norovirus outbreaks are increasing across the US: Which regions have it the worst? According to the CDC, there were more than 2,000 cases of congenital syphilis in 2020. The number of cases rose to almost 2,700 in 2021, Threlkeld said. Congenital syphilis has a number of possible adverse health effects for pregnant women and fetuses, such as miscarriage or stillbirth. Newborns could also suffer brain issues, meningitis, deformed bones or even death, according to the CDC. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CHISINAU (Reuters) -Moldova's president accused Russia on Monday of planning to use foreign saboteurs to bring down her tiny country's leadership, stop it joining the European Union and use it in the war against Ukraine. President Maia Sandu made her comments after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week his country had uncovered a Russian intelligence plan "for the destruction of Moldova", and days later the country's government resigned. Sandu, whose country borders Ukraine, has repeatedly expressed concern about Moscow's intentions towards the former Soviet republic and about the presence of Russian troops in the breakaway Transdniestria region. She said the plan involved citizens of Russia, Montenegro, Belarus and Serbia entering Moldova to try to spark protests in an attempt to "change the legitimate government to an illegal government controlled by the Russian Federation." "The Kremlin's attempts to bring violence to Moldova will not work. Our main goal is the security of citizens and the state. Our goal is peace and public order in the country," Sandu told a news briefing. Russia denied last year wanting to intervene in Moldova after authorities in Transdniestria said they had been targeted by a series of attacks. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby on Monday said reports of the plot had not been independently confirmed but were "deeply concerning" and "certainly not outside the bounds of Russian behaviour." (Reporting by Alexander Tanas; additional reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Cynthia Osterman) CODA star Troy Kotsur performed the national anthem alongside Chris Stapleton ahead of Super Bowl LVII on Sunday (12 February). Kotsur made history at the 94th Academy Awards last April by becoming the first-ever deaf male to win an acting Oscar. The actor was back in his home state of Arizona for the sporting event to perform the Star-Spangled Banner in American Sign Language (ASL). Speaking to Variety ahead of the Super Bowl, Kotsur said he was hesitant about performing until learning that the match would be hosted in Arizona. I was on the fence for about two weeks and then I learned that it was my hometown that was hosting the Super Bowl, so I said, Hell yes, Im in, he said. Im adding a little salt and pepper that will make it even more poetic, even more delicious. Its a visual art, Kotsur added of his performance. Kotsur was quickly praised for his performance alongside Stapleton, with ABC journalist Jordan Bontke writing: What a moment: Valley native and Oscar winner @TroyKotsur channels Francis Scott Key as he signs the National Anthem along side @ChrisStapleton. What a moment: Valley native and Oscar winner @TroyKotsur channels Francis Scott Key as he signs the National Anthem along side @ChrisStapleton. @abc15 pic.twitter.com/IJpAto9tyQ Jordan Bontke (@JBontkeABC15) February 12, 2023 Im here for Troy Kotsurs awesome signing #SuperBowl, another fan wrote. The stage belonged to @TroyKotsur too. If yalls know whats what. This is what. #ASL #SBLVII, wrote another. Story continues Other pre-game performances included Babyface singing America The Beautiful and Sheryl Lee Ralph giving her rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing. Follow The Independents live coverage of Rihannas Super Bowl halftime show here. Last year, Kotsur made headlines after announcing that his Oscar trophy, which he won for CODA, had been stolen after thieves took his car. Fortunately, the vehicle, and the priceless artefact within, were quickly retrieved. Got a ticket in Montgomery County? You may not need to go to the courthouse. Drivers who get a traffic ticket from a state Trooper or sheriff's deputy in the county now have more options to resolve those tickets online. Some of those options include: Plead guilty, pay the fine and avoid going to court Plead guilty and request more time to pay the fine while also avoiding going to court Request driving school instead of going to court Plead not guilty and request a trial date Request a new court date Montgomery County Circuit Clerk Gina Ishman, shown here at the Montgomery County Courthouse on Sept. 30, 2020, said the new online options for Montgomery County are "a real time saver." "You used to have to go to the courthouse if you wanted to attend driving school or if you wanted payment plan to pay your fine. Now, you can seek those options online," Montgomery County Circuit Clerk Gina Ishman said. "Lets say you got a ticket for no insurance. You can now submit proof of insurance online right from your smartphone instead of having to go to the courthouse. It is a real time saver. The program doesn't apply to tickets issued by the Montgomery Police Department. Ishman and Montgomery County District Judge Tiffany McCord announced the rollout last week. McCord said they were working with Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker and the Administrative Office of Courts for months to streamline the process. You can find out more by going to https://traffic.alacourt.gov/resolve.aspx. Brad Harper covers business and local government for the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him at bharper1@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery County expands options to resolve tickets online Rescuers attend to survivor Gokhan Ugurlu, 35, in Hatay, Turkey, on Feb. 12, 2023. Kemal Aslan / Reuters People are still being pulled alive from the rubble of Turkey and Syrias devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake, but after six days and amid freezing temperatures, rescuers fear they are running out of time. On Sunday, the death toll rose to a staggering 33,000 people. Turkeys emergency coordination center SAKOM reported 29,605 fatalities, while Syrias White Helmets said 2,167 people have died there. Many survivors, some of whom are still waiting to see if their family members could have survived the brutal conditions, have expressed their frustration toward relief efforts in the region. People stand amid rubble at the site of a collapsed building as the search for survivors continues in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, on Feb. 12, 2023. Stoyan Nenov / Reuters United Nations Relief Chief Martin Griffiths on Sunday said relief efforts have particularly failed the people in northwest Syria. "They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international help that hasnt arrived," Griffiths wrote on Twitter. Damaged and collapsed buildings are seen in the aftermath of an earthquake in the rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria, on Feb. 11, 2023. Mahmoud Hassano / Reuters Speaking from Damascus, Syria, the UNs Refugee Agency spokesperson Sivanka Dhanapala said that for Syria, this is a crisis within a crisis. Dhanapala said that more than 5 million people in Syria may need shelter, and access to aid has been further hindered by damaged roads. Before the earthquake, 6.8 million people were already internally displaced because of the ongoing civil war. People walk by demolished buildings following the deadly earthquake in Iskenderun, Turkey, on Feb. 12, 2023. Benoit Tessier / Reuters In Turkey, some are blaming lax building codes for the dramatic and deadly building collapses, according to the Associated Press. Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said 131 contractors are under investigation after their buildings failed to withstand the powerful earthquake. The brother of survivor Gokhan Ugurlu reacts as rescuers work in Hatay, Turkey, on Feb. 12, 2023. Kemal Aslan / Reuters Despite almost a week of turmoil, people have been heartened by the discovery of a 10-year-old girl who was pulled out of the rubble alive in Hatay, Turkey. Dr. Fahrettin Koca, the nation's health minister, shared a video of the girl being treated by first responders before being airlifted to a hospital. She had been trapped for 150 hours, he said. Enkaz altndan 150. saatte kurtarlan minik kz cocugumuza ilk tbbi mudahale Hatay Sahra Hastanemizde gerceklestirildi. Bir cocuk hekimi olarak surece nezaret ettik. Yavrumuz tedavi icin helikopter ambulansla Adanaya gonderildi. 10:08 AM - 12 Feb 2023 A pregnant woman was also rescued Sunday in Hatay, and a 6-year-old boy was found in the debris in Adiyaman, Turkey, local broadcasters reported, according to the AP. More on this Criminal penalties for prostitution and human trafficking may soon be heightened for some while lessened for others, and victims of dating violence could see expanded protections, as new proposals make their way through the S.C. Senate. A set of measures intended to protect minors involved in prostitution and human trafficking was approved by a panel of lawmakers last week, along with another proposal that aims to change the definition of dating in matters relating to domestic abuse, qualifying more people for protection orders. Domestic violence In a state historically known for high rates of domestic violence, Senate bill S.143 would allow victims of dating violence who have never lived with their abuser to petition for an order of protection in family court as opposed to just a restraining order in magistrate court, which does not provide the immediate and stronger safeguards offered by a domestic violence protection order. Victims of dating violence presently dont qualify for protective orders. Those currently eligible for protection orders only include current or former spouses, those with children together, or those who live or formerly lived with a member of the opposite sex. We support this bill because we believe it extends life-saving protections to both teen and adult victims of dating violence and provides a simple clarification to the definition cohabiting partners, said Sara Barber, executive director of the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Barber says the current limited qualification pool fails to take into account the different contexts in which dating occurs today. I personally have been dating someone for 10 years; weve never lived together, we do not have children in common, she said. So, I would not at this point be eligible for an order of protection, even though the dynamics of violence that occurred in that relationship would be the same as occurred within what is currently covered under household member. Story continues The Senate proposal also seeks to replace language limiting relief under the law to male and female relationships, which Barber said has regularly led to confusion among courts, lawyers and victims. With the proposed changes, people in same-sex relationships would now be offered the same protections currently available to those in heterosexual relationships. This confusion has often resulted in qualifying victims believing or being told that they are not entitled to the protections of the statute, Barber said. In 2019, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division began tracking data on ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend relationships in crimes involving murder, intimidation, aggravated assault and simple assault of intimate partners. Fifty-eight percent of murder victims among intimate partners were killed at the hands of someone classified as a boyfriend or girlfriend, according to a 2021 South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Report. I will say the statistics that (Barber) gave us, it is a problem in South Carolina, said state Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee. I mean, the violence between people in a relationship is a problem, and we need to address it. Prostitution & human trafficking Huttos panel also endorsed two other measures that would enhance penalties for prostitution while shielding minors and victims of human trafficking from criminal prosecution. Senate bill S.145 would result in higher fines and more jail time for prostitution offenders even on a first offense, and includes gender neutral language, replacing female with person, creating criminal liability for those soliciting prostitutes of any gender. Any adult charged with prostitution is currently subject to a $200 fine and up to 30 days in jail on their first offense. But under the new proposal, offenders could get a fine of up to $1,000, a month in jail, or both the first time they are caught. The bill has been introduced several times in the Senate, including in 2021 where it passed the upper chamber but later stalled in the House. The new law, if it passes both chambers this time, would allow those caught participating in prostitution as victims of human trafficking to raise a defense against prosecution. Minors, on the other hand, wouldnt be prosecuted at all. Another bill aimed at protecting minors, S.142, prevents minors coerced into human trafficking from being prosecuted for nonviolent crimes committed in connection to their participation in trafficking, such as alcohol or marijuana possession. This aint going to get you off murder, or a bank robbery or something like that. It has to be a nonviolent offense, Hutto said. S.142, S.143 and S.145 are now headed to the full judiciary committee for approval before they will be heard on the Senate floor. London Fashion Week kicks off on February 17 (Laura Woolnough/PA) With London Fashion Week fast approaching, we wont only be paying close attention to the clothes, but also the drama which will inevitably unfold. Any fashion week is an excuse for designers to really be experimental and performative; with the models they choose, the sets they create as well as the clothes they send down the runway. London Fashion Week in particular is traditionally seen as younger and more daring than the events Milan and Paris which follow it. This means theres a bit more scope for controversy on the London catwalks, which might be frowned upon on the continent. This season (February 17-21) is set to be a big one, with Daniel Lee presenting his first collection for Burberry, and tributes to the late Vivienne Westwood expected to run throughout. As we gear up for the autumn/winter collections, lets have a look back at some of the most shocking and controversial moments in London Fashion Week history Chalayan Hussein Chalayans most scandalous LFW show in 2000 involved models in various stages of nudity, wearing headscarves, but the one he will really be remembered for is when he turned a table into a skirt on the runway. Chalayans work has always been on the architectural, experimental side of fashion, and he really took this to a new level for the autumn/winter collection. The stage was set up simply, with four chairs and a wooden coffee table. The models came in and four of them took off the chair covers and put them on as dresses, and another model stepped into the table and lifted it up to create a crisp tiered skirt. Its a show which has gone down in history, showing how unexpected fashion can be. A play on minimalism, it blurred the lines between architecture and fashion, setting the tone for Chalayans experimental and boundary-pushing career. Alexander McQueen Where to begin with Alexander McQueen? The designer was both the enfant terrible and darling of the fashion world, producing groundbreaking shows and outfits which aimed to shock. Just take the AW95 show which was called Highland Rape. According to McQueen, this was about the historical treatment of the Scottish by the English, which the designer wanted to focus on as he was descended from Scots. The shows content was shocking: models ran down the catwalk in various states of disarray, with their clothes ripped and falling off them. Story continues The item of clothing which really scandalised the fashion world was McQueens now-notorious bumsters trousers slung so low they revealed models hip bones. Or what about the show McQueen put on in September 1998, where model Shalom Harlow wore a beautiful white dress only to be spray painted by robots? It was a startling destruction of expensive clothing right in front of a live audience, and was a commentary on the rising power of technology. Vivienne Westwood Vivienne Westwoods shows always stirred up controversy because of their political messages. Whether it was discussing Guantanamo Bay in 2008, the climate emergency in 2012, or an anti-fracking demonstration in 2016, Westwood, who died in December 2022, wasnt afraid to make a statement. She was more than happy to skewer those in power with her fashion, with clothes featuring slogans like politicians are criminals and austerity is a crime. When politics isnt on the menu, Westwoods shows hit headlines when models inevitably took a tumble in her notoriously sky-high heels. Philip Treacy You wouldnt expect much drama or outrage at a milliners show, would you? Even though you might associate hatmakers with prim and proper affairs like royal weddings or Ascot, Philip Treacy knows how to buck a trend as well as make hats for traditional events. None other than Grace Jones entered Treacys SS01 show on top of a black stretch limousine, wearing a gold hat and dancing for all to see. What could be more rockstar than that? Christopher Kane Now, high fashion Crocs have become part of the fabric of our society. But back in 2016 the fashion world was aghast when Christopher Kane bejewelled some Crocs and sent them down the runway. Mixing the high and the low and indulging in ugly shoes is the norm now, but it certainly was shocking when Kane first collaborated with the shoe brand. Extinction Rebellion In February 2020, one of the biggest stories to come out of fashion week was nothing to do with a designer, but was all about Extinction Rebellion. Protestors blocked roads in the capital particularly in the areas where shows were being held demanding the cancellation of London Fashion Week. Demonstrators carried placards reading, No more false fashion and, No fashion on a dead planet, while others wore dresses made from chains. Somewhat ironically, this was the last physical fashion week for a few seasons, as the pandemic forced designers to take things online. Richard Quinn Richard Quinn is known for his subversive designs, mixing latex with floral patterns and constantly using extreme silhouettes. This all came to a head in his February 2022 fashion show, when he sent drag queen Violet Chachki down the runway in a skintight black latex outfit, walking another model in a gimp suit like a dog. At this point, fashion week still felt a bit tentative post-Covid lockdowns. Not everyone was on the schedule and many designers choosing to skip it entirely or put on a digital presentation instead. Quinns show felt like a joyous and suitably splashy return to physical runway shows. The death and damage toll is mounting in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, which unleashed flooding, landslides and strong winds in New Zealand as it moved through on Sunday and Monday. As of Wednesday night, local time, officials say that at least four people are dead, including a child. An additional 10,500 people were displaced from their homes, according to BBC News, mainly in the country's hard-hit northern island. The Guardian reports that more than 1,440 were reported missing, but police are hopeful that many of those people will be found. In the wake of the storm on Tuesday, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins declared a state of emergency across New Zealand. It was only the third time in the nation's history that the emergency has been declared, after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Cyclone Gabrielle was the second major weather event to slam New Zealand in a month, and the heavy rain, winds and storm surge made the storm the most impactful tropical system in over 25 years. "New Zealand's last significant tropical hit was with back-to-back cyclones, Fergus and Drena, in December of 1996 and January of 1997, respectively," said AccuWeather Lead International Forecaster Jason Nicholls. The above satellite image shows Cyclone Gabrielle Saturday, Feb. 11, as it nears northern New Zealand (RAMMB/CIRA). The costliest tropical cyclone in New Zealand's history was Cyclone Bola which hit the country in 1988. More than 12 inches (300 mm) of rain hit northern New Zealand with that storm, with widespread rainfall amounts of 4-8 inches (100-200 mm) common across the southern island. Gabrielle may seriously challenge that distinction, as the scope of the devastation becomes clearer in the coming weeks and months. At its peak Friday evening, local time, Gabrielle was a Category 3 tropical cyclone over the open waters of the Coral Sea. The storm had sustained winds in excess of 74 mph (120 km/h), equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic or East Pacific Ocean basins. Story continues By Tuesday night, local time, Gabrielle had lost wind intensity and became a post-tropical cyclone as it moved away from New Zealand. In the Hawke's Bay region, residents were trapped on rooftops as floodwaters rose. Nearly 300 people were rescued by helicopter, with rescue missions still ongoing, as of Wednesday night, local time. Several landslides reported along the northwestern coast destroyed roads and buildings. One landslide west of Auckland swept away two firefighters on Tuesday; one was last reported in critical condition, and the other was found dead. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Torrential rain began over the weekend on the northern third of New Zealand's North Island. Since Sunday, Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, has reported about 4.50 inches (about 115 mm) of rain. However, some locations have been hit even harder. The town of Whangarei, well to the northwest of Auckland, reported 13.98 inches (355 mm) of rain since Saturday. The AccuWeather radar shows an area of rain around Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday morning, local time, on Feb. 15. The cyclone also brought damaging winds across the Northland region. Winds at Tutukaka Harbor gusted to 86 mph (140 km/h) Sunday, while winds were strong enough to force the Auckland Harbor Bridge to close. At the peak of the storm, hundreds of thousands of customers were without power due to the strong winds. The country's largest airport in Auckland also confirmed hundreds of canceled flights on Twitter before suspending all domestic and international flights Tuesday afternoon. Public transport was also disrupted, with ferries, buses and trains either suspended or operating on a reduced schedule. By Wednesday morning, local time, flight service was resuming. Update: 6.30am Wednesday 15 February: Domestic and international flights have resumed but airline schedules may be disrupted for several days. Please check with your airline that your flight is operating before coming to the airport. Auckland Airport (@AKL_Airport) February 14, 2023 Complicating the rescue and recovery efforts was a magnitude 6.1 earthquake centered offshore that was felt widely across the country on Wednesday. Fortunately, there were no reports of a tsunami or new damage or injuries from the quake. Landslides will continue to be a particular concern going forward due to the combination of recent rainstorms and the new rainfall from Gabrielle. In late January, torrential rain hit the country and broke rainfall total records. As with Gabrielle, Auckland bore the brunt of the flooding in what Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called an "unprecedented event". The days of heavy rainfall prompted a state of emergency and killed at least four people. 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. [Source] Former NBA player Jeremy Lin made his Kaohsiung 17Live Steelers debut with an outstanding performance that helped his new team break its four-game losing streak. Lin, 34, debuted in Taiwanese men's professional basketball league P. League+ at the Fengshan Stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to a sold-out crowd on Sunday. The Taiwanese American athlete played with his new team against the Formosa Taishin Dreamers and won 95-80. Lin scored 21 points and also made a league record-tying 13 assists in 41 minutes. More from NextShark: Notre Dame announces Asian American sophomore Tyler Buchner as starting quarterback During the last minute of the fourth quarter of the Sunday game, many of the 5,000 spectators reportedly chanted MVP. Recalling the memorable moment, Lin told Focus Taiwan, I've never heard such an MVP chant before, not particularly in the NBA. I'm really moved to see you make this game so high and so fun, so I'm really very emotional." About 110,000 fans also flocked online to watch Lin's debut, breaking the league's online record of 63,000 viewers. More from NextShark: NASCAR suspends Bubba Wallace for wrecking and shoving Kyle Larson in Las Vegas race Since joining the Steelers, Lin has helped to change his teams rhythm, according to their coach Cheng Chih-lung. "His presence on the court improves the ball movement as well as player movement," Cheng said of Lin. The team's rhythm has completely changed, which opened everyone's eyes." During the Sunday game, Lin was seen explaining specific tactics to his teammates in English. More from NextShark: Yuki Tsunoda, 20, to Become Formula Ones First Japanese Driver in 7 Years Following the recent match, Lin shared that he and the Steelers will continue to improve their teamwork on the court. "This is just our first game, so I would say it's [the teamwork] probably four or five out of 10, but that is already great for any first game, he said. We would keep in contact, keep watching the videos, and keep going as hard as we can to represent Kaohsiung." The Steelers are expected to play against the Dreamers again on Saturday, followed by the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers on Feb. 25. On Feb. 28, Lin will play against the New Taipei Kings, a P. League+ team that includes Lins younger brother, Joseph. [Source] North Korean authorities are requiring people with the same name as Kim Jong-uns daughter, Ju-ae, to change their names as it is now reserved for those of the highest dignity. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Security in Chongju, a city in North Pyongan province, gathered citizens with the name Ju-ae and ordered them to change their names, a resident from the city told Radio Free Asia on Thursday. A source from South Pyongan province also told the news agency that people were given one week to change their name. Authorities told the parents of a 12-year-old girl in Chongju that her birth certificate must be changed, as the name is now reserved for people of the highest dignity, the source added. More from NextShark: Sumo Wrestler Becomes One of Japan's Youngest COVID-19 Deaths at 28 The country has prohibited people from having the same names as North Korean leaders since the era of its founder, Kim Il-sung. Both he and his son, Kim Jong-il, had their names banned from use among the public during their time in power. When Kim Jong-un became the new leader, his and his wifes name, Sol-ju, were also banned. The name bans are part of North Koreas effort to push the public to idolize and respect its leaders. More from NextShark: Indian parents sue their son demanding he either give them a grandchild or pay $675,000 compensation Ju-ae, who is believed to be between 10 and 12 years old, was revealed to the public for the first time in November 2022. Kim Jong-un attended a launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile with Ju-ae, where images were taken of the two walking near the large missile. To introduce his daughter to the world at this juncture could be designed to send an international message that the North Korean regime is here to stay, Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst told the AFP news agency after Ju-aes introduction. More from NextShark: 3-Year-Old Boy Gets the Bubonic Plague in Chinese County She made another public appearance on Tuesday at a military banquet to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Korean Peoples Army, where she was photographed alongside her father and North Koreas top generals. Story continues Although it has not been confirmed that Ju-ae is being prepared for future leadership, questions and theories have been on the rise following her recent public appearances. While some believe that Kims health issues may be leading him to consider his daughter as his successor others are questioning the chances of North Korea welcoming a female leader. More from NextShark: Elderly Asian Woman Brutally Beaten in SF in 2019 Dies 1 Year Later ABC News A Minnesota man has died after being attacked by dogs he was watching for a family member, police said. Officers secured a garage door and began rendering aid to the victim, who "had most of his clothing ripped off and had extensive bites on most of his body," the Brooklyn Center Police Department said in a statement. The victim did not own the dogs -- identified by police as American pit bull terriers -- but had been taking care of them at his home for a family member, police said. BRUSSELS (AP) NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Monday that Ukraine is using up ammunition far faster than its allies can provide it and putting pressure on Western defense industries, just as Russia ramps up its military offensive. The war in Ukraine is consuming an enormous amount of munitions and depleting allied stockpiles, Stoltenberg said. The current rate of Ukraines ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production. This puts our defense industries under strain. According to some estimates, Ukraine is firing up to 6,000-7,000 artillery shells each day, around a third of the daily amount that Russia is using almost one year into the war. Speaking on the eve of a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers, Stoltenberg said the waiting time for the supply of large-caliber ammunition has increased from 12 to 28 months, and that orders placed today would only be delivered two-and-a-half years later. The former Norwegian prime minister said that President Vladimir Putin has already begun Russias long-anticipated spring military offensive in Ukraine, so we must continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to win and to achieve a just and sustainable peace. It is clear that we are in a race of logistics. Key capabilities like ammunition, fuel, and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield. Speed will save lives, he told reporters in Brussels. NATO members and Ukraines other allies are meeting at the alliances headquarters on Tuesday under U.S. supervision to drum up more weapons and ammunition for the war-torn country. Many NATO allies are bilaterally supplying weapons to Ukraine, but NATO as an organization only provides non-lethal aid. On Tuesday evening, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his counterparts will separately hold talks with Ukraines defense minister. On Wednesday, they will discuss NATOs defenses on its eastern flank, close to Russia. Moves to beef up military budgets are also on the agenda. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer in Kherson region, Ukraine, Jan. 9, 2023. AP Photo/Libkos NATO's chief said Ukraine is expending an "enormous" amount of munitions on the battlefield. Kyiv is firing these munitions faster than the US and its European partners can produce them, he said. NATO members and partner countries have sent tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian forces are using a massive amount of munitions to fight Russian troops on the battlefield, and the intense rate of fire is putting a strain on Western stockpiles and defense firms amid efforts to back Kyiv's war aims, the NATO chief warned on Monday. Speaking ahead of a series of meetings with NATO defense ministers this week, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance plans to strengthen its deterrence and defense capacity in the face of Russian threats. This involves long-term planning to increase NATO's defense-industrial capacity, he said, and replenishing various stockpiles of munitions that have been sent to Ukraine to help the country fend off the invasion. "The war in Ukraine is consuming an enormous amount of munitions and depleting allied stockpiles. The current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production," Stoltenberg said. "This puts our defense industries under strain." He noted that one example of this is how the waiting time for large-caliber ammunition has jumped from 12 to 28 months. The solution, he added, is to invest in the capacity to produce such weaponry and increase the production. Ukraine's allies have provided tens of billions of dollars in weaponry and ammunition since Russian forces launched a full-scale assault on Ukraine nearly a year ago. Last spring, Pentagon officials said security assistance provided by the US which has sent more military aid to Ukraine than any other country since February 2022 was being delivered at unprecedented speeds. But repeated arms shipments to Ukraine have put a strain on US stockpiles, sending the Pentagon searching for ways to beef up production of munitions and artillery. In doing so, Washington has even tried searching for solutions by looking into stockpiles from other non-European countries. Story continues Among the nearly $30 billion in security assistance that the Biden administration has sent Kyiv since February 2022, the US has provided a heaping pile of munitions including millions of artillery rounds, mortar rounds, and anti-tank weapons. Aside from these efforts, other NATO members and partner countries in recent weeks have increasingly pledged to send advanced weaponry to Ukraine ahead of what officials have previously described as a looming Russian offensive. This includes commitments to send much-sought-after main battle tanks and other heavy armor. Meanwhile, Stoltenberg said on Monday that the ongoing war which has become a grinding and bloody campaign in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region has turned into a "race of logistics." "Key capabilities like ammunition, fuel, and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield," he warned. "Speed will save lives." Read the original article on Business Insider By Sabine Siebold and John Irish BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) - NATO is expected to ask its members to raise its ammunition stockpiles which have been badly depleted by the war in Ukraine, as allies try to put arms supplies to Kyiv and their own militaries on a sustainable footing after a year in crisis mode. Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year, many NATO countries fell short of meeting the alliance's stockpiling targets, as officials considered wars of attrition with large-scale artillery battles a thing of the past. But the pace of deliveries to Ukraine, where Kyiv's troops are firing up to 10,000 artillery shells daily, has drained Western inventories and exposed holes in the efficiency, speed and manpower of supply chains. "If Europe were to fight Russia, some countries would run out of ammunition in days," a European diplomat told Reuters. NATO has just completed an extraordinary survey of the remaining munition stocks, a NATO official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "Those NATO (munitions targets) that we set, and each ally has a specific target, those were not being met for the most part (before the Ukraine war)," the official said. Now the stockpiles are running even lower due to the conflict in Ukraine, making it likely that NATO will raise the target levels for their members' ammunition reserves, the source said. "I would be absolutely gobsmacked if the targetswere not increased," said the NATO official. Just how many rounds are left in Western military inventories is highly classified. The same goes for the NATO stockpiling targets, which are specific to each member state and one of the alliance's best kept secrets. Generally speaking, NATO tasks each ally with providing certain capabilities that the alliance can draw upon in case of a conflict. This could, for example, mean a certain ally may have to have one armoured division - some 10,000 to 30,000 troops - fully equipped and ready with ammunition, capable of fighting at a certain level of intensity for a certain amount of time. Story continues Factoring all these conditions in, the country will have to provide a certain amount of ammunition, tanks, howitzers and what else may be needed to fulfil NATO's requirements. Germany alone was 20 billion euros ($21 billion) short of reaching the NATO target before the invasion, according to a defence source. The German defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation. The NATO official said the biggest shortfall are battle-decisive munitions ranging from 155 mm shells used in howitzers, to HIMARS missiles, and ammunition for air defence systems like IRIS-T, Patriot and Gepard, all in heavy use by Ukrainian troops. Decisions on stockpiling goals are expected when NATO leaders meet for a summit in Lithuania in mid-July. CAPACITY PROBLEMS The war also cast a spotlight on the lack of industrial capacity necessary to ramp up production quickly, after decades of dwindling government orders saw many production lines vanish. NATO defence ministers will discuss the issue in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday before dozens of Western leaders gather for the Munich Security Conference, ahead of the first anniversary of what Russia calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. The United States and France have both started to pressure defence companies to boost production. Washington aims to raise its monthly production goal for artillery rounds to 90,000 from 14,400 before the war, the New York Times reported on Jan. 24. As Ukraine's biggest military donor, the United States has provided some $30 billion worth of arms to Kyiv since the war started, including more than one million 155mm rounds, according to the State Department and the Pentagon. In France, President Emmanuel Macron ordered the country's military contractors last July to come up with a "war economy" strategy to speed up production of everything from munitions to howitzers. French officials declined to give a specific figure for munitions production, but for 2023 Paris has ordered about 2 billion euros worth of munitions, of which about 1.1 billion euros worth will be delivered this year. That includes 10,000 155mm shells from Nexter Systems, France's only contractor for large calibre munitions. "Nexter was in peace time sleep. Now they have woken up," said a French military official. The war economy is starting to bear fruit. Production time for munitions has started to fall from nine to three months, according to military officials. The Caesar howitzer, which used to take two years to build, is now manufactured in 18 months. Cooperation between allies is key. An agreement between France and Australia will see Canberra provide gunpowder, which is not produced in France, to enable Nexter to manufacture 155mm shells. The first several thousand will be delivered to Ukraine by the end of March. "We are looking with other countries to see how we can replicate this sort of model," said a French official. LAGGING BEHIND However, other countries are lagging behind. Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a 100 billion euro special fund days after the invasion to modernise the military, has made little progress in backfilling arms and munitions rushed to Kyiv. "Until the end of last year, we did not receive any significant orders," said the head of the Association of the German Security and Defence Industry, Hans Christoph Atzpodien. "In spite of the 100 billion euro special fund, we saw a defence ministry that administered shortages all through 2022. There was not enough money for the procurement of munitions, neither in the special fund nor in the defence budget," he added. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the head of the German parliament's defence committee and ally of Scholz' ruling coalition, called it a "lost year" and bemoaned a lack of foresight in re-ordering equipment. However, some German arms makers are preparing. Rheinmetall, probably best known for manufacturing the 120mm gun of the Leopard 2 tank, said it was ready to boost production of 155mm artillery shells to 450,000 to 500,000 per year from 60,000 to 70,000 in 2022. This would make Rheinmetall the biggest producer for this ammunition, CEO Armin Papperger said. It is also in talks with the U.S.' Lockheed Martin, which builds the HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, to establish a production line in Germany. Even in Britain, which has appeared as one of Ukraine's main suppliers, unease has grown among the opposition after London supplied Kyiv with 30 AS90 big artillery guns in January. John Healey, defence policy chief for the main opposition Labour Party, told Reuters that this was one third of Britain's entire supply, but nothing had been done to replace them. "We need a stockpile strategy that deals with the requirement to continue to support Ukraine but also the requirement to restock our own forces for the future," he added. A defence ministry spokesperson said efforts were underway to quickly replace the AS90. SEMICONDUCTOR SHORTAGES Efforts to ramp up defence production are hampered by several factors, among them a worldwide shortage of semiconductors, some raw materials and the challenge of finding enough highly skilled workers. After the Cold War, the production of ammunition had turned "quite artisanal", said the NATO official. "It's become kind of Amazon-esque in some ways, sort of just-in-time, without a huge amount of depth behind it. It's really expensive to retrofit that." At the same time, defence managers have been reluctant to make huge investments in additional production lines without having firm orders, preferably stretching over several years. The NATO official said the alliance was trying to address such concerns by bringing groups of allies together to strike multinational contracts for several years, and that he expected several such contracts to be signed at the Brussels meeting. But there will be a long way to go until inventories fill up again. "I don't necessarily think that within the next year our stockpile levels will increase massively," the NATO official said. "Any additional stockpiles we will have will be heading to Ukraine." ($1 = 0.9375 euros) (Reporting by Sabine Siebold in Berlin, Andrew Gray in Brussels, John Irish in Paris, Mike Stone in Washington and Elizabeth Piper in London; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Recent incidents regarding balloons shot down by the United States, which suspects they are surveillance balloons from China, form part of a pattern which highlights the need for NATO to be vigilant, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "What we saw over the United States is part of a pattern where China and also Russia are increasing surveillance activities on NATO allies," Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday. U.S. military fighter jets on Sunday shot down an octagonal object over Lake Huron, the Pentagon said, the latest incident since a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon put North American security forces on high alert. It was the fourth flying object to be shot down over North America by a U.S. missile in a little more than a week. China's foreign ministry said it had no information on the latest three flying objects shot down by the United States. (Reporting by Bart Meijer, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Andrew Gray, Sabine Siebold and Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) Nautical Bowls, a Minnesota-based franchise restaurant, is ready to add a new healthy dining option in western Pennsylvania with a superfood bowls concept built for fast expansion. Local franchisee Meenakshi Aggarwal is scheduled to open the regions first Nautical Bowls in a 1,600-square-foot location within the Collier Town Center in Bridgeville on Saturday, February 11. Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Local teacher charged after investigation into alleged inappropriate relationship with student 2 people facing combined 50 felony charges for allegedly handing out guns to known gang members Bethel Park man charged for allegedly driving to police station while drunk to confront police VIDEO: Fire burns through roof at Elizabeth Forward High School, community trying to raise money DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WKRN) A healthy newborn baby was recently the first to be surrendered via a Safe Haven Baby Box in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Baby Box was placed in Bowling Green in December of 2022 as the 132nd of its kind in the nation, according to a news release from Monica Kelsey, the founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. It is one of 16 Safe Haven Baby Box locations in Kentucky. Baby found in dumpster; Jackson police investigating This Baby Box location hasnt been open for three months yet, but it was there when needed and that is the key, Kelsey said. We know this infant was loved by their birth mother and will be quickly adopted by a family who has been eagerly awaiting a baby. Kelsey said the child was dropped off within the last seven days at a Bowling Green Fire Department location, declining to be more specific to protect anonymity. She said fire department staff was able to tend to the child in less than 90 seconds. This baby is healthy. This baby is beautiful. This baby is perfect, said Kelsey, who added that officials are now looking to place the child in a forever home. Twenty-four infants have been placed in a Baby Box since November 2017. Nationwide, 125 surrenders have resulted from calling the National Safe Haven hotline, 1-866-99BABY1. In 2022, a record eight newborns were surrendered via a Baby Box. Missing 3-year-old found in bottom of pool, pronounced dead at hospital Gov. Andy Beshear signed a law in 2021 that allows the use of baby boxes for children less than 30 days old. The law requires the boxes to be located at police stations, fire stations or hospitals that are staffed 24 hours a day. It also requires equipping them with a notification system to alert the first responders on site that a child has been placed inside the box. Each time we have an infant surrendered in one of our Baby Boxes it is an affirmation that we need anonymous surrender options, Kelsey said. We do not know when an infant will need to be surrendered and when that mother in crisis may want to protect her identity. However, we do know that being prepared is the safest option for this situation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The viability of school voucher legislation appears increasingly grim in the Oklahoma Legislature, despite calls from the governor to pass it. House Speaker Charles McCall, who opposed a similar bill that failed in 2022, said "everybody sees it still the same way this year" in his chamber. "With that particular (voucher) bill last year, no, I don't think you're going to see that come out of the House," McCall, R-Atoka, said while speaking with reporters Thursday. "The House looks at things in terms of will a piece of legislation do something for a student in all parts of the state." Speaker of the House Charles McCall is shown Monday during Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature. Stitt proposes school voucher program.Will rural opposition sink it again? Two bills have been filed in the state Senate that would allow families to access public tax dollars to cover private-school and homeschool costs. Last session, legislation that would have paid $128.5 million to send public school students to private schools died in a Senate floor vote. The state could have spent between $3,500 and $17,000 per student, depending on the child's age and special needs, according to a fiscal impact study of the bill. Gov. Kevin Stitt said Oklahoma should revive the idea by spending $130 million on education savings accounts for students. Each participating student would be able to tap into the public tax dollars in their account "for eligible education expenses," according to the governor's state budget proposal. Other states like Iowa and Virginia and Florida and New Hampshire have already figured it out, Stitt said in his State of the State speech on Monday. Providing more options for students leads to better outcomes. Oklahoma cannot afford to be left behind. Behind the 'grassroots' movement:Oklahoma school vouchers championed by Ryan Walters Gov. Kevin Stitt acknowledges someone in the gallery Monday during the start of the Legislature and his State of the State speech to the joint session. A bill from Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, would create a voucher program open to any school-age student in Oklahoma. The state would take the same amount of funding it would have spent for a student to attend a public school and deposit it into an education savings account with the state treasurer's office. Story continues Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, filed similar legislation offering vouchers to students living in counties with 10,000 people or more. Children living in smaller-population counties could use a voucher only if they attend a "trigger district" that tolerates bathroom use by gender identity, animal rights activism, social-emotional learning, disparagement of the oil and gas industry, and other topics. Even if last year's voucher bill had passed, McCall said his chamber wouldn't have given the bill a hearing a stance that prompted attack ads from a Washington, D.C., group against him in his southeastern Oklahoma district. The speaker said vouchers present a "geographical issue" because rural students would have few opportunities to use them. Most private schools in the state exist in the metropolitan areas of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Related:Two new voucher bills would let Oklahoma money go to private schools, home-schooling "The House is for policy for all students," McCall said on Thursday. "I don't think that bill or that mechanism is going to be discussed because there was no interest last year." The Legislature's minority leaders, Rep. Cyndi Munson and Sen. Kay Floyd, said House and Senate Democrats staunchly oppose voucher policies. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, the author of last year's voucher bill, chose not to refile it this session. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat is pictured Monday during the start of the Legislature and Gov. Kevin Stitt's State of the State speech to the joint session. Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said he's still a "huge believer" in improving public schools by fostering more competition for them but is unaware how many senators would support it. "I'm wanting to see if we can have ideas originate throughout the legislative process to get there," Treat said. "I'm not dead set that that's the only solution. "I hope we can come to an area where we give parents more choice and we also bolster the traditional public school." Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nurias work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Despite bills, Oklahoma school vouchers still unpopular, speaker says A man accused of murdering his mother on the high seas off the New England coast during a 2016 fishing trip, all so he could inherit her share of his deceased grandfathers estate, will stand trial in October. Nathan Carman, 29, has pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and first-degree murder in the death of his mother, Linda Carman, 54. Authorities allege Carman devised a scheme to obtain the millions of dollars that his mother inherited after the murder of her father, John Chakalos, years prior, the Associated Press reported. An eight-count federal indictment alleges Carman, of Vernon, Vermont, is also responsible for his grandfathers death, though he hasnt been charged in that case. RELATED: Holistic Medicine Mogul Has Private Eye Ex-Lover Kidnapped, Tortured and Killed On Dec. 20, 2013, Chakalos, an 87-year-old World War II veteran, was shot twice with a rifle while asleep in his Connecticut home. The successful real estate developer left an estate worth more than $42 million to his four daughters, one of whom was Carmans mother, the AP reported. Nathan Carman departs federal court Nathan Carman departs federal court, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, in Providence, R.I. Photo: AP Carman received about $550,000 in inheritance after his grandfathers death, though prosecutors say that by the fall of 2016, hed spent most of it. Thats when he arranged to take his mother on an overnight fishing excursion on Sept. 17 of that year in his boat, the Chicken Pox. The vessel departed Ram Point Marina in South Kingstown, Rhode Island at 11:13 a.m. that day and was expected to return at around noon the following day. The boat never made it back. The Coast Guard launched an extensive search and, after a week, Carman was found in an inflatable raft by a commercial ship, the Orient Lucky, according to previous Oxygen.com reporting. Linda Carman was never found. Oxy App Carman told authorities there had been a malfunction on the boat that caused it to quickly take on water. He managed to get to the life raft and called out for his mother, but couldnt see her. Story continues He said that, prior to the purported malfunction, he heard a funny noise in the engine compartment of his boat, but investigators allegedly found a series of alterations made by Carman that rendered the boat unsafe for operation, CBS News reported. A federal judge set an Oct. 2 trial date, to take place in Rutland. It will include expert testimony, including marine survival and draft analysis, that is set to be disclosed to the court by May 1. Chakalos murder is also an ongoing investigation. Carman has denied all allegations. By Camillus Eboh ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's electoral commission head said on Monday that 240 polling centres will not be used in upcoming elections, as no one had chosen them due to insecurity in the surrounding areas. Separatist and gang violence is a major concern for Nigerians when they vote on Feb. 25 for new members of parliament and for a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari. When new voters register in Nigeria, they are allowed to choose a polling centre. Most people choose the nearest to where they live because movement is restricted by security agencies on election day. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu told political party leaders at a meeting in Abuja that the agency had increased the total number of polling stations to 176,846 from 119,973 two years ago. None of the more than eight million voters registered between 2021 and 2022 chose to vote in 240 of the new centres, while those already registered showed no interest in being moved to the new centres, he said. "No new registrants chose the polling units and no voters indicated interest to transfer to them ... mainly for security reasons," Yakubu said. Northeastern Taraba state, where Islamist insurgents have carried out attacks, and southeastern Imo state, the hotbed of separatist and gang violence, have the highest number of polling units where voting will not take place, said Yakubu. (This story has been corrected to change the reference to Imo state in paragraph 7 to southeastern from southwestern) (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Editing by Sharon Singleton) KYIV (Reuters) - Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Byalyatski called for "national reconciliation" between the Belarus authorities and opposition on Monday, in his final statement at a trial he said was politically motivated. Byalyatski, 60, faces up to 12 years in jail at the trial in Minsk in which he and three others face charges of financing protests and smuggling money into Belarus. All deny the charges. A rights and pro-democracy activist, Byalyatski was among hundreds arrested during a crackdown on anti-government protests after long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. "We need to start a broad public dialogue aimed at national reconciliation," Byalyatski told the court in a statement published online by the Viasna human rights organisation he co-founded in 1996. "Enough. We need to stop this civil war." He urged the authorities to declare an amnesty for political prisoners and stop the repression of dissidents. Byalyatski was already in jail and awaiting trial long before he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last October, along with Russian human rights organisation Memorial and Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties. At a trial that began in January, the prosecutor last week sought the maximum jail sentence of 12 years for Byalyatski and prison terms of 11, 10 and nine years respectively for his co-defendants, one of whom is abroad and being tried in absentia. "The criminal case against us, the human rights activists of Viasna, is politically motivated," Byalyatski said. "The general situation in the country, riddled with repression and a total violation of human rights, testifies to the political background of this case." Lukashenko has denied the 2020 election was rigged and accused the West of funding protesters. He has brushed off accusations of human rights abuses. Human rights activists say there are at least 1,500 political prisoners in prison in Belarus and that at least 50,000 people have been detained for participating in protests or criticising the authorities since 2020. "The course towards confrontation, when one part (of society) crushes and strangles the other, is dangerous and unpromising," Byalyatski said. (Writing by Kyiv newsroom, Editing by Timothy Heritage and David Gregorio) As millions across the nation turned their eyes to the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles for Super Bowl Sunday, V for Victory put their efforts towards the fight against cancer. V for Victory is a non-profit focused on providing resources and services to families in need for the fight against cancer. On Sunday, the organization held a fundraiser at Hangar One in Jacksonvilles Craig Airport, with over 500 people attending, including the Jacksonville Jaguars mascot and two team cheerleaders. Action News Jax spoke with Liana Marasco, a member of the board of directors for V for Victory, who was overwhelmed by the support and turnout. Every dollar really does count. It does make a difference. And with every dollar we do raise, it helps us serve even more families, said Marasco. One of the owners of Hangar One, Jennifer Holdeman, echoed that sentiment Sunday night. It just shows what a great community Jacksonville really is, Holdeman stated proudly. Were a giant town but we have the biggest hearts. Holdeman says she hopes this is just the first of many more events like it at Hangar One. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The North Carolina Senate passed the controversial Parents Bill of Rights by a 29-18 vote on party lines Tuesday, sending the legislation on to the House. Senate Republicans argue the bill is needed to safeguard parents integral role in their childrens lives, while opponents say it is dangerous to LGBTQ+ kids and will damage educators relationships with students. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, a primary sponsor of the bill, said that there are diverse worldviews contained in North Carolinas schools and among students families, but that schools shouldnt determine which worldviews are discussed or promoted. The Parents Bill of Rights is really about acknowledging parents vital roles in their childrens lives, she said. Bill highlights The bill has a slew of provisions. It contains the same 10 rights that were in a similar bill filed last year. Those are things like the right to direct a childs education, direct moral or religious training, ability to access education and medical records, and make medical decisions for a child. You can see the complete list below. It also contains a list of legal rights for parents, which are as follows: The right to consent or withhold consent for participation in reproductive health and safety education programs. The right to seek a medical or religious exemption from immunization requirements. The right to review statewide standardized assessment results as part of the State report card. The right to request an evaluation of their child for an academically or intellectually gifted program, or for identification as a child with a disability. The right to inspect and purchase public school unit textbooks and other supplementary instructional materials. The right to access information relating to the units policies for promotion or retention, including high school graduation requirements. The right to receive student report cards on a regular basis that clearly depict and grade the students academic performance in each class or course, the students conduct, and the students attendance. Story continues The right to access information relating to the State public education system, State standards, report card requirements, attendance requirements, and textbook requirements. The right to participate in parent-teacher organizations. The right to opt out of certain data collection for their child. The right for students to participate in protected student information surveys only with parental consent. The right to review all available records of materials their child has borrowed from a school library. In addition, there are a series of notification requirements on physical and mental health listed in the bill. They include notifications to parents of changes in services or monitoring related to his or her childs mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and prior to any changes in the name or pronoun used for a student in school records or by school personnel. There is an exception to these provisions when a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in the child becoming an abused juvenile or neglected juvenile, as those terms are defined in G.S. 7B-101, according to the bill. The bill also says an employee of the State who encourages, coerces, or attempts to encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from his or her parent may be subject to disciplinary action. Under the legislation, any instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality is prohibited in the curriculum for kindergarten through fourth grade. According to the bill, this does not include responses to student-initiated questions. Floor debates Sen. Lisa Grafstein, D-Wake, a new representative who referenced herself as the only LGBTQ+ person in the room, kicked off the debate. She said she takes the bill sponsors at their word when it comes to the intent of the bill. But she said that it isnt intent that matters, its the consequence. She referenced the many students, parents, and teachers that have come forth to talk about or speak against the bill. She said they understood that most of the bill is just restating current law, but that other parts actually change the law: provisions related to notifying parents about pronoun changes, or making sure that gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality arent discussed in grades K-4. Of the latter, she said it amounted to policing references to LGBTQ+ people. We now know that no matter the intent, the consequence of this bill is widespread fear and concern, she said. Sen. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, said he spoke as a parent and a former social worker in public schools. He said he believed in strong school and family partnerships, but said parts of this bill will make that harder. He talked about working in schools and having kids come to him to talk, but they didnt want him to tell their parents what they said. He said sometimes it was because they were gay, pregnant, experiencing addiction, or in a gang. But he said he knew they really did want to tell their parents, they just needed guidance on how to do it. They want to tell their parents because they want to be loved by their parents, he said. He said that a partnership between schools and parents is important, and cautioned his fellow lawmakers about the damage this bill could do to that relationship. This bill undermines that partnership because it falsely assumes that one side, the school side, does not believe in that partnership, he said. Galey responded by emphasizing that the bill pertains to the pronoun used by children in their official school record and that to keep changes about that from parents would be damaging. She also responded to Meyer, referencing students coming to teachers with questions that cover topics in the bill. When the teacher is asked questions by the children that are not pertinent to the curriculum the teacher should tell the child, Ask your mom and dad,' she said. She went on to to say that there should be no confidential relationship between students and government employees that exclude parents. Related: Anger & Fear: New Poll Shows School-Level Impact of Anti-LGBTQ Political Debate Other reactions At a press conference today, House and Senate Democrats discussed their own Parents and Students Bill of Rights. Read more about that here. In a joint statement, the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity and the Public School Forum of North Carolina came out against the Republican-sponsored bill. North Carolinas Senate Bill 49, better known as the Parents Bill of Rights, threatens to violate students rights to an equal education free from discrimination, and could create school environments that are hostile and unsafe for certain students, the statement said. The groups took aim at multiple provisions in the bill, including the requirement to notify parents in the event that a child changes their pronoun. While parental involvement in the lives of their children is critically important, the reality is that fewer than 40 percent of LGBTQ+ youth live in homes that are affirming of their identities. Regardless of its intention, this bill could create dangerous environments for young people who may not have families who are willing or ready to provide the support they need, the statement said. Read the full statement here. The North Carolina Justice Center also came out against the bill, saying that it unfairly targets vulnerable LGBTQ children and contains several provisions that would hamstring school operations and harm broad swaths of students. Many of the rights enumerated in this bill are already established in state and federal law. Similarly, the bills prohibition of instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in the K-4 curriculum is redundantsexual orientation and gender identity are not part of the K-4 curriculum. To the extent new rights are provided, they open new avenues for bad actors to tie up school district operations and resources by filing frivolous requests for information and objections to instructional materials, the statement said. Read that whole statement here. This article first appeared on EducationNC and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Arne Treholt, the former Norwegian Foreign Ministry official who was convicted of spying for the Soviet Union in what became Norways biggest Cold War espionage scandal, has died, authorities said Monday. He was 80. In 1985, Treholt was sentenced to 20 years for giving Norwegian and NATO defense plans along with sensitive political information to his Soviet handlers over a nine-year period. He was also convicted of carrying out less serious intelligence breaches for Iraq. Treholt, who claimed he worked as a business consultant, confessed to meeting and taking money from people working for the KGB. However, he denied being a spy in several books he later wrote and made several unsuccessful bids to have a retrial in Norway. He was pardoned in 1992 on health reasons and left Norway to live in Cyprus and in Moscow. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry confirmed it was aware of his death but provided no further details. Aftenposten, one of Norway's largest dailies, wrote Sunday that Treholt had died after a brief disease in Moscow. Aftenposten also said he was survived by a son and two grandchildren. Nikki High is taking a big leap with Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena. She's had her moments of doubt, but concluded, "We have to bet on our community of readers and people with curious minds." On Nov. 22, after weeks of trying to find the right space for her dream, Nikki High signed a lease for a 621-square-foot space on Pasadena's North Hill Avenue. This is where she began in earnest to plot out her independent bookstore. Octavias Bookshelf would feature books by Black, Latino, Indigenous writers and other authors of color in the same neighborhood where Octavia E. Butler, the stores namesake, lived and found inspiration for her novels. Now, all High needed was to spread the word and get some funding. High, 48, grew up in Altadena and spent most of her life in the area. For 15 years she had worked in the marketing department for Trader Joe's, visiting cities across the country where the chain wanted to expand. An ardent reader who had dreamed for years of starting her own bookstore, she used her work trips to chat up bookshop owners about how they went about starting their businesses. When her beloved grandmother died suddenly last year, High decided it was time to take the leap. Her family worried about the move. They asked whether it was a good idea to make a radical life change involving great financial risk. High admits she had her moments of doubt. The GoFundMe she launched was trudging along with the help of friends and family. And last summer, Eso Won Books, a prominent Black-owned bookstore in South Los Angeles, announced it would close its store. High, who frequented Eso Won, wondered what the closure might mean for a new bookstore with a similar focus. There was that initial fear, High said during an interview at her bookstore which still sat empty in late January, save for a few tantalizing books by the window. And then it was like, OK, but we have to keep showing up, and we have to bet on our community of readers and people with curious minds. Im confident that those people are here in this area and beyond. Online, High shared her proudest accomplishment of 2022 on New Years Eve: I took the leap and quit my job to open my very own bookstore. Story continues The next morning, she woke up to an overwhelming response. Her tweet garnered thousands of retweets, which materialized in the days afterward into $15,000 for her GoFundMe. She put the donations toward equipment and books. Authors emailed her to schedule book-signings. Octavia's Bookshelf will focus on books by writers of color, based on what High imagines Butler would have shelved in her home. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) On Feb. 18, High will open the doors to Octavias Bookshelf, a store she said she hopes will offer a space that didnt exist when she was growing up. It turns out the business isn't as stagnant as she feared. Despite the loss of Eso Won, bookstores like Highs are growing, according to the American Booksellers Assn., a national organization that represents independent bookstores. In 2022, 203 independent bookstores opened, and the association has seen 20% growth in membership since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, said Allison Hill, chief executive of the organization. California saw 18 new bookstores open last year, 14 of them owned by people of color. In L.A., North Figueroa Bookshop opened in Highland Park last fall, and Zibby's Bookshop, way across town in Santa Monica, will open the same day as Octavia's. High's shop won't be the first in L.A. to be owned by women of color. Since 2019, at least two others have opened the Salt Eaters in Inglewood and Reparations Club in Crenshaw. But this will be a first for the Pasadena area. High settled on the store name because she always wondered what would be on Butlers bookshelf at home if she could have ever peeked in. (The author died in 2006, but her works have recently had a resurgence culminating in several screen adaptations, including Hulu's "Kindred" late last year). High wanted her shop to feel as curated and intimate as that imagined shelf. She speculated that Butler, "our queen of Pasadena," would have stocked the classics James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes. Of course there will be plenty of Butler too, alongside newer writers of color including author Roxane Gay, poet Elizabeth Acevedo and Ugandan American Jessica Nabongo, who chronicled her journey to every country in the world. The shop is also inspired by Highs belief that everyone has an Octavia someone who loves books, loans out of their personal library and gives wise advice. They are "these different people in your life that have collections of books that make you curious and excited to read, High said. Her grandmother, who offered unwavering support for her dream, was her Octavia. High believes everyone should have an "Octavia" in their lives "people that have collections of books that make you curious and excited to read." (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) High took some time to find the right place perhaps owing to some of the same obstacles faced by Butler and other women of color. In one instance, she said, she emailed a property manager who expressed excitement about an independent bookstore specializing in diverse books at their site. But when she arrived, she felt a shift. Once he realized it was me, his face just dropped and he said, I don't think this is the right space for you, and I just said, OK, thank you, and I got back in my car and sobbed, said High, who is Black. I was so humiliated. She believes, however, that she's ended up at the right place. Her storefront, once a yoga studio, is not far from a walking path Butler often took. It sits near a cafe and cake shop. Over the last few weeks, High has begun decorating and envisioning a bookstore that feels cozy. Online followers expressed excitement for her opening day, with those outside California eager to support her store through online purchases. This is awesome, writer-director Matthew A. Cherry wrote. When are we going? one TikToker says in a video , reacting to Highs viral tweet. Gas is not cheap. I'm willing to drive the first car. We need a van. We need several limousines. We need a party bus. We need to support the hell out of this bookstore. Because it's probably everything we've ever wanted in our dreams. This is a leap that Octavia herself would understand and support, said Lynell George , an L.A.-based journalist and essayist who wrote a book about Butlers life and writings . So excited for us. High said she was first introduced to Butler as a teenager, when she began getting into science fiction. In school, we werent assigned a lot of books by Black, Indigenous or other people of color, she said. I started to read some sci-fi and I enjoyed the genre, but I was like, 'Do these people think there are no Black people in the future?' Ultimately, it was a librarian at a Pasadena public library who pointed her to Butler. It was in her books, she said, that High finally saw characters who looked like her in a genre she had grown to love. Octavia's Bookshelf opens Feb.18, with help from High's friends, family and thousands of online supporters. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) Butler's legacy in Pasadena has only grown over the years since her death. Institutions have renamed buildings in her honor, including a middle school, said George. In 2020, Butlers 1993 novel "Parable of the Sower" became a New York Times bestselling book for the first time. The novel told of a post-apocalyptic society dealing with climate crisis and wealth inequality, themes that resonated for a nation grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. In some ways, the fact that this store is going into a neighborhood that she was familiar with, between two libraries she visited, does have a lot of significance and resonance for the people who live here and for the people who remember her, George said. High said she recognizes Butlers ties to the city through her novels and writings. In "Parable of the Sower," Butler describes walking the foothills of Pasadena. In her award-winning short story Speech Sounds, the protagonist has lost the ability to read and write as she tries to navigate back to Pasadena, taking Hill Street and Washington Boulevard. Just hearing little mentions of different streets or freeways you knew she was coming here, High said. Now her name adorns one more place, very close to home. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Less than two weeks after announcing it would be closing its doors, Mikesells brand has been bought. Conns Potato Chip Company announced Monday that its subsidiary obtained a license to the brand associated with Mikesells snack food products. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Mikesells, iconic Dayton-based snack company, announces closure Production Mikesells branded products will begin production from Conns Zanesville facility, effective immediately. Jonathan George, owner and president of Conns, said the company was excited about the opportunity. The licensing agreement will allow us to use the decades old recipes and traditions of Mikesells to continue to deliver the quality snack food products consumers have come to expect and enjoy, especially the loyal fans of Mikesells products. This opportunity is a perfect fit with our processes and regional presence, George said in a release. Mikesells announced that they would be closing their doors on Feb. 1. In a statement, a spokesperson said the company intended to transition all Mikesells brand and IP rights to another quality snack food manufacturer. This is a developing story. Well provide updates as we learn more. A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) The fallout continues from the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border earlier this month, as local residents file lawsuits and some cast doubt on official assurances about air and water quality. The derailment and evacuation On Feb. 3, 50 train cars operated by Norfolk Southern derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, a town of about 5,000 people located 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. That derailment resulted in a massive fire and Gov. Mike DeWine ordering an evacuation on Sunday, Feb. 5. "Within the last two hours, a drastic temperature change has taken place in a rail car, and there is now the potential of a catastrophic tanker failure which could cause an explosion with the potential of deadly shrapnel traveling up to a mile, DeWine said in a statement, adding that those with children in their home who chose not to evacuate would be subject to arrest. Last Monday, Norfolk Southern released toxic chemicals from five of the derailed tanker cars in an attempt to preempt a larger explosion. One of the chemicals they were most concerned about was vinyl chloride, a colorless gas used in the making of plastic products. According to the National Cancer Institute, exposure to the gas is associated with with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as well as primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia. The chemical can also enter water supplies and be ingested. The freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, is still on fire at midday a day after the accident. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Concurrent with the releasing of the chemicals, DeWine and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a wider evacuation order for the area around East Palestine, stating, The controlled release process involves the burning of the rail cars chemicals, which will release fumes into the air that can be deadly if inhaled. Based on current weather patterns and the expected flow of the smoke and fumes, anyone who remains in the red affected area is facing grave danger of death. Anyone who remains in the yellow impacted area is at a high risk of severe injury, including skin burns and serious lung damage. Story continues Two days later, DeWine issued a statement that it was safe for residents to return home, saying, Air quality samples in the area of the wreckage and in nearby residential neighborhoods have consistently showed readings at points below safety screening levels for contaminants of concern. Based on this information, state and local health officials determined that it is now safe for community members to return to their residences. James Justice of the Environmental Protection Agency echoed this, saying, All of the readings weve been recording in the community have been at normal concentration. ... Hundreds and hundreds of data points weve collected over the time show the air quality is safe. The EPA has yet to release a full list of the chemicals potentially released in the crash. Kurt Kollar of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said that the incident had resulted in the death of fish but that the towns water supply was safe. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources told Yahoo News on Monday that the estimated stream length affected is approximately 7-and-a-half miles and that the spill killed an estimated 3,500 fish. Workers place booms in a stream as the cleanup continues, Feb. 9. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Material does and in this case has entered the water way, Kollar said, Actions were taken to minimize that. There were detections through laboratory analysis of it, the unfortunate side [effects] of those were immediately toxic to fish but all the information and data to date is that its still been protective to drinking water. DeWine said Norfolk Southern would pay for testing for private wells supplying rural homes, saying, Its very understandable you may want that testing done before you go back in your house. The company had initially pledged $25,000 to support the efforts of the American Red Cross and their temporary community shelters. The burden is upon them is to assure the public that what they do everyday is safe, DeWine said of Norfolk Southern last week. We will hold their feet to the fire Norfolk Southerns feet to the fire, as I say, and make sure that everything is done right, said East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. It is at least the fourth freight derailment in the state over the last four months on trains operated by Norfolk Southern. In November, just days after 22 freight cars, some carrying rock salt, ran off the tracks in Ravenna Township, another train derailed in Steubenville, dumping trash into the Ohio River. Officials in Sandusky are still waiting on the company to complete cleanup of an October derailment that spilled paraffin wax and blocked an underpass. A Norfolk Southern freight train. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Engineers from the NTSB Materials Laboratory will examine the rail car wheel and axle that potentially experienced a mechanical issue, the NTSB told Yahoo News in a statement on Monday afternoon. The tank cars are being decontaminated and NTSB investigators are scheduled to return to Ohio to complete a thorough examination of the tank cars. NTSB investigators continue to review documentation, event recorder data and perform interviews. The preliminary report, which includes all the factual information learned to date, is expected to publish in 30 days. Sil Caggiano, a former battalion chief with the Youngstown Fire Department and a hazardous materials expert, was critical of the response: We basically nuked a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open, he told WKBN, a local TV news affiliate. I was surprised when they quickly told the people they can go back home, but then said if they feel like they want their homes tested they can have them tested. I wouldve far rather they did all the testing, Caggiano said, adding, Theres a lot of what ifs, and were going to be looking at this thing 5, 10, 15, 20 years down the line and wondering, Gee, cancer clusters could pop up, you know, well water could go bad. Unions have blamed derailments on a new scheduling system and on understaffing. Railroad workers attempted to strike last year in order to gain paid sick leave, but the Democratic-controlled Congress passed a law signed by President Biden forcing them back to work, disappointing many labor leaders. Norfolk Southern is one of the rail companies that currently does not offer paid sick leave to its employees. Theyre really just trying to squeeze as much productivity out of these workers as they can, Greg Regan, president of the AFL-CIOs Transportation Trades Department coalition, told the Associated Press. "And when youre focused on timing and rushing, unfortunately sometimes things can fall through the cracks. East Palestine residents take legal action against Norfolk Southern Railway Co. People gather at the Norfolk Southern Railways Assistance Center, Feb. 9. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Although investigation is still underway, Norfolk Southern is already facing mounting federal and civil class-action lawsuits from East Palestine residents demanding accountability and compensation for the damages they say theyve suffered as a result of the accident. The first of several federal lawsuits was reportedly filed in the U.S. District Court in Youngstown last Tuesday, one day after crews released dangerous chemicals from the derailed train cars that were at risk of exploding. That suit, which is seeking class action status, accuses Norfolk Southern Railway Co. of negligence and seeks at least $5 million in damages from the railroad company for people impacted by the release of toxic chemicals as a result of the derailment. The plaintiffs include a local business owner who suffered damages as a result of being forced to close his shop during the evacuation, and another resident who allegedly suffered injuries as a direct and proximate result of his exposure to the toxic chemicals and fumes emanating from the accident site, according to WPXI, an NBC News affiliate in Pittsburgh. Another class-action lawsuit filed in federal court last week by two local residents alleges that Norfolk Southern is responsible for causing a decrease in the market value of the plaintiffs properties which, they contend, may be uninhabitable for some time due to the conditions created by the derailment and subsequent evacuation. In addition to the federal cases, at least one civil class-action suit has been filed in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. The plaintiffs in that case include the operators of two dog kennels in East Palestine. As with the federal lawsuits, the civil complaint accuses Norfolk Southern, as well as personnel aboard the train, of failing to address mechanical issues that appear to have caused the derailment. According to the Steubenville [Ohio] Herald-Star, the civil suit accuses the defendants of not releasing the list of dangerous chemicals aboard the train until days after the derailment, noting that chemicals released into nearby waterways caused the death of several fish. Sick animals raise concerns about possible health effects Residents of East Palestine have been allowed back into their homes after being forced to evacuate following the derailment. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Fish arent the only animals reportedly suffering in the aftermath of the train derailment. For some, the apparent impact on local wildlife is cause for concern about the potential health effects of the chemicals released in East Palestine. Taylor Holzer, a registered foxkeeper who runs a dairy farm with his family adjacent to the evacuation zone, told the local news affiliate WKBN last week that one of his foxes had died following the derailment and the rest have exhibited a variety of unusual symptoms, including lack of appetite, upset stomach and lethargy, as well as rapid pacing and abnormally puffy faces. Smoke and chemicals from the train, thats the only thing that can cause it, because it doesnt just happen out of nowhere, Holzer told WKBN. The chemicals that were being told are safe in the air, thats definitely not safe for the animals ... or people. The morning after the controlled release of chemicals from the derailed train in East Palestine, a woman who lives more than 10 miles away in North Lima, Ohio, says she found her rooster and five hens dead, with no sign that theyd been attacked by another animal. Amanda Breshears told WKBN she believes the chickens were killed by toxins released in Lebanon, Ohio, that sent the smell of chlorine and other toxins wafting into the Mahoning Valley. Though local officials insisted that the unpleasant odor wasnt dangerous, Breshears argued that the sudden death of her chickens suggests otherwise. The cleanup of the derailment continues. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) My video camera footage shows my chickens were perfectly fine before they started this burn, and as soon as they started the burn, my chickens slowed down and they died, she said. If it can do this to chickens in one night, imagine what its going to do to us in 20 years. More than a week after the derailment sent a slew of toxic chemicals into the air and waterways in and around East Palestine, the Washington Post reported that many residents, as well as environmental health experts, were continuing to question whether it was safe to return home. Some residents, like Maura Todd, told the Post theyd decided to relocate to Kentucky temporarily, citing the lingering odor of nail polish remover and burning rubber, as well as the headaches and nausea she and her family had experienced after returning to their house last weekend. But others, like Eric Whiting, arent able to move their families, forcing them to take local authorities at their word, despite the lingering smell of chlorine in the air. For a small town, we have to trust them, because what else do we have to do? Whiting told the Post. We have to trust that they are not lying to us. Editor's Note: A previous version of this article stated that the East Palestine train derailment was the third freight derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Ohio over the last four months. It has been corrected to reflect that the East Palestine incident was the fourth such derailment in as many months. Bad performance. Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov fell out of favor due to a communication failure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was indignant about the reaction of Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov to the publication with evidence of inflated prices in army procurement, a source from the Office of the President of Ukraine told NV on condition of anonymity: Read also: Reznikov names key issues to be discussed at Ramstein meeting of Ukraines military allies "At first, Reznikov attacked the journalists, threatening them with investigation and possible prosecution." The leader of the country didn't like such behaviour, he believes the minister should have admitted his mistakes and tried to get the point of the accusations. "That's why Zelenskyy ordered the faction to find out if there are the votes to remove Reznikov," the source said. Read also: Why Defense Minister Reznikov hasnt been removed from his post, despite a decision to do so There was no particular decision when the leader of the ruling faction, Davyd Arakhamia, hastened to make public information that Reznikov might be moved to the Ministry of Strategic Industries and replaced with military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. The next day Arakhamia had to edit his post on Facebook as the president didn't rush to dismiss Reznikov. Read also: Defense chiefs Reznikov and Austin discuss supply of additional weapons to Kyiv The president was persuaded by the arguments that the next Ramstein meeting on Ukraine's defense issue was to be held soon, and the current minister of defence has well-established contacts with his counterparts from other countries, on whom Ukraine currently greatly depend. "The Reznikov question has been put on hold," the source said NV. Budanov is still a candidate for the post of Defence Minister, but is doing quite well at his current position, the source said. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Olive CEO Sean Lane, shown in 2020 in the company's Downtown headquarters, says it will lay off 209 workers, 44 of them in Ohio, after cutting 450 jobs last July. Olive is doing its second round of layoffs in seven months, telling the state that it will lay off 209 this time with 44 of them in Ohio. Last July, Olive cut 450 jobs. The company told the state that Olive workers are spread throughout the country with 44 of them in Ohio. The local workers are based at the company's corporate offices at 99 E. Main St. The layoffs are expected to go into effect on April 10. The company, whose technology links health care providers and insurance companies with customer information, attributed last summer's layoffs to an overly aggressive expansion. The new layoffs by Olive are the latest in what has been a string of layoffs by local companies in recent months. Dog-treat-and-subscription service Bark said last week it is cutting 12% of its jobs, including some in Columbus. Auto insurer Root and lender Upstart have gone through two rounds of layoffs as well. mawilliams@dispatch.com @BizMarkWilliams This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Olive cuts 209 workers, 44 of them in Columbus So we didnt get to hear President Joe Biden answer questions from a Fox News team on Sunday. Even an audience of tens of millions, and the absence of the networks fire-breathing inquisitors, was not tempting enough to persuade the president to follow in the tradition of half a dozen of his predecessors and sit down for a Super Bowl chat. Sean Hannity called the decision gutless (apparently Donald Trumps refusal to sit for an NBC interview in 2018 was an act of moral courage), but it points to a more general reluctance among politicians to present themselves before an unfriendly forum. Today the most striking example of a frequent visitor to the enemy camp is Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who regularly sits down with various Fox News talking heads with what the New Yorker has called remarkable effectiveness. Buttigieg, the magazine noted in 2020, is a dispassionate figure in an emotional medium. he blinks away the noisy, slanderous business of daily politics in pursuit of what political consultants might call the point of essential contrast. Last month, he coolly skewered Bret Baiers question about bringing his husband on a trip that other administration officials spouses also typically attended. Its not that Buttigieg is likely to convince large numbers of Fox viewers to become a cheerleader for Biden. Its rather that on a network where everything from its biggest stars to its graphics offer unremitting hostility to Biden, a calm voice politely but firmly pushing back on that view is the rhetorical equivalent of chicken soup: couldnt hurt. This approach is in sharp contrast to the idea that there is virtually no point in even attempting to persuade; that the way to win is simply to turn to more of your team than the other side. Its the kind of thinking that the New York Times Amy Chozick wrote up just after Hillary Clintons 2016 defeat: Last year, a prominent group of supporters asked Hillary Clinton to address a prestigious St. Patricks Day gathering at the University of Notre Dame, an invitation that previous presidential candidates had jumped on. Barack Obama and Joseph R. Biden Jr. had each addressed the group, and former President Bill Clinton was eager for his wife to attend. But Mrs. Clintons campaign refused, explaining to the organizers that white Catholics were not the audience she needed to spend time reaching out to. Story continues Her campaign was convinced that turning out her core voters Black people, women, the young, the college educated was the path to victory. Why bother reaching out to voters disinclined to support her in the first place? (It was an approach, Chozick wrote, that Bill Clinton watched with increasing anxiety). In abandoning any real effort to reach these voters, it ensured that even a marginal decline among her supporters would leave her just vulnerable enough for the blue wall of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan to crumble. Four years later, Bidens marginal improvement among blue-collar white people was a crucial factor in bringing those states, as well as Georgia, into his column. He wasnt going to win these constituencies, but he didnt need to. A slightly better performance among them was enough to turn the tide. But theres something more than political calculation at stake here: Its the idea that if you are asking the country for the most important job of all, you should be willing to do more than speak to a succession of cheering squads. Two politicians of very different outlooks can serve as an example. In 1980, Ronald Reagan, who began his general election campaign with a speech about states rights in Neshoba County, Miss., later appeared in a very different venue in New York. As Reagan biographer Lou Cannon wrote in the Washington Post: Comparing himself to John F. Kennedy attempting to win Protestant votes in 1960, Ronald Reagan today appealed to Black voters not to consider him a caricature conservative who is anti-poor, anti-Black and anti-disadvantaged. In his speech to the National Urban League, the GOP presidential nominee also called for the creation of inner-city enterprise zones where taxes would be substantially reduced and regulations relaxed to encourage industry and new jobs. Later, he went to a vacant lot in the South Bronx a symbol of urban decay and engaged in a sometimes confrontational, sometimes civil exchange with residents and activists. The quick rejoinder to this campaign appearance is that little, if any energy was expended during the Reagan administration in turning these words into deeds. But even if Reagans speech fits Voltaires quip that hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue, it was at least a recognition that a potential president owed it to the American people to cross over a normally imposing wall of political separation. Twelve years earlier, Robert Kennedy made a similar journey. Just days after announcing his candidacy for president, he spoke at the University of Alabama, where five years earlier the Justice Department he led faced down Gov. George Wallace to enforce the racial integration of the school. I believe that any who seek high office this year must go before all Americans, he said, not just those who agree with him but also those who disagree. Recognizing that it is not just our supporters, not just those who vote for us but all Americans who we must lead in the years ahead. So I have come at the outset of my campaign not to New York, not to Chicago, not to Boston, but here to Alabama. Did Kennedy believe that the Alabama delegation would support him at the convention? Of course not. But in making the unlikely visit and in telling his audience that racial injustice is a national, not a Southern dilemma he was offering a gesture of respect. In fairness, Bobby may be a special case: He had an appetite for entering the lions den: he debated anti-American radicals in Japan and Communist organizers in Brazil, told small-town Midwestern conservatives of the deprivations of inner-city Black people and American college students that he opposed college deferments. But that instinct would be healthy for our potential leaders and for the country. Indeed, I sometimes wonder what would happen if more politicians had that kind of willingness to engage. Suppose, for example, Hillary Clinton had wangled an invitation from Tony Perkins to address the Family Research Council, a firm if not zealous center of cultural conservatism, and talked to them about her concept of family values? (I believe in family so strongly that when my own marriage was threatened, my husband and I worked hard to preserve it.) Would it have changed any votes? Probably not but it might have convinced some in her audience to see her in less malevolent terms, and might have reminded her that she had once talked with sympathy about those with very different views on issues like abortion. Of course, meeting with the other team runs the risk of angering the most fervent supporters on your team. Ive heard plenty on the left say that even appearing on Fox News gives undeserved respect and legitimacy to a force for evil. But Pete Buttigieg regularly refutes that view. And I think if Joe Biden had brought the energy and feistiness of his State of the Union address to that Fox interview, he would have given as good as he got, and might even have picked up a handful of new supporters. The way our elections have been going recently, that could make all the difference. And anyway couldnt hurt. On Monday, a group of Central Florida firefighters will climb a ladder mill to raise awareness for a good cause. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< Members of the Orange County Fire Rescue Department Climb team will conduct the demonstration. Local Orlando leaders and people in the community are invited to attend. Read: Firefighters battling wildfire in Ormond Beach Valencia School of Public Safety donated the ladder mill for the event, which supports the American Lung Associations mission of lung health. Firefighters will climb the ladder at a 70 to 90-degree angle to prepare for the official Climb for Air event in February. Read: If they knew what we saw: Whats being done to reduce number of suicides among firefighters The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City National Bank Tower. The American Lung Association said that emergency responders had reported chronic health issues, including a lingering cough, asthma, allergies and lung or bronchial cancer in extreme cases. The organization said the Orange County fire department will educate about the dangers firefighters face and how they can protect their lungs with well-fitting equipment. Read: Orlando firefighter considers lawsuit following denial of cancer benefits claim Other local departments will race up hundreds of stairs in full gear at the Fight for Air Climb on Saturday, Feb. 18. See a map of the location below: Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. An Orange County judge Monday dismissed a voter fraud case brought by Gov. Ron DeSantis new election crimes office, finding statewide prosecutors lacked the authority to charge the Orlando defendant. If the legislature wants a centralized prosecutor with the power to pursue any perceived illegality throughout the state of Florida, the Florida legislature has the authority to create a centralized system, Orange County Circuit Judge Jenifer Harris wrote in her ruling. This court will not facilitate such a concentrated power without legislative authority. Last week, however, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that will give prosecutors statewide jurisdiction in these cases, nixing the current standard that led Harris to dismiss the case against 59-year-old Peter Washington. The bill was sent to the governors office on Friday and is effective once signed into law, according to the Florida Senate website. It is unclear if Attorney General Ashley Moodys office plans to re-submit the case against Washington after the law takes effect. It is our position that we currently have jurisdiction, and we will be reviewing our options, Statewide Prosecutor Nick Cox wrote in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel. Mondays decision comes almost two weeks after Washington and his attorney filed a motion for dismissal, claiming it was illegal that the case was headed by the Office of Statewide Prosecution which, until the recently passed bill is implemented, can only charge defendants accused of crimes committed in two or more judicial circuits. Washington, who was convicted of attempted sexual battery in 1996, was sent a voter card from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections before he and his wife voted early in the 2020 election. After his arrest, Washington told investigators that he was surprised he was being arrested for voter fraud and he didnt think it was illegal. He said he showed his photo ID and voter card to poll workers the day he cast a ballot and was not turned away. Story continues Washington was one of 20 people across the state charged with illegally casting a ballot in the 2020 election despite clearance to do so by state officials. Two other defendants are Orange County residents. His case was dismissed on similar grounds as Robert Wood, a Miami man whose case was thrown out when a judge ruled that the Office of Statewide Prosecution did not have the authority to charge him. Last week, the trial of Nathan Hart, a Tampa man who was the first arrestee in the sweep of voter fraud cases, ended in a split verdict. ccann@orlandosentinel.com A judge dismissed election fraud charges against an Orange County man Monday, saying state prosecutors didnt have the authority to try him in court. Peter Washington was one of three people charged in a 20-person roundup last year critics called political in nature. Washington, like many of the accused, was Black and from a Democratic-leaning area. He voted in the 2020 election despite not being eligible to register. Read: 3 Orange County residents among 20 arrested, charged with voter fraud in Florida According to court documents, Washington was convicted of attempted sexual battery in 1996. He told investigators a probation officer told him his rights would be restored once he was released from prison. He subsequently was called for jury duty three times after being released. He subsequently filled out a voter registration form and received a card in the mail, believing his right to vote had been restored. While the state argued it had jurisdiction because a clerk checked his registration in Tallahassee, the judge agreed all of Washingtons actions took place in Orange County, which meant the state prosecutor did not have authority in his case. Read: Central Florida attorney to ask judge to drop voter fraud charges against his clients Harris ruling mimicked others by judges in South Florida in related cases. In her ruling, Harris said legislators had the ability to grant the prosecutor power. Last week, lawmakers passed a bill granting state prosecutors authority in all election fraud-related matters, which will help avoid additional embarrassments from the state in future cases it brings. Watch: Local election fraud defendants lawyer says motion to dismiss will be filed soon Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Matthew Shiffert, right, pleaded guilty to more than a dozen felony child pornography charges in June 2019 in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court. Shown here are Ottawa County Prosecutor James VanEerten, left, and defense attorney, Erik Chappell. Shiffert was arrested Friday on charges involving child obscenity. PORT CLINTON - The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and Ottawa County SWAT team took Matthew Shiffert, 29, into custody on Friday on charges related to obscenity involving a minor . Shiffert was transported to the county jail and charged with and four counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a second-degree felony, and one count of failure to register, a fourth-degree felony, according to a news release from the sheriff's detective bureau. Shiffert is a registered sex offender in Ottawa County. He pleaded guilty in 2019 to 15 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and four counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, the News Herald previously reported. He was sentenced in 2019 to serve up to 180 days in the Community Corrections Center of Lebanon and three years of community control. As part of the 2019 sentence, Shiffert is required to register as a Tier 2 sex offender with the sheriffs office every six months for a period of 25 years and is not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of a school, preschool or daycare premises. Shiffert's arrest Friday came after a search warrant was executed at a residence at 19535 W. Moline Martin Road in Martin. The sheriff's office said the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) received information in January and conducted an investigation into crimes against children in Ottawa County. The search warrant led to the seizure of multiple electronic devices involving information received by ICAC. This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Ottawa County man arrested on charges related to child obscenity Spring still shoots in Shreve SHREVE Spring still shoots are held at the Shreve Farmer's Sportsman Club every Sunday through April 30, except for Easter. Shoots begin at noon with registration starting around 11:30 a.m. The club shoots shot, .22 and slug. Try for a chance to win a variety of meat and cash prizes. The progressive jackpot is over $5,400. The club is located at 8430 Township Road 513, Shreve. For more information contact Missy at 330-464-5621. Whitetail Heritage of Ohio banquet Whitetail Heritage of Ohio will hold its annual fundraiser banquet Saturday, March 18, at the Mt. Hope Event Center. Doors open at 2:30 p.m., with the progressive dinner from 4-7 p.m. Purchase tables and raffle ticketsat www.whitetailheritageofohio.net. Early bird raffle begins at 5:30 p.m., with drawings every 15 minutes. The top raffle prize is a 2023 Kawasaki Mule Pro FXT. For more information, call Mose Keim at 330-705-0023 or Curt Yoder at 330-231-1965. Safari Club International banquet The Northern Ohio chapter of Safari Club International will hold its annual fundraiser banquet Saturday, March 4, at the Greystone Event Center, 50 Riffle Road, Wooster. A silent auction runs 3-6:30 p.m., with an open bar 4-9:30 p.m. and buffet dinner 6-7:30 p.m., followed by the live auction 7:30-10 p.m. Auction items include African and Canadian hunts, fishing charters, firearms and bows, artwork, optics, scopes and range finders. To see the full list or to purchase tickets visit www.nohiosafariclub.org. For more information, call 440-720-4612. Baltic Fishermans swap meet The 15th annual Baltic Fishermans Swap Meet will be held 9 a.m.-1-p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Baltic Elementary, 300 E. Main St. Vendor tables are $15; admission is free. For more information, call Chuck Snyder at 330-407-8729. Outdoor notes email Any group, individual or organization wishing to announce events in the Outdoor Notes section should email them to letsplabal@yahoo.com. Please put Outdoor Note in the subject line. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Outdoor notes: Still shoots, banquets and a fisherman swap meet Idaho Residents Fight Back Against Sex Confusion Policies Proposed by School Board Residents are Organizing to Ensure the School Board Doesn't Mute the Mic to Silence the Majority Descent Date: Monday, February 13, 2023 Time: 7:00 PM MST Location: Caldwell School District Board, 1502 Fillmore St., Caldwell, ID 83605 NEWS PROVIDED BY Church United Feb. 13, 2023 CALDWELL, Idaho, Feb. 13, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Caldwell School District Board introduced new transgender and LGBT policy 3281 during the January 9th, 2023, school board meeting. Over 1,000 concerned Idahoans packed the 50-seat school board meeting room, while the remaining parents and grandparents filled overflow rooms spilling into the halls, sidewalks, and parking lot in freezing temperatures. These policies would allow biological boys to go into girls' restrooms and locker rooms and prevent teachers from warning parents that their child is dealing with sex confusion issues. State Senator Chris Trakel, whose children attend the district, informed Board members they were in violation of two Idaho laws and scolded School Board President Marisela Pesina for violating the attendees' First Amendment rights of Free Speech by dictating what people were permitted to say during the comment period. During Senator Trakel's comment period, Ms. Pesina had his microphone muted by abruptly adjourning the meeting. Parents expressed outrage after the meeting was ended denying the multitude from voicing their opinions. Pastors and residents are now organizing to ensure parents' voices are heard at the February 13th, 2023 school board meeting. The Caldwell School Board is in Canyon County, about 20 miles from Boise's Ada County. A member of the West Ada Education Association (Ada County's Teachers' Union) is in cahoots with the Caldwell School Board the teachers' union representative sent an email with a call to action that deliberately excludes parents from attending the February 13 meeting by issuing tickets and requesting their employees go early to fill the room to exclude the majority who oppose policy 3281. The individual wrote: "While we in the West Ada Education Association take no particular stance on any policy being considered by the districtWe MUST stand behind the district, its board, employees, and students and their ability to share a variety of perspectives/arguments without fear of being attacked, abused, or intimidated. Any of you that have attempted to speak your truth in the midst of a hostile majority know the silencing power that holds. We are asking anyone and everyone that can to show up to the next Caldwell Board meeting on Monday, February 13th (must be there by 4:30 to get a ticket, then come back at 6:50 to get in) wearing blue. You would not be there to speak, only to ensure the space is civil and safe for dialogue and democratic decision-making." Community leaders include: Interviews available upon request Senior Pastor Bill Sperry, Caldwell Christian Church, Caldwell Senior Pastor David Ax, Calvary Chapel Star, Idaho Senior Pastor Marty Yost, AWARE Ministry, Mountain Heights Church, Boise Pastor Neil Mammen, Values Advocacy Council, Boise Previous Coverage: Fox News National: https://www.foxnews.com/media/idaho-school-board-shuts-down-parents-state-senator-objecting-transgender-locker-rooms Idaho Tribune: https://www.idahotribune.org/news/residents-of-caldwell-school-district-speak-out-on-proposed-transgender-policy-changes-its-just-not-right Daily Mail United Kingdom: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11629751/Idaho-senator-mic-switched-argues-against-transgender-students-using-girls-room.html About AWARE We're on a mission to ignite godly action within Idaho. The Biblical principles our nation was founded on are the only way to protect future generations, should the Lord tarry. Join us as we ignite godly action within Idaho--declaring, guarding, and advancing political and religious freedoms founded in Biblical truth. https://mountainheights.church/aware-ministry About Values Advocacy Council The Values Advocacy Council was formed in San Jose, CA to bring the Foundational Principles and the Source of our Inalienable Rights (the Laws of Nature and Nature's God) into local legislation. We do this through the activism and education of Pastors and Christians. The VAC has been expanding across the US and is now in Idaho. www.VAC.org About Church United Church United believes God lights the world through people who shine in public. We summon Christian leaders to speak Truth to power. Our vision is to see pastors expand their influence beyond the local church. Church United is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Newport Beach, California with a network of more than 2,500 pastors in the United States. www.churchunited.com SOURCE Church United CONTACT: Danielle Vota, 302-310-9912, danielle@churchunited.com Ollie Lawrence was in blockbusting form against Italy (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire) Owen Farrell has hailed the impact of Ollie Lawrence as England saw tentative evidence against Italy that they may have found the solution to their perennial inside centre problem. Lawrence was Englands most effective carrier in the 31-14 victory at Twickenham, amassing 83 metres from his 11 runs, the majority of it into the heavy traffic, breaking eight tackles in the process. It was a continuation of the marauding form he has shown for Bath since his move from Worcester in October, rewarding Steve Borthwicks decision to dispense with the contentious Marcus Smith-Farrell creative axis in favour of a better balanced midfield trio. By repeatedly getting England over the gainline, a player who was never given a proper chance by Borthwicks predecessor Eddie Jones has indicated there is an alternative to Manu Tuilagi as a bulldozing centre. The 23-year-old made an impression on his captain as he excelled in a position that due to a peculiarity of the English game has not been filled convincingly since Will Greenwood retired in 2014. Ollie he did really well, he played the way hes been playing for his club destructive, said Farrell, who was operating from his preferred position of fly-half. I remember playing against him at the start of the season for Saracens at our place and he was holding the ball in one hand and batting everyone off like he did against Italy. It was good to see him break the line against Italy and get us on the front foot. Story continues Just behind Lawrence as Englands most potent carrier in the maiden victory of the Borthwick era was number eight Alex Dombrandt, another player who was unable to convince Jones of his value. The Harlequin has started Borthwicks first two games in charge, beating Sam Simmonds to a place in the back row, with Billy Vunipola exiled once again. It is another position that has suffered from frequent change once Vunipolas grip on the jersey was loosened and after overcoming a string of injuries that forced him out of the July tour to Australia and the autumn, Dombrandt is hoping to secure a run of games. Hear what Steve Borthwick made of yesterday's win against Italy #ENGvITA England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 13, 2023 Ive been working hard in training and really trying to improve my all-round game, so to have that backing from Steve is massively important, Dombrandt said. I try to repay that on the training ground, preparing the team well, and hopefully on game day putting in good performances. The start of the season for me personally was a bit frustrating because of a knee injury. Then I came back for a couple of games but tore my hamstring. I feel like I play my best rugby when I get into a rhythm of games and I feel like Im starting to play games consistently which is always a good thing for me. But Im still looking to improve my all-round game and just keep going. LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) Pakistan's police arrested at least 50 suspects in the kidnapping and lynching of a man already detained on charges of blasphemy, officials said Monday. A mob of hundreds of enraged Muslims descended on the police station in the Nankana district of eastern Punjab province on Saturday. Members of the mob had been alerted that a man identified only as Waris desecrated a copy of Islams holy book, the Quran. According to the district police chief, Babar Sarfraz Alpa, the mob had accused Waris of pasting images of himself, his wife and a knife on pages of the book, displaying and throwing them in the streets. Charges of blasphemy carry the death penalty under Pakistani law. Officials said the mob stormed the Warburton police station on Saturday. Some used a wooden ladder to climb a wall and open the main gate, allowing the mob to enter. By the time police reinforcement could reach the scene to save the prisoner's life, the mob had already lynched him and were about to burn his body. Police dispersed the crowd. On Monday, Alpa said police have arrested at least 50 people for participating in the attack. He said more raids are underway to arrest other alleged participants. International and Pakistani rights groups say accusations of blasphemy have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and settle personal scores. Pakistans government has long been under pressure to change the countrys blasphemy laws, something the Islamists strongly resist. The slain man, Waris, was arrested in 2019 on a blasphemy charge and was in prison until mid-2022. Police say Waris again desecrated the Quran, and that some witnesses grabbed and beat him. Police took Waris into custody. But the mob later attacked the police station and killed him, saying they were punishing him for insulting the Quran. A statement said authorities have sacked the police station chief and the area deputy superintendent for negligence in failing to prevent the attack. ___ Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this story from Islamabad PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama's government rejected accusations it violated the human rights of U.S.-bound migrants who cross into the country irregularly through the dangerous jungle of the Darien Gap, the country's security ministry said on Monday. El Pais newspaper said late last week a United Nations document sent to Panama's government alleged that the country's officials sexually abused migrants crossing the Darien. The document included accusations of forced labor and people deprived of their liberty at migration checkpoints, it said. Panama's security ministry in a statement rejected "in the strongest terms" the allegations it said were attempts to "undermine" the humanitarian work of Panamanian agencies and international organizations to help migrants crossing into Central America from Colombia. The ministry said the government would "carry out the pertinent investigations." Panama has requested help from other countries in Latin America in recent years to deal with organized crime and human smugglers profiting from the growing flow of migrants traveling from South America. Last year, a record 248,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap, largely Venezuelans. New, stricter U.S. migration policy has resulted in many being returned to Panama, where they often cannot afford transportation back to Venezuela. In a clarifying statement, the United Nations said the document cited by El Pais was a "letter of allegations" from various sources. It said it typically presents such claims to the relevant states asking for clarification. "Competent authorities may be sought to take measures to prevent or put an end to the alleged violations," the U.N. statement added. (Reporting by Elida Moreno; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Richard Chang) Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball around for 90 minutes and at the end, the lawyers win. It wasnt quite how Gary Lineker put it then the Germans were the inevitable winners but, amid the Americanisation of football, where everything can end up in court, Manchester City commissioned a new banner. It was not celebrating Kevin De Bruyne or Erling Haaland, Phil Foden or Riyad Mahrez. Pannick on the streets of London, it read, borrowing a lyric from a Mancunian band, The Smiths, and celebrating Lord Pannick. The barrister may make a similar dent on the City wage bill as De Bruyne. He could assume a greater importance if the trophy cabinet is not to be stripped of some of the honours the Belgian and his predecessors won, if City are not to be expelled from the Premier League, if future seasons are not to begin with the impediments of points deductions or fines. Whether or not there is indeed Pannick on the streets of Carlisle, Dublin, Dundee and Humberside, the prospect of the Kings Counsel taking on the Premier League seemed to buoy City. While the Smiths guitarist and City fan Johnny Marr is often at the Etihad, Panic is rarely on the playlist. It echoed around the ground after the 3-1 victory over Aston Villa, its own message of defiance. Whether it was needlessly provocative of harmless fun, it was coordinated by the club. Pep Guardiolas words on Friday may have been designed for an audience; of their supporters. Pannick will use different terminology and different arguments when they eventually have to answer 115 charges of breaching financial regulations. He only has to persuade a three-man commission, but with the probability none will be City fans. Pannick on the streets of London. [via IG: harrydurn ] pic.twitter.com/6ngM8ELmzZ mcfc lads (@mcfc_lads) February 12, 2023 A day with more choruses of Sheikh Mansours name than Haalands highlights the strange position City find themselves in. Success came courtesy of other owners largesse the accusations include the suggestion that some of it was disguised funding to artificially boost their budget and it may take the legal knowledge Pannick garnered at Oxford University and polished at the Bar to ensure they keep some of those honours. Whether or not asterisks are permanently attached to their achievements, City may linger in limbo for several years. Guardiola had roused the fanbase with his words in the media theatre. In the dressing room, however, he said there was no particular motivational speech. Like usual, he mused. There could be another element of normality. After uncharacteristically mixed form, they could return to their familiar spot on the top of the table on Wednesday. A fifth league title in six seasons feels more feasible. A first-half demolition of Aston Villa felt ominous for Arsenal, with a solitary point from their last two games and hosting City on Wednesday. It was important to take this opportunity to close the gap on Arsenal, said Guardiola. It felt as though he had regained some of his focus amid the maelstrom of an extraordinary week. After his gripes about some of his players in recent weeks, he was satisfied. The happy flowers have been replaced by a happier camp. Some of those Guardiola has seemed to target for criticism such as Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, De Bruyne were back in the team. Especially the way we are behaving in the training sessions, we improve a lot, the manager said. He was left with a sole concern. Haaland came off at half-time with a knock, with Guardiola vowing not to take any risks with his top scorer at Arsenal. He may sit out a potential title decider. At least he has fewer grounds to worry that a kick from an Aston Villa defender will rule Pannick out of his big match. Five years after a mass shooting that shook Florida, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Parkland remain inextricably linked to the ghastly day when a troubled teenager in less than four minutes killed 14 students and three staff members, injured 17 more and traumatized an untold number of children and families. But on Feb. 14, 2018, tragedy also sparked a national movement created and led by young people, spurred changes in state law aimed at making schools safer and led to new firearm restrictions in what had been dubbed the Gunshine State. It still feels like five minutes ago, Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was among the victims, told The News Service of Florida in a phone interview Thursday. In the weeks after the shooting, outrage escalated as it was revealed that gunman Nikolas Cruz, then 19, had a lengthy history of disturbing behavior that prompted at least two reports to the FBI identifying him as dangerous. He also had numerous contacts with mental-health providers and education officials. Cruz was able to legally purchase the AR-15 rifle he used to carry out the attack. Students and victims families flooded the state Capitol, where the Legislature was meeting, and lawmakers quickly passed a measure addressing mental health, school safety and guns. The law included barring sales of rifles and other long guns to people under age 21 and a red-flag provision allowing law enforcement officials to seek permission from judges to temporarily force people to turn over weapons if they are deemed threats to themselves or others. The March For Our Lives organization, spearheaded by Parkland students, came out of the mass shooting. The group has held marches throughout the nation calling for stricter gun regulations. As the five-year anniversary of the shooting approaches, David Hogg, one of the groups founders, said he is reminded of how far weve come but how far we have to go. People said that youre just a bunch of kids and youre never going to pass anything in the Florida Legislature, and we did, Hogg, 22, told the News Service in a phone interview Thursday. Story continues The red-flag law, Hogg said, has thwarted an unknown number of violent incidents, including in his own family. Hoggs mother received a death threat that said, F with the NRA and youll be DOA. His family used the red-flag law, and the person who made the threat was forced to relinquish his firearms. The law that we passed in Florida may have stopped me from having to bury my own mother, Hogg, in his final semester at Harvard University, said. A self-described pretty cynical person, Hogg nevertheless said he has some level of hope because of his groups accomplishments, including the passage of more than 100 gun laws in the country since 2018. We mobilized our generation in a way that really has frankly never been seen in terms of the electoral work that were doing, he said. The 2018 law, known as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, also created a commission that probed the mass shooting and continues to make recommendations to bolster school safety. Five years. It feels like yesterday in some respects, and it feels like an eternity in others, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who chairs the commission, said during an interview with the Deeper Dive with Dara Kam, a podcast that will be released Sunday on the website of City & State Florida, a sister publication of the News Service. The commission quickly discovered that the schools were not prepared, underprepared and that school safety wasnt a focus and a priority, which was amazing, given the fact that Columbine happened in 1989, he added, referring to a school shooting in Colorado. The state has made a lot of progress over the past five years, but were not there, according to Gualtieri. And quite honestly, no, well never be there and nobody should ever say were there because there is no finish line. Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, a Democrat who was the mayor of Parkland at the time of the shooting, told the News Service the tragedy affected her personally and professionally because I knew many of these families beforehand. She said she had to compartmentalize her reaction to the tragedy. For me, the number one priority was helping our community navigate through this in the best way possible, she said. I think its important for everybody to realize that while time moves on, trauma remains and the impacts of that trauma remain. We still have students who were at the school that day who are struggling. And we need to do more as a society to make sure traumatic events like this, everyday gun violence, other traumatizing things, dont happen. Ryan Pettys 14-year-old daughter, Alaina was among Cruzs victims. For us as a family, theres just a piece missing and weve had to try to grow or get comfortable with this part of our family thats just not there, Alaina, and all the things we imagined that she would be doing, all the things we would be doing together as a family. I think we struggled in many senses to find joy in the things that we used to easily find joy in, Petty, who also serves on the school-safety commission, said in a phone interview. Petty said hes grateful for the changes to state leaders have adopted since 2018. The acknowledgment that it can happen here is probably the biggest change. They say culture trumps everything, and we had a culture perhaps in many places in the state, certainly, this was true in Parkland and in schools in Broward County, of, That wont happen here. And the mindset change that I see is that theres an acknowledgment that it could happen and so we need to be prepared, he said. The 2018 law and bills passed in the following years included requirements to harden school properties and classrooms against violence. For example, classrooms must have safe corners and doors that can lock, and school-safety officers must be deployed on every campus. There are a lot more things in place that will allow people to more appropriately respond and react. You have to assume, and anybody that doesnt operate from this premise is just flat-out wrong, that you cannot prevent this. It is going to happen again. Its a hard thing to say. People dont want to hear it. But the reality is, its going to happen again, Gualtieri said. The impact of Cruzs rampage continues to resonate. State lawmakers this spring are prepared to do away with a requirement that jury recommendations for the death penalty be unanimous after a jury did not sign off on a death sentence for Cruz. The confessed gunman was sentenced to life in prison in the deaths of Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque Aguiano, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Chris Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup and Peter Wang. Guttenberg said his family will mark Feb. 14 in the same way they have since 2018. Were going to spend it privately and with Jaime at the cemetery. We dont participate in public events. For us being with my daughter is where I belong, said Guttenberg, who no longer lives in Parkland. [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. On December 5, 2009, in less than seven hours, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)s Red Balloon Challenge Team found all ten balloons. DARPA The Pentagon's DARPA group once challenged people to find 10 giant red balloons across the US. The 2009 challenge involved using the internet and social media to request tips from people. MIT won the $40,000 prize in 7 hours by creating monetary incentives for recruiting participants. The Pentagon once hid 10 giant red balloons across the US, offering $40,000 to whoever located them all and a group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology won the 2009 competition in less than seven hours. The competition was put on by the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on December 5, 2009. Popular Science reported at the time that the MIT group won by creating monetary incentives similar to a multi-level marketing scheme for help finding the balloons: $2000 per balloon to the first person with correct location coordinates, $1000 to whoever recruited the person, $500 to whoever recruited the recruiter, and $250 to the recruiter of the recruiter. The last $250 reportedly went to charity. In an online post describing the event. DARPA said the Network Challenge was designed to mark the 40th anniversary of the invention of the internet. Participants sought information from people across the web, requesting tips and leads about where the eight-foot balloons were located. Those locations included Union Square in San Francisco, Collins Avenue in Miami, Lee Park in Memphis, Tennessee, and Katy Park in Katy, Texas, Popular Science reported. The competition "explored the roles that the Internet and social networking play in the timely communication, wide-area team-building, and urgent mobilization required to solve broad-scope, time-critical problems," DARPA said. For some participants, false tips were difficult to sift through. MIT Media Lab Postdoctoral Human Dynamics researcher Riley Crane, who led MIT's successful group, told Popular Science. "It became clear early on that there were a lot of people submitting false information. That was definitely the biggest challenge," Crane told the magazine. Story continues Peter Lee, the director of DARPA's Transformational Convergence Technology Office, told Popular Science that one of the goals was to see how teams navigated unverified information on online social networks. "The general question was the establishment of trust in adversarial situations in social networks," he told the magazine. Popular Science reported that some teams repeatedly guessed locations hoping that some coordinates would stick, while community sites like Fark relied on smaller groups of verified individuals to locate any suspected balloons. Twitter also proved to be useful for the challenge, allowing quick and widespread conversation about the possible locations of the balloons, Popular Science reported. As the challenge went viral, more people wanted to be involved. Part of that viral-ness, especially for MIT, might have been thanks to their recruitment strategy. The monetary incentive to invite others to be involved in the balloon hunt is reminiscent of a pyramid scheme business model. But Crane told Popular Science that MIT's strategy focused more on creating a trusted team with goals of helping themselves, science, and charity. "Your reward was directly based on whether you were responsible for getting us key information," Crane said. "It didn't matter if you were the first or millionth to sign up. What mattered was whether you found a balloon, or if you signed up someone who found a balloon." DARPA said that MIT found all 10 balloons in less than seven hours. In the last two weeks, the US has been dealing with issues surrounding a number of unknown flying objects. It all started when a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina. Since then, the US has shot down unknown floating objects over Lake Michigan and Alaska. Unidentified objects have also been seen in Canada and Latin America this month. Read the original article on Business Insider Rest isn't unproductive. For the Black community, it's necessary for survival. Rest isn't unproductive. For the Black community, it's necessary for survival. The benefits of rest are well-known: Its rejuvenating, calming and necessary for someones mental and physical health. The importance of rest is even more significant for Black people, according to Tricia Hersey, an activist and the founder of the Nap Ministry, a collective that describes itself as an organization that examines the liberating power of naps. Hersey created the popular concept known as Rest is Resistance, a framework that is inspired by Black radical thought, liberation theology, Afrofuturism and more, according to the Nap Ministry website. The concept aims to fight against systems of oppression through physical rest and aims to show Black people the power that rest holds. Hersey recently released a book, Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto, that explores the topic and helps guide Black people to a life that is restorative, restful and disrupts the oppressive grip of Grind Culture, the website says. While Hersey created the phrase and its framework, its been widely adopted by Black thought leaders, mental health advocates and the general public. In recent years, it has helped Black people protect their energy against systems that were not built for Black folks. What Rest Is Resistance means to Black therapists While rest is important for all people, the Rest is Resistance movement is particularly tied to the Black community because of the discrimination, racism and abuse that have plagued Black people for generations. For hundreds of years during enslavement, Black folks were used as labor and were only as valuable as our ability to work, said Natasha Reynolds, a psychotherapist at Bloom Psychology & Wellness in Toronto. So, our humanity was stripped from us, and the generational legacies around needing to work to survive still exist today. The Rest is Resistance movement helps Black people unlearn the relationship between labor and value and is an aid for healing from ongoing racial trauma, Reynolds said. Story continues For me, its rejecting the idea that I have to be a workhorse to be worthy, and that my value is simply that I am, said Tamika Lewis, the clinical director and founder of WOC Therapy in California. Lewis noted that this is a radical shift for Black women in particular because of the historic dehumanization and dismissive attitude toward Black women. As a result, we are constantly doubting ourselves, Lewis said. She added that many of her Black women clients feel like they have to work at 150% while most other people can just follow the status quo. This is leaving us feeling exhausted, discouraged [and] were not able to be as intentional in the way we move through the world, Lewis said. According to Ebony Butler, a psychologist in Texas, the feeling that more work is required from Black people may also be related to the idea that many Black folks have or had limited access to resources throughout their lives like attending a school with less funding than schools in white neighborhoods or not getting a mortgage because of discriminatory housing practices. One of the things the rest movement says is you can take a break ... its giving us permission to not be in survival mode all of the time, Butler added. So, Black people desperately need this kind of oppression-shattering rest. [This] can become radical in terms of being able to arm ourselves. Rest arms us with the ability to be our best selves and to live with more intention, Lewis stated. Rest doesnt only mean napping or sleeping. Sleeping tends to be most closely associated with rest, and while it certainly is a part of rest, its not the only aspect. Rest is prioritizing inactivity or a form of activity that allows you to feel restored as well as refreshed, Reynolds said. According to Butler, whatever makes you feel fulfilled and gives you a better quality of life or a shot at a better quality of life, thats what rest is. For example, Lewis said she enjoys being curious and creative, and when she allows herself to do so, she feels energized and rested. In the end, rest should make you feel good, and that can mean doing a range of activities that fill your soul. Anything that rejuvenates you is a restful activity including journaling, meditating, listening to music and going for a walk. Anything that rejuvenates you is a restful activity including journaling, meditating, listening to music and going for a walk. Reynolds said that according to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a celebrated physician and researcher, there are seven different kinds of rest that are all equally important and necessary for a fulfilling life. They are: Physical rest: taking a nap or getting a good nights sleep Mental rest: scheduling work breaks throughout the day Sensory rest: taking a break from screens or putting on noise-canceling headphones Creative rest: viewing art or listening to music Emotional rest: going to therapy or talking to a trusted friend about your feelings Social rest: spending time with people who uplift you or avoiding those who deplete your energy Spiritual rest: meditation, prayer or journaling So, rest can look different for everyone, and youll find that you need specific kinds of rest on different days. Rest doesnt have to cost money. Many people think rest is an expensive luxury, but this could not be further from the truth. For some, it is a luxury to have rest or it is a privilege to be able to rest and release yourself from survival mode, but it does not have to be an expensive thing like online influencers and brands have you believe, Butler said. In the social media realm, people are painting rest as a vacation or a luxurious experience. And it doesnt have to be that it can include that [but] it can be simply going outside, getting some sunlight, putting your feet to the grass, putting your toes in the sand, Butler said. I would encourage people to think about all the ways that rest can show up for them in their lives that they have access to right now, Butler said. What are the things they control or what are things they can take a break from that would enhance their quality of life right now? This could mean avoiding social media for an hour or watching a movie instead of catching up with someone who depletes your energy both of these things cost nothing or very little money. Rest is available to everyone, and all Black people deserve it. There are many false ideas about rest that its lazy, unproductive or not for you but those are completely wrong. Whats more, theres a baseline belief in Black and brown communities that rest is something that is just not an option, Lewis said. Thats also wrong and an important belief to unlearn. We need to resist the belief that were not allowed to just be. It is human to rest, Reynolds said. She added that its normal to feel guilty or a little off when you first start to prioritize your rest, were hardwired to always be on the go. Rest is productive and necessary and important and rest is not selfish. Rather, its the opposite, Reynolds said. When you feed into yourself, you create energy reservoirs for yourself to be able to actually pour into others around you more effectively and also meet your own future needs as well. Related... A photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard appears to show the alleged 'military-grade' laser light shining from a Chinese ship in the South China Sea on Feb. 6, 2023. A handout photo appears to show the alleged laser light from a Chinese ship in the South China Sea on Feb. 6, 2023. Credit - Philippine Coast Guard The Philippines has accused China of a blatant disregard and clear violation of sovereignty, alleging that a Chinese coast guard ship last week directed a military-grade laser light at a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the hotly contested South China Sea, temporarily blinding the Filipino crew onboard. A statement released Monday by the Philippine Coast Guard said the Chinese vessel illuminated the green laser light twice and also made dangerous maneuvers to block a Philippine fleet from delivering supplies to another ship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal, a disputed atoll 120 miles off the west coast of the Philippine island of Palawan. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing later on Monday that the Philippine ship had trespassed into Chinese waters and that, without mentioning the laser, the China Coast Guard responded in a professional and restrained way. He added: We hope the Philippine side will respect Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and avoid taking any actions that may exacerbate disputes and complicate the situation. On Tuesday, the Philippines foreign affairs department announced that it had filed a diplomatic protest to Chinas Manila embassy over the incident. Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza added that the China Coast Guards actions were especially disturbing and disappointing because Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had just visited Beijing in January to try to improve bilateral relations. The episode is the latest sign of rising tensions in the region. Just days earlier, the Philippines reinvigorated its military ties with the United States. The two countries agreed to significantly expand Americas presence in the Southeast Asian archipelago, as U.S. officials grow increasingly worried about Chinas threat to nearby Taiwan and as the Philippines remains concerned about territorial incursions by its largest neighbor. Story continues In a statement, U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price expressed support for the Philippines, reiterating that an armed attack on Philippine forces would invoke a mutual defense pact that obliges the countries to help defend each other. Price said Chinas dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional peace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law, and undermines the rules-based international order. China has laid claim to virtually all of the South China Sea, and has militarized the area by deploying naval ships and reclaiming the islands and other features for military infrastructure. The Philippines, one of several claimants of the area, has repeatedly filed diplomatic protests in response to Chinese aggression in those waters; nonetheless, Beijing has continued its activities there. Last weeks incident is certainly not the first escalation between Chinese and Philippine forces. The Philippine Coast Guard says the China Coast Guard has previously attempted to thwart its ships in the South China Sea, including a similar blockade of a resupply mission last August. But this was the first time the Chinese used lasers in that effort, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo told the Associated Press. China has been accused of using lasers elsewhere though. A U.S. military official, according to a CNN report in 2018, identified at least 20 incidents between September 2017 and June 2018 involving lasers suspected to be from Chinese sources targeting U.S. aerial operations in the Pacific. In 2019, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Chinese maritime militia vessels used lasers to attack Australian pilots flying through the South China Sea. And in February 2022, a transiting Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy vessel allegedly directed a military-grade laser at an Australian air force plane conducting coastal maritime surveillance in the Arafura Sea off the countrys north coast. Australian officials condemned the incidenta senator at the time described it as unquestionably an aggressive act, intended to intimidatewhile China denied it ever happened. Jose Antonio Custodio, a defense analyst and fellow at the Consortium of Indo-Pacific Researchers, says that while China may argue that laser technology is an appropriate, non-lethal tool, its use does hold the potential to kill. For example, a blinded crew of an aircraft might lose orientation and then their aircraft may just plummet to the sea, Custodio tells TIME. He suggests that countries like the Philippines consider countermeasures, such as protective gear, to prepare for future incidents. The latest laser accusation by the Philippines also comes as China already faces growing distrust around the world, especially after American officials revealed a global espionage operation involving the military use of balloons like the one shot down last week over South Carolina by the U.S. Air Force. Its time for the Chinese government to restrain its forces, Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told reporters on Monday. So that it does not commit any provocative act that will endanger the lives of people. (Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said hes open to a potential reciprocal military access agreement with Japan if it would protect the countrys fishermen and its maritime territory. Most Read from Bloomberg I dont see why we should not adopt it, Marcos said, according to a transcript of his interview with reporters on his flight back on Sunday from a five-day official visit to Japan. The Philippines is studying if the potential pact will indeed help the country and wont intensify tensions in the South China Sea. We have to be careful also because we do not want to appear provocative. That instead of calming the situation in the South China Sea, we would heighten it, right? Thats not what we want, Marcos said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida raised the prospect of such agreement very briefly during their meeting, Marcos said. Both leaders last week oversaw agreements bolstering military and infrastructure ties between the two US allies amid concerns about Chinas growing power in the region. In January, Japan signed an agreement with the UK to allow military forces to be deployed to one anothers territory, as Tokyo expands bilateral cooperation with other American allies. This month, the US secured access to more Philippine military bases as tensions with China over Taiwan and the South China Sea persist. Marcos said his government will study a proposal to forge a tripartite alliance with US and Japan. The proposed deal remains a concept as details have yet to be threshed out, he added. We have to talk to the Americans to find out what are really the roles that are going to be played should there be a tripartite agreement, he said. Story continues --With assistance from Philip J. Heijmans. (Updates with comments on potential tripartite pact with Japan, US) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. NASA instruments captured the moment part of the sun appeared to break off from the giant star and get swept up in a polar vortex. But according to the scientist who drew attention to it, it's not as dire as it sounds. Tamitha Skov, a space weather physicist and research scientist at The Aerospace Corporation in Southern California, went viral for the news earlier this month when she shared imagery of the event. "Talk about Polar Vortex!" she tweeted. "Material from a northern prominence just broke away from the main filament & is now circulating in a massive polar vortex around the north pole of our Star." Basically, a big piece of plasma broke away off the sun's surface. And the polar vortex it was swept up in isn't the same as a polar vortex we might experience here on Earth. Talk about Polar Vortex! Material from a northern prominence just broke away from the main filament & is now circulating in a massive polar vortex around the north pole of our Star. Implications for understanding the Sun's atmospheric dynamics above 55 here cannot be overstated! pic.twitter.com/1SKhunaXvP Dr. Tamitha Skov (@TamithaSkov) February 2, 2023 According to the National Weather Service, a polar vortex on our planet is a large low-pressure system of cold air that strengthens in the winter. On Earth, it happens "fairly regularly" and is known for sending surges of Arctic weather to nearby areas. But Sara Housseal, space weather operations senior duty officer at the U.S. Air Force's Space Weather Operations Center, says that on the sun, it's an event that's "far less understood or known." "While it may (or not) always be present, it's not always seen," she said, "so the filament that got caught in it allowed us to physically see it and study it." Story continues The break-off in question happened about midday on Feb. 2 and can be seen on the upper left portion of the sun. In a video later posted to her Patreon account, Skov further explained the significance of the event. "Some of that material begins to break off of the main structure and start getting caught up in what looks to be a polar wind," she said. "And as that stuff begins to get swept up in it, you can see it takes about 8 hours for that material to completely circumnavigate the pole at about 60 degrees." According to her preliminary calculations, Skov said that the polar wind was moving "insanely fast" at about 60 miles a second. Solar physicist Scott McIntosh, deputy director at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, told Space.com that plasma breaking off the sun's surface like this has happened at the sun's 55-degree latitude in previous solar cycles, which last 11 years. Solar prominences, which are seen as the bright pieces of plasma coming off the sun's surface and looping back down to anchor to it, are common. According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, these events are "enormous" and can extend out for thousands of miles. They can also last for "several days or up to several months." However, McIntosh said, he's never seen a prominence and vortex interact like this before. "Once every solar cycle, it forms at the 55-degree latitude and it starts to march up to the solar poles," he said. "It's very curious. There is a big 'why' question around it. Why does it only move toward the pole one time and then disappears and then comes back, magically, three or four years later in exactly the same region?" The finding could have "exciting" implications for the understanding of the solar system, Skov said, as other gas giant planets Saturn and Jupiter are also known for their intense polar winds. "It turns out our sun has more in common with these gas giants than one might think," she said. "...So although the sun still holds onto some of its mysteries, today, we might've gotten just one step closer." Skov told ABC Radio Melbourne that it was a "very rare observation" about the goings-on at the sun's surface. "This material allowed us to really observe the winds and how quickly things were moving," she said. "...We really need to start learning more about how this big, magnetic activity engine what we call the magnetic dynamo how it works, because that's really what generates space weather." U.S. military shoots down unidentified objects Michigan Congressman says Americans "deserve far more answers" on shot down objects What we know about the 4 objects shot down by the U.S. this month The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office reported a man shot at a gathering in the Mid-Westside area at 1700 West 11th Street. JSO reported that Officers arrived at the scene due to reported gunshots. JSO claimed that during a gathering at the Mid-Westside home, an argument between multiple people resulted in a man in his 30s being shot multiple times. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect is currently unknown. JSO encourages anyone with information that can assist us with this investigation to please call the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office non-emergency number at (904) 630-0500 or Crime stoppers at (866) 845 -TIPS. They can also provide information online at JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. This is an ongoing investigation and will be updated when details arrive. [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. Jill Owens - Ben Birchall/PA A police officer who was forced to resign after falling for a man who turned out to be an armed robber has claimed her male colleagues ganged up on her. Jill Owens, then Evans, was a highly respected officer with a rural Welsh police force when she went in search of romance on an online dating site in the early 2000s. The two-times divorcee eventually got talking to Dean Jenkins a seemingly self-made businessman from Kent who had his own range of male grooming products. After a whirlwind relationship, Ms Owens was told in November 2006 that Jenkins had been arrested for his role as the getaway driver in a robbery gang that had stolen 339,000 in multiple targeted raids on building societies. The heists, which also involved Jenkins dad David, a former special constable and an ex-Securicor guard, saw Jenkins given a 17-year sentence for his involvement. Jenkins crimes would signal the end of Ms Owens career with Dyfed-Powys Police, which she joined in 1990. Dean Jenkins - Dean Jenkins/PA She claims she was treated unfairly by the force and believes she would have been offered more support were this to happen today. Kent Police interviewed her after her boyfriends arrest about her knowledge of Jenkins and she was put under investigation by professional standards. She said: Every time I was interviewed by Dyfed-Powys it would be by men, often two or three senior officers at the same time. It was like a gang approach, and I was vulnerable. They told me I should have known because the names of two of his shower gels were Beat the Filth and Its a Stick Up. I mean I just thought it was clever marketing. In late 2008, she says she was required to resign. Now 54, the mother-of-threes ordeal has been made into a six-part podcast series by Wondery and Novel called Stolen Hearts. Reflecting 15 years later on the impact it had on her life, she said: I had no idea when I hit that send button where my life would head. I was a police sergeant. I did not think Id ever start talking with an armed robber. What are the chances of that? Story continues When it happened it was like a bomb went off, destroying everything Id ever known. Starstruck by his lavish lifestyle Ms Owens said she was completely unaware of Jenkins double life, but was still affected by the belief people held that she had in some way known. Even when I look back and ask myself was there anything I could have picked up on? There is absolutely nothing, she said. Everything seemed to add up to what he said he was, a successful businessman. After their first date in a pub in Cardiff, the couple began to meet up every other weekend, and Jenkins surprised her with an expensive holiday to Italy where he took her to the Cosmoprof beauty trade show. At the time Jenkins had a mens toiletries company which included a range called the Guvnor, which was sold in Superdrug. Ms Owens said she was starstruck by the lavish lifestyle Jenkins introduced her to, including meals in expensive restaurants with representatives of TV shopping channel QVC. The thrill of playing with the danger Ms Owens said she visited Jenkins in prison but never got the answers she wanted from him. Ive always thought that there were two possible reasons he was with me. Either it was the thrill of playing with the danger of dating a police officer, or he genuinely had feelings for me, she said. Producers interviewed Jenkins for the podcast and Ms Owens said she was surprised by what he said. I cant say too much, but what he says in the last episode really made me sit back. I was sitting in my work van listening to it and I thought wow, she said. She now lives with her son Frankie and her husband Rod, who she met in 2012 on the day Wales won the rugby Six Nations Grand Slam. Stolen Hearts, the podcast from Wondery and Novel, is available on all podcast services. LaGrange police are searching for a woman they said was involved in a hit-and-run wreck at WellStar West Georgia Medical Center. Investigators said the woman caused $12,000 in damage to an ambulance after following it to the hospital on Feb. 2. Police released photos Monday of the woman and the car she was driving. Officers said the car will have rear-end damage from the wreck including broken taillights and reverse lights. TRENDING STORIES: Investigators believe the car is either a Ford or a Lincoln sedan. Anyone with information in this case is asked to call LaGrange police at 706-883-2603, or Troup County Crime Stoppers at 706-812-1000. IN OTHER NEWS: Women bathing in an outdoor pool at Yumotoso - a hot spring resort in Kurokawa Onsen. Stock photo/Getty Images Police in Japan have uncovered a ring of 17 men believed to have filmed 10,000 women in hot springs. The men hid in mountainous areas near the springs and used telephoto lenses to film the women. They also held gatherings to view the footage together, police say. The Japanese police have arrested 17 men suspected of photographing and filming more than 10,000 women who were bathing in hot springs. The group's ringleader, Karin Saito, 50, was arrested in December 2021, per the Yomiuri Shimbun. Saito was nabbed in the Hyogo Prefecture, west of Kyoto, and charged under a nuisance prevention ordinance, a local law against illicit photography, The Asahi Shimbun reported. Between December 2021 and February, 16 more men were arrested, including a doctor from Tokyo, senior company executives, and local government officials, reported the South China Morning Post. The men were detained by the police in 11 different prefectures, per The Asahi Shimbun. Saito has confessed to taking voyeuristic photos of nude women for 30 years in 46 different prefectures, the police told the Yomiuri Shimbun. After being arrested, Saito informed the police about at least a dozen others in his group, reported the SCMP. Saito and his crew used high-end camera equipment like long-focus telephoto lenses to film women bathing in the open-air hot springs, the Japanese police told The Asahi Shimbun. The men would take these pictures while hiding in mountainous areas several hundred meters from the springs, the police said. The group would also get tips from Saito on how best to photograph the women, and hold gatherings to view the footage together. Yutaka Seki, an executive director at the Japan Hot Springs Association, told the SCMP that while photography and filming are prohibited in hot springs, new technology makes it difficult to fully prevent such cases from happening. "I am very much in favor of both sexes being able to bathe together in a friendly and safe manner, but incidents such as this attract bad publicity and worry people," Seki told the SCMP. "And that makes my hope of mixed, communal bathing as used to be the case in the past more difficult." Story continues In 2018, people convicted of taking illicit photographs faced a year in prison and a fine of a million Japanese yen ($8,784), per the SCMP. Hot springs, or "onsens" as they are known in Japanese, are popular across the country amongst locals and tourists. Known for their mineral-rich hot water, these baths are said to have a relaxing impact on the body and mind and are meant to be enjoyed naked. Representatives for the Japan Hot Spring Association did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Former Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) joined the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) as a distinguished visiting fellow for public policy, the conservative-leaning think tank announced Monday. Portman will focus on several issues, including free trade expansion, U.S.-China relations, U.S.-Russia relations, the war in Ukraine, worker training, retirement security and U.S. budget and entitlement reform. The Ohio Republican, who served two terms in the Senate and six in the House, retired at the end of last Congress. Portman was seen as a highly respected bipartisan negotiator, helping secure passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law and additional Ukraine aid. Portman opted not to run for reelection, citing the difficulty of getting bipartisan legislation passed in an increasingly divided Congress. Portman will take part in AEIs American Dream Initiative, which aims to boost upward mobility for low-income Americans through reforms to workforce development, vocational education and housing policy. Republicans frequently lean on AEI for policy help. The think tanks scholars are pushing Republicans to reduce Medicare and Social Security benefits as part of their proposed budget cuts, arguing that the programs will soon be insolvent without overhauls. Portman is the second senator from the last Congress and the 11th lawmaker to find a new job after leaving Capitol Hill. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) joined law and lobbying giant DLA Piper last week. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LISBON, Portugal (AP) More than 4,800 individuals may have been victims of child sex abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church and 512 alleged victims have already come forward with their stories, an expert panel looking into historic abuse in the church said Monday. Senior Portuguese church officials had previously claimed that only a handful of cases had occurred. Senior clergymen sat in the front row of the auditorium where panel members read out some of the harrowing accounts of alleged abuse included in their final report. There were vivid and shocking descriptions. The Independent Committee for the Study of Child Abuse in the Catholic Church, set up by Portuguese bishops just over a year ago, looked into alleged cases from 1950 onward. Portuguese bishops are due to discuss the report at an extraordinary meeting on March 3. The statute of limitations has expired on most of the alleged cases. Only 25 allegations were passed to prosecutors, the panel said. The report, criticized by some as long overdue, came four years after Pope Francis gathered church leaders from around the world at the Vatican to address the sex abuse crisis in the church. That meeting was held more than 30 years after the scandal first erupted in Ireland and Australia and 20 years after it hit the United States. Bishops and other Catholic superiors in many parts of Europe at the time continued to deny that clergy sex abuse existed or insisted on giving little weight to the problem. The head of the Portuguese Bishops Conference, Bishop Jose Ornelas, asked the victims for forgiveness and apologized for the church having failed to grasp the scale of the problem. Child sex abuse is a heinous crime, Ornelas said in a statement he read out later Monday, adding: It is an open wound which pains and embarrasses us. The panel regretted that the Vatican had taken so long to grant access to church archives. Permission came only in October, giving the panel just three months to go through written evidence of abuse. Story continues Pedro Strecht, a psychiatrist who headed the panel in Portugal, said it estimates the true number of victims during the period under study as being at least at 4,815. That extrapolation was made on potential other victims mentioned by those victims who came forward. The panel is not publishing the names of the victims, the identities of the alleged abusers, or the places the abuses allegedly happened. However, it is to send to bishops by the end of the month a list of alleged abusers who are still active in the church. The final report includes a separate and confidential annex of all the names of church members reported to the committee that is being sent to the Portuguese Bishops Conference and to the police. The Portuguese church hasnt said whether it intends to pay compensation to any victims. The six-person committee included psychiatrists, a former Supreme Court judge and a social worker. The report said that 77% of the abusers were priests, with other perpetrators being linked to church institutions. It added that 77% of victims didnt report the abuse to church officials and only 4% went to the police. Most of the abuse took place when the victims were in early adolescence. It said 48% of those who came forward had spoken about the abuse for the first time. Most of the alleged victims were male, though 47% were female, the report said. It said there were places in Portugal, such as some seminaries and religious institutions, that were real blackspots for abuse. Information about child sex abuse found in ecclesiastical records should be regarded as the tip of the iceberg, the report said. Those records frequently do not refer directly to abuse, even when discussing it, and many incidents appear to have been dealt with informally, the panel said. The panel recommended that the statute of limitations on such crimes be extended to at least 30 years from the current 23 years. The West Alabama Womens Center in Tuscaloosa received a donation from the Womens Donors Network that saved the clinic from closure. Theyve also raised nearly $200,000 via individual donations through PayPal. But despite that, Robin Marty, the operations director for the center, said they can only keep the doors open through June. Individual donations dried up, which makes sense, Marty said. I mean, everybodys exhausted. Everybodys asking for money. Robin Marty is the director of operations for West Alabama Womens Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She's seen here in her office on Feb. 10, 2023. In Alabama, clinics focused on reproductive health and family planning are struggling financially. With limited Medicaid reimbursement for prenatal care, waning individual donations, and little to no support from state government, clinics such as the West Alabama Womens Center in Tuscaloosa and the Alabama Womens Center for Reproductive Health Care in Huntsville have had to adapt to a new reality. Many of the clinics offered abortion services before the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization last June, which overturned 1973s Roe v. Wade and ended federal protections for abortion. Many of the clinics stayed open to provide health services to their mostly low-income and uninsured clientele. When we realized that basically after the hearing over Dobbs, it was pretty clear that the writings on the wall and that they were going to overturn Roe even then, Marty said. Since then, Ive just been fundraising. Even before Roe, wealth disparities meant that millions of Americans struggled to access abortion in the United States. Dobbs has and will continue to profoundly worsen this impact, according to a January analysis from the Guttmacher Institute. Factors such as poor access to sexual education and divestment from communities contribute to unwanted pregnancies. According to the Guttmacher Institute, an organization focused on sexual and reproductive rights, the rate of unwanted pregnancies is more than five times higher among women with earnings below the federal poverty line ($14,580 a year for an individual; $24,860 for a household of three) than among those with incomes at or above 200% of the poverty line. Women with incomes less than 200% of poverty had six times the abortion rate as women with incomes more than 200% above poverty. Story continues In Alabama, where reproductive activists had to shift their efforts to family planning, Medicaid recipients and the uninsured have limited access to prenatal care. Alabamas near-total ban on abortion went into place hours after the Dobbs decision was handed down. But new money to help women get prenatal care did not follow. Medicaid pays a global package of about $1,700 for the entire course of a pregnancy. This includes prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care, said Dr. Yashica Robinson, the medical director at the Alabama Womens Center in Huntsville. Medicaid only pays for routine prenatal care, which means that if an individual requires hospitalization due to complications, they would have to pay for that separately. One of the things that were seeing is that patients who know that theyve had very complicated pregnancies in the past, and they are more likely to see complications with subsequent pregnancies, said Robinson. [They] previously would have been able to make decisions about how best to move forward. Theres no option for that now. The global package only includes for 15 inpatient visits during the whole course of the pregnancy, including prenatal, birth and postpartum. In case of a complicated pregnancy that requires Besides abortion care, reproductive clinics across the state have stopped providing IUDs, a long acting, reversible contraceptive. Services like pregnancy testing, STD testing, ultrasound services and some contraceptive care are some of the few family planning services they are still able to offer. But its really not enough to keep the doors at the reproductive health clinic open, Robinson said. It was always this big misconception that abortion care made all this money and everything else, but that's just not the case. Dalton Johnson, owner, Alabama Women's Center for Reproductive Health Care, Huntsville Because the reimbursement rate for pregnancies are so low, Dalton Johnson, the owner of Alabama Womens Center, said that most OB-GYNs in Madison County dont accept Medicaid. Johnson also said that with paying malpractice insurance, staff and medical providers, dealing with the shift in the scope of practice has not been easy. The Huntsville and Tuscaloosa clinics offered abortion services before Dobbs decision, but Johnson said the services were not lucrative, and that the center was always operating on a tight budget. It was always this big misconception that abortion care made all this money and everything else, but thats just not the case, said Johnson. Marty also said that a lot of the focus on funding has been on blue states that continue to provide abortions, and not on assisting reproductive health in red states. For one thing, its really burdensome to the patients themselves, she said. And it means that the people who have the absolute least amount of resources are the ones who are going to be stuck here giving birth against their will. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, an independent nonprofit website covering politics and policy in state capitals around the nation. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Post-Dobbs, Alabama reproductive health clinics see uncertain future The building of the National University of Municipal Economy in the center of Kharkiv, heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, February 5 Just de-putinization (of Russia) will certainly not be enough, said Ohryzko. Read also: Russia will become more authoritarian and militarized, Norwegian intelligence says This is one of the steps that the civilized world must take in regards to post-Russian territory. A real demilitarization of this territory must also be carried out, at the very least. This means that what remains of Russia, or after Russia, shouldnt have any potential for an armed aggression on its neighbors. The former minister added that post-Russian territory must be made free of nuclear weapons, since any other structure that remains or arises after this war on the territory of Russia should never again threaten anyone with nuclear blackmail. He also pointed out the necessity to deal with the problem of the Russian population having far-right views. Today, this population is rashist, that is, Russian-fascist, Ohryzko explained. Read also: Russia planning coup detat in Moldova, says Sandu If 86% of this population applauded Putin when he seized Crimea and started a war in Donbas, this means that this population is poisoned by chauvinism, imperialism, and this Russian fascism. He concluded by saying up that after Moscows defeat, Ukraine and its Western partners will face a difficult and complex task, which needs to be thought through right now. Earlier, Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak estimated that Russia will almost certainly lose the war, and could potentially fragment into several smaller states. He also stated the need to deprive Russia of sovereignty and carry out a number of reforms from the outside. That would help to turn the country into a parliamentary republic, create independent mass media, and eliminate the state control over television, reduce the Russian army and gain international control over Russian nuclear weapons. Read also: Vast majority of global corporations continue operations in Russia, says President's Office Story continues On Aug. 24, Ukraines Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said he was certain that after the war, Russia would break apart into a collection of separate states, while Ukraine would retain its sovereignty and independence. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, earlier said that Russias invasion of Ukraine will ultimately result in Moscow losing its colonies. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine It seems fitting that the President, who made sure the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act finally got signed into Law, [would] have the film screened at the White House, said Whoopi Goldberg in a statement to theGrio. President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden will host a screening of the acclaimed film Till Thursday evening at the White House inside the East Room. The film focuses on the real-life story of Mamie Till-Mobley and her fight for justice after the murder of her 14-year old-son Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi, in 1955. President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden will host a screening of the acclaimed film Till Thursday evening at the White House inside the East Room. (Photo: Getty Images/Universal Pictures) There is a connection between the film and the White House as President Biden last year signed the nations first-ever anti-lynching law in Emmett Tills name. The historic signing, which was done during a White House ceremony on the South Lawn, happened 67 years after Till was murdered by a white mob for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Though Till did not receive any Oscar nominations, to the chagrin of many, it is being celebrated by the Biden administration. Whoopi Goldberg, who starred in and produced the film, told theGrio in a statement that it seems fitting that the President, who made sure the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act finally got signed into Law, [would] have the film screened at the White House. The EGOT star of The View continued: Especially after being snubbed this awards season and in light of places like Florida and Texas, among others, trying to pretend this history did not happen, or that Black people were fine being treated as less than. The 2022 film was decades in the making, and in previous interviews, Goldberg said the makers of Till hoped that it would be completed and released while Mamie Till-Mobley was still alive. The mother of Emmett Till, who infamously held an open casket so the world could see the brutality of her teen sons murder, died in 2003. The film humanized Emmett Till, who the public has only known through pictures and accounts from the Black press. Till recreates historical moments printed in JET magazine, including graphic photos of Tills mangled body in the casket. The imagery was pivotal in propelling the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Story continues Mamie Till-Mobley weeps at her sons funeral on Sept. 6, 1955, in Chicago. The mother of Emmett Till insisted that her sons body be displayed in an open casket forcing the nation to see the brutality directed at Black people. The funerals of Black Americans who are the victims of police brutality or white supremacist violence serve both as outlets for private mourning and as venues to air shared grief and demand justice. (AP Photo/Chicago Sun-Times, File) The casket that Emmett was photographed in for Jet magazine is currently on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, told theGrio, Till is one of the most powerful films hes ever seen. It brings to the screen a youthful and passionate Mamie Till that reminds us of her sacrifice but more importantly, her strength to use the worst moment of her life as a clarion call for the nation to address Americas racism, said Bunch. Her actions sparked the civil rights movement, a movement that changed America. Last year, a grand jury declined to indict Carolyn Bryant, who now goes by Carolyn Donham, after an unserved warrant for her arrest in 1955 was unearthed. Bryant, who is now an elderly woman, is reportedly in hospice care. Last week, a family member of Till filed a lawsuit demanding the Leflore County, Mississippi sheriff serve the arrest warrant for her role in his death. Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, who previously represented the family of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, told theGrio that the latest legal actions just shows that their (Till) family has literally been fighting for generations. Theyve never stopped fighting. Those expected to attend Thursdays White House screening are high school students from Chicago and the state of Mississippi. Till relatives will be in attendance as well as Goldberg, who played Tills grandmother, actress Danielle Deadwyler, who played Tills mother, and the young actor who portrayed Emmett, Jalyn Hall. In addition to signing the Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law, Biden has used the power of the presidency to bring attention to the rise of hate in America. In September 2022, President Biden hosted the United We Stand summit, which sought to address increased hate-based crimes. President Biden signs Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law on March 29, 2022. (Photo: White House) The summit was organized in response to the deadly mass shooting of nine African-American shoppers and workers inside a Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York in May 2022, as well as other hate incidents carried out by white extremist gunmen. There are core values that should bring us together as Americans. And one of them is standing together against hate, racism, bigotry, and violence that have long haunted and plagued our nation, Biden said at the time. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post President Biden and first lady to host Till screening at White House appeared first on TheGrio. Investors who take an interest in VersaBank (TSE:VBNK) should definitely note that the President, David Taylor, recently paid CA$10.15 per share to buy CA$152k worth of the stock. While that's a very decent purchase to our minds, it was proportionally a bit modest, boosting their holding by just 1.3%. Check out our latest analysis for VersaBank The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At VersaBank In fact, the recent purchase by President David Taylor was not their only acquisition of VersaBank shares this year. They previously made an even bigger purchase of CA$429k worth of shares at a price of CA$10.25 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being CA$9.90). While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. We note that David Taylor was also the biggest seller. Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid CA$1.1m for 111.18k shares. On the other hand they divested 1.00k shares, for CA$10k. Overall, VersaBank insiders were net buyers during the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Does VersaBank Boast High Insider Ownership? Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Insiders own 12% of VersaBank shares, worth about CA$33m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About VersaBank Insiders? The recent insider purchases are heartening. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. Given that insiders also own a fair bit of VersaBank we think they are probably pretty confident of a bright future. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for VersaBank you should be aware of. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Welcome to The Press Room, a semi-regular weekly roundup of the major stories and happenings of the 2023 Delaware legislative year. This week we focus on updates from budget hearings, a speech from a Delaware man and bills Ill be keeping an eye on when lawmakers come back from recess. As always, send story tips, feedback, ideas or gossip to me at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow me on Twitter at @MereNewman. Budget hearing updates The Joint Finance Committee hearings continue for the rest of the month. Last week, the Departments of Correction, Justice and Safety and Homeland Security presented their recommended budgets to lawmakers. Like all of the Cabinet secretaries, a major focus for all three was staffing issues, particularly with vacancy rates. You can find the presentations and hearings here. Theres a lot to these hearings. But these are some interesting nuggets that stood out to me: DOC seeks to increase inmate wages The Department of Correction announced its plans to increase inmates wages. The state has not done this in 30 years. DOC Commissioner Monroe Hudson said the average hourly wage is about 28 cents per hour. To put things in perspective, Monroe said, prices at the commissary have increased by about 34% in that time. The plan is to increase wages by 20% in the course of two years. The department is also facing chronic issues with staffing and overtime. Monroe noted that this is especially the case when inmates have to go to the hospital because it requires more staffing. DOC Commissioner Monroe Hudson said the average hourly wage for Delaware inmates is about 28 cents per hour. More funding for school resource officers The Department of Safety and Homeland Security is looking to increase its funding for school resource officers. (Read more background on that here.) The department wants to increase funding for more officers. Secretary Nathaniel McQueen noted that there have been requests for an additional officer at William Penn High School and Mariner Middle School, but the department is looking for flexibility if a school district makes a request mid-year. Story continues The DOJ struggles to hire criminal prosecutors The Department of Justice is struggling with vacancies and caseloads. Attorney General Kathy Jennings said last week that deputy attorneys general are juggling 300 felony cases a year, in part because of the pandemic. Before, it was about 150 to 200 cases. It can be a struggle to find lawyers to work for the DOJ, especially with higher salaries available at private firms. DOJ officials said they struggle the most with hiring criminal prosecutors, particularly in Kent County. The department is also looking to increase staff in its child predator unit, which has seen an explosion of cyber tips. In 2020, the unit received 629 tips. This past year, there were 1,279 tips. Delaware man gave a big speech In case you missed it, President Joe Biden delivered his annual State of the Union address last week. Here are some key takeaways. Biden, unsurprisingly, dropped quotes and mentions of his father several times throughout, particularly on the economic portion of the speech. But he also mentioned another Delawarean and luckily my colleague Kevin Tresolini noticed. The Delaware bills Im keeping an eye on (and you should, too) The General Assembly is still in recess with the Joint Finance Committee budget hearings ongoing throughout this month. In the meantime, here are a couple of bills I plan to focus more on: Funding for police recruitment House Bill 39: This bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Smith, a Pike Creek Republican, would give $20 million (in a one-time appropriation) to police agencies to help recruit and retain new officers. The money could be used in recruitment and retention, as well as helping pay for overtime or creating programs designed to improve public safety, according to the bill. This legislation would likely involve intense debate, given the climate of policing here in Delaware and throughout the country. Noteworthy here: It has the support of five Democrats: Reps. Bill Bush, Franklin Cooke and Ed Osienski, as well as Sens. Spiros Mantzavinos and Russell Huxtable. It was voted out of the Houses Public Safety & Homeland Security committee and still needs to be heard in the Appropriations Committee. Eliminating the death penalty in Delaware House Bill 70: The debate to repeal the death penalty is back. It has a long, complicated history here in Delaware. A quick refresher: Delaware became the second state in the nation to repeal the death penalty in 1958. And then it was reinstated in 1961 when the General Assembly passed legislation and blocked the governors veto. The state Supreme Court declared Delawares law unconstitutional in 2016 because it gave judges too much discretion. Since then, there have been several competing capital punishment bills introduced by lawmakers. Democrats have wanted to repeal it, while Republicans have wanted to reinstate it with modifications. The new legislation introduced by Rep. Sean Lynn, a Dover Democrat, would eliminate the death penalty from the Delaware code. Those over the age of 18 who are convicted of first-degree murder would face life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation or a reduced sentence. Gov. John Carney has previously said he is opposed to Delawares death penalty. The Associated Press reported in 2020 the governor would probably sign a bill allowing capital punishment if it were restricted to killers of law enforcement officials. A Delawarean has not been executed in more than a decade. This bill has yet to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee. Delaware tenants right to representation Senate Bill 1: My colleague Esteban Parra last week wrote about a bill that would give tenants the right to free counsel to those whose income is no more than twice the federal poverty guideline. If you remember, this is the bill Carney announced his support of this bill during his budget presentation. This is not the first time this bill has been introduced. Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend tried to pass this in 2021 and 2022. It failed in the House of Representatives. Carneys support of this legislation will be key for it to pass. The legislation would also create a diversion program to resolve most landlord-tenant disputes before they lead to legal action. The cost of this bill starts at around $1 million and then goes up to $3 million. The program would be run by a legal aid organization. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware politics: Wage increases for inmates, death penalty debate renewed (Bloomberg) -- BBC Chairman Richard Sharp made significant errors of judgment in failing to disclose his role in a loan to former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, risking public trust in the British news organization, a Parliament committee said. He now faces pressure to resign. Most Read from Bloomberg Sharp, a former partner at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., was questioned by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee this month over his involvement in helping arrange an 800,000 ($964,960) loan for Johnson, who was prime minister at the time Sharp was applying for his position to lead the national broadcaster. In a report released on Sunday, the committee called on Sharp to consider the impact his actions will have on the trust in him, the BBC and the public appointment process. The committee had also questioned Sharp in Jan. 2021 about whether he should get the BBC chairmans job. Such a significant error of judgment meant we were not in the full possession of the facts when we were required to rule on his suitability for the role of BBC Chair, said Damian Green, acting chair of the DCMS committee. I think his position is being increasingly more untenable, shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy said in an interview Sunday on Sky News. I think its becoming more and more difficult see how Richard Sharp could possibly continue in that role. Sharp is a prominent Conservative Party donor who has given 400,000 to the Tories. While he was appointed during Johnsons premiership, he also has ties to the current prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who briefly worked at Goldman Sachs at the same time as Sharp. The relationship between Johnson and Sharp is looking more and more murky, Nandy said. Story continues Sharp told the committee on Feb. 7 that he acted in good faith and was just the go between for the loan. He did not offer financial advice to Johnson but regretted the distraction caused by the matter to the BBC, he said Tuesday. Read more: Ex-Goldman BBC Chief Set for Grilling Over Boris Johnson Loan By not recusing himself from involvement in the loan or disclosing it to officials, the committee was left without the full facts needed to fully scrutinize his appropriateness as a candidate, the report said. Clearly Sharp broke the rules, said John Nicolson, a Scottish National Party MP who is on the committee. Nicolson said on Sky he doesnt see how Sharp can carry on, as BBC staff have lost confidence in him. This is really something which the public appointments commissioner must look at and we must wait for his judgment. And above all, of course, its a matter for the judgment of the BBC, Development Minister Andrew Mitchell said in an interview on Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday. Sharp shouldnt have been considered as BBC chairman in the first place because he was such a big Tory donor, Nicolson said. He called on Labour Leader Keir Starmer, to end the practice and not give a big public service job to donors if he wins the next elections. Labour leads the Tories in most recent opinion polls by double digits. I dont think you should be giving huge amounts of money and then getting a plumb job from the people you have given that money to, Nicolson said. Its not against the rules, but I think its wrong. (Updates with officials comments starting in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The Prosecutor's Office of Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol submitted a case to court in regards to Russia-appointed "Minister of Health" on the peninsula. This was reported by the Office's department. The investigators have determined that the defendant supplied medical equipment and transportation to the Russian military amid their war with Ukraine. "The head of the occupation ministry supports Russian military aggression against Ukraine by all means and adapats the mechanism of the healthcare system to the needs of the Russian army", says the Prosecutors Office. The Prosecutors Office also reported that the "minister" held various positions in illegally created institutions of the occupation regime. In particular, he was a head doctor in the hospital of Sudak, and later became "First Deputy Head of the Ministry of Health of Autonomous Republic of Crimea." In July 2022, he voluntarily took the position of a "Minister of Health" on the peninsula. The actions of the official are regarded as collaboration actions (Part 5 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The man faces up to 10 years in prison. It should be noted that the current "Minister of Health" of the temporarily occupied Crimea is Konstantin Skorupskiy. In November 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine collected evidence based on the criminal activity of the collaborator. According to the investigation, before the occupation of Crimea, Skorupskiy was the chief sanitary doctor in the cities of Feodosia and Sudak, and after the capture of the peninsula by Russia, he voluntarily joined the ranks of the occupation administration. "There, he received a passport of the Russian Federation and joined the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, in which he was a "'deputy of the Sudak City Council'," the Security Service of Ukraine reported. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Farzad: I had the most amazing response to me playing an Iranian (ByPip) Until recently, Leila Farzad was asked to read, repeatedly, for the same kind of role. There were a lot of terrorist wives that I was put up for, and that was how I saw myself represented a lot, the actor says dryly. You know, a wife begging someone to not blow something up. Having grown up in London, Farzad didnt think of myself as necessarily needing to be cast as a Middle Eastern person I was just a girl from London, but it happened so often that it became a running joke among her friends look Leila, its your part. That is, until a job came along that changed everything. Farzad landed the part of Naomi in Billie Piper and Lucy Prebbles I Hate Suzie, as the straight-talking agent to child-star-turned-shamed-celeb Suzie Pickles. The role landed her a Bafta nomination and proved, at 37, to be Farzads big break. Shes now on the brink of taking on her first lead TV role in Better, a tense police drama set in Leeds. Over a mint tea in the quiet corner of a London hotel restaurant, Farzad is frank about the long journey its taken for her to feel some security while doing what she loves. Being gainfully employed, I cannot tell you, having been on the other side of it for so long, I feel so lucky, she explains. Since graduating from drama school more than a decade ago, Farzad had long heard a barrage of nos or just plain silence when she auditioned for roles. When her part in Suzie came along, shed just begun training to become an intimacy coordinator. Although she never planned to leave the industry, she had started to wonder if her acting career would ever pan out in the way shed hoped. Nor did it help that, for many years, shed been told that the chances of achieving success after 30 were slim-to-none. Dont bother. Women fall off a cliff, and then youre not hot anymore, youre not attractive, no ones gonna want to hire you. Whatever, she says, eyes rolling. When she got the part on I Hate Suzie, Farzad saw the opportunity to personalise Naomi in a way that felt meaningful and didnt hesitate to voice her idea. When I sat down with Lucy [Prebble] ahead of I Hate Suzie and said she was considering making Naomi Turkish. I said, Should she just be Iranian, because Im Iranian? How many Iranians do you see represented? And with that, Naomi Jones had a nuanced, specific identity bisexual, brash, British Iranian. It wasnt unnoticed by the audience. I had the most amazing response to me playing an Iranian, she says with pride. Lots of queer Iranian girls were messaging me, like I cant believe Im seeing myself represented on TV, I could weep. Great! Just from telling the truth, weve made strides. Now, after a short second season of Suzie in late 2022, Farzad is the central focus. In Better, she plays DCI Lou Slack, a corrupt cop who is ready to turn over a new leaf after a family health scare shakes up her moral compass. In conversation, Farzad may be breezy and casual, but she comes across as grounded someone who isnt taking this moment for granted. I feel excited and trepidatious; nervous and anxious and proud all at the same time, she says. I never dared to dream that my name would be first on a cast list I just wanted to be employed. So, to have that privilege is incredible, but comes with its own pressure that you do the role and the writing justice, because youre carrying quite a lot of it on your shoulders. She neednt worry: as DCI Lou Slack, Farzad is convincing and confident. Slack is cutthroat and calculated, then switches effortlessly into a warm, loving persona when shes off-duty with her son and husband. Slack is able to inhabit both of those character traits, and be able to compartmentalise, which I think women can do very well. But you dont often see it much on television. Farzad has waited long enough for a role as meaty as this. After studying modern languages at Oxford, Farzad returned to her home city of London to train at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Shed first had an inkling that she wanted to act when she was around six, when her mother and aunt would bring her to the theatre regularly. Theyd queue at the half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square come rain or shine, and after seeing a production of The Wind in the Willows at the National Theatre, Farzad knew she wanted a job that involved pretending to be someone else and making people laugh. Growing up, she used comedy as a defence mechanism against any criticism that would come her way for being funny looking. I had one eyebrow and very buck teeth, and my mum didnt know how to manage my hair so it was a big frizzy mess, she recalls. And everybody at my school had this sleek blonde hair. They all seemed to have these very even features, and I was the creature that felt very different and other. Comedy was my way in. I was the class clown, that was my position amongst all those very pretty... Sophies and Arabellas, if you know what I mean, she says, tilting her head with a smirk. I felt comfortable and happy being the one that could make everyone laugh. My best friend even talked about it in the speech at my wedding: comedy meant that I felt like I belonged. That was the skill I was offering. Farzad as Lou Slack in Better (BBC/Sister Pictures) After first pursuing an academic degree to appease her mother, Farzad believed she was well on her way to achieving her childhood dream when she made it to drama school. But trying to find her feet as a jobbing actor after graduation was a brutal reality check. What I think drama school doesnt prepare you for is the level of rejection and pain, and the thickness of skin youll need to have. If you have low self-esteem or low self-confidence, its gonna make it even lower. You need to have real resilience and be quite self-possessed. She knows this now, but at the time feeling as if she was constantly trying to enter a club that didnt want her around was difficult. It felt personal. You end up not even prepping properly for auditions because youve already decided in your head that youre never going to get it, so whats the point? You go into self-sabotage mode. I always knew I wanted to do it, but I was wondering: can I do this? Am I capable? Maybe I dont have what it takes. I dont seem to look quite right for it. Aside from occasional roles in the London theatre scene, jobs were thin on the ground. To avoid becoming disheartened, Farzad sought fulfilment in the company of her friends and loved ones. Around this time, she also became a mother to a now eight-year-old daughter. If I didnt get a job, I had this other wonderful, ball of happiness, she says of having a child. That helped me contextualise things. Because it can feel really like its the end of the world, and youll never feel happy again if you dont get this job. You need to shift your mindset. Billie Piper and Farzad in I Hate Suzie (Sky UK) Farzad hopes that with her growing platform will come opportunities to speak more about the things that matter to her the ongoing political crisis in Iran being one of them. As a British Iranian, Farzad finds it difficult to engage with the atrocities being committed against women under the current regime. You feel terrible guilt, and impotence, and sorrow. But youre in this Western country where everything is pretty much fine and you dont have to be afraid to just walk down the street. You feel its your responsibility to bring it to peoples attention. But for now, shes revelling in finally having the chance to do the creative work that matters to her. It was like being really hungry and occasionally having a tiny bite of a really delicious sandwich, but thats all youre allowed, she says of her dissatisfying pre-Suzie years. But when you eat that sandwich, its so good. Every bite now is a real privilege. Better airs on BBC One on Monday 13 February at 9pm Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters/Wikimedia Commonss NARVA, EstoniaThe quick and glorious victory Vladimir Putin expected when he launched a war in Ukraine has turned into something of a punchline, and with each day bringing more humiliation to the Russian army, Moscow is looking as lonely as ever. Baltic countries have been important supporters of Ukraine since the beginning of the war. In Estonia, nearly three-quarters of the total population supported financial and armed support to Ukraine, despite the fact that a quarter of the countrys population is ethnically Russian. Now, Estonia is taking another step away from Russiaby investing in the Estonian language through education. The growing divide is especially evident in Narva, the third-largest city in Estonia, separated from Russia only by a river. The city is currently constructing two state high schools, a primary school, and a kindergartenand even though 95 percent of the population of this border city speak Russian at homethe primary language taught in those schools will be Estonian. Wake-up call Estonian officials have been pushing for the language shift ever since their country gained independence from the Soviet Union. The war in Ukraine, however, has accelerated this process, Narva mayor Katri Raik told The Daily Beast. At the beginning of the war, a situation developed where Estonians and Russian-speaking residents had quite different understandings of the situation in the world, the mayor said, explaining that the war had exposed how the country had failed to establish schools that unified Russian and Estonian students. Russia May Threaten the Baltics but Estonia Knows How to Fight Back One of those new schools, a high school, is expected to open by September. Irene Kaosaar, the future principal and current head of a neighboring immersion school, proudly toured The Daily Beast around the construction site, a few blocks away from Narva city center, and a 10-minute walk from the Russian border. This school must protect the Estonian language and Estonian culture in this border city, Kaosaar, who will be in charge of some 800 students total when the new school is opened, told The Daily Beast. Story continues Principal Irene Kaosaar. Jorik Simonides Four months ago, the Estonian Minister of Education, Tonis Lukas, laid the cornerstone for the new high school. Its something of a prestige project for Lukas, whose ministry is leading the way in promoting the use of Estonian in the country. The government has been investing heavily in the Estonian language as of late. By raising the salaries of teachers who are fluent in Estonian, they hope to motivate educators to come and work in the north-eastern regions of the country. The Estonian language uses the Latin alphabet, and is closer in structure to Finnish than it is to Russian. Starting in 2024, all Russian-speaking kindergartens in Estonia are expected to switch over to the Estonian language. A legislative proposal is also being prepared to require, among others, taxi drivers and food couriers to be proficient in Estonian. Backlash These developments have not been welcomed by everyone in the country. The language goals, and compulsory use of Estonian in kindergartens, are perceived as an imposition by some ethnic Russians in Estonia. The Estonian-based NGO Russian School of Estonia, committed to the position of the Russian-speaking community in Estonia, has even lambasted the decisions as discriminatory. The reform in the education field is aimed not only at optimizing the school system but at the gradual eradication of Russian education in Estonia, which would eventually lead to the assimilation of the minority, the group said in a statement urging the Estonian government to reconsider this new language policy. The Russian government, for its part, has even gone so far as to accuse Estonias prime minister of Hitlerism for encouraging Ukrainian refugees in the country to take Estonian language courses. Hitler would be proud of you [the Prime Minister of Estonia]. Without you, it would be much more difficult to prove the dehumanization of the collective West. Estonia for Estonians, right?, Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of Russias foreign affairs ministry, said on Telegram. Say it, at last, stop wrinkling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with sweaty palms. Though some Estonians worry that Russia will use the new language policy to justify threats against their country, Raik says shes not frightened. If I were worried about Russian politics every day, I would not be able to work in Narva. Of course, I sincerely hope that Estonia will not come under Russian attack. This does not imply that we should consider our neighbor when enacting state policy, she told The Daily Beast. Construction of a new school in Narva. Jorik Simonides The future Veronika Gorbatenko, a spokesperson for the ministry, emphasizes that Estonian has always been the language of instruction in all state-funded schools The recently passed legislation will extend that to privately operated schools or schools that operate under local governments, she told The Daily Beast. Estonian as a primary language is also necessary for integration, at least when it comes to education, according to Kaosaar. Her new school, she argues, will provide more opportunities for Russian-speaking students in the future. Otherwise, they cannot study in the future, in high school, for example, or they have fewer choices in the labor market, she said. This school has the potential to change that in Narva." Russia May Threaten the Baltics but Estonia Knows How to Fight Back Denis, a Narva resident, agrees. He was born in Narva, where he spoke Russian at home, and Estonian at school. Most people here will always speak Russian amongst themselves because that is their first language, he said, but We are living in Estonia, and in Estonia you should be able to speak Estonian. If you are traveling to other parts of Estonia, you should be able to speak the language. The Russian language became more established in Estonia after World War II, when a wave of Russians came to Estonia during the Soviet occupation. Narva has a particularly long history with the languageand youd be hard pressed to find people speaking Estonian to each other on the streets. Estonian demography expert Allan Puur, a professor at Tallinn University, does not expect an abrupt change to happen soon. We see new generations of Russian speakers emerging. They are turning into minorities who are more integrated into Estonian society and can speak Estonian as a second language. But in the meantime, I assume that most of them keep self-defining their mother tongue as Russian and speak that language at home at least, he told The Daily Beast. Principal Irene Kaosaar doesnt expect the shift to happen overnight, either. Russian language classes will still be given at the new school, she said, and other subjects might even be taught in Russian or bilingually. I hope the government helps with that. We were told about this project in the last 30 years, she said. But we need the law to go forward more quickly and in a more intensive way. This is not easy to realize. 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. Rafa Benitez spent six years at Liverpool before a shorter stint as Everton manager (PA) Rafa Benitez has admitted that he has split loyalties ahead of the Merseyside derby, refusing to favour either Liverpool or Everton. The Spaniard became only the second manager to take charge of both clubs when appointed Everton boss in June 2021. While his six-year stint with Liverpool brought significantly more success than a six-and-a-half month spell at Goodison Park, Benitez still feels warmly about both sets of supporters. Though conceding that Everton fans had found it hard to move on from his Liverpool past, the 62-year-old insists he does not favour either side. When I first arrived at Anfield I was surprised by the people, they were very friendly, they tried to help with adapting to the new place from day one, Benitez wrote in the foreword to Crossing the Park: The Men Who Dared to Play for Both Liverpool and Everton, a forthcoming book by Peter Kenny Jones. Then at Everton, there were a lot of friendly people, but the difference was that some looked at you differently, they couldnt forget the past with Liverpool. I feel at home in Merseyside, my family is completely at home here and that is important. The Liverpool fans are still kind and close today, many of the Everton fans know what actually happened and are, lets say, friendly. I cant say Im more Liverpool or Everton today. Logically, in six years there were a lot of highs at Liverpool, but I still have good friends amongst the Everton fans. Benitez was dismissed by Everton in January 2022 after a run of nine defeats in 13 games. The Spaniard, who has also managed Chelsea and Newcastle, has been out of work since leaving that role, though has recently connected with a possible return to the Premier League at Leeds. Reflecting on his two tenures on Merseyside, Benitez prefers to think of the highs - most prominently the Champions League win in Istanbul in 2005. The 62-year-old said: My best moment with Liverpool was the Champions League in 2005, along with many other good memories; the worst moment was the feeling towards the end that something was changing for the worse and that I had to leave. Story continues With Everton, the best moment was the 2-1 win in December against Arsenal. Id rather not talk about the bad moments. I dont think that managing Everton tarnished my reputation at Anfield; the Liverpool fans understood that my family and my home are here and that I hadnt been managing for a while, so many accepted this. The tricky thing about being a champion for good governance is that good governance is often invisible. When roads are well maintained, when businesses in a community flourish, when hospitals and emergency services are trustworthy, and when drinking water is clean and safe, we tend to not think about it. There are no squeaky wheels to grease, so we take for granted the modern marvels of public administration. To complicate matters further, most governance takes place outside of the explicitly political world that tends to make the headlines. Yes, legislatures pass laws, executives issue orders, judges make decisions, and diplomats negotiate. But public policy really happens through administration. Education policy happens when a teacher grades a paper or disciplines a child. Immigration policy happens when a foreign service officer issues a visa or an Immigration & Customs Enforcement agent detains a migrant. Health policy happens when a nurse administers a vaccine, or a doctor recommends a treatment. Regulatory policy happens when an inspector certifies a restaurant or aircraft. Manuel P. Teodoro, associate professor of public affairs at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison. These routine but critical moments in public administration typically go unnoticed. Its only when potholes proliferate, businesses shutter, emergency services face delays, or water is tainted and dangerous that many of us think about public administration at all. Its unfortunate but its human nature. Psychologists call this tendency negativity bias. Were hard-wired, it seems, to focus on the negative. Theres value to this cognitive bias. Its how we identify dangers and collectively turn attention to pressing matters. Much of my work as a professor in the UWMadison La Follette School of Public Affairs focuses on water policy, and so the most egregious recent example of this for me is Jackson, Mississippis water crisis. Jacksons plight is, at its core, a failure of governance. Leaders at every level were incentivized to ignore water infrastructure problems for many years until disaster ensued. Regulatory officials tolerated drinking water violations in Mississippis capital city for decades. When things came to a head last summer and water became truly undrinkable for a city of 150,000 where more than 80% of the residents are Black, national attention was rightfully aimed in the citys direction. I can only hope the attention ultimately leads to a systemic overhaul that results in a clean, sustainable water supply for the residents of Jackson. Story continues While we need to urgently identify and address critical breakdowns in public services, a major upshot of these crises is that they diminish the publics trust in government. Things can then spin out in a vicious cycle that my co-authors and I discuss in our new book, The Profits of Distrust: Citizen-Consumers, Drinking Water, and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government. Countless invisible successes of public administration go unnoticed while the few failures are elevated, sometimes becoming self-fulfilling prophecies and leading to additional failures. This phenomenon can threaten the legitimacy of the government and the strength of our democracy. Were seeing this play out currently. According to a policy poll we conducted at La Follette in 2021, 32% of Wisconsinites have little or no confidence in local government, 51% have little or no confidence in state government, and a staggering 61% have little or no confidence in the federal government. Across the country, trust in government fell 30 points from 2001 to 2020 according to the Pew Research Center. My research connects this declining trust to the quality of basic services like tap water: to trust tap water is to trust the government. During this time of declining trust in government, U.S. consumption of bottled water has skyrocketed. More:Wisconsinites are carrying the weight of the nation's problems on their shoulders heading into the midterm election, survey finds At the La Follette School of Public Affairs, we acknowledge the importance of trust between citizens and government. While identifying public policy challenges, we also recognize the need to understand public administration successes. For this reason, Im excited to serve as the chair of the 2023 La Follette Forum on March 1 in Madison. This years theme is, All Policy is Implementation. We will dive into real-world examples of successful implementation strategies and effective collaboration across sectors and levels of government in every corner of Wisconsin. More: See details of the La Follette forum and register for the event Attendees will have the chance to hear solution-based discussions from more than 30 experts and Wisconsin-based panelists and take part in small group discussions. Three main sessions will examine successful responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, discuss how to ensure that diverse voices are represented in decision-making, and demonstrate examples of collaborating across levels of government to combat substance abuse. Breakout panels will take up housing, infrastructure development, eliminating lead contamination, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and renewable energy. Andrew Card, former White House Chief of Staff under President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President George H.W. Bush will kick off the event as the morning keynote speaker. The forum will close with a keynote address by Melissa Harris-Perry, former MSNBC host and Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University. Far from the cameras and headlines, away from press conferences and courtrooms, critical but often-overlooked people and processes determine whether public policy succeeds or fails. Trust between citizen and state is forged or broken in the everyday performance of public agencies. And its all largely invisible to most citizens. Thats why were excited to bring these ideas and processes to the foreground in this years forum. Because at all times, at every level of government, all policy is implementation. Manuel P. Teodoro is an associate professor of public affairs at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Forum aims to explore ways to restore shaky public trust in government. A bipartisan bill to fund new police efforts against auto theft failed to advance in Congress at the end of last year, but U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill said she's put the measure back on the table. Sherrill, a Montclair Democrat, said she's reintroduced the Auto Theft Prevention Act in Washington along with her co-sponsor, Nebraska Republican Don Bacon. When residents, mayors, and police chiefs throughout NJ-11 came to me with concerns regarding the rise in motor-vehicle theft in our towns, it was clear federal action was necessary, Sherrill, who represents the state's 11th Congressional District, said in a statement last week. The bill would provide $150 million in grants over five years to local law enforcement, in response to a rise in auto thefts and stolen vehicle trafficking around the country. New Jersey State Police estimate that about 15,644 cars were stolen in 2022, an increase of more than 1,000 from last year and nearly 4,000 more than in 2020. Auto theft can be cyclical: 16,471 car thefts were reported as recently as 2012. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), right, with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, left, and New Jersey State Police Col. Patrick Callahan before she spoke about her introduction of a federal Auto Theft Prevention Act on Oct. 17, 2022 at the Hartley-Dodge Memorial building in Madison. The rise in recent years reflects dramatic increases in luxury-vehicle thefts in the wealthy suburbs of North Jersey, including Sherrill's district. The new wave, police have said, is largely the work of organized criminal gangs who scour neighborhoods for expensive vehicles that are left unlocked with the key fobs inside. In more brazen cases in recent months, thieves often juveniles recruited by seasoned criminals have entered unlocked homes in North Jersey in search of the fobs. For subscribers: NJ car theft is on a record-setting pace: See where your town ranks Nationally, almost 500,000 vehicles worth an estimated $4.5 billion were stolen in the first half of 2022, Sherrill said when she first announced the bill in October. Thefts are up about 25% compared with the first half of 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, Sherrill said. "These thefts have placed communities in danger and left families feeling threatened in their own homes," Sherrill said. "With this commonsense, bipartisan legislation, state and local police will have stronger resources that will help them respond to and deter thieves." Story continues The legislation would provide resources for joint task forces, data collection and research activities related to auto theft, her statement said. It would also help local departments purchase equipment such as law enforcement vehicles and license plate readers. Grants would also pay for additional staff, compensation and overtime costs. William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Mikie Sherrill auto theft bill reintroduced in Congress BERLIN (AP) Climate commitments by companies arent always as green as they seem. A new report concludes major brands are exaggerating how ambitious their efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions are in effect misleading consumers, investors and governments. The report published Monday by the Europe-based environmental think tanks NewClimate Institute and Carbon Market Watch examined 24 companies, including KitKat manufacturer Nestle, French retailer Carrefour and automaker Volkswagen. It found that only one company shipping firm Maersk had climate plans with reasonable integrity while the rest were assessed to be moderate to very low. For the majority of companies, we found their climate strategies to be lacking, said Thomas Day, a researcher at the NewClimate Institute who co-authored the report. Actual emissions cuts resulting from the companies plans would amount to less than half those needed by 2030 to help meet the Paris climate accords goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit), it found in its second annual assessment. The researchers also questioned companies' pledges to achieve "net zero' emissions, arguing that most consumers would understand that to mean largely stopping the release of planet-heating gas into the atmosphere. "These net zero pledges, they actually amount to a commitment to reduce the emissions of those companies by just 36%, said Day. Companies either claim the rest will be removed from the atmosphere by artificial or natural means so-called carbon offsets or simply remove large chunks of their emissions from the tally. This was the case, for example, for Carrefour, which excludes 80% of its stores from the net zero target for 2040, according to the report. The company was among four corporations ranked as having climate plans with very low integrity, along with American Airlines, food processing company JBS and Samsung Electronics. Story continues Carrefour said it disagreed with the report, adding that its climate efforts had been validated by independent experts a position also taken by Swiss-based Nestle, whose targets were labeled as having low integrity." We will continue to pursue a holistic strategy of reducing our emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere through measures that deliver benefits to the millions of people connected to our companys operations, Nestle said in a statement. Volkswagen, whose targets were also assessed as having low integrity, said it was committed to meeting the goal of the Paris accord, noting that it plans to invest 52 billion ($55.5 billion) in electric vehicles by 2026. We support the NewClimate Institutes concern to achieve the greatest possible transparency and comparability in the climate goals of large companies, it said. The report's authors said their findings highlighted the need for greater transparency and stricter regulation of corporate climate efforts, to prevent companies from greenwashing their environmental impact - particularly when making net zero claims. In many ways, carbon-neutral products are similar to cancer-neutral cigarettes, said co-author Gilles Dufrasne of Carbon Market Watch. There is no robust scientific basis behind those claims, and most consumers are just completely confused about what those claims would mean. ___ Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor 2023 ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Oleksii Reznikov "I have left for another meeting in the Ramstein format, Reznikov wrote. Read also: Ukraine could get new defense minister after Ramstein meeting Im honoured to head for the ninth time a joint team of Defence Ministry, military intelligence, General Staff and our diplomats, which is working closely with our partner nations for the next several days." Reznikov said that the pace of work with Ukraines allies is extremely fast, and the main issues on the agenda are the following: protection of Ukrainian skies, in particular with the help of an aviation platform; expanding of "tank coalition"; ensuring there is a safety margin for ammunition stocks; training for Ukrainian soldiers; stability of support, in particular logistics, maintenance, repair, and actual realization of the "Military Schengen." Read also: Defense chiefs Reznikov and Austin discuss supply of additional weapons to Kyiv "Ive held talks with some partners beforehand. Their involvement and support give cause for optimism," the minister wrote. The ninth Ramstein meeting on the issue of Ukrainian defense is to be held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on Feb. 14. Also, a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Defence Ministers will take place on Feb. 14-15 at NATO Headquarters. It will be headed by the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Read also: Three lessons from Ramstein. About Germany, tanks and offensive weapons for Ukraine The previous Ramstein meeting was held on Jan. 20, at which was decided to provide Ukraine with the following weapons: Story continues Read also: Denmark transfers all of its Caesar self-propelled guns to Ukraine Besides, the U.S. will provide Ukraine with the following: 59 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles; 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers; 53 mine-resistant armored vehicles (MRAPs); Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine LONDON (AP) There is no bigger cheerleader of awards season than Richard E. Grant. He brings joy to the red carpet, snapping selfies with stars and posting congratulations to nominees on social media. Now this enthusiasm has been tapped for the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Feb. 19 at the Royal Festival Hall. Im an unabashed fan of movies and of talent and always have been. Ive never been disingenuous or, you know, blase about that, Grant, the host, says. I probably have to restrain myself from permanently taking selfies with every nominee and winner coming up on the stage." From that point of view, I am the right fit for the job, hopefully, he says. Grant also knows how it feels to participate in awards season and sit, nervously, waiting for that career changing envelope to be opened. He was nominated as supporting actor at both the BAFTAs and Oscars in 2019 for Can You Ever Forgive Me? And hes aware that, as a working actor, hosting has its challenges. Traditionally if youre a comedian, your role is very clear to roast the audience. Whereas Im an actor and, you know, even though Im the vast vintage that I am now, I still want to work and collaborate with directors and actors and writers for the remainder of my breathing days," he says. "So roasting them is not really an option and not something that I want to do. When asked if there will be any humor in the ceremony Grant has jokes. No, Its going to be very, very serious. Therell be no jokes and it will be itll be brutally earnest, he says, laughing. Rebel Wilson got mixed reviews for her joke heavy turn as the BAFTA ceremony emcee last March, which at one point involved a cake of Benedict Cumberbatchs face. This year, All Quiet on the Western Front leads the nominees with 14. The Banshees of Inisherin and Everything Everywhere All at Once both have 10 nominations. As youd expect, Grant knows quite a few of the nominees, having worked with EE Rising Star nominees Naomi Ackie and Daryl McCormack, plus Bill Nighy, Cate Blanchett and most of the Banshees cast. Story continues But there will be big changes at the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony this year. After six years of walking up the red carpeted steps into the Royal Albert Hall, nominees will be attending an event held beside the River Thames on Londons Southbank at the Royal Festival Hall. Also, for the first time, the last 30 minutes of the show will be broadcast live on BBC One, as BAFTA moves toward the idea of a fully live ceremony. In an age where everything can be paused or fast forwarded or, you know, watched on at a later time, the thing of it being live gives it a kind of frisson and excitement and also the possibility that something can go fantastically well or really badly. And thats always a good thing," Grant says. British rapper Lil Simz will be performing at the ceremony and both the prince and princess of Wales will be in the audience, as Prince William is president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Grant, currently working with script writers on what hell be saying on stage, says hes more excited than nervous, adding hell probably be levitating on the big day. It is absolutely genuine, he says of his boundless enthusiasm, and its to the annoyance of some people. Just surviving in show-business because it is, you know for what it looks like from the outside it is a profession that is has an enormous amount of rejection in built into it," he says. "So when people are recognized or succeed at what theyre doing and do it so brilliantly Im a great champion of that. The breakup rumors surrounding DDG and Halle Bailey were squashed, and shortly after, DDG called fans gullible for believing they had split. Although the two have denied their relationship is over, the messy trail followed behind when Rubi Rose exposed the Michigan native for keeping an old shirt of hers and passing it along to Bailey. The post Rubi Rose Shares Alleged DMs From DDG Amid Halle Bailey Breakup Rumors: This Is Why Im Single appeared first on Blavity. Having ur bitch where my clothes is crazy lol Rubi Rose (@RubiRose) February 11, 2023 The white cropped T-shirt with Black graphics was seen in Baileys recent Instagram story as she greeted her followers a good morning. The shirt isnt that noticeable, but internet detectives found old photos of Rose wearing an identical top in 2020. Soon after the story was posted by Bailey, Rose peeped that she was now a part of the sisterhood of traveling shirts, and it had choice words for her ex, DDG. Having [your] b*tch [wear] my clothes is crazy lol, she wrote on Saturday. I like Halle, Ddg a weirdo tho fasho Rubi Rose (@RubiRose) February 11, 2023 Fans found a series of old photos supporting Roses claims of Bailey wearing her old shirt captioned I know he lying But f*ck it I am too. This is why im single pic.twitter.com/4MnYK2pqfO Rubi Rose (@RubiRose) February 12, 2023 The Twitter reactions were on a roll after fans pieced together that the shirt was in fact Roses. One side of the fence berated DDG calling him immature and involving Bailey in childish matters, while others questioned Roses motives for harping over the shirt and then sharing a text thread between her and DDG about what seemed like a possible link up. Story continues DDG caught wind of the texts while livestreaming crumbling under embarrassment he screamed out loud I hate this b*tch. Rose defended her choices by tweeting, I like Halle, the 25-year-old confirmed in a short and sweet post. DDG a weird tho fasho. Baileys fans were not playing about their girl because they went the extra mile to create a petition for the Little Mermaid to find a new man on Change.org. Since its launch, it has already received up to 1,600 signatures. Halle Bailey is black royalty, and she has a childish peasant attached to her, creator Lindsey Williams wrote in the pages description. We want better for our princess. Her celebrity shouldnt be used for YouTube views and clicks. Shes unproblematic, and her childish (hopefully ex-boyfriend) thought it was funny to sub her when shes about to have the biggest year ever. Halle Bailey responds to Rubi Rose accusing DDG of being unfaithful to her: the devil is working. please dont feed into the lies, especially from a third party. pic.twitter.com/WdYSbVcxtt Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 12, 2023 Bailey was quiet for the last week as all of this unfolded online, but it seems shes done being tight-lipped because she tweeted for fans not to believe third parties. The devil is working. Please dont feed into the lies, especially from a third party, she tweeted. Russian military personnel There is no turning back: Russian interests will not be compatible with those of the West, the report reads. Read also: NATO websites suffer Russian-linked cyberattacks, media report According to Lars Nordrum, second in command of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, the war against Ukraine was a disaster for Russia. It led to unprecedented trade sanctions, Moscow's international isolation, and Russia's loss of more than 100,000 troops killed or wounded. Norwegian intelligence also suggests that Russian aggression against Ukraine has increased the geopolitical importance of Norway, not least due to the fact that it has become a key supplier of natural gas to Europe. Read also: At least 180,000 Russian troops injured or killed in war against Ukraine, says Norwegian defense chief European countries will be dependent on Norwegian energy supplies for many years, Nordrum said. Thats what makes the Norwegian Internal Intelligence Service worry of Russia's increased intelligence activity in relation to the Norwegian energy sector. Read also: Russia planning coup detat in Moldova, says Sandu Norwegian head of domestic intelligence Beate Gangas stated that direct sabotage of Norwegian energy infrastructure by Russia in 2023 remains unlikely. However, acts of sabotage could become a more relevant scenario if Russias willingness to escalate the conflict with NATO and the West were to increase, Gangas added. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (Reuters) - Russia is delaying the launch of a ship to bring two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut back from the International Space Station (ISS) while it investigates a pressure loss in another module, its space agency said on Monday. Roscosmos and the U.S. space agency NASA had said that a Soyuz MS-23 ship would be launched on Feb. 20 to bring back Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin and Frank Rubio. But in a video statement, Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said a decision had been taken to push back the launch until no later than March 10 while a team investigates the cause of a pressure loss in the cooling system of the Progress MS-21 cargo ship, which is due to undock from the ISS on Feb. 18. Borisov also showed pictures that American colleagues had taken with a robot arm of the external damage believed to have caused a loss of pressure on Dec. 15 in the cooling system of another module docked to the ISS, Soyuz MS-22. This craft was originally due to return the three men to Earth but, owing to the leak, will now be sent back unmanned. The pictures showed a small hole surrounded by brown stains. Borisov said it could have been caused by a meteoroid or manmade space debris. Roscosmos said the damaged modules were sealed off from the rest of the station and there continued to be no threat to the safety of the seven crew on board - three Americans, three Russians and one Japanese. Despite tense relations due to the Ukraine war, Russia and the United States still collaborate closely on the ISS. The Soyuz craft are used to ferry crew to and from the station, while the Progress vessels deliver equipment and supplies. (Writing by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Aurora Ellis) (Reuters) - Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the Russian region of Chechnya, said in an interview aired on Monday that Russia would achieve its goals in Ukraine by the end of the year and it would be wrong to negotiate with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Kadyrov's forces have played a prominent role in the war in Ukraine since Russia invaded almost a year ago, and he has forged an informal alliance with the increasingly prominent Wagner militia chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and other nationalist hardliners who back the war. In an interview broadcast on state television's flagship Rossiya-1 channel, he said Russia had the forces to take the capital Kyiv - from which it was driven back in the early weeks of the war - and that it needed to capture Ukraine's second city Kharkiv and its main port, Odesa. "I believe that, by the end of the year, we will 100% complete the task set for us today," Kadyrov said. With neither side prepared for concessions, there has appeared to be little prospect of peace talks since the early months of the war. Nevertheless, Kadyrov told interviewer Olga Skabeyeva, who hosts a stridently pro-war chat show: "If we sit down at the negotiating table with Zelenskiy, yes, I think that's wrong." Kadyrov is a former Chechen separatist fighter who switched sides in the late 1990s, joining the pro-Russian administration in the restive Caucasus region along with his wider family. His father was assassinated by pro-independence militants in 2004, and Russian President Vladimir Putin personally installed him as leader of Chechnya in 2007. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey) By Gwladys Fouche OSLO (Reuters) -Russia will seek to gather more intelligence about Norway's oil and gas infrastructure as part of efforts to put pressure on European energy supplies, the Nordic country's police security agency (PST) said in its annual threat assessment on Monday. While Russia is "unlikely" to carry out acts of sabotage on Norwegian territory in 2023, this could change if Moscow's willingness to escalate the conflict with NATO and the West were to increase, PST said. The assessment of threats against Norway is the first since the start of the war in Ukraine in February last year. Since then the NATO member has become Europe's largest gas supplier, following a drop in Russian gas flows. "Norway's role as an energy supplier to Europe has assumed even greater security policy importance as a result of the war in Ukraine," PST said in its report. Moscow would likely prioritise actions such as illegal gathering of intelligence, theft of information, cyber operations or cultivating sources. "These are more probable," PST Chief Beate Gangaas told Reuters. Sabotage of Norwegian energy infrastructure was for now deemed "too risky" a step to take for the Russians. "But this could change if they change their view on how willing they are to take risks," she added. Oslo has reinforced security at its oil and gas installations following explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines on Sept. 26 and is receiving help from NATO allies to protect them. "We have seen the emergence of Russian ambitions to exert pressure on European energy security. PST therefore expects that in 2023, Russia will try to gather intelligence about most aspects of Norway's oil, gas and power sector," it said. In October Norway, which shares a border with Russia in the Arctic, put its military on a raised level of alert in response to the war in Ukraine. PST also expects Russia to be interested in gathering information in Norway about NATO expansion plans to Sweden and Finland, which are neighbours to Norway, and to gather more information about the Arctic Svalbard archipelago. Svalbard is under the sovereignty of Norway but Moscow has a settlement of Russian citizens on the islands under a 1920 treaty. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche; Additional reporting by Nora Buli; Editing by Terje Solsvik and David Holmes) Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the EU's price cap on Russian crude, calling it "stupid." Mikhail Metzel/Getty Images Russia announced on Friday it will cut crude oil production by 500,000 barrels per day in March. The move followed Moscow's vow to retaliate against EU price caps on its crude and refined fuel products. It is also likely that Russia is cutting supplies because it's struggling to sell its oil, per ING. Russia's oil supply cut may not be what it is cracked up to be. The Kremlin's announcement of a 500,000 barrel-per-day crude oil output cut equivalent to about 5% of Russia's January production ignited fears that the country is weaponizing energy supplies in retaliation to Western sanctions over the Ukraine war. But it's also likely that Russia's cutting supply in response to low demand, ING commodity strategists wrote in a Monday note. "We feel that it is more likely that Russia is simply struggling to find buyers for its oil, particularly after the EU ban on Russian refined products came into force earlier this month," according to ING analysts Warren Patterson, the bank's head of commodities strategy, and Ewa Manthey, a commodities strategist. And though the EU was loading up on Russian crude in the run-up to a December 5 ban on the fuel, Russian crude oil exports came under pressure after the ban came into effect alongside as a $60-barrel price cap on the fuel. Data from S&P Global showed Russia's seaborne crude exports actually fell to a two-year low in December, the publication reported on January 3. In February, the EU imposed a similar ban and price cap on imports of Russian refined fuel products. Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed this oil price cap, and called it "stupid." He also flagged three potential methods of retaliation including an oil production cut, which Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak announced on Friday, according to TASS news agency. "We will not sell oil to those who directly or indirectly adhere to the principles of the price ceiling," Novak said, per TASS. "In this regard, Russia will voluntarily reduce production by 500,000 barrels per day in March. This will help restore market relations." Story continues Oil futures jumped over 2% after the news broke but these gains have been partly reversed. On Monday, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures were 0.9% lower at $79.04 a barrel while international benchmark Brent crude was 0.8% lower at $85.74 a barrel 3.08 a.m. ET. "The weakness that we are seeing in prices in early morning trading today likely reflects the market coming to the realization that these cuts are already largely priced in," wrote the ING strategists in their Monday note. Despite Moscow's retaliatory measures, the sanctions seem to be working: Russia's oil revenue has already crashed by nearly 50% in January 2023 from a year ago, Russia's finance ministry said on February 6. Russia's flagship Urals crude is trading was trading at a discount of $38 a barrel against Brent oil on February 8, according to S&P Global Platts. This discount is more than three times that of the $11 a barrel witnessed on February 24, 2022 the day Russia invaded Ukraine according to the price reporting agency. The prices of Russian oil have been depressed even though the country has been redirecting seaborne exports to Asia in particular to India and China after the loss of EU, its single largest energy customer. However, the two price-sensitive countries have been demanding huge discounts, according to a Bloomberg report on November 27. Read the original article on Business Insider (Reuters) -Russia supplied India with around $13 billion of arms in the past five years, and New Delhi has placed orders with Moscow for weapons and military equipment exceeding $10 billion, Russian state news agencies reported late on Sunday. India is the world's biggest buyer of Russian arms, accounting for around 20% of Moscow's current order book, and New Delhi has not explicitly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for dialogue and diplomacy to solve the conflict, now in its 12th month. Scores of Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia, including on arms, in response to the invasion, which Moscow calls a "special military operation". India, China and some Southeast Asian countries have maintained their interest in buying Russian arms, according to Dmitry Shugayev, the head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, the agencies reported. "Despite the unprecedented pressure on India from Western countries led by the United States in connection with Russia's special operation in Ukraine, it continues to be one of Russia's main partners in the field of military-technical cooperation," Interfax agency quoted Shugayev as saying. Annual arms exports were about $14 billion to $15 billion, and the order book has remained steady at around $50 billion, Interfax reported. Asian customers are particularly interested in Russia's S-400 Triumf missile defence systems, short-range surface-to-air missiles systems such as the Osa, Pechora or Strela, as well as Su-30 and MiG-29 warplanes, helicopters and drones, Shugayev said. Another Russian military official was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that Moscow was currently producing S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems for India and intended to complete the deliveries on time. Russia's TASS state news agency reported that Russia will present about 200 samples of weapons and military equipment at the 14th international aerospace exhibition Aero India 2023, which opens on Monday in Bengaluru. India is scouting for billions of dollars worth of military planes, completing jetliner deals to meet civilian demand and pressing global aircraft manufacturers to produce more locally at the show this week. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne, additional reporting by Caleb Davis. Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Jamie Freed) Russian attacks were reported in Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts in the east, south, and north of Ukraine. According to local authorities, four people were killed, and three were wounded in the past 24 hours. Russian troops struck Kherson Oblast 42 times using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), mortars, tanks, and rockets, Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported on Feb. 13. The attacks killed three people and wounded one, according to the administration. In the city of Kherson, Russia hit warehouses, a cinema, the regional administration's territory, and residential buildings. Russian attacks killed one civilian in Chasiv Yar and injured another one in Yelyzavetivka, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit 15 settlements in the region, damaging 26 houses, a hospital, a kindergarten, and an enterprise, said Kyrylenko. Russian military attacked the city of Kupiansk on the morning of Feb. 13, damaging residential buildings, said Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Earlier, Russia struck more than 10 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast with artillery and mortars, injuring one civilian in Vovchansk and damaging houses. Zaporizhzhia regional state administration reported that civilian infrastructure in 14 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast was under Russian fire. Local authorities received five reports about the damages to residents' households and infrastructure sites due to Russian attacks. Russia hit the Kutsurub community on the Black Sea coast in Mykolaiv Oblast with MLRS on Feb. 12, said Vitalii Kim, the oblast governor. There were no damages or casualties. Russian forces shelled and bombed communities in Sumy Oblast near the border with Russia over 50 times on Feb. 12, according to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration. No casualties were reported. Five settlements of Luhansk Oblast were attacked by Russian troops with mortars and artillery, the regional state administration wrote. The administration didn't provide information on casualties or damage. By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) -The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut endured heavy artillery fire on Monday as the NATO chief backed reports from local officials that a major new Russian offensive had begun, days before the first anniversary of Moscow's invasion. Ukrainian defenders, who have already held out for months, were braced for new ground attacks, Ukrainian military officials said. Positions in Bakhmut have been fortified and only people with a military role were being allowed in, a deputy battalion commander said. Any civilians who still wanted to leave the city would have to brave the incoming fire, he said. Bakhmut is a prime objective for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and its capture would give Russia a new foothold in the Donetsk region and a rare victory after several months of setbacks. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions make up the Donbas, Ukraine's industrial heartland, now partially occupied by Russia which wants full control. "... The reality is we have seen the start (of a Russian offensive) already because we see now what Russia does now - President Putin does now - is to send thousands and thousands more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels. The Russian assault on Bakhmut has been spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner group, who have made small but steady gains. The renewed Russian bombardments made the situation there even more acute. "The city, the city's suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling," said Volodymyr Nazarenko, deputy commander of Ukraine's Svoboda battalion. Nazarenko said that, although no fighting was taking place in the city centre, the defenders were prepared to meet any assault. "The city is a fortress, every position and every street there, almost every building, is a fortress," he said. Story continues The Russian defence ministry said its troops had pushed forward a few kilometres along the frontlines, without specifying where. The Ukrainian military reported Russian shelling all along the frontline and said 16 settlements had been bombarded near Bakhmut. It said that over the past day, its forces had repelled attacks near Bakhmut as well as assaults in the Kharkiv, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. NATO TO DISCUSS FURTHER AID Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai and the Ukrainian governor of Donetsk have recently said that a predicted Russian offensive had begun. Haidai said Russian forces had attacked Bilogorivka from all sides before dawn on Monday. He said on Monday: "Preparations for this offensive are already under way, the amount of shelling, air strikes and attacks by small groups has already increased. We are waiting for them to start massive round-the-clock attacks." Haidai Reuters was not able to independently verify the battlefield reports. The United Nations' human rights office said on Monday that it had recorded 7,199 civilian deaths and 11,756 wounded since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion, mostly from shelling and missile and air strikes. However, it believed the actual figure was far higher. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, in what it calls a "special military operation" to "denazify" the country and protect Russian speakers. Western leaders say it was nothing more than a land grab. The president of Moldova accused Russia on Monday of planning to use foreign saboteurs to bring down her leadership and use it in the war against Ukraine. Moldova's breakaway region Transdniestria has survived for three decades with support from Moscow. President Maia Sandu made her comments after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week his country had uncovered a Russian intelligence plan "for the destruction of Moldova." Days later the government of the country, bordering Ukraine and Romania, resigned. Putin's forces failed early in the invasion to capture the Ukrainian capital, using neighbouring Belarus as a staging post, and the conflict has since become a war of attrition that has left whole cities in ruins. With Ukraine desperate for more weapons, defence ministers from several NATO countries allied to Kyiv will meet in Germany on Tuesday to discuss possible further military aid. Ukraine says it needs fighter jets and long-range missiles to counter the offensive and recapture lost territory. NATO's Stoltenberg said he expected the issue of aircraft to be discussed, but that Ukraine needed support on the ground now. A NATO source said it would increase targets for the stockpiling of ammunition as Kyiv was burning through shells much faster than Western countries can produce. "The current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production," Stoltenberg told reporters. Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many NATO countries fell short of meeting the alliance's munitions stockpiling targets, as officials considered wars of attrition with large-scale artillery a thing of the past. But the pace of deliveries to Ukraine, where Kyiv's troops are firing up to 10,000 artillery shells daily, has drained Western inventories. A European diplomat told Reuters: "If Europe were to fight Russia, some countries would run out of ammunition in days." (Reporting by Max Hunder, Olena Harmash, Tim Heritage, Pavel Polityuk, Bart H. Meijer and Charlotte Van Campenhout; Writing by Angus MacSwan and Nick Macfie; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Alison Williams, Alex Richardson and Cynthia Osterman) One person was killed and one more was injured in Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast on 12 February. 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 12 February, specifically in Chasiv Yar. And one more person in the oblast sustained injuries." Details: As of the morning of 13 February, the Russians had killed at least 1,359 and wounded at least 3,035 civilians in Donetsk Oblast. Kyrylenko has stressed that these numbers are not final, as it is impossible to determine the exact number of those killed in Mariupol and Volnovakha at the moment. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov attends a military ceremony in Grozny, Russia, on October 5, 2021. Chingis Kondarov/Reuters Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said his top general in Ukraine has been poisoned. Apti Alaudinov was poisoned after handling a letter sent to him earlier this month, Kadyrov said. Alaudinov sought immediate medical assistance and is "on the mend," Kadyrov said. A Russian general was poisoned by a letter laced with an unknown toxin, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said in a Telegram post on Monday. Kadyrov, who is also a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said his top general in Ukraine has been poisoned after handling a letter that was sent to him on February 8. Apti Alaudinov, who commands the Akhmat special forces, picked up a letter that was "saturated with a poisonous substance," Kadyrov said. The general "sensed this by the bitter, specific smell and took action in time: he treated his hands and washed his nasal cavity," Kadyrov added. The Chechen leader said that Alaudinov and other personnel who came into contact with the envelope sought immediate medical assistance in a Moscow clinic and are now "on the mend." "Serious consequences were avoided," Kadyrov added. It is unclear who sent the letter or what exactly the substance was, but Kadyrov said an investigation was underway and that there are " already results." The Akhmat special forces is a Chechen paramilitary organization, which has been fighting in Ukraine. Before the war, Alaudinov led Chechnya's police force, which had been accused of torturing and imprisoning members of the LGBTQ+ community, ABC News reported. As a result, he was placed on a US sanctions list. This is not the first poison-related incident since the start of Russia's invasion on February 24 last year. In March last year, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich briefly went blind after an apparent poisoning during peace meetings with Ukrainian negotiators. Read the original article on Business Insider The Russians have created a chatbot for informing on Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied city of Kakhovka (Kherson Oblast). Source: National Resistance Center Details: The National Resistance Center notes that the Russian occupiers are using this information to justify further reprisals. "The Russians are perfectly aware of the real degree of support for the occupying forces among the locals and are continuing to search for resistance. People are being abducted for any detected disloyalty'," the Center said. According to the National Resistance Center, one of the methods that the occupiers use is anonymous reports. Chatbots have been created in the temporarily occupied territories for this purpose. Such a bot has also been created for the city of Kakhovka. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian soldiers fire anti-tank missile system of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Army on the frontline, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on February 10, 2023. Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A Russian soldier told the New York Times he was forced to charge enemy lines without training. The soldier is one of many former convicts who say they're used as part of sacrificial assaults. The assaults are carried out by the Wagner Group, the New York Times reported. A Russian prisoner-turned-soldier told the New York Times that he and other convicts were thrown onto the front line of Russia's war against Ukraine with no training and told to charge "as far as we could go" into Ukrainian gunfire. The 44-year-old soldier, identified only as Aleksandr, told the Times that he joined the Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor with close ties to the Kremlin, to reduce his prison sentence by three years. He had been convicted for illegal logging, according to the Times. The Times reported that Aleksandr and other prisoners like him who joined the Wagner Group in exchange for pardons told The Times that they were essentially used as human sacrifices to advance the Russian position into Ukrainian-controlled areas. Without training and with minimal weaponry, these groups of soldiers are forced to run into Ukrainian gunfire to help Russian forces determine where the opposition is located, according to the Times. Aleksandr told the Times that his commanders "brought us to a basement, divided us into five-person groups and, though we hadn't been trained, told us to run ahead, as far as we could go." The soldiers were also told that if they refused orders to advance, they'd be shot, the Times reported. When it was his time to rush toward enemy lines, Aleksandr was captured along with one other soldier. The other three in his group were killed in the gunfire, according to the Times. Aleksandr is now in a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camp, the Times reported. Half the soldiers in these assaults are wounded or killed, one soldier told the Times. By other estimates, about 70% of soldiers are wounded or killed in battalions with former convicts, military analysts told the Times. The White House said last month that the Wagner Group had about 40,000 convicts deployed to Ukraine as part of Russia's war against the Eastern European country. Read the original article on Business Insider The Russian occupiers continue to use the DRG in the Dnipro delta She said the Russian military has stepped up the activities of its sabotage and reconnaissance groups in an attempt to stretch the resources of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Read also: Russians increase reconnaissance drone launches from the Black Sea, may be spying ahead of big attack The Russian troops are focusing their main efforts on the Zaporizhzhya axis, noted Humeniuk. On Feb. 8, Russia also sent out sabotage and reconnaissance groups in southern Ukraine, but their plans were thwarted by Ukrainian defenders. Read also: Russian invaders continue offensive operations in five areas, says General Staff Earlier, the Ukrainian military posted video of a Ukrainian drone dropping bombs on a boat used by Russian invasion forces to move around the waterways next to the city of Kherson, across the river in Russian-held territory. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Maia Sandu, President of Moldova, has confirmed that the Ukrainian side conveyed to her the Kremlin's plans to destabilise the situation in Moldova and that forceful actions involving saboteurs from outside the country, from Russia, Belarus, and the Balkans, were being prepared. Source: Newsmaker citing Sandu during a briefing Quote: "This is a short-term plan that involves sabotage involving persons with military training disguised as civilians. They are planning violent actions, including attacks on some state institutions and taking hostages," Maya Sandu said. According to Sandu, the materials transferred by Kyiv contain detailed documentation of the logistics for organising these sabotage actions. "The plan envisages the use of people from outside the country for violent actions in Moldova. For example, the materials contain instructions for citizens of the Russian Federation, Belarus, Serbia, and Montenegro to enter Moldova," the president added. Sandu also said that an attempt to seize power in Chisinau is being prepared under the guise of peaceful protests. The president added that the security forces of Moldova are preparing to prevent these provocations and are keeping the situation under control. Background: At the EU summit in Brussels, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian intelligence had intercepted the Kremlin's plans to take control of Moldova, after which the Ukrainian leader immediately passed all the information to his counterpart, President Maia Sandu. "We don't know if Moscow was ordered to act according to this plan against Moldova. But we saw what they were going to do. We recognized in this exactly what they were already trying to do against Ukraine, against other states, in particular in Europe. Nothing new," Zelenskyy said. Russia has repeatedly made sharp and rude attacks against Moldova and the Moldovan leadership, in particular after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Among the latter, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov, said that they are trying to make a "second Ukraine" out of Moldova, which was sharply commented on by the states foreign affairs department. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce, told NYT he took a digital detox in the wake of layoffs beginning at the company. Reuters/Mike Blake Salesforce chief Marc Benioff told Insider he took a digital detox in October and December. Benioff previously said that he's "addicted" to his devices, and the trip was "freeing." Benioff told Insider he took the time away from Salesforce before the company announced layoffs in January. In the months before layoffs shook up Salesforce, CEO Marc Benioff visited French Polynesia for a break that included a "digital detox," he told Insider. A digital detox is a trend in which someone foregoes the use of digital devices, like phones or computers, for a period of time often with the intent to feel more present and less dependent on social media. An earlier report from The New York Times appeared to suggest he took the trip the month Salesforce announced layoffs, but Benioff told Insider that the report was inaccurate. Salesforce announced layoffs in January. In an earlier interview with the Times, Benioff commented on the reasoning for taking a break from his devices. "We are so addicted to our devices (at least I am) it's very freeing to leave them all behind for a while!" he texted The Times in a series of interviews. Benioff's digital detox offers an interesting glimpse into how tech CEOs can seek out a temporary period of quiet, free of digital communication. The next month was not a quiet one for Salesforce. On January 4, Benioff announced that Salesforce was planning to cut around 10% of its 84,000 workforce over the following weeks. In a letter to employees, Benioff blamed the layoffs on the company hiring too many people during the pandemic as "revenue accelerated," and took "responsibility" for hiring people leading into the current "economic downturn." The news drew confusion and questions for Benioff from employees, but the executive didn't answer questions about the layoffs on a two-hour all-hands meeting with employees the following day, Insider reported. Most of Salesforce's employees were confused about when layoffs would come and for who, according to Slack messages reviewed by Insider. Story continues In the all-hands call the day after layoffs, Benioff compared losing employees to layoffs to mourning people who died. Insider reported that he showed up around 18 minutes late to a company-wide meeting the day after announcing layoffs, and then, as the Times of London reported, he joked, "Did I miss something?" He told the NYT that he now thinks the two-hour all-hands call was a bad idea. "We were trying to explain the unexplainable," Benioff told the NYT. "It's hard to have a call like that with such a large group and have it be effective, and we paid a price." After Salesforce started laying off workers, over 500 employees sent a letter to management expressing "isolation from the lack of information," and asking questions like why some managers weren't involved with or knowledgeable about the first round of layoffs, and if the cuts had anything to do with Salesforce's activist investors. Salesforce continued its planned layoffs in February, with one person telling Insider it was a "bloodbath" for sales and marketing employees. It's unclear how many people have been laid off to date, but one person told Insider 4,000 people were missing from the company Slack after January 31, but could include contractors who were removed after the fiscal year ended. The cuts at Salesforce are happening as many tech companies, ranging from Google to Meta to Microsoft, have culled their employee base by thousands with potentially more cuts on the horizon as executives look to cut costs after the pandemic business boom. Correction, February 18: This article has been updated to reflect Benioff's comment on the timing of his digital detox, which he said happened in the months before Salesforce announced its layoffs, not during or after the job cuts. Are you a Salesforce employee or do you have insight to share? Contact Ashley Stewart via email (astewart@insider.com) or send a secure message from a nonwork device via Signal (+1-425-344-8242). Read the original article on Business Insider For many investors, the main point of stock picking is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But the risk of stock picking is that you will likely buy under-performing companies. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust Plc (LON:SERE) shareholders, since the share price is down 25% in the last three years, falling well short of the market decline of around 9.9%. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. Check out our latest analysis for Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Although the share price is down over three years, Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust actually managed to grow EPS by 23% per year in that time. This is quite a puzzle, and suggests there might be something temporarily buoying the share price. Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. It's worth taking a look at other metrics, because the EPS growth doesn't seem to match with the falling share price. We note that the dividend seems healthy enough, so that probably doesn't explain the share price drop. We like that Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust has actually grown its revenue over the last three years. But it's not clear to us why the share price is down. It might be worth diving deeper into the fundamentals, lest an opportunity goes begging. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. Story continues What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust, it has a TSR of -1.4% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective We regret to report that Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust shareholders are down 14% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 1.2%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 4%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust (of which 1 doesn't sit too well with us!) you should know about. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GB exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Lucian of Samosata, a high-ranking Roman official. Michael Nicholson/Corbis via Getty Images People who dont fit the dominant demographic of where they live can often be asked, Where are you really from? In 2017, CNN surveyed about 2,000 people who shared their stories on social media with the hashtag #whereiamreallyfrom. The participants included first- and second-generation immigrants, naturalized individuals and others who were native-born citizens. As a classical studies scholar with a focus on linguistic and cultural diversity in Imperial Greek and Latin literature, I am aware that this question is not a new one. Take Lucian, a high-ranking Roman official in the second century. Born in Syria, he later chose to be a naturalized Roman. As a non-native speaker of Greek and Latin who, by his own admission, looked different from many people in Greece and Rome, he dealt with issues of ethnicity, language use and social acceptance. The Roman world The time of the Roman Empire is a unique historical period that, in many respects, can be seen as a lived lesson for issues of diversity and inclusion. By Lucians time, the Romans had conquered Spain, France, parts of Germany and Britain, Greece, the North Africa coast and much of the Middle East, among other territories. As occupiers, they did impose their rule with military means. Still, they accepted their subjects differences, granted privileges to several provinces and gave citizenship on a case-by-case basis until A.D. 212, when everyone was given Roman citizenship. Their pragmatic aim was to maintain stability and ensure cooperation. The result was a multilingual, multicultural and cosmopolitan empire. People were allowed to retain their ethnicity, language, culture and religion for the most part. Latin was [not imposed except in the army] and administration; Greek was established as the language of the educated. This period could be said to resemble our current times: People traveled, relocated and worked in different parts of the empire. Also, there were scholars and writers who were trilingual and multicultural. For instance, there were African authors who wrote in Latin and were also fluent in Greek, and Romans who were fluent in Greek, too. Story continues Title page of a 1619 Latin translation of Lucians complete works. Private collection via Wikimedia Commons These authors wrote about their sense of identity and belonging and were proud of their ability to remain true to their origins while also adapting to the conditions of the global world of the empire. On the other hand, there were also other authors who were anti-immigration and critical of new citizens and non-native speakers, and others who showed that Roman occupation weighed heavily on their subjects. So, where was Lucian really from? Lucian is a cosmopolitan individual. He was born in Samosata, which was in Syria until it was incorporated into the Roman Empire. He traveled to Cappadocia, Pontus, Athens, Rome, Gaul and Egypt. He wrote in perfect Greek; he was in the entourage of the Roman Emperor Lucius Verus and served as the secretariat of the Roman prefect in Egypt. Throughout all his works, Lucian clearly suggests that he should be accepted in this new world as the model of the new citizens individuals who were open about their ethnic identity yet embraced the Greco-Roman culture and contributed to advancing contemporary social inclusion. In his essay The Dream, Lucian imagines his future as an underrepresented citizen. He writes that two women appeared in his sleep: an elegant one representing Greek education and a rugged one representing a craftsmans life. The former promised him a life of popularity among the worlds elite. He chooses to be a well-to-do man of letters who overcame his humble origins and succeeded in a cosmopolitan society, even though he was not a native speaker or a native citizen. In another one of his writings, Zeuxis, he writes about about his fluency in Greek and insists that he should not be seen as an outsider because he is as articulate as any native-born Greek speaker. He becomes more emboldened in his treatise A Slip of the Tongue in Greeting. Here, he intentionally makes a mistake in a salutation and supposedly writes to apologize. In reality, however, he shows his knowledge of Greek cultural norms and, at the same time, clearly proves that he is versed in Roman culture, too. On the other hand, he also wrote a piece titled My Native Land, in which he says that no matter the languages one learns, the cultures one acculturates oneself to, and the global recognition, they are always their motherlands sons and daughters proud of them and indebted to them. Lucians work provides a unique insight into a world of imperialism that also fostered multilingualism and multiculturalism and gave birth to the first global citizens. His writings show what diversity and inclusion can look like through the eyes of the empires newest citizens and offers illuminating lessons from an often forgotten classical past. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent 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: Eleni Bozia, University of Florida. Read more: Eleni Bozia 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. A second consecutive poll is indicating that the race for Governor of Mississippi between Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and Democrat Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley may go down to the wire. On the heels of a Mississippi Today/Siena College poll last month, which showed Reeves leading Presley by 4%, a poll released Monday by Tulchin Research gave a 4% lead to Presley. Both polls put the race within their margins of error. Tulchin Research was commissioned to conduct the poll between Jan. 21 and Jan. 25 by the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund and a political action committee affiliated with the Alabama-based civil rights group. Poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight gives Tulchin a B/C ranking but has not analyzed one of its polls since 2018. In the three 2018 polls it did look at, Tulchin overestimated the Republican vote-share twice and the Democrat share once. The Tulchin poll which put Presley at 47%, Reeves at 43% and left 10% undecided also found that more than 55% of voters had heard "a lot" about the state's welfare fraud scandal. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they had heard "some," and 9% said they had heard "only a little." Just 7% of respondents said they had not heard about it. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they had an unfavorable view of Reeves' response to the fraud, with 46% saying that their view was "very unfavorable." As with all polls, the phrasing of questions can skew results. In terms of Reeves' response to the welfare fraud scandal, pollsters included this line in their question, "Governor Tate Reeves fired an attorney investigating the matter, which some people see as further efforts to cover it up." Reeves has said the attorney was not fired, but his contract was not extended. The state then hired Jones Walker, a large firm, to replace the attorney in the civil case. The potential for a close race in Mississippi has already led to national headlines, less than two weeks after candidate filing closed. While it is still the earliest of days for campaigns that hope to win in November, stories in Politico, The Washington Post and The Hill have all characterized the race as surprisingly tight. Story continues A number of outlets wrote similar stories four years ago, when Reeves was facing another relatively popular Democrat, Attorney General Jim Hood. Reeves ultimately won by 5.08%, far less than the 17% margin that Donald Trump won by three years earlier but still enough to keep the governor's mansion in Republican hands. Democrat Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley and Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. Whether Presley can do what Hood could not and give Democrats a governorship in one of the most conservative states in America remains to be seen. Presley took to Twitter on Monday to say that he would not grow complacent based on positive signs from pollsters. "Even when an early poll shows us winning, I want to EARN every vote with hard work and sweat. I said a month ago that as a candidate and as your Governor, Ill visit places that the elites dont care about or know exists. I will be a WORKING Governor and you wont just see me election year. Thanks to all of you who have brought momentum and electricity to this campaign," he tweeted. Reeves has not issued a response to either poll but said when he filed last month that he is proud to put his record up against any challenger and confident that the people of Mississippi will support him. "The great thing about America is that anybody can run for anything they want to run for," Reeves said. "I wish whomever who chooses to take that path, we will get to spend a lot of time talking about my record. It's a record I am proud of. This is going to be a good year and I am looking forward to it." The primaries will take place in August, with the general election coming on Nov. 7. Mississippi is one of three states with off-year gubernatorial elections this year. The other two are Louisiana and Kentucky, both of which are typically red states that currently have Democratic governors. In Louisiana, incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards is term-limited and a number of Republicans are lining up hoping to flip control. Meanwhile, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear faces a long list of Republicans trying to prevent him from gaining a second term. Presley seems to be looking to other Southern Democratic governors for inspiration. He has hired multiple former Edwards staffers, along with the former campaign manager for North Carolina's Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. In 2016, Cooper defeated Republican incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory, a path which Presley hopes to follow. Presley also has Louisiana-native and veteran Democratic consultant James Carville assisting him with fundraising. Carville also raised money for Edwards and Bashear. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Poll: Mississippi governor race tightens between Reeves and Presley The Progress 82 freighter approaching the ISS in October 2022. Not one but two Russian vehicles docked to the International Space Station have leaky radiators, the latest being a Progress 82 freighter that arrived last October. Russia attributed the first leak, which happened in December, to a micrometeorite, but the unusual parallels between the two have investigators wondering about a systematic error. Sergey Krikalev, executive director for crewed space programs at Roscosmos, broke the news to reporters on Saturday, February 11, Russian state media TASS reported. There was a coolant leak from the thermal control system on the cargo ship that has been docked to the station for several months, he said, adding that the situation is similar to the one that happened to the radiator of Russias Soyuz MS-22 capsule in mid-December. Read more A statement released by NASA that same day confirmed the leak. The crew, which was informed of the cooling loop leak, is in no danger and continuing with normal space station operations, the space agency said. The hatches between Progress 82 and the space station are open, while temperature and pressure readings remain normal. The Russian space agency has launched an investigation into the Progress 82 leak, with NASA teams assisting. The Progress 82 vehicle docked to the ISS, October 28, 2022. The uncrewed Progress 82 freighter is currently docked at the stations Poisk module, having arrived on October 27, 2022 with nearly three tons of food, fuel, and supplies. The original plan was to undock the cargo craft on Friday, February 17, and ditch it over the Pacific Ocean, but its not clear if these plans have changed given this latest incident. Roscosmos attributed a micrometeorite to the MS-22 leak, a conclusion it reached after reviewing imagery and performing hypervelocity tests on the ground. During a press briefing in January, Joel Montalbano, International Space Station program manager at NASA, said NASA is in concurrence with Roscosmos on the cause of the leak. Story continues With this latest incident, however, and its eerie similarity to the first, its fair to wonder if the problem may be systemic in nature, like some kind of common manufacturing defect or something having to do with launch preparations. Russia has used its Soyuz and Progress vehicles, which are based on similar designs, for decades, but to have something like this happen twice in the span of two months is nothing short of bizarre. Krikalev said the exact location of the leak on the Progress 82 spacecraft remains out of sight, making a preliminary diagnosis difficult, TASS reported. An external survey with detailed high-quality images would help to narrow a possible cause, he admitted. Roscosmos will conduct a profound analysis of the incident to prevent a recurrence in the future, as this is the main task that we are facing now, Krikalev said. Among other things, investigators will look at the launch preparation sequence, along with materials and technologies used to assemble the radiators. Making sure that this was not a systematic error of any kind is what matters most, Krikalev said. The incident comes as Roscosmos is set to launch MS-23an expedited mission to transport an uncrewed Soyuz capsule to the ISS as a replacement for MS-22. Russian cosmonauts Sergey Propokyev and Dmitry Petelin, who reached the ISS aboard MS-22, are currently without a reliable lifeboat, as Roscosmos deemed the damaged Soyuz unsafe for crewed reentry through Earths atmosphere due to the absence of reliable internal temperature control. As for NASAs Frank Rubio, who also went up aboard MS-22, hes set in case the ISS needs to be evacuated in the event of an emergency. A seat liner from the damaged capsule was recently relocated to a SpaceX Crew Dragon parked outside. MS-23 is scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 8:57 p.m. ET. More: ISS Dodges Space Junk With Damaged Life Boat Parked Outside More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Senators will receive a classified briefing at 10 a.m. Tuesday on the three unidentified objects shot down by the U.S. military over Alaska, Canada and Lake Huron in recent days after lawmakers expressed frustration over a lack of information coming from the Biden administration. The all-senators briefing follows a classified briefing they received last week from senior administration officials about the Chinese surveillance balloon that floated across the United States before getting shot down off the coast of South Carolina. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced the scheduled briefing shortly after the chamber came into session Monday. Senators will also receive a briefing on the rising threat posed by China on Wednesday. I have scheduled for senators to receive a briefing tomorrow on what we know and do not know about where these objects come from and what threats, if any, they pose to the United States, he said. Lawmakers still dont know where the unidentified objects shot down on Friday, Saturday and Sunday came from or who launched them. The administration has still not been able to divulge any meaningful information about what was shot down, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said on the Senate floor Monday. What in the world is going on? Has the Biden administration dialed the sensitivity of our radars all the way up? If so, what are the objects were noticing for the first time? he asked. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), an influential member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on Biden to explain what U.S. fighter planes shot down. The president owes the American people an explanation, direct and on camera, of what we know about these objects and what steps hes taking to protect Americas sovereign airspace, he said in a statement. No commander-in-chief should hide behind press secretaries and anonymous sources in a time of crisis, he said. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday that security officials still dont know who owns the objects shot down in the last few days. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A guard at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. Inmates at jails across the U.S. are suffering from overcrowding, violence and abuse. (Chris Carlson/AP) The federal government started investigating Los Angeles jails in 1996 back when Bill Clinton was president, the Spice Girls were all the rage, and Tupac Shakurs killing dominated the news. The U.S. Department of Justice was concerned that mentally ill inmates had been abused or cared for so poorly that their basic constitutional rights were violated. Those concerns led to a lawsuit and years of federal monitoring. But more than a quarter of a century later, change in the countrys largest jail system has been halting at best. In a blistering letter sent late last year to Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland, four U.S. senators described conditions in L.A. County's jails as a humanitarian crisis and appalling. They cited reports of people routinely chained to chairs, denied medications, forced to urinate in sinks and left to sit in their own feces. The Democratic senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York also raised concerns about jails in New York City and Miami, which are under federal monitoring as well. In lockups in all three cities, conditions appear to have grown worse, the senators said. They placed blame on the Department of Justice. The DOJs failure to correct or prevent the constitutional and human rights violations in facilities that are under consent decrees undermines the Departments broader efforts, as well as the publics faith and confidence in our legal system, the senators wrote in the letter, obtained exclusively by The Times. The lawmakers laid out a series of questions about what steps the Justice Department had taken to correct the problems, how it was managing the federal monitors and how many lawyers had been assigned to the cases and requested a reply within two weeks. Four months later, the senators' offices confirmed that they had not received a response. The Department of Justice on Friday acknowledged only that it had received the letter. Story continues We are aware of the request from the Senators, but do not have any comment at this time, spokeswoman Aryele Bradford wrote in an email. The L.A. County Sheriffs Department did not respond to a request for comment. Corene Kendrick, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing inmates in two separate federal class-action suits against the countys lockups, framed the local problems as part of a broader plight. In the past year, conditions in many jails across the country, including Los Angeles, have deteriorated to a crisis point of disgraceful inhumanity, she said. It is noteworthy that jail conditions are so abysmal that these four U.S. senators including both of Californias senators called on Atty. Gen. Garland and DOJ to step up and address the human rights violations in the jails that are under DOJ consent decrees. Weeks before the senators penned their late-October letter, a series of court filings in one of the two ACLU cases revealed just how bad conditions behind bars had gotten. The civil rights group provided the court with images of mentally ill detainees most of whom had not been convicted of a crime chained to chairs for days at a time and alleged that they were routinely denied basic necessities such as clean water and working toilets. Everyone is on edge because it is crowded, one inmate wrote in a sworn declaration. The place smells of urine and excrement because some toilets dont work, and people who are chained to chairs sometimes pee on the floor because the deputies wont unchain them. Following a hearing in September, the federal court issued a restraining order directing the county to make modest improvements, such as no longer chaining mentally ill people to benches for more than four hours, no longer leaving groups of people locked in large mesh cages for more than eight hours and no longer leaving inmates in areas without working toilets. Though that directive may have forced some improvement, a county-appointed oversight official who visited one of the lockups last week reported nightmare conditions, including a lack of hot water, vermin crawling up walls and a man housed in a cell with walls covered in feces. There is an urgent need for a major course correction, said Alex Sherman, vice chair of the countys Sybil Brand Commission for Institutional Inspections. In the Justice Department case, attorneys have asked the federal court to set deadlines for the county to improve mental healthcare a request that came weeks after the senators fired off their letter asking why the DOJ had not done more to fix the problems behind bars. That request will go before a federal judge Monday at a 10 a.m. status conference. The court will also hear an update in one of the two ACLU cases, which relates to excessive use of force in the countys jails. The developments in Los Angeles come amid reports of worsening conditions in jails across the country. New York Citys notorious Rikers Island jail complex has made headlines for an uptick in deaths. Lockups in West Virginia, Texas, Washington and other states are struggling with problems caused by aging facilities, increasing populations and surging violence. According to Andrea Armstrong, a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans who studies jails and prisons, those issues may be more widespread than is apparent. When jails are under consent decree, that means that we have seen and recognized the problem, she said. But there are hundreds of jails where these problems havent yet been unearthed. Many troubled jails may not have been the subject of class-action suits, she said, and its often those cases that prompt the Department of Justice to intervene and seek a consent decree requiring long-term federal oversight. Part of the reason we know these consent decrees are failing is because we have federal monitors there, she said. Just imagine if every jail had some sort of independent oversight to know the ways in which jails are failing their constitutional obligations. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Yahoo is an official sponsor of New York Fashion Week. Manhattan got a healthy dose of color and 90s nostalgia on Saturday night, thanks to Sergio Hudsons fall 2023 fashion show. Hudson, a Black designer from South Carolina, established his popular ready-to-wear label in 2014 and has been a force to watch ever since. Held at New York Fashion Weeks headquarters at Spring Studios, the vivid runway instantly set the tone for this seasons show as models strutted on top of bright graffiti to the shows upbeat soundtrack, which included hits like Show Me Love and Finally. The new collection was primarily composed of suiting separates, skin-baring dresses and a few dramatic all-black looks for good measure. Standout designs included neon suiting sets in pink, green and blue that were accented with contrasting piping. Two especially memorable looks played into the no-pants trend were seeing more and more this season the models in question essentially wore black underwear to complete their outfits. Credit: Getty Images Hudson also played with eye-catching texture this season in the form of tweed, sequins, denim and glossy, latex-like material. From tweed mini dresses paired with matching cropped blazers to psychedelic patterns covered in sequins, each segment of the show effortlessly flowed into the next. Several designs also were complemented by metallic buttons and statement zippers. Credit: Getty Images All the models made their way down the runway with a carefree attitude in sky-high platforms, and some even stopped halfway down to give the audience a flirty wave and a 360-degree turn. Each model in the very diverse group sported a colorful cat-eye with bold, fluffy lashes and nude lips created with Stila Cosmetics, and most were given a voluminous half-up, half-down hairstyle with long waves trailing behind them. Credit: Getty Images Hudsons front row also drew a star-studded crowd on Saturday night, as Kimora Lee Simmons, Candace Bushnell, Fern Mallis and Joy Reid all were in attendance to support the designer, who has dressed the likes of Michelle Obama, Hailey Bieber and Keke Palmer. Story continues If your wardrobe could use some more color and playfulness, Sergio Hudsons latest collection is definitely worth drooling over. More from In The Know: This whipped sunscreen mousse is going viral on TikTok and is like dessert for your skin Im a shopping expert, and these are the new Amazon fashion finds Im adding to my cart this month This is the exact body gloss Alix Earle uses to get an all-over glow These are the 3 major handbag trends to look out for this season The post Sergio Hudson spray-painted the town neon at his vibrant New York Fashion Week runway show appeared first on In The Know. Authorities are investigating false swatting calls against schools across the country after several Massachusetts schools were placed in safe mode on Monday due to threats. Amesbury police responded to a threat at the High School just before 12 p.m. and later confirmed it appeared to be a swatting call and that there does not appear to be any danger. According to a joint statement from the district and police, the threat came in the form of a phone call to Amesbury High School. The caller claimed they had a gun, and then there were noises that sounded like gunshots. The high school was locked down and other schools in the district were placed in safe mode while authorities investigated, but no danger was found. This was an unwelcome disruption, but we are all thankful that there is no active threat or danger to our schools. I would particularly like to thank our families for adhering to protocol and trusting us with the safety of their children, staying away from the schools and allowing law enforcement to do their jobs safely, Amesbury School Superintendent Elizabeth McAndrews said. School officials in Chelmsford and North Attleboro confirmed their districts received similar calls Monday. Additionally, Boston police responded to Charlestown High School and East Boston High School Monday when school officials received anonymous reports of an individual unknown to Boston Public Schools with a gun. Both schools were placed in safe mode until it was determined there was no threat to the safety of students and staff. Our team takes any threats against students and staff very seriously, and these incidents create unnecessary anxiety and stress for our students, staff, and families. This also takes school and city resources away from our communities, Superintendent Mary Skipper said in a statement. We condemn this hoax that happened here and in communities across Massachusetts in the strongest possible terms. Our students and staff deserve to work in environments in which they all feel safe, respected and academically challenged, and we will never stop working to build these environments. Story continues Massachusetts State Police confirmed they responded to a call at the White Oak School in Westfield. The Commonwealth Fusion Center is aware of several threats being made nationwide, all of which have been determined to be hoaxes, according to state police. The threatening calls remain under investigation. 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 'Four techniques work for most women' when it comes to sex. (Getty Images) Even the closest of friends will rarely share the exact techniques they use to boost their sexual pleasure. But in a groundbreaking study, 3,000 women have revealed to scientists exactly what they do to put the 'wow' factor into sex. Keen to help them "understand, communicate and advocate for their sexual pleasure", a team from Indiana University surveyed more than 3,000 female respondents from across the US. Nearly nine in 10 (87%) of the respondents were fans of "angling" during vaginal sex "rotating, raising or lowering the hips during penetration to adjust where inside the vagina the toy or penis rubs". Meanwhile, others said they used 'pairing', 'shallowing' and 'rocking' to help them climax. 'Pairing' is when "a woman or her partner reaches down to stimulate her clitoris with a finger or sex toy simultaneously with penetration" and 'shallowing' is "penetrative touch just inside the entrance to the vagina". Read more: How long should sex last for? Survey reveals the magic number Sexual pleasure has been linked to a person's overall wellbeing, 'particularly for women'. (Getty Images) Sexual pleasure has been linked to improved physical, social and emotional wellbeing, "particularly for women", the scientists wrote in the journal PLOS One. Viewing this pleasure as a "critical scaffold" to wellbeing "reframes" a woman's "enjoyment of sex as a fundamental human right". Often to achieve this, a woman requires confidence, communication skills and an "ability to negotiate" with her partner. Read more: Which UK city has gone the longest without sex? New survey reveals all Feeling "scientific literature" on this topic was lacking, the Indiana scientists set out to analyse thousands of women aged 18 to 93. The women were made up of "many under-researched and often harder-to-reach populations across ethnicity, economic classes, sexual orientations, gender identities and internet access". "We asked thousands of women what they do to experience more pleasure from penetrative sex and found there are four techniques that work for most women," said study author Dr Christiana von Hippel, from sex science site OMGyes, which provides users with the 'latest science about what feels good and why'. "Our company gave them descriptive names and created tasteful diagrams, animations and videos of women of all ages explaining their own experiences." Watch: How to Get More Pleasure Out of Common Sex Positions Read more: Female masturbation has major health benefits, yet study shows a third of people think it's 'shameful' As well as angling, more than four in five (84%) of the women were fans of "shallowing", a technique involving touch just inside the entrance of the vagina. Just over a quarter (76%) said they use "rocking", when the base of the penis or sex toy rubs against the clitoris during penetration, staying all the way inside the vagina rather than thrusting in and out. Nearly seven in 10 (69%) reported they found "pairing" worked well, where the woman receives additional stimulation of the clitoris during penetration, either via a partner or through self-pleasuring. "We hope bringing this important knowledge out of the shadows into the light of day with clear language will empower women to better recognise, communicate and act on what they want," said Dr von Hippel. PLOS One's senior editor Julia Robinson agreed, adding the research "contributes to the base of academic knowledge, and explores an under-studied topic that is related to women's health and wellbeing". Which technique do you think could work for you? (Getty Images) 5 best-selling sex toys for women Tiani 3 Deep Rose | 139 from Lelo Mantric Rechargeable Clitoral Vibrator | 49.99 from Lovehoney Sona Cruise Cerise | 120 from Lelo Lovehoney 3-Speed Micro Magic Wand Vibrator | 19.99 from Lovehoney Tracey Cox Supersex Bullet Vibrator | 14.99 from Lovehoney By Bianca Flowers (Reuters) - Big agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the American Midwest are on a mission to lure Silicon Valley tech workers who have been caught up in a wave of hiring freezes and layoffs, executives told Reuters. Mass layoffs at major tech firms have opened the talent pipeline for Illinois-based Deere & Co. - the world's largest tractor maker - and rivals who are eager to add tech workers to their payrolls as they expand into autonomous tractors, mining trucks, and other smart farming technology. With an abundance of job openings, the companies are offering remote work arrangements and opening new offices in major cities like Austin and Chicago, a potentially attractive draw for workers who don't want to move to smaller Midwestern cities, where many of the companies are based. The executives said the newly available tech talent could inject much-needed expertise into farm equipment manufacturing, helping to transform the industry through the use of more artificial intelligence and automation. Detroit automakers are also hiring tech workers to meet the growing software needs of vehicles, auto executives have said. Historically, it has been difficult for construction and agriculture equipment manufacturers to compete with Silicon Valley compensation packages, Scott Wine, chief executive of CNH Industrial, an American-Italian machinery maker, said in an interview. "They were sucking so much oxygen out of the air because of their significant budgets," Wine said. "Now, they're not hiring and they're firing - so it just means we're getting a much larger pool of potential candidates that we can call upon." CNH hired more than 350 engineers last year, some of whom came from Amazon.com and Microsoft Corp, Wine said. CNH expects to spend more than $1.4 billion in research and development as the company scales precision agriculture offerings in 2023, he added. Story continues The combine harvester producer has increased its focus on agriculture in recent years to meet farmers' equipment demand, stacking its tech workforce with highly skilled workers in automation and artificial intelligence. Building more cutting-edge machinery, such as a driverless tillage tractor, appealed to 54-year-old Mukesh Agarwal who was recruited by CNH from Microsoft in July 2021, before the latest layoffs. He now works mostly from his home office in Minnesota and leads a team of software engineers as vice president of precision software and cloud applications development. "I didn't know much about the ag industry or what CNH did, Agarwal said, admitting that the cultural change was an adjustment during his transition to CNH. "But, I saw a tremendous opportunity to bring science and innovation together." REMOTE-CONTROLLED Deere's main rival, Irving, Texas-based Caterpillar Inc., is also making a big push to recruit tech talent. New hires in machine learning, computer science, and software engineering were up 30% in 2022 from the previous year, Karl Weiss, chief technology officer at Caterpillar, said in an interview. The manufacturer has invested in digital products to improve construction safety using artificial intelligence. It had roughly 500 open tech jobs in December 2022 and it is looking to fill roles with the outflow of laid-off tech workers, Weiss said. "The layoffs in the tech community have not been lost on us. We're actively talking to those employees," he said. To boost recruiting efforts, Caterpillar exhibited at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - an annual technology trade show in Las Vegas - in-person for the first time last month. Deere was also there, trying to recruit new talent. Attendees got to see first-hand how machinery giants are merging heavy metal with technology. In one demonstration, an excavator 1,600 miles (2,580 km) away at one of Caterpillar's Illinois plants was operated by someone using a remote operator station and joysticks. TECH TALENT PURGE Thousands of workers have left or been laid off from tech giants Amazon, Microsoft and Meta Platforms Inc during the biggest purge of tech talent since the dot-com crash of the late 1990s. Large tech companies shed more than 150,000 workers in 2022, according to tracking site Layoffs.fyi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, big tech firms hired aggressively to capitalize on advertising dollars as lockdowns prompted a surge in social media use and online purchases. Layoffs at West Coast-based technology companies have coincided with Deere and CNH boosting investment in artificial intelligence and precision agriculture products, such as automated fertilizer applicators, that they hope to sell to farmers who are trying to boost food production at a time of global shortages. While the availability of tech workers is plentiful now, industry experts say the hiring window is short for companies to reel in tech workers who also have opportunities at startups. "Companies really need to jump into action," said Michael Solomon, co-founder at 10x Management, a compensation negotiation agency for senior tech talent. "It's a really great opportunity, but I don't think it's going to last long." Working from home was once a rare phenomenon at more traditional companies like Deere, but is now more common. And, in some cases, the companies are willing to let workers stay in their current cities rather than relocating. The goal is to offer prospective employees the best of both worlds: work from home or come to a city office that more closely resembles a Silicon Valley tech campus. Deere has its global headquarters in the small city of Moline, about 165 miles west of Chicago, but opening a tech hub in Chicago's trendy West Loop neighborhood last year has helped it be more visible to prospective job candidates who want to live in metro areas. The new office, which neighbors the corporate location of Alphabet Inc's Google in the Windy City, mimics the atmosphere of many startups with unlimited snacks and beer, standing desks, and a gameroom. The amenities aim to attract tech workers. In an acknowledgement that not all tech workers want to relocate to the Midwest, Deere is also hiring employees in Austin, Texas, where it opened an "Innovation Hub" in 2022 and in San Francisco, where it has had an office since 2017, said Johane Domersant, global director of talent at Deere. Previously, Deere would have required new employees to relocate to the Midwest, likely to Iowa or Moline. "We are going to go where the talent is and that is a different strategic bent that we wouldn't have done in the past," Domersant said. (Reporting by Bianca Flowers; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Ross Colvin) Singapores DBS Group plans to apply for a license to offer crypto to Hong Kong customers as the Chinese special administrative zone pushes to become a hub for digital assets and reforms its crypto regulation, according to a report from Bloomberg. See related article: Huobi to expand in Hong Kong as it bets on China Fast facts We are planning to apply for a license in Hong Kong so that the bank could sell digital assets to our Hong Kong customers, Sebastian Paredes, chief executive of DBS Bank Hong Kong, said in a Monday briefing. Over the past several months, Hong Kong has made an aggressive push to regain its status as a global crypto hub, after losing a significant portion of its crypto business in 2021 due to Chinas ban and tighter regulations on retail investors within the city. According to Paredes, DBS remains sensitive to the risks associated with digital assets but welcomes Hong Kongs recent policy shift. Once Hong Kongs new crypto regulations become clear, the bank will be a player interested in participating, he added. Last month, Hong Kongs Financial Secretary Paul Chan reiterated that the Chinese special administrative region remains committed to its pro-crypto policy shift, attracting interest from a number of crypto-related firms. Hong Kongs government is considering allowing increased access to retail investors to trade in cryptocurrencies and crypto exchange-traded funds. DBS has a digital exchange in Singapore where it expanded access to its crypto trading service last year. The city state in April 2022 tightened regulation on the industry in light of crypto winter and the high profile collapse of local crypto firms like Three Arrows Capital and Hodlnaut. See related article: Hong Kong to mandate stablecoin licensing as early as this year Japanese expat volunteers at city cleanup (Photo: Ghib Ojisan/Facebook) SINGAPORE - Singapore has a reputation for being a "Garden City" and consistently ranked as one of the cleanest nations in the world. But every now and then, it could use a little help in keeping it clean. In a recent video posted by Japanese YouTuber Ghib Ojisan, who is based in Singapore, a group of Japanese expats went on a cleanup exercise across East Coast Park, Chinatown and Japanese Cemetery Park in Hougang - and collected an estimated 10 to 25 kilograms of litter. Harmful litter such as a razor blade and a syringe was picked up, aside from the usual tissue papers and cigarette butts. Although a considerable amount of litter was picked up, the general consensus among the expats remains that Singapore is still a clean country in comparison to other nations around the world. Singaporeans flood video with grateful comments Positive and encouraging words flooded the comments section of the video, which was posted on both YouTube and Facebook. "From a Singaporean, I want to thank you and the Japanese community for your contribution. You even made our beaches safer. Thank you, so much." commented user Mark Ashley Simon. "I am very impressed with Japanese culture. They are very responsible by ensuring that litters belong at the right place. Great job there. Hopefully the authorities will step up with the rules of cleanliness in Singapore so that we can make this country an amazing place for all." commented another user. A positive comment on Youtube (Photo: Ghib Ojisan/Youtube) Comparison between Singapore and Japan: government reinforcement vs nurture Netizens compared the difference between government enforced Singapore to the cultivated culture of cleanliness in Japan. The topic on motivation behind cleanliness and littering was also brought up in the comments section. Viewers were quick to point out that education plays a part in cultivating the culture of cleaning up and maintaining cleanliness. "As a Singaporean I always found it perplexing how Japanese would describe our country as 'clean'. Public toilets in CBD area are usually acceptable, but once you get to the heartlands or worse still, the hawker centres and kopitiams (coffee shops)," said one user. Story continues "Unfortunately there is much more Singaporeans can do in terms of civic-mindedness and hygiene compared to Japan. We are definitely a 'cleaned' country and not really 'clean'." The unsanitary state of hawker centres and kopitiams and the amount of litter lying in those areas were also hot topics. Netizens on Facebook attributed the rise in litter in Singapore to manpower shortages of hired cleaners and an increase in tourist traffic post-pandemic. Suggestions such as putting up educational signages and reinforcing imposed penalties were brought up, but netizens feel that maintenance of the city state ultimately requires active participation of citizens and initiative. The YouTuber wrapped up the video by encouraging Singaporeans and expats to consider volunteering or donating to organisations like Waterways Watch Society to help the environment. 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. Board of Education Special Meeting, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Suring High School in Suring, Wis. The meeting is in regards to the controversial strip searches conducted by the district superintendent and to discuss the "potential implementation" of an interim district employee. Samantha Madar/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin are trying to ban strip searches in schools after a school superintendent told six female students to remove their clothing during a search for vaping devices last year. Prosecutors charged then-Superintendent Kelly Casper, who oversaw the Suring school system outside Green Bay, with six counts of false imprisonment in February 2022 after she took six female students into a bathroom and told them to disrobe so she could search for vaping materials. The girls, who were ages 14 to 17, stripped to their underwear, and the search netted two vape cartridges. Another student admitted having a vape on her, the Green Bay Press-Gazette, a member of the USA TODAY Network, reported earlier. A bill co-written and introduced Monday by three state legislators Rep. Elijah Behnke, Rep. David Steffen and Sen. Eric Wimberger seeks to expand the definition of a "strip search" to include having students take off their clothing down to their underwear. Current state law defines a strip search as a search in which a persons genitals or private areas are exposed to view or touched by the searcher. Any school district employee who strip-searches a student is guilty of a misdemeanor. But Oconto County District Edward Burke said the searches last year didnt violate state law because the students were in their underwear. The new law would define a strip search as one in which a persons genitalia or private areas, or underwear-clad genitalia or private areas, are exposed or touched by the searcher. This is a common-sense bill that will help protect every students dignity while in school, Behnke said in a statement. I look forward to getting it passed through the legislature and signed into law. Casper's actions led to her resignation in June, and that same month, a judge dismissed the six counts of false imprisonment against her, finding insufficient evidence for those charges. "The allegations surrounding this incident are a clear violation of basic privacy expectations, and the fact that this involves minors is even more concerning," Steffen said. "We have joined with parents in demanding that these types of strip searches performed by teachers or school staff never happen again in Wisconsin." Story continues The bill introduced Monday was seeking co-sponsors and was set to be sent to a legislative committee for a public hearing. Contributing: The Associated Press. Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, a member of the USA TODAY Network. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Searches for vaping devices spur proposed Wisconsin strip-search ban In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Smartpay Holdings Limited (NZSE:SPY) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. 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 Smartpay Holdings Is Smartpay Holdings Fairly Valued? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. 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 (NZ$, Millions) NZ$6.40m NZ$15.6m NZ$23.3m NZ$29.3m NZ$34.8m NZ$39.7m NZ$43.8m NZ$47.2m NZ$50.1m NZ$52.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 26.03% Est @ 18.87% Est @ 13.86% Est @ 10.35% Est @ 7.90% Est @ 6.18% Est @ 4.98% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 8.3% NZ$5.9 NZ$13.3 NZ$18.3 NZ$21.3 NZ$23.4 NZ$24.6 NZ$25.1 NZ$25.0 NZ$24.5 NZ$23.8 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$205m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = NZ$53m (1 + 2.2%) (8.3% 2.2%) = NZ$882m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$882m ( 1 + 8.3%)10= NZ$399m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is NZ$604m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of NZ$1.4, the company appears quite undervalued at a 44% 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 Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Smartpay Holdings as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.026. 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 Smartpay Holdings Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness No major weaknesses identified for SPY. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the New Zealander market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Smartpay Holdings, we've compiled three important aspects you should consider: Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Smartpay Holdings that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does SPY's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NZSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here On Feb. 8, Benjamin Crump was honored by St. Thomas University in Florida with the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law marking the first law school in the U.S. named after a practicing Black attorney according to CBS News Miami. Crumps honor came equipped with huge support from several people in his circle. The post Will Smith, T.D. Jakes And George Clinton Raise $10M For Benjamin Crumps Law School appeared first on AfroTech. Celebrating Ben Crump TMZ reports that Will Smith, George Clinton, and Bishop T.D. Jakes all joined forces to raise $10 million for the new institution. Ben has been an absolutely spectacular friend and guide. And thats why it is important for me to be here with him today. There are very, very few people in the world with a heart like this, said Smith during the naming ceremony. So it is my deepest honor and my deepest pleasure to be here to support and show some love and congratulations on this historic honor. During the celebratory event, Crump addressed the crowd with deep gratitude. I want you all to know that I feel like Im the most blessed man on the face of the Earth today, said Crump. The Civil Rights Attorney's Work The renowned civil rights leader has been known for his recent work in representing the families of victims of police brutality, including George Floyd, Michael Brown, and more recently Tyre Nichols. Additionally, Crump has continued to be an advocate for civil rights for Black people across the nation through continuously lending his support to families like those of the late Trayvon Martin, whose mother was in attendance at the ceremony. I just came to salute him, said Sybrina Fulton, according to WSVN. And let him know that Im proud of him for the work that he not only did for the Trayvon Martin Foundation but that he did for so many other families. She added: Im very proud of him. What if a love triangle held the secret to your future? In Somebody I Used to Know, a rom-com thats as unconventional as it gets, television producer Ally returns to her hometown to discover that her first love has moved on, but the catch is that the woman reminds her of exactly who she used to be. The post Somebody I Used To Know: Jay Ellis, Alison Brie, Dave Franco And Kiersey Clemons On Unconventional Prime Video Rom-Com appeared first on Shadow And Act. Alison and I, we adore romantic comedies, director Dave Franco told Shadow and Act of Alison Brie, who plays Ally. The ones we were really inspired by are classics from the 80s and 90s. Pretty Woman, My Best Friends Wedding, When Harry Met Sally, those types of films. We really wanted to kind of use what we know and love about the genre to lead the audience down a certain path and then try to pull the rug out from under them every step of the way. While a traditional love triangle usually has two people going after the same person, in Somebody I Used To Know, Franco explained that all sides are going after each other, which makes it super messy and kind of exciting and complicated. Ally begins to reminisce about the life that she had with Sean (Jay Ellis), which she admits was intentional to explore what sentiment that a person managed to be the one who got away really is all about. We were really fascinated by this idea of the one that got away and kind of wanted to debunk that myth a little bit, said Brie. Like, why do so many of us suffer from [a] sort of relationship amnesia? There are clear reasons why you break up with a person and then the minute you get lonely, suddenly you miss them, they were perfect [and] the relationship was perfect. While a traditional love triangle usually has two people going after the same person, in Somebody I Used To Know, Franco explained that all sides are going after each other, which makes it super messy and kind of exciting and complicated. Story continues Throughout the film, Seans new love, Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons), holds a mirror to Ally, forcing her to face the woman she tucked away when she set out to chase her dreams. For Ally, Cassidy reminds her of herself and not just who she used to be, but that person still exists inside of her and its kind of like reflecting on an old relationship, Clemons explained. You start to fill it in, youre fantasizing about it, and I think when she actually witnesses it and sees that person in front of her, its easier to maybe grasp the reality of the situation, which is I do want to make these changes in my life,' she said. Ellis says his character is proof that no matter how much we plan, life will always just do its on thing. Im a big believer that life is about the journey, not the destination, said Ellis. I think part of [Sean] understanding that Cassidy is the person that hes meant to be with and love and spend the rest of his life with ishe needs to go through that because he needs to understand that he has to let go a little bit to let her have her life and let her do the things that she wants to do. And also realize that shes a part of his plan, but she gets to plan that as well its not just his plan anymore. Somebody I Used to Know is now streaming on Prime Video. Watch the full interview with Ellis, Franco, Brie and Clemons above. A man who found his mother alive under the rubble after the earthquakes in Turkey has described how his relief turned to anguish and then anger as she died waiting for rescue teams that never came. Zafer Mahmut Boncuk is among those whose grief at losing loved ones in the disaster, which has claimed more than 33,000 lives so far, is turning to fury over the governments handling of the aftermath. Mr Boncuk, 60, spoke to the Associated Press from outside the apartment block where his parents lived in Antakya. They were home when the earthquakes brought the building crashing down around them, and his fathers body is still lying under the rubble. After the earthquakes struck last Monday 6 February, Mr Boncuk discovered his 75-year-old mother Ozcan Boncuk was still alive and that he could easily reach her through a gap in the rubble, but that she was pinned under the collapsed masonry. She was able to talk, hold his hand and drink some water, and he promised her he would save her. Mr Boncuk spent hours frantically searching for someone to help get her out of the wreckage, but despite his pleas nobody came. She died on Tuesday, the day after the earthquakes. "I gave her water to drink, I cleared her face of rubble. I told her that I would save her. But I failed," said Mr Boncuk. "The last time we spoke, I asked if I should help her drink some water. She said no, so I rubbed some water on her lips. Ten minutes later, she died." He lashed out at Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of "ignorance and lack of information and care. "What would happen if it was your own mother, dear Recep Tayyip Erdogan? What happened to being a world leader? Where are you? Where?" he screamed. The body of his mother was only removed from the rubble on Sunday, nearly a week after she died. Zafer Mahmut Boncuk, 60, screams angrily next to the body of his dead mother, Ozcan Boncuk (AP) The death toll from the 6 February earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has risen to 33,185. The toll is expected to rise further as search and rescue teams have been forced to prioritise buildings where they know people are still trapped alive. Story continues With the survival window for having any chance of pulling people alive from the rubble closing, and reports of miraculous rescues becoming less and less frequent, attention is turning to anger over what critics call an uneven and ineffective government response. Survivors have said more people could have been saved if the relief response had been more swift and effective. People in the worst-hit Hatay province, near the Syrian border, said Mr Erdogans government was late in delivering assistance and that they suspect this was for both political and religious reasons. Bediha Kanmaz, 60, whose son and grandson were found dead together with their bodies locked in an embrace, said her family were going through body bags to see if there are any more of their loved ones. She and other residents blamed the slow rescue and search efforts on discrimination. The region has a large population of minority Alevis an Anatolian Islamic community that differs from Sunni and Shia Islam and Alawites in Syria. Traditionally, few Alevis vote for Mr Erdogans ruling party. Elif Busra Ozturk, whose two cousins were found in the rubble, waited outside the wreckage of the building where her uncle and aunt were trapped in Adiyaman town. People gather near collapsed buildings in Hatay (Getty Images) "For three days, I waited outside for help. No one came. There were so few rescue teams that they could only intervene in places they were sure there were people alive," she said. Mr Erdogan said last week that disaster relief efforts were continuing in all 10 affected provinces but acknowledged shortcomings. He dismissed allegations of a lack of action from state institutions like the military as "lies, fake slander". Officials said rescue efforts in Hatay were initially obstructed by the destruction of the local airports runway and bad road conditions. The disaster has prompted Turkish authorities to take action against dozens of people involved in the construction of buildings that collapsed, and the justice minister has vowed to punish those responsible. The United Nations on Sunday accepted there have been failures in sending aid to war-torn regions of Syria where supplies were going through Turkey. "We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria. They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international help that hasnt arrived," the agencys relief chief Martin Griffiths said. Image via Getty South African rapper AKA, born Kiernan Forbes, passed away on Friday night after he was shot outside of a restaurant in Durban. He was 35 years old. AKAs parents, Tony and Lynn Forbes, confirmed their sons death on Saturday in a statement sent to Rolling Stone. It is with extreme sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our beloved son, and confirm his untimely and tragic passing on the evening or February 10, 2023. We are awaiting further details from Durban police, the parents shared. To us, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend, most importantly father to his beloved daughter Kairo, the statement said. To many, he was AKA, Supa Mega, Bhova and the many other names of affection his legion of fans called him by. Our son was loved and gave love in return. According to the New York Times, South African police told local news outlets that AKA was approached by two armed men while leaving a popular nightclub around 10 p.m. on Friday. The pair of assailants fired several shots at Forbes before fleeing the scene. A source close to AKA told the NYT that the rappers close friend, Tebello Motsoane, a 34-year-old chef, was also fatally shot during the confrontation. Law enforcement have not yet found the two suspects. The South African hip-hop legend is survived by a young daughter, whom he shares with D.J. Zinhle. FRANKLIN (Somerset) Police have arrested a South Brunswick man who allegedly took a cab to and from a bank robbery on Route 27 Friday afternoon. Ivan M. Baerga Jr., 46, is facing second-degree robbery charges in connection with the heist, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said. Baerga was remanded to the Somerset County Jail pending a Superior Court detention hearing. At about 2:49 p.m. Friday, a man, later identified as Baerga, came into the unnamed bank and handed a teller a note demanding $5,000 in cash, McDonald said. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and the man fled the bank. No one was injured. Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit and the Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that the bank robber traveled by cab to the bank, McDonald said. Crime:Green Brook youth baseball treasurer charged with theft of league funds Detectives quickly found the cab in North Brunswick and learned that the same individual who had taken the cab from the bank was still traveling in the cab with the driver, the prosecutor said. Detectives then found Baerga in a store on Route 1 in North Brunswick, McDonald said. He was taken into custody without incident along with proceeds from the bank robbery which were recovered. Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Franklin NJ bank robbery suspect used cab, police allege A South-Central El Paso bar, reputedly known for prostitution and as a Barrio Azteca hangout, was temporarily closed after county officials alleged habitual criminal activity was being committed at the establishment, including a murder, various assaults, drugs deals and alcohol being served to minors. Cantina Cazadores, 3530 Durazno Ave., was temporarily closed after the El Paso County Attorney's Office obtained a temporary restraining order against the bar and its owner, Maria Velazquez, county officials said. Velazquez could not be reached for comment. Cantina Cazadores, located at 3530 Durazno Ave., was temporarily closed after the El Paso County Attorney's Office obtained a temporary restraining order against the bar and its owner due to alleged criminal activity. "We want to thank TABC, El Paso Police, and the Texas Anti-Gang Center for collaborating with us in our endeavor to curb criminal activity in El Paso's core region," El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal said in a statement. "This is another example of how the County Attorneys Office Nuisance Abatement Team can collaborate with residents, law enforcement agencies, and business and property owners to reduce criminal behavior in their neighborhoods and solve community concerns using tools not accessible under criminal law." The temporary restraining order was issued Thursday by 41st District Court Judge Annabel Perez. According to an affidavit, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officers alleged there was continuous criminal activity, including a failure to report police activity at the bar as required by the TABC, minors being allowed to drink, the sale of narcotics in the establishment and violent criminal activity. The affidavit claims the bar was known for having right now girls, or women engaged in prostitution. It also alleges the bar has a "reputation for allowing Barrio Azteca criminal street gang members and/or employees to sell narcotics." The affidavit lists alleged criminal activities at the bar, including: Twenty violations for failure to report a breach of the peace. Four violations for sale of alcohol to an intoxicated person. One violation for consumption and/or possession of alcohol by a minor. Three violations for permitting the possession of narcotics. Three violations for possession or delivery of a controlled substance, including the purchase of narcotics by undercover agents from an employee of Cazadores. Two violations for unlawful carrying of a weapon. One violation for murder. Eight violations for aggravated assault, including a victim being stabbed multiple times. Fifteen violations for disorderly conduct. Story continues During their investigation, officers found 84 calls for law enforcement, fire or EMS services at Cantina Cazadores between January 2021 through December 2022. More:Texas appeals court denies retrial in murder case due to prosecutorial vindictiveness There were three violent aggravated assaults with deadly weapons reported at the bar in 2019. In 2021, there were five aggravated assaults committed with deadly weapons and one murder reported at Cantina Cazadores, county officials said. Cantina Cazadores had its liquor permit suspended for seven days after a fatal Oct. 15, 2021, shooting, the El Paso Times reported. Daniel Torres, of La Union, New Mexico, was arrested in November 2021 on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Alfredo Morales, 28, El Paso Police Department officials said at the time of the arrest. Daniel Torres is accused of murder in the shooting death of 28-year-old Alfredo Morales outside Cazadores Cantina on Oct. 15, 2021. The shootings happened at about 12:20 a.m. Oct. 15, 2021, outside of Cazadores Cantina. The shooting happened after an altercation occurred as several men left the bar, police said. Jorge J. Garcia Reyes, 36, and another person were leaving the bar when Garcia and Morales got into an argument, police said. Morales allegedly took out a gun and shot Garcia once in the chest. Torres then allegedly shot Morales several times, killing him before leaving the scene, police said. Last year, law enforcement received reports of six assaults, two crimes involving firearms, one case of a minor consuming alcohol, reports of overserved patrons, and evidence of drug deals, officials said. Torres' case is pending in district court with a trial date set for April 21, court records show. More:Gunmen hunt down, kill 6 men in Juarez neighborhood According to the affidavit, the same person involved in the shooting was involved in an aggravated assault at the bar a month prior. The affidavit does not name who the person was. The affidavit states that, despite the prior assault, Velazquez did not ban the person from coming back to the bar. It also states security hired by Velazquez refused to provide information to law enforcement about the assault. A bullet hole and a notice of a court-ordered closure mark a window at Cazadores Cantina at 3530 Durazno Ave. in South-Central El Paso. A temporary restraining order shuttered the bar on Friday due to repeat allegations of criminal activity at the bar, including gun violence. County officials alleged in their lawsuit against the bar that "although the habitual criminal conduct and other violations that occur at Cazadores have been brought to the owners attention, they have not taken meaningfulaction to stop the criminal activity at Cazadores or follow TABC rules." The lawsuit also claims bar officials have "shown resistance to assist law enforcement to abate the nuisances and instead have employed staff that sells drugs and failed to provide diligent security." The temporary restraining order remains in effect until Feb. 21 when a hearing will be held to determine if a temporary injunction will be issued to prevent the bar from opening until legal proceedings in the case are finished. Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: South-Central bar closed after habitual criminal activity alleged By Fatos Bytyci and Ivana Sekularac PRISTINA (Reuters) - When in December Serbia put forces on highest combat alert in response to increasing violence in Kosovo between police and minority Serb protesters, a shareholder in Pristina's newest shopping mall began getting calls from unnerved investors. "International companies that were supposed to arrive for the first time in Kosovo told us that they were delaying opening shops due to the unstable situation," Fatmir Zymberi told Reuters. "This meant for them Kosovo is a dangerous region." Intense Western diplomacy halted a feared slide back into armed conflict in the run-up to the 15th anniversary on Feb. 17 of ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo's independence from Serbia, the outcome of a 1998-99 guerrilla uprising. But unresolved grievances continue to prevent normal neighbourly relations between Pristina and Belgrade. Western mediators see scant chances of a breakthrough soon with national leaders appearing disinclined to real compromise, at a time when Russia's war on Ukraine has raised fears of regional turmoil. The main, longstanding fount of tensions is the refusal of 50,000 ethnic Serbs in north Kosovo to recognise the government in Pristina or Kosovo as a separate country. They instead regard Belgrade as their capital, and Serbia's constitution still treats Kosovo as an integral part of its territory. The area of north Kosovo where ethnic Serbs form a majority looks in some respects like an extension of Serbia. Teachers, doctors and public employees in the region receive their pay and benefits from Belgrade. Residents of Serb-majority municipalities do not pay taxes either to Belgrade or Pristina, or pay for energy provided by Kosovo's state utility. Serbian flags wave in the streets, murals proclaiming Kosovo to be an eternal part of Serbia can be seen on walls, and shops prefer the Serbian dinar to the euro used elsewhere in Kosovo. Story continues The stand-off has been the spark for numerous confrontations on the ground, with Serbs erecting barricades and clashing with Kosovo state police trying in vain to impose state authority. When Pristina late last year acted to enforce a ruling that Serbs switch from Serbian car license plates - dating back to the 1990s - to those issued by Pristina, violence erupted with Serb protesters blocking roads and exchanging fire with police. Border crossings were blocked. Serbia put its army on highest alert and asked the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo for clearance to send 1,000 troops there for the first time since 1999 - which NATO refused, while Pristina accused Belgrade of seeking to destabilise Kosovo with ally Russia's help. The Kremlin denied influencing Serbia to stir up conflict, saying Belgrade was just defending the rights of Kosovo Serbs. After crisis mediation by European Union and U.S. diplomats, and a Pristina agreement to put off enforcement of the car registration rules to late 2023, Serbia lifted its alert, barricades were dismantled and an edgy calm returned. EU'S 11-POINT NORMALISATION PLAN In mid-2022, the EU backed by Washington presented an 11-point peace and normalisation plan to the two sides. Last month, mediators urged them to accept it or face repercussions including loss of support for their EU membership bids. As part of the plan, Serbia would stop lobbying against a Kosovo seat in global organisations like the United Nations, and Kosovo would create an association of semi-autonomous Serb-majority municipalities, tackling complaints of discrimination. In early February, both Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hinted at readiness to approve the plan but said further negotiations would be needed. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he would invite the two leaders to Brussels for meetings soon. But Vucic said he wanted a Serb municipalities group set up before such talks, while Kurti wanted them to address "international guarantees". There is little hope this dialogue will actually get anywhere. The current government in Kosovo is made up of such hardliners that they even make Vucic look like a reasonable statesman, a senior EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the fragility of the process, told Reuters. So Vucic can show he is engaging without much risk he would actually have to do hard things. Its all bound to unravel on the Kosovo side first. Kosovo's Constitutional Court has ruled that special, semi-autonomous status for Serbs would be unconstitutional, and Kurti says it would mean de facto ethnic partition of the small western Balkan state. THAW TURNS SOUR In 2013, following years of EU-brokered negotiations to defuse tensions, Serbs in the north took up jobs in the Kosovo police, judiciary and local administration run by Pristina. But three months ago they left all state bodies in protest at Pristina's crackdown on Serbian vehicle registrations. Although the strife over that move has abated, "there are a lot of armed men around and tempers are short", Marko Prelec, a Balkans analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group think-tank, told Reuters. "I am more worried than I have been in many years about the risk of conflict in north Kosovo that could then spill into reprisal attacks on Serbs in south Kosovo. There could be reprisal attacks on Albanians in the north (too)." Another 50,000 Serbs live in Albanian-majority areas south, east and west of the northern flashpoint town of Mitrovica, and they drive cars with Kosovo license plates, pay Kosovo taxes and electricity bills, and recognise the independent state. "I do not want to move, I want to stay here and live if our safety is granted," Slavoljub Djuric, 62, who raises pigs and chicken on his family farm, one of 250 Serb households, in the western village of Osojane, told Reuters. Djuric said Kosovo and Serb leaders should seek compromise. "Do something for the people so they can have (good) lives. War here has not brought anything good to anyone." ETHNIC TENSIONS STUNT DEVELOPMENT Fifteen years into Kosovo's independence, scores of U.N. member countries - including several in the EU with their own restive minorities - do not recognise its statehood, while Serbia and Russia continue to block Pristina from joining international organisations. The degree of legal uncertainty and instability hanging over Kosovo has deterred many investors and left it among the poorest countries in Europe, with one third of its workforce unemployed. Zymberi, the Pristina shopping mall shareholder, said that at the height of December's tensions a foreign commercial bank indefinitely postponed a key 40-million-euro loan to the centre. I tell Kosovo politicians to deal seriously and find a solution to this problem. We cannot live forever with it. The minimum they could do is avoid using the word 'war'. From 2015-2019 some 170,000 Kosovars - 10% of the population - left their homeland to seek better lives in Western Europe. Economist Safet Gerxhaliu said Kosovo's prospects were suffering from the lack of real peace with Belgrade and shaky rule of law. "We really have failed. And this failure today is being paid for by Kosovo citizens," Gerxhaliu said. (Reporting by Ivana Sekularac and Fatos Bytyci in Pristina with additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; editing by Mark Heinrich) CANTON A Pike Township woman will spend 18 months in prison for her role in the shooting death of 45-year-old Craig Blackshear last summer. Megan R. Coladonato, 36, pleaded guilty Friday to two felony counts of obstructing justice and tampering with evidence. She was indicted in September. Coladonato had been set to go to trial on Wednesday. Stark County Common Pleas Judge Taryn Heath sentenced Coladonato to 18 months in prison. According to court records, Blackshear was shot around 10:20 p.m. July 7 on the porch of a home in the 1800 block of Fourth Street NW in Canton. Coladonato and a 15-year-old boy were charged in Blackshear's death. She was accused of stoking an argument between herself and the victim, leading to the teen shooting Blackshear multiple times, according to police accounts. Shooting death:'I'm losing him.' Man shot in neck dies, Canton police dog nabs fleeing suspect Shooting death:'Not a win for anybody.' Murder, assault charges dropped over Canton man's shooting death The pair were arrested about a week later. The 15-year-old was charged with murder, according to police and criminal complaints filed in Stark County Family Court. Under Ohio law, the teen was charged as a juvenile but he could be tried in court as an adult, a discretionary ruling to be made later by a juvenile court judge. Melissa Day, chief of the juvenile division of the Stark County Prosecutor's Office, said a motion to bind the juvenile over to common pleas court was filed. A ruling is expected in the teen's case next week. A message was left Monday with Coladonato's attorney. Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com On Twitter: @aknappINDE This article originally appeared on The Independent: Megan R. Coladonato guilty of charges tied to Craig Blackshear death A static fire test of Starship on 9 February 2023 (left). On the right, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, is pictured on 1 December 2020 in Berlin, Germany. SpaceX; Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty Images SpaceX is in the final stages of testing the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. Elon Musk says the reusable Starship rocket could take its maiden flight in March. Here's everything you need to know ahead of its launch. Elon Musk is known for his boundless ambition, which seems to defy every limit put in front of him. Space is no exception. The billionaire has set his sights high: he wants to launch the world's biggest, most powerful rocket, and then use it to take humans to the moon and then Mars. After over 10 years of development, Musk announced SpaceX is ready to attempt the maiden flight of its Starship mega-rocket in March. "If Starship is successful, I have little doubt that it's going to be the workhorse that will bring humans back to the moon and Mars" Olivier de Weck, professor of aeronautics, astronautics, and engineering at MIT, told Insider. "It's not just a cool rocket project, but literally it has the potential to change the fate of humanity," he said. Here are 14 facts you should know before Starship's first launch attempt. At the height of about 390ft, Starship dwarfs other rockets. Engineers assemble the top and bottom parts of the rocket. Starship is around 394ft tall and 30ft wide. SpaceX At 394 feet, the rocket is taller than any other operational heavy-lift launchers. It's about 30 feet taller than the SLS mega-rocket, which NASA launched around the moon on its Artemis I mission. Designing a rocket of this size is quite a feat of engineering, de Weck said. "A rocket that's twice as big is about eight times as challenging to build and test and fly than rocket half its size," he said. It's not only the tallest rocket ever created, but also the most powerful. Starship and Super Heavy are shown stacked on top of each other. SpaceX SpaceX wants Starship to be the most powerful rocket ever made. Technically speaking, Starship is the name of the spacecraft, which sits on the top of the rocket. The bottom part of the rocket is a booster, called "Super Heavy," which packs a real punch. Thanks to this booster, the rocket generates about 17 million pounds of thrust. That's twice as powerful as NASA's SLS mega-rocket booster, which has 8.8 million pounds of thrust. Story continues The rocket should be able to lift up to 250 metric tonnes of payload into orbit, 150 if the rocket is used in its reusable form, per the SpaceX website. Starship is designed to be reusable. Starship's first test vehicle is shown here. SpaceX Starship is designed to be reusable, meaning it should be able to come back to earth intact, ready to be used again. Musk believes that reusable rockets are the future of space travel, allowing companies to cut down on costs and time with every launch. In 2021, SpaceX landed a reusable prototype of Starship successfully. From left to right: The SN8, SN9, and SN10 explosions in 2021. Gene Blevins/Reuters; SPadre.com SpaceX had a breakthrough in 2021 when it managed to land its fifth Starship prototype, called SN15, successfully. The unmanned vehicle flew about 10km into the sky before coming back down and landing safely on a landing pad around six minutes after takeoff. One of the previous prototypes had managed to land successfully once before but blew up dramatically just 10 minutes later. The booster is also designed to return to earth. A SpaceX booster landing after the SpaceX transporter-6 mission. SpaceX The spacecraft is not the only part of the rocket that's designed to be reusable. SpaceX also aims for the booster to land safely on earth and be used again. The rocket's incredible thrust is due to its trademark Raptor engines. Starship testing its Raptor engine. SpaceX Starship's mammoth thrust comes down to SpaceX's Raptor engine. Every one of the 10-foot-tall engines generates about 500,000 pounds of thrust. These engines use a fuel called methalox, a combination of methane and oxygen, to push themselves forward. This is a very different type of fuel from SpaceX's other rockets, which use a combination of kerosene and oxygen, or NASA's SLS rocket, which is fueled by oxygen and hydrogen. "That is not a combination of propellants that we have a lot of experience with," said de Weck. The advantage of using this fuel is two-fold, he added. Methane, as a molecule, contains a lot less carbon than kerosene one carbon atom for methane versus 10 to 16 for kerosene. Practically, that means that burning methane makes a lot less soot than kerosene, which is useful for an engine you want to reuse. The other advantage is that it's easy to imagine how you could make methane on Mars to refuel the rocket. "You need CO2, which is available from the atmosphere of Mars. You need water, which exists on Mars in the form of subsurface ice deposits. And you need energy. So of course you need a chemical plant," said de Weck. Starship makes clever use of stainless steel, a metal long considered to be too heavy. A picture of Starship on the launch pad. SpaceX Unlike other rockets, usually made of aluminum, Starship's body is mostly made of stainless steel. Using stainless steel can sound counterintuitive after all, it's a heavy metal, about three times as dense as aluminum. But there are a few reasons why steel was the right choice. One was the price wholesale steel is a lot cheaper than aluminum. The second is strength. "Steel is much, much stronger than aluminum," said de Weck, so you can make the parts a lot thinner than with aluminum. In the end, the parts turn out lighter. The third is corrosion. Because these rockets are made to be reusable, they need to stand the test of time. Steel is much better at doing that. The Super Heavy booster contains 33 Raptor engines. Each booster contains 33 Raptor engines, so a lot can go wrong when you try to fire them. "That's the big challenge is getting all these 33 engines to light simultaneously." "Even if each engine has a 99% probability of working properly, the probability that all 33 will fire at the right time and it is not that high," said De Weck. SpaceX successfully tested a booster in February. SpaceX tested the 33 engines on the Super Heavy booster on February 10. SpaceX Elon Musk conducted a static fire test of the Super Heavy booster on Thursday. A total of 31 of the 33 raptor engines fired for the few-second-long test, which Musk hailed as a success. "Team turned off 1 engine just before start & 1 stopped itself, so 31 engines fired overall. But still enough engines to reach orbit!" he said in a tweet. NASA has teamed up with SpaceX to use Starship in future crewed missions. An illustration of SpaceX's planned Starship rocket landing near a moon base. SpaceX/Twitter NASA awarded SpaceX a $3 billion contract in 2021 to develop a commercial launcher that could carry humans into space. NASA expects the launcher to be used on two upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon. A Japanese billionaire has booked out the rocket's first flight around the moon. Japanese space tourist Yusaku Maezawa. Roscosmos Space Agency/AP SpaceX has also scheduled civilian-crewed missions on Starship. It is due to carry Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and a team of eight people of his choice. Maesawa recently announced the composition of his crew. It includes artists, content creators, athletes, a K-pop star, and a DJ. The mission, dubbed "dearMoon" by Maesawa, will take Maezawa and his crew to within 200 kilometers of the moon's surface. In 2020, a year before he launched an open competition for the moon mission, Maezawa said he was looking for a romantic "female partner" to go with him to the moon. He later called off the search. The rocket could one day be used to cross the world in 30 minutes. Members of SpaceX's inspiration4 crew are seen training for zero gravity on a parabolic flight ahead of the first civilian crewed flight. Inspiration4/John Kraus Musk also plans for Starship to be used for earth-to-earth transport. "With Starship and Super Heavy, most international long-distance trips would be completed in 30 minutes or less," says the SpaceX website. De Weck said it sounds "probably doable, but maybe not so good for the environment." De Weck wrote a paper last year about the growing risk of the space industry releasing more greenhouse gas emissions. Starship's fuel is made up of methane which is a potent greenhouse gas, much more potent than CO2 if it's not burned up before it's released into the atmosphere. Musk wants Starship to take the first colonists to Mars. An artist's rendering of what Starship might look like on Mars. SpaceX The moon isn't the only thing on our solar system Musk wants to visit. SpaceX aims to carry humans all the way to Mars on this launcher. Musk predicted this could happen within the next five years in a tweet on Thursday. "I must admit to being congenitally optimistic (SpaceX & Tesla wouldn't exist otherwise), but I think 5 years is possible and 10 years is highly likely," he said. There is a 60-70% chance the launch could go forward, one expert said. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, is building and launching Starship prototypes in Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX; Mark Brake/Getty Images; Business Insider SpaceX has made a huge amount of progress since it started developing Starship, de Weck said. Still, a lot can go wrong before the launch date. "Will it happen in March? I'm more optimistic about it than I was last July, but I still wouldn't give it more than a 60 or 70% probability," he said. Still, he called for people not to jump to conclusions too quickly. "If this launch goes badly if there's an explosion or the booster doesn't return and is not recovered, let's all have patience. Let's keep in mind that this is just one test out of hundreds. And if anything, SpaceX has shown us that they learn a lot from failures," he said. Correction: February 14, 2023 An earlier version of this story misstated the Raptor's thrust. It generates 500,000 pounds of thrust, rather than 500 pounds of thrust. Read the original article on Business Insider Grand Ledge Public Schools' administration building pictured January, 8, 2021. GRAND LEDGE The state's Department of Civil Rights has closed an investigation into a complaint against Grand Ledge Public Schools that claimed school board members and a former superintendent didn't respond to a Mulliken resident's request to meet with them. Jason Devenbaugh, who ran for but wasn't elected to the district's Board of Education in November, filed the complaint in June. In it, he said he believes he couldn't get a meeting because he is white. The complaint was brief and provided no further details. An investigation found there was "insufficient evidence" to prove Devenbaugh's claim, said Harold Core, director of special projects for the state's Department of Civil Rights. "During the course of the investigation, (Devenbaugh) disclosed insufficient evidence that his race was a factor in his treatment, either in response, or lack of response from (Grand Ledge school officials)," according to the state's investigation documents, which were obtained through a public records request. Devenbaugh didnt immediately respond to a voicemail or email from the State Journal Friday regarding the state's finding. In September he said the school district "has a history of violating civil rights," but did not elaborate. John Miller, an attorney representing the school district, didn't immediately respond to messages left seeking comment on Friday. The state's investigation into the complaint was closed on Dec. 8, Core said. "There is a period where they may appeal," he said. According to Devenbaugh's complaint, he was "subjected to other terms and conditions" in March 2022 "due to my race" by the school district's Board of Education and its former Superintendent Marcus Davenport, who resigned in July citing "an unforeseen health challenge." READ MORE: How a gay teacher in Grand Ledge landed in culture war amid districts inclusion efforts Swatting calls put at least 8 Michigan schools on alert Tuesday; officials say that's rare Story continues WWII veteran and nurse Jean Bearup, 102, left a legacy of kindness, positivity Devenbaugh's complaint cited the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits "discriminatory practices, policies, and customs in the exercise of those rights based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital status." In a response submitted to the Department of Civil Rights in August by Tim Mullins, an attorney representing Grand Ledge schools, the district said Devenbaugh's complaint "lacks both factual and legal merit." "Despite Mr. Devenbaugh having no right to meet with the superintendent, the superintendent has met with him in person and communicated with him via email," Mullins wrote. Davenport met with Devenbaugh for an hour in October, according to the district's response, and Devenbaugh was invited to participate in a strategic planning session in May. "(Grand Ledge school officials) stated, in fact, it has met with more white individuals than Black individuals," said the investigative report. "(Grand Ledge school officials) maintained, that factually, (Devenbaugh) has been afforded far more opportunity to present his concerns than many individuals." "The investigation disclosed (Grand Ledge school officials) met with white and Black members of the public," and that Devenbaugh did not experience "a materially adverse action in violation of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act," according to the state's investigation. According to the state's investigation documents, when Devenbaugh's attorney Eric Delaporte was informed of the state's findings regarding the complaint "Mr. Delaporte said (Grand Ledge school officials) tended to appease, whichever side is in power, and will violate the rights of those who dont go along." Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ . This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: State closes investigation of civil rights complaint against Grand Ledge schools Feb. 12A 20-year-old Bow man was arrested Saturday for reckless driving after state police allegedly clocked him going 115 mph in a 55-mph zone along Interstate 93, officials said. State police were conducting traffic enforcement on I-93 around 5:10 p.m. Saturday when a trooper reported a dark-colored coupe caught on radar traveling 115 mph northbound on I-93 in a 55-mph zone and "approaching at an extremely high rate of speed," officials said in a release. According to state police, Sgt. Jeffrey Ardini reported seeing the vehicle make a lane change from the center travel lane to the left travel lane, squeezing between two other vehicles. Ardini stopped the vehicle, identified as a 2013 Hyundai Genesis, just south of the Exit 14 off ramp. The driver, identified by state police as Ndayizeye Aime Clispe, 20, of Bow, was taken into custody without incident and charged with reckless driving. Clispe was transported to Troop D barracks and processed. He was bailed on his own personal recognizance and ordered back to the Concord District Court on March 31. A conviction related to a violation of NH RSA 265:79 carries a 60-day loss of license/operating privilege, and up to a $1,200 fine, officials said in a release. Increasing transparency requirements around fracking activity and the specific fluids used in the process are associated with lower pollution levels from that activity, new research shows. A recent study from the University of Chicagos Energy Policy Institute examined water quality in watersheds where fracking occurred. Specifically, researchers analyzed salt concentration, a common indicator for fracking impact due to its associated health and development hazards. They found consistent improvement on this benchmark in cases where the state imposed disclosure rules. In states with transparency rules, salt concentration fell by up to 17.8 percent. In contrast, their research found no comparable decline for pollutants not specifically associated with the fracking process. Meanwhile, researchers also found that in states with mandatory disclosure rules, fracking firms use of chloride-related chemicals declined, and about 5 percent fewer new wells were drilled. They further found that other mechanisms of public pressure were also associated with lower salt concentrations. For example, the greatest drop occurred in areas with more local newspapers and local environmental nongovernment organizations, as well as states with higher rates of Google searches for hydraulic fracturing. The research also indicated water quality is better in regions where more fracking wells are owned by publicly traded companies. Transparency in this context worked remarkably well, leading one to believe that disclosure mandates for other industries and for other causesfrom reducing harmful chemicals in products to reducing carbon emissionscould also be successful, and even more so when it leads to the public imposing pressure on firms, co-author Giovanna Michelon, a professor at the University of Bristols Cabot Institute for the Environment, said in a statement. Researchers analyzed the impacts in 16 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. Story continues This notion that targeted transparency can be used to influence corporate behavior has been around for a long, long time, co-author Christian Leuz, the Charles F. Pohl distinguished service professor of accounting and finance at the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business, told The Hill. But for the type of behavior where the impacts are much more widespread and not as easily visible or detectable, it wasnt clear to us that targeted transparency was going to work. However, he said, the research suggests that when public pressure was picking up on the transparency, as the analyses suggest when we look at things like Google Trends or media coverage, the pressure was essentially amplifying the effect of disclosure regulation, and that, in turn, seems to have been crucial for the impact of these disclosure mandates. A 2005 law bans the federal government from requiring disclosure of the composition of fracking fluids. However, 26 states issue disclosures through FracFocus, the Ground Water Protection Councils national fracking chemical registry. Only California required disclosure of all chemicals with no exception for trade secrets, with Colorado set to implement the same requirement in 2023. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Steve Hirsch/Pool via Reuters Steve Bannonthe nativist American media personality whos backed by a Chinese billionairehasnt paid the lawyers who spent years defending him against an onslaught of criminal charges, according to three sources who spoke exclusively to The Daily Beast. With massive legal bills still outstanding, Bannon is now scrambling to find new attorneys, as he faces a looming trial over the way he scammed the MAGA crowd with a dubious plan to build a privately funded U.S.-Mexico border wall. Bannons refusal to fully pay his bills has stunned some of his close advisers whove stuck around for years. I dont have any reason to believe he doesnt have money, one associate said. After all, Bannon is a former Goldman Sachs investment banker, co-founded the right-wing news website Breitbart, made tens of millions off the iconic sitcom Seinfeld, and hangs out with Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui. In fact, he was relaxing, reading a book on Wenguis yacht just off the coast of Westbrook, Connecticut when he was arrested by FBI special agents in August 2020. Steve Bannon Delays Trial by Ghosting His Own Lawyers Then again, Bannon is also a known grifter and liar with a long history of peddling disinformation. According to sources, Bannon owes significant sums of money to attorneys M. Evan Corcoran of Baltimore and Robert Costello of New York City. Theyalong with David Schoen of Montgomery, Alabamaspent months battling the Department of Justice in 2021 and 2022, and they represented him at a trial in Washington, D.C., last summer when he was eventually convicted of contempt of Congress. At one point late last summer, Bannon owed Costello alone more than $100,000, according to a source directly familiar with Bannons unpaid bills. And Bannon still owes Costello a ton of money, according to two other sources familiar with the situation. Bannon did not respond to a request for comment over the weekend. By contrast, Bannons miserly attitude toward Costello carries a particularly sharp sting for that lawyer; the former federal prosecutor has represented Bannon in different cases for years and even took some heat himselfending up on the wrong side of the FBI. Story continues When, in 2020, the feds charged Bannon with money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for secretly enriching himself with donations to a GoFundMe campaign called We Build the Wall, it was Costello who defended him against the DOJ. Later, Costello helped secure Bannon a pardon from former President Donald Trump, a rarely received get out of jail free card that upended the federal investigation. And when the prosecutors at the Southern District of New York wouldnt just dismiss the case, Costello had to sink time into filing additional paperwork to make the case officially go away. But Costellos history with Bannon goes even further. The attorney stood by Bannons side when the right-wing blowhard flatly refused to testify or hand over documents to the House Jan. 6 Committee that would explain how he engaged in the so-called Green Bay Sweepa plan to overturn the 2020 election and keep Trump in office. When the committee threatened to hold Bannon in contempt of Congress, it was Costello who ran interference and told the committee that his client simply wouldnt comply absent a laundry list of demands. Things took an odd turn in that case when, unbeknownst to Costello, federal prosecutors zeroed in on him by secretly seizing logs of his communications, as The Daily Beast revealed at the time. That controversial decision to seek his emails and phone logs potentially crossed an ethical line by expanding the scope of an investigation to include a suspects lawyer. Costello was put in an even more precarious position when he hopped on a call with prosecutors to try to convince them not to criminally charge Bannona standard legal defense procedureonly to have FBI special agents quietly listen in and consider it an official investigative interview without his knowledge. Steve Bannon Is Just Jealous Hes Been Replaced by Donald Trump Bannon was indicted in November 2021, and in the subsequent months Costello regularly traveled from his home on Long Island down to federal court in Washington, where he joined two others on the Bannon defense team. Corcoran and Schoen took charge at the July 2022 trial and presented before the jury, which ultimately convicted him. Bannon didnt even testify, although its unclear if that was his call or his lawyers strategy. Bannons legal team immediately appealed, and U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols made the generous decision to not imprison him while the case makes its way through the higher courts. At sentencing last November, the judge made a curious statement that undermines the entire case, saying that the appeal raises a substantial question of law that is likely to result in a reversal or an order for a new trial, heightening the importance of having Bannons lawyers doggedly fight through the appeal to the very end. That situationdangling such an obvious gift to the contemptuous media personalitymakes it all the more confounding that Bannon hasnt paid his lawyers fully for the work theyve done. The tragedy here is the judge said he expects it to be reversed on appeal. Highly unusual, one source said. The legal teams reluctance to pour any more time or effort into the fight is evident by the lack of activity on their part in the appellate case in the District of Columbia. Schoen appears to be proceeding alone with the appeal, which was filed on Nov. 12 but has yet to move forward. Notably, his co-counsel Corcoran hasnt been filing documents. Bannons drama with his lawyers has spilled over to his latest legal troubles, now in New York City. As with many other Trump-related criminal matters, the Manhattan District Attorneys Office has picked up where federal prosecutors left off and revived the We Build the Wall investigation as a local case with state-level charges. The not-quite-double-jeopardy case is making its way forward, but now without Schoen or the other New York lawyer on the case, John W. Mitchell. RNC Chair Teams Up With Criminal Steve Bannon to Demand More Poll Watching Last month, Schoen and Mitchell surprised the local judge when they cited a total communication breakdown and said that they cant keep working with him at all, seeking to withdraw from the case entirely. Justice Juan Merchan ordered them to stay putessentially just to keep their names on paperuntil Bannon can find new attorneys by mid-February. But a little over a week ago, the judge pushed back the deadline until the end of the month. Corcoran and Costello declined to comment for this story. Late Sunday night, Schoen clarified that at least he had been paid in full for the work hes done. I can tell you unequivocally that I have been paid and the withdrawal motion has nothing to do with that, nor is it a delay tactic, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Ben Cohen says he and Kristina Rihanoff have 'been through the wringer'. (Getty Images) Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ben Cohen has said difficult times have strengthened his relationship with Kristina Rihanoff. The 44-year-old retired rugby player met the 45-year-old professional dancer on the BBC shows in 2013 and they were struck by the Strictly curse as Cohen was married at the time. Cohen told Hello! magazine: "Over the last nine years we've been through the wringer. Read more: Strictly curse: What is it and who has fallen for it? "Most of all Im happy to be doing this with Kristina. To support each other through difficult times in business is the ultimate test in a relationship. I've watched her flourish, from her becoming a mum to growing as a businesswoman, and it has strengthened our bond." Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff taking part in the Strictly Live Tour in 2014. (Getty Images) The couple who are parents to six-year-old daughter Mila are now planning a summer wedding after Cohen proposed in the Maldives in October 2022. Mila and Cohen's 15-year-old twin daughters Harriette and Isabelle with ex-wife of 11 years Abby Blayney are all set to be bridesmaids. Rihanoff said: "Mila can't wait. She's already told me what shes going to wear. 'I want this kind of dress, Mummy, with a long train like you will have,' she tells me. She certainly knows her own mind." The Russian dancer was previously hit by the Strictly curse in 2009, when she was partnered with boxer Joe Calzaghe. He split with his girlfriend of five years, Jo-Emma Larvin after falling for Rihanoff. They split in 2013. Cohen and Blayney divorced in 2016. Photographer Blayney said in 2021: "At the time of the break-up, when hugely stressed, I once angrily referred to Ben's partner as a 'f**king Russian dancer' to a journalist hassling me. I regret that now. Ben Cohen split from wife of 11 years Abby Blayney after meeting Kristina Rihanoff on Strictly. (Getty Images) "I'm happier in my own skin and I'm not that broken girl who used to be married to a famous rugby player." Story continues Read more: Strictly curse: Ben Cohen's ex-wife regrets publicly insulting Kristina Rihanoff Rihanoff retired from the show in 2015 and took part in Celebrity Big Brother in 2016. Watch: Kristina Rihanoff dated Shirley Ballas's ex-husband A strong public transit system is a focus for Gov. Maura Healey, who said Monday that she is weeks away from naming a new general manager for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The key is how to get this right, to make sure that we have somebody in charge who is focused on safety, on reliability, on making sure that projects are delivered on time, said Healey while speaking via Skype with Boston 25 anchor Gene Lavanchy on Monday morning. We know how important this is to people, she added of a safe and properly functioning public transit system. Healey, who previously served as the states attorney general, said she is also planning the creation of a new position of transportation safety chief, and that person would oversee safety operations for the state. Healey, who was inaugurated as the 73rd governor of Massachusetts last month, spoke about her goals for the state after her recent trip to Washington, D.C., where she attended the State of the Union address and the National Governors Association meeting. The MBTA has been plagued by accidents, delays and other issues for some time. In August, the Federal Transit Administration issued a scathing report on the MBTA that indicates the overwhelmed and overworked agency prioritized long-term projects at the expense of day-to-day operations, putting thousands of riders at risk. Last week, officials announced that two Green Line operators were placed on paid leave in connection with an MBTA trolley incident that left a Boston college student without a leg. Healey told Boston 25 that while in the nations Capitol, she spoke with officials from the Federal Transit Administration regarding the MBTA and what she termed a significant workforce shortage there. We think we have a handle on the problem and the scope of the problem and really, now its about matching up the talent and the resources to address that. We do not have a choice, and we take this responsibility very, very seriously, she said. Story continues Healey said Massachusetts will look to how public transit systems are operated in other areas of the country for guidance. Were not going to be the kind of competitive state we need to be, were not going to be a place where people want to come here, stay here, grow families, grow business here, unless we have a public transit system -- regionally -- its not just the T, either. Its commuter rail, its regional buses, its ferries, its all modes of transportation, and we will look to other examples across the country and not be afraid, where others are doing it better or differently. Healey also said her administration will focus on the states energy needs and support for funding for infrastructure, for our grid, for transmission. I couldnt be more excited about the potential, the future for our state, she said. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW LeBron James launches a fade-away jumper to score his 38,388th career point to attain the NBA scoring title during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) If you are like me and absorb news through images first and foremost, here's a short visual summary of what you may have missed this past week news from California and West Coast commissioned by Los Angeles Times. ::: A USAID Los Angeles County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team member, Matt Arledge, uses a hyper-sensitive microphone to listen for signs of life at a destroyed building site in Adiyaman, Turkey, on Friday. (Tom Nicholson / For The Times) Following the Feb. 6 devastating Turkey and Syria earthquake, search-and-rescue teams from 68 countries traveled to the region to assist with rescue and other efforts to help those affected by the magnitude 7.8 quake. Last Wednesday 76 Los Angeles County search-and-rescue team members firefighters, structural engineers, emergency management planners, paramedics, doctors, technical experts and six K9 dogs boarded a plane along with 65,000 pounds of equipment to join the international 8,619 rescue workers even as estimates of the dead Saturday climbed past the 33,000 mark. A group of internally displaced people sit around a campfire on Friday, seeking comfort and warmth in stiff winter cold, surrounded by destroyed buildings in Adiyaman, Turkey, after the Feb. 6 earthquake. (Tom Nicholson / For The Times) "On Friday, a squad from the L.A. team maneuvered through neighborhoods of Adiyaman to assess the horrific damage. Less dramatic than rescues, yes, but no less crucial: Thousands of residents remain on the street in tents, contending with freezing temperatures yet afraid to risk moving back inside the buildings that remain standing," writes Nabih Bulos, the L.A. Times Middle East bureau chief. In California, a quake as strong as magnitude 8.2 is possible on the southern San Andreas fault and would bring widespread damage to all of Southern California. ::: A woman carrying an Iranian flag walks down Spring Street as thousands of Iranian community members and human rights advocates protest nearby against the oppressive Islamic regime in Iran during a rally outside Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Thousands of Iranian community members and human rights advocates protested against the oppressive Islamic regime in Iran during a rally outside Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Thousands of people gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday, calling for regime change in Iran. The protesters chanted, Zan, zendegi, azadi, or Woman, life, freedom words that have become a rallying cry since the September death of Mahsa Amini sparked an enduring protest movement. ::: A wild horse grazes near a man-made water reservoir at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, which is billed as the world's largest industrial park, sitting on 166 square miles, roughly the size of New Orleans or Denver. As new corporations and their workers move in, wildlife such as wild horse, big-horned sheep and coyotes are being pushed out. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Year after year, Californians and California-based businesses move out of state and across the American West in search of cheaper, roomier and friendlier pastures. Yet the perfect blend a California lifestyle without the hangups is proving elusive. The pandemic spurred another California exodus Californians are now pouring into Nevada and not everyone is happy about it. Story continues ::: Seen in December, Gustavo Dudamel performs during Act 1 off the L.A. Phil Tristan Project at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) Venezuelan-born superstar conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who put the Los Angeles Philharmonic on the nations classical music map, is leaving L.A. to join the New York Philharmonic in 2026. Dudamel broke the news during the orchestra rehearsal on Tuesday. LeBron James celebrates after a shot to become the all-time NBA scoring leader, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at 38,388 points during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Tuesday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) The Lakers LeBron James became the NBAs all-time leading scorer, tallying 38 points to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbars mark in a 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Heres everything you need to know. Brandon Tsay, of California, who disarmed the Monterey Park shooter, is recognized by President Biden during the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday in Washington, DC. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Last month Californian Brandon Tsay disarmed a mass killer. On Tuesday the reluctant hero attended the State of the Union as Bidens guest. ::: The Mexican government in January indefinitely banned great white shark cage-diving around Guadalupe Island off Baja California, citing numerous bad practices. The Golf Club at Terra Lago is built in the desert. There are more than 120 golf courses in the Coachella Valley. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) As California recovers from one of its wettest months in recent history, the Colorado River is still dwindling toward dangerous lows. Colorado River crisis is so bad that lakes Mead and Powell, the nations largest reservoirs, are unlikely to refill in our lifetimes. As the river supplies water to seven US states, including California, tribal nations and Mexico, this is poised to become a repeat and important story to economic and cultural survival in SoCal. Much of the Colorado Rivers water is diverted from reservoirs and transported in canals to the farmlands and cities of the desert Southwest. But some of the water also ends up going elsewhere vanishing into thin air. ::: Alligator Jesus, left, and Sam Smith attend the 65th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Beyonce accepts the best dance/electronic music album award for "Renaissance" onstage during the 65th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 5. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Last Sunday musics biggest stars came out in some of their boldest over-the-top looks at the Grammys at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Beyonce is now the most-awarded artist in Grammys history, taking home multiple honors in the dance/electronic and R&B sections. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In the week leading up to Super Bowl 57, metro Phoenix traffic grew dense, hotels and Airbnbs were booked up, sports betting was on its way to breaking records and celebrities and other VIPs started arriving for the festivities. The Arizona Republics Dining and Entertainment teams were on the ground to document all the action surrounding Arizonas fourth Super Bowl (and the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale, which coincided with the NFL championship game). Our music critic enjoyed the most intense acoustic show hes ever seen at an invite-only Dave Grohl concert. Our entertainment reporter spoke with pop star Kevin Jonas, who accurately predicted the Kansas Chiefs win. Our dining reporter sampled from and spoke with the local vendors who were tapped to serve food for events all across town. Here are the Super Bowl 2023 highs and lows we witnessed. How it all happened:Super Bowl 2023 comes to a dramatic end in Arizona after Rihanna show, celeb appearances High: Devin Booker likes Phoenix better quiet It was Super Bowl weekend when Devin Booker officially became an Arizonan. The Phoenix Suns star took to Twitter Saturday night to bemoan the influx of visitors for Super Bowl 2023 and the Phoenix Open. Can all yall get out my city, Booker tweeted, I like it better quiet. Same, Book, same. Becky Bartkowski Low: The grass at State Farm Stadium At first, there were a few slips and slides on the field at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Eventually there were enough spills that the condition of the turf became a story. And then it became one of the biggest stories of the night. Not a good look for Arizona. Bill Goodykoontz High: Dave Grohl shredding vocal cords for veterans Dave Grohl kicks off Super Bowl weekend with an exclusive acoustic performance for veterans and local hospitality personnel at Crown Royal's pre-game party experience at Crescent Ballroom on Feb. 10, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters partnered with Crowd Royal on an impossibly intimate, invitation-only solo show to celebrate the hospitality and military communities at Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix early Friday evening, outrocking any expectations one might have of unplugged concerts. Grohl was shredding vocal cords at full intensity backed only by the power-strumming of his own guitar while joking with the audience and thriving on the interplay such an intimate setting allows. Story continues Ed Masley Low: Super Bowl traffic in metro Phoenix As much fun as Super Bowl 2023 and all related events in the last week have been, I can't say I'm going to miss driving below the speed limit on the freeway at all hours of the day. PSA to all future visitors to our lovely state: The left lane is the fast lane. Endia Fontanez High: Historic first for Jimmy Eat World and Gin Blossoms How is it that Jimmy Eat World and Gin Blossoms had never shared a bill before they teamed up at the Super Bowl Experience, a free outdoor concert at Margaret T. Hance Park that drew a huge, enthusiastic crowd for both bands on Feb. 9 in downtown Phoenix? To say that both bands rose to the occasion would be something of an understatement. Ill assume Im not the only person who was hoping we were headed for some sort of local hero summit with Gin Blossoms crashing the stage for The Middle. Oh well. Theres always the next time the Super Bowl brings them together. Ed Masley Ultimate guide:Everything to know about the Super Bowl Experience at Hance Park in Phoenix Low: Finding your way to the State Farm Stadium tailgate parties I feel sorry for the people at the Super Bowl who looked like they were there to help you get to where you had to go when, as it turns out, they had no idea. I say this based on anecdotal evidence attained while trying desperately to find the Black Keys at the TikTok Tailgate Party. I asked people holding signs with words like tailgate and all I got were blank stares and bewildered repetitions of the words I used with question marks attached. TikTok? Black Keys? Help? Ed Masley High: Chris Stapletons national anthem Chris Stapleton performs the national anthem before Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz This was a deeply soulful anthem, the grit in the country stars vocals at times giving me the Otis Redding feels as the camera settled on the tears that happened to be streaming down Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni's face, a testament to Stapletons ability to get inside a song and make you feel exactly what it means to him. I wasnt crying! Coach was crying! Stapletons anthem was one for the ages. Ed Masley Super Bowl 2023 entertainment:Here's everyone performing at State Farm Stadium High: Rihannas halftime show at the #FentyBowl Wed all been wondering who Rihanna might bring out to join her in the spotlight when she took the worlds biggest stage for her return to live performances after five years of putting the focus on other pursuits, from fashion and fragrance to family, giving birth to her first child in May. Surprise! She got along just fine without the much-anticipated cameos. And speaking of surprises, RiRi also used the Super Bowl to share a first look at her baby bump while spending most of her performance on a futuristic floating platform. Ed Masley Low: What happened to Megan Fox and MGK over Super Bowl weekend? One moment we're speculating about whether Machine Gun Kelly actually got electrocuted while performing at the WM Phoenix Open's Birds Nest in Scottsdale on Friday. By Sunday morning, Fox made headlines that speculated about infidelity in the relationship with her bizarre Instagram activity. According to reports, she shared an Instagram post that included a clip of a burning letter with the Beyonce lyrics "You can taste the dishonesty / its all over your breath" in the caption. Then she reportedly removed all her photos with MGK and unfollowed everyone except Harry Styles, Timothee Chalamet and Eminem. As of Monday, her Instagram is still deactivated. Well be looking out for a section in their Wikipedia pages on what happened between them in Arizona. KiMi Robinson High: Paramore headlines the Super Bowl Music Fest Football and music came together in the best way on Thursday when Hayley Williams took the stage wearing a sparkly football helmet and dancing to the title track off Paramore's latest album, "This Is Why," which was released that night. The band performed an exciting set of new and old songs, ending the show by bringing a superfan named Jay onstage to perform the 2007 hit "Misery Business." Endia Fontanez More:Here's the full star-studded lineup for Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest 2023 in Phoenix Low: Rupert Murdoch sitting with Elon Musk Like all networks that broadcast the Super Bowl, Fox showed various celebrities watching the game Paul McCartney, Adele, Jay-Z, Paul Rudd and others. Also getting screen time was Rupert Murdoch, the head of Fox Corp. and News Corp., sitting with Elon Musk. It was like the misinformation all-star team. Bill Goodykoontz High: All the local food trucks at Super Bowl Experience at Hance Park Local and visiting football fans converged on downtown Phoenix's Margaret T. Hance Park for a four-day celebration from Feb. 9-12. The highlight? For me, it was the food. With such a diverse lineup of local vendors, it is hard to say which one item was the best. From warm comfort food at Macology and Mr. Momo to the delicious vegan and gluten-free options from Trash Panda Vegan and Wok This Way, there was truly no wrong dining choice at Hance Park. I think out-of-town visitors were especially thankful for Paletas Betty's ice pops and the lineup of local beers from the bar to offer a cool down during the sunny outdoor event. Endia Fontanez High: Celebrities flocked to the Valley Some of the biggest names in music, Hollywood, sports and internet culture routed their private jets to metro Phoenix to attend a plethora of Super Bowl parties across town. Cher showed up in Scottsdale to see Drake, Zedd and Offset perform. Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy Carter sans Beyonce, seemingly Paul McCartney, Adele and Cardi B were also in town. Its fun knowing that some of the biggest pop culture icons of our day are probably staying just down the road. But it was also nice to see that the agencies and organizations behind a lot of these events thought to invite some of the Valleys tastemakers and influencers to join in these festivities and rub elbows with some VIPs. KiMi Robinson Low: Long lines for Super Bowl Experience at Phoenix Convention Center Don't get me wrong, the Super Bowl Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center downtown was a ton of fun, from celebrity sightings to foot-long churro hot dogs. But after waiting in line for two hours just to try kicking a field goal, my feet hurt from standing and I honestly wasn't in the mood to kick a football anymore. The Experience redeemed itself when I got to take a photo next to a signed and worn Joe Burrow jersey, though. Endia Fontanez High: Santa got his wish At Old Town ESPN Main Street Tailgate, Santa, dressed in a green top for the Eagles and red pants for the Chiefs, told The Arizona Republic, Im rooting for both teams. I just want a high-scoring game. Looks like the teams heard his wish and delivered a late (an early?) Christmas present on Super Bowl Sunday. Bahar Anooshahr High: Phoenix cookie bakers and their football-themed treats Some metro Phoenix cookie bakers promised Super Bowl-themed cookies prior to the game. On Super Bowl Sunday, it was a joy to see Instagram sprinkled with their colorful and beautiful products. Phoenix has some talented bakers. Bahar Anooshahr Low: Absolutely nowhere to park Having moved here from the East Coast where one has to fight for parking space and I mean driving head first into a parallel-parking spot to stop the other guy I love the ease of parking in Phoenix. Super Bowl weekend was different, though. There was seemingly nary a parking space anywhere, even at the gym, which led to some angry yogis. Bahar Anooshahr This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Super Bowl 2023 highs and lows, from Rihanna to the slippery turf The Dawn Project's ad shows a Tesla hitting a child-sized mannequin. Courtesy of The Dawn Project A Super Bowl ad showed a Tesla slamming into two child-sized mannequins and a stroller. It was created by The Dawn Project, a group that has long attacked Tesla's self-driving tech. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the ad would raise awareness a Tesla could drive itself while supervised. An advertisement that aired during Sunday's Super Bowl showed a Tesla slamming into two child-sized mannequins and hitting a stroller. The 30-second ad was created by The Dawn Project, an organization that campaigns to ban what it calls "unsafe software." It was founded and is funded by California tech entrepreneur and Tesla critic Dan O'Dowd, who is also CEO of Green Hills Software, a company that develops self-driving software. The Dawn Project says the ad shows tests it performed with a Tesla using the company's Full Self Driving (FSD) feature. In it, a Tesla can be seen swerving towards oncoming traffic, driving past a stopped school bus, driving on the wrong side of the road, and ignoring "Do Not Enter" signs. The ad also shows a Tesla slamming into a toddler-size mannequin that's being pulled over a crosswalk, hitting a stroller in a car park, and crashing into a larger mannequin that's being pulled across a road. Insider has separately viewed driver's eye footage of the test involving the larger mannequin that shows FSD is engaged. Tesla didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal US operating hours. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who was pictured sitting next to Rupert Murdoch at the Super Bowl, said in a tweet Sunday that The Dawn Project's ad would "greatly increase public awareness that a Tesla can drive itself (supervised for now)." In response to a Tesla fan account that accused The Dawn Project's testing of being "fake," Musk replied with a rolling-on-the-floor-laughing-face emoji. Tesla says FSD enables its vehicles to automatically change lanes, enter and exit highways, recognize stop signs, and more. It's an add-on feature to the company's Autopilot software and costs $15,000 in total, or $199 for a monthly subscription. Story continues The Dawn Project's ad said Tesla was "endangering the public with deceptive marketing and woefully inept engineering." On its website, The Dawn Project says Tesla's FSD software is "not safe for public roads." The organization said its tests were conducted on public roads and showed that FSD "will commit a concerning array of critical driving errors." O'Dowd tweeted Saturday saying The Dawn Project had six months ago reported that a Tesla with FSD enabled "would run down a child." O'Dowd said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) should "turn off FSD until Tesla fixes all safety defects." The NHTSA launched a program to test fully-autonomous vehicles in 2020. Tesla has been able to avoid reporting collision data to the Department of Motor Vehicles as it maintains that its cars aren't currently classified as fully autonomous, because they still require human intervention. It's not the first video The Dawn Project has made about Tesla's FSD, the safety of which has been questioned by beta testers in recent years. The organization released a video in 2022 showing a Tesla plowing through mannequins. Read the original article on Business Insider ADIYAMAN, Turkey (AP) The desperate search for earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria entered its final hours Monday as rescuers using sniffer dogs and thermal cameras surveyed pulverized apartment blocks for any sign of life a week after the disaster. Teams in southern Turkey's Hatay province cheered and clapped when a 13-year-old boy identified only by his first name, Kaan, was pulled from the rubble. In Gaziantep province, rescue workers, including coal miners who secured tunnels with wooden supports, found a woman alive in the wreckage of a five-story building. Stories of such rescues have flooded the airwaves in recent days. But tens of thousands of dead have been found during the same period, and experts say the window for rescues has nearly closed, given the length of time that has passed, the fact that temperatures have fallen to minus 6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) and the severity of the building collapses. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb. 6, reducing huge swaths of towns and cities to mountains of broken concrete and twisted metal. The death toll has surpassed 35,000. In some areas, searchers placed signs that read ses yok, or no sound, in front of buildings they had inspected for any sign that someone was alive inside, HaberTurk television reported. Associated Press journalists in Adiyaman saw a sign painted on a concrete slab in front of wreckage indicating that an expert had inspected it. In Antakya, people left signs displaying their phone numbers and asking crews to contact them if they found any bodies in the rubble. The quake's financial damage in Turkey alone was estimated at $84.1 billion, according to the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation, a non-governmental business organization. Calculated using a statistical comparison with a similarly devastating 1999 quake, the figure was considerably higher than any official estimates so far. Story continues In other developments, Syrias president agreed to open two new crossing points from Turkey to the countrys rebel-held northwest to deliver desperately needed aid and equipment for millions of earthquake victims, the United Nations announced. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the decision by Syrian leader Bashar Assad to open crossing points at Bab Al-Salam and Al Raee for an initial period of three months. Currently, the U.N. has only been allowed to deliver aid to the northwest Idlib area through a single crossing at Bab Al-Hawa. Some 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the epicenter, almost no houses were left standing in the Turkish village of Polat, where residents salvaged refrigerators, washing machines and other goods from wrecked homes. Not enough tents have arrived for the homeless, forcing families to share the tents that are available, survivor Zehra Kurukafa said. We sleep in the mud, all together with two, three, even four families, Kurukafa said. Turkish authorities said Monday that more than 150,000 survivors have been moved to shelters outside the affected provinces. In the city of Adiyaman, Musa Bozkurt waited for a vehicle to bring him and others to western Turkey. Were going away, but we have no idea what will happen when we get there, said the 25-year-old. "We have no goal. Even if there was (a plan), what good will it be after this hour? I no longer have my father or my uncle. What do I have left? Fuat Ekinci, a 55-year-old farmer, was reluctant to leave his home for western Turkey, saying he did not have the means to live elsewhere and that his fields need to be tended. Those who have the means are leaving, but were poor, he said. The government says, go and live there a month or two. How do I leave my home? My fields are here, this is my home, how do I leave it behind? Volunteers from across Turkey have mobilized to help millions of survivors, including a group of chefs and restaurant owners who served traditional food such as beans and rice and lentil soup to survivors who lined up in the streets of downtown Adiyaman. The widespread damage included heritage sites in places such as Antakya, on the southern coast of Turkey, an important ancient port and early center of Christianity historically known as Antioch. Greek Orthodox churches in the region have started charity drives to assist the relief effort and raise funds to rebuild or repair churches. In Syria, authorities said a newborn whose mother gave birth while trapped under the rubble of their home was doing well. The baby, Aya, was found hours after the quake, still connected by the umbilical cord to her mother, who was dead. She is being breastfed by the wife of the director of the hospital where she is being treated. Such accounts have given many hope, but Eduardo Reinoso Angulo, a professor at the Institute of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said the likelihood of finding people alive was very, very small now. David Alexander, a professor of emergency planning and management at University College London, agreed. He said the odds were not very good to begin with. Many of the buildings were so poorly constructed that they collapsed into very small pieces, leaving very few spaces large enough for people to survive in, Alexander said. If a frame building of some kind goes over, generally speaking we do find open spaces in a heap of rubble where we can tunnel in, Alexander said. Looking at some of these photographs from Turkey and from Syria, there just arent the spaces. Winter conditions further reduced the window for survival. In the cold, the body shivers to keep warm, but that burns a lot of calories, meaning that people also deprived of food will die more quickly, said Dr. Stephanie Lareau, a professor of emergency medicine at Virginia Tech in the U.S. Many in Turkey blame faulty construction for the vast devastation, and authorities have begun targeting contractors allegedly linked with buildings that collapsed. Turkey has introduced construction codes that meet earthquake-engineering standards, but experts say the codes are rarely enforced. As the scale of the disaster has come into view, sorrow and disbelief have turned to rage over the sense that the emergency response was ineffective. That anger could be a political problem for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who faces a tough reelection battle in May. Turkeys death toll has exceeded 31,000, and the health minister said more than 19,000 survivors were being treated in hospitals. Deaths in Syria, split between rebel-held areas and government-held areas, have risen beyond 3,500, although those reported by the government havent been updated in days. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths met Monday with Syrias President Bashar Assad and foreign minister after visiting Aleppo and seeing the devastating damage there. He stressed that the United Nations doesnt have heavy equipment for excavations or search-and-rescue efforts so the international community as a whole needs to step up to get that aid where its needed. In addition, the U.N.s humanitarian partners need ambulances, medicine, shelters, heaters and emergency food, water and sanitation and hygiene items, Dujarric said. ___ Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey, and El Deeb from Adana, Turkey. Bernat Armangue in Antakya, Tanya Titova in Malatya, Turkey, and Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, contributed. Georgia State Patrol told Channel 2 Action News a suspect is in custody after attempting to flee during a traffic stop in DeKalb County. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Officials said troopers were patrolling near Klondike Road in DeKalb County searching for a car connected to multiple robberies. While patrolling the area, troopers were able to located the suspect car and pulled the car over for a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, troopers had all four occupants to exit the car. After exiting the car, three of the four were taken into custody when the fourth person re-entered the car and fled the scene, officials told Channel 2 Action News. The suspect fled the scene in the car for several miles before hitting another car, then a power pole. The suspect was taken into custody at the Rockbridge Road and North Deshon Road intersection. TRENDING STORIES: Two people who were in the car that was hit were injured and transported to the hospital. Two of the suspects in custody have been transported to Fayette County Sheriffs Office for the robbery investigations. It is unclear what charges the driver will face. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Credit Suisse Sonntags Zeitung wrote that the assets account for about one third of all Russian assets declared in Switzerland. Only about CHF 4 billion ($4.3 billion) are of individuals sanctioned by Switzerland, while another CHF 13.6 billion ($14.7 billion) belongs to people sanctioned by other countries. Read also: Kolomoisky and Akhmetov among clients of Credit Suisse OCCRP "Besides, it could be the money of the Russian central bank or state money that does not fall under any sanctions, but they are de-facto frozen," the newspaper added. Another $8.1 billion and 15 real estate objects were seized in Switzerland earlier, following the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sonntags Zeitung wrote. Read also: Switzerland rejects request from Spain to re-export anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine On Jan. 25, the Swiss introduced a new package of sanctions against Russia, in particular in regard to about 200 individuals and entities, as well as sanctions on goods exports. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (Bloomberg) -- Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Talibans powerful interior minister, has lambasted for the first time the groups reclusive spiritual leader for monopolizing power and damaging their government in Afghanistan. Most Read from Bloomberg Power monopolization and defamation of the entire system have become common, Haqqani said in an angry speech at the packed graduation ceremony of an Islamic religious school in the southeastern Khost province over the weekend. The situation cannot be tolerated any longer, he added, without naming Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada directly. Haqqanis comments reflect the deep divisions emerging within the Taliban factions that seized power in the country in the wake of the US troops exit in 2021. The differences were inflamed after Akhundzadas order last year, banning women from all education and work, drawing widespread international condemnation. Taliban Divisions Inflamed by Sweeping Restrictions on Women The groups main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, pushed back on Haqqanis comments without naming him, saying that according to Islamic ethics, the emir, minister, or a government official shouldnt be criticized publicly and in such a way to insult him. Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani Network, who is on the FBIs most-wanted list for terrorism, is one of the Taliban leaders pushing back against Akhundzada, who rules from the southern city of Kandahar and issues edicts via a religious council of clerics. Despite promises, Akhundzadas edicts have rolled back all advances in womens freedom that occurred over the last two decades. Women have been barred from public parks and gyms and forbidden to travel long distances without a male escort. Story continues The survival of the government depends on how we treat the people, Haqqani said. The previous government was corrupt and did not survive because it repressed and ill-treated people. If we treat people well, our government will last longer. Taliban Threaten Women at Gunpoint After Education Ban Order Haqqani and the countrys defense minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, are among some of the Talibans top leaders deemed to be moderate who want greater rights for women to help their isolated government build ties with the world. (Updates with details on womens rights in the sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Col Chew Keng Tok, Contingent Commander, (centre) briefing the two teams prior to their deployment in the city centre to conduct assessment operations. (PHOTO: Facebook/SCDF) SINGAPORE Although the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers involved in the rescue efforts in Turkiye "are tired", "morale remains high" among the team, said Col Chew Keng Tok, the leader of the 68-member contingent, in a media interview on Sunday (12 February). The Straits Times reported that as soon as the team arrived in the earthquake-stricken city of Kahramanmaras in southern Turkiye on 8 February, the advance team of 20 SCDF officers immediately went to work. According to Chew, a rush of adrenaline and concern for survivors buried underneath the rubble drove the SCDF's Operation Lionheart contingent to work for 72 hours, battling temperatures as low as minus 6 deg C. A magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck south-eastern Turkiye and the north-western regions of neighbouring Syria in the early hours of 6 February. Since the deployment, the SCDF team have been working with local and international counterparts to rescue a boy and a man from collapsed buildings. SCDF's advance team also recovered three bodies from the rubble before another 48 officers joined them in Turkiye on 10 February with additional search-and-rescue equipment, medical supplies, and logistics support equipment. CNA reported SCDF as saying that this was the first time two psychologists had been deployed as part of the operation, to watch over the team's mental well-being. The United Nations expects the death toll to double in the wake of the devastating earthquake, with the death toll currently at more than 28,000. A rush of adrenaline and concern for survivors buried underneath the rubble drove the SCDF's Operation Lionheart contingent to work for 72 hours, battling temperatures as low as minus 6 degrees Celsius. (PHOTO: Facebook/SCDF) Training in Singapore sufficient to provide assistance According to CNA, Col Chew mentioned how the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Methodology remained the same throughout the rotation of the contingent. While the enhanced USAR operations required additional equipment, the training the SCDF members received in Singapore was sufficient to assist earthquake-affected countries, Chew added. Chew said the city of Kahramanmaras was primarily residential buildings with an average height of six storeys, which were structures that were familiar to the team. Story continues According to Chew, the most crucial part of USAR operations is to locate life. When they can do that, the team can continue to save lives between the rubbles and the damages, Chew told CNA. He also explained how the locals have been warm towards them and international organisations aiding rescue efforts, and are continually thanking them. "Even in the midst of their grief and their sadness, they're very forthcoming and they're very strong people ... and I salute them," he added. 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. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters When Rep. George Santos (R-NY) allegedly gave his campaign $705,000, he claims to have done so in the form of personal loans. And thanks to a Supreme Court ruling last year in favor of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), he can still repay himself every penny. The Cruz decision, handed down in June, eliminated the previous $250,000 cap on loans candidates can recoup with money raised after an election. It drew swift condemnation from campaign finance reform advocatesas well as the Courts three liberal justiceswho saw it as an invitation to corruption. In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the ruling greenlights all the sordid bargains Congress thought right to stop. Saurav Ghosh, director of federal reform at bipartisan watchdog Campaign Legal Center, told The Daily Beast that Santos is a prime example of why the decision poses a major problem for democracy. The ruling was egregiously bad as far as the appearance of corruption, at a minimum, Ghosh said, referring to one of the legal hurdles the Cruz case had to clear. Before the Cruz decision, thered be a limit on how much he could pay himself back after the election. But now theres no limit, so the potential for corruption is enormous. That means Santosand any other candidatecan solicit contributions that donors know will go not just to his campaign, but to his personal bank account. Santos can now literally tell donors, Im in office and need money to pay back loans, what can you do for me? Ghosh said. The clear implication is that donors would see someone who is in Congress who they can give money to, knowing the money will end up in their pocket, so they might be able to get something in return. Thats a major problem for democracy. Santos has claimed that he loaned his campaign $705,000 from money he paid himself through his company, the Devolder Organization, specifying in a Newsmax interview last week that the funds came from dividends. (Santos most recent financial disclosure claims he received two forms of payment from the Devolder Organizationa $750,000 salary as well as between $1 million and $5 million in dividends, in each of the two preceding years.) Story continues But questions linger about the true source of the money. In fact, those questions even apply to Santos first campaign, in 2020. At the time, he loaned his political operation $81,250, FEC records show, while claiming an income of just $55,000 from LinkBridge Investors, with no other assets, according to that years financial disclosure. Its not immediately clear how Santos could have made those loans. But in 2022, he upped the campaign loans to $705,000, along with $27,000 to his leadership PAC, while suddenly showing an income in the millions from the Devolder Organization. (Santos has so far repaid himself $25,000 from his leadership PAC and $31,200 from his 2020 campaign, in various small installments.) George Santos Finally Tells Truth and Calls Himself Simple-Minded In January, CLC, Ghoshs organization, filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission arguing that, given the opacity surrounding the large amount of money Santos apparently made in very little time, the loans could have been part of a straw donation scheme. In other words, the loans could in reality be campaign donations from other people that Santos routed through his company, evading federal contribution limits. The Daily Beast previously revealed four clients of the Devolder Organization, all of whom have ties to major Santos campaign donors. We identified a fifth major donor with Devolder ties earlier this month. The possibility that the money wasnt Santos to begin with adds another layer to the implications from the Cruz rulingnot just the potential for candidates to fully reclaim their investment, but to enrich themselves. When a candidate loans money to their campaign, its supposed to be theirs, or from a lending institution, Ghosh said. But we believe that Santos got that money from someone else. So one scenario here is that Santos could possibly enrich himselfbasically laundering money through his campaign, and then putting that money back into his own pocket. Those 2022 loans came in three installments: $80,000 in June 2021; $500,000 on March 31, 2022; and $125,000 on Oct. 26, 2022. The $500,000 donation came the same day that New York courts struck down a Democratic redistricting effort, a move that dramatically shifted Santos election prospects from long-shot to a strong favorite. (A Devolder Organization maxed out to Santos the same day, The Daily Beast previously reported.) And while the Cruz case wasnt decided until June, it had been considered a fait accompli for the Courts conservative majority months before Santos made that major loan. New George Santos Filing Prompts Even More New Questions But when it comes to the issue of corrupt candidate loan repayments, Santos case might be the exception that proves the rule. Because his extraordinary scandals have drawn national attention to his finances since his electionalong with a federal investigationhe may have a hard time finding donors willing to put their name on contributions. And two of his largest 2022 backersentrepreneur Matthew Bruderman and insurance mogul James Metzgerhave told The Daily Beast through representatives that they now condemn Santos, with Bruderman having already demanded a refund. Like so many other residents of the 3rd Congressional District, Mr. Bruderman and his family were fraudulently induced to support Mr. Santos. Mr. Bruderman has formally requested the return of all funds contributed by him and members of his family in support of Mr. Santos candidacy, a Bruderman representative said in a statement. He believes strongly that this kind of deceit is deplorable, undermines public trust in our institutions and Mr. Santos should have no place in public life. A representative for Metzger wrote that his contributions were made in good faith, and that Mr. Metzger believes that the misrepresentations made by Mr. Santos to all who supported his campaign demonstrated his total lack of personal integrity. Metzger is one of the donors that The Daily Beast has tied to Devolder Organization clients. 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. Residents of a small eastern Utah community are grieving after authorities say a 17-year-old girl fell to her death from a cliff during a hike with friends on Friday. Zoe McKinney, of Moab, was a student in her senior year of high school who had planned to cheer at a Saturday basketball game where her brother would play, CBS affiliate KUTV reported. McKinney's loved ones and friends gathered at the trail where police say she fell 30 feet from "a sheer cliff face" to lay flowers in her honor, according to the station. Moab, with a residential population of just over 5,300 people, is a popular tourist spot because of its close proximity to some of the country's most famous national parks. McKinney fell at around 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon, while she and a group of friends hiked along one route through the area's scenic Kane Creek Canyon called Moab Rim Trail, police said. The trail, described by the Bureau of Land Management as "a very tough and popular Jeep trail that is also adored by hikers," offers a panoramic view of the Moab Valley, Arches National Park and the LaSal Mountains. People placed flowers along the hiking trail in Moab, Utah, where 17-year-old Zoe McKinney fell to her death on Friday afternoon. / Credit: Arielle Harrison, KUTV "Tragically, a 17 year old female somehow slipped and fell approximately 30 feet off of a sheer cliff face," the Moab City Police Department said in a news release, confirming McKinney's death on Friday. "Friends called 911 and attempted to find a way to get to the victim, but there was no safe way to do so." Police officers responded to the scene alongside personnel from the sheriff's office, fire department, county search and rescue and emergency medical services teams, authorities said, adding that they "worked vigorously to climb to the area above the victim." Responders used "harnesses and climbing gear with ropes" to reach McKinney, who was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the fall, according to police. "Moab Police Department wants to extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends," the department said in a statement. "We recognize the devastating impact the loss of a beloved young woman and friend has in this small community, but know that the wonderful people of Moab will band together to support and comfort her family and friends at this time." Story continues McKinney was later identified in a statement released by the local Grand County High School, where the teenager had been enrolled. "The purpose of this statement is to inform you that this afternoon a 17 year old high school student, Zoe McKinney, passed away," the high school wrote on Facebook. "The school community is grieving with Zoe's family and will provide love and support in any way we we can, including having therapists available at school on Monday. Zoe was a remarkable student and we will honor her memory throughout the remainder of this senior year." A staff member at the school has since created "Zoe Strong" t-shirts, which are available for purchase on its apparel website. Nearly all of the proceeds will benefit McKinney's family, according to the site description. A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched to collect donations for the family's funeral expenses. The campaign received nearly $12,000 of its $15,000 goal as of Monday morning. "Kidnapping was a piece of cake compared to [MS]" says survivor Gov. Ron DeSantis leads Donald Trump in hypothetical presidential primary match up, poll says What the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl win means for Patrick Mahomes' legacy Vietnam Airlines has officially resumed the Hanoi Kuala Lumpur route with four flights a week on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. The restoration of the route from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur will complete the aviation links between Vietnam and Malaysia.(Photo: VNA) On this occasion, the national flag carrier has launched a promotion with tickets costing only from 4,644,000 VND (nearly 197 USD) for a round trip (taxes and fees included) on this route. Preferential tickets are being offered from now to March 26, 2023. Passengers can buy tickets on the airline's website, mobile application, official ticket offices, and agents of Vietnam Airlines nationwide. The airline is currently operating 11 flights per week on the Ho Chi Minh City - Kuala Lumpur route. The restoration of the route from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur will complete the aviation links between Vietnam and Malaysia. Passengers arriving in Malaysia now no longer need to present vaccination status certification or COVID-19 test certificate. In 2019 before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam Airlines served more than 220,000 passengers between Vietnam and Malaysia. Since Vietnam reopened its border, Vietnam Airlines has resumed most of its international routes with more than 600 flights per week, equivalent to 70% of the pre-pandemic level. Family members of Santa Fe High School shooting victim Sabika Aziz Sheikh, 17, pose at their home during an interview in Houston, on July 10, 2019. They are, from left, sister Sania Aziz Sheikh, 15; Abdul Aziz, father; sister Soha Aziz Sheikh, 11; Farah Naz, mother, and brother Ali Aziz Sheikh, 14. The families of those killed and injured in a 2018 Texas high school shooting have settled a lawsuit Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, that they had filed against a Tennessee-based online retailer accused of illegally selling ammunition to the student authorities say fatally shot 10 people on the campus. HOUSTON The families of those killed and injured in a 2018 Texas high school shooting have settled a lawsuit they had filed against a Tennessee-based online retailer accused of illegally selling ammunition to the student who authorities say fatally shot 10 people on campus. Retailer Lucky Gunner was accused of failing to verify Dimitrios Pagourtzis' age when he bought more than 100 rounds of ammunition on two occasions before the May 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School, located about 35 miles southeast of Houston. Pagourtzis was a 17-year-old student at the time of the shooting. Federal law prohibits minors from purchasing handgun ammunition, and bars licensed gun companies from selling to minors handgun or shotgun ammunition. The owner of Lucky Gunner is Jordan Mollenhour, whose appointment to the Tennessee State Board of Education was confirmed last year. Some Tennessee Democratic lawmakers had raised doubts about how his resume qualified him for an education role and had concerns over the lawsuit. Jordan Mollenhour Under the lawsuit's settlement, which was announced on Thursday, Lucky Gunner agreed to maintain an age verification system for customers buying ammunition, said Alla Lefkowitz, with Everytown Law, the litigation arm of the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. Other details of the lawsuit's settlement are still confidential. "I would hope (the settlement) encourages (gun) companies to take notice and to want to institute these safer business practices themselves. I can't imagine anyone wants to sell ammunition to children," Lefkowitz said in an interview Friday. Her organization represented the family of Sabika Aziz Sheikh, a 17-year-old Pakistani exchange student who was killed in the shooting. "Nothing will ever bring Sabika back," Farah Naz, Sabika's mother, said in a statement. "But we hope that this agreement sends a message to other sellers of dangerous products: it's your responsibility to prevent your products from ending up in the wrong hands." Story continues Emergency responders from multiple agencies work at the scene in front of Santa Fe High School in response to a shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, on May 18, 2018. The families of those killed and injured in a 2018 Texas high school shooting have settled a lawsuit Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, that they had filed against a Tennessee-based online retailer accused of illegally selling ammunition to the student authorities say fatally shot 10 people on the campus. Lucky Gunner faced a similar lawsuit after the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting in Colorado in which 12 people were killed. But a federal judge dismissed that lawsuit in 2015. Clint McGuire, an attorney representing several other families of those who were killed or injured in the Santa Fe High School shooting, said his clients are asking Texas lawmakers to pass a law requiring proof of age for every ammunition sale in the state. "Texas has a law requiring proof of age for anyone under 30 to purchase tobacco products There is no good reason why there should not be a similar law for ammunition sales," McGuire said. Lucky Gunner and its owners argued they were immune from litigation under the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act which prohibits firearms and ammunition manufacturers, and dealers, from being held liable when their products are used in crimes. The online ammunition company had sought to have the lawsuit dismissed but lower courts and ultimately the Texas Supreme Court rejected its efforts. Chailyn Gillespie, who is graduating from Santa Fe High School this year, hugs a friend next to the new memorial to the ten victims of the 2018 shooting at the high school, following a dedication ceremony on May 18, 2021, outside of the high school in Santa Fe, Texas. The families of those killed and injured in a 2018 Texas high school shooting have settled a lawsuit Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, that they had filed against a Tennessee-based online retailer accused of illegally selling ammunition to the student authorities say fatally shot 10 people on the campus. Lucky Gunner and its attorneys pushed back on the idea the lawsuit's settlement will result in any changes to its business practices and that all it has agreed to do is to continue using its existing system. The company said it introduced its current age verification system in 2019. "We didn't agree to do anything we weren't already doing. We'll continue investing in a world class experience for American gun owners. We want ammo sales to be secure, convenient, and cost-effective for every law-abiding American," Jake Felde, Lucky Gunner's chief executive officer, said in a statement. Pagourtzis, now 22, has been ruled incompetent to stand trial and has been receiving mental health treatment at a state hospital since early December 2019. Earlier this month, a judge ordered that he be held at the hospital for up to another year. He has been charged with capital murder. Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at https://twitter.com/juanlozano70. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee retailer settles suit over Texas school shooter's ammo PARK TWP. The suspect in a weekend breaking and entering incident in Park Township has been arraigned and identified as Alexander Geary, 36, of Leitchfield, Kentucky. Geary is charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of illegal entry. He remains in custody at the Ottawa County Jail. Geary was arrested Saturday, Feb. 11, after deputies responded to a breaking and entering call on Lakeshore Drive. A contractor building the house reported the break-in around 10 a.m. More:Man in custody for breaking into house under construction in Park Township Deputies found Geary inside the home and took him into custody. Since then, detectives have recovered stolen property estimated to value tens of thousands of dollars, OCSO said. That property included tools, firearms and collectible coins. OCSO has been in contact with other jurisdictions, as Geary may have been involved in other break-ins in the area. Additional charges are possible. Anyone with information should contact OCSO at 616-738-4000 or Silent Observer at 877-887-4536. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Suspect arraigned, property recovered after Park Township break-in President Joe Biden and Elon Musk Samuel Corum/Getty Images, Taylor Hill/Getty Images New US requirements will put Tesla under pressure to open up its EV charging network to rivals, per Reuters. If it doesn't, it could miss out on getting in on the $7.5 billion in charger subsidies planned by Biden. Tesla's 40,000+ EV chargers can only be used by its cars, but officials told Reuters that could change. Tesla could find itself locked out of $7.5 billion in Biden administration subsidies if it fails to open its EV charging network up to competitors, according to a Reuters report. The automaker's SuperCharger network has more stations in the US than any other charging company, but they can connect only to plugs used by Tesla cars. But next week, the Department of Transportation will finish drafting a requirement that will put pressure on Tesla to add the charger used by rival electric-vehicle makers, Reuters reported Friday, citing administration officials. If it doesn't, that could blow its chances of benefiting from the $7.5 billion in funding the Biden administration plans to lay out to increase the number of charging stations in the US. "We do understand that Tesla is looking to tweak their system to be more open access. So, if they do reach that point and meet those eligibility requirements, they certainly will be eligible for funding," Stuart Anderson, head of Iowa's transportation development division, told Reuters. Tesla has already had a boost from the Biden administration's EV push in February, when the DOT tweaked its $7,500 tax credit consumer incentive plan to include more eligible models by expanding the definition of an SUV. That increased the potential demand for some of Tesla's models. Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with two White House officials last month to discuss ramping up EV production and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes the legislation on charging equipment. Musk has spoken in the past about opening up the Supercharger network, but hasn't moved publicly to let others in. Tesla is dominant in chargers in the US, and it has a huge private network of more than 40,000 EV chargers globally. Story continues Opening up that network to competitors like Ford, GM, and Rivian could take some of the shine off Tesla's brand, by removing its customers' exclusive use. On the other hand, it could eventually be a new revenue stream for Tesla in addition to any subsidy windfall. Shares in Tesla were up 1.1% in premarket trading Monday, after closing 5% lower Friday in a broader-based stock slide. The EV maker's stock has risen about 60% in the year to date. The DOT declined to comment. Tesla didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Kenneth Noye (Jack Lowden) in The Gold. (BBC) The Brinks-Mat gold bullion theft the subject of BBC One's new drama The Gold is so infamous there should be a monument. Committed on 26 November 1983, by six men who broke into a London Heathrow lock-up looking to grab 1m, but stumbled on gold instead. In the claustrophobic opening minutes of this BBC drama, audiences are given a front row seat, as career criminals break in, coerce two guards, then make off with over three tons of gold bullion. Read more: Everything we know about Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who debut Swathed in balaclavas, sporting firearms, and taking no prisoners: creator Neil Forsyth (Guilt) ensures that The Gold starts strong and continues to deliver. Hugh Bonneville stars in The Gold. (BBC/Tannadice Pictures) Headlined by Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), and Dominic Cooper (Preacher), The Gold dissects every dramatic moment of this robbery first hand, shaping a compelling narrative from real-life events. It sees different social classes come together to launder the largest amount of gold ever stolen, before a countrywide manhunt can put pay to their scheme. DCI Nicki Jennings (Charlotte Spencer) and Tony Brightwell (Emun Elliott) are first on the scene when Brinks-Mat gets phoned in. With an injured security guard to question, a vast amount of precious metal now speeding its way to an unknown destination, and news headlines beckoning, this duo have their work cut out. Meanwhile, across town Kenneth Noye (Jack Lowden) gets a phone call which soon sees him standing around some gold bars making small talk. With the motherlode of paydays taking up their garage, and alarm bells still ringing, The Gold instantly turns into a race against time. The first piece of this international laundering outfit is gold merchant John Palmer (Tom Cullen), a close friend of Kenneth and legitimate businessman. Emun Elliot and Charlotte Spencer as Tony Brightwell and Nicki Jennings in The Gold. (Tannadice Pictures/Sally Mais/BBC) Next on the list is Edwyn Cooper (Dominic Cooper), a respected lawyer with upper class pretensions, who offers to set up dummy companies, and Swiss bank accounts. His number two is Gordon Parry (Sean Harris), who acts as a front for the purchase of London properties, which in turn allows illegal monies to be laundered, diminishing the Brinks-Mat bullion. Story continues Read more: Clive Myrie announces memoirs This swiftly engineered system, which was thought to be the brainchild of Kenneth Noye, saw millions of pounds turned from liquid metal into tangible assets very quickly. Making this polished piece of real-crime drama both absorbing and addictive television. Not only as DCI Brian Boyce (Hugh Bonneville) heads up a special task force, absorbing both Jennings and Brightwell into his team, but also when cracks start to appear and pressures increase elsewhere. Dominic Cooper in The Gold. (Tannadice Pictures/BBC) When connections are finally made and surveillance teams across the UK come together, there is a real sense of time running out. As DCI Brian Boyce, Bonneville buries his affable demeanour beneath a sheet metal facade. Having been instrumental in bringing down The Krays, as well as Ronald Biggs, who orchestrated The Great Train Robbery, this formidable force of nature gradually uses every tool at his disposal to catch his quarry. However, where The Gold really comes to life in terms of drama, begins with those close-knit relationships. The how, when, and where of Brinks-Mat is far less interesting than the why. Whether the motivations of those involved is born of unfulfilled ambitions, as they are with Edwyn Cooper, or worse still, defined by childhood trauma like John Palmer, creator Neil Forsyth only uses the robbery as a jumping off point for something far more interesting. At an hour an episode, The Gold never lags but instead maintains momentum through clever choices. As a piece of drama, it focuses primarily on Kenneth Noye, John Palmer, DCI Brian Boyce, and Edwyn Cooper. Although there is an argument to made for calling this an ensemble piece, it is also fair to say that Lowden and Cooper lead the charge in acting terms. Jack Lowden and Frankie Wilson in The Gold. (Tannadice Pictures/Sally Mais/BBC) The latter lacing his creation with working class insecurities, which never go away whatever he does. Either marrying into privilege, being looked down on by his father-in-law, or harbouring a need to move away from old fashioned values, Edwyn Cooper remains an intriguing proposition. Kenneth Noye is equally enigmatic in the hands of Jack Lowden, who gives this middle-class mastermind a fly by night edge, without drifting into cliche. Having shown himself to be more than a match for Gary Oldman in Slow Horses as River Cartwright, this portrayal will go some way towards cementing his growing reputation as an impressive on-screen presence. Read more: Kenneth Noye to be released from prison Beyond that, what makes The Gold so engaging comes down to a combination of factors. Acting aside, this BBC drama is dripping with detail, period specific research, and old-fashioned characterisations which will recall televisions golden age. Tightly scripted, cleverly constructed, and still shrouded in mystery this intentionally rough diamond is literally worth its weight in gold bullion. All episodes of The Gold are available now on BBC iPlayer. By Catarina Demony and Miguel Pereira LISBON (Reuters) -At least 4,815 children were sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church - mostly priests - over the past 70 years, the commission investigating the issue said in a report on Monday, adding the findings are the "tip of the iceberg". "(We want) to pay a sincere tribute to those who were abuse victims during their childhood and dared to give a voice to silence," said child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, who headed the commission. "They are much more than a statistic." Strecht said the 4,815 cases were the "absolute minimum" number of victims of sexual abuse by clergy members in Portugal since 1950. "These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg," he said. Most perpetrators (77%) were priests and 57% of the victims were men, Strecht said, adding that they were abused in Catholic schools, churches, priests' homes, confessionals, among other locations. The majority of the sexual abuses took place when the children were aged 10-14, with the youngest victim being just two-years-old. Jose Ornelas, head of the Bishops' Conference, attended the final report's presentation and told a news conference later on Monday the revelations were an "open wound that hurts and shames us". Ornelas said Portuguese bishops would meet on March 3 and would look into implementing "more efficient and appropriate mechanisms" to prevent future abuses. Among other recommendations, the commission said the Church should denounce all alleged abuses, provide psychosocial support to victims and continue the investigation into the issue. 'LOOK INTO THE PAST' Hans Zoller, the Vatican official responsible for child sexual abuse cases, also attended the event in Lisbon. He said it was important to "continue to listen to victims because this will not be the end of it". "There will be more victims who will come forward," he said, adding it was now the responsibility of the Bishops' Conference to inform Pope Francis about the report. "We (the Church) need to...(look) into the past." Story continues The Portuguese Catholic Church was rocked last year by cases of alleged cover-up of sexual abuse including by bishops who remain active in church roles. The commission said it was preparing a list of accused priests still working. "We apologise to all the victims," Ornelas, who is himself being investigated by public prosecutors for covering up sex abuse at an orphanage in Mozambique in 2011. He denies any wrongdoing. The Portuguese commission started its work in January 2022 after a report in France revealed around 3,000 priests and religious officials sexually abused over 200,000 children. The abuse allegations have come from people from various backgrounds, from every region of the country and also from Portuguese nationals living in other countries in Europe, Africa and the Americas. The commission spoke with over 500 victims, analysed historical church documents and interviewed bishops and other clergy members. A total of 25 of the testimonies heard by the commission were sent to the public prosecutors' office for investigation as all others were committed over 20 years ago and legal proceedings can no longer be initiated. The commission said the law should be changed so legal proceedings can be initiated for historic crimes committed 30 years ago. The commission, which says it is independent, was financed by the Catholic Church. Asked by Reuters in December 2021 if that could be a threat to the commission's independence, Strecht said he would be the first to walk out and denounce it if the church intervened in the process. (Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Andrei Khalip, Jon Boyle, Mike Harrison and Hugh Lawson) By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - A new judge has been assigned to oversee tens of thousands of lawsuits in New Jersey federal court against Johnson & Johnson over its talc products, two weeks after an appeals court rejected the company's plan to offload the claims into bankruptcy. U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp, based in Trenton, will take over the long-running litigation from former Chief District Judge Freda Wolfson, who retired from the bench on Feb. 1, according to an order filed on Monday. The cases, numbering more than 38,000, had been on hold since October 2021, when a J&J subsidiary newly created to hold the talc liabilities filed for bankruptcy. Plaintiffs have said that J&J's Baby Powder and other talc products contain asbestos and caused cancer. J&J maintains its consumer talc products are safe and confirmed through thousands of tests to be asbestos-free. The company has said it will challenge the ruling by the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissing the bankruptcy, which it said was intended in good faith to resolve talc claims efficiently and equitably. Shipp, 57, was appointed to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama in 2012. He has presided over a separate lawsuit against J&J, in which an emeritus Harvard Law School professor is seeking to force the company to put his proposal requiring shareholders to bring any securities claims through private arbitration up for a shareholder vote. Shipp dismissed the most recent version of the lawsuit, which is now on appeal. He has overseen several pharmaceutical industry cases including patent disputes and a class action accusing Merck & Co Inc of discriminating against pregnant employees, which settled in 2018. Before the 2021 bankruptcy filing, J&J had faced costs of $3.5 billion in verdicts and settlements stemming from the talc litigation. A 2018 Reuters investigation found that J&J knew for decades that asbestos, a known carcinogen, was present in its Baby Powder and other cosmetic talc products. The company stopped selling Baby Powder in the United States and Canada in May 2020, in part due to what it called "misinformation" and "unfounded allegations" about the talc-based product. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Will Dunham) Sad young woman sitting on the window, watching out - stock photo Tunatura/Getty Images Most depression treatments don't work quickly and are meant to be taken for long periods of time. Sage Therapeutics is developing a fast-acting drug that patients take for two weeks. Dr. Laura Gault told Insider that psychiatry is on the cusp of having new and better medicines. Years ago, Big Pharma had all but left psychiatry behind. Having undertaken large, disappointing failed trials they had hoped would lead to new and profitable treatments, big companies folded up their ambitious plans. But smaller biotech companies continued to plug away at research and development, hoping to create better treatments. And now, their labor may be paying off. That's according to Laura Gault, the chief medical officer at Sage Therapeutics, a Massachusetts-based company working to develop a new antidepressant drug, called zuranolone. The company recently asked US regulators to approve the drug as a treatment for people with postpartum depression and major depressive disorder, citing data that the drug improved symptoms of those disorders in patients. "Psychiatry is really on the cusp of having novel medicines that are really effective and work in different ways from what we've had," Gault said. Laura Gault, the chief medical officer at Sage Therapeutics. Sage Therapeutics Gault said that as a result of the research mental-health professionals have conducted over the past few years, we now have a more sophisticated understanding of depression and other psychiatric disorders. These advances in science, she said, can now be translated to clinical trials. "It's really exciting to see and I'm really hopeful that in the next five to 10 years we're going to see a resurgence of novel approaches, new treatments, and effective treatments for patients with psychiatric disease," she told Insider. Sage is developing zuranolone through a partnership with the biotech company Biogen. Last week, the companies announced that the Food and Drug Administration is set to make a decision on whether to approve the treatment by August 5. Sage's stock has climbed 7.9% in the past 12 months, giving the company a market value of about $2.7 billion. Story continues Unlike most other antidepressants, zuranolone is designed to be taken for a short period of time In trials, zuranolone has improved symptoms of major depressive disorder and postpartum depression. The drug is designed to be an episodic treatment, which means patients take the pill once a day for two weeks, and then stop. Most antidepressants on the market today are thought to work by boosting the activity of neurotransmitters, or chemical signals in the brain that affect mood and emotions. Zuranolone works differently. Instead of affecting neurotransmitters, the drug affects the GABA-A receptor in the brain, which may play a role in depression. Zuranolone has been tested across seven trials for both major depressive disorder and postpartum depression. While a late-stage trial to test the drug in MDD patients failed in 2019, a similar study in 2021, called WATERFALL, showed the drug helped to improve depression symptoms compared to a placebo. If approved, zuranolone would join a crowded marketplace of generic antidepressants. Chris Benecchi, Sage's chief business officer, said that despite the competition, he believes zuranolone will be an attractive option, especially for patients whose current treatment regimen isn't working. About one-third of people who try antidepressant treatments don't get better. "The more rapidly we can intervene and help a patient get to a response and remission, the better the long-term outcomes for that patient," Benecchi said. He declined to say how much zuranolone will cost. An episodic treatment could make 'a huge difference in the lives of patients' Sage Therapeutics is developing a new antidepressant that the FDA could approve as soon as August. Sage Therapeutics Some analysts have noted there are still open questions around how long the effects of the drug could last and what dose of the drug may work best for patients. William Blair analysts said in a Feb. 6 note that the "marginal benefits" that zuranolone showed in trials may limit the drug's appeal for patients, compared to existing treatments. In a late-stage study, researchers tracked 489 patients whose depression symptoms improved with zuranolone for a year. They found that about a quarter of the patients needed one additional course of treatment, and 30% needed three or more courses. The researchers used two common tests to determine whether a participant was becoming depressed again and needed another course of treatment. Sage said the median time that patients underwent a repeat course after their initial treatment was 135 days. Gault added that for participants who received a higher dose of zuranolone, the median time for retreatment extended to 249 days. Gault said that undergoing a two-week treatment and having those effects last for months before receiving an additional course of therapy "makes a huge difference in the lives of patients." Read the original article on Business Insider US Army Pacific Soldiers launch a Thunderhead High- Altitude Balloon System during Balikatan 22 on Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, April 1, 2022. US Army photo by Spc. Darbi Colson/28th Public Affairs Detachment. A top US general said the US military could use balloons for surveillance in the Middle East. His comments come after the US downed a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. The Pentagon revealed a few days later that China operates a global balloon network. The US military is considering the use balloons to collect intelligence and track targets in the Middle East, a top US Air Force general said on Monday following revelations that China has built a global network of surveillance balloons, some of which appear to have been spotted previously in the Middle East. Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the commander of US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT), detailed how the US and its partners are able to use sensors to detect and track adversarial aircraft and drones during an event hosted by the Center for New American Security. AFCENT is the air wing of US Central Command (CENTCOM), the area of responsibility for which covers 21 countries in the Middle East and Central and South Asia. Grynkewich said that although there are gaps in regional coverage, the military is exploring innovative ways to cover any shortcomings like deploying early warning radars, as well as "non-traditional" approaches. "Ways that we might do that are long-endurance airborne platforms could be balloons that we own, that we would like to put sensors on. We're looking at experimenting in that space we haven't done any of that yet," Grynkewich said. He said the military is also considering other "high-altitude airborne platforms" that can stay in the sky for a longer period of time than the formidable MQ-9 Reaper drone, which played a significant role for the US in Afghanistan. This system, which is equipped with combat and surveillance capabilities, has an operational ceiling of 50,000 feet and a 27-hour endurance. It can be armed with Hellfire missiles, and has the capability to execute strike missions and gather information. "We're looking at that as well, and there could be ground systems and a whole list of other things," Grynkewich said. Story continues A Thunderhead High-Altitude Balloon System, launched by US Army Pacific Soldiers takes flight during Balikatan 22 on Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, April 1, 2022. US Army photo by Spc. Darbi Colson/28th Public Affairs Detachment. The general's comments come a little over a week after the US shot down a high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon that had crossed over the continental US, fueling tensions between Washington and Beijing. A US Air Force F-22 Raptor fired a single AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile into the balloon on February 4 as it was operating at an altitude of above 60,000 feet, sending the system crashing into waters off the coast of South Carolina. The Pentagon later revealed that the Chinese balloon is part of a broader global network that Beijing operates. US officials said that the program, which has been active for years, is aimed at collecting intelligence on other militaries and extends across five continents and dozens of countries. When asked on Monday about the extent to which Chinese balloon are an issue in CENTCOM's area of responsibility, Grynkewich said the military has seen high-altitude balloons in the region before, but that they have "not been a threat." He said "they have not been something of concern for us." Read the original article on Business Insider By Elaine Monaghan and Lidia Kelly (Reuters) -Ukraine's top general and the top U.S. Army commander in Europe discussed further military aid for Kyiv on Monday as allies began training Ukrainian troops on the Leopard 2 and other modern battle tanks that are to boost the country's defence. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces talked to commander in chief of Europe's combined NATO forces, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli ahead of the U.S.-led meeting of defence heads from several NATO countries on Tuesday. "We discussed the issue of supplying international military aid to Ukraine and training our units on the territory of partner countries," Ukraine's defence ministry quoted Zaluzhnyi as saying. Tuesday's meeting follows a Jan. 20 conference at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany that was key to decisions to send Kyiv scores of modern battle tanks, including the U.S. M1 Abrams, German Leopard 2 and British Challenger 2. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian officials have since been urging allies to send fighter aircraft and long-range missiles to counter the offensive and recapture lost territory, pressuring NATO to demonstrate support for Kyiv. Germany started training Ukrainian soldiers on the Leopard 2 tanks on Monday at an army base in the northern town of Munster where Ukrainian troops are already exercising on Marder infantry fighting vehicles that will also be handed over to Kyiv. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said previously the 14 German tanks Berlin has pledged, as well as their trained Ukrainian crews, are supposed to be in Ukraine around the end of March or start of April. Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday watched a demonstration of Leopard 2 training at a military base in Swietoszow, in southwestern Poland, where Ukrainian troops are being trained by Polish, Canadian and Norwegian instructors. "We are already implementing not only the gathering of these tanks for Ukraine, but also the training cycle so that Ukrainian soldiers are prepared and able to move to oppose the Russian onslaught," Duda said, according to a transcript on the presidential website. Another group of Ukrainian forces is being trained in Britain on the Challenger 2 tanks. (Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold;Writing by Elaine Monaghan and Lidia Kelly;Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Lincoln Feast.) Photo: The Canadian Press A model F-35 sits in a place of prominence on the corner of Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny's desk. The miniature grey aircraft is propped in the air by a plastic stand as if it is flying, and Royal Canadian Air Force markings are visible on its wings. Displaying such a model inside National Defence Headquarters, let alone on the desk of Canada's Air Force commander, was strictly verboten before the Trudeau government officially committed to buying the plane last month. With the decision made, Kenny is now able to do more than display a model on his desk. He can also speak openly about the Air Force's plan to transition from its aging CF-18s to the F-35, part of what he describes as a larger leap into a new age for the organization. "It's an exciting time," he said in an interview. "The F-35 is going to not only bring us into being a fifth-generation Air Force, it's really going to change how the Department of Defence looks at security and data and information, and what we do with that data." Between plans to buy armed drones, launch satellites and upgrade North America's early warning system, the F-35 is just one of several high-tech additions that Kenny suggests will firmly entrench the Air Force in the 21st century over the next decade. "The Air Force of 2035 is going to look completely different than the Air Force in 2023," he said. "The amount of projects that are going through right now is similar to what we saw in the late '70s and early '80s." Yet while Kenny and his staff have developed a carefully choreographed plan to make the transition as seamless as possible without putting the country at risk over the next decade, it isn't without its risks. That starts with a shortage of personnel. Like the rest of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Air Force is struggling to recruit and retain enough people to fill its ranks. Kenny revealed the Air Force is short nearly 2,000 full-time members and 500 reservists, at a time when it is supposed to be expanding. "And we expect the gap to become bigger up until 2025, assuming we achieve our recruitment numbers," he said. Those personnel shortages are expected to put pressure on the Air Force as it tries to co-ordinate, for example, the training of personnel for the F-35 while having enough pilots, mechanics and other members to continue flying the CF-18 until the transition is completed. "All this only works if we have people," he said. "So I have to balance the people piece, not only of today, but of the future." The successful arrival of the first F-35 on Canadian soil by 2029 will also require significant upgrades to the Air Force's aging hangars and maintenance facilities at its main fighter bases in Bagotville, Que., and Cold Lake, Alta., as well as the military's computer networks. "What we need to do is have enough time to have all the infrastructure in place, the security in place, the (information technology) backbone, so that when the F-35 comes to Canada, we actually have capability," he said. Plans to modernize the North American Aerospace Defence Command, or Norad, which is responsible for guarding the continent against airborne attack, will also require significant investments in sensors and control centres over the next decades including in the Arctic. Yet Ottawa's record on military infrastructure is extremely mixed, particularly in the Far North. The Defence Department recently confirmed delays in upgrading and rebuilding two jetties in Esquimalt, B.C., and a new armoury in New Brunswick. All of that is in addition to constant delays in procuring new military equipment and problems when that equipment is finally delivered, which the Air Force has seen first-hand with its new Kingfisher search-and-rescue planes and Cyclone helicopters. The Kingfishers were an example of how a carefully laid plan by the Air Force got derailed by delays, with Kenny having to reassign transport planes and air-to-air refuellers to save Canadians in distress while waiting for the new planes to be ready. Acknowledging the challenges, Kenny said he will do what he can to ensure a smooth transition for the Air Force into the future a transition he says is critical as adversaries develop new weapons and flex their muscles in new and worrying ways. "There's always so much complexity with each of these projects, and there's possibilities that certain things will be later than others and therefore there'll be a ripple effect," he said. "I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure we deliver as fast as we can. Because if we don't, then I think we're at risk of not being able to meet the future security threats that are coming." Julia Fehst was forced to cut off most of her hair after it was severely matted during a snorkelling trip (Jam Press) A German womans dream holiday took a distressing turn as she was forced to hack off all of her hair due to a snorkelling mishap. Julia Fehst, 23, was enjoying a vacation in Croatia with her boyfriend last fall when her snorkelling trip caused unfortunate consequences to her scalp, Jam Press reported. Having gotten hair extensions put in before the trip, Ms Fehst said she was careful to braid her hair before heading out for the water excursion. But when she went to take a shower after snorkelling, she found her hair severely matted to the point she couldnt comb her hair through it. Ms Fehst said she spent eight hours trying to detangle the extensions from her natural hair, to no avail. She was ultimately forced to cut off two-thirds of her hair, leaving some chunks just 2-3cm long. Julia Fehst, 23, was enjoying a vacation in Croatia with her boyfriend last fall when her snorkelling trip caused unfortunate consequences to her scalp (Jam Press) She explained the mishap in a TikTok video that went viral, racking up more than two million views and 49,300 likes. I totally panicked and it just kept getting worse, Ms Fehst told NeedToKnow.online, of the moment she realised her hair wasnt detangling. For over eight hours, three people put coconut oil in my hair, and the tape extensions had to be cut out. After removing the majority of her hair, Ms Fehst said: I cried a lot. The vacation was over for me. I have naturally very thin and fine hair, which would never grow long on its own, she explained. Ever since I was a little kid, Ive dreamed of having long, full hair. This dream came true with the extensions. The extensions also significantly increased my self-confidence, which was destroyed after the extension accident. Julia Fehsts severely matted hair is seen following her snorkelling trip (Jam Press) Ms Fehst said she shared her experience online in hopes of getting advice from others who have been through a similar experience. I shared the video on TikTok as I was very desperate, she said. During the disaster with my extensions, I scoured the Internet for exactly the same thing that happened to me. Thats why TikTok came to my mind, to maybe get in touch with people who had the same thing happen and to get advice that I couldnt find on the Internet. Story continues TikTok users were equally horrified by the tale and offered helpful tips. User Mel commented: Ive been doing hair extensions for 15 years, my clients go on holiday with their hair extensions in and never come back like this. Guys the first rule of extensions is dont swim in the sea with your hair, said someone else. User Madalina commented: Same story when I had bad quality extensions, now I have natural ones with keratin. The extensions never make it through the vacation, rip, said user Sky. I usually put a hair mask on and damp my hair with clean water, stops hair absorbing so much salt water, user Nicole said. Julia Fehst is seen without hair extensions after the snorkelling mishap (Jam Press) Ms Fehst struggled to enjoy the rest of her holiday but got straight into taking care of her hair as soon as she got home. When we got back to Germany, I had my hair cut down to my shoulders and clipped my hair up every day because I couldnt wear it down anymore, she said. But my hair was very patchy, so in December I had a real hairdresser put in extensions and I bought more hair care products. Luckily, it hasnt put her off of snorkelling altogether. I was in Mexico in January and went in the sea with my extensions, but not for a whole day like in Croatia, Ms Fehst said. With the right care, everything is fine now. TOKYO (AP) The next president at Japans top automaker Toyota, Koji Sato, introduced a management team Monday that he said will lead an aggressive push on electric vehicles. Sato stressed that electrification is a key theme for his team and promised to develop a totally new, next-generation electric vehicle by 2026. That will be a Lexus, while Toyota Motor Corp. will also beef up all its EV model offerings, Sato said. Lexus will lead the move, he told reporters at a news conference in Tokyo. I see myself as the captain of the soccer team. In a presentation, Sato listed the various executives, each with different responsibilities, such as carbon neutrality, safety technology, as well as overseeing regions like North America and Asia. Hiroki Nakajima, who now oversees mid-size vehicles, was named executive vice president overseeing technology. Yoichi Miyazaki, who has been overseeing business operations, was named chief financial officer. The selection of Sato, now Toyota's chief branding officer, as the next chief executive was announced last month. The new leadership takes the helm April 1. Toyota, which makes the Prius hybrid and Camry sedan, has billed the move as an effort to stay abreast of social changes like electrification. At times it has been seen as lagging its rivals in EVs. The company's success with hybrids, which have both a battery and a gas engine, and hydrogen fuel cells may be partly behind that perception. Sato reiterated that view, noting that Toyota is intent on reducing emissions with models that are already widespread. Most vehicles on the roads today run on gas, he noted. Toyota officials have always said they have BEV technology, which stands for battery electric vehicles, or pure EVs. But that market has so far been dominated by the likes of Tesla, Japanese rival Nissan and BYD of China. We have been working on developing BEVs, but the perception may not have reflected that as well, Sato said. Story continues The electric vehicles Toyota offers can't be just more EVs to keep up with the times, but must answer the question of what kind of EV Toyota can offer, he said. Sato and the other executives said the company's entire production system must be revamped to make quality EVs. Toyota is also grappling with the high cost of the batteries, although lowering costs is not a goal in itself. Toyota prides itself on its just in time production system. Toyota will also make more intelligent cars that are safer and more fun, Sato said, implying they will link to the net and offer other entertainment features. With its management reshuffle, Toyota's chief executive and president, Akio Toyoda, who is grandson of the companys founder, becomes its chairman. Toyoda did not appear at Mondays announcement. Sato has also overseen the Lexus luxury division and Toyota motor racing. The appointments still need shareholders approval, scheduled for the company's next general meeting. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama EAST PALESTINE, Ohio Residents who filed a federal lawsuit in the fiery derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals along the Ohio-Pennsylvania line are seeking to force Norfolk Southern to set up health monitoring for residents in both states. The lawsuit filed Thursday by two Pennsylvania residents calls for the rail operator to pay for medical screenings and related care for anyone living within a 30-mile radius of the derailment to determine who was affected by toxic substances released after the derailment. The lawsuit also is seeking undetermined damages. UPDATE: What we know about East Palestine train derailment About 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed Feb. 3 in the Ohio village of East Palestine. No one was injured in the derailment that investigators said was caused by a broken axle. A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. What happened after Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio? Three days after the accident, authorities decided to release and burn vinyl chloride inside five tanker cars, sending hydrogen chloride and the toxic gas phosgene into the air. Environmental regulators have been monitoring the air and water in surrounding communities and have said that so far the air quality remains safe and drinking water supplies have not been affected. In Cincinnati:Water works monitors for hazardous chemical in Ohio River after East Palestine derailment But some residents have complained about headaches and feeling sick since the derailment. Norfolk Southern declined to comment on the lawsuit. This drone photo shows the continuing cleanup of portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Feb. 9, 2023. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: East Palestine residents seek medical care after Ohio train derailment Trippie Redd's "Mansion Musik" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. (Marc Cortes / For The Times) In early fall, Trippie Redd shuffled down the hallway of the Record Plant, the Hollywood studio where pop stars from Rihanna to Selena Gomez have cut albums. Standing over a pool table near the kitchen, he jabbed the stick at the cue ball, which harmlessly skittered off to the side without disturbing the rack. He managed better on a second attempt solids and stripes clacked about the table, although nothing landed in a pocket but after his third try was another dud, he tossed the stick with a shrug. "I did something," he conceded. Trippie Redd in the studio. (Marc Cortes / For The Times) His natural habitat is down the hall to the right, inside the studio where he's recorded some of his most popular songs, including "6Kiss" and "Topanga." The room is an upgrade from Redd's home-studio setup in Canton, Ohio, back when he was a burgeoning name on SoundCloud beginning to garner buzz for his 2016 song "Love Scars." At that time, the platform was at an inflection point, teeming with artists who relished the opportunity to upload music directly to their listeners, bypassing labels and distributors. Aided by Instagram, which made it seamless for artists and fans to connect online, a rabid underground community formed. Much of that community flowed around the edges of rap, emo, punk and trap. Anxiousness often permeated the lyrics, sometimes expressed over languid guitars, other times screamed over rattling 808s. The sometimes abrasive, sometimes melancholy music fueled the growth of several new outlets still influential today, from the No Jumper podcast to Cole Bennett's Lyrical Lemonade multimedia company to the Rolling Loud music festival (Redd is set to perform at the festival's L.A. stop next month). But it also helped define SoundCloud to the public; three of the platform's five most streamed songs are by artists who pillared the movement, including XXXTentacion's "F Love," which features Redd and is No. 2, with 303 million plays. "Those artists who they called SoundCloud rappers, if you look back at the winners of that school today, they have nothing to do with SoundCloud," said Elliot Grainge, who signed Redd to his label, 10K Projects. "I don't think [the SoundCloud rap label] affected Trippie at the time. He was one of the godfathers of that movement." Story continues Hip-hop had established itself on SoundCloud long before 2016 Chance the Rapper, Travis Scott and Mac Miller built formidable audiences in the early 2010s. But by 2020, the platform's influence had waned, with some of its most magnetic stars Lil Peep, Juice Wrld and XXXTentacion having lost their lives to drugs or violence, and its bigger names Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti and 21 Savage picked off by major labels. Redd is one of the most significant artists who stuck the landing after the dust had settled, his frenzied hit "Miss the Rage" peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021. Although hes only 23, there's a heaviness about him, most palpable when his fallen contemporaries are mentioned. "We had great times," he said of his bond with XXXTentacion and Juice Wrld. "A lot of times when I was around X and Juice, we didn't even do music. Just laugh and talk, like being with friends." Covered in black from his hoodie to his nail polish occasionally semi-obscured by the plumes of smoke he blows while talking he's sunk into a dark couch at the Record Plant, one week removed from the release of his latest album, "Mansion Musik." The project takes its name (but not quite its spelling) from Chief Keef's 2018 mixtape "Mansion Musick"; Redd remembers being infatuated with the album's cover, featuring a marble bust of the trailblazing Chicago rapper's head at the base of an imperial staircase. Redd's "Mansion Musik," executive produced by Chief Keef, just debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. An onslaught of an album that moves at breakneck pace, it's also an early contender for the most jam-packed track list of 2023 21 of its 25 songs include at least one feature, ranging from Future, Juice Wrld and Travis Scott to Lil B and Lucki. Through the commotion, Trippie commands attention with his vocals, vacillating between cartoonish warbles and metal screams in the blink of an eye. It's best when the aggressive sonics are contrasted with light-hearted references in his lyrics his face lights up in the studio when asked about "Kung Fu Panda," the blockbuster animated franchise whose lead warrior he references on the title track. "['Kung Fu Panda'] is in my top 10, for sure, in terms of animated, 'Open Season' type s," he said. "But I've been watching this weird show called 'Alice in Borderland.' It made me appreciate 'Alice in Wonderland' more. They flip it into a traditional anime-style show, but it's real life. Crazy." Redd, real name Michael White, grew up in Canton. He first wanted to make music after watching his brother William, who rapped under the name Dirty Redd. "We called him Oomp," he said. "Like Oompa Loompa from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We used to think he looked like that." William, who died in a car accident in 2014, didn't go out of his way to teach Trippie how to rap, but he didn't have to. Always observant, Trippie gravitated to the realness of his older brother's lyrics and sought to "make Trippie Redd exactly who Michael White was." Canton's music scene wasn't the most vibrant, but Redd caught his big break when "Love Scars" took off on SoundCloud. The song served as a preview of what would soon endear the artist to his fans anguished cries to a past lover, set to distorted bass and buzzy synths. "That was the first song I remember listening to a thousand times on repeat. One of the first that made me fall in love with him as an artist," Grainge said. "There's three separate melodies entangled in the song. Of the artists coming out at that time, there were very few who were as melodic as he was." Armed with about $20,000 and his newly released "White Room" EP, Redd flew to Los Angeles, where he conceptualized his mixtape series, "A Love Letter to You." That work trip turned into him moving to L.A., although he eventually took up residence in Miami after the COVID-19 pandemic. "A Love Letter to You" has remained a constant through his discography; the fourth and most recent installment arrived in 2019, where Redd poured his pain over guitar-laden production (most notably on "Leray," an anti-love letter to his ex Coi Leray). The mixtape was Redd's first to top the Billboard 200. "A lot of [the first project] helped with the next ones I made, because every one I've tried to structure the exact same way," he said. "Except for 'Love Letter 2,' that was the most different one I ever did. All the others follow the same recipe hard music, love music and pain music, trying to bundle it all together and make it flow." He's learned his lessons about getting his project mixed properly. Many fans derided the sound quality of several songs on "Mansion Musick," particularly Travis Scott's verse on "Krzy Train," which Redd blamed on hackers attempting to blackmail him as the project neared completion. This time around, as he finishes "A Love Letter to You 5," that threat isn't a factor. "I'm about to go meet up with [MixedbyAli]," he said while stretching. "He mixes Kendrick's s. Because I realized the reason my s didn't sound right, is I be so high... I'm telling him, 'Turn the beat up, make the bass hit harder.' And then he tries to mix it with the bass still boosted, so when you upload it, it sounds like chhhhhhhhhh [Redd makes an unintelligible, staticky noise]." But cleaner mixes won't be the only difference between what was just released and what's on the horizon. Having exhausted the rage, he's once again trading in distorted 808s for gentler, more melodic songs. "'A Love Letter to You 5' is like real artistry, R&B and pop, very acoustic with guitars," he said. "Very sad, singy s. What people really want." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. An attorney representing former President Donald Trump gave a bizarre explanation as to why he had a classified folder in his bedroom. Lawyer Timothy Parlatore appeared on CNN on Sunday saying that Mr Trump used the folder to block the light stemming from the phone on his nightstand. Mr Parlatore said it was one of the more humorous aspects of this whole thing before going on to claim that the folder wasnt classified despite being marked as such, adding that it was empty. He has one of those landline telephones next to his bed and it has a blue light on it and it keeps him up at night, the lawyer said. So he took the manilla folder and put it over so it would keep the light down so he could sleep at night. When DOJ found out about it they went crazy. They gave me a subpoena to say give us over this empty folder that means nothing. Everything we have done as part of the search has been in the spirit of full cooperation and compliance. Now the president has to find a different way to keep the blue light out of his eyes, he added. After being asked at the beginning of his CNN appearance why classified materials keep appearing in Mr Trumps possession, Mr Parlatore said what has happened here that youve seen here and also in the [President Joe] Biden and [former Vice President Mike] Pence investigations is that the White House does not have proper procedures for handling classified information. And these documents, when they get backed up and sent out when people leave office, they do keep showing up, if you will. Trump lawyer says Trump was using a classified folder to block the light on a phone near his bed that keeps him up at night? pic.twitter.com/vWK5VPmaAJ Acyn (@Acyn) February 12, 2023 We conducted a search back in December, which is where we found these documents. And we turned them over immediately, he added. These were not turned over last week, although, you know, the DOJ leaked it last week. This was turned over back in December. And so, we have gone through, weve tried to work with the DOJ. Weve tried to do searches of all of the relevant places. And anytime weve found anything, weve immediately turned it over. Story continues Mr Palvatore also noted that a staff member from Mr Trumps Save America political action committee was working as one of his aides. She was working as an aide to the president. And this is a box that had all of his daily schedules from his time in office. And she scanned all of those as part of, you know, being available for future speeches or biographies or things like that. And after we did the search in December and we found that within this box of thousands that there were a couple of pages that had a little marking at the bottom, which we turned over, the lawyer said. After that, we found out that she had scanned the box so that it would be digitized. She had no idea that there were any classification markings on anything, he added. And as soon as we found out about that, we called up DOJ to let them know. And immediately provided them access to it. The CNN anchor said that they also handed over an empty folder marked classified, which prompted the humorous explanation. This is not a classified folder, he said. This is a folder that when my team went through and searched and they wrote up their report, which we turned over to DOJ, they saw, its a Manila folder that says Classified Evening Summary on it. And it was in the presidents bedroom, he said, going on to explain that it was used for blocking light. Asked how the Department of Justice discovered the existence of the folder, Mr Palvatore told CNN, we put it in our report. When we did all of our searches, we wrote up reports on everywhere we searched, everywhere we looked, anything we found, where we found it. And we gave that to them because everything that weve done as a part of that search has been in the spirit of full cooperation and compliance. And when they read that and they saw, oh, there is this folder here that is so far outside of the scope of the subpoena or anything else, they demanded it back. And so now the president has to find a different way to get the blue light out of his eyes, he said. The anchor asked if the episode and a similar folder being on display at a bar in Trump Tower revealed a flippant attitude towards classified papers. Not at all. Not at all, Mr Palvatore protested. These are folders that, you know, he was given during his time in office. He didnt keep the contents of the folder, but the folder itself was interesting, so he did keep a copy, you know, some of the folders, he put one on display at the 45 Bar. He put one on his phone down in Mar-a-Lago. When we went through the boxes at the National Archives, we found a few more of them there. Its essentially a piece of stationery. It doesnt actually contain anything controlled or anything really thats a problem, he said. ANTAKYA, Turkey The death toll from the earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria passed 35,000 Monday as only a handful of survivors were pulled from the rubble more than a week after the disasters that devastated swaths of both countries. Emergency workers rescued 11-year-old Lena Maradini on Sunday, who had been trapped for more than 160 hours close to the epicenter in Hatay, a European Pressphoto Agency picture showed. A woman, Naide Umay, was also rescued from the rubble nearby after almost 175 hours, according to a video by Reuters. But as tears of joy and applause greeted Lena and Umay being pulled from the rubble alive, death overshadowed most search operations as many rescuers and relatives resigned themselves to finding no one alive under the rubble. Turkey's disaster agency said Monday that more than 31,500 had been recorded killed in the country. The Syrian Health Ministry reported almost 1,400 deaths and the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group in rebel-held regions of the country, reported 2,100 more deaths. The death toll was expected to climb. Local rescue workers in Turkey have been joined by dozens of international teams. In the southern city of Antakya, Swiss volunteer Asar Taratas, 39, told NBC News that his group was struggling to cope with the sheer number of collapsed buildings. Collapsed buildings in Antakya on Saturday after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast last week. (Hassan Ayadi / AFP - Getty Images) "You need at least machines to have the chance to devise a plan in a place where there's a lot of space to move," he said, referring to the lack of heavy machinery such as bulldozers and diggers required to move big blocks of concrete. Those trapped could even survive for two weeks if given water and food while rescuers dig them out, he added. The 7.8- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes and the many aftershocks hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb 6. Officials have said this is the worst natural disaster to hit the region in a century. Donning a black leather jacket and warming himself near a fire, Yahya Shikani, 29, was chain smoking cigarettes next to a rubble pile in Antakya where a Ukrainian rescue team was pulling out bodies of his sister and two nieces. Story continues Shikani, whose family had fled from Syria to Turkey in 2015 after their house was bombed by Russian warplanes, said he had earlier begged rescue teams, including the police and the army, for help after spotting their bodies but it was only the Ukrainians who responded. "Crazy fate really," he said. "I was sad that they died, but I was so happy that they picked them out because now we can grieve them." Among the rescuers was Yehor Tuprunov, who had arrived in Antakya from war-torn Ukraine. Its same like in Ukraine because you have destroyed buildings, so many bodies. We feel this problem in Turkey, thats why we came from Ukraine to this place, he said. With hopes for additional survivors dimming with each passing hour, the focus turned to helping those who survived, with tons of critical humanitarian aid and response teams arriving in Turkey. So far, the U.S. Air Force had delivered more than 5,700 tons of life-saving equipment and disaster aid, the U.S. Agency for International Development said Sunday. A Syrian woman carries a box of aid at a temporary camp in the village of al-Hamam in northwest Syria on Saturday. (Rami Al Sayed / AFP - Getty Images) But in the sanction-hit Syria, aid delivery has been hampered by a decadelong civil war and the availability of only a single border crossing for United Nations aid delivery. We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria. They rightly feel abandoned, the agencys relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said Sunday in a tweet after his visit to the Turkish side of the crossing. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urged the Security Council on Sunday to approve two additional crossings for the delivery of lifesaving aid. "People in the affected areas are counting on us. They are appealing to our common humanity to help in their moment of need," she said in a statement. Speaking from the Syrian capital of Damascus, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "The compounding crises of conflict, Covid, cholera, economic decline and now the earthquake have taken an unbearable toll." Kelly Cobiella reported from Antakya and Mithil Aggarwal from Hong Kong. CORRECTION (Feb. 13, 2023, 8:34 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She is Linda Thomas-Greenfield, not Thomas-Greenfields. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Photo: Christopher Cheung/The Tyee Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi was more frustrated than usual. The pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon and former chief of cardiac surgery at BC Childrens Hospital had just spent a shift in the midst of an unrelenting respiratory illness season. In between caring for his most urgent patients, hed had to inform some parents their childrens non-emergency surgeries were being postponed yet again. Before driving home that night of Nov. 14, Gandhi fired off a tweet to his few dozen followers at the time, calling for mask-wearing as a mandatory inconvenience during such a crisis. The tweet blew up, gathering more than 11,500 likes to date. It also added to the ire from Gandhis employer, the Provincial Health Services Authority, for his comments to media outside the official channels. Gandhi had already begun sounding his alarms about British Columbias handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than once in the previous six months he spoke at BC Green press conferences to urge more masking and cleaner air in schools. When the BC Greens announced Gandhi would join their party as a deputy leader late last month, it was easy to draw a line backwards to Gandhis many critical comments that resulted in at least two emails of reprimand he shared on Twitter on Jan. 19. But the 54-year-olds decision to leave his post as one of just two surgeons able to repair or replace a childs heart in B.C. had been a long time coming, prompted by what he called a toxic work environment at the hospital he alleges compromised patient care. Back in November 2021 he wrote a signed and undated resignation letter and placed it in his office drawer. That Christmas he shared his thoughts with his three adult children as they made the winding drive across Vancouver Island to Tofino. It didnt feel right, morally and ethically. I didnt in good conscience think we were providing the best possible care to our patients anymore, Gandhi told The Tyee last week. And when I told my children on that drive that I was thinking of not being a surgeon anymore, their relief made my decision for me. Gandhis last day of employment with BC Childrens was Dec. 31, 2022. The son of two small-town family doctors in Nova Scotia remains a clinical professor at the University of British Columbia. In a wide-ranging interview at his West Vancouver home, Gandhi alleged the respiratory illness surge was not the only reason for many pediatric heart surgery cancellations. He blamed administrative meddling and mismanagement at PHSA and BC Childrens. The Tyee shared his allegations with PHSA, whose vice-president of medical and academic affairs declined to go into any detail about Gandhis employment at the hospital, including his disagreements with administration. We thank Dr. Gandhi for his more than 12 years of service and wish him well in his future political endeavours, wrote Dr. Sean Virani in a statement to The Tyee. Since being recruited to BC Childrens in 2010, Gandhi says the health authority instructed him multiple times not to speak publicly when media requested his insight on virtually any health-care issue. It was only after he tendered his December 2021 resignation he felt emboldened to speak out about the toll of the pandemic on BC Childrens. The worst they could do was fire me early, said Gandhi. Other health-care workers have anonymously told media theyve been muzzled by health authorities and government to squelch criticism of B.C.s health-care policies. Information leaked by a health-care worker is how the public learned last falls respiratory surge had killed six children treated at BC Childrens. When asked whether it was policy to prevent employees from speaking to media or commenting on health policy online at all, Virani did not directly respond. BCCH does make experts it employs available to media, Virani wrote, through a robust communications process to determine who has the best expertise to speak. But Gandhi warned that behind controlled messaging, administrators are funnelling resources away from patient care, fuelling B.C.s cascading acute and primary care crises. You show up to work to give the best care you can, and there are so many impediments you cant control and the public cant see, Gandhi said. You feel handcuffed on a daily basis and its driven so many people out. He came to a harsh conclusion. The health authoritys positive narrative was the only thing that mattered to them, and my focus was always on my patients. Now he turns to politics to tackle what ails B.C.s health system. Two years ago, I never would have thought I wouldnt be a heart surgeon, said Gandhi. Gandhi leaves behind, as well, a fractious relationship with a fellow cardiothoracic surgeon that resulted, in the summer of 2021, in a temporary suspension of the heart transplant program, affecting as many as 13 children and families. We remain committed to providing children and their families with the highest quality patient care, but we acknowledge that in recent weeks we have been faced with challenges in delivering on this, a spokesperson for PHSA wrote to Postmedia at the time. We apologize for the stress this may have caused the patients and families who need us most. The episode made Gandhi uncomfortable with the work environment and quality of care, and it affected his mental health so deeply his children said they feared something bad would happen to him, Gandhi recalled. We want our dad back, he remembers them saying. I felt powerless Gandhi is calm and measured as he details his difficulties at BC Childrens, emotion catching in his voice only when he discusses his children. As last falls respiratory virus surge hammered childrens hospitals across Canada, Gandhi was operating as much as he could while planning to curtail his practice after giving one years notice in January 2022, per his contract. Another cardiothoracic surgeon was hired in July 2022 to replace Gandhi, and BCCH is in the process of hiring another full-service surgeon who can perform heart transplants, Virani said. Ensuring we have a full-scope program remains a top priority and we are committed to providing patients and families with the timely care and support they deserve, he wrote. The Tyee previously reported that BC Childrens temporarily cut one of its four weekly cardiac surgical days in late November to free up space for urgent patients in the pediatric intensive care unit where surgical patients recover. Gandhi says that of the 28 physical beds in that unit, ten have never been staffed or operational since it opened in 2017, Saran wrap still sealing some brand new equipment. Assessing capacity to operate and support the aftercare of patients needing care happens daily, Virani said. We do not postpone surgeries that are determined to be medically urgent or emergent, he wrote. Decisions on surgical postponement are not taken lightly and are absolutely done in full consultation with the most responsible surgeon based upon patient urgency and complexity. Gandhi said hospital and PHSA administrators told him and others not to tell parents the full reasons their childrens surgeries were being cancelled. Those causes included an influx of respiratory patients and, according to Gandhi, a reduction in operating room time disproportionate to the staffing crunch from doctors and nurses out sick themselves. It was devastating for families and important for them to know what was happening, said Gandhi. Not being able to tell them the truth was just awful. At one point, he says he suggested the family of a child whose essential surgery had been pushed for months connect with an acquaintance who could put them in touch with the media. Gandhi felt it was the last avenue to get the boys surgery scheduled soon. I felt powerless, he said. The Tyee later reported the story alongside other media outlets. We know that any delay in surgical care is difficult and can cause worry for patients and their families, wrote Virani. We continue to follow up with families directly impacted on their rescheduled dates and to offer any interim supports as a result of the impacts of any postponement. We need thoughtful creativity A lack of transparency from elected officials and health-care administrators predates the pandemics unique strains on staff and resources, Gandhi says. Ticking off mounting problems facing those who run the system, Gandhi notes that more than a million British Columbians are without family doctors, patients endure long wait times to see specialists and administrative costs are the highest per capita of any jurisdiction in Canada. As premiers head to Ottawa to negotiate more money for health care next week, Gandhi wants to see any money offered tied to clear, patient-focused goals and metrics. We dont need more money necessarily, we need thoughtful creativity, he said, pointing to an initiative he helped lead to support children with congenital heart disease at home that, conservatively, saved the province $4.8 million over two and a half years. If its about dollars and cents, the cheapest health care is keeping people healthy in the first place, he said. A recently announced increased payment model to retain and support primary care physicians in B.C., Gandhi said, is a good start on primary, community-based medicine. But he is concerned it does not include metrics to measure its success at attaching patients to doctors and attracting more to B.C. The province needs to fill the gap with physician assistants and internationally trained doctors, he added. The Greens would drop barriers to those added reinforcements, he said, and would work to ensure cleaner air in schools to prevent viral transmission, address the toxic drug crisis with safe supply and expand MSP to cover mental health care. Improving peoples lives takes courage more than time, because reinvention is scary, said Gandhi. Band-Aids on bullet wounds, like were seeing now, is not the answer. We need major surgery. The cutting starts with trimming bureaucracy, he said. The people running the show dont know the show theyre running, said Gandhi. Theyre trying to solve it miles away from where the solutions really are. Leaving medicine for politics may seem incongruent with this belief, Gandhi admitted. He has not yet decided whether he will be more of an in-house health policy expert for the Greens or run for office in the next election, as the other deputy leader Dr. Lisa Gunderson has said she will. In the meantime, Gandhi is taking a six-month French cooking intensive course. He spends weekday mornings striving to make the perfect scrambled eggs, goat cheese salads and pork tenderloin. Knife skills are about all I got, he said with a laugh. In the afternoons, he returns home to put in some work for the Greens. He is starting to settle into the new life he prescribed himself after a reckoning he believes burdens other frontline health providers. People signed up for the pressure of saving lives or holding a childs heart in your hand, said Gandhi. But the political and the administrative pressure is something no one signed up for, no one is prepared for, and is only getting worse. The Tyee ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey will not allow a new influx of refugees from Syria after last week's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday. "Claims that there is a new influx of refugees from Syria to Turkey (after the earthquake) are not true. We will not allow that; it is out of question," Cavusoglu said at a news conference in Ankara. Cavusoglu was commenting on claims that Syrians were flooding into Turkey following last Monday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake which has killed more than 37,000 in the two countries. Humanitarian aid to Syria's rebel-held areas is being delivered through the Bab al Hawa border crossing, and Turkey is ready to open two new border crossings from Kilis province after the earthquake, Cavusoglu said. "All of these border crossings are for humanitarian aid. That does not mean that Syrians are coming to Turkey through these crossings," he said. "We are facilitating humanitarian aid for Syrians, but we are not allowing a new Syrian refugee influx. These are two separate issues," he said. (Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Ece Toksabay and Christina Fincher) Biden holds meeting with this Cabinet. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Compared with that of his contemporaries, President Biden's Cabinet has had "unusually low turnover" just over two years into his administration, FiveThirtyEight reports. In fact, Biden is "tied with former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush for the fewest Cabinet resignations in the first two years of their presidencies," the outlet notes. Ron Klain, whose final day as White House chief of staff was Wednesday, was "just the second Cabinet-level official to quit." But that's only if you count the resignation of former Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Eric Lander, who stepped down from his post in February 2022. Biden had actually elevated that role to Cabinet level meaning had he not, "he would have gone his first two years with no turnover in his Cabinet something that hasn't happened since at least the late 1970s." Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, "burned through personnel at a record rate," FiveThirtyEight notes. He is the only modern president to have seen more than one Cabinet resignation in his first year in office, and also saw "eight people leave these 25 posts during his second year, more than any other recent president." As history has made clear, turnover typically increases roughly halfway through a president's first term. So it's "reasonable to assume" that added Cabinet members will step down in the "coming months." But when that happens, "it won't be a sign of turmoil within the Biden administration," FiveThirtyEight goes on. Rather, it will just be business as usual for "this point in a president's term." You may also like Drinking water from the sea 5 entertaining cartoons about Biden's State of the Union address United Airlines flight plunged to within 800 feet of Pacific Ocean Two Muscogee County School District students were arrested and charged with carrying a weapon at school after they were found to be in possession of a gun last week. MCSD communications director Kimberly Wright confirmed the incidents Monday in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer. On Feb. 6, an unloaded pellet gun was confiscated from a student at Northside High School. On Feb. 10, a loaded handgun was confiscated from a student at Hardaway High School. The handgun had one bullet in its chamber, Wright said. In both incidents, the weapon was safely confiscated without incident, she said. At Northside, the administration received a tip that the student was in possession of the pellet gun. The weapon was found inside the students book bag. MCSDPD charged and arrested the student, Wright said. At Hardaway, several witnesses saw the student with the handgun and reported it to the administration. The weapon was found inside the students pants. MCSDPD charged the student, and the Department of Juvenile Justice detained him, Wright said. No other details were provided before publication. The Muscogee County School District takes the safety and welfare of our students and staff seriously, Wright said, and we will continue to work to mitigate these types of incidents in the future. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu give a joint press conference on Jan. 30 in Jerusalem. (Debbie Hill / Pool/AFP via Getty Images) The intractable conflict between Israelis and Palestinians over land, rights and safety has entered a new phase, one plumbing new depths of hatred and radical intransigence that the U.S. government no longer seems in a position to resolve or even mitigate. Now, an increasing number of experts are sounding the death knell for the two-state solution. Dennis Ross, the former special envoy who has negotiated Middle East peace issues for both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, says Israelis and Palestinians have reached the lowest ebb he has ever seen. Theres a complete loss of hope on both sides, Ross recently told a television interviewer. Three of the administrations most senior officials Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, CIA Director William Burns and White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan made urgent trips to the region in recent days in a bid to deescalate rising violence and find common ground on which to build peace. But they came away unable to offer any reason to be less pessimistic than Ross. They spoke of a shrinking horizon of possibility, bad governance on both sides and the likelihood of major outbreaks of deadly fighting. During Blinken's trip to the Middle East last month, the repeated mantra from Israelis and Palestinians, and the left and right, was that the two-state solution the proposed creation of sovereign Palestinian and Israeli states that for decades had consensus support internationally and locally was dead. Some in the new, far-right Israeli government the most extreme and religiously conservative in the nation's history want to see the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, expulsion of many Palestinians and confiscation of most West Bank land, where the Palestinian state would have been created. Many Palestinians see their government as weak and useless President Mahmoud Abbas has overstayed his term by a decade and refused to hold elections and have watched as Jewish settlers have expanded their occupation. The heavily guarded settlements have effectively made the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state impossible. Story continues Meanwhile, Abbas has lost control over a northern swath of the West Bank, including cities such as Jenin and Nablus, giving rise to armed militant groups, which in turn has led to regular, deadly incursions by Israeli troops. And yet the Biden administration, like most U.S. governments except for that led by former President Trump, continues to promote the two-state solution as the way to resolve the Middle Easts most stubborn and complex conflict. "The United States is committed to working toward our enduring goal of ensuring that the Palestinians and Israelis enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, opportunity, justice and dignity," Blinken said on his last day in the Middle East after zipping through Cairo, Jerusalem and Ramallah in late January. "The only way to achieve that goal is through preserving and then realizing the vision of two states for two peoples." U.S. officials keep talking about their desire for a two-state solution, but they do nothing to implement it, said Diana Buttu, a Palestinian attorney who once advised the Palestinian Authority. Implementation, she said, would have to include blocking settlement expansion along with the confiscations, demolitions, and evictions of Palestinians by Israel that have become routine. It is a fantasy, Buttu said from her home in Haifa, Israel. It will happen, it will happen, they say. In reality, it is as dead as a dodo bird. Martin Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Middle East special envoy, said the administration cannot declare the two-state solution dead because there is no viable alternative. One oft-mentioned option is a single state of Israelis and Palestinians with equal rights. Some polling of Palestinians has shown growing support for the arrangement. But the prospects for that happening are perhaps even dimmer than for the two-state solution. What would such a state be called? Who would be in charge of security? It would be neither Israeli nor Palestinian and wouldn't satisfy the nationalist aspirations of either side. And because of higher birth rates among Palestinians, Israeli Jews might be a minority in such a state. "Once you have equal rights, it's not a Jewish state anymore," said Indyk, now a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "What Israeli prime minister is going to hand the keys over to the Palestinians? "Neither side is ready for the other side to rule." A new poll of Israelis and Palestinians released last month found what the pollsters called disturbing trends of intolerance and hatred exacerbated by separation, collapsed diplomacy and dehumanization, with each side less willing to recognize the other. The survey was conducted by Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, and Dahlia Scheindlin, a fellow at the Tel Aviv-based Century International, a liberal think tank, and sponsored in part by the U.S. Institute for Peace. They focused on surveying a younger-than-usual cohort, Israelis and Palestinians aged 15 and older. The median age in Israel is 30, and is 21 in the Palestinian territories. The poll showed support at an all-time low for the two-state solution: 20% among Israeli Jews aged 18-34 and around 30% for Palestinians in the same age group. The survey also found that, for the first time, support in Israel for a nondemocratic regime unequal rights between Israelis and Palestinians is stronger than that for a two-state solution. According to the poll, a majority on each side rejects the other's historical connection to the land and believes that violence is the only way to resolve the conflict. "It's become a zero-sum game that has left room only for people with maximalist positions, extremists on both sides," said Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, director of the United States Institute of Peaces program for Israel and the Palestinian territories. The new Israeli government is led by returning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formed a coalition with some of the country's most radical, anti-Arab parties that were once taboo in Israeli politics. The Cabinet, which is predominantly male with several ultra-Orthodox officials, includes supporters of Meir Kahane, a radical rabbi branded a terrorist by the United States who was assassinated in 1990. The Biden administration is hoping Netanyahu will curb some of his colleagues' more radical, precedent-breaking tendencies as he tries to further Israel's acceptance in the region among Arab and Gulf states. Seizing more Palestinian-claimed land or excessive repression would jeopardize such efforts. "I've got my two hands on the steering wheel," Netanyahu has told foreign media on several occasions, insisting he, not his allies, will call the shots. But Netanyahu also needs his Cabinet to support fundamental changes to the judiciary that could dash his own trial on corruption charges. He has denied that his challenge to the court system is self-motivated. On the Palestinian side, youth militias have sprung up that carry out attacks, particularly on settlers, and Abbas is said to be reluctant to crack down on them. The Palestinian Authority has also pursued an international campaign, attempting to carry its grievances to forums including the International Criminal Court to obtain judgments against Israel. The moves have infuriated Israel, and have also been condemned by the U.S. In his trip to the region, Blinken subtly chided both Netanyahu and Abbas for straying from democracy, urging that free expression, civil rights and "values" be respected in their respective countries. At the same time, however, the Biden administration would like to keep the Israeli-Palestinian conflict off the top of its to-do list, preferring to focus on China and Ukraine. U.S. officials acknowledge the dynamic in the Middle East is too volatile and the diplomatic distances too great to make progress. And Blinken and other senior U.S. officials have repeatedly told Israelis and Palestinians that it is incumbent on them to resolve their own problems. "You need leadership in three places, and you dont have it," said Daniel Kurtzer, who has served as U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt. "Israel thinks it can destroy the Palestinians violence infrastructure. The Palestinians think they can stop Israeli settlement and confiscation of land. Both have failed. There is no political outcome just killing." When CIA director Burns returned from his trip to the Middle East, he gave a troubling assessment to a group of foreign service students at Georgetown University. He warned of "even greater fragility, even greater violence" between Israelis and Palestinians, saying conditions resembled the eve of the second intifada. The Palestinian uprising that began in the year 2000 left nearly 5,000 people dead and is widely regarded as the end of the peace process. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. An unidentified object that had been tracked across Michigan was shot down by military jets Sunday afternoon over Lake Huron, federal and state officials said. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin tweeted shortly before 4 p.m. that "the object has been downed by pilots from the US Air Force and National Guard," while Rep. Jack Bergman tweeted: "The US military has decommissioned another 'object' over Lake Huron." Slotkin, a Democrat from Holly and a former CIA employee, earlier tweeted that the military was tracking the object. Well know more about what this was in the coming days, but for now, be assured that all parties have been laser-focused on it from the moment it traversed our waters, Slotkin said. Bergman, R-Watersmeet, said, "I appreciate the decisive action by our fighter pilots. The American people deserve far more answers than we have." More:Canadian, US officials working closely to identify unmanned aircraft shot down over Canada More:Discovery of unidentified unmanned aircraft sparks new concerns on Capitol Hill over US-China relations CNN, quoting an unidentified senior administration official, reported the object was flying at 20,000 feet over Michigans Upper Peninsula and was about to go over Lake Huron when it was neutralized. The North American Aerospace Defense Command had implemented temporary flight restrictions over Lake Michigan near the U.S.-Canada border with the help of the Federal Aviation Administration Sunday afternoon. According to a Twitter post from NORAD, the airspace closure began at noon to ensure air traffic safety. The post was released at 1:44 p.m. and said the air restrictions have since been lifted. This is the fourth time an unidentified flying object has been removed by the U.S. military in less than two weeks in North America. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, expressed her concern regarding the incidents in a statement Sunday. The increasing incidents of unidentified objects, the latest over Lake Huron in Michigan airspace, are disturbing," Dingell said. "We need the facts about where they are originating from, what their purpose is, and why their frequency is increasing." Story continues U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, posted a tweet saying he would continue pushing authorities for answers. I've been in touch with the Pentagon, DHS, and FAA regarding the closure of air space over the Great Lakes. I'm glad the object was neutralized over Lake Huron and I'll continue pressing DoD for transparency. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tweeted that she had been in contact with the federal government as the object was tracked. Im glad to report it has been swiftly, safely, and securely taken down, Whitmer said. Sundays downing occurred hours after airspace had been temporarily closed over Lake Michigan by the Federal Aviation Administration and NORAD. Fighter jets had scrambled to investigate a radar finding there but did not find an object, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment. It wasnt immediately clear where in Michigan the debris from Sundays object had landed, the official said. An F-16 shot down the object at 2:42 p.m. ET Sunday at the direction of President Joe Biden, according to a statement from the Pentagon. The pilot fired an AIM 9X sidewinder missile, the same weapon used in the previous instances. The object had been flying at about 20,000 feet over Lake Huron in a path and altitude that raised concerns about it being a hazard to civilian aviation, the statement said. Shooting it down over the lake minimized the chances of injuring people or damaging property. There are no indications anybody was hurt. The object is likely the same one whose radar signal prompted the Pentagon to scramble fighter jets over Montana Saturday night, the statement said. It flew close to sensitive DoD sites there. On Feb. 4, a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down by a F-22 from Langley Air Force Base in the Atlantic Ocean off of the coast of South Carolina around 2:30 p.m. On Friday, an unidentified object was decommissioned 10 miles off the coast of Alaska by an F-22. And then on Saturday, a U.S. F-22 fighter jet shot down an unidentified object in Yukon, Canada, at the request of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Officials believed that item to be a high-altitude balloon. USA Today reporter Tom Vanden Brook contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lake Huron object decommissioned after air closures The U.S. military shot down another unidentified object on Sunday, the fourth such downing in eight days, and so far theres no explanation for them. At least one high-ranking official wont rule out the possibility that they could be extraterrestrial in origin. Ill let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out, Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of NORAD, told reporters on Sunday when asked about the possibility of aliens. I havent ruled out anything at this point. However, in a White House press briefing Monday afternoon, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back on the theory that aliens were involved. I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no again, no indication of aliens or extra-terrestrial activity with these recent takedowns, she said. A suspected Chinese spy balloon transfixed the nation when it was spotted over Montana in January. It was shot down when it drifted over the Atlantic Ocean earlier this month. Since then, at least three more objects have been blown out of the skies. One was initially described as a balloon, but VanHerck hedged when asked if these additional objects were also balloons. Im not gonna categorize them as balloons. Were calling them objects for a reason, he said. Certainly the event off the South Carolina coast for the Chinese spy balloon, that was clearly a balloon. These were objects. He also said hes not certain how the objects are even flying. It could be a gaseous type of balloon inside a structure, or it could be some type of a propulsion system, he said. One of the objects, shot down on Friday over Alaska, was described as cylindrical and silverish gray and with no identifiable propulsion system. Another, shot down along the U.S.-Canadian border, was described as a small, cylindrical object. The third, shot down on Sunday over Lake Huron, was described by officials as an octagonal structure with strings. Story continues Were going to remain vigilant about our airspace. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday. Were going to remain vigilant about the skies over the United States. Its not year clear if the objects being shot down are related to the growing number of sightings of what the Pentagon now calls unidentified aerial phenomena, their preferred term for UFOs. Last year, an American Airlines pilot reported a long cylindrical object in the skies over New Mexico, and several U.S. Navy pilots have attempted to track small fast-moving objects, including some without discernible means of propulsion. NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Monday put two regulators' civil lawsuits against Sam Bankman-Fried on hold until the conclusion of the Department of Justice's criminal case against the founder of the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange. U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan granted a Justice Department motion to stay the lawsuits filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Prosecutors said it made sense to delay those lawsuits because the cases substantially overlapped, and the outcome of the criminal case would likely affect what issues remained in the civil cases. They also cited the risk that Bankman-Fried could gather evidence in the civil cases to improperly impeach government witnesses, circumvent discovery rules in criminal cases, and tailor his criminal defense. Bankman-Fried consented to putting the civil cases on hold. Stays of SEC and CFTC lawsuits are common when the Justice Department files parallel criminal cases. Bankman-Fried, 30, has been free on $250 million bond and living in Palo Alto, California, with his parents since pleading not guilty to looting billions of dollars from FTX. Another Manhattan federal judge, Lewis Kaplan, oversees that case. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, editing by Deepa Babington) WASHINGTON U.S. military leaders on Sunday said they were in the dark about the exact nature and purpose of airborne objects shot down over the United States and Canada since Friday. Unlike a balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina Feb. 4, described by officials as spy aircraft, it's unclear how the most recent objects stay aloft and move along, Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), said at a media briefing Sunday. "Im not going to categorize them as balloons," he said. "Were calling them objects for a reason. I'm not able to categorize how they stay aloft." After the briefing, a defense official added that there was no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns. Earlier, when asked about that possibility, VanHerck had declined to rule it out. Ill let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out," he said. An unidentified object shot down Sunday over Lake Huron the fourth flying object in less than two weeks to have been downed over North American airspace was described earlier Sunday by a senior administration official as an octagonal structure with strings hanging off but no discernible payload. VanHerck described the objects shot down Friday, Saturday and Sunday by North American forces as being similar in size and shape. One issue in getting a better description, he said, is that fighter jets are traveling at relatively high speeds when eyes are put on them, at roughly 200 mph compared with objects that are aloft but otherwise nearly static. Those three remained a mystery in contrast to the Feb. 4 takedown of aircraft believed to belong to the People's Republic of China, Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, said during Sunday's briefing. The spy balloon from the PRC was of course different in that we know precisely what it was, she said. Story continues In a statement Sunday afternoon, the Pentagon confirmed that an F-16 fighter firing an AIM9x missile shot the latest object down at 2:42 p.m. at roughly 20,000 feet. President Joe Biden gave the order based on the recommendations of military leadership after the object's path and altitude raised concerns about risks to civil aviation. It was judged not to be a military threat, but it could have had surveillance capabilities, the statement said. On Saturday evening, NORAD and U.S. Northern Command reported that fighter aircraft had been sent to investigate a radar-detected anomaly in airspace over Montana but said they were unable visualize any objects. On Sunday, VanHerck said the overnight recurrence of an anomaly prompted military officials to develop a game plan as it was tracked Sunday to Lake Huron. "The all-clear was given to engage the target and ultimately it was taken down about 15 nautical miles east of the Upper Peninsula in Lake Huron," the general said. The Pentagon said in its statement Sunday that NORAD had been able to track the anomaly visually and via radar. "Based on its flight path and data we can reasonably connect this object to the radar signal picked up over Montana, which flew in proximity to sensitive DOD sites," it said. The location of the shootdown was chosen to minimize risks to people on the ground and to improve chances to recover the debris, the statement said. There were no indications any civilians were hurt or otherwise affected, it said. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly closed some airspace over Lake Michigan on Sunday to support Pentagon activities, the agency said in a statement. The airspace has been reopened. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., whose district includes the area where the object was shot down, tweeted that he had been briefed and in a later post called the response a "decisive action, using the right equipment." He also noted the challenges debris recovery could present. "Lake Huron is very, very cold this time of year. Theyre going to have to use some special diving capabilities to get down there." Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., tweeted earlier Sunday: "The object has been downed by pilots from the US Air Force and National Guard. Great work by all who carried out this mission both in the air and back at headquarters. Were all interested in exactly what this object was and its [sic] purpose." She added that she will continue to ask Congress for a full briefing. After news broke that the object had been downed, Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., tweeted that the Pentagon had notified them that an object over Lake Huron had been shot down. After the Chinese surveillance balloon was downed this month, the U.S. military is now looking at a wider range of radar data as it monitors North American airspace and is looking at more objects and smaller objects that it might have filtered out as clutter in the past, two U.S. defense officials said. The Washington Post was first to report the shift. It remains unclear whether the military is now spotting objects that have been present but not noticed or there are new aerial objects that were not present before. A U.S. defense official said NORAD is looking at more raw radar data than previously. The easiest comparison is an online search for a car, when you use filters for color, model, etc., and see the search results, then go back and say, Turn off the color filter, and you see more options, the official told NBC News. The data was always there, but due to how we process radar data into visualizations for decision-making, some of that data was screened out. Were actively adjusting that process now to refine how we see, which of course affects what we see. We dont yet know whether these phenomena have been there for a while and were just now seeing them or if this is new," the official added. "Between data from object recovery and going through our technical radar data, we are working toward better understanding." On Feb. 4, an F-22 Raptor shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon with a missile off South Carolina near Myrtle Beach. Then, on Friday, the U.S. military shot down a "high-altitude object" flying over Alaskan airspace and Arctic waters. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described the object, flying at roughly 40,000 feet, as roughly the size of a small car. And Saturday, a U.S. fighter jet shot down another unidentified object over Canada on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's orders. CORRECTION (Feb. 12, 2023, 10:53 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated who said it was clear to officials that the object shot down Feb. 4 was a Chinese spy balloon. It was Melissa Dalton, the assistant defense secretary for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, not Gen. Glen VanHerck. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The U.S. military on Sunday shot down an unidentified airborne object over Michigan, marking the fourth such incident in a string that began with the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the South Carolina coast last weekend. President Biden ordered the downing of the object near Lake Huron Sunday, a U.S. official told CNN. The object over Michigan was removed from the skies by U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets. Michigan lawmakers issued statements on the incident and urged Congress to conduct comprehensive fact-finding for the public. The object has been downed by pilots from the US Air Force and National Guard. Great work by all who carried out this mission both in the air and back at headquarters. Were all interested in exactly what this object was and its purpose, Michigan Representative Elissa Slotkin tweeted. As long as these things keep traversing the US and Canada, Ill continue to ask for Congress to get a full briefing based on our exploitation of the wreckage. Representative Jack Bergman, a former Marine and pilot, tweeted: Ive been in contact with DOD regarding operations across the Great Lakes region today. The US military has decommissioned another object over Lake Huron. I appreciate the decisive action by our fighter pilots. The American people deserve far more answers than we have, he said. The military action Sunday comes after a part of Montana airspace was temporarily closed due to a radar anomaly, then later reopened. North American air defense then deployed fighter jets to investigate but could not find an object correlated with the anomaly, the military said. The radar development came after a U.S. F-22 fighter jet shot down a separate unidentified cylindrical object over the Yukon Territory in Canada on Saturday. I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau tweeted Saturday. Story continues On Friday, a high-altitude airborne object was shot down off the northern coast of Alaska, U.S. Northern Command said in a statement. Multiple agencies including Alaskas command, the Alaska National Guard, and the FBI have been conducting search and recovery activities on sea ice. The military could not confirm any more about the objects capabilities, purpose, or origin as of Friday. The frenzied operations in the sky all come in the wake of the Biden administrations shooting down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the Carolina coast; the balloon had been permitted to enter American airspace and drift over an intercontinental ballistic missile storage area in Montana. Some Republicans voiced concern that the spy device might have transmitted sensitive data back to China. Air Force General Glen VanHerck, commander of North American air defense, said last week that the military has had blind spots for balloon incursions in the past and is still trying to improve its capabilities. I will tell you that we did not detect those threats and thats a domain awareness gap that we have to figure out, General VanHerck said at a Monday media briefing, according to the Wall Street Journal. More from National Review Photo: @401_da_sarpanch via Twitter. This dashcam footage shows the trailer in the upright position, a full 100 yards or so from the Cambie overpass above Knight Street in Richmond Video has surfaced of last weeks tractor-trailer smashing into the Cambie Road overpass on Knight Street in Richmond. The dashcam footage, posted on Twitter by @CarraDeShaukeen, shows the vehicle with its trailer in the upright position a full 100 yards before it smacked into the overpass on Friday morning. The crash led to massive rush hour delays in Richmond, with Knight Street southbound closed at Bridgeport Road and the Cambie overpass was also closed above Knight Street. Richmond RCMP told the Richmond News on Friday that the driver was "uncooperative" with investigators. A safety crew was at the scene to assess the damage and subsequent safety of the overpass. No injuries were reported, but many commuters were affected as Knight Street southbound was closed at Bridgeport Road and the Cambie Road overpass was also closed above Knight Street. Cambie Street reopened for traffic with the exception of the westbound curb lane at around 9 p.m. on Friday. Knight Street also reopened fully in all directions. The incident is being investigated by Richmond Road Safety Unit with help from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Those with information or dashcam footage on this incident are asked to contact Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 and quote file #2023-4381. GENEVA (Reuters) - Human Rights Watch expects the United Nations to follow up on a report which found that China's detention of Uyghurs and other Muslims may constitute crimes against humanity, its acting executive director said on Monday. Tirana Hassan of Human Rights Watch said that U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk seemed committed to taking action on the report, which was released in August by his predecessor Michelle Bachelet minutes before she ended her four-year mandate. "We would like to see that he takes steps to actually follow through on that commitment," Hassan told reporters. The report accused China, a permanent member of the U.N. security council, of "arbitrary and discriminatory detention" in the predominantly Muslim Xinjiang province, and recommended that Beijing take steps to release all those held in training centres, prisons or detention facilities. A Western-led bid to hold a debate on China's treatment of Muslim populations at the U.N. Human Rights Council did not pass, however. The initiative's failure, Hassan said, should not be viewed as a loss given that it "came within a hair's breadth of passing". "It was purely unthinkable just a few years ago for us to see the Council getting this close," she said. "The vote essentially shattered the taboo that the Chinese government is beyond scrutiny and reproach." Rights groups accuse Beijing of abuses against Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority of around 10 million people in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labour in internment camps. The United States has accused China of genocide. Beijing denies any abuses. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Cecile Mantovani, editing by Ed Osmond) Protestors demand to know about the crash at Roswell in 1947, which they believe was a UFO (AFP) In 1947, scraps of rubber and metal found in Roswell, New Mexico arguably began the hunt for UFOs and alien life on our planet. That collection of debris was officially from a downed weather balloon but that official explanation has not satisfied the many who claim that it was the remains of something not of this world. Nearly 80 years later, a balloon has kicked off another round of fears and excitement about alien invasion. In recent days, the US military has shot down a run of unidentified objects which followed the downing of what was said to be a Chinese weather balloon and has given little explanation of what they are or what they might have been doing. In the decades since those events in Roswell, the world has seen a growing interest in UFOs, and where they might have come from. And sceptics have long argued that rather than being any new technology either of this Earth or another planet entirely many of those sightings might indeed be weather balloons. It is fitting, therefore, that the latest excitement has been prompted by what appear to be observation balloons of some kind, though that is still unconfirmed. And that official secrecy, too, is in keeping with the mystery that has surrounded those objects ever since that material fell to Earth in the New Mexico desert. Humans have speculated for centuries about the possibility that the skies might be alive with something alien. Indeed, a whole conspiracy theory of its own known as ancient astronauts has pointed to what it claims are references in historic texts that describe unusual events in the sky. But the modern excitement about UFOs really began in the middle of the 20th century. During the war, some pilots described seeing lights in the sky that became known as foo fighters and have still not been definitively explained. Then followed Roswell, which helped kick off an excitement about UFOs that started soon after the debris was found in 1947 and continued throughout the 1950s and on to this day. Those sightings came at a time of tensions between the US and the Soviet Union, and many have speculated that the interest in the sightings could be at least a result of that anxiety. Story continues In 2023, the world is in much the same state: for years, pilots have been reporting unusual flying objects in the sky, and amid increasing global tensions downed objects have led to theories about UFOs. In recent years, officials have looked to avoid using the word UFO and instead refer to the objects as UAPs, or unidentified anomolous phenomenon. That is in part an attempt at making the word more accurate and neutral, but it has also come at a time of increased, serious interest in the objects. In recent years, new reports have made clear that the US has been taking at least some reports of objects seriously. In 2017, videos were published that showed fighter jets encountering objects that appeared to be moving in ways that looked to be impossible with existing hardware. Since then, more videos have been released and new reports have shown that the US had been conducting its own largely secret work to examine what those unidentified aerial phenomena might be. Reports also made public the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, a programme undertaken by the US government to investigate such events. Amid those disclosures, US military and government officials have become increasingly open about the fact that there appears to be unknown things in the sky. Few have given any indication at all about what they might believe them to be, but possible explanations have included everything from aliens to secret military hardware. Late last year, Nasa announced that it would be launching an independent study into UAPs. Over the course of nine months ending this summer a team will be analysing information from a range of sources in an aim to explain what they are. Exploring the unknown in space and the atmosphere is at the heart of who we are at NASA, said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Understanding the data we have surrounding unidentified anomalous phenomena is critical to helping us draw scientific conclusions about what is happening in our skies. Data is the language of scientists and makes the unexplainable, explainable. The space agency noted that the work was important in part because it is tasked with ensuring that spacecraft remain safe. The data gathered through the study will be important in helping inform that work, it said. Nasas announcement followed the publication, in 2021, of a report from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that summarised the public information about UAPs. It was launched in recognition of that new interest in the objects as well as fears that they could be the result of some leap forward by a foreign military power. That report looked at 144 observations of unidentified aerial phenomena, mostly collected from the US Navy between 2004 and 2021. It could only explain one of those sightings which it said was a deflating balloon. Weather and other observation balloons have long been mooted as an explanation for sightings of UAPs. They have a number of characteristics that make them good suspects: they can appear to move oddly, their shape and lack of details means that it can be hard to tell how large or far away they are, and there are a lot of them. Each day, around 1800 of such balloons are launched across the world. And so officials and experts have suggested that the new surge in reports of weather balloons and the new tensions between China and the US that have arisen from them is not so much the result of there being more balloons but more people looking for them. It might simply be that the sky has been filled with such UAPs, for years or even decades, without people taking much of an interest. As such, the new focus might mean that we become more aware of those objects and that we will only learn more about what we do not know about them. For now, officials have been coy about confirming anything about the unidentified objects: including whether they are alien or anything else. Historically, it has been that lack of information that has usually been filled with speculation about flying saucers and alien visits. Marshalls plc (LON:MSLH), might not be a large cap stock, but it received a lot of attention from a substantial price increase on the LSE over the last few months. As a stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the companys outlook is already priced into the stock. However, what if the stock is still a bargain? Lets take a look at Marshallss outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if the opportunity still exists. Check out our latest analysis for Marshalls Is Marshalls Still Cheap? According to my valuation model, Marshalls seems to be fairly priced at around 11% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Marshalls today, youd be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe the companys true value is 3.85, then theres not much of an upside to gain from mispricing. Is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Since Marshallss share price is quite volatile, we could potentially see it sink lower (or rise higher) in the future, giving us another chance to buy. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market. Can we expect growth from Marshalls? Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by 70% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Marshalls. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? MSLHs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuates below the true value? Story continues Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on MSLH, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. In light of this, if you'd like to do more analysis on the company, it's vital to be informed of the risks involved. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Marshalls you should know about. If you are no longer interested in Marshalls, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Bakhmut remains at the center of Russia's main attack "There are ongoing battles there, said Cherevatyi. We are keeping it under our control." Read also: Different scenarios for Bakhmut possible, including capture by enemy, says Donetsk regional governor Cherevaty said that Bakhmut remains at the center of Russia's main point of attack. According to him, the Ukrainian forces are now conducting counter-battery (artillery) fights. Read also: Ukrainian troops down Russian attack aircraft near Bakhmut with MANPADS We have the ability to supply weapons, food, equipment, medicine, and to evacuate wounded from there (Bakhmut and its surroundings, Cherevatyi added. On Feb. 13, Russian Defense Ministry announced at a briefing that volunteers of assault detachments have captured the village of Krasna Hora in Donetsk Oblast. Read also: Supply routes to Bakhmut remain open, Ukrainian military says Earlier, UK Defense Intelligence reported that Russian troops advanced in the Bakhmut area. According to them, Wagner PMC mercenaries advanced 2-3 kilometers to the west, controlling the area near the main M-03 highway leading to the city. On Feb. 7, the head of the Donetsk OVA, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said that invading Russian forces do not maintain the highway to Bakhmut under full fire control, but are trying to use pincer tactics at the city, aiming to surround the area from two sides. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine was meeting consumers' energy needs on Monday after carrying out repairs to the national power network following the latest wave of Russian air strikes, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said. Galushchenko said emergency repairs had been completed rapidly after Russian attacks on Friday that struck energy facilities across the country. "And today, on the first business day of the week, despite a significant increase in consumption, Ukraine's power system continues to meet the electricity needs of consumers," Galushchenko said in a statement. The national power grid operator, Ukrenergo, said additional power units had been put into operation at several thermal power plants following the repair work. It also said on the Telegram messaging app that hydroelectric power plants were operating intensively and added: "Increased daylight hours and clear weather favour generation from renewable energy sources." President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also hailed the repair efforts in an evening video address on Sunday, but said it was too soon to declare victory on the energy front. Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine's southern military forces, said the country should ensure it was prepared for further air attacks, possibly on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion on Feb. 24 last year. "If we are talking about the time from one massive missile attack to the next, it's about two weeks, and we can note that from the previous (date) to the next one is exactly February 24," she told Ukrainian television on Monday. "Considering the enemy's commitment to sacred dates, it's necessary to be ready," she said. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage) KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine accused former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Monday of spreading Russian propaganda after he said he would not seek a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy if he were still head of government. Berlusconi, 86, often boasted of his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin before Russia invaded Ukraine last year. In comments on Sunday, Berlusconi said all Zelenskiy had to do to prevent the war in Ukraine was to "stop attacking" territory held by Russia-backed separatists in the east and that he judged the president's behaviour "very, very negatively". "Berlusconi's ridiculous accusations against the Ukrainian president are an attempt to kiss Putin's hands, which are covered in blood up to the elbows," Oleg Nikolenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, wrote on Facebook. "At the same time, the Italian politician should understand that by spreading Russian propaganda he encourages Russia to continue its crimes against Ukraine, and therefore bears political and moral responsibility," he said. He accused Berlusconi of trying to show loyalty to "the Russian dictator", and drew parallels with the former Italian prime minister's relationship with late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. In his Facebook post, Nikolenko published a photograph of Berlusconi kissing Gaddafi's hand in 2010. Nikolenko welcomed a statement by the office of the current Italian prime minister, Giorgio Meloni, reiterating the government's "firm and convinced" support for Ukraine. (Reporting by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage and Ed Osmond) Ukrainian artillery fires on Russian forces on the frontline near Donetsk - Pierre Crom/Getty Images Elon Musk has warned that Ukraine's use of his Starlink satellite internet system risks sparking World War Three and said that supporting the country's struggle poses an extremely difficult moral question. The SpaceX chief executive made his comments on Twitter in response to a plea from a former International Space Station commander who begged him to keep Starlink switched on in the war-torn country. Mr Musk, the worlds second richest person, said: SpaceX commercial terminals, like other commercial products, are meant for private use, not military, but we have not exercised our right to turn them off. Were trying hard to do the right thing, where the right thing is an extremely difficult moral question. Starlink is the communication backbone of Ukraine, especially at the front lines, where almost all other Internet connectivity has been destroyed. But we will not enable escalation of conflict that may lead to WW3. Starlink is a connectivity service where orbiting satellites are used together with portable dishes on the ground to give internet access to its users, and has been a vital tool in Ukraine's fight for survival since Russia destroyed much of its infrastructure. Conflicting reports suggest some of Starlinks functions may have been cut off in Ukraine over the past few months. In response to astronaut Scott Kellys social media plea to restore the full functionality of your Starlink satellites Mr Musk said: Youre smart enough not to swallow media & other propaganda bs. Mr Kelly had implored the Tesla boss to keep Starlink switched on in Ukraine, saying: Defence from a genocidal invasion is not an offensive capability. Its survival. Innocent lives will be lost. You can help. Thank you. Youre smart enough not to swallow media & other propaganda bs. Starlink is the communication backbone of Ukraine, especially at the front lines, where almost all other Internet connectivity has been destroyed. But we will not enable escalation of conflict that may lead to WW3. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 12, 2023 Mr Musks ambiguous comments about Ukraine are the latest in a long line of statements and social media posts suggesting he sees the war as a drag on Starlink. Story continues Last week, the billionaire who is president of SpaceX, the company which provides the Starlink service accused Ukraine of weaponising the satellite internet service. Gwynne Shotwell said: Ukrainians have leveraged it in ways that were unintentional and not part of any agreement. Mr Musk tweeted a peace plan for Ukraine last October, suggesting it should re-run sovereignty referendums in regions occupied by the Russian invaders a tactic used by Russia to legitimise its occupation of the Crimea, Luhansk and Kherson regions. The Kremlin thanked Mr Musk for the suggestion, saying it was a positive move. Ukraines ambassador to Germany tweeted f off at Musk, while President Volodymyr Zelensky started a Twitter poll asking Which Elon Musk do you like more with the options one who supports Ukraine and one who supports Russia. Mr Musk has previously said donating Starlink connectivity to Ukraine has cost SpaceX around $100m (82m). Governments including the US have stepped up to cover the services ongoing costs. Key developments on Feb. 12: Russia's Wagner Group claimed on Feb. 12 that its mercenaries captured the village of Krasna Hora, located six kilometers north of Bakhmut. The Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed that the capture of the strategic village was all done by his mercenaries, and they were the ones who would soon seize Bakhmut an embattled city in Donetsk Oblast that Russia had attempted to occupy for more than six months. The Russian Defense Ministry didn't react to Wagner's claim about capturing Krasna Hora. Ukraine's General Staff didn't mention the village in its evening briefing. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a D.C.-based think-tank analyzing the war in Ukraine, said in its Feb. 11 report that geolocated footage shows that Russian forces have captured at least part of the village and the Ukrainians have likely withdrawn from it. Ukraine's General Staff said in its evening briefing that Russian troops were attempting to advance near Bakhmut and shelled the city and the nearby settlements. Peak casualties As Russian forces attempt to advance in Donetsk Oblast, Western intelligence reports that both sides suffer from an increasingly high casualty rate. A Feb. 12 report by the U.K. Defense Ministry says that Russia has likely suffered from its highest rate of casualties over the past two weeks since the first week of its full-scale invasion that began on Feb. 24. The deadliest battles are ongoing near Bakhmut and the town of Vuhledar, located more than 100 kilometers south of the city. "Lack of trained personnel, coordination, and resources across the front" are among the factors that led to the sudden spike in Russia's casualties, according to the report. Story continues "The mean average for the last seven days was 824 casualties per day, over four times the rate reported over June-July 2022," the U.K. Defense Ministry said. However, Ukrainian forces are also suffering "a high attrition rate," the ministry added. Ukraine and Russia don't publish an official count of soldiers wounded or killed. Ukraine imposes sanctions As Western countries prepare to impose a new round of sanctions on Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky called for imposing sanctions on Russia's nuclear industry. The call to put Russia's nuclear industry under global sanctions, including the state-owned Rosatom energy company, comes amid Moscow's nearly a year-long occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station located in southern Ukraine. Zelensky, on Feb. 12, signed a decree that authorizes Ukraine to sanction 199 Russian nationals and one Ukrainian as part of the country's efforts to hit the Russian nuclear industry. The Ukrainian on the list is Yurii hernichuk, a former deputy chief engineer at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, who is accused of collaborating with the Russians. Employees of Kremlin-owned Rosatom are also on the sanctions list. Among them is Rosatom's supervisory board member Yuriy Ushakov, a diplomat and an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin on foreign policy issues. "We are doing everything to ensure that sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry become part of the global sanctions against Russia for the war," Zelensky said in his evening address. Richard Jacklin, a Roman Catholic priest, was sentenced to 18 years in prison last month in Kankakee County court after a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting a resident with a disability at a developmental center in 2017. On Jan. 26, Kankakee County Circuit Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliott sentenced 71-year-old Jacklin to almost two decades in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He must serve 85% of the sentence. After his release from prison, he will be on parole for three years to life. Jacklin must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Advertisement Jacklin was arrested by Illinois State Police on Oct. 31, 2017, after allegations that he had sexually assaulted a resident at Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee. Prosecutors said a nurse walked in on Jacklin performing a sex act on a 39-year-old man who had been a patient at the center since 2010, was paralyzed and had an intellectual disability. Jacklin was visiting the center to minister to its residents. In September 2022, a jury trial found Jacklin guilty of aggravated sexual assault on a handicapped person, criminal sexual assault by force and sexual misconduct on a person with a disability. Advertisement According to the Diocese of Joliet, Jacklin was ordained in 1984. He had been assigned to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Goodrich since 2005, where he served until his arrest, according to Tribune records. The Diocese of Joliet is also facing a lawsuit in connection to the alleged abuse. The lawsuit, filed in October 2019, accuses the diocese of failing to properly investigate Jacklin and protect people with disabilities from the priest. The civil lawsuit was filed by attorneys for the Illinois Office of State Guardian on behalf of the man, who is a ward of the state. Named as defendants are the diocese, Jacklin and former Bishop Daniel Conlon. The plaintiffs asked a court to award more than $50,000 and court costs. Jacklin was one of two retired priests accused of sexual misconduct who attracted controversy in 2018 because they were living in a Naperville retirement facility, St. John Vianney Villa, across a fence from Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, according to the Naperville Sun. The Naperville School District 203 and the Naperville and Lisle police departments urged the diocese to move both priests somewhere else. The diocese did so but did not disclose where the priests were relocated. Chicago Tribunes Madeline Buckley contributed. adperez@chicagotribune.com Ukraines Defence Forces repelled Russian attacks near 10 settlements in four oblasts on 12 February. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 13 February Quote: "The enemy suffers significant losses, especially in manpower. They focus their main efforts on conducting offensives on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Novopavlivka fronts." Details: During the past day, Ukraine's Defence Forces repelled the invaders attacks near the settlements of Hrianykivka in Kharkiv Oblast; Kreminna and Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast; Vyimka, Fedorivka, Vasiukivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast; and Zaliznyche in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Over the past day, Russian forces launched four airstrikes as well as 85 rockets using multiple-launch rocket systems. The threat of further Russian air and missile strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high. There are no significant changes on the Volyn, Polissia, Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts. No signs of the Russians forming offensive groups have been detected. Russian troops fired on the areas in and around 18 settlements, including Tovstodubove, Bachivsk, Basivka, Popivka in Sumy Oblast and Krasne, Hlyboke, Vovchansk, Fyholivka, Novomlynsk and Dvorichna in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Kupiansk and Lyman fronts, Russian forces deployed mortars and artillery to fire on 22 settlements, including Kyslivka, Kotliarivka, Pishchane and Berestove in Kharkiv Oblast; Novoselivske, Makiivka, Nevske, Dibrova and Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast. On the Bakhmut front, the Russians deployed tanks, mortars and artillery to attack the areas in and around Spirne, Vasiukivka, Ivano-Darivka, Paraskoviivka, Zaliznianske, Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut, Stupochky and Klishchiivka. 16 settlements came under fire in total. 25 settlements on the Avdiivka and Novopavlivka fronts came under Russian mortar and artillery fire, including Tonenke, Avdiivka, Pervomaisk, Zolota Nyva, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Prechystivka and Bohoiavlenka in Donetsk Oblast. Story continues On the Zaporizhzhia front, areas in and around Vremivka and Novopil in Donetsk Oblast; Huliaipole, Stepove, Olhivske, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Mala Tokmachka, Stepnohirsk and Charivne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast; and Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast were affected by Russian fire. On the Kherson front, the occupiers launched attacks on the city of Kherson as well as 20 other settlements, including Mylove, Zmiivka, Respublikanets, Novokairy, Vesele, Mykilske, Antonivka and Dniprovske in Kherson Oblast. During the past day, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted eight strikes on clusters of Russian personnel and three strikes on the positions of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. Units of Ukraine's Rocket Forces and Artillery struck 10 clusters of personnel, an air defence position and three ammunition storage points. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Armed Forces of Ukraine Its the third time this particular unit has suffered devastating losses at the hands of Ukrainian forces, Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, head of the united press center of the Tavriskiy District of Ukrainian defense forces, told Politico. Read also: Russian failures at Vuhledar show poor training of Russian conscripts ISW A large number of enemy forces, including the command staff, were destroyed near Vuhledar and Mariyinka in Donetsk Oblast, Dmytrashkivskyi said. He said that Russian forces were losing 150-300 marines a day near Vuhledar. Read also: Border guards stop enemy attack in Donetsk Oblast, killing five Russian soldiers The 155th brigade already had to be restaffed three times, he added. The first time after Irpin and Bucha; the second time they were defeated near Donetsk they recovered again. And now almost the entire brigade has already been destroyed near Vuhledar. He estimated that the brigade had had about 5,000 soldiers. He added the enemy had lost about 130 units of equipment, including 36 tanks, over the past week. Read also: Russia aims to encircle Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast The last time the 155th brigade suffered such a devastating defeat was close by Vuhledar near the village of Pavlivka, Donetsk Oblast, in November 2022. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine ALEPPO, Syria (Reuters) - The phase of the rescue after the major earthquake struck Turkey and Syria a week ago is "coming to a close" with urgency now switching to shelter, food, schooling and psychosocial care, the U.N. aid chief said during a visit to Syria on Monday. "What is the most striking here, is even in Aleppo, which has suffered so much these many years, this moment ... was about the worst that these people have experienced," Martin Griffiths said from the government-held northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo that was a major front line in the Syrian civil war. The Feb. 6 earthquake struck a swathe of northwest Syria, a region partitioned by the 11-year-long war, including insurgent-held territory at the Turkish border and government areas controlled by President Bashar al-Assad. Griffiths said the United Nations would have aid moving from government-held regions to the rebel-held northwest, a front line across which aid has seldom passed during the conflict. Aid appeals would be issued for all the regions hit by the disaster, he added. "Well have assistance moving from here into the northwest but the northwest is only one part of Syria ... its also very important that we take care of the people here," Griffiths said. The death toll in Syria jumped on Monday. The United Nations said more than 4,300 had been reported killed in the northwest, and more than 7,600 injured. The death toll in Syrian government stands at 1,414. Griffiths said he had heard traumatic accounts of the disaster from survivors in Aleppo. "People who lost their children, some of whom escaped, others stayed in the building. The trauma of the people we spoke to was visible and this is a trauma which the world needs to heal," he said. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Timour Azhari/Tom Perry, Writing by Clauda Tanios; Editing by Toby Chopra) There are many theories but precious few answers after the U.S. downed three unidentified airborne objects in as many days over the weekend. Now the White House under fire for a lack of transparency about the incursions must contend with frustrated lawmakers and a mystified public amid the Biden administrations failure to launch a coherent communications strategy about the shootdowns. With fighter jets downing unknown objects over U.S. territory, the White House has revealed little about what precisely is happening and whether the country is under threat. Are the objects harmless weather balloons or spy craft sent by foreign powers bent on doing Americans harm? President Joe Biden hasnt said. In the absence of hard facts, uninformed speculation is filling the information vacuum, including whether the objects are visiting space aliens. The administration still has not been able to divulge any meaningful information about what was shot down. What in the world is going on? Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor Monday. McConnell questioned whether the objects were benign or something more nefarious that weve somehow been missing all this time, adding, President Biden owes the American people some answers. At one point, an Air Force general refused to even rule out that far-fetched possibility, although White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified the question Monday. "There is no, again, no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns," she said. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said at Monday's White House briefing that the three most recent objects did not pose threats to people on the ground, did not send any communication signals and did not have any maneuverability or propulsion capabilities. The objects did, however, fly at altitudes that could "pose a threat to civilian commercial air traffic," which led Biden to give the order to shoot them down, he said. Story continues "Efforts are actively underway right now at all sites to find what is left of those objects so that we can better understand and communicate with the American people what they are," Kirby told reporters, emphasizing the challenge to recover the objects from the rural terrain in Alaska and Canada and the bottom of Lake Huron. On a trip to Brussels on Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters crews had yet to recover any debris from the three most recent incidents. Kirby also announced a new interagency team dedicated to studying the objects and future related policy. He did not offer specifics about the objects themselves as confusion and frustration over the communication about the U.S. militarys firing multiple missiles in U.S. and Canadian airspace over the weekend lingers. With a U.S. military pilots having shot down a fourth object Sunday afternoon, the White House has not seemed set on its message about what was shot down, who from the government should communicate about it, why there appear to be more unidentified objects, whom they might belong to, what threat they pose or whether decision-making over shooting down such items has changed. Kirby noted Monday what two U.S. defense officials previously told NBC News: The military is using a wider range of radar data to monitor North American airspace since the Chinese spy balloon was spotted, and it is taking deeper looks at more objects it might have filtered out in the past. Officials spoke Monday arrived after a weekend filled with news about additional objects being shot down in North American airspace and few details. After an unidentified object was shot down off northeastern Alaska on Friday, Biden gave a one-word answer to a question from the media Success." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made Saturdays shootdown over the Yukon public, although it was a U.S. F-22 that destroyed the object. Jean-Pierre said Sunday morning the public should understand that the administration intends to detect and were always going to defend our airspace, but she gave little insight into new standards or processes to do that nor did she identify what the objects were. The absence of information grew even more apparent when the fourth object was shot down over Lake Huron hours before the Super Bowl began Sunday. Despite inquiries, White House communications remained largely quiet, a posture that has allowed conspiracy theories to fester. In times of uncertainty, leaders need to be as transparent as possible with the public, Larry Hogan, a Republican former governor of Maryland, tweeted Monday. After shooting down three airborne objects, President Biden needs to communicate directly with the nation about what we know and what we dont. National security officials have declined to identify the three most recent objects as balloons or identify their owners or their functions, whether they be weather monitoring or surveillance by foreign actors. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday on ABCs This Week, however, that intelligence officials believe the second and third items were also balloons. A Canadian official appeared to confirm that assessment Monday, at least with regard to the object shot down Sunday. Maj.-Gen. Paul Prevost, the director of staff for the Strategic Joint Staff, which provides military analysis to the Canadian Armed Forces, referred to that object as a "suspected balloon" and said locating the objects would offer more insight into what they are and how they moved around. Many of the questions directed to the White House have been redirected to the Defense Department, as the Biden administration takes a guarded approach when it comes to inconvenient or untimely developments that distract from its larger message that the nation is making steady progress under a seasoned president. The White House used much the same playbook when it came to the classified documents found in Bidens home and private office. Only when it was confronted with news reports that documents had been found did the White House acknowledge that Biden had retained classified material that should have been turned over to federal archivists. Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recovering a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 5, 2023. (U.S. Navy) Robert Gibbs, who was White House press secretary during the Obama administration, said in an interview that Bidens administration should be over-communicating about the shootdowns, particularly as a lack of information can allow disinformation and misinformation to grow. Theyre the ones that have to drive the narrative on this, and I dont think its helpful having different parts of the governmental apparatus knowing different levels of things and reporting that publicly, he said. That hurts their case that theyre the ones that have the information and are communicating it with the public. In the meantime, the White House faces criticism from both sides of the aisle as lawmakers try to work out what exactly happened. Whats gone on in the last two weeks or so, 10 days, has been nothing short of craziness, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation, mere hours before the fourth object was shot down over Lake Huron. His Republican colleague from Montana, Sen. Steve Daines, agreed in a tweet Sunday, calling the lack of communication from the White House unacceptable. In the face of White House reticence, the public is forced to rely on leaks, speculation and worst of all disinformation from foreign governments. The top priority of the administration should be the safety and security of the people of the United States and keeping the American people informed is a key part of fulfilling that duty. President Biden owes Montanans and the country an immediate and full explanation. Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) February 12, 2023 Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., shared his own concerns about insufficient transparency from the Biden White House in an interview Sunday on NBC News Meet the Press. While he said it might be difficult to have immediate answers because the areas where some of the objects were shot down are so remote, as they required grueling retrieval missions, Himes said it is troubling to see massive speculation about alien invasions and additional Chinese or Russian action bubbling up in the information vacuum. Maybe its because Im in politics, and so I spend a lot of time talking to folks in grocery stores and town hall meetings, he said. You know, in an absence of information, people will fill that gap with anxiety and other stuff. So I wish the administration was a little quicker to tell us everything that they do know. It is even unclear whether more objects are in the air than previously known or whether entirely new items are appearing in U.S. airspace. Has that information changed the requirements for shooting objects from American skies? That also remains unknown. Biden made only the barest mention of the Chinese spy balloon in his State of the Union address last week: a two-sentence aside that left unanswered any number of questions about escalating U.S.-Chinese tensions. John Bolton, who was a national security adviser in the Trump White House, said: The problem is it [the spy balloon] is illustrative of what China is doing. Its a wake-up call. We have a serious problem with China. Were not causing the problem; theyre causing it. I think the mistake here is not adequately characterizing what happens when an unknown vehicle heads toward American territory, Bolton added. You should assume if its unidentified and doesnt respond to communications that you assume its potentially dangerous. FBI special agents process material recovered from the high altitude balloon at the FBI laboratory (FBI via AP) What is known for certain is that, with missiles firing over the U.S. and Canada, the significance of the moment is difficult to ignore. Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, who heads North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. North Command, noted his belief that this is the first time within United States or American airspace that NORAD or United States Northern Command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object. Officials have tried to scuttle the view that the objects were a severe threat to Americans. The most recent object shot down over Lake Huron was not considered a military threat, but a Pentagon statement said it could have had surveillance capabilities. The only thing that was strictly emphasized about the three unidentified objects, a defense official said, was that there was no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County jury on Monday found an uncle and nephew from Asbury Park guilty of murder, robbery and other charges in the shooting death of a 43-year-old Neptune man during a drug deal in front of his home in 2017. After deliberating Thursday and Friday, the jury reached a verdict at 1:42 a.m., finding Marcus Morrisey and his nephew, Danron Morrisey, guilty of the Nov. 10, 2017, murder of Randolph Goodman. The jury also found the pair guilty of robbery, felony murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in what prosecutors argued was a heist of 30 grams of crack cocaine that Goodman was planning to sell to Marcus Morrisey outside his apartment on Old Corlies Avenue in Neptune. In addition, the panel found Marcus Morrisey guilty of unlawful possession of a stun gun and possession of a stun gun for an unlawful purpose. Marcus Morrisey, 52, and Danron Morrisey, 30, showed no emotion when the jury foreman read the verdict. Tears welled in the eyes of Goodmans mother, who sat silently next to the victims father in the second row of the courtroom. Both declined to comment on the verdict. At the request of prosecutors, Superior Court Marc C. Lemieux revoked the pretrial release of both defendants and remanded them to the Monmouth County Jail to await sentencing on July 13. Because both face the possibility of life in prison, LeMieux said there were no conditions that he could place on them short of incarceration that would ensure their appearance at sentencing and also guarantee the safety of the public. Danron Morriseys attorney, John Perrone, vowed to appeal the verdict. The verdict followed a 2 1/2-week trial at which Ellyn Rajfer and Michael Luciano, assistant Monmouth County prosecutors, alleged Marcus Morrisey went to Goodmans home to purchase crack cocaine from him while his nephew emerged from the shadows and shot him when he came outside to conduct the drug deal. They argued that Marcus Morrisey also had a stun gun with which he tried to immobilize Goodman. Story continues Goodmans girlfriend, Shalyce Davis, was the only eyewitness to the shooting, although it was captured on a surveillance video that was played for the jury during the trial and several times during the panels deliberations. Davis testified that Goodman went downstairs to sell the cocaine to Marcus Morrisey when she heard a scuffle and went outside to see what was happening. She said she saw Marcus Morrisey try to pull Goodman off his porch, so she jumped into the fray to try to defend him. There was a second man there, but Davis said she didnt recognize him because he had the hood of his sweatshirt tied tightly around his face. Closing arguments are heard during the trial of (left) Marcus Morrisey and his nephew, (right) Danron Morrisey, in the murder in Neptune of Randolph Goodman before Superior Court Judge Marc C. LeMieux at Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, NJ Tuesday, February 7, 2023. We were all like scuffling, and there was a taser, too, Davis testified on Jan. 27. I dont know who had it. I could hear it. I could hear it buzzing, and then there was a gunshot. Davis told the jury that Goodman ran upstairs to their apartment and collapsed. Goodman was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward as a result of a gunshot would to the abdomen. During the trial, prosecutors also viewed video from surveillance cameras at the QuickChek convenience store across the street showing the two Morriseys meeting there shortly before the killing. Marcus Morriseys attorney, Joshua Hood, had argued at the trial that the pair would not have met at a store where they knew there would be surveillance cameras everywhere if they were planning to rob and kill someone across the street. Prosecutors said Marcus Morriseys ex-wife, who lived nearby, drove him and another woman away from the scene to Eatontown after the killing The ex-wife, Denise Morrisey, testified that when she returned home from giving him a ride, Marcus Morrisey asked her to come back and bring his backpack and a bottle of Hennessy cognac that he left at her house, so she and her boyfriend drove back with the items Defense attorneys argued that Denise Morriseys boyfriend fit the description of the second man pictured on the video of the killing, but his home was never searched for a mask and gun. A handgun that was matched to shell casings found at the murder scene was discovered later on an Asbury Park street in January 2018 alongside a pair of sneakers. Authorities never determined to whom the sneakers belonged. Both defendants had been jailed since their arrests in 2019 until June, when they were ordered released on speedy trial grounds. Their attorneys argued for the defendants release on grounds that their trial was delayed because prosecutors waited until last year to turn over thousands of pages of evidence they had for years. The evidence that was withheld included ballistics, autopsy, laboratory and DNA reports, the defense attorneys said. In an interview last month shortly after he took office, newly sworn-in Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago vowed those problems would not occur while he is the countys chief law enforcement officer. Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Uncle and nephew found guilty in 2017 murder in Neptune NJ A United Airlines Boeing wide body 777-200 aircraft departs Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Jan. 30. A United Airlines Boeing wide body 777-200 aircraft departs Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Jan. 30. A United Airlines flight came within 775 feet of crashing into the Pacific Ocean in December after experiencing a prolonged and sudden dive minutes after takeoff, it was reported this week. United Airlines Flight UA 1722 left Kahului Airport on Maui, Hawaii, for San Francisco on Dec. 18. The plane climbed to an altitude of 2,200 feet, before plunging sharply downward 71 seconds after takeoff. Flight data relayed by Flight Radar shows the Boeing 777 descended at a rate of nearly 8,600 feet per minute for close to 20 seconds before recovering a little less than 775 feet above the Pacific Ocean. The flight then resumed its climb and proceeded to San Francisco, where it landed 27 minutes early. The incident went largely unnoticed until it was first reported Sunday by The Air Current, an aviation industry blog. Maui at the time was experiencing severe weather that included strong winds, hail and flash flood warnings. A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed the incident to HuffPost and emphasized that the pilots, who have approximately 25,000 hours of flying experience between them, have fully cooperated with an investigation into the incident. After landing at SFO, the pilots filed the appropriate safety report, the company said in an emailed statement. United then closely coordinated with the FAA and ALPA on an investigation that ultimately resulted in the pilots receiving additional training. Safety remains our highest priority. Related... Ryken Martin/Shutterstock A United Airlines flight plummeted to just 800 feet above the Pacific Ocean late last year, data shows. The incident occurred the same day 25 people were injured from extreme turbulence on a Hawaiian Airlines flight. According to reports from the National Weather Service, areas around Hawaii were experiencing stormy weather that day. A United Airlines flight taking off from Hawaii suddenly plunged to just 800 feet above the Pacific Ocean late last year, according to data from FlightRadar24. The data shows the Boeing 777-200 which was flying from Maui to San Francisco on Dec. 18 was at an altitude of 2,200 feet before suddenly dropping in just 18 seconds. The plane came within 775 feet of hitting the ocean. Air traffic control records show no discussion of the sudden plunge between the flight's pilots, according to The Air Current, which first reported on the shocking drop. United Airlines said in a statement that after the pilots landed the plane at San Francisco International Airport, they filed "the appropriate safety report." "United then closely coordinated with the FAA and ALPA on an investigation that ultimately resulted in the pilots receiving additional tranining," United said. According to United, the pilots fully cooperated with the investigation and their additional training is ongoing. They have approximately 25,000 hours of experience between them. According to the National Weather Service, large parts of the Hawaiian Islands and the surrounding Pacific Ocean were hit with numerous rainstorms, severe storms, and strong winds on Dec. 18. The incident came on the same day that a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Hawaii experienced extreme turbulence that injured dozens of people. According to the Hawaiian Airlines pilot, a cloud suddenly "shot up," causing severe turbulence. The turbulence struck about 40 minutes before the flight's landing at Honolulu International Airport, according to The New York Times. Story continues One passenger told Hawaii News Now in December that her mother "flew up and hit the ceiling." Twenty-five people onboard the flight were hurt. Read the original article on Business Insider Photograph: Louis Nastro/Reuters A United flight from Maui to San Francisco plummeted to less than 800ft above the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff in December, an apparent near crash and previously unreported safety incident revealed by airline industry publication the Air Current. Flight tracking data analysis revealed that the Boeing 777-200 had reached an altitude of roughly 2,200ft when it began a steep dive, descending at a rate of about 8,600ft a minute. After dipping below 775ft, the flight recovered altitude and traveled to San Francisco without further issue. The entire ordeal unfolded in heavy rain, lasted less than 45 seconds and was not mentioned in recordings of air traffic control radio calls reviewed by the Air Current. United closely coordinated with the [Federal Aviation Administration] and [Air Line Pilots Association, International] on an investigation that ultimately resulted in the pilots receiving additional training, a United spokesperson, Josh Freed, said in a statement to the Guardian about the incident. Safety remains our highest priority. The pilots had a combined 25,000 hours of flying experience between them and had fully cooperated with the investigation, Freed added. The United flights close call came amid a period of turmoil for the US airline industry. Also in December, a Hawaiian Airlines flight preparing to land in Honolulu experienced severe turbulence. At least 36 people were injured on that flight, with 20 taken to the hospital and 11 listed in serious condition. The storm system involved would go on to cause a major winter storm across the US mainland, triggering a complete meltdown by Southwest Airlines, which cancelled thousands of flights and left travelers stranded over the Christmas holiday weekend. Two recent serious safety incidents have also resulted in investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board. In January, two planes at John F Kennedy airport in New York nearly collided when an American Airlines plane crossed the runway ahead of a Delta plane that was accelerating for takeoff. The American Airlines pilots involved in that case have refused to give investigators recorded interviews, and they have been sent subpoenas seeking to compel them to testify, the NTSB said in a statement last week. And last Sunday, two planes at Austin-Bergstrom international airport had a near miss when air traffic control cleared them to land and depart on the same runway at the same time. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan arrives to attend the weekly meeting at Number 10 in Downing Street on February 7, 2023 - Dan Kitwood/Getty Imagine the scenario. You are a fifth-year doctoral student. You have done everything youre meant to studied, researched and completed a dissertation. Youre on the cusp of getting your degree. But in the final months, a fresh batch of complaints about your conduct surfaces and the university decides to deny you a PhD. What, you might wonder, could this student possibly have done to deserve such a crushing punishment? Did they break the law? Was their work sub-par? No, it was nothing like that. In fact, to read through the investigatory evidence on this real case, as I have done, is to delve into a litany of pettiness that almost defies belief. I wish I could name the student, but the person is reluctant to have their name associated with a penalty they are powerless to overturn. So I will instead try to summarise the case. One of the charges is that the student confronted a professor who had made a complaint about their conduct. The confrontation, according to the universitys investigation, was awkward but non-aggressive. Still, the professor, the investigation found, was made anxious by the incident. Another of the incidents is that, using a personal social media account, the student made transphobic remarks to someone online a person who had nothing to do with the university. In another, the student was accused of being racist by arguing that a non-white professor who argued for diversity policies in the university might have ulterior motives for promoting ideas that favour non-white people. Is this racist? It could be; it could also just be unpalatable to those who disagree. The student was further deemed guilty of misconduct because of a refusal to take the disciplinary process seriously enough. How does the university know this? The students own academic supervisor reported some off-hand remarks to that effect after a private conversation. In short, reading through it all, one gains a picture of a social misfit with unpopular opinions who did not shut up and keep their head down. For this, aside from barrages of disciplinary hearings, the student claims they were also subject to an ongoing campaign of aggression from other students, including an instance of being told to f--- off while innocently using a lift. Story continues What is the students recourse in such a situation? They can go through the universitys own process. After that, there is meant to be a robust and cheap safeguard in the form of scrutiny by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA). A read-through of the OIAs report on this case, however, reveals it to be nothing more than a rubber-stamping body for the universities. Rather than grappling with any of the relevant legal requirements to protect free speech or act proportionately, the judgment summarises the universitys regulations and accepts its conclusions. This leaves a student with only one option: a judicial review. If brought in this case, it may have the university scrambling for cover. But theres a catch. The initial cost is 15,000; the potential cost of losing runs to over 100,000. The student simply cannot afford the risk. The Government claims it is going to fix this kind of problem by passing the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill. But though the law may allow students to sue their universities, it will not change the cost-benefit analysis of doing so. Until a university happens to pick on a student with bottomless financial resources and a willingness to have their name trashed, they can operate with impunity. As Paul Diamond, a human rights barrister, puts it: [This] is not an operating safeguard system. It is not a pretty picture of our university sector either. Thank you, Telegraph readers This is the last set of articles I will write for The Telegraph before I move on to pastures new. I am grateful to my admirable colleagues and editors and to this genteel, sceptical and educated readership. Since starting in 2016, I have received from readers ample advice, grammar corrections, criticism, praise and code word tips. And wherever I am castigated for being a Right-wing firebrand (its been said, believe or not), I will point out that I was only recently labelled woke by one discerning reader for daring to criticise the Crusades. The accusation did come with a fascinating book recommendation, however. Education often arises in unexpected places. UNLV coach Lindy La Rocque was 4 years old the last time the Lady Rebels were ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll. Now the Las Vegas native has the team back in the Top 25 for the first time since 1994: UNLV entered the poll at No. 23 on Monday. Obviously it means a lot. When I took the job I had a vision of what this place could be and what it once was, La Rocque said. Thats what I remember and I'm trying to put the pieces together to make that come to fruition. This is one of the small milestones that gives you a little bit of joy and you know that youre doing some things right. South Carolina earned the No. 1 ranking for the 34th consecutive week. That is tied for the third-longest run atop the poll with UConn. Only the Huskies (51 weeks) and Louisiana Tech (36) have had longer streaks at No. 1. The Gamecocks (25-0), who were again a unanimous choice from the 28-member national media panel, routed then-No. 3 LSU on Sunday in a showdown of unbeaten teams. The Tigers fell to fifth. Indiana, Stanford and Utah were behind South Carolina. It's the best ranking in school history for the Utes, who moved up three places this week. UConn dropped two spots to sixth after falling at Marquette, giving the Huskies their first losing streak in 30 years. Iowa fell two places to seventh after losing to Indiana. Maryland, Duke and Notre Dame rounded out the top 10. UNLV (24-2) has won 15 straight games, second to only South Carolina for the longest streak in the country. It is the team's best start since the 1989-90 team went 28-3. Its cool. If you look at our roster, the two best players are from Vegas, said La Rocque, who played at Stanford. Theres some good karma that we got working. USC joined the Lady Rebels in the Top 25, entering the poll at No. 25. It's the first time since 2016 that the Trojans are ranked. They visit Stanford on Friday night. South Florida and N.C. State fell out of the poll. Story continues STREAK BUSTED North Carolina State is not ranked for the first time since Feb. 5, 2018. The Wolfpack had been ranked for 96 consecutive weeks, which had been the fifth-longest active streak behind UConn, Maryland, South Carolina and Stanford. CRUISING WILDCATS Buoyed by star Maddy Siegrist, Villanova continues to climb up the AP Top 25. Siegrist scored a Big East-record 50 points in a win over Seton Hall on Saturday to become the conference's all-time leading scorer. With 1,550 conference regular-season points, Siegrist surpassed former Boston College standout Sarah Behns (1989-93) 1,546 points. Siegrist has the Wildcats at No. 14, the school's best ranking in 20 years. ___ 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 Hyde Park resident Larry Bienz regularly takes a noontime walk around the limestone rocks at Promontory Point, Feb.8, 2023. In the early 2000s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers replaced much of Chicagos shoreline barriers with concrete revetments due to erosion from the lake waves. Promontory Point was the only spot where the original limestone steps were left in place because of an outcry by residents. They have been fighting to save the steps ever since. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Larry Bienz has been going to Promontory Point regularly since he moved to the Hyde Park neighborhood nearly a decade ago. Like many residents, Bienz goes to the point to escape the chaos of the city, enjoying its seclusion in the winter and its access to Lake Michigan in the summer. Bordering DuSable Lake Shore Drive, its three other sides face only the waves. Advertisement Its my favorite place on the lakeshore, Bienz, 37, said. Its a way to get away from the buildings. You feel like youre actually out on the water and not just hanging out on a slab of concrete somewhere. Concrete has been at the heart of a decadeslong debate between residents and city and federal officials. Advertisement In the early 2000s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers replaced much of Chicagos shoreline barriers with concrete revetments to repair erosion caused by Lake Michigan. Because of an outcry by residents, Promontory Point is the only spot where the original limestone steps have been left in place. Residents have been fighting to save the steps ever since. I consider Promontory Point to be one of Chicagos finest treasures, said Southeast Side Ald. Sue Sadlowski Garza at a recent meeting of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. (Alfred) Caldwells work should be preserved and his intention was not a concrete platform, I can tell you. [ [Dont miss] It's the stoners vs. the concretists at Promontory Point ] Now, the long-standing dispute may finally be coming to an end. Last month, the landmarks commission took the first step toward preserving the points original design. Two weeks ago, the Army Corps of Engineers announced separate funding for Promontory Point that will allow the city, with public input, to develop a plan to meet the goals of both reducing coastal storm damage while preserving the historic nature of the existing structure. But residents remain distrustful. Weve been at this with the Park District for 23 years so we tend to be a little skeptical about what they say, said Jack Spicer, director of the Promontory Point Conservancy community group. When they say theyre going to utilize the limestone, that doesnt mean that theyre committed to using the structure as it is. It could mean any number of things. Limestone versus concrete Promontory Point has been a favorite retreat on the Chicago lakefront for decades, attracting support from former President Barack Obama, the celebrity wedding of filmmaker George Lucas and countless local visitors. Advertisement Created in the early 1900s as a focal point for Chicagos Burnham Park, the landscape of Promontory Point was designed by renowned architect Caldwell in 1937. Canada geese wade near the limestone border of Promontory Point, Feb. 8, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) But mixed messages from the city and oversight by multiple jurisdictions have compounded the confusion for residents. In public meetings in the early 2000s, the Park District told residents that concrete steps could weather the pounding from waves better than limestone and improve accessibility for the disabled and cyclists. Now city officials say they back the limestone plan. The Park District, along with the city and USACE, is committed to rehabilitating the existing limestone at Promontory Point, said Michele Lemons, communications director for the Chicago Park District. Lemons did not respond to questions about when the Park District dropped its support for the concrete revetments and why it now favors preserving the limestone steps. However, a provision requiring the Army Corps to use the locally preferred plan for restoring Promontory Point was included in the 2023 defense bill signed into law by President Joe Biden in December. Advertisement In last months landmarks commission meeting, Ald. Leslie Hairston, whose ward includes Promontory Point, admonished Park District officials for pushing to use concrete for years while residents fought to preserve the limestone. It has not been this holding hands, skipping down the road together with the Park District and the community and we need to, we need to own that. Because if it were that simple, this could have been done a long time (ago), Hairston said. The icy northern side of Burnham Parks Promontory Point in the East Hyde Park neighborhood on Feb. 8, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) [ How bitter cold winter blasts and a warming planet will chew up the Lake Michigan shoreline, faster and faster ] In recent years, lake levels were only inches from their all-time high in 1986, and severe storms struck the shoreline further eroding parts of Promontory Point. The storms also washed away North Side beaches and damaged concrete revetments on the North and South sides. The increase in extreme events is probably the biggest player, said Max Berkelhammer, an associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who specializes in atmospheric and climate sciences. Rainfall amounts are more intense. During these events, the wave action, the wind action, the rain action are going to react more increasingly to enhance erosion, Berkelhammer said. Obviously the biggest thing we can do is reduce CO2 emissions, slow down the rate that the atmosphere is warming and reduce all of these effects collectively. Thats what needs to be the long-term goal. In the 1980s, high lake levels tore up the shoreline and Congress authorized the Chicago Shoreline Protection Project. The federal and local partnership began work across more than 9 miles of the lakefront to protect DuSable Lake Shore Drive from flooding and the shoreline from erosion. The Army Corps finished the federal share of the project in 2014, constructing the concrete barriers that line most of the shoreline today. Advertisement [ [Dont miss] The battle for Lake Michigan: As beaches erode, millions of dollars have been poured into temporary solutions. Can anyone find a long-term fix? ] In a statement last week, the Army Corps said it will study areas of the shoreline left out of its 1994 plan as well as underperforming segments of the rehabilitated shoreline, where the concrete steps have been damaged by more recent erosion. Paid for by the Army Corps, city of Chicago and Park District, the study is estimated to cost $3 million and expected to be completed in 2025. According to Mike Padilla, the Army Corps project manager for the shoreline protection plan, restoration efforts have been aimed at maximizing benefits to the shoreline while minimizing costs. He said concrete and limestone are both good options. Concrete performs very well and when it cures next to the lake like that it tends to have even more strength, Padilla said. The only problem with that is concrete is very strong in compression, but it has issues in tension. It can crack over time and then it becomes not so much a maintenance nightmare so much as a visual eyesore. A lot of it has to do with access and promenades and it just looks good, said Padilla, adding that the citys projects stand up pretty well. Limestone, kind of the same thing, very, very durable, Padilla said. Some of the limestone that was used for Promontory Point obviously has lasted this whole time and continues to last for a really long time so I think it becomes a cost issue. Hyde Park residents are united in their belief that limestone is a better choice. Advertisement Brigid Maniates, a member of the Promontory Point Conservancy, points to a concrete promenade that was built on the tip of Promontory Point that she says is undermining the limestone and causing it to sink behind the promenade. If anything had been repaired the way it was supposed to be originally, it probably wouldnt be like this at all, she said. Armed with engineering reports, testimonials and the support of the local community, Spicer has led the conservancy for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Debra Hammond, have helped the organization create a rehabilitation plan for the limestone. This plan, Spicer said, is much more cost-effective and practical than replacing the lakefront with concrete. The original limestone came from a quarry in Bedford, Indiana. Spicer said enough leftover limestone remains in Bedford to line the entire lakefront over again. According to last weeks Army Corps statement, the city of Chicago has a $5 million capital bond specifically for planning and designing Promontory Point. In December, the Army Corps received $450,000 in federal funds to perform a third-party review of the citys preferred design for the point. With the newly allocated funding, Padilla said the Army Corps now hopes to engineer the Promontory Point section with the limestone in mind and see whether alternatives to rubble and concrete can be found. Advertisement But Spicer and Hammond are not convinced city officials will stand behind their latest assertions to protect the limestone. They worry about the possibility of only pieces of the limestone being preserved. Under one scenario, Theyre not repairing, restoring the limestone revetment, theyre repurposing the limestone through rehabilitation, Hammond said. Which allows them to demolish the limestone revetment and replace it with concrete and then do something decorative and ornamental with the blocks. Were not saying that we have even the slightest suspicion that thats what theyre thinking, but it could happen, Spicer agreed. An important step For Bienz, the points design enhances its natural beauty. I think that the limestone has a lot of character, Bienz said. Its hard to know who to believe. Clearly the limestone feels a lot more nice and unique. [ [Dont miss] Day after day at sunrise, 3 Chicago women are swimming through the winter in icy Lake Michigan ] Promontory Point is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Last month, the Chicago Landmarks Commission voted unanimously to approve a preliminary landmark designation for Promontory Point. Commissioners said they received more than 600 letters of support from residents, officials and preservationists. No one opposed the landmark designation. Advertisement 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 > Though being approved for preliminary landmark status marks an important step, it merely begins the long process of official approval. It still must undergo City Council and public hearings and be voted on by the full City Council. During last months landmarks meeting, Commissioner Suellen Burns asked whether the recommendation would include language explicitly requiring that the limestone steps be preserved. I think it would be really meaningful to the public to see in the landmark recommendation that the recommendation includes and respects the locally preferred plan, she said. That question remains unanswered. National guidelines state historic properties must be used as they were historically or through a new use which maximizes the retention of distinctive materials. Chicago guidelines require the Landmarks Commission to review proposed projects to make sure they will not adversely affect the significant historical or architectural features of a Chicago landmark. As they have for years, residents plan to continue to keep a close eye on the point. Even where its in decay, its just beautiful, Spicer said. Landmarking gives it more protection, but it doesnt give it absolute protection. Advertisement Ezra Maille is a freelancer. UPS's higher-paid, unionized workforce gave it an advantage during the pandemic. Now that package volume has slowed from pandemic highs, many logistics companies are re-evaluating the size of their workforce. Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Teamsters representatives say UPS has raised drivers' layoffs at the bargaining table. Layoffs are hitting the weekend-driver position created in 2018, according to local union chapters. A UPS spokesperson said the impact is not nationwide, and intended to respond to "uneven demand." UPS is beginning to lay off some weekend drivers, according to two local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, which represents drivers and package handlers at the company. Teamsters Local 174 in Washington state said UPS representatives raised the layoffs at the bargaining table with a joint council negotiating a part of their master contract, which expires July 31. The affected position, according to the union, is the "22.4" driver, named for the section of the contract that created the position. These drivers work Tuesday through Saturday and top out at $30.64 per hour, while regular drivers can reach $42. The Teamsters see these drivers as "second class" and now regret that the position was approved in their controversial 2018 contract. Teamsters Local 804 further reported layoffs in three New York locations: Suffolk, on Long Island; Foster, in the southern tier; and Laurelton, in Queens. Under the existing contract, affected drivers have the right to work from another location or work two weekly shifts handling packages inside UPS buildings instead of driving, and no so-called Regular Package Drivers can be laid off before a 22.4 driver, according to the 804's post. A UPS spokesperson said the company is shifting its capacity to respond to customer demand. "Similar to how our network flexes throughout the year to meet seasonal customer demand, we are reassigning some of our employees to meet the needs of our business. ," the spokesperson said via email. "We are hopeful that our people will be able to return to their previous positions later this year. Taking these steps now helps us to be a stronger company for our employees and our customers," they continued. Story continues The Teamsters Union did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. UPS's higher-paid, unionized workforce gave it an advantage during the pandemic when competitors were forced to out-bid each other to contend with a labor crunch. Now that package volume has slowed from pandemic highs, many logistics companies are re-evaluating the size of their workforce. UPS-rival FedEx contracts with small delivery businesses for its largest Ground delivery service and therefore can downsize its workforce more easily. (Its FedEx Express business does employ non-unionized delivery personnel.) FedEx announced layoffs in February, affecting management staff and not operations workers. This reevaluation is more complicated for UPS's 350,000 union employees especially since the existing contract expires this year. Teamsters President Sean O'Brien has repeatedly said that the controversial 22.4 position is one of several issues that could lead to a strike. The union has been preparing to strike for months, but UPS CEO Carol Tome has said she wants a contract that's good for the Teamsters, UPS employees at large, and the company. "I would submit that a win-win-win is very achievable because we are not far apart on the issues," Tome said on the company's earnings call in January. Do you work for UPS? Got a tip? Reach out to senior reporter Emma Cosgrove at ecosgrove@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Patients and an employee inside a Goulds home and blood, urine and feces-soaked bed pads and adult diapers outside of it led to the arrest of the woman who lives there, Miami-Dade police said. Thats the agency that arrested Traci Strader last week and accused her of running an illegal recovery center for cosmetic surgery patients. Recovery centers are often used by people who have plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery, such as Brazilian butt lifts, at office surgery centers. The official charges are felony littering, felony hazardous waste violation, failure to track biomedical waste and creating nuisances injurious to health and 16 counts of operating an assisted living facility without a license. Strader 47, posted $8,000 bond. Shes scheduled to formally appear in court to hear the charges on March 9. Online court records say shes represented by Ryan Suchan of the Miami-Dade public defenders office. The Miami-Dade state attorneys office intake and trial prosecutor assigned is Michael Sartoian of the Organized Crime Unit. READ MORE: Heres how to check out a Florida Brazilian butt lift or plastic surgery doctor or surgery center Illegally working from home? The arrest report says Strader lives at 21986 SW 131st Pl., a 2,100-square-foot home she rents from Cerberus SFR Holdings, an arm of private equity company Cerberus Capital Management. Cerberus acquired the home in the Estate Mansions subdivision in March 2018 for $100 from Coral Gables company Maynada Blue, which dissolved later that month. A search of the Agency for Health Care Administration shows no license for an assisted living facility or any facility at this address. A search of the Florida Department of Healths license website shows no medical professional license for Traci Strader. Miami-Dade police hit the house last Tuesday with a search warrant, expecting to find a post-cosmetic surgery, unlicensed assisted living facility in the four-bedroom, three-bathroom house. What they found, an arrest report said, was four patients and an employee. Story continues The employee identified a photo of Strader as her boss. The patients said people who worked there and Strader helped them with bathing, dressing, eating, taking medication, tending to personal hygiene and going to the bathroom. Outside, in green Miami-Dade County trash bins, police say they found large quantities of plastics and cloth such as bed pads, adult diapers, bandages and medical absorbent pads in regular black trash bags. A medical facility, which will have such waste in volume, is supposed to use biohazard waste bins and have them disposed of by an authorized biohazard waste company. The aforementioned contaminated objects were saturated with human fecal matter, blood and urine... an arrest report said. An F-16C Fighting Falcon flies by during a US Air Force firepower demonstration on September 14, 2007 near Indian Springs, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images) The US has shot down three objects flying over North America in as many days. A top US general said he wasn't ruling out an extra-terrestrial origin for the objects. It comes after the US shot down a spy balloon it alleged was sent by China. A top US Air Force general said that he was not ruling out the possibility that flying objects shot down over North America could have been aliens. General Glen VanHerck, the commander who oversees North American airspace, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing Sunday that he wasn't ruling out extra terrestrials or any other explanation for the objects, and was deferring to US intelligence. "I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything," he said when asked if the objects may be aliens, Reuters reported. "At this point we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it," said VanHerck, head of US North American Aerospace Defense Command and Northern Command. However Reuters said that another US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no evidence the objects, or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomens (UAPs,) were extra-terrestrial in origin. The assessment was echoed by a US defense official in comments to NBC News Monday. The New York Times said US officials believed the objects may have been sent by a foreign power to test US responses. The remarks come after the US military shot down three objects flying in North American airspace over the last 3 days. The latest incident came on Sunday, when President Joe Biden gave orders for an object, described by US officials as octagonal in structure, to be shot down by an F-16 over Lake Huron in Michigan near the Canadian border. An object flying at high altitude had been shot down on Biden's orders over northern Alaska Friday, while another was downed over Yukon in north-western Canada Saturday. Story continues US air defences had been placed on heightened alert after a spy balloon the US says was sent by China was shot down off the coast of North Carolina on February 4. China has denied the balloon was being used for espionage, and says it was used for meteorological research. VanHerck said that the military was not classifying the three latest objects as balloons, and had been unable so far to establish how they were able to stay in the air. "I'm not going to categorize them as balloons. We're calling them objects for a reason," VanHerck said at Sunday's briefing. "What we are seeing is very, very small objects that produce a very, very low radar cross-section," he added. The White House said that officials were still attempting to recover debris from all three objects, a search made more difficult by the remote Arctic locations that 2 of the objects were detected in. Read the original article on Business Insider Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images The US military shot down a fourth flying object over North American airspace in a week on Sunday over Lake Huron in Michigan, confirmed the states governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Im glad to report it has been swiftly, safely and securely taken down, she said. Related: What do we know about the four flying objects shot down by the US? The high-altitude unidentified object, described as an octagonal structure with strings attached to it, is understood to have been the same item that was picked up by radar over Montana on Saturday. At the point it was struck by an air-to-air missile launched by F-16 fighter jets, it had been flying across the Great Lakes region at 20,000ft, a height that could have posed a risk to civilian aircraft. A suspected spy balloon in the sky over Billings, Montana. Photograph: Chase Doak/AFP/Getty Images The Pentagon said the object appeared to have traveled near US military sites and posed a threat to civilian aviation, as well as being a potential tool for surveillance. The US air force general overseeing North American airspace said the object likely fell in Canadian waters. Military personnel equipped with specialist diving gear designed for the extreme cold waters of Lake Huron were expected to be deployed quickly to search for pieces of the destroyed object. So far, there is no intelligence on who was controlling the structure or whether it was actually engaged in any spying activities. The octagon was the fourth unidentified flying object to be downed by US or Canadian fighter jets this month. The extraordinary spate of military interventions began on 4 February when a large balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina. That object was claimed by China, although Beijing has insisted it was involved in innocent weather research. On Friday, an object about the size of a small car was downed off the coast of Alaska, followed by a similar flying object over Yukon in Canada on Saturday. General Glen VanHerck, who is tasked with safeguarding US airspace, said on Sunday that the military had not been able to identify what the three most recent objects were, how they stayed aloft, or where they were coming from. Story continues While saying that the US was more closely scrutinising radar since the discovery of the Chinese balloon, VanHerck, told reporters that the three most recent objects were being called, objects, not balloons, for a reason. Asked whether he had ruled out extraterrestrials, VanHerck said: Ill let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I havent ruled out anything. A defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the military had not seen any evidence that the objects were extraterrestrial. US and Canadian military are attempting to recover the other flying objects that were shot down this week. Searches via sea and land are operating amid hostile weather conditions. The Democratic majority leader of the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, told ABCs This Week on Sunday that he had been briefed by the White House and that officials were now convinced that all of the first three flying objects were balloons. He put the finger of blame firmly on China. The Chinese were humiliated I think the Chinese were caught lying, he said. Its a real setback for them. Hours later a spokesperson for the White House national security council tried to tamp down some of Schumers rhetoric, saying it was too early to characterise the two latest flying objects shot down over Alaska and Canada. Definitive answers would have to wait for the debris to be recovered, the official said. Schumer said that US military and intelligence agencies were focused like a laser on gathering information on the flying objects and then analysing what steps needed to be taken to protect American interests in future. He called it wild that the US government had no idea about the balloon spying program until just a few months ago. Canadian military are attempting to reach pieces of the unidentified flying object that was taken down within Canadian airspace on Saturday. The vessel fell over a remote, rugged area of Yukon. The object, described as cylindrical, had been flying at 40,000ft in Canadian territory and was considered a risk to civilian air traffic. Searches by US military are also continuing in difficult circumstances off the coasts of South Carolina and Alaska in the wake of the two interceptions there. Some debris from the first balloon to be destroyed - the largest of the four objects - have already been retrieved and were being taken to military laboratories for analysis. Though the Chinese government has admitted ownership of the balloon, the countrys regime has insisted that it was used only for weather research. The Pentagon has disputed the characterization, saying that early indications suggest that the balloon was carrying powerful equipment that could intercept communications. The balloon, flying at 60,000ft, was tracked by US military for several days as it traversed the national airspace, having initially been spotted off the coast of Alaska on 28 January. The air force decided to wait until it was over the Atlantic before shooting it down out of concern for civilians on the ground, the Pentagon said. Schumer defended that decision on Sunday against mounting criticism from Republicans who have castigated the Joe Biden White House for failing to act immediately. By following the balloon across the country, the US had gained enormous intelligence on what the Chinese were doing, he said. Schumer predicted that the entire object would be pieced back together in coming days. Thats a huge coup for the United States, he told ABCs This Week. The confluence of four downed flying objects in a week has raised tensions and jangled nerves on both sides of the US and Canadian border. It has also generated political stresses internationally. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, postponed the first visit to Beijing by a senior American diplomat since 2018 in response to the high-altitude intrusion of the Chinese balloon. On the Chinese end of the billowing dispute, local news outlets cited by Bloomberg News reported on Sunday that Chinas government was preparing to bring down an unidentified flying object said to have been spotted over the port of Qingdao. Fishermen in the surrounding area had been told to be alert, according to the reports. Reuters contributed to this report A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier is going to prison after admitting to stealing checks along his mail route in Alabama over the course of a month, federal prosecutors say. The stolen checks were worth more than $40,000 in total, according to the U.S Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Alabama. Following his arrest, the 31-year-old man, of Huntsville, told investigators he sold these checks over the dark web and they ended up in the hands of his unidentified associates, prosecutors said. The man was sentenced to one year and six months in federal prison on Feb. 10, the attorneys office announced in a news release. In November, he pleaded guilty to receipt of stolen mail matter and theft of mail by a postal employee in connection with the case. McClatchy News contacted the former mail carriers attorney for comment on Feb. 13 and didnt immediately receive a response. The vast majority of U.S. Postal Service employees are honest, hardworking individuals who would never dream of violating the public trust in this manner, Jonathan Ulrich, the special agent in charge of the USPS Office of the Inspector General, said in a statement. An employee who decides otherwise will be aggressively investigated by our special agents and law enforcement partners. The case dates back to March 2022, when the former USPS employee started stealing checks, until April when he was caught, according to prosecutors. During this time period, investigators learned an unspecified company, whose mailbox was located along the mans mail route, had 14 checks worth over $43,000 stolen, court documents show. In March, the man stole one check from another unspecified company and gave it to another man, who scrubbed the name of the payee off the check, court documents show. The man is accused of continuing to provide this individual with checks. In April, an unnamed confidential source told investigators about how the man admitted to stealing about 40 checks from his USPS mail route and could sell them, according to court documents. Story continues Later that month, the confidential source coordinated a meetup with the man while wearing a recording device in the parking lot of a Walmart in Huntsville, where the man discussed his scheme, court documents say. The man divulged he had a guy in Houston who he sent the stolen checks to before selling the confidential source three checks, according to prosecutors. Ultimately, the man was arrested and authorities found in possession of stolen checks worth over $13,000, prosecutors said. After he was read his Miranda rights, he told them he had stolen even more checks. Public servants who abuse their positions of trust to personally enrich themselves face serious consequences, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona said in a statement. Postal employee worked without a bathroom or water after USPS didnt pay bills, feds say Men threw gun and stolen mail from Jeep while speeding away from Texas cops, feds say Postal worker stole nearly $400,000 in tax refund checks from mail in Florida, feds say Postal service worker stole cell phones from the mail and resold them in NJ, feds say President Joe Biden reacts as the National Governors Association Vice Chair Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a dinner reception for governors and their spouses in the State Dining Room of the White House, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) had to defend his states ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors on Sunday. Its not just about providing care or not providing care, Cox said on Sundays Meet The Press. Its about whether we might potentially be harming young people, not having enough evidence to see what the long-term results of this are and providing better psychiatric help for those young people who are going through this. Eventually the Republican who was previously praised for standing up for trans kids landed on a dubious defense. Cox insisted its only a pause until there is better data. Read more Well, we take power away from [parents] on a lot of things involving our young people. If there is potential long-term harm for our kids, we need to find that, Cox said on Meet the Press. And what Utah did was just push pause until we get better data. We have a mandate in the bill to go out and look at the best data all across the country and then make a decision. This seems like a reasonable ask upon first reading, but lets consult the bill. The bills text does not have an end date, just an effective date. However, included in Section 1 of the bill is a systematic medical evidence review that aims to provide the Legislature with recommendations to consider when deciding whether to lift the moratorium described in Section 58-1-603.1. To put it as plainly as possible: The bill has a date that it becomes law, and thats it! It will be in affect in perpetuity in Utah unless a court blocks implementation or the state legislature passes a new law. There is no incentive to repeal the law or pass a new one. Coxs defense is not reasonable. Imagine if we just paused his ability to get health care? He is using the guise of concern for children that permeates conservative ideology as a way to paint trans peoplechildren and adults alikeas deviants. This is straight out of the decades-old playbook demonizing and outlawing anyone whos not straight and cis in this country, and calling it temporary doesnt make it any better. Story continues More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Mykhailo Podolyak Almost a year after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, less than 150 global corporations have left the Russian market. Read also: Swiss bank Credit Suisse freezes $19 billion worth of Russian assets "Among the Western companies that have remained in Russia, the largest share is German (19.5%), 12.4% American, and 7% Japanese, Podolyak wrote. The following companies continue working in the terrorist state: METRO, Leroy Merlin, Auchan, Nestle, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Siemens, Pfizer, Philip Morris, Bayer, Acer, Alibaba, CloudFlare, Societe Generale, Credit Suisse, Lenovo, Asus, Cersanit, etc.", Podolyak wrote. Read also: MP Honcharenko on ex-SBU chief, cabinet reshuffle, Zelenskyys Europe trip, and defense minister in limbo He also noted that some Western banks "have made superprofits in Russia during the year of full-scale war." In particular, Raiffeisen Bank increased its profits in Russia by 313%. "In 2022, the profit of the Russian branch amounted to EUR 474 million ($506 million), and this is the largest amount among the branches of Southeast Europe," the advisor to the head of the President's Office noted. Read also: World Bank approves $50 million grant to repair Ukrainian infrastructure Podolyak said that in the last fiscal year, the Russian treasury received EUR 94.8 million ($101.2 million) in income tax alone. "The amount of other fees is much higher, he said. That is, this is a tax on the war, on the killing of Ukrainians. Moreover, Raiffeisen has recognized the pseudo-republics of Luhansk and Donetsk by offering the partially mobilized people a loan repayment holiday. Read also: Podolyak muses on how Russian army will disintegrate after defeat Podolyak added that Raiffeisen's example was followed by Citibank, Credit Europe Bank and OTP Bank. The advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief-of-staff noted that by operating in Russia, international companies pay taxes to the Russian state budget, and that money is used to manufacture products for the defense industry. The total annual revenue of these 1,200+ companies in Russia is almost $290 billion. According to Podolyak, this is a fifth of Russia's GDP. Earlier, NV reported that the National Agency on Corruption Prevention recognized P&G Corporation as an international sponsor of war because of its continued operations in Russia. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. This Cotopaxi carry-on even fits under most airplane seats. Travel + Leisure / Pamela Jew My job as a travel writer has taken me to all seven continents in the last 10 months, and after all those miles, let me tell you: There are just certain things I cant travel without. The true MVP? My Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack, which has carried me through more than 50 countries from Costa Rica to South Africa and which I dont expect to retire any time soon. Im in good company with my love of this backpack. After lots of testing, Travel + Leisure editors recently named the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack the best overall on its list of 2023s best carry-on backpacks. Amazon To buy: amazon.com and cotopaxi.com, $200 Still, I first heard about this bag years ago from a writer friend of mine whod just returned from an assignment in Georgia (the country, not the state). While he had a lot to say about the destination, what he really raved about was the bag he lived out of for two weeks. It was carry-on compatible, had a 35-liter capacity, was lightweight and waterproof, and opened up like a suitcase for easy packing (impressive!). Plus, it had a waist strap so its easy on the back and, to top it all off, a rare lifetime warranty. I knew I just had to try it so I got one. Of course, one quickly turned into two. Travel + Leisure / Katie Jackson Im convinced this Cotopaxi bag is indestructible, because its made with high-quality, tear-resistant nylon fabric and a water-resistant TPU coating designed to withstand the relentless wear and tear of travel. And I know firsthand just how waterproof it can be. I was once carrying it in Costa Rica, during the rainy season, when I got caught in a downpour. Despite getting drenched, my bags contents stayed completely dry. And that was without using the rain cover it comes with! Ive found this bag to be so waterproof that I dont even bother bringing it. Story continues Amazon To buy: amazon.com and cotopaxi.com, $200 For a bag made with such durable materials, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is quite light. It weighs less than four pounds, and because it has a waist belt and padded shoulder straps, weight is evenly distributed across my hips and shoulders. In September, I wore it in Portugal, where I stocked it up with bottles of wine. Despite how heavy my bag got, I never had any back pain. Even if you dont want to wear it as a backpack, you can simply tuck the straps in and carry it using the side handles (reinforced, of course). I usually do this when Im in Thailand, where its so hot and humid I dont want to have anything on my back. But by far, my favorite feature of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is the fact it opens like a suitcase. With traditional backpacks, I have to dig to the bottom of the bag to find what Im looking for. But with this pack, I just unzip, open, and can see everything I packed. In addition to the large main compartment, there are so many internal pockets I almost dont even need to use 2023s best packing cubes. Travel + Leisure / Katie Jackson There are even more functional features too, including a padded sleeve for a laptop or tablet and security YKK zippers to deter pickpockets (which I appreciated when I was in Paris last year, where I have had stuff stolen before). Finally, theres a convenient external pocket that comes in handy for things like sunglasses and water that I want easy access to. For such a functional bag, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is also very aesthetically pleasing. My next trip is to South Africas newest five-star luxury retreat, Future Found Sanctuary in Cape Town, and instead of rolling up with Louis Vuitton luggage, Im proud to sport this pack because its actually pretty stylish. Both of my bags are two of the most eye-catching colorways Cotopaxi is famous for its bright colors but this bag is also available in solid black if you dont want to be bothered by strangers giving you compliments on it. That said, its so cool that theyll probably still ask where you got it. Amazon To buy: amazon.com and cotopaxi.com, $200 At Cotopaxi.com, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack starts at $200 and has an impressive 4.7-star average rating from more than 1,000 reviews. It also has a 4.7-star average rating at Amazon, where it starts at $198 and where shoppers call it the best backpack for airline travel. Ive never had an issue getting it to fit in an overhead bin, including when I flew the discount airline Wizz Air this summer to Romania. It usually fits under the seat in front of me, too. One shopper who calls it a great carry-on loved using it during a flight when traveling with their two young sons. They need lots of snacks and toys and changes of clothes and other things, they wrote. This bag was able to fit all of it at once. Best of all, it kept all of our things very organized. Another shopper who raves about how spacious it is managed to fit two pairs of pants, nine tops, a dress, pajamas, a pair of shoes, a bathing suit, socks, underwear and more, and still had space left! Amazon To buy: amazon.com, $198 Despite being able to carry pretty much everything but the kitchen sink, this pack is still surprisingly comfortable. And unlike other carry-ons, because you can wear it, you can easily carry it with ease over cobblestone streets. One shopper who spent a week traveling around London and Paris during transportation strikes ended up having to walk everywhere and says they never could have taken this trip without this pack. Even if your plans dont involve walking a lot, you wont be disappointed if you treat your back to the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack. This bag ensures youll arrive at your destination with all of the things you need, neatly organized. Im not saying you should definitely buy two, like me, but I am saying its such a cool bag, I wouldnt be surprised if it sells out. At the time of publishing, the price started at $198. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and well send you our favorite travel products each week. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. President Joe Biden outside the White House on Feb. 6, 2023, after returning from a weekend at Camp David in Maryland. (Susan Walsh / AP) The Democratic Party sits on the horns of a dilemma. While President Joe Biden has not yet announced his reelection plans, he is already off and running. Advertisement He said so, during his recent State of the Union speech. Ten times, by my count. Lets finish the job, he said. In case you missed the point, that means he has much more to do and wants another term to do it. Lets finish the job will soon be Bidens 2024 campaign motto. Biden is in it to win. Advertisement Biden, 80, was relatively vital, energized and agile as he delivered the 73-minute speech. There were few of the stumbles and stutters his critics were waiting for. Biden ad-libbed. (That was not always welcome, given the speech was dreadfully long.) He poked fun at his Republican critics and, with a sly grin, declared he had converted them to promise to protect Medicare and Social Security. Biden expertly delivered his case, bolstering worried Democrats. His partys intelligentsia mopped their sweat-soaked brows in relief. The president is on his game, for now. And that will keep the others who would be president at bay. In the run-up to 2024, there are hordes of prominent Democratic politicians who would love to run for the top job. When Biden finally solidifies his reelection plans, that scrum will be forced to beat a sullen retreat. Few Democrats of national stature would dare mount a primary challenge against their incumbent president. In politics, you dance with the one who brought you. And then, you are stuck with your dance partner all night. Therein lies the dilemma. Biden could bring his party down. On the one hand, many Democratic Party honchos, operatives and media hounds crave a reprise of the 2020 presidential matchup. Forget Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier or Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling. In 2024, Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden would be the rematch of all rematches. In his speech, Biden touted an impressive legislative and policy record, giving his party bragging rights to a laundry list of accomplishments. Thats why were building an economy where no one is left behind, Biden exhorted. Jobs are coming back, pride is coming back, because of the choices we made in the last several years. You know, this is, in my view, a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America and make a real difference in your lives at home. Trump is, after all, Trump. If the popularity polls are any indication, voters familiarity Trump has bred a ton of contempt. On the other hand, what if Trump is not the 2024 GOP nominee? There are no guarantees. At 76, Trump is also aging, but unlike Biden, he wont get a free pass in his presidential primary. Advertisement Trump, the only announced GOP presidential candidate so far, has mounted a lackluster campaign. He is struggling to raise campaign cash. There are plenty of younger and more moderate alternatives aiming to take him on. Just to name a few: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; former Vice President Mike Pence; Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin; Trumps former secretary of state Mike Pompeo; former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley; South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott; and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. In a one-to-one matchup, any one of them could make Biden look like an out-of-touch, doddering octogenarian If Biden is reelected, he will be 86 by the time he leaves the White House. Biden got through that speech OK, but running the world in your late 80s is another matter. Only 37% of Democrats say Biden should run for reelection, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in late January. Thats down from the 52% who gave the nod to a Biden second term in a similar poll in October. Then there is Kamala Harris problem. Vice President Harris, 58, would be next in line for the Oval Office. In an administration led by an elderly commander in chief, the second in command takes on outsize importance. Harris, for reasons that mystify me, is not popular with the Democratic Party base. Rank-and-file voters are not gracing her with confidence or enthusiasm. Nearly 40% of American voters approve of Harris performance, according to an average of surveys tracked by the polling site FiveThirtyEight. Advertisement That will be in my opinion one of the most hard-hitting arguments against Biden, John Morgan, a prominent fundraiser and former Florida finance chairman for President Bill Clinton, said in a recent interview with The New York Times. It doesnt take a genius to say, Look, with his age, we have to really think about this. Think away, Democrats. You wont know how things play out until the hand is played. Laura Washington is a political commentator and longtime Chicago journalist. Her columns appear in the Tribune each Monday. Write to her at LauraLauraWashington@gmail.com. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. An annual ice fishing tournament on Vermonts Lake Champlain was called off at the last minute over the weekend after three men died when they fell through the ice during "abnormally warm" weather, officials said. Organizers of the 43rd annual Islands Ice Fishing Derby announced in a Facebook post Saturday morning that the weekend event was being canceled due to "the condition of the ice." The event was shut down after the Grand Isle County Sheriff's Department issued a request for it to be canceled "effective immediately," they said, as they asked anglers already out on the ice to clear the area. "Tickets will be refunded," they said. Ice Fishing Sand Bar Milton, Verrmont, USA (API / Alamy Stock Photo / Alamy Stock Photo) The cancellation came after three people died after falling through the ice, including two brothers who fell through hours before the event was called off, according to the Vermont State Police. Wayne Alexander, 62, of Grand Isle, died Thursday after falling through the ice on Lake Champlain while ice fishing, according to a news release from the state police. His body was found in the water hours after he had been expected to return home, police said. He was pronounced dead at the University of Vermont Medical Center, police said. Then, early Saturday, two brothers died after their utility vehicle broke through the ice, state police said. Emergency crews had received a report at around 7:10 a.m. that a vehicle had fallen through the ice with two people inside, the state police said. John Fleury, 71, of Williamstown, was pulled from the water, but died later in a hospital. His older brother, Wayne Fleury, 88, of East Montpelier, was later found inside the vehicle by a diver from Colchester Technical Rescue. He was pronounced dead on the scene, according to police. State police said autopsies would be conducted at the chief medical examiner's office in nearby Burlington to determine the exact cause and manner of all three deaths. The agency said all three incidents appeared to be accidents and were not considered suspicious at the time. Story continues It was not immediately clear whether the three men had been participating in the ice fishing derby. Organizers of the event did not immediately respond to an overnight request for comment. The National Weather Service in Burlington had warned in a Facebook post Saturday that ice thickness on area lakes and ponds would be highly variable due to "well above normal temperatures" in the area over the past two months. "Ice is never 100% safe. If you dont know, dont go! Stay safe," it said. Organizers of the ice fishing derby had also warned Friday that they did not recommend anyone drive any type of motor vehicle on the ice this year. "We have seen an abnormally warm first half of February," the weather service said in a separate post early Monday. It said the trend was expected to continue through the week. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com [Source] Dozens of community and family members gathered at a prayer vigil over the weekend for the safe return of a 14-year-old girl who has been missing in Conway, Arkansas, for over 25 days. Community members at the vigil on Saturday pleaded for more volunteers to join the search party for Tanvi Marupally. Jenny Wallace, a search party organizer, said they are planning to canvas the city for more clues regarding her disappearance, KATV reported. We are trying to go through every neighborhood and ask the people to look at their Ring doorbell cameras. It is very important for every bit of footage to be watched because we usually have 30 days before the cameras re-record over them or expire. We are coming up on that timeline. More from NextShark: US Wesley So defeats chess world champ Magnus Carlsen to win Norway Tournament blitz event The vigil was held on Saturday in hopes that Marupally would show up, as that was also the day she was scheduled to take her ACT college entrance exam. Marupally was last seen by a surveillance camera on Jan. 17 walking past the school bus she usually takes to get home from Conway Junior High School. Authorities and the teenagers family believe she ran away from home after learning that they might be deported to India. More from NextShark: Amid probe, more Virginia high schools apologize for withholding news of academic awards The girl reportedly learned that her father, Pavan Roy, could lose his job after his company, which is in the tech industry, laid off about 10% of its employees. Pavan is currently staying in the United States on a working visa while his wife is on a dependent visa. If he were to lose his job, his family would only have 10 days to make travel arrangements back to India. Pavan claimed that while speaking to their daughter about the situation, he told her not to panic. More from NextShark: Historic campaign rally of Philippine presidential candidate gets nods from Bretman Rock, Ariana Grande I said... let you and your mom first go back to India, let me figure out what and how the system works out, get a proper job, and then call you back. [She said] 'What, go back to India? Why should I go back to India? I've been here.' Story continues After the girl went missing, her father said in a video appeal that there was nothing to worry about anymore as he had applied for a dependent visa and his wife was granted a working visa. More from NextShark: Nearly 3 in 4 Asian American Pacific Islander women experienced racism in 2021, new report says Marupally's mother Eadara Sridevi issued a plea last month for her daughter to return. Please come back. Please, Tanvi, try to understand. Please come back. She's the motivation we both to come over here. If she's not there, we don't have purpose to come here, do all these things. Everyday we are walking on the edge, trying to keep her, providing a better life. And safe especially, particularly safe. In a statement last week, Conway Police spokesperson Lacey Kanipe said that they are continuing to remain positive in their efforts to reunite Marupally with her family. The more people that can be involved, that's better just because you're able to cover more ground and look for her and help us," Kanipe said, according to THV11 reported. People talk and communicate and share the story." Authorities previously reported having searched for the girl in her school, the county library and both Cadron Settlement Park and Wooly Hollow State Park. CPD needs help locating Tanvi Marupally. CPD & Tanvis parents have been actively searching for Tanvi since Tues. Tanvi doesnt carry any sort of electronic device that allows us to track or ping a location. If you see Tanvi, please notify us immediately by calling 501-450-6120. pic.twitter.com/qvwsYLQvin Conway Police Dept. (@ConwayPolice) January 19, 2023 Conway Police Department has reportedly asked the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for assistance in their search, while the teenagers family has put up a $5,000 reward for any information that could lead to her. Those who might have information on the girls whereabouts are urged to contact the Conway Police Department at 501-450-6120. On the one hand, it is possible to become weary of the endless rage about apparently decadent spending by government ministers. The Americans are rather proud of their largesse. They were proud of Air Force One, even while Donald Trump was flying around in it. We, meanwhile, react with fits of rage when a member of the cabinet is caught in first class on a train, or flying anything other than Ryanair. But then, on the other hand, what the actual hell is this? Do my eyes deceive me, or do I sit here reading the words: 2,564 on home-brewing kits, filed under Computer Equipment and Services? That somebody or other in His Majestys Government really has spent two and a half grand on a home-brewing kit and put it through under computer equipment? Has that really happened? Yes it has. The Labour Party has spent months compiling the info it has received in response to more than 300 freedom of information requests, to assemble what it hopes is a grand dossier of government waste. (It was Tony Blair, you may recall, who made this possible, through bringing in the Freedom of Information Act. In his autobiography, he would later write of that decision: You idiot. You naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop. There is really no description of stupidity, no matter how vivid, that is adequate. I quake at the imbecility of it.) Labours findings have now been posted online. Its a bit of a turgid document, but the most absurd bits are easy enough to find by pressing Ctrl + F followed by T, R, U, S and then S again. The former foreign secretary and former prime minister is the real star of the show here. 7,128 on a reception for Liz Truss against the backdrop of a Sydney Harbour Amusement Park. This almost certainly occurred on the same trip for which 500,000 was spent chartering a private plane. There were, of course, other trips like the one on which she had to have her photo taken, mainly for her own instagram account, riding a bicycle and holding a big union jack umbrella beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Story continues Then theres 1,500 spent on one lunch and one dinner at two restaurants in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Foreign Office has issued a general statement, clarifying that British politicians largesse is necessary in order to repay the largesse they receive from others. Which kind of makes sense but, you know, very nice work if you can get it. That statement, by the way, does not make any attempt to deny that at the Jakarta double dining experience, no foreign dignitaries were present just Trusss team and the British ambassador. It is intended, however, to provide an explanation for the 1,903 spent on a hot pink photo booth for a movie screening at the embassy in Washington DC. It is well known that embassies and consulates around the world have quite a thing for James Bond-based screenings and parties whenever a new Bond movie comes out, and such events probably do help to bolster British soft power. But we can only wonder: if it was Bond, why hot pink? And if it wasnt, then what was it? Legally Blonde 2 was a long time ago. It would, naturally, be wrong to conclude that all government largesse is a waste of money, and it would also be somewhat mean not to allow public servants any of the kind of perks of the private sector (or frankly, no one would ever want to do their job). But at the same time, a lot of government largesse is, frankly, a waste of money. For a very long time, Truss flew all around the world as international trade secretary, breathlessly announcing copy-and-paste trade deals that served no purpose beyond making her popular with Conservative Party members (and look how that ended). As for the actual value of all those expensively secured trade deals? Well, Rishi Sunak, in his first meaningful bit of action as prime minister, has shut the department down. It is also clear to see that spending has tended to increase towards the end of the financial year. In March 2021, the Treasury, under Sunak, spent 25,000 on IT and office equipment more than double any other month of the year including 5,000 on a paper shredder. Not much should set alarm bells ringing quite like the purchase of a clearly extremely high-spec shredder. You would think the first thing through it might have been its own receipt, but no. Self-evidently that was needed, just so that the extravagance could be documented. Once, as it happens, I was hired to work as a temp in a government agency that no longer exists. I worked there for nine weeks. At no point did I ever understand what I was doing there, until I heard my manager explaining to his manager that if he didnt spend the budget now then they simply wouldnt get it next year. Over two and a half months, I would be surprised if I did more than two and half hours work. And this sort of thing really should enrage you. When more than half the country really doesnt have a clue how its going to pay its bills, government departments are very obviously indulging not just in a bit of occasionally justifiable largesse, but in waste for wastes sake. Labour reckons it is going to respond by setting up an Office for Value for Money, which will check that no one in government is going to carry on doing what absolutely every government, in almost every country in the world, has always done. Its a nice idea, but before they go through with it, they might want to have a quick re-read of the Book of Tony: page 516, paragraph 5, to be exact. Telegram Members of Russias mercenary Wagner Group have released another disturbing video apparently showing the second sledgehammer execution of what they say is a captured defector. The clip posted in the private armys semi-official Telegram channel over the weekend comes around three months after Wagner publicized the violent end of Yevgeny Nuzhin, a former prisoner recruited into the group who then turned against Russia. Putins Private Army Goes Full ISIS With Sledgehammer Execution Video The new video eerily echoes the Nuzhin footage. The clip allegedly shows Dmitry Yakushchenko, a convict from Russian-occupied Crimea who joined Wagner while serving a 19-year prison sentence for robbery and murder. Through the chance given to him for liberation and atonement for sins, he ended up in the Wagner Group, the Telegram post reads. It adds that Yakushchenko escaped to the side of the enemy, after being sent to fight in Ukraine. While in the captivity of Kyivs soldiers, he gave an interview to local media which was widely shared in November. The new video opens with a clip from that interview, in which Yakushchenko discusses how he only agreed to fight for Russia to find any kind of loophole to escape his imprisonment. The video then cuts to a shot of Yakushchenko in a dark room, his head taped to concrete blocks on the wall. Behind him, a man in camouflage fatigues can be seen holding a sledgehammer. I went to the front as part of Wagner Group, Yakushchenko says, according to Meduza. While on the front line, I realized that this isnt my war. Today, I was on the streets of Dnipro, where I was hit in the head and lost consciousness. When I came to, I was in this roomwhere they told me I was going to be put on trial. The screen then goes blurry as Yakushchenko is apparently struck in the head with the hammer, receiving further blows as he collapses to the ground. The caption under the video said Yakushchenko fell ill with the same disease as Nuzhin, from which you lose consciousness in the cities of Ukraine [...] and then you wake up in the basement at your last court session. Story continues Independent Russian outlet Agentstvo reports that its likely that Yakushchenko was in fact returned into the hands of Russian authorities in a Dec. 1 prisoner swap. MediaZona journalist Dave Frenkel also questioned if Yakushchenko is really being killed in the clip. When asked to confirm the authenticity of the video, Putin ally and Wagner founger Yevgeny Prigozhin was quoted by his press service on Monday giving an odd answer making reference to Soviet war and spy dramas. He added that the journalist asking about the execution clip shouldnt take everything so sadly, pointing out that: Children are having fun. Know that good will always triumph over evil, Prigozhin added. Over the weekend, reports emerged that Russian state media outlets have received a directive in recent weeks to avoid excessively promoting Prigozhin or his mercenary group. Pro-Putin TV pundit Sergei Markov told the New York Times: They apparently dont want to bring him into the political sphere because hes so unpredictablethey fear him a little bit. Regardless of the Kremlins fluctuating sentiments towards Wagner, sledgehammers have become something of a sick symbol for the mercenary group and the invasion of Ukraine more generally. Following the release of Nuzhins execution video in November, Wagner reportedly sent a bloodied sledgehammer to the European Parliament to protest being labeled a terrorist organization. In December, a group of masked men threw sledgehammers at the Finnish embassy in Moscow and last month Russian nationalist lawmaker Sergei Mironov posed with a sledgehammer engraved with a pile of skulls. This is a useful tool, Mironov said after sharing the photo online. With its help, we will put a dent in the Nazi ideology that aims to destroy our country. 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. Dmitry Yakushchenko Wagner Group Russia Ukraine mercenary video violence invasion war - East2West News A Wagner mercenary was allegedly beaten to death with a sledgehammer after defecting to Ukraine in a video shared on social media. In the clip, Dmitry Yakushchenko identifies himself as one of the convicts freed as part of Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhins recruitment drive in Russian prisons. I was planning on finding some loophole, just, as they say, to run away, the man says to a camera. After his apparent confession, the 44-year-olds head is taped to a tower of bricks before an unidentified man attacks him with a sledgehammer. Yakushchenkos body slumps to the floor as the man, likely a fellow Wagner fighter, swings the tool again. Dmitry Yakushchenko Wagner Group Russia Ukraine mercenary video violence invasion war - East2West News The unverified video was released by Grey Zone, a popular Russian war blog associated with the Wagner Group. Before his apparent murder, the victim confirmed that he had been born in Crimea and had received a 19-year prison sentence for robbery and murder. He was released from jail in order to join Wagner operations in Ukraine, but fled after four days, according to Grey Zone. I was in the streets of the city of Dnipro where I got hit on the head and lost consciousness, I woke up in this room and was told I would be tried, Yakushchenko said. As he is killed, a caption appears on the video which says: The court session is declared closed. Attacks with sledgehammers have become synonymous with Wagner mercenaries in recent years. Last November, the group brutally killed Yevgeny Nuzhin, a convicted murderer accused of desertion, who was also freed from prison to fight in Ukraine. That same month, a bloodied sledgehammer in a violin case was shipped to the European Parliament after MEPs started proceedings to label Wagner as a terrorist group: , . pic.twitter.com/AeHGOHqSYz SOTA (@Sota_Vision) November 24, 2022 Wagner had also been accused of using sledgehammers to smash the legs and heads of prisoners captured as part of their operations in Syria. Story continues Meanwhile, the mercenary group found itself under mounting domestic pressure for its recruitment drive from Russian prisons. In return for fighting for Wagner in Ukraine, Mr Prigozhin promised convicts pardons for their crimes, as well as hero status and honours. However, ordinary Russian citizens were not so keen on making heroes out of murderers, rapists and thieves freed from jail to fight in Ukraine. In Transbaikalia, south-eastern Russia, relatives of a 23-year-old convicted murderer who died fighting in Ukraine faced opposition in organising his funeral, according to local media reports. Alena Kogodeeva, the head of the Zhireken village, said: We have a really ambiguous situation in the village. The young man was convicted of murder. It was only two or three years ago, people remember it. Are we going to make heroes out of killers now? Walmart last had a Super Bowl commercial in 2020. AP Instead of running a Super Bowl commercial, Walmart found a way to play off other companies' ads. The retailer tweeted out links to items available at Walmart that matched those in the commercials. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant hasn't had a Super Bowl advertisement since 2020 Walmart didn't have a commercial in this year's Super Bowl. But that didn't stop the retail giant from getting some benefit out of those multimillion-dollar advertisements: It simply went on Twitter to tell where they could buy that cool stuff they were seeing during Sunday night's big game. Throughout the evening, Walmart tweeted out links to products related to those featured in other companies' commercials. For example, following software company Workday's commercial, which ribbed companies for using the word "rockstar" to describe standout employees and featured real rockers like Billy Idol, Joan Jett, and Ozzy Osbourne Walmart tweeted out a photo collage with the caption "musical colleague" and items like guitars, wigs, and leather pants. "Be your own corporate jargon," Walmart said in a follow-up tweet with links to the products. Walmart found other opportunities to tout its products after commercials from Planters peanuts, Michelob Ultra, and Doritos, among many others. The company used the hashtag #walmartversion to accompany the tweets. A Walmart spokeswoman told Insider that the company's goal was "to connect with our customers in a relatable and lighthearted way that was unique to our brand and what they've come to expect from us on social media." "The 'Walmart Version' is a big part of social vernacular," the company spokesperson said. "Our customers love championing the 'Walmart Version' of everything we sell because even the pricier items featured in commercials can be found on our shelves at everyday low prices. " Story continues The last time Walmart featured a Super Bowl ad was in 2020 when the retailer touted its grocery pickup service. That ad featured numerous cameos from movies, including Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Star Wars. Here are some other Tweets where Walmart advertised its products on Super Bowl Sunday. Read the original article on Business Insider PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Nadia hushes the crying 3-month-old baby swaddled in her arms, gently planting kisses on her forehead. She was 19, not ready to be a mother. But the young Haitians life changed when she was walking home from class on the dusty streets of a gang-controlled area of Haitis capital last year. She was dragged into a car by a group of men, blindfolded and kidnapped. For three days, she was beaten, starved and gang-raped. Months later, she learned that she was pregnant. In an instant, her dreams of studying and economically lifting her family dissolved. As Haitis toxic slate of gangs continue to plunder the crisis-stricken Caribbean nation, kidnapping, displacing and extorting civilians with nothing left to give, they are increasingly weaponizing womens bodies in their war for control. Women like Nadia live with the consequences. The most difficult part is that I have nothing to give her, Nadia said of her daughter. Im scared because as she gets older to ask about her father, I wont know what to tell her. ... But I will have to explain to her that I was raped. The woman offered only the name of Nadia, which is not her real one, to The Associated Press, which does not identify survivors of sexual violence. Long plagued by crisis natural disasters, political turmoil, deep poverty and waves of cholera Haiti spiraled into chaos after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Sexual violence has long been used as an instrument of war around the world, a barbaric way to sow terror in communities and assert control. Theyre running out of tools to control people, said Renata Segura, deputy director for Latin America and the Caribbean for International Crisis Group. They extort, but theres only so much money that can be extorted from people that are really poor. This is the one thing they have they can inflict on the population. That fear has rippled across Port-au-Prince. Parents hesitate to send their children to school, worried they could be kidnapped or raped by gangs. By night, the buzzing streets of the city empty. Story continues For women especially, going outside the house is a risk. So is fleeing: Gangs use the threat of rape to stop communities from abandoning the areas they control. Helen La Lime, U.N. special envoy in Haiti, told the Security Council in late January that the gangs employ sexual violence to destroy the social fabric of communities," particularly in zones controlled by rival gangs. They rape girls and boys as young as 10, she said. Compounding that is severe underreporting, making it difficult for any authority to grasp the full extent of the damage. Women fear gangs will seek revenge on them and trust Haitian police just about as much. The country's current government, which many view as illegitimate, declined to comment on what it is doing to address the issue. The U.N. documented 2,645 cases of sexual violence in 2022, a 45% increase from the year before. That figure is just a fraction of the real number of assaults. Nadia was among those who did not report. She struggled over if she would keep the baby when she learned that she was pregnant, but decided to give her daughter the best life that she could. In Port-au-Prince, a place already lacking in opportunity with high levels of poverty, it became impossible for the new mother to work or continue her studies. Meanwhile doctors like Jovania Michel are trying to fill in the gaps. Michel works in one of the only hospitals in Cite Soleil, the epicenter of the gang wars in Port-au-Prince. There, she sees mothers who were gang-raped after their husbands were killed; sexual violence survivors living on the streets, unable to return home out of fear that it could happen again; and survivors suffering from sexually transmitted infections. Sexual violence is a way to paralyze, to scare people. The minute theres an increase in sexual violence, everyone stops moving, people dont go to work because theyre scared, Michel said. Its a weapon, its a way to send a message. That was the case for one 36-year-old woman, who spoke with the AP dressed in a shirt with bright red roses, her hair pulled back carefully in braids. She asked to remain unnamed for fear of retaliation. The woman once ran a boutique with her husband in Haiti's capital to put her two daughters and son through school. In July, a group of armed men, members of the gang G-Pep, showed up on their doorstep and told them they needed money for bullets. Unable to get the cash, the men took her husband away at 8 p.m. The next day, she found his body in a gutter. She fled the neighborhood, sending her children to live with friends and family in other parts of the city. Meanwhile, she slept alone on the streets, joining at least 155,000 other Haitians forcibly displaced by violence. In December, when she tried to return home, the gangsters raped and beat her. Im a professional, and out of nowhere these bandits come and made me lose everything. Im not good. Im not okay. It all makes me really angry. I got to a point that I wanted to kill myself, the woman said. Standing straight with a firm jaw and her head tilted upward, she brushed tears from her face. When she tried to report the rape to police, they told her that they didnt handle gang cases. Today, sleeping in a park with other forcibly displaced Haitians, the one thing that brings her hope is that her children, whom she rarely sees, may still live a better life. But she worries what deep instability and rising gang control in Haiti will mean. Im not living in a good country, she said. Story at a glance The Tennessee House GOP called out freshman Democratic state representative Justin J. Pearson (Shelby County) for wearing a dashiki on the House floor. We literally just got on the State House floor and already a white supremacist has attacked my wearing of my Dashiki, Pearson wrote. He said he plans on wearing the dashiki again and will wear a tie and jacket over it if he needs to. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Tennessee House GOP sent a message to a freshman Democratic state representative on Friday: Follow the rules or explore options outside of the General Assembly. If you dont like rules, perhaps you should explore a different career opportunity thats main purpose is not creating them, wrote the Tennessee House GOP on Twitter. The tweet was a reply to Rep. Justin J. Pearson (D-Shelby County), writing, We literally just got on the State House floor and already a white supremacist has attacked my wearing of my Dashiki. A dashiki is a traditional West African loose-fitted shirt. On Thursday, Pearson wore a black one in the chamber. Parents of students with disabilities offended by Tennessee House Speakers proposal to reject US education money Wearing my African attire, particularly in Black History Month is paying homage to the people who allowed me to be here, Pearson said. Especially in a place like the Tennessee Statehouse. In the chamber that day, a lawmaker made a statement on the importance of dress code without naming Pearson but saying wearing a tie and jacket honors the legacy of late Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry. DeBerry was the second African-American woman to serve in the Tennessee General Assembly and the first woman to serve as speaker pro tempore. We honor Lois memory in how we look, how we treat each other, and how we give the respect we hope to get back, said Rep. David Hawk (R-Greeneville). And part of that respect is how you look and how you appear. I showed up one night on two wheels trying to get in here, and I did not have a tie on and she reminded me, Representative Hawk, if you dont have a tie on, you cant walk through that door.' Story continues But not all lawmakers agreed with Hawks depiction of how DeBerry wouldve acted. She wouldnt embarrass a new member. She would say lets educate the new member, lets fold them in appropriately, said Rep. Karen Camper (D-Memphis). While not finding any specific language in the Tennessee House Rules about what lawmakers have to wear on the floor, Pearson was told by the House Clerk that the House Speaker sets the decorum. The speaker will have the authority to set other guidelines for decorum, states the rules. In a statement, a spokesperson for Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) said they are following in DeBerrys footsteps. During her historic tenure in the General Assembly, the late Lois DeBerry established a precedent for attire that remains in place today; men must wear a coat and a tie if they wish to be recognized in committee or on the House floor. Ms. DeBerry would frequently address members violating this precedent and remind them of the requirement. The speaker will continue to follow the precedent and the path established by Ms. DeBerry to honor her and her incredible legacy within our legislative body. Pearson says using DeBerrys name like this is not an appropriate use of her legacy. To try and attack the African attire of a young, Black member of the House body is wrong and immoral and a misuse of her legacy. If they actually care about Lois DeBerrys legacy, lets see them put forward legislation for justice, he said. Pearson also said the pushback on his attire is another example of how the Republican party is legislating. Whether that be folks who want to wear drag or people who have different abilities or people who want to read certain books, taking power over peoples agency is a theme of this body, he said. He said he plans on wearing the dashiki again and will wear a tie and jacket over it if he needs to. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The tribunal heard that Gary Mobbs was subjected to 'unprofessional and abusive' language from 'uncompromising' John Petre, who 'humiliated' staff at the Weetabix HQ in Kettering. (Twitter) A Weetabix manager who quit his job after his "bullying" boss shouted at him and called colleagues a "f***ing idiot" and "useless" has won a case of constructive dismissal. Gary Mobbs was subjected to "unprofessional and abusive" language from "uncompromising" John Petre, who "humiliated" staff at the firm's headquarters in Kettering, Northamptonshire. An employment tribunal heard that Mobbs offered his resignation but agreed to stay when Petre promised to change his ways, claiming he was "open to operating differently". However, Petre's obscenity-ridden "management style" continued and Mobbs eventually formally resigned after an unsuccessful grievance and subsequent appeal. Mobbs sued Weetabix and won his claim of constructive dismissal as an employment tribunal ruled the company had destroyed trust and confidence between it and him. He is now in line for compensation. Having worked at Weetabix from 1993, Mobbs was promoted to health and safety manager in 2012. It was heard that as a "senior leader" Weetabix expected Mobbs to "robustly engage" with the senior leadership team, including Petre's "direct management style". Mobbs told the tribunal his first 25 years at Weetabix had been happy before Petre became quality and compliance manager in 2018. It was at this point Mobbs started to "experience difficulties" in his working relationship with his new boss, due to his "uncompromising" management style. By September 2018, the relationship had degenerated so much that Mobbs verbally resigned because of Petre's outbursts. The tribunal heard after a meeting, which eventually saw him retract his resignation, Petre agreed to change his behaviour. Despite this, he was found to have continued with the same management style. He told the tribunal that "on occasion" he used words to humiliate as part of an attempt to "get the best out of people". Story continues The tribunal heard Mr Petre directed "unprofessional and abusive" language at Mr Mobbs and other colleagues. Giving evidence, he accepted his language was "inflammatory and unhelpful". Petre called one of Mr Mobbs's colleagues a "f***ing idiot", "useless" and asked "what the f***" another was doing when sending a document. In November 2019, Mr Mobbs raised a grievance against Petre for his conduct in the workplace but none of his complaints were upheld after the company decided there was "no evidence of unacceptable or intimidating behaviour". Read more: Brianna Ghey: Thousands raised for family of girl, 16, killed in park However, the tribunal in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, ruled the decision summary "lacked accuracy in places" and did not take Weetabix's Dignity at Work Policy into account. After being signed off work from November 2019 until June 2020 by his GP, the "last straw" was when Mobbs was asked "challenging questions" by an AXA Occupational Health nurse about whether he would be able to "engage in challenging conversations" upon his return. He sent his letter of resignation to Weetabix citing reasons as "bullying and harassment by Mr Petre" and what he viewed as an unfair investigation into matters by the company. Employment Judge Kate Mary Hutchings said: "At the time [Petre] used this language he was aware, from the 2018 conversations, that Mr Mobbs found it difficult. "Indeed, he said he would adjust his style mindful of how Mr Mobbs had told him he felt in 2018. He did not. Hutchings said she found that other staff told senior staff that Petre's behaviour could be humiliating. "I conclude that Mr Petre's behaviour to Mr Mobbs was sufficiently serious it was likely to breach the term of trust and confidence, " she said. "The use of unprofessional and offensive language by Mr Petre on more than one occasion was likely to destroy Mr Mobbs' trust and confidence with his employer; therefore, Mr Petre's behaviour breaches the term." Regarding the grievance process, she said the approach taken by the company was "not within the band of reasonable responses of an employer with the size and resources of Weetabix". She described the summary as "simplistic" and added: "The investigation lacked balance and the outcome letter did not align to the evidence gathered." She went on to rule that Mobbs was constructively dismissed. The statistics are in for history as a profession, and they are dire. The number of tenure-track positions open for history professors fell to an all-time low in 2021, according to an American Historical Association report. The AHA blamed the COVID-19 pandemic. But while that explains the dip after 2020 and 2021, it doesnt explain the broader and longer trend of history departments at most institutions shrinking. Nor does it explain why increasingly fewer students are taking history classes. In 2021, the AHA noted that history has a majors problem. The number of students who earned history degrees fell precipitously after the Great Recession of 2008, the association said, and while the decline became a bit more gradual before the pandemic (especially when including double majors), it has continued to slip. Clearly, the problem is bigger than merely the flawed institutional responses to the pandemic. Advertisement In the last decade, history as a profession in the United States has accelerated its transformation into a home for activism more than a faithful relating of human experience through written narratives. Moreover, its been given over to a deeply problematic iconoclasm. At best, this shift best makes history as a vocation primarily about morally scolding American citizens. At worst, it aims to tear down the intellectual, cultural, religious and social frameworks that uphold the republican liberties guaranteed by the United States Constitution. The 1619 Project, which posits a laughably ahistoric proposition that America was founded on slavery in 1619, was a journalistic creation. For historians of the United States, and especially the 19th century, teaching history is especially fraught with anachronisms used to litigate contemporary political issues. Pulitzer Prize winner David Blight associated continued support for Donald Trump with the Confederacy, and he is certainly not the only high-profile historian making such a comparison. Advertisement Hal Brands of Yale University and Francis J. Gavin of Johns Hopkins University rightly note in a 2018 article in the national security publication War on the Rocks that historys wounds are largely self-inflicted. Hostility in the field toward old-school forms of historical inquiry has created a glut of niche fields, while traditionally important ones have been crowded out. Decades ago, the subfields of political history, diplomatic history, and military history dominated the discipline, Brands and Gavin state. The focus on traditional fields meant that issues of race, gender, and class were often deemphasized, and the perspectives of the powerless were frequently ignored in favor of the perspectives of the powerful. The 1960s, in particular, saw a significant change in priorities for history professionals, and much of what was traditional was therefore swept by new approaches that emphasized cultural, social, and gender history, and that paid greater attention to the experiences of underrepresented and oppressed groups, they say. Brands and Gavin argue that prioritizing new fields was initially a very healthy impulse, meant to broaden the field, but what was initially a very healthy impulse to broaden the field ultimately became decidedly unhealthy, because it went so far as to push the more traditional subfields to the margins. Job postings for the last two years seem to bear out Brands and Gavins concerns. Jobs in 19th-century U.S. fields have been cut in half, from 13% to less than 6% of new posts, according to Princeton University historian Matt Karp. The destruction of early America history as a field was even more severe. In 2011, early America jobs represented 17% of history posts; by 2022, they were a mere 6.6%. Yet jobs in African American history grew from 10% to a whopping 35%. While focus on historic minorities is not bad in itself, the nichification of professional history, the often highly partisan nature of the study of African American history and the general decline in majors make it clear that the revolution in history has proved to be injurious to the profession. Anachronism, partisanship and forms of intellectual anti-Americanism have all combined to turn the history profession into anti-American catechesis that appears more nihilistic than informative. Works such as Julian Zelizer and Kevin Kruses Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past are little more than telemedia-driven historical nihilism, devoted to telling Americans and particularly conservative Americans why everything they mightve celebrated about their country is somehow either a lie or a historic evil. It might be asked why anyone should take the time to learn something so loathsome as American history. Conversely, those who might be interested in learning about the best of what their country has to offer the world no longer seek their history from professional historians at universities. They can read books by popular historians who might not have the methodological training that so-called professional historians do, but who nonetheless offer well-researched, well-written and nonpartisan chronicles of the American people and various American institutions. Activism and niches are killing history in universities. Until professional historians return to some sense of sober-minded pursuit of historical inquiry for its own sake, people can hardly be blamed for being indifferent to the death of history as a profession. Miles Smith IV is an assistant professor of history at Hillsdale College in Michigan. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt. So should Rhythm Biosciences (ASX:RHY) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. Check out our latest analysis for Rhythm Biosciences When Might Rhythm Biosciences Run Out Of Money? A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. As at June 2022, Rhythm Biosciences had cash of AU$7.6m and no debt. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$6.5m. That means it had a cash runway of around 14 months as of June 2022. While that cash runway isn't too concerning, sensible holders would be peering into the distance, and considering what happens if the company runs out of cash. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below. How Is Rhythm Biosciences' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Although Rhythm Biosciences reported revenue of AU$2.4m last year, it didn't actually have any revenue from operations. To us, that makes it a pre-revenue company, so we'll look to its cash burn trajectory as an assessment of its cash burn situation. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by 19%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but investors should be mindful of the fact that will shorten the cash runway. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of Rhythm Biosciences due to its lack of significant operating revenues. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow. How Hard Would It Be For Rhythm Biosciences To Raise More Cash For Growth? Given its cash burn trajectory, Rhythm Biosciences shareholders may wish to consider how easily it could raise more cash, despite its solid cash runway. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations. Rhythm Biosciences' cash burn of AU$6.5m is about 3.0% of its AU$215m market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. So, Should We Worry About Rhythm Biosciences' Cash Burn? On this analysis of Rhythm Biosciences' cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. While we're the kind of investors who are always a bit concerned about the risks involved with cash burning companies, the metrics we have discussed in this article leave us relatively comfortable about Rhythm Biosciences' situation. On another note, Rhythm Biosciences has 2 warning signs (and 1 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here WestJet is expanding its service out of Edmonton, the airline announced on Monday. (Getty Images) WestJet is launching new routes out of Edmonton and adding more flights to the United States, the airline announced on Monday, as it continues to focus on building out its network in western Canada. The Calgary-based airline says the Edmonton expansion, the largest out of Edmonton International Airport in the airline's history, will see service from the airport increase by 50 per cent compared to 2022. The expansion includes new service to the United States, as well as new domestic routes. "Today's announcement underpins WestJet's strategic ambitions to grow its presence across Western Canada and further strengthens Canada's east-to-west connectivity," the company said in a press release. Starting this summer, WestJet will offer non-stop service to Minneapolis, Minn. and Seattle, Wash. The airline will also launch new routes from Edmonton to London, Ont., Moncton, N.B., and Charlottetown, P.E.I., and resume service of non-stop flights to Ottawa, Ont., Montreal, Que., Nanaimo and Penticton, B.C. "Edmonton is an integral part of WestJet's beginnings and our future," Alexis von Hoensbroech, chief executive officer of WestJet Group, said in a statement. WestJet also unveiled it will add 20 new routes and three new U.S. destinations to its summer schedule, including Minneapolis, Detroit and Washington. The newly added transborder routes are out of Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg. While service out of Edmonton will be up 50 per cent compared to 2022, the company said it will be up 30 per cent year-over-year in Calgary and 10 per cent year-over-year in Vancouver. The expansion is part of WestJet's growth strategy that was first unveiled last summer that has seen the airline significantly shift resources to focus on its network in western Canada. While the airline still has a significant presence in eastern Canada, it has implemented changes in its network so the market is primarily being served through connections to western cities. It also shifted its regional fleet of De Haviland Q400 aircraft to focus on western Canada, "removing complexity from operations and prioritizing the airline's commitment to enhance Western Canada's connectivity," WestJet said. Story continues WestJet says it expects its network changes to be gradually implemented by the summer. These are the new routes and frequencies WestJet will be flying out of Edmonton: Destination Start Date Peak Season Frequency Minneapolis June 2 5x weekly Seattle May 19 5x weekly Charlottetown June 14 1x weekly Moncton June 29 2x weekly Penticton July 1 2x weekly Nanaimo Year- round 2x weekly London May 19 2x weekly Ottawa April 30 6x weekly Montreal June 30 2x weekly The Canadian airline industry has seen competition ramp up in recent years, with the launch of several new ultra-low-cost carriers such as Flair Airlines, Lynx Airlines and Canada Jetlines trying to take a bite out of Air Canada and WestJet's market dominance. Porter Airlines is also in the midst of an aggressive growth strategy that has started to see the airline fly out of Toronto's Pearson Airport. Alicja Siekierska is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow her on Twitter @alicjawithaj. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Remains of male humpback whale lies on a Long Island, New York beach The remains of a male humpback whale lies on the beach at Lido Beach, New York, on Jan. 30, 2023. Credit - James Carbone/Newsday RMGetty Images In mid-January, threatening social media messages started showing up on the accounts of a small New Jersey organization devoted to rescuing ocean mammals that wash up on the beach. Some said were watching you. Others accused staff of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) being whale murderers. Some people wrote that they were going to show up at the groups Brigantine, N.J., headquarters and make members of the wildlife organization come to [their] side. You dont know what theyre gonna do, says Michele Pagel, 49, the groups assistant director. Are they gonna march in here and put a gun to somebodys head? Staff members contacted local police, and they started locking the doors to the groups office. In late January, someone left the door unlocked, and a man burst into the office and approached the secretary. He just starts [yelling], I want to know, I demand to know, says Shelia Dean, 75, the groups director. He was very frightening. Along with picking up sick baby seals and dolphins, the MMSC helps to carry out examinations on the bodies of dead whales when they wash up on the shores of New York and New Jersey in order to collect scientific data, and hopefully help determine a cause of death. And in recent months, whales have been washing up on these shores with alarming frequency. Eight large whales, including sperm whales and humpbacks, have washed up in the area since December. Those deaths have become a focal point in the clean energy culture war, with conservative media commentators blaming them on preliminary site-mapping work for offshore wind developments. But evidence to support those claims hasnt turned up. Thats brought down the ire of many people opposed to offshore wind on small animal welfare organizations like MMSC for supposedly hiding the truth of what killed those whales. Story continues The work to actually examine those carcasses is grueling and tedious. It involves sourcing backhoes or other construction equipment to maneuver the school bus-sized animals, taking measurements, and then, when possible, undertaking difficult necropsies. A trailer parked in front of the MMSCs offices houses the necessary equipment: smocks and boots, along with large knives and hooks for pulling off layers of cetacean skin and blubber to examine the animal and take tissue samples. Its a messy, smelly business. In humpback whales, gasses from the whales putrefying innards often begin to swell the sack under the whales mouth. If it bursts, it can splatter anyone standing nearby with whale guts. If a whale had broken bones from being hit by a ship, for instance, the necropsy can help examiners tell if the ship strike occurred before or after the whale died. MMSC and other groups that collaborate on the necropsies then forward that information to the federal government, which provides some of their funding. More from TIME Humpback whale strandings across the East Coast have been elevated for the past seven years, an unusual mortality event as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Fisheries department calls it. Scientists were able to examine about half of the 178 animals that were reported, and of those, about 40% showed evidence of being killed by ships, or by entanglement with fishing gear. That may have to do with their food sources, mostly small fish, moving closer to shore, bringing more whales into danger from being hit by large boats in shipping lanes. The results for the other whale carcasses were inconclusive, often due to the bodies being too decomposed to examine properly. Read more: The First U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Could Be a Lifeline for Struggling New England Cities Finding such whale bodies used to be relatively rare, but starting in 2007, whales started washing up more regularly, says Rob DiGiovanni, the chief scientist at the New York-based Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. But whale sightings have also been on the rise, potentially indicating that the overall population has increased. Really the biggest question is: are we seeing more whale strandings, or are we seeing more whales, and strandings are occurring? says DiGiovanni. But another theory has been circulating online and on conservative talk showsthat the offshore wind industry, which has been conducting work off the coast of New York and New Jersey as it prepares to install massive wind turbines, is responsible for the whale deaths. Some New Jersey politicians have called for a moratorium on offshore wind work until it can be ruled out as a cause of the whale deaths, though theres no evidence to support claims that wind development has anything to do with the whales washing up, according to federal fisheries experts. Despite that lack of evidence, some conservative news commentators have implied that there could be a conspiracy by scientists to hide the offshore wind industrys supposed role in whale deaths. How much you want to bet that those scientists find no conclusive evidence that wind farms are a threat to the whale population, Newsmax host Rob Schmitt said on his Newsmax program on Feb. 2. Because they always seem to get the result that they want. Such comments are echoed on community anti-wind power Facebook groups. Those speculations have left MMSC in the crosshairs of the clean energy culture war, with staff at the small organization bombarded with hostile messages and phone calls from locals and people around the country incised by their supposed role in a coverup. We understand that they are upset and saddened by these whale deaths, says Pagel. We are too, but theres humans on the other end of [MMSCs] social media [accounts], and the emails, and the phones. The groups headquarters doesnt exactly betray much in the way of connection to powerful offshore energy interests. MMSC is based out of a collection of small buildings off a busy road in Brigantine. Theres a small, cluttered office, a building with a small pool of piped-in bay water for holding injured dolphins and seals, and a one-room museum housing various bones and whale parts that the group has collected. Theres been only one stranding center in New Jersey for the past 45 yearswhy do you think that is? Dean says. Because theres no money in it. Read more: U.S. Fishermen Are Making Their Last Stand Against Offshore Wind The offshore wind companies did offer to provide some funding in recent years, but Dean says she turned them downthe turbines are controversial in this area (some people fear the turbines will harm the environment or tank coastal housing prices) and she didnt want to appear to be biased towards the developers. Not that they couldnt have used the cash. Everybodys underpaid here, says Dean. I keep hoping I win the lottery so I can pay everyone what theyre due. One specific claim made by some anti-wind advocates is that scientists are refusing to examine the dead whales inner ears, which they say could show lesions indicating damage from sonar systems used by offshore wind mapping crews. Asked about those accusations, Dean picks up an object in the museum about the size and shape of a conch shell. Its a whales ear bone, she says, but you cant just scoop out the insides to examine itthe bone casing has to be carefully chipped open. And in the case of partially decomposed whalesas many of those that have washed up recently have beendoing so wouldnt be much use. After theyre dead three or four days, theres nothing left hereits mush inside, she says. You look at the flesh [of the whale] and it smells and its starting to get jelly-like. Youre not going to get anything out of this at all. Part of the conspiracy narrative has suggested that organizations like MMSC havent been examining animals thoroughly enough. But full necropsies often simply arent possible. The process typically takes all day, but for one late January stranding in New Jersey, for instance, examiners only had an hour and a half to do their work, due to the rising tide. Another New Jersey stranding occurred on Christmas Eve near the Atlantic City boardwalk. It would have taken until after Christmas to put together a team to examine the whale, Dean says, but the town wanted the carcass off their beach before Christmas tourists came into town. Notably, MMSC helps examine and collect data from the stranded whales, but theyre not the ones who put the pieces together to solve the overall puzzle of whats going on. Thats up to federal scientists at NOAA Fisheries. On Feb. 9, Kim Damon-Randall, director of NOAAs Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, told New York Public Radio that the agency is still following the science to figure out whats happening with these whale deaths. A lot of people like to direct their anger at us, but were not the people that can provide the answer, says Pagel, of MMSC. Were still waiting for the same answers the public is waiting for. To a large extent, though, the outrage appears to stem from a backwards logic: that if no evidence to connect whale deaths to offshore wind emerges, it means the evidence is being hidden on purposenot that the proof simply doesnt exist in the first place. When we take a rotting carcass and try to find something, its a little difficult, says Dean. I think that people watch too much television and they think were NCIS or something. Its just not like that. What does gender-affirmation care for youth actually entail? (Getty Images) Despite wars, gun violence and climate disasters around the world, some American politicians continue to be hyper-focused, and highly opinionated, on the subject of transgender youth. Former president Donald Trump recently released a nearly four-minute-long video in which he vows, if reelected, to punish doctors who provide gender-affirming care to minors, likening it to child abuse. President Joe Biden, meanwhile, implored the Senate during his State of the Union Address to pass the bipartisan Equality Act to ensure LGBTQ Americans, especially transgender young people, can live with safety and dignity. And for a while now, conservative lawmakers have been, like Trump, hell-bent against trans youth receiving the medical care they need. In fact, state legislators in Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, Utah Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona and Tennessee have passed laws that restrict trans youths access to gender-affirming care. This year alone, nearly 160 bills have been introduced in at least 43 states that target the trans community, over 20 of which specifically block minors from receiving such care. But what, exactly, is gender-affirming care? And why is everyone so invested in what it means for transgender youth? What gender-affirming care is, and who its for In a broad sense, gender-affirming care refers to a spectrum of health care services possibly, but not always, including hormonal treatments, mental health services, hair removal, vocal therapy and various surgeries, such as facial reconstructions to provide a more feminine or masculine appearance, for example, top surgeries, in which breasts are removed or implanted, and bottom surgeries, which alter genitalia in individuals experiencing gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria, according to the American Psychiatric Association, is a diagnosis given to transgender individuals experiencing psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one's sex assigned at birth," based on external genitalia, "and one's gender identity," meaning the psychological sense of one's gender. Story continues Every major medical association supports gender-affirming care for trans youth. Gender-affirming care is safe and lifesaving. Read more from the medical experts.https://t.co/dG8lRKs7l8 GLAAD (@glaad) February 1, 2023 For many transgender adults, gender-affirming care is one of the most vital steps toward living full lives just as it is for transgender youth, according to the many leading healthcare organizations that back it, such as the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, partially because such care has been linked to lower risks of suicide among trans youth. And in 2021 alone, there were 42,167 new diagnoses of gender dysphoria in patients between the ages of 6 and 17, according to a Reuters and Komodo Health Inc. analysis of insurance claims, released in Oct. 2022. Whats specific about gender-affirming care for youth? First and foremost, gender-affirming care entails meeting a child and their family and listening to the child talk about their gender experience, in the context of a thorough and complete medical and psychosocial history and evaluation, Dr. Michelle Forcier, a professor of pediatrics at Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, and Clinician at Folx Health, tells Yahoo Life. From there, professionals work with the family to discuss their individual needs and options. Many children come to these visits very self-educated and very clear about what they need; others need more information and time to explore, Forcier says. Like any other clinical intervention, we put together a menu of safe, effective, low-risk, high-benefit options for the parents to learn more about, while also informing them about measures that would not be safe, or potentially be harmful. Then, as a team, which includes the parents, the patient and other medical professionals involved, the family can start a process of learning more and/or making decisions about next steps to support their child, she explains. Below are some of the main forms that a minors gender-affirming care can take: Mental health support for socially transitioning This is often the first step, and it simply involves mental health professionals who provide a safe space for youth to socially transition by adopting gender-affirming hairstyles, clothing, names and pronouns none of which require medical interventions. There are some who believe that gender-affirming care pushes families to move forward on things like gender-affirming medical procedures. Thats simply not true, Derrick Jordan, director of the Gender and Family Project at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City, tells Yahoo Life, adding that mental health providers aim to offer an encouraging space to "allow families to explore and better understand" decisions that are "most helpful and supportive for them." Prepubertal children do not need any medications or surgeries, but medical or mental interactions, education, resources and [emotional] support can be super-helpful" so families can "support their child in a safe and healthy way," adds Forcier. Puberty blockers and hormones In some cases, doctors may prescribe puberty blockers. Technically called gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHas), these work by temporarily pausing development in children who have entered puberty. Research, including a 2020 study published in Pediatrics, has found an association between the use of puberty blockers and decreased thoughts of suicide. Originally used for over 30 years to treat young people with puberty that starts too early (called precocious puberty), puberty blockers results are safe and reversible, say experts who support their use. Puberty blockers are used for many conditions, says Forcier. They are safe, completely reversible, temporary pause and halt puberty. Saying puberty blockers are chemical castration [as critics have said] is not medically correct for how they are used for [trans] pubertal youth." But they are not uncontroversial. The New York Times found emerging evidence that blockers may potentially have long-term effects on bone health, leading to heightened risk of debilitating fractures earlier in life. In cases where they are prescribed to patients at the first stage of puberty as early as 8, and before progressing to hormones as soon as 12 or 13 some doctors fear the treatment will force children's bodies to lock in place, before they have a full understanding of their gender identity (which typically begins at puberty). In addition to the blockers, hormone therapy, which involves estrogen for trans women or testosterone for trans men, for those who choose it, is typically administered in the form of weekly shots, which can be prescribed at early adolescence and are partially reversible later in life once you stop taking them, as noted by the University of California San Francisco. The degree to which they can be reversed depends on how long a patient has been taking them, noted researchers. For those taking estrogen, some breast growth, and possibly reduced or absent fertility, are not reversible. Similarly, for those taking testosterone, clitoral growth, facial hair growth, voice changes and male-pattern baldness are not reversible. Top surgery Despite alarmist claims like that of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who accused physicians of chopping off the private parts of young kids, medical providers rarely provide gender-affirming surgeries without careful evaluations by healthcare providers and the childs family. There's a strong recommendation for there to be a multidisciplinary evaluation, with multiple meetings with parents and the patients, to have a conservative evaluation and understanding of exactly where and what role surgery plays in a patients gender transition, Dr. Fan Liang, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Transgender Health, tells Yahoo Life. She notes that its a misconception to assume that surgery is very easily scheduled for minors without multiple layers of vetting. Forcier says surgeries are done only on minors with "severe" cases of gender dysphoria. "Some asserting males will benefit from top surgery or male chest construction," she says. "Say, for example, you identify as male, have had breasts since age 10 and have significant chest dysphoria. At 15 they and their parents would say, 'Testosterone is not enough.'" Even rarer are bottom surgeries, which, again, are done only for minors experiencing severe dysphoria, Forcier explains. "Vaginoplasty requires more post-operative care, so again, it's approached case-by-case." According to the most recent version of best practices by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, an international group of gender experts who make medical recommendations, irreversible surgeries (like hysterectomies or phalloplasties) are recommended for only those 18 and older, except in the case of mastectomies for trans men, which have a recommended age minimum of 16. While there are no official U.S. statistics on such surgeries for trans youth, the Reuters and Komodo Health Inc. analysis found, through insurance claims, that there were 56 genital surgeries among gender-dysphoric patients ages 13 to 17 between 2019 and 2021. During that same time period, researchers found at least 776 mastectomies performed on the same demographic. (These dont include procedures that were paid for out of pocket.) Furthermore, a recent New York Times survey of leading pediatric gender clinics across the country found that 11 clinics performed a total of 203 top surgeries on minors in 2021, and that many had long waiting lists. Stresses Liang: As physicians, we all take the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm. There is a lot of forethought and consideration that goes into each child that we take care of." Still, those who oppose gender-affirming care worry about mental anguish that may arise should young patients regret their choices later in life. Its just a part of why so many bills have been put forth to prohibit such treatments. Real-life impacts of banning gender-affirming care Should a federal ban on such care ever come to fruition, Forcier says it will have a devastating impact on trans youth. And in many state-by-state cases, it already has: Research from the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ youth suicide-prevention organization, found that 93% of transgender youth have worried about trans people being denied access to gender-affirming medical care due to state or local laws. Parent and family support really makes a difference in keeping kids safe and healthy, Forcier explains. All kids do better in spaces where they feel safe and loved. The political and media messaging are immensely harmful, she adds. "Think of it: These are adults, politicians, publicly bullying children. These are mostly non-medical persons, who have no experience with the transgender community, the gender-diverse experience and the actual experiences and needs of a gender-diverse child, inserting themselves in a private clinical experience between the pediatrician and the child/family. Do they really belong there? Do we want politicians making personal and family medical decisions? I certainly don't. Terminating gender-affirming care across the nation would also significantly impact the way society views trans issues as a whole, adds Jordan. Gender-affirming care is not all about medical procedures and surgery, as some often make it out to be, he says. Gender-affirming care is grounded in the respect of the client or patient, and care thats non-judgmental and affirming of the clients whole self including, of course, their gender identity. He adds that transgender and gender-nonconforming young people experience depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation at much higher rates than cisgender individuals. What gender-affirming care aims to do is destigmatize gender diversity, and create a non-judgmental, safe and affirming space for youth and their families to explore and understand their gender identity care which often translates to better mental health outcomes. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. US-POLITICS-JEAN-PIERRE-BRIEFING White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Feb. 13, 2023. Credit - Mandel NganAFP via Getty Images The White House wants you to put away your tin foil hat. It was an unusual denial to hear from the podium in the White House press room. There is no, again no, indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday. I loved E.T. the movie, but Im just going to leave it there. I dont think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these craft. Period, the White House national security council spokesman John Kirby told reporters later in the press briefing, speaking about three unidentified flying objectsone shot down by a U.S. fighter jet off the Alaskan coast on Friday, another shot over northern Canada on Saturday, and a third blasted apart on the Canadian side of Lake Huron near Michigans Upper Peninsula. More from TIME But the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies still have not figured out how those three airborne craft got into the skies over North America or who may have put them there. We dont know who owns them, Kirby said. Asked if the U.S. has seen any special interest by a foreign government in the debris, Kirby said, No. The wreckage could shed some light on where they came from. But so far, the U.S. military hasnt been able to examine the debris because the bits fell in hard to access places. The debris of the object shot while flying at 20,000 feet over Lake Huron on Sunday fell in deep water in the lake and U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian authorities have not reached it yet, Kirby said. The remaining parts of the object shot off the coast of Alaska have been hard to find because of sea ice, he said, and the unidentified object over Canada fell in an area of remote wilderness. Story continues The comments from Jean-Pierre and Kirby dismissing the prospect of any of the objects having an extraterrestrial source came a day after General Glen VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, refused to rule out the possibility. I havent ruled out anything, VanHerck said when asked by a reporter if aliens could be involved. At this point, we continue to assess every threat or potential threat unknown that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin separately told reporters on Monday that the Pentagon still couldnt be sure where the objects came from, but he acknowledged that they all couldve been flying for commercial reasons without posing ill-intention. We, of course, know that a range of entities, including countries, companies, resource research organizations, operate at these altitudes for purposes that are not nefarious, including legitimate research, he told reporters in Brussels, where he was set to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ministerial meeting that would be focused on Ukraine. Adding to the mystery, those three unknown objects were shot down within a week of a U.S. F-22 downing an alleged Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. The Pentagon has been definitive in saying that China owned that floating object. But efforts to learn more about the Chinese balloon and its purpose have been slowed by bad weather off the coast of South Carolina. Whats left of the massive device the size of three school buses is on the sea bed in 45 feet of water not far from the resort town of Myrtle Beach. A few parts have been recovered from the bottom, Kirby said, but theres more to retrieve. U.S. intelligence officials believe the balloon was part of a sprawling intelligence collection operation by China. President Biden has been criticized for not stopping that surveillance sooner. Kirby noted that when Biden came into office, Biden asked for a broad assessment of Chinese intelligence capabilities. That assessment found that China was using a high-altitude balloon operation to collect intelligence. That Chinese spy program, Kirby said, was operating during the previous administration but they did not detect it. We detected it. With reporting by W.J. Hennigan ROMULUS Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer celebrated Monday Ford Motor Co.'s decision to create a new electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall expected to create 2,500 jobs after Michigan economic development officials approved an investment with an estimated value over $1 billion to land the facility. "It's thrilling, it's thrilling," Whitmer told reporters following a Ford event at the Ford Ion Park. "I can't imagine if this announcement was happening in another state how wed all be feeling right now." Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, left, and Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley, right, take questions from the media following the announcement of the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan to be built in Marshall during a press announcement at Ford Ion Park in Romulus on Monday, February 13, 2023. While Ford considered locations around the world for the plant, one potential competitor for the deal took itself out of the running. Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin rejected the potential deal, suggesting that it could pose a security threat because of the involvement of a Chinese company, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL). Ford president and CEO Jim Farley said the company was teaming up with CATL the world's largest battery maker to quickly scale up its electric vehicle production. Ford executive chairman Bill Ford said that the company will "help us get up to speed so that we can build these batteries ourselves." State investments in the project include a $210 million grant from the state's Strategic Outreach and Attractive Reserve fund to Ford. The SOAR fund has its origins in a major blow to Michigan's efforts to lead the transition to electric vehicles two years ago when Ford passed over Michigan to build new electric vehicle and battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee. The fund has since doled out hundreds of millions in taxpayer-funded economic incentives to lure companies that vow to create jobs in Michigan. More:Ford reveals key details of 950-acre battery plant deal in Marshall More:GM tops the winners of the Super Bowl ads among automakers Economic development officials also approved a 15-year tax abatement for Ford with an estimated value of $772 million along with a $36 million loan for the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance to be repaid using SOAR funds. Story continues CATL is not a government-owned enterprise, but some GOP lawmakers have expressed concerns about the use of taxpayer-funded incentives for the Marshall battery plant because of Ford's collaboration with a Chinese-owned company. Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley speaks about the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan to be built in Marshall during a press announcement at Ford Ion Park in Romulus on Monday, February 13, 2023. State Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Hillsdale, raised such concerns, questioning the company's independence from the Chinese government. "The Chinese government is not an entity that Americans can trust," he said. "It's categorically different than other types of potential partnerships." Quentin Messer Jr., who heads the state's economic development agency, rejected the criticism. "Any incentive dollar will be going to a 100% wholly-owned Ford subsidiary. Not a dime will go to a Chinese entity," he said. "By this licensing of technology that Ford is doing, we are bringing this capability to the U.S." In addition to her efforts to land investments in Michigan's electric vehicle industry, Whitmer also wants to incentivize Michigan drivers to go electric. In her state budget recommendations she recently unveiled for the next fiscal year, Whitmer proposed a temporary sales tax cut for electric vehicle purchases. Under the proposal, those buying electric vehicles would see a tax cut on the first $40,000 of the purchase, saving up to $2,400 in taxes, according to the governors budget presentation. Clara Hendrickson fact-checks Michigan issues and politics as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work at bit.ly/freepRFA. Contact her at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer celebrates Ford battery plant in Michigan When people ask how it feels to be nominated, its strange. I really feel nothing. If I can be completely honest, its more like, oh dear, says Chau (Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock) While filming The Whale, Darren Aronofskys divisive new drama about a morbidly obese man, Hong Chau did something many would consider unforgivable: she smacked Brendan Fraser. Playing the caregiver to Frasers ailing Charlie a man so stricken with grief that hes eating himself to death Chau wanted to convey someone at the very end of her tether. In a moment of improvisation, she slapped Frasers arm. It made Aronofsky wince. He cut the cameras and took Chau aside. That was the one time he objected to an instinct I had, the 43-year-old star of The Menu and Downsizing says today. He was like, No, I dont think we want to be hitting him on screen thats really a terrible thing to do. And I was like, I agree. It is a terrible thing to do. For Chau, it didnt just demonstrate her willingness to go to difficult, unlikeable places on camera, but also summed up the ethos on the set of The Whale. This was touchy material; handle with care. That defeated slap, which comes after Charlie nearly chokes to death on a sandwich, provoked intense debate during production. As did every other creative choice. Aronofsky only kept the slap in the film after consulting a think tank of experts, among them the Obesity Action Coalition, an advocacy group. Sensitivity was always on our minds, Chau tells me. But we also didnt want to sanitise everything. Its a very careful dance we had to do, but it was definitely being done. I know its hard for people outside the production to believe this, but we were so careful. Chau adds that caveat because shes well aware of what people have been saying. Both she and Fraser have rightly received Oscar and Bafta nominations for their work in The Whale, but the film has otherwise faced a barrage of criticism some warranted, some that feels sensationalist. Based on some of the headlines its generated, youd think itd be a grisly exploitation movie with fatsuits, a sort of120 Days of Sodom meets Shallow Hal. Author Roxane Gay dubbed it a cruel spectacle. A harmful body horror shocker, wrote GQ. Crassly fatphobic wrote, um, The Independent. Story continues But really, Chau says, its OK for it to not be for everyone. We know on our end how we felt about it. But I think it doesnt hurt to also listen to people whove been frustrated with [Hollywoods] depiction of obesity. How they feel about it is totally valid. You can be proud of it and be open to criticism. By now, Chau is used to being in projects that no one can agree on. As she thinks back over her resume while pulling and prodding at her waist-length hair over Zoom, she cant name anything that was, in her words, a slam dunk. Paul Thomas Andersons Inherent Vice, in which she played an erotic masseuse with secrets? People are always like, Ahh, its not my favourite PTA its no Boogie Nights. Treme, David Simons soulful follow-up to The Wire about post-Katrina New Orleans? Somebody once told me that there was just too much stuff in it about chefs and musicians. Downsizing, in which Matt Damon shrunk himself to five inches tall and Chau played the disabled Vietnamese political activist turned cleaner with whom he falls in love? Maybe, with time, itll get a more sympathetic reception, she wonders. Im always going to be on the side of the Asian working class and the poor, and not so much the Asian person who went to Harvard The only line to be drawn between Chaus credits is how varied they are. Despite having just 11 films to her name, along with a handful of roles on TV, she is very much a graduate of the Philip Seymour Hoffman school of unpredictability an acting chameleon who changes wigs, accents and gaits from part to part. Think of the stern, eerily monotone maitre d in last years The Menu. Or the richest woman in the world in Damon Lindelofs colossal drama series Watchmen. Or the canine waitress Pickles Aplenty in Netflixs animated sadcom BoJack Horseman, to which she lends her voice. Auteurs adore her. She has films by Wes Anderson, Kelly Reichardt and Yorgos Lanthimos waiting in the wings. But ask her how she feels about it all the nominations, too and she grimaces. My whole career has been about struggle, she says. So I dont really know who I am now. Downsizing changed her relationship with awards and accolades. People were convinced shed receive an Oscar for her performance, even telling her on the set of the film that it was a sure thing. And, of course, it didnt happen, she laughs. Instead, Downsizing became less a breakout movie for Chau than a vat of quicksand through which she was forced to wade. I said to myself, I dont ever want to go through this again. So now, when people ask how it feels to be nominated, its strange. I really feel nothing. If I can be completely honest, its more like, Oh dear. Hong Chau plays a carer in The Whale (A24) Throughout our conversation, Chau is funny and bracingly honest; her answers are long and winding. Past interviews have described her as being distant by design, but I sense shes more at ease than she used to be potentially because those early experiences with the media put her on the back foot. Her Downsizing character, a brilliant, stubborn cleaner named Ngoc Lan, was accused by a handful of critics of being an Asian stereotype played for laughs. One critic called her thick Vietnamese accent a hate crime; another called her an icky, racist caricature. Chau remains fiercely protective of Ngoc Lan. In her, Chau also saw her parents. Their story is staggering. After the Vietnam war, they fled the country in a hail of bullets, with Chau still in her mothers womb. Finding refuge in the United States, they then taught themselves English, worked for decades as manual labourers and eventually sent their three children to college. Chau thought Ngoc Lan was groundbreaking, and was devastated by the response. It was the first time wed ever seen a person with an accent who was from a very working-class background and who didnt have a college education be the female lead of a big studio movie, she says. I just wished that whatever peoples little qualms were about the film or my performance, that they could have acknowledged that a little bit more. To this day, she thinks the backlash was unfounded. It was so off base, and I feel like it was coming from people who were not of [Ngoc Lans] background including Asian people. I felt like the people who were really harping on the accent and her place within society... [came] from a more privileged background. Nobody went and asked what the ladies who work at the nail salon [thought about it], or the people who worked in the kitchens of all of these restaurants. Any time youre getting an opinion about Asian Americans, its usually coming from a very wealthy, educated Asian person who has a very different background from what I grew up with. So Im always going to be on the side of the Asian working class and the poor, and not so much, you know, the Asian person who went to Harvard. The press tour became a circus, she remembers. It felt like [all the questions] were about identity and representation and the accent, she sighs. I never felt like people thought I was an actor who was making choices. She pondered walking away from acting altogether. I felt like it might be OK to just sort of peace out. Chameleon: Hong Chau in Downsizing, The Menu and Watchmen (Paramount/Searchlight/HBO) I admit to being surprised shed spent 10 years trying to get her foot in the door, having graduated from a film studies programme at Boston University before being stuck on a merry-go-round of auditions, meetings and cameo roles. Even after Inherent Vice, she couldnt book a big audition for two years. Why stop once shed finally made it? It was weird, she agrees. Its not like Id done much, but I felt like it was OK... Id worked with some really great people. I was like, Im good. Im gonna go off and have a family now. In early 2020, Chau discovered she was pregnant with a daughter. She spent much of the pandemic sitting in parks with her dog, uneager to go back to work. But the phone kept ringing. Aronofsky called. Then Reichardt and The Menus Mark Mylod. Mid-shoot on that movie, she got an out-of-the-blue email from Wes Anderson wanting to cast her in his next film. She decided to stick around. The work is coming in organically, she says, this self-described underdog giving herself a deserved pat on the back. I love that its happening that way. The Whale is in cinemas In the Hindu tradition, the story of the divine love of Radha and Krishna features prominently. Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images Although it originated as a Christian holiday in honor of St. Valentine, Valentines Day has become a global celebration of romantic love, observed by people of many religions and of no religion. Other religions have long had their own myths centered on love. I have observed, in my work as a scholar of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, that in Hindu traditions, there are many stories of divine couples: deities who embody the ideal of love, and whose stories often contain lessons for the rest of us. One couple that has especially captured the imagination of Hindu devotees for centuries is Radha and Krishna. Who is Krishna? The story of Radha and Krishna is first found in the Bhagavata Purana, a text dated by scholars as somewhere between the fifth and 10th centuries. Their story is further elaborated in the Sanskrit devotional poem Gitagovinda, authored by Jayadeva, who lived in the 12th century in Eastern India. Krishna, a highly popular and beloved Hindu deity, is regarded, depending on which textual tradition you read, either as an avatar or incarnation of the deity Vishnu, or as the Supreme Being himself. In Hindu belief, Vishnu preserves the order of the cosmos, often through taking on an earthly form to right some wrong and to set the world back on the correct course when chaos threatens to overwhelm it. The life story of Krishna is an exciting one, full of adventure as well as tragedy. When Krishna is born, his evil uncle, a king named Kamsa, orders all of the male children of the kingdom who are born on that night killed, not unlike King Herod in the New Testament. This was due to a prophecy that one of those children would put an end to his reign. Krishnas parents, however, are warned of this impending calamity, and the baby is spirited away to safety. Krishna, therefore, who is born to royalty, has a humble upbringing, growing up amid the cowherds and cowherdesses, or gopis, of the bucolic region of Vrindavan. Stories of Krishnas teenage years, in particular, are greatly beloved by his devotees. This was a relatively carefree time in Krishnas life, when he engaged in all kinds of playful mischief with the gopis, and wandered the forests of Vrindavan playing his flute. All of the gopis fell in love with Krishna, and he with them, but the one with whom he fell in love the most deeply was named Radha. Story continues The story of the love of Radha and Krishna is overshadowed by an air of tragedy. The two cannot be together, as Radha is already married and Krishna has a great destiny ahead of him. When the time comes, Krishna must leave Vrindavan and overthrow his wicked uncle, and also play a key role in the fight between two groups of warring brothers, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Divine love This tragic story is dear to devotees not only because of the very real human feelings it evokes, but also because of its deep theological significance in the Vaishnava tradition the Hindu tradition in which this story features most prominently. In a famous work of art called the Ras Lila, a multiplied Krishna dances with gopis. Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images To some, the love between Radha and Krishna might appear to be adulterous or scandalous, given that she is married. The focus of the tradition, though, is not so much on this scandal, but on the deep, spontaneous, genuine love that it illustrates. Radhas love for Krishna is so strong that it is willing to fly in the face of social conventions. She is willing to risk the disapproval of her community for this love. And according to Vaishnava theology, this is how individuals love for God should be. True love for God called bhakti, or devotion should be characterized by wild abandon. It should be spontaneous and free. In Vaishnava theology, the gopis represent the many jivas, or souls, that dwell in the universe, while Krishna is Ishvara, the Lord, the Supreme Being. A very popular and beautiful artistic depiction of the relationship between Krishna and the gopis is called the Ras Lila. It depicts the gopis dancing in a circle. Each of them has Krishna for a partner. He has used his divine power to multiply himself so he can dance with each gopi individually. When Krishna finally has to leave Vrindavan, the pain of separation Radha feels is almost unbearable. When she asks Krishna why she has to feel such pain, he tells her that she must learn to see him in all beings, for he dwells in the hearts of all. The individual souls sense of separation from God is similarly painful, and is believed to be a particularly powerful manifestation of bhakti. But that separation can be overcome by seeing God in all beings and in one another. As Krishna also says in the Bhagavad Gita, I am never lost to one who sees all beings in me and who sees me in all beings, nor is that person ever lost to me. The story of Radha and Krishna can therefore be enjoyed on Valentines Day on two levels: as a sad and poignant tale of a past youthful love, remembered fondly but left behind by the call of adulthood, but also as an invitation to be open to love in all its forms. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Jeffery D. Long, Elizabethtown College. Read more: Jeffery D. Long 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. Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Shutterstock When the Chinese spy balloon was shot down on Feb. 4 by the U.S. Air Force, you might have thought that was the end of it. Just another odd geopolitical quirk that popped up before we all moved on to the next diplomatic crisis. Little did anyone know, it was actually just the beginning of what would become a brand new trend of mysterious flying objects in our skies. Over the weekend, three unidentified objects were discovered and shot down in as many days over Alaska, the Yukon Territory in Canada, and Lake Huron off the coast of Michigan. The government has been mum about what exactly these objects are, fueling the fires of speculation that they could be anything from more Chinese spy balloons to visitors from other planets. But what are they exactlyand should we be worried about the burgeoning alien vs human wars going down above our heads? Lets break down a few questions you might have about the UFOs. The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. RANDALL HILL/REUTERS How many objects were shot down? Four objects have been shot down over U.S. airspace since last weekend. The first, of course, was the Chinese spy balloon, downed on Feb. 4 by an F-22 fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina. But the identity and origins of that aerial object were cleara far cry from what wed see just a week later. On Feb. 10, an unidentified object was shot over Alaska. The White House noted that it was roughly the size of a small car, and the Pentagon said that it broke into pieces after being shotwhich suggests it was likely not a balloon. Then, on Feb. 11, Canadian President Justin Trudeau announced that another UFO was shot down over the Yukon Territory. This object was cylindrical. Like the others, its still a mystery as to what it was exactly. And finally, on Feb. 12, a UFO was shot over Lake Huron near Michigan. The object flew over Montana on Saturday before reappearing on Sunday flying at roughly 20,000 feet. Intriguingly, the Pentagon said that this object was octagonal shaped and had strings hanging off of it. Story continues Marco Rubio Claims UFOs Have Been Flying Over the U.S. for Years What the heck are they? No one really knows yet. U.S. and Canadian officials are currently working to recover any pieces left of the objects that were shot down. Afterward, theyll work on reverse engineering them in order to learn their origins and purpose. Recovery efforts are being hampered due to extremely low temperatures in Alaska, with the temp dipping to roughly -55 degrees Fahrenheit. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have also warned residents in the Yukon Territory not to approach the debris. On Feb. 13, the White House announced it would be forming a task force in order to dig into what exactly these objects are and where they came from. The president, through his national security adviser, has today directed an interagency team to study the broader policy implications for detection, analysis, and disposition of unidentified aerial objects that pose either safety or security risk, John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, said in a statement. Why Theres a Good Chance Youll See a UFO This Christmas Is any other country experiencing these UFOs? Yes. China reported on Feb. 12 that they spotted an object flying over the northern coastal town of Rizhao and are prepared to shoot it down. This comes on the heels of Beijing alleging that the U.S. has sent upwards of 10 spy balloons over China throughout the yearsno doubt a bit of retaliatory finger-pointing after we shot down their spy balloon last week. Meanwhile, South America is also experiencing its own UFO issueUruguay announced on Feb. 11 that it had seen flashing lights in the sky and is planning to potentially scramble jets to deal with it. Are these UFOs aliens from another planet? Probably not. National security officials told reporters on Sunday that objects flown over North America werent alien visitors. However, General Glen D. VanHerck, the commander of the U.S. Air Forces Northern Command, said at a press briefing that I havent ruled out anything at this point. So, theres a slight chance that they could be aliens from another planet. If thats the case, dont expect the government to outright say it anytime soon. South Korean Military Rocket Launch Causes UFO Scare Are these UFOs from China or another country? Probably yes. Some national security and defense experts have speculated that these new UFOs could be a part of a concerted effort to test out the U.S. militarys response to flying objects. This could help inform future spying effortsor even warfare. After all, if you know how quickly wed respond to something like a balloon, it could give you insights into how we might respond to, say, a fighter jet or an incoming missile. Why so many now? There could be a variety of different reasons were seeing so many instances of UFOs appear now. In fact, theres a slight chance that the UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomenon, as the U.S. government officially calls them) that have been reported in the past few weeks arent terribly out of the ordinaryespecially when you consider the fact that UFOs have been a fairly common occurrence with the military personnel. Just last month, U.S. national intelligence officials released a new report on UFO sightingssaying that they had reports of 366 UFOs in 2022 alone. On Monday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) tweeted that unidentified objects have been flying over the U.S. for years, which is part of the reason he helped form Congresss UAP task force. The issue of unidentified objects over U.S. air space isnt about Its always been about how someone is flying something over places they arent allowed And they are neither new nor limited to the U.S. What has changed is that now we finally started tracking them Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 13, 2023 So why are we seeing so many of them being publicly acknowledged and shot down by the government now? Part of it is likely due to the fact that tensions are high between China and the U.S. Everyone is on edge ever since the spy balloon was discovered last week. It could be a way for the U.S. to show that it wont take matters like spycraft lightly. The U.S. government more broadly has made a more concerted effort in recent years to be transparent about the UFO phenomenon. Letting the public know about these sightings and when we take military action on it might be a consequence of that increased transparency. Part of it could also be attributed to the psychological phenomenon known as the frequency illusion. This is a type of cognitive bias that causes people to notice things more after learning about them for the first time. Think of when you learned a new word, for instance, and started hearing it everywhere. We could be seeing a type of frequency illusion being played out on a geopolitical scale. Whatever the case may be, its no doubt unsettling that were starting to hear more about UFOs in the airand them being shot out of the skies. Its certainly unsettling too that it doesnt seem like anyone knows what they are. Then again, we might not be all that comforted if we did know their origins. Think about it: Would you rather these objects be from an adversarial nation with a sizable nuclear arsenal? Or from aliens with a far more technologically superior civilization that weve maybe started a war with? Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Period structures from the 1880s and survey markers adorn the New Philadelphia site near Barry, Illinois, in 2008. New Philadelphia, the first town founded by a Black man, has recently become the countrys 424th national park. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Just when Free Frank McWorter is finally poised to take his place alongside Harriet Tubman and other pre-Civil War heroes, the nation is embroiled in an attack on African American history. Advertisement McWorter was the first Black man to found a town in America, New Philadelphia, which has just become the countrys 424th national park. McWorter was an entrepreneurial enslaved man in Kentucky who bought his and his pregnant wifes freedom by selling saltpeter, a component of gunpowder, and buying land in the free state of Illinois. By 1836, Free Frank, as he was called, owned 600 acres of farmland a few miles from Barry in Pike County. He platted and sold the land to Black and white Americans in order to purchase freedom for 16 other family members. Advertisement The bill establishing New Philadelphia as a national park was signed by President Joe Biden in December, at the same time that Chicagos Pullman National Monument was redesignated as a national historical park. For both, it means securing the future with additional funding and national recognition. Shirley McWorter-Moss, a descendant of Free Frank McWorter, created a bust of what he may have looked like. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) McWorters descendants, and a handful of volunteers forming the New Philadelphia Association, have dedicated decades to getting such recognition. Named a national historic landmark in 2009, the site was acknowledged as a stop on the Underground Railroad in 2013. The interracial community was dissolved in 1885 and its acres reverted to farmland. Archaeological digs in the last 20 years have unearthed thousands of artifacts. Today, three 1800s-era cabins sit on original foundations, and a kiosk offers augmented reality stations. New Philadelphia relics are exhibited in museums statewide and at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Yet McWorters name and achievements remain obscure, even in Pike and nearby Adams counties. What can we do to get the story of New Philadelphia into the schools? That was the question posed by Mark Philpot, a Quincy Human Rights commissioner, while sitting front row at a Black History Month lecture about McWorter earlier this month. Were watching events across the country robbing our children of real American history, he said. Advertisement Hes referring to the systematic whitewashing of Black history caused by book bans at schools and libraries and similar actions, largely driven by political figures. On Feb. 1, the College Board released a stripped-down curriculum for its new Advanced Placement course on African American studies following criticism from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The revised course eliminates topics such as Black Lives Matter, reparations and the Black queer experience. (The College Boards top executive insists experts came up with the latest framework months ago. Notably, a newly released letter shows repeated contact between the board and Florida officials.) [ Clarence Page: College Board AP course tests our racial politics, too ] Outraged by DeSantis attack on the course, hundreds of educators from dozens of colleges and universities responded with an open letter to the governor. We will not mince words. The contention that an AP curriculum in African American Studies lacks educational value is a proposition supported by white supremacist ideology, because it fundamentally demeans the history, culture, and contributions of Black people. Gov. J.B. Pritzker weighed in as well, saying Illinois will not accept a watering down of history. Such expungement doesnt affect only education. A subtle form of self-censorship is taking hold in the publishing industry. Who will write McWorters story while established Black authors such as bell hooks and Ta-Nehisi Coates are being erased? Gerald McWorter, a great-great-grandson of Free Frank and a founder in the Black studies field, takes the long view. Im not surprised, annoyed or upset about what DeSantis is trying to do. This is a wake-up call for the American people, he said. Gerald McWorter on the porch of his home on Jan. 15, 2021, in Urbana, Illinois. McWorter is the great-great-grandson of Free Frank McWorter, the first Black person to legally found a community in America. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) There is always a reactionary racist tendency to target Black Americans, said McWorter, an emeritus professor at the University of Illinois and author of the recent book The History of Black Studies. Advertisement While the polarity seems extreme, it is only a matter of time, one or two generations, when democracy will have some serious changes to reflect the demographics, he said. Thats when white people will no longer make up the majority. After meeting with National Park Service officials, McWorter believes there will be an upsurge in knowledge about New Philadelphia families, as well as an increase in tourism and economic development. That could bring much-needed diversity to an area known mainly for its whitetail deer. With Springfield, home to Abraham Lincoln, to the east and Mark Twains hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, to the west, a cultural heritage corridor emerges. About a dozen members of the fifth generation, many of whom are educators and activists, lived to witness this moment. In a family letter, McWorter writes: We are now part of the nations history. And all of us are somehow responsible, not only for the memory of our descendants but for the legacy of New Philadelphia. In the end, Free Frank McWorters story should be elevated from obscurity and written into textbooks; it is a story of courage, love and discovery of a way to exist in a segregated nation. His achievements buying his family out of slavery, helping freedom seekers, founding an interracial community stand as a model of hope for those discouraged by todays racist rhetoric. Christine Ledbetter, a former arts editor at The Washington Post, is a journalist now living in downstate Illinois. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. One of my first memories is around table manners, but not at my familys dinner table. It was at a Ponderosa or some other buffet chain on Long Island not a place that would be considered the epicenter of etiquette. We were there for my brothers birthday. I grew up in a house where table manners were important. But with three children, one of whom was much younger (me) and one with developmental delays (my brother), the expectations were differentiated. My parents expected each of us to act appropriately for our developmental age. During the restaurant meal, a woman was staring from another table. It was obvious she was disgusted by the fact that my brother both chewed with his mouth open and spoke with his mouth full and, while my parents worked with him on this regularly, he still does it 40-odd years later. He is simply never going to be able to do otherwise. These days, I have a visceral reaction to articles that pepper my newsfeed about the rude things you should never do. I trace it back to this woman, to the moment when she walked over to tell my parents they should teach him some manners. I trace it back to my parents reminding my sister and I that John-John was doing the best he could, and that it was far more important to celebrate him for who he was on his birthday than to meet this standard. To this day, Im fascinated by peoples obsessions with so-called rudeness and the significant issues it overlooks. The difference between politeness and civility Most of us use manners, politeness, civility and etiquette interchangeably. Alexandra Hudson, the author of the upcoming book The Soul of Civility, has had a lifelong interest in this topic, likely due to being the daughter of Judi the Manners Lady. Her interest deepened when she worked in politics in Washington, D.C., and was surrounded by two extremes. One was hostility and aggression and the other was people who knew the need for etiquette/manners and would smile and then stab you in the back the minute you walked away, Hudson said. Neither should be acceptable. Story continues For Hudson, its all about the etymology of the words. I went back to texts that nourish me, Hudson said, and came to appreciate that there was an essential, fundamental difference between politeness and civility. Politeness comes from the Latin polire meaning to smooth or polish. Thats what it does, it diminishes, Hudson said. Its knowing and following etiquette, having manners and finding them important. But, what Hudson cherishes is civility. From the Latin civilitas meaning citizen. Its the disposition of the heart. Its seeing people as moral equals and deserving of a bare minimum of respect because of that, she said. And here is the crux of my discomfort with articles declaring what is and is not rude: How can we know if we do not know a person or their circumstances? Are we not more rude to be so obsessed with the rudeness of others? Americans have long been obsessed with etiquette There was a debate in the 17th century over whether Americans would follow British or French etiquette. Steven Petrow, a USA Today columnist on civility and manners and the author of Stupid Things I Wont Do When I Get Old, shared that there is a clear pattern of when Americans interest in etiquette peaked. Petrow said, There is a spike in interest in how to behave during times of change. Whenever the country was going through some form of social, political or cultural change, there was an outpouring of etiquette advice, etiquette books and then later in the 20th century etiquette magazine articles. He points to this pattern: In the 1890s, after World War I, Emily Post wrote Etiquette in 1922. Then Amy Vanderbilt [came along] in the post-war era (early 1950s) and then Judith Martin (Miss Manners) [in the 70s]. Emily Post, the author of the 1922 Emily Post, the author of the 1922 "Etiquette" book, dictating at her home circa 1940. He says Miss Manners made a monumental move in support of LGBTQ marriage in 2014, a year before same-sex marriage was legalized in all 50 states. She answered the question, How do I introduce two homosexuals? and she said, How do you do, and, how do you do. She very plainly stated that couples should be introduced as their role (husband and husband, for example). Unfortunately, these etiquette rules are usually written by people in positions of power and privilege, and if were not careful they can be used as a way to other. We look down on those who might not know which fork is correct. And experts agree this is the antithesis of what we should do. Know when to break the rules Hudson shared a story that drives the point home. Queen Victoria was hosting the Queen of Sheba, [who] took a sip from a finger bowl. Queen Victoria did the same thing. Its an endearing story and a beautiful one. The spirit of true grace and civility is about way more than the rules, its about knowing when to break the rules for the spirit of friendship and being together, Hudson said. Petrows philosophy is similar: Ive long said that my mantra is and this is a paraphrase from the Dalai Lama know the rules well so you can break them effectively. I still maintain that. In the spirit of civility, lets all take a breath before we get unnecessarily upset at someones manners and try to be more inclusive when it comes to dining norms. Of course we should all follow the lead of our hosts, and Petrow shared a great mode of knowing how to behave. My advice is also my house, my rules, he said. This applies to eating in someones home, at a restaurant or in another country. Before you get upset about: Someone eating with their mouth open or speaking with food in their mouth: Pause to remind yourself that they could be a person with a developmental delay or a swallowing or breathing disorder. They may be from a culture where this is normal and not used to eating in another way. Someone eating with their hands: If a guest at your table is a new American who has never eaten with a fork, they may default to using their hands if they are having significant trouble. This is especially true with children and the elderly. Cultures throughout nearly every continent use food as a utensil, usually bread. Someone using the wrong utensil: Chances are, they have not been exposed to the same introduction to etiquette as you. On a final note, please consider the pineapple if you find yourself viewing your impeccable table manners as a sign of your status. In England in the 18th century, the pineapple was a sign of luxury, Hudson said. It could fetch the equivalent of $8,000 today. It was such an extravagant luxury symbol that everyone wanted to possess. So, enterprising individuals started rent-a-pineapple businesses. Once everyone started to have them, the elites had to find a new symbol. Hudson ended this story by saying, The idea that you can shortcut your way to the top by buying something undercuts civility. Knowing the rules and following them is great, and will definitely win you points. But dont let it be your pineapple. Always remember that, as Petrow said, There are many times when in different cultures, different communities, things are done differently and they can be equally right because they are organic to who you are and your community even if not always universally accepted. Related... Noah Berlatsky has a queer family. Noah Berlatsky First, my daughter came out as transgender; then my bisexual wife came out as nonbinary. As the only nonqueer person in the family, I often feel left out by their shared experience. But my queer family has taught me a lot about myself and how masculinity can be less restrictive. My 19-year-old daughter last month invited her mother to see the queer comedian Chris Fleming. My wife was thrilled. Our daughter still lives with us, but she often communicates in brief grunts as she scurries down to her basement lair, emerging only to let in friends and forage for chicken nuggets. She doesn't often include us in her social plans. "You are hip and happening with the kids," I told my wife. She rolled her eyes, but I could tell she was pleased. I was not invited on this excursion because I wasn't a fan of Fleming. My wife has tried to explain his appeal: "He's so funny!" My wife and daughter's love for Fleming is rooted in another commonality: They're both queer. My daughter is transgender, and my wife is bisexual and nonbinary. As the boring cisgender, straight guy in the family, I just don't get some aspects of queer culture. I try to take an interest, but your demographic destiny sometimes rears up and says, "Pfft." But I'm grateful to be outnumbered in my family by the other demographics. When you share a family with queer people, your understanding of love becomes more expansive, as does your understanding of yourself. My wife is a resource for our daughter Our daughter came out as bisexual in middle school. In high school, she reassessed and came out as trans and lesbian. Often when families even supportive ones discover their children are queer, they feel like it's a loss. There's a loss of the past because the child you thought you knew isn't who you thought they were. And there's a loss of the future because society is, in many ways, a homophobic garbage fire, and queer people face discrimination in many professions. But we didn't view her coming out as a loss. Instead, we saw a lot of upsides. My wife was better positioned to appreciate those than some parents. Story continues My wife has known she's bisexual since she was in middle school in northwestern Indiana, though she was heavily and miserably closeted until college. It's been a relief for her and a validation that our daughter felt comfortable coming out at home and school. My daughter is confident. She's happy. She has queer friends who sometimes pass through on their way to the basement lair and stop to talk about Fleming, tattoos, the queer art they're making, or the queer anarchist collectives they're living in. My wife was a queer young person, and now she's able to be a resource for other queer young people especially our daughter. That's not a loss. That's a win. My daughter coming out as trans also prompted my wife to think about her own gender. She's since come out as nonbinary, though she's retained she/her pronouns. And then there's me, the only cishet person in the family I'm living out the homophobic reactionary fever dream. The conservatives warned me that the queer people were taking over, and now I am outnumbered in my own home, forced to hear secondhand Fleming jokes and listen to Grimes and 100 Gecs the horror! I do feel slightly judged by my nearest and dearest for dressing badly and having the same predictable gender presentation I've always had. But I like my wife and I like my daughter, and it's pleasing to know they have common ground. They can gather to share experiences, see comedians, and/or mock me. I wish I had someone to connect with like that when I was younger. I attended a very homophobic high school in northeastern Pennsylvania, and failures to achieve perfect masculinity caused me some angst. I wasn't dating. I played what my daughter derisively calls "sports ball," but I wasn't any good at it. I looked Jewish sort of funny-looking to my mostly Catholic peers. None of that made me miserable 24/7. But I certainly noticed I wasn't fitting into my gender role the way I was supposed to. When you have a queer family, masculinity feels a lot less restrictive These days aspects of my life that might have been considered mildly gender-nonconforming at some point in my existence are now things I get to share with the people I love the most. I'm not queer, but there's nothing like having a queer family to teach you that straight and/or masculine honor is a burden that you can happily dispense. Queer children can be a support for parents queer and straight if you let them be. When I appreciate my kid for being who she is, I can't help but be more comfortable with who I am. My wife and my daughter taught me that. Maybe they'll even convince me one day that Chris Fleming is funny. I doubt it, but who knows? You shouldn't limit yourself. Read the original article on Insider Property owners can expect to see government employees in bright vests in Wilmington later this month as Delaware continues its multiyear effort to reassess properties across the state. The statewide reassessment is the first such effort in decades to provide an updated and accurate picture of the layout, size and improvements for each taxed property. BACKGROUND:Widespread changes coming to property tax bills Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki said in a news release that reassessment efforts would begin in Delawares largest city Feb. 20 within the Highlands, Forty Acres and Trolley Square neighborhoods. What can property owners expect? Surveyors from Tyler Technologies Inc., a Texas-based firm hired to conduct the reassessment of residential properties, will be walking through neighborhoods to record property information and take photos. Michael McFarlane, an Tyler Technologies official overseeing the property tax reassessment effort, displays the vests surveyors are to wear when they visit homes and businesses as part of the process. Wearing brightly colored vests inscribed with Tyler and carrying New Castle County-issued IDs, representatives may also knock on doors or ring doorbells to ask about improvements that may have been made to the property in the past 40 years. Where will crews be next? Reassessments in the Highlands, Forty Acres and Trolley Square neighborhoods will continue through early March. The Triangle, 9th Ward, Brandywine Village, Harlan Park and Brandywine HIlls communities will follow, city officials said. Once completed, surveyors will move to the Eastlawn, Price Run, Northeast, Eastlake, 11th Street Bridge and areas near I-495 and the Delaware River. Specific start dates for other Wilmington neighborhoods will be announced later. When did efforts begin? Home surveys began in New Castle County in the latter half of 2021. Efforts also began during that time in Kent and Sussex counties. REASSESSMENT BEGINS:Home-visit tax surveys have started in Delaware; old New Castle is next Why are properties being reassessed? The sweeping reform to Delawares taxing system was prompted after the Court of Chancery found that the way in which Delawares counties calculate tax bills violate the state constitution requiring that property owners be taxed equally. Story continues Education advocates along with the Wilmington administration challenged the state taxing system, claiming in the lawsuit that Delawares school funding system fails to provide enough resources to disadvantaged students. THE LAWSUIT:Judge rules Delaware property tax system unconstitutional In May 2020, Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster ruled that all three counties calculate tax bills with property values that are extremely outdated, giving an unfair discount to some taxpayers while others pay a larger share of their propertys actual worth. Assessed property values are generally applied to county, city and school tax rates to calculate tax bills. Those taxes are a third of the state public schools' revenue. How will reassessment affect my taxes? By itself, a reassessment is revenue neutral, although it will cause tax burden shifts among properties. Some owners will see increases while others will see decreases, and some will remain about the same. Resources on the statewide reassessment Visit the countys reassessment website. Contact the county Office of Assessment with questions at 302-395-5083. Questions can also be referred to Tyler Technologies property reassessment project supervisor Michael McFarlane at 302-395-3620. Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @mandy_fries. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Statewide reassessment efforts begin Feb. 20 in Wilmington For the first time, the U.S. Navy jet flyover before kickoff at the Super Bowl was piloted by a team of all women. Four planes flew in formation over State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, commemorating 50 years since women were allowed to become U.S. Navy pilots. The flyover followed the national anthem ahead of the contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Navy Lt. Catie Perkowski told ABCs Good Morning America last week it was surreal to have been selected to pilot the flyover. My dad did ask me to call him from the sideline on the Super Bowl, she said. Ill do my best. The majority of the logistics, maintenance and ground crew supporting the flyover are also women from the U.S. Navy, according to The Aviationist website. Our starting lineup is set! Here are the Sailors making this year's #SBLVII flyover possible. No matter who you are rooting for in the game, America's favorite team always has you covered! #SuperBowlLVII | #FlyNavy | #Flyoverpic.twitter.com/7zMMKaq7mk U.S. Navy (@USNavy) February 12, 2023 History makers unite. @NFL Hall of Fall athletes and the first all-female @USNavy flyover team exchanged stories at a community event on @LukeAFB as they prepare to make history at #SBLVII. Make sure to watch the ladies in action tomorrow. #SalutetoService@flynavypic.twitter.com/jN2axgwFku Department of Defense (@DeptofDefense) February 11, 2023 Women werent allowed to fly in the U.S. Navy until 1973, when the first group of women started its flight school. The following year, six women earned their wings, a group that became known as The First Six. Despite the intervening 50 years, the Navy has continued to struggle with female representation. Today, women make up just 15% of naval aviators, CBS reported. Story continues In 2019, when Capt. Rosemary Mariner, the Navys first female jet pilot, died at age 65, the Navy conducted its first-ever all-female flyover during her funeral service in Maynardville, Tennessee. The wisdom that she had to share was really amazing, Perkowski said of Mariner in her interview with GMA. To have the ability to represent people like her that came before us and made everything that we do possible is truly an honor. Sundays flyover was comprised of two F/A-18F Super Hornets from the Flying Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, an F-35C Lightning II from the Argonauts of VFA-147, and an EA-18G Growler from the Vikings of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129. Related... TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Atlantic City casino dealers pushing for a smoking ban received support from several state lawmakers Monday at a long-awaited hearing on a bill that would end smoking inside the nine casinos. Dealers, cocktail servers and other casino workers some of them with breathing ailments and other health problems they suspect are related to secondhand smoke from casino patrons testified before a state Senate panel in favor of a law that would close a loophole in the states 2006 indoor smoking law. That measure was written specifically to exempt casinos from bans on smoking indoors. Currently, smoking is permitted on 25% of a casino floor in Atlantic City. Although no action was taken on the bill, numerous lawmakers supported a ban, calling it long overdue. Whether to ban smoking is one of the most controversial issues not only in Atlantic City casinos, but in other states where workers have expressed concern about secondhand smoke. They are waging similar campaigns in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Its immoral for the owners of casinos to think their employees are expendable, said Sen. Joseph Vitale, the committees chairperson. If you smell it, its in your lungs. Democratic Senator Richard Codey was acting governor in 2006 when the indoor smoking law was adopted. Unfortunately, to get that passed I had to agree that casinos could still have smoking, he said, adding that it's time for the state to implement a casino smoking ban. Atlantic City's main casino workers' union drove four van loads of workers to the hearing as well, taking 60 of them to the state Capitol as a counterpoint to those calling for a smoking ban. These workers back the industry's position that a smoking ban would place Atlantic City at a competitive disadvantage with casinos in neighboring states. The issue is among the most divisive in Atlantic City, where even though casino revenue matched its all time high of $5.2 billion last year, only half that amount was won from in-person gamblers. The other half was won online and must be shared with third parties including tech platforms and sports books. Story continues Just three of the nine casinos Borgata, Ocean and Resorts surpassed their pre-pandemic revenue levels in terms of money won from in-person gamblers last year. I am responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of chips, said Borgata dealer Pete Naccarelli, one of the leaders of the anti-smoking movement in Atlantic City. When a player 12 inches away blows a cloud of smoke at me, I can't move, and I'm prohibited from waving the smoke away, a gesture that would be considered rude. We all have people that love us. We don't think it's fair that we should have to choose between a paycheck and our health. Lamont White, another Borgata dealer, has been working in the casinos for 38 years. Now I'm 60. I realize that people dying in their 40s and 50s is not normal, he said. As dealers, we cannot walk away; our job is to take it, no matter how many cigarettes or cigars are lit. Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Unite Here casino workers union, opposes a smoking ban, saying he wants to preserve the jobs of his members. I would bet everything I have that one year after a smoking ban, we will have a 10 to 15% decline in gambling revenue, he said. Of that I am certain. As soon as we did it, Pennsylvania would double down on smoking. It would close one, maybe two casinos in Atlantic City." Cynthia Hallett, president of Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, said union management does not speak for the majority of its members on a smoking ban, and said the casino industry keeps saying it is the wrong time for such a measure. When will it be time? she asked. The Casino Association of New Jersey submitted written testimony opposing a smoking ban. An immediate smoking ban in New Jersey casinos, while smoking is still permitted in casinos in neighboring states, against the backdrop of an already weakened and worsening economic climate, would endanger thousands of jobs and jeopardize millions of dollars in tax revenue dedicated to seniors and the disabled of New Jersey, the association's statement read, adding that a smoking ban could cause a devastating effect. Support for a smoking ban is widespread among New Jersey lawmakers: Identical smoking ban bills are sponsored or co-sponsored by 51 Assembly members and 23 state Senators, representing a bipartisan majority in both chambers. The bill needs to be voted upon in committees of the Senate and Assembly, then voted on by the full membership of those legislative bodies before going to the governor. Those hearings and votes have not yet been scheduled. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has promised to sign the bill if it's passed by the Legislature. ___ Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC. By Ghaida Ghantous DUBAI (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization's director general said on Monday that reforming the body's dispute settlement system is a "priority." When asked whether reforming the process would be a focus of the remainder of her term, which ends in 2025, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said "Absolutely. And I hope we can deliver that." She was speaking on stage at the World Government Summit. The WTO's trade dispute arbitration system, which rules on top disputes, has been stalled for more than two years due to Trump-era blockages of adjudicator appointments. Under President Joe Biden, Washington has resisted calls by WTO members to approve appointments and has instead been leading negotiations on how to reboot the WTO's dispute system. The United States has criticized the WTO's alleged overreach and lengthy processes and it has strongly contested some of its recent rulings against the United States. The United States is entering third phase of talks with countries to reform the hobbled arbitration system and aims for it to be fully functioning by the end of 2024. "It's not only the U.S. that has problems. Developing countries, especially the least developed find it hard to access the system and costly," Okonjo-Iweala said. On Monday, she also reiterated that global merchandise trade is expected to grow by one percent in 2023. "There seem be glimmers of hope on the horizon," she said. (Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous, writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Kim Coghill and Toby Chopra) An elderly woman walks in a street in Tokyo's Tsukiji area on March 13, 2020. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images A Yale professor said in an interview that mass suicide could solve Japan's aging population issue. His controversial opinions have made him popular with Japan's youth, per The New York Times. Yusuke Narita now has a large social media following and even appeared in an energy drink advert. A Yale professor who suggested that mass suicide could be the solution to Japan's aging population has gained celebrity status among the country's youth, even appearing in an advertisement for energy drinks, The New York Times reported. Yusuke Narita, an assistant professor of economics at Yale University, has argued for the controversial solution to Japan's aging population in several public appearances and interviews, The Times reported. Japan has the highest proportion of elderly citizens of any country in the world, and the percentage of the population aged over 65 has steadily increased since the 1950s. Last month, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the country was on the verge of a crisis. In an interview with an online Japanese news program in December 2021, Narita said a "pretty clear solution" would be the introduction of mass suicide, or mass "seppuku" of the elderly. Seppuku refers to the ritual suicide of samurai, which historically involved self-disembowelment. When pressed by a teenager on his mass seppuku theory last year, Narita referred to a scene in the 2019 horror film "Midsommar" in which an elderly person is sent to die by suicide by jumping off a cliff, according to The Times. "Whether that's a good thing or not, that's a more difficult question to answer," Narita said, per the newspaper. "So if you think that's good, then maybe you can work hard toward creating a society like that." He has also discussed euthanasia, a politically contentious debate in Japan, saying that making assisted suicide mandatory in the future will "come up in discussion," The Times reported. Story continues In speaking of euthanasia, Narita has sometimes mentioned his mother, who had an aneurysm when she was 19, describing how caring for her costs him 100,000 yen ($755) a month, per the newspaper. The controversial positions have worried some Japanese policymakers, with critics concerned that it could lead to the kind of public feeling that resulted in a 1948 eugenics law, The Times reported. The Eugenic Protection Law allowed for voluntary and involuntary sterilizations of people with hereditary diseases, mental illnesses, and intellectual disabilities. Despite his detractors, Narita has gained a large following in Japan among young people who feel like the older generations are stunting their economic progress. He has more than 550,000 followers on Twitter, regularly appears on online Japanese shows, has been on magazine covers, and appeared in an advertisement for energy drinks, The Times said. Speaking to The Times, Narita said his comments have largely been taken out of context, and his focus is on the dominance of "tycoons" in Japan. He also told the newspaper that using the terms "mass suicide" and "mass seppuku" was intended only as "abstract metaphors," adding that he has since stopped using those phrases. Narita did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider On 13 February Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, held another Supreme Commander-in-Chief Staff meeting where he heard the reports by the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, commanders of the fronts and heads of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an evening address on 13 February Quote: "Today was a very busy day both in terms of internal agenda, above all that of defence and security, and of external one. I held the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Staff meeting. Heard reports by the front commanders, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, heads of the Defence Intelligence. The defence of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, of the South of our country, and of the city of Odesa and Odesa Oblast were discussed. The centre of attention is, as per usual, the supply of armament, shells and everything else which enhances the strength and stamina of our troops." Details: Zelenskyy also reported that today, the newly appointed head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Maliuk, and the new Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, were introduced. The President is convinced that they both "are in their place, where they can make themselves useful for the state". Zelenskyy added that Klymenko and Maliuk have shown "significant results in protecting their state, and they will surely have even bigger achievements in their new positions". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Laura Schulmann, second from right, and Sophie Steiert, right, listen to questions from students about Jewish daily life in Germany during a lesson about the religion at the Bohnstedt Gymnasium high school in Luckau, Germany. The lesson was part of a project to remember the Holocaust and teach schoolchildren about Jewish life. (Markus Schreiber/AP) Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. This is a quote from George Orwells 1984, a book published in 1949 that is sadly relevant today. While 1984 is a work of fiction, its a cautionary tale that seems to be playing out today with censorship of books and government-enforced bans on the teaching of certain things in several states. Advertisement Hiding from history does not make it go away or any less true. Sometimes, history is not something to be proud of, and yes, sometimes it rightly makes us uncomfortable. Yet that is often how learning is achieved. In Chicago, all eighth graders and high school sophomores will learn about the decadeslong torture and abuse tied to disgraced former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge as part of a mandated Chicago Public Schools curriculum. I dont think anyone could make a serious argument that learning about this makes a student hate the police. Rather, it explains what happened and how it went on for so long in hopes that it will never happen again. Advertisement In Germany, teaching about the Holocaust and the Nazi era is mandatory in schools, and in addition to the classroom curriculum, almost all students have either visited a concentration camp or a Holocaust memorial or museum, according to a PBS Frontline report. Germany wants to prevent denial of the Holocaust and ensure that this genocide never happens again. Im a Jewish man whose family was affected by the Holocaust, and this topic is close to my heart. I know that Never Again is not just a slogan. Its a mantra and a key to ensuring the slaughter of 6 million Jewish people will never happens again or to anyone, anywhere. Can you imagine the outrage if German politicians tried to outlaw these teachings because some claimed that such lessons give German children feelings of guilt or are divisive? Yet, some politicians in the U.S. are using those reasons as they pursue laws to stop schools from teaching about aspects of Black history and LGBTQ history. Florida seems to be at the forefront of this trend, and Gov. Ron DeSantis is getting a lot of backlash. But notably, more than two dozen states have adopted some sort of measure against the teaching of critical race theory, according to a tracking project by the University of California at Los Angeles Law School. Also, notably, Black history and LGBTQ history are American history. These communities have played vital roles in our country, as have many cultures, nationalities and religions. Learning about LGBTQ issues will not turn a child gay. Rather, it may provide students with a sense of empathy, and that never is a bad thing. The same goes for learning about Black history. Its ironic that one of the arguments DeSantis is making in favor of limiting what can be taught in schools is that these actions are in the interest of academic freedom when the exact opposite appears to be true. It reminds me of another Orwell quote, from his novel Animal Farm: If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. The government should not control what is taught. That should remain the territory of academics who have their students best interests in mind, not outsiders who may want to downplay or deny things under the guise of keeping students comfortable. No one should control or own the narrative of history, especially politicians. Many points of view should be presented, and students should be trusted to glean from them what they may. Advertisement Jeffery Leving is founder and president of the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving and is an advocate for the rights of fathers. He is the author of Fathers Rights, Divorce Wars and How to be a Good Divorced Dad. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Dr. Dan Johnson never considered being the medical director for the physician assistant program at the University of Lynchburg. That is, until the day former graduate studies dean Edward Polloway called to say he might have found the program's first medical director. Johnson invited Polloway to Lynchburg General Hospital, where he worked, to talk about the job candidate. Polloway told Johnson he was the best man for the job. I was expecting him to come and tell me about somebody they had decided they wanted to get, and he said, 'We think the right person is you.' I was really like, 'Whoa, Im not ready for this,' Johnson said. With some reservations, Johnson agreed to come on as the interim director for the program, which UL launched in 2014 and which had its first cohort of students in 2015, until the university was able to find a qualified medical director. Johnson explained in an interview that after about two or three years, he really enjoyed serving as medical director. Two years turned into four years, he said, and four years turned into eight years. I mean, we were going places; we were building a wonderful, great program, Johnson said. So I said, Yes, sign me up, I'll serve as your official medical director. Johnson took over in October 2012 and worked as director and served in that role until his official retirement at the end of December 2022. Polloway said he sort of recalls this story. I dont recall twisting his arm, however, maybe I verbally twisted his arm, I dont know, Polloway joked. It seemed to me like it all just fell in place ... and of course we were thrilled. Current Dean and Chair of the School of PA Medicine Jeremy Welsh was the first full-time employee for the program, hired by Polloway and Johnson. Welsh explained when he and Johnson first got together and started brainstorming, the current PA building on Monticello Avenue near main campus was a shoe distribution center or warehouse. They got the chance to design the space together and build out what they were looking for in an academic setting. In the development of the program, Welsh said Johnson was pivotal in getting feedback from different community organizations and medical centers, which gave a sense of what organizations were looking for in a PA. Dr. Johnson was really part of this thing every day, all day in the early days and really brought that knowledge to us, Welsh said. Welsh said the program started with 25 students in one incoming class and had that for several years. After a few years, that number grew to 30, 35 and 40 currently. He said currently theres 80 to 120 students total in the program. The program currently receives 1,200 to 1,500 applicants per year for 40 available seats, an increase from 700 or so applicants at the start. The doctoral medical science program started in 2017 and that program grew from 20 to 400 students per year, according to Welsh. The program and path created with the doctoral program was unique, something he and Johnson worked closely to create. In all, about 300 students for the masters program and about 2,000 students from the doctoral program have graduated under Johnson's tenure, according to Welsh. Dr. Johnson has not only had an impact on those 300 PA students that have come through the building, those 300 PA students will now see thousands upon thousands of people in their medical career and Dr. Johnson continues to have that influence as that number builds, Welsh said. Johnson said one of the greatest things he did as director was to establish a relationship with the local Free Clinic of Virginia. Each semester, he would take first-year students to the free clinic to work and see patients with him during the fall semester. In the spring semester, he allowed them to see the patients with his oversight and supervision. Its one of the highlights of the PA program, I think, Johnson said. Dr. David Truitte took over Jan. 1 as the new medical director for the program, a position he said hes thrilled to step into. He said when Johnson first presented him with the idea, he asked, Dan, are you sure you want to ask me to do this? For him to ask me for that position, I was like 'Wow, what a great opportunity for me, Truitte said. Truitte said in his experience working with Johnson, he is very deliberate and methodical in his approach to things. The program, that is the program, is due to the work of a lot of people, and Dan is one of the major components to that in my opinion, Truitte said. Polloway said in an interview, "I don't think you could really measure the impact he had on getting that program going and how it developed." Looking back at his journey, Johnson said he never expected to go into academics as a medical provider, adding it found him. Johnson said looking back at the growth of the PA program since its start in 2012, it certainly has been an unbelievably rewarding experience. The best part to him is seeing PA students grow, graduate and take jobs as great, high-skilled PAs. Its great just to see them in their work environment, Johnson said. I think that's so rewarding for me to see those guys out here working hard not only here in Lynchburg, but here in Virginia and throughout the United States. Johnson said retiring was something he thought about for a long time. I just felt like it was time and I felt like that, you know having a guy like Dave truly step in was what the program needed, Johnson said. When asked to reflect on his time working with Johnson, Welsh said, Its not a job for him; this is a lifestyle. It's a path that he picked and I think if we all can be a little bit more like Dr. Johnson, we're in a good place. Inspired by her own curiosity about a new city shed moved to recently, Kathleen Davis has started her own downtown history walking tour and wants natives and tourists alike to learn something new about Lynchburgs beginnings. Davis and her wife, Gail Goldsmith, moved to Lynchburg at the end of 2020 when the pandemic still was keeping people inside, leaving them few opportunities to meet new people or ask about the history of the area. As shed walk her dog down Rivermont Avenue, Davis saw the many large homes and wondered why they were here. I was so curious, she said. Ive always loved history and I was like, Why is all this stuff here? What happened here? This isnt D.C., but it still has a truly amazing downtown and awesome architecture. And we didnt really have a ton of people to ask because we just moved here. Davis looked up interesting stories about the city and walked visiting family and friends around, sharing historical information and funny anecdotes. Though she works for communications and marketing for the University of Lynchburg, Davis was looking for a side project to bring in additional money. She decided to enroll herself last fall in the Office of Economic Development & Tourisms Co Starters program, a 10-week cohort-based program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs. Through all that research, I found out how many people come here for graduation in May and decided to bump my timeline up because I wanted to be fully ready to go by the time we have our greatest influx of visitors, she said. Curious History Downtown Walking Tours held two pre-launch tours Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 and will kick off for the general public March 4. Tickets went on sale Feb. 10 at www.curioushistorytours.com. Davis, who has done stand-up comedy for a decade, said she likes the performance aspect of guiding tours. I think our biggest selling point is the fact that were going to be entertainer-led, she said. Ive done stand-up, Ive performed before and Im used to working the crowd. I just think that when youre a performer then you can develop the content but in a funny way. I think bringing different types of emotions into history is really important. Tara Johnson-Smith attended a tour this month and said Davis tells the story of the buildings, walls and former business owners. Kathleen has an amazing affinity for storytelling that leaves you hungry for more of the tidbits of information she shares on the tour, and encourages you to explore after she establishes a roadmap of facts, she said. Who knew? was the recurring phrase melodically resonating through conversations while walking through history. My takeaway? You dont know what you dont know. James Ford, marketing director for the Downtown Lynchburg Association, said the tour is an exciting new way for both residents and visitors to experience Downtown Lynchburg. Kathleen Davis does a great job keeping the listener engaged with these intriguing history lessons while sprinkling a bit of humor throughout, he said. Id highly recommend signing up for a tour and spending some time shopping, eating or drinking before or after to elevate your experience downtown. Davis also has partnered with the Lynchburg Museum System, Lynchs Ferry a journal of local history and the Legacy Museum of African American History, all of which will be helping with content. She said people can expect information that is found at the museum or in Lynchburg history books, but Davis especially was interested in the more curious and lesser-known stories. I didnt just follow bigger last names. I went in the opposite direction, she said. Anytime I got to something that sounded familiar, I would stop and look into a different building or a different situation. The tour begins at the Lynchburg Community Market art mural and runs down the corner of 9th Street. Davis said she starts by giving some background on how the Lynch family got to the area, walks the tour down 12th Street where some taverns used to be located, heads past City Auditorium as well the Fidelity National Bank at the corner of 9th and Main streets. Until May, Davis is the main tour guide but she hopes to hire theater students from local colleges in the summer. She also plans to continually change out the format of the tour and provide new stories. Its a mix of architecture and a mix of finding weird things that maybe you hadnt seen on buildings before and talking about how those unique designs got there and the people that bought them. Its a lot of storytelling about the people who built the buildings and the families and how they got there, she said. Davis said shes always been intrigued by how a large Jewish community ended up on Main Street and redesigned the way that commerce looks there. I want to highlight people that have lived in Lynchburg that you dont hear about a lot, so it starts off with Charles Lynch moving here from Ireland because he was being oppressed and then 169 years later, we end in front of Schewels, and Elias Schewel did the same thing 169 years after Charles Lynch Sr. did it in 1720, she said. The tour is interactive and provides opportunities to go inside buildings, listen to music from local artists and hear from newspaper stories and headlines. I want people to really feel like they are going back in time for a little bit and they are experiencing these things, she said. Davis said she loves hosting and wants these tours to be an extension of that. Maya Angelou says if you know better, you do better and I think thats what history is, she said. I want to invite people to dig into our local resources that we have and know that if I can take what was a hobby and turn it into a business and learn all that I have and be able to tell the stories that I have, other people can too. 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. The Kingdom of Morocco is currently enduring systematic attacks by the European Union Parliament, and these attacks go beyond the ordinary political and diplomatic engagement between states and institutions, underlines former congressman Michael Flanagan in an analysis published by US magazine Newslooks. These attacks amount to direct interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, Flanagan points out, noting that there is a hidden agenda behind these attacks. There is no doubt that the economic development plans as well as human rights development programs which King Mohammed VI has sponsored since his accession have caused concern to some European countries and their petty ambitions, he says, adding that Moroccos exit from the position of dependence on EU states is not firmly in the interest of Europe generally and France in particular. Thanks to its economic policies, social and political stability and unique religious coexistence, Morocco has become very attractive to world markets, the expert in international relations stresses, adding that the European dominance in Moroccos markets has ended and the EU (with France in particular) is fighting back with spurious claims in the European Parliament. Flanagan recalls that during a session dedicated to discussing the scandalous and repeated attacks of the European Parliament on Morocco, the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives charged that the actions against Morocco of some parties in the European Parliament constitute interference in the internal affairs of Morocco. Algerian gas is on the minds of EU Member states now, the former congressman says, adding that the high price of energy and the rush of European markets to Algeria as a replacement for lost contracts in the Ukrainian war makes clear the current posture of the EU to not offend Algeria in any way. Morocco has to be maligned in order to satisfy their Algerian gas suppliers, he explains. Also, Europe has a long-standing interest in obstructing Moroccan growth into world markets beyond regional (that is, European captured) markets, Flanagan underlines. To these ends, the EU negatively distorts the countrys image in order to keep it under the European umbrella as a consumer market. Now aligned with the EU interests, Algerias hand in this matter is obvious, the former congressman stresses. To push its agenda concerning the Polisario and feeding their long-standing expansionist ambitions in Africa, Algeria enlists the EU to make baseless charges against Morocco, he points out. Simply put, it is Algerian gas in exchange for hostility to Morocco. Further, the French who resent Moroccos lean away from France and towards the United States is no reluctant partner in this endeavor, he adds. The Kingdom of Morocco is paying the price today for its strategic choices and a decades-long balanced set of relations with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the expert in international relations says, noting that the Kingdom is paying a heavy price in the EU circles chiefly because it supports the United States over its former colonizer. It is better for us today to take the responsibility in proving to our friends in Morocco that we value their choices and appreciate their sacrifices. We must view a diplomatic attack on Morocco is an attack on the United States-Moroccan relationship and our common strategic interest in North Africa and the Middle East, Flanagan underlines. The Kenyan police Sunday said three of its officers were shot dead by bandits in Napeimoit, Turkana County, during a gun battle, Nation Africa reports. The victims include two General Service Unit (GSU) and a regular police officer. They came under attack in ambush by the gang, believed from a neighboring county, as they revisited a scene they attacked Friday night. The raiders also seriously injured at least seven others, including an Officer Commanding Police Division and GSU and Rapid Deployment Unit commanders, a police report said. The report also indicated that a civilian who was in one of the police vehicles sustained gunshot wounds. A report filed at Kalemnngorok police post, a multi-agency security team had revisited a Friday night attack scene, five kilometres off the Lodwar-Kitale road, when it was ambushed, Nation Africa reported. While at the scene, bandits started firing at them from the bush. Officers recovered the bodies of the three, who had gone missing, the report said. The tyres of the three Toyota Landcruisers were deflated in the attack. The vehicles are still at the scene, with one burnt and the others vandalized, the report adds. The attackers stripped the bodies naked and fled with their weapons and uniforms. The Sunday attack followed another attack on Saturday in Laikipia County. A police report indicated that more than 20 bandits attacked the camp at around 4pm on Saturday and started shooting at the officers. A shout-out ensued between the officers and the bandits and in the process, Bernard Kyalo of Munyangi Police Station, Nyeri County was fatally shot whereby the bullet entered from the back of the head and exited through the mouth, the report states. Officers from Kamwenje GSU camp, QRU A3, ASTU Miteta and Ngarua Police station responded but the bandits had already escaped towards Baringo Escarpment, the report adds. Irked by the humiliating defection of political activist and journalist Amira Bouraoui to France via Tunisia, the Algerian military junta takes revenge on the militants family and innocent Tunisian travelers caught up inside the Algerian territory. Mrs. Bouraoui, a 46 year-old French-Algerian national, is one of the Hirak movement activists. A doctor by training, she was banned from leaving Algeria pending an appeal trial but was not in detention. She managed to escape to Tunisia, seeking to go to France but she was arrested at an airport and stood before a judge who acquitted her of any wrongdoing. However, Algerian secret police tried to kidnap her in Tunisia, had it not been for a direct intervention of French consular services who offered her protection citing her dual French nationality, sparing her persecution at the hands of the military regime. Tunisian media speak of pressure on Kais Said in person by France to let Bouraoui travel to France. Irked by their failure to arrest the activist, Algeria responded hysterically as usual recalling its ambassador to Paris and using its official state news agency to issue threats of an upcoming severance of ties with France. Part of their hysterical response, Algerian authorities arrested over this weekend her mother and sister in Algiers and searched their home. Her sister was released after spending one day in detention, while her mother, Khadidja Bouaroui, 71, remains in custody. According to National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees (CNLD) and the news website Radio M, a cousin of the Bouraouis family was also arrested in Annaba. In retaliation against Kais Saids Tunisia, the Algerian authorities are also harassing Tunisian travelers and tension is building up at the borders. Several Tunisian travelers remain stranded at the Babouch-Ain Darahim crossing point where the Algerian customs are blocking Tunisian cars carrying goods and foodstuffs from crossing. The drivers and their passengers are forced to unload all purchases: food, clothes, gifts, shoesbefore leaving the country. The painful and appalling scenes show that the vindictiveness and untrustworthiness of the ruling Algerian military regime which takes often innocent people hostage for geopolitical reasons. On 18 December 1975, the Algerian authorities expelled over 45,000 Moroccan families, including women, children and the elderly who were legally residing in the country. They were stripped of all their belongings before the arbitrary expulsion and forced displacement that took place during Eid Al Adha. Large numbers of them participated in the Algerian war of independence during which hundreds of Moroccans sacrificed their life for the liberation of the neighboring country. Instead of rewarding them for the sacrifice and services rendered, the feckless and despotic Algerian regime turn them scapegoats! The case of Algerian anti-regime activist Amira Bouraoui has revealed the shaky foundations of the newly found Algiers-Paris ties and showed the fragility of Tunisias authoritarian regime which has become a satellite state of the military regime in Algiers. Bouraoui fled to Tunisia seeking to regain France but she was arrested at an airport and stood before a judge who acquitted her of any wrongdoing. But Algerian secret police tried to kidnap her in Tunisia, had it not been for a direct intervention of French consular services who offered her protection, citing her dual French nationality, sparing her persecution at the hands of the military regime. Tunisian media speak of pressure on Kais Said in person by France to let Bouraoui travel to France. Algeria responded hysterically as usual recalling its ambassador and using its official state news agency to issue threats of an upcoming severance of ties with France. This new chapter shows the failure of Macrons policy of rapprochement with a brutal military regime that has turned Algeria into a large prison for journalists and peaceful dissidents. While focusing so much on mending the past, Macron and his advisors undermined the present and the future of French diplomacy by taking hostile stands towards Morocco. Macron also failed to listen to experts and foreign French diplomats including ex-ambassador to Algiers Xavier Driencourt who warned of an impending social and economic collapse of Algeria that will drag France on its way. Meanwhile, Tunisia is about to lose its financial sovereignty as it heads to default, a situation that Algeria used to vassalize its neighbor. Tunis is now the cemetery of Algerian opposition figures. Yet, Tunis also needs the west and its cooperation with France to let Bouaroui out triggered reprisals from Algiers. Social media abound with videos showing mistreatment of Tunisians at the border with Algeria. Algerias puppet President Tebboune and the countrys kingmaker general Chengriha together have only Tunisia under their full mercy as their ties with their immediate neighbors as well as its key European trading partners worsen. France should understand that friendship with the military regime in Algiers comes at a heavy cost. The first of which is to turn a blind eye to the repression in Algeria as well as to comply with Algiers hegemonic agenda to the detriment of regional peace and stability. Chairman of French Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Christian Cambon, has denounced the recent vote by the Macronist members of the European Parliament of a resolution undermining Moroccos judicial sovereignty and independence. In a press release, Mr. Cambon, who also chairs France-Morocco Friendship Group in the French Senate, decried the vote of French MEPs who supported and stood with the usual adversaries of Morocco. While France, at its highest levels, is endeavoring to give a new impetus to the French-Moroccan relationship, some French MEPs close to the majority joined their voices to the usual opponents of Morocco, he added, expressing his steadfast commitment to press freedom in all countries. France-Morocco Friendship Group will continue to work for the strengthening of relations with Morocco in all areas, said Mr. Christian Cambon, describing the North African Kingdom as most reliable partner and ally engaged for peace in this region. Following the EP hostile resolution passed within the frame of an orchestrated smear campaign, the Moroccan Parliament decided to re-assess its relations and partnership with the European legislative body. Foreign ministers from Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali, all of which recently underwent military coups, have called for their reinstatement into the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following a trip to the region by Russian envoy Sergey Lavrov. The top diplomats from the three west African countries said in a joint statement last week (9 February) that they had agreed to work together to push for the lifting of their suspensions from the two key regional blocs, adding that ECOWAS sanctions affect populations already battered by insecurity and political instability. Abdoulaye Diop of Mali, Morissanda Kouyate of Guinea and Burkina Fasos Olivia Rouamba held talks in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, after Lavrov travelled to Mali earlier in the week to pledge assistance to West African countries battling armed groups. The three countries had agreed to pool their efforts and undertake joint initiatives for the lifting of the suspension measures and other restrictions by AU and ECOWAS, according to a joint statement released after the meeting. A string of coups unfolded in the three countries since 2020, bringing in governments that have bristled at external demands to restore civilian rule, leading to suspensions from regional groups. Mounting insecurity in the Sahel region led the three ministers to agree on the need to combine their efforts and those of the countries of the sub-region and the region to deal with this scourge, the statement said. All three countries are under pressure from ECOWAS to return swiftly to civilian rule. Mali and Guinea were also subject to other sanctions that have since been partially lifted. This Valentines Day, Tenth St. Nutrition in downtown Opelika is honoring Amore Wiggins, a young girl whose remains were found in Opelika in 2012. Before Wiggins was identified in January, she was known during the investigation as Opelika Baby Jane Doe. Starting on Sunday, Tenth St. Nutrition began the Amore means Love Benefit, in which a percentage of all proceeds will be donated to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Childrens Fund, in Wiggins honor. Mallory Jenkins, owner of Tenth St. Nutrition, and her mother Dana Sides wanted to find a way to help Wiggins, her family or others who have suffered in similar ways. After speaking with the Opelika Police Department, Jenkins said she was advised to make the donation to NCMEC. This organization got involved in the Opelika Jane Doe case shortly after Wiggins was found and created a facial reconstruction and 3D image in hopes that someone would be able to identify her. As a reflection of Valentines Day and with love in the air, we decided this would be a great opportunity to support Amore and spread the love, Jenkins said. Our community always comes together especially when it involves our children, so we wanted to remember what Amore means and honor her by having a benefit to help support efforts to find and support other missing and exploited children. Jenkins said February was the perfect month to honor Wiggins because her name means love. Tenth St. Nutrition also created a new drink flavor called Amore, which is a tropical fruit flavor with rainbow candy. Jenkins plans to keep it on the menu permanently. Tuesday was originally going to be the last day to collect funds to donate to NCMEC, but Jenkins said shes going to continue the Amore means Love Benefit until the end of the week. Tenth St. Nutrition is located on 309 South Tenth Street in Opelika and will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday Friday. Jenkins, 26, was born and raised in Opelika and remembers hearing about the Opelika Jane Doe case in 2012 when she was just in middle school. Being young I wasnt able to get deep into it or really understand what was happening, but it resurfaced now that Im in my 20s what it was and how serious it was, she said. Jenkins continued to follow the story throughout the years and said she felt thankful when law enforcement officers were finally able to identify Wiggins. As a mother of a three-year-old girl, Jenkins said she cant imagine how the situation in this case could have happened. She deserves to have a name and to be found and she deserves justice, Jenkins said. Since the Amore means Love Benefit began, Jenkins said the community has come out to show support for Wiggins. There have also been several customers who hadnt heard Wiggins story, and Jenkins said it set a fire in her to spread the word even more. Opelika is such a tight community. If you were to ask me, I would say were full of love and everybody is here to support one another. I think that Amore, her name speaks for itself. I think shes brought everybody together to love and find justice for her, Jenkins said. I feel like she has a family here in this community outside of her own family. After Wiggins was identified, with the help of a forensic DNA company, Othram Inc., her biological father Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. was arrested and charged with felony murder and his wife Ruth Vickerstaff was arrested and charged with failure to report a missing child. Wiggins biological mother Sherry Wiggins lost custody of her daughter to the Vickerstaff couple in a Virginia court in 2009, but she has been paying child support for the past 13 years never knowing her daughter had been killed. Sherry Wiggins said she has plans to arrange a memorial service in Opelika for everyone who loves Amore and plans to have a burial service in Virginia afterwards. This case remains under investigation. 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. Japan Coast Guard patrol ship visits Da Nang A patrol ship of Japan's coast guard force arrived at Tien Sa Port on February 13, beginning a six-day visit to the central city of Da Nang. The Settsu, with 52 officers and sailors onboard, is captained by Colonel Niwa Satoshi. (Photo: VNA) The Settsu, with 52 officers and sailors onboard, is captained by Colonel Niwa Satoshi. During the trip, crew members will pay a courtesy visit to leaders of the municipal Peoples Committee, and engage in exchange and training activities with soldiers and officers of the High Command of the Vietnam Coast Guard Region 2 and the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre Zone 2 in Da Nang. The activities are expected to further deepen the Vietnam Japan friendly relationship, contributing to maintaining and promoting a free and open maritime order based on respect for international law in the Indo-Pacific region. Captain Niwa said that the visit is part of activities to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. In recent years, the two countries' coast guard forces have conducted joint activities in search and rescue, and crime suppression skills at sea. This visit contributes to further fostering the friendship and good cooperation between the two governments and people. The Vietnam Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard are both members of the Information Sharing Center Against Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). The two sides have established contact points to exchange information. Prior to its trip to Da Nang, Settsu has been patrolling the waters of Southeast Asia./. Here is the Tribune Editorial Boards sixth installment of endorsements in contested races for aldermanic seats in Chicagos Feb. 28 municipal election. 37th Ward Howard Ray, a candidate for 37th Ward alderman, speaks during a protest on Jan. 19, 2023, outside an unopened Amazon fulfillment center on West Division Street in West Humboldt Park. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Emma Mitts has been this West Side wards alderman for more than two decades. Weve endorsed her in the past, but we stopped in 2015 after she built a reputation as a go-along, get-along alderman, as weve put it before. For years, shes been a rubber-stamp City Council member who never questioned then-Mayor Rahm Emanuels massive borrowing binges. And shes put up roadblocks to ethics reform instead of embracing it. Advertisement Howard Ray has worked at the Chicago Police Department for 25 years. He spent 18 years on the streets, and now works on the departments administrative side. He says the department needs to get more officers walking a beat. CPD also has to do a much better job responding to calls faster, he says. Sometimes it takes 48 minutes to get a call answered, he tells us. Also on the ballot are Jake Towers, an after-school teacher, and community activist Corey Denelle Braddock. Its past time for a change in this ward. Ray is endorsed. Advertisement 38th Ward Ed Bannon, 38th Ward candidate. (Campaign photo) Nicholas Sposato has been this Northwest Side wards alderman since 2015, and before that he represented the 36th Ward. Hes a former firefighter with conservative views on social issues, and in the past has been open about his support for Donald Trump. When he talks about public safety, he laments that the city is hamstringing the police we have so that they are unable to do their jobs effectively. We need to back our police and make it apparent that we support them and are behind them. Embracing police reforms and holding officers accountable for their actions isnt expressing a lack of support its the right public safety policy. [ 2023 Chicago aldermanic candidates answer Tribune questionnaire ] One of Sposatos opponents, Ed Bannon, is a stay-at-home dad who for 10 years served as the executive director of the Six Corners Association, a nonprofit focusing on economic development on the Northwest Side. Bannons plan for tackling violent crime is smart and layered. He wants a stronger reliance on violence prevention programs, along with expanding the use of mental health professionals to deal with nonviolent 911 calls involving someone in the midst of a mental health crisis. He also says his background in economic development makes him the right person to build up the wards tax base. Also on the ballot are Cynthia Santos, a member of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, who advocates the use of stop-and-frisk procedures by police, software engineering manager Franco Reyes and Bruce Randazzo. Bannon is endorsed. 39th Ward Ald. Ariel Reboyras, 30th, left, chats with Ald. Samantha Nugent, 39th, at a City Council meeting in Chicago on May 29, 2019. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Incumbent Samantha Nugent faces a formidable challenge from Denali Dasgupta, a researcher with extensive experience in human services advocacy. Her background suggests she would fit into the world of city budgets and policymaking with ease. Im bringing my own skills as a researcher, a budget enthusiast, and an experienced partner in turning experience into evidence and policy into action, she says. [ Tribune Editorial Board endorsements for the 2023 Chicago municipal election ] Nugent was elected to represent this Far Northwest Side ward in 2019, replacing Margaret Laurino. Since then, she has worked to keep ward residents informed and engaged. She relies on participatory budgeting to ensure citizen involvement in ward spending, and has secured more staffing and security cameras for the wards police districts. Shes a believer in community policing, and in relying on the consent decree to bring reform in training, supervision and accountability to Chicago police. Dasguptas credential are impressive, but Nugent has capably served her constituents in her first term, and is endorsed. 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, speaks in favor of the Red Line extension during a Chicago City Council meeting on Dec. 14, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) In 2019, Andre Vasquez unseated a City Council fixture, Patrick OConnor, who had been the 40th Wards alderman since 1983. We dont agree with several of Vasquezs progressive stances, but he also has approaches to big problems that we like. [ Read Tribune election coverage ] He believes that strong policing starts with accountability. He supported the citys movement toward giving citizens much greater oversight and input into the Police Departments operations and policies. Without transparency and accountability, there can be no trust, he told us, so it is up to us to continue holding the department and ourselves accountable. We also like his reliance on real-time aldermanic alerts to keep residents informed about criminal activity and crime trends. His opponents are homemaker Jane Lucius and lawyer Christian Blume, an adjunct professor at City Colleges of Chicago. Vasquez is endorsed. Advertisement 41st Ward Paul Struebing, 41st Ward candidate. (Campaign photo) We know that incumbent Ald. Anthony Napolitano has rock-solid support in this Far Northwest Side ward. But we havent endorsed him in the past because of what we have said is his abuse of the long-standing, off-the-books power known as aldermanic privilege, used by council members to rule over zoning and permits in their wards. And we cant endorse him now. His opponent, attorney Paul Struebing, tells us that small businesses in this ward, which includes Edison Park, Norwood Park and the OHare area, had been struggling even before the pandemic. Reviving the wards business corridors would be one of Struebings top priorities. He also says the city needs to ramp up its replacement of lead service lines to make drinking water in the ward and across the city safer. Our endorsement goes to Struebing. 43rd Ward Brian C. Comer, 43rd Ward candidate. (Campaign photo) This is one of the citys most competitive aldermanic races. The incumbent, Tim Knudsen, was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to replace Michele Smith, who stepped down after 11 years of capable, committed leadership of this Lincoln Park ward. Knudsen faces five opponents: small business owner Steve Botsford, consultant Brian Comer, retired lawyer Rebecca Janowitz, businessman Steven McClellan and Wendi Taylor Nations, former chief marketing officer for World Business Chicago. Two candidates stood out. Botsford says the best way that Chicago can tackle ever-rising violence is to focus on crimes involving shootings. That means improving the Police Departments dismal clearance rates for solving fatal and nonfatal shootings by hiring more detectives. He says studies show that the more officers you assign to investigate murders, the higher likelihood you have of solving the crime. Comers approach entails redeploying officers to bring more officers out from behind the desk and onto the streets to serve and protect, along with a heavier reliance on security cameras in crime-ravaged neighborhoods to see more of whats happening. To address CPDs understaffing problems, he proposes a pilot program with DePaul University in which graduates who commit to joining the Police Department for a four-year stretch would get a reimbursement for one years tuition. You have to dangle a carrot to make (policing) an attractive career again, Comer says. One issue that uniquely affects the 43rd Ward is the ongoing construction of the Lincoln Yards mega-development. The project will produce a massive amount of jobs, housing and economic activity for North Side communities, but it also will dramatically ramp up the density and traffic in those neighborhoods. As president of the Sheffield Neighborhood Association, Comer says he speaks regularly with Lincoln Yards main developer, Sterling Bay, on traffic impact, as well as to ensure what the developer builds doesnt cannibalize what we have over here. Advertisement Its a strong field, and our endorsement goes to Comer. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Serial Violator That OSHA Found Exposing Employees to Falls Now Faces Citations for 4 Willful Violations Among the violations is one for not having an adequate fall protection system. An employer that an OSHA area director called a serial violator is facing citations after the agency found workers exposed to fall hazards again. In December 2022, OSHA discovered, during a monitoring inspection, that employees of The Roof Kings were exposed to falls while working on an unprotected two-story roof in Quincy, Massachusetts, per a news release. Previously, OSHA identified similar conditions, for which The Roof Kings received citations for six violations and proposed penalties of $137,196 just four months prior in September 2022, though these have been contested. After the December 2022 inspection, The Roof Kings now faces citations for four willful violations and proposed penalties of $137,508. According to OSHA, The Roof Kings allegedly did not Provide employees an adequate fall protection system. Ensure employees' fall protection equipment was effectively anchored to prevent falls. Inspect employees' personal fall arrest systems prior to each use and remove defective components from service. Train employees in fall protection and how to recognize fall hazards. This company is a serial violator whose ongoing defiance of the law and willingness to put workers at risk of dangerous and disabling falls is troubling and potentially deadly. Workplace safety is not a game of chance, dependent on whether an employer chooses to protect or risk its employees well-being from day to day, said OSHA Area Director James Mulligan in Braintree, Massachusetts, in the news release. The Roof King's history of noncompliance extends beyond these two events. A settlement agreement from 2017stemming from inspections during 2014 and 2016between The Roof Kings and OSHA required the employer to pay penalties and take certain abatement measures, OSHA said. After not complying, The Roof Kings was found in contempt in 2021. When the lack of compliance remained, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit and the Department of Labor took further steps. More than half of Europes electricity is now generated from clean energy sources. Energy and electricity supply have become vital for nearly every European nation over the past year, as the region shifts away from its dependence on Russian fuel imports. While many countries have been making progress in their energy transition away from fossil fuels, nearly half of European countries are still dependent on them as their primary source of electricity generation. In the graphic below, Visual Capitalist Niccolo Conte maps out European countries by their top source of electricity generation using data from Electricity Maps and the IEA, along with a breakdown of the EUs overall electricity generation by source in 2021. Europes Electricity Generation by Energy Source Europe has been steadily transitioning towards renewable sources of energy for their electricity generation, making considerable progress over the last decade. In 2011, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) made up 49% of the EUs electricity production while renewable energy sources only made up 18%. A decade later, renewable energy sources are coming close to equaling fossil fuels, with renewables making up 32% of the EUs electricity generation compared to fossil fuels 36% in 2021. The expansion of wind and solar generation have been the primary drivers in this shift towards renewables, going from only generating 8% of the EUs electricity in 2011 all the way to 19% in 2021. While this might still seem small, the EUs share of wind and solar electricity generation is tied for first alongside Oceania when compared to other regions around the world. While hydropower doesnt make up as big of a share as other sources, its the most common primary source of electricity generation in Europe, playing an important role in providing renewable energy. Nuclear energy is the largest single source of electricity generation in the EU and across Europe despite its decline over the past couple of decades. Back in 2001, nuclear energy made up one-third (33%) of the EUs electricity generation, and in the following 20 years fell down to 25%. The Primary Electricity Sources of Europes Major Nations When looking at individual nations, the majority of Europes largest countries have fossil fuels as their largest primary single source of electricity. Germany remains heavily reliant on coal power, which from 2017 to 2021 generated 31% of the nations electricity. Despite the dependence on the carbon intensive fossil fuel, wind and solar energy generation together made up more of Germanys electricity generation at 33% (23% for wind and 10% for solar). France is Europes largest economy that primarily relies on nuclear power, with nuclear power making up more than half of the countrys electricity production. Italy, the UK, and the Netherlands are all primarily natural gas powered when it comes to their electricity generation from 2017 to 2021. While Italy is the most reliant of the three at 42% of electricity generated by natural gas, the Netherlands (40%), and the UK (38%) arent too far off. Spain is an outlier among major European nations and a success story in a transition towards renewable energy sources. While in the period from 2017-2021, the country was primarily dependent on natural gas (29%), in 2022, natural gas contribution to electricity generation fell to 14% as wind rose up to become the primary electricity generator with a 32% share. Accelerating the EUs Energy Transition Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, energy independence in the EU has become of utmost importance, and countries have taken the opportunity to accelerate their transition towards renewable energy sources. ADVERTISEMENT A new report from Ember highlights how the transition made considerable progress in 2022, with solar and wind power (22%) overtaking natural gas (20%) in electricity generation for the first time ever. While 2022 did see an increase in fossil fuel electricity generation for the EU, Ember is expecting it to decline in 2023 by as much as 20%. If the EU can sustain this accelerated shift away from fossil fuels, this map of primary energy sources of electricity generation could feature many more renewable and low-carbon energy sources in the near future. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Conservative MP Simon Clarke has launched a campaign against the legislation, aiming to bolster the development of new onshore wind projects. Onshore wind developments have dropped sharply since 2016, when former Prime Minister David Cameron pushed through new restrictions which meant wind farm developers had to show proposed projects are located in an area designated for renewable energy in a local plan, and that they had unanimous support. However, former cabinet minister and Conservative MP Simon Clarke secured a rare, key victory against NIMBYism two months ago. Clarke tabled an amendment in December calling for onshore wind planning rules to be liberalised as part of the National Planning Policy Framework, which establishes development rules for building projects. He gained the support of over 30 MPs including former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss and had also been backed by Labour meaning it had a real chance of progressing. However, he later shelved the amendment in exchange for reforms to the draft text, with the bill expected to be voted on in the House of Commons later this year. This means the de-facto seven-year de-facto ban on new onshore wind projects, could finally be overhauled. Energy industry raises concerns over pledges It now turns out Downing Street is looking to ease planning obstacles by reducing requirements for new sites to be in designated land essentially rewriting restrictive planning footnotes. Under the reforms, government will only require developers to appropriately address local concerns rather than fully. However, Clarke has fired a warning shot at the government, urging them not to water down proposals to ease planning laws for onshore wind developments amid industry concerns the reforms will not do enough to boost the declining industry. He told City A.M.: We cant allow a vocal minority to derail projects supported by most people locally. Instead, we need a system that enables and encourages councils to designate suitable sites for wind farms and ensure these communities benefit from hosting renewables. Clarkes support for onshore wind is not universally shared in the Conservative party. Two dozen Tory MPs, led by senior backbenchers Sir John Hayes and David Davis, wrote to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the time of the Clarke amendment, urging him to stand firm on the strict planning laws. Simon Clarke secured concessions from the government after tabling an amendment to liberalise planning rules (Source: Twitter) Meanwhile, influential BEIS Select Committee member Alexander Stafford believes offshore wind was the more cost and space effective way of generating wind-energy. He told City A.M.: Not only is there sometimes not enough wind onshore to generate any electricity, onshore turbines can disrupt communities, land, and animals. I am pleased that the government is consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, and would advocate for local communities to have full control over whether to give permission or not. This pushback means Clarkes approach has been collegiate to appease divisions in the party. He explains: We know onshore wind is popular, including with 2019 Conservative voters, and would cut energy bills. This proposal is a step towards unlocking this cheap energy while ensuring communities get a genuine say. My colleagues and I will work with ministers to get the wording right. But Renewable UK did not share Clarkes optimism that onshore wind could be revived purely through changing the wording of planning documents. It has instead called for planning rules for new turbines to be eased in line with other building projects, to restore investor confidence in the sector. James Robottom, head of onshore wind at Renewable UK, was disappointed that restrictive rules for onshore wind were being rewritten rather than scrapped. He said: After seven years of a de-facto ban in England it is very difficult to see how the proposed changes to planning will give the industry, communities and businesses the confidence to invest in onshore wind again from a completely standing start. The increased complexity and ambiguity only reinforces the fact that onshore wind continues to be treated differently to any other infrastructure in England, at a time when it should be key to increasing energy security, reducing costs and our net-zero goals. The UKs generation targets in the energy security strategy do not include onshore wind (Source: Gov.uk) ADVERTISEMENT This outlook was shared by environmental think tank Green Alliance, which argued the proof of reforms had to be in the outcome. Joe Tetlow, Green Alliances senior political adviser, said: I think the government did this consultation on the expectation that it would increase the amount of renewables, such as onshore wind. So, if the end result is for that not to happen that is just another couple of wasted years, which we cant afford to have in this energy security crisis. When approached for comment, a spokesperson from the department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities presented a middle-ground for new projects. A spokesperson said: Local communities must be at the heart of decision making for onshore wind, which is why we are consulting on changes to national planning policy that determines how these decisions are made. This consultation remains open as we seek and consider a wide range of views. It is easy to praise Clarkes consistent backing of onshore wind, and commitment to easing restrictions but the industry remains on edge, and if onshore wind is to be revived from its declining role in the UKs energy sector, bolder action is necessary. While the government should remain open to further insights and new ideas, the reality remains that onshore wind has stagnated, and a future of cheaper, cleaner energy bills is hugely improved by lifting the energy source from its moratorium. As Zelensky leaves London, it is worth remembering that the energy crisis the UK has struggled through would have been considerably easier to bear with a resilient onshore wind sector. By CityAM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The first tanker loaded with Azeri crude left on Monday the Turkish port of Ceyhan, a week after the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria halted operations at the Ceyhan terminals. The crude oil tanker Nordlotus departed from Ceyhan early on Monday local time and is en route to Genoa, Italy, according to data from MarineTraffic. The tanker is loaded with Azerbaijans crude, which hasnt been exported from Ceyhan since the earthquake on February 6, Reuters reported today, citing a trade source and vessel-tracking data. Another tanker, the Alfa Baltica, is at the Botas Ceyhan terminal also loading Azeri crude, a trade source told Reuters. The Ceyhan oil terminal temporarily suspended operations on February 6 after the earthquake. The oil terminal is located around 155 kilometers, or 96 miles, from the epicenter of the earthquake. Crude oil flows from Iraq to Ceyhan resumed on February 7, but Azeri crude oil shipments were only restored a week after the earthquake. Earlier estimates suggested that the terminal at Ceyhan hosting the pipeline from Azerbaijan was expected to return to operations on February 8 or February 9. But BP Azerbaijan declared force majeure on loadings of Azeri crude from Ceyhan on February 8. BP Azerbaijan is the operator of the sections of the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline in Azerbaijan and Georgia. Ceyhan is the key export outlet for Azerbaijans oil and ships out around 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Azeri crude. A spokeswoman for BP told Reuters that the loading of Azeri crude resumed on Sunday. The return of Azeri crude oil shipments out of Ceyhan is a relief to concerns about supply to the market, days after Russia said it would cut in March 500,000 bpd of its oil production in response to the Western sanctions and price caps on Russian crude and petroleum products. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: European governments' bill to shield companies and households from soaring energy costs has soared to nearly 800 billion euros, Brussels-based think-tank Bruegel has revealed. According to the researchers, EU countries have now earmarked or allocated 681 billion euros in energy crisis spending; Britain has allocated 103 billion euros while Norway has earmarked 8.1 billion euros since September 2021. On the basis of gross spending by individual countries, Germany tops the spending chart, having allocated nearly 270 billion euros to shield consumers from high energy prices while Luxembourg and Denmark lead on per-capita spending. Back in September, the German government announced that it will ditch earlier plans for a gas levy on consumers and instead introduced a gas price cap to curb soaring energy bills, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz setting out a 200 billion ($194 billion) defensive shield to protect companies and consumers against the impact of soaring energy prices. "The German government will do everything in its power to bring [energy] prices down. We are now putting up a large defensive umbrella ... which we will endow with 200 billion," Scholz said at a press conference in Berlin, which he attended virtually due to a Covid-19 quarantine. Under the new plan, Berlin introduced an emergency price brake on gas and electricity prices and also scrapped a previously planned gas levy on consumers to avoid any further price increases. The gas levy, which was slated to come into effect in September and remain in place until April 2024, was intended to help utilities cover the cost of replacing Russian supply. The government also suspended its limit on new debt of 0.35% of gross domestic product. German gas importer Uniper has said that the country does not rule out undertaking gas rationing at some point following Russia's decision to indefinitely halt gas flows via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. However, other EU nations are not happy about massive spending by Germany and other European economic powerhouses, with some EU capitals arguing that encouraging more state aid would unsettle the bloc's internal markets. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Things are different now in the global energy markets to the way they were just after Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Back then, things from the oil markets perspective looked bleak, with Europe importing around 2.7 million bpd of crude oil from Russia and another 1.5 million bpd of oil products, mostly diesel. Europes reliance in considerable part on Russian oil imports meant that the European Union (EU) bloc of 27 countries was extremely reluctant to support any meaningful sanctions on Russia. This meant at that point that it looked likely that Russia would get away with its invasion of Ukraine without any significant repercussions from the rest of the world, just as it had when it annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine back in 2014. Things, though, are very different now, which is why the EU and G7 price caps imposed on 5 February on the imports of Russian oil products will have very limited effects on the global oil and products supply and demand matrix, just as the similar 5 December price cap on the import of Russian crude oil had. In broad terms to begin with, back in the first half of 2022, even before the EUs 27 member states met on 8 May to discuss pushing forward with the U.S.-proposed ban on Russian crude oil, Hungary and Slovakia had made it clear that they were not going to vote in favour of it. According to figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Hungary imported 43 percent of its total oil imports in 2021 from Russia, while the figure for Slovakia was even higher, at 74 percent of all its oil imports in the same year. Other EU countries also heavily reliant on Russias Southern Druzhba pipeline running through Ukraine and Belarus also made it clear that they were not willing to support the ban on Russian oil exports. The most vocal of these were the Czech Republic - 68,000 barrels per day (bpd) of its 2021 oil imports came from Russia - and Bulgaria (which was almost completely dependent on gas supplies from Russias state-owned oil giant Gazprom, and its only refinery is owned by Russias state-owned oil giant, Lukoil, providing over 60 percent of its total fuel requirements). Other EU member states that were also especially dependent on Russian oil imports were Lithuania (185,000 bpd, or 83 percent of its 2021 total oil imports) and Finland (185,000 bpd, or 80 percent of its total oil imports). Even compromise proposals offered by the EU of allowing Hungary and Slovakia to continue to use Russian oil until the end of 2024 (and the Czech Republic until June 2024) were not enough to remove their opposition to the idea of the proposed EU ban on Russian oil at that point. Related: U.S. Oil Drilling Activity Picks Up Amid Rising Crude Prices Adding huge weight to this opposition to any ban whatsoever on Russian oil imports of any kind either on crude oil or on oil products was Germany, the de facto leader of the EU. Germany had been the recipient in 2021 of the most crude oil from Russia of any country in the EU an average of 555,000 bpd, or 30 percent of its total oil imports in that year, according to the IEA. Comments from German Economics Minister, Robert Habeck, that Berlin was prepared for a ban on Russian energy imports were overlaid with considerable detail about how Germany had still not been able to find alternative long-term fuel supplies for the Russian oil that came by pipeline to a refinery in Schwedt operated by Russias state-owned oil giant Rosneft. He concluded that fuel prices could rise and that an embargo in a few months would give Germany time to organise itself in this regard. It is apposite to note that Germany specifically had also been at the forefront of several EU initiatives designed to circumvent the mainly U.S.-led sanctions on Iran before 2011/2012. Shortly after the U.S. announcement of its unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries (comprising the U.S., U.K., France, China, and Russia, plus Germany) in May 2018, the EU had moved to impose its Blocking Statute that made it illegal for EU companies to follow U.S. sanctions, as analysed in depth in my last book on the global oil markets. At around the same time, Germanys then-Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, had warned: We also have to tell the Americans that their behaviour on the Iran issue will drive us Europeans into a common position with Russia and China against the USA. Shortly after that, Germany was a key mover in the EU introducing a special purpose vehicle the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges that would act as a clearing house for payments made between Iran and EU companies doing work there. The European Unions view on the gas side of the Russian energy import equation was in the same vein and based on the same sort of reliance on these imports from Russia as it had for oil. As at the end of 2021, according to IEA figures, the European Union imported an average of over 380 million cubic metres (mcm) per day of gas by pipeline from Russia, or around 140 billion cubic metres (bcm) for the year. As well as that, around 15 bcm was delivered in liquefied natural gas (LNG) form. The total 155 bcm imported from Russia accounted for around 45 percent of the EUs gas imports in 2021 and almost 40 percent of its total gas consumption. Germany itself was reliant on Russian gas for around 30-40 percent of its own commercial and domestic gas needs, depending on the time of year. Consequently, back in the first half of 2022, the only real flurry of activity by the EU was aimed at ensuring that Russia did not stop supplying its member states with either oil or gas due to their not being able to pay in the way Moscow preferred. This followed the 31 March 2022 decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin that required EU buyers to pay in roubles for Russian gas via a new currency conversion mechanism or risk having supplies suspended. According to an official guidance document sent out to all 27 EU member states on 21 April by its executive branch, the European Commission (EC): It appears possible [to pay for Russian gas after the adoption of the new decree without being in conflict with EU law], EU companies can ask their Russian counterparts to fulfil their contractual obligations in the same manner as before the adoption of the decree, i.e. by depositing the due amount in euros or dollars. The EC added that existing EU sanctions against Russia also did not prohibit engagement with Russias Gazprom or Gazprombank, beyond the refinancing prohibitions relating to the bank. Since then, however, three key things have happened that have calmed these fears. The first is a slew of deals engineered by the U.S. and EU that have secured new energy supplies into Europe. These include major LNG deals with Qatar, and other oil and/or gas deals with, among others, Egypt, Libya, Oman, and the UAE. Second, Russias oil and gas has continued to flow around the world at discounts of well over 30 percent, which has meant a plugging of specific demand centres (most notably China, and India), and this, in turn, has served to keep oil and gas prices dampened down from the immediate post-invasion high band of US$120-140 pb of Brent in oils case and EUR240-340 per megawatt hour band of the Dutch Title Transfer Facility benchmark. Third, because the omni-shambolic nature of Russias invasion of Ukraine has dramatically weakened its political, military, and economic position in the world, it looks likely that the stranglehold that Russia had over several other major oil and gas producers has been broken, and will lead to further opportunities for the EU to strike new oil and gas supply deals where needed. In addition, on a technical pricing point, the US$100 pb price cap on the imports of Russian oil products that usually trade at a premium to crude, such as diesel, kerosene and gasoline, is so high as to be redundant, and the US$45 pb price cap on Russia oil products that generally trade at a discount to crude, such as fuel oil, can be easily circumvented through the range of sanctions-busting techniques that Iran has been using for years, and which Russia has been using since the middle of 2022. Indeed, according to the latest OPEC+ figures for January 2023, Russias volumes fell just 10,000 bpd in the month to average 9.85 million bpd, despite the EU embargo on imports of Russian crude and an accompanying 5 December 2022 G7 price cap. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: By 2023, Russias budgetary planning for civilian and military space programs was presumed to have changed compared with previous years due to the breakdown in space cooperation with the United States and Europe (with the exception of the International Space Station); the failures of Russias military space assets during Moscows invasion of Ukraine; and the economic troubles of the space corporation Roscosmos, suffering from sanctions and low economic efficiency. For instance, the corporation received 31 billion rubles ($421 million) with more than 50 billion rubles ($730 million) in net losses for 20212022, compared to a 1.8 billion rubles ($28 million) in net losses and 500 million rubles ($7 million) in net profits for 2019 and 2020, respectively. Moreover, the cumulative net losses of the state-owned corporation since its establishment in 2015 as a successor to the Federal Space Agency surpassed 90 billion rubles ($1.3 billion), comparable to Russias annual expenditure on civil space exploration (Roscosmos.ru, 2021; Vedomosti, December 21, 2022). It has become evident that the past few years have been a complete disaster for Roscosmos and that the war has made the situation even worse. Despite this, however, little changes are evident in the Russian space budget. The total annual expenditures on space programs during the previous five years were the following: 212.4 billion rubles ($3.4 billion) in 2018; 251.7 billion rubles ($3.9 billion) in 2019; 258.2 billion rubles ($3.6 billion) in 2020; 250.6 billion rubles ($3.4 billion) in 2021; and 264.2 billion rubles ($3.9 billion) in 2022. For 2023, 2024 and 2025, the current plan presumes 257.5 billion rubles ($3.8 billion, according to the average exchange rate of 2022), 254.5 billion rubles ($3.7 billion) and 253.8 billion rubles ($3.7 billion), respectively (Sozd.duma.gov.ru, September 30, 2020; Sozd.duma.gov.ru, September 30, 2021; Sozd.duma.gov.ru, September 28, 2022). However, the plan for space spending may be revised several times during 2023, and its final annual amount will be clear by the end of this year. Russias military space program consists of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), other military satellite networks and various projects including communications, optical and radar observation and electronic intelligence. The maintenance and development of the Plesetsk military launch site and other military ground space infrastructure are included as well. The Russian militarys current share of total space spending has become much harder to determine than in the previous decade. But the approximate and rather conservative number for 2023 is no less than 110 120 billion rubles ($1.6$1.8 billion)this assessment being based on official documents and on the differences between openly declared space spending and the total space budget in the previous decade (Vedomosti, May 13, 2014; Sozd.duma.gov.ru, September 28, 2022; Fcp.economy.gov.ru, 2023). Annually, only minor fluctuations were observed in spending, as compared to the previous and current levels of expenditures. At the same time, this estimation does not include operational spending on military units and military personnel involved in the space program, which are financed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. This prospective figure also does not count dual-use programs and projects in the development of satellites and launch vehicles, which are financed within the civil space program. Moreover, as Russia continues to cut itself off from the global space market and its domestic space market is quite small, the Ministry of Defense may become the main driver even for the civilian space program. This may go so far as to even include manned flights if Russia is able to deploy its own orbital station sometime after 2030 (Roscosmos.ru, July 26, 2022). Despite Russias push toward autonomy in space travel, some level-headed top managers are still present within Roscosmos who realize that Russia must maintain its space partnership with the United States and Europe, instead of buying into illusory thinking about a national orbital station or potential partnership with the Peoples Republic of China (Interfax-AVN, December 26, 2022; RIA Novosti, February 10). Another key point to consider here is the status of GLONASS. The current budget plan still does not presume a significant increase in spending for the program. For 2023, 2024 and 2025, the program is set to receive 24.7 billion rubles ($361 million), 24.5 billion rubles ($358 million) and 28.2 billion rubles ($412 million), respectively, compared with 24.9 billion rubles ($338 million) and 27 billion rubles ($394 million), respectively, in 2021 and 2022 (Sozd.duma.gov.ru, September 28, 2022). These numbers are much lower than in 20092010 and 20152018, when Russia actively modernized and maintained its satellite navigation system (Fcp.economy.gov.ru, 2023). However, the planned investment in the GLONASS program for the period running from 2021 to 2030 is set at 484 billion rubles ($6.6 billion), as compared with 270 billion rubles ($5 billion) in 20122020 (RBC, December 21, 2020). If this data is true, that means Russia will spend only a quarter of what it once spent during the first five years of the ten-year program. Moreover, as of today, 14 of 25 GLONASS satellites have exceeded their expected lifespans, and it is becoming more difficult for Russia to replace the old GLONASS-M generation of satellites with the next-generation GLONASS-K (Glonass-iac.ru, February 9, 2023). Russia produces 15 to 17 satellites of all types annually, and increasing satellite production rate is considered possible either through additional budget spending or through corporate bonds worth 50 billion rubles ($675 million) that could only be purchased by state-owned entities. As a result, it is hard to say if Russia will be capable of producing any more than one or two navigation satellites per year (RIA Novosti, February 10). Consequently, the absence of growth in spending in this sector most likely means that Moscow still does not have a clear plan for GLONASS. The example of the inertia plaguing GLONASS may be considered an indicator of the actual situation within the Russias entire military space program. By the Jamestown Foundation ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The issue of apartments and whether to allow more of them in the village has become a hot topic for the Oswego Village Board. Village trustees recently approved a resolution that sets housing targets for diversified housing, and also approved revisions to a development agreement and a rezoning for Tuscany Station, a development set to include 13 three-story apartment buildings plus a commercial area on land that may include a future Metra commuter station in the village. Advertisement Concept plans for Tuscany Station, planned for 98.3 acres on the west side of Orchard Road north of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway, were originally approved by the village in 2014 and revised in 2020. Trustees recently voted 5-1 in favor of revisions to the development agreement and rezoning at the request of the current developer. Trustee Brian Thomas was the only board member to vote against the agreement. Advertisement Thomas has been vocal about the number of development projects the board has approved in the last couple of years, specifically those for rental properties. Village President Troy Parlier has said the Tuscany Station development will be outstanding for Oswego, including generating revenues for the school district. Parlier said the concept plan was originally approved in 2014 and the board has only made it better. He said Thomas originally made the motion and voted in favor of the concept plans in 2020. Thomas acknowledged having made a motion to approve a concept plan for Tuscany Station in 2020. I did make the motion. I thought it was a good spot for it. I maybe still do. But Ill be darned if I am going to approve any more rentals knowing whats going up and down Wolfs Crossing Road, Thomas said. I am not going to approve any more rentals until what is going on now is fully developed. Thomas is running against Parlier in the Republican primary for village president on Feb. 28. Trustee Terry Olson said he would be opposed to a moratorium on apartment projects. Advertisement Trustee James Marter asked the villages legal counsel to reiterate whether it is legal to restrict housing types in the village. If a developer comes in with a multi-family residential project that is within the zoning code, the village has no authority to restrict it, Oswego Village Attorney Karl Ottosen said. You dont have authority to say you cannot bring residential rentals, Ottosen said. While I understand some people have an objection to apartments, I dont see a reason to even remotely put us in the threat of litigation costing the village hundreds of thousands of dollars and thats just for the settlements, Marter said. Marter said he has no issue with rental properties. I rented before and my parents rented before I was born and my friends have rented. I dont want to put us in the threat of lawsuits, Marter said. Advertisement Parlier didnt comment on the apartment issue but he did respond to the boards 4-2 vote of approval on a diversified housing resolution in December. Typically I dont respond but I will about transparency. You cant get more transparent about passing a resolution. We had a couple of no votes - they thought it was optics. It clearly states every (housing) percentage in there, Parlier said. Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya appointed by the Kremlin, has proclaimed that Russia possesses the military capabilities to secure the capital city of Kyiv, a feat he has declared Russia will accomplish by the end of the current calendar year. "I believe that, by the end of the year, we will 100% complete the task set for us today," Kadyrov has declared, adding that its necessary to seize control of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, and that it would be wrong to negotiate with the Ukrainian president. Over the past few weeks, Russian forces have been attempting to tie down Ukrainian forces by escalating fighting in the eastern Donbas region. Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko recently said that battles for the Donetsk region have been heating up, and that Russian forces are eradicating our towns and villages. Meanwhile, intense fighting has been raging on for weeks around the city of Bakhmut. Russia controls ~15% of Ukrainian territory, although it remains unclear how much control it has over seized territories. Back in December, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed that there will be no limitations on spending for the militarys war in Ukraine, as Western sanctions and price caps hope to crush war coffers. The country and government is giving everything that the army asks for--everything. I trust that there will be an appropriate response and the results will be achieved, Putin told top military officials at the Defense Ministrys annual meeting in Moscow. Previously, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin that Russia should expand its armed forces to 1.5 million troops, including 695,000 professional contract soldiers from the current 1.15 million in a bid to bolster security. Shoigu, however, has not explained where the additional recruits would be found with the latest mobilization drive deeply unpopular inside Russia. Kadyrovs and Putins bluster and show of defiance will, however, be put to test in the coming months as revenue from energy exports comes under pressure following price restrictions imposed by the U.S. and its allies. Whereas Russia ran a record current-account surplus in 2022, cash flows are expected to weaken considerably in 2023 as oil and gas sales to Europe plunge. Ukraines Ministry of Economy says it expects that the EU embargo on Russian oil and petroleum products should cut Russias profits by at least 50%. ADVERTISEMENT By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the largest gas importer in the country, is in the late stages of finalizing a huge long-term LNG import deal with Qatar, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. This would be a second such massive agreement of a Chinese energy giant with QatarEnergy in just a few months. "CNPC has agreed on the major terms with Qatar in a deal that will be very similar to Sinopec's," a Beijing-based state energy official told Reuters. In November, Qatar's state firm QatarEnergy signed the longest-term contract in the history of the LNG industry in a deal to supply LNG to Chinese state energy giant Sinopec for 27 years. QatarEnergy will supply China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) with 4 million tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG to China from the North Field East (NFE) expansion project. "This is the first long-term SPA from the NFE project to be announced, and marks the longest gas supply agreement in the history of the LNG industry," Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said at the time. The QatarEnergy-Sinopec agreement was also the first long-term LNG offtake agreement from the NFE Expansion project. Qatar's North Field East and North Field South (NFS) projects are expected to come online in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Now CNPC is reportedly finalizing a similar deal with the Qatari state energy firm to buy LNG from the North Field expansion project. A major deal for China with Qatar, a large LNG exporter, comes at a time when Chinese-U.S. relations are at a low point again. The U.S. is a major LNG exporter competing with Qatar and Australia to be the world's number-one LNG seller. A huge long-term deal with Qatar would also give China more contracted supply to reduce exposure to the volatile spot LNG prices. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned of the possibility of "new terrorist attacks" by Russian forces following Russia's recent strikes targeting energy infrastructure around the country. Speaking during his nightly address to the nation on February 12, Zelenskiy said power workers had repaired much of the damage caused by Russian drone and missile strikes on February 10. However, he added: "This is not yet a decisive victory on the energy front. Unfortunately, there may be new terrorist attacks from Russia" that could leave people without utilities during cold winter weather. Russia has carried out repeated waves of attacks on Ukrainian energy and other utilities facilities in recent months in what critics have said is an attempt to demoralize civilians during winter by leaving them without light, heating, and water. The February 10 strikes, which hit power facilities in six of Ukraine's regions, came as Zelenskiy returned from a tour of Western European capitals in which he lobbied for more weaponry to help defend the country from the invasion launched by Russia nearly a year ago. During his visits to London, Paris, and Brussels, Zelenskiy called for advanced weaponry, including longer-range missiles, fighter jets, and more tanks amid expectations of a new Russian offensive. Intense fighting continues in Ukraines eastern Donbas region, where Russian forces have been in engaged in a major push to take the strategic Donetsk region city of Bakhmut. On February 12, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed the private mercenary group had taken a village on the outskirts of Bakhmut and has vowed to take the city located along important highway routes. February 24 will mark the one-year anniversary of Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which initially resulted in the occupation of large swathes of Ukrainian territory. A Ukrainian counteroffensive in the fall saw Ukrainian forces recapture some occupied territory in the Donbas, a territory that is composed of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russia has since been using Wagner and military troops in an effort to retake the entire territory. Ukrainian officials expect a broad Russian offensive, which many observers believe has already begun, to focus on the Donbas, the Kharkiv region in Ukraines northeast, and the southeastern Zaporizhzhya region. Kyiv maintains that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to take advantage of the new offensive to highlight battlefield success when he makes his state of the nation address on February 21, days before the anniversary of the invasion. Russian forces had suffered more than 820 casualties per day over the past two weeks, according to the Ukrainian military, leading British intelligence to say the Russian military is suffering the greatest battlefield losses since the start of the war. Much of the focus is on the well-fortified towns of Bakhmut and Vuhledar in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces are believed to have suffered major losses. ADVERTISEMENT In the Luhansk region, Russian forces have targeted the towns of Bilohorivka and Kreminna near the territorys western border with the Donetsk region. On February 13, the Ukrainian military said it had repelled Russian attacks on Bakhmut, Bilohorivka, and Kreminna, and in the Zaporizhzhya region. A statement by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed forces said that Russian forces had launched four missile strikes and fired 85 rounds from multiple-rocket launchers over the previous 24 hours. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russias Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the countrys plans to sell more than 80% of its crude oil exports to friendly countries this year. These friendly countries include countries such as China and India, which havent participated in product bans, sanctions against Russia, and oil and oil product price cappingas well as Sri Lanka, which is in the throes of an economic crisis. While India has been criticized for its Russian crude purchases, it has maintained that it must make good economic decisions by purchasing the cheapest crude oil possible. After India refines the crude into fuel, it is often exported to the United States and Europe. Novak also said that it is these friendly countries that will also receive two-thirds of its refined oil products, adding that the country was also on the hunt for new markets. In addition to its war in Ukraine, Russia has undertaken an energy war against the Westmainly European Union member countrieswhich has resulted in Russia offering its crude oil at steep discounts to the Brent crude benchmark. It also has resulted in Russias budget swinging into a $24.7 billion deficit last month, with state revenues from oil and gas falling by nearly 50% as it was forced to slash the price of Urals. Urals has been trading somewhere near $30 per barrel below Brent. Novak warned last week that there was a risk of lower oil production this year on the back of the EUs import bans and price caps on Russian crude oil and its oil products. Shortly after this statement, the country announced it would cut its crude oil production by 500,000 barrels per day. But Novak said that Russian crude oil production held fast at somewhere between 9.8 million bpd and 9.9 million bpd last month. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment, if outright biased against the oil and gas industry, is a threat to energy affordability and energy security, the chief executive of the worlds largest oil firm, Saudi Aramco, said this weekend. As far as the future of capital markets is concerned, ESG is clearly a rising trend. And in my view, an increased emphasis on ESG is a move in the right direction, the Saudi oil giants president and CEO Amin Nasser said at the Saudi Capital Markets Forum 2023 on Sunday. However, if ESG-driven policies are implemented with an automatic bias against any and all conventional energy projects, the resulting underinvestment will have serious implications. For the global economy. For energy affordability. And for energy security, Aramcos top executive added. The cost of capital for the oil and gas sector has increased due to higher perceived risks, which in turn are driven by ESG policies, Nasser said. The executive stressed once again the underinvestment in oil and gas in recent years, citing figures that upstream investment was some $400 billion last year, less than half of the peak in 2014. The primary reason: pressure from multiple directions to discontinue all new investments in oil and gas. Pressure based on what I strongly believe are flawed assumptions and arguments. Nasser criticized the advocates of the energy transition narrative, saying that they are offering unrealistic views on how the global energy systems can be easily upgraded and replace oil and gas. Proponents of the popular energy transition narrative paint a picture of a utopian world where alternatives are ready to replace oil and gas almost overnight, he said. The energy crisis in Europe has shown that alternative energy supply is not ready to shoulder the heavy burden of global demand, Nasser added. Thats not the first time that Aramcos top executive has warned that underinvestment in oil and gas was the primary reason for the energy crisis last year. ADVERTISEMENT The energy crisis, while intensified by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, didnt start with the war, according to Aramcos top executive. Years of underinvestment, a lack of a backup plan, and alternatives not ready to step up and replace conventional energy are the real causes of this state of energy insecurity today, Nasser said in September 2022.\ By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The U.S. military shot down the fourth unidentified flying object in U.S. airspace in less than a week, Reuters has reported. The incident occurred over Lake Huron. Just two days earlier, Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had ordered the shooting of another object, and a U.S. aircraft had carried out the order. That unidentified object was detected over Yukon. Recovery teams are on the ground, looking to find and analyze the object, Trudeau told the media. The shoot-down series began last week when a Chinese balloon was spotted in U.S. airspace. Federal authorities said it was a spy balloon while China said it was a weather balloon that was blown off course. After the balloon was shot down, Beijing indicated that tensions with Washington were rising. Later last week reports began coming in of an unidentified flying object that was shot down in Alaska on Friday. Just a day later came the downing of the other object in Yukon. Following the third incident, a U.S. Air Force General said the Pentagon has not yet succeeded in identifying what the objects actually are, how they stay in the air, and where they came from. "We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason," General Glen VanHerck, chief of NORAD and the Northern Command said, as quoted by Reuters. Asked whether an extraterrestrial origin of the objects could be ruled out, VanHerck said "I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything." Meanwhile, The Hill quoted White House spokesperson John Kirby as saying, about the object shot down over Alaska, that the Pentagon was looking into the origin of the object, whether it came from another country or was the property of an individual or a company. He added it was still unclear what the objects purpose was. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Gasoline demand in the United States rose by 1.7% last week, and was also 3.7% higher than the four-week moving average, GasBuddy reported as quoted by Reuters. "For the first time since June, U.S. gasoline demand was not only up every day over the week ago period but also over the four week average," GasBuddys head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, said in a tweet. Interestingly, demand seems to be on the rise while prices are on the rise, too. Still, they were a lot lower than last years peaks in early summer, with futures going up from $2.32 per gallon on February 3 to $2.50 per gallon on February 10. While demand may increase in the short term, over the longer term there are expectations for a decline. This would be caused by greater fuel efficiency and less car use as more people opt to work from home. Growing EV adoption will also undermine gasoline demand, according to a Financial Times report. The United States consumed an average of 8.78 million barrels of gasoline last year, which was 6% below the record achieved before the pandemic. Gasoline sold on the U.S. market accounts for 9% of global oil consumption, the report noted. Meanwhile, the price for gasoline saw its first weekly decline two weeks ago, averaging $3.44 per gallon on February 5th. This was down by 4.4 cents from the previous week but up by 17.5 cents on a month earlier, the report showed. The increase in demand for gasoline, if sustained, could help alleviate concern about the immediate future of oil demand in the worlds biggest consumer as the market processes the growing prospect of a recession. Although indicator data seems to be contradictory, most commentators from the financial industry appear unanimous in their expectation of an economic slowdown. The question seems to be not if but when a recession will manifest. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: NEW YORK Crystal Powers began a new job remotely in February 2022 as a medical records supervisor. She has yet to meet two of the five people who report to her in person and has found it challenging to bond with her fellow managers online. I was used to that face-to-face of going into peoples cubicles and talking with them one-on-one. It just doesnt translate as well to a remote environment," said the 42-year-old Powers, who lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Just 2 in 10 adult U.S. employees say they definitely have a best friend at work, according to a quarterly Gallup survey done in June 2022. The percentage under age 35 dropped by 3 points when compared to pre-pandemic 2019, to 21% from 24%, said Gallup workplace and well-being researcher Jim Harter. There was no such change for workers 35 and up, he said. Having a best friend at work has become even more important since the dramatic rise in remote and hybrid employment, Harter said. Were seeing in the data that younger people in general are feeling more disconnected from their workplaces, he said. You can attribute some of that potentially to remote work. If theyre less connected to their workplace, they have fewer opportunities to connect with other colleagues and to develop those kinds of friendships that they might have had in the past. For many employees during the pandemic, particularly parents, educators and frontline workers, such friendships offered social and emotional support at a critical time, Gallup said. They also benefited employers. Gallup found a strong link between workers with best friends on the job and profitability, safety, inventory control and retention. Employees who have a bestie at work are significantly more likely to engage customers and internal partners, get more done in less time, support a safe workplace with fewer accidents, and innovate and share ideas, according to the research. Karen Piatt started a new job with a medical relief nonprofit just a few weeks into the pandemic lockdowns of 2020. She did all of her interviewing for the post online and works remotely full time. It's the first time in my 25-year career that I was hired for a job without meeting the hiring manager in person, said the 52-year-old Piatt, who lives just outside Seattle. It was nearly two years until I met my colleagues face-to-face." When she finally did, at a retreat last year, it was really special, she said. We hugged and talked as if we had known each other for years. In fact, we had. Best friends on the job are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to workers' well-being and added value to employers, Harter said. Without strong positive feelings for an employer, "You can have friendships at work that are likely to be dysfunctional and probably turn into gripe sessions. Powers said her team is mostly nearing retirement age. One is younger than she is. She is the only manager hired since the pandemic who is handling a full-time remote staff. Team building has been challenging. They're not super-interested in doing icebreaker-type stuff or things like trivia get-togethers, she said. Most of her staff live about 45 minutes away from the office and were commuting in before the pandemic. Powers knows her team has casual, digital get-togethers without her. She does biweekly check-ins with each. It's been more challenging than it has been in past positions to get buy-ins on things and earn the trust in me as a supervisor, because they still dont really know me," she said. Yet Powers likes working remotely. I'm hopeful that over time we'll come up with strategies to better engage both with our colleagues and with our subordinates to make it successful, she said. 10 ways workspacesand office culturehave evolved How workspaces and office culture have changed over time Skyscrapers Women in the workforce Cubicles Tattoos in the workplace Corporate campuses Retreat centers Interoffice instant messaging Remote work SPRINGFIELD Approximately 190 soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard mobilized for an overseas mission in a ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria. The soldiers are from the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, the 106th Aviation Regiment, based in Peoria, and Company B, 935th Aviation Support Battalion, based in Kankakee. The overseas mission is to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. During the deployment, the unit will provide aviation support to U.S. forces in the Middle East. The 106th Aviation Regiment field-tested the the UH-60V Blackhawk helicopter, which is an upgrade to the Blackhawk helicopter currently used by the U.S. Army, the UH-60L, with a comprehensive cockpit redesign that replaces the legacy analog instrumentation with a fully open, digital and integrated avionic suite. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the adjutant general of Illinois, and commander of the Illinois National Guard were also at the ceremony to thank the soldiers, their families and employers. During the ceremony, the soldiers received an Illinois state flag, which will travel with the unit as they deploy. Lt. Col. Jason Celletti, commander of the 106th Aviation, said it has been nearly 20 years since the battalion left for its first deployment overseas. The Illinois National Guard will also be celebrating its 300th year of service in 2023. Best cities for military retirees Best cities for military retirees Highlights from the top 10 cities for military retirees Data and methodology BLOOMINGTON U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, said Monday that the passage of a renewed Farm Bill is essential by 2020. During a visit to the Bloomington-Normal YMCA and Easterseals Central Illinois on Monday, the five-time congressman spoke to The Pantagraph about the bill, which is renewed every five years. LaHood said the legislation traditionally has been bipartisan, a trend he expects to continue this year. But with the Farm Bill covering so many areas, including disaster relief and nutrition program, cuts could be on the horizon. During last week's State of the Union address, President Joe Biden made several non-specific references to cuts in federal spending. LaHood, who represents the 16th Congressional District, said crop insurance, which protects farmers against drops in yield or natural disasters, has been on the chopping block the past. "We have to make sure that we maintain a robust efficient crop insurance program, so that will be a big part of it," LaHood said. But as the No. 1 industry in Illinois, LaHood said, agriculture must be aided and protected. As part of the planning phase, LaHood said committees will be looking at regulatory issues on how the legislation affects farmers. Therefore, a lot of input will be sought from farmers between now and December. To keep the process bipartisan, LaHood said all of the Farm Bill's titles, including SNAP employment opportunities and nutrition programs, should be included within the legislation. "It doesn't mean we should look for ways to make (programs) more efficient, more effective and accountable but it's essential we get it done," LaHood said. B.J. Wilken, executive director of the Bloomington-Normal YMCA, said his goal was to share some of the organization's legislative priorities with LaHood. Many of these priorities fall within the YMCA's three areas of cause: healthy living, youth development and social responsibility. Regarding healthy living, Wilken said he was advocating for increased funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for healthy eating and active living initiative. For youth development, Wilken said he would like to see federal funding for drowning prevention and child and youth protection service. For social responsibility, Wilken said his recommendations were for a variety of issues including immigration reform. Photos: Construction at the new YMCA in Bloomington nears completion Question: Of the two Twin City school districts Bloomington's District 87 and Normal-based Unit 5 which one more serves students who live in Bloomington? Answer: Yes. You guessed it. Because of the urban sprawl and the Twin Cities movement into formerly rural areas over the past 50 years, more than 50% of Bloomingtons student population now attends schools in Normal-based Unit 5. Thats according to state school-district statistics. SuCasa Properties, a leading real estate company in Ghana, is positioning itself to create at least 2,000 jobs for Ghanaian youth to support efforts to reduce unemployment in the country. The company, on Friday, held a conference to train hundreds of Ghanaian youths on opportunities in the real estate value chain, while offering them the prospect to be employed as salespersons with Sucasa. SuCasa Properties also aims at helping bridge the housing deficit of about two million housing units in Ghana with its modern townhouses of two-, three- and four-bedroom units, which ranges from US$40,000 to US$80,000. The affordable housing projects are at East Legon Hills, Ayi Mensah, Pokuase, and Appolonia, with plans to extend the property offerings to Kumasi and Takoradi. Speaking at the event, CEO of SuCasa Properties, Michael O'Grantson-Agyapong, said the conference was to make known the many opportunities in the real estate value chain and help the Ghanaian youth tap into them. He said: This is a job creation opportunity that we are giving to the youth and through this scheme, were looking forward to creating about 2,000 jobs per a year for the energetic and readily available youth who wants to take advantage of the system. He said, with right regulatory framework and Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the real estate sector would be a game changer in the Ghanaian economy. The sector contributed 2.9 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020, translating into GHS11 billion (US$1.9 bn), with a labour force of more than 320,000 people. Figures from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), shows that the performance of the sector to GDP stood at 10.5 per cent of the overall performance of the real GDP growth for the period of 2021 ending. Speaking on the potentials of the sector, Mr Awuku-Asare said: If we open the supply chain mechanism such that at every point somebody can tap into it judiciously and appropriately, this project is strategically positioned to augment governments agenda in trying to remedy the unemployment situation in the country. Mr. Samuel Amegayibor, Executive Secretary, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), lauded the initiative of SuCasa, which he said would complement various efforts to reduce unemployment in Ghana. He said: The real estate industry is so big that apart from the clerical and professional services in the built environment, there is marketing and other opportunities in the value chain, which the youth must open their eyes to. Mr. Louis Yaw Afful, Group Executive Director, African Continental Free Trade Area Policy Network (APN), also urged the youth to build their abilities in the real estate value chain, which he said would create sustainable income earning opportunities for them. He called on other sectors of the economy to use conferences that provided the platform to connect skills and capabilities of the youth to opportunities, noting that it would drastically reduce unemployment in Ghana. He said: There are so many sectors in the economy and if all of them should use this conference approach and invite the youth, well be able to harmonise their skills and they will pitch very well, and well see unemployment declining. 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 Read2Lead Foundation, a non-profit organization that was established eight (8) years ago to aid the next generation of leaders through reading has open its third library at Kotei, a suburb of Kumasi in the Oforikrom Municipality. The 5,000-square-foot new library, which also has a community centre, offices, private study rooms, and an ICT Lab with 20 modern computers is projected to serve 30,000 students, including those from Kumasi's Kotei R/C Primary School, Junior High School and students at the nearby Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Samantha Boateng, Co-Founder of Read2Lead, stated that the third library was intentionally designed to not only support and serve school children within the Kotei community but also a desire to give back to her roots. The first two libraries are located at the Gbawe Cluster of Schools in Accra, and Asuodei in the Ahafo Ano South Basic School in the Ashanti Region. According to Ms. Boateng, the project broke ground in 2017 and was completed in February 2023. I am from Kotei and building this library was purposely to give back to the community that has made me who I am today. Students who come to the library are able to access not only books but have access to private study rooms, an ICT Lab that offers students different ICT courses and soon we will be adding other creative arts courses to empower these students and enhance their knowledge, she said. Francisca Boateng, the foundation's co-founder, in sharing the Read2Lead story, revealed that the drive to start the foundation was fuelled by a passion to improve schoolchildren's knowledge, and the realization that there are not enough libraries in Ghana increased the urge to give back to the Ghanaian community. It all began when I used to travel to Ghana from the USA to teach in schools. I told my daughter about this when I returned home, and she made the decision to assist by collecting books from her school and friends. To help the schools where Read2Lead libraries are located, we collect and ship books, furniture for libraries and schools, and instructional materials, she said. Regional Director for Education, Ashanti Region, Dr. William Kwame Amankra Appiah who was guest speaker at the unveiling ceremony lauded Read2Leads Foundation for complimenting governments effort to bridge the illiteracy gap. He noted that although government is giving its best to ensure that the Ghanaian child is aided with the best education, it is necessary that other stakeholders come on board to achieve that goal. It is imperative that we all work hand-in-hand to deepen the collaboration that exists between the Ghana Education Service and various stakeholders in order to promote good quality life for all children irrespective of their economic and socio-cultural background, he said. In a speech read on behalf of the Oforikrom Municipal Director for Education, Dorothy Opare Baidoo, she reiterated that the Ghana Education Service has not relented on its effort to open its doors to all who have the desire to supplement government's effort to improve the educational, economic, and socio-cultural needs of the citizenry and charged the community to cultivate a maintenance culture to protect the facilities. I take this opportunity to charge the school authorities and the people of Kotei and its surroundings to make good use of this Library and the toilet facilities. Protect it as a valuable property because that is what it is and let it reflect in your lives, she mentioned. Former Deputy Minister for the Ashanti Region, Honourable Elizabeth Agyeman also urged parents to keep encouraging their wards to make use of the library so they can grow to become responsible leaders within the community and the nation at large. The more we as parents encourage our children to spend time in the library, the more likely we are to produce the next generation of responsible leaders for this town and the nation, she added. Chief for the Kotei Community, Nana Oppong Bensua said that there is no better companion than a good book and urged students in the community to use the newly build library as their study abode to acquire more knowledge and information. With the help of this library facility, replace the times you spend on your phones and TV with good books. Once you start reading, you experience a whole new world. When you start loving the habit of reading, you eventually get addicted to it and it will help shape your life for good, he added. The Kotei R/C Basic Schools Management Committee (SMC) represented by Joan Preprah said: The school management together with all the teachers and students are really grateful to Samantha and her team for blessing our community with this multifaceted library and a toilet facility. Other highlights at the opening included a presentation of citations to Gar-Field High School for their continuous assistance in assisting in Read2Leads efforts by coordinating students to help in the cataloguing, inventorying, and sorting donations for the foundation and a presentation to Mr. Douglas Yelbie for dedicating his time and foreseeing that the third project was a success. The opening also made room for students of the Kotei Community R/C basic school to deliver poemsand cultural dance presentations. 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 Ministry of Education has described as absurd, calls for the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum to be indicted over the school placement scandal. It follows reports that placement fraud has been traced to the office of the Minister of Education as some officials allegedly took GHC7,000 to place students at Wesely Girls and Achimota Senior High School. Speaking to Starr News, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng said such reports are untrue. If you look at the placement arrangement, 90% of vacancies go to students through the automatic system. The remaining 10% is shared between the schools and the general public respectively. When it comes to that which goes to the general public, it takes the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, TVET, and other agencies to do the distribution. In the process of the distribution, there is the possibility that because you have a human interface people may compromise the system. But at the end of the day, it is almost impossible or very difficult that any list presented to the Minister, he would be able to know that somebody took a or b amount of money. So if any person is to conclude that because theres a suspicion that some of the school placement was secured through monetary consideration and for that matter the Minister should be indicted, it is so absurd, so unreasonable and very untenable, he continued. 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 Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has on Sunday February 12, 2023 cut sod for the construction of the Liberty Assemblies of God Hospital in Akweteyman, Accra. The construction of the 50-bed community hospital is in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberty Assemblies of God Church. Vice President Dr. Bawumia, who provided financial support as well as 500 bags of cement to the church to start the construction of the hospital, congratulated the congregation on its 50th anniversary and also expressed delight at joining them for the groundbreaking ceremony which he described as "a manifestation of the goodness of God". "It is really a pleasure and a privilege to be here", Dr. Bawumia said. "Liberty Assemblies of God Church is 50 years this year and I was very privileged to be with you on that day when we celebrated the 50th Anniversary. And the theme was: 'declaring the goodness of God." "This (sod cutting) is a manifestation of that theme. We are here today because we are seeing the goodness of God." "The church, to thank God for 50 years, has decided to construct a 50-bed hospital for the community of Akweteyman", he added. Dr. Bawumia, having provided the Church his support, also reiterated his commitment towards the project. "I am so happy and so honoured to be part of it and I want to assure Reverend that I will be keeping a close eye and participating in the construction of this beautiful edifice", he said. "We want to see the completion in two years by the grace of God so I am one of you as we are going through this project, and we will see, by the grace of God, to its completion." "I just want to thank all of you, Reverend in particular for making me a part and an honorary member of Liberty, of which I'm very proud. May God bless this building and may God bless all the people who are going to be working." CHURCH THANKS DR. BAWUMIA FOR SUPPORT The Church expressed gratitude to the Vice President for his kind gesture and commitment towards the execution of the project. "First of all, we wish to thank you for honouring our invitation to attend our 50th Anniversary in this local church. We also appreciate the fact that you made a giant contribution into the project we intended to undertake", the Head Pastor stated. "Mr. Vice President, thereafter, your 500 bags of cement was received and we are grateful again. At the last visit to your home when we made you aware the project was going to begin, you duly requested that you'll love to be part of the sod cutting. I was personally elated to hear that and I am happy to know that you have a keen interest in the project we are undertaking. We appreciate this", the Head Pastor added. 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 Ahead of his planned return to school to continue with his medical programme and subsequent continuation abroad, Ningwei Leonard Lanyeli, a former participant in the popular National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) will receive treatment for his mental health condition in South Africa. This will be courtesy of businessman, Ibrahim Mahama who had earlier offered to pay for the treatment and education of Leonard whose dream of becoming a medical doctor was cut short after he suffered from bipolar disorder. In a Facebook post sighted by GhanaWeb, an aide to Mr Mahama, Rafik Mahama, said Leonard, at the request of his boss had been brought from Jirapa in the Upper West Region to Accra to commence his treatment. As part of the treatment process, Rafik revealed that Leonard will be flown to South Africa where he will undergo therapy. Upon the request of Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, Leonard arrived in Accra yesterday from Jirapa. Hes currently taking a rest and going through a procedure at a medical facility in East Legon. Mr. Ibrahim Mahama instructed we process Leonard for South Africa. Arrangements have been done in South Africa for him to receive special care and treatment. Processes have started for him to be flown to South Africa. Thatll be done as soon as the documentations are done in few days time." The story of Ningwei Leonard Lanyeli Ningwie Leonard Lanyeli attended and completed the Ganaa Memorial Junior High School, emerging as the best-performing student with an aggregate of 8. In senior high school, St Francis Xavier Junior High Seminary, Leonard pursued General Science as a course and earned the name; Dr. Ningwie Leonard Lanyeli from his open ambition to become a medical doctor. With this ambition, he pushed to score 6 As in his WASSCE exams and B2, B3, and B2 in biology, English and social studies respectively, in 2007. Not only did his final results show his academic prospects, but his participation in the National Science and Maths Quiz in 2007. After senior high school, his dreams to move to the University of Cape Coast to read medicine were crashed when his parents told him about the difficulty in paying what was the schools high fees at the time. Consequently, he joined the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology which had relatively a more affordable fees to study as a doctor of optometry. I gained admission to read medicine at the University of Cape Coast at the cost of GHC4,100 a year and my father was a teacher who couldnt afford to pay the fees, so I opted to read Optometry (Dr.) at KNUST, he said in an interview with Joynews' Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen. There also, he performed incredibly and his feats were recognized by all, in fact, he says, he was the best in his class at least for the first four years of his course in medicine. And then his woes began. His 60-year-old mother, Ninwie Gladys, told Joynews that Leonard developed a mental disorder after 4 years in school, after a friend at the university took Leo to his hometown. His family would only get to know later that the condition of their son was Bipolar Disorder 2 after he took a break from his university studies to seek medical attention at the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital in 2013. There is a certificate hanged in that empty room that shows that I still hold the record as the winner of spelling in Pantang Hospital when I took part in a quiz contest during my stay to get medical health. I tell people I am sensible and can teach a crowd, Leonard said in a Joynews interview. Leonard later returned to the university in 2014 after a successful rehabilitation and was performing well but his stay there was brief. His mother says Leonards condition worsened when his father died. Today, many of his colleagues who are now engineers and doctors talk about how brilliant Leonard was and what his potential could have been if his dreams were fully realized. It is disheartening seeing a young man who is very brilliant and could be very resourceful to Ghana in such a condition, his colleague Dr. Patrick Seidu told Joynews. Sixtus Bayaa, a former biology tutor at St. Francis Xavier Junior Seminary, described him as intelligent and could have been one of the best Scientists or Medical Doctors in Ghana if he didnt suffer the medical condition. Leonard today: Today, Leonard is 33 years old. His dreams of being a doctor may have been cut short because of his health condition but he still hopes to return to school if given another chance, albeit with different dreams this time, he wants to go into community health nursing or teacher training. If I get another opportunity, I would like to go back to school again but, I just want a simple course community health nursing or teachers training college so that I can help my colleagues. I really know how to help, he said. He wants, peace and hopes things get better. I respect my mother and that is a responsibility. I respect humanity and that is also a responsibility. What I expect from my family is care, Leo continued while speaking to Joynews. Source: dailymailgh.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 One of the first things the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, did on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, when the House resumed sitting for the year, was to communicate a letter from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the members. The letter, which was to announce some major changes the president had made to his government, detailed the nominations of a few people, such as Kobina Tahiru Hammond and Stephen Amoah as Minister of Trade and Industry and his deputy, respectively. It had become necessary, as the presidents letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said, after the resignations of three of his ministers in the last month. With the announcements, which also included the appointments of Osei Bonsu Amoah as Minister of Food and Agriculture and Stephen Asamoah Boateng as Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Speaker of Parliament expressed his congratulations to the members. He did so due to the fact that all the new appointees were Members of Parliament. But the Speaker had more to say than this when he wished them the all-men appointees - the best of luck as they go through the vetting processes ahead of their confirmations or not by parliament. Having been interrupted a few times during his reading of President Nana Akufo-Addo letter to the House, Alban Bagbin stated that, from observing how excited the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs the Minority, were, it was indicative that they would easily approve the nods of these nominees. Honourable members, I accordingly refer this communication to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report to the House. I want to, on behalf of members, congratulate the Members of Parliament who have met the high consideration of His Excellency and have been given the opportunity to go through the vetting by this House. I hope all of you will pass. Its only a hope, but since the Minority were jubilating more than the Majority, its an indication that you may go through, he said. It is common knowledge that members of the Minority in parliament are usually very tough on nominees of the president, who appear before the Appointments Committee of Parliament. This situation, however, is one that the Speaker of Parliament feels could change, especially with this new crop of appointees. It is also worth mentioning that in recent times, many Ghanaians, including MPs, have been appealing to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to effect a major change in his government. The calls for the president to announce a reshuffle of his appointees have stemmed from a number of issues, one of which is the fact that since he took over power, in January 2017, he had not announced any major changes to his government. There have also been the assertions that keeping the appointees at the same post for so long has been a panacea to their engagements in corrupt practices, or the fuel for their non-performances. 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 A man has been butchered to death following an argument over the price of fruit juice in a drinking spot at Maakro in the Suame Constituency on Thursday. The victim identified as Adam Nabil had a heated argument with the bar attendant regarding the exact price of Don Simon fruit juice. The attendant is said to have called eight heavily armed men to attack and butcher Nabil. According to a Daily Guide report, on February 10,2023, at 11am, Moses Ndandon, brother of Adam Nabil called on the station to inform them about the incident. A police report on the incident said, an argument ensued between the drinking spot attendant and his brother about the price of the said fruit juice. In the process, the drinking spot attendant went out and called some young men numbering 8, who attacked and injured his brother with cutlasses, the police report added. The report added that the victim sustained severe injuries on his neck after the attack as he had deep cuts and was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Photograph of victim lying in hospital bed with plaster on his neck taken, portions of the police report stated. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to arrest the suspects. 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 Alicia Rodman McCray at her 2013 induction into the Park Forest Hall of Fame. (Park Forest Hall of Fame) When Alicia Rodman McCray was selected to the Park Forest Hall of Fame in 2013, she was lauded as the embodiment of the term public citizen. Truer words were never spoken. Advertisement From its earliest days as a village, it has been part of the community mantra that if you wanted to get something done in Park Forest, ask the women who would discuss what needed fixing in the village and told their husbands to do something. Today, however, women mind the public store. Alicia Rodman McCray, who died late last month at the age of 72, did something as she saw the issues at hand and demanded changes. Advertisement She championed better education for children while serving on the Matteson Elementary District 162 Board and sought better housing opportunities as president of the South Suburban Housing Center and the Cook County Housing Authority. She also was a loyal supporter of the arts as president of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. Alicia was a founding member of the Black Student Union at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As an officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, she established internships for school-age Black women interested in financial careers. As a member of the YMCA National Board of Directors, she traveled to China, Kenya and Australia to organize programs empowering women. Both Alicia and her late husband, Robert McCray, were Park Forest Village Board members. While Robert served four full terms on the board from 2005 until his death in 2019, she was first appointed in 1991 and elected to a full term one year later. Along with her husband, she was on the villages Mediation Task Force and was the director of Governors State Universitys Metropolitan Institute for Leadership in Education. During her 26 years as a member of the sprawling District 162 Board, which serves parts of five suburbs, she championed the formation of a public charter school, a goal fulfilled with the 2010 opening of Southland College Prep School in Richton Park. She was very articulate and very passionate about education said Park Forest Trustee Theresa Settles, adding she was also a kind and generous person. Although it was evident both Alicia and Robert McCray were passionate in their desire to create opportunities for all citizens, they were different in their approaches. At times, Robert McCray wore his outspoken desire for change on his sleeve while Alicia was a quiet yet determined fighter for better schools and decent housing for all citizens. They achieved their goals in completely different manners. One could never forget Roberts outraged complaint at a preelection candidate forum (one in which he was not up for reelection) that there were too many lies being spoken by one candidate. Advertisement In the last year of his life, and while ill, the story goes that when new Mayor Jon Vanderbilt tried to replace longtime Village Manager Tom Mick in 2019, it was McCrays passionate support for Mick in a closed-door session at a Village Board meeting that scuttled the scheme. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > I never heard Alicia McCray raise her voice in public, but no one who knew her doubted her fire and passion for change. They both had steel fists, but if so Alicia always wore kid gloves. The muscular infirmity that assaulted her in later years slowed her down but did not stop her. Almost to the end, she was like that Timex watch that takes a licking but keeps on ticking. This past Saturday, friends and family joined for tribute to Alicia Rodman McCray at Southland Prep, the school she championed. It was there that former Park Forest Mayor Ron Bean said he wondered how she found time to do the things she did. I never knew anyone who had such a passion for what she was doing. She was just a good person to know, he said. Another tribute, at 4:30 p.m. this Saturday at the Tall Grass Art Center in downtown Park Forest, will also honor her life and her never-ending passion for progress. Advertisement Jerry Shnay is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown. Jerryshnay@gmail.com A gas tanker caught fire after crashing at Sokoban Ampayoo, a suburb of the Atwima Kwanwoma District in the Ashanti Region. According to a report by the Daily Guide newspaper, the accident, which happened on Thursday, February 9, 2023, was as a result of one of the tyres of the speeding gas tanker bursting. The report indicated that the tyre burst when the speeding tanker got to a sharp curve which led to the driver losing control of the vehicle and it crashing into a gutter. It added that the tanker caught fire after crashing, but the driver and his conductor managed to escape with minor injuries and were taken to a health facility by residents of Sokoban Ampayoo. The community members then fled the scene of the accident fearing a possible gas explosion and called for the help of the Ghana National Fire Service. An eyewitness, Kofi Boateng, is reported to have said that but for the timely intervention of the personnel of the fire service, the tanker, which was fully loaded with gas, will have exploded. I must confess, the firefighters have done a yeoman's job today and they deserve to be applauded and appreciated for their hard work," he said. Another eyewitness, Adwoa Konadu, also said "but for the timely intervention of the firemen, surely the blaze would have exploded and caused massive destruction." The report added that the accident caused traffic on the Ampayoo to Sokoban road as cars from both directions had to wait for hours for the fire to be doused. 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 Medical Association (GMA) has threatened it will abandon the hospitals if the government touches their pension funds for the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). Speaking on Starr Today with Joshua Kodjo Mensah, the General Secretary of GMA, Dr. Titus Beyuo said that the government dares not touch their independent pension funds adding any move by the government on their fund will be a complete betrayal of trust and action in bad faith. If you touch peoples pensions they are not going to sit down. Already you are underpaying us and what we are saving towards pension the same threat that existed before for which reason the government backed down on pension funds is the same that prevails. We have told the government what will happen if they touch our pension funds and we will desert the hospitals. We will go on a total strike and that is what we have decided to do. We have given out a letter and everything that we will do is the same principle that will apply here, Mr. Beyuo stated. He continued: It was the same thing the government sought to avoid that they will not touch pension funds. So if they are now going to touch some pension funds under the pretext that they are not regulated by the MPRA, when the government is aware that prior to the establishment of MPRA organizations like the GMA, the Universities and other organizations set up independent pension funds to help their members. Meanwhile, Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson has assured Pensioner Bondholders and others that parliament will move swiftly to address the burning issues related to the ongoing domestic debt exchange program. Pensioner Bondholders meeting with Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on Friday, February 10, 2023 ended inconclusively as the government insists the retirees should consider voluntary exemption. In a tweet, the leader of the opposition frontbench said the Finance Minister is billed to appear before the House by next to deal with the concerns of investors in the debt restructuring programme. It is disheartening to see our dear pensioners including a former Chief Justice picketing at the MOF over the domestic debt restructuring. I wish to assure her & the rest, parliament is dragging the Finance Minister before us next week and we will represent their interest fully! a tweet by Ato Forson said. Source: starrfm 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 Embassy of the United State of America in Ghana has reacted to a viral poster advertising American Visa services within 24 hours. Responding to a tweet on the poster which reads USA Visa in 24 hours, the embassy said that Ghanaians who patronize the services of the 24 hours Visa operators do so at their peril. It urged people not to patronise the USA Visa in 24 hours to avoid Wo ko ho ko y3 d3n (WKHKYD) experiences. WHHKYD is a Twi dialect social media trend that translates to What did you go there for?" The embassy also urged Ghanaians to contact their offices for their visa. To avoid #WKHKYD experiences, always use the only authentic source for U.S. visa: https://gh.usembassy.gov/visas/, parts of the tweet which the embassy shared on Sunday, February 12, 2023 read. 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 Political Scientist Prof Ransford Gyampo has criticized President Akufo-Addo for not listening to Ghanaians as far as reshuffling of his appointees is concerned. It may be recalled that President Akufo-Addo, on February 7, 2023; nominated K.T Hammond (MP for Adansi Asokwa) as the minister-designate for Trade and Industry and Bryan Acheampong (MP for Abetifi) as the minister-designate for Food and Agriculture. Stephen Asamoah Boateng (Asabee) is heading to the Ministry of Chieftaincy; Mohammed Amin Adam is the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Osei Bonsu Amoah is the Minister of State for Local Government. Stephen Amoah, popularly known as Sticka the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, was also appointed a Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry. Herbert Krapah, previously the deputy Trade Minister was also moved to the Energy Ministry with the same rank. Prof Gyampo speaking to this in an interview on Neat FM's Me Man Nti programme said it's 'disrespectful' to ignore the call of Ghanaians "who voted for you" and rather "fill in the gaps" in your government. "President Akufo-Addo is the only one who has not been able to make any reshuffle...Even J.J Rawlings (late former President) who didn't believe in multiparty democracy listened. They (NPP) claim to have the men but with what is going on...Ghanaians have been calling for a reshuffle for so long and what he did was to fill in the gap which is not reshuffle. This intransigence about the call for a reshuffle by the President is quite disrespectful to the good people of Ghana..." he said. 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 There has been drama in parliament following the reshuffle in Minority leadership by the National Democratic Congress. Following the resumption of parliament on February 7, 2023, the new minority leaders were supposed to take their new seat which is the front bench. The previous leaders were also to be reallocated to their new seats to match their current status. Haruna Iddrisu, former minority leader, was given a seat on the front bench with Cletus Avoka, who is one of the longest-serving MPs and Former Majority leader. The seat was previously occupied by Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Collins Dauda, who is also a longest-serving MP but was not a leader. Haruna Iddrisu did not occupy that seat even though he showed up in the house on February 7. He left the chamber before the house commenced sitting for the day, with his name tag attached to what used to be Collins Daudas seat. Haruna gets another seat: On Thursday, February 9, however, Haruna Iddrisu showed up again in parliament, while the Speaker, Alban Bagbin was leading proceedings. When he walked in, he sat on a different seat, behind his successor; Dr Cassiel Ato Forson. This time, his name had been repositioned on this seat behind the new minority leader; Dr. Ato Forson, from the previous one which was Collins Daudas. This seat was also Dr. Ato Forsons former seat. What happened Just when the Speaker left the chamber for the deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu to take over the proceedings, Haruna Iddrisu moved from his original seat to Joseph Osei Owusus seat to make his contribution to the statement and added that he had rejected Collins Daudas seat. In his concluding statement to a motion on the floor of the house, the Tamale South MP apologised to Joseph Osei Owusu for contributing to the statement from his (Joe Wise) seat, and detailed why he rejected Collins Daudas seat. He said the Asutifi South MP is his senior in age and also in terms of his stay in parliament, therefore as a well-trained man, he will not accept the seat. Mr Speaker, forgive me that I have to assume your chair, there was [sic] whether I should take over from Collins Dauda or yours and I have told them that honourable Collins Dauda is senior by age and a senior even to this house. So, I will not fit into his chair as somebody who is well-trained from home. So, any other chair Mr speaker, is acceptable to me, I am still the elected member of parliament for Tamale South, he said in the chamber on February 9 after he made a contribution. Contradictions in Harunas posturing The twist in events raises questions about Haruna Iddrisus position on a befitting seat for him following Harunas movement from his new seat (Ato Forsons previous seat) to that of the Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, after the latter assumed the Speakers seat, makes it more confusing and raises questions about what exactly the concerns of Haruna Iddrisu are with regards to the issue of his sitting position. Allocation of seats: Commenting on this development, on February 10, the Minority Chief Leader, Governs Agbodza clarified that the new leaders had allocated seats to the former leaders. 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 It was a "red carpet" affair for the campaign team of the immediate-past Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, and his team when they arrived in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Region. The New Patriotic Party stalwart, who is seeking to lead the party as its flagbearer, was in the region on a days tour when he got what can be described as a presidential welcome from the people of Koforidua. Surrounded by traders, party supporters, and onlookers shouting praise in Alan Kyerematens name, the women laid their clothes on the streets for the politician to walk on, reports The Chronicle newspaper. The report added that Alan Kyerematen, as part of his visit, paid a call on the Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Kwaku Boateng III, to officially inform him of his intentions to run as president of Ghana. In a closed-door meeting, Mr. Alan Kyerematen discussed matters of interest with Nana Kwaku Boateng III and some of his sub-chiefs. They also discussed his ambition to become flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, the report stated. Alan also met with some executives of the NPP in the region, where he appealed to them to lend him their support as he aims to become their flagbearer. 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 Alan Kyerematen campaign team has revealed to the media that the presidential candidate hopeful has been the target of several cyber attacks. Yaw Buaben Asamoa, a campaign team spokesperson, said it is very unfortunate that the campaign team and former trade minister are constantly targeted by cyber attacks. He stated that they do not wish to assign blame or share information about the sources of the attacks. He noted that Alan has been attacked two or three times, including the notable false story that delegates in the Western North region told him things. That never happened, including the half-baked messaging. But worst of all is the grievous attack on me that a statement I have never made, will never make, will never contemplate was ascribed to me with my picture and circulated very widely on the internet. Viral attacks on my personality and my person, all because we are pushing a humble and courageous leader to freshen politics in Ghana. He was speaking to journalists when the former trade minister and his campaign team toured the Volta Region last week. Source: rainbow radio 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 Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Opare Addo, says his party would win if elections were held today. According to him, the NPP government is the worst in the countrys history, adding that former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffos picketing at the Finance Ministry says it all. Explaining the readiness of the NDC for the 2024 general elections, Opare Addo said his party will increase its votes by a wide margin. We will increase our votes in the next election... It is not only about victory, it is about the state of the Ghanaian economy. It is about you and I. if 70-year-olds, 90-year-olds today are picketing at the Finance Ministry, then you should know all is not well in this country. To have a former Chief Justice, who is an Article 71 office older, and still a member of Governing Council of the University of Ghana, then you should know all is not well. So, it is not only about the NDC winning power, but it is about the soul of this country, Opare Addo said. If we dont speak the truth to this government, it wont be a good thing for this country. Ghana is bankrupt as we speak, he explained on Atinka TVs Oman Mu Nsem, hosted by Nana Owoahene Acheampong. 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 Music legend, K.K Fosu has disclosed his intention to be a Member of Parliament as an independent candidate. According to the musician who has a rich repertoire of Highlife songs, he wants to become a parliamentary representative for the people of Mangoase in the Eastern Region. In an exclusive interview with Abeiku Santana on Okay FMs drive time Ekwanso Dwoodwoo, K.K Fosu bitterly complained about bad roads in his community and the plight of the people. To him, he wants to go to Parliament to effect changes in his community ensuring the residents have a good living and the roads fixed to ease vehicle and human movements. K.K Fosu revealed that he will be contesting the parliamentary seat on the ticket of his own party he named 'Empower Youth Movement (EYM)'. To the public, it may not be surprising to see K.K Fosu in the 2024 parliamentary elections. ...I'm not a politician. My vision and the mission is beyond politics. I am independent. It's a movement; an independent movement. We are not going to talk about politricks. We are going to talk vision beyond politics...Currently, I control the youth of Akuapem North, he emphasized. When asked how he intends to win the seat without vying on the ticket of a political party, he said; "You don't need people to buy you. They will control you with their money and that's [what we are facing] the problem we facing as Africans...God is with me and I have people. I have fan base." 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 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: Dating platforms that cater to specific groups have become increasingly popular. Credit: Shutterstock Where do people go for good Chinese food? One obvious answer is Chinatown. Many large cities have established Chinatowns and other neighborhoods that serve as a cultural base for different communities. But increasingly, more than existing in physical space, these ethnic communities are forming in cyberspace. In particular, digital Chinatowns are becoming very important in the dating lives of Chinese immigrants. According to our new research, many Chinese immigrants in Canada are turning to online communities hoping to find love. As the internet and smartphones have become ubiquitous in our day-to-day life, millions of singles are going online to look for romantic partners. And online dating platforms have burgeoned. Digital Chinatowns Even if you've never tried online dating, you've probably heard of Tinder, Plenty of Fish, OkCupid or one of the many dating apps available today. There are also online dating platforms that cater to specific groups. A popular choice among Chinese immigrants is 2RedBeans, one of the main dating sites for Chinese people living abroad. Another frequently mentioned app, Tantan, is known as the Tinder of China. People of Chinese descent are one of the largest visible minority groups in Canada. Nearly 60 percent of them are foreign-born immigrants to Canada. In 20182019, our research team interviewed 31 heterosexual Chinese immigrants in Metro Vancouver, including 17 women and 14 men. All of our research participants had used online dating services while they were living in Canada. We talked with each of them about their dating and relationship experiences. About half of the people we interviewed preferred to date someone of the same ethnic background. Many of them preferred Chinese immigrants who had come to Canada at a similar age to themselves. They believed that immigrating from China to Canada around similar ages would indicate shared cultural upbringings. This cultural matching was perceived to facilitate mutual understanding, good conversations, and feelings of "clicking" in intimate relationships. Interviewees told us it was difficult to make friends in their daily life in Vancouver, let alone find their preferred dates. For example, one interviewee participated in an English conversation circle for newcomers to improve her English. However, she found it hard to socialize with people there because everyone "was cold to each other" and "had little interest in chatting further." So, she went online in search of dates and romantic partners, just like many other immigrants. But meeting people on western dating apps was also challenging for our Chinese immigrant interviewees. While Tinder is often seen as a default option in the western dating scene, one interviewee felt there were "very few Chinese" on Tinder. Another said, "If any, those are the Chinese people who can't speak Chinese; those speaking Chinese don't use Tinder to look for partners." As a result, many Chinese immigrants we interviewed primarily, or even exclusively, used dating platforms that specifically catered to Chinese people. Dating apps like 2RedBeans and Tantan have created Chinatowns in cyberspace. Chinese-oriented dating apps not only provide a virtual space for co-ethnic daters to gather, but they also preserve the use of Chinese language. Speaking Chinese matters when connecting with potential partners. Users who lack Chinese language skills can feel blocked out of cyber-Chinatowns. One of our interviewees, who came to Canada as a child and didn't speak fluent Chinese, said his experience on Chinese dating apps had not been fruitful. In his experience on Tantan, most women stopped talking to him after he asked if they could speak English. Racial stereotypes Our research also found that Chinese immigrant men were more likely than women to rely on ethnic online communities to look for romance. Men's choices of online dating platforms were not just down to personal preference, but rooted in their lived experiences of discrimination in dating. One man shared with us that he once received the following comment from a white woman: "You are the first Asian man that caught my eye!" While it was meant to be complimentary, it felt more like scorn than praise, echoing stereotypes of Asian men being "unmasculine" and "unattractive." Some of our male interviewees tried mainstream western dating apps like Tinder and Plenty of Fish but kept getting no matches. Disappointed with their experiences, they soon deleted the apps. Even if some Chinese men were open to dating women of other ethnicities, non-Chinese women seldom responded to their messages. After experiencing constant non-responses and rejections on western dating apps, Chinese men tended to "retreat" into cyber-Chinatowns as a comfort zone shielding them from potentially disappointing encounters. Without enough intercultural contact that promotes deeper understanding, individuals are often reduced to stereotypical characterizations. As such, racial stereotypes remain unchallenged and racial discrimination continues to prevail. Ethnic, cultural or religious online communities help people find a match. However, such communities can also risk further segregating people into ethnic clusters and reduce interactions across different cultural groups. Our interviews with Chinese immigrants were conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, anti-Asian racism has surged. That could mean more Chinese immigrants will turn to digital Chinatowns to look for love and companionship. What can be done to help immigrants attain a sense of belonging without living in the margins of the host society? Ideally, in Canada, a country that supports multiculturalism, visible minority immigrants can preserve their ethnic cultures while having plentiful intercultural communications without experiencing racism. But in reality, that is not always the case. Limited opportunities to make meaningful connections won't be magically solved by using technology. We must all cultivate more space, on and offline, where we can meet people of different backgrounds and get to know each other as real people and social equals. Culture may define us, but it should not divide us. More information: Manlin Cai et al, Digital Ethnic Enclaves: Mate Preferences and Platform Choices Among Chinese Immigrant Online Daters in Vancouver, Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie (2023). DOI: 10.1111/cars.12414 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: Blast disease destroys between 10% and 35% of the world's rice harvest each year. A new discovery could lead to fungicides that block the pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae, from entering the leaves. This photo of a healthy rice field was taken in Chengdu, China, in 2019. Credit: Nick Talbot, The Sainsbury Lab A fungus that plagues rice crops worldwide gains entry to plant cells in a way that leaves it vulnerable to simple chemical blockers, a discovery that could lead to new fungicides to reduce the substantial annual losses of rice and other valuable cereals. Each year, blast disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, attacks and kills plants that represent between 10% and 35% of the global rice crop, depending on weather conditions. University of California, Berkeley biochemists led by Michael Marletta, professor of chemistry and of molecular and cell biology, have discovered that the fungus secretes an enzyme that punches holes in the tough outer layer of rice leaves. Once inside, the fungus rapidly grows and inevitably kills the plant. In a paper published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Marletta and his colleagues describe the structure of the enzyme and how it works to help the fungus invade plants. Because the enzyme is secreted onto the surface of the rice leaf, a simple spray could be effective in destroying the enzyme's ability to digest the wall of the plant. The scientists are now screening chemicals to find ones that block the enzyme. "The estimates are that if you could knock out this fungus, you could feed 60 million more people in the world," said Marletta, the Choh Hao and Annie Li Chair in the Molecular Biology of Diseases at UC Berkeley. "This enzyme is a unique target. Our hope here is that we'll screen to find some unique chemicals and spin out a company to develop inhibitors for this enzyme." This target is one of a family of enzymes called polysaccharide monooxygenases (PMO) that Marletta and his UC Berkeley colleagues discovered a little over 10 years ago in another more widespread fungus, Neurospora. Polysaccharides are sugar polymers that include starch as well as the tough fibers that make plants sturdy, including cellulose and lignin. The PMO enzyme breaks cellulose into smaller pieces, making the polysaccharide susceptible to other enzymes, such as cellulases, and speeding up the breakdown of plant fibers. "There is an urgent need for more sustainable control strategies for rice blast disease, particularly in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa," said Nicholas Talbot, who is Marletta's colleague and co-author, a plant disease expert and executive director of The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich in the United Kingdom. "Given the importance of the polysaccharide monooxygenase to plant infection, it may be a valuable target for developing new chemistries that could be applied at much lower doses than existing fungicides and with less potential environmental impact. It might also be a target for completely chemical-free approaches, too, such as gene silencing." Damage to rice leaves from rice blast disease. Credit: Nicholas Talbot, The Sainsbury Lab Marletta and UC Berkeley Ph.D students Will Beeson and Chris Phillips were originally interested in these enzymes because they degrade plant cellulose much more quickly than other previously described enzymes and thus had potential to turn biomass into sugar polymers that can be fermented more readily into biofuels. Fungi use PMOs to provide a source of food. He and UC Berkeley colleagues subsequently found hints that some fungal PMOs may do more than merely turn cellulose into food. These PMOs were turned on in the early stages of infection, implying that they're important in the infection process rather than providing food. That's what Marletta, Talbot and their colleagues found. Led by postdoctoral fellow Alejandra Martinez-D'Alto, the UC Berkeley scientists biochemically characterized this unique PMO, called MoPMO9A, while Talbot and UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow Xia Yan showed that knocking out the enzyme reduced infection in rice plants. Marletta and his UC Berkeley colleagues have found similar PMOs in fungi that attack grapes, tomatoes, lettuce and other major crops, which means the new findings may have broad application against plant fungal diseases. "It isn't just rice that small molecule inhibitors could be used against. They could be widely used against a variety of different crop pathogens," Marletta said. "I think the future for this, in terms of drug development for plant pathogens, is pretty exciting, which is why we are going to pursue both the fundamental science of it, like we always do, and try to put together pieces to spin it out as a company." Biofuels lead way to attacking fungal pathogen Marletta specializes in identifying and studying new and unusual enzymes in human cells. But 10 years ago, when people got excited about biofuels as a way to address climate change, he was awarded a grant from UC Berkeley's Energy Biosciences Institute to search for enzymes in other life forms that digest plant cellulose faster than the enzymes known at the time. The goal was to turn tough cellulose fibers into short-chain polysaccharides that yeast could ferment into fuel. A field in China damaged by rice blast disease. Credit: Nicholas Talbot, The Sainsbury Lab "I said to two of my first-year graduate students, Chris Phillips and Will Beeson, "You know, there's got to be organisms out there that eat cellulose fast,'" Marletta said. "Those are the ones we want to find, because we know the enzymes that eat it slow, and they're not particularly useful in a biotechnology sense because they're slow." Phillips and Beeson succeeded in finding fast-acting enzymes in a common fungus, Neurospora, which is among the first fungi to attack dead trees after a fire and does a quick job of digesting wood for nutrients. They isolated the enzyme responsible, the first known PMO, and described how it worked. Since then, Marletta's students have identified 16,000 varieties of PMO, most in fungi, but some in wood-eating bacteria. To date, these have had some success in speeding the production of biofuels as part of a cocktail of other enzymes, though they haven't made biofuels competitive with other fuels. But Marletta was intrigued by a small subset of these 16,000 varieties that seemed to do more than provide nutrition for fungi. MoPMO9A, in particular, had an amino acid segment that binds to chitin, a polysaccharide that forms the outer coat of fungi, but is not found in rice. And though all PMOs are secreted, MoPMO9A was secreted during the infectious cycle of the fungus. Studies subsequently showed that Magnaporthe concentrates MoPMO9A in a pressurized infection cell, called the appressorium, from which it is secreted onto the plant, with one portion of the enzyme binding to the outside of the fungus. The other end of the enzyme has a copper atom embedded in its center. When the fungus slaps the loose end of the enzyme onto the rice leaf, the copper atom catalyzes a reaction with oxygen to break cellulose fibers, helping the fungus breach the leaf surface and invade the entire leaf. "We were curious: 'Hey, why does this enzyme have a chitin-binding domain if it's supposed to be working on cellulose?'" said Marletta. "And that's when we thought, "Well, maybe it's secreted, but it sticks to the fungus. That way, when the fungus is sitting on the plant, it can have between it and the leaf the catalytic domain to punch the hole into the leaf.'" That proved to be the case. Marletta and Talbot are now testing other pathogens that produce PMOs to see if they use the same trick to enter and infect leaves. If soMarletta is confident that they doit opens avenues to attack them with a spray-on fungicide, as well. "The only place you find PMOs like this is in plant pathogens that have to gain access to their host. So, they're almost certainly going to be working the same way," Marletta said. "I think the scope of work to develop inhibitors to this particular PMO is going to be well beyond rice, even though that itself is pretty important. We're going to be able to use them in other important crop plants." 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 Scientists warn that if action isn't taken soon, the Eurasian lynx will vanish from France. This elusive wild cat, which was reintroduced to Switzerland in the 1970s, moved across the French border by the end of the decade. But a genetic study published in Frontiers in Conservation Science showed that the lynx population in France is in desperate need of help to survive. "Given the rapid loss of genetic diversity, we estimate that this population will go extinct in less than 30 years," said Nathan Huvier of the Centre Athenas, corresponding author. "This population urgently needs new genetic material to become sustainable." The missing lynx This population of lynxes, hidden deep within the Jura Mountains, is not well known. Observations by scientists estimate its size at a maximum of 150 adults and suggest that it is poorly connected to larger, healthier populations in Germany and Switzerland, and is not growing to a sustainable size. Scientists believe that a combination of poaching, car accidents, and inbreeding depressionwhere insufficient genetic diversity leads to problems with reproduction and survivalhave suppressed its growth. "As there is a lack of genetic monitoring of the lynx in France and we consider that crucial for species conservation, we took the lead and did this work," said Huvier. The team collected genetic samples between 2008-2020 with the goal of determining the genetic health of the population. Because of the precarity of the population, samples were taken when attending to lynxes that were already injured or dead or orphaned cubs, to avoid stressing healthy animals. "For us, this method is more ethical as there is no capture and thus stress induced for DNA sampling only," Huvier explained. The team managed to secure a total of 88 samples, more than half the estimated population. Some samples were excluded to maximize the reliability of the results: those with a low amplification rate or genetic loci that couldn't be genotyped, or that only appeared in one allelic form when data from other populations suggested there would normally be multiple different forms in a population. After this process was complete, they had 78 samples covering 23 genetic loci. Emergency action needed These genetic samples were compared to references derived from the parent population from the Carpathian Mountains. The scientists determined that although the size of the French population of lynxes is thought to be between 120-150 individuals, the effective population sizethe estimated number of healthy breeding individuals needed to display this level of genetic diversityis only about 38 individuals. The authors cautioned that this is likely to be an overestimate, so the number may be even lower. Even more alarmingly, the inbreeding coefficienta measure of how likely it is that two mating individuals from the same population are closely relatedis extremely high. There is a 41% chance that an individual's two copies of an allele at any given locus in their genome were inherited from a common ancestor of both their parents. New genetic material is urgently needed, or the population will collapse. The authors acknowledged that introducing more lynxes is politically difficult. They suggested that road signs raising awareness of the presence of lynxes, and stricter enforcement of the law where poaching is proven, would help protect the remaining population. Meanwhile, replacement of poached lynxes with animals from genetically healthier populations and the exchange of orphaned cubs between wildlife rescue centers would help rescue it from genetic collapse. "We want this work to support action for lynx conservation," said Huvier. "Reintroduction, replacement of poached lynxes, and exchange of orphan lynxes between care centers are the best short-term solution for this population to remain alive, and it will give it a chance to develop and connect with other populations in Europe." More information: Nathan Huvier et al, Time is running out: Microsatellite data predict the imminent extinction of the boreal lynx (Lynx lynx) in France, Frontiers in Conservation Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.1080561 Provided by Frontiers 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: Hyloscirtus tolkieni. Credit: Juan Carlos Sanchez-Nivicela / Archive Museo de Zoologia, Universidad San Francisco de Quito A magnificent new species of stream frog from the Andes of Ecuador was named after J. R. R. Tolkien, creator of Middle-earth and author of famous fantasy works "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." It lives in the pristine streams of the Rio Negro-Sopladora National Park, a recently declared protected area that preserves thousands of hectares of almost primary forests in southeastern Ecuador. Stream frogs are a group of amphibians that inhabit the high Andes of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuado, Peru, and Bolivia. Their life is closely linked to the pure rivers and streams in the mountain areas of the Andes, hence the name "stream frogs." The adults live in the riparian vegetation, and their tadpoles develop among the rocks of the rapid waters of the rivers. The researchers, Juan C. Sanchez-Nivicela, Jose M. Falcon-Reiban, and Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia, named the new frog Hyloscirtus tolkieni in honor of one of their favorite writer. J.R.R. Tolkien, a renowned author, poet, philologist and academic. The amazing colors of this new frog species reminded them of the magnificent creatures from Tolkien's fantasy worlds. Expeditions carried out since 2020 in the Rio Negro-Sopladora National Park in Ecuador have allowed the discovery of a large number of species yet unknown to science. A protected area since 2018, this national park, located in the south of the country, is home to large forested areas that remain unstudied. Hyloscirtus tolkieni. Credit: Juan Carlos Sanchez-Nivicela / Archive Museo de Zoologia, Universidad San Francisco de Quito "For weeks, we explored different areas of the Rio Negro-Sopladora National Park, walking from paramo grasslands at 3,100 meters elevation to forests at 1,000 m. We found a single individual of this new species of frog, which we found impressive due to its coloration and large size," said Juan Carlos Sanchez Nivicela, associate researcher at the Museum of Zoology of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ and the National Institute of Biodiversity, and co-author of the study where the frog is described. The Rio Negro Stream Frog is easily differentiated from all its frog relatives by its appearance and unique coloration. It is relatively large (65 mm long), a grayish green back with yellow spots and black specks, and a pale pink and black iris. Its throat, belly and flanks as well as the undersides of its legs are golden yellow with large black spots and dots, and its fingers and toes have black bars and spots and broad skin stripes. "The new species of frog has amazing colors, and it would seem that it lives in a universe of fantasies, like those created by Tolkien. The truth is that the tropical Andes are magical ecosystems where some of the most wonderful species of flora, funga, and fauna in the world are present. Unfortunately, few areas are well protected from the negative impacts caused by humans. Deforestation, unsustainable agricultural expansion, mining, invasive species, and climate changes are seriously affecting Andean biodiversity," said Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia, director of the Museum of Zoology of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ and associate researcher of the National Institute of Biodiversity, and co-author of the study. The species is still only known from one locality and one individual, so information is insufficient to assess its conservation status and the risk of extinction. However, the authors agree that it is urgent to establish research and monitoring actions to study its life history and ecology, as well as its population size and dynamics. In addition, they suggest exploring new sites where additional populations may exist, and assessing whether their long-term conservation is affected by any threats, such as invasive species, mining, emerging diseases, or climate change. Hyloscirtus tolkieni. Credit: Juan Carlos Sanchez-Nivicela / Archive Museo de Zoologia, Universidad San Francisco de Quito Hyloscirtus tolkieni. Credit: Juan Carlos Sanchez-Nivicela / Archive Museo de Zoologia, Universidad San Francisco de Quito The description of new species is an important mechanism to support global strategies for the conservation of vulnerable environments, since it reveals the great wealth of biodiversity that is linked to countless natural resources and environmental services. For example, amphibians are important pest controllers and play vital ecological roles in the stability of nature. Unfortunately, 57% of amphibian species in Ecuador are threatened by extinction. The study is published in the journal ZooKeys. More information: Juan C. Sanchez-Nivicela et al, A new stream treefrog of the genus Hyloscirtus (Amphibia, Hylidae) from the Rio Negro-Sopladora National Park, Ecuador, ZooKeys (2023). DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1141.90290 Journal information: ZooKeys 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: Soil transplantation projects worldwide come in all shapes and sizes, but what works and why? It is important to treat donor areas wisely and respectfully. From upper left, clockwise: 1) control-treatment comparison restoring semi-dry grassland near Munich, Germany in 2015, 20 years post-treatment. 2) soil translocation in action, triggering tropical dry forest regeneration, near Brasilia, Brazil. 3) Reference vegetation on a Quercus rotundifolia dehesa soil in Salamanca, Spain. 4) Soil receiver site preparation to restore coastal sage scrub in Orange County, southern California, USA. Credit: Wolfgang von Brackel, Maxmiller Ferreira, Ignacio Santa-Regina/Irnasa-CSIC and Megan Lulow/UCI-Nature / Collage: NIOO-KNAW A new study comparing 46 field experiments in 17 countries across four continents clearly spells it out: Areas in need of nature restoration benefit from soil transplantation. The global results were collected by an international research team coordinated by Jasper Wubs from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). Their findings are published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology. From boreal grasslands to tropical forests, the gamut of nature to be restored on our planet is wide. There's an urgent call for effective restoration methods, but what actually works? In many places, nature could do with a transplant; not of vital organs but of soil, with healthy natural areas as donors. It sounds almost too good to be true: You take some healthy soil including the associated soil life and plant seeds, and you "make a donation" in an area where nature is degraded. Following this soil transplantation, natural life will recover at an accelerated pace, sustained by soil that is alive and healthy once more. NIOO ecologists had already demonstrated the efficacy of the treatment in the Netherlands, using a layer of soil not even half a centimeter thick. But how well does it work worldwide? No overview had been available until an international team led by NIOO expert Jasper Wubs started digging into this, and unearthing hopeful results. Better chances The team's main conclusion is that soil transplantation does work around the world. "From the tropics to the tundras, soil transplantation substantially improves the chances of restoring vegetations with species of high conservation value," explains Wubs, "particularly if it's applied over larger spatial areas." Vegetation on sites with transplanted soil (including its associated soil organisms) blossoms literally and metaphorically in terms of species count and diversity. Soil transplantation increased the similarity to the reference vegetation by an average of 40% compared to hay addition. However, the differences between experiments were substantial. Wubs notes, "We observed that soil transplantation would either become more and more successful in the longer term or just the opposite." Success was more likely on loamy soils, the researchers found, and when the treatment was implemented over areas of 180m2 or larger. Nature restoration law What does that mean in practical terms for nature management and policy? "It means that we are now better able to restore biodiverse ecosystems in places where natural regeneration is not enough," says Wubs. "At the same time, our analysis shows that we need to figure out why restoration is more successful in some cases than in others. The glass is half full, but it could be fuller." Nature managers and policymakers should be paying close attention, especially considering the huge backlog of large-scale nature restoration projects, which would greatly benefit biodiversity and all the "ecosystem services" that nature is providing. This is why the United Nations has declared a Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, and the European Union is coming up with a Nature Restoration Law. But such initiatives can't be successful without effective restoration measures (i.e. with a lasting effect) and effective ways to benchmark the techniques, as has now been done for soil transplantation. "Ecological recovery is tricky and often unpredictable," Wubs puts it in a nutshell. "People usually only look at above-ground recovery, but we have demonstrated that the groundwork for success is laid below ground." More information: Gijs M. Gerrits et al, Synthesis on the effectiveness of soil translocation for plant community restoration, Journal of Applied Ecology (2023). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14364 Journal information: Journal of Applied Ecology 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 counts of adult hazel dormice from the UK National Dormouse Monitoring Program. The current Poisson model is in black, and the earlier negative binomial model (Goodwin et al., 2017) is in red. The 27-year period 19942020 is shown because the first (1993) and last (2021) survey years, when the model is least accurate, have been removed. Population indices are scaled to a value of one in the first year. The area between the dashed lines shows the 95% confidence intervals for each model, calculated by bootstrapping. All NDMP sites (n = 552) used for this analysis recorded more than one adult dormouse and were surveyed for more than 2 years. Credit: Ecological Solutions and Evidence (2023). DOI: 10.1002/2688-8319.12206 New research has highlighted issues about how the conservation status of different species is classified, and suggests the focus should be on restoring species now rather than waiting for them to become threatened with extinction before acting. The research from the University of Exeter also highlights that Britain's native hazel dormice are in chronic decline, need urgent conservation action, and should in fact be classified as "endangered," not "vulnerable." Conservation status is importantit determines how much attention, funding and urgency is given to protecting a particular animal or plant. Strict international criteria currently guide how conservationists classify how threatened a species is, but the new report shows that the chronic decline in hazel dormouse numbers doesn't fit with their current classification status, due to the current guidelines for classification. Ph.D. student Ellie Scopes, of the Environment and Sustainability Institute on Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall, and colleagues have also found that a species can experience a dramatic decline without being classified as endangeredmeaning hazel dormice are more of a conservation concern than is currently perceived. The report was published on Feb. 7 in Ecological Solutions and Evidence. Using data from the National Dormouse Monitoring Program (NDMP), which is managed by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), Scopes and colleagues found that the information used to best measure the risk of extinction is dependent on shifting baselines. "The IUCN Red List is the leading tool used in wildlife conservation to measure how likely a species is to go extinct and assesses the level of urgency needed to prevent that from happening," Scopes said. "To become classified as 'endangered' a species has to decline at a rate of over 50% within a 10-year period. "If the population is small or has a smaller range it's easier to measure the decline using those parameters, but if a species is widespread and declining over a longer period of time it won't be classified in the same way. This concept is very useful for identifying steep, short declines, but misses more gradual, chronic losses. "Hazel dormice were classified in 2020 as 'vulnerable' on the Red List for Britain's Mammals. The Red List assessment was made by analyzing the NDMP data up to 2014, which indicated that populations were very close to being listed as Endangered because the rate of decline was so steep. "My colleagues and I used two different methods to assess NDMP data up to 2020 to find out whether any further decline has happened and therefore if their conservation status has changed." Monitoring dormice numbers via PTES' NDMP involves licensed volunteers checking dormouse nest boxes throughout the active season to see if dormice are present. The program began in 1988 and now over 400 NDMP sites are monitored across the country. The data gathered shows population change over a considerably longer period than the 10 years used for Red List assessment. This enabled Scopes to compare trends over 10-year and longer periods, examining how well the assessment of extinction risk encompasses change in populations and in conservation status. Previous analyses of the NDMP data showed a population decline of 72% between 1993 and 2014. The 2020 Red List for British Mammals based their classification in part on this, on the basis that dormice had declined by more than 30%, but less than 50% over the most recently quantified 10-year period. Scopes and colleagues looked at more recent data (19942020) and compared the overall decline during that 27-year period with incremental 10-year windowsmirroring the period over which the IUCN assesses change. The overall decline during the 27-year period was a staggering 78%, and yet because this didn't take place during a single decade, the classification of dormice doesn't change. More worryingly, the rate of decline over each 10-year period has accelerated recently, but hovers around the 50% figure, meaning that hazel dormice are still considered "vulnerable" but not "endangered." Nida Al-Fulaij, Conservation Research Manager at PTES, said, "Ellie's work has highlighted how the scale and presentation of a species' decline can affect its perception, and as things stand dormice are not considered as threatened as other species despite their decline in numbers being very similar, if not worse. "It's also important to note that measures of change over otherwise somewhat arbitrary 10-year periods underplay the importance of declines in species that have short generation lengths but low productivity, which can't recover as quickly. "Hazel dormice have smaller and fewer litters, and have a much shorter active period compared with other small mammals which can have multiple litters across the whole year. "As a result, they'll naturally be less able to recover from severe declines and therefore should be considered an even higher priority in terms of conservation action." Scopes' Ph.D. is supported by Natural Environment Research Council, via the GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership, and the University of Exeter with CASE partners at Forest Research and Natural England. PTES works tirelessly to understand the pressures facing hazel dormice and how to combat their ongoing decline. Woodland management training, annual reintroductions and running the NDMP all play a crucial part in the attempt to save hazel dormice, but more funding, time and research is needed. More information: Eleanor R. Scopes et al, Shifting baselines for species in chronic decline and assessment of conservation status. Are hazel dormice Muscardinus avellanarius Endangered?, Ecological Solutions and Evidence (2023). DOI: 10.1002/2688-8319.12206 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: Jennifer Smith-Mayo Scientific research can often feel prescriptive, sterile and disconnected from the communities where it happensbut it doesn't have to be. Using two case studies of watershed restoration and environmental monitoring projects in Maine, a new paper illustrates how scientists can successfully use "embodiment," or the nuanced practices and everyday interactions that shape collaboration, to improve their research. The authors of the study, from the University of Maine, assert that "embodiment" encompasses the many ways in which people interact while collaborating, from listening, sharing and organizing ideas to fostering empathy, deciding what questions to ask, working through tensions and laughing together. The paper is published in the journal Communication Design Quarterly. "Our work pays attention to the many ways in which bodies are a foundational part of research, from the ways bodies participate, collaborate within, are studied, conduct studies, write together and are written (or not written) about," says Jennifer Smith-Mayo, Ph.D. student in communication and co-author of the study. "This focus on embodiment draws attention to research practices that, in the process of striving for objectivity in data, may make bodies involved in that research invisible or detach them from the research context." To show how embodiment can be used in practice to improve research methods, Mayo and her colleagues Michael Clay, Ph.D. candidate in communication and journalism at UMaine, and Bridie McGreavy, associate professor of environmental communication, highlighted two case studies: the Meduxnekeag River watershed restoration and Maine-eDNA project. Both focus on embodiment to structure their research processes and shape ongoing, emergent and collaborative research practices. For Maine-eDNAUMaine's research, education and outreach program that aims to transform the understanding and sustainability of Maine's coastal ecosystems via environmental DNA (eDNA)the researchers conducted a team science knowledge mapping activity, where collaborators in the project were asked to define eDNA and all the concepts connected to it. Though a seemingly simple task, focusing on elements of embodiment in collaborative communication allowed the group to reflect on and negotiate the scientists' relationship with the communityfor example, the importance of ethical communication practices as an ongoing commitment for eDNA work. "Focusing on the embodied practices and processes of putting together something like a knowledge map can give collaborators a way of sensing and working across differences that wouldn't otherwise exist on a project," says McGreavy. "In the case of eDNA, the knowledge mapping created spaces for collaborators to identify differences in how they imagined eDNA science connecting with communities, which opened up new conversations and insights about ethics and engagement." In the Meduxnekeag River watershed case study, the researchers worked with partners to design an interview protocol that asks farmers how the act of farming helps them shape their relationships with land and water in the watershed, the values that guide those practices and how they think about best management practices. The results showed how important caring for soil is to the ways that farmers relate to, make decisions about and find value in land and water throughout the Meduxnekeag watershed. "What makes the Meduxnekeag River watershed case study so interesting is how it helped us consider how to connect research design in community-engaged research with everyday, lived experiences of our community partners," says Clay. "You can see this play out in how our questions shifted from persuading farmers, or determining what communication approaches they will find compelling, to better understanding farmers' relationships and perspectives as they relate to soil, water and farming practices." According to the authors, the success of the case studies show that framing research in terms of embodiment offers a means to better understand how communication practices shape collaboration and knowledge co-production. We also discuss how engaged research projects that attend to embodiment can offer partners and researchers opportunities to modify or reshape a project's efforts to improve collaboration and strengthen community relationships. "These case studies show that engaging with embodiment can be a valuable approach to collaborative research design with community partners," Smith-Mayo says. "Going forward, researchers can make commitments to embodied practices such as collaborative research design, paying attention to and attending to: partners' needs, active listening, engaging in dialogue, respect for each other, and reflexivity, an iterative practice of checking in with others and reflection. Such practices will continue to strengthen relationships between researchers and community partners as we collaborate to produce knowledge together." More information: Michael Clay et al, Embodied Participation, Communication Design Quarterly (2023). DOI: 10.1145/3531210.3531213 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: Danny Szydlowski sampling for aquatic snails. Credit: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Just how hard should natural resource managers fight invasive species after they establish? A new University of Illinois study suggests some invaderseven highly successful onescan die off naturally, leaving native communities to rebound with minimal management effort. That's the case for rusty crayfish in some Northern Wisconsin lakes. According to the 33-year study, many lakes in the region have seen steady declines of the crustacean, with a handful of lakes falling to nearly zero. Whether they've destroyed their own habitat or died off due to disease, the results are clear: when rusty crayfish decline, water plants and snails bounce back. "This is one of the organisms that put invasive species on the map for freshwaters in the U.S. and North America. We've been studying the invasion and impacts of rusty crayfish since the 1970s, before zebra mussels and other major freshwater invasive species were introduced. This is really the landmark species that got managers and policy makers to recognize the accidental introduction of a crayfish could rewire an entire lake's food web or cause declines of harvested fish populations. "But now we're seeing evidence in Midwestern lakes that the ecological impacts of rusty crayfish may be severe for a few decades, but may not be permanent, as we feared. While I think there's still reason to worry about invasive species and prevent them from establishing in the first place, I see this as a real conservation optimism story," says study co-author Eric Larson, associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES), part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at U of I. Lead study author Danny Szydlowski trapped crayfish and sampled for water plants and snails in ten northern Wisconsin lakes during the lonely 2020 summer, following protocols study predecessors at the University of Notre Dame first established in the mid-1980s. Repeated sampling by team membersin 1987, 2002, 2011, and 2020puts the study among the longest-running records of natural invasive species decline, a phenomenon not well documented by scientists. "I worked with the people who started some of the initial lake monitoring back in the 1980s, trying to duplicate their exact sampling methods. It meant many phone calls and even having to search people's garages for old equipment. I feel really lucky to have been part of this multi-generational effort to track rusty crayfish in this system," says Szydlowski, who undertook the research as a master's student in NRES. Szydlowski identified four lakes where rusty crayfish had declined nearly to zero over the 33-year period: two that started out high and steadily decreased (bust lakes) and two that started low, rose to a peak between 2002 and 2011, and declined again (boom-bust lakes). He compared crayfish, water plant, and snail abundance and diversity in these lakes with six reference lakes nearby, three with low crayfish numbers through the years and three with high numbers. As crayfish declined to low levels in the bust and boom-bust lakes, water plants flourished. Both the number and diversity of plants swelled far beyond reference lakes where crayfish abundance remained high and approached levels seen in low-crayfish reference lakes. Because water plants provide habitat for snails, young fish, and other aquatic creatures, their rise is good news and could be the start of greater ecosystem recovery. While the number of snails did increase over time, they were slower to recover in the low-crayfish lakes. As the preferred food source for rusty crayfish, snails were decimated during boom periods in all the lakes. And since snails rely on water plants for food and habitat, plants have to come back first. Since the plants are trending in the right direction, Larson and Szydlowski are hopeful snails will follow (the team will keep checking every decade or so). For now, snail numbers and diversity are nowhere near that of the low-crayfish reference lakes, though they are higher than the high-crayfish reference lakes. As food and habitat sources for the crayfish rebound, could the invaders make a comeback? "That's the question, isn't it? Personally, I'm optimistic that diseases affecting the crayfish are going to be able to keep densities low, but only time will tell," Szydlowski says. Larson adds, "We don't know if this is going to become an oscillating dynamic. But I will say I was pretty convinced that these lakes, where we were catching 30, 40, or 80 rusty crayfish per trap at their peak, were always going to be heavily invaded. It has been a nice surprise to see the plants coming back." The change isn't just evident in the numbers. Lake residents have been noticing the lakes' return to health, too. "The folks who live on these lakes are uncommonly attuned to what's happening in the water off their backyards. They know the lakes and care about them a great deal. People noticed when the crayfish boomed; the lakes changed, sunfish disappeared. Now they're noticing the plants are coming back," Larson says. "It's one of the few places that if someone says the crayfish are gone, I could trust them that that was true." The findings are published in the journal Ecological Applications. More information: Daniel K. Szydlowski et al, Longterm macrophyte and snail community responses to population declines of invasive rusty crayfish ( Faxonius rusticus ), Ecological Applications (2023). DOI: 10.1002/eap.2818 Journal information: Ecological Applications This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: British Library Engineers from Caltech have discovered that Leonardo da Vinci's understanding of gravitythough not wholly accuratewas centuries ahead of his time. In an article published in the journal Leonardo, the researchers draw upon a fresh look at one of da Vinci's notebooks to show that the famed polymath had devised experiments to demonstrate that gravity is a form of accelerationand that he further modeled the gravitational constant to around 97 percent accuracy. Da Vinci, who lived from 1452 to 1519, was well ahead of the curve in exploring these concepts. It wasn't until 1604 that Galileo Galilei would theorize that the distance covered by a falling object was proportional to the square of time elapsed and not until the late 17th century that Sir Isaac Newton would expand on that to develop a law of universal gravitation, describing how objects are attracted to one another. Da Vinci's primary hurdle was being limited by the tools at his disposal. For example, he lacked a means of precisely measuring time as objects fell. Da Vinci's experiments were first spotted by Mory Gharib, the Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Medical Engineering, in the Codex Arundel, a collection of papers written by da Vinci that cover science, art, and personal topics. In early 2017, Gharib was exploring da Vinci's techniques of flow visualization to discuss with students he was teaching in a graduate course when he noticed a series of sketches showing triangles generated by sand-like particles pouring out from a jar in the newly released Codex Arundel, which can be viewed online courtesy of the British Library. "What caught my eye was when he wrote 'Equatione di Moti' on the hypotenuse of one of his sketched trianglesthe one that was an isosceles right triangle," says Gharib, lead author of the Leonardo paper. "I became interested to see what Leonardo meant by that phrase." To analyze the notes, Gharib worked with colleagues Chris Roh, at the time a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech and now an assistant professor at Cornell University, as well as Flavio Noca of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland in Geneva. Noca provided translations of da Vinci's Italian notes (written in his famous left-handed mirror writing that reads from right to left) as the trio pored over the manuscript's diagrams. Engineers at Caltech recreated the experiment depicted in Leonardo da Vinci's journal, showing that if the motion of a pitcher pouring out water or granular material is accelerated at the same rate that gravity accelerates the falling material, it creates an equilateral triangle. Credit: Caltech In the papers, da Vinci describes an experiment in which a water pitcher would be moved along a straight path parallel to the ground, dumping out either water or a granular material (most likely sand) along the way. His notes make it clear that he was aware that the water or sand would not fall at a constant velocity but rather would acceleratealso that the material stops accelerating horizontally, as it is no longer influenced by the pitcher, and that its acceleration is purely downward due to gravity. If the pitcher moves at a constant speed, the line created by falling material is vertical, so no triangle forms. If the pitcher accelerates at a constant rate, the line created by the collection of falling material makes a straight but slanted line, which then forms a triangle. And, as da Vinci pointed out in a key diagram, if the pitcher's motion is accelerated at the same rate that gravity accelerates the falling material, it creates an equilateral trianglewhich is what Gharib originally noticed that da Vinci had highlighted with the note "Equatione di Moti," or "equalization (equivalence) of motions." Da Vinci sought to mathematically describe that acceleration. It is here, according to the study's authors, that he didn't quite hit the mark. To explore da Vinci's process, the team used computer modeling to run his water vase experiment. Doing so yielded da Vinci's error. "What we saw is that Leonardo wrestled with this, but he modeled it as the falling object's distance was proportional to 2 to the t power [with t representing time] instead proportional to t squared," Roh says. "It's wrong, but we later found out that he used this sort of wrong equation in the correct way." In his notes, da Vinci illustrated an object falling for up to four intervals of timea period through which graphs of both types of equations line up closely. "We don't know if da Vinci did further experiments or probed this question more deeply," Gharib says. "But the fact that he was grappling with this problem in this wayin the early 1500sdemonstrates just how far ahead his thinking was." The paper is titled "Leonardo da Vinci's Visualization of Gravity as a Form of Acceleration." More information: Morteza Gharib et al, Leonardo da Vinci's Visualization of Gravity as a Form of Acceleration, Leonardo (2022). DOI: 10.1162/leon_a_02322 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: Great Nicobar Island lies at the southernmost tip of India. Credit: Wikimedia In a remote archipelago at the southernmost tip of India lies the Great Nicobar Island. This pristine ecosystem is a globally important nesting site of the largest turtles on Earthleatherback turtles. But now, the site is threatened by a massive infrastructure plan. The Indian government recently granted key approvals for an international container port on the island, which may prevent leatherback turtles from reaching their nesting sites. Great Nicobar Island spans about 1,000 square kilometers and lies about halfway between India and Thailand. It is home to the indigenous Shompen and Nicobarese people, and a rich diversity of plant and animal species. To date, the island has remained relatively untouched by large-scale development. The port proposal would change that. A critically endangered turtle population Leatherback turtles can grow up to two meters long and weigh as much as 700 kilograms. The species has existed since the age of the dinosaurs, but its numbers are in decline. The sub-population of turtles that nests at Galathea Bay, where the port would be built, is listed as critically endangered. The turtles forage in temperate coastal waters in Australia and Africa, before making the long annual journey to the island. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, loss of nesting sites is one of the key threats to the turtles' survival. Other threats include fishing activities, collisions with boats, egg collection for human consumption, and ingestion of plastic waste. Galathea Bay was also heavily damaged by the 2004 tsunami, which destroyed most of the beaches where leatherback turtles nest. Massive development, massive impact The huge infrastructure project planned for Great Nicobar Island includes: a mega trans-shipment port, where large volumes of cargo will be moved from one vessel to another for shipping to another port an international airport which will handle 4,000 passengers an hour at its peak a power plant a new township. The plan includes building a international container port on a globally important nesting site of the worlds largest turtle species the leatherback sea turtle. Credit: Shutterstock Experts have raised concern about the environmental damage the project will cause. In particular, they say the port's construction and operation is likely to prevent the leatherback turtle from accessing nesting sites. The plan includes constructing breakwatersbarriers built in the sea to protect the port from waves. The barriers reduce the opening to Galathea Bay by 90%from 3 kilometers to 300 meters. Dredging and construction are likely to significantly alter other coastal habitats on the island, including mangroves, coral reefs, sandy and rocky beaches, coastal forests and estuaries. One media report warned the plan will involve clearing almost a million trees. The port is also likely to damage the habitat of scores of other rare and endemic species including macaques, shrews and pigeons. How was such a disastrous project approved? The approvals granted so far rest on a proposal to "offset" the environmental damage caused by the port by improving biodiversity elsewhere. In this case, the offset involves planting trees in the Indian state of Haryana, thousands of kilometers from the project site and in a vastly different ecological zone. This is allowed under Indian law. But it's a gross violation of the internationally accepted "like for like" principle guiding biodiversity offsetting. This principle requires that the biodiversity affected by a given project be conserved through an ecologically equivalent offset, so no net loss of biodiversity occurs. The Great Nicobar Island plan will damage complex and diverse tropical and coastal ecosystems and several rare and endemic species. This would purportedly be "offset" by planting trees in a sub-tropical semi-arid ecosystem thousands of kilometers away. The Nicobar long-tailed macaque is among the species likely to lose habitat if the project proceeds. Credit: Shutterstock There is no provision in the plan to compensate for damage to turtle nesting. This alone violates the "like for like" principle. Even more worryingly, research has shown most compensatory tree-planting in India involves monoculture timber species, which does not encourage a wide variety of native plant and animal species. Looking ahead The approvals granted to the port project contain a number of conditions. They reportedly include: establishing a long-term research unit, focused on sea turtles, including a base at Great Nicobar Island requiring that the company behind the project has a "well laid down environmental policy duly approved by the board of directors" where possible, safeguarding trees that contain nesting holes for endemic owls. But according to India's Conservation Action Trust, approvals were granted before important impact assessment studies were carried out. What's more, the conditions do not stipulate that work must stop if damage occurs to Indigenous communities or the environment. Any large development project affecting a critically endangered species should meet rigorous environmental standards. This includes ensuring biodiversity offsets are consistent with internationally accepted principles. And if the harm cannot be adequately offset, the project should not be allowed to proceed. 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: Species interactions affect the temperature sensitivity of microbial community respiration. Credit: Nature Microbiology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01283-w Communities of microbes that work together release more carbon dioxide than competitive communities, contributing more to climate change. Despite being small, microbes, and especially bacteria, contribute a lot to the global carbon cyclethe movement of carbon in various forms through nature. Its level in the atmosphere, and so its influence on climate change, is controlled by a series of sources and sinks, such as respiration and photosynthesis respectively. Now, new research from Imperial College London and University of Exeter scientists has shown that, when warmed, bacterial communities that have matured to cooperate release more carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) than communities that are in competition with each other. The results are published in Nature Microbiology. Co-author Dr. Tom Clegg, who led the theory development from the Department of Life Sciences (Silwood Park) at Imperial, said, "Our findings have far-reaching implications given the significant contributions that bacterial communities make to the carbon cycle. We show that changes in bacterial species interactions can rapidly and substantially increase the carbon emissions from natural ecosystems worldwide." Bacterialike humansrespire, taking in oxygen and releasing CO 2 . Of the many factors that control their level of respiration, temperature is particularly important. Bacteria form communities of different species in all habitable environments, including in soil, puddles, and in our guts. When communities first form, the bacterial species are often "competitive," each trying to get the best resources. However, over time these communities mature to cooperate by facilitating each other's resource use. In this scenario, each species plays a role in the community that ensures its overall "health," for example several species working together to decompose leaf litter to access the nutrients. Previously, researchers had assumed that the response of bacterial communities to rising temperatures was mainly governed by individual species' metabolism changes: as the environment warms, individual cells have to respire faster to survive. However, as these species interact, the team behind the new paper wanted to test if the level of cooperation in the community changed this picture. They built a mathematical model that showed cooperative communities are more sensitive to warming, meaning that as temperatures rise, they release CO 2 at an accelerated rate. The team tested their model in lab experiments with communities from geothermal streams in Iceland, which showed that a shift from competition to facilitation caused a 60% increase in the sensitivity of community respiration to warming. Dr. Francisca Garcia from the Environment and Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter (Penryn) said, "Researchers should incorporate this phenomenon in models as it has the potential to substantially improve the accuracy of predictions about the effects of ongoing and future climate change on the global carbon cycle." "Indeed, new bacterial communities are assembling on melting glaciers and permafrost driven by climate change as we speak, and as they become more cooperative, this will likely amplify the carbon emissions from these rapidly changing environments." More information: Francisca C. Garcia et al, The temperature dependence of microbial community respiration is amplified by changes in species interactions, Nature Microbiology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01283-w Journal information: Nature Microbiology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Shutterstock If you step into a newly built school these days, chances are you will see classrooms that look very different to the classrooms most of us spent our school years in as children. On a recent visit to a new primary school in Melbourne, Grattan Institute's education team entered a large room that contained two classes, separated not by a wall but a wide pillar that left room for teachers and students to move between the two "classroom" spaces. In the first space, students were leaning forward at their desks, concentrating on their teacher. The room was very noisy. The teacher was only meters from her students, but her voice was all but drowned out by the second "classroom" on the other side. This appears to be the trend in new classroom buildings around Australia. For example, in 2017 the New South Wales government committed to building open-plan classrooms, each for up to 120 students, at more than 100 new schools. The Victorian government is building "new flexible learning communities". What does the research say about open-plan classrooms? Arguments in favor of open-plan classrooms use phrases such as "21st century teaching" and "innovative design". The idea is to have flexible classroom spaces that can cater for large groups of students, while also allowing students to break into smaller groups, directing their own learning while receiving support from a team of teachers working collaboratively. But there is limited evidence open-plan classrooms help learning. In 2018 the University of Melbourne published a systematic review that only found 21 relevant studies since the 1960s that evaluated the impact of educational spaces on student learning outcomes. Of these, the studies showed open-plan environments had mixed effects on academic performance. We do know too much noise is bad for learning. A 2015 Australian study compared speech perception in traditional and open-plan kindergarten classrooms and found noise coming from other classes in the open-plan setting made it more likely for students to misunderstand their teacher. The study found traditional classrooms were the only classroom type to be within or close to recommended noise levels. Many open-plan learning spaces don't align with internationally recognized evidence-based strategies for high-impact teaching. For example, explicit teachingwhere the teacher explains key concepts and procedures clearly and models how to solve problems to the whole classis difficult to do well in a noisy environment. Imagine trying to teach division of fractions to your Year 5 class while the Year 4 class on the other side of the pillar practices their Mandarin oral language presentations. Too much noise is bad for all students Of course, traditional classrooms can also be noisy, but a 2013 United Kingdom survey of 2,500 high school students across six schools suggested students at schools with traditional classrooms were more positive about their school acoustics than students at schools with open-plan classrooms. Too much noise is bad news for all students. But it is particularly worrying for students who have issues with hearing, auditory processing, and other additional learning needs, such as ADHD. This is also inconsistent with state governments' stated priorities of ensuring schools are inclusive spaces that cater for students with additional learning needs. New classrooms should be built using evidence State governments need to review the existing researchand seek more if neededand ensure all new classrooms can support the learning of all students. This includes those with additional learning needs and those unlucky enough to be seated at the back of an open-plan classroom. This is consistent with a 2022 NSW parliamentary inquiry into school infrastructure, which recommended school design should follow evidence, not fads. Where necessary, state governments should also provide schools with funding to fix existing open-plan classrooms so teachers can reduce noisy distractions. Teachers should not have to build their own classroom walls "with whiteboards and shelving". Some state governments are spending significant funds building new schools and upgrading others in coming years. For example, the NSW government is spending A$8.6 billion on school infrastructure over the next four years. Queensland is spending A$2 billion on education infrastructure this year alone. While investments in school infrastructure are of course welcome, the danger is many classrooms may be built in ways that undermine effective teaching. Classrooms designs should not create more work for teachers, just to make sure their students can hear themand each otherspeak. 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: Quantum dot with a spherical impurity. Credit: K Hasanirokh, L H Abbud Quantum dots are semiconductor particles measuring just a few nanometers across, which are now widely studied for their intriguing electrical and optical properties. Through new research published in The European Physical Journal B, Kobra Hasanirokh at Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University in Iran, together with Luay Hashem Abbud at Al-Mustaqbal University College, Iraq, show how quantum dots containing spherical defects can significantly enhance their nonlinear optical properties. By fine-tuning these defects, researchers could tightly control the frequency and brightness of the light emitted by quantum dots. The duo's discoveries could lead to new advances in optoelectronic devices including LEDs and light-based computer circuits, which operate through the interaction between light and electricity. If achieved, improvements to this technology could significantly boost the speed of computing and communications systems. Nonlinear optical properties can arise in some materials when they are illuminated with intense light, producing new photons with identical frequencies and waveforms to the original light. Increasingly, researchers are exploring the potential of third-order nonlinear optical processes, which generate photons with triple the frequency of the original light. Recent studies have shown that these processes are readily triggered in spherical quantum dots, containing spherical defects in the structure of their atomic lattices. Building on this research, Hasanirokh and Abbud explored how third-order nonlinear susceptibility can be controlled by varying the numbers and sizes of these defects. In their study, the duo used mathematical techniques to consider multi-layered quantum dots containing a cadmium sulfide core and a zinc sulfide outer shell. These layers were separated by a spherical defect containing a carefully-adjusted mixture of cadmium, zinc, and sulfur. By fine-tuning this structure, the researchers calculated that its third-order nonlinear optical properties could be considerably enhanced, allowing them to tightly control the brightness and frequency of the light produced. They now hope their results could inspire new techniques for quantum dot manufacturing, which could bring their advanced theoretical structure into reality. More information: Kobra Hasanirokh et al, Third-order nonlinear susceptibility in CdS/Cd x1 Zn 1x 1S/ZnS multilayer spherical quantum dot, The European Physical Journal B (2023). DOI: 10.1140/epjb/s10051-022-00464-0 Journal information: European Physical Journal B Provided by Springer 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: QGP is conventionally described using relativistic hydrodynamic models and studied experimentally through heavy-ion collisions. There has been a long-standing discrepancy between theory and experiment regarding the observation of particle yields in the low transverse momentum region and their absence in the model predictions. Now, researchers from Japan have addressed this issue, proposing a model that pins down the origin of the missing particle yields. Credit: Tetsufumi Hirano from Sophia University, Japan Research in fundamental science has revealed the existence of quark-gluon plasma (QGP)a newly identified state of matteras the constituent of the early universe. Known to have existed a microsecond after the Big Bang, the QGP, essentially a soup of quarks and gluons, cooled down with time to form hadrons like protons and neutronsthe building blocks of all matter. One way to reproduce the extreme conditions prevailing when QGP existed is through relativistic heavy-ion collisions. In this regard, particle accelerator facilities like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider have furthered our understanding of QGP with experimental data pertaining to such collisions. Meanwhile, theoretical physicists have employed multistage relativistic hydrodynamic models to explain the data, since the QGP behaves very much like a perfect fluid. However, there has been a serious lingering disagreement between these models and data in the region of low transverse momentum, where both the conventional and hybrid models have failed to explain the particle yields observed in the experiments. Against this backdrop, a team of researchers from Japan, led by theoretical physicist Professor Tetsufumi Hirano of Sophia University, undertook an investigation to account for the missing particle yields in the relativistic hydrodynamic models. In their recent work, they proposed a novel "dynamical core-corona initialization framework" to comprehensively describe high-energy nuclear collisions. Their findings were published in the journal Physical Review C and involved contributions from Dr. Yuuka Kanakubo, doctoral student at Sophia University, (Present affiliation: postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland) and Assistant Professor Yasuki Tachibana from Akita International University, Japan. "To find a mechanism that can account for the discrepancy between theoretical modeling and experimental data, we used a dynamical core-corona initialization (DCCI2) framework in which the particles generated during high-energy nuclear collisions are described using two components: the core, or equilibrated matter, and the corona, or nonequilibrated matter," explains Prof. Hirano. "This picture allows us to examine the contributions of the core and corona components towards hadron production in the low transverse momentum region." The researchers conducted heavy-ion Pb-Pb collision simulations on PYTHIA (a computer simulation program) at an energy of 2.76 TeV to test their DCCI2 framework. Dynamical initialization of the QGP fluids allowed the separation of core and corona components, which were made to undergo hadronization through "switching hypersurface" and "string fragmentation," respectively. These hadrons were then subjected to resonance decays to obtain the transverse momentum (p T ) spectra. "We switched off the hadronic scatterings and performed only resonance decays to see a breakdown of the total yield into core and corona components, as hadronic scatterings mix up the two components in the late stage of reaction," explains Dr. Kanakubo. The researchers then investigated the fraction of core and corona components in the p T spectra of charged pions, charged kaons, and protons and antiprotons for collisions at 2.76 TeV. Next, they compared these spectra with that obtained from experimental data (from the ALICE detector at LHC for Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV) to quantify the contributions from corona components. Lastly, they investigated the effects of contributions from corona components on the flow variables. They found a relative increase in corona contributions in the spectral region of approximately 1 GeV for both 0-5% and 40-60% centrality classes. While this was true for all the hadrons, they found almost 50% corona contribution to particle production in the spectra of protons and antiprotons in the region of very low p T ( 0 GeV) . Furthermore, results from full DCCI2 simulations showed better agreement with the ALICE experimental data compared when only core components with hadronic scatterings (which neglect corona components) were compared. The corona contribution was found to be responsible for diluting the four-particle cumulants (a flow observable) obtained purely from core contributions, indicating more permutations of particles with corona contribution. "These findings imply that the nonequilibrium corona components contribute to particle production in the region of very low transverse spectra," says Prof. Hirano. "This explains the missing yields in hydrodynamic models, which extract only the equilibrated core components from experimental data. This clearly shows that it is necessary to extract the nonequilibrated components as well for a more precise understanding of the properties of QGP." More information: Yuuka Kanakubo et al, Nonequilibrium components in the region of very low transverse momentum in high-energy nuclear collisions, Physical Review C (2022). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.106.054908 Provided by Sophia University This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Map of study areas (Dagang and Dongying) on the East coast of China. Credit: Frontiers in Physiology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1110998 A new study led by scientists from the Chinese MARA-CABI Joint Laboratory for Biosafety has discovered the optimal time to apply safer-to-use and more environmentally-friendly biopesticides to fight the Oriental migratory locust pest. Locusta migratoria manilensis is deemed to be one of the most dangerous pests threatening crop production and food security in China. Crops at risk include maize, rice and peanut. Pastures can also be seriously damaged. While there have been no major outbreaks in recent years, there are still high-density populations of the Oriental migratory locust in the marshlands of Jilin, Shanxi and Shandong Provinces which threaten food production and the region's ecology. Dr. Hongmei Li, lead author and Senior Scientist at CABI in China, together with fellow scientists including those from the National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center, Beijing, Zhejiang University and the University of Cordoba, Spain, suggest that the body heat of the locusts is key to effectiveness of the biopesticides. Diurnal pattern of locust body temperature (red) and ground temperature (blue) in the two study areas: Dagang (left) and Dongying (right). For each hour the plot indicates the mean (line) and confidence intervals (i.e., standard error). Credit: Frontiers in Physiology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1110998 The researchers highlight that entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are widely promoted to reduce the amount of more harmful pesticides used to tackle the Oriental migratory locusts but that they tend to work better on insects with lower body temperatures. Dr. Hongmei Li and the scientists argue that biopesticides should be applied on younger locusts at dawn or dusk as they tend to show lower temperatures more suitable for EPF developmentthereby minimizing the risk of a locust outbreak. Dr. Hongmei Li said, "Current pest management techniques would benefit from understanding the behavioral rhythms of the target pest and its body temperature, a critical aspect not well studied and potentially limiting the effectiveness of biopesticides under natural conditions." The studypublished in Frontiers in Physiologysought to understand the behavioral patterns of different stages of hoppers and adults of the Oriental migratory locust and the environmental factors that modulated their body temperatures through field observation. Intensive field sampling in two of the main breeding regions in China was carried out. This included recording the day and night body temperatures of 953 locusts as well as their morphological traits (stage, sex and size) and microhabitat. Dr. Hongmei Li added, "The results revealed that locusts preferred the ground as their main activity sub-habitat, particularly for hoppers. "Adults tended to move upper in the reed canopy at two peaks10am to 11am and 2pm to 3pm. Locusts body temperature during the daytime increased with development stage and size, while the opposite pattern occurred at night time. "Entomopathogenic fungi are more effective if the body temperature of the target pest is in a proper range without being too high or too low. "The application of biopesticides, therefore, should focus on younger locustsspraying in the morning or at dusk when the locusts have lower body temperatures." The scientists conclude by highlighting that the ground truth data of the pests that they have identified could in future also compliment advanced technologies used tackle crop pests. This includes earth observation and other agricultural-based applications. More information: Hongmei Li et al, Daily activity patterns and body temperature of the Oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen), in natural habitat, Frontiers in Physiology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1110998 Journal information: Frontiers in Physiology Provided by CABI 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 Russia will postpone the launch of an empty space capsule to the International Space Station pending further investigation of a coolant leak on a supply ship docked to the station, the second such leak at a docked Russian craft in two months, the head of Russia's space corporation Roscosmos said Monday. The Soyuz capsule was to be launched in automatic mode on Feb. 20 and dock with the orbiting outpost two days later, to serve as a lifeboat for crew evacuation in case of an emergency. Roscosmos director Yuri Borisov said the launch will be delayed, at most until early March. A Soyuz capsule that can accommodate an astronaut capsule and was already docked to the station developed a coolant leak in December. Russians Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio were supposed to return to Earth in March in that capsule, but Russian space officials said higher temperatures from the coolant leak could make that dangerous. Then another coolant leak was detected Saturday in a docked supply ship. The leak was detected after a second supply ship docked with the space station. Borisov said the unmanned Soyuz launch would be delayed "until we make sure and get to the site of a possible breakdown." Because the new Soyuz will be launched in automatic mode, a replacement crew will now have to wait until late summer or fall when another capsule is ready. That means Prokopyev, Petelin and Rubio will have to stay several extra months at the station, possibly pushing their mission to close to a year. Besides Prokopyev, Petelin and Rubio, the space station is home to NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada; Russian Anna Kikina; and Japan's Koichi Wakata. The four rode up on a SpaceX capsule last October. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Russia said Monday it had delayed the launch of a rescue ship supposed to bring home three astronauts whose planned return vehicle was damaged by a tiny meteoroid. The mission's postponement until March came after the Russian space agency reported a new problem at the weekend, saying a supply ship docked at the International Space Station (ISS) had leaked coolant. "A decision has been taken to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in an unmanned mode until March 2023," the Russian space agency said. "We stress that nothing threatens the life and health of the crew," it added. Russia had said in early January it would send an empty spacecraft to the ISS on February 20 to bring back the three astronauts. MS-22 flew Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin and Sergei Prokopyev and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio to the ISS in September after taking off from the Russian-operated Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They were scheduled to return home in the same spacecraft in March. But MS-22 began leaking coolant in mid-December after being hit by what US and Russian space officials believe was a tiny space rock. At the weekend the Russian space agency also said the Progress MS-21, a Russian supply ship docked at the ISS, had leaked coolant. The space agency said on Monday that a commission was looking to establish what had happened to the Progress cargo ship. "Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft," Roscosmos said. In recent years Russia's space programme has been beset by a litany of problems which have led to the loss of satellites and vehicles. The ISS was launched in 1998 at a time of increased US-Russia cooperation following the Cold War "Space Race." 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: It has fossorial habits, as evidenced by its reduced eyes and modified rostral scale (snout), which is shaped like an upturned spade and adapted for burrowing. Credit: Diego J. Santana Despite similarities with other Neotropical biomes like the Caatinga (a mosaic of scrub with patches of seasonally dry forest in Northeast Brazil) and Cerrado (savanna in Central Brazil), the Gran Chaco, or simply Chaco, is globally unique. Located mainly in Bolivia and Argentina, with patches in Brazil and Paraguay, the region is the world's largest continuous dry tropical forest. Snakes must adapt in various ways to survive there. Sheltering from the sun and climbing trees are examples. In an article published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, researchers affiliated with institutions in Brazil and Paraguay report the results of a study according to which the distribution of snake species in the Chaco correlates closely with the adaptations that have occurred during their evolution. "In the south, which is drier, most species are fossorial [living primarily underground], while in the north, which is influenced by the Amazon and other rainforests, snakes are mainly arboreal [tree dwellers]. The differences are evidenced by their morphology [body shapes]," said Hugo Cabral, first author of the article. Cabral, a Paraguayan-born researcher, conducted the study as a Ph.D. candidate at Sao Paulo State University's Institute of Biosciences, Letters and Exact Sciences (IBILCE-UNESP) in Sao Jose do Rio Preto (Brazil). The study showed that most species in the northern portion of the Chaco ecoregion tend to have long tails, which can correspond to almost half their total length. This means they are arboreal or semi-arboreal, with prehensile tails that can grip tree branches or other objects. Nearer the Amazon, the Andean Forest and Chiquitania, a region of tropical savanna in eastern Bolivia, the northernmost part of the Chaco is also wetter, with considerable diversity of tree species that are home to snakes that have adapted to live above ground. In the southern part, species are shorter overall with shorter tails and have small eyes, all of which means they are fossorial or semi-fossorial. Living underground is an adaptation that enables them to survive the high temperatures in this part of the Chaco, which can reach 48 C. The soil is sandy there, so that the snakes can easily dig burrows. "One of the questions we had in mind was whether snake species were distributed homogeneously throughout the Chaco. The analysis showed they weren't. Their distribution is closely linked to habitat, and entire evolutionary groups are often found in the same area, reflecting the selective pressure exerted by the environment," said Thais Guedes, a co-author of the article and a researcher at the State University of Campinas's Institute of Biology (IB-UNICAMP). Guedes is principal investigator for the project "Evolution and biogeography of the herpetofauna: patterns, process and implications for conservation in a scenario of environmental and climate changes." The results were obtained by computational analysis of a database with ecological and morphological data for 140 species that live in the Chaco. Ecological data included information on habitat (aquatic, terrestrial, arboreal, semi-arboreal, fossorial, semi-fossorial). Morphological data included information on snout-vent length, tail length, total length, body mass and eye diameter (large or small). The data was superimposed on a map of species distribution in the Chaco and cross-referenced with environmental variables that can select for vertical niches, relating to climate, vegetation and soil sandiness. Little known region "Tropical forests occupy a very large part of South America and partly for this reason relatively little is known about other ecosystems on the continent, such as the Chaco, which boasts huge biodiversity," said the other co-author of the article, Diego Jose Santana, a professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) and at IBILCE-UNESP, where he teaches animal biology to graduates and supervised Cabral's doctoral research. Like the Caatinga, the Chaco is neglected in studies on biodiversity. Moreover, in recent decades the region has suffered from high rates of deforestation. Understanding ecological and evolutionary processes is therefore increasingly relevant, Cabral said, adding that the few existing studies analyze the northern and southern parts of the Chaco separately. This is the first time it has been investigated in its entirety. "Species don't care about borders. A broader, more integrated approach is needed," he reiterated. For Guedes, research like this provides important guidance for more efficient conservation strategies. For example, when planning the creation of one or more protected areas, it is now possible to define locations that contain not only the largest number of species, especially if they are endemic, but also the largest diversity of evolutionary histories. "We know we probably won't be able to protect the entire biome, but we have enough information to help define areas with the most potential to safeguard as many groups of species as possible," she said. More information: Hugo Cabral et al, Functional traits and phylogeny explain snake distribution in the world's largest dry forest ecoregion, the Gran Chaco, Ecology and Evolution (2022). DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9503 Journal information: Ecology and Evolution Provided by FAPESP 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: Mesut Hancer holds his dead daughter's hand. Irmak, 15, died in the Turkey-Syria quake. The massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6 is the fifth-deadliest this century. Here is a list of the 10 worst quakes since 2000, ranked by death toll: 2004: 230,000 dead, southeast Asia On December 26, a massive 9.1-magnitude earthquake strikes off the coast of Sumatra, triggering a tsunami that kills more than 230,000 people throughout the region, including 170,000 in Indonesia alone. Waves 30 metres (100 feet) high, travelling at 700 kilometres per hour (435 miles per hour), swallow everything in their path. 2010: 200,000 dead, Haiti A magnitude 7 quake on January 12 devastates the capital Port-au-Prince and the surrounding region. The quake cuts the country off from the rest of the world for 24 hours, killing over 200,000 people, leaving 1.5 million homeless and shattering much of Haiti's frail infrastructure. In October the same year, Haiti is also hit by a cholera epidemic introduced by Nepalese peacekeepers who arrived after the quake. It kills more than 10,000 people. 2008: 87,000 dead, Sichuan More than 87,000 people, including 5,335 school pupils, are left dead or missing when a 7.9-magnitude quake strikes southwestern Sichuan province on May 12. The quake causes outrage after it emerges that 7,000 schools were badly damaged, triggering accusations of shoddy construction, corner-cutting and possible corruption, especially as many other buildings nearby held firm. 2005: 73,000 dead, Kashmir An October 8 earthquake kills more than 73,000 people, the vast majority in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province and the Pakistani-administered zone of Kashmir. A further 3.5 million are displaced. 2023: 35,000 dead, Turkey and Syria On February 6, a 7.8-magnitude quake strikes near the Turkish city of Gaziantep, close to the Syrian border. The biggest quake in Turkey in nearly a century, which is followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor, reduces entire neighbourhoods of cities in southeastern Turkey and the north of war-ravaged Syria to rubble. On February 13, the toll hits 35,224. 2003: 31,000 dead, Bam (Iran) A 6.6-magnitude quake in southeastern Iran on December 26 destroys the ancient mud-brick city of Bam, killing at least 31,000 people. Nearly 80 percent of Bam's infrastructure is damaged and the desert citadel, once considered the world's largest adobe building, crumbles. 2001: 20,000 dead, India A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake on January 26 hits the western Indian state of Gujarat, killing more than 20,000 people. The quake flattens buildings across the state, with many fatalities in the town of Bhuj near the border with Pakistan. 2011: 18,500 dead, Japan On March 11, Japan is struck by an enormous 9.0-magnitude earthquake, unleashing a towering tsunami. Around 18,500 people are left dead or missing as the wall of water travelling at the speed of a jet plane levels communities along the northeastern coast. The ensuing meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant blankets nearby areas with radiation, rendering some towns uninhabitable for years and displacing tens of thousands of residents. 2015: 9,000 dead, Nepal A 7.8-magnitude earthquake on April 25 strikes in central Nepal, triggering avalanches and landslides across the Himalayan nation, destroying schools and hospitals. The quake kills almost 9,000 people and renders millions homeless. It also reduces more than a hundred monuments to rubble, including centuries-old temples and royal palaces in the Kathmandu valley. 2006: 6,000 dead, Java On May 26, a 6.3-magnitude quake rocks the southern coast of the Indonesian island of Java, near the city of Yogyakarta, killing around 6,000 people. More than 420,000 are left homeless and around 157,000 houses are destroyed. 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 The death toll from the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6 has climbed above 21,000 in four days, exceeding the World Health Organization's estimate of 20,000. But it continues to rise by the hour as more grim discoveries are made under the rubble. Search-and-rescue efforts are well under way in Turkey after an initially slow response, but have yet to really take off in northern Syria. Syrians in rebel-controlled areas were kept waiting for help due political tensions and shattered infrastructure following the earthquake and more than ten years of conflict. So far, nobody knows how many people are still stuck under the rubble. Ovgun Ahmet Ercan, a Turkish earthquake expert, told The Economist he had estimated that 180,000 people or more may be trapped under the rubble, nearly all of them dead. A UN convoy finally gained access to northern Syria on Thursday morninga day after what is considered to be the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors. But hopes of a really effective rescue mission were dashed as there was no heavy search-and-rescue equipment provided. Now the survival rate of people trapped under the rubble stands at less than 6%. To avoid losing more lives and reduce suffering, the international aid response will now be more critical than ever. Based on my doctoral research which focused on humanitarian aid in conflict and political crisis situations, here are the key priorities. Huge challenges This will be an extremely challenging aid operation. For a start, the weather is not on the responders' sideboth countries are experiencing a harsh wet winter. There are also regional political tensions and millions of refugees in both countries due to the conflict in Syria. Syria faces a convergence of disasters. Conflict, a cholera outbreak and already dangerously overstretched medical facilities are just some of the issues to deal with. A crucial UN aid hub for northern Syria, close to the epicenter of the initial earthquake in Turkey, was affected. This could have worsened the shortages of key supplies needed immediately after the earthquake struck. Political response One of the most important decisions a government makes in disasters is whether to declare a state of emergency. For humanitarian organizations, this means that they can freely work in the affected areas. Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already declared a three-month state of emergency. As a result, the response in Turkey has received significantly more resources and media attention. The Syrian government has not declared a state of emergency. This means that it does not officially recognize or support any organizations that work in rebel-controlled areas. This is risky for aid workers. There are no official safety guarantees yet and the proliferation of armed groups increases security risks for rescue-and-relief missions. The support available to Syria will only be effective if the Assad regime is willing to grant access to rebel-controlled areas. International aid organizations can only do so much when facing an uncompromising government. Other governments should make earnest attempts to engage with Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad. The priority for Syria is to negotiate with the government and other armed groups for safe and unhindered access to ensure that more aid is delivered for as long as needed. Money is vital Cash donations from the public and from governments are important. Ideally, they should not be earmarkedmeaning that donors should not dictate how the money should be spent. This allows aid organizations to quickly adapt their responses when needed. Obviously, at present, the top priorities are food and water, access to medical assistance and clothing and shelter suitable for the current weather conditions. It's understandable that the public wants to see supplies sent as quickly as possiblebut the state of infrastructure in the earthquake region will not support this and storing supplies in the area increases the risk of theft. Also the type of support needed is changing fast as focus shifts from search and rescue to keeping people alive. The goal should be to ensure slow but steady supply of essential items. This means finding safe alternative access routes, for example using sea freight to build a continuous pipeline of international supplies and constantly delivering supplies to badly hit areas using small vehicles. Pack animals such as donkeys can also play an important role in delivering basic supplies and providing an ambulance service for people in difficult to reach places. Aid corridors to the northern Syria must be opened. In the recent past Russia and China have blocked UN efforts to reopen several routes from Turkey to Syria closed by the Assad regime. Meanwhile, Damascus refuses to allocate resources to rebel-controlled territory and is accusing responding international organizations of "funding terrorists." This is going to require a major diplomatic effort so that aid flows from both sides. Aid organizations must coordinate and collaborate efforts with local communities and political actors, especially important in northern Syria where international aid workers were forced out several years ago because high security risks. Caring for the dead As already mentioned, there is also a cholera outbreak in the afflicted region. The World Health Organization identifies cholera as one of the few diseases that can be transmitted from dead bodies, so this can pose a huge public health risk following a natural disaster. To avoid repeating the same mistakes that were made in Haiti where huge numbers of people ended up infected, disease control should be a priority. This will require specialist help to ensure proper sanitary conditions and burials. The slow response does not need to be defining feature of this crisis. There is still time for coordination, collaboration and diplomacy to get things moving and save as many lives as possible. 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: CENIEH The geologist Josep M. Pares, Geochronology and Geology Program Coordinator at the Centro Nacional de Investigacion sobre la Evolucion Humana (CENIEH), is the lead author of a paper published in the journal Geobios about the first geochronological data for the sediments of Ain Beni Mathar-Guefait Basin (in the province of Jerada), to the north of the Moroccan Atlas, obtained using magnetostratigraphy and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR), and which yielded ages of between half a million and three million years. These results offer the first chronological framework for the sedimentary infill of Ain Beni Mathar-Guefait, one of the largest intermontane basins of the High Plateaus. They also show that the environmental variations that triggered the change from humid to desert conditions in this zone arose from the Middle Pleistocene, and that the moistest conditions, with lakes, persisted in the Northern High Plateaus until at least half a million years ago. The main objective of this work, which is supported by the R+D+i projects PALEOMED, led by the CENIEH, and PALEOFRAM, led by the IPHES-CERCA together with the Fundacion Palarq, is to offer an initial geochronological framework for the sedimentary infill of this basin based on a combination of the magnetostratigraphy and ESR methods, respectively performed by Pares and the CENIEH researcher Mathieu Duval. "We have managed to narrow down the age of the paleontological record, which includes an important site with fauna (Guefait-4.2), the evolution of the Moulouya River, and the activity of the faults that delimit the basin," explains Pares. The authors studied the sedimentary rocks in the basin, which are alluvial lower down, and of lacustrine/palustrine origin at the top. A total thickness of around 140 m of sediments were analyzed, and these were sampled for paleomagnetic purposes, at an average interval to 2.5 meters. This made it possible to reconstruct a magnetic polarity stratigraphy, which is an alternation of periods of different magnetic sign. The zones of different signs or polarity obtained in this way, which are rather like a barcode, were correlated with the geomagnetic polarity scale of reference, using biostratigraphic data and local geological observations. A Spanish-Moroccan project Since 2006, the Ain Beni Mathar-Guefait Basin has been the object of a research project directed by Robert Sala and M. Gema Chacon, of the Institut Catala de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolucio Social de Tarragona (IPHES-CERCA), and Hassan Aouraghe of the Faculty of Sciences of the Universite Mohamed Premier in Oujda (Morocco), who has recently joined the CENIEH. "The studies we are conducting make it possible to delimit the dates of the different geological formations, and thus for the sites holding mammals they house, such as the site Guefait-4.2," concludes Pares. More information: Josep M. Pares et al, First magnetostratigraphic results in the Ain Beni Mathar-Guefait Basin, Northern High Plateaus (Morocco): The Pliocene-Pleistocene Dhar Iroumyane composite section, Geobios (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.geobios.2023.01.004 Provided by CENIEH 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 assemblage of Aetosaurus ferratus skeletons exhibited in the State Natural History Museumin Stuttgart. Credit: E.M. Teschner Aetosaurs had a small head and a crocodile-like body. The land dwellers were up to six meters long and widely distributed geographically. They died out about 204 million years ago, at the end of the Triassic. In Kaltental near Stuttgart, Germany, an assemblage of 24 Aetosaurus ferratus individuals, only between 20 and 82 centimeters long, was discovered in 1877. Since then, scientists have been puzzling over whether they were juveniles or small adults. A team led by Elzbieta M. Teschner from the University of Bonn has now solved the mystery: Bone examination of two specimens shows that they are juveniles. The results have now been published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Reptiles of the genus Aetosaurus ferratus were discovered in a quarry near Kaltental, now a district of Stuttgart, and were first described nearly 150 years ago. The assemblage of about 24 individuals was dated to be about 215 million years old. "What was striking was that the total body length was only between 20 and 82 centimeters," says Elzbieta M. Teschner, who is pursuing a doctorate in paleontology at the University of Bonn while also conducting research at the University of Opole (Poland). "Interestingly, they were also the only fossils found in the area," she adds. Oscar Fraas provided the first description of the skeletons in 1877 and suggested that they had washed up together. Sixteen years ago, Rainer R. Schoch of the State Natural History Museum in Stuttgart published a more detailed morphological study. Based on features visible to the naked eye, he determined that they must be juveniles. Together with Julia B. Desojo, an Argentine paleontologist from CONICET at the Museo de La Plata, they later described the skull of a larger skeleton of another aetosaur species (Paratypothorax andressorum). The find, more than 50 kilometers from Kaltental, could potentially be the adult form of the small aetosaur species known from the assemblage, they surmised. Aetosaurus ferratus humerus morphology of A, SMNS 5770-21 and B, SMNS 5770-2; C, bone microstructure of SMNS 5770-21; D, cross sections of SMNS 5770-21 in normal transmitted and E, F, cross-polarized light; G, bone microstructure of SMNS 5770-2; H, cross sections of SMNS 5770-2 in normal transmitted light and I, J, cross-polarized light. Scale bars equal 10 mm for A and B, and 1 mm for CJ. Credit: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (2023). DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2023.2168196 Paleohistology enables age determination The assumption only recently became certainty: With the help of the science of tissue growth (paleohistology) it has now become possible to examine the bones of the Kaltental find. "Long bones are a good model for calculating the age of animals because they deposit growth rings during their life that can be countedsimilar to the growth rings in tree trunks," says Dorota Konietzko-Meier, paleontologist from the University of Bonn. Based on this method, the relative individual age of the studied specimens could be determined. The team, led by Elzbieta M. Teschner, studied the growth of the humerus bones of the smallest and one of the largest specimens from the assemblage. The results show that both animals were not older than one year. "This young age can be extrapolated for all members of this assemblage," the doctoral student says. The research team attributes the assemblage of skeletons to juvenile social behavior, which was observed for the first time for aetosaurs. "The animals banded together for some reason," Teschner says. "Most likely to increase their chances of survival and deter predators." More information: Elzbieta M. Teschner et al, Triassic Nursery? Evidence of gregarious behavior in juvenile pseudosuchian archosaurs as inferred by humeral histology of Aetosaurus ferratus (Norian; southern Germany), Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (2023). DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2023.2168196 Journal information: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. I cant imagine what you are going through, people often say to Jennifer Montalto. You are right, she thinks to herself, you cant. You shouldnt have to imagine, but I have to live that life that is unimaginable. Jennifer lost her 14-year-old daughter when a gunman shot Gina while she worked on a project in the hallway at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentines Day 2018. The five-year commemoration of that day is particularly hard for Jennifer, who usually shies away from talking publicly about her loss. Losing Gina is torture ... its not something I would wish upon anyone in any circumstance, she said. Its not just that she is gone. Its the way she was taken, the notoriety, the violence, the things he did to her. During the sentencing trial of the gunman in October, Jennifer says she learned new details about how Gina was killed. Those revelations have set her back. Up until the trial, I told myself it was quick, fast, she never saw it coming, Jennifer said. Thats not the case, far from it. Its been an adjustment in my mindset. Knowing that I dont get any more memories of her, that it stopped at 14 ... thats the hard thing to still justify, she said. The Gina Rose Montalto Memorial Foundation is the familys way of channeling their grief into something positive. It keeps her present in our lives, Jennifer said. We take that ugliness away and focus on her, what she could have been, what she could have contributed, and try not to dwell on anything negative. The foundation helps students with the cost of college by awarding STEM and arts scholarships, including a new nursing scholarship. There also is a scholarship in the works for someone entering the mental health field. The foundation sponsors the annual silver award showcase for Girl Scouts in Ginas honor and funds a Gold Award Scholarship. It also made a donation to the childrens library in Parkland. Every spring, the foundation hosts an Egg My Lawn event, an Easter egg hunt fundraiser. These are causes Gina supported, her mother said. She was a member of her school Color Guard, a Girl Scout; an active church member; and a talented artist. She loved young children. The foundation is a way to help keep Ginas light shining by helping others attain their goals, said Tony Montalto, her father. The loss of a child never leaves you. The best we can hope for is to find a way to work around that pain every day. Of the 17 victims 14 teens and three adults a variety of charities have formed to help their memories to live on. Over the last five years, those charities have expanded their missions and offered new ways to donate. Everyone chooses to honor their loved one in whichever way they choose, Jennifer said Some of the charities to honor Parkland shooting victims: Meadows Movement honors Meadow Pollack, with its fundraising efforts going to Princess Meadows Playground, a subset of Betti Stradling Park in Coral Springs that was named for Meadow, who used to play there as a child. honors Meadow Pollack, with its fundraising efforts going to Princess Meadows Playground, a subset of Betti Stradling Park in Coral Springs that was named for Meadow, who used to play there as a child. Carmen Schentrup ALS Research Fund honors Carmen Schentrup, who had planned to become a medical researcher and discover a cure for ALS. The research fund in her name continues to grow exponentially and donate to the most promising research. A teacher at Stoneman Douglas also set up the Carmen Schentrup Memorial Award, a music scholarship for high-achieving soloists. honors Carmen Schentrup, who had planned to become a medical researcher and discover a cure for ALS. The research fund in her name continues to grow exponentially and donate to the most promising research. A teacher at Stoneman Douglas also set up the Carmen Schentrup Memorial Award, a music scholarship for high-achieving soloists. The Chris Hixon Foundation honors Chris Hixon and provides scholarships to student athletes with good grades and volunteer hours at each of the three schools where Hixon worked as an athletic director. The foundation hosts an annual memorial run fundraiser every February. honors Chris Hixon and provides scholarships to student athletes with good grades and volunteer hours at each of the three schools where Hixon worked as an athletic director. The foundation hosts an annual memorial run fundraiser every February. Orange Ribbons for Jaime honors Jaime Guttenberg and donates to charities that were important to Jaime. Those include the Broward County Humane Society, where she volunteered; the dance company Jacobs Pillow; and the Paley Institute, where she dreamed of being a physical therapist. It also is dedicated to pursuing commonsense gun-safety reforms. The charitys newest initiative is Paws of Love, providing emotional support dogs to people affected by gun violence. honors Jaime Guttenberg and donates to charities that were important to Jaime. Those include the Broward County Humane Society, where she volunteered; the dance company Jacobs Pillow; and the Paley Institute, where she dreamed of being a physical therapist. It also is dedicated to pursuing commonsense gun-safety reforms. The charitys newest initiative is Paws of Love, providing emotional support dogs to people affected by gun violence. Make Our Schools Safe honors Alyssa Alhadeff and works to encourage school-safety initiatives. Its success include the passage of Alyssas Law, legislation addressing law enforcement response time when a life-threatening emergency occurs. honors Alyssa Alhadeff and works to encourage school-safety initiatives. Its success include the passage of Alyssas Law, legislation addressing law enforcement response time when a life-threatening emergency occurs. Safe Schools For Alex honors Alex Schachter and provides the most current school-safety best practices and resources to students, parents, school districts and law enforcement. The organization is raising funds to take its school-safety dashboard nationwide. honors Alex Schachter and provides the most current school-safety best practices and resources to students, parents, school districts and law enforcement. The organization is raising funds to take its school-safety dashboard nationwide. Change the Ref honors Joaquin Oliver and uses urban art to expose the harsh effects of mass shootings in America. The organization encourages young people to get involved, fight for their values and beliefs, and have their voices heard. It currently has a penalty flag for change campaign underway., honors Joaquin Oliver and uses urban art to expose the harsh effects of mass shootings in America. The organization encourages young people to get involved, fight for their values and beliefs, and have their voices heard. It currently has a penalty flag for change campaign underway., Peter Wang Foundation honors Peter Wang, a member of the JROTC who held the door open for fellow classmates during the shooting. The charity set up a scholarship to help disadvantaged students as well as make donations to organizations Peter supported. honors Peter Wang, a member of the JROTC who held the door open for fellow classmates during the shooting. The charity set up a scholarship to help disadvantaged students as well as make donations to organizations Peter supported. WalkUp Foundation honors Alaina Petty and works to create a speakers bureau of school safety experts as well as develop educational seminars and effective behavioral threat assessment programs. honors Alaina Petty and works to create a speakers bureau of school safety experts as well as develop educational seminars and effective behavioral threat assessment programs. Luke Hoyer Athletic Fund honors Luke Hoyer and gives children the opportunity to experience a sport by providing equipment, uniforms, practice gear, and travel fees. honors Luke Hoyer and gives children the opportunity to experience a sport by providing equipment, uniforms, practice gear, and travel fees. The Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund honors Scott J. Beigel, the geography teacher and cross country coach at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It sends at-risk, underserved children touched by gun violence to summer sleep-away camp. It has just formed a partnership with Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches 20 at-risk, underserved children touched by gun violence to the Ranch by tapping a $15,000 grant. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Stockton University is leading a new initiative to help state residents on probation by helping them find employment. One of them, Elimanuel Aviles-Barreto, a 47-year-old Stockton employee, is among several beneficiaries of Judiciary Opportunities for Building Success, which was supported by a $3 million grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor. This program will enhance our higher education mandate by helping New Jersey to tackle some of our communitys most intractable problems, Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman said in a press release. The goal is to make New Jersey a better place to live and work. Kesselman was one of the founders of JOBS when he was chair of the New Jersey Presidents Council, which formed the program. Aviles-Barreto, originally from Long Branch, said hes planning to help the university expand the programs reach by creating a jobs database at New Jerseys other colleges and universities, directing other probationers to a centralized job site to help them find employment. Another aspect of JOBS is to provide scholarships for those on probation to attend New Jersey colleges. Retired Superior Court Judge Mark Sandson and Kesselman both believe establishing a relationship with higher education institutions will allow for studies of the program to prove it can work not only in New Jersey but nationwide. I think one of the biggest things that it gave me was confidence that I could do something different, Aviles-Barreto said. This is more like using your brain. It gave me a new outlook on life. I think its one of the most important things Ive gotten out of the program. VINELAND The city needs a new firehouse. The City Council will decide Tuesday whether to spend an additional $5 million for the construction of it. A final reading and a public hearing will be held on the expenditure at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 640 East Wood St. None of the council members discussed the matter when it came up for a first reading during the regular council meeting on Jan. 24. The new firehouse will cost an estimated total of $22 million, City Solicitor Richard Tonetta said. The costs of construction materials and labor have increased since the time this project was initially discussed two years ago, he said. The City Council originally passed an ordinance to pay for the new firehouse at its initial cost in December 2021. An additional reason for the extra $5 million is that extensive soil contamination was found at the site, Tonetta said. The property contained a 15,000-gallon heating oil tank, but back in 2006, the state Department of Environmental Protection said no further action was required on the property, Tonetta said. In either 2017 or 2018, the city hired a Licensed Site Remedial Professional, or LSRP, to make a report to the DEP. No contamination was found where testing took place, he said. This is the site we chose, Tonetta said. We will move forward. City officials were in discussions to team with the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, which would have designed and built the firehouse and turned over the keys to the city, but ultimately decided to do it themselves through the traditional bid process, Tonetta said. The new firehouse will be built one block north from the current fire department headquarters at the old Limpert Brothers property at the northwest corner of Plumb Street and North West Boulevard, Director of Fire & EMS Richard Franchetta said. The current fire headquarters is about 60 years old, he said. They have renovated existing fire headquarters. It was reinforced back in the 1990s, but there are existing cracks. There is a little bit of a mold problem. It is outdated for use as a firehouse. The city is growing and has outgrowth it, Franchetta said. On a daily basis, 34 firefighters and administrators use the current fire headquarters, and 10 firefighters spend the night there, Franchetta said. The new firehouse will have a state-of-the-art new training room that could handle 100 people, Franchetta said. The site can be considered as a location for the Office of Emergency Management, if needed down the road, maybe in five years, he said. The new firehouse will have room for administration headquarters, trucks, fire prevention equipment, a reception area, a conference room, a kitchen and dining area, a stock room and vehicle and equipment maintenance areas, Franchetta said. A total of six fire companies operate in the city, Franchetta said. They are geographically spread throughout the city with one company with paid firefighters and five volunteer companies, he said. The last new city firehouse was built in the early 2000s, which was Fire Station No. 2 on East Sherman Avenue, Franchetta said. Talk of a new fire headquarters started in 2017 or 2018 after there was a new police station, Franchetta said. Franchetta started as a volunteer in the fire department in 1988 and left in 1995. He returned to the fire service in 2013 and was appointed in 2017 as the fire director by Mayor Anthony Fanucci. The mayor has been a fantastic advocate, Franchetta said about Fanuccis support of the fire department. The Limpert Brothers factory has been demolished. Under optimum conditions, the new firehouse could be built in 18 months once construction starts, Franchetta said They will do extra (soil) testing. We are waiting for testing results to come back, Franchetta said. What a surprise. A New Jersey government program that started with a good intention turned into something improper and surely contrary to the U.S. Bill of Rights. A 2016 law requires a bit of blood be drawn from all babies born in the state for an effort to find those susceptible to some illnesses. The New Jersey Newborn Screening Program currently tests for 60 different disorders and identifies about 150 babies a year who have a rare and serious illness. That plausible justification was undermined from the start by trampling on the right of people to keep crucial information about themselves private absent a strong public interest. For this to be legal would require a compelling and convincing case that those 150 susceptibilities previously not caught by such screenings somehow were seriously undermining public health before 2016. Of course, once government gets hold of private information about people, it cant be trusted to keep it secure or even avoid misusing it. Michigan has used baby blood for biomedical research and sold it to for-profit companies for research. Texas gave it to the federal government for a DNA database to use in criminal and missing persons cases. Minnesota lets researchers use the DNA to look for trends in ethnic groups and regions. In New Jersey, four police departments have used baby DNA in five criminal investigations in recent years, prompting civil rights advocates to declare it an abuse of police powers. Several months ago the state Office of the Public Defender and New Jersey Monitor news service sued the state Division of Public Health and Environmental Laboratories after it refused to release records detailing police use of baby blood in investigations. Last month a Superior Court judge agreed with them and ordered state health officials to reveal which police agencies retrieved the baby blood and when. Parents arent told that blood samples with their infants DNA are stored for 23 years, that use of the samples wont be limited to the stated purpose of disease screening, or whether and how they can opt out from the blood testing or storage. The effectiveness of this abuse of the publics right to privacy is what makes it such a threat to the American way of life. The Office of the Public Defender discovered last year that N.J. State Police had used a babys DNA to link that of his father to a 1996 sexual assault. But as with other illegal searches, just because a DNA database sometimes produces evidence of a crime doesnt make it legal. Without the constitutional protection, a police state and the tyranny it could support would soon be possible. A bill introduced in the Legislature last September would restrict the use of DNA samples taken from newborns to detecting the disorders or conditions specified by the Newborn Screening Program. This is not nearly enough. Parents must be given the choice of opting in to such a screening program only after being fully informed about it, including how long their childs DNA will be stored. They must be allowed to choose to have their babys blood sample destroyed after the screening is completed. Restricting the use of the baby DNA to disease screening could be undone with a simple bill by a future Legislature. Legislators should develop an amendment to the N.J. Constitution that would address the gathering and use of personal DNA in general. Right now, many people seeking information about themselves and possible unknown relatives submit DNA samples to companies such as 23andMe. Few have realized that their DNA could subsequently be used by law enforcement to find and prosecute a relative, but that is exactly what has happened. People using such services should be informed about the possible uses of their DNA and required to affirm such use before its allowed. The public needs to get up to speed on such privacy issues. Technology is creating the potential for government to know almost everything about every person, and with it endless opportunities to misuse that information. Letting government demand the DNA of every newborn would be a terrible start to this battle to preserve freedom and liberty. The main actor and director of super hit Kannada movie Kantara, Rishab Shetty, and its producer, Vijay Krigandur Ahad were present before Kozhikode Deputy Commissioner of Police, K.E. Baiju today. The director and producer of the movie appeared before the investigating officer after the Supreme Court of India on Thursday (Feb 9, 2023) granted anticipatory bail to director Rishab Shetty and producer Vijay Kirgandur. The division bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Padiwala had said in the order that Petitioner shall present before the investigating officer on February 12 and 13. In case he is arrested, he shall be released on bail forthwith subject to conditions on trial court. The producer and director have given their statements before the police following a complaint lodged by the Keralabased music band Thaikoodam Bridge that a song in the movie was a product of the band and that the movie makers did not acknowledged that. Agencies In an anticipated development, President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Simultaneously, the President has transfered Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais as the new head of Maharashtra Raj Bhavan, according to an official communique this morning. The appointment of Bais, 75 --who has been the previous Governor of Tripura -- will take effect from the date he assumes charge in Maharashtra. The President has carried out a major gubernatorial reshuffle involving accepting the resignations of one Governor (Maharashtra) and one Lt. Governor (Ladakh), and 13 new appointments/transfers across India. The press communique says, The President of India has accepted the resignations of Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari as Governor of Maharashtra and Shri Radha Krishnan Mathur as Lt. Governor of Ladakh. Kosyari during his tenure courted controversies due to some of his decisions and statements regarding Maharashtras icons such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and others. He hurriedly lifted the Presidents rule in September 2019 and administered oath to Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as chief minister and deputy chief minister, respectively, in a hushhush manner. IANS In yet another fire accident in Hyderabad, 10 workers were injured in a blaze at a private scrap godown late on Sunday night. In yet another fire accident in Hyderabad, 10 workers were injured in a blaze at a private scrap godown late on Sunday night. The incident occurred at Gaganpahad in Shamshabad on the outskirts of the city. All the injured workers were from Uttar Pradesh. Two of them sustained critical injuries and were admitted to government-run Osmania Hospital. Fire broke in godown around midnight after a sudden explosion when the workers were cleaning chemical bottles. Soon, flames engulfed the entire godown as inflammable goods including pharmaceutical chemicals, oil containers and plastic material caught the fire. On receipt of information, fire tenders rushed to the scene and doused the fire after an hour-long operation. Police believe that one of the workers was smoking while cleaning the chemical bottles and this could have led to a reaction with the combustible gases resulting in the explosion. Officials said no fire safety measures were put in place. Police registered a case of negligence against the owner of the godown and took up investigation. This is the sixth fire accident in godowns or commercial buildings in Hyderabad in less than a month. Three persons were killed in a huge fire at a multi-storey commercial complex in Secunderabad. The building was completely gutted in the fire and it was demolished by the authorities. Following the series of fire accidents, authorities have warned that strict action would be taken against the owners of commercial buildings and warehouses not taking adequate fire safety measures and also against those running their operations in residential areas. IANS Spying concerns: From Huawei to TikTok, Chinese tech giants face scrutiny With China-based tech giants like Huawei triggering national security concerns -- amid Beijing-backed bad actors capable of orchestrating massive cyber-attacks on industries and defence establishments across the world -- the outcome of the constant tussle could shape the worlds tech landscape for years to come. Beijing has always denied its links to any large-scale cyber attack, espionage via its tech companies or stealing users data via its apps (like TikTok), experts warn that tensions between Washington and Beijing over technology could lead to a digital iron curtain, which would compel foreign governments to decide between doing business with the US or China. According to New York-based think-tank Council on Foreign Relations, Huawei faces accusations that Beijing could use its 5G infrastructure for espionage. The US and other countries claim that Huawei threatens their national security. They say it is beholden to the Chinese government, which could use the company to spy, according to the councils latest repor The US, Australia, Japan, and others have effectively banned Huawei from building their 5G networks, but it remains popular in low-income countries. Many US policymakers view Huawei as a commercial extension of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). There are also concerns that Huaweis 5G infrastructure could contain backdoors that allow the Chinese government to collect and centralize massive quantities of data and give Beijing the necessary access to attack communications networks and public utilities. In 2022, an FBI investigation found that Huawei equipment can be used to disrupt US military communications, including those about the U.S. nuclear arsenal, according to the Councils report. Huawei, however, has denied all such accusations. The company has distanced itself from the CCP, repeatedly asserting that its equipment have never been used, and will never be used, to spy. Other Chinese companies listed included Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera, which make video surveillance equipment and two-way radio systems. Hikvision, Huawei and others denied supplying data to the Chinese government. Hikvision said that its products present no security threat to the US. The countries of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance -- The US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK -- have banned or are rolling out bans on Huawei. Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Sweden have also restricted the use of Huawei equipment in the construction of their 5G networks. Meanwhile, China has also been accused of cyber warfare against countries. ByteDance-owned TikTok has also been in the news for reportedly stealing US users data. The US plans to ban Chinese short video-making app TikTok nationwide, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a vote next month on a bill to completely block the platform. IANS Actors of the National Ballet of China perform during the Ballet "A Dream of Red Mansions" at the Beijing Tianqiao Theater in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2023. This play was adapted from the Chinese classic "A Dream of Red Mansions" written by Cao Xueqin in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) The original ballet "A Dream of Red Mansions," adapted from a Chinese classic, has been premiered at the Beijing Tianqiao Theater. Dancing on tiptoe in attires of Chinese classical operas, dancers from the National Ballet of China depicted major characters from the masterpiece, offering a visual feast through an integrating performance that blended Chinese and Western styles of art. After performing in Beijing until Feb. 18, the troupe will also go on performance tours in Xi'an, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, among other cities. A man allegedly made a hoax call after getting drunk, which put Pune city police on a brief alert, the caller has been traced to Hyderabad and arrested from there Google companys office in Pune city was put on alert on Monday after city police received a call about a bomb in the premises which latter on turned out to be a hoax call. According to the reports, the caller made the call after getting drunk. However, the police have traced to the caller and is arrested him from Hyderabad. The office, located on the 11th floor of a multi-storey commercial building in Mundhawa area, received a call on Sunday night that a bomb was kept in the premises. After the call the police was informed and Pune Police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad reached the spot and carried out the operation in which they found the call was a hoax call. An investigation is underway. A man stabbed his mother in law and son in the police station, detained by the police A 30-year-old man was detained for allegedly stabbing his four-year-old son and 46-year-old mother-in-law at a police station in Hadapsar on Saturday night. The accused named Mangesh Mahada Tare (age 30), a Wadgaonsheri resident who works as a security guard at an IT park in Pune, was arrested by the police. As per police, Mangeshs wife Pooja (age 23) had come to the police station with her son four-year-old son Viraj accompanied by her father Damodar Palve (age 49) and mother Pushpa to register a domestic violence complaint against her husband. Mangesh appeared before the cops and claimed there was "no quarrel" between him and his wife after learning that his wife and her parents were at the police station. Meanwhile, he went over to his mother-in-law, who was holding his son, in the guise of greeting her by touching her feet. Mangesh leaned down, but as soon as he did, he pulled out a knife from his jacket and charged at his mother-in-law. Assaulting her and his son with the knife. Serious injuries were inflicted on the mother in laws face and the accused son before police subdued the attack. The police apprehended him while the victims were immediately taken to a nearby hospital. Samaiirah India said: The smart city footpaths are broader but as the inside roads begin, they start getting narrowed. PHOTOS: GAURAV KADAM The Pune Times Mirror recently organised a Citizen Initiative Forum for Pothole and Road Solution (CFPRS) for the Vishrantwadi, Dhanori, and Tingre Nagar areas. The second neighborhood meeting of Pune Mirror, held on Saturday, February 11th, was a huge success with a large turnout of fed-up citizens eager to voice their grievances plaguing their community. At this meeting, citizens were given a platform to express their views on the issues they faced. They shared their experiences with the local authorities. The residents of the neighborhood had many complaints, including potholes in the roads, parking issues, water logging during the monsoon, wrong-side driving, footpath encroachments, and old parked vehicles blocking footpaths. This citizen initiative by Pune Mirror is helping to bridge the gap between the residents and the local authorities and is providing a much-needed outlet for citizens to voice their concerns. Amit Thakkar: I request the officers to take strict actions on wrong-way driving. Randhir Rathore: If people are asked not to park there, they will still park it anyhow. Jitendra Pingle: Cars and trucks parked which is causing traffic issue, we are waiting for RTO to take action on it Ram Dogra: Poonawalla Foundation is doing a great job in my area Richard Jacklin, a Roman Catholic priest, was sentenced to 18 years in prison last month in Kankakee County court after a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting a resident with a disability at a developmental center in 2017. On Jan. 26, Kankakee County Circuit Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliott sentenced 71-year-old Jacklin to almost two decades in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He must serve 85% of the sentence. After his release from prison, he will be on parole for three years to life. Jacklin must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Jacklin was arrested by Illinois State Police on Oct. 31, 2017, after allegations that he had sexually assaulted a resident at Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee. Prosecutors said a nurse walked in on Jacklin performing a sex act on a 39-year-old man who had been a patient at the center since 2010, was paralyzed and had an intellectual disability. Jacklin was visiting the center to minister to its residents. In September 2022, a jury trial found Jacklin guilty of aggravated sexual assault on a handicapped person, criminal sexual assault by force and sexual misconduct on a person with a disability. According to the Diocese of Joliet, Jacklin was ordained in 1984. He had been assigned to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Goodrich since 2005, where he served until his arrest, according to Tribune records. The Diocese of Joliet is also facing a lawsuit in connection to the alleged abuse. The lawsuit, filed in October 2019, accuses the diocese of failing to properly investigate Jacklin and protect people with disabilities from the priest. The civil lawsuit was filed by attorneys for the Illinois Office of State Guardian on behalf of the man, who is a ward of the state. Named as defendants are the diocese, Jacklin and former Bishop Daniel Conlon. The plaintiffs asked a court to award more than $50,000 and court costs. Jacklin was one of two retired priests accused of sexual misconduct who attracted controversy in 2018 because they were living in a Naperville retirement facility, St. John Vianney Villa, across a fence from Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, according to the Naperville Sun. The Naperville School District 203 and the Naperville and Lisle police departments urged the diocese to move both priests somewhere else. The diocese did so but did not disclose where the priests were relocated. Chicago Tribunes Madeline Buckley contributed. A LeClaire man is accused of fleeing an Iowa State Patrol trooper early Monday, resulting in a high-speed chase through Bettendorf and Davenport. John Robert Grafton, 33, is charged with felony counts of eluding, second-degree criminal mischief and driving while intoxicated. He also is charged with five misdemeanors related to the chase and is being held on $16,000 bond, Scott County records show. Grafton was stopped at 12:55 a.m. Monday as he was traveling westbound on Interstate 74 from State Street in a GMC Yukon that did not, according to the Iowa State Patrol officer, have rear registration plates displayed. The officer said the SUV excited I-74 on Middle Road, made a U-turn and stopped for the trooper. After the ISP officer exited his cruiser, Grafton fled the stop at a high rate of speed, police said. He then entered the eastbound portion of I-74, traveling at speeds over 90 mph before exiting on State Street. Grafton nearly struck a Bettendorf Police cruiser head on, police said, and drove " ... through the yard of 644 Brown Street in Bettendorf, causing damage to landscaping and yard with an estimate in excess of $1,500." The pursuit ended near the intersection of River Drive and 4th Street when Grafton failed to maintain control of the Yukon and struck the curb, " ... with enough force to rip the tire and rim off of the rear of the SUV. The driver continued to try and accelerate but the vehicle would take no more abuse and became disabled," according to a report. "Grafton showed multiple clues of impairment, including but not limited to: a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his person, impaired balance, short-term memory issues," police wrote in an arrest report. He had 18 individual bottles of 99-proof alcohol, reports state, and Grafton's blood-alcohol content was .179. The legal limit for driving is .08. Grafton later admitted to fleeing a traffic stop in October 2022. The arresting ISP officer was the officer whom he led on that chase as well, police said. Three people were killed and three others were injured Sunday in a two-vehicle crash about 4 miles north of Muscatine, the Iowa State Patrol said. The crash occurred at 2:25 p.m. at County Road F70 and Iowa 38 in Muscatine County. According to the initial crash report filed by the Iowa State Patrol, a 2019 Toyota Highlander was eastbound on F70 and a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup was northbound on Highway 38. The Highlander failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection and was struck by the pickup. The names of the deceased and injured were not released Sunday. The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Muscatine County Sheriffs Department, Muscatine Police Department, Muscatine EMS and Fire Department and the Wilton Fire Department. The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol. Editor's note: These are the final profiles in an eight-part series featuring Quad-City area college students' perspectives on the fall 2022 semester. Alexandra Nasharr School: Western Illinois University - Quad-Cities Grade: First-year Master's student Program: Museum Studies Bachelor's Degree: Fine Arts Hometown: Hinsdale, Ill Victor Cardoza School: Black Hawk College Grade: Freshman Major: Music Education Hometown: San Antonio, Tx Favorite fall 2022 "new release": "Wednesday" on Netflix First-year graduate student Alexandra Nasharr and Victor Cardoza, who took a non-traditional path, both are eager to keep going. Nasharr, who is pursuing her Master's in Museum Studies, said her fall 2022 semester at Western Illinois University's Quad-Cities campus broadened her horizons. "The student body is from different backgrounds; some of them are anthropology students, some are coming in with art history, some are interested in historic houses," she said. "So it's kind of showing us every type of 'museum,' which in turn has informed my possible future." A trip to the University of Iowa's Stanley Museum of Art and Museum of Natural History was Nasharr's favorite fall semester experience, alongside her "Intro to Museums Education" class something that also put her future into focus. "It was interesting because I never thought I'd want to focus on education in the museum. I was always more geared toward the collections," she said. "But having that intro course and writing an education plan for a museum was actually very engaging for me. I had trouble at first, but in the end, I loved the finished product and was really proud of it." Cardoza, 26, attended Muscatine Community College before Black Hawk College and was paying tuition out of pocket, eventually causing him to take a break from college. Upon his return now equipped with an Illinois Music Achievement Award scholarship he was excited and appreciative of BHC offering more financial and academic resources. "Black Hawk is really lenient in those areas and are willing to work with every student, just as long as you explain your situation," the Music Education student said, later adding that his relationship with professors were instrumental to his first-semester success. "I noticed that, like, every professor wanted to know if the students in those courses were doing OK," Cardoza said. "Even if you didn't have questions about school, you could come to your professors to just talk and ease your mind about certain things, and you feel you'd be able to perform to the best of your ability in that class." Nasharr, who obtained her undergraduate degree in 2012 from the Art Institute of Chicago, said she was drawn to the Quad-Cities because of amenities like the Figge and Putnam museums, Quad City Botanical Center and German-American Heritage Center & Museum. "I worked in an art gallery for a long time, but my museum experience was really only with the Art Institute," she said. "Since working the gallery doesn't really have a lot of area for growth, I decided I would go back and finish my master's for museum studies and start to work in that area." Aside from adjusting to virtual or hybrid learning, Nasharr said another big difference at WIU, compared to her undergraduate studies, was student involvement. Case in point: She's the graduate student government representative and a member of the graduate experience and museum studies (GEMS) club on campus. "At the Art Institute, it was more private study," Nasharr said. "Whereas here, you're kind of working with a team because there are different departments, but you're not just working as a single entity." Cardoza also had his share of student involvement at BHC. "I didn't find any trouble getting a hold of resources or joining clubs and organizations I was interested in," he said. "As a matter of fact, I'm one of the founders that created our music club this past semester so even if there's not an organization you feel would help a certain group or community in the school, you can petition to get one started, so it's not a dead end." Reflecting on his non-traditional college experience, Cardoza said he'd like to change higher education into a less stressful environment for students and professors. "... So maybe delegating some of the responsibilities professors have more efficiently to where they feel they don't need to rush through things or throw a whole study plan at students," he said. "I felt this (fall) semester all of my professors were stressing over the curriculum they had to follow." Mental health awareness is an area within higher education that Nasharr said has improved since her undergraduate time, though she feels there's always room to grow. "I think it's changed for the better, but I think there's still some areas where students have to be a little bit more aware of how to better, you know, their personal well-being," she said. "I think teachers have to be also aware that sometimes, there's multiple things going on, so a student might need a day or two to turn something in, as long as they're honest about it." Shifting into the art world, Nasharr said she's seen an increase in museums incorporating Native American art and history, alongside other social-justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter. "Recognizing the Native American side of history, I think sometimes doesn't get the amount of attention that it should, especially in Iowa, with having the different tribes here," she said. "Museums are trying to incorporate that in their curriculum, and the way they acknowledge certain things or certain nations, so that's really interesting." Nasharr said she felt welcomed by the WIU-QC student body, despite being a non-typical 33-year-old student. "They really didn't discriminate; they weren't 'ageist' in that sense," she said, adding her professors were welcoming as well. "They've (professors) been really inclusive in terms of being accessible and getting to know us." Cardoza feels there's a misconception surrounding the difficulty of higher education. To him, effort and engagement are key. "Going into Black Hawk, I thought maybe I had lost a bit of my edge," he said. "That's not the case at all; I overachieved. You just have to put in maybe 50% of yourself, and the other 50 honestly comes from your professors motivating you to keep coming to class and talk to them or ask questions. Just make that first step. You'll know when you're there, whether you can handle it or not." From our archives: Quad-City Coal Mining CHICAGO A gang dispute led to a December shooting near a Chicago high school that left two students dead and two other teens wounded, a prosecutor suggested. The 16-year-old suspect charged in the Dec. 16 shooting outside Benito Juarez High School asked one of the victims about his gang affiliation before he opened fire, Assistant State's Attorney Thomas Darman said during the suspect's bail hearing Saturday. A Cook County judge denied his bail and said life in prison is a possibility. The suspect was charged as an adult with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. He also faces juvenile weapon charges. Brandon Perez, 15, and Nathan Billegas, 14, were both shot in the head and pronounced dead at a hospital. Another boy and a girl, both 14, also were shot and wounded, police said. The suspect attended the school during the 2021-22 academic year but prosecutors said he was expelled for behavior, academic and attendance issues. After the suspect was arrested at his home Thursday and officers served a search warrant, they found four guns, all loaded and with extended magazines, Darman said. Three of the guns also had switches that made them fully automatic. Defense attorney Nicholas Giordano questioned why it took the police months to arrest his client if they had "all these identifications." WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Sunday ordered an "unidentified object" shot down with a missile by U.S. fighter jets Sunday over Lake Huron, and it was believed to be the same one tracked over Montana and monitored by the government beginning the night before, U.S. officials said. The downing came after earlier objects over Alaska and Canada were shot out of the sky because they were flying at altitudes that posed a threat to commercial aircraft, according to the officials, who had knowledge of the downings and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive operations. It was extraordinary that four objects were shot out of the sky by U.S. fighter jets in eight days. Pentagon officials have said they don't know when the last shootdown of an unknown or unauthorized object over U.S. territory occurred. The latest object brought down was first detected on Saturday evening over northern Montana and airspace over Havre was closed briefly to support Department of Defense activities, but it was initially thought to be an anomaly. Radar picked it up again Sunday hovering over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and it was going over Lake Huron. U.S. and Canadian authorities had restricted some airspace over the lake earlier Sunday as planes were scrambled to intercept and try to identify the object. The latest object was octagonal, with strings hanging off, but it had no discernable payload. It was flying low at about 20,000 feet, according to one senior U.S. official. U.S. officials were still trying to precisely identify the other two objects blown from the sky by F-22 fighter jets over the past two days. They also were working to determine whether China was responsible as concerns escalated about what Washington said was Beijing's large-scale aerial surveillance program. Part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a heightened alert following a spy balloon from China that emerged over U.S. airspace in late January, Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said in a briefing Sunday with reporters. Since then, fighter jets last week also shot down objects over Canada and Alaska. Pentagon officials said they posed no security threats, but so little was known about them that Pentagon officials were ruling nothing out not even UFOs. We have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase, said Melissa Dalton, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense. U.S. authorities have made clear that they constantly monitor for unknown radar blips, and it is not unusual to shut down airspace as a precaution to evaluate them. But the unusually assertive response was raising questions about whether such use of force was warranted, particularly as administration officials said the objects were not of great national security concern and the downings were just out of caution. VanHerck said the U.S. adjusted its radar so it could track slower objects. With some adjustments, weve been able to get a better categorization of radar tracks now," he said, "and thats why I think youre seeing these, plus theres a heightened alert to look for this information." He added: I believe this is the first time within United States or American airspace that NORAD or United States Northern Command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object." Asked if officials have ruled out extraterrestrials, VanHerck said, I havent ruled out anything at this point. The Pentagon officials said they were still trying to determine what exactly the objects were and said they had considered using the jets' guns instead of missiles, but it proved to be too difficult. They drew a strong distinction between the three shot down over this weekend and the balloon from China. The object shot down Saturday over Canada's Yukon was described by U.S. officials as a balloon significantly smaller than the balloon the size of three school buses hit by a missile Feb. 4 while drifting off the South Carolina coast after traversing the country and passing through Montana. A flying object brought down over the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday was more cylindrical and described as a type of airship. Both were believed to have a payload, either attached or suspended from them, according to the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. The three objects were much smaller in size, different in appearance and flew at lower altitudes than the suspected Chinese spy balloon that fell into the Atlantic Ocean after the U.S. missile strike. The officials said the Alaska and Canada objects were not consistent with the fleet of Chinese aerial surveillance balloons that targeted more than 40 countries, stretching back at least into the Trump administration. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC's "This Week" that U.S. officials were working quickly to recover debris. Using shorthand to describe the objects as balloons, he said U.S military and intelligence officials were "focused like a laser" on gathering and accumulating the information, then compiling a comprehensive analysis. "The bottom line is until a few months ago we didn't know about these balloons," Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the spy program that the administration has linked to the People's Liberation Army, China's military. "It is wild that we didn't know." Eight days ago, F-22 jets downed the large white balloon that had wafted over the U.S. for days at an altitude of about 60,000 feet. U.S. officials immediately blamed China, saying the balloon was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals and could maneuver itself. White House officials said improved surveillance capabilities helped detect it. Then, on Friday, North American Aerospace Defense Command, the combined U.S.-Canada organization that provides shared defense of airspace over the two nations, detected and shot down an object near sparsely populated Deadhorse, Alaska. Later that evening, NORAD detected a second object, flying at a high altitude over Alaska, U.S. officials said. It crossed into Canadian airspace on Saturday and was over the Yukon, a remote territory, when it was ordered shot down by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In both of those incidents, the objects were flying at roughly 40,000 feet. The cases have increased diplomatic tensions between the United States and China, raised questions about the extent of Beijing's American surveillance, and prompted days of criticism from Republican lawmakers about the administration's response. China's Foreign Ministry said the unmanned balloon was a civilian meteorological airship that had blown off course. Beijing said the U.S. had "overreacted" by shooting it down and reserved the right to "take further actions." They accused the U.S. of "a serious violation of international practice." Rep. Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the administration was looking "somewhat trigger-happy." "Although that is certainly preferable to the permissive environment they showed when the Chinese spy balloon was coming over some of most sensitive sites," Turner, R-Ohio, told CNN's "State of the Union." Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, urged the administration to be as forthcoming as possible, saying the lack of solid information was fueling online speculation. Himes said it was clear from briefings in recent years "that there is a lot of garbage up there" in the sky. "The truth is that most of our sensors and most of what we were looking for didn't look like balloons," he told NBC's "Meet the Press." Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo, Ellen Knickmeyer and Tara Copp contributed to this report. It is hard to believe that the Equal Rights Amendment, which guarantees equal legal rights regardless of sex, has not been added to the United States Constitution. In 2020, Virginia became the final state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, but the fight to have it codified continues to this day. With the rights of women and the LGBTQIA+ community under attack, the fight for the ERA is as important as ever, said Kati Hornung, executive director of VoteEquality. Artists4ERA, a collection of new work by national and Virginia-based artists, is headed to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, with the support of VoteEquality, to help spread the word about the importance of the ERA. The exhibit features work from 28 artists, many of whom are familiar to Richmond, such as Nico Cathcart, Noah Scalin and Hamilton Glass. Nationally recognized artists featured in the exhibit include Shepard Fairey (known for his iconic 2008 Obama poster), Chuck Sperry (known for his rock posters) and Tracie Ching, a Virginia illustrator who created the inauguration poster for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. All of the pieces address issues of equal rights for women and gender equality. For example, Cathcarts piece, which is a portrait of queer Black trans activist Aurora Higgs from Richmond, aims to uplift and inspire the viewer. The 28th Amendment is not just about women, its about all people. It includes queer and trans people of all genders, persons of color, and differently-abled people, said Cathcart, who curated the collection, in a statement. Richmond artist Scalins piece features a youth in front of a giant green ERA button. My mother brought me to my first protest march in a stroller, the artist said in a statement. I got a giant green button that said ERA YES. I remember being so excited to participate and also so frustrated to discover that our actions didnt turn into immediate change. Now I have a child of my own and she is older than I was at that march and together were still demanding equal rights for all. All prints and original pieces from the exhibit will be available for purchase. Prices range from $40 for poster prints to $100 for fine art prints. The originals will go up for sale in a silent auction, with many pieces starting from $700 to $2,000. Sales will benefit VoteEquality. Art is an incredible way to have something speak to you. We would like to invite people to see the wide variety of gender equality being portrayed in these works, Hornung said. The Artists4ERA collection launched in California last year and has visited several states across the country. This is the first time the full collection, with an emphasis on Virginia artists, will be shown in Virginia. The 28 pieces in the collection symbolize the proposed 28th Amendment, also known as the ERA. There will be an opening reception at the VMHC, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., on Friday at 7 p.m. Many of the artists will be in attendance. Tickets are $10 for students and $38 for general admission. More information at https://voteequality-bloom.kindful.com/e/artists4era-february-17th I want people to walk away understanding that all the requirements for the ratification of the 28th Amendment are done. Virginia was the 38th state to ratify it and then we went into lockdown with COVID. I feel like we lost a lot of energy because of that, Hornung said. Right now, I feel like were at a point nationally, if enough noise is made, they can make it into the Constitution. If no noise is made, it can die in a vacuum. And equality is too important to die in a vacuum. PHOTOS: Artists4ERA the Virginia edition Vienna performance in 1998 seen as breakthrough for China National Traditional Orchestra. On Feb 5, the day of the Lantern Festival, an album, titled The Year of Roaring Tiger, was released by NCPA Classics, the music label of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. The album is a live recording of a concert by the China National Traditional Orchestra under the baton of Chen Xieyang, which was staged at the NCPA on Feb 15, 2022, the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Tiger. Featuring music pieces, such as Spring Festival Overture, Blossoms on a Spring Moonlight Night and Erquan Yingyue (The Moon Reflected in the Erquan Spring), the album also commemorates a landmark concert by the China National Traditional Orchestra, also conducted by Chen, in Vienna in 1998. "The concert held on the day of the Lantern Festival in 2022 celebrated the 24th anniversary of the China National Traditional Orchestra's concert at the Musikverein in Vienna in 1998. It was the first time that the orchestra performed at the iconic venue, which was a glorious and historic event in the orchestra's history," says Zhao Cong, president of the China National Traditional Orchestra, who is also a veteran pipa (a four-stringed Chinese lute) player. Back in 1998, Zhao was a student of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She can still recall vividly that she watched the news on TV about the concert of the China National Traditional Orchestra at the Musikverein. "For a Chinese audience, the Musikverein, also known as the 'Golden Hall', is very famous because of CCTV's live broadcast of the venue's New Year's concert. The venue has a long classical music history and many top musicians from around the world perform there," says Zhao. "I was a pipa student then, and at that time, Chinese music was rarely performed abroad, let alone being staged at such a great venue. When I watched the news, I was very excited and proud, hoping that, one day, I would be a member of the orchestra." In 2021, Zhao was appointed to the position of president of the China National Traditional Orchestra and that year, the concert, The Year of Roaring Tiger, was planned for the Lantern Festival in 2022. "According to the Chinese calendar, 1998 was the Year of the Tiger. After two 12-year cycles, 2022 was also the Year of the Tiger. We wanted to present the concert, not only marking the concert in 1998 in Vienna, but also displaying the growth of the orchestra from 1998 to 2022," says Zhao. The day has long lived in the memory of pipa player Wu Yuxia. "The day that we performed at the Musikverein in Vienna in 1998 was Lunar New Year's Eve. When we entered the venue, we had no time to walk around, since we had a very tight rehearsal schedule. All of us were very excited because we were about to show our music to an audience from around the world," recalls Wu, who played with the orchestra in Vienna in 1998 and also gave a solo display on her musical instrument. "The venue looked much older than it did on TV, but it was a historic space with traces of history everywhere," Wu adds. "By the end of the concert, the audience gave us a rousing round of applause. We knew that the concert was a great success." On Lantern Festival in 2022, Wu returned to the stage and performed with the orchestra by working with xiao (a vertical bamboo flute) player Wang Ciheng on an ancient Chinese music piece, Blossoms on a Spring Moonlight Night. Like Wu, erhu (a two-stringed traditional instrument) player Tang Feng was one of the musicians who performed at the concert in Vienna in 1998. Now, he is the vice-president of the orchestra. Back in 1998, Tang was in his late 20s and became the youngest principal erhu player of the China National Traditional Orchestra. "To be honest, I was not confident about the concert at the Musikverein, because Chinese music had never been staged at that venue before. I didn't know if the audience, mostly from the West, would appreciate our music," says Tang. "These types of musical instruments are hundreds or even thousands of years old. In the 1990s, Chinese music and musical instruments were often stereotyped by Chinese audiences, who considered them as old and out-of-date. The success of the concert at Musikverein was very meaningful because it gave us confidence and made us see the greatness of our own music again." During the concert on Feb 15,2022, at the NCPA, Tang played with the orchestra on an original music piece, titled Pale Clouds and Dancing Wind, which Tang composed along with musician Lin Hai. "For decades, we have been trying to showcase the beauty of our instruments by bringing out new, original works. The good news is that a greater number of people at home, especially young people, are recognizing and enjoying Chinese music," says Tang. The new album also features a piece adapted from a folk song of Shaanxi province, which was staged at the concert on Feb 15, 2022, at the NCPA. Titled Xintianyou Capriccio, the work is performed by suona (a traditional woodwind instrument) player Niu Jiandang and zhongruan (a traditional four-stringed plucked instrument) player Feng Mantian. The two musicians not only played their musical instruments, but also sang and jammed onstage, which won lots of applause from the audience. "The piece was conceived when we had dinner together several years ago. I was born and raised in Shaanxi province and I loved the folk songs of my hometown very much. I started to sing a folk song after drinking some beers and Feng soon improvised on his zhongruan," recalls Niu. Zhongruan, belonging to the ruan family, is an old Chinese plucked-string instrument. Feng, who joined the China National Traditional Orchestra at the age of 15, is known for his fusion of zhongruan with contemporary music genres, such as rock and jazz. "I am always interested in exploring the different sounds of my instrument. The rhythm of folk songs from Shaanxi province fits the sound of zhongruan perfectly. When the sounds of suona, zhongruan and human voices come together, the emotion is intense and original," says Feng. Turning 60 years old next month, Feng adds that he is about to retire from the orchestra, but he will still be open to work with musicians from the orchestra. "We spent our lives playing our musical instruments. We are keen on preserving their original sounds and bringing new ones to them," Feng says. Nearly 6,000 miles separates Richmond from Syria and Turkey, the ground zero of last weeks devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake. Yet the heartbreak and agony are hitting close to home. As first responders spend hundreds of hours sifting through the rubble for signs of life, the death toll as of Sunday had risen to more than 33,000 in the two nations as images continue to circulate around the globe of people buried in the ruins, the homeless and the hungry in the streets, and the injured awaiting aid. As the humanitarian crisis unfolded, Ali Haynes Ansari, 25, of Richmond watched as his family braved unfathomable conditions in Turkey. Ive talked to my sister today, Ansari said. She said the house they stayed in is okay, but I cannot say they are safe. Ansari said his family arrived in Turkey only about five years ago as refugees from war-torn Afghanistan. After trying to find a haven in a number of countries, he said his sister, mother, father and two brothers had settled in a town south of the city of Adana before the earthquake hit. I lived there before for three-and-a-half years, but I was born in Afghanistan, too, he said. I know physically my family is okay, but its been 10 years since Ive seen them. Ansari, who has spent his life documenting and working with other refugees, said the other enemy is the unknown. We hope we can go there and maybe I can see my family again, but they have nowhere to go, Ansari said. They cant go back to Afghanistan or Turkey. Right now, theyre doing fine, but know what could happen. University of Richmond professor Abdullah Kumas knows firsthand. He was attending college in Istanbul 20 years ago when a magnitude 7 quake ripped through Turkey. Its a bizarre feeling because I was there years ago when this all happened, Kumas said. It reminds me of those days hearing those crazy noises coming from the earth. It was so heavy and loud. I thought I was going to die, he recalled. Kumas, 45, described the fear and confusion of that day in 1999, when the crust of the earth buckled under his feet. People retreated from their homes to find safety. Buildings more than 15 stories high collapsed. Phone lines went dead. Bridges snapped. It just felt like we were trapped, Kumas said. You cannot reach anyone, you cant call; amenities like electricity, water are all gone. It takes time to recover. Although Kumas lives in Richmond, his mother and father are in Istanbul. Theyre fine, but the fear is still there, he said. When you see all those things happen, peoples bodies are buried underneath buildings, the debris and dust. You cant help but be fearful. Turkeys disaster management agency said more than 29,000 people had been confirmed dead and more than 77,000 injured. More than 3,300 have been confirmed killed in Syria, bringing the total number of dead to more than 33,000. The bodies of more than 700 Syrians killed in Turkey have been repatriated for burial, said Syrian opposition official Mazen Alloush. Some 12,000 buildings in Turkey have collapsed or sustained serious damage. Although the United States and the United Nations were quick to send relief and aid, such organizations as the Council on American-Islamic Relations are pleading for other countries to do more. The devastating earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria left thousands dead and many thousands more in need, said Nihad Awad, CAIR executive director. We urge all American Muslims and the broader public to increase their support for the heroes working to assist those affected by the earthquake. Various organizations in the Richmond region have stepped up in the time of need. They include the Islamic Center of Virginia, which hosted a clothing and fund drive in Chesterfield County on Saturday. Photos: Scenes from Turkey and Syria as earthquake death toll reaches 20,000 There are roughly 100,000 Virginia residents in debt to a Virginia college, according to the Virginia Poverty Law Center. Until the money is paid, students generally cannot access their college transcripts, which would enable them to transfer to a more affordable community college or help them get a job to pay off the debt. They are stuck in a catch-22. A bill that would force colleges to release transcripts under certain circumstances was defeated by a House subcommittee Monday. The Republican-led panel voted against Senate Bill 1110 on a 5-4 party-line vote. It was the second year in a row the bill, sponsored by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, cleared the Senate but failed to gain support in the Republican-controlled House. Student debt has ballooned in recent years, and many struggle to pay the rising cost of tuition. Hashmi modified the bill this year, setting certain requirements that an eligible student would have to meet. Student debt would have to be less than $500 or the student would have to make at least three consecutive monthly payments toward the debt. The college would have to turn over the transcript if the student needs it to apply for a job. Hashmi called this years bill a pared-down version of what she introduced last year. Jay Spear, executive director of the Virginia Poverty Law Center, said students sometimes drop out of college because they become ill or a family member gets sick. Their loan or scholarship may not cover all their tuition, leading the student to have an unexpected debt. The Senate unanimously approved the measure. Opponents say colleges need leverage to make sure students pay what they owe. The law requires colleges to aggressively pursue their debts, which can include garnishing a students wages or filing a lawsuit. From the Archives: Richmond Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels After Senate Democrats rejected Dr. Colin Greene, a controversial appointee of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, as commissioner of Virginias Department of Health, the governor has placed the departments chief operating officer at the helm for now. Though R. Christopher Lindsay has administrative and communications experience in health care, he is not a licensed physician as state code requires commissioners be. Spokeswoman Macaulay Porter did not refer to Lindsay as an interim commissioner, but explained that Health and Human Resources Secretary John Littel chose Lindsay to handle the day to day operations of the department. State code says the health commissioner shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine in this Commonwealth and shall be certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine or a recognized board in a primary care especially as approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties, experienced in public health duties, sanitary science and environmental health, and otherwise qualified to execute the duties incumbent upon him by law. University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias said Lindsay does not fit the statutory qualifications, despite having experience in the health care industry. I think the statute imposes a mandatory requirement, I dont see how you avoid that requirement, he said. It looks mandatory to me with the shall. Given that Lindsay who became the departments chief operating officer in November is not officially the commissioner, his lack of a medical license might not be an issue for now. But the administrations nominee to succeed Greene will need to be a doctor. Porter said: In his brief time with the Department, COO Lindsay has demonstrated his ability to manage a complex organization like VDH and has developed relationships in both the central and district offices. Porter confirmed that the administration is working on finding a replacement for Greene. The future appointee will be subject to legislative confirmation, as Greene was. While we are compiling a list of potential replacements for Dr. [Colin] Greene, additional clarification to the agency staff regarding Lindsays role and the medical designee has been provided. As commissioner, Greene sparked controversy for his comments that downplayed the role of racism in health outcomes for Black people. Senate Democrats denied his confirmation by removing his name from a list of Youngkin appointees that the legislature then confirmed. There was no formal announcement of Lindsays temporary leadership role, but a VDH employee sent an anonymous email to members of the media and legislature about the departments new leadership. Youngkins latest news release is dated Feb. 7. It followed Senate Democrats rejections of Youngkins appointments of Suparna Dutta to the State Board of Education, Greene as health commissioner and former prosecutor Steven Buck to the Parole Board. Youngkin called the actions an appalling show of partisanship. While Lindsay has worked in the department for a few months, his background entails administrative work for Henrico Doctors Hospital and directing Emergency Medical Services relations for HCA Virginia Health System. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and Hampden Sydney College. As of publication, Porter said there were no updates on when the governor could announce a new appointee. Travis Voyles has served as the acting secretary for Natural and Historic Resources since last year. In 2022, Senate Democrats rejected Youngkins nomination of Andrew Wheeler, who was head of the Environmental Protection Agency in the Trump administration. The Times-Dispatch's 'Photo of the Day' Jan. 1, 2023 Jan. 2, 2023 Jan. 3, 2023 Jan. 4, 2023 Jan. 5, 2023 Jan. 6, 2023 Jan. 7, 2023 Jan. 8, 2023 Jan. 10, 2023 Jan. 11, 2023 Jan. 12, 2023 Jan. 13, 2023 Jan. 14, 2023 Jan. 15, 2023 Jan. 16, 2023 Jan. 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 2023 Jan. 19, 2023 Jan. 20, 2023 Jan. 21, 2023 Jan. 22, 2023 Jan. 23, 2023 Jan. 24, 2023 Jan. 25, 2023 Jan. 26, 2023 Jan. 27, 2023 Jan. 28, 2023 Jan. 29, 2023 Jan. 30, 2023 Jan. 31, 2023 Feb. 1, 2023 Feb. 2, 2023 Feb. 3, 2023 Feb. 4, 2023 Feb. 5, 2023 Feb. 6, 2023 Feb. 7, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023 Feb. 9, 2023 Feb. 10, 2023 Feb 11, 2023 Feb. 12, 2023 Feb. 13, 2023 Feb. 14, 2023 Feb. 15, 2023 Feb. 16, 2023 Feb. 17, 2023 Feb. 18, 2023 Feb. 19, 2023 Feb. 20, 2023 Feb. 21, 2023 Feb. 22, 2023 Feb. 23, 2023 Feb. 24, 2023 Feb. 25, 2023 Feb. 26, 2023 Feb. 27, 2023 Feb. 28, 2023 March 1, 2023 March 2, 2023 March 3, 2023 March 4, 2023 March 5, 2023 March 6, 2023 March 7, 2023 March 8, 2023 March 9, 2023 March 10, 2023 March 11, 2023 March 12, 2023 March 13, 2023 March 14, 2023 March 15, 2023 March 16, 2023 March 17, 2023 March 18, 2023 March 19, 2023 March 20, 2023 March 21, 2023 March 22, 2023 March 23, 2023 March 24, 2023 March 25, 2023 March 26, 2023 March 27, 2023 March 28, 2023 March 29, 2023 March 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 April 1, 2023 April 2, 2023 April 3, 2023 April 4, 2023 April 5, 2023 April 6, 2023 April 7, 2023 April 8, 2023 April 9, 2023 April 10, 2023 April 11, 2023 April 13, 2023 April 14, 2023 State Senate gatekeepers on Monday summarily killed a series of House of Delegates bills aimed at expanding police powers and adding new criminal offenses to the statute book; among them was a bill that represented Gov. Glenn Youngkins top criminal justice priority. Youngkins priority for 2023 was ended when the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected the Houses effort to say drug dealers would be charged with felony homicide essentially, second degree murder if they sold the drugs that caused a fatal overdose. The panel killed an identical Senate bill last month. Its party-line vote Monday on a measure sponsored by House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, means there is no vehicle left for the measure to reach the governors desk and be signed into law. The governor is disappointed that Senate Democrats are preventing votes on these common sense bills... they should receive full consideration in the Senate, said Macaulay Porter, Youngkins press secretary. Hed urge Democrats to put Virginians first, especially those families who have experienced tragedy as a result of deadly fentanyl, and stand with families, not with dealers, she added. Kilgore said the measure was needed in response to soaring numbers of fatal overdoses in recent years, especially those involving fentanyl mixed with opioid narcotics. But state Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, said the committee had heard many concerns that the law could discourage people from calling 911 if they are with someone who is overdosing. At the same time, dealers who sell narcotics are already subject to prison terms of 20 years, he said. Felony homicide is punishable by a prison term of five to 40 years. State Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, who sponsored the failed Senate version, said: If you reject this law, you are saying no to reducing the penalty for someone who shares drugs and calls 911. A person who shares drugs with someone who overdoses is already subject to a charge of felony homicide, but the dealer who knowingly sells the drug can just walk away, McDougle said. The Senate panel also killed a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to flee or try to flee when a police officer wants to detain an individual, but has not arrested that person. The aim is to help police when investigating crime, said the sponsor, Del. Jeffery Campbell, R-Smyth. State Sen. Scott Surovell, D Fairfax, said: This would end what for decades weve allowed you to do, to walk away unless the officer has articulable and reasonable suspicion. This bill also died on a party-line vote, as did a House bill carried by Del. Ellen Campbell, R-Rockbridge. It would have repealed a measure meant to rein in alleged driving while Black traffic stops, which occur when police pull over cars driven by Black motorists because of relatively minor traffic offenses, such as the absence of a light over the license plate or a loud exhaust system. The committee also killed with a party-line vote a bill that said a driver with 0.003 milligrams of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the ingredient in marijuana causes a high, in a liter of blood should be presumed to be guilty of driving while intoxicated. It also would have returned to police the power to search a vehicle without a warrant when an officer who is investigating impaired driving or a fatal accident can smell marijuana. The sponsor, Del. Les Adams, R-Pittsylvania, said it was a recommendation of the state Crime Commission. Surovell said there was no consensus on the commission for such a standard, and said that theres no scientific evidence linking any particular level of marijuana in the blood with an inability to drive safely. He said the trigger proposed means a person could eat a marijuana edible in the evening, go to sleep, and, if stopped on the drive to work the next day, might have to hire a lawyer and go to court to argue that he or she was not intoxicated. Thats going to court, $5,000 for a lawyer for doing something thats legal, he said. The commission also killed a measure that would have said campers at a campground are presumed to be aware of the inherent risks of camping, so that campgrounds cannot be found liable for the injury to or death of a camper. That immunity is similar to what is granted to agritourism and horse-riding operators. The pandemic brought more people to campgrounds and, as a result, a flurry of lawsuits or threatened lawsuits, as in the case of the guests at a New Kent campground who suffered many mosquito bites while sitting around a campfire and threatened to sue the campground operator, said Robert Melvin, of the Virginia Restaurant-Lodging-Travel Association. We dont legislate on anecdotes, Surovell said. What about a campground that tells kids its okay to cut down a 60 foot oak by themselves? From the Archives: Richmond Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels Tunnels WASHINGTON A U.S. fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron on Sunday on orders from President Joe Biden. It was the fourth such downing in eight days and the latest military strike in an extraordinary chain of events over U.S. airspace that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent. Part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a heightened alert following a spy balloon from China that emerged over U.S. airspace in late January, Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said in a briefing with reporters. Since then, fighter jets last week also shot down objects over Canada and Alaska. Pentagon officials said they posed no threats, but so little was known about them that Pentagon officials were ruling nothing out not even UFOs. We have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase, said Melissa Dalton, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense. U.S. authorities have made clear that they constantly monitor for unknown radar blips, and it is not unusual to shut down airspace as a precaution to evaluate them. But the unusually assertive response was raising questions about whether such use of force was warranted, particularly as administration officials said the objects were not of great national security concern and the downings were just out of caution. VanHerck said the U.S. adjusted its radar so it could track slower objects. With some adjustments, weve been able to get a better categorization of radar tracks now," he said, "and thats why I think youre seeing these, plus theres a heightened alert to look for this information." He added: I believe this is the first time within United States or American airspace that NORAD or United States Northern Command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object." Asked if officials have ruled out extraterrestrials, VanHerck said, I havent ruled out anything at this point. The Pentagon officials said they were still trying to determine what exactly the objects were and said they had considered using the jets' guns instead of missiles, but it proved to be too difficult. They drew a strong distinction between the three shot down over this weekend and the balloon from China. The extraordinary air defense activity began in late January, when a white orb the officials said was from China appeared over the U.S. and hovered above the nation for days before fighter jets downed it off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. That event played out over livestream. Since, then many Americans have been captivated by the drama playing out in the skies as fighter jets scramble to shoot down objects. The latest brought down was first detected on Saturday evening over Montana, but it was initially thought to be an anomaly. Radar picked it up again Sunday hovering over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and it was going over Lake Huron, Pentagon officials said Sunday. U.S. and Canadian authorities had restricted some airspace over the lake earlier Sunday as planes were scrambled to intercept and try to identify the object. According to a senior administration official, the object was octagonal, with strings hanging off, but had no discernable payload. It was flying low at about 20,000 feet, said the official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disusc Meanwhile, U.S. officials were still trying to precisely identify two other objects shot down by F-22 fighter jets, and were working to determine whether China was responsible as concerns escalated about what Washington said was Beijing's large-scale aerial surveillance program. An object shot down Saturday over Canada's Yukon was described by U.S. officials as a balloon significantly smaller than the balloon the size of three school buses hit by a missile Feb. 4. A flying object brought down over the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday was more cylindrical and described as a type of airship. Both were believed to have a payload, either attached or suspended from them, according to the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Officials were not able to say who launched the objects and were seeking to figure out their origin. The three objects were much smaller in size, different in appearance and flew at lower altitudes than the suspected spy balloon that fell into the Atlantic Ocean after the U.S. missile strike. The officials said the other three objects were not consistent with the fleet of Chinese aerial surveillance balloons that targeted more than 40 countries, stretching back at least into the Trump administration. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABCs This Week that U.S. officials were working quickly to recover debris. Using shorthand to describe the objects as balloons, he said U.S military and intelligence officials were focused like a laser on gathering and accumulating the information, then compiling a comprehensive analysis. The bottom line is until a few months ago we didnt know about these balloons, Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the spy program that the administration has linked to the Peoples Liberation Army, Chinas military. It is wild that we didnt know. Eight days ago, F-22 jets downed the large white balloon that had wafted over the U.S. for days at an altitude of about 60,000 feet. U.S. officials immediately blamed China, saying the balloon was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals and could maneuver itself. White House officials said improved surveillance capabilities helped detect it. Airline announces new direct nonstop Puerto Rico to Cancun flights Cancun, Q.R. Frontier Airlines says they will begin direct nonstop Puerto Rico to Cancun flights starting May. Flights will land at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in the city of San Juan (SJU) from Cancun International three times a week. The new direct flights between Puerto Rico and Cancun is the result of an increase in tourism in both destinations. Flights are set to begin May 25, 2023. Frontier Airlines says the direct flights into Cancun is part of their major expansion service to Puerto Rico. The ultra-low fare carrier announced the new Cancun route along with the addition of seven new routes from the U.S., all of which, are set to begin in May. In a statement, the airline said as part of the expanded service, they will begin offering flights to Ponce, Puerto Rico for the first time, along with expanded service to San Juan and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. With the expansion, Frontier will serve more routes to Puerto Rico than any other airline. The new routes bring the airlines total number of nonstops to Puerto Rico to 19 in a major growth push designed to meet the increased demand among leisure travelers. Puerto Rico is a hugely popular destination for leisure travelers as well as the large population of Puerto Ricans residing in the U.S. who enjoy returning to the island to visit friends and family, said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president, commercial, Frontier Airlines. The addition of new nonstop routes between Puerto Rico and seven cities in the United States and Cancun significantly expands the options for visitors to the Island, he added. Navy truck burns outside Mahahual due to mechanical failure Mahahual, Q.R. An operational truck from the Mexican Navy Secretariat caught fire Saturday morning outside Mahahual. The truck, which was carrying personnel, was on its way to attend to a sargassum beach clean up when the engine began to smoke. Governor Mara Lezama, who was in the area at the time also attending to the Mahahual sargassum beach clean up, reported on the fire. She said that the fire, which ended up burning the entire vehicle, was caused by a mechanical failure and was not a targeted attack as reported by some local media. Lezama also stressed that the military vehicle was not transporting any type of fuel at the time of the fire. Firemen were quick to the scene to deal with the burning truck. No one was injured in the vehicle mishap. Unilever to invest $400 million in Mexican plant over three years Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon The consumer goods company Unilever says they intend to invest $400 million USD in Mexico over the next three years. The company, who has had a presence in Mexico since the 1960s, says the investment includes the construction of a new manufacturing plant. Unilever reported that they will build the new plant in Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon, to manufacture beauty and personal care products. Mexico is among the 10 most important countries for Unilever in the world and is a key center for the export of Unilever beauty and personal care products to more than 25 countries, they said in a statement. With this investment, 1,200 new direct and indirect jobs will be generated. In a joint statement with the Governor of Nuevo Leon, Samuel Garcia Sepulveda said We welcome the new Unilever plant that will use state-of-the-art technology for environmental care and position our state in the global industry of beauty. The new factory is being designed to achieve Lighthouse status, which is international recognition for factories that use cutting-edge technologies to increase productivity and efficiency, while significantly limiting their environmental impact. We are excited about this new partnership with the State of Nuevo Leon to develop our new world-class factory in Salinas Victoria, home to local and international manufacturing operations, Reginaldo Ecclissato, Unilever Global Supply Chain Leader said. This new factory represents an important investment for the growth and development of Mexico, Nuevo Leon and Unilever for the coming years. It is estimated that the new plant will start operations in 2024. A planned $1.5-million water pipe will bolster the ability of Wood Haven Technology Park to attract a tenant, according to economic development officials. Wood Haven is a vacant, 110-acre industrial space near the intersection of Interstates 81 and 581 in Roanoke County created by a coalition of area governments several years ago to attract one or more employers. No business has occupied the park yet, but the space is ready for construction, officials have said. The park receives water today from Spring Hollow Reservoir. The planned new pipe will expand the water supply by creating a second line from the same source and keep water flowing in case of a breakdown with the existing line, officials said. Officials described the planned water line as a general enhancement to the sites attractiveness to industry. Its not for a specific future tenant officials have been talking to, nor has any issue with water availability caused a prospect to go elsewhere, said John Hull, who directs the Roanoke Regional Partnership. This is excellent news for the economic landscape, Hull said in a press release issued by Roanoke County. Its not uncommon for the partnership to work with companies seeking expansions that require significant water utilities. This project will make the region more competitive for business investment, and thus, better employment opportunity. The Western Virginia Water Authority will install, own and operate the pipe as an addition to its water distribution system. The authority will contribute $670,000 to project costs, while the federal government agreed to pay $820,000, the release said. So far, $9.3 million in local funds have been spent to create Wood Haven, which features a road, utilities and 20 acres graded into a building site, Hull said. A Romanian who came to Southwest Virginia for what he called a get-rich-quick scheme got another 18 months in prison Monday for his role in rigging ATMs to allow him to withdraw other peoples cash. Catalin Puscasu, who took nearly $200,000 from hundreds of debit and credit cardholders, was the last of three Romanians to be sentenced in Roanokes federal court for the sophisticated scam. Early in 2019, Puscasu and others secretly installed tiny, hidden cameras at ATMs that captured the personal identification numbers of unknowing bank customers as they punched them into the machines. A skimming device that had been placed inside the ATMs recorded the account information before the cards were returned to their owners. After encoding the information onto counterfeit cards, the high-tech thieves then used the secretly obtained PINs to make unauthorized cash withdrawals. By the time bank customers in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding jurisdictions discovered money was missing from their accounts, the operation had moved on to other ATMs before it was eventually shut down by police. Authorities say members of a criminal organization traveled from Romania to the United States solely to take part in the ATM skimming case. U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski, who has presided over three of the prosecutions, said he has taken to using one hand to shield the other as he enters his PIN just in case a hidden camera is watching. Everybodys fearful, because we use these cards every day, he said in pronouncing Puscasus sentence. Although virtually all of the cardholders received refunds from their federally insured banks, Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Coleman Adams wrote in court records that it takes little thought to imagine the experience hundreds of individuals endured when they realized money had been stolen from their accounts. The judge ordered Puscasu to make $190,111.84 in restitution to the banks, which bore the financial burden of the crimes. But chances of recovering money are scant; Urbanski chose not to impose a fine that the nearly penniless defendant had no ability to pay. The 18 months Puscasu received comes in addition to 36 months in prison that he has already served for a similar ATM scheme in Michigan. Puscasu moved to Michigan after having a falling out with two of his co-conspirators in Virginia Marius Catalui and Szilard Farkas not long after they arrived in the United States and began stealing money. Catalui was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Farkas received 24 months. In asking for an 18-month sentence for Puscasu for his Virginia crimes, defense attorney Tony Anderson argued that his client has accepted full responsibility for his role in an operation he regrets joining. Puscasu, 39, was not the leader or organizer of a scheme that lured him and other Romanians to America under the false promise of making fast money. In fact, he was berated by a superior in the scheme for how cooperative he was with law enforcement following his arrest in Michigan, Anderson wrote in court documents. Although few details about the larger organization in Romania have emerged in court proceedings, Anderson wrote that the profits from his clients crimes flowed to others, not him. Puscasu was well regarded in Brasov, Romania, where he worked his way from being a bouncer at a neighborhood bar to becoming an executive of a local television station, according to Anderson. If I had the opportunity to do things differently (that is, never come to the U.S. for this ridiculous, get-rich-quick scheme) I promise you, I would 100% do, Puscasu said in a hand-written letter to Urbanski. Puscasu wrote that he hopes to return to Romania to rejoin his wife and two young sons, who are struggling with family problems and hard times in a region not far from the war in Ukraine. At the time I chose what I thought was the easiest path to support my family and myself, he wrote, but I have discovered that this easy path was anything but. China has tightened risk management requirements on commercial banks, requiring banks to classify the risks of all their on-balance-sheet and off-balance-sheet financial assets that bear credit risks. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission and the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, jointly issued measures for the classification of commercial banks' financial asset risks on Saturday, with the aim of further promoting banks to accurately identify and assess their credit risks and truthfully reveal the quality of their assets. Currently, banks are required to classify their loans into five categories ranging from "normal" to "loss". Starting from July 1, the scope of banks' financial assets to be classified will also include bond investments, interbank lending and off-balance-sheet assets. In addition, the regulators have required commercial banks to focus on assessing debtors' ability to perform their contractual obligations while banks are classifying risks of non-retail banking financial assets. For example, if more than 10 percent of the amount of money that a debtor owes to a bank is classified into nonperforming assets, all of the money that the debtor owes to the bank should be classified into NPAs. According to the new rules, for loans which are more than 90 days overdue, even if the collaterals are sufficient, banks should still classify the loans into nonperforming assets. China will start implementing the measures on July 1. For new business occurring on July 1 and later, banks must classify financial asset risks according to the new requirements. For business occurring before July 1, banks should reclassify financial asset risks step by step before Dec 31, 2025. BEDFORD People lined the streets of Bedford on Saturday morning to welcome home a group of National Guard soldiers who recently returned from deployment to the Horn of Africa. Soldiers of Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team 29th division, we welcome you home, Kenneth Parker, a founder and curator for the Bedford Boys Tribute Center, said to begin the ceremony. Loud cheers and claps ensued from community members, family members and overall supporters of the soldiers. The Bedford Boys Tribute Center, a nonprofit, hosted a Welcome Home Parade on Main Street on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Alpha Companys return. The deployment was a part of Task Force Red Dragon. The task force of about 1,000 soldiers from across Virginia and Kentucky provided security forces throughout the Horn of Africa, maintaining a presence in Djibouti, Somalia and Kenya. Linda Parker, wife of Kenneth Parker and founder of Bedford Boys Tribute Center, said she thought the ceremony turned out absolutely wonderful. They [Alpha Company] havent had a welcome home parade in a long time, and it was just an honor for them to be here and to show the love this town has for their company, Linda said. Town Mayor Tim Black said it was a great event. Theyre our citizens and they are part of our community. They have chosen to serve our community through the Virginia National Guard, and its important that we recognize their service and honor them with this type of welcome home ceremony, Black said. Staff Sgt. George Winters said it feels really good to have the community come out in support. This is my third deployment, and this is the first time weve ever had the community come and show their support, and Bedfords been great about that, Winters said. It means a lot and its something that I think all of us will remember in the future. Winters has been with the National Guard for 16 years. He said the group generally did security operations in multiple locations in the Horn of Africa and they also supported other branches of the military. According to Winters, the support from the community during deployment is important. My immediate thoughts made me think of decades ago when there wasnt necessarily support like this for a lot of units. You know, a lot of guys coming back from, I guess even as late as Korea and Vietnam, never saw anything like this. It means a lot, Winters said. Cpl. Gerald McNally said he was almost at a loss for words, when reflecting on the support they received from the community at the parade. Its hard to even find words for this because Ive never seen anything like this before. Ive never even heard of any of this before, so its just eye opening, McNally said. I cant thank the community enough for showing up and supporting us. I really dont think they know how much it means to us. He joined the military in 2018 and joined the current unit in 2019. This was his first deployment. McNally said mail day was a day they looked forward to. He said the group received letters and small items, such as a deck of cards. The Bedford Boys Tribute Center started Operation Bedford Remembers prior to their deployment, to get members of the community to send care packages and letters to the soldiers while they were in Africa. Kenneth Parker said in his speech the response was overwhelming as more than 200 people signed up. Following the ceremony Saturday, soldiers had the opportunity to meet with some of the community members who sent letters and care packages at Bedford Virginia National Guard Armory. It meant a lot to us, McNally said. We would all gather around, and it was like Christmas, and it was like opening presents. That dopamine rush would last for weeks until the next mail run wed get. Sgt. Brian Roach explained that, at first, it was kind of hard to get mail, but once they received all of the mail, they had a lot of packages from the community. He said everyone was happy just to see a package. You have a little piece of home with you. Seeing that package and knowing somebody cares about you, having that support definitely helped us out a lot, said Roach, who has been a National Guardsman for nine years. This marked his second deployment. He said seeing the community welcoming them back was awesome. The community supporting the military is just great, Roach said. Kenneth Parker ended the ceremony by saying to the soldiers, to us today, you will forever be known as our Bedford Boys of Alpha Company. FLORENCE, S.C. The Morning News and McLeod Health have partnered once again to honor nurses in the Pee Dee region who have faced many challenges in the past year because of COVID-19. It is the third year the Morning News and McLeod Health have united to recognize area nurses. The 2022 recipients were, Ashley King, Dione Govan, Anna Anderson, Jennifer Brown, Mary Lois Huggins, Johnny Parsons, Ally Floyd, Courtney Hatchell, Ashly Batten, and Alana Crisp. With national Nurses Week coming in May, we want to give our community the chance to collectively celebrate our friends, family and colleagues in the nursing profession, said Matthew Tranquill, president of the Morning News. The newspaper is asking readers to share their stories about nurses who have made an impact on their lives and nominate them to be recognized, Tranquill said. Nine of the recipients will be selected by a panel of judges. One will be selected by a vote of the community. All nurses in the Pee Dee are eligible, regardless of who employs them or the type of health care setting in which they work. They can work in a hospital, medical clinic, dentists office, assisted-living facility, nursing home, school or at a home health service. Nominations are open today and will run through March 6. Nominations can be made at scnow.com/nurses2023. The public voting will take place March 9-23. The winners will be highlighted in a special section to be published in the Morning News and available on scnow.com on May 7. Each Nurse that is recognized will receive a plaque and gift certificate. We look forward to reading and watching all their touching stories, Tranquill said. The panel of judges will have its work cut out for them to determine the honorees from what we know will be a deserving pool of nominees. Is it really so hard to make sense of AG Garland's federal capital punishment administration? | Main | "Rape as Indignity" February 13, 2023 Vera Institute of Justice presents "A New Paradigm for Sentencing in the United States" I am very pleased to see the official publication of this very interesting new report authored by Marta Nelson, Samuel Feineh and Maris Mapolski of the Vera Institute of Justice. I had the good fortune to see an early draft of this provocative document, and I hope it gets widely read and generates considerable discussion and debate. Here is a small portion of the lengthy report's executive summary: This report posits that maintaining our system of mass incarceration will not bring people in the United States the safety and justice they deserve, while dismantling it in favor of a narrowly tailored sentencing response to unlawful behavior can produce more safety, repair harm, and reduce incarceration by close to 80 percent, according to modeling on the federal system. In this report, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) addresses a main driver of mass incarceration: our sentencing system, or what happens to people after they have gone through the criminal legal system and are convicted of a crime. The report provides a review of the history of sentencing in this country; summarizes the research and evidence surrounding sentencings impact on individual and community safety; offers new guiding principles that legislators should consider in place of the current primary reliance on deterrence, retribution, and excessive use of incapacitation; outlines seven key sentencing reforms in line with these guiding principles; models the impact of these reforms on both public safety and mass incarceration; and suggests a North Star for sentencing policy with a legal presumption toward community-based sentences except in limited circumstances.... Our current sentencing system defaults to putting most people convicted of crimes behind bars. In 2006 in the United States the last year in which national sentencing data was gathered 70 percent of people convicted of state felonies ended up in prison; in the federal system, 90 percent of people convicted in 2019 did.... This default to incarceration does not build safety. A 2021 meta-analysis of 116 studies found that custodial sentences not only do not prevent reoffending, but they can also actually increase it. Explanations include that stripping neighborhoods of so many vital residents, including parents and breadwinners, can destabilize neighborhoods, and that the brutality of U.S. prisons, as well as the lack of opportunities after release, can negatively affect peoples behavior toward others while incarcerated and afterward. So how do we significantly change course? As a starting place, we must move away from retribution, deterrence, heavy reliance on incapacitation, and rehabilitation as the cornerstones of sentencing theory, policy, and practice. These justifications for sentencing have been in currency for more than 200 years but are seldom scrutinized. It is time to do so. February 13, 2023 at 11:40 AM | Permalink Comments Here's the problem--these do-gooders are risking people's lives. Incarceration incapacitates. It's really that simple, and it prevents countless crimes. I am all in favor of helping offenders live productive lives, but if you carjack, deal drugs laced with fentanyl, use a badge to sexually assault women, you need serious time. On a personal level, in my view, there is a social contract, and the society doesn't get to violate it. Society has no right, in my opinion, to ask people to accept that we're just going to be nice to a violent offender--stick a gun in my face to rob me, and I am going to demand that the perp gets time, and I believe that, in the absence of such retribution, victims get to exact it themselves. No one seems to be crying for Derek Chauvin, who almost certainly would never commit a violent offense again. He deserves what he got. Posted by: federalist | Feb 13, 2023 2:21:26 PM Bill: Batter up: "Explanations include that stripping neighborhoods of so many vital residents, including parents and breadwinners" Posted by: federalist | Feb 13, 2023 2:33:03 PM federalist -- HA HA HA. These guys are such a trip. "Breadwinners." They must have been cackling when they wrote that one. They say they want to make us safer, but 100% ignore the things that actually made us safer -- more police, more pro-active policing, longer sentences and more law-driven sentencing. For an entire generation we had these things, and crime rates fell by roughly 50%. Do they even acknowledge that? No. Why? Because they're agenda-driven and dishonest. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 13, 2023 2:50:09 PM Remember, Bill, these people got Justice Kennedy to swallow this nonsense in his Plata opinion--where he said that releasing criminals may increase public safety by reducing recidivism. Doug actually defended that claptrap. And no one seems to be crying for Derek Chauvin . . . . and I didn't see anyone saying that Kyle Rittenhouse's prosecution (which I believe violated his constitutional rights) was wrong based on these types of opinions. Posted by: federalist | Feb 13, 2023 3:15:29 PM federalist -- For Chauvin and Rittenhouse and the Jan. 6 defendants -- hey, look, due process, schmoo process. Hang 'em high! It's only their darling Tsarnaev that they care about. Maybe it's time for another adoring Rolling Stone cover. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 13, 2023 3:30:27 PM I agree that the use of incapacitation is excessive. Decapitation is much more effective. This is a perfect example of garbage in, garbage out. Its a study that had a conclusion all but written down before looking at the evidence, which was 116 other studies that also began with a conclusion and went looking for facts to support the conclusion. Doug post a lot of garbage, but the shit from Vera might be the worst. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Feb 13, 2023 3:48:40 PM federalist: do you regularly misrepresent other court opinions as much as you misrepresent Justice Kennedy's opinion in Plata? We've been though this before, but it bears noting again that the Plata opinion quotes the "former warden of San Quentin and acting secretary of the California prison" stating that "she absolutely believe[s] that we make people worse" in California's overcrowded prisons and it mentions that "Then-Governor Schwarzenegger, in his emergency proclamation on overcrowding, acknowledged that overcrowding causes harm to people and property, leads to inmate unrest and misconduct, and increases recidivism as shown within this state and in others. Juris. App. 191a192a." In other words, Justice Kennedy never "said that releasing criminals may increase public safety by reducing recidivism." Rather, he wrote the Plata Supreme Court majority opinion like a proper jurist applying the proper legal standards rather than his feelings, and he correctly concluded that considerable evidence was in the record to "support the three-judge courts conclusion that the prison population can be reduced in a manner calculated to avoid an undue negative effect on public safety." (It was Justice Scalia who, in contrast, wanted his results-oriented feelings to prevail when he said in his dissent that the "proper outcome ... ought to shape the law, rather than vice versa" and when he lamented the majority's failure to "bend every effort to read the law in such a way as to avoid" the result that the law actually called for.) Also, California prison data and crime data support the claim that the state's prison population could be reduced without an undue negative effect on public safety: between 2006 and 2019, the California prison population declined nearly 30 percent from about 173,000 to 122,000 inmates. Over that period, the index crime rate, the violent crime rate, the property crime rate, the murder rate, the robbery rate, the aggravated assault rate, the burglary rate, and the theft rates all dropped significantly according to crime data here: https://www.disastercenter.com/crime/cacrime.htm. Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 14, 2023 8:11:09 AM Doug--I am not interested in rehashing this--a rigged trial (remember, there were shenanigans on who was picked to be a judge on that panel) credited BS testimony about enhancing safety by releasing criminals. That crime was reduced says nothing, as the drop in crime could have easily been despite the release. I have always said that a prison bed is a scarce resource, and it should be put to best use. Many parts of California are hell-holes now. Plata helped to put California on that path. Many thousands of victims are silent witnesses to this appalling decision and its effects. Tell me Doug, would you want your children to be walking around the Streets of San Francisco? I loathed Gray Davis, but that dude had the right idea about criminals. When I was a kid, I was assaulted and robbed by four people while I was working as a paper boy. People who think they have the right to use force to take from others are horrendous people, and, as far as I am concerned, they need to be removed from society for a good period of time. And if victims fight back, all the better. Posted by: federalist | Feb 14, 2023 8:42:29 AM federalist: you returned to misrepresenting Justice Kennedy's opinion in Plata. Do you now concede that your real complaint with Plata is that Justice Kennedy followed the law enacted by Congress rather than indulged personal feelings that Justice Scalia wanted to "shape the law, rather than vice versa"? I was defending the law, Justice Scalia was the one talking "claptrap" about bending the law to his result-oriented feelings. I understand that your feelings about crime and being victimized as a paper boy may make you inclined to ignore applicable laws and crime data in favor of emotions. But I do not think even a victim mentality should entirely preclude a thoughtful review of relevant data. As one example, the data from San Francisco show there were 56 murders in 2022 in that city while many comparably-sized cities had many more murders in 2022 (eg, Indianapolis had over 226; Jacksonville had over 126; Charlotte had 110; Nashville had 106). Also, a recent SF Chronicle article reports that in "2019 and 2020, San Francisco ranked in the bottom half among major U.S. cities [in] violent crime incidents [and in] 2020, the city's murder and aggravated assault rates were 55% and 45% lower than the average of 20 major cities." https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2022/fixing-san-francisco-problems/crime. (That article also shows low violent crime rates for other California cities like San Diego and San Jose.) I have not been to SF in a number of years, which makes me sad because I still think of it as one of our country's many wonderful cities. Last time I was there with my family, I felt comfortable walking around. But, despite the data above, perhaps the city now feels unsafe. From afar, I can only look to the data and lack direct feelings to draw upon for opinions. Posted by: Doug B | Feb 14, 2023 9:24:05 AM Federalist - now I see why you are a hard-liner on crime - being a crime victim yourself. I guess that can happen to a person when that happens to you during childhood. I don't know why Bill seems to have a similar attitude to yours - he keeps mentioning crime stats but he doesn't seem to understand that California reduced incarceration and crime during the period Doug mentioned - I know he was an AUSA for almost two decades but I don't know why he keeps mentioning the sixties and seventies crime - maybe he was victimized during those decades. Brett Miler Posted by: Brett Miler | Feb 14, 2023 11:00:19 AM I don't think my views on crime are really all that colored by that occurrence (I've had knives pulled on me too.) It does bring home, though, the stark reality of how evil these people are. And then there are really awful crimes like, for example, Willie Horton's. He didn't have to kill that 17 year old kid, but he did, and there were people like Mike Dukakis who thought it a good idea to let him walk the streets--of course, it wasn't his wife or daughter that paid the price for that. I have the same reaction with Derek Chauvin. George Floyd was handcuffed. And Chauvin did what he did for nine whole minutes. Even though it is very unlikely that he will ever seriously offend again, Chauvin's acts cry out for the stiff punishment he received. I also believe that crime has to be dealt with intelligently with public safety being a top priority, but not the only priority. A prison bed is a scarce resource, and I don't want them filled up by the Brittni Colleps of the world. I want serious offenses taken seriously. I also believe that people should absolutely not be prosecuted for defending themselves against the predations of violent criminals. Doug, as for Plata, and going from memory--Scalia raised serious issues about the "facts" upon which the decision was based being more legislative than judicial--as I recall, you had very little ability to grapple with those issues. But that's not surprising--you like jailbreaks. Posted by: federalist | Feb 14, 2023 12:07:18 PM federalist: I sense we agree more than we disagree about the harms of violent crimes and the importance of focusing scarce prison resources on the most dangerous individuals. One of the many under-reported stories of the last 15 years or so has been the relative success so many jurisdictions have had in making sure the most violent/dangerous folks are the ones most likely to serve the longest prison terms. As for Plata, your memory may be of Justice Scalia, after lamenting that his colleagues did not want to "bend every effort to read the law" in order to achieved his desired outcome, complaining that the PLRA requires a district court to weigh certain considerations (which led to "fact-finding") in prisoner suits regarding prison conditions, which he called an "unavoidable concomitant of institutional-reform litigation." Justice Scalia, grumpy about how Congress in the PLRA set forth the law for prisoner litigation, wanted to "construe the PLRA so as to constrain courts from entering injunctive relief." In other words, Justice Scalia did not like the outcome dictated by Congress based on the PLRA as written, and so he thought his view of the "proper outcome ... ought to shape the law, rather than vice versa." I suppose it was refreshing to see him be candid about wanting to act as a policy-maker in judicial robes because he did not like the law Congress had written for district judges, but I'll happily grapple with whatever you think is worth grappling with as long as you do not keep misrepresenting the Court's opinion per Justice Kennedy. Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 14, 2023 1:10:47 PM Brett Miller -- "I don't know why Bill seems to have a similar attitude to yours - he keeps mentioning crime stats but he doesn't seem to understand that California reduced incarceration and crime during the period Doug mentioned..." I tend to look at all 50 states, not just one. Over all 50 states, in the generation 1990-2014, incarceration increased substantially and crime rates plummeted by almost 50%. "I know he was an AUSA for almost two decades but I don't know why he keeps mentioning the sixties and seventies crime - maybe he was victimized during those decades." Yes, I was. I had to pay the fat tuition at Stanford Law School and didn't even get a Supreme Court clerkship out of it. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 14, 2023 2:12:56 PM "Some evidence indicated that reducing overcrowding in Californias prisons could even improve public safety. Then-Governor Schwarzenegger, in his emergency proclamation on overcrowding, acknowledged that overcrowding causes harm to people and property, leads to inmate unrest and misconduct, and increases recidivism as shown within this state and in others. This is on Kennedy, not the so-called opinion masquerading as evidence. The unstated assumption is that reducing recidivism causes a reduction in violent crime that outweighs the violent crime that would have been prevented by the incapacitation. There is no evidence for that assumption. QE f'ing D. Posted by: federalist | Feb 14, 2023 2:42:40 PM You wildly mischaracterize Scalia's very cogent dissent. Posted by: federalist | Feb 14, 2023 2:43:44 PM Federalist wrote, "Incarceration incapacitates." No it doesn't. It just changes who the victims are. Violent crime rates are much higher in prison than in any US city. And many of the victims were never convicted of any violent crime. Posted by: Keith Lynch | Feb 14, 2023 5:11:39 PM federalist -- Note how Doug is all enthralled with Scalia as a disciplined originalist, honoring the Framers' regard for the jury (Blakely), but a results-driven, policy-schlepping cad elsewhere (the Plata dissent). See any commonality? It might be that whether Scalia winds up on the Good List or the Bad List depends on whether his rulings help the defense (Good List) or the prosecution (Bad List). A suspicious person might believe here that it's not Justice Scalia but Prof. Berman who's most attuned to results. Lan' sakes alive! Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 14, 2023 5:27:48 PM federalist: You claimed Justice Kennedy "said that releasing criminals may increase public safety by reducing recidivism." Now you reference his "unstated assumption." An "unstated assumption" by definition is not something that is "said." QE f'ing D. Moreover, Justice Kennedy made neither a statement nor an assumption on this point, because the law did not call for him to do so. What you quote is a part of his opinion fairly reciting the evidence presented below which served to "support the three-judge courts conclusion that the prison population can be reduced in a manner calculated to avoid an undue negative effect on public safety." That is what the law enacted by Congress required him to review, and so that is what he did. What Justice Scalia did in his Plata dissent, in contrast, was complain about a faithful reading of the law because he did not like what PLRA institutional-reform litigation requires district judges to do. But it is not Justice Scalia's job to rewrite a statute he does not like on policy grounds. And he would not have had to bemoan the fact his colleagues did not want to "bend every effort to read the law" in order to achieved his desired outcome if the plain text of the PLRA statute supported his desired outcome. Bill: I like judges when they do what judges are supposed to do. Sometimes that involves giving intelligible content to the Sixth Amendment (Justice Scalia in Blakely), sometimes that involves following the plain terms of a statute (Justice Kennedy in Plata) rather than seeking to "shape the law" or "bend every effort to read the law" to achieve a desired outcome (Justice Scalia in Plata). Meanwhile, I can name many SCOTUS constitutional rulings that are pro-prosecution that I think are right from just the last few Terms (e.g., Denezpi, Tsarnaev, Gamble, Bucklew). As I recall, you cannot name a single pro-defense ruling from the last few decades that you think to be right. Posted by: Doug B | Feb 14, 2023 6:34:46 PM Was Anthony McRaes felony gun possession charge being dropped in 2019 part of this paradigm shift for sentencing, that Vera is talking about? Some curious MSU parents may want to know. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Feb 14, 2023 8:04:19 PM Doug, the "some evidence" comes out of Kennedy's own mouth. That means he owns it. The only way that releasing thousands of criminals could increase public safety is if the decrease in recidivism overcomes the number of crimes committed by the cohort being released. Like I said, QE f'in D. As for your criticism of Scalia, you are engaged in sophistry. Scalia is invoking the absurd results canon and ably goes on to explain why the result is so absurd. Posted by: federalist | Feb 15, 2023 8:54:27 AM federalist: the "some evidence" sentence is part of a review of the evidence the court below considered because Congress in the PLRA required, when issuing "prisoner release orders," that "courts must give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety." It comes right after Justice Kennedy starts to explain how the "three-judge court credited substantial evidence that prison populations can be reduced in a manner that does not increase crime to a significant degree." Justice Kennedy is properly reviewing if there was an evidentiary basis for the order below, and it was not his job under the law to conduct his own fact-finding or to re-assess the factual evidence presented to the court below. You misrepresented again what was "said" in Plata, and your follow-up claims about "unstated assumption" or what the opinion "owns" serves only to further highlight your misrepresention since Justice Kennedy never "said" nor made an "unstated assumption" on this front. Indeed, here is what he actually "said" at the start of the Plata opinion: "High recidivism rates must serve as a warning that mistaken or premature release of even one prisoner can cause injury and harm. The release of prisoners in large numbers assuming the State finds no other way to comply with the order is a matter of undoubted, grave concern." QE f'in D. You keep misrepresenting Justice Kennedy's proper review of the application of the law that Congress wrote in the PLRA because, like Justice Scalia, you were unhappy with the outcome that the law dictated. But your criticism should be directed at Congress and California: Congress in the PLRA expressly authorized "prisoner release orders" and California ran its prisons so poorly for so long that the conditions for such an order was created. What was truly "absurd" is that California allowed its prisons to get so bad and that Justice Scalia was so eager to ignore the plain text of the PLRA that he complained about his colleagued failing "bend every effort to read the law" as he wished rather than as the text required. Posted by: Doug B | Feb 15, 2023 9:47:38 AM Doug -- "I like judges when they do what judges are supposed to do." And you are more expert on that subject than Antonin Scalia?? You're a smart guy, but do you think that might be pushing it? Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 15, 2023 5:00:37 PM Bill: like you and federalist and Donald Trump and Joe Biden and most everyone else, I have opinions about judges and their work-product. My opinion for Justice Scalia's work in Blakely is quite positive (and it grew over multiple readings) as I realized that he was protecting our adversarial system of criminal justice in that ruling. I am a fan of that system even at sentencing --- which is among the reasons acquitted conduct sentence enhancements trouble me --- but those who are not fans of an adversarial system (like Justice Breyer) could have a different opinion of Justice Scalia's work in that case. My opinion for Justice Scalia's work in Plata is quite negative (and persists over multiple readings) because it is so obviously results-oriented rather than faithful to the law enacted by Congress in the PLRA. He makes that so clear at the outset when he says the "proper outcome ... ought to shape the law, rather than vice versa" and when he lamented the majority's failure to "bend every effort to read the law in such a way as to avoid" the result that the law passed by Congress actually called for. Those who favored a different result in Plata over following the applicable law might have a different opinion of Justice Scalia's work in that case. Posted by: Doug B | Feb 15, 2023 5:34:46 PM I'll have a more fulsome response when I get a chance, but while we are at things: https://www.tpusa.com/live/auburn-university-black-student-union-exposed-for-racist-group-chat Posted by: federalist | Feb 16, 2023 10:38:28 AM federalist: since you keep bringing up examples of stories of racist speech on college campuses here, I am starting to wonder if you are suggesting there is a role for criminal law and sentencing in response to racist speech. Posted by: Doug B | Feb 16, 2023 11:29:49 AM Nope--it's just an antidote to the constant whining about racial disparities. I don't believe in criminalizing so-called hate speech. This is supposed to be a free country. People get to say stuff. Posted by: federalist | Feb 16, 2023 1:05:09 PM Post a comment A military-grade laser light allegedly hit a Philippines coast guard vessel and temporarily blinded some of its crew members in the disputed South China Sea. Manila accused a Chinese coast guard ship of carrying out the act that took place on 6 February, officials said on Monday. The Chinese ship allegedly maneuvered dangerously close, about 137 metres, to block the Philippine coast guards BRP Malapascua patrol vessel from approaching the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas shoal, the coast guard said in a statement. Manila has called the act a blatant violation of Philippine sovereign rights. The incident has become the latest flare-up in a series of maritime encounters between the two nations in the South China Sea, the entirity of which is claimed by Beijing. Manila had filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against Chinas aggressive actions in the disputed waters in 2022 alone. The laser incident comes just days after the US and the Philippines agreed to resume joint patrols in the sea and allowed Washington access to four more military bases closer to the self-governed island of Taiwan. The Philippine patrol boat was supporting a rotation and supply mission for troops living in a derelict navy ship grounded on the shoal. China had previously tried to block Philippine ships in the waters before but this was the first time it used laser light and caused physical suffering, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo told the Associated Press. The Chinese ship illuminated the green laser light twice toward the BRP Malapascua, causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge, the Philippine coast guard said. A Chinese Coast Guard vessel shining a military grade laser light' at a Philippine Coast Guard boat (Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)/AFP) The deliberate blocking of the Philippine government ships to deliver food and supplies to our military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights in this part of the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine coast guard said, using the name Manila has adopted for the stretch of water close to its coast. Story continues It was unclear if the supply mission was successful following the laser incident. The Philippines said it reported the incident to an inter-agency body monitoring the South China Sea and the department of foreign affairs in Manila. In August last year, the Chinese coast guard and militia vessels allegedly blocked the Philippines-garrisoned shoal to stop government ships from reaching troops. One of two Chinese coast guard ships joined by two militia vessels removed the cover of its 70mm armament during the blockade, the coast guard said. The Philippine coast guard will continue to exercise due diligence in protecting the countrys territorial integrity against foreign aggression, coast guard admiral Artemio Abu said. Chinas president Xi Jinping and his Filipino counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr had agreed in January this year to set up direct communication between their foreign ministries to avoid miscommunication in the area. Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the resource-rich waters of the South China Sea. Fortune Business Insights The global biogas market size to grow from USD 25.61 billion in 2021 to USD 37.02 billion by 2028, growing at CAGR of 5.4% during forecast period. Factors such as development of new technologies, such as advanced anaerobic digestion techniques and biogas upgrading technologies, is driving the growth of the Biogas industry. Also globally increased demand for biomethane as a transportation fuel, grid injection, and heating fuel are boosting the biogas market. Pune, India, Jan. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The biogas market size was valued USD 24.03 billion in 2020 and USD 25.61 billion in 2021 respectively. The global market size for biogas is predicted to grow significantly, reaching USD 37.02 billion by 2028, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% over the forecast period of 2022 to 2028. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights, in its report, titled, Biogas Market, 2022-2028. According to analysts, government regulations and policies for reducing carbon emissions and promoting the use of renewable energy to help Biogas industry to flourish during forecast period of 2022 to 2028. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/biogas-market-100910 Key Development: October 2019: Mazoon Dairy Company (MDC) inaugurated a biogas plant in Oman. The biogas plant is part of MDCs strategy to utilize waste to generate energy and efficiently support waste management. June 2020: Gasum inaugurated liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied biogas (LBG) filling station near Arlanda Airport in Stockholm. The station is Gasums first in the Stockholm area. Report Highlights: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 5.4% 2028 Value Projection USD 37.02 Billion Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2020 USD 24.03 Billion Historical Data for 2017-2019 No. of Pages 220 Segments covered Biogas Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Feedstock (Organic Residue & Wastes {Biowaste, Municipal & Sewage, Agricultural Waste, and Others}, and Energy Crops), By Application (Electricity Generation, Heating, Combined Heat and Power, and Others) And Regional Growth Drivers Heavy Demand for Purified Biomethane Version to Bolster Growth Emphasis on Increased Production Capacity by Major Companies to Consolidate Business Driving Factor: Story continues The growing inclination towards biogas with an aim to reduce dependence on oil and maintain sustainability can have an excellent effect on the market. The growing knowledge about the high-energy methane gas, which is an upgraded version of biogas, will spur opportunities for the market during the forecast period. For instance, Purified biomethane has similar properties as natural gas and also acts as a highly efficient and environmental-friendly fuel for natural gas cars or natural gas grid. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), biogas as vehicle fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 60% to 80% compared to fossil-based fuels. Also, the shift from conventional fossil fuel to biogas owing to the rising global and environmental problems will bode well for the biogas market growth Growth in the agricultural sector: The growth in the agricultural sector, particularly in emerging markets, is driving the demand for biogas systems for use in farming and agricultural processes. COVID-19 Impact: Unavailability of Raw Materials to Retard Development During COVID-19 There is a halt on bioenergy projects owing to the restrictions imposed on travel, work, industrial operations, and logistics & transportation. Moreover, the unavailability of raw materials, components, and technical support has adversely impacted the biogas market share. In March 2020, construction on the Tees Renewable Energy Plant (Tees REP), a 299 MW biomass power plant in the U.K., was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The social distancing protocols formed by the governments have resulted in fewer workforce, thus diminishing the production and operations during the pandemic. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/biogas-market-100910 The report on the biogas market contains: Future insights into the market In-depth study of the regions Product and brand strategies Factors enabling market growth Competitive landscape COVID-19 impact Market Segmentation: Based on feedstock, the market is divided into organic residue & wastes, and energy crops. Organic residue & wastes are further divided into biowaste, municipal & sewage, agricultural waste, and others. Based on the application, the market can be segmented into electricity generation, heating, combined heat and power (CHP), and others. Geographically, the global biogas market is classified across five key regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. Regional Analysis: Implementation of Stringent Policies to Aid Expansion in Asia Pacific The market in Asia Pacific is predicted to witness a significant growth rate during the forecast period. The implementation of strict regulations to curb carbon footprint by the government in economies such as China and India will enable speedy expansion of the market in the region. According to the Indian ministry, the country generated approximately 1.45 lakh metric tonnes of waste per day, only 53 percent of waste was processed under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), a flagship program of the Prime Minister. The growing emphasis on managing and treating solid waste will positively affect the market in India. Quick Buy - Biogas Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100910 Competitive Landscape: Various firms from across the world are progressively investing in organic and inorganic advancements in order to increase their worldwide market position. The majority of businesses focus on increasing their production capacity by adding new factories or expanding existing ones. Weltec Biopower, for example, established a biogas facility in Veria, Greece, in May 2020. A List of Key Manufacturers Operating in the Global Market: Future Biogas Limited Air Liquide PlanET Biogas Global GmbH WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH Scandinavian Biogas Fuels International AB EnviTec Biogas AG Ameresco Quantum Green AB HOLDING SPA RENERGON International AG StormFisher Biogas Market Segmentation: By Feedstock: Organic Residue & Wastes Energy Crops By Application: Electricity Generation Heating Combine Heat & Power (CHP) Others Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/biogas-market-100910 Table of Content: 1. Introduction 1.1. Research Scope 1.2. Market Segmentation 1.3. Research Methodology 1.4. Definitions and Assumptions 2. Executive Summary 3. Market Dynamics 3.1. Market Drivers 3.2. Market Restraints 3.3. Market Opportunities 4. Key Insights 4.1. Key Emerging Trends For Major Countries 4.2. Latest Technological Advancement 4.3. Regulatory Landscape 4.4. Porters Five Forces Analysis 5. Qualitative Analysis Impact of COVID-19 5.1. Impact of COVID-19 on the Biogas Market 5.2. Steps Taken by the Government to Overcome the Impact 5.3. Key Developments in the Industry in Response to COVID-19 5.4. Potential Opportunities and Challenges due to COVID-19 Outbreak 6. Global Biogas Market Analysis (USD Billion) (Million Cubic Meter), Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 6.1. Key Findings / Summary 6.2. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Feedstock 6.2.1.Organic Residue & Wastes 6.2.1.1. Biowaste, Municipal, Sewage 6.2.1.2. Agricultural Waste 6.2.1.3. Others 6.2.2.Energy Crops 6.3. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application 6.3.1.Electricity Generation 6.3.2.Heating 6.3.3.Combine Heat & Power 6.3.4.Others 6.4. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region 6.4.1. North America 6.4.2. Europe 6.4.3. Asia Pacific 6.4.4. Latin America 6.4.5. Middle East & Africa Continued Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/biogas-market-100910 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com virtual reality market in manufacturing industry John Pappan took a seat in a downtown Omaha art gallery and gazed up at the 10-foot sculpture on display. Carved in clay, Chief Big Elk of the Omaha Tribe stood tall, a traditional roach headdress on his head, his stance and expression conveying a combination of strength and compassion. The leader, whose Umonhon name is Ongpatonga, was among the last chiefs of the Omaha. He led the tribe from 1800 until his death in 1848. Its like seeing this huge, giant of a man, said Pappan, a member of the Omaha Nation, during the sculptures media debut Wednesday. You can see the details, the veins on his arm and the roach on his head, and you can just almost feel the fur on the buffalo cloth. The sculpture by Boise, Idaho-based artist Benjamin Victor will be cast in bronze and installed in the newly renovated Lewis & Clark Landing at The RiverFront this summer. But for now, the piece is housed in Kaneko, an art gallery at 111 Jones St. in the Old Market. Victor has spent six months carving the sculpture, but conversations about the piece began years ago with the formation of the citys Native American advisory board. The group was formed in 2017 by Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert following the death of Zachary Bearheels, a Native American man who died after he was repeatedly shocked with a Taser, punched and dragged by the ponytail. Pappan, a member of the citys advisory board, traveled to Victors studio in Boise to ask the artist in person if he would create a sculpture of Chief Big Elk. Victor previously created a bronze sculpture honoring Ponca Chief Standing Bear and a sculpture of Nebraska Native American physician Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte. Ive made it a part of my artistic career to really study and ask tribal members what they think and hear their voice, and I try to be the hands that make something that really honors them, Victor said. Members of the Omaha Nation and direct descendants of Chief Big Elk were consulted on the sculptures design. Victor for now has left the chiefs right hand raised but empty. A tomahawk might be placed there, but more likely and perhaps more fitting the artist may put a peace pipe in Big Elks hand. He was known as a peaceful chief, Pappan said. That was the main thing to ensure that the tribe continues to present day, that there would be a way to maintain the peace between the Whites and the Omahas. The Chief Big Elk statue will be on display at Kaneko from 1 to 5 p.m. through Saturday and can be viewed free of charge. It means a lot, Pappan said. Especially for young native Omaha people because they for once will see that we matter, we have leaders and its a recognition by the city of Omaha of our people, which is a long time in coming. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2023 020423-owh-new-zooupdate-pic01.jpg 020223-owh-new-target-pic-cm02.jpg 020922-owh-new-bigelk-pic-cm04.jpg Mitchell, McDermott hug Legacy Crossing move Flower shop 021723-owh-new-palacio01.jpg 021923-owh-spo-statewrestlingsat-pic-cm09.jpg 021123-owh-new-feature-pic-cm01.jpg 021723-owh-new-snow-pic-cm02.jpg 021523-owh-spo-rain-pic-cm02.jpg 021123-owh-spo-unoice-pic-cm01.jpg 021923-owh-spo-statewrestlingsat-pic-cm06.jpg SAC CITY, Iowa -- A former East Sac County High School teacher has pleaded guilty of having sexual contact with a male student. Stefanie Kelsey, 35, of Sac City, pleaded guilty Monday in Sac County District Court to single counts of third-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school employee. The charges carry prison sentences of 10 and five years, respectively. Sentencing was scheduled for April 10. Kelsey was charged with committing sex acts with the student, who was age 14-15, from about Sept. 1, 2021, through March 11. According to court documents, the two allegedly had sexual contact on more than one occasion in a vehicle at a county park and at Kelsey's Sac City home. She was arrested March 11, the day after a parent reported rumors about a sexual relationship between her and the student to the Sac County Sheriff's Office. She had been charged with seven additional counts of third-degree sexual abuse. Kelsey was a special education teacher at the high school, which is located in Lake View. Her probationary teaching contract was later terminated. SAC CITY, Iowa A woman has pleaded not guilty of leaving dead dogs and a cat in freezers at her former Sac City home. Billi Jo Langner, 47, of Farnhamville, Iowa, entered her written plea Wednesday in Sac County District Court to six counts of animal neglect with serious injury or death, all aggravated misdemeanors. According to court documents, the owner of a house in the 200 block of East Ahrens Street called Sac City police on Jan. 1 to report that Langner, his previous tenant, had left two dead cats in the house. Two emaciated, decomposing dogs also were found in a chest freezer in the garage. According to court documents, the house was filled with animal feces and urine. Police located Beyer-Langner at another Sac City home later that day and arrested her. Officers returned to the rental home on Jan. 2, when the landlord reported finding a partially decomposed cat in the kitchen freezer, and on Jan. 14, when another dead cat was found in the basement of the home. China releases plans to promote maternal, child health Xinhua) 15:16, February 12, 2023 BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China has released a series of measures to enhance maternity and childcare services and the comprehensive development of children's health, a health official said Saturday. The measures include two five-year plans to promote maternal health and the health of infants and young children, and a plan to strengthen the capability of preventing and treating birth defects, said Song Li, director of the maternal and child health department of the National Health Commission. Statistics show that the rates of maternal and infant mortality, and the death rate of children under the age of five in China all fell to record-low levels in 2021. China will also launch two campaigns aiming to promote reproductive health and breastfeeding, according to Song. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Sheng Chuyi) Visitors experience a BYD Atto 3 during the press day of the 100th Brussels Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 13, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese carmakers are seeing their popularity rise in overseas markets, which may push the country's vehicle exports to a new high this year following a surge in 2022. Last year, carmakers exported 3.11 million vehicles, up 54.4 percent year-on-year, ranking China second only to Japan, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. This momentum has continued into 2023. Data from Great Wall Motors, China's largest SUV and pickup truck maker, revealed on Wednesday that it had sold 15,998 vehicles overseas in January, up 25.47 percent year-on-year. They accounted for more than a quarter of its total deliveries in the month. The carmaker said it will speed up its global campaign, with Europe and Southeast Asia as its newly emerging markets. Narong Sritalayon, a sales executive of Great Wall Motors Thailand, said the carmaker is planning to launch four new energy vehicle models in the country in 2023. Last year, it sold 173,180 vehicles in overseas markets, up 21.28 percent year-on-year. The carmaker said its accumulative overseas sales have exceeded 1 million units. Warren Buffet-backed BYD exported 10,409 vehicles last month, up 57.8 percent year-on-year. Its Atto 3 SUV seized the lion's share of almost 9,000 units, said the carmaker. BYD launched three models in September 2022 in Europe, with the Atto 3 being one of them. About a month later, car rental company Sixt inked a deal with BYD to purchase 100,000 vehicles over six years. Voyah, a premium NEV arm of State-owned Dongfeng Motor, said it started deliveries of its SUVs to Norway, its first overseas market, in January. In the same month, it made inroads into Israel, with deliveries expected to start in March. Voyah said it will launch its models in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark this year. Those European countries are also the first markets for other Chinese brands including Xpeng and Nio. China FAW Group's Hongqi marque, which is available in western Europe, expects its overseas sales to make up more than 10 percent of its total sales in 2025, and the figure will rise to 25 percent in 2030. Fu Yuwu, honorary president of the China Society of Automotive Engineers, said, "Their sales may not be big in Europe now, but their very presence there is proof of their competitive edge." Chinese NEV carmakers are wowing overseas customers with models that "surpass their wildest dreams", which may see their positions rise on the global stage, according to a McKinsey report released in late 2022. China's commercial NEVs are popular in overseas markets as well. In December 2022, Farizon Auto, an arm of Geely, received an order for 1,000 SuperVANs from Admiral Mobility in the United Arab Emirates. It was the largest order for electric commercial vehicles in the Persian Gulf. The two companies also said they would jointly bring a total of 5,000 new energy commercial vehicles to the Gulf region in three years. Farizon said it will launch its best-selling light truck Xingzhi H9E in Israel this year and explore other major international markets. The vehicle maker is also working on the development of right-hand drive models to explore a wider global market, aiming to become China's No 1 exporter of commercial NEVs by 2027. It said the Xingzhi H9E will enter right-hand drive markets in the second half of this year. SAIC Maxus, whose products are available in 73 countries and regions, said it is launching several NEVs in its major overseas markets this year, including Europe, the Middle East and South America. It already has electric models in international markets. Among others, the EV 30 and the EV 90 vans were best-sellers in their respective segments in Spain and Norway in 2022. Zhang Yongwei, vice-president of China EV 100, an automotive think tank, said NEV exports are expected to reach 800,000 units this year, up from 679,000 vehicles in 2022. Earlier this year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers estimated that exports from China may grow at least 20 percent year-on-year to 3.73 million units. OMAHA -- Leevi Johnson didn't want to leave the hospital bed after one of his heart surgeries. But when an Omaha police officer visited his bedside, Leevi sprung up, dragging tubes and cords along with him to dole out a hug. The Omaha boy was enamored with law enforcement. At one point he was sworn in as an honorary officer by a local police department. Leevi, 10, died Tuesday of heart failure. The Omaha boy was born with three holes in his heart and a host of other health complications. He underwent multiple surgeries and visited doctors regularly. Despite his medical challenges, Leevi never complained, his aunt Tonya O'Shea said. Leevi's biggest passion, she said, was policing. He had always been interested in police and was an avid fan of "Cops." (His latest interest was "Spider-Man.") After one of his heart surgeries, Leevi's uncle called the Omaha Police Department to ask if they could send an officer to visit the boy. More than 50 officers ended up making visits to Leevi's hospital room. A helicopter pilot even flew by Leevi's window, said Terry Johnson, Leevi's grandpa. "That was special," Johnson said. The Bellevue Police Department swore Leevi in as an honorary officer in 2019. Omaha police gave Leevi his own uniform. Officers from around the country and a few from around the world sent in badges. He wound up with enough to make a full size quilt as well as a border along the wall in his bedroom. Leevi liked playing "cops and robbers" with his cousins, O'Shea said. But he was always the cop. That was nonnegotiable. He often said he would handcuff anyone for any wrongdoings. And he was prepared to call his police friends for backup. The family is asking law enforcement officers who attend Leevi's funeral to dress in uniform. Leevi, a third-grader, loved attending school at Cornerstone Christian in Bellevue. He also enjoyed attending church services at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. He was particularly close with his mother, Amber Johnson. A single parent, she took Leevi to every doctor's appointment and was there for every hospital stay, O'Shea said. "She shared him with everybody, with as little time as she got with him," O'Shea said. In his free time, Leevi had a side gig "working" with his aunt. O'Shea works at New Life Baptist Church in Bellevue. Leevi often accompanied her and got to work helping to clean the chapel. He would tell O'Shea: "Auntie, you just sit down and I'll do all my work myself." Leevi's family said they were touched to see how much the community cared for him. "Everybody he met, he brought joy to them," Johnson said. "He always had a smile." In addition to his mother, aunt and grandpa, survivors include grandma Sharon Johnson, uncle Curt Johnson and cousins. A visitation is set for Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road. A funeral is Monday at 11 a.m. at Bellevue Christian Center, 1400 Harvell Dr. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2023 020423-owh-new-zooupdate-pic01.jpg 020223-owh-new-target-pic-cm02.jpg 020922-owh-new-bigelk-pic-cm04.jpg Mitchell, McDermott hug Legacy Crossing move Flower shop 021723-owh-new-palacio01.jpg 021923-owh-spo-statewrestlingsat-pic-cm09.jpg 021123-owh-new-feature-pic-cm01.jpg 021723-owh-new-snow-pic-cm02.jpg 021523-owh-spo-rain-pic-cm02.jpg 021123-owh-spo-unoice-pic-cm01.jpg 021923-owh-spo-statewrestlingsat-pic-cm06.jpg Never underestimate Washingtons ability to turn a controversial but apolitical issue into a partisan battle. The latest example is something called the Show Up Act, which stands for Stopping Home Office Works Unproductive Problems. The bill passed the House on a virtually party-line vote, with only one Republican against and only three Democrats for. It would require federal agencies to return to their pre-pandemic telework levels, effectively ignoring the new normal of the hybrid workplace. It also doesnt stand a chance in the Democratic Senate. Nonetheless, the floor debate was heated. Republicans blamed bureaucratic backlogs on pandemic-era remote work policies. They accused Democrats of supporting dysfunctional government and alleged that President Joe Biden cant submit his budget on time because too many staffers are working from home. Democrats, for their part, charged that Republicans dont like federal workers and want to roll back the clock on work in the same way that they want to roll it back on abortion and even slavery. Hyperbole aside, the federal government is playing catch-up with the private sector. And Congress is making its job harder than it needs to be. Numbers are hard to come by, but its clear that federal workers have not come back to the office in the same numbers as those in the private sector. Overall, about 47% of the capital regions workers went into the office the last week of January, according to data from Kastle Systems, which tracks security-badge swipes. Its hit the economy of the capital hard some 280,000 federal workers are in the region, including about 141,000 in Washington itself. The citys tax revenue is down, stores are closed, and subway ridership is low. Its like a three-year hurricane in the city, says Yesim Sayin, executive director of the D.C. Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank. Getting more federal workers to show up at least three days a week would help considerably. Its why Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton are atypically aligned with House Republicans on this issue. In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden pledged that with COVID receding, the vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person. But policies vary among agencies, and the Office of Personnel Management has failed to update its guidelines about remote work. Thats more than just a bureaucratic oversight. With the unemployment rate at its lowest level in more than half a century, workers have leverage. Federal workers may find more appealing opportunities, and more clear work-from-home policies, in the private sector. According to Nick Bloom, a Stanford economist, roughly 59% of full-time U.S. workers are fully on-site they are front-line employees, mostly non-college graduates and lower paid. There are 28% in hybrid roles, who tend to be professionals and managers. Fully remote workers are about 13% of the workforce, and in more specialized roles. It would make sense, Bloom says, for a lot of civil servants to work from home two or three days per week, mimicking what the private sector does. But with Congress playing politics with workplace policies, that will be difficult. On the House floor recently, Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Wisconsin Republican, complained that the vast majority of people in his district he cited some cheese-factory workers had to go to work through the pandemic. So he didnt want to hear how horrible it is for federal workers to have to go in to the office. Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, agrees with Republicans that working from home isnt an entitlement. But its the Office of Personnel Management, not Congress, that should take the lead, setting metrics for performance and productivity. It reports that in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic, about 22% of all federal employees nationwide and 56% of all eligible employees worked from home some of the time. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are eligible for retirement in the next few years, he notes, and the government has to be able to compete with the private sector to recruit talent. How often have we heard our Republican friends say we should run government like a business? Connolly asks. Now they need to give it some flexibility to compete. I absolutely believe we all have to return to work and get to a standard of normalcy, he told me from his home office, in between various Zoom meetings. But it has to be different from what it was before the pandemic. When people refer to the abortion pill, theyre usually talking about mifepristone, the progesterone-inhibiting drug that was developed in France in the 1980s and approved in the U.S. in 2000. This month, a right-wing federal judge appointed by Donald Trump could outlaw that pill nationwide in response to a lawsuit brought by anti-abortion activists in Texas. Its an alarming possibility that underscores the recklessness of giving politicians and appointees full authority over the nations reproductive health: An unelected official could singlehandedly revoke the FDAs approval of a safe, widely used medicationand the Supreme Court may be inclined to let him. Advertisement Since more than half the nations abortions are performed with medicationas opposed to in-office proceduresthe outcome of the case could interrupt access to abortion across the country, even in blue states where abortion is legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But theres an alternative: Mifepristone is only one of two drugs consumed in a standard medication abortion. In higher doses, the second drug, misoprostol, can also terminate a pregnancy on its own. Misoprostol, which was originally approved to prevent and treat stomach ulcers, was first found to be an effective abortifacient in the 1980s in Brazil. Because it was sold over the counter there, women began using it to circumvent repressive restrictions on abortion. In countries where mifepristone is not available or broadly accessible, misoprostol is still used alone for abortions as a standard course of treatment. Advertisement And since misoprostol is an essential drug prescribed for purposes other than abortion, it is unlikely to be subject to a blanket, politically-motivated ban. This means that doctors will be able to continue providing medication abortions where they are legal in the U.S., even if mifepristone is outlawed. Theyll just have to use a different protocol. An unelected official could singlehandedly revoke the FDA s approval of a safe, widely used medicationand the Supreme Court may let him. Across the country, abortion providers are preparing for the possibility that misoprostol will become the only abortion drug available, expecting the worst from the ultra-conservative Texas judge and the right-leaning Supreme Court. On its own, misoprostol is generally not as effective as when taken in conjunction with mifepristone, so it requires a slightly different approach. Advertisement Its very reminiscent, for a lot of us, of when we knew that the fall of Roe was coming down the pipeline a year or two beforehand, said Jennifer Conti, an OB/GYN and adjunct clinical assistant professor at Stanford University. At that point, there was a lot more shock. And at this point, were sort of used to the shock, and instead of just sitting with that shock, were really trying to come up with offensive moves or plans to try to combat the inevitable. Advertisement Advertisement Some doctors are re-acquainting themselves with the ways clinicians did medication abortions before mifepristone was approved by the FDA, either with misoprostol alone or with a combination of misoprostol and methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug used to treat autoimmune diseases and ectopic pregnancies. If mifepristone goes away, a misoprostol-only abortion will likely become the standard. In other words, doctors and pharmacies in the U.S. already have access to a nearly-as-good alternative to the current protocol. Still, Conti worries that a mifepristone ban will cause confusion about what kinds of care remain legal. Thats the goal of anti-abortion activists, she said, because if you put out this messaging that not just mifepristone but medication abortion is now illegal, people dont realize that mifepristone is ideal, but its not necessary, and that you can still have a medication abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The medical director of Just the Pill, a nonprofit online clinic that mails abortion medication to patients in four U.S. states, said the organization is prepared to switch to a misoprostol-only protocol if the Texas judge rules in the way that its expected. A representative from Hey Jane, another site that does virtual consultations and mails abortion pills, said many of the groups practitioners have already provided misoprostol-only abortions, and they are ready to fully pivot if mifepristone is banned. Planned Parenthood confirmed to Jezebel that its facilities are ready to offer misoprostol-only abortions, too. Providers agree that there is no medical reason to restrict or ban the use of mifepristone. Though the Texas lawsuit claims that the FDA recklessly fast-tracked the drugs approval in 2000, arguing that the agency disregarded potential adverse effects of the medication, decades of research and several million abortions with mifepristoneincluding more than 3.7 million in the U.S.have shown the drug to be safer than Tylenol. A two-drug medication abortion is the gold standard in the U.S. Its the most effective combination worldwide, said Melissa Grant, chief operations officer at Carafem, which offers mail-order abortion medication and operates clinics in four U.S. cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Essentially, if the Texas judge bans mifepristone, he will require every medication abortion patient to use a different regimen for purely political reasons. When mifepristone is available, a patient first takes that pill, which causes her uterine lining to begin to break down. A day or two later, she allows four tablets of misoprostol to dissolve under her tongue, in between her cheek and gum, or in her vagina, triggering minor contractions that empty the contents of the uterus. By contrast, misoprostol-only abortion typically involves taking three doses of four misoprostol tablets, with three hours between each dose. Technically, taking misoprostol by itself to terminate a pregnancy is considered an off-label use, since the FDA has only approved the medication for gastric ulcers. But off-label prescriptions for drugs are common in the U.S., and misoprostol is already regularly used off-label to induce labor, treat postpartum hemorrhage, or soften a patients cervix before inserting an IUD. Advertisement Misoprostols widespread availability has long made it a popular choice for people managing their own abortions. Studies in countries around the world have shown misoprostol to be a safe method for terminating a pregnancy on its own, though it is less effective than the two-drug protocol. A systematic review of clinical trials found that using just misoprostol yields a completed abortion less than 80 percent of the time. But in observational studies, when researchers look at women who use misoprostol to self-manage an abortion outside a clinical setting, efficacy rates can climb past 90 percentin part because some womens bodies take longer than a week to fully expel the pregnancy, which could count as a failure in a clinical trial. Advertisement Advertisement We now find effectiveness rates with misoprostol by itself can be as high as 95 percent, Grant said. Mifepristone and misoprostol are about 98 percent. So were really talking about a small difference overall. Advertisement Advertisement Carafem has been offering misoprostol-only abortions for years. In 2020, as GOP-led state legislatures passed increasing restrictions on abortion, Carafem leadership realized that mifepristones legality was not a forever guarantee. Clinicians began offering two options to their patients who wanted abortion medication: Misoprostol only, or mifepristone and misoprostol. Patients were told that misoprostol alone would require multiple doses of the medication taken over the course of several hours, and that there was a slightly greater chance of failure. Still, between 12 and 15 percent of Carafems medication abortion patients opt to take misoprostol alone. Some are not able to take mifepristone for medical reasons or prefer the lower price point of misoprostol; others see misoprostol as a trusted option because they know people who have used it by itself to terminate a pregnancy, since the drug can be easily obtained by mail or over the counter in Mexico. Advertisement Historically, the more stringently regulated mifepristone has gotten, the more attractive misoprostol-only abortions have become. In early 2021, after the Supreme Court reinstated an FDA ban on mailing mifepristone that had been suspended during the pandemic, Carafem was forced to require patients who wanted the two-drug regimen to visit a clinic to pick up their pills. (The FDA permanently removed the ban later that year.) During this time, about 80 percent of Carafems medication abortion patients chose a misoprostol-only abortion instead of the two-drug regimen, since it meant being able to receive their pills in the mail. To them, avoiding an in-person visit was worth the higher risk of having to repeat the procedure. Patients who remain pregnant are offered more misoprostol or scheduled for an aspiration abortion in a clinic if they are able to travel to one. Advertisement Advertisement Its really important when you use misoprostol alonebecause there is a slightly increased risk that you may have an ongoing pregnancythat you stay in close contact with your medical provider, if youre choosing to use it through a medical provider, Grant said, adding that patients must be alert for symptoms that indicate that youve had a successful abortion. Advertisement If pregnancy symptoms do not decrease within a few days after a medication abortion, patients are encouraged to take a blood test for pregnancy. If pregnancy symptoms abate after the abortion, taking a urine test a few weeks later will suffice. The misoprostol-only protocol can change the patient experience in other ways. According to Grant, since the drug often causes pain with uterine cramping and, occasionally, diarrhea or vomiting, some patients balk when its time to take their second and third doses. (In a two-drug medication abortion, patients only take a single dose of misoprostol, negating the need to consume more of the drug in the midst of its unpleasant effects.) Carafem employees tell patients that though the medication is causing the discomfort, it will also be the thing that stops it, as most people quickly feel better after the pregnancy is passed. Carafem is compiling these kinds of observations and data from its misoprostol-only practice to share with a group of researchers, in hopes of aiding practitioners who may soon be unable to prescribe their first-choice treatment. Though misoprostols widespread availabilityand its over-the-counter status in other countrieshas long made it a popular choice for people managing their own abortions outside a clinical context, there has only been one study of misoprostol-only abortions in the U.S. As far as I know, were the only abortion provider whos had this much experience with it in the U.S., Grant said. I think we were trying to predict something that I hoped would never happen. And its happened. The month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a jittery nation was told that someone was mailing anthrax-laden envelopes to members of Congress and the media. Reports began to flood into my White House office about incidents across the country in which suspicious white powder had been discovered. Police and fire departments were creating containment zones and decontaminating groups of people by stripping them down to their underwear and spraying them with high-pressure fire hoses. Schools, airports, and government buildings were being evacuated. Advertisement Almost all of the white powder was sugar. Some was Cremora, a powdered non-dairy coffee creamer. A few cases involved baby powder. I wanted to have the federal government tell everyone to just chill, but we had to be less direct, more subtle. Eventually everyone calmed down, but these were tense days with a nation on edge and many people inconvenienced, scared unnecessarily, and even hosed down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almost exactly a year later, an assassin began driving around metropolitan Washington, D.C., shooting from hidden positions and killing people seemingly at random. Everyone living within the Capital Beltway was frightened. Police repeated for the public a witness statement that a white panel truck or step van with ladders was seen in the vicinity of one of the assassinations. Immediately, police began pulling over white trucks with ladders and interrogating the drivers, often at gunpoint. There turned out to be thousands of white vans in the area. Advertisement One such white van with ladders drove slowly up my street. The two men inside scanned the neighborhood. As I sat on my porch, they drove by and looked at me. At the end of the block they stopped for a minute, then began a slow U-turn. I went inside and grabbed my government-issued sidearm. I slid a round into the chamber and went back out onto the porch, hiding the gun under a newspaper. As the van drew closer, a neighbor waved it down. The two men in the van were house painters looking for my neighbors street number. Days later Maryland state police arrested the snipers. The vehicle that they had used for their weekslong reign of terror turned out to be a blue Chevrolet Caprice sedan. Advertisement Advertisement Flush with new Homeland Security funds in the early 2000s, New York City placed radiation detectors at traffic chokepoints to detect a terrorist trying to bring in a dirty bomb, a nuclear weapon. The detection devices alarms went off repeatedly in the first few days of operation, causing police to swarm, SWAT teams to don spacesuits, and traffic jams to snarl the already jammed streets. Hospitals, it seemed, regularly moved radioactive material involved in X-rays and cancer treatment. Also, certain countertops excited the detection devices. Advertisement Years earlier the nation had been traumatized by the large-scale terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City which killed 168 people and wounded hundreds more. The bomb had been an explosives-laden 18-wheel tractor-trailer. FBI and ATF agents began immediately to apply their forensic skills to determine where the explosives had been acquired. Days later the FBI reported to me that a large amount of explosives had been stolen from multiple locations around the country since the attack. The bureau feared more truck bombs, perhaps targeting the White House. The Secret Service director and I told President Bill Clinton that we needed to close Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House to all vehicular traffic. He agreed and it has been closed ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of my fellow team members on the National Security Council staff then thought to ask the ATF for historical data on explosives thefts. That information made clear that we were actually in a bit of a trough, trending through a period of relatively low volume of explosives theft. The week after the bombing had been especially low. There was, ATF explained, a thriving black market in which criminals stole explosives from construction sites and mines and then sold it to other construction operations and mines at less than market rate. Explaining this phenomenon years later to my graduate students at Harvard, most of whom lived in lower-quality housing in Cambridge and Somerville, I asked them what they would conclude if they got up at 3 a.m., walked into the kitchen, turned on the light, and discovered cockroaches there for the first time. Would they think that the detestable bugs had started to infest their apartments? Most students said yes, at first. Upon reflection, they admitted that there have probably always been cockroaches in those apartments. Most students had just never made 3 a.m. trips to the cupboard. Advertisement Advertisement I tell these stories to make a few points relative to balloons. Occasionally something happens to draw our attention to a phenomenon that we had not been looking at before. When that happens, we sometimes see what looks like a lot of threatening activity that is part of a new pattern, an emerging threat. Actually, what we are seeing had been going on for a while and was perhaps normal; we just were not looking. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which has been around for 65 years now, believes that the shoot-down over Canada over the weekend was the first time the commands forces had ever engaged in a shoot-down. A NORAD official also admitted that following the first Chinese balloon shoot-down, they had changed their filters. No, not oil filters on their jetsNORAD altered the algorithm rules they use to sort through the mounds of radar returns they get every day. Previously some things were just labeled as unidentified and, since they appeared to pose no threat, ignored. As with spilled sugar, white vans with ladders, stolen explosives, radioactive medical waste, and cockroaches in student apartments, I suspect we will soon learn that there have been many things floating around in the sky for years. Soon, we will all become experts of the balloon phenomenon and we will be less panicked, at least until the next phenomenon on which we are not expert pops into the publics awareness. Within 24 hours of receiving news of a devastating earthquake hitting Turkey and Syria, over 100 rescue workers from fire departments in California and Virginia were on a plane to assist in one of Turkeys hardest-hit cities. The American rescue team is working in Adiyaman, Turkey, where they are in a race against time to save as many people as possible. As of Monday, the earthquake has claimed more than 36,000 lives in Turkey and Syria combined. Advertisement Stephen Allen, disaster lead of USAIDs efforts in the area, spoke to us about what its like on the ground in Adiyaman and the challenges rescuers are facing, both there and in neighboring Syria. Heres our conversation, lightly edited and condensed for clarity: Shirin Ali: What was the process of assembling an American rescue team, getting them to Turkey, and getting started on rescue efforts? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephen Allen: We ended up in Adiyaman because the Turkish government asked us to come here, because it is one of the hardest-hit regions from the earthquake. Its an area where there wasnt as much support beforehand, its a little bit more remote, a bit farther away, up in the mountains and colder. As soon as the teams arrived in Turkey, we drove all night to get to Adiyaman and they immediately got to work. Advertisement From the time that we got to Adiyaman, while part of the team set up our base-camp operations, part of the team immediately began to survey and look to see what they could do to help and where they could jump in. Since then, the teams have been working 24 hours, sending out survey teams that go and see if there are buildings that have collapsed where they can begin looking for people, and if theyre able to find signs of life. They take out dogs, special equipment, and they have special cameras. If they are able to find a viable sign of life, then they can mobilize a rescue team which comes with heavier tools to begin digging out through the rubble. Advertisement Advertisement Can you describe the level of damage? Here in Adiyaman, when youre driving or walking into town, its almost unimaginable the level of destruction that this town is facing. Every block when youre downtown has large glass buildings and six- and seven-story apartment buildings. When they collapse, they create an enormous rubble pile that then also creates very complicated areas for people to dig in and to cut through concrete, rebar, and other things that are inside. Its very tough and grueling work. Its pretty cold in southern Turkey and western Syria right now, temperatures dropping below freezing. How is that impacting rescue efforts? Advertisement Hypothermia, for people who are still trapped, is a big factor that were worried about. The teams themselves are equipped for it, they can handle it because theyve got the right equipment and the right gear. But it is really hard on the people who were affected by the earthquake. Turkish people who live here in this town, theyve had to deal with just very harsh conditions. Advertisement Its been about a week since USAID touched down in Turkey. Has the team been successful in finding and removing earthquake victims from the rubble? Advertisement Advertisement The people who are left in the rubble at this point are the ones who are the hardest to get. Theyre very deep in the rubbleanyone who was easier to get out was rescued in the first 24 to 48 hours. At this point, it really is down to the teams that have the most experience with very, very difficult recovery and rescue operations. These two teams have that, they are still working now, as we speak, out in the field surveying and looking at specific sites where they think there might be viable signs of life. Advertisement How have you been working with locals? A lot of the sites that are determined are investigated and surveyed because theres a reference from someone. A family member will say, I know that my family was inside this building, or maybe Ive talked to them, heard from them, had some indication of someone being alive. They are often the ones who bring these cases to a centralized dispatch point and then they are assigned to be evaluated, thats a critical part of it. On a human level, its heartbreaking. I was with the team when they were digging through a collapse of a six-story building, and friends of people who were inside, family members of people who were inside, neighbors, people who just knew of people in the building, had gathered outside and they had pictures of their loved ones. They were telling us about who was inside, and its very difficult for them, especially, to know at the end of the day that the likelihood theyre going to see those people alive again is very low. And that is very hard. The teams are focused on doing the best they can to rescue those who are still alive and save the ones who can still be saved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syria was also severely impacted by the earthquakedo you know what rescue efforts are being deployed there? Turkey is where we have our search and rescue team and its where I am, but the scope of what were dealing with doesnt recognize political borders or boundaries. The scale of destruction in northwest Syria has also been massive. The human loss as well. But the situation in Syria is a little bit different, since weve had ongoing humanitarian work in the country for the last 10 years because of the ongoing civil war. So we have an established network of partners, NGOs and UN agencies we fund and have been working with. When the earthquake struck, even though we couldnt be there ourselves, we were able to mobilize through our partners immediately. So our partners immediately switched their funding toward emergency response. Weve just announced $85 million for the earthquake crisis that includes Syria. We dont restrict where our partners can work in Syria and we dont restrict any kind of humanitarian work they can do. Weve really done the best that we can to help them as theyve also dealt with this crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been reports of humanitarian efforts struggling to access earthquake-impacted areas of Syria. Has USAID experienced that? The reality is that Syria is an environment that has access challenges that make it very difficult to get things around, even on the best of days. In the middle of an earthquake response, its also very difficult. It is complicated to get supplies from one side of a control line to the other, so if you want to get something from the government side into the opposition control side, its very tough. We have relied on Turkey to bring in supplies across the border into northwest Syria for years and we are continuing to do that. In the initial days after the earthquake there definitely were some challenges along the border, there were main border closures, crossings were affected by the earthquake, officials who ran the crossings were affected by the earthquake. Those things have been addressed and are being ironed out. There is assistance and aid going across the border from Turkey into Syria, its certainly happeningbut absolutely, its been a challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Northwest Syria is the part of Syria that before the earthquake had the highest humanitarian need. Its a part of Syria where people have fled from across the rest of the country and had been displaced into for the last, almost, decade. Its a place where people have lived a very difficult life, to put it bluntly, and to be affected by an earthquake on top of that is a double calamity. Now, the type of infrastructure in northwest Syria, its not quite the same as the infrastructure in Turkey. The level of destruction is certainly significant, but theres not as many high-rise buildings or dense urban apartment buildings. So it looks a little bit different, but it is severe. People have been displaced again, after fleeing war, and now theyre displaced by an earthquake, which is really an unimaginable tragedy. Whats the biggest challenge USAID rescue workers are facing right now? I think the biggest challenge, hands down, is just the scale of what were facing. The level of destruction is massive and there are so many sites to go through, and thats just in one town. Theres many more towns like this where other crews are working, where other countries have set up search and rescue teams. The scale of this is so massive. Three years into the COVID pandemic, and there still isnt a consensus on whether masks protect against the coronavirus. Proponents and skeptics both think common sense is on their side. Its simple physics, proponents say. COVID is airborne. Doctors wear masks when they treat patients. Plus, I wear a mask every time I leave the house, and Ive never had COVID. Not so fast, skeptics retort. The masks most people wear dont stop viruses. States and countries with widespread mask use have seen large waves of cases. And besides, I wore a mask and got COVID anyway. Advertisement When faced with this kind of debate, many hope the answer could be found in formal scientific research. Which brings us to the recent Cochrane Review, which considered whether physical interventionsincluding masksreduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Cochrane Reviews are widely considered the gold standard of evidence-based medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wearing masks in the community probably makes little or no difference, the review authors concluded of their work comparing masking with non-masking to prevent influenza or SARSCoV2. Whats more, even for health care workers providing routine care, there were no clear differences between medical or surgical masks versus N95s. But as the saying goes, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. The review doesnt show that masks definitely do not reduce the spread of COVIDonly that studies to date have not proven that they do. Advertisement The Cochrane Review tells us two important things. First, there have been very few high-quality studies examining the effectiveness of masks during the COVID pandemic, and second, from the little high-quality data we do have, we dont see large impacts of masking in preventing viral infections on the population level, Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the pandemic center at Brown University School of Public Health, told Slate. This doesnt necessarily mean masks dont protect individuals. But it could mean that the way theyre used at the population level is not effective. We need more randomized trials to understand why. The reason Cochrane Reviews are such a useful tool is because of the strict methodology the authors use to systematically evaluate and assess the quality of evidence about an interventions safety and effectiveness. Throughout the process, review authors work with a Cochrane Review Group and editorial team, and the findings undergo peer review. Thus, review findings are seen as a synthesis of the best evidence available. Advertisement Advertisement In the case of masking, theres been some consternation about the predispositions of the review authors. Tom Jefferson, a senior associate tutor at Oxford University, has spearheaded Cochrane Reviews of interventions to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses since 2006. But Jefferson has raised some eyebrows, as he has publicly expressed skepticism about masks. In a recent interview, he suggested that physical contact and fomites play a role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission. (Slate was unable to reach Jefferson for comment.) Senior review author John Conly of the University of Calgarywho has downplayed airborne COVID transmission, contrary to most experts, who think transmission is primarily airborneis also the senior author of one of the key studies included in the review. Advertisement Advertisement Before COVID, experts generally agreed that masking the entire population to prevent respiratory disease is unwarrantedthats what the previous version of the review, published in 2020, showed. But this years version started adding COVID research to the mix. For this review, the authors used only randomized controlled trials, or RCTs, and cluster randomized trials, which randomize groups rather than individuals. Randomized trials are generally considered the most robust type of evidence because they minimize bias that can crop up in observational studies. As an example of bias, think about how states with mask mandates may have also imposed other COVID restrictions, or how people who wear masks are also likely to take other precautions. Advertisement Advertisement The 2023 review adds 11 new studieswhich together included nearly 611,000 participantsto the previous 67 studies analyzed. Six of the new studies were conducted during the COVID pandemic. The Danish DANMASK study, for example, found that recommending and providing masks did not reduce the COVID infection rate in the community, although overall use was low. A study in Bangladesh randomized some villages to a mask promotion intervention that included free masks, encouragement from community leaders, and reminders. The likelihood of getting COVID was 11 percent lower in villages given surgical masks, but the difference was not significant for cloth masks, and the benefit mostly accrued to older people. A third study (the one Conly co-authored) compared N95 use with surgical mask use among health care providers while at work and showed no clear benefit of N95s. No study pitted N95s against no masks at all. Advertisement The drawback of systematic reviews is that theyre only as good as the included studies: a classic case of garbage in, garbage out. And indeed, the studies in the Cochrane Review on masking had some issues. It was hard to eliminate bias, and low mask adherence was a problem. The primary deficiency in the vast majority of studies is that they dont measure mask wearing through direct observation, said Jason Abaluck, an economics professor at Yale who led the Bangladesh trial. They simply ask people whether they wear masks. Self-reported mask-wearing doesnt at all resemble actual mask-wearing. A 2021 study in Kenya, for example, found that while 76 percent of people reported always wearing a mask in public, only 5 percent were observed doing so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comparisons of COVID case trajectories in different places show that while states and countries with strict mitigation policies or broad cultural acceptance of masking bought some timeoften allowing more people to be vaccinatedmost eventually saw large waves. If masks do make a big difference, it should be apparent by now on a large scale, but its not. Some mask proponents think the review should have included other kinds of evidence. Masks, they argue, are more like helmets than novel medicationstheres less potential harm. Indeed, observational, case-control, and mechanistic studies typically make masks look much better. For example, a case-control study in California, published by the CDC, found that people who wore cloth masks, surgical masks, and N95 or KN95 respirators were 56 percent, 66 percent, and 83 percent less likely, respectively, to test positive for SARS-CoV-2. Unlike the Cochrane Review, several other systematic reviews that included evidence beyond RCTs have found that masks work well at the population level. Advertisement Mask defenders argue that the reason masks dont appear to have a substantial effect in most RCTs is because people dont always wear high-quality masks the right way all the time. During the pandemic, leaky cloth masks or baggy blue medical masks have been a common choice. Many people wear masks below their nose or take them off to eat or communicate more easily. That behavior doesnt mean that the masks themselves dont work. On the other hand, people arent mannequins in a laboratorywhen it comes to COVID prevention, the only thing that matters is what they do in the real world. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking of the real world, by now, most people have established opinions about masksso much so that its unlikely the Cochrane Review will change many minds, never mind much behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Given conflicting evidence from imperfect studies, mask skeptics say the burden of proof is on those who want to adopt the new intervention. The problem with the absence of evidence argument is that it also applies to ludicrous things, said Vinay Prasad, a professor in the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. No one has proven that dancing naked in the rain cant ward off COVID, but we dont advocate, and certainly dont mandate it for years without proof that it helps. On the other side, mask proponents insist that in the face of uncertainty, its better to be safe than sorry. Even if youre not worried about your own risk, masking protects other people who are more vulnerable. Why not, they ask, since the downsides of masking are negligible? Ultimately, the decision about whether to mask comes down to personal feelings about risk tolerance, collective action, and the effects of masksor COVID itselfon quality of life. People disagree on all three counts, so its unlikely we will ever come to a consensus. It doesnt look like the science is going to be a tiebreaker anytime soon. More than showing whether or not masks work, the Cochrane Review finds that the kind of evidence gathered so far cant really answer the question. Maybe thats a good reason to let people decide for themselves. Welcome to State of Mind, a section from Slate and Arizona State University dedicated to exploring mental health. Follow us on Twitter. What do you mean theres no way to get me my medication? A young college student looked at me across the Zoom video psychiatry appointment, visibly angry, and a little saddened. Theres a shortage of ADHD drugs, and Im not even sure when it will end. I let out an audible sigh, Its frustrating, I know. Advertisement So, then, what do we do? The patient looks right at me, hoping that I can somehow help him navigate around the barrier. But I cant. There are a few, all pretty not-great, options, I told him. You can call a bunch of pharmacies and then tell me which place has it in stock and in what doses. I can then send in prescriptions for what you need. You can also wait until wherever you usually pick it up gets medications back in stock, but I know you need it to function, especially in school, so waiting might be out of the question. Or, we can also talk about switching medications temporarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Switching is far from a simple change or even a helpful one. This patient, like many of those I see, had to try several medications before finding an affordable one that works for him without too many side effects (like insomnia, lack of appetite, and additional anxiety). Even if he decides to give switching a try, theres no guarantee that the new drug will even be in stock. The shortage has begun to trickle into other medications, moving from Adderall to Ritalin and Concerta, and his new one could be next. Advertisement Listening to my series of unhelpful options, my patient looks defeated. I feel responsible for it. Im so sorry, I say, for the fourth or fifth time today alone. I didnt have a word for what I was experiencing until the pandemic brought it out into my lexicon: moral injury. Before I went into this field, no one told me that the helplessness that comes with working in mental health is actually constant moral injury. The term itself originated in the context of the military and war in order to capture an experience of veterans that is distinct from PTSD. At its most basic definition, moral injury occurs when people are exposed to stressful circumstances and either perpetuate, fail to prevent, or witness events that contradict their own values and moral beliefs. The injury part is the distress we feel afterward in any or all areas of our lifepsychologically, behaviorally, socially, and spiritually. Advertisement Advertisement In the military, triggering events include times when officers have to make decisions that affect the survival of others, or others where someone failed to perform a duty during a traumatic event. During the early pandemic, we discussed moral injury in health care in reference to resource allocation challenges like masks or ventilators, or seeing far more than the (already difficult) expected amount of suffering and death. Most recently, we have discussed it as a likely outcome of the Dobbs ruling for OB-GYNs. Though few researchers have looked at the prevalence of moral injury in health care, in a study comparing military veterans deployed to combat after 9/11 and health care workers during the pandemic, the overall prevalence rates of potential moral injury were similar. Advertisement Advertisement There was one difference, however: The health care workers reported higher rates of moral injury from others rather than themselves. This means that they were more likely to agree with statements like I am troubled by having witnessed others immoral acts than I am troubled by having acted in ways that violated my own morals and values. An example might be knowing patients should have family members present when they are dying in the hospital, but not being able to because of COVID-related hospital restrictions. This policy may run counter to their individual beliefs of how someone should die, but they feel powerless to change it. The difference between others and self may be related to the idea that health care workers work in a broken system, and may feel more betrayed by others because of it: society, government, or hospital leaders, for example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an outpatient psychiatrist, Im always apologizing for something outside of my control. If it isnt an ADHD medication shortage, its insurance denying other necessary prescriptions. Or a patient being unable to find a therapist. They may change jobs (or, worse, get fired), and the insurance changes or new costs mean they cant see me anymore. As a result, they now have to find a new psychiatrist in the middle of a pandemic and amid a compounded shortage of mental health providers. Chronically sick to my stomach and injured, I wish them luck. It isnt just outpatient, though. When I was in residency we were warned that our first two years, made up of primarily inpatient psychiatry, would be even worse, and they were right. We had patients who kept coming back to the hospital because we didnt have social support to get them to appointments or to help them afford their medications. There were also the patients waiting days, even weeks, in the emergency room, just to get into the inpatient unit, because we didnt have enough beds to help all of the people who needed it. I remember being told by my attendings that I just needed to get to my third year of training, where Id be mostly outpatient, to see that people do get better. That part is true: Its one of the bright spots of my job and the reason I chose it. But they forgot to tell us that even if individuals improve, the system doesnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It may help to think about moral injury in medicine as the difference between telling someone We did all we could and We did all we could in a broken system without all the necessary resources. We are all unwilling representatives of the system. I get yelled at or cried to regularly, and as an empath, I absorb it all. I know at the core, my patients reactions in my visits arent about me, but that doesnt make it hurt any less. Sometimes apologizing is all I can do, to feel like Im doing something. Or maybe its my way of reminding them that Im still a good person, trying to be a good doctor. Advertisement My reaction, though, is a typical one. Moral injury often leads us to blame ourselves and feel guilty, to feel angry or disgusted, and even ashamed. These negative thoughts about ourselves and others do not immediately mean we have mental health outcomes, but we might start to notice stress reactions like changes in our sleep, overworking, turning to alcohol to cope, and social isolation. While moral injury itself is not a mental health diagnosis, it is a risk factor for developing depression, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, and burnout. As physicians, our rates of depression and burnout are already higher than in other similar groups, and this is just another cause compounding it. In fact, in one study of health care workers over COVID, higher moral injury scores were related to worsened severity of symptoms, including suicidal thoughts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the risk to the mental health of the individual health care worker, there is a potential for moral injury to cause people to leave the field entirely. Losing employees will only strain a system with limited access to begin with, particularly for mental health professionals. In fact, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, by 2030 the demand for psychiatrists will increase by 6 percent, outpacing the supply and leading to a shortage of nearly 18,000 psychiatrists. This number doesnt even take into account the unmet need due to barriers to receiving mental health care, or the rise in mental health concerns over COVID-19 that have compounded the strain and demand on mental health professionals. Access is already a problem, but when the existing workforce leaves due to moral injury, patients left without care are ultimately the ones who will suffer. Advertisement Advertisement Naming what Ive been experiencing as moral injury is helpful and is actually a first step in coping. In these moments, many of usincluding the bulk of my health careworker patients and meare quick to talk down to ourselves and self-blame. It is important instead that we pause, acknowledge our feelings and suffering, and practice self-compassion. To do this, we need to learn to replace our negative thoughts with the ways we talk to someone else we care abouta friend, family member, or even the younger version of ourselves. Our jobs are hard enough without us adding to them by tearing ourselves down. Advertisement At the same time, one of the few solutions available to us as individuals is sharing our experiences with moral injury. Medicine is not a field of vulnerability, and as a result, we often feel alone in our experiences and feelings. True self-care for moral injury includes making choices with the help or advice of others, when possible, and looking for support in the conversations that cause distress (or afterwards). Together, in either structured ways or informally after troubling events occur, we can process our experiences and hear different ways to think about or make meaning from what we witnessed. We dont need to suffer in silence. Even writing all of this out has helped me. State of Mind is a partnership of Slate and Arizona State University that offers a practical look at our mental health systemand how to make it better. Over the Super Bowl weekend, the U.S. shot down at least three UFOs, or as theyre now called, UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena). The first was spotted over Alaska and the second over Canada, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed on the action. A third was downed over Lake Huron. A CNN segment about one of the objects features a common refrain: that not even the pilots could identify what they saw, largely because the UFO had no visible means of staying airborne. Advertisement But the good news is that pilots felt comfortable saying somethingwhich has not always been the case. I didnt say anything out of fear Id get fired, says an anonymous airline pilot in the new NatGeo docuseries UFOs: Investigating the Unknown, which premieres Monday. So the story goes for countless people, from civilians to military pilots, who have reported seeing UFOs. The moral of the story: If you see something, do not say something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest governmental UFO report, published in January, identifies roughly half of catalogued sightings as balloons, drones, or clutter, but many remain unidentified and unexplained. The report also notes that the number of UAP sightings has increased in recent years in part because of reduced stigma surrounding those sightings. One might wonder how UFO sightings became so stigmatized in the first place, and why. Unidentified objects in the sky dont have to be of extraterrestrial origin to pose risks to aviation or to national security. It makes sense to report sightings so the government can investigate them and address potential dangers. But for decades, the government has done the opposite, creating and codifying a policy of stigma to deter reports of sightingsand to avoid acknowledging how much it didnt know. Advertisement Investigative journalist Leslie Kean, who features in the NatGeo series, co-wrote a 2017 New York Times article that reverberated through the internet like a thunderbolt: It revealed that the governments Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program had continued to investigate UFO sightings despite the Defense Department saying it had stopped doing so in 2012. The article also contained footage of a 30-second video the DoD had been sitting on since 2004, which shows two Navy jets interacting with a UFO near San Diego.* Advertisement Imagine being one of those military pilots, knowing youd seen a mysterious object that was potentially dangerous, incredibly technologically advanced, and very much worth investigating. Imagine never having seen any aircraft, military or otherwise, maneuver with such speed or dexterity. Imagine not being able to talk about it for 13 years, knowing youd be ridiculed and perhaps fired if you did. Advertisement The U.S. government deliberately cultivated stigma related to UFO sightings during the Cold War. An uptick in reports in 1947 spurred the creation of the first official UFO investigation, Project Sign. A few months later, after it became clear that the Air Force couldnt handle the number of reports coming in, it hired a scientist, J. Allen Hynek, to evaluate the information. Hynek couldnt explain roughly 20 percent of the cases he looked at, but the Air Force didnt want to probe further. Advertisement It was a different world then, and the government was worried that the Russians would take advantage of UFO reports, Kean told me in a phone interview. A foreign enemy could exploit reports to clog up the communication pipeline, sow confusion, or act as a decoy for action elsewhere. The U.S. also didnt want to admit that it couldnt explain some of these sightings, which would diminish it as a powerful force, said Kean. These days, similar concerns exist regarding China, especially after the recent spy balloon fiasco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Air Force then launched a follow-up called Project Grudge, whose mission was exactly what the name suggeststo explicitly dismiss and debunk the UFO issue. However, sightings kept coming in. In 1952, a year that saw hundreds of UFO sightings, most notably in Washington, D.C., the government began Project Blue Book, yet another project designed to address the mounting UFOs sightings not by proper investigation, but by convenient explanation. The CIA then formed a panel of experts to review the six years worth of sightings documented by Project Blue Book. After meeting for roughly 12 hours, the panel said the evidence revealed nothing worthy of further study. The government slammed the door shut on UFO investigations. If you dismiss it, you dont have to face it, Kean said. Advertisement The result was no surprise, because the panels true goal was never to investigate the sightings. Instead, as its report makes clear, its mission was to debunk with the aim of reducing public interest in flying saucers. The panel also suggested that this education could be accomplished by mass media such as television, motion pictures, and popular articles. Those sentences solidified a policy of what Kean calls sanctioned ridicule. Advertisement Project Blue Book continued until 1969, and as its lead debunker, Hynek offered often ridiculous or insulting explanations, such as suggesting that a mass sighting in Michigan was really just swamp gas, an explanation then-President Gerald Ford called out as unsatisfactory and flippant. By then, it had been 20 years since the government began stigmatizing and belittling people who made UFO reports. Once a stigma is firmly rooted in the culture, its much harder to get rid of, Kean said. The specific flavor of the stigma depends on the particular debunking explanation (bonkers, drunk, bored, dreaming, sleepwalking), but people who report seeing UFOs are still sometimes considered crackpots, the kind of people whod storm Area 51. Advertisement Advertisement The government leveraged the fallacious association between UFOs and aliens to increase the stigma. But its important to remember that UFO doesnt mean spaceship or something of extra-terrestrial originthe term contains no such assertion. Rather, it means that the object or phenomenon cannot (yet) be identified. Conflating UFO sightings with laughable suggestions of little green men was another debunking and dismissing tactic, even though that association did nothing to address potential safety and/or security concerns. Those who reported sightingsincluding commercial airline pilots, military pilots, and civiliansgrew angry at the governmental gaslighting and at its unwillingness to properly investigate. After the conclusion of Project Blue Book, Hynek got mad, too. He advocated for real scientific inquiry into UFO cases and became a vocal critic of the governments handling of UFOs and of its policy of ridicule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the NatGeo series documents, the government turned what should have been a scientific issue into a sociological problem that pervaded pop culture, generated conspiracy theories, and provoked mistrust of the government. The stigma became so entrenched that its taken decades to declassify documents and to resurrect political interest in learning more. In the 1970s, the government started declassifying UFO documents under a Freedom of Information Act request. The resulting information stoked the public interest. Nongovernment scientists and civilians stepped up to investigate, filling the vacuum left by the government. The civilian response invalidated the governments fear that the public couldnt handle the truth about these sightings, whatever it turned out to be. Perhaps the government projected its fear of admitting it didnt have the answers. Advertisement But not all governments have so little faith in their citizens. According to the documentary, UFOs have been spotted in 133 countries, and many governments actively encourage people to report sightings so they can be properly investigated. Most of those countries dont classify that information, either. For example, in 2007, France, which has a government agency specifically devoted to UFO studies, published over 50 years worth of files on a website, which it keeps updated. In 1978, a French government UFO study that focused on 11 particularly compelling cases concluded that in 10 of them, witnesses observed a material phenomenon that could not be explained as a natural phenomenon or a human device. In 1999, France released a detailed report of UFO investigations that acknowledges the credibility of witnesses despite the fear of appearing ridiculous, alienated, or simply gullible. That report concludes that most of the cases cannot be attributed to human technology, and thus, we are forced to resort to other hypotheses [that] can neither be confirmed nor invalidated [such as] the hypothesis of extraterrestrial visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the documentary, Kean expresses awe at the idea that this report wasnt a bigger deal, and she muses about what would have happened if something like it had been published in the U.S. But if the U.S. government refused to admit what it didnt know, it certainly didnt want to admit that some of the unidentified objects might be of alien origin. If that were true, that would mean humans arent aloneand that we arent at the top of the cosmic food chain. This weekends events raise this possibility yet again, especially because the pilots who saw the UFO couldnt figure out how it was flying, given that they saw no no identifiable propulsion system. Advertisement Countries such as Costa Rica, Chile, and Peru study UFOs without classifying the info. Kean chalks up the difference to the size and strength of the U.S. military and the associated higher stakes for a world superpower. By comparison, UFO investigation units in smaller countries work very differently. Chiles investigation unit is amazing, Kean said. Theyre not trying to hide anything. Its accepted that these things are out there. The reports were always made public. Advertisement Advertisement Kean stops short of suggesting that UFOs have cosmic origins, but the possibility cant be ruled out by her, by investigating scientists, or by the government, especially because no human-created aircraft ever publicly documented can fly or maneuver at speeds close to those of the UFOs documented by witnesses. The secrecy, as well as the obfuscation and stigmatization employed by the U.S. government, both sabotaged true scientific investigations and, according to Kean, provoked conspiratorial thinking. Advertisement Destigmatizing something is more difficult than stigmatizing it. The recent reports recommendation for more coordinated UAP efforts, resulting in greater attribution of UAP is easier said than done, but the government is moving in the right direction, particularly with the recent establishment of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. Kean is hopeful that the existence and work of the AARO will further destigmatize reports. Every publication and report does this, little by little, she said. Advertisement Despite increased governmental transparency and coordination, challenges remain. Its now the public has that to filter out bias and stigma, Kean said. Thats particularly true of the scientific community, which has been among the last groups to overcome the stigma. Perhaps thats a result of scientific skepticism, or perhaps its because, as Kean puts it, many scientists are off at universities, siloed, rather than seeing these phenomena or interacting with witnesses who have. The government created a monster with its handling of the UFO issue. The bias and shame surrounding 50 years worth of UFO sightings in the U.S. reinforce the need for the public to think critically, rather than succumbing to what Kean called the pure irrationality of the stigma. It also underscores how misinformation or disinformation starts at the top and filters down through the public, until it takes on a life of its own. Correction, Feb. 14, 2023: This article originally described a 2004 video of a UFO sighting by including details about and a link to a separate video of a 2015 UFO sighting. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Welcome to Source Notes, a Future Tense column about the internets information ecosystem. Sometimes Bigfoot believers go squatching in the forest to hunt for tracks left behind from the purported apelike creature. Other times, they seem to take a more sedentary approach, sitting behind their computers, complaining about what they see as disrespect for their beliefs on Wikipedia. The internet encyclopedia defines cryptozoology as a pseudoscience or subculture that searches for and studies unknown, legendary, or extinct animals such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the chupacabra, and other so-called cryptids. But on the talk page that sits behind the wiki article, some users are up in arms about that specific wording. One editor, a self-described cryptozoologist, writes, I am appalled to hear my trade called a pseudoscience. It is true that cryptozoology does not follow the traditional scientific method, but that does not make it fake! To which the experienced Wikipedia editor Bloodofox retorts, If you find yourself attempting to convince others that your pet hobby is a not a pseudoscience, chances are its a pseudoscience. Meanwhile, the Reddit cryptozoology community claims that Wikipedias coverage of these creatures is plagued by bias. But is it true? Are Wikipedia contributors unjustly targeting Sasquatch, Nessie, and company? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the past decade, Wikipedia has undergone what can fairly be described as a Great Culling of the Cryptids. Back in 2013, the English Wikipedia page titled List of cryptids had about 300 entries, according to a snapshot from the Wayback Machine. Since then, a few Wikipedia volunteers have proceeded to take a hatchet to the list, developing a far more limited inclusion criteria for what meets the cryptid definition. This winnowing process meant cutting out entries for the Tasmanian tiger, an extinct carnivorous marsupial; the Will-o-the-wisp, the ghost lights that travelers see floating over marshes; and the Wild Man of Navidad, a Bigfoot-like creature said to reside in southeast Texas that became the subject of a beloved 2008 horror film. Today, Wikipedias list of cryptids has only about 50 entries, having also lost references to popular creatures such as the Jackalope, a mythical jackrabbit with antelope horns, and lesser-known aquatic beings such as the Lake Tahoe Monster. Advertisement Bloodofox told me that this purge was for the best. The reason for this is straightforward: Articles that are unsourced or consist of material attributed to poor quality sources get deleted, he said in an email. (Bloodofox is a long-term Wikipedia editor who asked Slate not to reveal his real name because of threats he has received in the past over edits on unrelated topics.) Furthermore, Bloodofox cautioned that word cryptid should be used sparingly, arguing that cryptozoologists invented the term out of whole cloth to make their hobby sound more science-y. That is why Wikipedia today classifies the Jackalope and similar entities as folklore creatures rather than as cryptids, per se. Advertisement But how Wikipedia categorizes a subject changes and potentially limits the topics that surface during the research phaseproviding yet another example of how the content of a wiki page affects reality itself. Ask ChatGPT to provide cryptid legends from southeast Texas, and its response is likely to include the chupacabra, but not the Wild Man of Navidad. Why? It could be because ChatGPT has been trained on Wikipedia, and Wikipedia has classified the chupacabra as both cryptid and folklore, while the Wild Man is (just) folklore. Now, that exclusion might not seem like a big deal, but it would certainly matter to someone compiling a lighthearted guide to American cryptozoology. Advertisement Advertisement The answer is not necessarily to gatekeep what is and isnt a cryptid, said Cristina Van Epps, who co-hosts the popular Cults, Cryptids & Conspiracies podcast with her friend Chelsea Miller, and typically takes the skeptical point of view. Before they make a cryptid episode, they usually check the topic on Wikipedia and review the collection of sources collected at the bottom of an article. Their listeners will also suggest a cryptid to cover by linking to its Wikipedia page. So when Wikipedians reclassify a creature as folklore rather than a cryptid, then that subject no longer has the same visibility for information seekers. Advertisement Advertisement Rather than gatekeep the cryptids, Van Epps and Miller suggested the page instead feature a disclaimer saying that the topic it not accepted by mainstream science. Thats exactly the kind of language that appears on the Bigfoot article, which is sprinkled with descriptors like pseudoscience, hoax, folklore, and wishful thinking. But these words infuriate serious Bigfoot believers, who claim that Wikipedia should be softer and more neutral in its language. Advertisement According to experienced Wikipedians, the best way to counter a neutrality argument from the Cryptids Are Real side is to focus on Wikipedias core policies, especially the requirement to reflect reliable sources. We call it is pseudoscience because thats what the citations tell us to use. Were not making up the word, said Susan Gerbic, who leads Guerilla Skepticism on Wikipedia, a volunteer association of editors who seek to monitor the sites content for claims that go against the body of scientific evidence. The sources that you have to use [on Wikipedia] have to be secondary, notable, and have journalistic integrity, she said. But Gerbic told me that it is sometimes challenging to find sufficiently high-quality sources to use for covering these fringe topics. First-person accountslike the wild cryptid encounters that Van Epps and Miller share and challenge on their podcastare not permitted by Wikipedia. Then again, national news organizations dont always go out of their way to report on cryptid hoaxes. Youre not going to read about cryptozoology in the New York Times that often, Gerbic said. And tenured professors at esteemed academic institutions have generally decided not to touch cryptozoology with a 10-foot pole, even to debunk it, perhaps fearing guilt by association with such a disreputable subject matter. Ultimately, the GSoW team often leans on niche publications like Skeptical Enquirer to find a Wikipedia-worthy source that clearly states a particular cryptid is considered pseudoscience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And that word is overused, according to Bigfoot fans, who complained about how pseudoscience is mentioned five times in the lead section of the cryptozoology Wikipedia page. But Bloodofox told me that its important to make this point abundantly clear to the reader. The danger is misinformation, he said, adding, We do not allow Young Earthers or Flat Earthers to dictate our geology coverage. As it happens, Wikipedia mentions numerous times that there is a subset of cryptozoology that promotes Young Earth creationism, a belief system whose adherents hold that the Earth is only 6,000 to 10,000 years old. Thats a topic Van Epps and Miller have covered on their podcast. Basically any sort of cryptid that could be described as dinosaur-like, [Young Earth creationism believers] will take and try to prove its real as evidence that the Earth is younger than we think it is. Because dinosaurs are still alive and with us, Van Epps said. Advertisement Miller pointed to interesting tidbits from Bigfoot culture that do not appear on the subjects Wikipedia page. For instance, some religious Mormons assert that Bigfoot is Cain from the biblical story of Cain and Abel, cursed to walk the Earth with the mark of a hideous ape. Also not included on the Wikipedia entry? The bitter and long-lasting feud between Bigfoot hunters based on the West Coast vs. the East Coast. Advertisement Advertisement Clearly, some of the best cryptid content has little to do with the (fake) creatures themselves but rather how their stories have influenced regional culture. On their podcast, Van Epps and Miller have covered the Peninsula Python Festival that occurs every July in Peninsula, Ohio, and originates from a giant python that allegedly escaped and sneaked around the town back in 1944. Sure, the lore around the Peninsula Python itself is dubious, but nobody disputes that the annual parade has become a real tradition. Despite mainstream press coverage, that legacy is not covered on Wikipedia, perhaps due to the aforementioned gatekeeping. Advertisement Advertisement Bloodofox says the problem is that folklore scholars arent generating enough sources or volunteering on Wikipedia to help expand its content. If more folklorists contributed to Wikipedia, then it would have more folklore articles and better folklore coverage, Bloodofox told me. He also confirmed that he believed that Wikipedia should generally continue to resist the cryptid label. But why not call a cryptid a cryptid? If legitimate scientific sources refer to an alleged creature with that wordand many of them do, even as they are disputing the claims of cryptid huntersthen it is appropriate for Wikipedia to use the cryptid label as well. To sum up, it seems to me that the two sides of Wikipedias Never-Ending Cryptozoological War could both stand to make some concessions. First, if a reputable publisher describes an entity as a cryptid, then Wikipedia should classify it within its cryptid category. (Sorry, Bloodofox.) This relaxed admission standard does not necessarily mean that Wikipedias list of cryptids needs to jump to the previous 300 entriesthat doesnt really serve readers, either. At the same time, Wikipedia should continue to clearly label cryptozoology as pseudoscience, reflecting the exact language thats used by reliable sources. (Sorry, Bigfoot truthers.) Once the article provides this disclaimeressentially flagging: *This monster is not real*Wikipedia should proceed to treat the reader like an adult, providing information about notable regional festivals and all the famous forgeries. Remember that Wikipedias verifiability policy does not necessarily require excluding all cryptid content, especially if its part of regional culture. As they say, dont throw the Nessie out with the bathwater. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Smers leader went on Hungarian TV to show who his role model is. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. Fico reveals his desires on Hungarian TV, and damns support for Ukraine. Slovak MPs to discuss sending MiGs to Zelensky. The man who oversaw taxes under Smer and is now testifying about corruption is sentenced. When Igor Matovic dethroned Smer in 2020, many worried that he would not be up to the job of leading the country. That fear has turned out to be more than justified, with Matovic lasting little more than a year as prime minister and demonstrating on an almost daily basis since that the concerns about his character were entirely warranted. But in the immediate aftermath of that 2020 election, which put an end to the Smer partys long run in government, some people commented that the unconventional leader of OLaNO deserved to be the one to defeat Fico, given all the work, vigour and fearlessness that he had put into the task. None of that applies in 2023. After three years of government by a shifting but always OLaNO-led grouping of parties, and with an early general election date now set for September, there is a very real prospect that Smers leader, Robert Fico, will return to power. What would that mean for the country? There is no need to guess: Fico has been laying out his vision quite plainly. Top executives from multinational companies are returning to China to look into the business opportunity presented by China as it is a top manufacturing hub and consumer market for many of the world's largest companies. Volkswagen AG's chief executive visited China from late January to early February, the company said, while Apple CEO Tim Cook and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla are expected to visit next month, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. Ola Kallenius, Mercedes-Benz Group AG's chairman, is also planning a visit to China, the company shared. Some executives are looking to meet managers, local business partners and visit local site operations, while others are expected to attend business conferences in China that are planned for the coming months after the optimized COVID-19 response measures. Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume, also chairman of the group's luxury marque Porsche, arrived in Beijing in January as the first head of an automotive multinational to visit the country in the Lunar New Year. The weeklong trip was made within three months of his visit to China as a member of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's delegation to Beijing in early November. The latest visit was "a very strong signal to our partners in the region. It makes it clear how important the Chinese market is for us," the journal said quoting Ralf Brandstatter, who heads Volkswagen in China. A handful of business conferences planned in China in the coming months are also expected to draw many company leaders. They include the China Development Forum scheduled for late March as well as the Boao Forum for Asia in the southern Hainan province. Top executives weighing a visit to the China Development Forum in Beijing include Apple CEO Tim Cook and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, people familiar with the matter told the journal. Meanwhile, the Boao Forum will draw top business leaders from other countries, including Andrew Forrest, executive chairman of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, according to a Fortescue spokesman, who said the Australian iron-ore company is committed to engaging with customers in China. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230212/us-military-downs-airborne-object-over-lake-huron-congressman-says-1107359539.html US F-16 Fighter Downed Octagonal Structure Over Lake Huron Says Michigan Official US F-16 Fighter Downed Octagonal Structure Over Lake Huron Says Michigan Official US fighter aircraft have shot down another unidentified object, over lake Huron near the border with Canada, Michigan Congressman Jack Bergman said. 2023-02-12T22:16+0000 2023-02-12T22:16+0000 2023-02-12T22:58+0000 americas department of defense u.s. department of defense us department of defense (dod) norad norad yukon great lakes justin trudeau justin trudeau /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/08/1107087375_0:174:2673:1678_1920x0_80_0_0_e2c33d4f38fa1e8f9233e1fdc1289327.jpg "Ive been in contact with DOD [Department of Defense] regarding operations across the Great Lakes region today. The US military has decommissioned another object over Lake Huron. I appreciate the decisive action by our fighter pilots. The American people deserve far more answers than we have," Representative Bergman said on Twitter on Sunday. The unidentified object is said to be an "octagonal structure", according to Bergman. "They informed me that an F-16 using an AIM-9 missile had shot down an octagonal structure over Lake Huron, the altitude was about 20,000 feet," Representative Bergman said on Sunday.He added that specialists were working on recovering the debris and that there was no damage to any property or civilians because the object fell into the water.Earlier, Representative Elissa Slotkin from Michigan said on Twitter that the US military was tracking an object over Lake Huron. The US authorities temporarily closed the airspace over Lake Michigan on Sunday to ensure the safety of air traffic in the area during unspecified operations of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). According to CBC, Canada closed a portion of its airspace on Sunday over the Great Lakes near the border with the United States, as a precaution. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed the airspace around the city of Havre in Montana, near the border with Canada, on Saturday, but the airspace restrictions were eventually lifted and no suspicious objects were detected, according to NORAD. Also on Saturday, NORAD said in a statement to Sputnik that it was tracking "a high-altitude airborne object" over northern Canada. Later in the day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the unidentified object was shot down by a US F-22 aircraft over the Yukon Territory. The White House said that the downed object had been tracked over 24 hours and was unmanned. The United States and Canada shot down a total of three high-altitude airborne objects in February, including one that was taken down on Saturday over Canada's Yukon Territory. americas yukon great lakes 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 department of defense, norad, yukon, justin trudeau, dod, lake huron, airborne object, us military https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/all-he-had-to-do-was-stop-attacking-donbass-italys-berlusconi-blames-zelensky-for-ukraine-crisis-1107386273.html 'All He Had to Do Was Stop Attacking Donbass': Italy's Berlusconi Blames Zelensky for Ukraine Crisis 'All He Had to Do Was Stop Attacking Donbass': Italy's Berlusconi Blames Zelensky for Ukraine Crisis The former Italian prime minister broke off his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin last spring after the escalation of the Donbass crisis into a full-blown Russia-NATO proxy conflict in Ukraine, expressing regret that his efforts to incorporate Russia into Western institutions failed. 2023-02-13T19:07+0000 2023-02-13T19:07+0000 2023-03-05T11:00+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine silvio berlusconi volodymyr zelensky ukraine italy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102438/44/1024384436_0:0:4257:2395_1920x0_80_0_0_d074cae484458072e0b02f0184b4e0c3.jpg Veteran Italian statesman Silvio Berlusconi has ruffled some feathers in both Rome and Kiev after attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his role in the crisis with Russia, and criticizing Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni for agreeing to meet with the Ukrainian leader.If I were prime minister I would never have met Zelensky, because we are witnessing the devastation of his country and the massacre of his soldiers and civilians, Berlusconi told reporters Sunday evening after taking part in regional elections in Lombardy, northern Italy.Berlusconi urged the US to commit to a multi-trillion dollar Marshall Plan-style peace deal to rebuild Ukraine, with the funds to be made available on the condition that Kiev agrees to an immediate ceasefire tomorrow, on pain of a complete halt to Western financial and weapons assistance. Only this could convince this gentleman [Zelensky] to reach a ceasefire, the former PM believes.Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, a member of Prime Minister Melonis coalition government who also happens to be a member Berlusconis Forza Italia party, walked back the party leaders comments, assuring in a tweet that Forza Italia has always sided in favor of the independence of Ukraine, and on the side of Europe, NATO and the West. Tajani assured that the party would continue to vote with our government allies in respect of the governments course.Melonis office similarly rushed to clarify that Romes support for Ukraine remains solid and unwavering, and includes Italys weapons support to Kiev.Berlusconis remarks also sparked predictable outrage from Kiev, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson accusing the Italian statesman of trying to kiss Putins hands just as he had kissed Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafis, and charging Berlusconi with spreading Russian propaganda.Zelensky aide Mykhailo Podolyak attacked Berlusconi as a VIP agitator who acts within the framework of Russian propaganda, and trades Italys reputation for his friendship with Putin.Berlusconi served as Italys prime minister between 1994-1995, 2001-2006, and 2008-2011, and was one of the strongest proponents within the European Union of Russias integration into the bloc, and of the concept of a Greater Europe stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok. The strong personal rapport Berlusconi struck up with Putin and former president Dmitry Medvedev cooled last spring after the Italian statesman expressed deep disappointment with Putins behavior in Ukraine. However, in recent months the former prime minister has carefully amended his views on the crisis, and reportedly restored his personal friendship with Putin.Russia kicked off a military operation in Ukraine a year ago amid escalating shelling and sabotage attacks against the Donbass, and fears of an imminent Ukrainian invasion, which prompted Donetsk and Lugansk leaders to start an evacuation of the civilian population to Russia.President Zelensky admitted last week that he never intended to implement the 2015 Minsk peace agreement which would have reintegrated the Donbass back into Ukraine peacefully in exchange for broad autonomy, saying the Ukrainian side was only using the deal for prisoner exchanges.Zelenskys remarks echoed revelations by former president Petro Poroshenko, former German chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande in recent months that Kiev only signed the Minsk deal to rebuild its military and prepare for a conflict with Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20211021/ten-years-since-libyas-gaddafi-was-murdered-by-nato-backed-rebels-1090087300.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230209/zelensky-admits-he-never-intended-to-implement-minsk-agreements-1107274340.html ukraine italy Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov ukraine, silvio berlusconi, volodymyr zelensky, ukraine crisis, russia's special operation in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/and-then-there-were-four-what-we-know-about-the-high-altitude-objects-shot-down-by-usaf-1107384826.html And Then There Were Four: What We Know About the 'High-Altitude Objects' Shot Down by USAF And Then There Were Four: What We Know About the 'High-Altitude Objects' Shot Down by USAF Since the US detected a Chinese high-altitude balloon floating over the country late last month, the Pentagon has stepped up its vigilance of US and Canadian airspace and shot down both the Chinese balloon and three other mysterious objects, each reportedly different from the others. 2023-02-13T17:47+0000 2023-02-13T17:47+0000 2023-02-16T13:40+0000 sputnik explains balloon ufo chinese balloon over us north american aerospace defense command (norad) us us air force f-22 f-22 raptor /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0d/1107385584_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_a09b66d1afce917a4abaf3e78e403cf0.jpg After the first object was concluded by the Pentagon to be a Chinese "spy balloon", US military command said it had realized that several mysterious objects seen in previous years were also spy balloons, and accused Beijing of operating a vast intelligence-gathering operation using the devices. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) also stepped up its analysis of radar returns on the edges of US airspace, and the scrutiny resulted in more objects being spotted and subsequently shot down.Aside from the Chinese balloon, which Beijing has claimed as theirs but rejected US claims of it being a spy balloon, no theories about the origins of the other three objects has been publicly stated.Object 1: Chinese BalloonThe US first detected the balloon on January 28 as it crossed Alaska, but it didnt catch news headlines until February 2, when it passed over a US Air Force Base in Montana that houses nuclear missile silos.The 200-foot-tall balloon was flying at roughly 60,000 feet, or twice as high as commercial airliners travel and above the upper limit of most fighter aircraft. However, in terms of how high such balloons can reach, it was quite low.The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that the balloon was theirs, but rejected US accusations of it being used for covert intelligence-gathering. Instead, they say the balloon is a research airship used by civilian scientists that became caught in Westerlies, or upper-level east-blowing winds, and they lost control over it.A USAF F-22 Raptor shot down the balloon on February 4 after it had transited US territory and reached Atlantic waters off the coast of South Carolina. It was retrieved and is being analyzed. According to reports, the balloon is made of plastic, not rubber, which is atypical of weather balloons but not unheard of. The US has not made public any information about any monitoring systems they previously claimed were on the balloon after taking close-up photos using a U-2 spy plane.Object 2: 'Car-Sized' Craft Over AlaskaSix days after the Chinese balloon was downed, news broke of a second high-altitude object being shot down, this time over northern Alaska.Other descriptions have abounded. One official said the object was cylindrical and silver-ish gray and appeared to float like a balloon without any sort of propulsion. Another said the object shattered into pieces when it impacted the ice. A third indicated it was substantially smaller than the Chinese balloon.Recovery efforts continue, but have been hampered by the extreme Arctic weather. The Pentagon has notably avoided calling the object a balloon, and made no claims about its national origin.Object 3: Downed Over YukonThe day after the object over Alaska was shot down, NORAD sent another F-22 fighter jet to take down an object over Canadas neighboring Yukon Territory, upon request from the Canadian government.The object was described as potentially similar to the object downed over Alaska in both size and shape.Also on February 11, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told US media that US officials believe the two objects downed over the Yukon and Alaska were both balloons. He made no claim about theories of national origin being circulated among US officials.Object 4: Octagonal 'Radar Anomaly'The next day, February 12, a fourth object was spotted and downed over Lake Huron, one of the four Great Lakes that straddle the US-Canada border.This object was also distinct from the other three, and was described as an octagonal object flying at about 20,000 feet. It was reportedly first spotted over Lake Michigan and tracked across the US state of Michigan before being shot down by a US Air National Guard F-16 Falcon fighter jet.Vanherck added that NORAD believes it was the same object that was responsible for a radar anomaly over Montana, far to the west, that temporarily closed airspace a day prior - a theory seemingly supported by tracing wind paths backwards from the Lake Huron shootdown site.More?A senior US military commander indicated on Monday that balloons had also been spotted across the Middle East region, but dismissed the notion they posed any kind of danger.The Chinese Foreign Ministry also accused the US of sending balloons over Chinese nearly a dozen times in the last year. Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters on Monday that It is nothing rare for US balloons to illegally enter other countrys airspace... The US needs to reflect upon its own behavior, instead of slandering, smearing and provoking confrontation.In the 1950s, the US operated its own spy balloon program called Project Genetrix, which were disguised as weather balloons and sent over China and the Soviet Union to gather intelligence. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230210/as-us-looks-for-firm-to-sanction-balloon-overflight-major-chinese-makers-say-it-wasnt-theirs-1107327685.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/hoping-for-triangle-next-internet-chuckles-as-pentagon-downs-octagonal--cylindrical-objects-1107365559.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230209/us-spy-balloon-program-goes-back-70-years-included-flights-over-china-documents-reveal-1107280049.html 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 chinese balloon, high-altitude objects, 'high-altitude objects' shot down by usaf, chinese balloon shot down by us air force, f-22 shoots down chinese balloon, what we know about the 'high-altitude objects' shot down by usaf, what are the high-altitude objects shot down by us https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/beijing-says-us-balloons-illegally-entered-chinas-airspace-over-10-times-since-early-2022-1107374193.html Beijing Says US Balloons Illegally Entered China's Airspace Over 10 Times Since Early 2022 Beijing Says US Balloons Illegally Entered China's Airspace Over 10 Times Since Early 2022 China has accused the US of illegally flying balloons into Its airspace over 10 times since January 2022. 2023-02-13T11:45+0000 2023-02-13T11:45+0000 2023-02-13T11:45+0000 china wang wenbin chinese balloon over us joe biden surveillance asia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0d/1107374298_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0e0b3961d498ce1b0a6a655b293dc24e.jpg US-made balloons have been detected carrying out incursions into China's airspace at least 10 times since January 2022, according to Chinas Foreign Ministry.In response to the US rhetoric following the recent balloon incident, the spokesman indicated that China reserved the right to "take necessary means to deal with relevant incidents.The fact that a Chinese civilian unmanned airship carried out an unintended incursion into US airspace was due to unavoidable accidental circumstances, Wang Wenbin added. The shooting down of the balloon, which China insists was engaged in scientific research but fell victim to high winds, was denounced by the ministry as indiscriminate use of force.As for the US, it was described by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson as the world's largest repeat offender when it came to spying and indiscriminate use of surveillance. Washington has repeatedly sent aircraft and warships to carry out reconnaissance on China, with 64 flights in the South China Sea in January this year alone, the ministry's spokesperson underscored, adding that this seriously jeopardizes China's national security, while also undermining regional peace and stability.China's response to US high-altitude balloons illegally flying over Chinese airspace was at all times "responsible and professional," Wang said.The balloon that ignited the latest row was first spotted near Alaska before traveling over Canada and eventually being downed off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. The United States delayed shooting down the craft for several days, claiming that it was too dangerous to do over land. It was only after the balloon floated off the coast that President Joe Biden ordered it to be shot down. The United States used F-22 fighter jets and downed the balloon using an AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile, according to the Pentagon, with a spokesperson later telling reporters that they had no doubt that the craft was used for surveillance. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed protest over the use of force and "the US attack on the civilian unmanned airship." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230209/us-to-explore-retaliation-for-balloon-flyover-as-white-house-alleges-vast-chinese-spy-operation-1107276849.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230205/china-expresses-protest-over-us-downing-balloon-1106983020.html china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko china accuses us balloons of violating its airspace, over ten times since january 2022, us balloons illegally enter other countrys airspace, chinese civilian unmanned airship, indiscriminate use of surveillance, f-22 fighter jets downed the balloon https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/cameroonian-bishop-france-has-affairs-of-former-african-colonies-in-iron-grip-1107366444.html Cameroonian Bishop: France Has Affairs of Former African Colonies 'in Iron Grip' Cameroonian Bishop: France Has Affairs of Former African Colonies 'in Iron Grip' Michael Bibi, Bishop of the Cameroonian diocese of Buea located in southwest Cameroon, has blamed Western states for their neo-colonial attitude towards African nations in an interview with Crux. 2023-02-13T12:44+0000 2023-02-13T12:44+0000 2023-02-13T12:53+0000 africa central africa cameroon france colonialism /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/13/1106498299_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_6b396263f1ef722f43d6c27e30f014d7.jpg Michael Bibi, Bishop of the Cameroonian diocese of Buea located in south-west Cameroon, has blamed western states for their neo-colonial attitude towards African nations in an interview with Crux.According to the bishop, the only signs of independence African countries have are "flag and anthem," whereas "the purse strings" are kept in the hands of their former colonial overlords.Many wonder whether we should even use the adjective former, Bibi said.The statement comes after Pope Francis' visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, earlier in February, during which he slammed economic colonialism and the exploitation of Africa."Political exploitation [of the Congo and more generally of Africa] gave way to economic colonialism that was equally enslaving, Pope Francis said during his February trip to Africa. As a result, he continued, this country, massively plundered, has not benefited adequately from its immense resources."Bibi believes the Pope's statement referred to the practice of neo-colonialism.The Cameroonian bishop described that interference of former colonial powers in the economic affairs of African states differ by degree, adding that former colonies of Britain, such as Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana are the biggest economies in Sub-Saharan Africa and the leading democracies on the continent.Bibi also mentioned that African nations had often sought help from China, but they are often too weak to "strike a fair bargain with the Chinese government". The construction must be executed by Chinese companies only if the loans are allocated, which he criticized, calling it a means of commercial influence.The bishop has pointed to the fact that France uses "a complicated network of financial economic policies and political control through the threat of regime change and their military presence to maintain the status quo." The Americans, said the bishop, also use "their influence over the United Nations Security Council and the International Monetary Fund and similar international organizations to have their way over many issues.Bibi characterized the Francophonie and the Commonwealth of Nations as instruments in the hands of western powers used to interfere in African affairs.Bibi stated that "colonization" affects the economic life of Africa and the lives of people.The economic life of the African continent will not change if foreigners continue to make all the decisions,"" he said, adding: If Africans must be the first beneficiary of the economic decisions of the continent, then they themselves must make the decisions."In his point of view, one of the consequences of the present state of affairs in Africa is the mass migration of Africans to Europe and America."They should stay back and contribute towards the development of the continent," Bibi said.He also emphasized that there are African leaders playing the role of accomplices of their former "masters". "It is often said that the oppressor would not be so strong if he did not have accomplices among the oppressed, Bibi believes.According to the bishop, there is a need for African leaders to show the courage to outline policies contributing to their own people and countries."The people who will make Africa great are not those who travel out, but those who remain to work: to open up businesses, whether farms or factories," Bibi proclaimed, adding that Africans must love their land enough to want to stay and make efforts to uphold the development of the continent.France was among the key colonial powers which sought new lands to exploit their natural riches. It had colonies in South America, North America, and Asia, some of which are still considered French territories de jure and called French overseas departments.The West European country came to the African continent in the 17th century and had the main stage of its colonial expansion in the 19th, creating at the peak of its colonial power French West Africa - a federation of its eight west African colonies which included Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Niger.The last colony to be freed from the French rule was North African Algeria, whose independence was obtained only in 1962 through a war with its "master". https://sputnikglobe.com/20230118/lavrov-us-bill-countering-russia-in-africa-represents-colonial-mentality-1106460779.html africa central africa cameroon france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Roman Sanin Roman Sanin 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 Roman Sanin cameroon, pope francis, colonialism, neo-colonialism, exploitation of african countries, french colonialism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/china-calls-on-us-to-lift-sanctions-against-syria-instead-of-temporarily-suspending-them-1107375644.html China Calls on US to Lift Sanctions Against Syria Instead of Temporarily Suspending Them China Calls on US to Lift Sanctions Against Syria Instead of Temporarily Suspending Them On February 6 Turkiye and Syria were rattled by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale 2023-02-13T12:18+0000 2023-02-13T12:18+0000 2023-02-13T12:22+0000 world earthquake rocks turkiye and syria syria earthquake china us sanctions /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/08/1107067710_0:67:1280:787_1920x0_80_0_0_a27705ccf61bc035c8efe0ac240ba979.jpg "The US government should immediately lift unilateral sanctions on Syria instead of engaging in a political show about so-called temporary relief," Wang told a briefing. The spokesman noted that "the US has for years engaged in military intervention and imposed illegal unilateral sanctions against Syria," seriously exacerbating the crisis in the Syrian economy and people's well-being, and greatly weakening the Syrian government's disaster response capacity. Following the earthquakes, US sanctions directly prevented the victims from receiving assistance in the first 72 hours, according to the spokesman. On February 10, the US Treasury said it would provide several months of sanctions relief for Syria in order to allow certain transactions for recovery efforts after it was hit by devastating earthquakes. UN World Food Program Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Corinne Fleischer said that some sanctions against Syria must be lifted so that the humanitarian community can deliver medicines and fertilizers to the country. On February 6, parts of Turkiye and Syria were hit by a series of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks that killed nearly 40,000 people, most of them in Turkiye, destroying thousands of homes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/kremlin-russia-making-great-effort-to-help-earthquake-victims-in-syria-1107370469.html syria china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International earthquake rocks turkiey and syria, turkiye, syria, earthquake death toll, devastating earthqauake in turkie and syria https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/dozens-of-chinese-military-balloons-detected-over-taiwan-in-recent-years-reports-say-1107366703.html Dozens of Chinese Military Balloons Detected Over Taiwan in Recent Years, Reports Say Dozens of Chinese Military Balloons Detected Over Taiwan in Recent Years, Reports Say Dozens of Chinese military surveillance balloons were detected over Taiwan over past years 2023-02-13T08:30+0000 2023-02-13T08:30+0000 2023-02-13T08:40+0000 world chinese balloon over us taiwan us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/0e/1106317765_0:159:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_26fff75989f3a725326b22190de9820f.jpg The report said that the number is much bigger now than it was in a previous period, raising concerns over possible Chinese attack on the island. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry has earlier confirmed only one incident with alleged spy balloons, which took place in February 2022, according to the newspaper. The Taiwanese government officials also said that Chinese balloons observed in Taiwan's aerospace typically fly at about 20,000 feet, which is much lower than the altitude of the airspace detected over the United States earlier in the month. Another unnamed Taiwanese official told the newspaper that the Chinese rocket force and air force were behind the balloons. In early February, the United States detected an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon over the State of Montana. Beijing said that the balloon was a civilian airship engaged in scientific research and expressed regret over its unintended entry into US airspace. Later on, a US fighter shot down the balloon, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed protest over Washington's actions. Other nations, including Japan and the Philippines, have also observed such balloons entering their airspace, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230209/us-to-explore-retaliation-for-balloon-flyover-as-white-house-alleges-vast-chinese-spy-operation-1107276849.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 chinese military surveillance balloons, detected over taiwan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/election-of-new-nato-secretary-general-least-transparent-procedure-reports-say-1107379069.html Election of New NATO Secretary General 'Least Transparent' Procedure, Reports Say Election of New NATO Secretary General 'Least Transparent' Procedure, Reports Say The selection procedure of a new NATO Secretary General is highly non-transparent, with the bloc's leading powers exerting inordinate influence over the process 2023-02-13T13:52+0000 2023-02-13T13:52+0000 2023-02-13T13:52+0000 world nato jens stoltenberg /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/05/14/1095655251_0:0:2833:1594_1920x0_80_0_0_493eddc6a465db16da0b73ade4794ff4.jpg "It is the least transparent election of all elections," the anonymous diplomat was quoted as saying in the report. The selection of a successor to the current NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, will be happening through consultations between members of the alliance, with the ultimate decision based on consensus, Foreign Policy stated, adding, however, that the US, Germany, France and the UK exercise "inordinate influence" during the process. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas are among likely candidates to succeed Stoltenberg as head of the bloc, according to the report. Stoltenberg's term as secretary general was due to expire in October 2022, but it was extended for another year, until September 30, 2023, against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis. Last year, The New York Times also named Slovak President Zuzana Caputova and ex-Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic as strong contenders for Stoltenberg's successor. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International new nato secretary general, selection procedure https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/eus-new-sanctions-against-russia-may-target-4-banks-130-individuals-entities-reports-say-1107365432.html EU's New Sanctions Against Russia May Target 4 Banks, 130 Individuals, Entities, Reports Say EU's New Sanctions Against Russia May Target 4 Banks, 130 Individuals, Entities, Reports Say The European Union's new package of sanctions against Russia may target four more banks, as well as 130 individuals and entities 2023-02-13T07:24+0000 2023-02-13T07:24+0000 2023-04-12T17:05+0000 russia russia sanctions european union (eu) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106128/54/1061285449_0:160:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_64bd6ccecbcad575933e68dc80c2465f.jpg New financial sanctions are expected to be against four Russian banks, including Russias largest private bank, Alfa bank, the news outlet said. The list of entities and people will include Russian military leaders, officials appointed by Moscow in the new Russian regions, journalists working for Russian state media such as RT, as well as companies and individuals in other countries with links to the special operation, namely in Mali and Iran. The new package may also include a ban on the import of rubber and bitumen from Russia to the EU, as well as the export of a number of goods to Russia, including trucks and heavy vehicles used in construction, media added. Additionally, Brussels intends to sanction a Dubai-based shipping company, suspected of helping Russia circumvent sanctions on oil exports. The European Union can also ban Russians from entering the boards of directors of EU companies associated with critical infrastructure, including those supplying electricity and gas. EU ambassadors are expected to discuss the new package of sanctions on Wednesday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230203/russian-envoy-tells-sputnik-moscow-will-respond-to-ridiculous-new-canadian-sanctions-1106962316.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International european union's new package of sanctions, sanctions against russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/ex-us-pilot-accused-of-training-chinese-treated-inhumanely-in-australian-jail-wife-says-1107382663.html Ex-US Pilot Accused of Training Chinese Treated 'Inhumanely' in Australian Jail, Wife Says Ex-US Pilot Accused of Training Chinese Treated 'Inhumanely' in Australian Jail, Wife Says The wife of detained Australian citizen and former US Marine Daniel Duggan, who is accused by the United States of illegally training Chinese pilots, says he has been held in a tiny cell in Sydney for 115 days without conviction and plans to escalate his case to the United Nations to stop his "inhumane treatment." 2023-02-13T15:27+0000 2023-02-13T15:27+0000 2023-02-13T15:27+0000 world australia us us marine china pilot pilot training jail /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107787/14/1077871480_0:292:2601:1755_1920x0_80_0_0_c4ce203fd8a92ef2ad083e0c559a380e.jpg "The family of detained Australian citizen Dan Duggan will petition the United Nations Human Rights Committee to urgently step in to stop his inhumane treatment," according to a statement on Sunday from his wife Saffrine Duggan. Saffrine Duggan said he is being classified as an "extreme high risk restricted inmate" at Sydneys Silverwater Correctional Complex despite his lack of prior or current convictions. She previously filed a formal complaint with Australias Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security. Duggan was arrested last October by Australian Federal Police on US allegations that he provided military training to Chinese pilots. A court hearing is scheduled for March 20 to decide whether Duggan can be extradited to the US. Duggan immigrated to Australia in 2002 after serving for 12 years in the US Marines. He became an Australian citizen in 2012, relinquishing his US citizenship in the process. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221019/australia-orders-defence-probe-into-reports-pilots-trained-chinese-military-1102069677.html australia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International inhumane treatment in australian jail, former us marine daniel duggan, daniel duggan, training chinese pilots, inhumane treatment You are here: Business Engineers conduct maintenance work at a floating solar farm in Panji District of Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, July 20, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] China's renewable energy industry continued to lead globally in 2022, National Energy Administration official Wang Dapeng said on Monday. China-made photovoltaic modules, wind turbines, gear boxes and other key components accounted for 70 percent of the global market share last year, Wang said at a press conference. "The center of gravity of the global new energy industry is shifting further to China," he said. China's renewable energy development has made positive contributions to global emissions reduction. In 2022, China's renewable energy generation was equivalent to a reduction of 2.26 billion tonnes of domestic carbon dioxide emissions. China's exports of wind power and photovoltaic products helped other countries reduce emissions by approximately 573 million tonnes. The two figures added up to 2.83 billion tonnes of emissions, or about 41 percent of the world's total carbon emissions reduction converted from renewable energy, data from the administration shows. "China has become an active participant and important contributor in the global fight against climate change," Wang said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/germanys-panther-kf51-russian-tank-killing-wunderwaffe-or-roided-up-leopard-2-1107379234.html Germanys Panther KF51: Russian Tank-Killing Wunderwaffe or Roided Up Leopard 2? Germanys Panther KF51: Russian Tank-Killing Wunderwaffe or Roided Up Leopard 2? German weapons giant Rheinmetall wants to send its new Panther KF51 tank to Ukraine. What are the KF51s characteristics, and how big a threat would they be to Russian tankmen? Sputnik explores. 2023-02-13T14:18+0000 2023-02-13T14:18+0000 2023-02-13T14:38+0000 military panther tank anti-tank guided missile tank crew main battle tank germany rheinmetall ukraine russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0d/1107378225_0:0:1536:864_1920x0_80_0_0_2169e3da0ac579d79f652b0d1d8fc825.png Rheinmetall chairman Armin Papperger told German media last week that his company is already talking to Kiev about the possible delivery of the companys latest heavy tank - the Panther KF51, with production possible in as little as 15-18 months from now, pending approval from the German government.The Panther is one of about a dozen next-gen main battle tanks produced or in development by arms makers around the world, with a technology demonstrator unveiled just last June at the Eurosatory arms expo outside Paris.The tanks main advertised feature is its massive 130mm main gun a major upgrade to the Rheinmetall Rh-120, a 120 mm smoothbore fitted aboard the Leopard 2, the US M1 Abrams, Japans Type 90, and South Koreas K1A1. Rheinmetall estimates that the eight percent increase in the caliber of the new gun will double the kinetic energy produced by the weapon, meaning shells which weigh over 30 kg and measure over 1.3 meters long, will pack significantly more of a punch against enemy tanks, vehicles, buildings, and other targets. With its new main gun, the tank can lob shells up to 6,000-7,000 meters double that of the Leopard 2s 3,000-4,000-meter range.Spiritual Successor to a WWII DesignThe German habit of naming tanks after big cats goes back to the World War II, with the Panthers KF51 WWII-era namesake, the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, designed specifically to engage Soviet T-34 and KV-1s which outclassed German medium tanks like the Panzer III and Panzer IV in terms of armor protection. Hitlers generals hoped the Panther would reverse the increasingly dire situation on the Eastern Front following the Battle of Stalingrad. However, while the new tanks did prove effective against T-34s when first deployed at the Battle of Kursk in July of 1943, they failed to alter the battles outcome, or to turn the tide against the USSR. In addition, the tanks 45-ton weight and advanced design resulted in a series of operational and logistical shortfalls, with issues like poor engine reliability, problems crossing Eastern Europes smaller bridges, lack of spare parts, and gas-guzzling fuel consumption souring its reputation.Like its modern-day equivalent, the original Panther featured an advanced and powerful main gun for its time the Rheinmetall 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 anti-tank gun with armor-piercing rounds, and a cutting-edge electric semi-automatic firing mechanism. Weaknesses in the original Panther included its 40-50 mm thick side and 16 mm thick hull top armor, which made it vulnerable to everything from encroachment by enemy tanks to infantry wielding man-portable anti-tank weapons and grenades.New Life for Old PlatformNearly 80 years of time and at least four generations of tank design separate the original Panther from the KF51. Like their predecessors, engineers have sought to imbue the new tank with the offensive and defensive systems necessary for waging a modern-day land war in Europe (an idea which seemed unfathomable less than a decade ago). Unlike some next-gen tanks, such as the Korean K2 Black Panther or the Russian T-14 Armata, the KF51 cannot be said to be a truly new tank design. The tank features the same hull, engine, and transmission as a standard Leopard 2A4, the West German MBT produced between 1985 and 1992 at the twilight of the Cold War.Besides the heavy main gun, the Panther can deploy the HERO-120 loitering munition system, an Israeli-made series of small strike drones with a range of up to 40 km. Also present is a UAV reconnaissance quadrocopter designed for aerial reconnaissance of the battlefield. These drones may be effective against small militant groups armed with homemade weapons and little if any anti-drone protection, but their effect against a major regular army has yet to be demonstrated.A few other characteristics of the Panther are noteworthy, including its 500 km maximum range, its 59-ton weight, and its three-person crew (fourth crewmember optional). Its armor consists of Advanced Modular Armor Protection (AMAP) a composite armor concept created by German armor maker IBD Deisenroth Engineering, and a TAPS (Top Attack Protection System) for use against incoming aerial projectiles.How Does the Panther Stack Up Against Russian Tanks?On paper, the PF51 outclasses all Russian tanks fielded in significant numbers, including the T-80 and T-90 MBT, their variants, and predecessors. This includes a more powerful main gun (the T-90 has a 125 mm smoothbore cannon with a 5,000-meter firing range), better armor, and superior (but potentially more finicky) fire control systems. Advantages of the Russian tanks include a smaller profile and lower production and maintenance costs, meaning more can be fielded for less money.Direct tank-to-tank comparisons aside, the real-world experience of Western MBTs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria over the last two decades has shown that a tanks performance in battle depends on a host of factors including fire support, commander competence, intelligence, and tank driver skill, which means even the most advanced wunderwaffe can be made vulnerable to the enemy be it a conventional army or groups of shoeless and illiterate, but highly dedicated holy warriors.Combat experience of the Panthers older cousin, the Leopard 2, has shown that any armor is killable whether fighting militants in Afghanistan (who took out nearly two dozen Canadian and Danish Leopard 2s), or Islamist and Kurdish militias in Syria, where a dozen or more Leopard 2s operated by Turkiye were lost. In those conflicts, the enemy did not have access even to the latest anti-tank weapons, much less tanks.Like the Leopard 2 and other large NATO MBTs, the Panther has a serious potential weak point a large gap between the chassis and turret which makes up about 20 percent of the frontal projection area. Past experience has found that a well-placed high-explosive fragmentation projectile piercing this spot can cause critical damage to the tank, or even rip its turret clean off.If Panthers are built and deployed to Ukraine, rest assured Russian forces will find a way to destroy them whether by other tanks and anti-tank weapons, air-dropped bombs, or, if necessary, by super-heavy missiles. Or, as the case may be, the tanks could be destroyed before making it to the frontline while on route to the battlefield aboard a train, for example.Perhaps this is Rheinmetalls goal. Last month, Ukraines now former defense minister characterized his country as a kind of combat testing ground for NATO weaponry, while leaving out the heavy cost in Ukrainian lives and resources that this testing necessitates.Will the Tank Even See Fighting Ukraine?A lot can happen in the 15-18-month period Papperger estimates it will take for a party of KF51s to be built for Ukraine. For one thing, Olaf Scholzs government may not approve it. Late last month, the German chancellor expressed consternation over the idea of a constant competition amid NATO allies to outbid each other when it comes to weapons systems for Kiev.Training is another factor. While Germany approved Leopard 2 deliveries to Ukraine last month, the training of Ukrainian crews to use the German MBTs is expected to start only later this month, with deliveries of the tanks expected in late March or early April. The US, for its part, doesnt plan to deliver its Abrams to the combat zone until late 2023 at the earliest, since the tanks, curiously, havent even been built yet.The Panther is a new tank that even Germanys own ground forces havent seen, much less mastered. Notwithstanding pressure from Kiev, the Bundeswehrs generals may be loath to send their most advanced MBT into combat in Ukraine, especially give the threat of Russia capturing them intact.How Many Panthers Can Germany Make?Between 1979 and 2015, Germany made roughly 3,600 Leopard 2s approximately 100 tanks per year over 36 years. The vast majority were built during the Cold War, with production slowing to a crawl in the 1990s as Germany sold off its vast stocks to other countries.Accounting for the Panthers use of a Leopard 2 chassis, Rheinmetall could be capable of producing 120-150 tanks per year. Even if all of this armor were immediately sent east to Kiev, given the present balance of forces, it wouldnt be enough to alter the situation in the Wests favor.Russias military is already preparing for the appearance of Western tanks on the steppes of Ukraine. Last month, a Russian oil company offered a five-million-ruble reward for the destruction of the first Leopard 2 or Abrams, and 500,000 rubles for each subsequent tank destroyed. Separately, authorities in Russias Zabaykalsky region have promised to pay up to three million rubles for each captured Western MBT. What kind of bounty will be paid for the destruction or capture of a Panther is anyones guess. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230207/russian-t-90m-tank-crews-and-uav-operators-train-in-rear-area-of-ukraine-op---video-1107036552.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230211/germany-to-reportedly-start-training-ukrainian-crews-to-operate-leopard-2-tanks-next-week--1107347239.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230129/uk-reportedly-wants-kiev-to-restrict-use-of-challenger-2-tanks-to-prevent-russia-from-capturing-1106802324.html germany ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov panther kf51, panther tank, main battle tank, tank, armor, ukraine, nato proxy war in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/israel-approves-nine-settlements-in-west-bank-says-israels-national-security-minister-1107360965.html Israel Approves Nine Settlements in West Bank, Says Israel's National Security Minister Israel Approves Nine Settlements in West Bank, Says Israel's National Security Minister Several new Israeli settlements in the West Bank were legalized following a cabinet meeting on national security affairs, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said. 2023-02-13T02:58+0000 2023-02-13T02:58+0000 2023-02-13T02:58+0000 world israeli-palestinian conflict benjamin netanyahu west bank west bank settlements jerusalem jerusalem /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107961/23/1079612396_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_965c3c2b619deb1239bcd07f5f421007.jpg "I am glad that the cabinet accepted my request this evening to approve nine settlements," Ben-Gvir said on Twitter late on Sunday night, adding that "it is an important start" but "not enough." The press service of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the construction of new housing units on the territory of existing settlements was expected to be approved in the coming days. According to the Israeli government, the cabinet has already taken steps to boost law enforcement in Jerusalem. Israeli media reported at the end of January that Netanyahus government was discussing a series of steps that could facilitate the issuance of permits for the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The government's plan reportedly includes approving the construction of 18,000 new housing units in the coming months, as well as the creation of a separate entity to approve the construction of non-residential complexes. 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 has refused to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, and has been constructing settlements in the occupied areas despite objections from the United Nations. west bank jerusalem 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 israeli-palestine conflict, west bank, israel, palestine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/israels-president-calls-for-postponement-of-planned-judicial-reform-1107361105.html Israels President Calls for Postponement of Planned Judicial Reform Israels President Calls for Postponement of Planned Judicial Reform President Isaac Herzog has delivered a national address calling on the government to delay consideration of a controversial judicial reform that has brought the country to "to the brink of a constitutional and societal collapse." 2023-02-13T03:03+0000 2023-02-13T03:03+0000 2023-02-13T03:03+0000 world israel isaac herzog knesset israeli knesset knesset reform /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/06/02/1083056933_0:0:2783:1566_1920x0_80_0_0_4f1b47751af4017e54a2d2eebd803620.jpg The Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, is set to start voting on the proposed reform package on Monday. Herzog set out five proposals for a consensual judicial reform on Sunday, addressing such issues as the inadequate number of judges, the high number of cases and the burden on the courts, as well as public loss of faith in Israels judicial system. The president called for talks between the Israeli government and the opposition, saying that the country was on "the brink of a constitutional and societal collapse." He urged the ruling coalition not to bring the bill to the first reading and to consider the five principles he proposed as a basis for further discussions. On January 4, Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin rolled out a legal reform package that would limit the authority of the Supreme Court by giving the cabinet control over the selection of new judges, as well as allowing the the Knesset to override the court's rulings with an absolute majority, among other points. The planned overhaul sparked public criticism and prompted a wave of mass protests. Under the Israeli judicial system, the Supreme Court plays the role of a constitutional supervisory body, since there is no constitution and constitutional court in the country. Government decisions are largely controlled by the court, which can overturn them if necessary. israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel, israeli president isaac herzog, judicial reform, israeli justice minister yariv levin https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/judicial-reform-clears-first-hurdle-in-israeli-parliament-amid-mass-protests-reports-say-1107377998.html Judicial Reform Clears First Hurdle in Israeli Parliament Amid Mass Protests, Reports Say Judicial Reform Clears First Hurdle in Israeli Parliament Amid Mass Protests, Reports Say The Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, has granted its approval to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial reform, allowing the bill to pass on the first reading 2023-02-13T13:32+0000 2023-02-13T13:32+0000 2023-02-13T13:46+0000 world israel benjamin netanyahu /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0d/1107378203_0:161:3067:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_ebe61dbc8db04108ed1fb1453fa58831.jpg The committee members voted 9-7 in favor of the reform bill, the Israeli media reported. Opposition lawmakers tried to disrupt the vote, shouting "shame" and "disgrace." The reform gives the cabinet control over the selection of new judges and allows the Knesset to override the court's rulings with an absolute majority, among other points. The vote on the bill took place amid mass protest against Netanyahus reform. Its opponents argue the reform will undermine democracy in Israel and put the country on the verge of a social and constitutional crisis. On Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the nation, urging the government to delay the adoption of the bill. According to media reports, thousands of cars headed to Jerusalem to take part in demonstrations against the reform. Several key highways in Tel Aviv remain blocked by protesters demanding the cancellation of the reform process. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/protest-against-judicial-reform-held-in-jerusalem-1107363175.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 prime minister benjamin netanyahu, judicial reform https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/kremlin-russia-making-great-effort-to-help-earthquake-victims-in-syria-1107370469.html Kremlin: Russia Making Great Effort to Help Earthquake Victims in Syria Kremlin: Russia Making Great Effort to Help Earthquake Victims in Syria Moscow does not exert pressure on Damascus in terms of humanitarian issues, and is constantly in contact with the Syrian side and provides assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. 2023-02-13T10:09+0000 2023-02-13T10:09+0000 2023-02-13T10:09+0000 world middle east earthquake rocks turkiye and syria russia syria humanitarian aid humanitarian disaster humanitarian assistance /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0d/1107370688_0:0:1529:861_1920x0_80_0_0_2cb1f8915e24f7af1fea16d3ea472a49.jpg "No, Russia does not put pressure on the legitimate leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic, we are in constant contact. Russia is making great effort to help the victims in Syria as a result of this devastating earthquake," Peskov told a briefing, answering a relevant question. The spokesman added all issues related to the provision of humanitarian assistance to Syrians affected by the earthquake should be resolved promptly in contact with the Syrian authorities. Russian rescue teams completed the rescue operation in the Syrian city of Jableh on Sunday, and were ready to move to other regions in the country. The Russian military also handed out 52.5 tons of humanitarian aid to those in need in Syria in the aftermath of the earthquake.The Russian servicemen continue to take part in eliminating the consequences of the earthquake in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia and Hama.On February 6, parts of Turkiye and Syria were hit by a series of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks. The death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Syria currently stands at about 8,500, according to Rick Brennan, the acting regional emergency director for the Eastern Mediterranean office of the World Health Organization (WHO). Over 31,000 people were killed in Turkiye, with the death toll expected to go up. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230211/video-russia-aids-syrians-in-the-wake-of-devastating-earthquake-1107341883.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/live-updates-death-toll-from-turkiye-and-syria-earthquakes-exceeds-30000-1107362250.html russia syria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International syria earthquake, russian assistance in syria, russia rescue earthquake EU Currently Has No Plans to Advise Its Citizens to Leave Russia There are no discussions at the level of the European Union on advising EU citizens to leave Russia, and it will be up to each member state to decide whether to issue such a warning, EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy Peter Stano said on Monday. "The councilor affairs advice is a member state competency. This will be a question to the individual member states, there will be no common decision taken at EU level nor has any such discussion taken place at EU level," Stano told a briefing in answer to a question on whether the EU was prompting its citizens to leave Russia. Earlier in the day, the US Embassy in Moscow called on its citizens, as well as persons with dual citizenship, to refrain from traveling to Russia due to the "unpredictable consequences" of the conflict in Ukraine, and urged those already in the country to leave as a matter of urgency. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/man-rescued-by-russian-team-in-turkey-over-6-days-after-earthquake--1107360687.html Man Rescued by Russian Team in Turkiye Over 6 Days After Earthquake Man Rescued by Russian Team in Turkiye Over 6 Days After Earthquake Rescuers of the emergency ministries of Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have pulled out a man from the rubble in Turkey more than six days after the earthquake, the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) informs. 2023-02-13T02:31+0000 2023-02-13T02:31+0000 2023-02-17T13:07+0000 world russia belarus turkey earthquake earthquake rocks turkiye and syria /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/09/1107111878_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_30da009aabe59726b449ac5ae5ab77d6.jpg "At the site of the work of the Russian team, the joint efforts of rescuers of the emergency ministries of Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan saved a person during search and rescue operations in Turkey. The man was saved more than 160 hours after the earthquake," EMERCOM said. The rescue operation lasted for over four hours and was carried out in the dark amid risks of a possible collapse of structures. The man received medical assistance right inside the rubble and was later taken to the hospital. According to the latest update from Turkeys Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Turkey stands at over 29,600 people. More than 80,000 people were injured. russia belarus Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, turkey, earthquake, earthquake in turkey, belarus, kyrgyzstan, russian emergencies ministry, emercom https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/mps-lambast-tory-cabinet-for-full-sell-out-of-brexit-after-reports-of-secret-cross-party-summit-1107362669.html MPs Lambast Tory Cabinet for 'Full Sell-Out of Brexit' After Reports of Secret Cross-Party Summit MPs Lambast Tory Cabinet for 'Full Sell-Out of Brexit' After Reports of Secret Cross-Party Summit 'Full Sell-Out of Brexit' has been decried by Brexiteer MPs in wake of the reported secret cross-party summit to tackle failings of the split with the EU. 2023-02-13T05:52+0000 2023-02-13T05:52+0000 2023-02-13T09:27+0000 world uk brexit european union (eu) northern ireland protocol nigel farage /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/1f/1092636343_0:119:3031:1824_1920x0_80_0_0_c79054f7c5cc3e858770ea12db53897f.jpg A chorus of voices from among die-hard supporters of Britain's exit from the European single market which the UK voted for in June 2016, and which was finalized in December 2020, have railed against what they described as an ongoing "sell-out of Brexit."UK media reports of a highly confidential two-day summit held by senior Conservative and Labour figures, including both Brexiters and so-called Remainers, to dissect the failings of Brexit prompted John Redwood, British MP for Wokingham in Berkshire, and a prominent supporter of the Vote Leave campaign, to go on Twitter and hit out at the UK establishment.Instead of talking of sell-out at private conferences, he tweeted, Brexit should be completed and its freedoms used in full.The secret gathering reportedly held on 9 and 10 February at Ditchley Park and attended by cabinet minister and prominent Brexiteer, Michael Gove, was also slammed by Nigel Farage, ex-leader of the UK Independence party and the Brexit party. Farage tweeted on 12 February that the "full sell-out of Brexit is underway," adding that "this Tory party never believed in it."Former cabinet minister David, Lord Frost, who was lead negotiator for UK's divorce from the EU bloc, was quoted by media as saying, Brexit doesnt need fixing'"."It needs this Conservative government, elected with a huge mandate on a Brexit programme, to fully and enthusiastically embrace its advantages instead of leaving the field to those who never wanted it in the first place, stated the Tory peer. He added:Brexit 'Acting as a Drag'Previously, UK media blew the lid on a secret gathering of prominent cross-party Brexiteers and Remainers at a countryside retreat in Oxfordshire, described as a private discussion under the title: How can we make Brexit work better with our neighbours in Europe?According to cited insiders, a statement at the confidential gathering acknowledged that there was the shared belief among some at least, that so far the UK has not yet found its way forward outside the EU with Brexit acting as a drag on our growth and inhibiting the UKs potential.The constructive meeting purportedly homed in on "problems and opportunities of Brexit," but underscored that exiting the EU was failing to deliver, and deplored that the country's economy was "in a weak position. In the 2016 referendum, 17.3 million Britons voted to leave the European Union (EU), and ever since the split was formalized at the end of January 2020, acrimony between the UK and the EU has been building over some challenging aspects of the divorce, such as the Northern Ireland Protocol.A crucial element of the Brexit agreement, the Northern Ireland Protocol was designed to allow special trading arrangements between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (in the UK) that rule out a hard border between the two. This arrangement keeps Northern Ireland aligned with some EU trade rules, but has been criticized by Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party for the new checks and paperwork for certain goods which are imported into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Amid comtinuing tense talks with Brussels on the NI protocol, UK ministers earlier introduced legislation which would allow the country to override the protocol unilaterally. Weighing in on this particular issue, John Redwood also tweeted: Pass the NI protocol bill so NI is fully part of the UK and take back full control of our fish for starters. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230131/three-years-on-from-brexit-what-has-changed-in-the-uk-1106849995.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230103/irish-pm-admits-mistakes-in-post-brexit-northern-ireland-protocol-1106008702.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko full sell-out of brexit, brexiteer mps, reported secret cross-party summit,failings of brexit, northern ireland protocol, brexiteers, remainers https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/nato-to-ask-member-countries-to-increase-stockpiles-of-weapons-reports-say-1107371464.html NATO to Ask Member Countries to Increase Stockpiles of Weapons, Reports Say NATO to Ask Member Countries to Increase Stockpiles of Weapons, Reports Say NATO is expected to ask its member countries to increase their stocks of ammunition, which are seriously depleted due to continued military assistance to Ukraine 2023-02-13T10:28+0000 2023-02-13T10:28+0000 2023-02-13T10:28+0000 military nato weapons high mobility artillery rocket system (himars) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/14/1104459445_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_08dd4ddd5cc5a33620df2e6965654369.jpg According to the report, even before the start of Russias military operation in Ukraine last February, many NATO countries had not reached stockpile targets because officials believed that wars of attrition with large-scale artillery battles were a thing of the past. In this regard, NATO is likely to increase the target level for its members in terms of weapons stockpiles, the report added. The official explained that the biggest shortages are 155mm shells, HIMARS missiles, and ammunition for air defense systems such as IRIS-T, Patriot, and Gepard, which are actively used by Ukrainian forces, the report noted. However, the increase in defense production is constrained by a number of factors, including the global shortage of semiconductors, certain types of raw materials, and the problem of finding a sufficient number of highly qualified workers, the news agency reported. The report added that decisions on stockpiling targets would be made at the NATO summit in Lithuania, scheduled for July 11-12.Earlier, Tobias Ellwood, who heads the UK parliamentary Defense Select Committee, told a different British media outlet that the UK army was "in a dire state" despite two decades of multi-billion dollar investments.After Russia launched its special operation in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the US and its allies ramped up their military aid to Kiev, supplying billion of dollars' worth of weapons. Moscow has repeatedly warned that such assistance will only prolong the Ukrainian conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230207/bern-mulls-allowing-nato-to-re-export-swiss-made-weapons-to-ukraine-1107053295.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 increase stocks of ammunition, military assistance to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/ohio-residents-reportedly-raise-health-concerns-after-toxic-train-derailment-1107382979.html Ohio Residents Reportedly Raise Health Concerns After Toxic Train Derailment Ohio Residents Reportedly Raise Health Concerns After Toxic Train Derailment Residents around East Palestine, Ohio, are skeptical of US Environmental Protection Agency claims that it is safe to return home, after a train derailment earlier this month led authorities to burn hazardous materials inside tanker cars to preempt an explosion, media reported on Monday. 2023-02-13T15:50+0000 2023-02-13T15:50+0000 2023-02-13T15:50+0000 americas us ohio train train derailment toxic chemicals health /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0d/1107382832_0:257:3001:1945_1920x0_80_0_0_dec01782a247b5e563cee014d3b758fb.jpg Residents have since complained of feeling ill and noted animals getting sick and fish dying in bodies of water. Three days after the derailment on February 3, authorities burned vinyl chloride inside five tanker cars, which released hydrogen chloride and phosgene, the report said. The EPA says tests indicate the surrounding air and water are safe for residents. Two Pennsylvania residents filed a federal lawsuit last Thursday against Norfolk Southern, calling for the railway to pay for medical screenings and care for residents living within a 30-mile radius of the derailment site in Ohio and Pennsylvania. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230204/derailed-train-causes-massive-fire-in-east-palestine-ohio---photos-videos-1106966523.html americas ohio 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 ohio residents raise health concerns, toxic ohio train derailment, ohio train derailment, east palestine train derailment China indicted 1,704 people in 1,208 cases nationwide for offering bribes in the first 11 months of 2022, according to an official with the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP). Procuratorates across the country have strictly prosecuted those suspected of offering bribes, especially those who bribe officials in charge of key areas such as human resources, education and healthcare, said Shi Weizhong, a SPP senior prosecutor. To protect the national interest, procuratorial organs have attached great importance to the pursuit of illicit gain from bribery. For instance, a loss of 215 million yuan (about 31.5 million U.S. dollars) in state assets was recovered in a case that occurred in east China's Jiangxi Province, the prosecutor noted. In December, the SPP issued guidance on dealing with cases of bribery, helping procuratorates at all levels crack down on such crimes. "The offering of bribes is a crucial inducement for officials to take bribes, and corruption can hardly be curbed unless bribery is eradicated," said Shi. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/poll-70-of-peruvians-in-favor-of-holding-presidential-election-in-2023-amid-nationwide-protests-1107387947.html Poll: 70% of Peruvians in Favor of Holding Presidential Election in 2023 Amid Nationwide Protests Poll: 70% of Peruvians in Favor of Holding Presidential Election in 2023 Amid Nationwide Protests The majority of Peruvians, or 70%, support the holding of an early presidential election this year amid ongoing nationwide protests, an Ipsos poll showed on Monday. 2023-02-13T21:35+0000 2023-02-13T21:35+0000 2023-02-13T21:28+0000 americas peru protests poll election dina boluarte pedro castillo /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/0e/1105433946_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b8704be77b3170f5a893152b66e55b47.jpg A total of 70% of respondents believe that it is best to hold a general election in 2023 given the current political situation. Meanwhile, 22% voted in favor of holding elections in April 2024, and only 7% in 2026, the survey showed. In addition, 74% of Peruvians do not support incumbent President Dina Boluarte, up 3% from January, according to the poll. The data also showed that up to 10% of the respondents admitted that they participated in the protests, but the majority of those interviewed expressed discontent with the rioters vandalism. The poll, commissioned by the America TV broadcaster, was conducted among 1,210 adults across Peru from February 9-10. A wave of protests hit Peru after the country's parliament impeached former President Pedro Castillo on December 7, 2022. Castillo was arrested on charges of a coup attempt and crimes against the state as he tried to dissolve the parliament and rule by decree before the impeachment vote. Boluarte, prime minister at the time, was appointed the country's new leader. Demonstrators have been denouncing the post-impeachment government, calling for an immediate presidential election, the dissolution of the country's parliament and the resignation of Boluarte. At least 60 people have reportedly died since the start of the protests. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230211/protests-in-peru-resulted-in-60-deaths-since-december---ombudsmans-office-1107334245.html americas peru 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 poll, presidential election, nationwide protests, peru, corruption https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/russias-oil-production-cut-in-line-with-pledge-to-retaliate-for-wests-price-cap-expert-says-1107378616.html Russia's Oil Production Cut in Line With Pledge to Retaliate for West's Price Cap, Expert Says Russia's Oil Production Cut in Line With Pledge to Retaliate for West's Price Cap, Expert Says Russias decision to cut oil production is in line with its pledge to retaliate for the Western countries price cap, aimed at limiting Russias oil and gas export revenues amid the Ukrainian conflict 2023-02-13T13:50+0000 2023-02-13T13:50+0000 2023-02-13T13:50+0000 russia russia oil opec /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/0c/1104045331_0:183:2991:1865_1920x0_80_0_0_352fde7485a068b85f9677905b6ea0f9.jpg Last week, Russia announced that it will voluntarily and without any international consultations reduce crude oil production by 500,000 barrels per day in March. "By announcing the cut, Russia is merely fulfilling its promise to retaliate against Western oil price cap by cutting production and halting all its oil exports to countries implementing the cap," the energy expert said. Salameh specified that it is very likely that Russian President Vladimir Putin had informed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of the impending decision prior to the alliances ministerial meeting on February 5. In addition, the expert believes that Russia will achieve a budget surplus in 2023 given the dynamics of the oil market. Western countries have been seeking ways to limit Russia's income from oil and gas exports, as well as their dependence on Russian fuel since the country launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24 last year. On December 5, the European Union placed a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian crude oil, joined by the G7 nations and Australia. In late December, Putin signed a decree banning supplies of Russian oil and petroleum products if contracts directly or indirectly provide for a price cap. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president did not consult with OPEC+ allies before signing off on these countermeasures. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International cut oil production, russias oil and gas export https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/top-us-gallery-reportedly-says-long-dead-russian-painters-are-ukrainian-now-1107360463.html Top US Gallery Claims Long-Dead Russian Painters Are Ukrainian Top US Gallery Claims Long-Dead Russian Painters Are Ukrainian As its casualties on the battlefield continue to mount and would-be counteroffensives flounder, the Kiev regime has allegedly set its sights on new targets: famous Russian painters who died a century ago. 2023-02-13T02:04+0000 2023-02-13T02:04+0000 2023-02-13T02:23+0000 viral metropolitan museum of art new york new york city art art russia ukraine us-ukraine relations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103552/20/1035522014_0:18:1200:693_1920x0_80_0_0_443e0156d7a3f38976b69eef4e523d76.jpg Multiple famous 19th-century Russian painters have been re-labeled as Ukrainian nationals by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the gallerys website shows.Following public pressure from Ukrainian nationalists, the staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art has retroactively decided that Russian painters including marine master Ivan Aivazovsky, landscape artist Arkhip Kuindzhi, and highly-renowned realist Ilya Repin were all actually Ukrainians.In a bizarrely antagonistic opinion piece published Sunday, the Kiev regimes ambassador to South Africa celebrated the rewriting of history by museum staff but expressed anger that it had taken museum staff so long to do so:A Ukrainian who actually purposely identified himself as a Ukrainian during his lifetime finally gets a note in a museum that is supposed to be facts-based that he is actually a Ukrainian painter, she wrote sarcastically, in reference to Kuindzhi. What a wild and unbelievable concept for a museum.Kuindzhi was born to Pontic Greek parents in Mariupol, which was controlled then as it is now by Russia. He spent most of his life in the Russian cities of Taganrog and Saint Petersburg, and thus far there is no apparent evidence that he considered himself Ukrainian.Nor is there any evidence of a secret predilection for Ukrainian nationalism by Ivan Aivazovsky, who came from an Armenian family and served for many years as an official artist of the Russian Imperial Navy, with whom he frequently participated in Black Sea training and maneuvers.Arguably the most distant from any conceivable Ukrainian identity is Repin, one of the 19ths centurys best-known Russian painters, who once penned a letter from Paris informing the secretary of the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts: I dream only of returning to Russia.Alongside Kuindzhi, Repin was an influential figure among the Peredvizhniki, which has been described as the first great nationalist movement within Russian art. The movement, whose name is often translated as the Wanderers, is considered the main model for the Socialist Realism style that characterized art in the Soviet Union.Its not the Mets first brush with de-russification. Last week, officials renamed Edgar Degas Russian Dancer portrait to Dancer in a Ukrainian Dress. The decision echoed that of the curators of Londons National Gallery, who decided last April to relabel Degas famed Russian Dancers as Ukrainian Dancers.In a statement, the Department of Drawings at the J. Paul Getty Museum claimed that Degas has mistakenly titled his series of works with the name, insisting without evidence that the painter respected the Ukrainians for retaining their culture and traditions despite what gallery staff described as centuries of repression. new york new york city russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wyatt Reed Wyatt Reed News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wyatt Reed metropolitan museum of art, new york, ukraine, russia, art, history, artist, russian artist https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/uk-reportedly-getting-ready-to-confiscate-russian-assets--1107361236.html UK Getting Ready to Confiscate Russian Assets, Ambassador Says UK Getting Ready to Confiscate Russian Assets, Ambassador Says The United Kingdom is planning to confiscate frozen Russian assets and is preparing relevant legislation, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin told Sputnik. 2023-02-13T03:21+0000 2023-02-13T03:21+0000 2023-02-13T09:48+0000 russia russia uk assets frozen assets /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/09/1100569277_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_2dff5d71afcd028d42c4a7f805a38221.jpg "It is well known that there is a recognition in almost all Western countries, including London, that such actions are absolutely illegal, and that there are no relevant laws. But the perverted logic is that such laws must be invented, and, as far as I understand, this is what the European Union and Washington are engaged in," Kelin said. He added that he could not provide details on any specific cases, but said that "preparation of some kind of legislation that would move in this direction is indeed underway."Earlier this month, EU leaders agreed to speed up legal work on seizing Russia-owned assets held in foreign banks to support Ukraine's reconstruction. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has described EU attempts to seize Russian money, including that of the Russian Central Bank, as theft. Expulsion of Russian Diplomats From London Possible This MonthThe Russian envoy did not rule out a new expulsion of diplomats from London as the anniversary of the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine approaches.Kelin added that he was aware that certain "preparations are underway," but it remained to be seen what kind of unfriendly steps were going to be taken against Russia.Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in response to requests by the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics to help defend them from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The West responded by imposing comprehensive sanctions against Russia and providing military aid to Ukraine in the amount of dozens of billions of dollars.UK May Deliver Its Challenger 2 Tanks to Kiev by March-AprilKelin also told Sputnik that London was likely to deliver Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev by March-April after completing a number of complex measures.According to the ambassador, Challenger 2 tanks are technically quite complex equipment and at the moment the UK military is training Ukrainian crews to operate the tanks.The United Kingdom is among Western countries actively supplying Ukraine with various types of weapons and training the Ukrainian military personnel amid the military operation that Russian launched in Ukraine a year ago. On January 15, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that his country would send 14 of its Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev. UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace later specified that the tanks could arrive on the front line in Ukraine before the summer, in May or closer to Easter. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230210/eu-leaders-agree-to-step-up-legal-efforts-to-confiscate-russian-state-assets-1107316691.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230129/uk-reportedly-wants-kiev-to-restrict-use-of-challenger-2-tanks-to-prevent-russia-from-capturing-1106802324.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, uk, uk-russia, frozen russian assets https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/un-general-assembly-reportedly-discussing-anti-russian-peace-resolution-on-ukraine-1107361350.html UN General Assembly Reportedly Discussing Anti-Russian 'Peace' Resolution on Ukraine UN General Assembly Reportedly Discussing Anti-Russian 'Peace' Resolution on Ukraine The UN General Assembly is discussing a draft resolution on the "principles underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine" that runs along the lines of what Kiev considers to be a "just" world, a source said. 2023-02-13T03:35+0000 2023-02-13T03:35+0000 2023-02-13T03:35+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine un general assembly russia ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/11/1099700245_0:56:1920:1136_1920x0_80_0_0_05968e33aafb516b5581779080d6ae0e.jpg The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on the resolution at an emergency special session that will resume on February 22. The session was requested by a number of Western countries, as well as Ukraine, and coincides with the anniversary of the start of Russia's special military operation. According to the source, the authors of the draft resolution sought to set a new record for the number of votes in favor of an anti-Russian resolution. The UN General Assembly adopted five resolutions condemning Russia in light of its special military operation in Ukraine during the 11th emergency special session. The resolution meant to condemn Russia for the referenda in four formerly Ukrainian regions, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye, adopted in October 22, gained the highest number of votes, with as many as 143 out of 193 UN member states voting in favor of it. The text of the resolution clearly echoes the "peace formula" proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which suggests, among other things, the transfer of territories, including Crimea, to Kiev. Russia does not consider such terms realistic, the source pointed out. According to a copy of the draft resolution obtained by Sputnik, the UN General Assembly "underscores the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations" and calls on the UN member states and international organizations to "redouble support for diplomatic efforts to achieve" such peace. The draft resolution also reiterates the demand "that the Russian Federation immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," and calls on Russia to cease attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure and "any deliberate attacks on civilian objects, including those that are residences, schools, and hospitals." The text does not feature any reciprocal demands to Kiev. Furthermore, the draft resolution does not mention any calls to stop Ukraine's shelling of Donbass, but urges Moscow and Kiev to exchange all prisoners of war. The UN General Assembly also "emphasizes the need to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law committed on the territory of Ukraine through appropriate, fair and independent investigations and prosecutions at the national or international level," the document read. UN General Assembly resolutions are non-binding and advisory in nature. russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International un general assembly, russia, ukraine, special military operation https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/uruguay-to-investigate-strange-lights-reportedly-seen-in-sky-over-paysandu--1107360036.html Uruguay to Investigate Strange Lights Reportedly Seen in Sky Over Paysandu Uruguay to Investigate Strange Lights Reportedly Seen in Sky Over Paysandu The Uruguayan Air Force says it is investigating the appearance of suspicious flashing lights in the sky, which were also visible from neighboring Argentina. 2023-02-13T00:57+0000 2023-02-13T00:57+0000 2023-02-13T00:57+0000 world ufo ufo ufo sighting unidentified flying object unidentified flying object uruguay air force /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/08/1097118230_1:0:1366:768_1920x0_80_0_0_e99434bff4c1c8d0287babac6551956b.png "Given the complaints received about the sighting of flashing lights in the sky at Termas de Almiron, department of Paysandu, the intervention of the CRIDOVNI (Commission for the Reception and Investigation of Complaints of Unidentified Flying Objects) has been ordered," the air force said in a statement. CRIDOVNI investigators will work on gathering information in the area and will interview witnesses, the statement said. The strange flashing lights were spotted at dawn on Saturday during a festival in Termas de Almiron, with local media reports saying that the lights were also seen in Argentinas northeastern Entre Rios province.News of the sighting comes just hours after the US experienced their own unidentified object over Lake Huron, which is near the Canadian border. It is the third flying object to be taken down over the Americas this week. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230212/us-military-downs-airborne-object-over-lake-huron-congressman-says-1107359539.html uruguay 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 uruguay, paysandu, ufo, unidentified flying object, argentina, uruguayan air force, flashing lights https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/us-africom-chief-visits-senegal-algeria-ghana-in-2nd-trip-to-africa-this-year-1107381784.html US AFRICOM Chief Visits Senegal, Algeria, Ghana in 2nd Trip to Africa This Year US AFRICOM Chief Visits Senegal, Algeria, Ghana in 2nd Trip to Africa This Year US Africa Command (AFRICOM) chief Michael Langley visited Senegal, Algeria and Ghana on February 6-10 in what became his second trip to the region this year. 2023-02-13T14:56+0000 2023-02-13T14:56+0000 2023-02-13T14:56+0000 africa us us africa command (africom) gabon ghana algeria senegal /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0d/1107381958_0:189:2965:1857_1920x0_80_0_0_84c8ff5b9661f8429ab1dd113559bc0d.jpg "US Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley visited Senegal, Algeria and Ghana, Feb. 6-10, on his second trip to Africa in 2023. The trip included several stops to meet with host nation civilian and military leaders, US Embassy leadership and US service members in the region," the press release said. In Senegal, Langley met with President Macky Sall, Minister of Defense Sidiki Kaba and Chief of Staff Cheikh Wade. The AFRICOM chief highlighted Senegals leadership in West Africas complex security issues like countering illicit maritime activity and commended its recent participation in Exercise Obangame Express 2023. In Algeria, Langley met with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the nations military leadership. During the last stop of his trip, in Ghana, Langley met with President Nana Akufo-Addo, Minister of Defense Dominic Nitiwul and Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of Defense, Ghana Armed Forces, to discuss areas of mutual concern including counter-terrorism and crisis response. The AFRICOM chief called Ghana a strong partner. The United States is "proud to work alongside Ghanaian forces in a variety of multinational efforts like Exercise Flintlock, which they are hosting this year," he added. africa gabon ghana algeria senegal Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us africom, us africa command, africa, senegal, algeria, ghana, gabon, michael langley, us, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/whats-gop-speaker-mccarthys-alleged-strategy-to-prevail-in-debt-ceiling-battle-1107386026.html Whats GOP Speaker McCarthy's Alleged Strategy to Prevail in Debt Ceiling Battle? Whats GOP Speaker McCarthy's Alleged Strategy to Prevail in Debt Ceiling Battle? GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has reportedly begun to implement a strategy which would allow him to collect the 218 votes necessary to call the shots in... 13.02.2023, Sputnik International 2023-02-13T18:54+0000 2023-02-13T18:54+0000 2023-02-13T18:54+0000 americas us us house of representatives house gop debt ceiling joe biden white house janet yellen default us economy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/07/1106098681_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b829b8cffe9eaa570413d5ba4b7cb17e.jpg Speaker Kevin McCarthy brought together leaders of the so-called five families of the House GOP representing five ideological wings last week to discuss the forthcoming debt ceiling battle, according to the US mainstream press.Earlier, the Republicans signaled that they would not let the Democratic establishment smoothly raise the debt limit without certain concessions. It's up to Congress to decide how much the US government can borrow. The United States government reached its borrowing limit, also known as the "debt ceiling," on January 19. Prior to that, the debt ceiling was raised to $31.4 trillion in December 2021.While McCarthy hinted at considerable spending cuts before greenlighting any expansion of the borrowing limits, GOP Rep. Chip Roy of Texas proposed capping fiscal year 2024 spending levels at those of fiscal year 2022. His fellow party member Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona refused to vote for any increase in borrowing, stressing that the Dems had already spent too much money. According to the US Treasury, the next hike should be made by June.Citing people familiar with the negotiations, the US media report that McCarthy's goal is to reach a consensus within the party about a proposal that can pass the House with GOP votes. To that end, the speaker needs to bring together the most conservative members of his party as well as moderate ones. The Republicans hold 222 House seats in the 118th Congress, while the Democrats have 213, i.e. the GOP majority is clearly slim.According to unnamed GOP House lawmakers, the intra-party talks have been positive so far. Still, no agreement has been reached yet, as they are weighing a range of potential budget cuts.For their part, the White House and Senate Democrats insist that they will only accept a clean debt ceiling increase without any spending cuts attached. To complicate matters further, the Dems and the US president are disseminating the idea that GOP House lawmakers are seeking to cut Social Security and Medicare during the debt ceiling talks. While delivering his State of the Union speech, Biden brought forward this idea, which was met with shouts "liar" from GOP lawmakers. Indeed, it was reported that McCarthy had earlier promised not to slash these programs.In addition, since the beginning of the year, the Biden administration has been pushing the narrative of the forthcoming doom which could be caused by the "stubborn" GOP. Speaking to journalists in late January, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the US would face a "financial crisis" and "recession" in the event of a default. "It would be devastating. It's a catastrophe," she said.The US media has also drawn attention to the fact that President Biden and his entourage do not seem inclined to hold talks with McCarthy over potential concessions, despite both the speaker and the president sounding positive about their first face-to-face encounter earlier this month.There is a suspicion among Republicans that the White House is deliberately slow-rolling negotiations between Biden and McCarthy to step up pressure on the House GOP to pass a "clean" debt ceiling, with no strings attached.However, McCarthy appears unwilling to buy into this: "They say they dont want to put the economy in jeopardy. I think that would be the wrong approach," the speaker told the US media while commenting on the White House's maneuvers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230128/why-biden-administration-is-in-panic-mode-over-forthcoming-debt-ceiling-battle-with-gop-1106791380.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230208/nice-try-but-how-bidens-sotu-failed-to-reassure-skeptics--address-americans-pain-points-1107071468.html americas white house 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 speaker kevin mccarthy debt ceiling strategy, us congress to raise debt ceiling, us treasury warnings about default, biden administration wants clean debt ceiling, biden-mccarthy talks slow-rolled Jacob Moore may not have cashed in a winning Virginia Lottery ticket, but the anglers recent catch in the James River was just as rare. Moore, an Amelia resident, reeled in a golden largemouth bass described by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources as a one-in-a-million catch while fishing near Jamestown recently. Golden largemouth bass are extremely rare and most anglers have never seen them, let alone heard of them before, said Alex McCrickard, the VDWR Aquatic Education Coordinator. The fish is a product of a genetic mutation that alters the skin pigments called xanthism. Moores fish measured 16 inches, and he took a few photos of it before returning it to the James River. Moore, who works as an arborist, was targeting largemouth bass. I was out there practicing for a tournament, catching a bunch of fish, Moore told the VDWR. I was on the lower James near Chippokes [State Park]. When I hooked into that one, I thought I had a saltwater fish on at first, but lo and behold, it was a largemouth! A very different largemouth, though. I havent seen anything like that before. Ive seen bass with black spots, but Id never seen an albino one. Largemouth bass are native to and abundant in southeastern Virginia waters, but they are generally green-shaded. The fish is described by the VDWR as an opportunistic feeder that eats other fish, frogs, crayfish, tadpoles, insects, small rodents, snakes and ducklings. From carp to channel cats, here's where some record-breaking fish have been caught in Virginia Record fish caught in Virginia Blue Catfish Bowfin Brook Trout Brown Trout Carp Chain Pickerel Channel Catfish Crappie Flathead Catfish Largemouth Bass Muskellunge Northern Pike Rainbow Trout Rock Bass Sauger Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass Striped Bass Walleye White Bass White Catfish White Perch Yellow Perch 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 Google logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, June 15, 2022. Google is expanding an initiative that shows promise in fighting online misinformation. The tech company announced Monday that it will roll out a new prebunking campaign in Germany. Pre-bunking works like a viral inoculation by priming a person's critical thinking skills to make them more resistant to false claims. Credit: AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File After seeing promising results in Eastern Europe, Google will initiate a new campaign in Germany that aims to make people more resilient to the corrosive effects of online misinformation. The tech giant plans to release a series of short videos highlighting the techniques common to many misleading claims. The videos will appear as advertisements on platforms like Facebook, YouTube or TikTok in Germany. A similar campaign in India is also in the works. It's an approach called prebunking, which involves teaching people how to spot false claims before they encounter them. The strategy is gaining support among researchers and tech companies. "There's a real appetite for solutions," said Beth Goldberg, head of research and development at Jigsaw, an incubator division of Google that studies emerging social challenges. "Using ads as a vehicle to counter a disinformation technique is pretty novel. And we're excited about the results." While belief in falsehoods and conspiracy theories isn't new, the speed and reach of the internet has given them a heightened power. When catalyzed by algorithms, misleading claims can discourage people from getting vaccines, spread authoritarian propaganda, foment distrust in democratic institutions and spur violence. It's a challenge with few easy solutions. Journalistic fact checks are effective, but they're labor intensive, aren't read by everyone, and won't convince those already distrustful of traditional journalism. Content moderation by tech companies is another response, but it only drives misinformation elsewhere, while prompting cries of censorship and bias. Prebunking videos, by contrast, are relatively cheap and easy to produce and can be seen by millions when placed on popular platforms. They also avoid the political challenge altogether by focusing not on the topics of false claims, which are often cultural lightning rods, but on the techniques that make viral misinformation so infectious. Those techniques include fear-mongering, scapegoating, false comparisons, exaggeration and missing context. Whether the subject is COVID-19, mass shootings, immigration, climate change or elections, misleading claims often rely on one or more of these tricks to exploit emotions and short-circuit critical thinking. Last fall, Google launched the largest test of the theory so far with a prebunking video campaign in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The videos dissected different techniques seen in false claims about Ukrainian refugees. Many of those claims relied on alarming and unfounded stories about refugees committing crimes or taking jobs away from residents. The videos were seen 38 million times on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Twittera number that equates to a majority of the population in the three nations. Researchers found that compared to people who hadn't seen the videos, those who did watch were more likely to be able to identify misinformation techniques, and less likely to spread false claims to others. The pilot project was the largest test of prebunking so far and adds to a growing consensus in support of the theory. "This is a good news story in what has essentially been a bad news business when it comes to misinformation," said Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise, a media literacy initiative of the Poynter Institute that has incorporated prebunking into its own programs in countries including Brazil, Spain, France and the U.S. Mahadevan called the strategy a "pretty efficient way to address misinformation at scale, because you can reach a lot of people while at the same time address a wide range of misinformation." Google's new campaign in Germany will include a focus on photos and videos, and the ease with which they can be presented of evidence of something false. One example: Last week, following the earthquake in Turkey, some social media users shared video of the massive explosion in Beirut in 2020, claiming it was actually footage of a nuclear explosion triggered by the earthquake. It was not the first time the 2020 explosion had been the subject of misinformation. Google will announce its new German campaign Monday ahead of next week's Munich Security Conference. The timing of the announcement, coming before that annual gathering of international security officials, reflects heightened concerns about the impact of misinformation among both tech companies and government officials. Tech companies like prebunking because it avoids touchy topics that are easily politicized, said Sander van der Linden, a University of Cambridge professor considered a leading expert on the theory. Van der Linden worked with Google on its campaign and is now advising Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, as well. Meta has incorporated prebunking into many different media literacy and anti-misinformation campaigns in recent years, the company told The Associated Press in an emailed statement. They include a 2021 program in the U.S. that offered media literacy training about COVID-19 to Black, Latino and Asian American communities. Participants who took the training were later tested and found to be far more resistant to misleading COVID-19 claims. Prebunking comes with its own challenges. The effects of the videos eventually wears off, requiring the use of periodic "booster" videos. Also, the videos must be crafted well enough to hold the viewer's attention, and tailored for different languages, cultures and demographics. And like a vaccine, it's not 100% effective for everyone. Google found that its campaign in Eastern Europe varied from country to country. While the effect of the videos was highest in Poland, in Slovakia they had "little to no discernible effect," researchers found. One possible explanation: The videos were dubbed into the Slovak language, and not created specifically for the local audience. But together with traditional journalism, content moderation and other methods of combating misinformation, prebunking could help communities reach a kind of herd immunity when it comes to misinformation, limiting its spread and impact. "You can think of misinformation as a virus. It spreads. It lingers. It can make people act in certain ways," Van der Linden told the AP. "Some people develop symptoms, some do not. So: if it spreads and acts like a virus, then maybe we can figure out how to inoculate people." 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Propensity scores for the two experimental groups and applicants. Histograms of the estimates of the propensity to be treated in the Challenges intervention by experimental group. In green estimates for the applicants group, in orange for the control group, and in purple for the treatment group. Propensity was estimated using regression forests with a full set of covariates. Credit: https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/working-paper/effective-and-scalable-programs-facilitate-labor-market-transitions Why aren't there more women working in tech? For all the hiring pledges, networking initiatives and one-on-one mentoring programs, women hold 30% of tech jobs worldwideeven though they make up half the global population. The implications of having a more representative workforce are straightforward: It can reduce unintended disparities and increase the prospect that the benefits of technology will be widely shared. There's another concern. Tech is expected to add workers at a faster rate than many other major job categories over the next eight years, suggesting that today's mass layoffs are a temporary blip. If business leaders and policymakers don't find ways to accelerate efforts to diversify the sector, then womenand other underrepresented groupswill continue to lose out on tech's high-paying jobs. Susan Athey, the Economics of Technology Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), and Emil Palikot, a postdoctoral researcher at the GSB's Golub Capital Social Impact Lab, think they have just the catalyst the sector needs to close the diversity gap. Athey, who is also the founding director of the GSB social impact lab and an affiliate of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and Palikot recently teamed with a Poland-based organization that supports women looking to transition into careers in tech, who had already acquired the necessary basic skills, but who had been unable to find a job. The organization, Dare IT, couldn't come close to meeting the demand for its free one-on-one mentoring program: 2,000 women would apply for 200 openings in each cohort. "The women had the credentials to work in tech but were running into a last-mile problem: It wasn't always clear to hiring managers that they had the practical skills to do the job," Palikot says. Studies, he adds, have shown that programs that focus on developing and demonstrating hands-on experience are the most effective. "It makes intuitive sense. Talking about something you built gets people more interested than just talking about university courses." Athey and Palikot responded to the twin problemsof scalability and uncertainty around practical experienceby partnering with Dare IT to design and implement a 3-month online program to help female job seekers bolster their work portfolios, so that employers have more tangible evidence that candidates can do the work. Called "Challenges," the program requires participants to work on a specific project, such as building a mobile app or engineering the backend of a digital platform. Working in teams, the women complete a series of tasks and are given feedback from tech executives and other professionals in the field. Athey and Palikot also ran several experiments to measure the effectiveness of Challenges and Dare IT's one-on-one mentoring program. They uncovered insights, too, into how both types of programs might better serve different groups of women depending on, say, where they live or their level of education. In a research paper detailing their work, Athey and Palikot show that women who completed the online program were 45% more likely on average to get hired into a tech roleeither at a tech company or in an IT capacity at a non-tech companywithin four months than randomly selected similarly qualified women who were screened by Dare IT but did not participate in Challenges. Meanwhile, they find that the improvement in the hiring rates under the program was similar to the rates of success by women who worked directly with mentors during their job search. But there are important differences between the two approaches: Challenges, and other skills-signaling programs like it, can be easily scaledfor about $15 per participant, according to Athey and Palikot. To Athey, who has long championed more diversity and inclusion in tech and in economics, the success of Challenges highlights how technology can and should play a bigger role in addressing disparities in the tech workplace. "The technology sector has such an outsized impact, not just on the economy, but on society at large," says Athey, who is on leave from Stanford while she serves as the chief economist of the antitrust division at the U.S. Department of Justice. "Tech's influence is only going to deepen, which makes ensuring a diverse workforce even more paramountboth for giving women and other underrepresented groups access to high-paying jobs, and for ensuring that technology functions equitably. A diverse tech sector will help build more diverse societies as well." Lessons in what works bestand when Athey and Palikot's research isn't a takedown of traditional approaches to diversifying workforces. In fact, they run a parallel experiment of Dare IT's mentoring program and find that it's similarly effective at helping women find jobs in tech. The problem is that mentoring takes a lot of time and resourcesboth for the organizations running them and for the mentors who volunteer. "There is clearly a market need for women and minorities looking to transition into tech that traditional approaches like mentoring cannot fulfill," Palikot says. "We don't know whether the efforts or resources currently dedicated to improving the gender imbalance in the tech sector are being used in ways that are most effective." Athey and Palikot uncover evidence that mentoring might actually be the better option in some cases. In their study, they looked at how Challenges and one-on-one mentoring helped some women more than others. Women from small towns in Poland, for example, had a better chance of getting hired into a tech job if they were mentored versus if they completed the Challenges program. On the flip side, Challenges helped women living in big cities more than mentoring did. Overall, Athey and Palikot show that placing women in the program that would most likely benefit them increased their chances of landing a tech job by another 13%, compared to women who were randomly assigned to either Challenges or mentoring. The researchers also find that mentor training, for example, doesn't make for better mentors; it's the amount of experience in tech, including in management, that matters most. Also, job seekers without graduate degrees benefit more from being mentored or completing Challenges than participants with advanced degrees. A tech answer for a tech problem Some 1,600 women have completed Challenges since the program debuted in late 2021including approximately 1,000 Ukrainian refugees who participated in a module developed to specifically support them. Today, participants can select from seven distinct tech domains, among them user-experience design, quality assurance, and software testing. "Our approach can be applied not just for women, but for any group of underrepresented workers who, unfortunately, might need to go to extra lengths to signal their qualifications to prospective employers," Athey says. "If an underrepresented group can move into tech in large enough numbers with this kind of online program, there can be follow-on effects when those same workers move into hiring and other leadership positions, or when they start their own businesses." More information: Effective and scalable programs to facilitate labor market transitions for women in technology. siepr.stanford.edu/publication r-market-transitions 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 illustrated and designed a circular, iris-shaped patch antenna prototype using commercial electromagnetic simulation software. Though the prototype is only slightly larger than a human palm, the technology can be scaled to the integrated circuit level for higher frequencies or increased in size for lower frequency applications, according to researchers. Credit: Jeff Xu/Penn State Reconfigurable antennasthose that can tune properties like frequency or radiation beams in real time, from afarare integral to future communication network systems, like 6G. But many current reconfigurable antenna designs can fall short: they dysfunction in high or low temperatures, have power limitations or require regular servicing. To address these limitations, electrical engineers in the Penn State College of Engineering combined electromagnets with a compliant mechanism, which is the same mechanical engineering concept behind binder clips or a bow and arrow. They published their proof-of-concept reconfigurable compliant mechanism-enabled patch antenna today (Feb. 13) in Nature Communications. "Compliant mechanisms are engineering designs that incorporate elements of the materials themselves to create motion when force is applied, instead of traditional rigid body mechanisms that require hinges for motion," said corresponding author Galestan Mackertich-Sengerdy, who is both a doctoral student and a full-time researcher in the college's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). "Compliant mechanism-enabled objects are engineered to bend repeatedly in a certain direction and to withstand harsh environments." When applied to a reconfigurable antenna, its complaint mechanism-enabled arms bend in a predictable way, which in turn changes its operating frequencieswithout the use of hinges or bearings. "Just like a chameleon triggers the tiny bumps on its skin to move, which changes its color, a reconfigurable antenna can change its frequency from low to high and back, just by configuring its mechanical properties, enabled by the compliant mechanism," said co-author Sawyer Campbell, associate research professor in EECS. From left, co-authors Sawyer Campbell, associate research professor in Penn State's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Galestan Mackertich-Sengerdy, doctoral student and researcher in EECS, and Douglas Werner, John L. and Genevieve H. McCain Chair Professor of EECS, pose with their compliant mechanism-enabled patch antenna prototype. Credit: Jeff Xu/Penn State The compliant mechanism-enabled designs supersede existing origami design technologies, named after the Japanese art of paper folding, which are reconfigurable but do not have the same advantages in robustness, long term reliability and high-power handling capability. "Origami antenna designs are known for their compact folding and storage capabilities that can then be deployed later on in the application," Mackertich-Sengerdy said. "But once these origami folded structures are deployed, they usually need a complex stiffening structure, so that they don't warp or bend. If not carefully designed, these types of devices would suffer environmental and operational lifetime limitations in the field." The team illustrated and designed a circular, iris-shaped patch antenna prototype using commercial electromagnetic simulation software. They then 3D printed it and tested it for fatigue failures as well as frequency and radiation pattern fidelity in Penn State's anechoic chamber, a room insulated with electromagnetic wave-absorbing material that prevents signals from interfering with antenna testing. Though the prototypedesigned to target a specific frequency for demonstrationis only slightly larger than a human palm, the technology can be scaled to the integrated circuit level for higher frequencies or increased in size for lower frequency applications, according to researchers. Compliant mechanism research has increased in popularity due to the rise of 3D printing, according to the researchers, which enables endless design variations. It was Mackertich-Sengerdy's background in mechanical engineering that gave him the idea to apply this specific class of compliant mechanisms to electromagnetics. "The paper introduces compliant mechanisms as a new design paradigm for the entire electromagnetics community, and we anticipate it growing," said co-author Douglas Werner, John L. and Genevieve H. McCain Chair Professor of EECS. "It could be the branching off point for an entirely new field of designs with exciting applications we haven't dreamed of yet." Just when Beth and Kyle Long received the worst news of their life, an Ohio law made their searing pain even worse. For four years, the Longs tried to have a baby, enduring multiple rounds of grueling fertility treatments. In September 2022, Beth finally became pregnant. But an ultrasound four months later showed that most of the baby's organs were outside the body. The condition, called limb body wall complex, is rare. "It's just not survivable," a doctor involved in Beth's care told CNN. "They will die. There's no way there will be a life," said Dr. Alireza Shamshirsaz, a spokesperson for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, who was not involved in Beth's care. The condition posed dangers for Beth too, and the bigger the baby was, the higher the risk of complications, including dangerous bleeding that might require a hysterectomy. They say their doctor urged them to terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible. But when the Longs tried to schedule the abortion, they found out that their insurance wouldn't pay for it. Beth takes care of breast cancer patients at a state-owned hospital. She's employed by the state of Ohio, and state law bans her health insurance from paying for abortions except in certain cases. Endangerment to the life of the mother is one of them, and although she was at an increased risk for potentially deadly complications, Beth's life was not in imminent danger, and the Longs say their doctor told them the insurance wouldn't cover the procedure. Beth and Kyle would have to foot the bill: between $20,000 and $30,000. After spending $45,000 on fertility treatments, they didn't have the money. It took them three weeks to make arrangements to go to a hospital that could perform the complicated abortion at a lower price. It was hours away, in another state. During that three-week wait -- a wait they had to endure only because of the Ohio law -- the risk to Beth of potentially deadly complications grew. Their ability to try to have another baby was delayed, and their "agony" couldn't end, Beth said. "I was in mental anguish," Beth said. "It felt very inhumane for both our baby and for my wife," Kyle added. The hospital they found was a three-hour drive away, in Pittsburgh. Away from their regular obstetrician, whom Beth had known for years; away from their doula; away from their friends and family. The Longs were alone. 'The Long and Boring wedding' Beth Boring and Kyle Long met on a dating app in 2015. Their first date was a storytelling event at a local arts organization. Beth, who was 26 at the time, had been a teacher for special-needs children and was about to start nursing school. "I loved her big heart," Kyle says. Kyle, then 30 and a wedding photographer, told Beth he'd bring her food when she started school. " 'I'll bring you fries and dinner while you study and I won't bother you at all,' " she remembers him telling her. "He was so sweet and made a big effort to love everyone in my life, and that was important to me," she said. "Kyle made me feel completely safe and respected." Kyle proposed on December 24, 2017, in Beth's living room. She was stressed from studying for nursing school exams, with books and papers strewn around the room. "She said that if I could love in the cycle of life she was in, [then] we should be able to make it through anything," Kyle recalls. Directly after the proposal, Beth and Kyle went to Christmas Eve services at Central Vineyard Church in Columbus and shared the exciting news with family and friends, jokingly inviting them to the "Long and Boring wedding," which took place at the church in June. Beth was now 29. They tried to start a family soon after, but after a year of trying, a doctor discovered that Beth had advanced endometriosis, and she had surgery in February 2020. They then spent $15,000 on a round of fertility treatments that didn't yield any viable embryos. A second round, at the same price, had the same result. The process was grueling. Beth had to give herself shots of hormones, and for some of the treatments, they had to do a four-hour round-trip drive to the Cleveland Clinic. Between each round, they had to wait months to try again, with even more delays as doctors' appointments often had to be canceled and rescheduled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, a third round yielded three viable embryos: two boys and a girl. "I just had a gut feeling we were supposed to transfer the girl" to her uterus, Beth said. "She's perfect!" the doctor said on September 20, 2022, just before he implanted the embryo into Beth's uterus. Inside her womb, the embryo was tiny and looked like it was blinking. "She was just this little glowy dot on a screen, [and] she kind of looked like a shooting star, so we called her Star. She's always been Star to us," Beth said. They waited seven weeks to see whether the implantation had worked. "They did an ultrasound, and they confirmed her heartbeat," Beth remembers. "The tech said it was perfect. Perfect heartbeat." "We'd finally made it to pregnancy," Kyle said. "We'd spent years working on this, thousands of miles, thousands of dollars trying to get here, and it finally felt like it was worth it." Another ultrasound in December, when Beth was 16 weeks pregnant, also looked good, and they shared the happy news with their families at Christmas. At that 16-week visit, Beth also had blood taken for routine tests. They didn't think much about that blood work until they received a phone call just after the new year. 'Incompatible with life' On January 4, the day before Beth's 34th birthday, she received a call from her obstetrician. "I could tell it was her serious voice," Beth remembers. "She said, 'Some of your lab work came back abnormal.' " The doctor explained that the baby might have a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida. Kyle started keeping a journal that day. "We are prepared to raise a child with any disabilities," he wrote. The next day, Beth's birthday, "we meet with the genetic counselor, and she reassures us that she has seen a lot of fluke results and not to worry," Kyle wrote. And even if it wasn't a fluke, "most potential issues seemed small. If there was a large issue, it could likely be fixed with surgery. It would require us to potentially temporarily move to a new city, but we both feel optimistic going into the scan," Kyle wrote. Still, "the scan felt like the longest 15 minutes of our life," he wrote. The ultrasound technician left the room and returned with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, the genetic counselor and a nurse. "We knew something was wrong," Kyle wrote. The doctor explained how the baby hadn't developed a lower spine and the rib cage was large enough to hold only her heart, which was beating. "There were organs outside her body. Her heart was inside her body, but it was abnormal," said the physician involved with Beth's care. "This is not compatible with survival." The doctor asked not to be named because the hospital where they work has not given them permission to speak to the media. The Longs remember their doctors repeatedly using the phrase "incompatible with life" as they explained that the baby would probably die inside Beth or during birth. At the ultrasound, the doctor "named a few more wrong things, but at that point I was more focused on Beth. At that moment we realized we were never going to have [our] baby girl," Kyle wrote in the journal. "We would have done anything to make her better," Kyle said. But "there's no surgery, there's no magic pill that we could have done to make things better." The doctors assured the Longs that they'd done nothing wrong; Star's rare condition was just by chance. "We're really good at winning the bad lottery," Beth said. The next day, the Longs met with Beth's obstetrician. They said she explained that Star's organs, besides her heart, had spilled out of a hole in her abdomen and were enmeshed in the placenta. "[The doctor] explains to us that the sooner the pregnancy is ended the better it will be for Beth's health. The longer the baby grows with these abnormalities, it will continue to have a worse and worse impact on Beth's health," Kyle wrote in his journal. Beth said that if the placenta tore during the procedure, "I could have a lot of internal bleeding" because the bigger Star grew, "the more complicated and enmeshed [the placenta] was going to be, so time was of the essence." Shamshirsaz, director of the Maternal Fetal Care Center at Boston Children's Center and a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, noted that a 21-week fetus is significantly larger than a 17-week fetus, so the three-week wait put Beth at a higher risk for bleeding and other complications. "We know in obstetrics if we can do [an] earlier termination, the outcomes will be better. That is set in stone," he said. Dr. Erika Werner is the chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston and a spokesperson for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. "I've had lots of patients who never thought they would consider termination that have ended up terminating because of this diagnosis," said Werner, who was not involved in Beth's care. Beth's obstetrician said she wouldn't be the one to do the abortion. She would reach out to one of the few specialists in Columbus who could do the complicated and risky procedure. Over the next few days, the couple grieved for their lost baby daughter. As Kyle photographed a wedding, he watched little girls dancing with their dads during the father/daughter song, and he knew he'd never have that chance with Star. They gave their baby a full name: Cordelia Poppy Star Long, with Star as a nickname because that's what she looked like at the implantation and Corn Pop "because it was cute," Kyle wrote in his journal. While they waited to hear back from the obstetrician, Kyle called a local funeral home to arrange for Star's cremation while Beth knit and crocheted tiny dresses for Star. On January 9, three days after their appointment with the obstetrician, the Longs signed a form so they could officially begin Ohio's 24-hour waiting period before an abortion. The termination was supposed to take place in the next day or two, and while they dreaded it, they hoped it would mark the beginning of a recovery period, and then they try as soon as possible to implant one of their other two viable embryos. But that didn't happen. Kyle wrote this in his journal: "Tuesday, 1/10 -- The doctor calls and lets us know that none of it will be covered by insurance." 'It was horrifying' The doctor explained that while it was legal for them to have the abortion, a 1998 Ohio law made it illegal for state employees' insurance to cover the procedure except in certain narrow cases. The mother's life being "endangered if the fetus were carried to term" is one of them, but the law doesn't define what "endangered" means. In his journal, Kyle wrote that the doctors gave them four options: One, pay the $20,000 to $30,000 and have the abortion right away in Ohio with the specialist their obstetrician had selected; two, wait until the baby died inside Beth, and then insurance would cover the abortion; three, wait until Beth's life was at sufficient risk that the insurance would cover it; or four, find someplace else where they could do the procedure for less money. "Kyle was ready to whip out a credit card" and pay for the procedure to be done soon at the hospital they were already familiar with in Ohio, Beth said. "I was so motivated to just shell out the money and get it done," Kyle added. "Just so it would be easy on us from a mental standpoint." Beth appreciated her husband's efforts to protect her, but she wanted to save money for implantation of their remaining two embryos and for fertility treatments to create more embryos if those didn't take. She'd already taken unpaid time off work during her pregnancy, and she was about to miss more work. "For Beth it made more sense to put the focus on our future children," Kyle wrote. They decided to try the last option: finding a qualified doctor who would do the procedure for less money. "It was horrifying because we were experiencing the hardest pain that anybody could have, and on top of that, of our grieving, we're having to handle all of this ourselves and coordinate all of this ourselves," Kyle said. A race against the clock Beth was now nearly 19 weeks pregnant. She and Kyle were racing against the clock. Ohio law allows for abortions up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. Plus, with each passing day, the baby was growing larger, putting Beth at increasing risk of potentially deadly complications when it came time for the termination. To spare Beth more anguish, Kyle made calls to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and various hospitals in the state. He wanted to be as close to home as possible so they could be near friends and family for support and so Beth wouldn't have to endure traveling and staying at a hotel. When he failed to find a place for Beth to have the procedure, he was once again resigned to putting it on his credit card. But then he received a call back from Leah Mallinos, a social worker and patient navigator at Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. She said UPMC Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh would do the procedure for $2,500. But it couldn't happen immediately. There needed to be a virtual appointment with a Magee doctor and a transfer of medical records, and they needed to wait for availability at Magee. While they waited, they grieved the loss of their daughter. Beth bought a fetal Doppler to listen to Star's heartbeat. She listened to it over and over. "She had a good, strong heart. I was so proud of that heartbeat," she said. "She had worked really, really hard to grow." On Instagram, Beth posted a video of the Doppler on her belly, recording Star's heartbeat. "I love her," she wrote in the post. "And I refuse to let her suffer or be in pain for even a moment when she's on the outside of me. Abortion is the most loving thing I can do for her as her mother, even if it shatters my heart." Beth prepared for her daughter's death. "I don't think I'm ever going to forget the feeling of my baby girl kicking inside of me while I was looking for urns on the Internet for her ashes," Beth said. Still, she would have to wait another two weeks before she could have the abortion in Pittsburgh. On January 23, she and Kyle made the drive, bringing with them for comfort Mr. Darcy, Beth's dog of 11 years, and the dresses that Beth had made for Star. The next day, they signed papers for Pennsylvania's 24-hour waiting period. Because Beth was so far along in her pregnancy -- by this time, she was 21 weeks -- it was a two-day procedure. On January 26, the dresses Beth had made lay on her stomach as she was waiting to go into the operating room. Kyle kissed his wife's head as she cried and then went to her belly to tell his daughter goodbye, that he loved her and that he was sorry he and her mother couldn't save her life. Heather Bradley, a doula who specializes in helping grieving parents, took close-up pictures of Star's feet wrapped in one of the dresses Beth had made. Bradley, founder of Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas, said she is usually able to control her emotions even in the saddest of situations, but this one was different. "I felt myself tearing up," she said. The Longs had made "the worst decision anyone ever has to make, and then to deal with all the other logistics they had to deal with was just ridiculous." She said the Longs were "hanging by a thread" after the procedure as they headed back to Columbus. "They're traveling in a car for [three] hours after having an abortion. Things can happen. You should be resting and being monitored, sleeping, letting your body heal. You shouldn't have to be worrying about where we're going to stop to eat or the expense." Planned Parenthood gave the Longs $500 for the hotel and the Abortion Fund of Ohio gave them $1,800 toward the $2,500 hospital charge for the procedure, but the Longs say they paid $1,150 out of pocket, which included the rest of the hospital charge and travel expenses. In addition, they expect bills from the anesthesiologist and other specialists involved in the procedure. "It was a tough drive. We drove there with our child, and we were driving home without her," Kyle said. Reaching out to lawmakers Kyle has reached out to his elected representatives, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Sen. JD Vance, both Republicans. He told them that Ohio law had "turned a difficult situation into something nearly unbearable." "I am a lifelong Republican, but this has turned me into a one-issue voter for those that support reproductive rights." "I'm writing you to please reconsider how you approach reproductive rights going forward. There are a lot of unintended consequences for families from these laws, and while I can understand you come from a good place, care should ultimately be left to the parents and their physicians. We loved our baby girl and would have done anything to keep her," he wrote, adding that Ohio abortion laws "prevent grieving parents from the healthcare they need." He says he never received a response from either DeWine or Vance. Spokespeople for DeWine and Vance told CNN that they plan on responding to Kyle's email. DeWine noted that the law banning state insurance from paying for abortions was enacted before he took office. A spokesperson for Beth's workplace, which owns the insurance plan, says it will continue to comply with the law while providing exceptional patient care. Beth belongs to the Ohio Nurses Association, a union affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers. What happened to Beth is "an abomination," federation President Randi Weingarten said. "The results of not getting proper and timely care due to egregious systemic roadblocks and financial constraints not only causes bodily harm but trauma that will last a lifetime. "Reproductive care must be a decision that belongs between a patient and a doctor, not with politicians," she added. Trying to help others Nearly two weeks after the abortion, Beth and Kyle are filled with both grief and anger. "We wanted more than anything to have this baby, and the laws in place prevented us from getting the proper health care that we needed," Kyle said. "It delayed us being able to lay [Star] to rest and grieve our baby for three weeks." As soon as Beth's doctors tell them it's OK, they plan to implant one of their two remaining embryos in the hopes of starting a new pregnancy. In the meantime, they're mourning Star and want to help other families who might be in their situation. First, they want them to know that there are resources to help, such as Planned Parenthood and groups like the Abortion Fund of Ohio. Second, they're reaching out to state legislators who support the "heartbeat bill" that passed the Ohio legislature in 2019. It banned nearly all abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, about the sixth week of pregnancy, but a judge in Cincinnati issued an injunction in October, and now in Ohio abortion is allowed up to 22 weeks. They say they hope their story will help change legislators' minds. "I don't want any other families to have to go through this," Kyle said. "I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, and something needs to change," Beth adds that she thinks all women should have the right to an abortion, not just women like her whose babies have fatal abnormalities. "It was the most dehumanizing experience of my life," she said. The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. ANTAKYA, Turkey Turkish authorities are targeting contractors allegedly linked with buildings that collapsed in the powerful Feb. 6 earthquakes as rescuers found more survivors in the rubble Sunday, including a pregnant woman and two children, in the disaster that killed over 33,000 people. The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes that struck nine hours apart in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria rose to 33,185 and was certain to increase as search teams find more bodies. As despair bred rage at the agonizingly slow rescues, the focus turned to assigning blame. Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said 131 people were under investigation for their alleged responsibility in the construction of buildings that failed to withstand the quakes. While the quakes were powerful, many in Turkey blame faulty construction for multiplying the devastation. Turkeys construction codes meet current earthquake-engineering standards, at least on paper, but they are rarely enforced, explaining why thousands of buildings toppled over or pancaked down onto the people inside. Among those facing scrutiny were two people arrested in Gaziantep province on suspicion of cutting down columns to make extra room in a building that collapsed, the state-run Anadolu Agency said. The justice ministry said three people were under arrest pending trial, seven were detained and another seven were barred from leaving Turkey. Two contractors held responsible for the destruction of several buildings in Adiyaman were arrested Sunday at Istanbul Airport while trying to leave the country, the private DHA news agency and other media reported. One detained contractor, Yavuz Karakus, told DHA: My conscience is clear. I built 44 buildings. Four of them were demolished. I did everything according to the rules. Rescuers reported finding more survivors amid increasingly long odds. Thermal cameras were used on piles of concrete and metal as crews demanded silence so they could hear those trapped. In hard-hit Hatay province, a 50-year-old woman who appeared badly injured was carried out by crews in the town of Iskenderun. Similar rescues in the province saved two other women, one of them pregnant, according to broadcasters TRT and HaberTurk. HaberTurk showed a 6-year-old boy rescued from his wrecked home in Adiyaman. An exhausted rescuer removed his surgical mask and took deep breaths as a group of women cried in joy. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca posted a video of a young girl in a navy blue jumper who was found alive. There is always hope! he tweeted. Rescuers in Antakya, elsewhere in Hatay province, pulled a man in his late 20s or 30s from the rubble, saying he was one of nine still trapped in the building. But when asked if he knew of any others, he said he hadnt heard anyone for three days. German and Turkish workers rescued an 88-year-old in Kirikhan, German news agency dpa reported. Italian and Turkish rescuers found a 35-year-old man in Antakya who appeared unscathed, private NTV television reported. A child was freed overnight in the town of Nizip, in Gaziantep, state-run Anadolu Agency said, while a 32-year woman was found in the ruins of an eight-story building in Antakya and asked for tea when she emerged, according to NTV. Those were the rare exceptions. Backhoes and bulldozers prepared a large cemetery in Antakyas outskirts as trucks and ambulances arrived continuously with black body bags. Orangeburg firefighters saved a dog from a house fire on Friday afternoon. A second dog died. The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety received a call about the fire at the Fall Street home at 5:42 p.m. The first firefighters arrived three minutes later, spotting a light, hazy smoke coming from the roof. The firefighters searched the home and found no people. Two dogs were located and removed from the home. Firefighters started to render CPR to both dogs and Orangeburg County EMS was notified for assistance, according an ODPS Facebook post. One dog, later learned to be named Lucky, started to respond positively to resuscitation efforts. Sadly, the other dog did not respond and efforts were stopped, the post said. EMS arrived and took over primary care of Lucky, who continued to improve and responded well to oxygen therapy. ODPS animal control responded to provide technical assistance with animal care. The fire was under control within 12 minutes. Firefighters determined it started on the surface of the stove. No humans were injured. The American Red Cross is providing aid to the residents. (TBTCO) - Ngay 14/4/2023, Bao hiem Bao Viet chi tra 200 trieu ong boi thuong tu vong theo chuong trinh bao hiem suc khoe cho hai nan nhan do gap su co bat ngo khi du lich Vinh Ha Long (Quang Ninh) tren truc thang Bell 505 vua qua. ay la 2 trong 5 nan nhan, nhung la 2 khach hang a tham gia chuong trinh bao hiem suc khoe cua Bao hiem Bao Viet voi ten goi Bao Viet An gia tu ngay 28/10/2022 cua Bao Viet a Nang. Dena Blizzard is One Funny Mother. The 1994 Rowan University graduate, then Dena Querubin, is a long-time stand-up comedian, a former Miss America contestant, and the proud mom of a Rowan student, who not only truly is One Funny Mother but performed an Off-Broadway, one-woman play of that name based on her stand-up routine. Blizzard appeared on the new podcast, Beyond the Brown & Gold, a twice monthly program on 89.7 WGLS-FM, in December. Hosted by University Advancements Jessica Kanady 08, M15 and Rob Lightfoot 00, M01, Blizzard reminisced about her time at Rowan (the biological sciences major went on to earn a masters degree in gerontology), her career in comedy and her life since college. People say, how do you become a comedian? Im like get a biology degree, go to Miss America, get a gerontology degree, she said on the Dec. 19 episode. Kanady and Lightfoot, themselves Rowan Radio alumni, host the program, while WGLS Station Manager Derek Jones 01, M03, oversees on-air and podcast production and editing. Episodes are recorded live, then become available as podcasts from all of the major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart Radio, Podbean and Google Podcast. Since Beyond the Brown & Gold debuted in October, Kanady and Lightfoot have interviewed a wide range of alumni including television writer Karen Maser 79, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae 91, and Jeff Hickman 95, manager of Disney College & International Recruitment in Florida. Both former Radio, Television & Film majors, Kanady and Lightfoot said that having had live radio experience as undergraduates helps them to be nimble hosts no matter who the guest is. The time I spent on the air at WGLS, as a student and now as co-host of the podcast, has been great for my career generally, said Kanady, Rowans senior assistant director of Alumni Engagement. In my role I speak in front of crowds and microphones often, and Im comfortable. Lightfoot, Rowans associate director of Development and manager of Planned Giving, co-hosted a drivetime morning show three times a week as an undergraduate and said, though that format was music-based, he learned to entertain between tracks. This longer format is very different but youre performing in both elements, he said. Episodes of Beyond the Brown & Gold typically run 30-35 minutes, air the second and fourth Saturday of the month at 8:30 a.m. and become available as a podcast the following Monday. The hosts said considering the institutions deep pool of graduates almost 103,000 and long history of distinguished alumni, theres no shortage of potential guests to interview and plenty of reasons to tune in. The number one reason is to hear about all the cool things alumni are doing, Kanady said. Anyone who has been to Rowan can identify at some point in the conversation where they see their own story in the stories being told. Its also just a fun way to reminisce, a lighthearted walk down memory lane, Lightfoot said. For decades, WGLS has provided an outlet and experience to class after class of students, many of whom loved it so much that they pursued radio careers. Having won virtually every award available to college radio stations, a total of 356 national and regional awards since 1993, it was named Best Four-Year Radio Station of the Year in October by the College Media Association. Jones said Beyond the Brown & Gold fits well with the stations mixed format, which includes music, news, live sports, documentary and podcast programming. Not only does the show dig into how alumni achieved success in their fields, it shows how they relate to their time on-campus, Jones said. As former students themselves, Jessica and Rob appreciate other alumni experiences and that makes for a fun show. In a finishing blow to one of this legislative sessions more ambitious property tax relief proposals, the House voted 37-25 last week to toss out a constitutional amendment that would have given Wyoming more freedom to change assessment rates for residences. As property taxes become increasingly burdensome for Wyoming homeowners especially those on fixed incomes theres broad support among lawmakers to change how the state taxes residential property. Exactly what that change should look like, though, has proven more divisive. A bloc of representatives aligned with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus voted Wednesday to oppose House Joint Resolution 2, feeling the proposed constitutional amendment wouldnt have gone far enough for property tax reform. The resolution, sponsored by House Speaker Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, called for residential property to be designated as its own tax class, so that the state could tweak the assessment rate for homes without affecting the revenue it draws from other kinds of land. Right now, the Wyoming Constitution requires residential, agricultural and commercial property to be assessed at the same rate. Assessment rates are what determine how homes market values translate to their assessed values. The rate for residential, agricultural and commercial lands in Wyoming is 9.5%. (So if your house and a convenience store across the street were both appraised for $250,000, their assessment values would both be $23,750.) The constitution also requires the collective assessment rate for residential, agricultural and commercial property to be within four percentage points of the assessment rate for industrial land. Thats meant to keep tax rates relatively equal among those four kinds of property. Theres also mineral property, which is taxed at 100% of its market value. Under the constitutional amendment, future lawmakers could have dropped the residential property assessment rate of 7%, for example, but kept commercial and agricultural property assessed at a rate of 9.5%. The proposed constitutional amendment would have also let the state create up to two additional subclasses under residential property, said Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper. One would have been specifically for owner-occupied residences, and the other up to the discretion of future lawmakers. The resolution wouldnt have automatically changed any laws. Had it made it through the Legislature, the constitutional amendment would have gone on the ballot in the next election. If approved by voters, then the amendment would have officially been adopted. Even within the statehouse, constitutional amendments face higher legislative hurdles than other kinds of bills. Unlike the typical majority vote needed to pass legislation during a general session, a constitutional amendment can only move forward if at least two-thirds of the legislative body supports it. House Joint Resolution 2 nearly met that threshold. The Freedom Caucus decided to oppose it after a third reading amendment brought by Rep. Tony Locke, R-Casper, which would have added language allowing the Legislature to limit annual increases on residential property assessment values, failed 29-33, said Rep. John Bear, a Gillette Republican and the caucus chairman. Instead of taking care of the taxpayers, those people who voted against the amendment and for the bill put up some window dressing, Bear said. Generally speaking, caps on assessment increases work like this: Say the statehouse voted to cap residential property assessments at 3% per year. That means that if your house is assessed at $45,000 this year, its assessed value next year could be no more than $46,350. Some lawmakers who spoke in opposition of the proposed changes on Wednesday voiced concerns about government overreach. Others just thought the amendment would be trying to do too much at one. Separating residential is probably a hard enough lift, Harshman said while speaking against Lockes amendment. Constitutional amendments are difficult and time-intensive to adopt, and the Freedom Caucus didnt feel it was worth backing a resolution that didnt include Lockes changes. Its a heavy lift, said Bear. Theres no sense in changing things that dont provide relief to the people. Many of the same lawmakers also voted against a bill to amend the state property tax deferral program, which allows counties to transfer a portion of the property taxes owed by qualifying residents into liens on those homeowners properties. That debt is paid off at a later date like when the owners sell their home, for example. It hasnt been very popular among Wyoming homeowners and is currently only available in Teton County. House Bill 121, sponsored by Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland, would introduce a number of structural changes to the program, including rehousing it under the Wyoming Department of Revenue. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus doesnt take issue with the bill so much as the program itself it does not incentivize government to reduce its spending and then reduce taxes on residential property, Bear said Saturday in a text. The bill passed its third reading in the House earlier this month by a 42-20 vote. Its since been introduced in the Senate, and has been assigned to the chambers revenue committee for further review. Lawmakers filed more than a dozen bills this session aimed at residential property relief. The majority of them have already died, either because they were voted down by lawmakers or because they missed key legislative deadlines. Of the handful still making their way through the statehouse, many have been much less divisive than House Resolution 2. One bill that would expand eligibility for Wyomings state and county property tax refund programs cleared its third reading in the House with unanimous support from lawmakers. A bill sponsored by Rep. Mark Jennings, R-Sheridan, that would give the Department of Revenue $50,000 to commission a report on what it would take for Wyoming to switch over to the so-called acquisition model of assessing property taxes, passed its third reading in the House by a 58-2 vote. CHEYENNE Only one bill directly addressing child care in Wyoming made it all the way through the House of Representatives, but some lawmakers hope it is not the end of the conversation. Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, is among the state lawmakers interested in providing more opportunities for early childhood care and development. He brought forward three unique bills that died in the first half of the general session. Two of his bills were voted down by a large majority in the Committee of the Whole, and one never made it onto the floor before deadline. Although none of his legislation seeking solutions made it any further in the process, the Teton County legislator remains optimistic. He said this general session was a good introduction to an issue not previously discussed in-depth in the Legislature. I hope that interim committees take up the discussion and keep going with it, because I think that just one bill wasnt the only solution, he told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. And I think there is a solution that just requires the body and the committees to put in some work over the course of the interim to address what is essentially a crisis right now. Yin isnt alone in his concern for child care access in the state, nor is it unfounded. Child care options are rare in rural and small communities, and more than a third of families in Wyoming live in child care deserts, according to 2022 data released by the Wyoming Community Foundation. A child care desert is defined as a subdivision of a county with at least 50 children under the age of 5 that has no licensed child care providers or more than three times as many children as licensed day care slots. The Department of Family Services adds that parents working nontraditional hours, such as early mornings, overnight or weekends, have even fewer options. Teton, Hot Springs and Johnson counties are at the highest points of child care capacity needs in the state, around 100%, but every county has some level of need. When we poll people about what their biggest challenges are, a lot of them will tell us child care, said Wyoming Womens Foundation Director Rebekah Hazelton. Weve heard stories from women who have not been able to work because they cant find child care in their community, and stories of women who have moved because they havent been able to find child care, who have delayed having additional children because of it. Even when there is child care available, it can often become unaffordable to families especially single mothers. The median cost of full time care for one infant and one preschooler was $1,418 a month in 2020, and the Wyoming Community Foundation reported that a single mother living at 100% of the federal poverty level would spend 78% of her household income on child care. Federal subsidies for care have been temporarily raised to 75% of the cost of child care, but Hazelton said they arent always accepted by facilities in Wyoming when they find one to enroll in. Child care deserts were an issue recognized by Rep. Scott Heiner, R-Green River, who was the sponsor of the sole bill that successfully passed through the House and Senate relating to day care requirements. About 13% of our day care facilities have closed in Wyoming over the past couple of years. Some communities have been impacted more than others, he said. Niobrara, for example, lost 66% of their day care facilities. Theres several counties that lost a third of their day care facilities. His approach differed from Yins, though. Heiner hoped to save one provider in his community from closing her in-home day care facility through exemptions in House Bill 35, because the licensure was getting more difficult to adhere to. The legislation would exempt part-time preschool facilities that enroll eight or fewer children over the age of 3, or 10 or fewer children above the age of 4 in the facility from needing certification. However, the facility would not be allowed to administer medication or prepare food, and the children would not be able to wear diapers and must instead use a toilet. A 10-hour limit of attendance is also set in the bill, and the facility must adhere to all applicable local health, safety and fire code regulations. We had requirements we had to stay within, Heiner said. But what this will do is make it easier to have small, home-based day care facilities in these rural communities that are lacking opportunities right now. His exemptions bill passed on the House on third reading 56-6 and the Senate 30-1. But similar backing was not provided to the three bills Yin introduced. When asked about the difference in support, Heiner said the House is closer to the people, because theyre re-elected every two years and there are more representatives. He believes the chamber recognizes the needs of communities can be met with smaller, home-based services, and can move along faster in the development process. If you want to build a new facility, its going to take time. But for a mom to open up her home and allow some kids to come in after school for a few hours, that could happen immediately, especially with the exemptions that this new policy will bring, the Green River lawmaker said. We can react quickly and be up and running in a matter of weeks, rather than years. The policy Yin hoped to pass had much larger implications for the state than just in-home exemptions. House Bill 150 would have authorized any county to create special taxing districts for early childhood development services within any area of its boundaries. The process would start with the Board of County Commissioners adopting a resolution to create the district and end with residents signing a petition to bring a ballot proposition forward for collection of a maximum of two mills on each dollar of assessed property valuation. If the proposal is approved by the voters, then a funding source would be established in the district to provide preschools or invest in existing child development centers, and a series of rules and procedures would be implemented. Yin said this is a system other states have implemented before, and he believed it was a good option for promoting local control. That would be the first step in trying to get uniformity and working with the Wyoming Department of Education to make sure that kids are headed in the right direction when theyre in these early child care centers, said House Education Committee Chairman David Northrup, R-Powell, who helped pass the bill out of his committee. That bill I supported because it allows communities to do it for themselves. They can tax themselves, and thats a good thing. This bill was never given the chance on the floor, and the other two bills were killed in 46-16 and 47-15 votes in the Committee of the Whole. They gave property tax exemptions for child care facilities under a government entity or nonprofit corporation and established a child care facility within the state Capitol complex for state employees. The Teton County bill sponsor said he believed there is a desire to increase state day care access, but there may just be a disagreement over how to go about it. He was worried his bills died in part because of partisanship, which was a sentiment echoed by Northrup. Quite frankly, the attitude of the House is not in favor of raising a tax for anybody, and its not in favor of allowing communities to do that kind of activity, he said. We heard many times during the discussion that parents should be the one to do that parents and/ or religious organizations. While Northrup was a proponent of the special tax districts bill and state employee child care, he was wary of the property tax exemptions. He said both the state and municipalities could take revenue hits, and there would be no backfill if the tax exemption was large enough. Yin recognized there would be a variety of support depending on the solution, and freshman lawmaker Rep. Andrew Byron, R-Jackson, was an example of this. He co-sponsored the property tax exemption and special tax districts bill but said he didnt vote in support of a Capitol-based facility for state employees in the end. He said debate on the floor swayed him in opposition, because it could be an inequitable piece of legislation for state employees not based in Cheyenne. But he is determined to head back to the drawing board in the interim and draft bills with other legislators interested in solving child care disparities. Its statewide, but specifically in my district, we have just a massive demand for child care, he said. Its a dire situation. All three of the representatives are looking to the interim to continue discussions, and an amendment has been proposed in the supplemental budget for a study. Yin said $5,000 was approved in the House to research what the cost of child care for all state employees would be in the future. However, this will still need to be approved in conference committee negotiations. Northrup is also planning on requesting early childhood development and child care as an interim topic for the Joint Education Committee. He said small steps have been made in the right direction this general session, but he believes there is a bigger picture to address. Its going to be a challenge to be able to get the House of Representatives and the Senate to understand that child care is a higher priority across the state than what they perceive it to be, he said. You have a bunch of gray-haired old men sitting in the House and Senate making decisions for the public. Its hard for most of them to understand the dilemma the younger generation is in right now, because thats not the way it was when they were at a young age. Although he said it falls on deaf ears sometimes, he believes it would improve the quality of life for residents, convince families to stay in the state and benefit the workforce. Northrup said parents would be able to join the workforce, contribute to the economy and support their loved ones making it a win-win. Yin added that the cost of child care is also important to tackle in the interim, because there is a fiscal barrier to pursuing opportunities outside of the home. He said they should make it easier for people to do what they want, especially the large number of women who are impacted due to being the primary caregiver. This helps women have more freedom with what they want to do with their lives, whether it is child care or having their own career path, he said. 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. Doctors tried to resuscitate and save the life of pregnant Chavelle Mitcham and her baby, bu Sundt Foundation: During its recent giving round, the Sundt Foundation awarded $22,900 in grants to seven Tucson-area nonprofit organizations. The nonprofits that received grants include Sahuarita Food Bank, Haven Totes, Inc., Literacy Connects, Mercy Housing Southwest, Ahava Therapy and Wellness Center, the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and the University of Arizona Foundations Family Medicine Mobile Health Program. The Sundt Foundation awards quarterly grants to Tucson-area charities that support disadvantaged children and families. Nonprofits are selected through an application and review process led by a committee of local Sundt employee-owners. Risas Dental and Braces: In recognition of National Childrens Dental Health Month, Risas Dental and Braces offices in the Tucson area are offering free exams and X-rays to children, under the age of 18, throughout the month of February. In addition, every child that signs up for braces will get a free retainer. The local dental provider is providing these free services at Risas offices in Tucson including South Tucson and Midvale Park, to help children develop healthy habits at a young age. By providing free exams and X-rays, Risas can help parents determine if their child will need braces in the near future. New and returning patients can find an office near them and schedule an appointment by calling 888-321-0029 or by visiting risasdental.com. Black Rock Coffee Bar: For a fourth year, Black Rock Coffee Bar, a national boutique coffee chain, is partnering with JoyRx, the mission delivery of Childrens Cancer Association, to help bring joy to kids and teens around the United States who are facing pediatric cancer or other serious illness. The family of a slain University of Arizona professor says it wants the school to take seriously a recent faculty report scrutinizing the campus safety protocols in place before the killing last fall. We are deeply appreciative of the U of A Faculty Senate committees safety report and are disgusted by the U of A administrations response, reads the first line of a statement from Tom Meixners in-laws, the Cotter family, obtained by the Arizona Daily Star over the weekend. The conclusions of the report affirm our experiences both before and after Toms murder about problems that the University of Arizona needs to address moving forward. Meixner served as department head of the UAs Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department. For the better part of last year, he and some of his colleagues received disturbing communication from Murad Dervish, a former graduate student who had already been expelled and barred from campus by February 2022. On Oct. 5, Dervish shot Meixner in the hydrology building on campus. Dervish is now facing a first-degree murder charge, to which he pleaded not guilty. In the aftermath of Meixners death, the UA pledged to examine its campus safety protocols. It hired the consulting firm PAX, LLC, to help, though its unclear when that report will be released to the public. Separately, the UA Faculty Senate formed the General Faculty Committee on General Safety For All and did its own campus safety analysis. According to the committees interim report released about two weeks ago the 30-page report relied on related documents, interviews with the people who were aware of Dervishs behavior and multiple listening sessions with campus constituency groups the investigation into campus safety found a glaring institutional failure that has severely compromised safety, safety perceptions, and community trust in the university administration and university officials. The report detailed how Mexiner and some of his colleagues, who were also receiving unwanted and increasingly alarming communication from Dervish, made multiple attempts to get him to stop. The report identified a breakdown in communication between various administrative channels, UA Police Department and even the Pima County Attorneys Office. In one example, the report explains how UAPD learned about Dervishs prior criminal record San Diego State University Police were investigating him for the harassment of a female student there and hed also assaulted his mother years earlier but did not communicate that to members of the hydrology department. Its unclear, according to the report, if other administrative offices involved in the case were made aware. Further, documents referenced in the report show that UAPD did make two separate attempts to file criminal charges against Dervish. In the weeks after the shooting, the county prosecutors office released a statement that the evidence UAPD supplied in both reports did not meet the legal definition of misdemeanor threats and intimidation, therefore it did not charge him. In response to the faculty committees release of the interim report, the UA downplayed the findings as representative of the work of a subset of faculty that has reached sweeping conclusions based in large part on misleading characterizations and the selective use of facts and quotations, and encouraged the public to wait for the PAX report before drawing a final conclusion. That response, however, didnt stand up for longer than a few days. Students, faculty, family support report One day before the Faculty Senate unanimously approved a resolution supporting the report last Monday, the Associated Students of the University of Arizona and the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Student Association also released a joint statement in support of the interim reports findings. The interim report makes one fact clear: the murder of Dr. Meixner was not a random act of violence, but the result of glairing institutional failures to sufficiently protect the students, faculty and staff of the (hydrology department) for nearly a year prior to the murder on Oct. 5, the news release said. The efforts from university administration to delegitimize the experiences of the students, faculty and staff described in this report will not be tolerated. And at its meeting last week, the UA Faculty Senate unanimously voted to endorse the report and its findings. The fact that the report was unanimously approved by the UA Faculty Senate speaks volumes about the importance of the committees work, reads the statement from the Cotter family. There is inherent value in having both an internal and external investigation of how threats are handled at the U of A. We dont understand why the U of A would try to delegitimize the report. We can only imagine how this response has affected faculty, staff and students. Personally, it has increased our anxiety about whether there will ever be any accountability and ownership by the U of A regarding the mistakes that were made leading up to Toms murder. Robbins: Hold me accountable At the Faculty Senate meeting last week, UA President Robert C. Robbins said the UA administration has no influence over the PAXs scope of work in developing the forthcoming report and hopes we can merge the two reports at the end of the day because we all have the same objectives, and that is to provide safety for faculty, staff and students. But the idea that I wouldnt take this seriously, he said in response to such insinuations, its my No. 1 job! As many of you know, there are many other people that are threatening faculty members and others on this campus. (I) am very frustrated that I dont have the tools to be able to do something about that. Robbins added that working together can help mitigate these problems, but you can never ever fully prevent an act like this. Thats the plan moving forward, but when one faculty senator asked about accountability for Meixners death, Robbins offered up a mea culpa. I am the sole person you can hold accountable for this. I take responsibility for it, you can hold me accountable. Even though I did not know these threats were going on for a long time, he said. And so, whether its a lack of commission or omission I am the one thats accountable for this. So, if anyone is looking for someone to hold accountable, itd be me. But thats not the response Meixners family is looking for either. Our family does not accept Robbins taking sole responsibility, given that he did not know about the threats ahead of time, the Cotter family statement reads. Legitimate accountability needs to occur in all of the specific areas of incompetence and weakness in the system. For them, that means the UA should metabolize the information found in both the facultys report and the consulting groups report. The University of Arizona needs courageous leadership at this moment, the statement said. We implore President Robbins and the UA administration to support the Faculty Senate in its work to ensure the safety and well-being of the Wildcat community. It would be the most meaningful way to honor Toms legacy. In a statement from the UA Monday afternoon in response to the Cotter Familys letter, the university said: Our entire community is devastated by the shooting Oct. 5 that took the life of Dr. Tom Meixner. We want the Mexiner family to know that safety on this campus is a top priority for President Robbins. We have implemented meaningful changes, reviewed the Safety For All report and look forward to the release of the interim report by the PAX Group to understand what steps we can take as a campus community to improve. ATLANTA (AP) A Georgia judge on Monday ordered the partial release later this week of a special grand jury report into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss. The report's introduction and conclusion, as well as a section in which the grand jurors expressed concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath, will be released on Thursday, said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney. Any recommendations on who should or should not be prosecuted will remain secret for now to protect their due process rights, McBurney wrote. McBurney's order came three weeks after hearing arguments from prosecutors, who urged the report be kept secret until they decide on charges, and a coalition of media organizations, which pressed for its release. The release is a significant development in a case that threatens legal jeopardy for the former president as he ramps up a 2024 White House campaign. The special grand jury spent about seven months hearing testimony from witnesses including high-profile Trump allies, such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and high-ranking Georgia officials, such as Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp. McBurney wrote that the report includes recommendations for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, including "a roster of who should (or should not) be indicted, and for what, in relation to the conduct (and aftermath) of the 2020 general election in Georgia." The special grand jury did not have the power to issue indictments, and it will ultimately be up to Willis to decide whether to seek indictments from a regular grand jury. The special grand jury's final report was requested by Willis and is meant to inform her investigative decision-making process, McBurney wrote, adding that the panel's investigation was largely controlled by the district attorney and her team and was "a one-sided exploration." There was "very limited due process" for people for whom the grand jurors recommended charges, McBurney wrote. Some may not have had the opportunity to appear before the panel, and those who did appear did not have the right to have their lawyers present or to offer any rebuttal. For that reason, the judge concluded, it is not appropriate to release the full report at this time. It is not clear if or when Willis will present the case to a regular grand jury with the purpose of getting one or more indictments. At a Jan. 24 hearing, she said decisions are "imminent" but did not elaborate. At that hearing, Willis had argued against the immediate release of the report, saying it could violate the rights of potential defendants and negatively affect the ability to prosecute those who may be charged with crimes. "We want to make sure that everyone is treated fairly and we think for future defendants to be treated fairly, it is not appropriate at this time to have this report released," Willis said during the hearing. A group of news organizations, including The Associated Press, argued in favor of releasing the report immediately in full, saying that public interest in the report is "extraordinary." "The discomfort of the prosecuting authority in disclosing court records isn't enough to make them sealed," said attorney Tom Clyde, representing the media. "It has to be significant, identifiable evidence that's going to cause a problem." WASHINGTON The White House on Monday defended the shootdowns of three unidentified objects in as many days even as it acknowledged that officials had no indication the objects were intended for surveillance in the same manner as the high-altitude Chinese balloon that traversed American airspace this month. The three objects, including one shot down Sunday over Lake Huron, were traveling at such a low altitude as to pose a risk to civilian air traffic, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. While the Biden administration does not yet have evidence that they were equipped for spying purposes or even belonged to China officials have not ruled that out, he said. These were decisions based purely and simply on what was in the best interests of the American people, Kirby said. The weeks-long succession of objects, starting with a giant white orb first detected over U.S. skies in late January, has puzzled American officials and stirred curiosity around the world. Though the three most recent objects differed in size, maneuverability and other characteristics from the surveillance balloon shot down Feb. 4 off the Carolina coast, officials moved to eliminate each one from the sky actions that Pentagon officials believe have no peacetime precedent. Because we have not been able to definitively assess what these most recent objects are, we acted out of an abundance of caution, Kirby said. One possibility that the U.S. has been able to rule out is any connection to extraterrestrial activity, the White House said Monday, tamping down lighthearted public speculation about aliens and outer space. There is no again, no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the outset of a press briefing. Other Western nations are also trying to assess the spate of incidents. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Monday that the government would do whatever it takes to protect the country, as the U.K. announced a security review. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there is some sort of pattern to the balloon and three other objects, though the U.S. has not echoed that claim. Kirby spoke from the White House podium hours after China alleged that more than 10 U.S. high-altitude balloons have flown in its airspace during the past year without its permission. American officials have vigorously denied the claim, with Kirby saying Monday, We are not flying surveillance balloons over China. The Chinese allegation came after the U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had crossed from above Alaska to South Carolina over a period of multiple days, sparking a new crisis in bilateral relations that have sunk to their lowest level in decades and prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a planned visit to China. At the time, Blinken said he hoped to reschedule the trip at an appropriate time. but there are several upcoming opportunities for high-level talks with the Chinese, including as early as this weekend. Blinken and Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party foreign policy chief, will both be in Munich, Germany, for the annual Munich Security Conference that begins Friday. The State Department said no meeting between the men has been scheduled but spokesman Ned Price added that the U.S. is always assessing options for diplomacy. We are open and we are committed to keeping lines of communication open, he told reporters. The latest of the three objects was shot down Sunday over Lake Huron after being detected a day earlier over Montana. On Friday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the combined U.S.-Canada organization known as NORAD that provides shared defense of airspace over the two nations, detected and shot down an object near sparsely populated Deadhorse, Alaska. Later that evening, NORAD detected a second object flying at a high altitude over Alaska, U.S. officials said. It crossed into Canadian airspace Saturday and was over the Yukon, a remote territory, when it was ordered shot down by Trudeau. In both of those incidents, the objects were flying at roughly 40,000 feet (12,000 meters). The object on Sunday was flying at about 20,000 feet (6,000 meters). None of the three most recent objects has been recovered, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Brussels, where he was scheduled to attend a NATO defense ministers meeting this week. Following in the footsteps of their parent nonprofit organization in Southern California, the University of Arizonas chapter of Team Awareness Combating Overdoses or TACO is addressing the opioid epidemic through a preventative approach. The UAs chapter of TACO was founded in the fall of 2022 by Madison Trotter, a junior studying neuroscience and cognitive science. Trotter said she found out about the national organization through Instagram, where she learned more about their mission and was inspired to establish a chapter . The more I read into it, the more intrigued I was, Trotter said. I (thought,) People need to know this. In 2022, Pima County had 284 deaths due to opioid overdose events and another 594 non-fatal opioid overdoses, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. About 13% of the non-fatal overdose events were of people between 18- and 24 years old, and 8% of the overdose deaths fell within the same age group. Fentanyl was involved in about 64% of the non-fatal overdose events in the state in 2022, an increase of 22% from 2021. Before TACOs parent nonprofit was founded at the University of Southern California in 2020, Trotter said that the students were reporting about 10 to 12 fentanyl-involved overdose deaths a year. However, since the founding of USCs TACO, Trotter said the annual number decreased to zero. TACOs philosophy focuses on the prevention of opioid overdose deaths through data-based education, overdose-response training and drug testing. What drew Trotter into the program was its unique message in prioritizing harm reduction over crisis management. Instead of focusing on life-saving measures in the case of an emergency, TACO emphasizes the importance of education and the benefits of testing drugs before use. As Ive come into this organization, I realized that saying no doesnt work all of the time, Trotter said. During its short time on the UA campus, TACO has distributed over 300 free fentanyl testing kits, allowing students to confirm if the drugs they use contain fentanyl. These kits have QR codes that, when scanned, show instructions on how to test the drugs depending on what type of substance it is. On Friday, Feb. 17, TACO will be hosting a pop-up event in the early afternoon near the student apartment complexes on North Tyndall Avenue and East First Street, where they will be passing out testing kits for free to those in the area. TACO also advocates for improved education surrounding drug use, promoting neutral statistics and data that consider the reality of drug use among young adults in a non-judgmental way. Rather than feeding into the stigma surrounding the recreational use of drugs, TACO aims to allow people to make their own informed decisions about using substances. Savannah Crowley, a public health major at UA and the vice president of TACO, noted the importance of using language that doesnt contribute to the stigmatization surrounding drug use in order to make people feel more comfortable in asking for help. One thing we focus on in public health is person-first language, things like someone with addiction rather than an addict, Crowley said. Its all about making sure people are treated fairly and feel comfortable reaching out for help, having important conversations and asking for information. TACO actively shares data about different substances through infographic posts on their Instagram page. These bright, colorful infographics shed light on common misconceptions about different drugs and share important facts in an easily digestible format through social media. One thing that I love about TACO is that its just neutral data. Its not an anti or pro stance, Trotter said. Its more of, Heres the information, its up to you to choose what you want to do with it. The organization has also made strides in collaborating with other student groups on campus, including the Women in Medicine and Science club and the Psychedelic Medicine Radar newsletter. On Jan. 25, TACO gave a presentation about their mission to members of WIMS during a weekly meeting, where they explained statistics about fentanyl and the impact of the opioid epidemic on the college-aged population. Taylor Veschio is the president of the WIMS and a member of TACO, and said that for members, and especially future health providers, its crucial to be aware of this information and to be able to hear it in a safe environment. TACO seeks to focus their efforts this semester toward the Greek Life community, a student population they believe would benefit the most from their education efforts. Nick Ward, TACOs head of outreach at UA, highlighted the importance of allowing for conversations about drug use and how to improve safety among fraternities and sororities. Shifting the stigma just really allows people to have those open conversations, Ward said. Its definitely something that Ive noticed, and what Im trying to hammer on more now is theres this massive gap in conversations between fraternities and sororities. What's Working Arizona program hopes to be nationwide model for healthy babies READ FULL STORY However, a hurdle TACO has faced has been in fundraising, an aspect of their organization they hope to improve in order to continue providing access to free testing strips for students and give back to the nonprofit parent chapter. Ward said that TACO has plans to team up with Duffl, a company that employs college students to deliver snacks to other students on campus, and wants to collaborate with the company to carry fentanyl test strips. Ward said that a similar initiative was adopted at USC, and that the test strips ended up one of the most popular items carried by Duffl. However, in order to have Duffl carry the test strips for free at UA, TACO needs money to supply enough strips for distribution. We are looking to do more fundraising, but the pushback is on the financial end, Ward said. We have a limited stock on hand, and a lot of that comes from the national organization. TACO members are hopeful that future fundraising and outreach efforts will help in financing more test strips for distribution on campus, as well as allow the UA chapter to give back to the national nonprofit. The group hopes to take part in the UAs Safe Spring Break Symposium this semester, an annual program directed at students dedicated to promoting smart decision-making during the universitys Spring Break. With a slew of plans in the works for the semester, Trotter is eager to continue spreading TACOs message and make an impact on combating the opioid epidemic. At the end of the day, the message that I love is that everybody deserves a chance to wake up in the morning, no matter what decisions they make and the opportunities they take, she said. Everyone deserves that chance to be safe and educated about something they do. Scene Writer I write for the Tulsa World because it's important to me to highlight the vibrant culture and community we have in Tulsa. I joined the team in October 2021 and write about music, local businesses, homes and gardens for the Scene section. To the voting booth: Tuesday is Election Day for voters in nine area school districts. Claremore and Owasso each have a school board primary on the ballot, while Bartlesville, Catoosa, Claremore Sequoyah, Coweta, Jenks, Skiatook and Union each have a bond proposal. Deadline delay: Due to winter weather forcing the closure of all district offices Jan. 30-Feb. 1 and reduced hours on Feb. 2, Tulsa Public Schools has extended its 2023-24 enrollment deadline to Friday. Talking with your hands: The Oklahoma School for the Deaf is offering free American Sign Language classes online starting Monday. The eight session course is prerecorded and self-paced. Registration is available online at courses.osd.k12.ok.us. FAFSA help: Tulsa Public Schools is hosting workshops for filling out the FAFSA the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Martin Regional Library and at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hicks Park. Both events are free and will have translation services available. Drug discussion: Broken Arrow Public Schools and the Broken Arrow Police Department are co-hosting an informational forum on fentanyl at 6 p.m. Thursday at Broken Arrow High Schools media center. The event is free and open to the public. COVID-19 by the numbers: Four districts published had updated COVID-19 case counts by the close of business Friday. Bartlesville Public Schools had one reported case among students and none among staff. As of its most recent update, released on Wednesday, Berryhill Public Schools had no reported cases among staff or students. Skiatook Public Schools had no reported cases among students or staff. Tulsa Public Schools had three reported cases among students and staff districtwide. One case was reported at Bell Elementary School, and two were reported at McLain High School. Bixby, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Claremore, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, Jenks, Kiefer, Liberty, Mounds, Owasso, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Sperry, Union, Verdigris and Wagoner are not publishing updated case counts at this time. School board schedule: The boards of education for Allen Bowden, Berryhill, Claremore, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, Jenks, Liberty, Mannford, Mounds, Owasso, Sapulpa, Sperry, Tulsa, Union and Verdigris all have meetings scheduled for Monday. The State Virtual Charter School Board has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Oklahoma City. The state CareerTech board is scheduled to meet Thursday in Oklahoma City. Airlines in Vietnam are optimistic that the frequency of flights between China and Vietnam is gradually warming up, with many Chinese airlines seeking to operate more flights to the Southeast Asian nation as soon as next month. China recently announced a list of 20 countries where its companies can operate tours to, but Vietnam was not included on the list. Vietnamese airlines said they are not too worried because the frequency of flights between the two countries is gradually increasing. Many aviation service companies said they were busy working with their Chinese airline partners earlier this month. Saigon Ground Services JSC (SAGS) stated that the aviation market is having spectacular recovery, with Chinese airlines rushing to resume flights to major airports in Vietnam such as Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, and Cam Ranh. Officials of multiple major Chinese carriers will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City to promote travel between the two countries in March. An official of Sichuan Airlines said that the firm is planning to operate three flights per week to Vietnam starting March 1 and will later increase the frequency from 10-14 flights a week. Similarly, Xiamen Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines are also making plans to resume flights to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, Ruili Airlines and Tianjin Airlines intend to operate about two to three flights a week to central Da Nang City and south-central Khanh Hoa Province. In the opposite direction, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced the resumption of five routes between Vietnam and China starting in March and April. Vietnam Airlines is expected to operate three flights a week along the Hanoi-Beijing route in March, as well as four flights per week along routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Guangzhou and Shanghai in April. Nguyen Quoc Ky, chairman of Vietravel, said that aviation and tourism activities will warm up in the near future, especially with the comeback of large markets such as China in April. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Airlines in Vietnam are optimistic that the frequency of flights between China and Vietnam is gradually warming up, with many Chinese airlines seeking to operate more flights to the Southeast Asian nation as soon as next month. China recently announced a list of 20 countries where its companies can operate tours to, but Vietnam was not included on the list. Vietnamese airlines said they are not too worried because the frequency of flights between the two countries is gradually increasing. Many aviation service companies said they were busy working with their Chinese airline partners earlier this month. Saigon Ground Services JSC (SAGS) stated that the aviation market is having spectacular recovery, with Chinese airlines rushing to resume flights to major airports in Vietnam such as Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, and Cam Ranh. Officials of multiple major Chinese carriers will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City to promote travel between the two countries in March. An official of Sichuan Airlines said that the firm is planning to operate three flights per week to Vietnam starting March 1 and will later increase the frequency from 10-14 flights a week. Similarly, Xiamen Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines are also making plans to resume flights to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, Ruili Airlines and Tianjin Airlines intend to operate about two to three flights a week to central Da Nang City and south-central Khanh Hoa Province. In the opposite direction, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced the resumption of five routes between Vietnam and China starting in March and April. Vietnam Airlines is expected to operate three flights a week along the Hanoi-Beijing route in March, as well as four flights per week along routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Guangzhou and Shanghai in April. Nguyen Quoc Ky, chairman of Vietravel, said that aviation and tourism activities will warm up in the near future, especially with the comeback of large markets such as China in April. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The first 15-metric-ton batch of organic rice of Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam will be exported to Europe in the middle of this month, marking a milestone of the provinces agriculture sector. The provincial Peoples Committee on Monday confirmed the information, after negotiations over price and accreditation criteria between Quang Tri Organic Agro Products and the Czech Republics NHP Provide, s.r.o were concluded. The 15 metric tons of rice worth US$1,800 per ton will be transported to the Da Nang Port in the namesake central city for export. The rice will be distributed to Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and France. If the organic rice is preferred in Europe, Quang Tri Province will ship some 30-50 metric tons of organic rice to this market per month. Farmers cultivating organic rice in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam will benefit from the export of rice to Europe. Photo: Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre Local farmers began cultivating organic rice in 2017 with a special process and criteria. They do not use plant protection drugs, chemical fertilizers, genetically modified varieties, flavoring agents, preservatives, and chemical bleach. According to the Quang Tri Peoples Committee, its organic rice meets 821 quality criteria set by Vietnamese agencies before being accepted by the European market. In addition, Japans Hiroshima University announced that the rice has two valuable compoundsMomilactone A and Momilactone B, which help prevent diabetes, gout, and obesity. Ha Sy Dong, standing vice-chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, said the provinces export of organic rice to Europe is a new landmark for its agriculture. Farmers growing organic rice in the province will benefit as they can improve their living conditions and incomes, Dong added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The first 15-metric-ton batch of organic rice of Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam will be exported to Europe in the middle of this month, marking a milestone of the provinces agriculture sector. The provincial Peoples Committee on Monday confirmed the information, after negotiations over price and accreditation criteria between Quang Tri Organic Agro Products and the Czech Republics NHP Provide, s.r.o were concluded. The 15 metric tons of rice worth US$1,800 per ton will be transported to the Da Nang Port in the namesake central city for export. The rice will be distributed to Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and France. If the organic rice is preferred in Europe, Quang Tri Province will ship some 30-50 metric tons of organic rice to this market per month. Farmers cultivating organic rice in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam will benefit from the export of rice to Europe. Photo: Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre Local farmers began cultivating organic rice in 2017 with a special process and criteria. They do not use plant protection drugs, chemical fertilizers, genetically modified varieties, flavoring agents, preservatives, and chemical bleach. According to the Quang Tri Peoples Committee, its organic rice meets 821 quality criteria set by Vietnamese agencies before being accepted by the European market. In addition, Japans Hiroshima University announced that the rice has two valuable compoundsMomilactone A and Momilactone B, which help prevent diabetes, gout, and obesity. Ha Sy Dong, standing vice-chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, said the provinces export of organic rice to Europe is a new landmark for its agriculture. Farmers growing organic rice in the province will benefit as they can improve their living conditions and incomes, Dong added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! South Korea-based Samsung Group expressed its ambition to turn its research and development (R&D) center in Hanoi into the largest in Southeast Asia and the world as a whole. At a conference on the implementation of an action program to realize the Politburos Resolution 30 on socio-economic development, national defense and security assurance, and investment promotion in the Red River Delta held in northern Quang Ninh Province on Sunday, Samsung Vietnam Complex general director Choi Joo Ho said Samsung established its R&D team in Vietnam in 2012 and they are working at its factories in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen Provinces as well as Hanoi. On December 23 last year, the conglomerate inaugurated an R&D center in the Tay Ho Tay Urban Area in Hanoi. The center is in charge of expanding research fields and improving the professional knowledge of local staff. The center also contributes to the foundation for the development of Vietnamese tech talents and the countrys industries. Samsung Vietnam Complex general director Choi Joo Ho speaks at the conference in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, February 12, 2023. Photo: B.Ngoc / Tuoi Tre According to Choi, Samsung plans to boost the training of technological talents in Vietnam through scholarships for promising tech students and cooperation with universities. Since 2015, Samsungs experts from South Korea have worked with some 400 companies in Vietnam to improve its competitiveness and the quality of its products. As a result, its productivity has surged 40 percent, while faulty products have halved after three months. Thanks to this program and other support activities, the number of first- and second-tier suppliers in Vietnam involved in Samsungs global supply chains rocketed ten-fold, from 25 in 2014 to 257 last year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! South Korea-based Samsung Group expressed its ambition to turn its research and development (R&D) center in Hanoi into the largest in Southeast Asia and the world as a whole. At a conference on the implementation of an action program to realize the Politburos Resolution 30 on socio-economic development, national defense and security assurance, and investment promotion in the Red River Delta held in northern Quang Ninh Province on Sunday, Samsung Vietnam Complex general director Choi Joo Ho said Samsung established its R&D team in Vietnam in 2012 and they are working at its factories in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen Provinces as well as Hanoi. On December 23 last year, the conglomerate inaugurated an R&D center in the Tay Ho Tay Urban Area in Hanoi. The center is in charge of expanding research fields and improving the professional knowledge of local staff. The center also contributes to the foundation for the development of Vietnamese tech talents and the countrys industries. Samsung Vietnam Complex general director Choi Joo Ho speaks at the conference in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, February 12, 2023. Photo: B.Ngoc / Tuoi Tre According to Choi, Samsung plans to boost the training of technological talents in Vietnam through scholarships for promising tech students and cooperation with universities. Since 2015, Samsungs experts from South Korea have worked with some 400 companies in Vietnam to improve its competitiveness and the quality of its products. As a result, its productivity has surged 40 percent, while faulty products have halved after three months. Thanks to this program and other support activities, the number of first- and second-tier suppliers in Vietnam involved in Samsungs global supply chains rocketed ten-fold, from 25 in 2014 to 257 last year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese organization ForGood Vietnam held a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City last week to award achievement certificates to 40 women participating in its Future For Women program, which is designed to uplift womens economic status through training, mentorship, community building, and support resources. The program included the participation of 40 entrepreneurial women, 15 program consultants, and media agencies concerned with womens entrepreneurship, ForGood Vietnam said in its press release. Mentees who completed business plans during the six-month Future For Women program receive achievement certificates at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam It was supported by the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam in the 2020-21 year and continues to receive support from the Echidna Giving Fund in 2022-23. The eligible participating women, all 18 years old and above, were selected from over 150 applicants to take part in the six-month training program. The Future For Women programs mentors who are experts in different fields of business delivering mentorship service to forty mentees within the six-month course of the initiative. Photo: ForGood Vietnam The cohort received comprehensive training designed to enhance various aspects of their entrepreneurship ideas and foster personal and professional growth in multiple domains, including knowledge and leadership, business acumen, emotional intelligence, social skills, and entrepreneurial skills. Furthermore, the program provided support in overcoming the gender-based constraints that negatively impact the businesses of women entrepreneurs. Female entrepreneurs share their self-reflection on essential factors for a successful business leader in the modern context at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam The participants received one-on-one mentorship from experts in their respective business fields and will have access to a network of female entrepreneurs to facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration. The program also offered practical information on the various support resources available to women entrepreneurs, aimed at enhancing their chances of success. A mentees husband (R) shows his full support for his wife and women to establish their own career path as a business leader at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City to award achievement certificates to the participants of the six-month Future For Women program on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam Following the completion of the program, a total of 26 businesses were founded by the participants and are currently operating across a wide range of sectors, such as food and beverage services, tourism, technology solutions, accommodation services, childrens playgrounds, healthcare, electricity and electronics, fine arts, law, agriculture, and many more. These businesses are located in diverse localities across Vietnam, including Quang Ninh, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Vinh Long, and Can Tho. A survey of the performance of these businesses revealed that 50 percent of them generated revenue of less than VND300 million (US$12,715), 32 percent earned revenue between VND300 million and VND1 billion ($42,382), and 16 percent made revenue in excess of VND1 billion. In terms of workforce, 60 percent of the enterprises are employing less than five individuals, 16 percent hire five to 10 individuals, and 12 percent use more than 15 people. Huynh Le Khanh (R) and Tran Thi Ngoc Tran, co-founders of ForGood Vietnam, pose for photos at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City to award achievement certificates to the participants of the six-month Future For Women program on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam As a male stakeholder in this initiative, I take great pride in observing the tangible outcomes that have been achieved by the female entrepreneurs, said Huynh Le Khanh, co-founder of ForGood Vietnam. Additionally, 40 women who completed the Future For Women program are now officially members of the Women Entrepreneur Community of Vietnam (WECV), founded and supported by ForGood Vietnam. The goal of WECV is to create a diverse and authentic community of women entrepreneurs, aiming to enhance their role and image in the economy of Vietnam, thereby promoting gender equality through the empowerment of womens economic strength. Mentees present their final business plan reports to the advisory board of the six-month Future For Women program at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam After a year of operation, the community has attracted more than 600 registered members. Women entrepreneurs who participate in WECV continue to receive training on relevant knowledge and skills related to female leadership and business management. This is also a platform for businesses and female managers to access advanced learning programs, diverse scholarships from both domestic and foreign organizations, and exchange and learn from successful business models from large companies in the same field. WECV also promotes initiatives to enhance the image and role of women in society through community activities such as the SheFuture competition, empowering the economic potential and leadership role of female students. This photo shows the executive board of the Women Entrepreneurship Community in Vietnam, a network of women entrepreneurs hosted by ForGood Vietnam. Photo: ForGood Vietnam ForGood Vietnam serves marginalized groups within society, including young girls, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals who are environmentally conscious. The organization provides personal capacity-building training programs and social awareness campaigns related to the aforementioned groups to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and support networks. Its ultimate goal is to help them fully realize their strengths and participate in society on an equal footing, thereby contributing positively and practically to the community and society as a whole. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese organization ForGood Vietnam held a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City last week to award achievement certificates to 40 women participating in its Future For Women program, which is designed to uplift womens economic status through training, mentorship, community building, and support resources. The program included the participation of 40 entrepreneurial women, 15 program consultants, and media agencies concerned with womens entrepreneurship, ForGood Vietnam said in its press release. Mentees who completed business plans during the six-month Future For Women program receive achievement certificates at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam It was supported by the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam in the 2020-21 year and continues to receive support from the Echidna Giving Fund in 2022-23. The eligible participating women, all 18 years old and above, were selected from over 150 applicants to take part in the six-month training program. The Future For Women programs mentors who are experts in different fields of business delivering mentorship service to forty mentees within the six-month course of the initiative. Photo: ForGood Vietnam The cohort received comprehensive training designed to enhance various aspects of their entrepreneurship ideas and foster personal and professional growth in multiple domains, including knowledge and leadership, business acumen, emotional intelligence, social skills, and entrepreneurial skills. Furthermore, the program provided support in overcoming the gender-based constraints that negatively impact the businesses of women entrepreneurs. Female entrepreneurs share their self-reflection on essential factors for a successful business leader in the modern context at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam The participants received one-on-one mentorship from experts in their respective business fields and will have access to a network of female entrepreneurs to facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration. The program also offered practical information on the various support resources available to women entrepreneurs, aimed at enhancing their chances of success. A mentees husband (R) shows his full support for his wife and women to establish their own career path as a business leader at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City to award achievement certificates to the participants of the six-month Future For Women program on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam Following the completion of the program, a total of 26 businesses were founded by the participants and are currently operating across a wide range of sectors, such as food and beverage services, tourism, technology solutions, accommodation services, childrens playgrounds, healthcare, electricity and electronics, fine arts, law, agriculture, and many more. These businesses are located in diverse localities across Vietnam, including Quang Ninh, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Vinh Long, and Can Tho. A survey of the performance of these businesses revealed that 50 percent of them generated revenue of less than VND300 million (US$12,715), 32 percent earned revenue between VND300 million and VND1 billion ($42,382), and 16 percent made revenue in excess of VND1 billion. In terms of workforce, 60 percent of the enterprises are employing less than five individuals, 16 percent hire five to 10 individuals, and 12 percent use more than 15 people. Huynh Le Khanh (R) and Tran Thi Ngoc Tran, co-founders of ForGood Vietnam, pose for photos at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City to award achievement certificates to the participants of the six-month Future For Women program on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam As a male stakeholder in this initiative, I take great pride in observing the tangible outcomes that have been achieved by the female entrepreneurs, said Huynh Le Khanh, co-founder of ForGood Vietnam. Additionally, 40 women who completed the Future For Women program are now officially members of the Women Entrepreneur Community of Vietnam (WECV), founded and supported by ForGood Vietnam. The goal of WECV is to create a diverse and authentic community of women entrepreneurs, aiming to enhance their role and image in the economy of Vietnam, thereby promoting gender equality through the empowerment of womens economic strength. Mentees present their final business plan reports to the advisory board of the six-month Future For Women program at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on February 11, 2023. Photo: ForGood Vietnam After a year of operation, the community has attracted more than 600 registered members. Women entrepreneurs who participate in WECV continue to receive training on relevant knowledge and skills related to female leadership and business management. This is also a platform for businesses and female managers to access advanced learning programs, diverse scholarships from both domestic and foreign organizations, and exchange and learn from successful business models from large companies in the same field. WECV also promotes initiatives to enhance the image and role of women in society through community activities such as the SheFuture competition, empowering the economic potential and leadership role of female students. This photo shows the executive board of the Women Entrepreneurship Community in Vietnam, a network of women entrepreneurs hosted by ForGood Vietnam. Photo: ForGood Vietnam ForGood Vietnam serves marginalized groups within society, including young girls, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals who are environmentally conscious. The organization provides personal capacity-building training programs and social awareness campaigns related to the aforementioned groups to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and support networks. Its ultimate goal is to help them fully realize their strengths and participate in society on an equal footing, thereby contributing positively and practically to the community and society as a whole. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam dispatched 76 soldiers to Turkey on Sunday night to help with rescue efforts following the devastating earthquakes that have killed over 33,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Deputy Minister of National Defense Nguyen Tan Cuong applauded the spirit of proactively overcoming difficulties and resolving to fulfill missions of relevant agencies. He also hailed the 76 soldiers for getting ready to travel to Turkey for the earthquake relief. Cuong said victims of the earthquakes in Turkey are waiting for rescuers of their country, other countries, and international organizations to save them from the rubble, including soldiers from Vietnam. The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense expect you to excellently fulfill your mission, Cuong added. Major General Pham Van Ty, commander-in-chief of the Vietnamese military force participating in the rescue work in Turkey, said besides the 76 soldiers, six working dogs and 35 metric tons of equipment and supplies, which are enough for a month, were sent to Turkey as well. In particular, there are 10 metric tons of dry provisions, 13.5 tons of food and foodstuffs, 2.2 tons of medical equipment and medicines, and three metric tons of other supplies, among others. After reaching Turkey, the delegation will discuss the work with rescue forces there, survey the scene, and work out plans to seek victims trapped under the rubble. We may reach the scene on Monday night and will immediately roll up our sleeves to conduct the rescue work, Ty added. Earlier, 24 officials from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security were detached to Turkey to aid in relief efforts. Thus, a total of 100 Vietnamese officers and soldiers have been sent to Turkey. With chances of finding survivors growing more remote, the toll in both countries from last Monday's earthquake and major aftershocks rose above 33,000 and looks set to keep growing. It was the deadliest quake in Turkey since 1939, Reuters reported. Seventy-six Vietnamese military officers come to Turkey with 35 metric tons of goods and equipment. Photo: qpvn.vn The international rescue mission demonstrates Vietnams responsibility for the international community. Photo: Phu Son / Tuoi Tre Vietnamese soldiers are determined to fulfill the mission. Photo: qpvn.vn The delegation will survey the scene of the earthquakes and come up with plans to seek victims trapped under the rubble. Photo: qpvn.vn The flight with the Vietnamese military delegation on board will land in Turkey after 11 hours. Photo: qpvn.vn Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong (R), Deputy Minister of National Defense, and Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci meet the Vietnamese delegation to Turkey. Photo: qpvn.vn Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam dispatched 76 soldiers to Turkey on Sunday night to help with rescue efforts following the devastating earthquakes that have killed over 33,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Deputy Minister of National Defense Nguyen Tan Cuong applauded the spirit of proactively overcoming difficulties and resolving to fulfill missions of relevant agencies. He also hailed the 76 soldiers for getting ready to travel to Turkey for the earthquake relief. Cuong said victims of the earthquakes in Turkey are waiting for rescuers of their country, other countries, and international organizations to save them from the rubble, including soldiers from Vietnam. The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense expect you to excellently fulfill your mission, Cuong added. Major General Pham Van Ty, commander-in-chief of the Vietnamese military force participating in the rescue work in Turkey, said besides the 76 soldiers, six working dogs and 35 metric tons of equipment and supplies, which are enough for a month, were sent to Turkey as well. In particular, there are 10 metric tons of dry provisions, 13.5 tons of food and foodstuffs, 2.2 tons of medical equipment and medicines, and three metric tons of other supplies, among others. After reaching Turkey, the delegation will discuss the work with rescue forces there, survey the scene, and work out plans to seek victims trapped under the rubble. We may reach the scene on Monday night and will immediately roll up our sleeves to conduct the rescue work, Ty added. Earlier, 24 officials from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security were detached to Turkey to aid in relief efforts. Thus, a total of 100 Vietnamese officers and soldiers have been sent to Turkey. With chances of finding survivors growing more remote, the toll in both countries from last Monday's earthquake and major aftershocks rose above 33,000 and looks set to keep growing. It was the deadliest quake in Turkey since 1939, Reuters reported. Seventy-six Vietnamese military officers come to Turkey with 35 metric tons of goods and equipment. Photo: qpvn.vn The international rescue mission demonstrates Vietnams responsibility for the international community. Photo: Phu Son / Tuoi Tre Vietnamese soldiers are determined to fulfill the mission. Photo: qpvn.vn The delegation will survey the scene of the earthquakes and come up with plans to seek victims trapped under the rubble. Photo: qpvn.vn The flight with the Vietnamese military delegation on board will land in Turkey after 11 hours. Photo: qpvn.vn Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong (R), Deputy Minister of National Defense, and Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci meet the Vietnamese delegation to Turkey. Photo: qpvn.vn Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Luong Van Duong, a young man from the Muong ethnic group, has been searching for a solution to make a chicken breed from his hometown known to the public and eventually become a special brand in Vietnam. Although it is a popular chicken breed from Lang Chanh District in Thanh Hoa Province, located in north-central Vietnam, this kind of poultry is still unknown to many people. As the secretary of the youth union of Khu I Village in Giao Thien Commune, Lang Chanh District, Duong became a pioneer in finding an innovative way to raise this breed of chicken and made it a local delicacy. After gaining a ton of experience raising this chicken breed over the past six years, Duong established a cooperative for raising Lang Chang chickens partially outdoors. The cooperative brings together fifteen chicken farms with up to 15,000 birds per flock. With this, Duong aims to expand chicken farming and build a unique brand name for the local chicken, as well as provide the market with high-quality chicken products. In short, his solution combines farming chickens in cages with raising them outdoors for a period of time before selling them. After being raised in fenced areas for three months, the chickens are released on the hills where they can run free to find food outdoors. This way, the quality of the chickens improves significantly, and they acquire a special taste. Although Duong has faced headwinds and suffered great losses for some time in the past, he did not dissolve the cooperative because he was determined to establish the brand name for his hometown's chicken. As the secretary of the youth union, Duong has tried to find his own way to overcome obstacles. He continues and shares his experience with anyone who wants to learn more about raising Lang Chanh chickens. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Giao Thien Commune organizes trips to typical chicken rearing models for young people who want to learn from chicken farmers. "I do not hide anything from them, from choosing the best breeds, caring for the chickens, and preventing diseases to installing a system to feed them automatically," Duong said. "I share everything I can in the hope of helping them avoid failures I once encountered and be able to ensure success once they start." The Youth Union of Giao Thien Commune considers it an important task to provide young people with information and knowledge about chicken farming. In this way, they can help them make a career as the Lang Chanh chicken breed can grow healthily in their community. The union hopes to build an associated chain for raising Lang Chanh chickens over time, which will enable the local youth to have a stable career in their hometown. The COVID-19 pandemic has finally subsided, the chicken flocks are growing healthily on Duong's farm, and his efforts have paid off after he sold them in time for the Lunar New Year festival last month. However, the most important thing for the young man from the Muong ethnic group is that the Lang Chanh chicken has gained popularity. More and more people have heard of the chicken's brand name, so Duong is very confident that it will be known nationwide in the coming years. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Luong Van Duong, a young man from the Muong ethnic group, has been searching for a solution to make a chicken breed from his hometown known to the public and eventually become a special brand in Vietnam. Although it is a popular chicken breed from Lang Chanh District in Thanh Hoa Province, located in north-central Vietnam, this kind of poultry is still unknown to many people. As the secretary of the youth union of Khu I Village in Giao Thien Commune, Lang Chanh District, Duong became a pioneer in finding an innovative way to raise this breed of chicken and made it a local delicacy. After gaining a ton of experience raising this chicken breed over the past six years, Duong established a cooperative for raising Lang Chang chickens partially outdoors. The cooperative brings together fifteen chicken farms with up to 15,000 birds per flock. With this, Duong aims to expand chicken farming and build a unique brand name for the local chicken, as well as provide the market with high-quality chicken products. In short, his solution combines farming chickens in cages with raising them outdoors for a period of time before selling them. After being raised in fenced areas for three months, the chickens are released on the hills where they can run free to find food outdoors. This way, the quality of the chickens improves significantly, and they acquire a special taste. Although Duong has faced headwinds and suffered great losses for some time in the past, he did not dissolve the cooperative because he was determined to establish the brand name for his hometown's chicken. As the secretary of the youth union, Duong has tried to find his own way to overcome obstacles. He continues and shares his experience with anyone who wants to learn more about raising Lang Chanh chickens. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Giao Thien Commune organizes trips to typical chicken rearing models for young people who want to learn from chicken farmers. "I do not hide anything from them, from choosing the best breeds, caring for the chickens, and preventing diseases to installing a system to feed them automatically," Duong said. "I share everything I can in the hope of helping them avoid failures I once encountered and be able to ensure success once they start." The Youth Union of Giao Thien Commune considers it an important task to provide young people with information and knowledge about chicken farming. In this way, they can help them make a career as the Lang Chanh chicken breed can grow healthily in their community. The union hopes to build an associated chain for raising Lang Chanh chickens over time, which will enable the local youth to have a stable career in their hometown. The COVID-19 pandemic has finally subsided, the chicken flocks are growing healthily on Duong's farm, and his efforts have paid off after he sold them in time for the Lunar New Year festival last month. However, the most important thing for the young man from the Muong ethnic group is that the Lang Chanh chicken has gained popularity. More and more people have heard of the chicken's brand name, so Duong is very confident that it will be known nationwide in the coming years. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 51-year-old man survived the high seas by holding onto an insulated ice box for four hours after his fishing boat capsized around Con Dao Island off Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam on Saturday. The survivor, Nguyen Thanh Phuong, safely arrived at his home on Con Dao Island at 0:05 on Sunday, according to the islands police. Phuong called his wife at 7:52 pm on Saturday, urging her to seek help when his fishing boat was sinking about 10km off the island. Nguyen Minh Trieu, his younger brother, reported the incident to local authorities, who then dispatched a motorboat to rescue Phuong. Trieu and some members in the family also used their own motorized boat to look for Phuong with the authorities permission. Trieus boat was the first to find Phuong holding onto an insulated ice box drifting at sea between the Cau and Bay Canh islets at around 11:30 pm the same day. This photo shows Nguyen Thanh Phuong (R), who used an insulated ice box to survive a shipwreck around Con Dao Island off Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam, February 12, 2023. Photo: Bui Quang Khai / Tuoi Tre According to Phuongs account, he was quick to take his cellphone to call his wife and pour out all the ice and fish stored in the ice box to use as a float a few minutes before his fishing boat completely sank. He also managed to drop the anchor to prevent the boat from drifting. After that, Phuong clung to the insulated ice box and swam toward the Bay Canh islets lighthouse, but after a while, he cramped and had to let his body rest. Fortunately, Phuong had a flashlight on his head so rescuers could detect him. Phuongs physical and mental health was stable during the rescue even though he was very cold. The Con Dao Island police are investigating the incident. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 51-year-old man survived the high seas by holding onto an insulated ice box for four hours after his fishing boat capsized around Con Dao Island off Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam on Saturday. The survivor, Nguyen Thanh Phuong, safely arrived at his home on Con Dao Island at 0:05 on Sunday, according to the islands police. Phuong called his wife at 7:52 pm on Saturday, urging her to seek help when his fishing boat was sinking about 10km off the island. Nguyen Minh Trieu, his younger brother, reported the incident to local authorities, who then dispatched a motorboat to rescue Phuong. Trieu and some members in the family also used their own motorized boat to look for Phuong with the authorities permission. Trieus boat was the first to find Phuong holding onto an insulated ice box drifting at sea between the Cau and Bay Canh islets at around 11:30 pm the same day. This photo shows Nguyen Thanh Phuong (R), who used an insulated ice box to survive a shipwreck around Con Dao Island off Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam, February 12, 2023. Photo: Bui Quang Khai / Tuoi Tre According to Phuongs account, he was quick to take his cellphone to call his wife and pour out all the ice and fish stored in the ice box to use as a float a few minutes before his fishing boat completely sank. He also managed to drop the anchor to prevent the boat from drifting. After that, Phuong clung to the insulated ice box and swam toward the Bay Canh islets lighthouse, but after a while, he cramped and had to let his body rest. Fortunately, Phuong had a flashlight on his head so rescuers could detect him. Phuongs physical and mental health was stable during the rescue even though he was very cold. The Con Dao Island police are investigating the incident. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Foreign Correspondent returns to ABC this week, with a report from James Oaten on Japans military build-up. After decades of peace, Japan is now confronting the possibility of war. With concerns over a resurgent Russia, North Korea and crucially, a more powerful China in the region, Japan is embarking on its biggest military spend since the Second World War. On Foreign Correspondent, reporter James Oaten has gained unique access to the Japanese military as it fortifies its remote southwest islands with new military bases. The popular tourist destination of Ishigaki, an island that is closer to Taiwan than Tokyo will soon be home to hundreds of soldiers, stockpiles of ammunition and missiles that could one day strike mainland China. The local farming and fishing community is divided over the base, and what it means for their idyllic way of life. The population paid a high price in the dying days of World War 2, fuelling fears that they will once again become a target. 8pm Thursday on ABC. Australian government production incentives have led to $16.5b in economic output over the past four years. A new report by Olsberg SPI, since the introduction of the Offsets, found total production expenditure in Australia grew to more than A$2.2 billion in 2021/22, up 91% over the four years studied $5.89 return for every $1 invested. The Study on the Impact of Film and Television Production Incentives in Australia by Olsberg SPI was launched yesterday by the Australia New Zealand Screen Association (ANZSA) and the Motion Picture Association (MPA) at an event at Parliament House in Canberra. Television titles attracted to Australia under incentives include Shantaram, La Brea, Nautilus, Metropolis, Clickbait, Young Rock, Joe vs Carole, The Tourist, Gods Favorite Idiot aand Irreverent. (L-R and back to front row) Jonathan Olsberg, Paul Muller, Luke Hetherington, Jon Kuyper, Schuyler Weiss, Jennifer Cornwell, Kate Marks Jonathan Olsberg Chairman, Oslberg SPI, said, Our study into the impact of Australias film and television Offsets found that Australias Screen production industry is a thriving economic sector, supported by a suite of effective initiatives in the form of the PDV Offset, Producer Offset and the Location Offset and Incentive. The study provides further evidence that Australias system of screen production Offsets helps deliver economic impact on a consistent basis. Leading the panel discussion was Partner & Producer, SERVO Production Services, Jon Kuyper, who supervised major productions in Australia including The Great Gatsby, Mad Max: Fury Road, Gods of Egypt and more recently produced Thirteen Lives and Woody Woodpecker. Kuyper said, Australias combination of attractive incentives, world class crews and facilities, and magical locations mark it as a global best-in-class for inbound production. However its vital that we see some certainty around the location offset if the country is to achieve its full potential as one of the worlds leading production hubs. Joining Kuyper on the panel was Kate Marks (Ausfilm CEO), Luke Hetherington (Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) Executive in Charge), Schuyler Weiss (Bazmark Managing Director) and unit production manager, Jen Cornwell (Thor: Ragnarok; Kong: Skull Island; Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales). Marks said: International productions play a crucial role alongside Australias domestic productions in growing Australias entire screen ecosystem. They are vital to skills and infrastructure development, offer significant jobs and training opportunities and enable access to the latest technology developments. A permanent 30% Location Offset would ensure a consistent pipeline of both physical production and PDV activity and cement Australias position as a leader in the global screen industry. Tiny House: Iceland continues on Shelter this month plus the life & work of the first Italian architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize; and join a live stream event with filmmakers. Tiny Spaces: Iceland Episode Five: Turf Houses (15 mins) Australia 2023 Available 20 February When the Norwegian Vikings settled in Iceland, they brought with them a tradition of building out of the earth, using natural materials such as wood, uncut stone, and soil. Known as Turf Houses, these structures became the remarkable vernacular architecture of Iceland. Today, contemporary architects are turning to traditional turf building methods for inspiration and choosing to use them in modern Tiny Spaces. Live Stream Event: In Conversation with Damien Lipp & Stephanie Mauro-Lipp 7pm AEST February 25th Join Andrew Spicer as he hosts a conversation with husband-and-wife filmmaking duo Damien Lipp and Stephanie Mauro-Lipp about their latest project, Tiny Spaces: Iceland. The Lipps will share behind-the-scenes stories, insights and challenges they faced while capturing the beauty and stories of these tiny spaces and their occupants in Icelands rugged and often harsh terrain. Aldo Rossi Design (41 mins) Italy 2020 Available 27th February A documentary covering the life and work of Aldo Rossi, the first Italian architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Centred around the exhibition Aldo Rossi Design 1960-1997 at Milans Museo del Novecento, Aldo Rossi Design features never before seen drawings, designs, prototypes, furniture, and objects, and explores Rossis legacy in the history of design and his relationship with industry and experts. Architecture, like all art, is universal, as is science, as is intelligence. Gianni Agnelli By Arpan Chaturvedi, Aditya Kalra and Jayshree P Upadhyay NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Adani Group sought to reassure investors on Monday, saying it had strong cashflows and its business plans were fully funded, as an Indian regulator confirmed it was investigating a critical report by a short-seller that has battered the group's stocks. Led by billionaire businessman Gautam Adani, the group's seven listed stocks have together lost about $120 billion in market value since a Jan. 24 report by U.S. short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of improper use of offshore tax havens and stock manipulation, allegations the group has denied. The turmoil continued on Monday, with shares in the listed companies extending their losses. Seeking to calm investors, the conglomerate in a statement to Reuters said the balance sheet of each of its independent portfolio companies was "very healthy", adding it had secure assets and strong cashflows, with its business plans "fully funded". "We are confident in the continued ability of our portfolio to deliver superior returns to shareholders," Adani Group said in the emailed statement. Bloomberg News reported on Monday the group had halved its revenue growth target and planned to scale down capital spending. A company spokesperson told Reuters earlier in the day the report was "baseless, speculative", without elaborating. The Adani crisis has sparked worries of financial contagion in India, protests in parliament where lawmakers have demanded an investigation, ratings outlook downgrades of some Adani units and cast a shadow on the group's capital raising plans. Gautam Adani has also lost his crown as Asia's richest person. Adani Group's statement said "once the current market stabilises, each entity will review its own capital market strategy." The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been probing the market rout, including examining trade patterns and any potential irregularities in the $2.5 billion share sale of flagship company Adani Enterprises that the Adani group was forced to cancel due to the stock's plunge, Reuters has previously reported. Story continues SEBI confirmed the existence of the investigation for the first time in a Supreme Court filing. "SEBI is already enquiring into both the allegations made in the Hindenburg report as well as the market activity immediately preceding and post the publication of the report," the regulator said in the filing seen by Reuters, adding the matter was in early stages of examination. During a court hearing on Monday where the Supreme Court heard public interest petitions that raise concerns about steep investor losses, Indias Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, arguing on behalf of the government and SEBI, said there was no objection if a panel was setup to examine protection mechanisms for investors. The judges told him to come back with the remit of such a panel, and scheduled a further hearing for Friday. SEBI is set to brief federal finance ministry officials on Feb. 15 on its investigation into the shelved share sale, two sources told Reuters on Monday. SEBI and the finance ministry did not respond immediately to Reuters requests for comment. Last week, Moody's downgraded the ratings outlook for some Adani companies, while index provider MSCI said it would cut the weightings of some in its stock indexes. On Monday, all stocks of the Adani group were under pressure. Adani Enterprises fell 7%, while Adani Total Gas, Adani Power and Adani Transmission lost 5% each. Adani Total, a joint venture with France's TotalEnergies, has lost 70% since the Hindenburg report, while Adani Enterprises is down 50%. Since the Hindenburg report's release, Adani Group has prepaid some of its $25 billion debt and pledged to independently review the short-seller's claims, but the carnage in its securities has continued. GRAPHIC: Adani Enterprises, Adani Total biggest casualties of Hindenburg rout Adani Enterprises, Adani Total biggest casualties of Hindenburg rout (https://www.reuters.com/graphics/ADANI-INDIA/gdpzqdamwvw/chart.png) "The effects of management's attempts to reassure investors will take at least three to six months to start reflecting in share prices. Price damage has been significant," said Avinash Gorakshakar, head of research at Profitmart Securities. In Mumbai, around 100 political workers and activists of opposition Communist Party of India marched shouting anti-Adani slogans and holding posters with cartoons of Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Opposition critics accuse Modi's government of giving undue favours to the Adani Group. The government and Adani both deny excessively close ties. "The effect of our protests is visible as Adani shares continue to fall," Feroze Mithiborwala, one of the protesters, said. In recent days, concerns have also arisen about exposure of Indian and foreign lenders to the Adani Group. In its rebuttal of Hindenburg's allegations, the conglomerate had pointed to its international banking relationships as a sign of its strength. Singapore's DBS Group said on Monday it had a S$1.3 billion ($976 million) exposure to Adani group companies, out of which S$1 billion was to finance its cement business. DBS said it was not concerned about its exposure to the group. GRAPHIC: Hindenburg's toll on Adani (https://www.reuters.com/graphics/INDIA-ADANI/mopaklzaypa/chart.png) (Additional reporting by Anshuman Daga and Yantoultra Ngui in Singapore, Bharath Rajeswaran and Chris Thomas in Bengaluru, Francis Mascarenhas in Mumbai; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Mark Potter) Afghan journalists who worked for the BBC in Afghanistan and have been living in fear are set to have applications to move to the UK reconsidered following a ruling by a High Court judge, a lawyer said. Eight journalists had taken legal action against Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Suella Braverman after failing in bids to relocate to the UK. Mr Justice Lane considered evidence at a recent High Court hearing in London and made a ruling in the journalists favour on Monday. He heard that the eight journalists had worked in high-profile roles for the BBC and other media agencies and had made applications under the Governments Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP). Law firm Leigh Day, which represented the journalists, said a decision to reject applications had been found to have been made on an erroneous basis. Lawyer Erin Alcock, who is based at Leigh Day, said after the ruling that the journalists had been living in fear. Our clients are pleased their applications will be reconsidered by the ARAP team, she said. They have been living in fear for over 18 months now, waiting to find out whether they will be relocated to the UK. During this time the group have been subjected to threats, torture and attacks on their lives because of their work. She added: This case demonstrates the importance of rigorous decision making, given the serious consequences for the applicants should any errors be made. A Leigh Day spokeswoman said: The decisions by ARAP to reject applications from all eight journalists, who worked for the BBC and other agencies supporting the British military in Afghanistan, were found to have been made on an erroneous basis. The court found that the ARAP caseworker deciding their applications had erred in confining their decisions to the issue of whether working for the BBC amounted to working for Her Majestys Government (HMG), at the expense of considering whether each of the journalists could have been working alongside, in partnership or closely supporting an HMG department. Story continues Lawyers said the journalists had applied for relocation to the UK under the ARAP, but officials had decided they were not eligible for relocation under that scheme. A judge heard that the eight journalists had worked in high-profile roles for the BBC and other media agencies (Jonathan Brady/PA) The journalists said they had been told that they did not meet the eligibility criteria but had not been given any or adequate reasons why. They said their applications under a discretionary policy had also been refused and said that decision was unreasonable and unfair. The Leigh Day spokeswoman added: The court considered there to be more than a fanciful prospect of a different outcome in relation to their eligibility, if not for this error. Accordingly, the eight applications are to be reconsidered by the Ministry of Defence ARAP team. New decisions are expected within 21 days. She said the journalists worked for the BBC, embedded with military personnel, and worked on projects funded by the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office during the time the British military was stationed in Afghanistan before August 2021. They exposed Taliban corruption and abuse, reported in support of the British mission, spoke out critically against the Taliban and promoted media freedom, democracy and human rights, she said. Their work resulted in numerous threats and attacks on their lives by Taliban fighters, another criterion for a successful relocation application. The journalists had made five complaints about Government decisions. Mr Justice Lane upheld one complaint and dismissed four. Douglas Alexander to stand in Scottish seat at general election (Image: PA) THE former Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander has been selected for one of Labours top target seats at the general election. Mr Alexander was last nighted chosen by members as the candidate for East Lothian, which is currently held by Albas Kenny MacAskill. Mr Alexander, 55, overcame some fierce local opposition, amid accusations that he was a carpet-bagger with no connection to the area. Born in Glasgow, he was a Paisley MP for 18 years, until being unseated by 20-year-old Mhairi Black in the SNP tsunami of 2015. Confirming his selection on Twitter, he wrote: Hes running! Humbled and grateful to be overwhelmingly selected by local party members as Scottish Labours candidate for East Lothian. Change is coming to our country and Im determined to play my part by winning East Lothian back for Scottish Labour. After helping co-ordinate UK Labours successful election campaign in 2001 Mr Alexander he was made a junior minister in Tony Blairs government, serving in various roles before being made both transport secretary and Scottish secretary in 2006. When Gordon Brown became prime minister in 2007 he appointed Mr Alexander his international development secretary. Mr MacAskill, a former justice secretary, won East Lothian for the seat for the SNP in 2019 with a majority of 3,866 over Labour. However he defected to Alex Salmonds Alba party in 2021, and is seen as unlikely to hold it for Alba, making the seat a key Labour target. Alba today demanded Mr Alexander apologise for supporting the UKs participation in the Iraq War twenty years ago under Mr Blair. The war was based on dictator Saddam Hussein possessing weapons of mass destruction, but these proved to be a myth, and the country has been bloody and chaotic ever since. Alba General Secretary Chris McEleny said an entire generation of Scots would never forgive the Labour Party for supporting the illegal invasion. He said: Douglas Alexander was a key member of Blairs Government and he rose through the Government ranks as a thanks for his loyalty in situations such as backing the Iraq War. Story continues He is a part of a New Labour Old Guard that to this day have never offered an unreserved apology for the hundreds of thousands of lives that were lost as a result of their actions. Mr Alexander was also an enthusiastic supporter of the decision to bomb Libya and just like Iraq that has led to completely devastating and long lasting issues in the region. The people of Scotland strongly opposed the Iraq war. Those that supported it should have been answering questions at a War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, not trying to work their way back into elected office. By Crispian Balmer and Angelo Amante ROME (Reuters) -Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her coalition allies secured emphatic election wins in the two wealthiest regions of the country on Monday, strengthening the right's grip on power amid growing voter apathy. Less than five months after sweeping to power at the national level, the conservative bloc took more than 55% of the vote in Lombardy, home to the financial capital Milan, and around 50% in Lazio, which is centred on Rome. "This result consolidates the centre-right and strengthens the work of the government," Meloni wrote on Twitter. It was the first electoral test for Meloni since she won power last September and confirmed that she is still enjoying a strong honeymoon with voters, helped by a weak opposition that failed to present a unified front in either region. However, the resounding victory was partially overshadowed by the fact that only 40% of people cast a ballot -- the lowest turnout ever recorded for Lazio and Lombardy, which together account for just over a quarter of the Italian population. "It is unfortunate that the turnout was very, very low. We must try to rebuild the relationship between citizens and institutions," Fabio Rampelli, a senior member of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, told RAI television. While the right already controlled Lombardy, they grabbed Lazio from the centre-left, meaning conservatives now run 15 of Italy's 20 regions as well as central government, giving it a unique opportunity to shape domestic politics. Brothers of Italy confirmed its position as the most popular party in the country, winning an estimated 33% backing in Lazio and 26% in Lombardy -- in line with the 2022 general election. However, fears inside the coalition that support might crumble for Meloni's two main partners proved unfounded. Matteo Salvini's League strengthened its standing in its Lombardy heartlands while Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia easily outpaced centrist rivals who had courted its supporters. Story continues The result offered no comfort to the centre-left camp, comprising the Democratic Party (PD), the 5-Star Movement and so-called Third Pole, which is riven by mutual loathing. "We hope that this result finally shows 5-Star and the Third Pole that the opposition should be directed against the government and not the PD," said PD leader Enrico Letta. Italy's electoral laws at both a national and regional level favour parties that combine forces meaning Meloni's opponents face years in the wilderness unless they learn to work together. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Angelo Amante; Editing by Gavin Jones and Hugh Lawson) Prince William meets the public in Falmouth (Getty Images) The police detained a man holding up a blank piece of paper in Cornwall last week. A blank piece of paper can mean anything a blank piece of paper is filled with possibilities but it was a protest against monarchy. The Prince and Princess of Wales were visiting the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth. A man held up the page, shouted an anti-monarchy sentiment and was detained, as similar protestors were detained in the early days of the Kings reign at Edinburgh and at Oxford, including an academic who remarked that no one had voted for the King, which is true. I would call it un-British Im an optimist but it clearly isnt. Republicans exactly a quarter of the population, according to the latest YouGov poll, rising to half of under-24s had better watch what they say, and where they say it. This doesnt serve the monarchy, or us, whom it serves. The new laws on protest mean the police think they can arrest anyone they want (they are wrong), and they do. They arrest journalists, and women attending a vigil for Sarah Everard, who was killed by one of their own, and people holding up stationery. I wonder if they understand that our monarchy is both a pretty curio and a dazzling contradiction. Are the police, whose recent idiocies (and crimes) are too many to detail in this column, aware that the Windsors now exist, in their own minds and those of their supporters, to preserve our liberal democracy? They are its guardians. That is the respectable argument for their rule: to protect us from over-reaching politicians, and their bloody tyrannies; from a Victor Orban, a Vladimir Putin, a Donald Trump. (I dont accept the tourism argument for monarchy. Four of the five top global tourist destinations are republics. The other one is Spain). The blank piece of paper protest was invented in Hong Kong as pro-democracy activists measured the breadth of Chinas lies, and perfected in Russia in the early days of the war against Ukraine. That alone should secure its use in Britain: whatever a tyrant hates, we should want. Story continues There is no suggestion that the detention was approved of by the royal family, and I would be amazed if it were. They get worse from the tabloids, and, during a 2010 riot sparked by tuition fees, when the now Kings car was surrounded and attacked by protesters as it took him to the Royal Variety Performance, his protection officers did not even fire their guns into the air. They rule by consent, and they, at least, know it. The late Queen was shot at during Trooping the Colour in 1981. Apart from soothing her horse, she barely reacted. I doubt she would have noticed, let alone minded, a blank piece of paper but she knew her job. A democracy that welcomes protest is a confident democracy, and one that doesnt wont stay a democracy for long. If we are threatened by a blank piece of paper near a prince or if he is there really is no hope for us. If we see a lot of this around the coronation the King might fairly ask: what exactly am I for? Rufuss royal flush there is happy news for Prince Andrew. In Scoop, a forthcoming film about his disastrous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, in which he said he couldnt sweat and had very clear memories about Pizza Express in Woking, he will be played by Rufus Sewell. This should cheer the prince: Sewell has a gift for tragic heroes. He was marvellous as the suicidal Jewish artist Mark Gertler in Carrington you should view the Gertlers at the Tate and as Will Ladislaw in Middlemarch, and as the Reverend Duchemin in Parades End, who went mad. He is handsome too: its hard to imagine him fitting easily into to the wobbly, self-piteous TV addict with a teddy bear collection that is the Kings younger brother. Andrew may be a pathetic thing, but he will be pleasing to look at, and theres a metaphor. Philippines urges China to prevent any 'provocative act' after complaint over laser Chinese coast guard ship in Second Thomas Shoal By Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) -China should restrain its forces to prevent them committing any "provocative act", the Philippine military said on Monday, after Manila accused China's coast guard of using a laser to try to disrupt a resupply mission to troops in the South China Sea. The Philippine coast guard (PCG) said its vessel was assisting a navy mission to deliver food and supplies to troops on an atoll in the disputed waterway on Feb. 6 when a Chinese coast guard ship directed a "military-grade laser" at the ship, temporarily blinding its crew on the bridge. "I think it's time for the Chinese government to restrain its forces so that it does not commit any provocative act that will endanger the lives of people," military spokesperson Medel Aguilar told reporters. Aguilar quoted the Philippine defence chief as saying the Chinese action was "offensive" and unsafe. The incident took place at the Second Thomas Shoal, 105 nautical miles (195 km) off the Philippine province of Palawan. The shoal is home to a small Philippine military contingent on board a rusty ship. The 100-metre long (330-ft) World War Two ship was intentionally grounded on the shoal, known in the Philippines as Ayungin, in 1999 to reinforce Manila's sovereignty claims in the Spratly archipelago. "The deliberate blocking of the Philippine government ships to deliver food and supplies to our military personnel ... is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights," the PCG said in a statement. China's foreign ministry said in response that its coast guard conducted actions according to the law. "We urge the Philippines to avoid such actions, and the actions of China's staff are professional and restrained," China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, told a regular briefing. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the United States stood with the Philippines over the reported laser use. Story continues "The PRCs (People's Republic of China) conduct was provocative and unsafe," he said in a statement. "More broadly, the PRCs dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional peace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law, and undermines the rules-based international order." GREEN LIGHT The PCG did not elaborate on what a "military grade laser" was but images it supplied showed green light emanating from a Chinese vessel with bow number 5205. The office of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declined to comment, referring reporters to the PCG statement. Marcos visited Beijing last month when China said it was ready to manage maritime issues "cordially". It is not the first time China has been accused of using lasers in the region. In February last year, Australia accused China of an "act of intimidation" after a Chinese navy vessel directed a laser at an Australian military surveillance aircraft. The reported bid to block the Philippine resupply mission comes as Marcos has expressed openness to forging a visiting forces agreement (VFA) with Japan to boost maritime security. Marcos visited Japan last week to strengthen security ties. Close U.S. ally Japan in December announced its biggest military-build up since World War Two, fuelled by concern about aggressive Chinese action in the region. The Philippine president also recently granted former colonial power the United States access to more military bases under a VFA, which China said undermined regional stability and raised tensions. The agreement with the United States provides rules for the rotation of thousands of U.S. troops in and out of the Philippines for exercises. (Reporting by Karen Lema; Additional reporting by Martin Polland in Beijing and Costas Pitas in Los Angeles; Editing by Robert Birsel and Stephen Coates) (Bloomberg) -- Russias military is still struggling in Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin continues to change generals the way I swap socks, John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, told reporters. Most Read from Bloomberg Ukraine is going through ammunition many times higher than allies current rate of production, straining industries, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said ahead of a defense ministers meeting Tuesday. The waiting time for large-caliber ammunition has increased from 12 to 28 months, which means that orders placed now wont be delivered until two-and-a-half years later, he said. An International Monetary Fund mission started talks Monday with Ukrainian officials as the fund weighs a multiyear aid package worth as much as $16 billion to provide a catalyst for more financial assistance. The government in Kyiv is seeking a full loan package after securing a deal in December for a provisional four-month monitoring program. (See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.) Key Developments EU Is Set to Propose New Sanctions on Russian Tech and Vehicles British Embassy Guard Spied for Russia for Cash, Court Told EU Says Russia Was Forced Into Oil Production Cuts Moldovan Leader Accuses Russia of Ouster Plot in Security Push JPMorgan to Help Ukraine on Debt Capital Markets, Reconstruction On The Ground Russian troops continued to mount attacks mostly in eastern areas around Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Novopavlivka, according to Ukraines General Staff. Ukrainian troops repelled attacks near 11 settlements in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions, it said in a statement on Facebook. Russia remains concerned about guarding the extremities of its extended front line, despite the current operational focus on central Donbas, according to the latest intelligence update from the UKs defense ministry. Story continues (All times CET) Russias Military Is Still Struggling, US Spokesman Says (8:15 p.m.) Russias war in Ukraine is hobbled by Putins unsound decisions, logistics and sustainment problems, difficulty coordinating attacks and weaknesses in unit cohesion, spokesman Kirby told reporters at the White House. The Russian military is still struggling, Kirby said. They have not surmounted these problems. And its borne out by the fact that, you know, he continues to change generals the way I change socks. JPMorgan to Help Ukraine on Debt Capital Markets (5 p.m.) JPMorgan Chase & Co. will provide consulting services to Ukraine on areas including its sovereign credit rating and managing the governments liquidity. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and members of JPMorgans asset management division and investment bank signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the Wall Street bank advise Ukraine on reconstruction. NATOs Stoltenberg Says Spy Balloons Show Need for Vigilance (1:30 p.m.) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that incidents of spy balloons in NATO airspace is an indication that allies need to step up cooperation. Its part of a pattern where China, but also Russia, are increasing their intelligence and surveillance of NATO allies, Stoltenberg said. That highlights the importance of our vigilance, increased presence and also that we ramp up, and step up how we share intelligence and how we monitor and protect our airspace. US Shoots Down Fourth Object as China Flings New Accusation Russias New Offensive Has Already Started, NATO Chief Says (1:20 p.m.) Stoltenberg said that Russias expected increased offensive has already started and that Putin has shown no willingness to de-escalate the war. Weve seen the start already, Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels. What Russia does now is to send in thousands and thousands of more troops, taking big losses but putting pressure on Ukrainians. He added that its imperative for allies to supply Ukraine with more weapons. Deputy Ukrainian PM Warns on Foot-Dragging (12:45 p.m.) Any delay by western nations in taking decisions about helping Ukraine will lead to additional and unnecessary deaths of the countrys citizens and destruction of its infrastructure, according to Olha Stefanishyna, a deputy prime minister in the government in Kyiv. The basic headline of the message that we Ukrainians are bringing to Europe and around the globe is that whatever action could be taken it should be taken now and its urgent, Stefanishyna said at an event in Berlin previewing this weeks Munich Security Conference. Ukraine Bonds at Three-Month Low (11:45 a.m.) Ukraines foreign-currency bonds and GDP warrants fell to the lowest since November after Moodys cut the countrys credit rating to the second-lowest score, Ca, on a par with Argentina. The agency cited long-lasting challenges to Ukraines economy and public finances in its announcement published Friday. Chinas Wang to Attend Munich Conference (11:30 a.m.) Chinas top foreign policy official, Wang Yi, will attend this weeks Munich Security Conference with a large delegation, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hasnt been invited this time, according to organizers. We wont offer Lavrov, whos really only the loudspeaker of President Vladimir Putin, a forum for his propaganda, MSC Chairman Christoph Heusgen told reporters in Berlin. Heusgen left it open whether Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy might attend as a last-minute surprise guest. (A previous version corrected an erroneous timestamp on the map) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Facts about Turkiye, Syria quake: Death toll tops 28,000, int'l aid pour in Xinhua) 15:29, February 12, 2023 ANKARA/DAMASCUS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest facts about quake-hit Turkiye and Syria. -- COMBINED CASUALTIES Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay announced late Saturday that the country's death toll from Monday's earthquakes has climbed to 24,617, bringing the total fatalities with neighboring Syria to over 28,000, with tens of thousands injured. -- RESCUE EFFORTS Search and rescue efforts in 10 quake-hit provinces of Turkiye have now begun to turn to debris removal on the sixth day of the disaster. Rescue teams from across Turkiye and around the world were still trying to find survivors in the rubble of toppled buildings and pulled them out against all odds. However, with casualties soaring, few were pulled out of the rubble on Saturday. Chinese rescuers have successfully rescued at least four survivors so far. An 82-member Chinese rescue team arrived in Turkiye on Wednesday to join earthquake relief efforts in the country. Members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team and other Chinese civil relief squads were also in Turkiye to join the international rescue work. At least 160,000 people, including foreign teams, were on the field for search and rescue efforts, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday. An Armenian delegation with five trucks of aid has entered Turkiye through the Alican Border Gate in the eastern province of Igdir, which opened for the first time in 30 years, the state-run Anadolu News Agency of Turkiye reported Saturday. The World Health Organization (WHO) brought 35 tons of relief aid to the quake-hit Aleppo city in northern Syria on Saturday as WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reached the city and visited some hospitalized people, shelters where displaced people are staying, and damaged areas. -- PROBLEMS &RESPONSE In a statement, the Turkish Medical Association warned about infectious diseases that may occur after the earthquake. Damage to infrastructure such as electricity, water, and sewerage increases the risk of water- and food-borne diseases, the statement said. Addressing the criticism that the quake response was not swift enough, Erdogan said it was impossible to get prepared for a calamity like the earthquakes that struck the country on Monday. Speaking to reporters during his Syria tour, Ghebreyesus said that easing the U.S. sanctions on Syria within the next 180 days would give a window to bring more emergency supplies and support. On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a so-called six-month sanctions exemption for Syria-bound humanitarian aid, saying the U.S. sanctions in Syria "will not stand in the way" of life-saving efforts. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Sheng Chuyi) Flash A Palestinian teenager was killed on Sunday during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The ministry said in a statement that Qusai Waked, 14, died in the hospital after being shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers in the city, adding that three other Palestinians were moderately injured. Palestinian eyewitnesses and local sources said that fierce clashes broke out when an Israeli army force stormed the city to arrest a Palestinian wanted by Israeli security forces for allegedly being involved in carrying out shooting attacks against Israelis. An Israeli army spokesman said in a statement that a complex military operation was carried out jointly between the Israeli army and the interior security in the city of Jenin and arrested one of the wanted Palestinians who was involved in carrying out shooting attacks against Israeli soldiers in the area. The statement added that the soldiers opened fire to disperse militants and dozens of youngsters who threw stones and hand-made bombs at the Israeli army force during the operation in the city. Meanwhile, various Palestinian military groups said in separate statements sent to Xinhua that their militants traded fire with the Israeli soldiers who stormed Jenin. They added that the militants forced the Israeli army force to pull out from the city under their heavy gunfire. Since Jan. 1, the Israeli army has killed 37 Palestinians and wounded dozens of others in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while 10 Israelis were killed in two separate attacks in Jerusalem, according to Palestinian and Israeli official sources. Canvey dad of two died 'after being stabbed in the neck' in attack (Image: essex police) A dad of two died after being stabbed in the neck in an attack on Canvey, an inquest has heard. Matt Portwood, 42, was found injured in the car park close to Iceland in Furtherwick Road at about 1.45am on Saturday February 4. Essex Police launched a murder investigation after the man was found injured in the car park. This morning an inquest into Mr Portwood's death was opened at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford. Get more great stories like this delivered to your inbox every day by signing up to our morning newsletter - don't miss out! Deborah Frost, coroner's officer, said: "Mr Portwood from Canvey died on February 4. He was found unresponsive near the car park of Iceland on Canvey. "An ambulance was called and paramedics attended and his death was confirmed. A post mortem examination was carried out at Southend Mortuary and a provisional cause of death was given of a stab wound to the neck." Coroner Lincoln Brookes said: "I formally open the inquest into the death of Matthew Portwood and suspend the proceedings at the request of Essex Police. "Police have informed me of a criminal investigation and therefore I suspended the inquest process." READ MORE >>> Three men have been charged with murder in connection with Mr Portwood's death. Jamie Lewis, 24, of Bensham Lane, Croydon, Keith Aransibia, 59, of no fixed abode, and Keiron Aransibia, 28, of Evelyn Denington Road, London, E6 have each been charged with murder. Lewis has also been charged with sexual assault on a female and possession of a bladed article in a public place and both Keith and Kieron Aransibia have also been charged with assault. They were due to appear in Southend Magistrates Court on Friday morning. Ollie Lawrence for England during the Six Nations earns praise from captain Owen Farrell Credit: Alamy England captain Owen Farrell was full of praise for centre Ollie Lawrence after his showing in their Six Nations win over Italy at Twickenham. Lawrence was in fine form on a rare start for the Red Rose as he made 83 metres from 11 carries, causing the Azzurri several problems in the 31-14 result. It was a change of style from England in Round Two as they ditched the Marcus Smith-Farrell combination, with the hard-running Lawrence preferred. Praise for centre Lawrence And it seems to have been a success as Farrell was complimentary of the centre, who was made redundant by former club Worcester earlier this season. Ollie did really well, he played the way hes been playing for his club destructive, said Farrell, who was in his club position of fly-half on Sunday. I remember playing against him at the start of the season for Saracens at our place, and he was holding the ball in one hand and batting everyone off like he did against Italy. It was good to see him break the line against Italy and get us on the front foot. There were also strong shifts from the likes of Jack Willis and Alex Dombrandt, the latter admitting hes hoping for a good run of games for England. Ive been working hard in training and really trying to improve my all-round game, so to have that backing from Steve is massively important, Dombrandt said. I try to repay that on the training ground, preparing the team well, and hopefully, on game day, putting in good performances. Keen to get into a rhythm The start of the season for me personally was a bit frustrating because of a knee injury. Then I came back for a couple of games but tore my hamstring. I feel like I play my best rugby when I get into a rhythm of games, and I feel like Im starting to play games consistently, which is always a good thing for me. But Im still looking to improve my all-round game and just keep going. READ MORE: Six Nations: Two Cents Rugby picks his top five players of Round Two The article Ollie Lawrence: England captain Owen Farrell hails destructive centre after Six Nations win over Italy appeared first on Planetrugby.com. (Bloomberg) -- The intensity of Russias military actions, both on the ground in eastern Ukraine and via Fridays massive missile barrage, seems to be rising as the invasions one-year mark approaches. Most Read from Bloomberg Top US and Ukrainian military leaders spoke ahead of Tuesdays meeting of the Ramstein group of allied nations in Brussels. A NATO defense ministerial will follow, as well as the Munich Security Conference that starts Friday. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will reportedly also meet during the Munich event. Russia on Friday launched its biggest barrage of missile attacks so far this year as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy seeks more weapons to fend off Vladimir Putins invasion. Moodys Investors Service on Friday cut Ukraines credit rating to the second-lowest score, citing long-lasting challenges to its economy and public finances from the war with Russia. (See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.) Key Developments Macrons Meloni Snub Lays Bare the Strain on France-Italy Ties Russia Seeks to Gradually Cut Discount to Brent for Tax Purposes Ukraine Credit Rating Cut by Moodys on Likely Restructuring Russian Moms-to-Be Flock to Argentina Seeking Safety, Passports For Fear or Money, Consumer Giants Are Staying in Russia On The Ground Dozens of settlements in Donetsk, Luhansk, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mykolayiv and Kherson regions were shelled Saturday with rockets, aviation strikes and drones, the Ukrainian General Staff said. Three rockets hit Kharkiv infrastructure late Saturday, injuring a civilian. Civilian infrastructure was also damaged in Kherson with one injury reported. Five drones were shot down, according to General Staff. Russian troops focus its main efforts on offensive actions in the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut and Avdiyivska directions in eastern Ukraine, using planes to strike the positions of Kyivs troops. Story continues (All times CET) Berlusconi Blames Zelenskiy for Ukraines Plight (8:15 p.m.) Silvio Berlusconi, who heads the Forza Italia junior party in Italys coalition government, said Zelenskiy was prolonging Russias invasion of Ukraine and blamed the Ukrainian president in part for his countrys devastation. If he had not attacked the two autonomous republics of Donbas this would have not happened, the Ansa newswire cited Berlusconi as saying in Milan. I have a very negative view of his behavior. He was referring areas of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis government reiterated its full support of Ukraine after the former premiers remarks. A Berlusconi spokesperson declined to comment. Ukraine Minister Calls on FATF to Expel Russia (5:25 p.m.) Russia should be expelled from the 37-member Financial Action Task Force, a global group that aims to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, Ukraines finance minister wrote in a Financial Times op-ed. Blacklisting Russia would create universal controls and require enhanced due diligence, Serhiy Marchenko wrote. Any transaction with the Russian financial system would be reviewed and scrutinized. The Paris-based group will have working meetings starting Feb 20 that run through Feb 24, the one-year mark of Russias invasion of Ukraine. G-7 Foreign Ministers to Meet During Munich Conference (1 p.m.) Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations will discuss Ukraine on Feb. 18, coinciding with the Feb. 17-19 Munich Security Conference, Japans Yomiuri Shinbun reported, citing government sources it didnt identify. The ministers in Munich are expected to discuss measures to back Ukraine and tighten sanctions against Russia, the newspaper said. Japan holds the rotating presidency of the G-7 this year. The next formal foreign ministers meeting is scheduled for mid-April. Russia Wants to Gradually Cut Crude Discount to Brent (12:15 p.m.) Russia is seeking to gradually narrow the discount on its key export crude oil to the Brent benchmark as the government tries to boost budget revenues amid sanctions. The government proposes to limit the discount on Urals to Brent at $34 a barrel in April, $31 in May and $28 in June to calculate mineral extraction tax and profit-based tax. From July 1 the discount will be set at $25. Read more: Russia Seeks to Gradually Cut Discount to Brent for Tax Purposes Germany Wants Shared Refugee Burden (12:30 p.m.) Germanys interior minister called for support for Ukrainian refugees to be better shared among EU countries. Should there be another large wave of people fleeing Ukraine, the refugees should be better spread out in Europe, Nancy Faeser told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag ahead of a summit of German officials Thursday on displaced persons. To date, Poland has taken in over 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees and Spain has only 160,000. It cant remain like this, she said. Germany in 2022 took in over 244,000 refugees, the most since 2016. Many Consumer Giants Are Staying in Russia (12 p.m.) As the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine nears the one-year mark, many goods continue to be supplied by US and European companies with outposts in Russia, including Colgate, Procter & Gamble and LOreal. Should these firms change their mind about staying in the face of mounting legal and reputational risks, they now have another challenge: the Kremlin is making it more expensive to leave. While there are no Western sanctions on the everyday consumer sector, restrictions on Russian banks and individuals have made operating in the country more difficult. Read more: For Fear or Money, Consumer Giants Are Staying in Russia No Electricity Usage Limits On Sunday, Grid Operator Says (11 a.m.) Ukraine started the day with no household electricity shortages, grid operator Ukrenergo said on Telegram, after round-the-clock repair work and the resumption of operations at two atomic power plants. Restoration work continues at thermal power plants damaged during recent Russian missile and drone attacks. The company warned that should consumption increase too much, emergency shutdowns are still possible in the Odesa, Kyiv, Khmelnitskiy and Zhytomyr regions. Reznikov Sees No Chance of Russia Storming Odesa By Sea or Land (10:30 a.m.) Ukraines defense chief discounted the possibility of Russia storming Odesa by sea or land, according to a Ukrainian Navy post on Facebook. In order to threaten the key Black Sea port city, Russia needs to have dominance on the Black Sea, which Kyiv undermined with its sinking of the warship Moskva in the spring, Oleksii Resnikov said. Russia failed to approach to the city by land and now they are thrown back to the left bank of the Dnipro, which together with destroyed bridges and crossings is a powerful natural protective barrier, he said. Russian Casualties Likely at Highest Rate Since February, UK Says (8 a.m.) The UK defense ministry in a Twitter update said that over the past two weeks, Russia has likely suffered its highest rate of casualties since the first week of the invasion as poorly trained and under-resourced troops increasingly take to the battlefield. As estimated by Ukraine, which the UK said it cant verify but are likely accurate, the mean average of Russian casualties in the past seven days has climbed to 824. Ukraine is also seeing a high attrition rate, the UK added. US, Ukraine Defense Chiefs Speak Ahead of Ramstein (7 a.m.) Ukraines defense minister spoke with his US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ahead of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The Ramstein meeting, named for a US air base in Germany, will be held Tuesday at NATO headquarters in Brussels. A NATO defense ministerial meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. Austin and Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, will attend. We discussed the current situation at the front, the urgent needs of the defense forces of Ukraine and priorities for the meeting, Ukraines Oleksii Reznikov said on Twitter. Ukraine Pushes for Sanctions on Russian Atomic Industry (7 a.m.) UNs nuclear agency, which currency las missions at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants, should help to accelerate the process of imposing sanctions on Russian nuclear industry, Ukraines energy minister said on Facebook after meeting with one of acting IAEA experts group. Russia must strictly answer for the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, for missiles and drones near nuclear power facilities, and for neglect of international principles of nuclear and radiation safety, Herman Halushchenko added. Zaluzhnyi Tells US Joint Chiefs Milley That Ukraine Still Holds Bakhmut (5:40 p.m.) Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraines armed forces, spoke Saturday with Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. The previous announced call between the pair was on Jan. 25. Milley and Zaluzhnyi discussed Fridays massive Russian missile barrage, air defense for Ukraine, and Russias use of underwater drones that may threaten the Black Sea safe-transit corridor, according to a Twitter post. Kremlin forces are attacking Ukrainian positions as many as 50 times a day in the Donetsk region, Zaluzhnyi told Milley. The Ukrainian commander also said his forces continue to hold Bakhmut under our control. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Giant paper-mache carnival floats are back on the streets of Viareggio in Tuscany, for the citys 150-year-old carnival, awing crowds of onlookers from around the world. Before the carnival, some families worked on their floats for months, creating magnificent allegorical floats, each with its own meaning. We used to wake up in the morning and build floats with Legos. That was our game, Umberto Cinquini, a carnival artist, told Euronews. My children did the same because we live in a place that is by the Carnival. People have been reimagining the floats for the carnival since 1873, and it is now one of Italy's largest folk events I always say that those born in Viareggio are born with confetti in their blood. When February comes, something clicks in our head, Marzia Etna, another carnival artist, told Euronews. The Floats, which are known for their political and social satire, are built throughout the year in a dedicated area of the city called Cittadella del Carnevale. Jacopo Allegrucci is one of the artists behind this years floats. Since he was a child, he has had a great passion for the Carnival. I used to go to see the building of the floats, and do miniatures at home myself, he added. Then when I grew up, I studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and started working with some float builders. Channing Tatum has said he still cringes over his first meeting with Matt Damon. Tatum, 42, met Damon, 52, when filming Steven Soderberghs 2011 film Haywire. Speaking to People magazine, Tatum said he was beside myself when being introduced to The Bourne Supremacy who he met at a hotel bar in Albuquerque with Soderbergh. The Shes The Man star was so nervous that he asked a regrettable question. Im such a fan, and still am, he recalled. I sat down next to him, and I was like, Hey man. Where are you from? and I was like, I just asked Matt Damon where hes from. Tatum said he was instantly embarrassed by the question given that Damon, alongside fellow actors Mark Wahlberg and Ben Affleck, are widely known to be from Boston. Everyone on the planet knows where Matt Damon is from, and he obviously knows that I know where Matt Damon is from, and I almost didnt recover, he said. I dont think I said anything for the next maybe two hours or so, and I still think about it today. Every once in a while, Ill just have a cold sweat and feel like, I cant believe.... (Getty Images for Paramount Pictu) Tatum said that Damon tried to make him feel comfortable after he asked the question. He knew I was freaking out and just didnt even acknowledge it. Because hes such a personable guy, Tatum said. He just took care of me in that moment and answered me. It was like nothing ever happened. He was just like, Oh, Im from Boston. Where are you from? and I was like, Im from Florida. In my head I just kept screaming, Im sorry. Im sorry! (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Tatum explained that he tries to avoid meeting people that I admire because he can sometimes panic. The actor went on to say that he and Damon are friendly now, adding that he can kind of, sort of keep it together today. Tatum most recently starred in Magic Mikes Last Dance, which is now in cinemas. His co-star Salma Hayek Pinault recalled the terrifying rehearsal she had with Tatum for the film. You can read The Independents two-star review of Magic Mikes Last Dance here. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Monday held talks with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai. Qin said China will adhere to the basic state policy of opening-up, drive high-quality development and establish a new development paradigm, which will bring new opportunities to China-Thailand cooperation. Qin suggested that the two sides maintain high-level exchanges to bring mutual political trust to a new height, lead practical cooperation to a new level, and encourage new achievements in people-to-people exchanges. Both sides should work together to deepen the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, implement the important decisions of the China-ASEAN Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, and make new progress in multilateral cooperation, Qin added. Noting that Thailand values its relations with China, Don Pramudwinai said the country firmly supports the one-China policy, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and hopes that the two sides will maintain exchanges at all levels and actively promote cooperation in various fields. 'From death comes life': The human composting campaigners lighting the way to a greener afterworld Terramation or human composting has been legalised in six US states recently yet its still not offered anywhere in Europe. In most European countries the only options when you die are cremation or a traditional burial. What you can do with a dead body is often heavily restricted, but there is a growing demand for more options, particularly ones that are environmentally friendly. Funerals are a real public health problem and a real pollution problem. But because it's a death issue, we're not going to talk about it, says Frances Valdes, the president of Humusation France, a group that is campaigning for the legalisation of human composting. So we turn a blind eye. We stick our heads in the sand. What is the environmental impact of cremation? Cremations have a significant carbon footprint. The incineration of a body in a casket releases toxic waste gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide. Around 245kg of carbon emissions are generated by one cremation, the equivalent of charging your smartphone over 29,000 times. Traditional burials also have negative environmental consequences. The chemicals used in the embalming process can leak out and pollute the surrounding soil and waterways. Not to mention the logistical problem of finding enough space for gravesites. The appetite for eco-friendly options is evident. A YouGov poll of 4,987 adults in the UK released this week found that 44 per cent probably would or definitely would consider being turned into compost when they die. What exactly is human composting? The body-composting process that has been legalised in Washington, New York, California, Colorado, Oregon and Vermont is called natural organic reduction or terramation. Corpses are placed in airtight vessels and surrounded by a bulking mixture of the alfalfa plant and sawdust. These organics quickly gather and retain heat naturally, avoiding the costly fossil fuel expenditure of conventional crematoriums. Story continues The heat speeds up the microbial activity and after about 30-50 days, the body is transformed into organic matter. Bones and teeth do not break down in this process and are ground down separately using specialised equipment and then mixed in with the rest of the soil. The new soil is then left for around another 30 days to allow it to stabilise and dry before it is given to the family of the loved one. The Church of England is considering allowing human composting at funerals as a greener alternative to burials and cremations Would you consider being turned into compost when you die? Definitely/probably would: 44% Definitely/probably would not: 32%https://t.co/LhcgXDnMtF pic.twitter.com/D9mpygs1sr YouGov (@YouGov) February 8, 2023 Where has human composting been legalised? Terramation is not available in any European country currently. But it is not the only form of human composting that people are campaigning to bring to the continent. A group in Belgium and France wants to introduce a different way called humusation. The process as we would like to have it legally adopted in France is the most natural process possible, Florence Valdes, president of Humusation France, tells Euronews Green. The body would not undergo the embalming process and would be placed on a secure, fenced-off plot of earth on a bed of organic material. It would then be covered by straw, dead leaves and lawn cuttings and left for four months. After this time a trained person would be sent to remove any fillings or pacemakers and grind down the bones. Another eight months in the correct conditions will fully decompose the body and turn it into humus, a highly fertile part of soil made up of decomposed organic matter. An infographic by the Humusation organisation showing how it works. - Humusation In 2020, a study published by the Catholic University of Louvain examined how the process of humusation affects the bodies of pigs. It found that the carcasses take much longer than expected to decompose, and produce compounds such as ammonia. It concluded that natural humusation is not currently a viable alternative to cremation and traditional burial. In response, the Humusation organisation said there were serious methodological problems with the study and that the method of humusation used was not the same one it is advocating for. What is the appeal of human composting/humusation? For Valdes the appeal of humusation is having the end of her life match the environmentally conscious way that she has lived. From death comes life. Life is reborn from a dead body. And this is exactly the process of life in the forest. Because when you see all the animals that die in the forest, there is no one to go and bury them or cremate them. They die and the forest absorbs all these deaths that take place every day and there is no problem. So, nature is managing death. And it's us, as humans, who complicate things. We spoke to some Euronews Green readers who are also keen to have more sustainable end of life options. We are living in a time where so many are reconnecting to nature, Rachael Close from the UK says. Terramation is the perfect natural way to dispose of our remains. Watching new things grow from the soil would comfort me. Life is all about transformation, Sara Machado from Portugal tells Euronews Green. Having the chance to give back to the earth when I've taken so much from it seems the perfect closure to this circle. Our relationship with death has to be talked about more, she adds. What happens during a water cremation? And soil isnt the only game in town when it comes to new eco-friendly options. Ireland is set to see Europes first water cremation facility open in the coming months. Theres a huge demand for greener end of life options, Elizabeth Oakes, its founder, tells Euronews Green. Oakes has a long-held passion for the funeral service industry. At the age of 18 she studied mortuary science in the US. During this time she began to research sustainable methods for burial and cremation and she discovered resomation, also known as water cremation or aquamation. We use water to bring the body back to its skeletal remains, she explains. So basically [an] alkaline solution and the water and the heat [takes] the flesh back to its chemical components, which is amino acids, peptides, sugars and salts. Elizabeth Oakes is the founder of Pure Reflections, set to open later this year in Ireland. - Pure Reflections The bones are removed and ground down to a fine white powder which is put into an urn and given back to the family. Pure Reflections charge 1200 for the resomation process, which takes three or four hours to complete. The anti-apartheid hero Desmond TuTu chose to be water cremated following his death in 2021. He wanted an eco-friendly funeral and according to UK-based firm Resomation, aquamation uses five times less energy than a fire cremation. What are the barriers to introducing eco-friendly burials in Europe? Many European countries would need to change their laws to allow new options for the disposing of our remains, so change will take time. In the case of humusation a campaign for legalisation is ongoing in France and Belgium. French politician Elodie Jacquier-Laforge tabled a bill in the national assembly at the end of January that aims to allow the experimentation of human composting in France. Valdes believes that certain attitudes hold Europe back when it comes to offering more options at death. There is a very conservative spirit in Europe. That's not the case in the Anglo-Saxon countries, notably the United States, Canada, etc. They are much more open to new processes, she believes. But in Europe, we are very suspicious, we like to do what has been done in the past, even if it is no longer appropriate. Projections suggest a major upset for the ruling Social Democrats in local elections in Berlin with the centre-right Christian Democrats ahead with 27.8% of the vote. If the final results mirror the projections, it would be the first time in more than two decades that the Christian Democrats emerged as the strongest party in Berlin. Kai Wegner, the partys top candidate, thanked Berliners for their votes and promised that we will make Berlin work again. Berliners have long been frustrated by the citys notoriously dysfunctional administration, which has defied cliches of German efficiency for years and made it the laughing stock of the rest of the country. The election itself was a court-ordered rerun of a chaotic 2021 state election that was marred by severe glitches at many polling stations and hours-long queues as some polling centres ran out of ballots or received the wrong ones for the district. After the 2021 election, Franziska Giffey, who belongs to German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats, led the city as Berlins mayor in a three-party left-wing governing coalition with the Greens and the Left party. The 44-year-old was running again Sunday. And on Sunday there were also regional elections in Italy. Candidates backed by Giorgia Meloni's hard-right coalition, Lombardy regional president Attilio Fontana and right-wing Francesco Rocca are expected to triumph in both the northern economic powerhouse of Lombardy and Lazio, which includes the capital Rome. Polling stations will reopen on Monday, when results will begin to be known. A Ukrainian author who fled the country and stopped writing due to the Russian invasion was shocked to see her Ukrainian readership almost double as her fans found comfort in her stories and asked for more. Arina Vilde, 30, from Odesa in southern Ukraine, realised her dreams of becoming an author five years ago and started publishing stories on Ukrainian online platform Booknet, connecting her with readers across the globe. But when Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February last year, Arina was terrified for her life as bombs were fired just 300 metres from her home, forcing her to go to Bulgaria. Arina and her mother agreed that if Russian troops came close to their home they would bury their Ukrainian flags and books (Collect/PA Real Life) Having thought her novels would be far from what her readers needed in a time of war, she was stunned when her Ukrainian readership almost doubled as her fans found respite from the horrors around them in her work. Now Arina and chief executive of Booknet, Sergiy Grushko, are highlighting the importance of celebrating Ukrainian language and culture, explaining the important part language plays in their independence. When my mum told me that soldiers could be close to Odesa she told me that we need to be ready, explained Arina. Arina started writing five years ago (Collect/PA Real Life) We agreed to take all our Ukrainian books and bury them in our backyard. She heard from a friend in 2014 that if Russians found flags or Ukrainian books you could go to jail or be killed. I have a 16-year-old fan who I speak to. She is based in the heart of the fighting and she has buried her Ukrainian flags in her yard. Its terrible. After winning a writing contest five years ago, Arina started writing every day, uploading her romantic books to online platform Booknet and building a loyal fanbase. I just thought, I can do this, she said. I started writing and I didnt stop. I write every day and though its not always a chapter, I write every day when I can. Writing mainly romantic fiction due to high demand, Arina is mostly inspired by her fans. Arina found her fanbase almost doubled after the Russian invasion (Collect/PA Real Life) After I wrote my first romantic books I got many readers, she said. Story continues My main inspiration is my readers. They write comments about what they would like to happen. But I also listen to music and read the news to find some love stories of real people. Then I can transform it. However as Russian troops entered Ukraine in February 2022, Arina and her family were gripped with fear. Arina initially stopped writing in February 2022 (Collect/PA Real Life) When Russia invaded in 2014 I was a student in university people lost their homes, young men were drafted to fight. It was horrible, she said. I was waiting for this for eight years. You knew some day it will come to your house, but we didnt expect this. And in a bid to protect their language, culture, and flag, Arina and her parents made plans to bury their Ukrainian books and flags so if Russian troops invaded, they could protect their language and history. Arina writing in an underground car park hiding from a missile attack (Collect/PA Real Life) For so many years Ukrainians fought for their liberty, their freedom, language and history. For more than 100 years Russia tried to kill it, she explained. My parents remember what it was like when Russia occupied Ukraine. My mum worked with people who were in occupied parts of Ukraine and I have friends from there. They left their homes and had to move to another part of Ukraine. After speaking with a work friend my mum wanted to bury the books if the soldiers came as wed heard about people being jailed for having Ukrainian flags or patriotic books. It was a very bad time in the 90s in Ukraine. My parents worked so hard to give us a future and now they fear that theyve lost this chance. With the war ongoing, Arina stopped writing her beloved books, feeling that her romantic novels would be the last thing her readers would need. The first months after Russias invasion I couldnt write, she said. Arina, pictured here with her mother, fled to Bulgaria when missile attacks started just 300 metres from her home (Collect/PA Real Life) I couldnt focus on books; I thought I will never write again. I didnt think it was what my readers wanted. Eventually, Arina took the tough decision to move to Bulgaria, fearing for her safety. I left my home with just a folder of documents, laptop and small suitcase, she said. Arina dreams one day her books will be published in Ukrainian on paper (Collect/PA Real Life) The week before I left, I heard the alert five or eight times. It was very close to my house, about 300 metres away. I felt in danger. I got in my friends car and went to Bulgaria. We got there in two days; you can usually get there in about 11 hours but there was a line of over 100 cars. Some people were just walking to the border. Little kids, women walking in the rain. It was very difficult emotionally. Arina has continued to write through the hardest times of her life, even in car parks during bomb alerts with little or no electricity (Collect/PA Real Life) However, as Arina settled into her new home in Bulgaria, her fans quickly started to ask where her latest novel was. I got many texts asking when my new book would be finished, she said. I realised they were trying to hide from the reality by reading books. I woke up in June and started writing. It was difficult at first. But when I started writing, I saw that I have more readers than I had before. Ukrainians are supporting Ukrainians and celebrating our language. Its very good. Returning to Odesa in June 2022, Arina has continued to write through the hardest times of her life, even in car parks during bomb alerts with little or no electricity. Some days we dont have electricity and I have to charge in a government place where you can charge your phones and laptops, she said. Arina posts her romantic fiction on Ukrainian platform Booknet (Collect/PA Real Life) I just have to sit and wait. I have become accustomed to writing at any time and place, even if I do not have any inspiration, as its impossible to predict where I will be the next day, or if I will get a chance to write at all. Now Arina hopes that the war will finish. I feel safe now, which for me means I will not see Russian soldiers tomorrow near my house, she said. I just hope that the war will finish and our kids will not know what is to hear explosions. They will be safe. I hope that our future will be better, like our parents made the future better for us. Our parents were not born in independent Ukraine. It is important to remember our culture and language. It is my dream to publish in Ukrainian on paper, but for now I have the chance to publish on the internet. Arina packing help for the military (Collect/PA Real Life) Sergiy Grushko agrees that keeping a language is an important part of resistance. Language is changing, he explained. Before, many writers preferred to write in Russian because its a wider audience. Now people want to support Ukrainian language. Book storages have been under attack, paper publishing is having a difficult time and it is a challenge for publishers. This is why supporting Ukrainian writers is important. I dream that British publishers will pay attention to Ukrainian writers, translating and publishing their books and it will be the best support for them. Hundreds of high school students will get the chance to explore the University of North Georgia (UNG) on all five campuses for this spring's Nighthawk Preview events. Open to all high school students, but best suited for juniors and seniors, Nighthawk Preview offers prospective UNG students tours and information sessions. While information discussed will vary by campus, most Nighthawk Previews will look the same. Prospective students will be able to meet with academic departments, take campus tours and attend information sessions on varying topics. They can also attend question-and-answer sessions with current UNG students. The Nighthawk Preview open house days begin on Feb. 25 on the Dahlonega Campus from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Convocation Center. The Oconee campus will host its Nighthawk Preview in the Student Resource Center from 8:30-11 a.m. March 4. The Blue Ridge Campus Nighthawk Preview will be March 23 from 6-7:30 p.m. March 25 is the Cumming Campus Nighthawk Preview event from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Academic Building. Lastly, on April 1, the Gainesville Campus will have its Nighthawk Preview 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with students in the Hugh Mills Gym and Martha T. Nesbitt building. University of North Georgia (UNG) sophomore Denim Lovett was crowned Miss Georgia Teen USA 2023 on Nov. 19. The competition took place in McDonough, Georgia, where Lovett ran on the platform "involvement counts," which emphasized the importance of student involvement in schools and communities. Lovett is pursuing a Bachelor Science in Nursing. "My job is to let students know what involvement can do for them after graduation," the Bonaire, Georgia, native, said. "I have been able to speak to over 7,000 students, and that number grows daily. Hopefully one day I can help eradicate the statistic of high school dropouts." Lovett, a student on the Dahlonega Campus, loves the still living in the quiet city, but encourages her peers to get involved and build community. She is involved in Revive, Surrender All, and Baptist Collegiate Ministries. She is the CEO and founder of Involvement Counts, an organization aimed at lowering the high school dropout rate. "I am someone who is determined to succeed, and I want to see others succeed as well," Lovett said. "I am also always growing, trying to be the best version of myself so I can be a positive light to others." The University of North Georgia (UNG) College of Education with support from the College of Science & Mathematics co-hosted the annual Georgia Science Teachers Association (GSTA) District 2 and District 12 Conference, also known as the Experiential Learning and Inquiry for Physical Science Educators (E.L.I.P.S.E.) Conference. Held on Jan. 28 on UNG's Gainesville Campus, the event was open to the public and had more than 50 participants. The E.L.I.P.S.E. committee used the event to build a pipeline of educators working together, building relationships, and exchanging information. "The biggest significance of this conference is that science happens in the real world. We have to be emotionally open and prepared to learn. We have to make a meaningful connection," Dr. David Osmond, UNG associate professor of science education and E.L.I.P.S.E. committee member, said. "I saw my students learn how other educators demonstrate their flexibility in facilitating a lot of activities. Things don't always work right, and I hope that they see what it looks like from people who have teaching experience." For 36 years, E.L.I.P.S.E. committee member Frank Lock taught high school chemistry and physics. After attending the 2014 GSTA conference and noticing a low number of north Georgia educators, Lock contacted UNG faculty member Dr. JB Sharma to arrange a science teachers conference at UNG's Gainesville Campus. Dr. Sharma, now an emeritus professor, was strategic in arranging the first E.L.I.P.S.E. Conference, and the conferences that followed it. HA NOI Amid reports of substantial acquisitions of young areca palm by Chinese traders, Nguyen Nhu Cuong, head of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has cautioned farmers on over-cultivating areca palm at the detriment of other crops. Cuong warned that widespread areca palm cultivation could lead to an oversupply crisis and emphasised the importance of keeping abreast of market trends. He said this was not the first time Vietnamese areca palm has been in high demand, saying similar events took place several years ago in the Red River Delta and the Central Highlands. "Traders have been buying areca palm through cross-border channels, not as part of any official trade quota between the two countries. Areca palm is not recognised as a major food source in Viet Nam, and the country currently has no planning for the production of areca palm," he said. "It's important to remember it may take between three to five years to harvest areca palm. Farmers must remain very cautious about its future demand," Cuong added. He said there has likely been a surge in demand for areca palm in the Chinese market, but it's just as likely to diminish in a near future. "Areca palm does not belong in the category of major food sources such as rice, fruit and vegetable. Even the demand for areca palm in the domestic market is rather limited," he said. "We have seen this many times in the past. Once traders stop buying, farmers will almost certainly have to deal with the aftermath,"Cuong said. The department advised farmers not to abolish other crops to grow areca palm to avoid incurring potential financial losses. In the event demand proves stable, farmers and local authorities should work together to build a proper plan for the development and production of areca palm, as well as to establish a trade protocol secured by long-term contracts and official export channels, rather than dealing directly with traders. The department's official stand is to advise against growing areca palmin large numbers as it is not considered a food source. A similar incident occurred last year with farmers in the Mekong Delta growing off-season dragon fruits. As traders abruptly stopped buying, farmers were left to suffer tremendous financial losses. VNS HA NOI To help Turkey deal with aftermaths of the devastating earthquakes that struck the country, the People's Army of Viet Nam (PAVN) has mobilised a team of 76 highly trained military officers to assist with rescue and relief efforts. In a demonstration of friendship and humanitarianism, the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam directed the Ministry of Defence to dispatch a delegation of officers to Turkey. Comprising of the highly-trained Collapse Rescue Team of the Army Corps of Engineers, the delegation is equipped with an extensive range of relief equipment to assist in their search and rescue efforts. With a wealth of experience honed through countless drills at home and abroad, the team is poised to tackle their upcoming mission, which will involve searching for survivors and providing aid in the aftermath of the crisis. "The team are aware of the difficult situation in Turkey, especially the weather," said Major Tran The Thanh. On Saturday, the PAVN's General Department of Logistics assigned a team of medical officers to join the relief mission in Turkey. "I felt sad and emotional after seeing the devastation of the earthquake in Turkey," said Colonel Van Trong Trung, deputy director of the Orthopedic Department, 354 Military Hospital. "My comrades and I are eager to join the relief efforts," he added. According to Trung, the equipment is fully prepared and ready, even for the cold winter weather of Turkey. Although emergency relief for disasters is a relatively new field for doctors, their experience in dealing with the pandemic has brought them confidence in accomplishing the mission. Captain Le Trong Nghia, who joined the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan from 2019 to 2021, will also join the humanitarian mission. "I was surprised to be asked by the Deputy Director of the 354 Military Hospital to go on this mission," said Nghia. "But I am ready as a soldier and a Party member to accomplish missions given by the Party and the country." According to Nghia, the colder weather in Turkey will vastly differ from the weather in South Sudan, where he was on a mission two years earlier. A team of six dogs from the Search and Rescue Dogs of the Border Guards have also been sent to Turkey, along with nine training officers. "The team is proud to be selected by the Border Guards Command to join the relief efforts in Turkey," said Major Tran Quoc Huong, captain of the Search and Rescue Dogs training team. As the weather conditions will be difficult, Brigadier General Hoang Huu Chien, deputy commander and adviser of the Border Guards, encouraged training officers and rescue dogs to be resilient and ensure proper safety measures while doing their missions. In a conference on Friday, Colonel General Nguyen Tan Cuong, chief of the General Staff, deputy minister of Defence, said that there are no direct flights between Viet Nam and Turkey, the army is working closely with Turkish authorities and the Embassy of Turkey in Viet Nam, as well as the Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey, to arrange transportation for the PAVN officers. Cuong aims to have flights arranged by Monday at the latest. Along with 76 officers, the PAVN team will bring 30 tonnes of equipment and 10 tonnes of supplies for affected people. The Ministry of Defence ordered the Department of External Affairs to quickly contact Turkish authorities for transportation and inform the Turkey Disaster and Management Authority (AFAD) of the officers and their relief mission. The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has already deployed a 24-member team that has begun engaging in search and rescue efforts in the southeastern Turkish city of Adiyaman, which is among the localities bearing the brunt of the devastating earthquakes. According to the ministrys police department of fire prevention, fighting and rescue, the delegation arrived at Istanbul's international airport on February 10. Due to difficulties in travelling and transporting 15 tonnes of equipment for rescue work, they were divided into two groups to reach the site where their services were needed. On February 11, they began working at the rubble of a building in Adiyaman where the local authorities said 15 people were trapped. Related inspection and planning activities were thoroughly conducted given extremely difficult conditions, as the temperature dropped to minus six degrees Celsius and buildings continued to collapse, said a team representative. The group left Viet Nam for Turkey on February 9, the first time Viet Nam sent a delegation on an international search and rescue mission to a disaster site so far away. The Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey also sent a working delegation to southeastern provinces to join search and rescue activities for victims. So far, there was no information on Vietnamese citizens dead or injured in the disaster. In addition to contacting authorities and police of ten affected localities to seek information related to Vietnamese citizens and engaging in supporting the victims, the delegation has guided the Vietnamese forces deployed to Turkey, first secretary at the Embassy Nguyen Phu Tan Huong told the Vietnam News Agency. According to Huong, some 200 Vietnamese expatriates live in Turkey, mostly married to Turkish partners, and a few of them reside in the quake-hit areas. To seek support, Vietnamese can contact the embassy through hotlines 0090 545 785 85 48, she advised. Huong said the Association of Overseas Vietnamese in Turkey is raising funds for the victims. For the same purpose, on February 8, the embassy held an event to donate money and necessities. VNS Shinhan Life Vietnam's head office, 20th floor, Friendship building, 31 Le Duan, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City For Shinhan Life Korea, the pandemic period was a very critical time as the insurer had to do everything to bring its member company into operation in the Vietnamese market before February 2022. According to Vietnam's Law on Insurance Business, within 12 months from the date of being granted the establishment and operation licence, the insurance company must go into operation and start its business. In April 2021, Shinhan Lifes project team arrived in Vietnam to carry out the task of establishing a member company. As many provinces and cities implemented social distancing, the project team of eight employees faced numerous challenges in daily life and work as all restaurants and service facilities were closed. Unable to go out, the people who laid the foundations to build Shinhan Life in Vietnam had to adapt almost all of their previously planned strategies. Having overcome a variety of obstacles, on January 25, 2022, Shinhan Life Insurance Vietnam Co., Ltd. launched as planned, starting the journey to bring wonders to life and provide insurance solutions for health and financial protection at a reasonable cost. Achievements in the first year of operation Building a new company at a time when Vietnam was flexibly adapting to the pandemic, while also recruiting and working online, was probably the most memorable period for the team. Since April 2022, the Shinhan Life Vietnam collective has made efforts to promote its business activities, despite the many issues that arose at the time. Shinhan Life's products are putting customers first and taking the first step to protect thousands of customers in Vietnam. From June 2022, the normal rhythm of life returned. The company began to achieve stability in terms of sales, especially the distribution channel via banks, and cooperation with other members of Shinhan's parent group Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Finance. Thanks to a solid financial foundation and a team of professional and experienced staff, the life insurer from South Korea currently owns a diversified portfolio of life insurance products, covering many different health needs to invest in the future of Vietnamese customers. Leveraging distinct features as reasonable costs, easy contract registrations, and quick payments, Shinhan Life's products are putting customers first and taking the first step to protect thousands of customers in Vietnam. The companys distribution channels have developed differently from the general trend in the market. In its first year, the South Korean insurer focused on building and perfecting its telemarketing distribution channel, helping it to bring insurance products closer to every Vietnamese resident in the most effective way. At the same time, the company continues to deploy other distribution channels to promote protective insurance products in the market. Shinhan Life Vietnam focuses on protective insurance products, providing customers with more reasonable fees New year, new goals Vietnam's life insurance market currently features many well-known global brands, requiring newcomers to have a different strategy to succeed. With an optimistic prediction about the development potential of Vietnam's insurance market, Shinhan Life Vietnam focuses on protective insurance products, providing customers with more reasonable fees that meet their actual needs. Shinhan Life Vietnams representative shared that the company will continue to create and develop a different business model to seize opportunities in the transformation process of the Vietnamese market. Currently, Vietnam is encouraging and supporting the development of microinsurance so that people can easily access life insurance. This is an opportunity for Shinhan Life a rookie with an innovative mindset to make a breakthrough and cultivate a solid position in the Vietnamese life insurance market. Looking ahead to a bumper business year To mark the new year, business leaders share their stories about how their businesses have overcome a challenging 2022, as well as their development plans and expectations for the next 12 months and beyond in Vietnam. ESG 4 Plus-the key for SCGs sustainable development journey In the new business context, criteria in environmental, social, and governance is not simply an option, but has become one of the most important strategies for long-term corporate development. EU backs telecom firms' ad-tech plan, photo NOAH BERGER / AFP The Commission approved a proposal from Vodafone, Orange, Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica to set up a platform for sharing anonymised user data with other companies to use for marketing and advertising. The system would act as an alternative to cookies, the software used by the likes of Google and Meta to track users around the web that has fallen foul of European data privacy rules. The Commission said it had reviewed the joint venture plans and "concluded that the transaction would raise no competition concerns in the EEA and cleared the case unconditionally". Under the plan, any users that opt-in will have a unique digital code assigned to them to "allow brands and publishers to recognise users on their websites or applications" and target them accordingly, according to the Commission. The four European firms have stressed that the new initiative -- which will cover users in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK -- will respect the bloc's privacy rules. "The only data shared is a pseudo-anonymised and non-reversible digital token," they said in a statement. "Consumers are free to give or refuse their consent with a single click, as well as to revoke any other consent previously given." The system, which has already been tested in Germany, will now be further tested with pilot schemes in France and Spain. Google fined $162 mn by Indian watchdog over market dominance Google has been fined more than $160 million by India's anti-trust watchdog after a probe found the tech behemoth was abusing its commanding position in the local smartphone market. Google, Apple disappoint as tech earnings hit by gloom Google and Apple on Thursday reported downbeat results for the last quarter of 2022 as Amazon beat expectations, but warned that the coming months would be uncertain in a difficult moment for Big Tech. Sunrise in Ha Long Bay. (Photo: halongbay.com.vn) Hanoi US magazine Travel Leisure has named Vietnams Ha Long Bay among the four idyllic seaside places across Asia to watch sunrise and sunset. According to the magazine, UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, with more than 2,000 limestone islands, is a tourism mecca in Asia. It recommends that the best way to avoid the bustle is to dodge the day trips and do a two-night cruise. This will allow visitors to take in clusters of islands too far for day-trippers or overnighters to get to, and allow them to surrender to the rhythms of the sea and the sun. Once afloat you can watch both sunrise and sunset from the deckits ascent over the Gulf of Tonkin and denouement behind the slew of islands, bays and iconic limestone outcrops. Then wait a while longer because its the blue hour, that twilight time between dusk and darkness, when the locals believe Ha Long Bay is at its most beautiful, the magazine said. Other three places Travel Leisure recommends for sunset and sunrise watching in Asia are Romblon Island in Philippines, Kuakata Beach in Bangladesh, and Kenting National Park in Taiwan (China). Ha Long Bay honoured as Asia's leading tourist attraction in 2021 UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam has been honoured as Asia's leading tourist attraction category at 2021 World Travel Awards. The MoU was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his official visit to Singapore from February 8-11, Dr Tan See Leng, Singapores Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, as well as other government officials from both countries. Keppel Lands and Khang Diens representatives and government officials from Vietnam and Singapore at the MoU exchange ceremony Louis Lim, CEO of Keppel Land confirmed the company is committed to expand its presence in Vietnam, a key market where it sees long-term growth potential. We are pleased to collaborate with like-minded partners, such as the Khang Dien Group, to grow our business as we contribute to Vietnams sustainable development. We are confident that Keppels suite of sustainable urban space solutions, proprietary digital initiatives and access to third-party funds for co-investments, will be a strong complement to the Khang Dien Groups decades of experience and networks in the Vietnam real estate market. Mai Tran Thanh Trang, chairwoman of the Board of Management of the Khang Dien Group, said she was delighted to collaborate with Keppel Land, a reputable Singaporean urban space solutions provider. We believe that Keppel Land's capabilities and experience in high-quality real estate development across the world as well as long-term investment commitment in Vietnam, along with Khang Diens in-depth understanding and principles of sustainable operations, will synergise to reaffirm both companies efforts to developing completed townships and contributing to the sustainable development of Ho Chi Minh City, Trang said. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations for Singapore and Vietnam and the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Partnership. Keppel Land entered Vietnam in the early 1990s. Over three decades, Keppel Land has grown to become one of the largest foreign investors and contributors to urban development in the country, with more than 20 projects and total registered investment capital of about $3.5 billion. In Vietnam, Keppel Land is well known for its quality residential developments, such as Estella Heights, Celesta Rise and Empire City, as well as Grade A commercial developments like Saigon Centre in Ho Chi Minh City. The above-mentioned non-binding MoU is not expected to have any material impact on the earnings per share and net tangible assets per share of Keppel Corporation for the current financial year. Keppel Land and Shopee join hands to collaborate on Celesta Heights project Keppel Land has announced a partnership with Shopee to market Celesta Heights, the latest residential project jointly developed by Keppel Land and Phu Long Real Estate Corporation. Keppel Land nurtures local communities in Vietnam Keppel Land has been in Vietnam since the early 1990s and is one of the largest foreign real estate investors in the country, deeply committed to engaging with and contributing to local communities. Joseph Low, president for Vietnam at Keppel Land, talked with VIR's Binh An about the firm's corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Keppel Land raise plastic waste awareness "Shackles", a sculptured artwork, was chosen as the first prize winner from more than 60 submissions to the Green Sculpture Competition organised by Keppel Land in support of the Plastic Free July global movement and in conjunction with Keppel Land Vietnams 30th-anniversary celebrations. The initiative will see support from development partners amounting to $2.6 billion, with another $7.1 billion from domestic and foreign investors pouring into projects in the Red River Delta region. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised the importance of mobilising as many resources as possible for the development of the Red River Delta. "Attracting such investment is a significant milestone to realising plans that will enable the area to develop sustainably and become a growth driver of the economy in the near future," said Dung. At the conference, held on February 12, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, along with development partners such as the Asian Development Bank, French Development Agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and others, signed an MoU on cooperatively providing capital. A total of 20 projects focusing on infrastructural development have been committed that make up the $2.6 billion. In Haiphong, the scheme will see the construction of social housing with a total investment of $211.3 million from ThaiHoldings; nearly $143.5 million going into the research, development and production of new battery technologies from VinES Energy Solutions; and a container-ship project with a total investment of $60 million from Zim Hai An Joint Venture Company. Quang Ninh province will see $164 million in capital made available by Autoliv Vietnam for the manufacture and export of automobile-safety products, along with $177.4 million from Boltun Vietnam for the production of machine parts. The provinces of Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh, and Ha Nam have also issued investment registration certificates for large-scale projects. Thai Binh province has granted certificates for the construction of a factory to process electronic components and smart devices worth $281.3 million from Compal, one of the suppliers of Apple, and the manufacture of solar energy technologies with a total outlay of $151.7 million from ET Solar Power Hong Kong. Additionally, local and foreign financiers have received in-principle approvals or MoUs for 30 more projects in the region, potentially topping $7.1 billion, including investment in an AEON MALL in Hoang Mai worth $263.4 million; Trang Due 3 Industrial Park will see a commitment of $434.8 million; and Goertek Vina will produce multimedia audio products to the tune of $304.3 million. Red River Delta to be logistics centre of the country Investment attraction in North Vietnam over the next five years will focus on infrastructure and logistics development in order to enable the Red River Delta region to become a key logistics centre for the country, as well as to draw more international investment into the region. Expressway opens up new development space for Red River Delta Built in just over two years since the completion of site clearance and with investment of nearly 13 trillion VND, the 80-km Van Don - Mong Cai Expressway has been opened in the northern province of Quang Ninh. It is expected to open up a new development space for the northern province of Quang Ninh and the entire Red River Delta. Plant & Food Research in New Zealand and the Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI) in Vietnam have been working together since 2013 to breed new varieties of dragon fruit with excellent characteristics. VentureFruit, T&G Globals IP management and commercialisation company, has joined the collaboration with exclusive global commercialisation rights to the first three varieties from the scheme. Dragon fruit from the new varieties is expected to be available to consumers in 2027, with a target of 250 hectares planted by 2030 All three new varieties are red-skinned, with a sweeter, more aromatic flavour than current varieties, and with a crisp dense texture. The varieties vary in flesh colour, one with the traditional white flesh most commonly seen, a unique pink-fleshed variety, and a dark, appealing red-fleshed variety. The varieties are believed to be the first canker-tolerant dragon fruit to be commercialised; canker is a highly destructive disease of dragon fruit, killing plants and causing visible damage. Vietnam is the largest dragon fruit supplier in the world and the fruit is highly sought by Asian consumers, despite being native to Central and South America (where it is known as pitaya). Vietnam produces around 1 million tonnes of dragon fruit a year, and increased its production area from 10,000 hectares in 2010 to more than 50,000 by 2018. The new varieties have been developed as part of the New Premium Fruit Variety Development project, supported from 2013 to 2021 with funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The collaboration between New Zealands Plant & Food Research and Viet Nams SOFRI and Sub-Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Post-harvest Technology focused on breeding new varieties and improving fruit quality through new growing practices and post-harvest handling and storage technologies to better meet overseas market requirements. The breeding initiative is now funded by Plant & Food Research as one of its Technology Development Missions. VentureFruit general manager, Morgan Rogers said the launch of the new varieties was an example of the close horticultural ties between New Zealand and Vietnam. These new varieties demonstrate a strategic and innovative approach between all partners involved to create new dragon fruit genetics that taste better and deliver huge grower benefits in terms of canker tolerance. This allows for these unique new dragon fruit varieties to be grown optimally to achieve higher yields, as well as improving production and providing higher returns for growers, he said Initially, the new varieties will be commercially developed in Vietnam for export markets. Evaluation trials are planned in other potential production regions, including an ongoing trial at Plant & Food Researchs Kerikeri Research Centre in the subtropical northern region of New Zealand. Plant & Food Research CEO David Hughes said the launch of the new varieties showed the impact possible through a successful international development initiative. Being able to support people through international development programmes is really rewarding for our scientists, as they can see how their knowledge can directly impact individuals lives. Were really excited to bring two of our long-term collaborators together and support the ongoing growth of the dragon fruit sector, not just in Vietnam but also elsewhere, he said. Plant & Food Research Scientist Dr Satish Kumar, lead breeder from Plant & Food Research on the breeding initiative, said the appointment of VentureFruit licensee for the first three varieties from the programme was a significant milestone for Plant & Food Research and SOFRI. These new varieties are the result of a strong collaborative effort by the breeding teams at Plant & Food Research and SOFRI, bringing together key areas of strength and expertise from both. We are thrilled with the appointment of VentureFruit as exclusive licensee to take these varieties out to the market, said Kumar. New Zealands Ambassador to Vietnam, Tredene Dobson said the work was a great continuation of the successful 7-year New Premium Fruit Variety Development project. We look forward to seeing the growth of Vietnams dragon fruit export market and a positive impact on farmer incomes. Seeing New Zealands International Development Cooperation programmes develop into commercially sustainable partnerships is a satisfying example of strong New Zealand - Vietnam bilateral cooperation, she said PM Pham Minh Chinh (left) met with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong last week,photo VNA As Vietnam and Singapore get ready to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 10 years of a strategic partnership in 2023, the outlook for bilateral ties looks greater than ever. Jaya Ratnam, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam, told VIR that looking forward to 2023 and beyond, Singapore and Vietnam would look to deepen their economic cooperation in many sectors including digital economy and innovation, infrastructure, energy, sustainability, and multi-faceted connectivity in trade and investment, finance, and tourism. During the official visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Singapore last week, both nations ink an MoU on green-digital economic partnership, which lays firm groundwork for them to develop digital and clean energy cooperation with concrete projects to be advanced. It also forms an overarching framework that builds on four MoUs signed last year and covers energy, sustainability, infrastructure, digital and innovation, and connectivity. Singapore and Vietnam are among the top three startup ecosystems in Southeast Asia. As of December 2021, Vietnam had more than 3,800 startups and was home to four unicorns. The total startup funding to Vietnam in 2021 reached a new high of over $1.3 billion, with Singapore as the top source, Ratnam said. Joint work in innovation has gained momentum through BLOCK71 Saigon, a collaboration between the National University of Singapore and Vietnams Becamex IDC, which is home to a growing number of startups, incubators, and accelerators; and via the Global Innovation Alliance where EnterpriseSG has partnered with Quest Ventures to facilitate 2-way exchanges of startups between both countries. With our common goal of driving further economic growth through technology and innovation, there is scope for Singapore and Vietnam to tap on each others innovation ecosystems for partners, funding, and talent, Ratnam said. One year ago, the two countries signed an MoU on digital economy cooperation, and a joint working group has been tasked with implementing digital economy collaborations between both nations. The working group will explore new areas of cooperation such as cross-border data flows, cybersecurity, AI governance, and electronic payments, including with regulatory sandboxes. Infrastructure ties Vietnam and Singapore have also been working to cement their ties in infrastructure development. Arising from the formers rapid urbanisation, its infrastructure sector is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 4 per cent between 2020 and 2025. It is projected that Vietnams sustainable infrastructure will require investments of up to $25 billion per year to develop ports, expressways, urban areas, and green energy. There is potential for Singapore-based companies to work with Vietnamese corporates to provide financing, technology, and operating expertise for projects in the areas of green energy, smart cities, waste management, and wastewater treatment infrastructure, Ratnam said. Last week, Vietnam and Singapore also agreed that bilateral ties would be tightened in digital economy and innovation, infrastructure, energy, sustainability, trade and investment, defence, security, education, and human resource development. Authorised agencies from Vietnam and Singapore will soon work with each other to formulate mechanisms and incentives to facilitate businesses from both sides to engage in new cooperation fields. In addition, Vietnam is also seeking experiences from Singapore in the development of smart cities. The city states Smart Nation initiative was launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and three years later benefited from a government injection of S$2.4 billion (then equivalent to $1.73 billion). The aim is to create a city powered by digital innovation and technology that responds to citizens ever-changing needs. Last week, Sembcorp Industries announced an MoU with its long-standing partner, Becamex IDC Corporation, to co-establish five Vietnam Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in Vietnam valued at about $1 billion. Featuring decarbonisation solutions such as rooftop solar systems, solar farms (where feasible) and green certified buildings, the VSIPs are envisioned to be smart and sustainable industrial parks with a low carbon footprint. Real-time tracking devices will remotely monitor and manage energy, water and waste use, as well as traffic and security, to allow for enhanced visibility over operations. Vietnams government also presented Sembcorp and Becamex with an investment licence to develop a 500ha VSIP in the central province of Nghe An (park II). The licence is an expansion of the successful 750ha VSIP Nghe An (park I) established in 2015. Energy cooperation An MoU on energy cooperation has also been inked, embracing the development and financing of renewable energy for increased grid resilience, stability, and cross-border electricity trading. It also paves the way for cooperation in liquefied natural gas and electricity markets, research and development and low-carbon energy technologies, such as hydrogen, ammonia, energy storage systems, smart grids and related infrastructure. Vietnams PTSC Services and Singapores Sembcorp Utilities last week exchanged a deal on joint development in offshore wind power for exports to Singapore. Both nations are now discussing a plan on building a power transmission line through the East Sea based on harmonious benefits and shared risks. Ambassador Ratnam that Singapore and Vietnam had a common vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The scaling up of renewable energy and development of regional power grids will not only support both nations decarbonisation efforts, but also promote greater infrastructural connectivity to help advance the regions sustainable energy goals. Like an official power integration project between Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, which serves as an important pathfinder project to advance regional energy interconnectivity, collaborations between Vietnam and Singapore can contribute to the ASEAN Power Grid vision. The energy cooperation MoU signed between Singapores Ministry of Trade and Industry and Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade in October 2022 has paved the way for both sides to explore closer collaboration in areas such as renewable energy development, cross-border electricity trading, liquefied natural gas and electricity markets, low-carbon solutions, and demand-side management, Ratnam said. The Vietnam-Singapore cooperation on carbon markets is in line with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which allows countries to transfer carbon credits earned from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to help them meet climate targets. Currently, Singapore targets net-zero emissions by or around mid-century, and Vietnam in November 2021 declared that it will make efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 with its own resources and international support. Singapore is Vietnams second-largest foreign investor (after South Korea), with registered capital of $71.85 billion. Bilateral trade turnover hit $8.3 billion in 2022, up 23 per cent on-year, and over $9 billion last year with Vietnams exports worth $4.2 billion, up 7.7 per cent, and imports of $4.8 billion, up 12.3 per cent. Vietnam and Singapore last week also signed an MoU for a plan on trade and economic cooperation, which will help both countries to boost bilateral trade activities. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Vietnamese community in Singapore On his official visit to Singapore, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with his spouse and a Vietnamese delegation visited the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community on February 8. UK settles 2.3bn trade row with EU, photo DANIEL LEAL / AFP A final payment of 1.1 billion was made this week to resolve the dispute over textiles and footwear imported into Britain from China, Treasury minister John Glen said. Since Brexit took full effect three years ago, Britain is no longer bound by European Union rules. But legacy issues such as the China trade dispute have continued to bedevil ties, to the anger of pro-Brexit right-wingers in the UK parliament. In a written statement to the House of Commons, Glen said the government was "keen to resolve this long-running case once and for all and is committed to fulfilling its international obligations". He said the final interest payment due to Brussels would "draw a line" under the issue. The case dates back to 2017, the year after Britain voted to quit the EU but when it was still part of the bloc pending divorce negotiations. The EU's anti-fraud office had accused UK authorities of turning a blind eye to customs evasion by traders importing clothes and shoes from China into Britain, and therefore into the bloc's single market. "The UK has argued throughout the case that it took appropriate steps to counter the fraud in question," Glen said. Nevertheless it wanted to end any prospect of having to hand over more interest payments from prolonging the dispute, he said. Firms must work to fully benefit from UKVFTA: Insiders The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) has given a big push to Vietnamese exports, but insiders said firms still have much to do to make the most of the deal. UK can blossom in Vietnam to celebrate 50 years of trade British business in Vietnam is increasing, with many great performances during 2022. Kenneth Atkinson, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam, talked to VIRs Bich Thuy about the interesting stories of recovery, and future investment trends under impacts of free trade agreements. Chinese Government Is Forcing Transgender To Die In China, transgender faces a life-threatening situation. In September 2022, Chinese Central Government launched a Clean Source hundred-day special operation to destroy illegal transgenders . [1] [2] . [1] [2] In December 2022, the Chinese government banned hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by banning HRT-related medicines at sale points and forbidding the transgendering practice in education organizations, such as high schools and universities. [6] [7] In January 2023, the government of Guang Dong Province Brought Illegal Transgenders To Justice . [3] . [3] To celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, Illegal Transgenders Are Sentenced With Drug Trafficking Criminals . [4] . [4] The Supreme Peoples Procuratorate of China is supervising the crime cases of being illegal transgenders . [15] . [15] The producer of HRT medicines said they might stop producing hormone products. [16] Those policies have resulted in the deaths of several dozen transgender already. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] From January 1, 2023 to the February 11th, 2023, there are at least 58 transgenders lost their lives(update on 2023-02-17, there are 3 more transgender lost their lives), averaging out to one person every day. There is already transgender that is forced to be a refugee[17]. My knowledge is limited to those who had a Twitter account or were active on QQ. On Twitter, there have been 21 confirmed deaths among transgender individuals, and in my other social circles, mainly on QQ, there have been 37 confirmed deaths. This is an unprecedented and devastating loss of life, and it is heartbreaking to think about the countless others who have suffered and passed away beyond the scope of my knowledge. These individuals were someones friends, family members, and loved ones, and their loss is a profound tragedy that must not be ignored. The situation for transgender individuals in China is dire, with ongoing erasure of lives and increasing deaths happening right now. The governments persecution and discrimination against transgender is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately. As a member of the transgender community, I am all too familiar with the dire situation, which highlights the urgent need for help and protection. Every day, Chinese transgenders, including myself, are facing threats and losing lives. It is imperative that the international community takes action and offers support in our fight for survival. The loss of so many lives is a tragedy that cannot be ignored, and it is imperative that action is taken to support us from this ongoing persecution. All we ask for is a chance to live. Chunqing Jyn Shan 2023-02-11 Updated on 2023-02-17 2023-02-17: 3 more confirmed deaths, the total number of confirmed deaths is 61. Governments Official Actions Chi Feng City Launched A Special Operation To Destroy Illegal Transgenders We carried out a Clean Source hundred-day special operation to crack down on illegal activities involving prostitution and gambling, and launched a special operation to destroy illegal transgenders. From Chi Feng Citys official Weixing Public Account: Ref. 1: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA5ODYzMTI1NQ==&mid=2650367212&idx=8&sn=ca5748a8e12bf85474a7e105e255f42d&chksm=88836fd4bff4e6c2132405ca24caad73f4bdf3b21c09efb1a126267b0c3098ac0c33997f5d66&scene=27 https://archive.ph/1e2Fm This is a NATIONAL OPERATION, not just a local one. Alukeerqin City Launched A Special Operation To Destroy Illegal Transgenders We carried out a Clean Source hundred-day special operation to crack down on illegal activities involving prostitution and gambling, and launched a special operation to destroy illegal transgenders. From Alukeerqin Citys official Weixing Public Account: Ref. 2: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA5MDgxMTcyMQ==&mid=2652540523&idx=2&sn=d0e61e7d5374368a03bf98e95e7f839f&chksm=8bebd24dbc9c5b5be0686c4efce3bd635351eeb4fda3741e6e300f7980aa43b4ab264f008995&scene=27 https://archive.ph/50rK8 This is a NATIONAL OPERATION, not just a local one. Illegal Transgenders Were Brought To Justice The provincial authority organized the investigation and handling of major cases such as the Shenzhen Illegal Transgenders Case, the Li Xuliang Illegal Business Case, and the Li Jianhong Unlicensed Business Case, and the criminals were brought to justice. From the Guang Dong Provinces official report: Ref. 3: http://mpa.gd.gov.cn/zwgk/ghjh/ndgzjh/content/post_2167399.html https://web.archive.org/web/20230216093502/http%3A%2F%2Fmpa.gd.gov.cn%2Fzwgk%2Fghjh%2Fndgzjh%2Fcontent%2Fpost_2167399.html Illegal Transgenders Are Sentenced With Drug Trafficking Criminals 8We have carried out in-depth actions to destroy drugs and prohibit gambling. We have launched a 100-day campaign to crack down on illegal activities, and special operations to rectify underground mobile gambling venues and the illegal transgender group, among other criminal activities. Throughout the city, we handled 20 cases of illegal transgender, and drug trafficking and sentenced the criminals. We also handled 208 cases of gambling. From Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party news report in Sina, one of the largest news sites in China. Ref. 4: http://k.sina.com.cn/article_7517400647_1c0126e470590150pc.html https://web.archive.org/web/20230216091224/http%3A%2F%2Fk.sina.com.cn%2Farticle_7517400647_1c0126e470590150pc.html Negative Online Phenomena Such As Transgender and LGBT During the activity, various schools focused on the theme of Clear and Pure Internet in Yan Zhao and fully utilized various promotional media such as bulletin boards, bulletin columns, public accounts, LED screens, banners, and short videos to publicize the harm of negative online phenomena such as transgender and LGBT to students. Ref. 5: Wangdu Citys official report: https://www.wangdu.gov.cn/col/1618902456638/2022/06/09/1654737864912.html https://web.archive.org/web/20230216110422/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wangdu.gov.cn%2Fcol%2F1618902456638%2F2022%2F06%2F09%2F1654737864912.html Fujian Province Successfully Destroyed LGBT related Publications We focused on cracking down on harmful audio and video materials that contain sexual implications, soft pornography, bullying and violence, and we destroyed illegal publications on Bible, LGBT (sexual minority groups), pirated childrens picture books, and teaching materials for primary and secondary schools. We also strengthened content supervision and review of anime, online dramas, and variety shows involving minors, in order to build a safe and healthy cultural environment for young people. From Fujian Provinces official report: http://www.fjxuanchuan.cn/ztzl/dhsf/bstj/202205/t20220507_6254.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20221225154501/http:/www.fjxuanchuan.cn/ztzl/dhsf/bstj/202205/t20220507_6254.htm References Ref. 6. Central Government Updated Banned Medicine List Archive: https://archive.ph/CmRgQ Ref. 7. New Medicine Ban will take effect in December Archive: https://archive.ph/2royb Ref. 8: noah Ref. 9: Chica Ref. 10: Anilovr Ref. 11: Ref. 12: Ref. 13: Ref. 14: Comments on deaths Ref. 15: Central Governments Decision about Trans Ref. 16: Wuhan Jiulong Renfu Medicine Co., Ltd. Ref. 17: : How you can help Contact your elected representatives or international organizations to raise awareness of this ongoing persecution, every voice counts. Contact journalist you know to raise awareness of this ongoing persecution, every voice counts. Retweet this twitter linked to the article. Your support and action can make a significant difference in the lives of transgender individuals in China. Save us, PLEASE. We just want to live. Email: vxst@riseup.net Telegram: https://t.me/thevxst Lost Lives: Remembering Those Who Should Still Be Here And 57 others. 'The Waco Horror': The Lynching of Jesse Washington The history of McLennan County, like that of Texas and the nation, is marred by institutional racism sometimes manifested in violence. From 1860 through 1922, 43 lynchings were documented here. Following reconstruction, most victims were black. Jim Crow Laws and acts of violence were used to disenfranchise, segregate and impede the advancement of African Americans. The most notorious local act of racial violence occurred in 1916. On May 8th, in the farming community of Robinson, Mrs. Lucy Fryer was killed near her house. Jesse Washington, a teenaged African American farmhand, was arrested for her murder. Known to be illiterate and possibly having an intellectual disability, Washington changed his story from denial to admission of guilt after being questioned for days. One week later, as large crowds gathered, he was brought to Waco for trial. Following brief proceedings with novice lawyers, Washington was convicted of murder and sentenced to death after four minutes of jury deliberation. Immediately, he was seized by a horde of onlookers and dragged several blocks to city hall where he was beaten, stabbed, hanged, mutilated and burned to death as thousands cheered. Jesse Washingtons horrific death received unparalleled nationwide public attention. Several reports, particularly from outside Texas, denounced the act as a breakdown of law and morality. The newly formed National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) now the nations oldest Civil Rights organization hired Elisabeth Freeman to investigate. Famed editor W.E.B. Du Bois used her findings and commemorative photographs taken at the scene as the basis for the NAACPs July 1916 issue of The Crisis, a widely distributed publication, referring to the event as The Waco Horror. Du Bois and the NAACP made the atrocity a turning point in the National Anti-Lynching Movement and a step in the long march toward the promise of Civil Rights for all. Source: Texas Historical Commission marker Restored Nord Pingouin makes first flight in 62 years by Col Pope Nord 1002 Pingouin II G-OTME has made its first post-restoration flight following a comprehensive restoration by Vintage Fabrics at Audley End, in Essex, UK. Well-known warbird display pilot, Clive Denney, was at the controls for this flight on Thursday January 19th, 2023, the aircrafts first trip aloft since October, 1960. Denney has previous experience with the type, which derives from the Messerschmitt Bf 108, having also flown other UK-based examples, G-ATBG and G-ETME. The Societe Nationale de Constructions Aeronautiques du Nord (SNCAN), more commonly known as Nord, built this Pingouin as serial number 197 at their factory in Les Mureaux, near Paris, France during 1945. The liaison aircrafts early history remains vague, but on June 8th, 1946 the French Secretary General of Civil Aviation registered it as F-BAUL for use as a communications aircraft, a role it served in until struck off charge in October 1960. Sold into private ownership, the Pingouin became a gate guard outside a Shell petrol station near Barreme for the next decade or so. Sometime in the 1970s, Raymond Jones acquired the Pingouin from the Shell stations owners. Jones son-in-law, Michael Dutter, exported the hulk to the USA, via Nice, in July 1980. Settling in Stuart, Florida in September that year, Jones sold the aircraft to Richard Rooney on December 20th, 1980. Although the Pingouin was missing many parts, Rooney began the process of restoring it to flying condition and placed the aircraft on the U.S. civil registry as N108E in 1994. For simplicity of operations in the USA, Rooney chose to replace the French engine with an American unit, opting for a fuel-injected Lycoming TIO-540. This, of course, required the design, manufacture and installation of a wholly new engine bearer and complement of cowlings. Rooney also ditched the original two-bladed propeller for a three-bladed, variable pitch Hartzell unit. Other alterations included the provision of additional fuel and oil tank capacity (carried out to the manufacturers own design modifications), a new instrumentation suite, and the installation of more effective Cleveland wheels and brakes. The cockpit glazing, damaged during the aircrafts days as a gate guard, also needed replacing. Furthermore, all of the flying controls underwent recovering with new fabric. In late 1996, the Pingouin received a cosmetic transformation, repainted with a sand brown desert scheme to more closely resemble a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 108 serving in the North Africa Campaign. The American rebuild team progressed to the point of performing some engine runs and a taxi test in the Pingouin, but the project stalled soon after for some reason. Following the death of its owner, Rooneys estate sold N108E to a British-based operator named Simon OConnell in September 2014. OConnell had the Nord registered as G-OTME and shipped to England. Soon after its arrival, the aircraft went into storage in Berkshire, undergoing initial inspection with Adam Lewis. Later, at Southend Airport, Paul Baisden built a new engine frame and cowlings for the Pingouin. Interestingly, the aircraft relocated temporarily to both Bentwaters and White Waltham for use as a movie set prop in the first season of the WWII television drama series, SAS: Rogue Heroes, which aired in 2022. Following the film shoot, the Pingouin moved to Vintage Fabrics in October 2021, where project engineer Owen Mansfield (with assistance from his father Steve) worked to complete the aircrafts restoration. However, this effort incurred further interruption to accommodate a major film production, again on set at White Waltham, where the Nord taxied for a scene in front of the cameras. Towards this end, the restoration crew made some of the aircrafts systems operable. Andrew Denney also repainted the aircraft with a striking new livery representing a fictional Italian civilian flying school for the film shoot. Once filming was finally complete, the aircraft returned to Audley End for a thorough overhaul of its systems and a detailed airframe inspection. The restoration team also went through the airframe to replace a variety of American-substituted parts with those original to the design or alternatives more acceptable for UK certification. They also fitted the Pingouin with a two bladed propeller to match the owners other Nord 1002, and retuned the aircrafts Lycoming O-540 engine, a carbureted, non-turbocharged substitute for the previously installed TIO-540. After a series of engine runs and the submission of the necessary certification paperwork, good weather finally arrived at Audley End. The first flight lasted 27 minutes and revealed no significant problems, which enabled further flight testing to proceed. Still wearing its film production livery, the aircraft presents a colourful contrast to its owners additional, more sombrely adorned Nord 1002, G-ETME. This brace of Pingouins will make an interesting pairing in the skies should they subsequently fly together! Many thanks indeed to Col Pope for this article and for his marvelous images which accompany it! CEDAR FALLS A Waterloo man has been arrested after leading Cedar Falls police on a chase early Sunday. Jalen Latrell Jones, 22, was arrested for eluding, first-offense operating while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and operating a vehicle without the owners consent. He was also cited for speeding, reckless driving and failure to maintain control. According to police, a patrol officer attempted to stop a Lincoln MKS driving through the Main Street Parkade shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle fled down Lincoln Street, and the chase continued until the area of Lincoln Street and Leversee Road. Jones was taken into custody without incident. The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A at the Waterloo Public Library. All constituents and citizens are welcome to ask questions and voice concerns. The ex-prime minister of Italy noted that he would not even meet with the Ukrainian president It was enough to stop the attacks on the two autonomous republics of Donbass, and what is happening would never have happened, so I evaluate the actions of this gentleman extremely negatively, he said. Berlusconi added that if he were the Americans, he would offer Zelensky money for the restoration of Ukraine in exchange for ending the conflict. If this plan were abandoned, he would no longer give the Kyiv regime a cent Then another self-confident connoisseur appeared on the Ukrainian horizon, who allegedly revealed Russias sinister plans to seize Moldova and predicted the collapse of the Federation into a dozen countries. I explain for such experts: you still have to study and study before Russias plans. If there is an order from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, we are ready to go even to America, we will leave Moldova far behind. And any such order is not discussed, but carried out. We have all the necessary forces, means and equipment to bring it to life. Cavalryman Mavlid Visaitov, who was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor, reached the Elbe. And today we are on iron horses, and for us it will be a real holiday. As for the collapse of Russia, these attempts by the West have been going on since the 90s. Russias borders change only when she herself wants it. And By the end of the week, Ukrainian propaganda had noticeably intensified. Several weirdos made ridiculous statements at once. The Nazis from Azov and the groups that joined them, threatening to attack the Russian Crimea and seize it, look especially funny. It is doubly ridiculous to hear this from those same Azovites who promised to recapture Mariupol, then promised to hold out to the death, and then went out to surrender with their pants down. I suggest that the Nazis do not scatter promises and cheap threats (from the basement of Azovstal they tried to scare us with not such horror stories), but simply take one bold step appear on the front line. Finally, proceed from words to deeds. Prove what kind of man you are. We are ready to arrive at any specified place and take the fight. Moreover, we undertake to do this with much less means and resources. To fight with the disabled and pensioners, whom you forcibly throw into hell, is not the most interesting occupation for us. But you, Nazi tiktokers, churning out videos with such brave soldiers on camera, we will click with pleasure. This is our sacred duty! Kadyrov WtR Oculus is awake The main task of Oculus is to identify violations of Russian law in images and videos. The system is able to automatically search for and recognize violations of the law on the Internet The system recognizes images and symbols, illegal scenes and actions, analyzes text in photo and video materials. Oculus automatically detects such offenses as extremist themes, calls for mass illegal events, suicide, pro-drug content, LGBT propaganda, etc., the representative of the GRFC explained On average, human operators process 106 images and 101 videos per day. Oculus will analyze more than 200,000 images per day (about 3 seconds per image) The program does not collect data, it classifies data. (Hmm????) By 2025, she will be taught to analyze in more detail the actions of people on the Internet, Vedomosti reports In fact, the new system works as a classifier with a predefined set of information sources, in which the content is analyzed for compliance or non-compliance with the requirements of the law @Russian_OSINT WtR Weather Alert .Warm temperatures may melt snowpack and increase river flows. ...FLOOD WATCH FOR SNOWMELT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt continues to be 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 European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a 2.08 billion French measure to support offshore wind electricity production in France. The measure aims to contribute to achieving France's energy and environmental targets, as well as the objectives relating to the EU's Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy and the European Green Deal. France notified to the Commission its intention to support the construction and the operation of a floating offshore wind farm in the sea off the coast of the South of Brittany. The aid measure, which will run for a period of 20 years starting of the operation of the wind farm in 2028, will have a total maximum budget of 2.08 billion. The floating offshore wind farm supported by the measure will be the first commercial project of this kind in France. It is expected to have a capacity of 230 to 270 MW, and to generate 1 TWh of renewable electricity per year for a period of 35 years. The beneficiary of this measure will be selected through a transparent and non-discriminatory bidding process, where bidders will compete mainly on the basis of the amount of aid per MW of installed capacity. The beneficiary is planned to be designated in the second semester of 2023. The aid will be granted in the form of a monthly variable premium under the model of a two-way Contract for Difference. The variable premium will be calculated by comparing a reference price, determined in the tender offer of the beneficiary (pay as bid), and the market price for electricity. When the market price is below the reference price, the beneficiary will be entitled to receive payments equal to the difference between the two prices. However, when the market price is above the reference price, the beneficiary will have to pay the difference between the two prices to the French authorities. The measure aims to help France meet its target of producing 33% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. Last year French President Emmanuel Macron raised the country's offshore wind target in support of its energy revolution. Macron set a goal of 40 GW of offshore wind in operation by 2050, citing that this would be around 50 projects. Annual tender volumes were also raised form 1 to 2 GW from 2025 to meet this goal. The announcement was followed by the country's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, the 480-MW Saint-Nazaire project, start full operations in November 2022. The project is expected to generate the equivalent of 20% of the Loire-Atlantiques electricity consumption. For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here . loading......... Malibu, CA, Feb 13, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with Elyssia Patterson, Director of Corporate Communications for Latin Metals Inc. ( CVE:LMS ) ( LMSQF:OTCMKTS ). In this segment, we review the company the company's recent rock sampling returns 1.3% copper at the Tillo Copper Project, Peru. Latin Metals Inc. announces that it has received assay results from three initial rock samples collected at the Tillo copper project ("Tillo") with copper grades ranging from 0.19% to 1.36% copper. The Company also provides an update on the Auquis copper project ("Auquis"), where an extensive magnetic geophysical survey has begun. At the Tillo Copper Project, a suite of three rock samples were collected, which are all located within the largest (2,500m x 1,500m) area of anomalous soil and talus samples. The rock samples returned copper grades ranging from 0.19% to 1.36%, with associated molybdenum mineralization ranging from 5ppm to 94ppm. To Listen to the Interview, please visit: https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/8GBHTBCM About Latin Metals Inc. Latin Metals Inc. (CVE:LMS) (OTCMKTS:LMSQF) is a mineral exploration company acquiring a diversified portfolio of assets in South America. The Company operates with a Prospect Generator model focusing on the acquisition of prospective exploration properties at minimum cost, completing initial evaluation through cost-effective exploration to establish drill targets, and ultimately securing joint venture partners to fund drilling and advanced exploration. Shareholders gain exposure to the upside of a significant discovery without the dilution associated with funding the highest-risk drill-based exploration. Latin Metals has recently concluded deals to option out exploration properties to a wholly-owned subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation, and Libero Copper. About The Ellis Martin Report The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program. The leadership of the local African American community is aging, and there are not enough young Black men and women being trained to move into those positions as they become open. The Rev. Charles Becknell Sr., a longtime educator, civil rights leader, author and community activist, is trying to fill that gap through his African American Youth Leadership Program, which teaches young people attending the University of New Mexico the necessary skills to succeed in the workplace, in the community and in life. Currently, these young people get their degree, go to work, and the movement stagnates, he said. So what I wanted to do was take 10 or 12 potential leaders, male and female, and teach them leadership skills so that they are prepared when they graduate from college to not only know how to get a job, keep a job and survive on the job, but also how to provide leadership in their various communities. The first group of 10 young people completed the program in June, and unless Becknell can find sponsors, its not clear when or if there will be another group, he said. Funding for the pilot program came via a one-time $30,000 grant from the city of Albuquerques Office of Equity and Inclusion. Becknell is hopeful that people and organizations will see the benefit and want to help keep the program going through donations. The 10 students met once a week for 14 weeks and heard presentations about job skills, leadership skills, workplace ethics, workplace communication, self-esteem, conflict resolution, setting goals and dressing for success. In addition, each student received a $100 stipend for each session attended, money that they could use toward their education and living expenses, Becknell said. None of the people involved in leading the program received payment. Upon completion of the course, a graduation ceremony was held in which each student received a certificate and an iPad. Kaleb Bradley, 21, a UNM junior majoring in environmental planning and design, said the program gave him a better understanding of the skills necessary to succeed in a job and to be a leader. In particular, a good leader knows how to just be silent, watch and listen before speaking. Bradley, who said he hopes one day to be a city planner, has already put some of those leadership skills to the test during his current internship with the Bernalillo County Planning and Development Department. I sit and watch and speak as Im able. Just understanding what people are saying the first time, I think, is important. Chiamaka Okoye, 19, a sophomore at UNM majoring in business administration said the program underscored for her the importance of trying to do more for the community by giving and volunteering, instead of always taking. She also said she wants to teach people how to best work together as a group toward a common goal. Okoye said she plans to go on to grad school and then law school, with the goal of becoming a malpractice lawyer and assisting people of color who have issues with health care. For further information or to make a donation, call, 505-892-8502. As New Mexico approaches 9,000 deaths from COVID-19, it is imperative these people should never be forgotten. Parents, siblings, children, cousins and friends must not become mere statistics lost to history. New Mexico needs a place where survivors can gather, remember, mourn and heal from this unprecedented event. The New Mexico COVID-19 Memorial will be such a place. The $2 million project, spearheaded by N.M. Marked by COVID volunteers, will be located on public trust land near Mesa del Sol in Bernalillo County; this memorial stands to be the first publicly funded in the country. Many have stepped up including local and state governments, health departments, Native leadership and public servants. COVID-19 has harmed the health and well-being of children by reducing access to care and health services, disrupting schooling, undermining their sense of safety and security, increasing stress on caregivers, and by tragically robbing over 250,000 children of a parent or caregiver; The one-acre site offers views of the Rio Grande Valley, Sandia Mountains and volcanoes. The design, created by landscape architect Ken Romig of Consensus Planning. takes visitors on a pilgrimage path adorned with papel picados and nichos and offers opportunities for quiet reflection. The path begins with a private space, passes through tributes and culminates at the stone plinth, which is the memorials focal point and includes an augmented reality (AR) marker. Visitors may use their mobile devices to experience a vortex of photos of the dead spiraling upward. Using smartphones or tablets to access the digital memorial archive echoes the unique pandemic phenomenon millions of virtual goodbyes. For those grieving COVID-19 loss, their associations with their devices have been forever changed by the traumatic experience of saying goodbye to their loved ones virtually; AR allows those who were robbed of in-person farewells to reclaim their devices as objects of healing. COVID-19 has failed to enter national consciousness as 9/11 did because no visuals exist that characterize the quiet, painful isolation that is the nature of the loss. The memorial project aims to create that shared imagery, to give faces and names to individuals who are presently mere statistics. Recognition and acknowledgement that pain from COVID-19 loss is real and loved ones mattered are essential to collective healing. We cannot truly move forward until we honor and acknowledge those left behind and many who are still suffering. For the health and healing of our states loss, a dedicated, permanent, physical memorial will honor those who died and comfort those left behind. Other communities may wish to have a memorial in their city and Marked by COVID will work with them to make it a reality. But the state memorial needs your support. Sen. Harold Pope, D-Albuquerque, has introduced SJM 1 asking for all members of the Legislature to support the building of a permanent memorial. Marked by COVID with the help of Bernalillo County Parks, Rec and Open Space is appealing to all legislators and the governor to designate part of their capital outlay to fund the construction. Please contact your legislator to stress the importance of designating funding for the memorial. Loved ones or friends may be included in the memorial, whether they died in New Mexico or elsewhere, with a link to upload their photo and micro-obituary. A longtime educator and state lawmaker, J. Paul Taylor died Sunday surrounded by family at his historic home in Mesilla. He was 102. Taylor earlier this month had a heart attack, said Mary Helen Ratje, his daughter. Everybody has really came together and supported and helped, she said Sunday. And we had all of us here to pay our respects to him and to help him in his final days. Taylor was a representative in the New Mexico Legislature for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2005. He had a reputation as a strong advocate for arts and culture and bilingual education. He was a teacher and principal in New Mexico and a New Mexico Education Association official. The J. Paul Taylor Academy in Las Cruces is named in his honor and Ratje teaches at the school. Hes kind of a rock star over there, she said Sunday. Taylor was nicknamed the conscience of legislature at one point during his career. Taylor and his wife, Mary Daniels Taylor, had seven children, many of whom still live in the Mesilla area. The family lived in a historic adobe home, which is where Taylor died. The home is in the National Register of Historic Places, and showcases the familys collection of Spanish Colonial, Mexican, and New Mexican artwork and textiles. Ratje said her fathers passion for public service and children came from his parents. He watched his parents, they were people that cared about other people and helped in the community. And I think that his love for people came from his upbringing. Hes always been very proud of his roots. Taylors father, William Robert Taylor, was a Texas native and his mother, Maria Margarita Romero, traced her ancestry to Juan de Cabeza de Vaca, one of the first colonists to arrive in New Mexico, according to Taylors website. He earned degrees from New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, which is now New Mexico State University and was also a World War II-era veteran. Taylor served on numerous boards, inclduding the Rio Grande Historical Collection, Colonial New Mexico Historical Foundation, Dona Ana Arts Council and Dona Ana Historical Society. Ratje said her father was a great storyteller, and stayed sharp and loved having conversation up until his final days. He had a phone that was accommodated for him so he could answer and make phone calls without pushing buttons, she said. He had a memory like no ones business, Ratje said. He didnt just remember names. He remembered dates and facts. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Sunday offered her condolences to the Taylor family. You would be hard-pressed to find an individual as passionate about the people, culture and communities of New Mexico as J. Paul Taylor, she said in a statement. For my own part, I consider him to be a friend and mentor who demonstrated the true heart of a servant, always striving to make New Mexico a better place to live for future generations. I have no doubt that the compassion and integrity he demonstrated throughout his 102 years of life will be felt for hundreds of years to come. New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego said Taylors legacy reached every corner of the state. Taylor was instrumental in creating the Department of Cultural Affairs. Mr. Taylor was a true champion of protecting and preserving New Mexicos diverse cultural resources for every citizen and, especially, for the education of its children, she said in a statement. He was a national champion for arts and culture, having played a key role in creating one of the largest and broadest state cultural agencies in the country. Public input has slightly reshaped Albuquerques plan for reducing city bus service, but it may not keep the Blue Line from going dark. The Blue Line known also as the 790 ARTx currently travels from the Northwest Transit Center to the University of New Mexico area about every 45 minutes. The city Transit Department included it in a December list of proposed service suspensions. Officials have said staffing shortages are forcing adjustments since there are not enough drivers to maintain the transit systems existing schedule. The plan the city unveiled for public comment affects over 30 routes, including 10 the Transit Department already quit running. It calls for suspending the earliest or latest trips on some routes and limiting the bus frequency on others. It also included suspending some routes, such as the Blue Line, entirely. The Blue Line garnered the most attention in the 110 public comments the department received by the Jan. 22 deadline, according to a summary report provided to the Journal. People who asked the city to reconsider called it a convenient way to reach Downtown and the UNM area, with some citing the expense of parking around the university. A number of commenters noted that they did not own a car or could not afford to pay for the costs of driving and that suspending the 790 would jeopardize their ability to continue attending class or reaching their jobs, according to the summary. Some noted that the proposal also includes suspending the 92 commuter route that also travels between the West Side and university area, and expressed concerns about the inconvenience or safety of other alternative routes that remain. But since every 790 stop is served by another bus and ridership on the route has been in decline, a Transit Department spokeswoman said it made sense in the current climate to halt its operations. With the feedback we received recommending we keep the 790 route, we looked into every scenario possible, spokeswoman Megan Holcomb said in an email. Unfortunately, keeping the route in place is not be feasible with the resources we currently have available. The Transit Department did reconsider a couple of its planned changes due to public comment, Holcomb said. The current iteration will now keep the San Mateo/Jefferson-based 140 going during peak times, and will maintain early trips on the Juan Tabo and 12th/Rio Grande routes. The plan is not a done deal; it requires City Council approval and is scheduled to be introduced at the Feb. 22 meeting. PARK PROGRESS: The city of Albuquerque broke ground on Los Altos Parks massive renovation in June 2021 with plans to have the work done by summer 2022. But the park remains under construction with officials now saying the projects signature elements five new softball fields might not be ready until this fall. A spokeswoman said the city had not actually put the $15.5 million project out to bid at the time of the groundbreaking and subsequently used city crews to do early demolition. A contract finally was awarded in March 2022 and she said progress has remained steady since then, though there have been some delays related to a design change and supply chain issues. Crews have finished the irrigation and most of the asphalt and concrete work, city spokeswoman Franchesca Perdue said. They have also cut and laid some sod, but completion depends on weather conditions. Once the sod is completely installed, we will need to let the grass root and grow for several months, she wrote in an email. One of the citys largest parks at nearly 33 acres, Los Altos has a second phase of improvements planned as well. Those which include a BMX pump track, new dog park and playground are being designed now, Perdue said. Jessica Dyer: jdyer@abqjournal.com Two people were killed in a head-crash in southern New Mexico, New Mexico State Police said Sunday evening. The agency said that it was investigating the crash, which happened on U.S. Highway 54 between Tularosa and Carrizozo. The highway was shut down in both directions on Sunday evening. No other details about the crash were immediately released. A replica of Girl with a Pearl Earring hanging on the wall. Another section of wall covered in blue yearbook cover submissions. Several school chair desks, and a Promethean board, scattered throughout the room. Every inch of April Bacas classroom at Jimmy Carter Middle School screams of being that of a teacher even though, technically, she isnt one. Bacas an educational assistant has been for 23 years, ever since she enlisted in the often-overlooked corps of educators as an 18-year-old mother with big dreams of one day becoming a teacher but even bigger bills to pay. Over the course of her career, shed raise three children, alone, on the salary of an educational assistant a class of educators thats traditionally been paid much less than others. Baca lives in low-income housing, receives Medicaid and once relied on food stamps to make ends meet. But all the years of pinching pennies, she said, have been worth it. Its been a huge struggle for me, you know, with my kids and my income. But I love education so much, and I believe in it so much, she told the Journal. Ive stayed for 23 years, and Ill continue to stay, regardless of the pay. A bill making its way through the Roundhouse would more than double the $12,000 starting pay for educational assistants to $25,000. House Bill 127, supporters say, is long overdue, and there seems to be some urgency in the Roundhouse to get it through with both the committees that have considered it unanimously ushering the bill along. EAs they are essential, and they are the backbone, and I say they are the glue that holds our schools together, sponsor Rep. Willie Madrid, D-Chaparral, and himself an instructional assistant, said at a House Education Committee meeting Wednesday. We must not ever neglect these folks again. Education assistants fill an indescribably crucial role in New Mexico schools, state Public Education Department Deputy Secretary Jacqueline Costales told the Journal, and not just as a way to pack more students into classrooms. Statutorily, kindergarten classes, for example, can have up to 20 students so long as teachers have an educational assistant at their side. Educational assistants serve in a lot of different roles, Costales said. As teachers, we depend on them and the full other adult in a room full of tiny little people makes all the difference in the world. Educational assistants, who generally work the same hours as teachers, are more than their aides, though in fact, sometimes theyre their replacements, stepping in as long-term substitutes for months on end to fill holes in a schools teaching staff. They are also often on the front lines of working with students with disabilities in some cases being the people to tube-feed students with severe disabilities and change their diapers. Those educational assistants often take home bruises for their efforts. Today I was bit, pinched, kicked, headbutted twice, Cyndi Garcia, who works as an EA for developmental preschool students at Mark Twain Elementary School, told the Journal on Thursday. Thats what we do. That is our job, and we do what nobody else wants to do. Nobody does this job for the pay. We do it because we love the kids, Garcia, who works a second job to make ends meet, added. But despite all they do, 28% of educational assistants make less than $20,000, according to a Legislative Education Study Committee analysis people like Wanda Salazar, who despite being in her 24th year with the district, said shes being paid at APS starting level, which is $17,843. To me, it would just acknowledge us as EAs, Salazar, who works at Marie M. Hughes Elementary School, said of the prospect of HB 127 passing. At times, its an embarrassment that I have worked for 24 years and this is what Ive made. But not an embarrassment in my job, because I do take pride in that. On average, educational assistants statewide make about $22,000, the LESC says, and legislators are working on securing the money to get all educational assistants to the proposed $25,000 minimum included in the state appropriations bill. Some have questioned if even thats enough. Lets just be real. In todays economy, even if every EA was making $30,000, thats still on the lower end in terms of what it takes to raise a family, Costales said. But others say that for right now, raising the minimum salary to $25,000 is good enough. You could make more money working at McDonalds flipping burgers than you could going into a classroom and doing this job, Garcia said. But this is a great start in recognizing how valuable we are. The Albuquerque International Sunport on Monday announced Southwest Airlines will soon add daily, nonstop flights to and from Long Beach Airport in southern California and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The nonstop flights are expected to get off the ground starting Sept. 5. Weve already had a great start to 2023 and with the addition of this new and expanded service, its only getting better, Sunport Director of Aviation Richard McCurley said in a statement. The Long Beach route will mark the third destination in the greater Los Angeles area served by the Sunport, which gives our customers more options. Southwest which has the largest market share at the Sunport at nearly 45% began offering daily, nonstop flights between the Albuquerque airport and the Hollywood Burbank Airport in January 2022. That move came as New Mexico continued to see increases in direct spending in the local film industry. The Sunports airlines also offer nonstop flights to LAX, Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Nonstop flights to BWI from the Sunport arent currently active, but starting in April will be offered by Southwest once on Saturday and in July twice on the weekend, Sunport Business Development Manager Daniel Jiron told the Journal. By September, the nonstop flights to BWI will increase to daily. Baltimore/Washington was a route highly impacted by COVID, but we are looking forward to the resumption of daily service in September, Jiron said. The daily Albuquerque to Long Beach flight from Southwest will depart at 12:30 p.m. MST and will arrive in Long Beach at 1:25 p.m. PST, according to the Sunport. The Albuquerque to Baltimore flight will leave at 1:30 p.m. MST and will arrive at 7:05 p.m. EST starting in September. The Sunport has realized an increase in nonstop flights from previous years. The airport had 24 nonstop flights last year, 22 in 2021 and just 19 in 2020. There were 30 nonstop flights between the Sunport and other airports in 2012, making this year the highest active year in nonstops for New Mexicos largest airport in more than a decade. Instagram Celebrity The 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' actress insists she doesn't understand how Chinese people can be a minority when there are billions of them in the world. Feb 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - Michelle Yeoh was baffled as to how she "became a minority" when she went to Hollywood. Born in Malaysia before moving to the UK when she was 15, the "Everything Everywhere All at Once" actress had a multicultural upbringing so was confused when she first headed to Los Angeles for her film career and faced questions about her heritage. "We have Chinese, Malays, Indians, English, expats, which is great. So we grew up not really understanding when people ask, 'What race are you?' How one earth did I become a minority, what does that mean? How many billions of Chinese people are there in the world? How can we be a minority," she told The Rake magazine. Michelle is thankful for the improved efforts in recent years to tell diverse stories and increase representation on screen. She said, "My African American friends, they are a minority but they have banded together to tell their stories. That is what we're doing now in the Asian community." "What if 'Crazy Rich Asians' didn't work? Jon Chu was so brilliant at telling that story and saying, 'Hey, it's cool, Asian people are really good looking and fun and can play leads.' Yes there are stereotypes and we can laugh with them, but the reality is that these people have dreams and aspirations. They have stories to tell, so how do we tell them?" But Michelle stressed the importance of representation that is more than just "ticking the box." She said, "Over the last few years you see true representation - but what is true representation? You have to talk about inclusivity in the proper way, you can't just tick the box. Yes, you may have the Asian who does 'Asian things' but that isn't right." "I think because I was in the martial arts genre, where people wanted to see that, they weren't afraid to write me in those roles, but I would like to be able to see a woman in that role, no matter what race she is, and having to explain that she learns martial arts. White people learn martial arts too, you know." You can share this post! Music The former 'Zoey 101' actor compares playing music to 'therapy' for him but he has no desire to launch a career as a musician despite his musical talent. Feb 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - Austin Butler likens playing music to "therapy" for him. The 31-year-old actor played Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's 2022 Oscar-nominated biopic "Elvis", but performing his music for the film hasn't made the former Disney star want to become a musician himself. "I started playing music before I started acting, and music for me has always been like therapy. But for whatever reason, it never crossed over into me wanting to play for the world," he explained in an interview with Britain's OK! Magazine. The "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" star recently revealed he damaged his vocal cords while filming "Elvis" because he had to do so much singing. The screen star has been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the late King of Rock and Roll but it wasn't easy and he injured himself by belting out the music legend's hits over and over - with one performance being repeated 40 times to get the right take. Austin has also struggled to ditch the Southern accent he adopted to play Elvis, and during an appearance on "The Graham Norton Show", he explained, "I am getting rid of the accent, but I have probably damaged my vocal cords with all that singing. One song took 40 takes!" Austin also opened up about working with acting veteran Tom Hanks, who played Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker in the film. The actor told the host, "I had no idea what it was going to be like meeting someone you have admired for so long. You hope they would be warm to you, but you never really know." "He is such a master of his craft, and I was intimidated, but the first time I met him he gave me the biggest bear hug and joked about how nervous he was. When I said I was terrified, he said, 'And, nobody knows what Colonel Parker sounds like, but everyone knows what Elvis sounds like!' " You can share this post! Cover Images/Kristin Callanhan Celebrity Last week, the 'Sunflower' hitmaker sparked concerns among his fans over his well-being with his bizarre stage act, including moments when he drank beer from a fan's worn shoe. Feb 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - Post Malone was blocked from entering a fancy bar in Perth by security guards. The "Sunflower" hitmaker wanted to visit the luxurious rooftop bar at QT Hotel but was turned away over his offensive facial tattoos. The 27-year-old New Yorker told The West Australian that he, along with his entourage, was denied entry on Saturday night, February 11. They reportedly did not meet the dress code requirements of the venue, which allegedly includes no face, neck and offensive tattoos. "They turned me away for my tattoos... I've never really experienced anything like that," recalled Posty, who wrapped his current tour of Australia on Sunday where he opened for legendary band Red Hot Chili Peppers. After being rejected from the QT Hotel bar, Posty traveled to the nearby 18 Knots rooftop bar where he was granted special entry on the discretion of security. While at this venue, the "Circle" hitmaker reportedly spent time mingling with fans and even buying them drinks, before relaxing with his posse. Among Posty's facial tattoos are the words "Always Tired" under his eyes, ace of spades in the corner of his forehead, barbed wire in his hairline and a sword running down the side of his face. Ironically, his above-the-brow tattoo depicts the words "Stay Away." Of his tattoos, Posty told GQ in 2020, "I feel like the face tattoos make me interesting to look at." He also talked about his sword tattoo in the same interview, "Swords are f**king awesome, and I've been into them since I was a little kid." Prior to being turned away from the fancy bar, Posty sparked concerns among his fans with his bizarre stage act, including moments when he drank beer from a random fan's worn shoe. Debunking claims that he's "sick" or "on drugs," his father Rich Post wrote on Instagram, "Healthiest he's been in years! Mentally and physically." You can share this post! Netflix TV In the TV commercial, the comedian can be seen invading the worlds of hit Netflix series, including 'Stranger Things', 'Squid Game' and 'Bridgerton', while promoting GM's electric vehicles. Feb 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - Will Ferrell is traveling around in General Motors and Netflix's joint Super Bowl commercial. In the TV commercial, the "Spirited" actor can be seen invading the worlds of hit Netflix series, including "Stranger Things", "Squid Game" and "Bridgerton", while promoting GM's electric vehicles. "General Motors is going electric and Netflix is joining in by including more EVs in their movies and shows. It's the least they can do," Ferrell is heard saying. The actor is later seen inside his EV while being surrounded by zombies from the streamer's "Army of the Dead". He also claims to be Dusty while dressing as Gaten Matarazzo's character Dustin in a "Stranger Things" spoof. There are also references to "Queer Eye" with Antoni Porowski making a cameo. The comedian soon finds himself in the universe of "Bridgerton" and comes to the conclusion that EVs don't make sense in all the universes created by the streamer. At the end of the commercial, Ferrell makes friends with a zombie, who sits in the passenger seat next to him as they drive into the sunset. General Motors vows to develop 30 new electric vehicle models by 2025 in response to the worsening global climate. "The more we see electric vehicles show up in this type of binge-worthy content, the faster everyone gets used to them," said Deborah Wahl, General Motors' chief marketing officer. Last year, Netflix agreed to an integration deal brokered by UTA in which the company would have to place at least one electric vehicle in every series or movie that it directly produced. The two companies stated that GM is not paying Netflix to push its vehicles in the streamer's offerings. It's also said that GM didn't make any financial commitment toward commercials on Netflix's ad-funded tier. You can share this post! PepsiCo Indias Sting has been known to electrify the youth of India with its jolt of exhilarating energy. Continuing its efforts to energize its consumers, Sting, today, unveiled its new campaign featuring brand ambassador and superstar Akshay Kumar. The campaign that is set to enthrall audiences this summer is accompanied with a quirky and exciting film that reinstates the brands Energy Bole Toh Sting positioning. The film begins in a chemistry lab set up in a college with a grouchy professor reviewing science projects. One after the other, students present their innovative prototypes - only to receive an unimpressed response from the professor. The grumpy professor, hellbent on disliking every project, is stunned as Akshay Kumar enters with his project powered by Sting Energy! A sip of the electrifying Sting was all it took for Akshay to turn the laboratory upside down, leaving the professor stunned and dumbfounded. Looking for a reaction, Akshay cheekily asks the professor in Hindi, Ab Mazza Aya Sir?. It ends with the brand tagline on display Energy Bole Toh Sting that sums up the film in one line. Speaking about the launch of Stings new campaign, Naseeb Puri, Senior Marketing Director, Energy, Hydration & Flavours, PepsiCo India said, Sting has truly been a trailblazer in the beverage category, redefining multiple codes including communication. Sting campaigns have always resonated very strongly with our audiences - using wit, surprise and over the top entertainment to drive awareness and make the Sting energy benefit unmissable! This year too, were back with yet another energizing campaign that once again uses hyperbole to reinforce how no energy is quite like Sting energy. Talking about the new campaign, brand ambassador Akshay Kumar commented, I always look forward to shooting with Sting, not only because of the energy the brand offers but because there is always a unique storyline that awaits us. This time as well, the campaign offers a fun turn of events that showcase the refreshing and entertaining avatar of the brand. I am thrilled to be a part of this campaign and am confident itll resonate well with the audience. The new 360-degree Sting campaign will be amplified across television, digital, outdoor, and social media. Sting is available in small single serve packs in 200ml and 250ml and multi serve pack of 500 ml across all modern and traditional retail outlets in India, as well as on leading e-commerce platforms. Coffeee.io, a tech recruitment platform for pre-assessed developers, appoints Hitesh Sachdeva as Head of Growth & Marketing. With a career of over a decade spent in driving growth for tech majors and start-ups, Hitesh will be a key visionary for strategising the organizations growth objectives. His expertise lies in developing growth strategies, digital marketing, and customer lifecycle management. He will be spearheading brand and performance marketing, communications & growth functions for the brand. In the course of his professional journey so far, Hitesh has held senior managerial positions across industry-leading technology businesses such as Meta, Paytm and Uber, among others. During his stint at Meta, Hitesh was mainly responsible for driving strategic partnerships with leading Indian media companies along with steering partner monetization across Facebook and Instagram. At Paytm, he was in charge of performance marketing specializing in SEM, SEO, Social Media, Affiliates, and OEM partnerships. Speaking of his appointment at Coffeee.io Hitesh said, AI and technology have a lot of potential in enhancing the recruitment practices in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Thus, I am thrilled to join Coffeee.io at this crucial stage of expansion into new products and geographies. With the deployment of the right kind of growth & marketing strategies, we are confident of successfully building the largest community for job seekers to collaborate, learn, grow, and land the right job. Amit Veer, Founder & CEO of Coffeee.io, while welcoming Hitesh to the team said, I am positive that Hitesh will be instrumental in taking the brand to greater heights. He will bring to the table an intuitive awareness of customer behavior by applying his expertise and knowledge of growing tech start-ups pioneering disruptive innovation. Coffeee.io, established in July 2022 and gained early traction by building a community of more than 74,000+ developers from all over India. The platform is currently available in India and working towards launching in the US market within Q1 of 2023. DRiefcase, Indias 1st integrated personal health record (PHR) app under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) that helps users to digitally manage their health records has launched a new campaign, #ReportKoReportKaro. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of digitizing medical records for easy access and management. To support the campaign, DRiefcase released its ad film showcasing actor Rajendra Chawla , a prominent theatre, TV and film personality, to spread the message about the importance of organising health records in a hassle-free and easily accessible manner on the DRiefcase app. The brand also ran a social media contest #ReportKoReportKaro by inviting funny captions from the audience on a still shared from the ad film. The contest was live across DRiefcases social media channels to create awareness about the film and engage with the audience on social media. The campaign saw great participation with over 500+ unique participants and the ad film has so far received over 3.5 million video views digitally. Founded in 2016 by Harsh Parikh & Sohit Kapoor, DRiefcase sets itself apart by focusing on using digital medical records and providing a seamless user experience. The app allows users to upload their records via email and even offers at-home scanning services which includes scanning of radiology reports like X-rays and MRIs. "Over a lifetime, an average patient generates a significant quantum of health records, but the information stored therein is often difficult to access for patients when they need it. Even today when everything is going digital, we see some people maintaining medical record files that are not just difficult to store but also time consuming for the doctor to go through each and every report. said Harsh Parikh, Co-founder of DRiefcase. He further added, "Were all aware about how important it is to have a digital backup of our familys health records but how many of us are actually taking time out to save those records on an app? Its surprising to see people spend hours on social media apps watching and uploading videos but they dont have a few seconds to upload health records that could potentially be life-saving. Thats when we thought there couldnt be anything better than the #ReportKoReportKaro concept to spread the message. Driefcase is proud to be the first #HealthKiTijori in the country and aims to bridge the information divide in healthcare by providing a convenient platform for managing digital medical records. Additionally, every health record on DRiefcase is automatically tagged and indexed for easy retrieval, such that they can be retrieved in just under 10 seconds. "Going with the governments plan to digitize healthcare data, we are confident that the ABDM will be a game-changer for the healthcare sector in India. Were working tirelessly to be an important part of this transformative journey." Great people managers deliver great results, create learners for life at the workplace, and reward of being resilient are some of the most interesting highlights of the recently held For All Summit, hosted by Great Place To Work India in the economic city of Mumbai. Both speakers and attendees enjoyed 15+ packed sessions revolving around the theme: Agility, Innovation & Maximized Human Potential. While the majority of the sessions received positive responses from the audience, a few segments with speakers like Sudhanshu Mani, Arunima Sinha, Ravi Venkatesan, and Kris Gopalakrishnan specifically piqued the audiences interest. Their respective speeches, based on their experiences, left the audience with a unique perspective that can assist attendees in making decisions or even helping others in need. The For All Summit 2023 exceeded our expectations this year. The event has left all of us with a unique perspective that will help us, as industry leaders, create an agile, innovative, and healthy culture for our employees. Mr. Sudhanshu Mani has put it aptly that there is a need of purpose that leaders of today have to instill in their employees and innovation simply becomes a byproduct. Similarly, Mrs. Arunima Sinhas story of achieving the impossible target has left us speechless, inspiring many to focus on achieving the most difficult target," said Yeshasvini Ramaswamy, Serial Entrepreneur & CEO, Great Place To Work, India. She further said, "she really enjoyed the fireside chat with Mr. Krish Gopakakrishnan, and conversation around how it seems tough to believe now but Infosys once also was a startup once! I concur with Mr. Gopakakrishnan that the future is all about entrepreneurship and startups and that there is a large talent pool of great leaders out there." "Being said, todays employee wants to be associated with a firm that has a social purpose. Companies understand this, and therefore, they are bringing ESG to the core of their business. In the long run, it is beneficial for the companies itself as it assists them in achieving their sustainable goals while creating a better world." Ramaswamy added. While the majority of the sessions received positive responses from the audience, a few segments with speakers like Sudhanshu Mani, Arunima Sinha, Ravi Venkatesan, and Kris Gopalakrishnan specifically piqued the audiences interest. Their respective speeches, based on their experiences, left the audience with a unique perspective that can assist attendees in making decisions or even helping others in need.The For All Summit 2023 exceeded our expectations this year. The event has left all of us with a unique perspective that will help us, as industry leaders, create an agile, innovative, and healthy culture for our employees. Mr. Sudhanshu Mani has put it aptly that there is a need of purpose that leaders of today have to instill in their employees and innovation simply becomes a byproduct. Similarly, Mrs. Arunima Sinhas story of achieving the impossible target has left us speechless, inspiring many to focus on achieving the most difficult target," saidShe further said, "she really enjoyed the fireside chat with Mr. Krish Gopakakrishnan, and conversation around how it seems tough to believe now but Infosys once also was a startup once! I concur with Mr. Gopakakrishnan that the future is all about entrepreneurship and startups and that there is a large talent pool of great leaders out there.""Being said, todays employee wants to be associated with a firm that has a social purpose. Companies understand this, and therefore, they are bringing ESG to the core of their business. In the long run, it is beneficial for the companies itself as it assists them in achieving their sustainable goals while creating a better world." Ramaswamy added. Data shows that the employee sentiments over the last few years have moved north dramatically, i.e., 87% of employees in 2022 had a positive response, compared to 79% in 2016 that they feel good about the way they are contributing to society. The conversations during the day-long summit revolved around topics like AIM in India A Case Study on the Vande Bharat Express, Becoming ESG-Conscious: How do you make sustainability stick, How do Unicorns leverage Disruptive Innovation, Building a human-led, data-powered culture, Winning the War for Talent, and Science behind people management. We are gearing up for Valentines day and today being the kiss day makes us think of an actress whose kisses have had us smitten already. National Crush Rashmika Mandanna who enjoys a massive fandom across the country, never misses a chance to meet her fans and shower them with love. As today marks 'Kiss Day' of the Valentine's week, here are some adorable videos of Rashmika kissing her fans at various instances. 1. Rashmika gives free kisses and group hugs to a number of little girls who can clearly be seen having a great time with her. This video is from the Goodbye trailer launch. 2. Dressed in the color of love, Rashmika Mandanna can be seen receiving a warm kiss from a little fan, at the airport. 3. This was when Rashmika met the little Rashmika at a fan meet event in Chennai and we couldn't stop watching this adorable clip on loop. 4. During a recent Sita Raman promotional event, Rashmika was seen giving away air kisses to her fans. Meanwhile, on the work front, Rashmika Mandanna was last seen in Varisu where her performance was loved and praised by the audience. Apart from that, the actress will now be seen in Animal opposite Ranbir Kapoor and Pushpa 2 along side Allu Arjun. L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, the full-service communications agency from the Publicis Groupe has notched up yet another renowned global brand Grupo Bimbo. This is the first-ever integrated mandate undertaken by the brand with them parking the mainline, digital and media mandates all with one agency. Grupo Bimbo is a name synonymous with baked goods & snacks, with a well-entrenched footprint across the globe. Their focus remains on offering nutritious baked goods and snacks to every single individual with the purpose of nourishing a better world. In India, the portfolio of brands includes the likes of Harvest Gold, Modern and Kitty. And with focus on platform-agnostic ideas & solutions, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi is poised to play a crucial role in scaling up the brands vision in India. Commenting on the partnership, Gonzalo Jimenez, Marketing Director of Grupo Bimbo in India says, We have an exciting agenda for the Indian market and are looking forward to partnering with L&K Saatchi and Saatchi to achieve this dream. We aim to be the first choice in baked goods and snacks by delivering nutritious and delicious solutions to diverse Indian people, we feel we have chosen the right partners to build our vision with us. Our purpose is Nourishing a Better World, and we are hoping to bake some great work and Nourish India together. Paritosh Srivastava, CEO, L&K Saatchi and Saatchi added, Grupo Bimbo has very big ambitions for India and we are thrilled and privileged to partner them in their vision for this market. Their growth over the past few years is nothing short of spectacular and the plan is to accelerate even further over the next few. This is one of those wins where it was a very special relationship baked from the very beginning. Whats most special is that we have been trusted with both the creative and media mandates, which makes us significant owners and responsible for the success of Grupo Bimbo in India. We look forward to creating a legacy in India for a brand with immense Global legacy. Sharing his views on the win and the new partnership, Atin Wahal, EVP-North & East, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi said: We are elated to partner Grupo Bimbo in India. We believe that we are just not the creative and media partners to them but an investor in their growth story. For any good partnership to start there must be immense chemistry and trust which we found in the Grupo Bimbo team in India. Its time to break some bread! Laqshya Media Group, a leading marketing communications group in India, has executed the Indian Oil pavilion at the India Energy Week with innovative technology solutions. Mr. S.M. Vaidya, Chairman of the Ministry of Petroleum, inaugurated the pavilion, which was widely appreciated by visitors, guests, and dignitaries, including Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri for its state-of-the-art technology displays and immersive experiences. The stall represented the future of energy and innovation. The Indian Oil pavilion showcased cutting-edge solutions such as a power-generating mat, which generated power as people jumped and stepped on it. In addition, the live data was displayed on screens, showcasing the innovative methods of energy generation. The stall represented the future of energy and innovation and was a testament to the sector's commitment to powering India's sustainable and green energy journey. The anamorphic display, augmented reality, hologram and immersive digital cube were some of the most talked-about installations at the Indian Oil pavilion. These modern technologies kept pace with the sector's efforts to drive innovation and progress. IndianOil was honoured to showcase state-of-the-art technologies to the Hon'ble Minister @HardeepSPuri and all the visitors to the IndianOil stall at #IndiaEnergyWeek. Our stall represented the future of energy and innovation. https://t.co/5glUtnDm0x ChairmanIOC (@ChairmanIOCL) February 9, 2023 Dr. Uttiya Bhattacharyya, Executive Director & State Head at Indian Oil Corporation Limited, acknowledged the group's efforts and said, To the team called Laqshya! This hall no 4 of IEW2023, the space that was given to us, truly speaking, was not very advantageous because in front of us was a huge India experience zone, but we gave them a challenge by saying, let's use something so different, so special, so unique, that everybody will leave every other stall and come to Indian Oil pavilion and that's what Laqshya did. This group has done an outstanding job. Whatever we have conceptualized has definitely been brought to the ground. First, be the anamorphic wall, which was a great hit of the entire exhibition, then there was augmented reality, their immersive zone, that became a natural, safe environment, and the hologram even we had thought of this time that we at Indian Oil foundation will be having giving the customers and the visitors an opportunity to take some pictures that also coordinated very well. At the same time to entertain the customers, visitors, and dignitaries coming, we told them to get some good performing artists, the saxophone artists, and I would like to say that they were excellent. So in the wholesome, they have done a wonderful job. The team is extremely cohesive, hardworking, and talented. Best of luck to Laqshya for future business and future endeavors this time. Mr. Rajesh Mendiratta, Senior Vice President, Laqshya Media Group, said, We are proud to have executed the Indian Oil pavilion at India Energy Week to our client's satisfaction with our innovation wing Inventech and execution partner, Laqshya Live Experience (LLE). We are grateful to Indian Oil for entrusting us with this important project and allowing us to showcase our capabilities. We always aim to provide innovative solutions to help our clients achieve their goals and drive progress in their respective sectors. He added, We are honoured to have received such positive feedback from the Hon'ble Union Minister, Shri Hardeep S Puri Ji, management of Indian Oil, and all the visitors who experienced our work at the stall. We look forward to continued success in our collaboration. IOC, which meets as much as half of the nation's fuel needs, has already committed to a net-zero emission target by 2046. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a twin-cooktop model of the solar cooking system called the 'Surya Nutan' and garments made of recycled plastic bottles through 'Unbottled' - a brand for sustainable garments launched for merchandise made from recycled polyester, developed by the Indian Oil Corporation's research lab at the recently concluded India Energy Week 2023 in Bengaluru. Minister Hardeep Singh Puri complimented Chef Ranveer Brar's millet khichdi, which he prepared on IOC's solar cooktop in a record seven minutes, saying it was faster than pasta. Ninjacart, India's leading agri-start-up that leverages technology and data to organize the Indian agriculture ecosystem has appointed Publicis Business as its creative partner. Publicis Business won the Ninjacart account after a multi-agency pitch. Ninjacart aims to build Indias largest digital agri ecosystem empowering all participants including farmers, traders, dealers, wholesalers, and retailers through state-of-the-art technology, products, and services. The account mandate includes a refreshed brand identity for Ninjacart along with a strategic creative design, marketing and advertising strategy for its multiple business verticals. Furthermore, enhancing the brand's social media presence, digital marketing, and communication and branding strategy with an eye on both internal and external audiences, including employer branding, is an important element of the mandate. Speaking about the association, Vasudevan Chinnathambi, Co-Founder, Ninjacart said, We are delighted to have Publicis Business on board as our communications partner and will lead the 360-degree creative mandate for us right from brand identity creation. As Ninjacart takes its next big step to being Indias largest agri-tech platform and reshaping the Indian agricultural ecosystem, we are confident that Publicis Business will help us achieve our ambitious goals with their new-age thinking, creativity, and strong execution skills. We look forward to the association. Nidhi Lall, Senior VP, Publicis Business, said, Ninjacart is on the cusp of a tremendous growth journey and to get a chance in being a part of their success story is something all of us at Publicis Business are looking forward to. This mandate offers us the opportunity to truly flex all our B2B offerings and create clutter-breaking work which will in turn also impact Indias agricultural ecosystem. We are looking forward to a great and mutually rewarding partnership. Hemanth Vasudevan, Head of Marketing, Ninjacart, added, Ninjacart is at an interesting pivotal stage in its growth trajectory and marketing will play a key role in helping us get to the next level, by staying relevant and being innovative in reaching out to our evolving audiences. Publicis Business resonated most with our vision, ethos, and mission as a brand, and I look forward to working with them as our strategic marketing partner. Their unique approach and understanding of B2B marketing will enable us to co-create engaging and impactful campaigns." Publicis Business is a specialist knowledge-driven full-service B2B communications agency of the Publicis Groupe and in India it is a part of the Leo Burnett group. Its key clients include Bosch India, Adani ConneX, Airtel Business, and other leading players across several industry verticals. Verizon Business has appointed Ralf Lauer as Managing Sales Director for the DACH region. An industry leader with more than two decades of experience, Ralf Lauer will be responsible for driving growth and customer success for one of the largest regions in Verizon's EMEA business, with customers including Bertelsmann, SAP and Bayer. "I am very excited to be leading the DACH region for Verizon Business, where 90% of the DAX-40 uses Verizon technology, Lauer said. "I look forward to working with my team to develop the best possible solutions across digital transformation, cloud migration and enhanced and secure networking to enable our customers to be successful. To the role, Lauer brings deep experience in the IT and telecommunications industry and a strong background in implementing large-scale managed networks, managed security, IOT and UC projects. Prior to joining Verizon Business, Lauer was Area VP for AT&T's Global Client Segment in various countries in Europe. Before joining AT&T, he held various sales and marketing positions during his career. Lauer successfully completed his studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden with a Master's degree in Media Management and Business Administration Bumble, the popular dating app, in collaboration with popular GenZ actor Tara Sutaria, launched a new campaign for Valentines Day to encourage self-love. When asked about her collaboration, actor Tara Sutaria shares, "Ive always loved love. Im a Scorpio, so people who know about sun signs know that Scorpios are very passionate about love. I think anybody that can bring two people together is very special and well, Bumble is doing exactly that kind of thing, right? It brings people together and it helps people fall in love so I think I couldnt be happier to be associated with Bumble and heres to finding more love stories. When asked about qualities she looks for in a partner, Tara Sutaria adds, I dont necessarily or intentionally look for qualities in a partner or somebody that Im with but Ive realised over the years what is important in every relationship in my life is a really good sense of humour. Ive realised that life can be pretty hectic and complicated sometimes but what really helps, especially in the bad times or bad days is humour. And, I think, especially with the kind of lifestyle that I have, I think its very important to look at things with a pinch of salt and just enjoy even the mundane days and the crazy days. Its not always possible and it might sound a bit idealistic but I think I look for that quality more than others, in all the relationships that I have in my life. I admire clarity in everybody that I meet, and warmth and generosity are two things that have been very important to me all my life because my family embodies that. Thats always stuck out for me their generosity; kindness and goodness is also very important to me. Whether it is buying yourself flowers or a pampering day at the spa, or taking a pause to introspect on how you are doing, self-love is crucial. This Valentines Day, Bumbles new campaign spotlights and celebrates self-love and the most important relationshipthe one you have with yourself. Samarpita Samaddar, India Communications Director, Bumble shared, We often tend to forget that the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. Valentines Day can come with its set of pressures and traditional expectations, and we want to support you to focus on prioritising yourself no matter what stage you are at in your dating journey. With our new campaign we want to celebrate just that before anything or anyone else, there was you. Self-love is crucial for building healthy and equitable relationships, and its important that we remember to be kind to ourselves today, on Valentines Day and every other day! The Good Glamm Group, South Asias largest content-creator-commerce beauty & personal care conglomerate, launches the Good Community an omnichannel interest-based network consumers and experts. The Good Community sits seamlessly across all three existing divisions of the Good Glamm Group (Good Brands Co, Good Media Co, Good Creator Co) and augments its content-creator-commerce flywheel as the fourth strategic moat. The announcement is an industry-first move by the Group in the brand-community space defining how direct-to-consumer brands of today can be scaled via engaged communities. The launch of Good Community as a strategic focus area for the Good Glamm Group will leverage WhatsApp Communities, a new feature launched by WhatsApp in 2022 which allows organizations to connect multiple groups under one umbrella to stay better connected and engaged. This partnership will provide the Good Glamm Group with dedicated support on WhatsApp Communities, as well as access to new tools and features which will help scale its impact across existing groups and community members. The partnership will also extend to workshops and offline events where WhatsApp and the Good Community will educate members on the benefits of WhatsApp Communities for small businesses, interest-based groups, organizations and NGOs working on social causes. Commenting on the launch, Naiyya Saggi, Co-Founder, The Good Glamm Group said, We are very excited to unveil the Good Community as the fourth strategic moat for the Good Glamm Group. We believe that deep brand love is built when community members become organic evangelists and align closely with brand mission and purpose. Given that we now have first mover advantage in the brand community space, our vision is to scale the Good Community into the largest and most engaged omnichannel network of consumers and experts based on shared deep interests, complementing the Good Glamm Groups content-creator-commerce flywheel. Speaking of the partnership with Whatsapp, she added. Were excited to collaborate with WhatsApp, one of the most loved and trusted messaging apps in the country, and help further scale WhatsApp Communities by offering the 12 million transacted customers of Good Brands who are already on Whatsapp seamless migration to to Whatsapp Communities, and create deeply engaging and enriching experiences for them. With more such platforms and initiatives to follow, our aim is to provide a friction-free and engaging experience to our users Talking about the partnership Vidisha Chatterjee, Director Communications India, WhatsApp, said,"We are thrilled to support the Good Glamm Group in their cause of connecting consumers, experts and brands across the ecosystem with WhatsApp Communities. Our aim with WhatsApp Communities is to make conversations easier, efficient and more impactful by helping organizations stay connected, collaborate effectively, share information, and get things done, without compromising on the privacy and security that people expect from WhatsApp. The Good Glamm Group has already built an impressive consumer base, and with their community members on WhatsApp, we look forward to helping people connect in ways that are both meaningful and important. The Good Community will scale online and offline networks of users and experts, allowing them to meaningfully connect based on shared deep interests in beauty, parenting, sexual and intimate health, wellness and sustainability. By building large communities of organic evangelists, it aims to increase loyalty, retention and deep brand trust, and in the process develop a significant and actionable repository of first-party insights. The Good Community will augment and strengthen the Good Glamm Groups content-creator-commerce flywheel by enabling organic discovery of its products across the Good Brands portfolio, including MyGlamm, The Moms Co, BabyChakra, Sirona, Organic Harvest and St Botanica. The Good Community is built on five key pillars. Create omnichannel interest-based communities aligned with the mission and purpose of all our Good Brands. Scale a network of experts to support and advise the community. Focus on localisation and personalisation through data science and product & technology innovation. Leverage digital platforms such as WhatsApp as well as each brands native app and mobile website to facilitate community interactions. Connect by hosting in-person events like fun community meetups and expert-led workshops across India. The Good Community is already seeing significant growth driven through referrals as its members derive value from events, engagements and conversations. It already has active community members in more than 100 towns and cities across India. More than 65% of members are based in top 8 metros and over 90% are women in the 18-40 age bracket. Good Community members will sign up on the Good Brands app and Mweb by verifying their identity and choosing interests. Based on levels of interaction, members will unlock features, experiences and privileges across the community stack. Good Community sign up benefits include: celebrity meetups, unlocking special features in the brand apps, earning Good Points, earning rewards from the group and partner brands, features on the Good Media Co platforms and social media handles, shout outs from favourite Good Creator Co influencers and many more. In a world where judgment, misunderstanding, and feeling of loneliness are too common, pets have always been there to lend a paw and brighten days. Leveraging this insight, that affection and love from pets have no conditions, India's leading homegrown pet care brand, Wiggles launches a quirky marketing campaign #AndhaPyaar ahead of Valentines Day. This campaign brings to light that the bond between pets and their parents comes with no strings, and is honest, pure and blind. #AndhaPyaar features pet parents real-life experiences during challenging times and how they sought comfort with pets. The digital campaign that extends to social media is also powered by a digital contest thus driving consumer engagement. In addition to this, an exclusive Valentines weekend brunch is being hosted by the brand to drive camaraderie within the community. With a strong focus on emotional storytelling and community involvement, #AndhaPyaar reminisces special moments and love between pets and their parents. Prashant Kohli, Chief Marketing Officer, Wiggles, said, At Wiggles, all our campaigns are crafted upon real insights that make the relationship between pets and their parents unlike any other. #AndhaPyaar brings focus to the unconditional love that pets have towards their parents, even in their darkest hour. In addition to the digital campaign, we have organised a community building exercise with Valentines weekend brunch that will further strengthen the brands proposition with consumers, directly. We hope that our campaigns encourage more people to welcome home pets and along with their unconditional love. #AndhaPyaar is live across social media platforms, digital media as well as the Wiggles website. In collaboration with Highland restaurant, Pune, Wiggles is hosting a brunch date for pets and pet parents on the 11th and 12th of February. #AndhaPyaar conceptualized and executed by Wiggles in-house creative team. Well, how did we get here? CDC has added the Covid series to the pediatric schedule. COVID-19 row: A new row has been added with the columns for age 6 months18 years highlighted in yellow to indicate the recommended age for COVID-19 vaccination. The overlying text 2- or 3-dose primary series and booster (See Notes) has also been added. This does not mean the series is required - yet. It's the foundation for states to add the series to the daycare and school schedules. Uptake for children was low during Covid. Will parents who did not choose the full series, 2nd or 1st shot acquiesce when faced with the public health and education mob? ### Buy and share these books by Robert Kennedy Jr.. Dr. Fauci may be "gone" but we will not let his work fade into obscurity nor become enshrined on Mount Olympus. And the Pfizer expose video (dates gone sour) screams out for The Wuhan Cover Up. Not to mention the weather balloon we just took down. The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health (Childrens Health Defense) by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. #1 on AMAZON, and a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, USA TODAY and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY NATIONAL BESTSELLER Over 1,000,000 copies sold despite censorship, boycotts from bookstores and libraries, and hit pieces against the author. The Wuhan Cover-Up: How US Health Officials Conspired with the Chinese Military to Hide the Origins of COVID-19 (Childrens Health Defense) From the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Real Anthony Fauci comes an explosive expose of the cover-up behind the true origins of COVID-19. As I have written in these pages before, I spent 40 years as a scientist in a federal research facility. We always had a steady stream of gifted young (and senior-level) scientists and students who came from all over the United States and from around the world to work as guest researchers with us. For the most part, this was a great opportunity for both them and us. There were two classifications of guest researchers: domestic and foreign, and the rules and procedures were different for both groups. In most cases, we were able to provide a monthly stipend for guest researchers. This stipend was meant to offset some of their expenses but, in general, we expected their home institutions to do most of the funding. The stipends were meant to assist them in essentially maintaining two households: one in our city and the other back home. It clearly would not be possible for most guest researchers to sell a house (or give up an apartment) back home and work with us for a year or two, then have to return and pick up where they left off. And if a stipend could not be provided under the regs, then there were lecture fees, consulting fees, and the like. Nobody got rich this way, for sure. Many of the overseas guest researchers established long-term relationships with our staff, resulting in many of our scientists going to those overseas labs and universities for collaborative work. I personally developed close connections with folks from several countries, and they remain friends and colleagues to this day. We had a significant number of guest researchers from China throughout my entire career at this laboratory. I have a few observations regarding our interactions with Chinese guest researchers, and please understand that these are not to be confused with many associations I had with Chinese-American students and visiting scientists. Image: Photocopying by Pixabay. Unlike their American citizen counterparts, I noticed guest researchers from China spent an unusual amount of time at the copying machine. I would walk by many times per day, between lab, office, library, meeting room, or wherever, and the big industrial-duty copiers would constantly be runningand there would always be a Chinese guest researcher running the thing. I began to take note of what was happening because the copy machine was near the soda machine, and you couldnt help but notice as you were banging away at the soda machine trying to get your Dr. Pepper to release from the rack. These Chinese guest researchers were copying books. I mean, book after book, something they seemed to do all day long. Cover to cover. I wonder how they ever got any lab work done. The books were mostly new acquisitions by our library. Now, we all used the copying machine to print a journal article, a document, or even a few pages from a book, but the idea of copying an entire book would never enter our minds. If we needed the entire book, we would simply order a copy and be done with it. We did this even if we had to pay for it ourselves. But we would never waste our time copying an entire book. After asking around, I learned that these guest researchers were copying books and sending the copies back to their home institutions in China! Not only was that a blatant violation of copyright, but the American taxpayer was footing the bill. You see, the cost of the copies was paid out of laboratory overhead, as was the cost of shipping. I understand that the information the Chinese researchers were copying from these books was readily available to anyone willing to pay for the book. This was not the same as stealing industrial or government secrets, but it was still stealing. While the laboratory never formally approved of this theft, it still tolerated and subsidized it. We have all read about Chinas intellectual property theft. Indeed, one of my own patented inventions was pirated. But I witnessed this form of intellectual property theft via copy machine going on since the early 1980s, right under our noses. We even financed it, and we did nothing about it. Over the years, I occasionally mentioned it to the higher-ups and was told to forget it. It was just part of the research collaboration; ignore it and dont make trouble. Later in my career, during the 2000s, the Chinese guest researcher pipeline began to sour. Often a guest researcher would arrive from China with the assurance of financial support from their home institution but, after onboarding, they would claim that, in fact, they were not receiving any support. This usually left us with no choice but to give them a much larger stipend than was initially agreed because the alternative would be to risk a diplomatic incident. Finally, we wised up a bit. We realized that this was a racket and that we were being played. Our laboratory ultimately insisted that the Chinese guest researchers financial support be guaranteed by the Chinese embassy or no dice. While I have greatly enjoyed and benefitted from my association and work with overseas guest researchers, I cannot help but be dismayed by our experiences with the ones from China. I have just one more story to relate, and it is, at least, somewhat humorous, if not a bit scary. About 20 years ago, down the hall from my office were two Chinese guest researchers sharing an office. They were mid-career scientists, not kids. Around lunchtime, the most amazing smells filled the corridor. Even though these two fellows kept their door closed most of the time, one couldnt help but be drawn to the source of the aromas. All around their door, you could hear the rumbling of stomachs, it was that good. We didnt know what they brought with them to eat, but we knew it sure was better than a PBJ. Then, one day as I was walking past, the door opened, and I discovered the source of these gastronomic delights. These two guys had a Hibachi stove in the office, and they cooked shrimp, chicken, pork, and veggies. I looked in and, holy mackerel, they were cooking with charcoal briquets inside the office! I was in shock, but I managed to say, No, no, no, guys, you cant cook on a Hibachi in an office, inside a building, with charcoal, with the door closed. It took some convincing, but we made it go away without involving management or, worse, the police or fire department. Honestly, I dont know how these two jokers didnt manage to poison themselves and the rest of us with carbon monoxide or set the place afire. Now I know why they put smoke detectors in every office. Dr. Bruno, a scientist retired after more than 40 years in research, amuses himself writing books and editing scientific journals, along with wood and metal working. A pervasive agenda spreading through the medical profession at a viral pace is in and of itself a disturbing trend. But it may reveal an even more perilous cultural decay that, if left untreated, could be life-threatening to our republic. The trend is the coercive use of government power that places a bureaucratic thumb on the scale balancing science and politics. The cultural decay is the rejection of God as the source of life and liberty. It took an injunction by a federal district court to partially prevent the Biden administration from using the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act to force emergency room doctors to perform elective abortions regardless of religious beliefs or conscientious objection. The injunction in the case State of Texas v. Becerra is likely headed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. The federal government isn't alone when it comes to politicizing medicine. In New Mexico and California, doctors now face civil, administrative, and professional liability, including risking losing their medical licenses, if they decline to participate in assisted suicide. The laws require physicians to inform patients about assisted suicide, be part of the process for obtaining suicide drugs, or refer patients to physicians and organizations who will participate in ending their lives. Alliance Defending Freedom is challenging New Mexico's and California's laws; the cases are Lacy v. Torrez and Christian Medical and Dental Associations v. Bonta, respectively. Politicizing health care isn't limited to issues related to the beginning and end of life; it includes crucial developmental milestones along the way. When lawmakers in the state of Alabama wisely chose to protect children by prohibiting the administration of puberty-blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical mutilation of minors, the Biden administration and political interest groups immediately sued the state. ADF is assisting the Alabama Attorney General's Office in Boe v. Marshall, defending the law that protects children from harmful procedures that irreversibly alter their healthy bodies without any proven long-term benefit. Successful court challenges to unjust laws are necessary, but legal victories alone are not enough to sustain the American dream of liberty under law. The symbiotic relationship connecting law, politics, and culture is such that freedom must be exercised to be maintained. And understanding freedom and its origin is key to opposing any imposter's vision. This political agenda infecting the medical profession has already run rampant through other corners of society, most notably education. Cloaked in terms of liberation, autonomy, and human rights, it embraces the self-centered libertine definition of freedom "I can do what I want without restriction or consequence" that is more in line with the 1789 revolution in France than the American Revolution of 1776. The American ideal of ordered liberty "I have the unencumbered ability to do as I should" presupposes a moral order that enables a free man to live among free men. This has made America the exception to the general rule of history, where revolutions come and go, ending most often in renewed tyranny. The politicization of medicine is merely a symptom. The disease is the cultural abandonment of the ultimate value and dignity of humanity and the natural rights inextricably linked to mankind by way of their shared divine origin. In theological terms, this is the notion of Imago Dei, that all men are created in the image of God. The view of mankind as a clump of cells requires no moral consideration of ending life in the womb, forcing doctors to assist in suicide, or inflict permanent damage to those they are called to heal, not harm. The political expression of man as God's creation is in our nation's birthright: "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." While Thomas Jefferson's words may be among the most famous in the English language, the idea has endured because it holds true for all times and in all tongues. This is the fundamental principle upon which our nation rests. Recognition of every human being as an image-bearer of God equal in value and worthy of respect is the necessary pre-condition of American liberty. It is no surprise that Jefferson's protege James Madison saw to it that our Constitution would protect the proper role of religion in a civil society. Here, there would be no state-imposed orthodoxy or religious test for public office, but the free exercise of religion would be protected to influence all aspects of life and produce a common understanding of morality necessary to live freely together. If that "self-evident truth" of a Creator as the objective source of right and rights is supplanted by the view of humanity as a cosmic accident, with each individual beholden only to his own subjective morality, the result leaves only one absolute: power. When might makes right, freedom's days are numbered. As President Ronald Reagan put it in 1984, nearly two centuries after the founding, "Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience[.] ... [W]ithout God, there is a coarsening of the society; without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure[.] ... If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Lathan Watts, who obtained his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law, is vice president of public affairs for Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal). Image via Pixnio. All wars are like car accidents, and all car accidents have causes. Trouble is, conflicting testimony will often produce different explanations of the cause. The conventional view on the Russo-Ukraine War holds that Russia's invasion constitutes a grave act of injustice, amounting to an open-and-shut case of unprovoked aggression. War guilt rests solely on the shoulders of Russian president Vladimir Putin. "One man chose this war," American secretary of state Antony Blinken has said, "and one man can end it," echoing a widely shared view by foreign policy elites on both sides of the Atlantic. Variations of this version would add that Putins past words and deeds show that he had long planned for war, that he is bent on conquest, and that he wants to recreate the Russian Empire. In any case, the key point in all this is that the war stemmed from an act of Putin's will, nothing more. The anti-war view is in the minority; it has no standing among foreign policy elites. Generally, the war critics see two principal chains of events leading up to the conflict. The primary one is the prospect of Ukraine joining the NATO alliance and Russia's well publicized record of warnings against that development. Over the years, Russia had repeatedly signaled that it would consider such a move a threat to its security. A full diplomatic history of the run-up to the war of who said what to whom and when lies in the future, but enough is now known to say that the first move was taken by NATO in 2008, when it formally invited Ukraine to become a member of the alliance. War critics say the U.S. had the influence to change this policy but chose not to do so. To them, the U.S. is the one who started the quarrel. The other thread is about the destabilizing changes that took place in Ukraine after a stridently anti-Russia nationalist movement took power there in 2014. That event sparked a civil war between the government and the Russian-speaking population in the eastern, or Donbas, part of the country. Russia provided the rebels with military support, and the war in the Donbas settled into years of artillery duels, causing an estimated fourteen thousand civilian deaths. The record does not show that the government sought to win the hearts and minds of the pro-Russia separatists; its tone toward them was one of mocking hostility. The war critics make a great fuss over the fact that the Western media has largely ignored this piece of the story. Meanwhile, NATO boosted military aid to Ukraine, and, with the passage of time, the country gradually became a de facto NATO ally. The Kremlin looked upon these developments with alarm. It is pointless arguing whether withdrawing NATO's invitation to Ukraine or resolving the civil war could have avoided war, for conjectures like these are debatable, but it is fair to say that the failure to perform on them keeping the invitation active and allowing the civil war to fester contributed much to the current catastrophe. These failures amounted to the piling up of dry kindling, which awaited an agent for ignition: Vladimir Putin chose war. The conventional view would say he was aiming for war all along and was looking for the pretext to start one. The war critics say he was not looking for war so much as he had concluded that a collision was inevitable. In either case, no party in the West was willing or able to accommodate Russia's security "asks." No negotiated solutions materialized. This debate over war origins exists on two levels. There is first of all the debate over the facts, with the conventional view emphasizing Putin's personal culpability as well as the legal and ethical aspects of Russia's invasion, while the war critics place Putin in a secondary role and emphasize the security environment faced by the Kremlin. On another level, there is a kind of meta-debate, or a dispute over the debate itself. The conventional view holds that there is a simple and final explanation for the war, and one need not do discovery much beyond the Kremlin walls to find it. The war critics, on the other hand, see large areas open to doubt and questioning and assert that the matter of war origins is not settled. An analogy to the origins of two world wars is apt. There was a great debate after the First World War about its origins and causes. Volumes have been written on the topic. Some books look at the various crises that broke over Europe in the ten years before the guns of August, while others trace the war's origins deeper into the nineteenth century. A reappraisal of the events emerged, along with a feeling that responsibility for the war did not rest solely on Germany, but was distributed among the other combatants. Nothing like this exists about the Second World War. The consensus view has long held fast: the war stemmed from an act of Adolf Hitler's will, nothing more. Today's defenders of U.S. and NATO policy in Ukraine are like this. Their explanation of the war does not admit of shared responsibility. The anti-war camp, on the other hand, takes the First World War as its explanatory model. The conventional view also keeps to a restricted understanding of the idea of "aggression." To those who hold that view, Russia is the aggressor because it attacked Ukraine, and not the other way around. But the aggressor is not always the one who attacks; he can also be the one who starts the quarrel. The anti-war camp insists that the United States started the quarrel and thus either shares or bears responsibility for the war. In ancient Greece, a great war was fought between the cities of Athens and Sparta over which was to lead the Greek world. For generations prior to the war, Athens had become a formidable naval power, acquired great wealth, and collected a following of other Greek cities, which looked to it for commercial and cultural stimulation. Sparta looked upon these developments with fear and saw the power balance shift against it. After much delay, Sparta declared war on Athens and attacked. But Sparta was not the aggressor, according to the Greek historian who chronicled the events. Thucydides took part in the war as an admiral in the Athenian fleet, but he fingered his own country for war guilt. The real cause, he said, "was kept out of sight." It was "the growth of the power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired" in Sparta. Here is the familiar combination of the relentless expansion of the one power and the fear it provokes in another. Sparta's attack was not unforeseen; it was the result of the accumulation of unresolved tension. It is tempting to find in this an allegory for the Russo-Ukraine War, with America cast as democratic Athens against Russia's Sparta. After 27 years of fighting, the Peloponnesian War came to an end in 404 B.C. Sparta won. James Soriano is a retired Foreign Service officer. He has previously written for the American Thinker on monetary affairs. Image via Public Domain Pictures. Now that the midterms are over, this is not the time to relax. Here is an early warning for the GOP: Today is the day you must begin securing 2024s election. Not a year from now. Not six months from now. Not next week. Today. Make voting much, much harder for everyone. Here at American Thinker, several contributors listed in detail what must be done in order to keep 2022 from being stolen. It almost was. Not nearly enough was done by Americans to secure the midterms. We barely took the House and came this close > < to losing it. Why? Because we didnt take Democrat cheating seriously enough to do anything about it years ago or even in 2016. We were vocal, yes, but did we actually do anything? GOP voters must infiltrate every election office in the country -- legally. We must clean the voter rolls of dead people. "Voters who live at addresses that are really vacant lots should not be allowed to vote mail-in or in person, which means addresses must be validated. Voter integrity must take priority before 2024 rolls around. Vote harvesting must end. No one should be permitted to submit ballots in any other persons name. Thousands of harvested ballots were submitted by live people on behalf of dead ones, people who were coerced into voting a certain way, and people who were paid for their Democrat votes. We learned via Dinesh D'Souza's expose, 2000 Mules, that drop boxes were being stuffed with phony ballots to a degree that would make Chicago blush. Suspect machines and printers were used in Arizona, no doubt tampered with so that wait times to fix the machines were often several hours long, disallowing a voter to vote. In this way, votes were suppressed. Kari Lake should have won her election, but her voters were turned away and told to go to another precinct sometimes hours away and with long waits once again. This was deliberate and obvious fraud in only her heavily Republican county. All voting machines should be tested a week before the elections, again on voting day before polls open, and any anomalies fixed before polls open. Republicans must get themselves on election boards. Newt Gingrich has more suggestions and revelations here, and here is a 2020 Andrea Widburg column that still holds valuable information and advice. I wrote several columns here, here, and here about fixes that must be in place before 2022 but I was predictably ignored, just like other conservatives were ignored by RINOs and the GOP organization. "You can't go back," they said. Yes, we can go back, because "back" worked far better than what we've got now. Republicans are only now learning that their "polite" way of doing politics only emboldens Democrat cheaters because the latter don't believe we are serious opponents. Disabusing them of this notion will be hard, but with the feisty new House members, maybe they will make the difference. I feel obliged to put to rest the absurd notion of making voting easier. American citizenship is a pearl of great price. Its voting privilege should be closely guarded. It should not be farmed out to mail-in ballots where people who don't exist, people who are not citizens, imprisoned felons, and foreign nationals, all of whom seem eager to vote, can. Worse, they are allowed to vote. Voting in America should be made harder, not easier. It should be mandatory that: Voting should be on a single day and in person Photo ID must be required to vote Signature and address must be checked against a database. If the address is not valid, no vote. Mail in ballots should be permitted only for the disabled, those overseas, and the military. Proof of any of those things must be required before sending a ballot. Oversight at every polling place by registered overseers of both parties should be zealously administered. Paper ballots; we know enough now to realize that electronic voting presents myriad validation problems and in fact, flips votes from Republican to Democrat if so programmed, which is not hard for any 14-year-old miscreant to do. This was unearthed in the last election by hundreds of disenfranchised voters who were told to file a form. No votes will be counted after midnight of election day, and no halting or slowing of the vote count for any reason other than an H-bomb shall take place. In the event that mail-in voting doesn't go away, the GOP should mobilize a D-Day-sized operation to use mail-ins to their advantage. They had better learn how now, not six months from now. This is not hard to implement, but if it isnt done now (how many warnings does the GOP need?), we will suffer greater losses than in the last two elections because our enemies now know what works well and what doesnt. They know they can walk all over us. Make no mistake that the Left is at this moment thinking up new ways to queer 2024, regardless if Trump runs or not. The notoriously procrastinating GOP needs to get off its knees and off its collective ass. We need the blood lust to win what Democrats already have - passion. We must act today or be ridiculed once again by our own people, who are already gagging on Republican ineffectualness. We are being called The Stupid Party by our enemies. Worse, our own people are now doing so. America deserves better. Heres hoping the new crop of House firebrands can blow some smoke down the Democrat chimney and suffocate their efforts to steal the next election. We can no longer afford McConnell & his merry band of RINO cowards who put us where we are now. Lets not lay all the blame at the Democrats feet, though. Romney and the Newsom would sell us out to China the first chance they got, so thats a non-starter. We need a mean, lean, sharp military-grade candidate who is not afraid to tell Democrats where to put their cheating. Photo credit: Tony Webster CC BY 2.0 license When someone has had success in beating off a global pandemic, shouldn't they maybe get some kind of laurels? At a minimum, it would makes sense to learn what they learned so as to get the same result. That's how actual science works, or at least, it did. Not to the global bureaucrats of the World Health Organization (WHO), which can't stop telling African countries on a continent that has great success in beating COVID, what to do. According to the Burning Platform: Scientists are said to be mystified as to how Africa fared so well, completely ignoring data showing that the more COVID-19 shots you get, the higher your risk of contracting COVID-19 and ending up in the hospital. Over the past year, researchers have been warning that the COVID-19 jabs appear to be dysregulating and actually destroying peoples immune systems, leaving them vulnerable not only to COVID-19 but also other infections. It stands to reason, then, that Africa with its low injection rate would not be burdened with COVID-19 cases brought on by dysfunctional immune systems. Secondly, variants have gotten milder (less pathogenic) with each iteration, albeit more infectious (i.e., they spread easier). So why is the WHO worried about the risk of new variants creating large waves of serious disease and death in populations with low vaccination coverage? What is that risk based on? And, since COVID-19 infection keeps getting milder, and has had a lethality on par with or lower than influenza ever since mid-2020 at the latest, why is it still a crucial priority to accelerate delivery of COVID-19 treatments? What part of 'succeeded' do they not understand? The Africans did not follow the great lockdown strategies seen in China, most of Western Europe, and most of the U.S., which is why their populations were able to acquire natural immunity as the virus mutated to weaker and weaker versions of itself, which is how pretty much all pandemic viruses play out. They also used ivermectin and other known kill-it-dead cures for the disease, having the widely available and inexpensive treatment available over the fancy-schmancy newest treatments developed by Big Pharma. In addition, not having the resources, they didn't pursue a mass vaccination strategy which has led to a host of suspected problems in the populations that did, from myocarditis and blood clots that often led to death in young people, to the emerging issue of suspected mass infertility from the vaccines. If that one turns out to be true, I wrote about that issue here, Africa can now look forward to ruling the earth because after the jabbed populations go extinct, they will be among the few who are left. Yet amazingly, the WHO is still trying to tell Africa to get jabbed same as has been done in the West, and there seems to be no taking stock of what is going on on the ground on the continent, where the locals for whatever reason, didn't follow the "expert" template. Now they are fine, as are the Swedes, who didn't buy into the mask-lockdown-and-vaccine recommendations of the global public health bureaucrats any more than the Africans did. It's just astonishing that the WHO prefers to bull ahead with its failed results instead of listen and learn from those who know how to handle a pandemic. The Africans should be exceptionally proud of their common sense record because they are doing just fine in the wake of the pandemic's passing. No kids with learning disabilities and social problems because of masking and school shutdowns. No ruined economies based on mass lockdowns. No mysterious illnesses nor mass sterility which may be a result of mass forced vaccinations. Doesn't mean a thing to the WHO, which demonstrates to the rest of us that they aren't about science, or inquiry, or all of those other supposedly superior western educational values. They should be begging the Africans for advice about how to handle the next pandemic or how to replicate those results, or at a minimum, telling them to just keep doing what they are doing, but instead they are pushing their own bad solutions on them, never mind the evidence that's standing right there in their faces. It shows they are not about science but about preserving and perpetrating their own power. Get out the old colonial pith helmets, because the colonizer wannabes from Europe's global elites have gotten busy again. One hopes the Africans are wise to them. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Apparently, there was no bottom to what Hunter Biden would do to make his buddies at Burisma happy. One of them wanted to run the United Nations. That brings us to Chuck Ross's latest Washington Free Beacon report about Biden Junior's bid to help a Serbian associate make his dreams of becoming the United Nations secretary-general come true. He writes: Hunter Biden enlisted then-vice president Joe Biden's national security adviser to help with a Serbian business partner's campaign to become secretary general of the United Nations, a scheme that is now drawing scrutiny from the House Oversight Committee as it attempts to piece together Hunter Biden's web of foreign business dealings. Hunter Biden arranged a meeting in July 2016 for Vuk Jeremic and Colin Kahl, a Pentagon official who served as then-vice president Joe Biden's national security adviser, emails from Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop show. Jeremic, an energy executive and former Serbian foreign affairs minister, was at the time looking for American support in an upcoming vote for secretary general. Jeremic recounted that Kahl, who is now undersecretary of defense for policy and an amateur DJ, "promised" to find out more about the election. While Jeremic's bid for the top United Nations post was unsuccessful, his ties to Hunter Biden could shed light on the troubled presidential son's foreign business dealings. Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.) inquired about the link in a letter to Biden on Friday as part of their sprawling probe into the Biden family's activities in Ukraine, China, and elsewhere. Hunter's Burisma ties to this influence-peddling operation came about in 2014 because Jeremic had a directorship at Mexico's PEMEX state oil company, and Hunter, on the board of Burisma, was "involved in discussions" for a partnership between the two companies. The revelations were revealed on Hunter's abandoned laptop. One can only imagine how that conversation must have come about amid the deal-making can you throw in a good word for me for your dad for me to run the United Nations as part of this partnership so we can sign the deal on the dotted line? Obviously, Hunter was asked for a favor, and sure enough, Hunter did the favor. Whom Hunter got the Serbian the appointment with is worth looking at, too: one Colin Kahl, who served as Joe Biden's "national security adviser" during his vice presidency and who has since been implicated in a slew of dirty tricks during the Trump administration. Now that he's ensconced in power as the Defense Department's undersecretary for policy as part of the Biden administration, he's been involved in some mind-blowing incompetence as the number-three guy at the Pentagon. A couple examples of it, the first of which I summed up earlier: His appointment to the number-three spot in the Pentagon, responsible for military-civilian affairs, last year was approved in Congress with zero Republican votes. He not only was rejected by the GOP House members because of his foul-tempered tweets, but had been the architect of the God-awful Obama-era Iran deal, which empowered the mullahs of Iran to pursue their nuclear weapons and made them cash-rich and happy. Like Joe Biden, whom he was "advising," Kahl had a horrible history of calling every foreign policy shot wrong, and he surpassed his record for that as he settled into his defense job. Kahl became the policy author of the Afghanistan pullout. He was the one who failed to plan for evacuating Americans (detailed here), leaving 9,000 Americans behind; he was the clod who ignored intelligence warnings of a mass casualty attack on one of the gates to Kabul Airport, which left 13 service members dead; and he may have been the bright bulb who decided to pull civilians out only after the military had departed the country. The Washington Free Beacon details his incompetence here. More recently, there was this from the Washington Examiner's Tom Rogan, dated Thursday: In an interview with Defense News this week, Kahl offered extraordinary overconfidence that China will not attempt an invasion of Taiwan within the next two years and likely far further into the future. This bears note because U.S. military and intelligence officials increasingly do believe that Xi is likely to order an invasion before this decade is out, possibly before 2027. Their assessment is vested in intelligence reporting and comprehensive political and military analysis. Kahl, however, is unconcerned. "I don't see anything that indicates that [an invasion] is imminent in the next couple of years," Kahl said. Identifying China's investment in capabilities and strategies designed to counter the U.S. military within the waters west of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines, Kahl added, "I see nothing that indicates Xi Jinping believes his military is ready to do this. Nothing." Nothing? That's a very bold statement for someone who holds an office that must wager against unknowns. But Kahl was just getting started. Describing Beijing's calculations, Kahl observed, "I think that they understand well that the United States continues to have pretty significant overmatch in a lot of critical domains." So Hunter's go-to guy for guys who wanted political favors, such as U.S. support for the United Nations secretary-generalship, was Colin Kahl, dirty trickster extraordinaire, and a guy whose global-scale failures of U.S. foreign policy, ranging from the Iran deal to the Afghanistan pullout to the current China fiasco, are never good enough to get him fired. Maybe this congressional investigation ought to do it, though we won't hold our breath. As I argued in my piece earlier, wondering why the heck this guy still had a job: The only thing we do know is that Biden isn't keeping this clown on staff for his talents. He obviously has some other purpose. Obviously, Kahl may know a lot of secrets about how the Bidens operate, ensuring that his job will always be secure. That may be a good deal for him, but it's a horrible deal for the country, far more horrid than Hunter's bid to make a Serbian oil buddy the chief of the United Nations. One thing is sure now: Hunter's influence-peddling extended in many directions, and it's not just Biden who may be implicated. "The big guy" seems to have had a lot of minions. Image: Official photo. New York State's housing crisis has gotten so bad that the Democrats in charge of this fiasco are willing to try anything to solve the problem anything, in traditional leftist fashion, except the actual solution. That "anything" includes reverting to their authoritarian instinct, the same one that locked down their state during the pandemic, while my native Florida stayed open and prospered. Florida easily prevented the falsely predicted killing fields of COVID deaths by allowing natural immunity to do what nature does. Big Pharma overrode nature and made vast profits. Big government got bigger. Under New York's draconian lockdowns, the people paid a heavy price, but fared no better, health-wise, than we did in Florida. The alarmists were wrong, but they remain unapologetic. New York State residents have been emigrating to other states for many years now, taking with them their wealth wealth that leftist government officials were taxing as if that wealth belonged to them, not their constituents. Unfortunately, many of the emigres also exported their voting habits. This creates problems in other states, including mine, to where many of the tax refugees are moving. Why is New York taxation a problem for me? Because New York voters, who repeatedly vote for the very Democrats who are ruining their state, continue to do so when they arrive in Florida, Texas, Georgia, et cetera. Yes, they complain about high taxation in New York, but then they inexplicably vote for higher taxes in Florida. I know I have personally had brief conversations with some of them. They suffer from stunningly severe cognitive dissonance, saying they will continue to vote Democrat because Democrats "care about people." If one defines "caring" as imposing ruinous taxation on the people who pay the state's bills, stuffing nursing homes with lethal contagion, and housing illegal aliens in luxury hotels while disabled American war veterans die on sidewalks, then yes, but this kind of so-called compassion is what New Yorkers are fleeing. Their motto is long live the Rainbow Revolution, down with Republicans. Mine is carry on with your self-destruction if you insist, but please, not in my state. Democrats have become masters of deception, puppeteers of the terminally gullible. New York governor Kathy Hochul uttered these flowery words of compassion while announcing her so-called solution to New York's housing crisis: The whole objective is so families can stay in New York, kids can raise their own families where they grew up, employers don't have to worry about whether or not there's going to be employees in a community because they'll have a place to live. So, then, what is the solution? Is it to lower taxes? Of course not. Is it to permit local authorities, responsive to their constituents and accountable to them, to tailor solutions to meet the problems? Heaven forbid! No, they do what socialists always do: force their policies on the peasants, to supposedly solve the problems the Democrats created. Quoting from MSN: As part of her [Hochul's] push, the state would be granted new powers to override local zoning laws [italics mine] in communities that are not onboard with her vision of creating denser developments which she feels would finally tackle housing shortages in the state, and especially in the New York City suburbs, where homeowners pay some of the highest property taxes in the country. Please understand that I have no sympathy for the Martha's Vineyard mentality, the one that urges more compassion for illegals so long as they stay in El Paso and ruin that city. New York Democrats share that same despicable attitude, but that does not mean they should forfeit their right to govern themselves. Albany should not burden localities with the mistakes made in Albany, no more so than El Paso should suffer because of the federal government's deliberate failure to control the border. Yes, New York Democrats voted for those failures, but Schadenfreude is not a solution. If it were, I would say, "Now that New Yorkers are being threatened from Albany with socialist rule, let them eat cake but let them eat it in New York, not in the South." Image: Wikipedia. The story about Chinese spy balloons surveilling the U.S. during the Trump administration has been roundly shot down, if youll pardon the pun, by all of Trumps top National Security team. But here comes The Hill to tell us, and them, why and how theyre wrong. And it is absolutely comic. Here are some of the highlights. Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, the commander of the Pentagons Northern Command, told reporters on a conference call on Monday that the balloons went undetected, calling it a domain awareness gap that we have to figure out. So, it would seem, these balloons were only detected long after the fact. No one from The Hill was curious enough to ask Gen. VanHerck how that worked. If you didnt detect them then, how exactly, were you now able to retroactively detect them? Curious minds want to know, just not any at The Hill. Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser to President Biden, on Monday said the Biden administration had improved the governments capacity to be able to detect things that the Trump administration was unable to detect. Now that is impressive! The Biden administration can now not only detect whats over our airspace now, that our same national security apparatus under Trump could not, but also anything thats been over it since he (Trump) was inaugurated. The balloons from the Trump administration also were not over U.S. airspace for a very long time, officials said in recent days, shortening the window to identify them and take action. Again, they went undetected in real time during Trumps tenure but now not only has the miracle-working Biden administration detected them, but even know how long they were over U.S. airspace. I would love to see the science behind how this works but Im sure its a very highly classified state secret. And as if The Hill didnt think their readership were stupid enough already, they gaslight them with this nothing to see here tidbit: James Andrew Lewis, director of the strategic technologies program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argued balloons are fairly low on the totem pole of potential spying techniques that could be deployed by China or other adversaries. Dont believe your lying eyes. Perhaps The Hill should change their name to The Shill. I just watched Arizona "governor" Katie Hobbs explain her position on school choice in the context of her parents choosing to send her to a Catholic school. She basically said that it was her parents' decision, but she kept begging them to put her in public schools. Yes, we have to keep those teachers' unions happy, don't we? Up in Seattle, it is the public schools that are begging the parents to return their kids to school. This is the story: Washington state's biggest school district is considering shuttering some schools and laying off staff in the near future as enrollment rates continue to drop following the pandemic. Seattle Public Schools officials floated the idea of "consolidating" schools during a workshop reported on by The Seattle Times. Funding for most school districts is tied to the number of students, so declines in enrollment will likely contribute to budget shortfalls. The city's school system has lost more than 3,500 students since the pandemic and expects to lose another 3,000 by the 2025-2026 school year, according to data from the district. If that happens, it will mark a 12.5% decrease in enrollment over six years. So what's going on? My guess is that a lot of parents are saying "no more." The school district is looking for answers. In this case, many of the kids are homeschooling, or going to private schools, or just getting the heck out of Seattle. Over in Portland, the northwest's other "woke" city, they are having their own exodus, losing about 8% of their students since 2019. You can vote with your feet by leaving the state, or you can vote with your kids and pull them out of public schools. They both add up to an exodus of tax revenues and schoolteachers getting pink slips. Who is that fellow with a big megaphone driving through your neighborhood? It's the school superintendent calling on the parents to send their kids back to his school. He needs you! PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: Brian J. Matis. Just days after the U.S. shot down a Chinese "weather balloon" loaded with surveillance equipment that had brazenly traversed the U.S., along with perhaps a few flying objects that might be theirs since, you'd think China would be on its best behavior ahead of a summit. Not a chance. China has now been caught throwing its weight around in the South China Sea, actually harming the Coast Guard sailors of our treaty ally, the Philippines. Here's the Associated Press report: MANILA, Philippines (AP) The Philippines on Monday accused a Chinese coast guard ship of hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a military-grade laser and temporarily blinding some of its crew in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a blatant violation of Manilas sovereign rights. The Chinese ship also maneuvered dangerously close, about 137 meters (449 feet), to block the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua from approaching Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef that has been occupied by Philippine forces, on Feb. 6, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement. The Philippines has filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against Chinas aggressive actions in the disputed waters in 2022 alone. Which sounds pretty evil, given that ship they were interfering with was a supply ship bringing food and water to Philippine military personnel stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal. No word on whether the sailors got the food or water. What's more, there is no reason to doubt the Philippine officials, who have photographs of the whole thing as it happened. Their statement is here. The AP has three of photos from them on a photo carousel at this link, the first shows the green laser, the second shows the utterly menacing ship that attacked them and the third shows another view of the Chinese ship. The incident follows hundreds of provocative acts in that part of the world against the Philippine military and certainly seems the most aggressive. What's more, the Chinese didn't even lie about it, which is often their default mode when they get caught doing something they shouldn't: In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said a Philippine coast guard vessel trespassed into Chinese waters without permission on Feb. 6. Chinese coast guard vessels responded professionally and with restraint at the site in accordance with Chinas law and international law, he said, without elaborating and mentioning the use of laser." Doing harm to another country's sailors is not "professional," it is an act of war. What's more, their fiction about being in Chinese waters is nonsense. They know as well as anyone else that the waters they were in are claimed by Philippines even as the Chinese, too, claim them. A normal nation would proceed with caution, but not these guys. Based on what we know about the facts in this encounter, the Filipino sailors were the only professional ones, as they opted not to escalate. The Chicoms acted like street thugs. They wanted to hurt the Philippine sailors and now they have done that, stepping up their aggressive tactics, quite likely in response to news that the U.S. will be returning to the Philippines at nine military bases to help guard the region. They've never done this before, just as they've never done their balloon stunt over the U.S. to the level they did this month. Notice also the implied threat within the Chinese statement, in their claim to have acted with "restraint" ... by merely blinding the sailors temporarily with military grade lasers. In other words, they could have acted much worse, suggesting that the Filipinos should be grateful they didn't kill them. The timing is interesting, too -- the Chinese balloon that was shot down off South Carolina was first discovered by the public on Feb. 1 or so, and had been around a few days earlier. It was shot down on Feb. 4. The incident in the Philippines was on Feb. 6. It shows a cluster of Chinese warfare-type activity on the U.S. and its allies, done through very irregular and unconventional means, creating surprise. Dollars to donuts, China's military chief didn't call up Gen. Mark Milley to advise him they'd give a heads up before they attacked as Milley did for them. The Chicoms play for keeps. It also shows the sheer pinheadedness of those in the Biden administration who are running the Pentagon, too. Recall that the Department of Defense's policy chief, Colin Kahl, the number three official in charge of our defense, made this idiotic statement a week ago as noted in the Washington Examiner: In an interview with Defense News this week, Kahl offered extraordinary overconfidence that China will not attempt an invasion of Taiwan within the next two years and likely far further into the future. This bears note because U.S. military and intelligence officials increasingly do believe that Xi is likely to order an invasion before this decade is out, possibly before 2027. Their assessment is vested in intelligence reporting and comprehensive political and military analysis. Kahl, however, is unconcerned. "I don't see anything that indicates that [an invasion] is imminent in the next couple of years," Kahl said. Identifying China's investment in capabilities and strategies designed to counter the U.S. military within the waters west of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines, Kahl added, "I see nothing that indicates Xi Jinping believes his military is ready to do this. Nothing." Nothing? That's a very bold statement for someone who holds an office that must wager against unknowns. But Kahl was just getting started. Describing Beijing's calculations, Kahl observed, "I think that they understand well that the United States continues to have pretty significant overmatch in a lot of critical domains." That ought to be a firing offense right there, given the balloon incident, and now the laser-blinding incident on our ally. If this clown doesn't know that China means business and has every intention of taking control of Taiwan and the South China Sea by its stepped up aggressions and provocations, nothing will teach him. We know the Chicoms read those Kahl statements, and laughed up their sleeves at him, given what they were planning at the time. Well, now they have gotten started and take a gander at where they are going. They know that Joe Biden is weak. They know that the Philippines is weak. They know that the Democrats have been compromised and they have the receipts. They know that President Trump is out of the picture. They would not have dared try anything under Trump who scared them. Is it any wonder that they are stepping up their aggressions now? For them, the time is now, and they seem to just be getting started. Image: Twitter screen shot Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has a worse unfavorability rating than newly elected Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.). Santos recently stepped down from his House committee assignments after being criticized for repeatedly lying about his background. According to a poll by Monmouth University, McConnell holds a 53% unfavorable rating among GOP voters, while Santos holds a 42% unfavorable rating among Republicans. As such, Santos holds an 11% less negativity rating than the leader of the GOP Senate. Additionally, McConnell also scored poorly compared to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who was stripped of her committee assignments in the 117th Congress for being "conspiratorial." Approximately 30% of Republicans approved of Greene, while just 19% disapproved. This means that 34% more Republicans disapproved of the minority leader. Moreover, in comparison with House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who has a 48% favorability rating and only 15% unfavorability, McConnell is disapproved by 38% more Republican voters. Republicans in the Senate attempted to boot McConnell from his GOP leadership position, which he's held since 2007, shortly after the 2022 midterm elections. While their campaign did not succeed, it gained more support than it ever has in past leadership elections. Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) were among those who challenged McConnell for the leadership position. At the time, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said, "We need new leadership in that position," referencing McConnell's term as GOP leader. Furthermore, Republicans blasted McConnell after he stated that the "top priority" for the U.S. and Republicans was helping Ukraine, as the country fights a war against Russia. Yet a Morning Consult poll found that 48% of registered Republicans want to decrease foreign aid. McConnell's remarks came after the U.S. Congress passed a $1.7-trillion omnibus spending bill that included $45 billion in military and economic aid for Ukraine. The minority leader also booted Scott and Lee from the Senate Commerce Committee, responsible for interstate commerce, science and technology policy and transportation issues. Of course, Scott and Lee were among those who challenged the Kentucky congressman for his leadership position. "This is what happens when you challenge leadership," Scott said. "It was McConnell's decision to remove someone who has actually run businesses and ran the third-largest state from a committee I've served on for four years. You'll have to ask him why." Overall, Republicans do not want Mitch McConnell to represent their party in the U.S. Senate. Image: Gage Skidmore. They target parents. They target Catholics. They target people who are pro-life, they target Tea Party members, and they target anyone surrounding Trump. The FBI pulled back the memo on Catholics, saying it didn't meet their stringent standards. That was a joke. They have no standards. They pulled it back because they got caught. They target people who challenge elections that Democrats win, but they never target people who challenge elections Republicans win. They didn't care about the riots after the 2016 election. They rarely if ever target a Democrat, no matter how corrupt they are. They certainly don't go after people attacking pro-life centers. They are very soft on all the people who destroyed cities in 2020, no matter how many people they killed or injured. They are more interested in silencing people who disagree with the leftist agenda than they are in going after all the crimes at the border, no matter how many people die. The cartels are getting rich because of the lack of enforcement of immigration policies. The problem is that we have a Deep State seeking to control and destroy our country and our way of life. The bigger problem is that we have a compliant media who not only don't care, but are supporters of the corrupt bureaucracy. They even pretend the Justice Department is not political and that no one is above the law. What a joke. Facts haven't mattered to people pretending to be journalists for a long time only power. How else do you elect a corrupt, incompetent person like Biden as president? How do the media treat congenital liars like Adam Schiff and Swalwell, or the fifty former intelligence officials who gave cover to censoring the true story about Biden corruption as reliable sources, unless they don't care about the truth? How do we elect a person like Fetterman, already unable to perform his duties after a serious stroke during the campaign that did permanent damage? The media and other Democrats clearly wanted a seat-filler who would vote the way he was told, not a competent person. Photo credit: Coolceasar (cropped), CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Last week, news broke that American Thinker and other conservative internet sites were the subjects of a successful campaign to defund them by telling advertisers that their content was misleading. Thats bad. Whats worse is that were learning that the State Department was helping fund the campaign to defund conservative media. The Washington Examiner revealed in a two-part report (here and here) how various organizations claimed to track disinformation. That disinformation, of course, was anything that countered the Democrat narrative on politics and social issues. American Thinker was among the list of 39 conservative sites that also included Newsbusters, Town Hall, Rush Limbaugh, Daily Wire, Breitbart, etc. Rajan Laad explained how this worked: Corporate houses seeking to promote their products online seek the services of corporate digital ad companies to run their online advertisement campaigns. These firms contract disinformation trackers to obtain private information about the blacklisted websites in order to avoid placing their advertisements on them. The Global Disinformation Index (GDI), a British organization, and its two affiliated U.S. nonprofit groups, based in Texas, are instances of such disinformation-trackers. GDI claims to want to remove the financial incentive of spreading disinformation by disseminating a dynamic exclusion list that rates media outlets according to their risk factor. The exclusion list is a euphemism for a blacklist, which GDI shares with ad companies. In other words, anything conservative was disinformation. Armed with these politicized rankings, the ad companies that place ad package links on websites refused to do business with conservative sites. Chief among the blacklisting ad companies was Xandr, which Microsoft owns. The result was lost revenue on a massive scale. Theres worse to come, though. It turns out that the State Department has been funding the Global Disinformation Index (note the third tweet in this series): Others on the blacklist as purported disinformation purveyors: the @nypost and the @dcexaminer. The London-based group describes its mission as "Disrupting the business model of disinformation." You can download one of its relevant reports here: https://t.co/vIb8HxzoO6 /2 Walter Olson (@walterolson) February 12, 2023 Per @gekaminsky, "GDI compiles a 'dynamic exclusion list' that it feeds to corporate entities....The list....has 'had a significant impact on the advertising revenue that has gone to those sites,' said GDI's CEO Clare Melford on a March 2022 podcast." /4 Walter Olson (@walterolson) February 12, 2023 Here's an example found in just a click or two on GDI's website: a report warning advertisers away from "misogynistic discrimination" whose concluding example was a column by @conncarroll summarizing the views of @BradWilcoxIFS of U. Va. /6 https://t.co/Me49yRdup8 Walter Olson (@walterolson) February 12, 2023 GDI has also listed the 10 websites it designates "least risky." On that list: NPR, ProPublica, Buzzfeed News, and HuffPost. https://t.co/N9mofr0ciS /8 Walter Olson (@walterolson) February 12, 2023 Walter Olson, a libertarian, adds to the tweet thread above his take on whats been going on: What I do know is that government and its functionaries must not get involved in pressuring or "helping" advertisers on this. In practice that can mean stepping selectively on the oxygen hose of ad revenues that supplies an adversary press. /10 Walter Olson (@walterolson) February 12, 2023 The danger, note, can come from more than one direction. At the Congressional hearings that are coming, companies must also be free from fear of official retaliation should they choose *not* to advertise. But state action that promotes blacklisting needs to end -- now. /11, efn Walter Olson (@walterolson) February 12, 2023 Where I differ from Olson's free-market take is that the GDI indexes werent transparent about what the metrics really were. Had they been honest about this is conservative content, and that is leftist content, then advertisers would have been making informed decisions. However, GDI sold the premise that it was dividing reputable, trustworthy content from unreputable, false content, even as it was making those decisions based solely along ideological lines. Savvy people in the ad world undoubtedly understood what was going on and surely appreciated having a justification for defunding conservative sites but, still, the method used was disingenuous, to say the least. (On the facts as known, a class action would not be amiss.) More importantly, the federal government has no business funding anything that seeks to decide what is good speechor even what is honest speechand what is not, so that the latter can be driven from the marketplace of ideas. That is completely unconstitutional in an uncomplicated way. As a reminder, communism and fascism are the sibling children of socialism. The difference between the two is that, under communism, the government owns everything, while under fascism, the government allows private ownership but controls everything. What were seeing now is exactly what happened in Mussolinis Italy and Hitlers Germany: The corporate world happily made itself a subsidiary of an all-powerful state, both because of ideological alignment and for maximum profit. (It's surely just a coincidence that, at the same time, the Democrat party is also embracing racial superiority and ever greater anti-Semitism.) Image: Nina Jankowiczs disinformation czar lives on. YouTube screen grab. The progressive left is influencing Biden's current gun control stance. Biden is playing politics with gun control. In June 2022, USA Today reported as true that Biden said: "During my twelve and a half years as a member of this body [U.S. Congress], I have never believed that additional gun control or federal registration of guns would reduce crime." Biden knows that focusing on gun control to control crime is a false narrative. Guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens are the cause of rising crime, according to the progressive left. The liberal politicians, big-city liberal mayors, and gun-hating activists who favor turning criminals loose and other crime-enhancing policies blame rising gun sales and increased numbers of concealed carry permits for the rising crime in their soft-on-crime cities. More guns do not beget more gun crime. Rabid gun-control advocates seek to infringe on citizens' constitutional right to use a gun. Yet gun ownership has been proven by countless studies not to increase gun crimes. Rather, defund-the-police efforts, lax bail laws, and soft sentencing are the reasons for increasing gun crime. The left rabidly pushes the media to report on gun-related violence feeding this false narrative. According to the Daily Signal, 27 of the top 30 crime-ridden cities are run by Democrats. As the justice system becomes less interested in protecting citizens, more people are protecting themselves. Senseless measures to ban guns result in more guns, not less. Armed citizens save lives. By having a gun to deter an intruder, you may have saved your own life, and possibly the lives of others, and often without even firing a shot. According to a 2021 National Firearms Survey, defensively, approximately 82% of the time, gun owners don't fire their guns. According to Jason Ouimet, executive director of the NRA-ILA, in the February 2023 issue of America's 1st Freedom, when right-to-carry laws were surging in the 1990 and 2000s, crime went down. Yet progressives point to gun-carrying citizens as the reason for gun-related crime. Criminals who want guns for example, illegal computer-printed guns will get them despite laws infringing on gun ownership and use. Last Thanksgiving, on PBS News Hour, Biden said: "The idea we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick. Just sick." Would Biden have said that to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky when he was handing out weapons to assist Ukraine's underprepared military to fight the Russians? Biden is clearly a captive of the strident minority wing of the Democrat party and its desire to eventually ban all gun ownership. Taking away law-abiding citizens' guns will not decrease crime for one simple reason: criminals will have guns. They do not care about gun control laws. If they want to kill or protect themselves from other criminals, they will get a gun. They will get it on the black market. At least with a traceable gun, there is an increased chance of catching the killer. Advocating that guns are the reason for increasing crime is a distraction from failing crime control policies. These policies are the reason crime has steadily risen: 1) a decrease in prosecuting violent crimes, 2) an increase in catch-and-release bail, 3) defunding cities' and towns' police forces, 4) an increase in early prison release, and 5) an increase in little or no jail time for violent offenders. Those are the real reasons for increased violent gun related crimes, not law-abiding citizens' gun ownership. The philosophy that the police and prisons are the reason for high crime is wrong and not the belief of mainstream America. The left would love for everyone to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens result in high rates of gun-related crimes. The left dictates Biden's gun policy agenda. He passionately believes that he must obey this faction, above advocating for commonsense crime control laws. It is unfortunate that Biden has let this misguided and dangerous belief permeate his Justice Department and his policies, endangering all Americans. Image: Gage Skidmore. Massive earthquakes kill over 30,000 in Turkiye, Syria as incredible rescues still bring hope Xinhua) 08:13, February 13, 2023 Rescuers carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Trkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) ANKARA/DAMASCUS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Trkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. The number of wounded, meanwhile, rose to over 80,000 in Trkiye and 2,349 in Syria, according to official figures. FAULTY CONSTRUCTION Trkiye has issued arrest warrants for 134 suspects involved in the faulty construction of buildings that collapsed in the earthquakes, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Sunday. Three of the suspects were arrested, Bozdag told reporters. The catastrophic earthquakes have flattened more than 20,000 buildings across the 10 quake-affected regions. Yavuz Karakus and Sevilay Karakus, contractors of many buildings destroyed in the earthquake in southern Adiyaman province, were detained at Istanbul Airport while trying to escape to Georgia, the local NTV broadcaster reported on Sunday. Two more people were arrested for cutting the column of a building that collapsed in Gaziantep province, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. RESCUE CONTINUES Thousands of rescuers continued to search for any sign of life in collapsed multi-storey buildings on the seventh day of the disaster. Hopes for finding alive survivors are fading, but the teams still manage some incredible rescues. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca posted a video of a girl child rescued at the 150th hour. "Rescued a little while ago by crews. There is always hope!" he tweeted on Sunday. Rescue workers pulled out 65-years old women in the Antakya district of Hatay province 160 hours after the quake, the Anadolu Agency reported. A survivor was rescued from the debris in the Antakya district of Hatay province by Chinese and local rescuers on Sunday afternoon, 150 hours after the quake hit the region. INT'L AID &SUPPORT The first batch of emergency aid, including tents and blankets, delivered by the Chinese government for earthquake relief has arrived in Trkiye on Saturday. In the coming days, more emergency supplies, including tents, electrocardiographs, ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and medical transfer vehicles will be shipped in batches from China. Syria is also receiving supplies from the Red Cross Society of China and the local Chinese community. The aid from the local Chinese community included infant formulas, winter clothes, and medical supplies, while the first batch of emergency medical supplies from the Red Cross Society of China was sent to the country on Thursday. On Sunday, Algeria and Libya also sent planes full of relief items to the quake-hit areas. Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers started to pay visits to Trkiye and Syria for showing solidarity. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Trkiye on Sunday in a show of support. "We will continue to do our best to overcome difficult times, both at bilateral and the level of the European Union," said Dendias, the first European foreign minister visiting Trkiye after the disaster. The visit by the Greek foreign minister comes amid long-standing tensions between the two NATO states over territorial disputes. The Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the first foreign head of a state visiting quake-hit Trkiye, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday. Qatar has sent the first part of the 10,000 container houses for earthquake victims in Trkiye, the Anadolu Agency reported. Also on Sunday, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Syria, promising continuing support for the country to overcome the repercussions of the catastrophic earthquake, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. Rescuers are seen near earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Trkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) Rescue teams including Chinese rescuers carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Trkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) Rescuers transfer an earthquake survivor in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Trkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) In traditional Buddhist teachings, contemplating about death is an integral part of meditation. Buddha himself said that death is the greatest of all teachers, for it teaches us to be humble, destroys vanity and pride, and crumbles all the barriers of caste, creed and race that divide humans, for all living beings are unescapably destined to die. Many Buddhist cultures also practice sky burials, where human corpses are left out in the open, such as mountain tops and forests, to be eaten by wild animals. This may seem macabre and gruesome for people of other cultures, but for practicing Buddhists, sky burial is yet another way of acknowledging the impermanence of life. Such pragmatic and mature approach to the subject of death is the rationale behind the gory and unapologetic Japanese art form called kusozu that appeared in the 13th century and continued until the late 19th century. Kusozu, which means painting of the nine stages of a decaying corpse, portrays the sequential decay of a cadaver, usually female, in graphic detail. The shocking art genre appeared routinely for more than five hundred years in various formats, including scrolls and printed books. One of the earliest examples of this genre is a 14th-century scroll titled Kusoshi emaki, whose English translation is rather lengthyIllustrated handscroll of the poem of the nine stages of decaying corpse. The scroll consist of ten narrative illustrations portraying the nine stages of decomposition starting with a healthy subjectan aristocratic female who has been identified as the 9th-century poetess, Ono no Komachi. In the second panel, she has died and is laid out on the floor and covered with a blanket. In subsequent panels, her body, now in the open, can be seen getting progressively decomposed and putrefied until all remaining flesh and bones had been pecked clean by scavenging animals. Below: Body of a courtesan in nine stages of decomposition. Ink and color on silk, circa 1870s. Courtesy: British Museum The function of these works is to demonstrate the effects of impermanence and the gross nature of the human form, especially the female one, writes Gail Chin. The pictorial function is attuned to Buddhist meditation on the corpse, which is to instill a deep sense of revulsion for the human body, particularly that of the opposite sex, so that the monk or devotee will not be tempted by the flesh and realize the impermanence of the body, especially their own, and renounce it. In Buddhism, overcoming sexual desire is a necessary step towards achieving enlightenment. Since the female body was a source of desire for men, meditating on a decaying corpse became a form of aversion therapy for Buddhist monks. Not only men, women too were asked to meditate on the repulsive aspects of their own body. The use of the female cadaver as a tool to despise ones own body has a long tradition in Buddhist literature dating back to medieval times. However, the visual depiction of this theme is a specifically Japanese adaptation. Some modern scholars have interpreted the exclusive use of female corpses in the kusozu genre as a testament to the prevalence of misogyny in Japanese Buddhist thought. But Gail Chin denies this claim by arguing that because the female body is used to teach one of the most important Buddhist lessons, she must be inherently valued as representing Buddhist truth. Below: The death of a noble lady and the decay of her body. circa 1700s In the first painting a court lady in a kimono is seated indoors at a low red table, with a scroll in her left hand, upon which she has written her farewell poem: she is pallid, and her expression is preoccupied. In the second painting, she has died, and is laid out on the floor covered to her shoulders with a blanket, with a lady and a gentleman in attendance. In this painting, her body is out of doors, naked apart from a loincloth, on a mat, the lower part of which is folded up over her legs; her skin now has flesh tones. In the fourth painting, putrefaction has just begun. Here her body is decaying in the advanced stages of putrefaction. The putrefying body is now carrion for scavenging birds and small animals. The flesh has almost all decayed revealing the skeleton. There are wisteria flowers in blossom above her body. Only a few fragments of bone, including the skull and fragments of rib. hand and vertebrae remain visible. The final image is of a memorial structure upon which her Buddhist death-name is inscribed in Sanskrit. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 does a great many things for a smartwatch, but advanced menstrual tracking isnt one of them. That is however changing as today, Samsung announced that it will be adding advanced menstrual cycle tracking to the list of features the Galaxy Watch 5 offers. Menstrual cycle tracking will be temperature-based which means big changes for the way periods are tracked using the device. Currently, its possible to track your period using the Galaxy Watch 5. But the capability is reliant on manual entry of data using the Samsung Health app. This method is less accurate for predictions. Going forward, this can all be done automatically, and the skin temperature tracking should provide a more accurate prediction. Of course, users should have the option to keep this disabled if they prefer. The advanced tracking feature is powered by Natural Cycles fertility technology, as Samsung partnered with Natural Cycles to bring the feature to the Galaxy Watch 5. Advanced menstrual cycle tracking will hit the Galaxy Watch 5 soon This feature isnt quite available but it will be soon. Samsung says users can expect to access it sometime in the second quarter. That means its only a few months away. However, the company doesnt give an exact date of arrival. When it does launch though it will go live in 32 markets across the globe. This includes the US, UK, Korea, and many other countries across Europe. Advertisement Users can access the new temperature-based tracking capabilities from within the Samsung Health app. And itll be available on both the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The feature will be free to use, although you will need to set up the Samsung Health app initially if youve never used it before. For the full list of available countries where the advanced menstrual cycle tracking will be available visit Samsungs official post. After the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21, One UI 5.1 is now available for Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldables. The company released the updates recently in select markets. A wider rollout covering the phones in more regions, including the US, should begin soon. One UI 5.1 is rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Fold 3, and Flip 3 As of this writing, the One UI 5.1 update for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is available in Europe. The updated firmware build number for the latest Fold model is F936BXXU1CWAC (via). The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, meanwhile, are getting the same update in Asia. The new firmware versions for the 2021 Samsung foldable duo are F926BTBU3EWB1 and F711BXXU4EWB1, respectively (via). All of these devices are getting the February 2023 Android security patch, which fixes more than 50 vulnerabilities. However, this update is more about One UI 5.1. Debuting with the Galaxy S23 series earlier this month, the new version of Samsungs custom Android software brings a lot of goodies. It is still based on Android 13, but we have several new camera features. Specifically, the stock camera app gives you more options to play with while shooting. If you use Expert RAW, which is a professional-grade camera app from Samsung, you get a shortcut for it in the stock camera app. New editing features let you remaster photos the way you want. You can even remaster downloaded GIFs for enhanced clarity and resolution. Samsungs foldables already make multitasking easier with features like app pairs, split screen gestures, and more. With One UI 5.1, you can easily minimize or switch to full screen by dragging from the corner. No need to go to the options menu. Your most used apps will appear below the recent apps when you enter the split-screen mode. Advertisement Elsewhere, One UI 5.1 lets you select multiple wallpapers that change automatically based on your activity. Stock apps including Gallery, AR Emoji, Weather, and Samsung Internet are getting new features and improvements too. Overall, its a fairly major update even though its arriving just a few months after the Android 13-based One UI 5.0 update. As a quick reminder, One UI 5.1 is also based on Android 13. Android 14 is still months away. Samsung will roll out One UI 5.1 to more devices Samsung started rolling out the One UI 5.1 update to Galaxy devices earlier today. It has already seeded the new One UI version to nine Galaxy models, including three Galaxy S22 and three Galaxy S21 models. The update will soon reach these phones globally. Moreover, Samsung will also release One UI 5.1 for the Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Z Flip 2, Galaxy S20 series, and more devices in the coming days. We will keep you posted. Ever since the launch of Google Translate, the company has been at the forefront of the field of translation and language technology. At the recent Live from Paris event, Google announced new contextual tools for Google Translate, which the company claims will transform how people communicate across different languages, along with a major redesign of the iOS app. The update places a major emphasis on improving the accuracy of bilingual translations with the introduction of contextual translation in English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. The app will now display different variations of words with multiple meanings, allowing users to choose the option that best fits their intended communication. This is particularly helpful for those learning a new language and seeking to communicate effectively with native speakers. Further, Google is also enhancing its AR translation capabilities through Google Lens by introducing the ability to seamlessly blend translated text into the background image, making it easier to translate posters and signs without altering their appearance. However, this feature will only be available on Android phones with 6GB RAM or more. Advertisement Redesign for the iOS app After rolling out the Material You redesign for the Android version of the app last year, Google is finally updating the iOS Google Translate app. As part of the redesign, the app will now feature a large microphone button in the centre-bottom part of the screen, making it easier for users to input text through voice. Secondly, the app will also include a dynamic font that will make the translations more legible as users type and new gestures such as swiping down to access recent translations and holding the language button to quickly select a recently used language. Additionally, the app will also support offline translation for 33 new languages, including Basque, Corsican, Hawaiian, Hmong, Kurdish, Latin, Luxembourgish, Sundanese, Yiddish, and Zulu. A couple of weeks ago, Samsung launched the Galaxy S23 series with Android 13-based One UI 5.1 out of the box. While the new flagships have yet to go on sale globally, the company has already started pushing the new One UI version to older Galaxy models. The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 phones are getting the update first. The One UI 5.1 update is currently rolling out to Samsungs past two generations of Galaxy S series flagships in Europe. The updated firmware build number for the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra is S90*BXXU3CWAI. That for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra is G99*BXXU6EWAF (via). The over-the-air (OTA) package weighs about 1.9GB for the former and 1.5GB for the latter. The firmware version and download size may vary depending on the model and market, though. Samsung has just begun the One UI 5.1 rollout in Europe. It could take a day or two for every eligible Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 unit to get the update in the region. Meanwhile, we expect the company to release the new One UI version in more countries in the coming days, including the US. As usual, you can check for updates by navigating to Settings > Software update on your phone. Here, tap on Download and install to see if you have an OTA update pending download. Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 get the February security patch with One UI 5.1 All of these Samsung smartphones are getting the February 2023 Android security patch are part of this update. The latest SMR (Security Maintenance Release) patches more than 50 vulnerabilities. However, its less significant in front of One UI 5.1. The new One UI version contains plenty of new features and improvements to be excited about. Advertisement One UI 5.1 adds more features to the stock camera app on your Galaxy smartphone, including a shortcut to the Expert RAW app. The Shared Family Album in Gallery makes it easier to share photos and videos with up to six family members. Bixby Text Call is now available in English, while Samsung Notes supports collaboration during a video call on Google Meet. You can now remaster downloaded GIFs as well. Check out our coverage of all One UI 5.1 features for more. Samsung will update more Galaxy smartphones to One UI 5.1 over the next few days. The company says all flagship models launched since 2020 will get the new One UI version. So we are looking at the Galaxy S20 and newer phones, though some features may be missing on older models due to various factors. We will let you know as and when the updates come. As the new era of browser wars continues to rage on with search giants like Google and Microsoft making their own AI chatbots, Opera is also making a big bet on artificial intelligence with the latest announcement of a new feature called Shorten, which uses the power of ChatGPT to generate summaries of webpages and articles. With the addition of Shorten, Opera users will now have access to a bulleted summary of the webpage theyre looking at by simply tapping an icon located to the right of the address bar. However, Jan Standel, VP of marketing and communications, did not specify when the feature will be available when talking to The Verge. He did mention that the company is working on other ways to enhance the Opera experience with artificial intelligence. But the exact details of these additions have not been disclosed yet. We are excited to see the rapid roll-out of developer programs for solutions such as Google Bard, for example, and are starting to build and roll out new experiences in web browsing that not very long ago seemed impossible to achieve, said Per Wetterdal, Operas head of strategic partnerships and AI. Increasing competition in the browser market Ever since the launch of AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsofts announcement of its integration into its Bing browser, search engine giants like Google, for the first time in decades, are fearing their domination. This move by Opera to incorporate AI into its browser comes in the same week when Microsoft started accepting invitations to preview the redesigned Edge browser with an AI-powered copilot that will be able to summarize web pages. Advertisement In response to this competition, Google also unveiled its own AI chatbot named Bard, powered by LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications). However, Bards debut was less than ideal as it gave an inaccurate response in the companys demonstration, resulting in a drop in Alphabets stock by over 8% and a loss of $100 billion in market value in a single day. (ANSA) - ROME, FEB 13 - Three-time former premier and long-time close friend and admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin Silvio Berlusconi has caused a big row with Premier Giorgia Meloni and with Kyiv by saying he had an extremely dim view of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his insistence on trying to claw back the Russian occupied eastern Ukrainian Donbass region after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Speaking Sunday, Berlusconi said he would "never" have met with Zelensky as Italian leader as Meloni did on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels Thursday, saying he had a "very,bvery negative" view of Zelensky's conduct in the Russian-prompted war. "I would not have gone to speak to Zelensky if I had been premier because we are witnessing the devastation of his country and the massacre of his soldiers and civilians," Berlusconi said after voting in regional elections in Lombardy, the region around Milan. "It would have been enough for him to stop atacking the two autonomous republics of the Donbass and this would not have occurred, and so I judge very, very negatively the conduct of this gentleman". The media billionaire's statement prompted widespread calls for Meloni, who has staunchly defended Ukraine both before and after becoming Italian premier on September 25, to distance herself from her ally's stance against Zelensky. Zelesnky's advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told Rome-based newspaper la Repubblica Monday that the 86-year-old ex-premier, who has long been a close personal friend of Putin's and who long claimed to have briefly brought him into the pro-Western fold, was a pro-Putin agitator who was hurting Italy. "Berlusconi is a VIP agitator who is acting in the interests of Russian propaganda, he is bartering away Italy's reputation for his friendship with Putin," said Podolyak. "His words are damaging for Italy". The Zelensky advisor added: "He should drop the mask and publicly say he is in favour of the genocide of the Ukrainian people". (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, FEB 13 - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference Monday he was sure Italy's support of Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian invasion would continue despite ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi saying he had a very negative view of President Volodymyr Zelensky and his campaign to drive Russians out of the eastern Donbass region. "I am absolutely certain that Italy's support for Ukraine will continue, I met (Premier) Giorgia Meloni in Rome and her attitude towards Kyiv is clear", Stoltenberg told the press conference. Regarding the level of military aid given by Italy to Ukraine Stoltenberg noted that of course the allies can "always do more" but Rome "has done a lot" and the joint effort with France to supply the SAMP-T defence system had been noted with satisfaction. Meanwhile Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said that Rome's support for Ukraine was and would continue to be "granite-like" in its strength. "There has been no compromising of the granite-like will and belief of the government to be on the right side which is the side of the attacked and not the aggressors," he said on Berlusconi's remarks against Zelensky. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, FEB 13 - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Li is to visit Italy, France, Hungary and Russia on a mission on February 14-22, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday. Chinese Communist Party diplomacy chief Wang Yi will be on the mission "at the invitation of the respective governments", Wang said. He said that Wang, a member of the CCP Politburo, will also attend the 59th Munich Security Conference and "deliver a speech to the Chinese session to communicate the vision of a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security advocated by President Xi Jinping and share Beijing's position on major global issues". (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, FEB 13 - Premier Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani have been called as witnesses on April 3 in the case of Giulio Regeni, the Italian student tortured to death in Cairo in early 2016, judicial sources said Monday. Meloni and Tajani have been called by a lawyer for Regeni's parents to report to a Rome preliminary hearings judge (GUP) about Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's asserted willingness to collaborate with Italian authorities in the case, which has ground to a halt amid Egypt's refusal to release the addresses of four Egyptian intelligence officers so they can be notified they are being tried in absentia for the January-February 2016 abduction, torture and murder of the 28-year-old Friuli born Cambridge University doctoral researcher, whose work into trade unions was politically sensitive and who was so badly mutilated his mother only recognised him by the tip of his nose. Sisi has repeatedly promised to work with Rome prosecutors over the case but no such collaboration has been forthcoming. A Rome trial of the four officers - National Security General Tariq Sabir and his subordinates, Colonels Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim and Uhsam Helmi, and Major Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif - has been stymied by unsuccessful efforts to inform them they are on trial, because of Egypt dragging its heels on the case. Regeni's parents have described Italian officials' apparent willingness to believe Sisi's reiterated willingness to cooperate in the case is at best naive, and at worst self-serving. They have condemned continued Italian cooperation with Cairo on energy and arms, among other things. (ANSA). (ANSAmed) - MADRID, 13 FEB - Spain' Supreme Court reviewed sentences against nine Catalan separatist leaders over the secessionist attempt of 2017, following a recent reform of the criminal code promoted by the government: the tribunal maintained an interdiction from public office currently in place for former regional vice president Oriol Junqueras and three ex-councillors, Raul Romeva, Jordi Turull and Dolors Bassa, while this measure was revoked for the other five defendants. All nine were released from jail in 2021 for the effects of a partial pardon granted by the government of Pedro Sanchez. In reviewing the rulings, the Supreme Court took into account the suppression of the 'sedition' charge in the criminal code, which had been pressed against Junqueras and some of the convicted leaders. It has now been replaced with 'aggravated public disorder', and changes to 'embezzlement'. The result is that now the former Catalan vice president, Romeva, Turull and Bassa are convicted on charges of disobedience together with embezzlement, while the former president of the Catalan Parliament Carme Forcadell and ex-councillors Joaquim Forn and Josep Rull have been convicted for disobedience. Activists Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart have instead been convicted on public disorder charges. After the sentences were reviewed, Junqueras is still be banned from holding public office until July 17, 2031, Romeva and Turull until July 5, 2030 and Bassa until October 10, 2031. In the new sentence, the Supreme Court warned that the suppression of the crime of sedition has created a "legal void" to criminally pursue incidents like the ones recorded in 2017, when the Catalan government organized an unauthorized referendum on the region's secession and Parliament approved a legislative framework to unilaterally favour independence. (ANSAmed). TEL AVIV - While the Knesset has given the first green light to a controversial reform of the judiciary promoted by the right-wing government of Benyamin Netanyahu, a large protest against the plan was organized in Jerusalem, in front of Parliament. The first green light was granted amid strong protests of opposition lawmakers who denounced that it allegedly hinders democracy and violates the balance of powers. Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid, said Monday that "we aren't only here to pay taxes and send our children to serve in the army. We will not stay home when they are trying to change Israel in an obscure dictatorship, forcing us to remain silent". "They are pretending not to hear, not to care, but they are listening and they are afraid", he said, referring to the government. Some 60,000 people attended the demonstration, according to media reports. Addressing a crowd of demonstrators carrying Israeli and peace flags and chanting slogans in defence of democracy and the Supreme Court, Lapid spoke about the proposed reform saying "if this folly continues, it will not be possible to talk about unity". "There is no unity when only one side dictates the rules", he was quoted as saying by the media. "People of Israel, we will fight in the streets, we will fight until we win", he concluded. Centrist Benny Gantz and Labour leader Merav Michaeli also spoke during the demonstration. Then later in the day the government opened to "dialogue" with the oppositionm. In a letter sent to centrist leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Ganzt, Justice Minister Yariv Levin (who wrote the reform) and the head of the Knesset's commission Simccha Rothman said they are ready for a meeting on Monday night hosted by President Isaac Herzog for a "dialogue without preconditions". "The time has come", the letter said. Key points of the controversial plan include a reform of the committee appointing judges to give this power to the executive and another, written by the president of the committee Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), which limits the Supreme Court's control on fundamental issues. In Tel Aviv and elsewhere demonstrations and roadblocks have also been organized. Trains departing for Jerusalem are full of demonstrators. Many have been forced to wait at stations due to the overcrowding of trains. The demonstration - like those held for weeks in many parts of Israel on Saturday night - was called by organizations representing, among others, the private sector, start-ups, associations of lawyers, doctors and healthcare workers, teachers. Israel: protest in Jerusalem against justice reform Parliament gives first green light to controversial plan (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 13 FEB - While the Knesset has given the first green light to a controversial reform of the judiciary promoted by the right-wing government of Benyamin Netanyahu, a large protest against the plan was organized in Jerusalem, in front of Parliament. The first green light was granted amid strong protests of opposition lawmakers who denounced that it allegedly hinders democracy and violates the balance of powers. Now protests within Parliament are taking place alongside demonstrations outside. Many people are trying to reach the Knesset although the roads around it have been cordoned off by police. The majority of slogans are calling for more democracy. In Tel Aviv - and elsewhere - demonstrations and roadblocks have also been organized. Trains departing for Jerusalem are full of demonstrators. Many have been forced to wait at stations due to the overcrowding of trains. The demonstration - like those held for weeks in many parts of Israel on Saturday night - was called by organizations representing, among others, the private sector, start-ups, associations of lawyers, doctors and healthcare workers, teachers. (ANSAmed). 'They want dictatorship in Israel, we won't remain silent'-Lapid Some 60,000 protest against justice reform, media (ANSA) - TEL AVIV, 13 FEB - Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Monday during a protest in Jerusalem against a proposed reform of the judicial system that "we aren't only here to pay taxes and send our children to serve in the army. We will not stay home when they are trying to change Israel in an obscure dictatorship, forcing us to remain silent". "They are pretending not to hear, not to care, but they are listening and they are afraid", he said, referring to the government of Benyamin Netanyahu. Some 60,000 people attended the demonstration, according to media reports. Addressing a crowd of demonstrators carrying Israeli and peace flags and chanting slogans in defence of democracy and the Supreme Court, Lapid spoke about the proposed reform saying "if this folly continues, it will not be possible to talk about unity". "There is no unity when only one side dictates the rules", he was quoted as saying by the media. "People of Israel, we will fight in the streets, we will fight until we win", he concluded. Centrist Benny Gantz and Labour leader Merav Michaeli also spoke during the demonstration. Key points of the controversial plan include a reform of the committee appointing judges to give this power to the executive and another, written by the president of the committee Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), which limits the Supreme Court's control on fundamental issues. (ANSA). A security guard at the British embassy in Berlin was caught spying for Russia in an undercover operation, a court has heard. Briton David Ballantyne Smith, 58, was driven by an intense hatred for his own country and by pro-Putin views when he set out to pass secrets to the hostile foreign state, the Old Bailey was told. He is alleged to have received substantial sums of money in exchange for sensitive information from the embassy in Germany. David Smith court case David Smith pleaded guilty in November 2022 to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act (Metropolitan Police/PA)[/caption] The extent of his activities spanning four years were uncovered following his arrest in Potsdam where he was living in August 2021. Among information found by police was an image of a letter classified as secret to the Prime Minister from the Secretary of State for International Trade and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In November last year, Smith pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act by committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. On Monday, he returned to the Old Bailey for legal argument about the issue of Smiths motivation. The defendant has claimed in a basis of plea that he did not intend to cause prejudice to the UK and wanted only to cause inconvenience and embarrassment to the British Embassy. He claimed he was not paid and was motivated by grievance with his employers while suffering mental health issues. But prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said the defendant held strong anti-UK views and supported Russia and Vladimir Putin. She said: The defendants deliberate engagement with the Russian authorities by providing them with confidential and sensitive information demonstrates an inevitable and clear intention to cause prejudice to the UK. The defendant had in his possession confidential and sensitive material dating from as early as 2018. It is implausible to suggest that he only took possession of material within the context of a dispute with his employers or because he intended to expose security lapses. Setting out the prosecution case, Ms Morgan described how Smiths activities were uncovered following an undercover operation. It was prompted by a letter Smith sent in November 2020 to a member of military staff at the Russian Embassy in Berlin which suggested ongoing contact. In the letter addressed to Major General Chukhrov, Smith issued a small update about the British Embassy including images of security passes of staff. The undercover operation offered Smith the chance to obtain highly sensitive information about someone called Dmitry, who Smith was led to believe was a Russian helping the UK. Ms Morgan said: Plainly such an individual would be of obvious interest to those that the defendant was in contact with within the Russian Embassy. The court was shown CCTV footage of the so-called walk-in Dmitry arriving at the embassy on August 5 2021 and being put through security by Smith. During a meeting with a member of staff in a room with no sound-proofing, Dmitry explained he was tasked with monitoring social media in the West about Russia. Smith, who was hovering outside the door, was asked to copy a document Dmitry had brought with him and dispose of SIM card packaging. Later in his security kiosk, Smith was shown on CCTV filming about 45 seconds of footage capturing Dmitrys visit saying: Thisll do. Ill get the rest tomorrow. Smith was then approached by another undercover operative called Irina who posed as an agent of the Russian intelligence service. A court artist sketch of David Smith when he appeared earlier at Westminster Magistrates Court in London (Elizabeth Cook/PA) In covert video played in court, Irina accosted him and told him somebody was passing on information that was damaging to Russia. She said: We need you to find out whats happened and we think you can help us. Asked if he had any information, Smith said: Just the usual run-of-the-mill bullshit. He appeared reluctant to help, saying it had been sprung on me and he need to speak to someone. He added: I dont trust the bastards I work for. Would you trust MI5 and MI6? He went on to complain about his boring job, saying: To tell the truth I dont want to be there anymore. I dont want to be in Germany. Ms Morgan said that following his interaction with Irina, Smith was arrested by German authorities on August 10 2021. It was alleged Smith received substantial amounts of cash in exchange for his spying activities. An analysis of his finances in 2021 found an absence of cash withdrawals indicating Smith had an alternative source of income. In addition, 800 euros in cash was seized following his arrest, the court was told. The court was told the British embassy had a clear desk policy for security reasons with all documentation secured at the end of each day. From the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the embassy had been operating with a reduced staff of 10-20% in the building. Smith, who is married to a Ukrainian woman, began working there in 2016. After his wife moved back to her home country in late 2018, the defendants behaviour changed, the court heard. He went from being keen and polite to expressing anti-UK and anti-German views, the court heard. Ms Morgan said Smith also expressed views about the war in Ukraine and supported Russia. Smith collected memorabilia at his flat, including German uniforms from the Second World War and a Russian flag. The investigation uncovered evidence that from around 2018, Smith began collecting secret information from the embassy which he stored on a USB stick. From May 2020 he amassed a significant stash of images taken on a mobile phone and stored on an SD card, the court heard. A draft letter in Russian dated May 14 2020 was found addressed to Colonel Sivov a military attache at the Russian Embassy. In it, Smith appeared to offer up a sensitive book from the defence section. He wrote: Knowing the Embassy, it will take some time before they even realise that it is missing. Obviously, I would like to remain anonymous for the time being, but I do have further information which I will send you later. I hope that you respect what I have written and understand my reasons for wishing to remain anonymous, since no-one wishes to get caught. Mr Justice Murray is expected to rule on the defendants intentions later in the week after Smith gives evidence on Tuesday. Smith faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for spying when he is sentenced on Friday. Afghan journalists who worked for the BBC in Afghanistan should have applications to move to the UK reconsidered following a ruling by a High Court judge, lawyers have said. Eight journalists had taken legal action against Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Suella Braverman after failing in bids to relocate to the UK. Mr Justice Lane considered evidence at a recent High Court hearing in London and made a ruling in the journalists favour on Monday. He heard that the eight journalists had worked in high-profile roles for the BBC and other media agencies. Law firm Leigh Day, which represented the journalists, said a decision to reject applications had been found to have been made on an erroneous basis. A Leigh Day spokeswoman said the journalists should have their applications to move to the UK under the Governments Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) reconsidered following the ruling. The decisions by ARAP to reject applications from all eight journalists, who worked for the BBC and other agencies supporting the British military in Afghanistan, were found in a judgment handed down this morning, Monday February 13 2023, to have been made on an erroneous basis, she said. The court found that the ARAP caseworker deciding their applications had erred in confining their decisions to the issue of whether working for the BBC amounted to working for Her Majestys Government (HMG), at the expense of considering whether each of the journalists could have been working alongside, in partnership or closely supporting an HMG department. Lawyers said the journalists had applied for relocation to the UK under the ARAP, but officials had decided they were not eligible for relocation under that scheme. The journalists said they had been told that they did not meet the eligibility criteria but had not been given any or adequate reasons why. They said their applications under a discretionary policy had also been refused and said that decision was unreasonable and unfair. The Leigh Day spokeswoman added: The court considered there to be more than a fanciful prospect of a different outcome in relation to their eligibility, if not for this error. Accordingly, the eight applications are to be reconsidered by the Ministry of Defence ARAP team. New decisions are expected within 21 days. She said the journalists worked for the BBC, embedded with military personnel, and worked on projects funded by the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office during the time the British military were stationed in Afghanistan before August 2021. They exposed Taliban corruption and abuse, reported in support of the British mission, spoke out critically against the Taliban and promoted media freedom, democracy and human rights, she said. Their work resulted in numerous threats and attacks on their lives by Taliban fighters, another criterion for a successful relocation application. An artist who has decided to live in a converted skip for a year described the move as a statement in the face of the crazy cost of living in London. Harrison Marshall, an artist and co-founder of Caukin Studio, moved into his converted skip in Bermondsey, south-east London, in January and will aim to live in it for a year. The 28-year-old said the move is not intended to be a solution to the rising cost of living but is instead intended to get people talking about cost-of-living problems in London. Harrison Marshall said living in a skip is intended to get people talking about cost-of-living problems in London (Katie Edwards/Skip House/PA) I dont expect other people to pursue this or replicate it, Mr Marshall told the PA news agency. Its very hard to replicate. So, really, its more of a statement and something which tackles or talks about the issue in a light-hearted way and highlights just how crazy it is to live in central London. For me to live in this area, this was the only option for me to do that, which is just mad. Harrison Marshall is aiming to live in the converted skip for a year (Katie Edwards/Skip House/PA) The Skip House is part of Skip Gallery, a public art initiative intended to create space and opportunity for emerging artists, which Mr Marshall has worked with on a number of projects. Mr Marshalls new home is comprised of a standard 8-yard skip with an insulated timber frame and a barrel roof the artist also has access to a portaloo, while he will mostly shower at work or the gym. The skip meanwhile has been provided for a nominal rate of 50 a month, while the initial build-cost of the property was 4,000. Mr Marshall said whenever he worked on a SKIP Gallery project he wondered if it was possible to live in a skip it was when he returned from a working trip abroad and started looking for a room in 2022 that the idea became more appealing. Harrison Marshall said the Skip House is his only option for living in central London (Katie Edwards/Skip House/PA) When I came back to London I started the hunt for a room, and, obviously, within that timeframe, the prices had gone kind of crazy, he said. People were getting hundreds of messages for a single room it was at the point where if you werent willing to put your deposit down the same day as viewing it, you didnt really stand a chance. And so thats when I started picking up the idea again, about is it actually possible to live in a skip? He ended up sofa-surfing towards the end of the year, before getting confirmation that the skip home could go ahead. After around three weeks of construction in challenging cold weather, Mr Marshall moved in at the start of 2023. Harrison Marshall moved into the Skip House at the beginning of 2023 (Katie Edwards/Skip House/PA) Ive had friends come over already, everyone wants to come and see the new place, he said. All the neighbours are incredibly friendly. If Im outside for five minutes Ill have at least one or two people from the area come up to me and ask what Im doing and how I am. Mr Marshall has decorated his new home with friends artwork and gifts from his family, and soon hopes to be connected to a power source which will enable him to use a heater and a cooker. However, the artist is adamant that the project, which required support from a number of different organisations to become workable, is not meant to be aspirational. No-one should have to live in a skip, he said. Thats definitely not the way that I want this project to go. Its more of a statement. A lavish spending culture in Whitehall has seen taxpayers money wasted on luxury items, Labour claimed after an analysis of the use of government procurement cards (GPCs). Labour raised concern about dining and alcohol purchases, including almost 345,000 by Foreign Office (FCDO) officials in 2021 under the heading restaurants and bars, entertainment and evidence of end-of-year spending sprees to use up budgets. Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the investigation into the use of GPCs revealed a scandalous catalogue of waste. The party has compiled a dossier on the use of the cards which showed that across 2021 for 14 major Whitehall departments, a total of at least 145.5 million was spent using GPCs. That figure was up from 84.9 million in 2010/11 in the equivalent departments, although around 20 million of the difference could be explained through inflation. Tory sources pointed out Labour introduced civil service credit cards in 1997 and claimed the partys use of parliamentary questions to find out details for its dossier on GPC use had cost more than half a million pounds. Labours work examined the main Whitehall departments apart from the Ministry of Defence, which the Opposition claimed had not produced sufficiently comprehensive data. The dossier showed: In 2021, 3.3 million was spent at office supply firm Banner, 1.51 million with Amazon, almost 415,000 at Enterprise Rent-a-Car, almost 238,000 at Ikea, nearly 106,000 at John Lewis and more than 101,000 at Apple. The biggest single supplier was BFS Group, provider of food to the Prison Service, with sales over 500 worth a total of 54.9 million. On March 30, 2021, when Rishi Sunak was chancellor, the Treasury spent 3,393 buying 13 fine art photographs from The Tate Gallery to hang in the departments Horse Guards Road building, despite ministries having access to the Government Art Collections pictures. Foreign Office GPCs were used to buy 23,457 of duty-free supplies from Dubai-based International Diplomatic Supplies, thought to be for the use of UK embassies overseas, but in the first 10 months of 2022, that level of spending jumped more than four times higher, to 95,834. Suella Braverman and guests spent almost 114 a head at The Cinnamon Club restaurant in Westminster (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Several departments appeared to be using GPCs to exhaust their budgets at the end of each financial year, including the Department of Health and Social Care spending 59,155 on items of stationery in March 2021, compared to just 1,470 in the whole of the rest of the year combined and the Treasury spending 90,596 on training courses in March 2021, compared to an average of 38,357 in the other 11 months of the year. Then attorney general Suella Braverman and her Ukrainian counterpart visited fine dining Indian restaurant The Cinnamon Club in Westminster along with six others in May 2022 at a cost of 909 just under 114 a head. Between January 2021 and June 2022, the FCDO spent 36,293 on items of fine bone china from Royal Crown Derby and 15,943 on items from the Royal Collection online shop, presumably to give as presents to foreign counterparts. From January 2021 to June 2022 the FCDO spent 11,853 at upmarket store Fortnum and Mason. Deputy leader Angela Rayner was critical of the spending (Peter Byrne/PA) Ms Rayner said: Britain may be facing the worst cost-of-living crisis for decades, but whether as chancellor or Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has failed to rein in the culture of lavish spending across Whitehall on his watch. Todays shocking revelations lift the lid on a scandalous catalogue of waste, with taxpayers money frittered away across every part of Government, while in the rest of the country, families are sick with worry about whether their pay cheque will cover their next weekly shop or the next tranche of bills. A Labour government will get tough on waste, with an Office of Value for Money upholding transparency and high standards for all public spending, including on government procurement cards. Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry, who was behind many of the parliamentary questions used to uncover the details, said: If you went by the Government spending revealed in this report, you would think we were in the last days of Rome, not the worst cost-of-living crisis for decades. GPCs are the preferred civil service method of purchasing low value goods or services, with the benefit of providing prompt payments for small and medium-sized firms. The rules on GPC use were relaxed at the start of the Covid pandemic, allowing individual card-holders to spend up to 20,000 per transaction and 100,000 per month, and permitting the use of GPCs across all categories of spending. The Tories pointed out that the information in Labours dossier was publicly available and highlighted Conservative governments had introduced transparency measures. A senior Conservative source said: Awkwardly for Labour HQ theyve forgotten that they introduced these civil servant credit cards in 1997. By 2010 Labour was spending almost 1 billion of taxpayers money on everything from dinners at Mr Chus Chinese restaurant to luxury five-star hotels. The Conservatives swiftly stopped their absurd profligacy, cutting the number of cards, introducing a requirement for spending to be publicly declared and introducing controls. Typically, Labours big idea is to spend millions to establish yet another quango, stuff it with thousands of bureaucrats and give them gold plated pensions. Retired businessman Sir Frederick Barclay has made a proposal during the latest stage of a High Court fight over money with his ex-wife, a judge has been told. Sir Jonathan Cohen had ordered Sir Frederick, 88, to hand Lady Hiroko Barclay, 80, lump sums totalling 100 million in May 2021, following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage. Lady Barclay, who had petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, subsequently complained that Sir Frederick had not paid money as ordered and alleged that he was in contempt of court. Sir Jonathan had been due to oversee a further hearing in the Family Division of the High Court on Monday. But he adjourned proceedings until March 6 after a barrister representing Lady Barclay told him that Sir Frederick had made a proposal. Lady Hiroko Barclay alleges that Sir Frederick has not paid up as ordered (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Stewart Leech KC said Lady Barclay would not take any further enforcement action before that hearing. Sir Jonathan said it was absolutely essential that Lady Barclay was properly provided for. The judge ruled in July that Sir Frederick was in contempt as a result of failing to pay nearly 245 000 he owed Lady Barclay for legal fees and maintenance. Mr Leech had told the judge, at a follow-up hearing in August, that the sum had been paid. But Mr Leech said that Sir Frederick remained massively in default and told the judge that there was still no plan for payment of the 100 million. Mondays hearing was listed as an application by Lady Hiroko Barclay for the committal to prison of Sir Frederick Hugh Barclay. Sir Frederick Barclay, right, with his twin brother, Sir David, after they were knighted (Michael Stephens/PA) Sir Frederick and his twin brother Sir David were among the UKs most high-profile businessmen. Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021. Their interests included the Telegraph Newspaper Group and The Ritz hotel in London. The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco. Mr Leech gave Sir Jonathan no detail of Sir Fredericks proposal. He had told the judge, in a written argument prepared for Mondays hearing before Sir Fredericks proposal, that Lady Barclay had lost patience. Mr Leech told the judge of Sir Fredericks abject failure to engage in making any real efforts to show when he will be able to pay anything and said Lady Barclay wanted him sent to prison for contempt. He said Lady Barclay had thus far done everything she can short of seeking Sir Fredericks imprisonment. Mr Leech also indicated that she might have to look at other remedies, including a petition for Sir Fredericks bankruptcy. A man who was arrested following protests outside the Tate Britain over a drag queen story-telling event for children is due to appear in court. Lance OConnor, 53, of Plaistow, east London, is accused of assault on an emergency worker, obstruction of a police officer and two homophobic aggravated public order offences. The Tate, in Millbank, central London, had been hosting Drag Queen Story Hour UK, with tales told by Aida H Dee, who the gallerys website describes as the first drag artist in Europe to read stories to children in a nursery. People protesting against the event were at the scene, as well as counter-protesters. OConnor is being held in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday. The Metropolitan Police has defended its decision to prosecute Sarah Everards killer, Wayne Couzens, for exposure even though he will never be released from prison for the murder. Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Professionalism Bas Javid said he hopes the decision to prosecute goes some small way to show people the Met will be ruthless in holding rogue officers to account. Couzens, 49, admitted three counts of indecent exposure when he appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday. The offending took place in woodland in Deal, Kent on November 13 2020 and at a fast food restaurant in Kent on February 14 and 27 2021 just months before he kidnapped, raped and murdered marketing manager Miss Everard, 33. Mr Javid said: Its every victims right to be listened to and to have their case investigated. I know the homicide team were meticulous and committed in doing everything they could to get justice for them. I hope this goes some small way to help the public understand that we will be ruthless in holding officers, even one serving a whole life order and who will never know freedom again, to account. We know the public will, understandably, be sickened at yet more grotesque crimes by Couzens. The process of flushing out the corrupt and the criminal from the Met will be slow and painful, but is necessary and we will continue to do so. This is how we will reform, move forward and become an institution Londoners can have confidence in. Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, who leads the specialist crime command team that originally investigated Miss Everards murder, said: It was hugely important for the team to listen to those who came forward, investigate their allegations thoroughly and make sure Couzens faced justice for this offending. It was our job to support them and hold him to account on their behalf and we took this duty seriously. Today is about those who were subjected to his vile behaviour and who have helped bring him to justice. Couzens tried to frighten and demean them, but they have only shown strength and dignity in reporting him and supporting this investigation. I would like to thank them for their patience, co-operation and help throughout the case. On February 28 2021, the force first became aware of a 2021 exposure allegation, and the investigation into it was ongoing when Ms Everard was kidnapped. The 2020 exposure was reported to Kent Police at the time of the offence, but the victim contacted the Met following Ms Everards murder and the Met murder squad took on the investigation. They used number plate recognition, financial and telephone records and speaking to victims to secure a conviction on the three charges. Couzens pleaded not guilty to three further charges of exposure and they were left to lie on file. A haul of missiles allegedly destined for Houthi rebels has been linked to Iran by a failure to wipe the data from an accompanying drone packaged in a speed boat which was seized by the Navy. The connection is detailed in a dossier of evidence provided to the United Nations (UN) by Britain in an attempt to prove Tehran is breaching its rules by supplying weapons to the war in Yemen. The seizures from within international waters south of Iran early last year included surface-to-air-missiles and engines for land attack cruise missiles. Image of a chipboard issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Britain handed over its file to the UN as Iranian-made attack drones are used by Russia to pummel Ukraine in Vladimir Putins invasion. Officials argue the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has gone to lengths to obscure the components origins, some of which are copies of Western weapons. Their quality was assessed to be inferior to the legitimate products and there were clues in the form of miscopied letters. A picture in the dossier shows one chipboard with what was assessed to be errors: version spelt with a lower case l instead of an i and The Netherlands spelled with a 1 instead of an l. One key piece of evidence linking the missiles to Iran came from a reconnaissance drone found in the February boat alongside surface to air missiles and land attack cruise missile components. A Ministry of Defence official said: Whilst the external SD card slots on the DJI quadcopter were empty, the internal hard drive had not been wiped. We found 22 test flights, all within the confines of the IRGC Aerospace Force HQ in Tehran. This is the first time we have been able to present evidence to the UN that indicates a direct link between the Iranian state and the supply of these weapons. A drone found with haul of missiles allegedly destined for Houthi rebels (Cpl Tim Hammond/Ministry of Defence) Marines on the HMS Montrose detained the vessels crewed by smugglers identifying themselves as Iranian on January 28 and February 25 last year. The downwash of a Wildcat helicopter was used to force the crews of the high-speed boats onto the deck so marines could board, according to the evidence passed to the UN. The smugglers, who are also suspected of running drugs, were released back to their vessels, after it was ascertained there was no grounds to detain them. Officials believe some parts in the missiles are genuine and have been procured from US, French, German, Dutch and Czech businesses. But the UN is expected to speak to the manufacturers involved to warn them their components are apparently ending up in Iranian weapons programmes. A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Iran-backed Houthis since 2015, and Tehrans capabilities are believed to be ever improving. The UN report on possible security council violations is expected to be published shortly. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: The UK is committed to upholding international law and will continue to counter Iranian activity that contravenes United Nation security council resolutions and threatens peace across the world. That is why we have a permanent Royal Navy deployment in the Gulf region, conducting vital maritime security operations and working in support of an enduring peace in Yemen. Middle East minister Lord Ahmad added: Once again the Iranian regime has been exposed for its reckless proliferation of weapons and destabilising activity in the region. Irans sustained military support to the Houthis and continued violation of the arms embargo has stoked further conflict and undermined UN-led peace efforts. The UK will continue to act to protect the security of our partners and hold Iran to account. A Metropolitan Police officer who sprayed a teenager in the face with an incapacitant has been acquitted of assault. Pc Jack Beadle, 26, from the forces South West Command Unit, was charged with assault by beating and was cleared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday. His colleagues from the same unit, Sergeant Dave Mattock, 37, and Acting Sergeant Callum Ferguson, 26, are both charged with the same offence against a 17-year-old in Tooting, south London, in the early hours of April 2 2022. The teenager was allegedly pushed towards a parked car before being restrained and arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, the court heard. The officers were charged following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into an allegation that they used excessive force. They previously pleaded not guilty at the same court in October. Prosecutor Sahil Sinha said the defendants were on duty together in plain clothes and in an unmarked police car, when they spotted a group of four young people including the claimant and his girlfriend who the officers described as having balaclavas on and hoods up, who then boarded a bus. Pc Jack Beadle (Aaron Chown/PA) The teenager said he was on his way to buy shoes from someone at the time of the incident, which happened at the junction of Southcroft Road and Crowborough Road, the court heard. The defendants later flagged the bus down after officers described seeing some form of disturbance on the top deck where the four were sitting, Mr Sinha said. Body-worn footage played in court showed police escorting the four young people off the bus before the complainant tried to flee and was taken to the ground. A struggle ensued as officers tried to restrain him, and he appeared to be punched while on the floor. In body-worn footage played in court, the claimant appears to shout dont touch me as he is being restrained, while his girlfriend can be heard saying this is pure racism. Mr Sinha said the first three young people to leave the bus remained relatively calm and compliant throughout but he said the claimant briefly ran away. Mr Sinha said he was then taken to the ground and showed some resistance and claimed he was punched by Ferguson. He later said the strikes to the groin and abdomen area were delivered by Ferguson, before Beadle later sprayed him with Pava to the face. Guy Ladenburg, for Beadle, said his client engaged for a very short period of time to Pava spray the teenager who was wrestling with his colleagues. Cross-examining the claimant, he said: Immediately before Pava spray is discharged you are resisting attempts to arrest you and you are angry. District Judge Tan Ikram said the claimant admits that all Beadle did was Pava spray him and that he was hardly involved, and he told Beadle: I find you have no case to answer, as he released him from the dock. The court was also shown CCTV footage of an IOPC interview with the claimant on September 12 2022. During the interview he said: I ran as a joke and I stopped, and then as Ive stopped the officer behind me, who is the biggest one and has come running behind me, then slammed me into a car. He claimed Ferguson was swinging me about before Mattock also grabbed him and he was taken to the floor. He said he was handcuffed and lifted up before he was slammed into a bush. The other officers werent punching me they were just trying to to restrain me but I wasnt doing anything, he added. He added: He (Ferguson) punched me three times quickly, all in my balls area. The whole time he was making growling noises. He was making some strange sounds. The trial is expected to conclude at the same court on Tuesday. Sir Iain Duncan Smith has accused the Chinese governor of Xinjiang of murder as he joined Uighur activists protesting against his reported visit to Britain next week. Activists gathered outside the Foreign Office (FCDO) after reports emerged that Erkin Tuniyaz, the chairman of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, may travel to the UK next week and meet officials. China is alleged to have forcibly sterilised women and put children in concentration camps in the province. Sir Iain told protesters: We do not meet with people who murder others. Government should be above that. There is no negotiation until China stops what it is doing and restores the rights, privileges and freedoms for the people of Xinjiang who are Uighur. He added: We face the reality that there is a strong possibility that the Government may end up in some other location with officials meeting the man who is responsible for what we believe to be a genocide in Xinjiang. That is simply unacceptable. It is unacceptable for the Government to pretend that because a minister doesnt meet him somehow it is unofficial. It is not. The protesters stayed outside the FCDOs headquarters on King Charles Street in Westminster throughout Monday. There were speeches by activists and Labour peer Helena Kennedy, who co-chairs the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. Id love to know who it was who extended the invitation to this man, who is on the United States own list of those who must not be given visas, who must not be allowed entry into the United States and is sanctioned by the United States of America, Baroness Kennedy said. Why did we not, despite our urging, have him put on to a sanctions list as well? And why have we allowed him to come here? Who invited him and what is the purpose of those meetings? To talk about trade? In his province where there is forced labour? What is the purpose of this meeting? Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Labour peer Helena Kennedy (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The activists waved placards reading freedom for Uighurs and China, stop your genocide against the Uighurs before delivering a protest letter to the FCDO. In 2021, MPs approved a non-binding Commons motion which declared Uighur Muslims and other minorities are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide in Xinjiang. Ben Wallace has announced the UK will conduct a security review after a series of objects in Western airspace were shot down by the US military, including a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The Defence Secretary announced the intended review on Sunday. It comes after US fighter jets shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron on Sunday the fourth object to enter US or Canadian airspace in just over a week. Mr Wallace said: The UK and her allies will review what these airspace intrusions mean for our security. This development is another sign of how the global threat picture is changing for the worse. I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023 On February 4, the US military downed a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. Almost a week later on Friday, they shot down an unknown car-sized object flying in US airspace off the coast of Alaska. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday that he ordered a US warplane to shoot down an unidentified object that was flying high over northern Canada. On Sunday, a further unidentified object was shot down with a missile by US fighter jets over Lake Huron. A public services union has welcomed the Committee on Standards proposal that MPs should potentially be barred from Parliament if arrested for a violent or sexual offence. The FDA union, which represents some Parliamentary staff, criticised the lack of formal process to prevent MPs from attending the Westminster estate even if they have been accused of serious misconduct. Parliamentary authorities recently launched a consultation on precautionary exclusion, which could restrict MPs access to the precinct if they have been charged with a violent or sexual offence. The FDA has long called for precautionary exclusion of MPs to be considered at the point of arrest. Its reassuring to see that the Committee on Standards agrees Read @jawadrazafda's full response 1/5 pic.twitter.com/BJm2421cqx FDA union (@FDA_union) February 13, 2023 In response to the House of Commons Commissions consultation, the Standards Committee recommended that precautionary exclusion should be considered at the point of arrest, rather than when a parliamentarian is charged. FDA national officer Jawad Raza said: The FDA has long called for precautionary exclusion of MPs to be considered at the point of arrest. Its reassuring to see that the Committee on Standards agrees. Carrying out a risk assessment at the point an MP is charged, as initially proposed by the House of Common Commission, is far too late and would put staff at unnecessary risk. In its report, published last week, the Standards Committee said: The Commissions proposed threshold (where a Member is charged with a violent or sexual offence) is too high. Indeed, it arguably prevents the process from being properly precautionary, since a formal charge would be likely to come at a relatively late stage. The current informal process of voluntary agreements with MPs to stay away is inadequate and not always honoured, the panel said. But MPs banned from Parliament for precautionary reasons must still be able to vote by proxy or through electronic means, according to the committee, so they can carry out their constitutional duties and represent their constituents. Mr Raza said: As it currently stands, even if an MP is arrested for serious sexual offences, there is no way to prevent them from attending the Parliamentary estate. Relying on informal agreements between Whips, Parliamentary authorities and MPs clearly isnt the best way to proceed, as these measures are completely unenforceable. The union called for the introduction of precautionary exclusion without delay to protect staff. ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. (AP) Federal workplace safety authorities have fined a central Pennsylvania confectionary factory more than $14,500 following an accident last year in which two workers fell into a vat of chocolate. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Mars Wrigley in the June accident at the Elizabethtown M&M/Mars factory, saying the workers were not authorized to work in the tanks and weren't trained on the proper safety procedures for the equipment. Officials said two workers employed by an outside contracting firm fell into the partially filled chocolate tank while doing maintenance work. Emergency responders were able to free the pair by cutting a hole in the bottom of the tank, officials said. Both were taken to hospitals, one by helicopter. A company representative told reporters last week that the safety of workers and outside contractors is a top priority for our business. "As always, we appreciate OSHAs collaborative approach to working with us to conduct the after-action review, the representative said. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: Michael B. Jordan attends the Feature Presentation Podcast official launch on February 03, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images) Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Michael B. Jordan is not rushing back into dating following his breakup with Lori Harvey. In a feature interview with Rolling Stone published Monday, the Creed III actor/director, 35, said he wants to "try to be responsible" when it comes to any future romantic relationship. "Of course I think about it, but I definitely want to try to be responsible with that, knowing how I wanted to be as present as possible," he said. "It's gonna happen when it's supposed to happen." Jordan and Harvey, 26, split in June after more than a year of dating. A source told PEOPLE at the time that both Jordan and Harvey were left "completely heartbroken" after the breakup. During the Black Panther actor's appearance on CBS Mornings last week, Jordan clarified to Gayle King that he was "joking" when he said during his recent Saturday Night Live monologue that he is on the dating app Raya before speaking to how he handled the relationship ending. RELATED: Jonathan Majors Says He and 'Best Buddy' Michael B. Jordan Talk About 'Girl Troubles' BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: (L-R) Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey attend the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Frazer Harrison/Getty 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. "I think for me it's just that I was lucky enough to have a lot of work," Jordan said. "I'm a firm believer in that what's for you is what's for you, and coming out of that situation not to give it, you know, any energy and kind of move from that is you know, it was an experience for me to grow and learn." Jordan said during the interview that he's confident "so many great things" still lie ahead for him. "I'm in my light right now. This is my Jordan year, I mean that," he said. "This is my year. There's so much going on, so many blessings, so many great things." RELATED VIDEO: Michael B. Jordan, Lori Harvey Break Up After Over 1 Year: 'Both Completely Heartbroken,' Says Source Jordan echoed that sentiment while speaking with Rolling Stone, though he noted that the notion of "not reaching my full potential" is a "fear" of his. "I have not reached my full potential. That's another fear," Jordan told the magazine during a wide-ranging conversation about his career, life and the notion that "being forgotten" is a fear of his too. "To go on these solo journeys, to be so fing locked in, to shut out the world and focus on certain things in order to advance or get better or master your craft, you know, you gotta be a little obsessed and a little off," the actor added of his focus on work. Creed III is in theaters March 3. Capitol Hill is talking more about Social Security, which estimates show is on track to becoming insolvent in little more than a decade, as both sides feud over how to address the rising national debt. A recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that spending for Social Security benefits increased by 10 percent, or $37 billion, in the four-month stretch ending in January, compared to the same period the year before. The CBO pointed to the recent increase in the average benefit payment to explain the jump, but also the continued rise in the number of beneficiaries which is often cited as a key component behind the insolvency threat facing Social Security. Lawmakers have introduced varying proposals over the years aimed at shoring up solvency for the program, but a battle over the nations debt limit has shined a fresh light on finances for Social Security, which also accounts for a chunk of federal spending. Potential fixes to Social Security are often a heavy lift in Congress, and that reality is no different for the currently divided legislature. But that doesnt mean lawmakers havent made some proposals to help shore up solvency for the program. Here are just some of the ideas that have gotten attention so far. Raising the payroll tax cap Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a key centrist, has suggested raising the taxable wage cap as a potential quick fix for the program. You have enough cash so people can continue to get the benefits that theyve earned and worked for, the easiest way is to raise the cap, he told The Hill last month, though he wouldnt say whether the idea would be able to pass in the divided Congress at the time. It raises a little bit, but not enough. The current cap on maximum earnings that can be taxed by Social Security rests at about $160,000 for 2023, up from $147,000 the prior year. I guarantee most West Virginians pay 100 percent, because very few people have average incomes of $150 [thousand] or more, and the wealthier areas, they have a lot more, Manchin said. I dont think anyone would miss it. I think it would help solidify the cash flow problems we have. The idea is likely to face difficulty in attracting sufficient support among Republicans. But some Democrats have discussed adjusting the cap by targeting earners making above $400,000, as President Biden has pledged not to raise taxes on those making below that amount. Raising the retirement age to save Social Security Some Republicans previously proposed using the debt limit as a leverage to secure significant fiscal reforms as concessions from Democrats, while also eyeing reforms to shore up solvency for Social Security, including raising the retirement age. The current threshold to be able to receive full retirement benefits is set at 67 years of age for those born in 1960 or later. But some conservatives have pressed to tighten age eligibility requirements, while pointing to data showing more Americans living longer, putting a squeeze on the programs funds. However, many Democrats and some Republicans have opposed raising the age amid concerns about fluctuations in the nations life expectancy rate and the impact things like more physically demanding labor can have on longevity. While Gary Burtless, senior fellow in economic studies for the Brookings Institution, said people are living longer, he pointed to research conducted by him and others at the think tank that showed gains in longevity have been concentrated among people further up in the lifetime earnings distribution. A lot of the longevity improvements have gone to people far up in the income distribution and maybe halfway up the income distribution, but those gains have been slower than those at the top, he said, adding theres a fairness question about raising the retirement age for everybody in the population. Republican leaders have since vowed not to use the debt limit to pursue potential changes to Social Security in debt limit, but have pressed for lawmakers on both sides to work on a bipartisan solution. Creating a sovereign wealth fund to shore up Social Security Reports emerged last month that Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Angus King (I-Maine) are working toward a bipartisan compromise to help shore up Social Security. Semafor, which broke the news, reported the effort could potentially entail a sovereign wealth fund being set up to help shore up Social Security, but would operate separately from the current funds. The senators offices told The Hill at the time that both Cassidy and King have been working on a legislative solution, but said the plan is not finalized. Burtless said on Friday that the idea could potentially help with covering benefits for the program, but doubted it would pay for the whole gap if such a legislative effort made it past Congress anytime soon. At this stage, the trust fund has got to be so small that earning a few percentage points higher returns every year, on average, is not going to make a material difference, he argued. Maybe instead of the trust fund going to zero in 2033 or 2034, it would have made it last to 2037 or 2038. Bipartisan panels may tackle Social Security problems Though GOP leaders have said potential reforms to the program are off the table in debt limit talks, there has been discussion of a Social Security commission fitting into a compromise to raise the debt ceiling. However, there is some distrust among Democrats of the idea from Republicans, which White House spokesperson Andrew Bates panned as a death panel for Medicare and Social Security in recent comments to Bloomberg. With the president poised to announce new plans to keep making our economy work from the bottom up and the middle out not the top down House Republicans are dead-set on the opposite, he also said. The response was met with immediate criticism from Republicans, with House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who previously expressed support for the idea, suggesting the White House is afraid the commission would recommend something the president does not like. If the president is really interested in preserving benefits, as we all are, then he needs to act with Congress to ensure the programs solvency. Otherwise, the very cuts he fears will happen, and they will be steep, he argued. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - Dior Bar & Lounge on Bennington Avenue was the scene of an overnight shooting that left multiple people injured, Jan. 22, 2023, in Baton Rouge, La. On Friday, Feb. 10, police in Louisiana's capital city of Baton Rouge arrested two people for a mass shooting that left 12 others wounded at a nightclub in January. (Michael Johnson/The Advocate via AP) BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Police in Louisiana's capital city have arrested two people for a mass shooting that left 12 others wounded at a nightclub in January. Two 19-year-olds, Nikeal Franklin and JyShaun Jackson, were arrested Friday, the Baton Rouge Police Department said. Franklin was charged with 12 counts of attempted first-degree murder while Jackson was charged with 12 counts of principal to attempted first-degree murder. On Jan. 22, shots rang out around 1:30 a.m. in the Dior Bar & Lounge in Baton Rouge. A dozen people were injured, and most sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Three victims were initially listed in critical condition, but their conditions later improved. Police said they believe the shooting was not a random act of violence and that it was targeted. Sgt. LJean McKneely Jr., a police spokesman, told The Associated Press in the days following the shooting that investigators believed the shooting was targeted at one partygoer and that bystanders were hurt in the process. Before the shooting, the nightclub had advertised a Southern University and Louisiana State University-themed party as the two schools kicked off new semesters. Spokespeople for both LSU and Southern University told The Advocate that the event at the club that evening in Baton Rouge was not affiliated with either school. In a social media post Friday, police said the investigation was ongoing and did not release any details beyond an announcement of the arrests. Although the number of homicides in Baton Rouge decreased last year from 2021, Louisianas capital city has been plagued by gun violence. In October, an early-morning shooting near Southern Universitys campus in Baton Rouge left nine people injured. The Baton Rouge shooting occurred just hours after a gunman killed 11 people and wounded nine others at a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, California. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Sunday said the House GOPs jeering at President Biden during the State of the Union address last week was a big mistake by the party. Big mistake. Look, you know, you dont want to you dont want to rise to the bait, and they did, a number of them did, and it was a big mistake, Christie told host George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week. Republican lawmakers booed and heckled the president at points during Bidens sweeping speech to a joint session of Congress, with an eruption of dissent as Biden said some in the GOP want to sunset Medicare and Social Security. Look, the better response would have been to respond to that with laughter. If you really wanted to respond to the president saying something as ridiculous as the Republicans [want to sunset the programs], because of what one Republican said, Rick Scott, which was immediately rejected by almost the entire rest of the party, what they should have done was just laughed at the president then, and moved on, Christie said. The yelling and the screaming stuff, look, I think thats always bad. It doesnt get you anywhere. And it gave Joe Biden an opportunity to engage them back in a way that was spontaneous, that I think was probably the best part of his entire speech, the former governor added. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) shook his head dismissively as he sat behind Biden, beside Vice President Harris. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) stood to shout liar at the president when he made references to GOP cuts in Social Security. Biden played off the audiences audible dissent in improvised lines mid-speech. So folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right? Biden said. Alright, he added, throwing a thumbs-up. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Glen Carie) In Kenya, we are familiar with the disagreement between the conservation groups and the government over the road and railway construction through the Nairobi National Park. In Tanzania, the highway passing through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. In Ethiopia, the uproar about Lake Turkana drying up because of the massive hydropower dam. These arguments create the impression that conservation and development are mutually exclusive. That governments and conservationists are permanently at loggerheads. Yet this is, and should, not be the case. I have no doubt in my mind that these disputes and confrontations are not inevitable. We can build our cities and we can keep wildlife and wildlands secure. The two can go hand in hand. We dont have to sacrifice one, on behalf of the other. But that is easily said Humanitys remarkable ability to self-destruct is one of the most inexplicable yet enduring paradoxes of life. We are perhaps the only species endowed with the capacity to best understand nature yet are also the worst at managing it. The worlds population reached 8 billion in November 2022. Seventeen per cent, or 1.4 billion of those people live in Africa, while the vast majority of 5 billion, or 60% are in Asia. But the worlds human population account for just 0.01% of all living things. And because of the 0.01%, currently of all the mammals on earth, 96% are livestock and humans, only 4% are wild mammals. Because of us - chickens and other poultry account for 70 percent of birds. It is reported that since the dawn of civilisation, humanity has caused the loss of 83% of all wild animals and nearly half of plants. Half of the Earths animals have been lost in the last 50 years my lifetime. Ironically, this period has also been attended by some of the most significant innovations in human history. Yet curiously humans are still incapable of protecting our existence on earth. The global tree count has fallen by 46% since the beginning of human civilization. We are still losing 100 trees per minute. People cut down 15 billion trees each year. Sounds like the sky is falling Most recently, biodiversity and livelihoods, conservation and poverty reduction have become part of everyday vocabulary, mainstreamed to inform both national and global agenda. Last year alone, we have had 4 global climate meetings.Never have campaigns to end global poverty and conserve wildlife and wildlands been done more loudly. Sadly, instances of success remain scant. It is, therefore, arguable then that our collective approach to environmental conservation and development has been problematic. Part of the problem is that in a globalized world, the relationship between nation states has been reduced to trade. With trade relations superseding everything else. We have witnessed the emergence of powerful trade blocs and a greater play of economic growth interests in state affairs. We have seen normalisation of the supposedly inherent tension between conservation practices and economic growth. But growth and development are not the same things. When something grows it gets bigger, when something develops it becomes different. Not all growth is development. Not all growth leads to development. While economic growth and ecosystem protection might seem incompatible, they are in fact inseparable. Poverty may beget environmental degradation, but so does wealth if we do not ensure our consumption and production activities are carried out in a sustainable way. The good news is that there is a growing success in NGOs, governments, as well as public/private partnerships that indicates that the silos and divisions that once separated the conservation and development communities are breaking down. Advances in conservation biology, agricultural ecology, plant breeding, ecosystem monitoring, and computer-based modelling are revolutionizing the ability to understand and manipulate wildlife habitat-human interactions, to the benefit of both people and the rest of nature. In much the same way, the perceived role of business is changing. It is increasingly recognized that there are both business risks and opportunities associated with mismanagement of biodiversity. An interesting shift is beginning to be observed, where companies are no longer writing off biodiversity as a community or philanthropy issue but are starting to present it as a core business issue relevant to both risk and opportunity. However for governments, corporates and civil societies to be successful, it will require more holistic approaches. We must think of the institutional, ecological, and developmental conditions which can make this possible. Similarly, as many have argued, we must understand that the links between biodiversity and livelihoods and between conservation and poverty reduction are both dynamic and local. We need to quickly start the process of marrying our human aspiration to natures abilities to accommodate and absorb our ambitions if humans are to survive. Kaddu Sebunya is the CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation 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 A TV cameraman films the State Opera in Hanover, Germany, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. A German newspaper critic had animal feces smeared on her face by a ballet director in the city of Hannover after he apparently accused her of driving away ticket holders. The Hannover state theater apologized for the incident on Saturday and said Monday that it was suspending ballet director Marco Goecke with immediate effect. (Julian Stratenschulte/dpa via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) BERLIN (AP) A German newspaper critic had animal feces smeared on her face in the city of Hannover by a ballet director who apparently took offense at a review she wrote. The Hannover state opera house apologized for the incident and said Monday that it was suspending ballet director Marco Goecke with immediate effect. The daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that a furious Goecke approached its dance critic, Wiebke Huester, during the interval of a premiere at Hannover's opera house on Saturday and asked what she was doing there. It said that the two didn't know each other personally. The newspaper said that Goecke, who apparently felt provoked by a recent review she wrote of a production he staged in the Dutch seat of government, The Hague, threatened to ban her from the ballet and accused her of being responsible for people canceling season tickets in Hannover. He then pulled out a paper bag with animal feces and smeared her face with the contents before making off through a packed theater foyer, the newspaper said. Huester identified the substance as dog feces and said she had filed a criminal complaint, German news agency dpa reported. In a statement on its website, the opera house said Huester's personal integrity was violated in an unspeakable way. It said that it contacted her immediately after the incident to apologize. The opera house said that Goecke's impulsive reaction violated the ground rules of the theater and that he caused massive damage to the Hannover State Opera and State Ballet. As a result, it said, he is being suspended and banned from the opera house until further notice. Goecke has been given the next few days to apologize comprehensively and explain himself to theater management before further steps are announced, it added. The ballet director appeared at least partly unrepentant, however. In an interview with public broadcaster NDR, Goecke acknowledged that his choice of means wasnt super, absolutely. Of course socially that is also certainly not recognized or respected, if one resorts to such means, he said of the attack, adding that he had never done anything like that before and was a bit shocked at myself. Goecke said that while having his work soiled for years was a price he had been told he had to pay for being in the public eye, there was a limit. Once a certain point has been reached, I disagree," he said. The German journalists association DJV denounced the attack. An artist must tolerate criticism, even if it seems exaggerated, the unions regional head in Lower Saxony state, Frank Rieger, said. Whoever reacts violently to criticism is unacceptable. The attack on the ... journalist is also an attack on press freedom. CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Few have navigated the turbulent politics of the Trump era like Nikki Haley. In early 2016, the then-South Carolina governor said she was embarrassed by candidate Donald Trump and decried his reluctance to condemn white supremacists. Nine months later, she agreed to join his Cabinet, serving as a key validator as Trump sought to win over skeptical world leaders and voters at home. And shortly after Trump left the White House, Haley, whose resume by then included an ambassadorship to the United Nations, vowed not to step in the way if he ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Yet on Wednesday, she is poised to become the first major Republican candidate to enter the race against him. Its going to be quite the high-wire act, said veteran Republican strategist Terry Sullivan. She says shes always been an underdog. She will be again." The 51-year-old Haley may be the first to take on Trump, but a half-dozen or more high-profile Republicans are expected to join the GOP's 2024 presidential nomination contest over the coming months. Some would-be competitors may be more popular than Haley even in South Carolina, where she lives and has established a campaign headquarters. Likely rivals include Sen. Tim Scott, a fellow South Carolinian and perhaps the most celebrated elected official in a state where Trump has already locked up endorsements from the governor and its senior senator, Lindsey Graham. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence could also be formidable foes should they run, as widely expected. Indeed, on the eve of this week's announcement, there is broad agreement that Haley the only Republican woman of color expected in the 2024 contest, a politician who loves to remind people that she has never lost an election is about to be tested as never before. President Donald Trump speaks with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley before a meeting during the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Sept. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Trump has stepped up his attacks on Haley in recent weeks. But allies describe the former governor, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, as a savvy executive uniquely positioned to lead a new generation of Republicans. They understand that the fight ahead could get ugly. She took the bull by the horns and said, That doesnt matter to me, Im going to run,'" said longtime supporter Gavin J. Smith. "She did that when she ran for governor, and thats what youre going to see when she runs for president. Perhaps more than anyone this young presidential primary season, Haley personifies the Republican Party's shifting views on Trump. Her reversal on whether to challenge the former president was based less on concerns about his divisive leadership or policy disagreements than the growing belief within the GOP that Trump is losing political strength. Haley, like the vast majority of her party, largely supported Trump even after he inspired a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. It was not until Trump-backed candidates across several key states were defeated in last fall's midterm elections that a wave of high-profile Republicans began to openly weigh 2024 bids against him. New York-based Republican donor Eric Levine says he's convinced that another Trump Republican nomination would lead to his party's destruction. Haley, he said, is among the three favorite Trump alternatives, adding: I think she's a spectacular candidate. Haley's announcement will take place Wednesday in Charleston, the historic coastal city where her campaign will be based. Almost immediately, she'll travel to meet voters in New Hampshire and Iowa. She's entrusted her campaign to a collection of senior staff led by longtime aides. Betsey Ankney, who heads up Haley's PAC, will manage the campaign, with the PAC's development director, Mary Kate Johnson, as finance director, Haleys team told The Associated Press. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Sept. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Longtime Haley adviser Chaney Denton and Nachama Soloveichik, who was a spokeswoman for recently retired Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, will head up communications. Strategist Jon Lerner will serve as senior adviser, and Barney Keller of Jamestown Associates will be Haley's media consultant. For Haley, this week's launch marks a significant step on a long road that began in South Carolina's Good Old Boys Club, she wrote in a Friday fundraising appeal. People thought I was too brown too female too young too conservative too principled, she wrote. Born in 1972 in rural South Carolina, Haley has long spoken of a Southern rural childhood in which she felt she didn't fit. She was raised in the Sikh faith with a mother who wore traditional saris, and a father clad in a turban. Nikki has been regularly underestimated, said Catherine Templeton, a Republican who served Haley in two roles, leading South Carolinas labor and public health agencies. But it makes her work harder. In her first campaign in 2004, Haley, formerly an accountant, defeated the longest-serving member of South Carolinas House. After six years in the Legislature, she was considered a longshot when she mounted her 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Nikki has been regularly underestimated. But it makes her work harder.Catherine Templeton The GOP field was filled with more experienced politicians, and at times, she faced blatant racism. Then-state Sen. Jake Knotts appeared on a talk show and used a racial slur in reference to Haley. He apologized, saying it was meant as a joke. Still, Haley became the first woman and person of color elected South Carolinas governor and the nations youngest state executive. After winning reelection in 2014, her second term was marred by crisis. She spent weeks attending funerals of Black parishioners gunned down by a self-avowed white supremacist at a Charleston church in 2015. Later that year, she pushed for and signed legislation to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, where it had flown for more than 50 years. Haley's political skills were tested in a different way in 2016, as Trump went from late-night television punchline to serious Republican presidential contender. She endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ahead of South Carolina's high-stakes Republican primary, then backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz once Rubio was knocked out. Then, Haley described Trump as everything a governor doesn't want in a president." She also said she was embarrassed by his attacks against former President George W. Bush and condemned Trump's reluctance to disavow the KKK. But shortly after Trump won the presidency, Haley agreed to serve as the new administration's ambassador to the United Nations, a Cabinet-level position. I proudly serve in this administration, and I enthusiastically support most of its decisions and the direction it is taking the country," Haley said in a 2018 op-ed. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Later that year, Haley abruptly announced her departure from the U.N. in the wake of an ethics probe, fueling speculation that she might challenge Trump in 2020 or replace Pence on the ticket. Neither happened. Instead, Haley returned to South Carolina, joined the board of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. and hit the lucrative speaking circuit, reportedly commanding fees as high as $200,000. She also penned two books. Her public support for Trump continued even after the attack on the Capitol. Im really proud of the successes of the Trump administration. Whether it was foreign policy or domestic policy, we should embrace those," she tweeted three weeks after the insurrection. But it's unclear whether such platitudes will give Haley much cushion in a party that, for now, remains dominated by Trump and his supporters. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the No. 3 House Republican, has already endorsed Trump's 2024 bid. While she declined to comment directly on Haley's candidacy, she insisted that Trump would defeat any Republican challenger "by massive margins. It is time for Republicans to unite around the most popular Republican in America, she said of Trump. Trump told The Associated Press last month that he did absolutely nothing wrong. He said he felt very confident that he wouldnt be indicted. ATLANTA (AP) A Georgia judge on Monday ordered the partial release later this week of a report by a special grand jury that investigated efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss. The reports introduction and conclusion, as well as a section in which the grand jurors expressed concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath, will be released on Thursday, said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney. Any recommendations on who should or should not be prosecuted will remain secret for now to protect their due process rights, McBurney wrote. McBurneys order came three weeks after hearing arguments from prosecutors, who urged the report be kept secret until they decide on charges, and a coalition of media organizations, which pressed for its release. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney speaks during a hearing to decide if the final report by a special grand jury looking into possible interference in the 2020 presidential election can be released Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) The release is a significant development in one of several cases that threaten legal jeopardy for the former president as he ramps up a 2024 White House campaign. The special grand jury spent about seven months hearing testimony from witnesses including high-profile Trump allies, such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and high-ranking Georgia officials, such as Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp. McBurney wrote that the report includes recommendations for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, including a roster of who should (or should not) be indicted, and for what, in relation to the conduct (and aftermath) of the 2020 general election in Georgia. The special grand jury did not have the power to issue indictments, and it will ultimately be up to Willis to decide whether to seek indictments from a regular grand jury. The special grand jurys final report was requested by Willis and is meant to inform her investigative decision-making process, McBurney wrote, adding that the panels investigation was largely controlled by the district attorney and her team and was a one-sided exploration. There was very limited due process for people for whom the grand jurors recommended charges, McBurney wrote. Some may not have had the opportunity to appear before the panel, and those who did appear did not have the right to have their lawyers present or to offer any rebuttal. For that reason, the judge concluded, it is not appropriate to release the full report at this time. It is not clear if or when Willis will present the case to a regular grand jury with the purpose of getting one or more indictments. At a Jan. 24 hearing, she said decisions are imminent but did not elaborate. Trump told The Associated Press last month that he did absolutely nothing wrong. He said he felt very confident that he wouldnt be indicted. At the January hearing, Willis had argued against the immediate release of the report, saying it could violate the rights of potential defendants and negatively affect the ability to prosecute those who may be charged with crimes. We want to make sure that everyone is treated fairly and we think for future defendants to be treated fairly, it is not appropriate at this time to have this report released, Willis said during the hearing. A group of news organizations, including the AP, argued in favor of releasing the report immediately in full, saying that public interest in the report is extraordinary. The discomfort of the prosecuting authority in disclosing court records isnt enough to make them sealed, said attorney Tom Clyde, representing the media. It has to be significant, identifiable evidence thats going to cause a problem. Willis said in an emailed statement Monday that she believes McBurneys order is legally sound and consistent with my request and that she has no plans to appeal. Clyde declined to comment. Former President Donald Trump pauses as he speaks at a rally Jan. 15, 2022, in Florence, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) Willis and her team began investigating two years ago, shortly after the release of a recording of a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In that conversation, the then-president suggested that Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, could find the votes needed to overturn Trumps narrow election loss in the state to Biden, a Democrat. All I want to do is this: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, Trump said on the call. Since then, the investigations scope has broadened considerably. The special grand jury operated behind closed doors, as required by law, but public court filings and hearings related to its work provided a window into some of the topics Willis was exploring. Those included: Phone calls by Trump and others to Georgia officials in the wake of the 2020 election. A group of 16 Georgia Republicans who signed a certificate in December 2020 falsely stating that Trump had won the state and that they were the states duly elected and qualified electors. False allegations of election fraud made during meetings of state legislators at the Georgia Capitol in December 2020. The copying of data and software from election equipment in rural Coffee County by a computer forensics team hired by Trump allies. Alleged attempts to pressure Fulton County elections worker Ruby Freeman into falsely confessing to election fraud. The abrupt resignation of the U.S. attorney in Atlanta in January 2021. The post Judge to release parts of Georgia special grand jury report appeared first on TheGrio. NEW YORK (AP) Former President Donald Trump has called for parents to elect and fire school principals. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has banned instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. And Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador who is expected to announce her White House candidacy this coming week, is among the Republicans taking aim at critical race theory. In the opening stages of the 2024 GOP presidential race, the parents' rights movement and lessons for schoolchildren are emerging as flashpoints. The focus on issues related to racism, sexuality and education is a way for potential White House hopefuls to distinguish themselves in a crowded field, suggesting new and deeper ways for government to shape what happens in local classrooms. But the effort has prompted criticism from LGBTQ advocacy groups, teachers unions, some parents and student activists and those worried about efforts to avoid lessons about systemic racism. Democrats have cast the efforts as race-baiting and improperly injecting politics into schools. What were seeing now, at least in this period, is much more focus on so-called culture war issues, said Jeffrey Henig, a professor of political science and education at Columbia Universitys Teachers College. Nowhere is the drive more visible than in Florida, where DeSantis has made an aggressive push against what he calls woke policies. FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference on Jan. 26, 2023, in Miami. David McIntosh, the president ofthe influential Club For Growth group, said Tuesday, Feb. 7, that the group has invited a half dozen potential Republican candidates for the White House to its donor summit in Florida next month including DeSantis. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File) He gained national attention last year for signing the so-called Dont Say Gay bill into law, barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for young elementary schoolers, as well as material deemed not age-appropriate, which critics have argued is vague and could stifle classroom discussions. He also signed the Stop WOKE act in 2022, a law that restricted teaching that members of one race are inherently racist or should feel guilt about past actions by other people of the same race, among other things. DeSantis has also extended his political influence to local school board races, endorsing candidates last year in what had been nonpartisan contests and flipping at least three boards from a liberal majority to a conservative majority. More recently, he blocked high schools from teaching a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies, contending it was a violation of a state law and historically inaccurate. Beyond K-12 schools, he appointed six conservative trustees to the board of a small liberal arts college and he has announced plans to restrict state colleges from having programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory. Critical race theory, a way of thinking about America's history through the lens of racism, has been a top target. The theory, which DeSantis has called pernicious, was developed by scholars in the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nations institutions, which function to maintain the dominance of white people in society. As DeSantis emerges as the most formidable potential challenger to Trump, who has staked out his own positions on the same issues and recently released a nearly 5-minute video outlining what his campaign called a Plan to Save American Education and Give Power Back to Parents. Declaring that public schools have been taken over by the radical left maniacs, and warning about pink-haired communists teaching our kids, Trump pledged, if elected president again, that he would cut federal money for any school or program promoting critical race theory, gender ideology or other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content on to our children. FILE - Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during an event sponsored by Turning Point USA at Clemson University on Nov. 29, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. In the opening stages of the GOP presidential primary, the "parents' rights" movement and lessons for school children are emerging as a critical flashpoint. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File) Trump said he planned to create a national credentialing organization that would certify teachers who embrace patriotic values, support our way of life and understand that their job is not to indoctrinate children and would set up favorable treatment for states and school districts that adopt reforms such as allowing parents to directly elect school principals. If any principal is not getting the job done, the parents should have the right and be able to vote or to fire them and to select someone else that will do the job properly, Trump said at a campaign appearance in South Carolina. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is considering a presidential campaign, is using a group he formed to rally conservatives against transgender-affirming policies in schools. The groups plans to run ads, hold rallies and canvass in early voting state Iowa comes as a federal appeals court is set to consider a case involving an Iowa school districts policy to support transgender students. In the U.S., public education is run by states and largely paid for by state and local taxpayers. The federal government does not, for instance, certify teachers or regulate how schools hire staff. And Washington also doesn't control curriculum standards like those DeSantis has backed in Florida. But Congress or the Department of Education can incentivize certain education practices by tying them to federal money. So it's not unheard of for presidential candidates to talk about education. George H.W. Bush declared he wanted to be known as the education president and started a push for national standards and goals. His son, George W. Bush, centered his message in the 2000 campaign in part on education reform and during the first year of his administration, signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act, which ignited a national debate over the proper use of standardized testing in schools. The more recent divisive shift to social issues in schools is an outgrowth of Glenn Youngkin's successful bid in 2021 to become the first Republican in more than a decade to be elected as Virginia's governor. Youngkin, himself a potential presidential candidate in 2024, campaigned on parental rights. He appealed to parents frustrated over school closures during the pandemic and said he would ban the teaching of critical race theory in public schools. Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Once in office, his administration began the process of rewriting the states model policies for the treatment of transgender students, issuing guidance for school divisions that would roll back some accommodations and tighten parental notification requirements. Kristin Davison, a strategist for Youngkin's gubernatorial campaign, said Youngkin focused on education after the pandemic thrust parents into the classroom, leading to frustrations with remote learning to the curriculum itself. Voters want their leaders to understand the issues that theyre talking about at their kitchen table, she said. Right now, families are sitting at their kitchen table looking at report cards, looking at homework assignments, frustrated at curriculum. The debate over education still carried weight during last year's elections, potentially giving Republican presidential candidates a reason to stay focused on the issue. Half of voters in 2022 said their local K-8 schools were teaching too much about gender identity issues, according to AP VoteCast, a national survey of the electorate. Only about one-quarter said schools teach too little on the subject. About 4 in 10 voters said too little is taught on racism in the U.S., while about one-third said schools were teaching too much on related issues. Roughly one-quarter of voters said the focus on each is about right. There was broad agreement among Republicans about 8 in 10 of whom said gender identity is taught too much in schools. A smaller majority, 56%, said that about racism. Among Democrats, about two-thirds said there's too little taught about racism. But there was less consensus around teaching gender identity. About 4 in 10 said too little is taught, about 2 in 10 said too much is taught and about 4 in 10 said schools handle it about right. Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster and strategist who worked on President Joe Bidens 2020 campaign, said the GOP messages about protecting children seem to be aimed at trying to win over suburban women, who have drifted away from Trump and the GOP, particularly after the Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion last year. I think its getting extra energy because of its appeal or its presumed appeal to women voters, she said. PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) A Florida man is accused of fatally shooting a clerk at a hotel in western Kentucky after assaulting two people outside the business who couldn't give him a cigarette lighter, authorities said. Robert Pannell, 55, was charged with murder, assault and other crimes at a Best Western hotel in Paducah, the McCracken County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Authorities responded to the business Saturday morning after several callers reported that a man was actively shooting in the hotel, which is located near Interstate 24. McCracken County Sheriffs deputies and officers from the Paducah Police Department arrived first, and a deputy found the female victim on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds to her head and body, officials said. A Paducah officer located a possible suspect outside the hotel and detained him in the parking lot. An investigation determined that Pannell, who was staying at the hotel, assaulted a couple in the parking lot over a denied request for a cigarette lighter and then went inside the building with a handgun and proceeded to shoot the victim and throw the gun into the lobby, the sheriff's statement said. Multiple people were in close proximity when the shots were fired. The victim's name wasn't released at the request of her family, the statement said. No motive for the shooting has been discovered, though the investigation is continuing, authorities said. The McCracken County Sheriff's Office said Pannell is from Palm Coast, Florida, and detectives were coordinating with the Flagler County Sheriffs Office to determine why Pannell was in Kentucky. Pannell is being held at the McCracken County Jail. Online records don't indicate whether he has an attorney. The U.S. military shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron on Sunday, the third such event in three days and the fourth in little more than a week. President Biden ordered the downing of the UFO, which a U.S. official described as octagonal, with strings hanging off and no discernable payload. The object was flying low at an altitude of about 20,000 feet when it was shot down by an F-16 fighter jet with a Sidewinder missile near the U.S.-Canadian border, the Pentagon said. Infographic: Yahoo News Heres everything we know about the recent string of air defense activities playing out in the skies above the country. How we got here In late January, a suspected Chinese spy balloon appeared over the United States at about 60,000 feet near Alaska and hovered above the nation for days before Biden ordered an F-22 raptor to shoot it down off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 4, and Navy divers began the process of recovering the balloon from a debris field stretching seven nautical miles. The recovered debris from the balloon was taken to an FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va., for analysis. U.S. national security officials said that the balloon was potentially carrying explosives and hazardous material, which factored into Bidens decision to delay shooting it down. Five days later, on Feb. 9, an unknown object was spotted flying off the remote northern coast of Alaska. Biden ordered it shot down the following day. According to White House spokesman John Kirby, the object roughly the size of a small car was downed because it was flying at about 40,000 feet and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance. Biden called the downing of the object a success. On Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that a U.S. fighter jet shot down an unidentified object that was flying high over the Yukon. U.S. officials said that North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, the joint U.S.-Canada organization that provides shared defense of airspace over the two nations, detected the object flying at a high altitude on Friday evening over Alaska, and that it crossed into Canadian airspace on Saturday. Canadian and U.S. jets operating as part of NORAD were scrambled, and Trudeau said he spoke with Biden, who also ordered the object about the size of three school buses to be shot down. On Sunday, Biden ordered the downing of the unidentified object over Lake Huron. The object was first detected in the skies above Montana. In a bulletin, the Department of Homeland Security said that an FBI chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives team was heading to the location of debris. What officials are saying U.S. Navy sailors recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 5. (U.S. Navy via AP) In a briefing with reporters on Sunday, Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said the reason for the recent shootdowns was adjustments made to radar, allowing defense systems to track slower objects, combined with a heightened alert following the suspected Chinese spy balloon that emerged over U.S. airspace in late January. With some adjustments, weve been able to get a better categorization of radar tracks now," VanHerck said. And thats why I think youre seeing these [shootdowns], plus theres a heightened alert to look for this information. He clarified that objects shot down over the weekend were different than the suspected Chinese spy balloon. Were calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason, he said. VanHerck was also asked whether he could rule out the possibility they were of extraterrestrial origin. I havent ruled out anything at this point, VanHerck said. What members of Congress are saying The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. (Randall Hill/Reuters) On ABCs This Week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that U.S. officials were focused like a laser on gathering and accumulating the information about the downed objects. But Schumer also said that the suspected Chinese spy balloon exposed a U.S. intelligence weakness. The bottom line is, until a few months ago, we didnt know about these balloons, Schumer said of the spy program. It is wild that we didnt know. Meanwhile, many Republicans criticized Biden for not ordering the suspected Chinese spy balloon to be brought down sooner. But now, some of those same Republicans are questioning whether the Biden administration acted too hastily in ordering the objects shot down over the weekend. They do appear somewhat trigger-happy, Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on CNNs State of the Union Sunday. This is certainly preferable to the permissive environment that they showed when the Chinese spy balloon was coming over some of our most sensitive sites. I would prefer them to be trigger-happy than to be permissive, Turner added. But were going to have to see whether or not this is just the administration trying to change headlines. What China is saying Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin gestures during a press conference last year. (Photo by Noel Celis/ AFP via Getty Images) A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday alleged that the United States has sent at least 10 unsanctioned balloons into Chinese airspace since last year. At a press briefing, the spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said that it was common for U.S. high-altitude balloons to fly into other countries airspace. The United States should first reflect on itself and change course, rather than slander, discredit or incite confrontation, Wang said when asked whether the objects shot down by U.S. military were of Chinese origin. What the White House is saying White House spokesman John Kirby taking questions at the White House on Monday. (Evan Vucci/AP) The United States promptly denied Wangs assertion as the latest example of China scrambling to do damage control. It has repeatedly and wrongly claimed the surveillance balloon it sent over the United States was a weather balloon, and to this day has failed to offer any credible explanations for its intrusion into our airspace and the airspace of others, White House spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. At a press briefing at the White House on Monday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that there is no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said that U.S. officials were still working to identify the objects, and that the president has made this a very top priority. Kirby said that he cant rule out that the objects had surveillance capabilities, but stressed that they were downed because they posed a real threat to air traffic. Were going to learn from these three events. Were going to continue to study what happened, Kirby added. But bottom line for President Biden is, youve got to do the right thing for the American people, for our safety and security. 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, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan held a meeting with South Korean legislator Ki Hun Song, the Chair of the Republic of Korea-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Korean parliament. The importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in the Armenian-Korean bilateral relations was emphasized at the meeting, the parliaments press service said in a read-out. Possible directions for strengthening and developing the bilateral relations between Armenia and South Korea were discussed. Simonyan and Song underscored the necessity for mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade-economic, scientific, educational, cultural and tourism sectors. In this context the Speaker of Parliament attached importance to the opening of the South Korean embassy in Armenia, which will allow great progress to be made in the bilateral relations. Speaker Simonyan highly appreciated the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)s support to Armenia, particularly to the parliament, expecting continuity. Issues related to regional security, as well as Azerbaijans maximalist aspirations and its consequences were also discussed. We value the balanced position of the Republic of Korea on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and we hope that Korea will continue supporting the international mediators efforts in the issue of resolving the conflict through exclusively peaceful ways, Simonyan said. Speaker Simonyan added that Armenia expects targeted steps from international partners demanding Azerbaijan to fully implement its obligations under the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, to immediately and unconditionally end the blockade of Lachin corridor and ensure safe and secure passage of transportation. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan held a meeting with the new Ambassador of Czech Republic Petr Piruncik. The Speaker congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office and noted that the Armenian-Czech partnership will further expand and deepen during his tenure, the parliaments press service said in a read-out. Partnership between parliamentarians of the two countries in international platforms was highlighted. Theres been rather active cooperation between the parliaments of Armenia and Czechia in the past ten years. In this context I have to mention that I invited the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marketa Pekarova Adamova to visit Armenia, Speaker Simonyan said. Deepening cooperation with the Czech Republic as part of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was also discussed. Speaking about ongoing developments in the region and Azerbaijans aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia and the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh, Ambassador Piruncik attached importance to peaceful dialogue for resolving the issue. The Ambassador thanked for the reception, stating that he will not spare efforts during his tenure to promote mutual awareness between Armenian and Czech peoples in terms of history and culture. by Sheng Xiong Detained without grounds, there has been no news of him since spring 2021. The faithful of Xuanhua diocese miss their pastor. Government criticised for using coercive and inhuman means against sick clergymen. The authorities blindly adopt political and coercive pressure. Beijing (AsiaNews) - Since 2007, for almost 16 years, Bishop Augustine Cui Tai of the diocese of Xuanhua (Hebei) has been illegally detained by the authorities without any grounds or legal procedure. In recent years, the authorities granted the bishop short visits to his elderly relatives every Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) or Mid-Autumn. Since the cleric was taken away in spring 2021, however, he has not returned home, and the faithful have no way of knowing anything about his welfare or whereabouts. Bishop Cui, 71, is recognised by the Holy See, but not by the Chinese government. In early 2013, after consultation and careful verification by the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI approved and appointed Msgr Cui as auxiliary bishop of the Xuanhua diocese. The following April he was ordained coadjutor bishop, but then Bishop Thomas (Cathedral) Zhao Kexun, the ordinary bishop, entrusted him with full authority to run the diocese. In 2018, Bishop Zhao passed away in his hiding place at the age of 94 due to old age and physical decline. According to canon law, Bishop Cui automatically became ordinary bishop of the diocese. AsiaNews sources note that this year coincides with the 10th anniversary of Msgr Cui's ordination. The faithful of the diocese miss the pastor who is in prison and, although they cannot hear from the bishop, they sincerely pray every day for his salvation, hoping that he will return among them as soon as possible. Other sources criticise the brutality of the government authorities, who use coercive and inhuman means to treat the sick religious, just as relations between China and the Vatican are apparently improving. The authorities are blindly adopting political and coercive pressure, with no attitude of dialogue as equals and no sincere intention of solving the problems. AsiaNews sources hope that more people will pay attention to and understand the current situation of the Chinese Church and call on the authorities to end the illegal detention of Bishop Cui and unconditionally release the prisoner as soon as possible. by Santosh Digal The only suspect on trial for the missionary's killing in 2011 says he cannot pay for a lawyer. So the court hearing was postponed once again, while the other accused are all still at large. Fr Jeremiah: 'The delaying tactic is evident. And the lack of media attention favours impunity'. Manila (AsiaNews) - After more than 11 years the road to justice for the murder of PIME missionary Fr Fausto Tentorio, killed in Mindanao in October 2011, is still being hampered and indeed denied. This is the denunciation contained in the columns of the National Inquirer, the best known Philippine newspaper, by Fr Peter Geremia, a confrere and friend of Fr Tentorio, who from Kidapawan continues to fight for the truth about that death. The Italian missionary was killed by a gunman wearing a motorbike helmet while he was in the compound of the Church of the Mother of Perpetual Help, Arakan parish in North Cotabato province in the southern Philippines. At the time of his death, he had spent more than 39 years working in remote and impoverished mountain communities, particularly in defence of the rights of the indigenous Manobo people of Arakan. A little over a year ago - in December 2021 - the investigation seemed to have reached a turning point with the arrest of Ricardo Borio Dorado, also known as Nene Dorado, who a witness stated in a deposition that he saw entering the church compound armed that morning. Dorado is one of the seven persons against whom Kidapawan Judge Arvin Sadiri Balagot had already issued an arrest warrant for the murder of Fr Tentorio on 30 April 2019, based on the accounts of some witnesses who had pointed to Dorado and his Bagani militia as the instigators and perpetrators of the murder, in the early weeks after the missionary's killing. But until December 2021, he had been able to move around the area undisturbed, like all the other accused. Summoned to the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 in Kidapawan, Dorado had been granted bail on 13 January 2022. But after the preliminary hearing, the trial had stalled again. "It is another case of justice delayed, justice denied," Fr Jeremiah commented to the Inquirer. "The last hearing was held on 13 October, the next one was set for 26 January, but the court postponed it because the suspect says he is unable to hire a lawyer. The delays are obvious. Are these not delaying tactics?". Along with Dorado, the other accused are Jimmy Ato, Robert Ato, Jan Corbala, Kaing Labi, Joseph Basol and Edgar Enoc: all are still at large. Fr Jeremiah also claims that the media's lack of interest in the case seems to favour impunity. "They all seem to have forgotten about it," he denounced. Hence the hope that a renewed interest might lead to a more speedy trial. Fr. Tentorio was the third PIME missionary to die in a few years in the Philippines. On 11 April 1985, also in Mindanao, Fr Tulio Favali who was brutally murdered by Norberto Manero, leader of a local fanatical group. Fr Salvatore Carzedda was murdered in an Islamist ambush in Zamboanga City in 1992. In a televised speech, the Israeli president stressed the danger of societal and constitutional collapse." He calls for mediation between the government and the opposition, asking not to force change through parliament. A majority leader rejects his proposal. Tens of thousands of people take to the streets in protest; a new rally is set for today in Jerusalem. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) Israeli President Isaac Herzog has waded into the minefield surrounding the Israeli governments controversial justice reform plan, which is opposed by the judiciary and has pushed tens of thousands of Israelis into the streets to protest. This comes at a time of heightened sectarian tensions (affecting Christians as well) and violence with the Palestinians, which could lead to another intifada. In an impassioned and heartfelt televised speech Sunday evening, Herzog spoke of a country on the verge of "societal and constitutional collapse, calling for compromise to avoid conflict and possibly bloodshed. To this end, he laid out a five-point plan. In his address, he asked Israelis on both sides of the political divide, government supporters and critics alike, to refrain from violence. He stressed the growing fear of attacks "against public servants and elected officials", stressing his deep concern over the reforms proposed by the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that risk undermining the "democratic foundations" of the country. Proposals for "change" and "reform" are legitimate, he added, but they must not come at the expense of unity. Hence, he proposes a five-point plan for compromise with the opposition, urging the government not to ram through its plan in parliament. While the opposition welcomed Herzogs proposal, the ruling coalition government, in particular several Likud Members of the Knesset, rejected it, saying that things must move ahead quickly. In summary, the five points outlined by the president include: a Basic Law that will regulate the justice system, preventing the Supreme Court from changing Basic Laws, changing the composition of the committee that selects judges to allow a balance between the various authorities, increasing the number of judges, achieving a broad consensus regarding the use of the so-called standard of reasonableness. In his appeal, Herzog addressed directly the chairman of the Knesset's Constitution, Laws and Justice Committee Simcha Rothman, a member of the Religious Zionist party, one of the main backers of the reform. Rothman immediately rejected the idea of postponing the first vote in parliament today, claiming that it was an "obligation to our voters". For their part, critics, among them top judges and ordinary citizens, continue to express their opposition. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tel Aviv. Another mass protest march is planned for today in Jerusalem, with police deployed in riot gear, ready to prevent protesters from reaching the Knesset. by Dario Salvi Fr Antuan Ilgt, a Jesuit, reflects upon the past week, since a devastating earthquake struck. The cathedral might have collapsed, but Caritas is providing relief, with a thousand meals a day for the displaced and aid sent to a devastated Antakya. His thoughts also go to Syrian refugees who cannot be abandoned because We must go where no one can or wants to go. Milan (AsiaNews) Fr Antuan Ilgt, SJ, is the chancellor of the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia. He spoke to AsiaNews about the daily reality in Iskenderun (Alexandretta) and more, a week after a devastating earthquake struck his country, Turkey, and neighbouring Syria. For him this tragic experience has led to de facto ecumenism among Christians to help each other; interfaith dialogue has become a living experience of "openness" to others and shared prayers and Mass, which includes some Muslims. From the start, Fr Ilgit notes, we have been sharing, helping displaced people, both Turks and foreign refugees alike. What a tragic event. On a personal level I tried to use my knowledge of Mersin, my home town, and the ties I have developed over the years, like with the sub-prefect, to collect aid and meet basic needs like getting power back up. Like everyone, I cope with difficulties every day. For a week, we have not been able to wash because there is no water; we only use wipes for a minimum of personal hygiene. I really feel like the shepherd among a flock of sheep, and thats no metaphor. People express their feelings more easily when they meet me; they cry desperately but a word of comfort can immediately produce some effect.". Here in Iskenderun we are in a good position compared to Antakya; this morning I spoke with the local priest, Fr Francis (Dondu)[*] who describes the situation as very serious. Here, the cathedral has collapsed, but the clergy house remained standing, even though all the buildings around it also collapsed; for this reason, we have become a point of reference for relief operations. Fr Antuan describes himself as "the only Turkish Jesuit and the only Catholic priest of Turkish ethnicity" in the area "at the service of the Church of Turkey", a country where he moved permanently a year ago after many years abroad for study and mission. I consider a grace the fact of returning and sharing my experience because it is a painful moment in our history" and there are so many needs. "Here in Iskenderun we are getting a lot of aid, which we sort out as soon as it arrives, and send to other areas. We managed to send three shipments to Antakya and we use the Mersin clergy house, which partly survived, to accommodate the displaced, Catholics and Orthodox, without distinction. This is what I call the ecumenism of tragedy, which brings together Latins, Armenians, Orthodox and others. "There are Muslims who ask to take part in the Mass, who need to pray and feel God close to them, as a source of consolation. "The earthquake has united us. Some good has come out of the huge devastation, teaching us that if the great choose war", peoples and individuals "can instead commit themselves to peace . . . We experienced this on our bodies! The clergyman was born in Germany in 1972 into a Muslim migrant family. He moved to Turkey at a very young age, where he got a degree in economics from Gazi University in Ankara. When he was living in the capital, he underwent a conversion to Catholicism and was baptised in 1997 at the Church of St Therese of the Child Jesus; this was followed by religious studies and the novitiate that ended in priestly ordination and the celebration of his first Mass (See article). "At the time of the earthquake (4.17 am, Monday, 6 February) I didn't leave the room right away," he notes. "The earthquake lasted two minutes; then, I went out with some nuns and two Italian volunteers who had come knocking on my door. "The cathedral was gone, in ruin, only the apse, the tabernacle and the statues of Our Lady and St Anthony were spared. I walked on the rubble to get the Blessed Sacrament. . . . It was incredible to see such destruction where, a few hours before, I had celebrated Mass. The cook with her husband arrived immediately, then the parishioners with blankets, barefoot, in tears for losing the cathedral, their home. "I have experienced many painful moments in my life, but this one is the first of this kind; Fr Ilgit explained. The comfort and collaboration with the vicar, Bishop Paolo Bizzeti, and the head of the local Caritas John Farhad Sadredin are important. On his Facebook page, he describes how he informed the prelate about the earthquake and the first responses to the emergency. After a week it is still an emergency: water pipes and the sewer system are broken, buildings are piles of rubble. At the clergy house, the cook is making about a thousand meals a day compared to a few dozen before. The sea has retreated but of all the tall, multi-storey buildings, nothing is left, even in the posh neighbourhoods. Digging goes but plundering has started by groups of outsiders looting shops and homes." "Our situation is surreal, but we live day by day, coping with daily demands, with no thought for the future. Once we have passed this phase, long-term reconstruction projects will be needed, starting with the cathedral, which is everyone's home. Finally, we must continue to take care of the many refugees (from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan) who put their trust in us. As Caritas Anatolia, we cannot abandon them and as Saint Ignatius might say: We must go where no one can or wants to go. [*] Parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. by Shafique Khokhar Muhammad Waris was taken out of the Warburton police station, stripped naked and beaten to death. According to investigating officers, the mob of fanatics numbered at least 800 people. Human rights defenders are calling for serious government action against lynchings. Nankana Sahib (AsiaNews) - A mob of fanatics lynched a man held in police custody in Warburton, in the district of Nankana Sahib (eastern Punjab province), after he was accused of blasphemy for allegedly desecrating the Koran. Muhammad Waris was captured, taken outside the station, dragged naked through the street and beaten to death with wooden and metal rods. In some videos that went viral on social media, some people are also seen attempting to set fire to the corpse. The officers who were on duty were suspended for leaving the station during the onslaught of the crowd (of about 800 people, according to some statements), while the prime minister ordered an investigation. But these are insufficient actions for human rights defenders: "The government has not developed strategies to solve these problems and to deal with emergency situations such as the recent lynching," commented Naveed Walter, president of the organisation Human Rights Focus Pakistan. "In a few days' time, the actions of the authorities will be worthless," Walter continued, adding that he has appealed to the Supreme Court to proceed with an action not to judge the individual lynching case, but to establish a long-term strategy and a permanent solution: "Blasphemy cases are sensitive and the security of every accused should be strengthened. No government has taken serious action to curb lynchings, on the contrary, the police have also in other cases allowed angry mobs to carry out these actions. But only the courts have the right to confirm who is guilty. The inability to stop violations of the rule of law thus becomes support for the fanatics." Muhammad Waris had already been charged with blasphemy in 2019 and had just been released after being found innocent by the court. Other activists and organisations also condemned the lynching: the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan pointed out that "the weak measures put in place so far give the idea of an impotent state, not an entity protecting the lives and property of citizens". The police in Nankana Sahib explained that they have so far arrested 60 people suspected of being involved in the lynching after seizing and analysing over 900 videos filming the incident. The local police chief said some 50 officers attempted to rescue Muhammad Waris, but they were outnumbered and reinforcements arrived after the man had already been killed. Interviewed by AsiaNews, Samson Salamat, president of Readari Tehreek, an interreligious movement against extremism, said, "The lynching of another person accused of blasphemy is yet further proof of the failure of the state apparatus to maintain control of the situation when public reactions to blasphemy accusations occur. Pakistan is displaying the fruits of the seed of religious intolerance, made possible by years of distorted curricula in religious seminaries, impunity granted to extremist groups, and religious propaganda facilitated by the blasphemy laws." Thus, the Taycan family now comprises the four-door sedan, five-door estate, and a jacked-up variant of the latter dubbed the Cross Turismo . Mind you, the Stuttgart car manufacturer knows that the Taycan needs a mid-cycle refresh in order to remain competitive for a few more years, and they are currently prepping it as we speak.All three body styles are getting a facelift, and they were recently snapped in the cold in Europes frozen north by our spy photographers, looking pretty much the same. However, there are a few things that Porsche changed, like the clever new matrix LED headlamps said to be twice as bright as the ones equipping the current car, albeit without dazzling incoming traffic. These will likely be reserved for the upper trim levels. The rear lighting units will be revised too, and the bumpers at both ends will be new.Beyond these changes, it is likely that Porsche will give it new wheels, and perhaps expand the color palette. Some updates inside are not out of the question either, though we wouldnt hold our breath for anything significant. New software might be part of novelties, alongside the usual changes revolving around the steering wheel, and probably the center console. Mind you, you should take these rumors with a pinch of salt until further notice. The same goes for the extra oomph of the entire family, and the enhanced driving range.The biggest upgrade will be the introduction of an all-new range-topping model . We still dont know what it will be named, but it will gun for the likes of the Tesla Model S Plaid, with some 1,000-horsepower combined available via the right pedal. This would give it a significant advantage over the current Turbo S specification, which has 750 hp on overboost, and the ability to hit 60 mph (97 kph) from zero in 2.6 seconds on Overboost, with the launch control function engaged. The Taycan Turbo S is the current top-of-the-line grade, and it starts at $187,400 in the United States, before destination and dealer fees.When will the upcoming range-topper variant premiere? Your guess is as good as ours, but if we were to take a guess, wed say that later this year, alongside the rest of the facelifted family. Look for them at dealers nationwide maybe towards the end of 2023, listed as 2024 models. Besides the usual revisions, the facelifted Taycan lineup should also bring a small price bump over the current one. Last week, Air New Zealand unveiled multiple collaborations with the same goal. It wants to sport a different kind of regional fleet as soon as the next decade dawns. For that particular goal, the airline is looking at various paths, from retrofitting solutions to brand-new all-electric aircraft. But its also part of a newly-established consortium, and here the focus is on a single, key element hydrogen.It has a straightforward name, the Hydrogen Consortium, and it was recently launched at the Christchurch Airport. Like other airports around the world, Christchurch is also starting to double as an innovation hub for future green technologies. It will soon become the host of Kowhai Park, described as a renewable energy facility that will unfold over 400 hectares (almost 2.5 acres).The Consortium is supposed to cover the major aspects of hydrogen as an aviation fuel alternative. Hiringa Energy brings the perspective of a green fuel producer and supplier. Its going to kick things off this year with four high-capacity refueling stations, and expand throughout the country as soon as next year.Fabrum is a specialist when it comes to liquid hydrogen and will bring a much-needed expertise in dedicated fuel tanks. It already has the know-how its technology powered the pioneering zero-emission chase boat for the Emirates Team New Zealand, the Chase Zero. From that, it took a leap and applied a similar technology to aircraft, in the form of a liquid hydrogen fuel tank.The other two partners in the Consortium are FFI (Fortescue Future Industries, a green tech company) and Airbus, who has developed two important concepts, the ZEROe aircraft and the dedicated hydrogen hubs at airports.The first step for the Consortium will be to complete the research phase by the end of this year. Next, it will look at the requirements for hydrogen flight tests in New Zealand. Air New Zealand wants to launch the first hydrogen-powered commercial flight by 2026, so theres no time to waste. Airbus, in turn, is focusing more on the long-term solution, which is an all-new hydrogen aircraft that could be ready for take-off by 2035.Either way, its a team effort. Green flights are possible only with the adequate infrastructure and supply chain in place. Hydrogen is slowly changing sectors like trucking or public transportation, and it could do the same for aviation. This is what New Zealand Consortium is working on, and it could turn out to become one of the first in the world to bring commercial passenger flights with zero emissions. Photo: YouTube/OFFICIALLY GASSED - OG AMG Photo: YouTube/OFFICIALLY GASSED - OG Photo: YouTube/OFFICIALLY GASSED - OG Photo: YouTube/OFFICIALLY GASSED - OG James Watt gets primary credit for the widespread of this unit of measurement. We honor him today by using his name to express engine power unequivocally in kilowatts. But the humble horsepower is the informal and very much used means of discriminating between piston yield.Returning to the opening sentence of the story, imagine the following equation: 450 hp - is it more than 450 hp, or less than 450 hp? The repetition is not randomly shoved in this story, for it bears the key to opening the chest of knowledge to tell why Audi beat BMW and Mercedes.How did we get from an English beast fable from 79 years ago to yet another episode of a fratricidal skirmish between the mutually opposing German brands? George Orwell finished writing his Animal Farm in February 1944, but the typescript was almost lost when his house in London collapsed under a V-1 German flying bomb in June of that year.In early 2023, a triad of Saxon piston mages sent something else over the English Channel. Three representatives star in an Officially Gassed YouTube drag racing video, at a local former military airfield. The horsepower roll call credits each automobile with 450 hp (456 PS), thanks to mild tuning. But lets meet them in detail before deciding who's worthier of the Orwell short story.In alphabetical order to not upset any of the vast hoards of fans trailing the rear badges of the three German performance cars, the Gassed Gang from Officially Gassed invited an Audi S5, a BMW M340i xDrive, and a Mercedes C 43The lord of the (four) rings the Audi S5 has the factory-installed three-liter V6 turbo with Stage 2 tuning. As a result, the power output is 450 hp (456 PS) and a 760 Nm (561 lb-ft) score. Quattro drive, ZF eight-speed automatic, and just 1.6 tons (3,561 lbs.) of body mass index make for just as many reasons to credit the two-door coupe Audi as a favorite.While the BMW can see the "all-wheel over eight gears" hands of the Audi, it falls short on the weigh-in. 3,748 lbs. (1.7 tons) make it slightly lower-rank on the odds meter. The twin-turbo M340i raises the xDrive and the same-caliber gearbox (also from ZF) to accompany the 450-hp (456-PS) inline-six power.However, the three-liter M-Powerplant is outgunned in the torque battle. Stage 1 tunning only produces 650 Nm (479 lb-ft), a difference that can decisively tip the scales at the end of a 440-yard gallop.For good measure and political correctness, not to mention national courtesy the third German on English airfield concrete is a Mercedes. An AMG, of course, since we are talking about the in-house-tuned variants of each of the manufacturers cars.A C 43, very much similarly equipped as its counterparts drives all four rubbers via a nine-speed AMG gearbox. It also has a three-liter, with six pistons arrayed in the V for Vendetta turbine-energized manner. The torque is 724 Nm (534 lb-ft). Power is identical to the two others ratings 450 hp. On the other hand, it is the heaviest of the bunch, at 3,759 lbs. (1,705 kg).Noteworthy aspect: the Bimmer and the Merc both have twice as many doors as the sliced Audi and nearly two hundred pounds (roughly 85 kg) more to carry around. It may not sound like a critical or decisive factor, but as you can see in the video, the Audi simply puts the sedan duo in its rearview mirror.The four-ringed coupe is a definitive first among equals and wins four out of six instances - both in the roll race and the standing quarter-mile sprint. And, in all fairness, it lost those two races because of late pedal input from the driver after the start signal.Also, driver reaction times made all the difference between the archrivals BMW and the Mercedes, which share very close similarities in their mechanical dowries. However, the M340i did put up a good fight, despite its lowly torque output. I won't be a spoiler, but I will tell you one thing: the BMW finished the quarter-mile roll race without getting past a 124-mph (200-kph) trap speed.On the other hand, the AMG had a less-than-perfect day, coming last in five rounds and besting a second place in the last run. Maybe the unmatching pairing of Pirelli-front and Bridgestone-rear tires impacted its performance.The overly complicated mechanical equation is far too abundant in variables to have it unfold in this story. Still, a brief conclusion could be summarized as follows: All animals are equal, but combustion-chambers-dwelling horses are exempt from this rule. Most people know Federal Moto (FM) as the Canadian shop run by Shaun Brandt, but the custom head-turner were about to inspect hails from the firms Chicago-based outpost across the border. Brothers Mike and Peter Muller are the ones in charge of FMs secondary base of operations, and this caffeinated 1978 BMW R100 was their very first build.Completed back in 2016, the project draws stylistic influences from the Lotus 77 Formula One race car designed by Colin Chapman more specifically, its John Player Special livery. Federal Motos fraternal duo began by discarding every piece of stock bodywork except for the classic Beemers fuel tank. Then, they browsed Boxer Cafe's catalog in search of some new garments.The Mullers eventually settled on a stylish bikini fairing and a minimalistic front fender from this manufacturers inventory. In addition, theres a mesh cover laid over the motorcycles headlamp, further enforcing its imposing attitude. Have a gander out back, and youll notice a new loop-style subframe thats been fabricated from scratch.Atop this module sits a bespoke solo saddle upholstered in black leather, with an integrated LED lighting strip at the rearmost tip. The goodies mentioned thus far are all pretty rad, no doubt, but its what lies beneath that really grips our attention. A pair of aftermarket shock absorbers are mounted centrally in close proximity to one another, and the swingarm was heavily modified in order to accommodate this setup.The airhead s revised ergonomics aim to keep the rider nice and tucked while doing laps around the racetrack, but FMs artisans admit theyre not ideal for riding in traffic. Oshmo rearsets occupy the bikes flanks, while its cockpit is now home to clip-on handlebars sporting Brookes leather grips, POSH switchgear, and a Tommaselli throttle. We find a single Koso dial making up the instrumentation.After theyd refurbished the R100s boxer-twin motor, the Muller brothers installed a set of Mikuni VM34 carburetors and velocity stacks topped with brass screens. Moreover, the exhaust headers were heat-wrapped, and the OEM silencers have been replaced with stainless-steel alternatives from Cone Engineering.A Shorai lithium-ion battery supplies the electrical juice, premium Goodridge brake lines ensure ample stopping power, and plentiful grip is offered by Avon Roadrider tires. Last but not least, the final step of Federal Motos transformation involved the paint job a task that Peter and Mike decided to outsource for the best possible result.Nicolas Lama was tasked with designing the elegant colorway, which is inspired by the number-five Lotus 77 of Mario Andretti. The black and gold JPS tones were then applied to The Five by VP Automotive from Atlanta, thus concluding the workshops introductory endeavor in style. Were not sure how much theyve spent to get it to this stage, but its safe to assume the end result was well worth it! EV Toyota is considered by many the Nokia of the automotive industry, the next big company to fail because it doesnt see fundamental changes happening in the market. While the world embraced electric vehicles and traditional carmakers scrambled to adapt to the new reality, Toyota insisted that EVs are overhyped. Not only that, but it tried to stifleadoption for everyone via lobbying efforts to compensate for its short-sightedness. When it became clear that didnt work, Akio Toyoda surprised everyone with an overwhelming EV strategy , with more than 30 EVs slated to launch by 2030.Since then, Toyotas relationship with electric vehicles has been inconsistent. One year later, the Japanese carmaker has only one EV in production, the bZ4X. It is also a complete failure, not only as an electric vehicle but as a car, considering that its wheels fall off. From time to time, Toyota either announced new EV plans or insisted they were crap, all at the same time, confusing its customers and investors alike. This was the atmosphere at the company when Akio Toyoda announced his surprise departure The new CEO Koji Sato will take over on April 1, but he wants all to know that he is no joke. Sato pledged to drastically revamp the carmaker and reinvent it as an EV-first mobility company. The upcoming CEO announced his new team on Monday and promised to accelerate EV rollout, starting with the luxury brand Lexus. Sato also talked about Toyotas new electric-only architecture , which is expected to arrive in 2026.Koji Sato talked about a three-pronged strategy comprising a ramp-up of EV development, strengthening its software-first initiatives, and focusing on achieving carbon neutrality in Asia. Although Satos message conveyed a new sense of urgency, he still promised to stick with the diverse powertrain strategy pioneered by Toyoda. This means continuing investments in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen powertrains in addition to electric vehicles.The first step of Satos strategy is rethinking Toyotas EV plans, and he said he intends to impose a BEV-first mindset at the company. The overhaul will start with Lexus, which was already slated to go fully electric worldwide by 2035. Sato said Lexus will sell 1 million EVs globally by 2030, while Toyota as a whole is targeting sales of 3.5 million EVs in the same timeframe. Thats a very ambitious plan, considering the Japanese automaker sold less than 24,500 EVs in 2022.Toyota needs to completely rethink its engineering and manufacturing operations to compete with the EV leader Tesla. The fact that its new EV architecture only arrives in 2026 doesnt look very promising for Toyota. It may be only two years from now, but the automotive landscape changes a lot faster now than it did when Toyota built its empire. Tesla is already making much more money per car than Toyota and intends to make even more with Project Highland.What is certain is that Sato has a very difficult task ahead. And even though he is determined to change the mentality at Toyota, he might not be allowed to do so. In his departure speech, Akio Toyoda hinted at his failed attempts to modernize the company. The new team can do what I cant do, he said without offering more details. Lets hope he is right and Sato will be offered more leeway in pursuing his EV strategy. Or we will have another Nokia in our lives. EV If we compare this years Super Bowl car commercials with the ones from last year, one thing is becoming obvious: carmakers are less keen to show their electric vehicle prowess. There were outliers, but nothing like last years push. General Motors Why not an EV? commercial is a far cry from the Dr. EV-il commercial from 2022. Interestingly, GM has taken out the past years video from its YouTube channel, as if it doesnt even want people to know about it.Besides GM, we only have Stellantis and Kia as car content creators for this years Super Bowl. While Kia had a classic Big Game commercial, Stellantiss pitch is rather interesting. On the one hand, it tries to promote the Jeep 4xe plug-in hybrid as being electric, which is not true. On the other hand, it speaks about premature electrification in its Ram clip promoting the new Ram 1500 REV . Although the truck is an all-electric vehicle, its name and the campaign might suggest Stellantis considers range-lengthening technology, aka range extender, to alleviate range anxiety.Nevertheless, one particular carmaker skipping this years game (or any years game, at least so far) might be on everyones minds. Tesla is known for not paying for advertising, and nobody expected it to see a Tesla ad during the Super Bowl LVII. Nevertheless, themaker was very much present, thanks to the efforts of Dan ODowds Dawn Project and Popeyes. Weve already discussed the former , so lets focus on the other.Popeyes commercial is interesting because it features a modified Tesla Model Y. Notice the straight door handles in the video below. Trained Tesla fans would also spot other details that differ from a Tesla Model Y, including a strange asymmetry on the right and left taillights. Man, Teslas quality control must really be bonkers these days. The video made some fans fantasize about a secret Model Y prototype Tesla might be working on.Sorry to disappoint. The car in the video was most probably digitally altered to be presented in the commercial as a generic EV. Its hard to do that with the Model Y, considering its the most popular EV in the world. But its surprising how sloppy the digital designers were in modifying the car. Nevertheless, while this is interesting and surely a boon to Tesla, theres another key takeaway here. Tesla got plenty of free advertising, which goes beyond the Popeyes and Dawn Project videos.In fact, even the carmakers promoting their own models were helping Tesla gain more brand recognition. Google Analytics shows Tesla search interest spiking in the moments following the airing of other carmakers commercials. Except for GM, the number of searches for the other brands that advertised during the Super Bowl barely moved. Even GM got far fewer hits than Tesla at the exact same time. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Last year, back in August 2022, the Detroit-based automaker opened an investigation into the fuel pump of the 2021 to 2022 model year Chevrolet Equinox and its GMC-branded sibling. General Motors couldnt ignore the high rate of warranty returns any longer. After analyzing the field data and fuel pumps returned from the field, GM conducted an investigation into Coavis USA.Based in Troy, Michigan, the fuel pump supplier informed General Motors that its manufacturing team changed the pumps rolling force in May 2021 without authorization from General Motors. More worryingly still, Coavis USA didnt inform GM of this unauthorized change until December 2022. According to documents filed with the, the error was corrected in June 2021.Between May 2021 and December 2022, the automaker identified no fewer than 710 engine stalling events related to the aforementioned condition. On the upside for both General Motors and the dishonest supplier, no crashes have been attributed to the fuel pump issue.A grand total of 23,164 vehicles are called back in the United States alone, split between 16,023 examples of the Equinox and 7,141 examples of the Terrain. Affected 2021 and 2022 models were produced from June 2021 to December 2021 for the Equinox and June 2021 to February 2022 for the more expensive GMC crossover.Dealers have already been instructed to replace the fuel pump module with new units produced outside of the suppliers suspect window. Parts arent currently available, though. Owners will be notified no later than March 3rd, although it remains to be seen if sufficient replacement fuel pumps will be made available by then.The third-generation Equinox is currently listed on Chevrolet s website at $26,600, excluding destination charge. Slotted between the $22,100 Trailblazer and $35,100 Blazer, the compact-sized crossover promises up to 31 miles per gallon (7.6 liters per 100 kilometers) on the highway and 63.9 cubic feet (1,809 liters) of max cargo capacity with the rear seats folded into the floor.Over at GMC, the General Motors brand that once specialized exclusively in trucks now offers the Terrain at $29,900 sans the $1,395 destination freight charge. The Equinox and Terrain come standard with front-wheel drive, a nine-speed automatic transmission, a 1.5-liter powerplant and 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment.Even the range-topping Denali trim level features the aforementioned 1.5er, a rather underwhelming engine susceptible to issues like turbocharger failure, fluctuating oil pressure, oil dilution, and cracked or melted pistons. The sole engine available produces 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet (275 Nm) of torque. EV Beauty is a matter of subjectivity, but replacing the GTC4Lusso four-seat grand tourer with a sport utility vehicle was dare I say it an inspired decision. Ferrari opened itself to a plethora of prospective customers that wouldnt have considered Ferrari on their shortlist prior to the introduction of the Purosangue, and the longroof-styled model is a thoroughbred where it really matters.Still new in the minds of enthusiasts and potential customers, the Purosangue is the star of the featured promo clip, which sees the car taken out for a road trip in the supremely beautiful wilderness of Norway. The Kingdom of Norway is the global leader inadoption, yet the Italian automaker doesnt have a zero-emission vehicle to its name just yet. It wont be long now until the marques first-ever production electric vehicle will be presented to a sea of gasps and giggles.Come 2025, the year Norway will ban the sale of new internal combustion-engined passenger vehicles, the Maranello-based automaker will go through a paradigm shift. How can a noiseless Ferrari be made exciting? There are three areas of interest that Ferrari needs to get right, starting with the way it looks and its performance. Most importantly, the handling needs to be world-class.Best-in-class handling differentiates the Purosangue from other high-performance SUVs currently in production. The Lamborghini Urus comes to mind, the best-selling vehicle offered by the Raging Bull of SantAgata Bolognese at press time. The only high-performance sport utility vehicle in the segment to feature a naturally-aspirated powerplant is rocking a 6.5-liter V12 that traces its roots back to the Enzos engine.Codenamed F140, the 65-degree V12 launched in 2002 with the limited-run Enzo, in which it produced 660 ps (651 horsepower) at 7,800 revolutions per minute and 657 Nm (485 pound-feet) of torque at 5,500 revolutions per minute. By comparison, the Purosangue cranks out 725 ps (715 horsepower) at 7,750 revolutions per minute and 716 Nm (528 pound-feet) of torque at 6,250 rpm.There is a common misconception that practical Ferraris arent really Ferraris . Considering that founder Enzo Ferrari always used 2+2 grand tourers to the detriment of mid-engine thrillers such as the 512 BB, theres no denying that the Purosangue fits that bill just fine. Il Commendatore might not be fond of the five-door arrangement (including the hatchback-style liftgate), but nevertheless, he would be more than happy to sell as many utility vehicles as possible to fund the Scuderia.More expensive than a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the Purosangue is limited to 20 percent of the automakers yearly production output. Ferrari delivered 13,221 vehicles in 2022, meaning that the Purosangue wouldve sold 2,644 copies had it been introduced a bit earlier. Back in 2021, an Airbus helicopter operated by a non-profit organization in Germany was one of the first to test the use of SAF, in a 40% blend with kerosene. Two of the names behind that memorable project are also at the forefront of this recent green flight, almost three years later. Safran Helicopter Engines joined forces with TotalEnergies once more, but this time they fed a different kind of chopper with green fuel.The star of the show was an NH90 , and the main partner in the project was not a civilian organization, but the Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) in France. Earlier this month, it carried out a test flight at the DGA test center, with one of its engines running on SAF.Safran is the one that makes the RTM322 engine for the NH90, and TotalEnergies was the one that provided the alternative fuel.This was a double milestone. On one hand, it was the first time that the NH90 got a taste of SAF. On the other hand, Safran claims that no other military rotorcraft has taken off with such a high amount of SAF.There have been greater achievements related to this type of fuel in military aviation, but they were all related to fixed-wing aircraft. For example, the UK Royal Air Forces Voyager became the first military aircraft in operation to successfully fly with SAF in both of its engines.Military helicopters arent there yet. The NH90 only used alternative fuel in one of its engines, but it probably wont be long before it takes the next step. This successful flight came after Safran had officially validated the use of SAF for the RTM322 at the end of last year. Like other major aerospace players, Safran is working on getting this alternative fuel certified for its helicopter engines.At the moment, its turbine range is officially compatible with the use of a 50% blend, and the goal is to get to 100%.As for the particular type of SAF that powered the NH90 pioneering flight, its derived from cooking oil. The official name for it is HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) and it claims to be four times better than fossil fuel, in terms of lowering carbon footprint.While commercial airlines all over the world are getting closer to green passenger flights, military aviation is making efforts as well to cut emissions and operational costs. One day, perhaps all NATO helicopters could be running with unblended sustainable fuel in both engines, without any structural modifications. As a Google-owned app, Waze is the preferred choice for many users in the Android Auto world. Its considered a top Google Maps alternative , and for many drivers, its a must-have weapon in the app arsenal, supposed to help deal with heavy traffic.A recent update received by Android users seems to produce more harm than good when the mobile device is connected to an Android Auto-compatible head unit to run Waze.The app suddenly freezes at random times after this recent update, and more often than not, force-closing and relaunching it is the only way to bring the navigation back to a working state.Im also encountering the same problem on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, and after further investigation, I believe the culprit is the most recent version of Android Auto. At this point, the latest stable build, and the one that is also running on my device, is Android Auto 8.9 , but Im seeing people complaining that the previous version is causing the same glitch.Some users seem to believe that a recent Waze update is to blame for the glitch, but I dont think this is the case. At this point, the latest Waze build on Android is 4.81.0.2, and it started shipping to devices in late January. This means most users should already be running this version, in which case it doesnt make sense for the freezing bug to show up only now.Oddly enough, some say that downgrading Waze to an older version brings things back to normal. It doesnt produce any improvement in my case, which once again makes me think that the glitch could come down to a compatibility issue between the navigation app and Android Auto.The only workaround that I managed to figure out at this point is the said force-closing of Waze. But on the other hand, Google Maps seems to be running just fine during the whole time. This means that people who dont want to mess too much with Waze can always make the switch to Google Maps, not necessarily forever, but at least until a fix goes live for the affected app.Google is yet to acknowledge the problem. But given the Waze freezing seems to be triggered by an update thats rolling out as we speak, I expect more information to surface sooner rather than later. A discussion thread on Reddit indicates that most Android Auto adopters encountering the error received the new version in the last couple of days, so the rollout of this buggy update is probably gaining traction. Classic E24 BMW has been in storage for two decades Photo: YouTube Screenshot/The Late Brake Show Iconic design by BMW in-house designer Paul Bracq Photo: YouTube Screenshot/The Late Brake Show Photo: YouTube Screenshot/The Late Brake Show Roars to life on old gas Photo: YouTube Screenshot/The Late Brake Show Today, barn finds are not half as exciting as they were a couple of years ago. Classic car enthusiasts will agree that the barn find stories are getting to a point of saturation thanks to the internet. Just about anyone with a camera and time can scavenge through the countryside looking for relics in abandoned farms and junk yards.But that doesnt mean the golden era of barn finds is ending. If anything, it sets the stage for the rarest of finds to step into the limelight.Jonny Smith of the Late Brake Show channel on YouTube recently got wind of an exceptionally rare car of the 80s in North Yorkshire, North of England: a 1983 BMW 628 CSi coupe with an M Sport body kit.According to Jonny, this BMW 6 Series has been behind closed doors for more than 20 years. With the help of classic Bimmer expert Tony Chamberlain, a.k.a Tony BMW, they pulled it out of hibernation with the hope of breathing life into it.If you love barn finds, you probably understand every car hidden away from civilization has a story. Sadly, the owner, Pete, wasn't alive to give a detailed insight on this BMW E24. But with the permission of his daughter, the duo got a chance to unravel its past.While clearing her late dads property for sale, she discovered the 1983 BMW 628 CSi coupe in Dolphin Grey hidden under a pile of gas pipe fittings and bits of scrap.Other than having stuff removed from it, it is untouched. I havent seen it yet. Neither has Tony. So lets have a look, Jonny said before opening the garage door to reveal the classic BMW 6 Series E24 The BMW 628 CSi coupe is an essential part of BMWs automotive history. Designed by Paul Bracq, this classic coupe was launched in the 70s, in a period much like today when the automotive industry was facing a global energy crisis.The BMW E24 succeeded the E9 3.0 CSi coupe. Its most iconic feature was the shark nose design, a marvel among BMW purists even today. The only downside to the BMW of the era was they were notorious for rust.According to Chamberlain, the early models (1977) of the E24 were based on the E12 5 Series platform and ran on the same chassis and engine. The later models (1981 and 1982) used the E28 5 Series platform.They took the 5 Series chassis and cut parts off it and then spot-welded new parts to make the wings fit differently, Chamberlain explained.The 1983 BMW 628 CSi came with a 2,788 cc straight-six engine good for 181 hp (184 ps) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque. It could bolt from zero to 60 mph (97 kph) in 9 seconds and had a top speed of 132 mph (212 kph).Jonny's find had a 5-speed manual Getrag transmission, channeling all the power to the rear wheels. For the suspension, it came with front-double pivot McPherson struts and IRS semi-trailing arms at the back.Based on the UK MOT (Ministry of Transport) report last done in 2001, the car had several issues repaired. As youd expect from the BMWs of the era, some corrosion damage repair was done on the floor. The duo also discovered the control unit was serviced after it was found with electrical fuel fault diagnostic issues.The car was in pretty good condition inside and outside, considering it was abandoned for 22 years . Chamberlain still had to free the stuck wheels to roll it out of the garage. The two also performed some basic checks to ensure the engine had not seized.Other than the issues outlined in the MOT report, this rare BMW 6 Series had an immobilizer fitted which was an additional hurdle to the duo's revival plans. They also noted that the spark plugs were intentionally removed from the engine.After cleaning all the connections and attempting to crank the classic BMW, it finally roared to life but couldn't run for more than a couple of seconds before shutting off.They later discovered the car's system shut down as a precautionary measure since they were using a custom auxiliary fuel pump and not the 6 Series' E24 factory-installed fuel system. It's essential to note that the E24 6 Series was the first model to have BMW's Check Control System."It's a safety thing. It must think that maybe there's an accident. It runs a series of checks and goes, that's not right," Jonny revealed.The duo finally got the classic BMW to run using its factory fuel system and old gas. It surprisingly ran well even though there was a noticeable misfire.Pete's daughter won't be keeping this 1983 BMW 628 CSi coupe. It's currently up for grabs. We recommend watching the video below for more information about the sale. Photo: Entop on YouTube Afghanistan is pretty well-known by now mostly because of widely reported military operations. Sadly, the country has been in the global news lately mainly because of various internal conflicts, questionable decision-making, and human rights violations. But someone decided to shift this negative international perception about it. At least for a while, that is.In this respect, an ambitious startup built a car concept from scratch. Called the Black Swan, this sleek two-door vehicle is meant to showcase that the Middle Eastern nation has what it takes to play with the worlds industry greats. But they have a couple of hurdles to overcome first because being a car manufacturer is not an easy thing to do. It requires a lot of planning, making sure regulations are respected, and various other bits and pieces that can amount to some costly expenses.But the concept exists! Its name is inspired by the tale of the first Dutch explorers who discovered that Australia has black swans something nobody would have even imagined as being possible in the 17th century. The founder says it represents Entop and Afghanistan because it easily addresses foreigners who believe everyone in his country is poor and needs humanitarian aid to survive. But, according to him, thats not the truth, and the concept vehicle should let everyone know that Afghanistan is a country that can nurture automotive success.So, to prove their worth internationally and to validate the founder and the teams patriotic and engineering ambitions, Entop wants to take the Black Swan to Le Mans. Thats where automakers go to show that their drivetrains can withstand working continuously under immense pressure for 24 hours. Its no easy feat to achieve. But given the fact that the Black Swan is powered by an engine taken out of a Toyota Corolla , they might pull it off. After all, the Japanese brand is well known for being reliable.However, Entop needs money to develop the rear-wheel drive Black Swan to match the FIAs requirements for Le Mans Hypercar specifications. The technical regulations are included in a 97-page manual, which means they have a lot of studying to do and the work ahead isnt going to be easy. Besides that, the barebone structure of the car isnt helping them a lot. The exterior might look very aerodynamic and aggressive, but cabin shots reveal not much has been done for safety. The vehicle still has a steel frame and no crumple zones or airbags.So, Entop decided to set up a PayPal account where supporters can donate to make the dream of taking the Black Swan to Le Mans a reality. But the companys leading figure remains confident and says his country is at the edge of science and technology and it is not talking, but giving a lecture, despite having the Black Swans feature depend on donations.Entop would like to participate in this years Le Mans, considering that Expo Doha Qatar is happening in October. That is arguably a little bit ambitious. The well-known endurance race happens in June.Finally, while shooting the video meant to attract the publics and potential investors attention, the driver managed to lose control of the concept car and crashed it. Fortunately, it was nothing serious. Photo: U.S. Space Force Naturally, people are not really at ease with fifth-generation fighter aircraft firing live missiles at real targets in the skies above their heads. The lack of factual information as to what is actually happening contributes to making some folks jittery. Some other, not necessarily related actions taken by various military branches serving U.S. needs dont help either.Over the weekend, the most recent military branch to be created, the U.S. Space Force, announced the launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as part of a test meant to show the countrys enemies that the United States nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable, and effective.The Minuteman is a land-based ICBM, meaning it takes off from ground-based facilities, and came about in the early 1960s, at a time when the first Cold War was inches close to degenerating into a very hot thermonuclear one. It was designed to launch from U.S. soil and carry nuclear warheads to distances going as far as 6,000 miles (9,600 km), and it's presently in the process of being replaced with the much fancier Sentinel system.Now, American forces routinely carry such ICBM tests, either detonating some non-nuclear warhead or just taking to the sky to test some new technology. Thats exactly what happened last weekend, when the Minuteman III was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, to test a new reentry vehicle.The missile left California and headed out to a distance of 4,200 miles (6,700 km), reaching the Marshall Islands. No exact details on the reentry vehicle being tested were provided, this being a military affair and all.Of course, the Space Force hints this firing of the ICBM is in no way related to the war waging in the skies above. As per its own estimates, Minutemen were fired over the years at least 300 times, each time to test something or to prove the nation's capabilities to potential foes.Yet, the timing couldnt be more right. China has been known to let surveillance balloons drift over the continental U.S. before. No exact numbers about the most recent incursions are known, but as a side note, during the Donald Trump administration, theyve been detected at least three times. Never before (to our knowledge, at least) did the U.S. actively take action against them until now.On its end, China points the finger the other way, saying on Monday that Americans sent their own balloons over the Asian country at least ten times since January 2022. The pop-ups, or flip-eye/hideaway headlights, as they are also known, are a long-departed automotive style feature that plays with the design of vehicles and the idea of concealing their main front lights when not in use. Some of the older ideas did not even involve pop-ups, though, and instead mostly relied on revolving parts of the radiator grilles styling.Alas, do not even think for a second that hidden headlamps appeared not long ago sometime during the arrival of the original Mazda MX-5 Miata, which is one of the most famous designs using the feature. Not at all, as instead, we can travel back in time many more decades ago, to the arrival of the Cord 810 model in late 1935 at the New York Auto Show, which was swiftly followed by a custom 1936 Alfa Romeo 8C.The powered hideaways were then premiered by GMs famous Buick Y-Job in 1938 and had to wait a while for the 1962 Lotus Elan to put the cool idea into production form. Since then, the popularity of the feature has risen and fallen just like todays social media hype around various socialites, but ultimately the demise of the style was mostly brought by legislation that does not favor them because of inherent pedestrian safety issues. Alas, that is never a problem across the imaginative realm of digital car content creators, of course.As such, I have recently encountered a string of thoughtful pop-up ideas from various pixel masters, and interestingly enough, they mostly favor JDM-flavored ideas, more than anything else. Not long ago, for example, the CGI work of Kit-Core, the virtual artist better known as _kit_core on social media, who loves to dabble with long-retired, iconic nameplates, also included the recreation of the Toyota 2000GT legend as a slammed widebody grand tourer with a visible V12.But of course, one of the coolest ideas I have ever encountered recently was from Germany-based virtual artist Andras Veres, better known as andras.s.veres on social media, who decided to imagine the next Miata as a retro-modern installment. Thus, his NE fifth iteration brought back the pop-ups for a sleek design and even subtly modified them to also satisfy that quirky trend where car headlamps were adorned with eyelashes! Well, sort of maybe its just the CGI angle that got me going on that path!Anyway, now I also want to bring to your attention a follow-up design idea from the automotive artist & designer better known as pistonzero across social media, who demonstrates his love for the little roadster in the best kind of CGI way and for the third time in a row. Now his favorite 1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata is not blue or pink but rather a stylish dark gray, and also comes with a fastback design to complement the thorough widebody attitude and utterly slammed atmosphere.Last, but certainly not least, we also have a couple of crazy digital ideas from Sean Demetros, the self-taught 3D virtual artist better known as demetr0s_designs on social media, who, for February, chose pop-up headlight conversions as his main theme. And already he has treated us to a quirky Toyota Supra Mk4 transformation along with an Infiniti G35 morphing the latter even has other nasty thoughts to the tune of a full carbon fiber CGI front end and fender flares! Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Richard E Grant said organisers of the Baftas know he is not going to roast fellow actors at the weekend. The 65-year-old actor known for parts in Gosford Park, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker and Downton Abbey will host the 76th annual film awards ceremony at the Southbank Centres Royal Festival Hall on Sunday. Grant said he was amazed to be in the company of comedians Stephen Fry, Graham Norton and Rebel Wilson, who have been hosts. Last year, Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids actress Wilson made risque jokes about the royal family, Vladimir Putin, the gender pay gap, her flop film Cats and her recent weight loss. Grant added: So I was surprisedand I thought because I was so unashamedly enthusiastic during the awards circuit four years ago, when I was nominated for (a Bafta). Rebel Wilson last year when she was host of the Baftas (Ian West/PA) Ian West (Bafta organisers) must know that Im going to be a celebratory person rather than somebody whos there to roast other actors so hopefully, thats (going to) work out, I dont know yet. He first rose to prominence by playing a hapless drunk actor in Withnail And I in 1987 and was nominated for a Bafta and an Oscar for his role in crime biography Can You Ever Forgive Me? in 2019. Following his award nod, he released a video of him jumping on a trampoline to social media. The comedy drama film is based on the true story of Lee Israels confessional autobiography of the same name about forging writers letters and sees Melissa McCarthy as Israel and Grant as Jack Hock, her accidental friend and accomplice. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content On the Baftas next weekend, Grant said he was such a fanboy of fellow thespians that he found it an incredible privilege to meet Bafta nominees. This year sees Netflixs anti-war epic All Quiet On The Western Front with 14 nominations while The Banshees Of Inisherin, starring Colin Farrell, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, featuring Michelle Yeoh, follow closely behind with 10 nominations each. Grant added that this time when he is at an awards ceremony, he will not be thinking are you going to win?, but that someone does not get slapped live on TV as the final four categories will be broadcast in real time for the first time in Baftas history. Last year, Will Smith apologised after he stormed the stage at the Oscars and slapped Chris Rock. He was banned from all Academy events for the next 10 years. Grants friend of more than 30 years, Steve Martin who he met when they filmed LA Story and previously hosted the Oscars, told him to be the best of yourself. When asked what kind of host he would be, Grant added: Im going to be singing like Billy Crystal, dancing like Fred Astaire, funnier than Bob Hope, more beautiful than Joanna LumleyI have no idea. Its very hard to see yourself on the outside. TV personality Alison Hammond, who presents ITVs This Morning with Dermot OLeary, is hosting Bafta Studio (Ian West/PA) Ian West TV personality Alison Hammond, who presents ITVs This Morning with Dermot OLeary, is hosting Bafta Studio an immersive and access-all-areas experience. She said her dream job has come true as her part of the BBC One show will be about the glitz and glamour behind the scenes and gossip. Hammond added: So its literally everything that you kind of want to see at an award ceremony that you never get to see, its a new concept, which I think everyones going to absolutely love. She also said: My challenge is to watch all of the films before the big night on the 19th. So that is a big challenge, but Im enjoying it. Im trying not to fall asleep in any of the movies but its hard, you know, when youve been working all day long. EE Bafta Film Awards will be broadcast on February 19 at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Police are appealing for anyone with footage of the incident to get in touch. Police have confirmed a 62-year-old man has died following a road traffic collision last month. Denis Kelly from the Enniskillen area passed away following the incident that occurred in the Augher area just over two weeks ago. Sergeant Green from the Collision Investigation Unit said: "The collision, which involved an Audi Q5 and a Scania lorry, occurred at around 8.40pm on Friday 27 January on the Knockmany Road in Augher. "Mr Kelly was taken to hospital following the collision, but has now sadly passed away. "We are asking witnesses or anyone who may have dash cam or have captured footage of the collision to get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference 1876 of 27/01/23. "Information can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. Police in west Belfast have advised that they are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of missing 23-year-old Rami Dounsi. Rami was last seen in the area of the Royal Victoria Hospital on the afternoon of Thursday. He was wearing black trousers, a black coat, brown shoes and a black beanie hat. Officers have asked that Rami or anyone with information on his whereabouts contact them via 101. Tribunal users here disadvantaged compared to GB, worries Law Centre Self-litigant Joan Corrigan has spoken about her experience of the tribunals system A number of women representing themselves within the employment tribunal process in Northern Ireland have highlighted serious failings that have left some of them traumatised and emotionally destroyed. The UKs former chief Brexit negotiator has urged the Government to fully and enthusiastically embrace the advantages of Brexit as he warned of a plot to undermine the agreement (Jonathan Brady/PA) Jonathan Brady The UKs former chief Brexit negotiator has urged the Government to fully and enthusiastically embrace the advantages of Brexit as he warned of a plot to undermine the agreement. Lord Frost referred to a secret cross-party gathering on foreign affairs, which was held at the Ditchley Park retreat in Oxfordshire last week, as a further piece of evidence that many in our political and business establishment want to unravel the deals we did to exit the EU in 2020 and to stay shadowing the EU instead. He told the Daily Mail: Thats why so many of those responsible for Theresa Mays failed backstop deal were there, while I and those who actually delivered the Brexit agreements were not. It was originally reported by The Observer that Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove who co-led the Vote Leave campaign in 2016 was in attendance for the discussions, alongside senior members of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmers shadow cabinet. The significance of the event has been played down by sources with knowledge of the meeting (Jonathan Brady/PA) Jonathan Brady Lord Frost continued: Brexit doesnt need fixing. It needs this Conservative Government, elected with a huge mandate on a Brexit programme, to fully and enthusiastically embrace its advantages instead of leaving the field to those who never wanted it in the first place. I and millions of others want the Government to get on with that instead of raising taxes, deterring investment and pushing public spending to its highest level for 70 years. The significance of the event was played down by sources with knowledge of the meeting. It is understood Mr Gove attended the meeting because he is a governor at Ditchley Park. He no longer has any involvement in setting Brexit policy in his role as Levelling Up Secretary. A Labour source said: This was a bog standard Ditchley Park conference. Their events are always cross-party. Another source familiar with the event said it was a quite dull conference on foreign affairs. The Prime Minister looked to swerve questions about the meeting, instead focusing on what the UK Government is doing to make the most of its post-Brexit freedoms. Rishi Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to Oldham on Monday that he wanted to drive growth in our economy by seizing the opportunities of Brexit, to do things differently. He added: It is not about the meeting Im talking about what the Government is doing, and thats making sure we capitalise on the benefits of Brexit. Lord Frosts comments come after the UK and the EU reiterated their commitment to finding joint solutions to differences around the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol. The protocol was agreed between the two parties in 2019 as a way to unlock the logjam over securing a Brexit withdrawal agreement. There is mounting speculation that a deal is finally on the cards to reduce the red tape on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A Palestinian man was killed and at least seven other people were injured during a shootout with Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Monday, Palestinian officials said (Adel Hana/AP) Adel Hana A Palestinian man was killed and at least seven other people were injured during a shootout with Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Monday, Palestinian officials said. It was the latest death in a surge of Israeli-Palestinian violence that shows no signs of slowing. The Israeli military said it carried out raids across the West Bank overnight, and that troops came under fire during the arrest of two men suspected of killing an Israeli soldier in October. A young man walks through the rubble of a building hit by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP) Adel Hana The army said the two wanted men were injured in a shootout with soldiers and apprehended. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Amir Bustami, 21, was killed in the Israeli army raid. It was not clear if he had been involved in the shootout. Tensions have mounted for months as Israel has carried out nightly arrest raids in the West Bank, which were prompted by a spate of Palestinian attacks on Israelis last spring. Some 30 people were killed in Israel by Palestinians in 2022, and at least 11 others in attacks so far in 2023. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed last year in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, making it the deadliest year in those areas since 2004, according to figures by the Israeli rights group BTselem. At least 46 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops since the start of this year. Israel says most of those killed have been militants but others including youths protesting over the raids and other people not involved in confrontations have also been killed. A worker clears debris at a damaged grocery shop in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP) Adel Hana Israel says the military raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks, while the Palestinians view them as further entrenchment of Israels open-ended, 55-year occupation. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Middle East war, territories the Palestinians claim for their hoped-for independent state. Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military said aircraft bombed a rocket manufacturing site and military installations in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants launched four rockets into southern Israel overnight. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Gaza-Israel frontier had been largely quiet in recent months, but there have been intermittent rocket fire and air strikes as tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem have soared. Syrian refugee Seba running art workshops in local schools A mother and child fleeing violence in the Syrian civil war AFP via Getty Images Seba has been living in Belfast for the past year Beyond Skin's Darren Ferguson with Seba and pupils Hanna Nuguse, Shahed Karmach, Winta Mehari and Arsema Tedros Seba (centre) and pupils Hanna Nuguse and Shahed Karmach show off their work A Syrian artist who fled to Belfast is teaching teens how to channel their creative side while she seeks asylum. Seba Barhoum (39), who has been in the city for the past 12 months, is one of many refugee artists and musicians who have been forging vibrant new relationships thanks to a ground-breaking programme funded by the Community Relations Council (CRC). The Musicians/Artists At Risk Resettlement Scheme (MARRS) was set up by the Beyond Skin arts initiative and the International Campaign for Afghanistans Musicians. After musicians from other countries made requests, Beyond Skin expanded the project, which offers support in creative pursuits, mental health activities and English classes, as well as giving asylum seekers the chance to meet people from other communities. Seba (centre) and pupils Hanna Nuguse and Shahed Karmach show off their work Back home in Syria, Seba was an art professor and a practising artist before the civil war struck. My family was dispersed to several countries because of the war. My parents went to Saudi Arabia, Im here in Belfast alone and I have a sister who lives with her husband in a city in England, she said. We left our country because of war, ignorance and oppression against women and preventing them from having a decent life. We fled for fear of being robbed of our dignity and freedom. After escaping Syria, Seba lived in Greek Cyprus for four years, but it was a difficult time because she faced racism and humiliation. Now, for 12 months, Ive lived in Belfast. I dont feel alone, nor a refugee, nor have I received any bad treatment, she said. On the contrary, I feel that I belong to this place for a long time, and people made me feel like I belong as a citizen. Beyond Skin CEO Darren Ferguson said the group was focused on providing support to musicians and artists coming to our shores, many of whom have to live in hotels. Beyond Skin's Darren Ferguson with Seba and pupils Hanna Nuguse, Shahed Karmach, Winta Mehari and Arsema Tedros The organisation developed projects to help asylum seeks forge connections with local creatives and with other minority communities. One scheme saw refugee musicians spending an evening with the Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band, sharing pizzas, playing instruments and talking about music. It was a great opportunity for people to meet others coming to our shores, meet them face-to-face and get people together to collaborate, Darren said. Through this programme, people seeking asylum are integrating really fast because theyre meeting different communities and getting out of the Home Office-controlled accommodation and meeting people. That integration just doesnt happen if youre not meeting people. Were trying to make sure that in that room are people from local communities and from the settled ethnic minority communities meeting people who are seeking asylum and doing something creative together. Its the way it needs to go to deal with peoples fears and stereotypes. Seba was living in a hotel in Belfast for around four months before moving into a shared house. She had been unable to teach and was not recognised as an artist. Seba Barhoum with Shahed Karmach (left) and Winta Mehari Her link with Beyond Skin came about through joining the MARRS Guitar Club. We had a wonderful moment when Seba visited Start Together Studios, where we had a professional recording session happening, Darren said. During a break, and despite Seba knowing only one chord on the guitar, we gave her a chance to be recorded professionally. The producer and engineer treated her no differently than any professional musician. They set up microphones and sound and recorded her playing along to other musicians using one chord. For me that is the essence of our work: the message that no matter your abilities or social status, you are special. Since being supported by MARRS, Seba has started teaching art through community and school workshops. During the most recent one, she led a workshop at the Integrated College Glengormley, working with the Welcome Club, a group set up by the school for children seeking asylum. Darren said: It has been a huge confidence boost and good for her mental health. She was able to leave the refugee label at the door. Seba is delighted to have an outlet for her talents again. Im practising all my hobbies , and with great appreciation from the people here. Belfast has made me feel alive. I am grateful for everything that has made me move forward towards a free, dignified life, she said. I thank the people and I thank God for the opportunity he gave me to come here. Seba has been living in Belfast for the past year MARRS is making a massive difference to many lives, enabling professional musicians and artists to develop their skills, which helps their mental health and the process of integration, said Darren. He added: On the flipside, from settled communities lenses, it is helping people to recognise people seeking sanctuary by their gifts and skills not identified by their refugee status while also using the arts as an inclusive platform for shared learning, creative exchange, trust and relationship building. The CRCs Community Relations/Cultural Diversity Small Grants Scheme provides support to community and voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland to help develop their capacity to engage in community relations work and support the Executives commitment to building a more united society. For more information, visit www.community-relations.org.uk ***** Seba's fears for sisters after deadly quake WHILE Seba is rebuilding her life in Belfast, she was left shocked by the huge earthquake that devastated parts of Syria. Two of her sisters are now being housed in a temporary shelter in the war-torn city of Aleppo, which was among the worst affected areas in the natural disaster, which also brought chaos to parts of southern Turkey. Seba called on people to pray for her family and donate to emergency aid appeals. She said: The fear, pain and grief continue after the earthquake stops because Syria is facing a lot of difficulties to rescue victims underground and help survivors above ground due to a shortage of medicines, the high cost of basic goods and the scarcity of electricity, fuel and shelter in harsh winter weather. The situation is made worse by the international sanctions impacting the weak and vulnerable Syrian people, who suffer a lot and are still struggling for life but cling on by hope and faith. A mother and child fleeing violence in the Syrian civil war AFP via Getty Images Some of the painful earthquake stories that I have heard include people making a choice between staying at home for fear of the bitter cold outside and going out to escape the earthquake. Others preferred to stay and die under the rubble because they believed [they would die] anyway from hunger or cold. Poverty, injustice, illness and despair fills their hearts. One girl had a leg amputated in an operation carried out under the rubble so that the rescue team could get her out. One parent wanted to put his dead child in his arms near a fireplace to warm him up before burying him because his child dreamed of feeling warmth. The families that survived are facing a new struggle in search of shelter, food and clothing because they have lost [what little] they had before the earthquake and are waiting for their fate gathered in mosques, churches and schools. Many children have become orphans. The fate of the missing remains unknown. I still have people to grieve for and worry about, including my family members two of my sisters are in the city of Aleppo, relatives friends and everyone else. Even if I dont know them, they are human like me. They need any kind of help, no matter what. Pray for them. We are silent when pain and sadness overwhelm us and unable to say much in [the face of] death. Arthur Strong / Wikipedia Commons While C.S. Lewis died comparatively young a week before his 65th birthday, he left behind enough words to fill two lifetimes. He published over 40 books, including classics like Mere Christianity and the Chronicles of Narnia. After his death, between 20 and 30 books of new material (letters, poems, essays) were published, including God in the Dock and Letters to Malcolm. With the recent C.S. Lewis biopic The Most Reluctant Convert out on DVD and streaming platforms and plans for two more movies about Lewis, its a good time to revisit Lewis work. Here are some of his many thought-provoking words about faith, some things you probably didnt know about his life, and a few things other people have said about him. C.S. Lewis Quotes About God 1. The place for which He designs them in His scheme of things is the place they are made for. When they reach it their nature is fulfilled and their happiness attained: a broken bone in the universe has been set, the anguish is over. "The Problem of Pain" 2. For it is a dreadful truth that the state of (as you say) having to depend on God is what we all dread most. And of course that just shows how very much, how almost exclusively, we have been depending on things. "Letters to an American Lady" 3. To be God to be like God and to share His goodness in creaturely response to be miserable these are the only three alternatives. If we will not learn to eat the only food the universe grows the only food that any possible universe can ever grow then we must starve eternally. "The Problem of Pain" 4. But there is a difficulty about disagreeing with God. He is the source from which all your reasoning power comes: you could not be right and He wrong any more than a stream can rise higher than its own source. When you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all: it is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on. "Mere Christianity" 5. if it shall please God that I write more books, blessed be He. If it shall please him not, blessed be He. "The Latin Letters of C.S. Lewis" C.S. Lewis Quotes About Christianity 1. I couldnt believe that ninety-nine religions were completely false and the remaining one true. In reality, Christianity is primarily the fulfillment of the Jewish religion, but also the fulfilment of what was vaguely hinted in all the religions at their best. What was vaguely seen in them all comes into focus in Christianity just as God himself comes into focus by becoming a man. "The Grand Miracle" 2. Christianity really does two things about conditions here and now in this world: (1) It tries to make them as good as possibly, i.e., to reform them; but also (2) It fortifies you against them so far as they remain bad. "God in the Dock" 3. All people, whether Christian or not, must be prepared to live a life of discomfort. It is impossible to accept Christianity for the sake of finding comfort: but the Christian tries to lay himself open to the will of God, to do what God wants him to do. "God in the Dock" 4. I hope no reader will suppose that mere Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communionsas if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms When you have reached your own room be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. "Mere Christianity" 5. Of course we have been taught what to do with sufferingoffer it in Christ to God as our little, little share of Christs sufferingbut it is so hard to do. "Letters to An American Lady" C.S. Lewis Quotes About Being Human 1. These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear things about ourselves and the universe we live in. "Mere Christianity" 2. It is the law of the natural universe that no being can exist on its own resources. Everyone, everything is hopelessly indebted to everyone and everything else. "The Grand Miracle" 3. no natural feelings are high or low, holy or unholy, in themselves. They are all holy when Gods hand is on the rein. They all go bad when they set up on their own and make themselves into false gods. a character in "The Great Divorce" 4. For change is not progress unless the core remains unchanged. A small oak grows into big oak: if it became a beech, that would not be growth, but mere change. "The Grand Miracle" 5. You dont know in advance whether God is going to set you to do something difficult or painful, or something that you will quite like; and some people of heroic mold are disappointed when the job doled out to them turns out to be something quite nice. But you must be prepared for the unpleasant things and the discomforts. "God in the Dock" C.S. Lewis Quotes About Apologetics 16 We are to defend Christianity itselfthe faith preached by the Apostles, attested by the Martyrs, embodied in the Creeds, expounded by the Fathers. This must be clearly distinguished from the whole of what any one us may think about God and man When we mention our personal opinions we must always make quite clear the difference between them and the faith itself. "The Grand Miracle" 17 We must attack the enemys line of communication. What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects with their Christianity latent. You can see this most easily if you look at it the other way round. Our faith is not likely to be shaken by any book on Hinduism. But if whenever we read an elementary book on Geology, Botany, Politics, or Astronomy, we found that its implications were Hindu, that would shake us. "The Grand Miracle" 18 I have come to the conclusion that if you cannot translate your thoughts into uneducated language, then your thoughts were confused. Power to translate is the test of having really understood ones own meaning. A passage from some theological work for translation into the vernacular ought to be a compulsory paper in every ordination examination. "The Grand Miracle" 19 When I began, Christianity came before the great mass of my unbelieving fellow-countrymen either in the highly emotional form offered by revivalists or in the unintelligible language of highly cultured clergymen. Most men were reached by neither. My task was therefore simply that of a translator one turning Christian doctrine, or what he believed to be such, into the vernacular, into language that unscholarly people would attend to and could understand. "God in the Dock" 20 It is absolutely disgraceful that we expect missionaries to the Bantus to learn Bantu but never ask whether our missionaries to the Americans or English can speak American or English. Any fool can write learned language. The vernacular is the real test. If you cant write your faith into it, then either you dont understand it or you dont believe it. "God in the Dock" 10 Things You Didn't Know About C.S. Lewis 1. He wrote poetry. Lewis hoped in his twenties that he would become known as a poet and published two books of poetry. Spirits in Bondage is a series of poems he wrote while serving in World War I, making him a minor member of the war poets movement. Dymer is a book-long epic about authoritarianism, adventure, and magic. Ultimately, Lewis put away his hope of becoming a well-known published poet, although he kept writing poetry and routinely criticized modernist poet T.S. Eliot. Late in his life, Lewis befriended Eliot when they were both on a committee to revise the Church of England Psalter. 2. He was a great academic. Readers discovering Lewis many books for the first time may not realize that Lewis wrote them while working full-time at Oxford University, teaching subjects like philosophy and medieval literature. Lewis released several important academic books, including English Literature in the Sixteenth Century Excluding Drama. 3. He didnt mind friends disagreeing with him. Lewis had many lifelong friendshipsparticularly with his brother Warren, also known as Warnie. An interesting feature of his many friendships (with fellow academics like J.R.R. Tolkien, with college friends like Owen Barfield, with fellow writers like Charles Williams) was that he didnt mind friends disagreeing with him. He relished a good debate where friends who respected each other could give opposing views, pushing each other to think better. 4. He wrote with a pen. Given how many books Lewis wrote (and the many sermons and lectures he gave over the years), youd think he used a typewriter to get words out as fast as possible. In fact, Lewis wrote with a nib pen, which requires routinely putting the pen in an inkwell. Writing with a pen slowed him down, but scholars like Devin Brown have noted it gave Lewis time to think carefully about what he was communicating. 5. He wasnt stuffy. Lewis was unquestionably a smart man who read very widely, yet he never became fussy or snobbish. In The Fellowship, Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski describe Lewis conversation with Oxford student Alaister Fowler on what is lifes greatest pleasure? After considering classic options like great art and mystical ecstasy, Lewis said the answer was finding a bathroom after a long country walk. 6. He wrote science fiction. Most readers familiar with Lewis fiction know the Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters. Fewer readers know about the Space Trilogy, three science fiction books Lewis wrote in the 1930s-1940s that involve space travel, paranormal servants of God (and darker forces), and scientists trying to change humanity or earth into something more mechanical. 7. His faith hurt his career. Although Lewis had a substantial academic career at Oxford, he neither received a professorship. Warnie and Tolkien both mention surprising animosity when Lewis was up for promotionsWarren remembered someone saying he couldnt recommend the author of The Screwtape Letters for a professorship. Scholars like Philip and Carol Zaleski explain the issue was that Oxford academics were expected to stick with their academic specialty. Lewis broke that rule with his radio talks, speeches, and books about Christianity. Ultimately, Cambridge offered a professorship to Lewis, which he accepted in 1954. 8. He gained a wife and children later in life. Although he never had children, Lewis entered a civil union with Joy Davidman, a divorced American writer with two sons, in 1956. What began as a civil union so Davidman could maintain residency in England led to a romance, and they were married by an Anglican priest in 1957. Their surprising marriage story (and Davidmans 1960 death from cancer) was dramatized in the film Shadowlands. Lewis stepson Douglas plays an important part in promoting Lewis legacy, including co-producing Disneys three Narnia movies. 9. He died the same day as two other famous people. Lewis passed away on November 22, 1963, less than an hour before John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas. Aldous Huxley also passed away that day. Peter Kreeft used this interesting fact as the basis for Between Heaven and Hell, which imagines the three men meeting after death and talking about their views before being called into the final judgment room. 10. He wasnt the only writer in the Lewis family. Lewis father, Albert, wrote several stories which werent published during his lifetime; one was recently published in the CS Lewis academic publication Sehnsucht. Warnie made a lifetime career out of the British Army, but after retiring, he wrote several books on 17th-century France. What Other People Say About C.S. Lewis 1. He was for long my only audience. Only from him did I ever get the idea that my stuff could be more than a private hobby. But for his interest and unceasing eagerness for more I should never have brought The [Lord of the Rings] to a conclusion. J.R.R. Tolkien, in "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien" 2. And that was Lewiss genius: his ability to take the vast and sometimes complicated claims of Christianity, boil them down and express them in a way that nearly everyone can understand--whether theyre driven to their knees by them or not. Eric Metaxas, Breakpoint column 3. Jack (C.S. Lewis) was a man whose extraordinary scholarship and intellectual ability isolated him from much of mankind. There were few people among his peers who could match him in debate or discussion, and those who could almost inevitably found themselves drawn to one another in a small, tight-knit group which became known as The Inklings, and which has let us with a legacy of literature. Douglas Greshams introduction to "A Grief Observed" 4. The question asked of Aslan could also be asked of a book like The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Is it safe? A fairy tale about talking animals and witchcraft? Written by a pipe-smoking, beer-drinking Oxford don who hints at all sorts of peculiar doctrine in books like The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce? Is it safe? Of course it isnt. But you know as well as I do that its good. In fact, some of its goodness derives from the fact that Lewis was not in the least concerned with writing a safe book. Safe isnt a word we associate with greatness, any more than we do with God. J. Mark Bertrand, quoted in a speech by Simon Morden 5. But Lewis is magnificently ruthless with the people who do set out to produce what purports to be a logical argument and then fake the premises, or beg the question, or leave their middles undistributed, or use ambivalent terms, or smuggle the concept of time into an argument about eternity, or ignorantly confuse efficient causes with final causes and attribute the resulting absurdity to St. Thomas. He is down on the thing like a rat; he is Gods terrier and I wouldnt be without him for the world. Dorothy L. Sayers, 1947 letter to Brother George Every, quoted in Dorothy and Jack Lightstock.com High school can be challenging for many students as they face changes in life, emotions, and friendships. School isnt always a place of encouragement and peace. Do you remember what it felt like to be in high school? Did those years fill you with dread, anxiety, excitement, or a mix of the three? For modern teenagers, high school and college are chaotic times with ups and downs. With after-school commitments and higher academic demands mixed with social media and the drama these environments and years bring, todays teens seem to cope with more than previous generations. Sometimes, prayer can be awkward and uncomfortable for teenagers. However, James 5:16 reminds us that the prayers of a righteous person are effective and powerful. With this in mind, here are some prayers for your high school student that will keep them encouraged and hopeful. A prayer for alleviating anxiety. Dear Lord, my studies come with anxiety and jitters. Im worried about my classes. Im anxious about my homework, if my clothes are good enough, and who Ill sit with at lunch. I wonder if my friends have my best interests at heart, just everything. Please help me keep Philippians 4:6-7 in my heart, which says we shouldnt be anxious about anything. Lord, help me successfully cope with high school anxieties and let me maneuver around without getting lost. Please remind me to be conscious of your presence and overcome my fears and anxiousness. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. A prayer for friendship. Dear Precious Lord, Proverbs 13:20 reminds us to walk with the intelligent, and we will become intelligent because a friend of fools will suffer. I pray that my friendships and those that havent been made yet are positive. I pray that my friends lead me away from harm or sin and instead lead me to righteousness. I also ask that You help me be the best friend I can be. Please help me be there for my friends when they need my help, pick them up when theyre down, and be a positive force in their lives. If I have a friend that starts making bad decisions or going down the wrong path, give me the nerve to talk to them about it. Help me show them the decisions theyre making can affect their future. Also, if I stray from the path You made for me, let one of my friends show me the error of my ways. God, I thank you for my friends and pray that You continue to bring me good ones. Amen. A prayer for balance. Dear God, you know how busy the school year can be. With clubs, classes, homework, family, sports, work, and everything in between, my plate can sometimes seem so full. Please help me prioritize my schedule and keep me from feeling overwhelmed. Help me recognize when I need to stop any activity taking up too much of my time or affecting me negatively. Please allow me to make time for You, knowing that You come first. Please, God, help me to strike a balance. In Jesus name, amen. A prayer to continue honoring God. Dear Lord, some of my peers participate in many things that arent good for them. Alcohol, drugs, sex, sexting, partying, being ugly online and gossiping have become the norm. At times, the pull I have to engage in these sinful activities is also powerful. Sometimes, I feel like Im missing out on an experience that Ill never get back. Still, in my heart, I know Im only missing out on sin, which always brings negative consequences. God, please help me ward off temptation whenever it rears its ugly head. Please give me the power to rise above what people around me are doing and the strength to say no. Allow me to see the fruit in making positive choices in my life and following You. Keep me near today and always. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. A prayer to light the darkness. Dear God, it feels like many of my peers, including myself, deal with so much pain. Obsession with social media, anxiety, depression, trying to fit in, overscheduling, broken families, parents marital problems, and financial issues are some of the issues attacking my generation. Despite this, God, I know Youre in control and that Your ways are better than mine. God, I pray to be a light amongst the darkness. Some people at my school are hostile to religion or dont know You. I ask that You help me recognize opportunities to show Your truth and love. Please help me know when to keep quiet, wait, and speak up. Let people see You shine through me and make a path for them to follow. In Jesus name, amen. A prayer for guidance after high school. Dear Precious Father, the pressure to know what I want to do after graduation seems more real now that Im in high school. What should I do? Go to a tech school, college, the military or go straight to work? How am I supposed to know what to do when Im unsure what my interests are? Everything seems confusing, but 1 Corinthian 14:33 says that You are the author of confusion. Please help me consider Proverbs 3:5-6, which reminds me that I should trust in You with all my heart and not lean on my understanding, but acknowledge You in all ways so You can direct my path. I pray that You continue controlling my way, so Ill know what to choose as high school goes on. Please lead me to specific opportunities, experiences, and jobs that will give me an idea about my future. Help me gain the skills and knowledge I need to lead me to the good works You have for me. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. The high school years are some of the most challenging youll face as you transition into pre-adulthood. However, your high schooler can face anything if they keep God first. Your high schooler will be fine if they only seek Him for guidance instead of outside guidance. Shutterstock.com Hearing changes are expected as you get older. However, like going gray, the changes rarely happen instantly. Imagine someones first silver strands showing in a specific light. The beginning of age-related hearing issues can be just as subtle. Can you repeat that? Huh? If youre having more issues hearing what someone is saying than before, you may have early hearing loss. Its a widespread issue, with age-related loss affecting half of the people over 65. Younger people can also experience hearing loss caused by machines at work or loud music. You can treat some types of hearing loss, but most require timely medical attention. Its essential to pay attention to the early signs. People with untreated hearing loss are more likely to feel isolated, suffer depression, and have memory issues. Here are some signs of hearing loss that you shouldnt ignore. Sudden hearing loss in one ear. The majority of hearing loss is steady. However, if you suddenly go deaf in one ear or over a few days, it may be time to call your doctor. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an inner ear condition that affects close to 66,000 Americans each year. Doctors must treat this condition within 10 to 14 days before permanent hearing loss. Some will notice a pop sound, and then the sound disappears. Others will wake up hearing nothing in one ear. You may also experience steady diminishing hearing over a day or two. If you notice these signs, you should immediately speak with your doctor. Balance issues. If you notice that youre becoming clumsier, experience vertigo, or have issues with your ability to balance, the reason may be your ears. Balance and hearing are connected to mechanisms within our inner ears. A Johns Hopkins University study found that people with hearing loss are more likely to experience falls than people without hearing loss. Your physician should evaluate these symptoms to establish whether hearing correction, like with hearing aids, is necessary. Your ears start ringing. Tinnitus is defined as ringing or other noises in your ears, like buzzing, clicking, roaring, or hissing. Tinnitus can signify numerous conditions like heart disease, thyroid problems, or ear infections. However, one of its leading causes is noise-induced hearing loss. Its typically the initial sign for older people that their hearing ability is fading. If you experience tinnitus, it may be time to talk to your doctor about getting your hearing tested. Experiencing pain with specific sounds. Another sign of hearing loss is hearing other sounds more intensely to the point of feeling pain. As your hearing fades overall, you might start feeling more sensitive to specific sounds in one or both ears. This pain is a symptom of a condition called hyperacusis. The sounds youre vulnerable to might create physical discomfort or seem excessively loud. Its linked to hearing loss of the inner ear by exposure to loud noise. If these symptoms persist, it may be best to consult a hearing professional to see if you suffer from hearing loss and what treatments may be available. Problems hearing in groups. If youre talking with one person in a quiet, peaceful environment, you might not experience any trouble with your hearing. However, if youre trying to talk with a group of people in a louder location, like a party or restaurant, you may realize you have issues grasping what people are saying. This common issue is sometimes called hidden hearing loss because it may not be found in typical hearing tests. However, it might be a precursor to hearing loss. Frequent use of closed captioning. Do you find yourself increasing the TV volume higher than others in your household? Are you disgruntled by how many characters on TV mumble? Have you started using closed captioning more frequently? If you answered yes to any of these questions, these might indicate your hearing loss. The human voice falls within the range of high-frequency tones often affected by hearing loss. Having trouble with hearing the television is a sign for you to contact your doctor. Becoming more forgetful. Are you getting appointment times mixed up or picking up the wrong thing for your spouse at the grocery store? Sometimes, what looks like forgetfulness can be because of hearing loss, making you miss important information. Researchers have found that hearing loss can cause cognitive issues. Our brains need auditory stimulation to function correctly, or we risk developing Alzheimers disease and other dementias. This is another reason its vital to address hearing problems early and get hearing aids when necessary. Hearing aids dont make you old; they keep you mentally connected and engaged with the people around you. Retreating from conversations. Another early hearing loss sign is listening fatigue. You might get tired after a day of listening to customers or a night of trying to understand dinner party discussions, so much so that you start avoiding talking in groups. You may also feel that its harder to comprehend what people are saying, and youre scared that youll make an awkward comment or ask a dumb question. So you withdraw from conversations completely. This withdrawn nature is a sign that you need to find an audiologist and take an assessment. You watch lips instead of making eye contact. When one sense doesnt work correctly, the brain tries to overcompensate with another sense, in this case, eyesight. Imagine the shape of someones lisp when they say p or f. You can see the sounds even though you cant hear them. This may cause you to move your eyes from making eye contact to watching the speakers lips instead. Hearing loss is a common thing that people experience. However, it can be easy to catch it early on, so there arent any lasting effects. If you find yourself having trouble hearing, now is the time to talk to your doctor or an audiologist. You dont want to wait too long because the damage may already be done. An audiologist can help diagnose your issues and create a plan moving forward. Popularity of Chinese vehicles increases around the globe 08:25, February 13, 2023 By LI FUSHENG ( China Daily Vehicles at Taicang Port in Jiangsu province are ready to be exported to Europe in January. [PHOTO by JI HAIXIN/FOR CHINA DAILY] Growing international demand for local electric car models sees export numbers surge Chinese carmakers are seeing their popularity rise in overseas markets, which may push the country's vehicle exports to a new high this year following a surge in 2022. Last year, carmakers exported 3.11 million vehicles, up 54.4 percent year-on-year, ranking China second only to Japan, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. This momentum has continued into 2023. Data from Great Wall Motors, China's largest SUV and pickup truck maker, revealed on Wednesday that it had sold 15,998 vehicles overseas in January, up 25.47 percent year-on-year. They accounted for more than a quarter of its total deliveries in the month. The carmaker said it will speed up its global campaign, with Europe and Southeast Asia as its newly emerging markets. Narong Sritalayon, a sales executive of Great Wall Motors Thailand, said the carmaker is planning to launch four new energy vehicle models in the country in 2023. Last year, it sold 173,180 vehicles in overseas markets, up 21.28 percent year-on-year. The carmaker said its accumulative overseas sales have exceeded 1 million units. Warren Buffet-backed BYD exported 10,409 vehicles last month, up 57.8 percent year-on-year. Its Atto 3 SUV seized the lion's share of almost 9,000 units, said the carmaker. BYD launched three models in September 2022 in Europe, with the Atto 3 being one of them. About a month later, car rental company Sixt inked a deal with BYD to purchase 100,000 vehicles over six years. Voyah, a premium NEV arm of State-owned Dongfeng Motor, said it started deliveries of its SUVs to Norway, its first overseas market, in January. In the same month, it made inroads into Israel, with deliveries expected to start in March. Voyah said it will launch its models in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark this year. Those European countries are also the first markets for other Chinese brands including Xpeng and Nio. China FAW Group's Hongqi marque, which is available in western Europe, expects its overseas sales to make up more than 10 percent of its total sales in 2025, and the figure will rise to 25 percent in 2030. Fu Yuwu, honorary president of the China Society of Automotive Engineers, said, "Their sales may not be big in Europe now, but their very presence there is proof of their competitive edge." Chinese NEV carmakers are wowing overseas customers with models that "surpass their wildest dreams", which may see their positions rise on the global stage, according to a McKinsey report released in late 2022. China's commercial NEVs are popular in overseas markets as well. In December 2022, Farizon Auto, an arm of Geely, received an order for 1,000 SuperVANs from Admiral Mobility in the United Arab Emirates. It was the largest order for electric commercial vehicles in the Persian Gulf. The two companies also said they would jointly bring a total of 5,000 new energy commercial vehicles to the Gulf region in three years. Farizon said it will launch its best-selling light truck Xingzhi H9E in Israel this year and explore other major international markets. The vehicle maker is also working on the development of right-hand drive models to explore a wider global market, aiming to become China's No 1 exporter of commercial NEVs by 2027. It said the Xingzhi H9E will enter right-hand drive markets in the second half of this year. SAIC Maxus, whose products are available in 73 countries and regions, said it is launching several NEVs in its major overseas markets this year, including Europe, the Middle East and South America. It already has electric models in international markets. Among others, the EV 30 and the EV 90 vans were best-sellers in their respective segments in Spain and Norway in 2022. Zhang Yongwei, vice-president of China EV 100, an automotive think tank, said NEV exports are expected to reach 800,000 units this year, up from 679,000 vehicles in 2022. Earlier this year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers estimated that exports from China may grow at least 20 percent year-on-year to 3.73 million units. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presents flowers to Md. Shahabuddin after nominating him as the Awami Leagues candidate for the post of Bangladesh president, at Ganobhaban in Dhaka, Feb. 12, 2023. A Sheikh Hasina loyalist has been declared as Bangladeshs next president as the country heads toward an election where the official is expected to play a more prominent role following the dissolution of parliament. Bangladeshs president, a largely ceremonial role, is usually elected by parliament, but that step was skipped because only one candidate was nominated for the post by the ruling Awami League. Md. Shahabuddin, 73, will become president in late April when the current presidents term ends. The appointment of the little-known, retired judicial officer was seen as a surprise, as he was not one of a dozen or so names widely discussed as likely picks for the post. But one analyst sees him as a strategic pick ahead of elections expected in late December or early January 2024. Parliament is generally dissolved three months prior to election day. None of the leaders whose names were discussed in the mainstream media and the social media had complete docility to Hasina, the prime minister, and her party, said Nizam Uddin Ahmed, a political commentator and a professor of public administration at Chittagong University. A big factor for picking a loyal person like Md. Shahabuddin is the probable impending political unrest over holding the next general elections under a non-party caretaker government as demanded by the opposition BNP, he told BenarNews. He was referring to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and other opposition parties demand for a so-called neutral government in the lead-up to and during the election to ensure the polls are held fairly. The Hasina government has not given in to that demand. In such political chaos, the prime minister must need the support of the president. The president can facilitate political dialogue between parties, Ahmed said. In our system, the presidents role is ceremonial. But [even] a minimal criticism by the president in the public domain would trouble her government. Ahmed recalled Hasinas 1996-2001 tenure as PM when she appointed the non-partisan former Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed (no relation to Md. Shahabuddin) as president. The former chief justice often openly criticized Hasinas government, putting the prime minister in an uncomfortable position, Ahmed said. At one stage, the relations between the government and the president became bitter. She knows the trouble a ceremonial president can cause to the government, Ahmed said. He criticized the prime minister for picking the president without consulting lawmakers who would usually elect the president in the legislature. The Awami League parliamentary party met. But the party secretary did not allow any MP to talk about the presidential candidate. He told the meeting that all MPs have the trust of the prime minister to pick the presidential candidate and the MPs shouted yes, Ahmed said. This is not a democratic procedure. I think the prime minister could have discussed the candidates name with the MPs. Criticism of World Bank Ram Dulal Bhowmick, a long-time resident of Pabna, from where the presumptive president hails, spoke of Md. Shahabuddins loyalty to the ruling Awami League. After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman [on Aug. 15, 1975], he was jailed for three years for his allegiance to Awami League politics, Bhowmick told BenarNews. The 73-year-old had been jailed for opposing the government that formed after Hasinas father, Mujib, was assassinated. Mujib led the movement which brought Bangladeshs independence and served as its first head of government. Bhowmick also spoke of Md. Shahabuddins criticism of the World Bank, with regard to a huge infrastructure project, the Padma Bridge. I think, one of the factors that earned him the nomination [as president] is his handling of the World Bank charge of corruption in the Padma Bridge project as a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Commission, Bhowmick said. Md. Shahabuddin had rejected claims of widespread corruption that caused the World Bank to withdraw funding for the bridge project a decade ago. Bangladesh built the $3.6 billion bridge anyway, and it was launched in mid-2022 with much fanfare, giving more than 30 million people in southwestern Bangladesh a way other than ferry to access the rest of the country. But that success has been somewhat eclipsed by economic woes that have led the IMF to extend a $4.7 billion loan to keep the country afloat. Updated at 9 a.m. ET on 2023-02-13 The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday accused China of performing dangerous maneuvers and pointing a laser at one of its ships, causing temporary blindness to the crew. Japan meanwhile said on Sunday a Chinese Navy ship intruded into its territorial waters for the first time since December. Territorial waters are the sea areas that lie within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of a countrys coast. BenarNews reported on Feb. 7 on the harassment of the BRP Malapascua by China Coast Guard (CCG) ship 5205 inside the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ) a day earlier. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has now confirmed the incident, saying that the Malapascua at that time was supporting a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea. The West Philippine Sea is the name usually used by the Philippines for the part of the South China Sea within the nations EEZ, where it holds exclusive rights to natural resources. Military-grade laser The PCG, in a statement sent to BenarNews, said that the CCG vessel 5205 on Feb. 6 directed a military-grade laser light twice at the Philippine ship, causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge. The Chinese vessel also made dangerous maneuvers by approaching about 150 yards (137 meters) from the vessels starboard quarter, the statement said. This is a step up in Chinas aggression against the Philippine maritime forces because it involves the use of a directed energy weapon that induces effects on the target, said Jay Batongbacal, a maritime law analyst at the University of the Philippines. Such action should be considered a threat of use of force or acts of aggression contrary to the U.N. Charter and the Philippines would be well within its rights to take measures to protect its ships and aircraft from such aggressive acts, Batongbacal said The BRP Malapascua was just 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) from the Second Thomas Shoal when it was harassed by the Chinese ship and had to alter its course to continue its deployment. The BRP Sierra Madre is grounded on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly islands in the South China Sea, March 29, 2014. [Reuters/Erik De Castro] The Philippine ship was on a mission to deliver food and supplies to the troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, an old naval ship deliberately run aground on the shoal to serve as a military post since 1999. Another resupply mission in August 2022 by a different ship, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, was also obstructed by the Chinese Coast Guard, together with the Chinese maritime militia, according to the PCG statement. The deliberate blocking of the Philippine government ships to deliver food and supplies to our military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights in this part of the West Philippine Sea, it said. The PCG sent out two photos showing a green light being beamed from an alleged Chinese vessel. As far as I can recall, these are the first images available to the public that prove such behavior by the Chinese maritime forces at sea, said Collin Koh, a Singapore-based military analyst. Regional authorities need to persistently gather such evidence and publicize them routinely to create international awareness, Koh said. Jay Batongbacal from the University of the Philippines, meanwhile, said that in his opinion all nations should agree that the employment of such means against government vessels peacefully undertaking maritime activities within their own jurisdictions should be considered as unprovoked and hostile acts that merit a corresponding and calibrated response. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the Philippine Coast Guard trespassed on Beijings territory on Feb. 6. The Chinese Coast Guard ships safeguard Chinas sovereignty and maritime order in accordance with Chinas domestic laws and international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the on-site operations are professional and restrained, spokesman Wang Wenbin said. While not mentioning the use of a laser, the spokesman said he hoped the Philippine side will earnestly respect Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. Military grade lasers are harmful and can cause blindness if shone into a persons eyes. Pointing a laser at someone can also have a psychological impact, as laser targeting often happens right before a firing of live munitions. This is not the first time China has been accused of pointing laser lights at foreign aircraft and vessels. A year ago, on Feb. 17, 2022, Australia said a Chinese navy ship pointed a laser at one of its surveillance airplanes in the Arafura Sea within Australias EEZ. In February 2020, a Chinese military warship apparently trained a laser on a U.S. Navy P-8 surveillance aircraft while it was flying over the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese government denied the accusation, saying the P-8 was flying too low near its warships despite warnings. Japans security concerns In another development, Japan accused China of encroaching upon its sovereignty, causing security concerns. On February 12, it was confirmed that a Chinese Navy Shupang-class survey ship sailed through Japans territorial waters near Yakushima Island, the Japanese Defense Ministry said. The Chinese ship was spotted at around 12:50 a.m. Sunday south of the island of Yakushima. It entered Japan's territorial waters southwest of the island at around 2:30 a.m. and sailed there for about an hour and 40 minutes, the ministry said. On Sunday, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. concluded his four-day official visit to Japan. Marcos told Philippine media that he was open to the idea of a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Japan as long as the deal is appropriate" and does not increase tensions in the South China Sea. Before that, the president said Manila will consider a proposed trilateral defense and security deal with the United States and Japan. Meanwhile, armed forces spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar condemned the recent harassment, noting that this was the first time that the Chinese Coast Guard used a laser device against a Filipino ship. The secretary of national defense has already declared or said that the act committed by the coast guard of China is offensive and unsafe, Aguilar said. Therefore, I think it is time for the Chinese government to restrain its forces so it does not commit any provocative act that will endanger lives of people. Aguilar appealed to both nations to de-escalate the tension. Opposition Philippine Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday called on the government to meet with fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries as well as members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) to address the continued Chinese harassment. The Chinese government, if it wants to show true leadership of the region, should act responsibly and restrain any behavior by its coast guard, navy, and maritime militia that might further inflame the situation in the West Philippine Sea, she told reporters. Tensions are already high, but what is China doing instead? She is only getting more brazen by the day. Her shameless harassment, causing temporary blindness to Filipino crew members, should warrant a penalty, she said. Story has been updated to include a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry and Philippine officials. Jojo Rinoza in Manila and Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, contributed to this report. Members of Migrante International, an organization that monitors the condition of Philippine workers abroad, protest in front of the Department of Migrant Workers in Mandaluyong city in Metro Manila, Jan. 31, 2023. Eight Filipinos trafficked to Myanmar and forced to work in alleged Chinese mafia-run cryptocurrency scams were rescued and brought home on Monday, Philippine officials said. Their return came a month after opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros claimed a Chinese gang involved in illegal gambling and cryptocurrency scams has made Filipinos the main targets of human trafficking syndicates. The four men and four women arrived at Manilas international airport at dawn where they were assisted by Eduardo Jose de Vega, an undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The department reminded Filipinos to be cautious of spurious jobs offered through social media and avoid falling victim to illegal recruitment and human trafficking schemes. It is vital to pass through the legal deployment processes in the Philippines and arrive in their countries of destination not as tourists but with actual working visas, the department said in a statement. Chinese criminals operating cryptocurrency scams in Southeast Asia wanted Filipinos to work for them because their English language computer skills were good, de Vega told Agence France-Press news agency. He told the news agency 50 to 70 Filipinos are believed to be working for Chinese scammers operating in Myanmar, while 50 are working for scams in both Cambodia and Laos. At least 119 had returned to the Philippines since last year, he said. The men who returned Monday had been recruited online in Dubai to supposedly work as customer support representatives in Thailand. From Thailand, however, they were taken to Myanmar and forced to trick individuals into investing in cryptocurrency, according to the foreign affairs department. The women were arrested by Myanmar authorities after they allegedly illegally entered the country through the Myanmar-Thai Friendship Bridge which is to be used only by Thai and citizens. The legal entry points for Filipinos or other nationalities are through Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw airports. The women also were tapped to work for cryptocurrency schemes apparently run by a Chinese mafia, according to officials. About a month ago, Hontiveros had said that Chinese mafia involved in illegal gambling and cryptocurrency scams were responsible for the rampant human trafficking crimes in Myanmar. The senator said she has helped several Filipinos leave Myanmar. These fraud factories are part of a disturbing industry that has to be dismantled, Hontiveros said. The senators office said one woman, who was rescued last month, said she was trafficked to Cambodia where she was promised a job at a call center. The office documented the victims plight, which included working 16 hours a day, seven days a week. The woman, who was not named, said she saw fellow Filipino colleagues tortured by their bosses. Hontiveros office determined other victims had been transported to Myanmar. The report of abuses against Filipino migrant workers in Myanmar came weeks after a Filipina maid was found dead in a Kuwaiti desert, her body partly burned. About a tenth of the Philippines population roughly 10 million live and work abroad, making the country one of Asias largest labor exporting countries. Most are employed as domestic helpers or as seafarers, and many are undocumented, exposing them to dangerous work conditions. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. 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. John McClaughry is vice president of the Ethan Allen Institute. He served as vice chair of the Senate Education committee, and in 1990 authored the expansion of tuitioning to grades one to six in independent schools that S.66 would repeal. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. 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. PITTSFIELD The Bel Air Dam was built in 1832 to power a Pittsfield mill. The mill is long gone. But the dam remains slowly failing, posing an increasing threat. The dam has shown substantial and significant deterioration in the last two years. Four years ago, engineers with the state Office of Dam Safety deemed its condition unsafe. Quote It wouldn't be terribly deep, but with enough mud and silt to shut a lot of the center of the city down. Theres a lot of potential energy there and a potential catastrophe waiting to happen. Pittsfield Fire Chief Thomas Sammons, who also is the citys Emergency Management Director. For well over a decade, city and state officials have been in a race against the forces of time and nature to secure or remove the Wahconah Street dam before it fails and devastates a swath of the city. Amid years of legal wrangling, its condition went from bad to worse, leaving a struggling neighborhood at risk. A dam break could compromise the regions major hospital which is in the inundation zone, should floodwaters break loose. During an April 2022 inspection, engineers found the dams stone masonry bulging since the previous inspection in 2020. The footbridge has collapsed, and thats just one of at least 17 problems with the dam, which sits astride the West Branch of the Housatonic River. The state considers Bel Air a high-hazard dam. This means that when water levels held back by the levels are high, a failure may cause loss of life and substantial damage to downstream buildings, roadways, and other infrastructure, according to a November 2022 status summary of the dam by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation of which the Office of Dam Safety is a part. Given these hazards to people and property which in this case includes Berkshire Medical Center the city and state have prioritized the dam for action and federal and state funding. While as a high hazard dam it has to be inspected every two years, engineers recommend six-month follow-up inspections and a monitoring of the stone masonry and concrete walls. They also suggest fencing and signs to keep people away from it. Always in my mind The Bel Air Dam is one of 38 high hazard dams in Berkshire County and the only one of those whose condition the state says is unsafe. After an abandoned dam in Hinsdale one the state was unaware of caused major property damage after a sudden violent break in October, The Eagle requested the states inventory of high hazard dams and their conditions. For more than a decade in Pittsfield, residents in this low-income neighborhood downstream from the Bel Air Dam have fretted about it. Evacuation Street List From the 2017 Emergency Action Plan for the Bel Air Dam. This list comes from the 2008 version. Plinn Street, Alcove Street, Pontoosuc Avenue, Wahconah Street, Linden Street, Columbus Avenue and West Street Walking around it from the downstream bank, its not hard to see why. The stone masonry is straining, and water seeps through. Various reports about the dam also say that it does not receive regular maintenance other than some mowing of an area around it as well as the occasional removal of debris. The year 2007 was a turning point. That was when the state and the city began putting their heads together about the dam. At some point soon after that, engineers worked to remove some of the water pressure, according to city officials. It was that year that the dam went from being a significant hazard to a high hazard, according to state documents. Long before that, the dams owner said he couldnt afford to fix or remove it and walked away. Also in 2007, the DCR sent a final warning to Joseph Barrett Barry Hollister. Hollister, who died in 2021, continued to ignore the agencys notices about the danger posed by the dam. The DCR would later sue him for not fixing it. Hollister owed more than $500,000 in unpaid taxes on the entire property, which includes a former mill building that burned. Now the city is working to take it or even just the dam so it can be removed. Dealing with the problem could cost as much as $22 million. Jean Kubica has lived most of her life not far downstream. Her home on Bel Air Avenue, and the nearby Polish Falcons Club, are in the direct path of what she learned years ago would be flash flooding if the dam failed. Over the years, the river has twice risen high enough to prompt a neighborhood evacuation. This is one neighborhood City Hall is concerned about as an environmental justice problem given that it is flood-prone and that its residents struggle with poverty. Were always talking about the dam, because as it goes, you can see the different holes where the water is coming out, Kubica said. Its always in my mind. Wahconah Street businesses are also at risk. BP Autobody Supply would be the first hit, should the dam break. The warehouse-style building sits just downstream. The riverbank below the dam is sometimes a place where people without homes set up camp. Several people lived here until the weather turned cold, said Shane Durley, an employee. Durley said the owner of the building, who bought it in October, was told by the seller the city and state were working to address the dam. But some in the area are unaware. I didnt even know, said Eddie Patel, who bought Harrys Supermarket with his brother, Nick Patel, about a year ago. Ive never heard about it. A potential catastrophe The Emergency Action Plan for the dam updated in 2017 is 114 pages. It contains flow charts of public safety agencies and officials to call and what to do, including sample emergency messages telling people in the area to move to high ground. It also has a dam break analysis with inundation mapping that includes models of what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates would be the timing of the flood wave at locations downstream of the dam. The structure is 1.5 miles north and northwest of downtown. It wouldnt be terribly deep, but with enough mud and silt to shut a lot of the center of the city down, said Fire Chief Thomas Sammons, who is the citys emergency management director. Theres a lot of potential energy there and a potential catastrophe waiting to happen. Sammons said an evacuation plan would likely involve the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other state responders. Residents would be notified by the Code Red reverse 911 system, social media, TV and radio, he said. The structure is part of the states Abandoned Dams Program, a new initiative by the DCR that will help fund a removal. The state has taken the lead on addressing the dam, along with help from the city, said James McGrath, the citys park, open space and natural resource program manager. Hundreds of emails about the dam, obtained from City Hall by The Eagle through a public records request show, that McGrath and others in the city and state have been relentless in pursuing funding and other options to get the dam under control. Mayor Linda Tyer praised their work. She said the dam is one of the citys major hazards. There are other challenges in other parts of our city, but this is the one that, if [the dam] failed completely, it could cause the greatest damage, Tyer said. A liability Tyer and McGrath said a new round of pandemic relief money, combined with other proposed state and federal funding, looks promising. But there are a few problems. The rivers PCB contamination is a complication, raising the pricetag of solutions. Levels of chromium and arsenic also are high. McGrath flips open a report and points to a number hes highlighted 53,708 tons. Thats the weight of sediment that will have to be removed and hauled out of state for special disposal due to the contamination. That alone will cost nearly $5 million. Compare that with the 8,000 tons of sediment hauled from the citys Tel-Electric Dam, which was removed in 2019 for safety, contamination and ecological reasons. While that entire removal project cost just north of $4 million, McGrath says it shows whats possible, even when the city cant afford to foot the bill. And even when it takes 20 years to make it happen as it did in that case. We will do whatever we can in the absence of providing capital for this project everything we can within reason using state resources to get this removed, McGrath said. He points out that like all the dams scattered throughout the Berkshires and beyond, the Bel Air Dam powered the mills and the economy into the 1920s. It was once a valuable asset, McGrath said. Now its a liability. Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. A portion of the 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return form is shown July 24, 2018, in New York. One of my favorite lines in The Princess Bride is when Inigo Montoya informs the villain, Vizzini, that his use of inconceivable is not correct. You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means. Its a popular quote, and since 2008 has been a popular meme on the internet to point out when somebody is using a word often, but incorrectly. I wish I had that meme about twenty years ago when I was listening to a rant from a fellow pastor. He was upset that people had the audacity to call something a sin, even though that action is pretty clearly condemned in Scripture. What was his justification? Titus 1:15. To the pure all things are pure His argument was that if somebody was saved, thus pure, then no matter what they did it would be pure. I had to inform him, You keep using that verse, but I do not think it means what you think it means But what does Titus 1:15-16 mean? "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. What Is the Context of Titus 1:15-16? In the beginning of Titus, Paul tells his young protege that when he plants churches, it is important that he quickly establish elders. He then outlines the character traits of these elders, also noting that he must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught. The reason why you must hold firm to gospel truth is so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. But why must he be involved in contradicting those who oppose the truth? Verses 10-16 answers that question. There are those who are empty talkers and deceivers. These are upsetting whole families and as such Titus (and those he trains) must rebuke them sharply. The purpose is so that they will be sound in the faith and not devoting to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. Then, we have verses 15-16. That little statement to the pure all things are pure is there to be set in apposition to Pauls main point, to the defiled, unbelieving, nothing is pure They are able to corrupt anything. Verse 16 further outlines the character of those who defiled and unbelieving. Then in Titus 2, Paul turns back again to Titus (and those Titus will train) and says, But as for you In contrast to the defiled and unbelieving, this then is how you are supposed to live. So the context, then, is an exposition of those who are defiled and unbelieving. That little statement to the pure all things are pure is a maxim that is used to highlight the corruption of their opponents. It is likely connected with what we read in verse 14 about Jewish myths and commands. These false teachers are likely using elements of the law to enslave their hearers, but they are doing so in order to pad their wallets. Its not hard to envision a Jewish flavored Gnosticism which claimed to hold the keys to truth, and in order to have access to God one must follow their rituals. But what does it mean to the pure all things are pure? What Does to the Pure All Things Are Pure Mean? This phrase to the pure all things are pure is one that is often ripped from its context. This is likely a proverbial saying that was used by Paul to make his larger point about the false teachers who defile whatever they touch. If I wanted to tell you how scrawny and insignificant a sparrow is, I might do this by comparing it to a majestic eagle. To do this I might say something like this, The eagle, our majestic national bird, demands attention, but sparrows are scrawny, insignificant, and easily cast aside. Hundreds of them barely garner your attention when the flit about your yard. What is that paragraph about? Is the main point the majesty of the eagle? No. The eagle is only there as a foil to talk about my main point scrawny little sparrows. The same thing is happening here in Titus 1:15-16. Pauls main point isnt to say, to the pure all things are pure. Thats simply a tried-and-true maxim, something that everyone would agree with, in order to highlight his major point whatever these dudes touch gets defiled. They can pervert anything. Even the law. What, then, does it mean to be pure or corrupted? What Does It Mean to Be "Pure" or "Corrupted"? The use of the word pure here is interesting. Paul typically would use the word righteous when comparing those in-Christ with those who are not in-Christ. But he says pure here likely in contrast to his opponents who are hanging on Jewish myths to scare people. I think Yarbrough explains it well: In Titus 1:14, however, he spoke of Jewish myths and specious regulations. Informing such tales and scruples would be hoary tradition grounded in the Torah about matters clean and unclean, the same word group Paul uses in v. 15 to refer to the pure. It may be the Jewish framework of the discussion that inclines him to refer to people in this way, a usage otherwise absent from his writings. What Paul is saying here is very similar to what Jesus said in Luke 11:41 and Mark 7:15. But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. And in Mark, There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. Paul has said something similar in Romans 14:20: Do not for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. To be pure, then means to be connected with Jesus. It is to believe in sound doctrine and to hold fast to the truth. Guthrie is correct, A pure mind cannot be contaminated by physical contact, and the purest minds will have no relish in seeking unnecessary defilement. The corrupted are those who are in and of themselves unclean. They are not connected to Christ and therefore not able to be holy or pure. That which comes out of them, the impurity, is what is defiling them. They are corrupted because they have tampered with the gospel. As such, everything they touch becomes defiled. A pure person, then, is able to partake of any morally neutral item or event and infuse it with their inner purity. All food is clean. But to the corrupted, they will make anything impure. Pauls point is to show the utter wickedness and defilement of those who are trampling on the gospel. Is It True That "to the Pure, All Things Are Pure"? This saying only goes as far as the proverb is supposed to take it. To use this to say that someone is able to engage in something that is morally impure and not be defiled is to misuse this verse. It is talking about that which is morally neutral. Purity begets purity. How foolish would it be to take this verse and argue that a believer can engage in pornography with purity? That is most certainly not what Paul is saying and that would be more in line with those who are corrupted in this text. Pauls focus here is upon those things which are permitted by Scripture but forbidden by the false teachers. They are binding the conscience of believers and attempting to make a profit off their fear. But the gospel has freed us up; we dont have to live in that fear anymore. The false teachers message will not hold sway over anyone who has drank of the freedom given in Jesus. And those who have enjoyed the purity and freedom of Christ will not thirst for a drink from a carnal stream. What Does This Verse Mean for Us Today? This verse means that you are either free in Jesus, or you do not have freedom at all. It doesnt mean that because the believer has the Holy Spirit, he or she can engage in sinful activity and somehow make it pure. There is also a subtle warning in this passage. What happens if I engage something that is morally pure? Do I enjoy them as good gifts from God and partake of them with thankfulness in my heart? Does this morally neutral thing or action have a spark of purity because of my engagement with it, or does it seem to be dirty with me having touched it? If a person is taking things which are morally neutral and corrupting them with crass joking or ingratitude, or if they are used to further pride and self-satisfaction, then it might be an indicator that I do not have purity of heart. Sources Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, ed. D. A. Carson, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2018), 500. Donald Guthrie, Pastoral Epistles: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 14, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1990), 210. Photo credit: Getty Images/Carolyn Ann Ryan Flanders named the International Regional Partner at BioAsia 2023 Government of Telangana is partnering with Flanders in Belgium, to explore multiple opportunities in the Life Sciences sector aimed at vaccines and mRNA technological platforms, immunotherapy, university partnership and Cluster-to-Cluster collaborations. Currently, the Flanders Life Scienes industry comprises of over 350 companies employing over 20,000 people including indirect jobs. The region has attracted in the Life Sciences & Pharma segment more than a quarter of the total record investment of $5.56 billion in 2022 into Flanders from across the globe. The total estimated Life Sciences business in Belgium is estimated around $44 billion. Clusters in Flanders like FlanderBIO, VIB, would engage with the identified clusters in Hyderabad, including Genome Valley, Medtech Park in Telangana, to help companies explore market access, technology partnerships, joint venture opportunities, etc. The Government of Telangana intends to establish an Institute of Curative Medicine in Hyderabad that aims to develop and commercialize the latest age-appropriate therapies for diseases prevalent in this region. As the first step of this partnership, Flanders will be participating as International Region Partners for the next 3 editions of BioAsia starting with the forthcoming 20th edition of BioAsia the marquee healthcare and life sciences event, organised by the Government of Telangana. A task force with members including industry, academia and government from both sides have been formed and the group will discuss and implement the partnership. BioAsia in Telangana and Knowledge for Growth in Flanders shall be the two anchor events on either side in which both ecosystems shall participate in these events to steer the Flanders Telangana Lifesciences Cooperation in the next 3 to 4 years. ChatGPT has recently been generating a lot of buzz in South Africa. Several publications have reported that the chatbot is being hailed as a revolutionary development in AI technology. OpenAl introduced its chatbot, known as ChatGPT, in November 2022. It is fine-tuned with supervised and reinforcement learning techniques and built on top of OpenAI's GPT-3 family of big language models. After reading this post, you will gain a deeper understanding of ChatGPT South Africa and how to use it. What exactly is the ChatGPT? OpenAl is responsible for developing the extensive language model known as ChatGPT. It is a subtype of the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) model, a deep learning model trained on a substantial quantity of text data obtained from the internet. The purpose of ChatGPT is to produce text that appears to be written by a human, which may then be put to use in a range of natural language processing tasks, such as the translation of languages, the summarisation of text, and the production of conversations. Because ChatGPT is taught using a diverse collection of texts, including books, papers, and websites, it possesses a broad knowledge of various subjects. As a result, it is an effective instrument for providing answers to inquiries and generating text. By training it on a more limited dataset specific to the work or industry in question, ChatGPT can be fine-tuned to perform exceptionally well in those particular endeavours or businesses. By going through this process of fine-tuning, ChatGPT can generate content that is both more accurate and more pertinent to the particular endeavour or sector. ChatGPT is a machine-based model that generates text based on the data it was trained on, so it is vital to remember that, even though it was trained on a large amount of data, it is not infallible and may not always provide accurate or appropriate responses. It is essential to keep this in mind. Where can I find more information about ChatGPT in South Africa? You must sign up for an API key with OpenAl to use ChatGPT in South Africa. The following is a list of the general stages involved in signing up: To get started, visit the OpenAl website and set up your account there. After you have made an account, you will be required to validate your email address before you can access your account. After successfully logging in, click on the API part of your account. Choose the ChatGPT API, and then generate a brand new API key. Once you have your API key, you can access the ChatGPT model using the OpenAI API by providing it when prompted. You may use the API key to send queries to the ChatGPT model and receive generated text responses by communicating with the model. It is crucial to note that usage limits and prices may be associated with utilising the ChatGPT API. As a result, it is necessary to ensure that the pricing and usage policies on the OpenAl website are thoroughly reviewed. It is crucial to remember that to integrate the model into your application successfully, and you may require some programming knowledge or the assistance of a developer. ChatGPT Plus is now available in South Africa, according to an announcement made by OpenAI. Beginning in February, the business made the initial announcement regarding its ChatGPT Plus subscription service. Access was initially restricted to those in the United States who had already demonstrated interest in joining the waitlist. OpenAI announced on the website of ChatGPT that users would receive the following features in an announcement posted there: Access to the entire ChatGPT platform, even during peak hours. Faster response times Access ahead of schedule to newly developed features and upgraded components ChatGPT uses Stripe as its payment mechanism, and the cost of a monthly subscription will be the same for subscribers in South Africa as it is in the United States: $20 (R358). To sign up, you will need a credit or debit card. In January, OpenAI began testing a ChatGPT subscription plan as an experiment. Certain users were allowed to sign up for ChatGPT Pro at $42 per month during this time. According to OpenAI, "our goal is to continue improving and maintaining the service," and monetisation is one of the ways they are contemplating to assure the service's long-term survival. "We adore our free users and will continue to make ChatGPT available without charging a fee." Through the provision of these subscription pricing options, we can contribute to the maintenance of free access for the most significant number of users possible. Soon after Microsoft demonstrated the integration between OpenAI's language model and its Bing search engine, ChatGPT Plus was released in South Africa. This took place not long after the demonstration. Microsoft has announced that it will adopt version 3.5 of OpenAI's generative pre-trained transformer (GPT-3.5) to improve the search results it provides. This update has been given the moniker "new Bing." In addition to providing text responses to questions, this includes utilising the language model to improve Bing's fundamental search algorithm. According to Microsoft, "[this] resulted in the highest leap in relevance in the past two decades." Even the most fundamental search queries can achieve greater precision and relevance with the help of an AI model. The new version of Bing is not yet accessible to the general public, and on the front page of the search engine, Microsoft only provides a selection of pre-defined questions for users to test out. Those interested in putting the new capability to the test can put their names on a waitlist. by Burak Akinci ANKARA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Natural disasters usually work to unite people to put aside political differences, and it's been the case for the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkiye and Syria. The catastrophe may also have an impact on international relations. Countries at odds with Turkiye and Syria have rallied in solidarity with the two quake-hit countries, sending batches of aid and rescue teams. However, it's unclear whether this dynamic will continue when the disaster has passed or whether new understandings and bridges will be established, experts said. Over 9,800 rescue personnel from 70 countries have rushed to southeastern Turkiye jolted on Feb. 6 by two powerful earthquakes that have killed 31,643 and wounded over 80,000, according to the latest official toll announced on Monday. This is the worst natural disaster that Turkiye has witnessed. An earthquake in eastern Turkiye in 1939 killed 30,000. Some countries stick out on the long list more than others, such as Greece, Armenia and Cyprus, despite having had difficult or tense relations with Ankara over decades. However, all of these old rivals have set aside their animosity and given helping hands at a time of disaster. "Natural disasters are indeed brief moments of conciliation in bilateral disputes. In the case of Turkiye and Greece they are both earthquake-prone countries and have come to the aid of one another many times, allowing for reconciliation," Batu Coskun, an independent political risk analyst, told Xinhua. "Usually when the crisis subsides, bilateral tensions reassert themselves, though with less severity," he pointed out. Earthquakes that struck both Turkiye and Greece in 1999 gave rise to "earthquake diplomacy" and improved previously tense ties between the two nations. Before tensions reemerged, the post-quake mood persisted for a few years. Ankara and Athens have decades-old feuds and have repeatedly come to the brink of war. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived on Sunday for a visit to Turkiye's disaster-struck Adana province, where he was warmly greeted by his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu who praised Greek relief efforts. "We do not need to wait for natural disasters to improve our relations," Dendias was quoted as saying by the local press. Turkiye has not had diplomatic or commercial ties with Armenia since the 1990s. The two countries also reconnected for the first time in decades in the wake of the earthquakes. A border gate between the two countries has been opened for the first time in more than three decades to allow aid for victims of the devastating earthquakes in southern Turkiye, according to the semi-official Anadolu Agency. "The land border with Armenia being opened is a significant milestone. Likely, this event will become a major motivator for both countries to normalize relations and exchange ambassadors," Coskun said. He added that in the post-crisis period when foreign policy again becomes a priority for the government after disaster relief, "we will see the impact of this." Israel has also sent aid to Turkiye. The two countries have improved their relations recently after over a decade of discord. Tulin Daloglu, a journalist and foreign policy analyst, said that Turkiye should take lessons from this tragedy and try to move to a softer line in foreign policy towards some countries it has problems with. She specifically mentioned Sweden, whose NATO membership bid has met with objections from Ankara over security issues. "Yet, Sweden immediately rushed to assist Turkiye in the aftermath of the disaster", Daloglu said, adding that such an event can change the way a country is seen by the public opinion of the host country. Food business Danone Southern Africa has appointed Herve Orama Barrere as its new managing director, effective as of 1 January 2023. Herve Orama Barrere, new Danone Southern Africa MD. Danone, which is the biggest producer of yoghurt in the country, said that during the 17 years that it has been operating in South Africa, consumer preference for its products "has propelled Danone to the number one position in the market". Barrere will be responsible for the continued success and growth of Danone Southern Africa and its full brand portfolio including NutriDay, Ultra Mel, Yogi Sip, Inkomazi, DanUp and more recently Alpro, a plant-based portfolio. Building brands in Africa Barrere brings with him a wealth of operational and leadership expertise, having led the Danone Nigeria business as the managing director in 2017, as well as in Algeria in 2019. During his time with Danone previously, he established solid retail foundations for a more sustainable and profitable business for the Early Life Nutrition and Essential Dairy Products categories across the African regions assigned to him. According to Danone, Barrere is no stranger to business on the African continent, with rich insights, experience and on-the-ground knowledge of building brands in Africa having worked across the Congos and Central Africa regions. We believe that his expertise across African markets as a strategic and skilled managing director, both within Danone and through his previous roles, is sure to continue driving and building a sustainable and successful business for Danone both in Southern Africa and across the African region, says Kid Nkantsu, operations director at Danone Southern Africa. Barrere commented, At Danone, we believe in a sustainable business model where profit and planet are interconnected. In 2023 we will aim to reinforce our market position and continue to bring health to more South Africans, through food. Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, gave a keynote speech at the recent Transforming Education in Africa Summit in which she called on changemakers in South Africa and across the continent to step forward for the Africa Education Medal 2023. Professor Phakeng was the winner of last year's inaugural Africa Education Medal, founded by T4 Education and HP in collaboration with Microsoft. Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. Image supplied The Africa Education Medal recognises the tireless work of those who are transforming education across the continent to celebrate the stories of those who have lit the spark of change so others will be inspired to take up the torch. It is given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education. In the decades leading up to the pandemic, Africa had been making great strides in boosting school enrolment. To protect and expand upon these vital gains in the wake of Covid, teachers, NGOs, politicians, tech entrepreneurs, and figures from the public and private sectors, will need to work together to build a future where every child in Africa can achieve the quality education that is their birthright. The Africa Education Medal recognises the tireless work of those who are transforming education across the continent to celebrate the stories of those who have lit the spark of change so others will be inspired to take up the torch. Transforming education in Africa Applications for the Africa Education Medal 2023 opened at the Transforming Education in Africa Summit, co-hosted by T4 Education, Teach For All and HP. The summit brought together educators, NGOs, politicians, tech entrepreneurs, and leading figures in African education to discuss how education can be harnessed to unlock Africas potential. Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said: It was the greatest honour to be recognised for my life's passion. Winning the Africa Education Medal 2022 gave me a global platform to advocate for that work and I hope it has inspired others across our continent to further the cause of African education. If it is your passion too, if you want to see an Africa in which every childs potential is fulfilled, and you are working every day to make that vision a reality, then I urge you to step forward for the Africa Education Medal 2023. Changemakers from South Africa and across our continent should apply. Ertug Ayik, managing director Middle East and Africa at HP, said: A good education empowers not just individuals, but entire communities. Being accessible to everyone education can skill the next generation so that children can develop and grow in a world being transformed by technology. HP has a bold goal to enable better learning outcomes for 150 million people globally by 2030. Only by joining forces between NGOs, government, educators and businesses can we truly improve the education environment. The Africa Education Medal brings together all those who are changing the face of African education, whose tireless work deserves to be celebrated. Vikas Pota, the Kenyan-born founder and CEO of T4 Education, said: Education is the key to Africas future. It will help African countries grow and prosper. In the wake of the pandemic, African education stands at a crossroads, but if leaders from across the continent come together then they can build the lasting change needed to truly unlock the continents potential. The Africa Education Medal is a rallying cry for changemakers to come forward and be counted. The Africa Education Medal is open to individuals working to improve pre-kindergarten, K-12, vocational and university education who are one of the following: Educators and school administrators Civil society leaders Public servants and government officials Political leaders Technologists and innovators Nominees must demonstrate their contribution in any of the following key areas in education: Significantly improving learning outcomes Promoting girls education Promoting equity and broadening access to education Advancing pedagogical or technological innovation Building and strengthening educator capacity Catalysing civic participation in education Championing the rights of education stakeholders The Top 10 finalists for the Africa Education Medal will be announced in May and the winner will be announced in July. Nominees will be assessed by a Jury comprising prominent individuals based on rigorous criteria. Nominations and applications can be made online at http://www.africaeducationmedal.org/ Nominations and applications will close on 13 April 2023. A business delegation comprising 16 South African agro-processing companies, including the South African Fruit and Vegetables Canners Export Council (SAFVEC), will showcase their products at the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 20-24 February 2023. Source: KamranAydinov via Freepik The companies participation has been funded by the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme. The scheme aims to develop export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country. Gulfood is regarded as the largest food and beverage trade exhibition in the Middle East. It attracts a large number of participants from the Middle East and the world at large. Gulfood 2023 will showcase food and beverage products from around the world. South Africa will participate in the Fine Food Pavilion, which will be showcasing agro-processing products and services, as well as in the beverages hall. The Middle East continues to experience a population growth, translating into increasing opportunities for the agro-processing sector, with a market demand of $3t. According to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Fikile Majola, South Africas participation is expected to positively influence export sales from the South African agri-food industry, food retail and value-added agro-processing products. In 2020, export sales generated by the South African companies at Gulfood were worth more than R221m. The show is expected to expose South African companies to available opportunities in the UAE, as well as creating awareness for South African products in the Middle East in general. South Africas participation in the Dubai Expo 2020, which was part of our efforts to revive the economy and create opportunities for inclusive growth, paved a way for more trade opportunities like the Gulfood, which offers a follow-through opportunity for South African firms, Majola said. The UAE remains the main destination for South African goods, as reflected by consistent increase of exports. Over the past 10 years, SAs exports to the UAE grew by 20.87% to reach R33.73bn in 2021, from R8.50bn in 2012. Since audio is the fastest-growing medium in the world, it is important that we celebrate World Radio Day on 13 February. Consumers are hungry for audio content that is available wherever they are, whether its on the radio, podcast, or streaming services. The growth of audio is expected to continue, as technology and consumer behaviour continues to evolve. At the forefront of this audacious audio movement stands radio, leading the charge and pushing boundaries like never before! Radio has revolutionised the way we consume audio content, soaring to new heights and shaking up the status quo. Its a bold and thrilling time for the audio medium, with new and exciting possibilities on the horizon. Here are five key reasons why radio is still such a trusted medium among advertisers and consumers alike: 1. Radio is more relevant than ever While the debate about the future of traditional media rages on, radio has in recent years solidified its place as more relevant than ever having been a wide-reaching, trusted and immediate companion in times of instability. Did you know that radio is ranked as the medium with the second-highest reach among South African adults? Radio has been bolstered by new technology, rather than challenged by it, in my view. The different characteristics of live radio and on-demand audio mean that they are each suited to different need-states and play complementary roles in the listeners life. 2. Radio is adaptable Radio has evolved to offer both the listener and the advertiser integrated solutions through multiple touch points allowing the best of audio and visual content opportunities. Essentially, radio Radio allows brands and businesses to showcase their products to attentive and relevant target markets. On-air campaigns are complemented with online efforts, extending reach into the digital space. Through technological advancement, we can deliver on demand content wherever and whenever listeners want it. Radios flexibility and the rapid turnaround time of the medium also enables brands to quickly adapt and air a spot. 3. Radio helps increase the efficiency of media plans Simply put, audio campaigns work. Research shows that audio generates five times more brand awareness, and brand relevance is three times more likely with the use of audio. Adding audio into the mix helps improve the efficiency of a media plan, which is why audio is often referred to as the multiplier medium. To put these uplifts into perspective, Nielsen has done analysis highlighting that radios share of total media spend among advertisers in a typical year is around 8%. This clearly demonstrates how efficiently radio works as part of a wider media mix, driving uplifts of between 24-50% (depending on the measure) using only around 8% of the budget. 4. Radio adds significant value to the marketing mix Radio has a unique campaign multiplier effect in the media mix, resulting in a 15% growth in spontaneous awareness when added into the marketing mix. Egta research shows that radio boost purchase consideration by a whopping 70%, it also boosts ad recall by 33%. Radio also goes further than just being a mass medium that can deliver your message to lots of people. Targeting the right consumers at the right time is key to the success of an ad campaign. Radio can provide efficient segmenting based on geographical location, demographics, the time of the day and week and the listening context. 5. Radio is meaningfully measurable Using our various research tools and platforms at Mediamark, we are able to unpack our audiences in more detail to allow clients the opportunity to create campaigns that resonate with listeners. By utilising first party data we can communicate directly with our listeners, to gauge audience sentiment and understand how they behave in specific categories. Digital Audio, a natural extension of FM offers all the data points advertisers are looking for. With access to millions of listeners across various platforms we can create customised research solutions advertisers, in order for them to convey the right message at the right time in the most manner. This World Radio Day we celebrate that radio remains a constant and a much-loved medium, with the statistics to back it up. On World Radio Day this year, the media content agency Newskoop recognises and celebrates the important role of all radio stations and especially the role of community radio in South Africa. With close to 300 stations across the country, community radio is relevant and thriving. These stations remain key to building and informing communities, from big cities to some of the most remote parts of the country. Research shows that listeners listen to stations for news as a top factor and by providing quality, reliable news to radio stations, communities are being educated with information that is all-important to them on a daily basis. World Radio Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the vital role of the medium in our country. South Africans are still tuning in to their favourite stations, whether it is through terrestrial radio or streaming from an app. Newskoop has created more than 157,000 minutes of radio content over five years, serving more than 60 community stations across the country. We work tirelessly to provide these stations with the best content and news that will keep their community informed and entertained. We believe this helps stations to attract and retain listeners, said Newskoop managing director, Kim du Plessis. Community stations often face financial challenges as it can be harder for smaller stations to secure continued advertising. These stations often raise funds by asking their loyal listeners to donate to their station and then pay their expenses from donor funds. We are often amazed at how these smaller stations manage to operate so successfully with such limited resources. We have asked some of the best minds in Public Relations, Marketing and Media to address the stations interested in attending our first radio masterclass as we believe this will be an opportunity for stations to learn and grow in these areas in 2023, said du Plessis. Newskoop will be hosting the free online workshop for all radio stations on Friday, 17 March 2023 at 10am. A link will be sent to your station once you RSVP using the link below. Newskoop online masterclass Date & Time: Fri 17 March 10-11am Where: Online Cost: Free RSVP: https://forms.gle/MiFBdYb5XSDT377y5 Newskoop is a media content agency that sources, creates and produces content for radio. We cover all international, national, provincial and community news. Content produced includes news, finance, and sport produced in both English and Afrikaans, with a selection of content in IsiXhosa. The content produced comes in various formats from written content with audio clips to podcast style shows including our newly launched pre-recorded bulletins. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster on Thursday, 9 February, to fight a paralysing power crisis that in recent months has included daily rolling power cuts. What does this mean and how might it resolve a crisis that has been years in the making? Source: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko What is a national state of disaster? The president has the power under the 2002 National Disaster Management Act to declare a crisis a National State of Disaster if existing legislation cannot adequately deal with the problem. This gives the government powers to release available resources to tackle the disaster, appoint people to render emergency services and to bypass existing laws in the procurement and delivery of goods and services. It is implemented by a cabinet member who heads an intergovernmental committee to mitigate the disaster through coordination between national, provincial and municipal bodies and the National Disaster Management Centre. How can it help resolve the power crisis? Under the declaration, Ramaphosa envisages faster rollout of generators and solar panels to ensure uninterrupted power supply for businesses in food production, storage and retail supply chains. It would also exempt critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water treatment plants from rolling blackouts and limit regulatory requirements in procurement. There is no clarity yet on where the power supply for these places will come from. Energy experts said that while the disaster status might not resolve the power shortage, it would help the government do away with a lengthy procurement system and hasten coordination between different government agencies and stakeholders, including power utilities, energy regulators, and the private sector. It can also do away with litigation and public participation processes that are usually a requirement for new measures. It could also lead to a rapid uptake of solar in public sector buildings such as hospitals, schools and municipal buildings through a nationalised central tendering process. The government is looking at funding schemes for easier access to solar panels and also at cutting down the time taken to award projects. When was it last implemented and has it worked in the past? This is the third time in as many years that the government has invoked the national disaster state. It was implemented in March 2020 to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and again last April following devastating flooding in KwaZulu-Natal. While it is difficult to quantify the impact of the proclamation, in the past the announcement has enabled the government to offer aid in the form of grants, to release resources to make available food and shelter and to offer relief to employers, employees and small businesses. Its effectiveness combatting the power crisis could be more measurable as Ramaphosa has said it will help "in a massive increase in power to the grid over the next 12 to 18 months." What are experts saying on the announcement? The DA has said it will mount a legal challenge against the government for declaring the state of disaster, alleging the government abused procurement processes during the Covid-19 pandemic. The legislation was used to enable health authorities to respond more swiftly to the pandemic, but some analysts doubt it will help the government expand power supply much quicker. Analysts have also warned the sweeping powers could lead to more corruption, with less scrutiny of the tendering. Ramaphosa said as part of the state of disaster, he would appoint a new minister in the president's office to deal with electricity, which critics said would lead to bureaucratic delays as two other cabinet portfolios exist to deal with both Eskom and the energy sector. South Africa has honoured the contribution made by those who have excelled in promoting the interests of the country on an international stage. DIRCO [Department of International Relations and Cooperation] is honoured to shine a light on South Africans who have distinguished themselves in promoting our national interests, our talents, and values around the world as ambassadors of our country, said DIRCO Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, at the Ubuntu Awards ceremony held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Saturday evening. Pandor said the awards celebrate excellence and are the departments way of honouring excellence. We are so excited to have this thrilling privilege of once again revealing the quality within South Africa to the world. Many are ordinary South Africans, who are honoured here for doing extraordinary things, Pandor said. The Minister said the nominees and award recipients have each championed the essence of the meaning of ubuntu, an ancient African philosophy that speaks to having compassion for others and lending energy to uplifting communities. The essence of ubuntu is a stress on the oneness we share. It reflects a humanist African philosophy that has been decimated and weakened largely by colonialism and sociology economic deprivation. It suggests community as a building block of society. Essentially, it asserts that we are all bound together in ways that may be invisible to the eye. We achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others and caring for those around us, Pandor said. Actively live ubuntu She urged for cooperation in the many global challenges confronting the different countries of the world. These challenges are so immense that they suggest that as leaders and communities, we must do more to actively live and breathe ubuntu, [and take] action that is framed by justice for all people, and by the practice of fairness and equality regardless of race, gender or social status. As a global community, we must be [enjoined to address] climate change, migration, disease, human trafficking, terrorism and hunger. Our help must uplift communities and not increase their vulnerability, the Minister said. She said the rescue efforts in earthquake-ravaged Turkey and Syria indicate commitment in caring for one another. We commend all those South Africans and global citizens who are showing the spirit of ubuntu as they offer humanitarian support. We also laud all who are contributing in many different forms of support. For us working in the domain of international cooperation and diplomacy, I am pleased to share with South Africans that working with the countries gathered in this room, we are striving to partner in addressing the difficult challenges facing South Africa, Pandor said. The Minister said South Africa is delighted to chair BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] this year. The chosen theme by South Africa is, BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism. Our theme and priorities reflect our foreign policy focus of advancing in partnership. We cannot neglect the critical task of developing our continent Africa and the global South. One of the issues which will be discussed in BRICS is how to restructure the global, political, economic and financial architecture so that it becomes more balanced, representative, inclusive, and equitable, Pandor said. Award winners Popular South African musician, Makhadzi, received an award in the category of Arts and Culture Diplomacy. She is known to many music lovers for her hit songs, Tshanda Vhuya and Matorokisi. Makhadzi was among the performers at the 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards. She has performed in France, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. I am happy to receive the award. This really shows that hard works pays off, she said in her acceptance speech. Makhadzi has represented South African music in other countries. Wherever I go to perform, I perform in my mother tongue. I am proud to be a South African. Music and dancing is what I do best, an elated Makhadzi said. She told SAnews that music is her life and that she loves entertaining people. Singing and entertaining people is what I do best. I dont see myself doing anything else other than entertaining people. Another artist who received an award in the same category was Abigail Kubeka. The renowned Kubeka is a professional actress, film, television and cabaret star. In the Ubuntu Economic Diplomacy category, the award went to Shoprite, which has over 500 stores and over 20 million shoppers across the continent. Also in the same category, Theo Baloyi, a South African entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Bathu Shoes, was also awarded. He launched his eponymous shoe brand in 2015, having previously served as a senior associate at PwC in Dubai. He was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2019. In 2021, he won GQ's Business Leader of the Year. In the Ubuntu Youth Diplomacy category, the award was received by Nsovo Mayimele, who is a pharmacist and lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology. Mayimele has served South Africa and the global community through her skills in healthcare, development and policy. She is an award-winning contributor, scientist and voice for advocacy in access to healthcare and womens health. The Ubuntu Awards were launched in 2015 and have since become a platform for celebrating the achievements and contributions of those who work tirelessly to promote SAs image. The National Property Practitioners Council (NPPC) has expressed its disappointment in the lack of clarity and commitment on key initiatives required to catalyse economic growth and wealth creation during this year's State of the Nation Address (Sona). Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, chairperson of the NPPC The housing market and the property industry in general, it says, functions as a proxy for the general health of an economy and following last week's Sona, it is evident that recovery is still a long way away. The property industry From the perspective of the property industry, Sona raised several issues that are of particular concern. Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, chairperson of the NPPC, shares that, Matters like expediting the acceleration of the delivery of affordable housing, the delayed issuing of title deeds, the poor state of municipal management and the energy crisis are creating damaging roadblocks to the economic performance of the sector and the growth of the economy at large. Title deeds According to the Centre for Affordable Housing in Africa, there is a backlog with an estimated 2.5 million families in need of housing. Then there is the issue of title deeds according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, The current backlog in processing title deeds is over 1 million houses, which amounts to an estimated R242bn in assets that should be in the hands of South Africas poorest households. A title deed is so much more than a legal document; it is the key to enabling households access to wealth creation and the ability to participate in a variety of economic activities such as financing their childrens education and consolidating debt. The fact that some RDP housing recipients have been waiting for decades to receive their title deeds is one of the greatest tragedies of our democratic dispensation, shares Ramokgopa. To date, the only recent action weve seen from government is an announcement in October last year stating that Human Settlements will form a part of the government-wide approach of Operation Vulindlela on title deeds, in partnership and collaboration with provinces and municipalities. This is to assist the sector as a whole in all three spheres to ensure that South Africans become the rightful owners of their own homes'. No further information has been provided. The NPPC does, however, note the progress made in releasing 14,000 hectares of state land for housing development and believes that this is an important step in responding to the ever-increasing demand for well-located, urban serviced land for housing and economic development purposes. This demand, however, far outstrips the current supply and until the issue of land redistribution is addressed, South Africans will continue to see a proliferation of illegal occupations of land and the hijacking of buildings. We, therefore, call on government to expedite this process and partner with the private sector to ensure the rapid delivery of housing and infrastructure, urges Ramokgopa. The issue of social housing The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has gazetted a comprehensive document updating the norms and standards for all rental housing in South Africa. A key trend that has emerged in rental housing is the growth and recognition of the informal rental market, which in 2016 comprised 919,000 households, a number that is estimated to have increased exponentially since then. The government cannot financially afford a commitment to the eradication of informal settlements and the provision of fully subsidised, stand-alone houses for low-income households. Meeting this demand alone will require the government to build at least 1.8 million houses at a current cost of R343bn, the department said. According to the department this is why government is now shifting its policy emphasis towards informal settlement upgrading, site and service schemes, affordable housing for ownership, social housing and affordable rental, including shared one-room/shared ablutions, smaller units, etc. This policy shift is critical in supporting this vital section of the market. However, there needs to be more than good policy. The test will be in the execution of such and government is known for lagging in this area. A good barometer of how serious government is about housing would have been to see what sort of attention this issue received in the Sona, which was none at all, warns Ramokgopa. The housing bank South African finance minister Enoch Godongwana recently announced that government is looking at launching a housing bank to provide loans to public sector employees and the gap market. Ramokgopa shares that, While the NPPC welcomes this announcement and sees the development of a housing bank as a very positive one, a decade has passed since the department first announced the formation of this bank, formerly known as the Human Settlements Development Bank. More recently, the president announced during the 2021 Sona that the bank would be established that year. "To date, there have been no further developments in this regard and this year there was no mention of this initiative, which further raises questions as to the commitment of government to delivering on this promise. Energy During his State of the Nation address, the president repeatedly mentioned a scheme to encourage homeowners to switch to solar panels. No other details have been furnished as yet. Ramokgopa believes that, While this is a move that is applauded by the NPPC, it again raises several questions, the main of which would be what sort of incentive will be offered, and what sort of fee would Eskom still require, even if homeowners go completely off the grid. These are questions we hope to get much more clarity on in the coming days. Municipal governance Following on the presidents comments about energy generation, a second issue, which is closely associated, is that of municipal governance. The fact that 163 out of 257 municipalities are dysfunctional or in distress is an indictment on the leadership of those municipalities and an admission of a complete failure of governance which cannot be taken lightly. The functioning of municipalities has a direct impact on investment and property values. As businesses migrate out of poorly managed municipalities, it also deepens unemployment in those areas and drives more people into already overcrowded urban centres placing additional strain on infrastructure, says Ramokgopa. While progress has been made in some areas, it has been too incremental given the state of crisis the country finds itself in at this stage. What the country needs right now is not a message of hope but rather a detailed action plan backed by competent leaders who are capable of delivering that plan. According to the NPPC, Sona 2023 would seem to be another address filled with positive yet, ultimately, vague promises of improvement. It remains to be seen if any concrete deliverables will be communicated in the coming months. Good Hope FM decided to celebrate World Radio Day by unveiling its new brand identity - sporting a fresh new logo, bold new colours and a new tagline. The Cape Town based station which has been operational since 1965 is a part of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). Hopes and dreams The station unveiled a new logo driven by engagements with staff, management and other media experts. The goal was to identify the experiences, concerns, hopes and dreams that resonate with audiences, and to connect them with a station that is not only refreshing, distinct, relevant, appealing and vibey, but also offers a substance that is solid and meaningful. Sewela Sebola, Good Hope FMs marketing manager says: Good Hope FM is a station for those who are set on asserting their own individuality, embracing and expressing their true, authentic selves in an inclusive and inspiring space where everyone belongs. The station welcomes anyone, from high school and university students, to young working professionals, and those who are young at heart. Our purpose statement is clear cut: To inspire belonging within its community of listeners. A community of unique individuals, united in their diversity through a shared sense of belonging. It is here Ladies and Gentlemen our beloved listeners, we present the fresh, new and exciting #GoodHopeFM look #CapeTownsOriginal pic.twitter.com/K4vzAnZ9j3 Good Hope FM (@GoodHopeFM) February 13, 2023 Good Hope FMs business manager, JD Mostert commented, In recognising our listeners uniqueness and originality, the Good Hope FM and Joe Public team drew parallels between the station and them. We are a station with our own, original flavour elevating, evolving and boldly owning our originality, while proudly representing our community of listeners through music, content and activities that inform, entertain, educate, engage, connect, inspire, uplift and empower people across Cape Town. Exciting chapter These core values, purpose and tagline underpin Good Hope FMs new logo, a unique, distinctive monogram which combines the G for Good and H for Hope into an impactful, circular design one that will be turned into a viewfinder in some of the stations visual elements, placing the very community it celebrates at the heart of the brand, capturing the rhythm and originality of the city and community. Sebola added: In addition, the untamed and unapologetic colour palette showcases Good Hope FM as the authentic, aspirational and contemporary lifestyle platform, that not only bravely represents its audience, but inspires people far beyond the station itself. Mostert concluded, this is an exciting new chapter for Good Hope FM, but its about more than just changing the look and feel, its refreshing and stepping up every element of our game and bettering our offering to listeners and clients even further by reminding us all who we are and the massive impact we make. Its a conviction that says No one can do it quite like we can. No one gets the beat quite like we do. Because no one does originality quite like an original. In celebrating its new look with listeners, Good Hope FM will be hosting a Cape Towns Original party on Friday, 17 February from 9pm, with a live broadcast from Hanover Street nightclub at Grand West. The event will feature Twinz Spins Jade and Shad, Dr Jules and Jason Spikes. Looking at brands, consumers tend to focus on logos, but the distinctiveness of product's shape or its packaging can be just as important in identifying a brand. The South African Trade Marks Act specifically includes both "shapes and containers" in the definition of what may constitute a 'mark'. Trade mark practitioners get excited when the shape of a product finds itself at the centre of a trade mark dispute. With this in mind, we review the trade mark dispute between Dart Industries Incorporated and Another v Botle Buhle Brands (Pty) Ltd and Another [2022] (1 December 2022). As Judge Makgoka, who delivered this judgment, described it: This is a trade mark dispute about a shape of a water bottle. Dart Industries Inc was the registered proprietor of a trade mark filed in 2015, registered for: Household containers; kitchen containers; water bottles sold empty; insulated bags and containers for beverages for domestic use; beverageware; drinking vessels. It was endorsed as consisting of a container for goods, and was represented as follows on the trade marks register: Tupperware Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd, and its South African representative and licencee in South Africa were the second Appellant. Tupperware had been selling a plastic bottle, in the shape for which it has been registered, as a trade mark since 2011, marketed as the Eco Bottle. Tupperware Eco Bottles In 2019, Botle Buhle Brands started to market and sell the following bottle: Tupperware approached the high court to restrain Buhle Brands from infringing its registered trade mark and sought a restraining order based on passing off. In response, Buhle Brands launched a counter-application for the removal of Tupperwares trade mark registration. Initially, the High Court found that Tupperwares registered trade mark was neither inherently distinctive nor had acquired distinctiveness as a result of prior use, and Tupperwares application was dismissed and Buhle Brands counter application was granted. This made it unnesessary for the High Court to decide the infringement issue or Buhle Brands other grounds. On deciding the passing-off issue, the court found that, although the bottles were virtually identical, taking into consideration the sales model used by both parties, there was no likelihood of deception or confusion. The matter then went to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), where the court first considered whether the shape of Tupperwares Eco Bottle as a mark should to be removed from the register, specifically considering the bottle shapes inherent distictiveness or acquired distinctiveness. Inherent distinctiveness In considering the question of whether Tupperwares mark was inherently distinctive or not, the court had to consider that the function of a trade mark is to indicate the origin of the goods or services. (In the case of shape marks, the perception of the public is crucial. If the public relies on the distinctiveness of the shape as an indicator of the source of the goods, that then denotes the shape of a product as a trade mark.) The question therefore had to be asked, whether the public would perceive the container to be a badge of origin and not merely another vessel. Tupperware contended that its Eco Bottle, departs significantly from the shape of other water bottles in the market. They also claimed that the use of the specific hourglass shape with indentations was unique and unknown to the market at the time the bottle was launched in South Africa. The court then applied three steps in deciding whether the mark differed significantly from the norms and customs of the sector: Firstly, one needed to determine what the sector was. Secondly, to identify any common norms and customs of that sector and lastly to decide whether the mark departed significantly from those norms or customs. There was no evidence before the court that consumers appreciated that the bottle conveyed trade mark significance. The court was not convinced that customers would consider the shape of the Eco Bottle alone as a guarantee that it was produced by Tupperware, as containers and shapes generally do not serve as sources of origin. The SCA agreed with the High Court that the Eco Bottle did not have an inherently distictive character. Distinctiveness as a result of prior use There was no evidence before the court that the purchasers of the Eco Bottle perceive the shape of the bottle as an indicator that it originated from Tupperware. Tupperware also never marketed, promoted or sold the bottle with reference to its shape. The Eco Bottle is also embossed with the Tupperware trade mark on its side and the court was of the mind that the public might rather perceive the bottle as originating from Tupperware because of the well-known embossed trade mark and not because of the shape of the bottle. In conclusion, the court found that the shape of Tupperwares Eco Bottle did not distinguish it from water bottles sold by others and therefore was not distinctive, and the High Court was correct to uphold Buhle Brands counterclaim by ordering the cancellation of Tupperwares registered mark. Passing off The court also had to determine whether Buhle Brands was passing off its water bottle as being Tupperwares Eco Bottle. Passing off implies that in a representation by one person, that his business or merchandise, is that of another, or that it is associated with that of another. In passing-off proceedings, the court must consider many factors in determining whether there is a likelihood of confusion between products and brands. The court considered the shape, colour, material, and the caps of the bottles, as well as the placement of the respective Tupperware and Botle Buhle trade marks embossed on the side of the bottles. Below are representations of the respective water bottles: Tupperware Eco Bottles Botle Buhle bottles The requirements for a successful passing off action also require proof of reputation or goodwill, and a reasonable likelihood that members of the public may be confused into believing that the business of one is, or is connected with, that of another. The Tupperware Eco Bottle had been promoted extensively in catalogues, newsletters and promotional leaflets. Considering the extensive and undisputed sales figures and marketing information, both the High Court and the SCA, found that Tupperware had established the necessary reputation in the Eco Bottle. Both courts were in agreement that the bottles of both parties were virtually identical, with the only significant difference between the two competing bottles being the embossing of the words Tupperware and Botle Buhle on the side and cap of the bottles. The embossing was considered by the court to be inconspicuous, and does little or nothing to distinguish the two products. The High Court concluded that given the sales model, there was no likelihood of confusion. The High Court confined its enquiry, however, to Tupperwares unique sales model - commonly referred to as Tupperware parties - which includes the hosting of parties by a magnitude of consultants, predominantly at their homes. Judge Makgoka remarked, quite firmly as follows: It seems to me that the overall design of the Buhle Brands water bottle was not to distinguish it from that of Tupperware, but rather to associate the two. In other words, Buhle seems to have strained every nerve to associate its water bottle with the Eco Bottle. The Judge remarked that the enquiry whether a likelihood of confusion exists should extend beyond the Tupperware parties. Consumers may encounter the competing bottles at a party where both products are sold. Both the competing products were also marketed online, and in some instances catalogues of both products are depicted side by side. This, in the view of the court established the likelihood of confusion between the two products. It was therefore very likely that a customer would encounter the two competing bottles side by side and make an association between them this is even more likely when making online purchases. The SCA also remarked that, This type of confusion, which results in consumers purchasing one product thinking that it is the one they know, or is associated with it, is at the heart of the action of passing-off. The court found that the likelihood of confusion therefore did exist. The third issue in passing-off is damage to a brand. Regarding damages, the court remarked that by adopting the same marketing strategy as Tupperware, Buhle Brands had sought to associate its product in every respect, with that of Tupperware. This would enable Buhle Brands to trade its water bottle upon and benefit from the reputation of Tupperwares Eco Bottle. The damage to Tupperware is inevitable. Conclusion This case is another great example of how shapes and containers (or even a combination of the two) clearly can serve a distinguishing function. It remains however, important for the owners of these shapes and shape trade marks to consider carefully the way in which they wish to protect their products and how they wish to distinguish their goods from those of competitors. It remains clear that relying only on shape as a trade mark can be tenuous and should be considered only part of a products identity. WINDHOEK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- As the Namibian government strives to enforce gender equality laws, local women in the science field spread their wings at the Chinese-invested Rossing Uranium mine in the coastal area of Namibia. Growing up in coastal Arandis town, Angela Kapapilo was interested in science, and it was no surprise when she pursued geology. "I am keen about science ... and my father was a laboratory technician at Rossing. So studying geology was a natural extension of this interest because I have always been fascinated by the fact that components for enumerable advancements in the world are created from material sourced from the earth's crust," she said. Opportunities to explore interests in decision-making mechanisms for life-of-mine expansions and mining investments also drew her to Rossing Uranium. Although she has a wealth of experience gained from various companies, her life and current role as a principal resource geologist at Rossing Uranium are closely linked. The role has allowed her to add value to the workforce and catapulted her career growth. Kapapilo attributed career progression at the company to capacity building offered through on-the-job and external training. "I have had several roles at Rossing over the years, which have all given me a sense of purpose and fulfillment in my career," she said in a recent interview. These include successful accolades of oversight role on the Heap Leach project, an expansion activity where uranium was leached from ore by percolating acid through them as opposed to the ordinary tank-leaching process. When the Heap Leach project ended, Kapapilo was temporarily seconded to the superintendent production planning role, during which she interacted with the end-to-end value chain at Rossing Uranium. "I took up the superintendent resource evaluation role in 2014 and was later promoted to the principal resource geologist in December 2018 -- a career highlight to date and demonstration of a successful Rossing Uranium understudy journey," she added. Another woman hacking into a man's world is Karin Elizabeth Maletzky, who joined the company in 2005 as a graduate grade control geologist. Maletzky, 45, started her career as a junior offshore geologist on diamond vessels. The vocation at the mine accorded her further career prosperity. She has since immersed herself in the quality assurance of uranium, one of the top five export products for Namibia. "Since joining, I have been promoted into several roles in mine geology, mining operations, and processing operations over the years. Work at the mine also aided character development and exposed me to tenets of international mining operations in South Africa, North America, and Australia," she said. Meanwhile, pursuing the science field and career paths groomed their leadership skills. "It has empowered and equipped me to enhance my knowledge, skills, and leadership competencies," Maletzky said. The roles in science also pushed women to break social gender stereotypes. "The mining industry is still largely male-dominated. In my experience, most men are not open and receptive to being led by a woman; therefore, there is a lack of trust and respect to a certain degree," she said. As the world observed International Day of Women and Girls in Science Saturday, the local women hope to inspire girls into the science field. "Most importantly, it has enabled me to provide for my children, family, friends, and communities and be an inspiration to the people I have relationships with," Maletzky said. Kapapilo said self-retrospection is critical for the success of women in science. "Be honest about technical and soft skills gaps, and pursue on-the-job and external initiatives to help you address those gaps. Strive for excellence in all your roles and read widely to develop an understanding of the science behind the end-to-end systems and processes that support the efficient extraction of resources," she said. The mining company is exploring diversified approaches for gender parity. "The aim is to increase women's representation and promote women in specialized and managerial job categories," said Daylight Ekandjo, manager of corporate communication at Rossing Uranium. According to Ekandjo, 174 of the company's 901 permanent employees are female, with representation across all job levels spanning from senior management, middle management, specialized skills, frontline leaders, operators, and artisans. Despite progress in driving inclusion in the science field, the participation of girls and women in science is still underrepresented in Namibia, said Anicia Peters, the pro-vice-chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Development at the University of Namibia. SMEs in South Africa haven't exactly been dealt the best card over the last three years, and on top of these challenges, they've still needed to focus on growing their small businesses. However, despite these challenges, the gross value-added by SMEs in South Africa increased from 18% in 2010 to 40%. For these small enterprises to continue to succeed, fintechs, financial institutions and lenders need to drive financial inclusion and take care of their needs. So who are the role players in the lending space that are going to make this happen? South Africa still has huge strides to make when it comes to financial support from the government and financial sector, however, there has been a major evolution in the SME lending space over the past few years. According to OECD, there are 2.6 million SMEs in South Africa, most of which have at some point in their journey needed funding. In order to scale their businesses, and continue to employ more staff, there should be no boundaries to accessing finance. With 32% of SME business owners providing up to 10 jobs, there is a huge need to keep SMEs afloat as they contribute quite significantly to the employed sector and the economy. Smaller alternative lenders have developed innovative credit decision models, which continue to challenge incumbents in the sector by providing better support for SMEs. The rise of marketplace lending has been fuelled by a need for efficiency and transparency. SMEs want options, and they want to know they are getting the best deal possible and they can only do this if they are able to compare offers and understand all the costs involved in the business loan. Marketplace platforms facilitate borrower and lender connections. These platforms are designed for efficiency, and the borrower only needs to fill in one application to be matched with multiple lenders. The concept of a marketplace is that SMEs will be able to select the best finance suited to their needs right now. Traditional banks and large lenders often require a lengthier application process, and if SMEs want to compare these offers they need to do it manually. Business owners and consumers in South Africa have long struggled with a trust factor, which means that going into a branch to apply for a business loan seemed like an obvious solution. However, according to Boston Consulting Group, 86% of South Africans are now ready for digital banking as long as banks and lenders can provide ease of use and secure channels. So if marketplace lending seems like a no-brainer for business owners and lenders alike, whats holding these platforms back from taking over the market? The one downfall of this model is that some of these platforms could enable stacking, where an SME signs a loan contract from multiple lenders without the various lenders being aware. This could not only jeopardise the lenders involved as the business is highly likely to default on their debt repayments, but it also runs the risk of placing the SME under major financial stress. More recently, there are marketplace platforms that are making it their business to mitigate stacking by leveraging technology, where an applicant is only able to select one lender from their comparison page. The future of marketplace platforms could evolve into a one-stop shop for all things lending related, or even merge into super app ecosystems where business owners could buy electricity on the same app they apply for funding. The possibilities are endless, and in reality, there is no real debate of what the better lending option is. Traditional banks will need to embrace the lending landscape transformation by updating their own technology or integrating with marketplace platforms. SMEs now have the power at their fingertips, and business finance marketplaces are enabling faster, better access to funding for entrepreneurs. Last year was a turbulent period for South Africa's small business sector. With it came all the trappings of a business survival bootcamp: rising petrol costs, supply chain instabilities, high inflation, interest rate hikes, unreliable electricity supply, and a political horizon marked by uncertainty. For the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who were put through their paces and came out on top, 2023 holds its fair share of obstacles and opportunities, many of which exist within the realm of technological innovation. This is the opinion of Arnold February, regional investment manager at SME financier, Business Partners Limited. Commenting on the trends that will drive the development of the SME sector in 2023, he explained that: For insights relating to the macroeconomic outlook for the year ahead and how South Africans will fare in a rapidly changing world, we look to the events in and around Davos for the recently held World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. One of the golden threads that ran throughout the conference was the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) as a main driver of progress. Technologies such as ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot capable of generating coherent, human-like text, are products of a world in which digital technology holds the key to unlocking the next chapter for business. The tide of digitisation will become more pervasive Accounting software firm, Xero referred to digital technology as a lifeline for small businesses in its recent report, which found that over the last year, technology has enabled a large proportion of local SMEs to reach new customers, expand into new areas, improve their processes and reduce their administrative burden. In Februarys opinion: SMEs need to hone their focus on digital transformation to reap benefits such as increased productivity, better cyber security and lower production costs. Looking ahead, investment into digitisation within the SME sector will continue to grow a theme that provides a segue into another trend he believes will shape the year ahead for the industry. Talent retention and upskilling to remain a key focus for SMEs With SMEs relying more and more on automation and integrating their processes with tech-driven tools that can augment and simplify operations, the South African talent pool will continue to face new challenges. The struggle to find employees whose skillsets are congruent with the development of their industries was one of challenges identified in the most recent quarterly SME Confidence Index conducted by Business Partners Limited. Thankfully, as February asserts, many SME owners are making the connection between finding staff with the right skills and experience to grow their businesses and the need to invest in upskilling and training programmes. Investing in human capital will be imperative for small businesses in every sector, he argues. In addition, February says, the flexibility of hybrid work, greater awareness around employee mental health and building value-oriented workplaces are key areas in which SMEs can demonstrate their commitment to developing and supporting their teams and increase productivity in their businesses. Digital technology meets human connection in the customer experience (CX) Summing up his insights on the trends that will shape the SME sector going forward, February states that: There is enough place for both technological innovation and human ingenuity to co-exist and thrive." Nowhere has this confluence become more evident than in the realm of customer experience. The centrality of the customer experience or CX, as it has become known, rose to prominence during the pandemic years, which saw businesses involved in an anxious scramble to win market share from their competitors. Many brands that differentiated themselves by leveraging excellent customer service, came out on top, said February. The third edition of the Most Loved Local report, published by Santam, found that South Africans rate a good experience overall as the primary criterion for small, locally owned businesses they deem to be the best in their fields. Furthermore, over a third of survey respondents claimed that their experience of a brand or business had become either more important or as important as other factors, since the onset of the pandemic. As February concludes: CX within the context of the digital age must have all the hallmarks of good customer experience friendly service, integrity, empathy and reliability. But, powered by digital tools, we can add a new level of personalisation to the customer experience, as well as more convenience, more choice and better customer relations based on data. Impala Rustenburg recently awarded more than double the number of student bursaries it awarded in 2022. Image supplied A total of 34 matriculants from Impala Rustenburgs mine communities will be taking the first step on their journey to the career of their dreams, courtesy of Impalas multimillion-rand bursary programme. A further 21 bursaries were awarded to students from the greater Rustenburg area and Impalas labour-sending areas. This brings the total number of bursaries awarded in 2023 to 55, representing Impalas commitment to youth education. The 34 Class of 2022 matric students who secured the bursaries were selected from secondary schools in Boitekong, Chaneng, Freedom Park, Kanana, Luka, Maile, Meriting, Paardekraal, Phatsima, Phokeng, Seraleng, Sunrise View, Thekwane and Tsitsing. They will shortly begin their first year of study in a variety of disciplines, including Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Chemical Engineering, BSc Chemistry, Extractive Metallurgy, Electrical Engineering, BCom Accounting, Geology, Surveying, Teaching, Nursing and Human Resources. Said Mark Munroe, CE of Impala Rustenburg, It is more important than ever for corporate South Africa to invest in developing the skills of our youth, ensuring they are employable and can contribute towards much-needed socio-economic growth in South Africa. We take our responsibility to youth development very seriously and we provide several programmes to assist young people to further their careers. These include the bursary programme, the cadet programme that develops critical mining skills among unemployed youth, far-reaching support for local schools, and a comprehensive enterprise and supplier development programme. We are committed to ensuring these opportunities benefit the immediate communities around our operation, with a key focus on providing equal opportunities to young women. Of the bursaries awarded in 2023, more than half were awarded to women. The recipient of Impalas third annual Future Women in Mining bursary is Lashia Khanda, a resident of Sunrise View from Sunrise View Secondary School, who will start her studies in Geomatics at the University of Cape Town. Khanda achieved five distinctions in her final matric examinations and her school, built and supported by Impala Rustenburg, achieved a 100% pass rate. Last years recipient of the Future Women in Mining bursary was Melissa Diale from John Orr Technical High School in Kanana, who is studying BEng Tech in Electrical Engineering at the University of Johannesburg. Echoing many of Impala Rustenburgs past bursars, Diale says that without Impalas support, she would not be where she is today. My first year was quite the journey, but it made me realise that it is true when they say, Nothing thats worth it comes easy. Im excited to continue this journey especially with the support I get from Impala. Munroe encouraged the new intake of bursars to focus on building strong and sustainable careers in years to come. While Impala provides the opportunities for young people to pursue their dreams, it is up to the candidates to make the most of them. This is the spirit of togetherness we strive to foster in our relationships with our communities. Update: Dark Journalist: This Is a Dry Run for the UFO Threat, Continuity of Government Play Via: Dark Journalist: Update: F-22 Engaged Target Over Canada Instead of Canadian CF-18m Likely on Account of the Raptors Greater Air-to-Air Capabilities Not only that, but CNN, the least credible news source in the world, which pushed multiple Covid scams for years, just stated: F-35 fighter jets were sent up to investigate after the object was first detected on Thursday, according to a US official. Kirby told reporters that the first fly-by of US fighter aircraft happened Thursday night, and the second happened Friday morning. Both brought back limited information about the object. But the pilots later gave differing reports of what they observed, the source briefed on the intelligence said. Some pilots said the object interfered with their sensors on the planes, but not all pilots reported experiencing that. Some pilots also claimed to have seen no identifiable propulsion on the object, and could not explain how it was staying in the air, despite the object cruising at an altitude of 40,000 feet. The conflicting eyewitness accounts are partly why the Pentagon has been unable to fully explain what the object is, the source briefed on the matter said. I find it hard to believe that they are actually going to go with the long awaited fake UFO operation now, but who knows Maybe this is just a warm up. Dark Journalist, please pick up the nearest white courtesy phone. Via: The Warzone: A U.S. F-22, as opposed to a Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet, made the intercept likely on account of the Raptors greater air-to-air capabilities. Not to mention the fact U.S. interceptors have operated in Canadian airspace as part of NORAD previously. Update: FAA Briefly Closed Airspace Over Part of Montana to Investigate Radar Anomaly Via: New York Post: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily shut down airspace over part of Montana as the Defense Department sent a fighter to investigate an anomaly that was spotted on radar, officials said. The North American Aerospace Defense Command [NORAD] said in a statement Saturday that the central Montana airspace was closed after it detected a radar anomaly but a jet that was sent up found nothing. Those aircraft did not identify any object to correlate to the radar hits. NORAD will continue to monitor the situation, the defense command said. The U.S. F-22 Raptors were accompanied into Canadian airspace by Canadian CF-18s. Why didnt the Canadians take the shot? Hmm. The F-22s are equipped with the AN/APG-77, the most advanced airborne radar in the world. Did that have anything to do with it? With each passing day, the implications of the many Covid scams are becoming clear to more and more people. Then, Seymour Hersh released the piece about the U.S. blowing up the Nordstream pipelines Wait Whats that up in the sky?! Via: Task and Purpose: One day after the U.S. Air Force shot down a high-altitude object over Alaska, an American F-22 took out a similar object in the skies above Canada. I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet. Trudeaus announcement comes roughly an hour after the North American Aerospace Defense Command or NORAD announced it had spotted a high-altitude airborne object. Military aircraft are currently operating from Alaska and Canada in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) activities, a NORAD spokesperson said in a statement to Task & Purpose. NORAD confirms that we have positively identified a high-altitude airborne object over Northern Canada. NORAD first spotted the object Friday flying over Alaska, Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement today. A pair of F-22s from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson tracked it on Friday, joined by Canadian CF-18 and CP-140 aircraft after it crossed into Canadian airspace. The object was shot down using an AIM 9X missile, Ryder said. As Canadian authorities conduct recovery operations to help our countries learn more about the object, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be working closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he added. No other information on the object was released. Four more Massachusetts police officers have been added to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commissions list of suspensions, the commission announced Tuesday. The recent additions bring the total number of suspended officers on the commissions list up to 19. Last month, the commission shared the names of 15 officers whose certifications it had suspended. According to the POST Commission, all the officers included on the list were suspended under a state law that calls on the commission to suspend officers who are arrested, charged, or indicted for a felony. The suspensions are in effect until the POST Commission makes a final decision or revocation, and officers who are convicted of a felony will see their certification revoked, the commission said in a news release. The new additions include Boston police officers Michael Murphy and Kendra Conway, who were tied to an overtime pay scandal within the department. Iancy Gonzalez of the Salem Police Department was charged with felony larceny and accused of taking part in a money order fraud scheme, according to The Salem News, which reported in October 2022 that Gonzalez had since resigned. According to The Boston Globe, Lawrence police officer Carlos Vieira was sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison last November after he was found guilty of raping a 13-year-old boy in 2018. Established under a landmark police reform law in 2020, the POST Commission was tasked with creating a mandatory certification process for police officers in Massachusetts. Its responsibilities also include creating processes for decertification, suspension of certification, and determining punishments for certain misconduct. The World Health Organization (WHO) has released the latest zero draft of its international pandemic treaty which will give the unelected global health agency new sweeping surveillance powers if passed. The treaty requires the WHOs 194 member states (which represent 98% of all the countries in the world) to strengthen the WHOs One Health surveillance systems. One Health is a WHO system that aims to optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems and uses the close, interdependent links among these fields to create new surveillance and disease control methods. The WHOs One Health fact sheet points to Covid-19 as one of the main reasons for expanding its One Health approach and states that it put a spotlight on the need for a global framework for improved surveillance. The draft treaty also orders WHO member states to strengthen surveillance functions for outbreak investigation and control through interoperable early warning and alert systems. Additionally, it requires member states to recognize the WHO as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work, in pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and recovery of health systems, and in convening and generating scientific evidence, and, more generally, fostering multilateral cooperation in global health governance. We obtained a copy of the zero draft of the WHOs pandemic treaty for you here. Although the draft treaty doesnt mention surveillance tools that were used during Covid, such as contact tracing, testing, and vaccine passports, the WHO has previously confirmed that its a big supporter of vaccine passports. In the early stages of the pandemic, the WHO also lauded Chinas Covid response, which utilized intense digital surveillance, before changing its position and criticizing Chinas zero-Covid policy. This draft treaty has been in the works since December 2021. A final report on the treaty is expected to be presented to the WHOs decision-making body, the World Health Assembly (WHA), in May 2024. If passed, this treaty will be adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution an article that allows the WHO to impose legally binding conventions on the WHOs 194 member states if two-thirds of the member states representatives vote in favor of the conventions. Unlike the lawmaking process in most democratic nations, where elected officials implement national law, this WHO process allows a small number of global representatives, often unelected diplomats, to impose international laws on all of the WHOs member states. While some politicians have pushed back against this international pandemic treaty, it has the support of many powerful nations including the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Council (EC) (which represents 27 European Union (EU) member states). This treaty is just one of the global surveillance proposals with ties to the WHO that is being pushed by influential global figures. At Business (B20) 2022, a summit of business leaders from Group of 20 (G20) countries, numerous countries agreed on a digital health passport that uses WHO standards. This digital health certificate will track whether people have been vaccinated or tested. MANILA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- An organization fighting for justice for Philippine sexual slavery victims of the Japanese army during World War ll said on Monday that it "staunchly opposes" the planned security pact among the Philippines, Japan and the United States. The group Lila Pilipina expressed concern about "the possibility of the Philippines being used as cannon fodder" after the Philippine government said it will study a tripartite agreement with the U.S. and Japan as part of strengthening the alliance. "We oppose plans to drag the Philippines into war," the group added, reiterating its call for the Philippine government "to stand up for justice for Filipino victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery and for Japan to own up to its responsibility." As history shows, Japan and the U.S. have yet to take responsibility for the atrocities committed against Filipino women during Japanese occupation and when the U.S. was maintaining bases in the Southeast Asian country, the group said. "It is alarming that Japan has not yet apologized for the brutal crimes against Filipino women, but again dragging the Philippines into the prospect of war," it said. Lila Pilipina urged the Philippine government to take a non-aligned position. Brandeis punches above its weight in social science research Photo/Linderpix Researchers from the Heller School's Lurie Institute for Disability Policy in discussion. The bottom line: Brandeis University is a leading institution when it comes to research in the social sciences, according to data from the National Science Foundation. The data, released as part of an annual report from the NSF, shows that Brandeis ranked 17th in the country in funding social sciences research in 2020-21. In all, $34.3 million was invested in social sciences research at Brandeis in the 2020-21 fiscal year. The natural, mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering comprised over 75 percent of the $89.7 billion in research expenditures by higher education institutions across the country in fiscal year 2021, and social sciences just 3 percent. Brandeis ranking in social science research expenditures puts it beside research powerhouses including the University of Michigan; the University of Wisconsin; the University of California, Berkeley; UCLA; USC; Harvard; Duke and the University of Pennsylvania. As a modestly sized and young institution, Brandeis annual research expenditures cannot compete with those at the largest research universities, with far larger faculties and vast expenditures in medical and engineering research," said Steven Karel, vice provost for research at Brandeis. Brandeis has had to make strategic decisions about choosing research areas to focus on where it can compete effectively. Historically, one such area was social science and especially social policy. To see Brandeis ranked so highly in a report shows that we can continue to produce high quality research and attract sponsored funding. It should be a real point of pride across campus. The social sciences ranking includes spending on research projects in the Division of Social Sciences and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. It includes grants and contracts from government agencies and private foundations, as well as external scholarship support, and funding from internal university sources. The Heller School for Social Policy and Management is home to nine world-class research centers and institutes specializing in health policy; behavioral health; economic and racial equity; disability policy; child, youth and family policy, and more. There were 163 active research projects at Heller last fiscal year, including work funded by the CDC, the U.S Department of Justice, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; private foundations, including the W.T. Grant Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation; as well as multilateral organizations like the United Nations Development Program and USAID. Every day, researchers at the Heller School are working towards solving challenging problems and bringing new issues and new solutions to light, said Maria Madison, interim dean of the Heller School. It is this work that is the result of the profound investments in the social sciences at Brandeis that are reflected in this report from the NSF. The Division of Social Sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences at Brandeis spans 19 departments and programs with dozens of active faculty-led research projects that receive funding from organizations including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Endowment for the Humanities, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, John Templeton Foundation and more. At Brandeis, excellence in the classroom and excellence in research feed off each other, said Charles Golden, professor of anthropology and head of the Division of Social Sciences. Our faculty are leaders in their field, performing groundbreaking and unique research, and students benefit from that in classrooms, labs, internships, and fieldwork. The data was part of the report for the NSFs Higher Education Research and Development Survey, the primary source of information on research and development expenditures at U.S. colleges and universities. The survey collects information on expenditures by field of research and source of funds, along with information on types of research, expenses, and personnel. For the longest time, Scotsman Daniel Sloss was obsessed with comedy. He worked like a man possessed, touring more than 50 countries with 11 different festival shows. He produced five filmed specials of fiendishly clever, knotty and darkly funny stand-up. He appeared on Conan 10 times. Then he had his first child. The second my son was born, I said: Ill never f---ing tour like that again; at least not until hes in high school and hes bored of me, Sloss says. Dry your eyes: Daniel Sloss has no time for those who argue they cant say certain things in comedy any more. Credit: Troy Edige He credits his success to that relentless schedule and his own reluctance ever to be satisfied with his work: We (in the UK and Australia) have that thing that you need a new show every year; thats the reason why Im a good comedian, its not because Im more talented than anyone else. That gave me turnover and an audience. Im really grateful for that process, but Im also done with it. A 75-year-old man has died after being pulled from the surf by members of the public on the states Mid North Coast. Emergency services were called to Shelly Beach at Nambucca Heads about 12.40pm on Sunday following reports a man had been knocked unconscious by a wave, police said. Shelly Beach at Nambucca Heads. Credit: Visit NSW Several witnesses entered the water and pulled the man to shore. He was treated by paramedics on the beach but died after being taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital. Police have launched an investigation into what they say was a drowning and will prepare a report for the coroner. Emergency warnings urging residents to flee are being issued as bushfires rage on the Western Downs, north-west of Brisbane. Residents are being urged to leave immediately as a fast-moving fire at Myall Park and Hookswood near the town of Miles put properties under threat. The warning to people between Leichhardt Highway, Gearys Road, Greens Road and Ryalls Road was issued just after 2.15pm by emergency services. A fast-moving fire is travelling Warramoo Road and is expected to impact Ryalls Road within the coming hours, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said on Monday afternoon. Pandemic-era health minister Greg Hunt is urging a national rethink on COVID-19s threat level, calling for a new vaccine push heading into winter and renewed focus on the volume of people dying from the disease. In his first interview since the Morrison governments defeat, the now-retired MP who is beginning a new job with the University of Melbourne also propounded the need for the Liberal Party to attract multicultural and female candidates and declared history would judge the Coalitions pandemic response positively. Greg Hunt at the University of Melbourne on Friday. Credit: Eddie Jim Hunt dismissed criticism about the vaccine rollout, which was pilloried by commentators and some state premiers and noted the uptake of boosters was slow, and said clear, ongoing public messaging on vaccines was crucial. Without directly criticising the Albanese government elected in May, he said aged care deaths had risen dramatically since vaccination allowed governments across the world to drop onerous restrictions. The Kings School has been ordered to stop the planned construction of a plunge pool at its headmasters residence after a government investigation found it would be an improper use of the schools money. The Department of Education launched an audit of Kings last year over concerns about possible misuse of taxpayer money after the schools council approved a request by the headmaster to have a pool built at his on-site residence. The Kings School has been ordered to immediately cease any payments relating to a proposed plunge pool. Credit: Rhett Wyman The Herald reported the council approved the building of a two-by-three-metre pool at the residence of headmaster Tony George in June last year, saying the headmasters package will be adjusted to reflect this expenditure. It faced criticism from some parents who questioned the schools spending priorities. The states oldest private school charges up to $41,460 per year. A letter sent by the department, seen by the Herald, instructed the school to immediately stop any payments toward the pools construction. Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto has hired a Harvard-educated lawyer as chief of staff as he attempts to rebuild his office after the Coalitions election defeat last November. Melbourne barrister Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez, who will begin the job in March, worked as legal counsel to Ted Baillieu when he was premier, and was a member of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez is the new chief of staff of Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto Pintos-Lopez studied at Melbourne University before completing a masters degree at Harvard Law School in the United States. He then worked as an attorney in New York and represented clients including JPMorgan, Credit Suisse, Time Warner and IBM. He is the partner of federal Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie, who last year won the Mornington Peninsula-based seat of Flinders, replacing Greg Hunt. Singapore/Jakarta: An Indonesian police general who ordered the killing of his bodyguard has been sentenced to death after a panel of judges rejected claims the junior officer had sexually abused his wife. The gunning down of 27-year-old Brigadier Nopryansyah Yosua Hutabarat has gripped the country of 270 million in the seven months since it took place in initially mysterious circumstances, with President Joko Widodo repeatedly demanding transparency in the case in a bid to retain public trust in the police. Inspector General Ferdy Sambo was found to have orchestrated the murder of his junior aide. He was killed on July 8 last year at the Jakarta residence of his boss, Inspector General Ferdy Sambo, then the internal affairs chief of Indonesias National Police. Sambo had said that Hutabarat died in a firefight with another officer on his staff which, he claimed in his trial, broke out after his personal aide, driver and bodyguard had sexually assaulted his wife. Washington: US military fighter jets have shot down an octagonal object over Lake Huron, Michigan, the Pentagon said, the fourth such incident since a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon put North American security forces on high alert. On President Joe Bidens order, an F-16 fighter shot down the object at 2.42pm on Sunday (Monday AEDT) on the US-Canada border, the Pentagon said. Though it did not pose a military threat, the object could have potentially interfered with domestic air traffic as it was travelling at 20,000 feet (6100 metres), and it might have had surveillance activities, the Pentagon said. US Air Force General Glen VanHerck, who is tasked with safeguarding US airspace, told reporters the military has not been able to identify what the three most recent objects were, how they stayed aloft, or where they were coming from. Washington: Another day, another unidentified flying object shot down in the USA. One week after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was taken down off the coast of South Carolina, a fourth object has been shot down across the skies of North America, fuelling speculation, fears and conspiracy theories in a country already on edge over perceived threats by Beijing. The US recently shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon above the Atlantic Ocean. Credit: AP The latest downing took place on Sunday (Monday AEDT) over Lake Huron in Michigan near the Canadian border. As the nations attention was turned towards the Super Bowl, a US F-16 fighter jet shot down an unidentified object that was shaped like an octagon and flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6100 metres) at least 10,000 feet lower than an everyday aircraft. Pentagon officials said the object did not pose a military threat, but its path and altitude raised concerns, including that it could be a hazard to civil aviation. Latest News New product could end 'defective' reverse mortgage market Pre-retirement property owners among the beneficiaries, says company CBA lifts variable rates again, cuts select three-year fixed rates It's the second time in two weeks that the bank has hiked its variable rates for new customers Bendigo Bank has once again been recognised as Australias most trusted bank by research house Roy Morgan. It was the fourth consecutive quarter that the bank has nabbed the title. Trust takes years to build, seconds to break and forever to repair, said Marnie Baker (pictured), CEO and managing director of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. We take our responsibilities to our customers very seriously, so its wonderful to see our approach recognised in this way. Our customer base continues to grow because they are attracted to our products, digital capability, service levels, and our purpose of feeding into the prosperity of our customers and the community, and not off them. To identify the nations most trusted brand, Roy Morgan data scientists analysed feedback from more than 22,000 Australians. We work hard to make sure every decision we make is in the best interests of our customers, shareholders, partners, and people, Baker said. I want to thank our team for their efforts and our customers for choosing us. Use the comment section below to tell us how you felt about the Bendigo Banks fourth consecutive win. Latest News New product could end 'defective' reverse mortgage market Pre-retirement property owners among the beneficiaries, says company CBA lifts variable rates again, cuts select three-year fixed rates It's the second time in two weeks that the bank has hiked its variable rates for new customers A historic waterfront property at 68 Algernon Street in Oatley, Sydney, has been listed for sale for the first time since 1990 and is expected to break the suburbs house price record of $4.8 million. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom property is located on 1,400sqm of waterfront land overlooking the Georges River, from Blakehurst to Como. It was the former home of Australian author John OGrady (pictured above), who wrote the best-selling 1957 comic novel Theyre a Weird Mob (under the pseudonym Nino Culotta) in the propertys boathouse. Selling agent John Pucak, principal of Raine & Horne Oatley, said OGrady lived in the property until his death in 1981. The current owner then bought the property in 1990 and made significant improvements to give it a style closer to an inner-city, multi-level Federation terrace house. The main house (pictured below) features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a modern kitchen, multiple living areas, two large balconies fore entertaining with what Pucak calls the best views in the St George area and a swimming pool with water features and a massive glass rotunda. The boathouse, meanwhile, offers a a magnificent fireplace, self-contained bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen, which Pucak said would work perfectly as a home office for an entrepreneur or senior executive. It was built in the 1880s, predating the main house. The boathouse (pictured below) was where OGrady wrote another book in his Nino Culotta series, Gone Fishin, in 1962. The waterfront property went for less than $400,000 during its 1990 sale and is predicted to sell by private treaty for well above the current record Oatley house price of $4.8 million, according to Pucak. The buyer will be an upgrader with a growing family who is seeking a waterfront property in a tightly held location, but that is still close to Oatley railway station so the kids can easily get to school and university, Pucak said. I believe the buyer could be seeking a waterfront property in Blakehurst, Sans Souci, Cronulla, Kangaroo Point or even Mosman on the North Shore right now or a terrace-style house in Haberfield. This property will put Oatley waterfronts on their radar. Pucak said that buyers from the lower North Shore, eastern suburbs and the inner west were starting to recognise Oatley as an area that delivered better bang for buck, with more water views, extensive properties, and local amenities just 30 minutes to the city. The buyers might also be a little older and remember the movie or read the book Theyre a Weird Mob and had a chuckle that the property where the idea for Nino Culotta crystalised is now up for grabs, he said. OGradys Theyre a Weird Mob was published under the pen name Nino Culotta, which is the name of the novels main character. The story focuses on the struggles of an Italian migrant journalist arriving in Sydney as he attempts to navigate 1950s Australian society. A 1966 film adaptation of the book starred Australian actors Chips Rafferty, Ed Devereaux, John Meillon, Graham Kennedy, and Walter Chiari as Nino Culotta. It is currently available on Netflix. Latest News New product could end 'defective' reverse mortgage market Pre-retirement property owners among the beneficiaries, says company CBA lifts variable rates again, cuts select three-year fixed rates It's the second time in two weeks that the bank has hiked its variable rates for new customers A Sydney credit broker has been slapped with a 14-month intensive corrections order for making false documents to obtain a financial advantage. Trevor William King of Sydney, New South Wales, was sentenced in Parramatta Local Court on Feb. 10 after creating 74 false documents in support of 29 loan applications, including 57 false payslips, nine false PAYG payment summaries, and eight false real estate documents, between July 2, 2013, and May 12, 2016, ASIC said. King used the false documents to support loan applications for clients of JT King Finance and Australia Enterprises, credit brokerage businesses he part-owned and operated. He or others would then obtain loan commissions for the approved loans. The commissions obtained from the approved loans totalled $81,057.35, with the upfront commissions ranging from $643.50 to $6,795.36 and trail commissions from $99.67 to $2,470.69. In handing down the decision, Magistrate Peter Thompson said the quantum of financial benefit King received was not insignificant. Thompson added that as someone in a position of trust and who is employed in the home loan and credit industry, King should be held to the highest level of probity. King pleaded guilty on Dec. 16 to six rolled-up charges. The offences were contrary to section 253(b)(ii) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and he was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions after a referral from ASIC. The wreckage of a collapsed building, Diyarbakr, Turkey (Photo: VOA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) The UN regretted the failure to deliver urgently required relief to Syria's conflict-torn areas, while announcing that the casualty toll from the earthquake that also affected Turkey, which already stands at over 33,000, is expected to climb significantly. "We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria. They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international help that hasn't arrived," Martin Griffiths, the agency's chief of assistance tweeted. Although a UN convoy carrying supplies for northwest Syria arrived via Turkey, Griffiths said much more was required for the millions of people whose houses had been devastated. Griffiths estimated the damage in southern Turkey on Saturday, when the death toll stood at 28,000, and said he anticipated the number to "double or more" as the likelihood of finding survivors dwindled with each passing day. Supplies have taken a long time to reach Syria, where the country's healthcare system has been devastated by years of war and where rebels fighting President Bashar al-government, Assad's which is subject to Western sanctions, still hold sway in some regions. However, a 10-truck UN convoy containing shelter kits, plastic sheeting, rope, blankets, mattresses, and carpets entered northwest Syria via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, according to an AFP correspondent. Assad expressed his willingness for more border crossings to help deliver aid into the rebel-held northwest when the head of the World Health Organization met with him on Sunday in Damascus, according to reports. After nearly 12 years of civil war, only Bab al-Hawa remains open for humanitarian aid to reach residents in rebel-held areas of Syria after other crossings were shut down as a result of pressure from China and Russia. Tedros claimed that while Damascus had given the all-clear for cross-line assistance convoys from government areas to proceed, the WHO was still awaiting permission from rebel-held areas before entering. In order to alleviate the shortage of supplies, equipment, and medications, Assad looked forward to continuing their "efficient cooperation" with the UN organization, according to his presidency. However, in Turkey, some rescue efforts were put on hold due to security concerns, and, according to state media, dozens of people have been detained for looting or attempting to scam earthquake victims. Due to a significant security danger to its employees, an Israeli emergency relief organization announced on Sunday that it has halted its earthquake rescue mission in Turkey and returned home. The official death toll from Monday's 7.8-magnitude earthquake is now 33,186 after officials and medical personnel reported 29,605 deaths in Turkey and 3,581 in Syria. The balloon over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, shortly before being downed (Photo: Russotp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Off the coast of South Carolina last weekend, F-22s shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon. On Friday, an unidentified object was shot down over Alaska by a U.S. F-22. On Saturday, an unidentified object was shot down over northern Canada. A high-altitude item was shot down near Lake Huron on Sunday afternoon, marking the fourth time in less than a week that the United States military has shot down an object in North American airspace. Prior to the elimination of the object near Lake Huron, a U.S. official stated that the Biden administration had been cautious about the pilot descriptions of the unidentified objects shot down over Alaska and Canada because of the conditions under which the objects were observed. "These objects did not closely resemble and were much smaller than the PRC balloon and we will not definitively characterize them until we can recover the debris, which we are working on," a National Security Council spokesperson said, referring to the suspected Chinese spy balloon. Earlier on Sunday, Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh also highlighted the differences between the two occurrences. "These objects shot down on Friday and Saturday were objects and did not closely resemble the PRC balloon. When we can recover the debris, we will have more for you," she said Sunday CNN was told by a source briefed on the intelligence that pilots gave differing descriptions of what they experienced after approaching the object. Some pilots claimed that the object "interfered with their sensors," while others said that this did not occur. Sunday morning, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC News that he had been briefed by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and that the object shot down over Canada was most likely another balloon - similar to the high-altitude device shot down over Alaska on Friday. Saturday, Canada's chief of military staff, General Wayne Eyre, referenced a "balloon" when outlining the instructions provided to the team tasked with removing the object. Saturday's shoot-down was authorized by both U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to a White House statement. Sunday's takedown of an unidentified flying object near Lake Huron is the fourth such incident within a week. There are currently no indications that the mystery objects are related to China's surveillance balloon, but it appears that national security officials across the continent are on high alert. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated on Sunday that he remains unconvinced by the intelligence community's statements that the flight of the Chinese spy balloon across the United States did not pose a substantial threat to national security. The company said in a statement that it will develop a mega township project on the land parcel that has a "development potential of 13 million square feet with an expected revenue of Rs 7,000 crore". Realty firm Urbanrise, an Alliance Group company, has acquired a 96.5-acre land parcel at Tambaram, Chennai and will invest Rs 3,600 crore to develop a township project. Urbanrise said it has been acquiring large tracts of land in premium locations across Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad markets to expand its business. The company, however, did not disclose the financial details of the transaction. "We are looking at developing an integrated township with world-class amenities...," he added. Manoj Namburu, Chairman and MD of Alliance Group and Urbanrise, said the Tambaram locality is fast emerging as a commercial-cum-residential hub of Chennai. Also Read Motilal Oswal invests Rs 260 cr in 3 projects of Urbanrise-Alliance Group UP govt to formulate township policy before global investor summit Assam cabinet approves township on land of Hindustan Paper Corp in Morigaon IIFL Home Finance invests Rs 50 cr in Eon Group's Mumbai township project Integrated industrial township to be developed in 970 acres near KGF Brigade Enterprises sells properties worth Rs 2,618.5 cr in Apr-Dec FY23 IndiGo restores pilots' increments amid financial turnaround, Q3 profit NCLT directs Insolvency proceeding against Zee Learn, after Yes Bank's plea Google starts new campaign to expand misinformation 'prebunking' in Europe Kerala govt to raise Rs 400 cr for Adani Ports as part of Vizhinjam pact Alliance Group is one of the leading real estate firms in South India that has delivered over 7,500 homes. The organisation has 54 million square feet under development and another 25 million square feet of projects in the planning stage. DBS was among a group of banks which provided finance to Adani's $10.5 billion acquisition of Holcim's cement business in India last year. The Singapore bank provided financing of about S$1 billion ($751 million). DBS Group has a tightly managed exposure to India's Adani group of companies, the chief executive of Southeast Asia's largest bank said on Monday. The cement industry has huge potential, given the growth in the market, Gupta said, "and so that exposure is quite tightly managed." "They're solid, cash-generating companies, so we're not concerned about the exposure," Chief Executive Piyush Gupta told reporters after DBS reported quarterly results. The conglomerate, which has denied any wrongdoing, has since seen $110 billion wiped off the value of its seven listed firms. New York-based short-seller Hindenburg Research accused the Adani Group in a Jan. 24 report of stock manipulation and improper use of offshore tax havens that it said obscured the extent of Adani family stock ownership in group firms. Also Read Hindenburg Research: All you need to know about US-based investment firm Adani-Hindenburg row: Supreme Court for expert panel on investors' safety Fraud can not be obfuscated by nationalism: Hindenburg on Adani's rebuttal Adani's $2.5 bn FPO faces critical final day amid Hindenburg turmoil Hindenburg vs Adani: Meet Nate Anderson, founder of Hindenburg Research Vodafone Idea in talks with banks to refinance Rs 3-4k crore loans Hindenburg effect: Adani Group cuts revenue growth target, capex amid rout Air Asia flight grounded by DGCA in Pune after a tyre found cracked No breach of law by entities being linked to Adani Group: Mauritius Three Adani Group companies pledge additional shares for SBI: Report ($1 = 1.3319 Singapore dollars) Garuda will use the funding to expand operations, research, and to train drone pilots. Garuda Aerospace aims to sell 25,000 drones in the next 18 months and is looking forward to exporting 10,000 drones to about 100 countries in the next 15 months. After my experience at Davos 2023, it was clear that Garuda Aerospace has the potential to scale globally, by manufacturing more Make in India drones and will help India to become the drone hub of the world by 2030," said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, the companys founder and chief executive officer. Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace has raised $22 million in funding led by SphitiCap, which invested $12 million in the company. The series A funding round also saw participation from investors and HNIs from India, UAE and Singapore. An email from the airlines management last week informed pilots of the restoration from April. IndiGo has restored annual increments for more than 4,500 pilots as a financial turnaround helped the airline make a profit in Q3 FY23 after three quarters of loss. IndiGo plans revising the salaries of first officers flying the ATR aircraft. Such officers are paid less than their counterparts on the Airbus fleet. "Details are being worked out and will be shared in due course," Mitra said. "The component of annual increment for Indian captains (Rs 10,000 per month) and Indian first officers (Rs 5,000 per month) on the Airbus and ATR fleet which was stopped due to Covid will restart from April 1, 2023," the airlines senior vice president (flight operations) Ashim Mitra said in the staff email. We had stopped the increments for pilots during the pandemic but now we have restarted them as the business is picking up. The airline continues to fly 1600-1700 flights daily and is also building up capacity by training its pilots, said an Indigo official. The airline restored pilot salaries to pre-pandemic level from last November. Annual increments are being introduced again, but certain allowances are yet to be restored. Pilots clocking a stipulated number of hours were paid for flying red-eye flights: that allowance has stopped. Certain instructor allowances too have not been revised to pre-pandemic rate, it is learnt. Also Read How China is secretly headhunting foreign pilots to train its air force SpiceJet says will hike salaries of senior pilots by 20% from October Tata, Airbus grab Rs 22,000-cr project to make C-295 aircraft in Gujarat Can India build passenger planes like Boeing and Airbus? Centre to order 15 more C-295s from Tata-Airbus' Vadodara facility: Report NCLT directs Insolvency proceeding against Zee Learn, after Yes Bank's plea Google starts new campaign to expand misinformation 'prebunking' in Europe Kerala govt to raise Rs 400 cr for Adani Ports as part of Vizhinjam pact Renault, Nissan to invest $600 million to expand lineup, add jobs in India JSW Steel crude steel output surges 15% to 1.89 mn tonnes in January We plan to build three data centres here with a cumulative capacity of 25MW IT load; the first building will be on ground in 12-15 months, said Shekhar Sharma, chief executive officer of NTT Global Data Centers & Cloud Infrastructure India and NTT Communications India. Japans NTT plans investing Rs 2,000 crore in three proposed data centres at the Bengal Silicon Valley Tech Hub in Kolkata. The campus on a 7.5-acre land would spread over 600,000 sq ft. The first data centre facility on the campus would be spread over 100,000 sq ft and have a capacity of 9MW facility load and 6 MW IT load, Sharma informed. At the bhoomi puja of NTT Data Centre Campus at Silicon Valley, Sharma said the facility is the companys humble start for an important milestone. NTTs existing data centre capacity in the country stands at 230 MW of operational load, spread over 2.1 million sq ft across 12 facilities in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Chennai. He added that India, at this point, was very important for NTT. Our growth in the data centre market is the largest in India compared to any other country. In the next five years, we will see a lot of growth in India, he said. Also Read Data centre business to double by 2024, demand to help real estate: Reports What do unique terms in the data protection bill mean? Google to come up with 381,000 sq ft data centre in Navi Mumbai by 2025 Everything shouldn't be hardcoded into data protection Bill: Vaishnaw 70% respondents want data protection bill to drop localisation rule: Survey Vodafone Idea may get 60 days to raise funds before govt asks for Q3 dues Audi India to start making the Q3 range in India this calendar year Tata mulls merger of arm for exemption from RBI as NBFC upper layer tag MapmyIndia invests in drone firm Indrones to expand customer offering Govt to initiate closure of SAIL's steel unit in Bhadravathi: MoS Finance The court asked SpiceJet to deposit Rs 75 crore to secure the interest amount payable to Maran in connection with a 2018 arbitral award. The airline has three months to furnish the amount and it was allowed to approach the Delhi High Court (HC) seeking relief in interest payment. The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran to encash Rs 270 crore in bank guarantee deposited by SpiceJet in a seven-year-old dispute over the airlines acquisition. Maran, in 2015, sold his 58.46 per cent stake in SpiceJet for a nominal purchase price of Rs 2. He approached the Delhi HC in 2016, claiming breach of agreement by the airline in not issuing him share warrants and preference shares despite fund infusion. The court next year ordered the airline to deposit Rs 579 crore and asked both sides to settle the matter via arbitration. In 2018, an arbitration tribunal awarded Maran Rs 579 crore plus interest. The Supreme Court passed the order while hearing SpiceJets appeal against a 2020 Delhi HC ruling directing the airline to pay Rs 242 crore as interest to Maran. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the airline on Monday, said his client is ready to settle the matter and pay interest at six per cent. Appearing for Maran, senior advocate Maninder Singh opposed the airlines plea. Both sides appealed against the arbitration order; Maran also filed an application for enforcement. In September 2020, the Delhi HC ordered SpiceJet to pay Maran Rs 242 crore in interest. The airline moved the Supreme Court in November and secured a stay. Also Read Former SC judge PV Reddi to mediate SpiceJet-Kalanithi Maran spat Kalanithi Maran, SpiceJet ready for mediation to settle dispute: SC told Leaving on a jet plane: India's super-rich prefer their own planes now Credit Suisse dispute: How SpiceJet came close to getting wound up How can SpiceJet fly out of its existential crisis? Hindenburg row: Adani group reassures investors as stocks plunge further M&A deals jump by 40% to $163 bn in 2022, aided by $57 bn HDFC merger Boeing plans new logistics centre in India amid major aircraft order Power Finance Corporation net profit rises 7% to Rs 5,241 cr in Dec quarter YES Bank moves SC against Bombay HC ruling on AT1 bond write-off SpiceJet said in a statement the overall amount in dispute is Rs 578 crore of which Rs 308 crore has been deposited. After hearing the parties the apex court observed that SpiceJet has not secured the respondents (Maran) with interest which was awarded to him under the arbitral award. It directed the airline to deposit Rs 75 crore securing the interest amount. It passed further direction that the amount of Rs 270 crore deposited in form of bank guarantee be encashed immediately by respondents, said Karanjawala & Co, Maran's lawyers. A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud said that an earlier interim order by the Supreme Court that had allowed Uber to operate in the state without an aggregator licence would not provide legal cover. It ordered Uber to apply for a licence by March 6, said a report by Bar and Bench. The Supreme Court on Monday told Uber to apply for a licence within three weeks to operate in Maharashtra, stressing that cab aggregators cannot function without one. The court was hearing a special leave petition filed by Uber challenging the Bombay High Court order directing it to apply for an aggregator licence in Maharashtra in compliance with the Centres Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020. The bench also asked the Maharashtra government to soon frame guidelines for aggregators. The state must work expeditiously towards a policy that embodies the framework of the Motor Vehicles Act, and indecision only causes uncertainties for the aggregators, which is not desirable, the court said. State government officials told Business Standard that if Uber did not comply it would not be allowed to operate in Maharashtra. An email sent to Uber and Ola remained unanswered. Also Read Now, book a bus ride in Gurugram on Uber; service in other cities soon Uber in India has more two- and three-wheeler ride demand than cabs Rapido shuts down app in Maharashtra; HC told firm doesn't have licence Payment aggregator licence may open avenues beyond rail-ticketing for IRCTC Solapur-based Laxmi Co-op Bank loses licence after failing RBI norms Aero India 2023: Rolls-Royce offers engine co-creation for medium fighter NLC India reports consolidated loss at Rs 396 crore in December quarter Velocity launches India's first ChatGPT-powered AI chatbot 'Lexi' Kalanithi Maran can encash Rs 270 cr bank guarantee in SpiceJet dispute: SC Hindenburg row: Adani group reassures investors as stocks plunge further Asked if Mondays court order will be applicable to other cab aggregators such as Ola and Rapido, Bhimanwar said: This is for everybody. The apex court has categorically said that one cannot operate without a licence. With this order, the earlier status quo provision that the SC had allowed goes away. Uber will now have to not only apply for a licence but also meet all the required compliances, said Vivek Bhimanwar, transport commissioner, Maharashtra. Sources said that one of the state government transport rules demands aggregators to have 50 offices and simulators for tests, which aggregators find unreasonable as it is contrary to their business model. The implications of the court directive will be felt in other states, too. The Maharashtra government has appointed a committee under the chairmanship of former IAS officer Ramakant Jha. The panel has been asked to submit a report by March 15, and the government is expected to take a decision by March 31. Cab aggregators across India are found to be lacking legitimate licences, Salauddin said, adding: In the past, we have seen several run-ins between the companies and the Karnataka government as well. Shaik Salauddin, national general secretary, Indian Federation of App based Transport Workers, welcomed the order and said that all states must implement the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020. We have always requested the Centre that if it comes up with Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines it should order the states to implement them as well rather than issuing a notification, he said. Ubers operating licence to ply cabs under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rule, 2016, expired in December 2021, according to sources. Olas licence expired in June 2021. Since then, it has reapplied for a licence but its application is pending with the state transport department. In December 2022, the Karnataka state transport authorities refused to renew licences of Uber and Ola as they had not complied with rules that included installation of GPS and panic buttons in the cabs. This is expected to free up some cash for the telco, which needs to pay urgently to Indus Towers, Nokia and Ericsson. In September this year, Vi must pay Rs 9,600 crore worth of debt to different lenders. It owes Rs 7,000 crore to Indus Towers alone. As of September 2022, its total debt stands at Rs 2.2 trillion. Vodafone Idea (Vi) has initiated talks with Indian banks like the State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and HDFC Bank to refinance loans of Rs 3,000-4,000 crore, the Economic Times (ET) reported quoting bankers aware of the development. This comes just days after the Centre allowed the telco to convert its outstanding interest payment towards adjusted gross revenue (AGR) to equity. It would make Centre Vi's largest shareholder with a 33.44 per cent stake. "Vi is in fresh, preliminary talks with lenders seeking the rolling over of some bank debt, but they are yet to submit a formal refinancing proposal...discussions are also on for a softening of loan repayment terms," a senior banker told ET. Out of its total debt of Rs 2.2 trillion, Vi owes Rs 15,080 crore only to banks and lenders. Reports also stated that the company's owners, UK-based Vodafone and India's Aditya Birla Group, have committed to putting Rs 5,000 crore into the telco. This could encourage third parties to invest in the company, which needs cash urgently to compete with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Also Read Vi to lose access to towers if it fails to clear dues, says Indus Towers Indus Towers to raise Rs 2,000 crore via NCDs after weak Q2 result Ericsson to scale up production capacity of 5G equipment in India Indus Towers accepts Vodafone Idea's payment plan for its dues Indus Towers revises report, drops para on govt stake in Vodafone Idea Hindenburg effect: Adani Group cuts revenue growth target, capex amid rout Air Asia flight grounded by DGCA in Pune after a tyre found cracked No breach of law by entities being linked to Adani Group: Mauritius Three Adani Group companies pledge additional shares for SBI: Report Committed to Tajpur Port, waiting for formalities to finish: Adani official Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Monday said the state will contribute immensely towards India becoming a global power. "I assure that the performance of Karnataka in defence and aerospace will continue to add to the strength and might of our defence," he said. Participating in the inaugural function of Aero India Show 2023 at Yelahanka Air Base in Bengaluru, CM Bommai said that the state is indebted to PM Modi and defence ministry for allowing Karnataka to host 14th Aero India Show. "This edition is a very special edition. In terms of size, in terms of performance and in terms of exhibits. One of the largest air shows internationally, and India has once again proved its capability in the defence sector by conducting this marvellous air show," CM Bommai said. "During Covid times when the Paris Airshow was closed we performed in 2021 in the very same venue. This time, we are repeating it with a special number of exhibits, number of delegates and number of displays. Therefore, we are proud of our Aero India show, capabilities of the defence ministry which will be exhibited for another four days here," he explained. "As far as Karnataka is concerned, right from 1940, when HAL was founded and started working, in 1950 BHEL, DRDO started working, in 1960's ISRO started working. In 1970 the first satellite Aryabhatta was assembled in Bengaluru. Also Read BJP's 'Janaspandana' rally marking 3 yrs of BJP rule in Karnataka today CM Bommai vows to bring 'pro-people' BJP govt back to power in Karnataka Union Budget to be pro-people, will boost economic growth: Basavaraj Bommai BJP set to unveil Savarkar's photo at K'taka Assembly hall, Cong protests Gujarat elections exit poll survey will impact Karnataka too: CM Bommai Earthquake of 3.2 magnitude hits central Assam's Nagaon district Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned briefly as opposition creates ruckus Biggest defence importer for decades now exports to 75 countries: PM Modi Two new SC judges sworn in, total strength of apex court reaches 34 Fire breaks out at factory in Delhi's Karampura, rescue operation underway "Now, we are one of the leading states in aerospace and defence. 65 per cent of our capabilities in the country are from Bengaluru," he said. While giving assurances to PM Modi, Bommai said "Sir, we just promise you, going by your hard work and your ambition to make India the greatest global world power, Karnataka will certainly be one of the greatest contributors in terms of economy, social order as well as in defence. "We have got a new defence and aerospace policy which is very ambitious. In the next five years, we are going to lay out a policy where more than 45,000 youngsters will be involved in building the defence and aerospace industry in Bengaluru and other places and once again I thank our PM who dreams of greater India, he is leading the country by example and leads from the front." --IANS mka/dpb There had been rumours before Aero India 2023 that an F-35 might overfly the air show as a gesture of solidarity and support from the US military. But the landing by two F-35s and a crisp statement from the US government came as a surprise to most. Sending a wave of excitement through the crowds at the Aero India 2023 exposition outside Bengaluru, two US Air Force (USAF) F-35 fighters arguably the worlds most advanced fifth-generation fighters landed at the Yelahanka air force base and parked without fanfare in the static display area, sending the spectators into a frenzy of selfie-clicking. After a journey from Hill Air Force Base in Utah, United States, the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team will impress crowds with a demo of its unique aerial capabilities. The F-35A Lightning II from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska will be on static display, it said. The USAFs newest fifth-generation fighters the stealthy, supersonic, multirole F-35A Lightning II and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter will make their debut at Aero India 2023, said an official announcement from the US Consulate General in Chennai. The F-21, the fighter currently being offered by US aerospace vendor Lockheed Martin, is regarded by many IAF analysts as technologically outdated. Furthermore, it is widely known that the F-21 is a slightly improved variant of the F-16 Block 50/52, an aircraft that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has flown for decades and mastered in every respect. For many commentators on the Indian Air Force (IAF), the arrival of the F-35s in Yelahanka was not an idle gesture. More probably, it was a signal that Washington was positioning an American fighter to win an ongoing IAF tender for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRCA). Also Read 36 dead in north India in 24 hours due to hazardous rainfall and lightning Fifa World Cup Day 10: England win 3-0, USA squeeze IRN to head to last 16 Fifa World Cup Day 6: Ecuador, US impress in draws; Senegal, Iran in wins iPhone 14 coming on Sept 7: Will it be the last one to use lightning port SC flags concerns about ECI autonomy and 'lightning speed' CEC appointment Categorisation of SCs protest spark tension on Vijayawada-Hyderabad highway Aero India 2023 gives India strength, new identity in the world: Rajnath India, Nepal agree to boost economic and development ties between nations Encroachment issue to be addressed in more considerate way: Bombay HC Aero India 2023: India rejuvenated defence mfg sector in 8-9 yrs, says PM The F-35s engine produces 43,000 pounds of thrust and consists of a three-stage fan, a six-stage compressor, an annular combustor, a single stage high-pressure turbine, and a two-stage low-pressure turbine, said the US statement. Given that, any move by Lockheed Martin to replace the offer of the F-21 with an offer for the F-35, would be welcomed by the IAF. Washington has clearly decided that the F-35 is not to be offered to the IAF as a replacement for the F-16. Instead, both aircraft would be positioned to compete. Making it clear that the F-35 fighters had been sent to Bengaluru to flaunt their quality, Major General Julian Cheater, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the USAF International Affairs, said, The F-35 represents the leading-edge of US fighter technology. Aero India is an ideal forum to showcase the most advanced, capable, lethal, and interoperable weapons systems the US has to offer. This system and others are designed to penetrate and defeat advanced adversary air defences. The IAF is understood to be considering seven twin-engine fighters in the MRFA acquisition. In the twin-engine category are Boeings F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15EX Eagle II; Dassaults Rafale, Eurofighter GmbHs Typhoon, Russias RAC MiG-35 and Sukhoi-35. In addition to the F-35, an F-16 Fighting Falcon duo will conduct daily aerial demonstrations from February 13-17, showcasing the capability of one of the USAFs leading fighter jets. On static display, the F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are multirole fighters, it said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that efforts are on to make Light Combat Aircraft Tejas 100 per cent indigenous and it will be done soon. While addressing the curtain raiser of 'Aero India' 2023, which will begin from Monday, the Defence Minister said, "We are putting in all efforts to see that Tejas becomes 100 per cent indigenised. That is our ultimate aim." Singh added that investments in Tejas will increase in the coming years. "The government has positioned it at the centre of the Aero India show while also planning to promote its exports," he said. The Minister highlighted that defence exports from India have increased ever since the government adopted the 'Atmanirbhar Scheme', or self-reliance programme, for the defence sector. "Ever since we have accepted the commitment of self-reliant India since then the export of defence items in India has increased. We want to make India self-reliant, this is our resolution and we want to increase India's defence exports." Also Read IAF to formally induct indigenously-built Light Combat Helicopter on Monday IAF to induct Made-in-India light combat helicopter at Jodhpur today Made-in-India light combat helicopters 'Prachand' inducted into IAF India acknowledges Argentina's interest in Tejas fighter aircraft Home-grown 'Prachanda' light combat helicopter joins Indian Air Force fleet Whole ecosystem is in full swing once again: Rijiju takes swipe at Congress 'Two-day Food festival response more than expected,' says NDMC official J-K approves Rs 329 cr project to achieve self-reliance in mutton Semiconductor chip supply constraints put brakes on auto OEM ramp-up Allocate special budget for boosting tourist places in Shimla: Tourism body Singh said that over 75 friendly countries and more than 700 exhibitors will be part of the biggest-ever Aero-India Show in the country. The defence minister said that owing to India's resolve to promote self-reliance, the export of defence items has increased. "Karnataka has got the good fortune of organizing this. Karnataka is the foremost among the states contributing to the economic growth of our country. This state is known for its skilled human resource and robust defence manufacturing ecosystem," he said. India Pavilion with the theme of 'Wings of the Future' will be the centre of attraction for this event. This pavilion will introduce the potential, opportunities and possibilities of New India to the world. CEOs Round Table is also an important event of Aero-India. This event will provide us with an opportunity to explore the strength and capabilities of our defence industry in association with the world's top business leaders. "Through this platform, our youth will be able to showcase their capabilities in Defence Sector in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, e-Management, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Autonomous Systems and other innovations for future forces, and empower the Defence Sector," the Defence Minister said. "Promotion of the opportunities available in Karnataka will be beneficial because most of the investments coming from outside will be likely to come to Karnataka. This will create new jobs in the state," he added. Singh said that it is a matter of pleasure for all of us that in the inauguration ceremony of this event, all of us will get the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. "His presence will add more glory to this event," he added. He also highlighted the benefits of Aero India for the youth of Karnataka, saying that their pavilion will showcase the state's opportunities and possibilities and likely investments will create new jobs. He reiterated that the Government's focus is on the future of the youth. Singh concluded his address by urging the media to provide extensive visibility to the event and present the rise of a 'New India' to the world. He stated that media can play the role of a medium in connecting people with the phenomenal progress in the defence sector. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai,MoS defence Ajay Bhatt, Minister of Large and Medium Industries of Karnataka Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka Vandita Sharma and other senior officials of the state government and Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion. The 'India Pavilion', based on the 'Fixed Wing Platform' theme, will showcase India's growth in the area, including the future prospects. There will be a total of 115 companies, displaying 227 products. It will further showcase the growth of India in developing an ecosystem for the 'Fixed Wing Platform' which includes the demonstration of various structural modules, simulators, systems (LRUs) etc. of LCA-Tejas aircraft being produced by Private Partners. There will also be a section for Defence space, New Technologies and a UAV section which will give an insight into the growth of India in each sector. A number of seminars will be held during the five-day event. The themes include 'Harnessing Potential of Ex-servicemen for Indian Defence Industry; India's Defence Space Initiative: Opportunities for shaping Indian private space ecosystem; Indigenous development of futuristic aerospace technologies, including aero engines; Destination Karnataka: US-India defence cooperation innovation and Make in India; Advancement in maritime surveillance equipment and assets; sustenance in MRO and Obsolescence Mitigation and achieving excellence in defence grade drones and Aatmanirbharta in Aero Armament Sustenance. Merely labelling persons as encroachers and displacing them is not a solution and the issue has to be addressed in a "more considered fashion" than by just deploying bulldozers, the Bombay High Court has said while seeking to know from the Western Railway, Mumbai civic body and MMRDA if they have any rehabilitation policy in place. A division bench of Justice Gautam Patel and Neela Gokhale on February 8 heard a petition filed by Mumbai-based Ekta Welfare Society, challenging the eviction and demolition notices issued to its residents by railway authorities as they were encroaching on its property. The bench sought information from the Western Railway, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) if they have in place any rehabilitation policy or system, and what are the eligibility criteria. Throughout, we bear in mind that merely labelling these persons as 'encroachers' is not going to answer the problem. This is a serious problem in the city and it is a problem of human displacement. Sometimes, the scale of the displacement is beyond the imagination. It has to be addressed in a more considered fashion than by merely deploying bulldozers on the site, the court said. As per the Western Railway, 101 unauthorised structures have already been demolished till February 7. The court in its order said the Western Railway and other authorities had not followed directions given by the Supreme Court in December 2021 while such demolition drives are held. Also Read CPI asks Bihar govt to use bulldozers against BJP leaders in state Massive anti-encroachment drive launched in Kashmir; state land retrieved BMC election may hold the key to new shift in Maharashtra political power Shiv Sena office razed in Kalyan-Dombivali under anti-encroachment drive Anti-encroachment drive in J-K attempt to seize land, cause changes: PDP Aero India 2023: India rejuvenated defence mfg sector in 8-9 yrs, says PM Pinarayi Vijayan's former top official Sivasankar appears before ED Former Supreme Court judges who were appointed as governors post-retirement India introduces new Covid-19 rules for travellers from six countries India will not miss opportunity to become leading defence player: Modi As per the SC order, before commencing the process of eviction and removal of structures, the authorities concerned should record the identity of the occupants of the structure for consideration of rehabilitation. The apex court had said if the local government has any rehabilitation scheme, then the affected persons should be permitted to apply for the same if eligible. The high court said the demolition report submitted by the Western Railway does not indicate whether any survey was done of the 101 structures before demolition, which was against the SC order. The bench said no further demolition is to be carried out in contravention of the SC order anywhere on Western Railway lands in Mumbai, and posted the matter for further hearing on March 1. It said the notices issued to the occupants of the petitioner society's structures do not point out any rehabilitation scheme or any requirements of eligibility or how these are to be met or within what time. "These are not even notices under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act. They are simply eviction notices, the HC said. It was also unclear if the Western Railway took up the matter of rehabilitation with the MMRDA or the BMC, it said. It, however, added that at this stage the court was not indicating that the MMRDA or the BMC was necessarily bound to rehabilitate those ousted in the Western Railway's encroachment removal drives. As per the demolition report, the debris generated from the demolition drive was thrown outside the railway land at a low lying area. The court took exception to this and said it does not emphatically approve of this approach. The disposal of the debris raises more questions than it answers because by throwing the material into a low-lying area, apparently the presumption is that it will get washed into the Arabian Sea, the HC said. A fire broke out at a factory near the Moti Nagar Police Station in Karampura on Sunday night, officials informed. As many as 27 fire tenders were rushed to the spot and were carrying out the firefighting operations at the time of filing this report. Further details are awaited on the incident. Earlier on Saturday, a fire broke out at the Punjab National bank (PNB) located in the Karol Bagh area of Delhi. 16 fire engines reached the spot as soon as word of the fire was received, and eventually brought the fire under control. No casualties were reported in the incident. Nazeer's appointment has become the latest bone of contention between the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). INC's general secretary Jairam Ramesh re-tweeted a 2012 video of the late Arun Jaitley where he could be seen saying that "pre-retirement judgements are influenced by post-retirement jobs It is a threat to the Independence of the judiciary". On Sunday, February 12, retired Justice S Abdul Nazeer was appointed as the governor of Andhra Pradesh. His six-year-long term as a Supreme Court judge was completed on January 4. Earlier, he was a judge in the Karnataka High Court. Former judges' appointment to other constitutional posts has long been a matter of debate in India. Notably, Justice Nazeer is not the first ex-judge appointed to the post of governor. In response, law minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted, "The whole ecosystem is once again in full swing on the appointment of a Governor. They should better understand that they can no more treat India as their personal fiefdom. Now, India will be guided by the people of India as per the provisions of the Constitution of India". Who is Justice S Abdul Nazeer? Born in Kanara in Karnataka, Abdul Nazeer grew up in Beluvai. He obtained a B.Com degree from Mahaveera College, Moodbidri. Later, he obtained a law degree from SDM Law College, Mangalore. Also Read News updates: Vajpayee made pioneering efforts to transform India, says PM SC collegium meeting of Sept 30 on elevation of judges discharged Three questions on EWS quota: Here's what the Supreme Court judges said What is the Supreme Court Collegium system? Is it time to rethink the collegium system of judicial appointments? India introduces new Covid-19 rules for travellers from six countries India will not miss opportunity to become leading defence player: Modi SC dismisses plea against constitution of delimitation commission in J-K Flying objects, drones banned in Bengaluru amid Aero India 2023: Officials Rahul Gandhi kickstarts Wayanad constituency visit, meets tribal family In February 2017, he was elevated to the Supreme Court. In 1983, he started his career as an advocate in the Karnataka High Court. In 2003, he was appointed as the additional judge of the court. Later, he was made the permanent judge in the same high court. Which other former judges have been appointed as governors? Nazeer was part of the SC benches that gave judgment in the Justice K S Puttaswamy case that held privacy as a fundamental right in 2018. He was the only Muslim judge in the triple talaq case (2017) in which he dissented with the 3:2 majority judgment that ruled the practice was unconstitutional. Later, in 2019, he was also a part of the bench that decided the Babri Masjid case. Justice Sathasivam (retd) P Sathasivam, who was the chief justice of India between July 2013 and April 2014, was appointed as the governor of Kerala in September 2014 by the Narendra Modi government. Sathasivam was appointed as a permanent judge in Madras High Court on January 8, 1996. In 2007, he was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In the same year, he was elevated to the Supreme Court. Justice Fatima Beevi (retd) Fatima Beevi, India's first woman justice at the Supreme Court, was appointed as the governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001. She retired as the SC judge in 1992. In 1984, she was made a permanent judge in Kerala High Court. In 1989, she was elevated to SC. Justice Saiyid Fazl Ali (retd) In 2001, she resigned from her post after friction with the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government on the arrest of M Karunanidhi, former chief minister of the state. Later, he was also the governor of Assam between 1956 and 1959. Ali was appointed as the governor of Odisha on June 7, 1952. He was a judge in the Supreme Court between October 15, 1951, and May 30, 1952. In 1941, he was also given the knighthood by Lord Linlithgow, then the viceroy of India. Ali was also a part of the State Reorganisation Commission that set boundaries for several states in 1955. India has lifted the mandatory Covid-19 testing for travellers arriving from/via China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, and Japan. The news comes as infections related to the virus have registered a sharp decline globally, the mint reported. Earlier mandatory, the travellers from these countries are no longer required to upload the "Air Suvidha" form, the report added. Here are all the developments so far: Also Read Govt scraps filling Air Suvidha form for international travellers ICC notifies slew of changes to cricket rules, bans saliva use permanently What is the SOVA virus? Paddy dwarfing: Everything you need to know about SRBSDV Fiji virus FSSAI rules: Here is what packaged food and restaurant menus must mention India will not miss opportunity to become leading defence player: Modi SC dismisses plea against constitution of delimitation commission in J-K Flying objects, drones banned in Bengaluru amid Aero India 2023: Officials Rahul Gandhi kickstarts Wayanad constituency visit, meets tribal family House rent across major cities in India to keep rising in 2023: Anarock Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in a letter to his counterpart in the ministry of civil aviation, Rajiv Bansal, said his ministry was updating its 'Guidelines for International Arrivals', taking into consideration the decline in Covid-19 cases. However, the health ministry has said that random testing of 2 per cent of all travellers landing in India will continue. The new rule came into effect on Monday for China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand, the report said. The decision comes from a significant decline in coronavirus cases in these countries over the past few weeks. The said letter read, "In view of the above, this ministry is updating its 'Guidelines for International Arrivals', and dropping the existing requirements of pre-departure Covid-19 testing and uploading of the Self-Health Declaration on the ministry of civil aviation's 'Air Suvidha' portal applicable for international travellers coming from/via China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan.", as quoted by the report. Moreover, the letter added, "In order to monitor infections due to mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2 among international travellers to India, the present exercise of random testing of two per cent travellers irrespective of their country of origin upon arrival in India shall continue." Furthermore, according to the World Health Organization's latest update on coronavirus, a decline of 89% in the number of newly confirmed cases in the past 28 days has been noted globally compared to 28 days prior to that, the Union Health Secretary noted. In the news coming in from China, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the possibility of a large new wave of Covid-19 is relatively low in the coming months in China, the report added. India registered 124 new Covid-19 cases, while the active infection numbers have increased to 1,843, per the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll now stands at 5,30,750, the data showed. The civil aviation ministry on Monday said various information, including about land availability, provided by the Kerala government's KSIDC with respect to the proposed Sabarimala airport are being analysed. In June 2020, the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) had submitted a proposal under Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy to the ministry for grant of site clearance for development of the Sabarimala airport in the state. The KSIDC's proposal was considered in consultation with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Defence (MoD) and KSIDC, as per GFA Policy. "Based on the observations of AAI and DGCA, KSIDC was requested to submit a Techno-Economic Feasibility Study (TEFS) Report. The Final TEFS report was submitted by KSIDC in June 2022 and the same was shared with AAI and DGCA," Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. According to the minister, the proposal was later placed before the 32nd Steering Committee on greenfield airports for consideration of grant of site clearance on November 22, 2022. "Based on the deliberations in the Steering Committee meeting, certain information with respect to (i) availability of land, free from all encumbrances, (ii) vetting of the Impact Assessment data by an independent agency and (iii) Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of the project were sought from the Government of Kerala / KSIDC. Also Read Kerala gives nod for land acquisition to build airport near Sabarimala Kerala HC proposes extending time of worship at Sabarimala to control crowd Kerala's Sabarimala Temple opens for annual pilgrimage season today Bus carrying Sabarimala pilgrims from Andhra overturns; 43 injured Thousands offer prayers at Kerala's Sabarimala temple on Chingam first Time for us in politics to leverage these tools: BJP VP on ChatGPT Encourage research and innovation: President to educational institutions Piyush Goyal directs FCI to open more procurement centres in UP districts Aero India 2023: US 5th gen F-35 fighter makes first landing in India Categorisation of SCs protest spark tension on Vijayawada-Hyderabad highway "These have been received from KSIDC in December 2022 and are being analysed," Singh said in response to a query by Rajya Sabha member John Brittas. Lakhs of devotees visit the hill shrine Sabarimala every year. In another written reply, Singh said that in the past, due to grant of multiple points of call to foreign countries, an imbalance has been created wherein foreign carriers have access to multiple points in India while Indian carriers have access to only one or two points. "Hence, the Government of India is not granting any non-metro airport as a new point of call to any foreign carrier for the purpose of operating passenger services," the minister said in response to a question on whether Kerala's Kannur international airport will also be made a point of call for international flights. Generally, point of call refers to a particular airport from where an airline can operate flights. Indian designated carriers are free to mount scheduled operations to/from any international airport including Kannur international airport to foreign destinations under the ambit of bilateral air service agreements concluded by India with foreign countries. "However, start of international flights from any point in India is purely a commercial decision of scheduled airlines on the basis of economic viability of the route and other associated factors," the minister said, adding that at present, Indian airlines are operating 61 international services per week from the Kannur airport under the winter schedule 2022. Singh also said that three other airports in Kerala -- at Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram -- are already available as points of call to foreign carriers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for popularising Yoga and traditional forms of Indian medicine in a language that the world understands. Modi made the assertion in response to a Twitter user who said that today, more than ever, there is a need of proving Yoga and its benefits scientifically for modern healthcare and the world to believe in it. "Well said. The way ahead is by popularising Yoga and traditional forms of Indian medicine in a language that the world understands. I am happy to see greater awareness among our people on this too," Modi tweeted. He also commented on the aerial coverage of ground and air display captured from indigenously developed Medium Altitude Long Endurance TAPAS UAV during the Aero India 2023 rehearsal from a height of 12,000 feet. "Very interesting!" the prime minister said tagging a DRDO tweet on the aerial shot of the Aero India rehearsal. Replying to another tweet by another user, he said, "The Northeast has seen unparalleled transformation in the last 8 years, leading to extensive benefits for the people there. Pick any sector, the gains are innumerable. Hindenburg effect: Adani Group cuts revenue growth target, capex amid rout Gautam Adanis conglomerate has halved its revenue growth target and plans to hold off fresh capital expenditure, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Indian billionaire seeks to rebuild investor confidence in the wake of a bruising short seller attack. Read more Going slow: Infosys, Wipro keep Class of 2023 waiting for campus hiring Excess hiring in the previous year and continued economic uncertainties are affecting campus recruitment by top information technology (IT) services players. Semiconductor chip supply constraints put brakes on auto OEM ramp-up Infosys and Wipro, according to sources, are yet to hit the campus trail to give offers to students who graduate in the academic year 2023. Read more Also Read Hindenburg Research: All you need to know about US-based investment firm Top headlines: Quake kills 4,000 in Turkey, Syria, Vi eyes come back Latest LIVE: Rahul Gandhi questions govt on Adani rout in Lok Sabha Fraud can not be obfuscated by nationalism: Hindenburg on Adani's rebuttal Wipro Q2 preview: Revenue may jump 17% YoY; profit seen dropping up to 6% TMS Ep367: India's infra ambitions, Railways, markets, pledging of shares Latest news LIVE: PM Modi to inaugurate Aero India 2023 event in Bengaluru Uttar Pradesh steadily becoming India's sports hub, says Anurag Thakur PM Modi calls for popularising Yoga in language that world understands Efforts underway to fully Indigenise Tejas aircraft soon: Rajnath Singh Read more Ajay Seth, chief financial officer of the countrys largest passenger carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), highlighted during the companys third-quarter (Q3) results of 2022-23 (FY23), the supply shortage of electronic components had marginally increased in comparison to the previous quarter. The semiconductor chip supply-chain nightmares that had shaken up the automotive (auto) industry during the pandemic may be behind us. But with component supplies yet to fully normalise, automakers are struggling to ramp up production to full capacity. Data embassies may only be allowed to store non-personal information The government likely to allow only non-personal datasets to be stored in data embassies the physical data centres of trusted nations which enjoy diplomatic immunity from local laws as part of an upcoming policy, sources said. Turkey probes contractors as earthquake death toll breaches 33,000 mark A senior government official said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) plans to draft a separate policy for data embassies, instead of including it in the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022. Read more The board filed an affidavit in the court in this respect after a government lawyer earlier told the court that a writ petition should not be entertained to challenge the order passed by the commissioner (appeals) in view of the fact that the remedy of the tribunal is available under the Central Goods & Service Tax (GST) Act, 2017. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has told the Bombay High Court that it has no intention that a petitioner suffers hardship due to non-availability of GST appellate tribunal (GSTAT) by objecting to a remedy available at a High Court. CBIC told the court that it would like to withdraw an earlier plea in this regard. It should be noted that while provision of tribunal is there under the Act, it is yet to be constituted. The writ petition related to a dispute over refund of a company. However, the counsel for the company pointed out that the decision of the Supreme Court related to a situation where the petitioner had directly approached the High Court. The plea relied on a Supreme Court decision which held that even though the tribunal is not constituted, writ petition should not be entertained in high court. Also Read CBIC revises guidelines on arrest, prosecution for Customs violations CBIC offers clarity on classification of cranes for GST, customs duty CBIC directs GST officers to not summon senior execs in first instance CBIC asks taxmen to recover lower dues from firms under insolvency Businesses will be able to claim pre-GST tax credits from October 1: Report FPIs' exodus continues; take out Rs 9,600 cr from equities in Feb Investment proposals worth Rs 33.5 trn received in GIS, says CM Adityanath March heat to shape up wheat output this year in North India: Experts India's exports to Turkey may get impacted in short run due to earthquake Economists, health experts pitch for higher taxes on tobacco products The High Court said the CBIC counsel was unable to inform it what remedy is available for the petitioner. Under the GST system, an appeal can be filed before the commissioner (appeals) against the order of an adjudicating authority. "Therefore, it is necessary for us to know whether the Union of India has given such instructions to the advocate," the court wanted to know. The court observed that the counsel had sought to contend that though there is no tribunal, nor it can be committed when it will be set up in near future, the position that the petitioner is remediless, is appropriate. The CBIC submitted that the court may decide the issue on merits. CBICs affidavit said that the counsel was not specifically directed by it to argue on the matter of alternative remedy. However, the counsel had only argued on the issue of alternative remedy only, it said. Some Indian refiners are looking to import diesel and other refined products from Russia for local consumption to free the locally produced products for exports to the West, a report by the Economic Times (ET) said. The European Union (EU) announced a ban on exporting refined petroleum products from Russia effective February 5. "Our people are exploring if we can source cheaper products from Russia...If India can import so much crude, it can, of course, import products as well. But imports of products must make commercial sense. We are in the business to make money," an executive at an Indian refiner told ET. G7 countries, including the EU, have imposed a price cap on refined Russian products. For India, Russia has already become the top crude oil supplier accounting for 28 per cent of the country's total crude imports. In 2021, before the war broke out in Ukraine, this was under 1 per cent. The imports may soon expand to petrol and diesel as well, ET added. Also Read Is it the beginning of the end of diesel cars in India? Greenko lowest bidder for first green hydrogen tender by oil refinery Petrol, diesel prices may not fall despite 30% dip in global crude price Centre aiming to replace petrol, diesel-powered fleet with EVs soon: Report Indian private refiners may gain from EU's ban on Russian oil products 71% Indians confident to retain jobs in 2023 despite global layoffs: Report J&K govt approves Rs 329 crore project to be self reliant in mutton sector CBIC says won't object to taxpayers going to HC in absence of GSTAT FPIs' exodus continues; take out Rs 9,600 cr from equities in Feb Investment proposals worth Rs 33.5 trn received in GIS, says CM Adityanath With the imports, India can maintain a domestic inventory of refined products like petrol and diesel. This can be used during the time when the domestic refineries will shut for maintenance later in 2023. India might not be the only country showing interest in refined products from Russia. "There is a possibility that India could look to import the discounted Russian diesel barrels. But Africa, the Middle East and to a certain extent South America, could also be potential markets vying for these discounted barrels as well," Serena Huang, an analyst at energy cargo tracker Vortexa said. India has long been an exporter of refined products to southeast Asia. Of late, India's focus has shifted to western markets. This is mainly because they are offering better prices due to the ban on Russian products. However, India has also been subjected to sharp criticism from western countries for importing oil from Russia. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday told the Parliament that it is still too early to gauge the spillovers of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), while assailing concerns on whether it would impinge on an individual's autonomy. Replying to a question on the CBDC during Question Hour in Lok Sabha, she said that digital currency is something which the RBI issues. "Reserve Bank of India has come up with a pilot project in terms of retail and wholesale use of digital currencies for which there are several sandboxes created, so that user cases can be tested. It is only during this process and immediately after that can there be any kind of understanding on how the retail or the wholesale use of digital currencies will have any spill overs for which any action has to be planned. It has been introduced since last December. We will wait for the outcomes from there," the Finance Minister said in her reply. DMK member T. Sumathy had expressed concern while asking a question on the CBDC, whether the concept of programmable money brought forth by CBDC could potentially impinge on an individual's autonomy, thus leading to an all-controlling state. --IANS ans/vd Chinese rescuers rush to find more quake survivors China Daily) 08:26, February 13, 2023 (Photo courtesy of Chinas Ministry of Emergency Management) China's official and civilian rescue teams worked against the clock over the weekend to find survivors trapped under rubble, following the Feb 6 earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria. By Sunday, the official rescue team from the Chinese mainland had saved five people and located eight bodies while surveying 49 collapsed buildings in Antakya, one of the worst-hit cities in Turkiye's southern Hatay province. In a three-hour rescue operation on Friday, a woman was pulled to safety from ruins by the official team, more than 100 hours after the first quake, a magnitude 7.8 temblor, hit. About nine hours later, a second, magnitude 7.5, quake struck the region. The team was called to the site after their Turkish counterparts discovered signs of life while clearing a pile of rubble. During the operation, the Chinese rescuers squeezed a flexible endoscope camera through small gaps in the debris to survey the conditions beneath. They also worked with Turkish rescuers to break up the surface of rubble to gain access to the woman and extract her safely. On Saturday evening, with technical support from the Chinese team, Turkish rescuers successfully saved a man during a joint search mission in Antakya where survivors were found the previous day. The 82-member official Chinese team has been working closely with its international counterparts from Italy, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Slovakia and Oman, ensuring that search and rescue missions are well coordinated. Meanwhile, a 59-member team sent by the Hong Kong government pulled three survivors from six-meter-deep rubble in Hatay on Saturday. Yiu Men-yeung, head of the HK team, said that it was exciting to find the survivors six days after the earthquake. Rescuers will do their best to search for more people and won't give up hope, Yiu added. China's civilian rescue teams also continued to search for survivors over the weekend. As of Friday morning, 15 civilian Chinese rescue teams, comprising 288 members, had made it to quake-hit regions in Turkiye. On Saturday, the Rescue Team of Ramunion helped locate seven people trapped in an apartment building in Iskenderun, Hatay, after 10 hours of searching. Unfortunately, they were all dead, the team's command center said. The Ramunion team has been involved in search and rescue missions in four cities in Hatay since arriving in Turkiye on Wednesday. By Saturday night, the team had found seven survivors. Meanwhile, China also delivered on Saturday morning its first earthquake relief supplies to Turkiye, including tents and medical equipment, according to the China International Development Cooperation Agency. The death toll in Turkiye and Syria surpassed 33,000 on Sunday, AP reported. Zhao Mi, a Chinese national who has lived in Antakya since 2019, survived the earthquake. While receiving treatment at a hospital, she recalled the terrifying moment the quake struck early in the morning. She and her children were sleeping in separate bedrooms when the 15-story apartment building they had been living in collapsed on Monday, Chinese media reported on Saturday. "The building first started to shake violently. When it collapsed, I immediately curled up my body. I was buried in darkness and couldn't move," the 32-year-old said. She could hear her daughter, 9, and son, 13, calling for help and they were soon rescued from the rubble. Zhao was pulled from the ruins about 25 hours after the building collapsed. "I used toilet tissue to soak up rainwater dripping down from the rubble and then squeezed the water into my mouth to survive. The water also kept me alert so I could call for help," she said. Zhao was being treated for multiple fractures in a hospital. Her daughter was in the intensive care unit of another hospital for multiple fractures and injuries to her organs. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) While ISB slipped to 39th rank from 32nd in 2023, IIMs at Indore and Lucknow secured their place in the chart. IIM Ahmedabad improved its position to 51 from 62 in 2022, a press release from FT said. However, ISB retained its No. 1 position among B-schools in India. Indian School of Business (ISB) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Indore and Lucknow have figured in the Financial Times (FT) Global MBA 2023 ranking. Prof Ramabhadran Thirumalai, deputy dean, academic programmes, ISB, said: ISBs consistent ranking as the top B-school in India in the FT Global MBA Ranking bears testimony to its constant endeavour to offer its students a research-backed curriculum and cutting-edge pedagogy delivered by faculty who are thought leaders in their areas. He added that the top ranking also pointed to how well ISBs alumni were doing in their careers after they graduated from the school. The Post Graduate Programme (PGP) from ISB continues to be ranked No. 1 in India in the FT Global MBA Ranking 2023. In keeping with its consistent performance over the years in these rankings, ISB is the only Indian B-school in the top 50 worldwide. It has been ranked No. 6 in Asia, a press release from Hyderabad-based ISB said. Columbia Business School in the United States topped the global chart, followed by Insead France and IESE Business School in Spain. The weighted salary of ISB graduates stood at $161,331 while it was $186,420 per annum in case of IIM Ahmedabad graduates, FT said. A group of protesters gathered outside the Twitter headquarters here in support of employees who were laid off by its CEO Elon Musk. The rally took place outside Twitter headquarters at 1355 Market Street over the last weekend, according to NBC Bay Area. Steve Zeltzer, who led the protests with fellow labour activist Andrew Kong Knight, was quoted as saying that the rally was in support of both the laid-off workers and those who remain at the company. "We think he (Musk) should comply with the labor laws. He has a history of flagrantly flouting labour laws. He fired 700 Tesla workers who were trying to organise," Zeltzer said. Performers at the event included the Angry Tired Teachers Band, a pro-labour group. Some of the laid-off employees filed a class-action lawsuit against Twitter and Musk, alleging the sacking violated state and federal labour laws. Also Read Musk's title of world's richest person at risk after net worth dips $70 bn Tesla stock drops to its lowest, Elon Musk blames macroeconomic conditions Tesla delivers first electric semis to PepsiCo at Nevada factory Twitter should put efforts in tackling bots, not in serving subpoenas: Musk SpaceX has now manufactured over 1 million Starlink terminals: Elon Musk A new Bill: Walt Disney World loses control of its own district Electric vehicles likely to equal petrol cars in price this year: Report New startups in Japan seek to challenge dominance of biggest chip maker Over 17,400 tech employees got fired in February globally to date Japan's chain HMI plans to develop 30 new hotels in Uttar Pradesh Last month, the group of sacked Twitter employees was told by a US judge to drop their class-action lawsuit against Musk. In a ruling, US District Judge James Donato said that the workers must make their case in private arbitration instead, "citing the employment contract they signed with Twitter." The lawsuit accused Twitter of not keeping its promise on severance pay package. Musk initially promised three months of severance pay but several employees, who were sacked, claimed they only received one-month pay in addition to the two months of non-working pay they also received in compliance with the US WARN Act. Asked whether he had ruled out an extraterrestrial origin for three airborne objects shot down by US warplanes in as many days, General Glen VanHerck said: Ill let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I havent ruled out anything. The US Air Force general overseeing North American airspace said on Sunday that he would not rule out aliens or any other explanation yet, deferring to US intelligence experts. Were calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason, said VanHerck. At this point we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it, said VanHerck, head of US North American Aerospace Defense Command and Northern Command (NORAD). VanHerck said the military was unable to immediately determine the means by which any of the three latest objects were kept aloft or where they were coming from. Meanwhile, China has spotted an unidentified flying object over waters near Qingdao and the authorities were preparing to shoot it down, The Paper reported. An employee at the marine development authority of Qingdao Jimo district said relevant authorities were preparing to take down the object, The Paper reported. His comments came during a Pentagon briefing on Sunday after a US F-16 fighter jet shot down an octagonal-shaped object over Lake Huron on the US-Canada border. Also Read South Korea's unannounced missile launch causes UFO scare in Seoul We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason: Pentagon officials As US brings down third UFO in three days, here is all you need to know 'Aliens and deep tunnels': Elon Musk offers vision for future at G20 Beijing under Covid-19 alert after a school, university report fresh cases Timeline: What and where fighter jets have shot down unidentified aircraft Earthquake survivors in Turkey, Syria face despair, as rescues wane 4,300 deaths reported in north-west Syria following earthquake, says UN More than 10 US high-altitude balloons flew in our airspace: China Thousands march in Israel as Netanyahu allies push judicial overhaul Beijing replies Fishermen in the region have been told to remain careful about safety. It is nothing rare for US balloons to illegally enter other countrys airspace, Wang told reporters at a briefing in Beijing on Monday. US balloons illegally flew over China more than 10 times since the beginning of 2022, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. Rescue crews on Monday pulled a 40-year-old woman from the wreckage of a building a week after two powerful earthquakes struck, but reports of rescues are coming less often as the time since the quake reaches the limits of the human body's ability to survive without water, especially in sub-freezing temperatures. The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes struck nine hours apart in southeastern Turkiye and northern Syria on Feb. 6. They killed at least 33,185, with the toll expected to rise considerably as search teams find more bodies, and reduced much of towns and cities inhabited by millions to fragments of concrete and twisted metal. On Monday rescuers pulled a 40-year-old woman from the wreckage of a 5-story building in the town of Islahiye, in Gaziantep province. The woman, Sibel Kaya, was rescued after spending 170 hours beneath the rubble by a mixed crew that included members of Turkiye's coal mine rescue team. Earlier, a 60-year-woman, Erengul Onder, was also pulled out from the rubble in the town of Besni, in Adiyaman province, by teams from the western city of Manisa. We received the news of a miracle from Besni which helped put the fire raging in our hearts a little, wrote Manisa's mayor Cengiz Ergun on Twitter. Eduardo Reinoso Angulo, a professor at the Institute of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico said the likelihood of finding people alive was very, very small now. Also Read Turkey probes contractors as earthquake death toll breaches 33,000 mark Massive earthquake kills over 2,400 in Turkey, Syria; rescue ops underway Death toll in Turkey, Syria earthquakes reaches 9,400; deadliest in 10 yrs Another earthquake of 5.5 magnitude strikes central Turkey region Frantic search in Turkey, Syria after massive quakes kill over 5,000 S Jaishankar to visit Fiji from Feb 15-17 to attend World Hindi conference As US brings down third UFO in three days, here is all you need to know New Zealand declares emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle lashes North Island Rs 2.6 crore worth diamond fragments seized from Dubai-bound flyers Pak, US to hold defence talks in Washington to boost security ties The lead author on a 2017 study involving deaths inside buildings struck by earthquakes, Reinoso said that the odds of survival for people trapped in wreckage fall dramatically after five days, and is near zero after nine days, although there have been exceptions. David Alexander, a professor of emergency planning and management at University College London, agreed, saying the window for pulling people alive from the rubble is almost at an end. But, he said, the odds were not very good to begin with. Many of the buildings were so poorly constructed that they collapsed into very small pieces, leaving very few spaces large enough for people to survive in, Alexander said. If a frame building of some kind goes over, generally speaking we do find open spaces in a heap of rubble where we can tunnel in, Alexander said. Looking at some of these photographs from Turkiye and from Syria, there just aren't the spaces. Wintery conditions further reduce the window for survival. Temperatures in the region have fallen to minus 6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight. The typical way the body compensates for hypothermia is shivering and shivering requires a lot of calories, said Dr. Stephanie Lareau, a professor of emergency medicine at Virginia Tech. So if somebody's deprived of food for a number of days and exposed to cold temperatures, they're probably going to succumb to hypothermia more rapidly. A week after the quakes hit, many people were still without shelter in the streets. Some survivors were still waiting in front of collapsed buildings waiting for the bodies of their loved ones to be retrieved. Many in Turkiye blame faulty construction for the vast devastation, and authorities have begun targeting contractors allegedly linked with buildings that collapsed. At least 131 people were under investigation for their alleged responsibility in the construction of buildings that failed to withstand the quakes, officials said. Turkiye has introduced construction codes that meet earthquake-engineering standards, but experts say the codes are rarely enforced. In Syria, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said that the international community has failed to provide aid. Visiting the Turkish-Syrian border Sunday, Griffiths said Syrians are looking for international help that hasn't arrived. We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria. They rightly feel abandoned, he said, adding, My duty and our obligation is to correct this failure as fast as we can. The earthquake death toll in Syria's northwestern rebel-held region has reached 2,166, according to the rescue group the White Helmets. The overall death toll in Syria stood at 3,553 on Saturday, although the 1,387 deaths reported for government-held parts of the country hadn't been updated in days. Turkiye's death toll was 29,605 as of Sunday. In the Syrian capital of Damascus, the head of the World Health Organization warned that the pain will ripple forward, calling the disaster an unfolding tragedy that's affecting millions. The compounding crises of conflict, COVID, cholera, economic decline, and now the earthquake have taken an unbearable toll, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Modi said Indias defence exports have increased six times in the last five years and that it has crossed the figure of $1.5 billion in its exports. Our target is that by 2024-25, we will increase this export figure from 1.5 billion to 5 billion dollars, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday set out ambitions to more than treble annual defence exports to $5 billion over the next two years, as arms firms flocked to Aero India for a slice of the nations massive import budget. The country, which was the biggest defence importer for decades, is now exporting defence equipment to 75 countries of the world, he said. You also know that defence is such an area in which technology, market and business are considered the most complicated...We consider this to be just a start, Modi said. The five-day aerospace exhibition, considered the largest in Asia, is seeing the participation of over 700 Indian and foreign defence companies, besides delegates from around 100 countries, which included several defence ministers as well. Today, India is not just a market for defence companies, it is also a potential defence partner, Modi said in a speech at the show. I call on Indias private sector to invest more and more in the countrys defence sector. India exports defence products to 75 countries, he added. The country is looking to sign defence deals worth Rs 75,000 crore ($9 billion) at Aero India, its biggest ever, as its airlines try to complete jetliner purchases to meet civilian demand and press global aircraft manufacturers to produce more locally, mainly through partnerships. Also Read Aero India 2023: India rejuvenated defence mfg sector in 8-9 yrs, says PM Budget 2023-24: Manufacturing sector eyes revised taxations, new PLIs Union Budget 2023: Experts don't expect surprises in social sector outlay Budget 2023: A look back at some major announcements in previous Budget Aero India 2023: HAL's 'Next Gen Supersonic Trainer' on display Aero India 2023: Karnataka to add to strength of defence, says Bommai Earthquake of 3.2 magnitude hits central Assam's Nagaon district Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned briefly as opposition creates ruckus Biggest defence importer for decades now exports to 75 countries: PM Modi Two new SC judges sworn in, total strength of apex court reaches 34 Boeing global support centre comes to India India also wants smaller domestic firms and start-ups to make parts for large defence products globally, and attract foreign investment for joint product development and production. Past Indian exports include Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Dhruv helicopters to the Philippines, Mauritius and Ecuador, and Russia-India venture BrahMos Aerospaces supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. HAL has also offered its Tejas light fighter jet for sale to Malaysia. India has also exported other items such as offshore patrol vessels, coastal surveillance systems, avionics, chaff rocket launchers and spares for radars. The air show aims to promote exports of indigenous air platforms such as Tejas, Dhruv, HTT-40 training aircraft, Dornier light utility helicopter and the light combat helicopter. Israel's president on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay a contentious plan to overhaul the country's judicial system and instead seek a compromise with his political opponents. President Isaac Herzog issued the appeal in a prime-time nationwide address a day before Netanyahu's coalition is to take its first steps toward implementing the plan in a parliamentary vote. The proposed reforms have triggered mass demonstrations, opposition from wide swaths of Israeli society and even drawn a veiled warning from President Joe Biden. I feel, we all feel, that we are in a moment before a collision, even a violent collision, a barrel of explosives before a blast, Herzog said. Herzog's job is largely ceremonial. But the president is meant to serve as a unifying force and moral compass for a country that is deeply divided. Netanyahu and his supporters say the changes are needed to rein in a judiciary that wields too much power. Also Read Israel's designated PM Netanyahu says he has successfully formed new govt Political opponents aren't enemies: Omar on Twitter video of J&K BJP chief PM-designate Netanyahu vows not to allow anti-LGBT laws in Israel Israel PM Lapid congratulates Netanyahu on comeback in national elections Israelis protest PM Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial overhaul plans Quake of magnitude 4.7 jolts Turkey as nation continues with rescue ops China plans to triple nuclear warheads to 900 by 2035 amid tensions with US Turkey probes contractors as earthquake death toll breaches 33,000-mark Turkey cracks down on builders; cost of earthquake pegged at 10% of GDP US holds drills in South China Sea amid tensions over balloon spy But his critics say the plan, which include proposals to weaken Israel's Supreme Court, will damage the country's fragile system of democratic checks and balances. They also say that Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, is motivated by a personal grudge against the legal system and that he and has allies have a deep conflict of interest. They want to destroy the system because the system wasn't nice to them, said Eliad Shraga, chairman of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel. This is a hostile takeover by a bunch of crooks. The movement has planned a mass demonstration outside the Knesset, or parliament, on Monday, when Netanyahu's coalition is expected to present the first legislation for its sweeping overhaul. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend. Herzog urged Netanyahu to put off Monday's vote and instead begin dialogue with his opponents. Saying that both sides have valid points, he offered a five-point plan as a basis for dialogue. There was no immediate response from Netanyahu's office. Residents of the Gaza Strip said Israeli aircraft launched a series of airstrikes at militant sites in the coastal Palestinian territory early Monday. The airstrikes appear to be a response to the firing of a rocket by Palestinian militants toward southern Israel Saturday evening. Israeli air defences intercepted the rocket. The Israeli military said the airstrikes targeted an underground rocket manufacturing complex run by Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Gaza-Israel frontier had been largely quiet in recent months, but there have been intermittent rocket fire and airstrikes influenced by soaring violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and his Nepali counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal during a bilateral meeting here on Monday reviewed various aspects of Nepal-India relations and expressed commitment to allow the export of power from Nepal to India on a long-term basis. Kwatra arrived here on a two-day official visit to hold talks with the country's top leaders on the entire range of multifaceted cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, including connectivity, trade and transit, power sector cooperation, agriculture, education, culture, health sector, and people to people relations, among others. Soon after his arrival here, Kwatra met his Nepalese counterpart Paudyal and "the two sides reviewed with satisfaction the progress made in the connectivity projects such as railways, transmissions lines, bridges, and the ICPs, said a statement issued by the Nepalese Foreign Ministry. The two sides also expressed commitment to allow the export of power from Nepal to India on a long-term basis utilising all products of the exchange market. They also discussed technical upgrading of cross-border transmission lines and early approval of the four proposed transmission line projects under the LOC-IV, the statement said. The two sides discussed the early conclusion of the renewed transit treaty, review of the trade treaty, and convening of the inter-governmental committee on trade (IGC) at an early date. Foreign Secretary Paudyal reiterated the request to the Indian government for additional air-entry routes as well as early concurrence of the near border flight operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, according to the statement. Also Read Indian Embassy, Nepal govt sign MoUs for projects in education, healthcare Indo-Nepal border sealed for 72 hours ahead of general elections in Nepal 17.9 mn people set for national and provincial elections in Nepal on Sunday Nepal plane crash: At least 68 dead, rescuers search for 4 missing persons Nepal plane crash: Death toll rises to 70; handover of bodies begins Imran Khan blames negligence of forces for spike in terror attacks in Pak 'System can't work if authority is with army chief, responsibility with PM' Pakistan must set its house in order: Global experts on its economic crisis Missing Indian national in earthquake-hit Turkey found dead: Embassy Brazil, Switzerland request Security Council meeting on quake-hit Syria The two foreign secretaries also discussed the boundary matters. In this regard, they exchanged views on completing the boundary works in the remaining segments through the established bilateral mechanisms. They also agreed to finalise the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the foreign service academies of the two countries. The meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere reflecting the close and multifaceted relations between the two neighbours, said the statement. Paudyal later hosted a lunch in the honour of the visiting Indian foreign secretary and the members of his delegation. In the afternoon, Kwatra also called on President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda', and Minister for Foreign Affairs Bimala Rai Paudyal. Kwatra paid a courtesy call to Bhandari at the Sheetal Niwas here and conveyed the greetings on behalf of the President of India Droupadi Murmu. Matters of mutual interests were discussed during the calls on, the statement said. The Foreign Secretary of India arrived in Kathmandu on Monday morning on a two-day visit to the Himalayan nation. During his visit, Kwatra, who was earlier India's ambassador here, is expected to discuss with his Nepalese interlocutors the possibility of a visit to India by Prime Minister Prachanda. Prachanda has said that he will travel to India on his first foreign visit. Seven members each from Nepal and India took part in the Foreign Secretary-level bilateral meeting. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava was among the members of the Indian delegation while Joint Secretary and spokesperson at the Foreign Ministry Sewa Lamsal was among the members of the Nepalese delegation. This is the first high-level visit from India after Prime Minister Prachanda assumed office for the third time in December. Kwatra is also expected to meet Nepal's top political leaders, including Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday. "The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy," the Ministry of External Affairs has said. India's Neighbourhood First' policy is an integral component of Indian foreign policy. The policy seeks to build cordial and synergetic relations with India's South Asian neighbours in various areas such as economy, science and technology, research, and education, among others. Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old "Roti Beti" relationship. Nepal shares a border of more than 1,850 km with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services. Pakistan and the US are set to hold defence talks in Washington on Monday to explore various options for ramping up bilateral military and security ties, the foreign office here has announced. The talks that would last from Monday to Thursday will be the second round of the Pakistan-US Mid-Level Defence Dialogue after the first round was held in Pakistan in January 2021, it said in a statement on Sunday. "Pakistan's inter-agency delegation, led by the chief of general staff, will comprise senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Staff Headquarters and three services headquarters. The US multi-agency team will be represented by the office of the undersecretary of defence, it said. Ties between the two countries have improved recently and the defence talks are kind of its manifestation, it added. The Dawn newspaper reported that US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet in an interview with the paper emphasised the need to assist Islamabad in fighting terrorists, who had recently killed over 80 people inside a mosque in Peshawar's Police Lines compound. Chollet, who conducts special diplomatic assignments for the US Secretary of State, is due in Islamabad the coming week for talks on a wide range of issues, the report said. Also Read Pak summons Afghan diplomat to convey anguish over attack on envoy in Kabul Pak President Alvi okays appointment of Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff Ties with India, Pakistan independent of each other: US Spokesman Ned Price Senate has no objections to F-16 deal with Pakistan: US State Dept US budget includes $15 mn for improving security along Pak-Afghan border Israeli jets launched airstrikes at militant site in Gaza after attack Earthquake of magnitude 4.3 hits Afghanistan's Fayzabad on Monday We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason: Pentagon officials Aero India 2023: India is our partner of choice, says US envoy Jones US shoots down 4th mysterious object over Lake Huron near Canadian border For the US, it's going to be about how we can deepen the partnership further and help Pakistan as it's trying to deal with what is an unquestionably challenging economic situation, said the senior US diplomat when asked what the top item on his agenda would be. He said Pakistan was still recovering from the floods and was also dealing with an emerging counterterrorism threat, which had made the situation even worse. Chollet pointed out that the US and Pakistan were already taking steps to further strengthen their ties which went through a phase of disengagement during the Afghan war but started improving soon after the withdrawal of US troops from Kabul. I believe the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks will be here in Washington in the last week of February, so the week after I'm back and we will also hold a counterterrorism dialogue next month, he said. The report also noted that the counterterrorism dialogue, which may be held in Islamabad next month, will focus on groups like the banned militant outfits Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan, which have restarted their activities in the region. He added that these countries would also receive 75 per cent of Russias refined oil products, and that Moscow continued to look for new markets. Russia plans to sell more than 80 per cent of its oil exports to what it calls friendly countries in 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday, referring to countries that have not sanctioned Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. EUs new plans Russia has stepped up discounted sales to China and India, in particular, since it was hit by sanctions and a G7 price cap. The measures will include extensive new export bans on a number of products, technologies and components that have been identified in Russian weapons deployed in Ukraine, said the sources. The European Union (EU) is set to propose a new package of sanctions to further restrict Moscows ability to support its war machine, according to sources. Also Read India's Russian oil imports cross 1 million barrels a day in December India's palm oil imports to jump 9% on rising demand, lower prices India's oil imports from Russia fall in last two months, down 25% from June Analysts see pressure on RIL, OMC's profitability amid firm oil prices Govt should scrap windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil: FICCI Australia adds $300 mn funding to improve lives of Aus original inhabitants Erdogan faces major challenge as earthquake change election scene in Turkey Russia plans caps on crude oil discounts to as low as $25 per barrel OPEC chief tells climate negotiators to 'look at the big picture' Rishi Sunak privately drafting plans to rebuild Britain's ties with EU EUs executive arm, the European Commission, is planning to also propose export measures aimed at heavy vehicles including trucks and machines as well as possible import restrictions on Russian rubber and asphalt. EUs embargo drop Russias exports Russias seaborne oil product exports fell about 10 per cent from February 1-12 from the same period in January due to the EUs embargo, the lack of available tankers and the closure of ports due to storms, traders said and Refinitiv data showed. Vysotsk loadings stood at 330,000 tonnes of fuel compared with 440,000 tonnes in the same period last month. St Petersburg has loaded only 50 per cent of volumes in the same period of January - 150,000 tonnes during 1-12 February, Refinitiv data showed. February 4 Shot down: Off Surfside Beach, South Carolina A timeline of what and where fighter jets have shot down unidentified aircraft so far this month: However, China insisted the balloon was used for meteorological and other scientific research and had been blown off course. A US defence official said the aircraft was a spy balloon and that China had intended to use it on sensitive military sites. February 10 Shot down: Off Deadhorse, Alaska Also Read 45 fighter jets including Sukhois, Rafales perform during 74th R-Day Parade UK, Italy, Japan team up to build sixth-generation fighter by 2035 At least 42 fighter squadrons essential, says IAF chief VR Chaudhary Japan to jointly develop fighter jet with UK to expand defence cooperation Washington mulls F-16 aircraft production boost for Ukraine Earthquake survivors in Turkey, Syria face despair, as rescues wane 4,300 deaths reported in north-west Syria following earthquake, says UN More than 10 US high-altitude balloons flew in our airspace: China Thousands march in Israel as Netanyahu allies push judicial overhaul US shoots down another unidentified flying object over North America Two US F-22 warplanes were dispatched from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska, and the object was shot down over sea ice near Deadhorse. A second object, described as being about the size of a small car, was spotted by the North American Aerospace Defense Command near Alaska and downed on February 10. February 11 Shot down: Over the Yukon Canadian officials described the object, which was flying at an altitude of around 40,000 feet, as small and cylindrical and that it posed a reasonable threat. A third object, described by US officials as much smaller than the suspected spy balloon, was tracked entering US airspace over Alaska before drifting over Canada. February 12 Again, US F-22 jets tracked the object, while Canadian CF-18 fighters and CP-140 maritime patrol craft also joined the operation. A senior US official described the latest object flying at a considerably lower altitude, around 20,000 feet as having an octagonal structure with strings hanging off but no discernible payload. Shot down: By F-16 over Lake Huron, Michigan Were calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason, said US Air Force General Glen VanHerck, refusing to rule out any explanation when asked if they could be extraterrestrial. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that the government's aim is to take defence exports from $1.5 billion to $5 billion by 2024-25. "From here India will take rapid strides to be included among the largest defence manufacturing countries and our private sector and investors will play a big role in that," the Prime Minister said while addressing the inaugural of Aero India 2023 in Karnataka's Bengaluru this morning. The Prime Minister called upon the private sector to invest in the defence sector which will create new opportunities for them in India and in many other countries. Modi inaugurated the 14th edition of Asia's biggest aero show - Aero India 2023 - at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru today. Addressing the gathering, Modi said nation is touching new heights today and that Aero India 2023 is a shining example of India's growing capabilities. He called upon the youth of Karnataka to deploy their technological expertise in the field of defence to strengthen the country. The five-day Aero India 2023 event will conclude on 17th February. The February 13th to 15th will be business days, while 16th & 17th have been set as public days to allow people to witness the show. The event comprises a Defence Ministers' Conclave; a CEOs Round Table; Manthan start-up event; Bandhan ceremony; breath-taking air shows; a large exhibition; India Pavilion and a trade fair of aerospace companies. The event is likely to witness the participation of 98 countries. The Defence Ministers of 32 countries, Air Chiefs of 29 countries and 73 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are expected to attend the event. Eight hundred and nine (809) defence companies, including MSMEs and start-ups, will showcase the advancement in niche technologies and the growth in aerospace and defence sector. Also Read To promote aero sports activities of Manipur and Northeast, SkyFunzy organized Northeast Aero Sports Hot Air Balloons and Para-Motor Fiesta Nelco soars after pact with Intelsat for inflight connectivity in India Indices trim losses, Nifty above 17,200 level, NSE VIX climbs over 5% Sensex spurts 376 pts, Nifty above 17,900 level Prime Minister Says India Emerging As Bright Spot Amid Global Crisis India Direct Tax Collection Up 24.09% To Rs 15.67 lakh crore: Finance Ministry India Forex Reserves Falls By USD 1.494 Billion To USD 575.27 Billion Next 3 decades are going to be India's growth story: DPIIT Secretary India Ranked Among Top Five Accreditation System In The World, Commerce Ministry Reports RBI extends G-Sec market trading hours Powered by Capital Market - Live News Ingersoll-Rand (India) jumped 9.69% to Rs 2170 after the company's net profit rose 67.7% to Rs 47.96 crore on 30.3% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 319.22 crore in Q3 December 2022 over Q3 December 2021.Profit before tax (PBT) rose 67.9% YoY to Rs 64.78 crore in Q3 FY23. Total expenditure rose 23.3% YoY to Rs 253.74 crore in Q3 FY23. Cost of raw material consumed rose 19.9% to Rs 180.03 crore while employee expenses rose 15.5% to Rs 29.35 crore. Ingersoll-Rand (India) is engaged in manufacturing and selling industrial air compressors of various capacities and providing related services. The company sells air compressors primarily in India and also exports the products to American, Asian and European countries. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Sales rise 7.13% to Rs 215.78 croreNet profit of NILE declined 18.20% to Rs 4.90 crore in the quarter ended December 2022 as against Rs 5.99 crore during the previous quarter ended December 2021. Sales rose 7.13% to Rs 215.78 crore in the quarter ended December 2022 as against Rs 201.41 crore during the previous quarter ended December 2021. ParticularsQuarter EndedDec. 2022Dec. 2021% Var.Sales215.78201.41 7 OPM %3.785.06 -PBDT7.269.02 -20 PBT6.578.10 -19 NP4.905.99 -18 Powered by Capital Market - Live News Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday moved an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the China transgressions issue. In the notice, he stated, "Since April 2020, China has engaged in what can only be described as a steady land grab. Till 16 January 2023, 17 rounds of Commander level talks have taken place between India and China with little success. All the while China continues to build significant infrastructure, including bridges, roads and accommodation for its troops. China is attempting to unilaterally change the status quo. "The clashes in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh were another indication of China's steady aggression aimed at changing the status quo on the border. What is more, such aggression is no longer limited in territorial scope as is evidenced by the clashes that took place in Arunachal Pradesh, around 2000 kms away from the place of previous clashes." He said there is a growing concern that China is unwilling to restore the status quo ante, a situation that puts India at a massive disadvantage. Despite this, China's large trade surplus with us has continued to surge since the military confrontations began in 2020. The trade deficit for India stood at USD 101.02 billion, crossing the 2021 figure of USD 69.38 billion. Also Read Lt Gen Anil Chauhan takes charge as India's new Chief of Defence Staff Manish Tewari gives 6th adjournment notice in LS on Chinese transgression China face-off, Assam border dispute hog news in Arunachal Pradesh in 2022 Manish Tewari gives 4th adjournment notice in LS on border row with China Arunachal Pradesh govt chalking out plan to empower all villages: CM The House and Adani: Second half of Budget session will resume on March 14 Cong ignored development in border areas fearing enemy could exploit roads Budget session: Kharge calls Oppn meeting Mon to chalk out floor strategy 'Does govt have hand in Adani's growth,' Congress' Venugopal attacks Centre Govt not doing enough to remove hurdles in agri exports, says Sharad Pawar "I urge the government to take this matter with utmost seriousness and have a detailed discussion in Parliament with regard to the border situation with China." --IANS miz/dpb Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor 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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 New Delhi, February 13, 2023: The University of York, UK has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), which will support student mobility opportunities and academic collaboration. The MoU was signed at an event in New Delhi between Professor Charlie Jeffery, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, and Professor C. Raj Kumar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU, followed by a tour of JGU and meetings to develop projects between the two institutions. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions will lead to a number of initiatives, including PhD projects, academic research partnerships, and student exchanges in areas including politics, law, sustainability, film and music studies, and public health. O.P. Jindal Global University is recognised as an Institution of Eminence by the Ministry of Education. It was established through a philanthropic initiative of its Founding Chancellor, Mr. Naveen Jindal. It is ranked as India's Number 1 Private University by the QS World University Rankings, and was also recognised among the Top 150 universities globally under the age of 50 years by the QS Young University Rankings 2022. On this occasion, Professor Charlie Jeffery said, "I would like to thank our colleagues in India for this opportunity to work together to provide our students with a truly international learning experience, and collaborate on research that will make a difference to people's lives globally. Underpinning our relationship is our shared mission to bring graduates into the global workplace fully equipped to deliver their knowledge in a way that allows communities anywhere in the world to flourish." Professor C. Raj Kumar said, "We welcome our colleagues from York in the UK, and look forward to an exciting future together where our combined expertise will create lasting benefits for society. International collaboration is essential to breaking down barriers, providing solutions to significant global challenges, and producing the next generation of experts in fields that will improve the ways in which we live and work." The MoU signing took place during a week-long trip to India, where the University of York Vice-Chancellor was joined by Professor Miles Elsden, Director of the Institute of Safe Autonomy (ISA) at York. The University of York will officially launch the Institute of Safe Autonomy (ISA) later this year, which takes a safety critical approach to the design, development and testing of robotics and connected autonomous systems, with the aim of minimising the risks associated with these technologies, and exploring their potential to deliver impactful solutions for the benefit of society and the economy. The Vice-Chancellor and Professor Elsden met with senior education, government, and industry leaders in Delhi and Mumbai to discuss future collaborations in the areas of research, teaching, and industry in India. Without good data and information, it is impossible to make sound decisions. As a result, businesses rely on business analytics professionals to examine data and assist them in making more informed decisions. Career prospects in business analytics are increasing right now. One of the most critical parts of a successful organisation is business analytics. Businesses have a lot of data that has to be analysed. Business analytics assists businesses in making sense of data, allowing for more effective decision-making. Business analytics aids in the expansion of a company. It enables the organisation to better understand its customers and make forecasts about their growth and success. Scope of Business Analytics The reach of business analytics is expanding and becoming more mainstream as firms of all sizes and analytics skill levels enter the big data game. Exploring business analytics necessitates the correct focus, the right technology, the right people, a clean culture, and the best management promise. Companies such as IBM, Cognizant, and KPMG use business analytics technologies to make valuable and effective decisions. Right present, every industry in the globe is looking for business analysts. A business analytics professional is critical for enhancing business processes. The field is getting better at comprehension and data visibility with the use of machine learning (ML)-powered platforms, which was not achievable with traditional business analytics tools. What is Business Analytics? Business Analytics (BA) refers to the skills, technology, and techniques that are used to conduct ongoing pragmatic investigations and analyses of previous business performance to obtain insight and drive industry preparation. Company analytics is concerned with gaining new insights and understanding of a company's operations via the use of data and statistical methodologies. In comparison, industry intelligence typically focuses on a uniform set of measures to both measure past performance and direct firm preparedness, both of which are concentrated on data and statistical tactics. Some company operations sectors stand to benefit more than others as small, medium, and big firms tap into the problem-solving prowess of business analytics. Forecasting demand, risk assessment, anticipating potential supply chain disruptions, and offering crisis support are just a few scenarios where business analytics has shown to be beneficial in India. What does a Business Analyst Do? Business analysts examine a large amount of data to draw judgments about business performance. Their primary responsibility is to bridge the gap between the management of a specific business and the complicated data and technical systems. They assist the company in making decisions after evaluating all of the data and boosting the total profit margin of the company. They comprehend the requirements of the stakeholders and transmit them to the developers so that they can work following the demand. The role of a business analyst includes Descriptive Analytics, Predictive Analytics, Discovery Analytics, and Prescriptive Analytics. GPUs, or graphics processing units, are essential components in the development of AI-aided machines. They are top-tier graphics cards. GPUs can process many pieces of data at the same time and can be employed as a standalone hardware unit. Duties of a Business Analyst Some of the important duties that a business analytics expert must complete are as follows: Assist in the enhancement of business operations and procedures Participate in the design or modification of information technology systems Solve business difficulties and make decisions Gather, assess, and document business requirements and needs. Aid in the testing of the system and the creation of system documentation Career Options in Business Analytics Information Security Analyst Cybercrime is a major topic right now, and cybersecurity experts are in high demand. By evaluating security data and monitoring IT networks and systems, information security analysts safeguard enterprises from cyber criminals. If you're interested in ethical hacking, this job is for you. It mainly requires detecting and eliminating holes in systems. To safeguard enterprises and maintain cybersecurity, information security analysts secure data and monitor IT systems and networks. The primary role of these individuals is to identify flaws in a system and devise innovative strategies to reinforce the network. Market Research Analyst A market research analyst's primary responsibility is to discover emerging market trends. Their key concern is client satisfaction, which is attained through an organization's proper product delivery. This analytics employment requires a bachelor's degree in business administration or marketing, as well as outstanding verbal, documentation, and reporting skills. Business Intelligence Manager A business intelligence manager often supervises the work of all of these data scientists and engineers. They act as a liaison between the data team and senior management, delivering findings in language that management can understand and transforming management needs into precise requests that the data team can turn into databases and analysis. Machine Learning Engineer Machine learning engineering is a relatively new specialty. Machine learning engineers work with the organization's data science team to develop programmes and algorithms that enable machines to make judgments, take action, and improve user experience without the need for human intervention. Self-driving automobiles and tailored social media news feeds are two examples of this. Business/Analytics Translators As organisations continue to focus on sophisticated and novel technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to leverage success and increase business efficiency, business/analytics translators bridge the gap between the business and technology teams. The business and technology teams of an organisation can be on opposing ends of the spectrum, resulting in misunderstanding, miscommunication, and, in some cases, catastrophic blunders. Business/analytics translators keep the focus on the organization's goals and objectives while also being data-savvy enough to understand and communicate with individuals on the data science team. The 'roadmap' for the future is then confirmed by business/analytics translators. Chief Data Officer A chief data officer is a senior-level position responsible for managing the organization's data, gaining important insights from it, and collaborating with analytics and data science teams. A chief data officer also seeks to improve corporate performance by utilising new and innovative data sources. A strong chief data officer must have the necessary abilities, such as mathematics and statistics, as well as a specialised master's degree and great knowledge of the IT business. Business Intelligence Consultant A business intelligence consultant works with companies to improve their internal business processes and data strategy. To strengthen their "BI roadmap," they evaluate the current data and analytics systems. They assist organisations in building a data-driven strategy by recommending the most effective strategies for organising, analysing, and presenting data. They attempt to improve performance, facilitate decision-making, and increase efficiency by coordinating company needs with data strategy. Well, it took Geely Philippines long enough. About two years after we said they needed a sub-compact crossover to penetrate the local market... Hoffmann Green partners with Eloy in Belgian first 13 February 2023 Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has signed a partnership agreement with the Belgian group Eloy for pilot applications of ready-mixed concrete and prefabrication using Hoffmanns innovative clinker-free cement. To test this new product while familiarising Eloy site teams, the first pilot construction projects with Hoffmann cement in Belgium are planned for the first half of 2023 in the province of Liege. Therefore, Eloy is the first Belgian player to act now for a construction with zero per cent clinker cement and concrete. "The use of Hoffmann Green's zero per cent clinker cement on our construction sites demonstrates our commitment to innovation in favour of decarbonation. We will be testing this cement in various projects this year, said David Eloy, executive director, Eloy. We are convinced that this partnership will enable us to meet the growing demand for eco-responsible materials in our territory. Research and innovation are part of our DNA and it is therefore with enthusiasm that we subscribe to this partnership agreement with Hoffmann. "After Switzerland and the United Kingdom, Hoffmann Green cements pursue their international expansion thanks to this partnership in Belgium with Eloy, a historic family group with whom we share many values, including the desire to decarbonise the construction sector, added Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann, co-founders of Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies. This is an important step in our collaboration with Eloy to promote our zero per cent clinker cements in Belgium. Published under James (Jim) Clifford Wales, 83, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023, at home, surrounded by his family. He was born in Cleveland on Oct. 28, 1939, to the late James William Wales and Roberta Lee Wales. He served his country in the Armys 101st Airborne Division and the Military Police. Upon discharge, he joined the Tennessee National Guard and was a marksman on its High-Powered Rifle Team. Later, he was a Lieutenant in the Civil Defense Rescue Squad. He also served as a Reserve Deputy with the Tenth Judicial Drug Task Force for many years. Jim felt it was his mission in this position to fight the devastating effects caused by drugs. Jim was an outdoorsman who passed his love of fishing, hunting, and camping to his children. He enjoyed long hikes, picnics, and drives in the mountains with his family, especially in Reliance, Tn. His passion was his family. He enjoyed spending time with his best friend, Jimmy Smith. He appreciated maintaining his special friendship since childhood, Bobby Tatum. Jim attended South Cleveland Church of God with his family. The family suggests memorials be made to the South Cleveland Church of God, 1846 Volunteer Drive, Cleveland, TN 37311, to be used to fund the 180 Center, its ministry to men seeking recovery from addiction. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Gary Wales; his sister, Barbara Madden and her husband, Elmer; and his niece, Deborah Madden. Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Regeania (Geana) Kimsey Wales; his daughters, Keri Wales Evanyk (Dewayne); Amy Wales (Evan Crews); bonus daughter, Crystal Money (Robert); and one very special grandson, Ryne Williams; chosen granddaughters, LeAnn Davis (his best buddy), and Emilee Davis; a loving nephew, Brian Madden (Sebrina) and their children, Cara and Jacob, of South Carolina; step-grandsons, Derrik and Kyle Evanyk; great-granddaughter, Ezrah Evanyk, as well as many cousins, extended family members, and friends. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Fort Hill Cemetery with military honors, playing of bagpipes, and a white dove release ceremony. His family will receive friends Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. The history of the infamous Trail of Tears has been well documented as being a part of the removal of the Cherokee Nation tribe by the Andrew Jackson administration that is one of the more shameful episodes in our local heritage. Although the 1835 Treaty of New Echota promised that a non-voting House of Representative Cherokee delegate would be seated in Congress, that agreement has never been honored for 187 years. The treaty forced the tribe to relocate to Oklahoma from their ancestral home in the Southeast that also resulted in nearly 4,000 deaths on the forced march. Documentation of the Cherokee Nation connection to our area over the years has been found in many of the caves in our area. The nation presently has approximately 400,000 citizens and has already named a former Obama Administration White House official as a delegate to Congress If the provisions of the broken treaty are corrected, the seventh non-voting (NV) representative would be seated in Washington. Six other delegates from Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands have already been seated but none have been granted statehood status. * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com Historically, the Federal Government had limited involvement in Public Education. That changed in 1965 when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act into law. ESEA doubled federal expenditures for K-12 education and gave the federal government much more input into education. That has been the debate ever since, central control of education versus state/local control. Speaker Cameron Sexton shares a view that many people in Tennessee share: Washington mandates are hurting, and not helping many Tennessee schools and students. He has a point. Sometimes federal mandates or programs have little to do with actual education. Certain federal mandates stand in the way of innovative state and local reforms, while others force state and local officials to be more concerned with paperwork than performance. Sexton is right, Tennessee must focus on academic achievement instead of conforming to bureaucratic requirements. A spokesman for Lieutenant Governor Randy McNallys said: McNally thinks a discussion about forgoing this money, a relatively small part of overall education funding, in order to maintain more control over how we educate our Tennessee students is a constructive conversation to have. Many believe it may take as much money to manage the program as it does to take the money. Speaker Sexton made a similar point on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy broadcast on Nashvilles Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC. Sexton said, Are we spending a lot of money in bureaucracy, having to report back to the federal government that we dont have to spend any more because were doing it ourselves and we can be more efficient in it? All those questions are great things to look at. I think in the end, theres a lot of money tied up in a bureaucracy that we may not have to have anymore. Federal dollars make up a small part of our K-12 education funding. However, federal money is critical for low-income areas and special education students. Speaker Sexton stated if the federal dollars were taken away, The state will pick up the cost and still fund those things, but we will be free of the federal regulations. However, the Devil is always in the details. While the idea to eliminate federal funds seems simple enough, the details are more complicated and likely to create new problems. Many people both sides of the political aisle---do not have confidence in the Tennessee Department of Education to manage that task and the fear is that we are just replacing federal oversight with state oversight. We must start at the same place: education is a state and local responsibility. We have maintained we must give much more flexibility to states, local communities, and schools to determine how federal education dollars are spent. The federal government should consolidate funding for all categorical programs and provide to the states in a block grant. A state or school district could enter into an agreement with the federal government demonstrating academic improvement. In exchange for federal funds, states or districts could spend the funds as they saw fit to achieve academic results. Both Speaker Sexton and Lieutenant Governor McNally have said it is time to have hard conversations. I agree. Speaker Sexton recognized it will take time. Harvard Universitys Brendan Pelsue said it best: Politicians must also effectively prove the existence of the problem, and they must do so at a moment in history when the fix they are proposing is politically possible. I have laid out some ideas here, that should also be on the table. Speaker Sexton is correct in stating: Tennesseans are tired of the federal government reaching down into our state and telling us what to do and how to do it simply because they give us funding. We must involve our US Senators and US House Members in this discussion. We should have had these conversations when we considered the new Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement funding formula. We could have looked at how to replace federal dollars at that time and make sure to cover all existing federal programs for schools. Perhaps there is a way we can do everything, allowing states and districts to use federal funds without the bureaucratic strings to meet the goals for all students. We look forward to talking to Speaker Sexton and seeing if we can find common ground here. Should we reject federal money for education? It is a hard conversation. Leaving our tax dollars on the table does not seem attractive. However, I agree we have surrendered too much control of education in Tennessee for federal dollars and bad policy directives. There may be a way we can do everything, including allowing states and districts to use federal funds without troublesome bureaucratic strings. We welcome that conversation. JC Bowman Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will return to Nashville for its Feb. 16-17 meeting at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agencys Region II Ray Bell Building. Commission committee meetings will take place on Thursday, beginning at 1 p.m., with full Commission proceedings continuing Friday at 9 a.m. The TWRA will recognize four members of the Commission who are completing their appointments at the meeting. Chairman Angie Box (Jackson), and commissioners Steve Jones (Clinton), Brian McLerran (Moss), and Kent Woods (Kodak) will be concluding their service. Former commissioner Jim Ripley, who resigned his position last summer after being elected as circuit court judge in East Tennessee, will also be recognized. The TFWC will elect its new officers at the conclusion of the Friday meeting. Chairman Box named a special nominating committee in December which will make its recommendations to the full Commission. In other agenda items, the TFWC will hear a report on how the TWRAs Fisheries Division estimates smallmouth bass populations. The Fisheries Division will also preview the upcoming Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville which highlights the Bill Dance Signature Lakes. The Bassmaster Classic is returning to Knoxville after a successful tournament in 2019 and the TWRA will have a large presence at the event. A briefing on Nashvilles Urban Bird Treaty City designation will also be presented. The goal of the designation is to make cities healthier for birds and people. TWRA has been working in partnership with Davidson County to submit the treaty application to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Commission will welcome Dr. Dave Buehler of UT Knoxville as a guest. He will share a summary of quail capture efforts and preliminary findings from the Quail Research Project being conducted on several Wildlife Management Areas. Other presentations will include The Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation recognizing TWRA as the State Agency Conservation Partner of the Year, Lt. Col Glenn Moates of the Boating and Law Enforcement Division will be recognized upon his retirement, and the TWRA Information Technology Division will present its Professional of the Year award. The SPCA of Westchester, New York, is asking people from all over to kindly give them donations after conducting a massive kitten rescue. For those who may not know, the SPCA is the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a global organization that is dedicated to the safety and well-being of animals. From dog and cat rescues, to wildlife rehabilitation centers, to special needs recovery centers, to foster programs, SPCA International has extended support to shelters in every U.S. state, as well as to international organizations in over 60 countries, is written on their website. The SPCA in Westchester has gained lots of attention from people online after making the largest rescue in their history. Last week, they rescued 150 cats and kittens from a hoarders home in Yorktown Heights. The SPCAs Humane Law Enforcement received a call from local police officers asking for their help after the cats were found living in a small house that was not only falling apart but covered in filth and squalor. Tragically, the owners of the house were found deceased inside. The poor cats were found in terrible shape, and members of the SPCA in Westchester have spent days taking them out of the house. All of them are sick with various respiratory, skin, and eye infections. In addition, they have suffered from malnutrition and dehydration, and some have more severe injuries. A number of female cats also appear to be pregnant, and one even gave birth due to distress during the rescue. Our newest rescues desperately need your support, wrote the SPCA of Westchester on Facebook. Even after all that theyve been through, the cats are incredibly sweet and just want to be loved. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. One woman recently shared a dark story from her childhood that involves her moms friend from work living a secret life that no one had suspected until her death years later. When she was a child in the mid-90s, she moved to Malaysia with her mother while her father was in the UK studying for his medical exams. Her mother worked at a hospital and had her watched by hospital staff in the nursery so they could visit each other during the day. While her mother worked at the hospital, she became good friends with one of the female doctors. The doctor had recently arrived in Malaysia from India, which was something that the two women bonded over. She took a shine to me as she had children back home of a similar age, she remembers. So shed often come over for a cup of tea, chat, and bounce me on her lap. The only thing that seemed off about this doctor at the time was that she would always get really heated and often vented about her ex-boyfriend. Other than that, she was a great friend to have around. That is until one day when the doctor revealed something terrifying to her mother. Her mother had the doctor over to their house for a cup of tea one afternoon. Before this meeting, her mother noticed that the doctors behavior had changed. Shed start showing up late for work and would act weirdly eccentric. During their afternoon chat, the doctor smiled at her mother and said she wanted to show her something very important. She then pulled out a small box containing a small human vertebra. What?! The doctor told her mother that the bone had belonged to her late mother, who she described as the only person in her life that hadnt betrayed her. Then, she went on a passionate rant about how she was always falling victim to despicable men. Her mother was very alarmed but tried to stay calm and comfort her friend before sending her on her way. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. We just heard a story about a cute girls trip out for some ice cream that got real creepy, real fast. These two women were in college studying for their Masters degrees. They both had an evening class one night and decided to go out for some ice cream beforehand to help them get through the evening. They go to school in a very nice and busy area and parked at the strip mall near their class building to go to Coldstone. After grabbing their ice cream, they walked through the parking lot to eat in their car. Suddenly, they heard a panicked mans voice call out to them, saying, Excuse me! They turned around to see a man who appeared to be in his 40s. He was wearing a suit but didnt have a laptop or bag like most commuting business people in the area. He seemed frantic and stressed as he asked the girls how to get to the train station. He had to catch a train in 20 minutes. The students kindly pointed him toward the train station and told him it would be a 10-minute walk. They were also in an area filled with Ubers, Lyfts, and taxicabs, so this man had options. The girls started walking to their car, thinking the conversation would end there. But then, he stopped them again. Could you girls do me a favor? he asked them. If I promise to be nothing but an upstanding gentleman, could you take me to the train station so I dont miss my train? Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Indias arranged marriage culture became the source of international attention thanks to Netflixs controversial hit Indian Matchmaking. But while the rest of the world may have been fascinated by the foreign phenomena, the majority of Indian married couples are the result of unions facilitated by their families. While Indian culture can be heavily stratified by religion, caste, and ethnicity, arranged marriagesat least those that take place within these divisionsare favored by nearly every group. An overwhelming 93 percent of couples said that their marriage was an arranged marriage, according to a 2018 survey of 160,000 households. Arranged marriages broadly encompass situations where the parents only introduce the bride and groom to each other and either person can decline the match to situations, more common in rural contexts, where neither party can opt out. Christianity Today spoke to eight Indian Christian married couples: four in love marriages and four in arranged marriages. Husbands and wives weighed in on the following questions: What do you envy most about the other kind of marriage? What role has your faith played in sustaining your marriage? What type of marriage do you want for your children? Love Marriages Monica and Amit Chand, married 19 years Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Monica: I envy the element of surprise and excitement that is missing in a love marriage. The more I invite God into my life and marriage, the more he takes control of my life. There have been difficult times and trials in our marriage, and I see that God was there all along. The more I seek him, I see him more clearly. I advocate that my children go for love marriage and have a developed understanding of each other before they enter into marriage. I do insist that they marry according to Gods will. Amit: I envy that couples in arranged marriages get to know each other after marriage, thus the novelty of their relationship would be longer. Christianity is a unique and beautiful faith, and the attraction and adoption of it have been a core part of our marriage since Monica coming in from a non-Christian background. No, I dont insist on anything for the kids, because I dont know what Gods plan is for them. I can only pray that they be led by God into whatever he finds perfect for them. Koki and Johnny Desai, married 42 years Marriage counselors, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Koki: I am very happy with my love-cum-arranged marriage [where the couple choose each other and reveal their liking for each other to their parents/elders and the family gets them married]. Seeking God's will was my priority before I said yes to Johnny. Article continues below With Jesus Christ as the active partner and a close friend in our marriage, we have thoroughly enjoyed our marriage. He has been a solution, solace, comfort, counselor, guide, and guardian to us. I wonder how people manage without God. We gave our three daughters the freedom of choice and decision for their own marriages. We taught them that most importantly they needed to be born again and please God in every decision of their life, may it be career, marriage, or whatsoever. We are happy they chose to bring God in their lives Johnny: Even though I proposed [to my parents that I marry] Koki, we fasted for 75 days (only taking a single meal) and prayed to get confirmation from God. I believe marriage must have both love and arrangement of honoring healthy culture. Marriage does not just involve biological, physical, social issues; it has a spiritual component as well. Jesus makes all the difference. He teaches and enables us [to have] love and forgiveness and grace. Whether arranged or love, unless a person knows Jesus, he or she is not ready for marriage. Angela and Rohit Mathew, married 21 years St. John the Baptist Church, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh Angela: I dont envy as such, but the one difference is that one enters an arranged marriage without too many expectations. One learns about the other gradually, and people tend to be more accommodating and cooperative. Getting to know each other and growing together in love slowly would be a great experience too. Our faith is the center of our marriage. We both always turn to Godin good times and bad times. When we are faced with questions or decisions, we seek Gods guidance. I really do not advocate a particular kind of marriage, either love or arranged. For my own child I pray that Gods will be done in her life and that he reveals to her the life partner he has chosen for her. I always remember my parents covering me in their prayers for this, and I do the same for her. I pray for Gods will, Gods way, and Gods timing for my childs marriage. Rohit: I do not envy anything, to be honest. I dont think I am missing anything in my love marriage. My faith has cultivated in me patience and understanding in my marriage. I understood that every relationship needs time and when you give it the necessary time, things fall in place. Article continues below As parents we have told our child to see the good in a person. We have tried to explain that in relationships there are some adjustments that need to be made. So whosoever the child chooses as a partnerall we have asked for is that they be of the faith and a good human being. Salome and Philip Yalla, married 9 years Bengaluru, Karnataka Salome: Christ is the core of our marriage. He holds us when we feel limited to hold on to each other. He helps us think of the others best, sacrificially serve the other. Marriage is Gods means to sanctify us, and it has deepened our bond and our love for each other. We love being partners in ministry and working with people together as a couple. Our faith touches almost every realm in our marriage. As marriage counselors, we encourage couples who are considering marriage (love or arranged) to walk through premarital counseling where they have the opportunity to get to know each other and develop a common understanding of each other. It isnt possible to fully know who youre marrying and have a full understanding of what marriage means before getting married. But having that initial time to begin the process is helpful. We encourage them to see the larger purpose of marriageas being a process through Christs sanctifying means for usand to stay turned to each other and constantly walk in repentance and forgiveness. Philip: I dont necessarily envy arranged marriage. Though most of the getting to know each other and growing in love has happened after marriage, however, I do feel that love marriages with a significant courtship period can have a slight advantage over arranged marriages. I would encourage other Christians and my children to take a similar route like mine and to use courtship less for checking compatibility and more for cultivating a deep friendship and choosing to love the other person well. I see an extra bit of beauty in starting this journey before the relationship is formalized, however, not to discount the unique beauty of beginning this journey with I do. In our case, the journey of fostering a beautiful marriage came with its own joys and challenges, given our unique set of strengths and brokenness. If not for trusting in the redemptive power of the gospel, I cant imagine growing and thriving in our marriage, particularly when we pass through dark times. Article continues below Arranged Marriages Sara Chonghoikim and Lalditsak Inbuon, married 26 years Churachandpur, Manipur Sara: My marriage was arranged by my church leaders. I did not want to pursue relationships outside of Gods Word and will. However, like everybody else there were many challenges in my marriage too. Sometimes I feel [that] being in a relationship before marriage, getting to know each other well, and then entering a marriage would have been much better. I married by faith; I move forward by faith; I take my vows very seriously. Whatever challenges there are, I look to God and his Word for a solution. Amazingly, God is more than enough for all the challenges. When we honor God, when we honor our marriage, God has many ways to solve our problems. I am not sure what I would advocate. It depends on their spiritual maturity. The decision I made may not apply to them. But whatever the case, a believer must know and follow what God says a believer must do. Whether arranged or love marriage, they must honor God and include God in their marriage. Lalditsak: I do not envy love marriages, because arranged marriages are the kind of marriages where you seek Gods will first and decide. In a love marriage, you fall in love first and then start to seek Gods will, and once you have already made your choice, your mind is in no way to receive no as an answer from the Lord. I truly believe that it is God who gave me a suitable coworker. But more than my faith, it is Gods grace and his loving care, his faithfulness [that have] sustained my married life. Anujit Kaur and Vijay Paul Emerson, married 17 years Patiala, Punjab Anujit: I envy love marriages as couples get to know each other and each others weaknesses and strengths before they decide to get married. One has a choice to say no to a person who has vices that you actually cannot live with, like smoking and alcoholism. These vices might stay hidden in an arranged marriage and later result in a shock, thus affecting a marriage. My Christian faith plays a major role in my marriage. I firmly believe that God has arranged this marriage for us just as God had arranged Eve for Adam, and in low times I remind myself of this. I am open to either type of marriage for my children. I just want my children to go for a person that God has chosen for them, be it arranged or love. Vijay: A person who goes for a love marriage gets to choose a partner according to his/her desire. One has the liberty to choose what he really wants in his partner. Article continues below My faith in God has always helped me to go through the hard and tough times in my marriage. My faith helps me to stay in the fear of God and carry out my responsibilities with fear. The Holy Spirit compels me to obey the Word of God and to be faithful to the vows I have made. I will never force my children to arranged marriage. My only desire is that that person should be a believer who loves God and that they should be compatible. Priya and Jude Prabhu, married 17 years Dubai, United Arab Emirates (originally from Mangaluru, Karnataka) Priya: What did I envy from not having a love marriage? I did not get to go on dates like people in love do. I missed the pampering, the gifts, the chocolate, and flowers which girls during courtship get. Being in an arranged marriage, we had our own struggles, difference of opinions. We are going strong because Christ is the center of our marriage and family. The church we attend and the Word which is preached in the church have strengthened our relationship. I would suggest my daughters ask for Gods wisdom when choosing their partners. Whether love or arranged, the foremost thing is that their spouse should be a believer and Christ should be the center of their home. Jude: I envy the feeling of love at first sight, the sleepless nights, the anxiousness to meet your lover the next day. Forgetting everything, you only focus on your beloved. The romance on special daysbirthdays or Valentines Day. There are things that you might discover about your partner that you might not like. But when you are embedded in Christ and you consider him the center of your married life, you try to change yourself. Faith teaches us to adjust ourselves and to take care of one another. Both love and arranged marriages have their pros and cons. It does not matter which one you choose. What is important is that your partner should be rooted in Christ and the parents of the bride and the groom should also be rooted in Christ to have a healthy marriage. Shilpa and Mohit Singh, married 19 years Noida, National Capital Region Shilpa: Arranged marriages are great! I love the surprise element in an arranged marriage. I think one is more patient and less expectant. We give more time to each other, getting to know each other. It is like opening a gift box. With every layer, you discover something new. The only thing I envy about love marriage is the before-marriage romance, meeting in secret, revealing it to families, and the family opposition drama. In my case everything happened in perfect harmony. Article continues below Undoubtedly, our Christian faith is the pillar that has kept us together in times of major disagreements, and we tried to follow the biblical rules, which were a guiding force in our marriage. They have helped us to forgive, forget, and love each other. I would not give preference to arranged marriage over love marriage or vice versa as every single case of marriage is unique depending upon many factors, like family support or opposition, partners compatibility, their willingness to adjust and make sacrifices, etc. Love or arranged, I believe if the rock of marriage is Jesus it will work out. He can mend everything and make it work. Mohit: The courtship period is something that clearly stands out in a love marriage. Couples know each other, meet each other, and cherish those memories for a lifetime. Gods faithfulness and his guidance help us to stay united in our thoughts despite the challenges we face. He helps us to make our marriage work and accept with humbleness and thanksgiving that it is his doing. Faith in God and his teaching has helped me to accept the decisions of my better half, and they have helped our marriage incredibly. I strongly believe that our kids should trust in the counsel of their parents and God to find their life partners and seek his counsel in their married lives. Most Wednesday mornings at Asbury University are like any other. A few minutes before 10, students begin to gather in Hughes Auditorium for chapel. Students are required to attend a certain number of chapels each semester, so they tend to show up as a matter of routine. But this past Wednesday was different. After the benediction, the gospel choir began to sing a final chorusand then something began to happen that defies easy description. Students did not leave. They were struck by what seemed to be a quiet but powerful sense of transcendence, and they did not want to go. They stayed and continued to worship. They are still there. I teach theology across the street at Asbury Theological Seminary, and when I heard of what was happening, I immediately decided to go to the chapel to see for myself. When I arrived, I saw hundreds of students singing quietly. They were praising and praying earnestly for themselves and their neighbors and our worldexpressing repentance and contrition for sin and interceding for healing, wholeness, peace, and justice. Some were reading and reciting Scripture. Others were standing with arms raised. Several were clustered in small groups praying together. A few were kneeling at the altar rail in the front of the auditorium. Some were lying prostrate, while others were talking to one another, their faces bright with joy. They were still worshiping when I left in the late afternoon and when I came back in the evening. They were still worshiping when I arrived early Thursday morningand by midmorning hundreds were filling the auditorium again. I have seen multiple students running toward the chapel each day. By Thursday evening, there was standing room only. Students had begun to arrive from other universities: the University of Kentucky, the University of the Cumberlands, Purdue University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Ohio Christian University, Transylvania University, Midway University, Lee University, Georgetown College, Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, and many others. The worship continued throughout the day on Friday and indeed all through the night. On Saturday morning, I had a hard time finding a seat; by evening the building was packed beyond capacity. Every night, some students and others have stayed in the chapel to pray through the night. And as of Sunday evening, the momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Some are calling this a revival, and I know that in recent years that term has become associated with political activism and Christian nationalism. But let me be clear: no one at Asbury has that agenda. Article continues below My colleague Steve Seamands, a retired theologian from the seminary, told me that what is happening resembles the famous Asbury Revival of 1970 he experienced when he was a student. That revival shut down classes for a week, then went on for two more weeks with nightly services. Hundreds of students went out to share what happened with other schools. But what many dont realize is that Asbury has an even more extensive history with revivalsincluding one that took place as early as 1905 and another as recent as 2006, when a student chapel led to four days of continuous worship, prayer and praise. Many people say that in the chapel they hardly even realize how much time has elapsed. It is almost as though time and eternity blur together as heaven and earth meet. Anyone who has witnessed it can agree that something unusual and unscripted is happening. As an analytic theologian, I am weary of hype and very wary of manipulation. I come from a background (in a particularly revivalist segment of the Methodist-holiness tradition) where Ive seen efforts to manufacture revivals and movements of the Spirit that were sometimes not only hollow but also harmful. I do not want anything to do with that. And truth be told, this is nothing like that. There is no pressure or hype. There is no manipulation. There is no high-pitched emotional fervor. To the contrary, it has so far been mostly calm and serene. The mix of hope and joy and peace is indescribably strong and indeed almost palpablea vivid and incredibly powerful sense of shalom. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is undeniably powerful but also so gentle. Image: Alex Griffith / Courtesy of Baptist Press The holy love of the triune God is apparent, and there is an inexpressible sweetness and innate attractiveness to it. It is immediately obvious why no one wants to leave and why those who must leave want to come back as soon as they can. I know that God moves in mysterious ways; Jesus tells us that the Spirit blows where it wills (John 3:8). And sometimes God does what Jonathan Edwards called surprising work and what John Wesley referred to as extraordinary ministry. I firmly believe that much of what is important and vital in the Christian life happens in the everyday momentsin the daily disciplines and liturgies (whether formal or informal), in the in-the-moment decisions to pursue righteousness, in acts of sacrificial love of neighbor, in prayers breathed in quiet desperation. Article continues below I know that these extraordinary acts of God are no replacement for the ordinary ministry of the Holy Spirit through Word and sacrament. Likewise, the surprising works of God are not a substitute for the long road of discipleship. If that were the case, as my colleague Jason Vickers reminds me, we would be dependent on this experiencerather than the Holy Spirit who graciously gives the experienceto sustain us. But I also believe that we should be willing to recognize and celebrate these astounding encounters with the Holy Spirit. Our Lord promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. He promised that he would send another Comforter (KJV)and indeed that it would be better for him to go away and send his Spirit. And anyone who has spent time in Hughes Auditorium over the past few days can testify that this promised Comforter is present and powerful. I cannot analyzeor even adequately describeall that is happening, but there is no doubt in my mind that God is present and active. Several current students and recent alumni tell me that for several years they have been praying together for a move of God, and they are thrilled beyond words to see what is happening. I am teaching a class in theological anthropology at the university this semester, and as we met last Friday, I reminded my students that we are creatures made for worship and communion with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is our telos, the end for which we were created. We are never more fully alive and whole than when we worship. And what we are experiencing nowthis inexpressibly deep sense of peace, wholeness, holiness, belonging, and loveis only the smallest of windows into the life for which we are made. Clearly this is not the beatific vision of seeing Christ in all his glorybut if what we are seeing is even the faintest shadow of that reality, then what lies before us is unspeakable joy and holy love. Image: Alex Griffith / Courtesy of Baptist Press I also reminded my students that we were created to worship God together in unity and in communion with one another. Thus, the worship we are experiencing in the chapel must have real-life implications for our fellowship outside of it. This is especially important as we are currently working through difficult issues around race and ethnicity. Article continues below In previous revivals, there has always been fruit that has blessed both the church and society. For instance, even secular historians acknowledge that the Second Great Awakening was pivotal to bringing about the end of slavery in our country. Likewise, I look forward to seeing what fruit God will bring from such a revival in our generation. At lunch on Friday, my son Josiah found me and told me that he and his friends had been kneeling at the altar and praying together. There were four people in his group, and they were each praying in a different language. He later asked me, Is this something like heaven will be? I told him I thought it was, albeit the faintest reflection of what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard. It is as if a tiny slice of heaven is meeting us here on earth. The Gospel is not only true but also luminously wonderful and mysteriously beautiful. Every time I leave the chapel auditorium, I feel I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. Thomas H. McCall is Timothy C. and Julie M. Tennent professor of theology at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. [ This article is also available in espanol, Portugues, Francais, , Indonesian, and . ] During William Milnes nine years of ministry in Asia, the second Protestant missionary to China printed Chinese books, helped translate the Bible into Chinese, and cofounded the well-known Anglo-Chinese College. Perhaps his greatest legacy was creating the first modern Chinese periodical, Chinese Monthly Magazine. Before Milne, only the imperial court or local government representatives disseminated information in China. Milne and fellow missionary Robert Morrison first published Chinese Monthly Magazine on woodblock in August 1815 in Malacca, a trade port in the Malay Peninsula. The periodical combined portions of the New Testament, explanations of Christian doctrines, as well as stories on science, technology, and current events. The paper stopped publication six years later when Milne fell sick in 1821 then died the next year from lung disease. Despite his early death, Milnes contributions to China and the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia are immense. Chinese Monthly Magazine was followed by other missionary presses. These newspapers had a large influence on Chinese society and led to the creation of secular publications. By the time of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, there were 500 newspapers and periodicals in the country. All this by a farmer from Scotland. Humble beginnings Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1785, Milne came from a poor family with little education. He worked as a farmer, carpenter, and shepherd, as his father died when he was six. Despite his humble origins, Milne grew up in the church and was greatly influenced by the godly men there and by reading Christian books. In 1801, at the age of 16, Milne accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized. After reading the stories of missionaries, consulting friends, and praying, Milne decided he wanted to be a missionary and applied to the London Missionary Society (LMS). He was rejected. Milne begged the committee to reconsider, eager to serve even if just a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water, according to Baiyu Andrew Songs Training Laborers for His Harvest. In 1809, LMS relented and accepted 24-year-old Milne, sending him to three years of training. Once he graduated, he married Rachel Cowie and a month later left for Macao with his new wife. Milne worked with Morrison, who had arrived in Portugese-ruled Macao seven years earlier as the first Protestant missionary to China. Catholic clergy in Macao forced Milne to leave immediately, so he sailed to Canton (Guangzhou) where he hid in a warehouse to escape the notice of Chinese authorities. Unlike Morrison, who had ties with the East India Trading Company working as a translator, Milne was unable to stay in either place. He spent the time learning Chinese. Article continues below Like many foreigners before and after him, Milne struggled to master the language. Milne noted that to learn Chinese well, foreigners must have bodies of brass, lungs of steel, heads of oak, hands of spring-steel, eyes of eagles, hearts of apostles, memories of angels, and lives of Methuselah! Worlds first Chinese periodical As the anti-foreigner sentiment in China prevented Morrison and Milne from preaching to mainland Chinese, they focused their energies on Christian literature and Bible translation. In the spring of 1815, Milne and his family settled in Malacca where he established a mission headquarters. He built a printing press, and in 1815, the missionaries founded the Chinese Monthly Magazine. Milne described the magazines purpose: To promote Christianity was to be its primary object; other things, though, were not to be overlooked. Knowledge and science are the hand-maids of religion, and may become the auxiliaries of virtue. As the editor, Milne used the pseudonym Bo Ai Zhe () or Practitioner of Goodness. The name appeals to Confuciuss teaching that one should listen widely, select what is good and follow it. About 85 percent of the content consisted of Christian materialincluding the New Testament he and Morrison had been translating, according to Xiantao Zhangs The Origins of the Modern Chinese Press. The paper also discussed astronomy, world history, geography, and current events. At first, Milne printed and disseminated 500 copies to Chinese residents and the diaspora. The circulation jumped to 1,000 after the first three years. The magazine also created new Chinese words for proper nouns. For example, prior to the publication, Chinese writers used ying ji li (), the transliteration of English to refer to Great Britain. In an issue of Chinese Monthly Magazine in 1820, the name of the nation was translated as ying guo () for the first time. Since then, this translation has been used as the standard Chinese term for England. Although the publication lasted only six years, it encouraged missionaries to start their own publications. The Protestant missionary press included Karl Gutzlaffs Eastern Western Monthly Magazine in 1833. The first periodical established on Chinese soil, Eastern Western focused less on providing Christian material and more on increasing Sino-Western understanding by translating articles from foreign magazines. Article continues below Perhaps the most influential missionary newspaper was Wanguo Gongbao (A Review of the Times) created by American Methodist missionary Young John Allen in 1868. While the newspaper was initially focused on the Christian community, it soon shifted to promoting reform in China. With commentary calling for China to modernize and news from the West, the newspaper had a great influence on reformers Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao. Many of the Chinese contributors to the newspaper also went on to start newspapers themselves. Zhong Haiping, former vice president of Jishou University in Hunan, wrote that the significance of Chinese Monthly Magazine was not only its contribution to the technique of magazine printing but also its philosophy of journalism. Facing a crisis of moral decline and the loss of humanities [today], it undoubtedly gives prophetic enlightenment to people blinded by money, Zhong wrote in 2011. Newspapers and periodicals must guide people with correct public opinion and become good books so that those with little knowledge can understand, fools can be wise, the evil can repent and become good, and the good can cultivate all virtues, he said, quoting Milne. Milnes work in literature and education Milne also influenced the people around him. In 1815, Liang Fa, the printer who had helped Morrison and Milne print the Chinese New Testament, came to Malacca to help Milne print Chinese Monthly Magazine. Under Milnes influence, Liang Fa embraced the Christian faith and was baptized in November 1816. Liang was the second Chinese Christian led to Christ by a Western missionary (the first was Choi Kou, led by Morrison) and later became the first Protestant Chinese pastor in the nations church history. In addition to Chinese Monthly Magazine, Milne published the English-language quarterly journal The Indo-Chinese Gleaner beginning in 1817 until his death. He also wrote 21 publications in Chinese and three in English, the most well-known being Dialogues between Chang and Yuen (1819). Originally printed as a series of articles in the magazine, the story used questions and answers between two fictional Chinese friendsone Christian and one believing in Chinese traditional religionsto express important issues of the Christian faith. Article continues below The series was so popular that missionaries reprinted it as tracts, making it the most reprinted and circulated tract in the 19th century. Subsequent missionaries used it as a model for their own literature evangelism. Milne also worked with Morrison on completing the Chinese translation of the Bible. Beginning in August 1817, Milne helped revise portions of the New Testament and translated the Old Testament from Deuteronomy to Job. They finished the translation in November 1819, but Milne did not live to see its publication in 1823. Their translation became the one most used by missionaries in the Chinese-speaking world. Even though the translation was at times awkward or even incorrect, Yung Wing, the first Chinese to graduate from a US university, noted, The importance and bearing of [Morrisons] dictionary and the translation of the Bible into Chinese, on subsequent missionary work in China, were fundamental and paramount. At the same time, Milne also wanted to equip a group of believers in Malacca to become preachers and return to China to preach the gospel. However, he faced a shortage of teachers, space, equipment, and students, as almost all local Christians were illiterate. So in 1815, he opened a small school in Malacca in a stable with less than 10 students. For the first half of each day, private tutors taught reading and writing Chinese characters. In the second half of the day, missionaries taught the Bible and catechisms. In 1818, Morrison and Milne expanded the school into the Anglo-Chinese College. Milne served as the first principal and taught many of the classes, including geography, English, and ethics. Despite facing difficulties and several temporary closures, the school is now a well-known secondary school for boys in Hong Kong. With more than 200 years of history, it is the oldest school in Hong Kong, where it moved to in 1843. His whole soul was in his work Milne and his wife lost two newborns in 1816 and 1817, before Rachel fell ill and died after giving birth to their youngest son, William, in 1819. The pressures of his work along with caring for his four surviving children took a toll on Milnes health. He died three years after his wife and was buried next to her in a Dutch cemetery in Malacca. During Milnes nine years in Asia, he had an immense impact on Chinese literature, Chinese journalism, and the Chinese church. His friend and colaborer, Morrison, expressed his sorrow over Milnes death. Article continues below Great is the loss to this mission which the early removal of that faithful, devoted, and successful Chinese Missionary, has occasioned, said Morrison. His attainments in the difficult language of this great empire were eminent. His whole soul was in his work. Kuo-An Wu holds masters degrees from National Taiwan University and Chung Yuan Christian University and a PhD in theology from the University of Edinburgh. He previously taught at Alliance Seminary in Hong Kong, Baptist Seminary in Taiwan, and Singapore Bible College. Wuis currently an associate professor of church history and systematic theology at the China Evangelical Seminary in Taipei. Translation by T. N. Ho [ This article is also available in and . ] As a lifelong Protestant, only recently have I begun to discover the delightful array of patron saints within the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. (And as my Episcopal friends would remind me, they have them too.) Theres one for angina sufferers (Swithbert), flight attendants (Bona of Pisa), and embroiderers (Clare). There is a patron saint for those who survive an earthquake (Gregory the Wonderworker) and one for those whove misplaced items (Anthony). When I lost my voice for weeks on end last summer, I didnt pray to Bernardine of Siena, but I did feel a real kinship with himand a comfort in knowing that the church considered, named, and prayed for my plight. My evangelical upbringing taught me a thorough knowledge of the Bible, but it was weak on Christian history and tradition. It was rare we spoke of anyone from the 2,000 or so years between the apostle Paul and Billy Graham. At Wheaton College, I was introduced to Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Hildegard of Bingensaints of the Catholic church, all. When I expressed concern, wondering why we were studying their teachings at an evangelical institution, a kindly professor quipped, Courtney, before the Protestant Reformation, basically all Christians were Catholic or Orthodox. Mic drop. And so, on the cusp of Valentines Day, let us turn our attention to the spiritual wisdom to be gleaned from the saint whose name carries the day. A clergyman and physician in the third-century Roman empire, Valentine is the patron saint of courtly love, epilepsy sufferersand beekeepers. No one is certain when humans first decided to keep bees, cultivating hives rather than simply harvesting wild honey, but art depicting beekeeping has been found dating as far back as 2400 B.C. in Egypt. Its the second oldest profession, joked Wayne Hughes, founder of Sweet Harmony Apiaries in Marietta, Georgia. It is not uncommon for modern-day monasteries, convents, and Catholic missions to have apiaries. The Monastery of Christ in the Desert, a Benedictine community in Abiquiu, New Mexico, features beehives. St. Ignace de Loyola, a Jesuit school in Bedou, Haiti, includes beekeeping as part of its educational curriculum. The Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California, hosted 50 hives under the supervision of Brother Blaise Heuke, a monk who invited children from the community to come harvest and sample honey for over four decades, until his death at the age of 80 in 2018. Article continues below The practice of apiculture is unique, requiring slow, careful movements, attention to detail, and a working knowledge of apiology, or the study of bees. The keeping of bees is very tied to the contemplative, said Christopher Russo, a high school English teacher, Baptist, and apiarist in Long Island, New York. Its quiet, slow work. Russos hobby has deepened his belief in the human responsibility to steward creation. Theres this verse in Proverbs about a righteous person regarding the life of his animal, he said, referencing Proverbs 12:10. Its my responsibility to take care of [the bees] well. He described the delight he experiences in witnessing his insects instinct and skill. You talk about Gods design! he said. They have a language. A dance. They kind of wiggle to tell each other where the other flowers are. Its just amazing to see how they operate. Hobby apiarist Anne Ferris serves as the director of short-term small groups at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She finds inspiration in her bees collectivity. [In winter] they stay in this cluster and beat their little wings to stay warm, she said. They rotate through so no one is on the outside for long. Its absolutely fascinating how they work together as this unit. She drew a parallel to human communities: [What] if humans could learn to work together like this? she asked. [What] if the church could learn to work together like this? For many an apiarist, beekeeping leads to a renewed interest in larger themes of creation care. Bees are both resilientsurviving brutally cold winters even though they do not hibernateand fragile. Pesticides, severe weather, and diseases like colony collapse disorder threaten their longtime survival. Beyond the obvious tragedy of losing any animal to extinction, beekeepers say we should all have a vested interest in maintaining healthy bee populations. And as Ferris put it, If we dont have bees, we dont have food. Robert Brown, a Presbyterian, lives in Oklahoma where he watches over his hives with help from a neighbor. I dont sell honey, he said. I give it away. I just tell everybody that I equate it with grace. Its nothing I did to deserve it, and so I just give it to other people because its not deserved. And its sweet. Article continues below Brown, an agricultural economist by trade, marvels at the complexities within his hives as well as within each individual bee itself. Gods created these little tiny creatures that [themselves] create complex carbohydrates. They create hydrocarbonswhich just blows my mind. Beeswax is a hydrocarbon. It actually burns! Wayne Hughes began beekeeping on his family farm just over a decade ago. He is in the process of joining the Greek Orthodox church and, as part of his conversion, was invited to choose a patron saint. His choice? Modomnoc, an ancient beekeeping monk who followed his bishops order to sail from Wales back to Ireland. Tradition says Modmonoc said goodbye to the bees hed tended at his Welsh monastery, but they then followed him across the sea. I thought about choosing Saint Valentine, Hughes admitted, but it was Saint Modomnoc who actually kept bees. Hughes says beekeeping has deepened his appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living things. Just seeing a beehive at workit fills you with awe and wonder about the complexities of Gods creation, said Hughes. You could argue that its the body of Christ on full display because as a bee develops, they do different jobs. There are nurse bees, housecleaning bees, guard bees, foragers. Its everybody doing their part and everybody working together in complete harmony. Eighteenth- and 19th-century English folklore taught that bees belonged to the families of their keepers not simply as possessions, pets, or farm animals but as valued members of the family. When a major life event such as a birth, marriage, or death occurred, the beekeeper would make sure to inform the bees. This tradition was in full display in 2022. When Queen Elizabeth II died, Buckingham Palaces beekeeper, John Chapple, was required by tradition to inform the bees. This tenderalbeit perhaps a touch superstitiouscustom of paying attention and respect to these small, winged insects offers us an insight into creation care. Stewardship over the earth and its creatures is commanded by God. This biblical imperative reminds us of the interconnectedness of the created world and the loving Creator who spun it all into being. Creation care can be an exercise in joyful communal purpose as we, like the bees, each take up the unique task before us. Article continues below Look at the birds, Jesus tells the gathered crowd during his Sermon on the Mount. Consider the lilies. He used examples from the flora and fauna around him to draw larger lessons of Gods provision and care. But his first command was simple: Pay attention to creation. Lift your eyes and tilt your ears to notice natureto appreciate the beauty, intricacy, fragility, and wonder of all that God has made. Let this Valentines Day be an invitation for each of us to extend the deep love of God to one anotherand the chance for us to enjoy and steward the earth God created. Courtney Ellis is a pastor, birder, host of The Thing with Feathers podcast, and author of Present: The Gift of Being All In, Right Where You Are (Tyndale House). Tanuja Ghale saw a young woman on the street in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and told her she was beautiful. The woman started weeping. Her husband had beaten her the same morning and told her that she was the worst woman in the world, Ghale, an evangelist who owns a salon, told CT later that day. When I tell women, You are so beautiful, they are shocked and want to know what beauty I see in them that their loved ones have never seen or acknowledged. It is then that they are ready to hear about the God who loves them unconditionally. Christianity is growing rapidly in Nepal, the Himalayan nation located between India and Tibet. And the spread of Christianity in the majority-Hindu country is largely credited to women like Ghale. Women are the ones who have carried the gospel. They have been the church planters, said Dilli Ram Paudel, the general secretary of the Nepal Christian Society. One of the major sources of growth in the Nepalese church are women who gossip the gospel in their everyday lives, thus bringing many to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In 1951, when modern-day Nepal was founded, there were no known Christians in the country. Proselytizing and conversion were prohibited. The first Protestant church was established a year later, though, by Nepali Christians from India. Unlike in many countries, Nepals first churches were not led by Western missionaries. Nepali believers led the way. By the early 1970s, there were about 500 baptized Christians in the country. Evangelism carried a possible criminal sentence of three years in prisonsuccessful evangelism, sixbut Christians continued to tell people about Jesus. By 1990, when a democratic reform movement decriminalized conversion, there were an estimated 50,000 Christians in the country. In 2022, the Nepal Christian Community Survey counted roughly 800,000 believers, out of a total population of 30.5 million, gathering in about 8,000 congregations. An estimated 75 percent of those Christians are women. Women are the ones who sustain our churches, said Suman Dongol, a leader of the Koinonia Patan church in Kathmandu. Most of the women in our church are evangelists. They bring in new people and are very active in carrying the gospel to others. Evangelism may have been inadvertently facilitated by Nepali culture. Churches offered a relatively egalitarian alternative to caste and gender hierarchies. And while men traditionally went to work growing rice and other grains, women interacted with each other at common wells, in the marketplace, and while doing daily chores. Christian women saw these interactions as opportunities for sharing the gospel. Article continues below The economic landscape has changed in recent years. Today nearly 80 percent of Nepali women work outside the home. However, as Christian women have taken hourly employment, pursued careers in corporate workplaces, and started their own small businesses, they have continued to evangelize. Many say they have found even more ways to connect with other women and use these spaces to share about Jesus. Reshma Williams, a Christian who lives in Kathmandu and has been evangelizing for 21 years, said it is common for women to talk to each other about personal and family struggles. She has had deep conversations with women in buses, taxis, restaurants, and dance bars. Whenever, wherever God opens the door, I share, she said. I try to look for the opportunity to share a testimony. If a topic comes up about fear, I immediately think, Do I know any testimony about fear? How God released me or freed somebody I know from fear? I try to bring God into the topic that comes up, and thats how I start to share. The evangelism often leads to Bible studies, womens fellowships, and church plants. Almost all of the planting is done by women, evangelical leaders said. In fact, church planting is seen as a very maternal act in Nepal and is typically described as a mother giving birth to a daughter. Most of the evangelical churches in Nepal are not organized into denominations. They are independent and connect to each other matrilineally, in mother-daughter, sister-sister, and granddaughter-grandmother relationships. Each evangelical church in the country keeps count of its chori mandali, or daughter churches. Koinonia Patan has more than 100 daughter churches. Prasoon Preritiya Church, where the general secretary of the Nepal Christian Society attends in Kathmandu, has 36. Few of the churches are pastored by women, though, or regularly have women preach from the pulpit. Some evangelical leaders would like to see that change. Everywhere you find that it is basically the women who are taking initiative for the gospel, said Manoj Pradhan, director of the leadership training department for Nepal Christian Fellowship. God is raising women and bringing them to the forefront, calling them into ministerial leadership roles. I am very hopeful that women will be seen as ordained ministers, but it might take some time. Article continues below The Christian women of Nepal, however, are not waiting for permission to evangelize. As a salon owner and in her daily life in Kathmandu, Ghale talks to women who come in for her services and women she sees on the street. Sometimes she goes to womens shelters. Sometimes to the red-light district. She confesses that not everyone is ready to listen to what she has to say. Sometimes people outright reject the gospel. In those cases, she tries to get the women to come to her home for tea. I stay in touch with them, Ghale said. But above all, we pray for them. Women have prayed a lot with fasting for their leaders, for families, for Nepali society, and it is because of their prayers the evangelical movement in Nepal has grown. Ghale frequently finds the stereotypical womens topic of beauty opens people to hear about Gods love. She tells women, God has created you in his own image, you are beautiful, and you are precious. And she tells them about Psalm 139:1314, which says, You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Whatever their husbands or boyfriends think, whatever society says, this is the truth, Ghale says. God sees that they are beautiful, and so does she. Thats how the gospel spreads in Nepal: one woman to another, talking about family, talking about griefs and burdens, talking about beauty. Their lives are automatically transformed, Ghale told CT, and when their lives are transformed, the difference is noticeable. Surinder Kaur is CTs South Asia editor. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. A man suspected in a Jan. 31 assault on a custodial worker at Wintergreen Magnet School in Hamden was taken into custody Sunday by members of the New York City Police Department, according to Hamden police. The New York City Police Department notified Hamden police on Sunday morning that they had Jordan Richards, 31, in custody, Hamden police said. Richards is the suspect from the alleged assault and robbery at Wintergreen School, which occurred on Jan. 31, police said. Richards was taken into custody on the strength of an active arrest warrant out of Hamden, which was obtained on Feb. 4, and contains charges of first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, second-degree larceny, third-degree larceny, interfering with an emergency call, and illegal use of a payment card, Hamden police said. The court set bond will be $750,000 and Richards is being charged as a fugitive from justice by the NYPD. Hamden police said the extradition process is underway. Richards is suspected of assaulting the custodial worker at Wintergreen Magnet School, a school for children with disabilities, shortly before 6 a.m. on Jan 31. Police reports at the time said the worker was taken to the hospital with facial injuries after an unknown man inside the school assaulted the worker, stealing his wallet, keys and car. Over the course of the last week Richards has evaded efforts to take him into custody. He is suspected of engaging various Law Enforcement Agencies in pursuits between Hamden and New York over this time, the Hamden Police Department said in a statement Sunday afternoon. We would like to thank all the Agencies that assisted with this investigation and eventual capture of this dangerous individual, especially NYPD Officers who apprehended him earlier today, the department added. Christian girl kidnapped, forced into Islamic marriage by 60-year-old man in Pakistan, family says LAHORE, Pakistan Arif Gill said he lost hope of finding his 15-year-old daughter abducted by a 60-year-old Muslim who forcibly married her and converted her to Islam until police in Pakistan finally registered a case after nearly two months. Sitara Arif, also known as Saira, was kidnapped on Dec. 15 by Rana Tayyab in the Yousafabad area of Faisalabad, Gill said. Tayyab is the husband of Naila Ambreen, a Muslim government school principal for whom Saira worked as domestic help. I went to the police station to report my daughters kidnapping, but they refused to accept my complaint and forced me out of the building, said Gill, a physically handicapped Catholic. He said he made repeated attempts to register a case against Tayyab, with police ignoring his pleas. Madam Naila is a government employee, and both she and her husband have considerable influence on the police, which is why they outright rejected my application, Gill told Morning Star News. After repeated humiliation and intimidation to stop pursuing the matter, I surrendered to my fate thinking that I wont be able to see my daughter again. Its been nearly two months since my wife and I havent seen our daughter or heard anything regarding her safety and well-being. Only God knows our pain and suffering since the day she was taken from us. Gill said poverty forced the family to send their daughter to work in a Muslim household. Im unable to earn a livelihood, so my wife and daughter work as domestic helps to provide for the family, he said. We have always been very protective about our daughter, and it never occurred to us that she would be targeted by a man five times her age. Sitara is the oldest of Gills children. Gills lawyer and chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan, attorney Akmal Bhatti, said he learned of Gills ordeal on Feb. 3 and immediately arranged for the family to meet with Faisalabads regional police chief. Protesting police indifference, they demanded immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR). An FIR was registered against Tayyab on Feb. 4 at the Madina Town Police Station on the orders of the regional police chief, and officers have begun raids for his arrest and the recovery of Sitara, Bhatti said. The case was registered under Section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to kidnapping, abducting or forcible marriage. Bhatti said that when the police raided Tayyabs house in Yousafabad, his wife Naila Ambreen handed the officials the Islamic marriage certificate between him and Sitara. This is the modus operandi in all cases involving forced marriages of underage minority girls, Bhatti said. The accused first rapes the victim and then uses the cover of an Islamic Nikah [marriage certificate] to escape punishment for this heinous crime. Though police are now acting, it is unfortunate that the family is deprived of justice because they are poor and Christian, Bhatti said. If the police had acted when the crime was first reported, the child could have been recovered sooner, but the prolonged delay has given the accused ample time to change his locations, he said. Some sources have told us that the accused has taken Sitara to Islamabad, and we are now pressing the police to find them there. Police took two of Tayyabs relatives into custody for questioning before they were released. We are continuing to build pressure on the officials nonetheless, so that they dont slack in their responsibility, Bhatti said. Bhatti said only young girls from minority groups are targeted for forcible marriage and conversion because their families are generally poor, with little resources to put up a fight in court. The countrys legal system is currently operating under a dual system of state and shariah [Islamic] laws, creating a conflict in the minimum age for marriage, he said. State law should prevail in cases of forced conversion and underage marriage of minority girls. The minimum age for marriage of girls is 16 in Punjab province, where Faisalabad is located, and 18 in Sindh province. Bhatti called for the federal government to set the minimum marriageable age to 18 across Pakistan. Under Islamic law, there is no specific minimum age for marriage, leading to instances where minority girls are forced into marriage with much older men after Islamic conversion. This leads to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Bhatti also criticized the National Commission on the Rights of Child and Punjabs Child Protection & Welfare Bureau for their inaction amid a rise in cases violating the basic rights of the girl child. It is time for the state to take responsibility and protect our children from being exploited under the guise of religious conversion, he said. Emotional wounds Forced conversions and underage marriages are a longstanding issue in Pakistan. At least 1,000 women from religious minorities, including Christians and Hindus, are forcibly converted and married annually in the country, according to a 2014 report from the Movement for Solidarity and Peace in Pakistan. Although Pakistan dismissed the statistic as rubbish and baseless, Forbes reported in 2021 that the actual numbers could be much higher as many cases go unreported. More than 60 cases of questionable conversions were reported in 2021-22, according to the Lahore-based Center for Social Justice. The victims included 30 Christians and 30 Hindus, with 70% of these victims less than 18 years old. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2023 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, up from eighth the previous year. The article was originally published by Morning Star News. Former drag queen shares journey from promiscuity to pastorship A former drag queen performer who once identified as gay recently spoke of leaving a life of promiscuity and depravity after he had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Benjamin Blake Howard, now an associate pastor in San Antonio, Texas, was recently interviewed by Allie Beth Stuckey on her "Relatable" podcast. Howard said he remembers developing same-sex attractions at around age 6, during a time when he was sexually abused by a friend and his older brother. However, he kept the abuse to himself, all while being raised in a family that regularly attended a local megachurch. [The abuse] really solidified everything. It really was the seed that planted it all," Howard shared. "It really was what made sense of everything I was already feeling." I was kind of thinking I liked it, but I felt bad. I didnt like having this feeling. I knew and I felt in me it was not right. ... But at the same time, it gave me physical language to what I was feeling. And in a sense, I wanted to explore this, but I didnt want to talk about it." A hidden sexual attraction For a long time, Howard said he kept his sexuality a secret. However, he was often teased and called "gay" in school because his voice was higher than the other boys. As he grew up, Howard would connect more with the female characters in the cartoons" and "wanted to grow up and be like them," calling it a "kind of female mindset." One evening, at family dinner, Howard said his mother mentioned how one of the contestants on "American Idol" had opened up about being gay in the news. Then, Howards father said something that stayed with him. My dad was like, we dont talk about f," Howard recalled. "Growing up in the South, a lot of those derogatory terms are kind of normalized. And immediately ... I just knew we dont talk about it. I was probably like 8 or 9." Howard said he didnt act on his same-sex feelings until late in high school when he participated in local theater productions. Being cast in a female role for one production and having to dress as a woman to play the character, began Howard's journey of cross-dressing. Homosexuality was a lot more open in the theater community," Howard said. "I would show up to the rehearsals and production and people just gave me so much praise." "It was like instant gratification. All of this amazing feeling. Because again, I grew up bullied. I grew up feeling like I wasnt enough. 'That feeling' Howard said "that feeling" he got when he received praise every time he showed up to rehearsals dressed as a woman was indescribable, saying he "held onto that feeling." After graduation, Howard said he became "heavy into drugs and alcohol" and had an on-and-off boyfriend, who eventually broke up when Howard refused to be more open about his sexuality. I was brokenhearted. And I was trying to fill a void in my heart that I had for such a long time, he said, adding that he craved attention from men and began "looking for it in all the wrong places. I started being super promiscuous and going on hook-up apps and trying to find somebody." Despite the promiscuity, Howard still didnt feel fulfilled. He began to grow interested in becoming a drag performer, watching "makeup tutorials," "drag races," dyeing his hair and creating a drag character named "Velma." And then I was like, man, that felt good again. That was that feeling. It brought all the feelings back from when I was a high schooler [when] I played that drag character," he said. The drag life Howard said he decided as a teenager that being a drag performer was his new journey in life. He also started selling drugs on the side to pay for his wardrobe. He would show up to bars dressed fully in drag, often sneaking out of his home to dress in drag and perform at night in bars, returning home before his parents would wake up. I showed up in drag so no one really questioned me. No one really knew my age or expected to card me, Howard recalled. Eventually, Howard began to question why he wasnt feeling the same fulfillment he first felt when he started out as a drag queen. Also, at one point, Howard said he nearly overdosed on cocaine. As a result of these things, he took a break from drag performing. A new kind of joy Howard said his mother proposed the idea of him exploring what attending a ministry school in Hamilton, Alabama, would be like. Despite his reluctance, Howard attended the school. Howard recalled one worship service on the campus where the worship leader said something that changed his perspective on life. The worship leader stopped and she was like ... 'I feel like the Lord wants me to say this, that there are people in this room that the fact that you have said yes to going to this school and being here today, your yes is literally setting you up for a destiny that you never could have imagined, Howard recalled. As the worship continued, Howard recounted feeling something he had never felt before: "I actually started feeling happy. I had struggled with suicidal thoughts," Howard recounted. "I had struggled with anxiety. I had struggled with all of this darkness. I had struggled with loneliness and not feeling like I was enough. Like I had been through so much at this point, that when I felt this happiness ... just come over me, I was like, what is this? Howard said he encountered the presence of God and felt he could let everything go and be free. Although Howard still battled with same-sex attraction, he wanted to be a practicing Christian. After attending a Christian conference that covered the topic of homosexuality, Howard promised God that he would let go of homosexuality for good. I started being open with my struggle with homosexuality, he said. Howard opened up to a campus leader about his same-sex attraction, and the leader mentored him, brought him closer to Christ and helped him reject his sexual urges. Later, Howard met who he said is the woman of his dreams, who he fell in love with. Shortly after, they got married. I think that its really important for anyone struggling with homosexuality ... for you to get a man or woman of God that is willing to look past who youve been and what youve done and look past your struggles and say, let's get through this together, Howard said. Howard is the author of the 2020 book From Mascara to Manhood, which details his journey from the drag queen lifestyle to becoming a pastor. Special prosecutor appointed in megachurch pastors prostitution case as new emails emerge A special prosecutor has been appointed in the case against John Blanchard, pastor of Rock Church International in Virginia Beach, who previously saw charges against him dismissed by prosecutors a year after his 2021 arrest during an undercover child sex crimes sting. This move comes after the Chesterfield County Commonwealths Attorneys Office in Virginia decided to unseal documents in the case after emails emerged shedding new light on the reason for dropping the charges in 2022 and revealed previously unknown evidence, according to media reports. William Blaine Jr. is the special prosecutor to review the case, NBC's Richmond affiliate WWBT reported. Republican state Delegate Tim Anderson, who represents the Virginia Beach area where Rock Church Internation is located, obtained emails through a Freedom of Information Act request with Chesterfield Police that revealed why Blanchard's case was treated differently from others arrested for soliciting prostitution from a minor, according to News 6 in Richmond. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Alexander Michev said charges against Blanchard were dismissed after Commonwealth's Attorney Stacey Davenport reached a deal with the pastor's defense attorney Noel Brooks. The deal was that "Blanchard would agree to a psychosexual evaluation and sex offender related counseling." Chesterfield Police Chief Jeffrey Katz wrote in a public statement released Jan. 17 on Facebook that the dismissal of charges against the megachurch pastor was not due to a lack of evidence or a substandard investigation. "Despite numerous convictions on cases with similar and in some cases less compelling evidence we have not been given any guidance as to where this investigation fell short of prosecutorial expectations," Katz added. "Moreover, the public has not been provided an explanation. As I have shared with our Commonwealths Attorney, I believe a public articulation of her rationale is warranted." In an email he sent to Davenport, Katz described the evidence as a video obtained through a search warrant that incontrovertibly validates police assertions that Blanchard knowingly sought to engage in sex with an underage girl in a Chesterfield County hotel room on the day of the arrest, according to WTVR. While this new [evidence] doesnt change a single word uttered or activities undertaken by anyone on the day of our investigation, it incontrovertibly validates our assertions that Blanchard knowingly sought to engage in sex with an underage girl in a Chesterfield County hotel room on the day of his arrest, Katz wrote to Davenport cited by Church Leaders. "Since children cannot rent hotel rooms, it is reasonable to conclude that Blanchard was, at minimum, indifferent to the reality that the person with whom he had been texting was not a prostitute but rather a child victim of human sex trafficking. A felony." Blanchard was among 17 men accused of solicitation of prostitution after an online sting operation by police on Oct. 29, 2021. The married father of two was charged with solicitation of prostitution of a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution, which are felonies. He was arrested at a hotel where he was supposed to meet a detective posing as a 17-year-old girl. After almost a year of legal maneuvering, the charges against Blanchard were withdrawn or nolle prossed ahead of a criminal trial in October. A case that is nolle prossed means prosecutors could potentially bring those charges again. A report from the Chesterfield County Police Department said Davenport cited a lack of evidence in not moving forward with the case against Blanchard, WRIC reported at the time. Last month, Katz spoke publicly about the case after Blanchards attorney filed a motion to seal all police or court records, transcripts, and investigative records associated with this case and has decided to consent to render these records unavailable to the public, which upon approval by a judge would make sharing of these transcripts, the report, or any other documents, previously released under FOIA a crime. Katz called the move "bewildering," mainly because his investigators have presented cases with less compelling evidence that led to a conviction. "When someone: 1. Rents a car, 2. Texts a phone number posted on a known sex worker website, 3. Solicits a 'qv' ('John' lingo for a 'quick visit'), 4. Makes multiple inquiries if the person he's texting is 'affiliated with law enforcement,' 5. Drives two and a half hours to a hotel and knocks on the hotel room door as directed by our undercover '17-year-old,' I believe a jury of Chesterfield County residents deserves to weigh in on the matter of criminal culpability," he wrote in the post on Facebook. 8 tips for parents whose children are leaving home I wont ever forget the day we dropped Nick at college. We had driven him down to Louisville, Kentucky, where he enrolled in pre-seminary studies at Boyce College. We helped get his little dorm room all set up. We dropped by the bookstore and picked up the last of his textbooks. We attended the orientation meetings and the chapel service. We huddled together to pray. And now there was just one thing left to do begin our journey home and leave him behind. As I drove along Lexington Road and made my way toward I-64, Aileen sat beside me and wept. She did not weep gently. She did not weep in such a way as to have a few tears trickle gently down her cheeks. No, she wept as if her heart had been torn in two. Hours later we arrived home and, as we began to settle in for the evening, I had my own moment of emotion when it came time to lock the doors, for I realized that I was no longer locking all my children in to the safety of our home, but this time locking one of them out. We adjusted quickly, of course. Nick thrived at Boyce and we took great joy in his joy. How could we lament his absence when he was doing so well, learning so much, and growing so substantially in wisdom and godliness? Two years later we had to do it again when Abby headed down to join him. We found her departure a little bit easier having gone through it once, but also a little bit harder in that it came in the midst of a pandemic that had very nearly closed the border between our countries. In August of this year, we will do it all again, Lord willing, when Michaela journeys down to take up her studies there. This time we will be empty-nesters, at least for the duration of the school year. A friend recently asked for some guidance for parents whose children are leaving home, perhaps to go to school or perhaps to join the military, or perhaps just to begin an independent life. What counsel might you give them? she asked. I thought Id take a few minutes to consider it. Heres what I came up with. First, I would encourage parents to deliberately begin loosening their oversight well before their children leave. We do not serve our children well when we maintain rigid control over them while they are in the home but then simply release them when they leave. Its far better to begin to release control when we are still present to observe and to guide them. Its not the worst thing in the world if they fail a few times when mom and dad are still nearby to provide them with a soft landing. Second, treat them like adults. You need to do your kids the dignity of treating them like grown-ups and not like children. This involves giving them adult privileges, but also requiring adult expectations. I expect you will generally find that they are eager to prove themselves by rising to those expectations. Third, I would encourage those parents to carefully distinguish between matters of preference and matters of absolute right and wrong. What I mean is that your child is probably going to be out of your home for all of two weeks before they get a tattoo or a piercing, or before they begin sporting some new fashion choices or a new hairstyle. Kids who are raised in a Christian home often seem to feel the need to express themselves in ways like these. And while it may not be your preference, youll need to consider whether or not you treat them as if theyve sinned. (Hint: they probably havent; also, see my second point above.) Fourth, help them find a good church. Make sure that when they depart to a new school they are also departing to a new church. Im always glad when parents contact me to say, my child is moving to Toronto to go to school; can you tell me about your church? Im always glad to welcome those students when they begin to attend. And Im sure most pastors are the same. I would generally encourage students to become members of the church they go to when at school since they will be there for more time than theyll be at home. Plus, its good for them to go through a membership process independent of their parents. Fifth, clarify expectations about relationships. It would be helpful for you to distinguish between I think it would be wise for you to refrain from dating during your freshman year so you can focus on adjusting to college and building friendships versus I forbid you to date in your freshman year. Give them that clarity and remember to treat them like adults. Sixth, write them letters. Im sure youll be calling, texting, and FaceTiming with your kids, but there is still something special about letters. Leave a letter with your children when you drop them off for the first time and then make it your habit to write to them every few weeks. They may not reply since you probably never taught them how to write and address a letter but they will read, keep, and treasure the ones you send them. Also, why not send them care packages from time to time? Seventh, find the balance between letting them go and remaining involved in their lives. Dont stalk them or obsess about them, but also dont utterly abandon them. Remain in contact and make yourself available for counsel. But also be sure to grant them their independence. It may take some trial and error, but youll find the right balance. Finally, commend them to the grace of God, trusting in your own heart that God loves them even more than you do and that his plan for them is even better than your own. Pray for them and pray with them as you part and make this your final and ultimate petition before the Lord: nevertheless, not as I will but as you will. Oh, and remember to treat them like adults. But Im pretty sure we already covered that. Originally published at Challies. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls Christian Super Bowl ad fascism and sparks a firestorm of reactions Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., sparked a still raging firestorm of reactions Sunday night when she compared an advertisement about Jesus during the Super Bowl to fascism. Something tells me Jesus would *not* spend millions of dollars on Super Bowl ads to make fascism look benign, said Ocasio-Cortez in a tweet in response to the airing of an ad from He Gets Us, a diverse group of Jesus followers and supporters committed to telling the story of Jesus through "a modern lens." In one of the 30-second ads from the Christian group called Be Childlike set to the soundtrack of Patsy Clines If I Could See the World, the group urges people to be childlike in humility, compassion, and gentleness. Jesus taught, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven, a description of the advertisement posted on YouTube explains. Still, Ocasio-Cortez chose to brand the message as fascism which some experts define as a mass political movement that emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of both the nation and the single, powerful leader over the individual citizen. While there appeared to be a minority of supporters of the congresswomans tweet, many, like author Michael Isenberg, dismissed her criticism as extreme. I watched the ads. Seems to me that if @AOC thinks the message Love your enemies is fascist, that tells us more about her than the He Gets Us group, Isenberg replied. In any case, I feel strongly that members of Congress should not opine on what should or should not air. There's always an implicit threat of legislation, which is inconsistent with our great First Amendment tradition. Isenberg further noted that Ocasio-Cortezs tweet is remarkably similar to the episode in Luke 7:36-50. Mary Magdalene does something nice for Jesus. A Pharisee complains that he's associating with sinners. Which puts @AOC in the role of the Pharisee. In other versions, the complaint is about the waste of money, he said. The He Gets Us campaign, according to its website, is not affiliated with any church, religious denomination, or political organization. Considering this is the message she got from the commercial, its obvious she never sat in a church. https://t.co/fe0O4SUJB2 theonlycjlast (@therealcjlast) February 13, 2023 Our goal is to help everyone understand and relate to Jesus as hes depicted in the Bible with a modern lens of his radical forgiveness, compassion, and love. We feel his teachings and lived experiences are as relevant to us today as they were 2,000 years ago, the group says. We strive to provide a safe place for people to ask questions, even tough ones, without fear or judgment. The He Gets Us campaign is a project of the Servant Foundation and receives funding from a diverse group of donors passionate about freeing the name of Jesus from those whod use it to judge, harm or divide. Throughout our shared history, Jesus has represented the ultimate good that humankind is capable of aspiring to. And though some no longer believe in God, most are still compelled by the idea of a person capable of unconditional love for others despite their differences, the organization adds on its website about its work. But many of us simply cannot reconcile the idea of that person with the way our culture experiences religion today. Whether its hypocrisy and discrimination in the church, or scandals both real and perceived among religious leaders, or the polarization of our politics, many have relegated Jesus from the worlds greatest love story to just another tactic used to intensify our deep cultural divisions. 3 highlights from House hearing on Biden DOJ 'weaponization' The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives held its first hearing of a new subcommittee dedicated to investigating the alleged "weaponization" of federal government agencies against conservatives. The House Judiciary Committee's Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, comprised of 12 Republicans and nine Democrats, heard testimonies from several witnesses during a Thursday hearing. Witnesses included former FBI agents Thomas Baker and Nicole Parker; George Washington University Professor Jonathan Turley; Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who left the Democratic party last year. Republicans raised concerns about what they claim is the politicization of law enforcement agencies like the FBI and the Department of Justice and what they perceive to be targeted censorship of certain political viewpoints. Democrats argued that the hearing undermined government institutions, with some accusing Republicans of abusing power obtained by regaining control of the House in last year's midterm election. The following pages highlight three takeaways from the hearing. 1 2 3 4 Next Pure act of the Holy Spirit: Asbury University revival humbles students before the Lord Asbury University has become the sight of a revival gathering, with students and staff engaging in continual worship and prayer on campus over the past few days. What began as part of a scheduled chapel service on Wednesday morning at Hughes Auditorium in Wilmore, Kentucky, has since transformed into a constant impromptu gathering. READ: Asbury University revival: Will we miss the next revival? Alexandra Presta, a senior at the university who is also the executive editor for the campus newspaper The Collegian, has witnessed the revival and reported on it. Presta told The Christian Post on Friday morning that after the chapel service concluded on Wednesday, roughly 30 students kept going. They've been joined by others since then. The chapel service featured a sermon by speaker Zach Meerkreebs based on Romans 12 and the topic of love in action, Presta told CP. I had left for a few minutes but then felt called to return. Since then, it hasn't stopped. It's been a mix of worship, testimony, prayer, confession, silence, she explained, calling it a full experience of the Holy Spirit. Presta estimated that as many as 1,000 people have come to the revival gathering since it started, noting that while some have come and gone, there are others who have slept on the floor and continued to praise God nonstop. This is not the first time that revival has hit the campus, as Asbury was the subject of a major religious gathering back in February 1970, which the university celebrated the 50th anniversary of back in early 2020. The 1970 revival spread, impacting various places, including Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Fort Worth, Texas, after three Asbury students spoke about their experiences to the student body. Regarding the past revival, Presta told CP that she didn't feel it was right to compare what God is doing now to what He did back then. This is a pure act of the Holy Spirit pouring out love, peace and healing hearts are being transformed and that should be praised, not compared, she added. Zach Meerkreebs has acted as a leader throughout the revival and has reminded us periodically that this comes out of radical humility, humbling ourselves before the Lord. Were you there? Use #MyRevivalStory to share your story. Charges dropped against pastors who held worship services during pandemic Prosecutors and a judge in Canada have dismissed charges against pastors and their associates in New Brunswick and Ontario who had been charged with violating public health orders for holding services during the COVID-19 pandemic. All charges against Pastors Phillip James Hutchings and associates of His Tabernacle Family Church in Saint John and Pastor Aaron Rock of Harvest Bible Church in Windsor have been dropped. In a Feb. 2 decision, Chief Justice Tracey DeWare of the Court of King's Bench dismissed a government motion to hold Pastors Hutchings and church director Cody Butler in contempt of court for holding church services in a commercial tent in the fall of 2021. The services came at a time the provincial government banned indoor public gatherings. The justice stated that she was unable to determine that the tent erected by Pastor Hutchings for worship in Saint John was "clearly and unequivocally" an enclosed area as defined by a provincial health order. Hutchings and his associates were issued tickets in October 2021 for violating the health order. A month later, they set up a commercial tent with sidewalls, which were left open during warm weather but closed when temperatures dropped. Prosecutors claimed the church breached public health orders because the commercial tent was an indoor space and the pastors did not ensure attendees were vaccinated against COVID-19. "[An] alternative and reasonable point of view can be that the Respondents moved their church services to the commercial tent in an attempt to avoid the restrictions on 'public indoor space' and therefore avoid breaching the Mandatory Order," DeWare wrote in the ruling. Attorney Jonathan Martin represents the pastors with the support of The Democracy Fund. In November 2022, charges of obstruction and disobeying health orders were dropped against the pastors after the filing of a constitutional application challenging the legality of the health orders. "This is a win for due process and also a win for government accountability against the drafting of vague regulations that provide limitless prosecutorial discretion," Martin told The Canadian Press. In Windsor, Pastor Rock faced with the possibility of a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for each of the two counts of alleged Reopening Ontario Act violations. He hosted in-person religious services with an attendance that exceeded the allowed limit at that time. Crown prosecutors this week withdrew the charges, Windsor Star reported. "I was a little bit surprised, pleasantly surprised," Rock was quoted as saying. "I've never been a guy in trouble with the law it was kind of surreal." Before being charged by the Windsor Police Service for hosting a Sunday service on December 20, 2020, with more than the maximum allowed 10 people for a religious gathering as mandated at that time, Rock was in the news for protesting and seemingly disregarding lockdown regulations, the newspaper noted. Rock stated that he was not against vaccines or health restrictions for public safety, but he believed that the threat of COVID-19 was "exaggerated" and that the restrictions imposed on communities and businesses were "foolish" and highly damaging. The case dismissals come as other Canadian pastors facing similar charges have either won their cases or had convictions overturned. Christian farm laborer beaten to death by landlord in Pakistan, family says LAHORE, Pakistan A Muslim landowner in Pakistan on Monday beat a Catholic farm laborer to death, claiming he had stolen oranges from his orchard, the victims family said. The killing follows the shooting death last month of another Christian in the country after he stopped Muslims from stealing from his guava crop. In Punjab provinces Khanewal district, landlord Rana Muhammad Waseem and five others beat Emmanuel Masih, 48, to death early Monday morning as Masih irrigated his employers fields in chak No. 139/10R village, according to the victims nephew, Zahid Sahotra. My uncle was busy in work when Waseem and the other men approached him and accused him of stealing their citrus, Sahotra told Morning Star News. He pled his innocence, but the men lunged at him and beat him up mercilessly, resulting in his death. The impoverished laborer was the only breadwinner for his wife and six children, Sahotra said. He was very hard-working and honest, and police found no evidence from the crime scene that suggested that he had committed any theft, he said, adding that the 35 Christian families in the village are poor laborers who work for Muslim landowners. We are very poor and too weak to even think of offending the Muslim villagers. They know that we are helpless and that they can get away with anything, even murder. He said that though the police had arrested Waseem and two others, getting justice from the courts would be an uphill task. We do not have money to engage a good lawyer, Sahotra said. The murderers are powerful people, and its only a matter of time that theyll be out on bail by influencing the police investigation. The fact that we are Christians makes us more vulnerable to injustice. He appealed to church leaders and Christian rights groups to help the family. We are in dire need of legal aid and financial assistance to cope with this tragedy, he said. Please help us. No chance at justice The killing of Masih was not the first such crime against Pakistans vulnerable Christian community as Islamic extremism and prejudice have gripped the country. From extrajudicial killings over false allegations of blasphemy to forced conversion and marriages of underage minority girls, Christians face widespread persecution in Pakistan. Also in Punjab province, in Okara districts Renala village, 55-year-old Catholic Allah Ditta on Jan. 11 was gunned down by Muslims after he objected to their stealing fruit from his orchard, family members said. The victims son, Shahbaz Masih, said that when his father confronted Muhammad Intizar, Muhammad Awais and one identified only as Usama, the trio allegedly called him a chuhra, a pejorative label for Christians with no chance at justice even if they killed him. Masih said that they then then shot his father in the chest, killing him instantly. The murderers threatened me that they would kill our family if we informed the police, Masih told Morning Star News. Despite the threats, the family has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the three men at the Renala Khurd Police Station under charges of premeditated murder (Section 302) and common intention (Section 34) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Masih said that police have arrested Intizar, while Awais and Usama remain at large. Usamas father is a retired army officer, and he offered us 500,000 rupees (US$1,810) as blood money to drop the charges against his son, Masih said. We have rejected his offer, because we want justice for our slain father. Dittas wife, Josephine Bibi, said that the family was struggling with day-to-day expenses since her husband was killed. We are good Christian people who have always gotten along with our Muslim neighbors, she told Morning Star News. These young men are the vilest of creatures who bear immense evil in their hearts. Bibi lamented that her husband would never see his children through marriage and other life stages. I demand justice for my slain husband; he was killed because he was a Christian, she said. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2023 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, up from eighth the previous year. This article was originally published by Morning Star News Indian pastor remains jailed despite bail after Hindu extremists file false conversion charges NEW DELHI A pastor in northern India remains in jail after more than three months despite winning bail because Hindu extremists filed new false charges against him, his wife said. We are going through troubled times, and we dont know when this will come to an end, said Preeti Masih, whose husband, Pastor Vijay Masih, completed 100 days in jail on Feb. 7. The pastor of an Evangelical Church of India (ECI) congregation in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh state, won bail orders on Jan. 16, but new cases filed against him extended his arrest term. Initially, he had been arrested on April 14, 2022, and was released on bail after three days, but then he was arrested again on Oct. 30. Pastor Masih and 49 Christians in the Hariharganj locality of Fatehpur were arrested one after another starting last April under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and other laws. The initial complaint was filed by an official of the local Hindu extremist Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) against 35 identified Christians and 20 unidentified Christians on April 15. Pastor Masih and the other arrested Christians, plus a few more, faced newly filed charges in a complaint by Virendra Singh on Jan. 23. The complaint lists 47 identified Christians and 20 unidentified Christians, and the same names figure in another complaint filed on the same day by Sanjay Singh. In both the complaints, the Christians are baselessly accused under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, along with unfounded claims of forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy. We have a list of about 55 Christians whom to arrest, and we have arrested 49 of them and have received NBW (non-bailable warrant) for the six who were left, Senior Sub-Inspector of Kotwali police station in Fatehpur Santosh Kumar told Morning Star News. He confirmed that all four of the registered complaints since April 14 repeat the same list of names with only few additions in the latter two. If the six who are currently not arrested abscond from the police, we have orders to attach their properties under section 82 and 83 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, he said. Maundy Thursday attack The cases began when a mob of Hindu extremists shouting Jai shree Ram [Hail, lord Ram] surrounded Pastor Masihs Maundy Thursday church service on April 14, Preeti Masih said. News media accompanied the extremists, who had brought locks that they used to lock the front and the back gates of the church property. VHP leaders called the police even as the Christians inside reported the attack to officers by phone. Upon arrival, officers told the Christians to remain calm and allow them to handle the matter, even as they prepared to arrest them. We were fooled by believing that the police will do the right thing, Preeti Masih told Morning Star News. They noted down the personal details of all the Christians, like the aadhaar number (government-issued ID), date of birth, present address and permanent address along with their names. Officers told the Christians they would take them to the police station and then let them go, she said. Like fools we believed the police, and 35 from amongst us were taken to the police station along with Pastor Vijay, she said. As the Christians waited at the station, officers filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 35 identified and 20 unidentified Christians, and they were taken to court. Nine of them who were aged or had physical ailments were allowed to return home, and the rest including women and young children were sent to jail. They procured bail and were released two days later, on April 16. In his complaint, the local VHP official, Himanshu Dikshit, accused those gathered at the church service of forcibly converting 90 Hindus. Station Head Officer Amit Mishra then baselessly told news outlet ThePrint that the ECI was heavily involved in forcefully converting Hindus and others, Preeti Masih said. Mishra reportedly said the Christians would give all kinds of allurements, like admissions to children in missionary schools and jobs to youngsters in the local missionary hospital and NGOs. They would go to villages and extend financial help to people. They would buy buffaloes for those who couldnt afford them. The station head told ThePrint that 1,000 to 2,000 people were estimated to have been converted by church members named in the FIR. Preeti Masih roundly denied the allegations, saying they were all made-up stories. None of the allegations of allurement and forced conversion are true, she told Morning Star News. Police did not ask us anything. They have only heard one-sided complaints from the opposition party, and under pressure from them they have carried out arrests. Edwin J. Wesley, legal officer and the general secretary of the ECI, said the VHP leader and his supporters made up the entire story. He called the case a complete fake. The FIR is totally false and baseless, Wesley told Morning Star News. If one visits the church, it is evident that the church capacity itself is not more than 60 people, so those who were present at the time of the attack inside the church were the total number of people mentioned in the FIR. Preeti Masih said she and her husband lived peacefully with area Hindus and had good relations with everyone. We have been living cordially along with our neighbors for many years now, she said. We have had no problems on personal levels with anybody. It is very shocking as well as very hurting to see our neighbors speak against us. Only when media people arrived and interviewed our neighbors have they come up with stories and spoken against us, even when none of it is true, and we have done nothing to be targeted. History of harassment Three police stations in Fatehpur have filed at least seven FIRs since the beginning of 2022 on complaints from the VHP and Bajrang Dal, claiming Christians were trying to convert Dalits and Hindus through allurement, trickery, coercion and other means. Most of the 35 named in the initial FIR are employees of the Broadwell Christian Hospital in Fatehpur, a 113-year-old hospital established in 1909. Police issued notices to the chairman of the hospital, Dr. Samuel Mathew, and clerk Parminder Singh on Jan. 4 to provide documents for the investigation, according to the FIR. Officers also issued notices to the staff of World Vision Internationals Fatehpur office and the bishop of the Evangelical Church of India in Prayagraj to provide materials as part of the investigation. Separate notices were issued on Dec. 28 to Chancellor Jetti Oliver, Vice-Chancellor Bishop Rajendra B. Lal and administrative official Vinod B. Lal of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Science (SHUATS), Prayagraj, to record their statements, according to the FIR. A notice has also been served to Senior Pastor the Rev. Paul Sigamony, ECI Church-Allahabad Bible Seminary, a resident of Prayagraj, about 80 miles from Fatehpur. Fatehpur police on Jan. 20 filed a separate FIR against eight officials in Prayagraj, including the vice-chancellor and two pro vice-chancellors, alleging criminal conspiracy and violations under the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020. As arrests continued the past 10 months and a local intelligence unit investigates accusations in Prayagraj, each day something new crops up, the ECIs Wesley said. We knew this matter is false, and soon it will be sorted in Fatehpur, but sadly it has spread from Fatehpur to Allahabad [now Prayagraj], and many small villages in and around Allahabad where church fellowships are held, he said. They are enquiring of the village churches about the date of their establishment, and who is in charge of the church/fellowship. Police have not limited themselves to small villages but also large institutions like SHUATS and Allahabad Bible Seminary, Wesley said. Meantime, Preeti Masih has managed to sustain herself and her two children, ages 12 and 10, on her husbands salary that ECI continues to remit. She visits her husband at least twice a week and encourages him to press on. Pastor Masih has been leading the ECI church in Fatehpur for last 13 years. A spokesperson for the Evangelical Fellowship of India Religious Liberty Commission said local media have contributed to the surge of false accusations of fraudulent conversions in India. Clearly forceful conversion is nothing but a sham, and its just a bogey that is being dragged with the idea of creating a false narrative, the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity. And media plays a major role in creating this perception about the community. As far as forceful conversion is concerned, there hasnt been any single instance of conviction in the past or even now, because Christians are merely followers of Christ and believe in the idea of serving, loving and taking care of each other. The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, against non-Hindus, has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say. India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was ranked No. 31 in 2013, but its position worsened after Modi came to power. South Africa: Disaster management teams on alert amid floods Disaster management teams are on high alert across the country amid the continuing heavy rains that have already resulted in damage, says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. The inclement weather in recent days saw vehicles submerged and swept away, trapped homeowners on roofs and collapsed walls. In a statement, the Minister urged communities in affected areas to exercise caution. The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) is in contact with provincial and local disaster management centres on the ground and are coordinating with all the role players as the heavy down pours continue. The disaster teams will continue to monitor the situation and give support on an ongoing basis, the department said. Due to the heavy downpours, many areas are flooded, rivers are overflowing across a number of provinces, people have lost property and infrastructure like roads and bridges are also damaged. As per the recent reports from the South African Weather Service (SAWS), the ground in many other areas that have been receiving rains is already saturated, hence the need to be extra vigilant. There are areas that are known to be prone to flooding. As such communities are requested to treat these and all other areas as posing potential danger and desist from endangering their lives, said the department. As per SAWS report, these adverse weather conditions are still not showing any signs of stopping. The public is therefore urged to follow the regular updates and warning messages from the weather service as it monitors the weather and climate conditions. Dlamini Zuma urged communities across the country to provide assistance to those in need and affected by the flooding, especially those displaced as they lost homes which are flooded and not conducive for human occupation. Those who are able to donate basic necessities are encouraged to assist working with municipalities and affected communities themselves. We urge you to be vigilant, cautious, and to heed the calls from relevant authorities, she said. As the wet weather continues, South Africans can follow these safety tips: - People living in low-lying areas must take special care during storms, as sudden floods might affect them. They should monitor the rising water levels and evacuate the areas to a safer place or higher spot when the water level rises. - Do not cross through flooded roads or bridges use other routes. - Avoid crossing low-lying bridges, streams and rivers. - Never try to walk, swim or drive in swift-flowing water. Even if the water is 15 cm deep, it can sweep you off your feet; - Motorist must be very careful and avoid driving through flooded areas. - Drive to and park at safer areas. - The public must monitor weather alerts on radio and television. - The public should contact their municipal disaster management centres or the nearest police station or call the national emergency numbers (112, 10177 or 107) when faced with threats. - Do not try to drive over a low-water bridge if water is flowing strongly across it and the ground is not visible. - Teach your children about the dangers of floods. - Keep your important documents in a water-resistant container. - Keep your cell phone in close proximity to you and have emergency numbers at hand. - Be especially vigilant at night. It is harder to recognise potentially deadly road hazards. - Do not camp or park your car along rivers or washes, especially during heavy rains or thunderstorms. - If you are on foot, be aware that low moving water can also be dangerous during flood conditions. If you come upon moving water, do not walk into it. - Where possible, communities are encouraged to try to avoid contact with any flood waters. The water may be contaminated with raw sewage, oil or other dangerous substances, and may also be charged with electricity from fallen powerlines. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-02-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. US is in disarray as former officials only speak truth after retirement (Global Times) 08:36, February 13, 2023 House of Hegemony Illustration: Liu Rui/GT The US has fallen into an abnormal state in which former officials tell the truth, while incumbent ones only say politically correct things. Today in the US, policies are mainly driven by political correctness, instead of respecting the truth. Such policies are not necessarily beneficial to the US; they even jeopardize the country in many cases and will undoubtedly further accelerate the decline of the country. In an interview with CBS News, former acting defense secretary Christopher C. Miller argued the defense budget could be slashed by as much as half and Washington should stop making China a bogeyman. He suggests the military-industrial complex has spiraled to unsustainable levels and encouraged military and political leaders to exaggerate global conflicts. As a former top officer of the US military, Miller fully understands the connection between the military-industrial complex, the White House and the Pentagon. He is also clearly aware that the unbridled expansion of the US military will trigger tremendous damage to the country as well as its people, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times. The US is using almost all armed might to indulge in aggressive wars on a global scale. It has repeatedly exaggerated the threat of China and Russia, constantly intensifying its military presence around the world, and sparing no effort to exploit its military alliance system to strategically encircle China. As a matter of fact, the real beneficiaries of these operations are the US military-industrial complex and its stakeholders in the US political and military circles, Wei said, noting that it is the US public that bears the loss or suffering. Furthermore, when the US wages military clashes or even wars, soldiers, most of whom are from ordinary American families, rather than the elite class, will be sent to the battlefield. All this will affect Americans' trust in their government at home, hit US' international image abroad, and make the country even less safe as these actions have created more foes for itself. As Miller told the truth after leaving office, his remarks will be of little practical value. And he doesn't express much optimism that lawmakers in Washington will heed his call for a more reasonable Pentagon budget, either. It is noticeable that in many cases, it is US retired officials who would like to tell the public truth or make more constructive suggestions, instead of the incumbent ones. Why didn't they say these when they were in office? Don't serving officials know about it? In fact, they are not completely ignorant of the truth or facts of the matter, instead, many of them remain sober-minded. However, trapped by the binding of interests and the constraints of the system and norms of US politics, the incumbent officials are not emboldened to talk about anything contrary to their political correctness, so as to secure their jobs. Those who have left the office, on the other hand, are relatively less constrained, so that they can make remarks more objectively. The US decision-making circle is becoming increasingly closed, and the binding of interests is rising severely. In essence, this indicates that the US has fallen into an internal plight, a problem with the US political system. Today, the US' political environment lacks a correct and sound atmosphere for policy discussion, which will inevitably lead politics to go wrong, but the price will be borne by the entire country. Although Americans are increasingly paying attention to the US' pressing issues such excessive defense budget and its groundless hype over China threat, due to the constraints of the US system, these problems will not be fundamentally solved, but will become increasingly grave. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A Brookfield restaurant has agreed to a settlement with the Connecticut U.S. Attorneys office to resolve allegations that the business was not operating in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, according to federal officials. The settlement agreement with Lake Shore Lounge, Inc., doing business as Down the Hatch restaurant in Brookfield, resolves an ADA complaint filed by an individual with disabilities alleging that Down the Hatch required the removal of a service animal from the restaurant as a condition of service, according to federal officials. An additional complaint alleged the restrooms and parking spaces were inaccessible to individuals with physical disabilities, according to federal officials. As a result of the settlement agreement, the restaurant is in the process of posting signage indicating Service Animals Welcome, implementing a Service Animal Policy, which includes the types of legally permissible inquiries employees may make of a customer who enters the restaurant with a service animal, and training employees regarding the policy, federal officials said in a statement. Down the Hatch has also made a compensation payment to the complainant as required by the agreement, the statement said. In addition, Down the Hatch agreed to make significant improvements that will increase accessibility to restrooms and parking spaces on the premises. Connecticut U.S. Attorney Vanessa Avery said that the owner of Down the Hatch has worked cooperatively with the U.S. Attorneys Office to promptly address the ADA issues without litigation. We enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure that individuals are able to access and enjoy the states restaurants, service establishments, retail stores and other places of public accommodation, Avery said in the statement. The ADA requires businesses to appropriately serve the diverse populations of patrons who live, work, and visit Connecticut. We appreciate Down the Hatchs commitment to increasing access to its restaurant for individuals with disabilities who require service animal assistance and those with mobility challenges. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The presence of grief in the room was palpable as Sally Oliver shared the story of her 21-year-old son Brian Olivers killing in 2021. An aspiring rapper, Oliver was gunned down early the morning of July 19, 2021 outside an Irving Street home after an argument and fight during a party at a North End home a few blocks away, according to court records. For Sally Oliver and others, the mood visibly changed when she shared that the Hartford Police Department was able to locate and arrest a suspect in her sons death, Joshua White, who was charged in October 2021. Oliver thanked the Hartford detective assigned to her case, for working to make this arrest happen. This step toward justice is the hope carried by many community members who joined a Mothers United Against Gun Violence session with the entire Hartford police homicide team and detectives with the Hartford Police Departments Cold Case Unit. One of those city residents Deborah Gaston , who lost her 24-year-old son, Andre Gaston, Jr. to gun violence on Orange Street early on the morning of Oct. 5, 2022. Police responded to the area of Orange Street for two ShotSpotter activations and found an unresponsive man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and applied life-saving measures until emergency services arrived. The man, identified as Gaston Jr., was taken to Hartford Hospital and was pronounced dead. He was ambushed and slaughtered, shot 27 times. And nobody knows anything. There were several people at his funeral. And I heard all the good things he did for people. I kept telling him, stay out from over there. You dont live over there, you dont live over there. Stay away from there, Gaston said. While she acknowledges that her son was selling marijuana at the time, Gaston said she tried to warn him and help him to understand that the people he was hanging out with were jealous of him, because, she believes. they could tell he came from different circumstances than they were in. Sgt. Anthony Rykowski speaking during the Mothers United Against Violence forum, Hartford Conn. February 2023. It just hurts my heart to know that (the killer) had to leave him like that. Like I told him, you try to fix people, fix yourself first. Fix yourself. And I had told him, just a week before. I said you keep pushing your number closer and closer to the top. I said, you cant keep playing with God, she said. OK, it doesnt work. You cant keep running over here working and coming back over here. It doesnt work that way. The day before Gaston was slain, there was a carjacking and his mother said she was scrambling to call everyone to see if her son was the victim, but she was able to reach him that day and confirmed he was not there, as he was at his job. The very next day, she said that she received the call from a family member that her son was slain yet, no one has come forward to say how he was killed, which she does not understand. I just dont get it. I mean, these kids are listening to this demonic music, and smoking and sniffing, whatever the heck they are doing. And everybodys just losing their minds, Gaston said. Gaston said her hope is for city police to keep arresting individuals that are causing trouble in the streets. These are your streets. Now, you are not going to tell me that you dont know whats going on. I mean, yall see these kids [and] know they dont live there. I dont care. Keep arresting them. I dont care if you arrested him 30 times, maybe he would still be here, she said. Hartford saw 39 homicides in 2022 compared to 34 in 2021, according to police statistics released to the Hartford City Councils Quality of Life and Public Safety committee. Homicides in 2021 increased 40% from 2020, when the year ended with 25. The number of homicides in Hartford in 2022, however, was the most fatal violence since there were 46 homicides recorded in 2003, according to Hartford police. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin has noted that the increase in the number of fatalities is partly a reflection of the fact that so much of this violence is so intensely personal and arises from personal disputes that escalate quickly and tragically when there are guns present. Police also have said the majority of the homicides reported in 2022 were due to personal disputes, though alleged gang- or drug-related killings did occur. The city has numerous public and citizen-run organizations that work to end violence; a new program is Peacebuilders, which focuses on the citys high-risk youth. Oliver was one of the young people working with the Compass Youth Collaborative, which works to stop the cycle of violence in Hartford, Warren Hardy, 48, a youth activist and counselor for the organization said at the time Oliver was slain. Mothers United Against Violence Founder Henrietta Beckman said the organization put the session together to allow community members to ask the homicide team and cold case unit direct questions about slain loved ones. Mothers United Against Violence Rev. Henry Brown speaking to community members who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Hartford, Conn. Hartford police Sgt. Anthony Rykowski the departments homicide and cold case teams are working to bring closure for families, to bring awareness, and make a difference in the city. Mothers United Against Violence leader Deborah Davis told grieving community members they must empower themselves to communicate with detectives working the cases. Dont sit back, be proactive. Weve had moms that have really dug in and dads and theyve really dug in and they went to the next level, we need you to go to the next level, she said. And appreciate the fact that [police] did come up. They are so busy, but they came out to make sure that they can communicate directly with you. Rykowski said the department never forgets the cases, no matter how much time has passed. People want answers, and we want to give them to you, more than anything. Everyone sitting up here, we take these incidents seriously, we take it personally. We are the ones that come out to your house and we have to give you this devastating news, Rykowski said. We also want to be the ones that bring you to closure, thats something we all take very very seriously. Were constantly re-evaluating evidence. If theres something we can do, that when the incident happened we didnt have the capability to do, we want to revisit that, he said. Mothers United Against Violence member Cynthia Browdy speaking about her sons cold case murder in 1988 in Hartford, Conn. Andrew Woods, executive director of Hartford Communities That Care, Inc., which responds to violent crimes throughout the city, said such forums are not something that happen in all communities. Mothers United Against Violence is an organization that actually pulls people together to really try to resolve a lot of these crimes that impact us in our community, Woods said. And it is work that is taking a toll on folks that do this work in a very significant way that a lot of people dont fully understand or appreciate, he said. Its troubling to see your faces, every time this happens. But its also troubling to know that people that get out of their beds, like this [organization], to support families like mine and yours, do not necessarilyget the acknowledgement, respect, and the resources that they need. Mothers United Against Violence founder the Rev. Henry Brown said the departments homicide and cold case teams never gives up on cases. It might seem like you cant get an answer. You dont have an answer. But I can assure you theyre still working, Brown said. Davis said is a courageous act for community members to speak out. This is the part of the work that we understand more than anyone else, I think, because we are victims. And now were survivors. Were going to be a survivor and the voice for our children. And for our loved ones that were taken from us. We didnt lose them, they were taken from us, she said. What is Six Sigma? Six Sigma is a quality management methodology used to help businesses improve current processes, products, or services by discovering and eliminating defects. The goal is to streamline quality control in manufacturing or business processes so there is little to no variance throughout. Six Sigma was trademarked by Motorola in 1993. The name references the Greek letter sigma, which is a statistical symbol that represents a standard deviation. Motorola used the term because a Six Sigma process is expected to be defect-free 99.99966% of the time allowing for 3.4 defective features for every million opportunities. Motorola initially set this goal for its own manufacturing operations, but it quickly became a buzzword and widely adopted standard. Six Sigma is specifically designed to help large organizations with quality management. In 1998, Jack Welch, CEO of GE, helped thrust Six Sigma into the limelight by donating upwards of $1 million as a thank you to the company, recognizing how Six Sigma positively impacted GEs operations and promoting the process for large organizations. After that, Fortune 500 companies followed suit and Six Sigma has been popular with large organizations ever since. Six Sigma principles The goal in any Six Sigma project is to identify and eliminate any defects that are causing variations in quality by defining a sequence of steps around a certain target. The most common examples youll find use the targets smaller is better, larger is better, or nominal is best. Smaller is Better creates an upper specification limit, such as having a target of zero for defects or rejected parts. creates an upper specification limit, such as having a target of zero for defects or rejected parts. Larger is Better involves a lower specification limit, such as test scores where the target is 100%. involves a lower specification limit, such as test scores where the target is 100%. Nominal is Best looks at the middle ground a customer service rep needs to spend enough time on the phone to troubleshoot a problem, but not so long that they lose productivity. The process aims to bring data and statistics into the mesh to help objectively identify errors and defects that will impact quality. Its designed to fit a variety of business goals, allowing organizations to define objectives around specific industry needs. Youll also find similar principles in Lean Six Sigma, which combines the principles of Six Sigma with the Lean methodology. Incorporating Lean into Six Sigma brings a heightened focus on reducing waste, defects, and variance, while also staying ahead of schedule and under budget. This lean methodology helps organizations stay more agile and flexible while also focusing on establishing long-term processes. Lean adds a stronger focus to defects, overproduction, waiting, nonutilized talent, transportation, inventory, motion, and extra-processing. The idea is that by solving these issues, companies can solve problems faster, improve efficiency, and boost productivity. Dimension Data is widely known for bold innovations and stalwart cloud solutions and services that enable enterprises to dramatically improve their businesses; now it is on mission to benefit the planet and in the process, the communities it services and the economies it influences. Whether it is using the Internet of Things (IoT) to help prevent poaching with its Connected Conversation initiative or using excess heat from its data center in Berlin to help heat the surrounding community, Dimension Data, and global parent company NTT, are well-known for innovation and using technology for good. Using cutting-edge technologies and its robust portfolio of multi-cloud solutions relied on by the worlds largest enterprises, the Johannesburg, South Africa-based company has a track record of taking on big challenges. Now Dimension Data is in the midst of an aggressive effort to achieve net-zero emissions across all of its operations by 2030, and across thier value chain by 2040. It is an effort that is also intentionally focused on helping customers dramatically accelerate their own sustainability efforts, as well. And in keeping with its can-do history, Dimension Datas efforts extend far beyond goals to only address the sustainability of IT operations. Specifically, the company part of the NTT Group conducted an assessment to identify which of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals its people, operations and solutions can impact the most. Ultimately, it identified three themes and committed to achieving numerous goals to bring about positive change in each. Alan Turnley-Jones, CEO, Dimension Data Dimension Data We recently connected with Alan Turnley-Jones, CEO of Dimension Data, to find out more about these efforts. We also took the opportunity learn what prompted Dimension Data to join the VMware Zero Carbon Committed Initiative, and what comes next. A year ago, we set out our sustainability ambitions which put us on the path to achieve operational and net zero emissions by 2030 and across our value chain by 2040, says Turnley-Jones. Our approach, guided by the U.N.s Sustainable Development Goals and scientific targets, focuses on connected planet, connected economy, and connected communities. And I am proud to say that we are already making an impact. Over the past 12 months, through commitment, determination, and our passion to make a difference, NTT and the technology we deploy helped to created better outcomes for our clients, partners and society. He notes that after providing employees with three extra days of leave they can use for volunteer efforts, more than 1,500 employees, around the globe, have already made use of the volunteering leave and given back to their communities. And in its efforts for a connected planet, the company achieved 1 million mWh of renewable energy putting it right on track achieve its target of using 100% renewable energy by 2030. It is an effort that he stresses cannot be done alone. We have a long and wonderful relationship with VMware, and the Zero Carbon Committed initiative is a perfect example of how leading technology companies can bring about change, he says. As VMware has shown, it is imperative to reduce the carbon footprint of data centers, and in that way enable us to use the applications and technologies they make possible to make a real difference in the fight against climate change. Notably, Dimension Data launched two technology initiatives designed specifically to further sustainability efforts. Introduced last May, its Internet Of Things for Sustainability uses connected 5G devices and sensors to help enterprises better understand their carbon footprint and manage their energy consumption. And the companys Net Zero Climate Action solution, unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Vegas in 2022, is a full-stack Sustainability-as-a-Service offering that builds on those capabilities and features connected IoT devices, a private 5G network, digital twins and machine learning that lets organizations closely monitor, measure and report on their emissions at a very granular level. Bridgestone America is already using the solution to gain real-time visibility into its carbon footprint. Notably, Turnley-Jones also stresses that sustainability at now at the heart of Dimension Datas strategy. This strategy will be overseen by the companys recently appointed Chief Risk and Sustainability Officer Zellah Fuphe. We are very proud of what we have achieved so far, but it is just the beginning, adds Turnley-Jones. We are committed to doing more and to having an even greater impact by connecting data, things and people in ways that transform business, society and the planet for the better. Immediate goals include helping Dimension Data clients in reducing 200 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2026. It is an effort that includes engaging partners to embed sustainability impact data into their purchasing decisions while also embracing circular IT strategies that optimize the use of existing hardware while minimizing waste. Employees will also play a very different role, regardless of what position they hold. Among the many additional goals Dimension Data and NTT are committed to achieving are establishing a Sustainability Innovation Fund and mentorship program for climate technology and smart solutions, introducing solutions for biodiversity on every continent the company operates in by 2025, providing 5 million young people from underprivileged areas with digital access and educational opportunities, and doubling the diversity of Dimension Datas executive leadership team by 2025. It was Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who said, The future belongs to us, because we have taken charge of it. We have the commitment, we have the resourcefulness, and we have the strength of our people to share the dream across Africa, says Turnley-Jones. I believe that at NTT and Dimension Data we are doing things today that will change all our collective futures for the better. Our best is yet to come. That is certainly the case in the fight against climate change. Learn more about Dimension Data and its partnership with VMware here and NTT/ Dimension Datas sustainability ambitions here. With the most advanced tier IV data center in Spain, and one of the most advanced in Europe, KIO Networks Spain provides a diverse array of private-sector and public-sector enterprises with Infrastructure-as-a-Service for mission-critical systems and applications. The company also offers a diverse array of cloud solutions and services. Some of the many offerings in its growing portfolio include Disaster Recover-as-a-Service, Backup-as-a-Service, a fully dedicated private cloud based on VMware technology in a maximum-security data center, and Platform-as-a-Service offerings designed for Kubernetes-based environments. KIO Networks Spain even provides cloud services designed specifically for Software-as-a-Service companies. On joining the VMware Zero Carbon Committed initiative, Javier Jarilla, director general of KIO Networks Spain, says he believes it has never been more important for sustainability efforts to be genuine. Jarilla notes that high-performance is a hallmark of KIO Networks Spain, which includes a high-touch approach in which the companys engineers are personally involved in all phases of a customers cloud deployment, from planning and design to data migration and post deployment support. The effectiveness of our approach can be seen in the number of clients who outsource 100% of their IT systems to us, he explains. He adds that the organizations efforts now include a genuine and steadfast effort to do business in a sustainable way. One among many actions we are taking is operating data centers powered by renewable resources. It was important to all of us at KIO Networks Spain to join VMwares Zero Carbon Committed initiative for a number of reasons, says Jarilla. We were one of the first data center companies in our region to achieve VMware Cloud Verified status. That was an important accomplishment not only because of our long relationship with VMware, but also because so many of our cloud offerings are based on VMware technology. The Zero Carbon Committed initiative is important to us because we believe that awareness of climate change and taking actionable steps to protect the environment and positively impact the future of the planet should be intrinsic in business. With this in mind, KIOs engineers and data center experts are focused on five fundamental outputs in all data center projects, including the use of 100% renewable power as required in VMware Zero Carbon Committed. Additional goals include zero water input to combat water stress, the use of natural refrigerants in cooling systems, reuse of waste heat that is generated to supply local heating systems, and investment in environmental projects to offset any of the minimal carbon footprint that will be created through these efforts. Jarilla stresses that these efforts have not gone unnoticed and that the intersection between sustainability efforts and business is increasingly visible, as evidenced by several long-term customers who have requested tangible sustainability targets they can apply to their own efforts. Our immediate goal is to be the most sustainable provider of cloud services and solutions on the Iberian Peninsula. More broadly, we want to provide enterprises in Spain with a partner who not only has made a genuine commitment to achieve zero carbon emissions in our data center operations, but who can also make those same measurable, auditable, and verifiable gains available to them. We all win when we create an ecosystem of companies intent to achieve real sustainability. Its an effort Jarilla says will impact how vendors and providers are viewed. He believes that in the near future the commitment to doing whats right for the environment will be another factor in the evaluation of vendors, their hiring, and renewals. In that sense, he concludes, the very definition of high-performance will increasingly include a commitment to be achieving zero carbon emissions. Learn more about KIO Networks Spain and its partnership with VMware here. Women hug near a collapsed building in Turkey after one loses her brother in the devastating earthquake The Disasters Emergency Committees (DEC) Turkey-Syria Earthquake appeal has raised more than 65m since opening for donations last Thursday, including 5m in UK Aid Match. JustGiving, meanwhile, has seen 4.1m including Gift Aid raised through its platform for the Turkey-Syria response since the disaster occurred on 6 February. Many other charities have also launched emergency appeals. World Vision UK has received a 1m donation from XTX Markets for its Turkey-Syria earthquake appeal and to date, the Oxfam appeal has raised 2.25m. DEC: Desire to help is shining through DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds and fourteen of the DECs members are either responding or planning to respond in Turkey and Syria. They receive funds from this appeal and some may work through local partners. The Premier League has donated 1m with players and officials wearing black armbands during their weekend matches. Staff at Royal Mail are also raising money from activities like fun runs and cake sales, with the company set to match funds up to 50,000. NatWest Group will provide up to 100,000 match funding for colleague and customer donations and there has been a 100,000 donation from the Co-operative group. Morrisons and the Co-operative Group are also offering customers the opportunity to make a donation at checkouts across all their stores. The City of London Corporation has donated 50,000 to relief efforts in earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria. Saleh Saeed, DEC chief executive, said: The support across the country in stadiums, high streets and communities is testament to the incredible compassion and generosity of the British public and were incredibly grateful. The images we have all seen and heard from Turkey and Syria have shocked us all, and the desire to help is shining through. The earthquakes hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria killing at least 28,000 people and injuring many more. Currently, there are freezing conditions and many hundreds of thousands are homeless. Saeed added: DEC charities are stepping up aid delivery, knowing they have the support of the British public to do all they can to help. We are all determined to do all we can to support those affected both in the short and longer term and its inspiring to have the backing of the British public. Regulators: Expertise with existing organisations The Scottish charity regulator (OSCR) has issued advice on how to give to the response. Its guidance reads that it is easier and quicker to donate to established charities rather than set up your own, and suggests people may want to donate to the DEC response. The logistical costs and expertise required to supply aid to disaster zones are considerable and are best undertaken by existing organisations that have experience of operating in disaster zones or have existing operations in Turkey or Syria, it adds. OSCR warns people against travelling to the affected area, and urges the public to check out charities carefully before giving. The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland also advised the public to donate either to the DEC appeal or another registered charity. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, This is part of a series on platforms and the press published jointly by CJR and the UCLA Institute for Technology, Law & Policy. After decades of shrinking revenues, and an increasing expectation among consumers that journalism should be free, the global media industry has reached a crisis point. As legacy news outlets shut down or lay off staff, misinformation and conspiracy theories run rampant, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. Trust in our institutions of governance continues to decline, fueling an alarming rise in extremism and political violence across previously stable democracies. In the Global South, the impact of journalisms decline has been even more striking, with the rise of a new generation of autocrats skilled in manipulating the online conversation to suit their consolidation of power. While there is no single cause for the decline in traditional news media, much of the blame has been focused on online platforms, whose profits traditionally have grown even as funding for journalism dries up. There is a connection between these two trends, since the platforms control over how we access information means that news media organizations are dependent on them to distribute their products. Facebook and Google have used this to leverage a dominant position over the online advertising market, keeping the lions share of profits for themselves and disrupting a key revenue source for supporting journalism. While the scope of the problem, and its impacts, are clear, the question of what to do about it is much thornier. Governments around the world have proposed a range of legislative and regulatory solutions to strengthen the financial position of the news media industry, generally at the expense of large online platforms. The responses can take the form of direct-subsidy and tax credit programs, as Canada has introduced, or mandates requiring online platforms to negotiate licensing deals with news media outlets, as is the case in Australia. Both efforts are controversial. Any subsidy or tax credit scheme administered by the government must include some form of eligibility requirements, which in turn requires the state to make determinations about who is or is not a journalist, a question that raises deep legal and social questions. If governments are given discretion over who qualifies for funding, this power could be used to punish disfavored political perspectives. But if the threshold for qualifying is too low, it could result in channeling resources to the worst purveyors of misinformation and hate, further degrading the political discourse. Some journalists have also raised concerns that these programs, even if administered fairly, could further erode public confidence in their reporting, by creating a perception that they are beholden to their government or Big Tech paymasters. There is also a tension between calls to harness the resources of major platforms to support journalism and ongoing antitrust and competition inquiries that view the platforms market power as the heart of the problem. There are concerns that a licensing model that ties the future of journalism to the profitability of Big Tech will make it more difficult to break the companies up and further entrench the surveillance-heavy business model they are built around. Every proposed solution involves trade-offs and challenges. However, given the foundational importance of the press to a functioning democracy, and the existential crisis facing newsrooms around the world, inaction is not an option. This series, which builds on the work of a new Information Policy Lab developed by Courtney Radsch and myself, aims to present a range of global perspectives on the impact of online platforms on the news media industry, and potential solutions to support sustainable journalism and information integrity. The authors were given a relatively free hand to focus on the aspects of the current moment that they felt were most important and to suggest solutions that they think are most likely to bear fruit. Our aim in publishing this is to provide context to the legislative debates taking place in Washington, Brussels, Silicon Valley, and around the world, and to highlight the need for transnational thinking in developing appropriate solutions. For more discussion of questions related to news media sustainability, please consider registering for the ITLPs upcoming Symposium on Platforms and the Press, which takes place at UCLA Law School on March 34. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Michael Karanicolas is the executive director of the Institute for Technology, Law, and Policy, a new research collaboration between the UCLA School of Law and the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. This is part of a series on platforms and the press published jointly by CJR and the UCLA Institute for Technology, Law & Policy. In a recent Pew Research Center survey, 94 percent of US-based journalists said they use social media professionally. At the same time, two-thirds of them claimed that social media has a somewhat to very negative impact on their work. To claim that digital platforms have irrevocably altered the consumption, distribution, and production of news would not raise any eyebrows. But journalism outlets across the world did not foresee the extent to which social media would affect their reachin positive and negative ways. Starting as intermediaries between media websites and users, social media platforms quickly expanded their role to create engagement between content producers and audiences. Today, Tik Tok and Instagram compete with news sites as prime access points for information. Our own newsroom partners at Report for the World are digital-native local and national outlets that started amid the boom of social media. In their early years, they benefited from easy, free access to their audiences through Facebook and Twitter. It was no coincidence that the dizzying growth in the number of lean-structured digital-native media across the world happened in parallel with the worldwide use of social media, explains Stefano Wrobleski, director at InfoAmazonia,in Brazilone of our first newsroom partners. It would have been difficult to distribute [our] content without the platforms, says Wrobleski. Similarly, when our Hungarian partner Atlatszo started, in 2011, they gathered over ten thousand followers on Facebook very quickly. Facebook was essential for distributing our stories and content and finding our audiencesand [it] became the number one source of traffic on our website, says Tamas Bodoky, its editor in chief. The downside of social media dependence Today, Atlatszo has an impressive 120,000 Facebook followers. But actual engagement and reach has fallen. This is largely due to a policy change that came in 2018, when Facebook announced that its algorithm would prioritize posts that spark conversations and meaningful interactions between friends and family. Other platforms followed suit. Since then algorithms have been redesigned to disseminate emotion stirring content over fact-based stories, Leticia Duarte, a Brazilian journalist and program manager at Report for the World, explains. More recently, the continuing influence of social media on journalism has itself been under question, especially as Meta and Twitter experienced drastic changes over November. At least eleven thousand peopleabout 13 percent of Metas workforcewere let go from the organization in November. With many employees of the Meta Journalism Project being part of the cuts, speculation that the company is parting ways with journalism has been rife. Simultaneously, Elon Musks acquisition of Twitter caused a large percentage of its workforce to quit. The press started to preemptively mourn its demise, while calling attention to its integral role in journalism. The claim that we might be witnessing tectonic shifts in the role of social media giants is gaining ground. But social media, as a distribution channel, is not going anywhere. Fisayo Soyombo, the founder of our newest Nigerian partner, the Federation of Investigative Journalists (FIJ), says social media remains a valid crowdsourcing tool for his team. He points to the power of platforms in breaking the news, allowing users to spread the message quickly, and with impact. Even if Twitter and other giants collapsed, new ones would quickly follow suit, says Duarte. As soon as the rumors about the Twitter crisis started, for example, users already started looking for alternatives such as Mastodon, Hive, and Koo. The question is which models will prevail, as users, experts, and governments increasingly require more ethics and transparency from the platforms. Recent surveys point to a gradual shift away from digital platforms among news consumers in the US. In 2021, 51 percent of Americans said they got their news from digital services, compared with 60 percent in 2022. But, in a majority of the world, digital news is overtaking traditional media, such as radio or television, because of the affordability of smartphones and 4G networks. In large countries like Brazil, India, and Nigeria, where RFW corps members live, a majority are using smartphones to access news. As a direct consequence, digital platforms, including social media, will remain a key source of distribution for newsrooms in the Global South. As niche, independent media that are acutely affected by the ongoing fluctuations in the social media world, our newsroom partners are devising means of diversifying the types of digital platforms that can distribute and monetize their stories. Simultaneously, they are cutting through the digital noise by diversifying their contentfrom producing visual stories to increasing audience interaction on platforms. In parallel, they are pursuing different means of exposure and engagement, including different types of collaborations. Diverse methods of distribution When speaking about platform-driven journalism, we tend to think mostly about Meta, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. But digital methods such as newsletter subscriptions, paywalls, and collaborative sites have created audience engagement as well as sustainability for independent media, well before the emergence of social media giants. Search engine optimization tools that increase the visibility of news websites have amplified these efforts. For hyperlocal media outlet Agencia Mural, in Sao Paulo, WhatsApp has always been an important means of targeting audiences. This became especially true during the pandemic, when the outlet launched a WhatsApp-based podcast, Em Quarentena, with a five-minute news episode that relayed vital information about the COVID crisis to the community. They produced two hundred episodes, going on to win awards. Others among our partners have shaped their beats based on direct engagement with audiences. For example, Atlatszo in Hungary hired a Report for the World corps member to cover education, based on the expressed desire of their audiences through their newsletter. Partnerships between public interest media, within countries and across continents, have also been on the rise. Collaborations and community building Local public service media are building new types of coalitions on the ground to counter the dominance of digital platforms. Building intra- and transnational collaborations is helping diversify their distribution and build their reputations. For example, our partner Agencia Publica is at the forefront of fostering collaborations, not just in Brazil and Latin America, but across the world. The outlet has a creative-commons policy, with stories often republished and attributed by media in the US and Europe. Coalitions are also helping media of different sizes and revenue models counter state repression and corporate encroachment on their spaces. Our newsroom partners in IndiaThe Scroll, The Wire, and the News Minutecofounded the DigiPub News India Foundation to nurture a healthier ecosystem for digital news media, from legal protection to innovation. The News Minute is also creating a membership model, as opposed to subscriptions or paywalls, to create a community of readers that support independent media. Alongside these myriad efforts, this is a good moment to reimagine the layout of digital spaces, where news media can lead as legitimate information providers, instead of vying for attention from users. For this to happen, social media platforms must help users distinguish between content from journalism outlets and other sources of information, and integrate tools for audience engagement and subscribed content. When used as search engines, these platforms must devise better mechanisms to quell misinformation and disinformation. They must enable newsrooms to carry out their work with reach. This is the ideal long-term scenario, which requires concerted efforts from governments, platforms, advertisers, development and rights groups, and users. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Preethi Nallu is global director at Report for the World. After The Balloon, The UFOs. (Or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, if you prefer.) Since Friday, US officialsin conjunction, on one occasion, with their Canadian counterpartshave ordered the shootdown of objects that appeared in the skies over Alaska, northern Canada, and Michigan, just days after US planes also shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that had traversed the continental United States before plopping into the sea off South Carolina. Unlike in the case of The Balloon, its still not at all clear what the three things shot down over the weekend were, making them, by definition, unidentified flying objects. Predictably, the sci-fi connotations of that phrase have bled into news coverage. US General Doesnt Rule Out Aliens as UFOs Mount, one magazine headline read (and not in the National Enquirer). The New York Times, CNN, and Politico, meanwhile, all referenced the truth being out there, an old tagline from The X-Files. (It is, perhaps, fitting that Gillian Anderson is playing journalists these days.) As I wrote last Monday, the Biden administration was not initially very forthcoming about The Balloon, with stony-faced Pentagon officials batting away media questions (some of them admittedly silly) and confirming only their assessment of what The Balloon was and the level of threat they viewed it as posing. (The administration declassified more details on Thursday, though these had mostly already appeared in the pages of the Washington Post.) So far, at least, officials have not been fully forthcoming about the weekend shootdowns either. Rather than volunteer information about the first incident, over Alaska, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, waited until a reporter asked him about rumors of another Chinese balloon before reading what sounded like a prepared statement. Lawmakers, including senior congressional Democrats, have expressed concern about the overall lack of transparency. I have real concerns about why the administration is not being more forthcoming with everything that it knows, Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on Meet the Press yesterday. I looked at social media this morning [and saw] sudden, massive speculation about alien invasions and additional Chinese action or Russian action. In the absence of information, peoples anxiety leads them into potentially destructive areas. Himes acknowledged that the administration may not, at this point, have much information to share about the shootdowns, though he described this as his guess. And this wasnt the only Meet the Press speculation as to why were having to speculate. Chuck Todd, the host, suggested that the White House had perhaps been reluctant to front up uncomfortable news in a week when it was trying to orient coverage around Bidens State of the Union address and his domestic priorities. Symone Sanders-Townsend, a former administration spokesperson turned host on MSNBC, wondered whether Kirby had feared that volunteering the Alaska information before being asked might have made it seem more dire than what it actually is. All of these things or none of them may be true; as the weekend progressed, and officials did speak some more with reporters, it seemed increasingly clear that the administration is itself still in the dark about the incidents, though, given the Pentagons strict secrecy rules, theres more than one interpretation of its officials not being able to say more. As I wrote recently, US officials tend to classify far too much information. It is, of course, hard to say for sure exactly what has been classified in these cases, and whether thats legitimate. But officials would be wise, as Himes suggested, to weigh the risks of greater disclosure against the risks of what might fill an information vacuum here. Even setting out what they dont knowin a clear, precise, unified, and prominent mannerwould be helpful. Of course, the press has a responsibility to do likewise, and gaps in official informationwhether officials actually have that information or notare not a license for us to speculate. We, too, should state clearly what we know and dont about the downed objects, and avoid hype where possible. The headlines centering a general not ruling out alien responsibility may have been accurate (and were certainly clickable), but they werent really helpful. The general in question said he hadnt ruled anything out, and that hed leave it to the intelligence services to investigate further. Afterward, another defense official told Politico that there was no indication of alien involvement. (The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.) While were on the subject of aliens, recent days have brought to mind the last time that we saw a concerted period of coverage of UFOs: in the spring of 2021, when the federal government released a reportfirst to Congress, then publiclyon unidentified aerial phenomena that had been observed, often by military pilots, moving in ways that defied easy explanation. Back then, as well, officials said that they had found no evidence of alien activity but couldnt rule it out either, and the declaration drove media headlines (and abundant X-Files references). The report stoked a media storm over UFOs; former President Barack Obama appeared on a late-night show and spoke of objects in the skies that we dont know exactly what they are; the topic got the New Yorker treatment and the 60 Minutes treatment. While some journalists were having their minds blown, others criticized the coverage as overly credulous, questioning the credibility of recurring sources and regretting that the whole episode might serve as a gateway to conspiracism (as if we needed one more of those). Sign up for CJR 's daily email Taken as a whole, the coverage in 2021 explored a sort of liminal space between dismissive ridicule, wide-eyed wonder, and hard-nosed objectivity. As my thenCJR colleague Lauren Harris wrote at the time, this was not necessarily a comfortable space for journalists to inhabit. When a premise that was once considered taboo becomes permissible, the relative subjectivity of our industry is revealed, Harris wrote. The recent spate of UFO coverage points toward the difficulty of reporting on things that we, as a society, dont yet know or understandor things we dont interrogate because we think we already understand them. Writing for the Washington Post, Charlie Warzel made a related point, situating the UFO report alongside a number of other mind-bending stories from the time, not least the pandemic. Put together, these disorienting events can create precisely the sense of confusion that disinformation researchers, fact-checkers and swaths of the mainstream media try to bulwark against, he wrote. Lately, the task feels increasingly difficult as many of the worlds biggest real-life stories are complex and constantly evolving topics, where todays fantastical theory could become tomorrows truth. In their articles, Harris and Warzel both highlighted journalists relationship to uncertaintyan omnipresent fact of life that often gets downplayed or glossed over in an industry that privileges finding concrete truths, and quickly. A similar dynamic has been at play in the weekend shootdown stories. These incidents feel more grounded than the 2021 UFO frenzya pun that I absolutely intended, since it reflects that the current coverage has been oriented, at least for now, around concrete individual objects that have been taken out of the sky for further analysis. The stories also followed on the heels of the Chinese spy balloon, which was not unidentified (at least, not for long). Even with The Balloon, though, a bunch of important questionsabout precisely what it was doing, but also the political rationale, or lack thereof, behind its flightare still unanswered. And the weekend shootdowns coming so soon after The Balloon risks giving rise to assumptions about the new objectsthat they are foreign; that they are a threatthat news coverage can easily amplify (even implicitly) if were not careful. The shootdowns are clearly a news story because, well, the things got shot down. And were right to request more certainty from officials. Until we get it, though, the story cant be bigger than one of uncertainty. Arguably, the past story about uncertainty that is most instructive here is not the 2021 UFOs craze but the pandemic, which constantly pushed the boundaries of our knowledge and how we communicated it. Especially at firstwhen the virus was very new and we lacked the testing capability to establish anything like its true spreadit was important for the press to emphasize the limits of our knowledge rather than present what little we could confirm as the whole story. Some outlets rose admirably to that challenge; otherswith their daily tallies, for example, of cases rather than confirmed casesless so. Fundamentally, the 2021 UFOs story, for all its otherworldly mystique, was a data story, too; indeed, one of the key findings of the government report was a need for better data on such phenomena, with members of the military encouraged to report weird sightings without feeling mocked or stigmatized. Something similar is true now. Just because were learning aboutand, now, shooting downmore UFOs doesnt necessarily mean that there are more UFOs in the sky; indeed, our skies have been cluttered with all sorts of stuff for a while. Likewise, an uptick in media coverage of a given trend doesnt always tell us how important or prevalent that trend is in reality. Were far too flawed for that. As the Post and others reported over the weekend, government analysts have, postThe Balloon, changed the ways in which they filter and assess radar and other aerial data, much like a car buyer unchecking boxes on a website to broaden the parameters of what can be searched, as the Post put it. This doesnt mean that the recent incidents dont reflect some sort of concerted new threat. But it at least applies vital, cooling context to the sense that weve just lived through what the Times described as a helter-skelter weekend involving what at times seemed like an invasion of unidentified flying objects. The Times story nailed this contextafter the above description and obligatory X-Files reference. The truth is always out there. Whether we can see itor are even lookingis a different matter. Other notable stories: Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday, and yet Biden didnt sit for the traditional presidential interview with the network broadcasting the game, which in this case was Fox. Confusion as to whether Biden would take part crescendoed on Friday, when the White House said that Biden had agreed to be interviewed by Fox Soul, a streaming service aimed at Black viewers, only for Fox to cancel. Fox denied this; the Times has more. Last week, a court ruled that El Diario de El Paso and El Diario de Juarez, a pair of Spanish-language newspapers operating near the border between Texas and Mexico, must face a defamation suit brought against them by Javier Corral Jurado, the former governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The papers had covered a property dispute involving Corral; Bloomberg Laws Janet Miranda has more details of the case. On Friday, Marina Ovsyannikovaa former Russian state TV staffer who protested on air against the invasion of Ukrainerevealed at a press conference that she is now living in exile in France, and detailed how Reporters Without Borders helped her escape house arrest in Russia last year. She said she used a wire cutter to break her electronic tag, then fled to the border in various cars (and on foot after getting stuck in the mud). In the UK, William Turvill, of the New Statesman, reports on internal mutiny and rage among staff at BBC News, much of it directed at Richard Sharp, the broadcasters chairman, who, appearing before a parliamentary committee last week, blasted the BBCs reporting on a controversial personal loan that Sharp once helped facilitate for Boris Johnson. One staffer described the atmosphere in the newsroom as funereal. And The Guardians Jess Cartner-Morley explores how Architectural Digest became the new Vogue. The pandemic centered our domestic lives in the news, Cartner-Morley writes. Add to these shifts an insatiable appetite for the real lives of celebrities and it is clear why interior decor magazines are eclipsing traditional fashion glossiesand why videos of celebrity home tours are driving younger readers to once-niche publications. ICYMI: The earthquake and the press in Turkey Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. On January 8 of this year Pedro Ladeira, a photographer for the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, was celebrating his sons seventh birthday in Brazils capital, Brasilia, when his editor messaged. Thousands of supporters of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro had violently breached the Supreme Court, Congress, and presidential palaces, he was told. I have to work. Theres a demonstration, Ladeira recalled telling his son. When Ladeira arrived at the Monumento Os Candangos, a 1959 bronze statue paying tribute to the workers who built Brazil in the central government plaza, it felt like the country was being ripped apart. Ladeira tried to document a chaotic scene as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters intent on causing destruction. Bolsonaro, who had lost a bid for reelection, had spent years undermining confidence in Brazils electoral infrastructure, and his supporters refused to accept left-wing former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas election victory. Ladeira was surrounded by seven people wearing army camouflage and yellow shirts. They started screaming, Hes a journalist! Hes the enemy! He wants to fuck us with those photos! Ladeira said. They took my equipment, they pushed me, they kicked me. Ladeira said the rioters grabbed and stole one camera and broke the lens of another, taking with them many of the photos of the insurrection, before he managed to get away around 5pm. I felt afraid for my life in this moment, he said. But alongside fear and terror, Ladeira felt a profound sadness seeing people destroy Brazils monuments, buildings, and artworks. With all this fake news and hate speech, it was very sad to see where it ends, he added. The attack on Brazilian democracy echoes events on the steps of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, when rioters struck at the heart of American democracy. By attacking the integrity of Brazils electronic-voting infrastructure, Bolsonaro and his allies helped stoke a panic about a stolen election that resulted in a coup attempt. Sign up for CJR 's daily email For Joe Mulhall, director of research at antifascism organization HOPE Not Hate, who was in Brazil on the eve of the election, the similarities between January 6, 2021 and January 8, 2023, crystallized the way the global far right operates in the current digital media landscapesharing tactics, strategies, narratives, and organizing tips from an amorphous online swamp. It stretches far beyond the Americas, too, with the emergence of a digital landscape that encompasses the UK, Hungary, France, and New Zealand, to name just a few. In the US, Bolsonaros big lie was amplified by many of the same pro-Trump voices, such as Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Carlson told viewers it was very clearly a rigged election. Lula stole the Election, Bannon said on Gettr, calling pro-Bolsonaro protesters freedom fighters. Theyre blatantly attempting to STEAL the election from President Bolsonaro. Pray! Protest! urged Stop the Steal protests founder Ali Alexander on Telegram. The roots of connection between the US and the international far right run deep. Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson are leading the US right wing media in terms of interest in the global right, John Knefel, senior writer at the nonprofit Media Matters for America, told me. For instance, Hungarys authoritarian leader, Viktor Orban, and Bolsonaro have appeared on Carlsons show, and Bannon has tried to build networks between anti-immigration parties like the French National Rally, Austrias Freedom Party, and Italys League. Yet these connections at the top-tier political level only explain so much about the apparent explosion of far-right actors in recent years. Deeper, structural changes have also facilitated the rights momentum. The recent rise of alternative platformsexplicitly right-leaning sites such as Gab, Gettr, Truth Social, and Parler but also encrypted-chat apps like Telegram and Signalhas given the far right a solid base for organizing away from mainstream tech platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, which are more subject to scrutiny and have at least some content moderation policies. They are all platforms where right-wing content has found a permanent home and allow conservatives to reinforce their beliefs and fall deeper into an echo chamber, Knefel said. In the run-up to the midterm elections at least sixty-nine million people had joined platforms such as Parler, Gab, Truth Social, Gettr, and Rumble, reported the New York Times, citing company statements. The lifeboats are permanently docked just offshore. That has accelerated the growth of what Mulhall describes as the post-organizational far rightthe digital media ecosystem means far-right actors can collaborate without the need for traditional party structures. In this new environment, the weather is made by figureheads such as Bannon, Mulhall said, but they cannot control the rank and file as previous generations of postwar far-right leaders could, with their membership cards and party diktats. Instead, its like this membrane that circles the globe, like synapses, between which ideas, ideology, tactics spread between networks, Mulhall told me. Even supposedly lone wolf actors, like the white supremacist who killed fifty-one people in Christchurch, New Zealand, are drawing from an online global subculture. Its essentially mosquitoes emerging out of the swamp. They may look [like] individual [lone actors], they may look like theres one of them, but theyre coming outof these networks online, Mulhall said. The images Ladeira escaped with ran in Folha de S.Paulo the next day. They paint a picture of a nation at war with itself. Its something I always like to capture. [What] always attracts me in photos is movement and action, he said, especially in an event like this that was so chaotic, with people running, struggling with police, throwing stones, these kinds of things. While Ladeira was being mobbed by Bolsonaro supporters in Brasilia, BBC national digital reporter Mike Wendling, who specializes in disinformation and is the author of Alt-Right: From 4chan to the White House, was watching the New England Patriots play the Buffalo Bills on his couch in Chicago. At 2:40pm Central Time, his editor sent him a message. Within minutes he was working on liveblog posts covering the violence, collaborating with BBC colleagues across Brazil, the US, and the UK to a vast audience. In many ways, the global nature of Wendlings newsroom on January 8 resembles the links between the internationalist far right they were covering: connections between actors across continents. Wendling wrote a quickfire story on the connections between pro-Trump and pro-Bolsonaro activists. The pattern of events, the way they could build a movement by sowing seeds of doubt in the electoral process, Wendling told me, a lot of this stuff was copied and pasted wholesale from the 2020 Trump model. For Wendling, this raises questions about how reporters should cover far-right narratives. We weigh the positive impact of covering something and debunking a rumor and putting out the truth against the potential negative impact of exposing more people than would ordinarily be exposed to that mistruth, he said, admitting its always tricky and there is no tried and tested rule to follow. Its a balancing act. But in this case, it was clear-cut. Across town from Ladeira in Brasilia, Lori Regattieri, senior fellow in trustworthy AI at the Mozilla Foundation, was staying at home. She was planning to attend a museum that day, but the attack on democracy had thrown that plan into disarray. For Regattieri, who has written about the information environment in Brazil, there was no surprise that thousands of people were moved to extreme action. Pro-Bolsonaro junk news sitesunbranded far-right propaganda that has been linked to funding from powerful agribusiness, a core constituency of Bolsonaro supportwere flooding the internet with conspiracy theories about the integrity of the election infrastructure. And the tight circle of TV broadcast news swings conservative and religious, ensuring ample airtime for Bolsonaros false claims. Its a fact that Bolsonaro and the far right in Brazil have a [media] ecosystem of their own, Regattieri told me. But she added that Bolsonaro was also skilled at manipulating mainstream media coverage to further his ends. He tried to build a network propaganda cycle. When Ladeira, thirty-nine, returned home, he felt it was important to tell his son everything. Dangerous and violent Bolsonaro supporters had kicked him and smashed his cameras, Ladeira said, but he reassured the child that everything was fine; he wasnt hurt. He was very concerned and very angry with those people, Ladeira said. I noticed that the next [few] days he was always asking me if I was okay, telling me he loves meit was his way to demonstrate his concerns. Journalists, editors, and academics are still grappling with how to cover the resurgent far rightproviding clarity without amplifyingin ways that often feel like theyre working against the efforts of big tech platforms. One certainty, however, is that connections between far-right actors across borders are only likely to intensify in the years to come. Just before the election, HOPE Not Hates Mulhall was walking the rainy Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. He was interviewing voters and candidates for an article covering threats to democracy. The shoreline was adorned with flapping Brazilian flags. In a bar with small plastic tables, Mulhall, dodging the rain, began talking to a man named Valdinei Martins, wearing a yellow T-shirt and a friendly smile, who was running for local office. They spoke via Google Translate, Mulhall said, as his reporting budget did not cover a translator. Although Bolsonaro supporters tended to be distrustful of journalists, Mulhall felt there was a level of excitement in Brazil fostered by the presence of the international press corps. But as the interview progressedand Mulhalls line of questioning became more focusedthe interaction began to sour. (Martins did not respond when contacted to verify the interaction.) Mulhall said he asked whether Martins was concerned by Bolsonaros hostility to LGBTQ rights. He wanted to know what would happen if the president lost. He asked about views on the polls, which at the time suggested a big victory for Lula. Martins might not have spoken English, but he had picked up one language-spanning phrase popular among supporters of both Bolsonaro and Trump. Fake news! he told Mulhall. Jem Bartholomew is a Reporting Fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism. Jems work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Guardian, Economist, TIME, New York Magazine and others. In 2019, he was awarded Best Newcomer in the State Street press awards. Cheryl Mills, a Colchester resident with a serious heart condition, had been in Hartford Hospital for five days when she died on the bathroom floor of her room in March 2020. For four days, the 63-year-old had been waiting for the result of a COVID test so she could be cleared to enter the hospitals special cardiac treatment area. The negative test result came through at 7:40 p.m. on March 24. At 6 a.m. the next day, a doctor ordered her transfer. She was scheduled to be moved to the special unit later that day. A heart attack came first. Her estate sued the hospital, but an executive order issued by Gov. Ned Lamont at the beginning of the pandemic granted hospitals and nursing homes legal immunity as they worked through the early days of the COVID pandemic. Now, the circumstances of Mills case have become the center of a state Supreme Court legal battle over how far that immunity can be extended, and other cases involving Connecticut nursing homes could be affected by the outcome. Both Hartford HealthCare and Cheryl Mills estate are appealing the ruling of Superior Court Judge Matthew Budzik, who agreed that the hospital was covered under immunity for the first four and a half days Cheryl Mills was at Hartford Hospital in March 2020 but was not immune after they found out she did not have COVID. The stakes are potentially high. If the court were to agree that Hartford Hospital was covered by Lamonts order, it would set a precedent that would make it difficult for other families to use the courts to seek answers to why loved ones died. If the court were to overrule Budziks order, it could mean more wrongful death lawsuits could be filed against nursing home providers at a time when many of them are struggling financially as they recover from the pandemic. A lot of people will never know how their loved one died. And for some, litigation might be the only way theyll ever find out, through the discovery process, said Sam Brooks, an attorney and director of public policy for The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. A lot of people were just called and told, Your loved one died. Im not saying litigation is always the way to get to the bottom of the facts, but for some folks, that will be their only avenue, Brooks said. Not tested here This is a heart attack case, not a COVID-19 case, Mills attorney Elisabeth Swanson said. We dont think the governors order was intended to cover what happened here. We arent attacking the order itself. We want to make sure it is being interpreted narrowly for the actual treatment of COVID-19 patients and to not be used to give them a pass on medical malpractice. A spokeswoman for Hartford HealthCare said the organization could not comment due to the litigation. Attorneys for Hartford HealthCare, the owners of Hartford Hospital, also are appealing the judges ruling, arguing that the whole event is an archetypal case for immunity under the governors order. Plaintiff attempts to invoke fears that applying immunity here would lead to immunity in all sorts of cases. But immunity here is no stretch, Hartford HealthCares attorney Brendan N. Gooley wrote in his Supreme Court brief. Gooleys firm, Carlton Fields, is representing Hartford HealthCare and Dr. William Farrell, who ordered Mills be moved to the special catheterization unit after the COVID test came back. Doctors had a good faith belief that a patient complaining principally of a sore throat and a headache had COVID-19 and doubted she was having a heart attack, Gooley wrote. That good faith belief regarding COVID-19 immediately, substantially, and irreversibly altered the patients treatment. This is a prototypical case for immunity, not a case on the outer limits of immunity. Whatever the outer limits of immunity are, On April 5, 2020, about a month after Connecticuts first recorded case of COVID and two weeks after Mills death, Lamont issued executive order 7U, which shielded nursing homes and hospitals from civil liability, except in cases of crime, fraud, malice, gross negligence or willful misconduct. The immunity applied to both health care workers and the facilities that employed them. In order to encourage maximum participation in efforts to expeditiously expand Connecticuts health care workforce and facilities capacity, there exists a compelling state interest in affording such professionals and facilities protection against liability for good faith actions taken in the course of their significant efforts to assist in the states response, the governor wrote in the order. It was a controversial order from the start, with advocates arguing it allowed health care institutions to use the pandemic as an excuse for negligent care. When you dont have access to other forms of oversight and protection, that seems like a moment when you shouldnt also be denied your redress of last resort, which is what the courts are, said Anna Doroghazi, associate state director of advocacy and outreach for the AARP in Connecticut. Residents needed accountability more than ever in those moments, and we took it away from them, she added. Nursing homes were particularly hard hit at the beginning of the pandemic as the virus spread quickly, killing thousands. At the same time, state officials were worried about hospitals getting overrun with patients and a shortage of personal protection gear for health care workers trying to treat infected patients. Connecticut Hospital Association spokeswoman Nicole Rall said the governors order providing immunity played a critical role during the pandemic to help maintain staffing levels and support the health care workforce on the front lines providing life-saving care. The Governors Executive Orders establishing immunity are legally sound and were necessary actions to support the good faith actions taken by health care workers and facilities during the public health emergency. Both Rall and Matthew Barrett, president and CEO of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities, pointed out that the order didnt give hospitals or long-term care facilities blanket immunity, and if there were cases where gross negligence, fraud or willful conduct occurred, lawsuits could proceed. Connecticut skilled nursing facilities never viewed the governors executive order as establishing a broad-based blanket immunity, Barrett said. The policy was limited, measured and appropriate during the early period of the COVID-19 public health emergency when there were so many unknowns about the novel virus, severe limitation on resources and testing and consistently changing public health guidance. That these cases are moving forward, and the courts evaluating these questions and facts, demonstrates the limited immunity policy is playing out as expected. Brooks said the emergency orders granting immunity which were issued in about a dozen states across the country were designed to stop lawsuits from being filed. In these cases, challenging laws is really important, Brooks said. Unfortunately, I think a lot of these executive orders and things like that were about having a chilling effect. We dont want to hold facilities [liable] who did their best, but because of an unseen act of God or catastrophe, they couldnt do it. We want to hold facilities accountable that could have and didnt provide proper care, Brooks added. Nationally, officials in 10 states issued executive orders providing immunity to health care workers or facilities responding to COVID, and 28 other states passed legislation that offers some form of immunity to long-term care centers. Seven months after Lamonts order was issued, legislators and patient advocates in Connecticut asked the governor to curtail the policy, saying it stripped nursing home residents and their families of a fundamental protection and weakened accountability for facility operators. Lawmakers tried unsuccessfully in 2021 to pass a bill that would have amended state statutes to shield health care workers and facilities from civil liability. We thought it was a mistake that at a moment when most inspections of nursing homes had been suspended, and you didnt have in-person family visits, and the long-term care ombudsman didnt have great access to facilities we created an additional lack of oversight by taking away the tool that is civil liability, Doroghazi said. Lamont extended the immunity several times, once in September 2020 for two months and again in November 2020 for three months. In February 2021, he announced that it would expire for facilities on March 1. A separate, unrelated pending lawsuit against nursing home providers will likely be stalled as the Supreme Court takes up the issue of whether the governors order grants Hartford HealthCare immunity in the death of Mills. The 63-year-old worked as a registrar of patients in the Backus Hospital emergency room, when on March 21, 2020, while at work, she complained of a sore throat and a headache. When she told doctors she also had a heart condition, they ran a series of tests and determined she may be having a heart attack. Because Backus doesnt have a catheterization lab, doctors called Hartford Hospital and asked to transfer her there. She was transported to Hartford Hospital, but when she arrived, Dr. Asad Rizvi didnt agree with the initial diagnosis. Rizvi said in an affidavit that because she had been exposed to COVID-19 at work and because experts believed heart inflammation was a symptom of the virus, he couldnt admit her to the specialized unit without making sure she didnt have the virus. Rizvi ordered a COVID-19 test for Mills and isolated her in a regular room, where she was monitored for the next three days until her COVID test came back negative on the evening of March 24. At 6 a.m. on March 25, Dr. William Farrell ordered her to be transferred to the cardiac catheterization laboratory later that same day. She was found dead on the bathroom floor in her hospital room before that transfer took place. Her death certificate listed the cause of death as a heart attack. In their motion to dismiss the case, hospital attorneys argued that the undisputed facts demonstrate that the delay in Ms. Mills transfer to Hartford Hospitals cardiac catheterization lab was the direct result of a delay in the reporting of Ms. Mills COVID-19 test results and the defendants good faith concern that Ms. Mills symptoms were being caused by COVID-19. The judge agreed, dismissing all of the claims against the doctors who treated Mills before her COVID test results were known, saying they clearly were covered by Lamonts immunity order. The fact that the defendants treatment of Ms. Mills occurred just two weeks after Governor Lamont declared a public health emergency and at a time when comparatively little was known about COVID-19 is a relevant practical factor in the courts conclusion that Dr. Rizvi acted in good faith, Budzik wrote. The court concludes that the circumstances of this case are plainly anticipated by the executive order because Ms. Mills delayed transfer to the cardiac catheterization unit was directly tied to Hartford Hospitals attempt to conserve scarce PPE, Budzik concluded. But then he also ruled that once hospital officials knew that Mills did not have the virus, they were no longer covered by Lamonts order. Budzik ruled that the lawsuit could proceed regarding Mills treatment during the hours after her COVID test result was known. In their argument to overturn Budziks ruling, attorneys for Mills estate argue that the hospital is using the COVID-19 crisis to hide the misdiagnosis that Mills wasnt having life-threatening heart issues. The health care services the defendants performed upon Mills arrival at HHD, namely, determining whether she was experiencing a STEMI that required immediate referral to the Cath Lab, had nothing to do with COVID-19, and accordingly, did not constitute health care services in support of the States COVID-19 response, attorney John R. Weikart wrote in his Supreme Court brief. The trial court was factually mistaken in concluding that the administration of a COVID-19 test caused Mills injuries; the undisputed factual record establishes instead that the doctors initial misdiagnosis of Mills caused their decision to delay her life-saving treatment. Attorneys expect the Supreme Court to hear oral arguments on the case as early as next month. Dave Altimari and Jenna Carlesso are reporters for The Connecticut Mirror (https://ctmirror.org/ ). Copyright 2023 (c) The Connecticut Mirror It started with a painting. Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey was in New Haven in 2010 to stage one of his plays, The Green Book, at the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale. Walking through Sterling Memorial Librarys entry hall, known as the nave, Ramsey saw a small portrait. I saw this painting of this young Black man on the wall, Ramsey said. I read his name under the painting. It was Edward Alexander Bouchet, the first Black Ph.D. in physics, and the sixth person to earn a doctorate in physics in the country. Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey stands with a portrait of Edward Bouchet in Yales Sterling Memorial Library on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ramsey is writing a play about Bouchet, the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in the United States. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant) At the time of that painting, he was not a Ph.D., he was a student, Ramsey said. And that kind of hooked me, and I wanted to know more about him. And it just led me on this trail. The trail is leading toward Ramsey writing a play about Bouchet, who was an undergraduate at Yale, class of 1874, before earning his doctorate. Ramsey hopes to stage the play in New Haven, where he has moved from Atlanta. He noticed another thing about the portrait: It was painted by Rudolph Zallinger, the Siberian-born artist who painted the 110-foot-long mural The Age of Reptiles at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. I said, he must be somebody special for Rudolph Zallenger to paint this, and he painted it many years after Dr. Bouchet had passed away, Ramsey said. And it just started me on this hunt. A portrait of Edward Bouchet in Yales Sterling Memorial Library. Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey is writing a play about Bouchet, the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in the United States. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant) While other projects got in the way, Ramsey visited New Haven again in 2018 and started to dive more deeply into Bouchets life as a Black New Haven native who went to New Haven High School (now Hillhouse), Hopkins Grammar School, where he was valedictorian, and Yale. He hopes to hold a reading of the play in the spring, with the working title Becoming Dr. Edward Alexander Bouchet. Bouchet was born here. died here at 96 Bradley St., Ramsey said, outlived by his mother, Susan Cooley Bouchet. Ramsey plans to tell the story through the eyes of Bouchets mother, who he said lived through the major events of Black history in New Haven in the 19th century. Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey in front of Yales Sterling Memorial Library on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ramsey is writing a play about Bouchet, the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in the United States. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant) I want her to tell the story because she outlived him, Ramsey said. She was 102; she was born in 1818. So she lived through Amistad; she lived through the Civil War. She lived through World War I, the race riots and 1918 Spanish flu and I mean pretty much everything the whole century. Susan Bouchet also lived when Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and Charles Dickens spoke in the city and during the last auction of enslaved people on the Green. I dont know if she was on the Green that day but she was when he was around and they had slave auctions before that, Ramsey said. Ramsey said he could think of no better person to tell the story. Shes going to be the conscience of the play. This is a mother talking about her child. She raised a child, she buried the child she loves. Edward Bouchet connected to the Philadelphia church through his home church, the Temple Street Congregational Church, whose members left the Center Congregational Church because of racial discrimination, Ramsey said. The church, the oldest African-American United Church of Christ in the world, is now Dixwell Avenue Congregational UCC. Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey in Yales Sterling Memorial Library on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ramsey is writing a play about Bouchet, the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in the United States. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant) The Black people at that time would sit up in a balcony, Ramsey said. And after so many years of that, they felt like they should really go start their own church and they moved out. They were joined by Simeon Jocelyn, a white man who became their first pastor. Bouchets father, William Francis Bouchet, came from Charleston, S.C., with his enslaver, John Brownlee Robertson, a non-practicing doctor who rose to political prominence, including serving as mayor of New Haven. Connecticut had that new gradual [emancipation] with slavery that, after 1784, if you were here, after a certain age were free, Ramsey said. When William Bouchet arrived in New Haven he was about 25, so automatically he was free. So it was a wonderful gesture that [Robertson] did for him, he said. Edward Bouchets grave in Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven, erected by Yale alumni and friends. Born Sept. 15, 1852, Bouchets life was influenced by the church, and it was a Philadelphia Congregational church that helped him get a job teaching high school. It was his only teaching position. The church was founded by a Quaker who founded a school, teaching Blacks bricklaying, carpentry, all that kind of stuff, an industrial education, Ramsey said. But the Black people in Philadelphia made a big fuss about that. They say, no, we want the school to be a school that teaches classical education that Bouchet was learning up at Yale and Hopkins. Through the connection with Temple Street, which was like a brain trust, the school hired Bouchet, who taught there for 26 years, never quite making the promised $1,500 a year, Ramsey said. He never married. And then things change, Ramsey said. Booker T. Washington started rising up. And he started saying, you know, Black people dont really need all that kind of fancy education. They need to learn how to work with their hands, industrial arts, so now they switch it back to where they were 26 years ago. Bouchet lost his job and for the last 15 years of his life, he sort of bounces around the country, Ramsey said. Some of his Yale classmates help him find work. He was always employable. But he just couldnt do what he loved doing, that was teaching. Poor health caught up with him and he died Oct. 28, 1918, at 66. After Bouchet died he is buried in Evergreen Cemetery he was a forgotten man for a long, long, long time, Ramsey said. But theres been a resurgence. The Black physicists have always known about him. So that core group has always waved his banner. Some years ago, a group of Yale alumni and others erected a headstone for Bouchet in Evergreen Cemetery. He had no headstone of his own, buried in the family plot.Theres a colorful mural of Bouchet by Kwadwo Adae, a visual artist and muralist, at Henry Street and Dixwell Avenue. There is also a portrait of Bouchet, as an older man, with images of him as a boy and the Zallenger painting in the background, in Saybrook College at Yale. Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey in Yales Sterling Memorial Library on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ramsey is writing a play about Bouchet, the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in the United States. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant) Theres a colorful mural of Bouchet by Kwadwo Adae, a visual artist and muralist, at Henry Street and Dixwell Avenue. There is also a portrait of Bouchet, as an older man, with images of him as a boy and the Zallenger painting in the background, in Saybrook College at Yale. I learned about Bouchet and realized that growing up in Connecticut as a child I was upset that I didnt know about him previously, Adae said. Like the first Black person to get a Ph.D. in the country I think thats groundbreaking enough to warrant a page in the history book of my curriculum. I had never heard of him. So he reached out to the Hopkins School, Yale and the city for grants to install the mural, completed in 2021. It features the portrait from the Yale library.I use that as the centerpiece and then to the left and to the right, I have an image of him going from red to yellow and I have an image of him going from green to violet, Adae said. And thats a nod to his thesis at the Yale School of Physics in measuring refractive light indices. When youre dealing with measuring refractive light indices youre dealing with spectrums of the colors. So thats why I have him like that. A mural at Henry Street and Dixwell Avenue in New Haven by Kwadwo Adae depicts Edward Bouchet in colors that represent the physics of light. There are trees at the site to commemorate Bouchet as well. But in lieu of having at least a bronze statue of this man who did this groundbreaking feat, I was like, we should at least have a mural, Adae said. It was my attempt to make people in the community more familiar with this historic man, who is the son of New Haven. Adae continued, The message is, no matter how much people are going to get you down, no matter how strong your accomplishments are, its important to make sure that you do those accomplishments. You know, its incredibly hard to get a Ph.D. when youre Black in 1876. So, hopefully, that would inspire people to pursue their dreams, whatever those are. Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey stands with a portrait of Edward Bouchet in Yales Sterling Memorial Library on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ramsey is writing a play about Bouchet, the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in the United States. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant) Despite having to travel to Virginia and Texas for work after losing his teaching job, Ramsey said Bouchet had a good run. So what Im trying to do is just bring him back. Because there is a charter school here in town that is named after Booker T. Washington. Theres not one named after Dr. Bouchet and Dr. Bouchet was born here. Ramsey, who has fallen in love with New Haven himself, said, Where would New Haven education be today if they had stuck with Bouchets formula of a classic education? Besides his Green Book play about the guide to friendly hotels and other overnight stays for Black travelers, Ramsey has written a childrens book, Ruth and the Green Book, and said his publisher is interested in a childrens book about Bouchet. Hes also a photographer whos had an exhibit in Manhattans Soho. Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey in Yales Sterling Memorial Library on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Ramsey is writing a play about Bouchet, the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in the United States. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant) Ramsey, who was born in Baltimore, is a member of the David Humphreys Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution. His fifth-great-grandfather, John Epps, a free man of color though he was only 14, fought in the war in Virginia, Ramsey said. Although hes getting used to the colder climate after living most of his life further south, Ramsey said hes staying in New Haven for good. Its a town I can walk around in, he said. I like a town you can walk around and still get mud on your shoes. Ed Stannard can be reached at estannard@courant.com. From contraception to interracial and gay marriage, rights that Americans took for granted were suddenly threatened when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. In Connecticut, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney has introduced legislation to codify several U.S. Supreme Court decisions into state statute. If it passes, the bill would safeguard certain rights for the accused, undocumented immigrants, and reproductive freedoms in the event that the Supreme Court overturns a previous ruling. What is Sen. Looney proposing? S.B. 181 would codify the rulings of four U.S. Supreme Court Cases: Plyler v. Doe, Griswold v. Connecticut, Miranda v. Arizona, and Gideon v. Wainwright. In essence, Plyler guarantees undocumented children the right to attend public school, Griswold protects married couples right to use contraception, Miranda ensures that law enforcement read suspects their rights, and Gideon provides indigent criminal defendants with free legal counsel. Looney said he selected these cases because of their legal weight, citing their role as the backbone of several other Supreme Court decisions. We are all gravely concerned about the extreme polarization of the U.S. Supreme Court [and] the fact that issues that seem to have been decided now seem to be open once again, Looney said. I selected these four because they seemed to be some of the pillars of what we thought were major rulings of the Supreme Court over the last several decades. If its already a legal precedent, why would Connecticut codify these rights? When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision, constitutional scholars, government officials and the public anticipated that the Supreme Court may reverse other rulings. Many realized that if the once Constitutional right to an abortion which stood as a precedent for nearly 50 years was not safe, essentially any case could be up for grabs. I think this started the day after the Dobbs decision came down, William Dunlap, a law professor at Quinnipiac University, said. States started looking at their laws. Dunlap said that codifying the cases in S.B. 181 would put Connecticut in a position where a future Supreme Court reversal would not apply to the state. What Connecticut is doing is making sure that it is in a position to say, We dont ban conception, even though we used to. We do require warnings to criminal defendants, and we do provide attorneys for people charged with crimes, and we do give free public education to undocumented aliens, and were going to keep it that way,' Dunlap said. Griswold, Miranda, Gideon, Plyler even if those get overturned, Connecticut will be in the group that still protects them by statute rather than federal Supreme Court cases. Dunlap explained that the decisions in these cases are largely based on implied rights that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. He said that if past Constitutional interpretations argued that the rights are there, future interpreters can argue that they are not. Jilda Aliotta, an associate professor in the Department of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford, said there is a strong argument for Connecticut codifying the Griswold decision. She explained that Justice Clarence Thomas specifically cited Griswold in his concurring opinion in the Dobbs case that essentially invited challenges to other precedents so the court could potentially reconsider past rulings. Aliotta said in addition to reproductive freedoms, undocumented rights, like those that apply in Plyler are also under scrutiny. While undocumented immigrants have never been particularly popular, I think theyre a lot less popular now than they were in even the 70s and 80s, Aliotta said. The track record of the court on upholding some of President Trumps restrictions on immigration would be a signal that Plyler v. Doe might be in jeopardy, as well as kind of a general skepticism on expanding rights, Aliotta said. While Dunlap and Aliotta feel that rights given to criminal defendants in the Miranda and Gideon rulings would most likely go unchallenged, Looney recalled when the now widely accepted rulings were once controversial. I was a teenager at the time, and I remember the controversy. Law enforcement and prosecutors around the country were saying that No one will ever confess again if these warnings have to be given, that, Defendants will clam up. Therell be no effective interrogation,' Looney said. Right-wing groups were starting a campaign to impeach, Chief Justice Warren. I remember seeing cars with bumper stickers at the time, Impeach Earl Warren. And of course, none of that happened, the Miranda warnings were incorporated into standard police procedure, and everybody went on from there. As for the Gideon ruling, Looney said Thats been settled law since 1963 but again, who knows whats settled and what is not. The U.S. has always had a Supreme Court, whats different now? Looney criticized what he views as an overt politicization of the Supreme Court with a majority that actively seeks the adoption of a right-wing agenda. What we have on the Supreme Court now is a majority of people whose primary approach is political, not principled. Rather than being straightforward and running for office, theyve sought to accomplish political objectives by being appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, rather than running for the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate. And that really is fundamentally dangerous, Looney said. Sen. President Martin Looney discusses his legislative priorities in 2019, Aliotta observed that there has been an increasing political salience among Supreme Court appointees, driven largely by Trumps success in appointing three conservative justices. She said today, the Supreme Court lacks moderate, middle-of-the-road judges as a result of right and left wing presidential administrations, describing the current moment as one of the few times in history where the court is divided sharply on partisan grounds. Its a very different configuration, and that has come as a result of the open politicization of the court. And one of the questions I have as someone who watches and studies the court is whether we collectively as the American polity can get the genie back in the bottle so [that] the court can return to the role that it has exercised during its best moments, where it can be an honest broker on sometimes contentious issues in American politics as opposed to a little legislature with very long terms, Aliotta said. Dunlap views the conflict not so much as left vs. right but as an age-old battle over interpretation. Theres a constant tension and has been since the very beginning of the country about how the Constitution should be interpreted, Dunlap said. The concept of originalism argues that justices should interpret the Constitution as its authors intended when it was written. Living constitutionalists view the Constitution as an evolving document that justices should interpret in the context of the current times. I think theres something to both sides that the language of the Constitution is important, but exactly how it gets interpreted shifts over the years. And there is a very heavy movement now towards originalism, Dunlap said. But, just a warning there, its not just originalism. Theres politics involved as well as originalism. Many of the people who insist on originalism dont use it when it leads them to a conclusion they dont like. Is the current court likely to overturn more rulings? Depending on who you ask the answer is yes, and no. [This bill] shows an awareness among, in this case, the president of the state Senate, that there are some longstanding precedents that could be threatened, Aliotta said. While she agrees Plyler and Griswold could be on the conservative justices chopping block, Aliotta said Gideon and Miranda would not make her top-five list of most at-risk cases. She feels current religious precedents and LGBTQ protections are more likely to go. Dunlap said that the Conservative shift towards an originalist doctrine makes the outlook of many cases uncertain. The choice to focus on originalism [and] look at the precise language, the court realized that theres nothing in the Constitution that specifically protects abortion. [Theres] nothing that protects contraception, nothing that says the government has to appoint lawyers and pay for those lawyers for indigents when states charge them with crimes. Theres nothing that says immigrant children have a right to free public education, Dunlap said. He added that the overturning of Roe v. Wade signaled an increase in conservatives exercising judicial activism a deviation from judicial restraint where justices step outside the confines of the law that is in question to enact more broad policy changes. Dunlap said that ironically, rulings enacted by liberal judicial activists in the past may be the most at-risk in the current court. You would hear coming from radio hosts and conservative judges and commentators, just denouncing judicial activism. But now the judicial activism has shifted to the other side, and its the conservative side thats engaging in judicial activism, handing down broad rulings that are broader than they need to be to resolve that particular case, Dunlap said. As for the future, Dunlap is not entirely sold that conservative judges have the support for new precedent upheaval after Roe. I have found that trying to predict is not a great idea, Dunlap said. You really never know. But I think they may not have as much support on the conservative side of the court for overturning these other cases as they did for Roe v. Wade. I think that the overturning of Roe v. Wade was a victory in itself for a lot of people. It was not necessarily the first step in reversing judicial activism. It was what they were trying to do and having achieved that, some people definitely will be [interested], but not all [will] be that interested in trying to go on and dismantle the whole constitutional structure, Dunlap added. I think it was abortion and not liberal judicial activism that was the target here. Where does Looneys bill stand today? S.B. 181 currently awaits a public hearing in the General Assemblys Joint Judiciary Committee. Looney said that he encourages the committee to explore other Supreme Court cases to add to the bill. Overall, Looney is hopeful for unanimity. He connected his current proposal to the states bipartisan push in 1990 to enshrine Roe v. Wade into state law. Looney, who was a state representative at the time, described Connecticuts Roe codification as a way to reflect what was a consensus opinion in the state, and to try to protect it from an ideological attack. I think the same reasoning that applied in 1990 when we codified the principles of Roe applies now to this, Looney said. I think we need to reassert [these rulings] statutorily so that they will continue to be the law in Connecticut. Alison Cross can be reached at across@courant.com. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form According to the Madison Township Police, on Feb. 10 at 9 a.m., Madison Township Police Officer Kranz was flagged down by the guardian of a 12-year-old Groveport Madison Middle School North student who said the juvenile female had was coerced by an adult male to enter his white Chevy pickup truck as she walked to school. According to Madison Township Police Chief Gary York, MTPD officers immediately canvassed the area for the vehicle. Franklin County Sheriffs detectives and Madison Township officers conducted interviews and collected surveillance video of the crime. Images of the suspects truck were posted on MTPDs social media pages seeking the publics assistance in identifying or locating the individual. Thanks to the tips received, Joseph Ennemoser, 48, of Sugar Grove, Ohio, was identified as a potential suspect due to similarities to the events uncovered in a recent Hilliard Police Department arrest of the same individual for felony child enticement. According to a statement from the Madison Township Police, through this joint investigatory effort, Madison Township Police and Franklin County Sheriffs detectives arrested and charged Ennemoser with kidnapping and importuning on Feb. 12. Not so long ago, in the 1990s, online users had their choice of a variety of search engines. They included Excite, WebCrawler, Lycos, and my favorite at the time, AltaVista. Then, along came Google and PageRank. With PageRank, Google rates the relevancy of web pages to queries based not only on whether the pages contain the search terms (the technique used by all search engines) but by how many relevant pages link to it. It made Google's results much better than its rivals. Now, thanks to Microsoft decision to integrate OpenAI's ChatGPT with Bing, the search engine wars are back with a vengeance. That's because, for decades, online search has been about finding facts. But getting actual answers from those facts requires you to become a search expert. Indeed, a good deal of my success as a writer has come from the fact that I am such an expert. I've been using search engines since the late 1970s and early 1980s when online database systems such as NASA RECON; Dialog, now ProQuest; and OCLC first arrived. With advances in artificial intelligence, (AI) we're moving beyond search engines and facts to what Wall Street Journal columnist Christopher Mims calls "answer engines." With this new generation of engines, instead of hunting down facts, the chat interface provides us with answers to our questions. (Whether you can trust those answers to be accurate is another question entirely.) That hasn't stopped people from adopting ChatGPT, the chat interface, and the AI engine behind it, as fast as possible. According to a UBS study, ChatGPT reached 100 million active users just two months after launch, making it the fastest-growing consumer application ever. Microsoft An example of a Bing search using OpenAI's chatbot technology. That also means people are already using it to write school papers, articles, and press releases. Since research and writing are my business, let me tell you now, ChatGPT is not ready for any of that. The results are often garbage. Oh, it often looks good, but then so does fast food. That isn't stopping anyone, though. Given a choice between the eternal trinity of good, fast, and cheap, people usually choose fast and cheap. If they can get a good enough result in a few seconds for free, they'll go for good enough every time. Google knows that, too. That's why the company went into a full-scale panic once Microsoft invested $ 10 billion in OpenAI. Google's brass knew darn well what Microsoft would do: They'd use it to reinvent Bing, its long-time second-place, second-rate search engine. And since what people really crave are quick answers rather than accurate facts, Bing almost instantly became a potential threat. Besides, the new Bing is already good enough if you know what you're doing with it. The new Bing answer engine simply outclasses the Google search engine. As my fellow tech journalist colleague Stephen Shankland put it, "Microsoft's AI-Powered Bing Can Run Rings Around Google Search." If you don't know how to search well, you're still going to get garbage out but since most people don't know how to judge an answer's accuracy, that won't stop them. It's also not stopping businesses that value cheapness over accuracy. Publishers are already using it to get rid of writers. You'll also see this in spam, and anywhere someone can make a buck from delivering "stories" like the "Five best Viagra pills." Google An example of Google's Bard AI-powered search engine results. What Google did was rush its own AI-search chat bot Bard to market, where it promptly, and prominently blundered with a wrong answer. Whoops. Google will get it right, eventually. And Bing's answers will improve, eventually. Who gets it right first will determine who wins the new search war. Despite Google shooting itself in the foot, I'm not counting them it yet. But there's no question that for the first time in this century, the search wars are on again. Who wins will be an important inflection point for both technology and business. That said, there's another question here: can we really afford to rely on AI-created answers? Eventually, AI answers will be trustworthy, but we're not there yet. Talk to me again in 2025; it may well be a different story. But, for now, if being right means more than just getting a fast answer, treat both ChatGPT and Bard and the new model Bing and Google with great caution. Otherwise, you'll end up burned. South Korean startup Rebellions has launched a new AI chip called Atom, Reuters reported on Monday. The new chip is an attempt by the startup to compete against US chipmaker Nvidia, which presently dominates the AI chip market. Rebellions aims to provide a domain-specific AI processor along with optimized software. This approach, together with our unique decentralized programming model, will enable customers to arm with the most powerful yet energy efficient AI hardware as well as seamless software integration, the company said on its website. Rebellions is backed by one of South Koreas largest telecom operators KT, who is both an investor as well as a prospective customer for Rebellions. The Atom chip is designed to excel at running computer vision and chatbot AI applications, Rebellions co-founder and Chief Executive Park Sunghyun told Reuters. Because it targets specific tasks rather than doing a wide range, the chip consumes only about 20% of the power of an Nvidia A100 chip on those tasks, he said. South Korean government pushes chip production Analysts believe Rebellions new chip could boost South Koreas ability to compete in the AI chip domain, currently dominated by Nvidia. This Atom AI chip by Rebellions will give competition to Nvidia AI chips. AI chips is the fastest growing segment in semiconductors. It is good to have competition in this space, said Pareekh Jain, CEO at Pareekh Consulting. Thus, It has a good shot in scaling up and becoming a competitor to Nvidia, he said. The South Korean government has been trying to strengthen research and development in the AI chip sector with the objective of enhancing its presence in the domestic data center market. The government plans to allocate nearly $800 million in the coming five years, and it is expected that the demand for AI chips will account for one-third of the total demand for chips by 2030. AI chips are used in high compute intensive environment such as cloud, conversational AI, generative AI such as ChatGPT, computer vision, robotics, metaverse, self-driving cars, quantum computing, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, cybersecurity, and payments. However, Jain said one of the biggest challenges in adopting the new technology is cost. The wide availability of cost-effective AI chips will help in democratizing many of these new technologies, Jain said. More supply chain options for CIOs and CTOs CIOs and CTOs across sectors need AI chips for compute-intensive workloads. Until now, the choices were limited, with Nvidia commanding a lions share of the market. If Rebellions is able to scale up, it can present itself as a good alternative to Nvidia. Competition is always good for sourcing. As we have seen during the chip shortage, enterprises felt the need to diversify both chip suppliers and geographical regions to avoid supply chain risks and delays, Jain said. Rebellions with the South Korean ecosystem can be a good alternative both as a supplier and also as a geographical region, Jain said. And if Rebellions comes with attractive pricing and offers equivalent or better performance than Nvidia, it can benefit CIOs even on the cost side. A so-called long stay visa for the Netherlands, the MVV, is being bandied about as shoo-in for Britons longing to work in a traditionally contractor-friendly country, but some context and caution is advised, writes Kevin Austin, managing director of Access Financial. Setting the record straight First and foremost, despite some suggestions to the contrary specifically by recruitment agents, the MVV visa does not allow a British person to simply take up paid employment or self-employment in the Netherlands. The latter is quite an involved application process that requires a Britons business idea or project to accumulate 90 points in the eyes of Dutch officials. More positively, it is at least true that a freelance professional in the UK who wants to work in the Netherlands can work either as a sole trader or through a limited company. 30% ruling doesnt cover the self-employed In the case of the sole trader, the income from the business activity is subject to Dutch social security and taxes from the start. But the so-called 30% ruling, which lets employees recruited from outside the Netherlands not pay tax on up to 30% of their salary, is not available to the self-employed. If you want to work through a limited company as part of working in the Netherlands, you must register the company with the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, the KvK. While thats a bit like Companies House the UK, unlike the UK the company director must draw a salary of at least 75% of the net income or the market rate for the job, whichever is higher. Then, Dutch income tax and social security are due on that figure. Mentioned above, the 30% ruling is available in such cases -- provided that you meet the criteria, which includes a minimum income level and rather oddly to some, where you were when you received the job offer. HMRC complexity Assuming you proceed, your company will become subject to Dutch corporation tax if you stay in the Netherlands. This will lead to complexity with HMRC if you use a UK limited company. Contractors often deem this to be a hassle that they do not want, in which case they tend to opt for using a Dutch limited company -- a BV. However, the cost of setting up and running a BV needs consideration. To help with costs, some contractors will try to use the 30% ruling. But if you want to apply, the opportunity/ work opening/ vacancy must be found before you go to the Netherlands. Related, you must not have been resident in the country before then. From all other points of view, it makes no difference when you find the assignment, as it is possible to apply in the country in the first 90 days of being there. You can, of course, make the application before you arrive in the Netherlands. Freelance-friendly? The Netherlands was -- once At the outset, I spoke of the need for caution. The popular impression of the Netherlands is that the nation is freelance-friendly. However, the abolition in 2016 of the VAR (declaration of independent contractor status) certificate, and the introduction in 2020 of the Balanced Labour Market Act, unfortunately diluted that freelancer-friendliness. The result of both has been that freelancers working through labour-leasing companies pay higher social costs and must contribute to an Adequate Pension in the region of 14-15% of their salary. Regular employers need not offer a pension at all! These changes have had the desired effect of skewing companies into recruiting themselves rather than using contract workers, thereby damaging labour market flexibility. Finally, KMR probably still has the edge on MVV In the past 12 months, we have seen very little change in the number of applicants wishing to work in the Netherlands. It is still a popular market. Of course, there has been a decline in the number of Britons who come to us to execute a Dutch contract, mainly because all Britons now require residence visas, which was not the case before Brexit. The wait deters clients and workers for a visa and thats true of MVVs, too, even though they may qualify for Knowledge Migrant Worker (KMR) status. KMR remains the most common way to live and work in the Netherlands because it is based on salary rather than education or professional experience. Existing projects Not only that, but India also plans to develop an integrated checkpost and cargo handling facility at Nischintapur, which is the junction point of the Agartala-Akhaura rail link at Tripura. This rail link will reduce the journey time between Agartala and Kolkata by passing through Dhaka instead of Guwahati. The travel time between Agartala and Kolkata will be reduced to 10 hours from the current 31 hours as it will travel a mere 550 km instead of 1,600. With the completion of connectivity projects, Tripura would emerge as a well-connected state from a landlocked one India and Bangladesh currently have four operational rail links between West Bengal and Western Bangladesh -- Petrapole-Benapole, Gede-Darshana, Radhikapur-Biral, and Singhabad-Rohanpur. The last two are also notified of the use of Nepalese transit traffic. The present line will not only help people from Agartala but also those from Mizoram, which is 150 kilometers away. With the completion of these two connectivity projects -- the Feni bridge connecting Sabroom, Tripura with Chittagong, Bangladesh, and the Agartala-Akhaura rail line, Tripura would emerge as a well-connected state from a landlocked one. In this way, Tripura will develop its connectivity and relations by connecting India, Myanmar, and Thailand through roadways. Tripuras Maharaja Bir Bikram airport would be the third international airport in the landlocked Northeastern region after its new terminal is completed by this year. After the completion of this airport, flights between Agartala and Dhaka, as well as other cities like Chittagong and Sylhet would be operated. Not only that, recently Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranay Verma has shown interest to invest in new airports in Bangladesh to facilitate the connectivity of northeastern states. Air connectivity will not only strengthen the connectivity between Bangladesh, the Indian mainland, and Tripura but also between India and ASEAN countries. Tripura can be a reliable and strategic partner for Bangladesh. Tripura is an inspired partner for Bangladesh rather than West Bengal or Assam. There is a key cultural affinity that will surely make social and intellectual exchanges with Bangladesh more meaningful. Both countries now have a mutual and abiding interest in ensuring that Tripura leads the India-Bangladesh relationship. For too long, Bangladesh has looked westwards to Assam and West Bengal to engage with India; it must now pivot and look east to Tripura and Mizoram. For Bangladesh, too, Tripura can be the gateway to Myanmar and ASEAN, through Mizoram. As there is some reciprocal benefit, it is high time India should play its Bangladesh card for Tripura and initiated more trade, investments, and connectivity projects. --- *PhD fellow, University of Bucharest From time immemorial, the people of Tripura and Bangladesh, have shared their problems and prosperity. Tripura and Bangladesh share a porous border, which stretches over 856-kilometer-long border, constituting 85 percent of Tripura's border.Tripura and Bangladesh have a special history. During Bangladeshs struggle for independence, the people of Tripura welcomed more Bangladeshi refugees per capita into their homes than in any other civil war situation in history.When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Tripura, it was significant too. Since its inception in 1971, no Bangladeshi head of state or government has visited Indias Northeast. This visit rebalanced the relations between India and Bangladesh.There are several existing infrastructural projects between Tripura and Bangladesh. The inauguration of Maitri Setu over the Feni River was one of those landmark projects between Tripura and Bangladesh. Tripura will emerge as the gateway to Southeast Asia once the Maitri bridge, linking Sabroom with Bangladesh's Ramgarh, is thrown open for the public. This bridge is Located only 74 km away from Chittagong port.Another project is the AgartalaAkhaura (Bangladesh) railway link. This railway is expected to be completed in June 2023. When it will be completed, it will connect Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India (10.6 kilometers) and then connect Nischintapur to Agartala railway station (5.46 kilometers) in India. The scope of trade relations would open with the introduction of the Agartala-Akhaura railway line. Israels Technion university on Sunday suffered a ransomware attack, which has forced the university to proactively block all communication networks. A new group calling itself DarkBit has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Technion is under cyberattack. The scope and nature of the attack are under investigation, Technion, one of Israels top universities, wrote in a Tweet. Established in 1912, Haifa-based Technion otherwise known as the Israel Institute of Technology has become a global pioneer in fields such as biotechnology, stem cell research, space, computer science, nanotechnology, and energy. Four Technion professors have won Nobel Prizes. The university has also contributed for the growth of Israels high-tech industry and innovation, including the countrys technical cluster in Silicon Wadi. The university said it is postponing scheduled exams due to the ransomware attack, but classes will continue as usual. Its website remained inaccessible at the time of writing. 80 bitcoins demanded as ransom DarkBit has demanded 80 bitcoins ($1,729,320) as ransom from the university. The group has also said that the amount will go up by 30% if the ransom is not received within 48 hours. You will receive a decrypting key after the payment. Notice that you just have 48 hours. After the deadline, a 30% penalty will be added to the price. We put data for sale after 5 days, DarkBit wrote in a message on the university website, which was shared by Tel Aviv-based cybersecurity professional Alon Gal, co-founder and CTO of Hudson Rock. Were sorry to inform you that weve had to hack Technion network completely and transfer all data to our secure servers. So, keep calm, take a breath and think about an apartheid regime that causes troubles here and there, DarkBit group wrote in the mail. They should pay for their lies and crimes, their names and shames. They should pay for occupation, war crimes against humanity, killing the people (not only Palestinians bodies, but also Israelis' souls) and destroying the future and all dreams we had. They should pay for firing high-skilled experts, the hacker group further mentioned. The group also shared a messenger ID for the Tox secure messenging app, through which individuals can contact them to recover their personal files. DarkBit has claimed that the files are encrypted using AES-256 military-grade algorithm. Any try for recovering data without the key (using third-party applications/companies) causes permanent damage, DarkBit wrote. Gal has identified some of DarkBits social media on Telegram, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube and Facebook. Seems to be an organized group, likely state-sponsored. I assume they will begin uploading stuff there soon, Gal wrote on LinkedIn. The groups Telegram channel was created on February 12 and describes itself as against any kind of racism, fascism and apartheid. #HackForGood. Its Telegram channel has 379 followers. Similarly, its Twitter channel was also created in February. A tweet by the group read, A kindly advice to the hight-tech (sic) companies: From now on, be more careful when you decide to fire your employees, especially the geek ones. Israeli technology companies have laid off about 8,000 employees in 2022, and at least 500 tech workers since the start of 2023, according to Globes. INCD involved in the investigation The Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) is "in touch with Technion university to get a full picture of the situation, to assist with the incident and to study its consequences, The Jerusalem Post reported. In 2022, the INCD had thwarted about 1,000 major cyberattacks that could have caused widespread and substantial damage to the Israeli economy, Gaby Portnoy, director general of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, said last month. On Friday, Feb. 3, members of the Indigenous community at the University of Oregon hosted a Taking Up Space event in the Kalapuya Ilihi residence hall. The event consisted of a social hour, followed by a presentation about Oregon tribes and the Kalapuya people and a healing ceremony accompanied by prayer. Individuals present at the event included members of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Academic Residential Community and the Native American Student Union. Taking Up Space was held in light of the recent vandalization that took place in Kalapuya Ilihi, when a sign posted in the NAIS ARC office that reads, this is Kalapuyan land was defaced. After the vandalization, the text on the sign was altered to read this isnt Kalapuyan land. The vandalization was met with much disappointment from the Indigenous community, especially those who are residents of Kalapuya Ilihi. The building is named after the traditional homelands of the Southern Kalapuya people, the space that the University of Oregon now occupies. It was not surprising to me, Marisol Peters, a first-year student part of the NAIS ARC and NASU enrolled in the Karuk tribe, said. According to her, acts like this arent surprising when attending a university where microaggressions and passive racism have become the norm. Indigenous students are exhausted from having to fight for their acknowledgement and were disappointed about the turnout of non-native students at last Fridays event, according to Peters. It was an event supposed to be held for non-natives, Tiera Garrety, a junior studying Native American and Indigenous Studies, a member of NASU and the NAIS ARC and a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, said. She expressed frustration that despite there being a table-wide spread of regalia and informative books by Indigenous authors, students just walked right past it without asking questions. When you present [students] with opportunities to actually participate in [community events] then they choose not to because they would rather not because it's going out of their way, Garrety said. The Native American Student Union has also recently had to fight for its funding back from the student government. The Associated Students of the University of Oregon had a surplus fund of nearly $1 million for this fiscal year, and after redistributions in December 2022, cut the NASU funding in half, summing about $12,000. NASU and other Indigenous student groups on campus protested the budget cuts by ASUO at a hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 15. According to Garrety, after the protests at the NASU budget hearing, the NASUs funding has been restored by about $7,000. ASUO is also contributing by funding the annual Mothers Day Powwow hosted by NASU. Regardless, the act was felt by the Indigenous community, leaving many feeling disappointed. Its so frustrating. Its so draining when every single day of your life its just fighting for recognition, fighting for your basic human rights, fighting for your existence, Garrety said.We are the most visible, invisible people on campus. The vandalization in Kalapuya Ilihi took place on the same night as the NASU budget hearing. While theres no confirmed correlation, many Indigenous students are wondering if the two events may have been related, according to Peters and Garrety. Despite these recent events minimizing the existence of Indigenous students at the UO, their community remains resilient. According to Peters, this year hosts the largest cohort that the NAIS ARC has ever seen, and the Taking Up Space event was a success. While it was disappointing to see that non-natives didn't show up, it was heartwarming because its like having family around, Peters said. Garrety and Peters said the Indigenous community would love to see more participation in their community events, especially when the wider non-native student population is invited. According to Garrety and Peters, activism isn't always about protesting. Its about showing up consistently. Peters said being a good ally requires individuals to get out of their comfort zones. We are your peers. We are your teachers. We are your friends, Peters said. I want to see just more celebration of things were doing, not because you're trying to counteract a bad thing that happened to us but just because you want to celebrate us. Senior politicians in England are finally questioning some of the more extreme claims of the radical pro-trans lobby. Not so their Celtic cousins. Like Nicola Sturgeon in her Scottish fiefdom, the Welsh Assemblys Labour government takes furious umbrage at anyone who dares to question plans to make it easier for youngsters to transition to the opposite sex. When Laura Anne Jones, a Tory member of the Welsh parliament [the Senedd], asked last week about the impact of so-called self-ID on women-only spaces, Labours Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn didnt hold back. Sighing loudly, she retorted: Shameful! And I dont think I have much to say in response to that. It was typical of how many pro-trans activists simply refuse to engage properly with the debate. ANDREW PIERCE: Labours Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn, pictured, didnt hold back Blythyns remarks provoked fury on the influential Mumsnet website. I hope the Welsh Labour Party discipline Blythyn, wrote one parent. Shes brought the party and the Senedd into disrepute. And now we learn that pro-trans virtue-signalling goes even further in Cardiff, with reports yesterday that tampons have appeared in the mens loos at the Welsh Parliament. Wales is currently suffering soaring NHS waiting lists and collapsing school standards but the regional government clearly has more important priorities. Rumoured to have enjoyed the corporate hospitality at Saturday nights boozy Brit Awards was our mayfly PM, Liz Truss. And one song in particular may have struck a poignant chord: Lewis Capaldis No 1 hit, Forget Me. You . . . said that I did everything wrong, warbles the Scottish crooner. And youre not wrong. Remember Jo Swinson, the shortest-serving Lib Dem leader, who lost her job and Parliamentary seat in 2019? She can now be found as the director of Partners for a New Economy, an international donor collaborative (whatever that may be). Swinson has told her former Party colleagues that she wants to keep a low profile: I doubt shell struggle there. Former chief medical officer Sally Davies says a rise in inheritance tax could be used to tackle obesity. Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzies response is: Make A&E doors smaller so the fat cant get in. Former Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson has a theory as to how the coke-addled fraudster Jared OMara became a Labour candidate and then a Sheffield Hallam MP. He was imposed because he was a Momentum member, reveals Watson, referring to the hard-Left Corbynista faction. They didnt bother to check his ability to do the job and withstand public scrutiny. It was cruel of them to put this man into a job he couldnt do. Thats on Momentum, too . . . They should apologise. Some chance! There have been many moments in the past two decades where Prince William has has had cause to be angry with Prince Harry. Pre-Meghan, it started with various childhood scrapes where his younger brother seemed to get away with murder even though it was the future king who would end up punished by his parents. Then there were the drugs scandals while at school that put the reputation of the Royal Family at threat as Harrys bad behaviour spiralled. Not to mention calling an army colleague the P-word on video, having naked pictures in Las Vegas leaked to the American media, and fighting with photographers (and his own security team) late at night when steaming drunk. Post-Meghan, the Oprah Winfrey interview where the Sussexes accused an unnamed member of the Royal Family of racism (and claimed Kate made Meghan cry at that notorious bridesmaid fitting) as Prince Philip was on his deathbed took his outrage and fury to another level. After a string of personal attacks against his brother, Prince William (left) and the Royal Family, could Prince Harry's relationship with the Prince of Wales be irreparably damaged? Prince Harry and Meghan have been on the offensive, with the Duke of Sussex having launched his tell-all autobiography in January, shortly after his wife's Netflix docu-series But the catatonic rage engulfing William in the past month towards his brother following the publication of his twisted autobiography Spare an effective character assassination on the heir to the throne pales in comparison. According to my royal sources, the Prince of Wales still cannot fathom the vicious intent behind his brothers book, which he believes marks the end of their relationship forever. Sure, time heals all wounds but at this moment in time courtiers believe William is adamant he will never speak to his sibling again. This is the tinderbox environment in which the new king expects his sons to reunite in front of an audience of billions while watching him crowned. The Coronation is Charles day, I understand that. But given he is determined to have the Sussexes in attendance in my opinion an unwise decision driven by heart over head that will overshadow the historic event it's now up to the king to protect his eldest son. The Mail on Sunday reported yesterday that the Royal Family is fully expecting both Harry and Meghan to be there, even though their relatives are spitting feathers about the publication of Spare and the spiteful media campaign to promote the book which appeared designed to damage the British monarchy. A friend told the newspaper: Members of the family have told me that both Harry and Meghan will definitely come. They fully expect that. And they should realise that there is only one subject that many members of the Royal Family will be willing to discuss and thats the weather. That might be possible for the likes of Princess Anne and Prince Edward, who didnt feel the full throttled vengeance and largely avoided personal attacks from Harrys poisoned pen, but for William its an altogether different scenario. The question of how he will be able to contain his acute feelings of betrayal, anger and sadness at the Coronation if Harry is there is front of mind for courtiers. The reported rift between the brothers comes ahead of their father, King Charles's coronation in May But I believe it is Charles who must find a way to maintain the comfort and dignity of William, who has done nothing wrong and tried to put duty first in the most tortured of family situations. William managed to do just that in the days before the funeral of the late Queen, even offering an olive branch to Harry and Meghan by suggesting a joint walkabout outside Windsor Castle after hearing the Sussexes were planning to do something on their own seeming to, as ever, steal the limelight. But thats, in part, what is most frustrating for William and Kate. The entire family tried so hard to include Harry and Meghan during the mourning period for the late Queen, yet it made absolutely no difference to their vile behaviour in the months that followed. Dan Wootton No wonder in discussions about how to coax Harry and Meghan to the Coronation without any drama including a hairbrained scheme to put their woke ally Justin Welby in charge of negotiations William has raised the possibility of the Sussexes attempting to hijack the official festivities with their own publicity stunt. The Prince of Wales is also acutely conscious of the fact Harry has attempted to back both him and their father into a corner, in what feels like a form of emotional blackmail. Only reconciliation talks, including an apology to Meghan, will even start to appease the Sussexes. But even starting that conversation is virtually impossible given the trust has been shattered after the broadcast of their Netflix reality show and the publication of Spare, where deeply personal conversations were printed verbatim but out of context to further Harry and Meghans warped victimhood narrative. Most unforgivable was the recounting of pained and failed peace talks with a grief-stricken Charles and his two sons in the hours after Prince Phillips funeral, where he pleaded with William and Harry: Don't make my final years a misery. Rightly or wrongly, senior members of the family now believe there is the possibility that any communication they have with Harry or Meghan, either electronically or in person, could find its way into the public domain. There is less than three months to go before the most important day of Charles life. The king wants to think the best of his youngest son and Meghan, with whom he has always been incredibly affectionate, but its William and Kate who know their real gameplan. Harry and Meghan are seeking ultimate destruction, not a compromise. So if Charles wants to proceed with naively thinking the Sussexes can be included at the Coronation without causing any damage, its on him to make sure that the Prince of Wales is completely insulated from any form of forced reunion or conversation, either in public or private. Of course, its desperately sad that relations have reached this nadir, but that is entirely the responsibility of Harry and Meghan. The easiest scenario for everyone involved is that they stay away from the Coronation altogether and celebrate Archies birthday in California. But if Charles is hellbent on the Sussexes seeing him crowned in person, he must protect the feelings and reputation of helpless William and Kate at all costs. Aeons ago, in 2016, the British public famously voted to 'take back control'. They wanted to wrest authority not only from the Brussels bureaucracy, but also from the British political Establishment, which was always so close to the EU. Alas, these men and women have never gone away. And now they are on the march. Last week's top-secret cross-party conference at Ditchley Park held 'to confront the failings of Brexit', in the words of the Remainer newspaper that broke the story should alarm anyone who believes in democracy. It resembles precisely the sort of unaccountable, closed-doors skulduggery that led many to vote for Brexit in the first place. If the vote to leave the EU was a robust exercise in direct democracy, what many will regard as the Ditchley Park Plot is the very opposite. Last week's top-secret cross-party conference at Ditchley Park was held 'to confront the failings of Brexit' As Lord Frost warned on the front page of yesterday's Mail: 'This secret conference is a further piece of evidence that many in our political and business establishment want to unravel the deals we did to exit the EU in 2020 and to stay shadowing the EU instead.' Clearly, the snobbish Remainers, who have always loathed the electorate and never accepted the Brexit vote, are now trying to 'take back control' themselves. As Lord Frost warned on the front page of yesterday's Mail: 'This secret conference is a further piece of evidence that many in our political and business establishment want to unravel the deals we did to exit the EU in 2020 and to stay shadowing the EU instead.' Since news of this covert symposium was leaked, some of those who attended have peddled the line that it was not an attempt to plot to overturn the 2016 referendum, but simply to discuss the innocuous question: 'How can we make Brexit work better with our neighbours in the EU?' Pointing to the presence of a smattering of Brexiteers, including Michael Gove, former Labour MP Gisela (now Baroness) Stuart and Lords Howard and Lamont, they insist that there is nothing to see here. Slippery Some of us in the Brexiteer camp, however, have learned from bitter experience not to believe a word the Remainer Establishment says. Apply the duck test: if it looks like a Remainer plot, walks like a Remainer plot and quacks like a Remainer plot, then there's a good chance it's . . . well, you can finish the sentence yourself. The fact is that a cabal of powerful anti-democrats assembled at the stately home and spent two days deep in discussions. Many have made no secret of their desire to overturn Brexit. The slippery cast surely speaks for itself. The entire ghastly affair was reportedly chaired (though that may not be quite true) by Peter Mandelson, the twice-disgraced ex-cabinet minister and sometime EU commissioner, who these days sits in the House of Lords, effectively as 'Lord Remoaner of Brussels'. Readers will remember how Mandelson castigated the 17.4 million Britons who voted Leave as having committed an 'act of self-harm': a tasteless claim that suggested a majority of voters had mental health issues. Alongside Mandelson was shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. His hysterical verdict on Brexit when the people's vote was carried? 'We can stop this madness and bring this nightmare to an end through a vote in Parliament.' Notoriously, he later compared Brexiteer Tories to Nazis. Other Remainer zealots at the conflab included former senior civil servants, laughably described as 'non-political'. The slippery cast surely speaks for itself. The entire ghastly affair was reportedly chaired (though that may not be quite true) by Peter Mandelson, the twice-disgraced ex-cabinet minister and sometime EU commissioner, who these days sits in the House of Lords, effectively as 'Lord Remoaner of Brussels' One of them, Oliver Robbins, was the mandarin most culpable for negotiating Theresa May's disastrous attempt at a deal, which made so many concessions to Brussels that it looked more like an unconditional surrender. They all surely felt at home in the plush surroundings of Ditchley a country mansion in Oxfordshire run by a foundation whose governors include Remainer luminaries including Mandelson, former Lib Dem leader Jo 'B*****ks to Brexit' Swinson and City slicker Roland Rudd (a major player in the doomed second referendum campaign). In this febrile atmosphere, a few lone Brexiteers' voices will not have made a difference. No: this secret meeting marked a further escalation of the cynical Remainer crusade to yoke Britain back to Brussels, dragging us more closely under the influence of unelected European Commissioners and judges. Patronising elitists who believe that they know better than millions of vulgar Leave voters are pushing to ensure that a future Labour government shoves Britain closer to rejoining the single market, with the ultimate dream being, of course, to reverse Brexit altogether. Sir Keir Starmer now claims he accepts Brexit. Pull the other one. We will not soon forget Starmer's role as Jeremy Corbyn's 'Brexit spokesman', in which he spent most of his time speaking of his wish for a second Brexit referendum to deliver the result he wanted. Which brings me to my main point. The Ditchley plot has hardly come out of the blue. Its real meaning can best be understood as part of an ongoing Remainer rearguard campaign that no one can deny. Last month, the Remainstream media marked the third anniversary of Brexit Day (January 31, 2020, when the UK formally left the EU), with a raft of phantasmagorical stories about how our departure was to blame for all our economic woes. Sir Keir Starmer now claims he accepts Brexit. Pull the other one. We will not soon forget Starmer's role as Jeremy Corbyn's 'Brexit spokesman' Hobble Many Leave voters, audiences were told, supposedly feel duped, with some experiencing 'Bregret'. Just this week, Jonathan Haskel, an external member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, used some carefully selected dates and figures to claim that Brexit is costing every British household the headline-friendly sum of 1,000 a year. Meanwhile, in the House of Lords, an all-party alliance of Remainer peers is trying to hobble the Government's Retained EU Law Bill, designed to remove thousands of EU rules still clogging the UK statute book. A gaggle of these unelected meddlers penned a letter to The Times, pompously declaring that they were defending 'democracy'. Even by the lofty standards of Lords entitlement, it was a case of staggering patrician chutzpah. Needless to say, the signatories were all ermine-clad Remainers, from ex-Hong Kong governor Chris Patten to former Conservative chancellor Ken Clarke. The truth, I suspect, is that many of us who voted Leave feel that the Tories have failed to capitalise on the benefits of leaving, and failed to properly fulfil Boris Johnson's 2019 election pledge to 'get Brexit done'. Rebuke From the Northern Ireland protocol to the small boats arriving on Kent beaches, the Government has not yet truly 'taken back control' and may be running out of time to do so, with a general election expected next year and Labour ahead in the polls. Little wonder the Remainer Establishment believes its moment is coming. In Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives have a genuine Leaver in No 10. Yet ask yourself: has the PM done enough to champion Brexit in word or deed in the face of resistance from the Remainer Blob? Many former Labour Red Wall voters who backed Boris, primarily because of his Brexit promises, must be wondering who speaks for them today. It is time the Government woke up and delivered a forthright rebuke to the Remainer elites and their Ditchley Park plot. If it does not, the voters will remember and I fear the results won't be pretty. The candles are lit, the mood music is just right... but then your Valentine's Day date is derailed when you start feeling a little bit queasy. Was it the spicy food? Or the cheese you definitely shouldn't have indulged in? To help you avoid this scenario, FEMAIL has asked an etiquette expert to share their tips on how to keep the romance alive during your day of love, from why you should be dodging that Caesar salad to why you should say no to a coffee date. Myka Meier, founder of Beaumont Etiquette, has trained in Switzerland and in London under a former member of staff of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Not only has she laid out the ingredients you shouldn't be ordering or cooking on your date, but also the ones that will keep bad breath at bay. Beware of hidden ingredients! Keep your eyes peeled for onion and garlic - especially when it comes to salad dressing Etiquette expert Myka Meier told DailyMail.com romancers should skip 'horseradish and any kind of canned fish' (stock image) No one wants to be that person, constantly checking their breath to see if your date can smell your last meal. It's a rookie mistake but Myka has reminded people to avoid cooking or ordering dishes that are heavy on garlic or onions. 'Additionally, horseradish and any kind of canned fish (skip the sardines and tuna fish, being the most common),' she added. Also the etiquette expert warns 'beware of hidden ingredients.' 'You might love Caesar salad, but one of the first ingredients in the dressing is garlic, second [is] anchovy paste,' Myka told DailyMail.com. Say no to coffee dates! Don't risk a dry mouth and bad breath Myka has trained in Switzerland and in London under a former member of staff of the late Queen Elizabeth II If you're someone whose mouth goes dry when you're nervous, don't pile onto it by going on a coffee date on Valentine's Day. Myka isn't warning just coffee drinkers, but tea lovers as well. 'Beware of coffee dates! Both coffee and tea dry out your mouth and can cause "coffee breath",' she said. 'To combat coffee breath, drink plenty of water.' Sulfur-containing compounds are released when coffee beans are roasted, Healthline explains. 'Along with the acid content in coffee, these compounds can produce bad breath,' the website says. 'Coffee also causes dry mouth, which can worsen bad breath. Coffee-induced dry mouth is produced in part by caffeine, which is slightly dehydrating. Tannins, a molecule found in coffee, are another culprit.' Asparagus and oysters: Why you should AVOID these aphrodisiacs If you suspect your date might end with you spending the night, plan ahead. Despite it being an aphrodisiac, asparagus is not your friend so keep it off the menu, Myka says, because you may regret it later. 'If you might be spending the night with your date, you may want to avoid asparagus,' she said. Despite it being an aphrodisiac, asparagus is not your friend and keep it off the menu, Myka says, because you may regret it later 'While it's said to be an aphrodisiac, it can make your urine smell strongly of rotten cabbage and the smell can linger.' What's responsible for the smell is asparagusic acid, which is found only in the vegetable, and when it's broken down it releases 'sulfur-containing byproducts,' the Cleveland Clinic explains. 'When you pee, the sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that unpleasant scent,' the website says. Additionally Myka suggests avoiding aphrodisiacs all together as it 'may give the wrong impression.' 'If you want to serve or order foods that are considered aphrodisiacs, such as oysters, make sure it's appropriate to do so,' she told DailyMail.com 'A first date with someone where you order oysters may give the wrong impression.' Oysters as an aphrodisiac dates back to Roman Empire, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The delicacy was apparently enjoyed by famed seducer Giacomo Casanova as a 'virility-booster.' Additionally Myka suggests avoiding aphrodisiacs all together as it 'may give the wrong impression,' like oysters (stock image) Not the type of gassing up you want: Ditch beans and spicy foods It's something we should all know, but beans and cabbage should be on your no-go list of foods on Valentine's Day. There's nothing less romantic than passing gas in front of a potential love interest, so just take this scenario off the table but avoiding these ingredients. The reason for the gas buildup is both of these foods contain sugars known as raffinose, according to Bon Appetit. 'A shortage or absence of certain enzymes' means some sugars may not be digested properly in the small intestine and then passes into the large one, 'where harmless and normal bacteria break down the food,' Johns Hopkins explains further. This process is what leads to excess gas. Myka adds: 'In some instances spicy foods or even dairy can be upsetting to the stomach.' Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for those Spice Lords and cheese lovers out there. Pick up some dark chocolate, cherries and ginger We've talked a lot about foods giving you bad breath, but what about those that will help fight it? Dark chocolate is one of them (stock image) We've talked a lot about foods giving you bad breath, but what about those that will help fight it? Myka has a few suggestions: 'Stick to foods that... will encourage a bit more intimacy including dark chocolate, cherries, ginger, most raw fruits and vegetables.' As for an after-dinner mint, WebMD recommends chewing gum instead. 'The bacteria in your mouth love sugar. They use it to make acid. This wears down your teeth and causes bad breath. Chew sugarless gum instead,' the website says. Hygienist Pamela L. Quinones, past president of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, added: 'Gum stimulates saliva, which is the mouth's natural defense mechanism against plaque acids, which cause tooth decay and bad breath.' She said the Le Labo perfumes are ideal if you want to 'smell expensive' A former beauty editor has urged fans of Le Labo fragrances to stock up on M&S' 5 laundry liquids - which she claims smell just like the pricey perfumes. Laura Capon, 36, from South London, previously worked as Cosmopolitan UK's deputy beauty editor and is now a columnist for fashion and beauty website Eliza.co.uk. Earlier this month, the social media star - who boasts 65,000 TikTok followers - posted a video raving about her new 5.50 M&S laundry liquid and 3.50 fabric softener. In a viral clip that has amassed over 36,800 views, Laura explained how she had bought the two products in the scents Sandalwood and Bergamot and Sandalwood and Rose. Describing how the new range is 'beautiful', Laura said: 'If you like La Labo perfumes or a warm, sandalwood-y perfume and you want to smell expensive, these laundry liquids and fabric softeners are *chef's kiss*. In a viral TikTok which has amassed over 36,000 views, Laura urged shoppers to stock up on M&S' new laundry products Opening the bottle of Sandalwood and Bergamot laundry liquid, Laura sniffed it and said: 'You'll just smell rich. 'You and your clothes will smell warm and rich!' Laura then focused on the Sandalwood and Rose fabric softener. She continued: 'I don't normally like rose but oh my God, I actually prefer this one. 'Honestly, this could be La Labo perfume. I feel like we all just need to get to M&S immediately to get our hands on this.' The beauty expert then captioned the video: 'My perfume? Oh, it's my fabric conditioner.' Although Laura didn't specify what Le Labo perfume the M&S laundry products smell like, the luxury New York-based brand do have a 157 fragrance called Bergamote 22 which also has 'woody notes'. Meanwhile, the product description for their Rose 31 fragrance reveals that it also had based notes of 'warm and spicy cedar'. M&S' laundry liquid has been compared to Le Labo perfumes by beauty expert Laura Capon. The products have proved so popular that only the unscented laundry liquids are available to shop online Unsurprisingly, Laura's post sent shoppers into a frenzy - with dozens of viewers saying they would pick up a bottle the next time they went to M&S. Currently, only the unfragranced alternatives are available to shop online as they have proven so popular. One replied: 'Oh no... I've been influenced. I'm going to have to go and get it tomorrow!' Another added: 'I resisted these last week but now I might have to try!' 'I've heard all I need to hear,' a third wrote. 'Off to M&S I go.' Last month, another beauty enthusiast claimed to have found the 'exact' dupe of Le Labo's pricey 157 perfume - and it costs a fraction of the designer price. TikTok user Chloe Wise, from Manchester, urged her followers to head down to their nearest M&S beauty aisle. Lucy Wise (pictured), from Manchester, stumbled upon the perfume dupe when she was shopping for underwear in M&S earlier this month Left: A single 50ml bottle of Le Labo's Santal 33 perfume costs a cool 157. The designer fragrance has notes of cardamom, woody ambrox and leather. Right: In contrast, the M&S alternative is only 9.50 and has notes of cardamom which are offset with cedarwood, sandalwood and cinnamon In a viral video that's amassed over 345,000 views, Chloe explained how she was recently being fitted for a bra when she decided to have a browse through their makeup and bodycare range. She said: 'I was just having a little potter about and they have their own brand called Apothecary. 'I picked up this perfume randomly, thought I'd give it a little sniff and oh my god, it is the same - it's not even slightly different - as the Le Labo Santal 33.' Holding the bottle up to camera, Chloe continued: 'This is it. It's in the Apothecary range and it's called Warmth.' What's more, the savvy shopper she didn't want to 'gatekeep' the affordable dupe from the followers. 'It's a 50ml and it was 9.50 and it literally smells exactly the same, she added. 'Run, do not walk!' Viewers of The Gold slammed the BBC1 programme last night as they criticised producers for changing the criminals involved in the Brink's-Matt robbery into 'class warriors.' The first episode of the crime drama follows the aftermath of the biggest armed heist in British history the Brinks-Mat gold bullion robbery in November 1983. Jack Lowden plays Kenneth Noye, the ambitious crook who arranged for most of the 26million in gold bars to be melted down and sold. However far from presenting the character as a dangerous, brutal criminal, many of those watching felt producers of the series had been too sympathetic towards Noye. One person wrote: 'I don't know what was more irritating: the more wobbling camera work, the dialogue or attempts to show Kenneth Noye as some sort of class warrior.' Viewers of The Gold slammed the BBC1 programme last night as they criticised producers for changing the criminals involved in the Brink's-Matt robbery into 'class warriors' Another added: 'Not sure making Kenneth Noye some kind of philosopher-thief Robin Hood, is really as wise a choice as the producers think it is.' A third commented: 'Had some good acting but the handheld camera technique made me feel sea sick. I thought that way of directing and filming was a bit dated.' A fourth penned: 'I know there's creative license in the backstory of the #Brinksmat robbery in #TheGold but trying to make out headcase Kenneth Noye is some sort of class warrior (who listens to New Order) really is weak.' The Brinks-Mat robbery, which netted the gang a haul of pure gold, diamonds and cash worth 26 million (about 100 million today), has been called the crime of the century and, 40 years on, we still feel its repercussions. Londons Docklands was built partly on its ill-gotten gains, and the party drug ecstasy was first brought into the UK with Brinks-Mat money. It has been claimed that anyone wearing gold jewellery bought in the UK after 1983 is probably wearing Brinks Mat, while in whats become known as the Curse of Brinks-Mat, around 20 people linked to the crime have been murdered. Its estimated that up to 50 per cent of the gold has still not been recovered. Shortly after 6.40am on November 26, 1983, six armed men in balaclavas including one wearing a Trilby entered a warehouse at Heathrow airport. Many of those watching declared the drama was 'rubbish', criticising the producers for the changing gangster Kenneth Noye into a 'class warrior' The property belonged to security company Brink's Mat and the robbers were there because they knew there was 3million in cash in the vault. They knew because their inside man, security guard Anthony Black, had told them. He even opened the door of the warehouse to let them in. Former gangster Kenneth Noye's life of crime 1947: Kenneth Noye is born in Bexleyheath, south east London 1977: Falls into crime and gets an 18-month suspended sentence for having a shotgun. November 1983: The Brink's Mat robbery took place where six gunman burst into the warehouse near Heathrow and escaped with 26.3million. January 1985: Stabbed police officer John Fordham, who was investigating the robbery, to death in grounds of his home in West Kingsdown, Kent. He was under surveillance at the time. December 1985: Jury clear Noye of murder after agreeing he acted in self-defence July 1986: Jailed for 14 years for conspiring to handle Brinks Mat gold and evade VAT payments. 1994: He is released from prison. May 1996: Stabbed Stephen Cameron, 21, to death in a road rage attack on the M25 near Swnaley, Kent August 1998: Noye arrested in Barbate, Spain. April 2000: Noye convicted of murder and given a life sentence 2017: Authorised for move to open prison. He is seen on day release from Standford Hill prison a year later. May 2019: Parole Board announced decision to free him. June 2019: Kenny Noye is released Advertisement Led by Black's brother-in-law, Brian Robinson, and Trilby-clad Michael 'Micky' McAvoy, the gang tied up the guards and poured petrol over them, threatening to light it if they didn't comply. Thanks to Black, they were able to identify the two most senior guards who, between them, held the keys and combination numbers for the vault where three safes were located. Inside was more than three tonnes of gold bullion. Packed into more than 70 cardboard boxes were almost 7,000 gold bars. Someone had to fetch the van. Weighed down by a heap of gold, the van idled its way out of Heathrow after one of the robbers wished the security guards a merry Christmas. It didn't take the police long to connect Black to the raid and he soon implicated Robinson and McAvoy (who punched Black when he went to identify him in a police line-up). The pair hadn't exactly laid low after the robbery, spending cash on property in Kent. It was rumoured McAvoy had bought two rottweilers to protect his new home and named them Brinks and Mat. The two were later sentenced to 25 years in prison. Black was sentenced to six years. Stealing the gold had been relatively easy. The bigger challenge was selling it. The robbers turned to crime boss Kenneth Noye, who, along with another criminal, Brian Reader, handled the gold. It was regularly taken to a smelting company near Bristol where it was mixed with copper and brass to look like scrap gold. About 13millon-worth was disposed of in this way. The movement of cash through a local bank soon aroused the suspicion of the Bank of England and surveillance operations of known villains began. Noye appeared in court in 1986 after police found 11 gold bars worth 100,000 on his premises. He was found guilty of handling the Brink's Mat gold and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Meanwhile the drama, which stars Hugh Bonneville, Jack Lowden, Dominic Cooper and Charlotte Spencer, tells the story of the aftermath of the audacious robbery, and reveals how the eyepopping haul became as big a problem for the gang as it was a jackpot. The series shows career criminal Noye trying to stay one step ahead of the police. The drama tells the story of the aftermath of the audacious robbery, and reveals how the eyepopping haul became as big a problem for the gang as it was a jackpot The series shows career criminal Noye trying to stay one step ahead of the police (pictured, Hugh Bonneville in the drama) Greed is universal and this crime showed a sort of classless greed, Jack said in an interview. At the end of the first episode, Noye gives a lengthy speech about how the other side of the country [the rich and the Establishment] get away with crime in a way the working classes dont. He discusses the differences between classes, saying: 'I do a lot of reading about England, about the way it was. The funny thing is, this country, it wasn't always like this. 'It wasn't always Kings and Queens, because sometimes, for whatever reason, one of our lot got on top for a while and found themselves in charge. At the end of the first episode, Noye gives a lengthy speech about how the other side of the country [the rich and the Establishment] get away with crime in a way the working classes dont 'But it never lasted long. When they got there, they'd panic. They'd think, "hold on, this ain't me, this ain't natural, I ain't no King". 'They'd take off the crown and give it back. That ain't me.' He went on to say: 'Gold like that, you can't control it. No one can. And if you can't handle it, then it will find it's way to someone who can. And I can handle it, I'm ready. I can be a King. However many viewers felt the treatment of Noye was too sympathetic in the series, saying the drama made him into a 'Robin Hood' style character. In real life Noye killed a police officer who was investigating the case but was acquitted of his murder, claiming it was self-defence. Noye fatally stabbed undercover Met officer John Fordham in 1985. DC Fordham was investigating his involvement in the laundering of 26million of gold bullion from the 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery Noye in custody at Dartford Police Station in 1999 after being found guilty of the murder of Stephen Cameron following a road rage attack Stephen Lee Cameron (left) was stabbed to death by Noye in 1996 in a road rage attack on the M25. Stephen is pictured right with his fiancee Danielle Cable He spent eight years in jail for handling the Brinks-Mat bullion. He killed again in 1996, murdering Stephen Cameron, 21, in a road rage attack on the M25 in Kent. In 2000 he was convicted of the murder and was released from prison in 2019. Of the original gang who entered the warehouse only two, Robinson and McAvoy, were ever found guilty and sent to jail, for 25 years each. The security guard Black was sentenced to six years for helping them. Gordon Parry and Brian Perry were both jailed in 1992 for laundering millions of pounds in proceeds from the robbery. Perry was gunned down in 2001, shortly after his release. George Francis was shot dead in 2003, and John Palmer was murdered at his gated home in Essex in 2015. After years of social media stars persuading consumers to part with their hard-earned cash and splash out on treats like skincare, make-up, and clothing, a new trend has seen creators turn influencing on its head. Deinfluencing, which sees people advise their followers against buying certain products - generally those which have benefited from social media hype - is on the rise, with the #deInfluencing hashtag on TikTok shooting up from 3m views to almost 130m in recent weeks. Driving the trend against the rampant promotion of products, and subsequent consumerism, is a movement towards a more conscious type of spending - one which acknowledges the cost of living crisis, as well as the environmental consequences of over-buying. Also playing a role in the rise of deinfluencing is a recent specific incident in which one social media make-up artist found herself at the centre of a controversy after being accused of 'false advertising'. Massachusetts-based influencer Mikayla Noguiera was criticised by fans after sharing a sponsored post with L'Oreal Paris, promoting its Telescopic Lift Mascara. TikTok creator Artistry by Han (pictured) is another social media creative who says she is 'lowkey enjoying' the deinfluencing trend - and has shared her own thoughts on which products are not worth the hype TikTok users accused her of enhancing her lengthened eyelash look with false lashes - a claim she denies - and a debate around the authenticity of influencer promotions ensued. As a result, deinfluencing - a phrase which his believed to have been coined in 2020 by Maddie B Wells, who created a series about most commonly returned products when she worked in retail - has seen its popularity soar. Deinfluencing can take multiple forms, with some representing it as a move towards cutting down on products altogether, opting instead for fewer, high-quality products which will last, like sustainability blogger Jess (@impactforgood_). Meanwhile, others see the movement as more about taking the products or brands that have benefited from online hype, and giving their honest opinions on why they may not be good as widely believed - or may not be suitable for everyone. TikTokker Parissa (@parissax) shared a recent video in which she discussed popular cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury. Explaining why in her video, the London-based creator says: 'I'm about to deinfluence you, but some of you are going to come from me. I can see you in the comments already. 'The number one brands that seriously needs to be deinfluenced...Charlotte Tilbury.' TikTok creator Parissa (pictured) made a video in which she 'deinfluenced' cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury, saying that the products do not work for her, and she finds them expensive She reveals she has bought 'endless amount of products' from the brand, and highlights a base product which she describes as 'costing [her] a life'. 'Do I even use it? No,' says Parissa in the video. 'And have I thrown it away? No, because it breaks my soul that I'm going to throw away something that I spent so much on. 'There are so many better brands out there that are doing just what she does, but they are not robbing our banks.' This type of honesty from people making social media content is refreshing for consumers, according to an expert, who says that people have become untrusting of influencers. Anna Hart is the founder of influencer marketing agency One Roof Social, whose clients have included M&S, John Lewis, Amazon, ME+EM and Estee Lauder. She told FEMAIL: 'The trust in influencers is really declining, and the biggest gripe is audiences saying that they dont really believe an influencer loves a product when they say they do. 'So, seeing someone openly criticise a product is really refreshing, and also helps influencers reinstate trust with their community making it clear they dont love absolutely everything they are every sent from a brand.' And Steph Searle, influence culture expert and Head of Social Media at digital PR & social agency 10 Yetis agreed, telling FEMAIL: 'Influencer culture has grown rapidly and with this comes some inauthentic reviews of products or services that may not be suitable for their followers. 'The sudden rise of de-influencing is to caveat this, by educating and raising awareness about these products or services that don't live up to the hype that has surrounded them, often caused by paid promotion or gifting for a positive review.' Meanwhile, another UK-based TikTokker, @artistrybyhan, discussed in a recent video how she has been 'lowkey enjoying the deinfluencing trend'. She goes on to list some 'products that no matter how much I see them on Tik Tok, I will not be buying them', adding 'these are products I will not be spending money on, I will tell you why'. Among the items she lists, including Dior Backstage Blush, Charlotte Tilbury highlighter, and 'anything from Anastasia Beverly Hills', the creator lists price, performance, and not being cruelty-free among her reasons for not wanting them. Another UK-based TikTokker who has created deinfluencing content is Hudi, known as @thethriftythrinker. In a recent video, she called on viewers to avoid buying products from Kim Kardashian's shape wear brand SKIMS, on the grounds that consumers can support other brands she cites as being more ethical and sustainable. Speaking in the video, she says: 'I don't know why anyone's still buying from SKIMS when there are so many better ethical and sustainable alternatives, and they're literally the same price point as well.' After listing some alternative brands, she concludes: 'There are literally so many brands that need your support more than a billionaire who doesn't pay her workers then they work overtime.' However, while the general response to deinfluencers has been positive, 10 Yeti's Steph Searle has warned that social media users need to be wary that the deinfluencing content they are consuming isn't simply an alternative form of influencing. Massachusetts-based influencer Mikayla Noguiera was accused of 'false advertising' and wearing 'fake lashes' as she promoted L'Oreal Paris's Telescopic Lift Mascara - a claim she denies. But the incident has been cited as one of the factors behind the rise of She told FEMAIL: 'We need to be careful that there isn't an alternative motive here. Could this person have affiliate links for a product they would recommend in its place, are they working for a competitor, or is it a genuine review? 'As with any review, we need to remember this is someone's point of view and need to decide for ourselves.' And Beatriz Repiso, Owner and CEO of Otternative Marketing, agreed, noting that while 'deinfluencing is a necessary step towards regaining agency and making informed choices' in 'our attention is constantly being monetised', consumers should be alert. She explained: 'It's important to be aware that not all "de-influencers" are genuinely concerned with promoting a healthy and informed approach to consuming media and making decisions. 'Some may use the guise of deinfluencing as a new strategy to appear more transparent and genuine in order to attract customers, when in reality they still have a hidden agenda. 'Deinfluencing must be done with care and promote critical thinking, as it can easily become just another form of manipulation. It's crucial to be able to identify when someone is genuinely trying to promote a healthier and more informed approach, and when they are merely using it as a guise to attack and deposition a brand to position themselves as a more genuine alternative. 'By staying vigilant and being critical of the information we are presented with, we can ensure that deinfluencing remains a positive force for change, rather than just another tool for marketing and manipulation.' But overall, the trend has been described as 'a very good thing' by Marvin Winkelmann, managing director of talent management and attention marketing agency AFK. He told FEMAIL: 'Deinfluencer culture is the result of brands working with any old influencer to market their products, rather than people who are genuinely passionate about the things they promote. 'You often see this with celebrities who endorse products without following Office of Fair Trading (OFT) or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, mixed with creators promoting products that theyve never heard of or tested themselves (despite saying they do in the ads).' He added that deinfluencers wouldn't need to exist if 'creators and celebrities were being paired up with brands that they are actually engaged with, marketing products that they actually used'. 'Instead, you have a swathe of inauthentic promotion that is hidden behind a fairly thin veil,' Marvin concluded. 'So it's no surprise that we're seeing this form of modern protest in the form of deinfluencers and Im all here for it.' Read more: Jodie Comer is the epitome of chic at the WhatsOnStage awards The Liverpudlian actress, 29, will soon take Prima Facie to Broadway in the US As Jodie Comer heads for Broadway after fighting off tough competition to win a WhatsOnStage award for her West End debut, her career success seems unstoppable. When the Liverpudlian actress, 29, began her TV career with roles such as the best friend in Channel 4 comedy My Mad Fat Diary in 2013, few could have predicted she'd soon achieve international fame. But following the success of the coming-of-age sitcom, Comer went on to star in thrilling BBC Three drama Thirteen where she played a teenage girl who mysteriously returned to her family after being abducted several years earlier. Just a few years later she took on the role which catapulted her onto the international stage as psychopathic-yet-endearing assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve, alongside Canadian actress Sandra Oh. And while she keeps some aspects of her life, including romantic relationships, extremely private, she has previously revealed the things that make her tick including a love of emo band Fall Out Boy and practising yoga in the mornings. Jodie Comer, 29, from Liverpool, picked up the first ever WhatsOnStage gender-neutral award for her role in Prima Facie as Tessa, a young female barrister who specialises in defending sexual assault victims before she is raped The award-winning actress comes from humble roots in Merseyside where she grew up with her rail worker mother Donna and physiotherapist father James, as well as a younger brother called Charlie. In an interview with the Evening Standard last year, she revealed she is very close with her family and wears a locket around her neck containing an amethyst, which she plays with when she is anxious. Attending a Catholic school in Merseyside, she formed a close unit of female friends including Olympic athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, with whom she is still very close. She told the Standard that she and her friends, including the Olympian, share a WhatsApp group called 'H*** in Different Area Codes' which refers to how they are all living in different parts of the world. After attending drama school from the age of 11, her acting career took off when she caught the attention of a drama teacher at secondary school who put her forward to audition for a Radio 4 play - which became her first acting job. Following the success of the play, Comer hired an agent and was soon making brief TV appearances on shows including Waterloo Road and Silent Witness. However, despite becoming a rising star at a young age the actress hung onto her part-time teen jobs as a glass collector in a bar and a shop worker in Tesco, The Mirror reports. Jodie Comer (pictured as a secondary school pupil) made friends with Katarina Johnson-Thompson at St Julie's Catholic High School One of Comer's earliest roles was as Chloe Gemell, the best friend of Rae Earl in My Mad Fat Diary on E4 Comer went on to star as evil but charming assassin Villanelle in BBC America drama Killing Eve which propelled her onto the world stage However, one of her first recurring roles came in E4 miniseries My Mad Fat Diary where she played Chloe Gemell, the best friend of lead character Rae Earl (Sharon Rooney). The characters have a love/hate relationship in the show, as Rae struggles to maintain a friendship with popular Chloe who has a 'slight but curvy' figure and 'gravity-defying boobs', as Rae describes. Although a supporting role in the show, Comer shone as the slightly spoilt and sometimes cruel friend who, ultimately, is someone Rae wants to keep in her life. When the series ended, Comer landed roles in BBC dramas Doctor Foster, where she plays the young mistress of Suranne Jones's husband, and in Thirteen as troubled teenager Ivy Moxham, which earned her a nomination for the BAFTA award for Best Actress in 2016. As Comer's first leading role, she demonstrated her range playing the mysterious teenage girl who has lived through an unspeakable time at the hands of a captor who abducted her and held her prisoner in his home for years. The glamorous actress is extremely private about many aspects of her private life including romantic relationships (pictured in 2020) As she began to make her mark on audiences and critics across the board, the talented rising star had support from a close friend and fellow actor from Merseyside, Stephen Graham, who acted as a mentor to her. After the pair shared a single scene together on the set of BBC drama Good Cop in 2012, Graham was so impressed by the young Comer's performance he introduced her to his agent, who ended up representing her too. Speaking with Lauren Laverne on Radio 6 last year, Comer said: '[I was] just like chatting to him throughout the day, picking his brains, asking him lots of questions.' 'I remember at that time feeling like I needed to take elocution lessons,' she said. 'I don't know where I got that from but he was like, "You're kidding me, don't you dare ever lose this accent!".' She went on: 'He's so true to himself and it was so good to have someone exactly like him, who is from where I'm from, and celebrates how they are in an industry where there are probably less working class actors. To have someone like him is amazing.' The actors and friends would later go on to star in harrowing Channel 4 Drama Help, which told the story of care homes during the first wave of the Covid pandemic, with Comer playing a carer and Graham a resident with early onset Alzheimer's. The role earnt the actress her second BAFTA award in 2022. The Liverpudlian's first BAFTA came in 2019 for the role with which many have come to associate her - the charismatic assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve. The BBC America drama, which debuted in 2018, saw Comer become a household name on both sides of the Atlantic as audiences were charmed by her witty performance as the psychopathic yet likeable killer. Comer will soon head to Broadway in New York to perform in Prima Facie after breaking records with the play at the Harold Pinter theatre on the West End The drama ran for four seasons before it was cancelled last year, with the stories of MI6 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle finally reaching their conclusion in a 'will they, won't they' plot. While playing the trained killer, the actress impressed audiences by showing off several different accents - and Comer has previously revealed she learnt how to master the skill in an unlikely way. Speaking to Time Out magazine last year, Comer revealed she practised accents as a child while watching different TV adverts. She said: 'Me and my dad would always mimic them, purely just to make each other laugh.' However, she added that her 'toes curl up' whenever she is asked to mimic her iconic Killing Eve character in public and rarely obliges when someone asks her to 'do Villanelle'. As the actress has achieved international fame, she has landed roles on the big screen in Hollywood as well, starring alongside Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy and appearing in Ridley Scott's epic The Last Duel. Comer's stage success in one-woman play Prima Facie has earnt her yet more critical acclaim as defence barrister Tessa, who specialises in representing men accused of sexual assault, before she is raped. The play, written by Suzie Miller, broke records after it was screened in cinemas as a National Theatre production and became the highest-grossing event cinema release ever, pulling in nearly 4.5 million. After bagging herself an award for the performance in What'sOnStage's first ever gender neutral category, Comer will now take the play from the Harold Pinter theatre in the West End to broadway in New York. Speaking to British Vogue last month, Comer revealed she was a little nervous ahead of her Broadway debut as she has not had any theatre training - describing the stage as 'exhilarating' but 'terrifying' in equal measure. The actress, who has previously said she would live at home forever with her parents if she could, revealed she sees herself as a 'Pisces through and through', as an emotional person. She said: 'I think they feel things quite intensely, and I definitely relate to that.' After playing the role of a woman who fails to get justice after being raped, Comer has also revealed how Prima Facie has led her to want to fight for justice for rape victims. In an interview with The Times she said: 'All my life Ive been intimidated by and depressed by lad culture, but never said anything about it. Youre taught to laugh it off. Its only now at 29 that I feel confident speaking up about whats wrong.' Despite ideally wanting to live with her family, Comer now owns a flat in London, although it is unclear if she lives with a partner, a roommate, or on her own. In 2020 the star was reportedly dating James Burke, an American lacrosse player she is thought to have met on the set of Free Guy. At the time, she spoke about her relationship with the Sunday Times Style magazine, where she would not confirm the name of her partner but added it was a romance that felt 'like nothing else'. A couple who have spent two months rowing the Atlantic for charity are appealing for help - because they can't afford to fly home. Nina, 50, and Simon Crouchman, 53, from Colchester, Essex, have battled 14 ft waves and a broken rudder to raise awareness and funds for the Samaritans. The couple has pushed their marriage to the limits during the row, which has covered the entire length of the world's second-largest ocean - around 3,000 miles. But the pair now don't have enough to get themselves home from the finish line in Antigua - let alone their 65,000 boat. They have so far raised 8,370 of their 50,000 target for Samaritans and are 60 days into their 65-day physical feat, dubbed the 'world's toughest row'. Nina, 50, and Simon Crouchman, 53, from Colchester, Essex, who has spent two months rowing the Atlantic for charity is appealing for help because they can't afford to fly home However the Help Mr & Mrseas get home fund, named after the duo's team name, only has 560 in the pot of the 7,000 needed. On the online GoFundMe fundraiser page the couple wrote: 'This has been a two-year plan to reach the start line, as ordinary down-to-earth people in their 50s, we never thought we would make it this far. 'Financially it has been a struggle, with all funding coming from one household and sponsorship extremely hard to find - it's a difficult time and we are so close. 'We found ourselves at the start line, able to row the race and to support our charity but we do not have funds to get home ourselves once we reach Antigua. 'We do not have funds to ship our boat back to the UK from Antigua.' Nina gave up her job at Essex County Council in order to do the mission. It required specialist training, a 65,000 boat, safety equipment and supplies for the months-long trip. The pair have battled 14 ft waves and a broken rudder to raise awareness and funds for the Samaritans But the pair now don't have enough to get themselves home from the finish line in Antigua - let alone their 65,000 boat Nina gave up her job at Essex County Council in order to do the mission which required specialist training, a 65,000 boat, safety equipment and supplies for the months-long trip The couple, together for 27 years, picked the Samaritans in honour of a close friend who lost their life to suicide The boat is a 7.3-metre ocean pairs rowing boat named the Kraken. The couple, together for 27 years, picked the Samaritans in honour of a close friend who lost their life to suicide. The pair joined the starting line of the annual Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge with 42 other teams on La Gomera in the Canary Islands on Dec 12. The Crouchmans, who have three adult children, hit the halfway mark on January 16. They have endured weeks of headwinds and seasickness, hand blisters and sore bums. And the biggest delay came after their rudder broke off. Handy Simon fashioned a temporary rudder out of a breadboard, but that too broke free. The boat is a 7.3-metre ocean pairs rowing boat named the Kraken however they were stationary for 11 days in total during the race The pair expect to cross the finish line on Thursday, February 16 - making the trip 65 days long The couple team MrandMrseas can be followed on the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge website or their social media pages And the couple needed to wait until a yacht from the Canary Islands arrived with a spare rudder. They were stationary for 11 days in total during the race. Nina said: 'We physically couldn't row anymore, couldn't steer and couldn't manually steer. 'When we tried to get going again the next day we noticed the rudder stock had snapped in four places, which is not very helpful. 'Simon tried all day to make a new one out of a chopping board in the cabin, feeling seasick from the work. We waited overnight for the epoxy resin to dry. 'The next morning we put the new bit on and it snapped straight away. 'All that day that we tried reinforcement with another bit of chopping board and more nuts and bolts. 'We went to put the new bit on and the rudder had come loose from the sheer force of the water and we had lost the rudder. It was game over.' The pair expect to cross the finish line on Thursday, February 16 - making the trip 65 days long. Nina said: 'It is the ultimate rowing race. I wouldn't want to be doing the challenge with anybody else.' The couple team MrandMrseas can be followed on the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge website or their social media pages. For their JustGiving page click here The Queen Consort has tested positive for COVID-19 after suffering from cold symptoms, Buckingham Palace has said. 'With regret, she has therefore cancelled all of her public engagements for this week and sends her sincere apologies to those who had been due to attend them,' the statement added. Both King Charles and Camilla have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including a booster shot, and Camilla contracted the virus once in February last year. Earlier today, Camilla, 75, postponed a royal engagement in the West Midlands tomorrow after 'contracting a seasonal illness', Buckingham Palace had announced. Camilla - who had a busy week planned - was due to visit Elmhurst Ballet School in Edgbaston, Birmingham, to celebrate its centenary and then a library in Telford to thank staff and representatives from voluntary groups for their contribution to the community. The Queen Consort (pictured on February 9) has tested positive for Covid after suffering from cold symptoms, Buckingham Palace has said Her last public appearance was on February 9, when she visited a centre for victims of domestic violence in Battersea, south London. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the Queen Consort was suffering from a 'seasonal illness' but it was hoped a new date could soon be found for the events. It's not the first time the Queen Consort has been forced to pull out of an engagement due to an illness. Camilla caught Covid early last year and had to cancel her appearance at a number of events in the aftermath of the illness. The Princess Royal deputised for Camilla at the Cheltenham festival last March, as she was pacing herself after overcoming the virus. She also missed a Commonwealth event. She was due to attend the second day of the four-day race meet but was thought to be still suffering from a 'slight cough' after testing positive for the virus. Meanwhile in 2019, Camilla had to pull out of a remembrance service at Westminster Abbey because of a chest infection. She was due to attend with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but was told by her doctor to cancel her engagements due to a chest infection. 'With regret, she has therefore cancelled all of her public engagements for this week and sends her sincere apologies to those who had been due to attend them,' the statement added. Camilla pictured with King Charles in Brick Lane, east London, on Wednesday, February 8 The wife of King Charles was also forced to pull out of a gala dinner to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Prince Albert on medical advice. Camilla was due to have attended the London Library's gala dinner but the central London event went ahead without its royal vice-patron. Her illness also comes after a busy period in which she took part in a number of engagements across London. On Thursday last week, the Queen Consort toured the STORM (Support, Trust, Opportunity, Rebuilding and Motivation) family centre, where she met volunteers and locals to mark the organisation's 19th anniversary. It was founded in 2005 by local women to help each other recover from difficult situations and abusive relationships. Camilla, who condemned a 'pandemic' of violence against women in the UK last December, looked eager to learn more about the centre's initiatives. And on Wednesday, she joined the King to visit Brick Lane in east London. Camilla's illness comes after a busy period for the Queen Consort, who last week took part in a number of engagements across London (pictured at STORM on Thursday with, from left, the Bishop of Dover, Mobo music awards founder Kanya King and STORM chief executive Marie Hanson) The royals met the movers and shakers of the London Bangladeshi community, visiting charities and businesses. They also greeted individuals who were actively involved in the anti-racism movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The King and Queen Consort were welcomed by dancers in traditional clothes with basket of flowers as they walked down the historic east London street. On Wednesday, Camilla, joined by the King, was due to host a Clarence House reception to celebrate the second anniversary of her online book club The Reading Room with authors and members of literacy charities. The following day Charles and Camilla were scheduled to attend a reception at Milton Keynes to celebrate the metropolis being awarded city status as part of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Truth about explosions at Nord Stream Pipelines must be made public People's Daily) 09:16, February 13, 2023 The explosions at the Nord Stream pipelines, which once shocked the whole world, made a bigger headline on Feb. 8. Renowned American journalist Seymour Hersh, who covered the Watergate scandal, said on the U.S. portal Substack that last June, U.S. Navy divers planted the remotely triggered explosives under the cover of a NATO military exercise, which destroyed three of the four Nord Stream pipelines three months later. According to Hersh, the explosives were triggered by a sonar buoy dropped by a plane of the Norwegian navy. In this article titled "How America Took Out the Nord Stream Pipeline," Hersh explicitly accused the U.S. military of involvement in the incident and blamed the Biden administration for approving the operation. People's Daily Quick News Review noted that Hersh's article exposes two important factors about the explosions - motivation and capability. With detailed materials and complete evidence, it reveals Washington's decision to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines, how the U.S. managed to cover the truth, and how "highly skilled deep-water divers" executed the explosions. People's Daily Quick News Review believes that the article has triggered worldwide questions for the U.S. Sabotage and attacks on vital civil infrastructure are dangerous practices of a terrorist nature, which is equivalent to waging a war against European countries and not acceptable for every person that expects a peaceful life on this planet. The countries involved should maintain a high level of concern, invest important resources in it, and reactivate the investigation mechanism led by the United Nations to find the ultimate truth. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Read More: Couple shares story of how they were torn apart by long distance After their divorce she later discovered she was pregnant with David's child A woman who remarried her ex husband says her relationship is better than ever. Sarah Hallas, 27, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, re-married her ex husband David Lima, 28, after the pair divorced following two years of marriage in 2020. Only for Sarah to later discover she was pregnant with David's child Harv, which eventually led to a reunion. The pair first met in high school and it was love at first sight, they became inseparable and after an on-off relationship for four years the couple tied the knot in July 2018. However, the fairy-tale romance fell apart after only two years and the couple divorced in December 2020. Sarah Hallas, 27, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, re-married her ex husband David Lima, 28, after she discovered she was six months pregnant with David's child Harv The mother-of-one discovered she was six months pregnant weeks after the divorce was filed. The 27-year-old gave birth to baby Harv in December 2020 and was preparing to raise her son as a single mother before she ended up re-marrying her sales executive ex husband in a heartwarming twist of fate. Sarah said: 'Right away it was clear that we only had eyes for each other. We dated for one-and-a-half years before splitting up while he was in college. 'He reached out to me after he graduated and said he needed me in his life. 'We started dating again and got married very quickly, after about six months. We were young, dumb and in love. 'We had watched our parents have great marriages and when you're young you think that you get married and all of your problems go away. 'It was not like that - we didn't know how to communicate or how to be vulnerable. 'It just crumbled, I had the mindset that I wanted us to stay together no matter what but he initiated the divorce. The pair first met in high school and it was love at first sight, they became inseparable and after an on-off relationship for four years the couple tied the knot in July 2018 (Pictured with pastor on their first wedding day) Shockingly, the mother-of-one discovered she was six months pregnant weeks after the divorce was filed The 27-year-old gave birth to baby Harv in December 2020 and was preparing to raise her son as a single mother 'We briefly moved in with his parents before he served me divorce papers, with no ties I moved to Nashville.' But, the women's ministry owner was left in shock when she discovered she was six months pregnant only a few weeks after she made the big move. Sarah gave birth to son Harv, now two, while they were separated. She added: 'My roommate and I were talking about our cycles and I realised I hadn't had a period in a while. 'I didn't have a regular cycle so it wasn't unusual for me. I took three tests and they were all positive. The women's ministry owner was left in shock when she discovered she was six months pregnant only a few weeks after she made the big move to Nashville The 27-year-old gave birth to baby Harv in December 2020 and was preparing to raise her son as a single mother before she ended up re-marrying her sales executive ex hubby in a heartwarming twist of fate 'I went to the doctor for an ultrasound and found out I was three months pregnant. I was in shock, it's different to how I had planned it. 'I always like to find the silver lining so I just thought 'this is what we're doing' 'As crazy as it sounds, it made perfect sense to me. I hadn't spoke to David since I moved so I asked if we could FacetTme and I told him the news. 'It was really shocking for him. He was already wrestling with the idea of a failed marriage and now he had to go through this. 'It was hard for him and he decided he didn't want to be involved for the first year.' But then, David decided to get back in touch for Harv's first birthday in a desperate bid to win Sarah back. After a year of working on their relationship as co-parents, Sarah was finally won over and the pair quickly wed for the second time in January 2023. She said: 'He reached out to me around Harv's first birthday and said he wanted to meet him, which I was happy about. After a year of working on their relationship as co-parents, Sarah was finally won over and the pair quickly wed for the second time in January 2023 (pictured with their pastor on their second wedding day) Despite the happy reunion, the mother wouldn't recommend everyone gets back with their ex-husband as some people are happier separated 'He flew out to Nashville and from the moment I saw him with Harv I knew he was a changed person. 'He was kind and paid attention to our son, he always knew what he needed. 'He was asking about my experience as a single mother and wanted to be more vulnerable and emotionally available. 'He apologised for not being around for the first year. He kept asking if we could get back together but I said no. I didn't think we were ready and I didn't want to rush back into a relationship with him. 'Harv and I spent Thanksgiving together and as soon as I saw him, everything changed. I knew I needed to be with him. 'After a couple of days I told him how I felt and a month later we were re-married.' Now, the pair have been married for just over a month and say it's better than ever. Despite the happy reunion, the mother wouldn't recommend everyone gets back with their ex-husband. She said: 'I was nervous to tell my family and friends but they were so supportive and realised the work we had done on our relationship. 'Married life is great, it's so much better the second time around. I wouldn't recommend everyone getting back with their ex. I have plenty of friends who divorced and married someone else and they are happier. 'I'm grateful for the divorce because we could grow separately. We didn't get back together until it was right and I didn't lower my standards, which is why it works.' Queen Letizia of Spain looked effortlessly chic as she blew a kiss to fans after attending the National Innovation and Design Awards in Aviles on Monday. The European monarch, 50, was suitably smart in a navy blazer embellished with subtle thin grey stripes. Letizia wore matching pants which reached the top of her ankles, leaving enough room to showcase her brown stilettos. Across her thin and stylish figure, the Spanish queen donned a navy belt with a knot front. And to complement her look, Letizia carried a large brown purse with a silver zip. Queen Letizia of Spain looked effortlessly chic as she blew a kiss to fans after attending the National Innovation and Design Awards in Aviles on Monday Letizia donned silver earrings behind her long silky brown hair, which fell below her shoulders. And along with a subtle base of make up, Letiza was pictured wearing a slick of nude lipstick. King Felipe VI, who joined Letizia at the event, also looked appropriately dapper in his smart suit. The European king wore a grey blazer and pants with fine stripes, and fastened his light blue shirt with a floral tie. The European monarch (pictured) clenched her fist as she attended the National Innovation and Design Awards in Aviles in style Letizia wore matching pants which reached the top of her ankles, leaving enough room to showcase her brown stilettos Queen Letizia (above) of Spain looked effortlessly chic as she attended the National Innovation and Design Awards in Aviles on Monday The European monarch (right), 50, looked super stylish in her outfit while she walked with her husband arm in arm King Felipe VI (pictured right), who joined Letizia at the event, looked appropriately dapper in his smart suit The European king (pictured right) wore a grey suit adorned with fine stripes, a light blue shirt and navy tie Letizia held a stylish brown handbag and donned silver earrings behind her long silky brown hair, which fell below her shoulders He noticeably impressed with his well groomed facial hair and neatly trimmed moustache. The National Innovation and Design Awards is a prestigious event which celebrates individuals and businesses promoting original ideas. The news comes after Letizia looked sensational in an all-white outfit with checked trim around the collar as she arrived at a specialist foundation in Africa last week. The Queen, 50, wore a disposable face mask and covered up her pristine uniform with blue overalls while visiting the Ngana Zanza Foundation in Angola. Letizia donned gold hooped earrings behind her long silky brown hair, which fell below her shoulders. The royal couple (above) National Innovation and Design Awards is a prestigious event which celebrates individuals and businesses promoting original ideas. Across her thin and stylish figure, the Spanish queen (above), 50, donned a navy belt with a knot front The news comes as she and her husband King Felipe attended a meeting with the President of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira. The new photos show the European monarch changing into a glamorous red dress as she held her bright red chromatic handbag. Letizia was pictured with her husband King Felipe, who dazzled in a long pinstriped suit. Walking down the red carpet, the monarch donned a white shirt, spotty blue tie and black buckled shoes. The royal couple then posed for the cameras with President of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira. Carolina looked stunning in the heat with a loose fitting ankle length pink dress with flowing sleeves. One angry mother has taken to TikTok to share her outrage over commuters not giving up their seats. The furious woman, thought to be from London, slammed passengers for ignoring her son as he sat on the floor of the full train carriage. Kelly, shared the video of her son, who looks to be between eight and 12-years-old, sitting on the floor of the priority seating area of a Southern Rail train. Her son can be seen squatting in the aisle while adult passengers sit on seats scrolling on their phones and laptops. Kelly posted the video on the social media platform with the caption: 'All these oblivious people are watching my baby sit on the floor in the priority seats area. A woman, thought to be from London, has called out commuters on a Southern Rail train for not giving up their seats for her son, who had to sit on the floor 'It's called human decency.' The fuming mother who called out the passengers for refusing to give up their seats went viral on TikTok, but didn't gain the response she hoped for. Nearly 2,000 people commented with the majority saying that children should give up their seats for adults, who have paid full price. The woman, Kelly, shared the video of her son, who looks to be between eight and 12-years-old sitting on the floor of the priority seats area of a Southern Rail train. Her son can be seen squatting in the aisle while adult passengers sit on seats scrolling on their phones and laptops One user said: 'It's actually common courtesy and good manners for a child to give up their seat for an older person, well it was when I was a child.' While another exclaimed: 'Kids don't take priority seats. Disabled people, pregnant women, the elderly, or babies in arms.' And a third pointed out: 'Adults pay full fair for that reason!' However, a handful of people were sympathetic to the London mother and made suggestions as to why she would want her child to have a seat. One user explained: 'I'm 22 and have a hidden disability, some woman stared me down one time and I told her no.' Another suggested: 'Maybe they're a priority too, not every priority is visible.' More people commented explaining how they were brought up to give up their seats for elderly passengers Yet, the majority of people were quick to express how they were brought up to respect their elders and that they have taught their children to give up their seats. One woman said: 'I'm heavily pregnant and I'd watch a child sit on the floor to, my kids move for an elderly person, it's called respect.' A second person said: 'Tbh I'd be fuming if I got on a busy train after a long day at and a small child was taking up a seat.' A third explained: 'We give seats to the elderly not the young.' Another person asked: 'I'm confused - since when does a child need a priority seat?' And something else said: 'Comments have restored my faith in humanity! I've NEVER understand why adults give up their seats for children.' To which Kelly responded: 'Restored your faith in humanity. Wow.' A true crime limited series coming to Netflix next month will tell the story of the wife of France's most notorious serial killer. Monique Olivier: Accessory to evil will be available to view on the platform from March 2. According to a synopsis shared by the streaming giant, while Michel Fourniret is France's most infamous killer much less is known about his partner. It says: 'From 1987 to 2003, Michel Fourniret cemented his legacy as France's most infamous murderer. But his wife was an enigma: Was she a pawn or a participant?' Monique Olivier, a former nurse, is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for her complicity in five of her husband's murders - including the killing of British student Joanna Parrish, which he confessed to, but never faced trial for. Michel Fourniret (pictured in 2005) who is known as France's most infamous serial killer, died in October 2021. A new Netflix true crime series will look at how his wife was complicit his violent crimes Fourniret and Olivier met while he was serving a prison sentence for sexual assault in the 1980s, and she responded to an advert he placed looking for a penpal. In their letters, which were seized by investigators, the forged a pact on his release from prison in 1987 that if he killed her first husband, she would help him find young virgins for him. She met him at the prison gates upon his release. Just two months later, the pair embarked on their crime spree through France and Belgium, which would last almost two decades. Known as the Beast of the Ardennes, Fourniret admitted to kidnapping, raping and murdering nine girls and young women over a 14-year period from 1987. And he is believed to behind up to 21 more killings. They include Joanna Parrish, a 20-year-old Leeds University language student who was working at Lycee Jacques Amyot school when she was killed in the Burgundy countryside in eastern France in May 1990. Fourniret was the prime suspect in Joanna's case for years, and was finally arrested in 2005 alongside Olivier in connection with the death. Fourniret was convicted of seven other murders in May 2008, and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Olivier, his ex-wife, was given life with a minimum term of 28 years in prison, for complicity in multiple murders, after it was revealed she would pick up victims for him as she drove in their car around the wooden Ardennes area with their baby son in the backseat. Monique Olivier (pictured during her 2008 trial in Charleville-Mezieres, northern France) is currently serving 28 years for her complicity in her husband's multiple murders In 2018, Fourniret told examining magistrates that he had ended Joanna's life, but he was never held to account for the murder, as he died in October 2021, aged 79, before he was set to stand trial. Monique Olivier reportedly told a fellow prisoner that her ex-husband's victims 'greatly exceeded 30', according to investigating sources who have monitored her in Rennes prison. This list exclusively concerns girls or young women, aged 10 to 39, who mysteriously disappeared or were murdered between 1987 and 2003 in 17 departments, the French equivalent of counties. The women were all either shot, stabbed with a screwdriver, or strangled. Among his known crimes, Fourniret's first murder dates back to 1987 and his most recent was in 2003. His first victim was 17-year-old Isabelle Laville who disappeared in Auxerre in 1987 as she made her way home from school. Her skeletal remains were found at the bottom of a well outside the city in July 2006. Fabienne Leroy, 20, disappeared in woods in Mourmelon-Le-Grand in north-east France before her horribly mutilated body was found. British student Joanna Parrish was murdered in France in 1990. Fourniret confessed to the killing, but died before facing trial for ending her life. Olivier is reportedly likely to face trial for her role in the killing at the end of 2023 Student Jean-Marie Desramault, 22, disappeared from a railway station in 1989. Her body was found in the grounds of a house belonging to Fourniret - as was that of 12-year-old Belgian Elisabeth Brichet. Fourniret's other victims included Natacha Danais, a 13-year-old French girl, sexually assaulted after being stabbed to death in 1990; Farida Hellegouarch, the 30-year-old girlfriend of a bank-robber who once shared a cell with Fourniret, and 18-year-old Celine Saison. Olivier was accused of helping her husband track virgins by prosecutors, who said she helped him to choose and capture victims, before helping to hide their bodies. According to reports, Olivier will likely stand trial at the end of 2023 for her role in the murder of Joanna, and the kidnapping of Estelle Mouzin, in 2003, in Seine-et-Marne, as well as the 1988 kidnapping of Marie-Angele Domece, in Yonne. Netflix's new limited true crime series Monique Olivier: Accessory to Evil will be available to stream from March in the UK Fourniret was arrested after in June, 2003, after his bungled kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl. She gave authorities Fourniret's licence plate number after she managed to unbind her hands and escape from the back of Fourniret's van. Following his arrest, Olivier told Belgian investigators in 2004 that Fourniret had committed nine murders, and acknowledged her participation in several of them. The trailer for Netflix's upcoming series describes Olivier as 'a submissive wife who [was] scared of her husband' and therefore did not speak up about the crimes until he was arrested. A voiceover in the trailer adds: 'She is a housewife who helps to rape, kill and abduct. But in the end, she is a housewife.' Monique Olivier: Accessory to Evil will be available to stream in the UK on Netflix from March 2. Dutch Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia has opened up about 'missing normal life' after she was forced to leave university accommodation over a gangster plot to kidnap her. The 19-year-old, who started a degree in politics, psychology, law and economics at the University of Amsterdam last year, moved out of her student accommodation and returned to her home in The Hague in October. At the time, several Dutch media outlets reported that the princess, whose formal title is Princess of Orange, was under heightened security due to fears that criminal gangs may target her for kidnapping or an attack. During her recent tour of the Caribbean, the royal briefly touched on her heightened security, and in a clip sharing by Dutch media site NOS, said: 'I'm going to be very honest, I'm still having a very hard time. 'I miss the normal life, the life of a student. Walking the streets, being able to go to a store.' "I'm going to be very honest, I'm still having a very hard time. I miss the normal life, the life of a student. Walking the streets, being able to go to a store." Amalia was pleased that she had a little bit of her freedom back during the trip. "I had a wonderful time." NOS pic.twitter.com/vCqwnIJ1Px ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) February 10, 2023 Dutch Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia has opened up about 'missing normal life' after she was forced to leave university accommodation over a gangster plot to kidnap her Meanwhile she said she had enjoyed having some freedom back during the international tour, saying: 'I had a wonderful time.' In October, Dutch news agency ANP quoted Queen Maxima, 51, during a state visit to Sweden with her husband King Willem-Alexander, saying: 'She can hardly leave the house. 'The consequences are very difficult for her. There is no student life for her like others have,' she added with an unusual amount of emotional candour. The name of the the princess, along with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, are understood to have come up in communications among organised crime groups which indicated they may be in their crosshairs for kidnapping. 'I'm very sorry for her and I'm obviously very concerned about it,' the prime minister said, without divulging details about the threats or the security measures. 'That makes people angry who want to be informed,' said the prime minister. He added that Dutch authorities are doing everything to ensure that the princess is safe. The Minister for Justice and Security, Dilan Yesilgoz, confirmed on Twitter that 'measures' have been taken 'with regard to the safety of the Crown Princess'. During her recent tour of the Caribbean, the royal briefly touched on her heightened security, and said she was 'having a hard time' 'I guarantee that our security services work hard day and night to guarantee her safety.' 'It is terrible that this is necessary, in the first place for the Crown Princess herself.' Amalia, heir to the Dutch throne, started university in September and had moved into an apartment in Amsterdam, but weeks later the royal couple said concerns for her safety have forced her to move back to Huis ten Bosch royal palace in The Hague. Dutch police and the country's secret service declined to discuss security arrangements around the Royal House. Rutte said he could not specify the details of the threats. Princess Amalia started her degree in September and was living in rented accommodation she shared with several other students in Amsterdam before she has had to move back home. The princess is viewed in Holland as a relatively down-to-earth royal. She is a keen jockey with a horse named Mojito and she was nicknamed the Cocktail Queen after working a summer at a beach bar in Scheveningen. She recently took part in her first international tour, joining her parents on a lengthy visit to the Dutch Caribbean Islands. A group of models strutted down the catwalk wearing nothing but tiny pieces of tape over their private parts during a scandalous runway show for the Black Tape Project on Sunday. The New York Fashion Week show featured models like Nina Jovanovic, Juniee Bee, and Teddi Mansueto stomp the catwalk in a series of very unique outfits made purely out of body tape. The ladies left very little to imagination as they showcased the looks, which were all curated by designer Joel Alvarez. Each design used different combinations of tape in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors to create various looks. The Black Tape Project held its New York Fashion Week runway show on Sunday, when a group of models strutted their stuff in very risque tape outfits Designer and the self-described 'King of Tape' Joel Alvarez created the scandalous looks The runway show featured outfits created from tape of all colors, including shimmering metallics in shades of green, gold, and bronze On his website, Alvarez describes himself as 'the world's only body tape expert,' and the 'founder and pioneer' of the body tape art genre Each of the designs resembled a bathing suit of sorts Some featured black tape, while others used shimmering purple, gold, or green - while some even came with tassels or embellishments. On his website, Alvarez describes himself as 'the world's only body tape expert,' and the 'founder and pioneer' of the body tape art genre. The first-generation Cuban American, who was born and raised in Miami, explained that the company turned his life around after he spent months 'living out of his car' and 'struggling to feed himself' without 'a dollar to his name.' Following the death of a family member in 2008, he inherited a 'small, run down property' that was so run down it was 'not suitable for living.' 'It was definitely the lowest point of my existence,' he said on his bio. 'The house smelled like a wet dog. 'It had pink water that would come out of the bathtub when I flushed the toilet and there were holes in the roof that were the size of a microwave. 'I mean, I could literally see the sky from the living room. I dropped to my knees and I looked up to the night sky and cried. I asked what I did to be dragged so low into the ground?' But as he was cleaning up the residence, he miraculously discovered a box in the closet that contained $26,000 in it. The Miami-based fashion brand has become known for its over-the-top fashion week shows The designs were stuck carefully to each model's body, having been designed by Joel himself Alvarez sells his tape online with prices starting from $9.99 for a simple black tape and $29.99 for more colorful rolls The Black Tape Project also sells a collection of metallic spikes on its website so that people at home can attempt to recreate the more embellished looks seen on the runway (right) Alvarez sells tickets to his fashion shows on his website, with prices starting at $75 for general admission and going up to $999 for a VIP backstage experience The fashion designer began his career in Miami after using his last $1,500 to purchase a camera so he could begin staging shoots 'One day an out of town model booked me for a shoot and on our last look she pulled out a roll of tape and asked me to tape her,' he explained on his website He found out the money had belonged to his late grandfather, who put it away in the late '60s for a rainy day but never spent it. 'After many years of what I considered the toughest era in my life, I quickly put the funds to work in hopes to correct my debts and turn my life around,' he continued. 'I first put in a new roof and paid off the Ford Focus I was living in. I partied a little and gave money to my family and friends. 'When youre young, that amount of money seems like a fortune but I soon realized that $26,000 wouldnt last long in this day and age.' He said he put his last $1,500 towards the purchase of a camera, which was what ultimately launched his career as a fashion designer. He started photographing some of the women who worked at his local Hooters, before he began connecting with Miami-based models over Myspace. Within months, he was getting published in local magazines. Alvarez continued to work his way up the ladder and eventually shot for huge outlets like Maxim and Playboy - still using the original Canon he had purchased with his grandfather's money. 'One day an out of town model booked me for a shoot and on our last look she pulled out a roll of tape and asked me to tape her,' he explained. Alvarez explained that his first experience of taping up the model was a rather messy one, joking that the tape was so tight, it left her looking like the 'Michelin Man' However, he realized that the art of body taping could be used to 'compliment the body' Alvarez began working on his art form and has developed a very unique style over the years The designer admits that he was initially 'defensive' about anyone trying to replicate his body tape work, but he 'soon realized' that it would enable him to share his skills with more people 'Soon we started seeing customers who themselves became artists creating their own body tape designs with our tape in all seven continents,' he revealed 'I had know idea where to start or what she was expecting. So I just jumped head first and started taping her. 'The design was so incomplete and extremely tight. She looked like the Michelin Man who lost a fight with rubber bands. 'But I kept at it because I kept seeing lines and I found the ability to compliment the body by adding lines and creating negative spaces that called to the viewers.' From there, Alvarez began working with local dancers at Miami clubs, explaining that he began working 'three or four nights a week' taping up six women. 'I had to work fast and make designs that wouldnt fall apart when they danced, this is where I developed most of my techniques,' he continued. Within a few years, the designer found himself being launched to viral fame when he worked on a shoot with a former Miss Puerto Rico, whom he created a gold tape ensemble for - a process that he documented in a social media video, which quickly racked up tens of millions of viewers, helping Alvarez to gain a new legion of fans. 'The calls and emails started pouring in and my life changed yet again,' he recalled. 'It's safe to say that The Black Tape Project has saved my life and now I am able to provide for my family, my circle and myself.' Now, Alvarez has become a staple at New York Fashion Week, regularly wowing the crowds with his incredibly risque tape ensembles. He has also turned his fashion week appearances into a lucrative venture, selling off tickets to his shows for up to $999-a-piece for a VIP backstage experience. The designer also sells rolls of his signature body tape in a variety of colors on his website, with the most basic black hue starting at $9.99 a roll, while the more vibrant options - including metallic golds, blues, and pinks - cost up to $29.99 each. Alvarez began working with local dancers at Miami clubs, explaining that he began working 'three or four nights a week' taping up six women a night 'I had to work fast and make designs that wouldnt fall apart when they danced, this is where I developed most of my techniques,' he continued Within a few years, the designer found himself being launched to viral fame when he worked on a shoot with a former Miss Puerto Rico Alvarez shared a social media video of the gold tape design he created for Miss Puerto Rico and it quickly went viral, receiving ten million views overnight 'The calls and emails started pouring in and my life changed yet again,' he recalled Now, Alvarez has become a staple at New York Fashion Week, regularly wowing the crowds with his incredibly risque tape ensembles The Black Tape Project has been in high demand across the globe, he claims, with Alvarez saying he regularly gets asked to appear at festivals and nightclubs with his bold designs Alvarez claims that the tape he uses is safe for the skin and should not cause irritation She road-tested the serum on her 65-year-old mum with epic results The brand has sold out multiple times of its $68 Brightening Vitamin C Serum Kayla Houlihan, from Victoria, is the proud owner of Tribe Skincare Daily Mail Australia may earn commissions from some links on this page. An Australian small business has been 'overwhelmed' with thousands of orders for its vitamin C serum since launching less than a year ago. Kayla Houlihan, from Geelong, Victoria, is the proud owner of Tribe Skincare which released its $68 Brightening Vitamin C Serum to a host of eager fans in April 2022. The young and ambitious beauty therapist decided to road-test the serum on her mum, 65, who had virtually never used skincare before. After just eight weeks of using the serum her results were so impressive a post on Instagram she shared on her mother's journey attracted over 500,000 views and the serum sold out twice. The young and ambitious beauty therapist decided to road-test the serum on her mum, 65, who had virtually never used skincare before After just eight weeks of using the serum her results were so impressive a post on Instagram she shared on her mother's journey attracted over 500,000 views and the serum sold out twice With 50,000 subscribers on their mailing list, customers were eagerly awaiting for the serum to be back in stock with many placing preorders for the next batch. 'Rather than packing it with pure vitamin C which can cause skin sensitivity, we use a combination of five per cent pure vitamin C and other natural, vitamin C rich ingredients,' Kayla said. 'Contained in an anti-inflammatory aloe vera base this serum is perfect for those with sensitive skin and helps brighten and even your skintone in just a few weeks, without any irritation.' The product, which contains hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and antioxidants, is to be used first thing in the morning under your moisturiser to give customers an all-day glow. The product made $13,000 in the first 12 hours of sale and continues to be one of Tribe's best-sellers. Kayla Houlihan, from Geelong, Victoria, is the proud owner of Tribe Skincare which released its $68 Brightening Vitamin C Serum to a host of eager fans Kayla Houlihan founded cruelty-free brand Tribe Skincare almost five years ago, and has since seen her business enjoy a meteoric rise to the top, making a staggering $1.3million in 2020 alone. Kayla previously told FEMAIL that she counts herself as lucky that during the global pandemic she has managed to continue in business: 'I have seen a lot of businesses struggling with all the changes caused by Covid-19. Fortunately for e-commerce brands, online sales are thriving,' she said. 'A lot of people are choosing to stay home, even if they aren't locked down. 'We are in a very fortunate position to be able to take their orders online and send them directly to their front doors.' EXCLUSIVE: In some areas as few as one in three people have ever had a jab Just a third of people in some English neighbourhoods have ever had a Covid jab, MailOnline can reveal. Approximately 13million people across the nation have still never been vaccinated against the virus despite the historic programme having opened over two years ago. It comes as the multi-billion pound immunisation drive starts to be wound down as the country settles further into post-pandemic life. Under-50s can no longer get a booster dose as of today, with ministers and health officials planning to rescind the invites for first and second doses over the coming year. Government figures, available as an interactive map here, show a huge disparity in Covid vaccine take-up across the nation since the scheme launched in December 2020. Government data analysed by MailOnline shows Covid vaccination rates are below 50 per cent in over 20 areas of England. Harehills South in Leeds has the dubious honour being the least jabbed in the country, with only 37.5 per cent of people there having been vaccinated This Government chart shows Covid vaccine uptake over the course of the pandemic and recorded that almost 94 per cent of people got the first Covid jab (faint blue line). This data set uses a population estimate from 2020, not the National Immunisation Management System used in MailOnline's analysis Uptake of the first Covid vaccine is highest among more elderly Brits, with those in their 80s having the highest at 96 per cent. This Government heatmap set also used the population estimate from 2020 MailOnline analysis of England's 6,700-plus districts found that, in some, two out of three people have shunned even the very first offer. Read more: England's last Covid wave was the biggest ever... but life carried on: Almost half of country were infected during November's surge An Office of National Statistics analysis has calculated how each much of each Covid wave infected the population of England. The latest, Omicron BA.4/5, was the biggest infecting 46.3 per cent of the population. Individuals could be represented twice in the data having, for example, caught Covid once at the start of the pandemic, then again during the Omicron surge Advertisement Just 37.5 per cent of people living in Harehills South in Leeds have had their first jab, according to the data based on all over-12s. It was followed by the neighbourhoods of Ayresome, Middlesbrough (44.3 per cent), and Headington in Oxford (44.4 per cent). Twenty-five districts have an uptake of below 50 per cent, according to the stats. East Preston & Rustington East in Arun, Sussex, and Whickham in Gateshead had the joint-highest vaccination rate in the country for first Covid jab doses at 94.1 per cent. Our analysis comes despite a huge campaign to get Brits to roll up their sleeves and get a Covid vaccine. This was to help reduce the risk of becoming severely ill from the virus allowing the NHS and wider society to return to pre-pandemic normality. Health advisers credited the immunisation drive for drastically blunting the threat of the virus that saved tens of thousands of lives. It has allowed the nation to confidently press ahead with post-pandemic life, leaving draconian restrictions in its wake. Yesterday's withdrawal of boosters for the under-50s is the first step in the winding down of the mass Covid vaccination campaign, estimated to have cost around 6billion so far. From now on, booster shots will only be made available to people in this group who have conditions that leave them at a greater risk of a serious illness from the virus. This can include those with lung and heart conditions, diabetes, cancer patients under going radiotherapy, and pregnant women. GREATER LONDON: This snapshot of the Government map shows uptake of the first Covid jab across London. The darker the area is the greater the percentage of people who have opted to have the vaccine WEST MIDLANDS: This segment of map shows the results for the West Midlands, like other parts of England uptake is generally lower in city centres GREATER MANCHESTER AND MERSEYSIDE: The Greater Manchester and Merseyside areas recorded similar uptake patterns There are also plans to roll out another Covid booster shot this autumn to at risk groups, similar to the long-running flu shot campaign which is held every year. Overall, nearly 145m Covid vaccine doses have been dished out across Britain since British grandmother Maggie Keenan became the first person in the world to get the jab outside of a medical trial on December 8, 2020. But uptake of the first Covid vaccine sits around the 78 per cent in England, according to the same set of data. It equates to roughly 12million people having never had the first jab. The reasons why people have turned down the Covid vaccine are not contained in the data. However, Brits have previously cited concerns over the safety of the jab, or a general disbelief that the pandemic was real at all, as some the reasons why they opted out. But, study after study has shown they are safe for the overwhelming majority of people who take them. While the jabs, like any medical treatment, carry a risk of rare side effects these have largely been overblown by conspiracy theorists. A recent analysis by MailOnline found only 75 Brits had been killed by complications from Covid vaccines, compared to almost 220,000 deaths from the virus itself. MailOnline's analysis used Government data that drew on the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) for its population estimates. WEST YORKSHIRE: People in the West Yorkshire countryside surrounding the cities of Leeds and Bradford were more likely to get a Covid jab SOUTH YORKSHIRE: The same pattern of Covid jab uptake was seen in South Yorkshire as well TYNE AND WEAR: And this map shows the same Covid vaccination uptake data for Tyne and Wear NIMS is based on people being registered with the NHS and is updated weekly making it more up to date than other annual population estimates. However, the NHS has stated that NIMS likely overestimates population and, therefore, underestimates vaccine uptake. This is partly due to deaths and emigration not always being updated in the data set, which, can influence the results. The same is true for people who have left England, who can still be counted in the same data until the system catches up with their emigration. Other Government figures use an alternative Office for National Statistics (ONS) population estimate for 2020 to calculate vaccine coverage. This method finds that 94 per cent of the eligible population in England have got the first Covid jab. The figure would leave just over 3million people having never had the first Covid vaccine. In the final days ahead of the deadline for all under 50s to get a Covid booster, health minister Maria Caulfield said urged people to get a jab. 'If you are eligible for a vaccine whether its your first dose, second dose or booster book yours now,' she said. This call was echoed by NHS England's medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis. 'If you are yet to get a top-up dose that you are eligible for, I would strongly encourage you to make the most of the protection on offer from the NHS while it is still available and give yourself and loved ones protection and peace of mind for the year ahead,' he said. It comes as the latest data from the ONS showed Covid has bounced back slightly in England, with up to one in 65 people infected. It marked the first rise in cases for five weeks reversing a general downward trend since Christmas. While analysts claimed it was too early to tell if the rise would be sustained, health chiefs have been warning about a potential spike driven by the new Covid variants Kraken and Orthrus for weeks. Poll Should England follow the likes of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by making prescriptions FREE? Yes No Should England follow the likes of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by making prescriptions FREE? Yes 3807 votes No 672 votes Now share your opinion Prescriptions should be free in England, pharmacists have today demanded as the cost-of-living pressures bite. It is the only country in the UK that still charges, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all ditching the charges over a decade ago. Campaigners call the 9.35 fee patients in England must pay to secure certain drugs like warfarin or asthma inhalers an 'unfair tax on health'. Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Societys (RPS) English Pharmacy Board, today warned the current charges don't reflect the current times. MailOnline app users can vote in the poll by clicking here Ms Govind said: 'We are deeply concerned that people are having to make choices about their health based on their ability to pay. 'No one should have to make choices about rationing their medicines. 'And no one should be faced with a financial barrier to getting the medicines they need. 'Prescription charges are an unfair tax on health which disadvantages working people on lower incomes who are already struggling with food and energy bills.' Campaigners call the 9.35 fee patients in England must pay to secure certain drugs like Warfarin, used to treat blood clots or asthma inhalers an 'unfair tax on health'. If you don't qualify for a free medicines, you can get a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). A three month PPC costs 30.25, while a 12-month PPC is 108.10 According to the RPS survey, one in two pharmacists had seen a rise in people not collecting their prescription, while two in three pharmacists reported seeing an increase in requests for cheaper, over-the-counter substitutes for the medicine they had been prescribed Reducing access to medicines could lead to poorer health, hospital admissions and time off work, she warned. An RPS survey released today also revealed that half pharmacists have seen an increase in patients asking them which prescription they can 'do without' in the last six months. Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Societys (RPS) English Pharmacy Board (pictured above), warned the current charges don't reflect current times Who is entitled to free NHS prescriptions? You can get free NHS prescriptions if, at the time the prescription is dispensed, you: Are 60 or over Are under 16 Are 16 to 18 and in full-time education Are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx) Have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx) Have a continuing physical disability that prevents you going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx) Hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability Are an NHS inpatient You're also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving: Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Pension Credit Guarantee Credit Universal Credit and meet the criteria You are also eligible if you're entitled to or named on: A valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice. You qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of 15,276 or less A valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2) Source: NHS Advertisement One in two pharmacists had also seen a rise in people not collecting their prescription, while two in three pharmacists reported seeing an increase in requests for cheaper, over-the-counter substitutes for the medicine they had been prescribed. Over the same time-frame, UK households have faced increasingly squeezed budgets with soaring energy bills and rising fuel and food costs. Meanwhile, other senior pharmacists and health bodies also joined the call to scrap the charge today, labelling it 'unaffordable'. England remains the only country in the UK to still make some patients pay for their prescriptions. There are few exemptions, including for those aged 16-18 and in full-time education or patients once they turn 60. Drugs like contraception are almost always free too. Prescription charges were frozen at 9.35 per item last April to help 'ease cost of living pressures' marking the first time the government did not impose an annual increase in 12 years. People who don't qualify for free drugs can get a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), which costs over 100 for a year. It comes as a freedom of information (FOI) request by consumer guru Martin Lewis' website moneysavingexpert.com revealed that over a million people paid more for NHS prescriptions than they needed to during the 2021/22 financial year. Paying the full 9.35 for each prescription instead of an annual 108.10 PPC meant these patients lost out on around 41.50 each, the website calculated. This equates to an overspend of roughly 44m on NHS prescriptions during that time period, according to the data from NHS Business Services Authority. Approximately 600million is generated each year in revenue from prescription charges for the delivery of NHS services. There have long been calls for the prescription charge to be scrapped in England, with charities labelling it a 'tax on ill health'. Paul Day, director of the Pharmacists' Defence Association part of a 50-strong coalition of groups that have called for the charge to be scrapped told MailOnline: 'Rather than seeing the individual and societal benefits of enabling people to stay as healthy as possible and therefore negate preventable progression of ill health and avoidable hospital admissions the government in England use prescription charges as a tax to raise revenue in the short term. 'Following the examples of all other UK nations, England could do more to support the public's health and save costs in the long term if prescription charges were abolished.' Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, added: 'The prescription charges system in England is in need of major reform. It does not meet patients' needs. 'As the Royal Pharmaceutical Society points out, charges lead some patients to take their medication less than their prescription advises, or not at all. This undermines their care and if their health worsens because of this, they may need even more NHS care.' Owner and superintendent pharmacist at Bristol-based Bedminster Pharmacy, Ade Williams, also told MailOnline his team began covering some of his patients' prescription costs in December due to the cost-of-living crisis. Mr Williams, who was awarded an MBE last year for his services to the NHS, said: 'Sadly one of the changing faces of health inequalities is the increased in-work poverty.' He added: 'Paying for medications for better mental health, blood pressure, asthma and even HRT is viewed as unaffordable. 'The universal offer of the NHS in England is diminished and sadly people in lower-income groups are most affected by this. It really must end now.' An epidemic of sadness has emerged among teen girls across the US in recent years, according to an alarming new report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey found that in 2021, 57 percent of teenage girls felt 'persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness' the highest share in a decade. That figure was even higher about 70 percent among teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, or another non-heterosexual identity. Overall, one in three female high school students said they had seriously considered suicide in the past year. Mountains of research indicate that social media exacerbates young girls' feelings of self-consciousness, while the fallout from school closures, lockdowns, and other restrictions during the Covid pandemic are thought to have worsened the teen mental health crisis. The portion of young women experiencing persistent depression is at its highest level in about 10 years Girls were about twice as likely as boys to report having seriously considered suicide with 24 percent of them making a plan to carry it out While roughly a third of girls considered suicide, about 13 percent actually attempted it, compared to seven percent in males Alongside a climb in suicidality among teen girls, rates of violence, particularly sexual violence, are also on the rise. Levels of depression among teen girls were also considerably higher than those among teen boys. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is conducted every two years and monitors several types of health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults: sexual behavior, substance use, instances of violence, and mental health. The survey data, collected in the fall of 2021, reflected answers from more than 17,200 US high school students. Dr Debra Houry, the CDCs Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science, said: Americas teen girls are engulfed by a wave of sadness, violence, and trauma. These data are hard to hear and should result in action. The study did not look specifically at the causes of persistent sadness in teen girls, though CDC officials suggested they included higher rates of violence, especially sexual violence, played a role. Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDCs Division of Adolescent and School Health told reporters: Our teenage girls are suffering through an overwhelming wave of violence and trauma, and its affecting their mental health. Dr Ethier added that social isolation brought on by the pandemic as well as the widespread use of social media, which has been linked to increased rates of suicidality and low self-esteem, also share some of the blame. Sexual violence has risen among girls, with one in five saying they had experienced it within the past year, the CDC said, up 20 percent since 2017. CDC officials told reporters that while the study did not single out causes for the growing rates of depression among teen girls, rising rates of sexual crimes commited against them plays a major role More than one in 10, or 14 percent, said they had been forced into having sex, up from 11 percent of teen girls who said they'd been sexually assaulted in 2019. Dr Ethier said: 'If you think about every 10 teen girls that you know, at least one and possibly more has been raped, and that is the highest level weve ever seen.' Girls were also more prone to considering suicide than boys (30 percent versus 14 percent) not just in 2021, but also consistently over the past decade. The rate of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness among teen boys was also about half that of teen girls at 29 percent. Meanwhile, girls were about twice as likely as boys to be cyberbullied. But bullying in school has declined overall. CDC officials told reporters that school-based mental health programs are crucial to helping teens dealing with depression and the aftereffects of trauma. Dr Howry said: Schools are on the frontlines of the mental health crisis and they must be equipped with the proven tools that help students thrive. The report highlighted some trends that it said were 'moving in the right direction,' though. For instance, the percentage of male and female students who reported being sexual active fell in 2021 to 19 and 23 percent respectively, from 33 and 34 percent in 2011. Marijuana use among males also fell in 2021 to 14 percent, while use among teen girls remained relatively steady at 18 percent. Struck by back pain so intense she could barely walk, Katie Taylor went to her GP hoping they would investigate. Yet the only advice she got was to lose weight even though she was, at most, half a stone overweight and to exercise, when, despite being just 43 at the time, she could barely move around her house. The pain was too bad for me to do anything, says Katie. Simple things like going upstairs, were really difficult. I felt my pain was just being dismissed. Over the next four years the pain worsened, moving to her legs and joints. Katie also began to experience migraines for the first time in her life. This was on top of the agonising period pains she had quietly accepted as part of her lot as a woman for years. Her symptoms were so bad that between the ages of 43 and 47, Katie was forced to give up three jobs in charity communications. Katie Taylor was told to lose weight over back pain. Over the next four years the pain worsened, moving to her legs and joints. Katie also began to experience migraines for the first time in her life. This was on top of the agonising period pains she had quietly accepted as part of her lot as a woman for years. She had Adenomyosis Her symptoms were so bad that between the ages of 43 and 47, Katie was forced to give up three jobs in charity communications. Her symptoms included heart palpitations, insomnia, anxiety and itchy skin (stock image) Yet her GP said that Katies symptoms, which by then also included heart palpitations, insomnia, anxiety and itchy skin, were all in her head. I was made to feel like a hypochondriac, says Katie, now 53, from North London, a mother of four and CEO of an online platform for midlife women. I was told there was no physical cause, that the symptoms were in my head as I may have depression. They wanted to put me on anti-depressants. But I felt I wasnt being listened to. It took four years after her initial visit to the doctor to get to the root cause of her joint pain and other symptoms and this only happened after her concerned father, a breast surgeon, suggested she see a private gynaecologist. A blood test revealed Katie was in perimenopause (the lead-up to the menopause) and her oestrogen levels were very low. As the hormone protects joints and reduces inflammation, low levels can lead to joint pain and her other symptoms, such as heart palpitations and brain fog. Katie was prescribed HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and within just four weeks most of the symptoms went away my husband said he heard me laugh for the first time in four years, she says. But she still had crippling period pains. Further tests revealed the heavy periods that Katie had endured for decades were due to adenomyosis, a little-known condition despite it affecting one in ten women, where endometrial tissue that normally lines the womb grows in the muscle wall and breaks down and bleeds each month. This causes sharp pelvic pain and heavy bleeding. Adenomyosis is usually treated with anti-inflammatory medication for the pain; hormone therapy to help control heavy or painful periods; and in extreme cases by a hysterectomy Previous attempts to seek medical help for her period pain had resulted in Katie feeling dismissed and the impression that her period was no worse than anyone elses, she says. By the time this was diagnosed, just before her 50th birthday, Katie needed a full hysterectomy, i.e. removal of the womb and ovaries. Adenomyosis is usually treated with anti-inflammatory medication for the pain; hormone therapy to help control heavy or painful periods; and in extreme cases by a hysterectomy. It was a major operation but freed Katie from the agony she had endured for years. The question is why would so many health professionals be so dismissive of a womans pain and for so long? According to a recent survey, its a common problem. The survey of more than 5,000 men and women aged 18 to 65 about their experiences and perceptions of pain found a noticeable disparity: half of the women surveyed (50 per cent) reported a lack of support from their GPs when trying to get help for their pain, compared with 36 per cent of men, according to the results of The Gender Pain Gap Index Report, published last November by Reckitt Benckiser, which manufactures painkillers such as Nurofen. Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of women said they felt mens pain is taken more seriously owing to gender discrimination by healthcare professionals. More than half (56 per cent) of women felt ignored or dismissed as emotional, compared with 49 per cent of men surveyed. And the problems werent isolated to their treatment by healthcare professionals one in four women (24 per cent) said generally no one took their pain seriously compared with one in six men (17 per cent). This replicates previous findings showing a difference in the way women seeking help for their pain are treated. The term gender pain gap was coined by Diane Hoffman, a professor of law at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, U.S., to sum up the findings of her research, published in the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics in 2001. It highlighted an imbalance in the treatment of pain between men and women, showing that although women were more likely to report chronic pain from conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and migraine, they were less likely to be adequately treated by healthcare providers than men. Professor Hoffman, who last year published a follow-up article in the same journal, says that two decades on from her original research, little has changed. There was a lot of attention when we published the first paper and as theres more awareness of diversity and disparity generally I hoped there would have been more change, she told Good Health. However, Yentl syndrome [where women are misdiagnosed and poorly treated unless their symptoms or diseases conform to that of men] still exists and women are still treated less effectively than men in their initial encounters in the healthcare system, having to prove that they are as sick as male patients. By way of example, she points to a study that showed after a heart bypass graft women are often given sedatives as they are perceived to be anxious, while men are given more appropriate and stronger pain relief. This was published in 1990 in the journal Sex Roles, but Professor Hoffman says the findings remain true for today. I think treatment of women for pain may have improved in the past 20 years in some institutions where it was made a priority but there are still many places where it is a problem and there is still disparity in the way women and men are treated. Professor Hoffman is concerned about the bias that she says remains in medical schools. A 2015 study, published in the journal Pain Medicine, in which medical trainees were shown avatars with the same symptoms only their sex was different had worrying findings. A third of the trainees had stereotypical attitudes that womens pain has less of an impact on their work, and that antidepressants and counselling were appropriate treatments yet again a womans pain was seen to be psychological, and thats troubling, she says. Professor Hoffman also found multiple other examples of bias during research for her 2022 paper there were similar results to the 2015 study in two previous studies, published in 2013 and 2014 (in The European Journal of Pain and the Journal of Pain respectively), using virtual patients to assess the reaction of healthcare providers. An assumption that womens pain is related to their emotions The studies found that females were significantly more likely to receive recommendations for antidepressant and psychological treatment than males, despite having similar symptoms and pain facial expressions, she says. In those same studies, men were more likely to be prescribed analgesics than women. The gender pain gap is a recognised problem. Researchers writing in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health in 2022 called it a public health concern and said it should be considered in any future pain prevention and management strategies going forward. They came to that conclusion after examining data from nearly 28,000 men and women aged 25 to 74 in 19 European countries including the UK. This is despite the fact that women are more likely to live with chronic pain (defined as lasting longer than three months) in all age groups. A report by the charity Versus Arthritis in 2021 found that among the 16 to 34 age group 22 per cent of women had chronic pain compared with 13 per cent of men. In the 35 to 44 age group the figures were 33 per cent of women and 25 per cent of men; and in the older 45 to 54 years age group they were 41 per cent of women and 37 per cent of men. This report also found that 14 per cent of women have severe pain compared with 9 per cent of men again, a disparity consistent in all ages. One of the reasons for this, says Dr Franziska Denk, a senior lecturer in pain biology at Kings College London, is that autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are more common in women, who have a stronger immune response. As these are painful diseases, it partly explains why more women than men live with chronic pain. Yet while they experience more pain, there is a recognised gender bias in clinical trials generally, including pain. In the past, pre-clinical [i.e. animal] studies were mostly done on male mice, says Franziska Denk. A report by the charity Versus Arthritis in 2021 found that among the 16 to 34 age group 22 per cent of women had chronic pain compared with 13 per cent of men As female mice had menstrual cycles, it was thought they would be unpredictable and cause more variation in the results although there is no evidence to support this view. Another factor often overlooked by researchers, says Dr Sarah Love-Jones, a consultant in pain medicine at Southmead Hospital Bristol, is that womens responses to pain differ from mens. There are many contributing factors, one being that female hormones can affect the receptors in the nervous system, which affects pain transmission and causes differences in the pain processes in the brain between men and women, she says. This can have a significant clinical impact, she says, pointing to a 2000 study in the New England Journal of Medicine that found that women are seven times more likely to be misdiagnosed and discharged in the middle of a heart attack. This is often because women dont have the classic chest and arm pain symptoms that are common in men, she says. A lot of the concepts of most diseases are based on an understanding of male physiology, with 80 per cent of research studies conducted on male mice and human men. One of the things needed to improve the treatment of women in pain is to address the stereotypes, and not just from the doctors point of view, says Dr Elinor Cleghorn, a freelance researcher specialising in the history of womens health, based in Sussex, and author of Unwell Women: A Journey Through Medicine And Myth In A Man-Made World. A lot of these biases are fed by prejudices of what we think when a woman says, I am in pain. Theres long been an inherent assumption that womens pain is related to their mind and emotions, not their body. Whats more, she adds, the view that women can cope with high levels of pain is a myth. The truth is pain tolerance is subjective and varies between people, she says.Her research was prompted by her experiences after she developed joint pain and swelling that was exacerbated by sunlight. In the hot summer of 2003 I felt I was swollen and full of pain, she says. Some days I couldnt get out of bed, but my doctor said I was probably stressed at the time I was a university student. I was made to feel like an anxious hypochondriac so I didnt push for complex blood tests. It wasnt until eight years later, when I was pregnant with my second son, that it was discovered I actually had the autoimmune disease lupus. Lupus causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue, triggering swelling and pain; 90 per cent of those affected are women. The outlook, however, is looking more hopeful. Franziska Denk says pain research is now being taken more seriously in the UK. She is a member of the government-funded Advanced Pain Discovery Platform on Visceral Pain, which is looking to identify if there is a common cause of the pain experienced in conditions affecting the bladder and bowel in men and women and, in women, the uterus. Meanwhile, in the U.S. the Society for Womens Health Research is dedicated to promoting research on differences in disease and improving womens health through science, policy and education. It has been vocal about the need for equality in the development of new medicines, reporting in 2017 that for the first time women accounted for more than half of research participants for drugs approved by the U.S. regulator, the Food and Drug Administration. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry says in the UK there is guidance to encourage diversity in clinical trials. Following its survey, the manufacturer of Nurofen has said future trials will consist of equal numbers of men and women. For four years I wasnt functioning properly, often spending days asleep on the couch, Katie says. This shouldnt be the case our pains and symptoms must be taken seriously Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), said: Its clear from these survey results that a significant number of women do not feel as though they have been taken seriously by the NHS and its important this is recognised and addressed. Womens health is a priority for the RCGP and weve worked with partners, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare to develop educational resources to support healthcare professionals deliver the best possible care to women. I was made to feel like an anxious hypochondriac In the meantime, while there may not be a cure for their pain, proper support can help women and men have a better life. Dr Love-Jones says this wont necessarily mean medication. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines say to offer cognitive behaviour therapy for managing the effects pain has on patients lives, and both men and women can receive this if theyre treated at a pain clinic, she says. In fact, research, such as a 2018 study in the journal Medicine, has found that women benefit more than men from this kind of approach. Katie Taylor says that, while this is welcome news, for too many women this comes too late after years of unnecessary suffering. For four years I wasnt functioning properly, often spending days asleep on the couch, she says. This shouldnt be the case our pains and symptoms must be taken seriously. Microwaving sun-damaged skin for three seconds may prevent cancer. In a new trial, the treatment where a hand-held probe that emits microwaves is placed above the skin is being used to tackle actinic keratosis, sun-related damage that affects exposed parts of the body such as the face, back of the hands and scalp. Actinic keratosis takes the form of small, scaly spots or keratoses, which are often rough to the touch and typically measure 1cm to 2cm in diameter, though they can be much larger. Keratoses are extremely common after the age of 60 and, while most dont become problematic, up to 2 per cent develop into squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer. If left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can in time spread to other parts of the body. Treatments such as creams containing 5-fluorouracil (a form of chemotherapy) and diclofenac (an anti-inflammatory drug) can be effective, but they can also cause itchiness and make the skin sore. Another option is freezing the lesion with liquid nitrogen to remove it. This, too, can be painful and may lead to a loss of natural skin colouring; there is also a small risk of scarring. Surgery can also leave a scar. The new treatment, developed by UK-based Emblation and on trial in Germany and the U.S., removes the keratosis but with a lower risk of scarring. In a new trial, the treatment where a hand-held probe that emits microwaves is placed above the skin is being used to tackle actinic keratosis, sun-related damage that affects exposed parts of the body such as the face, back of the hands and scalp Researchers at Dundee University tested the treatment on 11 people with nearly 200 keratoses between them: 93 were treated with the microwave therapy and 86 left untreated A probe is attached to a generator that emits the electromagnetic microwaves this stimulates water molecules in the lesion, which raises the temperature and destroys the tissue. Using the hand-held probe ensures the treatment is targeted at the keratosis only. The probe delivers microwave energy 300 times less powerful than a microwave oven to an area of up to 6mm in diameter and 3mm in depth. Several treatments may be needed for larger areas. Results from a small study, reported in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2020, showed the treatment to be effective in 90 per cent of cases. Researchers at Dundee University tested the treatment on 11 people with nearly 200 keratoses between them: 93 were treated with the microwave therapy and 86 left untreated. Keratosis can disappear naturally and the trial results show that those treated with microwaves were 154 times more likely to disappear. In the new trial at Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute, in the U.S., and Centroderm centre in Germany, 60 patients will be given the microwave treatment in three-second bursts, with three bursts, 20 seconds apart, for each keratosis. The effects will be monitored for 12 months. Commenting on the technique, Dr Bav Shergill, a consultant dermatologist at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex, said: Actinic keratoses are a sign of sun damage and are associated with an increased risk of developing skin cancers. There are a range of effective treatments available but any new options that are simple to use without side-effects are to be welcomed. This microwave technology is a fascinating new option and I look forward to the final trial data. A skin cream containing a drug that interferes with messages between cells is effective in the treatment of actinic keratosis, according to a new study. It contains tirbanibulin, a drug that blocks compounds called Src kinase, which are involved in signalling between cells and which are found at high levels in people with actinic keratosis. The cream is used for five days, and completely cleared keratosis in 49 per cent of patients, and partially cleared it in 72 per cent, said the researchers from the University of Texas. Bracelet that could steady hand tremors Scientists are testing a nerve-stimulating bracelet to treat essential tremor. More than one million people in the UK live with the condition, which typically causes trembling hands. The cause is not fully understood, but one theory is that it is due to unusual electrical activity in the brain. The bracelet emits mild electrical stimulation to nerves in the wrist, which it thought to interrupt the signals that cause the tremor. Some 300 people with tremor are taking part in a trial of the bracelet, run by CVS Health Clinical Trial Services in the U.S. In a year-long trial, theyll wear the bracelet for two sessions of 40 minutes a day. A fibre-rich chewing gum is being trialled as a tool to prevent obesity in children. In a trial at the University Hospital of Bern in Switzerland, nearly 100 overweight youngsters aged from ten to 16 will chew the gum, which comes from the acacia tree, or a placebo, for 20 minutes, three times a day, for six months, and their weight will be monitored. Previous research suggests the gum leads to weight loss due to the fibre curbing hunger. Can mother of pearl pills treat crumbling bones? A supplement made from mother of pearl may offer a new approach to preventing osteoporosis. Around 200 post-menopausal women at risk of the condition are taking part in a trial at the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne in France, assessing whether a supplement made of the shell material can help strengthen bones. Mother of pearl is rich in calcium and other compounds which the researchers believe will boost the creation of new bone and slow bone loss. Participants will receive the pearl supplement for a year. MINI MUSCLE MIGHT The tiny muscles which play big roles. This week: Supraspinatus in the shoulder The supraspinatus runs from the top of the shoulder blade to the top of the arm bone (the humerus). As one of four rotator cuff muscles, which stabilise the shoulder joint, this small muscle helps the arm move in an upward, sideways and outwards rotation movement. Poor posture or hours slumped at a desk can weaken the supraspinatus and cause instability between the muscles of the rotator cuff, which can cause pain and make you prone to shoulder injures. Clare Lewey, a physiotherapist based in Oxfordshire, recommends regularly stretching the muscles of the chest and strengthening the muscles of the upper back (squeeze the shoulder blades down and together, hold then release). You can build strength in the supraspinatus by bending your arms at a 45-degree angle, keeping elbows close to your sides, palms facing inwards, and slowly rotating the hands out and back (like a door on a hinge), and build up to using small hand weights. DO I REALLY NEED... This week: Rezon Halos, 89.99, rezonwear.com CLAIM: A headband designed to protect the brain from impacts to the head while playing contact sports. Lab tests have shown that this reduces rotational force impact by 61 per cent through nine protective layers. EXPERT VERDICT: Any sport particularly those involving speed and the risk of falling can lead to head injuries, says Jim Pate, a physiologist at CHHP London, a centre specialising in health and performance. Serious knocks to the head can create rotational forces [when the brain rotates inside the skull], which can over time lead to severe concussion and permanent brain injury. This headband guards the areas of the head most prone to impact [which includes the frontal lobe near the forehead, responsible for memory]. I tried it out on several runs and was barely aware of it, although there was less sweat absorbency compared to standard sweatbands. Otherwise its a great piece of kit. The research from the manufacturer looks robust. Vegetable gel, the new way to stem internal bleeding Gel containing the plant okra can help stop internal bleeding, suggest researchers at the University of Manitoba in Canada, who used an extract from the vegetable successfully to seal wounds in the hearts and livers of dogs and rabbits. Bleeding from a 1cm wound stopped in one minute, whereas substantial bleeding continued for 20 minutes in wounds not treated with the gel, reports the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials. Researchers said that the gel forms a barrier over the wound and triggers the clotting process. Human trials are expected to take place in three to five years. Currently, organ injuries are stitched but this can lead to inflammation or a gel made from the protein fibrin is used. However, this is expensive and derived from animals. Shape-changing skin patch boosts weakened muscles Muscle wastage could be treated using a shape-changing skin patch that exercises muscles, reports the journal Nature Materials. The adhesive patch contains a spring made from nitinol, a metal that changes shape at certain temperatures. When the patch which was developed at Harvard University is placed on the skin, the spring constantly changes shape, contracting and expanding the muscle as it would during exercise. The device, known as Magenta, successfully strengthened wasted muscles when tested on animals. The developers are hoping that the patch could help with muscle loss associated with ageing and certain conditions, including multiple sclerosis. Could your prescription pills affect the outcome of dental implant surgery? Its a problem highlighted by a recent study from dentists in Spain. They found that people who were taking antidepressants specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) at the time of their surgery, and for at least one year beforehand, had a more than 4.5-fold increased risk of their implants failing. The 170 patients in the study were taking some of the most commonly prescribed SSRIs in the UK, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots, where a metal screw is placed directly into the jaw bone, providing a foundation for a false tooth to be fitted on top. They are not usually provided on the NHS and can cost thousands to have done privately. They found that people who were taking antidepressants specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) at the time of their surgery, and for at least one year beforehand, had a more than 4.5-fold increased risk of their implants failing The 170 patients in the study were taking some of the most commonly prescribed SSRIs in the UK, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline A failed implant is defined as the implant falling out or moving, or the occurrence of bone loss, pain, or pus forming. The researchers, from the Complutense University of Madrid, suggested that SSRIs may affect bone metabolism i.e. its production and breakdown. Normally, the body lays new bone directly on the implant surface, making it secure a process called osseointegration. But this may not happen with SSRIs, resulting in the implant not integrating with the bone. The drugs can also cause teeth- grinding, which can put pressure on implants, said the researchers in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The medication can alter levels of the brain chemical dopamine, which is involved in muscle control. Antipsychotics prescribed for bipolar disorder, severe depression and schizophrenia may also cause issues for dental implants, as they can cause teeth-grinding, too. In a 2019 report in the journal Australian Prescriber, Geraldine Moses, a consultant pharmacist to the Australian Dental Association, wrote that bruxism [i.e. teeth-grinding] is an under-recognised adverse drug reaction particularly associated with use of antipsychotics and SSRIs. So how worried should people be if theyre taking these prescription medications and have had or intend to have dental implants? Professor Justin Durham, chief scientific adviser at the British Dental Association, described the findings as interesting, but said that more research was needed before definitive conclusions were drawn, and clinical guidelines would not be changing based on the outcomes of the study. The mechanism by which these antidepressants might affect the attachment of teeth and implants to the bone of the mouth is complex and is still yet to be fully explored and understood, he says. Antipsychotics prescribed for bipolar disorder, severe depression and schizophrenia may also cause issues for dental implants, as they can cause teeth-grinding, too While the study is interesting, there are only small numbers of patients included and, as the authors highlight, there are other contributory factors that could also influence failure in this group. The study was not able to rule out, for example, that it was patients depression itself rather than the SSRIs that was driving the outcomes of their implant surgery. For instance, it could be that raised levels of the stress hormone cortisol in those with depression might help drive inflammation and gum disease. Additionally, the varied behavioural symptoms of depression also include low levels of motivation, which may impact on peoples abilities to maintain oral health, with a consequential increased risk of gum disease combined with the stimulation of inflammation through the cortisol stress response, says Professor Durham. In other words, low mood might contribute to a lack of motivation to care for their teeth. Rhona Eskander, a dentist at the Chelsea Dental Clinic in London, suggests that if you experience bruxism and take antipsychotic medication, you may need a night guard. This is not the first study to highlight how prescription medication can affect the outcome of dental treatment. Bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become more likely to break) as well as some types of cancer can prevent the mouth from recovering properly from dental treatments that involve surgery, such as implants or gum therapy, says Alan Clarke, a dentist and clinical director at Paste Dental in Belfast. Bisphosphonates, which are prescribed to one in ten post-menopausal women in the UK (according to a 2019 study in the journal Bone), slow the breakdown and reabsorption of old bone. The problem for dental patients is that the drug accumulates at sites of high bone turnover, such as in the jaw, and can reduce bone blood supply. If the patients treatment is not managed properly, the socket wont heal after a tooth has been removed: the teeth may become loose, and the bone may even die off (a process known as necrosis), with symptoms far more severe and lasting than the planned dental intervention, says Alan Clarke. For instance, someone maybe has tooth pain and elects to have the tooth removed. Yet if this is not managed correctly they could end up having necrosis of the jaw bone due to the bisphosphonate medication, and an oral surgeon could have to surgically remove a large section of jaw bone under a general anaesthetic. Thus, the patient needs much more severe and radical treatment than an extraction for a sore tooth or to remove a small area of residual infection all to treat the impact that the bisphosphonates had on the results of a usually routine dental treatment under local anaesthetic. If possible, patients who are taking bisphosphonates should have root canal treatment rather than having their tooth removed, adds Alan Clarke. He cites advice given to dentists in a 2013 review of this medication-related problem, which was published in the Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research. Patients may also require regular X-rays to check for dead tissue. In complex cases where surgery is required, a serum CTX test, which measures the rate of bone turnover, can be done to assess the level of risk before an operation. Alan Clarke adds that, because bisphosphonates have a particularly long half-life, they can affect healing many years after you have stopped taking the medication, depending on how long the previous course was. SSRIs can also cause teeth- grinding, which can put pressure on implants, said the researchers in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The medication can alter levels of the brain chemical dopamine, which is involved in muscle control As documented in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, bisphosphonates were measurable in patients up to eight years following on from active treatment with IV [intravenous] bisphosphonates, says Alan Clarke. So my advice is always to share a full medical history with your dentist, even if you feel it is not relevant it just might be. Reassuringly he adds: These drugs wouldnt have an effect on fillings, root canal treatment, crowns or other restorative dentistry such as veneers [any restorative work involves fixing the teeth you have and keeping them in place]. Other types of drug that can cause problems are anti-clotting ones. Medication such as clopidogrel is widely used to reduce the chance of heart disease and stroke in those at high risk, said Nilesh Parmar, a dentist who has a special interest in implant dentistry, at Parmar Dental in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The risk for dental patients is excessive bleeding when undergoing a procedure such as having a tooth out or a dental implant. In most cases we can carry out the surgery combined with suturing the wound, using haemostatic agents sponges we put in that help blood clots form. But if the dentist knows that the patient is taking an anti-coagulant, we can liaise with their doctor about temporarily stopping their medication so we can carry out the surgery. He adds: As long as the patient is aware they may bleed for longer than usual, most cases are fine. But I prefer to carry out these procedures in the morning, so that we can monitor the patient if needs be, prior to sending them home. Dr Parmar adds: Routine procedures such as cleaning and fillings remain largely unaffected. Immunosuppressant medications, which help to calm the immune system and are used to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohns disease, may also affect treatment. Because they reduce the bodys normal healing and defence mechanisms, the surgical site [for dental implants, for instance] may not heal as effectively and could therefore be compromised, says Richard Moore, a consultant in oral surgery and clinical lecturer at the University of Leeds. Therefore, patients will be susceptible for failure of osseointegration and overall implant failure. As a simple rule of thumb, prior to any oral surgery, including fillings, when your dentist asks you questions at the start of the appointment, tell them your medical history and medications, adds Richard Moore. This is incredibly important for all dental treatment but also for holistic care from your dentist, he says. Do you have a plan for your funeral? Most of us know whether we want to be buried or cremated, and possibly what songs we would like to have played, but apart from that there is a sense for many that we won't be there, so there is no need for a fuss. However, while you may think you are doing your loved ones a kindness by not being prescriptive with what you want once you're gone, funerals often cost more and cause more heartache when there isn't a clear plan in place. Spending just 20 minutes writing a funeral plan can prevent stress and additional costs That was the experience of Rebecca Peach, CEO and founder of Legacy of Lives, a funeral planning tool that enables you to create a funeral plan to save and share with loved ones, compare prices and book funerals. When her aunt passed away without a clear plan for a funeral the issue became contentious, piling on additional stress when the family was already in mourning. 'If my auntie would have seen what was going on, the heated discussions over a cremation or burial, which financially is a very big difference, and all the documents they tried to locate, it would have just been so sad for her to see. 'That could have been prevented if I had sat down and done a 20-minute plan to get her wishes noted down,' Peach told This is Money. Research shows that 83 per cent of grieving families only source one quote for a funeral, leaving them paying more than they need to. This is important as the cost of a standard funeral can vary by up to 130 per cent based on the location and type of the funeral director, and the cost of a cremation can vary up to 143 per cent. And the sums involved in the event are significant. The average cost of a basic funeral in the UK is 3,953. The overall cost of dying, including third party fees, is estimated at around 9,200 according to SunLife, up 3.8 per cent in a year. Peach says she is seeing more and more people take out credit in order to pay for funeral costs, a problem that is exacerbated by the lack of financial education around funerals. Over 40 per cent of people don't put aside enough money to pay for the cost of their own funeral, SunLife says. Furthermore, in 2022 a fifth of families experienced notable financial concerns when paying for a funeral, having to find 1,870 on average to cover the overall costs. And of this group 23 per cent borrowed from a friend or relative, 15 per cent sold belongings and 14 per cent borrowed money from a loan provider. In 2021 the Competition and Markets Authority recognised the issue and ordered funeral directors and crematoriums to make prices clearer for customers. The order requires providers to display a standardised price list on their premises and website including the headline price for a funeral, price of individual items comprising the funeral and the price of certain additional products and services. Furthermore, Peach says that as homeownership decreases it will become increasingly difficult for people to meet the cost of funeral without guaranteed money from a property sale. Why you need to put a funeral plan in place While Peach welcomes the order from the CMA she says there is still an issue as people don't have a benchmark for average prices or a way of comparing them. And planning can help prevent practical issues when putting together a funeral. You can often only compare prices at the time by ringing around and, once a body is taken away to a funeral directors, people are, understandably, unwilling to have it released to go elsewhere. 'We don't really like the terms of shopping around and all of those sorts of things because it's not a race to the bottom on price at all. It's about helping you find the right, most appropriate partner, of which price is one element,' says Legacy of Lives COO, Venetia Leigh. 'The reason we started Legacy of Lives is because consumers need support and comparison of the funeral industry as a whole. All of the co-founders of the business have been through a similar issue of just being left alone to guide through the unknown of funeral planning,' adds Peach. Legacy of Lives online tool allows you to plan your funeral and compare costs and providers For example, she says, people assume you need an expensive hearse to transport a coffin - but there are range of options available. 'My mum, she's done it [made a plan]. She changes her funeral song about once a month and updates her plan on Legacy of Lives. It's just kind of better to get it down. Currently the company is working with 30 hospices across the country, partnering with Hospice UK and Marie Curie, and hopes to form a partnership with the NHS. Both Peach and her co-founder Venetia Leigh feel there has been a change in the way we approach and discuss grief and death. Podcasts discussing the subject such as 'Griefcast' have risen in popularity in recent years. 'I don't think Legacy of Lives could have existed five years ago, ten years ago,' says Leigh. 'I think it's the right time now because everyone's so used to social media. as we always say, you would never spend 5000 on something, anything else, without at least checking a TripAdvisor or something. '[A funeral] is the one thing that you spend huge amounts of money on, which you don't check. The social media generation, the younger people planning it, because they're much more comfortable talking about themselves and having it online,' says Leigh. Venetia Leigh (left) and Rebecca Peach (right) founded Legacy of Lives as a result of their personal experiences And institutions such as hospitals and hospices that regularly deal with death are becoming better equipped to allow people to have a say in how they would like to be remembered. 'They're becoming much more about getting the patients a voice, not necessarily being very religious or talking about lights at the end of the tunnel,' she says. 'I think for us, this is what we want, is to be able to save people money, get them the best partner, and give the person that's gone the best send off.' What can you do to plan for your funeral? Sit down and spend some time thinking about what you want for your funeral, how you would like to be remembered, and a realistic budget. Some elements to think about include where you would like the funeral to take place, who would you like to do readings or give speeches, and whether you would like guests to bring flowers or donate to a charity instead. You can write your wishes into a document called an advanced care plan, or include them within your will - although it's worth noting that including instructions in your will does not make them binding. It is also worth considering payment options, such as paying in advance with a pre-paid plan or insurance. And if you have life insurance, check whether the costs of a funeral are included in the plan. The Government also offers a Funeral Expenses Payment for those on certain benefits to help cover the costs of elements including burial or cremation fees. A rural town in Western Australia is so desperate to attract a doctor that it is offering $800,000 annual salary and a rent-free four-bedroom house to any medic who will take the job. Quairading, in Western Australia's wheatbelt region, is only a two-hour drive east of Perth but the country town has struggled for months to find a permanent GP. In a determined bid to attract candidates, the town's council is offering the $800,000 package which would also cover all running and staff costs for the doctor's practice. There are further incentives for staying in the job, including an extra $12,000 a year if they stay for more than two years and a $23,000 bonus if they remain beyond five. The Quairading Shire (pictured, Shire Hall), east of Perth, is offering a $800,000 salary and a four bedroom house rent-free in a desperate plea to hire a GP for the town of 619 residents The rural town is one of many small towns in the Wheatbelt region struggling to find a GP with nearby Toodyay having to shut its medical office last year (pictured, Quairading) The town only has 619 residents and is among many such rural communities across Australia struggling to attract a doctor. Australia is in the grips of a national GP shortage, forcing some towns to shut medical centre doors. A town northwest of Quairading, Toodyay, had to shut its doctor's surgery in November last year because the town could not find any GPs to keep it open. The doctor will be given a four-bedroom house (stock image) rent free 'The council will not stand by idle when the community has such a critical need,' Quairading Shire President Peter Smith told The West. 'If we don't have a doctor, we won't have a medical clinic, then we won't have a hospital, we won't have a chemist and so the demise will begin.' The shire said it would post the job offer in West Australian medical publications next week and if that did not flush out a candidate, it would advertise in such publications on the east coast. The vast majority of medical graduates aim to move into lucrative specialist fields. Only 14 per cent of Australian medical students intend to become a general practitioner, and only 4.5 per cent of students are looking to work in a small town. Dr Ramya Raman called on Australia to support rural doctors Ramya Raman, the WA chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said young doctors are only willing to move to regional areas if they could get good housing, schooling, childcare and work for their partner - and not just a good salary. 'Supporting junior doctors to have that opportunity to trial general practice as a career option (is important)' she told the publication. 'And in addition to that, fast tracking the entry for international doctors. 'The other aspect of it is working very closely with the communities in trying to enhance the retention of these doctors.' WA shadow health minister Libby Mettam called on the state government - led by Premier Mark McGowan - to provide incentives for doctors to practice in rural towns. 'These concerns are backed up by the latest figures which indicate we have a below average number of GPs per population and the lowest rate in remote WA,' Ms Mettam said. 'This is a primary health concern which has implications for our hospital system when it is not addressed, as well as the economic development of our regions.' A Qantas lounge rule that bans Aussies from wearing thongs has divided passengers. The rule is part of the airline's dress guidelines for airport lounges, which include a ban on head-to-toe gym wear, beachwear (including boardshorts), sleepwear (including ugg boots and slippers), clothing featuring offensive images or slogans and revealing, unclean or torn clothing. The airline has enforced the 'smart casual' dress code since 2015. 'Singlets, bare feet, rubber thongs, and clothing with offensive images or slogans are, in most cases, likely to be deemed unacceptable,' Qantas said. 'Eligible lounge visitors wearing uniforms will still be permitted to access our lounges, and this includes hi-vis work wear.' The ban on thongs has divided Aussies on the Facebook group: 'Qantas customers hints, tips, questions and gripes'. 'It's a total bullsh*t rule. International airlines have no such rules and neither do other lounges. Qantas, fighting the important issues. Debate has broken out about what footwear should be allowed into Qantas lounges (pictured stock image) Another asked after all the airline's dramas, why is this a priority. However, many travellers have pointed out that enforcement of the rule is inconsistent. 'J.Brisbane Qantas domestic lounge was being extremely strict with their dress code on Friday, rubber thongs not allowed, but canvas thongs would be,' they said. The dress code for Qantas Lounges Qantas doesn't allow: Thongs and bare feet Head-to-toe gym wear Beachwear (including boardshorts) Sleepwear (including ugg boots and slippers) Clothing featuring offensive images or slogans Revealing, unclean or torn clothing Advertisement Another traveller said: 'We had the same issue at BNE then at SYD we had no issues! It seems BNE is run by an someone with nothing better to do! It's QLD ffs, everyone wears thongs!' Another wrote: 'It was my missus, who was quite respectfully dressed wearing rubber thongs that were barely visible, that was knocked back meanwhile I dressed in shorts and a T-shirt wearing 'Reefs' that was allowed in' Another said: 'I've been told my leather sandals (Birkenstock thong) were acceptable but my travel partner was also in semi expensive thongs and was declined entry. 'I just don't risk it now.' 'I have always worn Dr Scholl thongs to fly with arch supports,' another wrote. 'Closed in shoes or runners cause my feet to swell. I have never been stopped to discuss my foot code in more than 50 years. Not even an International flight.' A number of people said the best option was just to avoid wearing them 'Very touchy subject, technically neither type is complaint with dress guidelines however some staff may let it slide,' a group member wrote. 'Safer to just avoid them usually.' Thongs and bare feet are banned are banned in Qantas lounges as part of the airline's strict dress code Aussies pointed out that strict enforcement of the rule differed depending on the staff at the airport lounge, with one allowing canvas thongs However others thought the rule was a good idea. 'It's always been a rule just poorly enforced. With the crowds these days, I think it's great they uphold some standard,' another said. 'Some kind of dress code is needed. And I suspect that most of the time they would turn a blind eye to someone presentable who is wearing thongs, vs someone who looked like they just crawled out of a skip,' one sage user wrote. 'Every now and then they stick to the letter of the law - it's similar to carry on luggage weight and quantity. To be on the safe side, my thongs travel packed in the pocket of my suitcase, ready to whip out and shove on when travelling to/from airport.' Another joked: 'I wonder if I can use that as an excuse for declining entry to my daughter's boyfriend?' they wrote. Qantas has been approached for comment. The owners of the Wiltshire field where Prince Harry lost his virginity to groom Sasha Walpole have joked they will have to put up 'a blue plaque' because of how famous their plot of land has become. Dean Ellwood and partner Anna Pitt-Stanley own the field behind The Vine Tree Inn, which belonged to the pub in 2001 but has now transferred to their ownership as part of their property, Splash Cottage. The couple, who purchased the cottage eight years ago, are said to have laughed when they discovered their small plot in Norton had become famous, but several weeks on the excitement over the patch shows no signs of ebbing away. Mr Ellwood told the Sun: 'I suppose I could put a blue plaque up in the field, but I don't think many people would be interested.' Ms Pitt-Stanley added: 'Everyone in the village is talking about it but I don't think we will be setting up a gift shop selling memorabilia.' Prince Harry pictured with friends as a teenager, including Sasha Walpole (second left) The field is located behind The Vine Tree Inn (pictured left) but now belongs to nearby Splash Cottage Prince Harry, now 38, shocked the world in January when he revealed how he lost his virginity in his tell-all memoir Spare. He described his partner as an 'older woman' with a love of horses, who he took outside a country pub in Wiltshire when he was 17. In Spare, Harry writes that the 'inglorious' encounter was 'a quick ride, after which she'd smacked my rump and sent me off to graze'. As the world speculated about who his partner might have been, a digger driver from Wiltshire received a text message from a friend informing her that Prince Harry had just revealed details of their secret tryst to the world - a secret she had kept for the past 21 years. Last weekend, the Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed that the 'older woman' was in fact Sasha Walpole, now 40, who was on the eve of her 19th birthday at the time. Ms Walpole met Prince William before ever coming into contact with his young brother - at a comedy night starring the late Cornish comedian Jethro at the Beaufort Hunt Kennels. She had recently begun working at Highgrove as an assistant groomer, aged just 17. She subsequently made friends with Harry at one of his favourite pubs, The Rattlebone Inn, in the nearby Wiltshire village of Sherston. They bonded over their love of all things equestrian and stories of her escapades on her own horse Beano. Her close friendship with Harry was born of a common understanding: 'Everyone was equal in the world of horses. Sasha Walpole, 40, is a digger driver from Wiltshire, but used to be an assistant groom at Highgrove Ms Walpole (left) and Prince Harry (right) were in a group of friends who bonded over horses as teens he Vine Tree Pub, Norton, Wiltshire where Prince Harry had sex with Sasha Walpole in a field English Heritage's Blue Plaque honouring the life of Diana, Princess of Wales seen on the Chelsea flat she used to rent 'Our group was a very mixed bunch of polo players, grooms, hunt staff and racing people, a cosmopolitan crowd. 'It didn't matter if you were a groom, a Royal or a rider. There was no judgment. 'Harry didn't act like a Prince, there wasn't any snobbery. Honestly, we were just two mates who talked horses.' But their friendship came to an abrupt end when a quick cigarette break turned into a romp in a field - and they never spoke again. Ms Walpole said: 'It was instant, fiery, wham bam, between two friends. It was sparky because we shouldn't have been doing it. 'He wasn't 'Prince Harry' to me, this was Harry, my friend, and the situation had got a little bit out of control. It felt naughty, I suppose, in the sense that it shouldn't be happening. 'We didn't set out to do it it wasn't premeditated and I didn't know he was a virgin. There were no virgin vibes he seemed to know what he was doing. 'It was quick, wild, exciting. We were both drunk. It wouldn't have happened if we weren't.' Prince Harry married Meghan Markle and moved to California, a world away from Wiltshire A younger Sasha Walpole dressed up for a Polo ball, around the time she was friends with the princes She recalled seeing him hiding in a phone box as she left the pub for home - and the encounter marked the end of Sasha's friendship with Harry. More than two decades on, the owners of the field have joked about installing a blue plaque or even a gift shop as the site's fame spreads around the world. Blue plaques, produced by the English Heritage organisation, are dotted around London and commemorate places where significant people have lived, worked or spent time. There are almost 1,000 in the capital with a history of more than 150 years. The English Heritage website states: 'Londons famous blue plaques link the people of the past with the buildings of the present. 'Now run by English Heritage, the London blue plaques scheme was started in 1866 and is thought to be the oldest of its kind in the world. 'Across the capital over 990 plaques, on buildings humble and grand, honour the notable men and women who have lived or worked in them.' Many members of the royal family have their own blue plaques, including Prince Harry's mother Princess Diana. English Heritage welcomes plaque suggestions from members of the public, but the main obstacle to a blue plaque in this field's case may not be a lack of interest as Dean fears, but a simple geographical limit. At nearly 100 miles away, it is unlikely the English Heritage will stretch to Splash Cottage. Queenslanders are set for another week of wild weather with parts of the state already on fire and in the grips of a severe heatwave while other regions are at risk of flooding. The sunshine state has several weather warnings in place as residents feel the after-effects of Cyclone Gabrielle - which is now bearing down on New Zealand. There were more than 50 bushfires burning across Queensland on Monday morning, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning more scorching temperatures are on the way. Several flood warnings are also in place around the state with severe thunderstorms set to hammer down - with the Northern Territory also in the firing line. Queenslanders are battling a bout of wild weather with some areas of the state suffering through severe heatwaves and bushfires There were more than 50 bushfires burning across Queensland on Monday morning, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning more scorching temperatures are on the way With fires still burning around Queensland, authorities are most concerned about the blazes in Myall Park and Montrose in the Western Downs region, about 350km west of Brisbane. Residents in both areas were ordered to evacuate on Sunday afternoon and in the early hours of Monday while the warnings have now been downgraded to a Watch and Act alert. More than 50 residents were evacuated on Sunday while properties have also been destroyed in the blaze. Those living in Queensland's Central Coast, Whitsundays, Capricornia, Central Highlands, Coalfields, Wide Bay and Burnett Districts can expect to sweat through a severe heatwave this week. Parts of south-eastern Queensland will sweat through heatwaves this week with some areas to see temperatures into the low forties Severe heatwave warnings are in place over the next couple of days in south-eastern Queensland 'Maximum temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s and minimum temperatures in the low 20s for parts of eastern QLD over the next few days,' the Bureau said. 'Conditions are expected to ease during the early part of next week.' Brisbane is set to reach a scorching 32C on Monday. Severe thunderstorms are also forecast for Queensland's western peninsula, in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle - while heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hail are on the horizon for south-western Queensland on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hazardous surf warnings were issued for the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, with more than a dozen flood warnings issued for rivers across the state. Major flood warnings have been issued for the Cooper Creek while the Thomson River and the Barcoo River are also under threat. Meanwhile in the Northern Territory, there is a cyclone watch alert bringing heavy rain for those in Cape Shield, in the territory's north-east, all the way to the NT/Queensland border. 'Gales with gusts to 90km per hour may develop from Cape Shield to Port McArthur, including Alyangula from Monday evening,' the Bureau said. 'Gales could extending to the NT/QLD Border during Tuesday. 'Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding may develop about Groote Eylandt during Monday. Six-hourly totals of 140-180mm are possible. 'Severe thunderstorms are also possible during Monday in the Watch area, with heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts possible.' Heavy rainfall is also forecast for areas of Queensland Elsewhere in Australia will see relatively mild weather while the country's north cops severe rainfall. Thunderstorms are possible in NSW's north-east over Monday, and the southern ranges. Sydney will, however, see a mostly dry day with a shower or two forecast with temperatures to hit 25C. Melbourne will see a colder day than usual with a maximum of just 19C forecast for Monday. The nation's capital will see a cloudy day with tops of just 24C, while Hobart will see a sunny day with the Mercury hitting 22C. Adelaide will be dry and sunny while Perth will see a scorcher with tops of 36C forecast. FOUR-DAY WEATHER FORECAST IN YOUR CITY Sydney: Monday: Min 20C. Max 25C. Possible shower Tuesday: Min 19C, Max 25C. Showers Wednesday: Min 19C, Max 27C. Partly cloudy Thursday: Min 17C. Max 29C. Mostly sunny Brisbane: Monday: Min 23C. Max 32C. Shower of two Tuesday: Min 23C. Max 30C. Showers Wednesday: Min 20C. Max 29C. Mostly sunny Thursday: Min 20C. Max 29C. Partly cloudy Adelaide: Monday: Min 12C. Max 25C. Mostly sunny Tuesday: Min 13C. Max 29C. Sunny Wednesday: Min 18C. Max 34C. Sunny Thursday: Min 23C. Max 38C. Sunny Canberra: Monday: Min 14C. Max 23C. Possible shower Tuesday: Min 12C. Max 22C. Partly cloudy Wednesday: Min 11C. Max 27C. Partly cloudy Thursday: Min 12C. Max 31C. Mostly sunny. Melbourne: Monday: Min 15C. Max 19C. Cloudy Tuesday: Min 15C. Max 22C. Cloud clearing Wednesday: Min 13C. Max 29C. Partly cloudy Thursday: Min 19C. Max 34C. Sunny Perth: Max 32C. Sunny Monday: Min 19C. Max 36C. Sunny Tuesday: Min 19C. Max 28C. Sunny Wednesday: Min 16C. Max 27C. Partly cloudy Thursday: Min 14C. Max 26C. Sunny Hobart: Monday: Min 11C. Max 22C. Partly cloudy Tuesday: Min 13C. Max 23C. Mostly sunny Wednesday: Min 13C. Max 25C. Partly cloudy Thursday: Min 15C. Max 27C. Partly cloudy Darwin: Monday: Min 25C. Max 31C. Showers Tuesday: Min 24C. Max 30C. Shower or two Wednesday: Min 25C. Max 31C. Shower or two Thursday: Min 26C. Max 32C. Shower or two Source: Bureau of Meteorology Advertisement Meanwhile for New Zealand, residents can expect a week of wild weather ahead as Cyclone Gabrielle approaches. Auckland, New Zealand's most populated city, is still recovering from unprecedented flooding that smashed the North Island in late January but has been warned to expect weather just as bad this week. MetService has issued dozens of weather warnings, including several red alerts, saved for the most destructive weather. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins urged Kiwis to avoid non-essential travel and bunker down. 'We're still expecting the worst is yet to come,' Mr Hipkins said. 'We have to take seriously the red weather warnings when they're coming through. It's a cyclone. It is something that could have a significant effect.' MetService's red warnings effect the North Island regions of Auckland and Hauraki Gulf islands, Northland, the Coromandel, Tairawhiti and Taranaki. Some Whangarei residents have been asked to evacuate their homes ahead of high tide around 2pm local time. Heavy rain, flooding, gale-force winds and giant surf is battering New Zealand's North Island as Cyclone Gabrielle bears down on the Kiwis Cars move through flooded roads in the northern New Zealand city of Whangarei as Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle hits Whangarei, Northland's regional capital, is among the wettest places in the country, with the airport receiving 184mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, more than twice its average February rainfall. Emergency management confirmed 58,000 people were without power due to damaging winds, most from Northland. MetService expects another 150-250mm of rain in Auckland over the next three days, raising concern for more flooding and slips which could wipe out infrastructure and homes. Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said the national state of emergency was being considered at meetings every four hours. 'We have not reached that point and we may not have to. This is an all of government response with all agencies ready to respond as needed,' he said. Only two national state of emergencies have been issued in New Zealand; for the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Greens leader Adam Bandt has reportedly called for fossil fuel companies to be banned from sponsoring Federal Parliament's Midwinter Ball this year. The ball, which sees politicians and journalists dress up for the formal dinner event, raises money for charity and is hosted by the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery. Woodside Energy and Shell are among almost 30 headline sponsors for the event. But Adam Bandt has pushed for both oil and gas companies to be dropped from the sponsor list, according to The Australian's Media Diary. Greens leader Adam Bandt (pictured) has reportedly called for fossil fuel companies Woodside Energy and Shell to be banned from sponsoring this year's Midwinter Ball Woodside Energy and Shell are among almost 30 headline sponsors and contributed around 7 per cent to the fundraiser last September (pictured, Woodside's gas plant in Karratha, WA) The Greens leader has reportedly written to organisers and the Press Gallery's president Jane Norman to try and have the companies banned from participating. According to the publication, Woodside and Shell are puzzled by the Greens' push as the event is designed to raise money for charity. Both companies contributed around 7 per cent of the fundraiser's budget when it was held last September. Ms Norman is reportedly discussing a compromise with the Greens that may see Woodside and Shell buy a table to attend rather than being a named sponsor. Greens members have been consistently critical of having fossil fuel companies sponsoring the ball. When the ball was last held, Greens leader Adam Bandt turned up with his partner and mum to his two kids, Claudia Perkins, who wore a white dress with the words 'coal kills' and 'gas kills' written all over in black and red. She has previously had 'coal kills' shaved into her head for another event. The Greens leader attended the ball last September with his partner, Claudia Perkins, who wore a white dress with the words 'coal kills' and 'gas kills' Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young also wore a long white dress decorated with a call to 'end gas and coal' at the ball Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young also joined the fossil fuels protest at the ball, wearing a white dress with 'End Gas and Coal' scrawled on the back. Before guests took their seats, former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe marched through parliament's Marble Foyer in blue jeans and an Aboriginal flag t-shirt yelling about 'fossil fools' with her fist, and extended middle fingers, raised, in protest. Greens senators' Jordon Steele-John and Larissa Waters did not attend the event. 'Tonight's Midwinter Ball is yet another reminder of the perverse hold coal and gas have over our government, no matter who leads it. I will not be attending,' Senator Steele-John said at the time. 'Watching MPs swan about in suits and sparkles at an event openly sponsored by coal and gas is frankly sickening.' Multiple GoFundMe accounts for the man but have been started and taken down, while GiveSendGo campaigns have raised over $250,000 for him George Alan Kelly, 73, is currently being held on a $1 million bond and is charged with first-degree, premeditated murder for the January 30 shooting Arizona rancher who shot and killed a Mexican national on his border-property says he fired warning shots at an armed group who pointed an AK-47 at him The lawyer for an elderly Arizona rancher charged with murder for shooting dead a Mexican man on his border property says he fired warning shots at the armed group. George Alan Kelly, 73, is currently being held on $1 million bond and is charged with first-degree, premeditated murder in the January 30 shooting of a man believed to be Gabriel Cuen-Butimea, 48. Kelly's court-appointed attorney, Brenna Larkin, said in a recent court filing that the man was inside his home eating lunch with his wife when the heard a single gunshot. Larkin said the Arizona resident saw one of his horses run away and that he went to investigate the incident, only to find a group of men with 'AK-47 rifles, dressed in khakis and camouflaged clothing and carrying large backpacks.' That's when Kelly, 'understandably concerned,' retrieved his rifle and told his wife to stay inside the home before firing warning shots at the group, including the leader who 'pointed an AK-47 right at him.' The group fled and it wasn't until hours later when the man's body was discovered by Kelly, even after U.S. Border Patrol had come to inspect the property and allegedly found nothing. George Alan Kelly, 73, is currently being held on $1 million bond and is charged with first-degree, premeditated murder The man Kelly is believed to have shot is Gabriel Cuen-Butimea, 48, a Mexican national Kelly's sprawling ranch in Arizona is just 1.5 miles from the Mexican border. His friends say he's had problems with migrants grossing In the recent filing, Larkin claims the Arizona man had just returned home for lunch when the scary situation began. He and his wife heard the gunshot and saw their elderly horse running away which prompted immediate concern. When he went out to check on the situation, he found the group. 'None of them were known to him. He had not given any of them permission to come onto his land,' Larkins said in the filing. His attorney says he 'reasonably feared for his safety, his wife's safety, and his animals' safety,' which prompted the man to call the U.S. Border Patrol ranch liaison. The liaison is designated specifically for people who live near the U.S.-Mexico border and Kelly had reached out to 'summon immediate help.' He told his wife to stay inside and stay silent and moved onto his porch with his rifle. 'The leader of the armed group of men saw Mr. Kelly and pointed an AK-47 right at him,' Larkin wrote. George Alan Kelly is shown in court on February 2nd with his wife Wanda behind him in the front row This graph shows just how close Kelly and his wife live to the U.S.-Mexico border 'Mr. Kelly, fearing for his life and safety, fired several shots from his rifle, hoping to scare them away from him, his wife, his animals, and his home,' the lawyer wrote. 'As he shot, Mr. Kelly took care to aim well over the heads of the armed group of men. The group then began running into the desert surrounding his home. Once the group had fled, Mr. Kelly walked over to his barn to see if it was safe and secure,' she continued. Border Patrol later 'incorrectly reported' Kelly had stated he couldn't tell if the men had weapons or not. Around 2.40pm on January 30, radio dispatch told the Border Patrol agents en route to the property that 'armed men had been seen in the area.' As the man was checking his barn, law enforcement officials from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department and Border Patrol arrived and spoke with Kelly and his wife. She also told the officials she had seen men with 'large backpacks' near the home. This is the home of George Alan Kelly and his wife, located less than two miles from the border The property is surrounded by pastures and vast open land Kelly at one point during the scary situation allegedly told his wife to stay inside and stay silent as he moved onto his porch with his rifle The law enforcement officials walked 'all over' the property but found no one, according to Kelly's lawyers The group of law enforcement officials walked 'all over' the property but found no one. They also reportedly used cameras in the area to attempt to locate the men but were unsuccessful. Several hours after the group of deputies and officers had left, Kelly was walking his land to check on his animals when he noticed his dog honing in on something. There, Kelly 'observed a body lying face down in the grass,' Larkin wrote. He then called the Border Patrol ranch liaison again to share the discovery and request assistance. The 73-year-old cooperated as law enforcement inspected and found the body of the 'foreign national' who did not appear to have any backpacks or firearms on him. His cause of death appeared to be a single gunshot wound, the filing states. The wound appeared fresh, officials said. Larkin also noted the man had 'a radio with him, and he was wearing tactical boots, indicating he was possibly involved in illegal activity.' Kelly's lawyers noted the man had 'a radio with him, and he was wearing tactical boots, indicating he was possibly involved in illegal activity' Last week, DailyMail.com reported that Cuen-Butimea had a history of illegal border crossings in the area near where Kelly and his wife live outside of Nogales, Arizona In her client's defense, Larkin added that it is still unknown what the man's time or death was and the kind of bullet that caused the death. Kelly had previously 'admitted to firing warning shots at the smugglers earlier in the day, but he denied firing any shot directly at any person,' Larkin wrote. 'He does not believe that any of his warning shots could have possibly hit the person or caused the death. All of the shooting that Mr. Kelly did on that date of the incident was in self-defense and justified,' the lawyer said. Larkin said the combination of the unknowns and the man's 'years as a law-abiding citizen' make her confident that her client's innocence will be proven. 'Mr. Kelly's years as a law-abiding citizen, and the uncontroverted facts of the case, give us confidence in his innocence and in our ability to prove that innocence should the State continue to prosecute Mr. Kelly,' Larkin said in a statement Friday obtained by AZ Central. Last week, DailyMail.com reported that Cuen-Butimea had a history of illegal border crossings in the area near where Kelly and his wife live outside of Nogales, Arizona. The most recent documented case involving the Mexican national was in 2016. Despite public outcry and continued requests from Kelly and his lawyer, Judge Emilio Velasquez has not granted his request for a reduction of his $1 million bond Despite public outcry and continued requests from Kelly and his lawyer, Judge Emilio Velasquez has not granted his request for a reduction of his $1 million bond. Kelly had pleaded with the judge, saying that his wife is alone on their property and unable to attend to their livestock and land. 'She's there by herself... nobody to take care of her, the livestock or the ranch. And I'm not going anywhere. I can't come up with a million dollars. 'Would you consider reducing it to any degree?' he pleaded. The judge refused instead telling him his attorney had to file a request - which she has not done. Multiple fundraising attempts to support the man and his wife have been shut down by GoFundMe. 'GoFundMe's Terms of Service explicitly prohibit campaigns that raise money to cover the legal defense of anyone formally charged with an alleged violent crime,' a spokesperson said Thursday.. GoFundMe fundraisers for the Arizona rancher have been shut down as they violate the platforms 'terms of service' a representative said 'Consistent with this long-standing policy, any fundraising campaigns for the legal defense of someone charged with murder are removed from our platform. Donors who contributed to the fundraising campaigns for George Alan Kelly's legal expenses have been fully refunded,' they continued. Christian crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo has allowed a fundraiser for Kelly to remain and one fundraiser has brought in more than $260,000 as of Sunday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22 at Nogales Justice Court. Fundraisers have begun popping up on GiveSendGo, a Christian fundraising platform Four teenagers who arrived in the UK on small boats as asylum seekers have been arrested in connection with an alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in Dover. The attack took place at a school in Kent and involved Afghan boys who arrived unaccompanied last year. Kent Police confirmed it was investigating the incident and said the four boys had been released on bail while inquiries continued. Sources close to the investigation told The Times that one boy is alleged to have raped the schoolgirl while three other boys are alleged to have acted as 'lookouts'. Four teenagers (not pictured) who arrived in the UK on small boats as asylum seekers have been arrested in connection with an alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in Dover. Pictured: Migrants arriving in Dover, Kent on January 25 Pictured: Border Force officials escort 50 migrants into Dover Docks, Kent, yesterday Late last week one of the boys, aged 15, was arrested on suspicion of rape and the three others, aged between 13 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating the attack. All four boys are believed to be pupils at the same school of the victim. A Kent Police spokesman said it is 'investigating a report of a sexual offence involving a teenage girl and a teenage boy in Dover on the afternoon of Monday 6 February 2023'. They added: 'Four boys were arrested as part of the investigation and have since been released on bail while inquiries continue.' The teenagers, who came to Britain unaccompanied, are reportedly in the care of Kent County Councils social services. The total number of migrants who have crossed the English Channel this year has exceeded 2,000, Home Office figures revealed. The total number of migrants who have crossed the English Channel this year has exceeded 2,000, Home Office figures revealed On Friday 110 people in three boats crossed the Channel, bringing the total number of people brought to the UK this year to 2,070. There have now been more crossings in 2023 than in January and February of 2022 combined. Analysis of the provisional figures shows 1,180 people were brought to the UK in January 2023, compared to 1,339 in January 2022. So far, 890 people have been brought to shore in 20 boats in February 2023. Analysts estimate that a fifth of migrants who entered the UK via small boats last year were unaccompanied children. Afghans are said to make up a large population of the unaccompanied minors entering the UK. They are reportedly the second largest group of nationalities crossing the Channel. Analysts estimate that a fifth of migrants who entered the UK via small boats last year were unaccompanied children. Pictured: Police forensics officers wearing protective gear walk at the Port of Dover after a small boat loaded with migrants capsized in the Channel in December Small boats used to cross the Channel by migrants are removed from the water and documented at the Port of Dover before being taken away for storage in December 2022 Ministers have not ruled out deporting unaccompanied children as part of the proposed plan to send migrants to Rwanda. The controversial scheme has been mired in legal challenges and so far no flights carrying migrants to the African nation have departed. Yesterday, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell, said the scheme was worth exploring but it was not the 'whole answer' and argued it will have only a marginal benefit in stopping small boats crossing the Channel. He also rejected the idea that the UK could withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) over plans to tackle the problem of small boats carrying migrants across the Channel. On Channel 4's Andrew Neil Show, Mr Mitchell who was critical of the Rwanda scheme as a backbencher said if it was to have 'any' benefit, it would not be the 'whole of the effort we have to make'. Whitehall civil servants disguised sparkling wine purchases and five-star hotel catering as 'bookkeeping services' and 'administration', as part of 145million of government debit card spending. Rishi Sunak has been accused of overseeing 'a scandalous catalogue of waste' as it was revealed how officials splurged on alcohol, luxury furnishings and expensive meals abroad. Opposition MPs said the Labour Party's new report has revealed a 'culture of lavish spending' while the nation suffered in the cost of living crisis. Rishi Sunak has been accused of overseeing 'a scandalous catalogue of waste' in a 'culture of lavish spending' The dossier revealed: Ministers and officials eat in high-end restaurants costing up to 115 per head even when no dignitaries are present. Boris Johnson and his entourage spent 4,445 on dinner at Smith & Wollensky in New York, where a steak main course costs up to $115 (95), despite no foreign dignitaries being present. Liz Truss and her team ate out twice on Remembrance Day in 2021 in Jakarta, Indonesia, costing 1,443, but she failed to pay her respects to the war dead. The Foreign Office racked up bills of up to 18,000 with high-end and designer furnishing, lighting and rug shops. Thousands were spent on 'corporate branding', such as branded USB cables which are never seen by the public. Departments spent 1.4million with Amazon on government debit cards. The Department for Transport paid 5,388 for training, using animal examples to help analyse service models, with questions such as: 'Do you hoot, growl or wave your feathers?' At the start of the pandemic the Conservative Government relaxed rules around taxpayer-funded debit cards, first introduced under Tony Blair, allowing them to be used more widely, the report claimed. 'Key users' were allowed to spend up to 20,000 in one go, with an overall monthly spending limit of 100,000. But the Labour Party, which compiled the report, has claimed the Government 'black cards' have less transparency than ordinary invoice procedures. This is compounded by failure to correctly categorise payments for controversial items, such as alcohol. The report found officials spent 3,158 on catering from the five-star Gulf Hotel in Bahrain, but filed it under 'Accounting, Auditing and Bookkeeping Services'. The Foreign Office spent 3,266 on goods from luxury lighting designer Marc Wood Studio, but this was filed under 'Computer Software'. In July 2021 the Treasury spent 3,217 at the five-star Hotel Danieli in Venice A bill of 1,190 at The Marina Crossroads leisure complex in the Maldives and 1,282 spent on bubbly from Bluebell Vineyard Estates were described as 'Computer Equipment and Services'. The Foreign Office also spent 3,680 at Coates & Seely, another English sparkling wine producer, which was put in the 'Consulting, Management & Public Relations' category. A government source said: 'The descriptions reflect the standard merchant category groups assigned by Visa/Mastercard to individual companies. As such they often are not representative of the actual purchases.' The report said the miscategorisations make controversial spending 'look almost deliberately hidden'. The dossier also revealed how, in July 2021, the Treasury spent 3,217 at the five-star Hotel Danieli in Venice. Meanwhile, in March last year the Foreign Office paid 3,240 for a Heathrow VIP suite which Ms Truss used on her return from Mexico six months previously. It also spent just under 500,000 on home furnishings in the UK in the twelve months up to the end of August 2022. UK Visas & Immigration, and the Passport Office, together spent 1,552 on purple 'corporate-coloured' coffee cups. Fourteen departments spent a total of at least 145million using government debit cards in 2021, 60million more than in 2010, the report said. Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, said: 'Today's shocking revelations lift the lid on a scandalous catalogue of waste' Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, said: 'Today's shocking revelations lift the lid on a scandalous catalogue of waste, while families worry about whether their pay cheque will cover their bills.' A Foreign Office source said: 'Most governments know diplomacy is not free, but it benefits the country and the economy far more than it costs.' The Conservative Party branded Labour 'hypocrites', saying ministers in Gordon Brown's government had their hands in the 'taxpayer-funded cookie jar'. A source said the Conservatives 'swiftly cut the number of cards' and 'introduced a requirement for spending to be publicly declared'. You may have used them to help navigate on a long car journey or during an adventurous walk in the countryside. But now the reassuringly timeless Ordnance Survey (OS) maps are getting a modern makeover with the mapmaker asking the public to recommend new, useful symbols. Potential updates suggested by OS include bicycle repair shops, cafes, dog waste bins and accessibility notes for wheelchair users. In 2015, OS ran a competition for the public to design new symbols, which included electric car charging points. But these have not yet been implemented due to the market changing at a phenomenal pace. The paper maps, first published in 1801, are updated every three to five years, but the master copy map of the UK is a huge digital file which is updated with 20,000 new pieces of information every day. The reassuringly timeless Ordnance Survey (OS) maps are getting a modern makeover with the mapmaker asking the public to recommend new, useful symbols However, some have criticised OSs slow progress and suggest that the maps need more radical change to keep up with the pace of our evolving country. Alexander Kent, of the International Cartographic Association, told the Sunday Times: OS maps are an expression of what the country sees as important. 'But they arent reflective of the diversity that we have in modern Britain. OS said its maps were intended primarily to help people navigate in the great outdoors. But gaps in staffing mean patients will have to call 111 or 999 when unmonitored 'Virtual wards' designed to relieve pressure on the NHS may backfire as some are only staffed 12 hours a day, a senior doctor has warned. The system works by giving patients devices to monitor vital signs like blood pressure at home, with readings sent to their doctors via a smartphone app, freeing up hospital beds. But some of the 'wards' are only staffed 12 hours a day, with patients told to call 111 or 999 for help at other times, the Sunday Telegraph reported. NHS England says the wards must be staffed for a minimum of between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week but outside these hours cover must be determined on a local basis. Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said A&E doctors were concerned that the closure of some virtual wards at 8pm meant 'someone's left holding the baby'. 'Virtual wards' designed to relieve pressure on the NHS may backfire as some are only staffed 12 hours a day (file image) People queue for the Emergency Department (A&E) at St Thomas' hospital in London, Britain on January 2 He added: 'People will seek help, they may dial NHS 111... and we know that there are problems with inadequate clinical support to NHS 111 and this results in people being sent ambulances, or to emergency departments, or to out-of-hours GPs, when perhaps they didn't need it.' 'So we are worried it may create, inadvertently, extra health demand.' Rishi Sunak reportedly plans to expand the service, aiming to have 50,000 people supported by 'virtual wards' each month. Dr Boyle said virtual wards must not be seen as a 'silver bullet', adding: 'We're very wary of virtual ward beds being used to say that there are increased beds within hospitals because that's simply not true.' An NHS spokesman said: 'Every local health system in England has a plan to ensure that virtual wards are rolled out safely and provides out-of-hours services or night nursing teams.' NHS consultants are running private companies that offer to cut waiting lists at the hospitals where they work, it was reported yesterday. So-called insourcing agencies charge the health service to treat patients at evenings and weekends and have won millions of pounds in contracts. But questions over conflicts of interest have arisen because some of the consultants work at NHS trusts that have awarded contracts to their own companies. The Centre for Health and the Public Interest think-tank called for a ban on such arrangements, following the report in the Observer. The General Medical Council said the conflicts of interest did not always deliver the transparency and assurance that patients rightly expect. Insourcing is when teams of doctors and nurses are brought in to treat patients on NHS premises out-of-hours. NHS consultants are running private companies that offer to cut waiting lists at the hospitals where they work Trusts say it can be cheaper than outsourcing to private hospitals because using NHS premises reduces overheads and helps reduce the treatment backlog. One company, Pioneer Healthcare, was paid 6.5million to cut backlogs at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Three senior consultants who run the firm work at hospitals in the city. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust paid more than 1million to a company run by three of its surgeons one of whom is a former clinical director in 2022. Several of the private firms have high profits and offer large payouts for their employees, it was reported. The Observer said consultants at the companies can be paid up to 2,000 a shift, up from 137.58 an hour maximum on the NHS. But Totally, which acquired Pioneer Healthcare in 2022, told the paper that all contracts were awarded through formal and anonymous procurement processes and they had helped cut waiting lists by 40,000 people a year. Record backlogs in the wake of the Covid pandemic have led one analyst, Mansfield Advisors, to predict the insourcing market will be worth 295million next year, up from 44million in 2019. David Rowland, director of the Centre for Health and the Public Interest, said the current rules were woefully weak and questions over conflicts of interest would always arise if youve got money going from an NHS trust to a company owned by senior employees. Neil Priestley, chief finance officer for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: There is no conflict of interest and the individuals concerned have been transparent in their declaration of interests which is publicly available. The Manchester University Trust said: We undertake all non-pay procurement in accordance with public procurement contracts regulations, our governance framework and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply guidance. The NHS said: While its in part thanks to the use of the independent sector that the NHS in England has already virtually eliminated two-year waits for elective treatment, guidance is clear that insourcing should not be used where temporary workers are paid escalated rates. Actor Ezra Miller returned to the public eye Sunday in a Super Bowl trailer for their upcoming movie The Flash, a $200million DC Comics production that came into question during the actor's recent personal problems. Miller, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, narrowly avoided jail time last month after accepting a plea deal in connection with a break in at a southern Vermont home May last year. The 30-year-old agreed to a suspended sentence of 89 to 90 days in jail for the misdemeanor of 'unlawful trespass,' according to a plea deal filed with the Vermont Superior Court. Miller was also fined $500 plus a $192 surcharge and placed on probation for a year. Two other charges were dropped, including a felony burglary charge that could have carried a sentence of 25 years in prison. The trailer for The Flash film - a $7million Super Bowl ad buy - is notable for its likely final inclusion of Ben Affleck as Batman and Michael Keaton's return as the Caped Crusader. Actor Ezra Miller returned to the public eye Sunday in a Super Bowl trailer for their upcoming movie The Flash, a $200million DC Comics production that came into question during the actor's recent personal problems Vermont Police charged Miller with felony burglary of an unoccupied dwelling May 1, with the actor claiming they were in the house to look for ingredients for a recipe for their mother. Miller was accused of taking bottles of gin, vodka and rum from their neighbor's pantry on that day at around 5pm in the afternoon. They told their attorney on Friday that they were grateful for the love and support they received. 'Ezra Miller pled guilty this morning to a misdemeanor unlawful trespass in Vermont Superior Court and accepted the conditions imposed by the court,' Miller's attorney Lisa Shelkrot said on behalf of the embattled actor. 'Ezra would like to thank the court and the community for their trust and patience throughout this process. 'They would once again like to acknowledge the love and support they have received from their family and friends, who continue to be a vital presence in their ongoing mental health.' In a video from the Vermont court on Friday, Miller was seen to plead 'guilty' while standing beside their attorney and speaking to Judge Kerry Ann McDonald-Cady The prosecutor said in court Friday that this resolution protects his client's privacy without having to go to trial Actor #EzraMiller, best known for his role as "The Flash," appeared in Vermont court Friday and accepted a plea deal to avoid jail time for his role in an alleged alcohol theft dating back to May. pic.twitter.com/52WuKtZRmW Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) January 13, 2023 Miller, who asked that the court address them as Mx. Miller, entered the courtroom at the beginning of the hearing with their lawyer. They wore a black suit jacket over a black crewneck shirt and pants and a black face mask with their long hair pulled back, as seen in videos of the proceedings on Twitter. The prosecutor said in court Friday that this resolution protects his client's privacy without having to go to trial. It also ensures compliance with conditions that would protect the victim and allows the defendant to continue employment with mental health treatment. 'I do find they strike the balance of both your rehabilitation and continue to make sure that you're a healthy citizen and also a punishment factor here,' said Judge Kerry Ann McDonald-Cady of the deal terms. 'So I do find this an appropriate sentence and in the interest of justice.' Vermont Police charged Miller with felony burglary of an unoccupied dwelling May 1 - with the non-binary actor claiming they were in the house to look for ingredients for a recipe for their mother Miller played The Flash in the DC Cinematic Universe - and was pulled into crisis meetings with Warner Bros over their behavior Miller (pictured in a mugshot taken for separate charges in Hawaii) will also be fined $500 plus a $192 surcharge and be placed on probation for a year. Two other charges were dropped, including a felony burglary charge that could have carried a sentence of 25 years in prison She added that the conditions are 'about mental health, substance-free living' and no contact with the neighbor. As part of the plea agreement, Miller also agreed not to consume alcohol if it interfered with their employment or interaction with others and the actor must continue with rehabilitation efforts around their mental health treatment. McDonald-Cady then went over the state's standard probation conditions, including the requirement to notify their probation officer of any employment or address changes and told Miller to check in with probation before 3 pm Friday. The 30-year-old Flash actor had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful trespassing, two charges for burglary to an unoccupied dwelling and petit larceny for allegedly breaking into a Vermont home and stealing three bottles of alcohol. Miller had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming they were getting ingredients for a recipe for their mother and can be seen here with attorney Lisa Shelkrot who said in a statement that Miller had wanted to acknowledge the ongoing love and support of family and friends Vermont State Police said in a statement at the time they were notified of 'a burglary complaint at a residence on County Road in the town of Stamford, Vermont. 'The initial findings indicated that several bottles of alcohol were taken from within the residence while the homeowners were not present,' the statement continued. 'As a result of an investigation that included surveillance videos and statements, probable cause was found to charge Ezra M. Miller with the offense of felony burglary in an unoccupied dwelling.' Miller was previously arrested in Hawaii on separate charges for assault of a woman They were arrested in August, and entered their now defunct not guilty plea in October when a judge ordered they stay away from neighbor Isaac Winokur - the house they stole the bottles from, as well as neighbor Aiden Early. The actor spoke only to confirm that they understood the conditions of their bail. It was just the actor's most recent run-in with the law. They had also been accused of grooming, after the parents of Tokota Iron Eyes, a Native American activist, 18, filed a protection order against the actor. Her parents accused Miller of grooming their child and other inappropriate behavior with her as a minor from the age of 12 which has been disputed by Tokota. A Massachusetts mother was granted a temporary order of protection against Miller in June, on behalf of the woman's 12-year-old child. It was granted after the judge found the child faced 'substantial likelihood of immediate danger of harassment.' Miller has been accused of 'grooming' and 'brainwashing' Tokata Iron Eyes, 18 (backseat), who is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. They are pictured together here in a car Miller is seen here in their breakout film The Perks Of Being A Wallflower in 2012 A mother-of-three and her young children have also moved into Miller's Vermont farmhouse which is allegedly filled with guns and large quantities of marijuana. The father of the children claims that the mother, 25, left their island home in Hawaii with Miller in April, and took the children without his consent. Video from April, obtained by Rolling Stone, reportedly showed at least eight assault weapons, rifles, and handguns lying around the living room. It's also claimed they created a secret harem out of their Vermont ranch - a de facto convent - where the star is claimed to have asserted themselves as a Jesus figure over a group of women. Miller was also arrested twice in Hawaii in March last year - charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault. They were accused of shouting and swearing at customers as they sang karaoke at a bar in Hilo, as well as grabbing a microphone from a 23-year-old woman. At a court hearing for the incident, they pleaded no contest to one count of disorderly conduct and paid a $500 fine. A video surfaced on Twitter of Miller appearing to choke a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland, in April 2020 - but did not appear to result in any charges Miller was previously charged with disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar following two arrests in Hawaii in March last year one of which is pictured In April, one month later that year, the star was accused of throwing a chair at a 26-year-old woman, hitting her at a private party in Pahoa. A video of Miller appearing to choke a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland, also surfaced in April 2020, but did not result in any charges. In August Miller announced that they were seeking treatment for 'complex mental health issues', after Hollywood bosses were forced to reconsider their future in the DC's cinematic universe. They said in a statement: 'Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment.' 'I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe, and productive stage in my life.' New DC Studios bosses James Gunn (left) and Peter Safran (right) said they are supporting Miller in their recovery at this time New DC Studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran appear to be standing firmly behind Miller, who they claim is 'committed to their recovery.' While sharing the upcoming slate for the 'new DC,' Gunn described the upcoming $200 million movie starring the non-binary actor as 'probably one of the greatest superhero movies of all time,' leading many to wonder if Miller will return. The DC slate dubbed 'Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters' will officially begin on July 11, 2025 with 'Superman Legacy' after the universe is 'reset' by 'The Flash.' The studio heads, who took over DC in October, remained mostly tight-lipped about Miller's future with the studio overall but applauded the actor for their focus on their mental health. Gunn did however state there is 'nothing that prohibits' any previously cast actors from reprising their roles in the new universe, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Safran said that after the series of criminal incidents Miller has been involved in, they are still just focused on the actor's recovery. 'Ezra is completely committed to their recovery. We are fully supportive of that journey they are on right now,' Safran said. Lawyers for Alec Baldwin's embattled production company have accused famed attorney Gloria Allred of not properly presiding over her client's lawsuit against the actor - alleging she was traumatized after witnessing Halyna Hutchins' on-set death. The declaration came in a new filing from attorneys representing Baldwin's El Dorado Pictures and Rust Movie productions, and serves as the latest development in a lawsuit filed more a year ago by Rust's script supervisor Mamie Mitchells. Filed on Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the motion orders for a judge to impose monetary sanctions against the storied women's rights attorney. That same day, Allred, who was enlisted by Mitchell in November 2021 to handle the suit, filed another lawsuit against the embattled actor, this time on behalf of the parents and sister of cinematographer Hutchins, who was killed in October 2021. Baldwin's lawyers now claim that since Allred came on to represent Mitchell, she has gone AWOL - not bothering to submit necessary discovery documents and perform other basic legal duties. Lawyers for Alec Baldwin's production company have accused famed attorney Gloria Allred of not properly presiding over her Screen Supervisor Mamie Mitchell's lawsuit against the actor Baldwin and Hutchins on the set of Rust last year. He maintains he never pulled the trigger, Mitchell alleges she was traumatized after seeing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death Mitchell, who had been standing near Baldwin accidentally shot and killed Hutchins and wounded the film's director Joel Souza, maintains that she has suffered from PTSD after the October 2021 incident, for which Baldwin is currently facing manslaughter charges. The suit demands compensation for physical and emotional damages allegedly sustained by the staffer as a result of the incident, which transpired on October 21, 2021, in a replica church on the Western's New Mexico set. It names names 22 defendants associated with the film in total - including Baldwin, several producers, Baldwin's El Dorado Pictures, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and First Assistant Director David Halls, who, unlike Reed and Baldwin, escaped trial by pleading guilty to the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. All three of the aforementioned film staffers handled the firearm that killed Hutchins directly before the tragedy. The firearm, inexplicably, was loaded when it was handed to Baldwin by AD Halls, after it had been inspected by the film's rookie armorer. Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are facing a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted of a firearm enhancement on that charge, they'll face an additional five years. Mitchell, like Halls, Hutchins, and several other staffers on the yet-to-be-released film's set, was present for the tragedy, and allegedly stood just a few feet from Hutchins, 42, when she was struck in the chest by the bullet fired by Baldwin. Within weeks of the incident, Mitchell, 64, like several others, filed suit against Baldwin and his production company, enlisting Allred as representation. Appearing alongside Allred in November 2021 to announce the suit, Mitchell said Baldwin 'intentionally' fired the gun during the on-set shooting Appearing alongside 81-year-old Allred in November 2021 to announce the suit, Mitchell made some sensational claims regarding Baldwin, 64, including that he 'intentionally' fired the gun during the on-set shooting. She proceeded to sue the multiple parties involved in the film's production, claiming assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on October 21 on the set of the movie Every charge against the production company, aside from negligence, has since been tossed. In response, both Baldwin and El Dorado have maintained that Mitchell's suit never explicitly stated how the actor, his company, or any of the other defendants owed a duty of care to her that made them negligent. On Thursday, attorneys for El Dorado and Rust Movie Productions LLC added to these claims, saying Allred, over the past seven months, has failed to respond to concerns despite being granted several extensions - and therefore should have to pony up. According to the filing, which has been viewed by DailyMail.com, Baldwin's attorneys encountered their first roadblock when they served Allred and her team a set of 125 questions as part of the discovery process in July 2022. After Allred missed the first 30-day deadline, the attorneys wrote they granted two 30-day extensions, and eventually received answers in October. However, those responses, according to the lawyers, were nothing more than meaningless 'boilerplate objections' meant to slow the discovery process to a grinding halt, that 'refused to provide any substantive information.' The attorneys added that after airing their concerns over the contents of the responses to Mitchells team, Allred agreed to provide better answers in the next few weeks, 'acknowledging the obvious deficients' of her prior responses. The suit demands compensation for physical and emotional damages allegedly sustained by the staffer as a result of the incident, which transpired on October 21, 2021, on this Santa Fe set However, the filing alleges that those revisions never came, despite the promises of the high-profile attorney, whose clients have included the family of the slain Nicole Brown Simpson and Laci Peterson. Emails included in the filing from Allred's team, dated November 7, show that the attorney promised the responses would come by November 11. After missing that deadline, another email from the plaintiff's team, dated November 14, said the response would instead come on November 18. That deadline, however, also came and went, according to the Thursday filing - with the production companys attorneys claiming they have still yet to receive a response. The motion filed Thursday demands the court issue and order that requires Mitchell and Allred to respond, as well as $2,130 in costs to cover the motion. Allred, meanwhile, on Thursday appeared at a press conference to announce yet another suit against Baldwin - this one filed by the parents and sister of the slain Hutchins claiming wrongful death. Allred and Mitchell have yet to issue a response to the filing. The suit, filed by Allred and Mitchell a month after Hutchins' death, charged Baldwin's production company with assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. Every charge, aside from negligence, has since been tossed Mitchell was standing close to Hutchins, when the bullet fired from Baldwin's gun killed her and then injured the director Joel Souza. The suit claims assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and deliberate infliction of harm. It also states that the scene being shot did not require a gun to be fired. 'I ran out and called 911 and said 'Bring everybody, send everybody,'' Mitchell said during a press conference. 'This woman is gone at the beginning of her career. She was an extraordinary, rare, very rare woman.' Mitchell said she was standing less than four feet away from Hutchins when she was shot and was hit by residue from that bullet. 'I will never forget what happened on the set of Rust that day,' she said. 'I relive the shooting and the sound of the explosion from the gun over and over again.' Mitchell said she was left depressed and 'frightened of the future'. 'This violent tragedy has taken away the joy in my life,' she added. She said she wants to prevent what happened on the set from happening to anyone else. Artificial intelligence is to be used to check if carers are likely to quit their jobs. Any issues employees have had with pay, punctuality, or problems with their manager will be among the data fed into the algorithm. The technology is meant to combat the staffing crisis in social care by giving bosses an early chance to persuade workers to stay. Private healthcare company Cera claims its AI could prevent around 50,000 staff leaving every year. The firm said it has been shown to detect carers who are at risk of quitting three times more accurately than human managers can. AI technology is meant to combat the staffing crisis in social care by giving bosses an early chance to persuade workers to stay (file image) Vacancies in adult social care increased by 52 per cent in one year to 165,000, according to figures from last October. Cera is launching the technology this month in some areas of England including London, Essex, and the North East and Scotland. A recent report found care workers described their job as rewarding, with strong feelings of satisfaction in improving patients lives. Cera said its AI aimed to identify when such factors may be absent, so they can be addressed. Chief executive Dr Ben Maruthappu MBE, said: Retaining those currently in the sector is often overlooked, as priorities remain to attract new staff. Artificial intelligence is to be used to check if carers are likely to quit their jobs (file image) Using artificial intelligence and machine learning to help predict staff turnover will allow healthcare teams to spend more time doing what they do best - care - resulting in a better experience for patients. In October 2022, Skills for Care revealed the number of posts in the adult social care had risen by 0.3 per cent to 1.79 million. However, It found that fewer posts had been filled - dropping by 50,000 - and more existing posts were vacant - rising by 55,000. Its report suggested the problem was due to difficulties in staff retention and recruitment, with employers struggling to find and keep people. The problem is set to get worse with half a million extra workers predicted to be needed in social care by the early 2030s. A neighbor told a local outlet other women were also seen entering his home He was accused of inviting the woman to his home for a 'ritual' and raping her Hassan Shalgheen, 44, met the woman online and claimed to be a 'witch doctor' A 44-year-old man in Georgia who was described by police as a 'witch doctor' was arrested for rape and false imprisonment after luring a woman into his apartment for a 'cleansing ritual'. Hassan Shalgheen was arrested last week after a woman said he sexually assaulted her in his apartment in Gwinnett County, around 20 miles north east of Atlanta. Duluth police officers responded to the Berkeley Landing apartments on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard regarding a sexual assault call at 11.15pm last Sunday. The victim met with police outside his apartment and told them she had been raped by Shalgheen. A neighbor told WSB-TV they had seen multiple women going in and out of his apartment. Hassan Shalgheen, 44, was arrested last week after a woman said he sexually assaulted her in his apartment in Gwinnett County, around 20 miles north east of Atlanta Police body cam footage showed officers raiding Shalgheen's home later that night and arresting him According to a police incident report the two first met on social media. 'The victim described the suspect as a 'witch doctor' and initially went to his apartment to be 'cleansed' during a 'ritual,' it said. The victim told police that after entering the apartment she was forced to take off her clothes and sexually assaulted. An arrest warrant suggested that she sent him two online payments totaling $500 for his services as a witch doctor. Police body cam footage showed officers raiding Shalgheen's home later that night and arresting him. He appeared sitting on the steps outside the apartment in handcuffs. 'We're here to execute a search warrant. I'm going to have my copies here with me, and also, we got a search warrant for mucus swabs, DNA,' one of the officers was heard telling Shalgheen. In the footage, which was released by Duluth Police Department, more than a dozen officers could be seen, some with shields and helmets. Shalgheen was sitting calmly on the steps to the apartment. Duluth police officers responded to the Berkeley Landing apartments on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard regarding a sexual assault call at around 11.15pm on Sunday Shalgheen appears in the body cam footage sitting on the steps to the apartment in handcuffs Video of the scene recorded by WSB-TV the next day showed damage to his front door. He was booked into the Gwinnett County Adult Detention Center on a $5,900 bond for two counts of rape, false imprisonment, theft by deception and sexual battery. Police are now asking additional people that may have been targeted by Shalgheen to come forward. A leading forensic expert who carried out a specialist search for Nicola Bulley on the River Wyre has now offered to continue searching for the missing mother-of-two on land, after insisting she was not in the water. Peter Faulding, founder of Specialist Group International - a search and rescue company providing specialist services to emergency services around the world - said he has offered to return to Lancashire privately to investigate Ms Bulley's disappearance. Ms Bulley, 45, went missing while walking her dog Willow in St Michael's on Wyre on January 27, near her home in Inskip, shortly after dropping her nine and six-year-old daughters at school. Lancashire Police have been working under the hypothesis that the mortgage adviser fell into the river - but admit there is no evidence to prove this happened. It comes as it was revealed overnight a witness informed police they saw two men who appeared to be hiding their faces close to Ms Bulley's regular route the day before she disappeared - and one of them again on the morning she vanished. Mortgage adviser Nicola Bulley, 45, pictured walking her dog Willow along with partner of 12 years Paul Ansell Peter Faulding CEO of private underwater search and recovery company Specialist Group International (SGI), in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire Two men who appeared to be hiding their faces were spotted near Nicola Bulley's walking route the day before she went missing, it has been reported Mr Faulding, who conducted extensive searches of the riverbed using sonar technology, has publicly stated he believes Ms Bulley is not in the River Wyre. He told the Telegraph: 'I'm visiting in my own time to discuss looking at other areas without interfering with the police operation. 'Normally you carry out land searches, that's what the family want'. He said Ms Bulley's family said she was a cautious person who did not walk close to the riverbank, and that her previous Fitbit data backed up their account. Mr Faulding believes she 'would have to be pushed really hard to be launched out into the middle of the river' and as the water was slow flowing on the day, she would have been found by police divers. He added: 'There is lots of odd stuff here. If she isn't found then I would say something is not right.' Ms Bulley's family and friends have repeatedly appealed to the public to continue to come forward with information, adding they do not agree with the police's theory. Partner Paul Ansell said last week he is '100 percent' sure she is not in the water. Mr Faulding's intervention comes as it was revealed two men who appeared to be hiding their faces were spotted near Nicola Bulley's walking route the day before she went missing. A local resident alleged that two men - who appeared to be wearing hoods or hats - were near to St Michael's church just over 24 hours prior to Nicola's disappearance. The witness claimed that he reported this 'strange' incident to the police who took nine days to respond before asking him for a statement. Remaining anonymous, he told The Sun: 'I first saw them at around 7.45am on my way to work on the Thursday, the day before Nicola Bulley vanished. I drive that way every day, so know the road well. 'I saw two men wearing dark clothing and hoods or hats and carrying fishing rods.' While the witness acknowledged that they may have been fisherman, he felt on edge as 'they seemed to want to hide their faces'. Friends and family tied ribbons to a footbridge over the River Wyre, including one from partner Paul Ansell following Nicola Bulley's disappearance Peter Faulding discusses his underwater search with Ms Bulley's partner Paul Heart-warming messages were written on the yellow ribbons left near the place that Nicola went missing Nicola Bulley and her partner Paul Ansell were planning on getting married in the near future The same witness also reported seeing one of the men at a similar time the next day - again seeming to cover their face. On finding out Nicola had disappeared, the witness called officers who were appealing for information. But it is reported that he gave them a follow-up call after hearing nothing back for several days. He added: 'It's frustrating, it would have been much better if I had been spoken to straight away as it was fresher in my mind.' MailOnline has approached Lancashire Police regarding the allegations. The revelation comes as police have returned to properties in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire for the fourth time as family and friends continue to share heartbreaking appeals for the safe return of the mother-of-two. The 45-year-old was last seen at around 9.10am on January 27 as she walked her dog Willow along the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, close to her home in Inskip. Police continue to search the River Wyre believing Ms Bulley fell in, but her family and friends have repeatedly said they do not believe this is what happened. Today they wrote messages of love and support appealing for her safe return, including one from partner Paul Ansell which read: 'Nikki I love you! xxxxx Come home now.' Other messages included 'We need you home Nikki', 'Never give up hope' and 'Praying for your safe return'. Detectives are said to have visited a local garage on Thursday requesting CCTV footage from the day before Ms Bulley vanished. They had already taken images from the day of her disappearance. It is unknown if the new CCTV request was in relation to the witness's account or not. CCTV is also understood to have been obtained from The Grapes village pub. Mortgage advisor Nicola Bulley, 45, went missing along the River Wyre on January 27 (Pictured with partner Paul Ansell) One ribbon tied to the footbridge read: 'We need you home Nikki' Yellow ribbons with messages of hope tied to a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire Experts have identified to MailOnline a number of possibilities and clues that could help case Charlotte Drake, who lives next door to the couple in the nearby village of Inskip, said of the new police activity: 'It's a positive... We have to keep up the positivity that she can be found. 'Someone knows something and everyone needs to keep an open mind. 'We just need some extra pieces to fit into this jigsaw, no matter how small.' She added that Mr Ansell is appealing for people to look for Ms Bulley's missing Mercedes car keys. Writing on social media, Ms Drake said: 'The strength this man [Paul] has shown over the past 14 days is nothing short of a miracle. 'When many would be sat at home waiting for news he is using the media exactly as it should be used, to share the facts, highlight the lack of evidence and spread the word far and wide, so that he can hopefully reach someone that knows something.' She added: 'Backing Pauly Ansell all the way to bring Nicola Jane Bulley back to him and their beautiful girls. We are all behind you, from our little street.' In a previous post, she encouraged the public to remember 'this lovely person who has gone missing is a real person.' She said: 'As a neighbour/friend I can categorically say she is the type of person that would drop everything to help any single one of us going through this. So please, let's give her that effort in return.' Speaking to the Metro, she added that Paul is using his strength because he does 'not want to break down on camera in front of his children', who he is trying to protect from the worst of his worry. Her comments came as Paul revealed his partner's car keys remain missing and asked the public to look out for them. They are 'a Mercedes key with a couple of Mercedes keyrings on it, one black and one blue, a round wooden key ring with paw prints on it, and a couple of normal keys.' 'They were definitely on Nikki at the time, a huge bunch of keys, a Mercedes keyring with paw prints which she would have put in her coat pocket,' he told Metro. Police officers continue to patrol the riverside on Sunday, February 12 Police officers walk along a footpath in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, as they continue their search for missing woman Nicola Bulley Charlotte Drake (left) lives next door to Nicola Bulley (right) and says she would 'never leave' her family or dog behind Ms Bulley, 45, disappeared without a trace at around 9.20am as she walked her dog Willow Paul Ansell, right, pictured with his partner Nicola Bulley - who vanished two weeks ago while walking her dog near the River Wyre in Lancashire A missing person appeal poster for Nicola Bulley on a bridge crossing the River Wyre on Saturday Speaking to the paper, Charlotte also described the relationship Nicola had with her beloved dog and family. She said: 'Even in our small road Willow wouldn't go to the end of the drive without Nikki. There is no way Willow would ever leave her side, and vice versa. 'Nikki would never, ever have left Willow, the girls and Paul. Ever.' The mother-of-two, 45, vanished while walking her dog along their regular route in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, shortly after taking her two daughters to school. The mortgage adviser's phone was found on a bench overlooking the river, still connected to a work call. Willow's harness was found nearby. Police have been working under the hypothesis that she got into trouble in the River Wyre and drowned, but despite meticulously combing the water, dive teams have found no trace of Ms Bulley. Lancashire Police has come under fire from search experts and ex-police officers for appearing to rule out third-party involvement too quickly - but in a statement released on Friday the force said they are keeping 'an open mind' about her disappearance. Police have also admitted that she could have left the area via a path not covered by CCTV. Three blind-spots have been identified in the area surrounding where Ms Bulley went missing. Friends and family have this weekend left yellow ribbons with handwritten messages on a bridge close to where she disappeared. Ribbons with messages including 'We need you home Nicola', 'praying for your safe return' and 'I love you' have been tied to a footbridge over the River Wyre. A large poster with a photograph of Ms Bulley has also been attached to the railings. It comes as the search has entered the 17th day. Partner Paul Ansell, who Ms Bulley had planned to marry, spoke in a programme on Channel 5 on Friday, asking anyone with information to come forward, saying he believes something must have happened to his partner 'in the village' of St Michael's on Wyre. Mr Ansell said he is '100 percent' sure that the mortgage advisor, 45, did not fall in the River Wyre in Lancashire during an interview filmed for 'Vanished: Where is Nicola Bulley?'. He said the river path, which Ms Bulley walked often, was 'about as well known a walk to us as you could possibly do', adding: 'On the very odd occasion when you see somebody that you don't know, they stand out like a sore thumb. 'So whatever has happened, in my eyes, has to be somebody who knows the local area. And the fact that nothing's been seen or heard, I just truly believe that it's something in the village.' Discussing the impact of Ms Bulley's disappearance on his two daughters, Mr Ansell said: 'Any parent knows that all you want to do this is make everything better for your children'. He added: 'But I can't do that'. Yellow ribbons with messages of hope written on them, are tied to a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre One of the yellow ribbons placed on the bridge today reads: 'Praying for your safe return' He is instead focussing on keeping the worst of his worry at bay when he is with his daughters and attempts to distract them as much as possible. He said: 'The only thing that I can do is tell them that everybody is looking for mummy. The best people like in the world are looking for mummy, just to give them that you know that that level of hope that they can understand that everything that can be done to find mummy is being done. 'And I just have to hope that that is enough, you know, for them, to sort of put them at rest at that particular moment before the questions come again.' He added: 'I can't put those girls to bed again with no answers.' Lancashire Police were invited to appear on the programme but declined to do so. Aside from the river itself, there are only two other exits from the area, one of which is covered by CCTV. Friends of the missing mother have claimed that CCTV covering the other exit, close to mobile home site Rowanwater, is not working. This camera would have covered the fields to the south of where Ms Bulley was last seen. After reviewing other CCTV footage, police are confident that Nicola did not leave the field near the river via Rowanwater itself. Another blind-spot is a riverside path leading from the Wyreside Farm Caravan Park through to the A586, or Garstang Road. Officers have been attempting to trace dashcam footage from 700 drivers who passed along this route around the time of her disappearance. It comes after Peter Faulding, founder of the Specialist Group International team that assisted police in the river search, this week admitted it was his belief that she is not in the water - raising the prospect of a 'third party' involvement in the disappearance. A member of the North West Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit, during the search of the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, for missing woman Nicola Bulley Nicola's mobile phone was found on this bench with Willow's lead and harness on the ground Meanwhile, former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Philip Flower said 'neither the facts nor the evidence' support the official police hypothesis. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: 'Ms Bulley was a good swimmer. The water wasn't fast flowing. There are no slip-marks on the riverbank. 'And there doesn't appear to be anything that would indicate she could have hit her head and become unconscious. 'The police cannot afford to make such unsupported judgments in this day and age when, quite rightly, they are constantly under more rigorous scrutiny. 'Mistakes inevitably erode trust in the vital contract between citizens who, through their taxes, fund those officers of the law to protect them.' In a statement released on Friday, police said they are keeping an 'open mind' about her disappearance, and in a marked softening of their language said they still believe the missing mother 'may have' fallen into the river. But ex-Metropolitan Police Officer Mark Williams-Thomas said on the programme he was 'really struggling' with Lancashire Police's attitude towards the search and its media policy. He said: 'We shouldn't be here. The police should be here in a Watchdog-style programme appealing for evidence.' Nicola is white, 5ft 3ins tall, with light brown shoulder-length hair. She speaks with an Essex accent. She was last seen wearing a long, knee-length black quilted gilet with a hood. She had a black Engelbert Strauss coat underneath which had long sleeves and came to her waist. She was wearing tight black jeans and had long green walking socks tucked into her jeans. She was wearing size 5 ankle-length green wellington boots from Next. The state government had initiated safety inspections on hazardous industries. Factories department officials and those from other line departments were involved in these. They did several inspections and started a special drive on safety soon after the LG Polymers styrene gas leak in Visakhapatnam in May, 2020. However, there is no let-up in industrial mishaps in the state. (Photo by Arrangement) Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh has experienced a series of industrial mishaps claiming the lives of several workers due to companies non-compliance with safety norms. But, stunningly, no action has been initiated against the errant officials of the factories department so far. Massive corruption is suspected to be a reason. The state government had initiated safety inspections on hazardous industries. Factories department officials and those from other line departments were involved in these. They did several inspections and started a special drive on safety soon after the LG Polymers styrene gas leak in Visakhapatnam in May, 2020. However, there is no let-up in industrial mishaps in the state. Notably, mishaps are occurring even in non-hazardous industries. The recent mishap claiming seven lives in an edible oil packing unit at G Ragampeta village of Peddapuram mandal, Kakinada district, was blamed on blatant violation of safety norms. Factories authorities cite the excuse that they are facing a shortage of field- level officers. They also defend the staff by saying that "penalising the existing field staff for such mishaps will result in a further lack of manpower to do the inspections." This, they warn, would jeopardize the industrial safety further. State factories department director Chandrasekhar Varma said, "We are concerned about the rising number of industrial mishaps. But, penalising our field officers or suspending them will not change the attitude of the erring management." "We are coming up with an action plan by studying the models of other states on how to prevent industrial mishaps in our state and would make a comprehensive plan. Moreover, we are booking cases against firms that are failing to comply with safety norms after inspections and initiating prosecution against them." However, he was not ready to cite the number of prosecutions, if any, initiated so far. On the other hand, the factories authorities are allegedly trying to scuttle the investigations. They are asking the officers who failed in their duty to supervise the industries, to probe cases of industrial mishaps. These officials, who are allegedly notorious for bribe-taking, might cover up the lapses of errant industries and help them avoid facing penal action. This is unlike the practice being adopted in other departments where inquiries are conducted by senior officers from other places. Meanwhile, the inquiry report on mishap at the edible oil firm at G Ragampeta village came up with startling facts. It said the company failed to obtain a licence and also did not obtain plan approvals for the setting up of storage tanks, oil filling machinery and other equipment. A series of failures were also cited, like not having the manhole cover of adequate size for the oil storage tank and lack of steps to remove toxic gasses before allowing workers to step inside the tank to do the cleaning. Other safety drills were also not followed. A rope was not secured around the waist of the workers who stepped into the tank for the cleaning job. Had it been there, it would have helped in pulling them up in case of trouble. There were no D-rings to the ladders, no standard fire hydrant system and no bottom manhole point to the storage tanks to help workers enter inside them for sludge cleaning and so on. A British appeal to help earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria has raised more than 60million in three days. The Prince and Princess of Wales backed the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) campaign last week. And the UK Government has donated 5million to the fund, which supports 15 charities. But while charity bosses praised the hugely generous response from the British public, the Government faced growing calls to lift sanctions in Syria to ease aid drop-offs. On Saturday, the US announced a 180-day exemption to its sanctions on Syria for all transactions related to earthquake relief efforts. A British appeal to help earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria has raised more than 60million in three days. Pictured is devastation in Antakya, Turkey Emergency personnel and local people work at the site of collapsed buildings following a powerful earthquake in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey But when asked whether the UK would lift its own penalties on the war-torn country, development minister Andrew Mitchell defended the Governments response. He told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg yesterday ministers would do everything [they] can to make sure aid gets through to people who are suffering. He added: Specifically here, where sanctions would hold us back in any way, we would seek to have them lifted. 'But at the moment we are able to get what we want through. DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed said: Were incredibly grateful to the British public for their hugely generous response. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby claimed he was 'threatened with parliamentary action' to 'force' same-sex marriage on to the Church of England. Speaking at a global Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting in Ghana, Mr Welby also said many members of the General Synod 'dismissed' his concerns about recent reforms to the church. The archbishop's comments came after the the Church of England's legislative assembly, the General Synod, passed a motion to allow the blessing of same-sex couples in civil partnerships earlier this month. In his presidential address to the 18th plenary of the ACC, Mr Welby said that 'rules about sexuality in the Church of England' have been tabled for discussion because of growing atheism in the UK. At the meeting held in the Ghanaian capital Accra, he said that in the global north, Christian values of 'community and mutual responsibility' have been 'almost eliminated' in favour of individualism. Justin Welby said that 'many' members of the General Synod have dismissed his concerns about recent reforms The Archbishop of Canterbury attending a Church of England General Synod meeting in London Mr Welby said that when he has been approached by Christians who fear that Islam would 'take over Europe', he told them the 'greater danger' is posed by a growing number of atheists, who he refers to as 'nones'. 'I don't mean N-U-N-s,' he said. 'I mean those who when asked about their faith, say: None. I have no faith. 'The result is clear. In the last few weeks, as part of our discussions about sexuality and the rules around sexuality in the Church of England, I talked of our interdependence with all Christians, not just Anglicans, particularly those in the global south with other faith majorities. 'As a result I was summoned twice to Parliament, and threatened with parliamentary action to force same-sex marriage on us, called in England equal marriage. 'When I speak of the impact that actions by the Church of England will have on those abroad in the Anglican communion, those concerns are dismissed by many, not all, but by many in the General Synod.' Mr Welby said that in the Church of England, archbishops do not chair the General Synod or organise its debates. 'In the UK and in many parts of Europe the majority of people now belong to no faith at all,' he said. 'They are not Christians, they are not Muslims, they are not pagans, they are not Jews, they are not Hindus. They do not belong.' The archbishop also appeared critical of movements towards greater bodily autonomy and assisted suicide. 'We are in a completely different culture in the financially richer world, to where we were 30 years ago,' he said. 'We've replaced morality and Christian faith with personal control over our bodies. Birth with genetically-designed babies is not far away. 'And death is something that so many believe we have a right to choose in the way and at the time we want. 'Even my predecessor but one, George Carey, has spoken strongly in favour of assisted suicide in the Houses of Parliament - in the House of Lords.' He added: 'Modern European global north morality is a morality for the wealthy, the powerful and the intellectually well-educated, it is a morality that does not believe in human sinfulness and failure. 'It does not believe in forgiveness, it does not believe in hope. 'This is where the Church struggles.' The widow of a former RAF pilot who was killed when his military jet crashed in the Alps has slammed the Italian company who designed the aircraft for 'obstructing' his inquest. David Ashley, from Poole, Dorset, was on a training flight in an M-346 Fighter Attack jet when it crashed into Mount Lagnone in Italy in March 2022. Mr Ashley, 49, was being taken on a training flight with an instructor in the 25m jet at the time of the tragedy. The Italian pilot, Giampaolo Goattin, who survived, had told Mr Ashley that the aircraft was 'broken' eight days before the crash. An inquest hearing heard that the British investigations into the precise circumstances of Mr Ashley's death are being held up by issues of sharing documents between Italian prosecutors and the Dorset coroner. Widow Heather Ashley (right) of RAF pilot David Ashley (left) who was killed when his military jet crashed in the Alps has slammed the Italian company who designed the aircraft for 'obstructing' his inquest Italian company Leonardo SpA is refusing to share evidence for fear of breaching the confidentiality of the Italian preliminary investigation. Despite making a last minute application to have the British inquest suspended until March 2024, the company was overruled by Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin. Ms Griffin accused the Italian manufacturers of flagrant 'disrespect to the court and the family of David Ashley' by only making the application on Thursday night. Speaking to Miranda Hill, the lawyer acting for Leonardo SpA, she said: 'I'm in difficulty because of the prohibition which appears to be being imposed on documents being shared from the Italian public prosecutor to this investigation. 'I don't understand why you cannot tell me if Leonardo has the flight logs or even the flight manual. I don't feel that Leonardo SpA have been a help to me at all. 'Every order I have given to them they have ignored. You've acted in a way that is disrespectful to the court and the family of David.' David's wife Heather Ashley praised the British legal system for ensuring that all the information relating to the crash will come out. Mrs Ashley, said: 'I'm so relieved that the investigation will continue. I only learnt this morning that Leonardo SpA has been trying to get the investigation suspended. Ms Ashley (pictured arriving at Bournemouth Town Hall with legal team) praised the British legal system for ensuring that all the information relating to the crash will come out 'They haven't been cooperating with the coroner. This hearing has been set since last October, why did they only file their submission at nearly 9pm last night (Thursday 9)? 'That shows complete disrespect. They showed no respect at all for my husband. Where are their ethics and morals? 'I'm so relieved that the coroner's decision was to keep things going and keep making progress. My primary concern throughout all of this is to make sure that it never happens again. 'They are not assisting and they are clearly obstructing the process. Thank goodness for the UK judicial system. We will get some answers. 'If they have nothing to hide why are they not cooperating?' A further hearing which will provide an update to the coroner will be held in September. Mrs Ashley's legal representative, James Healy-Pratt - partner at Keystone Law, said: 'Legally I think they are trying to kick this case into the long grass. 'They have got some Italian lawyer to say that they cannot share evidence and they are refusing to cooperate. 'They have been trying to keep the genie in the bottle but it is out and it is in this court room.' Mr Ashley, a father of two and former RAF pilot, was working as an independent contractor for Leonardo SpA and carrying out his first familiarisation training flight when the crash occurred. He was killed on March 16, 2022 in Colico-Lecco in northern Italy. Both pilots ejected shortly before the aircraft crashed into a mountain. Water companies are set to avoid fines of up to 250million for spilling sewage into rivers and seas. Environment Secretary Therese Coffey is understood to believe the penalties are disproportionate. Ministers last year promised a rise in the maximum fines from 250,000 following persistent spills. But Ms Coffey is said to have refused to commit to higher fines and allies say she wants to look at the evidence with a fresh pair of eyes and do what is most effective. Water companies are set to avoid fines of up to 250million for spilling sewage into rivers and seas. but Therese Coffey believes the penalties are disproportionate There are also concerns that threatening companies with vast fines could scare off investors needed to fund 56billion in waterway infrastructure upgrades. However, Defra insists the biggest penalties are still on the table. Sources close to Ms Coffey insist that she believes her priority is an effective deterrent rather than high fines. It was billed as a secret cross-party summit, convened by concerned Leavers and Remainers to consider the supposed failings of Brexit and how to fix them. In fact the two-day gathering at a stately home in Oxfordshire was another tawdry stunt in the campaign to drag Britain back into the ambit of Brussels by those who cant accept the 2016 referendum result. So secret was this great symposium that an avidly Europhile newspaper was fully briefed on its contents and register of attendees. And as to being cross-party, aside from a couple of octogenarian peers, the only prominent Tory Brexiteer present was the ever-mercurial Michael Gove. Otherwise, it was the usual suspects; Remainer business chiefs, a few shadow cabinet ministers and, naturally, Lord Mandelson, without whom no anti-Brexit bash would be complete. All in all, a smug assemblage of arrogant Establishment figures who think they know best. Risibly, two ex-civil service mandarins who attended, Oliver Robbins (stunningly unsuccessful chief Brexit negotiator under Theresa May) and Tom Scholar, were described as non-political. Lord Frost last night warned of a plot to undermine Brexit after leading Remainers held a secret summit on EU relations Yet both resigned after falling out with the Government and both have been tipped for senior jobs under Labour, should the country be unwise enough to propel Sir Keir Starmer into power. Non-political? Of course these people have a right to their minority opinion. But their real intention, as Brexit champion Lord Frost tells the Mail, is to unravel the deals done in 2020 and go back to shadowing the EU. In the short term, they hope to bounce Rishi Sunak into diluting the withdrawal agreement and Sir Keir into committing a future Labour government to full re-alignment with Brussels. Both would be wise to ignore these siren voices and stand up for democracy. The best way to fix Brexit, as Lord Frost points out, is for the Government to honour its election mandate and properly embrace it, rather than listening to the likes of Mr Robbins, who made such a hash of things in the first place. The Tory peer said the gathering of prominent politicians, business chiefs and ex-civil servants at Ditchley Park showed a will to unravel the deal he helped negotiate with Brussels. And in a clear attack on the Government, he said ministers did not need to fix Brexit but rather implement it in full instead of raising taxes When the head of pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca announced last week that it was switching construction of a huge new manufacturing plant from Cheshire to Ireland, he gave three main reasons high UK taxes, poor state incentives for new investment and excessive red tape. Freed from Brussels interference, it is in the PMs gift to remove all these impediments and give British business the wings it needs to achieve growth. Its about time he got on with it. And all those whining Remainers should respect the referendum result rather than clinging to the pretence that the electorate was gulled into voting Leave. If they put half as much effort into making Brexit work as they do into trying to undermine it, this country would be in a much better place. Lefts BBC hypocrisy While it may be regrettable that Richard Sharp was not more open about his role in helping Boris Johnson secure a loan before being selected as BBC chairman, Labours howls of fury are preposterous. Did they complain when Tony Blair appointed Gavyn Davies, Labour donor and husband of Gordon Browns private secretary, to the same role? Or when staunch Labourite Greg Dyke became director-general. Or indeed, when ex-Labour minister James Purnell took over the key role of BBC head of strategy? Of course not. They loved it. The truth is that the BBC is a highly political organisation, and despite 12 years of Tory government, it remains heavily biased towards the liberal Left. Labour elevated cronyism to an art and its backers dominate the quangocracy and national broadcasters. By comparison, the Conservatives are rank amateurs. Police say the death is being treated as non-suspicious The mysterious death of a Comanchero bikie in a luxury resort pool just months after he patched over from a rival outlaw club will be examined by a coroner after cops ruled out foul play. Jason Kemp was discovered floating face down in the private pool of a villa at the five-star resort, The Pearle of Cable Beach in Western Australia, about 12.10pm on Saturday. Emergency services were called and rushed to the resort but Kemp, aged in his late 30s, could not be revived. Kemp had an astonishing criminal history, with more than 700 entries listed under his name in court records. His heavily tattooed body was smeared with the slogans paying homage to his connection to the underworld, with the words '1 crime pays' scrawled down his forearm and 'respect few, fear nothing' inked across his face in large black font. Jason Kemp (pictured left alongside his girlfriend in 2021) was found dead at a Western Australian resort on the weekend He switched from the Rebels to Comanchero in 2021 after being savagely beaten by a club member in prison. WA Police confirmed on Monday his death was being treated as non suspicious and a report would be prepared for the coroner. Kemp's extensive rap sheet includes pages of offences relating to driving, drugs, assaults, stealing, domestic violence and unlawful possession of weapons. Last year alone, he faced court twenty times for more than a dozen charges, which included grabbing someone's throat, possession of meth, cannabis, and prescription drugs. There were also string of road offences, including running red lights, riding a motorbike without a helmet, using a fake number plate and driving with drugs in his system. In 2017, he was jailed for holding his ex-girlfriend and her mother at gunpoint in a four-hour siege with police. 'It's actually quite amazing that he's been allowed in the community for this long,' state prosecutor Jason Chu said before his most recent prison stint. He was found floating face down in a private pool attached to a villa (similar villa pictured) He had been staying at The Pearle at Cable Beach (pictured) in Broome with his girlfriend One of the last photos posted of Kemp with a girlfriend (pictured) was in 2021 Kemp had been staying at the five-star resort near the popular tourist beach at Broome, in northern WA, with his girlfriend. The villa remained cordoned off by police tape on Sunday as investigators try to determine exactly what happened. One of the last photos posted online of Kemp and a partner shows the smitten couple in October 2021. Kemp can be seen wrapping his arm around his then-girlfriend, who had his name tattooed on her belly, as she put up her middle finger towards the camera. It is understood Kemp has been a member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club since mid-2021. Before that he was a full member of the Rebels. The switch, usually considered a great offence in bikie circles, occurred after he was savagely beaten by a fellow Rebel in May of that year inside Casurina Prison in WA. Kemp, who was doing a stint for drug and traffic charges, was left with severe head injuries that required a lengthy hospital stay. A large Rebel tattoo is seen on Kemp's forearm (pictured) before he was bashed by a fellow club member in 2021 WA Police said the bashing was a result of an internal dispute between the two club members and was not linked to tensions over the assassination of Rebels boss Nick Martin months earlier. Martin was gunned down by a sniper at the Kwinana motorsport complex, with a former soldier linked to the international mercenary group Shadows of Hope later pleading guilty. By July 2021, Kemp was blacking out his large Rebels forearm tattoo on photos he posted online. Later that month he posted a photo showing the word 'Comanchero' inked onto his forearm over the old tattoo. A young bank worker has died, and 12 others have been rushed to hospital after suffering suspected drug overdoses at a electronic music festival. Keiran Ngo, 26, was enjoying the Transmission Festival - a large indoor trance music event - at the Sydney Showground on Saturday when he began to feel sick. He took himself to Bankstown Hospital at about 1.30am on Sunday morning, where he tragically died just a few hours later. Police were called to Bankstown Hospital around 3 am to investigate the circumstances of Mr Ngo's death. It is not known what substance Mr Ngo ingested, but police are probing whether his death is related to the seizure of 400 MDMA tablets allegedly found on festival goers. Police have arrested and charged six men aged between 19 and 33 with drug supply offences after they were caught with MDMA. Kieran Ngo, 26, (pictured with his girlfriend Monica Nguyen) tragically died from a suspected drug overdose over the weekend A 23-year-old Oran Park man was allegedly in possession of 253 MDMA tablets, while a 21-year-old Fairfield West man was allegedly found with 149 MDMA tablets. As a high-risk event under the Music Festivals Act 2019, the festival was attended by police, security officers, paramedics and other medical professionals. The 23-year-old was refused bail after appearing at Parramatta Court on Sunday, while the 21-year-old was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Thursday. The other four men were issued Court Attendance Notices for supplying a prohibited drug and are due to appear in court at a later date. Mr Ngo, who was a senior lending associate at the Commonwealth Bank, was one of the dozens of attendees from the festival who sought medical treatment. Twelve other revellers who attended the large indoor trance event (pictured) have been hospitalised More than 130 people were treated by medics at the venue, with many of the complaints suspected to relate to drug use and heat exhaustion. Of those, 12 people were rushed to hospital by paramedics, including seven patients who were intubated on arrival. According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Ngo had been employed at the bank for six years after studying business and IT at Sydney's University of Technology. 'I have over six years of experience in the financial services industry across multiple roles and business areas. Subject matter expert for retail banking and home buying for the Southwest and Bankstown Area,' Mr Ngo wrote on his profile. Investigations into the incident are underway and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner. If you need help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 A woman is accused of stabbing her mum to death before ending her own life in a suspected murder-suicide with firefighters finding both bodies inside their charred home. Emergency services rushed to the home on Emerald St, in the southwest Adelaide suburb of Edwardstown, around 5am on Monday to reports of a fire. The flames were contained to a single room in the house and once firefighters had extinguished the blaze, police officers found the bodies of two women inside. The mum and daughter lived in the home, which was owned by a community housing provider called Your Place Housing, together. It's understood the daughter was struggling with a mental health condition and was being cared for her mum in the house when the attack occurred, The Advertiser reported. Police and emergency services were called to a house fire in Emerald Street, Edwardstown - 6km southwest of Adelaide CBD - around 5am on Monday SA police confirmed the bodies of two women were located inside the house Southern District CIB Detective Chief Inspector Kieran Baggoley said the deceased were related and officers were not looking for anyone else. Police had never been called to the house. He said a neighbour had called triple zero after noticing a fire starting inside the house. A Metropolitan Fire Service crew of 20 extinguished the blaze in just under 10 minutes. Major Crime detectives were at the scene on Monday, along with forensic and patrol officers. Det Chief Insp Baggoley said police were yet to confirm the ages of the deceased women, but more detail would be released once family members had been notified. He said smoke had travelled through the 'majority of the house' and damage was estimated to be at around $100,000. It is believed a neighbour had called triple zero after noticing a fire in the house The cause and circumstances of the fire and the death of both occupants remain under police investigation Det Chief Insp Baggoley said the incident was a 'tragedy' and there was no 'sugar coating' it. Your Place Housing owns more than 500 properties across Adelaide and is responsible for keeping a roof over people struggling with disability or social disadvantage. The organisation's chief executive told The Advertiser some tenants were supported through disability service providers. A young Aussie's dream holiday in Bali nearly ended in tragedy when she was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident that left her leg broken in several places and forced to learn how to walk again. Jordon Hunt, 23, from Sydney's Northern Beaches, had travelled to the Indonesian tourist hot spot in June last year after finishing her university exams. Ms Hunt and her friend had gone out to dinner for their final night in Bali and decided to hitch a ride with some friends who lived near their accommodation. She was on the back of a motor scooter when she suddenly saw a white four-wheel-drive hurtling towards her. 'I remember being face-to-face with this four-wheel drive coming straight towards me at 60km per hour,' Ms Hunt said. Jordon Hunt, 23, from Sydney's Northern Beaches, had travelled to the Indonesian tourist hot spot in June last year after finishing her university exams 'Then I just tightly closed my eyes as you'd expect you'd do in a dangerous situation like that.' The 23-year-old was thrown to the ground, and after initially losing consciousness, she woke up in a world of pain. 'I woke up, looking at the sky, with the bike still across my legs. The first thing I did was wiggle my toes, thinking to myself, if I can wiggle my toes, then I'm not paralysed,' she said. But the crash had left her with severe damage - her knee had been sliced open down to the bone, and had broken in multiple places. The 23-year-old was involved in a horror crash that left her knee broken in several places She had a splint put on her leg in a Bali public hospital and was left with a nasty scar 'I could see my kneecap, which wasn't the best experience,' Ms Hunt said. Ms Hunt was then taken to a public hospital but the treatment was sub-standard. 'They had splinted my leg, so I had one plank of wood underneath and two to the side with a bandage just holding it together,' she said. 'I'd been told I wasn't allowed to eat or drink any water, so I was very dehydrated at that point. It was quite hard to communicate with everyone, especially in the public hospital.' Her boyfriend who'd been travelling around Vietnam flew to be by her bedside, with Ms Hunt revealing he thought she was at risk of losing her leg altogether. She was nearly facing the prospect of receiving surgery at the public hospital before she contacted her travel insurer which got her a room at a private health facility. Ms Hunt is seen in hospital after her boyfriend flew to be by her side Ms Hunt's injuries meant she couldn't bend her leg properly and she has slowly re-learned how to walk again over the past eight months She was able to undergo surgery there and after nine days she was told she could finally return home to Sydney, with the insurer. 1Cover, covering her and her boyfriend's flights. Ms Hunt's injuries meant she couldn't bend her leg properly and she has slowly re-learned how to walk again over the past eight months. She also had to stop working as an assistant at a pharmacy and has ongoing rehabilitation treatment. The 23-year-old would have been nearly $50,000 out of pocket if she hadn't bought travel insurance. Her insurer now gives her $400 a week to go towards her mortgage and medical bills, as she tries to regain the strength to return to work. A spokesperson for 1Cover, Natalie Smith, said Ms Hunt forking out $70 for travel insurance saved her $48,000 in the long run. Ms Hunt has thanked her travel insurance company for giving her the funds she needed to recover 'Riding in places like Bali can be dangerous given the unpredictable nature of its roads,' Ms Smith said. 'Poor infrastructure along with a lack of traffic control can easily catch out unsuspecting tourists. It's important not to underestimate the risks of riding a scooter or motorbike overseas.' On Sunday Ms Hunt shared a post detailing her accident, which she labelled the 'most difficult' situation she'd ever been through. 'I lost my independence and some days my happiness,' she wrote on Instagram. 'But I have never been so proud of my self, my resilience and drive to getting back to where I was before my accident. 'I have learnt to appreciate everyday and all the little things life has to offer.' 1Cover only covers motorcycle accidents if the driver has a valid Australian motorcycle licence, and those riding are wearing helmets. Those under the influence of any drugs or alcohol will not be covered. A controversial biologist who resigned from the Whitehead Institute affiliated with MIT for alleged sexual misconduct last year has received a new round of funding from billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. Dr David Sabatini, 55, was a renowned cell biologist but in August 2021, an investigation found he had violated the institute's anti-harassment policies, leading to his resignation. But the Howard Hughes Medical Institute terminated his employment as a principal investigator, and MIT placed him on an unpaid leave of absence after a scientist in her early 30s raised sexual harassment claims. Sabatini, who denies the claims against him and is suing the accuser for defamation, will now be able to run a research lab for five years through a $25million grant funded by Ackman's Pershing Square Foundation and an anonymous donor. Ackman has publicly supported Sabatini throughout the scandal and has served on the scientific advisory council for his Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance since 2019. Dr. David Sabatini, a biologist who was removed from the Whitehead Institute due to allegations of sexual misconduct has received new funding from billionaire Bill Ackman Billionaire Bill Ackman has publicly supported Sabatini throughout his scandal and has served on the scientific advisory council for his Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance since 2019 Ackman announced funding of $25 million spread over five years in aid of Sabatini's new lab 'I am pleased to announce that last night at @PershingSqFdn scientific advisors dinner, we announced that we found a 50% funding partner for the new Sabatini lab. 'The new lab now has $5m of funding per year for five years. David is now making launch preparations for the lab. Allez!' Ackman tweeted. The logistics for the new lab have not yet been determined, but Sabatini hopes to continue his work in basic science exploratory research in Boston. It remains to be seen if a university will be willing to host the lab. Sabatini's resignation from MIT came after a failed attempt to secure a faculty position at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. MIT's President, Rafael Reif, stated that an MIT review found that Sabatini violated the university's policy on consensual sexual or romantic relationships and that his tenure should be revoked. David Sabatini said the belongings from his office were dropped off at his home following his departure from MIT. Sabatini is a biologist who once generated Nobel Prize buzz, and is hoping for a comeback after he was abruptly ousted amid allegations of sexual harassment 'Specifically, the reviewers found Professor Sabatini engaged in a sexual relationship with a person over whom he held a career-influencing role, he did not disclose the relationship at any time to his supervisors, and he failed to take any steps to relinquish his mentoring and career-influencing roles, as the policy requires. The Committee also had significant concerns regarding his unprofessional behavior toward some lab members,' Reif said in the statement at the time. Sabatini, who is known for his discoveries related to mTOR, a protein that regulates cell functions, did not request an appeal process. 'I'd never had an issue from HR, right , HR never came and said 'there's a complaint against you,' Sabatini told CNN regarding the Whitehead investigation. 'One thing that I wanted to be was always better and I mean, the irony of the situation is I actually think I was not only doing my best science, but I also think I was being the best mentor I had been when all this happened.' A group of Sabatini's former students even wrote a letter in support of him when the allegations were made public. A graduate student in her 30 went to lab director Dr. Ruth Lehmann and claimed to have experienced harassment at Sabatini's lab 'We cherished our time in this unique environment, and this is evidenced by the fact that our colleagues from our times in David's lab have become our professional and personal family in many ways. With this letter, we wish to affirm that we never experienced or observed an abusive lab culture or a sexualized lab environment, and we did not witness sexual harassment,' they wrote last year. The allegations against Sabatini involve a graduate student - whom DailyMail.com is not naming because she claims to be a victim of sexual misconduct - who said she was coerced into having sex with Sabatini. She also claimed that conversations in his lab were '85 percent sexual and 15 percent science,' and he harvested a work environment in which graduate students who agreed to flirt with him were rewarded, The Boston Globe reported. Following the claims, Sabatini sued The Whitehead and his accuser, arguing he was unjustly ousted over false sexual harassment claims concocted by a vengeful jilted lover. Until August, Sabatini ran a research lab at the prestigious Whitehead Institute at MIT. He obtained tenure at MIT in 2006 but was placed on administrative leave after claims of sexual harassment emerged MIT President Rafael Rief announced Sabatini's resignation from MIT on Friday in a statement directed to students and faculty, saying he had violated the university's consensual sexual or romantic relationships in the workplace policy Sabatini then filed a lawsuit against the institute, its director and the woman who claimed the sexual harassment. The lawsuit alleged defamation, wrongful interference with employment, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. According to the complaint, Sabatini had a 16-month-long consensual sexual relationship with his accuser, who worked with him at the institute. Sabatini was separated from his wife and heading for a divorce at the time, and his lab lover allegedly made it clear to him that she was not interested in an exclusive relationship and had other sexual partners. After Sabatini pulled the plug on the relationship in July 2019, his lover and colleague 'continued to attempt to engage with him sexually and emotionally despite his repeated requests that she stop,' according to the documents. Sabatini's accuser claimed that conversations in his lab were '85percent sexual and 15percent science,' and he harvested a work environment in which graduate students who agreed to flirt with him were rewarded Sabatini said he made it clear that he was pursuing a romantic relationship with another woman in Europe, but his accuser 'became determined to destroy his reputation and get him fired.' Sabatini accused his ex-lover of 'fabricating claims that [he] had sexually harassed her and had subsequently threatened to retaliate against her if she reported him.' The female researcher went to Dr. Ruth Lehmann, the head of the institute, and claimed to have experienced harassment at Sabatini's lab, which allegedly prompted the director to conduct an anonymous diversity and equity survey. The institute launched an investigation into the 'culture' in Sabatini's laboratory, which involved interviews with 40 post-doctoral fellows, PhD students and researchers. Sabatini claims he was not allowed to have a lawyer present when he was interviewed by lawyers hired by the institute, but his accuser retained an experienced employment attorney. Ultimately, Sabatini was forced to resign from the institute in August 2021. Over the course of his 25-year career, Sabatini has obtained dozens of grants and tens of millions of dollars of funding for his research. He resigned from MIT Friday over sexual harassment claims The authors of the report further conceded that they found no evidence 'that Sabatini actually retaliated against or punished any person for speaking out against him or raising concerns outside the lab.' Sabatini was also fired from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which funded his lucrative position at the institute. Sabatini earned his Bachelor's degree from Brown University in 1990 and went on to obtain his medical degree and PhD from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1997. He became a faculty member at The Whitehead in 2002 and established his own lab there to conduct groundbreaking research into mechanisms that regulate cell growth. He obtained tenure at MIT in 2006. Over the course of his 25-year career, Sabatini has obtained dozens of grants and tens of millions of dollars of funding for his research. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol from the film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. (Photo: Twitter) Valentine's Days will come and go but love and romance are forever. Irrespective of the date when these movies were initially released, they will keep spreading love in their myriad avatars and can be enjoyed on OTT forever. Come February 14, and the Raj and Simrans wake up from their slumber. So do the streamers to ensure that if some diktats are in force prohibiting them from PDA, then at least their smartphones will help them fall in love. Lets see who has what to offer. 1) Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Much before Shah Rukh Khan was Pathaan and helped B-town resurrect, he was Raj, busy wooing Kajol aka as Simran in DDLJ from the UK via Switzerland to the sarson ke khet in Punjab made popular by the Chopras on the screen. The movie has achieved cult status in India across generations and also has the distinction of running for years together in a theatre after its release in 1995, yes a quarter century ago. Currently, you can fall in love with Raj and Simran on Prime Video. 2) Titanic As Celine Dion crooned My Heart Will Go onJack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose, representing two polar opposite strata of society met on an unsinkable ship. They fell in love breaking all the barriers but unfortunately, the ship, Titanic hit an iceberg and sank, leaving Rose (Kate Winslet) nurse a heartbreak for life. The romance the two portrayed on screen, their sizzling chemistry, and the breathtaking climax remains etched in fans' memory to date. The movie continues to sail afloat on Disney+Hotstar. 3) Jab We Met Some magic cannot be recreated even by those who achieved it for the first time. Kareena Kapoor as the talkative and frank Geet and a serious, heartbroken, reticent Shahid Kapoor meet during a train journey and eventually get romantically involved. Peppered with some iconic songs like Nagada..Nagada, Mauja Hi Mauja, Tum Se Hi Yeh Ishq Haye, and Aaoge Jab Tum among others, this movie instantly cemented a place in the audiences heart forever. The Imtiaz Ali directorial is streaming on Prime Video. 4) Forrest Gump Sorry, Mr Aamir Khan. Howsoever good you might be at getting into the skin of the character you cannot replace Tom Hanks. Whatever he did in the movie, he did for his love. But in that process audience is treated to a classic which is as much a romantic movie as inspirational. 5) Sangam The Raj Kapoor classic can be termed the mother of all love triangles. Sangam meaning a confluence, was indeed a great confluence of great songs, locales, performances and a riveting story. If you want to see what grace looks like, see Vyjantimala wearing a white saree. The movie is on Zee5. 6) Ek Duje Ke Liye Remake of K. Balachanders Telugu movie Maro Charitra, Ek Duje Ke Liye dealt with the romance of a Tamil boy and a Hindi girl. The duo, Vasu and Sapna, ultimately overpower linguistic and cultural barriers and unite after their death. This tearjerker is on Prime Video. 7) Kal Ho Na Ho Inspired by several classics including Bawarchi Kal Ho Naa Ho is one of the best Shah Rukh Khan movies. A classic love triangle between SRK, Ms Zinta and Saif Ali Khan, this movie even had a lovely romantic track involving Dara Singh and Sushma Seth. Do catch it on Netflix. 8) Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Another eternal love triangle was Karan Johars debut movie, Kuch Kuch Hota hai. Wonderful songs, palatable melodrama and some classy comedy by Archana Pooran Singh, Anupam Kher, Johnny Liver, ensured that this rom-com will always be watchable. Set against a backdrop of an ultra-modern college and a summer camp, you can attend it on Netflix. 9) Devdas Love takes a melancholic turn in this Sarat Chandra Chatterjees eternal love story which has n number of iterations on the big screen. Devdas today has become a symbol of a man who has been dumped by his beloved. First made eternal by the thespian Dilip Kumar, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis version was also all glam and gloom at the same time. Beauty queens Aishwarya and Madhuri danced together giving fans the unforgetful Dola Re Dola While SRKs Devdas is on Prime Video, you can see Dilip Kumars on Zee5. 10) Amar Prem Love is everything and love is eternal. And so is the love and bond between a mother and son. Giving this message of amar prem was Shakti Samantas Amar Prem. Kishore Kumar wove his golden magic in Raina Beeti Jaye.. Chingari Koi Bhadke, Kuchh Toh Log Kahenge, Yeh Kya Hua... And then came the melody queen with her evergreen Bada Natkhat Hai Yeh. Beautiful songs, a wonderful story, and impressive performances propel Amar Prem into a class of its own. The newbies Your Place of Mine Not only classics but new romantic movies too can be found dime a dozen on the streaming platforms. Your Place of Mine offers a lot of promise as a rom-com as it has been written by Aline Brosh McKenna who had earlier penned the cult movie, The Devil Wears Prada. It remains to be seen how many Valentine's Days will it see. Love Today Okay, you love your partner but are you willing to swap your mobile phone with him or her? In this romcom on Netflix Love Today, the young couple who are about to get married swap their phones just for a day before marriage. Are you game? If yes, find out the answer to the question on Netflix. Love to Hate You Love to Hate You is a K-drama, a romantic comedy to be precise. Its the story of an attorney who hates to lose to men. You can either love it or hate it on Netflix. 18 Pages It is not exactly The Notebook, but even 18 Pages is critically acclaimed. It's the story of a heartbroken Siddhu who finds the diary of a young woman Nandini which has only 18 pages. Fascination transforms itself into curiosity and audiences are in for a treat. This romantic comedy is on Aha. The Romantics Perhaps the series that might interest Indians the most is the docuseries, The Romantics. Releasing on Valentines Day, it is a documentary featuring A-listers from Bollywood recalling their association with Yash Chopra who has given gems to movie buffs. A surfer who feared he would 'bleed out' after his arm was sliced open by the fin of a surfboard has reached out in kindness to the owner of the rogue board, whose legrope had snapped off. Matthew Cassidy, 49, had been surfing at Wategos Beach, Byron Bay, on Wednesday when he was hit with the fin of a loose longboard in the water. Mr Cassidy said he had looked down at his arm and saw 'half his bicep hanging out'. Matthew Cassidy, 49, feared he would 'bleed out' after getting sliced by the fin of a rogue surfbaord at Wategos beach, Byron Bay, last week Mr Cassidy (left) said the loose surfboard had 'ripped through all the veins and arteries' of his arm (Mr Cassidy being attended to by emergency services pictured) 'The board flew up under may arm and ripped through all the veins and arteries,' he told ABC news. Mr Cassidy told a bystander to use a legrope as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding, which he said had saved his life. Despite the traumatic event, Mr Cassidly on Sunday reached out in kindness to the owner of the board responsible for his horrific injuries. 'I just want to take a second to address the girl involved in this horrible accident, he said in a Facebook post. Mr Cassidy was flown to a Gold Coast hospital following the horrific incident 'I hold you no bad will, I saw your face on the beach, and I have no doubt you have learned a lesson.' He said the woman had his 'total forgiveness and compassion' on account she practised 'safe surf etiquette for the rest of your surfing life'. Mr Cassidy also urged the community to empathise with the woman and stressed the need for 'better education and management in the surf'. Mr Cassidy said he had spent an hour on the beach 'being held together by some absolutely legendary humans', before being rushed via ambulance and then helicopter to a Gold Coast hospital. Mr Cassidy reached out to the owner of the surfboard that hit him and offered his forgivness and compassion He said he was waiting for specialist medical advice and was 'not out of the woods yet'. 'I am at home now and theyve managed to save the arm,' he said. 'We arent sure of the extent of the injury long term but Ill attack rehab the same way I do everything else - with everything Ive got.' Mr Cassidy said he would be holding a thank you event 'in the coming weeks'. Mr Cassidy (pictured surfing) wants to see legropes mandated for surfers He said there were three things he would like see come out of the frightening incident. Firstly, he hoped to get the full use of his arm back so he can return to surfing. He also pleaded with surfers to 'look on the inside twice' before paddling for a wave. His final wish was a mandate for the use of legropes, followed up by 'strong' community education on surf safety. He said he 'accepted' the legrope of the owner of the board responsible for his injuries had broken, but there was still 'a massive issue in our town with people not wearing them.' 'Lets all enter and exit the surf safely, we all love the same sport, lets act like a community not individuals,' he said. 'Bleeding out on a beach while trying to catch a last glimpse of your wifes face is not something I wish on anyone'. Energy Australia has been fined $1.5 million after a veteran Yallourn power station worker suffered fatal burns to 90 per cent of his body in an electrical explosion. Graeme Edwards was highly trained and had worked at the power station for more than 30 years when he volunteered to connect a high voltage cable to the section of the power station he worked on. It was a routine procedure called racking, which involved placing a high voltage circuit breaker into position in a cabinet while wires were live or energised. Mr Edwards was fully trained and had undergone his required three-yearly retraining two months before his death in November 2018. An infill panel above the 6.6kW control panel he was working on was loose and at just the slightest pressure it exposed him to live wires. Veteran power station worker Graeme Edwards (pictured) died from fatal burns in November 2018 after a circuit breaker exploded On November 12, as he worked on the unit an arc flash and explosion occurred while he was racking in, believed to be the result of the control cable making contact with live components. Mr Edwards suffered serious burns to 90 per cent of his body and died in hospital the next day. Energy Australia Yallourn pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act and has been ordered to pay $1.5million in fines. The company admitted failing to properly install and inspect the infill panel, failing to properly train employees to connect the cables, and failing to provide and require employees to wear appropriate arc-rated personal protective equipment while they worked on circuit breakers on live high voltage switch boards. 'There is absolutely no excuse for it,' the company admitted during a pre-sentence hearing last year. 'It was avoidable and it was preventable and he shouldn't have died. The reason why he died is due to the failings on the part of Energy Australia.' Mr Edwards was wearing cotton overalls which one expert described as 'manifestly inadequate'. The overalls increased the area, depth and severity of the burns he suffered. Appropriate arc-rated PPE, which had been provided to workers at a sister-company, would have provided thermal protection and are self-extinguishing, Victorian County Court Judge John Carmody said on Monday. Energy Australia's manual also said the so-called elephant's trunk cable should be connected before the racking in procedure is completed, but employees commonly connected it afterwards. Inconsistency between the manual, training and procedures was a breach of the law, the judge said. Energy Australia Yallourn pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act and has been fined $1.5million (pictured, Yallourn Power Station) Mr Edwards' coworkers described him as a helpful and respected colleague who always followed procedure. After initially notifying Mr Edwards' family that no one would be prosecuted, WorkSafe took three years to lay charges against Energy Australia. The company has made significant changes over the past four years, many directed at the causes of Mr Edwards' death, the court heard. 'It raises the question, why wasn't all this done before November 2018?' the judge asked. The cost of fixing or replacing the panel was minimal, he said. A picnic area at the power plant and a Federation University scholarship have been established in Mr Edwards' name. Energy Australia operations executive Michael Hutchinson and other executives were in court for the sentence, and offered Mr Edwards' family, friends and colleagues their deepest condolences. Additional safety procedures and improvements have been put in place since Mr Edwards' death, and shared with other power station operators to ensure lessons can be learned and there can be no repeat, Mr Hutchinson said. A professor and diversity lecturer has accused George Washington University of collaborating with a right-wing pro-Israel group over a complaint that was filed against her accusing her of anti-Semitism. The complaint, filed last month, alleged Lara Sheehi - an assistant professor of clinical psychology - discriminated against Jewish students by refusing to accept their definitions of anti-Semitism. It also claimed she engaged in hate speech about Israel and Zionism, and the university failed to properly investigate past complaints against her. According to Sheehi, she has been targeted by StandWithUs for her activism in support of Palestinians, as she claims the group aims to silence and intimidate academic opponents of Israeli policies by linking criticism with anti-Semitism. Sheehi claims SWU is a fringe political activist group pursuing a right-wing pro-Israel agenda. Arab professor and diversity lecturer, Professor Lara Sheehi, is accusing George Washington University of collaborating with a pro-Israel group, StandWithUs A complaint alleged Sheehi discriminated against Jewish students by refusing to accept their definitions of antisemitism and engaged in hate speech about Israel. Pictured, GWU campus in D.C. Founded in California in 2001, SWU has worked closely with the Israeli foreign ministry and has a team of lawyers to fight antisemitism and criticism of Israel, primarily at universities and high schools. The organization trains students to record lectures to document alleged anti-Israel bias. Although the group claims to be nonpartisan, its American founder has expressed support for illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land and has denounced Israeli soldiers who criticize the occupation, despite not serving in the Israeli military. The SWU complaint to the US education department alleges a contentious relationship between Sheehi and some Jewish students, claiming that during lectures on diversity, the professor rejected the students' definitions of antisemitism while accepting the definitions of racism provided by black and other minority students. George Washington University professor Lara Sheehi posted this photo to Twitter The professor also appears to have made a series of controversial Tweets regarding Israel It also claims that Sheehi took offense at a student's use of the term 'terrorist attack' and invited a speaker who 'demonized Israel' un the Professional Psychology Program. 'It's not your fault you were born in Israel,' Sheehi is alleged to have said to one student before stating that the presence of Jewish students was 'violent.' The professor allegedly invited a guest speaker who targeted and 'demonized' Israeli and Jewish individuals. Sheehi is also accused of claiming that all Zionists suffer from 'settler psychosis' and that 'anti-Zionism is not antisemitism' because 'Zionism in and of itself indicates that Jewish folks are different.' Stand With Us also alleged that the university and the professor retaliated against the students who made complaints. Sheehi has defended herself by accusing the SWU of intentionally conflating criticisms of Israel and Zionism with antisemitism, and accuses the Jewish and Israeli students cited in the complaint of using 'racist language against black people and Arabs.' She has also defended her tweets, including one that said 'destroy Zionism,' as a reflection of her anger towards the Israeli military's actions in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories. Sheehi has accused George Washington University of failing to defend her and of colluding with SWU's misrepresentation of her classroom. She is being represented by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which has accused the university of a 'prejudicial response' to the complaint, which it says is part of a larger campaign against Sheehi because of her scholarship and political activism outside the classroom. Sheehi 'would otherwise not have resulted in such an exaggerated and prejudicial response' if she 'were not Arab and her scholarship and activism were not focused on Palestine,' the group claim. The university has stated that it is committed to conducting a thorough examination through an investigation by a third party and is not commenting on the matter until the it is concluded. GWU has not yet made any comments regarding the allegations and the status of the complaining students The professor 'teaches decolonial, liberatory and anti-oppressive theories and approaches to clinical treatment, case conceptualization, and community consultation,' according to her bio. However, multiple students have since reported antisemitism in the program and claim to have felt unsafe. Furthermore, the university also stands accused of mistreating the students who complained about antisemitism, making them acknowledge their alleged wrongdoing or face having a permanent disciplinary mark on their academic records. GWU has not yet made any comments regarding the allegations and the status of the complaining students. The university issued a statement saying they were committed to conducting a thorough examination through a third-party investigation and that they 'strongly condemn antisemitism and hatred, discrimination, and bias in all forms.' The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee argues that the claims against Sheehi are rooted in anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism and are intended to silence dissenting voices. U2 had people wondering if they'd been had Sunday night after a Super Bowl advert promoting their Las Vegas residency showed giant spheres in space that resembled the Chinese spy balloon. The world-famous Irish rock band will begin a run of dates at the newly opened MSG Sphere for an immersive show later this year. It was promoted with a vague, confusing 15-second ad during Super Bowl LVII that didn't show the band, except for a brief silhouette. The extended trailer shows reports of an 'unidentified flying object' with a large silver sphere floating through the air. Social media reaction wondered if the legendary rockers had been behind the Chinese spy balloons that have been shot down by American and Canadian forces over the past week. It's not quite 'bullet the blue sky' but U2 had people wondering if they'd been had Sunday night after a Super Bowl ad promoting their Las Vegas residency showed giant spheres in space U2 confirm upcoming Las Vegas residency in Super Bowl trailer One writer bluntly suggested: 'The US government has been shooting down ads for a U2 concert.' An extended trailer for the concert was posted online, but most users were reacting to what they'd seen on the Super Bowl broadcast on Fox. Another referenced a notorious piece of the band's past, in which they put a copy of their album Songs of Innocence onto every iPhone in the world. 'If the balloons have just been U2 promo this entire time they've somehow managed to outdo themselves since that time they forced their album upon us with an automatic airdrop.' Another posted a fake news update: 'The U2 Baby Sphere has been downed by an American fighter jet.' A fan responded to the band, saying: 'Okay, that's the best marketing I've ever seen, even fooled the military.' One person praised the band's marketing acumen: 'If U2 actually created a viral marketing campaign that actually resulted in military action in United States airspace, it's the greatest thing that's ever happened.' U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at The Sphere will kick off in the autumn of 2023, celebrating 30 years of the seminal album that featured hits like 'One' and 'Mysterious Ways.' The announcement comes just ahead of the band's Songs of Surrender a collection of 40 songs from U2's back catalogue, re-recorded and reimagined which is due to be released on Friday. The residency will be going ahead without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who is due to undergo surgery and subsequent rehabilitation. 'It's going to take all we've got to approach the Sphere without our bandmate in the drum seat, but Larry has joined us in welcoming Bram van den Berg, who is a force in his own right,' U2 said in a statement, shared with US media. In a rare moment of sweeping bipartisanship, the House voted 419-0 on Thursday to condemn China for flying a spy balloon over the United States. The balloon was able to drift over the country for three days before it was shot down on the east coast. The measure was introduced by House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul of Texas. U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at The Sphere will kick off in the autumn of 2023, celebrating 30 years of the seminal album that featured hits like 'One' and 'Mysterious Ways' The residency will be going ahead without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who is due to undergo surgery and subsequent rehabilitation It required two-thirds support to pass and was able to earn every single Democratic and Republican vote in a remarkable show of bipartisanship. Republicans are also highly critical of the handling of the spy balloon by President Joe Biden's administration, claiming Americans should have been alerted of the balloon sooner and that it should have been immediately shot down. GOP leaders have considered also introducing a resolution to condemn Biden for how he handled the spy balloon entering U.S. air space. China has maintained its stance that the vessel was a weather balloon that went astray, and was not a 'spy balloon,' like alleged. However, antennas and solar panels were found among the recovered debris of the balloon after it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean last week, a US official said on Thursday. The House voted 419-0 in rare show of bipartisanship to condemn China for its spy balloon shown here after it was shot down by the U.S. military over the ocean near Surfside Beach, South Carolina Debris from the balloon was recovered after it was shot down into the ocean off the east coast of South Carolina. Among debris was antennas and solar panels, according to U.S. officials A State Department update shows American intelligence has uncovered Beijing has a vast surveillance network spanning 40 countries. The balloons, it is now revealed by a senior State official, are capable of 'conducting signals intelligence collection operations,' which have amounted to a violation of American sovereignty. U.S. intelligence has linked the programs directly to China's principle military force the People's Liberation Army (PLA). So far, the only Republican to break with the rank-and-file on the matter is Senator Mitt Romney, who told CNN that he believes Biden made the right decision to wait on informing the public. 'I believe that the administration, the president, our military and intelligence agencies, acted skillfully and with care,' Romney said. 'At the same time, their capabilities are extraordinarily impressive.' He made the comments when leaving a classified briefing on China. Republicans on Capitol Hill are considering bringing a resolution that would condemn Biden for his handling of the Chinese spy balloon fiasco. A Colombian student wrote a letter to then-Attorney-General Christian Porter describing 'a night of madness' during which he killed a sex worker moments after learning she was transgender, a court has heard. Hector Enrique Valencia is standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court after he admitted to killing Kimberley McRae in a violent altercation in January 2020. The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murdering the sex worker, a plea that was not accepted by the Crown prosecution. Hector Enrique Valencia Valencia (pictured) is standing trial over the alleged murder of sex worker Kimberley McRae The former Colombian army serviceman took the stand on Monday to explain the deadly altercation with Ms McRae on the afternoon of January 8. The court heard he first saw Ms McRae, 69, when he came across an online advertisement for the sexual services of a 38-year-old blonde 'MILF with G-cup breasts'. Valencia contacted the woman through WhatsApp and went to her flat in Sydney's beachside suburb of Coogee after 3pm, the court heard. He paid her $100 in cash and then went to her bedroom, took off his clothes, and sat on the bed. The court heard Ms McRae performed oral sex on the 23-year-old for five to ten minutes. Valencia first saw Ms McRae (pictured) when he came across an online advertisement for the sexual services of a 38-year-old blonde 'MILF with G-cup breasts' As the pair were talking, Valencia told the court he started to question what the sex worker had told him. 'I started becoming suspicious that the person could be transgender,' he said. 'Because of the breasts and the physical appearance.' Ms McRae denied the accusation three times before admitting it when Valencia asked a fourth time 'in a loud voice', the court heard. 'I felt lied to and I started to feel upset,' Valencia said. The student told the court he was upset because his religious beliefs specified 'it was not normal that I had sexual intimacy with another man'. Valencia contacted Ms McRae through WhatsApp and went to her flat in Sydney's beachside suburb of Coogee (pictured) He told the court he punched the sex worker in the stomach and then in the face while he was still naked. Ms McRae grabbed a nearby lamp and the two began to struggle over the electrical cable, the court heard. 'I was scared that she was going to choke me with the lamp (cord),' Valencia said. He said the cable broke and they both fell to the ground, where he pressed part of the cable against the sex worker's neck. He forcefully held it there for 'a few seconds' until she stopped resisting, the court heard. A medical expert has previously testified that Ms McRae died due to neck compression. 'I was scared and I was panicked,' the Colombian native said. Valencia was extradited from Aruba to Australia over Ms McRae's death. Picture: NSW Police He grabbed the sheets from the bed and threw them over Ms McRae 'in case she was conscious' and tried to attack him, the court heard. He then searched for her mobile phones, which he threw in the toilet so she couldn't contact him, and reclaimed the money he paid her. The business college student maintained he acted in self defence 'to stop her attack'. He told the court he 'probably' watched her die. 'I believe I killed the whore ... I do not know if she is dead but she must be after what happened,' Valencia wrote in a message to a friend days later. He said he told two friends about the deadly altercation because he was 'having suicidal thoughts' but he didn't tell them Ms McRae was transgender. 'I didn't want them to know ... that I was with ... a man,' Valencia told the court. 'I didn't want to be embarrassed.' Hector Enrique Valencia (pictured) is standing trial over the alleged murder of sex worker Kimberley McRae in her Coogee flat The 23-year-old said he would not have contracted Ms McRae's services if he had known she was transgender. He admitted to assaulting the 69-year-old because he felt that he had been tricked into having sex with a man. Valencia flew to South America three days after Ms McRae died, but was arrested and extradited back to Australia to face trial. While in jail, the court heard he composed a letter, with help from family members, to then Attorney-General Christian Porter in which he described the fatal confrontation. 'I am a young migrant who did not know how to handle a situation that changed abruptly from a night of passion to a night of madness and confrontation,' Valencia wrote. Crown prosecutor Craig Everson SC told the court it was undisputed that Valencia's (pictured) actions ended the sex worker's life The 23-year-old said he used his 'strength as a defence mechanism' when he choked Ms McRae with the lamp cord in her own home. He also told the Attorney-General that he was afraid of being deported or facing 'public embarrassment' over his role in Ms McRae's death. 'In my capacity as a foreigner, I was also afraid of a scandal,' he wrote. Crown prosecutor Craig Everson SC told the court it was undisputed that Valencia's actions ended the sex worker's life. He told the court the 23-year-old killed Ms McRae out of anger after learning she was transgender. 'There is no issue that an act of the accused caused the death of Kim McRae,' he said. 'He believed he had been cheated ... he retaliated with the intention to cause really serious injury by attacking the neck of Kim McRae and choking her until she stopped struggling.' Defence barrister Claire Wasley will give her closing statement on Tuesday before Justice Dina Yehia. The ex-detective who exposed Jimmy Savile's crimes and investigated the abduction of Madeleine McCann will now probe Nicola Bulley's disappearance. Mark Williams-Thomas, 53, is travelling to St Michael's on Wyre this week to look into what could have happened to the mother of two, who vanished 17 days ago. He hopes to rule out a number of outlandish theories aired by conspiracy theorists about the 45-year-old's disappearance. Lancashire Police still think the mortgage adviser fell into the river, but add that there is no evidence to prove this happened. Mr Williams-Thomas said: 'I will be spending time up in St Michael's on Wyre next week to pull together a quick turn around report of what exactly is known about the disappearance of Nicola Bulley. 'I will explore all the options, bring you a factual evidence analysis and dismiss some of the inaccuracies.' Nicola Bulley, 45, vanished on January 27 as she walked her dog along the river Search teams scour the river as Lancashire Police believe Ms Bulley fell in No trace of Ms Bulley has been found despite intense efforts and hundreds of officers trying to locate her Mr Williams-Thomas is now known as an investigative journalist after leaving the police force. He exposed Savile's sick crimes in 2012 for ITV's Exposure and fronted a TV investigation on Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner. He will arrive in Lancashire too late for forensic evidence to be present, and after police failed to cordon off the scene. Criminologist Dr David Holmes told MailOnline: A lot of things are going to have disappeared by this time, things like tyre tracks or footprints. The trail will be very cold now, it has been going on for so long.' On Saturday former detective Mr Williams-Thomas said he would have treated the case differently from the start of the search. He said: This would now be a critical incident being dealt with as suspicious, if it had been down to me. Within 48 hours I would have treated this in the same fashion as a murder or abduction. I think police have been right to say they have an open mind the problem that they have got is that they also said it wasnt criminal.' It comes as it was revealed overnight a witness informed police they saw two men who appeared to be hiding their faces close to Ms Bulley's regular route the day before she disappeared - and one of them again on the morning she vanished. Officers from Lancashire Police searching for missing woman Nicola Bulley, 45, from Inskip, Lancashire, who was last seen on the morning of Friday January 27 Experts have identified to MailOnline a number of possibilities and clues that could help case Ms Bulley's family and friends have repeatedly appealed to the public to continue to come forward with information, adding they do not agree with the police's theory. Partner Paul Ansell said last week he is '100 per cent' sure she is not in the water. It comes after two men who appeared to be hiding their faces were allegedly spotted near Ms Bulley's walking route the day before she went missing. A local resident said that two men - who appeared to be wearing hoods or hats - were near to St Michael's church just over 24 hours prior to Nicola's disappearance. The witness claimed that he reported this 'strange' incident to police, who took nine days to respond before asking him for a statement. Remaining anonymous, he told The Sun: 'I first saw them at around 7.45am on my way to work on the Thursday, the day before Nicola Bulley vanished. I drive that way every day, so know the road well. Nicola Bulley and her partner Paul Ansell were planning on getting married in the near future Charlotte Drake (left) lives next door to Nicola Bulley (right) and says she would 'never leave' her family or dog behind 'I saw two men wearing dark clothing and hoods or hats and carrying fishing rods.' While the witness acknowledged that they may have been fisherman, he felt on edge as 'they seemed to want to hide their faces'. The same witness also reported seeing one of the men at a similar time the next day - again seeming to cover their face. On finding out Nicola had disappeared, the witness called officers who were appealing for information. But it is reported that he gave them a follow-up call after hearing nothing back for several days. He added: 'It's frustrating, it would have been much better if I had been spoken to straight away as it was fresher in my mind.' MailOnline has approached Lancashire Police regarding the allegations. Mortgage adviser Nicola Bulley, 45, pictured walking her dog Willow along with partner of 12 years Paul Ansell Two men who appeared to be hiding their faces were spotted near Nicola Bulley's walking route the day before she went missing, it has been reported The revelation comes as police have returned to properties in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire for the fourth time as family and friends continue to share heartbreaking appeals for the safe return of the mother-of-two. Today these loved ones wrote messages of hope and support, appealing for her safe return, including one from partner Paul Ansell which read: 'Nikki I love you! xxxxx Come home now.' Other messages included 'We need you home Nikki', 'Never give up hope' and 'Praying for your safe return'. Detectives are said to have visited a local garage on Thursday requesting CCTV footage from the day before Ms Bulley vanished. They had already taken images from the day of her disappearance. It is unknown if the new CCTV request was in relation to the witness' account or not. CCTV is also understood to have been obtained from The Grapes village pub. The EIGHT key clues in Nicola Bulley's disappearance: Former detective says police must look closer at the missing mother's phone, Fitbit and her dog It is an unfathomable mystery that has baffled police, tormented family and sparked thousands of outlandish conspiracy theories: where is missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley? But, as the search reaches its 17th day today, the picture of what may have become of the well-loved community figure on January 27 may be moving further into focus. Ms Bulley, 45, disappeared without a trace at around 9.20am as she walked her springer spaniel Willow along their regular route in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancs. Ms Bulley, 45, disappeared without a trace at around 9.20am as she walked her dog Willow Her mobile phone was found on a bench and the dog's lead and harness on the ground of the footpath itself. Willow was found by a member of the public - bone dry - and apparently agitated with Ms Bulley missing. And the dog and a number of other clues and further investigations, identified by experts speaking to MailOnline, could prove to be the key to crack the case. Mark Williams-Thomas, a former police detective who exposed Jimmy Savile's crimes, said officers needed to keep an open mind and focus on some key areas. And ex Scotland Yard veteran Mick Neville believes what appeared to be an undecipherable riverbank disappearance could have a simpler solution. Now MailOnline runs through their expert thoughts on how the mystery could and may be solved. River - 'why were divers focusing on that stretch of water?' Mr Neville, who was in charge of Lambeth's Missing Persons unit, said he on balance supported Lancashire Police's working theory that Ms Bulley may have fallen in the river. But he added: 'What I have found strange with the diving experts is the search of that specific area. 'She has been missing for over 14 days now - she could be four miles away. 'I would have put an object of her weight and size in the river to estimate how far she may have gone. That may be a way to track it if she is in the water. 'Anthony Knott, the firefighter who died three years ago, went into the River Ouse. His body was not found until three weeks later. 'It shows the search should be hugely expanded. They must do everything they can to stop a body getting to the sea where it will be lost.' A member of the North West Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit, during the search of the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, for missing woman Nicola Bulley Nicola's mobile phone was found on this bench with Willow's lead and harness on the ground The Bench - 'police should have sealed that bank off immediately' Both of the two former detectives believe mistakes may have been made with the initial police approach to the scene, which featured the bench. Mr Williams-Thomas said he would have treated the case differently from the start of the search. He said: This would now be a critical incident being dealt with as suspicious, if it had been down to me. Within 48 hours I would have treated this in the same fashion as a murder or abduction. I think police have been right to say they have an open mind the problem that they have got is that they also said it wasnt criminal.' Mr Neville said the location should have been secured: 'The police should have sealed that bank off immediately, there could have been something of forensic value there. 'I think what Lancashire Police have made a mistake with is regarding the forensics at the scene - it should have been sealed off on Friday. 'Every picture I see of that river bank shows the edge is a sheer drop. So the lack of foot slip marks or any disturbed ground doesn't stop me thinking she has fallen in. I think it is most likely she is in that river. Willow may be the only living creature in the world that knows exactly what has happened Willow, Nicola Bulley's spaniel, who was with her when she vanished in St Michael's-on-Wyre The dog - 'mobile phone and dog harness still being there is a bit of a pointer' Willow the springer spaniel may be the only creature on earth who knows exactly what has happened to Ms Bulley. The pedigree dog has been at the centre of the mystery for the past two weeks, found wandering alone, bone dry at the last point she was seen. For former Met detective Mr Neville, the animal could be the solution to the whole strange disappearance. He told MailOnline: 'From what I can tell from this case, something is really wrong. The mobile phone and the harness for the dog being there is a bit of a pointer. 'The dog has been off the lead and that is why the phone and the harness are on the bench and path. 'Maybe the dog has been running around and knocked her into the river, or she has lost her footing dodging it running about. 'The phone has been put down on the bench because the dog has been running around.' Missing Nicola Bulley shown wearing her Fitbit device, which could be crucial to the case Missing woman Nicola Bulley, 45, can be seen on the ring doorbell at her home in Inskip, Lancs The Fitbit - 'will show if her heartbeat stopped or changed' Ms Bulley liked to exercise and would map journeys on fitness app Strava, walking with Willow nearly every day. Her Fitbit may have collected data which will allow detectives to pinpoint her location. Many are waterproof up to a depth of 50m which means if she did fall in the river, it could still have been working until its power failed. If it had been set up a particular way, that information may have synched to her phone, which was found nearby on the bench. Its importance had been suggested earlier this week by Peter Bleksley, a former undercover detective in the Met. And Mr Neville said the device could yield some potentially crucial clues. He said: 'The Fitbit she wore is again something that could be very useful to police. 'That will show her heartbeat and if it has stopped at any time or changed. 'Can that be accessed and discovered where it stops moving?' Police will now be going through CCTV, going house to house, as well as looking at ANPR Lancashire Constabulary handout photo of missing woman Nicola Bulley, 45, captured on her Ring doorbell on Friday January 27 Digital footprint - 'tech can help rule people out quickly' Footprints at any crime scene are a staple of any fictional investigation but in real life the reality is somewhat different. Nowadays a 'digital footprint' is more useful to police. Modern systems and technology mean much of any individual's life can be found online, with clues for investigators to trawl. In many missing person cases, police can see when banks have been accessed and the network of cameras, personal and private are a treasure trove for officers. With Ms Bulley, detectives will have built up an image of her life and any suggestion of what might have happened. Mr Williams-Thomas confirmed: 'Police will now be going through CCTV, going house to house, looking at ANPR, but the other thing they will be doing in detail is building up a picture of her. The great advantage nowadays is that there is a footprint for most people, whether its on mobile phones or computers. Mr Neville said the huge increase in technology also meant suspects in a lot of crimes could be ruled out quickly. He added: 'All these electronic devices - and CCTV - that we all have help to rule people out of enquiries nowadays. 'In the past a number of people might have been quizzed that an now be quickly ruled out.' There are other paths, identified in this MailOnline map, Nicola may have used on that day People line the streets with placards asking for information on missing Nicola Bulley in the village of St Michael's on Wyre on Friday morning Other paths - 'you cannot rule possibilities like this out' Part of Lancashire Police's confidence over their theory Ms Bulley has fallen in the river is due to CCTV or cameras of some sort covering major paths. There are three paths that lead to the riverbank and two of those are covered with the technology. If Ms Bulley were to take her normal route she would have appeared on film. Coupled with this, on the way to the riverbank she was sighted by a number of eyewitnesses. No-one saw her leave and she was not picked up on any of the cameras. But that one other route should not be ruled out, says Mr Neville. He urged: 'No one can say whether or not routes not covered by CCTV haven't been taken either by Nicola or someone else. 'You cannot rule possibilities like this out. Investigators have to search these paths. 'Has anything happened there, or is there any evidence that might have been missed?' In this aerial view shipwrecked boats sit in a mudbank in the Wyre Estuary where police search for missing Nicola Bulley at the mouth of the river that meets Morecambe Bay An aerial view of the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre where missing woman Nicola Bulley was last seen Third party? - 'look at registered sex offenders in the area' St Michaels on Wyre is a picture-postcard village with very little recorded crime or anti-social behaviour. Police will have already built up a complete picture of who was in the area at the time of Ms Bulley's disappearance. The past two weeks of searching have been regularly punctuated by constabulary appeals to find individuals caught on CCTV at the time of her vanishing. Every single one has been located, but the force will also be interested in some not seen there, but known to be in the area. Mr Neville said: 'Police will also be looking at registered sex offenders that are in or anywhere near the area. 'If there are any, their movements will be accounted for as well as any similar cases being looked at again with this disappearance in mind. 'There will be an intelligence unit scouring all of this.' Lancashire Police Superintendent Sally Riley speaks to the media at St Michael's on Wyre Village Hall Detective turned documentary maker Mark Williams-Thomas exposed Jimmy Savile's crimes Scope - 'there is something more to this. Something sad' Due to Ms Bulley still being missing two weeks on from her disappearance, there has been greater scrutiny of how the police have handled the probe. The force had been adamant when the mother-of-two had first vanished there was nothing to suggest a third party or any criminal element. For Mark Williams-Thomas, he believes had he been in charge of the investigation, he would have escalated it after two days. He told MailOnline: I think police have been right to say they have an open mind the problem that have got is that they also said it wasnt criminal. Clearly something has happened to her, either by herself or a third party is involved. There is no reason for her to go missing, she has left her dog, her children and her partner. People dont just vanish. Members of the public are thinking the police might know more than what they are saying, but I never give over-credit in these things. The police have certainly given the impression they have more knowledge than what is out there, but what is contrary to that is what the family have been saying in their appeal. I have investigated enough murders and missing people and this to me seems like there is something more to it. Something pretty sad. This would now be a critical incident being dealt with as suspicious, if it had been down to me. Within 48 hours I would have treated this in the same fashion as a murder or abduction'. Anyone with information which could assist the police investigation should call Lancashire Police on 101 quoting log 0565 of January 30th. A groom-to-be almost had his carefully planned beachside marriage proposal end in disaster after the diamond ring got lost in the sand at nighttime. Sydney couple Zay and Sai briefly took over Coogee Beach on the weekend for the dream milestone as Zay got down on one knee in the middle of a sea of twinkling lights next to a huge 'marry me' sign. Hundreds of onlookers gathered next to the shore to witness the heartwarming moment when Sai said 'yes' but then held their collective breath as Zay appeared to be unable to find the engagement ring after fumbling it onto the sand. Sydneysiders Zay (left) and Sai (right) are now happily engaged despite a brief hiccup during their public proposal Coogee Beach in Sydney was light up with a sea of lights, candles and a red carpet on the weekend as Zay got down on one knee (pictured) Video of the moment shows friends and family rushing out and getting down on their hands and knees to try and spot the all-important item. But before too long the ring was found and placed on the beaming bride-to-be's finger amid cheers and a collective sigh from the crowd - no doubt also from Zay. Sai later took to social media to express her joy at the romantic proposal. 'I said YES! Completely taken by surprise and completely in love. I never could have imagined a proposal as perfect and magical as the one you gave me,' she wrote. 'Pro tip from my fiance: don't propose with a loose ring on sand,' she added. No word on when the wedding vows will take place but no doubt the ring won't be coming off again before then Bystanders rush onto the sand to help find the ring after it was fumbled onto the sand and temporarily lost (pictured) Commenters on the post congratulated the couple. 'What a wonderful memory you will have of this,' one person said. 'Public proposals make me cringe but this was so nice, glad it ended well,' another said. Sai also thanked her friends who had helped Zay plan the moment. 'Thank you for being a part of our journey and for making this proposal a moment we will always cherish.' To Zay she added: 'I am so grateful to have you as my partner, my best friend, and now, my fiance.' Elon Musk has rejected calls by ex-NASA astronaut Scott Kelly to ramp up his Starlink internet system over Ukraine to aid the armed forces. Kelly tweeted Musk on Saturday saying: 'Ukraine desperately needs your continued support. Defense from a genocidal invasion is not an offensive capability. It's survival. Innocent lives will be lost. You can help. Thank you.' It came after Musk's company restricted Ukraine's military access to Starlink, in particular it being used to control grenade-carrying drones. Musk was quick to respond to Kelly, on Sunday defending his wariness to the increase coverage any further in the country. 'You're smart enough not to fall for media and other propaganda. Starlink is the main source of communication for Ukraine, especially at the front lines where almost all other internet connections have been lost. 'However, we will not contribute to escalation of conflict that could lead to World War III,' he wrote. Musk defended the decision, saying SpaceX would not contribute to escalating the conflict, which could lead to World War III Ex-NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has called on Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, to expand his Starlink internet service in Ukraine Kelly made the plea on Twitter, urging Musk to help Ukraine defend itself from a potential genocidal invasion, after SpaceX limited military access to Starlink Last week, Gwynne Shotwell, the President of SpaceX, announced the company was limiting Ukraine's use of Starlink for military purposes, explaining the high-speed broadband was not designed for offensive or military operations. Shotwell stated the service could be used for typical communications and humanitarian efforts, such as connecting families and hospitals. The service had enabled Ukrainians to benefit from uninterrupted, independent and secure internet access, while Russia had destroyed the country's telecommunications infrastructure, but Starlink satellites also became the only means of communication for the Ukrainian armed forces on the frontlines. Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, praised Starlink last October Starlink terminals are small, portable, have low power requirements and are almost impossible for Russia to jam - providing Ukraine with an ideal communications network Drones used in the field are able to use the newly available Starlink to keep connected and provide intelligence as internet and power outages plague Ukraine In particular, Starlink satellites have helped Ukrainian military drones carrying anti-tank grenades destroy Russian tanks and army trucks. 'Over 100 cruise missiles attacked energy and communications infrastructure,' Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, said last October. 'But with Starlink we quickly restored the connection in critical areas. Starlink continues to be an essential part of critical infrastructure.' One month earlier, in September, Musk also tweeted that Starlink was meant for peaceful use only and the terms of use specify that the internet connections were not to be used for military activities. Last September, Musk also tweeted that Starlink was meant for peaceful uses only Last month, Musk eplained that he was restricting Starlink's use on Ukrainian drones In fact, Starlink's terms of service document clearly states, 'Starlink is not designed or intended for use with or in offensive or defensive weaponry or other comparable end-uses.' Musk has now placed a limit on the use of Starlink antennas by the Ukrainian armed forces with SpaceX taking steps to ensure that Starlink antennas are not used to run Ukrainian drones. 'A year of resistance & companies have to decide: either they are on the side of & the right to freedom, and don't seek ways to do harm. 'Or they are on RF's side & its 'right' to kill & seize territories. #SpaceX (Starlink) & Mrs. #Shotwell should choose a specific option,' Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted at Shotwell on February 9. But Musk's position appears clear and firm for now, with SpaceX keeping in place restrictions to prevent the Ukrainian military's use of Starlink for controlling drones used in the conflict nearing its one year anniversary. It comes after Wagner fighter Yevgeny Nuzhin was executed with sledgehammer was accused of 'treason' for defecting to Ukraine after arriving on front line Dmitry Yakushchenko, 44, was bludgeoned to death with the sledgehammer A convicted murderer released from prison to fight for Russia's Wagner group has reportedly become the second mercenary to be beaten to death with a sledgehammer after defecting to Ukraine. Dmitry Yakushchenko, 44, had his head taped to a what appears to be a pile of bricks with cling film before being apparently bludgeoned to death with the sledgehammer in a horrifying execution that was filmed and published on messaging app Telegram. Yakushchenko was accused of treason for deserting after arriving on the front line. He was later recaptured by his former Wagner colleagues, who went on to execute him. The 44-year-old is now reportedly the second Wagner fighter to be executed with a sledgehammer after convicted murderer Yevgeny Nuzhin, 55, was killed by his countrymen in November last year. However, the authenticity of the execution was cast into doubt after it appeared the video may have been staged by the Wagner private military to look exactly like the one carried out on Nuzhin. Dmitry Yakushchenko, 44, had his head taped to bricks with clingfilm before being bludgeoned to death with the sledgehammer in a harrowing ordeal that was filmed and published online Yakushchenko (pictured) was accused of treason for defecting to Ukraine after arriving on the front line A new video of Yakushchenko showed him after his swap from Ukraine claiming he had been 'forgiven' by Wagner for his 'mistakes'. This new footage was released by Yevgeny Prigozhin - head of Wagner, entitled: 'Dmitry Yakushchenko - well done.' Yet there was no definitive proof that Yakushchenko remains alive, as mystery shrouds the apparent execution. Harrowing video released by the Wagner group apparently showed Yakushchenko confessing to surrendering to Ukraine as his head was strapped tightly to a block of bricks with cling film, while a man with a sledgehammer stands behind him. Yakushchenko, wearing military uniform, said he 'realised this was not my war' after he was sent to fight for Putin and said he had been hit in the head on the streets of Dnipro, central Ukraine, and woken up in the room with his head strapped. Yakushchenko added that he was told he was going to be tried for desertion. At this moment, the man standing behind him lifted the sledgehammer and apparently hits Yakushchenko in the head, the sound of his skull cracking audible on the video. Yakushchenko appears to be hit twice more, his body slumped on the ground after the blows. However, the Wagner mercenary group released a new video in which Yakushchenko said: 'At Wagner PMC [private military company], everyone has the right to correct their mistakes. When I was captured [by Ukraine], I said a lot of bull****. 'And I'm still ashamed of it. But it was the only way I could survive. When I came out of captivity, I brought a lot of valuable information that saved a lot of mens' lives. 'So I was forgiven, for which I am very grateful.' Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Putin henchman, has previously threatened to kill 'traitors' who leave the front line, and defended the murder of Nuzhin Prigozhin himself gave a bizarre rambling answer when asked about the execution, but implying there were more episodes to come. "Don't take everything so sadly. The kids are having fun, he said, before alluding to Soviet era war films. You thought that the film about Yakushchenko [was a] a single-episode drama The Dawns Here Are Quiet, but I think it's more like Seventeen Moments of Spring, a series. We can share the next series with you. Good will always triumphs over evil, you know. Reports in Russia say that Yakushchenko was a convicted murderer and robber who had been released from a 19-year jail sentence to fight in Putin's war. As he reached the front line with Wagner mercenaries, he surrendered to Ukraine. But he had apparently been handed back to the notoriously brutal Wagner group in a prisoner swap. Before he was executed, he spoke to the camera: 'I am Dmitry Yakushchenko, born in 1978, in Crimea. 'I went to the front in the ranks of the Wagner PMC [private military company]. 'At the front, I realised this was not my war 'Today I was in the streets of Dnipro, where I received a blow to the head and lost consciousness. 'I woke up in this room where I was told that I was going to be tried [for desertion].' His murder echoes the execution of convicted murderer Yevgeny Nuzhin, 55, who was also bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer. His murder echoes the execution of convicted murderer Yevgeny Nuzhin, 55, who was also bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer (pictured moments before his death) He too had been handed back by the Ukrainians in an official PoW swap. Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Putin henchman, has previously threatened to kill 'traitors' who leave the front line, and defended the murder of Nuzhin, as did Putin's propagandists. Yakushchenko, from Crimea, was initially recorded by the Ukrainians explaining how he escaped after being sent to the front line. 'I planned to find some way to escape,' he said. 'My fourth day started, I took my machine gun, some magazines, [and] a couple of grenades. 'I crawled somewhere and lay down until the shooting stopped, drones were flying.' 'I kept moving and my position turned out to be on the Ukrainian side. If any Russians have a chance to leave, they better do so.' Yakushchenko, from Crimea, was initially recorded by the Ukrainians explaining how he escaped after being sent to the front line Yakushchenko said he hoped Crimea would return to Ukraine, he told his interrogators. The Ukrainians included Yakushchenko in a major PoW swap earlier this month which also saw Russia hand back the bodies of British aid workers Chris Parry, 28, and colleague Andrew Bagshaw, 47, according to Cheka-OGPU Telegram channel. The video of Yakushchenko's execution was shared by the Grey Zone Telegram channel, which is linked to Wagner. Yakushchenko appears to have been convicted of murder in Crimea when it was still under Ukrainian control, prior to Putin's annexation in 2014. He was then transferred to a jail in Engels in Russia. It was from here that he was recruited as part of the Russian scheme to free killers, rapists and other criminals to fight against Ukraine, offering them a pardon if they survive for six months. A Russian tank was blown up by a landmine on a battlefield in Ukraine, moments before another suffered the exact same fate, in the latest display of incompetence by Vladimir Putin's military captured on camera. The clip emerged as Russian forces inched closer to Bakhmut over the weekend, with the Wagner private military company claiming to have captured a village on the outskirts of the Ukrainian city. The PMC said its 'assault units' seized Krasna Gora on Sunday, posting footage of its soldiers at what appeared to be the entrance to the settlement found four miles to the north of the city which has been at the centre of a fierce months-long battle. But Russia's slow progress has been made at a huge cost. Britain's Ministry of Defence said on Sunday the Russian Armed Forces have likely suffered their highest casualties in the last seven days since the first week of the invasion. Ukrainian and Western officials have repeatedly warned that Russia could launch a new, broad offensive in the country's east to try to turn the tide of the conflict as the war approaches the one-year mark. Ukrainian officials say it has already begun, but that Moscow is having trouble mounting such an assault. Pictured: A Russian T-80 tanks is seen approaching the wreckage of another that was destroyed by a mine minutes earlier. Seconds after this, the tank at the rear was also destroyed by a mine as it passed the first destroyed armoured vehicle. The footage came as Russian forces inched closer to Bakhmut, with the Wagner private military company claiming to have captured a village on the outskirts of the Ukrainian city Footage from Vuhledar in recent days has shown Russian tanks and soldiers coming under attack from Ukrainian artillery. In a new clip that emerged this morning, two Russian tanks were shown being blown to pieces by Ukrainian mines. The video, captured by a drone, shows a Russian T-80 tank rolling across a crater-covered minefield field. Suddenly, a plume of smoke appears where the tank had been moments earlier, after driving over an explosive. A second tank is seen coming up the rear, but as the crew pulls the vehicle up along-side the wreckage of the first armoured vehicle, it also hits a mine. Another huge explosion erupts from underneath the tank, blasting bits of metal far into the air. The tank continues rolling and steers off to the left, before stopping. It was not immediately clear how many Russian casualties there were in the two blasts, but neither tank appeared to be moving by the end of the clip. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised efforts by repair workers to restore power after a barrage of Russian missiles damaged energy infrastructure - killing a number civilians in the process. One person was killed and one more was wounded on Sunday morning by the shelling of Nikopol, a city in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, Gov. Serhii Lysak reported. The shelling damaged four residential buildings, a vocational school and a water treatment facility. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, one person was wounded after three Russian S-300 missiles hit infrastructure facilities overnight, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Pictured: A Russian tank is seen moments before driving over a landmine in Ukraine Pictured: A plume of smoke rises from the battlefield after a Russian tank drove over a mine Pictured: A second tank is seen as it passes the wreckage of another. As it passed the wreckage of the first tank, it set off another mind, blowing it to pieces Ukrainian forces also downed five drones - four Shahed killer drones and one Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone - over the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions on Saturday evening, Kyiv's military reported. The attacks come as Russian forces push to take over more land in the eastern industrial heartland of Donbas, comprised of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. But Kyiv say that Moscow is struggling trouble mounting its new push. 'They are having big problems with a big offensive,' Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, told Ukrainian television on Saturday night. 'They have begun their offensive, they're just not saying they have, and our troops are repelling it very powerfully. The offensive that they planned is already gradually underway. But (it is) not the offensive they were counting on,' Danilov said. A U.S.-based think tank noted that it is also Russia's pro-Kremlin military bloggers who question Moscow's ability to launch a broad offensive in Ukraine. They 'continue to appear demoralized at the Kremlin's prospects for executing a major offensive,' the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest report. In a defence intelligence update on Sunday, Britain's MoD said the mean average of Russian losses over the last week was 824. 'Over the past two weeks, Russia has likely suffered its highest rate of casualties since the first week of the invasion of Ukraine,' the update said. 'The Ukrainian General Staff release daily statistics on Russian casualties. Although Defence Intelligence cannot verify Ukraine's methodology, the trends the data illustrate are likely accurate. The mean average for the last seven days was 824 casualties per day, over four times the rate reported over June-July 2022. Ukraine also continues to suffer a high attrition rate. 'The uptick in Russian casualties is likely due to a range of factors including lack of trained personnel, coordination, and resources across the front - this is exemplified in Vuhledar and Bakhmut.' Slide me Pictured: Satellite pictures show gold top of the Svyato-Uspensky Mykolo-Vasilyivsky monastery and surrounding buildings. The left-hand image shows the region on June 20, while the right-hand side shows February 10 Slide me Left: A Satellite image shows Petrivka in Ukraine on August 24. The same town is shown right on February 10. The region has come under heavy shelling in Russia's invasion A satellite image shows an overview of artillery impact craters in the southwest of Pavlivka, Ukraine February 10, 2023 A satellite image shows armored vehicles hide behind buildings in Kyrylivka, southeast of Vuhledar, Ukraine February 8, 2023 A satellite image shows armored vehicles deployed along the tree line in the southeast of Vuhledar, Ukraine February 8, 2023 A satellite image shows armored vehicles and tanks deployed in residential areas in Kyrylivka, Ukraine February 10, 2023 Bakhmut has been the stage for the longest battle of Russia's invasion. Satellite images from the region released overnight showed an apocalyptic wasteland of destroyed towns and fields ripped up by artillery. Men with limbs lost to mines and artillery wounds are pulled from battlefields carved with trenches and scarred by shells in a fight drawing comparisons to infamous battles of World War I. 'It's like Verdun out there,' a man named Ivan - an ambulance driver waiting on a roadside outside the battered industrial city in the eastern Donetsk region - told reporters for Agence France-Presse. Like the 1916 fight on the western front in France, the battle for the city - now in its seventh month - has been long, bloody and futile. Victory over the city, pounded to ruin, would be merely symbolic as the anniversary of the invasion looms on February 24. Yet even as the dead and wounded are rushed out or abandoned on the battlefield, both sides are digging in and flinging more troops to break the deadlock. Moscow has ramped up efforts to score its first significant victory after months of setbacks, while Kyiv is determined to hold its ground. Analysts believe the Kremlin hopes its new offensive could achieve what its first attack in 2022 failed in doing - seizing Kyiv and overthrowing the government. However, the owner of the Russian Wagner Group private military contractor actively involved in the fighting in Ukraine said last week that the war could drag on for years. Ukrainian soldiers fire an anti-tank missile system of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Army on the frontline, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on February 10, 2023 Pictured: A Ukrainian-operated tank is seen being operated by the 35th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian army is seen on the frontline, in Donetsk Oblast, on February 10 Pictured: Soldiers of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Army are seen on duty on the frontline, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on February 10 Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview released late Friday that it could take 18 months to two years for Russia to fully secure control of Donbas. He added that the war could go on for three years if Moscow decides to capture broader territories east of the Dnieper River. The statement from Prigozhin, a millionaire who has close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin and was dubbed 'Putin's chef' for his lucrative Kremlin catering contracts, marked a recognition of the difficulties that the Kremlin has faced. In Russia, the campaign was initially expected to wrap up within weeks when Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russia suffered a series of humiliating setbacks in the fall when the Ukrainian military launched successful counteroffensives to reclaim broad swaths of territory in the east and the south. But both sides have described the battle for Bakhmut as the bloodiest of the war. Near the front, north of Bakhmut - among broken trees and strewn grenades - a dozen bodies of alleged Wagner fighters lay abandoned on the frosted ground, AFP saw in late January. 'Apparently, they were forbidden to retreat,' Ukrainian serviceman Vladislav said, as heavy shelling pounded nearby. 'They didn't even take their wounded. And they died there eventually in the field.' Wagner boss and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has described 'fierce' fighting unfolding on 'every street, every house, every stairwell'. And evidence of the fighting is everywhere, from burning buildings to shell fragments and blood-soaked snow littered with medical equipment. A city once known for sparkling wine and salt mines, and home to 70,000 people, half of the buildings in Bakhmut are damaged or destroyed, according to officials. Despite this, some 6,500 civilians are still holding out in the city. Anjal Prakash, research director and adjunct associate professor of Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB, told Deccan Chronicle, The climate models have predicted that this is going to be a warmer summer and the hot areas will be hotter than before. In Telangana, we are seeing 38C in February itself, which is an indication of what is in store in April and May. (Representational DC Image) HYDERABAD: After enjoying hill station-like weather, city folk might have to bear desert-like temperatures in the ensuing summer, with an unusually warm February giving a hint of things to come. Experts are predicting a harsh summer and attributing it to ecological imbalance, erratic weather systems and growing carbon footprints. Anjal Prakash, research director and adjunct associate professor of Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB, told Deccan Chronicle, "The climate models have predicted that this is going to be a warmer summer and the hot areas will be hotter than before. In Telangana, we are seeing 38C in February itself, which is an indication of what is in store in April and May." Prakash said an imbalanced ecological system, particularly the broken water systems; vehicular pollution and economic development as the major contributors to rising temperature in the city. "What Hyderabad is experiencing now is urban heat island effect, wherein the high concentration of population and high economic growth and activity is leading to an increase in the average temperature," Prakash said. "We need to go for long-term adaptive measures like urban forestry, productive water, blue and green infrastructure that regulates the micro-climate, to minimize the rise in temperature levels. Our focus should primarily be on green growth development." Experts were of the view that the average maximum temperatures would e higher by 2-3C this summer. Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of meteorology and climate change, Skymet, said that the temperatures were above normal in most parts of the country. "The maximum temperature in the state will remain above normal and the summer will be harsher as pre-monsoon activities will be less than average. There will be hotter days with long heat wave stretches when compared to the last few years," Palawat added. A Turkish mother of a ten-day-old boy revealed that a cupboard saved their lives when they plunged through their apartment floor and it shielded them from falling concrete slabs during the deadly earthquake. One of the miracle stories after the earthquake that claimed over 35,000 lives in Turkey and Syria is about Necla Camuz, 33, and her newborn son Yagiz, who survived being buried under mounts of rubble for nearly four days. Necla kept her baby boy alive for more than 90 hours of being buried in the ruins of her home by breastfeeding him, and she even tried to drink her own breastmilk to survive. She gave birth to Yagiz - translated as the brave one - on January 27, the BBC reports. Ten days later, when the devastating earthquake hit at 04:17 local time, she was breastfeeding her son in the family home on the second floor of a five-storey building in the Hatay province in Turkey. Necla Camuz, 33, gave birth to her son Yagiz - translated as the brave one - on January 27. Ten days later, she found herself buried under a mountain of rubble, holding her baby son to her chest When the earthquake started, she said her husband, who was in another room at the time, tried to get to her with their son, as she tried to do the same. A wardrobe fell onto her husband and her son, making it impossible for him and their son to move. She told the BBC: 'As the earthquake got bigger, the wall fell, the room was shaking, and the building was changing position. When it stopped, I didn't realise that I had fallen one floor down. I shouted their names but there was no answer.' Surrounded by dust, she found herself with her baby still in her arms and a fallen wardrobe next to her, which prevented a slab of concrete from crushing the pair. Despite being unable to see because of the dust, Necla noticed immediately that Yagiz was still breathing. She said she struggled to breathe at first with the dust around her, but it soon settled and she was warm in the rubble, despite only wearing her pyjamas. There may have been children's toys next to her, but Necla was unable to move and check. The only things she could be sure of were the wardrobe that saved her life, the skin of her baby son against her chest, the clothes on their bodies and the mountains of concrete and debris around them. She could faintly hear voices in the first few hours after the earthquake, but her calls for help remained unanswered. She banged helplessly against the wardrobe using a piece of debris next to her, but she didn't knock on the ceiling, as she was too afraid it might collapse. The mother-of-two said she was terrified and that she realised it might be possible that no one would come to rescue her and Yagiz. She told the BBC: 'You plan lots of things when you have a new baby, and then all of a sudden you're under rubble.' Her maternal insticts made her push her worries aside to care for her son, breastfeeding him in the confined space. Dramatic footage shows the rescue of the baby and its mother before they were loaded into ambulances and driven to hospital After more than 90 hours underground, Necla finally heard the sounds of rescuers nearby. She heard dogs barking, in what she at first thought was a dream Yagiz was wrapped in a thermal blanket by rescuers from the Istanbul Minicipality Fire Department and carefully lifted out of the rubble Mother and son miraculously sustained no serious injuries and were released from hospital after a 24-hour observation period She lost all sense of time and there was no food or water she could access for herself. She even tried to unsuccessfully drink her own breastmilk to keep herself hydrated. She could feel the vibrations of drills overhead, and she even heard muffled footsteps and voices, but they were so far away that she didn't want to waste energy by trying to alert them of her location unless they got closer. Her family was constantly on her mind: the worry of her husband and son buried in rubble somewhere above and her other relatives' fate after the earthquake. She would have felt no hope to ever get out of the rubble alive, had it not been for her baby son, who slept most of the time and only woke up crying when he wanted to be fed. After more than 90 hours underground, Necla finally heard the sounds of rescuers nearby. She heard dogs barking, in what she at first thought was a dream. A voice called to her, asking her if she was okay and to knock once for yes. It asked her which apartment she lived in. Necla and Yagiz were found after rescuers carefully removed the rubble burying them. For the first time in nearly four days, she saw light again as a torch light was shining into her eyes. She was asked how old Yagiz was, but since she didn't know how long they were buried under the rubble, she couldn't be sure. Yagiz was wrapped in a thermal blanket by rescuers from the Istanbul Minicipality Fire Department and carefully lifted out of the rubble. Necla was carried away on stretcher in front of a large crowd, as she was unable to walk after being burried under the rubble for so long. Dramatic footage shows the rescue of the baby and its mother before they were loaded into ambulances and driven to hospital. At the hospital, Necla was greeted by family members, who told her that her husband Irfan, who she has been married to for six years, and other son, Yigit Kerim, had been rescued as well and were currently in a hospital a few hours away, as they sustained serious injuries to their legs and feet At the hospital, Necla was greeted by family members, who told her that her husband Irfan, who she has been married to for six years, and other son, Yigit Kerim, had been rescued as well and were currently in a hospital a few hours away, as they sustained serious injuries to their legs and feet. Mother and son miraculously sustained no serious injuries and were released from hospital after a 24-hour observation period. She is currently staying with a family in a makeshift blue tent, where the family supports each other after the tragedy. Necla was eventually reunited with her husband Irfan and their three-year-old son Yigit Kerim. She said she was trying to come to terms with what happened to her and her family, but is certain that she owes her life to her baby son, without whom she would have lost hope. 'I think if my baby hadn't been strong enough to handle this, I wouldn't have been either,' she told the BBC. 'I'm very happy he's a newborn baby and won't remember anything.' At least 35,000 have been killed after tremor hit Turkey and Syria last week Search teams are facing race against time to reach people alive after the quake British rescuers are going to extraordinary lengths to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings one week after earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria. Remarkable footage shows a Briton risking his life by crawling through tunnels created in the rubble to find a trapped man in Hatay province, southern Turkey. Searchers are facing a race against time, as experts warn that hopes for finding people alive in the debris diminish with each passing day. At least 35,000 people have been killed in the quakes, one of which had a magnitude of 7.8, that devastated large areas of Turkey and Syria last week. But today rescuers pulled a 40-year-old woman, Sibel Kaya, from wreckage of a five-storey building in the Turkish town of Islahiye. She had spent 170 hours beneath the rubble. And last night, rescuers pulled free a seven-year-old boy, Mustafa, and 62-year-old Nafize Yilmaz after they spent 163 hours trapped under ruins. Remarkable footage shows a British rescuer risking his life by crawling through tiny tunnels created through the rubble to find a Turkish man who had been trapped for nearly a week in Hatay province, southern Turkey Footage shows the rescuer breathing heavily as he lowers his body into a small hole amongst the rubble - knowing that any slight movement could cause the building to collapse further and kill him A person is rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building 176 hours after the earthquake struck in Turkey An aerial view of collapsed buildings as search and rescue efforts continue in Hatay, Turkey, following the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria Rescue workers in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras had also made contact with three survivors, believed to be a mother, daughter and baby, in the ruins of a building. But reports of rescues are becoming rarer as the time since the quake reaches the limits of the human body's ability to survive without water, especially in sub-freezing temperatures. The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes struck nine hours apart in south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. At least 35,224 people were killed, with the death toll expected to rise considerably as search teams find more bodies. Towns and cities lived in by millions have also been reduced to fragments of concrete and twisted metal. Officials said 31,643 people had died in Turkey and 3,581 in Syria from last Monday's 7.8-magnitude tremor. Turkey's disaster agency said more than 32,000 people from the nation's organisations were working on search-and-rescue efforts, along with 8,294 international rescuers. A member of a British search team posted a video of a fellow rescuer risking their life by crawling through a collapsed building to search for survivors. The emergency worker breathes heavily as he lowers his body into a small hole amongst the rubble knowing that any slight movement could cause the building to collapse further and kill him. At one point, he slides on to his stomach and shuffles through a small hole, which he only just manages to fit through and into a small area covered with rubble. The Briton, wearing a respirator, slides across the rubble to reach a man lying on the ground. The rescuer can be heard saying: 'Hello, I'm Malcolm the doctor.' The man can be heard replying, 'Is it okay?' to which the British rescuer says: 'Yeah we're okay.' Six-year-old girl Miray is rescued under the rubble of collapsed building in Adiyaman, Turkey, on Monday The girl is stretchered from the rubble by a team of rescuers and military members An aerial view shows 26-year-old Derya Akdogan as she is rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building 177 hours after the earthquake struck in Hatay province, Turkey Serap Donmez is rescued from under rubble of a collapsed building after being trapped there for 176 hours following the devastating earthquake in the Turkish province of Hatay A man reacts after his mother, Serap Donmez, is pulled out alive from a collapsed building after 176 hours The man sheds tears of joy after his mother is rescued a week after the earthquakes hit Workers stand on top of a collapsed building as a digger works its way through the debris on February 13 in Hatay, Turkey An aerial photo shows collapsed buildings in Antakya, Turkey, on February 11 Meanwhile, in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras, near the epicentre of the quake, excavators dug through mountains of rubble as a rescue team recovered a body from the wreckage. Rescuers hoping to reach the three survivors in the city believed to be a mother, daughter and baby consisted of a Turkish military team, miners and Spanish firefighters who were first alerted to there being life in the rubble by a search dog, according to engineer officer Halil Kaya. A thermal scan signalled there were people alive, about five metres within the building, and then a muffled sound was detected, Kaya told the broadcaster. The miners have excavated around three metres through a neighbouring building that is still standing, putting up support beams as they go. 'When we said knock on the wall if you can hear us, we heard faint tapping,' he said. 'Our colleagues are all here working for 24 hours without sleeping... We will all be here until we get those people out of there.' In many areas, rescue teams said they lacked sensors and advanced search equipment, leaving them reduced to carefully digging with shovels or only their hands. 'If we had this kind of equipment, we would have saved hundreds of lives, if not more,' said Alaa Moubarak, head of civil defence in Jableh, north-west Syria. Meanwhile, Eduardo Reinoso Angulo, a professor at the Institute of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said the likelihood of finding more people alive is 'very, very small now'. Search and rescue team embrace as 35-year-old Bunyamin Idaci is rescued under the rubble of a collapsed building on Monday in Adiyaman, Turkey Rescuers evacuate a 12-year-old Syrian girl, Cudi, from the rubble of a destroyed building in Hatay, on February 12 People sit around a fire beside collapsed buildings today in Hatay, Turkey Drone footage shows tents, from Turkey's AFAD disaster management agency, set up in the stadium of Kahramanmaras following the earthquake Chinese rescuers in a search and rescue operation in the southern Turkish province of Hatay on February 11 Professor Angulo, lead author of a 2017 study of deaths inside buildings struck by earthquakes, said the odds of survival for people trapped in wreckage fall dramatically after five days and is near zero after nine, although there have been exceptions. David Alexander, a professor of emergency planning and management at University College London, added that the window for pulling people alive from rubble is 'almost at an end'. But, he said, the odds were not very good to begin with many of the buildings were so poorly constructed that they collapsed into very small pieces, leaving very few spaces large enough for people to survive in. 'If a frame building of some kind goes over, generally speaking we do find open spaces in a heap of rubble where we can tunnel in,' Prof Alexander said. 'Looking at some of these photographs from Turkey and from Syria, there just aren't the spaces.' Wintry conditions further reduce the window for survival. Temperatures in the region have fallen to -6C (21F) overnight. 'The typical way the body compensates for hypothermia is shivering and shivering requires a lot of calories,' said Dr Stephanie Lareau, a professor of emergency medicine at Virginia Tech in the US. 'So if somebody's deprived of food for a number of days and exposed to cold temperatures, they're probably going to succumb to hypothermia more rapidly.' A week after the quakes hit, many people are still without shelter in the streets. Some survivors are waiting in front of collapsed buildings for the bodies of their loved ones to be retrieved. Many in Turkey blame faulty construction for the vast devastation and authorities have begun targeting contractors allegedly linked with buildings that collapsed. At least 131 people are under investigation for their alleged responsibility in the construction of buildings that failed to withstand the quakes, officials said. Turkey has introduced construction codes that meet earthquake-engineering standards, but experts say the codes are rarely enforced. In Syria, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said the international community has failed to provide aid. On a visit to the Turkish-Syrian border on Sunday, he said Syrians are 'looking for international help that hasn't arrived'. 'We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria. They rightly feel abandoned,' he said, adding: 'My duty and our obligation is to correct this failure as fast as we can.' The death toll in Syria's rebel-held region has reached 2,166, according to rescue group the White Helmets. The overall toll in the country, currently in the midst of civil war, stood at 3,581 on Monday, although the 1,387 deaths reported for government-held parts of the country had not been updated for days. A man walks in the debris of a collapsed building as he awaits news of loved ones on February 13 in Hatay, Turkey An aerial view of collapsed buildings after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkey In its capital, Damascus, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned the pain will ripple forward, calling the disaster an 'unfolding tragedy that's affecting millions'. 'The compounding crises of conflict, Covid, cholera, economic decline, and now the earthquake have taken an unbearable toll,' Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The UN has decried the failure to ship desperately-needed aid to war-torn regions of Syria. A convoy with supplies for north-west Syria arrived via Turkey, but the UN's relief chief Martin Griffiths said much more was needed for millions whose homes were destroyed. Assessing damage in southern Turkey on Saturday, when the toll stood at 28,000, Griffiths said he expected the figure to 'double or more' as chances of finding survivors fade with every day. Supplies have been slow to arrive in Syria, where years of conflict have ravaged the healthcare system and parts of the country remain under the control of rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad, which is under Western sanctions. But a ten-truck UN convoy crossed into north-west Syria via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, according to an AFP correspondent, carrying shelter kits, plastic sheeting, rope, blankets, mattresses and carpets. Bab al-Hawa is the only point for international aid to reach people in rebel-held areas of Syria after nearly 12 years of civil war, after other crossings were closed under pressure from China and Russia. Dr Ghebreyesus met president Assad in Damascus on Sunday and said the Syrian leader had voiced readiness for more border crossings to help bring aid into the rebel-held northwest. 'He was open to considering additional cross-border access points for this emergency,' Dr Ghebreyesus told reporters. However, he said the WHO was still waiting for a green light from rebel-held areas before going in. UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said he United Nations was mobilising funding to support Syria. 'We're trying to tell everyone: Put politics aside, this is a time to unite behind a common effort to support the Syrian people,' he said. Turkey said on Sunday about 80,000 people were in hospital, and more than one million in temporary shelters. Assad looked forward to further 'efficient cooperation' with the UN agency to improve the shortage in supplies, equipment and medicines, his presidency said. He had also thanked the United Arab Emirates for providing 'huge relief and humanitarian aid', with pledges of tens of millions of dollars. But in Turkey, security concerns prompted the suspension of some rescue operations, and dozens of people have been arrested for looting or trying to defraud victims in the aftermath of the quake, according to state media. An Israeli emergency relief organisation said on Sunday it had suspended its earthquake rescue operation in Turkey and returned home because of a 'significant' security threat to its staff. Zehra Kurukafa walks past a destroyed house in the village of Polat, Turkey, on Sunday After days of grief and anguish, anger in Turkey has been growing over the poor quality of buildings as well as the government's response to the country's worst disaster in nearly a century. A total of 12,141 buildings were officially either destroyed or seriously damaged in Turkey. In a central district of one of the worst hit cities, Antakya in southern Turkey, business owners emptied their shops on Sunday to prevent merchandise from being stolen by looters. Residents and aid workers who came from other cities cited worsening security conditions, with widespread accounts of businesses and collapsed homes being robbed. Amid concerns about hygiene and the spread of infection, Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said at the weekend that rabies and tetanus vaccine had been sent to the quake zone and that mobile pharmacies had started to operate there. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the government will deal firmly with looters, as he faces questions over his response to the earthquake ahead of an election scheduled for June that is expected to be the toughest of his two decades in power. The quake is now the sixth most deadly natural disaster this century, behind the 2005 tremor that killed at least 73,000 in Pakistan. A father and daughter, a toddler and a 10-year-old girl were among other survivors pulled from the ruins of collapsed buildings in Turkey on Sunday, but such scenes are becoming rare as the number of dead climbed relentlessly. At a funeral near Reyhanli, veiled women wailed and beat their chests as bodies were unloaded from lorries - some in closed wood coffins, others in uncovered coffins, and still others just wrapped in blankets. Some residents sought to retrieve what they could from the destruction. In Elbistan, epicentre of an aftershock almost as powerful as Monday's initial 7.8 magnitude quake, 32-year-old mobile shop owner Mustafa Bahcivan said he had come into town almost daily since then. On Sunday, he sifted through rubble searching for any of his phones that might still be intact and sellable. 'This used to be one of the busiest streets. Now it's completely gone,' he said. A former female police sergeant whose world came shattering down after she fell for a crook later convicted of armed robbery has shared her story in a new podcast. Jill Owens, then Evans, 54, was a decorated officer with Dyfed-Powys Police in mid Wales when she met Dean Jenkins on an online dating site in the early 2000s. The pair enjoyed a whirlwind romance which came to a blistering halt when Jenkins was arrested after an armed raid, and Mrs Owens was forced to resign from her force. Now, the mother-of-three's ordeal has been made into a six-part podcast series by Wondery and Novel called Stolen Hearts. She said: 'Talking about it still brings tears to my eyes because I will never be able to fully shake the devastation it caused to my life.' Jill Owens, then Evans, 54, was a decorated officer with Dyfed-Powys Police in mid Wales when she met Dean Jenkins on an online dating site in the early 2000s Dean Jenkins, a 'self-made businessman' from Kent, was arrested on October 31, 2006, for being the getaway driver of a robbery gang, which had stolen 339,000 in multiple targeted raids on building societies Mrs Owens was a two time-divorcee with two daughters and could not believe her luck when she connected with Jenkins - a charming, seemingly self-made businessman from Kent who had his own range of male grooming products. Reflecting fifteen years later on the impact it had on her life, she said: 'I had no idea when I hit that send button where my life would head. 'I was a police sergeant. I did not think I'd ever start talking with an armed robber. What are the chances of that? 'When it happened it was like a bomb went off, destroying everything I'd ever known. 'I lost my two daughters for a number of years, my parents, I no longer speak to my brother. I was very much on my own.' Ms Owens says she was totally unaware of Jenkins' double life, but was judged by other people who insisted she must have known. 'Even when I look back and ask myself was there anything I could have picked up on? There is absolutely nothing,' she said. 'Everything seemed to add up to what he said he was, a successful businessman.' Now, the mother-of-three's ordeal has been made into a six-part podcast series by Wondery and Novel called Stolen Hearts. After their first date in a pub in Cardiff they began to meet up every other weekend, and Jenkins surprised her with an expensive holiday to Italy where he took her to the Cosmoprof beauty trade show. At the time, Jenkins had a men's toiletries company which included a range called the Guvnor, which was sold in Superdrug. Ms Owens said she was 'starstruck' by the lavish lifestyle Jenkins introduced her to, including meals in expensive restaurants with representatives of TV shopping channel QVC. 'I wasn't sheltered but I was from a small town by the seaside and I was not used to this kind of big city life,' she said. 'I mean one minute I was searching for a lost cat and the next minute I'm sitting with QVC. I was a bit starstruck by it all. 'I went to his place of work, I saw his distribution warehouse and met George [Jenkins' business partner]. I met his mother, his sister, his gran. 'There was nothing suspicious to see from what I witnessed.' Ms Owens found herself four months pregnant when, on November 1, 2006, she was told Jenkins had been arrested the day before as the getaway driver of a robbery gang, which had stolen 339,000 in multiple targeted raids on building societies. Jenkins' crimes would signal the end of Ms Owens' career with Dyfed-Powys Police, which she joined in 1990, and her alienation from friends, family and colleagues. Kent Police interviewed her about her knowledge of Jenkins. She was then put under investigation by the professional standards of her own force. Mrs Owens claims she was treated unfairly by Dyfed-Powys Police and the way she was interviewed was 'like a gang approach' Stolen Hearts, the podcast from Wondery and Novel, is available on all podcast services She claims she was treated unfairly by her own force and believes now she would have been offered more support. She said: 'It was a huge shock, I was 16 weeks pregnant, and my whole life had been turned upside down. There was no consideration at all for that. 'Every time I was interviewed by Dyfed-Powys it would be by men, often two or three senior officers at the same time. It was like a gang approach, and I was vulnerable. 'They told me I should have known because the names of two of his shower gels were Beat the Filth and It's a Stick Up. I mean I just thought it was clever marketing.' In late 2008 she was 'required to resign'. Ms Owens said she visited Jenkins in prison but never got the answers she wanted from him. 'I've always thought that there were two possible reasons he was with me. Either it was the thrill of playing with the danger of dating a police officer, or he genuinely had feelings for me,' she said 'If he had genuine feelings for me then the kindest thing would have been to walk away.' Producers interviewed Jenkins for the podcast and Ms Owens said she was surprised by what he said. 'I can't say too much, but what he says in the last episode really made me sit back. I was sitting in my work van listening to it and I thought 'wow',' she said. 'I could finally see what I couldn't see for such a long time.' Before the podcast, Ms Owens released a book about her experiences called Two Cops And A Robber, in April 2020, and says telling her story is both about catharsis and getting her side across. Alongside writing and running her own property management company she is deputy mayor of Haverfordwest and is due to become mayor in April. She said: 'It's been a long road to recovery, but I don't blame myself any more. 'The police said I was lacking in honesty and integrity - and that really cut deep because it's not true at all. 'Now I'm going to be mayor of the town and that feels like a small victory.' She now lives with her son Frankie and her husband Rod, who she met in 2012 on the day Wales won the rugby Six Nations Grand Slam. 'I could have turned around and said that's it, I'm not getting involved with men ever again. I don't trust them. But that's not me,' she said. 'There are nice men, women, whatever gender, out there looking for love and it's so easy to listen to bad stories as opposed to the positive and the good ones.' A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: 'A misconduct hearing concluded on November 7, 2008, with the officer being required to resign. The hearing concerned allegations concerning the officer's honesty and integrity and general conduct, and followed an investigation by the force's professional standards department. 'The matter was adjudicated upon by a wholly independent panel external to the force. 'Following the evidence being heard and deliberated, the panel found the officer guilty of breaches of the police code of conduct.' Stolen Hearts, the podcast from Wondery and Novel, is available on all podcast services. A lecturer who was cancelled after false allegations of Islamophobia has revealed he was scared Muslim extremists would kill him. Human rights scholar Steven Greer, 66, effectively went into hiding after Bristol University Law School undergraduates complained that elements of his course were racist and discriminatory. The Belfast-born academic, who grew a long, bushy beard, wore fake glasses to disguise himself and carried a screwdriver and a 'sturdy' umbrella in case he was attacked, admitted he was more afraid for his life than during the Troubles after he was hounded by 'woke' students. Professor Greer, who was exonerated of all wrongdoing by an inquiry last year, has now accused Left-wing activists of putting the lives of academics such as himself at risk, and warned a 'Woke Inquisition' could 'dumb down degree courses at many of the UK's finest institutions'. Professor Steven Greer, 66, (pictured) was wrongly 'cancelled' after being accused of Islamophobia by students at the University of Bristol He was so scared for his life that he grew a long, bushy beard and carried a screwdriver with him in case he was attacked Prof Greer's memoir, Falsely Accused of Islamophobia: My Struggle Against Academic Cancellation, was released today The grandfather-of-three said: 'Cancel culture is fast becoming the scourge of academia. A climate of fear is already replacing an environment of free, critical inquiry. 'There is a growing risk that many students will leave university with little critical insight, knowledge, or appreciation of the vital importance of intellectual freedom and evidence-based thinking in a healthy democracy. 'Some, wearing self-tied gags and blinkers, will go on to join the next generation of leaders. This does not bode well for the future of our society.' He said academics were at risk of attacks because of how easy it was for students to make racism allegations 'based on nothing but lies and distortion'. The lecturer said academics were 'already self-censoring' because they were afraid of being falsely branded as 'hostile to minorities including gays, transsexuals and Muslims' by 'woke student campaigners'. He said: 'Cancel culture is fast becoming the scourge of academia. A climate of fear is already replacing an environment of free, critical inquiry' (pictured on University of Bristol's campus) The professor and grandfather-of-three (pictured with his new memoir) said while some universities 'remain beacons of intellectual freedom, others are increasingly cowed by members of the cancel culture woke far-Left' He was cleared of all wrongdoing after a five-month investigation but university bosses dropped his module on Islam, China and the Far East so Muslim students would 'not feel that their religion is being singled out or in any way "othered" by the class material' The professor added: 'Prejudice is deplorable and should rightly be condemned but this is far removed from legitimate academic enquiry. 'Unfortunately, cancel culture fails to see the distinction. 'The issue is compounded by universities. While some remain beacons of intellectual freedom, others are increasingly cowed by members of the cancel culture woke far-Left. 'Not only are students losing out but the reputation of British higher education is also being damaged around the world. 'Unless something effective is done about these challenges then within the next decade academic freedom will be irretrievably lost.' Prof Greer said university bosses need to do more to protect academics from 'intolerant' students. He said: 'I had until last year enjoyed a wonderful career and I believe I had earned the respect of students, colleagues and peers all over the world. University chiefs rejected complaints that Steven Greer had expressed 'bigoted views' after a five-month investigation but have still pulled his module from their syllabus A University of Bristol spokesman told MailOnline: 'We encourage students to engage with, debate, analyse and critique ideas and theories of all kinds within our academic programmes' An online petition that was launched by members of the university's Islamic Society, Brisoc, was signed by more than 4,000 people 'Almost overnight my name became synonymous with bigotry, racism and Islamophobia especially on social media because of a handful of malicious students who set out to ruin my life. 'I was vilified and my name and reputation were dragged through the mud. 'For my own safety, I was forced to act like a fugitive for including academically authoritative, fact-based information in my course that a few militant students took objection to. 'My case is not the first of this kind and nor, sadly, is it likely to be the last. Allegations of Islamophobia were first made against Prof Greer after he used a teaching slide that mentioned the 2015 terror attack on the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a magazine that had published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. The slide was described as having 'Islamophobic rhetoric'. Additionally, a lecture that included 'well-attested observations' about the inferior treatment of women and non-Muslims in Islamic states and the tough penalties handed out under Sharia law was slated as 'bigoted and divisive'. A five-month inquiry led by a senior academic at Bristol University found each of the accusations to be baseless. An independent KC appointed during the inquiry also found Prof Greer was not guilty of harassment. But the 'scurrilous falsehoods by a handful of illiberal students' led to the removal of the material from the course and left him fearing for his reputation and his life. Professor Greer was so scared for his own safety that he went into hiding. The allegations against the professor were first levelled in October 2020 when Bristol University's Islamic Society (BRISOC) made a formal complaint, alleging multiple counts of Islamophobia in his teaching and other public output. He was accused of expressing 'bigoted views' in the Islam, China, and the Far East module of the Human Rights in Law, Politics and Society (HRLPS) course he designed and taught since 2006. The module highlighted the inferior treatment of women and non-Muslims in Islamic states, and the hard penalties issued under Sharia law. External examiners repeatedly praised its 'rigorous and critical' examination of contemporary human rights issues. In February 2021, BRISOC made its complaint public through an online petition and social media campaign. Professor Greer was also accused of 'Islamophobic rhetoric' for including the 2015 Paris terror attack in a lecture slide, and of airing 'Islamophobic, bigoted and divisive' views. BRISOC also claimed that he had laughed at a passage from the Quran in a seminar. The petition received more than 4,000 signatures and called for Professor Greer's suspension or dismissal should he not issue an immediate apology, and the cancellation of the Islam, China and the Far East module from the HRLPS course regardless. Within days, he received a series of threatening emails and was alarmed after spotting a suspicious person loitering near his home in Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police took his concerns seriously but an investigation was dropped due to a lack of evidence. In July 2021, following a five-month enquiry, Bristol University fully exonerated him of all BRISOC's allegations. The decision was unanimously upheld in October of that year when a panel of three senior Bristol academics rejected BRISOC's appeal against the inquiry's decision. Professor Greer, who had worked at the University since the 1980s, was signed off work by a doctor from September 2021 to January 2022. He was not allocated any further teaching duties upon his return and says he was kept on what he regards as unofficial 'research leave' until his retirement in September 2022. University bosses also dropped his module on Islam, China and the Far East so Muslim students would 'not feel that their religion is being singled out or in any way "othered" by the class material'. The academic was appointed as research director for the Oxford Institute for British Islam (OIBI), an independent Muslim think-tank and research academy, after his ordeal. His memoir, Falsely Accused of Islamophobia: My Struggle Against Academic Cancellation, was released today. Last December, the Office for Students (OfS) watchdog warned university bosses to uphold freedom of speech on campuses or risk a fine of up to 500,000. Susan Lapworth, its chief executive, said academic freedom has become a major issue in universities. The rise of 'campus wokery' has seen speakers banned and academics bullied out of jobs for voicing opinions. Karolien Celie, of the Free Speech Union, a body that promotes freedom of speech and defends those targeted by online mobs, said: 'Professor Greer's horrifying ordeal is yet another salutary reminder of the fragility of academic freedom in the contemporary UK. 'His account of his own case, together with authoritative reflections on the rise of cancel culture and its implications in academia, sound an alarm bell which nobody who cares about the maintenance of liberal democratic societies should ignore.' A University of Bristol spokesman told MailOnline: 'Ensuring that all members of our community can exercise their right to free speech has always been and remains at the heart of our mission. 'We encourage students to engage with, debate, analyse and critique ideas and theories of all kinds within our academic programmes. 'As a university we are bound to investigate formal complaints when received. 'This complaint was not upheld.' READ MORE: British extremist who inspired US mass killer is jailed for 11 years A series of violent disturbances in recent days have thrown a spotlight on Britain's largest far-Right group, which is led by a Neo-Nazi Holocaust denier whose followers once called footballer Raheem Sterling a 'n*****'. Patriotic Alternative is understood to have led a group of activists who picketed a 'drag story hour' by children's author Aida H Dee reading at the Tate Britain in London on Saturday. The group has also been accused of fuelling Friday's anti-refugee riot outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Knowsley, Liverpool. It denied reports it organised the event but had been leafleting locally in recent weeks. Patriotic Alternative was founded in 2019 by Mark Collett, a Neo-Nazi who calls for a 'racially pure white society' and led the BNP's youth wing before the party expelled him. It now claims to have more than 15,000 members. Last year, supporters of the group were filmed by Channel 4's Dispatches describing England and Chelsea striker Raheem Sterling as a 'chimp' and a 'n*****'. Patriotic Alternative was founded in 2019 by Neo-Nazi Mark Collett, who led the BNP's youth wing before the party expelled him The footage was secretly filmed at an annual meeting in the Peak District in July 2021, just before the Euros final. They also joked about shooting sport stars taking the knee in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM), with one saying: 'No kneeling for n******.' Another added: 'When they're taking the knee, just like that [gunshot motion and noise] . . . f****** back of the head.' In response, Dame Sara Khan, Number 10's then counter-extremism commissioner, called for the group to be banned. Mr Collett has long been prominent in British far-Right circles and has a history of vile racist comments. He has voiced pro-Nazi sympathies, and in a 2021 book revealed he'd have been 'proud' to have taken part in its Nuremberg rallies. Describing the party members in attendance, he described how they 'wore uniforms, looked healthy and were of good breeding stock'. The Leeds University graduate also complained in the book about the 'established Holocaust narrative' and its elevation to 'an almost unquestionable truth'. He argued that 'when it comes to the notion of white guilt, nothing is pushed more strongly' than the 'alleged extermination of six million Jews at the hands of the German people'. The group denied organising Friday's protest in Knowsley but held it's own demonstration outside the Suites Hotel last week and has been distributing leaflets (pictured) A police van has been set alight in Merseyside after protests outside a hotel housing asylum seekers turned violent Mr Collett added that the future of Western man 'lies in the wombs of the Western female', however, Western man has no future if they are 'occupied by the seed of a foreign people'. Under his leadership, Patriotic Alternative has become known for provocative stunts, including setting up a 'White Lives Matter' banner on the summit of Ben Nevis. The group, which wants all non-white people removed from the UK, also tries to soften its image with 'family friendly' events such as litter picks and cake sales. Previously banned from Twitter, it was restored in December last year after the platform was bought by Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, a self-described 'free speech absolutist'. A teenager was yesterday charged with beating an emergency worker during Friday's riot outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley. Jarad Skeete, 19, was among 15 people arrested, including a youth aged 13, after a demonstration turned violent on Friday night as a police riot van was set ablaze. The violence, which Labour MP Lisa Nandy suggested had been stoked by far-Right agitators, left a police officer and two members of the public with slight injuries after fireworks were thrown at officers and the police van was set alight after being attacked with hammers. A police van was destroyed amid the riot outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley on Friday Right-wing protesters clash with counter protesters outside the Tate Britain gallery in London in response to a 'Drag Queen Story Hour' on Saturday Patriotic Alternative had protested outside the hotel earlier this month, but denied organising Friday's event. The group has been widely reported as being behind Saturday's protest outside the Tate Britain, which saw Right-wing protesters wearing t-shirts with slogans such as 'groom dogs not children' clash with pro-LGBT counter demonstrators. The Tate, in Millbank, central London, had been hosting Drag Queen Story Hour UK, with tales told by Aida H Dee, who the gallery's website describes as 'the first drag artist in Europe to read stories to children in a nursery'. Lance O'Connor, 53, of Plaistow, east London, is due to appear in court today accused of assault on an emergency worker, obstruction of a police officer and two homophobic aggravated public order offences. Sir Frederick Barclay's High Court fight over a 100million sum he was ordered to pay his ex-wife has been postponed after a judge heard the retired businessman has made a 'proposal'. The Daily Telegraph tycoon, 88, had been ordered to hand Lady Barclay the money in May 2021 following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage. Lady Barclay, who petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, subsequently complained that Sir Frederick had not paid money as ordered - and alleged that he was in contempt of court. Sir Jonathan was due to oversee a further hearing in the Family Division of the High Court on Monday. But he adjourned proceedings until March 6 after a barrister representing Lady Barclay told him that Sir Frederick had made a 'proposal'. Sir Frederick Barclay's High Court fight over a 100million sum he was ordered to pay his ex-wife has been postponed after the judge heard the retired businessman has made a 'proposal' Sir Frederick Barclay, 80, arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice, central London, earlier today for the latest stage of litigation between him and his ex-wife Lady Barclay Lady Barclay previously asked for Sir Frederick to be sent to prison after claiming he breached court orders to pay her more than 100million in May 2021 - saying he failed to pay two lump sums of 50million Stewart Leech KC said Lady Barclay would not take any further enforcement action before that hearing. Meanwhile, Sir Jonathan said it was 'absolutely essential' that Lady Barclay was 'properly provided for'. Mr Leech gave Sir Jonathan no detail of Sir Frederick's 'proposal'. He had told the judge, in a written argument prepared for Monday's hearing, that Lady Barclay had 'lost patience'. Mr Leech told the judge of Sir Frederick's 'abject failure to engage in making any real efforts' to show when he will be able to pay 'anything'. Sir Jonathan ruled in July that Sir Frederick was in contempt as a result of failing to pay about 245,000 that he owed Lady Barclay for legal fees and maintenance. A barrister representing Lady Barclay told the judge, at a follow-up hearing in August, that the 245,000 had been paid. But Stewart Leech KC said Sir Frederick remained 'massively in default' and told the judge that there was 'still no plan for payment of the 100 million'. Monday's hearing is being staged in public and is listed as an 'application by Lady Hiroko Barclay for the committal to prison of Sir Frederick Hugh Barclay'. Sir Frederick and his twin brother, Sir David, were among the UK's most high-profile businessmen. Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021. Their interests included the Telegraph Media Group and The Ritz hotel in London. The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco. Sir Frederick and his identical twin brother, Sir David, were among the UK's most high-profile businessmen. Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021. Their interests included the Telegraph Media Group and The Ritz hotel in London. Sir Frederick (left) and his identical twin brother Sir David (right) were among the UK's most high-profile businessmen. Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021 Sir Frederick's High Court fight over the 100million sum has been postponed after a judge heard the retired businessman has made a 'proposal' Sir Jonathan Cohen said Sir Frederick had behaved in a 'reprehensible' fashion during a High Court fight over money Lady Barclay said Sir Frederick, and his brother David, had acquired the freehold of Brecqhou - one of the Channel Islands - in 1993 and paid 2.3 million. She added that her ex-husband and his brother had once had a brawl while abroad in a row over the running of their businesses. 'There was a fight on a boat on the holiday,' she told the judge, 'They were punching each other'. The twins were reported to have bought the Leander G superyacht in around 2016, although it is not known if the alleged fight was on board. The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco. She also told Sir Jonathan Cohen, who began overseeing a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in August, that Sir Frederick had the means to pay but was aiming to 'string things out' until 'one or other of us dies'. The Philippines on Monday accused a Chinese coast guard ship of hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a military-grade laser. Manila said the laser temporarily blinded some of its crew in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a 'blatant' violation of Manila's sovereign rights. The Chinese ship also manoeuvred dangerously close, about 450 feet, to block the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua from approaching Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef that has been occupied by Philippine forces, on Feb. 6, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement. The Philippines has filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against China's aggressive actions in the disputed waters in 2022 alone. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the US - an ally of the Philippines - and China. Earlier this month, Washington struck a deal with Manila to secure access to four additional military bases in the Philippines, days before a US warplane shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had flown over American airspace. The Philippines on Monday accused a Chinese coast guard ship of hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a military-grade laser on February 6. Pictured: An image released by the Philippine coast guard showing a green light light coming from the Chinese vessel Manila said the laser (pictured) temporarily blinded some of its crew in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a 'blatant' violation of Manila's sovereign rights Tensions have also been growing in recent months and years over China's plans to launch an invasion of Taiwan - which it sees as its own - in the coming years. The US has said its forced would defend the island in the event of an invasion. China claims the South China Sea virtually in its entirety, putting it on a collision course with other claimants. Despite friendly overtures to Beijing by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in January in Beijing, tensions have persisted, drawing in closer military alliance between the Philippines and the U.S. Although the Chinese coast guard had tried to block Philippine coast guard ships in the disputed waters before, this was the first time it used lasers and caused physical suffering among Filipino personnel, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo told The Associated Press. 'The Chinese ship illuminated the green laser light twice toward the BRP Malapascua, causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge,' a Philippine statement said. There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila. Images supplied by the PCG showed a green light emanating from a Chinese vessel with bow number 5205. The Philippine vessel was forced to move away from the area, where it was escorting a supply vessel that was delivering food and sailors to a Philippine navy sentry ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, which has been marooned on Second Thomas Shoal since 1999, the coast guard said. The 330-ft World War Two ship was intentionally grounded at the shoal, known locally as Ayungin, in 1999 to reinforce Manila's sovereignty claims in the Spratly archipelago. The Chinese ship (seen in the distance in an image released by the Philippine cost guard) also manoeuvred dangerously close, about 450 feet, to block the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua from approaching Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef that has been occupied by Philippine forces, on Feb. 6, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement Pictured: The Chinese vessel is seen in an image released by the Philippine coast guard The incident took place at the Second Thomas Shoal, 105 nautical miles (195 km) off the Philippine province of Palawan, which is the temporary home of a small contingent of military aboard a rusty ship. Pictured: A map showing the location of the shoal 'The deliberate blocking of the Philippine government ships to deliver food and supplies to our military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights in this part of the West Philippine Sea,' the coast guard said, using the name the Philippines has adopted for the stretch of waters close to its western coast. It was not immediately clear if the Philippine resupply mission pushed through despite the incident. The Chinese coast guard also blocked Philippine ships escorting a supply vessel from approaching Second Thomas Shoal in August, the coast guard said. At the time, one of the two Chinese ships that were joined by two Chinese civilian vessels removed the cover of its 70mm armament, the coast guard said, adding it would not be deterred by China's aggression in protecting Philippine sovereignty in the disputed sea. Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the resource-rich and busy waterway, where a bulk of the world's commerce and oil transits. The United States lays no claims to the disputed sea but has deployed forces to patrol the waters to promote freedom of navigation and overflight - moves that have angered Beijing, which has warned Washington to stop meddling in what it says is a purely Asian dispute. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps held joint exercises in the South China Sea over the weekend at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing over the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The U.S. has been taking steps to rebuild its military might in the Philippines more than 30 years after the closure of its large bases in the country and reinforcing an arc of military alliances in Asia. Pictured: The Chinese vessel with bow number 5205 is picture in August. The same vessel has been accused of shining the laser by Manila It is not the first time China has been accused of using lasers in the region. In February last year, Australia accused Beijing of an 'act of intimidation' after a Chinese navy vessel directed a laser at an Australian military surveillance aircraft. The reported bid to block the Philippine resupply mission comes as Marcos has expressed openness to forging a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Japan to boost maritime security. Marcos visited Japan last week to forge closer security ties with Tokyo, which in December announced its biggest military-build up since World War Two, fuelled by concerns about aggressive Chinese actions in the region. The Philippine president also recently granted the United States access to additional military bases in the Philippines under a VFA, a move that China said undermined regional stability and raised tensions. The VFA provides rules for the rotation of thousands of U.S. troops in and out of the Philippines for exercises. An inquiry into Kathleen Folbigg's convictions for the deaths of her four children has heard a 'reasonable hypothesis' could cast doubt on her guilt. Experts are expected to give conflicting evidence on newly identified genetic variants and her diaries used at trial. Folbigg was convicted in 2003 for the manslaughter of her son Caleb, and the murder of her other son Patrick and two daughters Sarah and Laura. An inquiry into Kathleen Folbigg's (pictured) convictions for the deaths of her four children has heard a 'reasonable hypothesis' could cast doubt on her guilt The children died separately over a decade, aged between 19 days and 18 months old. Folbigg's convictions were subject to an inquiry conducted by former NSW District Court chief judge Reg Blanch in July 2019 which concluded her guilt was 'even more certain'. NSW Governor Margaret Beazley ordered a fresh inquiry in May last year following a petition from scientists after the emergence of new evidence around genetic variants identified in Folbigg and her children. Former chief justice Tom Bathurst KC has been tasked with forming a view about whether there is any reasonable doubt about Folbigg's guilt. Kathleen Folbigg was convicted of murdering her daughters Sarah (left) and Laura (right) Professors Mette Nyegaard and Michael Toft Overgaard, two Danish researchers who first made the 'extremely surprising' discovery that genetic variants could effect production of the calcium-binding protein calmodulin, previously told the inquiry it was likely the genetic mutation could have caused the death of Sarah and Laura. The inquiry sat for two days in November and resumed on Monday. Counsel assisting the inquiry, Sophie Callan SC, said other genetic experts giving evidence this week will tell the inquiry the variant identified in Folbigg and her two daughters could be a likely cause of infant deaths. All four children, but not their mother, also carried another genetic variant, identified in 2018, which could be an aggravating factor in cardiac death, experts will tell the inquiry. Cardiovascular experts will raise doubts about the calmodulin-affecting variant's ability to cause disease or death, and its significance. Kathleen Folbigg was convicted of murdering her son Patrick (pictured) 'The fact a carrier, Kathleen Folbigg, is alive and healthy suggests it is benign,' Ms Callan said on Monday, summarising the expected expert evidence. She said no witness is expected to give definitive evidence about the causes of death and Mr Bathurst will have to exercise judgment. 'There's, even on this evidence, whichever way you look at it, a reasonable hypothesis inconsistent with guilt?' Mr Bathurst asked the counsel assisting. 'Yes Your Honour, in my submission that is the effect of the evidence,' Ms Callan said. Kathleen Folbigg was convicted of the manslaughter of her son Caleb (pictured) The Danish researchers returned to give further evidence on Monday, addressing some issues identified by other experts yet to appear. Prof Overgaard said there had been 'some reluctance' from others to rely on their analysis conducted in November, but they have not altered their previously expressed opinions. Prof Nyegaard said another witness had mis-cited past work, where a variant was identified in one patient, and its link to a disease verified through a separate patient. 'This is kind of the gold standard with genetic studies so I think he just maybe didn't read the full paper,' Prof Nyegaard said. The inquiry will also consider Folbigg's diaries, which Ms Callan said were relied upon at her trial as admissions of guilt. '(Folbigg) squarely challenges that characterisation,' Ms Callan said. Experts will give evidence the content of Folbigg's diaries could be explained by complex PTSD and other mood disorders, however not all of them agree she satisfies the criteria for diagnosis. Folbigg was originally sentenced to 40 years in prison, which was reduced on appeal to 30 years with a non-parole period of 25. She will be eligible for parole in 2028. The devastated mother of a 15-year-old boy who was found dead in a ditch after a night out has said she will be haunted 'every night and every day' for the rest of her life. Matthew McCallan was found dead near Fintona in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, two weeks before Christmas last year after attending a country music event in the village with friends. The schoolboy's body was eventually found 35 hours after he went missing off Tattyreagh Road, roughly two miles from the country music venue. A postmortem found that Matthew had died of hypothermia on the night. Discussing her child's death, Matthew's mother Frances has said that she 'will never be the same person again'. Matthew McCallan was described as a `happy young boy' The coffin of 15-year-old Matthew McCallan is taken from St Malachy's Church, Edendork, following his funeral 'I already knew he was gone, but to hear those words, "there has been a body found", its just your worst nightmare,' she told Belfast Live. 'Ill be traumatised for the rest of my life to know that its possibly one of the worst deaths, to know he died alone in a ditch. 'It haunts me every night and every day and Ill never be the same person again.' She added: 'Ive lost everything because he was everything to me. He was the reason why I got up in the morning. The funeral cortege of McCallan arriving at St Malachys Church 'You dont sleep at night, youve got haunting visions of him walking around the roads in Fintona. Those thoughts haunted me and theyll haunt me for the rest of my life.' Frances now rarely ever leaves her home because of the impact of Matthew's death, saying she feels 'very nervous' and 'safe in my bubble at home'. To celebrate Matthews 16th birthday the McCallan family are organising a tractor run in aid of the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA) alongside other local groups. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has also now referred itself to the Police Ombudsman over concerns raised by Matthews family about the initial response to the search for him. Four teenagers who arrived in the UK on small boats as asylum seekers have been arrested in connection with an alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in Dover. The attack took place at a school in Kent and involved Afghan boys who arrived unaccompanied last year. Kent police confirmed they were investigating the incident and said that the four boys had been released on bail while inquiries continued. Sources close to the investigation told The Times that three of the boys are alleged to have pinned the girl down and acted as lookouts to stop her getting away while the fourth boy raped her. Four teenagers (not pictured) who arrived in the UK on small boats as asylum seekers have been arrested in connection with an alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in Dover. Pictured: Migrants arriving in Dover, Kent on January 25 Late last week one of the boys, aged 15, was arrested on suspicion of rape and the three others, aged between 13 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating the attack. A spokesman for Kent police said it is 'investigating a report of a sexual offence involving a teenage girl and a teenage boy in Dover on the afternoon of Monday 6 February 2023. 'Four boys were arrested as part of the investigation and have since been released on bail while enquiries continue.' The teenagers, who came to Britain unaccompanied, are reportedly in the care of Kent County Council's social services. The total number of migrants who have crossed the English Channel this year has exceeded 2,000, Home Office figures revealed. The total number of migrants who have crossed the English Channel this year has exceeded 2,000, Home Office figures revealed On Friday 110 people in three boats crossed the Channel, bringing the total number of people brought to the UK this year to 2,070. There have now been more crossings in 2023 than in January and February of 2022 combined. Analysis of the provisional figures shows 1,180 people were brought to the UK in January 2023, compared to 1,339 in January 2022. So far, 890 people have been brought to shore in 20 boats in February 2023. Analysts estimate that a fifth of migrants who entered the UK via small boats last year were unaccompanied children. Afghans are said to make up a large population of the unaccompanied minors entering the UK. They are reportedly the second largest group of nationalities crossing the Channel. Analysts estimate that a fifth of migrants who entered the UK via small boats last year were unaccompanied children. Pictured: Police forensics officers wearing protective gear walk at the Port of Dover after a small boat loaded with migrants capsized in the Channel in December Ministers have not ruled out deporting unaccompanied children as part of the proposed plan to send migrants to Rwanda. The controversial scheme has been mired in legal challenges and so far no flights carrying migrants to the African nation have departed. Yesterday, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell, said the scheme was worth exploring but it was not the 'whole answer' and argued it will have only a marginal benefit in stopping small boats crossing the Channel. He also rejected the idea that the UK could withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) over plans to tackle the problem of small boats carrying migrants across the Channel. On Channel 4's Andrew Neil Show, Mr Mitchell who was critical of the Rwanda scheme as a backbencher said if it was to have 'any' benefit, it would not be the 'whole of the effort we have to make'. Andhra Pradesh State Minority Commission chairman Dr K. Iqbal Ahmed Khan expressed concern over youth getting addicted to electronic devices for extraneous reasons than increasing their knowledge. (Representational DC Image) VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh State Minority Commission chairman Dr K. Iqbal Ahmed Khan on Sunday asked students to avoid getting addicted to their mobile phones or other electronic gadgets, but use them to acquire knowledge and improve their studies. Inaugurating the 8th Annual Qur'an Memorisation Competition organised by the United Forum for Qur'anic Studies in Vijayawada, Dr Ahmed Khan expressed concern over youth getting addicted to electronic devices for extraneous reasons than increasing their knowledge. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind state president Rafiq Ahmed regretted that children are browsing social media or playing games on their phones/tabs on the pretext of attending online classes. He wanted parents to show their children the divine path and encourage recitation of the Quran, which can help them overcome their phone addiction. In the Qur'an Memorisation Competition, the first prize of 20,000 cash, mementoes and certificates went to each of G. Nousha Khair, P. Mohammad Raihan and Abdul Hashim Raihan. Shamikha Shurfa, Mohammad Ayesha Firdous and A. Habeebunnisa got the second prize of 15,000 each. The third prize of 10,000 each went to S.M. Ali, Sk. Maliha Tabassum and Hafsa. A memento, school bag, steel water bottle and certificate were presented to all participants in the Qur'an Memorisation Competition. Film depicted French troops storming base in Mali and trying to steal resources France's defence minister has condemned the latest instalment of Marvel's Black Panther franchise for 'deceptively' depicting French troops storming a base in Mali and trying to steal resources belonging to the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda. Sebastien Lecornu, 36, slammed the anti-French stance of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and paid tribute to his country's soldiers who died 'defending Mali'. 'I strongly condemn this false and deceptive representation of our armed forces,' Sebastien Lecornu wrote on Twitter in response to a clip from the film - despite it being released three months ago in UK cinemas. The clip shows French troops storming a secret Wakandan base in Mali and throwing scientists to the ground as they try to steal vibranium from the Wakandan kingdom. The scene then shows the group of bound French soldiers being brought into a UN meeting after they were captured and ordered to kneel in front of Wakandan queen, Ramonda, who calls out the embarrassed French ambassador to the world body. The clip shows French troops storming a secret Wakandan base in Mali and throwing scientists to the ground as they try to steal vibranium from the Wakandan kingdom The clip shows French troops storming a secret Wakandan base in Mali and throwing scientists to the ground as they try to steal vibranium from the Wakandan kingdom Journalist Jean Bexon, who posted the Black Panther clip, noted, 'The evil French mercenaries operating in Mali are dressed like soldiers from Operation Barkhane,' a real-life military mission in the Sahel region. Pictured: French soldiers during the Barkhane operation in northern Burkina Faso on the border with Mali on November 12, 2019 Journalist Jean Bexon, who posted the Black Panther clip, noted, 'The evil French mercenaries operating in Mali are dressed like soldiers from Operation Barkhane,' a real-life military mission in the Sahel region. France is particularly sensitive to its image in West Africa after military juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso demanded the departure of French troops, deployed to the Sahel region since 2013 to fight jihadists. 'I am thinking of and honouring the 58 French soldiers who died defending Mali, at its request, in the face of Islamist terrorist groups,' Lecornu, France's youngest cabinet minister, wrote. The defence ministry told AFP that France was not calling for withdrawal or censorship of a work of art. But 'no revisionism can be allowed about France's recent actions in Mali: we intervened at the county's own request to fight armed terrorist groups, far from the story told in the film, namely a French army coming to pillage natural resources,' the ministry added. People close to Lecornu said he was 'angry at seeing the film', which was released as Russia appears to be making progress in turning West African populations against France and its military deployments. Mali called on Russia's Wagner mercenary group to reinforce its army once French troops left - although the junta continues to deny hiring the fighters - and there has been speculation that Burkina may follow suit. The scene then shows the group of bound French soldiers being brought into a UN meeting after they were captured and ordered to kneel in front of Wakandan queen, Ramonda, who calls out the embarrassed French ambassador to the world body Online, cartoons spread by pro-Russian accounts and influencers have shown France sending skeletons and a giant snake to 'conquer all of Africa', in videos analysed this month by AFP Factcheck. Armed white men in Wagner combat fatigues are seen coming to the rescue of soldiers carrying the flags of Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. 'We face a steamroller that plays with the perceptions of local people who are in existential difficulty' from war and famine, a French military source acknowledged earlier this month. In November, President Emmanuel Macron stressed that today 'influence' is a 'strategic priority'. A Russian journalist posted a collection of anti-war stories on a major pro-Putin newspaper's website - before apologising for his role in the ruthless Kremlin's propaganda machine. Vladimir Romanenko, 24, has worked for the country's leading popular newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) for five months. He quit dramatically by unloading multiple anti-war stories onto the widely-read website, and made a blistering attack on 'ego-maniac' Putin, while he was in Tblisi, Georgia - safely out of Russia's reach. 'I had to lie every day, although I know the truth,' he said. The paper's opaque ownership structure is believed to be linked to National Media Group, headed by 70-year-old Putin's mistress Alina Kabaeva, 39, a former Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast and loyalist MP. Vladimir Romanenko (pictured), 24, has worked for the country's leading popular newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) for five months The paper's opaque ownership structure is believed to be linked to National Media Group, headed by 70-year-old Putin's (left) mistress Alina Kabaeva (right), 39, a former Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast and loyalist MP In his dramatic mea culpa, Romanenko said: 'I have been working as a news reporter at Komsomolskaya Pravda for the propaganda machine, where the war in Ukraine is called a special operation and they justify the killing of civilians. He said: 'The dictator and ego-maniac Putin is called the president of Russia. 'Me and my circle did not choose either Putin or the war. 'I am against the war and I am against Putin. 'I am ashamed that I spent so much time working for propaganda, and literally sold my conscience. 'In fact, I consider the war in Ukraine a vile and terrible crime. 'I apologise to the people of Ukraine.' He told how in stories for KP 'everyday I denigrated the death of the heroes of Ukraine, justified Putin's orders and the cruel Russian army under the slogans of fighting Nazism. 'This is all the nonsense of the sick gang of the Kremlin. 'They hide the real genocide with propaganda, the bombing of cities, and the crimes of participants and supporters of the war against Ukraine. 'Please share my story as much as possible. 'Let as many people as possible see my confession. I repent the abomination of my actions and once again apologise to all people of Ukraine. 'You have every right to hate me for the lies I wrote.' Romanenko is believed to be in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, and says if he was still in Russia he could have been killed. He quit dramatically by unloading multiple anti-war stories onto the widely-read website, and made a blistering attack on 'ego-maniac' Putin, while he was in Tblisi, Georgia - safely out of Russia's reach He told how in stories for KP 'everyday I denigrated the death of the heroes of Ukraine, justified Putin's orders and the cruel Russian army under the slogans of fighting Nazism Romanenko denied hacking the paper's site, saying he had access through his job to the website's administration panel, but he has now been blocked (pictured: Putin and Alina Kabaeva) He has come out as gay and said: 'If I had stayed in Russia now, I would not only have been banned, I would have been killed.' The journalist knows many Ukrainians and was made aware of the truth about the truth behind Putin's invasion, he said. He wanted to redeem himself, and encourage other pro-Kremlin journalists to do the same, he said. The stories he posted to the website were taken down in around ten minutes after editors spotted the blunder. Romanenko denied hacking the paper's site, saying he had access through his job to the website's administration panel, but he has now been blocked. Among the headlines he posted were: Russian activists continue to resist the Putin regime despite the repressions Peace does not come because of Putin: Zelensky signed a decree banning negotiations personally with Putin Putin ordered the bombing of peaceful cities in Ukraine How much is Putin's war in Ukraine worth? The Kremlin regime released prisoners with weapons The European Union has created a tribunal in The Hague to try Putin for the war in Ukraine The Russian Federation committed crimes in Bucha, Izyum and Hostomel Russia has become a victim of occupation by Putin's regime. Torture of [Alexei] Navalny: how political prisoners are treated in Russian prisons The newspaper has not commented on Romanenko's claims. Romanenko is believed to be in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, and says if he was still in Russia he could have been killed. He has come out as gay and said: 'If I had stayed in Russia now, I would not only have been banned, I would have been killed' The journalist knows many Ukrainians and was made aware of the truth about the truth behind Putin's invasion, he said. An Austrian man has appeared in court charged with a terror offence after being arrested in a business park in west London over the weekend. Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev was arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command at Chiswick Business Park in Gunnersbury on Saturday. The 30-year-old is accused of collecting information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today wearing a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms. He spoke briefly through an interpreter to confirm his identity. The case was adjourned until Tuesday at the same court for legal reasons and owing to the fact there was no German interpreter available. Austrian national Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 30, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court (pictured) today Senior district judge Paul Goldspring told Dovtaev: 'Some cases require the Attorney General, who is the principal law officer for England and Wales to give permission to prosecute. 'Until that permission is given, the court has no jurisdiction to take the jurisdictional steps to take the decision over where your trial can take place. 'Likely because [Dovtaev's arrest and charge] was over the weekend, that consent is yet to be given, and so we can't make any progress on your case today and I am therefore adjourning until tomorrow so that consent can be gained and then the court can deal with the jurisdictional issues that are required of it. 'Your lawyer has also not had the full opportunity to take full instructions that are required. We were let down by an interpreter this morning and the replacement interpreter has only just arrived.' The judge remanded Dovtaev until tomorrow when he will appear again at Westminster Magistrates Court at 2pm. Dovtaev was remanded in custody until his appearance in court tomorrow. A Russian woman nicknamed Al Capone after she terrorised neighbours on the south coast has been hauled before a court accused of breaching the terms of the sex offenders' register. Olga Woolnough, 48, became known as a 'neighbour from hell' when she lived in Worthing after she threatened locals, held all-night parties and staggered around constantly drunk. She also painted her seafront home bright pink. Woolnough, who is also known as Alexandra Olga Capone and claims to have links to Russian royalty, was given an ASBO in 2015, banning her from being drunk or having any alcohol in public. She was then convicted of groping a 15-year-old boy as he walked along the beach with his friends in 2020. Olga Woolnough, 48, became known as a 'neighbour from hell' when she lived in Worthing after she threatened locals, held all-night parties and staggered around constantly drunk Woolnough (outside her bright pink seafront home) was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2020. She has now appeared in court accused of failing to comply with the sex offenders' register Drunken Woolnough grabbed him from behind and shouted 'I'm Russian' leaving the boy in tears. She was later handed a suspended sentence and ordered to pay him 150 in compensation. Last November she was cleared of assaulting an off-duty police officer who confronted her for drinking other people's drinks in the Garrick Arms pub in London's West End, after claiming she acted in self defence. Now, Woolnough has been back before Westminster Magistrates' Court for failing to surrender and failing to comply with requirements of the sex offenders' register. Malachy Packenham, prosecuting, said: 'She has 33 (previous) offences relating to breach orders. She is a serial non-cooperator. 'She is a sex-offender, she should be treated exactly the same way as a man. 'Her record is appalling by anyone's standards. There is a complete lack of cooperation' 'She will fail to surrender.' The court was told that Woolnough has 33 previous offences relating to breach orders over the years, which the prosecutor described as 'appalling' Woolnough denies three charges of failing to comply with requirements of the sex offenders' notice and one of failing to surrender (pictured: her former home in Worthing) When she tried to attend the same court on 23 January this year she was denied entry because security staff thought she was drunk. Woolnough, of Camden, was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 4 April. She must sleep at her home address, and report to her local police station every day. Woolnough has more than 30 previous convictions but claims she has links to the last Russian royal family, as she shares her first two names with Russian Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, a sister of Tsar Nicholas II, who died in exile in 1960. She has also claimed to have liver condition so serious she will die if she has another drink. Woolnough denies three charges of failing to comply with requirements of the sex offenders' notice and one of failing to surrender. He called on Russia to preemptively strike West for giving weapons to Ukraine Vladimir Putin's chief TV propagandist has called on Russia to strike London in a rant against Western nations and their support for Ukraine. Vladimir Solovyov, who hosts shows on state-owned Russia-1, regularly unleashes tirades about how the country should wipe out its enemies with nuclear attacks. His monologues have become increasingly hawkish since the Russian president launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, advocating for Moscow to sanction attacks against the West as Putin's forces continue to struggle. In his latest diatribe, Solovyov addressed the possibility of the British government sending warplanes to Ukraine. Kyiv has pleaded with Western nations for fighter jets amid reports Russia is planning a renewed onslaught to seize the country. 'Can't we finally strike at London? What is the problem?' the host asked viewers of his Solovyov Live show, clips from which have since been translated. Vladimir Putin's chief TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov (pictured) has again called on Russia to strike London in a rant against western nations and their support for Ukraine 'No, no, no only at military targets,' he continued, as if reacting to someone taking issue with his suggestion. 'Well, at the Parliament too,' he added. 'Well, they [Britain] are going to give planes [to Ukraine] to strike deep into Russia's territory,' he added, as if to justify striking London. Solovyov went on to take issue with the fact that Britain along with almost all members of the UN recognises Crimea as being part of Ukraine, and not Russia. After an internationally-unrecognised referendum held during the occupation of Crimea suggested the peninsular supported being part of Russia, the Russian-backed Crimean parliament declared independence from Ukraine. Russia then illegally annexed the territory in 2014. The move was widely condemned by the international community at the time. Solovyov said: 'At the same time, they [Britain] cunningly say: "No, well, we just don't recognise Crimea as Russia." How about Kaliningrad?' he asked rhetorically. 'What do they want to tell us? That is, you will now determine what Russia is for you? Not the people living in Russia will determine it, not a referendum, not a vote, but you will determine what Russia is for us? 'In that case, we will not recognise at all for us there is not England at all. No France. No Germany. 'Instead, there are Nazi states united by hatred for everything Russian,' he said, parroting false claims by the Kremlin that Ukraine and its Western allies are run by Nazi governments. ' And so let's get serious. Do they think there are no red lines? Solovyov attacked Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky for his recent visits to London, Paris and Brussels. (Pictured: Zelensky with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on February 8 outside Downing Street) Solovyov specifically criticised the wartime leader for wearing his signature khaki uniform, despite Solovyov presenting his show in a camouflage outfit not too dissimilar from Zelensky's. (Pictured: Zelensky addressed British MPs in Westminster Hall on February 8) 'Okay. Well let's show them that there are no more red lines,' he demanded. 'Let's strike! So that the first would ring. So that the Nazi b******* from [Emmanuel] Macron to [German chancellor Olaf] Scholz, from [German defence minister Boris] Pistorius to Rishi Sunak, would have their testicles tightened up and falling out of their ears from fear. 'Maybe they will begin to understand something,' he said, ending the monologue. At an earlier point in the broadcast, Solovyov again called for preemptive nuclear strikes on Ukraine's allies for supplying Kyiv with weapons. He also attacked Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky for his recent visits to London, Paris and Brussels. He criticised the wartime leader for wearing his signature khaki uniform, despite Solovyov presenting his show in a similar camouflage outfit. However, his rant was interrupted by technical issues, causing Solovyov to turn his fury on the studio technicians. 'Why are we constantly having to take it? They're supplying tanks, will give planes and missiles. Why aren't we sinking it on approach?' he asked, seemingly criticising Russia's inaction over shipments of weapons to Ukraine. 'Their ships are bringing Bradleys [tanks], why aren't they being destroyed? 'They are blowing up our gas pipelines, even their own press is writing that America did it! And we say, "No, no come on, these are red lines". Solovyov's monologues have become increasingly hawkish since the Russian president launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, advocating for Moscow to sanction attacks against the west as Putin's forces continue to struggle. (Pictured: Solovyov with Putin in 2013) 'Perhaps it's enough already? Let's change our doctrine by allowing a preemptive strike. Let's hold exercises. Exercises for strategic and tactical nuclear weapons.' Reading the comment feed on his live stream, Solovyov paused his threats to say that his viewers were telling him the broadcast had cut out. 'They say our broadcast is lost. Guys, what's going on?' he asked the technicians. 'Are we broadcasting on our Telegram channel? What is there to test if it's not there? What's there to test? It's not there! What's the deal with our technicians? Why are people writing me and you don't see it?,' he said angrily. 'Find out why you're not broadcasting on Telegram! Is there an answer or not?' Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is being tipped to become NATO's next chief after current Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed he will stand down in October. Officials at the military alliance this weekend dismissed claims Mr Stoltenberg could extend his term again amid the Ukraine war. It means the secretary-general post will become vacant in just under eight months' time, with the race now on to become his successor. Mr Wallace, who has been widely praised for leading Britain's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has been heavily linked to the role. Asked last year if he would be interested in succeeding Mr Stoltenberg, Mr Wallace admitted it would be 'a nice job' but added that he 'loved' his role as Defence Secretary. Ben Wallace, who has been widely praised for leading Britain's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has been heavily linked to the role NATO officials this weekend dismissed claims current Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg could extend his term again amid the Ukraine war The US, Germany, France and Britain are traditionally viewed as being the most influential NATO members in the secretive process of selecting a new secretary-general Mr Wallace is hugely popular among Tory members and has not ruled out a future bid to become the party's leader - although he twice declined to stand for the leadership last year in the contests to replace Boris Johnson and then Liz Truss. He has previously spoken of having to 'sacrifice absolutely everything' in your 'private and your personal life' when being a prime minister. Mr Johnson, as well as his predecessors Theresa May and David Cameron, have all also been touted as possible successors to Mr Stoltenberg as the next NATO chief. But it has been claimed that French President Emmanuel Macron could veto any British candidate for the position. One of the most-talked-about names as Mr Stoltenberg's replacement is Mark Rutte, the current Dutch PM. Last summer he became his country's longest-serving premier in history and recently talked about leaving politics altogether to 'do something completely different' when asked about the NATO job. All 13 of NATO's previous permanent secretary-generals have been male, which has put pressure on the alliance to appoint a female chief when Mr Stoltenberg leaves after his nine years in charge. Estonian PM Kaja Kallas, Lithuanian PM Ingrida Simonyte and former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic have all be linked to the role. Other female contenders might also include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a former German defence minister, or Chrystia Freeland, Canada's deputy PM. Ms Freeland is reportedly being backed by the US to take over as NATO chief. Canada's deputy PM Chrystia Freeland (left) or Estonian PM Kaja Kallas could be appointed NATO's first female leader The US, Germany, France and Britain are traditionally viewed as being the most influential NATO members in the secretive process of selecting a new secretary-general. Mr Stoltenberg was the choice of former German chancellor Angela Merkel to lead NATO prior to his appointment in 2014, with the former Norweigan PM then winning the support of other allies. The 63-year-old had been due to stand down in October last year but had his term extended by one year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported yesterday that Mr Stoltenberg's term was to be extended again as NATO looked for stability as the conflict in Ukraine continued. But NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu dismissed the claim, saying: 'The mandate of Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been extended three times, and he has served for a total of almost nine years. 'The Secretary-General's term comes to an end in October of this year and he has no intention to seek another extension of his mandate.' The 'King of Acid House' has been jailed again after being caught 'desperately' stealing letters from a postbox. Tony Colston-Hayter, 57, once famously handcuffed himself to Jonathan Ross on television in 1989 after his 'Sunrise' parties were banned by then former Home Secretary Douglas Hurd. Colston-Hayter, who was later referred to as the 'Mr Big' of cybercrime following decades of obscurity, was then jailed for five and half years in 2014 for masterminding a 1.25million cyber bank heist which targeted scores of victims including comedian Stephen Merchant. After his release in 2018 he used a bizarre home-built machine to contact victims and convince them he was a member of staff at their bank, and the names of celebrities including Noel Gallagher and Sheridan Smith were reportedly found on a spreadsheet of bank details found in his possession. Now Colston-Hayter, of Brighton, has been caught stealing other people's post to exchange for drugs. He admitted going equipped and breaching a serious crime prevention order. He was jailed for 10 months. Controversial moment: Colston-Hayter is pictured handcuffing himself to Jonathan Ross on television Tony Colston-Hayter, pictured left in his 20s, around the time he was dubbed the Acid House King, is believed to have targeted comedy writer and actor Stephen Merchant in bank heist in 2014 Colston-Hayter had been jailed for 20 months for nine counts of possession of an article for use in fraud and two counts of making or supplying an article for use in fraud in 2018. A serious crime prevention order was put in place for five years but Colston-Hayter breached it when he was caught slipping his hand through a letterbox in London on January 5. 'He was seen stuffing what looked like white paper envelopes into a rucksack,' said Gerard Renouf, prosecuting. He was surrounded by members of the public who detained him until police arrived. 'Inside his black rucksack was a large quantity of letters not addressed to him,' said Mr Renouf. 'He had in his rucksack a crowbar,' said Mr Renouf. Joey Kwong, defending, said: 'He is sorry for what he has done. He has managed to stay out of trouble for three and a half to four years.' Referring to his past offences Mr Kwong said: 'He is no longer that man. The offending being dealt with today is not sophisticated, it is desperate. 'He is battling both mental health and addiction. 'Having been released from prison on May 21, 2019, he stayed out of trouble for at least three years. He was working on a book telling his story. 'He thought, wrongly, that going off medication would help him focus. He was using the crowbar to jimmy open letterboxes. 'He said he was never going to burgle. He said he was going to steal letters.' After his release from prison in 2018 he was soon back to his old fraudulent ways - but this time with a bizarre home-built machine He was jailed for five and half years in 2014 for masterminding a 1.25million cyber bank heist which targeted scores of victims including comedian Stephen Merchant Former rave king: Tony Colston-Hayter once organised some of the UK's most infamous raves - but later turned to a life of crime (he is pictured in the 1980s) Judge Adam Hiddleston told Colston-Hayter that he had knowingly breached the court order. 'You have other offences related to dishonesty. Orders of this court have to be considered with care. You have to appreciate that as well. 'It is not just about stopping you succumbing to temptation, but also to protect the public.' Colston-Hayter, who lives in Brighton, admitted going out equipped and breaching the order and has been jailed for ten months. He previously had led a gang which planted a hi-tech computer hacking device in a bank to empty high value accounts. After his release from prison in 2018 he was soon back to his old ways - but this time with a bizarre home-built machine. It was used to contact victims and convince them he was a member of staff at their bank. Experts from the Met's Digital Communications and Cyber Laboratory confirmed the device actually worked. Officers seized a hard drive containing details of passports and identity cards, 32 credit cards, as well as names, addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers. The names of celebrities including Noel Gallagher and Sheridan Smith were reportedly found on a spreadsheet of bank details found in his possession. Colston-Hayter told officers he created the device with the intention of hacking genuine customer accounts and retrieving the funds available within each account. It is estimated he gained access to funds in excess of 500,000 from the accounts he accessed but he was caught before he got away with any cash. The fraudster was jailed for twenty months in 2018. Police have travelled to Thailand to speak to the husband and family of a woman dubbed 'the Lady in the Hills' who was found half naked and dead in the countryside nearly 20 years ago. Lamduan Armitage's body was found by walkers in a remote location in the Yorkshire Dales on September 20, 2004. She was discovered wearing just socks and jeans and had a ripped bra hanging off her arm. Lamduan was named as 'The Lady of the Hills' by locals who even paid for her funeral before her identity was discovered in early 2019. Her parents saw an article about her death, contacted officers and said they believed it could be their daughter who they hadn't seen since 2004. Thai-born Lamduan Armitage, 36, vanished from her home in Burton-in-Kendal in 2004. It took 14 years for detectives to identify her as the 'Lady of the Hills' Mrs Armitage's body was found by walkers in a remote location in the Yorkshire Dales on September 20, 2004, wearing just socks and jeans and a ripped bra hanging off her arm DNA testing was carried out which confirmed the woman to be Lamduan, who would be now aged 55 and who was living in northern England at the time of her death. Timeline: Lamduan Seekanya's relationship with David Armitage June 1990: David and Lamduan meet in Thailand January 1991: The pair get married July 1991: They move to the UK and live in Portsmouth February 1992: Their first child, a son, is born May 1999: Their daughter is born 2003: They move to Rugby in Warwickshire, and from there to Burton-in-Kendal in Cumbria September 2004: A woman's half-naked body is found near Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire March 2019: Police finally identify the body as Lamduan Armitage, who was 36 when she vanished in 2004. February 2023: North Yorkshire Police arrange to visit Thailand, where Mrs Armitage's husband and parents live Advertisement It also established that she was married with three children and that she had previously lived in Portsmouth, Rugby and Preston. She is originally from the Udon Thani province in northeast Thailand, which is where her parents still live. North Yorkshire Police officers are now travelling to Thailand to speak to Lamduan's parents Buasa and Joomsri Seekanya, after an almost four-year delay due to COVID. They will also be speaking to her husband David Armitage, who now also lives in Thaland. Mr Armitage told The Sun in 2019 that he wasn't involved in his wife's death. It is thought Ms Seekanya and Mr Armitage were married in Thailand in January 1991, then moved to England and had two children together. For many years, the 'Lady of the Hills' case, as it became known, could not identify the woman despite multiple appeals and photographs, along with an artist impression released by the British police which was published as part of an attempt to trace the victim's family. She was buried by locals, after a small service paid for by the local parish at Horton-in-Ribblesdale churchyard. They named her 'The Lady of the Hills'. A gravestone in the hills above the town reads: 'The Lady of the Hills. Found September 20, 2004. Name Not Known. Rest in Peace.' A cold case review by North Yorkshire Police, led by retired chief detective Adam Harland, has been working on the mystery for the last several years. Mr Harland, said he remains 'determined to seek answers' for Lamduan's family. Lamduan was named as 'The Lady of the Hills' by locals who even paid for her funeral before her identity was discovered in early 2019. Mr Armitage and his wife were understood to have been living with his parents in Burton-in-Kendal, Cumbria. Lamdaun's body was found in 2004 in Horton-in-Ribblesdale The gravestone in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire, where Mrs Armitage was buried in 2007 He said: 'Despite the difficulties we have faced to progress the investigation in recent years, we remain determined to seek answers for Lamduan's family about the circumstances of her being found dead in a beautiful but remote part of the Yorkshire Dales in September 2004. 'It has been frustrating to have had to wait so long to be able to travel to Thailand. 'We are hoping to speak with all the members of her family, including her husband, to gather their evidence about her life and to offer what support we can with regards to their loss. 'The loss of any family member in circumstances of homicide is a terrible blow, bringing a misery and a sense of loss that so often lasts a lifetime. 'There is, in this case, the additional pain that for 14 years it was not even known that this had been Lamduan's fate. 'We will also be consulting with all the family members about a request that Lamduan's remains be returned to her family in Thailand in accordance with their Buddhist faith. Retired detective chief Inspector Adam Harland, who is leading the cold case investigation, pictured at the stream near Sell Gill Holes caves where the body was found nearly 20 years ago 'This is not a straightforward process to achieve. 'They will have our assistance and support in bringing a resolution to this particularly unhappy case.' Mr Harland has also urged people to avoid speculation around the case, to ensure they have the best chance to deliver justice for her and her family. He added: 'North Yorkshire Police is aware of the widespread interest in this investigation which strikes at the heart of issues surrounding violence against women and girls in the United Kingdom, in Thailand, and around the world. 'To ensure that the investigation and the path of fair justice are not compromised, we strongly urge the media and people using social media to avoid damaging speculation about this case. 'We are doing all we can to seek answers and secure justice for Lamduan's loved ones. 'After almost 19 years, during which time the community of Horton in Ribblesdale have shown respect and care for Lamduan when she was only known as the "Lady of the Hills", it would be a tragedy if we were prevented from achieving this outcome due to damaging reporting and online speculation.' The news that three UFOs have been shot down over US and Canadian airspace in the past three days has set the Internet alight, with social media's best meme-makers conspiring to publish a flood of satirical images. UFOs, or 'unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs)' as they are called by the US government, have been a topic of fascination and mystery for decades. From alleged government cover-ups to sightings of mysterious lights in the sky - not to mention the potential for alien life - there are plenty of reasons why the phenomenon is embedded in popular culture. Skeptics have long argued that the evidence for UFOs is scarce and that most sightings are just the product of word of mouth and no hard facts. But in recent years, several credible sources - including US air force and navy fighter pilots - have opened up about their experiences with UFOs and shared footage of their near misses, lending more credence to the increasingly frequent sightings of unidentified craft. Now, US defense officials have admitted that they were forced to dispatch F-22 and F-16 jet fighters to shoot down three UFOs in as many days over Alaska, Canada and the Great Lakes in Michigan. And this comes just one week after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down over South Carolina. Here, DailyMail.com rounds up the best of the Internet's takes on the latest UFO saga. One meme referenced the latest suspicions that the US government may have been behind the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines carrying gas from Russia to Europe amid the war in Ukraine The man from Disney Pixar's Up will be surprised when a US fighter jet bears down on him The US government has not yet been able to determine the provenance of the three UFOs shot down this past weekend Some Twitter users wondered why the overwhelming majority of UFO sightings seem to be reported in the US The balloon shot down on February 4 was from China - but Pokemon fans thought Team Rocket may have been on the loose Star Wars fans were amused by the appearance of the Chinese 'spy' balloon One user poked fun at the rumors surrounding Joe Biden's declining physical and mental acuity One Twitter user was evidently not a fan of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Barricades erected at NTR Marg, from Telugu Talli flyover to iMax circle for the E-prix were not removed till 5.30 pm on Sunday causing inconvenience to public. The traffic restrictions were lifted after that. (S. Surender Reddy/DC) Hyderabad: Honking by frustrated drivers as well as yelling and shrieking and traffic jams were the order of the day around the Hyderabad street race circuit of NTR Marg till the last of the barricades were removed on Sunday evening. Motorists were irked when they weren't allowed to drive on NTR Marg and Mint Compound road despite the Formula E race having ended the previous day, and the barricades were still in place. Some restless drivers got into a quarrel near the Telugu Talli flyover, while some even ganged up against the traffic police on duty - some with questions that did elicit any answers and others pleading in utter desperation. "I was coming from Yousufguda and I had to urgently reach Begum Bazaar and this is the fastest route for me. I have been suffering for the past few days because of traffic diversions. It is beyond my understanding why the barricades were not removed immediately after the event was over," said Mamidi Sanjay Kumar, driving a four-wheeler. "The public didn't ask for this race to be organised. Why are we subject to such suffering? Our patience and silence are being taken for granted. Will the government take responsibility if any untoward incidents happen or a life is lost," yelled another angry driver. Hyderabad roads are usually quiet and calm on Sundays but Khairatabad, Liberty crossroads and areas adjoining them witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic until late evening. The traffic police manning the area had no answers except to say that they were only following orders, said Aarti Nair, a motorist. "When an irate man asked the cops about the barricades, the cop told him that they would be removed after three hours, which is at 7 pm. Is that a muhurtam or some sort of a joke," she wondered. It was only after a VIP convoy passed through that the barricades were lifted and traffic flow was restored to a near-normalcy, around 5.30 pm. In their relief motorists zoomed past as soon as the barricades were removed. The traffic disappeared in no time. As things stand, the barricades on IMAX road are yet to be removed. It is supposed to be cleared for traffic from Monday. "The equipment here is huge. Its dismantling and transportation will take some more hours. We are hoping to be through by midnight," said one of the workers at the site. The focus, right now, is on clearing the place. Reinstallation of streetlights will take a few more days. Vendors, who do business in the vicinity, were informed beforehand that they could resume their work from Monday. "We did plead with the police last week to help us come here as soon as they are done with clearing the place. We wished to have at least some customers, especially because it was a weekend evening but he was stern," said Abid Ali, a chat vendor, who visited the place just to check if he could still put up his 'bandi' late Sunday evening. A United Airlines flight from Hawaii to San Francisco plummeted in the air and came within just 775 feet of the Pacific Ocean in a terrifying incident. The previously unreported incident on December 18 follows multiple near-misses at U.S. airports in the last three months. Just 71 seconds after takeoff from the Kahului Airport in Maui, the United Airlines Flight UA1722 bound for San Francisco reached 2,200 feet began a steep nosedive, according to NBC News and first reported by The Air Current. The ordeal lasted 45 seconds from takeoff till the aircraft stabilized. A spokesperson for United confirmed the incident and said a formal internal safety report was filed upon landing. The report comes as the aviation industry faces 'the biggest disaster in its history' after twice in less than a month that a catastrophic collision has nearly happened at a U.S. airport. A United Airlines flight from Hawaii to San Francisco plummeted in the air and came within just 775 feet of the Pacific Ocean in a terrifying incident Social media appeared to be quiet about the incident with The Air Current pointing out that on the same day, 25 people were inured during severe turbulence on a Hawaiian airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu. The same storm system that caused heavy rain in Maui at the time of the flights also sparked a massive 'bomb cyclone' snowstorm across parts of the United States, which grounded flights triggering the Southwest Airlines chaos just before Christmas. The December flight took off from from Kahului Airport at 2:29 p.m. despite the stormy weather reported at the time. It was 'in between radio calls with air traffic controllers in Maui' throughout the 45-second dive, the report stated. 'The climb produced forces of nearly 2.7 times the force of gravity on the aircraft and its occupants.' G-force, which is used to describe the acceleration of an object relative to Earth's gravity, can be dangerous depending on several factors, including direction. An upwards acceleration of about 5g is enough to overwhelm the ability of your heart to pump blood to your brain, expert Luis Villazon told Science Focus. This causes oxygen starvation and you will black out within a few seconds, he added. But a downward, or negative g-force is even worse, he said. 'The blood pools in your head, your face swells up and your lower eyelids are forced over your eyes,' he explained. 'This is called 'redout' because all you see is the light shining through your eyelids. At negative 3g, the blood can't get back to your lungs to re-oxygenate, so you pass out.' However, Dr. Swee Weng Fan has told Live Science that brain cells are resilient, and it would take around 4 to 6 minutes of oxygen deprivation for any cells to die completely. The report about December's incident, which analyzed available data, revealed that the flight reached 2,200 feet before suddenly diving n early 8,600 feet per minute The report about December's incident, which analyzed available data, revealed that the flight reached 2,200 feet before suddenly diving nearly 8,600 feet per minute. The incident lasted only 45 seconds before the aircraft recovered and landed safely in San Francisco. It departed on its next flight to Chicago just over two hours later. A spokesperson for United told Dailymail.com that a formal report was filed, the aircraft was inspected before its next flight and that the incident led to the pilots - who have fully cooperated with the investigation - receiving additional training. They have a combined 25,000 hours of flying time. A safety report was filed upon landing in San Francisco and United then 'closely coordinated with the FAA and ALPA on an investigation that ultimately resulted in the pilots receiving additional training. Safety remains our highest priority.' The aviation industry is already facing 'the biggest disaster in its history' after a near miss between two airplanes in Austin earlier this month became the second time in less than a month that a catastrophic collision has nearly happened at a U.S. airport. A Boeing 767 FedEx cargo plane landing at Austin-Bergstrom International came within less than 100ft of a Southwest Airlines 737 aircraft that was taking off from the same runway. Analysts say only the quick-thinking of the FedEx pilot prevented a collision. Earlier this month, a FedEx flight (orange in the Flightradar247 pic) approaches the runway as the Southwest aircraft begins its take off. The planes come within less than 100ft of each other The FedEx flight abandons its landing as the Southwest aircraft continues its takeoff. They steer to the left and right respectively to avoid contact. Multiple industry analysts have said the instructions from Air Traffic Control appear to be a factor in the nail-biting incident The incident follows a similar near miss at John F. Kennedy International in New York City on Friday, January 13, when a Delta flight was forced to perform an emergency stop during takeoff while an American Airlines plane crossed the same runway. Now, after two serious incidents in less than a month, industry analysts are asking how near misses of this magnitude could happen at two major American airports - and whether current safety protocols are adequate. Near misses - or 'incursions' - of this severity are incredibly rare. There were 1,732 incursion in 2022 in around 17 million flights handled by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). But of those, only a handful were 'Category A', defined as 'a serious incident in which a collision was narrowly avoided'. Most recorded cases cover incidents with 'no immediate safety consequences'. Aviation expert and pilot Juan Browne said: 'These sort of incidents are increasing at an alarming rate. 'There's a huge turnover in the industry, not only among pilots but amongst air traffic controllers, mechanics, mainters, rampers. And with the state of hiring practices and training today and the relentless effort to do things faster, cheaper and more efficiently we're just one radio call away from having the biggest aviation disaster in history.' In both the JFK and Austin-Bergstrom incidents, experts have said directions issued by air traffic controllers appear to have been an issue. The near miss incident at JFK on Jan 13 occurred when a Delta aircraft which was about to take off had to perform an emergency stop after an American Airlines plane crossed the runway The FedEx cargo plane was coming into land at Austin Bergstrom Airport when it was forced to pull up (stock image) What are the rules on serious incursions? The Federal Aviation Administration has four categories of runway incursion (when a plane, vehicle or person is incorrectly on a runway). These range from Category D (least serious) to Category A (most severe). Category D has 'no immediate safety consequences', while the next stage, Category C, says there is 'ample time and/or distance to avoid a collision'. Category B demonstrates 'significant potential' for a collision. Category A is 'a series incident in which a collision was narrowly avoided' - the final stage before an accident itself occurring. The near miss on Friday 13 at JFK was defined by US Department of Transportation general Mary Schiavo as being a Category A incursion Source: FAA Advertisement The FedEx plane aborted its landing and the Southwest flight took off. Flightradar footage shows how perilously close the two aircraft came to colliding. In the January incident at JFK, the American Airlines plane crossed a runway while a Delta Boeing 737 plane was preparing for takeoff. The Delta plane stopped about 1,000 feet from where the American Airlines plane had crossed from an adjacent taxiway. Audio of the radio exchange during that near miss is far more panicked. An air traffic controller who realized what was unfolding is heard exclaiming: 'S***! F***! Delta 1943, cancel takeoff clearance! Delta 1943, cancel takeoff clearance!' Both incidents are currently under investigation by the FAA. Meanwhile, several experts have said human error by air traffic control staff appears to have contributed to both incidents. Both the National Air Traffic Controllers Association union and the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations declined to comment due to the ongoing investigations. Kit Darby, an aviation consultant and former United Airlines pilot, previously told DailyMail.com that he believes safety protocols to avoid near misses are adequate, but added: 'It's a very large, very complicated system that's relying on humans, and humans make mistakes.' He said near misses are 'typically caused by communication failure [and] misunderstanding'. 'The ground is one of the worst places for this,' he said. 'When it comes time to take off and land, airplanes get very close to each other so there'll be airplane just short of the runway as an airplane lands just a few hundred feet away. 'When they are already close together, the miscommunication becomes critical.' Other risk factors for a near miss include the number of runways at an airport, the number of runway intersections and number of taxi ways for aircraft, he said. Pilots undertake regular reviews to stay sharp, including quarterly training that covers topical issues and recent incidents, Darby added. If you were on this terrifying flight and would like to share your story and/or footage, please email: andrea.cavallier@mailonline.com. The Pentagon is yet to recover debris from the three UFOs shot down this weekend over Alaska, Canada and Michigan and is yet to offer any kind of explanation as to what they are, how they were able to fly, or whether they pose a genuine threat to America. Since Friday, US fighter jets have struck down three objects flying above Alaska, Canada and Michigan. On Monday morning, John Kirby, the communications coordinator of the National Security Council revealed the US is yet to recover the debris of the aircraft. Former NORAD commander Scott Clancy told CNN he'd be 'very suspicious'. 'This is just conjecture, I think you're seeing the confluence of distinctive activity by our adversaries to test our systems,' he said. He went on to explain how 'old' NORAD's systems are, and how the sheer number of UFOs showed that it was a 'coordinated effort'. 'It looks to be to be a concerted effort because you have any more than one. It looks like a coordinated effort.' Earlier, John Kirby admitted the US hasn't yet recovered the debris. Former NORAD commander Scott Clancy told CNN he'd be 'very suspicious' of the UFOs 'The truth is that we haven't been able to gain access to the objects that were shot down Friday, Saturday and yesterday because of the weather conditions. The third one was shot down yesterday over Lake Huron so it's underwater. 'We're going to do everything we can to recover them,' he told MSNBC. Kirby insisted the balloons could be 'benign' and tried to assure Americans: 'There could be totally explainable reasons for why these objects are flying around all there. 'There are corporate entities that operate these kind of things, we just don't know as soon as we can get to the debris we'll share what we can. It doesn't have to be nefarious.' His assurances fall on the deaf ears of growing number of Republicans and Americans demanding answers. Pentagon officials held a press conference on Sunday night in the middle of the Super Bowl, when the majority of the country was distracted, where they failed to answer many questions. John Kirby, the communications coordinator of the National Security Council revealed the US is yet to recover the debris of the aircraft US military fighter jets were scrambled to shoot down an object yesterday over Lake Huron. It remains underwater today General Glen VanHerck was specifically asked if it's possible the objects are indicative of extraterrestrial life. 'I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything. 'At this point we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it,' he said. He said once the object that was shot down on Friday was found, the US would send crews out to recover it. 'We're actively searching for that objects right now. I've got an Navy P-8, which is surveilling there and with helicopters as well. Once we locate that object, we'll put an arctic security package in there and begin the analysis to recovery, but we don't have it right now,' he said. But by Monday morning, that recovery was yet to begin. He added that it was the first time the US has had to shoot down any kind of aircraft in NORAD's 65-year history. 'I believe this is the first time within United States or America airspace that NORAD or United States Northern Command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object.' Since February 4th, US jets have shot down four objects including the Chinese spy balloon. Unlike the balloon, there have been no images of the other three objects, which were flying at considerably lower altitudes, and which remain a mystery Among those demanding answers are Matt Rosendale and Jack Bergman who say Americans deserve better Timeline of recent UFO sightings over US airspace Wednesday, February 1: Chinese balloon is spotted above Montana (not a UFO as air force identified it as a balloon) Saturday, February 4: Chinese balloon is shot down off the coast of South Carolina after having drifted across the country Thursday, February 9: First UFO is detected off coast of northern Alaska Friday, February 10: UFO is shot down over Deadhorse, Alaska Saturday, February 11: Second UFO is shot down over Mayo, Yukon, Canada. FAA shuts down airspace over Montana citing another possible UFO, but NORAD claims it was a 'radar anomaly' Sunday, February 12: Third UFO is detected over the Great Lakes and shot down Advertisement Curiosity - and concern - has been also been fueled by the descriptions of the objects from the pilots who shot them down. Some of those pilots said the craft were somehow able to interfere with their radar sensors, a worrying detail that raised separate questions of whether the US will be able to continue to shoot down any others that may appear. They also reported to officials that they weren't able to detect how the objects were able to stay in the air because there was no propulsion. ABC News also cites officials with knowledge who said the pilots described them as 'cylindrical and silver-ish gray'. The three new objects were detected after NORAD adjusted the sensitivity of its radar system following the arrival of the spy balloon. The sudden flurry of aircraft has sparked an onslaught of conspiracy theories. Sen. Marco Rubio last night sparked even more concern by tweeting that UFOs have been flying into American airspace for 'years'. Chinese officials have also claimed the US has flown balloons over their airspace multiple times since the beginning of 2022. John Kirby, the communications coordinator of the National Security Council, insisted this morning that this was not the case. 'Absolutely not,' he said. Montana Senator Matt Rosendale is among those demanding answers. Also this morning, former Obama intelligence official Jeremy Bash said it was ordinary to 'assume hostile intent'. 'Assume hostile intent and if you're in doubt shoot it out of the sky,' he told the Today show, adding we should know more from video obtained by the pilots and from 'coming closer' to the objects on the ground. A mother has made an impassioned plea for supermarket trollies to be fitted with brakes after a freak accident left her baby needing emergency brain surgery. Casey Gobbert, from the southern Brisbane suburb of Logan, was loading groceries into her car last Thursday when her trolley started rolling away with her 17-month-old daughter Millie still sitting in the child's seat. She had momentarily rested the trolley against her car as she was putting her son, Lincoln, three, into the backseat. But before she turned around a sudden gust of wind blew the trolley away. Mum Casey Gobbert (pictured left) has made an impassioned plea for supermarket trollies to be fitted with breaks after a freak accident left her baby (right) needing emergency brain surgery 'I turned around and the trolley had started moving,' Ms Gobbert told A Current Affair. She ran after the trolley but 'It was on a raised walkway, so it's hit the side of the walkway and it's just flipped with her in it,' she said. The devastated mum said as Millie's head hit the ground 'My world stood still, my stomach just like dropped. 'I just freaked out, like I picked her up instantly and I could feel the lump already.' She rushed Millie to her local hospital thinking the baby may have had a bad concussion. Casey Gobbert thought baby Millie (pictured) may have had a bad concussion, but it was much worse But a CT scan revealed a far more serious issue - Millie had a brain bleed. 'Nowhere in my wildest dreams would I have imagined it was going to be blood, brain bleeds,' she said. Millie was then moved to the Queensland Children's Hospital, where surgeons performed a delicate operation to save her life. 'It was a very long two-hours wait, just thinking of all the what ifs, what if I did something different, what happens if it doesn't go well,' Ms Gobbert said. But thankfully, it did go well and doctors said Millie has been making a remarkable recovery from her injuries. Millie (pictured) has been making a remarkable recovery from her injuries Her mum said the freak accident should have been preventable, though. 'Trolleys should have brakes on them,' she said. Prams and strollers are required by law to have a brake for safety, but there are no such requirements for trolleys with child seats. Though some stores do have brakes on their trolleys, most don't. Having experienced a near tragedy, Ms Gobbert now believes trolleys should be held to the same standards as prams. 'I'm not blaming the trolley manufacturer, I'm not blaming the companies, I'm not blaming anyone, I just want some change,' she said. The mum said what happened to Millie has changed how she'll shop for the rest of her life. China said Monday that the U.S. has flown at least 10 high-altitude balloons in its airspace without permission during the last year as diplomatic tensions rose following Washington's claim that Beijing operates a global surveillance fleet. The Chinese hit back after an F-22 shot down a spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina and the US downed three more unidentified objects detected over North America over the weekend. President Joe Biden's response has left Congress demanding answers and the Pentagon has said they aren't 'ruling anything out' about the objects - even aliens - as they investigate. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin gave no details about the alleged US balloons, how they had been dealt with, or whether they had government or military links. 'It is also common for US balloons to illegally enter the airspace of other countries,' he said at a daily briefing. 'Since last year, US high-altitude balloons have illegally flown over China's airspace more than 10 times without the approval of Chinese authorities.' National Security Council spokesman John Kirby denied the Chinese claim during an appearance on Morning Joe Monday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accused the US Monday of flying 10 high-altitude balloons over China during the past year - a claim the White House has denied The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts into the ocean after being shot down on February 4 off the coast of South Carolina Since February 4, four objects have been shot down including the Chinese spy balloon, and then three 'UFOs' 'Not true, not doing it, absolutely not true,' Kirby said. 'That is right. We are not flying balloons over China.' Mr Wang said the US should 'first reflect on itself and change course, rather than smear and instigate a confrontation'. China said the balloon shot down by the US was an unmanned airship made for meteorological research that had been blown off course. It has accused the US of overreacting by shooting it down and threatened to take unspecified action in response. Following the incident, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled a visit to Beijing that many had hoped would put the brakes on the sharp decline in relations over Taiwan, trade, human rights and threatening Chinese actions in the disputed South China Sea. Since the Chinese balloon was shot down on February 4, three additional objects have been blown out of the sky by US F-22 and F-16 fighter jets. The latest was shot down on Sunday on orders by President Joe Biden. An F-16 fighter jet was used to shoot down an 'object' over Lake Huron on Sunday It was flying at a lower altitude than the previous objects, with Pentagon officials saying it posed a threat to civilian aviation and US surveillance. It was the fourth such downing in eight days in an extraordinary chain of events over US airspace that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent. 'There could be completely benign and totally explainable reasons for why these objects are flying around up there. Certainly don't have to be nefarious at all,' Kirby said. 'There are corporate entities that operate these kinds of things. There are academic research institutions that do this sort of thing. We just don't know.' 'As soon as we can find out, we can get the debris, we can find out, we will absolutely share what we can,' Kirby added. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are demanding answers with an all-member briefing scheduled for Monday. The Chinese balloon shot down by the US was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals as part of a huge, military-linked aerial surveillance program that targeted more than 40 countries, the Biden administration declared on Thursday, citing imagery from American U-2 spy planes. Part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a 'heightened alert' following the alleged Chinese spy balloon, General Glen VanHerck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command and the US Northern Command, said in a briefing with reporters. The United States has since placed economic restrictions on six Chinese entities it said are linked to Beijing's aerospace programs as part of its response to the incident. The US House of Representatives also voted unanimously to condemn China for a 'brazen violation' of US sovereignty and efforts to 'deceive the international community through false claims about its intelligence collection campaigns'. Mr Wang repeated China's dismissal of such claims, saying: 'The frequent firing of advanced missiles by the US to shoot down the objects is an over-reaction of over-exertion.' Another Republican is eyeing the 2024 presidential nomination as entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy plans to try and use his 'anti-wokeism' to pull off what Donald Trump did in 2016. The 37-year-old millionaire has been dubbed the 'CEO of Anti-Woke Inc.' and has signaled interest like most who want the presidency by visiting the first primary caucus state of Iowa. Ramaswamy went to Des Moines, Iowa for a dinner last month to speak to a crowd of dozens of the midwestern state's agricultural big wigs and spread his message about the threat of 'woke capitalism.' The rising right-wing star, who made his money in biotech and is the son of Indian immigrants, has pounced on environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, which is something that has become popular among Republicans, business leaders and farmers. Millionaire biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, 37, is weighing a 2024 Republican primary bid The interest from the best-selling author comes as several big and small names on the right are signaling interest in the 2024 Republican nominating contest. Former President Donald Trump is the only one so far to make an official bid for president this cycle, announcing his intent for a third White House campaign in mid-November. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and Trump-era Ambassador to the United Nations, will become the second with her official announcement in her home state's capital city on Wednesday. Others have expressed their intent to file for the presidency including conservative radio host Larry Elder. And there is a flurry of speculation, rumors and refusals to rule out a bid from big names on the right, which has been further fueled by some trips to early primary contest states. This includes the likes of South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, among others. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appears to be among the top two favorites for the GOP nomination in several polls that show him closely rivaling Trump. Ramaswamy hopes to bring some of the same energy to the 2024 race that Trump brought in 2016 and pull off the same thing come into the race as an entrepreneur and political outsiders and launch himself to the White House with unorthodox ideas and low expectations that earn him a large following. Ramaswamy, who made millions in the biotech field, hopes to come in as a political outsider and entrepreneur and pull of what former President Donald Trump did in 2016 Trump is the only candidate who has announced his 2024 bid in the Republican primary so far but his former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is officially announcing her bid in remarks Wednesday in Columbia, South Carolina It doesn't appear that the potential candidate is worried about coming in as a long shot. He weighed making a bid for Senate in his home state of Ohio in 2021, but eventually chose not to launch a campaign. The author of books Woke Inc. and Nation of Victims is testing socially responsible investing, specifically in ESG, as one of the cornerstones of a potential bid. Former Iowa governor and kingmaker in the state Terry Branstad told Politico that most people in his state 'don't know' what ESG is all about. With so much early interest, the Republican 2024 primary field is on its way to be one of the most crowded contests ever. Russia's feared new major offensive in Ukraine has already started, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said today, warning that Ukraine is using more munitions than the military alliance is producing. 'We see no sign whatsoever that [Russian] president [Vladimir] Putin is preparing for peace ... What we see is president Putin and Russia still wanting to control Ukraine', he said, almost one year after Moscow launched the war in February 2022. 'We see how they are sending more troops, more weapons, more capabilities.' Russia is widely thought to be planning a major new offensive to regain momentum in the war, which has been in a stalemate since Ukraine's counteroffensives last year that recaptured vast swathes of its territory. Ukraine says it needs main battle tanks, fighter jets and long-range missiles to counter this and to recapture more of its lost territory. Russia 's feared new major offensive in Ukraine has already started, NATO 's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday, and warned that Ukraine is using more munitions than the military alliance is producing. Pictured: A Ukrainian tank rides to its position in the frontline in Bakhmut, Donetsk region on Sunday Stoltenberg said he expected the issue of aircraft to be discussed at the upcoming two-day meeting in Brussels of Nato ministers of defence starting on Tuesday. 'There is now a discussion going on also on the question of aircrafts and I expect that also to be addressed tomorrow at the meeting in Brussels', he said. Stoltenberg also stressed that Nato countries supplying fighter jets to Ukraine would not make Nato part of the conflict. He said that while there was the ongoing discussion among allies about Ukraine's demands for jets to be sent to the battlefield, the key focus was on making sure the necessary amounts of weaponry flowed to Kyiv's forces on time and that allies made good on commitments already made on heavy guns and armoured vehicles. 'It is clear that we are in a race of logistics,' Stoltenberg said. 'Key capabilities like ammunition, fuel, and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield. Speed will save lives.' The former Prime Minister of Norway called on Nato to 'ramp up production' of ammunition, as he said Ukraine's rate of usage is far outstripping current capacities and draining stockpiles. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers walk along a street in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on Sunday 'The current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production. This puts our defence industries under strain,' he said. Stoltenberg admitted that Nato was facing a 'problem' as current waiting times for large-calibre ammunition have grown from 12 to 28 months. But he insisted he was confident steps taken so far meant Nato members were 'on the path that will enable us both to continue to support Ukraine, but also to replenish our own stocks'. Ukraine's Western backers - who have supplied billions of dollars of arms - will meet in Brussels to discuss Kyiv's weapons. US Nato ambassador Julianne Smith said the alliance was looking to work 'hand in glove' with industry to ramp up output and slash production times. 'This is absolutely essential to ensure that we can keep supporting Ukraine while also ensuring that we collectively can protect every inch of allied territory,' she said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a powerful plea during a trip to London, Paris and Brussels last week for Nato members to send fighter planes. Zelensky won a commitment to train pilots from Britain but did not get any firm promises that his forces will get Western planes. Diplomats from several Nato allies said they did not expect there to be any firm announcement from Tuesday's meeting on supplying jets, but that momentum was building. The United States - by far the biggest supplier of arms to Ukraine - is seen as key as it could green light sending the widely-used F-16 fighters. 'The United States remains committed to getting Ukraine what they need,' Smith said. 'We leave that to each sovereign nation to determine how they want to provide assistance and what type of assistance for Ukraine that is left in the hands of each individual capital.' Pictured: A Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 flies over the front lines near Bakhmut on Sunday. Ukraine says it needs main battle tanks, fighter jets and long-range missiles to counter the new Russian offensive, and to recapture more of its lost territory NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg (pictured Monday) said he expected the issue of aircraft to be discussed at the upcoming two-day meeting of NATO ministers of Defence starting Tuesday Meanwhile, Ukraine's presidential office said fierce battles continued to rage outside Bahkmut - as Russian forces pushed their advance on the eastern Ukrainian city with heavy shelling and infantry attacks. At least five civilians have been killed and as many wounded in action across the war-torn country in the last 24 hours. Ukraine's presidential office said the situation in Bakhmut's northern suburb of Paraskoviivka is 'difficult' as Russian forces continue to pummel the area with 'intense shelling and storming action'. The nearby town of Vuhledar is also under heavy bombardment. Russian forces shelled a dozen cities and villages in the Donetsk region in the last 24 hours, including in Druzhkivka where a missile hit a hospital and in Pokrovsk where shelling damaged seven houses and a nursery school. Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said: 'The shelling intensifies, and the Russians accumulate more forces for an attack on peaceful cities. 'We're seeing a very tough battle in which the Russians aren't sparing neither themselves, nor us.' In the neighbouring Luhansk region, Russian soldiers pulled back after several days of intense fighting near the key city of Kreminna, although they are not 'running out of steam', Governor Serhii Haidai told Ukrainian television. In the partially-occupied southern region of Kherson, artillery fire hit more than 20 cities and villages over the past 24 hours, including the regional capital which was recaptured by Ukrainian forces in November. Two men were killed in one of the villages when their car ran over a landmine. Pictured: A Ukrainian tank is seen in position in the frontline in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Sunday In the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian shelling of the city of Nikopol killed one person and wounded two others. The shelling also damaged a residential building, a water treatment facility and a college. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence said Russian forces are bolstering fortifications on the edge of the battlefront in southern Ukraine to protect their flank, despite their focus on the Donbas region. 'This is demonstrated by continued construction of defensive fortifications in Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk oblasts and deployment of personnel,' it said in a briefing on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied on Monday that a second round of mobilisation is looming. Although many people have fled Donetsk province where the bulk of the fighting is concentrated, those who opted to stay depend on sporadic aid deliveries of food and water. In the city of Sviatohirsk, in northern Donetsk, the few residents who remain rely on volunteers from the organisation World Central Kitchen for food and supplies to cope with freezing temperatures. Sviatohirsk was liberated in September. On Sunday, the area was blanketed with snow, concealing the massive destruction from repeated bombardments and heavy fighting. Standing by the ruins of the city council building, resident Valeriy Andrievskiy said the building used to be 'beautiful'. 'God forbid our forces retreat and we stay [behind enemy lines]. God forbid. I will not survive this one more time,' he said. Pictured: A Ukrainian soldier walks along a fortified street in Bakhmut on Sunday Walking near the ruins of her home, 80-year-old Tamara Yevdokimova said she had been 'tortured' by Russian forces. 'I haven't been able to hear for five months... They [Russians] have knocked my teeth out. What can I do?' she said. In her yard were the burned-out remnants of a Russian tank. People who left the front lines in search of safety continue are still struggling to adapt to a new life elsewhere. In Kyiv, dozens of people from the Donbas, Kherson and Kharkiv regions are being helped by the Centre of Hope and Recovery, an organisation that provides temporary homes and meals. 'These are people who have left in the past what they have earned for years, and this is a very traumatic experience,' said centre head Anna Harkun. They receive psychological and medical help, while volunteers help them find work and permanent lodging, she added. Russian rockets destroyed the home of 80-year-old Anatoly Zakharenko in the Donetsk village of Terny. His wife, daughter, and disabled granddaughter were all evacuated and are being helped in the city. Missing his home town, he wrote a poem to ease the pain of displacement. 'I will return to you, believe me,' he said, reading it aloud. At least 37,000 have been killed after tremor hit Turkey and Syria last week Search teams are facing race against time to reach people alive after the quake A little girl was today rescued after spending more than a week trapped under a collapsed apartment building, as rescue crews scramble to reach her older sister who is buried amongst the rubble after earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria. Harrowing footage shows rescue crews pulling six-year-old Miray from the rubble of her destroyed home in Turkey and carefully placing her on a stretcher as visibly emotional rescuers cheered and shouted 'God is great'. She had spent 178 hours trapped under the rubble. The rescue crews are now working against the clock to try and reach Miray's older sister who is trapped underneath the same building in the southern Turkish city of Adiyaman. Meanwhile, rescuers pulled a 13-year-old boy, indentified as Kaan, out from underneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey's southern Hatay province, more than a week after the devastating earthquake struck. The teenager held a rescuer's hand as he was placed on a stretcher, head braced, and covered for warmth, before he was moved into an ambulance. But reports of incredible rescues are becoming rarer as the time since the quake reaches the limits of the human body's ability to survive without water, especially in sub-freezing temperatures. Harrowing footage shows rescue crews pulling six-year-old Miray from the rubble of her destroyed home in Turkey and carefully placing her on a stretcher as visibly emotional rescuers cheered and shouted 'God is great' Miray, six, (pictured) was today rescued after spending more than a week trapped under a collapsed apartment building, as rescue crews scramble to reach her older sister who is buried amongst the rubble after earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria Rescuers pulled a 13-year-old boy out from underneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey's southern Hatay province, more than a week after the devastating earthquake struck 70-year-old Nuray Gurbuz is rescued from the rubble of a collapsed 3-storey- building 178 hours after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye including Hatay Rescuers embrace each other after rescuing 70-year-old Nuray Gurbuz from the rubble With hopes of finding many more survivors in the rubble fast fading, the combined death toll in Turkey and neighbouring Syria from last Monday's 7.8 magnitude quake rose above 37,000 and looked set to keep increasing. The UN has warned that the death toll could spiral past 55,000. Rescuers in Turkey are desperately digging through rubble in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras to try to reach a grandmother, mother and baby who are trapped in one room in a three-storey building, with a fourth person possibly in another room. They said they were trying to break a wall to reach the survivors but a column was delaying them. 'We don't know whether they are alive. We just saw heat with the thermal cameras, but they haven't made any sound,' a soldier with the Turkish army said. British rescuers are going to extraordinary lengths to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings one week after earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria. Remarkable footage shows a Briton risking his life by crawling through tunnels created in the rubble to find a trapped man in Hatay province, southern Turkey. But the rescue phase is 'coming to a close', with urgency now switching to providing shelter, food, schooling and psychosocial care, United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said during a visit to Aleppo in northern Syria on Monday. Some 176 hours after the first earthquake, a woman named Serap Donmez on Monday was pulled out alive from a collapsed apartment block in Antakya by search and rescue teams from Turkey and Oman, state broadcaster TRT reported. Rescuers also pulled a 40-year-old woman, Sibel Kaya, from wreckage of a five-storey building in the Turkish town of Islahiye. She had spent 170 hours beneath the rubble. And last night, rescuers pulled free a seven-year-old boy, Mustafa, and 62-year-old Nafize Yilmaz after they spent 163 hours trapped under ruins. Relatives are overcome with emotion after identifying a body as a family member in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey on Monday A person is rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building 176 hours after the earthquake struck in Turkey This aerial view shows collapsed buildings during the ongoing rescue operation in Kahramanmaras, the epicentre of the first 7.8-magnitude earthquake seven days ago, in southeastern Turkey on Monday An aerial view of collapsed buildings as search and rescue efforts continue in Hatay, Turkey, following the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria An aerial picture shows the hospital (R) in the town of Harim, near buildings destroyed by an earthquake and tents erected to house homeless residents, in Syria's rebel-held northwestern Idlib province on the border with Turkey The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes struck nine hours apart in south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. The death toll from both countries on Monday exceeded 37,000, with the death toll expected to rise considerably as search teams find more bodies. Towns and cities lived in by millions have also been reduced to fragments of concrete and twisted metal. The Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation, a non-governmental business organisation, estimated the financial damage from the quake in Turkey alone at 84.1 billion US dollars (69.3 billion). The amount was considerably higher than any official estimates so far, and was calculated using a statistical comparison with the similarly devastating 1999 quake that hit north-west Turkey. Turkey's disaster agency said more than 32,000 people from the nation's organisations were working on search-and-rescue efforts, along with 8,294 international rescuers. A member of a British search team posted a video of a fellow rescuer risking their life by crawling through a collapsed building to search for survivors. The emergency worker breathes heavily as he lowers his body into a small hole amongst the rubble knowing that any slight movement could cause the building to collapse further and kill him. At one point, he slides on to his stomach and shuffles through a small hole, which he only just manages to fit through and into a small area covered with rubble. The Briton, wearing a respirator, slides across the rubble to reach a man lying on the ground. The rescuer can be heard saying: 'Hello, I'm Malcolm the doctor.' The man can be heard replying, 'Is it okay?' to which the British rescuer says: 'Yeah we're okay.' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) and his wife Emine Erdogan visit the quake victims at Basaksehir Cam ve Sakura State Hospital in Istanbul today Remarkable footage shows a British rescuer risking his life by crawling through tiny tunnels created through the rubble to find a Turkish man who had been trapped for nearly a week in Hatay province, southern Turkey Footage shows the rescuer breathing heavily as he lowers his body into a small hole amongst the rubble - knowing that any slight movement could cause the building to collapse further and kill him The girl is stretchered from the rubble by a team of rescuers and military members Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and his wife Emine Erdogan (middle) went to the Basaksehir Cam ve Sakura State Hospital in Istanbul today after the earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkey An aerial view shows 26-year-old Derya Akdogan as she is rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building 177 hours after the earthquake struck in Hatay province, Turkey Serap Donmez is rescued from under rubble of a collapsed building after being trapped there for 176 hours following the devastating earthquake in the Turkish province of Hatay A man reacts after his mother, Serap Donmez, is pulled out alive from a collapsed building after 176 hours The man sheds tears of joy after his mother is rescued a week after the earthquakes hit Workers stand on top of a collapsed building as a digger works its way through the debris on February 13 in Hatay, Turkey An aerial photo shows collapsed buildings in Antakya, Turkey, on February 11 Meanwhile, in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras, near the epicentre of the quake, excavators dug through mountains of rubble as a rescue team recovered a body from the wreckage. Rescuers hoping to reach the three survivors in the city believed to be a mother, daughter and baby consisted of a Turkish military team, miners and Spanish firefighters who were first alerted to there being life in the rubble by a search dog, according to engineer officer Halil Kaya. A thermal scan signalled there were people alive, about five metres within the building, and then a muffled sound was detected, Kaya told the broadcaster. The miners have excavated around three metres through a neighbouring building that is still standing, putting up support beams as they go. 'When we said knock on the wall if you can hear us, we heard faint tapping,' he said. 'Our colleagues are all here working for 24 hours without sleeping... We will all be here until we get those people out of there.' In many areas, rescue teams said they lacked sensors and advanced search equipment, leaving them reduced to carefully digging with shovels or only their hands. 'If we had this kind of equipment, we would have saved hundreds of lives, if not more,' said Alaa Moubarak, head of civil defence in Jableh, north-west Syria. Meanwhile, Eduardo Reinoso Angulo, a professor at the Institute of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said the likelihood of finding more people alive is 'very, very small now'. Search and rescue team embrace as 35-year-old Bunyamin Idaci is rescued under the rubble of a collapsed building on Monday in Adiyaman, Turkey Rescuers evacuate a 12-year-old Syrian girl, Cudi, from the rubble of a destroyed building in Hatay, on February 12 People sit around a fire beside collapsed buildings today in Hatay, Turkey Drone footage shows tents, from Turkey's AFAD disaster management agency, set up in the stadium of Kahramanmaras following the earthquake Chinese rescuers in a search and rescue operation in the southern Turkish province of Hatay on February 11 President Erdogan visited survivors of the earthquake Professor Angulo, lead author of a 2017 study of deaths inside buildings struck by earthquakes, said the odds of survival for people trapped in wreckage fall dramatically after five days and is near zero after nine, although there have been exceptions. David Alexander, a professor of emergency planning and management at University College London, added that the window for pulling people alive from rubble is 'almost at an end'. But, he said, the odds were not very good to begin with many of the buildings were so poorly constructed that they collapsed into very small pieces, leaving very few spaces large enough for people to survive in. 'If a frame building of some kind goes over, generally speaking we do find open spaces in a heap of rubble where we can tunnel in,' Prof Alexander said. 'Looking at some of these photographs from Turkey and from Syria, there just aren't the spaces.' Wintry conditions further reduce the window for survival. Temperatures in the region have fallen to -6C (21F) overnight. 'The typical way the body compensates for hypothermia is shivering and shivering requires a lot of calories,' said Dr Stephanie Lareau, a professor of emergency medicine at Virginia Tech in the US. 'So if somebody's deprived of food for a number of days and exposed to cold temperatures, they're probably going to succumb to hypothermia more rapidly.' A week after the quakes hit, many people are still without shelter in the streets. Some survivors are waiting in front of collapsed buildings for the bodies of their loved ones to be retrieved. Many in Turkey blame faulty construction for the vast devastation and authorities have begun targeting contractors allegedly linked with buildings that collapsed. At least 131 people are under investigation for their alleged responsibility in the construction of buildings that failed to withstand the quakes, officials said. Turkey has introduced construction codes that meet earthquake-engineering standards, but experts say the codes are rarely enforced. In Syria, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said the international community has failed to provide aid. On a visit to the Turkish-Syrian border on Sunday, he said Syrians are 'looking for international help that hasn't arrived'. 'We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria. They rightly feel abandoned,' he said, adding: 'My duty and our obligation is to correct this failure as fast as we can.' The death toll in Syria's rebel-held region has reached 2,166, according to rescue group the White Helmets. The overall toll in the country, currently in the midst of civil war, stood at 3,581 on Monday, although the 1,387 deaths reported for government-held parts of the country had not been updated for days. A man walks in the debris of a collapsed building as he awaits news of loved ones on February 13 in Hatay, Turkey An aerial view of collapsed buildings after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkey In its capital, Damascus, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned the pain will ripple forward, calling the disaster an 'unfolding tragedy that's affecting millions'. 'The compounding crises of conflict, Covid, cholera, economic decline, and now the earthquake have taken an unbearable toll,' Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The UN has decried the failure to ship desperately-needed aid to war-torn regions of Syria. A convoy with supplies for north-west Syria arrived via Turkey, but the UN's relief chief Martin Griffiths said much more was needed for millions whose homes were destroyed. Assessing damage in southern Turkey on Saturday, when the toll stood at 28,000, Griffiths said he expected the figure to 'double or more' as chances of finding survivors fade with every day. Supplies have been slow to arrive in Syria, where years of conflict have ravaged the healthcare system and parts of the country remain under the control of rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad, which is under Western sanctions. But a ten-truck UN convoy crossed into north-west Syria via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, according to an AFP correspondent, carrying shelter kits, plastic sheeting, rope, blankets, mattresses and carpets. Bab al-Hawa is the only point for international aid to reach people in rebel-held areas of Syria after nearly 12 years of civil war, after other crossings were closed under pressure from China and Russia. Dr Ghebreyesus met president Assad in Damascus on Sunday and said the Syrian leader had voiced readiness for more border crossings to help bring aid into the rebel-held northwest. 'He was open to considering additional cross-border access points for this emergency,' Dr Ghebreyesus told reporters. However, he said the WHO was still waiting for a green light from rebel-held areas before going in. UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said he United Nations was mobilising funding to support Syria. 'We're trying to tell everyone: Put politics aside, this is a time to unite behind a common effort to support the Syrian people,' he said. Turkey said on Sunday about 80,000 people were in hospital, and more than one million in temporary shelters. Assad looked forward to further 'efficient cooperation' with the UN agency to improve the shortage in supplies, equipment and medicines, his presidency said. He had also thanked the United Arab Emirates for providing 'huge relief and humanitarian aid', with pledges of tens of millions of dollars. But in Turkey, security concerns prompted the suspension of some rescue operations, and dozens of people have been arrested for looting or trying to defraud victims in the aftermath of the quake, according to state media. An Israeli emergency relief organisation said on Sunday it had suspended its earthquake rescue operation in Turkey and returned home because of a 'significant' security threat to its staff. Zehra Kurukafa walks past a destroyed house in the village of Polat, Turkey, on Sunday After days of grief and anguish, anger in Turkey has been growing over the poor quality of buildings as well as the government's response to the country's worst disaster in nearly a century. A total of 12,141 buildings were officially either destroyed or seriously damaged in Turkey. In a central district of one of the worst hit cities, Antakya in southern Turkey, business owners emptied their shops on Sunday to prevent merchandise from being stolen by looters. Residents and aid workers who came from other cities cited worsening security conditions, with widespread accounts of businesses and collapsed homes being robbed. Amid concerns about hygiene and the spread of infection, Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said at the weekend that rabies and tetanus vaccine had been sent to the quake zone and that mobile pharmacies had started to operate there. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the government will deal firmly with looters, as he faces questions over his response to the earthquake ahead of an election scheduled for June that is expected to be the toughest of his two decades in power. The quake is now the sixth most deadly natural disaster this century, behind the 2005 tremor that killed at least 73,000 in Pakistan. A father and daughter, a toddler and a 10-year-old girl were among other survivors pulled from the ruins of collapsed buildings in Turkey on Sunday, but such scenes are becoming rare as the number of dead climbed relentlessly. At a funeral near Reyhanli, veiled women wailed and beat their chests as bodies were unloaded from lorries - some in closed wood coffins, others in uncovered coffins, and still others just wrapped in blankets. Some residents sought to retrieve what they could from the destruction. In Elbistan, epicentre of an aftershock almost as powerful as Monday's initial 7.8 magnitude quake, 32-year-old mobile shop owner Mustafa Bahcivan said he had come into town almost daily since then. On Sunday, he sifted through rubble searching for any of his phones that might still be intact and sellable. 'This used to be one of the busiest streets. Now it's completely gone,' he said. Shark Tank host Kevin O'Leary is in infested waters after sending out a controversial tweet over the weekend in which he shared his philosophy of prioritizing work and monetary success above his family. He was roasted by the Twittersphere for tweeting: 'You may lose your wife, you may lose your dog, your mother may hate you. 'None of those things matter. What matters is that you achieve success and become free. Then you can do whatever you like.' Kevin O'Leary is best known as one of the panelists on ABC's long-running investment opportunity show Shark Tank Kevin O'Leary (center left) with wife Linda (right) and their two children O'Leary shared his controversial view of what the pursuit of success looks like and was immediately lambasted online Blowback was swift from users who disagree with his wealth-centric philosophy. Eric Balchunas, a Bloomberg analyst responded, 'That sounds more like the definition of Hell.' 'Mr. Wonderful downgraded to Mr. Sad,' wrote Douglas Boneparth, the President of Bone Fide Wealth. Poll Is making money the most important thing in life? Yes No Is making money the most important thing in life? Yes 33 votes No 239 votes Now share your opinion Others more seriously reflected on the meaning of success. 'Define success. [Success] can be for others to have a lovely wife, happy dog and loving mother as they value [relationships] more than material or business success,' wrote Michael van de Poppe, a crypto startup founder. 'You are clearly confused about what success really means,' investor Syed Balkhi wrote. O'Leary, 68, is best known as a judge on ABC's long-running Shark Tank. His $400million net worth came to the Canadian businessman largely after selling his software company SoftKey for more than $3.5billion. He is major proponent of cryptocurrency and had significant exposure to FTX prior to its sudden downfall late last year. He was reportedly signed for a $15million deal with the company to become an ambassador for the Sam Bankman-Fried founded firm. Following the exchange's unprecedented collapse, he was named in a lawsuit filed against the company and its celebrity backers including Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen, Shaquille ONeal, Steph Curry and Larry David. He is also the father to two children with wife Linda O'Leary, to whom he has been married for more than 30 years, though they separated between 2011 and 2013. It is unclear whether his immediate family was offended by his broad strokes declaration that success and 'becom(ing) free' are more worthy, and in fact entirely separate, goals than focusing on family. Linda and Kevin O'Leary attend an event together. In 2019, Linda drove the couple's boat into a boat full of stargazers late at night, killing two people Kevin O'Leary testifies before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing on cryptocurrency on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 Kevin O'Leary and his wife Linda take a stroll on the beach in Miami You are clearly confused about what success really means. Syed Balkhi (@syedbalkhi) February 12, 2023 O'Leary tests out a turkey trussing device on Shark Tank Despite his unprompted declaration, O'Leary has in fact been forced to prioritize family in recent years. In August of 2019, his wife Linda was driving the family's boat on Lake Joseph in Canada with her husband and a friend, when she crashed into a boat of 12 stargazers, killing two of them. It was late at night, the couple and their friend were returning from a dinner party, when Linda crashed the boat into another vessel that she said did not have any lights on. Linda was ultimately found not guilty of operating her boat without proper care or consideration for others. Though police described her during trial as being 'not co-operative.' 'She did not wish to speak to police any further, and, pretty well told us she was done talking,' said a member of the Ontario Provincial Police, who had visited the O'Leary's home after the accident. The constable said she arrived at the lake home of the O'Leary's to find Linda, in the immediate aftermath of the crash, lying in bed with one leg poking out of a blanket. Gary Poltash, 64, (left) from Florida, and mother-of-three Susanne Brito (right), 48, from Ontario, were killed in the nighttime August collision. The driver of their boat, New York native Richard Ruh, was charged for driving without navigation lights Linda, who serves as the VP of Marketing for O'Leary Wines, was driving her and Kevin's luxury boat on Lake Joseph in Ontario, Canada on August 24, 2019 when it collided with the other vessel causing the two fatalities and injuring three others. Pictured is one of many boats owned by the O'Learys Witnesses to the accident who had been in the other boat, testified that Linda had immediately lobbed blame at them after the crash. Suggesting, even, that they had crashed into her. 'The woman did all the talking at first and was like, kind of You hit us, or, I dont remember the actual words, but it sounded like she was, not confrontational, but pissed or bitchy, a little bit, excuse my language, just a little sassy. Honestly, I thought she was a teenager that hit our boat,' Cathryn Hibbard told the court. Witnesses from the other boat also testified that the vessel had had their lights on the entire time, a claim that the judge ultimately found not to be credible. The baby's safe discovery in Kentucky comes a month after another newborn was left in the only baby box in Florida The baby boxes allow parents to legally surrender their children, with 24 newborns given up via the boxes since 2017 The first newborn to be left in one of Kentucky's 'baby boxes' was discovered last week The first baby to ever be left in one of Kentucky's 'baby boxes' was found at a fire station last week - with firefighters tending to the 'perfect' child within 90 seconds of it being anonymously surrendered. Monica Kelsey, the founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, which allows parents to legally give up their newborns, told a news conference Friday that the child is now looking for a 'forever home' after it was discovered in Bowling Green. The tot is the 24th child in the US to be surrendered to one of the more than 130 baby boxes since they were introduced by Kelsey's initiative in November 2017. 'This baby is healthy. This baby is beautiful. This baby is perfect,' she said. The first child in Kentucky to be surrendered to a 'baby box' was discovered at a fire station in Bowling Green last week Monica Kelsey, the founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said the newborn was placed 'legally, safely, anonymously' inside the device The Kentucky child was legally abandoned following the passage of a 2021 law signed by Governor Andy Beshear, which allows infants 30 days old or younger to be safely dropped off at the baby boxes. All 50 states in the US now have 'safe haven' laws, which allows parents to give up their children without fear of criminal charges. More than 10 states have since permitted the installation of baby boxes. A Safe Haven box, which comes equipped with a temperature and air-controlled environment, costs $10,000 and is leased for $200 a month. The law signed by Beshear mandates that the boxes are only allowed at services that are staffed 24 hours a day, including police stations, fire stations and hospitals. Kentucky's Bowling Green fire station baby box is one of 16 found across the state, with the one used last week installed less than two months ago. The boxes are found installed to the exterior walls of designated buildings, allowing parents to place their newborns inside while remaining completely anonymous. A locking mechanism is also installed to the boxes, which triggers a silent alarm that allows staff inside to quickly rescue the surrendered baby. The Kentucky newborn was reportedly discovered within 90 seconds at the fire station thanks to the swift notification system. 'This child was left safely and legally in this baby box so that the baby could be pulled from the other side by the firefighter,' Kelsey said at the press conference. 'The fire department did exactly what they were trained to do, and it worked flawlessly. 'This child was legally, safely, anonymously and lovingly placed inside of this Safe Haven Baby Box, and that speaks volumes about the parents.' The baby boxes are installed to the exterior walls of designated buildings, including hospitals, fire stations and police stations The legal surrender comes after Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, pictured, signed a law in 2021 allowing parents to give up their newborns within 30 days The devices, intended to allow parents the option of safely giving up their newborns rather than recklessly abandoning them, have been praised by some following their introduction. Republican state representative Nancy Tate, who sponsored Kentucky's legislation allowing the boxes, told WNKY-TV that she supports installing the system in every county in the state. 'It makes my heart full to know how supportive this project is,' Tate said. The baby's safe discovery in Kentucky comes a month after another newborn was left in the only baby box in Florida. At the time, the baby became the 23rd child to be surrendered via the devices, with Kelsey again reaching out to thank the parents who decided to use the box. 'We want to address the parent who legally surrendered this infant, and right now I'm going to talk directly to her or him,' she told NPR. 'Thank you. Thank you for keeping your child safe. Thank you for bringing your child to a place that you knew was going to take care of this child.' 'When we launched this box in Florida, I knew it wasn't going to be an if - it was going to be a matter of when. This does not come as a surprise.' According to her website, Kelsey was inspired to install the boxes across the US after she saw a similar plan in South Africa. She then founded her organization pushing for the boxes in the state of Indiana. However, the baby boxes have also attracted controversy since they were first introduced, with the New York Times publishing a story last year that described the devices as 'a concept dating back to medieval Europe.' A brave Mexican rescue dog has died while searching through rubble for earthquake survivors in Turkey. Proteo had been dispatched to Turkey as part of a huge international mission in the wake of the devastating earthquake that has so far claimed more than 35,000 lives. The Mexican Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Sunday, February 12: 'Thank you Proteo for your heroic work, you fulfilled the Mexican Army's mission.' It continued: 'The members of the Mexican Army and Air Force deeply regret the loss of our great companion, the dog 'Proteo', you fulfilled your mission as a member of the Mexican Delegation in the search and rescue of our brothers in Turkey. We are proud of you.' It is not yet clear how Proteo died, but he is reported to have spent several days carrying out crucial work searching for survivors in disaster areas. The brave dog, called Proteo, from Mexico, died while searching the rubble for survivors after travelling to Turkey and taking part in rescue efforts, according to local media On social media people have praised Proteo for his efforts, but some demanded more details about the circumstances of the brave rescue dog's passing. A picture was posted on social media purportedly showing Proteo after his final mission Proteo had been dispatched to Turkey as part of a huge international mission in the wake of the devastating earthquake that has so far claimed more than 35,000 lives One of the soldiers taking part in the rescue operations in Turkey reportedly said: 'I want to tell you that I am proud of you, because you have always been a strong dog, a dog worker who never gave up.' Proteo was one of ten dogs sent from Mexico to Turkey to help with the rescue of earthquake survivors. On social media people have praised Proteo for his efforts, but some demanded more details about the circumstances of the brave rescue dog's passing. A picture was posted on social media purportedly showing Proteo lying in the boot of a car with what looks like an IV in his front leg, saying: 'He has completed the mission'. So far, the Mexican MoD had not elaborated on how the dog died, with Mexican media reporting that it was while it was searching the rubble for survivors. Emergency workers are battling against the clock to save people from the rubble, with the international community sending in numerous experts to assist. At least 35,000 people have been killed in the earthquakes that devastated large areas of Turkey and Syria last week. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck early on Monday morning in southern Turkey, devastating the south of the country and northern Syria. A second earthquake of 7.6 magnitude hit the same region again at 11:24am local time on Monday, causing even more damage. The Mexican Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Sunday, February 12: 'Thank you Proteo for your heroic work, you fulfilled the Mexican Army's mission' It continued: 'The members of the Mexican Army and Air Force deeply regret the loss of our great companion, the dog 'Proteo', you fulfilled your mission as a member of the Mexican Delegation in the search and rescue of our brothers in Turkey. 'We are proud of you' One of the soldiers taking part in the rescue operations in Turkey reportedly said: 'I want to tell you that I am proud of you, because you have always been a strong dog, a dog worker who never gave up' Union minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary. (Twitter) HYDERABAD: The total outstanding debt of Telangana from the years 2014-15 to 2021-22 stands at Rs. 2.83 lakh crore, Union minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed the Lok Sabha. Responding to a question from Congress member N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Chaudhary said that there was a Rs. 39,433 crore increase in outstanding debt in 2021-22. It was Rs. 38,161 crore in 2020-21 and Rs. 30,577 crore in 2019-20. "Public sector banks (PSBs) informed that they have not given any loan to Telangana government from June 2014 to October 2022," he said. Meanwhile the NABARD had between 2014 and 2022 sanctioned Rs. 8,873 crore and had disbursed Rs. 7,144 crore. The amount sanctioned for warehouse infrastructure fund (WIF) was Rs. 97,278.89 lakh and the amount disbursed was Rs. 85,227.94 lakhs. Under the food processing fund (FPF), a loan of Rs. 2,883 lakh was sanctioned, of which Rs. 1,007 lakh disbursed for the TSIIC mega food park at Sathupally. Loan sanctioned under NABARD infrastructure development assistance (NIDA) was Rs. 14,516 crore and of that Rs. 11,424 crore was disbursed. The borrowers include Telangana Drinking Water Supply Corporation Ltd (TDWSCL), Telangana State Horticulture Development Corporation and Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project Corporation. Around Rs. 874 crore of this was sanctioned for horticulture and Rs. 8,226 crore for Kaleshwaram. Raising the issue under matters of urgent importance, Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded the central government complete the six-lane national highway No. 65 from Hyderabad to Vijayawada as it connects Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He also raised the issue of improving railway connectivity, particularly touching Nalgonda parliamentary constituency. Binge-watching fans have revealed they already want another season of Clarkson's Farm after viewing the second series of the wildly popular Amazon show in one weekend. The 62-year-old is receiving glowing reviews on social media after the new season came out on Friday morning, as well as massive queues outside his newly reopened Diddly Squat farm shop in Chadlington, West Oxfordshire. It comes in spite of outrage caused by Clarkson over his recent comments on Meghan Markle - after which he temporarily closed the doors to his shop. One fan of the show wrote on Twitter: 'Successfully binged #clarksonsfarm2 and really looking forward to #ClarksonsFarm3 but will we have to wait as long as we did?' Another wrote: 'To say I was so looking forward to Clarkson's Farm season would be an understatement... I finished it within this weekend and I'm sad I've already finished it. #clarksonsfarm3.' Binge-watching fans have revealed they already want another season of Clarkson's Farm after viewing the second series of the wildly popular Amazon show in one weekend Fans of Clarkson's Farm have taken to social media to praise the TV presenter, already calling for a third season An Amazon representative revealed that a third series will continue to go ahead as planned, according to LADbible. Another person posted on Twitter: '#clarksonsfarm2 is absolutely brilliant again.' Meanwhile, massive queues have been forming outside the presenter's Diddly Squat farm shop after its winter closure. On Sunday cars could be seen parked on the grass verges into the farm after the public were warned by Oxfordshire County Council earlier this week to park 'safely and considerately' near the area. The council said on Facebook: 'Don't park on the A361. It's just too dangerous. And please avoid parking on the verges of the narrow Chipping Norton Road as it causes damage. 'The farm will be doing what it can to deal with the influx of visitors, so please follow signage on the day. But bear in mind the car park is small. The second series of Clarkson's Amazon series shows another year in the farm with new animals and crops as well as Clarkson's dealings with the local council Clarkson is receiving glowing reviews on social media after the new season of his Amazon show came out on Friday morning Huge queues have been forming outside Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm shop today after it reopened yesterday for the first weekend since its winter closure Photos show long lines of people waiting to enter the broadcaster's shop on Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, West Oxfordshire, while their cars fill up the side of a country road One fan on Twitter wrote:'#clarksonsfarm2 was just brilliant. I mean, really, really great. @primevideouk are MAD to sever their links with @JeremyClarkson let's have season 3!' 'If you are directed by staff, whether you are through traffic or visiting the farm shop, please be patient with them - they are trying to keep you safe and allow traffic to flow.' The second series of Clarkson's Amazon series shows another year in the farm with new animals and crops as well as Clarkson's dealings with the local council. Clarkson, who purchased the farm in 2008 and started running it himself in 2019, received a poor reaction from some villagers when he expanded the business to include a farm shop and restaurant. He previously said there were 'plenty' of other locals who appeared to be more receptive, and even encouraging of his work. An order for the closing of the restaurant was appealed by Clarkson last year following two planning applications being rejected by West Oxfordshire District Council. He subsequently said he 'no longer wished' for a restaurant and wanted to develop on-site parking in a letter to the council in January. Meanwhile, Clarkson also co-hosts Amazon Prime TV series The Grand Tour with his former Top Gear co-presenters' Richard Hammond and James May. Last week, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) said it is launching an investigation into a column written by Clarkson for The Sun newspaper about the Duchess of Sussex after it received more than 25,100 complaints. The article, in which he said he hated Meghan and dreamed of her being paraded through British towns and publicly shamed, became Ipso's most complained-about article after its publication. Clarkson and The Sun both apologised for the piece, and it was later removed from online, He also said his language was 'disgraceful' and he was 'profoundly sorry'. Federal workplace safety authorities have fined a Pennsylvania confectionary factory after two workers fell into a vat of chocolate last June. Two workers, who were employed by an outside contracting firm for Mars Wrigley, fell into the partially filled tank at a chocolate factory in Elizabethtown while doing maintenance work. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said they were not authorized to work in the tanks and were not trained on proper safety procedures. A report published on Friday showed OSHA had fined Mars Wrigley, who produce many popular brands including M&Ms, Snickers and Twix, $14,502 for the mistake. Neither worker was injured, but emergency responders had to cut a hole in the bottom of the vat to save them. Firefighters were on scene for around an hour before the two individuals were rescued Emergency responders took the workers to hospital, although neither were reported injured More than two dozen emergency personnel were dispatched after the incident was reported last year. The workers were taken to hospital, one by helicopter, after being released from the vat. While equipped with safety gear, milk chocolate melts at about 113F (45C), which can leave first degree burns on skin. The vat was used to mix ingredients for Dove chocolate, produced by Mars Wrigley. The two contract workers were rescued from the vat used to mix Dove chocolate last June M&Ms and Dove chocolate are popular brands of confectionary in the US and worldwide A representative for the chocolate company told reporters last week that the safety of workers and outside contractors 'is a top priority for our business.' 'As always, we appreciate OSHA's collaborative approach to working with us to conduct the after-action review,' the representative said. OSHA categorized the citation as 'serious' and said: 'The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.' Mars Wrigley was initially fined $11,396 on 29 December 2022, which was revised to $14,502 on 10 February 2023. The No. 3 Democrat in the House admitted President Joe Biden still has a lot of work to do when it comes to the southern border as Republicans bring the hammer on the migrant crisis. Rep. Pete Aguilar, a fourth-generation Mexican American lawmaker, said if he was asked to grade the job the president has done at the border and on migration, he would give Biden an 'incomplete.' Since Biden has taken office, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has encountered more than 4.7 million migrants at the southern border. This includes several months of record-high crossings. The criticism of Biden from the highest-ranking Latino to ever serve in the House comes as Republicans, who now hold control of the lower chamber, start to crack-down on administrative failures at the border. 'I think the grade would be incomplete,' Aguilar told ABC's This Week in an interview that aired Sunday. 'There's plenty to do. We know that it's a humanitarian issue down at the southern border.' Rep. Pete Aguilar, the No. 3 House Democrat, said he would give Joe Biden an 'incomplete' at the border if he had to give the president a grade Comes as thousands of illegal immigrants continue to cross daily into the U.S. over the southern border with Mexico. Pictured: Migrants stand and rest sitting at the border in El Paso, Texas last month 'I think there has been common ground on the ability for Dreamers to become citizens. We have Republicans on board with that,' the California Democrat added. 'In the last 10 years, Democrats have continually put these bills on the floor, and Republicans have stood in the way on the House side to see any real reform happen,' he said. Aguilar, however, blamed the lack of border-related legislation on Republicans. He said their focus on border security rather than border reform has stunted the process and said they need to put the attention on protections for so-called Dreamers, which are immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. So far in the 118th Congress, Republicans have already held two hearings on the southern border crisis in the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, and in the Oversight and Accountability Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer. Republicans have also started the process to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for dereliction of duty and lying to the American public about the security of its borders. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona introduced this month official articles of impeachment against Mayorkas. Biggs' efforts are supported by at least 15 other members of Congress. Biden finally started focusing last month at least some of his administration's efforts on quelling the flow of illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers over the southern border. Biden visited the border for the first time in his presidency in January after nearly two years in the White House Customs and Border Protection (CBP) finally saw a huge drop-off in migrant apprehensions at the southern border in December following five months of increases This included implementing and expanding some Trump-era policies, which have angered pro-immigration groups and advocates as well as a flurry of Democratic lawmakers who dubbed these policies as anti-American and inhumane in some instances. Biden announced last month new immigration policies that would expand use of the pandemic-era policy known as Title 42, which allowed immediate expulsion of migrants seeking asylum during the pandemic. He also set up a new program where asylum-seekers from certain countries have to apply for their claims through an application called CBP One before coming to the U.S. The announcement of new policies came just before Biden's first-ever trip to the southern border, which was just a few-hours stop-over in El Paso on his way to Mexico City, Mexico for the Three Amigos Summit with the presidents of Mexico and Canada. He also said he chatted with disgraced former superintendent a day before he was forced to resign over incident County prosecutor Bradley Billhimer told Fox News he spoke to school officials about their decision to not call the police after Kuch's assault Central Region School has come under fire for its handling of the bullying and later suicide of Adriana Kuch Four New Jersey high school students who were filmed attacking Adriana Kuch two days before she killed herself will be tried as juveniles, officials have confirmed. Kuch, 14, was found dead at home on February 3 just two days after being beaten by her schoolmates in violent videos posted online. But the bullies will escape facing adult court as New Jersey county prosecutor Bradley Billhimer confirmed to Dailymail.com they were charged as juveniles. Billhimer also revealed he had been in regular contact with Central Regional School, in Bayville, which has come under fire for failing to call police after Kuch was left bloodied and bruised in the attack. One student has since been charged with the aggravated assault of Kuch, two have been charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and a fourth was charged with harassment. Adraian Kuch, 14, killed herself two days after she was filmed being violently beaten by classmates Superintendent Parlapanides was forced to resign on Saturday after Dailymail.com exposed a smear campaign he had made against the late teenager and her family The first three students would be guilty of third-degree crimes if they were charged as adults. Being found guilty of third-degree aggravated assault as an adult in New Jersey warrants punishments of up to five years in jail and fines as much as $15,000. However a juvenile convicted of aggravated assault faces only up to two years in a juvenile detention center. 'The offenses charged herein are juvenile offenses and not subject to waiver to adult criminal court,' Billhimer said. The county prosecutor also revealed he had spoken with the disgraced former superintendent of the school just a day before he was forced to resign. Dr Trianatafillos Parlapanides sensationally stepped down from his $190,000-a-year role on Saturday after he initiated a smear campaign against Kuch's family claiming she had been offered counselling for 'drugs' and disclosed details of problems in her home life. Billhimer said he had a two-hour conversation with students and staff at the school in a private meeting on Thursday. According to her father Kuch was 'smashed in the face three times with a water bottle' and 'blacked out.' He then had to take his blood covered daughter to the police station to file a report because the school refused to do so He then followed up with a second meeting with Parlapanides on Friday morning to 'discuss ways to improve the district's response to incidents within the school.' Following Parlapanides' resignation, Billhimer said he had reached out to acting superintendent Doug Corbett. 'I will be working with the Acting Superintendent and school administrators to address the needs of the students as we move forward,' Billhimer said. Billhimer also told Fox News Digital that he had grilled staff about their decision not to call the police after the attack on Kuch, adding 'I can say that was certainly a topic of discussion.' The four students who have been charged in relation to the attack have not been named due to their young age. It comes after it emerged another student was involved in a similar attack last January. Details of that first incident were outlined in a lawsuit filed against the school in October 2022. Attorney Jonathan Ettman, who is representing the first victim, told Fox News Digital: such bullying incidents are 'planned, they're plotted... because (the students are) seeking notoriety. 'They want to further bully and shame the victim, so they have their cellphones at the ready,' Ettman added. A 20-second clip of Kuch being attacked prior to her suicide has gone viral. The video shows several students attacking the teen and hitting her with a water bottle as she walked with her boyfriend. Central Regional High School in Bayville, New Jersey Students and parents congregated outside the school grounds holding signs of protest Bystanders are also seen laughing at Adriana after she was punched, kicked and had her hair pulled, while she lay in the fetal position on the floor of the school hallway. One of the attackers could be heard yelling, 'That's what you get you stupid a** b****.' She was treated by the school nurse but officials failed to involve law enforcement. Her father, Michael Kuch, said Adriana had been hit with a 20-ounce water bottle. She received care from the school nurse after the attack left her with bruises and wounds. 'I do know why it happened,' he said. 'It happened because these two havent liked each other for a couple years, and she had been threatening my daughter online.' Superintendent Parlapanides was criticized for his handling of the incident. After being contacted by Dailymail.com, he made some unsavory comments about Kuch's home life in an apparent attempt to shift the focus from her being bullied. Parlapanides told Dailymail.com on Friday: 'Her father was having an affair at the end of her 6th grade. 'Her father married the woman he had an affair with and moved her into the house.' He continued, 'Her grades and choices declined in 7th and 8th grade. We offered her drug rehab and mental services on five occasions but the father refused every time.' The school board confirmed that they had accepted his resignation at the weekend. 'The Central Regional School District Board of Education has accepted the resignation of Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides,' it said in a statement on Saturday evening. 'The Central Regional family continues to mourn the loss of one of our children. We are all praying for the family and loved ones and our entire community. The Central Regional School District is evaluating all current and past allegations of bullying. 'The District has contacted the Department of Education and will undergo an independent assessment of the District's anti-bullying policies and ensure every necessary safeguard is in place to protect our students and staff. Dr. Douglas Corbett is acting Superintendent effective immediately.' On Monday the New Jersey Department of Education refused to confirm whether Parlapanides would be able to keep his license and teach again. However Acting Education Commissioner, Dr Angelica Allen-McMillan, told DailyMail.com her office was continuing to closely monito the situation in the Central Regional District. Students and parents congregated outside the school grounds on Friday holding signs of protest in what they described to be 'a shocking lack of sensitivity' and action from the 'administration who swore to protect' them. Advertisement Emotional Buster Murdaugh was seen honoring the victims in the horrific murder case that has riveted the country: his late mother Maggie and younger brother Paul, as his father's murder trial continues in South Carolina. The only surviving child of disgraced legal scion Alex Murdaugh is seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos visiting his slain family members' gravesites on Sunday, ahead of a fourth and potentially final week of testimony. The 26-year-old was supported by longtime girlfriend Brooklynn White, also 26, at the Hampton Cemetery in South Carolina, where Buster took a moment to kneel down and pay his respects to his mom and sibling before planting a kiss on the their graves. An emotional Buster Murdaugh visited his late mother Maggie and brother Paul's gravesites at Hampton Cemetery in South Carolina on Sunday, as his father's murder trial begins to wind down. Buster appeared to hold back tears as he paid his respects, before planting a kiss on his mom's headstone The 26-year-old was joined by longtime girlfriend Brooklynn White, also 26, in an emotional visit to the cemetery, where the slain Murdaugh family members are buried Up until now, Maggie and Paul's graves had not been publicly revealed. At one point, Buster picked up a small statue of a dog that had been left at their burial sites and placed it above his mother's tomb. The dog appears to resemble the Murdaugh family dog, Bubba, who has become somewhat of a key player in the case against Alex, 54, who faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted for the murders of his wife, 52, and son, 22. As jurors had heard earlier in the trial, the yellow Labrador was at the family's dog kennels on the night Maggie and Paul were gunned down at their Moselle hunting estate on June 7, 2021 and his presence could prove damning for Alex who, according to witnesses, was heard speaking to the dog in a video recorded at the kennels. Prosecutors have focused on a cellphone video recorded by Paul just minutes before his death in which voices can be heard in the background ordering Bubba, who had a habit of bothering chickens and birds, to leave the animals alone. After Maggie and Paul's murders on June 7, 2021, Buster became Alex Murdaugh's only surviving son He was seen picking up a small statue of a dog that had been left at their burial sites and placed it above his mother's tomb The poignant dog statue is among the various trinkets and items adoring Maggie and Paul's burial sites The dog appears to resemble the Murdaugh family dog, Bubba, who has become somewhat of a key player in the case after a video in which voices can be heard mentioning the yellow lab appears to place Alex at the scene of the murders Buster's girlfriend Brooklynn has been seen supporting him at his dad's trial proceedings Alex Murdaugh and defense attorney Jim Griffin stand as prosecutor John Meadors enters during day 16 of Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Monday State witness Rogan Gibson, a close friend of the Murdaughs, testified last week that he was '100% positive' that he heard Alex's voice in the video putting him at the scene of the crime where he claimed he hadn't been. Buster who has been named as a defense witness and his girlfriend have been seen attending trial proceedings together in recent weeks, and he could potentially take the stand when defense attorneys begin to argue their case. As testimony continued on Monday, footage of Alex Murdaugh sobbing on the phone yards away from the blood-soaked bodies of his wife and son has been revealed. The redacted body-worn footage from the first officer on the scene was finally released Monday after it was shown to jurors earlier in his double-murder trial. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the mother and son's headstones placed alongside each other Maggie, who was 52, is believed to have been killed first at the family's hunting lodge in Moselle. The slain mother's headstone is relatively nondescript and only lists the year of her birth and death Paul's headstone, which has the same design, lies right below his mother and similarly, only contains his name and the year of his birth and death Murdaugh's wife Maggie and his younger son Paul were found shot dead on the family's property in June 2021. Alex called 911 at around 10pm claiming he had just found them which prosecutors say is a lie Murdaugh is seen sobbing on the phone and asking an officer, 'They are dead aren't they?' The bodies of Maggie and Paul are blurred out after they were shot multiple times at the family's hunting estate. 'It's bad, I checked their pulses,' Murdaugh tells the cop as he paces up and down, wearing a white t-shirt, shorts and sneakers by the kennels on the property. After three weeks of explosive testimony, the State is set to rest its case this week, however, some key witnesses including, Curtis 'Cousin Eddie' Smith is yet to testify. Smith is accused of shooting Murdaugh in the head three months after he allegedly killed his wife and son. Murdaugh and Smith face a separate prosecution over the life insurance scam which was allegedly designed to furnish his surviving son Buster with $11million. Buster Murdaugh and Brooklynn White were asked to stand so witness Chris Wilson can see them during Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 9 Alex Murdaugh pictured with his wife Maggie and their two sons Paul (left) and Buster Smith denies participating in the scheme and instead claims he tried to stop a suicidal Murdaugh from trying to shoot himself. Ahead of the trial, Murdaugh's defense insinuated that Smith was involved in the killings of Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, at the family's sprawling hunting estate in Islandton, South Carolina, on June 7, 2021. The disbarred lawyer also faces about 100 other charges ranging from stealing money from clients to running a drug and money laundering ring. Prosecutors contend Murdaugh thought he was about to get caught stealing and killed his wife and son to buy time to cover up the money trail. Murdaugh has adamantly denied killing his wife and son. His lawyers said he was visiting his ailing mother the night of the murders and police wrongly focused on him from the start. The crew of an American Airlines flight involved in a terrifying near miss at JFK in January have been served subpoenas by investigators after they declined to give on-tape interviews about the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said its investigators have made three attempts to quiz staff on the aircraft, which was involved in the incident on January 13. The AA flight crossed a runway at JFK without clearing, forcing a Delta flight to perform an emergency stop moments before takeoff. The Delta Boeing 737 stopped about 1,000 feet from where the American Airlines plane had crossed from an adjacent taxiway. NTSB investigators have now subpoenaed the AA crew. A report said the crew 'refused to be interviewed on the basis that their statements would be audio recorded for transcription'. In a preliminary report published on Friday, the NTSB also said cockpit recorder data from both flights had been 'overwritten'. Rules state these recorders must record for two hours at a time before they are overwritten. The near miss incident at JFK on January 13 occurred when a Delta aircraft which was about to take off had to perform an emergency stop after an American Airlines plane crossed onto the runway. AA crews have refused to give on-tape interviews about the incident An air traffic controller who realized what was unfolding is heard on radio exchanges saying: 'S***! F***! Delta 1943, cancel takeoff clearance! Delta 1943, cancel takeoff clearance!' A spokesman for American Airlines said: 'The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority and we are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation of American Airlines flight 106' The report said: 'NTSB attempted to interview the American Airlines flight crew three different times. American Airlines cleared the flight crew's schedule to ensure their availability; however, the flight crew refused to be interviewed on the basis that their statements would be audio recorded for transcription. 'On behalf of the crew, the APA party representative informed the NTSB that the crew would not consent to participate in audio recorded interviews in any manner. 'NTSB has determined that this investigation requires that the flight crew interviews be audio recorded and transcribed by a court reporter to ensure the highest degree of accuracy, completeness, and efficiency. 'As a result of the flight crew's repeated unwillingness to proceed with a recorded interview, subpoenas for their testimony have been issued.' The crew of the Delta flight reportedly gave written statements which were deemed 'sufficient... given their role in the incident'. The Allied Pilots Association, the union representing the AA pilots, said it has raised 'concerns' with the NTSB's 'recent insistence on electronically recording crew interviews during investigations'. A statement said written records of interviews was 'sufficient' and 'the introduction of electronic recording devices into witness interviews is more likely to hinder the investigation process than it is to improve it'. 'Not only may the recording of interviews lead to less candid responses from those witnesses who may choose to proceed under such requirements, but the existence and potential availability of interview recordings upon conclusion of an investigation will tend to lead many otherwise willing crew members to elect not to participate in interviews at all,' the APA said. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating the incident on January 13 Dramatic audio of the radio exchange between the pilots and air traffic controllers reveals the heart-stopping moment the flights nearly collided. An air traffic controller who realized what was unfolding is heard exclaiming: 'S***! F***! Delta 1943, cancel takeoff clearance! Delta 1943, cancel takeoff clearance!' The incident is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration. A spokesman for American Airlines said: 'The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority and we are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation of American Airlines flight 106.' It comes amid a spate of worrying near misses at US airports. On Friday, February 3, a Boeing 767 FedEx cargo plane landing at Austin-Bergstrom International came within less than 100ft of a Southwest Airlines 737 aircraft that was taking off from the same runway. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said it was 'fairly clear that the aircraft came within very close proximity of each other, and we believe its less than 100 feet', during the incident in Austin. The incident at JFK came weeks before another near miss in Austin. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, in yellow, had remained on the runway as the FedEx Boeing 767, in orange, had been cleared to land The FedEx flight was several miles from the airport when it was cleared to land, according to the FAA. But as it was about to touch down, an air traffic controller also gave the go-ahead for the Southwest Boeing 737 to take off on the exact same stretch of tarmac. The Southwest flight to Cancun, Mexico still continued its takeoff even while the FedEx cargo plane was directly above it. The Southwest jet was able to depart safely, according to the FAA. FedEx said its flight 'safely landed after encountering an event,' but declined to comment further because of the ongoing investigations. Austin Airport said it was 'aware of the Federal Aviation Administration's investigation into the discontinued landing of a flight. We will assist our FAA partners and their investigation as necessary.' Americans are less satisfied with the US immigration system than they have been at any point since 2012, with more Democrats joining Republicans in wanting fewer arrivals in the wake of last year's record-breaking people flows, a survey shows. A Gallup poll on Monday showed that the share of Americans who are satisfied with immigration has fallen six percentage points, from 34 percent in January 2022 to 28 percent currently. The share of Americans wanting to reduce immigration levels has more than doubled to 40 percent since 2021 a rise seen across the board among Republicans, independents and Democrats. The shift comes after the number of encounters between migrants and guards at the southern border climbed from 1.7 million in 2021 to 2.4 million last year, and Republicans frequently bash President Joe Biden over weak frontier security. Americans' satisfaction with the levels of immigration into the country have fallen since the start of last year to its lowest point in a decade Scenes like this have seen Americans sour on immigration: asylum-seeking migrants crossing the Rio Bravo from Mexico into the US to request asylum in El Paso, Texas Most notable are the rising rates of dissatisfaction among supporters of the president's Democratic Party from 2 percent wanting immigration flows cut when he took office in January 2021 to 19 percent today. With their new control of the House, Republican politicians on Capitol Hill have already begun probing Biden administration border policies, decrying chaotic scenes at the southern frontier and flows of fentanyl and suspected terrorists into the country. The No. 3 Democrat in the House Rep. Pete Aguilar said over the weekend that Biden still had a lot of work to do when it comes to the southern border, saying the president's efforts there were 'incomplete.' 'I think the grade would be incomplete,' Aguilar, a fourth-generation Mexican-American lawmaker, told ABC's This Week. 'There's plenty to do. We know that it's a humanitarian issue down at the southern border.' President Biden in his State of the Union address last week urged lawmakers to pass an immigration reform package or at least some kind of temporary status scheme for farm laborers and essential workers. The Biden administration last month launched a sponsorship scheme to allow up to 30,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua to enter the US each month, under immigration parole rules, which appears to have led to fewer undocumented arrivals. Applicants for the humanitarian parole program need someone in the US, often a friend or relative, to promise to provide financial support for at least two years. An underground black market has since emerged, with would-be sponsors listing themselves in Facebook groups and demanding up to $10,000 to complete the required forms. The share of Democrats wanting less immigration climbed from 2 percent when Joe Biden took office in January 2021 to 19 percent today Americans' views on immigration often conflate undocumented arrivals at the southern border with legal migrants, like these newcomers taking the oath of allegiance at a naturalization ceremony in Newark, New Jersey, this month Migrants often head from the southern border to major cities, including this group of more than a hundred asylum seekers camping out in midtown New York, rather than moving to an impromptu shelter set up by Mayor Eric Adams Pedro Yudel Bruzon, Bruzon, left, poses with his mother, Teresa Acosta, in Havana Pedro Yudel Bruzon, a 33-year-old security guard in Havana, Cuba, is one of many in the selected Latin American countries looking to come to the US who doesn't have a sponsor. He told AP he was worried that those advertising on Facebook were scammers. 'They call it humanitarian parole, but it has nothing to do with being humanitarian,' said Bruzon, who said he struggles to feed himself and his mother with his wages. 'Everyone wants money, even people in the same family.' It's unclear how many people in the US may have charged migrants to sponsor them, but Facebook groups with names like 'Sponsors US' carry dozens of posts offering and seeking financial supporters. It is not even clear if it flouts the rules. Several immigration attorneys said they could find no specific law prohibiting people from charging money to sponsor beneficiaries. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) warns about potential scams with the humanitarian parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans that was rolled out last month and notes online that the program is free. The Department of Homeland Security says 1,700 humanitarian parole applications were accepted as of January 25 from Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans, plus an undisclosed number of Venezuelans. A Texas-led lawsuit seeks to stop the program, which could allow 360,000 people a year to enter the US legally. Former Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie warned voters on Sunday that a vote for Joe Biden in the 2024 campaign could actually be a vote for Kamala Harris to eventually become president. Biden, 80, has looked increasingly certain that he will run for the White House again. But that leaves even some of his own supporters concerned that he would be 82 at his second inauguration and 86 by the end of a second term, increasing the chances that his VP would have to take over in the event of him becoming incapacitated. Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, trialed the likely Republican attack line at the weekend as he said Biden's State of the Union speech showed he was running. 'That speech was obviously a campaign speech,' he said on ABC's 'This Week.' 'I think the real question is what's he do with the vice president? Former Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie warned voters that a vote for Joe Biden in the 2024 campaign could actually be a vote for Kamala Harris to become president President Joe Biden will be 82 if he is sworn in for a second term, which increases the possibility that his vice president would have to step in. That has Republicans asking Democratic voters whether they really want Harris as the vice president 'I mean, what we see continuously in those polls, is if you think the public isn't enthusiastic about Joe Biden, they're even less enthusiastic about Kamala Harris. 'And with a guy who's 82 years old, one of the key questions of the 24 race is going to be if you're voting for Joe Biden, you may be voting for President Kamala Harris, too. And how do you feel about that?' With Biden apparently coming closer and close to announcing his run, the chorus of questions about Harris has intensified. Last week, the New York Times reported that a string of key figures had lost hope in her turning around her weak performance as vice president and believed she could undermine Biden's chance of victory. Some of the backers who helped lift her to the 2024 ticket say she has failed to use her historic firsts first female, first African-American, first Asian vice president as a stepping stone to future leader. And even Biden has expressed his doubts. He is quoted calling her a 'work in progress' in a new book by Chris Whipple, 'The Fight of His Life.' Christie asked whether Biden would consider replacing Harris with another candidate who could do a better job of helping him win. 'She has the highest position in the party,' of any black woman, Christie said. 'But when you look at the way the public views her, there are a number of other very qualified African American women who the president could pick.' Massachusetts Senator and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren enthusiastically endorsed Joe Biden to run again for president , but wouldn't say the same about Kamala Harris Harris has a lower approval rating than Biden, which means she could act as a drag on his reelection chances, according to rolling averages of poll results. Data from a week ago Harris is more unpopular than Biden. Her approval rating stands at 40.5 percent, worse than the president's 42.8 percent, according to a rolling average maintained by politics website FiveThirtyEight. When former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren recently told Boston Public Radio that she was enthusiastically endorsing Biden for a second term she was then asked about Harris. Although she explained they went 'way back,' she said: 'I really want to defer to what makes Biden comfortable on his team.' Allies have warned that age factor will be in voters' minds. 'That will be in my opinion one of the most hard-hitting arguments against Biden,' John Morgan, a prominent fund-raiser for Democrats, including Biden, told the New York Times. 'It doesn't take a genius to say, "Look, with his age, we have to really think about this."' Her record in office, he added, did not help. 'I can't think of one thing she's done except stay out of the way and stand beside him at certain ceremonies,' he said. A leading businessman has quit the Tories after nearly 40 years over the party's 'f*** business' attitude and pledged his support for Labour. Iain Anderson, founder of the Cicero public relations group, claimed the Conservatives are 'not the party it used to be' and revealed his backing for Sir Keir Starmer. He is quitting after 39 years as a Tory party member and less than 18 months since he was appointed a Government 'LGBT business champion' by Boris Johnson. 'The first thing is the party's approach with business,' Mr Anderson told the Financial Times of his reasons for leaving. He said the Tories' approach seemed to reflect Mr Johnson's claimed 'f*** business' attitude over Brexit. Iain Anderson, founder of the Cicero public relations group, claimed the Conservatives are 'not the party it used to be' He claimed Rishi Sunak's Tories were planning to push a 'culture war' in the lead-up to the next general election Mr Anderson revealed his backing for Labour's Sir Keir Starmer after 39 years as a Tory party member 'Ive tried to understand why a Conservative leader could say that and nobody in the party blinked an eyelid about it,' Mr Anderson added. He also claimed the Tories were planning to push a 'culture war' in the lead-up to the next general election. Mr Anderson is chair of the trustees of Stonewall, the LGBTQ+ campaign charity. He resigned as the Government's LGBT business champion in April last year after ministers initially said they would not ban transgender conversion therapy. Mr Anderson said at the time he had 'no choice' but to tender his resignation with a 'heavy heart'. Rishi Sunak has since reversed the Government's stance since entering No10. The Prime Minister has promised to legislate to ban conversion therapy for trans people, alongside existing plans to ban the practice on the basis of sexuality. Mr Anderson resigned as the Government's LGBT business champion in April last year after ministers initially said they would not ban transgender conversion therapy But Mr Anderson was scathing of what he claimed would be the Tories' approach to the next election. 'It was made pretty clear the plan is to run a culture war to distract from fundamental economic failings,' he added. 'Its not something I want any part of.' He has opposed the Government's decision to block the Scottish Parliament's controversial gender identity reforms and claimed ministers were trying 'to drive a wedge' between transgender people and gay, lesbian and bisexual people. A Conservative source said: 'Iain, chair of the taxpayer-funded uber-woke culture warriors Stonewall, was furious about the Government's use of section 35 to block Nicola Sturgeon's radical gender self-ID proposals which undermine UK equalities law. 'Given Keir Starmer's support for similar laws for the whole of the UK, it's unsurprising that he's joining the Labour party. We wish him well.' A furious German ballet choreographer smeared dog faeces over a critic's face after she compared his show to being 'alternately driven mad and killed by boredom' in a scathing review. Marco Goecke, 50, confronted journalist Wiebke Huster in the Hanover State Opera's crowded foyer on Saturday, German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) said. Huster, a dance critic for the newspaper, was attending the premiere of the ballet 'Glaube - Liebe -Hoffnung' (Faith - Love - Hope), which Goecke co-choreographed, on Saturday. During the interval, Goecke, who is known for carrying his beloved dachshund Gustav around in his bag, threatened to ban Huster from the theatre before removing a bag filled with faeces and smearing it on her face, FAZ reported on Sunday. The exchange followed Huster's stinging review of Goecke's new show 'In the Dutch Mountains', which was published in the FAZ on Saturday. The review said that watching the show, which recently opened at Nederlands Dans Theater in The Hague, was like being 'alternately driven mad and killed by boredom'. Marco Goecke, one of the choreographers of the ballet 'Glaube - Liebe -Hoffnung' (Faith - Love - Hope), confronted journalist Wiebke Huster in the Hanover State Opera's crowded foyer on Saturday Huster, a dance critic for the newspaper, was attending the premiere of the ballet on Saturday and during the interval, Goecke smeared her face with dog excrement The exchange followed Huster's stinging review of Goecke's new show 'In the Dutch Mountains' (pictured) The incident was subsequently reported by the 57-year-old critic, a police spokeswoman said. Samples of the 'dog faeces' had not been secured by authorities, who would have to rely on eyewitness testimony as they investigated the alleged assault, the spokeswoman said. The opera house apologised for the episode in a statement, adding that it was checking which steps to take against the director in accordance with labour law. It did not give details of what happened. 'We contacted the journalist immediately after the incident and apologised to her personally and also publicly,' Laura Berman, the opera house's artistic director, said in a statement. 'We very much regret that our audience has been disturbed by this incident.' The opera house has since suspended its chief choreographer and director Goecke effective immediately and banned him from the opera house until further notice. In a statement the opera house said that Goecke's 'impulsive behaviour' was going against their code of conduct and left the audience, staff members and the general public 'extremely unsettled'. They added that his behaviour has harmed the ballet house's reputation. In a statement the opera house said that Goecke's 'impulsive behaviour' was going against their code of conduct and left the audience, staff members and the general public 'extremely unsettled' The review said that watching the show (pictured), which recently opened at Nederlands Dans Theater in The Hague, was like being 'alternately driven mad and killed by boredom' The opera house has since suspended ballet director Goecke effective immediately and banned him from the opera house until further notice The opera house demanded an apology from Goecke and an explanation before it will give information about further steps regarding the choreographer and ballet director. FAZ suggested that Huster's public shaming was worrying news for the arts world. 'This humiliating incident is not only an act of bodily harm but also an attempt to intimidate our free, critical view of art,' the newspaper said. Goecke, ballet director at the Hanover theatre since 2019, was the 2022 recipient of the German Dance Prize. The next performance of 'Belief - Love - Hope' in Hanover is scheduled for February 24, according to the opera house's website. A bench of Justices S K Kaul and A S Oka delivered the verdict on a plea filed by two Kashmir residents. PTI File Image New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging the government's decision to constitute the delimitation commission for redrawing the legislative assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. A bench of Justices S K Kaul and A S Oka delivered the verdict on a plea filed by two Kashmir residents. While pronouncing the verdict, Justice Oka said nothing in this judgement shall be construed as giving an imprimatur to the exercise of power under clauses one and three of Article 370 of the Constitution. The bench observed that issue of validity of the exercise of power relating to Article 370 is subject matter of petitions pending before the apex court. The top court is seized of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Several petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which split J-K into two Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. By abrogating Article 370, the Central government had revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The apex court had on December 1 last year reserved its verdict on the plea challenging the government's decision to constitute the delimitation commission. During the hearing on December 1 last year, the Centre had told the top court that the delimitation commission formed to redraw the legislative assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir was empowered to do so. Seeking dismissal of the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, had argued that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 does not preclude the establishment of Delimitation Commission by the Central government. On March 6, 2020, Union Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) had issued a notification in exercise of power under section 3 of the Delimitation Act, 2002, constituting a Delimitation Commission, with former Supreme Court judge (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai as the chairperson. The counsel appearing for the two petitioners, Haji Abdul Gani Khan and Mohammad Ayub Mattoo, had argued that the delimitation exercise was carried out in contravention of the scheme of the Constitution and alteration of boundaries and inclusion of extended areas should not have been done. The plea had sought declaration that the increase in the number of seats from 107 to 114 (including 24 seats in Pakistan occupied Kashmir) in Jammu and Kashmir is ultra vires constitutional provisions and statutory provisions, particularly under section 63 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. It had said the last delimitation commission was set up on July 12, 2002 in exercise of powers conferred by section 3 of the Delimitation Act, 2002 after the 2001 census to carry out the exercise throughout the country. The plea had said the commission had issued guidelines and methodology for the delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies vide letter dated July 5, 2004 along with the constitutional and legal provisions. "It clearly stated that the total number of existing seats in the Legislative Assemblies of all states, including UTs of the National Capital Region and Pondicherry, as fixed based on the 1971 census shall remain unaltered till the first census to be taken after the year 2026," the plea had submitted. It had sought to declare as unconstitutional the notification dated March 6, 2020 constituting the delimitation commission to take up delimitation in the UT of J-K and states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland by the Centre. The plea had also challenged the consequential omission of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland from the process of delimitation vide notification dated March 3, 2021, claiming that it amounts to classification and violates Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution. Rishi Sunak insisted he is a 'proud' Brexiteer today as No10 suggested he was not aware Michael Gove was attending a 'secret' summit on how to improve ties with the EU. The Levelling Up Secretary was a participant at a two-day conference looking at ways of boosting cooperation with Brussels. Others present included shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, Peter Mandelson and Theresa May's Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins. They met at Ditchley Park, an historic estate near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire that frequently hosts extended discussions of current policy issues. Downing Street dodged criticising Mr Gove for attending the gathering, which took place during the working week and has prompted fears from Eurosceptics of an attempt to water down Brexit. However, the PM's spokesman indicated that Mr Sunak had no knowledge of the summit until it was reported over the weekend. Rishi Sunak insisted he is a 'proud' Brexiteer today as No10 suggested he was not aware Michael Gove was attending a 'secret' summit on how to improve ties with the EU The group met at Ditchley Park, an historic estate near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire that frequently hosts extended discussions of current policy issues Lord Frost (right), the UK's former chief Brexit negotiator, was among those reacting angrily to the summit attended by Mr Gove (left) Mr Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to Oldham: 'I was proud to vote for Brexit and now as Prime Minister I'm keen to make sure we deliver the benefits of it.' He said the UK had already 'taken control' of immigration system and was rolling out freeports, adding: 'Now what we want to do is make sure we drive growth in our economy by seizing the opportunities of Brexit to do things differently.' But he declined to say whether or not he supported the conference, saying: 'It is not about the meeting, I'm talking about what the Government is doing, and that's making sure we capitalise on the benefits of Brexit.' Mr Gove, who spearheaded the Vote Leave campaign in 2016 with Boris Johnson, was reported to have been 'honest' about the shortcomings of Brexit, while stressing he still believed it would end up being the right decision. What is Ditchley Park? Ditchley was founded in 1958 by the philanthropist Sir David Wills. He funded the charity to support the Transatlantic Alliance between the US and Europe, bringing leading thinkers and decision makes together to tackle the biggest issues of the day. It regularly holds conference lasting two-three days at the estate in Oxfordshire. A recent event focused on how to revive the economy, and another is scheduled on the future of artificial intelligence. Many well-known names act as governors of the charity, including David Cameron, Michael Gove, David Miliband and Lord Mandelson. Advertisement However, one source suggested the idea it was secret was 'nonsense' and Mr Gove was only there because he is a governor of Ditchley Park - which holds regular such summits in a variety of topics. The event was described a 'quite dull' with 'no relevance' to negotiations in the Northern Ireland protocol or 'significance for government policy'. Former Cabinet ministers Lord Michael Howard Lord Norman Lamont were also said to have participated. No 10 suggested the Prime Minister had not been aware of the summit until the news emerged at the weekend, adding that 'it wasn't a Government-organised event'. Asked about Mr Gove using his time to attend such conferences, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'He's very confident the secretary of state is working hard for the British people.' Lord Frost, the UK's former chief Brexit negotiator, was among those reacting angrily to the summit. He told the Daily Mail: 'This secret conference is a further piece of evidence that many in our political and business establishment want to unravel the deals we did to exit the EU in 2020 and to stay shadowing the EU instead. 'Brexit doesn't need 'fixing'. 'It needs this Conservative Government, elected with a huge mandate on a Brexit programme, to fully and enthusiastically embrace its advantages instead of leaving the field to those who never wanted it in the first place.' Nigel Farage used the summit as evidence that a 'full sell-out of Brexit is under way'. Conservative former minister Sir John Redwood added: 'Instead of talking of sell-out at private conferences the UK establishment needs to complete Brexit and use its freedoms.' There are signs the UK and the EU are approaching a solution to trade issues arising from the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol. But British officials were not expecting an announcement this week. Moldova has accused Vladimir Putin of plotting a coup to violently overthrow the country's pro-European government. President Maia Sandu on Monday said the Russian plot would involve saboteurs disguised as anti-government protesters who would attack state buildings. Sandu's statement comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky last week told a EU summit that Kyiv had 'intercepted the plan for the destruction of Moldova by Russian intelligence', and days after the country's Prime Minister resigned. Moldova, a country of 2.6 million people neighbouring Romania and Ukraine, received EU candidate status in the summer of 2022. However, over the past year it has been faced with numerous anti-government protests organised by a fugitive oligarch named Ilan Shor. Moldova's President Maia Sandu on Monday said the Russian plot would involve saboteurs disguised as anti-government protesters Moscow's alleged plan would involve 'saboteurs with military background, camouflaged in civilian clothes, to undertake violent actions, attacks on state institutions and taking hostages', Sandu told journalists. Under the guise of 'protests by the so-called opposition', the saboteurs would aim to 'overthrow the constitutional order and replace the legitimate power of Chisinau with an illegitimate one,' she added without taking questions. Alongside internal forces such as those controlled by Shor, Moscow would allegedly plan to use foreign citizens from Russia, Belarus, Serbia and Montenegro to implement its plans, Sandu said. Moldova's parliament would therefore need to 'quickly adopt' laws that would give the country's Intelligence and Security Service and prosecutors with 'necessary means to fight more efficiently against national security threats', Sandu urged. But the 'Kremlin's attempts to bring violence to our country will fail', she said. Over the past year, the war in neighbouring Ukraine has repeatedly caused multiple security concerns as debris from Russian missiles landed on Moldovan territory after traversing its skies. Moldova also suffered energy blackouts after Ukraine stopped exporting electricity because of Russian airstrikes on critical infrastructure. Moldovan authorities confirmed that another missile from the war in Ukraine had entered its airspace on Friday. Meanwhile, it has sought to forge closer ties with its Western partners. Last June, it was granted European Union candidate status, the same day as Ukraine. Pictured: Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita announces her resignation as Moldova's Prime Minister on Friday, bringing an end to a a turbulent 18 months in power marked by economic turmoil and the spillover effects of Russia's invasion of Moldova's neighbour President Maia Sandu (left on Friday after accepting Gavrilita's resignation) nominated 48-year-old presidential aide and former interior minister Dorin Recean (right) to replace Gavrilita Zelensky's claims last week were later confirmed by Moldovan intelligence officials. 'The plan for the next period involves actions with the involvement of diversionists with military training, camouflaged in civilian clothes, who will undertake violent actions, attack some state buildings, and even take hostages,' Sandu said. The overthrow 'would put our country at the disposal of Russia, in order to stop the European integration process.' There was no immediate reaction from Russian officials to Sandu's claims. Sandu said that between October and December, Moldovan police and its Intelligence and Security Service, or SIS, have intervened in 'several cases of organized criminal elements and stopped attempts at violence.' She said Russia wants to use Moldova in the war against Ukraine, without providing more details, and that information obtained by intelligence services contained what she described as instructions on rules of entry to Moldova for citizens from Russia, Belarus, Serbia, and Montenegro. 'I assure you that the state institutions are working to prevent these challenges and keep the situation under control,' Sandu said. The President added that the plan would 'rely on several internal forces, but especially on criminal groups' and went on to name two Moldovan oligarchs - Shor , and another named Vladimir Plahotniuc. Both are currently in exile, and were last year both sanctioned by the US and the UK. Ukrainian President Zelensky makes an address at the European Parliament on 9 February. He said he recently told President Sandu about Russia's alleged scheme to destabilise her country Last fall, a series of mass anti-government protests organized by Shor's populist, Russia-friendly Shor Party, also rocked Moldova amid the energy crunch. The President's press briefing comes after the resignation on Friday of Moldova's Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita. The same day, Sandu appointed her defence and security adviser, pro-Western economist Dorin Recean, to succeed Gavrilita. Recean, who is expected to quickly win parliamentary approval, said he would press on with Moldova's bid to join the European Union and revive the economy. 'The new government will have three priorities: Order and discipline, a new life and economy, and peace and stability,' Recean, a defence adviser to Sandu and secretary of Moldova's security council, told a news briefing last week. Russia, which has troops in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniestria, has bristled at the possibility of former Soviet republics joining the EU. In December, Moldova's national intelligence agency said Russia could launch a new offensive this year with the aim of creating a land corridor through southern Ukraine to Moldova's Moscow-backed breakaway region of Transnistria. On Friday, after Moldovan authorities confirmed the missile incident, U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington that 'Russia has for years supported influence and destabilization campaigns in Moldova, which often involve weaponizing corruption to further its goals.' Three UFOs have been shot down in as many days by US fighter jets this weekend. The race is on to recover the remains of the objects, all of which were of a similar size and were travelling it similar speeds, air force officials claimed. Nearly half of female serial killers are nurses or professionals working in healthcare, according to new research from author Dr Marissa A. Harrison. Released Thursday, Dr Harrison's latest book, 'Just As Deadly: The Psychology of Female Serial Killers' explores the motivations and circumstances of some of America's most prolific female serial killers. Through her research, she found 39% of female mass killers work in healthcare professions, are likely to be of at least average intelligence, to be well educated, and to be after their victims' money. But above all, women are more likely to pursue victims they see as vulnerable, including elderly people, the sick and children. This draws many to jobs with a responsibility of care, such as health and nursing. Dr Harrison is a research psychologist, author and associate professor at Penn State Harrisburg. Serial killer Jane Toppan at the age of 24. Toppan was Cambridge Hospital nurse who used her patients for personal experiments with morphine and atrophine to see the effects of different dosages on the nervous systems. In the book, Dr Harrison notes the overwhelming lack of research into female serial killers. She says 'fewer than one in six legitimate research papers and books on serial murder are about female serial killers', which she suggests may be linked to the perception that women are more nurturing. This, she warns, is a misperception - though male and female serial killers tend to behave differently and to come from different backgrounds, on average. She told Neuroscience News: 'For females, the most common is financial gain, whereas for men its often sexual gain. 'The ways in which they kill also differ. Womens primary means are poison, and mens are asphyxiation.' Overrepresented in the nursing and healthcare professions, female serial killers who find themselves with large quantities of medication, poisons and sedatives have been shown to carefully and deliberately end the lives of those in their care. The author notes: 'Women commit murder, and they get away with it.' Amy Archer-Gilligan features in Dr Harrison's book. She was a nursing home proprietor from Connecticut who poisoned and killed at least five people including her second husband and residents of her nursing home. While male serial killers tend to have a high-school education or lower, female mass murders are more likely to be educated, delicate and subtle with their methods, Dr Harrison found. 'Women commit murder, and they get away with it,' the author wrote. They are 'usually clinical with their murders and aim to make deaths look as natural as possible.' In a clinical setting, they tend to target 'people who are very young, very old, or helpless,' she writes. Nicknamed 'the Angel of Bremen', Gesche Gottfried helped the town through a cholera epidemic. 13 years later, authorities discovered she had been using arsenic to murder people, with crimes partially covered up by the epidemic. Referring to 27 case studies and a pool of original data, as well as academic sources, the author is able to point to some commonalities between male and female serial killers, such as a history of abuse or trauma, until now largely underexplored. With some mental illnesses common among serial killers regardless of gender, she hopes better awareness and treatment options will help would-be killers and prevent future deaths. She notes that these tend to be from 'WEIRD' cultures - Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic - and leaves open the door for further research into the curious and horrifying psychology that drives people to kill. The book was released 9 February 2023. Tributes have been paid to a mother who died in a house fire as police launch a manhunt for her ex-husband. Valentina Cozma, 40, died following a blaze at her home on Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent at around 3pm last Thursday. Staffordshire Police said a post mortem had revealed a provisional cause of death as 'inhalation of products of combustion'. Over the weekend, the force launched a nationwide hunt for her ex-husband, Georgian Constantin, 42, from Stoke, who is wanted in connection with her death. He is believed to have travelled to London and also has links to Southampton. Valentina Cozma, 40, tragically died following the blaze at her home at around 3pm last Thursday The force launched a nationwide hunt for her ex-husband, Georgian Constantin, 42, who is believed to have travelled to London Valentina's family paid an emotional tribute in a statement issued on Monday via police while the search for Constantin continues. Her sister said: 'Vali was the person I could talk to about anything. 'She offered me support whenever I needed it. She always tried to keep the family together. 'Being an older sister, she made sure we didn't lack anything, even if she didn't have a thing. 'She went through a lot of hard times, yet she never gave up. I am appealing for help from anyone who has details that could help in solving this case' Specially trained family liaison officers are offering support to Valentina's family as Constantin remains on the run. Stoke Commander, Chief Superintendent Colin Mattinson, said 'My thoughts are with Valentina's loved ones, and in particular her young son at this deeply traumatic time. 'I know the local community are in shock that someone within their community has died in such awful circumstances. Staffordshire Police want to speak to the 42-year-old in connection with her death and are urging anyone who can locate him to get in touch with the police as soon as possible 'We know she was a quiet woman who was well liked among her neighbours having lived in the area for some years. 'We take a firm stance against violence against women and domestic abuse. We are working around the clock to trace Constantin. 'But we also need your help - so my plea is to anyone who has information, no matter how insignificant it may seem - to get in touch. 'You could hold information that is key to our investigation. 'I am also appealing to Constantin himself, or anyone who may be harbouring him to get in touch. 'Running away is not the answer. Anyone found to be assisting an offender will be dealt with robustly as this is a serious crime. 'A teenage boy has lost his mother, we need to secure justice for him, Valentina, and her wider family. Please share our appeal and contact us if you know anything at all.' Police also wish to hear from anyone who was in the Campbell Road area between 2pm and 3.30pm on Thursday. Anyone who sees Constantin, is asked not approach him, but to call police immediately on 999. He was jailed in 2013 over scam and school returned 92k and removed plaque A leading independent girls' school attended by actress Sienna Miller and model Cara Delevingne named its theatre after a fraudster following a 250,000 donation from the 'proceeds of crime', a court has heard. The 21,000-a-year Francis Holland School, next to London's Regent's Park, removed the plaque and returned 92,500 after Achilleas Kallakis, 54, was jailed over a sophisticated five-year property and luxury yacht scam in 2013. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is seeking to seize the money at a confiscation hearing at Southwark Crown Court. Kallakis, who was known as 'The Don' in high-stakes games on the international poker circuit, duped banks out of more than 740 million between 2003 and 2008. The money was used to fund the lifestyle of the super-rich in which he maintained a fleet of chauffeur-driven Bentleys, a private plane, a private helicopter, a luxury yacht moored in Monaco harbour and a collection of high-value art works. Achilleas Kallakis, 54, arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London for a confiscation hearing today. Francis Holland School named its theatre after the fraudster following a 250,000 donation from the 'proceeds of crime', a court heard Francis Holland School (pictured), in Regents Park, removed the plaque and returned 92,500 after Achilleas Kallakis, 54, was jailed over a sophisticated five-year property and luxury yacht scam in 2013 Kallakis and co-defendant Alex Williams were jailed for seven years - later increased to 11 years - after being found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to defraud. The court later found he had a 'criminal lifestyle' and had benefited from the scam to the tune of 95 million. He was ordered to pay 3.25 million based on his available assets, which at the time included a villa in Mykonos, Greece, a Queen's Club debenture and a half share in the 4.5 million family home in Brompton Square, Knightsbridge. Kallakis satisfied the confiscation order in 2015 but was on Monday back in court, which heard he donated a quarter of a million pounds to Francis Holland School - which charges fees of more than 21,000 a year and boasts alumni including . The school, which was attended by Kallakis' daughter Erinoula at the time, was raising money for a new wing, including a new theatre. It was named after Kallakis after he 'negotiated the terms of the donation' with the headmistress and bursar, said Christopher Convey, representing the SFO. Payments of 75,000 and 175,000 were made in 2005 from his Swiss bank account controlled by Swiss lawyer and businessman Michael Becker, said to have been a co-conspirator of Kallakis but never charged in the UK, the court heard. 'The money came from the proceeds of crime,' said Mr Convey. The court heard the school had an account in the Channel Islands, prompting the judge to ask: 'Isn't it rather unusual for a Church of England school to have an account in Jersey?' Francis Holland School (pictured) which was attended by Kallakis' daughter Erinoula at the time, was raising money for a new wing, including a new theatre. It was named after Kallakis after he 'negotiated the terms of the donation' with the headmistress and bursar, said Christopher Convey, representing the Serious Fraud Office The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is seeking to seize the money at a confiscation hearing at Southwark Crown Court (pictured) Kallakis' wife Pamela wrote to the headmistress in March 2020 recalling the 'small ceremony' to open the theatre but complaining: 'It has come to my attention the school has removed the plaque... in breach of the contracted agreement' made in 2005. In June 2020, Kallakis' son Michalis launched a civil action in the High Court following the removal of the family name from the theatre and in July 2021 a settlement was reached for the school to pay 104,500 - including 12,000 in costs. Now the SFO want the remaining 92,500 it says is an asset available to Kallakis or a 'tainted gift'. The hearing continues. Donald Trump used a folder marked 'classified evening summary' to block out a light in his bedroom at Mar-a-Lago before it had to be turned over to the Justice Department, one of his attorneys said on Sunday. The peculiar admission was in fact made in defense of the former president. Lawyer Timothy Parlatore insisted in a CNN television interview that there was 'nothing illegal' in possession of the item and used it as an example of their cooperation with investigators looking at Trump's handling of classified files. Parlatore is representing Trump in the special counsel probe of his alleged mishandling of presidential records, as well as the investigation of Trump's role in inciting the January 6 Capitol riot. 'The folder is kind of one of the more humorous aspects of this whole thing. This is not a classified folder,' Parlatore told CNN. Trump lawyer Timothy Parlatore insisted there was 'nothing illegal' about the former president's possession of the 'classified'-marked folder Trump lawyer explains how former President used "Classified Evening Summary" folder to block blue light on his bedside phone, before he says it was subpoenaed by DOJ and handed over in recent months. pic.twitter.com/RRMBYKyrLP Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCNN) February 12, 2023 He said his team accounted for the folder in their reports to the DOJ about the status of classified documents in Trump's Florida mansion, and had in fact alerted investigators to its existence. 'It's a folder, a manila folder that says "classified evening summary" on it. And it was in the President's bedroom,' the lawyer explained. 'He has one of those landline telephones next to his bed, and it has a blue light on it. It keeps him up at night. So, he took the manila folder and put it over it, so it would keep the light down so he can sleep at night.' Parlatore then pivoted to attacking the DOJ, accusing the department of overreacting to Trump's possession of the 'classified executive summary'-marked folder. 'When DOJ found out about it, they went crazy. And they said- they actually gave me a subpoena to say, "Give us over this empty folder that means nothing,"' he said. He maintained that investigators only learned of its existence because of Trump's team's transparency 'in the spirit of full cooperation and compliance.' 'And when they read that and they saw, oh, there's this folder here that is so far outside of the scope of the subpoena or anything else, they demanded it back,' Parlatore complained. 'And so now the president has to find a different way to get the blue light out of his eyes.' He complained that Trump 'has to find a different way to get the blue light out of his eyes' after the folder was turned over to the DOJ An August raid on his Mar-a-Lago mansion forced the DOJ's probe of Trump's handling of classified documents on the national stage That folder was among several items Trump's team turned over to investigators in December and January, CNN reported Friday. The DOJ's investigation into Trump's handling of classified files took a very public turn in August, when FBI agents raided Mar-a-Lago and retrieved dozens of records with top secret and classified markings. Previously undetected classified records were reportedly handed over to DOJ in December. The following month, Trump's team reportedly turned over a thumb drive and laptop containing copies of those same files, which were apparently moved there by an aide who did not know their high-security nature. Trump has routinely denied any wrongdoing in the matter, and has launched multiple verbal attacks against Special Counsel Jack Smith and his family. Nostalgia and vitality merge in small village in SW China's Guizhou 09:28, February 13, 2023 By Su Yingxiang, Tu Min, Peng Yukai, Zhang Rong, Xu Xiangli ( People's Daily Online Lush mountains, lucid waters, and neat traditional dwellings constitute a picturesque view for anyone to behold. Here, at Huamao village in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Chinese President Xi Jinping found nostalgia. During his visit to the small village located in Fengxiang township of Zunyi city on June 16, 2015, President Xi said "No wonder so many people come here. Their homesickness is relieved here." Xis words made Zhang Shengdi, a local entrepreneur who previously left the village for work, feel quite nostalgic for her hometown. She finally decided to go back to do something for her fellow villagers. In 2016, Zhang started a papermaking workshop called Huamao Renjia, which literally means "households of Huamao," to revive a kind of traditional papermaking technique that involves boiling the bark of mulberry trees, one of the traditional handicrafts found in Huamao village. The production of paper using this ancient technique includes more than 70 steps and takes 49 days for the final product to be fully prepared. Photo shows Huamao Renjia (Households of Huamao), a papermaking workshop in Huamao village, Zunyi city, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai) Zhang Shengdi, founder of Huamao Renjia (Households of Huamao), poses for a photo at her papermaking workshop in Huamao village, Zunyi city, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai) Zhang has injected new vitality into the ancient craft by introducing papermaking artwork made with flowers and leaves while diversifying the products made using paper, including fans, bookmarks, and notebooks, which have been well received by tourists. The new rural construction should conform to the reality and law of development in rural areas. The rural flavor and landscape should be retained, and the natural environment and local culture protected, Xi said. Zhangs papermaking workshop and Huamao village vividly epitomize Xis vision for rural construction. For Zhang, the lush mountains and lucid waters in her hometown have provided her with a sense of comfort and security. It's like "a baby nestling in her mother's arms," she said. Its the power of nostalgia that drove her to revive the ancient papermaking craft in her hometown. Zhang is deeply impressed by the fact that her fellow villagers have a greater sense of happiness. Photo shows a house with a mural painted on the wall in Huamao village, Zunyi city, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai) Photo shows the scenery of Huamao village, Zunyi city, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai) Formerly known as "Huangmaotian," which literally means a desolate and barren place, Huamao used to be a village that faced difficulties in developing agriculture and ensuring stable employment. It also suffered from poor transportation. The village had more than 4,000 villagers, but over 2,000 of them left to look for jobs elsewhere. Huamao village is now full of vitality. It is home to seven rural hotels, 13 agritainment facilities, a pottery-themed street, and some cooperatives. Last year, the village attracted more than 880,000 tourists, and with the per capita disposable income of villagers having meanwhile reached 21,864 yuan (about $3,181.7). Like Zhang, many young people have returned to their hometowns in search of nostalgia. Employees working at Zhang's workshop include Luo Jiyan, who was once a migrant worker, and Kuang Tingting, a returning college graduate. Kuang Tingting (L), a returning college student, and Luo Jiyan, a returning migrant worker, make handicrafts at Huamao Renjia (Households of Huamao), a papermaking workshop in Huamao village, Zunyi city, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai) Witnessing the thriving rural tourism industry in the village, Luo began to learn the ancient papermaking technique at Zhangs workshop two years ago. Luo said she cherished the opportunity to learn skills and make money near her home while taking care of her children. More importantly, at the workshop, she has the ambition to carry forward the ancient papermaking craft. Kuang, from a village near Huamao village, worked in a city after she graduated from college in 2018. Back then, I always felt that I lived a rootless life. Coming to Huamao village feels like home, Kuang said. She hopes to help an increasing number of villagers build up cultural confidence and advance rural vitalization in her hometown. Xi stressed the need to strengthen top-level design, adopt more vigorous measures and pool more strength to advance rural vitalization, a task no less challenging than poverty alleviation. Huamao village serves as a vivid example of China's efforts to boost rural vitalization. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chengliang) Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during a 'Vijay Sankalp Rally' ahead of Tripura Legislative Assembly elections, at Chandipur in Unakoti district, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a frontal attack on the Left-Congress alliance. He asserted that by aligning with the Congress, the CPI(M) has admitted that they are going to lose the impending Assembly elections in the state. At the "Vijay Sankalp rally" for Chandipur Assembly seat, Mr Shah said that the frontier state is facing the "triple trouble" of the Congress, CPI(M) and Tipra Motha in the ensuing Assembly elections. "If you want to be rescued from this triple trouble, vote for the 'double-engine' BJP government," he said. Mr Shah, who also participated in a roadshow in Agartala, said that the Left, which betrayed tribal people for long in Tripura, is now projecting a tribal leader as the chief ministerial face to "dupe" people. Claiming that the Opposition parties cannot face the BJP alone, Ms Shah said, "The Congress must feel ashamed, they allied with the CPI(M), which killed so many of their members. They have also made Tipra Motha a pawn." Highlighting the BJP government's achievements, Mr Shah said that it provided health insurance and drinking water to all houses. Mr Shah reminded people that the BJP government provided them with gas cylinders, built toilets, and provided free food. He said that if the BJP was re-elected, it will provide scootys to all meritorious college students, two free gas cylinders to poor families and Rs 2,000 to farmers in addition to the Rs 6,000 given by the Central government. The Union minister also promised housing for all the poor in Tripura by 2025. "If the work of providing equal rights to all was done, it was done by the Manik Saha government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government," he said. The Union home minister said: "In the last five years, we have brought peace to the region. Over the next five years, we will make Tripura prosperous by following the formula given by the PM." Elections will be held for 60 seats in Tripura on February 16. The counting of votes will be held on March 2. The BJP is contesting 55 seats, while its partner, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), is contesting five. Amazon workers have announced a series of strikes at one of the companys warehouses in a dispute over pay. The GMB said more than 350 staff at the fulfilment centre in Coventry will walk out on February 28, March 2 and from March 13 to 17. The union said its members made history last month by becoming the first Amazon workers in the UK to strike in their campaign for a pay rate of 15 an hour. Amanda Gearing, GMB senior organiser, said the 'unprecedented' strikes showed the anger among Amazon workers in Coventry. Amazon workers strike outside the Amazon fulfilment centre in Coventry earlier this year HGV lorries leave the fulfilment centre in Coventry on the day of strikes on January 25 She said: 'They work for one of the richest companies in the world, yet they have to work round the clock to keep themselves afloat. 'It's sickening that Amazon workers in Coventry will earn just 8p above the national minimum wage in April 2023. 'Amazon bosses can stop this industrial action by doing the right thing and negotiating a proper pay rise with workers.' An Amazon spokesperson said: 'A tiny proportion of our workforce is involved. 'In fact, according to the verified figures, only a fraction of 1% of our UK employees voted in the ballot - and that includes those who voted against industrial action. 'We appreciate the great work our teams do throughout the year and we're proud to offer competitive pay which starts at a minimum of between 10.50 and 11.45 per hour, depending on location. 'This represents a 29% increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018. 'Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits that are worth thousands more - including private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised meals and an employee discount, to name a few.' A Georgia judge on Monday ordered the partial release of a special grand jury report on the efforts of Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results in that state. In his ruling, Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney noted that the special grand jury raised concerns 'that some witnesses may have lied under oath during their testimony.' He said he would keep the jury's recommendations on who should be prosecuted a secret for now but will release the report's introduction, the conclusion and the part detailing the grand jury's concerns about witnesses lying under oath on Thursday. Otherwise, few details were revealed about the two-year criminal investigation into whether Trump and his allies tried to interfere in the 2020 presidential election in the state. Joe Biden narrowly won Georgia - by less than 1% - and was the first Democrat to carry it since Bill Clinton. A Georgia judge ruled to release parts of a special grand jury report on the efforts of Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss - above Trump at a Georgia election rally in November 2020 A group of news organizations had appealed to Judge McBurney to make the special grand jury report public. District Attorney Fani Willis fought the to keep the findings a secret as she weighs criminal charges in the case. She argued the report should remain sealed in order to protect the rights of potential 'defendants' in the case, which suggested that charges may be filed based on the grand jury's findings. She told the judge that charging decisions in the case are 'imminent.' McBurney agreed the entire report should remained sealed but said parts should be open to the public because of 'compelling public interest.' 'While publication may not be convenient for the pacing of the district attorney's investigation, the compelling public interest in these proceedings and the unquestionable value and importance of transparency require their release,' he wrote. The special grand jury consisted of 23 jurors and three alternates picked from a pool of Atlanta residents. They heard testimony from 75 witnesses, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Their report is the culmination of the grand jury's seven months of work. Trump was not subpoenaed and did not testify to the grand jury. But the report comes as he launches his 2024 presidential bid and as he faces multiple other probes. Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney (left) ordered the partial release of the report into District Attorney Fani Willis (right) investigation A special grand jury in Fulton County interviewed 75 witnesses over seven months The special grand jury had broad investigative powers in its investigation - more so than a typical grand jury. It could issue subpoenas for witness testimony, phone, email and other records. But, if this special grand jury recommended any indictments, Willis would have to seek them from the other grand juries regularly empaneled in Fulton County. Among those Trump allies who could face charges in Willis' probe: Rudy Giuliani, who acted as Trump's personal lawyer; David Shafer, the head of the Georgia Republican Party; and the 16 Georgia Republicans who served as pro-Trump and alternative electors. Trump has denied wrongdoing and accused Willis of targeting him for political gain. He's called the investigation a 'witch hunt.' Willis launched her investigation after a recording was made public of a January 2021 phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger urging him 'find' some votes that would allow him to win the state. She was also looking into Giuliani's claims of election fraud, threats made to Georgia election workers, and the fake elector scheme. That scheme was the creation of an alternate slate of Republican electors who met in the Georgia Capitol to sign certificates that falsely claimed Trump won the state. Attorneys for the 'fake electors argued' they were just acting to preserve Trump's rights amid lawsuits over the election in the state. Multiple recounts showed Biden won Georgia. Willis is a long Fulton County prosecutor who was elected as district attorney in 2020. She is a Democrat. Rudy Giuliani is one of the Trump allies that could face criminal charges The Georgia probe is one of many civil and criminal investigations threatening Trump. A special counsel is overseeing U.S. Justice Department investigations into Trump's possession of classified materials after leaving the White House and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Letitia James, the Democratic attorney general of New York, has sued Trump, his real estate business and his children, accusing them of lying to insurers and banks about the value of their assets. And the Manhattan district attorney's office is pursuing its own criminal investigation into Trump's business practices. President Joe Biden is not scheduled to be seen publicly on Monday, while the chorus of calls to address the unidentified objects shot down by military jets over the weekend grows louder. A number of Republicans - and some Democrats too - have publicly demanded answers because 'people are freaked out,' according to one Democratic congresswoman who spoke to CNN, but wouldn't give her name. Republicans, on the other hand, were public about their discontent. 'People are scared, upset, & are believing crazy things being said on the internet about the 3 objects shot down by our military. There are not aliens & no evidence of them. But there is a lack of transparency from the Biden admin and simple explanations are owed to the people,' tweeted Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday. Additionally, Sen. Rand Paul tweeted: 'As Ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, I demand that POTUS and the Department of Defense tell us what they know - and what they don't - immediately.' The UFO narrative wasn't helped by Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and US Northern Command, who wouldn't say aliens were off the table during a briefing Sunday night. 'I haven't ruled out anything at this point,' he said. President Joe Biden, photographed at a black-tie dinner Saturday for the nation's governors, has no public events on his schedule for Monday, while the chorus of calls grows louder to address the three objects shot down since Friday Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene noted that people are 'scared, upset & are believing crazy things' because President Joe Biden has not addressed the public about the three 'objects' shot down my military jets since Friday Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, demanded answers from President Joe Biden and the Pentagon in a Monday morning tweet A map of where the Chinese spy balloon and three additional objects were shot down by military planes since February 4 Afterward, a Defense Department official who spoke to Politico said there was 'no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns.' At her Monday press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said aliens weren't involved. 'I know there have been questions and concerns about this but there is no, again, no indication of aliens or extra terrestrial activity with these recent takedowns. Wanted to make sure the American people knew that, all of you knew that,' Jean-Pierre said. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby appeared Monday morning on MSNBC's Morning Joe and said the three objects could be innocuous. 'There could be completely benign and totally explainable reasons for why these objects are flying around up there. Certainly don't have to be nefarious at all,' Kirby said. 'There are corporate entities that operate these kinds of things. There are academic research institutions that do this sort of thing. We just don't know.' 'As soon as we can find out, we can get the debris, we can find out, we will absolutely share what we can,' Kirby added. Bad weather, and the fact that the object that was shot down Sunday went into Lake Huron, has made it difficult for the debris to be collected and thus ascertain the origin of the objects, Kirby also explained. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested the additional objects were also balloons, like the Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by an F-22 fighter jet over the South Carolina shoreline on February 4. Still, lawmakers wanted answers now. 'In its 65 year history NORAD Command never shot down an aircraft over U.S. airspace Over the 10 days they have shot down 1 balloon & 3 "objects,"' tweeted Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. 'Americans need to hear directly about this from their President today.' Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Kansas Republican, echoed that sentiment. 'The United States military shot down 3 more flying objects over the weekend. President Biden has said NOTHING,' LaTurner tweeted Monday. 'Americans deserve answers and transparency from their Commander-in-Chief.' Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio demanded Monday that Americans hear from President Joe Biden 'today' Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Kansas Republican, echoed that sentiment Sen. Rick Scott, who has sparred with Biden in recent days over Medicare and Social Security, said he wanted answers too Sen. Rick Scott, who has sparred with Biden in recent days over Medicare and Social Security, said he wanted answers too. 'As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will be demanding answers on these incursions into American airspace. The United States will not back down,' the Florida Republican said. Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs floated that the government was being purposely misleading. 'Our government isn't telling us the truth about these unidentified objects in U.S. airspace,' he tweeted. 'The "briefings" we receive in Congress don't give us much -we can find the same info in a news article.' 'They've gone rogue and owe Americans answers,' said Biggs, one of former President Donald Trump's top allies in the House and a proponent of the so-called 'big lie.' Biden will resurface Tuesday, accorrding to the White House schedule, which said he's due to speak at the National Association of Counties conference in Washington, D.C. Ron DeSantis said Florida is going to reevaluate the state's relationship with the College Board after accusing it of 'shoving down our throats' their woke agenda. The Florida governor continued his attack against liberal education systems, by suggesting the legislature could cut-off its reliance on the nonprofit College Board, which develops and administers standardized tests to promote college-readiness. Speaking from Florida Southwestern State College, DeSantis railed against the board putting 'queer theory' and 'intersectionality' into a proposed advanced placement (AP) courses on African American studies, which led the state's Department of Education (DOE) to reject the courses. 'At the end of the day, we highlighted things that were very problematic,' DeSantis replied to reporters during a Monday press conference. 'It wasn't just people like me saying that across the political spectrum, people were saying that.' 'You know, this really is junk,' he added. 'Why don't we just do and teach the things that matter? Why is it always someone has to try and shove their agenda down our throats?' Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said his state's Department of Education is reevaluating the relationship with the nonprofit College Board after it put wording into an African American Studies course that talked about 'queer theory' and 'intersectionality' Florida's so-called Stop WOKE Act restricts certain race-related content in workplaces, schools and colleges, including controversial Critical Race Theory. DeSantis' 2021 statement on the passage of the law noted that some of these lessons teach 'kids to hate our country or to hate each other.' DeSantis put the onus on the College Board, claiming Florida's DOE had no choice but to reject the courses because of some of the content within them that he claims is 'neo-Marxist.' The College Board responded to DeSantis' criticism of the programs, claiming in an open letter last week that it did not receive requested feedback on why the courses were rejected. A letter from Florida's DOE to the College Board characterized the topics as 'historically fictional,' which the board classified as 'slander.' DeSantis questioned what authority the College Board really has when saying his state would evaluate the relationship the Florida school system has with the nonprofit based in New York. 'I would also just say this College Board, nobody elected them to anything,' DeSantis lamented. 'They're just kind of there, and they're providing service. So you can either utilize those services or not.' 'And so they've provided these AP courses for a long time, but, you know, there are probably some other vendors who may be able to do that job as good, or maybe even a lot better,' the Florida governor theorized. 'I think the legislature is going to look to reevaluate how Florida's doing that. Of course, our universities can or can't accept college board courses for credit, maybe they'll do others.' Education is a cornerstone of DeSantis' anti-woke agenda. He signed the Parental Rights in Education law last year, which prevents the teaching of gender identity or sexual orientation in grades kindergarten through third grade. Some members of the Florida legislature are considering expanding that to the sixth grade. DeSantis questioned at a Monday press conference: 'Why don't we just do and teach the things that matter? Why is it always someone has to try and shove their agenda down our throats?' Pictured: Students protests in Sarasota, Florida saying schools are too focused on racial and genera ideology DeSantis' DOE rejected the course in a January 12 letter, which was obtained by ABC News. He called the courses 'inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.' In his press conference Monday, DeSantis blamed the College Board for trying to slip woke agenda items into classes on African American studies. 'The college board was the one that in a black studies course put 'queer theory' in, not us they did that,' DeSantis said. 'They were the ones that put in 'intersectionality,' they put in other types of neo-Marxism into the proposed syllabus.' 'And again, this is the proposed course, so our Department of Education looked at that and said, 'In Florida we do education, not indoctrination. And so that runs afoul of our standards,' he added. 'And, you know, many people agree with that in other states, we were just the only ones that had, you know, the backbone to stand up and do it because they call you names and they demagogue you when you do it.' 'I'm so sick of people not doing what's right because they're worried that people are going to call them names. We're doing what's right here,' DeSantis assured. Soft drink Lilt has been pulled from UK shelves after 48 years and will be replaced by a new type of Fanta. The tangy drink began in 1975 with the strapline 'The Totally Tropical Taste' and was only sold in the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar and the Seychelles. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) confirmed the change in a statement, noting that the drink's packaging and logo are being changed and it will now be known as Fanta Pineapple and Grapefruit. The new drink will be available from February 14. Lilt became a feature of popular culture with its Lilt Man parody adverts in the late 1980s, while a decade later it was promoted by two Jamaican women known as the Lilt Ladies. Soft drink Lilt is being scrapped as a brand after nearly 50 years on our shelves, it has been revealed In 1998, two British Jamaican women - Blanche Williams and Hazel Palmer - became known as the 'Lilt ladies' and starred in its adverts Coca-Cola reduced the number of calories, sugar and artificial sweeteners in the drink between 2008 and 2014 as part of efforts to make healthier products in response to the Government's Public Health Responsibility Deal. Fanta was valued at 281million towards the end of 2022, more than 17 times that of Lilt - which managed sales of 15.6million over the same period. CCEP said: 'Keen Lilt fans may have spotted a gradual transition as the drink has made its way into the Fanta family over the past few months, with changes to its packaging and logo. 'Some have even hypothesised on social media that Lilt may be becoming part of the Fanta brand, and one even went as far as producing their own news broadcast-style video.' The firm's GB vice-president of commercial development insisted the drink is the same, and simply has a new name. Martin Attock said: 'Our main priority with this announcement is to reassure Lilt's loyal fanbase that absolutely nothing has changed when it comes to the iconic taste of the drink they know and love. 'It's still bursting with tangy tropical flavours, it's just got itself a new name.' The tragedies came after the Vermont area has experienced unseasonably warm temperatures in recent months The passing of the three men, two of whom were brothers, led authorities to warn all local fishermen to 'get off the ice' An annual Vermont ice fishing competition was called off over the weekend after three men died falling through the ice due to 'abnormally warm' weather. Organizers of the 43rd Islands Ice Fishing Derby were forced to cancel the tournament after the three men lost their lives fishing on Lake Champlain. The passing of the three men, two of whom were brothers, led to the last-minute cancellation, as the Grand Isle County Sheriff's Department warned all local fishermen to 'get off the ice'. Wayne Alexander, 62, was the first angler to perish after he fell through the ice on Thursday evening, according to the Vermont State Police. He was then tragically followed by the two brothers two days later, John Fleury, 71, and Wayne Fleury, 88, leading officials to halt the annual contest due to 'the condition of the ice.' An annual ice fishing contest on Lake Champlain in Vermont, pictured, was cancelled after three men died falling through the ice Emergency services rushed to the scene Thursday after reports the first fisherman Wayne Alexander, fell into the lake. The tragedy was repeated two days later as two brothers again fell through the ice Wayne Alexander, who frequently fished on Lake Champlain, was discovered by local authorities after he failed to return home on time from a trip to the lake. He was found in the water wearing a floatation suit, but he was later pronounced dead after being rushed to University of Vermont Medical Center. The tragedy was then repeated early Saturday morning, just hours before the annual ice fishing competition, after the two brothers also died when they fell into the freezing waters. John and Wayne Fleury plunged through the ice early in the morning after their utility vehicle broke through the lake with them inside. Emergency crews attended the scene at around 7:10am, however rescuers were only able to pull John from the water, where he was pronounced dead at the scene. His older brother Wayne was found a time later inside the vehicle by a rescue diver. The three men were reportedly not affiliated with the tournament, however the Islands Ice Fishing Derby subsequently cancelled the competition following the tragedies. Competition committee member Gilber Gagner, who also owns an ice fishing equipment store nearby, emphasized the area had 'never seen anything like this.' 'This is craziness,' he told CNN. Ganger added that the lake recently froze over following months of warm weather, making the ice look deceptively thick while it may not be strong enough to support weight like it has in years past. Tributes have poured in for the brothers Wayne, left, and John, right, following the accident. Their cousin Cliff told DailyMail.com they 'found comfort enjoying the outdoors with each other' Cliff Fleury, the cousin of the two brothers, told Dailymail.com the two were known among the community as outdoorsmen, adding that they 'died doing what they loved.' 'They, like much of our family, grew up hunting and fishing, and were usually found together or with another brother or relative doing so. 'They are older than me, but for many years I've been told that our whole family was especially close... they had hunted and fished, and found comfort in enjoying the outdoors with each other. 'They both took great pride in taking our families and friends and teaching them the sport. I know this will leave a pretty big void.' In a tribute posted to the two men following the accident, Cliff added: 'Those two men have probably been on the ice when it's been thinner than it was today and probably many times over and got home safe. 'They enjoyed fishing and enjoyed fishing together and unfortunately today the ice got em. 'It's what they knew and as brothers have spent many days together doing what they loved together.' The Islands Ice Fishing Derby was forced to cancel the contest last minute following the tragedy The deaths of the three men comes amid unseasonably warm temperatures in the area, leading officials to warn local anglers to avoid fishing on the ice. The national Weather Service in Burlington cautioned in a Facebook post on Saturday that the thickness of the ice on lakes in the region would be variable due to the 'well above normal temperatures' seen in the area in recent months. 'Ice is never 100% safe. If you dont know, dont go! Stay safe,' it said. The weather service added in a separate post said the Burlington area has recorded its fifth warmest January since 1884, and the hottest in over 70 years. Organizers of the ice fishing competition also issued a warning the day before the deaths of the two brothers, advising fishermen not to 'drive any type of motor vehicle on the ice this year.' Christpher Herrick, from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, told WCAX: 'We really want to encourage people to not go out on the ice. Clearly, its not safe. 'This is the second event weve had in two days. So ice safety is the most important thing.' He added that ice fishing is particularly dangerous because if fishermen fall through the ice, the freezing temperatures can quickly shorten the time they are able to be saved. 'The water is very cold. It starts impacting your ability to survive very quickly,' he said. 'You lose dexterity, and your own ability to get out if Its a very fast-moving event.' Career fraudster Katrina Pierce was sentenced last week to five years in federal prison for filing close to three-dozen death certificates of individuals she claimed were relatives and using their stolen identities to collect tens of thousands of dollars in government funds. The South Side of Chicago resident used stolen identities to scam the government and US taxpayers out of close to $45,000 between 2019 and 2021, including COVID-19 stimulus payments and tax refunds. The woman, who had 12 prior convictions for similar charges, was again convicted on similar wire fraud and identity theft charges for acquiring more than 36 death certificates for murder victims. The ages of the dead ranged from 2 to 22. This round of fraud led investigators to this two story, two apartment house on the South Side of Chicago, out of which Pierce had been running her elaborate schemes Pierce pretended she was in some capacity related to each of the victims, though she ultimately found it difficult to keep her stories straight, and used personal details from the certificates to file for tax refunds and pandemic stimulus payments. Pierce, 51, pleaded guilty in August to a single count of wire fraud. Her attorney had requested a two and a half year sentence, while prosecutors were after a six year term. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Havey told Judge Virginia Kendall that when Pierce was arrested in 2021, agents found more than 35 death certificates in her home from across the country, including Illinois, California, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and North Carolina. Among the identities used by Katrina Pierce was that of Amari Brown, the 7-year-old boy fatally shot in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on July 4, 2015, whose death made headlines at the time. In that case, Pierce posed as Amari's aunt when requesting his death certificate in 2019, then proceeded to use the stolen information to file a tax return requesting a $4,400 child credit refund check. On multiple occasions, the IRS issued COVID-10 stimulus payments worth $1,200, $600 and $1,400 respectively to Pierce after she filed a fraudulent tax return for a 22-year-old man who was fatally shot in St. Louis in 2019. Investigators also found via IRS records that multiple stimulus payments worth $3,200 had been made to a woman named Rajona Pierce - an alias Piece had used in prior criminal cases. 'Rajona' had listed just $1 in income from a fake beauty parlor in order to claim eligibility for COVID stimulus payments. Havey said Pierce's story is a 'disturbing history of stealing and assuming false identities and aliases, including those of the dead, both children and adult victims.' 'Defendant Katrina Pierce is a lifelong thief and fraudster, stealing other peoples identities and swindling government programs since at least the 1990s,' Havey wrote last month in his sentencing recommendation. Her scheme was 'sophisticated, thought-out and extensive in scope,' Havey wrote, noting that Pierce had used at least 25 different aliases during her latest scam. At the time the fraud began, Pierce was still on supervised release after serving an 11-year federal sentence for a very similar scheme. She used stolen identities and other fake documents to steal more than $200,000 in federal tax refunds and state child care benefits using 180 fraudulent tax returns. She also paid people to lie to federal agents during the run of the 2012 case, prosecutors said. In the 2012 case, Pierce pleaded guilty to fraud and aggravated identity theft. In the sentencing memo, prosecutors wrote that she 'engaged in expansive and all-consuming schemes to steal identities from the dead, misappropriate funds from the coffers of her country.' She 'cheat(ed) programs designed to benefit children and working parents, and swindle governments across the nation - all to enrich herself. Stealing was [her] full time occupation and she was good at it.' Judge Virginia Kendall, who sentenced Pierce to just over five years in prison on Friday A 34-page criminal complaint details the extraordinary capacity for fraud possessed by Katrina Pierce, who has spent years working to defraud the US tax and other social aid systems One of the murder victims used by Pierce in her fraudulent pursuit of tax returns was 7-year-old Amari Brown, who was killed in 2015 on July 4 weekend by a bullet intended for his father, an alleged gang member in Chicago At sentencing on Friday, Kendall took note of Pierce's ongoing life of criminal fraud. 'There have been so many opportunities for you to turn away from a life of crime, and youve been unable to do so,' Judge Kendall said. Havey noted to the judge on Friday that no matter what sentence she ultimately imposed on Pierce, 'I think we will both see her (in court) again.' 'Basically everywhere she's been, she's picked up convictions.' Pierce has accumulated 11 convictions for theft and fraud across several states between 1996 and 2012, according to the New York Times. She was convicted five times alone in North Carolina for obtaining property by false pretenses and public assistance fraud. 'Some people, when you drop them, they break like glass,' Pierce said at sentencing, seated at the defense table in blue jail clothes and glasses. 'Your honor, I am on a journey of piecing myself back together again.' Pierce's latest bout of fraud was first flagged back in November 2019 by an employee at the Cook County Vital Records Bureau, who noticed that Pierce had submitted requests for four death certificates in one day. She had claimed to be the sister of each of the dead individuals, even though they had different last names, according to a 34-page complaint. When investigators arrived at her second floor apartment in a two-floor on the South Side of Chicago, they rummaged through the trash to find a list with scribbled names of the deceased and how they died. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering meeting with China's top diplomat at a security conference in Europe this week, in what would be their first face-to-face talks since the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon. Tensions have hit crisis point during the past week, as U.S. warplanes destroyed four suspicious objects. It prompted Blinken to abandon a planned trip to China and last week Chinese officials refused a phone call with their American counterparts in a sign of Beijing's fury. But Blinken could now meet Wang Yi, Beijing's most senior diplomat, at the Munich Security Conference which runs from Friday through Sunday. A senior administration official told Bloomberg News that the U.S. was constantly assessing its options for diplomacy but had nothing to announce. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering meeting with Wang Yi in Europe this week, in their first face-to-face talks since the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon Since February 4, four objects have been shot down including the Chinese spy balloon, and then three 'UFOs' Details emerged as Beijing and Washington engaged in a round of tit-for-tat exchanges. China on Monday accused the U.S. of flying more than 10 high-altitude balloons through its airspace in the past year without permission. It comes after Washington said China was running a fleet of spy balloons around the globe. 'It is nothing rare for U.S. balloons to illegally enter other countrys airspace,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. 'We reserve the right to take necessary means to deal with relevant incidents.' The crisis erupted when a F-22 warplane last weekend shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the U.S., from Alaska to South Carolina. On Sunday, a fighter jet shot down an 'unidentified object' over Lake Huron on President Joe Biden's order. It marked the fourth time an object had been shot down. Washington has been at panic stations since a balloon drifted across the U.S. An F-22 warplane last weekend shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the U.S., from Alaska to South Carolina, once it was over the ocean Blinken and Wang have met before. They are pictured here in Bali, Indonesia, in July last year An F-16 fighter jet was used to shoot down an 'object' over Lake Huron on Sunday Officials have been careful not to say too much about the nature of the objects shot down. They have not even confirmed they were balloons, other than the first one which was seen by people on the ground. That one was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals as part of a huge, military-linked aerial surveillance program that targeted more than 40 countries, the Biden administration declared on Thursday, citing imagery from American U-2 spy planes. Part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a "heightened alert" following the alleged Chinese spy balloon, General Glen VanHerck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command and the US Northern Command, said in a briefing with reporters. The United States has since placed economic restrictions on six Chinese entities it said are linked to Beijing's aerospace programs as part of its response to the incident. The US House of Representatives also voted unanimously to condemn China for a 'brazen violation' of US sovereignty and efforts to 'deceive the international community through false claims about its intelligence collection campaigns'. A security guard at the British embassy in Berlin was caught spying for Russia in an undercover operation, a court has heard. David Ballantyne Smith, 58, was driven by an intense hatred for his own country and by pro-Putin views when he set out to pass secrets to the hostile foreign state, the Old Bailey was told. He is alleged to have received substantial sums of money in exchange for sensitive information from the embassy in Germany. The extent of his activities spanning four years were uncovered following his arrest in Potsdam where he was living in August 2021. In November last year, Smith pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act by committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. David Ballantyne Smith (pictured), 58, a security guard at the British embassy in Berlin was caught spying for Russia in an undercover operation, a court has heard Smith is alleged to have received substantial sums of money in exchange for sensitive information from the UK embassy in Berlin, Germany (pictured) On Monday, he returned to the Old Bailey for legal argument about the issue of Smith's motivation. The defendant has claimed in a basis of plea that he did not intend to cause 'prejudice' to the UK and wanted only to cause 'inconvenience and embarrassment' to the British Embassy. He claimed he was not paid and was motivated by grievance with his employers while suffering mental health issues. But prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said the defendant held 'strong anti-UK views' and supported Russia and Vladimir Putin. She said: 'The defendant's deliberate engagement with the Russian authorities by providing them with confidential and sensitive information demonstrates an inevitable and clear intention to cause prejudice to the UK. 'The defendant had in his possession confidential and sensitive material dating from as early as 2018. 'It is implausible to suggest that he only took possession of material within the context of a dispute with his employers or because he intended to expose security lapses.' Setting out the prosecution case, Ms Morgan described how Smith's activities were uncovered following an undercover operation. It was prompted by a letter Smith sent in November 2020 to a member of military staff at the Russian Embassy in Berlin which suggested ongoing contact. In the letter addressed to Major General Chukhrov, Smith issued a 'small update about the British Embassy' including images of security passes of staff. The undercover operation offered Smith the chance to obtain 'highly sensitive information' about someone called 'Dmitry', who Smith was led to believe was a Russian helping the UK. Ms Morgan said: 'Plainly such an individual would be of obvious interest to those that the defendant was in contact with within the Russian Embassy.' In November last year, Smith pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act by committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state (pictured: Smith at the Old Bailey during a previous court appearance) He was then approached by another undercover operative called 'Irina' who posed as an agent of the Russian intelligence service. Ms Morgan said that following his interaction with Irina, Smith was arrested by German authorities on August 10 2021. It was alleged Smith received 'substantial' amounts of cash in exchange for his spying activities. An analysis of his finances in 2021 found an absence of cash withdrawals indicating Smith had an alternative source of income. In addition, 800 euros in cash was seized following his arrest, the court was told. The court was told the British embassy had a clear desk policy for security reasons with all documentation secured at the end of each day. From the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the embassy had been operating with a reduced staff of 10-20% in the building. Smith, who is married to a Ukrainian woman, began working there in 2016. After his wife moved back to her home country in late 2018, the defendant's behaviour changed, the court heard. He went from being 'keen and polite' to expressing anti-UK and anti-German views, the court heard. Ms Morgan said Smith also expressed views about the war in Ukraine and supported Russia. Smith collected memorabilia at his flat, including German uniforms from the Second World War and a Russian flag. The investigation uncovered evidence that from around 2018, Smith began collecting secret information from the embassy which he stored on a USB stick. From May 2020 he amassed a 'significant' stash of images taken on a mobile phone and stored on an SD card, the court heard. A draft letter in Russian dated May 14 2020 was found addressed to 'Colonel Sivov' - a military attache at the Russian Embassy. In it, Smith appeared to offer up a 'sensitive' book from the defence section. He wrote: 'Knowing the Embassy, it will take some time before they even realise that it is missing. 'Obviously, I would like to remain anonymous for the time being, but I do have further information which I will send you later. 'I hope that you respect what I have written and understand my reasons for wishing to remain anonymous, since no-one wishes to get caught.' Mr Justice Murray is expected to rule on the defendant's intentions later in the week after Smith gives evidence on Tuesday. Smith faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for spying when he is sentenced on Friday. Among information found by police was an image of a letter classified as 'secret' to the Prime Minister from the Secretary of State for International Trade and the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy. In November last year, Smith pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Official Secrets Act by committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. Setting out the prosecution case on Monday, Alison Morgan KC described how Smith's activities were caught on camera during an undercover operation. It was prompted by a letter Smith sent in November 2020 to a member of military staff at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, which suggested ongoing contact. In the letter addressed to Major General Sergey Chukhrov, Smith issued a 'small update about the British Embassy' including images of security passes of staff. Smith was offered the chance to obtain 'highly sensitive information' relating to a Russian 'walk-in' informant called 'Dmitry'. A member of embassy staff asked him to escort his visitor as a favour, to which Smith replied: 'Oh, it's one of those.' The court was shown CCTV footage of 'Dmitry' arriving at the embassy on August 5 2021 and being put through security by Smith. During a meeting with the staff member in a room with no sound-proofing, Dmitry explained he was tasked with monitoring social media in the West about Russia. As part of the sting, Smith, who was hovering outside the door, was asked to copy a document Dmitry had brought with him and dispose of SIM card packaging. Later in his security kiosk, Smith was shown on CCTV using a small camera to film about 45 seconds of footage capturing Dmitry's visit saying: 'This'll do. I'll get the rest tomorrow.' On August 9, Smith was approached by another undercover operative called 'Irina', this time posing as an agent of the Russian intelligence service. In covert video played in court, 'Irina' accosted him at a tram stop and confided that somebody was passing on information that was 'damaging to Russia'. She said: 'We need you to find out what's happened and we think you can help us.' Asked if he had any information, Smith said: 'Just the usual run-of-the-mill bullshit.' He appeared sceptical, saying it had been 'sprung on me' and he need to speak to 'someone'. He added: 'I don't trust the bastards I work for. Would you trust MI5 and MI6?' Speaking in a strong Scottish accent, he went on to rant about his 'boring' job, saying: 'To tell the truth I don't want to be there anymore. I don't want to be in Germany. I'm stuck in the land of Nazi bastards.' Ms Morgan said that following his interaction with Irina, Smith was arrested by German authorities on August 10. It was alleged Smith received 'substantial' amounts of cash in exchange for his spying activities. An analysis of his finances in 2021 found an absence of cash withdrawals indicating Smith had an alternative source of income. In addition, 800 euros in cash was seized following his arrest, the court was told. Smith, who is married to a Ukrainian woman, began working at the embassy in 2016. After his wife moved back to her home country in late 2018, the defendant's behaviour changed and colleagues became concerned for his mental health. He went from being 'keen and polite' to expressing anti-UK and anti-German views, the court heard. Ms Morgan said Smith also expressed views about the war in Ukraine and supported Russia. Smith had Russian military memorabilia including a Russian flag and uniform cap Smith collected memorabilia at his flat, including German uniforms from the Second World War and a Russian flag. The investigation uncovered evidence that from around 2018, Smith began collecting sensitive information from the embassy. A draft letter in Russian dated May 14 2020 was found addressed to 'Colonel Sivov' a military attache at the Russian Embassy. In it, Smith appeared to offer up a 'sensitive' book from the defence section. He wrote: 'Knowing the Embassy, it will take some time before they even realise that it is missing. 'Obviously, I would like to remain anonymous for the time being, but I do have further information which I will send you later. 'I hope that you respect what I have written and understand my reasons for wishing to remain anonymous, since no-one wishes to get caught.' During the hearing at the Old Bailey on Monday, the court heard that Smith had denied intending to 'prejudice' the UK. He claimed he wanted only to cause 'inconvenience and embarrassment' to the British Embassy and did not receive any money. But Ms Morgan said: 'The defendant's deliberate engagement with the Russian authorities by providing them with confidential and sensitive information demonstrates an inevitable and clear intention to cause prejudice to the UK. 'It is implausible to suggest that he only took possession of material within the context of a dispute with his employers or because he intended to expose security lapses.' Mr Justice Murray is expected to rule on the defendant's motivation later in the week after Smith gives evidence on Tuesday. Smith faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for spying when he is sentenced on Friday. Donald Trump on Monday denied spending 'large amounts' of time coming up with nicknames for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as rumors of a possible 2024 battle between the two heat up. The New York Times reported on Sunday that Trump has taken to mocking DeSantis as 'Meatball Ron.' But on his Truth Social page, the ex-president downplayed the potential threat DeSantis poses to his political career, and returned to an old favorite insult of his by calling the governor 'Ron DeSanctimonious.' 'All of the Fake News is reporting that I spend large amounts of my time coming up with a good nickname for Ron DeSanctimonious, who is obviously going to give the presidential thing a shot,' Trump wrote on his platform. 'They are all 100% wrong, I dont even think about it A very unimportant subject to me!!!' Donald Trump denied spending 'large amounts' of time thinking of nicknames for Ron DeSantis after a report claimed he referred to the Florida governor as 'Meatball Ron' Trump issued his denial on his Truth Social platform on Monday morning The Sunday report also indicated Trump's campaign has gone into overdrive digging for early opposition research on his potential rival, focused on the governor's COVID-19 policies. He's reportedly also lambasted DeSantis as 'Shutdown Ron' for his early pandemic lockdown orders, which were lifted much earlier than in other parts of the country. DeSantis had seen his star rise during the pandemic as a vocal opponent to the Biden administration's public health policies, from vaccinations to remote learning. He's fast becoming a viable alternative for Republican voters who appreciated Trump's policies but found the man himself to be too bombastic and divisive. But like most governors, DeSantis did oversee early pandemic restrictions when COVID-19 became a serious issue in the US in March 2020. He made restrictions even stiffer in Broward and Palm Beach counties, shutting down their beaches - which Trump has been quick to bring up in recent weeks. Trump told CNN on his plane last month that DeSantis was trying to 'rewrite history' on his governing during the pandemic. DeSantis has not formally declared his intention to run for president, but his refusal to rule out a potential primary challenge to Trump has infuriated the former president. Just last week, Trump used his Truth Social platform to promote rumors that DeSantis partied with underaged girls while working as a teacher at a Georgia high school. DeSantis is fast emerging as the most viable alternative to the former president in the 2024 Republican primary, though he has not formally declared his intentions He re-shared a follower's post of an image purported to be a young DeSantis, with three girls around him whose faces are blurred out. 'Ron DeSantis was having a "drink" party with his students when he was a high school teacher. Having drinks with underage girls and cuddling with them certainly look pretty gross and ephebophiliaesque,' the post said. Trump commented: 'No way?' 'Thats not Ron, is it? He would never do such a thing!' he added in a separate post. But polls comparing the two potential opponents have shown that the contest is still very much up in the air - and that Trump still holds significant sway over the Republican party base. And when it comes to surveys of a wider net of potential GOP candidates, Trump still appears to hold the lion's share of support. One poll released last week by Morning Consult shows the former president still dominating the field with 49 percent support. DeSantis, the runner-up, has 31 percent. Meanwhile a Monmouth University poll released on Thursday indicates if the 2024 election were held today and just between the two, DeSantis would come out on top. DeSantis captured 53 percent of the vote from Republican respondents in a hypothetical head-to-head primary race, while Trump netted just 40 percent. The poll was taken January 26 through February 2. Pre-poll campaign with cartoons and stickers raising political heat in AP. (Photo: Twitter) TIRUPATI: With the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections still a year away and amid speculations of early elections, major political parties have begun setting the pitch for the high-stakes poll battle. A stickers and cartoons war is raising the political temperature in the state and might reach its climax sooner than later. They are also breaking down the sound barriers by a profusion of haunting one-liners, catchy slogans and captivating phrases. Curiously, the ruling YSR Congress and the Jana Sena (JS) have locked horns in many areas and are waging the sticker war. The ruling party is currently engaged in its Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam public outreach programme amid a replay of slogans like Why not 175/175 (for the YSRC)?. The YSRCs new rival, the JS party is coming out with strange names for its protests against the Jagan-led gvernment. The YSRC is planning to sponsor a sticker campaign featuring Jagan's image. It created stickers with Jagan's portrait and tagline "Maa Nammakam Nuvve Jagan", underlining the welfare programmes the government has been implementing. The party is making plans to affix these labels to the houses of the beneficiaries soon. It is also active in creating cartoon images, mocking Telugu Desam chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu, his son Lokesh and JS chief Pawan Kalyan. Raising the pre-poll campaign to a high level, YSRC leaders in West Godavari have urged all volunteers to place "Maa Nammakam Nuvve Jagan" stickers on the mobile phones of all the welfare scheme beneficiaries. They claim this is done with the consent of the beneficiaries, but this might not necessarily be the case. The YSRC believes that these stickers would assist Jagan in capturing people's hearts, mainly the beneficiaries of his Navaratnalu initiatives. In response, the JS party has designed stickers in addition to its cartoon war against the ruling party. The party created these with phrases such as "Maaku Nammakam Ledu Dora!", "Ninnu Nammalem Jagan", and "Appu Ratna Award", to catch the attention on social media. The TD is continuing with its anti-government campaign with titles like "Badhude Badhudu", and "Idhem Kharma". The main opposition party is also planning a stickers campaign with these slogans. A gunman accidentally shot his friend with a submachine gun while sitting in a car then dumped his body by the roadside - in a scene similar to cult movie Pulp Fiction. Chiragh Chiragh, 39, gunned down Mohamed Muhyidin, 28, as he sat in the front passenger seat of a car parked outside a flat in High Street, Harlington, west London in the early hours of Halloween morning in 2021. He then drove the victim's body minutes away round the corner and dumped it by the side of the road near to Heathrow Airport, where it was found by a taxi driver. The shooting happened in a car park outside a block where one of the flats was used as a base for drug users and dealers to meet, police said. Chiragh and Muhyidin, along with another man - Mohammed Shakeel who had a fake firearm - and a 17-year-old boy all went to the flat the previous evening, where an argument broke out. Chiragh Amir Chiragh (pictured), 39, unintentionally killed 28-year-old Mohamed Muhyidin by blasting him in the back as they sat in a Toyota Prius on HalloweenIN 2021 Mr Muhyidin's (pictured) body was then driven and dumped in a ditch near Heathrow Airport where it was later discovered by a taxi driver Just before 5am, Chiragh left the flat with a submachine gun and got into a car with Muhyidin, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. But as he climbed out of the back door of the vehicle, the gun accidentally went off and Muhyidin, who was sitting directly in front of Chiragh, was shot through the chair. The silencer fell on the floor and the submachine gun was fired another two times while Chiragh was holding it, police said. Chiragh then drove the car to nearby Sipson Lane and Muhyidin's body was left by the roadside, with the other members of the gang trying to cover up what happened. The killing mirrored a scene in Quentin Tarantino's hit film, Pulp Fiction, which sees John Travolta's character accidentally shoot an associate as he turned to talk to him in the back seat. At Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (Feb 10), Chiragh was handed a 20-year jail sentence with an extended five years on licence. Two thirds of his sentence must be served before parole is considered. A jury found Chiragh, of Harrow, west London, guilty of manslaughter and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon and perverting the course of justice. Associate Mohammed Shakeel (pictured), from Barking, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice Detective Inspector Lucy Carberry from the Met's Specialist Crime Command said today (Mon) that the defendants intended to injure someone that day, even if it was not the actual victim. Read More: Gangster who accidentally shot and killed his friend with submachine gun in a car is facing jail Advertisement She added: 'Chiragh may not have intended to harm Mohamed Muhiyidin, but it is clear that he, and his associates, were intent on harming someone that day. 'Chiragh was armed with a lethal weapon and Shakeel with an imitation firearm prior to Mohamed's death, which was seen on CCTV. 'Post shooting, they then colluded and conspired in an attempt to cover up what had happened to Mohamed. 'All played their part in this tragic story and all have quite rightly been made to face the consequences of their actions.' Mohammed Shakeel, 29, of Barking, east London, was handed a total of five years and four months in prison after he was found guilty of perverting the course of justice. He pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at a previous hearing. The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order for two years. A family has paid tribute to a son who died of a single stab wound just as a man has been charged with murder. Relatives of Lewis Smith said he was 'in the prime of his life with so much to look forward to' in the wake of his death on February 7. The 30-year-old, who lived in Taunton, died last Tuesday having been found critically injured at a house on Jurston Lane, Wellington. His family said: 'Lewis was a beautiful young man in the prime of his life with so much to look forward to. 'He was a treasured son, brother and nephew, loved so very very much by us all and our hearts have been completely broken by his tragic death.' Lewis Smith, 30, died last Tuesday having been found critically injured at a house on Jurston Lane, Wellington A post-mortem examination revealed that Lewis was killed after sustaining a single stab wound. Detectives launched a murder investigation following Lewis' death and arrested both a man and woman on suspicion of murder on February 7. The woman was released without charge on February 9, but 33-year-old Nicholas Stutt was then charged with murder. Stutt, of Taunton, appeared in Bristol Crown Court earlier today and has been remanded to custody with the next court date set for March 15. Lewis' family added: 'He was a shining light in the lives of so many people, always ready to enjoy life to the max. 'Despite many difficult times in his life, Lewis never gave up and always came back fighting, positive he could succeed. 'Rest in peace, Lewis. You will remain in our hearts forever and we will miss you every minute of every day.' Emergency services were called to an estate on Jurston Lane (pictured), Wellington, at 8.25am on February 7 Detective Inspector Mark Newbury, Senior Investigating Officer at Avon and Somerset Police, previously said: 'Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the man's family. 'Wed like to reassure the public that it remains our belief this was an isolated incident.' A top legal firm has been instructed to pursue libel proceedings against new Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson amid a local planning row. Bindmans LLP revealed its client, Michael Hollis, considered remarks the Ashfield MP made about a planning application to be defamatory. The firm claimed Mr Hollis, who runs a food bank charity, was 'outraged' by an allegation made against him by Mr Anderson in a Facebook post. He is now starting legal action after the Conservative politician 'refused to remove his post', Mr Hollis's solicitors added. But the dispute has led to claims that 'activist lefty lawyers' are 'trying to silence elected representatives'. The row is the latest controversy to involve Lee Anderson since he was appointed as the Conservative Party's deputy chairman by Tory leader Rishi Sunak earlier this month The row is the latest controversy to involve Mr Anderson since he was appointed as the Conservative Party's deputy chairman by Tory leader Rishi Sunak earlier this month. The outspoken 56-year-old was widely criticised last week after he revealed he backed the reintroduction of capital punishment in Britain. He has previously been dubbed '30p Lee' after he claimed there's not a 'massive use' for food banks in Britain and offered 'proof' that meals can be cooked for 30p each. On 1 February, Mr Anderson made a reference to 'brown envelopes' on social media as he queried a planning application he claimed had been passed by local councillors. In his Facebook post, the Ashfield MP included screenshot of a planning application made in Mr Hollis's name, referring to a property in Silverhill Lane, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. It was listed as a valid application on December 12, 2022, with a decision due by February 6. In a statement published on its website today, Bindmans LLP said: 'On February 1, 2023, Mr Anderson made defamatory allegations of bribery against a local man, Michael Hollis, who runs a food bank charity. 'Mr Anderson claimed in a Facebook post published to his 35,000 followers that money had changed hands in brown envelopes in relation to a planning application made by Mr Hollis. 'Mr Hollis is outraged by this allegation and, after Mr Anderson refused to remove his post, has taken the first steps towards a libel claim against him.' A senior Conservative source said: 'This is another example of activist lefty lawyers trying to silence elected representatives by threatening litigation. 'The simple facts are that the council's own officials considered the development to be inappropriate and that this was subsequently overturned by local politicians. 'It just so happens that the applicant's son, who has multiple criminal convictions, is the council's Executive Lead Member for Housing.' Tom Hollis, who is listed on Ashfield District Council's website as 'Executive Lead Member for Council and Social Housing', was last year found guilty of harassing his former neighbour and of careless driving, according to the Nottingham Post. President Biden on Monday fired the Trump-appointed architect of the Capitol after a call from GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for allegedly misusing federal resources and avoiding Capitol Hill on January 6. Biden is the only official with the power to fire Brett Blanton, who manages the Capitol complex. Blanton faced bipartisan heat last week during a hearing where members from both parties on the House Administration Committee called for his resignation. Blanton had already faced allegations of using a government vehicle for personal use and posing as a law enforcement officer, but during the hearing Thursday he admitted that he intentionally avoided the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Brett Blanton faced bipartisan heat last week during a hearing where members from both parties on the House Administration Committee called for his resignation Blanton said he did not think it would be 'prudent' to come to work that day. Instead, he said his government vehicle served as his 'mobile command post' during the attack and he listened to police radio and gave orders from afar. Blanton was one vote on a three-member Capitol Police Board tasked with making security decisions for the congressional complex and overseeing Capitol Hill's police force. Meanwhile an Oct. 26 report by the Office of the Inspector General said it found 'evidence of criminal violations throughout the investigation.' 'Blanton misled and provided false information to investigators on multiple occasions. Blanton used taxpayer dollars to fund an additional personal vehicle for his family. Blanton's actions have violated every pillar the OIG operates under including theft, fraud, waste and abuse against not only the AOC but also the taxpayer.' Blanton stands accused of using the government vehicle to drive all across the Washington region, and even as far as Florida and South Carolina with his family. The report said he also impersonated a law enforcement officer after a family member experienced a hit-and-run. Biden fired Blanton on Monday after a request from Speaker Kevin McCarthy and members of the House Administration Committee Addressing the allegations publicly for the first time last week, Blanton said he used his federal vehicle in case he had to rush back to the Capitol in the event of an emergency. Another statement he made flew in the face of that assertion - the architect said he strategically planned his family vacations with easy access to a military airlift in case he needed to rush back to Washington. Blanton claimed to have no knowledge of accusations that his 17-year-old daughter and wife drove the government vehicle. 'That would be something that would have to be discussed with them,' he told the committee. The OIG report found that Blanton and his family logged about 30,000 miles on government SUVs between January 2020 and February 2022, though only 10,400 miles should have been driven, based on the commute from Blanton's home to the Capitol. Blanton told lawmakers last week he no longer has access to a government vehicle, equipped with security and communications equipment - after accusations against him were reported funding for the car was stripped in a recent government funding vehicle. 'After being given the opportunity to respond to numerous allegations of legal, ethical, and administrative violations, and failing to directly respond, the President has removed Mr. Brett Blanton from his position a decision I firmly stand behind,' Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., ranking member on the Administration Committee, said in a statement after the ouster. Followed the Pentagon saying Sunday they 'couldn't rule anything out' Laughed at claims 'extra-terrestrial activity' is involved - and made an 'E.T.' joke The White House laughed off suggestions aliens were involved in the three unidentified objects shot down over North America during the weekend, at a briefing where a top official was still unable to say who set the objects aloft or what their purpose was. Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed any claim that 'extra-terrestrial activity' was behind the three 'takedowns' of UFOs over Alaska, Canada and Michigan bringing up the topic unprompted at the start of a press briefing Monday. 'There is no indication of aliens or extra-terrestrial activity with these recent take downs,' Jean-Pierre said during her White House briefing on Monday. She then made a joke about how she 'loved' the E.T. movie - while the Biden administration and Pentagon have still not revealed any details about the recent objects separate to the Chinese spy balloon. The U.S. is also still trying to recover debris from the downed objects and trying to figure out where they came from. Pentagon officials held a press conference on Sunday night in the middle of the Super Bowl, when the majority of the country was distracted, where they failed to answer many questions and sparked a flurry of speculation. The White House has laughed at suggestions aliens were involved in the three unidentified objects shot down over North America during the weekend General Glen VanHerck was specifically asked if it's possible the objects are indicative of extraterrestrial life. 'I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything. 'At this point we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it,' he said. Jean-Pierre brought up the alien issue at the top of the briefing, while reading through a prepared statement. 'And one last thing before I turn it over to you to me, I just want to make sure we address this on the White House's questions and concerns about this,' she said before providing her alien assurance. 'Again, there is no indication of aliens or [extra] terrestrial activity with these recent take downs,' she said. 'Wanted to make sure the American people knew that, all of you knew that, and it was important for us to say that from here, because we've been hearing a lot about it,' she said. 'I loved E.T. the movie, but I'm just going to leave it there,' she said, to laughs from the press room. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby then took the podium and rejected Chinese claims the U.S. has flown at least 10 spy balloons into their airspace in the last year. He revealed the spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina last weekend was part of a network linked to Beijing's People's Liberation Army. Kirby also fielded question about aliens, including asking for clarification on the Pentagon's comment 'ruling out any kind of extraterrestrial presence,' and how that jibed with Jean-Pierre's dismissal of the idea. 'I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these craft, period,' said Kirby, a retired Navy rear admiral. 'I don't think there's any more that needs to be said.' When asked why the most recent three were taken down, he said they posed a risk to civilian aircraft and there is not yet any evidence they were being used for surveillance. Kirby announced that President Biden through national security advisor Jake Sullivan directed an 'interagency team' to 'study the broader policy implications for detection, analysis, and disposition of unidentified aerial objects that pose either safety or security risks.' 'Every element of the government will be double their efforts to understand and mitigate these events,' he said. 'I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these craft, period,' said White House security spokesman Adm. John Kirby US military fighter jets were scrambled to shoot down an object yesterday over Lake Huron. It remains underwater today Since February 4th, US jets have shot down four objects including the Chinese spy balloon. Unlike the balloon, there have been no images of the other three objects, which were flying at considerably lower altitudes, and which remain a mystery Kirby said the U.S. had been able to recover some of the payload of the Chinese spy balloon U.S. forces were able to recover 'some of the fabric' of the balloon off the South Carolina coast. But much of the payload, assessed to be the size of three school buses, sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Kirby also provided new information about the mission to recover the Chinese spy ballon the only one of the four objects the U.S. has described as such. 'In the case of the Chinese spy balloon, we have been able to recover some debris and some of the electronics, and even some of the structure, from the bottom of the Atlantic and that will also tell us a lot and we are learning from it right now,' he said. But he noted that foul weather off the South Carolina coast had prevented further dive operations today. Weather conditions are pretty tough off the coast right now,' he said. He noted that the day after the shoot-down, U.S. forces were able to recover 'some of the fabric' and said in the day since 'they have been able to recover some, not all, of the payload that sank to the bottom of the Atlantic in 45 feet of water.' Kirby explained that in the case of the latest objects shot down, the U.S. determined they could be a risk to flights, with one at about 20,000 feet and two others at around 40,000 feet in the range where commercial aircraft fly. 'We assessed whether they posed any kinetic threat to the people on the ground. They did not. We assessed whether they were sending any communication signals. We detected none. We look to see whether they were maneuvering or had any propulsion capabilities. We saw no signs of that. We made sure to determine whether or not they were manned. They were not.' But he said officials did assess they could pose a threat to civilian aircraft due to their similar altitudes. And while we have no specific reason to suspect that they were conducting surveillance of any kind, we couldn't rule that out,' he said. That is why Biden, at the recommendation of top military leaders, gave the order to shoot them down. He said efforts were underway at all sites to locate the objects. But he said they were in 'difficult terrain,' including ice and wilderness. One was shot down over the Canadian Yukon. Another is deep under Lake Huron's fresh water on the Canadian side of the great lake. The second object shot down has been identified as landing on ice in the Beaufort Sea. The most recent object lies in what is 'probably very deep water.' At its greatest depths Huron is 750 feet deep. Kirby said U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian authorities were working jointly on recovery. He said the administration was briefing Congress on what it knows, and didn't rule out a briefing as soon as Monday. Kirby also got asked if the Biden administration had lowered the threshold for shooting down an object which might explain the sudden uptick. 'I think we just dont know right now, in terms of whether there needs to be threshold changes,' he said, raising the possibility that more craft were being detected due to adjustments in what U.S. radar facilities were looking for at high altitudes. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin addressed the shoot-down in Brussels, saying the U.S. 'acted out of an abundance of caution.' 'And I want to reassure Americans that these objects do not present a military threat to anyone on the ground. They do however, present a risk to civil aviation, and potentially an intelligence collection threat. And we'll get to the bottom of it,' he said. Austin said the U.S. hadn't recovered any debris from any of the three most recent shoot-downs. 'I want to be clear, the three objects taken down this weekend are very different from what we were talking about last week. we knew exactly what that was - a PRC surveillance balloon,' he said. He described difficult conditions at all three sites, noting that in Alaska 'sea ice, wind chills, and safety concerns' were 'partially dictating recovery timelines.' A Florida mother-of-two and Iraq veteran has vanished after telling her family she was afraid of her ex-boyfriend. Rachel Schwartz, 33, was last seen in Ring camera footage leaving her ex-boyfriend John Scorah's home in Waimauma, Hillsborough County with luggage around 5pm on January 31. She then checked into a veteran crisis center. The chilling Ring camera footage captured Schwartz walking away from the home as a man in the background shouted, 'Rachel I have everything you need, Im asking you to stay one more day.' Schwarts moved to Minnesota last year to escape Scorah, who was arrested in April 2022 for battery, according to Fox News. The charges were later dropped. At the time of her disappearance, Scwartz was in Florida visiting her two children, who she shares with a different man. Rachel Schwartz, 33, was last seen in Ring camera footage leaving her ex-boyfriend John Scorah's Wimauma home with luggage on January 31 The footage captured Schwartz walking away from the home as a man in the background shouted, 'Rachel I have everything you need, Im asking you to stay one more day' Schwartz's sister, Elizabeth Schrupp, said that she was supposed to fly home to Minnesota on February 4. 'Her last message to my dad was that she wanted to come home and she was afraid of her ex. The same day her phone and social media account went silent,' Schrupp wrote on Facebook. It's unclear why Schwartz decided to make a pit stop at Scorah's home, but her brother-in-law told the Fox News that her last words to her father was that she feared her ex. Schrupp claimed police have contacted her sister's ex-boyfriend since her disappearance. 'Police have conducted welfare checks on her ex boyfriends home- one with no answer and one after she had been missing for almost a week,' Schrupp wrote. Schwartz was active on social media during her trip to Florida, posting several photos. Her last post before she mysteriously disappeared showed her posing for the camera while eating. A few weeks before she shared a photo of herself roaming around the Sunshine State with a caption that read: 'I love finding open fields in FL. It's rare now days and one day this peace in earth may not be here.' Schwartz is described as a five-feet and two-inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes Schwartz moved to Minnesota last year to escape Scorah, who was arrested in April 2022 for battery. She went back to Florida in January to visit her two sons Before moving to Minnesota around late-October, Schwartz completed a PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program Before moving to Minnesota around late-October, Schwartz completed a PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, according to her Facebook. 'I highly recommended written exposure therapy for those who have PTSD and have struggled like I have,' she previously wrote. 'And it doesn't end here. This is only the beginning!' Schwartz is described as a five-feet and two-inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. The United States is urging all Americans currently in Russia to leave as soon as possible, escalating an already severe warning to travelers about the Eastern European country's safety. US citizens who remain in Russia are at risk of being 'harassed or incarcerated' by the Kremlin's law enforcement forces, a new State Department advisory said on Sunday. People who hold both American and Russian citizenship could be forced to participate in Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the State Department indicated. The brutal attack is in its twelfth month. Kyiv's forces will have been defending their land against Moscow's troops for a year on February 24. The latest American advisory pinpointed the war as the main source of concern. The Biden administration State Department is warning Americans to leave Russia immediately and not travel there Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion will reach a grim anniversary on February 24 with no end to the brutal attack in sight 'In September, the Russian government mobilized citizens to the armed forces in support of its invasion of Ukraine,' the statement read. 'Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance, subject them to mobilization, prevent their departure from Russia, and/or conscript them.' It also cautions Americans who are still in Russia against participating in 'all political or social protests' regarding the war or anything else 'and not photograph security personnel at these events.' 'Russian authorities have arrested U.S. citizens who have participated in demonstrations,' the message stated. The U.S. government is also severely limited in the help it can provide to Americans abroad in Russia, noting there are few available commercial flight options and that sanctions have made it harder to obtain financial assistance. 'U.S. citizens should note that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia, and options to electronically transfer funds from the United States are extremely limited due to sanctions imposed on Russian banks. There are reports of cash shortages within Russia,' the notice said. Additionally, the State Department accused Russia of arresting American citizens and failing to notify U.S. officials of their detention, as well as targeting Americans engaging in 'religious activity.' 'Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, singled out U.S. citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence,' it said. The latest State Department warning to Americans appears to mainly be based on the ongoing war 'Furthermore, Russian authorities arbitrarily enforce local laws against U.S. citizen religious workers and have opened questionable criminal investigations against U.S. citizens engaged in religious activity.' New legislation passed under Putin also reportedly allows the government to crack down on anyone perceived to be 'acting against Russias interests, including engaging with foreign and international entities, discrediting the Russian state or military, as well as advocating for the rights of LGBTQI+ persons.' The chilling warning comes amid concerns that Russia is launching a new offensive wave against its Eastern European neighbor. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on Monday morning that it's already begun. 'The reality is we have seen the start [of a renewed Russian offensive] already because we see now what Russia does now - President Putin does now - is to send thousands and thousands more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty,' Stoltenberg said. It comes the same day as a fresh and brutal attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Reports of heavy shelling in and around the city have persisted as Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries lead Moscow's offensive in the region. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said Monday that he wanted to investigate the Secret Service's 'bizarre' actions, which he claimed protected Hunter Biden. Comer, appearing on Fox & Friends First, said there were 'numerous instances where the Secret Service always showed up to try to help Hunter Biden.' The Kentucky Republican had been asked about a DailyMail.com exclusive in which agents remark with surprise that the agency got involved in an 2018 incident involving Hunter Biden's gun. His then-girlfriend Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother Beau, left his .38 handgun at the top of a trash can at Janssen's supermarket in Wilmington, Delaware in October 2018, sparking a police probe. The Secret Service denied its involvement in the case, but 487 pages of Secret Service records obtained by Judicial Watch, a right-leaning watchdog group, cast doubt over the agency's claims. 'It's bizarre,' Comer remarked, noting that the incident happened when neither Joe nor Hunter Biden were under the protection of the U.S. Secret Service. 'And this is another set of questions that Joe Biden needs to come forward and be transparent, not just with the American people, but especially with the House Oversight Committee, because we have a major investigation here and the Secret Service should now [be] a part of it,' Comer added. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (left) said Monday that he wanted to investigate the Secret Service's 'bizarre' actions, which he claimed protected Hunter Biden 'Maybe we were asked as a favor?' one Secret Service team member wrote on October 30, 2020, in reaction to the agency's alleged involvment in the 2018 Hunter Biden gun incident In October 2018, Hallie Biden tossed a gun that she'd found in Hunter Biden's pick-up truck. She was concerned he was going to kill himself with it, he told police later. She then went to retrieve it but it had gone and that's when police got involved The records show agency officials discussing media reports of its alleged involvement with one finding it 'odd' that USSS was involved in the investigation when Joe and Hunter Biden were not receiving Secret Service protection at the time. Another official responds: 'Maybe we were asked for a favor?' 'These new documents suggest that one can't take at face value the Secret Service's denial that it wasn't involved in the Hunter Biden gun cover-up,' Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton told DailyMail.com. A flurry of Secret Service internal emails began on October 29, 2020, when the Blaze published an article about Hallie throwing Hunter's gun in a supermarket trash can. One official emailed another in the Protective Intelligence and Assessment Division a link to the article. Another official, whose name is redacted, responded: 'Oh dear' After reading the article, one Secret Service Protective Intelligence Research Specialist wrote to their colleagues: 'It's kind of odd that we were involved in the missing gun investigation when neither Hunter or Joe were even receiving USSS protection at the time? Hmmm.' Another official replies: 'Maybe we were asked for a favor?' The documents also show the agency's response to a Politico reporter asking about their involvement. In 2021, Ben Schreckinger reported on the news site that Secret Service agents approached the owner of the store where Hunter bought the gun and asked to take the sale paperwork. The store owner refused. Hallie wrapped the gun in a plastic bag and put it in a trash van outside Janssen's Market in Wilmington The owner of the gun store, Ron Palmieri, said Secret Service agents visited the store and asked for the records that proved Hunter owned the gun. He refused to hand them over At the same time, Secret Service agents visited Starquest Shooters (pictured) and asked for records that proved Hunter owned the weapon Politico said their sources included someone 'briefed by a Secret Service agent after the fact'. DailyMail.com also published texts exposing the incident, which were cited in the trove of USSS emails. In a three-way text message with his therapist and Hallie, Hunter wrote: 'She stole the gun out of my trunk lock box and threw it in a garbage can full to the top at Jansens [sic]. Then told me it was my problem to deal with. 'Then when the police the FBI the secret service came on the scene she said she took it from me because she was scared I would harm myself due to o [sic] my drug and alcohol problem and our volatile relationship and that she was afraid for the kids.' As Joe Biden was no longer Vice President at the time, neither he nor his family were entitled to Secret Service protection. However, DailyMail.com has revealed multiple instances where USSS agents or recently retired officials from the agency appeared to be providing protection to the Biden family. A .38 revolver, similar to the kind Hallie found in Hunter's truck In response to Politico's report in 2021, the Secret Service said: 'US Secret Service records confirm that the agency did not provide protection to any member of the Biden family in 2018, and that the Secret Service had no involvement in this alleged incident.' Fitton told DailyMail.com he believed that the Secret Service may have intervened in the gun incident without creating official records. 'There's nothing inconsistent about them denying there are any records about the incident, with them actually doing something informally which is what the other email suggests may have happened. 'As the official said, did they do someone a favor? Politico didn't back down from its reporting despite the Secret Service's crimped, careful response. 'They say they don't have records. But they could have gotten a phone call and gone down and grabbed some things. They could have grabbed it and given it to a colleague at the FBI. Hunter's drug and alcohol problems are well documented. He is shown in one of a series of compromising photos that emerged during his father's campaign 'There's at least one federal law enforcement agency, the FBI, who took unusual action. And the Secret Service emails don't really answer the question one way or the other. 'I believe Hunter. He's not a dumb bunny. He's a smart person. He's not someone who's oblivious to what's happening around him. He's not going to mistake the Secret Service for someone else.' Officials named in the records obtained by Judicial Watch include James Henry, then-special agent in charge of the Philadelphia Field Office; Michael D'Ambrosio, assistant director of the U.S. Secret Service in charge of oversight of all Secret Service domestic and foreign Secret Service offices; Steven Stanford, then-deputy assistant director; Leonza Newsome III, then-deputy director; and Douglas Henderson, deputy assistant director, Office of Investigations. The watchdog had to file a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to get the records, after USSS failed to provide them through Judicial Watch's Freedom of Information request. The agency flip-flopped over the records for months, at first saying in April 2021 that it had 'potentially responsive records', then in October 2022 claiming it was mistaken and there were no records. Hunter Biden is pictured on February 4 boarding Air Force One with his father House Republicans have upped their investigation into the Biden family by demanding Hunter, his business partner and the President's brother James turn over documents related to their business deals A month later, and after Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit, the agency finally admitted it had over 400 pages of records. 'The Secret Service's changing story on records raises additional questions about its role in the Hunter Biden gun incident. One thing is clear, Judicial Watch's persistence means the public may get records that the Secret Service suggested didn't exist,' Fitton said at the time. The Secret Service has also come under fire from Congress after failing to provide records on Hunter's security details and travel to foreign countries. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who led a four-year investigation into the Biden family's business dealings, slammed the agency for holding back documents last year. 'In response to the senators' previous request, the USSS provided 259 pages of heavily redacted documents and failed to provide any records from 2010, 2011, or 2013,' Grassley wrote in January 2022. 'We determined that even though Hunter Biden was a USSS protectee from January 2009 through July 2014, the USSS did not produce any communications regarding Hunter Biden's travel for the years 2010, 2011, and 2013. 'The USSS's lack of communications during these years raises questions given that USSS travel records show that Hunter Biden made trips to China and other destinations around the world, including, Russia, Italy, Spain and Mexico.' DailyMail.com has published records from Hunter's laptop showing he did business with Russian oligarchs and visited them in Moscow, had a multi-million-dollar deal with a Chinese government-linked oil giant which is now under criminal-investigation by the FBI, and arranged for his billionaire Mexican business partners to meet then-VP Joe Biden at the White House and Vice President's residence, as well as flying with his business partner on Air Force Two to meet the Mexican businessmen. The newborn baby who has been fighting for her life in a Balinese hospital has returned to Australia with the help of a highly-specialised air medical team. Eight-week-old Lucky was carefully moved onto an emergency flight run by Medical Rescue before arriving in Brisbane on Monday night. Lucky has been battling a severe bacterial infection since last Wednesday but had been unable to return to Australia on a regular flight because of her fragile condition. A highly-specialised air medical team was sent over to stabilise the nine-week-old before they were able to fly her to Brisbane. Lucky was immediately transported to Queensland Children's Hospital where she remains in a critical but stable condition. The Australian baby who has been fighting for her life in a Balinese hospital has returned to her home country with the help of a highly-specialised air medical team Lucky had been battling a severe infection and was carefully taken on an emergency flight out of Bali on Monday Her mother Honey Ahisma said her daughter had handled the 'nerve-racking' flight back to Australia 'very well'. 'Last night, a highly specialised medical team (including one of Australia's top paediatric doctors/retrieval physician and a specialist intensive care paediatric nurse) arrived from Australia to assess Lucky, she was given the all clear to fly and today we made our way back to Australia,' she wrote on Instagram. 'It was a long and nerve-racking journey though we were made to feel very safe by being in such capable hands. 'Our strong girl did very well on the plane and there was no complications.' Ms Ahisma's fiance Pan told Channel Seven's Sunrise on Tuesday it had been a difficult week for the family. 'We were definitely faced with some really hard and difficult choices and challenges, and personally, I had no idea what I would do and I'm just so grateful to my wife keeping it together and being there for Lucky,' he said. Ms Ahisma said Lucky had faced many challenges in the last 24 hours as the expert medical teams tried to prepare her for the flight back home from Bali. 'I think the most worrying moment was just at the hospital when the guys first arrived,' he said. 'In the morning, it was supposed to be 20 minutes picking her up and taking her straight to the airport and there were a few challenges. 'They noticed that her IV wasn't in properly and they had to correct that, which was very hard with a seven-week-old baby. Ms Ahisma and her fiance Pan as the family were taken from Bali to Brisbane on Monday night Her mother Honey Ahisma said her daughter had handled the 'nerve racking' flight back to Australia 'very well' 'She hadn't been receiving her medicine properly which was one of the problems she has faced over the past few days.' Ms Ahisma held back tears as she shared her gratitude for the medical air team. She said doctors had been unable to diagnose the condition in Bali because of the lack of resources and that the family still had an intense few days ahead of them. Medical Rescue crew were sent over to Bali on Sunday, first stablising Lucky's condition and then preparing her for the trip home. The specialist medical group uses rescue helicopters, fixed wing air ambulance and telemedicine support. Clinical operations manager Josh Campbell told 7News they offered Lucky's family 'essentially a mobile intensive care unit' including a retrieval physician and a specialist intensive care paediatric nurse. 'It's a very delicate operation as you could imagine,' Mr Campbell said. 'We must get her improving and more stable before she can be transported,' Ms Ahimsa wrote in an Instagram post. 'She's fighting strong, yesterday there was a small improvement which is a miracle.' She added late Friday night: 'The hospital has more specialised staff and better equipment/medicine.' 'Goal is she will make enough improvements and then we can fly to Australia.' Ms Ahisma's fiance Pan told Channel Seven's Sunrise on Tuesday it had been a difficult week for the family Medical Rescue crew were sent over to Bali on Sunday, first stablising Lucky's condition and then preparing her for the trip home Lucky has been on a ventilator since she arrived at the Siloam Hospital in Denpasar on Wednesday, unable to breathe on her own. She was transferred to another hospital on Friday night where she received more comprehensive treatment. Doctors told Ms Ahimsa and her fiance Pan their baby girl may not make it and has a 50 per cent chance of survival at best. Lucky's ordeal has sparked an online fundraiser reaching over $190,000 in just a few days. Hospital care is currently costing the family $5,000 to $8,000 a day, with the flight to Brisbane currently quoted at $106,000. 'She is the most beautiful, gentle little girl and the world needs to know her,' Ms Ahimsa said. Money raised will also go towards recovery care along with accommodation for Lucky and her family. 'If there are any remaining funds they will be donated to a charity or used to create a non profit establishment that will help children,' the updated page states. Following an unseasonably warm winter, spring has arrived historically early in parts of the US, despite Punxsutawney Phil's predictions of a long winter. Parts of the South are seeing either the earliest spring on record or a spring that only occurs this early every 40 years, according to the National Phenology Network. The network tracks the arrival of spring by recording leaf and bloom activity in lilacs and honeysuckles, which grow widely across the country and are among the first woody plans to leaf out in springtime. Spring is up to three weeks earlier than average in parts of the South and Southeast, including parts of east Texas and the Mississippi Delta, the group found. In Charlotte and Norfolk, Virginia, signs of spring appeared 11 days earlier than usual, while New Orleans was running 9 days early, and Miami was two days ahead of schedule. Much of the Southeast is seeing either the earliest spring on record or a spring that only occurs this early every 40 years, according to the National Phenology Network The coastal Northwest is a few days to several weeks early, while Seattle is about a week early. Still, parts of the Southwest are running behind schedule, with much of southern California and Arizona days to more than a week late. Some parts of Arizona are seeing a spring that only occurs this late once every 40 years. Officially, spring does not begin until the Spring Equinox, which falls on March 20 this year. Meteorologists typically consider the first day of March to be the start of the spring season. This year's historically early spring weather in parts of the country comes as a blow to Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog prognosticator who predicted six more weeks of winter on February 2. It follows an unseasonably warm winter for parts of the country, including the Northeast, where many ski resorts were forced to shut down temporarily during peak season due to a dearth of snowfall. This year's historically early spring weather in parts of the country comes as a blow to Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog prognosticator who predicted six more weeks of winter A map shows where spring has already arrived, based on lilac and honeysuckle blooms A close-up view of the spring California Poppies and wild flowers blooming early this year in Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore earlier this month In Vermont, warm temperatures signified bad business. Thin snowfall within the state's borders has made it nearly impossible for skiers to enjoy the Green Mountains, which are part of Appalachians. 'Recently, it's simply not been cold enough for many ski resorts to effectively make snow,' Spencer Spellman, senior editor for On The Snow, told Fox Weather last month. Other major ski resorts in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut had to also temporarily shut down. New York City did not record its first measurable snowfall until February 1, the city's latest snowfall on records dating back to 1869. Philadelphia also made it through January without recording measurable snowfall, and Boston saw about a third of its usual snowfall totals through the beginning of February. Now, less than halfway through February, springlike conditions could be arriving soon in the Midwest and Northeast, at least temporarily. The chart shows the warmest 'Januaries' on record for New York City, based on average highs 'On Wednesday, the core of the warm air and the potential for record highs to be set will extend from Michigan and Ohio to Pennsylvania, West Virginia and upstate New York,' said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson. 'Highs in much of this zone at midweek will range from the 60s to the lower 70s,' he added. The high in Pittsburgh is projected to reach 67 F Wednesday, just a few degrees below the city's February 15 record of 69, which was set in 1954. 'On Thursday, the core of the warm air may extend from the Appalachians to much of the Interstate 95 corridor,' Anderson said. 'In the mid-Atlantic and New England, high temperatures will be well into the 60s from Washington, D.C., to Boston while parts of Virginia may reach the 70s.' Still, long range forecasts suggest that much colder air could return to the Midwest and parts of the Northeast by early March, which could cause problems for plants that have already bloomed by then. Pakistan Former President Pervez Musharraf. (PTI File photo) In my service with the Indian Army and subsequent to that, I have had occasion to meet many flag-ranked officers from all three services of the Pakistan armed forces, served with many of them in missions abroad and attended courses of instruction in other countries. In addition to that, I met many in unsuccessful bids for peace once we were all out of uniform. However, the man I wished to meet the most was Gen. Pervez Musharraf, former CEO and then President of Pakistan. The reasons for my desire were twofold. First, it was all about his strategy and the role he played as Pakistans Army Chief in initiating the Kargil War in 1999, and then leaving it to others to finish it for him. "Surprise and Deception" is a basic principle of war and Musharraf was an ardent student of warfare. His deception in the Kargil War was indeed of the highest order; the only problem being the fact that he deceived his own side (the political establishment and the other two services of the Pakistan armed forces) even more than he deceived the adversary (Indian Army). I never could meet him but if I had such an opportunity, I would have requested him to rationalise the assumptions he made in 1999 in his plan to force the Indian Army to vacate the Siachen Glacier. Why was he so obsessed with the Siachen Glacier? Not many have examined his career to arrive at fair deductions. The second reason why I wished to meet Musharraf was simply because he and I happened to be alumni of the oldest and perhaps the finest institution in the world for imparting instruction on strategic studies and international affairs: the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) of the UK Defence Academy, London. Of course, our attendance of the year- long programme was many years apart. With his recent passing, the chance of discussing many other issues with him has also passed. It is therefore only right that I put down some of my observations about the life and times of Pervez Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan at some of the most troubled times in the subcontinent. Musharraf is roundly cursed in India for the unnecessary loss of 527 lives of Indian soldiers in a war that he initiated and believed he could win. Some 450 or more Pakistani soldiers were also killed; being in defensive mode, their casualties were obviously less. Musharrafs military intellect could be questioned in any debate and the method of execution, including conflict initiation, would draw the ire of any tactician. But there were two reasons behind Musharrafs obsessive desire to battle India during his tenure as Pakistans Army Chief. First was the fact that he, for all his daredevilry as an SSG officer and commander, was first a Mohajir in a Punjabi-dominated Pakistan Army. The ethnic and sectarian divisions in the Pakistan Army are fascinatingly unbelievable. Yet they exist, even though the same is strictly denied. There have been many Mohajir Pakistan Army chiefs, but Musharraf wished to project his "Pakistaniat" as being a tad higher than the others. His refusal to salute Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during the famous "Bus Yatra" goodwill visit by the Indian Prime Minister in February 1999 smacked of immaturity. They needed symbols of hatred to survive their positions of arrogant power and Musharraf was willing to go the extra mile to achieve that. Interestingly, in the first flag meeting in many years, at Uris Kaman Post (now called Kaman Aman Setu) in February 2005, the commanding officer (CO) of the Pakistan Mujahid unit saluted me smartly and with full vigour when I walked across the old dilapidated bridge to the PoK side. I was then the commander of the Uri Brigade. Surely Musharraf could have been as mature as the CO. It was the over-smartness of the SSG mind which bettered his sense of balance when he decided to draw out the plan to occupy the winter vacated defences of the Indian Army in the Kargil sector, with his Northern Light Infantry troops. This would give the Pakistan artillery observation posts the chance to observe the moving convoys from Srinagar to Leh, the lifeline also to Thoise, the logistics base for Siachen, and cause their disruption. This, he had hoped, would upset the Indian capability to stock Leh and Thoise for winter as the other route Manali-Upshi-Leh -- had a limited time during which it was open. It was a plan that was never really war-gamed. Such strategic decisions are never taken on the whims and past experiences of a senior commander; they are national decisions involving the commitment of national resources. Musharraf wished to spring a surprise on the Pakistani people by presenting to them the occupation of the Siachen Glacier by the Pakistan Army by the end of 1999 or at the turn of the new millennium; under his leadership and his planning. A subset of the plan was to force the redeployment of Indian Army formations and units from the Kashmir Valley to Kargil, and thus open up space for large-scale infiltration into the Valley. Musharraf could also have attempted this elsewhere, but his Siachen obsession got the better of him. The Indian Army had beaten the Pakistanis in the race to occupy Siachen and its guardian frontier, the Saltoro Range, by just six days in April 1984. Musharraf, as an SSG brigadier at that time, made numerous attempts to capture a toehold on the Saltoro Range, but to no avail, as the Indian Army was too strongly embedded. This failure played on his psyche. He applied this failure to his assumption that the Indian Army too would similarly fail to evict his troops from the Kargil heights. History had other tidings for the fate of the Kargil war, making Musharraf the villain rather than the Pakistani hero that he wished to be known as. The Siachen phenomenon is hardly known to the public in Indian; the basic fact that the Pakistan Army has never officially acknowledged to its people or to the political leadership its inability to get even a foothold on the foreboding landmark. The truth, which drove Musharraf to various decisions, is that the Pakistan Army cant even view the Siachen Glacier due to the protection offered by the Saltoro Range. It was better to have admitted that than seek to fight a pointless war in Kargil. If that had actually happened, Musharrafs position in history may have been better respected. A festival-goer has revealed how bad conditions were inside a Sydney music event where a Commonwealth Bank worker died and several others had to be taken to hospital with dangerous drug reactions. Kieran Ngo, 26, died after he took a pill at the Transmission Festival which was held at the Sydney Showground on Saturday afternoon. He is believed to have taken MDMA and NSW Police are now investigating whether a bad batch of the drug is spreading through Sydney, as 12 others were also rushed to hospital after also taking pills. One person who attended the festival has revealed the security situation was 'shocking' and there did not seem to be enough police or emergency workers at the scene. The festival-goer was 'not surprised' to hear about Mr Ngo's death. Kieran Ngo, 26, took a pill at the Transmission Festival which was held at the Sydney Showground on Saturday afternoon. He died hours later 'I went along on Saturday night and I'm not surprised,' they told 2GB. 'Security on entry was a joke. 'Inside was bloody hot and only those lucky people with hand fans were able to stay cool inside. 'Bottles of water were extortionate charging $5 or more. I don't think there were enough police on hand. At about 9pm I saw ambulance paramedics rushing someone out.' The event kicked off at 3pm with Mr Ngo complaining he felt unwell after returning to his girlfriend's home in southwest Sydney at 1.30am. His condition deteriorated in hospital and Mr Ngo told doctors about the pill but he died at Blacktown Hospital at 3am. Of the 12 others who were rushed to hospital, seven required assistance breathing, while more than 400 tablets were seized by cops. Medical teams at the festival treated more than 130 people with complaints related to drug use and heat exhaustion In total, medical teams at the festival treated more than 130 people with complaints related to drug use and heat exhaustion. 'This is a really hard time for us...we are trying to understand what happened,' Mr Ngo's relative told the Daily Telegraph. Police are now speaking with Mr Ngo's girlfriend and friends to understand the circumstances leading to his death. Cops have arrested and charged six men aged between 19 and 33 with drug supply offences after they were caught with MDMA. A man, 23, was allegedly found in possession of 253 MDMA tablets while a 21-year-old was allegedly found with 149 MDMA tablets. The second man was charged with supplying and possessing a prohibited drug. Local knowledge could be 'absolutely crucial' in finding missing Nicola Bulley but interest from members of the public must be managed, an expert detective has said. This weekend St Michael's on Wyre was descended on by members of the public, who were keen to do their bit in searching for the mother of two. The 45-year-old went missing while walking her dog in the Lancashire village on Friday 27 January. Detective Martyn Underhill, who has worked on 50 murder cases, said detectives 'cannot beat local knowledge' in the hunt for a missing person or murder suspect. He said: 'The one thing I've learnt, and I've worked on 50 murders and I'm now lecturing on murders in university, is you cannot beat local knowledge. Local knowledge could be 'absolutely crucial' in finding missing Nicola Bulley (pictured), a detective has claimed Detective Martyn Underhill (pictured), who has worked on 50 murder cases and now gives talks on investigation techniques, said detectives 'cannot beat local knowledge' 'They know little intricacies - a little tree that's got a root that sticks out that someone will trip up on if they walked over it. 'It is silly things like that can become absolutely crucial in solving a murder or a missing person. 'You need armchair detectives,' he told the Sky News Daily podcast. Mr Underhill added that it is common for members of the public to want to get involved in solving a high-profile case. 'We have had armchair detectives since Adam and Eve. The first time was for Jack the Ripper,' he said. At times this can be 'frustrating' for the police and detectives, he said, noting his experience in searching for missing Sarah Payne in 2000. 'We had over 1,000 people a day turning up trying to help find Sarah and over 500 psychics contacting us saying they want to help. 'The problems have got bigger since Sarah because of technology... The public literally stomp all over your evidence.' 'Nine out of 10 missing people are solved by the public, not by the police. But equally, you have to manage that expectation. 'And I call it the tail wagging the dog. Mounted police in Knott End-on-Sea take part in the search for Nicola Mortgage adviser Nicola Bulley, 45, went missing along the River Wyre on January 27 (Pictured with partner Paul Ansell) Friends and family tied ribbons to a footbridge over the River Wyre, including one from partner Paul Ansell following Nicola Bulley's disappearance 'You have to have clear strategies in place that the public feel like they're being involved - [so] the armchair detectives don't feel rejected,' he said. Mr Underhill said he thought there were a number of factors that have driven Nicola's case into extreme popularity with the public and above the 'average' missing persons case in the UK. 'One is the beautiful photo of Nicola standing in front of the river where she disappeared, which is ironic and eye-catching. 'Then you've got the mobile phone story which is really unusual - that she is actually meant to be engaged in a Teams phone call at the time she disappeared and her phone is still there. 'And then you have got the other public interest. The public always take an interest in animals. There's a beautiful dog found at the scene.' It comes as today the diving expert who scoured the River Wyre for missing Nicola Bulley is set to start a new search on land in attempt to find where she 'could have been buried'. Peter Faulding, who carried out underwater searches for the mother-of-two, told MailOnline today that 'if someone's in the woods I will find them.' The world-leading forensic search specialist says he is 'confident' the 45-year-old is not in the water, as suggested by police. Mr Faulding said it's time to 'consider all options' and has vowed to look at 'possible deposition sites' - especially since there was a report of 'suspicious people hanging around' the area where she disappeared. Meanwhile, the ex-detective who exposed Jimmy Savile's crimes and investigated the abduction of Madeleine McCann will now probe Nicola Bulley's disappearance. Mark Williams-Thomas, 53, is planning to travel to St Michael's on Wyre this week to look into what could have happened to the mother of two. He hopes to rule out a number of outlandish theories aired by conspiracy theorists about the 45-year-old's disappearance. Karl Stefanovic has unleashed on Australia's major banks as small towns suffer amid the closure of 92 branches across the country. Nearly 100 branches have closed since September last year, and the majority of banks shutting up shop have been in regional Aussie towns - due to claims there wasn't enough foot traffic to keep them open. One town already grappling with the loss of their local Westpac branch is Cloncurry, in north-west Queensland, that has a population of nearly 4,000. 'These people deserve better,' the Today Show host said on Tuesday morning, adding the big four banks, ANZ, NAB, Westpac and Commonwealth had all made multi-billion dollar profits last year. Westpac's net profit was $5.69billion, Commonwealth's was $9.6billion, NAB had a $6.8billion profit while ANZ's net profit was $7.1billion. Karl Stefanovic has unleashed on Australia's major banks as small towns suffer amid the closure of 92 branches across the country 'They can't find the cash to keep a regional facility open,' Stefanovic said bitterly. Cloncurry Shire Mayor Greg Campbell said the elderly and Indigenous communities in his town who struggle to use internet banking will be heavily impacted once the bank closes. 'Our town is thriving and yet instead of Westpac supporting us, they're turning their back on us and walking away,' he told the breakfast program. 'It's really disappointing and frustrating and it just doesn't make sense.' Mr Campbell said his town was 'booming' and was successful in agriculture and producing minerals. 'It's also the message that it sends, when the community is thriving so much, when one of our banking institutions is walking away, that tells other investors ''are we seeing the true fact?'',' he continued. Cloncurry Shire Mayor Greg Campbell said the elderly and Indigenous communities in his town who struggle to use internet banking will be heavily impacted once the bank closes 'And the facts are this place is booming, people should invest, and it's a crazy and silly decision by the bank.' The Mayor added they were told of the bank's closure through an email while many customers found out through word-of-mouth. Stefanovic then joined the pile-on and said 'walking away from country towns is about as low as it gets'. The rural bank closures have prompted a Senate inquiry into the matter as thousands of frustrated Aussies demand their voices are heard. The Senate this week agreed the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee should hold an inquiry into the branch closure process, examining the social and economic impacts on rural communities and possible solutions. A taskforce, which ran for a year, received 416 submissions from rural residents distressed about dwindling essential services, limited access to cash, and the slow economic deaths of their towns. The big four Australian banks have all made massive profits in the last year yet are closing branches across regional Australia It released its final report in September finding vulnerable people, including the elderly, disabled and Indigenous communities, faced greater challenges when banks closed their doors. Farmers and small businesses also struggle as they often rely on face-to-face contact with bank managers who understand their enterprises. A month after the final report, the Westpac group announced it would close at least nine country branches, including in the major opal mining region of Coober Pedy, in South Australia. Coober Pedy locals have to take their banking needs to Port Augusta or interstate to Alice Springs, both more than 500km away. Junee, a farming and tourist town in the NSW Riverina, is set to lose its last bank, a Commonwealth branch, on March 3. More than 1,600 bank branches closed nationally in the past six years. As an expression of undying love, they certainly possess that everlasting quality. But whether anyone would be delighted to receive this bouquet from their Valentine today is open to question. For these flowers are made of Lego. So while, unlike traditional roses, they will last longer than a few days, your other half may feel no need to buy a new bunch come next Valentines Day. Another factor that could take the romantic edge off is that they are likely to be cheaper than the real thing. For example, a pair of Lego red roses costs 11.99, compared with around 20 for a single long-stem red rose via online delivery. However, retailers say sales of floral-themed Lego are blooming as Britons say it with plastic, even if there is the chance they will outlast the romance they are bought to celebrate. Retailers say sales of floral-themed Lego are blooming as Britons say it with plastic These flowers are made of Lego, so unlike traditional roses, they will last longer than a few days It is not just red roses the range includes tulips, daffodils and sunflowers. There are even full bouquets, with a vibrant display designed to mimic roses, snapdragons, poppies, asters, daisies and grasses, costing 54.99. For those who prefer something more natural, there is an arrangement of cornflowers, lavender, poppies, cow parsley, ferns, gerberas, larkspur and lupins. Retailer John Lewis says searches on its website for floral-themed Lego which also includes orchids, bonsai trees, succulents and heart-shaped tributes are up by 51 per cent on a year ago, with sales rising by 33 per cent perhaps showing that customers are building their relationship through gifts with a difference. It added: Three of our top five most popular Lego products at the moment are floral constructions. At the top of customers Valentines Day gift lists is the Lego orchid, closely followed by the Lego bonsai tree and flower bouquet. The chains toy merchandiser Ben Billingsley said: Our customers are still intending to say it with flowers, but not quite in the way youd expect. He added, tongue in cheek, that the floral Lego sets provide the perfect building blocks for any relationship. New Zealand has declared a national state of emergency due to widespread damage from Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle. Thousands of Kiwis on the North Island woke up to no power, flooded homes, road closures and phone outages on Tuesday after a massive storm caused major chaos and cut off communities, leaving an enormous trail of destruction in its wake. The state of emergency applies to six regions, including Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Hawkes Bay. Tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands, are without power due to destructive winds from the storm, including the entire city of Napier. A boatie is feared missing at sea near Auckland's Great Barrier Island following reports of a boat in distress. In Muriwai, a coastal town west of Auckland, a volunteer firefighter is feared missing, and another is in critical condition after a home collapsed under a landslide. Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty declared a national emergency shortly before 9am local time on Tuesday. It's just the third time in history New Zealand has declared a national emergency, first in 2011 after the Christchurch earthquake and again during the Covid-19 pandemic. Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle has caused widespread havoc on New Zealand's North Island with this upended car by the storm 'This is an unprecedented weather event that is having major impacts across much of the North Island,' Mr McAnulty said. 'The local leadership, CDEM groups, and emergency responders in all of the affected areas have been doing an outstanding job, but the widespread damage caused by this cyclone means we need a National declaration to support them. 'This declaration will enable the Government to support the affected regions, provide additional resources as they are needed, and help set the priorities across the country for the response. 'A National State of Emergency gives the National Controller legal authority to apply resources across the country in support of a national level response. 'This declaration gives us the ability to coordination further resources for affected regions. I want to emphasise that the Government has already been surging support and resources to the regions for some days.' At least 25,000 people have already received cyclone-related support, according to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Overnight, Gabrielle continued southwards before parking near Great Barrier Island, to the north of the Coromandel Peninsula. By 8am, it had moved east to the Bay of Plenty, north of Tauranga, but its massive size is whipping up destructive winds all across North Island. The massive clean up job has began as a national state of emergency was declared The city of Whangarei has been inundated with floodwaters as Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle continues to cut off communities Emergency crews were inundated with almost 900 storm-related callouts in the 12 hours to 4am Tuesday. MetService executive Lisa Murray said some areas of the Coromandel, the region closest to the storm's eye, received 300 millimetres of rain during the storm to date. 'It really is widespread across the North Island,' she told Radio NZ. Asked what area gives her the most concern, Ms Murray replied, 'There are so many areas'. 'There's a lot of places in trouble.' On the East Coast, the Gisborne and Hawkes Bay regions have been battered by similar totals, with rivers breaking their banks and forcing evacuations. 'I've been in the region over 20 years, and this is by far the biggest (storm) ... people have not seen a storm like this. It's a very, very significant event,' Hawkes Bay civil defence spokesman Ian Maxwell told Radio NZ. Kiwis have been warned to expect more wild weather on Tuesday as Cyclone Gabrielle continues to create widespread havoc Surface flooding as high winds hit Auckland's Tamaki Drive early this morning, as Cyclone Gabrielle makes her way down the North Island. Video / Hayden Woodward pic.twitter.com/mTpt5o4vsC nzherald (@nzherald) February 12, 2023 In Muriwai, grave fears are held for the safety of the volunteer firefighter missing after the home's collapse. Fire and Emergency NZ chief executive Kerry Gregory said the property was too unsafe to search. 'Our thoughts are with our firefighters, and with their loved ones. We are also providing support to the other members of their brigade,' he told TVNZ. Transport authority Waka Kotahi reports about 50 road closures, including State Highway 1 in several places and key arterial roads in the Coromandel and East Coast. Cyclone Gabrielle left behind a massive trail of destruction in Whangarei (pictured) New Zealand's North Island was in the firing line of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle Cyclone Gabrielle will continue to wreak destruction across North Island on Tuesday. Red wind warnings remain in place for Auckland, Northland, the Coromandel and Taranaki, with gusts of up to 140km/h forecast. Red rain warnings have been extended in Northland, the Coromandel and Hawke's Bay. A majority of the North Island, including Wellington and Napier, are under orange warnings for wind, suggesting up to 120km/h gusts, as is the northern region of South Island. 'Very strong wind gusts will continue in the lower & western North Island through Tuesday as the centre of Cyclone Gabrielle passes East Cape,' a NIWA weather alert states. Some of the worst hit regions have been ordered to restrict their water use. 'Muriwai, Helensville & Wellsford customers, Please reduce your water use now. Please do not use your washing machine or dishwasher. Your local water treatment plants have been affected by power outages & your water storage reservoirs are running low,' Watercare NZ warned. Kiwis felt the brunt of the wild conditions in Paihia (pictured) A Florida politician was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and stashing cocaine in his shoes after he fell off his motorcycle while fleeing police. Peter Filiberto, a Palm Bay city councilman, was traveling 'well above the 25mph posted speed limit' and skipping through stop signs minutes before he was pulled over on Saturday around 11:50pm. Filiberto, 34, attempted to lose the officer by making a U-turn which led him to lose control and fall over, according to the arrest affidavit. The politician, who has two previous DUIs, refused to talk to the officer but was arrested due to his breath smelling of alcohol and for driving with a non-motorcycle expired license. He was charged with reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance and operating a motorcycle without a license. Filiberto has since posted bail. Peter Filiberto, a Palm Bay city councilman, was traveling 'well above the 25mph posted speed limit' and skipping through stop signs minutes before he was pulled over on Saturday around 11:50pm The politician with two previous DUIs refused to talk to the officer but was arrested due to his breath smelling of alcohol and for driving with a non-motorcycle expired license The arrest affidavit claimed a plastic bag with 10.6 grams cocaine was discovered in Filiberto's shoe at the police station when he was being processed. The DUI stop wasn't Filiberto's first as records obtained The Space Coast Rocket revealed he was previously arrested in 2008 and 2019. In 2008, the city councilman also refused to perform a sobriety test and was taken into custody. Filiberto's license expired in September - two months before he was elected onto the Palm Bay city council. The councilman is a Republican who ran on the beliefs of safety, security and affordable housing, according to the news outlet. Bodycam footage of Filiberto's arrest will be available at a later date, police said. Filiberto wasn't immediately available for comment. Filiberto has served on city council since November 2022. His term was expected to be up in 2026 Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina commented on Filiberto's arrest and pledged transparency as details emerge. 'As mayor of the city of Palm Bay, I wanted to share my heart regarding the arrest of Councilman Filiberto. This is an active investigation and these are serious charges; however, I have full faith and confidence in the Palm Bay Police Department as they handle this matter with integrity and in accordance with the law,' Medina told WFTV 9. 'My prayers go out to Pete Filiberto and his family as they work through this situation. As you all know, my focus since being elected mayor has been to restore trust and confidence in the city and its leadership. 'And I want our community to know that I take this seriously, and we will continue to communicate and provide transparency through this process.' A Colorado police officer died after plummeting 40-feet from a bridge while trying to arrest three car-jacking suspects. Officer Julian Becerra, 35, assisted in a car chase that led to a bridge near Colorado Springs on February 2. The suspects fled from their car and Becerra pursued on foot, before tumbling off the bridge where he was critically injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died nine days later. Becerra, an Air Force veteran, left behind a wife and two children. Officer Julian Becerra, 35, died after spending nine days in the hospital following the fall A police procession brings Officer Julian Becerra's body from the hospital to the coroner The chase began around 4pm when the Department of Corrections called for help in pursuit of the suspects. The car chase wove through the area, and the suspects tried to steal another car along the way, Fountain Police Commander Mark Cristiani said, according to the New York Post. Officers were finally able to disable the suspects' car around 8pm, and they fled onto the bridge. Becerra landed in a riverbed while chasing on foot. The suspect he was in pursuit of tried to jump from the bridge himself, but was arrested by officers before he could. All three carjacking suspects, Anthony Vallejos, 37, Devon Bobian, 31, and Danisha Pacheco, 28, were apprehended. Each was charged with numerous felony charges, including felonies related to the car chase. Devon Bobian, 31, received felony charges after the car chase which led to Beccera's death Danisha Pacheco is suspected in the car chase leading to Officer Becerra death Anthony Vallejos, 37, is suspected in the chase that led to the death of Officer Julian Becerra Officer Julian Becerra had been with the police in the K-9 division for over four years Officer Julian Becerra with his young son. He also left behind an eight-year-old daughter Beccera's children were a one-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter, according to Denver 7. His and his wife had been married eight years. '[He's] just a fantastic dad. I've actually gotten to learn a lot from him as a dad, and a great husband as well. [He's] just always there for his family, and never complaining. He's just a fantastic guy,' his brother-in-law, David Alderman, said after the accident. The Fountain Police Department thanked the community for their support in a statement. 'We appreciate the public's outpouring of support over the past week for Officer Becerra, his family and the Fountain Police Department,' they said. The Fountain Police Department said Beccera was 'surrounded by his family and friends' while he lay on life-support. Becerra had been with the police force for over four years, and was part of the K-9 division. A procession followed his body from the hospital to the coroner's office after his death. His brother-in-law set up a GoFundMe to support Beccera's family. Alex Murdaugh could take the stand in his own defense in the double murder trial of his wife and son, a source close to his lawyers has claimed. In a move described by experts as 'virtually unheard of,' the disgraced legal scion, 54, would expose himself to cross-examination that could explode his alibi. Murdaugh is accused of shooting Maggie and Paul at the family's sprawling hunting lodge on June 7, 2021, to distract from his financial crimes. He claims he was visiting his mother and arrived back home to find them dead. The state is expected to rest its case on Wednesday, meaning that the defense could call Murdaugh as early as this week. The source told News 2 that the plan remains subject to change. Murdaugh's defense team refused to comment. Alex Murdaugh and defense attorney Jim Griffin stand as prosecutor John Meadors enters during day 16 of Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Monday An emotional Alex Murdaugh leaving the Colleton County Court on February 13 The state is expected to rest its case on Wednesday, meaning that the defense could call Murdaugh as early as this week. He is pictured here leaving the court on Monday Lori Murray, a former prosecutor from South Carolina, told DailyMail.com: 'It's virtually unheard of to call a defendant to the stand to testify in his own defense because when you do, you open your client up to cross examination which is basically a publicized interrogation with leading questions. 'Instead, most defense attorneys focus on a lack of evidence against their client or, as in this case, shoddy police work. Remember the burden is on the state to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 'The defendant has no burden to prove his own innocence. However, in some cases, like this one, there are some facts that can only be explained by the defendant taking the stand. Alex almost has to take the stand to explain why he lied about his alibi and where his clothes are.' Jurors have heard evidence of a video taken by Paul shortly before he was killed in which Murdaugh's voice can be heard along with Maggie's down at the kennels on the estate. But the disbarred attorney claims he was only ever at the murder scene after they were shot dead. His housekeeper testified last week that clothes, a shirt, pants and shoes, that Murdaugh was wearing earlier that evening went missing and were never found. Murray said: 'The defense also knows the jury will want to hear from him and its his change to talk about his love of his family and to show the emotion that could sway the jury. Hopefully, as an attorney and due to detailed preparation by his attorneys, he will be capable of handling himself on the stand.' Murdaugh wept on Monday as the court heard graphic testimony from coroner Ellen Riemer. She told how Paul's brain was blown out the back of his head by a shotgun, while Maggie was shot five times with a high-powered assault rifle. New footage of Murdaugh sobbing yards away from their blood-soaked bodies was also revealed for the first time after it was shown earlier in the trial. The disgraced legal scion, 54, is seen sobbing and asking the first officer on the scene, 'They are dead aren't they?' The bodies are blurred out in the footage released to the public. 'It's bad, I checked their pulses,' Murdaugh tells the cop as he paces up and down, wearing a white t-shirt, shorts and sneakers by the kennels on the property. Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh. Buster was staying with his girlfriend near Charlotte at the time of the murders Alex Murdaugh is seen on June 7, 2021, at the murder scene at the family's hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina. Murdaugh is speaking on the phone in the video and tells the officer it's his brother on the line. Murdaugh tells Sergeant Daniel Greene that he had been gone for about an hour and a half to visit his mother. 'I saw them about 45 minutes before that,' he says. 'I rode around with Paul for two hours this afternoon in the pick-up truck,' he tells the cop. He then asks: 'Has somebody gone to check 'em? They did check 'em? They're sure that they're dead?' The officer confirms that they are dead. Murdaugh's Chevrolet Suburban is seen parked up close by with a shotgun leaning against it. He tells the officer he retrieved the shotgun but is otherwise unarmed. The disgraced attorney is speaking on the phone in the video and tells the officer it's his brother on the line. Jurors were today shown images of the grisly scene as coroner Riemer talked them through the injuries Maggie and Paul suffered. She explained that Paul could have remained standing after the first shotgun blast to his chest, but that a second shot blew his brain out the back of his head. The 22-year-old's brain arrived at the autopsy in a separate bucket, the court heard. The fact that Paul's face remained intact tells you he was facing his shooter, Riemer testified. She said Maggie's first two wounds featured gunpowder stippling, indicating her shooter was no more than three feet away. The first three rounds were not immediately fatal, striking her thigh and torso. The direction of travel indicates Maggie was kneeling on all fours when she was struck by the fourth shot, which passed through the left side of her breast and penetrated her brain. 'When it entered the left side of the face, it basically destroyed the brain,' Riemer told jurors. A final shot was delivered to the back of the head from close range as she was lying on the ground, the coroner said. No murder weapon has ever been found. Buster Murdaugh arrives at court Monday with his girlfriend Brooklynn White, Alex's sister Lynn is behind them as they are escorted by security Alex's brother John Marvin Murdaugh, his sister Lynn and son Buster with his girlfriend Brooklynn White, arrive at court Monday The State says Murdaugh killed the pair to distract from his financial crimes. He embezzled millions from his law firm and was facing a lawsuit over his son's drunken boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach in February, 2019. On the day Maggie and Paul were murdered, Murdaugh had been confronted over $792,000 that he stole from the firm. Later that week a hearing to determine the state of his finances was due in the boat wreck lawsuit. Murdaugh told lawyers for Beach's family that he was broke and the court has heard how he was siphoning funds from the firm into his personal accounts in an attempt to shield the money from the lawsuit. Maggie had recently confided in their housekeeper that they were being sued for $30million. The defense theory is that somebody else killed Maggie and Paul in revenge for the boat accident. They argue that their client was a 'loving' husband and father who could have never killed his wife and son. They have branded the State's alleged financial motivation as 'ludicrous'. Murdaugh claims that he went to visit his mother at around 9pm on the night of the murders. The State says Maggie and Paul were killed shortly after 8.49pm and that a video taken by Paul at 8.45pm proves he was at the scene. Several witnesses, including close family friends, have testified they can hear the voices of Alex, Maggie and Paul in the footage. But the alleged killer told investigators he was never at the kennels. Murdaugh says that the family ate dinner together around 8.15pm and that Maggie and Paul went down to the kennels while he fell asleep in front of the TV. At the time of Maggie and Paul's deaths , Murdaugh and his son were facing a civil suit over the boat wreck that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach in February, 2019. Murdaugh told cops Paul and Maggie had been killed in revenge for the accident At 9.06pm, his Chevrolet Suburban was fired up and he went to visit his mother in Almeda, around 15 minutes away. He claims he was there for around 40 minutes, although this is disputed by his mother's caregiver who said he was only at the house for 20 minutes. Murdaugh says he arrived back at the hunting estate to find Maggie and Paul dead at the kennels. He called 911 at 10.07pm. First responders have testified that they did not check either Maggie or Paul because their injuries were so horrific as to be 'incompatible with life.' Two shots entered Maggie's head, while Paul's brain was completely detached from his skull. The court has previously heard evidence that Murdaugh's clothing when cops arrived appeared clean to the extent that police believed he had recently changed. Blood tests carried out on his white t-shirt later came back positive. However, Murdaugh does say that he touched their bodies to check for signs of life. An earlier video taken that night by Paul at 7.56pm shows Murdaugh wearing a blue shirt, long pants and brown loafers. The family's housekeeper Blanca Simpson testified last week that she never saw the items of clothing ever again. Alex Murdaugh listens to his friend Chris Wilson testify during his double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday The family's housekeeper Blanca Simpson testified Alex told her to go to the house and clean up the day after Maggie and Paul were killed at the kennels on the estate in Moselle, South Carolina, on June 7, 2021 The State intends to rest its case by Wednesday and then the defense will start calling their own witnesses. 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. 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 $9million 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 state 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. Vladimir Putin is pulling mercenaries from Russia's notorious Wagner Group out of Ukraine over fears from the Kremlin that they are becoming 'too powerful', reports say. The squad, which consists of 50,000 troops, have been a key part of Russia's horrific invasion of Ukraine - fighting in the east of the war-torn nation. The Russian President, Putin, reportedly became more concerned about his own position before the demotion of Wagner, founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin - which recruits many convicted criminals - was ordered. Prigozhin has halted in the recruiting of prisoners and he will withdraw soldiers in the next few weeks, sources reportedly claimed. But these soldiers will reportedly be replaced by up to 300,000 regular Russian troops to fight in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin is pulling mercenaries from Russia's from the notorious Wagner Group run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, out of Ukraine over fears from the Kremlin that they are becoming 'too powerful'. Pictured: Yevgeny Prigozhin (left) shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) around his factory which produces school means, outside St. Petersburg, Russia in September 2010 Yevgeny Prigozhin (marked) pictured with other Wagner Group fighters at LNR at the beginning of August 2022 While Prigozhin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov are allies of Putin, they are said to be becoming increasingly more powerful. Both them, as well as Russian General Sergey Surovikin - who was recently demoted - are also suspected as possible plotters against Putin, the Mirror reports. Russia expert Bruce Jones told the paper that President Putin and Prigozhin have been 'very close contacts and allies for decades'. He added: 'This appears to be a parting of the way after Prigozhin had been openly critical, even abusive to senior military figures in the regular forces.' He added that his criticism of the conduct of Russia's regular armed forces and their leaders was an implied slight against the Russian President, 'who now sees him as a potential rival'. This comes as Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said today that Russia's feared new major offensive in Ukraine has already started, warning that Ukraine is using more munitions than the military alliance is producing. Yevgeny Prigozhin filmed recruiting inmates in one of Russian colonies in September 2022 Russia 's feared new major offensive in Ukraine has already started, NATO 's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday, and warned that Ukraine is using more munitions than the military alliance is producing. Pictured: A Ukrainian tank rides to its position in the frontline in Bakhmut, Donetsk region on Sunday 'We see no sign whatsoever that [Russian] president [Vladimir] Putin is preparing for peace ... What we see is president Putin and Russia still wanting to control Ukraine', he said, almost one year after Moscow launched the war in February 2022. 'We see how they are sending more troops, more weapons, more capabilities.' Russia is widely thought to be planning a major new offensive to regain momentum in the war, which has been in a stalemate since Ukraine's counteroffensives last year that recaptured vast swathes of its territory. Ukraine says it needs main battle tanks, fighter jets and long-range missiles to counter this and to recapture more of its lost territory. Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg has so far remained silent on the Ohio train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals and forced thousands to evacuate, but he did speak out about the lack of diversity in construction this week. Addressing the National Association of Counties Conference, Buttigieg accused construction sites of not hiring workers that look like the communities they're building for. 'We have heard way too many stories from generations past of infrastructure where you got a neighborhood, often a neighborhood of color, that finally sees the project come to them, but everyone in the hard hats on that project, doing the good paying jobs, don't look like they came from anywhere near the neighborhood,' Buttigieg said. Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg has so far remained silent on the Ohio train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals and forced thousands to evacuate, but he did speak out about the lack of diversity in construction this week He also praised infrastructure projects in the works throughout the nation, calling it an 'exciting time' as the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law pours funds into the transportation sector. Later in the evening Buttigieg put out a tweet about the derailment: 'I continue to be concerned about the impacts of the Feb 3 train derailment near East Palestine, OH, and the effects on families in the ten days since their lives were upended through no fault of their own.' He said that his department had been supporting an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). 'We will look to these investigation results & based on them, use all relevant authorities to ensure accountability and continue to support safety,' he added. But onlookers had been waiting for the Transportation secretary to address the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio that caused a toxic chemical leak and the evacuation of some 5,000 local residents. About 50 cars on a Norfolk Southern Railroad train veered off-track while traveling from Illinois to Pennsylvania. The train had been carrying toxins like vinyl chloride, phosgene and hydrogen chloride. According to the National Cancer Institute, vinyl chloride is associated 'with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as well as primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.' Officials carried out a controlled burn of the spillage and evacuated residents within a one-mile radius of the incident. Residents of the small town along the Pennsylvania-Ohio border were allowed back after tests confirmed the air and water was safe. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Sunday it has not detected any concerning levels of toxins in the air quality, though the incident raises concerns about lasting ecological damage and dangerous working conditions for railroad employees. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has said the town's water supply is safe but the spill has resulted in the death of fish. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimated some 3,500 fish swimming in contaminated streams died from the incident. Smoke billows up from the wreckage of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio are still on fire at mid-day Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. The Transportation Department could not immediately be reached for comment. Buttigieg's silence on the matter was pointed out on social media. 'He jokes about balloons while ignoring East Palestine, OH,' former Ohio state Senator Nina Turner, a Democrat, tweeted along with a video of Buttigieg making a reference to the Chinese spy balloon shot down last week over the Atlantic Ocean. 'We deserve better than this,' she added. 'When the topic of racist highways or white construction crews comes up, Secretary @PeteButtigieg is an open book,' David Giglio, a former congressional candidate from California, wrote on Twitter. 'But, when an ecological disaster takes place in Ohio he is MIA.' Former Rep. Mayra Flores, a Texas Republican, tweeted Monday: 'Silence from the press and the federal government is dereliction of duty to the public. Where is Pete Buttigieg? How will this Ohio train derailment affect our farmers, the nearby population, and our supply chain for Americans?' In the aftermath of the crash, some rail experts have called on Buttigieg's Transportation Department to reinstitute an Obama-era regulation aimed at expanding the use of electronic braking technology, deemed safer than the widely used braking systems that have been around since the 1800s. Rail lobbyists had successfully pressed the Trump administration to repeal the 2015 rule that required newer, safer electronic braking systems in some trains that were transporting hazardous materials. CRPF personnel patrol Jammu-Srinagar national highway. (PTI File Photo) It is far from certain if there is enough clarity at the Centre as regards the nature of the security grid to maintain in Jammu and Kashmir that was downgraded from a full-fledged state to a UT in August, 2020. When militancy was at its worst in the early 1990s, the J&K Police was a traditional, slow-footed, and ill-trained force wholly unfit to deal with the terrorism. As such, the only way for J&K state, which then included Ladakh that has been hived off as a separate UT to deal with the full-fledged crisis was to depend on the forces of the Centre the Army, the central paramilitary forces mainly in the shape of the BSF (and only marginally the CRPF), and the Intelligence Bureau. There was every sign that the Indian state was at sea. It was called upon to deal with a situation of neighbour-backed insurgency and terrorism, and there were no rule books to consult, no precedent to act as guide. In the space of a few years, the situation began to improve, however. More CRPF, less BSF and Army began to be evident on the streets and in villages. The J&K Police was transformed into a superb force over the years. While dealing with law and order, it could with panache undertake counter-terrorism operations in support of the Army as well as independently, when required. For a decade or more, it has been the case that it is the state (now UT) police along with the CRPF that has been the prime carrier of security sector responsibility in J&K. In special situations, as in 2016, when large-scale violence erupted upon the neutralizing of the militant Burhan Wani, the Army, is called in. Otherwise, the Army covers the LOC which is in the periphery of rural Kashmir. The BSF, over the years, is deployed chiefly in the Jammu division. The CRPF is the main central force in J&K. News reporting in this newspaper, emanating from the Centre, suggests that the current thinking is that the CRPF will henceforth be officially earmarked as the primary vehicle for law and order and internal security in J&K. In a way, this describes a situation which already exists. But to make the arrangement formal would imply the relegation of J&K Police to auxiliary status. Following the changes enacted in 2020 and the downgrading of J&K, this too has regrettably taken place. The police force of the erstwhile state has been merged with the AGMUT cadre. Officers from other UTs, with no experience of dealing with the complexity of J&K and the special situation that obtains, are now in leading positions. This is bad for police morale. No central force, the CRPF or any other, can be effective unless it has the backing, in the spirit of camaraderie, of the local police who know the land and the people. Of late, J&K also has to pay for the CRPF. On this count about Rs. 5,000 crores is owed to the Centre, and this has impacted public goodwill. The best scenario is to let the police force do the heavy lifting, with the CRPF standing in support, not the other way round. The Rashtriya Rifles, a specialised formation of the Army, is rightly dealing with counter-terrorism primarily. One in six employees are still based at home five days a week, official figures showed yesterday. More than a quarter of the labour force is also combining remote working with travelling to the office. And, with commuters being hit by train strikes, four in ten spent at least one day at home over the past few months. The Office for National Statistics said its latest survey suggested the practice was here to stay, almost a year after Covid-era lockdown laws were lifted. There had also been predictions that soaring energy bills would send staff back to their desks. Throughout 2022 the percentage of working adults reporting having worked from home has varied between 25 per cent and 40 per cent, without a clear upward or downward trend, said the ONS. One in six employees are still based at home five days a week, official figures showed yesterday (stock image) This indicated that homeworking is resilient to pressures such as the end of restrictions and increases in the cost of living. Its report stated that before the pandemic struck, only about 12 per cent of working adults said they were at home in any given week. At the height of lockdown the figure reached 49 per cent, falling to 38 per cent last spring. But between January 25 and February 5 this year it rose again slightly, with 40 per cent of adults having worked from home at some point over the previous week. Latest analysis of ONS lifestyle surveys found that 16 per cent of working adults reported working from home only between last September and January. A further 28 per cent were hybrid both working from home and travelling in. Another 56 per cent said they solely went out to work. Teenagers and young adults were the most likely to travel to work while those in their 30s and 40s were most commonly out of office. Working remotely was also predominantly enjoyed by the best paid in society, such as professionals and managers with 27 per cent of homeworkers and 53 per cent of hybrid workers on at least 50,000. There had been predictions that soaring energy bills would send staff back to their desks Overall, 44 per cent of workers across England and Wales said they had worked from home in recent months. But in London, a staggering six in ten workers (59 per cent) said this was true either all or part of the time. Nationwide, more public sector workers were based at home part or all of the time than those in the private sector (48 per cent versus 40 per cent). The figures show the challenges bosses face in getting staff back. Many believe employees are so used to a better work-life balance they will quit if forced in. Ministers led a drive to get civil servants back to Whitehall but figures show it petered out in January. The 'small, metallic balloon' that was floating near Michigan reportedly cost the U.S. government nearly a million dollars' worth of missiles to shoot down. A U.S. Air Force F-16 missed on its first attempt to shoot down the balloon floating over Lake Huron. It then fired a second Sidewinder AIM-9X missile that hit the target, Fox News reports. Each Sidewinder costs around $400,000. The unidentified flying object was described by a Pentagon memo as a 'small, metallic balloon with a tethered payload below it.' The object soared near the eastern portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula over Lake Huron, crossed near 'US sensitive sites' before it was taken out. The details came out as the White House laughed at claims aliens were involved after the Pentagon refused to rule out the objects could be linked to extraterrestrials. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has not publicly addressed the recent tranche of shoot downs as the public is demanding answers as to what they were, who sent them and the threat they posed. Lawmakers have questions too. Senators will get a classified briefing on Tuesday morning about the objects. A U.S. Air Force F-16 missed on its first attempt to shoot down the balloon floating over Lake Huron. It then fired a second Sidewinder AIM-9X missile that hit the target, Fox News reports. Each Sidewinder costs around $400,000 Timeline of recent UFO sightings over US airspace Wednesday, February 1: Chinese balloon is spotted above Montana (this is not being referred to as a UFO as it was identified as a balloon) Saturday, February 4: Chinese balloon is shot down off the coast of South Carolina after having drifted across the country Thursday, February 9: First UFO is detected off coast of northern Alaska Friday, February 10: UFO is shot down over Deadhorse, Alaska Saturday, February 11: Second UFO is shot down over Mayo, Yukon, Canada. FAA shuts down airspace over Montana citing another possible UFO, but NORAD claims it was a 'radar anomaly' Sunday, February 12: Third UFO is detected over the Great Lakes and shot down Advertisement U.S. fighter jets have shot down four high-altitude objects this month - the one shot down off the coast of South Carolina was known to be a balloon from China. The other three - one shot off the coast of Alaska on Friday, one shot over Canada's Yukon area on Saturday and the Michigan one on Sunday - had yet to be identified. 'I want to be clear, the three objects taken down this weekend are very different from what we were talking about last week. We knew exactly what that was - a PRC surveillance balloon,' Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday. 'We're gonna confirm what they are, once we have collected the debris,' he added. The Pentagon memo, which was sent to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, says that the object shot down over Alaska on Friday was the 'size of a small car' and not similar to the Chinese balloon taken down off the coast of South Carolina. The Canada one is being investigated by Canadian authorities - although the FBI is assisting. No more details were available. 'We have no further details about the object at this time, including the full scope of its capabilities, its purpose, or its origin,' the Pentagon memo says. But, the nation's military warned, it should not be assumed all the recent events are related. 'It should not be assumed that the events of the past few days are connected,' the Pentagon noted in the memo. Recovering operations are ongoing but taking time due to difficult conditions. 'The objects in Alaska and Canada are in pretty remote terrain -- ice, wilderness, all of that -- making it difficult to find them in winter weather. And the object over Lake Huron now lies in what is probably very deep water,' White House spokesman John Kirby pointed out on Monday. And he noted that foul weather off the South Carolina coast had prevented further dive operations on Monday. 'Weather conditions are pretty tough off the coast right now,' he said. Sailors recover material from the balloon shot off the coast of South Carolina This is the image of the 148th Fighter Wing F-16C that shot down the unidentified object over Lake Heron Sunday The administration has taken pains to say they don't think anyone's life was in danger. 'I want to reassure Americans that these objects do not present a military threat to anyone on the ground. They do however, present a risk to civil aviation, and potentially an intelligence collection threat. And we'll get to the bottom of it,' Defense Secretary Austin said. The administration argues the objects posed a threat to civilian air traffic, which is why they were taken out. 'There was a very real potential risk to civilian air traffic,' Kirby said on Monday during the White House press briefing. 'The one shot down on [Sunday] was about 20,000 feet. And the two shot down Friday and Saturday were at about 40,000 feet. And as you know, transcontinental air traffic is roughly around 30,000 feet. It depends, of course, on weather. And so, because we assessed that they weren't manned and weren't being controlled, therefore left to atmospheric conditions, the real risk to safety of flight was a problem,' he noted. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed any claim that 'extra-terrestrial activity' was behind the three 'takedowns' of UFOs over Alaska, Canada and Michigan bringing up the topic unprompted at the start of a press briefing Monday. 'There is no indication of aliens or extra-terrestrial activity with these recent take downs,' Jean-Pierre said. She then made a joke about how she 'loved' the E.T. movie. 'Wanted to make sure the American people knew that, all of you knew that, and it was important for us to say that from here, because we've been hearing a lot about it,' she said. 'I loved E.T. the movie, but I'm just going to leave it there,' she said, to laughs from the press room. During a press conference on Sunday night - while many Americans were watching the Super Bowl, US Air Force General Glen VanHerck said intelligence services were exploring all avenues - including the notion the three most recent objects could be linked to extraterrestrials. 'I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything,' VanHerck said. 'At this point we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it.' US Air Force General Glen VanHerck (left) said they are still unsure how the three objects were staying aloft, as they currently have unknown propulsion systems while White House security spokesman Adm. John Kirby (right) said 'I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these craft, period' An F-16 fighter jet shot it down from around 20,000ft over the Great Lakes at 2:42pm - after two other crafts were destroyed over Alaska and Canada on Friday and Saturday. A Chinese balloon was shot down on February 4 over South Carolina, meaning the US air force downed four objects in just eight days. Lawmakers were vocal in their desire for answers. And to hear from the president on the matter. 'In its 65 year history NORAD Command never shot down an aircraft over U.S. airspace Over the 10 days they have shot down 1 balloon & 3 'objects,'' tweeted Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. 'Americans need to hear directly about this from their President today.' Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas pointed out that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada made a public statement over the weekend. 'The president owes the American people an explanation, direct and on camera, of what we know about these 'objects' and what steps he's taking to protect America's sovereign airspace,' Cotton said. 'No commander in chief should hide behind press secretaries and anonymous sources in a time of crisis.' Authorities are not ruling out that there may be more sightings and shoot-downs in the coming days. General VanHerck said that since the Chinese balloon was found in late January, the US adjusted its radar so it could track slower objects. He explained that this radar adjustment, plus the heightened state of alert following the Chinese balloon, explains the frequency of UFO sightings. VanMerck said the air force is still unsure how the three objects were staying aloft, as they currently have unknown propulsion systems. He added: 'We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason.' And some lawmakers cautioned against jumping to collusions, saying more objections were being found because now people were looking for them. 'My speculative guess as why we're seeing these things happen in quick succession is now we're really attuned to looking for them, right?' Democratic Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday. 'The truth is that most of our sensors and most of what we were looking for didn't look like balloons. Now, of course, we're looking for them. So, I think we're probably finding more stuff,' Himes noted. Russia has suffered some of the heaviest military losses in a single battle since the start of the war after elite units repeatedly tried to storm a fortified coal mining town in broad daylight. Ukrainian officials claim huge numbers of enemy troops have been killed, wounded and captured in failed attempts to seize the Donetsk hamlet of Vuhledar. They say that one marine brigade of 5,000 men was almost entirely destroyed, for the third time since the Kremlin launched the full-scale invasion nearly a year ago. The carnage and loss of at least 130 armoured vehicles led Russian hardliners to call for public show trials to punish incompetent generals responsible for the repeated battlefield massacres of their soldiers. Some of them are complete cretins all the mistakes that were made before were repeated, said Igor Girkin, a Russian former intelligence officer who helped stage the pro-Moscow 2014 insurgencies in Donetsk and Crimea. Girkin complained that Russian soldiers were mown down like turkeys in a shooting range as Ukrainians held higher positions. Ukrainian officials claim huge numbers of enemy troops have been killed, wounded and captured in failed attempts to seize the Donetsk hamlet of Vuhledar The carnage and loss of at least 130 armoured vehicles led Russian hardliners to call for public show trials to punish incompetent generals responsible for the repeated battlefield massacres of their soldiers The latest attempt to seize Vuhledar began in late January with Spetsnaz special forces, armoured battalions and infantry troops attacking from several directions. But in an early setback for the Russians, the Spetsnaz commander was killed. The mining town, home to 14,000 people before the war and sitting on high ground close to the only rail link between Crimea and Donetsk, was fortified with artillery after withstanding three months of attack. The heaviest waves of assault came last week, leading to the bloodbath of marines. Evgeny Nazarenko, spokesman for one of the defending Ukrainian units, said the Russian advances had been easily spotted from high-rise buildings as they crossed open fields towards the town. We are at the top and they are at the bottom. They are perfectly visible, he said. Tom Cooper, a military historian who has studied the battle, describes Vuhledar as a big, tall fortress in the middle of an empty, flat desert. The defeat came days after Sergei Shoigu, the Kremlin defence minister, boasted about a successful offensive near Vuhledar. Kyivs Defence Ministry responded by posting a video showing the destruction of a Russian military column in the area. Ukrainian military drones have filmed Russian tanks driving into minefields, bombs dropped on armoured vehicles, troops running around in panic and the bodies of soldiers strewn across the ground. This is not even Russian roulette anymore this is like seasonal suicide of lemmings, one Ukrainian military analyst commented. Ukrainian officials say some of the worst losses were suffered by the Pacific Fleets 155th Marine Brigade, one of Russias most elite naval units based at Vladivostok, although Russian president Vladimir Putin insists his marine infantry is working as it should. A Ukrainian service member fires a mortar towards Russian troops in frontline near the Vuhledar town Separatists soldiers posing in front of a shop in fire destroy by an heavy artillery shoot from the Ukrainian army Video evidence shows Russia suffered a catastrophic losses when its armoured vehicles were ambushed in Vuhledar by deadly Ukrainian drones The British Ministry of Defence confirmed the figure as likely accurate, saying that the rise in casualties in places such as Vuhledar is likely due to a range of factors including lack of trained personnel, coordination, and resources across the front The 155th became infamous for looting around Kyiv last year, and was nicknamed Russias unhappiest unit after suffering heavy losses in the failed attack on the capital and again in an assault in Vuhledar three months ago. The 155th brigade already had to be restaffed three times, said Colonel Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, a Ukrainian military spokesman. And now almost the entire brigade has been destroyed. READ MORE HERE: US urges all Americans to leave Russia NOW because of the risk of being 'harassed or incarcerated' by Kremlin officials Advertisement After losing 300 men in four days attacking a village near Vuhledar last November, mutinous survivors wrote a letter blaming the eastern commander Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov for their casualties. Now Muradov, a close ally of Moscows military chief General Valery Gerasimov, is being blamed again for this latest debacle by hardline military bloggers and media channels close to Yevgeny Prigozhin, boss of the brutal Wagner mercenary group. One social media channel linked to Wagner has even threatened Muradov with assassination after calling him a sissy b**** who was sitting out at the command post in Vuhledar while he sent column after column into battle. Another prominent blogger with half a million followers demanded public trials to punish officers, especially high-ranking officers, who over and over again demonstrate failures on the battlefield. More sober analysts in Moscow have condemned the movement of tanks and armoured vehicles in columns within range of Vuhledars artillery, saying battlefield commanders were failing to link up with intelligence operatives. Ukraine believes Putin has ordered that by next month his troops should fully occupy the Donetsk region about half of which is currently under Kremlin control with expectations growing of a looming offensive. But the Vuhledar fiasco has encouraged Kyiv to believe Moscow has failed to heal divisions among senior commanders and overcome the chronic tactical failures seen over the past year. Video evidence shows Russia how suffered catastrophic military losses after its armoured vehicles were ambushed in Vuhledar Ukraine believes Putin has ordered that by next month his troops should fully occupy the Donetsk region This is a serious setback with huge losses from one brigade, said Oleksandr V Danylyuk, head of the Centre for Defence Reforms think-tank in Kyiv. If they continue to use their troops in this way, it could lead to a collapse of Russian military forces during their expected major offensive. Vuhledar is 100 miles from Bakhmut, the town at the centre of the wars fiercest fighting for several months. Both sides have sustained heavy losses there after Russia hurled vast numbers of conscripts and prisoner recruits into the meat grinder. Ukraine says that Russian soldiers have been dying this month in the highest numbers seen since the start of the war with an average of 824 fatalities a day four times higher than rates seen last summer. The British Ministry of Defence confirmed the figure as likely accurate, saying that the rise in casualties in places such as Vuhledar is likely due to a range of factors including lack of trained personnel, coordination, and resources across the front. The ministry said fleeing Russian troops had abandoned at least 30 mostly intact armoured vehicles in a single incident after a failed assault in Vuhledar, yet were making small advances on the towns western edge. Besides a lack of Western-supplied longer range weapons, Ukrainian analysts fear that they will not be able to restock their frontlines with shells and anti-tank missiles fast enough. For now, the high ground of Vuhledar is holding back the Russians for how long remains to be seen. Additional reporting by Dzvinka Pinchuk The number of patients per fully qualified GP has rocketed to its highest-ever level, NHS figures reveal. There are now an average of 2,273 people scrambling for appointments with each family doctor an increase of 15 per cent in five years. A growing population and shrinking workforce mean the staffing crisis has worsened in all but one of the 106 health districts in England. Patient groups and MPs last night warned it now 'feels almost impossible to see a GP', with the service like a 'stretched elastic band ready to snap'. It means people are being forced to self-medicate, turn to overcrowded A&Es or simply left hoping symptoms go away, they add. The data also expose a postcode lottery of care, with almost 3,000 patients sharing a fully qualified GP in the worst-served areas but fewer than 1,800 in others. A growing population and shrinking workforce mean the staffing crisis has worsened in all but one of the 106 health districts in England Between December 2016 and December last year the number of fully qualified full-time equivalent family doctors fell by 1,945, or 7 per cent The number of patients registered with a GP in England has increased by more than four million, or 7 per cent, between December 2016 and December last year. Meanwhile, the number of fully qualified full-time equivalent family doctors fell by 1,945, or 7 per cent over the same period. As a result, the number of patients per GP increased from 1,981 to 2,273 a rise of 292. In Blackburn with Darwen, there are 2,915 patients per fully qualified GP, making it the worst-served area. The number is up by a quarter since 2016. Portsmouth comes second bottom, with 2,821, and Hull third last with 2,805. By comparison, there are 1,777 patients per fully qualified GP in Liverpool, which is fewer than anywhere else. The Wirral comes second with 1,828 and North Yorkshire third with 1,830. In South Tyneside the number of patients per GP has shot up by 42 per cent more than anywhere else as 92 doctors were reduced to 66. Only in Stockport did the ratio of patients to GPs fall by 9 per cent over the study period. The numbers come from analysis by the House of Commons Library on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. Daisy Cooper, the party's health spokesman, said the figures revealed a 'stark postcode lottery', adding: 'It is creating a perfect storm that means for many people it feels almost impossible to see your GP when you need to.' She added: 'This ever-worsening GP shortage is having a terrible human cost, as people face delayed or missed diagnoses and A&Es fill up with desperate patients looking for treatment. 'People are fed up with this Government failing to deliver on the basics as local health services are driven into the ground.' Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said the older people he campaigns for 'contact me on a daily basis saying they don't know where to turn. So they self-medicate, go to A&E or hope the symptoms go away by themselves. 'Primary care is like a stretched elastic band ready to snap.' The number of patients registered with a GP in England has increased by more than four million Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said 340million patient consultations were held in general practice last year, which is 9 per cent more than in 2019, pre-pandemic. But she warned many GPs are 'burning out' because of the pressure and retiring earlier than planned, with not enough new recruits entering the profession fast enough to replace them. Professor Hawthorne said the research 'shows yet again how GPs and our teams are working above and beyond to deliver care to an ever-growing patient population, with falling numbers of fully qualified, full-time equivalent GPs'. Prof Hawthorne added: 'Patients and GP teams deserve better. This is why the college is calling on government to implement a new recruitment and retention strategy that goes beyond the target of 6,000 GPs pledged in its election manifesto, including initiatives to attract GPs to work in under doctored areas, where our services are often most needed. 'Funding for general practice must also be returned to 11 per cent of the total health spend, and better investment in our IT systems and premises is needed, alongside steps to cut bureaucracy so that we have more time to deliver care to the growing numbers of patients who need it.' Dr Richard Van Mellaerts, deputy chairman of British Medical Association's GP Committee, said: 'We need to see investment in General Practice staff and premises to retain our experienced doctors so that they can continue to deliver the high-quality care our patients need and deserve.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the number of doctors in general practice 'has risen by almost 500 in 2022 compared to 2021 which is more than 2,000 higher than before the pandemic in December 2019'. The spokesperson added: 'There were over 90,000 more GP appointments every day in 2022 compared to 2021. 'We are working with NHS England and Higher Education England to grow the GP workforce by boosting recruitment, addressing the reasons why doctors leave the profession, and encouraging them to return to practice. 'We also have an ongoing recruitment scheme which has attracted hundreds of doctors to train in hard to recruit locations, with 550 training places in 2021 and 800 last year - which is helping to grow the workforce in many rural areas.' Dozens of furious parents have marched on a school they have branded a 'prison' after it installed metal bars over toilet doors. About 50 people rallied at Bentilee's Discovery Academy, in Staffordshire, as a row over the school's controversial toilet policies deepened today. It comes after dozens of children 'walked out' of lessons in protest over the 'humiliating' new metal barriers, which are allegedly locked during lessons. The barred gates are reportedly unlocked during break and lunch periods and were fitted to encourage pupils to go to the toilet 'at regular times'. But parents have been left indignant with rage and blasted the school, claiming their children are being treated like inmates, with one father, Rob Cooper, 39, saying: 'Toilets are a human right. It's a school for children not a prison.' Parents indignant with rage have marched on Bentilee's Discovery Academy, in Bentilee, Staffordshire after the school installed barred gates to its toilet facilities Dozens of children walked out of school last week following the implementing of the 'humiliating' toilet barriers at The Discovery Academy, in Bentilee, Staffordshire More than 50 parents reportedly joined the protest on Monday morning Protesters - which included children - began massing at about 9am on Monday, waving placards saying 'no bars on toilets', 'basic human rights' and 'it's not a jail'. The chief executive of the trust that runs the academy came out to speak to the crowd, as police officers monitored demonstrators. Among those there included Tracey Barnett. The 43-year-old, of Bentilee, has a 12-year-old son at the school and lashed out over its Draconian toilet rules. 'On Friday he asked the teacher twice to use the toilet and they refused to let him go,' she said. Others raised concerns about bullying during the protests, after footage emerged of a girl allegedly being attacked in the academy's canteen. Sharon Gratton, 51, claimed her daughter had been picked on for 18 months. Speaking to Stoke-on-Trent Live, she said: 'I had numerous meetings and they said they'd sorted - but they hadn't. I sorted it myself by speaking to the other parent in the end. It affected her learning badly.' This morning those attending the protest wrote their concerns into a book which will be handed in to the school. Simon French, who is chief executive of Alpha Academies Trust (AAT), which runs school, spoke directly to the protesters, saying there would be a parents' meeting on Thursday to go through feedback Children joined those demonstrating outside the school, which is run by Alpha Academies Trust Police kept a watchful eye on the protesters on Monday morning Simon French, chief executive of Alpha Academies Trust, spoke to protesters during the demonstration. Pictured: the demonstration in full swing 'As a trust we're only going to solve this by working together. It's got to be mutual respect from both sides,' he added. Parents believe the barriers have been installed after recent vandalism and concerns that children are going on their phones in the toilets during lessons. However, there are also concerns that the move is 'humiliating' for girls. One mother said: 'Girls of a certain age need to use the toilet - sometimes at short notice. It's hard enough being a girl at that age never mind bleeding through in front of your whole class. I'm not having my daughter humiliated. 'With periods young girls don't know when they are coming. You try to prepare as much as possible but there are still incidents. You can't prepare for an upset stomach, I think it's disgusting.' In a statement prior to the protest the trust didn't comment on when the barriers are opened and locked and who qualifies for a medical pass. An AAT spokesperson said: 'At AAT we have high expectations of learning and clear processes in place to support. We have high standards of uniform ready for the world ahead and have processes in place for those who truant. 'We encourage students to go to the toilet at regular set times during the day and support those with medical needs by accessing toilets at any time. 'Parental engagement is extremely important to us and we value opportunities to listen to concerns and explain the reasons for our decisions.' An asteroid lit up the night sky over the English Channel after entering the Earth's atmosphere in the early hours of the morning. The 3ft meteoroid created a shooting star and an 'airburst' that could be seen across southern England and Wales and in parts of northern France as far south as Paris. The rock, called 2023 CX1, entered the atmosphere around two miles off the French coast at 3am, creating a fireball as it disintegrated into small pieces which landed in the sea. It was only the seventh time an asteroid strike had been successfully forecast, in what the European Space Agency said was 'a sign of the rapid advancements in global asteroid detection capabilities'. For scientists, forecasting harmless asteroids like this morning's one is seen as good practice for detecting ones that could pose a risk to the planet. The 3ft rock created a shooting star and an 'airburst' that could be seen across southern England and Wales and in parts of northern France as far south as Paris 2023 CX1 was discovered only seven hours before impact by Hungarian astronomer Krisztian Sarneczky, at Konkoly Observatory in Matra Mountains, Hungary. Asteroid 2023 CX1 Diameter: Around 1 metre (3.2 feet) Discovery date: February 12, 2023 Discovered by: Krisztian Sarneczky Alternative name: Sar2667 Category: Near-Earth asteroid (NEA) Advertisement Sarneczky first imaged it on Sunday night at 20:18 GMT, when it was less than 145,000 miles (233,000 km) from Earth and inside the orbit of the moon. 2023 CX1 entered the atmosphere in the early hours of Monday 03:00 GMT and traveled eastward over the coast of Normandy, France along the English Channel. As it experienced atmospheric drag, it burned as a bright meteor that could be seen from Northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK before entering the sea off the coast of France. According to the International Meteor Organization, the rock is 'small' only around 3.2 feet (1 metre) in diameter, but it was visible as a 'nice fireball'. But had it fallen onto populated French land, 2023 CX1 and its fragments could have seriously hurt someone. Asteroids are seen as one of the most dangerous natural disasters the planet could experience, especially as there is currently no way to stop them. As it experienced atmospheric drag, 2023 CX1 burned as a bright meteor before entering the sea According to the International Meteor Organization, the rock is 'small' - only around 1 metre (just over three feet) in diameter, but it was visible as a 'nice fireball' 2023 CX1 was discovered on Sunday night only seven hours before impact by Hungarian astronomer Krisztian Sarneczky It was seen as a bright fireball before entering the sea off the coast of France early Monday morning An asteroid over 460ft (140 metres) wide would release an amount of energy at least 1,000 times greater than that released by the first atomic bomb if it impacted Earth, according to research from the Davidson Institute of Science, the educational arm of Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science. READ MORE: NASA's dart mission is deemed a smashing success: Craft nudged asteroid's orbit The last complete image of Dimorphos, taken by the DRACO imager on DART, 7 miles from the asteroid and 2 seconds before impact Advertisement One that is 3,280ft (1km) wide similar to 138971 (2001 CB21), which flew past the Earth in early March could trigger a worldwide annihilation and the end of humanity. However, even smaller asteroids have the potential to cause damage and the late discovery of 2023 CX1 illustrates how little time we could have to prepare. That is why NASA's DART mission has bene exploring the feasibility of diverting the course of an asteroid by crashing a space probe into it. The mission successfully altered the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos, around 560 feet in diameter, when NASA's probe hit it in September. It comes as new research on the first meteorite to be found on UK soil for 30 years has revealed how fast space rocks are contaminated by the Earth's atmosphere. The meteorite landed in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, in February 2021 with fragments recovered from a domestic driveway hours after it entered the Earth's atmosphere. More pieces were found in a sheep field six days later. Analysis of the Winchcombe meteorite show the fragments quickly developed salts and minerals from the interaction of their surfaces with the damp environment in which they landed. The findings from the Winchcombe meteorite, published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, could help protect new meteorites after they are found. The asteroid, designated Sar2667, entered the atmosphere around two miles off the French coast at 3am, creating a fireball as it disintegrated A view of a small asteroid passing through Earth's atmosphere in Brighton this morning Lead author, Laura Jenkins, a PhD student at the University of Glasgow said once meteorites are exposed to terrestrial contaminants they change. She said: 'Analysis of meteorites can provide insights into the asteroids they come from and how they have formed. 'Winchcombe and other meteorites like it contain extra-terrestrial water and organics, and the asteroids they come with may be responsible for delivering water to Earth, giving it enough water to form its distinctive oceans. 'However, when a meteorite is exposed to terrestrial contaminants, especially moisture and oxygen, it undergoes changes, affecting the information it provides.' Part of the Winchcombe meteorite is now on display at the town's local museum, which has since trebled visitor numbers. Existing buildings will be given guidelines of when to turn off their external lights This will place lighting curfews on new buildings of either 22:00, 23:00 or 00:00 New documentation has been drafted which will cut light pollution in London London's sparkling skyline may soon be a thing of the past, as new legislation could force high-rises to turn off their lights at night. The City of London Corporation, the governing body in the capital, has drafted documentation which it hopes will help 'cut light pollution and save energy'. If actioned, this will give new businesses and building owners in the Square Mile 'curfew times' for when to switch off or dim their external lighting. This will only apply to lights that are not required to be left on for purposes of safety and crime prevention. This 'Lighting Supplementary Planning Document' will enforce curfews on new developments, which will have to accept them as part of their planning application. London's sparkling skyline may soon be a thing of the past, as new legislation could force high-rises to turn off their lights at night (stock image) These will be allocated 'brightness zones', and those in the vicinity of sensitive areas like residential or special heritage will have an earlier curfew. It will be lights out at midnight for buildings in 'Brightness Zone 1', like commercial areas and and transport terminals. But this will be brought forward to 22:00 for those in 'Brightness Zone 3', which are situated in residential or landscaped areas. However, the documentation will only provide guidelines to existing buildings, so the City Corporation will also 'encourage' them to sign up to the voluntary 'Considerate Lighting Charter'. This will allow them to 'show their commitment to improving light in the City'. Guidelines include controlling the glare of external lighting, reducing light spill through windows and training staff on how lighting systems should be operated. City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee Chairman Shravan Joshi said: 'The City is a unique place in which 24/7 business districts and busy transport hubs rub up against historic buildings and residential neighbourhoods. 'The strategy laid out in this document is aimed at ensuring an intelligent, sensitive approach to lighting which ensures the City is safe and accessible, while protecting its historic character and the amenity of our residents. 'We would really welcome the views of people who live, work in or visit the City, which will help us to shape how we enshrine responsible lighting in planning process and to meet our ambitious climate targets.' The documentation will only provide guidelines to existing buildings, so the City Corporation will also 'encourage' them to sign up to the voluntary 'Considerate Lighting Charter'. Pictured: Bloomberg European HQ - an example of good lighting of an internal office The regulations could help to reduce the impact of light pollution on Londoners, as studies have shown it is linked to a variety of health issues. Research has show that light pollution negatively affects our 'circadian rhythm' - the body's internal clock - which has been linked to depression, weight problems and even cancer. It also affects wildlife, and some experts say is driving an 'insect apocalypse'. For example, lighting fixtures can fatally attract moths and beetles, and allow other insects be spotted by predators more easily. They can also disrupt the sleeping patterns of magpies and pigeons and the 'lunar compass' of marine life. New buildings will be allocated 'brightness zones', and those in the vicinity of sensitive areas like residential or special heritage will have an earlier curfew. Examples of 'brightness zones'. Left: District Brightness Zone 1 with a midnight curfew, Centre: District Brightness Zone 2 with an 23:00 curfew, Right: District Brightness Zone 3 with a 22:00 curfew PROPOSED CURFEWS FOR DIFFERENT BRIGHTNESS ZONES District Brightness Zones Area Curfew District Brightness Zone 1 Commercial, retail and transport terminals and other defined high district brightness areas Midnight to sunrise District Brightness Zone 2 Cultural, tourist and heritage and other defined medium district brightness areas. 23:00 to sunrise District Brightness Zone 3 Residential, special heritage, landscaped and other defined low district brightness areas. 22:00 to sunrise Just last month, a study found that visibility of stars in the night sky is declining by 10 per cent per year thanks to lighting from buildings and streetlamps. The Lighting Supplementary Planning Document intends to reduce these negative effects, as well as help London reach carbon net zero for 2024. It states: 'Whether it is a proposal for a new building, the alteration of an existing one or new or upgraded public realm, these all have an impact on the character of the City after dark. 'Artificial light can provide positive benefits, not only on how public and private space is used and how safe it feels, but also how attractive it is. 'It can also have a negative impact on the ability of residents to enjoy their homes due to obtrusive light, can cause highway safety and accessibility issues and create environmental damage, including harm to local biodiversity. 'The aim of this [Supplementary Planning Document] is to ensure that these opportunities and constraints are identified and addressed.' Two consultation events on the Lighting Supplementary Planning Document have already been run for members of the public and lighting industry professionals. A draft is currently available online and the City of London Cooperation is accepting comments from the public until 5pm on February 17. A preliminary report from last October states that the document will be brought to the Planning and Transportation Committee for approval imminently. Many of the reports are of bright lights hanging in the night sky More than 26,000 unidentified flying objects were seen soaring through the skies over the US in the past five years, data shows. A map, which pulls from National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), shows the number of sightings in each state, with California ranking at the top with 2,661, then Florida, followed by New York. While the government has yet to inform Americans about the unidentified objects, the top states are home to major Air Force bases that routinely test new winged technologies. This comes as three UFOs were shot down over Alaska, Canada and Montana this weekend, and the Pentagon is not ruling out a possibility that the objects are linked to extraterrestrials. A maps reveals the number of UFO sightings in each US state. This comes after three unidentified objects were shot down over Alaska, Canada and Montana last week The object detected on Sunday is described as an unmanned 'octagonal structure' with 'potential surveillance capabilities' and strings attached to it. An F-16 fighter jet shot it down from around 20,000 feet over the Great Lakes at 2:42 pm - after two other crafts were destroyed over Alaska and Canada on Friday and Saturday. A Chinese balloon was also shot down on February 4 over South Carolina, meaning the US air force has now downed four objects in just eight days. The map suggests if you want to see a UFO, head to California - there have been 15,457 reports since 1998. The number may also be due to the large population in the state. One of the most recent sightings in The Golden State was reported to NUFORC on December 17, 2022 by a person who snapped an image of a 'long rectangle light moving very fast' over Halfmoon - a city located south of San Francisco. 'Sitting on a bench at the moss beach distillery at Halfmoon Bay California. Around 6:50 pm. My girlfriend noticed a large rectangular shape that appeared out of nowhere moving very fast. I was amazed and took a photo,' the person shared. California has the highest number of UFO sightings in the US. One of the most recent sightings in The Golden State was reported to NUFORC on December 17, 2022 by a person who snapped an image of a 'long rectangle light moving very fast' over Halfmoon Another sighting, reported on November 30, came from Campbell. The person saw 'lights on the object' 'I didnt think I captured it but after looking at the picture, I did get it on film. Also looking at the picture, I noticed there is another shape I caught below it in the right. 'And that appears to be a round light and in the center, the circle is divided with light like you cut 8 pieces of pie. I have both objects in two pictures.' Another sighting, reported on November 30, came from Campbell. The person saw 'lights on the object.' 'There was an aura or haze around the object and the object emitted other objects,' the shared in a post on NUFORC. Florida ranks second in the US, with 7,870 reports of unidentified objects in the skies since 1998 and and 1,797 in the last five years. On December 19, a resident of Orlando saw five gold-colored orbs in the night sky, which turned white and came together to form a cylinder shape. 'Cylinder. Golden orbs over Orlando turning white heading from Orlando to the south towards hunters creek and possibly the Disney area,' the post reads. 'I enlarged one of the photos to find a cylinder-shaped object in the white lights. The first sighting was two lights maybe 30 minutes later, three more came in from the same area. 'The first two objects that I saw over Orlando a little after 12 AM one had left and flew off to the north, the other one flew towards my area heading south.' Washington state has also had its fair share of encounters - a total of 6,932 since 1998 and 1,297 in the last five years. Florida has had at least 1,797 unidentified object reports over the past five years. On December 19, a resident of Orlando saw five gold-colored orbs in the night sky, which turned white and came together to form a cylinder shape Washington state ranked third in the most UFO sightings. Pictured is one captured on June 24, 2022 over Lake Forest Park READ MORE: Social media responds with out-of-this-world jokes after American fighter jets shoot down three UFOs in three days The news that three UFOs have been shot down over US and Canadian airspace in the past three days has set the Internet alight, with social media's best meme-makers conspiring to publish a flood of satirical images. Advertisement One was captured on June 24, 2022 over Lake Forest Park. 'After me and my friend Bruce were done playing pickle ball and walking home I noticed several orbs above the lake and it was still light,' reads the post. 'There were approximately five stationary orbs it was still light out and there was definitely something different about these.' While each state has claimed to encounter an alien craft, it may be surprising to some that New Mexico, where Roswell is located, has only had 833 reports. Also, Nevada, which is home to Area 51, has just 742 reports. The map comes just days after the US has been looking for UFOs after an F-16 fighter jet shot down an 'octagonal' object over the Great Lakes on Sunday. Two other crafts had been discovered and destroyed over Alaska and Canada on Friday and Saturday - the US government has yet to recover the debris. The shape of two objects recalls the famous 'Tic Tac' UFO - a white oblong spotted by the US Navy in 2004. British UFO expert Nick Pope, formerly with the UK's Ministry of Defense, told MailOnline that he 'can't rule out a connection with the Tic Tac sighting' but cautioned that an overall explanation is 'still to be determined.' This followed a spherical Chinese balloon being shot down on February 4 over South Carolina, meaning the US air force has now downed four objects in just eight days. China has admitted ownership of the balloon, although it insisted it was an unmanned weather surveillance aircraft that had veered off-course. In comparison, the three aircraft that followed at the weekend are unidentified and their nature and origin are far less clear. The Pentagon has refused to rule out the possibility that the collection of unidentified objects could be linked to extraterrestrials. US Air Force General Glen VanHerck said intelligence services were exploring all avenues and would not yet rule out aliens or any other explanation. 'I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything,' VanHerck said. 'At this point we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it.' Love Island's Amy Hart showed off her growing baby bump on Sunday as she left a studio in London after rerecording her podcast. The TV personality, 30, who starred in the 2019 series of the hit ITV2 show, is expecting her first child with boyfriend Sam Rason. She cut a casual figure as she stepped out in a grey skin-tight top and matching trousers. Amy, who is due in around three weeks, donned a comfy pair of UGG slippers on her feet and carried a brown faux fur coat. She went makeup free during the outing and swept her golden tresses back into a bun. Glowing: Love Island's Amy Hart showed off her growing baby bump on Sunday as she left a studio in London after rerecording her podcast On her Instagram Stories, Amy wrote: 'Laters london. 4 podcasts recorded and no waters broken in the studio. For the first time since I was about 16 I actually don't know when I'll be back in London and it's so weird'. It comes after Amy hit out at trolls who have said she has put on weight since getting pregnant. Now she has reached 40 weeks, her bump really has blossomed - but the former air hostess has revealed that trolls have commented on her weight gain. Taking to her Instagram stories, Amy told her 1.1million followers to explain that she finds it 'strange' that people think it's 'socially acceptable' to do so. It comes after the star joked that she could go into labour at any moment as she is just days away from being full-term in her pregnancy. Speaking on Friday morning, Amy said: 'I find it so strange in the last like six months since I've announced that I've been pregnant everyone, people I do know people don't, thinks it's socially acceptable for them to tell me how big I am. 'It's socially acceptable for them to say where I have and haven't put on weight... 'It's fine for everyone else to say it, but the minute I reclaim that and say that obviously I have put weight on and call myself "fat" in a jokey manner, people start kicking off at me. 'So everyone else is allowed to call me fat but I'm not allowed call myself it. What?' Comfy: The TV personality, 30, cut a casual figure as she stepped out in a grey skin-tight top and matching trousers Low-key: Amy, who is due in around three weeks, donned a comfy pair of UGG slippers on her feet and carried a brown faux fur coat Earlier this week, Amy also took to Instagram to share a snap of her bump, and asked fans to 'place their bets' on when her baby could arrive. Amy also revealed that she was nearly admitted to hospital after fearing she may have cholestasis, a liver condition that reduces the flow of bile in the body and can be dangerous for unborn babies. In her lengthy caption, Amy admitted she began to suffer from a tell-tale symptom of the condition, itchy feet, and she considered contacting triage, but later reassured her followers that she was 'all good.' As she reached the 37th week of her pregnancy, Amy confirmed that her baby was now 'head down,' and so could be born at any time, joking that she could be spending the remainder of her pregnancy 'on her birthing ball.' The reality star went makeup free during the outing and swept her golden tresses back into a bun On her Instagram Stories, Amy wrote: 'Laters london. 4 podcasts recorded and no waters broken in the studio.' Amy showed off her growing bump in cosy cream loungewear after paying a visit to her midwife, revealing in the caption that she was concerned she could have cholestasis. She wrote: '36+4. Had my midwife appointment today and all is looking good! 'Last night I was umming and ahhhing about calling triage because my feet were itching and I know it says on the pack to call them in that case but we were like what constitutes feet and what is the ankle it's not easy when your calf goes straight to your foot. 'Also, I had been standing up for 2 hours cooking in my fluffy slippers. Spoke to the midwife today and it's if your soles are itchy you need to call.' Hitting back: Amy hit out at trolls who have said she has put on weight since getting pregnant. The TV personality, 30, who starred in the 2019 series of the hit ITV2 show, is expecting her first child with boyfriend Sam Rason 'The baby is now head down but back to back so if you need me I'll be on my birthing ball 'It's a weird time as obviously I'm ''term'' on Sunday when I hit 37 weeks but it could still go on til 19th March which seems ages away! 'Currently enjoying going out for lunch almost everyday, lying in, napping, watching telly, cooking meals that take 2 hours of love and devotion and the final push of eating what I want, when I want. 'I'm thinking I'll go to 41 weeks, place your bets below on the week and the day you think!' Blossoming bump: And now she has reached 40 weeks, her bump really has blossomed - but the former air hostess has revealed that trolls have commented on her weight gain Amy later took to her Instagram Stories to reassure her followers that she was 'all good,' despite the itching in her feet. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, commonly known as cholestasis of pregnancy, is a liver condition that occurs in late pregnancy. The condition triggers intense itching, but without a rash. Itching usually occurs on the hands and feet but can also affect other parts of the body. Cholestasis of pregnancy can make the expectant mother extremely uncomfortable, and some medical professionals may suggest an early delivery. The countdown is on! The Love Island star revealed she will be 37 weeks pregnant this weekend and asked fans to 'place their bets' on when her baby could arrive Close call: Amy also revealed that she was nearly admitted to hospital after fearing she may have cholestasis, a liver condition that reduces the flow of bile in the body It comes after Amy revealed why she doesn't want boyfriend Sam to propose to her while she's pregnant. She took to Instagram last month to reveal the couple have already planned out their wedding. The blonde beauty explained that she was to blame for Sam not popping the question, as she wanted to be able to get 'p***ed' after getting engaged. In a fan Q&A, Amy was asked if her and Sam were engaged yet and she replied: 'No, but that is my doing. Waiting: As she reached the 37th week of her pregnancy, Amy confirmed that her baby was now 'head down,' and so could be born at any time 'I was like I don't want to get engaged while I'm pregnant because I want to get p***ed when I get engaged and I want to have a nice old night out when we get engaged.' She went on: 'But we know when and where we're getting married. And everyone's like aw that ruins the surprise. It doesn't. 'I don't when he's going to do it, I don't know where he's going to do it and how he's going to do it. I don't know what the ring's going to look like. 'I feel like if I didn't know we were going to married, having a baby together and living together, knowing each other are the one - I feel like that would be a bit worrying. A little bit worrying.' MAFS groom Duncan James was left speechless after his wife Alyssa Barmonde told him during confessions week she had once been the 'other woman' in an extra-marital affair. But it seems this admission - which initially shocked Duncan to the core - only brought the couple closer together, as they looked very much in love just days later. In photos taken on September 8, cyber security sales hunk Duncan, 36, was spotted showing off his fit physique while returning back to his Sydney CBD apartment. MAFS groom Duncan James (pictured) was left speechless after his wife Alyssa Barmonde told him during confessions week she had once been the 'other woman' in an extra-marital affair He was joined by mother-of-one Alyssa, 35, who was dressed in a singlet top which she teamed up with a pair of black leggings and sneakers. The couple were spotted walking back to the Skye Suites on Kent Street metres apart carrying their gym towels. Alyssa showed off her natural beauty by going makeup free for the outing. In photos taken on September 8, cyber security sales hunk Duncan, 36, was spotted showing off his fit physique while returning back to his Sydney CBD apartment He was joined by mother-of-one Alyssa, 35, who was dressed in a singlet top which she teamed up with a pair of black leggings and sneakers It's clear the couple wasn't letting Alyssa's confession sabotage things and their bond appeared to still be as strong. Daily Mail Australia understands executive assistant Alyssa would regularly bake cakes and desserts for Duncan and their fellow castmates during filming. A source revealed Alyssa loves baking so much she even surprised her groom by making him a cake on their wedding day. The couple were spotted walking back to the Skye Suites on Kent Street metres apart carrying their gym towels Duncan had his head down and appeared to be busy texting on his iPhone 'Alyssa and her baker friend Brad were filmed making Duncan a heart-shaped cake that said "I do". it was the sweetest thing ever,' said the insider. During the Confessions Letter task which aired on Tuesday, the former Mormon told Duncan she had once been 'complicit in an affair'. 'Duncan, what I'm about to tell you is really difficult. It's not easy for me to admit this part of my past,' she began. 'It has been a big fear I've been hiding but if we really want this marriage to work you need to know.' 'I was complicit in an affair, I was the other woman and I knew he was a married man.' During the Confessions Letter task which aired on Tuesday, the mother-of-one told Duncan she had been 'complicit in an affair' Alyssa, who was raised a Mormon in Utah, continued: 'It's not something I'm proud of but it's something I've been able to learn from. I also know now it's something that will never happen again.' A speechless Duncan put his head between his hands before eventually saying: 'I'm pretty shocked.' 'I didn't think you would have a confession like this. I can understand when people stuff up sometimes when they go out but if you willingly went into something with someone that was married then it's not a mistake, it's a choice.' A speechless Duncan put his head between his hands before eventually saying: 'I'm pretty shocked' 'That's extremely poor behaviour,' he told Alyssa. Duncan later told producers: 'I was completely shocked when she said that. I did not expect that at all.' 'I've been cheated on when I was younger and I was a shell of myself when it happened to me. It rips people apart.' Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine The BBC has confirmed that Call The Midwife will return for two more seasons, keeping it on air until at least 2026. Fans of the show will be delighted as bosses - who had already announced series 13 - have now commissioned a further two. Filming for the next series of the much-loved drama is due to begin in spring. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated final episode of the current series - which promises of a wedding between Trixie (Helen George) and Matthew (Olly Rix) - will air on Sunday 26 February. The show is set in the 1950s and 1960s in London's East End - and focuses on a group of midwives in a nursing convent. Good news! The BBC has confirmed that Call The Midwife will return for two more seasons, keeping it on air until at least 2026 Call The Midwife regularly attracts millions of hits, including the most recent Christmas special which received 8.5 million viewers, making it one of the most successful shows on British TV. Heidi Thomas, creator and writer of the show, said of the news: 'I'm overjoyed by the news that the doors of Nonnatus House will be open for a few more years! 'Call the Midwife is the pride and joy of all who work on it, but it's our fantastic, loyal audience that matters most. 'We are a family behind the scenes, on the screen, and in front of the telly, and I'm thrilled that we're all heading into the 1970's together.' Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama added: 'Call The Midwife's enduring popularity is thanks to the extraordinary creative talents and hard work of creator Heidi Thomas, executive producers Pippa Harris and Ann Tricklebank, and the series' dedicated cast and crew. 'I know they have many more stories to tell - and that the residents of Nonnatus House have many more babies to deliver - so I'm delighted that Call the Midwife will continue on BBC One and iPlayer for more years to come.' Most recently, viewers were left in flood of tears on as the show delved into a particularly dark subject matter. The popular period drama returned for the New Year, with an episode revolving around the discovery of the remains of two dead babies in a building about to be demolished. Confirmed: Fans of the show will be delighted as bosses - who had already announced series 13 - have now commissioned a further two Nurse Trixie Franklin, played by Helen George made the discovery and heartbreakingly remarked on the size of the small baby. Detective Sergeant Virginia Barrow was put in charge of investigating the tragic deaths. She soon was led to dementia-stricken pensioner Mrs Nyall and her daughter Marigold. Marigold explained that the babies were her mother's who had died at childbirth, and she and her mother had kept the secret for more than 30 years. But a huge hole was found in her story, after Nurse Phyllis remembered Mrs Nyall had given birth to Marigold via Caesarean and then had a hysterectomy, meaning she could not have had any more children. Coming soon! Filming for the next series of the much-loved drama is due to begin in spring Exciting: Meanwhile, the highly anticipated final episode of the current series - which promises of a wedding between Trixie (Helen George) and Matthew (Olly Rix) - will air on Sunday 26 February Finally telling the real story, Marigold revealed that she was the mother of the children, born of an affair she had with a married man who 'took advantage of her'. Sadly, the two babies were born 'lifeless', and were buried under the floorboards. Viewers at home were devastated and reduced to tears by the episode, taking to social media to praise the show on how it tackled a difficult topic. One person wrote: 'There's no drama on TV that does what #CallTheMidwife do, with such sensitivity. It's beautiful to see every time. Just remarkable.' 'Well thats it, Im a sobbing wreck yet again!', chimed in another. A third echoed: 'Sobbing at 9pm on a Sunday to Call The Midwife and I wouldnt have it any other way.' The episode ended on a much more positive note as character Audrey Fleming gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl. One fan commented: 'No programme comes close to doing dark and light better. What a powerful episode.' Laura Hamilton showed off her impressive physique on Sunday as she lifted weights on the beach in Dubai. Sharing the impressive clip to her Instagram, the A Place In The Sun star, 40, looked stunning in a tiger print bikini. The presenter looked in incredible shape as she enlisted the help of her son, Rocco, nine, to spot her during the set. Wearing nothing but a brown and white bikini, her abs were on full display in the Middle Eastern heat. She covered her face in a pair of dark shades and slicked back her blonde tresses with a white hairband. Wow! Laura Hamilton showed off her impressive physique on Sunday as she lifted weights on the beach in Dubai Taking to her social media, Laura wrote: 'Workout buddies this morning on the beach'. Laura's followers were clearly impressed by her display, adorning over her figure. One fan wrote: 'Looking absolutely amazing Laura'. While another added: 'Stunning body!!' 'Wow looking fit and keeping fit!' one added. Laura's display comes after she took time out from filming to visit the sand dunes in Gran Canaria last week. The presenter took to Instagram to share a snap of herself lapping up the sunshine as she sat barefoot. Laura looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder floral mini dress which showcased plenty of leg as she grinned broadly for the picture. Impressive: Sharing the impressive clip to her Instagram, the A Place In The Sun star, 40, looked stunning in a tiger print bikini Push! The presenter looked in incredible shape as she enlisted the help of her son, Rocco, nine, to spot her during the set The television presenter was also snapped soaking up the sun at Meloneras. Laura wore her blonde locks in a straightened style and added a pair of dark sunglasses to her look. She captioned her post: 'I forgot how nice Meloneras was!' Later, in her second post, she captioned: 'You can't come to Gran Canaria and not visit the sand dunes! 'Always love working with this lady @vicky_murua_'. Impressive: Wearing nothing but a brown and white bikini, her abs were on full display in the Middle Eastern heat It comes after Laura revealed the reason why she gets glammed up for each episode of A Place in the Sun. The television presenter is frequently seen in stylish ensembles when she hosts the Channel 4 show in various locations around the world. And she took to Instagram in January to let her followers know why she dresses up in her outfits, including towering heels. Sharing a snap of herself in a light beige jumper and some Tiffany knit and leather look leggings by The Fashion Basement which she teamed with a pair of open-toed platform heels in the Spanish city of Arboleas, she wrote: 'Not my usual @aplaceinthesunofficial attire but whilst it's sunny here, it's pretty cold! 'People often comment on my heels and if you watch my stories you will see one of the reasons I wear them!' Relaxing: Laura looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder floral mini dress as she took time out from filming for A Place In The Sun in Gran Canaria She added: 'You can't hear what I am saying in my last story but basically I wear such high heels because I'm only 5'2 and sometimes the cameramen are very tall!!!' Laura's tall shoes means she fits into shot while filming as the cameramen sometimes tower above her. It comes after Laura said she's focusing on herself following her split from husband Alex Goward. She revealed to her fans online that she has been hitting the gym, taking flying lessons and renovating her new house. Speaking to the Daily Star in January, the TV personality gave an insight into her life 12-months after separating from her husband. Sun-soaked: The presenter was also snapped soaking up the sun at Meloneras, wearing her blonde locks in a straightened style and adding a pair of dark sunglasses to her look She explained: 'I put a little gym in for myself and have a fitness regime with my friend, who is living with me at the moment, and we work out. I think having a workout partner keeps you motivated. She continued: 'I don't think it's good to get hung up on weight. It's just how I feel, and to feel healthy is more important to me than what the scales say.' Laura added: 'I'm learning to fly so I can fly myself to my own travel destinations. I've done 16-and-a-half hours so far, so I've still got away to go, but I'm enjoying it and I'd like to get my licence this year - fingers crossed.' Laura shares two children, Rocco, nine, and Tahlia, seven with her ex-husband Alex, but they have remained on good terms following their split. Dave Chappelle is in Australia for a national stand-up comedy tour, and on Saturday he performed to a sold-crowd of 15,000 at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena. The comedian, 49, opened his show 'The Lunatics Manifesto' with his trademark cutting wit as he addressed the uproar over his jokes about the trans community. 'I have received complaints about making fun of LGBTQ+ people so I won't do that tonight... Instead I will be making fun of r****ds,' he said. Dave Chappelle (pictured) is currently in Australia for a national stand-up comedy tour, and on Saturday performed to a sold-crowd of 15,000 at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena He joked 'r*****s' make easier targets than the trans community as they don't tend to fight back. Chappelle lived up to his reputation of shocking the audience with an hour of politically-incorrect humour in which no issue was off-limits. His show - which had a strict no-phones policy to prevent recording and live-tweeting - covered controversial topics, including Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, and Chappelle being assaulted on stage last year by a 'dirty homeless man'. Chappelle and his announcer DJ Trauma reminded the audience at regular intervals that anyone caught with using any electronic device would be immediately evicted from the venue. 'Infrared cameras will be used to identify any attempt of recording the show. We have already kicked out seven or eight people,' DJ Trauma warned. The comedian, 49, opened his show with his trademark cutting wit as he addressed the uproar over his jokes about the trans community. 'I have received complaints about making fun of LGBTQ + people so I won't do that tonight... Instead I will be making fun of r*****s,' he said Dave weaved hilarious stories about serious topics such as the dangers of fame and drug addiction. At one point, he became serious as he discussed fellow comedian Chris Rock, 58, being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars. But he quickly turned it into a comic routine as he said Rock had told him, 'I'm not a victim'. 'You're not a victim? Please, I've seen the tape!,' he quipped. The Emmy winner then joked that he hated buying Australian cigarettes because 'they have photos of diseases on the packets'. The Emmy winner said he hated buying Australian cigarettes because 'they have photos of diseases on the packets' 'I'm like, "I will take the packet with the diseased lungs on it,"' he told the crowd. The actor also told the crowd about a crazed fan who was once bothering him and said he was worried his Filipino American wife Elaine might run him over. 'She not violent, she's just Asian so she's a really bad driver,' he joked. The crowd was begging for more by the end of his performance, and he joked they could fly to Brisbane to see him perform there on Wednesday. Chappelle had the packed stadium in stitches as he joked about marriage, fame, drug use and life in Australia Dave was supported by three side-splitting stand up comedians, Marshall Brandon, Jeff 'Roastmaster General' Ross and Donnell Rawlings. Ross, 57, had the audience howling with laughter as he performed a raunchy routine about the sex life of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Chappelle won Best Comedy Album for his Netflix special The Closer at the Grammy Awards, which took place in Los Angeles in January. His win sparked outrage for featuring jokes aimed at the transgender community. The crowd was begging for more by the end of his performance, and he joked they could fly to Brisbane to see him perform there on Wednesday The backlash included a staged walkout from employees at Netflix's LA headquarters, after the streaming giant's CEO Ted Sarandos defended Chappelle's jokes as artistic expression and nothing more than an example of 'creative freedom'. His Perth show saw a wild brawl break out in the audience as he was performing to a sold-out crowd at RAC Arena when a commotion that involved yelling and swearing erupted in a top tier at the back of the venue. No footage of the melee has emerged because Chappelle has enforced a strict no-phones policy at his gigs for the last six years. It's understood he was discussing how he was tackled on stage at LA's Hollywood Bowl by an audience member almost a year ago when all hell broke loose. Married at First Sight bride Alyssa Barmonde has revealed she left the Mormon religion after her father came out as gay and the church no longer accepted him. The 35-year-old, from Utah, spoke to New Idea about what it was like growing up in the church, admitting her childhood was mostly happy but she was not allowed to express any emotion except joy, which she found stifling. 'If we were angry or upset we got sent straight to our room. We're told to turn off any emotion that's not happy or joyful,' she told the magazine. Married At First Sight bride Alyssa Barmonde (pictured) has revealed she left the Mormon religion after her father came out as gay and the church no longer accepted him She added: 'It's funny because I didn't know anything else. In the Mormon religion they have very strict beliefs.' Alyssa said she left Mormonism almost 20 years ago when her father was rejected by the church after coming out as gay. 'He came out when I was 16. Soon after that, I left the church because homosexuality is frowned upon,' she said. 'I wasn't going to align myself with a religion that wouldn't accept my dad for who he is.' The 35-year-old, from Utah, told New Idea her childhood was mostly happy but she was not allowed to express any emotion except joy. She eventually left the church 20 years ago when her father was rejected by the community after coming out as gay However, the mother of one insisted she still had a 'great childhood in a loving family' in spite of her strict upbringing. Before MAFS, Alyssa had been single for about 12 months following the end of her seven-year marriage. She signed up to Nine's social experiment because she was finding it hard to date as a single mum - and even harder on apps. Although she seems bubbly and sweet on the surface, don't be mistaken: she admits she can be bossy and digs her heels in even when she knows she's wrong. 'If we were angry or upset we got sent straight to our room. We're told to turn off any emotion that's not happy or joyful,' she said Her MAFS groom Duncan James was left speechless last week when she told him during confessions week she'd once been the 'other woman' in an extra-marital affair. 'It's not something I'm proud of but it's something I've been able to learn from. I also know now it will never happen again,' she said. But it seems this admission - which initially shocked Duncan to the core - only brought the couple closer together, as they looked very much in love just days later. Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now Fans of The Bachelors are speculating that Thomas Malucelli may have a new love interest in his life - one of the women who starred on the dating show with the Italian hunk. While Thomas proposed to Leah Cummings on the dating series, they split two months later and now he has been connected to Bella Johnston. On Sunday, Bella posted a photo of the bachelor to her Instagram story with the caption: 'Italian baby', followed by a rose emoji. Fans of The Bachelors are speculating that Thomas Malucelli may have a new love interest in his life - one of the women who starred in the latest series of the dating show with the Italian hunk While Bella was vying for bachelor Jed McIntosh's affection on the show, it appears she is now spending considerable time with Thomas. The 10th series of the Australian series saw three Bachelors take part in the series, a first for the entire franchise. One of these was Thomas, a 35-year-old restaurant manager from Sydney. While Thomas proposed to Leah Cummings on the show, they split two months later and now he has been connected to Bella Johnston. On Sunday, Bella posted a photo of the bachelor to her Instagram story with the caption: 'Italian baby', followed by a rose emoji Jed and Thomas have also become close since the show ended - and were even spotted out on a 'date night' together last month. It was only two weeks ago - an hour after the finale aired - that Thomas officially announced that he and his fiancee Leah called off their engagement. Posting a photo of them from the show, he said: 'It is with sadness that Leah and I announce that we have called off our engagement, and are no longer romantically together. It was only two weeks ago - an hour after the finale aired - that Thomas officially announced that he and his fiancee Leah called off their engagement 'We care for and respect each other immensely, however we came to realise that staying together was not the right decision for us. 'We ask that you respect our privacy around this decision.' Meanwhile Bella was a fan favourite on the show thanks to her humour and realness. Bella was a fan favourite on the show thanks to her humour and realness Speaking to Network 10 about her time on the show, she said: 'I think especially for reality TV, people try to play into a character and I just thought I dont really care. 'I dont care what people think of me, Im going to have fun with it, you know. If I fell in love that was always going to be a bonus. 'But I felt like it was responsible to just be myself, because what if I wasn't and someone fell in love with the wrong version of me? It would be inauthentic to do so, so I just rocked out with my c*ck out and it was amazing. 'The moment I stopped caring about what people thought, I really became myself.' The Strictly stars were reportedly kept awake all night at a hotel on the last leg of their UK tour by group of car racers in Glasgow. Police were in the area of the Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel, where the dancers were staying in Scotland on Saturday night, The Sun reports. Professional dancer on the tour Nikita Kuzmin took to his Instagram the morning afterwards to moan about only getting 20 minutes sleep. He had been awake since around 6am to film CBBC's Saturday Mash-Up! programme - after 32 shows in 24 days across the UK for the tour. A source told the publication of the night: 'Some struggled to get forty winks, but they were not letting a few idiotic drivers dampen their spirits and were determined to end the tour on a high.' Oh no: The Strictly stars were reportedly kept awake all night at a hotel on the last leg of their UK tour by group of car racers in Glasgow Police Scotland said: 'Officers attended and there was no trace. 'We are aware of issues relating to car racing in the area and officers carry out regular patrols. This kind of behaviour is dangerous and unacceptable.' Strictly has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. The Strictly tour has been up and down the country featuring a range of pros, celebs and of course the judges. From the year's crop Helen Skelton, Molly Rainford and Fleur East have been dazzling audiences up and down the country. It comes after last week judge Shirley Ballas performed a dangerous headbanger move with Anton Du Beke during the Strictly live tour. The maneuverer involves being swung around by the ankles and can often result in a very painful knock to the floor, hence the name. While it is often performed on Dancing On Ice, warranting extra medics to be present, it's the first time it's been attempted on Strictly. Tired: Professional dancer on the tour Nikita Kuzmin took to his Instagram the morning afterwards to moan about only getting 20 minutes sleep Tour: Police were in the area of the Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel, where the dancers were staying in Scotland on Saturday night, The Sun reports (judges pictured) Despite the risks, 62-year-old Shirley had no reservations and put her life in Anton's 56-year-old hands. During Wednesday's show at the SSE Arena in Belfast, host Janette Manrara asked Shirley if there were any couples she would like to dance with. After Shirly quipped that she wanted to be 'swung round by the ankles by Anton', fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood challenged her by responding that there was 'no time like the present'. Without hesitation, Shirley was quick to rise to her feet and take to the dance floor with Anton. Wow! From the year's crop Helen Skelton, Molly Rainford and Fleur East have been dazzling audiences up and down the country Yet despite their eagerness, the pair were unable to perfect the move immediately, with Shirley landing on her stomach on the first go. Anton then quipped: 'What did you have for lunch? I told you not to have the stew. I thought my days were up with Ann Widdecombe!' Yet they gave it another go - which also failed - prompting Craig to scoff it was a 'complete dance disaster.' Undeterred, the pair set off for another go and it was third time lucky as Anton was able to send Shirley spinning through the air. Shirley's decision to try out the headbanger is even more courageous given she's just undergone a non-surgical facelift. The former dancer had five NeoGen plasma treatments over the last several months to reduce wrinkles and improve skin laxity after originally enquiring with a doctor about going under the knife for a surgical face-lift. Speaking on Loose Women she said: 'I went to see the doctor to see if I'd be ok to do a face lift. I was seriously thinking about that, a proper knife job. My doctor said he wasn't comfortable doing that at the moment so I researched. 'I tried the NeoGen plasma. I had a sagging chin, sun spots, I had veins. I wanted to see if I could tighten up the skin. Scary: It comes after last week judge Shirley Ballas performed a dangerous headbanger move with Anton Du Beke during the Strictly live tour 'I have to say, hand on heart, I am delighted with my resulted. I mean look at that jawline girls, come on, 63 this year!' NeoGen uses ultra-high radio frequency to deliver a controlled pulse of plasma thermal energy. The pressurised pulse of nitrogen purges oxygen from the treatment area and the level of energy depends on the depth of penetration to the skin and the associated levels of tightening and regeneration effects. On fearing the stigma around getting procedures to improve her physical appearance, Shirley said everyone should simply do what they want. MAFS star Cheryl Maitland is renting out a vacant room in her Gold Coast apartment less than a day after she busted her fiance sending flirty texts to one of her friends. The $350-per-week listing appears to confirm her long-term partner Dean Gibbs is no longer living with her after she discovered he had planned private catch-ups with blonde hairdresser Maria Pepi. Maitland posted a series of photos on Instagram of the room and ensuite, which she captioned: 'ROOM FOR RENT $350 week Gold Coast - Palm Beach.' MAFS' Cheryl Maitland (right) is renting out a vacant room in her Gold Coast apartment less than a day after she caught her fiance Dean Gibbs (left) sending flirty texts to one of her pals 'Bedroom and own bathroom sharing with myself. No pets. Please tag anyone this would suit,' she added. Maitland leaked a series of texts on Sunday that allegedly showed Gibbs, a disgraced former Victoria Police officer-turned-plumber, planning to meet up with Pepi at the beach for a coffee and swim. She posted the DMs on Instagram, then called Gibbs and Pepi 'dogs' and said she 'hopes the sharks get these two' next time they go to the beach together. The $350-per-week listing appears to confirm her long-term partner Dean Gibbs is no longer living with her after she discovered he'd planned private catch-ups with hairdresser Maria Pepi Maitland's angry reaction suggests Gibbs may not have told her he was catching up with one of her mates. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any infidelity took place. He also appears to have tried to conceal the texts on his phone by saving Pepi under a man's name, 'Andrew Galata - Burleigh.' However, Maitland was allegedly able to prove he was texting her friend by cross-refencing the number for Pepi on Gibbs' phone with Pepi's number in her own contacts. The leaked texts, which had a flirtatious tone, centred on Pepi and Gibbs planning meet-ups as recently as last month, including one time when they arranged to go for a 'crazy' sunrise swim and coffee together. Maitland leaked a series of texts on Sunday that allegedly showed Gibbs, a former Victoria Police officer-turned-plumber, planning to meet with Pepi at the beach for a coffee and swim The leaked texts, which had a flirtatious tone, centred on Pepi (pictured) and Gibbs planning meet-ups as recently as last month 'The forecast is cloudy Monday and Tuesday. How about we do Wednesday??' Gibbs wrote to Pepi in texts allegedly exchanged last month. 'Yea Wednesday is good. What time and location,' Pepi replied. 'Wanna be crazy and do a sunrise swim???' Gibbs then wrote. 'Or do you wanna do it in comfort with a warm coffee?' Maitland's angry reaction suggests Gibbs may not have told her he was catching up with one of her mates. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any infidelity took place Maitland posted the texts on Instagram upon discovering them on Sunday, then called Gibbs and Pepi 'dogs' and said she 'hopes the sharks get these two' next time they go to the beach Gibbs appears to have tried to conceal the texts on his phone by saving Pepi under a man's name, 'Andrew Galata'. But Maitland was allegedly able to prove he was texting her friend by cross-refencing the number for Pepi on Gibbs' phone with Pepi's number in her own contacts Pepi responded: 'Let's do both. Coffee on the beach then a swim.' 'Boom,' Dean said with a fist-pump emoji. He then wrote, 'Love it,' with a devil emoji. Maitland then shared another text message exchange in which Gibbs joked about having to 'save' Pepi from a rip in the ocean. Pepi (right, with Maitland) has been pictured with the couple in multiple Instagram posts, which suggests the trio have been good friends for a while 'Broadbeach near you? Maybe out front of the Kurrawa surf club?' Gibbs suggested. 'Yes!!! Locked and loaded, added it in my calendar,' Pepi replied. 'That means it's official. Hopefully you get caught in a rip so I can rescue you,' Gibbs joked to the glamorous blonde. In one alleged text, Gibbs suggests he and Pepi go 'crazy' by hitting the beach at sunrise 'Hahaha omg I'd be so scared, shark bait,' Pepi wrote, adding a string of laughing emojis. 'You better rescue me lol,' she added. Maitland wrote over the text messages: 'DOGS! @_gibbsy @misspepix...' The former MAFS bride added: Sooooo much more! I'm just getting started... Hope the sharks get these two next swim.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Maitland, Gibbs and Pepi for comment. Maitland (near), Gibbs (left), Pepi (right) and an unidentified man (back) are pictured kayaking on Hayman Island in October 2020 Pepi has been pictured with the couple in multiple Instagram posts, which suggests the trio have been good friends for a while. Maitland and Gibbs became engaged in March last year; he announced the news on Instagram with the caption: 'Pop the champagne, she's changing her last name!' The couple began dating in 2017, shortly after she failed to find love on MAFS' fourth season with her two husbands, Jonathan Troughton and Andrew Jones. Maitland and Gibbs became engaged in March last year; he announced the news on Instagram with the caption: 'Pop the champagne, she's changing her last name!' Almost a decade ago, ex-cop Gibbs was handed a one-year suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to trafficking and using cocaine, as well as possessing steroids and ecstasy. Gibbs, who retrained as a plumber after leaving the police force, pleaded guilty to five drug-related charges in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in 2014. His mother Karen told Daily Mail Australia in March 2017 her son had worked hard to build a new life for himself ever since he narrowly avoided jail. 'That is all in the past he's moved on from all of that,' she said of his criminal conviction. Almost a decade ago, ex-cop Gibbs was handed a one-year suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to trafficking and using cocaine, as well as possessing steroids and ecstasy . Gibbs, who retrained as a plumber after leaving the police force, pleaded guilty to five drug-related charges in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in 2014 (pictured here outside court) 'He has worked very hard to build a new life; he's got a successful plumbing business and he's very proud of that,' she added. According to previous reports, the former constable had started dealing drugs after his salary was unable to cover the cost of his cocaine habit. Gibbs faced more than 15 years in jail but pleaded guilty to trafficking and possession charges, and also failing to store ammunition appropriately. He resigned from the police force in disgrace and took up a position as a plumbing apprentice. Spencer Dutton and his fiancee Alexandra struggled for lives out at sea after their tug boat capsized on Sunday's night's episode of 1923 Sunday's episode on the Paramount+ streaming service. Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) was the first to make it out of the wrecked boat to the surface but then looked around and realized Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) wasn't with him. Spencer called out for her and then heard banging the hull from inside. He then dove back into the ship to get her. Alex was inside the sunken hull gasping for air in an air pocket. Spencer grabbed a rope and told her to hold and then pulled her to the surface. The two of them climbed on top of the boat. Spencer dove back into the boat to get them supplies to survive. When he returned, they huddled together on the overturned ship. Capsized: Spencer Dutton and his fiancee Alexandra struggled for lives out at sea after their tug boat capsized on Sunday's night's episode of 1923 Sunday's episode on the Paramount+ streaming service Wrecked: Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) was the first to make it out of the wrecked boat to the surface but then looked around and realized Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) wasn't with him 'This is not how I thought I'd die,' Alex said. 'Because it isn't,' Spencer said. The situation started to look even bleaker for Alex and Spencer. Sharks started to surround their capsized boat. 'I refuse to be scared,' Alex said. The episode titled One Ocean Closer to Destiny opened with Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) with the Native American sheep herder who found her. He gave her his son's clothes to help her disguise her identity. He then had her burn all her school clothes. He was superstitious about burning the Bible she brought and had her bury it instead. Two sheriffs arrived with a warrant at Teonna's grandmother Issaxche Rainwater's house. Die: 'This is not how I thought I'd die,' Alex said Sharks: The situation started to look even bleaker for Alex and Spencer. Sharks started to surround their capsized boat Isn't: 'Because it isn't,' Spencer said Herder: The episode titled One Ocean Closer to Destiny opened with Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) with the Native American sheep herder who found her Bible: He was superstitious about burning the Bible she brought and had her bury it instead Warrant: Two sheriffs arrived with a warrant at Teonna's grandmother Issaxche Rainwater's house They told her that they were searching for Teonna because she was accused of two murders. Issaxche was shocked. She frantically told him to get out of her house. One of the sheriffs pushed her and she hit her head on the stove and died. Back on the ranch, Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford), the great-great-great uncle of John Dutton III, the family patriarch portrayed by Kevin Costner in Yellowstone, continued to recover from the savage ambush by Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn) and his sheepherders. He hatched a plan to put together a posse to go after Banner. Accused: They told her that they were searching for Teonna because she was accused of two murders. Issaxche was shocked Died: She frantically told him to get out of her house. One of the sheriffs pushed her and she hit her head on the stove and died Jacob: Back on the ranch, Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford), the great-great-great uncle of John Dutton III, the family patriarch portrayed by Kevin Costner in Yellowstone, continued to recover from the savage ambush by Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn) and his sheepherders. He hatched a plan to put together a posse to go after Banner Meanwhile his wife Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren) was in town interviewing men to be livestock agents. However, Cara and Sheriff McDowell (Robert Patrick) only found three, including Clive (Brian Konowal). Jacob later explained to Cara why it was so important that they fight to keep their ranch. He showed her that they were building a road up a mountain near their ranch and were blasting out a mine. Interview: Meanwhile his wife Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren) was in town interviewing men to be livestock agents Clive: However, Cara and Sheriff McDowell (Robert Patrick) only found three, including Clive (Brian Konowal) Jacob and Cara: Jacob later explained to Cara why it was so important that they fight to keep their ranch. He showed her that they were building a road up a mountain near their ranch and were blasting out a mine 'To squeeze what's in the middle and what's in the middle is us,' Jacob said. 'Justice would be a luxury. My concern is survival.' 'I know,' Cara said. 'That's why I did it.' Suddenly several sheriffs' cars then pulled up at the ranch. Sheriff William McDowell got out and questioned Jacob why he didn't report the ambush to the authorities. Squeeze: 'To squeeze what's in the middle and what's in the middle is us,' Jacob said. 'Justice would be a luxury. My concern is survival' Sheriff: Suddenly several sheriffs' cars then pulled up at the ranch. Sheriff William McDowell got out and questioned Jacob why he didn't report the ambush to the authorities 'Where's all the bodies of all the Creighton men?' Sheriff William asked. 'Rotting on the Wyoming border,' Jacob said. William said he knew what Jacob was up to and he wouldn't allow a range war. Bodies: 'Where's all the bodies of all the Creighton men?' Sheriff William asked. Rotting: 'Rotting on the Wyoming border,' Jacob said 'I'll arrest him in the morning and in the meantime, everybody, and that means you, give a statement to the deputies,' William said. After the sheriff left, Jacob stormed off angry. 'Damn right I'm mad!' Jacob yelled at Cara. Statement: 'I'll arrest him in the morning and in the meantime, everybody, and that means you, give a statement to the deputies,' William said Mad: 'Damn right I'm mad!' Jacob yelled at Cara 'It's not even justice, it's vengeance you seek,' Cara said. 'Never mind he'll be arrested in the morning. You'd rather put the bullet in him yourself. Then it's you in prison and the ranch is lost all the same.' Cara told him that they had actually suffered more than him. Jacob went to his barn and got a saddle for his horse. He put the saddle on, got on his horse smiling and rode off. Jack Dutton (Darren Mann) and his fiancee Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) cuddled in bed. He smiled and kissed her pregnant stomach. It was nightfall, when Cara was sitting outside and Jacob returned. Vengeance: 'It's not even justice, it's vengeance you seek,' Cara said. 'Never mind he'll be arrested in the morning. You'd rather put the bullet in him yourself. Then it's you in prison and the ranch is lost all the same' Cuddled: Jack Dutton (Darren Mann) and his fiancee Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) cuddled in bed. He smiled and kissed her pregnant stomach 'You saved my life,' Jacob said. 'I know it. I did not need to be told. It's not vengeance. It's preservation.' He said if they didn't make a stand that their paradise would become another concrete desert. 'I do it for you,' Jacob said. Saved: 'You saved my life,' Jacob said. 'I know it. I did not need to be told. It's not vengeance. It's preservation' Stand: He said if they didn't make a stand that their paradise would become another concrete desert He said it was now the other peoples turn to suffer. 'Goddam it, it's their turn now,' Jacob said. Night had fallen in the ocean, when Alex woke up and heard a horn of another ship in the distance. Spencer starts firing his rifle in the air to get their attention. Others: He said it was now the other peoples turn to suffer Night: Night had fallen in the ocean, when Alex woke up and heard a horn of another ship in the distance. Spencer starts firing his rifle in the air to get their attention 'Come on see me!' Alex screamed. 'See me! See me!' The horn kept blaring and Spencer and Alex realized they had been spotted. 'They see us!' Alex said sobbing. Spotted: The horn kept blaring and Spencer and Alex realized they had been spotted Sobbing: 'They see us!' Alex said sobbing A small boat came towards them with two sailors on board who helped them aboard and took them back to their barge. The captain of them both drinks in his chambers. Spencer told the captain that they were headed to Suez on the tug boat before it capsized but his final destination was Montana in the United States. The captain told him he heard it took months for an immigrant to gain entry to America. 'I was hoping you could help me with that,' Spencer said looking at Alex. Boat: A small boat came towards them with two sailors on board who helped them aboard and took them back to their barge Captain: The captain of them both drinks in his chambers. Spencer told the captain that they were headed to Suez on the tug boat before it capsized but his final destination was Montana in the United States. The captain told him he heard it took months for an immigrant to gain entry to America The captain said he had no dealings with American immigration. 'You are the captain of this ship,' Spencer said. 'These are international waters. Marry us.' The captain told him that marriage to gain citizenship was illegal. Spencer said that was not why he was doing it. The captain told him he would be honored. Immigration: The captain said he had no dealings with American immigration Marry us: 'You are the captain of this ship,' Spencer said. 'These are international waters. Marry us' Spencer said he didn't want to put it off for a day. The captain gave them a box of dead sailors rings and told them to pick one, but all the rings were too big for Alex's finger. The captain then took off his own necklace with a ring pendant. He told Alex that the ring belonged to his wife. 'I'm certain she would approve,' the Captain said. The ring fit. Spencer smiled and the captain married them in his cabin. Alex and Spencer kissed. To celebrate, the two went to a cabin, took a romantic shower together and made love. Spencer opened a bottle of champagne and they went to the front of the ship. Rings: Spencer said he didn't want to put it off for a day. The captain gave them a box of dead sailors rings and told them to pick one, but all the rings were too big for Alex's finger Approve: 'I'm certain she would approve,' the Captain said Spencer said where they were going in Montana there was no lights or plumbing. Alex asked him what his dream was. 'In my heart, I know it was wrong to take you and everything that happened up to now was a sign,' Spencer said. 'A warning. The elephant, the lions, the shipwreck. It was all the universe telling me to put you back. I'm just too f***ing selfish to do it. My dream is that the universe was wrong and you're mine to keep.' 'The universe has absolutely no say, whatsoever,' Alex said. 'I'm following you wherever you go. Whether you like it or not. Choose another dream. This one's already come true.' 1923 will return next Sunday on the Paramount+ service. Dream: Spencer said where they were going in Montana there was no lights or plumbing. Alex asked him what his dream was Harrison Ford reprised his much-beloved role as Indiana Jones in the newly released trailer for the upcoming movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday. In the clip, the 80-year-old performer portrayed the adventurer as he aimed to stop an evil scientist with the help of his goddaughter Helena Shaw, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The actor, who recently spoke about working with Helen Mirren, will appear alongside other performers, such as Mads Mikkelsen and Boyd Holbrook, in the adventure flick. The trailer begins with Jones meeting Jurgen Voller and his henchman Klaber, and the former inquires if the scientist is 'still a Nazi.' After a de-aged Jones punches an assailant while riding on a train, he jumps on a horse and rides through a parade as he is chased by Voller's right-hand man. Back in the saddle: Harrison Ford reprised his much-beloved role as Indiana Jones in the newly released trailer for the upcoming movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday The adventurer later meets with his longtime friend Sallah, played by John Rhys-Davies, who encourages him to 'give them hell.' The professor eventually finds his way onto an airplane, where he is joined by Shaw, who snuck onto the aircraft in an effort to rescue him from a group of assailants. The trailer ends after Jones and his goddaughter jump from the airplane and plummet down towards the sea. Development on the fifth Indiana Jones feature took place over several decades, although the project was not confirmed to have been in production until 2016. At the time, Steven Spielberg was set to helm the soon-to-premiere feature, with George Lucas serving as one of its producers. However, the industry legend stepped down from his role in 2020, although he remained on as a producer. The director's chair was later given to James Mangold, who had previously collaborated with Ford on Call of the Wild. The filmmaker went on to write the movie's screenplay alongside Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. Plotline: In the clip, the 80-year-old performer portrayed the adventurer as he aimed to stop an evil scientist with the help of his goddaughter Helena Shaw, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge Villain: The trailer begins with Jones meeting Jurgen Voller and his henchman Klaber, and the former inquires if the scientist is 'still a Nazi' A new look: After a de-aged Jones punches an assailant while riding on a train, he jumps on a horse and rides through a parade as he is chased by Voller's right-hand man Long time coming: Development on the fifth Indiana Jones feature took place over several decades, although the project was not confirmed to have been in production until 2016 Early plans: At the time, Steven Spielberg was set to helm the soon-to-premiere feature, with George Lucas serving as one of its producers Switching out: However, the industry legend stepped down from his role in 2020, although he remained on as a producer Fresh face: The director's chair was later given to James Mangold, who had previously collaborated with Ford on Call of the Wild While Ford had always been attached to the project, several cast members, including Waller-Bridge, Mikkelsen and Holbrook, signed on to appear in the movie in 2021. Shia LaBeouf, who portrayed Jones' son Mutt Williams in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, will not be reprising his role in the new film. Filming commenced in the summer of 2021 and took place in various locations in the United Kingdom, Italy and Morocco before shooting concluded last February. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was initially supposed to be released in 2019, although its premiere date was pushed back several times. The long-awaited movie is currently set to make its debut on June 30. Ford previously confirmed that he would give up the role of Jones after the flick's release, although a television series centered on the character is currently being considered by Disney executives. Radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson has given her review of the NSW Opposition leader's policies, saying he has her tick of approval ahead of the state election. Chris Minns appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday morning, with both hosts grilling him about his party's newest proposals as he prepares to go head-to-head with incumbent premier Dominic Perrottet next month. In particular, Labor's plan to cap Sydney road tolls at $60 was up for discussion, a move aimed to save motorists cash in the cost of living crisis. Radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson (left, with Kyle Sandilands) has given her review of the NSW Opposition leader's policies, saying he has her tick of approval ahead of the state election 'Labor leader Chris Minns wants to be the premier, he's got all these new ideas,' Kyle Sandilands said. 'I find them very progressive; Jackie is sold already. He's done something last week where he's putting a cap on your tolls.' Henderson was quick to double down on her of approval Minns. Henderson was delighted by the Labor leader's toll policy announcement, declaring Mr Minns her 'new premier' during an interview on Monday 'You don't have to pay over $60 right? That's me, I'm done. Sign me up! You are my new premier,' she said. The proposed toll cap is an extension of the 40 per cent toll rebate introduced by the Coalition government for motorists who spend more than $375 on tolls during the 2022-23 financial year, which NSW Labor has pledged to continue in conjunction with its new policy. Currently, with a maximum rebate amount of $750, the benefits run out after drivers hit a toll spend of $1,875. Under Labor's proposed plan, the maximum annual spend on tolls would be $3,120, with refunds issued each quarter. Mr Minns said if Labor was elected, the $147million scheme would come into effect from January 1, 2024 for two years. Minns (pictured) appeared on Kyle and Jackie O on Monday morning, with both hosts grilling him about his party's newest proposals. In particular, Labor's plan to cap Sydney road tolls at $60 was up for discussion, a move aimed to save motorists cash in the cost of living crisis While the cap only applies to cars and motorcycles (Class A vehicles) Mr Minns flagged on Sunday there would incoming policy promises for truck drivers. One of the KIIS FM producers told listeners both Mr Minns and NSW Premier Dom Perrottet had presented gracious options for voters if elected. The NSW state election will be held on March 25. The MSM continues its Orwellian whitewashing of the English language in AP Stylebook By Rachel Alexander web posted February 13, 2023 The MSM has been criticized for years due to its left-wing bias, but much of it is built in due to blind adherence to the Associated Press Stylebook. AP style used to merely cover things like how to capitalize words, avoid the Oxford comma used in academia, etc. This has been vastly expanded to instruct journalists substantively now, with Orwellian language changes. Much of it is needlessly inflammatory, using divisive words when discussing anything related to the rights perspective. At the same time, anything regarding the left-wing agenda is sugarcoated, using watered-down, peaceful sounding words and phrases. The most recent ridiculous change occurred in January, when the AP Stylebook tweeted that it was offensive to use the phrase the French. In a sense of irony, the AP Stylebook deleted the tweet, stating that it was inappropriate to use the phrase. The phrase late-term abortion was banned in December, claiming its not accurate since abortions allegedly dont take place during the last week of pregnancy. However, according to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, about 12,000 late-term abortions occur annually. Crisis pregnancy centers are supposed to be put in scare quotes and instead referred to as anti-abortion centers. The transition to gender neutral language includes avoiding the word female because it can be seen as emphasizing biology and reproductive capacity over gender identity. It can also sometimes carry misogynistic tones that may vary in severity by race, class and other factors. Other gender neutral directives include dropping the use of the words heroine, businessman, manpower, waiter, waitress, and manhunt. Pregnant people" or "people seeking abortions" is now used. She is no longer acceptable to refer to nations, ships, storms or voice assistants; instead journalists must use it. Last April, the AP Stylebook instructed journalists to use the pronoun they to describe people who prefer it. The 2022 version of the AP Stylebook directs journalists to avoid use of the word terrorist or terrorism except when it can be directly attributed to authorities or others, or to describe a handful of well-known events like 9/11. It also includes more than 25 new or revised entries regarding gender, sex and sexual orientation, including new words and phrases like gender-fluidity and genderqueer. There were many changes in the last couple of years related to race. If racism isnt appropriate, the AP Stylebook helpfully offers alternatives: xenophobic, bigoted, biased, nativis and racially divisive. The AP Stylebook switched from African-American to Black, and explained why white will still be lowercase in 2020. Its muddled explanation suggests that its because white supremacists capitalize the word. Journalists are encouraged to use the more inflammatory racist instead of "racially charged" or "racially motivated." Thug cannot be used since it is code for a racial slur, and unarmed Black man is considered offensive. Once a suspect has been apprehended, it is no longer acceptable to mention their race. Caucasian, brown, mixed-race, person of color, BIPOC, Aborigine, reverse discrimination and the phrase Black, Indigenous and people of color are now considered offensive. There are numerous words and phrases associated with Native Americans that are banned. They include Indian summer, warpath, hold down the fort, circle the wagons, Indian giver and powwow. The word looters is discouraged since it has carried racial overtones in the past. Instead, its recommended to say, A group of people at the protest broke into the store and took whatever was on the shelves. A helpful explanation adds, people sometimes steal to obtain water, food, medicine or essentials to survive. Similarly, the word riot is discouraged since Focusing on rioting and property destruction rather than underlying grievance has been used in the past to stigmatize broad swaths of people protesting against lynching, police brutality or for racial justice However, the AP Stylebook still cleverly made sure it was OK to refer to the J6 protesters as offensively as possible. After J6, the guide came out with How to describe the events at the U.S. Capitol. It said instead of continuing with what journalists had been using about J6, which was protest, chaotic protest aimed at thwarting a peaceful transfer of power, a melee or raucous, out-of-control scene, the language should be insurrection or something much stronger. The AP Stylebook tries to control what journalists do on their social media. It instructs journalists about J6, Please refrain from expressions of personal opinion about these political events in your social media or contacts with others. MSM journalists routinely violate this, but rarely does it result in disciplinary action from their employers. Another word now considered offensive is able-bodied, which is replaced by people who dont have disabilities or nondisabled. Special needs and special education are now considered offensive. Senior citizens, seniors and elderly have been replaced by older adults or older people. Gypsy moth has been replaced by spongy moth since gypsy is now considered offensive. Child-free and childless are demeaning so have been replaced by doesnt have children. The AP Stylebook prominently features a post from 2013 stating that illegal immigrant can no longer be used. They also forbid illegal alien or undocumented. Another post prominently highlighted is the offensive language adopted in 2015 to refer to people who dont buy into manmade global warming. Our guidance is to use climate change doubters or those who reject mainstream climate science and to avoid the use of skeptics or deniers. Not all of the mainstream media uses the AP Stylebook, some publications like The New York Times have their own style guides. But they are very similar substantively. So what can we do about this problem, instead of just complaining? I am coming up with my own style guide for journalists on the right, that will include talking points and more. Instead of election denier and the big lie we will use election fraud denier. Instead of no evidence of voter fraud, we will use cheaters. As George Orwell showed in 1984, those who control the language control the culture. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative . She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home MGM shelled out the big bucks (reportedly between $6 million and $7 million) to air a new trailer for Creed III during Super Bowl Sunday. The trailer teases the epic battle in and out of the ring between Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordain) and his one-time childhood friend Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors). The film also marks the directorial debut of Jordan - who hit the red carpet at the Mexico City premiere on Friday. The new trailer - set to Fugees' Ready or Not - shows footage of Adonis in the ring and Damian preparing to go to war in the ring with his old friend. We also see footage of Damian destroying opponents in the ring and flashback footage of the friends together. Big bucks: MGM shelled out the big bucks (reportedly between $6 million and $7 million) to air a new trailer for Creed III during Super Bowl Sunday Star and director: The film also marks the directorial debut of Jordan - who hit the red carpet at the Mexico City premiere on Friday Adonis' mother Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad) is heard saying, 'There may have been a time when Damian had your back.' 'But he doesn't anymore,' she continues as we see Damian getting his hands taped up and sparring. Both Adonis and Damian are seen outside as Damian boasts, 'Hey, I'm just getting started, little brother,' which angers Adonis. We see more footage of the ripped Damian training as he adds, 'I'm coming for everything,' as Adonis is seen with Bianca (Tessa Thompson). There is more footage of both fighters training before we see an aerial shot of Dodger Stadium, seemingly where their epic battle will take place. We see more training footage and shots of them both arriving to the ring at Dodger Stadium. Bianca is seen with Adonis, telling him, 'Don't let him destroy everything you've built.' The final shots of the trailer show Adonis and Damian trading epic blows in the middle of the ring. Taped: 'But he doesn't anymore,' she continues as we see Damian getting his hands taped up and sparring Started: Both Adonis and Damian are seen outside as Damian boasts, 'Hey, I'm just getting started, little brother,' which angers Adonis Ripped: We see more footage of the ripped Damian training as he adds, 'I'm coming for everything,' as Adonis is seen with Bianca (Tessa Thompson) Aerial: We see more training footage and shots of them both arriving to the ring at Dodger Stadium Destroy: Bianca is seen with Adonis, telling him, 'Don't let him destroy everything you've built' Blows: The final shots of the trailer show Adonis and Damian trading epic blows in the middle of the ring Creed III also stars Florian Munteanu (Viktor Drago), Wood Harris (Tony 'Little Duke' Burton), Tony Bellew ('Pretty' Ricky Conlan) and real boxer Canelo Alvarez. Michael B. Jordan directs from a script by Keenan Coogler and Zack Baylin and a story by Creed director Ryan Coogler. MGM will release Creed III on March 3, going up against Hunt Her, Kill Her in theaters nationwide. The Kansas City Chiefs ultimately earned their third NFL championship triumphing over the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, behind an epic effort put forth by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes who ultimately earned MVP. The Bachelor star Alisha Aitken-Radburn wore a tattoo of her fiance's face as she celebrated her hens party with her closest friends in Sydney on Sunday. Alisha is due to marry Glenn Smith in April, who she met on the last season of Bachelor In Paradise in 2020. The blonde beauty, 30, starred in season six of the Bachelor with Nick Cummins, while Glenn, 35, starred in season five of the Bachelorette with Angie Kent. The Bachelor star Alisha Aitken-Radburn wore a tattoo of her fiance's face as she celebrated her hens party with her closest friends in Sydney on Sunday Fellow Bachelor star Irena Srbinovska - who is engaged to Locky Gilbert - shared some stunning photographs of Alisha at the wild bash. Fans were quick to notice that they both had small temporary tattoos stuck on them- and it turns out they were Glenn's face. Wearing a co-ord silver sequin top and skirt, a white fluffy cardigan and massive pink platform heels, Alisha was seen smiling with her friends and enjoying a glass of champagne. Wearing a co-ord silver sequin top and skirt, a white fluffy cardigan and massive pink platform heels, Alisha was seen smiling with her friends and enjoying a glass of champagne Although her big day isn't until April, the girls hit the town and drank on a boat with the stunning scenery of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House in the background. Irena wore a multi-coloured mini dress and a pink cowboy hat as she and Alisha showed off their engagement rings to the camera. She captioned the carousel of photos: 'Celebrating our gorgeous bride to be @alisha.aitkenradburn. Fellow Bachelor star Irena Srbinovska - who is engaged to Locky Gilbert - shared some stunning photographs of Alisha at the wild bash 'You are going to make one gorgeous bride but before then we had the most incredible day celebrating you! 'You light up a room instantly, you make people smile and you are so ridiculously beautiful. Love you! Bring on the wedding.' Alisha simply commented back to her friend: 'Love you'. Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) faced hordes of super infected that had been released from underground in their dangerous bid to make it out of Kansas City alive in the new episode of HBO's The Last Of Us. Episode 5 of the series titled Endure and Survive opened with rebels in Kansas City killing all the individuals in town who had collaborated with the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA). Henry (Lamar Johnson) and his deaf brother Sam (Keivonn Woodard) ran into a building for shelter. Meanwhile the leader of the rebels, Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey, who called out model Adrianne Curry for her tweets about her body type) sat down in front of a group of collaborators that were being held in a cell. 'Did it feel good betraying your neighbors to FEDRA?' Kathleen asked. 'Watching us get thrown in prison, watching us hang, so you could get medicine, alcohol, f***ing apples?' Joel: Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) faced hordes of super infected that had been released from underground in their dangerous bid to make it out of Kansas City alive in the new episode of HBO's The Last Of Us. Monster: One of the many infected humans turned into monstrous creatures seen in The Last of Us Episode 5 She told them that no one would die if they told her where Henry was. When no one spoke up Kathleen told Perry to kill them. 'He's with Edelstein,' one of the men said. Kathleen then ordered her lieutenant Perry (Jeffrey Pierce) to kill all of them and go door-to-door in the city hunting for Henry. Meanwhile, Henry and Sam had entered an abandoned building where they met with Doctor Edelstein (John Getz) who gave them supplies. Henry said they needed to figure out a way out of the city. Sam huddled in the corner scared. He drew a picture and Henry said it was 'super Sam.' Henry gave Sam crayons and told him to draw on the wall to make it look better. Ten days later, Henry and Sam waited for Dr. Edelstein but then finally accepted that he wasn't coming back. He told Sam they needed to leave because they ran out of food. Henry painted a superhero mask on Sam's face to give him confidence. Just when they were about to leave the building, they saw Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) fend off attackers. Henry realized they would have a better chance of escaping if they teamed up with them. At night while Joel and Ellie were sleeping, Henry and Sam snuck into their rooms and pointed guns at them, the point where Episode 4 came to an end. No one: She told them that no one would die if they told her where Henry was. When no one spoke up Kathleen told Perry to kill them Perry: Kathleen then ordered her lieutenant Perry (Jeffrey Pierce) to kill all of them and go door-to-door in the city hunting for Henry Henry and Sam: Meanwhile, Henry and Sam had entered an abandoned building where they met with Doctor Edelstein (John Getz) who gave them supplies. Mask: Ten days later, Henry and Sam waited for Dr. Edelstein but then finally accepted that he wasn't coming back. He told Sam they needed to leave because they ran out of food. Henry painted a superhero mask on Sam's face to give him confidence Watched: Just when they were about to leave the building, they saw Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) fend off attackers. Henry realized they would have a better chance of escaping if they teamed up with them Guns: At night while Joel and Ellie were sleeping, Henry and Sam snuck into their rooms and pointed guns at them, the point where Episode 4 came to an end 'We don't want to hurt you,' Henry said. ' We want to help you.' 'Okay,' Joel said. Henry and Sam put their guns away. Joel asked him who he was. Help: 'We don't want to hurt you,' Henry said. ' We want to help you' Who: Henry and Sam put their guns away. Joel asked him who he was 'I'm the most wanted man in Kansas City,' Henry said. 'But right now my guess is you're running a close second.' Later, Joel and Ellie shared their food with them. Henry said he could show them a way out of the city. Henry told them in the morning that FEDRA left their city 10 days ago. Joel said that he heard KC FEDRA was bad. Food: Later, Joel and Ellie shared their food with them Way out: Henry said he could show them a way out of the city. Henry told them in the morning that FEDRA left their city 10 days ago. Joel said that he heard KC FEDRA was bad 'They raped and tortured and murdered people for 20 years,' Henry said. Henry told Joel he was a collaborator. 'I don't work with rats,' Joel said. Raped and murdered: 'They raped and tortured and murdered people for 20 years,' Henry said No rats: 'I don't work with rats,' Joel said Henry said that they need his help to get out of the city alive. Joel reluctantly agreed to team up. Henry said the way out was through the maintenance tunnel and that FEDRA had pushed the infected underground. 15 years ago but the tunnels were clear. 'As far as I can tell, it's our only shot,' Henry said. Team up: Henry said that they need his help to get out of the city alive. Joel reluctantly agreed to team up Only shot: 'As far as I can tell, it's our only shot,' Henry said They walked together through an abandoned building and then took the stairway down. The tunnel's walls were covered with children's drawings. 'I heard about places like this,' Joel said. 'People went underground after the outbreak day. Built settlements.' Sam and Ellie found a comic book that they both loved. Drawing: They walked together through an abandoned building and then took the stairway down. The tunnel's walls were covered with children's drawings. Comic: Sam and Ellie found a comic book that they both loved. 'To the back of the universe and back, endure and survive,' Ellie said. Henry admitted to Joel that he did help kill one man, the leader of the resistance, Kathleen's brother Michael. 'There was a man, a great man,' Henry said. 'You know he was never afraid, never selfish, and was always forgiving.' Helped: Henry admitted to Joel that he did help kill one man, the leader of the resistance, Kathleen's brother Michael Great man: 'There was a man, a great man,' Henry said. 'You know he was never afraid, never selfish, and was always forgiving' Henry said he gave up that man because Sam got sick with Leukemia and there was only one drug that worked and only FEDRA had it. Joel, Ellie, Henry said and Sam made their way out of the tunnel and made their way down an empty street littered with broken down cars. 'No one's going to be here, my plan worked,' Henry said. Empty: Joel, Ellie, Henry said and Sam made their way out of the tunnel and made their way down an empty street littered with broken down cars Ellie told them they were headed to Wyoming and that they could come with them. Joel stared at her and just then a shot rang out. Joel told them to stay hidden and that they would run in the house and disarm the shooter. Joel killed the sharpshooter but then heard Kathleen's voice over the radio. 'Anthony hold them where they are,' Kathleen said. Joel screamed out the window as a convoy of cars headed straight toward Ellie, Henry and Sam. They tried to run away. Joel shot at the truck from above and managed to kill the driver before the truck hit Ellie. The truck blew up and exploded. Sharpshooter: Ellie told them they were headed to Wyoming and that they could come with them. Joel stared at her and just then a shot rang out. Joel told them to stay hidden and that they would run in the house and disarm the shooter. Joel killed the sharpshooter but then heard Kathleen's voice over the radio Screamed: Joel screamed out the window as a convoy of cars headed straight toward Ellie, Henry and Sam. They tried to run away. Joel shot at the truck from above and managed to kill the driver before the truck hit Ellie. The truck blew up and exploded Kathleen and her other gunmen arrived. 'Dead end Henry,' Kathleen said. 'Want to step out and save us some time?' 'I'll come out,' Henry said. 'Just let the kids go!' Kathleen: Kathleen and her other gunmen arrived 'No,' Kathleen said. 'Sorry. The girl is with the man who killed Bryan. And Sam, well, Sam's with you.' 'He's just a f***ing kid,' Henry screamed. Henry told Ellie to take Sam and run and stood up to give himself up. Kid: 'He's just a f***ing kid,' Henry screamed Run: Henry told Ellie to take Sam and run and stood up to give himself up 'It ends the way it ends,' Kathleen said, pointing her gun at him. Just then the truck that had blown up lifted and fell into a sinkhole. Kathleen turned to watch. Instantly thousands of infected ran out of the hole and attacked the soldiers. Joel from above shot any of the infected that came close to Ellie. Ellie crawled to make it to an abandoned car but an infected climbed in the car with her. A giant infected monster crawled out of the hole. Perry shot at it with his machine gun but it didn't seem to do anything. He told Kathleen to run and not look back. Truck: Just then the truck that had blown up lifted and fell into a sinkhole. Kathleen turned to watch. Instantly thousands of infected ran out of the hole and attacked the soldiers. Joel from above shot any of the infected that came close to Ellie. Ellie crawled to make it to an abandoned car but an infected climbed in the car with her Monster: A giant infected monster crawled out of the hole. Perry shot at it with his machine gun but it didn't seem to do anything. He told Kathleen to run and not look back Ellie got out of the car and saw Henry and Sam were being attacked by two infected and ran over and stabbed them. They ran to the house, but then Kathleen pulled a gun on them and told them to stop. An infected jumped out of nowhere and attacked and killed Kathleen. Thousands of infected people continued to run out of the hole. Later that night at a hotel, Joel told Henry that he could come to Wyoming with them. Henry said it would be nice for Sam to have a friend. Sam wrote to Ellie on a pad asking 'if you turn into a monster is it still you inside?' Killed: Ellie got out of the car and saw Henry and Sam were being attacked by two infected and ran over and stabbed them. They ran to the house, but then Kathleen pulled a gun on them and told them to stop. An infected jumped out of nowhere and attacked and killed Kathleen. Thousands of infected people continued to run out of the hole He then showed her his ankle and revealed to Ellie secretly that he had been bitten. Ellie showed him her healed bit. She cut her hand and told him that her blood was medicine. She cut her hand and rubbed her blood on him. He asked her to stay awake with him. Ellie agreed and the two hugged. By morning, Ellie had fallen asleep. When she woke up, Sam was sitting on the edge of his bed facing the window. She touched him and he got up and tried to attack her. 'Joel!' Ellie screamed. Bitten: He then showed her his ankle and revealed to Ellie secretly that he had been bitten. Ellie showed him her healed bit. She cut her hand and told him that her blood was medicine. She cut her hand and rubbed her blood on him. He asked her to stay awake with him. Ellie agreed and the two hugged Attack: By morning, Ellie had fallen asleep. When she woke up, Sam was sitting on the edge of his bed facing the window. She touched him and he got up and tried to attack her Henry grabbed Joel's gun from him and said 'nope, nope, nope.' He then turned and shot Sam. Henry then pointed the gun at Joel. 'Henry, give me the gun' Joel said. 'What did I do?' Henry said. 'What did I do? Sam.' Sam's blood ran out on the floor. Henry then turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the dead. Ellie and Joel buried them. Shot: Sam's blood ran out on the floor. Henry then turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the dead. Ellie and Joel buried them Ellie left a note on top of Sam's grave that said 'I'm sorry' and then started walking west. 'Let's go,' Ellie said to Joel. The Last of Us will return next Sunday on HBO. Sorry: Ellie left a note on top of Sam's grave that said 'I'm sorry' and then started walking west She is best known for her role as Cher Horowitz in cult classic, Clueless. And it appeared that not a day had passed as Alicia Silverstone reprised the iconic character for a Super Bowl 57 advert during the show on Sunday night. The actress, 46, looked youthful and radiant as she slipped into her signature yellow and black plaid skirt suit to film the commercial. Alicia stepped back into the role of the fashion-loving California girl to film a spot for Rakuten which aired during the show. As the advert began, Cher could be seen strutting to the front of a room during debate class wearing her most memorable look, as she takes on her on-screen nemesis Amber [Elisa Donovan]. That's so FETCH! It appeared that not a day had passed as Alicia Silverstone reprised the iconic character for a Super Bowl 57 advert during the show on Sunday night She tells the class: 'I used to be pretty clueless about shopping, like when I heard I could save by getting cashback with Rakuten, I was like as if!' 'Then I was like, why didn't I do this sooner? You can get cash back on all the fashion at your fave beauty stores and on pretty much whatever!' Sporting a black and white ensemble as she window stopped, she says: 'Ohhh eye cream - not that I need it.' After crashing her white Jeep into a delivery van, she adds: 'On pretty much everything!' Before adding: 'Oh, who put that there?', referring to the van. Back in the debate room with Amber, she says: 'In conclusion you'd have to be butt crazy to shop without Rakuten.' Amber asks: 'Do I even get a rebuttle?' Cher quips: 'Yeah, but it woud be re-BRUTAL.' Wow! The actress, 46, looked youthful and radiant as she slipped into her signature yellow and black plaid skirt suit to film the commercial Debate: As the advert began, Cher could be seen strutting to the front of a room during debate class wearing her most memorable look, as she takes on her on-screen nemesis Amber [Elisa Donovan] Don't bug, your girl is back! Alicia stepped back into the role of the fashion-loving California girl to film a spot for Rakuten which aired during the show She tells the class: 'I used to be pretty clueless about shopping, like when I heard I could save by getting cashback with Rakuten, I was like as if!' After returning to her seats, one of her classmates, then asks: 'Are you a little old for high school?' Smirking, she replies: 'What?' A teaser for the spot showed the actress back in Cher's iconic yellow checked skirt and blazer costume. No way! Sporting a black and white ensemble as she window stopped, she says: 'Ohhh eye cream - not that I need it' She says: 'Then I was like, why didn't I do this sooner? You can get cash back on all the fashion at your fave beauty stores and on pretty much whatever!' Whoops! After crashing her white Jeep into a delivery van, she adds: 'On pretty much everything!' During the clip, the character seen marching into a classroom with shopping bags held aloft before turning and addressing the students in the room, saying: 'Don't bug - your girl is back.' The advert is set to the sound of Supergrass' hit track Alright which famously featured in the 1995 film and is promoting a cash back scheme for the brand which Silverstone says Cher would have loved. Read a full rundown of the Super Bowl commercials HERE Back in the debate room with Amber, she says: 'In conclusion you'd have to be butt crazy to shop without Rakuten' Amber asks: 'Do I even get a rebuttle?' Big love: Cher received support from her classmates Steve Price surprised his Project co-stars on Monday when he revealed he sided with Post Malone, after the rapper was kicked out of a Perth bar on the weekend. The panel were discussing the American star being refused entry to QT Hotel's ritzy rooftop because of his face tattoos when Steve, 68, stood up for Malone, before revealing he too had ink. 'I'm not sure who Mr Post is. [But] what happens next? You get a bad haircut and can't come in or a shirt with the wrong colour?' he said. Steve Price (pictured) surprised his Project co-stars on Monday when he revealed he sided with Post Malone, after the rapper was kicked out of a Perth bar on the weekend 'I'm surprised you're on his side,' Steve's co-star quipped, to which he replied, 'I'm on Mr Post's side. I might get a face tattoo.' Steve then revealed he was one of the one in four Australians who have a tattoo. 'I have Dane Swan's initials underneath my arm here. Don't ask me why. It's a long story,' he explained. The panel were discussing the American star (pictured) being refused entry to QT Hotel's ritzy rooftop bar because of his face tattoos when Steve, 68, stood up for Malone, before revealing that he too had ink 'I'm on Mr Post's side. I might get a face tattoo,' Steve said, before revealing he was one of the one in four Australians who have a tattoo. 'I have Dane Swan's initials underneath my arm here. Don't ask me why. It's a long story,' he explained Back in 2017, Steve got a a tattoo of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! cast mate Dane Swan's initials on his bicep. The former Collingwood legend shared a video of his co-star screaming and cursing his way through the fulfillment of a promise he'd made on the show. The hilarious footage showed the longtime tattoo detractor laying on a chair at Melbourne's popular Renegade Art Society. Back in 2017, Steve got a a tattoo of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! cast mate Dane Swan's initials on his bicep The former Collingwood legend (pictured) shared a video of his co-star screaming and cursing his way through the fulfillment of a promise he'd made on the show Behind the camera was the man who would soon be the first (and presumably the last) person to get the honour of watching The Project presenter get permanently inked. Mustachioed tattoo artist Pedro Six - who also did many of Dane's tattoos - slowly brought the whirring needle to the reality star's skin, laughing along with the AFL legend as the shock-jock winced immediately upon impact. The artist and business partner of Dane revealed that the AFL legend himself had designed the tattoo with blue marker. The idea to get inked arose during a challenge on the reality show when the topic of conversation turned to Dane's tattoos. Maya Jama revealed her 'ADHD and glam team' were responsible after fans praised her stamina and energy on Sunday. The Love Island host, 28, presented at the BRITs, hosted an afterparty on a boat and partied late into the night - before looking refreshed as she presented Love Island's Aftersun less than 24 hours later. Taking to Twitter one fan wrote: 'Obsessed with @MayaJama Cling clinging at The BRITS last night & hosting her own after party & then tonight looking like a radiant honey on #LoveIsland'. Before adding: 'Her & her team are KILLING IT!'. Maya replied: 'Honestly big up the glam team an my ADHD because I would not have the energy or Lewksss without them'. Stunner: Maya Jama, 28, revealed her 'ADHD and glam team' were responsible after fans praised her stamina and energy on Sunday Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness and hyperactivity. Maya used the opportunity on Sunday's show to debut her new hairstyle - straight brunette locks framed by a gorgeous new fringe. She showcased her incredible figure in a long grey dress which flashed skin through a cut-out detail on either side of her waist. The dress highlighted her ample assets as it hugged her figure and came down from just off her shoulders. The beauty added inches to her frame in silver strappy heels. Maya made sure all eyes were on her as she danced her way onto the set of the Love Island spin-off show where she discussed all the drama from the South African villa. She sported a gorgeous palette of make up, including winged eyeliner and a nude lip. Maya was joined by regular pannelists The Morning After podcast hosts Sam Thompson and Indiyah Polack, as well as celebrity superfan Mae Muller. Party: The Love Island host presented at the BRITs, hosted an afterparty on a boat and partied late into the night - before looking refreshed as she presented Love Island's Aftersun less than 24 hours later Loving it: Taking to Twitter one fan wrote: 'Obsessed with @MayaJama Cling clinging at The BRITS last night & hosting her own after party & then tonight looking like a radiant honey on #LoveIsland' Maya was certainly in the party spirit as she headed out for the boozy river Thames bash, showing off her dance moves as things got rowdy. The stunner let loose as she twerked in front of pals, sharing a clip of the moment with her 2.7M Instagram followers. Sporting a glimmering silver dress with a thigh grazing split and off the shoulder detail, she looked ultra-glamorous for the party. A little help: Maya replied: 'Honestly big up the glam team an my ADHD because I would not have the energy or Lewksss without them' As Maya welcomed a slew of famous faces to the boat, it appeared to be a fun-filled night as the celebrities let their hair down after the music awards show. Maya was on the job earlier in the day as she presented the ITV Red Carpet Show before the BRITS, before presenting an award during the televised ceremony. So using her after-party as a chance to let loose, Maya shared an insight into the bash as she danced on deck and partied at the DJ booth. The Love Island presenter hosted the bash on the River Thames with Coca-Cola, launching their newest Creations product, a limited-edition drink called Movement Turning up the heat, the beauty added inches to her frame in a pair of towering strappy coordinated heels and accessorised with small hoop earrings. Work it: Maya was certainly in the party spirit as she headed out for the boozy river Thames bash, showing off her dance moves as things got rowdy Maya pulled her long dark tresses back in a chic updo and applied a flawless palette of makeup including to accentuate her beauty. Taking to the water, the night to remember was attended by guests including Jesse Lingard, AJ Odudu, Snoochie Shy, Chunks, Poet, Tiffany Calver, Craig Mitch and Mira May. Maya's outfit was her second of the evening, after hitting the 02 Arena red carpet earlier in the evening. The TV host looked sensational and slipped into a figure-hugging strapless black dress for her red carpet arrival. Moves: She let loose as she twerked in front of pals, sharing a clip of the moment with her 2.7M Instagram followers Sleek: Her hair was gorgeously slicked back into an up do as it remained pristine throughout the night Her quirky frock boasted a bejewelled gold skeleton design that highlighted her ample cleavage and gorgeous curves. But during the event, the former Love Island host Laura Whitmore and the show's new presenter Maya appeared to ignore each other while at the same table at the BRIT Awards. The awkward moment happened as stars from the music world gathered for the annual event. Pictures and video show the two women stood directly next to each other at the ITV table - but they only seem to be interested in speaking to other people on either side to them, at one point even turning their backs on each other. A source told MailOnline that the pair were sat on the ITV table together but 'didn't speak to each other once during the whole ceremony'. Glowing: Sporting a glimmering silver dress with a thigh grazing split and off the shoulder detail, she looked ultra-glamorous for the party A insider said: 'Maya and Laura were sat on the ITV table together but didn't speak to each other once during the whole ceremony. 'At one point they were stood with their backs to each other. 'Maya was happily speaking to Laura's husband Iain Stirling but didn't chat to Laura once. There is definitely some tension between them.' Maya, 28, took over from Laura, 37, this year to host the winter series in South Africa and has been a huge hit with fans since taking the helm. Awkward: Former Love Island host Laura Whitmore and the show's new presenter Maya appeared to ignore each other while at the same table at the Brit Awards 2023 Lorraine Kelly has detailed her Valentine's Day plans with her husband of 30 years Steve Smith. The TV presenter, 63, who married cameraman Steve in 1992, said the 'little things count' when it comes to keeping their romance alive. Lorraine admitted she is 'not into big gestures' but loves it when her beau cooks for her and enjoys a nice quiet night in together. Having previously said their sex life is 'ticking along nicely', Lorraine told Weight Watchers: 'There is nothing like a relaxing evening with the one you love. 'Steve and I are planning to stay at home with some nice food and crack open a bottle of red together and enjoy it with a film. EXCLUSIVE: Lorraine Kelly has detailed her Valentine's Day plans with husband of 30-years Steve Smith just days after his VERY racy on-air texts to her were exposed 'Nice to do something thoughtful': The TV presenter, 63, who married cameraman Steve in 1992, said the 'little things count' when it comes to keeping their romance alive 'Weve been together for years of course, but it's still nice to do something thoughtful to mark the day.' Lorraine revealed she will be enjoying a lavish meal at home during the romantic day and will complete it with strawberries and chocolate for dessert. She continued: 'Valentines Day dinner is special and a little more indulgent. Something classic, like a steak with red wine is a gorgeous thing to eat on Valentines Day and obviously Steve is thrilled with a choice like that! 'Ive been on WW for over a year now and the fabulous thing is that nothing is off the menu, so we can both enjoy steak and chips and a glass of red wine, then balance it with some ZeroPoints food on my plate like a green salad and track the whole thing in my app. 'There is no Valentines Day meal without dessert. Strawberries and chocolate is one of my favourite food pairings on any given day, but especially on Valentine's Day.' Lorraine also added that 'remembering things the other person likes' is always a nice gesture in showing how much you care. She also admitted she will be enjoying an early relaxing night with Steve as she 'loves getting in bed and having a full eight hours of sleep'. The daytime TV star added: 'The little things count be thoughtful. Remembering things the other person likes. 'A little more indulgent: She admitted she is 'not into big gestures' but loves it when her beau cooks for her and a nice quiet night in together 'Indulge in little treats': Lorraine revealed she will be cracking open a bottle of red wine over a lavish meal at home during the romantic day with Steve 'Writing wee notes on birthdays and Valentines Day is a small way to remind them you love them. 'Im not into big gestures, but I love when Steve cooks for me and we can have a quiet night in together. 'Indulge in little treats, together. With my job, one of the most indulgent things for me is sleep. 'Getting to end my relaxing night with Steve by going to bed early is a real treat. Sleep is super important to me, its so vital to general good health. 'I love getting in bed with clean sheets and getting a full 8 hours of sleep, what a luxury!' 'Love a full 8 hours sleep': Lorraine also added that 'remembering things the other person likes' is always a nice gesture and admitted she will be enjoying an early relaxing night with Steve (pictured in 2014) It comes after Lorraine was left blushing earlier this month when Ben Shephard shared the very racy texts her husband sends her during her live shows. Ben and co-host Susanna Reid were wrapping up Good Morning Britain before doing a live link to Lorraine, with the presenter unable to resist bringing up an article involving her and Steve. And Lorraine was clearly blindsided by her partner's saucy messages being revealed as she asked Ben: 'How did they get hold of that?' During the live link where Lorraine explained what was coming up on her show, Ben, 48, quizzed her about the newspaper article, teasing: 'It would appear hes very generous with his affections while youre on air. 'He often likes to say how wonderful youre looking in the morning in an affectionate way.' To which a red-faced Lorraine responded: 'It depends what I'm wearing. It depends how much I'm showing.' Going into further detail, she continued: 'Sometimes he does say "Nice boobs", before asking of the story: 'How did they get hold of that? Where did that come from? Have I been talking too much again?' Funny moment: It comes after Lorraine was left blushing earlier this month when Ben Shephard shared the very racy texts her husband sends her during her live shows Jokes: Ben and co-host Susanna Reid were wrapping up Good Morning Britain before doing a live link to Lorraine, with the presenter unable to resist bringing up an article involving her and Steve And while Ben suggested Steve could be the source, Lorraine did in fact spill the beans herself in an interview with Woman's Weekly magazine. Meanwhile, Susanna, 52, said of the situation: 'As were coming up to Valentines Day, how lovely. Your husband still texts you to say "Nice boobs".' With Ben piping up, saying: 'Next time Lorraines on her show and she looks down at her phone, it could be Steve sending a little message.' However, Lorraine didn't feel so sure at this as pointing to her geometric print shirt dress which was buttoned up to the neck, she said: 'This dress isnt going to get any comments from him this morning though, Ben.' As Ben replied: 'Im sure he will send you something lovely regardless.' Concluding the light-hearted exchange, Susanna said: 'You always look fab Lorraine. There are lots of serious issues, so its nice to have a moment of joy.' Keeping the spark alive: She was clearly blindsided by her partner's saucy messages being revealed as she asked Ben: 'How did they get hold of that?' In her previous chat with Women's Weekly, Lorraine told how the secret to keeping her marriage alive is 'keeping things flirty'. She explained: 'Of course intimacy is important at whatever stage of a relationship you're in - you've got to keep that alive. 'After 30 years, Steve still fancies me.' Going on to reveal the racy exchange between herself and her husband of which Ben referred to, she continued: 'He's a real boob man and will text during the show if I've got a dress on to say 'Nice Boobs'! It's good to still be flirty.' Lorraine Kelly is a brand ambassador for WW. Losing weight with WeightWatchers just got easier with the new simplified program that helps you to lose weight, keep it off, and still enjoy the food you love. The push towards an adequate conclusion continued on Monday as principal photography for the sixth and final series of The Crown got underway in Winchester. The increasingly divisive Netflix drama, which fictionalizes more than half a century of Royal history, filmed scenes in the Hampshire city with young star Ed McVey. The theatrically trained actor, 21, will play Prince William throughout his late teens and early twenties after taking the role from previous incumbent Senan West. It was a transitional period for the Royal, who would relocate to the prestigious University of St. Andrews in Fife after completing his studies at Eton College in 2001. And with cameras rolling on Monday, Winchester appeared to be doubling for the exclusive Windsor school where William obtained A-Levels in geography, biology, and history of art before continuing his education in Scotland. Quiet on set: Ed McVey got into character on Monday as he prepared to play a young Prince William in new scenes for the forthcoming sixth series of The Crown - the new season follows the royals throughout the late '90s and early 2000s Sporting a striped rugby shirt and the same floppy fringe favoured by William in his youth, McVey was seen preparing for his latest scenes with a group of extras. While the actor plays an older William, Rufus Kampa, 16, will also play the Prince at a different stage in his life, depicting his teenage years showing how he and the royal family coped with the death of Princess Diana. McVey will star alongside Meg Bellamy, who has been cast as future Princess Of Wales Kate Middleton. While Bellamy has no official acting credits to her name, both McVey and Kampa have significantly more experience. McVey, who will take on the Prince in the early 2000s with scenes showing how he fell for fellow Art History student Kate, graduated from Drama Centre London in 2021. Here we go: The increasingly divisive Netflix drama, which fictionalizes more than half a century of Royal history, filmed scenes in the Hampshire city with young star McVey Seeing double: Sporting a striped rugby shirt and the same floppy fringe favoured by William in his youth, McVey was seen preparing for his latest scenes In good company: McVey was joined by a group of fellow actors while on set in Winchester He was an understudy in the play Camp Siegfried, which was shown at London's Old Vic. The final two series of The Crown will cover the Royal Family's history throughout the 1990s and into 2003, however it is not yet known which moments will be seen. In July, it was reported that a shift in the ending of The Crown has led to rumours of a follow-up that leaves open the possibility of a sequel based on Charles, William and Harry and could even feature Megxit. Showrunner Peter Morgan, 59, has been urged by Netflix bosses to take the Royal Family 's story further - and now, the creator's have altered the ending of series 6, The Sun reports. Season 5 of the Netflix hit aired on November 9, while season 6 was set to be the final instalment of the Windsors' story, airing next year. Talented: McVey, who will take on the Prince in the early 2000s with scenes showing how he fell for fellow Art History student Kate, graduated from Drama Centre London in 2021 Key historical moments involving the Royal Family between 1999 and 2003 1999: The marriage of the Queen's son Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex: The wedding took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor. 2000: The Queen celebrates the Millennium: Millennium celebrations take place throughout the UK. The Millennium Dome in London is officially opened by HM The Queen on January 1. 2001: Queen Elizabeth reacts to 9/11 terrorist attacks: A week after the tragedy she sent a message to the British ambassador to Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer to offer her condolences. She wrote: 'Each and every one of us has been shocked and numbed by what we have witnessed in these recent days. 'At your service today, we think especially of the British victims. These are dark and harrowing times for families and friends of those who are missing or who suffered in the attack - many of you here today. 'My thoughts and my prayers are with you all now and in the difficult days ahead'. On September 13 The Queen ordered the Changing of the Guard ceremony to be paused for a two minute silence, followed by the playing of the American national anthem. 2002: The Queen's Golden Jubilee: The Queen celebrated the milestone on February 6 and it was an international event to mark the 50th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. On June 4, an estimated one million people headed to central London to line The Mall on the last day of the official celebrations. Queen guitarist Brian May played 'God Save The Queen' from the roof of Buckingham Palace in her honour. 2002: The Queen dines at 10 Downing Street with the five living former Prime Ministers who served under her. She met with Tony Blair, John Major, Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan and Edward Heath. 2002: The death of Princess Margaret: The Queen's younger sister dies after suffering a stroke aged 71. The pair had had a troubled relationship after The Queen said she couldn't marry her love Peter Townsend. 2002: The Queen Mother dies: She passed away aged 101 at Royal Lodge Windsor. Advertisement Drama: The final two series of The Crown will cover the Royal Family's history throughout the 1990s and into 2003, however it is not yet known which moments will be seen Look away please, nothing to see here: Cameras rolled as Winchester appeared to double for Windsor - the home of Eton College Series 6 was originally supposed to conclude in 2002, it being the year the Queen lost her sister Princess Margaret as well as her mother - but 2005 is now set to be the new end date. And this will be with the wedding of Charles and Camilla, 'marking the start of an era'. This shifting of the final year could allow space for a sequel in the story that could delve into Prince Charles and his sons Princes William and Harry. Looking ahead: Series 6 was originally supposed to conclude in 2002, it being the year the Queen lost her sister Princess Margaret as well as her mother - but 2005 is now set to be the new end date Emily Ratajkowski doesn't like fake chatter. The supermodel - who was plugging her work with Viktor + Rolf Flowerbomb - shared with Elle magazine this weekend that she prefers deeper conversations. 'For better or worse, I hate small talk,' the Vogue favorite shared with the fashion magazine. She added, 'So whether I'm talking to you on the podcast or at a party or dinner, I'm just going to pry a little bit!' Emily - who has reportedly been dating 39-year-old Eric Andre - talks plenty on her new podcast High/Low. Go deep or go home: Emily Ratajkowski doesn't like fake chatter. The supermodel - who was plugging her work with Viktor + Rolf Flowerbomb - shared with Elle magazine this week that she prefers deeper conversations. Seen in a V+R ad She also told Elle: 'People are so interesting, so I want to get to the meat of things 'But the podcast has also made me realize that I'm what they call an "active listener," which basically means I'm an interrupter. 'I'll say, "mm-hmm" or "yeah" or I'll tell my own story to show I'm listening, or we're on the same page.' The catwalk princess then shared: 'Hearing that on a podcast has made me realize that, now that I have the mic, I can learn to shut up a little bit more. That's not a bad thing!' She also told Elle that she puts fragrance on as a 'last touch' when getting ready. The face of Viktor + Rolf Flowerbomb says the perfume 'has a real power to it.' And loves spraying it just as 'a shot of confidence and glamour' before vacating the premises. No small talk, thanks: 'For better or worse, I hate small talk,' the Vogue favorite shared with the fashion magazine. She added, 'So whether I'm talking to you on the podcast or at a party or dinner, I'm just going to pry a little bit!' The 31-year-old model told Elle.com: 'It's the last touch before I go out the door. 'I'm sure that's not the proper way to do it, but it's what I do, because I think perfume is the last moment of doing something for yourself before you walk out the door and meet other people. 'It's that moment of connecting it to my look, and my mood. And Flowerbomb has a real power to it. It's a shot of confidence and glamour.' Emily - who has son Sylvester, 23 months, with her ex Sebastian Bear-McClard, 42 - admitted she doesn't like to meet people she deems her 'heroes.' But called fashion designer Donatella Versace as the 'exception' to the rule when she interviewed her on her podcast, High/Low. She said: 'My experience has been, 'Don't meet your heroes,' unfortunately. But I think she's the exception. She tells it like it is. Billie Shepherd and sister Sam Faiers looked incredible in colourful swimsuits as they soaked up the sun during their lavish family holiday in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The former TOWIE stars were all smiles as they showcased their incredible figures in the eye catching one pieces while posing on a giant swing in the ocean. Billie, 33, wowed in a blue number as she slicked her long wet blonde tresses back out of her face and sheltered from the sun behind a pair of large sunglasses. Sam, 32, looked nothing short of sensational in a multi-coloured striped swimming costume as she looked over to her sister. The pair were later joined by their mum Suzie Wells, Sam's daughter Rosie, five, and Billie's two girls Nelly, eight, and Margot, three months. Swing when you're winning: Billie Shepherd and sister Sam Faiers looked incredible in colourful swimsuits as they soaked up the sun during their holiday in Abu Dhabi on Sunday 'Holidaying with my favourite girls': The reality stars were later joined by their mum Suzie Wells, Sam's daughter Rosie, five, and Billie's two girls Nelly, eight, and Margot, three months The girls couldn't contain their smiles as they cosied up for the sweet snap together on an outdoor sofa. Billie penned: 'Holidaying with my favourite girls in the world. Happy Sunday'. Billie, is also mum to son Arthur, five, who she shares with husband Greg who also joined the girls on the getaway. Sam parents her three children, Paul, seven, Rosie and Edward, nine months with husband Paul Knightley. Billie later covered up donning a pair of crisp white shorts over her costume and added a blue and white oversized shirt as she posed for a chic mirror selfie. The TV star looked effortlessly glam as she accessorised with a long pendant necklace and hid behind a bold pair of round mirrored sunglasses. The ITVBe star also shared an adorable snap of her oldest children, Nelly and Arthur and Sam's Paul and Rosie riding a camel. The kids couldn't contain their smiles as they waved to the camera while enjoying the trip on the beach. Stunning: Billie looked effortlessly glam as she covered up in a pair of crisp white shorts and added an oversized shirt as she posed for a chic mirror selfie in a bold pair of round sunglasses Making memories: The ITVBe star also shared an adorable snap of her oldest children, Nelly and Arthur and sister Sam's kids Paul and Rosie riding a camel It comes after Billie detailed the struggles of motherhood last week as she admitted the struggle of finding moments alone with her husband Greg. She admitted the exhausting parenting routine has meant that it's hard for her to 'find time for a real conversation with him'. Earlier this month, her sister Sam admitted that she has moved into her spare room with son Edward, nine months, rather than sharing with her partner Paul. And appearing to follow suit, Billie explained that she has done the same, telling The Sun's Fabulous magazine: 'Ive moved into the spare room with Margot, because Ive been co-sleeping with her'. Billie and Greg are also parents to eldest daughter Nellie, eight, and son Arthur, five. Billie shares her three children with husband Greg Family: Sam parents her three children, Paul, seven, Rosie and Edward, nine months with husband Paul Knightley And since welcoming Margot, the family are juggling becoming a house of five, which has come with an adjust to their daily routine. Explaining that evenings look slightly different these days, the blonde beauty shared: 'Before Margot, Greg and I could put the older two children to bed and have dinner together. But now dinner is on the table no later than 5.30pm, otherwise the nights go on forever!' And being a dad-of-three has meant that Greg has had to take on more responsibility with Nellie and Arthur, as Billie continued: 'Gregs having to do a bit more with the other two now. Busy: It comes after Billie admitted that she 'doesn't have much time' for conversations with husband Greg as she focus on their new baby daughter Margot, 3 months 'And its hard to find time for a real conversation with him, because after the bedtime routine Im exhausted. Ive moved into the spare room with Margot, because Ive been co-sleeping with her. As soon as Nellie and Arthur are in bed, Im in bed with the baby,' she shared. Despite struggling to find time for one another, Billie explained that she and her husband did manage to go out for the day on a 'day date' recently, alongside baby Margot. Billie has a close relationship with her sister Sam, and could have taken parenting tips from her sibling. Earlier this month, Sam revealed that she sleeps in her home's spare room with baby son Edward, and hasn't shared a bed with long term partner Paul Knightley for six years. Egyptian effort to prevent Palestinian-Israeli escalation ahead of Ramadan By Yoni Ben Menachem web posted February 13, 2023 US President Joe Biden asked Egyptian President al-Sisi to renew Egyptian involvement to prevent an escalation in the security situation between Israel and the Palestinians and another round of fighting on the Gaza border. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken brought this message to Cairo and the Egyptians responded positively to the American request. Egyptian intelligence subsequently summoned Ziyad al-Nakhala, the Secretary General of Islamic Jihad, and Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, to talks in Cairo with the head of Egyptian intelligence, Gen. Abbas Kamel. The immediate Egyptian task is to prevent an escalation as the month of Ramadan approaches, beginning on March 23. That is why it agreed to mediate between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organizations. The Egyptians fear that an escalation on the Temple Mount or the Gaza border could destabilize the Egyptian regime. Following pressure from the Biden administration and Egyptian intelligence, the Netanyahu government asked Israels High Court to delay the evacuation of the Bedouin outpost in Khan Al-Ahmar by a few months. The Israeli government also postponed until further notice the demolition of a large Palestinian structure that was illegally built in the village of Silwan in eastern Jerusalem. Egyptian sources said the meeting between Abbas Kamel and Ziyad al-Nakhallah did not result in a breakthrough. Al-Nakhallah refused to commit to maintaining calm at all costs, but agreed to continue contacts with Egypt. The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, celebrate Hamas 35th anniversary in Gaza City on December 10, 2022 Hamas, on the other hand, showed a more moderate position. It made clear that it is interested in continuing the calm on the Gaza border and emphasized that it showed restraint after IDF forces killed five of its members near Jericho. The Egyptians are voicing dissatisfaction with the behavior of the Netanyahu government. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri met in Cairo with Thor Vansland, the UN envoy for the Middle East, and accused Israel of taking unilateral steps that increase Palestinian anger and negatively affect the chances of resuming negotiations on a two-state solution. Egypt is now demanding that Israel maintain calm and has appealed to the Biden administration to pressure the Netanyahu government on this matter in order to facilitate Egyptian mediation. Senior security officials in Israel said that Israel rejected an Egyptian request to prevent the IDF from entering Area A, explaining that this is necessary to prevent terrorist attacks and to prevent armed groups from overthrowing the PA, in the same way it overthrew the PA in Gaza in 2007. The only formula that Israel has agreed to is calm for calm. William Burns, the head of the CIA, who recently visited the Middle East, warned this week of the possibility that a third Palestinian intifada might break out. The IDF and the police are also preparing for this possibility. According to Palestinian sources, since the beginning of 2023, 42 Palestinians have been killed by IDF forces in Judea and Samaria. Israel is destroying illegal Palestinian construction in eastern Jerusalem and working to curtail the extra privileges that Palestinian security prisoners presently enjoy. Egypt is also trying to restart negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. The assessment in the Israeli security establishment is very pessimistic. The impression is that the Palestinians want an escalation at any cost during Ramadan and it will be very difficult to prevent it. Israels security forces are preparing accordingly. Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority. Home Advertisement Blonde bombshell Candice Swanepoel showed off her impressive bikini body in new images shared to Instagram this weekend. The native of South Africa was displaying her new designs for the spring 2023 collection of her swimwear company Tropic Of C. The 34-year-old was reclining on a boulder in an outdoor setting that was full of mature fauna. She wore gold earrings and a matching body necklace that consisted of a thin chain with small gold pendants. This comes after the entrepreneur celebrated the one year anniversary of her brand Tropic Of C, which makes bikinis and one-piece swimsuits. The swimwear company is eco-friendly, sustainable and uses the cover girl as the top model for the skimpy suits. The tag line is: 'Influenced by nature, inspired by the female form, an eco-lifestyle brand born from a life spent at the beach.' Pretty pinup: Blonde bombshell Candice Swanepoel showed off her bikini body in new images shared to Instagram this weekend. The native of South Africa was displaying her designs for the spring 2023 collection of her swimwear company Tropic Of C On Thursday the Victoria's Secret veteran - who posed in a corset top last month - posted several looks to Instagram from the past year where she modeled some of her favorite collections. In several of the photos, the beauty was making the most of her long legs, tiny tummy and sculpted arms as she posed on a beach. She flashed her toned midriff in most of the shots that were taken in her native Africa. The talented supermodel posted many themed collages of pinup images on her Instagram page. The mother of two, who recently flaunted her voluminous blonde locks in a previous sultry post, looked at ease in Africa. Her blonde locks were parted to the side, and effortlessly flowed past her shoulders in light, natural waves. Candice, who began professionally working in the modeling industry at 15, opted for minimalistic accessories to complete her look for the shoots. And she added an assortment of dainty, gold rings on a few of her fingers for a flashy touch. The model has been busy not just working with her own brand, but also made appearances in recent campaigns, such as Hugo Boss, which starred other celebrities including Gigi Hadid and new mom, Paris Hilton. Gold is good: She wore gold earrings and a matching body necklace that had a thin chain with small gold pendants Like a wild creature in her home land: Swanepoel tends to pose in outdoor, natural settings Summer feel: The 34-year-old bombshell was on a boulder in an outdoor setting that was full of mature fauna The look: Here she is seen in the suit as she wades in a lake which was lined by massive boulders The look of t he day: The siren wore her hair down and not styled as she seemed to be in her element The sun always shines on this mannequin: The busy model looked up to the sky as the sun shone on her skin When opening up about the motivation to launch Tropic Of C, Candice told Forbes in a past interview, 'Sustainability is a key part of my lifestyle.' 'I think coming from Africa and growing up with such a strong level of nature, its where I get inspiration,' and admitted that the company initially began as just 'a creative outlet' for the beauty. The star keeps up with a fitness routine to achieve her toned frame, and told E! News that she enjoys using 'ankle weights' and doing squats. She also shares videos to her fans of herself practicing yoga. Along with being active in the fashion and modeling industry, Candice also puts her main focus on family. She shares sons, Anaca, six, and four-year-old Ariel, with ex-fiance and fellow model, Hermann Nicoli. The two had officially announced their engagement in 2015, but opted to go their separate ways in 2018, while still maintaining a healthy co-parenting relationship. In September 2022, the supermodel was briefly linked to Kanye West. Julia Fox lived up to her reputation as a bold fashionista and open book as she took part in a very candid interview for ELLE Magazine. As part of her shoot for the magazine, the It Girl, 33, wowed in an array of bold looks ranging from a curve-clinging denim dress with horns, ripped jeans, and a multicolored wig with crisp bangs. Julia, who recently showed off her modest NYC apartment, got real on numerous topics including her past life as a dominatrix, her upcoming memoir, and stalking a drug dealer whom she believed was responsible for the death of her friend. Fox, who said she initially thought the drug dealer had supplied her friend with the fatal dose which ultimately killed her, said she believed he deserved to die. She stalked the neighborhood he lived in, carrying her dead friend's gun. Once she located him, she said she 'would literally, like, sit across the street in my car, put the seat all the way down, and watch him through the little side mirror for hours, like coming and going.' Dropping jaws: Julia Fox lived up to her reputation as a bold fashionista and open book as she took part in a very candid interview for ELLE Magazine Julia has since learned her friend had likely passed due to a multiple factors in her body and not down to a fatal pill. 'I'm glad I didn't kill him,' she told the publication. Julia also spilled the tea on her brief job as a dominatrix, which she believes served as preparation for her acting career. Julia, who clarified she partook in consensual BDSM and not sex, said of her former job: 'It's like one never-ending improv class.' Her acting skills were ultimately put to use in the 2019 film Uncut Gems, where she received praise playing Adam Sandler's girlfriend. She also was cast in a television series but was quickly fired after arriving to work late. 'Literally, it was like under 10 minutes,' she insisted. She also briefly addressed Kanye West's anti-Semitic controversy: 'I just feel so bad for everyone involved, to be honest. I feel bad for his family, his children. I feel bad for the Jewish people. Some of my Jewish friends are shook right now, and that f**king breaks my heart. I really, truly, wouldve never seen him taking this direction.' Now Julia, who briefly dated Kanye in 2022, will be detailing her life as part of an upcoming memoir. The tell-all, which Julia has already written more than 200 pages of, will shed light on her life in chronological order but will not focus on her relationships. Bold display! Fox worked ripped jeans and an ab-baring look as she posed for the camera Getting real: Julia got real on numerous topics including her past life as a dominatrix, her upcoming memoir, and stalking a drug dealer whom she believed was responsible for the death of her friend 'Its not like a celebrity who just got a book deal and, like, got a ghostwriter to write it, you know? Like, I actually am about this life,' she said. 'I didnt want to make men the focal point,' she said. In an Ask Me Anything with the magazine, she said the advice she would give women: 'F**k men. And not like intercourse. Like f**k off. Outside of her career, Julia is an adoring mother to her son Valentino, whom she shares with her ex-husband Peter Artemiev. 'Making a f**king human being is superhero sh*t,' she said of motherhood. Speaking of how raising a child has changed her this past year, she said: 'Valentino keeps me grounded, and in such an insane way that nothing has ever been able to before.' Elaborate: She worked a denim gown paired with a cape and white shades All eyes on her: Her shoot saw her surrounded by hair and makeup artists She started her collaboration with Marks and Spencer 11 years ago. And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has now unveiled her latest lingerie collection for the high street favourite, wowing in a series of stunning shots. The British model, 35, looked incredible in the campaign photos, modelling a skimpy pink set and sending temperatures soaring. Rosie flaunted her lithe physique in the snaps, modelling brand new looks ahead of Valentine's Day as she relaxed on a cosy sofa. The gorgeous two piece boasted lace, satin panels as well as a silver charm that hung from her bra between her ample assets. Hot stuff: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 35, has unveiled her latest lingerie collection for M&S, wowing in a series of stunning shots Rosie oozed confidence in the photos, sporting a gorgeous palette of make-up and her blonde tresses styled loose. Taking to her Instagram she captioned the snaps: 'A lingerie love story for Valentines Day'. Rosie has been working with the British high street giant since 2012 and it's been reported that one in 50 women now owns a bra from Rosie's range. It comes after the model opted for an ultra-chic look as she left her hotel during Paris Fashion Week last month. She showed off her impeccable style in a long black coat and a satin waist coat with a belt which cinched in her waist. She donned a beige turtle neck top underneath and boosted her height in a pair of stilettos as she strut down the street. Rosie sported a blush makeup palette underneath a pair of stylish oversized sunglasses. She scraped her golden locks back into a bun and carried a chic black handbag with a gold chain. Gorgeous: The British model looked incredible in the campaign photos, modelling a skimpy pink set and sending temperatures soaring Busty: The gorgeous two piece boasted lace, satin panels as well as a silver charm that hung from her bra between her ample assets It comes after Rosie slipped into a gorgeous beige dress from Yves Saint Laurent in December. 'The dress of 2022 @anthonyvaccarello,' the catwalk queen boldly declared in the caption of a video, which included that shout-out to Anthony Vaccarello, the Italian fashion designer who's the current creative director at YSL. Rosie appeared to be in a sparse room with her right hand and arm leaning up on her hip. As the smooth sounds of the song Show Me How by Men I Trust played along, Huntington-Whiteley took a few steps forward, while holding her camera up towards a mirror. Relaxing: Later taking to her Instagram Stories she shared a snap as she enjoyed a snooze during a break The classy number hugged her upper body, gave more than a hint of her back and midriff. There was also a floral-like bunch in the front that looked to be the fabric securing the top and bottom together. Huntington-Whiteley has been with action film star Jason Statham since 2010, which led to their engagement in 2016. Elegance: It comes after Rosie slipped into a gorgeous beige dress from Yves Saint Laurent in December The couple, who reportedly now live in Beverly Hills, are the proud parents of their five-year-old son Jack and their 10-month-old daughter Isabella. Statham, 55, a Shirebrook, England native, is best known for portraying gritty characters in various action-thriller films such as the Guy Richie-directed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000). His resume also includes more commercial films such as The Transporter trilogy (2002, 2005, 2008), The Italian Job (2003), Death Race (2008) and the Fast and Furious franchise (2013, 2015) and The Expendables (2010) and its two sequels (2012, 2014), among any others. Drew Barrymore's ex-husband Will Kopelman is expecting a baby boy with wife Alexandra Michler. The baby boy will be his third child - but his first with Alexandra, whom he married in August 2021. Will shares two daughters with Drew; Olive, 10, and Frankie, eight. Will shared the baby news on his Instagram page on Sunday with a sweet Instagram post. In the snap, Alexandra is smiling as his daughters Olive and Frankie have their faces to her growing midsection. The trio are all smiling in the snap - which was taken mid-meal at Pastis in New York City. Happy news: Drew Barrymore's ex-husband Will Kopelman is expecting a baby boy with wife Alexandra Michler He revealed in the caption the photo was taken a minute after they told his daughters they were going to have a baby brother. The second image featured a side view of Alexandra with their new puppy Archie, a Bernese Mountain Dog. They got Archie two months ago. The snap showed Alexandra's growing baby bump as she rocked a fitted red sweater. His full caption read: 'Baby boys all around! I'll never forget this moment, captured a minute after we told the girls. We all can't wait to meet this little guy...' Will and Alexandra tied the knot in August 2021, seven months after he proposed. Alexandra is the director of fashion development at Vogue and Will is an Art Consultant; he is the son of former Chanel COO Arie L. Kopelman. She also posted the news on her Instagram over the weekend but has since made her profile private. Lovebirds: Will shared the baby news on his Instagram page on Sunday with a sweet Instagram post Baby boy: The baby boy will be his third child - but his first with Alexandra, whom he married in August 2021 Will and Drew were married for four years from 2012 until 2016; they welcomed their first child - daughter Olive in 2012 and their second child - Frankie in 2014. They first met in 2011, got engaged in January 2012 and married on June 2, 2012 in Montecito, California. They announced their split on April 2, 2016; Drew filed for divorce on July 15, 2016 and their divorce was finalized August 3, 2016. In January, Drew told pal Kate Hudson on her talk show The Drew Barrymore Show that her relationship with Will is amicable and it's 'never been better.' The movie star added that Alexandra is a 'wonderful step-mother,' adding that she is 'beautiful.' Couple: Will and Alexandra tied the knot in August 2021, seven months after he proposed Happier times: Drew and Will pictured on December 10, 2015 in New York City In October 2022, Drew revealed that she has not been in an intimate relationship since her split from Will in 2016. She shared the candid detail on her blog for her talk show host, adding that following their split her 'view on sex has truly changed.' She wrote: 'At nearly 48 I have very different feelings about intimacy then I did growing up. I did not have role model parents and I engaged with people in grown up ways since a tender age!' Adding that she was 'looking for companionship, validation, excitement, pleasure, hedonism, fun and adventure' through intercourse. The mom of two wrote that since she doesn't have a 'time machine' or a way to 'change' her history, she said she chooses to 'look at it through a positive lens.' 'After two kids and a separation from their father that has made me cautious, I have had the pleasure of shifting my focus when it comes to love for myself and my two daughters. I know that does not include a man nor has it for a while.' Drew added that her therapist said to her: 'Sex is not love! It is the expression of love.' 'I have searched my whole life to have words like that to help me understand the difference and now, thanks to him, I do. And since entering life as a single mom, I have not been able to have an intimate relationship.' She said that while she might 'get into a relationship' in the future, it 'simply hasn't been' her priority.' 'I'm not a person who needs sex and has to go out there and engage with people on that level. I am someone who is deeply committed to fostering how young girls, my daughters, and myself as a woman, are supposed to function in this world!' Diego Luna and Stellan Skarsgard looked somber as they filmed intense scenes for Star Wars spin-off Andor in London on Sunday. Luna, 43, who plays Cassian Andor was deep in conversation with 71-year-old Skarsgard, who plays Luthen Rael, as the pair shot the scenes. Luna wore a grey shirt and leather jacket, teamed with matching trousers as he filmed the sci-fi series. Skarsgard wore a long chestnut robe to play the member of the Rebel Alliance as he chatted between takes. Andor follows Cassian Andor, a character who first appeared in the 2016 movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Gritty: Diego Luna and Stellan Skarsgard looked somber as they filmed intense scenes for Star Wars spin-off Andor in London on Sunday Intense: Luna, 43, who plays Cassian Andor was deep in conversation with 71-year-old Skarsgard, who plays Luthen Rael, as the pair shot the scenes Scene: Luna wore a grey shirt and leather jacket, teamed with matching trousers as he filmed the sci-fi series The series serves as a prequel to the film in the early days after the Galactic Republic became the Empire. The second season will consist of 12 episodes, although there is no word yet on a release date. The show was the latest in a long line of Star Wars content released to Disney+. Obi-Wan Kenobi was released in May last year and the television show Ahsoka starring Rosario Dawson is also set for release in the near future. This comes after the first poster for the third season of fellow Star Wars spinoff The Mandalorian was shared last month, Bounty hunter Din Djarin is seen holding his cute little friend Baby Yoda, whose proper name is Grogu. The last time audiences saw the green wonder in the Mandalorian series he was with Luke Skywalker played by Mark Hamill (with the power of CGI). The trailer for the new season - which will premiere on March 1, 2023 - drops on Monday evening during the NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The poster was revealed by Star Wars' Twitter account. It sees the Mandalorian - played by Pedro Pascal - with his full costume and singed cape on as he holds Grogu in one of his arms. Mando and Grogu back together:This comes after the first poster for the third season of fellow Star Wars spinoff The Mandalorian was shared last month March 2023: The Mandalorian and Grogu will ride together again in March The two look to be making an escape as Mando uses his trusty jet pack while firing his blaster. The Mandalorian's new season will see the hero face push back from the Mandalore community as they don't like the 'consequences' of Mando taking Baby Yoda. Deadline reported in December that the third season will see Mando traveling to his home planet Mandalore. Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito and Katee Sackhoff are all returning to the series which added Christopher Lloyd for its highly-anticipated third season. The second season of the program came out in 2020 though Mando and Grogu made a long appearance in The Book of Boba Fett series that came out earlier this year. Nick Nolte, Ming-Na Wen, Taika Waititi and Bill Burr have appeared in the series in the past alongside a number of other big names. Over its first two seasons, the show has been lauded by fans and critics alike. It holds a 93% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The Mandalorian has also been big on the awards circuit, taking home 14 Emmys, one Screen Actors Guild Award and a Grammy nomination. Yara Shahidi has been working on making her own way and becoming a major force for change in Hollywood. The actress, 23, who recently showcased her fashion chops while promoting season five of her hit sitcom Grown-ish in New York is talking about her upcoming projects now that both she and her character Zoey Johnson have graduated from college. The Harvard grad talked about some of her hopes and dreams in the latest cover story in NET-A-PORTERs digital title, Porter. Yara will appear next as Tinker Bell in Peter Pan & Wendy on Disney+, fulfilling a long held dream of starring in a fairy tale. 'I've always wanted to get into the world of fantasy,' she explained. 'As an actor, it is a fun challenge to find a way to make something still feel real when nothing around you is real.' Taking charge: Yara Shahidi, 23, has been working on making her own way and becoming a major force for change in Hollywood To make the iconic character her own, the BET Award winner decided to turn to another icon, Josephine Baker, whom she described as making 'really exaggerated' but 'effortless' movements, for inspiration. 'I mean, who knows when people see it whether they're gonna [notice] all these small references,' the Fearless voice actress admitted. 'But for me, as an actor, it was helpful and exciting to be able to build all these references [for] Tinker Bell.' Wanting to have more input on the kinds of projects she works on, Yara created her own company, 7th Sun Productions, with her mother Keri. The name was inspired by and essay in the W.E.B. Du Bois book The Souls of Black Folks in which he referred to Black men as the 'seventh son.' The Shahidis changed 'son' to 'sun' Yara said, to 'degender' the company's name and make it more inclusive for men and women. 'Our content is unabashedly about this experience we have as Black folks and it is about not the trauma that we carry, but our day-to-day life and being able to see us on screen in the plethora of ways we know we exist in the world,' she contended. Yara, who has been working as an actress and model since she was four, was featured in a set of stunning photos for the publication, including body hugging pink ruched gown by Victoria Beckham. Cover model: The Grown-ish actress is the cover model for the latest cover story in NET-A-PORTERs digital title, Porter Fantasy: Yara will star as Tinker Bell in the upcoming Disney+ film Peter Pan and Wendy. 'I've always wanted to get into the world of fantasy. As an actor, it is a fun challenge to find a way to make something still feel real when nothing around you is real' Fashion: Yara, who has been working as an actress and model since she was four, was featured in a set of stunning photos for the publication. She wore natural looking makeup and styled her hair in natural curls The Allliances: A Trick of Light narrator looked every inch a fashion plate in luxurious looks from Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Gucci and more. She wore natural looking makeup and styled her hair in natural curls. Yara boasts Black and Native American ancestry through her mother, and Iranian roots via her father, photographer Afshin Shahidi She wants her future work to explore her diverse heritage and that of others. 'I've always used the very clunky term 'socially engaged human', because I have friends who are grassroots activists and I know what that work looks like.' 'I have a deep admiration for that work, [for] being on the front lines regularly, being community organizers, so I've always felt like there is some distinction.' Diverse heritage: Yara boasts Black and Native American ancestry through her mother, and Iranian roots via her father, photographer Afshin Shahidi. She wants her future work to explore her diverse heritage and that of others Production company: , Yara created her own company, 7th Sun Productions, with her mother Keri. 'Our content is unabashedly about this experience we have as Black folks... and being able to see us on screen in the plethora of ways we know we exist in the world' 'I'm trying to work in tandem and in parallel to those efforts that are happening in real life, but would I classify it as the same thing, me going to set and somebody organizing a movement? Not necessarily.' The actor turned producer has been working on a project for Amazon, starring in and executive producing Sitting in Bars with Cake, based on the Audrey Shulman book of the same name. Her best friend, Odessa A'zion, will co-star. 'It's based on a true story and a true friendship,' Yara explained. 'I love the fact that I got to be in a project that centers on female friendship, and on these connections that carry us through our lives outside of just the romantic ones.' The NAACP Image Award winner will also be working with Meryl Streep, Gemma Chan and Forest Whitaker in Extrapolations, an anthology series about interconnected characters that explores climate change, for Apple TV+. 'My character is representative of a lot of the youth climate action,' she said. 'She's a cool touchpoint to reflect all this incredible youth activism.' Activism: Yara explained she is friends with many frontline activists, and ''I'm trying to work in tandem and in parallel to those efforts that are happening in real life' Nicola Peltz took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday and answered a whole host of questions from her 2.8M followers. The actress, 28, who married Brooklyn Beckham in April 2022, gushed over her husband's 'pure heart'. Nicola also shared a whole host of unseen snaps of the couple as she offered her fans a glimpse into their marriage. When asked her favourite thing about her hubby she replied: 'His heart is so pure, he is truly kind'. The stunner also shared unseen snaps of the pair as they cuddled up for the camera and with Brooklyn, who is the son of Victoria and David Beckham, donning a fun hat. Opening up: Nicola Peltz, 28, took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday and awnsered a whole host of questions from her 2.8M followers High praise: The actress, 28, who married Brooklyn Beckham in April 2022, gushed over her husband's 'pure heart' New photos: Nicola also shared a whole host of unseen snaps of the couple as she offered her fans a glimpse into their marriage When asked her relationship advice she said simply: 'Marry your best friend'. Nicola also discussed her relationship with social media and revealed that sometimes the negative comments get to her. She wrote: 'I really try to ignore it [social media] but I can't help but see it. Sometimes it upsets me but I really try not to let it. She also shared a snap of her as a baby and with her BFF Selena Gomez, who she's become close to in recent years. When asked what her favourite hair era was, Nicola responded: 'I think now' with a picture of her with her dark dyed locks. It comes after it was revealed that Nicola, the daughter of billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, went through three different sets of wedding planners, two of whom failed to meet the 'scale' of her plans. There was a last-minute scramble to book musicians, and a 'day of reckoning' with one event designer who was reduced to tears by the stress of the project. Those new details emerged - along with texts written by Nicola to one of the planners - in a lawsuit filed by her father, a punchy and tenacious businessman who is vying for a seat on the board of Disney. Gushing: When asked her relationship advice she said simply: 'Marry your best friend' Struggles: Nicola also discussed her relationship with social media and revealed that sometimes the negative comments get to her Pals: She shared an unseen picture with her BFF Selena Gomez, who she's become close to in recent years He is suing Nicole Braghin, the tearful party planner, and her partner, Arianna Grijalba, claiming they are refusing to refund him the $159,000 deposit he gave them. Peltz and his wife Claudia made contact with Braghin and Grijalba through their firm, Plan Design Events, in March 2022, after getting rid of their first planner, celebrity-adored Preston Bailey. It's unclear why exactly Bailey wasn't fit for the job. In his legal filing, Peltz, 80, says Bailey encountered 'challenges' while planning the enormous event, which took place at the family estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on April 9 and reportedly cost around $3.5million. Adorable: She also shared a snap of her as a baby Brunette over blonde: When asked what her favourite hair era was, Nicola responded: 'I think now' with a picture of her with her dark dyed locks Bailey, who planned Ivanka Trump's wedding to Jared Kushner, did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries about why he stood down. The Peltz family had grand plans for the three-day extravaganza for their daughter, who they describe as a 'world-famous actress'. 'Nicola is a world-famous actress who has starred in blockbuster movies and television shows, including, among others, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Bates Motel and The Last Airbender. 'The guest list included more than five hundred people, including numerous celebrities, athletes, dignitaries and other influential individuals, who travelled from all around the globe to attend,' the lawsuit reads. Annoyed: Nicola appears to be getting frustrated with the wedding planners as her message - in the blue bubbles - say: 'Lewis Hamilton did NOT RSVP. So explain why his names on the list please. We spoke to him. He can't come so explain why you said he rsvpd yes' Reply: The planner then responded - in the gray bubbles - saying: 'I need time to do this. I'm going to take a moment to learn the app and send you the information, | hate looking like a fool but | hate the most not giving you what you need ASAP. I will be back soon' On March 1, 2022 - six weeks before the wedding - the Peltz family had hoped Braghin and Grijalba would be able to pick up where Bailey left off. But nine days later, after forking out a $159,000 deposit, they decided not to move forward with the pair, who they said couldn't handle the VIP guestlist. 'The celebrity of the wedding couple combined with the anticipated attendance of many high-profile guests required that the wedding planner have the expertise and staffing to plan, coordinate and execute a wedding event of the expected caliber and complexity,' Nelson's lawyers say in the lawsuit. The issue now at hand is the deposit, which Peltz sued for in Miami this week. In the process of trying to get his money back, he has revealed some of the intimate details of the star-studded event. He included screenshots of a group text between him, the planners and Nicola. Terse: Texts between Nicola, Nelson and the wedding planners reveal Nicola's frustration that they couldn't manage the RVSP list Response: The text chain shows Adrianna sharing a tally of guests for the welcome party, the wedding and the wedding brunch as well as a list of non-attendees In some, Nicola told the planners she was 'tired of catching' their repeated mistakes. In an exchange about F1 star Lewis Hamilton, who the couple had invited to the bash, Nicola wrote: 'Lewis Hamilton did NOT RSVP. So explain why his names on the list please. 'We spoke to him. He can't come so explain why you said he rsvpd yes,' she demanded in one text. The wedding planner tried to explain that she wasn't familiar with the virtual guest list and needed more time to get to grips with the technology. 'I need time to do this. I'm going to take a moment to learn the app and send you the information, | hate looking like a fool but | hate the most not giving you what you need ASAP. I will be back soon,' she said. 'Yes queen': In a separate conversation around a week before the chat about Lewis Hamilton, Arianna said that she was 'going for a tequila before her head exploded', to which Nicola replied: 'Yes queen!!!!' Nicola shot back: 'That's not true. He didn't rsvp AT ALL.' In his lawsuit, Peltz also makes the suggestion that the wedding planners were abusing alcohol. 'References to alcohol use and possible abuse were not unusual,' his attorneys wrote in their lawsuit. In one message sent around a week before the RSVP conversation, Arianna posted in the chat that she was 'going for a tequila before her head exploded', to which Nicola replied: 'Yes queen!!!!' Big money: 'Peltz had presented them with the opportunity of a lifetime to have their names associated with the wedding of two world-famous celebrities, which would undoubtedly propel PDE into wedding planning stardom' the lawsuit reads The Peltz family say the pair of wedding planners oversold their abilities, promising them they could handle the event - which was the 'opportunity of a lifetime'. 'Peltz had presented them with the opportunity of a lifetime to have their names associated with the wedding of two world-famous celebrities, which would undoubtedly propel PDE into wedding planning stardom. 'In reality, however, it later became clear that PDE viewed this is as an opportunity to take advantage of Peltz by making material misrepresentations on both their website and in person regarding their experience, expertise, and capability of planning the wedding,' his attorneys wrote. On March 4 - what Peltz's attorneys describe as the 'day of reckoning', he called the pair to let them know they'd lost the gig. Parents: David and Victoria Beckham are pictured at Brooklyn and Nicola's wedding in Palm Beach in April last year 'During their nine days of negotiations, PDE failed to book a single new wedding vendor, failed to finalize the terms of any agreements with any of the vendors that had previously been selected by Peltz and his family and failed to attend previously scheduled meetings with Peltz. 'Admitting that they lacked the skills to perform as promised, PDE recommended hiring an additional wedding planner.' Father-in-law: Nelson Peltz with son-in-law Brooklyn Two days later, they begged Nelson and his wife Claudia not to spread negative gossip about them, writing in an email: 'In order to avoid negative gossip, we would appreciate that in the case you are asked to comment on our departure, that your answer reflects the work and good attitude we put into the process, and no professional reason for our detachment. 'We will say: we are under NDA and cannot comment. This keeps us both in a very good place. 'We really wish you and the family a fantastic event... we are sure as you even said that our paths will cross in the future as I truly feel we had a great connection with you and Claudia.' The family ended up hiring Michelle Rago of Michelle Rago Destinations, who pulled the event off seamlessly. But because of the tight time frame, Peltz claims he had to pay Rago a 'substantially higher fee than what the Rago Destinations would have charged under normal circumstances'. He says he asked for his deposit back from Planned Design Events multiple times in the following weeks, but that they refused to return it. Peltz is also suing the pair for legal fees. Real Housewives Of Miami star Lisa Hochstein owes her legal team more than $85,000 as she continues battling it out with her ex-husband Lenny Hochstein in the divorce courts. The attorneys representing her in her divorce alleged she owed that figure in court documents obtained by Page Six. Attorney Paul Leinoff claims Lisa, 40, who fist retained her lawyers in April 26, has a $49,171.48 bill for 'legal fees, costs and suit monies due to Leinoff & Lemos, P.A.' She also owes an additional $35,841.90 to accounting firm Kaufman Rossin & Co., Leinoff added. The total - $85,013.38 - will continue to grow. Interest has also been tacked on until it has been paid off. It's all adding up: Real Housewives Of Miami star Lisa Hochstein owes her legal team a whopping $85,000 as she continues battling it out with her ex-husband Lenny Hochstein in the divorce courts; pictured 2017 The law firm is seeking to have their bill paid by any settlement money Lisa receives in her divorce. 'As is customary in divorce proceedings, there is a hearing scheduled in April to determine whos responsible for the legal fees,' a representative for the reality star told the site. 'As of now, Lenny is not giving the support that is customary in this situation.' In November, Lisa claimed she was unable to 'buy diapers and food' for the two children she shares with Lenny, daughter Elle, three, and son Logan, seven, as she sought temporary alimony from him. Additionally, she claimed he had not transferred money into her account 'in several months' and left her with only a 'two-door' vehicle to transport their minor children after he 'took her car away.' '[Lenny's] clear strategy now is to force [Lisa] into submission by refusing to provide [Lisa] or minor children with any direct support,' the documents state. The fitness guru also requested temporary support and to be awarded attorneys fees, despite his claims that she earns '$30,000 per episode' of her reality series on Bravo. In October, Lenny's team wrote in legal documents that it 'is undisputed that [Lisa] earns significant income as a television star and personality.' Previously, Lisa accused Lenny of trying to 'financially strangle her' and put her in 'financial peril' amid their divorce. Uh-oh! The total - $85,013.38 - will continue to grow. Interest has also been tacked on until it has been paid off Lisa said in separate court docs, viewed by Page Six, that when she doesn't give in 'to each and every one of [his] demands,' her ex 'retaliates by restricting [her] access to funds.' Lisa told the court that the situation has gotten worse since Lenny who filed to divorce Lisa this past May began dating Austrian model Katharina Mazepa, 26. Lisa said that Lenny had given her a joint credit card to cover 'personal expenses, expenses for the household and expenses for the parties children,' but has severely limited her resources since his relationship with Mazepa began. 'While the husband is presently traveling on a no-expense-spared vacation with his presumed girlfriend to Europe,' Lisa's legal team said in court docs, 'he has left the wife and children without cash, access to funds and less than $3,000 of available credit on the joint credit card.' Lisa, who signed a prenuptial agreement before marrying Lenny in 2009, told the court that her attempts to communicate her concerns to Lenny about the issues have 'fallen on deaf ears,' and that Lenny 'gets upset and verbally confronts [her] with demeaning comments' whenever the issues arise. The legal back-and-forth continued in December, when Lenny claimed Lisa had bought $9,000 worth of designer purchases shortly before he put her on a monthly limit, according to Page Six. Lenny made her return the purses but gave her cash she could spend on their children. Last month, he also pointed out she has continued living in their Star Island mansion and 'drives luxury vehicles including a Range Rover and a Rolls-Royce' amid her 'excessive' support requests, according to Page Six. The exes are attempting to settle issues regarding support without having a hearing, according to Page Six. Lisa sobbed over the end of her marriage on RHOM, declaring: 'In the blink of an eye, my life changed.' 'I'm losing my best friend, I'm losing my husband - to another woman.' Lisa previously said she was 'blindsided' when her husband of 12 years publicly announced he was filing for divorce last year. He was immediately linked to Katharina, however he insisted he didn't begin seeing her until his marriage was over. Vanessa Feltz shared a positive message as she said she was feeling 'fantastic' after her ex-fiance Ben Ofoedu broke his silence on their split and cheating allegations. The TV personality, 60, took to Instagram on Monday to share that she had jetted off to Ireland with her daughter Allegra after announcing her split from Ben last week. She posted an upbeat video message as she visited Ballynamona Beach in East Cork during her 'healing' family getaway after her relationship of 16 years came to an end. In the clip, Vanessa bundled up amid the chilly temperatures in patterned pink leggings and a fluffy cream jacket, which she styled with a blush beanie hat. As her daughter Allegra, 37, asked her how she was doing, an upbeat Vanessa responded: 'I'm feeling fantastic! Why wouldn't I? I'm in my beloved East Cork, look how beautiful it is here on Ballynamona Beach and I'm having a wonderful time. Positive: Vanessa Feltz shared a positive message as she said she was feeling 'fantastic' after her ex-fiance Ben Ofoedu broke his silence on their split and cheating allegations 'The Irish welcome, there is nothing like it. The air is fresh and clean and I'm sending everyone best wishes for a fabulous, fabulous Monday.' In a caption alongside the video, Vanessa also described her getaway to Ireland as 'healing', writing: 'Back in beloved East Cork #ballycottonisland #ballycotton #blackbirdballycotton #pure_cork #beach #family #outdoors #healing.' Vanessa also took to her Instagram Stories to share a beaming snap of herself as she enjoyed lunch out during her trip. She cut a stylish figure in a pink patterned jumper and styled her golden tresses loosely across her shoulders in a straight fashion. The radio star accentuated her natural beauty with a touch of mascara as she enjoyed a cup of coffee during the outing. Her trip comes after her ex-fiance Ben, 50, admitted he did cheat on her amid claims he'd been unfaithful while on a tour of UK holiday parks with his music act Phats & Small. Vanessa announced their split last week and on Sunday, a video showed the emotional moment Ben admitted to 'throwing his life away' by sleeping with an older woman three times after meeting her in Ibiza. Ben has also confessed to having sexting relationship with a fan of Phats & Small, and that he flirted with another woman at a Butlin's. Split: The TV personality, 60, took to Instagram on Monday to share that she had jetted off to Ireland with her daughter Allegra after announcing her split from Ben last week 'I'm feeling fantastic!': She posted an upbeat video message as she visited the beach in East Cork during her 'healing' family getaway after her relationship of 16 years came to an end In the video, he said: 'Firstly I'd like to apologise to Vanessa and also to my family. This last week has been incredibly painful. I've never had this amount of abuse. 'I will always love Vanessa she is the Queen of my heart she was my everything. But I have been incredibly foolish and stupid. I just have to hold my hands up and be honest. I have every regret - where do you want me to start! 'It has been a lot. It is about my behaviour, I have to look at myself. I have been doing a lot of soul searching over the past three weeks. I'm not here to point fingers I am here to say it's me and I need to work on myself. 'I don't come from a family that spoke about therapy but I'd love now to see a therapist. I need someone to help me sort things out. There were two situations that have meant I have effectively thrown my life away.' Ben previously told The Mirror of the Ibiza fling: 'I met her on the gig scene. She was the same age as Vanessa, possibly older. She took a shine to me, said lots of nice things. 'Healing': In a caption alongside the video, Vanessa also described her family getaway to Ireland as 'healing' Glamorous: Vanessa also took to her Instagram Stories to share a beaming snap of herself as she enjoyed lunch out during her trip 'Over a short period of time we had sex three times. It was purely sexual, there were no feelings involved. It felt like a chore. I just fell back into it with her to keep her sweet and everything under wraps.' Ben said he struggled to come to terms with Vanessa's apparent lack of desire to get married, despite the pair getting engaged in 2006. He explained: 'I cheated because I was insecure. The girl in Ibiza said things like "Youre such a great guy. I dont know why youre not married. Who wouldnt want to marry you?" That coupled with alcohol was a recipe for disaster. It was a volatile situation. Thats why that happened.' Vanessa previously said she was hesitant to get married again after her divorce from her doctor ex-husband Michael Kurer in 2000. It comes after it emerged that Vanessa allegedly learned Ben was cheating on her on Christmas Day when his lover trolled her daughter online. Breaking his silence: Her trip comes after her ex-fiance Ben, 50, admitted he did cheat on her amid claims he'd been unfaithful while on a tour with his music act Phats & Small Vanessa's eldest daughter Allegra told how the family was devastated to learn of Ben's alleged behaviour. Allegra and her sister Saskia, 34, who Vanessa shares with her ex-hsuband Michael, received the awful messages over the festive period and knew they had to tell their mother. She said: 'It was on Christmas Day, of all days. We were all together as a family, but Ben was away in pantomime, when the messages appeared via Instagram. 'Until that moment we were having a really lovely time, the children were having a lovely time, so for us to just receive that via a social media account was the most dreadful shock. 'It was anonymous, and of course it revealed lots that we didn't know but it was also very abusive and extremely hurtful,' she told The Sun. Shock: It came after it emerged Vanessa learned Ben was cheating on her on Christmas Day when his lover trolled her daughter Allegra online (Vanessa and Allegra pictured in 2021) Allegra said it was 'horrible' when the time came to tell Vanessa about the messages, which she described as 'abusive'. While Allegra noted the messages were anonymous, she said there was enough information to know the claims against Ben were true. She added that she had contacted the police over the messages and hoped something could be done about it. She added that Ben has been such a close part of their family for so long that the break-up has been 'devastating' for all of them. MailOnline contacted representatives of Ben Ofoedu for comment at the time. Margot Robbie was nearly unrecognizable as she arrived at JFK Airport in New York City on Monday. The 32-year-old Australian actress was clad in a navy blue beanie with a red and white logo on the front. The Babylon star also covered her blue eyes with a pair of thinly rimmed, round sunglasses with a light tint. Margot who was spotted at The Bowery Hotel last week covered the lower half of her visage with a black disposable face mask. The silver screen siren bundled up in a long black wool coat, layering it over a white sweater with bright blue stripes. She was seen with husband Tom Ackerley. Undercover: Margot Robbie was nearly unrecognizable as she arrived at JFK Airport in New York City on Monday The Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood actress made a fashion statement in a pair of baggy khaki pants. The look was punctuated with a pair of stylishly well-worn off-white sneakers. Margot carried a black purse with a chain link strap over her shoulder as she pushed a black rolling suitcase. The Suicide Squad alum's honey-highlighted hair fell beautifully from underneath her hat. They cascaded over her chest as she moved through the travel hub with her partner in tow. Tom who wed Margot in 2016 was equally stylish in a pair of cropped black pants and black and white sneakers. The 35-year-old film producer pulled two large hard shell suitcases and rocked a quilted puffer coat. Like his wife, he also sported a pair of sunglasses, opting for a black, square-shaped variety. Her look: The 32-year-old Australian actress was clad in a navy blue beanie with a red and white logo on the front Fashionable: The silver screen siren bundled up in a long black wool coat, layering it over a white sweater with bright blue stripes Robbie and Ackerley met in 2013 on the set of the World War II drama Suite Francaise in France, and tied the knot three years later. Robbie recently opened up about the similarities between herself and her character Nellie LaRoy in the movie Babylon. The actress said both she and her character are highly-driven women determined to make it big in showbusiness. 'I definitely relate to Nellie's drive. She's hell-bent on making it in Hollywood,' Margot told The Australian. She added: 'When you get to Hollywood, there are so many people wanting the same thing. You just need to want it more than everyone else.' Margot added that, like Nellie, she was determined to get her 'foot in the door' and did everything she could to make it happen. Margot started her career as Donna Freedman in Neighbours before getting her big break opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street. Her latest: The actress said both she and her Babylon character Nellie LaRoy are highly-driven women determined to make it big in showbusiness; pictured with Diego Calva Race and violence: A politically inconvenient truth By Mark Alexander web posted February 13, 2023 Predictably, Democrat presidents and their leftist Democrat Party cadres, as repeatedly demonstrated by the current White House prevaricator-in-chief being Joe Biden, always use the rare instance of a mass assault to call for bans on so-called assault weapons. Most of those high-profile assaults are committed by young sociopaths, and those attacks almost never actually involve an "assault weapon." And the fact is, rifles and shotguns combined are used in less than 3% of all homicides, but Demos never let facts get in the way of their political agenda. Furthermore, these tragic mass assaults are especially suited as leftist political fodder if the racial motivation of the assailant fits the Demos' "white supremacist" narrative. Like mass assaults, racial motivation for attacks is also exceedingly rare. But that does not stop Demo presidents from using American flags as political rags, ordering them to half-mast nationwide to promote their anti-Second Amendment agenda. The irony of using the symbol of American Liberty to undermine the first line of defense for American Liberty falls squarely into the Left's cauldron of BIG Lies. And a greater irony: Democrats are the historical architects and political beneficiaries of systemic racism. What Democrats want to avoid is the politically inconvenient truth regarding the actual racial demographic of assailants responsible for the national epidemic of violent crime, so they use high-profile mass assaults as diversionary smoke and mirrors. In reality, guns don't commit homicide; violent thugs do. In fact, as researcher John Lott reports, "[The Democrats'] 'guns first' approach ignores a basic fact ??? over 92% of violent crimes in America do not involve firearms." The reality Demos would most like to avoid is that violence is not a "gun problem"; violence is a Demo-induced culture problem spawned primarily by generations of failed socialist Democrat policies, and the result is metastasizing violence on Demo-controlled urban poverty plantations. In fact, on almost any day, the total victim count of black-on-black and black attacks on people of other races exceeds most of the high-profile mass assault death counts. But Democrat politicians studiously avoid any discussion of this data because it would require studious consideration of the Democrat policies that have created these conditions. If they actually believe "black lives matter," they would not propagate failed urban policies that proliferate black-on-black violence. A grossly disproportionate number of violent crimes nationwide are committed by black assailants, and black-on-black assault is the most prevalent violent crime in the nation. Manhattan Institute fellow and nationally respected crime researcher Heather Mac Donald notes the inconvenient truth about black assailants: "Dozens???of blacks are murdered every day, more than all white and Hispanic murder victims combined, even though blacks are only 13 percent???of the nation's population. Blacks between the ages of ten???and twenty-four???are murdered at twenty-five???times the rate of whites between those same ages.???Their assailants are not the police, not other whites, but other blacks." Where victim race was known, black-on-black assault is much more prevalent than white-on-white. The fact that black citizens are 13% of the population but their murder victim rate is 22% higher than for white victims should be the starting place for every meaningful conversation about resolving the racial disparity associated with violence. This gross racial disparity in criminal assailants is not a new issue, as made clear by a 2015 Harvard study on black-on-black violence. In that study, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg noted: "Ninety percent of all people killed in our city ??? and 90 percent of all those who commit the murders and other violent crimes ??? are black and Hispanic. It is shameful that so many elected officials and editorial writers have been largely silent on these facts." This disparity is also true in other crime categories, which dispels the assertion that somehow prisons have more black inmates because of "systemic racism." And regarding those policies, the most alarming data on murder is that the suspect in 88% of black murders is also black. Further, Mac Donald has thoroughly documented the interracial crime disparity. She notes that before Demo-controlled cities were adulterating the data: "There were 593,598 interracial violent victimizations ... between blacks and whites last year, including white-on-black and black-on-white attacks. Blacks committed 537,204 of those interracial felonies, or 90 percent, and whites committed 56,394 of them, or less than 10 percent." She reports: "From 2016 to 2020, blacks nationally were twice as likely to commit a hate crime as whites, according to FBI data. ... In New York City, from 2010 to 2020, blacks were 2.42 times as likely as whites to commit a hate crime. ... Blacks in Los Angeles committed anti-Asian hate crimes at 4.8 times the rate of whites in 2021 and committed anti-gay hate crimes at seven times the rate of whites, and anti-Semitic hate crimes at 2.4 times the rate of whites." These disparities are better understood in context when considering that black Americans represent just 13% of our population but perpetrate 90% of violent interracial crimes ??? and the adult black males who committed most of those crimes represent less than 3% of the population. That imbalance is staggering. Mac Donald adds: "That ratio is becoming more skewed. ... In 2012-13, blacks committed 85 percent of all interracial victimizations between blacks and whites; whites committed 15 percent. From 2015 to 2018, the total number of white victims and the incidence of white victimization have grown as well." Mac Donald concludes: "Blacks are also overrepresented among perpetrators of hate crimes ??? by 50 percent ??? according to recent Justice Department data; whites are underrepresented by 24 percent. This is particularly true for anti-gay and anti-Semitic hate crimes." However, as I have argued, ALL murders are "hate crimes," as every murder deprives a victim of his or her most fundamental civil rights. Again, not only is interracial violence predominantly perpetrated by black offenders, but violent assaults on black people are predominantly perpetrated by other black people. Of course, the high-profile Democrat constituency group that ostensibly represents "black victims," the Marxist so-called Black Lives Matter consortium of black supremacists, is also silent on violent black-on-black crime data. So, how are Democrats solving this horrendous problem? By deception ??? concealing the data. Democrats fomented the violent "summer of rage" riots in 2020, unleashing a record surge of murder and violent assaults across the nation, and that surge continues. Thus, they have gotten "creative" in order to conceal the truth from crime databases. The violence claimed the lives of more than 21,000 Americans in 2020 and about 20,000 in 2021 and 2022. Demos know these inconvenient truths, and they are colluding to cover up the crime scene. Major U.S. cities with district attorneys backed by billionaire leftist George Soros are both refusing to prosecute crimes and refusing to provide the Justice Department with racial data regarding violent crimes. Thus, they are concealing the key demographics about who is committing those crimes in order to conceal the root causes of violent crime, and at the same time claiming their failed policies are working. Democrats don't care about inner-city black Americans despite the fact they know who suffers most. They are ignoring black racism and gang violence. Apparently, black victims are expendable. I should note further that the surging number of murdered black Americans is also the result of the Demos' "defund the police" movement. Ah, yes, cops, the second-favorite whipping boy of race-hustling leftists. Blame-shifting to the men and women in blue, who are on the front lines protecting Americans from the effluent of generations of Democrat policies, is a deadly ruse, given the black-on-black slaughter taking place every day in our major cities. That is not a "police problem," and every person involved in the diversionary protests, ostensibly about the death of one Minneapolis resident, have the blood of THOUSANDS of mostly black men, women, and children on their hands. The Demos' war on cops has resulted in a couple of immediate consequences. First would be the escalating numbers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. That, combined with the failure of urban leaders to back them, has prompted mass resignations nationwide, leaving major departments critically short of patrol officers, who risk their lives every day for ungrateful legions. The second would be the fact that when Beltway and big-city Demos pander to the racist "Burn, Loot, Murder" (BLM) radicals, bowing to their hateful Marxist legions, while simultaneously throwing their police under the bus, they are throwing their black constituents under that same bus. After a lifetime observing how leftists manipulate black constituents, Walter E. Williams concluded, "The true plight of black people has little or nothing to do with the police or what has been called 'systemic racism.'" He adds, "We need to look at the responsibilities of those running our big cities." The Left's claims that "cops are racist" and that there's an "epidemic" of racially motivated police shootings are dangerous fabrications. Again, I turn to the research of Heather Mac Donald, who affirms there is no such epidemic. According to Mac Donald's exhaustive research: "The Washington Post's database of fatal police shootings showed 14 unarmed Black victims and 25 unarmed white victims in 2019. The number of unarmed Black shooting victims is down 63% from 2015, when the database began. There are about 7,300 Black homicide victims a year. The 14 unarmed victims in fatal police shootings would comprise only 0.2% of that total. Ideally, officers would never take anyone's life in the course of their duties." She argues that, "given the number of arrests they make each year (around 10 million) and the number of deadly-weapons attacks on officers (an average of 27 per day in just two-thirds of the nation's police departments)," there is no evidence of an epidemic of racist police shootings. That is confirmed by a National Academy of Sciences study that found no such racial link. As Mac Donald concludes: "It turns out that white officers are no more likely than black or Hispanic officers to shoot black civilians. It is a racial group's rate of violent crime that determines police shootings, not the race of the officer. In fact, if there is a bias in police shootings after crime rates are taken into account, it is against white civilians, the study found." Wall Street Journal editorial board member Jason Riley notes: "Police shootings have fallen precipitously since the 1970s. ... Empirical studies have found no racial bias in police use of deadly force, and that the racial disparities that do exist stem from racial differences in criminal behavior. The problem isn't a shortage of data but a race-based narrative that is immune to any data that challenge it." Indeed, as Mac Donald notes, "The anti-cop narrative deflects attention away from solving the real criminal-justice problem, which is high rates of black-on-black victimization." According to the latest data, "Nationally, African Americans between the ages of 10 and 34 die from homicide at 13 times the rate of white Americans." So, what happens when police are condemned by their political leaders and told to stand down? Mac Donald, author of the definitive book The War on Cops, notes in a report: "Today's violent-crime increase ??? call it Ferguson Effect 2.0 or the Minneapolis Effect ??? has come on with a speed and magnitude that make Ferguson 1.0 seem tranquil. George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police in late May was justly condemned ??? but the event has now spurred an outpouring of contempt against the pillars of law and order that has no precedent in American history. Every day, another mainstream institution ??? from McDonald's to Harvard ??? denounces the police, claiming without evidence that law enforcement is a threat to black lives." (Read more in the Law and Liberty study on "Race, Crime, and Policing in America.") Of course, as I noted previously, Democrats never let facts get in the way of their political agenda. As for the epidemic of blame-shifting, Thomas Sowell, senior fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, observed, "Politically, there are few ideas more potent than the notion that all your problems are caused by other people and their unfairness to you." He also declared flatly: "Racism is not dead. But it is on life-support, kept alive mainly by the people who use it for an excuse or to keep minority communities fearful or resentful enough to turn out as a voting bloc on Election Day." That deception comes at a very heavy price. Meanwhile, here is another stat that Demos won't mention. Beyond their boilerplate anti-2A rhetoric, as we have documented consistently, if you don't have a violent criminal record and are not associated with the violent sociopathic thug, drug, or gang subcultures that commit the vast majority of crimes in America, your chances of being shot or killed by an assailant are extraordinarily low ??? as low as in most Western European nations with strict gun control laws. Oh, and in Switzerland, which has a higher concentration of "assault weapons" per capita than any nation in the world, the murder rate is one of the lowest in the world. If you're a law-abiding citizen, your statistical probability of being killed by a drunk driver is much higher than being murdered by an assailant with a firearm. (Oddly, no one is organizing marches to ban automobiles or ask for a federal background check before purchasing a beer.) For the record, if Democrats actually wanted to "take action to keep American communities, schools, workplaces, and homes safe," as Joe Biden claimed in a gun-control rant, they would turn their attention to the illegal drugs killing more than five times more Americans each year than those killed by assailants with illegal firearms. In 2022, there were an estimated 110,000 drug overdoses, most of them due to fentanyl, which is pouring across our open southern border. Fentanyl deaths surged again in 2022, and despite the fact the Biden administration is trying to put a smiley-face on it, almost all of it is being muled into the U.S. by the more than three million illegal immigrants Biden has invited in. And the fastest growing overdose demographic is infants and toddlers who are exposed to the deadly drug. Finally, in the timeless words of Ronald Reagan: "You won't get gun control by disarming law-abiding citizens. ... There's only one way to get real gun control: Disarm the thugs and the criminals, lock them up, and if you don't actually throw away the key, at least lose it for a long time." He declared after the assassination attempt against him: "It's a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun control laws. I happen to know this from personal experience." Of course, only law-abiding citizens abide by laws, and making lawful citizens helpless clearly does not make outlaws harmless. Remember: The vast majority of mass assaults occur in "gun-free zones." Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Sharon Stone's younger brother Patrick died on Sunday in Pennsylvania at the age of 57. The 64-year-old Basic Instinct star's sibling passed away from a heart attack brought on by heart disease, according to a Monday report from TMZ. It is not know if he was rushed to a hospital or if he was found dead. This comes almost two years after Patrick's son River died at the age of 11 months from organ failure. The mother was Patrick's wife Tasha. The iconic Hollywood actress was last seen on Saturday as she smiled while leaving the Beverly Hills restaurant E Baldi with a female friend. Sad loss: Sharon Stone's younger brother Patrick died on Sunday in Pennsylvania at the age of 57. The 64-year-old Basic Instinct star's sibling passed away from a heart attack brought on by heart disease, according to a Monday report from TMZ; Seen with sister Kelly Stone The family: Patrick seen on the far right with (from left), sister Kelly Stone, dad Joseph Stone, sister Sharon Stone, and mom Dorothy Stone Last image: The iconic Hollywood actress (right) was last seen on Saturday as she smiled while leaving the Beverly Hills restaurant E Baldi with a female friend (left) DailyMail.com has reached out to a spokesperson for Stone. The Stone family is from Meadville, Pennsylvania. His wife Tasha took to social media to share the heartbreaking news of her husband's shock death. She shared, 'My heart feels like it's been ripped out of my chest. Patrick went to be with our sweet River... I don't know what else to say, he was my world.' She continued, 'I'm not sure what life is supposed to look like without my husband by my side and quite honestly I don't want to, but I will of course. I just hope that you always stay by my side watching over Hunter, Kaylee and I.' Tasha continued, 'Until we meet again I will forever hold you and our wonderful (and some not so wonderful but just as important) memories close to my heart and will visit those memories always. I love you honey babe. 'My wish through all of this is that now at least River has his daddy with him and I hope the two of you are having the best time.' Sharon has yet to make a comment on social media about Patrick's death. The Muse actress also has a sister named Kelly Stone and a brother named Michael Stone who has worked was an actor and starred in The Quick and the Dead (1995), Eraser (1996) and Renaissance Man (2021). A more recent look: Here Patrick is seen wit his wife Tasha in an image from his sister Kelly Stone's Instagram page A strong bond: Sharon is seen here with brother Patrick in September 2018 during a trip to Alaska. Sharon was with her three sons and Patrick was with wife Tasha and their two children (in blue jacket and in green top) In her book The Beauty of Living Twice, she said she was close to Patrick and in more recent years has gotten along better with Michael. The last time Sharon posed with media shy Patrick for an Instagram photo was in September 2018 when they went on a trip with their children to Alaska. In August 2021, Sharon shared that River died. The baby passed away just days after he was found in his crib suffering 'severe organ failure' that left him in a coma. The actress posted a video of the baby boy along with the caption: 'River William Stone. Sept. 8, 2020 - Aug. 30, 2021.' River was the youngest child of Stone's younger brother Patrick and his wife, Tasha, who live in Ohio with their three children. The Casino star, whose video tribute was set to Eric Clapton's Tears In Heaven, did not share any other information about what exactly happened to River - having only revealed that the youngster was suffering from 'total organ failure' and would need a 'miracle' to survive. The good ole days: Sharon seen here in red slacks as she dances with Patrick whose outfit matched hers in 1965 Family: Here Sharon is seen with her brother Michael Stone, far right, and her mom as well as sister Kelly and Sharon's three sons 'My nephew and godson River Stone was found in his crib w[sic] total organ failure today,' she shared. Stone then added, 'Please pray for him. 'We need a miracle,' she wrote at the time. The actress was posting an image of River lying in a hospital bed while hooked up to numerous medical devices. River's mother Tasha also wrote an impassioned plea for prayers on her Facebook page. She revealed that her son had been airlifted to UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was fighting for his life in a coma. He soon after died. 'This is the HARDEST thing I have ever had to post but I am BEGGING everyone and anyone who prays please pray HARD for River,' the devastated mother wrote. 'Every single second of this is literally killing me. I just want my sweet sweet boy back.' Heartbreaking: This comes almost two years after Patrick's son River died at the age of 11 months from organ failure. The mother was his wife Tasha Tragedy: Stone revealed in 2021 that River has died just days after he was found in his crib with 'total organ failure' There are a number of severe medical conditions that can lead to multiple organ failure in children, however the leading cause is sepsis, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Sepsis - which can be sparked by another infection in the body - is particularly dangerous for children, because the symptoms are more easily missed than they are in adult patients. Birth defects and other undiagnosed illness can also lead to pediatric organ failure however, and it is not yet known whether any of these conditions caused River's severe illness. Stone was traveling in Italy when she revealed the news of her nephew's devastating medical condition - having journeyed to Venice in order to take part in a photoshoot for Dolce & Gabbana. River's passing comes amid a difficult time for the extended Stone family, which has seen several members dealing with serious health problems in recent months - including cases of COVID-19. In 2020, a grief-stricken stone revealed that her 'adopted grandmother' Eileen Mitzman and her godmother had died from complications associated with the virus. The actress's sister, Kelly, who has lupus, and her husband, Bruce, had also contracted the disease and were left 'fighting for their lives' before eventually recovering. Stone, who in 2020 revealed that her grandmother had passed away from complications relating to COVID-19, was traveling in Italy when River was hospitalized River's mother Tasha revealed on Facebook that her son, who was born in September 2020, had died While speaking about her sister's battle with the illness in an Instagram video shared in August 2020, Stone also shared that her mother, Dorothy, had suffered 'two heart attacks' in the five months leading up to her post - and had to have 'five stents', which help to open the arteries and prevent blockages in the heart - and a pacemaker as a result. It also appears as though River's mother Tasha has been struggling with health issues in 2021; comments left on her Facebook page in January 2021 suggested that she had to receive medical treatment that required her to spend time away from her family. At the time, the mother-of-three revealed that she had returned home - but that she had an IV port in her arm, and would be undergoing continued treatment with the help of a home help nurse for several weeks. 'I was able to come home with a power glide IV port in my arm so I can continue to receive treatments from a home health nurse at home for the next couple of weeks,' she wrote. 'After that I will be switched to a pill form of the antibiotic. I am just thankful to be back with my family.' Zendaya looked ready for the coat weather this weekend. The 26-year-old Oakland, California native was seen leaving her hotel in the Italian city of Rome. The Spider-Man: No Way Home star had just finished filming the new Bulgari advertisement. The brand's global ambassador wore a classic, long, dark grey wool coat that looked well tailored. The girlfriend of actor Tom Holland paired the coat with black tights and slip on black shoes as she appeared to be makeup free. Global ambassador: Zendaya is spotted leaving her hotel in Rome in a long grey coat while carrying a briefcase after shooting the latest Bulgari advertisement The star was seen outside the Eden Hotel after three days of shooting the luxury brand's latest ad campaign. The Euphoria star - who won the Critics Choice award for her role in Euphoria - carried a black briefcase-style bag with a gold clasp. She wore her shoulder-length hair parted on the side. The Dune actress stopped to greet fans and take a few selfies with them. Zendaya is still rocking the blonde-ish bob she debuted earlier this month. The color change was the newest part of a style transformation the fashionista has been evolving over the last month and a half. Her new, shorter, lighter hair comes a month after she won the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Euphoria. She did not attend the ceremony due to work commitments. When in Rome: The Euphoria star stopped to greet fans and take selfies with them Grey lady: The Spider-Man star left her hotel via the back service entrance But the Dune star thanked the Critics' Choice Association for the award on social media, sharing a snap of herself on a bike and a close up of her face during an episode of the show. 'Woke up to some incredible news... thank you so much @criticschoice for this honor. I can't stop smiling and can't express how grateful I am.' Zendaya has also won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role in the HBO series. The series premiered in 2019 and follows Zendaya's character as she battles drug addiction while also facing the normal day to day problems and drama of high school. The American actress has been living quite the jet set lifestyle with boyfriend Tom Holland. The couple met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016 but didn't confirm the rampant romance rumors until July 2021. Last fall, the lovebirds were spotted holding hands outside the Louvre Museum in Paris. Maya Jama has jetted off yet again after a whirlwind past few days. Over the past two days the Love Island host, 28, has presented at the BRITs, hosted an afterparty on a boat and partied late into the night - before looking refreshed as she presented Love Island's Aftersun less than 24 hours later. This comes all at the same time as hosting the winter series of Love Island in South Africa's Cape Town - presumably where she has jetted back to. Last week, Maya and her 'glam squad' made a 12,000-mile round trip to host just ten minutes of the show, to record footage for last Friday and Sunday's episodes. The presenter was in the city for just 24 hours before returning. Crazy: Maya Jama has jetted off yet again after a whirlwind past few days which saw her present at the BRITs , host an afterparty on a boat and present Love Island's Aftersun less than 24 hours later And taking to her Instagram on Monday, it seems the presenter is off again after posting a video of herself relaxing on a plane. The star - who appeared to be sat in luxury business class - stretched and posed as she nodded to the beat of The La's There She Goes. She captioned the story 'gone again'. It comes after Maya revealed her 'ADHD and glam team' were responsible after fans praised her stamina and energy on Sunday. Taking to Twitter one fan wrote: 'Obsessed with @MayaJama Cling clinging at The BRITS last night & hosting her own after party & then tonight looking like a radiant honey on #LoveIsland'. Before adding: 'Her & her team are KILLING IT!'. Maya replied: 'Honestly big up the glam team an my ADHD because I would not have the energy or Lewksss without them'. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness and hyperactivity. On her way: This comes all at the same time as hosting the winter series of Love Island in South Africa's Cape Town - presumably where she has gone back to Recently: Last week, Maya and her 'glam squad' made a 12,000-mile round trip to host just ten minutes of the show , to record footage for last Friday and Sunday's episodes Maya used the opportunity on Sunday's show to debut her new hairstyle - straight brunette locks framed by a gorgeous new fringe. She showcased her incredible figure in a long grey dress which flashed skin through a cut-out detail on either side of her waist. The dress highlighted her ample assets as it hugged her figure and came down from just off her shoulders. The beauty added inches to her frame in silver strappy heels. Gone again: The star - who appeared to be sat in luxury business class - stretched and posed as she nodded to the beat of The La's There She Goes. She captioned the story 'gone again' Maya made sure all eyes were on her as she danced her way onto the set of the Love Island spin-off show where she discussed all the drama from the South African villa. She sported a gorgeous palette of make up, including winged eyeliner and a nude lip. Maya was joined by regular pannelists The Morning After podcast hosts Sam Thompson and Indiyah Polack, as well as celebrity superfan Mae Muller. Stunner: Maya Jama, 28, revealed her 'ADHD and glam team' were responsible after fans praised her stamina and energy on Sunday Party: The Love Island host presented at the BRITs, hosted an afterparty on a boat and partied late into the night - before looking refreshed as she presented Love Island's Aftersun less than 24 hours later Loving it: Taking to Twitter one fan wrote: 'Obsessed with @MayaJama Cling clinging at The BRITS last night & hosting her own after party & then tonight looking like a radiant honey on #LoveIsland' On Saturday night Maya was certainly in the party spirit as she headed out for a boozy river Thames bash, showing off her dance moves as things got rowdy. The stunner let loose as she twerked in front of pals, sharing a clip of the moment with her 2.7M Instagram followers. Sporting a glimmering silver dress with a thigh grazing split and off the shoulder detail, she looked ultra-glamorous for the party. A little help: Maya replied: 'Honestly big up the glam team an my ADHD because I would not have the energy or Lewksss without them' As Maya welcomed a slew of famous faces to the boat, it appeared to be a fun-filled night as the celebrities let their hair down after the music awards show. Maya was on the job earlier in the day as she presented the ITV Red Carpet Show before the BRITS, before presenting an award during the televised ceremony. So using her after-party as a chance to let loose, Maya shared an insight into the bash as she danced on deck and partied at the DJ booth. The Love Island presenter hosted the bash on the River Thames with Coca-Cola, launching their newest Creations product, a limited-edition drink called Movement Work it: Maya was certainly in the party spirit as she headed out for the boozy river Thames bash, showing off her dance moves as things got rowdy Taking to the water, the night to remember was attended by guests including Jesse Lingard, AJ Odudu, Snoochie Shy, Chunks, Poet, Tiffany Calver, Craig Mitch and Mira May. Maya's outfit was her second of the evening, after hitting the 02 Arena red carpet earlier in the evening. The TV host looked sensational and slipped into a figure-hugging strapless black dress for her red carpet arrival. Moves: She let loose as she twerked in front of pals, sharing a clip of the moment with her 2.7M Instagram followers Sleek: Her hair was gorgeously slicked back into an up do as it remained pristine throughout the night S Club 7 have announced they are reuniting for a special 25th anniversary tour. All seven members of the popular band - Bradley, Hannah, Jo, Jon, Paul, Rachel, and Tina will come together for an 11-date arena tour across the UK and Ireland. Speaking on coming back together, the band said: 'After eight years it feels amazing to announce that we're reuniting and performing together again. 'We're so excited to bring the S Club Party back to our fans across the country to celebrate 25 years of S Club 7. We can't even believe it's been so long! 'Music and friendship have always been at the core of everything that we've ever done. We hope everyone can join us for one big party!' Back again! S Club 7 have announced they are reuniting for a special 25th anniversary tour After the announcement was made, the group went on BBC's The One Show for their first interview. Rachel said: 'We are so excited to get back out there and sing our hearts out.' When asked about the possibility of new music, Bradley said: 'If you know you know. We're bringing the nostalgia, in today's time we need a bit of positive.' Jon said: 'I don't think we have changed that much. We all said yes immediately and we set up a WhatsApp group called S Clubbers'. Rachel added: 'It feels like the right time to spread some positivity.' Paul continued: 'We would like our fans to let us know what sort of songs they want to hear'. Jo O'Meara has had many operations on her back in recent years, but said she was determined to join the other six on tour. She said: 'I'm ready, I'm doing physio, I'm just starting to get my back strong. But I will be there on that stage 100 per cent'. Reunion: All seven members of the popular band - Bradley, Hannah, Jo, Jon, Paul, Rachel, and Tina will come together for an 11-date arena tour across the UK and Ireland Now that's a party! The group looked like they were getting along nicely as they posed for pictures outside the studios A step back in time: The group certainly have a lot of history together Speaking on their longstanding popularity, Hannah added: 'Its incredible that Generation Z are picking up on TikTok, but I will just add that everyone is saying reach up for the stars.' Talking on their fashion choices, Rachel explained: 'The nineties were special for fashion and there's little bits we'll take from that.' They said they were most excited to perform Reach and felt less pressure to perform than in the past. Excited: Speaking on coming back together, the band said: 'After eight years it feels amazing to announce that we're reuniting and performing together again' Speaking to The Sun the group said they wanted to do Glastonbury, with Jo saying: 'Weve been very lucky. But we need Glastonbury next. Im going to manifest it. We need to do it. Can you imagine the whole of the Glastonbury crowd singing Reach? It would be pretty amazing.' The band said that they would have rejoined even sooner had it not been for the fact that they couldn't find Jon. He said: 'Thats why its taken so long to do this, they couldnt find me. I was in India for three and a half years. I went travelling and then I found some dogs over there which I adopted and brought home.' The members have now grown up and had children of their own, with Hannah pointing out: 'I realised today that between us we have seven kids. Isnt that spooky? And its the same ratio of three boys and four girls.' Return: After the announcement was made, the group went on BBC's The One Show for their first interview The 25th anniversary tour is an opportunity for S Club 7 fans of every generation to come together and re-experience the timeless pop hits that soundtracked the British charts for five years. Collectively, S Club 7 amassed four UK number one singles with Bring It All Back, Never Had a Dream Come True, Dont Stop Movin, and Have You Ever, as well as the UK number one album 7. They recorded 4 studio albums, released 11 singles that all entered the Top 5 UK charts, and went on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide. Tickets for S Club 7 Reunited go on sale at 10:00am GMT on Friday 17th February via www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Tickets for Ireland will be available via www.ticketmaster.ie. Patsy Kensit confirmed she's left EastEnders on Monday as she took to Instagram to share a snap of herself as she prepared to jet abroad. It was announced in November the actress, 54, had landed the role of Emma Harding who is Lola Pearce's (Danielle Harold) mother. Patsy joined the BBC soap after Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) embarked on a quest to find Lola's mother. Soap star Patsy will remain on screens for a while as she has already filmed upcoming scenes for the serial. But she publicly bid farewell to Walford this week as she shared some heartfelt words on social media. New beginnings: Patsy Kensit, 54, confirmed she's left EastEnders on Monday as she took to Instagram to share a snap of herself as she prepared to jet abroad Patsy thanked the EastEnders team and her co-stars in her post as she shared a photo from the airport. She wrote: 'Were leaving on a jet plane! Dont know when Ill be back again. Going to the heat. Great news this Friday that my severe chest infection Ive nursed since December has now been diagnosed and Im on the right antibiotics and need to convalesce for a bit and will be right back on my feet!!! 'Cannot thank my amazing cast members at the simply awesome experience Ive had working on @eastenders for being so kind and loving to me. 'Big thank you to the BBC the producers writers crew and the EE family. Costume makeup ADs Ang at the help desk. 'Jamie and Danielle for making me laugh my a**e off everyday. I love you both. Emma Barton.. so so many people. A new adventure begins.' Patsy's character Emma learned of daughter Lola's incurable brain tumour after arriving in Albert Square. She was determined to make the most of their time together but the pair had a rocky relationship. Lola wanted nothing to do with her mother, who she thought had abandoned her at a young age, but after hearing the full story, she let her parent in to her life. New cast member: It was announced in November the actress (pictured) had landed the role of Emma Harding who is Lola Pearce's (Danielle Harold) mother Patsy has past soap experience having previously starred in both Emmerdale and Holby City, however, she has previously expressed interest in joining the cast of EastEnders. A source told The Sun before her arrival on the show: 'Bosses are thrilled they have managed to get Patsy for this role. 'She's a great actress and is about to play a part in one of their biggest current storylines.' New role: Patsy (right) joined the BBC soap after Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) embarked on a quest to find Lola's mother Her character Emma had never appeared in the soap before, having abandoned Lola and her father when her daughter was just three years old. Back in 2019, former model Patsy told of her interest in heading to Walford and becoming the new Peggy Mitchell. She told Radio Times: 'I'd love to do EastEnders, my father was involved in organised crime in the East End, so I grew up around villains and that kind of backdrop. I can pull a pint and say, "You're barred".' Patsy has real-life links to the East End, having grown up around organised crime with her brother's Godfather even being notorious gangster Reggie Kray. In addition her father - who was nicknamed Jimmy The Dip for his pickpocketing tendencies - was an associate of the Kray Twins. She was brought up on a council estate and in her autobiography Absolute Beginner she said she had to flee to Paris as her dad was on the run. Former Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis has revealed she is back living with her parents while she is just weeks away from giving birth to her first child. The heavily pregnant 35-year-old confirmed on Monday she and her fiance Michael Brunelli were temporarily staying at her family's home in North Melbourne. Martha said the couple had moved out of their Bondi apartment prior to their holiday in Europe last year after the walls and ceilings became overrun with black mould. Former Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) has revealed she is back living with her parents while she is just weeks away from giving birth to her first child 'Our place in Sydney developed some seriously aggressive black mould and we no longer wanted to stay in that house,' she said in an Instagram Q&A. 'Before we left for Europe, we put all our things in storage and figured we would just find somewhere new when we returned from our trip.' Martha, who suffered from severe morning sickness in her early pregnancy, added she spent a few months at her parents' home 'really unwell and in bed'. The heavily pregnant 35-year-old confirmed on Monday she and her fiance Michael Brunelli were temporarily staying at her family's home in North Melbourne The Kalifatidis family home (pictured) boasts four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a pool 'Since my pregnancy was so debilitating, staying with my family was really my only option,' she said. 'Mum convinced us that living with them was a great option, so here we are.' The Kalifatidis family home boasts four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a swimming pool, so there is plenty of space for her and Michael, 34, to live. Martha also said it will be 'nice to have help' once the newborn arrives. In another Instagram post, Martha said the move wasn't 'forever' and insisted that living with her parents wasn't strange to her at all Martha also said it will be 'nice to have help' once the newborn arrives 'I do understand why a lot of people might find this weird or why it's frowned upon by some, but for me it feels right,' she said of her living situation. In a separate Instagram post, Martha said the move wasn't 'forever' and insisted that living with her parents wasn't strange to her at all. 'I swear people are fascinated with this topic,' she said. 'I don't get it... Is it really that strange?' Martha, who is approaching the 37th week of her pregnancy, announced last week she will be having a boy The family home, which Martha once described as a 'Versace mansion', featured several times on season six of MAFS when she and Michael started dating. The Kalifatidises purchased the property in 2004 for $300,000, and it is now estimated to be worth more than $1million. Martha, who is approaching the 37th week of her pregnancy, announced last week she will be having a boy. Fans suspect the couple's child will be called Giuseppe, based on a diary entry from her mother Mary that was visible in a recent Instagram post. Advertisement Tom Cruise was seen on a red carpet for the first time in eight months as he attended the 95th Annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on Monday. The Top Gun: Maverick star was there to support the 2022 blockbuster summer film that has received several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. The ex of Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes looked different at the splashy afternoon event as he wore his hair longer and had a deep summer tan. It has been many months since the 60-year-old - who will reportedly attend King Charles' coronation - posed on a red carpet; the last time was in June 2022 for a Top Gun: Maverick event in Seoul, South Korea. Also at the event were Oscar nominees Jamie Lee Curtis, who was there for her film Everything Everywhere All At Once and Michelle Williams who is plugging The Fabelmans. Scroll down for the list of Oscar nominees... The boy is back: Tom Cruise was seen on a red carpet for the first time in eight months as he attended the annual Academy Award luncheon in Los Angeles on Monday Hanging in there: The Top Gun: Maverick star was there to support the 2022 blockbuster summer film. The action-packed movie has received several Oscar nominations A handshake and a conversation: Cruise took time out to chat up Michelle Yeoh who is nominated for Everything Everywhere All At Once Cruise was all cleaned up for the hob-knobbing event that sees some of the most powerful people in Hollywood break bread together. Dressed to impress in a very fine suit, he beamed with pride as he shook hands with Top Gun producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Tom looked happy to be at the event as he smiled at onlookers but there was something very different about his appearance. Gone are the short locks and vanilla complexion. On Monday he looked as if he had just stepped off a beach in Hawaii. Tom dressed in a nicely tailored navy blue striped three piece suit with the jacket buttoned only once. The Days Of Thunder star added a crisp white dress shirt and lavender silk tie with purple accents in a diamond print. The Mission: Impossible standout shoes were sleek black dress shoes that laced up and had dotted accents. The Cocktail star was also seen having an intimate conversation with Michelle Yeoh. Hey Yeoh: Yeoh looked elegant in a sparkly black suit that included a jacket with pockets and very wide-legged slacks. Her long black hair was worn down in soft barrel curls as she waved to fans Glow for it: The film star absolutely glowed when posing on the carpet as she showed off diamond earrings that radiated while in front of the cameras Yeoh looked elegant in a sparkly black suit that included a jacket with pockets and very wide-legged slacks. The jacket had little hits of purple and lavender colored sequins on the lapels that added a little extra razzle dazzle. Her long black hair was worn down in soft barrel curls as she waved to fans. And she had on a bulky computer watch that looked like it could do fast IMDB checks. The film star absolutely glowed when posing on the carpet as she showed off diamond earrings that radiated while in front of the cameras. There were plenty of other A-list stars at the classy luncheon. Always in fine form: Also at the event was Oscar nominees Jamie Lee Curtis, who was there for her film Everything Everywhere All At Once Class act: The Hollywood star had on a pant suit in a very pale baby blue color; the jacket was nicely cinched at the waistline with an asymmetrical hem. Her slacks had a line down the front as if she was about to take on a board room. Curtis held onto a black clutch purse as she flashed a silver watch and matching rings, but she relied on pearls for her necklace and earrings She got her hands on TC! Curtis went in for an embrace with Tom as they came face to face for a friendly hello Having some good fun on the carpet: from left, Curtis, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang Tony Curtis' movie star daughter Jamie Lee Curtis looked almost business like in contrast. The veteran Hollywood star had on a pant suit in a very pale baby blue color; the jacket was nicely cinched at the waistline with an asymmetrical hem. Her slacks had a line down the front as if she was about to take on a board room. Curtis held onto a black clutch purse as she flashed a silver watch and matching rings, but she relied on pearls for her necklace and earrings. And the talented performer - who has been in everything from Perfect to True Lies to Freaky Friday - wore her signature short gray hair nicely combed as she modeled frosty makeup. The Halloween star was at the lunch as she is nominated for the hit film Everything Everywhere All At Once. Michelle Williams made a daring move by eschewing a satin gown in favor of a much more casual look. Michelle Williams made a daring move by eschewing a satin gown in favor of a much more casual look A fashion statement: The Dawson's Creek veteran had on a blue denim shirt-sleeved jacket and matching skirt with buttons down the front. Her legs were bare. On her feet were a pair of pointy shiny black Mary Jane shoes with kitten heels and diamond balls on the sides. She added a few rings and small earrings Her director: At one point the movie star posed with her director Steven Spielberg. Together they are promoting their new film The Fabelmans He seemed to say hello to everyone! Cruise also posed with, from left, Michelle Williams, Hong Chau, and Steven Spielberg attend the 95th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon He made the scene as well: The Fabelmans star Judd Hirsch - who is best known for the long-running TV series Taxi - also posed away on the carpet So much talent in this trip! From left, Hirsh, Williams and director Spielberg side by side The Dawson's Creek veteran had on a blue denim shirt-sleeved jacket and matching skirt with buttons down the front. Her legs were bare. On her feet were a pair of pointy shiny black Mary Jane shoes with kitten heels and diamond balls on the sides. The ex of the late Heath Ledger added a few rings and small earrings. Her hair was worn in a sleek shirt bob as she went with pale pink makeup and did not carry a purse. At one point the movie star posed with her director Steven Spielberg. Together they are promoting their new film The Fabelmans. The synopsis: Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see 'The Greatest Show on Earth.' Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother. Austin Butler was also at the Hilton Hotel event on Monday. The actor looked sharp in a light gray double-breasted suit with a slightly unbuttoned shirt and no tie. California native Butler was the luncheon as he is nominated for his turn as the King of Rock N Roll in the film Elvis. While on the carpet, he put his arm around Colin Farrell as they seemed to be very good friends. Farrell's latest film is The Banshees of Inisherin. He rocked it: Austin Butler was also at the Hilton Hotel event on Monday. The actor looked sharp in a light gray double-breasted suit with a slightly unbuttoned shirt and no tie He has movie star written all over him: California native Butler was the luncheon as he is nominated for his turn as the King of Rock N Roll in the film Elvis Old buddies arm in arm on the red carpet: Austin took a moment to put his arm around pal Colin Farrell, left Cate Blanchett was one of the most elegant women at the star-studded lunch event. The Australian born superstar was a breath of fresh air in her creamy yellow butter beige suit that consisted of a fitted double-breasted blazer and wide-legged slacks. The siren added a matching coat over her slender shoulders and she had on black pointy stiletto heels. The beauty wore her honey blonde hair back in a casual bun as she added beige eye shadow. The versatile actress was at the event as she has been Oscar nominated for her electric performance in the movie Tar. The film from director Todd Field is about renowned musician Lydia Tar. She is days away from recording the symphony that will elevate her career, according to the synopsis. 'When all elements seem to conspire against her, Lydia's adopted daughter Petra becomes an integral emotional support for her struggling mother,' the breakdown read. Looks like she is ready for her Vogue cover: Cate Blanchett was one of the most elegant women at the star-studded lunch event She has an Oscar glow: The Australian born superstar was a breath of fresh air in her creamy yellow butter beige suit that consisted of a fitted double-breasted blazer and wide-legged slacks. The siren added a matching coat over her slender shoulders and she had on black pointy stiletto heels Angela Bassett took a chance on her eye-popping suit. The 64-year-old star of the hit 2022 film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wore a royal blue and white striped suit with matching shirt. The same material was used for her blazer, her shirt with tie, and her bell bottom slacks, making for quite the visual delight even if it did border on a circus look. Bassett had plenty of charm to carry off the stunning design. Bassett - who is wed to Courtney B Vance - wore her dark chocolate locks down over her shoulders which held a white purse. Wow: Angela Bassett took a chance on her eye-popping suit. The 64-year-old star of the hit 2022 film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wore a royal blue and white striped suit with matching shirt Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson could also be spied at the bash. The Sleepless In Seattle actress turned movie producer wore a beige and black dress as she waved to fans and onlookers. The 66-year-old star got props for producing the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. More recently, she helped put together Tom's latest film, A Man Called Otto. The beauty has been wed to Tom since 1988. Pure elegance: Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson could also be spied at the bash. The Sleepless In Seattle actress turned movie producer wore a beige and black dress as she waved to fans and onlookers Props to this producer: The 66-year-old star got props for producing the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. More recently, she helped put together Tom's latest film, A Man Called Otto Friends everywhere:(2nd L-R) Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer, Diane Warren, and guest She is still a hot property: Warren is nominated for yet another Oscar; this year she is up for Best Original Song for Applause sung by Sofia Carson in Tell It Like a Woman Everyone loves Diane! Here the songwriter - who penned Cher's monster hit If I Could Turn Back Time - is seen with Jamie Diane Warren wore black with silver sneakers. Warren is nominated for yet another Oscar, her 14th; this year she is up for Best Original Song for Applause sung by Sofia Carson in Tell It Like a Woman. The songwriter was seen posing with Jamie Lee as well as Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer. Brendan Fraser could not be missed. The actor is best known for his movies School Ties and Encino Man, has a new movie to promote. The 90s veteran has been getting rave reviews - and a coveted Oscar nomination - for his work in the dramatic film The Whale. On Monday, the former teen heartthrob looked like a sophisticated male lead as he wore a black suit with matching tie and a white shirt. The actor added black framed prescription glasses. The 54-year-old star recently expressed that he would be interested in rebooting his old film franchise, The Mummy. Whale talk: Brendan Fraser could not be missed. The actor is best known for his movies School Ties and Encino Man, has a new movie to promote. The 90s veteran has been getting rave reviews - and a coveted Oscar nomination - for his work in the dramatic film The Whale Jenny Slate sure knew how to stand out at the luncheon. The dark-haired beauty with the almond eyes wore a fire engine red outfit that made the most of her curvy figure. The dress had large extensions on her shoulders that lent a Star Trek feel that just worked. The neckline was low enough to be a tiny bit scandalous and the dress came in to show off her trim waistline. The 40-year-old Slate is a stand-up comedian and writer. Born and raised in Milton, Massachusetts, Slate was educated at Milton Academy and studied literature at Columbia University, where she became involved in the improv and comedy scene. She is best known for her films The Secret Life Of Pets, Zootopia, Gifted and I Want You Back. Sizzling haute: Jenny Slate sure knew how to stand out at the luncheon. The dark-haired beauty with the almond eyes wore a fire engine red outfit that made the most of her curvy figure Beam us up, Jenny: The dress had large extensions on her shoulders that lent a Star Trek feel that just worked. The neckline was low enough to be a tiny bit scandalous and the dress came in to show off her trim waistline A good slate: The 40-year-old Slate is a stand-up comedian and writer. Born and raised in Milton, Massachusetts, Slate was educated at Milton Academy and studied literature at Columbia University, where she became involved in the improv and comedy scene. She is best known for her films The Secret Life Of Pets, Zootopia, Gifted and I Want You Back A new look: Sarah Polley wore a dark jacket with a red shirt and blue slacks with black shoes Stephanie Hsu certainly made a last impression. The 32-year-old star of Everything Everywhere All At Once looked chic in a black and white dress that seemed to be both masculine and feminine. The beauty from Torrance, California had on a white dress shirt with a black bow tie. Beneath that she wore a black and white strapless mini dress that ended above her knee, and she added black strappy heels. Hsu kept her glam simple with her dark hair worn parted to the side and down one side. Her makeup was minimal and she added small stud pearl earrings. Tia Carrere of the film Wayne's World looked shapely in a low cut black dress with a maroon purse on her arm. She gave a thumb's up to onlookers. Fun with this look: Stephanie Hsu certainly made a last impression. The 32-year-old star of Everything Everywhere All At Once looked chic in a black and white dress that seemed to be both masculine and feminine A new trend: Beneath that she wore a black and white strapless mini dress that ended above her knee, and she added black strappy heels A big thumbs up from this Hollywood veteran: Tia Carrere of the film Wayne's World looked shapely in a low cut black dress The Whale star Hong Chau has revealed she 'feels nothing' over her Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination - just weeks before the ceremony on March 12. The actress, 43, said her lack of feelings over the nomination are a defense mechanism after she lost out on the 2017 Best Supporting Actress Oscar to Lesley Manville, despite scooping the Critic's Choice, Golden Globe and SAG Awards, She told The Independent of the loss: 'Of course, it didnt happen. I said to myself, "I dont ever want to go through this again". 'So now, when people ask how it feels to be nominated, its strange. I really feel nothing. If I can be completely honest, its more like, "Oh dear."' In The Whale, Brendan Fraser portrays Charlie a reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Chau plays his carer and only friend Liz. Oh dear: The Whale star Hong Chau has revealed she 'feels nothing' over her Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination - just weeks before the ceremony on March 12 (pictured at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon on Monday) After her character in Downsizing, cleaner and political activist Ngoc Lan Tran, was hit with backlash for being an 'Asian stereotype, Chau said: 'It was the first time wed ever seen a person with an accent who was from a very working-class background and who didnt have a college education be the female lead of a big studio movie. 'I just wished that whatever peoples little qualms were about the film or my performance, that they could have acknowledged that a little bit more.' The Oscars will be held on March 12, with Brendan nominated for the Best Actor role. Brendan has also recently been nominated for the Best Actor Award at the 2023 BAFTA Film awards due to be held on February 19. The actor had tears running down his face as he earned the Best Actor gong for his work on The Whale at the Critics Choice Awards in what was the most emotional moment of the night at the event which featured a star-studded red carpet. Fraser - who at several points had to stop his speech to gain his composure - ended his speech on an emotional and encouraging note as he said: 'If you, a guy like Charlie who I played played in this movie. 'If you struggle with obesity or you feel like you are in a dark sea, I want you to know that if you can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen. Thank you. Good night.' The star-studded audience was in tears during the speech as Abbott Elementary actresses Sheryl Lee Ralph and Lisa Ann Walter were seen getting emotional during the speech. Acclaimed: The actress, 43, said her lack of feelings over the nomination are a defense mechanism after she lost out on the 2017 Best Supporting Actress Oscar (pictured as Liz in The Whale) Missed out: The star failed to win an Oscar for her role as Ngoc Lan Tran in 2017's Downsizing She said: 'So now, when people ask how it feels to be nominated, its strange. I really feel nothing. If I can be completely honest, its more like, "Oh dear." Co-stars: Hong and Brendan posed up at the Oscar nominees luncheon on Monday Henry Winkler was even seen giving the fellow thespian a standing ovation. Brendan's actress girlfriend Jeanne Moore had tears streaming down her face as she joined Winkler on the standing ovation. The Whale marks Fraser's first Hollywood project in almost ten years and his first lead role in a movie since straight-to-DVD thriller Breakout in 2013. The movie had its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September, where Fraser got emotional onstage during a standing ovation after the screening. He subsequently broke down again during another lengthy ovation at the London Film Festival screening last month. The actor shot to stardom when he was cast in children's favourite film franchises George of the Jungle and The Mummy. His chiselled physique earnt him a position as a Hollywood heartthrob as he thrashed around the sets performing stunts in high-action roles. But Brendan revealed in a later interview the toll the stunts had taken on his body. He told GQ in 2018 that when he filmed the third installment in The Mummy franchise, he was being taped up and was icing injuries in between takes. Monica Lewinsky cut a glamorous figure as she attended the What's Love Got to Do with It? UK premiere at the Odeon Luxe cinema in London's Leicester Square on Monday. The American activist and writer, 49, dazzled in a sequinned cropped black jacket which dazzled under the bright lights on red carpet. She wore a floor-length black dress which hugged her figure and accentuated her hourglass figure. Monica wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty features and wore her brunette hair in loose curls. She accessorised with a pair of silver pendulum earrings and flashed a broad smile as she arrived at the event. Stepping out: Monica Lewinsky, 49, looked glamorous in a cropped black sequinned jacket and a figure-hugging dress at the What's Love Got to Do with It? UK premiere in London on Monday What's Love Got to Do with It? is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Shekhar Kapur, from a screenplay by Jemima Khan. The film stars Lily, Shazad, Shabana Azmi, Emma Thompson, Sajal Aly, Oliver Chris, Asim Chaudhry, Jeff Mirza, Alice Orr-Ewing, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. President Bill Clinton admitted he had an affair with Monica while she was a White House intern in 1995 and 1996. The affair and its fallout, which involved President Clinton's impeachment, became known as the ClintonLewinsky scandal. Monica became an international celebrity as a result of the scandal and later launched her own line of handbags and made a number of media and television appearances. She later obtained a master's degree in psychology in London before embarking on a career as a social activist. Monica previously said she lost her 'purpose' following the Bill Clinton sex scandal. She said her mood became 'very, very dark' as she realised the situation was engulfing her life. Glamour puss: The American activist and writer dazzled in a sequinned cropped black jacket which dazzled under the bright lights on red carpet Monica shared: 'It's been a challenge. The last several years, since 2014, it started to evolve and mould and change. 'Prior to that, I came into a different, more difficult period than 1998 after everything subsided and this trauma that lasted for a year, I then found myself in this new landscape, trying to understand how I move forward? How did I get back on a developmental path as a young woman?' President Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives in 1998. And although he was subsequently acquitted on all impeachment charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, the scandal caused long-term damage to Monica's reputation. Glitterati: She wore a floor-length black dress which hugged her figure and accentuated her hourglass figure Looking good: Monica wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty features and wore her brunette hair in loose curls During a previous appearance on Dua Lipa's At Your Service podcast, Monica - who was just 22 years old when she started her sexual relationship with the president - explained: 'It was really through that next decade, after so many different attempts and then going to graduate school and not being able to find a job, that I really started to realise the damage that had been done in a whole different way than what I had experienced in '98. 'I've been living in LA now for a little bit. Last year I drove down a portion of highway I hadn't been on for a long time. I remembered I used to drive that road to Pasadena to purchase something at Target, drive home and the next day drive there and return it because it took up time during the day. I had no purpose. 'It was a very, very dark time and quite dark in a different way where '98 was chaos and a shambolic morass of blaring headlines, jokes and all those other things. This was a quiet despair.' Celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi celebrated his last days of bachelorhood before marrying chicken heiress Tamie Ingham with a star-studded bucks party in the U.S. over the weekend. Sydney-based Brahimi spent the Super Bowl weekend partying up a storm with his famous mates, including News Corp executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan and British chef Gordon Ramsay. Tamie's multi-millionaire brother Johnny Ingham, who recently became engaged to influencer Rey Vakili, was also in attendance, reports The Australian. Celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi celebrated his last days of bachelorhood before marrying chicken heiress Tamie Ingham with a star-studded bucks party in the U.S. over the weekend As part of the festivities, Brahimi and his guests attended the Super Bowl in Arizona, during which the Kansas City Chiefs secured victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Notoriously private Brahimi reportedly enforced a no-phones policy for much of the weekend, but did make an exception at the Super Bowl by posing for a snap with chef Ramsay. 'So nice to catch up with my friend Gordon Ramsay in Phoenix for Super Bowl LVII,' Brahimi captioned the photo on Instagram. The Sydney-based restauranteur attended the Super Bowl in Arizona, and shared this photo of himself with British chef Gordon Ramsay (right) Brahimi spent the Super Bowl weekend partying up a storm with his famous mates, including News Corp executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch (left) and AFL chief Gillon McLachlan (right) Tamie's multi-millionaire brother Johnny Ingham (right), who recently became engaged to influencer Rey Vakili (left), was also in attendance Ramsay commented beneath the photo: 'So good to see you, my friend Guillaume Brahimi. Congrats [love-heart emoji].' It comes as Brahimi prepares to tie the knot with shoe designer Ingham during what will no doubt be a lavish affair. The couple, who reportedly began dating in 2020, haven't publicly announced their engagement after keeping much of their relationship out of the spotlight. It comes as Brahimi prepares to tie the knot with shoe designer Ingham during what will no doubt be a lavish affair. The couple, who reportedly began dating in 2020, haven't publicly announced their engagement after keeping much of their relationship out of the spotlight Tamie is best friends and business partners with Jasmine Stefanovic (nee Yarbrough), the wife of Today host Karl Stefanovic. The two women were living in Los Angeles when they co-founded the shoe brand Mara and Mine in 2010. Karl also happens to be good friends with French-born Guillaume, who runs Bistro Guillaume in Melbourne and Perth, and is the Culinary Ambassador for Crown Sydney. The Stefanovics, who married in 2018, introduced their respective friends to each other in 2020, according to The Daily Telegraph. Guillaume and Tamie's introduction came after he quietly split from his wife Sanchia Brahimi in 2016. Together they share four children. Tamie is best friends and business partners with Jasmine Stefanovic (nee Yarbrough), the wife of Today host Karl Stefanovic. The two women were living in LA when they co-founded the shoe brand Mara and Mine in 2010. (Pictured together in Sydney on August 8, 2018) Karl also happens to be friends with French-born Guillaume (pictured together at the 2021 Gold Dinner). The Stefanovics introduced their respective friends to each other in 2020 Looking at the structural problems of Canadian conservatism at the dawn of 2023 (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski web posted February 13, 2023 The impact of the so-called right-wing blogosphere is certainly far less in Canada than in the United States. The impact of various personal blogs (such as those of Kate McMillan, the late Kathy Shaidle, or Richard Klagsbrun) is difficult to accurately gauge. There are as well the party-based Blogging Tories. The website conservativeforum.org is only an archive site. Free Dominion could be called a self-posting forum where commentary is not formally structured. Unfortunately, Free Dominion has been recently subjected to vicious lawfare and its situation is highly tenuous. Enter Stage Right is an independent, formally structured, consistently edited, frequently updated, conservative Canadian e-zine. There is also Judi McLeods Canada Free Press. In the wake of the failure of the Sun News Network, Ezra Levant has launched a major website, called The Rebel (or The Rebel Media) with dozens of bloggers regularly contributing to it. Another substantial media initiative is Candice Malcolms True North Canada, as well as The Post-Millennial website. Another substantial website is The Hub ( thehub.ca ). Three websites of the culturalist opposition are actforcanada.ca, capforcanada.com and eurocanadian.ca. Representing Western Canada, there is the new Western Standard website. In July 2013, there arose with great fanfare, the daily webzine, Freedom Press Canada Journal, but it was forced to greatly reduce the frequency of its postings as of November 30, 2013, and, in subsequent months, appears to have been completely removed from the Internet. Since mid-2014, short article postings began to very sporadically appear on the website but, as of this writing, the website is no longer extant. Freedom Press Canada has also published, over the last several years, a number of hard-hitting conservative books, but its publishing endeavours appear to have ended by now. It is also commonly considered that mass-circulation newspapers like The National Post, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen, and The Toronto Sun are heavily right-wing. However, that is not really the case. There are also a considerable number of blogs of varying political complexion now associated with major newspapers and magazines, such as that, for example, of Colby Cosh who had previously had a long-running personal blog. There had also arisen, in April 2011, a right-leaning cable-based news station Sun News Network. However, it completely shut down on February 13, 2015. A boutique cable service called The News Forum has arisen around October 2020. Their tagline is where all voices matter. In the U.S., there are hundreds of private, frequently religiously affiliated colleges, which may constitute the basis for a network of conservative dissent. There is clearly some conservative presence in much of the U.S. academy. In Canada, conservative professors are few and far between; perhaps the University of Calgary is the only public university with a significant conservative presence (in its department of political science). And, there are only a few private colleges, notably, Trinity Western University in British Columbia, and Redeemer University College in Ontario. Trinity Western University has recently faced strong opposition when it endeavoured to launch a law school. The pretext was the universitys strict Christian-based code of conduct, which (among a broad variety of other rules) limited sexual activity for students as well as faculty to the intimacy of heterosexual marriage. The law school was rejected as legitimate by the Ontario and Nova Scotia bar associations, meaning that its graduates would be unable to practice law in those provinces. There was also agitation continuing against its earlier recognition by the British Columbia bar association. On October 30, 2014, the result of a binding referendum of the B.C. bar association members was to instruct the bar associations benchers to withdraw the recognition of Trinity Westerns law school. There was indeed a highly orchestrated campaign against the recognition of the law school. This culminated in the 2018 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada that the provincial bar associations were justified in forbidding Trinity Western University law school graduates from practicing law in their provinces. Given these developments, Trinity Western University cancelled its plans to establish a law school. Taking into account the disparity in resources as between small-c conservatives and left-liberals in Canada which is clearly astronomical the situation of conservatism in Canada may indeed be seen as rather difficult. One supposes that one of the few possible reassurances for so-called small-c conservatives is that they, after all, have human nature and commonsense on their side. However, what traditionalists call human nature is considered merely a fiction by most left-liberals who believe that human beings are almost entirely determined by their immediate environment, and can indeed be shaped in any direction left-liberalism chooses. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Original Australian Idol judge Ian 'Dicko' Dickson is reportedly feeling left out after he wasn't asked to appear on the Channel Seven reboot. The music industry veteran, 59, is said to be feeling particularly jealous because his former co-star Marcia Hines made a guest appearance on the new judging panel. 'Dicko was always known as the "mean judge" but producers are keen for Marcia to step up as the tough and controversial judge this time,' a source told New Idea. Original Australian Idol judge Ian 'Dicko' Dickson (pictured) is reportedly feeling left out after he wasn't asked to appear on the Channel Seven reboot 'However, the decision has left Dicko feeling a bit hurt as he feels like he has been overlooked by the series.' The judging panel on Australian Idol's first season in 2003 consisted of Dickson, Hines and former pop star Mark Holden. Hines will be a guest judge on Tuesday's episode of the revamped Idol, taking the place of the temporarily absent judge Meghan Trainor, 29. The music industry veteran, 59, is said to be feeling particularly jealous because his former co-star Marcia Hines made a guest appearance on the new panel. (Hines is pictured centre left with judges Kyle Sandilands, left, Amy Shark, centre right, and Harry Connick Jr., right) Back in 2021, Dicko gave a tell-all interview weighing in on the talent show potentially being rebooted after it was taken off the air in 2009. Speaking to the TV Reload podcast, Dicko said: 'To be honest, they should have second thoughts.' After a decade off screen, Dicko revealed why he didn't think the show would work. 'Dicko was always known as the 'mean judge' but producers are keen for Marcia to step up as the tough and controversial judge this time round,' a source told New Idea 'There's no guarantee that because it was an iconic television show 18 years ago, that it's going to do the business now,' he said. Dicko went on to say he felt the Seven Network should reconsider bringing back the talent competition. Australian Idol continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus King Charles is seeking the services of a ghost writer to help respond to thousands of letters from concerned subjects. The Royal Household advert for the 23,000-a-year assistant correspondence officer role, based at Buckingham Palace, says the candidate must always deliver work with faultless accuracy. It adds: You will respond to letters sent by the public regarding social, community and national matters. Couldnt Prince Andrew do it? He cant have much on at the moment. EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: King Charles is seeking the services of a ghost writer to help respond to thousands of letters from concerned subjects (pictured on February 9) Big Suze is a real Lady for Fellowes Belgravia Prince Harry, in his memoir Spare, claims that King Charles was keen for Meghan to continue working as an actress after she married into the Royal Family in 2018. After all, her lucrative role in the hit U.S. TV series Suits had brought her fame and fortune. Now it seems that another actress in the Firm is making the most of this royal loophole. I hear that Sophie Winkleman, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince Michael of Kent, has landed one of the lead roles in the second series of Lord (Julian) Fellowess drama, Belgravia. The 42-year-old is, Im told, set to play the part of aristocrat Lady Rochester, which is one of the pivotal roles in the story. The new series will be set 25 years on from where the last one left off and will tell an entirely new story. I hear that Sophie Winkleman, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor (pictured together last year), the son of Prince Michael of Kent, has landed one of the lead roles in Belgravia Lady Frederick Windsor, now a mother of two, is best known for her role as Big Suze in Channel 4 comedy Peep Show. She married into the Royal Family in 2009, but Sophie was well accustomed to life in the spotlight, having been born into the media elite. Her father Barry Winkleman was a successful publisher and her mother is the childrens author Cindy Black. The TV presenter Claudia Winkleman is her half-sister from her fathers first marriage to the journalist Eve Pollard. Belgravia first aired on ITV in early 2020, starring Philip Glenister and Tamsin Greig. A second series was mooted, but Lord Fellowes opted instead to sell the programme to the U.S. streaming service Epix, where he will serve as an executive producer on the show. Commenting on Ms Winklemans potential involvement in the series, Downton Abbey creator Fellowes tells me: I think were very lucky. I have worked with Sophie before, on my version of the Titanic story, and I am a fan, but these choices are made by a group, led by our director, John Alexander. A representative for Sophie was unavailable for comment. Despite playing evil dognapper Cruella de Vil in 1996s Disney film 101 Dalmatians, Glenn Close is a dog lover in real life. In fact, the 75-year-old, who also played bunny boiler Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction, actively shuns Hollywood bashes to live the quiet life with her dog, Pip, a Havanese. Its hard for me to leave home, it always has been, says the actress, who has a daughter from a former relationship with producer John H. Starke, but calls her furry friend her son. I am a true introvert, Im very happy in my little house with Pip. Ive always stayed far away from Hollywood. I started my career in New York and Ive always stayed in New York. Seems like being Down In The Tube Station At Midnight is Modfather Paul Wellers best chance for a break from his kids. The only way I can get any peace and quiet is by shutting myself in the toilet. And even in the toilet I can still hear, Dad! Dad! How Carla had to fast to get into her catsuit Her feline face and figure made her one of the top models of the 1990s. Now, three decades later, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the former First Lady of France, shows that at 55, shes still got a certain je ne sais quoi. The Italian-born French supermodel donned a Versace jumpsuit, similar in style to the pieces she once showcased on the catwalk in her heyday. I am still wearing the famous combi Versace just like 30 years ago. It gives me strength, even though I had to fast for about two weeks just to get into it, she explains. As fellow supermodel Kate Moss once said: Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. Then and now: Left is Carla in her Versace catsuit in 1992 and, right, at the Italian Song Festival last week A ripping tale just made for Jamie Laings big day! Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing wont be the only man in shape at his forthcoming wedding to internet personality Sophie Habboo. The 34-year-old great-great-grandson of McVities digestive biscuit founder Sir Alexander Grant, 1st Baronet, shared this photo of himself and his fellow reality TV star Spencer Matthews, showing that neither of them is eating much of Jamies family confectionery at the moment. Jamie has picked Old Etonian Spencer, 34, brother-in-law of Pippa Middleton, to be one of his groomsmen at his ceremony in May. However, despite having known each other since they were teenagers, Spencer denied Jamie the same honour and didnt even invite him to his 2018 wedding to model Vogue Williams in the Highlands. Jamie has picked Old Etonian Spencer, 34, brother-in-law of Pippa Middleton, to be one of his groomsmen at his ceremony in May Presenter Clive Anderson wishes he could have lived his life in reverse. I feel Ive done my career the wrong way around, says the 70-year-old. I was a barrister when I was young, and I looked young so thats no good for getting respect. 'Then I went into telly just as I was starting to look old and thats no advantage on telly! I'm not sure a specialist handset used to play computer games qualifies as something to be billed to the taxpayer, but Sir Keir Starmer doesnt mind. Apparently, the Labour leader submitted a receipt for 12.99 to Westminsters pay body for a Stealth C6-100 Gaming Headset, bought by his office from Argos. Could be hes gaming the next election Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch were in stitches on Tuesday when a couple tied the knot during a Krispy Kreme drive-thru wedding on Valentine's Day. Lovebirds Wesley and Veronica sat in the back of a white Cadillac convertible which drove them through the drive-thru at the Liverpool, Sydney store, to a food collection window where a licenced celebrant helped them exchange vows. Channel Seven reporter Katie Brown was at the scene and explained how the couple had their first date at the exact location eight years ago. Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch were left in stitches on Tuesday when a young couple tied the knot during a Krispy Kreme drive-thru wedding on Valentine's Day 'They met here at this Liverpool store eight years ago,' Katie said. 'They have four beautiful daughters who were part of their proposal. And of course Veronica said yes, so here she is today.' Back in the studio Natalie Barr, David Koch, Mark Beretta and Edwina Barthlowmew howled with laughter as Wesley told his blushing bride he loved her more that his top three favourite footy teams during their vows. Lovebirds Wesley and Veronica sat in the back of a white Cadillac convertible which drove them through the drive-thru at the Liverpool, Sydney store, to a food collection window where a licenced celebrant helped them exchange vows Back in the studio Natalie Barr, David Koch, Mark Beretta and Edwina Barthlowmew howled with laughter as Wesley told his blushing bride he loved her more that his top three favourite footy teams during their vows. 'I love you more than Aston Villa, Manly and the Phoenix Suns combined,' Wesley as the hosts erupted into fits laughter. 'You're my best friend, my partner in crime and my soulmate.' 'Wes, since the first day we met, I knew you were the one. I'm so grateful not only for the love you show me, but also how you love our girls,' Veronica said. 'I love you more than Aston Villa, Manly and the Phoenix Suns combined,' Wesley as the hosts erupted into fits laughter Wesley and Veronica stepped out of the car and reunited with their family and four daughters 'You are always there for them for advice, support, and especially bad dad jokes.' The pair then exchanged rings in the back of the vintage vehicle before sealing their love with a kiss. Wesley and Veronica stepped out of the car and reunited with their family and four daughters as they prepared to cut the 'cake' - a tower of various flavours of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The newlyweds' daughters later explained to Katie Brown how they were participated in their parents' proposal. The newlyweds prepared to cut the 'cake' - a tower of various flavours of Krispy Kreme doughnuts Their daughters later explained to reporter Katie Brown how they were participated in their parents' proposal 'So we were just hiding behind the couch just waiting. We had a lot of false alarms. And then finally we just saw her come in and we just stood up and... yeah,' one of the daughters recalled. They also explained how Veronica has already said yes before Wesley even had a change to open the engagement ring box. The unique wedding comes as part of Sunrise's Valentine's Day special on Tuesday. 'Their vows were so personal and it meant so much to them,' host Natalie said to Kochie back in the studio. 'So we were just hiding behind the couch just waiting. We had a lot of false alarms. And then finally we just saw her come in and we just stood up and... yeah,' one of the daughters recalled Love Island fans were sent wild during Monday's episode when Tanya Manhenga invited Martin Akinola into her bed on the first night of Casa Amor. The biomedical student, 22, came into conflict with her partner Shaq Muhammad as they got into a row just hours before the girls left the main villa for Casa Amor. Though the pair made up before they were separated, it seems that Tanya's head could be turned as she was seen cosying up to new Irish bombshell Martin, 27. After chatting to the senior software engineer on their first night in the new villa, Tanya appeared interested in him as she asked him to share a bed with her. Many past Islanders have chosen to sleep on the day beds when they are happy in their pairing, but Tanya decided not to sleep solo and asked Martin to share with her. Heads turning? Love Island fans were sent wild during Monday's episode when Tanya Manhenga invited Martin Akinola into her bed on the first night of Casa Amor Twitter users went wild as they speculated whether Tanya's head has already turned, with many already predicting that she will bring Martin back to the main villa. Fans were surprised by Tanya's interest in Shaq after the couple had previously said that they loved each other, while others gushed over her chemistry with Martin. One person joked: 'First night and Tanya is already inviting Martin into her bed. She couldn't wait to be from her SHAQkles.' Another tweeted: 'Yeah Tanya is gone night 1,' while a third added: 'Pillow talk already omg Tanya has killed me.' And a fourth added: 'Tanya be telling Martin she loves HIM by the end of Casa.' A fifth wrote: 'Never seen Tanya this enthusiastic.' Earlier in the night, Tanya had explained her situation with Shaq to the new boys during their first Casa Amor party. She said: 'I'm coupled up with Shaq, me and him have been like this from the beginning,' crossing her fingers to illustrate. Sparks flying? t seems that Tanya's head could be turned as she was seen cosying up to new Irish bombshell Martin, 27 Reactions: Twitter users went wild as they speculated whether Tanya's head has already turned, with many already predicting that she will bring Martin back to the main villa She went on to say: 'We've kind of left it on 'we will see'.' Tanya was then seen getting to know Martin as he teased: 'You've not really had a proper test.' Tanya replied: 'Do you think you're my proper test?' To which a cheeky Martin said: 'I'm the exam, the main event and I feel like you know it, too.' After sharing a bed together on the first night, Tanya also gushed over him as she admitted to the girls that she wanted to see 'what's there'. Connection: After sharing a bed together on the first night, Tanya also gushed over him as she admitted to the girls that she wanted to see 'what's there' She said: 'I was pulled by Martin yesterday, he's very, very funny and confident. I'm just interested to speak to him more today and see what's there.' The dramatic developments come after Tanya admitted her head could be turned if things soured between her and beau Shaq. The pair have been smooth-sailing in the villa ever since airport security officer Shaq, admitted he loved Tanya, who said the same back. But following a row over washing up, which was aired on Thursday night, things only got worse after Tanya compared him to an ex boyfriend. Tension: The dramatic developments come after Tanya admitted her head could be turned if things soured between her and beau Shaq They clashed over Shaq's reaction to Ron Hall not helping the boys with the washing up in their first sigh of tension as a couple. Speaking to the girls the morning after the disagreement, Olivia asked if things between the pair could ever change and whether Tanya could be open to meeting someone new. Tanya, clearly frustrated, responded 'I'm trying, I'm being patient.' Then referring to her relationship with Shaq, Tanya said: 'Just because I said I love you will not stop me leaving that if it's not for me.' Post Malone bid farewell to his Australian fans on Monday as he flew out of Sydney Airport after wrapping up his tour Down Under. The Los Angeles-based rapper, 27, wore striped pyjamas with white Crocs as he smoked a cigarette before hopping onto his flight back to the U.S. Fans waited outside the terminal hoping to catch a glimpse of the hip-hop star after his string of stadium shows supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Post Malone bid farewell to his Australian fans on Monday as he flew out of Sydney Airport after wrapping up his tour Down Under Some were lucky enough to bag a photo with the Rockstar hit-maker. In one photo, the heavily tattooed musician displayed the peace sign with a fan, and in another he sported a wide smile while high-fiving a young girl. He looked in good spirits, despite being denied entry to a Perth bar the night before. Fans waited outside the terminal hoping to catch a glimpse of the hip-hop star after his string of stadium shows supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers The American chart-topper and his entourage were denied entry into the QT Hotel's ritzy rooftop bar on Murray Street due to his sprawling tattoo collection. Malone reportedly breached the venue's strict dress code, which prohibits 'face, neck, and offensive tattoos'. Expressing his disbelief, Malone told The West Australian: 'They turned me away for my tattoos... I've never really experienced anything like that.' The heavily tattooed musician high-fived a young girl Malone has 'Always Tired' inked under his eyes, barbed wire across his hairline, two ace of spade cards on the corner of his forehead and a thin sword on his cheek. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, QT Hotels & Resorts 'sincerely apologised' to Malone for the refusal. 'At QT, we aim to welcome everyone and celebrate the uniqueness of each individual. QT has been recognised for this for many years,' the statement read. The Los Angeles-based rapper, 27, wore striped pyjamas with white Crocs as he smoked a cigarette before hopping onto his flight back to the U.S. 'However, on Saturday night, our third-party security did not exercise the appropriate discretion and we take full responsibility for this. 'We sincerely apologise to the individuals affected.' After being rejected from the QT Hotel bar, Malone travelled to the nearby 18 Knots rooftop bar where he was granted special entry on the discretion of security. While at this venue, Malone reportedly spent time mingling with fans and even buying them drinks, before relaxing with his posse. Irina Shayk, Karlie Kloss and Alexa Chung all looked incredible as they attended the Khaite fashion show during New York Fashion Week in SoHo on Sunday. The model, 37, put her best fashion foot forward in a black oversized leather coat and matching trousers. She boosted her height in a pair of heeled boots and carried a tote bag as she made a stylish entrance. Bradley Cooper's ex went for a wet hair look, while opting for a bronzed makeup look with a swipe of nude lipstick. Meanwhile, Karlie looked the epitome of chic in a black trench coat, teamed witha satin mini dress and snakeskin boots. Wow! Irina Shayk put her best fashion foot forward in a black oversized leather coat as they attended the Khaite fashion show during New York Fashion Week in SoHo on Sunday Incredible: Karlie Kloss (left) and Alexa Chung (right) posed up a storm at the star-studded fashion event The supermodel, 30, sported a blush makeup look with a pink lip and styled her brunette locks back into a bun. Alexa stood out from the crowd in a brown snakeskin jacket and a black leather skirt with a daring thigh-high split. The model and presenter, 39, donned a striped shirt underneath, along with a pair of knee-high boots. Chloe Fineman, Charlotte Lawrence and Ivy Getty also attended the star-studded fashion show. 2023 Fashion Week began on February 10 and featured some of the biggest names in clothing such as Christian Siriano and Prabal Gurung. There have been shows that have centered around fashion fantasy and others that have focused on risque gowns. New York Fashion Week arrived on the heels of Paris Fashion Week which went from January 17 to January 22. Next on the list is Milan Fashion Week which will run from February 21 until February 27. Stylish: Karlie looked the epitome of chic in a black trench coat, teamed witha satin mini dress and snakeskin boots Bold: Chloe Fineman arrived in an all-black leather ensemble Gorgeous: Charlotte Lawrence put on a very leggy display in a black satin mini dress while wearing her coat off the shoulder Stylish: Ivy Getty looked effortlessly chic in a beige coat and heeled boots After recently dominating Paris Fashion Week, Irina debuted her cover for Vogue Spain. The last time she appeared on the cover was a decade ago in 2013. The Russian model was photographed for the cover by Elizaveta Porodina who caught her in a sultry stare. During an interview with Vogue, Irina said, 'I think that fashion has totally changed in the last five years.' Stunning: Tina Leung wowed in a khaki green trench coat and a sheer cream shirt Strike a pose: Louisa Jacobson donned a satin black and quirky cream trousers 'And part of that process is accepting that women are beautiful well past their 20s,' she added. 'We must celebrate and support that variety. I just turned 37,' she continued. 'I don't think I have to reach a certain age at which I'm considered finished.' She pointed out that many of the super models of the 1990s are still working, most notably Cindy Crawford, who is still stunning at 56. Irina said the older super models 'are all working, and they are fantastic.' Outside of her modeling career, Irina is a doting mother to five-year-old daughter Lea. She shares her child with actor Bradley Cooper, and recently the exes have been rumored to have rekindled their romance. Sunday night saw the girls finally make their way to Casa Amor and it appears heads could already be turning. New Casa Amor boys Maxwell, Frankie, Bayley, Martin, Kain and Ryan showered the girls with compliments when they met for the first time. And during Monday night's episode of Love Island, Tanya, 22, cosies up to latest villa resident Martin, 27, throwing her relationship with Shaq Muhammad into jeopardy. During Casa Amor's first night party, Tanya explained her situation: 'I'm coupled up with Shaq, me and him have been like this from the beginning' As Tanya crosses her fingers, she goes on to say: 'We've kind of left it on 'we will see'.' Drama: Sunday night saw the girls finally make their way to Casa Amor and it appears heads could already be turning After having a dance with the other islanders, Martin and Tanya get to know each other as he tells her: 'You've not really had a proper test.' Tanya replies: 'Do you think you're my proper test?' Martin says: 'I'm the exam, the main event and I feel like you know it, too.' The new boys made a dramatic entrance on Sunday night and as they arrived Martin shouted: 'You lot look gorgeous.' With Kain then adding: 'You are all my type!' The girls received a text telling them they are set to be whisked away to the second villa for the coming days. And it is Tanya Manhenga, who is currently matched with Shaq Muhammad, who looked the most delighted. She excitedly danced around and while Claudia Fogerty said she worried it was too soon, Tanya shut her down and said: 'No it's f***king not'. New connection? During Monday night's episode, Tanya, 22, cosies up to latest villa resident Martin, 27, throwing her relationship with Shaq Muhammad into jeopardy During Casa Amor's first night party, Tanya explained her situation: 'I'm coupled up with Shaq, me and him have been like this from the beginning' It comes after fans changed their tune on Sunday night after Tanya admitted her head could be turned if things soured between her and beau Shaq. The pair have been smooth sailing in the villa ever since airport security officer Shaq, admitted he loved Tanya, who said the same back. But following a row over washing up, which was aired on Thursday, things only got worse after Tanya compared him to an ex boyfriend. Difficult: The pair have been smooth sailing in the villa ever since airport security officer Shaq, admitted he loved Tanya who said the same back Speaking to the girls the morning after the disagreement, Olivia asked if things between the pair could ever change and whether Tanya could be open to meeting someone new. Tanya, clearly frustrated, responded 'I'm trying, I'm being patient.' Then referring to her relationship with Shaq, Tanya said: 'Just because I said I love you will not stop me leaving that if it's not for me'. It comes after Tanya was left fuming with partner Shaq during Friday night's episode as tensions simmered over during a row between the couple. Shaq was given a dressing down by student and model Tanya following a disagreement over washing up which was aired on Thursday. And during Sunday night's episode, Shaq debriefed with Tom about Tanya comparing him to an ex boyfriend. It's time: The girls received a text telling them they are set to be whisked away to the second villa for the coming days He explained: 'When someone that you're seeing and supposed to be in love with says that little things in you remind them of their ex, that for me is such a huge statement to say. 'I'm not going to go into something with someone that thinks I have negative similarities to an ex.' Tom reassured Shaq by saying: 'You will work things out.' Shaq continued: 'At this point, the way I feel about the situation, I need to sleep on it and think about it.' Westerners know Trudeau, Singh & Legault harbour unacceptable views (Part 2) By J.R. Werbics web posted February 13, 2023 If the Trucker Convoy for Freedom taught us in Western Canada anything about the attitude of our fellow Canadians in central Canada and Ottawa about our concerns, is that they think we should model ourselves along with the old adage that good little children should be seen but not heard. This patronizing, condescending and contemptuous attitude was on full display at the hearings in Ottawa this fall at the committee examining the use of the Emergencies Act to disband the so-called Freedom Convoy. The most interesting fact to come out from this committee was how fractured the protest movement that invaded Ottawa was. The second most important fact was who contributed the most to the organization, logistics and political activism that drove this movement to Ottawa. Even though there was participation from the many regions that make up Canada, most of the truckers and organizers who attended this protest came from Western Canada. The Freedom Convoy was a culmination of many attempts over the years by populists in Western Canada to jump start their relatively dormant movement. In hind sight, it should not come as any surprise to the elite of this country who live and work in Ontario and Quebec that Brexit would re-awaken populism in Western Canada. And for a brief moment in time back in 2016, that movement was truly gaining traction with a majority of people in Alberta, Saskatchewan and rural Manitoba. From the Wexit movement to the Maverick Party, the populists showed that there was a deep but latent interest within the general population that felt their desires and concerns were not being met in Ottawa. But as it has been well documented, this populist outburst lost traction not only with the media, it also began to bleed support to the mainstream conservative political parties in the Prairie Provinces. Today, the populist movement in Western Canada has not only been reinvigorated, it has over taken politics out west, all due to the Freedom Convoy. In fact, the use of the Emergency Act by the federal government to disband the demonstrators only added to the momentum. Here on the one year anniversary of the Freedom Convoy, the issue of separation or sovereignty has once again presented itself as the solution to the political and economic alienation of Western Canada. For better or worse, it has always been the go to answer that certain political ideologies and activists out west have used as a counter weight, to the political powerlessness that exists when dealing with Ottawa But the truth of this answer, is that it is neither Ottawa nor Quebec that wields the ultimate power in determining if the West ruptures confederation. In fact, the Truth is really a lot simpler, as to why Western separation will never happen. And that reason can be summed up with two words Indigenous Canadians. If one looks closely at the demographics found within the four western provinces and three territories, you will find that of the 1.8 million Indigenous Canadians in Canada, the majority live here. If the western populist and conservative is serious about finding a real tangible, practical, strategic and lasting answer to the political problems that arise when dealing with the federal government, it would help immensely if they stopped listening to those calling for separation. This idea is not only economic suicide, it is by all standards of rational thought, a political unicorn. The Manning & Harper Conservative Consensus was Always an Illusion The biggest problem facing the Conservative Party of Canada goes back directly to the progressive conservative government of Brian Mulroney in the late 1980s and early 1990s. With the failure of the Meech Lake Accord and subsequent No in the referendum known as the Charlottetown Accord, it opened up a split in the centre right conservative vote. This split was permanently cemented into Canadian federal politics when Lucien Bouchard left the Mulroney government with a number of fellow Quebec MPs and formed the Bloc Quebecois. What has been lost in time, is the fact that he also convinced a number of soft nationalists and conservative leaning MPs from the Liberal party to join in his cause. This national split in the federal conservative vote forced other conservatives from other regions of the country to hastily create and build new political organizations. Undertaken at the time as a patch work of affiliations and initiatives, it ended up causing the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to be no more - with only 2 members sitting as MPs in Ottawa. For many in Western Canada, the Reform Party led by Preston Manning, was a political vehicle that over promised and under delivered. In the 1993 federal election, the Reform Party failed miserably. And due to this underperformance at the polls, the Bloc Quebecois became Canadas official opposition. In this unprecedented situation, a sovereigntist party with 54 MPs held Canada hostage. As time went on, this rift within conservative circles slowly widened. To address this growing problem, some thought that the answer was to create yet another new federal political party that could build upon the gains made by Reform in the west and Eastern Canada. But in the next federal election, even this new party called the Alliance Party, failed to deliver the breakthrough political realignment that would bring back those Quebec MPs that were lost to the Bloc. It turned out that the holy grail of conservative politics in this country, was to merge the Alliance Party with the old Progressive Conservative Party. At the head of this new party was a new and pragmatic leader, Stephen Harper. Within a few years of its formation a majority government was secured in 20011. But after that, this Conservative Party of Canada has lost three straight elections to Justin Trudeaus Liberals. It is from this current political environment that you can see that the ideas that both Preston Manning and Stephen Harper promised to Western Canadian populists and conservatives alike, were never going to be achievable. Now, it is true that the CPC was able to deliver to prairie farmers their freedom, with the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board. But, from the perspective of the Reform Party and the many ideas it brought to Ottawa, many if not most of these policy positions still remain unfulfilled here today in 2023. The Senate is as unaccountable to the people as it ever was. Senators remain appointed and unelected. Even Stephen Harpers signature criminal reform legislation has either been repealed or overturned by the courts. More importantly, to Western Canadian populists and conservatives the west is still outside looking in with little or no influence in the Senate or parliament. And, as for that long awaited goal of welcoming a sizeable number of Quebec MPs into the conservative fold, it is still impossible to convince Quebecers to vote for the CPC. In yet another attempt to address this problem, just this past September the Conservative Party of Canada voted in Pierre Poilievre as their new leader going forward. But within the statistics that embody his victory, there are a number of facts that are not only disconcerting, but very problematic for the electoral chances of the CPC in Quebec. The most glaring of these facts is the poor showing of Jean Charest in his home province of Quebec during the leadership race for the CPC. His moderating tone and style, along with his openness to the idea of a big tent party fell mostly on deaf ears. Another troubling fact that involves Quebec, is that there are only 58,437 CPC members in a province with a population of 8 million people. Taken together, these two facts show that this rift within conservative circles have not yet healed. Which brings us full circle to the greatest failure or unfulfilled promise made by Preston Manning and Stephen Harper to conservatives. They both assured voters that the CPC would be competitive in every province in Canada and be within striking distance of a majority government at the drop of every federal writ. As recent history has shown, the CPC cant garner more that 36% of the votes in English Canada, and a far lower percentage when it comes to the Quebec electorate. Ironically, this fact has produced a number of unintended consequences. Perhaps the best example that something has irrecoverably changed within conservative politics is out west, with the ousting of Jason Kenny from the Premiers office in Alberta. It would seem that not even Stephen Harpers right hand man who served in cabinet during their majority government in Ottawa from 2011-2015, could not see the coming wave of populist sentiment. As for the problem of the Quebec veto that still exists here in 2023, it is hard to see from a Western Canadian populist perspective, why the average Quebec voter would switch to the CPC instead of still sending Bloc Quebecois and Liberal MPs to Ottawa. But for the moment, lets give the charismatic Pierre Poilievre the benefit of the doubt. However, with the recent resignation of MP Alain Rayes, the CPCs Quebec lieutenant, and Mr. Poilievres demand that he resign from his seat, and then couple this with his current dismal showing in todays Quebec polling numbers, it is hard to see Pierre Poilievre resolving this split anytime soon. In a political confederation as Canada is, the motto live and let live is a fundamental principle. But Western Canadian populists must face facts, a Quebec veto that politically marginalizes and even penalises Western growth and prosperity, is one of the main driving forces behind the resurgence of the populist in Western Canada. That said, it would seem that in certain conservative circles there is no incentive to resolve these political problems with those out East. A Memorandum of Understanding, the Alberta Sovereignty Act and Fake Populism For nearly 30 years, populism in Western Canada was a non-starter. Then the Reform Party burst onto the scene in the 1980s. And as happened so often with other political movements in this country, the momentum and energy slowly ebbed away. Then came the Freedom Convoy. With the Emergencies Act Committee and subsequent hearings all wrapped up, certain conclusions can be made. When looking at the leadership of the Freedom Convoy, despite all the publicity that this enquiry offered them and their most adherent supporters, this political movement is still not something that a majority of Canadians are willing to support. The reasons for this disconnect are too numerous to mention in this short essay. So lets confine this essay to one glaring issue. And that is the Memorandum of Understanding that was used to drum up support in the early days of the convoy as it was working its way from the west to Ottawa. In the beginning of the protest, the leaders who were the architects of this political manifesto, touted it to the media as a legitimate way of changing governments. The point in truth and what is also a documented fact, is that the leadership understood and knew that it had no legal basis and that it was a sham document. Their own legal counsel told them as much. If it was their intention to simply use it as a propaganda tool to rally their supporters it showed that the leadership of the Freedom Convoy had a complete misunderstanding of what a proper and effective publicity campaign looks like. The great mistake the leaders of the Freedom Convoy made was that they were not fully informed about the laws that govern Canada, and thus came off looking like fools. But this speaks to a much larger problem, and that is the inability of Canadian populists in general to create a viable and sustainable social movement over time. For many populists here in Western Canada, Brexit was the catalyst that they saw as signalling a shift in political direction here in the Western world. Yet, what most populists here do not realize, is the drive to leave the European Union began decades before. It required a politically sustained and intellectually driven movement that eventually led to the creation of a political party called Ukip that was headed by Nigel Farage. If it were not for this social movement that spent years engaging with the citizens of the United Kingdom, it would still be a member of the European Union to this very day. For many, the next phase or stage in this populist revolution came with election of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States in 2016. But here again, many do not understand that Trumps victory was only possible by piggy-backing on the shoulders of the Tea Party. First elected to Congress in 2010, the Tea Party had a vast and well-coordinated political machine across all of America. For the first time in American history, the legacy media was not the first choice of Americans when asked about where they got their news. This political machine or social movement was completely housed within the Internet, or digital estate. If you googled Tea Party in the early years of the 2010 decade, you would find thousands of groups that were formed in every Congressional district that elected representatives to the Congress in Washington D.C. Because of this digitally constructed organizing structure and the fact that they were also well financed, the Tea Part was able to take over both Houses of Congress by 2014. And, it was this vast network within the Internet that the Trump campaign and organization tapped into, that made his election victory possible. For many Western Canadian populists, especially those who are trying to organize, this knowledge of how to go about creating winning political movements is not understood. *** Which brings us to the Alberta Sovereignty Act, a document that was much discussed during the recent leadership campaign of the UCP in Alberta. And for Danielle Smith it proved to be the winning issue that propelled her into the Premiers chair. There are many questions that have been raised about her 6th ballot win with just over 50% of the votes cast. But the one that stands out front and centre, is just how popular is this legislative endeavor? If looked at closely, the Sovereignty Act as originally written by Bob Anderson, Barry Cooper and Derek From, is simply a political document. When referencing this document, some talk about having or wanting the same rights that the Quebec government has when it comes to dealing with Ottawa. However, there are many more supporters of this document that see it as a way to forge a new nation within a nation. The mistake these people are making, is that simply ignoring constitutional law within a provincial boundary as Danielle Smith sees things, does not constitute nor define one as a nation. Quebec is a nation within a nation due to their French history, culture and language. These three attributes are just the beginning of what defines them as a nation. It must also be stated that their legal system founded upon the French Civil code, differs fundamentally from the English Common Law system that governs the rest of Canada. These fundamental cultural, social and historical facts form a foundation or a bond that exits between all Quebecers. In essence, what the Alberta Sovereignty Act lacks is a social contract. Without defining the social contract that exists between all Albertans, as the original document did, it creates an endless series of political, social and legal problems. A social contract in one form or another, is the base from which all societies are governed. In political philosophy the basic idea seems simple: in some way, the agreement of all individuals subject to collectively enforced social arrangements shows that those arrangements have some normative property (they are legitimate, just, obligating, etc.). Now that it is law in Alberta, the Alberta Sovereignty Act simply defines the association between the people of Alberta as merely a series of regulations and legal challenges that in turn would be the defining characteristics of the nation of Alberta. For most, this simplistic definition reveals its limited appeal. In the mind of the progressive, this law smacks of colonialism. For those who identify as a liberal democrat, it places far too much unchecked power in the hands of a legislature. And for the libertarian, it looks at best as an exercise in virtue signalling and at its worst, nothing but fake populism. In many respects, the Alberta Sovereignty Act jumps the shark as they say. In one sense, if it is a social contract and now that it is legally implemented, only a very small portion of the Alberta electorate will view this document as one that defines them. Those in government will be bound by its rules and compact, but his compact specifically ignores the true General Will that exists between the people of Alberta. Due to this glaring omission of a social contract, the one problem that tops all and one that will always rally more people against full implementation of this law, than vote for it and offer any support - is that it has the potential to undermine Indigenous and minority language rights that are guaranteed in Canada by Canadian Constitutional Law, First Nations Treaties and the Supreme Court of Canada. Furthermore, if this issue of infringement is not politically and socially resolved, the Alberta Sovereignty Act makes a mockery of the recommendations that formed the basis of the call to action that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission stated are absolutely necessary for a healthy and vibrant Canadian society to exist. *** Today, Western Canada and the Territories face an existential threat from the Trudeau & Singh government in Ottawa. In just a few days, the just transition legislation will be tabled in the House of Commons. From there, it is only a matter of months before it is awarded Royal Assent and implementation. This gives Western Canadian & Territorial populists and conservatives little time to prepare a proper political response. If anything, the Alberta Sovereignty Act sheds light on a major political problem that one is confronted with when discussing Western Canadian and territorial alienation with Ottawa. If Alberta should see themselves as distinct as Quebec does, and that they believe they are a nation within a nation, what does that say about Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia? The idea that there are four distinct nations out here in Western Canada is another false reading of history. Instead of seeing each provincial boundary as a line in the sand that defines a distinctly Canadian definition of the word nation - it is time to open ones eyes to what really exists. Before joining Confederation in 1905, Alberta and Saskatchewan were part of an enormous expanse which Canada called the North-West Territories. The inequality of the Wests place in Canada was acutely displayed when the North-West Territories first premier, Sir Frederick Haultain, sought provincial status for this large western territory, which he called Buffalo. The federal government feared this would concentrate too much power in one province and grow to rival Quebec and Ontario. Despite Premier Haultains efforts, Alberta became a province separate from Saskatchewan on September 1, 1905. What constituted or forged the foundation of this original concept called Buffalo, was the idea that it was a homogenous people that shared the same values and principles. What it accurately stated then, and what is relevant today, is that the Just Transition legislation that is coming hard and fast down the road, will affect everyone west of the Manitoba/Ontario border. When it comes to staving off this Just Transition legislation from Ottawa, most of the energy for a new deal for the west emanates from Alberta. But, as recent populist movements like the Reform Party have shown, the west is stronger when the western provinces work as one and in lock step together. A geographically united region, or a nation called Buffalo that sees Western Canada & Territories not as a region comprised of four separate provinces and three independent territories, but as one united and diverse peoples will make implementation of this new legislation that much harder. And just like yesteryear, todays Western Canadian and Territorial people continue to exhibit a spirit of allegiance and a harmony that unites all. And despite what some would say is an untruth, Whitehorse and Yellowknife do have more in common with Edmonton and Winnipeg, then they do with Ottawa. And what of those who live in rural British Columbia, or the urban centres of Vancouver and Victoria? Surely Ottawa must come across to them as some far away jurisdiction with little interest or knowledge in regard to their desires and wants. What all this says, is that a new social contract will be required if the West and Territories wish to unite behind a new political philosophy to challenge the coming Just Transition legislation. It will have to be a political philosophy that exits without boundaries, but remains true to each person and their specific and individual desires. This new concept must also be rooted around the belief that with all working together in a common cause against those who wish to destroy the values, principles and economic aspirations of those who call Western Canada & Territories home, a better political and economic life is possible without Ottawa holding all the cards. In closing, with the digital revolution now in its second decade, the ability to bridge the physical divide between Western provinces and territories that has existed since Confederation is no longer an obstacle, but a virtual reality. And beyond uniting a region and its people around the idea of a virtual nation called Buffalo, this digital revolution also allows for this new social contract to be realized.25 The next essay will detail three novel provincial legislative initiatives that can build upon the populist momentum that the Convoy for Freedom unleased in Western Canada. This provincial legislative agenda should also make those in Ottawa pushing for this Just Transition to think twice about imposing their will on the west. Centered around the areas of municipal government, Section (15) of the Charter and the provincial jurisdiction of education, it will be shown how the notwithstanding clause (Section 33) can be used not only to keep Ottawa out, but how this law can be used to create new Natural Rights and Freedoms that all can benefit from, wherever they live and work in Western Canada and the Territories. Coming next: Westerners Know Trudeau, Singh & Legault Harbour Unacceptable Views (Part 3): Embracing John Lockes Definition of Freedom in Western Canada & Territories J.R. Werbics is a filmmaker, author and a member of the Canadian Philosophical Association. Footnotes: Home Historic theatre to host celebration of regional cinema this weekend The work of area filmmakers will be celebrated at the first Catalano Film Festival, on Saturday, February 18 at the historic Plaza Theatre in Miamisburg. The event will feature films from eight of Ohios best filmmakers, whose dreams of seeing the fruits of their labor on the big screen will be realized. Hosted by independent filmmaker, Johnny Catalano. Indie filmmaker, Johnny Catalano, is hosting the event, out of a desire to expose some of the richness of Ohios regional cinema that currently exists. Some may ask, What exactly does regional cinema mean? And for me, it means pure independence. Film and cinema would be so incredibly dull if only the elites in Hollywood had the ability to make films. My heroes arent exactly the Spieldbergs or Lucas of the world. Rather the George A Romeros and John Waters of the cinema world. Those filmmakers were working way outside the system and making films there way. Hollywood wouldve never given those guys a chance. They made their own opportunities. And cinema history is so much richer for it. And I believe much of the same things Romero and Waters were doing are happening right here in Ohio. And I want to capture it, said Catalano. With genres including drama, thriller, dark comedy, and experimental; films from J.W Cox, Evan Maines, Ahmad Ghanim, Jackson C. Clark, Casey McCallister, Max Kaplan, Vaslav J. Rice and Darrin J. Friedman will be shown. The festival is scheduled for 6 hours, beginning at 4 p.m. A Q & A with the filmmakers will occur at 6:35 p.m. providing a rare opportunity to meet the people behind the movie that was just seen. The evening will conclude with an awards ceremony. Tickets are $10 and the first 50 people in attendance will receive a free cookie. Guests are welcome to come and go as they please throughout the festival, as downtown Miamisburg has a number of restaurants, coffee shops, and other places to visit. For as long as Catalano can remember, hes been passionate about the cinema, though it was scene of the final duel in the Spaghetti Western, For A Few Dollars More, that left a lasting impression upon him. The music and emotion in that one scene is ingrained in my soul. And I really think my lifes mission is to make one solitary scene as incredibly soulful as that one, he said. While this is the first Catalano Film Festival, Catalano has high hopes that it will become an annual event. When the US-bound passenger requested the staff to expedite the process, citing her illness, the airline personnel at the counter allegedly abused her. When a constable, Gemya Naik, who liaises between passengers and airport officials, tried to intervene, the staff abused him and called him drunk. (Representative Image: Twitter) HYDERABAD: RGIA police booked two staff members of Emirates Airlines at the Shamshabad airport here, on charges of abusing and harassing a wheelchair-bound woman passenger in her late fifties, and the police constable who was assisting her during check-in on Saturday. When the US-bound passenger requested the staff to expedite the process, citing her illness, the airline personnel at the counter allegedly abused her. When a constable, Gemya Naik, who liaises between passengers and airport officials, tried to intervene, the staff abused him and called him drunk. On a complaint from the constable, police booked a case of assault on a public servant, insulting a person and criminal intimidation against the two staff members. RGIA police inspector R. Srinivas confirmed that a case has been registered and was under investigation. When asked about the incident by this correspondent, an Emirates spokesperson said, "We are aware of the complaint related to the alleged incident at the airport. We can confirm that we are cooperating with the authorities. As the matter is under investigation we cannot comment any further." Sources said the female passenger and her husband had approached constable Naik for help. Though the couple had arrived in advance, the woman requested an expedited check-in so that she could go and relax. Naik escorted her to the check-in counter and explained the situation to the staff. They were asked to wait as the staff cleared other passengers. After the other passengers were cleared, Naik went to the counter again. At this, the counter in charge, identified as Santoshini, allegedly started abusing him, asking why he had come there again. Even as Santoshini was abusing, her colleague, Jagadeesh, joined her and started abusing the cop and the female passenger. After they were pacified, the staff checked in the couple who continued their journey. Even as teachers claim that they have finished the syllabus and started revision exercises, they have ignored the last chapter of the EVS subject, which carries a weightage of 50 marks in the summative assessments II. Representational Image/DC HYDERABAD: The lesson on child rights, one of the most important topics included in the Class 5 Environmental Studies (EVS) textbook, is not taught in the classrooms to those who would benefit the most the students. Even as teachers claim that they have finished the syllabus and started revision exercises, they have ignored the last chapter of the EVS subject, which carries a weightage of 50 marks in the summative assessments II. Many government school students come from marginalised sections and are victims of abuse and are forced to work as domestic help. "We ignore the less important chapters and only teach the important ones. We do not teach all the lessons from the textbook because it will be tough for students to grasp," said a primary teacher in a government school here. She added that teachers do not feel the need to explain childrens rights as "it is a less important subject." Some Class 5 students, when asked about the child rights chapter, said it was never taught to them. Some teachers said that they have not yet completed the syllabus and have time till March and the could take up the lesson. It is mentioned in the textbook that children have the right to parental protection, right to be protected from sexual abuse, right to play, right to express feelings and right against physical economic exploitation. Yet, four to five students pointed out that they were victims of one abuse or the other. "We are hit by teachers for not being able to write or read on a regular basis. At home, we are hit for expressing our opinion. We prefer to stay quiet to avoid physical torture," said a Class 5 student. Another student added that she is not allowed to play outdoors for reasons beyond her understanding. Some students pointed out about a sexual abuse case in the school some months back. One student said that she was forced to do household chores all by herself, like taking care of her and the house by cooking, washing clothes and taking care of her younger siblings, failing which she was beaten by her father. In a strange reaction, a teacher said that they were not trained to teach such subjects and only knew to control students through violence as they are unable to manage a huge class strength. "When has a teacher ever spoken about childs rights in any school? Even parents are unaware of those rights," added another teacher. The chapter talks about how children cannot be hit for performing poorly in academics but the same is being practiced in the government schools, said many teachers and students. A headmaster was seen hitting a student with a belt in one of the government schools, which was also witnessed by this reporter. Glasswork making industry booms in Hejian, N China Xinhua) 09:30, February 13, 2023 Workers make glasswork at the workshop of a company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) Merchants visit the exhibition hall of a glasswork company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A worker carries glasswork at the workshop of a company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A worker makes a piece of glasswork at the workshop of a company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A worker arranges glasswork at the workshop of a company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A worker makes a piece of glasswork at the workshop of a company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) Workers make glasswork at the workshop of a company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A merchant visits the exhibition hall of a glasswork company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A staff member presents glasswork via livestreaming at a company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A worker makes a piece of glasswork at the workshop of a company in Hejian City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2023. Hejian City is famous for its glasswork making industry. Now, there are more than 200 glasswork making companies and over 60,000 staff members involved in the industry in Hejian. The annual output of the glasswork reached nearly 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and the glasswork has been exported to over 50 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Hope continues to be out of reach for the victims and survivors of the horrific earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria last week, with officials reporting the death toll rising to more than 34,000 on Sunday. On the other hand, Syrian officials confirmed that the death toll in their region is 4,574 and includes more than 3,160 people living in opposition-held parts of the country's northwestern region. Turkey-Syria Earthquake Death Toll The situation comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) is waiting for final approval to send deliveries to areas controlled by rebels in northwestern Syria. They are the opposition groups that are part of a long-running civil war over territory control. The global health agency hopes that Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will be able to travel soon into the rebel-held areas of Syria that were affected by the recent tremor. He and a team of top WHO officials traveled on Saturday to Aleppo on a humanitarian aid flight carrying more than $290,000 worth of trauma emergency and surgical kits, as per CNN. A regional emergency director with the global health agency, Rick Brennan, said in a media briefing on Sunday that there have been no "crossline deliveries" made to northwest Syria since the Monday earthquake. He added that they had already scheduled one such delivery to be made in the next couple of days but noted that they are still negotiating for it to be officially approved. Brennan said that before the tremor, the WHO was already planning a significant expansion of its crossline work. The official said that the global health agency had already received approval from the Syrian government in Damascus but is now waiting for approval from entities on the other side. Rescue efforts continue to search for survivors who may have been trapped under the rubble of buildings that collapsed from the earthquake's strength. According to the Washington Post, men and women could be seen watching rescuers, shouting advice as teams continued to drill through unexcavated rooms. Read Also: Tremors Highlight Syria's Lack of International Aid The Devastation of the Tremors In one instance, residents told rescuers of the location of a person's bedroom, but it took the teams several hours to reach him. They cut away rebar only to find the individual dead, then placed him in a body bag. Many rescue teams switched to recovery missions in several areas of affected regions in Turkey. An untold number of people are still waiting to be found or rescued under the rubble. On the other hand, the lack of excavators in Syria has left residents digging desperately for their loved ones. Turkish officials have also issued 113 arrest warrants concerning the construction of buildings that collapsed following the tremors on Monday. Police said they have already taken 12 people into custody, including building contractors. For years, experts have warned that many new buildings in Turkey were unsafe because of endemic corruption and government policies. The latter has allowed so-called amnesties for contractors who bypassed building regulations to encourage a construction boom, said BBC. Related Article: Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Why Were People Arrested? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On February 11, he travelled to Tripura, where he addressed two public meetings at Ambassa and Radhakishorepur and is returning to the national capital. He will cover a distance of over 3,000 km in the day. PTI New Delhi: In a hectic schedule spread across four days, PM Modi has addressed or is scheduled to address ten public programmes. From Agartala to Mumbai and from Lucknow to Bengaluru, these visits cover various parts of the country. In a span of less than 90 hours, PM Modi will have travelled over 10,800 km to address ten public meetings and launch multiple development initiatives for the benefit of the citizens. On February 10, PM Modi travelled from Delhi to Lucknow and inaugurated Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023. He then went to Mumbai and flagged off two Vande Bharat Trains and dedicated road projects in Mumbai. Later, he inaugurated the new campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in the city, after which he came back to Delhi. He covered a total distance of over 2700 Km during the day. On February 11, he travelled to Tripura, where he addressed two public meetings at Ambassa and Radhakishorepur and is returning to the national capital. He will cover a distance of over 3,000 km in the day. The Prime Minister will inaugurate year-long celebrations commemorating 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi on Sunday. After that, he will proceed to Dausa, Rajasthan, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various highway projects. After addressing two public meetings in Dausa, he will proceed directly to Bengaluru where he will reach late at night, covering a total distance of over 1,750 km in the day. Early morning on February 13, PM Modi will inaugurate Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru. From there, he will go to Tripura where he will address a public rally in Agartala in the afternoon. He will then travel back to Delhi, having covered a total distance of over 3,350 km. CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna asked why the government was afraid of conducting a BC population census. Reservations should be made for BCs in the private sector as well, he proposed. (Image Source: Twitter) VIJAYAWADA: The BC Atmagourava Sabha held in Guntur on Sunday has demanded that governments ensure social justice and political empowerment to the backward communities (BCs) by granting them proportional representation based on the population ratio. A bronze statue of social activist BP Mandal was unveiled at the Chillis Centre in Guntur on Sunday, at a meeting attended by BC leaders from various parties in AP along with some national leaders including BP Mandals grandson Suraj Mandal. Dravida Kazhagam party president K Veeramani, VCK party president and MP Thol Thirumavalan, retired judge Justice Eswaraiah, AP state ministers Chelloboina Venugopalakrishna, Jogi Ramesh, Karumuri Nageswara Rao and Vidadala Rajani, Beeda Mastan Rao MP, MLCs Janga Krishnamurthy, Lella Appireddy, Dokka and Manikya Varaprasad, former minister Kollu Ravindra and former MLA Shravan Kumar from the Telugu Desam, former minister Raghuveera Reddy from the Congress, former MLA Mastan Vali, Jana Sena leaders Bonaboina Srinivas Yadav and Potina Venkata Mahesh addressed the gathering. Suraj Mandal expressed his concern that BCs are not getting due encouragement from the governments despite the large size of their population. The BCs should be counted in the government enumeration programmes and reservations for BCs should be implemented in the private sector as well, he pleaded. DKP president Veeramani said the 27 per cent reservation enjoyed by BCs currently was made possible by the BP Mandal recommendations to the central government. He said many forces prevented the passage of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission in Parliament. He demanded that BCs should get 52 per cent reservation based on a matching strength of their population. "In reality, BCs are getting only 10 per cent reservations even though what was on offer was 27 per cent." VCK party president Thirumavalan said the country needs the unity of SCs, STs and BCs to promote the cause of social justice. "If the parties with the Brahmin ideology come to power in the country in 2024, there will be no more reservations," he said and called for the installation of the Mandal statues in all districts across the country. Minister Vidadala Rajani said that there was a significant change in AP after the Jagan Reddy government took charge of the state in 2019. "BCs got recognition and are given priority in the party and the government, unlike in the past." Minister Venugopalakrishna quoted BP Mandal as saying, "There should be mention of castes during the votes but there should be no casteism in government decisions. He said BCs are not backward castes but "backbone classes of the society and government." CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna asked why the government was afraid of conducting a BC population census. Reservations should be made for BCs in the private sector as well," he proposed. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge speaks during the launch of party's 'Hath Se Hath Jodo' campaign, in Dumka. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is set to crack the whip against the partys "erring" office-bearers. As soon as the partys plenary session ends, a massive shakeup of the organisation is expected. The session is due to be held from February 24 to 26 in Raipur, and is likely to see the ratification of the election of the new president. Mr Kharge was elected party president in October. At the last steering committee meetings, the party chief had made it amply clear that the responsibility will be fixed on people who are in key positions and fail to deliver. Several state in-charges and state unit chiefs are in the line of fire after their abysmal performance in their respective states. The Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi state unit chiefs are likely to be replaced. The abysmal performance of the party in the MCD elections has put the Delhi unit chief in a tight spot. It is the same case in Gujarat after the Assembly elections. In Maharashtra, the internal strife within the party may not augur well for the state chief. The AICC in-charges of states may also move out, specially those who have not been able to deliver. The Congress president is keen that in the coming nine Assembly polls, the Congress should try and win as many states as possible. The "Hath Se Hath Jodo" campaign, in which the party cadre will go to every booth with a chargesheet against the Narendra Modi government, is also a part of the plan. The implementation of this programme is being monitored closely and any laxity will be dealt sternly by the AICC. Meanwhile, for the upcoming session in Raipur, the party has already constituted a drafting committee headed by Mr Jairam Ramesh. It has also constituted five sub-groups -- political affairs, international affairs, economic affairs, agriculture affairs and youth and employment. They will present their reports after the sessions deliberations. The Congress is going to use the occasion to start its poll campaign in the state. The state goes to the polls in December this year. The party hopes to repeat its performance in Chhattisgarh. On the last day of the session, a mega rally will be organised in Naya Raipur. Besides the Congress president, senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may address the rally which is being organised by the state unit. It cannot be that there is no damage to our social fabric, and because of the social media one is aware of the anxiety and trauma of the minorities as they face this onslaught. (Representational Image) News is defined as "information about a recent event or recently changed situation". There is something missing in the definition and that is the filter that is applied to news. Things that are more important, more interesting and more relevant tend to get picked by news editors and news producers over things that are either seen as less interesting, less important or less relevant. Stories move from the front page to the inside pages and then, if similar incidents keep coming, they are no longer considered "news". In the second part of the BBC documentary that this government is upset with, I had said something about the category of violence we call "beef lynching". In all of my decades in active journalism I hadnt come across a story of a beef lynching, and almost all of the violence on this issue has come to us after 2015. It was triggered by speeches made by the Prime Minister against what he called the "pink revolution" and then the criminalisation of the possession of beef by BJP-ruled states, starting with Maharashtra and Haryana, triggering the violence. The question is: has that spate of violence ended? On February 6, a headline read "Many lynched by mob in Assam, locals protest arrests". The dead man, a Muslim, was accused of stealing a cow. This story did not make it to the television news channels and there were no debates on it. There is no point in trying to convince them to do this. One can assume this is because the media no longer thinks lynching of this sort is important or interesting or relevant. The same day another story was reported with the headline "94% acquittal rate under Haryanas cow slaughter law in Muslim-dominated Nuh". One need not get into the details except to say that it is clear that the police is being used to victimise minorities. Another story, this time from Gujarat, came into prominence recently, though it is from an event three months ago. A 22-year-old man was given life in jail because he was transporting cattle. Stories reporting this carried headlines which were quotes from the judge who delivered the sentence. One was: "Religion is born out of cow; Problems on Earth will be solved the day cow slaughter is stopped: Gujarat Court". The reason it took so long for the story to come out in English was that the judgment was passed in Gujarati and the local media, for whatever reason, did not take any interest in the story. If reported at all, it was likely on the inside pages because, once again, such things are no longer important, interesting or relevant. The interesting thing about the all of these cases are the laws in which the burden of proof is reversed and the State presumes guilt, rather than innocence. In case of the 22-year-old, the law says anyone found transporting a cow without a certificate from the government would be considered as guilty and carrying it for slaughter, "unless the contrary is proved thereto to the satisfaction of the concerned authority or officer". The important thing here is not the judges observations but the fact that on the face of it, the judgment appears valid. If we write up and pass laws specifically to harass, then we must not be surprised by the results they produce. In 2019, a man in Gujarat, a Muslim again, was accused of slaughtering a calf and serving it at his daughters wedding. The police could not prove this had happened, but they did not have to prove it. The law requires the accused to show that the meat consumed days or weeks or months earlier was not beef. This of course he could not do, and so the judge sentenced him to 10 years. This was later reversed by the high court, which did not give any reason other than to say that it was using "judicial discretion". Its possible the high court was embarrassed or uncomfortable by what was being done. But again, the fact is that the judge who sentenced the man was only following the law. Now let us move past the incidents, if we can, and look at the larger picture. Are we, is the media, having a debate on these laws themselves, which are absurd and designed to target and harm? This is a rhetorical question, of course. There is no interest in such things and they have been going on now for far too long for us to assume that any interest will come. We are all right with inflicting cruelty on others and inflicting absurdity on all of ourselves. What does this say about our society and our democracy? This is a deeper question, but it doesnt have easy answers. Not many modern democracies have gone down this path before, setting it upon themselves to use the law and the media to target citizens. It cannot be that there is no damage to our social fabric, and because of the social media one is aware of the anxiety and trauma of the minorities as they face this onslaught. The end-state that we are heading towards with this ideology, as I have written often enough before, is only more of the same. What has been happening over the past few years will continue to happen, but we will hear less and less of it because it is no longer regarded as "news". Pakistan and the US are set to hold defence talks in Washington on Monday to enhance coordination on strategic issues (Representational image) Islamabad: Pakistan and the US are set to hold defence talks in Washington on Monday to enhance coordination on strategic issues and explore various options for ramping up bilateral military and security ties, the foreign office here has announced. The talks, that will last from Monday to Thursday, would be the second round of the Pakistan-US Mid-Level Defence Dialogue after the first round was held in Pakistan in January 2021, it said in a statement on Sunday. The Pakistani team, headed by the Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lt Gen Mohammed Saeed, reached the US capital on Sunday afternoon. The delegation includes two major generals, two brigadiers and a civilian representative, Additional Secretary for Americas Muhammad Mudassir Tipu from the foreign ministry. They will interact with their counterparts at the US Defence Department, which is also known as the Pentagon. The CGS heads the second most influential office in the Pakistan Army after the Chief of Army Staff. He is the administrative head of both intelligence and operational forces. "Pakistan's inter-agency delegation, led by the chief of general staff, will comprise senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Staff Headquarters and three services headquarters. The US multi-agency team will be represented by the office of the Undersecretary of Defence, the foreign office said. Issues of bilateral defence and security cooperation will be discussed during the defence dialogue, the ministry said. Ties between the two countries have improved recently and the defence talks are kind of its manifestation, it added. The agenda of the four-day talks includes expanding coordination on strategic issues between the two defence establishments, the Dawn newspaper reported. The newspaper also reported that US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet in an interview with the paper emphasised the need to assist Islamabad in fighting terrorists, who had recently killed over 80 people inside a mosque in Peshawar's Police Lines compound. Chollet, who conducts special diplomatic assignments for the US Secretary of State, is due in Islamabad the coming week for talks on a wide range of issues, the report said. For the US, it's going to be about how we can deepen the partnership further and help Pakistan as it's trying to deal with what is an unquestionably challenging economic situation, said the senior US diplomat when asked what the top item on his agenda would be. He said Pakistan was still recovering from the floods and was also dealing with an emerging counterterrorism threat, which had made the situation even worse. Chollet pointed out that the US and Pakistan were already taking steps to further strengthen their ties which went through a phase of disengagement during the Afghan war but started improving soon after the withdrawal of US troops from Kabul. I believe the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks will be here in Washington in the last week of February, so the week after I'm back and we will also hold a counterterrorism dialogue next month, he said. The report also noted that the counterterrorism dialogue, which may be held in Islamabad next month, will focus on groups like the banned militant outfits Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan, which have restarted their activities in the region. A Kazakh teenager wearing a sinister-looking plastic mask wounded three schoolmates with an axe on Monday at a school in the city of Petropavlovsk in northern Kazakhstan, a police spokesperson said. Police have detained the student, whose name has not been disclosed. They said two students had been hospitalised and were in a stable condition. A third was released after treatment. Also Read | NIA arrests two terror suspects planning to leave for Afghanistan The teenager "jumped into the hallway and started swinging his axe at students", local news website Petropavlovsk News cited an eyewitness as saying. "He aimed at (one boy's) heart. The boy raised his arms to protect himself," it quoted the witness, a fellow student, as saying. Such violent attacks are rare in the former Soviet republic's schools, although bullying and gang violence are known issues. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be on a day-long visit to Australia on February 18, his third visit since February last year. Jaishankar will meet the Australian leadership in Sydney and attend the Raisina@Sydney Conference organised by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and Indias Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Also Read | India sends more relief material to Turkey, Syria Jaishankar had visited Melbourne last year to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. He also visited Australia in October last to attend the 13th India-Australia Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue (FMFD). The minister will be in Fiji from February 15-17 to attend the 12th World Hindi Conference in Nadi. "This would be the ministers first visit to Fiji," a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said. Jaishankar's visit will also be the first by an incoming ministerial delegation after the formation of the new government in Fiji in December last year. Jaishankar is expected to have bilateral meetings with the new leadership of Fiji. Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad had visited India last week. The proposal to axe 30,000 from the annual funding of Strabanes Alley Theatre was supported by some local councillors. It followed approval of 250,000 for the 2023 Foyle Maritime Festival. The Alley Theatre cut was mooted in advance of todays special Derry City and Strabane District Councils Striking the Rate meeting, however, Derry News understands the cut was voted down. Speaking before this afternoons Rate meeting, one Strabane councillor also expressed concern at the disparity in funding between Derry City and Strabane. Referring back to the amalgamation of Derry City Council and Strabane District Council in 2015, Cllr Paul Gallagher (Independent) said Strabane had effectively taken on Derrys debt. Cllr Gallagher said: Before the merger, Strabane District Council did very little, compared to Derry City Council. Derry City Council borrowed millions of pounds and built the Foyle Arena and carried out public realms schemes. Basically, Strabane went into the merger with very few facilities and took on the debt of Derry City Council. We are constantly paying that back. We took on the airport, which is costing us approximately four million pounds per year. It was imposed on us. A cursory glance at the local media over the last 10 years reveals Strabane has been promised a major public realm scheme, costing seven million pounds, to do up the whole of Strabane Town, from Asda to the Head of the Town area. It is still sitting there. We were promised the Riverine project, which is a town park. It has now been shelved as well. We were in our third round of successfully applying for funding, nine million euro. We were told time and time again it was happening, yet it has been shelved again, said Cllr Gallagher. Cllr Galagher said Strabane was also promised a new footbridge at the lower side of the town, which would connect the bus station and Strabane Town. Currently, anyone getting a bus into Strabane has to get a taxi to get into the town. Cllr Gallagher said: We were promised a footbridge there. It has not been delivered. We have been promised a new leisure centre again and again and again. We applied to the Levelling Up fund recently but the project was not even looked at because ministers changed the criteria after we submitted our application. Strabane just seems to get shafted time and time again and when they strike this rate today it will be no different. There will be a demonstrable imbalance between Strabane and Derry. I will not be voting for the rate. I see this as implementing Tory policy. For Strabane people this is as bad if not worse than Margaret Thatchers infamous Poll Tax. People in Strabane are getting all of their services cut and they will be paying a Rates rise of twice as much as they paid last year. I will not be supporting that today, said Cllr Gallagher. Cllr Gallagher said Strabane District had inherited nothing but debt. Nothing has been delivered, he said, and we are paying far, far more. Unbelievably it works out as a quadruple tax. I would argue Derry City and Strabane District Council spends more than ten million pounds of its annual spend duplicating services which the central government should be doing. One is the Airport. We also fund Visit Derry to the tune of 460,000, which should be coming from central government, to encourage tourism locally. We also fund the Millennium Forum 400,000, which should be the responsibility of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and a Skills Department, which should be done by central government. Also, when the Rate is struck today, Derry City and Strabane District Council will have to collect 1.5 million off the ratepayers because the schools here will not pay what they are supposed to pay in Rates. There was a re-evaluation of rates and some schools faced a rise so they appealed that decision. As a result Council will have to top the shortfall up and that comes 1.5 million pounds which central government should be paying into our rates bill but is not, said Cllr Gallagher. Government is taxing us locally and through the region and will also tax us with regard to what it is supposed to be paying centrally. That all contributes to our Rates bill, which comes to more than 10 million per year, said Cllr Gallagher, who predicted the Rate rise of almost 8% would be voted through. He added: Ironically, last year the SDLP voted against 3% yet this years rise is closer to 8%. Myself and Cllr Shaun Harkin (PBP) had a motion passed at Council that our officers would seek an emergency meeting with the British Secretary of State regarding duplication of services and what relief we could obtain from central government so we did not need to impose hardship on people here. Council had a meeting on the issue with MLAs and MPs recently at which I challenged the MPs for talking out of both sides of their mouths because their councillors were inevitably going to vote in favour of the Rates rise. In Strabane, people are not going to be happy. We are going to see a cut in services including street cleaning and street planting and you can guarantee that areas on the periphery of the city are going to get this a whole lot harder than anywhere else, said Cllr Gallagher. Stormont parties have been urged to work together to pass the necessary regulations in order for a stalled organ donation law to be implemented in Northern Ireland. However, DUP MLA Gordon Lyons contended that a recall of the Assembly this week is about stunt politics rather than restoring powersharing. MLAs have been recalled to Stormont on Tuesday in an attempt to elect a Speaker and hold a debate on the implementation of the legislation. The planned law, named after six-year-old Belfast boy Daithi MacGabhann, who is waiting a heart transplant, has become a touchstone issue in the political debate around the powersharing impasse at Stormont. Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan said his party will be in the Assembly chamber in an effort to elect a Speaker and pass the necessary regulations. He urged no more delay in getting this legislation into law. Mr Sheehan added: We owe it to little Daithi and all those people desperately waiting on an organ transplant. I would urge all parties to work together in the Assembly on Tuesday and lets get this done. Mr Lyons reiterated his partys position that it will not take part in the Assembly until unionist concerns around Brexits Northern Ireland protocol are addressed. He said the legislation necessary to fully enact Daithis Law can be tabled and enacted at Westminster, adding: Organ donation should not be used as blackmail for the return of devolution. When the Assembly was last recalled in December, we were told that the 600 energy support payments would not be delivered without a functioning Stormont. We made clear then that those payments could be processed and delivered through Westminster and that fuel poverty should not be used as political leverage. The payments have been made and before the rest of the UK. Likewise, the legislation necessary to fully enact Daithis Law can be tabled and enacted at Westminster and organ donation should not be used as blackmail for the return of devolution. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will work with the Government and the House of Commons Speaker to table an amendment to the Executive Formation Bill in Parliament. There will be no restoration of the NI Assembly and Executive until the protocol is replaced with arrangements that unionists, as well as nationalists, can support. UUP leader Doug Beattie said the onus is on Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to act on the new organ donation law. I dont believe the sitting of the Assembly will achieve anything other than straining relations further, he said. The Ulster Unionist Party will be there, but we know that the DUP will not allow a Speaker to be elected and business will conclude. So, the onus is still on the Secretary of State to act to prevent further delay to the organ donation legislation. I find this situation deeply frustrating. We are seeing issues now starting to pile up while Stormont remains idle. I remain in disagreement with the DUP that the protocol is best dealt with by boycotting Stormont. We need to see the protocol replaced as it also has a growing impact in peoples everyday lives and on Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom. But I do not think unionism is stronger for allowing the same people who agreed to the protocol to negotiate over our heads. Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw said the DUPs refusal to enable the Assembly to sit is unedifying and serves no purpose. She said: Alliance will use every avenue open to us to get the relevant regulations approved so the new law comes into operation. However, the fact is, the quickest and surest way of achieving this would be via the election of a Speaker and the sitting of the Assembly at Stormont tomorrow. No other route carries any guarantee. The regulations are already drafted and ready to go. There is neither excuse nor reason for further delay. The DUP needs to stop playing games with peoples lives and get on with the job its MLAs were elected to do. SDLP MLA Colin McGrath said the Assembly recall is an opportunity for MLAs to come together and deliver something that would make a real difference to the lives of many people across the North. The SDLP will be at Stormont tomorrow giving our full support to Daithis Law and expressing our solidarity with the MacGabhann family, but we will also be warning the DUP that if they continue to put their selfish identity politics above the needs of people across the North then inevitably people will begin to consider change to attain a better future for themselves and their families, he said. Mr Heaton-Harris has raised concerns that this route would take longer and might prove difficult. It is unclear whether the scope of the Executive Formation Bill would be wide enough to permit the addition of such an amendment. The opt-out donation system was passed by MLAs last year, but the secondary legislation required to implement it cannot be approved in the Assembly due to the current political stalemate. The DUP is preventing the functioning of both the Assembly and the ministerial executive in protest at the post-Brexit protocol. Only the Assembly would need to be up and running to pass the regulations required to implement the opt-out organ donation system. Daithi underwent another heart procedure in England last week. On Friday, his father Mairtin MacGabhann implored the regions politicians to do all they could to get the law implemented. The opt-out system would mean people in Northern Ireland would be presumed to be donors, unless they take a decision to opt out. It is being implemented to increase donation rates in the region. Several previous recalls of the Assembly have all ended in failure due to the DUPs stance on preventing the election of a Speaker. A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: As the Secretary of State has previously stated, the quickest and simplest way to implement Daithis Law is for the NI parties to affirm the legislation in the NI Assembly. The Department for Health has laid the statutory rule to enable the Assembly to progress the legislation meaning that the election of a Speaker would allow this important and life-saving piece of legislation to be addressed this week. The Executive Formation Bill is focused solely on the Executive Formation period and the Secretary of States corresponding election duty and, as such, it consists of only one substantive clause only. The scope of the bill is therefore very narrow, and amendments on issues other than the Executive formation period are highly unlikely to be in scope. The Secretary of State urges the NI parties to come together on this and reminds them that people in Northern Ireland expect and deserve the devolved institutions to be functioning fully. Waldenburg (Germany), London (UK), February 10, 2023 Wurth Elektronik has signed a partnership agreement with Crypto Quantique. Collaboration with the specialist in quantum-based cyber security in the Internet of Things (IoT) enhances security for Wurth Elektroniks wireless modules. Wurth Elektronik boasts a broad portfolio of modules for wireless communication and sensors for IoT applications. The modules support connectivity via Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless M-Bus, Wirepas Mesh and proprietary radio protocols. Wurth Elektronik offers components and development support for faster and more cost-effective development of market-ready IoT solutionsfrom simple cable replacement to radio chips with integrated GNSS modules. Combining Crypto Quantiques QuarkLink security software platform with Wurth Elektroniks wireless modules enables automatic and secure connection of thousands of sensor nodes to local or cloud-based servers. The platform allows device provisioning, onboarding, security monitoring, renewal and revocation of certificates and keys, performed with a few keystrokes on a GUI. Users thus have all the functions at their disposal required to manage IoT devices in their lifecycle. Security platform for IoT networks Wurth Elektronik is often the first choice for radio modules, especially with industrial IoT applications. The spectrum of products offered, combined with wide-ranging support and application expertise, is outstanding, Dr. Shahram Mossayebi, CEO of Crypto Quantique, explains the cooperation. Expanding the offering with QuarkLink also raises the appeal of these products. This makes implementing and managing secure IoT networks faster and easier. At a time when the global threats to such networks are greater than ever, this is an important advantage. We are always interested in providing our customers with the best IoT technology, reducing their development costs and workload, without compromising performance, reliability or security. QuarkLink is an important new building block here, says Oliver Opitz, Vice President, Wireless Connectivity and Sensors at Wurth Elektronik eiSos GmbH & Co. KG. Networking industrial robots: The QuarkLink security platform from Crypto Quantique and wireless modules from Wurth Elektronik enable secure connection to the IoT. (Source Wurth Electronics) About Crypto Quantique Crypto Quantique has developed the worlds most secure end-to-end IoT security platform. At its core is the worlds first quantum-based technologyQDIDwhich generates multiple unique, fraud-resistant cryptographic keys for standard CMOS devices. The keys dont have to be stored and can be used independently by several applications as required. Combined with the cryptographic APIs from the companys universal IoT security platform, QuarkLink, the solution provides a secure bridge between silicon, device, software and solution provider. Based in London, UK, the company was founded by Dr. Shahram Mossayebi (CEO), an expert in cryptosystems, and Dr. Patrick Camilleri (VP Research & Innovation), a semiconductor developer with extensive experience in complex parallel computing systems. Further information at www.cryptoquantique.com About the Wurth Elektronik eiSos Group Wurth Elektronik eiSos Group is a manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical components for the electronics industry and a technology company that spearheads pioneering electronic solutions. Wurth Elektronik eiSos is one of the largest European manufacturers of passive components and is active in 50 countries. Production sites in Europe, Asia and North America supply a growing number of customers worldwide. The product range includes EMC components, inductors, transformers, RF components, varistors, capacitors, resistors, quartz crystals, oscillators, power modules, Wireless Power Transfer, LEDs, sensors, connectors, power supply elements, switches, push-buttons, connection technology, fuse holders and solutions for wireless data transmission. The unrivaled service orientation of the company is characterized by the availability of all catalog components from stock without minimum order quantity, free samples and extensive support through technical sales staff and selection tools. Wurth Elektronik is part of the Wurth Group, the global market leader in the development, production, and sale of fastening and assembly materials, and employs 8,000 people. In 2021, the Wurth Elektronik eiSos Group generated sales of 1.09 Billion Euro. Wurth Elektronik: more than you expect! Further information at www.we-online.com The United States military shot down another unidentified flying object above Michigan's Lake Huron. The Defense Department (DOD) said that President Joe Biden ordered an F-16 to fire an AIM-9X missile at an object flying about 20,000 feet over Lake Huron shortly before 2:42 p.m. 4th Unidentified Object Flew Over US Territory The DOD stated that the flight path and altitude "raised concerns, particularly the possibility that it may endanger civil aviation." It was the third time in as many days and the fourth since February 4 that a "flying object of unknown origin" was shot down in North America. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Michigan) verified that "another 'object' has been deactivated above Lake Huron." Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) tweeted that Air Force and National Guard pilots had "downed" the item. According to Fox News, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) reported that the Pentagon informed his office "about the measures they took to shoot down yet another 'foreign object' over Lake Huron." On Sunday morning, US and Canadian officials blocked certain airspace above the lake as planes scrambled to intercept and identify the item. In the past week, the United States has shot down four objects over North America, the first being a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. Previously, the White House stated that the unidentified objects once shot down over Alaska and Canada did not resemble the A National Security Council spokesperson said they were "much smaller" but added, "We will not definitively characterize them until we recover the debris, which we are currently working to do." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada stated that crews searched for the downed item over his nation. Sky News reported that it was shot down Saturday over the sparsely inhabited Yukon area in the northwest by an American F-22 stealth aircraft. The Pentagon reported that NORAD discovered the item Friday night above the Alaskan coast. After the thing crossed the boundary, jets from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson were joined by Canadian CF-18 and CP-140 aircraft. Beijing acknowledged that the balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina originated in China but said it was a "civilian airship." It claimed to be doing meteorological and other scientific investigations after straying into US airspace. A Republican lawmaker stated on Sunday that the Chinese surveillance balloon that flew over the United States earlier this month was meant to "humiliate" the United States ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's upcoming high-stakes summit in Beijing. Per NY Post, Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said, "I don't think it was a coincidence that it was scheduled to coincide with Secretary Blinken's arrival, but we don't have confirmation yet." After the Chinese surveillance balloon was found, the Biden administration postponed Blinken's trip to Beijing, where he was scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping the next week, on February 3. Read Also: Peru Deadly Protests: Why Citizens Grow More Furious? US Steps Up Military Efforts in South China Sea This week, the United States stepped up its military operations in the South China Sea, heightening tensions with China. The exercises come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing after a spy balloon was shot down last month. China has criticized the government's action for shooting down a "civilian aircraft," as it describes it. China said today that an unidentified object was spotted near the seaside city of Rizhao and that the military intended to shoot it down, as per The Sun. Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe has reportedly declined to discuss the balloon with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. According to the Pentagon, the shot-down balloon was part of a Chinese surveillance program that has been ongoing for years. Balloons have recently sailed across five continents, generating international controversy. Ben Wallace stated that satellites floating high in the sky is "not uncommon" and has been the case for decades. The United States has no formal stance on sovereignty in the South China Sea but insists that freedom of navigation and overflight must be maintained. In November, China released photographs of heavily militarized military islands in the South China Sea, causing concern among neighboring nations. The surveillance images depict islands with lethal weaponry, such as missile airplanes, aviation hangars, and spy planes. Previously, Chinese President Xi Jinping denied intentions to militarize islands in the South China Sea. However, photographs taken in 2018 revealed that China was constructing massive military outposts on the islands, complete with radar stations, communications towers, fast assault boats, and helipads. In the past decade, South China Sea conflicts have escalated rapidly. China seized a shoal from the Philippines in 2012, had a severe standoff with Vietnam over oil in 2014, and had a three-way dispute with Malaysia and Vietnam in 2019 over deploying a Malaysian drillship into the area. In recent years, Taiwan has spotted scores of Chinese military balloon flights in its airspace, stoking worries of a Beijing strike. Related Article: Joe Biden Reveals 'Successful' Shooting of 'High Altitude Object' @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Disney takes a leaf out of Netflix and Amazon Prime Videos book and finally launches Profiles on Disney+ Hotstar. The Hotstar profiles feature lets you create personalized spaces for friends and family. You get to set up 7 Disney Plus Hotstar profiles. Here, we will see how you can make profiles on Hotstar and also learn how to use it. How to set up Disney+ Hotstar Profiles 1. Download and log in to the Disney+ Hotstar app, if you havent already. 2. On the Disney+ Hotstar homepage, you will see the new Profiles section. We got the profiles feature banner on the Disney+ Hotstar Android app. 3. Click on the Edit option. 4. At present, the subsequent screen shows Coming Soon! Clicking it, the message reads, More Profiles are Coming Soon. You will be able to create personalized spaces for friends and family. Hi! We wish to inform that the profiles option is currently unavailable. However, please be assured that we are already working on this and the profiles option will be available soon with the coming updates. Please stay tuned. Appreciate your cooperation! Disney+HS_helps (@hotstar_helps) February 11, 2023 However, when the feature is fully available, you will be able to create a profile with a profile name, a profile picture or an Avatar. 5. Now, you can let the app know your content preferences. 6. Hit Save and thats it. Things to know about Disney+ Hotstar Profile You cannot delete the original profile of the account holder. But, the option to create up to 7 profiles should be plenty good for most. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Flipkart has started its Valentines Day sale where you can grab tech products including select Apple iPhones at really good prices. Products including iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 14 are available at an effective price with great deals on the Flipkart. Lets check the deals on the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 14 under Valentines Day sale. iPhone 12 Mini on Flipkart iPhone 12 Mini was the first Mini phone from Apple launched in 2020 at a price of 59,900. However, the phone is available on the Flipkart at a discounted price of 41,999. It also has a 10% discount up to 1000 on the American Express, Bank of Baroda and IDFC FIRST credit cards. Exchange offer is available on iPhone 12 Mini as well which can be avail to get a discount up to 20,000. You can trade in your old phone while buying iPhone 12 Mini. So if you can avail these offers, you can get the iPhone 12 Mini at just 20,000. iPhone 14 on Flipkart iPhone 14 is the latest phone of Apple which was launched last year at a price of 79,900. Now it is available on the Flipkart at 66,999 along with bank offers as well. Bank offers are the same; 10% discount up to 1000 on American Express, Bank of Baroda and IDFC FIRST credit card. These offers reduce the price to 65,999 to 66,999. On the other hand, you can exchange your old device while purchasing an iPhone 14 and get a discount up to 20,000. If you are able to avail maximum exchange discount, the phone will cost you 45,999. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Xiaomi is all set to bring its Xiaomi 13 series in India. However, it is not confirmed how many models of Xiaomi 13 will make it in India. Xiaomi has launched Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro in China and the brand launched one more phone that is Xiaomi Civi 2. This Xiaomi Civi 2 is expected to launch in India on February 17 as Xiaomi 13 Lite. A known tipster, namely Debayan Roy aka Gadgetsdata, has tweeted the expected Xiaomi 13 Lite features. Let us learn about them here. Confirmed Xiaomi Civi 2 = Xiaomi 13 lite, globally 6.55" FHD+ 120Hz 10bit Curved Amoled In-display Fingerprint scanner Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 50MP IMX766 + 20MP UW +2 32MP main + 32MP UW 4500mAh, 67W charging pic.twitter.com/mkzbxl6DKJ Debayan Roy (Gadgetsdata) (@Gadgetsdata) February 12, 2023 1. Xiaomi 13 Lite: Design The renders of the Xiaomi 13 Lite have been shared on Twitter and it seems like its going to roll out in the same design as Xiaomi Civi 2. It is expected to come with glass back and front with an aluminium frame in the middle. The renders also tell us that its going to have a square camera island on the back towards the top left corner. This appears to hold a massive camera ring, and below it, there is another small camera ring and a flash module. Xiaomi Civi 2 image used for representational purpose 2. Xiaomi 13 Lite display Xiaomi 13 Lite is rumoured to feature a 6.5-inch 10 bit curved FHD+ display with the support of 120Hz refresh rate. It is also said to be equipped with the in-display fingerprint scanner. It will reportedly come with the resolution of 2400 1080 pixels. 3. Xiaomi 13 Lite performance Xiaomi 13 Lite is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 and it could run on MIUI 13 operating system. 4. Xiaomi 13 Lite camera Xiaomi 13 Lite is expected to come out with a dual camera setup on the front holding a 32-megapixel primary selfie shooter and a 32-megapixel ultrawide lens. On the back, it has a triple camera camera setup carrying a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary camera, a 20-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 2-megapixel camera. Xiaomi Civi 2 image used for representational purpose 5. Xiaomi 13 Lite Battery The tipster hinted about the Xiaomi 13 Lite having a 4500mAh battery with 67-watt fast charging support. Xiaomi hasnt confirmed anything yet. So, take them with a pinch of salt. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. A New Jersey school district superintendent Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides resigned following the suicide of a bullied teen and several reports of on-campus assaults and social media bullying. A lawsuit alleges that the deceased teenager, 14-year-old Adriana Olivia Kuch, was not the first to be harassed and assaulted at Central Regional High School. The incident supposedly happened one year before Kuch died on Feb. 3 via suicide. New Jersey Superintendent Resigns The latest tragedy has prompted calls for culture changes at the school where the victim studied, and her death has also inspired parent Rachel O'Dea to speak out. She gained the courage to talk about what her daughter experienced at the school. In a statement, O'Dea, who was the one who filed a civil lawsuit against Central Regional School District, said that the fact that the incidents are continuing is a travesty. The parent said there was no accountability and no changes made following her daughter's death, as per NJ.com. O'Dea works at the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, Inc. as the nonprofit advocacy group's deputy chief operating officer. Reports noted that Kuch killed herself on Feb. 3, only days after video footage showed her being assaulted by four classmates spread around the Bayville community, said the victim's father, Michael Kuch. The footage showed an attack on Kuch while on school grounds and was recorded by students who observed the incident and shared the video on social media. All in all, the recordings showed that the incident lasted less than a minute. On Saturday, New Jersey authorities noted that the four students involved in the incident have already been charged criminally. Also, this weekend, Parlapanides handed in his abrupt resignation. Read Also: Tyre Nichols Case Update Adriana Kuch's Suicide In a statement, the Central Regional School District Board of Education said it had accepted the superintendent's resignation. The incident comes only a day after Kuch's memorial service and after the victim's father criticized the district for failing to do more to protect her daughter's life and prevent bullying and harassment from permeating the school, according to Fox News. On Friday, the father of Kuch said that he blamed the girls and the school and police personnel for the death of his daughter. He added that he wanted everyone to know what happened to the student, asking for justice and attention so that no one could ignore the situation. One of the four students involved in the assault was charged with aggravated assault, two others were charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and the fourth was charged with harassment. Following Kuch's death, students protested outside Central Regional High School, calling for justice. Kuch, before committing suicide, was a hero to one mother in the local area after she saved the mother's daughter from drowning in a pool. In August, the deceased teenager rushed to aid a child who had swallowed water and started bobbing up and down in the pool in their backyard, said Roxanne Gattuso, the mother of the young girl revealed, said the New York Post. Related Article: Adriana Kuch Suicide: 4 Students Arrested, Charged @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Aero India 2023 scheduled from 13 to 17 Feb 2023 The Biennial event of Aero India 2023, is scheduled to be held at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru from 13 to 17 February 2023. The event offers a platform for the industry to showcase their latest equipment, helicopters and aircraft. It also provides an opportunity for defence personnel to interact with OEM representatives and gain first-hand experience on futuristic products as well. During Aero India 2023, the Indian Navy is participating in a number of activities. The Navy has recently landed the LCA (Navy), the indigenous technology demonstrator fighter (lead in for the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter) onboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The aircraft was flown by an Indian naval test pilot. This niche capability is the result of Indian Navys long term vision of AatmaNirbharBharat. The indigenous aircraft, ALH Mk III and MR aircraft P8I would participate in the fly past and static display respectively during the event. In keeping with the emphasis on self-reliance, a customised graphic photo-essay, compiled by HAL, for use as a reference document for undertaking repairs of engines of MiG 29K aircraft, would be presented by CMD HAL to the Chief of the Naval Staff. In addition, a project of analysing Health Usage & Monitoring System (HUMS) of MiG 29K aircraft, using Artificial Intelligence, has been included as part of Launch of New Technology by DRDO. This will significantly reduce the data analysis time resulting in faster turnaround of aircraft and better prediction for preventive maintenance. A seminar on the topic AatmaNirbharta in Aero Armament Sustenance is being conducted by the Indian Navy, in collaboration with DDP. The seminar will provide a platform to key stakeholders from the MoD, User, Maintainer, QA agencies, DRDO, DPSUs and the Indian industry to engage in detailed discussions on the governments initiative and way-ahead for taking on sustenance of missiles held with the armed forces. Constant engagement with academia and industry has been a focus area of the Navys efforts to achieve self-reliance. Towards this MoUs are signed between various academic institutions and key Industry partners for knowledge and resource sharing. During Aero India 2023, two major partners, viz, Isro and AV Oil are being engaged through MoUs as part of the event Bandhan. Having grown in scope and magnitude over the years, Aero India would prove another stepping stone towards growth and empowerment of Naval Aviation and self-reliance of the nations defence forces. G-20 Employment Working Group concludes meeting in Jodhpur The first meeting of the G-20 Employment Working Group (EWG) concluded in Jodhpur on Saturday on a positive note with all G20 countries showing interest and commitment to constructively working towards the objective of the three priority areas of addressing global skill gaps, gig and platform economy and social protection and sustainable financing of social security set by the Indian presidency. The three-day meeting of the Employment Working Group (2-4 February) of the Indian presidency, led by the ministry of labour and employment, Government of India has the mandate of addressing priorities of labour, employment and social issues for strong, sustainable, balanced, and job-rich growth for all. The Employment Working Group meetings began on Thursday with a special event that included a panel discussion on Exploring Strategies for Global Skills and Qualifications Harmonisation and developing a Framework for Common Skill Taphonomies. Extending warm welcome to all delegates and appreciating them for their dedication to the cause of the G20 Employment Working Group in Jodhpur union minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called upon members of the international community in the opening session of second day to strive together to make meaningful progress in creating more opportunities for decent work and inclusive growth for all people. The minister said the theme of Indias G20 Presidency, "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," or "One Earth, One Family, One Future" is particularly fitting as we come together to discuss the interconnectedness of our economies and our peoples. He said it serves as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the importance of working together to build a better future for all. It also underlines that, solutions to the labour and employment challenges we face today, must be inclusive, sustainable and equitable for all, he added. After the ministerial address by Indias G20 EWG Chair and secretary of the ministry of labour and employment Aarti Ahuja, co-chairs from Indonesia and Brazil made remarks by on Indias G20 EWG priorities. The second session included presentations and interventions from countries and IOs (International Organisations) on the Addressing Global Skills Gaps priority. International organisations like ILO and OECD highlighted the various types of imbalances between skills and qualifications in the labour market. This was followed by presentation by Atul Kumar Tiwari, secretary, ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship wherein he enunciated various skill and development activities and initiatives being taken up in India that have been bought forth by industry and government bodies to achieve the set goals. The open discussion during this session provided the participating countries with a platform for experience sharing on some of the existing conditions and legal framework for skill development in their respective countries. The third session covered the priority issue of Gig and Platform Economy and Social Protection. It began with a detailed technical Presentation by ILO, OECD and ISSA, followed by a presentation by the Niti Aayog, the premier think tank for the Government of India. Session 4 and 5 delved into the topic of gig and platform economy discussion in the global and Indian context. The intervening countries made detailed presentations on existing gig and platform economy frameworks and shared their experiences on addressing the concerns of workers in this sector. The third day of the meeting began with opening remarks by G20 EWG chair and secretary of the ministry of labour and employment. The meeting discussed the issue of Sustainable Financing of Social Security was discussed during the sessions of the day. International organisations, ILO, OECD and ISSA jointly highlighted the current and emerging challenges in social protection. They also focused on the overall objective and different structures available for sustainable financing. The World Bank in its presentation highlighted the need for universal social protection. The team from the Employees Provident Fund Organisation, ministry of labour and employment made an informative presentation on initiatives and schemes being implemented by the Government of India towards enhancing and strengthening social security. This was followed by country-wise interventions and open discussion where participating countries detailed the existing conditions and legal framework for providing social security in their respective countries. Short yoga breaks were also plugged into these sessions conducted over a period of two days. The sessions concluded with encouraging remarks by EWG co-chairs Indonesia and Brazil. EWG chair and secretary of the ministry of labour and employment, Arti Ahuja, in her concluding remarks thanked all the G20 delegates and participants, including international organisations. US using Indian refiners for record purchase of gasoline and diesel of Russian origin: report Russian oil, which has been shunned by the west is being funneled to the United States through Indian refiners who have been snapping up discounted crude from the sanctioned nation, according to data from Kpler. Washington has purchased around 89,000 barrels a day of gasoline and diesel this month from India, the highest quantum of fuel the US imported from the nation in nearly four years, Bloomberg reported, adding that the fuel is likely being made using banned Russian oil, of which India has become a top buyer amid western sanctions. Russia has been supplying excess oil to friendly countries after western countries led by Nato imposed ban on Russian oil since that country declared war on Ukraine last February. Fuel-hungry countries like China and India have been tanking up Russian crude supplies in record quantities while Russia has been trying to plug the losses stemming from western sanctions. India in particular began purchasing record amounts of crude oil from Russia after the European Union banned seaborne oil and slapped a $60 price cap on Russian crude, and New York has been purchasing growing quantities of Indian fuel as European exports have fallen off in the past few months. That could worsen once the EU bans Russian fuel imports on February 5, exacerbating the supply shortage in Europe and potentially ratcheting up New York's demand for Indian fuel. Russia's energy revenue is still likely to suffer once the new fuel ban kicks as, according to experts, China and India are unlikely to ramp up their purchases of Russian fuel, since there's no need to. Tht could hurt Moscow and the west equally. Powerful earthquake in Turkey, Syria leave at least 1,500 dead, 6,000 injured At least 1,500 people were killed and nearly 6,000 were injured, as dozens of buildings collapsed, raising fears of hundreds being trapped under the rubble after an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck Turkey and neighbouring Syria, at dawn on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported. The Syrian health ministry said the toll in government-held areas of Syria climbed to 326 people, with some 1,000 injured while in rebel-held areas, at least 150 people were killed. According to Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, the quake occurred at 4:17 am local time. Reports said the quake lasted about a minute. Television footage showed damage to buildings and people gathering on the streets. The quake affected the cities of Kahramanmaras Hatay and Osmaniye most, it added. The citizens in Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Palestinian territories, Armenia, Georgia and Egypt, felt the aftershocks of the earthquake. The German Center for Geosciences Research said the earthquake that shook central Turkey early Monday morning was of 7.7-magnitude while the American Center for Earthquakes said that the magnitude of the earthquake that struck southern Turkey was of 7.9 magnitude. The centres monitored 6 aftershocks of more than 6 degrees on the Richter scale. The Turkish interior minister said that the ministrys crew are running the rescue operation in the quake-stricken area in the south of the country, which is subject to aftershocks. All our teams are on alert, we have raised a level four alert, and this alert includes international assistance, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. We cannot currently provide clear statements about information related to material and human losses, he added. Video clips showed people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Turkish and Syrian cities. Turkey is located in a region with seismic activity that is among the highest in the world. In November 2022, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck northwest Turkey, leaving about 50 injured, according to Turkish ambulance services. Another earthquake that struck the Izig region in January 2020 killed more than 40 people. In October of the same year, a 7-magnitude earthquake struck the Aegean Sea, killing 114 people and injuring more than a thousand others. Trai releases consultation paper on the 'Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider Authorisation' The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today released a Consultation Paper on Introduction of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider Authorisation under Unified License (UL). The National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP-2018) emphasises on digital infrastructure stating that Digital infrastructure and services are increasingly emerging as key enablers and critical determinants of a countrys growth and well-being. NDCP-2018 also envisages Enabling unbundling of different layers (e.g., infrastructure, network, services, and applications layer) through differential licensing as one of the strategies for fulfilling its Propel India mission. A robust Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) contributes significantly to economic development both by increasing productivity and by providing amenities that enhance the quality of life. In the context of DCI development, various countries have aligned their telecom licensing framework to increased utilisation of resources (including spectrum), reduction of cost, attract investment and strengthen the service delivery segment by segregating the infrastructure/network layer and service/ application layers. The advantage of such frameworks is that they simplify the licensing process and provide a more conducive environment for market growth and improvement of the socioeconomic welfare of society while considering the convergence of technologies. DCI plays a vital and leading role in successful implementation of various government schemes under Digital India, Make in India, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and development of Smart Cities. The recently launched 5G will transform India into a broadband superhighway and improve the country's socio-economic structure. In this light its also imperative that new players are encouraged through conducive licensing framework for creation of both active and passive infrastructure. This is likely to result in increased common sharable DCI and network resources, reduction in cost, attract investment, strengthen the service delivery segment, and could also prove to be catalyst in proliferation of 5G services for Industry 4.0, enterprise segment and various other use cases. Recently, Trai received a reference from DoT vide letter dated 11 August 2022, seeking recommendations regarding creation of a new category of license namely Telecom Infrastructure License (TIL) licence and its terms and conditions of such licence, applicable licence fee etc under section 11(1) (a) of the Trai Act 1997. The purpose of this Consultation Paper (CP) on Introduction of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider Authorisation under Unified Licence (UL) is to seek views of stakeholders on the proposed DCIP authorisation under Unified Licence. The Consultation Paper has been placed on Trais website www.trai.gov.in. Written comments on the Consultation Paper are invited from the stakeholders by 9 March 2023 and counter-comments, if any, by 23 March 2023. Trai wants comments to be sent, preferably in electronic form at advbbpa@trai.gov.in with a copy to jtadvbbpa-1@trai.gov.in. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) says a China Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea last week momentarily blinded several of its personnel with a "military grade" laser. The PCG accused the Chinese ship of "dangerous" tactics when it reached within 150 yards (137 meters) of the Philippine vessel. It posted photographs of the laser's green beam on its Facebook page, according to a CNN report. The incident reportedly happened on February 6 at Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands, known in China as the Nansha Islands. On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that a Philippine Coast Guard "trespassed" into the seas of Renai Reef "without the permission of the Chinese side." Read Also: Turkey-Syria Earthquake Latest Update China asserts "indisputable sovereignty" over the majority of the islands and almost the whole 1.3 million square miles South China Sea. The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan claim the Spratlys, an archipelago of 100 mini islands and reefs. The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately answer a request for comment. The office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not provide comment, instead directing the media to the Philippine Coast Guard statement. Another Case of Chinese Aggression China has been blamed for deploying lasers in the area before. In February of last year, a Chinese naval ship pointed a laser at a military surveillance plane in Australia. The incident was called an "act of intimidation" by the Australian government, per Reuters. The news of the latest China conflict incident broke as Marcos stated his willingness to negotiate a visiting forces agreement (VFA) with Japan to improve maritime safety. Last month, a wall of green lasers was recorded on video in a telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. NASA has said that the green lasers seen above Hawaii were not caused by its satellite. The agency said, more likely, it was from a satellite launched by China, as per a Vice story. The China conflict with the US intensifies further after the United States last week shot down a Chinese balloon that it believed was a China spy balloon. China condemned the US action, saying the balloon was used for weather research, per an earlier HNGN report. Related Article: US Shoots Down 4th Unidentified Flying Object @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) says it is "absolutely delighted" to report that its Building Information Modelling (Using Revit) Course was shortlisted for a prestigious Irish Construction Excellence (ICE) Award. After a lengthy review process and deliberations, the ICE Awards Judges selected the 2023 finalists from a record number of entries and DkIT says it is "absolutely thrilled" to have made the cut. The Irish Construction Excellence Awards were founded in 1993 and are the original and premier recognition of performance excellence for the contracting sector in Ireland. The DkIT course that has made the shortlist is the part time continual professional development (CPD) programme 'Building Information Modelling using Autodesk Revit' which is facilitated by the Institutes Lifelong Learning Centre in conjunction with DKIT's School of Engineering. Jane Smyth, Course Director said, "We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for the ICE Awards and even more thrilled to be offering this programme in DkIT, this course is another great example of DkIT meeting the skill demands in the construction sector." She added, "participants of this course get to use Revit to learn about building information modelling and the tools for parametric building design and documentation to meet the requirements of the golden tread of digital information." Successful learners are awarded a Certificate of Attendance from Dundalk Institute of Technology which can go towards their Continuous Professional Development. This programme offers more personalized learning on the course as it is supported by small class sizes and an engaging learning experience. The 8-week part-time evening course will provide learners with a solid introduction to Building Information Modelling using Autodesk Revit. The attendees learn the concepts of BIM through the modelling of a basic building, from creating the building to making a window/door and a room schedule and looking at shadow studies and rendering. DkIT says that this course is perfect for Architects, Architectural Technologists, Interior Designers and Engineers who want to learn about building information modelling, working in 3D & using design visualisation. For more information on this course www.dkit.ie Refugee and migrant rights organisation, Doras, is today calling on Louth politicians, commentators and others with influence to avoid the use of language that sends negative messages about asylum seekers and refugees. In recent days, Doras says it has seen a number of politicians use terms like illegal that call into question the right of some people to seek international protection or asylum. Seeking asylum is a fundamental human right, and everyone who does so is by definition lawfully resident in our State, says Doras CEO John Lannon. References by government politicians and others to people arriving illegally only add to the confusion that might exist amongst the public, and plays into the discourse of the far right. "We have had gangs chanting get them out and burn them out outside accommodation centres with innocent people, including children, looking out in fear and confusion. This is not the type of Ireland most of us want. The government has a responsibility to keep asylum seekers safe while they are in the care of the State. "With this in mind, they should communicate the rights of refugees and asylum seekers clearly through a national campaign and ensure communities are fully informed, rather than relying on what is often misinformation shared online by those with their own agendas." Mr Lannon continued: "It is also important to remember that many people escaping from war, persecution or exploitation may not be in a position to present identity documents when they arrive in Ireland, such is the nature of fleeing from a war zone or a crisis. "Were talking about people we work with every day, including victims of trafficking, and those who have undertaken horrendous journeys over land and sea, which in some cases results in documents being lost or stolen. Its the grim reality regardless of how some opportunistic voices seek to spin it. Were calling on Minister for Justice Simon Harris and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to rethink practices that could restrict access to international protection, like travelling to international airports in other countries to check peoples travel documents. Doras says that rather than focusing on restricting access to the international protection system in Ireland, the government should invest in putting the necessary resources in place to process asylum applications fairly, efficiently and properly. The announcement by Minister Harris that the Government has given an extra 18m to the International Protection Office to hire staff to ensure quicker processing times for asylum seekers is welcome. "However, the fact that the International Protection Appeals Tribunal which has responsibility for hearing appeal cases has fewer resources now than in 2019 is worrying and deeply revealing. This will likely result in further delays for people desperate to move on with their lives. Mr Lannon added, we also need to avoid misplaced commentary about asylum seekers being unvetted In the media and elsewhere Vetting is a process that people who work or volunteer with children and vulnerable adults go through. "Asylum seekers dont need to be vetted; their identity, where they came from, and a lot more detail is all documented in their application for international protection. Protests organised or hijacked by the far right in response to the expected arrival of asylum seekers are now springing up around the country. This is despite the fact that the majority of people in Ireland are open and welcoming. Communities are key to effective integration, and must be given the resources to ensure refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed and supported.. Louth has been allocated funding of 304,736 for this year, for repairs and improvement works on rural roads and laneways in the county. The funding, under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), will support the continued improvement of non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by the local authorities, and is part of a 12.55 million package for the scheme nationwide. The funding is seen by the government as key to supporting vital road infrastructure in rural communities, as well as providing access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities such as lakes, rivers and beaches. Eligible roads under the Local Improvement Scheme are: non-public roads that provide access to parcels of agricultural land, or provide access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for two or more persons, or non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, mountains, and so on Non-eligible roads include: roads serving only houses or buildings occupied or used by persons not engaged in agriculture, and roads leading to commercial enterprises The financial contribution provided by the household/landowner is set at: 10% of the estimated cost for eligible roads with up to and including five households/landowners, and 15% for those roads with six or more households/landowners The maximum amount that any household/landowner is required to contribute is capped at 1,200. Making the announcement today, Minister Humphreys said: I am delighted to announce 12.55 million in funding to improve hundreds of roads and laneways in towns and villages across Rural Ireland. "Local connectivity is absolutely vital for our rural communities and this investment will benefit the lives of families in every single county. We all know parts of rural Ireland that can be difficult to access because the road or laneway is in need of repair. "The Local Improvement Scheme is about making peoples lives that bit easier, ensuring we have good access to homes, farms and our local amenities. This is what Our Rural Future is all about ensuring more and more people can live work and raise a family in rural communities throughout Ireland. The Minister added, Since this scheme was reintroduced in 2017, over 3,700 roads have been funded for repair works. This has made a real difference to the lives of over 16,000 landowners and residents. I would urge each local authority to use the funding announced today and complete the repair works on the selected roads as soon as possible. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The Pentagon and intelligence authorities are carrying out investigations in Alaska, Canada, and Michigan after the US military shot down UFO with missiles on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. One high-ranking US military official does not completely rule out the notion that they came from another planet. After the US military shoots down UFO on Sunday, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) chief Gen.Glen VanHerck was questioned about Aliens. He told reporters that he will let the intelligence and counterintelligence communities "figure it out." "I haven't ruled out anything at this point," Gen. VanHerck said, according to The Huff Post. American authorities have not yet rejected the possibility that there could be other UFOs. After the China spy balloon, some authorities suspect the UFO are from Beijing or another nation and are testing US detection technology, according to The New York Times. The US military shoots down UFO over Lake Huron in Michigan, per a previous HNGN report. The Defense Department (DOD) reported that at 2:42 p.m., President Joe Biden gave the order for an F-16 to launch an AIM-9X missile at a target around 20,000 feet over Lake Huron. Read Also: Russia Launches Missile Attacks in Ukraine Increased UFO Detection in Recent Years NORAD increased the sensitivity of its radar system after the passage of a China spy balloon this month. Due to this, UFO detection rate skyrocketed. Recently, the Pentagon has made more effort to look into reports of unidentified aircrafts being seen by the military. These flying things, which are now called "unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAPs) in government jargon, are called "unidentified flying objects" (UFO) by the public. Senior military authorities have indicated that hundreds of sightings of UFO in space, the air, or even underwater have led to investigations, according to NDTV. Officials from the Pentagon have said that no proof of visits from intelligent extraterrestrial species has been uncovered. Related Article: Turkey-Syria Earthquake Latest Death Toll @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After its armored vehicles were ambushed in Vuhledar, video footage indicates Russia sustained catastrophic military losses. In a humiliating defeat for Vladimir Putin's army, dozens of tanks were lost and damaged, and many soldiers were killed. Destroyed Russian Tanks The aerial film shows Russian troops escaping a heavy assault by Ukrainian aircraft. In the mayhem, Russian tanks slaughtered their soldiers. According to a Russian assessment, Vladimir Putin's forces lost 31 armored vehicles at Vuhledar, or Ugledar, as it is known in Russia. Russian war channels criticized their side for beginning the Kremlin's fresh attack with military ineptitude amidst a flurry of accusations for abandoning the column as "sitting ducks." Putin's forces were certainly killed and injured here, although exact numbers are not yet available, Daily Mail reported. According to reports, the Ukrainians seized further individuals. The Moscow Calling military station said that 31 armored vehicles of the 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet were destroyed during an attack on Vuhledar. Alexander Sladkov, a journalist for official television's combat coverage, condemned "criminal leaders" on the Russian side. People are unskilled and unprepared for military action. The commanders displayed "total ineptitude." When the fighting group was under enemy fire and did not get any help or cover during the engagement, there was a lack of effective cooperation between the branches of the armed forces. Putin's mobilization of "low-quality and unprepared" reserves as "independent fighting formations" led to this setback. According to the report, military prosecutors should probe the involvement of commanders. Previously, the British Ministry of Defense had stated, "Russian forces presumably retreated and abandoned at least 30 mainly undamaged armored vehicles in a single event following a failed attack." Critics demanded that the controversial East group commander, Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, accept responsibility for the killings. Muradov is a close associate of General Valery Gerasimov, the overall commander of the conflict. According to a Moscow military station, the 31 lost vehicles belonged to the 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet. Alexander Sladkov, a combat journalist for official television, went on to condemn "criminal leaders" on the Russian side. Per The Sun, Muradov is a close associate of General Valery Gerasimov, the overall commander of the conflict. Even pro-war outlets that often promote dictator Putin's aggression criticized the "total ineptitude" displayed. In preparation for a brutal spring onslaught against entrenched and resolute Ukrainian defenses, Putin is increasing army mobilization. Read Also: US Shoots Down 4th Unidentified Object Russia's Losses During Ukraine War According to an updated figure given by the General Staff on Monday, Russia lost three tanks in the previous twenty-four hours. According to Kyiv's calculation, this raises the total number of Russian tanks lost since the commencement of the full-scale assault on February 24, 2022, to 3,283. Sunday, Ukraine claimed that Russia had lost thirteen tanks on the preceding day. As of Monday, the Dutch open-source intelligence site Oryx has reported the loss of 1,727 Russian tanks, but this has yet to be corroborated. However, only units for which photographic or video graphics proof exists are included in the count, as per Newsweek via MSN. During the ongoing Ukraine conflict, the Ukrainian and Russian militaries have used UAVs or drones. Kyiv's military has utilized drones, including the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 and commercial drones, but Russia's most well-known drones employed in the conflict were the Iranian-made Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 UAVs. Shahed drones, also known as "kamikaze" drones Geran-2, can carry warheads that detonate or shatter when the UAVs approach their target. Slow-moving UAVs are distinguished by the faint buzzing sound they generate upon approach. The Ukrainian General Staff said on Saturday that between 6 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. local time on Friday, twenty Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 drones were destroyed by Ukrainian troops. Sunday, Ukraine's Air Force Command said that between 6:40 and 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, four Shahed drones and one Orlan-10 had been shot down. The weekend saw the greatest daily mortality rate for Russian soldiers since the beginning of the full-scale assault, according to Ukraine's military forces. The Ukrainian General Staff said Russia had lost 1,140 men the previous day. This surpassed the previous record of 1,030 soldiers, established on February 7. Kyiv estimates that Russia has lost 138,340 soldiers since February 2022, an increase of 560 soldiers just Sunday. This number cannot be independently confirmed, and the number reported by Kyiv is typically greater than estimates from the West. Since September 2022, Moscow has not disclosed numbers on losses inflicted by the Russian military in Ukraine. On Sunday, the UK Ministry of Defense stated that an "increase in Russian deaths" is likely due to a "lack of skilled troops, coordination, and resources throughout the front." Related Article: Vladimir Putin Vows Not To Kill Volodymyr Zelensky @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pinoles boosts productivity with automated cutting machine From car equipment producers to textile manufacturers and agribusinesses, almost all industries can boost productivity and cut energy costs through automation, digitalisation and smart solutions. We consider investments in these areas to be our main opportunity for further growth and business development, says Tijana Raus, CFO of Pinoles, a Serbian manufacturer of plywood and wholesaler of wood panels, laminate and other furniture and finishing construction materials. Pinoles was established in 1998 and today employs around 150 people. The company has a store in Belgrade and production facilities in Nova Pazova. It is the official distributor of several top furniture material brands in Serbia and has its own product range. With our growing business, we decided to invest in new equipment to be able to respond to increasing market demand and boost the quality of our products and services, Tijana says. With blend finance from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), supported by the European Union (EU), the company invested in an automated cutting machine. The new machine has allowed us to increase our cutting capacity and has made the work of our employees much easier and safer, Tijana says. It also allows us to process additional materials, which has led to an increase in sales of those materials of up to 50 per cent. Final product quality has also improved. The new equipment further meets the requirements of several EU directives, expanding the companys export opportunities to EU markets. It is ECO PLUS certified, which attests that all assemblies are made using technology that maximise energy efficiency. It also does not emit any dust and so improves health and safety conditions for employees in the production unit. Pinoles financed the investment with a lease from Unicredit Leasing, a local partner that on-lends EBRDs funding tailor-made to support investments of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The aim is to help SMEs improve in areas such as energy efficiency, health and safety, and product quality and become more competitive in local and European markets. After verification of its investment project, the company received a 15 per cent cash-back incentive, funded by the EU. This type of financing support is particularly useful to SMEs, Tijana explains. Access to finance has been one of our major challenges as our company has grown, she says. We are a medium-sized company, which are often thought to have the most balanced combination of capital and flexibility. However, we are in a less favourable position than large companies, which have greater amounts of capital and easier access to financial resources. Small and micro-businesses have more options for obtaining funds through various support programmes, such as this one. Improving access to finance and helping SMEs to grow their businesses is one of the EBRDs key priorities in Serbia. In recent years, in cooperation with its partner banks, the Bank has extended financing to more than 500 SMEs in Serbia, enabling them to invest in new equipment, facilities, renewable energy and other areas. We are united with our partners, the EU and local partner banks in helping SMEs to grow, strengthen their ability to export to the EU and speed up the transition to a greener, more sustainable economy. We will continue to provide affordable financing to support SMEs investments that help them become more competitive and resilient, says Aleksandra Vukosavljevic, EBRD Director, Financial Institutions, Western Balkans and Eastern Europe Nurturing old partnerships, investing in knowledge Next year, Pinoles will mark 25 years in business in Serbia and takes prides the fact that many of its employees have been there from the start. Partnership and cooperation are our driving force, which we nurture both within and outside our company, Tijana says. For us, our customers and suppliers are our partners. This is supported by the fact that one-third of our 150 employees have been working in Pinoles for more than 10 years. We have also been working with some of our customers for more than 20 years. As for the future, Tijana highlights the importance of investing in knowledge. DANCE Cork Firkin Cranes season opens with the new Take Off Festival, running from February 16 to 18, presenting the work of three international choreographers and three Irish choreographers. One of the Irish choreographers is Siobhan Ni Dhuinnin from the Lough area in Cork, who will premiere her piece, entitled Can I Have Your Best Move? The piece is based around archives, she explains. I interviewed people and collected their movements when I was associate artist at Dance Limerick and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick last year. Im working with Billy Kemp who is doing sound and visuals. We have been filming and recording the movements that I collected. Billy has made them look cool. They are digital representations of the body. I got some beautiful interviews with people and I ended up recording the word happy 17 times. Thats how people feel when they dance. Ill be sharing these recordings at the festival and Ill also be dancing live. Siobhan Ni Dhuinnin. Picture Clare Keogh Siobhan, 37, explained how she got into dancing. I didnt really enjoy talking all that much as a child. Dance is a great way to be with other people and communicate through movement and the body. I was a quiet child, brought up bilingually. Id kind of pause before speaking to figure out which language Id go with. I went to a Gael Scoil. Outside of school, it took a while to register what people were speaking. As a child, Siobhan did Irish dancing. But when it started getting competitive, she bowed out as she doesnt like competing. Around 15 or 16, I started doing ballet classes at the Cork Dance Academy. When I left school, I did work experience at a dance company in Switzerland. Thats when I first saw contemporary dance and I ditched everything to take it up. It felt like the right kind of dancing for me. Even before taking up ballet classes, Siobhan knew she wanted to be a dancer. I was inspired too as a child when my father shared a warehouse with the Everyman costume department. Id have gone in there while waiting around for him to finish work. I was a big reader too and loved reading books about the theatre and the kind of magic you can create from that world of imagination. That was part of a huge draw to dance. Siobhan had to go to the UK to train in dance as there were only Post Leaving Certificate courses and the masters in contemporary dance in Ireland at the time. She attended the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, England, and subsequently completed a Masters in Contemporary Dance Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, graduating in 2012. The experience in Leeds was challenging, she said. The training was very intense. I was a real home bird and was quite homesick. It was very rigorous training. It was a privilege to be able to do it. Lots of people dont get the opportunity. The training for the year-long certificate course started every day at 8am until 6pm. I then did the degree there which took three years. Owe by Mufutau Yusuf. Picture: Simon Lazewski. While a contemporary dance career can continue for as long as the body is flexible enough, Siobhan said that as she edges towards 40, she has noticed a lot of changes in her body. And of course, you also acquire plenty of injuries along the way. Im much more careful than when I was younger. Back then, I would throw myself into anything. I could then take a month off and go back, going hard at the cardio. But really, slow, steady and consistent is the way to go now and just being as efficient as possible. I enjoy dancing more at this age because I really know my body so well. Siobhans mentors are choreographers Mary Noonan and Joan Davis. Mary is in her late 60s and is dancing in Limerick this month. Women like them who are very experienced, have so much to offer from the depth of their experience as dancers and from their lives. The reality of being a dancer living in Cork is that travel is necessary for jobs. I travel a lot. I spend a bit of time in Limerick. Im in Dublin now and Ive been up and down to Connemara for a project in the bog. There, I was working with a dance artist and producer, Rionach Ni Neill. She is doing a climate project, interviewing people and taking portraits of them, asking them questions about the future of the bog. What this has to do with dance is how people experience the bog through the body. Its a sensory experience of a place that can really shift your thinking. Well be exhibiting the photos in March at a venue in Connemara that has yet to be confirmed. Siobhan likes travelling, to a certain extent. But I definitely want to be in Cork a bit more. Travelling leads to a kind of fragmented life. I dont travel abroad so much now as I work a lot with a choreographer from Cork, Laura Murphy. As a performer, Ive travelled to Spain and Germany with her work. Executive artistic director of Dance Cork Firkin Crane, Laurie Uprichard suggested the Take Off Festival to Siobhan last autumn. The Very Last Northern White Rhino by Gaston Core. Picture: Alice Brazzit She had already fleshed out the idea and asked if Id like to perform and to be the local host for the dance artists who are coming over to Cork. I really enjoy that kind of hosting work, said Siobhan. It involves everything from picking up people in my car to facilitating round table discussions about dance in Europe as well as sharing practice sessions. And doing a timetable to make sure the dancers get a chance to ring the bells and see Cork. Siobhan, like many other dancers, is used to flitting in and out of places. That means its hard to build connections. So this festival is an opportunity for Irish-based artists to hear about whats happening across Europe and to share our experience of being in a smaller community. She added that whats good about the festival as well is the informal energy about it. She continued: Were encouraged to chat to people. There will be questions and answers after every show. Ann Rae is the queen of hosting at the Firkin Crane. She has set up a space very nicely. People arent leaving after shows. They stay on for the wine and cheese! Tipperary Dance MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Take Off Festival runs from February 16 to 18, presenting three international choreographers works, chosen from the Aerowaves Top 20 selected artists, alongside the work of three Irish choreographers. The featured performances are The Very Last Northern Rhino by Gaston Core (ES), Can I Have Your Best Move? By Siobhan ni Dhuinnin (IRL), Comme Un Symbole (Forme Courte) by Alexandre Fandard / Cie Al Fa (FR), A Dance by Magdalena Hylak (IRL), the pleasure of stepping off a horse when its moving at full speed by Courtney May Robertson (NE/UK), and Glisten by Isabella Oberlander (IRL). Dance Cork Firkin Cranes Executive Artistic Director Laurie Uprichard said: Launching the Take Off Festival is a thrilling moment for Dance Cork Firkin Crane. Offering audiences the opportunity to meet international artists both on and off the stage is one of our primary goals. Providing a forum in which these artists from abroad will work through the week, sharing practices with Irish artists and getting to know Cork, is a great investment for everyone involved. This is the perfect time to have fun, take a chance and be curious. MORE ABOUT DANCE CORK FIRKIN CRANE Located in a heritage building in Shandon, in Corks north city centre, Dance Cork Firkin Crane specialises in supporting dance artists, presenting dance performances, and encouraging people in Cork to engage with dance of all kinds. Dance Cork Firkin Crane comprises two theatre / exhibition spaces and four professional dance studios as well as dedicated artists accommodation in the Jack Lynch House, located just a stones throw from the building. Dance Cork Firkin Crane provides an inclusive and welcoming space for dance work to be developed and viewed through a year-round programme of residencies, workshops, studio rentals, community programmes, dance performances and special events. It aims to promote and advance dance as a creative artform by supporting the development of dance; sustaining the holistic development of the dance artist and delivering supports to artists and facilitators to bring dance to diverse communities through learning, audience development and participation. Aerowaves is a hub for dance discovery in Europe, identifying promising new work by emerging dance artists and promoting it through cross-border performances. Dance Cork Firkin Crane and Dance Limerick are among the network of partners spanning 33 countries. See www.dancecorkfirkincrane.ie THE dates for the Knocknaheeny Memory Cafe for 2023 have been released. The group is free of charge and is open to anyone interested, impacted by or suffering from dementia in Cork. Community based information will be available at the friendly, supportive meetings. They take place from 11am to 1pm on the second Monday of the month at St Marys Senior Citizens Hall, Foyle Avenue, Knocknaheeny, T23AH9V. For more information contact Paula Casey (Niche) on 021-4300135 or 086-0762452. The remainder of the dates for this year are as follows: February 13, March 13, April 3, May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, and December 11. At today's cafe, Sharon Maher, Dementia Nurse from the Mercy Hospital Cork, will be in attendance and she will be talking about brain health. By David Young, PA The DUP has made clear it will not be dropping its block on the Stormont Assembly sitting so a stalled organ donation law can be implemented in Northern Ireland. MLAs have been recalled to Stormont on Tuesday in an attempt to elect a Speaker and debate the implementation of the legislation. The planned law, named after six-year-old Belfast boy Daithi MacGabhann, who is waiting a heart transplant, has become a touchstone issue in the political debate around the powersharing impasse at Stormont. Daithi MacGabhann with his mother and father on the steps of Parliament Buildings at Stormont (Liam McBurney/PA) In a weekend message to party members, seen by the PA news agency, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated that his party would not return to devolved institutions unless issues of concern around Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol are resolved. He again accused the UK government of using the issue as blackmail and also claimed Sinn Fein was trying to exploit the matter for political gain. Mr Donaldson said that the issue could be dealt with at Westminster with an amendment he will introduce to the planned Executive Formation Bill. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has raised concerns that this route would take longer and might prove difficult. It is unclear whether the scope of the Executive Formation Bill would be wide enough to permit the addition of such an amendment. The opt-out donation system was passed by MLAs last year, but the secondary legislation required to implement it cannot be approved in the Assembly due to the current political stalemate. The DUP is preventing the functioning of both the Assembly and the ministerial executive in protest at the post-Brexit protocol. Only the Assembly would need to be up and running to pass the regulations required to implement the opt-out organ donation system. Daithi underwent another heart procedure in England last week. On Friday, his father Mairtin MacGabhann implored the regions politicians to do all they could to get the law implemented. Six-year-old Daithi MacGabhann (Liam McBurney/PA) The opt-out system would mean people in Northern Ireland would be presumed to be donors, unless they take a decision to opt out. It is being implemented to increase donation rates in the region. In the message to party colleagues, Mr Donaldson wrote: It is disgraceful that the issue of organ donation is being used as blackmail for the return of devolution. We will not be nominating a Speaker on Tuesday. Westminster is sovereign and can resolve the issue quickly. He added: I will be tabling an amendment to the Executive Formation Bill that will empower the Secretary of State to lay the necessary legislation and see this law in place. Given Sinn Feins politicking on the matter, lets see if they take their seats in Westminster to help pass this law in the House of Commons. We wont hold our breath. Utterly false outrage from Sinn Fein as usual. We have a mandate for the action we are taking. The DUP is representing its electorate and there will be no return to a fully functioning Stormont without unionists. Several previous recalls of the Assembly have all ended in failure due to the DUPs stance on preventing the election of a Speaker. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Youve probably heard of radiant floor heating for warming floors. But more companies are developing innovative infrared wallpaper that can electrically heat a room, with even heat distribution and low utility bills to boot. Two UK-based companies, iHelios and NextGen Heating, are leading the charge on the electric wallpaper, which uses infrared waves to emit heat to specific rooms or a whole house. Ultra-thin metal sheets are installed in walls, or ceilings or floors, and connect to a homes electricity. Wall heating in a basement studio in Geneva, Switzerland. NexGen NextGen Heatings panels are only 0.4mm thick, and iHelios boasts a 30% to nearly 100% energy reduction. Both products could replace inefficient radiators and may more effectively heat a room than previous iterations of radiant heating. The heating products by iHelios need to run about 20 minutes per hour to maintain a stable temperature, Smart Energy International reported. The products can also easily be turned on or off in each room, using a switch or a smartphone app. The infrared heating panels from NextGen Heating are made with two parallel copper strips and a layer of graphene, which emits the infrared waves when powered with electricity. iHelios produces film sheets as well as infrared heating panels, both of which the company said are fully recyclable. The sheets can be installed in ceilings or beneath floors, and the heating panels can be installed on solid surfaces. The companys two products use nanocarbon paste technology and a Positive Temperature Coefficient layer as a safety precaution against overheating. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wall-mounted radiant heat panels are often expensive and best used for supplemental heat. They typically provide the best warmth the closer you are to the panels, but people may feel the heat most only near their heads and shoulders, as the heat distributes unevenly. But new innovations in radiant heating for walls and ceilings have designed these products for more even heat distribution and lower costs. Tina Fawcett of the Environmental Change Institute at University of Oxford told the BBC that while such radiant heating technology can be more sustainable, it may be expensive, and air-source heat pumps could be a better alternative. BBC reported that NextGen Heating panels would cost about 4,000 ($4,850) for a three-bedroom home, while installing an air-source heat pump would cost around 8,000 ($9,700). But iHelios noted that an air-source heat pump may require annual maintenance costs, while infrared heating sheets or panels require little to no maintenance. Either way, offering a more sustainable heating solution could help more homes transition away from gas-powered heat sources and help the UK move toward its climate goals. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. At around 9 p.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 3, a freight train transporting 20 cars worth of hazardous materials derailed in the town of East Palestine, Ohio, near the states border with Pennsylvania. The derailment sparked a fire and forced 1,500 to 2,000 people to evacuate. It also raised concerns about the lingering public health and environmental impacts of the disaster as well as the safety of transporting hazardous chemicals via rail generally. The Palestine wreck is the tip of the iceberg and a red flag, Railroad Workers United secretary and Amtrak locomotive engineer Ron Kaminkow said, as The Guardian reported. If something is not done, then its going to get worse, and the next derailment could be cataclysmic. BREAKING A viewer sent me this picture. Emergency crews on the scene of a major fire caused by a train derailment in East Palestine @KDKA pic.twitter.com/D1g9AoQGcb Jennifer Borrasso (@JenBorrasso) February 4, 2023 Kaminkow used to work for Norfolk Southern, the operator of the derailed train. The company is also one of the corporate donors to the Cop City development in Atlanta that would clear part of an urban forest, according to opponents of that project. Norfolk Southern is funding Cop City. https://t.co/JaSh5mPn3m Defend the Atlanta Forest (@defendATLforest) February 11, 2023 The more than 100-car train was traveling between Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania, when around 50 of the cars derailed, as AP News reported at the time. The train was carrying numerous products, including 14 cars worth of vinyl chloride, a chemical used in plastic production that has been linked to liver cancer risk. Evacuee Ann McAnlis said she learned about the accident when a neighbor texted her a photo. She took a picture of the glow in the sky from the front porch, McAnlis told WFMJ-TV, as AP News reported. Thats when I knew how substantial this was. In the immediate aftermath of the derailment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Norfolk Southern took air quality readings to check for hazardous chemicals, and Mayor Trent Conaway said no dangerous readings were recorded in the one-mile evacuation zone. On Monday, Feb. 6, officials chose to instigate a controlled release of vinyl chloride in order to avoid a more powerful explosion, as The Washington Post reported at the time. More people were ordered to evacuate or face arrest. You need to leave, you just need to leave. This is a matter of life and death, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said in a Monday press conference, as The Washington Post reported. In addition to the vinyl chloride, the EPA also said it was monitoring for phosgene, a pesticide ingredient that was used as a chemical weapon during World War I, and hydrochloric acid, which can be generated during explosions. No people were killed or injured in the initial accident, but non-human animals were not so lucky. The property where East Palestine resident Taylor Holzer kept various animals, including foxes, squirrels and tortoises, was inside the evacuation zone, and he was unable to rescue them, as Newsweek reported. The foxes, especially, were impacted by the chemicals, and one of them died after symptoms including diarrhea and difficulty breathing. He went downhill very fast, Holzer told Newsweek. He crashed so fast and unexpectedly. He wasnt able to blink or function properly as he died in my arms. Dead fish have also been found in nearby waterways, as The Washington Post reported further. Evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday after testing showed the air and water was safe, as CBS reported. However, some residents remain unsure. Ive watched every news conference and I havent heard anything that makes me think that this is a data-driven decision, 44-year-old East Palestine resident Maura Todd told The Washington Post. We dont feel like we have a whole lot of information. Todd said the air near her home still smelled like nail polish and burning tires and that she and her family were planning to relocate to Kentucky for the time being. Todds family are among the residents to experience headaches and nausea following the incident, as WLWT5 reported. Two Pennsylvania residents have gone as far as to file a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern demanding that the train operator pay for medical tests and treatment for everyone within 30 miles of the accident. Adding to long-term health concerns, First News reported Sunday that the EPA sent a letter to Norfolk Southern saying that three additional chemicals were present on the derailed train: ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene. Hazardous materials expert Sil Caggiano said it was possible cancer clusters would emerge in the area and it was worrying how quickly officials had moved to clear the rails. We basically nuked a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open, Caggiano said, as First News reported. Even if no lasting damage is caused by the derailment which investigators say was due to a broken axle it raises concerns about transporting dangerous chemicals including fossil fuels by rail. Around 4.5 million tons of dangerous chemicals travel the U.S. by train each year, and around 25 million U.S. residents live within the blast radius of oil trains, as The Guardian noted. The transport of liquified natural gas (LNG) is especially risky. Under former President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Transportation allowed LNG to be carried by train with no extra safety rules, and the Biden administration has not yet issued a replacement regulation. Weve been astonished by the effect that the spillage of five cars of vinyl chloride has had at the Pennsylvania-Ohio border, but that would be nothing compared to the effects of a similar derailment of LNG, Natural Resources Defense Council senior attorney Kimberly Ong said, as The Guardian reported. Meanwhile, Kaminkow said that the railway industry had paved the way for the East Palestine and future disasters by reducing both inspection staff and safety regulations. They have cut the hell out of the workforce, and there are big plans to cut it further, Kaminkow said. Just because the rail companies are profitable doesnt mean theyre healthy. Fire killed 50,000 hens at Waikato, New Zealand chicken farm A fire at a chicken farm in Orini, Waikato, New Zealand, has killed 50,000 egg-laying hens. According to John McKay, the chief executive of Zeagold Nutrition owner of the farm the cause of the fire, which happened on February 6, had not been determined. The company would be "working hard to continue to supply eggs and get back to full capacity as soon as possible," McKay said. "I know New Zealanders will be worried about what this means when eggs are in short supply. The reality is the losses at Orini represent only 1.4% of the layer hen population nationally so while it's a tragic loss, it won't have a significant impact on egg supply." Last month, New Zealand supermarket chains told customers to only buy what they need, as a national shortage of eggs continues. Additionally, Egg Producers Federation executive director Michael Brooks said more than 75% of New Zealand's chicken farmers were impacted due to a ban on battery-caged hens. The ban was announced in 2012 when 84% of all the country's eggs were from battery farms. The rules came into effect at the turn of 2023. - NZ Herald Exports of US beef reach record volume and value last year US beef and pork exports completed a banner year in 2022, according to USDA data compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports set records for both volume and value in 2022, while pork export value finished with the third-largest year on record. Beef exports reached 1.47 million tonnes in 2022, a 2% increase. Export value increased 10% to a record US$11.68 billion, nearly 40% higher than the previous five-year average. "2022 was a groundbreaking year for US beef's international presence, with global demand stronger than I've seen in all my years in the industry," said USMEF president and chief executive officer Dan Halstrom. The United States exported a record share of its record-large beef production in 2022, and at higher prices. Export value to South Korea was US$2.7 billion, up 13% and an all-time record for any single destination, while exports to China/Hong Kong jumped 22% to US$2.55 billion. Other markets in which beef exports achieved annual records included Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Colombia, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. A decline in exports in December, including a sharp drop in exports to China/Hong Kong, saw the month end with 112,707 tonnes shipped, down 7%, while value fell 21% to US$782.6 million. China's demand was reduced due to persistent zero-COVID policies. "Late in the year, exports certainly felt the impact of persistent headwinds in our large Asian markets, including depressed trading partner currencies and COVID-related challenges in China, but the long list of countries in which records were set showcases the industry's focus on diversifying export markets," Halstrom said. "While the year ahead will be challenging due to supply constraints, the exchange rate situation has improved and we still see room for growth in the foodservice sector as more regions continue their gradual rebound from COVID." As for US pork, exports finished 2022 on a decidedly upward trajectory as December shipments reached 244,718 tonnes, up 13% year-over-year and the second largest of 2022 (slightly below November). December export value climbed 14% to US$687.3 million. These results pushed 2022 exports to 2.67 million tonnes, down 8.5% from a year ago, while export value was US$7.68 billion down 5% from the record achieved in 2021. Exports of US pork variety meat were the second largest on record at more than 530,000 tonnes, while export value was record-high at US$1.27 billion. Pork exports to Mexico set a volume record in December on the way to a record-breaking year in which exports increased 10% to nearly 960,000 tonnes. Export value to Mexico soared 21% to US$2.03 billion, topping the US$2 billion mark for the first time. December exports also set a value record in Central America and trended higher year-over-year to China/Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and Australia. "The Mexican market has been a star performer for US pork for many years, but the 2022 results were truly remarkable," Halstrom said. "In the face of growing competition in Mexico, the U.S. pork industry has expanded product offerings and found innovative ways to meet the needs of processors, retailers and foodservice operators. In addition to Mexico, it is gratifying to see such a broad range of markets contributing to our recent export growth, making the prospects for 2023 very promising." - Drovers According to a new claim citing top officials, China has flown dozens of military spy balloons in Taiwanese airspace over many years, with the most recent intrusion allegedly occurring just a few weeks ago. The United States fired down a suspected spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina after it passed over critical military locations in North America. The incident aroused surveillance worries and worsened poor relations between the two nations. China vs. Taiwan The US military shot down several further "objects" over the weekend. In February of last year, the Taiwanese defense ministry verified the presence of balloons when four batches of Chinese balloons were spotted floating above the island's northern region. According to Taiwan's military, it has the power to fire down "threats" based on the level of concern. To assert its claim to the island, China has increased its military aggressiveness near Taiwan, including sending a record number of jets into Taiwanese airspace. Per The Independent, China asserts that Taiwan is part of its national territory, although Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949 when it split from the mainland following a civil war. The suspected spy balloons detected in Taiwan's airspace purportedly flew at an altitude of around 6,000 meters. Their dimensions and payload surpassed weather balloons permitted to traverse sovereign territory without prior authorization. According to those who work with military and intelligence in Asia, the Equipment Development Department created the observed balloons, the component of China's Central Military Commission responsible for weapon systems. According to a Taiwanese official, spy balloons have gathered atmospheric data for radar and missile systems. To prevent inaccuracies, the readings must be frequently updated to account for seasonal and yearly fluctuations. The allegation of the alleged spy balloons comes only weeks after one of Taiwan's most notable allies, the United States, shot down a Chinese balloon that had entered its territory. Beijing has already threatened to annex the island through military force. According to a senior US general, the United States and China might engage in a brutal conflict by 2025 if Taiwan is bombed. Taiwanese officials said the Chinese-made balloons soar at an altitude of around 20,000 feet, and their proportions surpass those of weather balloons. According to the study, military analysts assert that China's Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission designed the balloons. The People's Liberation Army Air Force launched the balloons while the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force deployed others. The spy balloons monitor atmospheric data to increase the precision of radar and missile systems, The Sun reported. These atmospheric measurements must be continuously updated to account for seasonal and annual fluctuations. Other Asia-Pacific nations, notably Japan and the Philippines, have witnessed balloon invasions into their airspace. The balloon saga occurred as tensions between the United States and China escalated. Chief of the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command, Mike Minihan, was forthright in a leaked document on the tensions between the two countries. Read Also: Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv Destroys 31 'Elite' Russian Tanks US Officials Might Visit Taiwan The China Select Committee of the US House of Representatives is examining the possible repercussions of sending a congressional delegation to Taiwan while being aware that such a step may generate a strong response from Beijing. Rob Wittman, a member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and a representative from Virginia, stated that some committee members are considering a trip to Taiwan as a show of solidarity. He admitted that this would anger China, which considers Taiwan a portion of its territory, as per Republic World. Wittman believes it is essential to demonstrate that the United States stands with Taiwan and sends a strong message. The newly formed US Congressional Committee on China wants to address the threats posed by Beijing in various sectors, including national security, commerce, and the economy. If the trip occurs, the committee chairman, Wittman, has discussed the potential of having a field hearing in Taiwan. This follows indications that the next Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, may visit Taiwan as early as this spring. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned the United States against such activities and urged it to adhere to the One China concept. McCarthy has emphasized, however, that China cannot influence his trip destinations. Related Article: China Spy Balloon: US Shoots Down 4th Unidentified Object @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. More than 50 million farmed salmon in Norway dead prematurely, report finds Some 58 million farmed salmon died prematurely in Norway last year, according to the latest risk report from the country's Institute of Marine Research (IMR). The results are about a million fish up on 2021, but, as more salmon were released into the sea last year, the increase is not regarded as significant. However, the total is equivalent to 15% of the fish in salmon farms. The premature deaths were due to a number of factors including disease, various lice treatments and the water environment in which they were held, said the report. The institute stressed that Norway's farmed salmon are essentially well adapted to life in modern fish farm facilities, but added that factors, such as handling during delicing, increase the risk of premature mortality. There were also distinct regional variations, with mortality higher in the west of the country. It is thought that this is due to salmon in Western Norway suffering from higher salmon lice infestation and other diseases which make them less tolerant to delicing operations. The report also stated that lice from fish farms are now becoming an increasing threat to wild salmon which means farmed fish need to be constantly deliced to combat infection pressures. Ellen Sofie Grefsrud, a researcher with the IMR, said: "We are not where we want to be; we should go down to 10% or lower before we are satisfied." - Fish Farmer Australian beef exporters look to resume deliveries to China Some Australian beef exporters, whose exports to China have been suspended due to quality and other issues, are seeking to fully resume trade with China, the Global Times learned. Amid gradually improving ties, there are growing expectations for a recovery of bilateral trade between Australia and China, with more interactions expected between industry groups of both countries, an insider said. There could be gains in particular for beef, a key Australian export, despite some uncertainties and variables, a meat industry insider said. "We have been in close talks with an industry representative group," the person said, without offering details. In 2020, China suspended beef imports from six Australian beef suppliers due to quality and other issues found in customs inspection. While the overall beef trade continued, soured bilateral relations between both countries pushed many Chinese companies and consumers to seek other suppliers. In the same year, China imported 253,675 tonnes of Australian beef, accounting for 12% of total beef imports during the period. This was the lowest volume in four years and a decrease of 6.5 percentage points in market share from 2019, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China. Still, Australia has been one of the major suppliers of beef to China. Last year, Australian beef exports to the Chinese mainland dropped 2% year-on-year to 175,127 tonnes, according to Meat & Livestock Australia. Casino Food Co-op chief executive officer Simon Stahl told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that losing the Chinese market had cost the business millions of dollars. But as demand has boomed and trade ties have improved, there's rising speculation about the possible resumption of beef exports for some Australian producers. However, China is also ramping up local beef production for its home market while reducing heavy reliance on any single supplier. Last year, its domestic beef supply accounted for 73% of its overall beef consumption. In the country's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the self-sufficiency rate of beef is expected to reach 85%. - Global Times Taiwan imposes higher fine on illegal import of pork products from Singapore following ASF discovery From February 10, those who import, bring in or ship in pork products from Singapore into Taiwan will be fined NT$200,000 (US$6,613) for the first offence, Taiwan's Central Emergency Operation Centre said. This came after Singapore recently detected African swine fever (ASF) in a wild boar carcass in the city-state. Taiwan has named all Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, as high-risk areas for ASF since 2019, according to Focus Taiwan. Those caught bringing in pork products from Singapore previously faced a fine of NT$10,000 (US$330) before the latest revision. - The Straits Times ARASCO, NEOM and Cargill announce plans to promote sustainable development of Saudi aquaculture The Arabian Agricultural Services Company (ARASCO) signed an agreement with NEOM a region in the northwest of Saudi Arabia focused on innovation and sustainability and Cargill to explore how they can work together to support the sustainable expansion of the Saudi aquaculture sector and its aspiration to achieve self-sufficiency in aquaculture protein demand by 2030 in an environmentally friendly manner. Nasser bin Abdulaziz Abanmi, chief executive officer of ARASCO, Dr. Juan Carlos Motamayor, head of NEOM Food and Helen Ziv-douki, global president of Cargill's Aqua Nutrition business, were present in Riyadh for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last December. The three parties will work together to explore and scale up sustainable ways to meet rising domestic demand for aquaculture, including through research and development into more sustainable feed sources. "Aquaculture began in Saudi nearly 35 years ago; now, it became one of the highest exports in the KSA, and as per the statistics, aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food production sectors in the world, and in Saudi, we enjoy abundant natural resources along the west coastline (2,600km long) where aquaculture can be a great potential opportunity to serve food security in Saudi, said Abanmi. "Additionally, we need aquaculture to help feed the world. By 2050, there will 9.7 billion people on the planet, according to the UN, and this growth will put huge pressure on food security and production in general, and fish in particular which is aligned with ARASCO's mission to support food security in a sustainable way within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in the Middle East. We look forward to working with NEOM and Cargill in this noble mission." "Aquaculture offers the most sustainable way to produce protein in terms of water consumption and carbon emissions to arid countries such as Saudi Arabia," Dr. Motamayor said. "This agreement will ultimately lead to addressing the need to replace fishmeal by more sustainable fish feed. Additionally, it aligns with NEOM's efforts to facilitate the production and supply of sustainable seafood while protecting the marine environment. We look forward to working with ARASCO and Cargill to transform the seafood production industry and minimise the environmental impact." "Providing sustainable protein to feed the growing population requires all of us working together," said Ziv-douki. "We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with ARASCO and NEOM with the aim of producing the seafood the world needs while minimising its impact on the planet." The initiative is consistent with the plans and programmes for the development and diversification of the Saudi economy under the kingdom's Vision 2030, which includes achieving self-sufficiency in industries including food and developing export markets where possible. With 40 years of experience, ARASCO is the largest manufacturer of animal feed in the Middle East with three business segments that address food security. - NEOM Fit Ztudio/ Shutterstock European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI) will back high-tech companies in their late-stage growth phase. ETCI will help plug financing gaps and thus reinforce Europes strategic autonomy and competitiveness. The new Fund of Funds has secured initial commitments of 3.75 billion from EIB Group, Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Belgium. The size of the fund is expected to grow further with future commitments. Five EU Member States and the European Investment Bank Group (European Investment Bank, European Investment Fund) have signed today the European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI) mandate, a Fund of Funds that will channel much-needed late-stage growth capital to promising European innovators. ETCI will deepen Europes scale-up venture capital (VC) markets by bridging gaps in financing availability, especially for companies seeking to raise amounts of over 50 million. It will help create an asset class for European institutional investors to diversify their portfolios, thus maintaining a continuous flow of funding to European scale-ups. Such positive self-sustained dynamic in the European high-tech landscape will nurture home-grown innovation and entrepreneurship. Europes tech start-ups often do not have sufficient capital to compete on a global scale and are pushed to relocate overseas. Closing this scale-up gap could create a large number of highly skilled jobs and boost growth. ETCI the cornerstone of the Pan-European Scale Up Initiative, which was unveiled in February 2022 in Paris during a summit organized under the French Presidency of the Council of the EU will pool public resources from participating Member States and the EIB Group to make significant investments into large-scale Venture Capital funds, which will in turn provide growth financing to European tech champions. Managed by the European Investment Fund, ETCI has secured commitments from Spain (1 billion), Germany (1 billion), France (1 billion), Italy (150 million) and Belgium (100 million) during the initial subscription period. The EIB Group has deployed additional 500 million, thus bringing the grand total to 3.75 billion at this stage. The size of the fund is expected to grow further with future commitments. This initiative is a striking example of what we can achieve collectively to strengthen economic and industrial sovereignty in the European Union. EU technology companies will thus contribute further to innovation, growth and job creation, and therefore to the economic, social and environmental future of the European Union, said Frances Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Minister Bruno Le Maire. This initiative will provide the most innovative start-ups with the capital they need to scale and lead the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, Nadia Calvino, Vice President of Government of Spain and Minister for the Economy and Digital Transformation. Start-ups are a key asset of our strategic autonomy and with this agreement we will contribute to strengthen it. It is an investment in our future. Europe is already home to world-class companies and industries with access to solid technical and financial infrastructures. To enable future European tech champions to play an equally significant international role and to boost Europes global competitiveness, we need to go one step further, Christian Lindner, Germanys Federal Minister of Finance said. With the European Tech Champions Initiative, we are now filling a gap in the financing landscape and strengthening Europes strategic autonomy." We share this initiative in which Europe works in synergy to mobilize public and private capital in order to support the growth of future champions of digital innovation, said Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Italian Republic. We hope that Italy, which has always been one of EIFs main partners, will be able to draw from this project the right impulse for the development of this business sector. Belgium welcomes the pan-European investment strategy implemented by the European Investment Fund and is delighted to be able to contribute to new developments in the technology scene, said Belgiums Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem. Innovative businesses need to be able to find the equity capital they need right here in Europe Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive of the EIF said. As manager of the ETCI, we will be using our scale and expertise to nurture a sustainable late-stage growth ecosystem capable of supporting homegrown innovation. Offering support to Europes innovative firms in their late-stage development, when they want to scale up their business, is essential for safeguarding the EUs strategic autonomy, EIB Group President Werner Hoyer said. Europe has strong innovators, but it needs to improve the environment for companies to transition from start-up to credible competitors and market leaders. ETCI highlights our commitment to financing innovation and the rollout of technologies that will help secure a sustainable future for Europe. About the EIF The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments, which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF contributes to the pursuit of key EU policy objectives such as competitiveness and growth, innovation and digitalisation, social impact, skills and human capital, climate action and environmental sustainability and more. The economic growth of America was particularly commendable in the year 2019-2021 when the state experienced high job growth and had an extremely low unemployment rate. However, at the same time, the global pandemic hit the state and things took a turn. Just like other states and countries, America was too hit by the economic difficulties during the pandemic and the same was visible in the form of an increase in the unemployment rate. The impact of Covid-19 on America was such that 70% of the businesses running in the state experienced negative growth. The revenue dropped for the businesses as a result of the pandemic restrictions. Mass layoffs were prevalent which is not surprising because many businesses across the globe used this tactic in order to ensure that the business survived. Even though the global pandemic still exists, its impact on the different sectors has been reduced. Many economies are trying to recover from the impact of the COvid-19 pandemic. In order to ensure that people get back their livelihood and get financial assistance, countries across the globe are also conducting various events. However, it is important to ensure a sustainable financial recovery to ensure actual help to the people. How Has Covid-19 Affected The Economy? The full impact of Covid-19 is still unknown. However, according to reports, the impact of Covid-19 took a toll, especially in the industries connected to tourism and recreation. The tourism industry took the maximum blow of the Covid-19 because of the lockdown restrictions which were posed by the government. UnitedWifi had recorded lowest air travel in a decade. And the effect is not just in America but foreign carriers such as Germany's Lufthansa had experienced a significant decline in passengers. Also, across the state Covid-related layoff took place. This massive layoff had the highest impact on the young work population and one with the lower level of educational attainment. However, with the pandemic slowing down, the economy of America is recovering but this still does not mean that the impact of the pandemic has totally vanished from America. This again is not bad news because many other states and even countries are on their path to recovery from the impact of Covid-19 but have not recovered fully. How The Government Is Planning The Economic Recovery? The government is doing its best to ensure the economic recovery and for the same, a 10-point economic recovery plan for the state was created. This framework focuses on economic recovery related to Covid-19 and further addresses additional issues like wildfires and supporting the vulnerable communities of the state. The ten pointer is trying to ensure the economic recovery by investing more money in the hardest-hit workers because of the pandemic and this includes investing in the unemployed and underemployed people. In addition to that, it will also be supporting the resilient rural communities of the state and will extend support to the workforce who even though are employed are struggling. The government will also be working on the development of the workforce by creating better opportunities. Small businesses suffered a lot because of the pandemic and the government will be helping these small businesses to get back on their feet again. Additionally, the government will be investing in improving the infrastructure and will bring out innovation in the manufacturing sector. All these actions taken by the government are believed to be creating a safe path to ensure the revival of the economy. These actions will be carried out by different methods. For instance, the government is planning to expand the unemployment benefits and provide funding to the nonprofits that worked on the front lines of the pandemic crises. The government is planning to support the resilient rural communities by investing in the community colleges and supporting the agricultural economy. Also, a major upskill will take place for the individuals to move them out of the opportunity. Special care will be taken to bring back the women into the workforce. The small businesses will be helped with additional business relief and technical assistance. The investment in infrastructure will include broadband investment and investment in the underserved communities. Innovation in manufacturing will include the enhancement of research and development across educational institutes and industries. America is in the path of recovery from the impact of Covid-19 and till now, the recovery path has been positive. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The federal lawsuit follows the derailment of Norfolk Southern's trains carrying toxic chemicals along the Ohio-Pennsylvania line. About 50 out of 150 freight cars were derailed in the accident which occurred before 9 PM EST on Friday. Medical Care for Residents Two residents from Pennsylvania filed the lawsuit on Thursday, asking Norfolk Southern to cover medical screenings and related care for residents within a 30-mile of the accident, including damages that are yet to be discovered. Of the 50 freight cars that veered off track, 20 carried hazardous materials, says the National Transportation Safety Board. The incident set off a fire that required hundreds of homes in the vicinity to be evacuated, according to Interesting Engineering. Authorities warned that the fumes could be deadly if inhaled, as well as coming with risks of skin burns and severe lung damage. Regardless, they decided to release and burn the vinyl chloride inside five tanker cars, sending hydrogen chloride and the toxic gas phosgene into the air. Railroad workers had already prepared drainage pits and embankments for the residue of the release. Environmental experts have also been monitoring the air and water affected by the accident. They claim that air and water conditions remain safe. Read Also: Toxic Chemicals Affect Marine Life In Deep Sea Trenches Signs of Toxicity Even though officials and experts claim that the area is safe despite the toxic chemicals released, there have been indications that it has been affecting the residents in the area as well as the wildlife. Some residents already claim to have had headaches and felt sick. There have also been reports of animals getting mortally ill and dying outside the evacuation zone. Taylor Holzer, a farm owner just outside the area of evacuation, said that the foxes he kept in his properties are getting sick. He claimed that out of nowhere, a fox of his just started coughing hard and shut down. The animal also had liquid diarrhea and went very fast. Other foxes had watery eyes and puffy faces, as well as refused to eat for days, according to the New York Post. Holzer claimed that the chemicals from the train is the only thing that could've caused it because the sickness doesn't happen out of nowhere. He then added that the chemicals they were told were safe in the air, were not safe for animals or people. An environmental engineering professor from the University of Toledo, Ashok Kumar, said that inhaling vinyl chloride fumes can induce dizziness, nausea, headache, and complications in breathing. Director of Ohio University's Air Quality Center, Professor Kevin Crist, also said that the chemical can cause cancer of the liver as well as other organs, He added that it's like an acid mist, and it's not "something you want around in high concentrations." There were also reports of other animals being affected like chickens. North Lima resident Amanda Breshears said that her chickens were perfectly fine before they had some kind of burn until they slowed down and died. She pointed out that if the chemicals can do this to chickens in just one night, imagine what it can do to people in 20 years. Being exposed to vinyl chloride can affect a person's liver, kidney, lung, spleen, nervous system, and blood, says the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Related: Air Purifiers: Are They a Scam? Here's What You Should Know Before Purchasing One Cattle and sheep industry experts are urging farmers not to overreact to rumen fluke figures in faecal egg count (FEC) results. The inclusion of rumen fluke figures in FEC sample results isnt necessarily a cause for concern, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups say. SCOPS and COWS have been working to encourage livestock producers to use FECs to monitor liver fluke burdens in cattle and sheep. Experts say the internal parasite has become increasingly unpredictable and this has brought rumen fluke under the spotlight too. Diana Williams, of the University of Liverpool and who sits on the COWS Steering Group, says many farmers and their advisers are currently looking at FEC sample results. "This is an important element within active liver fluke monitoring. But within the SCOPS and COWS industry groups, we are keen to ensure this does not lead to unnecessary treatment of rumen fluke in sheep and cattle. Increasingly, laboratories will record the incidental presence of rumen fluke eggs in faecal samples, but this does not indicate a need to treat," she says. A positive egg count only indicates the presence of adult rumen fluke in the rumen. On the very rare occasions that disease is caused by rumen fluke, it is due to large numbers of immature rumen fluke in the duodenum (duodenitis). "There are no specific diagnostic tests for immature rumen fluke, and they would be negative on faecal egg count. What's the advice for farmers? SCOPS and COWS have provided guidance and facts about rumen fluke: The detection of rumen fluke eggs only indicates the presence of adults in the rumen. In the majority of cases, it does not indicate any production loss or need to take action. Liver fluke remains the more important of the two fluke parasites. Co-infections of liver fluke and rumen fluke are common, but any treatment should focus on the presence of liver fluke. Disease due to rumen fluke is not typically caused by adults in the rumen. It is due to a large build-up of immature rumen fluke in the duodenum and is the result of a very high challenge on pasture, leading to large numbers of immature parasites in the intestine. If you are concerned about rumen fluke, discuss results with your vet. There are no licensed treatments for rumen fluke and the only active that can kill them (oxyclozanide) has a low safety margin and must be used carefully. Oxyclozanide can only be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon for use against rumen fluke and should only be used where there is conclusive evidence that an infestation of rumen fluke is likely to be causing a health/welfare issue. Experts say that anecdotal reports of production and/or health benefits in response to treatment of rumen fluke are unlikely to be due to removal of adult rumen fluke and more likely to be as the result of removing a co-infection of liver fluke that may not have been reported. A livestock auction centre's weekly free health check service for farmers in Shropshire could soon be extended due to high demand. Shropshire Councils community wellbeing outreach team is hoping to extend the service that was launched at Shrewsbury livestock mart. The sessions, which began on 31 January, and supported by regional auctioneers Halls, will initially run for four weeks. But Hannah Thomas, Halls' team manager, said she was keen to see the free services extended due to demand from farmers. Running every Tuesday morning until 21 February, the existing service offers visitors to the weekly livestock market the chance to have a blood pressure check, as well as more general health and wellbeing advice. Halls auction centre, located on Bowman Way off the A49, is one of the busiest livestock markets in the West Midlands. Anybody visiting the market can drop in for a health check, with no prior appointment needed. We have had a great couple of days at the auctions so far and it has been encouraging to hear so much positive feedback from the community, said Ms Thomas. One of the blood pressure checks that we carried out last week resulted in an immediate referral to a GP, for a problem which might have been missed if it hadnt been for the convenience of a 10 minute visit to us. We are also really pleased to have been able to offer a listening ear, share some wellbeing advice and signpost support in the community. We know that the industry can be very demanding, and we are here for farmers and their families. She added: We are hoping to expand the service, possibly extending to mental health and cancer champions too. Jonny Dymond, Halls senior auctioneer and Shrewsbury Livestock Auction Centre manager, noted that farmers tend to put their livestock before themselves. People say that if you see a farmer in the doctors surgery, there must be something seriously wrong with him. "In the same way as we take a car for an annual MOT, we would like to see farmers have a health check regularly. This service is raising awareness of how important a health check is to farmers. Our message is: Get yourself checked out. Andrew Bebb, Shropshire Rural Support chairman and a dairy farmer at Hanwood, near Shrewsbury, was the driving force behind the free health checks trial. He previously visited the field nurse service at Bakewell Livestock Market with two members of Shropshire Councils community outreach team. He said farmers, including those who have retired from the industry, enjoy meeting at Shrewsbury livestock market every week. Being unable to get together during the pandemic had impacted the health of the farming community. Farmers rarely go to the doctor because they have to take time away from the farm, he added. Attending the market is one occasion when they leave their farm and spend time talking in the cafe after dropping off their livestock. This outreach service allows them to check their health whilst they are here and its amazing what they tell the team who also check a farmers mental health in a very subtle way. He revealed that farmers were under pressure from huge increases in the cost of energy, fertiliser and other commodities, and banks were being careful about lending money or extending overdrafts. Traveller and food enthusiast Rupali Dean lists Delhi restaurants that offer the romantic vibe this Valentines Day These romantic dinner restaurants offer not just great ambience but also food and service that will wow your significant other Indian Accent, Lodhi Road Awarded the San Pellegrino Best Restaurant in India by Asias 50 Best Restaurants for seven consecutive years and the only restaurant from India in the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list, Indian Accent showcases desi cuisine by complementing the flavours and tradition of India with global ingredients and techniques. Nothing is average here, and you can be guaranteed a memorable experience which is what you want a Valentines dinner to be! Go for the Chefs Tasting Menu especially designed by culinary director Manish Mehrotra. Image: Rohit Chawla You can even book a private dining room if you want to be truly isolated in love (above). Do Try: Spiced Yam Podimas, Puffed Corn Upma, Kala Khatta Rasbhari Sorbet, Achari Paneer, Winter Vegetables, Sweet & Sour Potato Rassa, Green Jackfruit, Matta Rice, Smoked Chilli Curry, Fresh Strawberry Almond Chocolate Cheese Berries Crunch (above) Natural gas prices at the Henry Hub in the US are expected to average to around $3.40 per million British thermal units in 2023, 47 per cent lower than in 2022. Increased natural gas production and less demand have allowed US natural gas inventories to rise after a period of below-average levels, as per the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Natural gas inventories are projected to remain above average through the summer. A warmer-than-normal start to the year has reduced natural gas consumption to below average, according to EIAs February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). US natural gas inventories fell by less than our expectations in January because of the warmer-than-average weather. With more natural gas in inventory, we reduced our forecast for natural gas prices over the coming year, said EIA administrator Joe DeCarolis. There is still a lot of uncertainty, including the possibility of extreme weather later this winter that could increase demand and temporarily slow down production, but those possibilities decrease as we approach spring. Natural gas prices at the Henry Hub in the US are expected to average to around $3.40 per million British thermal units in 2023, 47 per cent lower than in 2022. Increased natural gas production and less demand have allowed US natural gas inventories to rise after a period of below-average levels, as per the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA expects US electricity generation to decrease 2 per cent in 2023, with even larger reductions in coal-fired generation. Less electricity generation largely stems from reductions in consumption in the residential and industrial sectors. We expect about 4 per cent less energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2023, which is driven largely by a 15 per cent decrease in emissions from coal this year, added DeCarolis. EIA expects that US coal exports will increase by about 2 per cent in 2023 and 9 per cent in 2024, largely to supply growing demand in Europe and Asia. Europe has been using more coal for electricity generation as the region looks to limit its consumption of natural gas from Russia. Even as global demand for coal is growing, we expect that reduced US demand will lead to less coal production in the United States this year and in 2024, he said in the EIA statement. Russia and China remain sources of uncertainty in EIAs STEO forecasts. Global demand for jet fuel has increased as Chinas economy has opened up following pandemic lockdowns. Russias crude oil exports have largely gone unchanged since the European Union instituted a ban on seaborne crude oil imports from Russia. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB) Fischer-Tropsch (FT) experts Sasol Chemicals have pledged to provide start-up Ineratec with some of their latest FT catalyst SasolChemicals will deliver a first fill of its latest Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalyst free of charge to Ineratec, in one of several recent commitments to promising renewable projects. The FT catalyst will be used in the lighthouse project the Karlsruhe-based clean tech company is currently building at Industriepark Hoechst near Frankfurt, Germany. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005041/en/ Industrial Power-to-Liquid Plant (Photo: INERATEC) The project is based on the company's recent operational success at industrial demonstration scale. According to Ineratec, the new facilities will become the largest production plant for paraffinic synthetic fuels in the world. The plant's output is estimated to reach up to 2,500 tons per year, starting as early as 2023. The catalyst provided by Sasol Chemicals will make a significant contribution to produce high amounts of the target products, which is largely designated for refinement into Sustainable Aviation Fuels. "Synthetic fuels are a cornerstone in the global challenge to reach our climate goals," said Ineratec co-founder and General Manager, Philipp Engelkamp. "Our goal is to quickly build up production capacities. Together with our partners, we want to over succeed the required quota for SAF in 2030." Ineratec plans to develop the technology on a global scale and will invest over 30 million Euros in this first plant alone. The German Government also strongly supports the project and provides funding of around 6 million euros within a funding program of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. "We are in the fortunate position to aid our partners in pushing the envelope when it comes to synthetic fuels," Dr. Dirk Schar, Manager Technical Marketing at Sasol Chemicals, has commented. "Sasol's high-grade products are an integral part of many chemical processes. By making commitments such as this one, we are assisting others to realise what we ourselves have chosen as our mission for Sasol Chemicals: Innovating for a better world!" Sasol continuously invests into research and development to further improve its products and is also a leading partner of CARE-O-SENE project, a government-supported consortium of German and South-African organisations that aims to improve the performance of catalysts in the FT-synthesis to accelerate the large-scale production of sustainable aviation fuels. Ineratec and Sasol also partners in the CARE-O-SENE project. About Sasol Chemicals Sasol Chemicals is a solutions provider focused on sustainability, circularity and specialties. It fulfills its purpose of "Innovating for a better world" by offering a broad, state-of-the-art portfolio of specialty and commodity chemicals for a wide range of applications and industries. Our solutions are used by more than 6,500 customers, in 118 countries, in countless products that improve the quality of life for people around the world. They also provide the building blocks for a sustainable future by helping reduce energy usage, waste and packaging, and by providing solutions to the renewable energy industry. Sasol Chemicals is a business of Sasol Limited, a leading chemicals and energy company focused on creating sustainable value for our stakeholders. For more information, visit the Sasol Chemicals website. About Ineratec INERATEC is a pioneer in the field of Power-to-Liquid applications. The company supplies sustainable fuels as well as chemical products. Modular chemical plants for power-to-X and gas-to-liquid applications use hydrogen from renewable electricity and greenhouse gases such as CO2 to produce e-kerosene, CO2-neutral gasoline, clean diesel or synthetic waxes, methanol or SNG. Founded in 2016, INERATEC has already implemented industrial-scale power-to-liquid plants at German sites to boost the availability of sustainable fuels and chemicals in various transport sectors such as aviation. Further information can be found via www.ineratec.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005041/en/ Contacts: Sasol Sunna Schulz, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs Eurasia Chemicals Direct telephone: +49 40 63684-1364; Mobile: +49 1520 835 3881 sunna.schulz@de.sasol.com Ineratec Isabel Fisch, Communications PR Manager Direct telephone: +49 721 864 844 60; Mobile: +49 1621852663 Isabel.fisch@ineratec.de Xfinity customers may want to rethink staying subscribed to Peacock in the immediate future. NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell recently announced that its Peacock subscription service would soon require payment at some point to offset its declining ad revenue. Shell's announcement follows NBCUniversal's confirmation that it is no longer offering its free tier to new subscribers, forcing them to choose between its two paid subscription plans. Peacock Pricing Changes For Xfinity Customers NBCUniversal, through a reply to a Peacock subscriber on Twitter, mentioned that the complimentary Peacock Premium access they were enjoying would soon end on June 26, 2023, though it didn't reveal any other details as of press time. However, Shell's statement reveals more than what the tweet shared. According to the NBCUniversal CEO's statement during the Credit Suisse 24th Annual Communications Conference, he said that the company would make Xfinity customers pay for their Peacock Premium subscriptions at some point, per Variety. This payment requirement may be due to the company's latest selling cycle, which revealed that its ad revenue is falling flat due to "cord cutting being offset by [higher] pricing and Peacock," Shell said during the conference. Shell revealed that NBCUniversal earns more from advertising on Peacock than from the subscription fees to charges to Peacock subscribers and is "seeing CPMs at the broadest level." Additionally, this revelation is in spite of the fact that having Xfinity customers pay virtually nothing for their Peacock Premium subscription helped Peacock grow into the subscription service it is today. Read More: Elon Musk Fires Top Engineer After Explaining Why He Had Low Engagements on Twitter Shell mentioned that Peacock caught up to Paramount in two years thanks to its previous marketing scheme - an achievement that the latter did in seven to eight years if Shell is to be believed. Regardless, this news is consistent with NBCUniversal's efforts to gamble on its success to increase its revenue. The company previously doubled its paid subscriber total from nine million to 20 million subscribers in 2022. Thanks to this achievement, NBCUniversal feels confident to charge its subscribers to continue accessing its streaming platform. How Much Will Xfinity Customers Be Paying Soon? Fortunately, NBCUniversal will be offering its Peacock streaming platform to Xfinity customers at a discounted price instead of giving it away for free, according to The Verge. However, the company has yet to reveal the pricing of this new discounted version to the public as an add-on to their Xfinity subscription. Previously, Comcast's Xfinity X1 and Flex customers could get Peacock Premium with ads for free - a subscription tier normally priced at $4.99 per month. Xfinity customers could enjoy their Peacock Premium subscription with no ads at all for an additional cent, which would have cost $9.99 for others. Meanwhile, a Reddit post under the r/cordcutters subreddit revealed that Peacock Premium to new Xfinity video and Flex customers come April 3. Instead, they will be presented with an offer to get access to the streaming platform for free but only for six months as a trial period going forward. Related Article: Peacock's Free Tier Is No Longer Available for New Subscribers THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2023 / Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (TSXV:CMC)(OTCQB:CWSFF) ("Cielo" or the "Company"), a waste-to-fuel environmental technology company, is pleased to provide an update with respect to the Company's previously announced proposed private placement of secured convertible notes for up to an aggregate principal amount of up to CAD $5,000,000, which is being amended to a CAD $5,000,000 private placement equity offering (the "Financing") (details below) with a designated affiliate or assignee of Crestmont Investments, LLC (in either case referred to as "Crestmont"), a New York-based investment firm focused on emerging opportunities in decarbonization, healthcare, technology, and special situations, and a non-arm's length party to Cielo. In addition, the Company announces that it has negotiated an agreement in principle with First Choice Financial Incorporated ("FCF") for the settlement of the $4,500,000 principal outstanding on a secured mortgage loan initially obtained to acquire the Company's Fort Saskatchewan property, held by FCF and KV Capital Inc. ("KV"), through the issuance of securities of the Company (the "Secured Debt Repayment"). The Company expects to finalize and execute a definitive agreement setting out the terms of the Secured Debt Repayment in the coming days and will announce the material terms at that time. Collectively, management believes the Financing and the Secured Debt Repayment will enhance the Company's financial position and support Cielo's continued progress in advancing the Company's research and development facility (the "R&D Facility"), targeted for commissioning by calendar Q2 2023, and further aid the goal of providing investors with long-term economic sustainability. David Beach, Managing Director of Crestmont, commented, "Our initial due diligence has led us to greater confidence in management and its plans for full-scale commercialization. Based on this initial review, we are pleased to amend our terms to allow for an earlier equity investment in the company." Ryan Jackson, CEO of Cielo, commented, "We are extremely pleased to share news of this proposed private placement with Crestmont, who Cielo views as an investment partner of the highest calibre with industry expertise and knowledge that we believe will prove invaluable as we continue to expand our operational capabilities. Strategically, this arrangement affords Cielo the necessary funds to advance further toward commercialization." Strategic Benefits of the Revised Financing Terms Completing the proposed Financing on its amended terms, as well as the anticipated Secured Debt Repayment, are expected to provide Cielo with benefits to its long-term financial stability, including: Crestmont's election to invest in equity rather than debt at close to an 80% premium to the current market price demonstrates in management's view the desire for exposure to Cielo's longer-term potential; As a result of the change to the Financing structure from secured debt to equity, Cielo will no longer be required to commit its assets, including its patents and properties, as security against the convertible notes that were to be issued to Crestmont; Retiring an outstanding loan for non-cash consideration is expected to significantly improve the Company's liquidity while conserving cash, supported by a meaningful monthly interest savings; and Future exercise of the Unit Warrants (as defined below) by Crestmont would result in improved cash position and demonstrate, in management's view, the desire of Crestmont to invest in management's long-term vision and strategy. Proposed Financing Background On December 19, 2022, the Company had announced a proposed private placement of secured convertible notes for up to an aggregate principal amount of up to CAD $5,000,000, to Crestmont, and a non-arm's length party to Cielo. Cielo and Crestmont had entered into a binding letter of intent (the "LOI"), setting out the terms of the proposed Financing. Under the terms of the Financing, which is subject to due diligence by Crestmont (the "Due Diligence") and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") and any other relevant regulatory or other consents and approvals, Cielo would receive funding of up to a total of $5 million for the purpose of financing engineering, financial and administrative planning related to Cielo's Aldersyde research and development facility being fabricated as at the date hereof ("R&D Facility") and future commercial plants designed materially from Aldersyde specifications. As the Due Diligence process nears completion, Crestmont and Cielo have agreed to change the structure of the Financing from a convertible debt offering to a equity offering, and have entered into an Amended and Restated Letter of Intent (the "Amended and Restated LOI") setting out the amended proposed terms of the Financing. In addition to the amended terms set out below, it is a condition of closing of the Financing that the Secured Debt Repayment be completed. Amended Terms The Amended and Restated LOI provides for a private placement offering of units (each a "Unit", collectively the "Units"), for gross proceeds of up to CAD $5,000,000, at $0.125 per Unit, each Unit consisting of one common share of Cielo (each a "Unit Share" and collectively the "Unit Shares") and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Unit Warrant" and collectively the "Unit Warrants"), each Unit Warrant exercisable for a period of 3 years at CAD $0.14 per common shares (each a "Warrant Share" and collectively the "Warrant Shares"). As a result of the change from a secured debt financing to an equity financing, the Company will not be required to further encumber any assets as collateral. Due Diligence, Net Proceeds and Closing The Due Diligence period has been extended and is now anticipated to be completed on or about February 14, 2023, with closing of the Financing to be completed within approximately 30 days of the date upon which Due Diligence is completed. Cielo had previously agreed to pay an amount equal to CAD $100,000 to Crestmont for the purposes of completing the Due Diligence review, to cover Crestmont's associated, third party, out-of-pocket costs (the "Due Diligence Fee"). Initially, CAD $20,000 of the Due Diligence Fee was to be paid in readily available funds and the remaining CAD $80,000 was to be paid by issuing 2,000,000 common shares (the "DD Payment Shares") to Crestmont at $0.04 per share, subject to the prior approval of the TSXV. The Amended and Restated LOI provides for the full amount of the Due Diligence Fee to be paid in readily available funds. The net proceeds of the Financing are expected to be used for the R&D Facility and general working capital. The Financing is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSXV and the listing of the Unit Shares and the Warrant Shares, upon exercise of the Unit Warrants, by the TSXV. The Common Shares are currently listed on the TSXV under the symbol "CMC". The Unit Warrants will not be listed on the TSXV. As a result of the amended terms of the Financing, the Financing is subject to the approval of the TSXV. Crestmont is a non-arm's length party under the policies of the TSXV as director of Cielo is also an Associate, insider or Control Person of Crestmont. No fees or commissions will be payable by Cielo to Crestmont or any other party in connection with the Financing. All securities issued in connection with the Financing will be subject to statutory hold periods in accordance with applicable securities legislation. SECURITIES FOR DEBT TRANSACTION Cielo has negotiated an agreement in principle with FCF for the repayment of CAD 4,500,000, the balance of a secured mortgage loan (the "Loan") provided by FCF and KV in August 2021, by way of securities issuance. As a condition of the Financing (as noted above), and in a continued effort to improve the Company's financial position, the Company has agreed in principle with FCF, subject to finalizing and executing a definitive agreement, and further subject to the approval of the TSXV, to repay the balance of the Loan in full, which is secured by the Company's properties in Fort Saskatchewan and Aldersyde, Alberta. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities of the Company in the United States nor shall there be any sale of securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any state of the United States. Accordingly, any of the securities described herein may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons unless an exemption from registration is available. 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. ABOUT CRESTMONT Crestmont Investments is a sponsor and placement agent for private and public companies that seek direct investments from family offices and select private investment firms, with a primary focus on emerging stories in decarbonization, healthcare, technology, and special situations. As a secondary focus, Crestmont is opportunistic and driven by the investment interests of our network of private investors. Crestmont Investment's management and advisors have sourced, evaluated, and led hundreds of millions worth of investments across a variety of industries, with investment partners who collectively represent billions of dollars in sophisticated private capital from around the world. In addition to structured investments, the firm provides guidance to its deal partners, while drawing on deep industry and financial relationships in an attempt to contribute to the successful financing of strategic partnership plans - all within Crestmont's mandate of structuring and arranging direct investments with family offices and select private firms. ABOUT CIELO Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) on February 2, 2011. Cielo is a publicly traded company with its shares listed to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") under the symbol "CMC," on the Frankfurt Exchange ("DAX") under the symbol "C36", as well as on the OTC Venture Market ("OTCQB"), under the symbol "CWSFF." The Company's strategic intent is to become a leading waste-to-fuel company using economically sustainable technology while minimizing the environmental impact. Cielo has a patented process that can convert waste feedstocks, including organic material and wood derivative waste, to fuel. Having demonstrated its ability to produce diesel and naphtha from waste, Cielo's business model is to construct additional processing facilities. Cielo's objective is to generate value by converting waste to fuel, while fueling the sustainable energy transition. For further information please contact: Cielo Investor Relations Phone: (403) 348-2972 Email: investors@cielows.com RB Milestone Group LLC Email: cielo@rbmilestone.com CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should" or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes. Forward-looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Cielo is making forward looking statements, with respect to, but not limited to: the Financing, and the material terms, including amount and type of securities to be issued and the terms thereof, timing thereof, including the timing of closing and the completion of the Due Diligence Review, the parties thereto, the anticipated use of proceeds, and the hold periods on the securities to be issued; the anticipated Secured Debt Repayment, the method (by way of securities issuance), amount and timing thereof (including the timing of the anticipated definitive agreement and announcement thereof); the anticipated effect and benefits of the Financing and the Secured Debt Repayment on the Company, including its financial position and ability to advance the R&D Facility; the timing of the commissioning of the R&D Facility; and the future exercise of Unit Warrants by Crestmont. Investors should continue to review and consider information disseminated through news releases and filed by the Company on SEDAR. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV), nor OTCQB nor WKN, have reviewed, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of, the content of this news release. SOURCE: Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/739063/Cielo-Provides-Update-on-Previously-Announced-Private-Placement-and-Announces-Intended-Securities-for-Debt-Transaction Victory has built a growing presence with its Stingray property array in Quebec, which consists of 67 claims on ground adjacent to Patriot Battery Metals, (TSXV-PMET) Corvette lithium discoveries Victory's Exploration team outlines its initial plans for its Stingray Property array Victory's exploration team is actively pursuing additional property in James Bay Lithium District, and other promising lithium areas in both Canada and the USA Victory has closed the first tranche of its recently announced financing VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2023 / Victory Battery Metals Corp. (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR61)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Company") is pleased to share initial plans related to future exploration on its Stingray Property array in the James Bay Lithium District, adjacent to Patriot Battery Metals (PMET) Corvette Lithium discoveries, and that the Company has closed the first tranche of its recently announced financing. "The Stingray property array is in a prime location and our exploration team has outlined an initial program, while simultaneously looking for additional strategically aligned property in the area," said Mr. Mark Ireton, Victory Battery Metals President. Victory Resources has acquired a large ground position in an underexplored area within an emerging lithium district. The Stingray Project encompasses several claim blocks south of Patriot Battery Metals Corvette Property. The Stingray claim blocks range from adjacent to the Corvette to several kilometers away and span over 25 km of east to west strike length (Figure 1). Victory Resources intends to carry out an initial program of prospecting, reconnaissance mapping and geochemical sampling. The goal of the program would be to discover pegmatites similar to those reported on several nearby properties, such as the Corvette Lake North Property. The James Bay Region of Quebec is composed of the Superior Province. This Archean craton has been deformed by various orogens over time, creating large fault zones containing gold, lithium, copper, zinc, and silver mineralization. The majority of the new Stingray claims lie along the same rock unit that has been previously mapped by Patriot Battery Metals Inc., contains lithium-bearing pegmatites up to 20 km in length with Li2O values as high as 1280 ppm.1 Figure 1: Victory's Stingray Property Array and Location in James Bay Lithium District Patriot Battery Metals Corvette property "hosts significant lithium potential highlighted by the 2.6 km long CV5 spodumene pegmatite with drill intercepts of 156.9 m at 2.12% Li2O, including 25.0 m at 5.04% Li2O or 5.0 m at 6.36% Li2O (CV22-083), 159.7 m at 1.65% Li2O (CV22-042), 131.2 m at 1.96% Li2O (CV22-100), and 52.2 m at 3.34% Li2O, including 15.0 m at 5.10% Li2O (CV22-093)."2 The Company also announces that it has closed the first tranche of its previously announced private placement of units. 5,600,000 units were issued at $0.08 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.12 for a two year period, subject to the right of the Company to accelerate expiry upon 30 days' notice if the common shares trade at $0.17 or higher for a period of 10 days. One insider participated in this closing. The Company is relying upon exemptions contained in MI61-101 from the requirements for an independent evaluation and minority shareholder approval. Donald Theberge, P.Eng., M.B.A., an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release in relation to the Stingray properties, James Bay Lithium District, on behalf of the Company. 1https://patriotbatterymetals.com/patriot-discovers-new-lithium-pegmatite-cluster-on-trend-with-the-cv5-pegmatite-and-samples-3-73-li2o-corvette-property-quebec/ 2https://patriotbatterymetals.com/patriot-extends-strike-length-of-cv5-pegmatite-by-400-m-in-first-series-of-holes-from-its-2023-drill- campaign-corvette-property-quebec-canada/ For further information, please contact: Mark Ireton, President Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653) E-mail: info@victorybatterymetals.com About Victory Battery Metals Corp. VICTORY BATTERY METALS CORP. (CSE:VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities. 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. Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company 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 as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Victory Battery Metals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/739022/Victory-Battery-Metals-Outlines-Initial-Plans-for-Its-Stingray-Exploration-Program-in-James-Bay-Lithium-District Reduces Potential Fully Diluted Shares by 3.6% Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2023) - C21 Investments Inc. (CSE: CXXI) (OTCQX: CXXIF) ("C21" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated cannabis company, today announced that it has negotiated the cancellation of 78% of its earn-out share obligations (the "Swell Earn-Out Shares") pursuant to the purchase agreement (the "Swell Purchase Agreement") governing the acquisition of Swell Companies (see news release dated May 27, 2019) with select individuals (the "Cancelling Vendors"). All currency in USD. Pursuant to the Swell Purchase Agreement, a portion of the purchase price payable to the vendors by C21 in connection with the acquisition of Swell Companies in May 2019 was to be paid by the issuance of the Swell Earn-Out Shares, the delivery of which was dependent upon the occurrence of certain events, including share price targets as well as any change of control. Up to 6 million Swell Earn-Out Shares could have been deliverable to the Vendors pursuant to the Swell Purchase Agreement. The Company has entered into agreements (the "Cancellation Agreements") with the Cancelling Vendors to extinguish the Company's obligation to issue an aggregate total 4,699,800 Earn-Out Shares in exchange for a one-time cash payment of $564,000. Extinguishing the Company's obligation to issue 4,699,800 Earn-Out Shares reduces the potential dilution of the Company's common shares by 3.6% on a fully diluted basis1. Additionally, agreement has been reached to defer the March 1, 2023 principal payment on the Company's senior secured note to facilitate the payment to the Cancelling Vendors. As of February 1, 2023, the remaining balance of the senior note was $1.5 million. Chairman, Bruce Macdonald: "We believe the cancellation of the obligation to issue 4.7 million earn-out shares is a smart use of the Company's funds. Reducing the potential dilution of our outstanding shares is consistent with C21's commitment to deliver value for our shareholders. The Board recognizes our CEO, Sonny Newman, for being flexible in facilitating this transaction." For further inquiries, please contact: Investor contact: Investor Relations info@cxxi.ca +1 833 289-2994 Company contact: Michael Kidd Chief Financial Officer and Director Michael.Kidd@cxxi.ca About C21 Investments Inc. C21 Investments is a vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, processes, and distributes quality cannabis and hemp-derived consumer products in the United States. The Company is focused on value creation through the disciplined acquisition and integration of core retail, manufacturing, and distribution assets in strategic markets, leveraging industry-leading retail revenues with high-growth potential multi-market branded consumer packaged goods. The Company owns Silver State Relief and Silver State Cultivation in Nevada, and Phantom Farms and Eco Firma Farms in Oregon. These brands produce and distribute a broad range of THC and CBD products from cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, cannabis oil, vaporizer cartridges and edibles. Based in Vancouver, Canada, additional information on C21 Investments can be found at www.sedar.com and www.cxxi.ca. Cautionary Statement: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: the timing of payment of the Consideration to the Cancelling Vendors; the impact of the Cancellation Agreements on the Company's issued and outstanding common shares and the Company's intent on delivering value for its shareholders. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties arising from general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations. 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. 1 C21 Investments Capitalization: Common Shares Issued and Outstanding = 120,047,814; Reserved for Issuance = 8,843,093 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/154553 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2023) - PharmaDrug Inc. (CSE: PHRX) (OTCQB: LMLLF) ("PharmaDrug" or the "Company"), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of psychedelics and other naturally-derived approved drugs, is pleased to announce that the Company intends to pursue a first-in-human study of its lead development candidate, PD-001, enteric coated cepharanthine-2HCL (for oral administration), in Australia during the second half of 2023. "We are committed to advancing the development of new treatments for patients with esophageal cancer, and we believe that PD-001 has the potential to be a breakthrough therapy," said Daniel Cohen, CEO of PharmaDrug. "We intend to leverage the benefits of our orphan drug designation and the data generated from the first-in-human clinical study to support planned Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clinical trials in the U.S. We believe that this cost-efficient strategy will greatly enhance the value of our company for our investors." The proposed first-in-human study aims to be a prospective multi-site open label randomized controlled clinical investigation of the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of PD-001 in esophageal cancer subjects. The Company's decision to pursue clinical development of PD-001 for esophageal cancer initially in Australia derives from a streamlined regulatory framework established by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) that permits a sponsor to bypass the lengthy and costly process of filing an IND application that would be required by the FDA, while also allowing a sponsor to evaluate its investigational drug prior to committing to larger clinical studies in the U.S. and Europe. In addition to the world-class facilities and deep clinical trial expertise located in Australia, the Company intends to take advantage of Australia's Research and Development (R&D) tax incentive program which will provide the Company with up to a 43.5% refund on all R&D expenditures. Strict adherence to guidelines set forth by TGA ensures that the Company's clinical trial data will be acceptable to other regulatory bodies including the FDA. For the Company, human clinical data generated from Australia would de-risk PD-001's clinical development plan and support further investigation of PD-001 in subsequent Phase 2 and confirmatory studies in the U.S. under an IND with the FDA. PharmaDrug's investigational drug, PD-001, has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Efforts to support clinical evaluation of PD-001 for esophageal cancer are currently underway. A large-scale cGMP lot of cepharanthine-2HCL has been completed and specific test methods required by the FDA for the quantification of drug attributes have been developed during Q4 of 2022 to support the issuance of the certificate of analysis and master batch record. Final release testing is ongoing and the Company plans to transfer this material to its contract manufacturer, Genvion Corporation. Material transfer is planned for March, 2023 and once complete, Genvion will execute all necessary ICH-compliant stability testing and forced degradation studies in support of future filings to the TGA and FDA. Downstream manufacturing efforts required to produce the orally bioavailable clinical drug product, PD-001 will also be completed by Genvion Corporation. About PD-001 (Enteric-coated Oral Cepharanthine) Cepharanthine is a natural product and an approved drug used for more than 70 years in Japan to successfully treat a variety of acute and chronic diseases. In clinical research, cepharanthine has been shown to exhibit multiple pharmacological properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic effects1,2. However, historically cepharanthine's low oral bioavailability has represented a major obstacle to realizing its full clinical potential. The Company is focused on advancing the clinical development of an improved and patented enteric-coated oral formulation of cepharanthine (PD-001) to treat responsive cancers and COVID-19. Compared to generic cepharanthine, PD-001 has been shown in rodent and non-rodent models to possess markedly improved oral bioavailability (more easily absorbed). These findings support the development of an orally administered formulation, and in so doing, removes the undesirable requirement for frequent intravenous dosing to maintain therapeutic levels of drug in circulation. The Company endeavours to develop an efficacious oral therapeutic to potentially improve outcomes for infectious disease and oncology applications. Third-party Validated Studies Reveal Potential for Cepharanthine in Treating Cancer PharmaDrug's oncology program is based on cepharanthine's known anti-cancer activities. Cepharanthine has been shown in over 160 peer-reviewed publications to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce cancer cell apoptosis (death) and restore cancer cell sensitivity to multiple unrelated classes of chemotherapy. Multidrug resistance continues to represent a considerable clinical challenge. As such, preclinical cancer studies aimed at elucidating the mechanisms that underly chemoresistance; including the critical role drug efflux pumps play in this phenomenon by reducing the intracellular concentration of chemotherapeutic drugs, are of particular interest to PharmaDrug. Cepharanthine has been shown in preclinical studies to potently reverse chemoresistance by downregulating expression of ABCB1, the transcript of which codes for multidrug resistance protein 1, (MDR1, aka P- glycoprotein). Importantly, several prior in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that cepharanthine-mediated reductions in ABCB1 expression restores cancer cell sensitivity to a range of chemotherapeutics including taxanes, vinca alkaloids and platinum-based drugs1-4. PD-001 Demonstrates Benefit in IND-Enabling Esophageal Cancer Study The Company previously announced (June 16, 2022) that a once-per-day oral regimen of PD-001, in combination with a SoC chemotherapeutic drug, paclitaxel significantly reduced tumor volume and improved tumor inhibition at the scheduled end of dosing (day 28 post implantation) in its recently completed esophageal cancer efficacy study. Following 28 days of paclitaxel administration tumor volume was reduced by 53% compared to the untreated control group. Paclitaxel provided robust tumor growth inhibition in the early portion of the study, but during the second half, the rate of tumor growth tended to accelerate. This observation mirrors that which is often noted in the clinical treatment of esophageal cancer patients; with the development of chemoresistance often noted after a period of treatment. PD-001 delivered at a dose of 27 mg/kg/day combined with paclitaxel provided an improvement of 41% in tumor volume reduction beyond that of paclitaxel alone (day 28 post tumor implantation). This result was found to be statistically significant versus paclitaxel alone (p=0.0049). PD-001 (27 mg/kg/day) tended to provide tumor growth inhibition as early as day 17 post implantation (40% greater than paclitaxel alone), that peaked at day 20 (84% greater than paclitaxel alone). The Company has issued previous press releases related to the use of PD-001 for the treatment of esophageal cancer on November 18, 2021, October 15, 2021 and July 28, 2021. Potential of PD-001 to treat Esophageal Cancer Despite standard, targeted and immunotherapy options, survival from esophageal cancer is dismal. The 5-year survival rate of people with cancer located only in the esophagus is 47%. The 5-year survival rate for those with disease that has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes is 25%. If it has spread to distant parts of the body, the survival rate is 5%5,6. Cepharanthine is a natural alkaloid extracted from S. cepharantha Hayata that has been used in Japan to treat several acute and chronic diseases with only rare reports of safety issues and side effects. The Company recently filed a PCT application to protect findings which showed the efficacious use of cepharanthine-2HCL when combined with cabazitaxel, a second generation taxane, for the treatment of prostate cancer. Treatment of esophageal cancer is highly varied based on clinical presentation and the physician's own preference/experience. Treatment with taxane family member, paclitaxel remains a common approach for esophageal cancer, however chemoresistance to paclitaxel represents a significant clinical challenge7. The observation that cepharanthine can decrease or overcome development of chemoresistance, in particular to taxanes points to the potential of PD-001 to be a novel targeted therapy for use as a neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant treatment which could provide increased survival benefit. About PharmaDrug Inc. PharmaDrug is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled-substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics and previously approved drugs. PharmaDrug owns 100% of Sairiyo Therapeutics ("Sairiyo"), a biotech company that specializes in researching and reformulating established natural medicines with a goal of bringing them through clinical trials and the associated regulatory approval process in the US and Europe. Sairiyo is currently developing its patented reformulation of cepharanthine, a drug that has shown substantial third party validated potential for the treatment of infectious disease (including Covid-19) and rare cancers. Sairiyo is also conducting R&D in the psychedelics space for the treatment of non-neuropsychiatric conditions. For further information, please contact: Daniel Cohen, Chairman and CEO dcohen@pharmadrug.co (647) 202-1824 Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information: THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED NOR DOES IT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the timing of study of the proposed first-in-human study of its lead development candidate, PD-001, enteric coated cepharanthine-2HCL (for oral administration); the potential for PD-001; the completion of planned FDA clinical trials in the U.S; the ability to take advantage of Australia's tax incentive program for R&D expenses; statements regarding the issuance of a certificate of analysis and master batch record; the timing of the transfer of the large-scale cGMP lot of cepharanthine-2HCL; the development and commercialization of cepharanthine, the timing of the clinical trial-scale production of cGMP Cepharanthine-2HCL; and the results of the Company's research and development in the psychedelics space. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to the ability of the Company to successfully execute on its plans for the Company and its affiliated entities; the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals and the Company's continued response and ability to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic being consistent with, or better than, its ability and response to date. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; the actual results of the Company's future operations; competition; changes in legislation affecting the Company; the ability to obtain and maintain required permits and approvals, the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures, service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, economic activity, financing, supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit the Company's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in the Company's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. 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. The Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulations under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. However, the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. References: Saito T, Hikita M, Kohno K, Tanimura H, Miyahara M, Kobayashi M. Enhanced expression of the multidrug resistance gene in vindesine-resistant human esophageal cancer cells. Oncology. 1994 Sep-Oct;51(5):440-5. doi: 10.1159/000227380. PMID: 8052486. Zhou P, Zhang R, Wang Y, Xu D, Zhang L, Qin J, Su G, Feng Y, Chen H, You S, Rui W, Liu H, Chen S, Chen H, Wang Y. Cepharanthine hydrochloride reverses the mdr1 (P-glycoprotein)-mediated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell cisplatin resistance through JNK and p53 signals. Oncotarget. 2017 Nov 27;8(67):111144-111160. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22676. Erratum in: Oncotarget. 2021 Jan 05;12(1):61-62. PMID: 29340044; PMCID: PMC5762312. Huang CZ, Wang YF, Zhang Y, Peng YM, Liu YX, Ma F, Jiang JH, Wang QD. Cepharanthine hydrochloride reverses P glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in human ovarian carcinoma A2780/Taxol cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Oncol Rep. 2017 Oct;38(4):2558-2564. doi: 10.3892/or.2017.5879. Epub 2017 Aug 4. PMID: 28791369. Zahedi P, De Souza R, Huynh L, Piquette-Miller M, Allen C. Combination drug delivery strategy for the treatment of multidrug resistant ovarian cancer. Mol Pharm. 2011 Feb 7;8(1):260-9. doi: 10.1021/mp100323z. Epub 2010 Dec 17. PMID: 21166459. Esophageal Cancer Stat Facts 2020, National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End results Program (SEER), accessed August 20, 2020 https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/esoph.html Survival Rates for Esophageal Cancer. American Cancer Society, accessed August 26, 2020, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html Shen Z, Chen M, Luo F, Xu H, Zhang P, Lin J, Kang M. Identification of Key Genes and Pathways Associated With Paclitaxel Resistance in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Bioinformatics Analysis. Front Genet. 2021 Aug 11;12:671639. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.671639. PMID: 34456964; PMCID: PMC8386171. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/154433 Drilled 57 gross horizontal wells in 2022 targeting light oil with a 100% success rate Production was 16% above type curve well expectations, on average, for 30-day initial production (IP30) for the 2022 drilled operated wells Estimated average production for Q4 2022 was a record 12,514 boe/d (96% oil and natural gas liquids), in-line with production guidance released in May 2022 Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2023) - Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. (TSXV: SOIL) (FSE: SMKA) (OTCQX: OILSF) ("Saturn" or the "Company") is pleased to provide results from its 2022 capital expenditure program and operational highlights. The 2022 capital program totaled approximately $89.1 million with 80% of expenditures directed to horizontal drilling in Saturn's two operational areas, the Oxbow Asset in Southeast Saskatchewan, and the Viking Asset in West-central Saskatchewan. The balance of capital expenditures was invested in facilities improvements, workover & optimization projects and acquiring land. Highlights of the 2022 capital program include: 57 gross (55.4 net) horizontal wells drilled which all have been placed into production of light oil for total capital expenditure of approximately $71.1 million, consisting of: 25 gross (24.4 net) wells were drilled in the Oxbow Asset, including five gross wells (4.7 net) that were re-drilled new horizontal legs of existing well bores, of which the final two wells were brought on production in December; 32 gross (31.0 net) wells were drilled in the Viking Asset with initial production for 30 days (IP30) averaging 93.7 bbl/d per well, which is approximately 38% above Saturn's forecasted type curve for Viking wells, of which the final three well pad was completed and brought on production in January 2023; and Q4 2022 production is estimated at 12,514 boe/d, which is in line with guidance forecasted production announced with the Viking acquisition in May 2022, with December 2022 production estimated at 13,128 boe/d. "2022 had the most active and impactful capital expenditure program in Saturn's history. We are very pleased with overall results of the drilling program, outperforming our forecasted type curves and expanding our geological model to capture additional light oil resources for future development," commented Justin Kaufmann, Saturn's Chief Development Officer. "As we kick off the 2023 drilling campaign, we look forward to following up on our successes of 2022 and capitalizing on the lessons learned in developing Saturn's rapidly expanded land base and drilling inventory." The following table summarizes Saturn's 2022 drilling results: Gross Locations Average IP30 per Location Guidance Type Curve Actual vs. Type Curve Total Capital Capital Efficiency Oxbow New Horizontal Wells 20 63.3 bbls/d 69 bbls/d -8% $21.7M $17,150/bbl/d Viking New Horizontal Wells 32 93.7 bbls/d 68 bbls/d +38% $46.2M $15,400/bbl/d Oxbow Re-Drills 5 47.3 bbls/d 42 bbls/d +12% $3.2M $13,330/bbl/d Total/Average 57 79.0 bbls/d 66.1 bbls/d +16% $71.1M $15,800/bbl/d Oxbow Operations Update The 2022 drilling program in Southeast Saskatchewan was focused on developing existing light oil pools where Saturn has identified pool extensions and opportunities top enhance light oil recoveries. Drilling costs per Oxbow location averaged approximately $1.1 million which was in-line with initial budgeting from early 2022, despite a general increasing industry cost environment for materials and services. Production optimization efforts in 2022 resulted in the addition of 656 bbl/d of light oil production with an average cost of $4,237/bbl. The Oxbow drilling was highlighted with six wells that had IP30 production of over 100 bbl/d of light oil. The 2023 drilling program in Oxbow is currently underway with two wells now completed targeting Frobisher light oil, following up on successful wells drilled in 2022 in the Weirhill and Gainsborough areas. Viking Operations Update Saturn had particular success in developing light oil production at the Company's Viking Asset with average IP30 production per new horizontal well at approximately 38% above forecasted type curves. Drilling costs per Viking location averaged approximately $1.4 million as a result of longer lateral lengths well designs, increased completion stages and increased completion costs. The combined 30 day average production of the 31 net wells drilled in the Viking Asset in 2022 amount to approximately 2,900 bbl/d of light oil production. Saturn closed on two acquisitions in the Viking Asset in 2022 including: the February Plato acquisition of 240 boe/d, and the July Viking acquisition of 4,000 boe/d. In aggregate, Saturn increased production 1,650% in the Viking Asset from approximately 294 boe/d in January 2022 to approximately 5,158 boe/d in December 2022. The 2023 drilling program in the Viking Asset is currently underway with the drilling of a three well pad offsetting strong performing wells drilled in 2022 in the Herschel area. About Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. is a growing Canadian energy company focused on generating positive shareholder returns through the continued responsible development of high-quality, light oil weighted assets, supported by an acquisition strategy that targets highly accretive, complementary opportunities. Saturn has assembled an attractive portfolio of free-cash flowing, low-decline operated assets in Southeastern Saskatchewan and West Central Saskatchewan that provide a deep inventory of long-term economic drilling opportunities across multiple zones. With an unwavering commitment to building an ESG-focused culture, Saturn's goal is to increase reserves, production and cash flows at an attractive return on invested capital. Saturn's shares are listed for trading on the TSX.V under ticker 'SOIL' on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol 'SMKA' and on the OTCQX under the ticker 'OILSF'. Further information and a corporate presentation is available on Saturn's website at www.saturnoil.com . Saturn Oil & Gas Investor & Media Contacts: John Jeffrey, MBA - Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 (587) 392-7902 www.saturnoil.com Kevin Smith, MBA - VP Corporate Development Tel: +1 (587) 392-7900 info@saturnoil.com Reader Advisory Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Throughout this news release and in other materials disclosed by the Company, we employ certain measures to analyze financial performance, financial position and cash flow. These non-GAAP and other financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other issuers. Non-GAAP and other financial measures should not be considered to be more meaningful than GAAP measures which are determined in accordance with IFRS. The Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and MD&A as at and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 are available on the Company's website at www.saturnoil.com and under our SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The disclosure under the section "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" including non-GAAP financial measures and ratios, capital management measures and supplementary financial measures in the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this news release. This press release uses the term "capital expenditures", which is a non-GAAP financial measure. This non-GAAP financial measure is not a standardized financial measure under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. See the disclosure under the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios" in our MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, for an explanation of the composition of these measures and how these measures provide useful information to an investor, and the additional purposes, if any, for which management uses these measures. Where applicable, the supplementary financial measures used in this news release are either a per unit disclosure of a corresponding GAAP measure, or a component of a corresponding GAAP measure, presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a per unit basis are calculated by dividing the aggregate GAAP measure (or component thereof) by the applicable unit for the period. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a component basis of a corresponding GAAP measure are a granular representation of a financial statement line item and are determined in accordance with GAAP. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS. Certain information included in this press release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", "scheduled", "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this press release may include, but is not limited to capital expenditure and business plans and strategy of the Company. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Saturn, including expectations and assumptions concerning: the timing of and success of future drilling, development and completion activities, workovers & optimization projects, the performance of existing wells, the performance of new wells, the availability and performance of facilities and pipelines, the geological characteristics of Saturn's properties, the application of regulatory and licensing requirements, the availability of capital, labour and services, the creditworthiness of industry partners and the ability to source and complete asset acquisitions. Although Saturn believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Saturn can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), constraint in the availability of services, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, actions of OPEC and OPEC+ members, changes in legislation impacting the oil and gas industry, adverse weather or break-up conditions and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. These and other risks are set out in more detail in Saturn's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2021. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Saturn believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because Saturn can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified in this press release, assumptions have been made regarding and are implicit in, among other things, the availability of services, ability to spend the increased planned capital expenditures and the effect of higher oil prices on the Company's business. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which have been used. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and Saturn undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. BOE PRESENTATION Boe means barrel of oil equivalent. All boe conversions in this news release are derived by converting gas to oil at the ratio of six thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") of natural gas to one barrel ("Bbl") of oil. Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A Boe conversion rate of 1 Bbl: 6 Mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio of oil compared to natural gas based on currently prevailing prices is significantly different than the energy equivalency ratio of 1 Bbl: 6 Mcf, utilizing a conversion ratio of 1 Bbl: 6 Mcf may be misleading as an indication of value. ABREVIATIONS AND FREQUENTLY REOCCURING TERMS Saturn uses the following abbreviations and frequently recurring terms in this press release: "bbl" refers to barrel; "bbl/d" refers to barrels per day; and "Mcf" refers to thousand cubic feet. 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. All dollar figures included herein are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/154552 NEW DELHI (dpa-AFX) - Internet and social media shutdowns affected more than 4 billion people across the world last year, with Asia accounting for nearly half of them, a recent report says. The annual report by Surfshark recaps key developments in global internet censorship, namely, the legal control, suppression, or manipulation of what can and cannot be watched, seen, downloaded, or published on the world wide web. The 'most crippling internet censorship events of 2022' took place in Russia, India, Iran and the Jammu and Kashmir region, says the Netherlands-based internet censorship tracker. Of the multiple high-profile internet censorship events in 2022, these countries gained international media coverage for frequent internet and social media disruptions. The highest internet disruptions in the world were recorded in India's northern most state of Jammu and Kashmir. The disputed territory, bordering Pakistan, is considered as a separate region in the report. The VPN provider says Jammu and Kashmir has been 'facing unprecedented internet restrictions since 2019', where all restrictions 'were related to political turmoil.' TikTok has been banned in India since June 2020. Russia banned key social platforms in the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine. On February 26, 2022, to curb local anti-war protests, Twitter was restricted in Russia, followed by Facebook and Instagram. The country has also blocked access to major international news sites. The death of university student Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran's morality police sparked mass outrage in the Kurdistan province and the rest of the country in September 2022. The outcry resulted in a near-total disruption to internet services and mass-scale disruptions to mobile networks. Moreover, Instagram and Whatsapp are now nationally restricted. In other parts of the world, WhatsApp Calling remains blocked in Oman. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube were banned in 2009 and are still prohibited in China. In the same year, YouTube was blocked in Turkmenistan by its only ISP, and the ban has been in place ever since. 19 countries censored the internet in 2022. This is in addition to 13 countries that imposed long-term restrictions before 2022. 78 cases of internet restrictions took place in 2022. The average duration of an internet connection disruption was 33 hours while social media censorship lasted for an average of 114 days. National protests and political turmoil were the main catalyst for internet censorship. Facebook is the social platform authoritarian governments hate the most. Burkina Faso, Russia, and Azerbaijan had the longest-running internet disruptions in 2022, the report finds. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX SANTA ROSA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2023 / Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, joins 483 other companies as a member of the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI), a modified market capitalization-weighted index developed to gauge the performance of public companies dedicated to reporting gender-related data. This reference index measures gender equality across five pillars: leadership & talent pipeline, equal pay & gender pay parity, inclusive culture, anti-sexual harassment policies, and external brand. The 2023 GEI reaches globally to represent 45 countries and regions, including firms headquartered in Luxembourg, Ecuador, and Kuwait for the first time. Member companies represent a variety of sectors, including financials, technology, and utilities, which continue to have the highest company representation in the index from 2022. Keysight's inclusion in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index demonstrates its long-standing commitment to building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, further supporting the initiatives outlined in the company's most recent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Report . "Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of Keysight's business strategy and is critical to enabling our customers and accelerating innovation," said Satish Dhanasekaran, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Keysight will continue to prioritize transparency in our hiring practices, pay equity, leadership diversity, and employee support. We are honored to be among this prestigious group of global organizations leading the way toward a more equitable future for all." "Congratulations to the companies that are included in the 2023 GEI," said Peter T. Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg and Founding Chairman of the U.S. 30% Club. "We continue to see an increase in both interest and membership globally, reflecting a shared goal of transparency in gender-related metrics." Keysight Technologies submitted a social survey created by Bloomberg, in collaboration with subject matter experts globally. Those included on this year's index scored at or above a global threshold established by Bloomberg to reflect disclosure and the achievement or adoption of best-in-class statistics and policies. Both the survey and the GEI are voluntary and have no associated costs. Bloomberg collected this data for reference purposes only. The index is not ranked. While all public companies are encouraged to disclose supplemental gender data for their company's investment profile on the Bloomberg Terminal, those that have a market capitalization of USD1 billion are eligible for inclusion in the Index. For more information on the GEI and how to submit information for next year's index visit: https://www.bloomberg.com/gei. For more information on Bloomberg's sustainable finance solutions, including the GEI, please visit: https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/sustainable-finance/. About Keysight Technologies Keysight delivers advanced design and validation solutions that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight's dedication to speed and precision extends to software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow's technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimization and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. Our customers span the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics markets. Keysight generated revenues of $5.4B in fiscal year 2022. For more information about Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS), visit us at www.keysight.com. About Bloomberg Bloomberg is a global leader in business and financial information, delivering trusted data, news, and insights that bring transparency, efficiency, and fairness to markets. The company helps connect influential communities across the global financial ecosystem via reliable technology solutions that enable our customers to make more informed decisions and foster better collaboration. For more information, visit Bloomberg.com/company or request a demo. Additional information about Keysight Technologies is available in the newsroom at https://www.keysight.com/go/news and on Facebook , LinkedIn , Twitter , and YouTube . Media Contacts: Keysight Technologies, Inc. Contacts: Geri Lynne LaCombe, Americas/Europe +1 303 662-4748 geri_lacombe@keysight.com Fusako Dohi, Asia +81 42 660-2162 fusako_dohi@keysight.com Bloomberg Media Contact: GEIComms@bloomberg.net View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Keysight Technologies on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Keysight Technologies Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keysight-technologies Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Keysight Technologies View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/739108/Keysight-Technologies-Included-in-2023-Bloomberg-Gender-Equality-Index-GEI Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2023) - Rome Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RMR) (FSE: 33R) ("Rome" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to the Company's January 6, 2023 news release, it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") pursuant to which it has issued 10,000,000 common shares (each, a "Share" and collectively the "Shares") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.20 per Share to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $2,000,000. The Private Placement is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All Shares issued in connection with the Private Placement are restricted from trading until June 11, 2023. Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for exploration on the Company's Bisie North Tin Project and for working capital. An insider of the Company participated in the Private Placement and purchased a total of 2,225,000 Shares at $0.20/share for a total investment of $445,000. The participation by such insider is 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 has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of related party participation in the placement as neither the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involved the related party, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101). The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Private Placement as the date of closing was not previously known. About Rome Resources Rome Resources Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that has entered into two option agreements to acquire 51% direct and indirect interests in two contiguous properties situated in the Walikale District of the North Kivu Province in eastern DRC, which are collectively referred to as the "Bisie North Tin Project." Rome intends to fund exploration on the project up to the completion of a definitive feasibility study. For further information, please contact: Dr. Georg Schnura President, CEO and Director Telephone: (604) 687-6140 Email: romeresourcesltd@gmail.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although Rome Resources Ltd believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Rome Resources Ltd disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. 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. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/154601 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2023 / The Gavi ( https://www.Gavi.org ) Board has approved the appointment of Dr Muhammad Ali Pate as the Chief Executive Officer of the Vaccine Alliance following an extensive recruitment process; Dr Pate will assume the role as of 3 August 2023, replacing Dr Seth Berkley, who will step down after 12 years leading the Alliance; Dr Muhammad Ali Pate: "It will be my privilege to lead Gavi and continue to support countries to scale up critical routine immunisation programmes, reach more zero-dose children, expand access to new vaccines, transform primary health care systems, and help fight outbreaks and future pandemics." Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance announced today the appointment of Dr Muhammad Ali Pate as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr Pate will be officially starting as CEO on 3 August 2023. A proven global health leader with experience at the national and international levels, Dr Pate will lead Gavi as it continues its work to support routine immunisation, outbreak response and COVID-19 vaccinations around the world. Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, who was selected following a yearlong recruitment process personally overseen by the Chair of the Gavi Board, Professor Jose Manuel Barroso, will bring a wealth of experience to the role. A medical doctor trained in both internal medicine and infectious diseases, with an MBA from Duke University in the United States, Dr Pate served as Nigeria's Minister of State for Health between 2011 and 2013. In this role, he led a flagship initiative to revive routine vaccinations and primary health care, chaired a presidential taskforce to eradicate polio and introduced new vaccines into the country. While serving as Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population of the World Bank and Director of the Global Financing Facility at the World Bank between 2019 and 2021, he led the Bank's US$ 18 billion COVID-19 global health response and represented the Bank on various boards, including those of Gavi, the Global Fund, CEPI and UNAIDS. He is currently the Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership at Harvard Chan School of Public Health and has served on several health-focused boards and expert panels in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors during his career. Commenting on the appointment, Professor Barroso said: "Dr Muhammad Ali Pate stood out in a field of world-class candidates. With his knowledge and experience of both national immunization programming and international emergency response and global finance, I am confident that Gavi will continue to build on its vision and mission, as well as navigate the many challenges and opportunities we will face." Dr Pate, whose appointment was confirmed today at an extraordinary meeting of the Gavi Board, said: "I'm deeply honoured to be joining Gavi as its incoming CEO. Gavi is one of the most impactful organisations in global health, a testament to the great work of the Alliance partners and Secretariat staff. It will be my privilege to lead it, building on the work of Dr Seth Berkley, and continue to support countries to scale up critical routine immunisation programmes, reach more zero-dose children, expand access to new vaccines, transform primary health care systems, and help fight outbreaks and future pandemics." Sitting CEO Dr Seth Berkley has led Gavi for more than half of its existence, making it a centrepiece within the global health landscape, including recently co-establishing COVAX to serve countries during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, having so far shipped nearly 1.9 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to 146 countries. Since Dr Berkley took the helm in 2011, the Alliance has averted 11.8 million future deaths (compared to 4.5 million between 2000 and 2010); and has helped immunise more than 676 million children - more than double the 305 million children reached between 2000 and 2010. Thanks to Dr Berkley's vision for health equity, Gavi has added a number of new vaccines to its portfolio during his tenure, including for HPV, polio, cholera and malaria, and in its current strategy cycle is focusing on reaching zero-dose children across marginalised communities. The Alliance also played an increasingly influential role in emergency response, developing vaccine stockpiles for diseases such as cholera and introducing innovative financing mechanisms to fund emergency purchase of Ebola and COVID-19 vaccines. The economic result of Gavi's expansion of activities during his tenure has been profound, unlocking over US$ 160 billion of economic benefits compared to US$ 24 billion in its first ten years. Commenting on Dr Pate's appointment, Dr Berkley said: "Leading Gavi and helping the Alliance to continually surpass itself in terms of saving lives, protecting children and supporting countries during global health emergencies has been the greatest honour of my career. I am proud and humbled to have been part of what the Alliance has achieved, and I am confident in its future under Muhammad's leadership: having worked with him during his time as Minister and at the World Bank, I know he understands intimately the landscape we work in and will be uncompromising in his drive for public health equity." Dr Berkley will continue to serve as CEO until 2 August 2023, while working with incoming CEO Dr Pate to ensure a smooth transition. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance. Download image: https://apo-opa.info/3RXdwUw CONTACT: marie@apo-opa.com SOURCE: Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/739127/Gavi-The-Vaccine-Alliance-Dr-Muhammad-Ali-Pate-to-Become-Next-Chief-Executive-Officer-CEO-of-Gavi-the-Vaccine-Alliance Young Women's Preparatory Network Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School Students attend special STEAM Day inspiring future STEAM leaders Mary Kay Inc., a global advocate for women's empowerment and education, recently hosted a group of 25 young women from Dallas Independent School District's Young Women's Preparatory Network (YWPN) Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School for an educational, inspirational exploration of Women in STEAM. The events led up to the celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005585/en/ Mary Kay Inc. welcomed students from the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School to R3 for a STEAM themed summit exploring being a woman in STEAM. (Photo: Mary Kay Inc.) The high school-aged students spent the day at Mary Kay's Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing R&D Center (R3) in Lewisville, TX, where they toured the state-of-the-art facility and learned about the different aspects of STEAM-related manufacturing processes in a complex, global beauty company. Following the tour, students heard from a panel of female experts in their respective STEAM fields. The panel was comprised of experts in fields such as Upstream Innovation, Product Formulation, Information Technology, Product Research, Portfolio Strategy Planning and Process Development. In the afternoon, students engaged in a mentoring lunch where they had the opportunity to discuss different career paths for women in STEAM, personal and professional aspirations, and how we can better encourage, prepare and bolster young women pursuing careers in STEAM fields. "Mary Kay is committed to empowering and inspiring the next generation of women to pursue their passions-because the future is STEAM," said Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Innovation Officer, Product and Science at Mary Kay. "Women are underrepresented in the STEAM workforce, but we can narrow that gap by providing critical early learning opportunities and exposure for young women to seek out and explore STEAM careers of interest." Young Women's Preparatory Network is a nonprofit agency that partners with public school districts across the state of Texas to operate the largest network of all-girl, public, college preparatory schools in the nation. YWPN schools are located in struggling urban neighborhoods and have a proven track record of academic achievement, high school graduate and college acceptance rates. YWPN formed the first public/private partnership with the Dallas Independent School District, opening the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School in 2004. "We are thrilled to have our young women participate in a day filled with meaningful connections to women in STEAM, and are grateful to Mary Kay for this opportunity," said Lynn McBee, Chief Executive Officer, Young Women's Preparatory Network. "These future leaders are bright, talented young women. To have exposure to other successful women in STEAM fields and see the impact they can make provides them that extra motivation to reach farther, achieve more, and hopefully, one day, change the world through STEAM." Mary Kay celebrates and encourages young women who are taking charge of their futures through leadership, innovation, and determination to excel in STEAM fields. Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math. [1] By offering continued support to young women in STEAM fields, the company is continuing Mary Kay's mission, which is to improve the lives of women everywhere. [1]Sources National Girls Collaborative Project (2022). The State of Girls and Women in Stem. https://ngcproject.org/resources/state-girls-and-women-stem About Mary Kay Inc. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching women's lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in 35 plus countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005585/en/ Contacts: Mary Kay Inc. Global Communications newsroom.marykay.com +1.972.687.5332 media@mkcorp.com Major labor export province draws people back with local opportunities Xinhua) 09:59, February 13, 2023 HEFEI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- On an early morning shortly after the Spring Festival holiday, nearly 100 local enterprises gathered at a public square of Fuyang City in east China's Anhui Province to recruit workers for the new year production. "I saw the recruitment information on my community social media group. I want to find a job close to home because I have two kids to look after," said Liu Lei, 43, who used to work in electric welding in the coastal province of Zhejiang. Fuyang, with a population of 10.8 million, is a major source of migrant workers. Roughly 3.8 million, or more than one-third of its population, are working across the country all year round. However, like Liu, an increasing number of Fuyang residents are looking to work at their doorsteps mainly for two reasons. One, the local average income has increased gradually, although there is still a gap compared with more developed regions along the coast, and secondly, many middle-aged workers have to take care of their elderly parents and young children at home. There are many job seekers who want to stay and work in the local area, said Wang Fang, from the human resource department at BYD, a leading car manufacturer in China. Four business divisions of the company attended the job fair, aiming to hire more than 1,000 workers for its new factory in Hefei, capital of Anhui. Working near home has become a consensus shared by an increasing number of migrant workers. Some have decided to return to their hometowns to establish their own businesses after they have gained enough money and experience by working in other regions. In these newly-built factories, surplus rural laborers are absorbed, and the income of rural residents is also increased. Fuyang has taken a series of measures to encourage and support local people to come back for work or entrepreneurship. In 2020, an entrepreneurship park was launched in the city's economic development zone, providing low-cost operating sites and services for returnee entrepreneurs. The park is like an incubator that offers services such as legal, financial and human resources support, said Li Dandan, director of the park's operations. A year later, Yu Liang, a 38-year-old Fuyang businessman, founded a clothing company and settled in the park, employing some 50 workers. The factory area has expanded from 3,000 square meters to 10,000 square meters, thanks to its business growth. "It only takes about 20 minutes to come from home to the factory by e-bike. I can make over 5,000 yuan (about 740 U.S. dollars) a month, just a little lower than in more developed areas. However, I can spend more time with my family," said Yang Ping, 43, a worker at the company. Several of her neighbors who worked outside Anhui before have also applied to work in the factory this year, Yang added. Over the past 16 years, more than 63,500 individuals have returned to Fuyang and set up their own businesses, providing 482,000 jobs for the locals. The returnee workers in Fuyang are indicative of a larger trend in Anhui. The number of Anhui rural migrant workers working inside the province increased from 8.4 million in 2013 to 11.7 million in 2021, data from the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Anhui Province showed. A similar situation is observed in the Baimao Township of Anqing City in Anhui Province, where a group of local companies is benefiting from the upsurge in people willing to work close to home. Walking into the workshop of a local shoe company, dozens of automatic sewing machines can be seen running in full swing. Order volume has continued to soar since the Spring Festival this year, but the production pressure has been greatly eased with the help of returnee workers, said Wu Canwen, who works at the shoe company's administrative department. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The New York State government lifted the mandate for wearing face masks. Each healthcare facility will now get to decide on its own whether or not face masks are required to be worn within the premises. Masks Off A letter was issued by the Deputy Commissioners at the New York State Department of Health, John Morley, MD, and Adam S. Herbst, Esq. It was addressed to CEOs and administrators concerning the mandatory wearing of face masks. The letter with the subject "NYSDOH Guidance for use of Face Masks and Face Coverings in Healthcare Facilities," said that all personnel, regardless of Covid-19 vaccination status in a healthcare setting should wear an appropriate mask. The advisory was effective starting February 12th, 2023, and mentioned that it supersedes all previous NYSDOH guidance. The policy for masks was based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation (CDC). However, recommendations are not the same as requirements, as pointed out by Forbes. The NYSDOH "affirms" the importance of nonpharmacological infection prevention strategies in health care settings, which includes wearing appropriate masks. They did not mention explicitly that it is mandatory, only that it does not affect the requirements under the "Regulation for Prevention of Influenza Transmission by Healthcare and Residential Facility and Agency Personnel." Given that the COVID-19 pandemic is still not over, there were a couple of raised eyebrows over the advisory. Others like Madandate Masks NY have expressed their disappointment over the announcement as they see the move as a health risk. Related: Face ID Not Working with Mask? Here's Another Way to Unlock Your iPhone Disapproval with the Advisory People, both in healthcare and not, have voiced their opinions on the new policy and said that it was the wrong move. Dr. James McDonald said in a statement that the pandemic is not yet over, and yet people are already moving to a transition. A spokesperson for the Greater New York Hospital Association, Brian Conway, said that hospitals in the state have been prepared for the mandate to expire and that they would remain "hypervigilant for spikes in transmissible infections." Even with the lifting of the mandate, New York City's public hospital system will continue to require masks in its facilities, as mentioned in The New York Times. Still, organizations like Mandate Masks NY are trying to reverse the new policy. The organization mentioned that New York State's decision on the mandate of masks for healthcare settings put all New Yorkers at risk. They added that doing it with the continuing COVID-19 transmission shows the state abandoning its responsibility for public health. On Mandate Masks NY's website, there is an online form that can be filled out to send to Governor Kathy Hochul, Acting Health Commissioner James McDonald, New York State Senator, and Assembly members. At the time of writing, 1,387 letters have already been sent, with the goal of 1,600. The form consists of fields for an individual's first name, last name, email, street address, city, and postal code. The postal code will have to be a New York State zip code. Related: Air Purifier Masks Help You Breathe Easier Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2023) - Pantera Silver Corp. (TSXV: PNTR) ("Pantera" or the "Company") announces that it has applied to the TSX Venture Exchange to extend the expiry date of an aggregate of 11,798,500 share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") exercisable at $0.20 per common share. The Warrants currently expire on March 11, 2023. The Company proposes to extend the expiry date by 12 months to March 11, 2024 (the "Warrant Extension"). In all other respects the terms of the Warrants will remain unchanged and in full force and effect. These common share purchase warrants ("Warrants") were issued pursuant to private placements which closed on November 13th, 2020, and March 29th, 2021, respectively. The Proposed amendment of the Warrants is subject to TSXV approval. About Pantera Silver Corp. Pantera Silver Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company committed to enhancing shareholder value by advancing a diverse portfolio of mineral projects through collaborative partnerships and highly experienced technical teams. Pantera will continue to seek out and secure high-quality, unencumbered projects through research, staking and strategic acquisitions. Throughout the process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities that build lasting relationships through honest and respectful business and environmental practices while contributing to the growing needs of mined raw materials for a new green economy. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Jay Roberge" CEO/Chairman Pantera Silver Corp. panterasilvercorp@gmail.com http://www.panterasilver.com 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 contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward looking statements in this press release include that we can complete the Private Placement. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual financial results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward looking statements and the forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Pantera Silver Corp disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, 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/154657 HOLLYWOOD, FL and MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2023 / On February 27, 2023 after the NYSE closing, HEICO Corporation (NYSE:HEI.A)(NYSE:HEI) will release its financial results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2023. The earnings release will be available through the Internet on the Company's website at http://www.heico.com. In order to assist interested parties in scheduling their participation in HEICO teleconferences, the Company issues advance notices of conference calls. HEICO will hold a conference call on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss its first quarter results. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial: US and Canada (888) 254-3590, International (646) 828-8193, wait for the conference operator and provide the operator with the Conference ID 2796033. A digital replay will be available two hours after the completion of the conference call for 14 days. To access the replay, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com under the Investors section for details. The Company has two classes of common stock traded on the NYSE. Both classes, the Common Stock (HEI) and the Class A Common Stock (HEI.A), are virtually identical in all economic respects. The only difference between the share classes is the voting rights. The Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) carries 1/10 vote per share and the Common Stock (HEI) carries one vote per share. The stock symbols for HEICO's two classes of common stock on most websites are HEI and HEI.A. However, some websites change HEICO's Class A Common Stock symbol (HEI.A) to HEI/A or HEIa. HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing and distribution of products and services to certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group. HEICO's customers include a majority of the world's airlines and overhaul shops, as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide, in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers. For more information about HEICO, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com. Contact: Victor H. Mendelson (305) 374-1745 ext. 7590 Carlos L. Macau, Jr. (954) 987-4000 ext. 7570 SOURCE: HEICO Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/739188/HEICO-Corporation-Announces-Regular-Quarterly-Conference-Call EatFirst, a Berlin, Germany-based provider of a corporate food ordering platform, acquired Feedr, a London, UK-based technology food business, from Compass Group UK & Ireland. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. With the acquisition, EatFirst will expand its offering to their existing customers across Europe and Australia. In parallel, Compass has secured a stake in EatFirsts European business. Founded in 2016, Feedr is a provider of an office food delivery platform for workplace catering. The company helps companies provide sustainable, personalised, and nutrition-led food to their employees through regular lunches, group catering and pop-up food experiences. with a vision to use technology to transform office catering in London and make healthy food available to all, particularly in those locations where kitchens are not available. Founded in 2018 by Adrian Frenzel, EatFirst provides an ordering platform for office food in Europe and Australia. The company offers corporate catering, meal plans and pantry service with more than 2,000 suppliers. EatFirst serves more than 5,000 businesses of all sizes with tailored food offerings. FinSMEs 13/02/2023 HubBox, a UK-based retail technology company, received an investment from Seneca Partners. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth, expand operations and its business reach. Led by CEO and founder Sam Jarvis, HubBox provides software for retailers to offer local pickup options at checkout for customers who want alternatives to home delivery. This plug-and-play solution helps solve the issue of missed or lost deliveries and the last-mile problem for delivery providers improving the experience across the supply chain for customers and retailers alike. The company offers delivery locations for customers and works with brands such as Macys, GAP, UGG, Hobbs, Charlotte Tilbury, and Belstaff. FinSMEs 13/02/2023 Juniper Square, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of partnership enablement for the private funds industry, raised $133M in funding. The round was led by Owl Rock, a division of Blue Owl, with participation from existing investors Ribbit Capital, Redpoint Ventures, and Felicis Ventures and new investors Fifth Wall and Pappy Capital. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate innovation, expand its fund administration services and fuel rapid growth in private markets. Led by CEO Alex Robinson, Juniper Square specializes in partnership enablement for the private funds industry, offering a system for GPs and their LPs to connect and communicate across every stage of their partnerships. The company empowers investment managers to accelerate fundraising, scale operations efficiently and improve investor satisfaction. More than 1,800 GPs use it to manage more than 32,000 investment entities that span over 500,000 LPs and $700 billion in investor equity. Select client wins included: Avanath Capital Management, Berkshire Residential Investments, BentallGreenOak, CBRE Investment Management, GSV Ventures, Haun Ventures, LaSalle Investment Management, and Ribbit Capital. FinSMEs 13/02/2023 Ocean 14 Capital, a London, UK-based impact fund focused exclusively on the multi-trillion-dollar blue economy, received an investment of 30m from Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group which represents the largest IKEA retailer. Following the Principality of Monacos 10m commitment from the sovereign wealth fund in September 2022, Ocean 14 Capital has now raised 130m. The fund previously completed an 80m first close in November 2021, with backers including the European Investment Fund (EIF), Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker, Builders Vision, Minderoo Foundation, and British businessman Alex Beard and Swedish entrepreneur Niklas Zennstrom. With this backing, the purpose-led 150m impact fund is on track to grow its portfolio to between 20-25 businesses within three years, having invested in four companies to date. Led by Chris Gorell Barnes, Max Gottshalk, and George Duffield, Ocean 14 Capital Fund 1 SCSp is an impact fund focused on driving a sustainable and regenerative blue economy (which is the sector using ocean resources for economic growth and preservation). It is searching for entrepreneurs and growth businesses in Europe with big ideas around aquaculture and alternative proteins, reducing plastic waste pollution, protecting ecosystems and marine flora, and ending overfishing. The fund is aiming that around two thirds of the fund will go to companies based in Europe, with the remainder aimed to be used to invest in the rest of the world. FinSMEs 13/02/2023 According to a rumour on Weibo, Apple is reportedly planning to restrict the functionality of the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro by implementing an authentication chip similar to Lightning. This may limit the use of non-Apple approved accessories. A report by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in May 2022 indicated that Apple is testing with iPhones that feature a USB-C port instead of the Lightning port. This move is reportedly in response to the EU mandate that requires all new phones to adopt USB-C by the end of 2024. Apples Custom IC for the USB-C ports on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro As per reports, the iPhone 15 lineup will feature a variant of USB-C that has been developed by Apple. The source of the rumour is an individual who claims to be an expert in integrated circuits, with 25 years of experience working on Intels Pentium processors. Integrated circuit interfaces are semiconductor chips that are used to manage the transfer of information between devices. Since their introduction in 2012, first-party and MFi-certified Lightning ports and connectors have included a small IC that verifies the authenticity of the parts involved in the connection. Non-MFi-certified third-party charging cables, for example, do not have this chip, which can lead to This accessory is not supported warnings on connected Apple devices. The authenticator chip in the Lightning port and connectors enables Apple to promote the sale of genuine iPhone accessories and earn a commission on MFi-certified accessories, while also preventing the use of counterfeit and potentially hazardous accessories. The latest rumor suggests that Apple has created a similar custom IC for the USB-C ports and charging cables of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, as well as for new MFi-certified accessories. Its worth mentioning that the USB-C interface used in devices such as the 10th-generation iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro does not have an IC chip for authentication, making this a first for the companys USB-C ports. The potential implications of this addition are currently unknown, but its possible that Apple may limit features such as fast charging and high-speed data transfer to only Apple and MFi-certified cables. Source itel has announced that it has signed the Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan as its brand-new ambassador. The company said that Hrithiks fame will help to launch a new narrative for consumers, built around its brand positioning of connecting to the hearts of every Indian with its new slogan, #JodeIndiaKaHarDilitel. The company recently emerged as a preferred brand in the sub-Rs. 8,000 segment, with the highest proportion of repeat users among first-time handset buyers in the segment, according to a Counterpoint research conducted offline. Speaking on his association with itel Mobile India, Hrithik Roshan said: I admire itel Mobiles mission of fueling the aspirations and needs of Indian customers. With its trendy, new age yet affordable smartphones, itel Mobile is enabling and empowering consumers with a superior experience to lead a better life. With itel, I am eager to be a part of this magical journey leading towards a digitally progressive and empowered India. Commenting on the partnership, Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TRANSSION (itel) India, said: We are extremely excited to have Hrithik Roshan on board as the brand ambassador for itel. With his charisma and mass appeal, itel is poised to reach newer heights fueling aspirations of Bharat and further cement our position as a leader in the sub-8k smartphone market. He embodies the spirit of hard work, determination and by far being the most versatile star, which aligns perfectly with our brand ethos. itels journey in India has been equally progressive and rewarding by virtue of trust, faith of 8 crore + Indians on our products, service and customized communication approach making us a brand which is more relevant in their life. With our new brand tag line #JodeIndiaKaHarDil. itel, we aim to make a positive impact in the lives of every Indian and help them achieve their dreams through the power of technology. Illumination knows how to market its movies. The computer animation studio recently released a "Super Mario Bros. Movie" ad that took the entire Super Bowl by storm ahead of its April 7 release. Illumination set the "Super Mario Bros. Movie's" release date on April 7, 2023, a date earlier than previously expected if past leaks are to be believed. Super Mario Bros. Movie Super Bowl Ad Details Illumination's "Super Mario Bros. Movie" Super Bowl ad comes with nostalgia and a bit of cleverness at the end. The ad featured Mario and his brother Luigi working their plumbing services for a distressed customer, who is obviously in need of their services. This ad then highlights the brothers' services and promotes their fast, speedy, and low-cost pipe repair, as evidenced by the lady's "comment" that "the only thing they didn't drain is her bank account." Illumination built the entire ad around the theme of "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show," the Plumber Rap. For those unaware, "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!" originally aired in 1989 and was famed for producing "short, rubbish adventures" sandwiched between wild, live-action bumper segments, per Destructoid. The show featured WWE star Captain Lou Albano as the titular protagonist Mario and Canadian actor Danny Wells as Luigi. Meanwhile, the Plumber Rap theme song was based on the Overworld theme of Super Mario Bros., composed by Koji Kondo, per Gameranx. However, to make the background music for the ad, TV theme composer Shuki Levy made some changes to the theme to turn it into a rap song. Read More: Ransomware Hackers Hit Multiple Heritage Provider Network Groups in California Levy also provided the rap song's lyrics, which were sung by Albano and Wells themselves. However, didn't come with just a healthy dose of nostalgia alone. The ad also featured a hotline number and a website that, surprisingly, is real. People who visit the website will see that it promotes the brothers' plumbing business to a T. It even comes with testimonials that, interestingly, come with only one 5-star review, a one-star review, and a two-star review revealing that the brothers left their client's house a mess. It also comes with its own easter eggs, though we'll let you find them yourself. Regardless, the easter eggs are full of references to the popular Nintendo game and the company's other games, like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Those who call on the phone number in the ad (929-55-MARIO) are greeted by a message recorded by Luigi, played by Charlie Day, the actor who lent his voice to the character in the movie, per Twitter user Glitch. Super Mario Bros. Movie Details "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is scheduled for release on April 7, 2023, in North America and the UK and Europe in late-March - much earlier than the former region. Chris Pratt voices Mario while Charlie Day of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fame voices his brother, Luigi. Additionally, Anya Taylor-Joy, Seth Rogen, and Jack Black voice Princess Peach, Donkey Kong, and Bowser, respectively. The movie is co-produced by Illuminations' founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto. Related Article: Latest 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' Trailer Shows Cat Mario Police said Monday they plan to bring in Actor Yoo Ah-in for additional questioning as soon as they get the results of a drug test on his hair sample, after questioning him last week over his alleged use of propofol. Actor Yoo Ah-in / Courtesy of United Arts Agency Korea's exports increased 11.9 percent on-year in the first 10 days of February, data showed Monday, due to stronger shipments of automobiles and more working days. The country's outbound shipments stood at $17.6 billion in the Feb. 1-10 period, compared with $15.7 billion a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. The daily export volume, on the other hand, dipped 14.5 percent on-year, the data showed. The number of working days came to 8.5 days over the period, up two from a year earlier. Imports gained 16.9 percent on-year to $22.6 billion during the cited period, resulting in a trade deficit of $4.9 billion. Exports of chips, the mainstay product, reached $1.9 billion, down 40.7 percent from a year earlier. Outbound shipments of automobiles, on the other hand, more than doubled to $1.74 billion. Exports of petroleum products also increased 28.8 percent to hit $1.75 billion. By destination, exports to China, the top trading partner, slipped 13.4 percent to $3.5 billion. Those to the United States, in contrast, shot up 48 percent to $3.25 billion. Exports to the European Union jumped 53.3 percent to $2.25 billion, and those to Vietnam added 2.3 percent to $1.6 billion. In January, outbound shipments fell 16.6 percent on-year to reach $46.27 billion, following a 9.5 percent on-year fall the previous month. The country's exports fell for the fourth consecutive month in January for the first time since 2020. The country also reported an all-time monthly high trade deficit of $12.69 billion in January, far higher than the previous record of $9.44 billion set in August last year. It has suffered a trade deficit for 11 straight months. (Yonhap) SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of PLDT, Inc. (NYSE: PHI) publicly traded securities between January 1, 2019, and December 19, 2022, inclusive (the Class Period) have until April 7, 2023 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the PLDT class action lawsuit. Captioned Olsson v. PLDT Inc., No. 23-cv-00885 (C.D. Cal.), the PLDT class action lawsuit charges PLDT as well as certain of PLDTs top executives and directors with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the PLDT class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-pldt-inc-class-action-lawsuit-phi.html You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchez of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at jsanchez@rgrdlaw.com. CASE ALLEGATIONS: PLDT purports to be the Philippines largest fully integrated telco company. Through its principal business groups, PLDT offers a wide range of telecommunications and digital services across the Philippines most extensive fiber optic backbone and fixed line cellular networks. The PLDT class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) PLDT was facing capital spending budget overruns; and (ii) PLDT and certain of its executives and directors failed to address weaknesses that allowed such budget overruns. On December 16, 2022, PLDT announced that it was facing a budget overrun of PHP 48 billion. Then, on December 19, 2022, Bloomberg reported that the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission launched an inquiry into PLDTs budget overrun. On this news, the price of PLDT shares declined more than 19%, damaging investors. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired PLDT publicly traded securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the PLDT class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the PLDT class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the PLDT class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the PLDT class action lawsuit. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller is one of the worlds leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud cases. The Firm is ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report for recovering nearly $2 billion for investors in 2021 more than triple the amount recovered by any other plaintiffs firm. With 200 lawyers in 9 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world, and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 J.C. Sanchez, 800-449-4900 jsanchez@rgrdlaw.com By Lee Hae-rin The southern resort island of Jeju seeks to attract Chinese tourists again by restoring direct flights between the island and China after the Korean government resumed issuing short-term visas to foreign arrivals from China starting Saturday. The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced via a press release, Friday, that it "welcomes" the government's decision to reissue short-term visas. It is a "timely measure," considering China's coronavirus situation and its impact on the island's and the country's economy, the provincial government said. In response, Jeju plans to seek ways to facilitate the entry of Chinese travelers into the island. It will consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior and Safety to restore direct flights between Jeju and China. Direct flights from China, Hong Kong and Macau to the Korean resort island have been suspended since the outbreak of the pandemic. Jeju Governor Oh Young-hun requested the government at a Central United Defense Council meeting presided over by President Yoon Suk Yeol, Wednesday, to ease quarantine regulations on travelers arriving in Korea from China. Oh made the same request at a meeting with local governments, Friday. Also, the governor met Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming, Wednesday, to discuss ways to cooperate on the free passage of travelers between the island and China. Jeju, which has tourism offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang, plans to promote the island's tourism attractions to Chinese tourists by collaborating with the Korea Tourism Organization, the Jeju Tourism Organization and the Jeju Tourism Association. Over three million Chinese tourists visited Jeju Island in 2016. In 2019, just before the island was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, 800,000 Chinese tourists visited Jeju, accounting for the majority of the island's international visitors. Chicago, Feb. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the new market research report " Perovskite Solar Cell Market by Type of Structure (Planar and Mesoporous), Product (Rigid and Flexible), Vertical (Aerospace & Defense, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Utility), Type, Application, Technology and Region Global Forecast to 2028" The perovskite solar cell market is projected to grow from USD 271 million in 2024 to USD 2,268 million by 2028, registering a CAGR of 70.1% during the forecast period. The major growth opportunity for the perovskite solar cell market during the forecast period is the upsurge in the demand for renewable energy. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=253842189 By Type Of Structure Planar Perovskite Solar Cell Mesoporous Solar Cell - Better Efficiency By Type Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cell Multi-Junction Perovskite Solar Cell - Better Efficiency By Product Rigid Perovskite Solar Cell - Better Efficiency Flexible Perovskite Solar Cell By Vertical Aerospace & Defense Industrial Commercial Residential Utility By Application Smart Glass Solar Panel Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Others By Technology One-step Method Two-step Method Vapor-assisted Solution Method Thermal Vapor Deposition Method By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific RoW HANWHA Q CELLS Hanwha Q CELLS is engaged in designing, manufacturing, and distributing PV modules for the residential, commercial, industrial, and utility markets. The company was publicly listed until December 2018. The ownership type was changed to private in January 2019 as it merged with Hanwha Solar Holdings Co. (South Korea) and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hanwha Chemicals. Hanwha Q CELLS offers a broad portfolio of PV modules. It includes ~13 variants of PV modules, monocrystalline modules, and polycrystalline modules. The PV modules offered by the company can be installed on the ground and rooftop. The company is involved in the research and development of perovskite solar cells. In March 2022, the company collaborated with Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), a German research institute, to achieve a power conversion efficiency of 28.7% for a two-terminal perovskite silicon tandem solar cell. MICROQUANTA SEMICONDUCTOR Microquanta Semiconductor was founded by Dr. Jishong Yao and Dr. Buyi Yan in Hangzhou city in 2015. It is one of the leading companies in the research and development of perovskite solar cells and smart manufacturing equipment. The company works on innovating perovskite solar cells to improve their efficiency. A team of intellectuals among the top talent in the field of science and technology in the Hangzhou region leads the company. The company has raised a series of funding from Three George Capitals, Beijing Energy Holding, Quzhou Financial Holding, and other investors for the innovation and development of perovskite solar cells. Speak to Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=253842189 Opportunity: Rising investments and funding in development of perovskite solar cells The solar industry has witnessed various fast-paced technological developments in the past few years. Perovskite is the newest solar material with a crystal structure suitable for solar absorption. Perovskite cells also work better than silicon at lower lighting intensities, on cloudy days, or indoors, thus enabling higher conversion efficiency. The main benefit of making solar cells from perovskite is that the material is cheap and abundant and can produce low-cost solar power. As perovskite solar cells have benefits over traditional cells, companies in the solar cell industry are working to develop the cell and make it commercially available by 2024. The companies working on developing perovskite solar cells are raising funds for research and innovations. For instance, in January 2021, Microquanta Semiconductor announced a Series C round of funding. Lead investors include Three George Capitals, Beijing Energy Holding, and Quzhou Financial Holding. This funding will be used for the 100 MW production line expansion of the perovskite tandem project. Similarly, in November 2020, Oxford PV was funded by the Brandenburg Ministry of Economics as part of the EUs Regional Development Program. The grant was used in perovskite solar cell manufacturing. Continuous funding for research and development of perovskite solar cells is creating growth opportunities for the market players. Challenge: Stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cell Perovskites can decompose when they react with moisture and oxygen or when they spend extended time exposed to light, heat, or applied voltage. The perovskite research and development (R&D) community is highly focused on improving operational lifetime and is working on multiple approaches to understand and improve stability and degradation. The research is going to decrease the reactivity of the perovskite surface, and finding alternative materials for formulations of perovskite materials. Recent Developments In February 2022, Microquanta Semiconductor announced that it is building a perovskite solar power plant in Quzhou in Zhejiang Province, China. The solar plant will cover 250 acres and has a capacity of 12 MW. In July 2021, Oxford PV announced that it had completed the build-out of its manufacturing site in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. The site will be one of the worlds first volume manufacturing lines for Oxford PVs innovative perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cells. The annual target manufacturing capacity is 100 MW. Related Reports: Solar Simulator Market by Dimension (Class AAA, Class ABA, and Class ABB), Light Source (Xenon arc lamp, Metal halide arc lamp, UV lamp), Application (PV cell/module and materials testing, UV testing of materials & products) - Global Forecast to 2022 NEWARK, Del, Feb. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over the forecast period, the global electric vehicle battery housing market is expected to grow at a rapid CAGR of 31.8%. The market is expected to reach US$ 1,531.1 Million in 2023. The market is anticipated to reach US$ 24,219.1 Million by 2033. Consumer acceptance of electric car battery housing is increasing, resulting in market expansion. The unexpected increase in demand would stimulate an expansion of capabilities across the whole value chain. The government's tough pollution laws coupled with individuals' growing environmental concerns are expected to drive up demand for battery housing for electric vehicles. Request a Sample of this Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-15892 Owing to the growing market demand for electric cars, manufacturers are concentrating more on developing EV safety features. As the next step in the evolution of electric vehicles, they are also creating battery housing to strengthen EVs and boost range. Concerns about climate change and the looming depletion of fossil fuels have pushed efforts to develop better electric vehicle designs. Battery casings for electric cars perform worse than conventional battery enclosures. Additionally, it is eco-friendlier. Nonmetallic components provide strong mechanical properties, such as high rigidity and strength while being lightweight. When compared to metallic materials such as aluminum or steel, an electric car battery housing made of non-metallic components can save up to 40% weight. There are distinct benefits to adopting an electric vehicle battery housing. To craft the mobility of the future even more capable, electric vehicle makers are rapidly adopting battery housings, which is growing sales of the electric vehicle battery housing. Europe is leading the global electric vehicle battery housing market as a result of growing government support for the EV market, despite the fact that electric vehicles are currently expensive. Furthermore, the significant concentration of OEMs in the region encouraged market development. KEY TAKEAWAYS The UK electric vehicle battery housing market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 28% over the forecast period. The German electric car battery housing market is expected to hold 11.2% of the global market over the forecast period During the projection period, the Chinese electric vehicle battery housing market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 26.4% through 2032. Japan is expected to hold 1.1% of the global market over the forecast period. The Indian electric vehicle battery housing market is expected to have the highest global market share, growing at a CAGR of 42.2%. Over the projected period, the US electric vehicle battery housing market is expected to hold 9.3% of the global market. To Get Your Report Customize, Visit: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-15892 Competitive Landscape Key players operating in the electric vehicle battery housing market are SGL Carbon, Novelis Inc., Nemak S.A.B. de C.V, Constellium SE, Gestamp Automocion, UACJ Corporation, GF Linamar LLC, Hanwha Advanced Materials, Minth, Continental Structural Plastics, Thyssenkrupp AG, TRB Lightweight, Hitachi Metals Ltd., POSCO, Norsk Hydro ASA and other major players. These companies have used a variety of techniques to improve their market share for electric vehicle battery housing. To widen their client base and increase revenue, they have used both organic and inorganic growth techniques, such as new product launches, acquisitions, corporate expansions, and collaborations. Recent Development In October 2021, Novelis Inc. revealed the introduction of Generation II of its lightweight electric vehicle (EV) battery enclosure solution for the rapidly growing EV sector. In January 2020, Nemak disclosed that it will provide battery housings for the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which will be produced in North America. Key Segmentation of the Electric Vehicle Battery Housing Market By Material: Metallic Non-metallic By Application: Passenger Vehicle Commercial Vehicle By Cell Format Type: Pouch Cell Cylindrical Cell Prismatic Cell By Region: North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia & ASEAN Oceania For more information: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/electric-vehicle-battery-housing-market Table of Content 1. Executive Summary | Electric Vehicle Battery Housing 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 Scenario 3.2.2. Demand in Likely Scenario 3.2.3. Demand in Conservative Scenario Request to View TOC: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-15892 Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FMIs Automotive Landscape Electric Vehicle Battery Market Size: is set to strengthen its market hold in global market at a promising CAGR of 8.5%, while it is forecasted to hold a revenue of USD 18.09 Billion in 2032. Electric Vehicle Insulation Market Share: is likely to be worth US$ 43,795.7 Million by 2033, up from US$ 6,145.1 Million in 2023. Battery Swapping Charging Infrastructure Market Growth: is expected to surpass an impressive valuation of USD 202.07 Million in 2023 and is projected to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% from 2023 to 2033. EV Charging Station Market Outlook: is estimated to reach a valuation of US$ 10,768.2 million in 2023. As per Future Market Insights (FMI) analysis, the EV charging station market size is expected to surpass US$ 113,889.1 million in the next decade. Automotive Battery Management System Market Demand: is anticipated to rise from US$ 3.8 billion in 2023 to US$ 37.4 billion in 2033. 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. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exactitude Consultancy, the market research and consulting wing of Ameliorate Digital Consultancy Private Limited has completed and published the final copy of the detailed research report on the Circuit Breaker Market. The Global Circuit Breaker Market is expected to grow at 6.1% CAGR from 2019 to 2028. It is expected to reach above USD 9.64 billion by 2028 from USD 5.66 billion in 2021. The market is dominated by three companies: ABB, Eaton Corporation, and Siemens. ABB is the market leader, with a market share of 34%. Eaton Corporation is second, with a market share of 23%. Siemens is third, with a market share of 17%. The three companies are expected to dominate the market through 2021. A circuit breaker is a switch that interrupts the flow of electricity when it is triggered by a fault. It is a safety device used in electrical systems to prevent damage from occurring. The circuit breaker market is forecast to grow by 6.1% annually through 2021, according to a report by Exactitude Consultancy. Circuit breakers are used to protect electrical systems from overloads or faults. The market is expected to be worth $9.64 billion by 2028. Request Free Sample Copy of the Report: https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/2357/circuit-breaker-market/#request-a-sample Companies Profiled in Circuit Breaker Market Report: The Key players in the circuit breaker market are ABB, Schneider Electric Siemens, Mitsubishi Electric, and Eaton, CG Power and Industrial Solutions, XIGAO Group, LS ELECTRIC, Hueayi Electric, Myers Power Products, Larsen & Toubro, TE Connectivity, Meidensha, Toshiba, Powell Industries, and others. Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2028 Forecast Period 2023 to 2028 CAGR 6.1 % 2028 Value Projection USD 9.64 Billion Base Year 2022 Circuit Breaker Market Size in 2021 USD 5.66 Billion Historical Data for 2018-2022 Segments covered By Insulation, By Voltage, By Installation, By End Use Industry, By Region Circuit Breaker Market Growth Drivers Electrification Initiatives to Propel the Adoption of Circuit Breaker Systems Increasing Adoption of Electrical Safety Regulations to Augment Growth Driving Factors Increasing Adoption of Electrical Safety Regulations to Augment Growth Many developing nations are implementing electrification initiatives to bring electricity to rural areas through connecting them to the power grid. Some are even working towards creating a large national grid by merging different grid zones. This is positively impacting the outlook for utility-scale switches and driving fast-paced infrastructure development, leading to an abundance of electrical energy. For example, on June 10, 2021, the World Bank invested over USD 2.3 billion in infrastructure and reforms for the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP), aiming to ensure universal access to power for the 15 countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by 2030. This increased access to electricity is driving demand for electrical switching devices for safe and efficient operation of equipment, which is expected to contribute to the growth of the circuit breaker market in the coming years. Rising Compliance with Electrical Safety Regulations to Drive Market Growth The breakers have become a mandatory part of electrical networks in residential and commercial buildings, industries, and utility-scale grids. Every home, office, and others, have an electrical switching device installed because of rapidly increasing urbanization and modernization, the breakers have become an essential part of every structure. Frequent amendments such as adhering to strict compliance of test procedures for breakers and switchgear used in electrical power distribution systems. Some of the heavy load equipment requires the adoption of individual circuit breakers for safe and reliable operation. Such a regulatory scenario has positively influenced the market dynamics of breaker market sales. Restraining Factors Growing Competition from Unregulated Players to Hamper Market Growth Investments in advanced circuit breaker technology have allowed major players to compete globally. However, the market growth may be hindered by intense price competition among small competitors and growing competition from unregulated players to meet demand from industries such as manufacturing, construction, transportation, and processing. Are you a start-up willing to make it big in the business? Grab an exclusive PDF sample of this report? Global Circuit Breaker Market Analysis with Strategic Developments Key Market Segments: Circuit Breaker Market By Insulation Type Vacuum Circuit Breaker Air Circuit Breaker Gas Circuit Breaker Oil Circuit Breaker By Voltage Medium Voltage High Voltage By Installation Indoor Outdoor By End User T&D Utilities Power Generation Renewables Railways By Region Asia Pacific Europe Asia Pacific South America The Middle East and Africa Recent Developments In January 2020, Siemens acquired C&S Electric, a manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment, to cater to the growing need for electrification products. . The scope of the acquisition included the Indian operations of C&S Electrics low-voltage switchgear components and panels, low and medium voltage power busbars as well as protection and metering devices businesses. In September 2020, Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies announced the expansion of the Endurant Automated Transmission lineup with the launch of the Endurant XD series. The series is high-performance automated transmissions designed for on-highway applications, such as double and triple trailer trucks, and severe-duty on/off highway applications like dump and logging trucks. In September 2020, Siemens launched the type SDV-R non-arc-resistant and type SDV-R-AR arc-resistant medium-voltage outdoor distribution circuit breakers that are designed for renewable energy applications, such as wind power generation. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): What are the circuit breaker sizes in market? Circuit Breaker Market is expected to grow at 6.1% CAGR from 2019 to 2028. It is expected to reach above USD 9.64 billion by 2028 from USD 5.66 billion in 2021 Why is there a circuit breaker shortage? The rapid increase in demand for electronic components has put a strain on component manufacturers, leading to a shortage of electrical panels. Which circuit breaker is used in industry? SF6 industrial circuit breakers are highly sought after for their ability to effectively interrupt high voltage arcs in industrial settings. These circuit breakers use SF6 gas to open a circuit and are widely used due to their dependability in typical industrial conditions. What are the major drivers for the circuit breaker market? The circuit breaker is driven by factors such as growing investments in power generation, specifically from renewable energy sources; rising demand for reliable and secure power supply worldwide; increasing capacity additions and enhancements for T&D networks; and accelerating investments in railways sectors. Major Points in TOC: Introduction Market Definition Market Segmentation Research Timelines Assumptions and Limitations Research Methodology Data Mining Secondary Research Primary Research Subject-Matter Experts Advice Quality Checks Final Review Data Triangulation Bottom-Up Approach Top-Down Approach Research Flow Data Sources Executive Summary Market Overview Global Circuit Breaker Market Outlook Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Impact of Covid-19 On Circuit Breaker Market Porters Five Forces Model Threat from New Entrants Threat from Substitutes Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining Power of Customers Degree of Competition Industry Value Chain Analysis Global Circuit Breaker Market, By Insulation Type Global Circuit Breaker Market, By Voltage Global Circuit Breaker Market, By Installation Global Circuit Breaker Market, By End-Uses Global Circuit Breaker Market, By Region North America South America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa Company Profiles* (Business Overview, Company Snapshot, Products Offered, Recent Developments) TOC Continued! About Exactitude Consultancy Exactitude Consultancy is a market research & consulting services firm which helps its client to address their most pressing strategic and business challenges. Our market research helps clients to address critical business challenges and also helps make optimized business decisions with our fact-based research insights, market intelligence, and accurate data. ENDEAVOUR ANNOUNCES BLOCK LISTING OF SHARES IN RESPECT OF MATURITY OF CONVERTIBLE LOAN NOTES London, 13 February 2023 Endeavour Mining plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV) (the Company) announces that an application has been made to the Financial Conduct Authority and the London Stock Exchange for 835,268 ordinary shares of US$0.01 each in the Company ("New Shares") to be admitted to the premium segment of the Official List and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange. Subject to approval by the Financial Conduct Authority and the London Stock Exchange, the New Shares are expected to be admitted on 15 February 2023. The New Shares are being reserved under a block listing, to be issued in anticipation of the approaching maturity of the US$330 million convertible senior notes under an indenture dated 5 February 2018, as amended in a supplemental indenture dated 11 June 2021 (the Indenture), due on 15 February 2023. The Company, on 11 August 2022, made an election under the Indenture for the Default Settlement Mechanism meaning that the principal amount of US$330 million would be settled in cash but any contingent premium due to holders of the Indenture (resulting from the share price exceeding the strike price) would be settled in ordinary shares of the Company. When issued, these New Shares will rank pari passu with existing Shares. CONTACT INFORMATION For Investor Relations Enquiries: For Media Enquiries: Martino De Ciccio Brunswick Group LLP in London Deputy CFO and Head of Investor Relations Carole Cable, Partner +44 203 011 2706 +44 7974 982 458 investor@endeavourmining.com ccable@brunswickgroup.com ABOUT ENDEAVOUR MINING PLC Endeavour Mining is one of the worlds senior gold producers and the largest in West Africa, with operating assets across Senegal, Cote dIvoire and Burkina Faso and a strong portfolio of advanced development projects and exploration assets in the highly prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across West Africa. A member of the World Gold Council, Endeavour is committed to the principles of responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to its employees, stakeholders and the communities where it operates. Endeavour is admitted to listing and to trading on the London Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the symbol EDV. For more information, please visit www.endeavourmining.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Endeavour with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words may, would, could, should, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar expressions. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect Endeavour managements expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Endeavour believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of Endeavour. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of Endeavour and market conditions. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in filings made by Endeavour with the Canadian securities regulators, including Endeavours annual information form for the financial year ended December 31, 2020 and financial statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Endeavour has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Endeavour does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO, NYSE MKT: BTG, NSX: B2G) (B2Gold) and Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (Sabina) are pleased to announce that the parties have entered into a definitive agreement (the Agreement) pursuant to which B2Gold has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Sabina (the Transaction). The Transaction will result in B2Gold acquiring Sabinas 100% owned Back River Gold District located in Nunavut, Canada. The Back River Gold District consists of five mineral claims blocks along an 80 kilometre (km) belt. The most advanced project in the district, Goose, is fully permitted, construction ready, and has been de-risked with significant infrastructure currently in place. B2Gold has strong northern construction expertise and experience to deliver the fully permitted Goose project and the financial resources to develop the significant gold resource endowment at the Back River Gold District into a large, long life mining complex. Under the terms of the Transaction, B2Gold will issue 0.3867 of a common share of B2Gold (each whole share, a B2Gold Share) for each Sabina common share (Sabina Share) held, representing consideration of C$1.87 per Sabina Share on a fully-diluted basis and a total equity value for Sabina of approximately C$1.1 billion based on the closing price of B2Gold on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) as of February 10, 2023. The consideration implies a premium of 45% to the 20-day volume weighted average prices (VWAP) of each of B2Gold and Sabina on the TSX as of February 10, 2023. Furthermore, the consideration implies a premium of 45% to the closing price of Sabina on the TSX as of February 2, 2023, the date the non-binding letter of intent was signed. The Transaction will be implemented by way of a court-approved Plan of Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the Arrangement). Upon completion of the Arrangement, existing B2Gold shareholders and former Sabina shareholders will own approximately 83% and 17%, respectively, of the outstanding B2Gold Shares. Strategic Rationale for B2Gold Adds a high grade, fully permitted, construction ready gold project in Nunavut, Canada : A March 2021 Updated Feasibility Study on the Goose project outlined a 15-year life of mine, producing an average of 223,000 ounces of gold per year (average annual production of 287,000 ounces over first five years) from 3.6 million ounces of Mineral Reserves averaging 5.97 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. The Goose project has been significantly de-risked with 97% of procurement complete, pre-stripping having begun at the Echo pit, and 100% of plant site civil works completed. Will leverage B2Golds in-house construction and global logistics teams, with specific expertise in remote, cold weather environments (including winter ice road construction and operation) from constructing the Julietta and Kupol mines in Russia as part of B2Golds predecessor company, Bema Gold. : Enhanced operational and geographic diversification by combining B2Golds stable production base with a high grade, advanced development asset in a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction: Scarcity of high grade, long life, construction ready gold development projects located in mining friendly jurisdictions with meaningful production scale. With an estimated average head grade of ~6.0 g/t gold, the Goose project ranks among the highest-grade undeveloped gold projects globally. B2Gold will have production and development assets spanning four continents and located in both established mining jurisdictions and high growth emerging economies, serving to mitigate collective operational and geopolitical risk. Significant untapped exploration potential across an 80 km belt : At the Goose project, all deposits (Goose, Echo, Umwelt, Llama, and Nuvuyak) are open along the eight kilometres of iron formation, providing considerable potential for mine life extension. At the George project (~50 km from the Goose project), over 20 km of iron formation (nearly triple the iron formation length of the Goose project) represents a highly prospective area to expand existing mineral resources. Over 40 targets have been identified at the George project for follow-up drilling. B2Gold is planning a significant exploration campaign for the district over the next few years. : Opportunity to optimize the development of the Back River Gold District with a stronger balance sheet: Potential to increase production in first five years of the mine life through accelerated development of the underground mine at the Goose project. B2Gold to complete optimization studies on various project initiatives which could improve long-term economics by allocating more capital up-front. Immediately and meaningfully grows B2Golds attributable Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources base: Attributable Proven & Probable Mineral Reserves increase by 66% to 9.0 million gold ounces. Attributable Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources increase by 52% to 18.5 million gold ounces. Attributable Inferred Mineral Resources increase by 63% to 7.4 million gold ounces. Leverages B2Golds strong financial position and robust free cash flow generation to develop the Back River Gold District, with the potential for long-term tax synergies : Upon completion of the Transaction, it is anticipated that B2Gold would develop the Back River Gold District without further equity dilution to B2Gold shareholders. Development of the district offers the potential for long-term tax benefits from B2Golds Canadian tax pools. : Clive Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of B2Gold said, The acquisition of Sabina represents an exciting opportunity to develop the significant gold resource endowment at the Back River Gold District into a large, long life mining complex. B2Gold has strong construction expertise and experience to successfully develop the fully permitted Goose project and unlock considerable value for the shareholders of both Sabina and B2Gold. The Back River Gold District has multiple high-potential mineralized zones which remain open, and we are confident that the district has strong untapped upside with numerous avenues for resource growth. Our extensive due diligence reinforced the scarcity of a gold district of the quality of Back River, as well as the excellent work that the Sabina team has completed to date in taking the asset from an exploration project to a near-term operating mine. We have great respect for what Sabina has achieved at Back River and look forward to working with their exceptional team moving forward. We also look forward to building strong relationships with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and commit to ensuring that the development of the gold district delivers sustainable benefits to the Kitikmeot communities and Nunavut, as B2Gold has done all over the world in the communities and jurisdictions in which we operate in. Benefits to Sabina Shareholders Immediate upfront premium of 45% to the to the 20-day VWAP of each of B2Gold and Sabina on the TSX as of February 10, 2023, and a premium of 45% to the closing price of Sabina on the TSX as of February 2, 2023, the date the non-binding letter of intent was signed. Ownership in a major gold producer with proven northern construction and operating capabilities, significantly reduces execution risk of the Goose project compared to a junior developer. Ongoing exposure to future value creating milestones at the Back River Gold District, and to Fekola, a cornerstone Tier 1 asset with significant free cash flow generation. Provides access to a strong, debt free balance sheet and robust cash flow generation to fund and optimize the development of the Back River Gold District. Enhanced institutional investor following, improved trading liquidity, and participation in a peer leading dividend yield. Bruce McLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sabina said, We are tremendously proud of the work we have done to advance the first mine on what we believe will be a multi-generational mining district at Back River. The execution of the Goose project by Sabina did not come without risk to Sabina as a single asset, junior development company with capital constraints. With a two-year construction period until first gold production, we believe that additional value can be unlocked by participating as shareholders of a major gold producer with the northern experience and financial resources to optimize the Goose project and this prolific belt. Shareholders will also benefit from exposure to B2Golds continued growth and healthy dividends. We would like to thank our land-owners, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and the constituents of the Kitikmeot Region for all their support in advancing this project. I am confident that, when completed, this agreement means an ever-brighter future for the Back River Gold District. B2Gold will bring to Nunavut a wealth of international mining experience built upon a proven track record of project success. About the Back River Gold District The Back River Gold District is located in southwestern Nunavut, Canada, approximately 520 km northeast of Yellowknife. The district comprises mining leases and claims covering approximately 58,374 hectares. There are five mineral claim blocks on the 80 km belt. The most advanced is the Goose project. The second most advanced is the George project, situated approximately 60 km northwest from the Goose project. There are three other underexplored claim blocks named Boot, Boulder, and Del. Significant infrastructure exists at the Goose project site along with the port facility at Bathurst Inlet. In March 2021, an Updated Feasibility Study was published on the Goose project, outlining attractive operating metrics and robust economics, including: 18.7 million tonnes processed at an average grade of ~6.0 g/t gold over a 15-year mine life. Average metallurgical recoveries of 93.4%. Average annual production of 223,000 ounces of gold. First five years average of 287,000 ounces of gold, with peak production of 312,000 ounces in year three. Average cash costs of US$679 per ounce of gold and all-in sustaining costs of US$775 per ounce of gold. Initial capital costs of C$610 million with total life of mine sustaining capital costs of C$419 million. Payback of 2.3 years, with a post-tax IRR of ~28% and NPV 5% of C$1.1 billion utilizing a gold price of US$1,600 per ounce and a C$:US$ exchange rate of 1.31. The Goose project contains Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources of 5.1 million ounces of gold and Inferred Mineral Resources of 1.8 million ounces of gold. All deposits that comprise the existing Goose Mineral Resources remain open. The George project contains Indicated Mineral Resources of 1.2 million ounces of gold and Inferred Mineral Resources of 1.1 million ounces of gold. All deposits that comprise the existing George Mineral Resources remain open. Inuit Relations and Sustainability Upon closing of the Transaction, B2Gold will continue to honour the Framework Agreement that Sabina signed with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA) outlining renewable 20-year benefit and land tenure agreements. B2Gold looks forward to continuing the positive and strong relationships with the community that Sabina has established through meaningful engagement. B2Gold recognizes that respect and collaboration with the KIA is central to the license to operate in the district and will continue to prioritize developing the project in a manner that recognizes Indigenous input and concerns and brings long-term socio-economic benefits to the area. Consistent with how it develops all its projects around the world, B2Gold is committed to ensuring that its operations leave a lasting and positive legacy and to minimize environmental impacts. The Back River Gold District is in an area conducive to wind power and B2Gold expects to fully assess the viability of building a renewable resources facility that supports B2Golds goal of reducing GHG emissions by 30% by 2030. B2Gold will also look to incorporate energy-efficient initiatives as it constructs the project, including evaluating electric and hydrogen fuel fleets. Transaction Structure and Terms Under the terms of the Transaction, B2Gold will acquire all the issued and outstanding Sabina Shares and Sabina shareholders will receive 0.3867 B2Gold Shares for each existing Sabina Share held. All outstanding Sabina stock options will be exchanged for B2Gold stock options based on the exchange ratio. The Transaction will be carried out by way of a court-approved Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and will require approval by 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Sabina shareholders at a special meeting expected to be held in April 2023. The B2Gold Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Transaction. The Sabina Board of Directors have unanimously approved the Transaction, with Sabina directors recommending that Sabina shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction. Each of the directors and senior officers of Sabina, representing in aggregate approximately 1% of the issued and outstanding Sabina Shares, have entered into voting support agreements with B2Gold and have agreed to vote in favour of the Transaction at the special meeting of shareholders of Sabina to be held to consider the Transaction. In addition to Sabina shareholder approval, the Transaction is subject to normal course regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Subject to the satisfaction of these conditions, B2Gold and Sabina expect that the Transaction will be completed in the second quarter of 2023. B2Gold and Sabina have provided representations and warranties customary for a transaction of this nature as well as customary interim period covenants regarding the operation of their respective businesses in the ordinary course. The Agreement also provides for customary deal-protection measures, including non-solicitation covenants on the part of Sabina and a right to match in favour of B2Gold. Sabina may, under certain circumstances, terminate the Agreement in favour of an unsolicited superior proposal, subject to a termination payment by Sabina to B2Gold. Further information regarding the Transaction will be contained in an information circular that Sabina will prepare, file and mail in due course to its shareholders in connection with the Sabina special meeting. Details regarding these and other terms of the transaction are set out in the Agreement, which will be available under each of B2Golds and Sabinas profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Agreement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws, and any securities issued in the Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Advisors and Counsel B2Golds financial advisor is National Bank Financial, its Canadian legal counsel is Lawson Lundell LLP and its United States legal counsel is Dorsey & Whitney LLP. Sabinas financial advisors are BMO Capital Markets and Cormark Securities Inc., its Canadian legal counsel is Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and its United States legal counsel is Skadden, Arps Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Each of BMO Capital Markets and Cormark Securities Inc. has provided an oral opinion to the Board of Directors of Sabina that the consideration offered under the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of Sabina. Conference Call B2Gold and Sabina executives will host a conference call to discuss the Transaction on February 13, 2023, at 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET. Participants may dial in using the numbers below. Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: +1 (800) 319-4610 All other callers: +1 (604) 638-5340 The conference call will be available for playback for two weeks by dialing toll-free in U.S. and Canada: +1 (800) 319-6413, replay code 9906. All other callers: +1 (604) 638-9010, replay code 9906. Qualified Persons Bill Lytle, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of B2Gold Corp. and Vincy Benjamin, Director, Engineering for Sabina Gold & Silver Corp., both qualified persons under NI 43-101, have approved the scientific and technical information related to operations matters contained in this news release. Brian Scott, P. Geo., Vice President, Geology & Technical Services for B2Gold Corp. and Angus Campbell, Vice President, Exploration for Sabina Gold & Silver Corp., both qualified persons under NI 43-101, have approved the scientific and technical information related to exploration and mineral resource matters contained in this news release. About B2Gold Corp. B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines and numerous exploration and development projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia, Finland and Uzbekistan. B2Gold forecasts total consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000 and 1,080,000 ounces in 2023. About Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is an emerging gold mining company that owns 100% of the district scale, advanced, high grade Back River Gold District in Nunavut, Canada. Sabina filed an Updated Feasibility Study on its first project on the district, Goose, which presents a project that will produce ~223,000 ounces of gold a year (first five years average of 287,000 ounces a year with peak production of 312,000 ounces in year three) for ~15 years with a rapid payback of 2.3 years, with a post-tax IRR of ~28% and NPV 5% of C$1.1 billion at a gold price of US$1,600 per ounce. See National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report 2021 Updated Feasibility Study for the Goose Project at the Back River Gold District, Nunavut, Canada dated March 3, 2021. The Goose project has received all major permits and authorizations for construction and operations. Sabina is also very committed to its Inuit stakeholders, with Inuit employment and opportunities a focus. Sabina has signed a 20-year renewable land use agreement with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and has committed to various sustainability initiatives under the agreement. For more information on B2Gold please visit www.b2gold.com or contact: Michael McDonald Cherry DeGeer VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Development Director, Corporate Communications +1 604-681-8371 +1 604-681-8371 investor@b2gold.com investor@b2gold.com For more information on Sabina please visit www.sabinagoldsilver.com or contact: Nicole Hoeller VP, Communications +1 888-648-4218 nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news release. Production results and production guidance presented in this news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2022 for a discussion of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates. This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: the consummation and timing of the Transaction; the strengths, characteristics and potential of the post-Transaction B2Gold, assuming consummation of the Transaction upon the terms of the Agreement, including the Arrangement; B2Golds planned exploration campaign at the Back River Gold District, including timing thereof; the strategic vision of B2Gold and expectations regarding the potential of the Back River Gold District, including the Goose project and the George Project; the ability to leverage B2Golds in-house construction and global logistics teams, with specific expertise in remote, cold weather environments; the potential to develop the Back River Gold District, including whether such costs may be covered without further equity dilution to B2Gold shareholders; the potential of building a renewable resources facility in the Back River Gold District and integrating energy efficient initiatives; timing, receipt and anticipated effects of applicable shareholder, court and regulatory approvals; projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and AISC, and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis; the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including but not limited to local communities and all levels of government; B2Golds continued prioritization of developing the project in a manner that recognizes Indigenous input and concerns and brings long-term socio-economic benefits to the area; and including, without limitation: projected gold production, cash operating costs and AISC on a consolidated and mine by mine basis in 2023; total consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000 and 1,080,000 ounces in 2023; the Company reducing its GHG by 30% by 2030 against a 2021 baseline; the Fekola solar plant expansion increasing solar power capacity by 22 MWac, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 24,000 tonnes per year and reducing heavy fuel oil consumption by an average 7.6 million liters per year; and construction of the Fekola solar plant expansion project beginning in the third quarter of 2023 and completing in the third quarter of 2024. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's or Sabinas control, including risks associated with or related to: the inherent risks, costs and uncertainties associated with integrating the businesses successfully and risks of not achieving all or any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction, or the risk that the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction may not be fully realized or take longer to realize than expected; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Agreement; the risk that the proposed Transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period, or at all; the duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions; escalation of travel restrictions on people or products and reductions in the ability of the Company to transport and refine dore; worldwide economic and political disruptions as a result of current macroeconomic conditions or the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates contained herein, or in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippines and Colombia and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's and Sabinas operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's and Sabinas reputation; risks affecting Calibre having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"), as well as under the heading Risk Factors in Sabinas most recent Annual Information Form which may be viewed at www.sedar.com. The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements. B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to: B2Golds and Sabinas ability to achieve timely satisfaction of conditions precedent to the Transaction, including with respect to key regulatory and shareholder approvals; B2Gold's and Sabinas ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry. B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Cautionary Statement Regarding Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates The disclosure in this news release was prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101, which differs significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and resource and reserve information contained or referenced in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by public companies subject to the technical disclosure requirements of the SEC. Historical results or feasibility models presented herein are not guarantees or expectations of future performance. A graph accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/233fa244-b333-4e49-887e-ed0ec3b16f12 NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Council for Aid to Education, Inc. (CAE), a nonprofit developer of assessments that measure students essential academic and career skills, today announced its selection as an approved assessment provider for CESA Purchasing, a statewide cooperative educational purchasing agency in Wisconsin. The agreement enables public, private and charter K-12 schools, as well as districts throughout the state, to use CAEs College and Career Readiness Assessment (CCRA+) with preferred pricing. Designed for students in grades six through 12, CCRA+ assesses critical thinking, problem solving and effective written communications essential skills that are predictive of positive college and career outcomes. These are also the skills that districts and schools include on their Portrait of a Graduate. CAE is proud to join CESA a trusted partner to Wisconsin educators to help schools and districts statewide access our assessment tools more easily, said Bob Yayac, president and CEO, CAE. Readiness is more than content knowledge. This collaboration allows for the effective evaluation of Wisconsin students to increase their opportunities for future success. The performance-based CCRA+ authentically measures students essential academic and career skills, providing actionable insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. It comprises a 60-minute performance task and a 30-minute selected response section delivered online through CAEs integrated Next Step platform. The assessment can be used in-person, such as in a classroom or computer lab, online with remote proctoring or any combination of the two. We are excited to work with CAE to offer performance-based assessments that go beyond measuring content knowledge, said Mitchell Lilly, executive director of marketing and communications, CESA Purchasing. "Its important to provide tools to districts to help ensure all students in Wisconsin have the essential skills they need for their next step. CAE will provide onboarding, assessment administration and reporting as well as professional development to educators. Its student and institution reports include analysis and insights such as mastery level, performance task and selected response sub-scores, and comparison to CAEs norm-referenced sample of more than 100,000 students. Additionally, CAE can provide districts and schools with evidenced-based micro-credentials, critical thinking instruction and custom performance-based assessments. To learn more about CAEs assessments, visit https://cae.org/solutions-cesa. About CAE Since 2002, CAE has developed performance-based and custom assessments that authentically measure students essential academic and career skills. Our Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+) and Success Skills Assessment (SSA+) for higher education and College and Career Readiness Assessment (CCRA+) for secondary education evaluate the skills that are predictive of positive college and career outcomes and in demand by employers: critical thinking, problem solving and effective written communication. Over 825,000 students at more than 1,300 secondary and higher education institutions globally have completed CAEs essential skills assessments. As a nonprofit whose mission is to improve student outcomes, CAE also offers critical thinking skills curriculum, professional development, and designs custom, innovative performance assessments across all subject areas and grades. To learn more, please visit www.cae.org and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter. About CESA Purchasing CESA Purchasing is a free Wisconsin statewide cooperative that works with over 100 vendors to provide discounts and value-added benefits to K12 schools, libraries, technical colleges, and other non-profit educational entities. CESA Purchasing's mission is to level the playing field for all Wisconsin schools. By negotiating contracts on behalf of all Wisconsin schools, CESA Purchasing can create contracts with discounts that benefit the smallest school as much as the largest district. CESA Purchasing strives to stretch school budgets while offering relevant and essential products and services. Find more information about how CESA Purchasing can support your school's purchasing needs at www.cesapurchasing.org. ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KBKG, a tax credits and incentives consulting firm, has announced the promotion of Amar Patel to Principal of Cost Segregation. Patel is based out of the firm's Southeast office and most recently spent the past two years as the Director of Cost Segregation. "Amar and I have known each other our entire careers, so I know what kind of person he is and what he is capable of," said Jonathan Tucker, Principal. "Ever since Amar joined our team, he has continually proven why he is one of the best in the business at what he does. Amar is more than deserving of this promotion, as his work ethic is reflected in his ability to find tax-saving solutions for our clients. Everyone he works with enjoys his presence and what he brings to the table. I couldn't be happier to be partners with my colleague I started my career with and to see how he will help our company continue its upward trajectory." For the last 16 years of practicing, Patel has become an expert in cost segregation and large fixed asset depreciation reviews for purposes of identifying federal, state, and property tax benefits. In his elevated role as Principal, Patel will lead KBKG's cost segregation practice for the firm's Southeast region, which includes cost segregation, fixed asset reviews, and tangible property reviews. Patel will also take on a national role of overseeing accounting method issues related to capitalization, Section 1031 interplay with cost segregation, and develop tax planning insights, as well as thought-leadership related to tax capitalization. Along with his Georgia CPA license and American Institute of CPAs membership, Patel is also part of the American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals and is a Certified Authorization Filer with the IRS. KBKG's Southeast operations are based in Atlanta, Georgia, with a network of remote support throughout the region. Tucker is the firm's Southeast regional leader and Principal of R&D Tax Credit Services. He oversees a growing team of technical experts that serve businesses located in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. About KBKG Established in 1999 with offices across the U.S., KBKG provides turn-key tax solutions to CPAs and businesses, including research and development tax credits, cost segregation, green building tax incentives (45L tax credits and 179D deductions), transfer pricing for multinational businesses, and more. KBKG has office locations nationwide with employees located in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, New York City, and Dallas-Fort Worth. For more information about KBKG, please visit KBKG.com. Contact Information: Bethany Wolfe Director - Marketing bethany.wolfe@kbkg.com Related Files KBKG Announces Amar Patel Promotion.pdf Related Images Image 1: KBKG Promotes Amar Patel KBKG has promoted Amar Patel to Principal of Cost Segregation This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment The Northern Monserrat sector comprises a series of targets including Main Veins, Bajo Pedernal, Monserrat West, Abanico, Gladys, Entrevero, Monserrat East, among others, within our flagship El Dorado Monserrat ( EDM ) gold-silver project (6,200 ha), located 17 km west of the multi-million oz. producing Cerro Vanguardia gold mine run by AngloGold Ashanti. 1 ) gold-silver project (6,200 ha), located 17 km west of the multi-million oz. producing Cerro Vanguardia gold mine run by AngloGold Ashanti. The new drilling confirms shallow Au-Ag mineralization at the Main Veins target and extending the system to the north, including MVDDH078 intercepts at 4.5 m, 4.00 m @ 1.66 g/t Au Eq., and at 18.5 m, 4.00 m @ 1.49 g/t Au Eq. New veins were intercepted between the Main Veins and Monserrat West targets, confirming the existence of additional high-grade veins under the modern rock cover at the Bajo Pedernal target (which lies between Main Veins and Monserrat West) - BPDDH001 intercepts significant gold mineralization at 92.5 m, 0.60 m @ 6.18 g/t Au Eq. Prior significant drill results at these targets include: 6.0 m @ 14.43 g/t Au Eq. at Main Veins ; 2.4 m @ 18.05 g/t Au Eq. at Monserrat West; and 4.0 m @ 2.42 g/t Au Eq. at Bajo Pedernal (see Fredonia news release dated January 20 th , 2022) . at Main Veins at Monserrat West; and at Bajo Pedernal (see Fredonia news release dated January 20 , 2022) Additionally, the Southern Mineralized Corridor that includes the Herradura Hill target, and which was part of this phase III drilling campaign, produced significant drill results, including 8.00 m @ 6.00 g/t Au Eq. (see Fredonia news release dated January 31st, 2023). 1 2.5 million oz. Au in the measured and indicated mineral resource category (including reserves) per AngloGold Ashanti Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Report as at 31 December 2021; 145,000 oz production in 2021 per Cerro Vanguardia Operational Profile 2021; available at www.anglogoldashanti.com. TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fredonia Mining Inc. (Fredonia or the Company) (TSXV:FRED) announces successful completion of its phase III drilling program, with results of the remaining 6 HQ diamond drill holes totaling 1,143.00 m. drilled at the Northern Monserrat sector of its EDM project. The phase III drill program included an aggregate of 12 holes for a total of 2,955 m 6 holes in the southern Herradura Hill target (see Fredonia news release dated January 31st, 2023) and the last 6 holes at the Northern Monserrat sector (drilled at the Main Veins, Bajo Pedernal and Monserrat West targets). We are very encouraged to learn that the Bajo Pedernal target, which joins the Monserrat West target to the Main Veins target, has multiple veins under modern rock cover, with potential to host high-grade ore shoots, similar to those already detected at the Main Veins and Monserrat West targets, said Estanislao Auriemma, Chief Executive Officer of Fredonia. Also very pleased to learn that the strike of the veins continues to the north under the post-mineral basalt flow, which indicates a significant increase in the mineralized area at the EDM project. The high-grades of gold and silver drilled in the Northern Monserrat sector, and those drilled at the Herradura Hill target in this current exploration program, confirm the growing potential of the EDM project. This phase III drill program was design to cover two targets within the Northern Monserrat sector: A four-hole fence completes a full 1.1 km long cross-section to encompass a large unexposed Bajo Pedernal target covered by modern rocks. This cross-section spans the area between the Main Veins and Monserrat West targets. The drill-hole fence intercepted multiple zones of stockworks, veins and breccias containing high- grade of gold and silver, with 0.60m @ 6.18 g/t Au Eq. at BPDDH001. The new intercepts added to the historical intercepts at Main Veins and Monserrat West, in the Northern Monserrat sector. (see Figure 3). The two additional drill holes at the Main Veins target extend its strike and open the system to the north, under the basalt flow, intersecting a wide ore shoot with high-grade - 4.00m @ 1.66 g/t Au Eq. and 4.00m @ 1.49 g/t Au Eq at MVDDH078. (see Figure 4). Figure 1: Map showing the location of the main targets at the Northern Monserrat sector - El Dorado Monserrat gold-silver project (6,200 ha licenses). The Northern Monserrat sector comprises an area 3.5 km long by 3.2 km wide, made up of mineralized corridors hosted in andesitic lavas that form country rock, and contains more than 20 kilometers of epithermal veins, not all of which have been explored or drilled. There is evidence of buried veins unexplored or as extensions to understand the vein systems. All prospects discovered up to date have not been limited along strike or dip. Two different strikes of faults host the mineralization: north-south "horst and graben" faults, and NW-SW shear faults. The crossings, nodes, and inflexion between both structures control the location of the high-grade gold and silver ore shoots, and reveal the potential at the Northern Monserrat sector. Figure 2: Map showing drill holes location and intercepts at the Northern Monserrat sector: Table I. Drill-hole statistics: Drill Hole Target Easting Northing Altitude Azimuth Dip EOH BPDDH001 Bajo Pedernal 2529054 4637900 223 279 -45 200.00 BPDDH002 Bajo Pedernal 2528900 4637900 214 279 -45 221.00 BPDDH003 Bajo Pedernal 2528750 4637900 211 279 -45 302.00 BPDDH004 Bajo Pedernal 2528450 4637900 214 279 -45 302.00 MVDDH077 Main Veins 2529555 4639429 222 110 -45 56.00 MVDDH078 Main Veins 2529538 4639184 201 79 -60 62.00 Total: 1,143.00 Table II. The intercepts of current Phase III drilling at Bajo Pedernal and Main Veins Targets - Northern Monserrat sector, are shown below: Hole ID Target From To Length (*) Au Eq g/t (**) Au g/t Ag g/t BPDDH001 Bajo Pedernal 92.50 93.10 0.60 6.18 5.98 14.91 BPDDH001 Bajo Pedernal 106.00 106.50 0.50 1.39 0.43 72.28 BPDDH002 Bajo Pedernal 126.70 127.00 0.30 3.04 0.14 217.18 BPDDH003 Bajo Pedernal 79.50 80.00 0.50 1.39 0.02 102.69 BPDDH003 Bajo Pedernal 214.00 214.50 0.50 1.04 0.30 55.73 BPDDH004 Bajo Pedernal 246.00 247.00 1.00 2.87 0.02 213.55 MVDDH077 Main Veins 25.00 28.00 3.00 1.41 1.24 12.62 including Main Veins 25.00 26.00 1.00 3.24 3.02 16.65 MVDDH078 Main Veins 4.50 8.50 4.00 1.66 0.81 63.81 including Main Veins 4.50 5.00 0.50 3.18 0.73 184.05 and Main Veins 7.00 8.50 1.50 2.56 1.79 58.30 MVDDH078 Main Veins 18.50 22.50 4.00 1.49 0.90 43.98 including Main Veins 19.50 20.50 1.00 2.46 1.78 51.50 (*) Reported interval lengths are down-hole widths and not true widths. (**) Gold equivalent (Au Eq.) is calculated using metal prices of US$ 1,800/oz for Au and US$ 24/oz for Ag. The equation used is: Au Eq g/t = Au g/t + (Ag g/t 75). Au Eq assumes Au recovery of 90%. The limited metallurgical studies by Fredonia (selective Bottle rolls from Main Veins material) have indicated high (>90%) recovery of gold in oxide material. The Cerro Vanguardia mine to the east of EDM with similar mineralization reports recoveries in the high 90% for Au. Main Veins Target To the east, the current drill-hole fence integrated with Main Veins target has received most of the historical exploration focus and remains as an advanced target of merit. Main Veins extends for over 2.0 km long and a 25 m wide. The mineralization show multiple ore shoots open at depth, with subvertical plunge that has been tested down to -200 m below the surface, and remains open significantly to the north and at depth. To the south the Main Veins target merges with the Abanico target veins field. The Main Vein target has received the most drilling thus far, including: Table III. Historical drill holes intercepts (reported in Fredonias technical report dated February 15th, 2021) from Main Vein Target - Northern Monserrat sector shown below: Hole ID Target From To Interval Au Eq g/t Au_ppm Ag_ppm (*) (**) MVDDH006 Main Veins 82 88 6 14.43 4.41 751.67 MVDDH062 Main Veins 106 112 6 7.37 6.54 61.99 MVDDH018 Main Veins 51.5 53.15 1.65 23.83 16.75 531.03 MVDDH011 Main Veins 76.6 77.5 0.9 32.98 15.59 1304.14 MVDDH001 Main Veins 85 86 1 27.57 26.85 53.71 MVDDH041 Main Veins 71 75 4 6.05 5.25 59.88 MVDDH004 Main Veins 36 37.5 1.5 14.71 12.12 193.91 MVDDH007 Main Veins 67 68 1 16.1 14.59 113.25 MVDDH029 Main Veins 59 59.5 0.5 30.28 1.05 2192.53 MVDDH039 Main Veins 160 162 2 7.2 6.08 83.96 MVDDH046 Main Veins 131 133 2 7.07 6.71 27.34 MVDDH054 Main Veins 49.5 53.5 4 3.51 3.11 30.11 MVDDH053 Main Veins 123 125 2 6.9 6.36 40.23 MVDDH023 Main Veins 162.4 164 1.6 8.55 7.44 83.47 MVDDH021 Main Veins 94.15 95.8 1.65 7.81 7.26 40.93 MVDDH039 Main Veins 146 148 2 5.98 5.43 41.61 MVDDH043 Main Veins 29 30.5 1.5 7.72 7.24 35.88 MVDDH027 Main Veins 48.85 52.5 3.65 3.13 1.48 123.49 MVDDH051 Main Veins 130 134 4 2.84 1.77 80.12 MVDDH020 Main Veins 47 49 2 5.65 4.49 86.87 MVDDH058 Main Veins 43 46 3 3.61 1.79 136.61 MVDDH070 Main Veins 79 81 2 5.01 1.72 246.94 MVDDH019 Main Veins 135 136 1 9.55 0.08 710.55 MVDDH061 Main Vein 52 56 4 1.38 1.14 17.92 MVDDH005 Main Vein 124 125 1 3.77 3.64 10 MVDDH028 Main Vein 53 54 1 3.55 3.34 16.01 MVDDH052 Main Vein 84 85 1 3.44 3.22 16.1 MVDDH040 Main Vein 58.5 59 0.5 4.14 1.99 161.09 MVDDH017 Main Vein 242.6 243 0.4 4.86 2.13 204.55 MVDDH002 Main Vein 124 125 1 1.77 1.54 17.28 MVDDH005 Main Vein 118 119 1 1.68 1.64 3.61 Monserrat West Target To the west, the drill-hole fence integrating with Monserrat West target is located on a north-south dilatational, 1.6km long corridor that contains ore shoots expressed as veining and brecciation, that open in both directions. The sparce surface expression is characterized by a silica cap, secondary oxidation, leaching, breccia and residual quartz textures. The historical drill holes intersected the target structure and contain high-grade significant gold and silver intervals demonstrating the potential for further strike and down dip extension, but also the possibility of further high-grade gold and silver ore shoot zones. Table IV. Historical drill holes intercepts (reported in Fredonia news release dated January 20th, 2022) from Monserrat West and Bajo Pedernal targets - Northern Monserrat sector, shown below: Hole ID Target From To Interval (*) Au Eq g/t (**) Au g/t Ag g/t MODDH001 Monserrat West 174.3 176.7 2.4 18.05 0.18 1491.00 Including Monserrat West 176.2 176.7 0.5 84.79 0.38 7037.40 DM-33 Monserrat West 170 175 5 4.91 3.17 171.80 DM-40 Monserrat West 195.23 196.9 1.67 12.56 13.51 32.96 DM-34 Monserrat West 216.1 219 2.9 5.49 0.41 426.45 DM-19 Monserrat West 135.52 138.4 2.88 4.58 3.20 141.79 DM-13 Monserrat West 188.9 190.5 1.6 7.06 1.08 507.69 MVDDH012 Monserrat West 179.5 180 0.5 19.93 3.78 1377.48 MODDH004 Bajo Pedernal 87 91 4 2.42 0.51 163.04 Including Bajo Pedernal 87 87.5 0.5 9.86 2.15 660.42 DM-19 Monserrat West 128.9 130.4 1.5 6.00 0.63 453.00 DM-18 Monserrat West 211 211.67 0.67 12.87 12.43 140.00 DM-22 Monserrat West 219.96 221 1.04 7.91 8.62 13.00 MODDH001 Monserrat West 168 169 1 4.96 4.81 52.70 DM-43 Monserrat West 140 140.4 0.4 10.41 1.19 778.00 MODDH005 Monserrat West 91 92 1 2.48 0.01 206.09 DM-41 Monserrat West 149.00 149.21 0.21 11.51 0.10 856.00 MODDH002 Monserrat West 302 303.4 1.4 1.55 1.38 25.38 MODDH002 Monserrat West 72.1 72.45 0.35 2.71 0.08 219.91 (*) Reported interval lengths are down-hole widths and not true widths. (**) Gold equivalent (Au Eq.) is calculated using metal prices of US$ 1,800/oz for Au and US$ 24/oz for Ag. The equation used is: Au Eq g/t = Au g/t + (Ag g/t 75). Au Eq assumes Au recovery of 90%. The limited metallurgical studies by Fredonia (selective Bottle rolls from Main Veins material) have indicated high (>90%) recovery of gold in oxide material. The Cerro Vanguardia mine to the east of EDM with similar mineralization reports recoveries in the high 90% for Au. Figure 3. Cross Section showing fence of current drill holes from Main Veins to Monserrat West, with Bajo Pedernal target in the middle. Figure 4. Long Section showing north segment of Main Veins with current drill holes testing under post mineral-basalt flow and extending the system to the north. Phase III drilling has confirmed the location of multiple ore shoots in the Northern Monserrat sector, with extensive intersections of gold and silver mineralized veins, extending the known mineralization to the north at the Main Veins target, under the basalt flow. It also extended the Bajo Pedernal target, which has very little surface expression (jasperoidal veins) but which now show similar potential as the more advanced Main Veins and Monserrat West targets. In addition, there are numerous targets that are yet to be drilled such as Abanico, that comprise at least four distinct veins traceable over 1.0 km of strike; and Monserrat East, a silicified trend reaching 3.0km long by 8m wide located 2.5km east of Main Veins. Based on all of the above, the Northern Monserrat sector requires additional systematic drilling to define the true extent of the sector, currently open in all directions. The interpretation of this new phase of drilling is currently being carried out, including integrating it with the historical drilling. This will provide the basis for future exploration drilling and selection of other potential high-grade zones. Quality Assurance/Quality Control: All core samples were submitted to the principal Alex Stewart Laboratories in San Julian city for preparation and in Mendoza city for the analysis. All samples were analyzed for Au and Ag by fire assay/ AA finish 50 g, plus a 39-element ICP-AR finish. Fredonia followed industry standard procedures for the work with a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blanks and reference material of High grade/ Low grade Gold and High grade/ Low grade Silver standards were included with all sample shipments to the principal laboratory. Field duplicates were made from Coarse Reject. Fredonia detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data. Mr. Fernando Ganem, Professional Geoscientist, VP - Exploration of the Company, is a qualified person (QP) as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Ganem visited the property and has read and approved the technical contents of this release. Data Verification Mr. Ganem has previous experience with the EDM property and the historical QA/QC procedures undertaken for the preparation of previous results and has previously conducted the verification activities on drilling and sampling results described in Fredonias technical report entitled Technical Report on the El Dorado-Monserrat Property in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina dated February 15th, 2021 (the EDM Technical Report). Mr. Ganem was physically present to inspect and take verification samples from drill core in the most recent drilling campaign, and verify drill results against data-base information provided by management to ensure the assay results presented are those in the database. Digital original final assay reports (certificates) were provided to the QP at the time of disclosure for verification. About Fredonia Fredonia holds gold and silver license areas totaling approximately 18,300 ha. in the prolific Deseado Massif geological region in the Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina, including the following principal areas: its flagship - the advanced EDM project (approx. 6,200 ha.) located close to AngloGold Ashantis producing multi-million Au-Ag Cerro Vanguardia mine2, the El Aguila project (approx. 9,100 ha.), and the Petrificados project (approx. 3,000 ha). For further information: Please visit the Company website www.fredoniamanagement.com or contact: Omar Salas, Chief Financial Officer, Direct: +1-416-846-7807, Email: omar.salas@icloud.com. 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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation relating to the Company and the EDM project, including statements regarding the prospectivity of the EDM project for gold and silver mineralization, including the potential for metal recoveries from any mineral processing activity, the potential for a mineral resource estimate at the Project, and the Companys future exploration plans. Words such as might, will, should, anticipate, plan, expect, believe, estimate, forecast and similar terminology are used to identify forward looking statements and forward-looking information. Such statements and information are based on assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by the Company considering its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments as well as other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, the factors described in the Companys filing statement dated June 22, 2021 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the heading Risk Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and information and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements and information and the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements made herein, or comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company or its securities, other than as required by law. 2 2.5 million oz. Au in the measured and indicated mineral resource category (including reserves) per AngloGold Ashanti Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Report as at 31 December 2021; 145,000 oz production in 2021 per Cerro Vanguardia Operational Profile 2021; available at www.anglogoldashanti.com. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ed776c3-a867-4b37-97f7-9f200d3f0006 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ce382aea-632e-408a-bc6a-dc5bdc400c03 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/48b9b287-18d8-4179-8dc1-aa1d2d516f18 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c8765ca8-ad62-4168-b598-10d7e0883f93 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The development of this years Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase (IPSS), which will be held on June 1 & 2, 2023 in Vancouver, will be guided by a Governing Council of leaders spanning numerous sectors and diverse geographies of Canada. Led by Chair Ian Campbell, Hereditary Chief of the Squamish Nation, the council will provide guidance on the events agenda and themes, ensuring they are fulsome, meaningful, and relevant to todays thought leaders and innovators from coast-to-coast. Membertou Chief Terry Paul was a speaker at last years showcase and is returning as a member of the council this year. IPSS is an inclusive conference that reaches below the surface to reveal real experiences and insights of Indigenous business and opportunities. As a speaker at the 2022 IPSS event, I felt compelled to join the Governing Council to support the 2023 event, says Chief Paul. Ombrielle Neria is Communications & External Relations Director for the Tahltan Central Government in Northern British Columbia. The Indigenous Partnership Success Showcase (IPSS) is an event and experience unlike any other, Neria says. The event warmly welcomes speakers and participants to share their unique successes and challenges candidly and seeks to inspire other Indigenous-led partnerships to do the same. We are working together to set new pathways forward which benefit our society as a whole and future generations to come. I deeply appreciate the ability to join this team and look forward to collaboratively shaping another amazing year for IPSS. Hope Regimbald is an ESG practitioner and Stakeholder Relations Lead with LNG Canada. The IPSS has an important place in the conversations happening in Canada right now, Regimbald says. Where Indigenous priorities, stories and issues are at the centre of the conversation, Indigenous people should be informing the content. Im honoured to join the Governing Council and to have this opportunity to contribute. The Showcases 2023 Governing Council members include: Chief Ian Campbell Council Chair. A Hereditary Chief of the Squamish Nation, Ian served the Nation as an elected chief for 16 years. He was the lead negotiator on a number of resource projects, including Woodfibre LNG, and was instrumental in the founding of MST Development Corporation. Council Chair. A Hereditary Chief of the Squamish Nation, Ian served the Nation as an elected chief for 16 years. He was the lead negotiator on a number of resource projects, including Woodfibre LNG, and was instrumental in the founding of MST Development Corporation. Donovan J . Alexis is a Stoney Nakota from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation in Treaty 6 Territory. He is a recording artist and entrepreneur, and has previously served as an elected official for his Nation. . is a Stoney Nakota from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation in Treaty 6 Territory. He is a recording artist and entrepreneur, and has previously served as an elected official for his Nation. Amber Boudreau is Vice-President of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, which facilitates Indigenous investment and equity share ownership in natural resource, telecommunications, agriculture, transportation, and related infrastructure. She is a member of the Red Rock Indian Bank in Northwestern Ontario and has a background in banking. is Vice-President of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, which facilitates Indigenous investment and equity share ownership in natural resource, telecommunications, agriculture, transportation, and related infrastructure. She is a member of the Red Rock Indian Bank in Northwestern Ontario and has a background in banking. Justin Bull is a Sauder School of Business lecturer and leads the Sustainability and Ethics Group. He is also the academic director of the Masters of Engineering Leadership and Masters of Health Leadership and Policy programs in the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC. Economic Reconciliation is a focus of his work. is a Sauder School of Business lecturer and leads the Sustainability and Ethics Group. He is also the academic director of the Masters of Engineering Leadership and Masters of Health Leadership and Policy programs in the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC. Economic Reconciliation is a focus of his work. Courtnee Clark is from the Nlakapamux Nation in BCs southern Interior and is a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. She is Development Manager with indigenous-owned Luma Development Management. is from the Nlakapamux Nation in BCs southern Interior and is a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. She is Development Manager with indigenous-owned Luma Development Management. Bill Lomax is a member of the Gitxsan Nation in BC. A wealth management professional, he works in the US to empower Native American Tribes with financial strategies and education, enabling long-term economic growth. is a member of the Gitxsan Nation in BC. A wealth management professional, he works in the US to empower Native American Tribes with financial strategies and education, enabling long-term economic growth. Kelsea MacNeil leads strategic communications and business development for the Membertou First Nation. leads strategic communications and business development for the Membertou First Nation. Ombrielle Neria currently serves as the Communications & External Relations Director for the Tahltan Central Government in Northern British Columbia. Ombrielle has a diverse background in developing and executing complex communications strategies, strategic planning, negotiations, and program development. currently serves as the Communications & External Relations Director for the Tahltan Central Government in Northern British Columbia. Ombrielle has a diverse background in developing and executing complex communications strategies, strategic planning, negotiations, and program development. Chief Terry Paul has been Chief of the Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia for the last 38 years. He negotiated Mikmaq equity ownership in North Americas largest shellfish producer. He travelled to IPSS in 2022 to present a keynote address. has been Chief of the Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia for the last 38 years. He negotiated Mikmaq equity ownership in North Americas largest shellfish producer. He travelled to IPSS in 2022 to present a keynote address. Hope Regimbald is an ESG practitioner working in energy projects, currently Stakeholder Relations Lead with LNG Canada based in Kitimat. She co-founded the Indigenous Leadership Circle, a group of Indigenous business leaders mentoring the next generation of Indigenous talent in Canada. is an ESG practitioner working in energy projects, currently Stakeholder Relations Lead with LNG Canada based in Kitimat. She co-founded the Indigenous Leadership Circle, a group of Indigenous business leaders mentoring the next generation of Indigenous talent in Canada. Debbie Reid is Indigenous Policy Manager for Facebook Canada and a member of the Skownan First Nation Treaty 2 in Manitoba. She has worked with various Indigenous government and advocacy organizations and as a senior official in the Federal Public Service of Canada. is Indigenous Policy Manager for Facebook Canada and a member of the Skownan First Nation Treaty 2 in Manitoba. She has worked with various Indigenous government and advocacy organizations and as a senior official in the Federal Public Service of Canada. Karen Restoule is Ojibwe from Dokis First Nation. She co-founded BOLD Realities, a non-profit advancing economic reconciliation. She works in change leadership, policy development and implementation, and Indigenous relations. is Ojibwe from Dokis First Nation. She co-founded BOLD Realities, a non-profit advancing economic reconciliation. She works in change leadership, policy development and implementation, and Indigenous relations. Johnna Sparrow is a member of the Musqueam First Nation and is currently that Nations Indigenous Relations Advisory in Development. In that role, she leads a team working in development and municipal process with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Full biographies and photos can be see here. In addition to patron sponsor GCT Global Container Terminals, IPSS is also being made possible through the support of companies such as Enbridge Inc., TELUS, Beedie Development, and Teck Resources, as well as other valued sponsors. The 2023 event will feature a range of topics from across all sectors and industries in the Canadian economy. Tickets may be purchased here. Media contact: Shawn Hall 604-619-7913 Shawn@apogeepr.ca WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GuideOne Foundation, the philanthropic arm of GuideOne Insurance, announced today that it distributed grants totaling more than $150,000 to 40 charities in 2022, meeting a critical milestone toward fulfilling its mission to help make positive change possible. The foundation was established in 1998 to provide financial assistance to charitable organizations that positively develop, enhance and impact the communities where GuideOne employees live and work. It does this by making grants to 501(c)(3) organizations where GuideOne employees are involved or that offer volunteer opportunities in which GuideOne employees can participate. In 2022, GuideOne employees reported volunteering more than 1,600 hours. The work of GuideOne Foundation is at the heart of our company culture, said GuideOne Insurance President & CEO and GuideOne Foundation President Bernie Hengesbaugh. GuideOne has always been committed to driving positive change, and were able to do that thanks to the generous spirit of our employees, who make individual contributions to the foundation each year during our charitable giving campaign and help nominate and select organizations to receive grant dollars. In 2022, GuideOne employees donated more than $140,000 during the week-long campaign in October. Those gifts, combined with the companys charitable contribution to the foundation, are invested and redistributed each year to nonprofits in Iowa and across the country that focus on health, human services and education. A list of the charities that received grants is available at https://g1.guideone.com/guideone-foundation_2022-grantees. GuideOne also makes a point of giving back through company-sponsored volunteer activities and donation drives throughout the year, Hengesbaugh added. In December, for example, we partnered with the Des Moines Public Schools to provide winter coats, boots, sweatshirts and hygiene items to 300 underserved students as part of our fourth annual Giving Tree event. Its that kind of generosity that sets the GuideOne Family apart. ### About GuideOne Insurance Company GuideOne Insurance Company supports our policyholders goals by providing Nimble Solutions for Niche Needs. GuideOne reached $1.06B in written premium in 2021, driven by a diverse portfolio of property and liability insurance and risk management solutions. Our company is guided by our mission We Help Make Positive Change Possible by protecting the people who strengthen and support our communities. Rated A- (Excellent) by industry analyst AM Best, GuideOnes corporate headquarters are located in West Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, visit www.guideone.com. About GuideOne Foundation As the philanthropic arm of GuideOne Insurance Company, GuideOne Foundation has long promoted the companys commitment to help make positive change possible. Since 1998, GuideOne Foundation has provided financial assistance in the form of grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that positively develop, enhance and impact the communities where GuideOne team members live and work. In 2022, the GuideOne Foundation awarded more than $150,000 to 40 nonprofits in Iowa and across the United States. Learn more at www.guideone.com/about-us/guideone-foundation. This image captured from Korean Central Television shows a horse presumed to belong to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju-ae, at a military parade in Pyongyang, Feb. 8. Yonhap North Korean state TV on Sunday aired footage of a white horse apparently belonging to leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju-ae, in an apparent display of her legitimacy as a descendant of the ruling family's "Paekdu bloodline." In the footage on Korean Central Television, the white horse is seen during Wednesday's massive military parade staged in Pyongyang to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the North's armed forces. The broadcaster describes it as a horse "most loved" by the leader's "beloved" child. The white horse is symbolic of the Kim family, and leader Kim Jong-un was famously seen riding one on Mount Paekdu in October 2019, eight months after the Hanoi summit between Kim and then U.S. President Donald Trump broke down. Dublin, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Digital Respiratory Devices Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Smart Inhalers & Nebulizers, Sensors & Apps), by Indication, by Distribution Channel, by End-use, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global digital respiratory devices market size is expected to reach USD 304.3 billion by 2030, based on a new report.The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 28.5% from 2022 to 2030. Companies Mentioned Cohero Health, Inc. Cognita Labs Adherium Limited Amiko Digital Health Limited Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Propeller Health Novartis AG Pneuma Respiratory, Inc. 3M Health Care Limited Findair Sp. Z O.O. Airehealth, Inc. The market growth can be attributed to an increase in the number of people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis, and lung disorders. Moreover, COVID-19 has prompted a rise in the number of innovative digital devices and systems for respiratory and pulmonary care, which is driving the demand for digital respiratory devices. For instance, in March 2022, Brisbane-based ResApp informed about the positive data that it received from the Covid-19 instant screening test. The cough sound is used with the help of a smartphone to detect the presence of the Covid-19 virus in the new test. Furthermore, during the Covid-19 outbreak, several patients were unable to receive consultations and treatments in person. The pandemic demonstrated how serious respiratory illnesses and infections may become if not treated quickly and carefully. As a result of this, in the post-pandemic era, smart inhaler adoption is anticipated to increase as healthcare professionals turn to connected medical devices to ensure that patients receive the best care and consultation possible, regardless of the circumstance. Additionally, a growing number of technological advancements in the field of digital respiratory devices are scaling up the digital technologies into existing product portfolios to improve the efficiency of medication as well as the management of asthma and COPD. Moreover, recent studies conducted by research experts have shown that smart inhaler technology may be able to resolve this problem and offer patients a simple way to keep up treatment compliance and control symptoms. For example, a 2019 study from the Cleveland Clinic found that COPD patients utilizing Propeller smart inhalers had a significantly lower risk of being admitted to the hospital, with a nearly 35% drop in visits compared to the previous year (2020). Digital Respiratory Devices Market Report Highlights In 2021, the smart inhalers and nebulizers product segment held the largest revenue share of over 60.0% owing to the prevalence of asthma and other respiratory conditions rising in direct proportion to air pollution levels, which, in turn, drives the demand for smart inhalers and nebulizers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals in North America between the ages of 30 and 70 who use tobacco are around 14 percent and are more likely to die from any cause. It is thus anticipated that an increase in smokers and environmental pollution would increase the demand for nebulizers In 2021, the COPD indication segment held the largest revenue share of over 50.0%. The growth of the COPD segment can be attributed to people continuing to smoke and longer life expectancies The hospital pharmacies distribution channel segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 35.0% in 2021. The older population is regularly hospitalized in hospitals for various chronic respiratory illnesses, and they obtain medicine from hospital pharmacies for such conditions. Additionally, hospital pharmacies give medicinal supplies to healthcare professionals so that patients may easily obtain medications The online pharmacies distribution channel segment is anticipated to expand at a lucrative CAGR of 31.1% over the forecast period. The market growth is being favorably impacted by the quick expansion and modernization of the existing pharmacies to boost market penetration. Moreover, pharmacies are implementing a number of digitization initiatives to meet the rising customer demand and build a successful business model. For instance, CVS Health launched a program called Digital Transformation to use data, analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to customize the healthcare experience In 2021, the hospitals end-use segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 50.0%. The rising rates of chronic respiratory diseases among developing nations and the rising aging population suffering from asthma and COPD are contributing to the segment growth The homecare settings end-use segment is anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR of 29.5% over the forecast period. The rapid increase in the world's elderly population, the high incidence of cigarette use, urbanization, rising pollution levels, and changing lifestyles are all factors contributing to the rapid expansion of the market In 2021, North America dominated the market with a share of over 45.0% owing to increasing respiratory disorders among the senior population, new amendments in the government regulations such as favorable reimbursement rebates, and a well-established healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, a growing geriatric population in the U.S. is driving the burden of chronic respiratory disease, which is fueling the expansion of the regional market. For instance, over the next 40 years, the number of Americans 65 and older will more than double, reaching 80 million in 2040 Asia Pacific is projected to register a lucrative growth rate of 30.7% from 2022 to 2030. This growth can be attributed to the growing COPD and asthma incidence rates in China and India. In China, COPD positions first among the leading cause of disability and is a growing public health concern Report Metrics: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $41 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $304.3 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 28.5% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Report Scope and Objectives Chapter 2 Methodology Chapter 3 Executive Summary 3.1 Market Outlook 3.2 Segment Outlook 3.2.1 Product 3.2.2 Indication 3.2.3 Distribution Channel 3.2.4 End Use 3.2.5 Region 3.3 Competitive Insights 3.4 Digital Respiratory Devices Market Outlook, 2021 Chapter 4 Market Variables, Trends & Scope 4.1 Market Lineage Outlook 4.1.1 Parent Market Outlook 4.1.2 Ancillary Market Outlook 4.2 Digital Respiratory Devices Market Dynamics 4.2.1 Market Driver Analysis 4.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis 4.3 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Business Environment Analysis Tools 4.4 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping 4.5 Technology Trend Analysis 4.6 Regulatory Framework 4.7 Impact of COVID-19 on Digital Respiratory Devices Market Chapter 5 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Product Analysis 5.1 Digital Respiratory Devices Product Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 5.2 Digital Respiratory Devices Product Market: Segment Dashboard 5.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the Product Segment 5.3.1 Sensors And Apps 5.3.1.1 sensors And Apps Market, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 5.3.2 Smart Inhalers And Nebulizers 5.3.2.1 Smart inhalers and nebulizers market, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 6 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Indication Analysis 6.1 Digital Respiratory Devices Indication Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 6.2 Digital Respiratory Devices Indication Market: Segment Dashboard 6.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the Indication Segment 6.3.1 Asthma 6.3.1.1 Asthma market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) 6.3.2 COPD 6.3.2.1 COPD market, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 6.3.3 Others 6.3.3.1 Others market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 7 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Distribution Channel Analysis 7.1 Digital Respiratory Devices Distribution Channel Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 7.2 Digital Respiratory Devices Distribution Channel Market: Segment Dashboard 7.3 Market Size & Forecasts And Trend Analyses, 2017 To 2030 For The Distribution Channel 7.3.1 Hospitals Pharmacies 7.3.1.1 Hospitals Pharmacies Market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) 7.3.2 Retail Pharmacies 7.3.2.1 Retail Pharmacies Market, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 7.3.3 Online Pharmacies 7.3.3.1 Online pharmacies market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 8 Digital Respiratory Devices Type Market: END-USE Analysis 8.1 Digital Respiratory Devices Type Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 8.2 Digital Respiratory Devices End-Use Market: Segment Dashboard 8.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the End Use Segment 8.3.1 Hospitals 8.3.1.1 Hospitals Market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) 8.3.2 Homcare Settings 8.3.2.1 Homecare Settings Market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) 8.3.3 Other Settings 8.3.3.1 Other settings market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 9 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Regional Analysis Chapter 10 Competitive Analysis 10.1 Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants 10.2 Company Profiles For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o9hr6h 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 Following negotiations between holders of convertible loan notes (the Holders), representing approximately SEK 72.9 million including aggregated interest, and the board of directors of Hoylu AB (publ) (Hoylu or the Company), the Holders have committed to participate in a rights issue and to offset all claims for newly issued shares at a subscription price per share of SEK 0.10 (the Rights Issue). In order to further strengthen the balance sheet Alden AS, TTC Invest AS, Fougner Invest AS and Windchange Invest AB have each undertaken to subscribe for an additional amount of up to SEK 2.5 million in the Rights Issue. The Rights Issue will thereby be fully secured. A notice to an extraordinary general meeting will be published in a separate press release. A prospectus will also be prepared by the Company for the Rights Issue. The outstanding claim The board of directors in Hoylu has reached an agreement with all the Holders to waive the Holders right to convert the convertible loan notes into shares and to claim repayment of the outstanding loan in accordance with the terms and conditions for the outstanding convertible notes in the Company (the Agreement). The wavier means that the Holders will have a claim against the Company amounting to the nominal value of the convertible loan notes plus interest. Interest for the convertible loan notes will be accumulated up until, and including, 28 February 2023 (the Maturity Date). The total claim, including aggregated interest, will amount to approximately SEK 72.9 million on the Maturity Date. No additional interest will accumulate for claims after the Maturity Date provided that the shareholders approve the board of directors proposal on the contemplated Rights Issue. The contemplated Rights Issue The contemplated Rights Issue will provide Hoylu with approximately SEK 82.6 million, before transaction related costs. All existing shareholders will receive one (1) subscription right for each share owned on the record date, 31 March 2023. One (1) subscription right gives the right to subscribe for nine (9) shares. The subscription price for each share in the contemplated Rights Issue will amount to SEK 0.10. The contemplated Rights Issue entails an issue of a maximum of 825,695,298 shares. In view of the processing time for the prospectus that the Company will prepare for the contemplated Rights Issue, the board of directors will propose to the extraordinary general meeting that the subscription period shall commence two trading days after the date on which the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (the SFSA) approves the prospectus and run for a period of 14 days. The final day of the subscription period shall fall on a trading day. The Company will provide a timetable for the subscription period in connection with the approval of the prospectus. Subscription commitments and underwriting commitments Through the Agreement, the Holders have undertaken to participate in the contemplated Rights Issue and subscribe for newly issued shares and pay for the subscribed shares through set-off against each Holders claims. The total commitment from the Holders amount to approximately SEK 72.9 million. In order to further strengthen the balance sheet of the Company Alden AS, TTC Invest AS, Fougner Invest AS, and Windchange Invest AB have each undertaken to subscribe for an additional amount of up to SEK 2.5 million in the contemplated Rights Issue. The contemplated Rights Issue will thereby be fully secured. The Holders are not entitled to receive any compensation for their commitments and undertakings to subscribe for the shares in the contemplated Rights Issue. After the contemplated Rights Issue, all outstanding claims under the convertible loan notes in the Company will have been offset against newly issued shares. Over-allotment option To enable further capital contributions, the board of directors intends to propose to the extraordinary general meeting a resolution to authorise the board of directors to resolve on an over-allotment issue in addition to the contemplated Rights Issue of up to approximately SEK 12.4 million. If the shareholders approve the proposal from the board of directors on the over-allotment option, and if the over-allotment option is fully exercised, the number of shares in the Company will increase by an additional 123,385,429. Extraordinary general meeting For the purpose of deciding on i) the contemplated rights issue, ii) a resolution on lowering the share capital in the Company by approximately SEK 6,645,839.79 to SEK 917,439.22 to achieve a quota value for the Companys shares of SEK 0.01 iii) amending the limits for the number of shares in the company and the share capital in the articles of association, and iv) authorising the board of directors to resolve on the over-allotment option, the board of directors intends to convene an extraordinary general meeting to be held on 22 March 2023. The notice to the extraordinary general meeting will be published through a separate press release. The Agreement includes an undertaking for the Holders to vote in favour for the contemplated Rights Issue and the thereto related resolutions. Background and purpose for the contemplated Rights Issue The background and purpose for the contemplated Rights Issue is that the Company needs to clear its debts and strengthen the balance sheet in order to realise expansion plans and increase growth. Prospectus A prospectus will be prepared in connection with the contemplated Rights Issue and will, following approval by the SFSA, be available on the Companys website prior to the subscription period of the contemplated Rights Issue. Shares, share capital and dilution Through the contemplated Rights Issue, the number of shares may increase with a maximum of 825,695,298 shares from 91,743,922 shares to 917,439,220. After the contemplated Rights Issue, and the lowering of the share capital, the share capital may increase by a maximum of SEK 8,256,952.98 from SEK 917,439.22 to SEK 9,174,392.20. The dilution effect for existing shareholders who chooses not to participate in the Rights Issue amounts to approximately 90.00 per cent. Indicative timetable 22 March 2023 Extraordinary general meeting 29 March 2023 Final day of trading in the Companys shares including a right to receive subscription rights 30 March 2023 First day of trading in the Companys shares without the right to receive subscription rights 31 March 2023 Record date for participation in the Rights Issue Week 14 Estimated time for publishing of the prospectus 6 April 2023 20 April 2023 Estimated subscription period 6 April 2023 Week 16 Trading in subscription rights 28 April 2023 Outcome of the Rights Issue is published We are very happy to have reached this agreement with the holders of the convertible notes in the company. This proposed rights issue will result in a clean slate for Hoylu in terms of debt and greatly strengthen our balance sheet. We are also very happy about the level of trust shown in the Company by some of the existing shareholders, resulting in the rights issue being fully secured. Says CEO, Truls Baklid. For more information, please contact: Truls Baklid, CEO Hoylu AB Tel: +47 924 38 900 Email: tob@hoylu.com Certified Adviser: Mangold Fondkommission AB, +46 (0) 8 50 301 550, ca@mangold.se About Hoylu Hoylus visual collaboration technology empowers distributed teams to translate ideas into actions. Large enterprises as well as small and medium companies rely on Hoylu to run projects, programs, and initiatives across time zones and continents as seamlessly as when working in the same room. For more information: www.hoylu.com Try Hoylu for free: https://app.hoylu.com/ Publication This information is information that Hoylu AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 21:00 CET on February 13, 2023. Staunton, VA, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Secure Solar Futures, a provider of on-site clean energy and educational programs to K-12 schools, signed an agreement with Prince William County Public Schools to install solar power systems on 12 school sites. With a capacity of 7.9 megawatts total, the combined solar arrays will save the district more than $16 million in energy costs over the next 25 years. With an enrollment of more than 90,000 students, Prince William County Public Schools is the 34th largest school district in the United States and the second largest in Virginia. Twelve school sites will receive solar power located across Prince William County. They include three high schools: Battlefield High School, Freedom High School and Gainesville High School. In addition, solar panels will go to two middle schools, Beville Middle School and Potomac Shores Middle School, and seven elementary schools: Chris Yung Elementary School, Covington-Harper Elementary School, Jenkins Elementary School, Kilby Elementary School, Kyle Wilson Elementary School, Leesylvania Elementary School, and Minnieville Elementary School. One of the largest school districts in the country going solar makes Prince William County Schools a national leader on clean energy and sustainability, said Ryan McAllister, CEO of Secure Solar Futures. The schools will showcase solar power systems right on location. That will send a powerful message to students that they dont have to wait for the clean energy economy to arrive in the future. Its already here. The schools will receive solar power with no upfront capital investment through a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Secure Solar Futures. The company will own and operate all solar equipment and sell the power to the schools at a rate lower than the local electric utility during the term of the agreement. Jennifer Rokasky, a PWCS Energy and Sustainability Team member and project lead for Solar PPA, shared, "I'm thrilled that we are bringing solar power to Prince William County Schools. Not only will this help the school division save money, but it will help move PWCS away from nonrenewable energy sources and toward reducing our greenhouse gas emissions." On-site solar provides the schools a new opportunity to bring clean energy education into the classroom. At no additional cost, in conjunction with National Energy Education Development (NEED), a non-profit organization that promotes energy literacy, Secure Solar offers a classroom curriculum that complies with Virginia Standards of Learning from grades K-12. The curriculum includes teacher training, lesson plans, and hands-on kits for science experiments on energy. In addition, Secure Solar offers its unique program in citizen science, Throwing Solar Shade (TSS). Developed in conjunction with the Science Museum of Virginia and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education, TSS gives high school students the chance to spend a semester working in teams with students from other school divisions across Virginia. Under the direction of a leading climatologist, Dr. Jeremy Hoffman, chief scientist at the Science Museum, students conduct live research to investigate the heat-island effect, solar power, and other topics in clean energy and climate science. All 12 solar arrays at Prince William County Public Schools will be installed on roofs of school buildings. Combined, the systems will use 16,192 Tier 1 USA-made solar modules manufactured by Heliene at their facility in Minnesota. Installation will begin this spring and is expected to conclude by the end of 2023. Once the solar power systems are completed, each year Prince William County Public Schools will produce enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 877 homes and avoid 4,507 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the same amount sequestered by 5,333 acres of forest. About Secure Solar Futures As a market and policy leader, Secure Solar Futures builds, owns, manages and funds affordable Resilient Solar Solutions for hospitals, schools and businesses. The company combines state-ofthe-art solar technology with an innovative business model to make commercial-scale solar power readily affordable in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, helping customers to realize the economic, environmental and community benefits of solar energy. In 2017, Secure Solar Futures became a Certified B Corporation. Find the company online at www.securesolarfutures.com. Attachments KAMLOOPS, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thanks to workers at the only unionized Sephora in North America, the company has announced that it is adopting a new, more worker-friendly, nationwide bag-check policy, replacing their notoriously unpopular practice that many Sephora workers have spoken out against. After every shift, Sephora workers are required to go through a bag check before they leave the store. The new policy states that the employer must pay them for the entire time it takes management to check their bags, including wait times. The policy change comes after workers at the store spoke out with their union, UFCW 1518, and asked for paid bag checks during negotiations with Sephora. Today (Feb. 9) the new policy kicks in at the Kamloops location. "We're very proud of our members for voicing their concern," says UFCW 1518 President Kim Novak, "As their union, we've heard from our members of situations where they were waiting up to 30 minutes for a bag check after they had clocked out. They weren't getting paid for this time, even though they were still on the employer's watch. It was unfair, and we're glad to see that Sephora is taking steps to build a more respectful workplace." Employees at the Kamloops Sephora unionized with UFCW 1518 back in the summer of 2022. They entered bargaining to secure their first collective agreement shortly after joining the union and are still in negotiations. "We have no doubt that the improved bag check policy is the result of our members unionizing and raising their voices," says Novak. She adds that this win has been a real morale boost for the members, who are fighting hard to win more respect, equity and better compensation at the bargaining table. "Our goal is to reach a great contract, but the beauty of joining a union is that your power doesn't end at the bargaining table, and our Sephora members proved that," Novak explains. "Unpaid bag checks are a big point of contention at lots of Sephora stores. Now, because our members pushed back, there's a new policy that will benefit Sephora employees everywhere in Canada, not just Kamloops. It's amazing!" UFCW 1518 represents thousands of workers in BC's retail sector. If you are a retail worker that is not being paid for bag checks, reach out to the union at ufcw1518.com/join. For more information, please contact: UFCW 1518 Managing Director & Executive Assistant Parm Kahlon at communications@ufcw1518.com Family members hold hands during a reunion event held at a venue in the Mount Kumgang resort, North Korea, in this Aug. 25, 2018, file photo. Activists representing the families dispersed by the Korean War (1950-53) have been invited by North Korea to visit Pyongyang in the first such case in more than three years, officials said Monday. Korea Times file 1st Pyongyang trip request in over 3 years under review amid tensions By Jung Min-ho Activists representing the families dispersed by the Korean War (1950-53) have been invited by North Korea to visit Pyongyang in the first such case in more than three years. At Monday's press briefing, Koo Byoung-sam, spokesman for the Unification Ministry, said it has been reviewing the validity of a travel request form submitted Feb. 10 by three officials of the Inter-Korean Separated Family Association. "We are examining the organization that invited them, including whether it can be trusted," Koo said. If approved, they would be the first South Koreans to officially visit North Korea since 2019. According to the invitation revealed by Ryu Jae-bok, head of the organization established in 2012 to promote inter-Korean exchanges, he and its two directors Maeng Jung-a and Choi Im-ho were invited to the North Korean capital. The host said the purpose of their visit will be to discuss possible projects regarding the divided families, saying it would "provide safety and stay expenses" for the guests. The family association said the host is an organization affiliated to the regime's United Front Department, known for propaganda espionage operations, without revealing its name. Koo Byoung-sam, spokesman for the Unification Ministry, speaks during a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul, Monday. Newsis A coalition of medical workers including the Korean Medical Association holds a press conference in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, calling on lawmakers to retract the proposed Nursing Act. Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin Doctors have warned they will stage a strike in protest of the proposed legislation of the Nursing Act a new set of laws that stipulate the roles and duties of licensed nurses as they view it may cause confusion in the public healthcare system if passed. The Korea Medical Association (KMA) held a press conference in front of the National Assembly, Monday, to condemn the lawmakers' recent decision to fast-track the Nursing Act. On Feb. 9, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee voted to fast-track the Nursing Act, which had been stalled at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for over eight months, to the main floor for a plenary session. Considering that the Nursing Act has garnered support from lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which controls more than half of the 300-seat Assembly, the bill is likely to be passed at the plenary session in March. "Beginning with a nationwide rally scheduled for Feb. 26, our 100,000 members will take all possible measures to fight against the unjust laws. We are holding weekly meetings to come up with a concrete roadmap for the joint action," said Lee Pil-soo, head of the KMA. In response to a query whether the association is considering to launch a strike, Lee said, "We will review staging a walkout depending on how the situation develops." Joining the protest were other medical workers such as care workers at nursing homes, assistant nurses and paramedics. They believe that the legislation of the Nursing Act will put nurses in a higher position than them, leading to situations in which they will have to take orders from nurses. The Korea Nurses Association (KNA) has been strongly demanding the legislation of the law, which aims to designate the roles and duties of nurses by law. The association said nurses have long been suffering from poor working conditions due to the absence of a separate law stipulating the specific roles and duties of professional nurses. Currently, the legal role of a nurse is stipulated in the Medical Services Act, which states that they should provide healthcare services "under the guidance of physicians." But according to the nurses' group, ambiguities in the law force many nurses to perform duties outside their job descriptions, often leading to overwork and difficulties providing quality care for patients. On the other hand, doctors worry that the law may allow nurses to intervene in the duties of physicians. They have also been claiming that the bills are aimed only at providing benefits to nurses, offering privileges only to a certain group of medical professionals. During Monday's press conference, the doctors also cried foul over the health and welfare committee's decision to fast-track a revision bill to the Medical Law, aimed at enabling disqualification of physicians who are sentenced to serve time in prison. Under current laws, mental illness, drug addiction, license fraud and fraudulent diagnosis are considered valid reasons to nullify a doctor's license. But following an increasing number of doctors being accused of serious crimes such as sex offenses against patients, calls have been rising for harsher laws to prevent crime-committing doctors from practicing medicine. Daily Graphic Editorials World Wetlands Day Peter Ossei-Wusu Editorials Feb - 13 - 2023 , 12:00 On February 2, 2023, Ghana joined the international community to celebrate World Wetlands Day. The purpose of the day is to increase peoples understanding of the critical importance of ecosystems. It also aims to raise global awareness about the vital roles of Wetlands for people and the planet. It is significant to note that the day marks the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian City of Ramsar. Following the convention has been the establishment of Ramsar Sites. Definition Wetlands are defined as areas where water covers the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or at varying periods of time during the year, including the growing season. Naturally, groundwater from Wetlands gradually recharges and maintains stream flow. They intercept run-off from the surface prior to reaching open water and remove pollutants through physical, chemical and biological processes. Wetlands can be found as marshes, swamps, bogs and fens. Marshes are wetlands that are frequently or continually inundated and are dominated by herbaceous species adapted to these hydrologic conditions. Swamps are dominated by woody plants. Bogs are wet muddy grounds that are too soft to support any heavy body. Fens are just like Bogs but are fed from a steady source of water. It is said that Fens require thousands of years to develop and cannot easily be restored once destroyed. Importance Wetlands are referred to as the kidneys of the landscape (President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States of America (USA)). They are valuable for a number of reasons. They range from the provision of many societal benefits: water quality improvement, flood protection and storage, shoreline erosion control, food and other economically beneficial natural products for human use. As a habitat for biodiversity, they provide shelter for fish and wildlife and protect threatened and endangered species. Besides, they offer opportunities for education, research, recreation, and the admiration of aesthetic values. Last but not least, of the functions is the crucial role they play to combat or mitigate the effect of climate change. Wetlands are vital ecosystems. They are home to 40 per cent of the worlds species. Wetlands currently cover 5.5 per cent of the land in the 48 contiguous states. Ninety-eight per cent (98%) of these wetlands are freshwater, the rest are marine and estuarine. Degradation Many of the worlds wetlands are degraded. The degradation continues, unfortunately. The danger to the ecological health of the remaining wetlands is from habitat fragmentation for infrastructure and polluted run-off, water level changes and invasive species, especially in urbanised areas. In Ghana, the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands are absent. The rich, the influential and certain unscrupulous duty bearers, including chiefs and other land owners, as well as public servants, have decided to cash in from the mad rush to acquire wealth by decimating the remaining wetlands, particularly, in the urban centres where they are appropriately referred to as Nature Reserves. Celebrations The contracting parties of the convention have been celebrating World Wetlands Day since 1997 when it was first established. The theme for 2023 is Wetlands Restoration and highlights the urgent need to prioritise wetlands restoration. The World Wetlands Day awareness campaign is organised by the Secretariat of the Convention. Countries organise a variety of events, including lectures, seminars, symposia, nature walks and childrens art contests, community clean-ups, radio and television interviews, letters to print and electronic media, to launch Wetlands policies, new Ramsar Sites and new programmes at the national levels. During the celebration, there is an appeal to invest financial and political capital to save wetlands from disappearing and to restore those we have already degraded. Action The theme calls for action to do everything humanly possible to restore the Wetlands in Ghana. During the campaign, there is a need to highlight their importance and the urgent need to prioritise wetlands restoration. The country, despite the financial challenges, must mobilise funds and increase the political will to invest to save the wetlands from disappearing and to restore already degraded ones. We must not lose sight of the fact that with the current wave of climate emergencies, we need the wetlands to protect us from food and clean water crises, flooding and extreme weather conditions. Henceforth, we must refrain from the negative actions that will land us all into insurmountable trouble in the near future. The writer is the Coordinator, Forests, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Frontier Institute of Development Planning (FIDEP). I must do nursing Alhassan Musah Opinion Feb - 13 - 2023 , 09:27 The desire to go to nursing school is all the rage nowadays. On Saturdays, I sit under a mango tree in my compound and try to distract myself from weighty matters by observing the mating behaviour of turkey birds (more on that some other time). My reverie is usually interrupted by visits from young students hoping for sage counsel about admissions to universities. They come from all backgrounds General Arts, Science, Home Economics and Visual Arts and invariably, they have one agenda. A large number of them want to do nursing. I do my best to offer alternative career choices that reflect their talents as presented to me, but no arguments make sense to them at that point. They are too far gone. They have made their decision and they need validation. Once, before I could suggest Geodetic Engineering to one of them, he was ready with his "rebuttal": I want to do Nursing! It's difficult to begrudge them for this obsession. Nursing is one of the most prestigious professions with bright job prospects in the bargain. Young people are fully conscious of the employment desert on the increasingly tortuous road to survival. It is also clear that far too many of us have been socialised into accepting that there is a mechanistic relationship between obtaining a university degree and a job. It is not lost on young people that nurses, even if they have to wait for several years, will eventually be posted by the government to some health facility. It is not so straightforward for the majority of university graduates. Rational young people, one may argue, will not ignore this in the context of rising unemployment and cost of living. This really comes down to the "economics of career choice", one is tempted to say. But we have travelled this path before. In the early and mid-1990s (perhaps earlier) many non-science students were obsessed with reading Business Administration at Legon or BCOM at UCC. Some science students fell for the craze and switched camps. Many secondary school leavers who did not immediately make the cut, stayed at home for years just to make the top grades that were required for the Business School Programmes. Many of these people look back now and notice that there were many good alternatives; they were just not wise to these alternatives then. Many have learned, painfully, that the relationship between what you learn in school and the returns is not necessarily linear. This statement by Peter Cappelli of the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania sits well here: If I cannot find a powerful, fuel-efficient, easy-to-park car for $15,000, that doesnt mean there is a car shortage. \ So, what is my gripe? I want to remind young people that if they do not get to study nursing, there are options worth considering, and that they can still go ahead to have brilliant careers. This is also a reminder to policy makers and duty bearers that if ever there was a time to accelerate action on instituting career guidance, it is now. But ultimately, we need new pathways and strategies for jobs and livelihoods for the teeming youth. The population distribution in favour of the youth, the so-called "youth bulge", is a compelling reminder that we do not have the option to do nothing. Alhassan Musah, Dean of Students, UDS. Centres of Excellence achievements commendable Juliet Akyaa Safo Feb - 13 - 2023 , 09:42 A delegation from the World Bank last Friday visited two Africa Centres of Excellence (ACEs) for Development Impact at the University of Ghana to study how the project funds had been utilised. In 2015, the World Bank, in collaboration with countries in West and Central Africa, launched the ACEs project to, among others, train crop improvement scientists and agripreneurs to stimulate growth in the agricultural sector, enhance research and development in food security and socio-economic development and support the centres to improve the quality and relevance of course offerings and research. The centres visited were the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) and the West African Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI). The two centres and seven others across the country are under a $60-million ACEs project which was approved on March 27, 2019 and became effective in August 2019. Ghana's ACEs are training people at the masters and doctor of philosophy (PhD) levels and in professional short courses. The centres are also pursuing research in areas such as coastal resilience, infectious and genetic diseases, food security, energy and environmental sustainability and water and sanitation. Ghanas performance laudable The visit, led by the World Banks Global Director for Education, Dr Jaime Saavedra, afforded the delegation the opportunity to interact with the Ghanaian students, as well as students from the sub-region, who then shared their academic experiences and postgraduate plans. Dr Saavedra, a Peruvian economist, speaking during the visit, lauded the performances of the nine centres across the country, saying, for instance, that WACCBIP had successfully sequenced genomes of COVID-19 and also provided free screening for exposure to COVID-19 in various suburbs in Ghana as part of its COVID-19 Seroprevalence Study. He said the African Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECOR) at the University of Cape Coast had also worked with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of the university and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide rapid global response to a mass stranding of marine mammals in Axim. Human capital On building human capital, Dr Saavedra, who oversees the World Banks $20-billion portfolio of education financing, called for the prioritisation of investment in basic, technical and higher education in the country. He also suggested that the country could use the tertiary educational system to give second chances to many students who did not get the right basic education, as well as young people who did not have the skills but had all the potential to receive training. It is essential that we continue building the human capital for growth and development in agriculture in a sustained fashion in the country, Dr Saavedra, who served as Perus Minister of Education twice across two administrations, said, and commended the centres for not only training the students but also giving them the chance to do their research work and finding development solutions. He expressed the World Banks commitment to continue to support the policies of governments on education by empowering young entrepreneurs. Support The Founding Director of WACCI, Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, said the crop improvement centre was committed to improving food security in Africa by equipping plant breeders with the knowledge and skills to develop superior varieties of indigenous crops, using both conventional and modern technologies. He said the centre had developed and commercialised over 180 pest and drought or climate change resilient varieties of crops, including the release of high-yielding hybrid varieties of tomato and white maize. Prof. Danquah called on the government to prioritise investment in agriculture and higher education to ensure that the country was self-sufficient. The Director of Research at WACCBIP, Dr Peter Quarshie, thanked the team for the support and said the funding from the World Bank had helped the centre train students in the sciences. He said WACCBIP had also successfully sequenced over 1,500 genomes of COVID-19 and also diagnosed the gene mutation responsible for hearing impairment, after which they developed a diagnostic test to screen new-born babies for the gene. Delta Air Lines donates to earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria Graphic.com.gh Feb - 12 - 2023 , 06:59 Delta Air Lines on Thursday February 9, 2023 announced its contribution of US$100,000 to support victims of the earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria. The contribution would be channeled through the American Red Cross to support the operations and response of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The donations marked for disaster relief purposes in Turkiye and Syria is in addition to the annual US$1 million contributed by the airline to the Red Cross. The donation will be used to support search and rescue operations; offer first aid and psychological support; perform emergency medical evacuations; transport injured people to hospitals; distribute blood and plasma to affected regions; and deliver hot meals and basic aid items such as tents and blankets for those injured and evacuated. Delta's Managing Director of Community Engagement, Tad Hutcheson explained that the airline rallied support from its customers and the public in a bid to help the earthquake victims through a link on its website. He urged people living outside of the United States but hoping to donate towards this worthy cause to do so via the website. Mr Hutcheson remarked, "The most important way to help is through financial giving, as the American Red Cross and the IFCRC have the resources and infrastructure to obtain and deliver goods, supplies and trained volunteers to the places and people that need it most." The American Red Cross and Delta have a long-standing partnership dating as far back as 1941. Ghana Card holders will no more fill landing cards Dr Bawumia Chris Nunoo Feb - 13 - 2023 , 14:10 From March 31, 2023, passengers arriving in Ghana with the Ghana Card will not be required to fill out landing cards since their particulars will be accessed electronically. Stakeholders in the transport and aviation industry arrived at the decision after a meeting with the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in Accra. In a Facebook post, Dr Bawumia said: I held a productive meeting on improving the competitiveness of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) with key stakeholders, including the Minister of Public Enterprises, the Minister of Transport and his deputy, the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Security and the Ministry of the Interior. It was decided, inter alia, that airline passengers travelling to Ghana will, from 31st March 2023, no longer be required to fill out landing cards. This is because the same information can be obtained electronically, the post added. It also said processes passengers went through at the KIA would also be streamlined to avoid duplication and cut down time spent. Dr Bawumia said the Ministry for the Interior and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) had been directed to ensure that the E-gate system was operational at KIA this year where passengers could use their passports or Ghana cards to access. Ghana card It would be recalled that on March 1, last year, some Ghanaian passengers were for the first time admitted to the country with the Ghana card instead of passports. In all, 14 passengers on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight (ET 921) from Addis Ababa, which touched down at about 11:15 a.m. that day went through the process which was conducted by officials of the GIS. This was to officially introduce the use of the Ghana Card as an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-compliant travel document from March 1, 2022 The Deputy Head of the Management Information Systems (MIS) Department of the GIS, Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI) Sharif Karikari, informed media personnel who were at the airport to observe the process that some booths had been designated as places to admit Ghanaians with Ghana cards into the country. On arrival, he said, the identity of the cardholders would be verified against the national identity register before we go ahead to admit the passenger to be sure the bearer is indeed the rightful owner of the card. When one has only the card, we process the person through the system and after verification, the person is processed through the embarkation card before being admitted to the country, Mr Karikari said, adding that information had been sent out to all airlines to admit passengers with the cards. Responding to a question on foreigners with Ghana cards, he said those with non-citizen cards who are foreigners could not use it because they are other nationals. According to him, once a Ghanaian passengers identity had been verified, he or she would be admitted to the country. Bilateral agreement The Head of Public Affairs of the GIS, Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta, said the first step was for Ghanaians travelling into the country. The next step was for the country to have bilateral agreements with any another country that would want to have that kind of reciprocal travel agreement. What we are doing now is to help citizens who come into the country, and most importantly dual national cardholders, that they do not need to apply for visas since they would be cleared when they come in, he added. Announcement The GIS had on Monday February 28, 2022, announced to the public that it would from March 1, 2022, begin to admit Ghanaian passengers and dual nationals returning to Ghana on a valid Ghana Card as a result of the official recognition of the Ghana Card as an ICAO-compliant travel document. It said the Ghana Card would serve as an optional travel document, but reminded the public that until bilateral agreements were signed with other countries, the Ghana Card could not be used to travel outside the ECOWAS sub-region. Ghanaian BeautyPreneur donates to Senior Correctional Centre to mark birthday celebration GraphicOnline Feb - 13 - 2023 , 15:58 Beauty entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of Woenas Fountain of Love and WOENA Beauty, Woena Apolline Attipoe last week celebrated her birthday with a donation to the Senior Correctional Centre at the Ghana Prisons Service in Accra. As a way of showing love and support to the 256 inmates at the facility aged between 13-21 years, she donated some clothes, soaps, sponges, toothpaste, brush, deodorant, food, drinks and water. Galadima of Kuulcuts together with his team of Barbers also supported the cause by offering a clean haircut to over 100 boys on the day. Sharing her motivation for celebrating her birthday with the boys at the correctional centre she said: Being a mother, I want to contribute my quota to ensuring that these boys are not burdened emotionally and mentally so that when they come out, they will treat women with love. She used the opportunity to fellowship, pray and share the word of God with them, advising them to understand the word Love and share it with women when they grow up to be men. Receiving the donations on behalf of the Officer in Charge, DSP Praise Gifty Nunoo expressed her appreciation to Woenas Fountain of Love for having the centre in mind while celebrating her birthday. She added that the presentation will go a long way to help the boys and serve the very purpose they were donated. Woenas Fountain of Love is committed to supporting these boys through the foundation emphasizing that we cannot change their crimes but together we can contribute to their well-being while they are in detention to ease their stay. The initiative was supported NAAVIQ Aqua (bags of water), ICE Rock (bags of water), All Pure Nature (soaps) and other friends and loved ones who believed in the cause to show love to the boys at the correctional centre. Knight Piesolds schools programme extends to Saint Marys, Wesley Grammar SHSs Graphic.com.gh Feb - 13 - 2023 , 05:42 An initiative aimed at targeting high school students to generate interest in taking up careers in engineering which is being spearheaded by Knight Piesold Ghana Limited (K.P.), a geo-environmental consulting firm, has been extended to St Marys and Wesley Grammar senior high schools. Dubbed Schools Initiative Programme (SIP), it is aimed at providing students with a practical approach to solving complex problems. It is part of an annual Corporate Social Responsibility programme by Knight Piesold Ghana Limited, For 2022, which was the 10th year of the initiative, St Marys and Wesley Grammar received a projector and a projector screen to aid in teaching and learning. In previous years, at the end of the programme each year, the participating schools were presented with prizes to augment teaching and learning activities in their respective schools. At the inception the competition was held in the form of a quiz between selected schools. Later the competition was developed into a bridge modelling competition. In recent times the competition has developed into a competition between schools, where they compete in the a modelling of a dam for judges to assess them. The 2022 activity took the form of a donation exercise to St Marys and Wesley Grammar Senior High Schools. The donations were made to the science department of the two schools to augment teaching and learning. The ultimate goal of the company is to expand the reach of the programme to all the regions of Ghana. Equipping students with the right tools and exposure will serve as a springboard for a bright future for Ghana and Africa at large. NAELP project: Degraded lands restored, residents appeal for expansion of programme Timothy Ngnenbe Feb - 13 - 2023 , 12:14 The national land reclamation project rolled out by the government to restore lands degraded by illegal mining activities is receiving endorsement from residents of mining communities. The project, which is part of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, is targeted mainly at degraded lands that straddle water bodies, with the ultimate aim of restoring the lands, while breathing a new lease of life into rivers. Adopting community participation, the reclamation project started in the last quarter of last year, with 1,000 hectares of degraded lands being reclaimed. Six months into the project, the chiefs and residents of mining areas in the Ashanti, Western North and Eastern regions are already counting the gains. Field visits The Daily Graphic undertook a three-day visit to four reclamation sites located in the Sefwi-Wiawso and the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai municipalities and the Juaboso District in the Western North Region, where it observed high enthusiasm among the community members. Two of the sites are located at Asawinso in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai municipality, while there is one each at Mpesiem in Sefwi-Wiawso and Antobia in Juaboso. At Asawinso sites A and B, as well as Mpesiem, it was observed that work was almost complete. Dredge Masters, the private company undertaking the project, had completed earth works and planted economic trees on a greater part of the land. At Asawinso Site A, the earth works and the planting of economic trees had been completed on the 61-acre degraded land. When the Daily Graphic got to the site last Monday, some youth and women were seen weeding around and watering the seedlings. Similarly, at Asawinso Site B, all earth works had been completed, but the planting of seedlings had been halted temporarily. New life During interactions, the residents said apart from breathing a new lease of life into their degraded farmlands, the project had created livelihood opportunities for the youth and women in the communities. They were particularly happy that the project would end the phenomenon of children falling into uncovered mining pits. They called on the government to scale up the project to cover all areas affected by illegal mining activities, popularly called galamsey. Assurance The site manager of the NAELP reclamation project, Gilbert Atima, said seedlings would be planted on 139 acres of reclaimed land as soon as the rains began. For seedlings that have been planted at Asawinso sites A and B, we are watering them daily because we are in the dry season and there is no rain. We will keep watering the plants, so that they can survive until the rains begin, he added. At Antobia in Juaboso, earth works were ongoing as excavators were seen levelling some parts of the 332-hectare site. Mr Atima said reclamation work started at the site on December 5, 2022, with 221 hectares reclaimed as of February 7, this year. The site manager said the earth works, including dewatering, backfilling and levelling, were about 96 per cent completed. The target is to finish the earth works in about two weeks, and when the rains fall, we will start planting, he said. When asked if Dredge Masters could finish the work on schedule, he said the progress made so far indicated that the contract would be executed and delivered ahead of time. Challenges Touching on the challenges confronting the reclamation project, he said the work had been frustrated by hidden pits at the initial stages, as earth-moving equipment got stuck in those pits. Mr Atima also said compensation issues remained a top challenge, with some farmers demanding to be paid before access would be given to degraded lands. Most of the farmers say once our equipment passes through their land, any crop they produce will not yield. If you touch one cocoa tree, you will have to pay compensation. We are still estimating the cost of the compensation, he said. He also said illegal miners sometimes threatened the workers, but anytime we call on the Minerals Commission and the security agencies, they come in to support in clearing the illegal miners. Context Thousands of hectares of land in mining communities across the country have been devastated by the activities of illegal miners, who have also polluted water bodies through the use of toxic chemicals such as cyanide and mercury in their operations. Many of the abandoned illegal mining pits pose serious threats to residents of mining communities, as scores of the people have fallen into those pits and died. As a measure to restore the degraded lands, the government rolled out a number of initiatives to reclaim them. Some of such initiatives are the $103.4-million World Bank-funded Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-scale Mining project (GLRSM) and the reclamation component of NAELP. Chiefs endorsement The Chief of Sefwi Mpesiem, Nana Nkansah Obirimpong II, described the reclamation project as one of the best initiatives by a government in the area in recent years. He said apart from the employment opportunities it provided for the local people, the project would go a long way to curb untimely deaths in uncovered mining pits. "We have seen that the reclamation project is good and so we want the government to expand it to cover all mining communities. If you cover some pits and leave others, we will still suffer consequences," he said. He stressed that the traditional rulers in the area would do everything within their power to end the galamsey menace in the area. The Antobiahene, Nana Asante Krobea, also told the Daily Graphic that the chiefs and the people had whole-heartedly endorsed the project and would, therefore, guard it jealously. He noted that the environmental and economic benefits of the project were enormous, for which reason it would be given the needed support. However, he underscored the need to address teething challenges associated with the project, especially the ownership of the reclaimed lands. Governments commitment In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the National Coordinator of NAELP, Dr Louise Carol Serwa Donkor, said she was impressed by the extent of work done during the first phase targetting 1,000 hectares of degraded lands. She said apart from the over 500 hectares of degraded lands that were being reclaimed in the Western North Region, similar projects were progressing steadily in the Bosome Freho District in the Ashanti Region, as well as Abuakwa South and Atiwa West in the Eastern Region. Dr Donkor said hundreds of employment opportunities had been created along the value chain since the reclamation project started last year, with the figure expected to go up as more projects were executed. "This is a green project that has global implications, especially in the wake of climate change. Therefore, more funding sources will be explored to scale it up and sustain it, so that we can reap the multiplier benefits as a country," she said. Touching on the call by the chiefs and the people of mining communities for the reclamation project to be scaled up, she said such requests were germain, given that uncovered pits continued to wreak havoc on residents of those communities. Regarding sustainability measures, the coordinator said district and local steering committees, made up of local authorities, chiefs, interest groups and landowners, were being set up to come up with a plan to preserve reclaimed lands. "Some of the economic trees being planted on the reclaimed lands will be a source of livelihood to the residents of mining communities. There has to be a plan on how these resources can be managed to benefit the communities, so the committees will see to all those things," she added. Dr Donkor assured the people that the government would not take over any reclaimed land, as was being rumoured. Rather, she said, there would be proper consultation with the previous owners of the lands, chiefs and other stakeholders to iron out all differences in the interest of peace. For his part, the acting Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Chief Executive, John Koah, said the reclamation project was a positive initiative, as it would help address the dire consequences associated with abandoned illegal mining pits. The late Col. Kim Dong-suk in monochrome and in color / Courtesy of Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs By Kang Seung-woo Faded black-and-white photos of over 100 Korean War veterans will be restored as part of a plan by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) to transform the monochrome pictures into color on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement. The list of beneficiaries of the commemorative project includes Gen. Kim Doo-man, who conducted 100 sorties for the first time in the history of South Korea's Air Force during the Korean War, Col. Edward Forney of the U.S. Marine Corps, who served as the evacuation control officer during the Hungnam Evacuation, and the late Col. Kim Dong-suk, a legendary South Korean spy who provided critical information about the North Korean military to the United Nations forces during the war. Black-and-white photos of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Gen. Matthew Ridgway and South Korean Gen. Paik Sun-yup, will also be transformed into color images. All of them, along with Col. Kim Dong-suk, were recognized as Korean War heroes by the U.S. government in 2000. According to the MPVA, Monday, the process uses an artificial intelligence tool called generative facial prior-generative adversarial networks (GFP-GAN), which can restore damaged and low-resolution portraits. The project is intended to remember the appearances of the war veterans as they participated in the conflict 70 years ago through the present point of view. To this end, the Jaseng Medical Foundation organized and sponsored the project, while students from Sungkyunkwan University majoring in software and artificial intelligence will be involved in colorizing pictures of the veterans who fought to defend freedom and democracy on the Korean Peninsula during the 1950 to 1953 war. The ministry plans to collect photos of the veterans in March and April and restore them by June. The restored photos will be framed and delivered to war veterans and their bereaved families. In addition, a related exhibition will be held around July 27 when the armistice was signed between North Korean and Chinese forces and the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC). "This project was launched to evoke the brightest moments in the lives of the war heroes who gave their lives to protect the freedom of South Korea on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement," Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-shik said. The Marine Corp. Col. Edward Forney in monochrome and in color / Courtesy of Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs OSP Case on lifestyle audit: Veep's office wanted seized rice for Ramadan - Prosecutor Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Feb - 13 - 2023 , 13:07 Lawyer for one of the accused persons dragged to court by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for allegedly failing to declare his assets, and the prosecutor today traded various allegations at the Accra High Court. The lawyer - Nana Asare - accused the Special Prosecutor of allegedly coming into a purely civil matter due to his ties to a party in the case. According to counsel, his client - Issah Seidu (the first accused person) had sued the petitioner over the ownership of some imported rice. He said while the case was ongoing, the petitioner allegedly reported the matter to the OSP for the anti-graft body to harass his client because he (petitioner) had a personal relationship with the Special Prosecutor. Counsel made the claims as he was applying to the court to grant his client bail. Response In response, the prosecutor from the OSP, Emmanuel Basintale, refuted the claims from counsel and said the OSP ventured into the matter due to a petition about an alleged act of corruption. The petitioner has no relationship with the Special Prosecutor. He is just a Ghanaian who wants to prevent corrupt officials from unlawfully taking his goods from him, he said. According to him, the petitioner who is a businessman imported about 10,000 bags of rice into Ghana and when he tried to clear the goods after going through all the processes, Seidu also laid claim to the goods. The prosecutor said the petitioner then reported the matter to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) which later determined that the goods belonged to him and that the documents presented by Seidu were fake. Mr Basintale said Seidu immediately filed a suit against the petitioner and also filed an injunction to stop GRA from releasing the goods to the petitioner. It was at this point that the petitioner said he has come across documents from the Office of the Vice President addressed to the Commissioner of Customs to release the goods imported by the petitioner to A1 (Seidu) because the Office of the Vice President wanted to use the rice for Ramadan, he said. Bail Meanwhile, the court has granted bail to three of the four accused persons who have been charged for failing to comply with a directive from the OSP to declare their assets. Seidu, who works at the National Insurance Commission, was admitted to bail in the sum of Ghc10,000 with one surety and must report to the OSP every Monday. The other accused persons - James Keck Osei, an official at Office of the Vice President was granted bail in the sum of Ghc10,000, while Peter Achibald Hyde, a Customs Officer granted a self-recognizance bail. The third accused person - John Abban who is a also a Customs officer was however absent, with his lawyers saying he was not well. Hearing continues on March 13, this year. Charges The four who are under investigations by the OSP over alleged corruption in the importation of the 10,000 bags of rice, were dragged to court by the OSP for failing to declare their assets as demanded by the anti-graft body. The alleged refusal to declare their assets is in contravention with Section 69(1) of the OSP Act , 2017 (Act 959) and Regulation 20(2) of the OSP (Operations), Regulations, 2018 ( L.I 2374). OSP charges 4 for failure to declare incomes Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Feb - 13 - 2023 , 05:20 The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged four public servants and a civil servant for allegedly failing to comply and declare their sources of income. Their failure to declare their sources of income is in contravention of the OSP Regulation (Operations), 2018 ( LI 2374). A statement issued by the OSP on Friday named the four as Issah Seidu, who works with the National Insurance Commission; James Keck Osei, who works with the Office of the Vice-President as an administrator, as well as John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde, both of whom are senior officers with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The accused are due to appear before the Accra High Court (Criminal Division) today. What the law says Regulation 20 (1) of LI 2374 gives the Special Prosecutor (SP) the task to ask a suspect to declare his or her income or property as prescribed by Form 11A of the First Schedule of the LI. Per Regulation 20(2) of LI 2374, a suspect who receives such a query from the SP has 30 days supply the information. According to Form 11A of the First Schedule of LI 2374, a suspect who refuses to comply with the directive from the SP within the 30 days stipulated period commits an offence. Context According to anti-graft agency, Transparency International (TI), lifestyle audits also known as lifestyle checks or lifestyle monitoring are an accountability tool that can be used to detect and prevent corruption. Such audits typically conducted when the visible lifestyle or standard of living of an individual appears to exceed their known income level. The detection of such discrepancies can raise red flags, warranting closer inspection. In such instances, an assessment of the individuals income, assets and investments can be undertaken to determine if such seemingly extravagant expenditures could have come from illicit gains. If the audit shows a mismatch between a person's known income and assets compared to their lifestyle and spending patterns, then there is an increased risk that the person is deriving alternative income from sources that constitute a conflict of interest or illegal activity, including embezzlement and bribery. As verification often includes assessment of an officials household, the approach is particularly helpful in detecting whether corrupt proceeds could have been concealed under the names of family members or associates. Lifestyle audits are best used systematically in conjunction with other anti-corruption measures, including the criminalisation of illicit enrichment, establishing obligations for regular declarations of assets, incomes and interests, as well as unexplained wealth orders. Expert view The Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Dr Eric Oduro-Osae,who is a chartered accountant and governance expert, has been calling for a lifestyle audit of senior civil and public servants in the country. He said such an exercise would not only check corrupt practices but also help weed out corruption in the public sector. The last time Dr Oduro-Osae made the call was at a public forum organised by the Institute of Charted Accountants - Ghana (ICAG) in Accra on October 17,2022 as part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ga North District Society of the ICAG. He believed such an exercise was essential in the countrys fight against corruption, adding that most of the time, it was public servants who guided politicians in their corrupt pursuits. We must conduct the audit, prosecute offenders, as well as publish their names in a national newspaper. If we start with people such as chief directors, those at the bottom will sit up, he said. Dr Oduro Osae further said the exercise, which should be part of a national agenda, must be commissioned by the President to audit the incomes of the officials against their monthly expenditure. SHS freshers to report February 20 Severious Kale-Dery Feb - 13 - 2023 , 06:14 All qualified Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates who are being placed into senior high schools (SHSs) and technical and vocational institutions are expected to report to school on February 20, 2023. This is part of the timetable the Ghana Education Service (GES) has released for the academic year for all SHSs and also basic schools. The timetable comes ahead of the release of the placements by the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). The SHS timetable is in two categories that for schools under the double-track system and that for those that will run a single stream. Double Track Under the double-track system, freshers are expected to report to school on February 20 and stay in school until April 13 when the first part of the first semester is expected to be over. They will, however, be required to return to school on June 9, 2023 and stay until August 10, when they will take a second break. The last lap of the first year begins on September 18 and ends on November 30, 2023, when the students would have completed the second semester of the first year. For freshers going to schools running the single track, the timetable is slightly different. For instance, even though they will report on the same day as their counterparts in the double-track schools, they will break on April 5, resume on April 17 and stay until September 15 when their academic calendar will end. Meanwhile, Form Two students in the double-track system will head home on February 18 and return to school on April 11 till June 1, 2023 for yet another break. They will be expected to return to school on August 14 until November 30, when the academic year will be over for them. Meanwhile, their counterparts in the single track, who reported to school on the same date, January 10, will go home on April 6, resume on April 17 and remain until August 25, 2023, when the academic year will end for them. Final-year students of both the double track and the single stream who reported to school on January 10 will take an 11-day break from April 6 to 16 and return to school on April 17 until June 1 for yet another seven-day break, before going back on June 9 until they complete writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on September 15, 2023. Transitional calendar The academic calendar, described as a transitional, has been scheduled in such a way that there are two cohorts of students in school at any given time for the double-track schools. Explaining, the Deputy Director-General of the GES in charge of Quality and Access, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh, said the timetable was designed to ensure that over the years, all students will complete a minimum of 3,134 hours, averaging 1,134 hours per year. On the calendar for kindergarten, primary and junior high schools (JHSs), the first term spans January 10 to March 24, while the second term begins from April 3 to June 15. The third term begins from June 27 to September 14, 2023, while for JHS Three students, the third term begins from June 27 until the end of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which will be written in September this year. Directive A letter signed and issued by Dr Tandoh to all regional directors of education asked them to ensure that all heads of basic and second-cycle schools in their respective regions took note of the calendar and complied accordingly to facilitate the smooth running of the academic year. The letter, titled: 2023 Academic calendar for all Ghana Education Service schools, wished all staff a successful and productive 2023. VP Bawumia cuts sod for the construction of Liberty Assemblies of God Church Hospital GraphicOnline Feb - 12 - 2023 , 18:56 The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Sunday, February 12, 2023, cut sod for the construction of the Liberty Assemblies of God Hospital in Akweteyman, Accra. The construction of the 50-bed community hospital is in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Liberty Assemblies of God Church. Dr Bawumia, who has provided financial support, as well as 500 bags of cement to the church, towards the start of construction, congratulated the congregation on its 50th anniversary, and also expressed delight at joining them for the groundbreaking ceremony, which he described as "a manifestation of the goodness of God." "It is really a pleasure and a privilege to be here," Dr Bawumia said. "Liberty Assemblies of God Church is 50 years this year and I was very privileged to be with you on that day when we celebrated the 50th Anniversary. And the theme was: 'declaring the goodness of God. "This (sod cutting) is a manifestation of that theme. We are here today because we are seeing the goodness of God." "The church, to thank God for 50 years, has decided to construct a 50-bed hospital for the community of Akweteyman." Dr. Bawumia, having provided the Church with his support, also reiterated his commitment towards the project. "I am so happy and so honoured to be part of it and I want to assure Reverend that I will be keeping a close eye and participating in the construction of this beautiful edifice," he said. "We want to see the completion in two years by the grace of God so I am one of you as we are going through this project, and we will see, by the grace of God, to its completion." "I just want to thank all of you, Reverend in particular for making me a part and an honorary member of Liberty, of which I'm very proud. May God bless this building and may God bless all the people who are going to be working,". Dont interfere in Auditor-Generals work - NDC to Attorney-General Daily Graphic Politics Feb - 13 - 2023 , 05:28 The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has told the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to desist from what it described as his interference in the work of the Auditor-General. In a statement dated February, 10 2023, the NDC said a letter from Mr Dame to the Auditor-General criticising the publication of the Auditor-Generals report on the COVID-19 expenditure was an attack on the independence of the Auditor-General. The NDC said the letter was an interference and intrusion into the mandate of the Auditor-General by someone who ought to know better. We need not remind the Attorney-General that Article 187(7) (a) of the 1992 Constitution guarantees the independence of the Auditor-General. It explicitly provides that the Auditor-General in the performance of his duties is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority, it explained The statement by the NDC was signed by the National Communication Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi. Mr Dame had described as unconstitutional the publication of the Auditor-General's report on the COVID-19 expenditure before Parliament completes considering it. In a letter to Johnson Akuamoah-Asiedu, the Auditor-General, Mr Dame said the publication of the report on the website of the Audit Service was "premature and unconstitutional." According to the Attorney General, per Article 187(5) of the 1992 Constitution, the Auditor-General was to submit his report to Parliament and in that report, draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited. He added that Article 187(6) of the Constitution requires that Parliament must then debate the report of the Auditor-General and appoint, where necessary and in the public interest, a committee to deal with any matters arising from it. According to the Attorney General, it was only after satisfying the constitutional requirement of submitting the Auditor-Generals report to Parliament, the subsequent debate by Parliament thereon and the conclusion of work by the appropriate committee of Parliament, that the report of the Auditor-General would be considered final and relevant action be taken thereon. "Consequently, I advise a withdrawal of the report on the Government COVID-19 transactions from your website before same has been debated by Parliament and considered by the appropriate committee of Parliament," he added. Power The NDC, however, explained that the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584) offered power and responsibility to the Auditor-General to carry out special audits, which he constitutionally exercised by probing the COVID-19 expenditure of the government. It is worthy of note that Section 23 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584) mandates the Auditor-General to publish reports of audits as soon as the reports have been presented to the Speaker of Parliament, It added. Parliament excludes C.I. on voter registration from business statement Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Feb - 13 - 2023 , 06:34 An attempt by the Majority in Parliament to introduce the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2023 in the business statement as one of the items to be considered for this week was botched after a stiff opposition by the Minority Caucus. The Minority argued that the constitutional instrument (C.I.) was not part of the business items that were collectively agreed on when the members of the Business Committee met last weed Thursday. Consequently, the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, directed that since the instrument had not been agreed on for inclusion, it should be excluded from the business statement. He advised that if the members of the Business Committee discussed and agreed on the way forward, the Chairman of the Business Committee could bring another statement on what had been agreed. "So, I think to make the way forward let us exclude what was not part of the business arrangement for the week and proceed with what has been arranged for the week, Mr Osei-Owusu directed. Business statement The directive came after the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, presented the business statement for the ensuing week ending Friday, February 17, 2023. The new C.I. is seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole form of identification for eligible voters who want to get onto the electoral roll. Presenting the business statement, Mr Afenyo-Markin told the House that the Electoral Commission (EC) might lay the C.I. in the House next week. He said Article 11 (c) of the 1992 Constitution was clear on the mandate of Parliament in terms of Executive Instruments, legislative instrument and constitutional instruments. In his view, whereas Parliament had a mandate to scrutinise such instruments, it could not also obstruct a constitutional body from undertaking its work merely because the Minority had some disagreement with the institution. Parliament has the mandate, through its Subsidiary Legislative Committee, to have a critical look at it but Parliament cannot obstruct or prevent a constitutional body which has a constitutional mandate to conduct public elections, he said. Unilateral smuggle Reacting, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, said per a draft agenda that was discussed during the Business Committee meeting, the C.I. was never discussed, and therefore, expressed shock and surprise to see the introduction of the C.I. I am surprised to see the Deputy Majority Leader, who did not attend the meeting, standing here and making a pronouncement that this was agreed upon. The Businesss Committees mandate is for us to sit and agree on the businesses for the week but not for someone to unilaterally smuggle what is becoming a major contention, he said. Dr Forson cautioned that the Minority would not only oppose the business statement but also would not accept it. Our colleagues have not dealt with us in good faith and if that is the way they will go cooperation will suffer. Your conduct has taught the way to work with you and we will do just that, he said, and requested that another motion be moved for the C.I. to be deleted from the business statement and proper consultation to be done on it. Vehement opposition Corroborating the Minority Leaders concern, the First Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, recalled how the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, during the previous session of Parliament, directed the EC to come and brief the Speaker and leadership on the content and rationale of the instrument. This is because the C.I. contains things that can be a recipe for chaos and disorder in the country and it is a threat to our democracy. Guam Visitors Bureau members contributing more than $100 a year should no longer be allowed to have multiple voting rights, according to three senators who introduced a bill that they said would end certain big businesses control over GVBs direction. Sens. Telo Taitague, Jesse Lujan and Joanne Brown, however, did not name the specific well-funded GVB members that theyre accusing of monopolizing or unfairly influencing the agencys decisions, including where tourism dollars should be used. Current law allows contributing members to acquire multiple voting rights based on one vote for each annual contribution of $100. Honorary members each contribute less than $100. The three senators said if Bill 38-37 becomes law, it removes the provision allowing multiple voting rights, clearing the way for small businesses such as food vendors, crafters, musicians and others to serve on the GVB board notwithstanding the size of their companys bank account. The current method of selecting members to serve on the GVB Board makes it difficult, if not impossible, for small businesses across our tourism industry to meaningfully participate in the decision-making process which involves the expenditure of Tourist Attraction Fund revenues, Taitague said in a statement Monday. Financial disclosures Bill 38 also seeks to require all GVB board directors to file financial disclosures. Currently, the requirement applies to directors appointed by the governor. The bill also seeks to lower the minimum number of board members present to constitute a quorum to transact business, from the current eight to seven. GVB President Carl Gutierrez and board members have been at odds over ethics, board authority and directors terms and appointments for about a year now, and recent efforts to hold general membership meetings, board meetings and a legislative oversight hearing have either failed or been postponed. Lujan, Taitague and Brown expressed disappointment over tourism committee chair Sen. Amanda Sheltons cancellation of Fridays legislative oversight hearings on GVB matters that Lujan scheduled while Shelton was off island. Now, the three senators introduced a bill that they said would address the issues at GVB and help put an end to a system that for years has allowed certain business interests via the GVB Board of Directors to control the direction of the islands tourism agency. Increased transparency creates public trust, this is why I believe that Bill 38 must move forward as part of our broader effort to repair and address the issues with the GVB Board, Brown said in a statement. Other provisions If enacted into law, the bill would require the GVB bylaws and other adopted internal regulations to be consistent with other laws applicable to the bureau, including policies affecting agency personnel and finances, and compliance with the Open Government Law. Guam law allows the GVB board to have 12 board directors, including four elected by the membership, five appointed by the governor with legislative consent, including one whos a mayor, two appointed by the speaker, and the 12th is selected by the other directors. Theres also an alternate director appointed by the speaker, with the consent of the Legislature. Currently, the 12th director is chosen by a vote requiring concurrence of eight directors but Bill 38 seeks to lower that to seven directors. The bill also seeks to lower from eight to seven the required number of board directors to remove a fellow director for cause. Right now, if theres a vacancy on the board of an elected member, that post is filled by the selection made by two remaining elected directors. Bill 38 seeks to change the process by allowing five directors to fill the elected director vacancy. The GVB board led by Chairman Milton Morinaga voted to suspend meetings starting in May 2022 until the bureaus bylaws could be reviewed and made congruent with the law that created GVB. GVB hired attorney Joe McDonald for the review, but management and the board continue to have differences of views. More board directors have said they want to resign, but are waiting for their replacements. On Monday, Taitague said although Guam law recognizes GVB as an autonomous agency, its board must understand that the organization belongs to the people of Guam and not a handful of business executives. Bill 38 provides an opportunity for the GVB Board to rebuild trust with the people of Guam families across our island who rely on these individuals to make responsible decisions impacting Guams single largest industry, she said. Lujan, who was Gutierrezs 2018 gubernatorial campaign co-chairman, said Feb. 10s oversight hearing may have been canceled in an attempt to cover up the dereliction of duty over the years by certain board members. He said if approved, Bill 38 will make it difficult if not impossible for current and future Board members to continue such practices. Gutierrez brought Lujan and Taitague to Japan recently as tourism committee members, to attend the reopening of GVBs office in Tokyo. Police said Monday they have questioned a former army chief of staff as part of an investigation into claims of a fortune teller's alleged involvement in the relocation of the presidential residence. The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier filed a complaint for libel charges against a former defense ministry spokesperson, Boo Seung-chan, and two reporters from the news organizations News Tomato and Hankook Ilbo. They claimed the fortune teller, known as Cheongong, had visited the candidate sites of the presidential residence, including the former official residence of the army chief of staff, last March. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said it has recently brought in former Army Chief of Staff Nam Young-shin for questioning and others who were reported to have been at Nam's former residence at the time of the fortune teller's alleged visit. The SMPA, however, said it has failed to obtain CCTV footage of the day Cheongong allegedly made the visit and will confirm whether it was deleted in due process. After winning the March 9 presidential election, Yoon carried out his campaign promise and relocated the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae to the former defense ministry building in Yongsan, central Seoul. The former foreign minister's residence in Hannam-dong has also been transformed into a new presidential residence. Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee moved into the new residence in November. (Yonhap) A recent ban on the open detonation of hazardous waste will have to be revised due to concerns from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to Sen. Sabina Perez, chair of the Legislatures Committee on Environment, without a revision to the law, Guam EPA may be left unable to enforce local hazardous waste regulations. Perez has scheduled a roundtable discussion for 5 p.m. Thursday, where lawmakers will get into the weeds on explosive waste disposal. Meanwhile, military officials maintain that without revision, the ban will put the community and explosive ordnance disposal personnel at risk. The ban, Public Law 36-139, was passed in December following controversy over a detonation range along the coastline at Andersen Air Force Base and the introduction of more stringent regulations from U.S. EPA. An exemption on the ban was provided for unexploded ordnance from World War II which is routinely found in the community. Since then, U.S. EPA has weighed in. Maintain primacy According to Perez, Guam needs to maintain environmental regulations that are as strict or stricter than federal regulations in order for Guam EPA to maintain primacy, or the right to enforce local regulations. Even though the law seems stronger there may be a scenario that turns out to be weaker, Perez told the newspaper. And so we want to give that flexibility to the agency to make those decisions so that they dont fall below federal standards. For example, the ban applies to hazardous waste, but certain kinds of explosives that are outdated but still usable might not fall into that category, Perez said, like Vietnam War-era munitions that had been repurposed for the Gulf War. Andersen detonated the last Vietnam-era M117 bomb, a 750-pound explosive, in 2015. Other possible loopholes are related to technical situations dealing with storage or transport, Perez said. The senator has introduced Bill 35, which makes technical corrections and broadens the exemption for WWII-era ordnance to include any explosive that Guam and U.S. EPA deem can only be safely disposed of via open detonation. It will also require that any open detonation be reported to Guam EPA within 30 days. Perez said her ultimate goal is still a full end to open detonation, but that the change will allow more flexibility for regulators. The ban, passed on Dec. 29, will not take effect for 60 days. Defense response Theres been no change to the Department of Defenses emergency response policy for unexploded ordnance found off base yet, according to Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, commander of Joint Region Marianas. However, when Public Law 36-139 takes effect on Feb. 27, 2023, absent any revisions to the current language or a complete repeal, (unexploded ordnance) emergency response by the EOD teams will be drastically impacted due to safety concerns for first responders and the community-at-large, Nicholson said in a statement. Only ordnance from WWII can be openly detonated, and the additional measures required to determine the age of an explosive item raises, to unacceptable levels, the risk to life for our EOD technicians. The military is the only entity that can deal with emergency ordnance disposal on Guam. Nicholson said Joint Region Marianas is working with the Legislature, Office of the Governor, and Guam EPA to resolve major deficiencies with the law. Police have identified a pedestrian killed in a traffic accident at the ITC intersection Sunday as Martin Perez Ruiz of Tamuning. Ruiz was crossing from north to south in the crosswalk when he was hit by an eastbound Honda Ridgeline driving in the middle lane, according to Guam Police Department spokeswoman Officer Berlyn Savella. The vehicle came to a controlled stop on the outer eastbound lane just after the crosswalk on the east side of the intersection, she said. Ruiz was rushed to Guam Memorial Hospital, with CPR in progress. He was later pronounced dead by an attending physician. The Highway Patrol Section was activated and assumed control of the investigation. A family member was located and identified Ruiz, Savella said. The investigation remains open, and police are conducting follow-ups, she said. The crash is the second traffic fatality of 2023. On Feb. 7, the driver of a Nissan Pathfinder, identified as Venix Fiden, was killed when his vehicle collided with a trash truck on Route 15 in Mangilao. Effective communication about the risk of natural disasters such as typhoons and floods can save lives, according to the director of the National Weather Service, who said Guam and other weather offices in the Pacific will test a redesigned NWS Chat system in the coming months before the system goes live nationally in August. The chat system allows government officials and the media to communicate more easily with Weather Service experts so decisions can be made and accurate information can be shared with the public. The modeling, the science, the warnings, the watches, the statements, the advisories thats just the beginning, Weather Service Director Ken Graham said during a press conference Monday morning at Tiyan. Then it takes the connection with communication. Its all lost if we cant communicate that risk. Graham, who has decades of experience working in NWS field offices in several states, became Weather Service director last June. He visited Guam this week in connection with the annual meeting of Pacific region NWS managers. His visit is the first to the island by a sitting Weather Service director. Were gonna build a new Weather Service and transform some of the things that we do in the National Weather Service to be more nimble, flexible, mobile with those decision makers, Graham said. He said he will ensure the Weather Service offices in the Pacific have the same capabilities as offices in the rest of the nation. Were not going to leave you out, he said. Graham is the U.S. representative to the World Meteorological Organization, which is scheduled to meet in May to discuss how to adapt to climate change. Global warming will cause more extreme weather events, including longer droughts and more frequent and larger floods, he said. Rising sea levels also will result in frequent coastal flooding, Graham said. When you have a typhoon and you have a hurricane, youre gonna see some of the storm surge values be higher. Not just higher, but they can reach places that maybe they werent before. The Weather Service on Guam scheduled an open house at its Tiyan offices on March 23, which is World Meteorological Day, Graham said. He said schools are encouraged to bring their students to the open house. We need the next generation of scientists because theres unique challenges across the globe that were going to be looking at, he said. Former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam Permit Czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at communityrelations@visitguam.org. The crew of the USCGC Myrtle Hazard transfers two mariners rescued from the water about halfway between Guam and Rota midday on Feb. 9, 2023, to a Station Apra Harbor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium for further transport to shore. Chinese mainland delegation mourns Master Hsing Yun in Jiangsu Xinhua) 10:06, February 13, 2023 BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland delegation on Sunday afternoon mourned Master Hsing Yun, founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order in Taiwan, at a temple in Yixing, east China's Jiangsu Province. Long Mingbiao, head of the delegation and deputy head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attended the mourning ceremony, said a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. Others, including officials from the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, president of the Buddhist Association of China, and representatives from all walks of life in Jiangsu, also paid their tributes. Master Hsing Yun died on Feb. 5. He was born in Jiangsu and became a monk at the Dajue Temple in the city of Yixing. The delegation had planned to travel to Taiwan to mourn Master Hsing Yun on Saturday, but the trip could not take place due to the obstruction of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities. In a videolink talk with the Fo Guang Shan Head Abbot Venerable Hsin Bao at the mourning ceremony, Long said the mainland delegation made a special trip to the Dajue Temple to pay tribute and respect to Master Hsing Yun in gratitude for his important contributions to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, according to the spokesperson. The delegation extended sympathy to the monks of Fo Guang Shan, and hoped they would carry on the last wishes of Master Hsing Yun and continue promoting cross-Strait exchanges, according to the spokesperson. In the videolink talk, Abbot Hsin Bao pledged efforts to contribute wisdom and strength to advancing Buddhist exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) gettyimagesbank Gov't faces calls to take preemptive action to protect children By Jun Ji-hye About 40 children die every year in Korea due to child abuse committed mostly by their parents. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Monday, the number of children who died from child abuse stood at 38 in 2017, 28 in 2018, 42 in 2019, 43 in 2020 and 40 in 2021, with its average tallied at about 38. By age group, most victims were under the age of three, accounting for 65 percent. Most deaths were attributed to parents, with the ratio standing at 68.5 percent of the total, followed by 9.3 percent committed by other relatives. The latest statistics came amid a public outcry over a recent abuse case allegedly committed by a stepmother and a biological father resulting in the death of their 12-year-old son. The boy died at a hospital on Feb. 7 after being found unconscious with what appeared to be bruises all over his body at his home in Incheon. The couple were arrested, on Feb. 10, with the stepmother charged with child abuse homicide and the father with habitual child abuse. The stepmother, left, and biological father of a 12-year-old child who was allegedly abused to death by them arrive at Incheon District Court, Feb. 10, to attend a court decision over the issue of an arrest warrant. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency arrested them later that day following the issuance of the warrant by the court. Yonhap Muhammad Yunus speaks during a press conference at Seoul City Hall, Monday, where Mayor Oh Se-hoon was also present. Yonhap Yunus condemns 'old' capital systems, promotes entrepreneurship over seeking jobs By Ko Dong-hwan Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Muhammad Yunus, who won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering the concept of microcredit and microfinance, met with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at city hall, Monday. Oh had requested the Nobel laureate, whose Grameen Bank offered loans to entrepreneurs who are too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans, to teach him how to help the economically vulnerable groups in Seoul. The lesson from the Bangladeshi economist was both straightforward and challenging for Korea, a country that emerged from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War to become one of the world's representative success stories of capitalism lifting a country out of extreme poverty. The Seoul mayor gave his book, "Future" (2019), to Yunus. The book contains Oh's thoughts on South Korea's biggest future agendas like the low birthrate and North Korean denuclearization. Yunus gave his book, "A World of Three Zeroes" (2018), which portrays his version of a perfect world with zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero carbon emissions, to the mayor. Yunus, now 82, founded Grameen Bank in 1983. The bank prospered and prompted him to establish Grameen America in 2008 to reach out to poor entrepreneurs mostly women in 35 metropolitan cities in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of people benefited from the service. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, left, and Muhammad Yunus hold their books they presented to each other during a press conference on Monday at Seoul City Hall. Yonhap "I'm not a mayor, so I couldn't do things that you did," Yunus told Oh. "I tried to do things in my own ways as a private citizen." One of Oh's key policy goals this term is to help the needy residents of the capital. Some of his ongoing or planned policies include the safety income, which allows low-income people to receive more city subsidies and benefit from various other aid programs for households with newborns and children in need of parental care. "Bangladesh and [South] Korea both started from extreme poverty," Yunus said. "But [South] Korea moved on and went to the top of the world. Bangladesh is still struggling to get a better life. That's where my work began to see why people (in my country) missed out on all these. Then I focused on the banking system." Poverty is not created by people but the system humans have built, according to Yunus. His mission was to "undo" that system. He started by fixing conventional banks, which he felt are "the front door where all those problems begin." "Conventional banks go to the rich, we go to the poor," Yunus said. "The banks go to the cities, we go to the remote villages. The banks go to men, we go to women. The banks have collaterals, we say 'forget about collateral'. We are the only bank in the whole world which is lawyer-free. We created the banking system that doesn't need lawyers so there is no legal document between the borrower and the lender. And it works." Muhammad Yunus, right, shared with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, how he founded and operated Grameen Bank in Bangladesh to help the poor by lending them money and promoting entrepreneurship. Yonhap Niinisto on Saturday highlighted the importance of the summit for the accession process of the two countries by estimating that if the memberships have not been ratified by next summer, it would cast the entire accession process further into question. PRESIDENT Sauli Niinisto believes Finland and Sweden will attend the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July as fully fledged members. If not before Vilnius, then why after it, he remarked in an interview with STT. Both Finland and Sweden, he reminded, heard several encouraging statements about a smooth accession process last spring, but the process has proven very different. The bumpy road has not caused headache exclusively to the two aspiring member states. I do see that this has already been a problem for Nato. Clearly also Nato countries have been surprised, he said. Turkey has been the centre of attention as one of the two remaining holdouts, with the decision ultimately falling on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The 28 Nato countries that have already ratified the accession protocols have made their position clear to the holdout, according to Niinisto. I doubt hell concede to any kind of public pressure under any circumstances. But if a breakthrough of some kind is found in the bilateral talks between Turkey and the US, it could maybe have an impact, he analysed. Niinisto viewed that the new counter-terrorism laws that are to be enacted in Sweden in June could provide Erdogan an opportunity to rule that also the country has implemented the changes agrees on in the Nato summit in Madrid in June 2022. When it comes to the question in other respects, my stance is that well move forward in understanding with Sweden, with the goal of achieving as rapid a membership as possible for both Finland and Sweden, he said, declining to clarify the statement when asked if the accessions need not be concurrent. Ill repeat the earlier, retorted Niinisto. Niinisto also refrained from intervening in the parliamentary process related to the accession and indicated his reservations about deliberately delaying the accession after a decision has been received from the Parliament, a possibility that has been floated as a means to ensure the simultaneous accession of Finland and Sweden. Exercising the presidential right to delay the implementation of the law would be highly unusual, according to him. Aleksi Teivainen HT Rescuers pulled out more survivors, including a pregnant woman and two children, six days after a pair of earthquakes collapsed thousands of buildings in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. However, the death toll from the quakes continued to rise, with officials reporting 33,179 fatalities on Sunday. As the slow rescue efforts frustrated people, blame for the disaster fell on faulty construction methods, which resulted in many buildings being unable to withstand the quakes. Footage of the affected area shows how some buildings have collapsed like a pack of cards, while others have been damaged but still standing. Turkish justice officials targeted over 130 people allegedly involved in these substandard construction practices. Turkey's construction codes are up to date on paper with current earthquake-engineering standards. However, they are too rarely enforced, which is why thousands of buildings crumbled, causing immense devastation. The earthquake-prone region already had an area in Syria struggling with years of civil war. There are several issues that must be considered in order to make sure constructions will resist earthquakes. Site selection: Choosing an appropriate site that is less prone to earthquakes is a key factor in building an earthquake-resistant building. The building should be located on solid ground, away from active faults or liquefaction-prone soils. Building design: The design of the building should incorporate the principles of seismic-resistant design. This includes using reinforced concrete, steel or other seismic-resistant materials, designing the building to be flexible and able to withstand the lateral forces of an earthquake, and ensuring that the building's foundation is able to withstand the earthquake's shaking. Building layout: The building layout should be simple and regular to help distribute seismic forces throughout the structure. Irregular building shapes and configurations can increase the risk of damage during an earthquake. Quality of construction: The quality of construction is a key factor in building an earthquake-resistant building. The building should be constructed by experienced and qualified engineers and contractors, and materials should be of high quality and properly installed. Maintenance and inspection: Regular maintenance and inspection of the building is important to ensure that it remains earthquake-resistant over time. This includes regular checks of the building's structural components, such as its foundation, columns, and beams. Emergency preparedness: In the event of an earthquake, it is important to have emergency plans in place, such as evacuation routes and procedures, emergency supplies, and communication plans. Overall, building an earthquake-resistant building requires a comprehensive approach that considers all aspects of the building's design, construction, and maintenance. By incorporating seismic-resistant principles into the building's design and construction and maintaining the building over time, it is possible to build structures that can withstand earthquakes and protect lives and property. Turkey's Justice Ministry announced the establishment of Earthquake Crimes Investigation bureaus yesterday. The bureaus would aim to gather evidence and identify contractors and others responsible for building works and check building permits and occupation permits. Some of the detained and their lawyers suggested the public was looking for a scapegoat. The detentions were to direct public anger toward builders and contractors, turning attention away from local and state officials who had issued permits for sub-standard constructions without proper auditing. Parliamentary and presidential elections will be held in Turkey in May. HT Thirteen schoolteachers win National Board certification Thirteen Henderson County schoolteachers have earned National Board Certification and 28 more have recertified the credential, the school system said. The most respected professional certification available in K-12 education, National Board Certification is an optional intensive certification process with extremely high standards for teachers. This winter, Henderson County Public Schools celebrates the educators who have just earned the credential from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and 28 more who recertified their credentials in 2022. The Henderson County School Board will recognize the 41 certified teachers at today's meeting. With 23,858 teachers in the state with the certification, North Carolina leads the nation in having the most teachers with the credential, according to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Of the 2,814 teachers who earned national certification for the first time in the 2021-2022 school year, North Carolina topped the list with 486. Currently in HCPS, 168 teachers are National Board Certified. Newly certified teachers here are: Mayra Granados, an ESL teacher at Hillandale Elementary School April Summey, an AIG teacher at Hendersonville Elementary School Rebecca Martin, an Exceptional Children's teacher at Hillandale Elementary School Nicole Conti, a first grade teacher at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School Jennifer Reed, a fourth grade teacher at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School Amber Buehler, an eighth grade math teacher at Apple Valley Middle Tara Hammond, a fifth grade teacher at Hillandale Elementary School Holly Brookshire, a first grade teacher at Hillandale Elementary School Sheri Todd, an Exceptional Children's teacher at Glenn C. Marlow Elementary School Lauren Matoian, an ESL teacher at Clear Creek Elementary School Emilia Smith, a math teacher at North Henderson High School Lindsey Bercume, a physical education teacher at Hendersonville High School Allison Marek, an English teacher at West Henderson High School Recertified teachers include Kristy Ontko, Holly McMurray, Margaret DeCorah, Jessica Houston, Annah Lord, Natalie Pierce, Amanda Parks, Margaret McDade, Bridget Grant, Heather Godfrey, Katie McCrary, Alison Thompson, Carly Allman, Lucy Joyce, Sarah Swanzy, Patricia Seward, Michael Pruett, Candace Young, Amy Ramsey, Robin Atwell, Stephanie Merrill, Richele Dunavent, Jodie Baker, Andrea Smith, Chad Neuburger, Kimberly Metcalf, Shari Edmisten and Heather Denton. As a part of the initial certification process, new candidates build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. The rigorous performance-based assessment typically takes one to three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and counselors should know and be able to do. To keep certification active, NBCTs must successfully complete a Maintenance of Certification every five years. This 40-60 hour investment requires NBCTs to provide a written commentary describing Professional Growth Experiences in their careers that have significantly impacted student learning and involved collaboration, and illustrate the expectation that the educator has continued to grow professionally since certification. Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Park Hong-keun speaks at the National Assembly, Feb. 13. Yonhap The floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) vowed Monday to realize an independent counsel investigation into allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee was involved in stock manipulation. Rep. Park Hong-keun made the pledge, denouncing last week's court ruling that acquitted financiers in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case allegedly involving the first lady, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations. The DPK has long accused Kim of also playing the role of a financier in the scheme. "The prosecution, the court and the presidential office has formed the Trinity in an attempt to save Kim Keon Hee," Park said in a speech at the National Assembly. "Who in the world is the president? Is first lady Kim also subject to the privilege not to get prosecuted? Is she in a sanctuary even if she is at fault? "We should straighten up the collapsed judicial justice through an investigation that leaves no sanctuary. The only way left is a special prosecutor investigation," he said. The stock manipulation case centers on allegations that Kwon Oh-soo, a former head of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, conspired with influential market players to manipulate the company's stock prices. Kwon was sentenced to a suspended prison term. But the court cleared him and financiers of charges of stock manipulation carried out before October 2011, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations. That makes it unnecessary to look into related suspicions connected to the first lady. The presidential office has said the ruling shows Kim is also innocent. "The requirements for a special prosecutor investigation are not met," a senior presidential official told Yonhap News Agency, referring to such probes being launched only when a prosecution investigation is insufficient. During the speech, Park also accused President Yoon Suk Yeol of using the prosecution for political revenge against DPK leader Lee Jae-myung. Lee has undergone three rounds of questioning by prosecutors over corruption allegations that he claimed were fabricated. Another presidential official said the opposition's demand for a special prosecutor probe is part of its attempt to shield Lee. Some raised the possibility Yoon could exercise his veto in the event the DPK gets a special investigation bill passed. Park spent the remainder of his speech lashing out at the government, accusing the president of causing diplomatic, security and economic problems since coming into power in May last year. "The bigger problem is that he is trying to overcome incompetence and irresponsibility through arrogant governing," Park said. "The problem in the Republic of Korea in crisis is President Yoon." On North Korea, Park claimed that most of the general public considers Yoon's "audacious initiative," which offers to provide massive economic assistance in exchange for the North's denuclearization commitment, is "not feasible." (Yonhap) Denuclearization efforts should continue Last Wednesday, North Korea celebrated the 75th anniversary of the People's Army. During a nighttime parade in Pyongyang, the North demonstrated 10 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles that have seen the reclusive totalitarian state nearly complete its nuclear weapons program. However, foreign media paid more attention to a 10-year-old girl attending the event Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It was her fifth appearance at an official function. Keen debate and political analysis followed. Some experts said these were signs that the North Korean leader had picked her as his successor. They cited two reasons. The 39-year-old leader's health may not be in a good condition and Kim Jong-un himself was groomed as the successor by his father, Kim Jong-il, when he was only eight. At a banquet, the child was seated in the center with old military generals standing behind the first family so as to clearly highlight the nation's fourth hereditary succession of power at some point in the future. Others claim that the North was trying to show its determination to continue its nuclear program by alluding to the leader of the next generation so as to guarantee its safety. Others pointed out that Pyongyang refers to creation of the Hwaseong-17 ICBM as the birth of a child. The North compared it to the U.S.' Apollo 11 rocket developed in the 1960s. Kim Ju-ae is a perfect prop for that reference. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: The world must not allow the North to arm its rockets with nuclear warheads. It was noteworthy that the North Korean leader did not deliver a speech during the parade. That could mean Kim had no more external messages to deliver concerning denuclearization negotiations. Additionally, he might have had no domestic-focused message, unable to praise military achievements when in fact, dozens of people reportedly starve to death daily, even in the large cities. By most people's analysis, the goal of denuclearization is getting further away. For nearly a decade, the U.S. has maintained a policy of "strategic patience" (or neglected it), encouraging, or enraging the North to expand and diversify its nuclear arsenal. China faces limitations when it comes to dissuading its communist ally from its military pursuits, especially regarding the global rivalry with America. That leaves only South Korea (of the four parties) with the task of rekindling the dying embers regarding a negotiated settlement to the nuclear crisis. To be sure, it is becoming an increasingly daunting task. For the South, however, it is not a matter of possibility but of necessity. It must not leave the slightest chance of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. Seoul must persuade Washington to resume efforts to denuclearize Pyongyang at least for three reasons. Firstly, the North's nuclear disarmament becomes more difficult if the situation remains the same or becomes aggravated. Secondly, such a situation could create a chasm even between allies. Thirdly, America's alienation of North Korea will push the latter more into China's arms. Since his inauguration nine months ago, President Yoon Suk Yeol has been less than eager or at least that is how it appears to resume contact with North Korea. Commenting on Yoon's "audacious plan" toward the North, critics said it was neither audacious nor a plan. Yoon's tit-for-tat trading of aggressive words and actions with the North didn't help either. Admittedly, Yoon took office when the situation around the Korean Peninsula was unfavorable for inter-Korean reconciliation. Pyongyang, disappointed by Washington's reversals and angered by Seoul's limitations, was set to speed up its nuclear program. However, if Yoon tries, there is still room for improvement, little by little. A closer look at his "audacious plan" also finds some positive elements, such as its guarantee of the North's security and a gradual approach called the "three Ds" deter, dissuade and dialogue. Most of all, Yoon can move more boldly toward the North because he is a "conservative" leader free from ideological bias. Yoon can become a historic leader if only he could turn things around. Yoon must tell his North Korean counterparts that they must leave the next generation a peaceful and prosperous peninsula. Combined efforts needed to secure human power, data Global tech giants are rushing to take the lead in artificial intelligence (AI), prompted by the sweeping frenzy of ChatGPT. The U.S.' OpenAI first unveiled the Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) in December last year. Such state-of-theart technology generated a stir as the number of its monthly users surpassed 100 million in two months, nudging desperate Microsoft and Google to come up with their own new AI services. OpenAI's brilliant performance has been unprecedented even for major Internet firms such as Facebook and Instagram who need more than several years to recruit such a number of users. Elated by the initial success, OpenAI already presented a service requiring a $20 monthly subscription fee. The firm is poised to submit the next version of GPT4 soon. Domestic companies such as Naver and Kakao are also rolling up their sleeves to present their own ChatGTP devices. The world has suddenly become entangled in an AI war. It appears the rise of ChatGPT will trigger a far-flung impact upon people's daily lives, as experienced at the birth of the Internet in 2000 and mobile phones in 2010. The rapid evolution of AI will have a positive effect of greatly increasing the convenience for people on the one hand. Yet, on the other hand, it will result in various adverse impacts and pose highly sensitive ethical issues. ChatGPT is different from hitherto search engines in that it provides users with tailored services and contents based on deep learning of enormous data sets. For instance, it can compile an academic paper and expert-level essays that can pass the U.S. bar exams and even produce artistic and musical works. The rapid development of AI prowess is feared to lead to negative consequences unless proper ethical standards are mapped out. In fact, some students at a domestic international school took flak for making reports based on the first iteration of ChatGPT. It is time for the government, businesses and universities to make combined efforts to nurture new technologies to enable the country to survive the intensifying global AI competition. They also need to find ways to promote trust in AI. The AI service market is forecast to display explosively growth to reach 2,000 trillion won ($1.57 trillion) in the near future. Korea's AI technology level has lagged far behind major advanced nations such as the United States, in particular. More efforts should be made to secure talented human resources and sharpen technological prowess. On Dec. 27, the National Data Policy Committee submitted a package of measures designed to expand the uses of AI in daily life and enhance AI-related industries. The committee presented 10 projects with a goal of generating substantial outcomes in relevant industries. Yet, such a move seems to have largely failed to catch up with the global trend toward the rapid development of AI, as seen with ChatGPT. For starters, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration had pushed for a plan to increase the quota of semiconductor-related students in universities in Seoul and its metropolitan area to foster human resources in the high-tech sector. But the plan has fallen flat due to opposition from the National Assembly, citing the need for balanced regional development. An increasing number of universities have begun to set up AI-related departments. But they face growing difficulties resulting from a lack of capable professors, facilities and equipment. Korea has boasted that it has been leading the process of informatization despite its belated industrialization. Now, numerous signs show that the nation will lag behind in the AI revolution, edged out by a wide range of outdated regulations and practices. Now is the time for all relevant parties to discuss the issue more extensively at the pan-national level. Beyond the question of how to speed up the growth of the AI industry, possible discussions should also focus on AI-related ethical issues, pertinent to the potential production of fake news, plagiarism and the violation of intellectual property rights. By Kim Sang-woo Mainly due to security concerns, a new and more diverse globalized economy is both required and being built. The transition is ongoing, and its final form is yet to be determined. China views the current rules-based global order as not compatible with its political system and presents new interpretations to the norms of human rights, transparency, democracy, and the rule of law. The ongoing changes in China including the increased emphasis by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on the role of the state and economic self-reliance seriously affect the geopolitical and geo-economic global environment. The state and particularly the CCP are in control of China's economic policy and consequently, it is less oriented toward being a market-driven economy. It reflects a Mao-era requirement: all enterprises must persevere in putting proletarian politics at the fore as well as ideological and political work first. It is as U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, "increasingly difficult to separate economic issues from broader considerations of national interests including national security." This has generated revised trade and investment policies for the United States with respect to China. The difficult challenge in establishing an effective strategy regarding China is to reconcile the fact that it is a major global trading partner, while also posing a serious security threat. The goal for the U.S. and its close partners should now be on providing content to the concept of "free but secure trade." Doing so will require a combination of selective decoupling to offset security, and economic challenges and the development of strategic supply chains outside China to resolve the current over-dependence on China. The idea of limiting economic relations largely to friendly and liberal democracies has been growing. The new globalization argument is that countries should link economic relations with political values, which overturns the idea of the uniform treatment of trade partners, which has been the basis of the GATT/WTO system for 75 years. The West thought that it could have its cake and eat it too by bringing China into the WTO and lifting people out of poverty without accepting a trade-off in terms of China's geostrategic position in the world. The Western democracies believed that prosperity would lead to more pluralistic and humane political regimes and that economic interdependence would prevent war, it spent 30 years building interdependence. But now, the relationship between the world's liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes seems more adversarial. Unfortunately, U.S. domestic politics appears to make it difficult to provide the necessary trade liberation in the U.S. market so as to rally democracies to get on the bandwagon. And thus, putting the U.S. in the awkward position of wanting its allies and partners to adopt particular policies or stances but offering little in return. Nevertheless, the 21st century will be defined by the U.S.-China rivalry. While the two sides once talked of cooperation, now they talk more of competition, which extends from the military to the economic sphere. The 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy identifies China as presenting a very significant challenge as "the PRC is the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order, and increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it." What does this mean for middle powers like South Korea that are caught up in this increasingly tense superpower competition? Seoul has long tried to balance itself between Beijing and Washington, relying on the former for economic development and on the latter for security protection. But this is becoming increasingly difficult to do as the U.S.-China competition becomes more intense. South Korea discovered how difficult the balancing act can be when in 2016 it announced that it was deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and China responded with economic coercion that inflicted a heavy cost on the Korean economy. According to the Hyundai Research Institute, it resulted in a $7.5 billion loss in the South Korean economy in 2017 alone. As a result, or at least in part, South Korean public opinion has turned sharply against China ever since. According to a Pew Research Center poll, eight out of ten South Koreans polled in early 2022 held negative views of China. Moreover, the value of Chinese trade needs to be re-evaluated in light of the fact that South Korea's trade surplus with China has been in a steady decline since 2019. More importantly, South Korea had hoped for Chinese support concerning North Korean denuclearization, but this has not been forthcoming. China has been explicit in its support of North Korea and recently it has been increased by way of not strictly enforcing UN sanctions or not approving new sanctions to punish North Korea for its unprecedented missile tests. Therefore, South Korea needs a more realistic and less optimistic approach in its dealings with China. South Korea needs to acknowledge the obvious fact that China is a communist state. It is a country that upholds values and an ideology that is not compatible with those of a democracy. The reality is that China will not change as long as the CCP remains in power, and will continue its ideological struggle with democratic countries. This means that it will try to decouple alliances that it perceives as a threat, and seek ways to push out U.S. forces and try to dominate the Indo-Pacific region. As the U.S. formulates its strategy against China, it should, at the same time, reach out to other democracies with assurances about how economic consequences will be addressed and impacts lessened. Allies and partners should be able to make suggestions regarding the application of sanctions in order to reduce the adverse effects while securing compliance. Clearly, China is still and will remain an important participant in the global economy. For democratic economies, however, interactions with China needs more serious consideration and an appropriate degree of circumspection. Kim Sang-woo (swkim54@hotmail.com), a former lawmaker, is chairman of the East Asia Cultural Project. He is also a member of the board of directors at the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation. The 60-key Awashima Hotel in Numazu, Japan is set to be acquired by Hong Kong-based SIS International Holdings Limited for JPY800 million, roughly translating to JPY13 million per key. Situated on a piece of leasehold land, the Awashima Hotel is set on a private island in Suruga Bay and is two-kilometre from Mito Beach and five-kilometre from Izunokuni Panorama Park. The property includes three restaurants, open-air public bath with natural hot spring water, concert hall, wine cellar and conference facilities. Australia-based GDI Property Group Limited, Australia-based GDI Property Trust, and Australia-based Tulla Group have entered into a call option to acquire the South Hedland Motel (SHM) and its accompanying Lodge Motel (LM) for AUD27 million. Located in the heart of South Hedland, West Australia, the two properties are only 10 minutes away from the Port Hedland International Airport. SHM comprises approximately 107 rooms, and the LM 135 rooms, with the ability to add up to another 40 rooms at the SHM site. The two properties feature one food and beverage outlet, an outdoor swimming pool, and several function rooms. Over the last 15 years, both motels have generated an average EBITDA of approximately AUD6.7 million, with 2022 reported EBITDA of AUD9.7 million. Hong Kong and Macau is planning to distribute free air tickets this year through a partnership with airlines, in the hopes of accelerating tourism. Hong Kong will give away 500,000 tickets as part of the HKD2 billion Hello Hong Kong Campaign; while Macau will distribute 120,000 tickets to promote the region. The two Special Administrative Regions have also included additional activities and schemes such as cash vouchers, shopping discounts, and hotel accommodation offers. Hong Kong aims to lure more than 1.5million visitors to Hong Kong through this campaign between March and September this year. Makris Group Plans to Redevelop Mirage Marina Shopping Centre into a Mixed-use Development Australia-based Makris Group has submitted plan to redevelop Gold Coasts Mirage Marina shopping centre into a mixed-use development that includes a 110-key boutique hotel, retail, and 90 luxury apartments for AUD500 million. The site is located next to the 295-key Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Gold Coast and 200-key Palazzo Versace. The Makris Group acquired the shopping centre in 2013 for AUD52 million, and they have already developed a 76-berth marina for super yachts up to 85 metres in size and the HOPO ferry terminal. The entire redevelopment plan is deemed to start in first quarter of 2024 with completion in 2026. Singapores Parc Sovereign Hotel Tyrwhitt Rebranded as Mercure Singapores former Parc Sovereign Hotel Tyrwhitt has rebranded as Mercure Singapore Tyrwhitt. Situated on Tyrwhitt Road, the property is just minutes away from the Bendemeer and Lavender MRT station. The 270-key rebranded property is designed to reflect industrial workshops of the 1950s, and features two food and beverage outlets, a rooftop swimming pool, a wading pool, a fitness centre, a meeting room, and a car park. This is the third Mercure hotel in Singapore, as well as Accors 28th Property in Singapore. About HVS HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com. In this issue of the Kempinski guest magazine "Travelling in Style" we reflect on our 125-year long journey while also looking to the future.. We also have exciting new openings to unveil, including a spectacular beach-side hotel in Cancun. Set on a 400 km stretch of white sand next to the Caribbean Sea, this is the ultimate beachfront break. Elsewhere in the magazine we take you to the slopes in the charming Bulgarian resort of Bansko - a warm and welcoming option this winter. And in our article "Building a city for the future", luxury travel writer Joe Mortimer shows us how Dubai is looking ahead with a greater awareness of wellbeing for residents and visitors alike. View the magazine here. About Kempinski Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe's oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski's rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Today the Kempinski Group operates 82 hotels and residences in 34 countries and currently has more than 25 prestigious projects under development around the globe. Each five-star hotel reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage; each one imbues the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts and prestigious residences. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands. www.kempinski.com www.ghadiscovery.com Eva-Maria Panzer Senior Director Corporate Public Relations +41 79 309 8252 Kempinski BLLA: What is your companys mission statement? Charlotte: To change the way people travel. BLLA: How did you enter the hospitality industry? Charlotte: I am the fourth hotelier generation. My grand grandparents started their hotel in Evian les Bains, France. My grandparents in Paris, my mom, and I now work together to expand our small boutique hotel group. HOY Hotel Paris | Paris, France Photo by BLLA BLLA: What doesboutique mean to you? Charlotte: Boutique has always meant to me: Small family hotel. Those hotels where you feel at home. Small in size but very, very much into service and experience. BLLA: How are you an artisan? Charlotte: I always build from what I need. Creating HOY was the most fun and challenging experience because I had to create and translate everything I wished for in a hotel into reality. You create what you have in your heart. And for me, that was more slow, handmade, tailor-made experiences around holistic therapies and well-being. BLLA: Why do you celebrate the path of independence? Charlotte: We have always been small independent boutique hotels because we care about making our own decisions and care about being able to choose what and how we sell to our clients. It is the freedom of a small family business. HOY Hotel Paris | Paris, France Photo by BLLA BLLA: What advice would you give to first-time hoteliers? Charlotte: The first advice I would give to people starting their first hotel is to create from their heart. What do you want to sell, but mostly, why? Always connect to your big reason: Why. Then, I would recommend quality over quantity. Get started with small but really good service, food, and activities. Get to know your market, and then growth will come with it. And third, spend time recruiting; your employees are your best ambassadors. BLLA: What would you say to hotel lenders & investors reading this? Charlotte: Small boutique hotels are the kind of business that require passionate and ambitious people. Investing in them is the best type of investment you can make because they will always work from passion and their heart. BLLA: Whats next for you? Charlotte: I am currently looking for new locations in France and abroad maybe Spain or Holland. The dream would be to be able to open a yoga hotel in every city and continue to share my passion for well-being and yoga. Source: BLLA About the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) The official organization for the world's boutique lifestyle leaders promoting connection, education, and advocacy. As a pioneer in forecasting the boutique movement, the BLLA's network has grown beyond its hotel foundation to welcome more passionate entrepreneurs, businesses, and purveyors that amplify the boutique lifestyle. The BLLA Corporate Manifesto video. Experience the intention behind BLLA Events in this video. BLLA is a catalyst for trends and the future of the boutique lifestyle. BLLA.org Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) BLLA View source India is known as a land sustaining immense diversity, not just in terms of its population, but also when it comes to other living beings. The country is home to 567 wildlife sanctuaries and 106 national parks, but we have yet to effectively market this niche tourism segment, especially to international tourists. For instance, due to the governments conservation efforts, Project Tiger achieved its goal of more than doubling the tiger population in the country, four years in advance a milestone that should have been leveraged to attract more tourists to the country. This niche tourism market is more evolved and developed in Africa, which has been able to effectively market The Big 5 (Lions, Leopards, Black Rhinoceros, African Bush Elephants, and African Buffalo) compared to Indian Safaris. One of the main challenges that Indian wildlife tourism faces are inferior animal sightings due to various reasons like habitat degradation or lack of training of guides and drivers. In all other places, the visitors get what they asked for along with other enhanced facilities, but in India, even a tiger sighting in Jim Corbett National Park is not guaranteed. The transport options that are available in Africa are perhaps more wildlife friendly and they also allow tourists to stay inside the parks, whereas, in India, only Jim Corbett allows basic accommodation within the park. Even outside of the parks, African hotels provide a more diverse range of options to choose from, like tents to 5-Star luxury rooms. They also keep coming up with innovative ways to enhance the guests experience like The Giraffe Manor, which gives tourists the opportunity to feed and walk with rare Rothschilds giraffes. Meanwhile, The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary lets visitors play with the elephants, get rides, feed them, have some cooking classes for local dishes, etc. Small memoir shops are also popular in these areas. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka also holds small elephant shows, enabling the visitors to witness the beautiful communication between the animal caretakers and the animals. All of this adds to the tourism experience, which is perhaps a best practice that India can learn from. When you go to Africa on a Safari, you are going there for an experience, not merely to see animals. Nearly 1.8 million tourists arrived at the Kruger National Park in South Africa every year before the pandemic, compared to just over 280,000 in Jim Corbett National Park in India! In fact, Jim Corbett, which was established as the country's premier wildlife park, is now better known as a wedding destination rather than a game park due to neglect and lack of focus! Realizing the potential of this niche segment, the government has created wildlife tourism circuits and some hotel chains such as Oberoi Hotels, IHCL, and ITC Hotels have started providing unique experiences including the option of luxury tents at some of their properties near wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Moreover, in India, we dont simply have national parks either, we have national parks with historic forts and ancient structures overlooking them. For instance, the Ranthambore National Park has a beautiful fort - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - overlooking it from a vantage point, which can provide tourists with the best of heritage as well as wildlife tourism experiences at the same place. Another way India can make the wildlife experience better is by opening up recreational camps in between the safari tracks. In these places, the visitors can relax, learn more about the area, and perhaps go for short walks as well, combining eco-tourism with wildlife tourism. Indian wildlife tourism has great potential, but thorough research should be done before any development happens in these protected areas. We should create a discipline that allows animals in their natural habitats to remain undisturbed by tourists by developing an ecosystem of limited and well-controlled safaris. We must expand our options for promoting wildlife safaris across the country while ensuring that the natural habitat is not disrupted by large crowds. Additionally, given the current condition of Joshimath and the possibility of Nainital and Uttarkashi also facing the same fate, we have to ensure the sustainability of any development that takes place before we economize this natures gift to us. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Lee Kyung-hwa On April 26, 2022, the following announcement was made: "U.N.-Habitat, the Busan Metropolitan City of the Republic of Korea, and Oceanix today unveiled at U.N. Headquarters the design of the world's first prototype sustainable floating city. Oceanix Busan aims to provide breakthrough technology for coastal cities facing severe land shortages that are compounded by climatic threats." Busan has also announced its bid to host the 2030 World Expo, proposing a solution to the global climate crisis through the power of technology, culture and art. From over a meter of snowfall at Mount Halla to the warming of the Arctic to the unprecedented flooding of Gangnam Station in the middle of Seoul, climate phenomena threaten our survival. In director Bong Joon-ho's film, "Parasite," this scene unfolds vividly. Due to torrential rain, the Kitaek family's "banjiha" (semi-basement) apartment unit is submerged, and they barely make it out of their flooded neighborhood. Sea levels are rising at a rapid rate due to global warming. Coastal cities around the world are sinking. Touchstones of the environmental crisis include melting glaciers, torrential rains, coastal erosion, forest fires, groundwater depletion, new viruses, compromised drinking water, and a number of other concerns. Such occurrences cannot simply be treated as separate phenomena: these individual disasters are interconnected and disrupt the entire ecosystem and affect us all. "Our urgent task is to restore refugia," the noted eco-feminist philosopher Donna Haraway said. Many scholars talk about the current ecological crisis as the collapse of the refugia. The earth, born 4.6 billion years ago, has gone through several ice ages. During this period, extreme environmental changes, including climate change, occurred, but there were areas and refuges (refugia) that avoided them. Now, human-precipitated climate change is threatening these refugia. Eastern thought is fundamentally based on the organic thinking of nature as "it is by itself." Taoism, which regards unity with nature as the highest good, and Korean traditional architecture with roots in Taoism place importance on the recognition that nature and human beings are organically intertwined. With a philosophy of adapting to nature as an alternative to responding to natural disasters, it does not separate itself from the object and does not impose artificial order on nature. Traditionally, this is the beauty that has been valued in Korean architecture, art and aesthetics. Based on the nature-friendly philosophy of Korean traditional architecture, the concept of refugia can be applied to the floating city, thereby providing hope to humanity. Korea, a small country in East Asia, has historically been resistant to crises, embracing the colloquialism that "small peppers are spicy." Korea overcame the challenges of Japanese colonial rule and dislocation during the Korean War to rebuild successfully. Busan, the second largest city in Korea, served as a refuge during the Korean War, and, as a seaport city historically, rich in foreign culture, has since flourished as a place where an open and hybrid culture has developed. It is a place with geopolitical characteristics that harmonize well with the international community, and now, significantly, can offer a source of hope. Unfortunately, Busan is not exempt from environmental concerns, such as rising sea levels. Countless coastal cities around the world are threatened by rising water. This climate and ecological crisis is not a problem that can be solved by individual efforts alone. Neither should we depend on the invisible "market" for solutions. We need to transform our politics, economy and lifestyles at every level, including the government, community and the individual. A shift in our consciousness must take place at a scale and speed unprecedented in history. The construction of a floating city represents this effort. Korea has demonstrated, time and again, its status as a leader in science and technology, as well as its ability to envision sustainable, dream-like architectural projects and state-of-the-art technology. Korea boasts one of the largest shipbuilding industries in the world as well as a top construction industry that has built major infrastructure projects worldwide, especially in the Middle East. As part of its 2030 World Expo bid, Busan proposes a blueprint for humankind to co-exist sustainably with the sea. The world's first pilot model of a sustainable floating community, with a total area of 6.3 hectares of interconnected platforms, is initially envisaged to accommodate a population of 12,000 people (and eventually more than 100,000). Each platform is connected to the mainland by a bridge and forms a structure for housing, research, lodging, water recreation, cultural art and performance. It also produces energy and crops with greenhouses, zero-waste circulation systems, self-treated closed water systems, food, (net-zero) carbon-neutral energy and innovative mobility. The program includes coastal habitat regeneration, and solar energy production systems, with interconnected systems to save and recycle resources. I propose to take this one step further and create three floating cities, one along each major coast of Korea that incorporates Korean aesthetics and philosophy. Drawing from the vision of U.N.-Habitat, an international organization that aims to innovate change through knowledge, policy recommendations, technical assistance and pilot projects in more than 90 countries. Each city will be sustainably governed consistently by international environmental policy. Korea has now become a leader on the world stage. Its architecture, culture, art and urban policy are well-positioned to diplomatically address global crises in concert with the U.N. Combining the role of the U.N. with Busan's role as a hub for Asia, we are well positioned to design an alternative to current urban planning that is ethical, practical and forward-looking. If we keep in mind the unimaginable complexity and unpredictability of our global ecosystem, we must accept that our power is only one factor in the earth's destiny. No one, and nothing, in this world survives alone. We must practice "living together" by sharing, communicating and interacting with other beings. Korean culture (K-Architecture, K-culture) and innovation exemplified by the floating city project offers up a solution to achieve this vision. ), a graduate of Harvard University Graduate School of Design, is the international director of the Nam June Paik Cultural Foundation. Lee Kyung-hwa ( khl@namjunepaikcfoundation.org Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 59F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. 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BOULDERWOOD GROUP BROCKMAN REAL ESTATE, LLC BURNHAM GOLD REAL ESTATE, LLC CAPE COD VILLAGE REALTY CARRIAGE BARN REALTY CARRIAGE HOUSE REAL ESTATE CENTURY 21 - A-1 NOLAN REALTY, LLC CENTURY 21 A. PERRAS REALTY CENTURY 21 FRANKLIN ST - PITTSFIELD CENTURY 21 HEARTHSTONE REALTORS, INC. CENTURY 21 HOMETOWN ASSOCIATES CENTURY 21 HOMETOWN ASSOCIATES (LENOX) CENTURY 21 HOMETOWN ASSOCIATES (PITTSFIELD) CENTURY 21 NORTH EAST MAGGI REALTY GROUP CHARLOTTE MCCARTHY REALTY CHRISTOPHER A WARNER REALTY CLARK REALTY GROUP LLC Clockhouse Realty, Inc. COHEN & WHITE ASSOC - W STOCKBRIDGE COHEN & WHITE ASSOCIATES COLDWELL BANKER COMMUNITY REALTORS COLDWELL BANKER REALTY COLDWELL BANKER REALTY WESTFIELD Coldwell Banker Residential Broker-Madison COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE COLDWELL BANKER UPTON-MASSAMONT Comparable Listing Only COMPASS CONNECTICUT, LLC COMPASS MASSACHUSETTS, LLC. COMPASS REALTY PROPERTIES LLC CONTINENTAL REAL ESTATE GROUP, INC COPAKE LAKE REALTY CORP. COPAKE REALTY CORASHIRE REALTY D & DEE REALTY DALTON TOWN & COUNTRY ASSOC, INC DAYSPRING, REALTORS INC DENNIS G WELCH REAL ESTATE, LTD. DIGRIGOLI REAL ESTATE DONNA THOMAS REALTY DORRANCE REALTY, LLC DOTTIE PIRES REALTY DWYER AGENCY EAGLE RIVER REALTY, LLC ELDER & ASSOCIATES, LLC ELYSE HARNEY REAL ESTATE ELYSE HARNEY REAL ESTATE - FALLS VILLAGE EVERGREEN BUYER BROKERS EVERGREEN HOME REAL ESTATE, LLC EXIT REALTY CAPITAL'S CHOICE eXp Realty FAIRGROUND REAL ESTATE FAIRGROUND REAL ESTATE, INC FAIRGROUND REAL ESTATE, INC> FIRST CHOICE REAL ESTATE FLORENCE BROWNER REALTY FOX REALTY FRANZ J. FORSTER R. E. FREDA MANUEL, DESIGNATED REALTOR FRIDAY & CO. REAL ESTATE G. FULS JR. REAL ESTATE CO. G. FULS JR. REAL ESTATE CO. NORTH ADAMS Gallagher Real Estate GATEWAY BERKSHIRE REAL ESTATE & SERVICES, LLC. GELINAS REAL ESTATE GILCREST PROPERTIES GILE REAL ESTATE GREEN RIVER REAL ESTATE GREYLOCK REALTY GREYLOCK REALTY, LLC. HARSCH ASSOCIATES HART REALTY HARVEST MOON REALTY, LLC HELEN MULLANY REAL ESTATE, LLC HOME SWEET HOME REAL ESTATE, LLC HOULIHAN LAWRENCE, INC HOUSATONIC REAL ESTATE HOUSER METRO REALTY ISGOOD REALTY ISGOOD-PITTSFIELD ITZ YOURZ REALTY Jack's Real Estate JACOB'S LADDER REALTY JAN PERRY REALTY & ASSOCIATES, LLC JIMINY REALTY JL + CoRE Jones Group Realtors Karen Climo Real Estate, LLC KELLER WILIAMS SOUTH WATTUPA KELLER WILLIAMS KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY KELLER WILLIAMS, LLC THE NEILSEN TEAM-LIVIAN KELLEY & KATZER KEY REALTY L. J. STARK AND CO. LANCE VERMEULEN RE, INC Lance Vermeulen RE, Inc Pittsfield LANCE VERMEULEN RE, INC., LENOX LANDVEST, INC. LENOX CANYON REALTY LENOX MOUNTAIN PROPERTIES LENOX VILLAGE REALTY LES POINCELOT REAL ESTATE ListWithFreedom LITCHFIELD HILLS REALTY SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY MACCARO REAL ESTATE MAPLE AND MAIN REALTY, LLC MARTY'S REAL ESTATE MCFARLAND REALTY CO. MOLE & MOLE REAL ESTATE, LLC MONARCH REALTY, INC. MORESI REAL ESTATE PARTNERS MOUNTAIN BROOK REALTY, LLC MURPHY REALTY NEILSEN REALTY LLC NOCHER REALTY NON-MEMBER NON-MEMBER: Reciprocal Nuvallie Realty OLD COUNTY PROPERTIES OwnerEntry.com PACELLI ZEPKA PARK SQUARE REALTY PAULA MCLEAN REALTORS INC. Pete D. Scerbo Real Estate PETER A. GALE REAL ESTATE PINECROFT PROPERTIES, LLC PIRETTI REAL ESTATE POND PASTURE REAL ESTATE PREFERRED COUNTRY PROPERTIES PREMIER CHOICE REALTY PROPERTIES OF THE BERKSHIRES PROPERTY WORKS N.E. PURDY PROPERTIES RAYNARD AND PEIRCE REALTY LLC RE/MAX COMPASS RE/MAX INTEGRITY REALTORS, INC. REAL BROKER REAL LIVING PROFESSIONALS WESTFIELD REAL LIVING REALTY PROFESSIONALS REAL LIVING REALTY PROFESSIONALS LENOX REAL LIVING REALTY PROFESSIONALS PITTSFIELD REALTY STREET, LLC REALTY WEST HD APPRAISALS RED HORSE REAL ESTATE RED HORSE REAL ESTATE, LLC Redfin Corporation REI REALTY ROBERTS & ASSOC. REALTY, INC ROBINSON LEECH REAL ESTATE ROSE REAL ESTATE ROVI HOMES ROYAL PROPERTY GROUP SANDRA M. PRESTON REAL ESTATE SCALISE REALTY INC. SCHOENFELD, FRENCH & LULL REAL ESTATE SCOT COHEN REALTY SIGNATURE ASSOCIATES SKYTOP ASSET MANAGEMENT SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE REALTY STATE LINE REALTY STEEPLEVIEW REALTY - WILLIAMSTOWN STEEPLEVIEW REALTY - ADAMS BRANCH STEEPLEVIEW REALTY - N. ADAMS STEEPLEVIEW REALTY - PITTSFIELD STEEPLEVIEW REALTY - SOUTH COUNTY STEPHEN MARK ARTS STONE HOUSE PROPERTIES, LLC STORYBOOK HOMES Streamline Communities SUE BRENNAN REAL ESTATE SULLIVAN REAL ESTATE SUMMIT REALTY TALBOT REAL ESTATE THE BERKSHIRES FOR SALE THE KINDERHOOK GROUP - NY THE KINDERHOOK GROUP - PITTSFIELD THE KINDERHOOK GROUP - SALISBURY THE KINDERHOOK GROUP - STOCKBRIDGE THE MURPHYS REALTORS, INC. TONY BLAIR REAL ESTATE, INC. TRANSPARENT REALTY & INVESTMENTS LLC TUCKER ASSOCIATES TUCKER REAL ESTATE TUCKER WELCH PROPERTIES, LLC VANTAGEPOINT REALTY VENTURE REAL ESTATE, INC VIALE REALTY, LLC WARNES-ALMGREN REAL ESTATE WHEELER & TAYLOR REALTY CO., INC. WHIPPLE CREEK REALTY WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S - GT BARRINGTON WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S - LENOX WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S - SALISBURY WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY, LENOX WILLIAM RAVEIS REAL ESTATE Williamstown Realty Group WITALISZ & ASSOCIATES, INC. WOLCOTT REALTY www.HomeZu.com ZOE MELISSA HIRSCH REAL ESTATE First Congregational Church 'Share the Love' Returns This Valentine's Day NORTH ADAMS, Mass. In February 2022, the First Congregational Church North Adams (FCCNA) raised $5,100 to help our neighbors in need at Berkshire Food Project, Louison House, and the Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry. The Valentine's Day, FCCNA invites Berkshire County residents to contribute again. For every $100 received, FCCNA will donate $25. All proceeds will be split evenly among the three recipient organizations. Checks should be made payable to First Congregational Church North Adams, with "Share the Love" in the memo line, and sent to Missions MinistryFCCNA, 134 Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. Contributions are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged. The campaign will run throughout the month of February. CATA, Lenox Library Presents 'Truth, Forest, Mouse' LENOX, Mass. Community Access to the Arts (CATA) and the Lenox Library present "truth, forest, mouse," a reading celebrating the work of writers with disabilities on Feb. 15 at 5 pm. A free reception will follow the reading where attendees can meet and celebrate CATA writers and artists. The event occurs at the Lenox Library, 18 Main Street. Reservations are required for this free event. Register online at CATAarts.org/reading2023 or by contacting CATA at (413) 528-5485 or by email at KateHarding@CATAarts.org The event will feature guest readers and their writing created in the CATA Writers' Workshopa weekly class where writers with disabilities hone their craft and express their perspectives. In conjunction with the reading, an exhibit of paintings, drawings, and collages by CATA artists with disabilities will be on display in the library's Welles Gallery through March 15, 2023. All works in the exhibit are professionally matted, framed, and available for sale, with proceeds supporting commissions for the individual artists. "We're thrilled to partner with the Lenox Library to share the powerful work of CATA writers," said CATA Executive Director Margaret Keller. "CATA writers tap into their individual style and express their creative voices each week in our workshops. By sharing their work in this dynamic program, we get to spotlight their talent and our community gets the chance to see the world from their perspective." CATA's reading and exhibit at the Lenox Library is made possible by Canyon Ranch, Frames on Wheels, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and other generous supporters. Central Berkshire Regional Eyes 3% Budget Increase DALTON, Mass. The Central Berkshire Regional School District is looking at a $1 million budget increase for fiscal 2024. The School Committee on Thursday gave initial approval to an operating budget of $30,078,694 that is up 3.42 percent, or $994,646, from this year's $29,084,048. The approved tentative capital budget, as recommended by the finance subcommittee, is $2,110,239. This is down $51,354 over this year, or about 2.4 percent. Together, they total about a 3 percent increase over this year. The district's projected revenue sources amount to $30,078,694, with assessments from the seven towns contributing 59.09 percent, or $17,772,221. The second largest contributor is Chapter 70 state education aid, which makes up 30.76 percent, or $9,251,488. The district should also receive $1,555,102 in transportation funds, $135,000 for Medicaid, $40,000 in miscellaneous and interest income revenue, and $75,000 in charter school reimbursements. The committee voted to commit $1,249,883 of the district's Excess & Deficiency funds to the FY24 budget. Dalton, as the largest of the seven communities in the district, is responsible for more than half the operating budget, or 61.72 percent, base on enrollment. Its assessment is projected at $9.1 million, up about $220,738, or 2.48 percent over this year. Its portion of the capital budget is expected to decrease by $22,124 to $1,269,442. In fact, only Becket and Windsor can expect an increase in their capital assessments to total $265,567 and $87,747, respectively. The Dalton Select Board and Finance Committee expect to discuss the school budget at Monday's Select Board meeting. Other projected operating budget assessments are Becket at $2,675,439, up $154,788; Cummington at $703,278, up $40,320; Hinsdale at $2,680,540, up $111,971; the town of Washington at $768,974, up $7,515; and Windsor at $880,899, up $46,205. Reasons for the rise in costs include a salary and benefits budget projected to increase $347,000, including insurance premiums. Officials had prepared for a higher jump in premiums but the numbers are coming in at 1 percent, plus a 2 percent in anticipation of new employees. The contractual salary salary budget will be $19,372,026 in FY24. It includes an extra $30,000 for a new career coordinator position at the high school. This position has been grant funded the past two years and administrators would like to keep it on as a fully funded post. The committee voted to approve retirees benefits in the amount of $2,103,808. This is a 7.5 percent increase from the previous year with figures provided by the Berkshire County Retirement System. The district is also proposing technology upgrades that will bring that line item to $568,381 from $452,765. This will cover the servers and cameras as well as Open Architects, the new districtwide educational software. It also includes software reallocated from the individual school lines. The costs for the district's fiber connections has also increased with its new three-year contract. "It wasn't too much of an increase but with this increase, we are doubling our bandwidth in the schools," Director of Finance and Operations Greg Boino said. The pupil transportation budget is projected to increase approximately 3 percent in the second year of the three-year contract. This increase includes transportation costs for special education. The special education budget is projected to increase by by 6.38 percent to $4,652,888, because of transportation costs. The Business, Finance, and Human resource budget is projected to increase 74 percent, from $382,788 to $666,070. This increase is due to the principal and payment on the new Wahconah Regional High School. The principal and interest payment is approximately $268,000. This item will move into capital budget once the project project is audited by the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The overall budget for this line item is approximately $340,000. The property and liability insurance line item is anticipating a 10 percent increase; this will likely change when the correct figures become available. The Medical Health line item is projected to increase 10.11 percent to a total of $375,659. Some school nurses are moving to a new step and the cost of nursing supplies has increased. The districtwide budget is projected to be $2,618,444, 3.20 percent higher than this year's $2,537,254. The School Committee will increase to $86,394 from $86,103; the superintendent budget will be up 0.65 percent, from $419,802 to $422,529; and school leadership budget is projected to decrease by 9.39 percent to $700,062. The U.S. sales volume of electric vehicles (EVs) of Korea's Hyundai Motor Group has surpassed the 100,000 mark on a cumulative basis since its first EV launch in the world's largest economy eight years ago, industry data showed Monday. The group's three brands Hyundai, Genesis and Kia had sold a total of 104,326 EVs in the United States as of end-January this year, according to the industry data. Hyundai first entered the U.S. EV market in October 2014 with the launch of the Kia Soul EV. Hyundai has sold 51,096 units since 2017 and shipped 1,964 of the premium Genesis EVs since its U.S. release last year. Kia has sold 51,266 EVs since 2014. In 2017, Hyundai introduced IONIQ EVs, but the overall annual EV sales volume had hovered around 1,000-2,000 until 2018. The upswing came with the launch of SUV EV lineups, including Kia's Niro and Hyundai Kona EVs. The sales volume rose to 7,772 in 2019 and 19,590 in 2021. Last year, the number nearly tripled to 58,028 from the previous year, on the back of the popularity of the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60. By model, the IONIQ 5 was the most popular with 24,683 vehicles sold so far, followed by 23,380 Niro EVs, 21,608 Kia EV6s, 20,560 Kona Electrics and 6,728 Kia Soul EVs. Hyundai said in a recent earnings call that it aims to sell 73,000 EVs in the U.S. this year. Kia set the target at 58,000 for 2023. (Yonhap) Maldivian journalists Hassan Shaheed and Ahmed Misbaah were assaulted by police on February 6 while reporting on a protest against the sentencing of former president, Abdulla Yameen, near the People's Majlis (Parliament House) in Male. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), in condemning the polices use of violence towards journalists and urges authorities to swiftly investigate the case. According to the MJA, Shaheed, a videographer and reporter for Channel 13, and Misbaah, a Channel 13 photojournalist, were pressed down, pepper-sprayed and struck by police shields while reporting on the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and Peoples National Congress (PNC) protest ahead of an address by Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Shaheed was admitted to hospital for his injuries and taken to Sri Lanka for further treatment. The protest was led by supporters of the former Maldivian president, Abdulla Yameen, calling for his release from prison after he was jailed for 11 years on money laundering charges on December 25, 2022. The demonstrators rallied across Male and Addu City. Media and press freedom organisations, including the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, condemned the aggressive behaviour of police towards media workers reporting at the rally and called for authorities to ensure the safety and protection of all journalists. The IFJ has documented similar incidents of police harassment and violence against journalists at political protests in the Maldives in the last year. In May 2022, Maldivian police threatened and harassed journalists at a protest for the India Out campaign on May 18, led by Yameen and the PPM against the alleged presence of Indian military personnel in the Maldives. During an evaluation mission in the Maldives, the IFJ noted a critical need for the establishment of an industrial legislative framework for media and other workers in the country to protect labour rights and the need for a revised code of ethics in line with international standards. The MJA said: We are concerned that two Channel 13 journalists were injured while covering the protest. We strongly urge the police to protect journalists when dispersing such demonstrations. IFJ said: As the presidential elections draw closer in the Maldives, harassment and violence towards media workers in the field sets a worrying precedent. All journalists must be allowed to report without fearing for their safety and security. The IFJ urges the Maldivian government to swiftly investigate the incident and ensure that press freedom and uphold the rights of journalists. The revival in China also raised hopes of a positive rub-off on other Asian economies. Not surprisingly, FPI sold equities to the tune of $3.52 billion in the month of January 2023. After net selling $16 billion of equities in the year 2022, FPIs began 2023 on a dull note. There were hopes raised after the FPIs had turned net buyers in the second half of 2022, but that momentum did not sustain in 2023. However, the damage to the Indian market indices was limited due to the strong support from domestic investors. In fact, if you look at the December 2022 quarter, domestic investors including mutual funds, insurance companies and retail investors raised their stake in Indian companies on a yoy basis. This is at a time when FPI share of Indian companies has been gradually falling. For the month of January 2023, Indian mutual funds got SIP inflows of Rs13,856 crore and inflows of Rs4,422 crore via NFOs. That is a lot of money and that raises a very pertinent question. Where was all that money being invested? The best way to answer that question from an equity perspective is to look at the portfolio changes of the mutual funds as a whole. We focus on the stocks that mutual funds and the stocks that they sold and in what quantity. Today, mutual funds manage close to Rs40 trillion as AUM under active and passive equity and debt combined. That is nearly $500 billion of money and that is a lot of money. LIC manages a similar amount, so between the insurers and the mutual funds, they manage well over $1 trillion. That is substantial on a market cap of $3.5 trillion for the BSE. Here is the overall picture of what mutual funds did in January 2023. To avoid comparing apples and oranges, we have separately covered large cap, mid-cap and small cap stock preferences of mutual funds for January 2023. Large cap stock moves of mutual funds in January 2023 How do we define large caps? For simplicity, we stick to the AMFI definition based on market cap rankings. Based on the AMFI prescribed methodology, the combined universe of listed stocks on NSE and BSE are ranked descending based on market cap as the first step. From this list, the top-100 stocks by market capitalization are classified as large cap stocks. This list is reviewed by AMFI on a half yearly basis to ensure definitions are up to date. Here are the major large cap stocks that mutual funds bought and sold in January 2023. Let us start with the mutual fund large cap buys first! Overall, the mutual funds added 630 lakh shares of Samvardhana Motherson International, 347 lakh shares of Zomato, 296 lakh shares of FSN E-Commerce Ltd (Nykaa), 253 lakh shares of Tata Motors Ltd, 114 lakh shares of Kotak Mahindra Bank, 71 lakh shares of SBI Cards and 60 lakh shares of Adani Ports SEZ. Apart from the above, mutual funds added smaller quantities of Apollo Hospitals, Grasim Industries and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) during January2023. There appears to be an attempt by mutual funds to do some value buying amidst the correction in select stocks. We now turn to major large cap selling by mutual funds in January 2023. The selling was prominent in select stocks that rallied sharply in the recent past or where the quarterly guidance was not too exciting. A total of 265 lakh shares of HCL Technologies were sold, apart from 123 lakh shares of Tata Power and 89 lakh shares of Ambuja Cements Ltd. Other major stocks sold in January 2023 included 32 lakh shares of Indus Towers and 15 lakh shares of Adani Enterprises Ltd. Mutual also funds sold smaller quantities of Adani Green Energy, Adani Transmission, Hindustan Zinc and Tata Elxsi during January 2023. Mid-cap stock moves of mutual funds in January 2023 Let us now turn to the AMFI methodology used to classify a stock as mid-cap? Under the AMFI definition, once the top 100 stocks by market cap are classified as large cap stocks, the 101st to 250th ranked stocks by market cap would qualify as mid-caps. Here are the mid-cap stocks that mutual funds bought and sold in January 2023. Let us first focus on the mid-cap buying in January 2023. Overall, mutual funds added 246 lakh shares of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), 100 lakh shares of Bank of India, 100 lakh shares of NMDC Ltd, 57 lakh shares of L&T Finance Holdings Ltd, 50 lakh shares of Voltas Ltd, 25 lakh shares of Syngene Ltd and 20 lakh shares of One97 Communications Ltd (Paytm). In addition, mutual funds added smaller quantities of Dixon Technologies, Piramal Enterprises and Blue Dart Express Mid-cap buying was focused on alpha seeking in beaten down value stocks. We now turn to major mid-cap selling. In January 2023, Mutual Funds sold 936 lakh shares of Vodafone Idea Ltd, 351 lakh shares of IDFC First Bank, 216 lakh shares of REC Ltd, 63 lakh shares of Max Financial Services, 47 lakh shares of Yes Bank Ltd, 24 lakh shares of Laurus Labs, 15 lakh shares of Bata India and 10 lakh shares of Sun TV Networks Ltd. In addition, mutual funds also sold smaller quantities of companies like L&T Technology Services (LTTS) and Oracle Financial Services Software (OFSS) Ltd. Small cap stock moves of mutual funds in January 2023 Finally we turn to the small cap stocks. On market cap ranking, the stocks ranked 251st and lower are classified as small caps by AMFI. We apply the same definition for our rankings too. Here is a quick snapshot of some of the key small cap stocks where mutual funds were active in January 2023. Typically, small caps and mid-caps tend to outperform large caps when the undertone of the market is bullish, but witness pressure in volatile markets. In January 2023, mutual funds added 429 lakh fresh shares of South Indian Bank, 80 lakh shares of Kalpataru Power Transmission, 59 lakh shares of EPL Ltd, 54 lakh shares of Hindustan Copper Ltd, 23 lakh shares of Sula Vineyards, 11 lakh shares of Elin Electronics and 9 lakh shares of Jubilant Ingrevia Ltd. In addition, mutual funds also purchased smaller quantities of small cap stocks including Hindware Home Innovations, Amara Raja Batteries and IIFL Finance Ltd during the month of January 2023. Finally, let us look at small-cap selling in the month of January 2023. Mutual funds sold 72 lakh shares of Heritage Foods, 59 lakh shares of Indiabulls Housing Finance, 18 lakh shares of Minda Corporation, 12 lakh shares of KFIN Technologies Ltd, 6 lakh shares of Tata Metaliks, 5 lakh shares of Route Mobile and 5 lakh shares of Sunteck Realty Ltd. In addition, the month of January 2023 also saw mutual funds net selling smaller quantities of CAMS Ltd, DISA India and Stove Kraft Ltd. What are the broad takeaways that emerge from the January 2023 mutual fund churn data? In the large caps, there is a shift into new age digital stocks and there is some exit from stocks where the guidance is not too exciting in the quarterly results. However, the mid-cap and the small cap have been a lot about alpha hunting. Many of these stocks have also seen aggressive buying since small cap funds and mid-cap funds have led equity inflows in the last few months. The smell of red roses, the bright sunny days and the flavour of love all around us- yes, February has dawned upon us after the withering winter months and boy, are we glad. With Valentines Day just around the corner, people are busy painting the town red and of course their accessories cannot stay far behind in this trend. So presenting the all-new Samsung Galaxy A14 5G phone - a stylistic minimalist design meets pop colour that has ought to find a place in our stylish stash this V-day. So why are we gushing all over this new phone? Heres why Its A Beauty! Samsung India Yup, one look at the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G and youll see just how sleek and great this phone looks. The flat linear camera housing makes one seamless uni-body silhouette and the laser pattern back cover has not yet been seen on any other device and that's what makes Samsung Galaxy A14 5G one of a kind. And ofcourse, the bright colour palette this phone comes with is surely the cherry on top of a very delish cake! Slurp! Fast And Furious! Yes, Speed Matters! Unsplash Lets face it, our level of annoyance peaks when our phone cannot match up with our ultra busy lives! Speed kills but for our phone devices, it certainly thrills. So heres the catch! Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is exactly what you and I have been earnestly praying for in a phone. It combines the Octa core processor with 5G connection to provide the performance and speed you can count on. Now you can enjoy smooth streaming, uninterrupted gaming and download your favourite videos in a flash, yes quite literally. Customisation at this price point, yes please! Samsung India Our initials on our shirts, names on our bags, yes you get the gist, we are all suckers for a little customisation and with Samsung Galaxy A14s one UI, one gets to experience customisation that mirrors your personal style and uniqueness! You can customize call backgrounds, set individual avatars to deck up your smartphones and can also personalize widgets as per your style! Dayyum! Charger anyone? Not anymore! Pexels Picture this. Your crush has been typing a long message on your window for over 5 mins, and just 1 second before he decides to press enter, your phone conks off. How infuriating right? Well, not anymore as with the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G ,we can enjoy uninterrupted battery life despite using the phone for 2 days. The 5,000mAh powers your phone for over 2 days and thats just too cool isnt it! Camera for the win! Pexels The one thing we cannot do without are amazing quality clicks for the gram and the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G promises us just that! The 50 MP main camera captures magnificent landscape pictures, depth camera adds stunning dimensions, macro camera gets fine details and the micro camera is great for selfies. Phew, that sums it up well doesnt it. There is something for every photographer in you! Its a MUST-HAVE, period! Pexels Now without much fuss, I think it is safe to say that the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G at its very impressive price point of just INR 14999 inclusive of cashback is nothing short of a delight. With its stylish looks, impressive camera, top speed and customisations, we cannot think of a reason why you or anyone else would look away from this phone. And to make this purchase easy-peezy for you, heres a smart EMI plan custom made for you: Galaxy A14 5G (4GB RAM) 64 GB is available at just INR 1017.67 /mo for 18 mos Galaxy A14 5G (8GB RAM) 128 GB is available at just INR 1295.25/mo for 18 mos Galaxy A14 5G (6GB RAM) 128 GB is available at just INR 1171.87/ mo for 18 mos So this Valentines Day, either be a valentine for yourself or for your bae and get hold of the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G and colour the whole town red, no dark red! Governments are taking action to stop the rise in fraud and scams around the world. On the other hand, we frequently hear about con artists who prey on victims to steal money. A similar incident occurred in Russia, where con artists convinced a guy to transfer his money totalling 17,000 (Rs 16.94 lakh) and then convinced him to put his bank on fire with a Molotov cocktail. Scammer gets Russian man to transfer almost 16 lakh with a bizarre request A 48-year-old Russian man from Ruza, a village near Moscow, was reportedly detained a few days ago after allegedly being duped into hurling a Molotov cocktail inside a Sberbank bank branch, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Before the fire department arrived on the site, the bank personnel were able to put out the fires. The offender was quickly apprehended by police after being identified. The individual, whose identity was withheld for privacy concerns, told authorities that he had been contacted previously by someone who identified themselves as a representative of Russia's biggest bank. The person then informed the man that suspicious behaviour was connected to his account. The purported bank representative persuaded the guy that scammers were attempting to steal his money and that moving the money to safe accounts managed by bank personnel would be the best way to keep it safe. Following the initial conversation, the individual gave his consent and transferred all of his savings, totalling around Rs 16.94 lakh, into various accounts offered by the purported Sberbank official. The scammer further persuaded the man to set the bank on fire The con artist persisted after that. After obtaining the money, the con artist went one step further and persuaded the victim to set fire to the Sberbank branch in Ruza. Even directions on how to make a Molotov cocktail were provided by the con artist. Following the instructions, he created the gadget while making sure there were no clients in the bank branch at the time. The man then flung the object inside after opening the door. The individual was unable to explain to the detectives how setting off the firebomb inside the bank would have exposed the con artist. The detectives initially felt his account was made up and unbelievable, but after closer examination, it turned out to be accurate, according to RIA Novosti. The individual will probably be charged with property damage and possibly additional offences, according to the news agency. However, his chances of getting his life savings back are very limited. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Generative AI models like ChatGPT are so shockingly good that some now claim that AIs are not only equals of humans but often smarter. They toss off beautiful artwork in a dizzying array of styles. They churn out texts full of rich details, ideas, and knowledge. The generated artifacts are so varied, so seemingly unique, that it's hard to believe they came from a machine. Were just beginning to discover everything that generative AI can do. Some observers like to think these new AIs have finally crossed the threshold of the Turing test. Others believe the threshold has not been gently passed but blown to bits. This art is so good that, surely, another batch of humans is already headed for the unemployment line. But once the sense of wonder fades, so does the raw star power of generative AI. Some observers have made a sport of asking questions in just the right way so that the intelligent machines spit out something inane or incorrect. Some deploy the old logic bombs popular in grade-school art classsuch as asking for a picture of the sun at night or a polar bear in a snowstorm. Others produce strange requests that showcase the limits of AI's context awareness, also known as common sense. Those so inclined can count the ways that generative AI fails. Here are 10 downsides and defects of generative AI. This list may read like sour grapesthe jealous scribbling of a writer who stands to lose work if the machines are allowed to take over. Call me a tiny human rooting for team humanhoping that John Henry will keep beating the steam drill. But, shouldn't we all be just a little bit worried? Plagiarism When generative AI models like DALL-E and ChatGPT create, theyre really just making new patterns from the millions of examples in their training set. The results are a cut-and-paste synthesis drawn from various sourcesalso known, when humans do it, as plagiarism. Sure, humans learn by imitation, too, but in some cases, the borrowing is so obvious that it would tip off a grade-school teacher. Such AI-generated content consists of large blocks of text that are presented more or less verbatim. Sometimes, however, there is enough blending or synthesis involved that even a panel of college professors might have trouble detecting the source. Either way, what's missing is uniqueness. For all their shine, these machines are not capable of producing anything truly new. Copyright While plagiarism is largely an issue for schools, copyright law applies to the marketplace. When one human pinches from another's work, they risk being taken to a court that could impose millions of dollars in fines. But what about AIs? Do the same rules apply to them? Copyright law is a complicated subject, and the legal status of generative AI will take years to settle. But remember this: when AIs start producing work that looks good enough to put humans on the employment line, some of those humans will surely spend their new spare time filing lawsuits. Uncompensated labor Plagiarism and copyright are not the only legal issues raised by generative AI. Lawyers are already dreaming up new ethical issues for litigation. As an example, should a company that makes a drawing program be able to collect data about the human user's drawing behavior, then use the data for AI training purposes? Should humans be compensated for such use of creative labor? Much of the success of the current generation of AIs stems from access to data. So, what happens when the people generating the data want a slice of the action? What is fair? What will be considered legal? Information is not knowledge AIs are particularly good at mimicking the kind of intelligence that takes years to develop in humans. When a human scholar is able to introduce an obscure 17th-century artist or write new music in an almost forgotten renaissance tonal structure, we have good reason to be impressed. We know it took years of study to develop that depth of knowledge. When an AI does these same things with only a few months of training, the results can be dazzlingly precise and correct, but something is missing. If a well-trained machine can find the right old receipt in a digital shoebox filled with billions of records, it can also learn everything there is to know about a poet like Aphra Behn. You might even believe that machines were made to decode the meaning of Mayan hieroglyphics. AIs may appear to imitate the playful and unpredictable side of human creativity, but they can't really pull it off. Unpredictability, meanwhile, is what drives creative innovation. Industries like fashion are not only addicted to change but defined by it. In truth, artificial intelligence has its place, and so does good old hard-earned human intelligence. Intellectual stagnation Speaking of intelligence, AIs are inherently mechanical and rule-based. Once an AI plows through a set of training data, it creates a model, and that model doesn't really change. Some engineers and data scientists imagine gradually retraining AI models over time, so that the machines can learn to adapt. But, for the most part, the idea is to create a complex set of neurons that encode certain knowledge in a fixed form. Constancy has its place and may work for certain industries. The danger with AI is that it will be forever stuck in the zeitgeist of its training data. What happens when we humans become so dependent on generative AI that we can no longer produce new material for training models? Privacy and security The training data for AIs needs to come from somewhere and were not always so sure what gets stuck inside the neural networks. What if AIs leak personal information from their training data? To make matters worse, locking down AIs is much harder because theyre designed to be so flexible. A relational database can limit access to a particular table with personal information. An AI, though, can be queried in dozens of different ways. Attackers will quickly learn how to ask the right questions, in the right way, to get at the sensitive data they want. As an example, say the latitude and longitude of a particular asset are locked down. A clever attacker might ask for the exact moment the sun rises over several weeks at that location. A dutiful AI will try to answer. Teaching an AI to protect private data is something we dont yet understand. Undetected bias Even the earliest mainframe programmers understood the core of the problem with computers when they coined the acronym GIGO or garbage in, garbage out. Many of the problems with AIs come from poor training data. If the data set is inaccurate or biased, the results will reflect it. The hardware at the core of generative AI might be as logic-driven as Spock, but the humans who build and train the machines are not. Prejudicial opinions and partisanship have been shown to find their way into AI models. Perhaps someone used biased data to create the model. Perhaps they added overrides to prevent the model from answering particular hot-button questions. Perhaps they put in hardwired answers, which then become challenging to detect. Humans have found many ways to ensure that AIs are excellent vehicles for our noxious beliefs. Machine stupidity Its easy to forgive AI models for making mistakes because they do so many other things well. Its just that many of the mistakes are hard to anticipate because AIs think differently than humans do. For instance, many users of text-to-image functions have found that AIs get rather simple things wrong, like counting. Humans pick up basic arithmetic early in grade school and then we use this skill in a wide variety of ways. Ask a 10-year-old to sketch an octopus and the kid will almost certainly make sure it has eight legs. The current versions of AIs tend to flounder when it comes to the abstract and contextual uses of math. This could easily change if model builders devote some attention to the lapse, but there will be others. Machine intelligence is different from human intelligence and that means machine stupidity will be different, too. Human gullibility Sometimes without realizing it, we humans tend to fill the gaps in AI intelligence. We fill in missing information or interpolate answers. If the AI tells us that Henry VIII was the king who killed his wives, we dont question it because we dont know that history ourselves. We just assume the AI is correct, in the same way we do when a charismatic presenter waves their hands. If a claim is made with confidence, the human mind tends to accept it as true and correct. The trickiest problem for users of generative AI is knowing when the AI is wrong. Machines cant lie the way that humans can, but that makes them even more dangerous. They can produce paragraphs of perfectly accurate data, then veer off into speculation, or even outright slander, without anyone knowing it's happened. Used car dealers or poker players tend to know when they are fudging, and most have a tell that exposes their calumny; AIs don't. Infinite abundance Digital content is infinitely reproducible, which has already strained many of the economic models built around scarcity. Generative AIs are going to break those models even more. Generative AI will put some writers and artists out of work; it also upends many of the economic rules we all live by. Will ad-supported content work when both the ads and the content can be recombined and regenerated without end? Will the free portion of the internet descend into a world of bots clicking on ads on web pages, all crafted and infinitely reproducible by generative AIs? Such easy abundance could undermine all corners of the economy. Will people continue to pay for non-fungible tokens if they can be copied forever? If making art is so easy, will it still be respected? Will it still be special? Will anyone care if its not special? Might everything lose value when its all taken for granted? Was this what Shakespeare meant when he spoke about the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune? Lets not try to answer it ourselves. Lets just ask a generative AI for an answer that will be funny, odd, and ultimately mysteriously trapped in some netherworld between right and wrong. Several more Korean big companies joined the nationwide efforts Monday to help Turkey and Syria recover from the devastating earthquakes. Hanwha Group, an energy-to-defense conglomerate, said it was donating $700,000 to the two countries through the Korean Red Cross to help support the recovery efforts. S-Oil, a Korea-based refiner owned by Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco, said it has delivered $500,000 to the Community Chest of Korea, a local nonprofit organization, to help the victims in Turkey. "As a member of the international community, we want to share our sorrow with the victims who suffered unbearable damage and help with the relief efforts," S-Oil said. GS Group and Hanjin Group, two other major conglomerates, also donated $500,000 to the Korean Red Cross, respectively, to be used to send relief items and others, according to the companies. Last week, top Korean business enterprises, including Samsung, LG and SK, made donation offers to help with the relief efforts. (Yonhap) IB asked Hall for his view on QAR submissions from consumer groups, including CHOICE, who argued that consumers should receive their financial advice from other sources, not insurance brokers. The ICAs CEO said the world will continue to evolve here and ultimately, weve got to always keep the consumers interests at heart, they need to be the starting point for any financial advice. When you say that cyber is insurable, what are you actually defining? she said. Because today, one leaked credential can [result in an infiltration] and within a few hours, your whole network can be taken over and you can have a worldwide ransomware or espionage over the next two years of every single [piece of] confidential information that has been shared with your company. Cyber is among the most complex risks facing companies, Geary said. And it is that very complexity that lets us add true value to risk managers and brokers. Our newly created office and leaders align and elevate our expertise in cyber underwriting, product, claims, and risk prevention and mitigation to form a global platform helping companies better address this critical risk. Boride Powder What are the main product forms and applications of aerogels? Aerogel overview Aerogel is a solid material form, the smallest dense solid in the world. The density is 3 kilograms per cubic meter. The most common aerogel is silicon aerogel, which was first made by American scientist Kistler in 1931 because of a bet with his friends. There are many types of aerogels, including silicon, carbon, sulfur, metal oxide, metal, and so on. Aerogel is a compound word, where aero is an adjective, which means flying, and gel is obviously a gel. Literally means a flying gel. The gel of any substance can be called an aerogel as long as it can be dried and removed from the internal solvent, but can basically keep its shape unchanged, and the product has high porosity and low density. Because of its extremely low density, the lightest aerogel is only 0.16 mg per cubic centimeter, which is slightly less dense than air, so it is also called "frozen smoke" or "blue smoke." Since the particles inside are very small (on the order of nanometers), visible light scatters less when passing through it (Rayleigh scattering), just like sunlight passing through the air. Therefore, it looks bluish just like the sky (if there are no other things in it), and it looks a little red if it looks at the light. (The sky is blue, and the evening sky is red). Since more than 80% of the aerogel is generally air, it has a very good thermal insulation effect. An inch thick aerogel is equivalent to the thermal insulation function of 20-30 pieces of ordinary glass. Even if the aerogel is placed between the rose and the flame, the rose will not be damaged at all. Aerogel also has many uses in space exploration. It is used in the Russian Mir space station and the Mars Pathfinder probe of the United States. Aerogel is also used as a detector for the Cherenkov effect in particle physics experiments. A particle discriminator called Aerogel Cherenkov Counter (ACC) in the Belle Experimental Detector of the High Energy Accelerator Research Institute B Meson Factory is one of the latest application examples. The aerogel used in this detector has the characteristics of a low refractive index between liquid and gas, as well as its high light transmittance and solid properties, which is better than the traditional method of using cryogenic liquid or high-pressure air. At the same time, its lightweight nature is also one of the advantages. The product form of aerogel At present, the product forms of aerogel mainly include aerogel felt, aerogel sheet, aerogel cloth, aerogel paper, aerogel particles, aerogel powder, aerogel coating and aerogel shaped parts. These forms of products are all composites of aerogel and corresponding fiber materials. The basic process technology is relatively similar, but the product application field and product performance are quite different. Aerogel felt is currently a mature aerogel product with large output, wide application, mature technology and good thermal insulation performance. The main features of Jthe thong composite aerogel felt are low thermal conductivity, good thermal insulation effect, and hydrophobicity. The rate is high. It is widely used in the aerospace and military industry, petrochemical industry, metallurgical building materials, refrigerator cold storage and other fields. Aerogel cloth, paper and special-shaped parts are mainly used in some special needs areas. For example, aerogel cloth is mainly used in the field of clothing, shoes and hats, aerogel paper (thin felt) is mainly used in battery insulation and some areas where the space is extremely small or the pipe diameter is extremely small or the winding construction is desired. The aerogel special-shaped parts are basically Both are military applications and the production of detachable insulation sleeves. In fact, the main difference between the felt and the aerogel board is the hardness. The felt is flexible and can be curled, and the board has a certain rigidity and is not easy to bend. The main application of the board is the thermal insulation of large equipment and the thermal insulation of the future building energy-saving internal and external walls. For the board, the current challenge is the thickness. Customers often hope to achieve a thickness of 5-10cm, while the current maximum thickness of aerogel products is only 1cm. At present, the main application of aerogel particles is to use the transparency of aerogels to fill PC boards or hollow glass as lighting and heat insulation panels. Although there are certain market applications, they are small in scale. Aerogel powder: The history of aerogel industrialization started with powder, but unfortunately so far, no substantial batch applications have been found for aerogel powder. Aerogel coatings: Coatings are a very important type of product in traditional thermal insulation materials, which play an irreplaceable role in many fields. Compared with traditional coatings, aerogel coatings have lower thermal conductivity and good thermal insulation. Thermal certain hydrophobic effect. Application of aerogel In the research of fractal structure. As a nanoporous material with a controllable structure, silicon aerogel has a density that obviously depends on the scale size. Within a certain scale, its density tends to be scale-invariant, that is, the density decreases with the increase of the scale. It has a self-similar structure, and the structure in the dynamic research of aerogel fractal structure also shows that in different scales, there are three excitation regions with obviously different dispersion relations, which correspond to the excitation of phonons, fractals and particle modes, respectively. Changing the preparation conditions of aerogels can make the correlation length change within two orders of magnitude. Therefore, silica aerogel has become the best material for studying the fractal structure and its dynamic behavior. 1. In the "863" high-tech and strong laser research Nanoporous materials have important application values. For example, the use of porous target materials below the critical density can improve the beam quality of the X-ray laser generated by electron collision excitation, save driving energy, and use the new porous target with a microspherical node structure to achieve The rapid cooling of the three-dimensional adiabatic expansion of the plasma can increase the gain coefficient of the x-ray laser generated by the electronic recombination mechanism, and use ultra-low density materials to adsorb nuclear fuel, which can constitute a high-gain freezing target for laser inertial confinement fusion. Aerogel's slender nanoporous network structure, huge specific surface area, and mesoscopic structure controllable,become the best candidate material for the development of new low-density targets. 2. As a thermal insulation material The slender nano network structure of silicon aerogel effectively limits the propagation of local thermal excitation, and its solid-state thermal conductivity is 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than that of the corresponding glassy materials. The nano-pores suppress the contribution of gas molecules to heat conduction. The refractive index of silicon aerogel is close to l, and the ratio of the annihilation coefficient to infrared and visible light is more than 100. It can effectively transmit sunlight and prevent infrared heat radiation from ambient temperature, making it an ideal transparent heat insulation material. , Has been applied in solar energy utilization and building energy saving. By means of doping, the radiant heat conduction of silicon aerogel can be further reduced. The thermal conductivity of carbon-doped aerogel can be as low as 0.013 w/mK at room temperature and pressure, which is the solid material with the lowest thermal conductivity. It is expected to replace polyurethane foam as a new type of refrigerator insulation material. Incorporating titanium dioxide can make silicon aerogel become a new type of high-temperature thermal insulation material. The thermal conductivity at 800K is only 0.03w/mK, and it will be further developed as a new material for military products. Due to its low sound velocity, silicon aerogel is also an ideal acoustic delay or high-temperature sound insulation material. The material has a large acoustic impedance variable range (103-107 kg/m2s), and is an ideal acoustic resistance coupling material for ultrasonic detectors. For example, the commonly used acoustic resistance turns Zp=1. 5l07 kg/ Piezoelectric ceramics of m2s are used as ultrasonic generators and detectors, while the acoustic resistance of air is only 400 kg/m2s. Silicon aerogel with a thickness of 1/4 wavelength is used as the acoustic resistance coupling material between piezoelectric ceramics and air. It can improve the transmission efficiency of sound waves and reduce the signal-to-noise ratio in device applications. Preliminary experimental results show that silica aerogel with a density of about 300 kg/m3 as a coupling material can increase the sound intensity by 30 dB. If a silica aerogel with a density gradient is used, a higher sound intensity gain can be expected. In environmental protection and chemical industry. Nano-structured aerogel can also be used as a new type of gas filtration. The difference from other materials is that the material has uniform pore size distribution and high porosity. It is a high-efficiency gas filtration material. Because the material is particularly large than the table and accumulate. Aerogels also have broad application prospects as new catalysts or catalyst carriers. 3. In terms of energy storage devices After the organic aerogel is processed by the sintering process, carbon aerogel will be obtained. This conductive porous material is a new type of carbon material developed after fibrous activated carbon. It has a large specific surface area (600-1000 m2). /g) and high conductivity (10-25 s/cm). Moreover, the density has a wide range (0.05-1.0 g/cm3). If an appropriate electrolyte is filled in the micropores, a new type of rechargeable battery can be made, which has excellent characteristics such as large storage capacity, small internal resistance, lightweight, strong charging and discharging ability, and repeated use. Preliminary experimental results show that the charging capacity of the carbon aerogel is 3104/kg2, the power density is 7 kW/kg, and the repeated charge and discharge performance is good. In the research of quantum size effect of materials. Due to the formation of quantum dot structure in the nano network of silicon aerogel, the results of chemical vapor infiltration method doping Si and solution method doping C60 show that the dopant exists in the form of nanocrystalline particles, and strong visible light emission is observed. It provides strong evidence for the quantum confinement effect of porous silicon to emit light. Using the structure of silicon aerogel and the nonlinear optical effect of C60, new laser protective glasses can be further developed. The doping method is also an effective means to form nanocomposite phase materials. In addition, silica aerogel is a material with an adjustable refractive index. Using aerogel media of different densities as Cherenkov threshold detectors can determine the mass and energy of high-energy particles. Because high-speed particles can easily penetrate into porous materials and gradually slow down to achieve a "soft landing", if a transparent aerogel is used to capture high-speed particles in space, the blocked and captured particles can be observed with the naked eye or a microscope. As a new type of nanoporous material, in addition to silicon aerogels, other units, binary or multiple oxide aerogels, organic aerogels, and carbon aerogels have been developed. As a unique material preparation method, related processes have been widely used in the development of other new materials, such as the preparation of porous silicon with extremely high porosity, the preparation of high-performance catalysts of metal-aerogel hybrid materials, high-temperature superconducting materials, Ultra-fine ceramic powder, etc. The price of aerogel The price of aerogel will vary randomly with the production cost, transportation cost, international situation, exchange rate, and market supply and demand of aerogel. Tanki New Materials Co.,Ltd aims to help all industries and chemical wholesalers find high-quality, low-cost nanomaterials and chemicals by providing a full set of customized services. If you are looking for an aerogel, please feel free to send it to get the latest aerogel price of aerogel. Aerogel supplier As a global supplier of nano-SiO2 aerogels, Tanki New Materials Co., Ltd. has extensive experience in the performance, application, and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced technology and engineering materials. The company has successfully developed a series of powder materials (including oxides, carbides, nitrides, single metals, etc.), high-purity targets, functional ceramics, and structural devices, and provides OEM services. Inquiry us News Graphene bags significantly reduce platinum requirements for hydrogen fuel cells Us President Joe Biden will start a trip to the Middle East. Biden is scheduled to visit Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia from July 13 to 16. Analysts believe that Biden's trip to the Middle East has three considerations. First of all, efforts should be made to persuade Gulf oil-producing countries to increase oil graphene powder are still very uncertain. Although hydrogen fuel is a promising alternative to fossil fuels, the catalyst it relies on for power generation is mainly composed of rare and expensive metal platinum, which limits the wide commercialization of hydrogen fuel. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles reported a way to enable them to meet and exceed the goals set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for high catalyst performance, high stability, and low platinum utilization. The record-breaking technique uses tiny crystals of platinum-cobalt alloy, each embedded in a nano-bag made of graphene. Compared with the DOE catalyst standard, graphene-coated alloys produced extraordinary results: 75 times higher catalytic activity; 65% higher power; about 20% higher catalytic activity at the end of the fuel cell's expected life; about 35% lower power loss after 7000 hours of simulated use of 6000 ran, exceeding the target of 5000 hours for the first time; and almost 40% less platinum needed per car. Graphene-coated alloys produced extraordinary results: 75 times higher catalytic activity and 65% higher power. At the end of the expected life of the fuel cell, the catalytic activity increased by about 20%, and the power loss was reduced by about 35% after 7000 hours of simulated use, exceeding the target of 5000 hours for the first time. Today, half of the world's total supply of platinum and similar metals is used in catalytic converters for fossil fuel-powered cars, which can reduce the harmfulness of their emissions. Each car needs 2 Mel and 8 grams of platinum. By contrast, current hydrogen fuel cell technology consumes about 36 grams of platinum per vehicle. At the minimum platinum load tested by the research team, only 6.8 grams of platinum were needed for each hydrogen-powered vehicle. So how do researchers get more energy from less platinum? They decomposed the platinum-based catalyst into particles with an average length of 3 nanometers. Smaller particles mean a larger surface area and more room for catalytic activity. However, smaller particles tend to squeeze together to form larger particles. The team solved this limitation by loading their catalyst particles into the 2D material graphene. Compared with the bulk carbon commonly found in coal or pencil lead, this thin carbon layer has amazing capacity, conducts electricity and heat efficiently, and is 100 times stronger than steel of similar thickness. Their platinum-cobalt alloy is reduced to particles. Before being integrated into fuel cells, these particles are surrounded by graphene nano-bags, which also act as an anchor to prevent particle migration, which is necessary for the level of durability required for commercial vehicles. At the same time, graphene allows a tiny gap of about 1 nanometer around each catalyst nanoparticles, which means that critical electrochemical reactions may occur. Graphene Price The price is influenced by many factors including the supply and demand in the market, industry trends, economic activity, market sentiment, and unexpected events. If you are looking for the latest graphene powder price, you can send us your inquiry for a quote. (sales1@rboschco.com) Graphene Supplier RBOSCHCO is a trusted global chemical material supplier&manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and nanomaterials. The company export to many countries including the USA, Canada, Europe, UAE, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Turkey, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Brazil, Chile, Dubai, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, etc. As a leading nanotechnology development manufacturer, RBOSCHCO dominates the market. Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries, create value, and easily cope with various challenges. If you are looking for graphene powder, please send an email. (sales1@rboschco.com) An unprecedented drought is sweeping nearly half of Europe, from Spain's dry and cracked reservoirs to major rivers such as the Danube, Rhine and Po rivers, the Associated Press reported. Drought is destroying the agricultural economy, forcing people to limit the use of water, causing wildfires and threatening aquatic species. It is reported that there has been no obvious rainfall in the western, central and southern regions of the European continent in the past two months. And the dry season in Europe is expected to continue. Experts say it may be the worst drought in 500 years. Europe has high temperatures and severe drought, affecting hydropower, nuclear power and solar power generation. Statistics from Lustad Energy, a Norwegian consulting firm, show that hydroelectric power generation in Europe in the first seven months of this year is 20% less than that in the same period last year, and nuclear power generation is down 12%. High temperatures lead to an increase in evaporation and a drop in water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs, bearing the brunt of hydroelectric power. In Italy, for example, hydropower accounts for 20 per cent of the country's total electricity graphene powder, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. Inquiry us News Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate CAS 1312-76-1 Potassium Silicate Powder,99% OPEC+ is likely to stick to its plan for a small increase in oil Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate will continue to be influenced by the oil supply shortage. About Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate: Powdered instant potassium silicate is a white powdery material, which can be quickly dissolved in water. Its molecular formula is: K2OnSiO2H2O, n depends on different specifications and different uses. TRUNNANO is a trusted global Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate supplier. Feel free to send an inquiry about the latest price of Potassium Silicate at any time. Performance of Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate: Powdered instant potassium silicate has better water solubility and higher bonding performance than powdered instant sodium silicate. Technical Property of Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate: Item TR-N001 TR-N002 TR-N003 TR-N004 Be(20) 35.0-36.0 39.0-41.0 44.0-46.0 43.5-45.5 Density g/ml(20) 1.30-1.33 1.37-1.39 1.43-1.46 1.436-1.45 K2O (%) 9.5-11.5 10.5-12.5 14.0-17.0 15.5-17.5 SiO2 (%) 22.0-25.0 23.5-26.5 28.0-31.0 24.0-27.0 Ratio (M) 3.50-3.70 3.15-3.35 2.70-2.90 2.40-2.60 Fe(%) 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 S(%) 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 P(%) 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 Water insoluble(%) 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 Applications of Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate: Powdered instant potassium silicate is widely used in refractory binders, oilfield drilling fluid additives and other fields with special uses. Storage Condition of Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate: The potassium silicate powder should store in a dry and cool environment in a sealed place, not exposed to the air, to prevent oxidative agglomeration caused by moisture, affecting the dispersion performance and use effect; Packing & Shipping of Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate: It is packed in double plastic bags inside, which can be filled with argon in a vacuum; it can be vacuumed and filled with argon for protection. Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate Powder packing: vacuum packing, 1kg/bag, 25kg/bag, or as your request. Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate Powder Powder shipping: could be shipped out by sea, by air, by express as soon as possible once payment receipt. Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd. (TRUNNANO) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials, including boride powder, nitride powder, graphite powder, sulfide powder, 3D printing powder, etc. If you are looking for powdered instant potassium silicate, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry, email address: sales3@nanotrun.com Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate Properties Other Names potassium silicate CAS No. 1312-76-1 Compound Formula K2O3Si Molecular Weight NA Appearance White Powder Melting Point NA Solubility in water N/A Density NA Purity 99% Particle Size NA Boling point NA Specific Heat N/A Thermal Conductivity N/A Thermal Expansion N/A Young's Modulus N/A Exact Mass NA Monoisotopic Mass NA Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate Health & Safety Information Safety Warning NA Hazard Statements N/A Flashing point Not applicable Hazard Codes N/A Risk Codes N/A Safety Statements N/A RTECS Number N/A Transport Information NONH WGK Germany NONH Recently, the Turkish government announced that the Turkish President has signed a presidential decree to provide incentives for its Black Sea gas field development projects, including tax exemptions and other preferential measures. With a fixed investment of 145.1 billion Turkish lira ($10 billion), the project will employ 1,018 people and produce 14 billion standard cubic meters of gas per year, the decree reads. The incentives involved include tariff and VAT exemptions, as well as a range of tax cuts. In June 2021, Turkish drill ships discovered 135 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the Sakaria field in the Black Sea, bringing Turkey's total gas discoveries in the region to 540 billion cubic meters. Turkey imports almost all of its annual gas consumption of about 50 billion cubic meters. Except for natural gas, the supply and prices of many other Powdered Instant Potassium Silicate will continue to be influenced by international situations. Inquiry us News The price of container size has also been affected by the drop in some shipping rates Previously high sea freight rates have begun to fall, with some popular routes seeing their rates drop by more than 50 percent year-on-year, as the global logistics supply chain recovers. Industry insiders said the supercycle of shipping has ended and freight rates are expected to accelerate from the second half of the year. Lower sea freight rates According to the FBX index published by the Baltic Maritime Exchange, the average price of FBX container seaborn was $6,583 on June 29, down 40.9 percent from its all-time high in September last year. Among them, the China/Far East - North America west coast route freight rate dropped 63.1% from last year's highest freight rate; China/Far East - East Coast of North America freight fell 54.6% from last year's peak; The China/Far East-Nordic route is down 29.4 percent from its all-time high in January and 26.6 percent from last year's peak. Spot shipping prices fell sharply, even lower than the long-term agreement prices. According to Xeneta, the current spot freight rate for trans-Pacific routes to the U.S. and West is $7,768 per FEU, 2.7 percent lower than the long-term freight rate of $7,981 per FEU. "It is true that there are some cases where shippers negotiate with shipping companies to revise the long agreement price, but very few shipping companies reduce the price." An official of a domestic shipping company told the China Securities Journal, "Unless the loading rate drops significantly, we will consider cutting prices and taking more orders. But the current loading rate is still at normal levels, reducing prices is illogical. The Christmas stocking period will begin in the third quarter, and capacity will be tight again." Freight rates fell, and some shipping companies began to cancel sailings to reduce losses. According to new data released on July 1st by Drury, a shipping consultancy, the world's three largest shipping alliances canceled a combined 61 sailings in the next five weeks (27-31). Among them, 2M Alliance and THE Alliance canceled THE most flights, with 23 flights respectively. Ocean Alliance cancels 15 sailings. Of these, 86 out of a total of 760 scheduled sailings on major routes such as trans-Pacific, trans-Atlantic, Asia-Northern Europe and Asia-Mediterranean were canceled between weeks 27 and 31, representing a cancellation rate of 11%. Drury doesn't expect spot rates to collapse because airlines will tighten and adjust their availability to reduce volatility in spot rates. Over the next year, shipping lines will have to deal with weak spot rates falling below contract rates. Factors affecting freight forwarder container size Freight transportation In international freight transport, one of the most concerning issues is the price of freight transport. The cost is directly related to the cost of transportation. Because many exporters do not understand the price of transportation very much, and often have a lot of extra spending, then today to understand the factors of the price of international freight transportation? Do You Need Freight Forwarders? China DDP for World is a full-service and shipping forwarder dedicated to assisting our clients in focusing and growing their businesses. Send an Email to info@ddpforworld.com and get the latest freight price. The transportation prices are different for different container size In the general international trade process, the price of transport according to different modes of transport, price is also different. International freight rates are divided into sea freight, air freight and rail freight. The specific container size freight rate can also be subdivided. For example, rail freight can be divided into passenger freight and freight. Shipping rates are also divided into tramp rates and liner rates. Tramp rates are also affected by market supply and demand relations at that time, while liner transport costs are relatively fixed. Airfreight can be divided into general goods, designated goods and special goods, and the specific transportation price is also determined according to the weight of transportation, at the same time, even if the volume is small, the weight is also counted by weight, but if the opposite is large, small weight, also according to the specific volume to calculate. The choice of international logistics, the quality of logistics will affect the seller's store score, but also affect customer satisfaction rate. Factors affecting the shipping price of container size In the process of international transportation, there are many factors affecting the price of transportation, in addition to some fuel and labor costs, there are many important factors. For example, the nature of the container size, its own value and packaging form, as well as stowage factor and transporter's requirements for transportation, etc. There will be some fixed costs during the use of the ship, such as the ship's maintenance insurance and fuel consumption. There is also the change of supply and demand in the container size market. In the transport off-season, transport prices are relatively low, in the transport of the peak season, transport prices will be relatively high. Logistics advantages of the container size in the destination country and region In Eastern Europe, DHL has advantages in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Hungary and other places while EMS has advantages in Greece, Russia, Turkey and other places. Western Europe, Northern Europe, southern Europe can use DHL international express, TNT international express, these two kinds of customs clearance capacity. TNT has a clear advantage in the Netherlands and Belgium. For Canada, the United States and other American countries, FedEx, UPS and DHL are all suitable for their strong customs clearance capacity and fast time. Applicable to Asia, South Korea, Japan, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries DHL, FedEx. DHL and FedEx are time-saving, but THE price of DHL is higher. Indonesia also suggests USING DHL because it has a stronger customs clearance capacity. In Oceania, DHL and UPS aging fast, with high prices; TNT and FedEx have lower prices but relatively few outlets. Particular attention should be paid to the "Made in China" label on the packaging of Australian products. Middle East express ARAMEX, EMS for Middle East region. Commercial express in Africa is very expensive. In remote areas, IT is suggested to send EMS international express. EMS countries have the strongest customs clearance capacity. The air express container size can reach many countries and regions that commercial express and postal express cannot reach, so the wide range of container size transportation is its advantage. Contact a professional freight forwarder- DDPFORWORLD - Professional freight forwarder in China Do You Need Freight Forwarders from China ? DDP for World is a full-service and shipping forwarder dedicated to assisting our clients in focusing and growing their businesses. We do DDP shipping since 2015 by handling home decor, Pet products, battery, power banks, DG cargo, general cargo and Amazon FBA shipping forwarding service. We make your shipping easier and faster by Sea, Air, Express, Truck or Railway. If you have any questions or needs about freight forwarder, please feel free to contact us, we will serve you wholeheartedly. Email: info@ddpforworld.com Inquiry us By Kim Jae-heun Samsung Electronics and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) signed an agreement to establish the Samsung Electronics Robotics Talent Training Program at the school's main campus in Daejeon on Monday. The program aims to foster professionals to lead research and development for the local robotics industry. It is a recruitment-linked master's course and Samsung and KAIST will select 10 scholarship students every year from 2023. They will go through a robotics-related curriculum studying advanced theories and building practical capabilities in the field. Participants will be sponsored to cover their tuition fees. After acquiring a master's degree, they will automatically be recruited at Samsung Electronics. Students will also be provided with field training as well as opportunities to attend robotics conferences and overseas exhibitions. "In line with the rapidly growing robotics market, we have established a new program to foster robotics specialists. We will actively support them to develop robotics as our new growth engine," said Cheun Kyung-whoon, president of Samsung Research. "The importance of robot-related technologies has recently been attracting attention and they are developing rapidly. Through our cooperation with Samsung Electronics, we plan to secure a future growth engine and pioneer new trends in the field," KAIST Provost and Executive Vice President Lee Seung-seob said. The use of robots is expected to continue increasing amid ongoing structural social changes. The future robotics industry will require technologies that combine robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and manufacturing capabilities. Samsung Electronics is striving to accumulate and improve diverse technologies in the field of robotics. The company also plans to focus more on securing core technologies based on fostering experts in robotics. At the same time, the IT firm continues to cultivate specialists in its key business areas such as AI, next-generation communication and semiconductors. Silicide Powder What are the Properties and Uses of Spherical Tungsten Carbide According to statistics from China Chemical and Physical Power Supply Industry Association China's export volume and export value of lithium-ion batteries have continued to increase. In 2021, China's exports of lithium-ion batteries were 3.428 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 54.34%. The export of lithium-ion batteries was 28.428 billion DOLLARS, up 78.34% year on year. From the battery export destination, so far. China's lithium-ion batteries are mainly exported to the Asia Pacific and the United States and other places. In terms of price, the price of Tungsten Carbide, led by lithium-ion batteries, is expected to expand globally. What is Tungsten Carbide? As one of the main production raw materials of cemented carbide, the physical and chemical properties of tungsten carbide (WC) powder, such as particle shape, particle size, particle size distribution, oxygen content, carbon content, bulk density, etc., will directly affect the quality of alloy products. Nowadays, with the gradual optimization of the production process of cemented carbide, the market demand for spherical tungsten carbide powder is also increasing. Tungsten carbide is mainly composed of refractory metal tungsten and non-metallic carbon, and contains a small amount of impurity elements such as Co, Cr, Ti, Ta, Nb, V, Mn, Ni, Mo, O, etc. According to the different particle size, it can be divided into the following grades, WC10 (1.01~1.40um), WC30 (3.01~4.00um), WC50 (5.01~7.00um), WC100 (10.01~14.00um) and so on. Properties of spherical tungsten carbide Appearance is black powder, high purity 99.9%, sphericity 95%, melting point is 2870, boiling point is 6000, density is 15.63g/cm, bulk density is greater than 7.0g/cm3, tap density is greater than 7.0. 5g/cm3, the flow performance is less than 10.0s/50g, and has the characteristics of high hardness, low thermal expansion coefficient, high compressive strength, large elastic modulus, and smooth surface. However, due to its high hardness, its processing performance is poor, so it is more suitable for 3D printing. Production process of spherical tungsten carbide powder Smelting method: The raw material powder (tungsten powder and carbon black or tungsten powder, carbon black and tungsten carbide) is melted into a liquid state, and droplets will form on the surface under the action of centrifugal rotation method, rotary atomization method or gas atomization method Spherical tungsten carbide. Modified irregular tungsten carbide: The irregular WC is melted into a liquid state, and then the spherical tungsten carbide powder is made by the plasma spheroidization method or the resistance heat spheroidization method. Uses of spherical tungsten carbide Mainly used in the production of cemented carbide. According to different chemical compositions, cemented carbides can be divided into tungsten-cobalt, tungsten-titanium-cobalt and tungsten-titanium-tantalum (niobium) types. About KMPASS KMPASS is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials. The company export to many countries, such as USA, Canada, Europe, UAE, South Africa, Tanzania,Kenya,Egypt,Nigeria,Cameroon,Uganda,Turkey,Mexico,Azerbaijan,Belgium,Cyprus,Czech Republic,Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dubai, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia,Germany, France, Italy, Portugal etc. As a leading nanotechnology development manufacturer, KMPASS dominates the market. Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries, create value, and easily cope with various challenges. If you are looking for spherical tungsten carbide Powder, please send an email to: sales2@nanotrun.com Affected by the present complex international situation and the epidemic, the future of global financial markets, futures markets, and stock markets is still highly uncertain. For this reason, I suppose the price of the Tungsten Carbide would continue to rise. Inquiry us John Lydon said he was disturbed to leave his wife, who has Alzheimers disease, so he could compete to be Irelands entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. His band Public Image Ltd, also known as PiL, formed following the break-up of the Sex Pistols in 1978, and lost out to We Are One by the Irish band Wild Youth after a public vote earlier this month. Born in London to Irish parents, Lydon entered with the song Hawaii, which was described as a love letter to his wife of nearly 50 years, Nora. In an interview before the competition in Dublin and published on Sunday, Lydon told the Sunday Times: Unbeknownst to me (my manager has) thrown me in the deep end and I dont know if I can survive. Will my ego come back? Its hard to go from 24/7 care to this. Im unprepared. I have to bring this illness up to the public but leaving Nora disturbs me. Its a rock and a hard place. But what do I do? After Lydon lost, he said he did not regret competing and was glad that he had raised awareness of caring for someone with Alzheimers. He said: We had responses from victims who said they were close to suicide but for this song. John Lydon was born in London to Irish parents (Ian West/PA) Lydon added that since caring for Nora, all the things he had thought would be the ultimate agony seem preposterous now. He also said their later years should be adventurous but it was not going to plan. Lydon added: I break into tears thinking about it. Formerly known as Johnny Rotten, he also said he would sit with his wife, hold her hands and show her his post-punk group on RTEs The Late Late Show Eurosong Special when he returned home. He also spoke about his relationship with Dame Vivienne Westwood, who died at the age of 81 in December. Lydon said: She never liked me. But I was sad to hear shed died, because I know what that is like for the family. Dame Vivienne rose to fame after the Sex Pistols wore the designs of her and former partner Malcolm McLaren, who managed the punk rock band. Enoch Burke has been physically removed from the High Court by gardai for a second time after trying to raise a matter with a judge. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore directed members of An Garda Siochana to physically remove Mr Burke, who was accompanied in Court 3 in the Four Courts by his parents Martina and Sean and his sister Ammi, after Mr Burke interrupted Monday's call over of the chancery list. Gardai were called on to take action after the judge refused to allow Mr Burke to raise an issue in part of his ongoing legal battle with Wilson's Hospital School, which suspended and dismissed him from his job. It was the second time in as many sittings of the court that the judge has asked the gardai to intervene. On Friday, Mr Burke and his sister were removed by gardai also for interrupting that sitting of the court. On Monday, Mr Burke returned to the courtroom and sought to raise his concerns over the school's application to correct certain statements made in a document it is relying on as part of its ongoing legal action against him. He said he was seeking clarification on directions emailed to him by the judge on Friday afternoon, after he and his sister had been removed from the courtroom regarding the school's application to file corrective affidavits due to errors in statements sworn in the proceedings on the school's behalf. In reply, the judge said Mr Burke's case was not listed before the court, and the judge said the Co Mayo man had neither informed the court registrar nor had obtained the proper court document that would allow him to raise the matter. Heated exchange Mr Burke insisted on being heard, resulting in an exchange between the judge and the Burke family that became heated. Mr Burke then refused to comply with the judge's direction to not talk over him, and when the judge made it clear the matter was not being heard, the Burkes were highly critical of the court. Mr Burke was warned several times by the judge that if he did not cease talking, he would be removed from the courtroom. "You are not in charge of the list," the judge told Mr Burke, who was reminded that was Mr Justice O'Moore's job. Mr Burke persisted, and continued to speak over the judge. Eventually, three members of an Garda Siochana physically removed Mr Burke from the courtroom. Ammi Burke continued to loudly berate the judge, accusing him of treating the school "very differently" to her brother. The judge, noting she is a qualified lawyer, reminded her that she "no right of audience." Mr Burke's mother Martina Burke was also highly critical of Mr Justice O'Moore, and the gardai. God knows about your wickedness," she said, adding that the court was "corrupt". Gardai she said had no right to remove her son from the courtroom. After Enoch was removed, the other family members left the court of their own accord. 'Intolerable' Mr Justice O'Moore then resumed the busy call over of the list, and apologised to all other parties present in the courtroom for the disruption caused to the administration of justice. It was "intolerable" that people should have to go through that regrettable experience, he added. Mr Burke and the school have been engaged in a court battle after he claims he was wrongfully suspended, before being dismissed from his job last week, and his constitutional rights breached over his objections to referring to a student at the school who wishes to transition as a they rather than a 'he.' The school suspended, and following a disciplinary process purportedly dismissed the teacher due to the German and history teacher's alleged misconduct. Arising out of his refusal to comply with a High Court order granted last September, Mr Burke was jailed for 108 days for contempt. However, he has continued to attend at the school's campus, resulting in Mr Justice O'Moore imposing a 700 a day fine on him. Mr Burke's appeal against various High Court decisions made against him is due to be heard by the Court of Appeal later this month. In the most recent application before the court, lawyers for the school's board of management said it wants to correct issues including statements that a meeting last year at Wilson's Hospital concerning the wishes of a student who wishes to transition had been attended by that student's parents, where a request was made that the student be referred to by a different pronoun and name than before. This is incorrect, the school says, as the meeting had only been attended by one of the student's parents. In addition, counsel said, it had been stated that the meeting had also been attended by the school's then principal Niamh McShane. This was also inaccurate, the school said. Two other staff members were present for the duration of that meeting while the principal, who was aware of the meeting, was only in attendance for a brief period, the school claims. Mr Burke has been informed of the school's application to correct the inaccuracies before the matter returns before the court. Burma Myanmar Civilian Govts Housing Sale Gets 6,500 Orders in a Day An artists impression of a Spring Bliss project / End of Dictatorship The Myanmar National Unity Government (NUG)s housing project, Spring Bliss, reached preorders of more than 6,500 apartments within a day on Saturday as the shadow government seeks to raise funds for the ongoing revolution against the military regime by selling or auctioning off military-owned property. The Spring Bliss houses will be built on land illegally seized by the military in Yangons Hlaing Tharyar, South Dagon and Mingaladon townships. Spring Bliss, the second such project launched by the NUGs Ministry of Planning, Finance and Investment (MOPFI) this year, went on sale on Feb. 11. The three locations have a total of 10,000 apartments costing from US$4,400 to $11,400. MOPFI said it planned to sell 3,000 apartments at first but increased the presale number to 10,000 due to the strong demand. MOPFI Minister U Tin Tun Naing said on Facebook that the demand for the apartments reflected the determination of those who are away from their homes for various reasons, and of those who love the country. Nothing can cause the revolution to fail, he said. Buyers initially pay 30 percent, either as a down payment or installments over 12 months. The remaining 70 percent is to be paid after the revolution ousts the military regime. The housing will be designed to prioritize good building ventilation, and the sites will include mini parks and playgrounds, according to the MOPFI. A buyer said the prices of the Spring Bliss apartments were fair and suitable for middle class people. It was a small way for me to show support for our historic Spring Revolution, she said, explaining her reason for buying the apartment. NUG Prime Minister Mann Win Khaing Than said successful MOPFI projects like Spring Bliss helped the NUG in two ways. First, It is encouraging to know that our people are participating with full confidence in the revolution. Moreover, it is also encouraging to receive funds for the realization of the NUGs determination to make 2023 a decisive year for the revolution [against the junta] due to the participation of our people, the prime minister said. The sale is the latest effort by MOPFI to raise funds for the ongoing revolution against the military regime. The NUG raised over US$10 million in just 18 hours from presales of apartments in the Spring Valour Condominium in January. The project will be built on military-owned land on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, a prime location in Yangon. In late May, the NUG also put junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaings illegally seized property in Yangon at 14 Inya Road on sale, raising US$10 million. MOPFI has so far raised about $100 million from various similar projects including the sale of two houses owned by junta boss Min Aung Hlaing and other land owned by the military. It aims to raise about $250 million by the end of this year. Burma Myanmar Regime Says Seven Resistance Members Arrested for Yangon Assassinations A picture released by the regime showing resistance members arrested for allegedly carrying out assassinations in Yangon from July 2022 to Feb. 3, 2023. The Myanmar military regime reported on Sunday that it had arrested seven men it said were members of the Peoples Defense Force (PDF) in Yangons Hlaing Township who were involved in the assassinations of 15 junta-linked individuals including veterans and departmental personnel. It said the alleged gunman in the Jan. 30 shooting death of a former military officer who was working as a deputy general manager of a soap manufacturing factory in Yangon was arrested on Feb. 7, and six accomplices were arrested over the next two days. Four of them underwent a month of training in making improvised explosive devices in the area controlled by the Karen National Liberation Armys Brigade 2, according to the junta report. The regime claimed the suspects were involved in killing 15 people in 10 incidents in Yangons Kamayut, Mayangone, Hlaing and Insein townships from July last year to Feb. 3. Most of the victims were former military personnel and junta-appointed leaders of 100-household ward administrative bodies. The mastermind behind the assassinations is former National League for Democracy lawmaker U Wai Phyo Han, who remains at large, according to the report. Elected to the Yangon regional parliament in the 2015 general election, U Wai Phyo Han, 38, is regarded by the regime as the leader of the PDF in Yangon Region. The late lawmaker and activist U Phyo Zeya Thaw was believed to have played a key role in supplying weapons and ammunition for the resistance movement in Yangon before his arrest in 2021. He was executed by the regime in July last year. Hlaing PDF was formed by U Wai Phyo Han and U Than Win Htun (also known as Kyo Kyar) in June 2021 with 12 members, according to the regime. The regime said it would take harsh action under the law against those arrested. War Against the Junta Nearly 80 Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Four Days of Resistance Attacks The Irrawaddys latest roundup includes incidents in Magwe, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Shan and Karen states. At least 79 Myanmar junta troops including pro-regime militia members as well as 11 resistance fighters were killed in the last four days of clashes as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) stepped up their attacks on regime targets nationwide. Combined PDF groups raided several military bases including that of a unit handling livestock in Magwe Region. Incidents were reported in Magwe, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Shan and Karen states. The Irrawaddy has rounded up the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs. Some military casualties could not be verified independently. Military bases raided in Magwe Eleven junta soldiers and police were killed in the Laungshe area in Saw Township, Magwe Region last Thursday when four PDF groups raided at least seven military bases near the No.5 Military Weapons Factory in the town of Laungshe, said Laung She Regional PDF, which coordinated the attacks. At 1 a.m. on that morning, PDF groups raided at least five regime bases at the same time while also shelling two other junta bases with heavy explosives. During four hours of fighting, a PDF fighter was also killed and five others suffered injuries. A female resident was killed and two other women injured in the juntas random attacks, the PDF group said. Military livestock unit raided in Magwe At least seven regime forces including two captains were killed and three others arrested in Pakokku Township, Magwe Region on Sunday when several PDF groups jointly raided the base of a military unit that handles livestock in the town of Myitchay, said Myaing-PDF, which was involved in the raid. The PDF group also released two civilians who were arrested along with the three junta forces in the clash. After the raid, the junta conducted air strikes on the town of Myitchay and more reinforcements were sent to the town from Pakokku. PDF photos show three detained soldiers and the bodies of dead regime soldiers along with firearms and ammunition. 25 regime forces killed in intense clash in Shan Mandalay-PDF group claimed to have killed 25 junta troops and injured many others as it mounted a defense against a large number of regime forces raiding PDF battalions in Naungcho Township, northern Shan State last Friday. After six hours of intense fighting, regime forces retreated from the area despite the junta also conducting air strikes to help its ground troops. In the clash, two resistance fighters were also killed. Junta suffers casualties in PDF attack in Mandalay At least 10 regime forces were killed in Madaya Township, Mandalay Region last Thursday when local PDF groups jointly attacked 30 junta troops heading to a village in the township, said Unicorn Guerrilla Forces, which joined the attack. PDF groups stopped the fight and retreated when 70 more reinforcements arrived at the clash site using civilian detainees as human shields, the PDF group said. Military checkpoint raided in Karen Six regime forces were killed on Saturday when the Albino Tiger Column, a PDF group formed by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), raided a military camp in Kawkareik Township, Karen State, claimed the PDF group. Three weapons and some ammunition were also seized from the junta camp. In the clash, two PDF fighters suffered minor injuries. Seven PDF fighters killed by junta troops in Sagaing Seven resistance fighters were killed in a junta ambush in Pale Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday, according to local media outlet Mandalay Free Press citing resistance groups. Six of the killed PDF fighters were from Daung Nat Guerrilla Force. Fighters from five PDF groups were ambushed by junta forces while scouting and planting mines to ambush a military detachment that has been raiding and torching houses in villages in nearby Salingyi Township, the media reports said. Junta troops burned five PDF fighters and two other members had their throats cut, a PDF official told the media. Military convoy ambushed in Sagaing A military vehicle was damaged in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday when two PDF groups used three land mines to ambush a military convoy of six vehicles, said PDF-South Monywa, which was involved in the ambush. Military casualties were unknown. The convoy was attacked while traveling from Monywa to Chaung-U. All PDF forces retreated without any casualties despite junta troops in the convoy opening fire at random. Regime vehicles attacked in Sagaing A vehicle is targeted with land mines by a PDF in Monywa last Friday. / Monywa Natsoe Many regime forces are thought to have been killed or injured in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region last Friday when Monywa-Natsoe PDF group used land mines to attack regime forces in vehicles outside the town, claimed the resistance group. It used land mines to target not only regime forces patrolling in a small vehicle, but also troops in a 12-wheeled vehicle. A PDF video shows a small vehicle being ambushed with a land mine. Regime forces torching houses attacked in Sagaing PDF fighters shell regime forces torching houses in a village in Salingyi Township last Thursday. / D.M.S.A Local resistance group Dar Ma Sai Army claimed to have killed four junta troops when it used improvised mortar shells to attack a military detachment of 100 troops including pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members torching houses in Ngwe Thar Village in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region last Thursday. A PDF video shows many improvised mortar shells being launched. All resistance fighters retreated from the area when regime forces responded with heavy explosives. Junta police ambushed in Sagaing Some police offices are believed to have been killed in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday morning when resistance group Peoples Army to Fight Dictatorship used firearms to ambush a vehicle carrying four police officers from Ywar Thit Gyi police outpost, said the PDF group. However, the driver managed to turn the police vehicle back as the PDF fighters weapons jammed. Military checkpoint attacked in Sagaing Freedom Revolution Force claimed it and other PDF groups jointly used two 40mm explosives to attack a military checkpoint at the Yadanar Pon Bridge in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday. Military casualties were unknown. Military personnel stationed at the checkpoint have been extorting money from civilians and have also tortured and killed civilians, the PDF group said. Pro-regime military camp occupied in Sagaing Taze PDF claimed it and other resistance groups managed to occupy a pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee military camp in the pro-regime village of Inkokkar Taze Township on Saturday night. Military troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia members were stationed at the camp. In the raid, six junta soldiers and nine pro-regime militia members were killed, claimed Taze-PDF. Also, a PDF fighter was killed in the clash. Military checkpoint seized by PDF groups in Sagaing A junta soldier was killed in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when four PDF groups raided a military checkpoint at Nyaung Kaing Village, said Khunhla Activists Group, a media wing of the PDF groups. PDF groups also conducted drone and artillery strikes on a checkpoint manned by junta soldiers and pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members before the raid. After four hours of fighting, the PDF groups managed to seize the base as regime forces fled. Analysis Junta Reshuffle Shows Nepotism Rules in Myanmar Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing stands in a car overseeing a military parade to mark Independence Day in Naypyitaw on January 4 this year. / AFP A reshuffle of the regimes cabinet on the two-year anniversary of the coup earlier this month saw the junta boss offering jobs for the boys. Most of the new appointees are ex-generals while some are also friends of Min Aung Hlaing. Nepotism has been a feature of Min Aung Hlaings leadership since he became military chief in 2011, with critics condemning a promotion policy that eschews merit in favor of connections. He appointed former Brigadier-General Khin Yi as immigration minister following the coup, before installing him late last year as head of the militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), a position critical for Min Aung Hlaings planned poll. The junta boss is related to Khin Yi by marriage. Min Aung Hlaing had also appointed former Colonel Wunna Maung Lwin as foreign minister. The ex-colonels wife Daw Lin Lin Tin is cousin to the juntas chiefs wife Kyu Kyu Hla. Wunna Maung Lwin was replaced earlier this month after the regime suffered increasing diplomatic isolation since the coup. Normally, he would have been forced to step down after his efforts failed to woo western countries including the US. But Min Aung Hlaing has reserved a seat for his relative by marriage in the regimes governing body, the State Administration Council. Another nepotistic appointment is former Major-General Maung Maung Ohn, who became the Information Minister. His daughter Ei Moh Moh Aung is close friends with the junta chiefs daughter, Khin Thiri Thet Min. New foreign minister U Wunna Maung Lwin was replaced by U Than Swe, who was part of the Defense Services Academy (DSA) 16th intake. He retired as a colonel in 2000. Than Swe was a long-time Myanmar diplomat, serving as ambassador to the United States under the previous regimes State Peace and Development Council and ex-general Thein Seins quasi-civilian government. As ambassador, he arranged for President Thein Seins visit to the US in 2012. U Thein Sein was accompanied on the trip by Presidents Office minister U Aung Min, U Soe Thane, and immigration minister U Khin Yi. The Burmese delegation visited the Washington D.C. headquarters of Radio Free Asia, where U Aung Min gave an interview stressing the importance of US support. Observers interpret Than Swes appointment as an attempt to rekindle ties with western countries including the US as the regime loses ground on the diplomatic front. Former military intelligence officer U Aung Ling Htut, who has been living in the US, believes the regime will find it almost impossible to re-engage with the US, partly because it has no intermediaries like the previous military regime did, and partly because the junta has become too close to Russia. Than Swe was assigned to lead the countrys anti-corruption commission last year before he was made the foreign minister on Feb. 1. As the anti-graft bodys chair, he is believed to have played a role in prosecuting civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on charges of corruption. Generals become ministers, chief ministers Former Brig-Gen Aung Thaw became minister of hotels and tourism in the reshuffle. He was a classmate of Min Aung Hlaing in the 19th intake of the DSA. He retired from the Navy after reaching the rank of Brig-General. He served as the deputy defense minister in the U Thein Sein government. He contested the 2020 general election in Yangons Cocokyun Township on a USDP ticket. He became Myanmar-Russia Friendship Association chairman following the 2021 coup and has accompanied the junta boss on his Russia trips. With no known experience in tourism, it will be interesting to see how he attempts to revive an industry devastated by the double impact of COVID-19 and the coup. Perhaps he has just been tasked with wooing Russian tourists to Myanmar. Four former lieutenant-generals who retired after reaching pensionable age following the coup have been appointed to senior positions in the Feb. 1 reshuffle, with three becoming chief ministers of Kayah (Karenni) and Shan states and Ayeyarwady Region and one becoming a Union minister. The latter is new Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Minister U Min Naung. He joined the 66th intake of Officer Training School before serving as chief of Eastern Central Command, chief of Bureau of Special Operations 4, and Military Inspector General. Following the coup, he was appointed secretary of the juntas National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee. The Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry became notorious for fringe benefits under the previous junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council. Since then, its ministers and directors-general have amassed huge wealth, with one director-general rumored to have become as rich as a crony and able to lend money to banks. The new Shan State chief minister, U Aung Zaw Aye, is a former lieutenant-general who led the Bureau of Special Operations 2. He oversaw military operations in Kayah and Shan state after the coup. Former Lt-Gen Zaw Myo Tin and former Lt-Gen air defense chief Tin Maung Win became chief ministers of Kayah State and Ayeyarwady Region respectively. Former Col Htein Lin, who served as Rakhine State security and border affairs minister in the U Thein Sein government, was appointed Rakhine State chief minister in the Feb. 1 reshuffle. In the two years since the coup, nearly 1,000 military personnel have been transferred to government departments. And more are expected to fill the ministries as military rule continues. There will also be more generals in the leadership. And there will undoubtedly be more nepotistic appointments and promotions for relatives and friends of Min Aung Hlaing and his family. Guest Column UN Agencies Must Help Myanmar's Civilians Dr. Rangaiyan Gurumurthy, country director of UNAIDS in Myanmar, presents his credentials to the juntas Foreign Minister Than Swe on February 9 in Naypyitaw. / MOFA UNAIDS has joined a list of United Nations agencies working with Myanmars junta while shunning the legitimate civilian National Unity Government (NUG). The agencies claim they are being pragmatic to address civilian humanitarian needs. But this is disingenuous. The existing approach leaves large numbers to shelter in camps or forests with insufficient food and healthcare. Myanmars citizens who are most in need are those specifically targeted by the regimes arson raids and airstrikes. And they are being abandoned by the international community. UN agencies access is restricted to areas where the junta will allow them to deliver aid. These international bodies have allowed the junta to weaponize aid, blocking off areas where the junta is attacking civilians and cutting aid. All UN agencies and international NGOs working in Myanmar should do a small moral and efficiency test by making a simple spreadsheet for 2022 showing their total budgets allocated for Myanmar. The next column could show how much was spent outside the country, paying for offices in New York, Geneva or London. Another column could show the cost of operations in Myanmar, including offices, cars, expat salaries, accommodation for foreign staff and travel to other regional offices set up since the 2021 coup. Additional costs for keeping most of the expat staff outside Myanmar since the 2021 coup should be added here. One column should show the wages paid to staff from Myanmar and the cost of aid deliveries to territory under junta control. The most important column should show money spent on delivering aid to liberated territory and territories that are the target of junta scorched-earth operations. A final column would show income left unspent because access to those in need has been blocked by the regime. An additional column could show money spent on training, online capacity-building and communication programs. International agencies often waste budget surpluses on training, online programs, consultancy fees and analytical papers. Comparing the total budget to the actual money spent on those outside junta control would expose an embarrassing imbalance. Open disclosure of UN and other NGO budgets would expose how little is being spent on those most in need. By refusing to engage with the NUG, UN agencies and other NGOs are failing Myanmar. People in Sagaing and Magwe regions and Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayah and Karen states tell me that UN agencies are failing to fulfill their briefs. Instead, they appease the junta in the hope that it will allow them to continue operating in a restricted manner. Foreign staff claim they are doing their best in a highly complex, restrictive and risky environment. But these are manipulative and self-interested claims. An alternative is possible and easy to do. Aid money should be divided into two pots: to be distributed by organizations operating with the junta and those delivering aid to non-junta territory. UN agencies, NGOs and civil society organizations accessing the second pot, with funds earmarked for aid deliveries in territories not controlled by the junta, must have offices outside Yangon and must not engage with the regime. They should also sign deals with the NUG and civilian structures allied to the ethnic armed organizations instead. Aid to regions outside junta control should be greater given the deeper need of people outside regime control. This alternative approach could provide resources and capacity for Myanmar-driven humanitarian resistance, harnessing contributions from Myanmars diaspora, which already provides the most aid and takes the highest risks. A simple division could unlock largely weaponized or paralyzed aid deliveries. The policy change might force the junta to lift its restrictions on aid because it will want to retain funding to affiliated agencies, like the Myanmar Red Cross. Igor Blazevic is a senior adviser at the Prague Civil Society Centre. Between 2011 and 2016 he worked in Myanmar as the head lecturer of the Educational Initiatives Program. Render says former Calix and Advanced Fibre Communications executive Omar Ramadan has joined the company as Vice President - Customer Operations, and Abby Gates, who previously held senior roles at Google, Attentive, Dynatrace, has been appointed as Vice President - People and Culture. Render says the appointments come as it grows its global headcount from over 30 team members in March 2022 to more than 75 employees globally -with the majority of the companys growth focused in the US, where a federal government-led endeavour to close the countrys digital divide has led to a substantial ramp in the number of fibre network deployments across the country. Render uses geospatial technology to streamline construction processes and reduce the cost of telco infrastructure deployments by up to 20%, utilising deployment best practices and technology learnt from several global telco rollouts, including Australias NBN rollout, and applying it to network build and operations projects. Render CEO Sam Pratt said: Billions are being spent in the US right now to bring world-class connectivity solutions to communities that have to date been left behind. Thanks to our expansion and focus on the US market over the past four years, Render is well established and positioned to enable operators and contractors to streamline the deployment of these networks and contribute meaningfully to bridging the digital divide. Initially, we found our technology was key in reducing the overall cost of fibre rollout projects. This is still the case. However with an abundance of funding for fibre rollouts in the US, the pain point now lies in effective and efficient deployment of both workers and materials in order to ensure these projects are delivered on time regardless of labour or resource constraints. Going into 2023, were doubling down on our US team and continuing to invest in product and platform innovation that will further differentiate our offering and drive incremental value for our customers. While talk of improving internet infrastructure has somewhat died down in Australia, it is very much a focus in Europe, North America and the developing world. Pratt said that Renders growth follows the company securing $40 million in investment from IFM Investors private equity Growth Fund in 2022, who also acquired a majority stake in the business. Last year, Render also announced that it assisted in the delivery of fast reliable internet to over one million premises around the globe and the company expects to more than double this run-rate within 12 months, as fibre projects across the United States ramp-up on the back of unprecedented levels of private and government backed infrastructure investment. Inheritor dedicated to passing on technique for making colorful lanterns in NW Chinas Shaanxi People's Daily Online) 10:10, February 13, 2023 Wang Pufang, an inheritor of the technique for making handmade colorful lanterns from Changan district, Xian city, northwest Chinas Shaanxi Province, has devoted her whole life to passing down the traditional craft. Wang Pufang shows a colorful lantern. (Chinanews.com/Gao Cheng) Making colorful lanterns is a Spring Festival custom in Paoli neighborhood of Changan district, and has been listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. I have made colorful lanterns every year for the past 70 years to pass on the technique and relive my childhood memories, Wang said. Wang explained that when she was a child, the older generations in her family produced colorful lanterns during the Spring Festival for children to play with. On the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which marks the end of the Spring Festival, the childrens lanterns were eventually lit symbolizing prosperity for the year ahead. Wang Pufang arranges paper flowers she made. (Chinanews.com/Gao Cheng) Wang also makes colorful lanterns for newlyweds in her village to express the wish that they will soon hear the patter of tiny feet and live happier lives. The big smiles on their faces make Wang believe that her years of devotion have been worthwhile. However, modern lanterns have taken the gloss off Wangs traditional colorful lanterns, and business has not been good. Wangs children have suggested adding modern elements to her lanterns to boost sales, but she refused. Wang explained that colorful lanterns represent her generations memories. When many elderly people came to buy my colorful lanterns, they recall their childhood memories and share interesting stories with me about their childhood, she added. Wang Pufang makes a rabbit-shaped colorful lantern. (Chinanews.com/Gao Cheng) For Wang, colorful lanterns are like books that record the customs and what life was like during her childhood. In order for more people to learn about the craft, Wang continues to sell traditional handmade colorful lanterns and teaches students in schools how to make them, allowing them to feel the unique charm of the intangible cultural heritage. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a ceremony at Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, Friday. Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Last Friday's ceremony to celebrate the sending of the first block from Hyundai Heavy Industries' (HHI's) reopened shipyard in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, has drawn attention due to the abrupt replacement of the event's emcee, rather than because of its importance for the southwestern region's economy. When the shipbuilder first began preparing for the ceremony, an announcer from Jeonju MBC was asked to emcee the event, which would be attended by President Yoon Suk Yeol, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang and North Jeolla Province Governor Kim Kwan-young. A day before the event, however, the announcer was replaced by a freelance announcer from Ulsan, who had previously emceed multiple events hosted by HHI and its parent, HD Hyundai. Jeonju MBC raised questions about the firm's decision, mentioning Yoon's previous conflict with the broadcaster's Seoul headquarters. The presidential office had banned an MBC reporter last year from boarding the presidential jet, claiming that the broadcaster had damaged the national interest by reporting fake news. In response, presidential spokesman Lee Do-woon reportedly told Jeonju MBC that the presidential office was irrelevant to the replacement, as the decision had been made by HHI. Amid the controversy, the ceremony was held on Friday afternoon as planned. HHI said that two 112-ton blocks for container ships were shipped to its Ulsan headquarters from its Gunsan shipyard, which resumed operation last October, five years after the shipbuilding industry recession caused its shutdown in 2017. The blocks will be used to build 15,600-TEU container ships in Ulsan, and the Gunsan shipyard will produce 100,000 tons of blocks this year to generate 180 billion won ($141 million) in revenue, according to the shipbuilder. "We will make efforts for the Gunsan shipyard to revitalize the Korean shipbuilding industry and the regional economy," HD Hyundai Chairman Kwon Oh-gap said. The presidential office also said in a statement that the reopening of the Gunsan shipyard will revitalize the regional economy, which has been sluggish since the closure of a GM Korea factory there. After several local news outlets reported the sudden replacement of the event's emcee, however, Yoon and the presidential office faced public criticism, prompting people to focus more on the political controversy than on the economic effect of the shipyard's resumed operation. 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. Medytox CEO Jung Hyun-ho, left, and Hugel CEO Sohn Ji-hoon / Yonhap By Baek Byung-yeul Medytox's legal win over Daewoong Pharmaceutical is expected to shake up the local botulinum toxin (BTX) market, as Medytox, Korea's first Botox developer, is also embroiled in a legal tussle with another competitor, Hugel in the United States, over the BTX strain used to manufacture the cosmetics treatment, according to the companies, Monday. On Friday, the Seoul District Court sentenced that Daewoong's BTX products were developed by stealing Medytox's BTX strains and manufacturing processes. The court ordered Daewoong to pay 40 billion won ($31.3 million) in compensation to Medytox and prohibited the company from producing and selling its BTX products. Medytox has claimed that Daewoong stole its BTX strains, which Daewoong refuted, saying it found its own BTX strain in a barn in Gyeonggi Province. The lawsuit ended in its favor, but Medytox still has another legal battle with Hugel. In March 2022, Medytox field a lawsuit with the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) against Hugel, its partner Croma-Pharma GmbH and their joint venture Hugel America, accusing them of stealing its BTX strains. Medytox claimed they are making BTX products by stealing its strains and manufacturing know-how. The preliminary ruling on this lawsuit is scheduled to be made in November and the final ruling will be out in March 2024. The legal victory over Daewoong was the result of the local court reflecting the USITC's ruling in 2020, in which the agency ordered a 21-month import ban on Daewoong's products into the U.S., according to Medytox. "Based on the local courts' ruling on Friday, we will continue making efforts to protect our patented technology," a spokesman of Medytox said. "We have been in a legal tussle with Hugel in the U.S. since March 2022. Currently, we don't have any plans to take further legal action against Hugel and are just waiting for the results of the lawsuit there." Regarding that, Hugel refuted the view that Medytox's win over Daewoong could affect its own lawsuit against Medytox in the U.S. "The lawsuit between Medytox and Daewoong Pharmaceutical is a dispute that has nothing to do with us. This cannot be an obstacle to the lawsuit with Medytox in the U.S.," Hugel said in a statement. "For over 20 years, we have been recognized for our research and development processes and were able to grow into a global company. The excellence of our technology and product are highly recognized both domestically and globally." The company added it will continue to solidify its market leadership in the domestic BTX market. The Russian journalist who grabbed the world's attention last year when she protested against the war in Ukraine on live television, described her "extraordinary" escape to France on Friday. Marina Ovsyannikova, who was facing 10 years in prison, fled Russia in October just before being sentenced. The former editor at Channel One made global headlines in March when she barged onto the set of its flagship Vremya (Time) evening news, holding a poster reading "No War". She was assisted in her escape by the France-based Reporters Without Borders, using seven different vehicles and walking across the border into a forest at night. "We had to navigate by the stars and it was a real challenge," she told a press conference at the RSF headquarters in Paris. "We were hiding from the lights of border guards and tractors that were circulating but we finally succeeded and reached the border." The 44-year-old mother of two, who had been under house arrest and had to cut through an electronic bracelet during her escape, said she had been reluctant to leave Russia. "It was still my country, even if war criminals have taken power, but they didn't give me a choice -- it was either prison or emigration," she said. French President Emmanuel Macron had offered Ovsyannikova asylum a day after her TV protest and she is now living between various safe houses in France with her daughter. "Of course I fear for my life. Each time I speak to my friends in Russia, they say 'What do you prefer -- Novichok, pollonium or a car crash?'" she said, referring to different assassination methods allegedly used by Russian security services. - 'I fear for my life' - Ovsyannikova said she had faced a very difficult childhood -- her family home in Chechnya destroyed during an earlier war there -- and that this had motivated her to protest against the invasion of Ukraine. "I was right in the middle of the bubble of propaganda," she said. "I searched for a way to pierce this bubble." Ovsyannikova faced criticism from some quarters for having supported state propaganda for years before her protest. She admitted she was knowingly complicit for years but buried her head in the sand, "taking refuge in daily life of friends and family" and was only shaken into action by the "enormous shock" of the war. She moved to Germany after her initial protest on TV but returned after three months and held a one-woman protest near the Kremlin, holding a poster that read "Putin is a murderer" which led to her arrest. The head of RSF, Christophe Deloire, said she had contacted them shortly before deciding to run. "It was an extraordinary escape," he said. "Her evasion makes one think of the most famous escapes across the Berlin Wall." Ovsyannikova said she lives in the hope of one day seeing Russia's leaders face a war crimes tribunal in The Hague. "I think this regime is living its last days but I don't know how long this war and regime will last. "But it must end with a total victory for Ukraine or there won't be any future for Russia," she said. A former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) is to go on trial for war crimes in the Hague this month, the special international court said on Friday. Pjeter Shala will be tried from February 21 on four counts of war crimes allegedly committed during the 1998-1999 independence conflict in Kosovo, when separatists KLA rebels fought forces loyal to then Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. Shala, who became known by the nickname Commander Wolf, was a local military commander with the ethnic Albanian KLA during the war, which followed the break-up of the former Yugoslavia and left 13,000 people dead. He is accused of crimes against civilians who were being held captive by the KLA at the Kukes Metal Factory in Albania. He faces charges of arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder. Shala will be tried before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC), a Kosovan court located in The Hague to try former KLA fighters for war crimes. It is financed by the European Union and has international judges. Shala was arrested in Belgium in 2021 and has denied wrongdoing. The court has investigated several former KLA commanders for possible war crimes. They include former KLA political commander Hashim Thaci, who dominated Kosovo politics after its independence from Serbia in 2008 and rose to become president of the tiny country. Thaci resigned in 2020 to face war crimes charges including organ trafficking. In December, the Kosovo tribunal in the Hague handed down its first verdict, a 26-year jail term for former rebel commander Salih Mustafa, who ran a torture centre. Seven police died Saturday in an ambush while traveling in a coca-growing valley in southern Peru, the national police said. The attack took place in La Convencion province in the Cusco region, in a wide valley known as VRAEM (the acronym stands for Valley of the Rivers Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro). The armed forces there have been fighting drug gangs and the remnants of the Shining Path leftist group for decades. "We regret the loss of our police brothers, who were ambushed when they were traveling in a police vehicle in the town center of Natividad in #Vraem, where 7 police officers have died and one police officer has survived," the national police said on Twitter. In August 2022, the Peruvian Army claimed to have seriously injured Shining Path leader Victor Quispe Palomino, or "Comrade Jose," in an operation against "terrorist camps." A year and a half earlier, in January 2021, the Peruvian military dealt a severe blow to the guerrillas -- known in Spanish as the Sendero Luminoso -- by killing in the VRAEM the group's number two, a man known as "Comrade Raul," one of the most wanted men in Peru and a brother of Comrade Jose. Almost all Shining Path leaders are dead or imprisoned, but their remnants number some 350 members, 80 of whom are armed. The Maoist group emerged in 1980 when it launched a "people's war" against the government. The ensuing two decades of clashes with the army left a toll of 69,000 dead and missing, according to the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I've been harvesting mushrooms for 50 years, and back in 2010, with a friend who now lives in Germany, we looked at that map. Since 2010, they have been indicating that there were some military buildings there. Since 2010, for 12 years, this has been in the open. How can this harm the Yavoriv training facility if this is public information? My friend asked me to tell his friends where I pick mushrooms, and I sent [the map] to him, Oleksandr Kostornyi told reporters after one of the hearings before the Galician District Court of Lviv, Western Ukraine. On March 13, 2022, Russia fired missiles at the Yavoriv military training facility, 50km west of Lviv, near the border of Ukraine with Poland, killing 61 people and injuring 160 others. 72-year-old Kostornyi is now accused of coordinating the missile strikes on the Yavoriv military facility by passing information to representatives of the Russian Federation. On February 8, prosecutor Andriy Nikerui presented the indictment to him. He is charged with high treason. According to the prosecution, Kostornyi began helping Russia on March 4, 2022. He allegedly sent a map of the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security [known as the Yavoriv military training facility] via Telegram with marked places for missile strikes (barracks, dormitories). Kostornyis friends Kostornyi's friend whom he sent the map to turned out to be a former Lviv resident, Oleksandr Svystunov, who is now holding Russian citizenship and has been living in the annexed Crimea since 2014. Svystunov is one of the founders of the currently sanctioned party "Russian Bloc" and the Ukrainian public organization "Russian Movement of Ukraine". According to the prosecution, Kostornyi also sent a map of the training facility with information about the location of military personnel and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to a current FSB [Russian intelligence services] operative Yuriy Vodolazkyi, who signs as "Igor Vodolazov". "He provided Vodolazkyi with information about the possible location of foreigners at school No. 52 in Lviv, and on the same day he passed on information about the accommodations for the refugees on the territory of the SKA stadium, at 39a Kleparivska Street," the indictment reads. Until 1990, Kostornyi served as a major in the Department of External Surveillance in the State Security Committee of the former USSR. He graduated from the KGB Higher Red Banner School in Moscow. In 2002-2010, he campaigned for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as a member of the pro-Russian Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Natalia Vitrenko's People's Opposition Party, and the Communist Party of Ukraine. Kostornyi was also an avid user of the Russian social network Moi Mir. His page suggested that he was very nostalgic for the Soviet Union and sympathetic to Russia: he would regularly put likes under images of Russian landscapes and Russian symbols. After the full-scale Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022, Kostornyi supported posts containing Russian propaganda and denigration of the Ukrainian army. What am I suffering for? Outside court though, Kostornyi explained to journalists that he had only sent a friend a map of the fishing and hunting grounds to show him where he was picking mushrooms. He said that he did not know the FSB officer Vodolazhskiy and that he had sent the information to him because his friend Svystunov asked him to send the map to a backup e-mail address. I was given an address, and I backed up onto it. Look, I didn't know and don't know this person [Vodolazkyi]. [Svystunov] said, if there is no connection or any problem, here is a backup email address. My guilt has not been proven, but I am being taunted now. I was accused of something I did not do. It's a taunting, 8 months. What am I suffering for? I am an elderly man. You can even see it in my voice when I speak now, my voice is trembling. I'm being driven up the wall. What for? Because I have been working for Ukraine for almost 30 years? I was working to ensure the rule of law here," Kostornyi complained. His lawyer believes that Kostornyi's guilt is not confirmed by any evidence provided by the prosecutor. The defense has repeatedly asked the court to change the custody measure to a house arrest in vain. Where would I escape to? I have four daughters and six grandchildren who need my help. My wife nearly died twice, an ambulance had to be called," the accused said. There were a lot of KGB officers, should we blame them all? Kostornyi repeatedly emphasizes that he has been fighting for human rights in Ukraine for three decades. He wears the badge of the International Society for Human Rights on his jacket lapel. Andriy Sukhorukov is the 80-year-old vice-president of this organization and he attended the court hearing as a visitor. He told Sudovyi Reporter that he had known the accused for about 30 years and that they had founded the organization in 1993. I am the head of the human rights organization International Society for Human Rights, and Oleksandr Kostornyi still works on the board of this organization. It is beyond comprehension that he would hate people so much that he would want to destroy them. Didn't he realize what these actions would lead to? He did. Therefore, I believe that this is some kind of fake, something like that. They had to put someone in jail, and they found a scapegoat. There was no such thing. He was a KGB officer, as we say, but so what? There were a lot of KGB officers. There was a whole army of KGB. So what, should we blame them all for any events? I would not do that, Sukhorukov said. Kostornyi is still listed as the head of the Pushkin Russian Society, that has founded the Lviv Russian Drama Theater. He tells journalists that he has not met with his former KGB colleagues since the end of USSR. He has ambivalent recollections of the end of his KGB service: I didn't end it, I wrote a kind of resignation letter. But in fact, my superiors gave me the task to create an association of detective services in the USSR and prepare the relevant legislation. Lviv University was halfway through preparing the documents, which were called the Law on Non-State Detective and Search Activities. But you know the events of 1990, the Soviet Union collapsed and the law was not adopted, although it was supposed to be reviewed by the Supreme Council of the USSR. Due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, after 24 years of service, I became unemployed at the age of 42. But I continued to work in the field of detective work. In Russia, this law was passed, but in Ukraine, unfortunately, it still does not exist. "Grandma, it's over, Romka is gone" Ms. Maria, mother of the 52-year-old soldier Roman Pyuryk, comes to court hearings as a visitor. Her son Pyuryk served as a sanitary instructor in the military town of Nemyriv. He joined Ukraines Armed Forces as a volunteer on February 28, 2022. It wasnt the first time, as he had already fought for Ukraine in 2014. Two days before the shelling of the Yavoriv training facility, Pyuryk let his mother know that he was fine. He called his brother and sent photos. Ms. Maria recalls how she learned about the shelling: My granddaughter called, she lives not far from there. She said: "Grandma, it's over, Romka is gone". She said that a missile struck and that they all died. Ms Maria shows a photo of her son Roman Pyuryk, who joined the Ukrainian army and disappeared in a missile attack on his training centre on 13 March 2022. Sudovyi Reporter Ms. Maria went to the training facility twice, but she was not allowed to enter the grounds. The boys, the ones who went there [to] collect those bones, they said to me: "Aunty Maria, there was blood there, the bricks were all covered in blood. Her son leaves behind two children. Officially, he is still considered a missing person. The woman says she comes to court to find out whether Kostornyi will be punished. She repeatedly appealed to the accused, telling him about the deaths of the soldiers at the training facility. Kostornyi replied that he had nothing to do with it. On February 8, Ms. Maria was anxiously showing a photo of her son to him. On February 14, the court will start examining physical evidence in the case. Kostornyi faces up to 15 years in prison. This report is part of our coverage of war crimes justice produced in partnership with Ukrainian journalists. A first version of this article was published on the "Sudovyi Reporter" website. United Nations rights experts called Monday on the world community to act to stop a dramatic surge in Israel's "systematic and deliberate" demolition of Palestinian housing. In the month of January alone, Israeli authorities reportedly demolished 132 Palestinian structures across 38 communities in the occupied West Bank, including 34 residential structures, the three independent experts said in a statement. The Special Rapporteurs for rights in the Palestinian Territory, the right to adequate housing and the rights of internally displaced people, said the demolitions marked a 135-percent increase compared to January 2022. The figures are based on those of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "The systematic demolition of Palestinian homes, erection of illegal Israeli settlements and systematic denial of building permits for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank amounts to 'domicide'," they said. In late 2022, the Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, called for "domicide" -- defined as the massive, arbitrary destruction of civilian housing in violent conflict -- to be recognised as a crime under international law. "Direct attacks on the Palestinian people's homes, schools, livelihoods and water sources are nothing but Israel's attempts to curtail the Palestinians' right to self-determination and to threaten their very existence," the experts said in Monday's statement. The experts, who are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations, reiterated their concern over the situation in the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta villages. They warned that more than 1,100 Palestinian residents there remained at "imminent risk of forced eviction, arbitrary displacement and demolitions of their homes, livelihood, water and sanitation structures." "Israel's tactics of forcibly displacing and evicting the Palestinian population appear to have no limits," they said. "In occupied East Jerusalem, tens of Palestinian families also face imminent risks of forced evictions and displacement, due to discriminatory zoning and planning regimes that favour Israeli settlement expansion - the act that is illegal under international law and amounts to a war crime." The experts' statement came a day after Israel's security cabinet announced it would legalise nine settlements in the occupied West Bank following a series of attacks in east Jerusalem. More than 475,000 Israelis reside in settlements in the West Bank, where 2.8 million Palestinians live. "Money Heist Korea" actress Jeon Jong Seo's father passes away after battling a long-term illness. In line with this, the actress' agency released a statement about Jeon Jong Seo's activities and schedule changes. Jeon Jong Seo Laments Father's Demise After fighting a life-long illness, "Money Heist Korea" actress Jeon Jong Seo's father has passed away. On February 12, Jeon Jong Seo's agency, ANDMARQ, stated that the actress will be the chief mourner to her father's wake with her family. Because of this, Jeon Jong Seo's scheduled activities are rearranged and pushed back until further notice. Jeon Jong Seo also posted a message on her Instagram account, saying, "Dad, I will pray for your soul. I love you." The actress recently posted a message on her Instagram account, saying "Dad, I will pray for you every day, I love you." On the other hand, the funeral will be held quietly with Jeon Jong Seo's family and close acquaintances at the funeral hall of Asan Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea. In addition to that, Jeon Jong Seo's long-time boyfriend, movie director Lee Chung Hyun, is also listed as a chief mourner along with the actress. The staff and writers in KDramaStars convey their deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Jeon Jong Seo's Upcoming Film 'Ballerina' More Jeon Jong Seo made her debut in 2018 with the film "Burning," and has starred in high scale projects including "The Call," "Nothing Serious" and "Money Heist Korea: Joint Economic Area." This 2023, she is set to make her silver screen comeback with the upcoming film "Ballerina" with "Money Heist Korea" co-star Kim Ji Hoon. "Ballerina" is an upcoming revenge thriller written and directed by Lee Chung Hyun, Jeon Jong Seo's partner and "The Call" director. It follows the life of Ok Joo, a former bodyguard equipped with martial arts and sword fighting skills who avenges her ballerina friend Min Hee. In the movie, Jeon Jong Seo plays the role of Ok Joo. With her gravity-defying stunts and acting in "Money Heist Korea," fans couldn't wait to see the actress in another exhilarating role. Meanwhile, Kim Ji Hoon, who took on the role of Denver in "Money Heist Korea," transforms into Pro Choi, the man who Ok Joo is set to kill. Rookie actress Park Yoo Rim also joins the cast as Min Hee, Jeon Jong Seo's only friend. The film began its principal filming in June 2022, which lasted until October 2022. Thankfully, the film has already finished its production process, especially now that Jeon Jong Seo and director Lee Chung Hyun will be busy at the actress' father's funeral. On the other hand, "Ballerina" is scheduled to air in the second quarter of the year, and it will be available on Netflix for worldwide viewers. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Fans of Yoo Ah In plan to take legal action after the actor got involved in drug-related issues. On February 9, the actor's agency, United Artists Agency (UAA), responded to reports about the actor's alleged use of propofol. In a brief statement, the label confirmed that the "Seoul Vibe" star is being investigated for habitual use of the sedative drug known as propofol, which is only used in a hospital setting. Despite the ongoing probe, the talent management said that the top star is "actively cooperating in all investigations," adding that they also "plan to proactively address the aspects that are a problem." While the investigation is still in process, fans called out the investigation for "violating human rights." According to a media outlet, Yoo Ah In's supporters doubt the real intention of the probe. Did Authorities Violate Yoo Ah In's Rights? As noted by a report, Yoo Ah In Gallery raised that the authorities are violating the actor's human rights by releasing details about the investigation and are out in the open through news reports and social media. "Although Yoo Ah In has always been in the public's attention as a celebrity, isn't it unreasonable that the investigation process is disclosed through the media?", fans mentioned. With this, some "strongly suspect" that Yoo Ah In's drug case is being highlighted to "divert public attention away from the political problems." Following this, fans see no choice but to protect the actor and will take legal action on the ground of serious defamation. Apart from the planned lawsuit, the fan community also raised that they wanted Yoo Ah In to address the issue. They urged the South Korean star, who is known to "expressed extraordinary beliefs and philosophies about his life" to speak up. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Yoo Ah In Being Canceled by Brands Amid Drug Investigation? Here's What Happened Regarding the actor's involvement in the case, United Artists Agency (UAA) is yet to confirm whether the allegation is true or not. However, authorities released updates regarding the actor's test. Yoo Ah In's Drug Test Result: Actor Tested Positive for Marijuana Days after the news broke, Yoo Ah In's drug test result came in, and tested positive for marijuana. Like propofol one major effect of marijuana is giving a user an experience of a pleasant euphoria and sense of relaxation. Some common effects include altered perception, heightened sensory, especially with brighter colors, and increased appetite. As for his hair strand test, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency released a press conference updating the public regarding the actor's pending tests. In a report, authorities said that National Forensic Service (NFS) will take 2 to 3 weeks to release the result. To recall, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's drug crime investigation team collected urine and hair samples after Yoo arrived from the United States on February 5. On the other hand, while the probe is ongoing, the actor is barred from leaving the country. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Ontario Premier Doug Ford listens to members of the media during a press conference in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Ford believes the federal government will accept his recommendations on sustainability of a new health-care deal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby 3 Shares Share Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, were joined by Peter T. Hetzler, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, to discuss the importance of the hand in human identity and expression. In the U.S. private sector, hand injuries were the second most common workplace injury in 2019. They often significantly impact a persons livelihood and ability to express themselves. Well explore the connections between hand injuries and mental health, the role of hand gestures in communication, and how treating hand injuries must involve a focus on mental illness and coping strategies. This is a conversation you wont want to miss if youre interested in understanding the significance of our hands in our daily lives. Peter T. Hetzler is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, The impact of hand surgery on human identity and expression. 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/M9mTe4 Powered by CMEfy. 16 Shares Share We are over 25 years apart in our careers. One of us began her medical career in a time before the internet and email. The other is a digital native. Remarkably, though, our experiences have been very similar in one respect. We have spoken with colleagues who decided to avoid seeking care for their mental health concerns. Why? Due to fears that this type of medical care might adversely impact their careers. In 1998, I (RK) spoke with a physician colleague who had developed clinical depression and refused to seek treatment. I cant take the risk; what if they wont allow me to be a doctor anymore? In 2022, I (AT) had a long conversation with one of my premed colleagues who struggled with social anxiety. I know I need treatment, but I dont want to risk medical schools finding out and rejecting me. Why are we still having these same conversations when medicine has advanced so significantly in the last quarter century? And especially when the house of medicine is in agreement on certain core principles: Doctors should be allowed to seek medical care. Doctors should be encouraged to seek medical care. Doctors should be able to access the same high-quality care they provide. Why are doctors still hesitant to seek medical care for their mental health? One major reason is regulation. Unfortunately, doctors in many states encounter systemic barriers to care in the form of licensure questions. The types of questions asked during the licensing process have been shown to vary significantly across different states. For example, many states ask questions that stigmatize current (or even previous mental health treatment) when it has no impact on the physicians ability to provide high-quality care. Although some states have made progress in removing these questions, others have not made any progress. Take these credentialing questions from two different states. Massachusetts: Do you have a medical or physical condition that currently impairs your ability to practice medicine? Alaska: 25 mental health questions are asked, including Have you ever been diagnosed with, treated for, or do you currently have followed by a list of 14 mental health conditions, including depression, seasonal affective disorder, and any condition requiring chronic medical or behavioral treatment. There are real consequences in states where invasive and stigmatizing mental health questions are still used. Physicians experiencing mental health problems report being reluctant to seek treatment to avoid disclosure. Surveys have found that 39 percent of physicians report being afraid, or knowing other physicians who are afraid, to seek mental health treatment owing to the questions on licensure applications. The Physician Burnout and Depression Report from Medscape reports that 43 percent of responding physicians reported that they would not seek help for emotional distress to avoid disclosure to medical boards. Another survey found that 50 percent of reporting physicians reported experiencing symptoms of burnout and were reluctant to seek mental health care if they had to report it on applications for licensure renewal. In its efforts to remove barriers to physicians receiving medical care, the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation has focused on state-by-state efforts to remove such damaging questions. They and others have done a remarkable job of effecting change in just a few years. According to their website, 19 out of the 50 states in America have adopted less stigmatizing approaches to mental health. These recommended approaches include: Removing questions that ask about mental health diagnoses (Some states have incorporated this recommendation by asking about impairment as opposed to diagnosis) Combining physical and mental health into one question Using more supportive language about mental health Furthering these efforts is important and urgent. It has been well-established that burnout, depression, and anxiety have a high prevalence in the medical professionespecially following the pandemic. Tragically, an estimated 300 to 400 physicians die by suicide every year, while many more continue to suffer from treatable conditions. Although the statistics are alarming, relatively minor changes to the licensure process can make a major difference in terms of physicians feeling comfortable seeking medical care. We can all contribute by contacting our legislators, especially if you live in Alaska or any of the other 31 states that use invasive and stigmatizing language about mental health. Beyond advocating for regulatory changes, we can continue educating our pre-medical students, medical students, residents, and physician colleagues about current state law and licensing requirements. We can also encourage our colleagues to seek treatment when needed, providing information on organizations that provide confidential medical care. With so much progress in medical therapies over the last quarter-century, we look forward to the time when the providers of care canfinallyfully avail themselves of these advances without fear of stigma or undue consequences. Alexandra Townsley is an incoming medical student. Rajani Katta is a dermatologist and author of Conquer the Medical School Interview and The Successful Match. 3 Shares Share In the wake of Tyre Nicholss murder, I find myself wanting to hold onto my Black son a little tighter. He is 7. Young enough to still be deemed cute by some, but old enough to not be given as much grace for simply being a kid by others. Sometimes I spoil him a bit more than Id like to. Its only really because even though I know technically hes a kid until age 18, he really has a year, maybe two depending on how tall he gets to be seen as a kid in others eyes. He is layered like everyone else. Smart as a whip, and he is not afraid to challenge anyone. Hes got his fathers wit and my curiosity. He surprises me with his ability to see things that I sometimes miss. He is sweet, sensitive, kind, and a lover of all things Legos. He fights with his younger sister but would defend her with all of his heart if he had to. He throws tantrums and cries when he doesnt get his way with his father or me. He gets frustrated. Hes a kid. Hes a young Black boy that will one day grow into a young Black man. Hes a young Black boy that I pray will one day grow into a young Black man. A young Black man who grows into the type of old Black man who has stories for days because he has lived a full life. That is the common thread that we all share. We all want to live full lives. We all want to see dreams not get deferred. We all just want to be seen. All layers. At all times. Nobody ever wants to always be seen as the villain. And nobody gets the right to always be the victim. Let us all do our best to see someones child in the eyes of the next person we disagree with or feel uncomfortable around. More grace. Less hate. Margaret Towolawi is a family physician. A tide of people flooded Madrid on Sunday in protest against the ongoing collapse of Madrids public health system due to privatisation and cutbacks by the right-wing Ayuso government. One million people took part, according to the organisers. Read the original in Spanish | The police estimate of 250,000 people was some 50,000 more than in the previous mobilisation on 13 November. Mass protests also took place in Galicia, and Castile and Leon both also governed by the right. As in November, four columns set off from the North, East, West and South of the capital. An hour and a half into the marches, which had barely advanced more than a few hundred metres, and some protesters were already returning from the central meeting point of Plaza de Cibeles, such was its scale. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia up to 50,000, according to the organisers to protest against the health policy of the right-wing regional government. Like its counterpart in Madrid, it is hell-bent on slashing the public health system. In Burgos, which is also governed by the Peoples Party (PP) and Vox, there was a mass protest of 11,000 people against cuts in primary care. Similar protests have been called or announced in Navarre, Aragon and Valencia these last three being governed by the Socialist Party (PSOE). Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Santiago de Compostela / Image: Xoan A Soler However, the struggle is taking on its greatest significance and intensity in Madrid. The question is: how did we get here? How did the concerns of working families over Madrids public healthcare system result in over a million people taking to the streets in the space of just three months? The data overwhelmingly points to the deteriorating state of Madrid's public healthcare system. The average time to obtain a primary care appointment, for instance, has risen to nine days. Madrid is the community with the lowest public health spending per inhabitant. Of the 78 out-of-hospital emergency centres in Madrid before the pandemic, only 24 have opened their doors in the last month (and even then, with insufficient staff). Primary care workers have to attend to up to 70 patients per day (international organisations recommend a maximum of 25 per day). Spending on private healthcare services is constantly increasing. Further figures and examples could be reproduced at will. We cannot forget the horrific scandal of the 7,291 elderly people left to die in the cruellest conceivable way in the care homes in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic; nor the scandal of seven construction companies pocketing 160 million for a useless hospital (the Zendal hospital); nor the fact that Ayusos brother pocketed 283,000 during the worst of the pandemic for acting as an intermediary in the purchase of masks. All the while, everything resembling a public service has been put under the hammer in waves of privatisation. Could we expect otherwise than for this to galvanise a fight against Ayuso and all those who have helped cement her policies? But it is not just a question of healthcare, nor of blaming a group of villainous individuals for the present problems. This is not merely the fault of incompetent or corrupt politicians, nor does it merely affect Madrid (as the nationwide mobilisations over healthcare showed). Rather, it is the result of pure, unadulterated capitalism, when no struggle is launched to stop it in its tracks. But in the last few months, this much-needed fightback has exploded onto the scene, and in the fiercest imaginable way, with the support of the people, the assemblies of the working-class neighbourhoods, and by healthcare workers in struggle. This contempt for Ayuso must be converted (where it has not already done so) into contempt for capitalism. Simply bringing Ayuso down would be insufficient. This struggle cannot limit itself to fighting to bring her down alone, but must grow over into a struggle to reverse her policies and advance further from there. It is a gratifying sight to see this contempt and anger, not only inspiring chants on demonstrations, but reaching a point where hundreds of thousands of working families now see the likes of Ayuso as little more than the parliamentary face of a system that creates endless horror. These demonstrations show that capitalism has filled the cup of the masses anger to the point of overflow. The product is what we see before us: this struggle, being waged by at least 93 neighbourhood assemblies; by health workers (many of whom, like family doctors and paediatricians, have been on strike since November); and by working families, coming out in mass demonstrations like those on 23 November, and again on Sunday. Comrades from the IMT participated in the march in Madrid / Image: Lucha de Clases The mobilisations must continue. At the end of yesterdays demonstration, further actions were, in fact, announced, including the likelihood of a new demonstration on Sunday 26 March. Let us bring Ayuso down in the streets we have the necessary structures. Working families are fed up and organised. We can do this. Let us continue the struggle until every privatisation measure is reversed; until the privately run hospitals are expropriated; until the money that was being funnelled into private pockets is invested in new jobs for healthcare assistants, nurses, doctors, etc., with decent salaries and conditions for all. Wherever there is a clash of forces on the street, we see the most extraordinary superiority of forces are on the side of the working class, the left and for radical social change, against the ridiculous forces of reaction. It is enough to compare the hundreds of thousands who came out yesterday in Madrid and all those attending were actually from the Community of Madrid against the 30,000 or 40,000 that the right-wing PP-Vox-Ciudadanos grouped together on 22 January in the Plaza de Colon, in a mobilisation that had been prepared for two months and which drew people from all over Spain! But this overwhelming superiority of forces in our favour is not just a question of numerical strength, important as that might be. It is also a question of social composition. On one side, we have all that is alive, vibrant and productive in society: the working class, which creates all the wealth and on which the day-to-day functioning of society vitally depends. We have the healthy and enthusiastic youth on our side, and the forces of progress in culture and science. On the other side are the bloodsuckers, the parasites and rentiers; the large, medium and small landowners who live off the labour of others, the crows of the Church, the oppressors with their truncheons and robes, and all the dark forces of backwardness and ignorance. The struggle for public healthcare must become the banner that brings the whole working class to its feet firstly to throw out the right wing, but also as an emblem of the limits of capitalism and its inability to solve societys problems. A decent and quality public healthcare system is incompatible with the continued payment of 31 billion by the central government to the banks and vulture funds that profit from the public debt; or with the 48 percent increase in military spending that weve seen since Sanchez arrived at the Moncloa Palace [the prime ministers residence]; or with the low tax regime that exists for the banks and big business, which starves social spending. Today we are fighting in Madrid for decent, quality public health care, and to eject Ayuso and the right wing from the government of the Community of Madrid. But there is a deeper problem: capitalist society is set up so that big business and the bankers profit from the labour of the working class, and then we pay even to merely breathe. We must throw them all out. Irish Water, in partnership with Kilkenny County Council, have confirmed that a boil water notice has been reinstated to those supplied by Clogh-Castlecomer Public Water Supply - approximately 3,300 customers. This is necessary due to elevated turbidity impacting the treatment processes at the water treatment plant. Areas impacted include Clogh, Moneenroe, Castlecomer and surrounding areas. Customers can check if their property is included by visiting our Water Quality page and entering the propertys Eircode or by calling the Irish Water customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. A map of the area is attached and available to view on the supply and service section of our website. Drinking water experts from Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council are working to rectify the turbidity issues at the treatment plant and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to continue to boil water before use until further notice. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. Water must be boiled for: Drinking; Drinks made with water; Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating; Brushing of teeth; Making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water. For further information please contact Irish Water web site www.water.ie What actions should be taken: Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads); Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling; Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink; Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water; Preparing Infant Formula: Where a Boil Water Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute) and cooled beforehand. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as Natural Mineral Water as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. Natural Mineral Water can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated. If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute), and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used. Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children. Updates are available on Irish Water's Supply and Service Updates section, on Twitter @IWCare and via Irish Water's customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Merck Foundation launch MARS Best African Woman Researchers Awards annually to empower and acknowledge women in science; Merck Foundation empowers African Women in the areas of Science and Technology through providing 650 scholarships to female doctors out of 1470 scholarships. Merck Foundation recently conducted MARS Awards Ceremony with African Union and 11 African Ministers announced MARS Best African Women Researchers and Young African Researchers Awards winners; Merck Foundation also announced the Call for Applications for Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit MARS Awards 2023 to empower Women and Youth in STEM in Africa with special focus on scientific research in Women Health and Infertility & Reproductive Health. Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, marks International Day of Girls and Women in Science 2023 together with African First Ladies through their Merck Foundation STEM Program and Educating Linda program. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, We at Merck Foundation mark International Day of Girls and Women in Science 2023 by supporting and empowering women in the areas of Science and Technology. Even though women have made tremendous participation and progress in career, there is still under-representation of women in these fields. We aim to bridge the gender-inequality gap and enable women to participate equally in the areas of Science and Technology. We have also launched MARS Awards to appreciate and recognize Best African Women Researchers and Best Young African Researcher. Our aim is to empower women and young African researchers, advance their research capacity and promote their contribution to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej further emphasized, In partnership with my dear sisters, African First Ladies, we have been transforming the patient care landscape in Africa by providing medical training to young doctors in many critical medical specialties. Out of the total 1470 scholarships provided, more than 650 scholarships have been provided to female medical graduates. This is close to 45% of the total beneficiaries, which is a great milestone for us. Every year, Merck Foundation conducts Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit- MARS in partnership with African Governments and African Union Scientific. This years MARS will be in partnership with International Federation of Fertility Societies -IFFS, Africa Reproductive Care Society ARCS, Manipal University and African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission. MARS brings together researchers and policy makers from across Africa to prepare for the road ahead in Africas development as an international hub for excellence in scientific innovation and define interventions to empower women and youth through education in general and in STEM in particular. Merck Foundation also announced the Call for Applications for their prestigious Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards 2023. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Showers in the morning, then becoming windy with a steady rain in the afternoon. High near 50F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Rain showers early with overcast skies late. Low around 35F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible. Vistara, Indias finest full-service carrier and a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, will commence five weekly flights to Mauritius effective 26 March 2023. Vistara will be using the recently inducted A321LR NEO, which offers 12 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats and 152 Economy seats. The announcement was made on Wednesday 8 February 2023 by Hon. Louis Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning and Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Mauritius at a Gala Dinner hosted by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority in Delhi. I am delighted to have had the privilege to announce the start of operations of five weekly Vistara flights from 26 March 2023 to the travel trade in India yesterday evening, ahead of the official announcement today, says Steven Obeegadoo. Vistaras flights will complement those of Air Mauritius to and from India. And provide the much-needed capacity on the route as we grow exchanges between India and Mauritius, including tourism, to a next level. The Gala Dinner was organised in collaboration with SATTE Delhi 2023 (South Asias Travel & Tourism Exchange), South Asias leading tourism fair and was graced by the presence of Vistara senior management, including the CEO, Mr Vinod Kannan and the travel trade. A delegation of some 30 Mauritian industry professionals as well as heads of travel trade associations, luminaries from the travel industry and top tour operators were also in attendance. We are delighted to announce the addition of Mauritius, the scenic island country, to our constantly expanding global network. Besides being a popular tourist destination, the Republic of Mauritius is an important business hub and home to many global financial institutions, says Mr Kannan. Given the strong cultural ties, trade and bilateral relations between India and Mauritius, this new route will further aid the growing traffic between the two countries. We are confident that travellers will appreciate our world-class product and thoughtful services on this route along with convenient, direct access to and from the island nation. Air connectivity is a key component of tourism and DPM Obeegadoo stoutly spoke about his firm belief that tourist arrivals from India will cross the 100,000 mark in the coming years. He also highlighted the continuous efforts of Air Mauritius, with plans to operate 2 weekly flights to Delhi from May 2023, in addition to the current 6 weekly flights to Mumbai. Furthermore, DPM Obeegadoo emphasised that the presence of India and Mauritius on the UNWTO Executive Council will be instrumental in charting a new course for world tourism around key pillars like sustainability, resilience and inclusiveness. He also expressed his gratitude for this fruitful collaboration. The Mauritian delegation will be present at the 29th edition of SATTE at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR from Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 February 2023. The event is recognised as Asias leading travel and tourism exhibition to conduct business, share knowledge, exchange ideas in order to arrive at solution-driven innovations to accelerate the pace of the growth of the industry. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The board will also hear a presentation about the Kindness Club at Gentry Middle School. North Korea has "expanded and reorganized" many of its military units in accordance with new security situations, assigning operational combat missions to them, state media said Monday. The report came after North Korea held a massive military parade last week to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army (KPA), displaying intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and other advanced weaponry, as well as new military units. "Many units of services and arms of the KPA have been expanded and reorganized, major operational combat duties assigned to them" as required by new situations and changed strategic and tactical missions of overall units, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, without specifying in what way military units have been expanded. In an English-language statement, the KCNA said the North has redesigned the colors of military units, which "fully demonstrated their dignity and honor at the military parade" to celebrate the KPA anniversary. The North earlier pledged to expand and intensify military drills and "perfect" its war readiness posture in response to Seoul-Washington's joint military exercises involving strategic assets. Military parade photos carried by state media last week showed one of the military colors having a picture of the Hwasong-17 ICBM and the numbers 2022.11. This has spawned speculation that the North may have created a unit in charge of ICBM operations in November last year. The colors of the Missile General Bureau were detected during the military event, after being unveiled for the first time at a party military meeting early last week. The KCNA also reported the parade featured columns of "specialist service persons including the 191 Command Intelligence Brigade." Observers said the unit appears to be in charge of the North's communications and intelligence, with the secretive regime vowing to put a spy satellite into orbit by April. (Yonhap) South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong speaks to reporters after arriving in Washington for talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Feb. 12. Yonhap South Korea and Japan are continuing to consult on ways to resolve their differences over how to resolve the issue of Japan's wartime forced labor, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong said Sunday. Cho made the remarks after arriving in Washington for a trilateral meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori, as well as bilateral talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts. "We have been consulting for quite some time now, so there are areas where we have narrowed our differences and areas that we have not been able to," he told reporters. "We would like to reach a conclusion at an early date but cannot definitely say when it will be concluded at this point," Cho added. Seoul unveiled a plan last month to compensate victims of Japan's wartime forced labor through a public foundation, an alternative to direct compensation to the victims from Japanese firms that had put Korean workers into forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea. The victims and their family members, however, have rejected the idea, calling for Japan's sincere apology and direct involvement of the Japanese companies in the compensation process. "I expect the forced labor issue will likely top the agenda of the bilateral talks with Vice Foreign Minister Mori," said Cho. "However, many consultations are underway and it is hard to predict when we will be able to reach a conclusion." With regard to his three-way meeting with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, set to be held Monday, Cho said the countries will discuss regional and global issues such as North Korea's evolving nuclear threat and the war in Ukraine. "Strengthening U.S. extended deterrence against North Korea's evolving threat is a joint objective of South Korea and the U.S., and so we will continue to hold consultations to that end," he said. (Yonhap) Chinese community in Syria donates quake-relief aid to Syria Xinhua) 10:23, February 13, 2023 DAMASCUS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese community in Syria on Sunday donated relief supplies to the Syrian people via the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) after the country was rocked by a massive earthquake on Monday. The SARC received the humanitarian aid from the Chinese community during a ceremony held in Syria's capital Damascus. The aid included infant formulas, winter clothes, and medical supplies, SARC President Khaled Hboubati told reporters, expressing his gratitude to China for the aid. Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei said the aid showed the Chinese people's solidarity with the Syrian people. On Thursday, the Red Cross Society of China sent the first batch of emergency medical supplies to Syria by a plane. The aid comes in the wake of the deadly earthquake that rocked Syria on Monday. The quake has killed about 5,300 people in government and rebel-held areas, according to the lastest figure released by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The United Nations said the earthquake has displaced 5.3 million people in Syria. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) FIVE Indian nationals have filed an urgent High Court application for a mandatory interdict against further detention after they were arrested on allegations of violating the Immigration Act. The Indian nationals, Tamas Sahidahemad Vahora, Shabbirbhai G. Shaikh, Asif Daood Shaikh, Ashab Ibrahim Daula and Mohmediyaz Yakub Pir arrived in the country on January 31, as tourists on holiday visas. Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, Chief Immigration Officer and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner General Moses Chihobvu were cited as respondents in the application. According to court documents, the applicants were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act by filing a false declaration after they were found staying at a lodge different to the one on the declaration form. They appeared at the Harare Magistrates Courts where they were granted $20 000 bail. They were ordered to surrender their passports and to continue staying at the lodge from where they were picked up by the police. It would appear that the second respondent has invoked the Warrant for Further Detention erroneously as it is meant for prohibited immigrants. Applicants are not prohibited, immigrants. The continued detention of the applicants is wrong and unlawful and would need the urgent intervention of this honourable court, the application read. In his founding affidavit written on behalf of the four other Indians, Tamas Sahidahemad Vahora said they settled for another residence in the country after it emerged that they had been duped by their Indian agent who had lied that he had secured a place to stay for them. We had, through an Indian agent who had organised the holiday for us, decided to stay at a certain place whose details we can no longer recall. I do not have the paper with the details, they are currently in the possession of prison authorities and I have no access to them, Vahora said. We waited for almost 4 hours trying to get hold of the agent. When it became clear that the agent had duped us, we decided to look for alternative accommodation. We asked around and we were recommended to a lodge in a neighbourhood said to be used by people of Indian origin. We then proceeded to Rest Guest House which is at number 90 Elmont Road, Belvedere, Harare where we managed to secure accommodation. The Indians are represented by Munyaradzi Magaya of Maseko Law Chambers. Newsday Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. People work in the command center for the state's enrollment system at the Medicaid enrollment headquarters Wednesday Nov. 28, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. (Photo by Bill Feig, The Advocate) FORMER Cabinet Minister Dr Christopher Mushowe, who died yesterday after a long illness, has been declared a national hero. In a condolence message to the Mushowe family last night, President Mnangagwa described his death as a deep loss to the nation, and devastating news to the former ministers family and to him. He said Dr Mushowe was instrumental in setting up an educational programme for senior war veterans in Government, and ensured greater access to education for disadvantaged Zimbabweans. The President said Dr Mushowe was always showing a strong internal drive and an insatiable urge to improve himself, Dr Mushowe used his scarce time to study through distance education until he became a holder of two doctorates,. This was an extraordinary feat for a man holding such sensitive and onerous positions. He also was instrumental in setting up an educational programme for senior war veterans in Government, which was run from Zimbabwe House. Later, he played a pivotal role in ensuring greater access to education for able, yet disadvantaged Zimbabweans, through the Presidential Scholarship Programme which educated thousands. The President said the former minister was a long-time civil servant, and later a holder of key ministerial portfolios under the First Republic. President Mnangagwa said Dr Mushowe held very sensitive positions in Government, including serving as personal staff to the late former President Robert Mugabe with whom he worked closely for many years as Director of State Residences. Such placements called for total trust, integrity and loyalty, attributes which Dr Mushowe exuded and glowed in abundance, said President Mnangagwa. His elevation to the level of Minister of Government in charge of key ministries like Transport, and Information and Publicity, reflected not just personal growth, but the profound faith Government reposed in him. Dr Mushowe was a prominent member of Zanu PF. In the party, he started from a humble role of a war collaborator in the struggle, rising to become a Member of Parliament, and a key figure in the partys provincial structure of Manicaland. Before long, he became a Member of the Central Committee, before being elevated to the Politburo where he was in charge of Economic Policy and Affairs. The party has lost a key stalwart and loyal cadre whose rich and perceptive contributions will be sorely missed. On behalf of the ruling party, Zanu PF, Government, our nation, my family and on my behalf, I wish to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Mushowe family, especially to Mrs Mushowe and the children, on this their saddest loss. As they go through the painful motions of grief, may they find solace in the knowledge that our nation shares in their pain and bereavement. Indeed, his outstanding contribution to his country and people should assuage their grief which Zimbabwe today gives back through the great honour and respect it accords to the dear departed, said President Mnangagwa. Dr Mushowes national hero status was confirmed yesterday by Zanu PF politburo member Cde Patrick Chinamasa who conveyed President Mnangagwas declaration at the Mushowe family home at 12 Nigels Lane, Colne Valley, Borrowdale, Harare last night. He is survived by wife, Penelope and eight children. Herald 1. What is the Commission proposing today and what are the objectives of these rules? Hydrogen plays a key role in our European Green Deal and in the REPowerEU plan. Upscaling the use of renewable hydrogen, ammonia and other derivatives will accelerate the decarbonisation of our energy system and greatly reduce the EU's dependence on Russian imported fossil fuels. Defining now the conditions under which hydrogen can be considered renewable' is key to facilitate the scaling up of hydrogen production in Europe and ensure that hydrogen can fully contribute to the Fit for 55 and REPowerEU objectives. It is important to ensure that the increased hydrogen demand is supported by the creation of new renewable electricity generation capacities. Today, the Commission has therefore adopted two Delegated Acts, as required under Article 27(3) of the Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001), defining what constitutes renewable hydrogen for the EU. This will complement its work on an EU regulatory framework for hydrogen and interplay with other EU rules including on energy infrastructure and state aid, as well as the proposed consumption targets for renewable hydrogen for the industry and transport sectors contained in the Fit for 55 package. In particular, the first Delegated Actdefines when hydrogen, hydrogen-based fuels or other energy carriers can be considered as a renewable fuel of non-biological origin, or RFNBO. The rules are to ensure that these fuels can only be produced from additional renewable electricity generated at the same time and in the same area as their own production. The second Delegated Act sets the methodology to calculate GHG emissions savings from RFNBOs and recycled carbon fuels. The methodology takes into account the full lifecycle of the fuels to calculate the emissions and the associated savings. It also establishes that the greenhouse gas emissions savings from the use of recycled carbon fuels shall be at least 70%, compared to the fuels they are replacing. 2. What are RFNBOs and how are they linked to renewable hydrogen? RFNBO means renewable liquid and gaseous fuels of non-biological origin. It is a product group of renewable fuels defined in the Renewable Energy Directive (Art. 2.36). These fuels are produced from renewable energy sources other than biomass. Gaseous renewable hydrogen produced by feeding renewables-based electricity into an electrolyser is therefore considered an RFNBO. At the same time liquid fuels, such as ammonia, methanol or e-fuels, are considered RFNBOs when produced from renewable hydrogen. To date, RFNBOs are only considered as transport fuels to contribute to Europe's renewable energy targets if they are used as a transport fuel. However, the Commission proposed in its July 2021 amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive that RFNBOs should be counted towards Europe's renewable energy targets regardless of the end-use sector in which they are consumed. Renewable hydrogen that is produced from biomass sources (such as biogas) is not considered to be an RFNBO, but is covered by the Renewable Energy Directive under the definition of biomass fuels'. Biomass fuels can already account towards Europe's renewable energy targets as long as they meet the relevant sustainability standards. RFNBOs will only be counted towards EU's renewable energy target if they have more than 70% greenhouse gas emissions savings compared to fossil fuels, which is the same standard that applies for renewable hydrogen produced from biomass. The exact methodology to calculate the emissions savings of RFNBOs is set out in the second Delegated Act adopted today. 3. How will these rules ensure that there will be enough renewables for hydrogen production and the grid? Hydrogen production is expected to ramp up over several years. While initially electricity demand for hydrogen production will be negligible, it will increase towards 2030 with the mass rollout of large-scale electrolysers. The Commission estimates that around 500-550 TWh of renewable electricity is needed to meet the 2030 ambition in REPowerEU of producing 10 million tonnes of RFNBOs. The 10Mt ambition in 2030 corresponds to 14% of total EU electricity consumption. This ambition is reflected in the Commission proposal for the EU's 2030 renewable energy target to be set at 45%. Hydrogen is an energy carrier and not itself a source of renewable energy. Renewable hydrogen produced with electrolysers can therefore only be considered as renewable if it is produced from renewable electricity. Unless the electricity system is already largely decarbonised, it is crucial to match the electricity demand for hydrogen production with additional renewable electricity generation. If hydrogen production weren't matched by additional renewable generation, electrolysers' additional electricity demand could risk leading to increased fossil-based power generation. The rules we propose set out specific criteria for hydrogen producers to prove that the electricity they are using is renewable, both in case their production installation is directly connected to a renewable-power installation and if the electricity is taken from the grid. For the latter, the Delegated Act provides several ways to demonstrate that the electricity used is renewable, including when demand is curtailed, and when a given bidding zone reaches a share of 90% renewable electricity in the electricity mix or the emissions intensity of the electricity is lower than a certain threshold. In those cases, it won't be necessary to add extra renewable power capacity to the grid to comply with the emissions savings requirement. In such zones, renewable electricity generation will already exceed demand during large spans of the year and hydrogen production can absorb excess renewable electricity which would otherwise be wasted. It remains important, however, to ensure that hydrogen production does not take place in hours when renewable electricity may remain scarce. The number of hours of hydrogen production is therefore limited in order to avoid production during hours where renewable electricity is in short supply and expensive. The proposed framework also provides producers the possibility to prove that hydrogen is renewable if they can guarantee additional power production and ensure that production is both temporarily and geographically optimised vis-a-vis the production of the renewable electricity used. Entering into Power Purchasing Agreement with renewable power producers is for example a way for hydrogen producers to comply with principles of additionality under certain conditions. 4. When will these rules enter into force and start to apply? The Delegated Acts will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. They both have 2 months to accept or object the Commission's proposal. Their scrutiny period can be extended, at their request, by two further months. They do not have the possibility to amend the Commission's proposals. In general, the proposed rules are designed for an emerging market which needs to develop and establish itself. Today, there are around 160 MW of electrolysers in place and most of these are demonstration plants. The largest plant currently under construction is 20 MW. The EU hydrogen strategy targets 6000 MW of electrolysers powered by renewable electricity by the end of 2025. To support the early scale-up of electrolysers, and taking into account the limited availability of unsubsidised renewable power generation in the near future, renewable hydrogen producers will have the possibility to sign long-term renewable power purchase agreements with existing installations as long as their electrolysers are coming into operation before 2028. The reason for this derogation is that the planning, permitting processes and installation of new additional renewable power takes time and could result in delays in the roll-out of electrolysers and limit the potential to create economies of scale. In a phase-in period, renewable hydrogen producers are allowed to match the production of renewable power generation and their associated renewable hydrogen production on a monthly basis. In other words, renewable hydrogen producers can run their electrolysers at any hour as long as the total amount of renewable electricity consumed corresponds to the total amount of renewable hydrogen produced within that calendar month of the year. This will allow renewable hydrogen producers to deliver a constant stream of renewable hydrogen to their clients, especially in those cases where no hydrogen infrastructure or storage options are available yet. The rules are then designed to become more stringent as the sector is expected to scale up. As of January 2030, all renewable hydrogen producers, including those that have signed with existing renewable power generation plants, will need to match the electricity that they have purchased on an hourly basis. Member States who wish to do so can introduce the hourly correlation as of 1 July 2027, subject to notification to the Commission. 5. How do these rules take into account the full life-cycle of RFNBOs? The proposed method for calculating life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions for RFNBOs takes into account emissions across the full lifecycle of the fuels, including upstream emissions, emissions associated with taking electricity from the grid, from processing, and those associated with transporting these fuels to the end-consumer. The methodology also clarifies how to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of renewable hydrogen or its derivatives in case it is co-produced in a facility that produces fossil-based fuels. 6. Is hydrogen produced from nuclear power considered renewable under these delegated acts? The proposed delegated acts stem from the Renewable Energy Directive, under which nuclear is not listed among the renewable energy sources. As part of the Hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package proposed in December 2021 and currently being negotiated by the co-legislators, the Commission put forward a definition of low-carbon hydrogen, that is when it is derived from non-renewable sources and produces at least 70% less greenhouse gas emissions than fossil natural gas across its full lifecycle. Under the Commission's proposal, a methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from low carbon fuels will be set out in delegated legislation by 31 December 2024. 7. Will these rules apply to imports as well? The requirements for the production of renewable hydrogen will apply to both domestic producers as well as producers from third countries that want to export renewable hydrogen to the EU to count towards the European renewables targets. A certification scheme relying on so called voluntary schemes will be introduced to ensure that the producers in third countries adhere to the same criteria. Member States are required to accept the evidence obtained from schemes that have been recognised by the Commission. This reduces the administrative burden for hydrogen producers as they are not required to follow different procedures in each Member State. To be recognised by the Commission, the schemes have to demonstrate that they are able to properly verify that the legal requirements applying for the production of renewable hydrogen have been correctly applied. To this end the schemes have to set out detailed certification procedures and documentation requirements the fuel producer have to adhere. Correct implementation is verified by independent third party auditors. Voluntary schemes have already been used for more than a decade for certifying biofuels and biomass worldwide. The schemes will now be able to extend their scope to renewable hydrogen given that the regulatory framework is ready. For those criteria that cannot be implemented in third countries, for example the requirements to produce within the same bidding zone, the Delegated Act already provides guidance on how this criteria should be implemented. 8. Will the Delegated Acts impact EU financial support for renewable hydrogen? By providing clear definitions and criteria, the two Delegated Acts adopted today will help channel EU funds towards renewable hydrogen as well as guide the approval of national state aid schemes. The EU has been supporting the production of renewable hydrogen through various tools so far, including the Innovation Fund, the Modernisation Fund, the LIFE programme, the Just Transition Fund and the European Regional Development Fund. In addition, as part of the Fit for 55' package, state aid rules were already updated at the end of 2021 to allow for dedicated support for the production of renewable hydrogen. Under this updated regime, 10.6 billion of contributions by the Member States have been approved as two Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on hydrogen. In addition, various Member States are developing competitive schemes to enable renewable hydrogen projects to be developed at least cost. Significant investments for the production of renewable hydrogen are also being channelled through the National Recovery and Resilience Plans. So far, more than 10 billion have been assigned under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, with 4.9 billion going through IPCEIs. Overall, 11 Member States have included measures dedicated, either partly or exclusively, to green hydrogen in their RRPs, while an additional 5 Member States have included measures dedicated only to the hydrogen economy more broadly. For the latter, investments in networks, mobility, and R&D&I, are of at least 2.7billion. Today's Delegated Acts therefore complete the guidance provided for the REPowerEU chapters of the plans and provide project developers with the legal certainty that their proposed projects will indeed result in the production of renewable hydrogen that can count towards the European renewables targets. The proposed rules will also provide legal certainty for the renewable hydrogen project developers that are interested in the latest call for the EU Innovation Fund, where a dedicated budget of 1 billion is available for projects supporting renewable hydrogen and electrification in industry. In addition, the Innovation Fund will support fixed-premium auctions for renewable hydrogen production, starting from 2023, as announced in the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The first pilot auction has an indicative budget of 800 million. It will be followed by further auctions or other forms of support for hydrogen production, covering the EU domestic part of the Hydrogen Bank announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address last year. More recently the Commission has also allocated an additional 200 million for Hydrogen Valleys, as part of the REPowerEU. It also supports the work of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership to which it provided 1 billion under Horizon Europe, matched by the same amount from industry and research partners. For more information Press release Zarazeno po 13.02.2023 09:02:00 Zdroj Evropska komise Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=QANDA/23/595&language=cs lang en The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Inmarsat by Viasat. The Commission is concerned that the transaction may allow Viasat to reduce competition in the market for the supply of broadband in-flight connectivity (IFC') services to commercial airlines. Viasat and Inmarsat are providers of satellite-based communication services. Viasat owns and operates four geostationary earth orbit (GEO') satellites and Inmarsat owns and operates fifteen GEO satellites. Both companies are close competitors and rely on capacity from their own GEO satellites to provide services in the nascent market for the supply of broadband IFC services to commercial airlines in the European Economic Area (EEA') and globally. The Commission's preliminary concerns The Commission's preliminary investigation shows that: The parties are close competitors in the EEA or global markets for the supply of broadband IFC services to commercial airlines. In those markets, the parties compete head-to-head in tenders for IFC contracts, in particular in the EEA. in the EEA or global markets for the supply of broadband IFC services to commercial airlines. In those markets, the parties compete head-to-head in tenders for IFC contracts, in particular in the EEA. There are currently few alternative suppliers , and the markets are characterised by relatively high barriers to entry , such as regulatory and technological. , and the markets are characterised by relatively , such as regulatory and technological. The satellitemarket is undergoing a transition with operators of non-geostationary satellites having entered or planning to enter the IFC market. The Commission plans to further investigate whether those new players are likely to exert sufficient competitive pressure on the merged entity in the near future. At this stage, the Commission is therefore concerned that by acquiring Inmarsat, Viasat may reduce competition in the supply of broadband IFC services to commercial airlines in the EEA and/or globally. The Commission will therefore now carry out an in-depth investigation into the effects of the transaction to determine whether its initial competition concerns are confirmed. The proposed transaction was notified to the Commission on 9 January 2023. The Commission now has 90 working days, until 29 June 2023, to take a decision. The opening of an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation. Companies and products Viasat, headquartered in the US, is a vertically integrated satellite network operator and satellite services provider. Viasat owns and operates four GEO satellites. In addition, Viasat leases capacity on third-party satellites. Viasat has three core business segments: satellite services, commercial networks, and government systems. Inmarsat, headquartered in the UK, is a vertically integrated satellite network operator and satellite services provider. Inmarsat owns and operates three proprietary satellite networks across its fleet of fifteen GEO satellites. Inmarsat's business is organised into four customer segments: aviation, maritime, enterprise, and government Merger control and procedure The Commission has the duty to assess mergers and acquisitions involving companies with a turnover above certain thresholds (see Article 1 of the Merger Regulation) and to prevent concentrations that would significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it. The vast majority of notified mergers do not pose competition problems and are cleared after a routine review. From the moment a transaction is notified, the Commission generally has 25 working days to decide whether to grant approval (Phase I) or to start an in-depth investigation (Phase II). In addition to the current transaction, there are currently seven on-going Phase II merger investigations: (i)the proposed acquisition of OMV Slovenija by MOL; (ii) the proposed acquisition of VOO and Brutele by Orange; (iii) the proposed acquisition of Alumetal by Hydro; (iv) the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft; (v) the proposed acquisition of eTraveli by Booking; (vi) the proposed acquisition of Lagardere by Vivendi and (vii) the proposed acquisition of VMware by Broadcom . More information will be available on the Commission's competition website, in the Commission's public case register under the case number M.10807. Zarazeno po 13.02.2023 18:02:00 Zdroj Evropska komise Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=IP/23/768&language=cs lang en Washington [US], February 13 (ANI): According to a new assessment published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, digital systems for patients to remotely monitor and report symptoms may offer a way to minimise outpatient waiting lines. The review, led by researchers from the Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research (CPROR), Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham, looked at international examples of the use of electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) systems to triage clinical care. Also Read | Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day 2023 Date and Significance: Know All About the Day That Raises Awareness About STIs. ePROs allow patients to fill out questionnaires at home or location of their choice, with the results sent back to the clinician in near real-time to use in clinical decision-making. Studies of various groups of patients, including those with epilepsy, sleep apnoea, type 1 diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and HIV, were included in the review. In Denmark Ambuflex, a generic ePRO system, has been used in over 40,000 patients across a range of chronic conditions and has led to substantial reductions in outpatient appointments. In epilepsy clinics, the system led to reductions of up to 48% in in-person outpatient appointments. Lead author Dr Lee Aiyegbusi, Associate Professor and Deputy Director at CPROR, said: "The use of PROs is well established in research settings to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and tolerability of interventions from a patient perspective. Clinicians are now interested in using patient-level symptom reporting for the clinical management of individual patients in routine practice." Also Read | Kourtney Kardashians Lemme Purr Vagina Gummies Can Make Your Privates Taste Good & Maintain Its Wellness? Heres What Experts Say. The review provides evidence to support the implementation of ePRO systems for outpatient care, including significant reductions in outpatient appointments without compromising patient outcomes or satisfaction with care. Dr Aiyegbusi said: "ePROs for outpatient care could facilitate the tailoring of care to patient needs. Stable patients can be monitored remotely using ePROs, thereby avoiding unnecessary check-ups in outpatient clinics and associated costs, such as travel and time off work, without lowering the quality of treatment. This efficient use of scarce healthcare resources could free up outpatient clinics for patients with high symptom burden or concerning symptoms, so they can be seen more quickly." The authors say it is important to acknowledge that a proportion of patients, especially the elderly, may prefer face-to-face or telephone outpatient consultations regardless of their health status and may be concerned about or averse to the use of ePROs as a triaging tool. They also say the findings demonstrate why it is crucial that the use of ePROs for outpatient care is carefully considered, planned and implemented to ensure that people from underserved populations are not further disadvantaged. They concluded: "The use of ePROs in outpatient care could potentially allow a more responsive healthcare system, reduce demand for clinic appointments, reduce time to care with associated improved outcomes, and enhance cost-effectiveness of healthcare delivery - all of which are beneficial to patients, their families and society." (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], February 13 (ANI): Aam Admi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Monday moved a suspension of business notice in the Rajya Sabha demanding a discussion on the Hindenburg report against the Adani Group under Rule 267. The notice stated that public sector banks and LIC lost money invested in the Adani group of companies after the Hindenburg report. Also Read | Rajya Sabha Proceedings Adjourned Briefly Till 11:50 Am Amid Ruckus in House Latest Tweet by PTI News. While, on Wednesday, last week, Singh had demanded suspension of business under rule 267. However, the chair rejected the notice following a walkout by the AAP members. Even on Thursday, last week, Singh moved a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha on Thursday demanding a discussion on the Hindenburg report against the Adani Group. Also Read | Adani Group Stocks Slide in Morning Trade, Adani Enterprises Falls More Than 4%. The concerned report from US-based short-seller firm Hindenburg Research surfaced on January 24 claiming that the Adani Group had weak business fundamentals, and was involved in stock manipulation and accounting fraud, among others. According to a statement by the Adani Group, the Adani portfolio and the Adani verticals are focused on bringing India into the global economy and nation-building. In the summary of the long response by Adani Group, it said the report was "nothing but a lie". The report, however, triggered a sell-off of shares of all Adani Group companies. The Budget session of Parliament started on January 31 with a joint address by President Droupadi Murmu. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2023-24 on February 1. Since the presentation of the Budget, there has been no business in Parliament because of continued logjam over the Adani issue. The Opposition members demanded that the government respond in Parliament on Adani stocks, leading to disruptions and multiple adjournments in both Houses. (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], February 13 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing for February 21 of the bail pleas of Bhima Koregaon case accused Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, lodged in jail since August 2018. A division bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia adjourned the matter after adjournment was sought on behalf of the Central government. Also Read | CAG Red Flags Rajasthan Government's Proposal To Change Treasury System. "Accommodation has been sought on behalf of the Solicitor General. List the matter as the first item on Tuesday, February 21," the bench said. Gonsalves and Ferreira had approached the Supreme Court against an order by which the Bombay High Court denied them default bail, even as the same benefit was granted to another co-accused, Sudha Bharadwaj. Also Read | Maharashtra Congress Tussle: Balasaheb Thorat Praises Newly-Elected MLC Satyajit Tambe for Hard Work During Bharat Jodo Yatra. In 2018 FIR was lodged in Pune in relation to certain offences in the Bhima Koregaon case. (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], February 13 (ANI): Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan on Monday hit out at the BJP-led Modi government and said that the government doesn't want the opposition should openly talk about these scams. She added that even though foreign investors are pulling out investments from the country due to the alarm sent out by the decline or rout in the shares of the Adani Group firms, the BJP government's loyalty towards Adani continues. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Government Bans DJ, Music Bands, Firecrackers in Muzaffarnagar After 10 PM in View of Board Exams. "I think everyone should wait. After Hindenburg reports, foreign investors have pulled out of Indian stocks. Adani's stocks have fallen down. He lost Rs 10 lakh crore. Despite all this, PM Modi's loyalty towards Adani continues," Ranjan told ANI. She added that the government doesn't want the opposition should talk openly about these scams. "All we can say is that all these scams are not benefitting the country. Government is scared and wants to save their friend," she further stated. Also Read | Aero India 2023: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande Flies in Light Combat Helicopter in Bengaluru. Furthering her attack on BJP, Ranjan said that the saffron party is diverting attention from real issues like unemployment, scams, etc. "They promised two crore jobs to the youth, nine years have passed by where are the jobs?" she stated. Several opposition MPs have moved a Suspension of Business notice in RS over the Adani issue. The Budget session of Parliament started on January 31 with a joint address by President Droupadi Murmu. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2023-24 on February 1. Since the presentation of the Budget, there has been no business in Parliament because of the continued logjam over the Adani issue. The Opposition members demanded that the government respond in Parliament on Adani stocks, leading to disruptions and multiple adjournments in both Houses. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar, February 13: Officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday airlifted critical patients and carried mortal remains of four people from difficult terrain in Jammu & Kashmir's Kupwara. The operation was carried out from the Tanghdar sector at the request of the Kupwara district administration. The critical patients were airlifted with the help of a BSF helicopter for their treatment at a higher medical centre. Apart from patients, four mortal remains were also airlifted to perform their last rites. Indian Air Force Airlifts 43 People Stranded in Snow-covered Regions of Lahaul-Spiti. BSF Airlifts Three Patients, Mortal Remains of Four BSF airlifts four dead bodies and three Patients from Snow-Bound Tangdhar Sector#BSFAtLOC#Humanity pic.twitter.com/9zrEOWsuCx Rohit Kumar (@RohitKu65692910) February 13, 2023 The BSF was prompted to carry out the operation as Tanghdar is cut off from the rest of the valley due to heavy snow accumulation at Sadhana Pass after spells of snowfall. IAF's IL-76 Airlifts Oxygen Containers From Jakarta Amid COVID-19 Surge in India. Watch Video: BSF Airlifts Three Patients, Four Dead Bodies "We are always there to serve the people of Kashmir and ensuring their well-being is our first and foremost priority," Ashok Yadav, IPS, IG, BSF Kashmir Frontier said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, February 13: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday launched an attack against former CM and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Kamal Nath under his campaign of asking a question regularly from Congress' promissory note. CM Chouhan on Monday said, " Kamal Nath ji again held a promissory note meeting yesterday. It is not a promissory note but they are preparing a note of lies in which they add whatever comes to mind because nothing is to be done. The public knows everything." He also said, "You (Nath) didn't do what you said. But you stopped Rs 1000 which used to be given to sisters belonging to Bharia, Shahriya, and Baiga community to run their household expenses and feed nutritious food to the children during the 15 months of Congress government. What harm did they do to you? Sisters are demanding answers." Madhya Pradesh: Six-Year-Old Boy Takes Ill Father to Hospital on Handcart in Singrauli (Watch Video). Speaking about the first Agriculture Deputies Meeting, a three-day event, under India's G20 Presidency being held in Indore from Monday, CM Chouhan said, "Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and representatives of G20 member countries are participating in the meeting. A positive impact of this meeting will be seen across the world." "Madhya Pradesh has many achievements in the agriculture sector. I will present all those achievements and plans in the meeting today," he added. CM Chouhan will inaugurate the exhibition on the first day of the three-day meeting. Millets and its value-added food products along with stalls from animal husbandry and fisheries will be a major attraction of this exhibition, informed the government through a release on Sunday. During the first ADM of the Agriculture Working Group, two side events have been scheduled on day one to deliberate on agriculture-related matters. Day two will witness the esteemed presence of the Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia following which there will be a general discussion among the participating members and international organisations. Day three will be dedicated to the deliberations on the key deliverables of the Agriculture Working Group. It will be a technical session with discussions and participation from all concerned members and international organisations. CM Chouhan further said, "The Vikas Yatra is continuously going on in the state and now it has become a people's journey. An era of continuous innovation is also going on in every district." Madhya Pradesh: Bhopal ACP Parag Khare Suspended After Video and Voice Recording of Him Allegedly Threatening Businessman Goes Viral. On the other hand, PCC Chief Kamal Nath also attacked CM Chouhan by writing on Twitter. Nath wrote, "Shivraj ji, you have even lied in the name of Gaumata (Cow). In the BJP manifesto, you had promised that 50 Gokul villages would be developed in the state in the next five years on the lines of the National Gokul Mission for conservation and promotion of indigenous breeds. Where is this Gokul Gram?" "Where will you find shelter in this universe after speaking a lie with Gaumata?," Nath further wrote. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday reiterated her call to defeat the BJP in 2024, and said the country should strive for installing "people's government to end anarchy". Speaking in the Assembly, Banerjee, in an apparent reference to BJP president J P Nadda's recent remark on violence and corruption in Bengal, asserted that her state happens to have a better law and order situation than other parts of the country. Also Read | Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Hits Back After PM Narendra Modis Jibe, Says His State Budget Latest Tweet by PTI News. The CM slammed the Centre for maintaining silence over the killing of innocent villagers by BSF in the bordering areas of West Bengal. "The BSF has unleashed terror in the border areas of West Bengal. Innocent people are being killed in these areas. The Centre never bothers to send a fact-finding team to look into these killings," she said. Also Read | Delhi: Unidentified Hackers Install Malware in ATM, Rob Rs 5.60 Lakh in Mayur Vihar. Hitting out at the BJP for letting loose a malicious campaign against the TMC by trying to project the entire party and the government as corrupt, Banerjee said people will teach the party a lesson. "The BJP is behaving as if it is the only party of honest leaders and ours is a party of thieves. The saffron party is like a washing machine. A tainted person becomes a saint after joining the BJP," she said. "They are arresting our people for coal scam, but why is no action being taken against the custodian of the coal mines and the officials of the Centre-owned Coal India and ECL," she questioned. Mocking the Centre's notification asking people to hug a cow on Valentine's Day, which was later withdrawn, Banerjee wondered what would happen if the cow hits the person. "If the cow hits us, what will happen? Will they (BJP) pay us compensation? They should first approve a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for those who might get hurt after being hit by the cow," she added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 13 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan on Monday said barring a few sporadic incidents of caste violence, the Dravidian movement empowered Dalits with education and employment. He added that "the government is taking action against incidents of caste atrocities". "It is because of the Dravidian movement that Dalits and OBCs, who were denied education and employment, received education and jobs. We empowered them with education and employment," DMK's TKS Elangovan said. Also Read | How To Get Personal Loan Without Security. Elangovan was replying after Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi took a dig at the DMK government and held them responsible for a rise in the number of attacks against Dalits. "There were sporadic incidents created by Hindutva policy of Manu Dharma that some are born upper caste and some lower caste. This is not our culture. It has come from the north, from Manu Dharma, "Elangovan added. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Pregnant Woman Strangled to Death in Dharavi, Husband Held. "Culprits are promoters of Hindu religion," Elangovan alleged. "They (BJP leaders) speak what they were told to speak. There is no place for independent-thinking people in BJP or RSS. They have to obey the orders of the high command," Elangovan took a dig at Governor RN Ravi. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi lashed out at the DMK government, holding it "responsible for a rise in the number of attacks" against Dalits in Tamil Nadu. The Governor said law enforcement and the criminal justice system have failed to stop alleged crimes against Dalits. "In our state, we are talking so much about social justice but every other day you hear some atrocities against Dalits," TN Governor R N Ravi said at the launch of the Tamil edition of the book 'MODI @ 20' (Dreams Meet Delivery) and 'Ambedkar & Modi (Reformer's Idea, Performers Implementation)' in Chennai Guindy Anna University. He also condemned the Vengaival incident reported last month in which human excreta was found in water tanks. "When it comes to crime against Dalits, the response of the law enforcement authorities and the criminal justice system is awful in the state," Governor 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) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 13 (ANI): Google's office in Pune city on Monday received a bomb call, which later turned out to be hoax, police said. The man who allegedly made the call was traced to Hyderabad and detained by the Telangana Police. A team of Mumbai Police has left for Telangana to bring the accused to Mumbai. Also Read | Adani Group Stocks Slide in Morning Trade, Adani Enterprises Falls More Than 4%. According to the police, the caller didn't have a number for the Google office in Pune, so he dialled Google office headquarters in Mumbai and made the threatening call. Upon being alerted about the call, Mumbai Police connected with their counterparts in Pune who rushed to the multinational company's office located in a multi-storey commercial building in Pune's Mundhwa area. The Pune police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad carried out extensive searches but did not find anything suspicious. Also Read | Spreading Religious Hatred Should Be Treated as National Crime, Govt Outreach to Pasmanda Muslims Welcome, Says Jamiat President Maulana Mahmood Madani. According to the police the caller has been identified as Panayam Shivanand, who hails from Hyderabad. After receiving the threat call, a complaint was lodged by Google at the BKC police station in Mumbai. The BKC Police has registered a case against the caller under Section 505(1)(b) and 506(2) of IPC. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, Feb 13 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu said on Monday the government wants to ensure that no segment of society falls behind in development and that everyone progresses. Interacting with the members of the Buxa tribe while distributing forest rights letters to them here, she said, UP has 25 crore residents, but why has the Buxa group been called (to the event). It is because the government wants to ensure that no section of society is left behind. Everyone should move forward. Every child should get the facility to study, get education and progress financially." Also Read | Delhi: Unidentified Hackers Install Malware in ATM, Rob Rs 5.60 Lakh in Mayur Vihar. She said the Buxa community has been lagging behind socially and economically as well as in terms of education and the government wants it to make progress in every field. When I was Governor, I had asked the government to work for the development of tribes. There is a lot of work going on for them. Schools and colleges are opening for them. If the beginning is good, then all the problems will also be solved," she said. Also Read | How To Get Personal Loan Without Security. The President said education is important for both boys and girls. She also said a home is necessary for sustaining life. The number of girl children is increasing and some of you have become panchayat leaders and committee members, Murmu said. The President said people should carry a desire to progress and move forward. You should have a powerful mindset. A boost in spirit is necessary, she said "(Tribal) Children need to participate in various competitions with children from other communities. We are tribals, we won't get left behind, we will also be powerful, and we will also grow. This should be the mindset," she added. Murmu said, I will speak to the government about opening schools nearby, if necessary. Eklavya schools are already functioning. On the occasion, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare and SC-ST Welfare Asim Arun presented mementos made by tribal groups to the President, the state government said. A documentary on the Buxa tribe was also screened by the Tribal Development Department during the programme. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indore, Feb 13 (PTI) India on Monday expressed confidence that the G-20 meet will bring out solutions like new technologies for enhancing farm productivity, which is key for tackling the global food security concerns. India, the world's second largest wheat producer, and largest producer of fruit and vegetable, also said it will play a major role in feeding the world keeping in mind the global food security concerns, while asserting that every nation should work towards sustainable agricultural practices. Also Read | Babul Supriyo, West Bengal Minister, Hospitalised After Complaining of Chest Pain. Around 90 delegates from 30 nations, including representatives of international organisations, attended the three-day event. Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja was also present at the event. In his inaugural address at the the first meeting of the G-20 Agriculture Deputies held under India's presidency here, three-time chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and a pioneer in some of the agriculture reforms Shivraj Singh Chouhan said: "The need of the hour is to focus on three main areas -- increasing production, reducing cost of cultivation and ensuring better prices to the farmers. Also Read | Cryptocurrency, Web3 Sectors Need Significant International Collaboration for Effective Regulation, Says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "India is already working towards this direction," he said. Chouhan further said, "Food security is a major concern before the world due to rising population. By 2030, the global foodgrains demand is estimated to be 345 million tonne as against 192 million tonne in the year 2000." Only 12 per cent of the world's arable land is suitable for agriculture. Neither the land is going to increase nor the natural resources, he said. Therefore, it is necessary to utilise land and natural resources in a better way and increase the farm productivity to meet the future food demand, he said. "I am confident that the G-20 summit will help boost the farm sector by connecting new technologies through local organisations," the chief minister added. Asserting that there is a need to make agriculture profitable, the chief minister said there is an alternative for other things and not for food. "For food, we need agriculture." Speaking to the media separately, the chief minister reiterated that the food security challenges faced by the entire world is due to the growing population and said India will play its rightful role in feeding the world. In Madhya Pradesh too, he said, several steps have been taken to boost production and income of farmers. The farm sector grew more than 18 per cent in Madhya Pradesh consistently in the last one decade. The state contributes to 60 per cent of India's total wheat exports. Its 'Sharabati' wheat variety is well known in the world, he said. Foodgrain production in Madhya Pradesh has increased to 619 lakh tonnes in the last 18 years from 159 million tonnes, he added. "India is meeting the needs of the world. ...About 21 lakh tonne wheat has been exported from Madhya Pradesh alone this year. There are many opportunities. We will exploit them to meet the food security needs of the world," Chouhan told media. The prospect of wheat crop in Madhya Pradesh is "good" and production would break the previous record, he said on the sidelines of the media briefing. Madhya Pradesh is the second biggest producer of wheat after Uttar Pradesh. Already early sown wheat varieties in the state have started arriving in the market. Chouhan also shared the steps India has taken to promote organic and natural farming in order to reduce use of chemical fertilisers. The Madhya Pradesh chief minister also inaugurated an exhibition which showcased millets and its value-added food products apart from the allied farm sector. Thereafter, two side events namely, Stock taking of G20 initiatives and Global Forum on Climate Smart Agriculture on Food Security, were held on the first day of the three-day meeting. During the three-day event, issues such as climate smart initiatives, adoption of climate smart technology by small farmers as well as agriculture market information system, wheat initiatives, agriculture risk management and reduction of food loss will be discussed in detail. Early this morning, the day started with the heritage walk at Rajwada Palace where the delegates got an opportunity to indulge in the history of the palace, which was built by the Holkars in 18th century. Union minister of civil aviation and steel Jyotiraditya Scindia will address the conference on Tuesday, following which there will be a general discussion among the participating members and international organisations. On last day of the event on February 15, the delegates will deliberate on the key deliverables of the AWG. It will be a technical session with roundabout discussions and participation from all concerned members and international organisations. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 13 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said that India has the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world and that all educational institutions, especially universities and technical educational institutions should take full advantage and encourage students for research and innovation. President Droupadi Murmu was addressing the 10th convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow. Also Read | Jamia Nagar Violence Case: Delhi High Court Seeks Stand of Sharjeel Imam, Others on Police Challenge to Discharge. Speaking on the occasion, the President said, "Today India has the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world. All educational institutions, especially universities and technical educational institutions should take full advantage of this ecosystem and encourage their students to research and innovate. Their efforts would be an important contribution to making India a leading nation in the field of innovation and technology." Underlining the favourable environment created for investment and business by the UP Global Investors Summit-2023, the President urged to connect education with this favourable environment. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Encroachment Drive: For Trust, Necessary to Listen to People Not Crush Their Rights Under Bulldozer, Says Congress Leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. "Our universities should develop themselves into a centre where new research is done for public welfare, a hub of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and an incubation centre for start-ups. It would be very heartening if our educational institutions also become messengers of a new revolution and social prosperity and equality," she said. The President said that Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar believed that it is the fundamental duty of a university to provide education to poor and needy people. According to him, an educational institution should provide quality education to all without any discrimination. She noted that Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University is doing commendable work for the upliftment of SC and ST students by giving them 50 per cent reservations. She expressed confidence that this university would continue to spread education in the country and the state according to the ideals of Babasaheb. "Convocation is a very important occasion for the students. On this day, they get the fruits of the hard work of many years," she said. She said that she would like to use the occasion to advise the students that whatever they want to become in life, they should start working for it from today itself and never let their goal should always be in their mind. She wished that some students should become good teachers/professors. She said that education and teaching are interconnected. For the best education system, the best teachers are needed. "Our promising students should give their valuable contribution to making the future of the country bright by adopting teaching as a profession," she said. The President said that she was confident that students graduating today would progress a lot in life on the strength of education and knowledge. "But along with this, they should stay connected to our values and culture, only then can they live a meaningful and satisfying life. Whenever a crisis situation comes, think about finding a solution and treat it as an opportunity. This would enhance their personality," said Murmu. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 13 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that efforts are on to make Light Combat Aircraft Tejas 100 per cent indigenous and it will be done soon. While addressing the curtain raiser of 'Aero India' 2023, which will begin from Monday, the Defence Minister said, "We are putting in all efforts to see that Tejas becomes 100 per cent indigenised. That is our ultimate aim." Also Read | Bengaluru | This External Fixator That I Have Invented is Mainly for Intercondylar Latest Tweet by ANI. Singh added that investments in Tejas will increase in the coming years. "The government has positioned it at the centre of the Aero India show while also planning to promote its exports," he said. Also Read | Amit Shah Should Disclose What is Wrong with Kerala, Says CM Pinarayi Vijayan. The Minister highlighted that defence exports from India have increased ever since the government adopted the 'Atmanirbhar Scheme', or self-reliance programme, for the defence sector. "Ever since we have accepted the commitment of self-reliant India since then the export of defence items in India has increased. We want to make India self-reliant, this is our resolution and we want to increase India's defence exports." Singh said that over 75 friendly countries and more than 700 exhibitors will be part of the biggest-ever Aero-India Show in the country. The defence minister said that owing to India's resolve to promote self-reliance, the export of defence items has increased. "Karnataka has got the good fortune of organizing this. Karnataka is the foremost among the states contributing to the economic growth of our country. This state is known for its skilled human resource and robust defence manufacturing ecosystem," he said. India Pavilion with the theme of 'Wings of the Future' will be the centre of attraction for this event. This pavilion will introduce the potential, opportunities and possibilities of New India to the world. CEOs Round Table is also an important event of Aero-India. This event will provide us with an opportunity to explore the strength and capabilities of our defence industry in association with the world's top business leaders. "Through this platform, our youth will be able to showcase their capabilities in Defence Sector in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, e-Management, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Autonomous Systems and other innovations for future forces, and empower the Defence Sector," the Defence Minister said. "Promotion of the opportunities available in Karnataka will be beneficial because most of the investments coming from outside will be likely to come to Karnataka. This will create new jobs in the state," he added. Singh said that it is a matter of pleasure for all of us that in the inauguration ceremony of this event, all of us will get the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. "His presence will add more glory to this event," he added. He also highlighted the benefits of Aero India for the youth of Karnataka, saying that their pavilion will showcase the state's opportunities and possibilities and likely investments will create new jobs. He reiterated that the Government's focus is on the future of the youth. Singh concluded his address by urging the media to provide extensive visibility to the event and present the rise of a 'New India' to the world. He stated that media can play the role of a medium in connecting people with the phenomenal progress in the defence sector. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai,MoS defence Ajay Bhatt, Minister of Large and Medium Industries of Karnataka Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka Vandita Sharma and other senior officials of the state government and Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion. The 'India Pavilion', based on the 'Fixed Wing Platform' theme, will showcase India's growth in the area, including the future prospects. There will be a total of 115 companies, displaying 227 products. It will further showcase the growth of India in developing an ecosystem for the 'Fixed Wing Platform' which includes the demonstration of various structural modules, simulators, systems (LRUs) etc. of LCA-Tejas aircraft being produced by Private Partners. There will also be a section for Defence space, New Technologies and a UAV section which will give an insight into the growth of India in each sector. A number of seminars will be held during the five-day event. The themes include 'Harnessing Potential of Ex-servicemen for Indian Defence Industry; India's Defence Space Initiative: Opportunities for shaping Indian private space ecosystem; Indigenous development of futuristic aerospace technologies, including aero engines; Destination Karnataka: US-India defence cooperation innovation and Make in India; Advancement in maritime surveillance equipment and assets; sustenance in MRO and Obsolescence Mitigation and achieving excellence in defence grade drones and Aatmanirbharta in Aero Armament Sustenance. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], February 13 (ANI): Jharkhand Congress on Monday suspended four of its leaders, including state General Secretary Alok Dubey and Dr. Rajesh Gupta for six years. They have been suspended by the Disciplinary Committee for their activities against state leadership. Also Read | Pune: Former Tenant Kills Couple With Pickaxe For Sexually Abusing His Mother, Arrested. The Disciplinary Committee had recommended the suspension of Alok Dubey, Lal Kishor Nath Shahdeo, Dr. Rajesh Gupta, and Sadhu Sharan Gope. Earlier on January 8, Jharkhand Congress Disciplinary Committee recommended suspending 5 party leaders for their 'anti-party' activities and 'false' remarks against the party's state chief Rajesh Thakur and the state-in-charge. Also Read | Elephant Attack in Tamil Nadu: Wild Tusker Tramples 59-Year-Old Woman to Death in Coimbatore. The leaders against whom the suspension notice has been recommended include Jharkhand Congress general secretary Alok Dubey, Rajesh Gupta, Sadhu Sharan Gop, Sunil Kumar Singh, and Lal Kishore Nath Shahdev. Brijendra Prasad Singh, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, said that in the past, clarification was sought from 7 party leaders for tarnishing the image of the party and making statements against the State President, for which a meeting of the Disciplinary Committee was held at the Congress office today. "Out of 7 leaders, three leaders gave their explanation, in which we are satisfied after reading the explanation of General Secretary Anil Ojha, Rakesh Tiwari, while the explanation of Sadhu Sharan Gop was not satisfactory, suspension action has been recommended against them," he said. Singh said that three leaders had sought time, about which "there is no provision" in the Congress party. "Party general secretary Alok Dubey, Rajesh Gupta, Congress leader Lal Kishore Nath Shahdev demanded time from the disciplinary committee, there is no provision for giving time in the Congress party, so suspension has been recommended against them as well," he 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], February 13 (ANI): Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday gave an Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the border situation with China. The Congress MP demanded a detailed discussion in the matter in the Lower House. Also Read | Tripura Assembly Elections 2023: If Voted to Power, Left-Congress Will First Implement Old Pension Scheme, Says CPM Leader Prakash Karat. "Since April 2020, China has engaged in what can only be described as a steady land grab. Until 16 January 2023, seventeen Commander-level talks have taken place between India and China with little success," Tewari said in the letter seeking adjournment. He claimed that China continues to build significant infrastructure, including bridges, roads and accommodation for its troops, adding that it was attempting to change the status quo unilaterally. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Pratapgarh Boy Who Fell in Love With Russian Girl Ties Knot With Her in Traditional Hindu Wedding. He further stated that the clashes in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh was another indication of "China's steady aggression aimed at changing the status quo on the border". "What is more, such aggression is no longer limited in territorial scope as is evidenced by the clashes that took place in Arunachal Pradesh, around 2000 Kilometers away from the place of previous clashes," Tewari wrote. "There is growing concern that China is unwilling to restore the status quo ante, a situation that puts India at a the massive disadvantage," he stated. "Despite this, China's large trade surplus with us has continued to surge since the military confrontations began in 2020. The trade deficit for India stood at USD 101.02 billion, crossing the 2021 figure of USD 69.38 billion," the Congress MP wrote. "I urge the government to take up this matter with utmost seriousness and have a detailed discussion in Parliament with regard to the border situation with China," he stated. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, February 13: The Supreme Court on Monday orally observed that the nominated members could not vote in the elections for the Mayor of Municipal Corporation while hearing a plea related to the mayoral poll. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud orally observed that the constitutional provision is very clear that the nominated members cannot go for election. Delhi MCD Mayor Election 2023: Shelly Oberoi AAP's Mayoral Candidate, Aaley Mohammad Iqbal Deputy Mayor Probable. The court remark came when senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that in Article 243R nominated members cannot vote. Delhi Mayor Election 2023: MCD House Adjourned Without Electing Mayor for Third Time in A Month After Ruckus Over Nominated Members (Watch Video). Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain agreed to postpone the mayor election and submitted that no poll will take place on February 16. Thereafter the Supreme Court adjourned to Friday, the hearing on AAP and Shelly Oberoi's plea challenging the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor's decision to permit the nominated members to vote in the elections for mayor and deputy mayor in MCD. The court was hearing a joint petition filed by Shelly Oberoi and Aam Aadmi Party. In the plea, the petitioner has demanded time-bound elections to the post of MCD mayor, deputy mayor and member of the standing committee. Recently the high-octane political drama unfolded inside the Delhi Civic Centre as the House met for a third time this month to elect the mayor, only to be deferred till the next date due to a ruckus over the nominated members being permitted to vote. The House, which was first summoned on January 6 and then on January 25, had ended without a result due to unprecedented scenes emerging after the nominated members were allowed the right to vote for the post of mayor, deputy mayor and chairpersons of various standing committees. The Civic Centre summoned for the third time on Monday to elect the mayor, however, no voting could take place due to ruckus and sloganeering and hence the stalemate continued. The House proceedings began at the Delhi Civic Centre after Presiding officer Satya Sharma arrived and announced that aldermen - nominated members - would be allowed to vote in the process of electing the mayor. However, the House was adjourned after the Aam Aadmi Party members objected to it. Soon after the House was resumed, the BJP members could be seen sloganeering while also accusing the AAP of attempting to poach its councillors. The House was adjourned owing to the uproar, thus failing to elect the Mayor. Earlier AAP's mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi moved the Supreme Court but later on February 3, she withdrew her plea. Oberoi in her plea had sought directions for the elections to take place in a time-bound manner and to ensure that the nominated members are not allowed to vote. (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, Feb 13 (PTI) Leaders of 14 Opposition parties on Monday held a meeting here to discuss their joint strategy in Parliament. Sources said the leaders of Congress, RJD, DMK, NCP, JDU, AAP, Left parties met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament complex. Also Read | Spreading Religious Hatred Should Be Treated as National Crime, Govt Outreach to Pasmanda Muslims Welcome, Says Jamiat President Maulana Mahmood Madani. The meeting comes in the wake of continued attack on the government over the Adani issue and the demand for a joint Parliamentary Committee probe into it. The meeting also comes after the Rajya Sabha suspended Congress member Rajani Patil from the House for the remainder of the Budget session, for circulating an unauthorised video of house proceedings. Also Read | Tripura Assembly Elections 2023: If Voted to Power, Left-Congress Will First Implement Old Pension Scheme, Says CPM Leader Prakash Karat. Patil had said it was not fair to give her the harshest punishment as she had not done anything deliberately. "I belong to a freedom fighter's family and I should be given natural justice. I have not done anything deliberately," Patil had said. Adani Group stocks have taken a beating on the bourses after US-based short-selling firm Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the business conglomerate. The Adani Group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, February 13: Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that a suggestion to rename Shivamogga Airport after Rashtrakavi Kuvempu will be forwarded to the Centre. Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa, popularly known as Kuvempu, was a renowned 20th-century Kannada poet and author. Born on December 29, 1904, in Mysore, he is the first among Kannada writers to get the prestigious Jnanpith Award. No One Can Finish Me off Politically, Says Former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa Amid Speculation of Being Sidelined in BJP. For his contributions to Kannada Literature, the Government of Karnataka awarded him with the honorific Rashtrakavi (National Poet) in 1958 and Karnataka Ratna (Gem of Karnataka) in 1992. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Shimoga on February 27. It is almost certain that the new airport here will be inaugurated. On that day, Prime Minister Modi himself said that the name of the National Poet Kuvempu should be announced at the airport. We have decided to name it after Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, the greatest poet this country has seen in the 20th century and a Jnanpith awardee," said BS Yediyurappa. He also said that a unanimous decision will be taken in the session to finalize the name and it will be recommended to the central government. "Kuvempu preached the universal message through writing. Prime Minister Modi is working hard to implement it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to spread the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," said BS Yediyurappa. Kuvempu's epic narrative 'Sri Ramayana Darshanam', a modern rendering of the Indian Hindu epic Ramayana, is regarded as the revival of the era of Mahakavya (Great Epic poetry) in contemporary form and charm. His writings and his contribution to 'Universal Humanism' gives him a unique place in modern Indian literature. Kuvempu took his last breath on November 1, 1994, at the age of 89. (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], February 13 (ANI): Aftab Amin Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, has moved two applications before the trial court seeking supply of the chargesheet and footage in a proper manner. He has also sought the release of his education certificate saying he wants to pursue his higher studies. Also Read | In the Case of Artillery,were Looking at a Range of Capability Starting from a Mounted Latest Tweet by ANI. The application was moved by advocate M S Khan on behalf of Aftab. In one of the applications, it is submitted that the e-chargesheet has been supplied to the counsel but it is not in proper form and cannot be read. Also Read | UP Hit-and-Drag Case: Drunk Container Driver Drags Car for 3 Km in Meerut, Passengers Escape By Jumping Out; Video Goes Viral. It is also said that the pen drive containing the chargesheet is overloaded and is not supported by any advanced computer. It is also said that the footage is mismanaged in the said pen drive. The plea has sought direction from the investigation officer to provide the chargesheet in a folder-wise manner and the footage in a separate pen drive. In other applications, it is submitted that the accused has a copy of the chargesheet but he does not have writing material like a pen, pencil, or notebook. He wants to assist his counsel so he urgently needs writing material. The plea has sought direction from the jail authorities to provide him with these things. He also sought direction from the investigation officer to release his educational certificate. Saket court on February 7, took cognisance of the chargesheet filed against Aftab Amin Poonawala in the Shraddha Walkar murder case. The court after taking cognisance listed the matter for scrutiny of documents on February 21. Delhi police on January 24 filed a voluminous 6629 pages charge sheet against Aftab Amin Poonawala in the Shraddha Walkar murder case. "The charge sheet contains 6629 pages including the annexures, it is voluminous," the judge said. Accused Aftab was produced through video conferencing from Tihar Jail after the expiry of judicial custody. Earlier, Aftab had told the court that he wants to change his counsel advocate M S Khan. The chargesheet has been filed under sections of 302, 201, and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Delhi police filed the chargesheet before the expiry of 90 days of its investigation. During the investigation, Delhi police conducted the narco Analysis and polygraph tests on Aaftab and also collected DNA evidence to support the allegations against him. Aftab is accused of strangling his live-in partner in May 2022 in the Mehrauli area. After the alleged strangulation, he allegedly cut the body of his live-in partner into 35 pieces. According to sources, Delhi police had some videos and audio footage related to the case and wanted to obtain a voice sample of Aftab to examine that evidence. Earlier, the Saket court had dismissed the bail plea of Aftab after he withdrew the same. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bijnor, Feb 13 (PTI) A Class 11 student was allegedly beaten up by his school principal after he drank water from a bottle kept on a table, a police official said on Monday. According to the complaint lodged by the Dalit student, the alleged incident happened during the farewell ceremony of Class 12 students on Sunday, Additional Superintendent of Police Ram Arj said. Also Read | Spreading Religious Hatred Should Be Treated as National Crime, Govt Outreach to Pasmanda Muslims Welcome, Says Jamiat President Maulana Mahmood Madani. The student drank water from a bottle kept on a table, following which the principal Yogendra Kumar and his brothers allegedly thrashed and hurled abuses at him, Arj said. A case has been registered against seven persons, including the principal, under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the matter is being probed by a circle officer, he said. Also Read | Tripura Assembly Elections 2023: If Voted to Power, Left-Congress Will First Implement Old Pension Scheme, Says CPM Leader Prakash Karat. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Moradabad (UP), Feb 13 (PTI) Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan and his MLA son Abdullah Azam were sentenced to two years in jail in a 15-year-old case by a court here on Monday. However, the court has granted bail to both. Also Read | Karnataka Tiger Attack: Fear Grips Region After 'Maneater' Tiger Kills 10-Year-Old Boy, His Grandfather in Kodagu. The judge of the MP-MLA court, Smita Goswami, awarded the jail term to the duo and also slapped a fine of Rs 3,000 each on them, district government counsel Nitin Gupta said. Special Public Prosecutor Mohan Lal Vishnoi said the FIR against Khan, Azam and seven others was lodged in 2008. The accused had sat on dharna on a state highway on January 29, 2008 as their cavalcade was stopped by police for checking in the wake of an attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Rampur in Uttar Pradesh on December 31, 2007. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: Man Commits Suicide a Day Before Daughter's Wedding in Jamnagar. The FIR was lodged at the Chhajlait police station. While Khan and Azam were sentenced to two years in jail under section 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the seven other accused were exonerated. Defence lawyer Shahnawaz Hussain said the court has granted bail to both Khan and Azam. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 13 (ANI): Aero India reflects the approach of 'New India', and its expanding capabilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the Aero India 2023, on Monday. In his address on the inaugural day of the grand air show in Bengaluru, PM Modi said, "The sky of Bengaluru is becoming a witness to the capability of New India. Bengaluru's sky is giving a testimony that the new heights is the truth of a New India. Today, the nation is touching new heights and even surpassing them," he added. Also Read | Spreading Religious Hatred Should Be Treated as National Crime, Govt Outreach to Pasmanda Muslims Welcome, Says Jamiat President Maulana Mahmood Madani. He said the presence of around 100 nations at the event shows that the world's trust in India has increased manifold. "Aero India is an example of the expanding capabilities of India. The presence of around 100 nations here shows that the trust of the world in India has increased. More than 700 exhibitors from India and the world are participating. It has broken all the past records," he said. Also Read | Tripura Assembly Elections 2023: If Voted to Power, Left-Congress Will First Implement Old Pension Scheme, Says CPM Leader Prakash Karat. Prime Minister Modi further said that there was a time when Aero India was considered just a show, but the approach has changed over the last few years. "Aero India reflects the new approach of a New India. There was a time when it was considered just a show. In the past few years, the nation has changed this perception. Today, it's not just a show but also a showcase of India's growing strength. It also focuses on the scope of the Indian defence industry and our self-confidence. Today, India is not just a market but also a potential defence partner," he added. PM Modi also appealed to the youth to use their technological skills in boosting the country's defence sector. "I urge the youth to use their expertise in the field of technology, use it for empowering the country's defence sector and open new innovations. Today, the world sees India not just as a defence market but also as a potential defence partner," PM Modi added. The Indian companies participating in the exhibition include MSMEs and start-ups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies and growth in aerospace and defence capabilities of the country. Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indore, Feb 13 (PTI) The G-20 meet will bring out solutions like new technologies for enhancing farm productivity, which is key for addressing the global food security concerns, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here on Monday. Addressing the first Agriculture Deputies' Meeting here, Chouhan said the need of the hour is to focus on three main areas -- increasing production, reducing cost of cultivation and ensuring better prices to the farmers. Also Read | How To Get Personal Loan Without Security. India is already working towards this direction, he said. "Food security is a major concern before the world due to the rising population. By 2030, the global foodgrains demand is estimated to be 345 million tonnes as against 192 million tonnes in the year 2000," the minister said. Also Read | BOI Recruitment 2023: Registration Begins For 500 PO Vacancies At bankofindia.co.in, Here's How to Apply. Only 12 per cent of the world's arable land is suitable for agriculture. Neither the land is going to increase nor the natural resources, he said. Therefore, it is necessary to utilise land and natural resources in a better way and increase the farm productivity to meet the future food demand, he added. The Minister also said, "I am confident that the G-20 summit will help boost the farm sector by connecting new technologies through local organisations." Speaking to the media separately, the Chief Minister highlighted the food security challenges faced by the entire world due to the growing population. He said India will play its rightful role in feeding the world. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister also inaugurated an exhibition which showcased millets and its value-added food products apart from the allied farm sector. During the three-day event, issues such as climate-smart initiatives, adoption of climate-smart technology by small farmers as well as agriculture market information system, wheat initiatives, agriculture risk management and reduction of food loss -- will be discussed in detail. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will be present on the second day. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) Srei administrator Rajneesh Sharma has rejected the group promoters' offer under section 12A of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to pay off dues of around Rs 32,000 crore to creditors to withdraw their companies from the ongoing insolvency process, sources said on Monday. Section 12A allows erstwhile management of corporate debtors to settle matters between creditors and withdraw cases under Corporate Insolvency. Also Read | How To Get Personal Loan Without Security. Srei Equipment Finance Ltd and Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd are currently undergoing insolvency proceedings in NCLT. The RBI has already superseded the respective boards earlier. "The offer was rejected on technical grounds. The offer should have been sent to the Reserve Bank of India which is the applicant to NCLT for the insolvency proceedings and not to the administrator," a top source aware of the developments said. Also Read | BOI Recruitment 2023: Registration Begins For 500 PO Vacancies At bankofindia.co.in, Here's How to Apply. The voting process on the three resolutions is on track and it will continue till February 14. The Committee of Creditors is expected to finalise one among the three prospective resolution applicants who are in the fray for the Srei twin companies. Sharma declined to speak on the matter. "Both RBI and the Committee of Creditors (CoC) have to accept the offer under the section. It is very unlikely that their offers will be accepted. Back in 2020, there was a similar proposal from the promoters under Section 230. But the offer was rejected, as there are allegations of fraud," the source said. The latest offer from the Kanorias was the highest with a net present value of Rs 7,000 crore, including upfront cash of Rs 3,500 crore. While the rest of the entire debt will be repaid through a combination of financial instruments such as cash, non-convertible debentures, optionally convertible debentures, and equity over a period of five years. Reacting to the development, a spokesperson of the Kanorias said, "While we have not received any formal intimation as yet, it would be preposterous for the administrator or the bankers to reject a proposal which is highest in value and merit. We have followed due process after legal understanding by experts." After the completion of the challenge mechanism process, the Srei companies received three bids. The state-backed National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) offered a Net Present Value bid of Rs 5,555 crore. Authum Investment and Infrastructure's bid was for Rs 5,526 crore while the consortium of Varde Partners and Arena submitted a financial bid of approximately Rs 4,680 crore. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Singapore, Feb 13 (PTI) Undeterred by heavy rains, nearly 20,000 people joined Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to mark the restoration and consecration of the country's oldest Hindu temple, built nearly 200 years ago by early Indian migrants. The Sri Mariamman Temple, a national monument, was unveiled to the public after a year-long restoration on Sunday. The Singapore dollars 3.5 million (USD 2.6 million) restoration involved 12 specialist sculptors and seven metal and wood artisans from India who worked on the sanctums, domes and ceiling frescoes. Also Read | Morning Bid: Is It a Bird? Latest Tweet by Reuters. The temple's original colour scheme and structure have been retained. This is part of living in multicultural Singapore, where the whole community comes together to celebrate each other's cultural and religious milestones, Wong wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday. Also Read | US Military Shoots Down High-Altitude Object Over Lake Huron After Shooting Down Unidentified Objects Flying Above Alaska and Canada. "Rain in the morning did not dampen the spirits of about 20,000 people here to celebrate the Consecration Ceremony of the Sri Mariamman Temple today! Glad to take part in the ceremony," he said. The one-year restoration was led by Chief Sculptor Dr K Dakshinamoorthy who is also the restoration advisor to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments of Tamil Nadu. Wong was joined at the ceremony early on Sunday by Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, Transport Minister S Iswaran and Member of Parliament Murali Pillai, as well as migrant workers from southern India. The migrant workers were seen sharing the experience with their families overseas via video calls. Migrant worker Jagadheesh Ramamoorthy, 40, said he appreciated the efficient crowd control. Noting the presence of religious leaders from other faiths, Teo said, This demonstrates very clearly the multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious harmony that we have been able to maintain, and we must make every effort to uphold it. The temple has become very much part and parcel of the local community, she added. Iswaran described the ceremony as a fitting celebration, with Singapore lowering its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (Dorscon) from yellow to green from Monday. Dorscon green indicates that Covid-19 is now considered mild and poses minimal disruption to daily life. Devotees thronged the streets surrounding the temple in Chinatown early on Sunday to witness the milestone, the sixth consecration ceremony, also known as the Maha Kumbabishegam, held every 12 years. Tears of joy and devotees clad in ponchos were common sights at the event, which went on in full swing despite the morning downpour. Groups of Hindu priests climbed the Raja Gopuram, or grand entrance tower of the temple, and the six vimanams, or temple towers, to perform the resanctification rituals. At 8.20 am, the priests poured holy water from sacred pots on the temple's pinnacles in unison, which prompted the clasping of hands and rigorous chanting. Mother of two Sangeetha Vijay, 45, who has frequented the temple since she was 10, said it was special as she believes Sri Mariamman had answered her prayer for a daughter some 20 years ago. I missed the consecration in 2010 due to my second pregnancy. I hope to extend my gratitude today, she said. For Sumathi Nadesan, who grew up in the nearby Blair Plain housing estate, the latest consecration of her childhood temple brought a great deal of joy. The consecration is just as big an affair as it was in my childhood. There is the same intense piousness, and yet much less hassle, said 63-year-old Nadesan. Temple secretary S Kathiresan said the support from devotees was overwhelming, noting some had arrived at 2.30 am despite the event starting at 7.15 am. The electric lamps illuminating the Sri Mariamman deity in its main inner sanctum have been replaced with traditional oil lamps. The sanctum will now evoke feelings akin to being in a mother's womb, temple chairman S Lakshmanan said. The consecration ceremony will be followed by 48 days of religious rituals and cultural showcases, in a period known as the Mandalabishegam. Jayden Chua, 35, and his mother Nancy Tan, 64, accompanied their Hindu friends to the ceremony. It is nothing like I have seen the collective piety of thousands of devotees, the local daily Tamil Murasu quoted Chua as saying. It likened the event to the fervour of the National Day Parade held in Singapore on August 9 which involves the participation of the armed forces, civil, civic and citizen bodies. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By John Solomou Nicosia [Cyprus], February 13 (ANI): The two major earthquakes, which last Monday devastated a huge area in south-eastern Turkey and a part of Syria, killing more than 24,500 people in Turkey and 4500 in Syria, wounding tens of thousands and leaving a huge but unknown number of missing persons have upended the election plans of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also Read | Cyclone Gabrielle Brings Strong Winds, Heavy Rains to New Zealands North Island (Watch Video). For the first time in 20 years, Erdogan's political future is really on the line. He must now prove that he is a leader who can get things done and can mobilize effectively the machine of the state to provide relief to the affected people and help them rebuild their homes and their lives. The two major earthquakes at magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 caused the collapse like a house of cards of many thousands of residential and public buildings as well as hotels and hospitals in 10 provinces, affecting more than 7.6 million people. Also Read | China Giving US Silent Treatment Since It Shot Down Chinese Spy Balloon: Report. Martin Griffiths, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said he expects the death toll to at least double. Many Turks are very angry with the government because after the destructive earthquake of 1999 (which killed about 17,000 people) legislation was enacted providing that all new buildings must comply with strict seismic building codes. However, the enforcement of the legislation by the local authorities was quite lax and many contractors were using inferior materials and kept constructing unsafe buildings, ignoring the relevant specifications. What is more, the government had imposed a special tax supposedly aimed at reinforcing existing buildings against earthquakes. Although more than USD 17 billion had been collected, there are claims that only a portion of this money was actually used for the stated purpose of seismic protection, while most of the money was spent for other purposes. The AKP also granted a controversial amnesty for illegal construction, which brought a lot of money to government coffers, while the construction companies Erdogan has always favoured made savings of billions, but failed to protect residents from earthquakes. President Erdogan tried to calm the anger of earthquake victims saying that "Such things always happened. It's part of destiny's plan." He promised immediate aid of about USD 530 to each homeless family and promised, unrealistically, that within a year the Housing Ministry will build new homes for everyone who became homeless from the earthquake. Such a thing, however, would require trillions of Turkish Lira and cannot be completed in such a short time. Erdogan admitted that the response of rescue services to the earthquake victims was less than perfect and promised that "those responsible for the failures will be called to account." On Saturday President Erdogan said that the government will take action against individuals who have engaged in looting and other criminal activities in the region affected by the earthquakes. Earthquake victims, who for days were left without food and shelter, on Feb. 10 booed Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag in the Yenisehir district in the province of Diyarbakir, when he visited the site of collapsed buildings. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), strongly criticized Erdogan's AKP government for the huge destruction caused by last week's earthquakes, saying that it was the result of government corruption in the construction sector and the fact that authorities deliberately avoided to supervise contractors and make them apply the building standards. Kilicdaroglu said Erdogan's government has not "prepared the country for the earthquakes" despite being in power for over 20 years, and added: "That is why I am never thinking of meeting with Erdogan. I don't ever see this issue (destruction caused by the earthquake) as something beyond politics. We have come to this point because of his politics. People have been paying earthquake taxes to the state all their lives, but are unable to see that state once they need it. All exist for the (Presidential) Palace. Whenever he takes this country down, he makes calls of 'Stand by me.' I would have nothing to do with him and will never have." According to press reports, 113 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed, including contractors and architects, and 12 persons are already in custody. Many Turks see these actions as a desperate attempt on the part of the AKP Government- which actively encouraged massive construction of shoddy buildings in seismic-prone areas and turned a blind eye to violations of building codes - to divert blame on building contractors and architects. The earthquakes have put President Erdogan in a tight spot. A few days ago, he moved the elections from June to May, but now he will be probably forced to seek to extend the holding of elections for a few months, hoping that with the passage of time, the anger of the people will subside and he could present himself once again as the capable leader who can face successfully any difficult situation. But to achieve this he must show tangible results and not resort to empty rhetoric. Meanwhile, he declared a state of emergency in the 10 quake-stricken provinces allegedly to help the state to intervene against reported looting. But the real aim could be that Erdogan wants to control the distribution of aid so as to present foreign aid send to Turkey as aid coming from his government and to prevent unfavourable reporting about the terrible situation in the area, where people are still deprived of food and shelter, and complain about the painfully slow response of rescue teams. As Haaretz's Middle East affairs expert Zvi Bar'el points out: "From now on, great efforts will be made not just to extricate the dead and wounded, but also to create a narrative, with a counter-narrative constructed by the opposition. The earthquake has become an unexpected political player, holding the potential to significantly alter the structure of the regime, or, alternatively, to consolidate even further the scope of Erdogan and his party's rule." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, Feb 13 (PTI) Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra arrived here on Monday on a two-day official visit to Nepal during which he will hold talks with the country's top political leadership on the entire range of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. Kwatra is visiting Nepal at the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal. During his visit, the foreign secretary will pay courtesy calls to Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Foreign Minister Paudyal. Also Read | US Military Shoots Down High-Altitude Object Over Lake Huron After Shooting Down Unidentified Objects Flying Above Alaska and Canada. "@IndiaInNepal welcomes Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra who is visiting Nepal from 13-14 February 2023. During the visit, Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Mr. Bharat Raj Paudyal & hold discussions on entire range of multifaceted India-Nepal cooperation," the Indian embassy here tweeted. It is expected that Kwatra will also discuss with his Nepalese interlocutors the possibility of a visit to India by Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda. Prachanda has said that he will travel to India on his first foreign visit. Also Read | Earthquake in Turkiye: Death Toll Surpasses 33,000, Turkish Authorities Probe Contractors in Connection With Building Collapse Incidents. Kwatra will also hold a bilateral meeting with Paudyal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. The Foreign Secretaries of Nepal and India will discuss various matters of bilateral cooperation such as connectivity, power trade, agriculture, health and culture among others, according to a statement issued by Nepal's foreign ministry here on Sunday. The visit is in continuation of the regular exchange of visits between the two friendly neighbours, it said. This will be the first high-level visit from India after Prime Minister Prachanda assumed office for the third time in December. Besides the official meetings, Foreign Secretary Kwatra is also expected to meet Nepal's top political leaders, including Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli. Kwatra will leave Kathmandu on February 14, wrapping up his two-day official visit, the statement said. Kwatra served as India's envoy to Nepal before he assumed charge as the foreign secretary on May 1 last year. "The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy," the Ministry of External Affairs has said. India's Neighbourhood First' policy is an integral component of Indian foreign policy. The policy seeks to build cordial and synergetic relations with India's South Asian neighbours in various areas such as economy, science and technology, research and education, among others. Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old "Roti Beti" relationship. The country shares a border of more than 1,850 km with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu [Nepal], February 13 (ANI): India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Monday met with Nepal foreign minister Bimala Rai Paudyal and discussed strengthening comprehensive bilateral relations. The two discussed various aspects of Nepal-India relations including the power sector cooperation, trade, and transit. Also Read | Pakistan's First Hindu Female Civil Servant Dr Sana Ramchand Gulwani Posted As Assistant Commissioner in Punjab. "Various aspects of Nepal-India relations including the power sector cooperation, trade, transit, education, culture, healthcare, and connectivity infrastructure were discussed during the meeting," according to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kwatra arrived in Kathmandu today on a two-day visit at the invitation of his Nepal counterpart Bharat Paudyal, according to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. Also Read | Valentines Day 2023: Dont Record Sex Videos to Avoid Being Blackmailed After Break Up, Bangkok Police Tell Couples. Kwatra and Paudyal in a meeting earlier today, reviewed Nepal-India relations, according to a tweet by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Indian foreign secretary has also made a courtesy call to Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari. Indian Embassy in Nepal in a tweet on Monday said: "Welcomes Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra who is visiting Nepal from 13-14 February 2023. During the visit, Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal and hold discussions on the entire range of multifaceted India-Nepal cooperation." The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement on Friday. (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], February 13 (ANI): New Delhi [India], February 13 (ANI): Defence Ministry's firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is all set to display 15 made-in-India helicopters, including an advanced light helicopter, which has been delivered to Mauritius ahead of its schedule.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 14th edition of Asia's largest aero show -- Aero India 2023 -- in Bengaluru on Monday. The event will showcase multiple variants of the indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. Also Read | US Military Shoots Down High-Altitude Object Over Lake Huron After Shooting Down Unidentified Objects Flying Above Alaska and Canada. Earlier, on Friday, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the advanced light helicopter mark-3 (ALH-Mk3) to Mauritius Police Force, reported Le Metinal.HAL director-operations EP Jayadeva, at the event, said this order is in line with the Union government's vision to boost defence exports to friendly foreign countries, according to Le Metinal. The handing over of export helicopter has further bolstered the ties between both countries. The ALH Mk III helicopter will meet the operational requirements of the MPF, he added.According to the Commissioner of Mauritius Police, Anil Kumar Dip a new helicopter to the fleet of the MPF would enhance the aerial capabilities of the country's police force. The helicopter will contribute immensely to ensuring territorial integrity and will enhance the speed and effectiveness of police intervention during critical incidents and disasters. Also Read | Earthquake in Turkiye: Death Toll Surpasses 33,000, Turkish Authorities Probe Contractors in Connection With Building Collapse Incidents. HAL helicopter complex CEO S Anbuvelan said India and Mauritius share a strong business relationship spanning over three decades, with HAL-manufactured helicopter already being operated in Mauritius, reported Le Metinal. "HAL would provide all the necessary technical, logistic, and maintenance support for ALH helicopter in Mauritius," the PSU said in a statement. Meanwhile, this five-day event in India will focus on displaying indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies. According to the PMO, the theme of Aero India 2023 is 'The Runway to a Billion Opportunities'.The 'CEOs Round Table', under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will be held on February 13 on the theme 'Sky is not the limit: opportunities beyond boundaries'. The event will also help in integrating domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production.Aero India 2023 will see participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of about 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023.Aero India 2023 exhibition will witness the participation of more than 800 Defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies. The Indian companies participating in the exhibition include MSMEs and start-ups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies, and growth in aerospace and defence capabilities in the country. Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, Feb 13 (PTI) Sri Lanka on Monday dismissed as a "joke" a top Tamil nationalist leader's claim that LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was killed in 2009 by the island nation's military, was still alive. Pazha Nedumaran, a noted nationalist leader in Tamil Nadu, told reporters in Thanjavur that the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) "is doing well" and a "conducive atmosphere prevails for him to appear now." Also Read | Pakistan's First Hindu Female Civil Servant Dr Sana Ramchand Gulwani Posted As Assistant Commissioner in Punjab. Sri Lanka's defence ministry dismissed Nedumaran's claim as a joke. "It is confirmed that he was killed on 19 May 2009. The DNA has proved it, Colonel Nalin Herath, Sri Lanka's defence ministry spokesman told PTI. Also Read | Valentines Day 2023: Dont Record Sex Videos to Avoid Being Blackmailed After Break Up, Bangkok Police Tell Couples. In a bitterly fought campaign that began in 1983, Sri Lanka's military ended the nearly three-decade brutal civil war in the island nation in May 2009, by killing the leaders of the LTTE. The LTTE was fighting for an independent state for the Tamilians in Sri Lanka's North and Eastern provinces. Though the exact date when Prabhakaran was killed by the Sri Lankan Army was not known, his death was announced on May 19, 2009. The then-president Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 18, 2009 declared the end of a 26-year war in which over 1,00,000 people were killed and millions of Sri Lankans, mainly minority Tamils were displaced as refugees inside the country and abroad. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], February 13 (ANI): Terror attacks in Pakistan by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after Asim Munir became the Chief of Army Staff has become a major problem for the country, which is facing one of its worst economic and political crisis, according to the International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS) that attributes the cause to loopholes in policy formation and support to terrorism given by those in power. The report claimed that during the last three months, the TTP and its members have carried out 160 attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives and also exposed the flaw and vulnerability of the country's defense to counter-terrorism. Also Read | LIVE: Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid, Quarterback Patrick Mahomes Hold Conference Latest Tweet by Reuters. Referring to the Peshawar Mosque Blast the report by IFFRAS a non-profit, independent, and international think tank headquartered in Toronto claimed that around 103 policemen were killed and around 200 injured in the suicide attack in the Peshawar Police Lines Mosque during Zuhr prayers. This dastardly attack revived the memories of Pakistan's war against terror days. It was the war which according to most of the strategic experts had been fought by Pakistan's army half-heartedly due to the paradox of strategy depth and good and bad Taliban. Also Read | Indian-American Judge Vince Chhabria Slaps $1 Million Fine on Facebook's Parent Meta. The party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan had blamed the incident on the army claiming that it was to delay the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). It must be noted that the fall of Kabul and the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan was celebrated by the country's elite. As the then PM Imran Khan publicly congratulated the Afghan people and said that the Taliban have broken the shackles of slavery. And former DGISI Lieutenant General Retired Faiz Hameed while sipping tea at Serena hotel in Kabul said that there is nothing to worry about; everything will be fine which is proving totally wrong today. The report claimed that Faiz Hameed is considered the mastermind of rehabilitating 40,000-50,000 TTP members and their families in KP including the neighborhood of Islamabad. Adding to that Pakistan's military leadership one month before the fall of Kabul had acknowledged during a briefing to the parliament that good Taliban or bad Taliban is merely a fiction. Although now no operation against the Taliban can be successful in 2023 without crossing the Durand Line and plunging into an interstate dispute with the current regime of Taliban in Afghanistan. The report also mentioned that despite this admission by the military establishment, no concrete steps have been taken so far to bring an end to the Afghan policy spanning over three decades. This was after Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and Munir held a high-level meeting in Peshawar to weed out terrorism. However, the opposition leader Khan had boycotted the apex committee meeting held in Peshawar. These massive flaws in the policy formation and the backing given by Pakistan to terrorism, have resulted that even if Pakistan wanted to reverse the devastation it will take at least 40 to 50 years to go back. As the report claimed It is very difficult to reverse a narrative developed over several decades. What is happening in mosques, seminaries, schools, and colleges isn't only backed by the state, but such religious outfits are also behind it that has been nurtured by the state for a particular objective. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, February 13: The Internet is both a boon and a curse. Recently, an IIT-Bombay filed a complaint against a couple alleging the accused had unnatural sex with him and performed black magic against him. The victim also said that the couple tried to murder him while performing a sex act. The Mumbai police registered an FIR on Saturday. So far, no arrests have been made in the case. Gurugram Shocker: Woman Alleges Husband of Unnatural Sex on Nuptial Night, Harassment Over Dowry; Seven of Accuseds Family Booked. According to a report published by the Indian Express, the complainant and the accused met on the gay dating app Grindr nearly two years ago. The complainant, who is in his thirties, revealed horrifying details of the encounter. He alleged that he would have died after the way the accused held his neck while having sex. The accused tied his hand and neck and branded him at several places on his body while performing tantric sex. He was made a sex slave by the accused and his wife, the victim added. Mumbai Shocker: Woman Raped, Forced Into Unnatural Sex on Pretext of Marriage by Man She Met on Social Media; Accused Arrested. On the basis of the complaint, the couple was booked under charges of attempt to murder, unnatural sex, and sections of the Black Magic Act. The report said that both the accused are highly educated and have well-to-do jobs, (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 13, 2023 04:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, February 13: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind asserted that efforts to create a rift between people from different religions should be treated as a "national crime", and welcomed the government's outreach to Pasmanda Muslims. This was stated in a message read by Jamiat president Maulana Mahmood Madani at the conclusion of the three-day 34th general session of the Muslim body at Ramlila Maidan here on Sunday. "Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind considers religious hatred and sectarianism as the biggest threat to the integrity of the country. It does not match our long-standing heritage and ethos," the message read out by Madani stated. Any efforts to create a rift in the relations between people from different religions should be considered a "national crime", he said. In the message, Madani asked Muslims to remain vigilant against being targeted by "internal and external enemies" of the country. "The so-called organisations, which propagate extremist and violent tendencies in the name of jihad are not entitled to our cooperation and support in terms of the country's interest or the religion of Islam," he said. Allah and Om Are Same, Says Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind Chief Maulana Arshad Madani, Sparks Controversy (Watch Video). "Sacrifice, loyalty to the nation and patriotism are our national and religious duties," he said. On the judiciary of the country, the Jamiat said the Supreme Court and other courts of the country are the guardians and strength of India's democracy, but for some time, "there is a general impression that the courts are working under the pressure of the state". "This situation is not acceptable at all. If the judiciary is not free, then the country also is not free," the Jamiat said. Madani said the Jamiat does not have any religious or ethnic enmity with the RSS and the BJP, but its differences are based on ideology. "We welcome the recent statements of the RSS sarsanghchalak encouraging mutual harmony and national unity. According to Islamic teachings, a hand extended for friendship should be held firmly and strengthened," the Jamiat chief said. "Therefore, we warmly invite him and his followers to forget mutual hatred and enmity and embrace each other and make our beloved motherland the most developed, ideal... and peaceful superpower in the world," he said. Madani said Islam teaches equality and racial non-discrimination, but despite this, the existence of Pasmanda communities amongst Muslims is a ground reality. "No doubt that there has been discrimination and bias against marginalised communities, which is religiously and morally wrong and also reprehensible from the humane approach. "We take this opportunity to say that we are ashamed of the abuses that have been committed in the name of caste, and to remove it, we pledge to reform the Muslim community and would make every possible effort to establish equality among Muslims on economic, social and educational fronts," he said. "We congratulate the government of India for its recent statement to uplift the backward communities (Pasmanda) and hope that practical steps will be taken soon for the welfare and progress of the backward communities, irrespective of their religious affiliations," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his party workers to reach out to the Pasmanda Muslim community. The Jamiat chief also appealed to the Muslims of India to enforce in practice the code prescribed by the Islamic Shariah. He also urged them to focus on ridding the Muslim society of evils such as the exclusion of women in inheritance matters, violation of Islamic injunctions regarding divorce and non-maintenance to the wife, and injustice to women in society in general. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani. "There is a dire need for Muslims to conduct a mass movement across the country and take necessary steps for reforms so that there is no room for anyone to interfere in the Muslim Personal Law," Madani said. Earlier, Maulana Arshad Madani, who leads the other faction of the Jamiat, said that Hindus and Muslims have been living side by side in the country for 1,400 years. There was never any difference between them, he stressed. Muslims should spread the message of love, he added. Leaders of various religions and gurus also expressed their views at the event. National Parliament of Religions head Goswami Shusheel Maharaj said that in the presence of leaders of different religions at the session here, there is a big message for the country. Companies often pay hundreds of thousands to land an ad spot in the Super Bowl. A Tesla critic has spent over half a million dollars to run an ad in the Super Bowl 57 Sunday night to slam the Elon Musk company and show the alleged dangers of its Full Self-Driving technology. The ad is part of a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign by The Dawn Project that will be aired in Washington, D.C., Austin, Tallahassee, Albany, Atlanta, and Sacramento. According to CNN, it promises not to be kind to Elon Musk's multimillion-dollar car company. The Dawn Project founder Dan O'Dowd, a California tech CEO, has already dedicated millions of dollars of his own money to talk about the dangers of Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology. For this year's Super Bowl ad, he is paying around $598,000. The ad claims that Tesla used "deceptive marketing and woefully inept engineering" to endanger the public. It pointed out Tesla's alleged design flaws as the project shot its own videos to point these out. It showed a Tesla Model 3, which allegedly has the Full Self-Driving mode turned on, running over a dummy that simulates a child on a school crosswalk. READ NEXT: Elon Musk Twitter Takeover: Billionaire's Massive Job Cuts Plan, Revealed Self-Driving Tesla Car Runs Wild in Super Bowl 57 Ad Dan O'Dowd has made it his personal mission to ban Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature and has already spent millions of dollars to prove his point. That comes as the Tesla system is still officially in a developmental "beta" program but is already intended to be released on city streets. The self-driving feature is already available in North America for $15,000 despite still being tested. This new Super Bowl ad, scheduled to air during the Super Bowl 57 ad break, shows a self-driving Tesla car violating seven traffic rules. Some of these have deadly outcomes, including plowing through a child. The other violations include running over a stroller in the street, driving past a school bus with its automatic stop sign showing, going through a "Do Not Enter" sign and driving on the wrong side of the road. However, viewers are to assume that the car uses the Tesla Full Self-Driving system and does not show proof that the system was activated and operating during the video. The ad claimed that "ninety percent agree that this should be banned immediately." However, it does not state what the survey of the 90% agreement is based on, The Street reported. Tesla Self-Driving Cars investigated In 2021, a fiery crash in Texas brought much more scrutiny over Tesla's self-driving feature, The car accident involved a Tesla vehicle with self-driving capability, and it resulted in the deaths of two people. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that the autopilot feature, a less sophisticated version of FSD, was not turned on at the time of the crash. In June 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that they had expanded their investigation into Tesla after analysis of several accidents revealed patterns in the car's performance and driver behavior. According to The Guardian, the NHTSA investigation found that the FSD "may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver's supervision." READ MORE: Elon Musk Suspends Twitter Accounts of Journalists This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: The Dawn Project Super Bowl Commercial - From The Dawn Project The U.S. military shot down another unidentified flying object over Lake Huron in Michigan on Sunday, making it the fourth time an "unidentified object" was shot down in North America since February 4. It reportedly appeared that the object seemed to be the same object that had been detected over Montana a day earlier. In a statement, Lt. Col. Cesar Santiago said the location chosen for this shoot down allowed them to avoid impact on people on the ground while improving chances for debris recovery, Fox News reported. Santiago went on to say that there were no civilians hurt or affected. The Defense Department noted that President Joe Biden directed to shoot down the airborne object flying around 20,000 feet over Lake Huron. The department noted that the path and altitude caused concerns such as a possible threat to civil aviation. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said the Pentagon had notified his office of the developments in shooting down another unidentified flying object. Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, told reporters that it is possible that the increased number of sightings of unidentified flying objects could be due to "close scrutiny of airspace" after the Chinese spy balloon incident. READ NEXT: Why Joe Biden, USA Waited to Take Down China Spy Balloon Unidentified Flying Object in Alaska A U.S. F-22 fighter jet shot down a "high-altitude object" over Alaska on Friday. It happened less than a week after the U.S. military shot down a Chinese balloon. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the object "roughly the size of a small car" was shot down over the northwestern state of Alaska near Deadhorse on Friday. Ryder noted that the object, which entered U.S. airspace on Thursday night, was brought down using an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile fired from the jet on the order of Joe Biden. White House spokesperson John Kirby previosuly told reporters that they don't know "who owns this object," adding that many details about the "high-altitude object" were unknown, Reuters reported. On Saturday, a U.S. F-22 jet, acting on U.S. and Canadian orders, shot down a "high-altitude airborne object" over central Yukon territory in Canada, about 100 miles from the U.S. border, saying it posed a threat to civilian flight. On February 4, the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. The balloon stayed above the U.S. for a week before Biden decided to shoot it down. According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the U.S. believes that the objects shot down were balloons. Schumer did not say the flying objects were Chinese but noted that Beijing was likely using a "crew of balloons" probably deployed worldwide. The second and third unidentified flying objects were reportedly about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. The U.S. government has been on high alert after it took down the first Chinese spy balloon. U.S. Officials Still Trying to Identify the Unidentified Flying Objects U.S. officials were reportedly still trying to identify the two unidentified flying objects blown from the sky by F-22 fighter jets over the past two days. They were also working to know whether China was responsible as concerns about what the U.S. says is the Chinese large-scale aerial surveillance program. The U.S. briefly closed the airspace over Lake Michigan on Sunday or after it was done over Montana on Saturday night. In a statement, Senator Steve Daines of Montana slammed the Biden administration for its "lack of communication" in connection with the closing of Montana airspace and the recent shoot-downs. "The top priority should be the safety and security of the people of the United States and keeping the American people informed is a key part of fulfilling that duty," Daines noted. "President Biden owes Montanans and the country an immediate and full explanation. Without information, the public and media are left to rely on leaks, speculation and worst off all disinformation from foreign governments," he added. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a pre-planned trip to China after the first Chinese spy balloon was shot down. Aside from the U.S., Chinese spy balloons were also reportedly seen near Taiwan, Japan, and India in the past couple of years. Analysts say the surveillance crafts are part of China's "lighter than air" surveillance balloon program. China earlier claimed that the balloon was just a weather research "airship" that was blown off course, which the Pentagon has rejected. The Pentagon also rejected China's contention that the balloon was a civilian device not being used for surveillance and had limited navigational ability. READ MORE: Chinese Spy Balloon Causes Antony Blinken To Postpone China Trip This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Fourth 'Object' Shot Down Over Lake Huron - From NewsNation Brazil ex-president Jair Bolsonaro announced on Saturday that he plans to go home "in the following weeks." This speech, delivered during a gathering at an evangelical church in Florida, is the first time Bolsonaro spoke publicly about his desire to return to Brazil. The far-right politician entered the country on December 31 in Orlando, Florida, the night before his leftist rival, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, took office as Brazil's president. The right-wing group Yes Brazil USA hosted the fully Portuguese-language event on Saturday for a Brazilian audience of Bolsonaro supporters living overseas, AP reports. Jair Bolsonaro has been the target of multiple investigations into suspected wrongdoing in Brazil, and his return there has been the topic of much discussion in recent weeks. His diplomatic visa allowed him to enter the country for a month, but it expired on January 31. He, his wife, and a group of presidential advisers left Florida last month. Bolsonaro's attorneys recently disclosed to Brazilian media that they had asked to extend their client's tourist visa so he could remain in the United States indefinitely. One of Bolsonaro's sons, Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro, recently told reporters that he had no idea when his father would return, adding to the swirl of rumors surrounding his father's plans. "It could be tomorrow, it could be in six months, he might never return. I don't know. He's relaxing," Flavio said. READ NEXT: Jair Bolsonaro Requests For a 6-Month US Visitor Visa Brazil Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro Might Return Home After the Carnival Festival "There is no place like home ... We know Brazil is a fantastic country," Bolsonaro told a gathering of Brazilians in Boca Raton, a video posted online by broadcaster CNN showed. "I also want to return to Brazil. I intend to return to Brazil in the coming weeks." Bolsonaro is accused of inciting a violent election rejection movement in Brazil, so he should be wary of making a hasty return home. The Supreme Court of Brazil has consented to investigate Bolsonaro for allegedly inciting anti-democratic riots that led to the assault on government buildings in Brasilia by his followers. His lawyer told Reuters last month that the ex-president wanted to "enjoy being a tourist in the United States for a few months before deciding what his next step will be," casting doubt on his ambitions to return. However, a U.S. official familiar with the matter told Reuters this week that they expect Brazil ex-president Jair Bolsonaro to come home once the carnival festival concludes on February 22. Jari Bolsonaro Allegedly Plotted Coup Against Brazil, President Lula da Silva A magazine in Brazil released recordings of a senator saying that Jair Bolsonaro had asked for help in a plan to change the results of the Brazilian elections in October and keep him in power. Marcos do Val, a senator, met with Bolsonaro and congressman Daniel Silveira on December 9 in the presidential residence to discuss the plan, three weeks before leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was set to take office, as evidenced by an audio recording he released to the magazine Veja. Senator do Val, who has been on Bolsonaro's side throughout his four years in government, claims the far-right politician gave him the "task" of questioning Alexandre de Moraes, the head of Brazil's election commission and a justice of the Supreme Court, to get the judge to admit that Bolsonaro had gone beyond his constitutional jurisdiction. "'I annul the election, Lula isn't sworn in, I stay in the presidency and arrest Alexandre de Moraes because of his comments,'" Marcos do Val quotes Brazil ex-president Jair Bolsonaro as saying. Reports said that the local magazine, Veja, released the recording in response to the senator's denials, which were written after the magazine's Thursday morning story about the alleged plot. However, the senator was not mentioned in the article as a source. After the magazine published its story, do Val told reporters that Silveira had come up with the plan and that the former president had been quiet during the meeting. READ MORE: Super Bowl 57: Is Rihanna Pregnant? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Calls to extradite Jair Bolsonaro - From ABC News Argentina has raised worries after it found out that more pregnant Russian women are traveling to the Latin American country to give birth to their children to attain Argentinian citizenship. Officials in Argentina noted that more than 5,000 pregnant Russian women have entered the country in recent months, with the latest arrivals all in the final weeks of pregnancy, according to BBC News. Local media in Argentina suggests that the increase in the number of arrivals in the country is a result of the war in Ukraine. The migration agency head, Florencia Carignano, said that three were detained out of the 33 women who arrived in the Argentinian capital on one flight. The detained Russian women had "problems with their documentation." The women first claimed that they were visiting Argentina as tourists. Carignano said that it was found out that the women did not come to Argentina to "engage in tourism activities," adding that the women acknowledged it themselves. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the three women said that they are "falsely imprisoned" as they are being detained on suspicion of being "false tourists." The lawyer, Christian Rubilar, said that such a term "does not exist in our legislation." READ NEXT: Argentina Rugby Players Sentenced to Life in Prison Over Teen's Murder Influx of Russian Women in Argentina Carignano said that there were 21,757 Russian citizens who entered Argentina last year, which included 10,500 pregnant women. The migration head noted that the number has been upping in the last few months, citing that there were 5,819 Russian women who were about to give birth and entered Argentina. Carignano said that the pregnant Russian women who entered the country noted that many of them declared they were in the 33rd or 34th week of their pregnancy, as cited by The Guardian. About 7,000 women returned home after giving birth to Argentina, leaving Argentinian lawyers charged with applying for Argentinian citizenship for the baby and eventually the parents, according to Carignano. Argentinian Citizenship Anyone born on Argentine soil is immediately granted citizenship, and having a national-born child fast-tracks the process for the citizenship of the parents, as reported by The Washington Post. Authorities noted that Argentina's officials do not have any issues with Russian citizens arriving in Argentina. However, they want to ensure that the family really has plans to live in the country. Carignano said that the problem is that people come and leave and do not return to Argentina, but they get to leave the Latin American country with a passport. The Argentinian passport has a passport rank of 20, with 171 visa-free destinations. Slovenian media reported in late January that it has detained two suspected Russian spies, with one of the two holding Argentine citizenship. Carignano said that if Argentinian passports were not regulated, other nations would start asking for visas and will no longer have the trust it has with other countries. Meanwhile, the judiciary is probing whether there is a criminal organization behind the influx of pregnant Russian women in Argentina. READ MORE: Brazil: Human Remains Found in Area Where British Journalist and Brazilian Indigenous Expert Were Last Seen This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Argentina's inflation: Boom in cross-border trade with Bolivia - from Al Jazeera English One Florida man was accused of murdering a hotel employee in Kentucky after he was refused to have a cigarette lighter. The suspect was identified as 55-year-old Robert Pannell and was booked into the local jail for charges, including murder, according to Deputies in McCracken County, Kentucky. Authorities noted that they got 911 calls of a possible active shooter at a hotel in the city of Paducah, according to Law & Crime. A responding deputy found one female victim on the first floor of the hotel. She was described as suffering multiple gunshot wounds to her head and body. Authorities said Pannell is from Palm Coast, Florida. It was not immediately clear why the 55-year-old Florida man was in Paducah. Aside from the murder charges against him, he is also facing assault in the first degree, assault in the fourth degree, wanton endangerment in the first degree, assault in the third degree of a police officer or probation officer, and menacing. He is also facing disorderly conduct in the second degree and resisting arrest. READ NEXT: California Woman Dismembered, Killed by 'Snapchat' Guy Who Googled 'How to Be a Serial Killer' Florida Man Murders Over Cigarette Lighter The investigation revealed that Pannell allegedly assaulted a man and a woman after the couple refused to give him a lighter. The incident took place in the parking lot of the hotel, as cited by Fox 35 Orlando. Deputies went on to say that several people were close by as Pannell reportedly shot the woman multiple times. McCracken County Sheriff's Office said in its release that it started with an altercation with the couple in the parking lot, which then escalated, prompting Pannell to bring his handgun inside the building and shot the female victim. After shooting the female victim, he threw his handgun inside the lobby of the hotel, where he was listed as a guest. Meanwhile, the hotel employee was taken to a local hospital, where she then passed away due to her injuries. She was at first being kept alive as she was a donor. However, her injuries were too severe for organ donation. Authorities noted that the County Office will not be releasing her name at the request of the family she left behind. It is not yet determined what led to the Florida man's actions. Authorities said that the investigation is ongoing and authorities are working with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office with on the probe. U.S. Gun Violence A non-profit research database, the Gun Violence Archive, noted that the number of mass shootings has increased significantly in recent years, as shown by BBC News. It was reported that there have been more than 600 mass shootings in the last three years, which equates to almost two a day on average. Data also showed that around 53 people are killed each day by a firearm in the United States. The U.S. ratio of 120.5 firearms per 100 residents was an increase from 88 per 100 in 2011. It surpassed other countries around the world with that ratio. READ MORE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Ignores U.S. Pres. Joe Biden's Request for National Guard Troops at State of the Union This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Gun violence: An American epidemic? l ABC News - from ABC News According to authorities, a Colorado police officer who had fallen 40 feet from a bridge while apprehending suspects in a carjacking case had died. The Fountain Police Department announced in a press release on Saturday, February 11, that Officer Julian Becerra, who had been hospitalized since his fall on February 2, had passed away, The Sacramento Bee reports. He attempted to arrest three Pueblo men suspected of carjacking after they had given police a long pursuit when he fell off a bridge in Colorado Springs. Police reported his death with "extreme sadness," they stated. Becerra, a K-9 officer for the Fountain Police Department, served in the United States Air Force for nearly five years. A GoFundMe page for the Becerra family states that he is survived by his wife and two young children, an 8-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old boy. As of Sunday, February 12, the account has accumulated $58,000. READ NEXT: Milwaukee Police Officer Dead City of Fountain Mayor Reacts Following the Death of a Colorado Police At a news conference on Sunday, February 12, the City of fountain Mayor, Sharon Thompson, said the city would be forever thankful to fallen Colorado police Julian Becerra. "This is a very tough time for our city, and I want all our police officers and first responders to know we are standing with them and by them and are so honored and proud of their service to our community," said Mayor Thompson. "May God bless Julian Becerra and his family." Mayor Thompson addressed the spike in violent crime that is all around in their communities in a public statement, as well as what may be done to protect public safety, Fox 21 noted. "The suspects that Officer Becerra was pursuing the night he was gravely injured were repeat felons with multiple active warrants for their arrest," stated Mayor Thompson." They should never have been out on the streets in the first place." Thompson blamed the "lack of accountability in our justice system and failed bail reform initiatives." She also blamed state legislation that drastically cuts punishments for charges linked to heinous crimes, which further 'empowers' criminals, as well as the availability of illegal narcotics, for the increase in crime. Thompson called the current environment "thriving conditions for emboldened criminals." What Happened During the Arrest that Leads to Colorado Police Death? Police reported that on February 2 at around 4 p.m., they were summoned to help the Department of Corrections locate three carjacking suspects who had fled the scene. Fountain Police Commander Mark Cristiani said the suspects attempted to steal another vehicle before police disabled their vehicle at 8 p.m. near a Colorado Springs bridge. Cristiani claimed that Becerra went after the fleeing vehicle and plunged off the bridge into the river below. The police also said the suspect tried to leap off the bridge during the pursuit, but authorities caught him just in time. Meanwhile, the Colorado police, Becerra, a four-year department veteran, was put on life support on Friday, said The New York Post. Becerra's brother-in-law referred to him as "simply a lovely man" in the days following his death. David Alderman said he had learned much about being a good parent and husband from watching Alderman. Police claimed they had arrested suspects Devon Bobian, 31, Danisha Pacheco, 28, and Anthony Vallejos, 37, in connection with the car chase. READ MORE: 'High-Altitude Object' Over the State Shot Down by U.S. Military This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Fountain police officer dies 10 days after falling from bridge - From CBS Colorado Laurel, MS (39440) Today Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 59F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. A prison sentence was given to a man who cashed dud cheques in Portlaoise. Patrick McLoughlin, 36, with an address at Cush Farraige, Whitegate, Cork cashed the cheques valued at 850 in Dowlings Newsagent in Portlaoise on May 5, 2017. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby described the injured party as a very honourable man who out of good faith had agreed to cash the cheques for the defendant. Judge Andrew Cody noted there had been countless bench warrants issued for the defendant. Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client fully acknowledges that he has caused a lot of difficulty. He said the mans relationship had broken down and this had resulted in offending. He has paid a significant amount of money in relation to similar prosecutions, said Mr Meagher. Judge Cody noted the case had been previously put back for compensation but none had been forthcoming. Mr Meagher said his client is in prison and not in a position to repay the money. Judge Cody imposed a two month sentence which is to run from the end of the sentence the man is presently serving. Couples hoping to be lucky in love have been visiting a shrine in Dublin which contains the partial remains of St Valentine. Engaged couples had their wedding rings blessed at the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street on Monday by the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty at the shrine of St Valentine. The historic city centre church is a traditional place of pilgrimage at this time of the year. Among those at the church were engaged couples Gavin and Patrick Corcoran, and Ilona Catharine Dorrepaal and Patrick Michael Lennon. The remains of St Valentine, put to death in Rome in the third century for refusing to renounce his Christian faith, ended up in Dublin when they were gifted to an Irish preacher, Father John Spratt, by Pope Gregory XVI in 1836. Bishop Nulty, President of Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service, welcomed the couples to the Shrine. Celebrating the sacrament of marriage is a profound decision in the life of a couple. Today I am honoured to join with Ilona and Patrick, and with Orla and PJ, at the shrine of Saint Valentine. Our two couples represent the many couples across this island who will celebrate the sacrament and thereby connect their love for one another to the source of love, who is God. A sacrament is like the 3-D glasses we watch movies with; love is not just between the couple themselves, but firmly united with God, he said. Following the blessing, the Catholic marriage care service Accord released its latest attendance figures for couples undertaking Sacramental marriage preparation courses. Speaking at Saint Valentines shrine, Mr Tony Shanahan, director of Accord CLG, said it was reassuring to see that attendance figures for Accord marriage preparation courses are back up to their pre-Covid levels. "In 2019 - the most recent full year available for comparison - we provided 285 marriage preparation programmes to 4,610 couples. This figure equals our service in 2022 when we hosted 4,610 couples on 297 programmes. When we consider that, for 2021, the Central Statistics Office reported that religious ceremonies accounted for 57% of all marriages in the State; and that the 6,721 Catholic marriages that year amounted to 39% of the total figure, then Accords data of today paints a positive picture in terms of the numbers who are planning a Church marriage in the future," he said. The holy relics of Saint Valentine are contained in a reliquary within a dedicated shrine in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street), in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The church was founded by Father John Spratt (1796-1871) in 1825 on the site of the 13th century Carmelite Monastery. The church was opened in 1826 and he became its first Prior. Father Pratt was renowned in Europe for his skill as a preacher. Following a visit to Rome in 1835, Pope Gregory XVI was so impressed that he gave Father Pratt a reliquary containing relics of Saint Valentine, which he brought back to Whitefriar Street in Dublin. Saint Valentine was a priest who married couples in defiance of the Roman emperor Claudius IIs edict and he was martyred on 14 February around 269 or 270 AD. Laois communities sharing laneways needing resurfacing are getting a share of 12.5 million national funding announced today under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) grants. Laois County Council will get 304,736 to share out to applicants on its waiting list for the scheme, which pays most of the cost to upgrade private rural roads and lanes. It is expected to pay for between five and eight schemes, according to Director of Services, Simon Walton. It is the first payment of the grant for 2023. Last year over 860,000 was paid out in two waves of funding to Laois LIS schemes, fixing 14 lanes at an average of 61,500 each. Some 52 schemes are still on the waiting list in Laois for the scheme, which was left unfunded for many years after the economic crash. Neighbours Tipperary got almost 745,000 of the latest 12.5m allocation, Kilkenny got 361,000, Offaly got almost 350,000, and Kildare and Carlow got the very same allocation as Laois. Minister Heather Humphreys announced over 12.5 million for upgrade works on rural roads and laneways, on Monday, February 13. The investment is aimed to support vital road infrastructure in rural communities, as well as providing access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities such as lakes, rivers and beaches. I am delighted to announce 12.55 million in funding to improve hundreds of roads and laneways in towns and villages across Rural Ireland. Local connectivity is absolutely vital for our rural communities and this investment will benefit the lives of families in every single county. We all know parts of rural Ireland that can be difficult to access because the road or laneway is in need of repair. The Local Improvement Scheme is about making peoples lives that bit easier, ensuring we have good access to homes, farms and our local amenities. This is what Our Rural Future is all about ensuring more and more people can live work and raise a family in rural communities throughout Ireland, she said. For the first time under the scheme, 500,000 is ringfenced to support rural roads on offshore islands. Since this scheme was reintroduced in 2017, over 3,700 roads have been funded for repair works, totalling 112 million. I would urge each local authority to use the funding announced today and complete the repair works on the selected roads as soon as possible, Minister Humphreys said. In Laois some 53 lanes were funded with the grants over the past two years, with 52 applications still on the waiting list. Laois County Council began by funding the oldest lanes on the waiting list, which dated back 12 years, and is now working on applications made in 2019. Applicants must pay a part of the cost. This is 10% of the estimated cost for eligible roads with up to and including five households/landowners, and 15% for those roads with six or more households/landowners. The maximum amount that any household/landowner is required to contribute is capped at 1,200. The DUP has made clear it will not be dropping its block on the Stormont Assembly sitting so a stalled organ donation law can be implemented in Northern Ireland. MLAs have been recalled to Stormont on Tuesday in an attempt to elect a Speaker and debate the implementation of the legislation. The planned law, named after six-year-old Belfast boy Daithi MacGabhann, who is waiting a heart transplant, has become a touchstone issue in the political debate around the powersharing impasse at Stormont. In a weekend message to party members, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated that his party would not return to devolved institutions unless issues of concern around Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol are resolved. He again accused the UK Government of using the issue as blackmail and also claimed Sinn Fein was trying to exploit the matter for political gain. Sir Jeffrey said that the issue could be dealt with at Westminster with an amendment he will introduce to the planned Executive Formation Bill. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has raised concerns that this route would take longer and might prove difficult. It is unclear whether the scope of the Executive Formation Bill would be wide enough to permit the addition of such an amendment. The opt-out donation system was passed by MLAs last year, but the secondary legislation required to implement it cannot be approved in the Assembly due to the current political stalemate. The DUP is preventing the functioning of both the Assembly and the ministerial executive in protest at the post-Brexit protocol. Only the Assembly would need to be up and running to pass the regulations required to implement the opt-out organ donation system. Daithi underwent another heart procedure in England last week. On Friday, his father Mairtin MacGabhann implored the regions politicians to do all they could to get the law implemented. The opt-out system would mean people in Northern Ireland would be presumed to be donors, unless they take a decision to opt out. It is being implemented to increase donation rates in the region. In the message to party colleagues, Sir Jeffrey wrote: It is disgraceful that the issue of organ donation is being used as blackmail for the return of devolution. We will not be nominating a Speaker on Tuesday. Westminster is sovereign and can resolve the issue quickly. He added: I will be tabling an amendment to the Executive Formation Bill that will empower the Secretary of State to lay the necessary legislation and see this law in place. Given Sinn Feins politicking on the matter, lets see if they take their seats in Westminster to help pass this law in the House of Commons. We wont hold our breath. Utterly false outrage from Sinn Fein as usual. We have a mandate for the action we are taking. The DUP is representing its electorate and there will be no return to a fully functioning Stormont without unionists. Several previous recalls of the Assembly have all ended in failure due to the DUPs stance on preventing the election of a Speaker. An acclaimed Irish writer and broadcaster who has died had strong Laois connections for all of her life, with sympathies expressed locally to her family. Novelist, journalist, actress and RTE presenter and newsreader Deirdre Purcell died on Monday, February 13. She spend her childhood summers visiting her grandparents who lived on the grounds of Castle Durrow. Ms Purcell was a supporter of Laois, returning in 2008 to officially open Durrow Library, and in 2011 to launch Durrow Arts Festival. Laois Libraries has paid tribute to her loyalty to Laois, sharing the photo from the opening of Durrow Library, where she unveiled a plaque. "We are very saddened to hear of the passing of popular author and journalist Deirdre Purcell today. Deirdre was a special guest at the opening of Durrow Library in 2008 and is pictured here with Laois Library staff and local councillors on the day. Her grandparents lived in the town and she was a regular visitor on her summer holidays as a child. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam." In 2011, Ms Purcell was the special guest in Castle Durrow to launch the town's arts festival. She told of locals who welcomed her when visiting her grandparents on summer holidays, and commented on the hard work and community spirit shown in organising the festival in the small town. Its the most ambitious, wide ranging, terrifically engaging festival for people to enjoy. Durrow really punches above its weight, said the writer and journalist. who was signing her 12th book Pearl for fans at the launch 12 years ago. Below: Deirdre Purcell with Hugh Sheppard at the launch of Durrow Arts Festival in 2011. Photo: Alf Harvey Deirdre Purcell passed away aged 77 at her home in Meath. She is survived by her husband Kevin Healy and two sons Adrian and Simon Weckler. There's been a big response in Killeen to an appeal to help Turkish and Syrian earthquake victims. Boxes of emergency donations of food and other items poured into the Killeen Hall last weekend after an appeal launched by Aisling Keightley and supported by the Killeen Community Group. The donations are being transported by Rice Recovery Carlow to the Turkish Embassy in Dublin on Monday. People in other parts of Laois also responded to the catastrophic disaster in Syria and Turkey. Portarlington resident Aybike Ozbay McDonough organised an initiative supported by local people in the town and surrounds. In Portlaoise the Laois Integration Network, which has previously helped Syrian war victims, organised the bake sale and collection of clothes at the Portlaoise Parish Centre last Saturday. Portlaoise Parish is also playing its part with the Diocese and Trocaire. Appeal envelopes are available to donate to the Parish Centre and Churches. In Portlaoise, Ozzy at the Turkish Barbers on Railway Street is playing his part. He is accepting items that will go directly to the Turkish embassy to go to Turkey. Over 12million for the repair and improvement of Ireland's rural roads and laneways has been announced. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, today (February 13) confirmed news of the funding under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), which supports the continued improvement of non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by the local authorities. The investment will support vital road infrastructure and provide access to homes and farms, as well as amenities such as rivers and beaches. Today's announcement by Minister Humphreys means some 112 million has now been allocated to local authorities under the LIS since it was re-introduced in 2017. The minister said, "I am delighted to announce 12.55 million in funding to improve hundreds of roads and laneways in towns and villages across Rural Ireland. "Local connectivity is absolutely vital for our rural communities and this investment will benefit the lives of families in every single county." The largest funding amount of 1,204,736 has been allocated to Galway, followed by 1,065,151 for Cork, 1,004,736 for Mayo and 940,509 for Donegal. Waterford received the lowest allocation (269,062), followed by Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth and Monaghan, all of which received 304,736. Funding allotted to each county is as follows: Minister Humphreys continued: "We all know parts of rural Ireland that can be difficult to access because the road or laneway is in need of repair. The Local Improvement Scheme is about making peoples lives that bit easier, ensuring we have good access to homes, farms and our local amenities. "This is what Our Rural Future is all about ensuring more and more people can live work and raise a family in rural communities throughout Ireland. For the first time under the scheme, 500,000 has also been ringfenced to support rural roads on offshore islands. One hundred thousand euro will be shared among Arainn Mhor, Inis Bo Finne, Inis Fraoigh, Toraigh and Gabhla in Donegal, with 10,000 for Coney in Sligo, 50,000 for Clare Island, Inis Bigil, Inishcottle, Inishlyre, Inisturk, and Clynish in Mayo, and 140,000 for Bere, Cleire, Dursey, Heir, Long, Sherkin and Whiddy in Galway. Two hundred and fifty thousand euro will also be shared among Inishbofin, Arainn, Inis Oirr, Inis Meain, Inis Bearachain, Inis Treabhair, Inse Ghainimh and Omey in Galway. Minister Humphreys said, "Having visited many of our offshore islands in recent months, I know that there are many road projects in need of investment. "This is the first time that the islands have been specifically included in the Local Improvement Scheme, which demonstrates my commitment to enhancing island life. She concluded: "Since this scheme was reintroduced in 2017, over 3,700 roads have been funded for repair works. This has made a real difference to the lives of over 16,000 landowners and residents. "I would urge each local authority to use the funding announced today and complete the repair works on the selected roads as soon as possible. A young settler walks on the sidewalk in the settlement of Yitzhar. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. Yitzhar (West Bank), July 19, 2022. VICTORINE ALISSE/HORS FORMAT FOR "LE MONDE" Israel's security cabinet announced on Sunday, February 12, that it would legalize nine settlements in the occupied West Bank following a series of attacks in east Jerusalem, including one that killed three Israelis. "In response to the murderous terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, the security cabinet decided unanimously to authorize nine communities in Judea and Samaria," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that included the name Israel uses for the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. "These communities have existed for many years; some have existed for decades," it said. Read more Israel police seal up home of East Jerusalem attacker These so-called "wild" settlements were built without authorization from the Israeli government. "The Civil Administration Higher Planning Committee will be convened in the coming days to approve the construction of new residential units in existing communities in Judea and Samaria," the statement said. It said the "security cabinet made a series of additional decisions in the framework of the determined fight against terrorism" including strengthening security forces in Jerusalem. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel is stuck in a repressive impasse as Palestinian resistance grows A text to revoke the Israeli nationality of 'terrorists' Netanyahu said earlier Sunday during a meeting of his government he wanted to "strengthen settlements", which are illegal under international law. More than 475,000 Israelis reside in settlements in the West Bank, where 2.8 million Palestinians live. Netanyahu also announced that his government wanted to submit legislation to the Knesset (parliament) this week to revoke the Israeli nationality of "terrorists". The measures apply to Israeli Arabs as well as to Palestinians with resident status in east Jerusalem, part of the city annexed by Israel. This announcement comes amid an outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes New attack in East Jerusalem raises fresh escalation fears A Palestinian killed three Israelis, including two children, in an attack on Friday in Ramot, a Jewish settlement neighborhood in east Jerusalem, and Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teenager in a raid in the northern West Bank on Sunday. Le Monde with AFP French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers in August 2022 LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP A diplomatic storm has been brewing between France and Algeria, but Paris is holding firm amidst the turbulence. "We continue to work on deepening the bilateral relationship," a French foreign affairs spokesperson said calmly on Thursday, February 9, after Algeria recalled its ambassador to France "for consultations" the previous day. In Algiers, the foreign affairs ministry announced "great damage" to the relationship, while a dispatch from the state news agency Algeria Press Service (APS) castigated "French spooks" who "seek a permanent split with Algeria." The case of Amira Bouraoui, an Algerian opposition activist and holder of a French passport who French diplomats extracted on Monday from an extradition to Algeria while she had taken refuge in Tunis, has tipped the relationship between Paris and Algiers back into turmoil one more crisis in a long line of them. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Political activist Amira Bouraoui escapes extradition to Algeria from Tunisia after France intervenes If Paris is content to keep its head down, it is because Emmanuel Macron's significant investment in a rapprochement with Algeria is a long-term project; the kind of ambition, one of geopolitical magnitude, that is not easily given up, whatever is happening in the moment. Those in France who are in favor of this Algerian gamble will find some comfort in the fact that nothing within Algiers' latest angry outburst is irreversible. When analyzing the words used "great damage" and "unfriendly gesture" it is notable that they refer to the future, leaving the door ajar. The APS dispatch too is telling: by targeting the "spooks" of the French state apparatus, it spares President Macron, functioning instead as a sort of call to the head of state to clean up around him, and remove the "enemies of Algeria." Downgraded relationship with Rabat In this sense, the current storm should not upset the fundamentals of the president's approach to the Maghreb, with a turbulent Algerian gamble and the preservation of a once privileged but now downgraded relationship with Morocco. This balancing act between two warring neighbors whose antagonism has been exacerbated for the past two years by a renewed dispute over the Western Sahara will, however, become increasingly difficult for France, placing its diplomacy under permanent strain. One only has to look at the disaffection taking root between Paris and Rabat, collateral damage of Macron's stance towards Algeria. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Diplomatic tensions flare up again between Algeria and France The visit by the French head of state to Morocco, announced a long time ago, remains in limbo because of the reluctance of the latter to organize it. It is unlikely now to take place before the end of Ramadan in April. You have 50.36% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Recollection in Yaounde, in the private radio station Amplitude FM, in the Elig-Essono district, after the murder of journalist Martinez Zogo whose mutilated body was found on January 23, 2023. DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP A journalist murdered in sordid circumstances, senior government officials and a media tycoon in custody, a minister of justice under investigation... All the elements of a state scandal are at play in Cameroon. The affair that now threatens to shake part of the regime began on January 17 with the disappearance of Martinez Zogo. Arsene Salomon Mbani Zogo was his real name, he was 50 years old and he was a popular voice in Yaounde. Zogo exposed the corruption of the country's officials on a daily basis on the radio station he directed, Amplitude FM. He spoke of rival clans waging a shadow war with the aim of succeeding to the president, Paul Biya, who will celebrate his 90th birthday this month. Businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga was in the crosshairs of some of its latest programs. Zogo, the host of the program "Embouteillages" accused him of having benefited from the largesse of the state with the help of the current minister of finance, Louis-Paul Motaze, and of having received the constant support of the minister of justice, Laurent Esso. Motaze, owner of the media group L'Anecdote and the television stations Vision4 and Telesud, who made a name for himself in 2006 with the publication of "the complete list of homosexuals in Cameroon," has business interests that extend into the banking sector, as well as influential networks in the Cameroonian state apparatus and in several Central African presidencies. Esso is the nephew of the head of state and is seen as a potential successor. The third has been one of the pillars of power for more than thirty years. Martinez Zogo knew he was under threat, felt he was being followed and confessed his worries to those close to him. Atrociously mutilated body In the early evening of January 17, after trying to escape pursuers by seeking refuge in the premises of a police station, whose doors were closed, the journalist was taken away in a black Toyota by hooded men. His atrociously mutilated body was found five days later about fifteen kilometers from Yaounde. The discovery was met with astonishment by a section of the public and fear among journalists critical of the government, who feared that they would be the next victims. However, the case took a new turn when, on February 2, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the secretary general of the Cameroonian presidency, one of the most influential men in the country and a rival of the three leaders Amougou Belinga, Motaze and Esso announced the initial results of the investigation in a press release. Ngoh Ngoh said that "the investigations (...) have enabled the arrest of several people whose involvement in this odious crime is strongly suspected. Others remain wanted." You have 57.12% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A member of the mobile unit of the 1129th air defense regiment on the outskirts of Kyiv on February 10 LORENZO MELONI/MAGNUM PHOTOS FOR LE MONDE About an hour and a half's drive from Kyiv, the unit stopped on a dirt road among the fields, at the rendezvous point transmitted a few minutes earlier. Major "Kansas" and his men are soldiers on the move. "The Russian army is mostly targeting our command posts and radar stations. We, the mobile units, are fine they don't have time to spot us," said Kansas. The unit of the 1129th air defense regiment "Bila Tserkva" (named after a city in the Kyiv region) are the capital's guardian angels, tracking Russian planes and missiles over Ukrainian skies every day. A member of the 1129th air defense regiment "Bila Tserkva" unit near Kyiv on February 10 LORENZO MELONI/MAGNUM PHOTOS FOR LE MONDE On Friday, February 10, Moscow's army carried out a large-scale air attack against cities in Ukraine. According to the General Staff, 71 cruise missiles, 31 ground-to-ground missiles and seven kamikaze drones targeted the country. Although 61 cruise missiles and five drones were shot down in flight, Zaporizhia (south) and Kharkiv (north-east) were particularly hard hit. Energy sites were hit in six regions. Over Kyiv, "10 missiles were shot down," said the mayor of the capital, Vitali Klitschko, indicating that there had been "damage to the electricity network." A political message Russian airstrikes against cities and civilian infrastructure have been part of the Russian military's winter strategy since the bombing wave on October 10, 2022. At the time, Moscow had just suffered two crushing defeats on the battlefield, when Ukrainian forces recaptured Izyum, then Lyman, in the northeast of the country. For the past four months, these missile salvos have been occurring at regular intervals, and millions of Ukrainians have been left without electricity and heating. The attacks also sometimes act as a political message. While the latest salvo against Kyiv was delivered after Germany announced a deal for tank deliveries, Friday's attack came on the heels of a European tour by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is urging his allies to supply him with long-range missiles and fighter jets. "Kyiv is almost a safe city now, even though no anti-aircraft system can intercept all targets" In Kyiv, air raid warnings sounded several times on Friday, first during the night, then again in the morning. As usual, some residents rushed to shelters, including metro stations, while others continued to go about their business as if nothing had happened. At Kyiv's central station, only the closure of the entrance hall for a few hours betrayed a level of fear. Otherwise, travelers continued to stroll around the square and trains from Poland continued to arrive on time. You have 48.32% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. An anti-government demonstration organized by students in Algiers, April 20, 2021. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP Mouloud Boumghar is a professor of public law at the University of Picardie-Jules-Verne (northern France). He has worked on the construction of the notion of the enemy in Algerian criminal law and its effects on the restriction of freedom. He believes that the regime is hardening because its social base has melted away. Algerian power is in full security escalation. How would you characterize it today? The regime is much more authoritarian than before. It was authoritarian in the past, but with room for maneuver regarding freedom. Today, we have entered a dictatorial phase for several reasons: the questioning of pluralism, the political instrumentalization of the accusation of terrorism, which is very broadly defined, and a political context marked by militarization and conservative chauvinism. First, pluralism, which was formal but had a kind of anchorage [in political life], is barely tolerated. This pluralism is gradually being called into question by dissolution procedures that have been initiated against several political parties and associations. There is also very strong pressure on the independent media. For the regime, these free media outlets must submit or disappear. This is the first element. The second marker of this change in the regime's nature is the revision of the legislation on terrorism. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes From Hirak to repression, Algeria enters a new era Why does the government accuse its opponents of terrorism? In June 2021, a revision of Article 87 bis of the Penal Code, defining the criminal offense of terrorism, was made by presidential order. It introduced two new elements among its constitutive facts. The first is "working or inciting, by whatever means, to gain access to power or to change the system of governance by non-constitutional means." This does not mean unconstitutional or undemocratic means, but means that are simply not provided for in the Constitution. If I call for the election of a Constituent Assembly, that is not provided for in the Constitution, for example, it is an unconstitutional means: I can be charged with terrorism! What is being criminalized here is the very demand of the Hirak [a protest movement started in 2019 with demonstrations against the fifth term of former Alerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika], namely the radical change of the political system. The weapon of the accusation of terrorism has such a dissuasive effect that there is no need to use it massively since the objective is to terrorize people. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Political activist Amira Bouraoui escapes extradition to Algeria from Tunisia after France intervenes All this comes after the classification of the Rachad movement [an Algerian Islamist political movement] and the Movement for Self-Determination of Kabylia [MAK] as terrorists by the High-Security Council without any legal basis. This is a very important element since persons who have not been tried and are still presumed innocent can be defined as terrorists and have their names published in the Official Gazette from the preliminary investigation stage. You have 46.76% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on January 22, 2023 JEAN-CLAUDE COUTAUSSE FOR LE MONDE The vast majority of the 120 or so people who responded to Le Monde's call for statements of support for Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform voted for him in both rounds of the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections. They did not do so by default, nor to block the extreme right, but out of conviction. These voters say they were attracted to "the man's intelligence," "his freshness and vivacity," "his realism" or "his economic pragmatism." In contrast to the 64% of French people who are opposed to it (according to an IPSOS poll published on February 2), they praised a bill they call "courageous," "responsible" even "essential." "Macron is the first president to really tackle the problem of pensions," said Melanie (who preferred not to give her last name, like all those we spoke to). At 45, this HR manager in Paris says she is "ready to work a little more" to "save pay-as-you-go redistributive system," which is based on intergenerational solidarity between working people and retirees. Given the aging population, "we're going to have to rebalance the books," added Melanie, who says she "doesn't understand the outcry against the bill." "We all have to make an effort," she said. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes French pension reform: Many protesters call for tougher action after fourth day of peaceful protests This view is shared by 54-year-old Stephane, a teacher in the Ile-de-France region. "With the reform, I'll work six more months. I have an intellectual job and I'm in good shape, so it doesn't bother me at all," he said. Like Melanie and Stephane, many of the people who spoke to Le Monde consider themselves "privileged" and do not have jobs that are considered difficult they are executives, computer scientists, company managers, architects, advertising executives. Some even dread the end of their professional life, which for them is synonymous with anxiety and even depression. "I don't understand people who look forward to retirement," said Stephane. Most, like the government, resort to mathematical logic to justify a reform that they believe is "unavoidable." "We can't go on with 1.7 active contributors per retiree. It is simply untenable," explained an engineer from Marseille. "If we don't want to lower pensions or increase contributions, there is no other alternative," added a respondent from Val-de-Marne, southeast of Paris. For many it seems logical to work longer, as in other EU member states, where the legal retirement age varies: 65 in Belgium, 67 in Denmark and Italy, 60 for Austrian women and 65 for Austrian men, early retirement at 62 in Sweden, with a full pension at 65... You have 63.69% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. The US on Monday, February 13, criticized new Israeli plans to build thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, but gave no indication it would take any action against its close Middle Eastern ally. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced the plans late Sunday, saying they were in response to recent deadly Palestinian violence. It said Israel would legalize nine settlement outposts that were built without authorization and convene a special planning committee in the coming days to approve additional settlement construction. Read more Israel says it will legalize nine West Bank settlements Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a hard-line settler whose responsibilities also include authority over settlement construction, said some 10,000 housing units were set to be approved. Netanyahu's new government is dominated by Israeli ultranationalists who support settlement construction and oppose Palestinian independence. 'Deeply troubled' The United States opposes settlement construction on occupied territories claimed by the Palestinians. Over 700,000 Jewish Israelis now live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem territories captured in the 1967 Mideast war and sought by the Palestinians for their future state. In Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was "deeply troubled" by the Israeli decision. "We strongly oppose such unilateral measures, which exacerbate tensions and undermind the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution." Read more Thousands of Israelis protest outside parliament against proposed judicial overhaul But Blinken gave no indication that the Biden administration is prepared to take action. Israel has shrugged off similar statements of concern in the past. Le Monde with AP A LITTLE piece of Adare has died with the passing of Br Liam Mullally. The Christian Brother was principal of St Josephs Boys Primary School, Adare, in the early 1980s for six years. It was coming to the end of the era when Christian Brothers resided and taught in the village. The monastery closed in the mid-nineties. As well as being principal, Br Mullally was also superior of the Christian Brother community in Adare. The monastery building, which holds a prominent place in the village, was built in the 1830s as a fever hospital. Br Mullally, aged 76, who was originally from Drimnagh in Dublin, was laid to rest last month in Kimberley, South Africa. He had cancer. Many from the Adare area will remember him from the 1980s. Br Mullally also served in Clonmel, Carlow, Tramore, Drimnagh Castle, Lismore and, finally, Kimberley in South Africa. It was here he spent the last two decades years working with the poor and oppressed. Fellow Christian Brother, John Holden said for 20 years Br Mullally consistently and unselfishly served youth who were at risk of ending up on the streets, or getting caught in a cycle of criminal activity and prison. Liam and his assistants aimed to reduce the risk by providing them with a bridging education so they could be reintegrated into the ordinary school system. Many accomplished that. The older ones, who would not re-enter the normal school system, were supported by the local colleges, where they learned manual skills such as bricklaying, welding and plumbing. Other helpful components of the program included street ministry, prison visitation and a feeding program, said Br Holden. Every morning at 5am Br Mullally and his team walked the impoverished streets of Kimberley to give hot coffee and bread to the street kids. Whether it was Adare or Kimberley, Br Mullaly had the ability to connect with youngsters. May he rest in peace. TOKYO : Toyota Motor Corp.s next chief executive said he wanted to accelerate development of parts and manufacturing methods optimized for electric vehicles, calling for an EV-first mind-set" in building out Toyotas EV lineup. We need to drastically change how we do business," said Koji Sato, who is set to become chief executive in April, taking over from longtime leader Akio Toyoda. Mr. Sato said Toyota would develop new EVs for its luxury Lexus brand by 2026 using an EV-specialized manufacturing platformthe underlying architecture on which various models can be built. Until now, Toyota has generally relied on existing technologies to manufacture EVs. Its current EV manufacturing platform is partly repurposed from one used for gasoline-powered vehicles, and its EVs are assembled on lines that also produce other types of cars. Mr. Sato said an EV-first mind-set" was needed as Toyota builds out its electrified lineup. Lexus will lead this new strategy, which will ultimately extend beyond just Lexus, he said. Beyond the new Lexus models, Toyota will continue to expand its current EV lineup, he said. Mr. Sato, 53, was considered a dark-horse candidate to succeed Mr. Toyoda, 66, who has been Toyotas leader since 2009. The company said that effective in April it would give new posts to three executives who had been seen as leading contenders for the CEO job. Among them are Kenta Kon, currently Toyotas chief financial officer, and Masahiko Maeda, currently chief technology officer. Mr. Kon will work on initiatives at Toyotas advanced technology and software arm Woven Planet, which is to be renamed Woven by Toyota" in April, while Mr. Maeda will handle Asia-market strategy. Toyota previously said it aimed to make its Lexus brand all-EV by 2035. Lexus is being led by Mr. Sato until he starts as CEO in April. Mr. Sato said Toyota would announce more specifics about its EV strategy after he officially assumes his new role. Even before Mr. Sato, a longtime Toyota engineer, was handed the CEO role, the auto maker had been weighing some changes to its EV strategy. By making bigger upfront investments in EV-dedicated parts and manufacturing, Toyota hopes to make its EV business more efficient and take advantage of economies of scale. It also wants to make its own batteries and invest in the supply chain for battery parts rather than relying solely on ready-made batteries from outside suppliers. The challenge for Mr. Sato is that other auto makers are ahead in implementing some of those ideasnot just Tesla Inc., but also some legacy auto makers as well as Chinas BYD Co. EVs already make up a big chunk of vehicle sales in China and Europe, and they are expected to pick up in the U.S. as well in response to more generous tax credits. Toyota today is the leader in selling hybrid gas-electric vehicles, a technology it pioneered with the Prius in the late 1990s, but its EV sales are minuscule. Last year, EVs made up less than 1% of Toyota and Lexus retail sales. By 2030, the company aims to lift that proportion to about a third of its annual sales of roughly 10 million vehicles. Mr. Toyoda has frequently said Toyota should offer consumers a range of options including hybrids and hydrogen-powered cars, and he has questioned whether EVs should be pursued exclusively. Mr. Sato echoed Mr. Toyodas views by saying that the car maker will continue with an omnidirectional approach without wavering." Mr. Sato said the new EV strategy was the product of years spent alongside Mr. Toyoda examining business models and considering how to manufacture EVs so that they are uniquely Toyota." Weve seen the kind of EVs we are aiming for," Mr. Sato said. Now that the timing is right, we will accelerate that development with a new approach." CHENNAI : Indian electronics manufacturer Dixon Technologies, supplier to brands like Samsung and Xiaomi, expects revenue to rise 12% in the current financial year and is considering setting up a plant in Tamil Nadu state, a top executive told Reuters on Monday. Dixon's Managing Director Atul Lall said the company is "seriously considering" investing in Tamil Nadu in the next 12-18 months. It currently has factories in three states but not in Tamil Nadu, a hub for electronics and automotive manufacturing and home to major production facilities of Apple suppliers like Foxconn and Pegatron. Lall was speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of an electronics event in the southern Indian state. His forecast for sales growth of 12% in the financial year ending in March 2023, to about $1.45 billion, would mark a sharp slowdown from 66% growth in the previous financial year. Revenue from contract manufacturing of telecom devices, smart watches and wireless products like ear buds is likely to grow 15-20%, Lall added. Dixon's share price has been under pressure in recent months due to slowing sales growth in previous quarters. NEW DELHI : India Post transformed in last 8 years to deliver government services at the doorstep of rural masses, said Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Anurag Jain on Monday. A souvenir sheet of 12 stamps on Geographical Indication: Agricultural Goods was released by the DPIIT secretary. Speaking on the day 3 of AMRITPEX 2023 - National Philatelic Exhibition, he said that GI Indications are a great tool to increase the income of farmers, weavers and artisans. Jain appreciated that the Department of Posts took up the challenge of email and technology-based communication with great agility and competence and improved upon its delivery mechanism. Modern Day Dakiya has played an important role in the implementation of Jan Dhan Yojna." Vineet Pandey, Secretary, Department of Posts said that Naye Bharat Ka India Post is ready with a huge workforce of Karmayogis with digital infrastructure to serve the nation. India Post is partnering with different ministries of Government of India in better implementation of various schemes and programs especially in far flung areas of the country." Day 3 of AMRITPEX 2023 saw participation of more than 2000 school students and their engagement in various workshops like storytelling, envelope art with philately stamps, and paper crafts. A Kavi Sammelan was also organized in which leading poets of the day took part to regale the participants in the exhibition. Huge crowd took part in the Kavi Sammelan to respect the occasion of India Post, and the day concluded with the mesmerizing performance of Piyush Mishra from Ballimaran Band which drew a large audience at the same time. NEW DELHI : Companies, including Big Tech firms, are worried about the governments response to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which proposed a sharp increase in the quantum of revenue on which anti-competitive penalties are imposed. According to experts, the proposal, if it comes to fruition, will significantly increase the amount of penalties imposed on tech firms. Mint reported on 8 February that the upcoming Competition (Amendment) Bill is expected to include a revised penalty clause. Under this, companies which abuse market dominance or stifle market competition will be fined on their consolidated revenues. The competition law is currently restricted to penalizing firms based on the revenues earned from the specific vertical deemed to be in violation, that too only from India. For instance, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Google a total of 2,273 crore ($280 million) in two cases of violation, between October and November. In comparison, the European Commission (EC) said last September that Google would be fined a total of over $4 billion, on account of similar anti-competitive practices in Europe. According to lawyers and industry experts, simply focusing on a lump sum penalty may not make for a blanket regulation that stems abuse of dominance. Instead, spoken orders that direct companies to course-correct themselves could play a bigger role to rein in Big Tech dominance. Whats important to understand is that penalties imposed on tech firms in India, at the moment, by the CCI are not very small. Expanding this penalty scope will be a massive deterrent for tech companies, who are likely to find it a major obstacle in terms of Indias regulatory environment," said Akshayy S. Nanda, partner at Delhi-based law firm, Saraf Partners. To be sure, the proposed amendment is in line with Europes Digital Markets Act, which enables EC to impose fines of up to 10% of a companys global revenue, and 20% in case of repeated infringements. The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is expected to be tabled in Parliament in the ongoing session. On 7 February, the government offered its responses on the Bill, based on submissions made by the JPC chaired by minister of state for finance, Jayant Sinha. Its important to understand the objective of regulating competition. Fines have always been used as a deterrent, and unless they are large, they wont serve the purpose," said Isha Suri, senior researcher at policy think-tank, Centre for Internet and Society (CIS). That is what serves as a rationale for taking a percentage of overall revenues from global markets of a company into account, when computing a penalty. But, whether that acts as a sufficient deterrent or disciplining factor remains to be seen, once the law comes into effect," Suri said. However, Suri added that the sole factor of penalties may not be enough to force companies deemed to be abusing market dominance, into correcting their course of action and opening up sectors for competitive market practices. There are two things that a nations regulators can do one, impose an ex-ante approach that puts excessive obligations on a digital firm. The second, in case of an abusive market conduct verdict, is to impose a large fine quantum. But, whether it has the requisite deterrent effect on the market remains to be seen. For enabling rectifications of market practices and not just deter companies from abusive practices, behavioural remedies under the Competition Bill actually have a more damaging impact on a companys business model, and are likely to correct the market," she added. A senior industry executive who deals with policy issues concerning Big Tech said that simply imposing penalties may not be deemed sufficient to regulate and force compliance from Big Tech, and closely inspecting cases with clear orders that restrict companies from certain industry practices would be a more important factor to consider. Most of the Big Tech companies that indulge in anti-competitive practices have huge financial stamina to see through such penalties, and the key concern would be to make sure that orders given alongside the penalty are followed, in order to maintain the hygiene of markets," the person said. BENGALURU/MUMBAI : New York-based Goldman Sachs Asset Management and homegrown mid-market private-equity firm TVS Capital Funds led a $150-million (about 1,240-crore) investment in InsuranceDekho in the largest Series A round of funding by an insurtech startup in India. Investcorp, Avataar Ventures and LeapFrog Investments also took part in the fundraise by the insurance unit of used-car platform CarDekho. The fundraise comprised about $110 million in equity, and the remainder $40 million in debt. The company did not identify the debt investors. In November, VCCircle had first reported that Goldman Sachs and TVS Capital were likely to lead InsuranceDekhos first external funding round that is likely to value the firm at $450-500 million. The firms valuation in the latest round could not be immediately ascertained. We need to go beyond urban regions when it comes to insurance penetration in the country. We are expanding our reach and will continue to build on our tech-based solutions and empowered advisors so that they can serve every village and region of India by the end of the year," said Ankit Agrawal, co-founder and chief executive officer at InsuranceDekho. The startup plans to use the fresh capital to develop data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), last-mile servicing and claims besides management capability, chief technology officer Ish Babbar said. Launched in 2019, InsuranceDekho earns about 82% of its premium from Tier-II cities and beyond. It competes with the likes of Acko, Turtlemint and PolicyBazaar. It claims to be present in about 1,300 towns, with direct integration with 46 insurance companies in India, offering over 380 insurance products, including 175 products for health and life. The fundraise by InsuranceDekho will come as a major boost to the Indian insurtech industry. Equity fundraising by insurtech firms fell about 39% in 2022 though industry experts said that this year may mark a revival. Experts also said that the insurtech sector is hopeful of attracting renewed investor attention this year, fuelled by deeper digital penetration and growth estimates, as new-age and traditional insurers look to raise fresh capital, VCCircle reported earlier. Insurtech startups raised about $534.2 million in FY22, lower than the $880.8 million in 2021, showed data from researcher Traxcn. To be sure, the sector has seen a more than 50% jump in investments over the last five years from $354 million in 2018. Last month, VCCircle reported that in addition to the new-age insurtech firms such as Acko and Turtlemint, traditional firms such as Warburg Pincus-backed IndiaFirst Life Insurance and Religare Enterprises (for its health insurance business), are in talks with investors to raise capital with the market expected to score a rebound this year. Haitong Securities India acted as the investment bank to the fundraise by InsuranceDekho. In an earlier interview, Amit Jain, co-founder and CEO at CarDekho said he was bullish on InsuranceDekho, which is operated by Girnar Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. The insurance business is near breakeven and is expected to double this year. The premium of insurances will stand at more than 180 crore, with health and life making up for about 22% of the business," Jain said at the time. In the financial year ended March 2022, InsuranceDekho posted operating revenue of 47.9 crore, up from 29.7 crore in FY21. However, net loss ballooned to 72.3 crore from 46.4 crore during the period. NEW DELHI : The contribution of micro, small and medium enterprises to Indias economic growth is well-documented. A report by consultancy KPMG and industry body the Confederation of Indian Industry said the entities account for nearly 30% of Indias gross domestic product and 45% of its exports. MSMEs also play a crucial role in socio-economic development, such as employment generation (at 110 million), reducing inequalities, rectifying regional imbalances, and providing low-cost raw material to support large industries and allied sectors. The progress of less-developed regions and bridging the rural-urban divide depends on the robust health of MSMEs. Recognizing the immense contribution and potential of MSMEs, the finance minister has allocated a record 22,138 crore in the Union budget for FY24 for the MSME ministry. The budget announced many measures to boost the MSME sector, such as extending the emergency credit line guarantee scheme till 31 March, and the RAMP or Raising and accelerating MSME performance programme with an outlay of 6,000 crore. It was, thus, with great pride that Mint took the initiative to host the National MSME Conclave 2023"a platform to discuss the landscape of MSMEs and forge the way ahead. The theme for the event is Solidifying Indias Position on the Global Stage" with a focus on small businesses, which are the cornerstone of the Indian economy. Mint has partnered with the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the National Small Industries Corp. (NSIC ), Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency, and Khadi India. Mint and Mosaic Digital, business head Shalil Gupta welcomed the dignitaries and guests at the event and lauded the contribution of MSMEs to Indias economic growth and measures taken by the government and other organizations to provide support to them. The conclave was honoured to have MSME minister Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, addressing the gathering on Unlocking the Growth Paradigm for MSMEs". Congratulating Mint for organizing the event, the minister said the MSME sector is poised for high growth due to the various central schemes. He said even during the pandemic, the Centre had ensured the survival of several MSMEs with the launch of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme to provide financial assistance to the sector. Highlighting the importance of Vocal for Local, Verma said: We must manufacture locally, and local items should be used by our industries. Our MSMEs must adopt the mantra of going from local to global to see a new India emerging on the global stage." He said the government was bringing to fruition the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Veer Savarkar and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya to give impetus to gram udhyog". Highlighting Indias economic progress, he said: Our economy in 2014 was in 10th position globally. But now, in 2022, our economy is ranked 5th globally." Growth and progress were the mainstay of the discussions at the conclave. B.B. Swain, secretary, ministry of MSME presented a general perspective on MSMEs" with immense growth opportunities across sectors. He said MSMEs play a critical role in the economy. From processing pulses and cereals in their own backyards to producing sophisticated as well as cutting-edge precision equipment, MSMEs in India boast of a highly versatile production profile. I am happy to report that within 31 months of the Udyam registration portal launch 15.3 million MSMEs, which employ over 1.01 million people have registered." MSMEs are growing across sectors and geographies and the figures are just an indication of growth in the formalized sector." According to Swain, the MSME sector is poised to do extremely well in on account of its abilities that make it highly adaptable and resilient. Its growth will be supported by the government through policy interventions and address the challenges faced by MSMEs across sectors". A case in point is the notification issued in October allowing MSMEs to retain the MEME status for up to three years irrespective of an upgradation in categorization. He spoke about the, launch of the Udyam Assist platform on 11 January to bring informal micro-enterprises into the formal ambit". Over 50 million entities will be under Udyam with this initiative. The ministry also launched the Udyam Shakti portal on 29 June 2022 to facilitate access of MSMEs to schemes of other ministries departments and state governments," he added. Public procurement from MSMEs will also increase with the new list including a wider product range. Incidentally, against last years target of 25% procurement from MSMEs the actual figure stood at 36%." Swain said if the conclave is held annually, preferably after the budget announcements, it would presented a wonderful opportunity to discuss the post budget situation. During a discussion on just 25% representation of women in the sector, Mercy Epao, joint secretary at the ministry of MSME said it was a concern. Even the enterprise ownership ratio of men and women was lopsided, and the government is taking initiatives such as the SAMARTH skill development scheme to address the issues. Our vision for 2047 is to breach it and hope women will have 50- 51% representation." SAMARTH ensures 20% seats for aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs. That apart, 20% of MSME business delegations sent to domestic and international exhibitions under the schemes for marketing assistance implemented by the ministry will be dedicated to women-owned MSMEs, he said. Women entrepreneurs can also avail 20% discount on annual processing fee on commercial schemes of National Small Industries Corp. in FY23. Epao said the government was also working on increasing participation of Schedule Caste as well as Schedule Tribe entrepreneurs. National Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Hub announced by the Prime Minister in 2016 October aims to including SCs and STs in the economic growth story of India. When we started our journey in 2016 the procurement from SC-ST stood at less than one billion, but today we are at 13 billion. However, this is still less than 1% and the procurement policy of the Centre, and we are targeting at least 4%, Epao added. With registrations on the Udyam portal, wherein enterprises can share if they are SC or ST, there is credible data which can be shared with central pubic sector enterprises and the government ministries and departments, where they can also monitor the procurement from SCs and STs." Several other plans and initiatives of the government are also aimed at making SC and ST-owned enterprises a part of the global value chain, such as making them digitally literate, offering vendor development programme and trainings and conducting conclaves to make sure that the government can reach out to the last mile, she said. Besides, the ministry is also working on plans to assist and boost small businesses like tie-ups with leading institutes such as the IIMs and IITs to provide support for innovative ideas where incubation and business models can be created", she added. Intellectual property rights and diversification of design via Divine Design Innovation and the Zero Defect scheme are some of the initiatives that MSMEs will also benefit from. Considering that economics and finance play a crucial role in the success of an enterprise, Sivasubramanian Ramann, chairman and managing director, Sidbi, shed some light on Indias massive presence in the fintech sector. Giving due credit to the Centres fund of funds programme, he said: The leap of faith taken by the ministry of DPII in 2016 to provide the 10,000 crore startup fund to Sidbi...these startups have really surprised us and I think the core of that lies in the fact that the engineering and computing talent of this country has probably come to the fore. A majority of investments by the alternative investment funds, (AIFs) has been in tech and luckily a large amount of it is in areas of biotech, agritech, etc., and has gone to a very good social use. The way technology has been used has really been great and today, we are sitting on more than 800 investments made by various AIFs. We have seen that the return that we are getting is in the region of 3.8 X...so hopefully well see 10,000 crore coming back to maybe 20,000 crore." He said data triangulation plays a major role in funding, especially for MSMEs engaged in exports. We need to bring in rating agencies within the country and we need to set the standards for ourselves." Concluding with his predictions for fintechs, he said: The future of growth in India is visible to all of us so theres a large role that ll fintechs have to play across the space from biotech to agritech to the MSME sectorlets be honest, fintechs have led the way, and prompted the regulators to make better regulations. I would say a constructive friction between fintechs and regulation will continue to happen." The conclave concluded that MSMEs are an integral component to Indias growth story and provide the requisite traction to become a $5-trillion economy by 2025. This is a sector that needs to be nurtured to extract its potential and the government is giving it just the right impetus with well-conceived schemes. Before generative AI replaces me (it can pry my keyboard from my cold dead hands), whats going on with jobs? The jobs report for January was huge: 517,000 new hires and a 3.4% unemployment rate, the lowest since Woodstock. Restaurants and retailers cant hire fast enough. Yet were bombarded with layoff announcements: Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Salesforce, Microsoft, Disney, Dell andsay it aint sofake meaters Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. Meanwhile, productivity dropped 1.5% in 2022. Somethings screwy. Technology has brought wonders: desktop publishing, spreadsheets, automated check deposit, social networks and speech bots. Many jobs became obsolete. And now ChatGPT spits out humanlike prose. Googles Bard promises the same. So why are productivity statistics so underwhelming? In 1987, the economist Robert Solow said, You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics." Why? Because, as science-fiction author William Gibson purportedly said, The future is already here. Its just not evenly distributed yet." Same with technology and jobs. This headline from November is a case in point: ILWU clerks shut down Port of Oakland." As International Longshore and Warehouse Union president Willie Adams had written in a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, This is simply not the time to allow further job losses to automation." Uneven distribution indeed. This pushback is sad because technology enables better jobs as capital flows to more productive uses. We saw this on Wall Street in the 1980s with spreadsheets, which replaced X-Acto-knife-wielding experts cutting Mylar sheets spread out on large tables. Many jobs were lost, but Wall Street expanded because everybody could build digital balance sheets and dividend discount models. I think Wall Street and private equity made more money from spreadsheets than Lotus or Microsoft did. Same with desktop publishing. Layout jobs were lost, but 10 times as many magazines were printed until the web enabled digital delivery. Then even more jobs disappeared, but a million times more websites bloomed, creating job booms elsewhere. Now, startups proliferate as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure lower computing costs. Same for corporate America using cloud software to automate human resources, training and some sales and marketing. But even those systems will change as artificial intelligence enables features only dreamed of five years ago. Old jobs destroyed. Better jobs created. But back to productivitywhy has it lagged for so long? Because of huge sectors that refuse to embrace technologythink eds, meds and feds. School is static. The more students, the moreanyone? anyone?teachers hired. Heck, they used to ban calculators. So students adapt. One recently connected ChatGPT to a 3-D printer equipped with a pencil. Homework questions in, handwritten-looking answers on lined paper out. Medicine is unproductive. Its a doctor-intensive chronic-disease-treatment business. But with prevention and diagnostics to find disease early, perhaps wed need fewer oncologists and cardiac surgeons. The technology exists with fancy imaging and gene-editing tools, but its slow to roll out. And government is two million employees who produce no revenue, ripe for antiproductive processes. Even corporations are slow to adapt to new technologyit took lockdowns to force videoconferencing and add lets Zoom" to corporate lingo. The Federal Reserves zero-interest-rate policy created such massive growth that companies threw bodies at their problems instead of re-engineering their businesses. A soft landing or more likely a recession will drive much-needed job transformations. More low-end jobs will be automated. Restaurants and retail are already layering on technology to make up for the shortage of workers, especially with online ordering, self-checkout and delivery. But the process is slow. Still, I suspect that within five years robot shelf stocking will automate even more low-end jobs. Knowledge workers at home were productive for a short while, but now too many mail it in and miss spontaneous interactions in the office. I think companies will soon demand a smaller workforce return to the office, perhaps reviving productive output. Newfangled ChatGPT and generative AI have work to do, much like the original spreadsheets or rudimentary speech-recognition systems. These tools will eliminate some jobs but make others more efficient and find new uses not yet thought of. Those clinging to the old ways will be passed by. Its a new jobs paradox: We have both a shortage and a glut of workers. Expect more jobs lost and better jobs gained as we embrace tele-doctors and pharmacists, food subscriptions, custom-fit-clothing services, paperless government, campus-less degrees, smart toilet diagnostics, concierge plumbers, drone delivery and soon (please) autonomous trucks and cars. This, in fits and starts, will drive the next cycle. Bell Labs invented the transistor in 1948, but its parent, AT&T, had 10 to 20 years of old vacuum-tube inventory and so delayed using transistors. Similarly, for decades the economy had an inventory of baby boomers to throw at growth. But not for much longerthe fertility rate in the U.S. was 1.6 in 2020. This will be a year of re-rationalizing workers. New Delhi: ReNew Power said on Monday the company has rebranded itself as ReNew and the new identity reflects the companys transition from being a pure-play renewable independent power producer to an end-to-end provider of solutions across the decarbonisation spectrum. In line with its strategy to focus on the overall clean energy eco-system, ReNew has been leading the development of emerging decarbonisation solutions like green hydrogen, energy storage, carbon markets, and solar manufacturing, and is poised to further the net-zero transition goals. The company has been a pioneer in leveraging digital technologies to accelerate the transition to green energy and address the unique requirements of the B2B segment in India, where it enjoys market leadership...ReNews new identity will reinforce its position as a leader in the energy services space and also a global brand with strong roots in India," it said. ReNew aims to provide solutions that will enable companies and countries to make a rapid, urgent and ethical transition towards clean energy." ReNews endeavour is to build on its renewable energy business, and widen its offerings across the spectrum, that support decarbonisation within the context of the future of energy," said Sumant Sinha, chairman and CEO, ReNew. According to industry estimates, global power consumption is likely to triple by 2050 as electrification and living standards grow. De-carbonisation will play a critical role in meeting sustainable development goals (SDGs) and strengthen the global action against climate change. ReNew Power is studying green hydrogen opportunities, specifically in Egypt, having signed a framework agreement during the COP27 climate conference last year, Sinha told Reuters in Davos at the World Economic Forum last month. We have not taken any investment decisions at this point in time but we are doing development work to find if we can get to that point," Sinha said. The plant would be located around 200 kilometres south of the capital Cairo and the green hydrogen would be shipped through the Suez canal, the report said. Bigg Boss 16 Finale: Musician MC Stan won the Bigg Boss finale defeating Shiv Thakare on Sunday 12 February 2023. MC Stan now takes with him a cash prize of 31.80 lakhs along with the trophy and a car. MC Stan beat Shiv Thakare to take the first position in the show. After Priyanka Chahar Chaudhary was eliminated, it was a nail biting competetion between Thakare and MC Stan. However, MC Stan emerged winner of Bigg Boss 16. MC Stan's journey in the Bigg Boss house was replete with witty one-liners and bold demeanour. This helped him rule hearts in a very short period of time. His bond with Shiv Thakare, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Sumbul Touqeer, Sajid Khan, and Abdu Rozik was also loved by many. Shiv Thakare is the runner's up and Priyanka secured the third position in the show. He was often called a 'true Maratha' for his stand in the house. He was undoubtedly one of the strongest contestants on the show. Politician-model Archana Gautam finished fourth, with actor Shalin Bhanot, known for shows like "Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar" and "Dill Mill Gayye", coming in at the fifth position. The grand finale also saw Bollywood star Sunny Deol promote his upcoming film "Gadar 2" along with co-star Ameesha Patel, and the team of the new show "Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal", headlined by Karan Kundra, in attendance. Bigg Boss 16 Finale winner's prize money With Shalin's exit, the prize money for Bigg Boss 16's winner increased by 10 lakh. Earlier the prize money stood at 21.80 lakh however, later the winner will get 31.80 lakh. MC Stan walked away from Bigg Boss 16 Finale as a winner - with the winner trophy, the a cash prize of 31.80 lakhs, and a car. Priyanka bid farewell to Bigg Boss house Priyanka Chahar Choudhary secured the second runner up position in the Bigg Boss finale. She was evicted leaving behind MC Stan and Shiv Thakare. Announcing Priyanka's eviction, even Salman Khan expressed shock and said that she was the winner for him. During the video of her journey in Bigg Boss, Priyanka Choudhary was described as the most clever person in the Bigg Boss house who is "not a follower but a leader." Ankit Gupta, who shares a special bond with Priyanka got teary-eyed upon hearing the news. (With agency inputs) Debt-ridden telecom operator Vodafone Idea has started fresh talks with key lenders State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and HDFC Bank to refinance 3,000 to 4,000 crore of loans, according to an Economic Times report. The report further said that refinancing of some debt will help free up cash for Vodafone Idea, which needs to pay substantial vendor dues to tower companies such as Indus Towers and network equipment makers like Ericsson and Nokia. Last month in January, Indus Towers had made provision of doubtful debt worth 2,298.1 crore on account of troubled balance sheet of VIL. It is in the process of issuing optionally convertible debentures of up to 1,600 crore to vendor American Tower Corporation to clear its dues. VIL has made several attempts to raise capital from investors but failed due to the adverse market condition and huge debt on its balance sheet. Last week, Vodafone Idea had approved the allotment of equity shares worth 16,133 crore to the government, which post-allocation has become the largest shareholder with a 33.44 per cent stake in the firm. The company in a regulatory filing said the shares have been allocated to the government in lieu of conversion of interest dues arising from deferment of adjusted gross revenue and spectrum auction payments. "...it is hereby informed that the board of directors of the company has, at its meeting held today approved the allotment of 16,133,198,899 equity shares of face value of 10 each at an issue price of 10 per equity share aggregating to 161,331,848,990 to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, Government of India," according to the filing. The government has cleared conversion of 16,133 crore interest dues of debt-ridden Vodafone Idea into equity after receiving a firm commitment from Aditya Birla Group to run the company and bring necessary investment. Shares of Vodafone Idea Ltd jumped nearly 25% on 6 February after the government allowed the carrier to convert the $2 billion interest on dues owed to the sovereign into equity, which could free up some cash flows in the near term. Back in 2021, India had approved a bailout package for the debt-strapped telecom companies, allowing them to convert interest on deferred adjusted gross revenue owed to the government into equity. VIL decided to avail that option and will issue 1,613 crore shares at 10 a piece worth 16,133 crore, the mobile carrier had said earlier. Vodafone Idea, a joint venture between Britain's Vodafone Group and Aditya Birla Group's Idea Cellular, was formed in 2018 to take on the intense price war unleashed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's wireless venture Reliance Jio. Shared of VIL closed at 7.88 apiece, up by 0.13 per cent compared to previous close, at the BSE on Friday. The Adani Group has halved its revenue growth target and aims to scale down fresh capital expenditure, days after US-based short seller Hindenburg Research put out a tweet, talking about a negative report on the conglomerate that it had published. The billionaire now seeks to rebuild investor confidence after its listed entities have lost more than $120 billion in market value post Hindenburg's scathing report about the group. The US short seller report concluded by saying: After extensive research, we have taken a short position in Adani Group companies through US-traded bonds and non-Indian-traded derivative instruments." The report made many allegations" against the group, which has triggered a stock rout. However, the Adani Group has rejected the allegations and denied any wrongdoing, saying the claims are baseless and published a 413-page rebuttal. Gautam Adanis conglomerate will now shoot for revenue growth of 15% to 20% for at least the next financial year, down from the 40% growth originally targeted, said a Bloomberg report. Meanwhile, capital expenditure plans will also be scaled down, the report added, as the group prioritises bolstering its financial health over aggressive expansion. The shift shows how the ports-to-power conglomerate is focused on conserving cash, repaying debt and retrieving pledged shares as it scrambles to undo the damage from the report published late 24 January. Even though the group has denied the allegations of accounting fraud and stock manipulation levied by the American short seller, the scandal triggered a fall in the price of their listed stocks. Holding back on investments for even as little as three months could save the conglomerate as much as $3 billion, the report said, adding that the plans are still imminent. It further said that funds that can be deployed to pay down debt or boost the cash pile. The groups plans are still being reviewed and are set to be finalised in the coming weeks, according to the report. Adani group firms pledge additional shares for key lender Three Adani group companies -- Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Adani Transmission Ltd and Adani Green Energy Ltd -- have pledged additional shares for State Bank of India (SBI). SBICAP Trustee Co, a unit of the country's biggest state lender SBI, said it had pledges for shares worth 1% of Adani Ports, up from 0.65%, for 0.55% of Adani Transmission, up from 0.44%, and for 1.06% of Adani Green, up from 0.68%. The additional pledges are part of a $300 million letter of credit -- issued by a bank to another bank as a guarantee for payments made provided by SBI for Adani group's Carmichael coal mining project in Australia, a statement from the bank said. The collateral is reviewed at the end of each month to assess if it needs to be topped up on account of any mark-to-market losses, SBI added. Assuage concerns The Hindenburg report was published just two days before 27 January, the day the follow-on public offer (FPO) of 20,000 crore of Adani Enterprises was ready to hit the market. In the days following the Hindenburg-triggered stock meltdown, Adani and his companies have been working to assuage investor and lender concerns. The stock selloff resumed after MSCI Inc slashed the amount of shares it considers freely tradable for four of the companies a move that will result in lower weightings in its indexes. Adani Group has been focusing on staving off concerns about its financial health and shoring up sentiment. Earlier this month, the group said Adani and his family prepaid loans worth $1.11 billion to release pledged shares across three firms while the ports unit announced plans on 8 February to repay 5,000 crore debt in the year starting April to boost a key credit metric. The conglomerate plans to prepay a $500 million bridge loan due next month after some banks balked at refinancing the debt. It was part of fundraising last year to finance the acquisition of Holcim Ltds India cement assets. Independent audit of group companies The conglomerate plans to hire one of the big six" global accounting firms to evaluate its corporate governance and audit practices following allegations of fraud by the US short seller. The independent audit will be commissioned after the completion of the groups flagship Adani Enterprises Ltds 20,000 crore follow-on public offering, and based on that, the legal options will be decided, the people said, requesting anonymity. The fresh audit is primarily meant to restore the publics confidence and arrest the fall in Adani group stocks. In UK, the Adani Group has dropped Deloitte as the auditor of its various subsidiaries last year, replacing it with a far smaller accountancy firm. Crowe UK has replaced the Big Four firm as the auditor of UK entities including Adani Energy Holdings Ltd after the Indian firm bought them in 2021. The UK subsidiaries of the Adani Group include a portfolio of renewable power plants across India that were sold to Adani Green Energy Limited by SoftBank Group and Bharti Enterprises in 2021. Adani hired Crowe UK to audit the companies after the acquisition, ditching Deloitte which used to audit the accounts. Earlier this month, the ministry of corporate affairs has reportedly started a preliminary review of Adani Group's financial statements and other regulatory submissions made over the years. With agency inputs 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 Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. (HGS), a mid-cap company with a market capitalization of Rs. 6,921.12 Cr., engages in the business of knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and business process outsourcing (BPO). The firm is a global leader in business process management (BPM), digital customer experience, and consumer engagement. The corporation has said today that its Board of Directors has declared a record date for 3rd interim dividend in order to ascertain the shareholders' eligibility for the aforementioned purpose. The Board of Directors have declared third interim dividend of 2.50 per share (25%) for the Financial Year 2022-23 and fixed March 6, 2023 as the Record Date for payment of this interim dividend. The said dividend of 2.50 per share shall be paid to the eligible Members of the Company on or before March 15, 2023," said Hinduja Global Solutions in a stock exchange filing today. In Q3FY23, the company declared a consolidated net income of 1164.64 Cr compared to 1075.28 Cr in Q3FY22, representing a YoY growth of 8.3%. The company's EBITDA reached 127.8 crore in the quarter ended December 2022 up 57.1% YoY whereas its net profit reached 518.40 Cr in Q3FY23 compared to a net loss of 378.80 Cr in the year-ago quarter. HGS said its final share buyback price was fixed for Rs. 1,700 per equity share for an aggregate consideration not exceeding Rs. 1,020 crores, excluding buyback tax; and for the purpose of the same the record date has been fixed as March 6, 2023. Speaking on the results, Partha DeSarkar, Executive Director and Group CEO of HGS said: HGS continues to sustain its momentum, led by growth in most of its geographies, expansion in existing client accounts and traction in its digital solutions business. The company posted a 8.3% YoY growth in total income for the third quarter of FY2023 while BPM revenue grew in double-digits." The demand scenario for BPM services today is quite positive and evolving to more complex and digital-led CX opportunities. We are looking to drive digital-led solutions for our traditional consumer engagement clients, led by an integrated sales team. Our digital business grew by 36% YoY in Q3 FY2023. We continue to deepen our relationships with existing digital clients and are focusing on long term deals in areas such as managed services and Cloud. The TekLink acquisition, which we signed in December 2022, is expected to close shortly and will further enhance our digital and analytics capabilities," said Partha DeSarkar. HGS has an encouraging pipeline across key verticals for both onshore and offshore. To support the multi-lingual needs of US-based clients, we have set up a new center in Barranquilla, Colombia, and will look to scale in the next few quarters. Were pleased to have Patrick Elliott join us as the new CEO for our UK operations. His extensive experience in the outsourcing business, especially in digital, and understanding of this region will be an asset to HGS as we look to drive higher growth in the UK market," Partha DeSarkar further added. The shares of HGS closed today on the NSE at 1,316 apiece, up by 1.22% from the previous close of 1,300.15. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vipul Das Vipul Das is a Digital Business Content Producer at Livemint. He previously worked for Goodreturns.in (OneIndia News) and has over 5 years of expertise in the finance and business sector. Stocks, mutual funds, personal finance, tax, and banking are among his specialties, and he is a professional in industry research and business reporting. He received his bachelor's degree from Dr. CV Raman University and also have completed Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication (DJMC). Read more from this author 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 Web browsing application Opera is reportedly planning to add a ChatGPT-powered tool to its sidebar. The AI tool will generates brief summaries of webpages and articles. According to a report by The Verge, the feature is called "shorten". is part of the company's broader plans to integrate AI tools into its browser, similar to what Microsoft's doing with Edge. Opera has also shared a blog, talking about the upcoming feature. As seen in a demo shared in the blog, users will be able to enable the functionality by clicking the "shorten" button to the right of the address bar. From there, a ChatGPT sidebar will appear on the left, generating a clean, bulleted summary of the article or webpage you're viewing. Opera's announcement comes days after Microsoft revealed the AI-powered broswers. Earlier this week, the software giant introduced AI-powered Bing and Edge. Google also demonstrated its AI search bot Bard earlier this week, though it is not currently available for anyone to test. While the company's search engine will have an AI chatbot that delivers annotated replies to searches, Edge will include an AI "copilot" that can summarise webpages or articles, as well as generate content for social media posts and other purposes, reported The Verge. The "shorten" feature isn't available to everyone just yet, though. Jan Standel, the vice president of marketing and communications at Opera, told The Verge that it's going to "launch in browsers very soon." We are excited to see the rapid roll-out of developer programs for solutions such as Google Bard, for example, and are starting to build and roll out new experiences in web browsing that not very long ago seemed impossible to achieve," Per Wetterdal, Operas head of strategic partnerships and AI ecosystem says in a statement to The Verge. (With inputs from ANI) Lack of hygienic facilities endangers survivors in quake-hit Turkiye Xinhua) 10:28, February 13, 2023 ANTAKYA, Turkiye, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Six days after the deadly twin earthquakes that killed nearly 30,000 in Turkiye, the lack of hygienic facilities has started to endanger the survivors. With thousands of buildings destroyed across the 10 quake-hit provinces in southern Turkiye and many more unsafe to enter, the lack of lavatory facilities becomes one of the major issues. "The issue of hygiene is becoming more and more urgent," wrote Ihsan Cakir, deputy general secretary of Hatay Municipality on Friday. The Hatay province was one of the worst hit areas by Monday's earthquakes. "We need portable toilets," said Cakir, noting that volunteers and other personnel are now forced to go to neighboring cities to meet their needs. Local media reported Sunday that 58 portable toilets and showers had been sent to the affected areas, while manufacturers around the country are gearing up to produce more. In addition to toilets, access to clean water was just as urgent. "Underwater sources might have been polluted, with the sewage system in ruins," warned Celalettin Kocaturk, a doctor in Istanbul, adding that now the tap water is not safe for drinking or ablutions. "There is an increased risk of an epidemic," he said. The latest official death toll in Turkiye as of Sunday evening was 29,605 people. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Apple supplier Salcomp said on Monday that it is planning to more than double its workforce in India to nearly 25,000 over the next three years. Sasikumar Gendham, managing director, Salcomp Manufacturing India in a statement to Reuters said "China Plus One strategy is at its peak at this moment ... The whole supply chain is now kind of looking at an alternative. And India is poised to be one of the best alternatives." "It's time to really diversify and decluster supply chain beyond China," he added Salcomp is a major supplier of chargers to Apple. Salcomp currently employs about 12,000 people in Chennai with 85% of them being women. It reached an agreement in 2019 to take over a facility, formerly owned by Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia, in the southern Indian city of Chennai and started operations in 2020. The Finland-based company said that it a, said Gendham. Currently, iPhones are assembled in India by at least three of Apple's global suppliers: Foxconn and Pegatron in Tamil Nadu; and Wistron in nearby Karnataka state. As per a Reuters report last year, Foxconn is also planning to quadruple the workforce at its iPhone factory in India over two years. In 2022, analysts at JP Morgan estimated that Apple may make one of four iPhones in India by 2025, and 25% of all Apple products, including Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods, will be manufactured outside China by 2025 from 5% currently. (With agency inputs) Google's Pune office received a hoax call this Monday morning stating there is a bomb in the office premises. The company's Pune city office was briefly put on the alert after the call. The call later turned out to be a hoax, police said on Monday. As per a PTI report, the man, who allegedly made the call in an inebriated state, has been traced to Hyderabad and apprehended from there. After being alerted, Mumbai Police connected with their counterparts in Pune who rushed to the technology giant's office located in Pune. Pune Police along with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad reached the spot and carried out extensive searches, but did not find anything suspicious. "The office, located on the 11th floor of a multi-storey commercial building in Pune's Mundhwa area, received a call late Sunday night that a bomb was kept in the office premises," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V) Vikrant Deshmukh said. "The call later turned out to be a hoax. The caller has been traced to Hyderabad and apprehended. He allegedly made the call in an inebriated condition," the official said. Further investigation is on into the incident, he added. Police has arrested the caller. He has been identified as Panayam Shivanand, who hails from Hyderabad. A complaint was lodged by Google at the BKC police station in Mumbai. The BKC Police has registered a case against the caller under Section 505(1)(b) and 506(2) of IPC. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (With inputs from agencies) With mere days left for the Tripura Assembly elections, Chief Minister Manik Saha assured on Monday that the BJP would secure a landslide victory. The remarks come as the north-eastern state gears up for a three-cornered contest between the ruling saffron party, the Congress alliance and new entrant Tipra Motha. You've heard of a tsunami, something like that will happen. Anything can happen but it will not be less than 2018. In 2018, we got 36 seats and our alliance partner got 8 seats. So this time we will get more than 36 seats," Saha told news agency ANI. Elections will be held on 60 seats in Tripura on February 16. The counting of votes will be held on March 2. A Left front bastion for quite some time, Tripura had seen a drastic change of allegiance in recent years. The BJP set a record of sorts in the 2018 polls and is now hoping to strengthen its position in the region. The Congress is contesting the 60-member Tripura Assembly in alliance with the CPI(M), while the TMC hopes to continue its expansion beyond West Bengal. Meanwhile, Pradyot Deb Barma - a member of an erstwhile royal family in the region - has emerged as a tough rival after forming the Tipra Motha party. The newly formed group has demanded the formation of a 'Greater Tipraland' state for indigenous people in the state. While there is some discussion about the Congress and Left parties joining hands with the Tipra Motha after the elections, Saha insisted that no arithmetic would work in front of the public's trust. "They (the opposition) is doing traditional politics. PM Modi changed the definition of politics...(Opposition) are doing arithmetic as to how many (votes) they can get but we work for public. No arithmetic works in front of public's trust," he said. (With inputs from agencies) Addressing the curtain raiser event at union defense minister Rajnath Singh said that efforts rea on to make Light Combat Aircraft Tejas completely indigenous, or an aircraft that would wholly be made in India. "We are putting in all efforts to see that Tejas becomes 100 per cent indigenised. That is our ultimate aim." Rajnath Singh said. The Aero India 2023 event is scheduled to begin in Bengaluru from Monday, 13 February. "The government has positioned it at the centre of the Aero India show while also planning to promote its exports," he said. The Minister highlighted that defence exports from India have increased ever since the government adopted the 'Atmanirbhar Scheme', or self-reliance programme, for the defence sector. Singh said that over 75 friendly countries and more than 700 exhibitors will be part of the biggest-ever Aero-India Show in the country. "Karnataka has got the good fortune of organizing this. Karnataka is the foremost among the states contributing to the economic growth of our country. This state is known for its skilled human resource and robust defence manufacturing ecosystem," he said. India Pavilion with the theme of 'Wings of the Future' will be the centre of attraction for this event. This pavilion will introduce the potential, opportunities and possibilities of New India to the world. CEOs Round Table is also an important event of Aero-India. This event will provide us with an opportunity to explore the strength and capabilities of our defence industry in association with the world's top business leaders. "Through this platform, our youth will be able to showcase their capabilities in Defence Sector in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, e-Management, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Autonomous Systems and other innovations for future forces, and empower the Defence Sector," the Defence Minister said. "Promotion of the opportunities available in Karnataka will be beneficial because most of the investments coming from outside will be likely to come to Karnataka. This will create new jobs in the state," he added. Singh said that it is a matter of pleasure for all of us that in the inauguration ceremony of this event, all of us will get the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. "His presence will add more glory to this event," he added. He also highlighted the benefits of Aero India for the youth of Karnataka, saying that their pavilion will showcase the state's opportunities and possibilities and likely investments will create new jobs. He reiterated that the Government's focus is on the future of the youth. Singh concluded his address by urging the media to provide extensive visibility to the event and present the rise of a 'New India' to the world. He stated that media can play the role of a medium in connecting people with the phenomenal progress in the defence sector. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai,MoS defence Ajay Bhatt, Minister of Large and Medium Industries of Karnataka Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka Vandita Sharma and other senior officials of the state government and Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion. The 'India Pavilion', based on the 'Fixed Wing Platform' theme, will showcase India's growth in the area, including the future prospects. There will be a total of 115 companies, displaying 227 products. It will further showcase the growth of India in developing an ecosystem for the 'Fixed Wing Platform' which includes the demonstration of various structural modules, simulators, systems (LRUs) etc. of LCA-Tejas aircraft being produced by Private Partners. There will also be a section for Defence space, New Technologies and a UAV section which will give an insight into the growth of India in each sector. A number of seminars will be held during the five-day event. The themes include 'Harnessing Potential of Ex-servicemen for Indian Defence Industry; India's Defence Space Initiative: Opportunities for shaping Indian private space ecosystem; Indigenous development of futuristic aerospace technologies, including aero engines; Destination Karnataka: US-India defence cooperation innovation and Make in India; Advancement in maritime surveillance equipment and assets; sustenance in MRO and Obsolescence Mitigation and achieving excellence in defence grade drones and Aatmanirbharta in Aero Armament Sustenance. The Indian School of Business (ISB) has been ranked first in India in the Financial Times (FT) Global MBA Ranking 2023 which was released on Monday. The institute is the only Indian B school that made it to the Top 50 this year, with 39th rank globally and 6th rank in Asia. ISB has performed well on the parameters like women in the class, career progress, salary percentage increase, and alumni network. In the research areas, the institute has done well and is ranked first in India and 61st in the world. The rankings reinforce the vision of ISB which aims to be a research-led management institution. This research ranking also demonstrates the quality of research output generated by its faculty year on year," the statement from the institute said. ISBs consistent ranking as the top B-school in India in the FT Global MBA Ranking bears testimony to its constant endeavor to offer its students a research-backed curriculum and cutting-edge pedagogy delivered by faculty who are thought leaders in their areas. It also points to how well our alumni are doing in their careers after they graduate from the School," Professor Ramabhadran Thirumalai, Deputy Dean Academic Programmes, said while commenting on the performance of the ISB. The alumni from the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) Class of 2019 were surveyed to determine this year's ranking based on various criteria. The results showed that ISB excelled in areas such as the proportion of female students in the class, the increase in salary percentage, the strength of the alumni network, career progression, and the availability of career services. This ranking highlights ISB's dedication to providing its PGP students with a transformative educational experience," the statement added. The top 5 business schools in the Financial Times (FT) Global MBA Ranking 2023 include Columbia Business School (US), Insead (France/Singapore), Iese Business School (Spain), Harvard Business School (US), Stanford Graduate School of Business (US). New Delhi: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal urged the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) partner countries to focus on early harvest of deliverables which can benefit all the members. India hosted the special negotiating round for IPEF from 8-11 February, 2023. The round covered IPEF Pillars II (Supply Chains), III (Clean Economy), and IV (Fair Economy). Approx 300 officials from India, the United States, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam participated in the deliberations," the commerce ministry said. Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal reiterated that India was committed to play a significant role in the Indo Pacific region and contributing to a more stable and prosperous future. The focus should be on broader objectives: creating more conducive environments for enhancing trade and investment linkages, development of resilient supply chains, and acceleration of sustainable development," Barthwal said. The IPEF Partners engaged in a productive exchange of ideas and feedback and agreed to continue working intensively in the period ahead in order to make further progress in each of the three pillars. The partners reaffirmed their commitments to continuing collaboration to expeditiously conclude agreements that include concrete benefits to enhance a shared vision for economic competitiveness and prosperity in their respective economies," the ministry added. Speaking at the stakeholders session held on the sidelines of the special round on 9 February, chief negotiator of India, Rajesh Agarwal, additional secretary, Department of Commerce, reiterated Indias belief that IPEF will deepen the economic engagement and promote inclusive development through enhancement in trade and investment in the region; and sought views and ideas of all the concerned stakeholders. IPEF Partner engagement will continue and details on the next in-person negotiating round will be shared in due course," Agarwal said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the 14th edition of Aero India at the Yalahanka Air Force station complex on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The Prime Minister showcased the country as an attractive destination for investment in the defence manufacturing sector, and said it will move towards becoming one of the leading exporters of military hardware globally. India is looking to sign nearly 75,000 crore defence deals at the biennial five-day event, its biggest ever, as its airlines try to complete jetliner purchases to meet civilian demand and press global aircraft manufacturers to produce more locally, mainly through partnerships. Here are 10 top quotes from PM Narendra Modi's speech 1. India has rejuvenated its defense sector in the last 8 to 9 years. We just consider this to be just the beginning. The country wants to more than triple annual defence exports to $5 billion by 2024/25 from $1.5 billion currently as it looks to ramp up domestic manufacturing and join the defence-producing countries. 2. Today, India is not just a market for defence companies, it is also a potential defence partner. I call on India's private sector to invest more and more in the country's defence sector. 3. India, for decades one of the world's biggest importers of defence equipment, now exports to 75 countries. Our technology is cost-effective as well as credible coupled with honest intent. 4. Tejas fighter planes, indigenously developed INS Vikrant as well as the Helicopter factory in Tumakuru are examples of Make In India's strength. 5. India of the 21st century will neither lose out on any opportunity nor will shy away from working hard to achieve its dreams. Today's India thinks fast, and far and takes quick decisions and the India of Amrit Kaal is moving forward like a fighter pilot, and is not afraid to touch heights and eager to fly high. 6. When a country moves forward with new thinking and new approach, then its systems also start adapting with new thinking 7. The deafening roar of Aero India also has the echo of India's reform, performance, and transform. The reforms done in India in the direction of Ease-of-Doing-Business are being discussed all over the world today and India has taken several steps to create an environment conducive to global investment and Indian innovation. 8. India's successes are giving proof of its possibilities and capability and added that Tejas aircraft roaring in the sky is the proof of the success of 'Make in India'. The new India of the 21st century will neither miss any opportunity nor leave any stone unturned in its hard work. We are gearing up. 9. There was a time when Aero India was considered a window of defence show in India, but through the years, the event has developed as a reflection of India's strength with a focus on its defence sector. 10. This event will create new opportunities in the field of aerospace and defence. New possibilities will arise for the youth of Karnataka. This year's event has broken all previous records and there has been participation from all levels including MSMEs, Indian startups as well as established companies from across the world, and the theme of Aero India The runway to a billion opportunities - is being realised. India reported 82 new covid cases in the last 24 hours, the union health ministry data showed on Monday. While active cases declined to 1,837, the total number of covid cases has reached 44.7 million so far. India has recorded 530,753 covid-related deaths since the onset of pandemic. Karnataka reported 137 active cases while Kerala has 1243 active cases. Maharashtra has 85 active cases, Odisha 86 cases, Rajasthan 6 cases, Tamil Nadu 47 active cases; Uttar Pradesh 14 and West Bengal has 35 active cases so far. Around 4,41,51,610 people have recovered from the infection with current recovery rate touching 98.81%. India's daily positivity rate is 0.14% and weekly positivity is 0.09%. With the rapid decline in the trajectory of covid cases, scientists believe that Omicron and its sub-lineages will not affect India as large number of populations is already exposed to the virus and vaccinated. Scientists say that people in India have developed hybrid immunity (due to vaccination and natural infection). However, they suggest people to wear masks in crowded places and complete their vaccination doses if not done yet. At present, large number of cases are being reported in China and other countries as a result the Central government has tightened covid preparedness measures. The government has directed the INSACOG under the supervision of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to keep a close watch on covid situation in the country and continue to do constant genome sequencing to track any new variant. The government is conducting RT-PCR testing for people returning from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea. In view of decline trajectory of covid cases in India and other countries, the Indian government has withdrawn the filling up of Air Suvidha forms for travelers. The country has conducted over 59,037 tests in the last 24 hours taking the total trajectory of covid testing to 91.71 crore so far. Under the covid vaccination drive, more than 220.62 crore vaccine doses have been administered to the people across the country so far. In the last 24 hours, around 1,476 vaccine doses were administered. Besides, hospitals have been asked to maintain surveillance and 5% of lnfluenza-like illness (lLl) and all SARI cases for covid infection. A mother and her daughter were burnt alive during an encroachment clearing drive in Dehat village of Kanpur, Hindustan Times reported. The incident that killed a 44 year old mother and her 21 year old daughter had triggered massive tension between police and the villagers. The 44 year old mother has been identified as Pramila, and her 21 year old daughter has been identified as Neha, according to the Hindustan Times report. Sub-divisional magistrate (Maitha) Gyaneshwar Prasad had gone to Madauli village of Maitha tehsil area in the morning of Monday, 13 February to clear increasing encroachments. Prasad was accompanied by police and revenue department employees, who had gone there to raze illegal structures after complaints of encroachment by one Krishna Kumar. The mother-daughter duo had been in a thatched house, which was planned on being cleared as part of the demolition drive. The woman and her daughter were trapped inside and died in the blaze, alleged villagers. Her husband Krishna Kumar suffered severe burn injuries while trying to save them. The news of the death spread amongst villagers who took up brick-batting against the police in protest. Their demonstration, forced the cops to make a hasty retreat from the area. Senior police officers, including ADG (zone) Alok Singh, reached Madauli village of Maitha tehsil area where heavy police contingent had been deployed due to simmering tension, HT reported. Two women died during the anti-encroachment drive and the police are looking into the case," HT quoted Alok Singh, ADG (zone). With a 33% reduction in allocation for a key scheme that serves as a fallback employment option in rural areas, the central government is essentially banking on demand for it dropping to pre-pandemic levels. But judging by the schemes demand patterns, unless other parts of the economy perform exceptionally well in 2023-24, the government could end up overshooting its budget for this rural jobs schemeagain. Thats what it did in each of the last eight years, beginning 2015-16. Even before the covid-19 pandemic threw the economy into disarray, spending on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) exceeded allocations by 7% to 25%. During the first year of the pandemic, the additional spend surged to 81%. The government is now trying to bring MGNREGS spending back to its usual levels, with the largest-ever funding cut in its 17-year history. Making that cut work is easier said than done, especially in an election year. Between 2014-15 and 2022-23, the average daily wage under MGNREGS increased at an average annual 5.3%. Applying that increase, and thus assuming a daily wage rate of 229, the 2023-24 allocation of 60,000 crore translates to total person-days of 2.62 billion. The last time MGNREGS recorded such employment levels was in 2019-20, just before the pandemic broke. In 2022-23, it has recorded 2.54 billion person-days, but 47 days remain in the year, or about 13%. The bending to the old normal will also test some of the historic issues that afflict the scheme. Growth Necessity MGNREGS guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household. Now in its 17th year, it remains a key source of employment for rural Indians. During the March 2020 lockdown, which resulted in a massive reverse-migration from cities to villages, MGNREGS was a mainstay to sustain livelihoods on scale. In 2020-21, it saw additional spending of 81%. Similarly, in 2008-09, when growth in Indias economy tanked from 7.7% to 3.1%, MGNREGS spending exceeded estimates by 88%. Those extreme situations apart, data show MGNREGS demand tends to increase when the economy is slowing. Even under this BJP-led government, the economys slippage from its 8% growth trajectory in the years before the pandemic framed higher levels of additional spending in MGNREGS. Thus, for 2023-24, when high growth is paramount, the central bank has projected 6.4%. Promise Belied While MGNREGS assures 100 days of wage employment to a rural household, the ground reality is different. Between 2014-15 and 2022-23, the national average ranged from 40-52 days. This gap to 100 days is cited as the scheme not meeting its stated commitment. MGNREGS is a right-based scheme, which means those who demand work within their entitlement of 100 days should get it. However, monthly unmet demand is significant. A measure of this is the differential between the number of households who demand work and who receive it. In the last five years, this is usually 15-20%, and also more in some months. In general, employment at the top end has been falling. In 2015-16, about 17% households worked for 100 days or more. This fell to 8% in 2021-22 and is currently at 3.2% for 2022-23. Lower allocations could squeeze average days further or delay wages (about 11% payments are due in 2022-23). Asset Profile According to the government, the drop in MGNREGS allocation should be seen in totality of the welfare schemes basket. It expects some of the drop off in MGNREGS to be compensated by greater employment opportunities under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide individual tap water connections to households in rural India and whose allocation has risen. This is, however, outside MGNREGS. Within MGNREGS, there has been growing convergence of schemes, with the objective of matching the labour capacity of MGNREGS with the asset-creation mandate of another scheme (like rural housing). For example, under the four categories of reporting heads, the share of individual assets for vulnerable sections has doubled since 2014-15, led by rural housing. Where it uses its funds is one transition that MGNREGS is trying to make. But faced with a funding cut, even how much could be a challenge in the year ahead. www.howindialives.com is a database and search engine for public data. The death toll in the massive earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria has crossed 35,000 and the rescuers are still probing collapsed buildings to find traces of survivors. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from India are also playing instrumental roles in pulling out people from under the heavy rubble. Apart from the NDRF personnel, Romeo and Julie, the members of the NDRF dog squad also deserve a special mention for their role in saving a lives. Without their help, it would have been very difficult to locate the six-year-old girl who was trapped under heavy rubble. The girl has been identified as Beren, pulled out of the the rubble at the Nurdagi site. "We were asked by our government to facilitate search and rescue operations here in Nurdagi and we had a lead about a survivor trapped in the rubble. We asked Julie to go inside the rubble. She went in and started barking, which was a sign that she had detected a survivor trapped underneath," Dog handler Constable Kundan told news agency ANI. "For reconfirmation, we have sent Romeo (Male Labrador) into the rubble and he also confirmed through barking that someone was, indeed, alive under the debris," another NDRF dog attendant told ANI. Locals informed about the possibility of survivors inside the debris of a six-story building that collapsed and turned into rubble at Nurdagi. Romeo and Julie were assigned the task of finding the victims and they succeeded. Proud of our NDRF. In the rescue operations in Turkiye, Team IND-11 saved the life of a six-year-old girl, Beren, in Gaziantep city. Under the guidance of PM @narendramodi, we are committed to making @NDRFHQ the world's leading disaster response force. #OperationDost," Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted. This is for the first time that NDRF dogs and women's team have also come along with all the equipment on an international rescue operation. In one such instance, we found a victim alive after 104 hours," Gurminder, Commanding officer, of NDRF told ANI. From today, India is lifting the mandatory Covid-19 test for travellers arriving from/via China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand and Japan, as infections related to the virus have fallen sharply globally. The Central government has also dropped the mandate to upload the 'Air Suvidha' form for such travellers. Here are the top 10 points of the story: 1. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in a letter to his counterpart in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Rajiv Bansal, said his ministry was updating its 'Guidelines for International Arrivals' in view of a decline in Covid-19 cases. 2. The random Covid-19 testing of 2% of all travellers landing in India will continue, the health ministry has said. 3. The new rule will kick in from 13 February for China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. 4. The decision comes in the wake of a significant decline in coronavirus cases in these countries, over the past few weeks. 5. The letter read: "In view of the above, this ministry is updating its 'Guidelines for International Arrivals', and dropping the existing requirements of pre-departure Covid-19 testing and uploading of the Self-Health Declaration on the Ministry of Civil Aviation's 'Air Suvidha' portal applicable for international travellers coming from/via China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan." 6. The letter added, In order to monitor infections due to mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2 among international travellers to India, the present exercise of random testing of two per cent travellers irrespective of their country of origin upon arrival in India shall continue." 7. Further, according to the World Health Organization's latest situational update on coronavirus, a decline of 89% in the number of newly confirmed cases in the past 28 days has been noted globally as compared to 28 days prior to that, the Union Health Secretary noted. 8. Recently, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said the the possibility of a large new wave of Covid-19 is relatively low in the coming months in China. 9. Meanwhile, India registered 124 new Covid-19 cases, while the active infection numbers have increased to 1,843, as per the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll now stands at 5,30,750, the data showed. 10. According to the health ministry's website, around 220.62 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in India till now under the nationwide vaccination campaign. The Supreme Court on 13 February refused to cancel the bail of former Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Chitra Ramakrishna. Earlier on 9 February, the Delhi high court granted regular bail to Ramakrishna in a case related to illegal phone tapping of employees. This was her first release from jail since her arrest in March 2022. On Monday, the apex court bench of of justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court order which granted statutory bail to Chitra Ramakrishna. CBI has sought to cancel the bail granted to Chitra Ramakrishna. ALSO READ: Phone tapping case: HC grants bail to Chitra Ramakrishna The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that accused Chitra Ramakrishna misusing her official position in the NSE co-location case. CBI further said that Ramakrishna re-designated the post of accused Anand Subramanian as Group Operating Officer and Advisor to MD from April 1, 2015, without bringing the same to the notice of NRC and the board. The CBI is probing the alleged improper dissemination of information from the computer servers of the market exchanges to the stockbrokers. Earlier, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) penalized the National Stock Exchange and its former CEOs Chitra Ramakrishna and Ravi Narayan and two other officials for lapses in recruitment at the senior level. Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing a phone-tapping money laundering case against Chitra Ramakrishna. With agency inputs. MUMBAI : The Reserve Bank of India and Yes Bank Ltd filed separate appeals in the Supreme Court on Monday to challenge the Bombay High Courts ruling on 20 January that overturned the private lenders decision to write off 8,415 crore worth of additional tier-1 (AT-1) bonds as part of a restructuring plan. In its petition before the apex court, RBI said that the Basel-III Master Circular mandates that such AT-1 bonds must be written off before public funds are injected into the reconstructed bank (Yes Bank). By setting aside the master circular and reviving the AT-1 Bonds, this order will adversely impact the rest of Yes Banks reconstruction scheme besides diluting the equity infused by State Bank of India, RBI said. The central bank argued in its challenge that ... the impugned order will be prejudicial to the interests of over 2 lakh public depositors for whose benefit the entire exercise of reconstruction has been undertaken". It said that the high court order was an interference in the economic policy of the RBI and noted that the legal position that courts should refrain from interfering in decisions about economic policy and legislation has been already established by the top court. It is not the function of the courts to sit in judgment over matters of economic policy and it must necessarily be left to the expert bodies. The setting aside of the central banks letter was in contravention of the law already settled by the top court," the petition said. Moreover, the bank petitioned that Yes Bank would have never been revived unless SBI agreed to invest public sector money into the private bank. A copy of RBIs petition was seen by Mint. RBI, along with Yes Bank, filed their appeals on Saturday. Mint couldnt access Yes Banks petition. Calls and messages to a spokesperson for Yes Bank remained unanswered. Mint first reported on 22 January that RBI was likely to appeal the high court ruling that quashed the regulators and Yes Banks decision to write-off the AT1 bonds. AT-1 bonds are unsecured or perpetual bonds with no maturity date and is used by banks to increase their equity base and comply with Basel III norms. As part of Yes Banks restructuring scheme in March 2020, RBI along with the Yes Bank administrator decided to write-off the AT1 bonds. Consequently, aggrieved by the decision, a batch of petitions were filed by the bondholders, including financial institutions and retail investors. A key factor in SBIs decision to infuse equity are the provisions of the master circular, as per which the loss absorbent AT1 bonds were to be written off before fresh equity infusion so that there would be no dilution of SBIs capital, RBI said, adding that the master circulars instructions that the bonds would be written off before further infusion of equity in order to prevent dilution of SBIs funds had a crucial role in the state-run lenders decision to restructure Yes Bank. In March 2020, the Yes Bank board was superseded by RBI, and Prashant Kumar was appointed as the administrator. RBI had said the decision was taken mainly due to the banks poor financial situation, which was mostly caused by its failure to obtain new capital. A petition was filed by the Yes Bank AT1 Bond Holders Association for their claims worth 160 crore. It filed a writ petition challenging the legality and validity of RBIs decision to write off AT-1 bonds sold by Yes Bank to ineligible investors. In its petition before the high court, the association had said our members are individual retail investors most of whom are above 60 years of age, who have been wrongfully lured to invest in AT1 bonds issued by Yes Bank which were meant for allotment only to institutional investors and corporate bodies for which they were ineligible." . The recent shooting down of a spy balloon by the US administration has once again raised the phenomenon of 'Unidentified Aerial Phenomena(UAP)' in the United States of America. The UAP is also known as an unidentified flying object or UFO in common parlance. In the latest of the events, the US military has shot down a fourth flying object over Lake Huron in Michigan. This comes after the US shot down UFOs on Friday and Saturday in US and Canadian airspace. Rep. Jack Bergman tweeted,""The American people deserve far more answers than we have." Ive been in contact with DOD regarding operations across the Great Lakes region today. The US military has decommissioned another object over Lake Huron. I appreciate the decisive action by our fighter pilots. The American people deserve far more answers than we have. Rep. Jack Bergman (@RepJackBergman) February 12, 2023 Meanwhile , the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a report on UFO sightings in the USA which has some interesting observations. In the report, it is mentioned that the instances of UFO sightings increased significantly between March 2021 and August 2022. The report stated that during this time frame a total of 247 new sightings were reported and it was mostly by US Navy and Air Force pilots and personnel. However, from 2004 to 2021 a total of 144 UFO sightings were reported in the 17-year period. The report also stated in its findings that multiple factors affect the observation or detection of UAP, such as weather,illumination, atmospheric effects, or the accurate interpretation of sensor data. Regarding review or analysis of UAP events, ODNI and AARO operate under the assumption that UAP reports are derived from the observers accurate recollection of the event and/or sensors that generally operate correctly and capture enough real data to allow initial assessments. However, ODNI and AARO acknowledge that a select number of UAP incidents may be attributable to sensor irregularities or variances, such as operator or equipment error. Flight safety concerns and health implications UFOs pose a safety of flight and collision hazard to air assets, potentially requiring aircraft operators to adjust flight patterns in response to their unauthorized presence in the airspace, operating outside of air traffic control standards and instruction. To date, there have been no reported collisions between U.S. aircraft and UAP. Regarding health concerns, there have also been no encounters with UAP confirmed to contribute directly to adverse health-related effects to the observer(s). Acknowledging that health-related effects may appear at any time after an event occurs, AARO will track any reported health implications related to UAP should they emerge. Meanwhile US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to Reuters, said separately after the news briefing that the military had seen no evidence suggesting that any of the objects in question were of extraterrestrial origin. The sighting and shooting of unidentified flying object for the paranoid US government has been going on for a week now, after a Chinese Spy Balloon was spotted flying over US airspace. Since there there has been reports of several unidentified objects flying over US and Canada. While these incidents breed tension among the two countries, US Air Force general overseeing North American airspace said that the UFOs could just as well be Aliens and not just Chinese spies. I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything." Reuters quoted General Glen VanHerck. "At this point we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it," he added. This now changes dynamic of the accusations and allegation that seems to be increasing the rift between the East and the West. The comments by VanHerck comes after on Sunday, a US F-16 fighter jet shot down an octagonal-shaped object over Lake Huron on the U.S.-Canada border. We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason," said VanHerck. US sent spy balloons more than 10 times in 2022: China Beijing said Monday that Washington had sent balloons into its airspace more than 10 times since January 2022, deepening a row between the two powers after an alleged Chinese surveillance craft was shot down over the United States. "Since last year alone, US balloons have illegally flown above China more than 10 times without any approval from Chinese authorities," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said during a briefing, urging the US to "change its course and introspect itself rather than smear and accuse China". UFOs or spies? The government's effort to investigate anomalous, unidentified objects - whether they are in space, the skies or even underwater - has led to hundreds of documented reports that are being investigated, senior military leaders have said. But the Pentagon says it has not found evidence to indicate Earthly visits from intelligent alien life. Analysis of military sightings are conducted by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in conjunction with a newly created Pentagon bureau known as AARO, short for the cryptically named All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office. Their first report to Congress in June 2021 examined 144 sightings by U.S. military aviators dating to 2004. That study attributed one incident to a large, deflating balloon but found the rest were beyond the government's ability to explain without further analysis. A report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued last month cited 366 additional sightings, mostly things like balloons, drones, birds or airborne clutter. But 171 remained officially unexplained. "Some of these uncharacterized UAP appear to have demonstrated unusual flight characteristics or performance capabilities, and require further analysis," the office said in the report. (With inputs from agencies) A security guard at the British embassy in Berlin collected highly sensitive information for more than three years, including "secret" government communications with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, prosecutors told a London court on Monday. David Ballantyne Smith, 58, scanned copies of a letter from two cabinet ministers to Johnson and other documents relating to "sensitive trade matters", prosecutor Alison Morgan told London's Old Bailey. Smith, who has pleaded guilty to eight charges, is alleged to have collected information from as early as March 2018 until his arrest in August 2021 the day after meeting "Irina", an MI5 officer posing as a member of Russia's military intelligence service. Morgan said a search of Smith's home in Potsdam, Germany, after his arrest recovered a USB stick which contained several photos of embassy staff and diplomatic passports. Smith also filmed a number of sensitive documents he found in trays including a November 2020 letter from then-Trade Minister Liz Truss and then-Business Minister Alok Sharma to Johnson, which was classified as "secret", she said. Morgan said Smith sent a letter containing "highly sensitive information about the British embassy and those who worked within it" to General Major Sergey Chukhrov, the Russian military attache to Berlin, in November 2020. The letter which was written on British embassy-headed notepaper provided the names, home addresses and phone numbers of embassy staff and enclosed documents authored by the British embassy's lead officer dealing with Russia, Morgan said. She added that the discovery of Smith's letter to Chukhrov prompted a joint investigation between British and German authorities. This first involved getting an MI5 officer to pose as "Dmitry", a Russian national providing assistance to Britain. Covertly recorded footage was played in court showing Smith filming CCTV footage of "Dmitry" from within the embassy's security kiosk. Smith was later approached by "Irina", who told him that she needed assistance as someone had "passed information to the British and the information could be damaging to Russia". In hidden camera footage played to the court, "Irina" asks if Smith can help and he replies: "Well, like what?" "ANTI-WEST VIEWS" Smith pleaded guilty in November to eight offences under the Official Secrets Act, including one charge relating to passing information to Chukhrov. He admitted seven other charges which relate to collecting information which might be useful to the Russian state. Smith denies intending to cause prejudice to Britain, Morgan told the court, and says he pleaded guilty on the basis that he simply wanted to cause "inconvenience and embarrassment". He also denies receiving any payment. However, the prosecution argues that Smith who told colleagues of his "strong anti-UK views", as well as his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin had a "clear intention to cause prejudice to the UK". Morgan said Smith expressed "anti-West and anti-NATO views" to colleagues and spoke of his support for Russia and President Vladimir Putin. "He expressed views about the war in Ukraine that were opposed to the Ukrainian government and supportive of Russia," she added. Judge Mark Wall is expected to rule on Wednesday on the basis on which Smith will be sentenced, which is expected to take place on Friday. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. At least 4,815 children were sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church - mostly priests - over the past 70 years, the commission investigating the issue said in a report on Monday, adding the findings are the "tip of the iceberg". "(We want) to pay a sincere tribute to those who were abuse victims during their childhood and dared to give a voice to silence," said child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, who headed the commission. "They are much more than a statistic." Strecht said the 4,815 cases were the "absolute minimum" number of victims of sexual abuse by clergy members in Portugal since 1950. "These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg," he said. ALSO READ: Balenciaga designer apologises for 'child abuse' ads Most perpetrators (77%) were priests and 57% of the victims were men, Strecht said, adding that they were abused in Catholic schools, churches, priests' homes, confessionals, among other locations. The majority of the sexual abuses took place when the children were aged 10-14, with the youngest victim being just two-years-old. Jose Ornelas, head of the Bishops' Conference, attended the final report's presentation and told a news conference later on Monday the revelations were an "open wound that hurts and shames us". Ornelas said Portuguese bishops would meet on March 3 and would look into implementing "more efficient and appropriate mechanisms" to prevent future abuses. Among other recommendations, the commission said the Church should denounce all alleged abuses, provide psychosocial support to victims and continue the investigation into the issue. 'LOOK INTO THE PAST' Hans Zoller, the Vatican official responsible for child sexual abuse cases, also attended the event in Lisbon. He said it was important to "continue to listen to victims because this will not be the end of it". "There will be more victims who will come forward," he said, adding it was now the responsibility of the Bishops' Conference to inform Pope Francis about the report. "We (the Church) need to...(look) into the past." The Portuguese Catholic Church was rocked last year by cases of alleged cover-up of sexual abuse including by bishops who remain active in church roles. The commission said it was preparing a list of accused priests still working. "We apologise to all the victims," Ornelas, who is himself being investigated by public prosecutors for covering up sex abuse at an orphanage in Mozambique in 2011. He denies any wrongdoing. The Portuguese commission started its work in January 2022 after a report in France revealed around 3,000 priests and religious officials sexually abused over 200,000 children. The abuse allegations have come from people from various backgrounds, from every region of the country and also from Portuguese nationals living in other countries in Europe, Africa and the Americas. The commission spoke with over 500 victims, analysed historical church documents and interviewed bishops and other clergy members. A total of 25 of the testimonies heard by the commission were sent to the public prosecutors' office for investigation as all others were committed over 20 years ago and legal proceedings can no longer be initiated. The commission said the law should be changed so legal proceedings can be initiated for historic crimes committed 30 years ago. The commission, which says it is independent, was financed by the Catholic Church. Asked by Reuters in December 2021 if that could be a threat to the commission's independence, Strecht said he would be the first to walk out and denounce it if the church intervened in the process. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that India is discussing with the G-20 member countries the need to develop a standard operating protocol (SoP) for regulating crypto assets. This comes amidst a growing concern about the potential risks and benefits of crypto assets and web3 sectors and highlights the need for international collaboration in regulating these emerging technologies. The Finance Minister noted that these sectors are relatively new and constantly evolving, making it challenging for a standalone country to regulate them effectively. She stated that given that crypto assets and web3 are completely driven by technology, it is essential to have a coherent and comprehensive approach that includes international collaboration in bringing some regulation. "In the G20, we're raising it and having detailed discussions with members so that a standard operating protocol emerges which results in a coherent, comprehensive approach where all countries work together in bringing some regulation," the minister said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. The Finance Minister's remarks were in response to a question by DMK MP T Sumathy, who inquired if the government had prepared any future roadmap to regulate virtual digital assets / cryptos/web3 sectors in the country. Sitharaman's comments suggest that India is taking a measured approach to regulating crypto assets and is seeking to work with the international community to ensure that the regulatory framework is consistent and effective. The Centre, as well as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), have often cautioned people regarding crypto currencies.In last year Budget's speech, Sitharaman imposed a 30% fixed tax rate on all income generated through crypto trading and nonfungible tokens. Last year in December, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said the next financial crisis will be caused by private cryptocurrencies, if these assets are allowed to grow. The Rbi Governor had said that his main concern is that cryptocurrencies "don't have any underlying value". Around 58,000 homes are without power in New Zealand's upper North Island on Monday as the approach of Cyclone Gabrielle brings strong winds, heavy rain and huge swells to Auckland and nearby regions. The cyclone is the second significant weather event to hit Auckland and the upper North Island in just a few weeks. Last month Auckland and surrounding areas were hit by record rainfall that sparked floods and killed four people. Gabrielle swept past the Australian territory of Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea on Saturday night, although its most destructive winds missed the island. Cyclone Gabrielle strikes New Zealand: 10 Points It is now sitting just north of New Zealand, with weather forecasters expecting rain and winds to intensify as it nears land during Monday and Tuesday. Already winds as high as 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour have been recorded at the tip of the Coromandel Peninsular while about 180 millimeters (7 inches) of rain fell over 24 hours in the northern town of Whangarei. Thousands of people in the region are without power while some people in Coromandel and Gisborne are already starting to evacuate. Auckland Council is closing all non-essential services for Monday and Tuesday. Air New Zealand canceled all domestic flights to and from Auckland through midday Tuesday, as well as many international flights. Some international routes would continue operating, although might need to be diverted from Auckland. The carrier also canceled domestic flights to and from the cities of Hamilton, Tauranga and Taupo. The cyclone, which was lying just to the northeast of the country and moving south, dumped more than 220 millimeters (9 inches) of rain in areas north of Auckland, cutting power to about 58,000 households and forcing many roads to close. Many schools and local government facilities across Auckland and the upper North Island have closed and people are being asked not to travel if possible. States of emergency are in place in Auckland and at least four other regions. The meteorological agency Metservice said Whangarei, a city north of Auckland, had received 100.5 mm of rain (4 inches) in the past 12 hours, while winds of 159 km per hour (100 miles per hour) had been recorded off the coast of Auckland. Northpower, which is responsible for the network in the northernmost regions, said around half of their network had been damaged, a level it hasn't seen since a cyclone in 1988. The New Zealand Defence Force has located 150 staff across Auckland and neighbouring regions and they are bringing in welfare supplies to civil defence centres and shelters. New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in a press conference with local media on Sunday called on residents across Auckland to minimize non-essential travel, urging those who could work from home to do so. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan Army in 2009, is alive and well, Tamil Nadu nationalist leader Pazha Nedumaran has claimed. During a press conference, Pazha Nedumaran, claimed that prefixed the international (political) atmosphere and fierce opposition to Rajapaksas by the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka has created the right conditions for the leader of the Eelam Tamils, Prabhakaran to emerge. The leader of Eelam Tamils, Prabhakaran, had been accused of plotting the death of former prime minister of India Rajiv Gandhi. Asserting that the LTTE leader is doing well, Nedumaran said the announcement would end 'planned' suspicions spread about him. Prabhakaran is all set to soon announce a plan for the dawn of the Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka, he said. He appealed to Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Tamils living in all other parts of the world to stand together and extend him their their full support. Till such time the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was powerful, they did not allow any forces inimical to India to find a toehold in the regions held by them in Sri Lanka, he said. They not only opposed such forces but also have not received any support from such nations opposed to India, he added. It's a joke, says Sri Lanka Sri Lanka on Monday dismissed as a "joke" a top Tamil nationalist leader's claim that LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was killed in 2009 by the island nation's military, was still alive. Sri Lanka's defence ministry dismissed Nedumaran's claim as a joke. "It is confirmed that he was killed on 19 May 2009. The DNA has proved it," Colonel Nalin Herath, Sri Lanka's defence ministry spokesman told PTI. How did Prabhakaran die? The Sri Lankan Tamil guerrilla and the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organization, sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. In a bitterly fought campaign that began in 1983, Sri Lanka's military ended the nearly three-decade brutal civil war in the island nation in May 2009, by killing the leaders of the LTTE. Though the exact date when Prabhakaran was killed by the Sri Lankan Army was not known, his death was announced on May 19, 2009. Sana Ramchand Gulwani has become the first female Hindu appointed as assistant commissioner and administrator in Punjab's province. According to the Express Tribune report, the 27-year-old woman grew up in Sindh province's Shikarpur city and graduated to become a doctor at her parents' wishes. Later, she appeared for Central Superior Services (CSS) exam and became the first woman from the Hindu community to join the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) in Punjab's province's Hassanabdal. She cleared the examination on her first attempt. A 27-year old meritorious Sindhi Hindu girl, Sana Ramchand Gulwani of Shikarpur, has assumed the charge of Assistant Commissioner Hassanabdal after qualifying the CSS exam. Pakistan needs more female representation and more Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Parsi Officers in all fields. pic.twitter.com/kzv0vyFhoY Ayaz Latif Palijo (@AyazLatifPalijo) February 13, 2023 In 2016, she graduated from Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree as a urologist. She then started preparing for the CSS exam. Gulwani assumed charge as the assistant commissioner and administrator of Hassanabdal city in the Attock district last week. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates cited by PTI news agency, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions, and language with Muslim residents. According to a 2021 report by BBC Urdu, the success rate in the CSS exam is less than 2% in Pakistan. Sana Ramchand was selected in the CSS annual exam 2020 among 79 other women. She had told BBC that she deleted all social media handles and WhatsApp. and cut off from her social life to crack the exam. "The formula to succeed in the first attempt is just how much attention you give. How much you dedicate yourself and how many hours a day you sit and study," Sana told BBC Urdu in 2021. Sana has four sisters. She says that she never felt that she was less than a man. According to her, many women in the bureaucracy are brave and do good work, she will follow them only. NATO said on Monday it will increase targets for stockpiling ammunition as Kyiv is burning through shells much faster than Western countries can produce them and after a year of conflict in Ukraine has left allied stocks badly depleted. "The current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of a two-day meeting of the alliance's defence ministers in Brussels. NATO planned to increase its targets for munitions stockpiles, Stoltenberg said, adding that the alliance had completed a survey of remaining stocks. Reuters, citing a NATO source, reported earlier that the alliance was expected to raise stockpiling targets. The West needed to ramp up production as the waiting time for large-calibre ammunition has increased to 28 months from 12 months, Stoltenberg said. Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year, many NATO countries fell short of meeting the alliance's stockpiling targets, as officials considered wars of attrition with large-scale artillery battles a thing of the past. But the pace of deliveries to Ukraine, where Kyiv's troops are firing up to 10,000 artillery shells daily, has drained Western inventories and exposed holes in the efficiency, speed and manpower of supply chains. "If Europe were to fight Russia, some countries would run out of ammunition in days," a European diplomat told Reuters. Stoltenberg said higher munitions supplies were essential to ensuring the alliance can keep supporting Ukraine, while protecting every inch of its own territory. "Almost one year since the invasion, President Putin is not preparing for peace, he is launching new offensives," Stoltenberg noted. "It is clear that we are in a race of logistics. Key capabilities like ammunition, fuel, and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield. Speed will save lives." Asked whether he saw Russia's latest thrusts in Ukraine as the start of a major offensive experts originally had been expecting in spring, Stoltenberg said it was the start. "What we are seeing President Putin doing now is sending thousands and thousands of more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty, taking big losses but putting pressure on the Ukrainians," he noted. "What Russia lacks in quality, they try to compensate in quantity." When NATO defence ministers meet in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday they will also kick off a discussion on adapting the alliance's target for its members to spend 2% of their GDP on defence. Several allies see this target as too low, given there is war raging in Europe, and are pushing for higher military spending, while others such as Germany are far away from meeting even the 2% goal. A decision is expected at the NATO summit in Lithuania in July. The Brussels meeting will be preceded by a gathering of the so-called Ramstein group, dozens of countries providing arms to Kyiv. NATO defence ministers will be joined by their Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. As the Ukraine-Russia war nears the one year mark, NATO's ammunition stockpile appears to be dwindling. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday that the group was planning to increase its targets for munitions stockpiles. The current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production," he explained. Put more simply, Kyiv is burning through shells much faster than its allies can produce them. With troops firing up to 10,000 artillery shells daily, Western inventories have become severely depleted and exposed holes in the efficiency, speed and manpower of supply chains. "If Europe were to fight Russia, some countries would run out of ammunition in days," a European diplomat told Reuters. In recent years, many NATO countries had fallen short of meeting the alliance's stockpiling targets, with officials considered wars of attrition with large-scale artillery battles a thing of the past. Now, the waiting time for large-calibre ammunition has also increased from 12 months to 28 months. Russian forces bombarded the east Ukrainian city of Bakhmut on Monday in what Stoltenberg opined was the start of a major offensive. Bakhmut is a prime objective for Russian President Vladimir Putin and its capture would give Russia a new foothold in the Donetsk region and a rare victory after several months of setbacks. "... The reality is we have seen the start (of a Russian offensive) already because we see now what Russia does now - President Putin does now - is to send thousands and thousands more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty," he said. Against this backdrop, as NATO countries discuss the further military aid, it is imperative to ramp up manufacturing. With Ukraine desperate for more weapons, defence ministers from several NATO countries allied to Kyiv will meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the situation. (With inputs from agencies) The alleged gang-rape of a woman in a park in Islamabad's F-9 area at gunpoint has brought back the memories of the Nirbhaya case that little has been achieved to ensure women's safety in all these years. The incident which took place a few days back has enraged women's rights activists and has sparked furious protests against an increasing sexual barbarism" in Pakistan. Violence against women in Pakistan, which is regarded as the sixth most dangerous country for women to live in, has become a problem that cannot be neglected. According to analysts, hitting a woman or exercising domestic violence is much more prevalent in Pakistani households where men consider it a tool to control women. A woman in Pakistani society faces multiple threats because of her gender, believe rights activists. The woman is seen being publicly harassed, raped, or killed in the name of honour by men who commit such crimes without having fear of being punished and charged guilty, Mehmil Khalid wrote for Dunya news. The Human Rights Watch in its Annual World Report 2022 cited allegations of extensive rights abuses against women along with children in Pakistan, which ranks 167 out of 170 countries on the Global Women, Peace and Security Index. "Violence against women and girls, including rape, murder, acid attacks, domestic violence, and forced marriage is endemic throughout Pakistan. Human Rights defenders estimate that roughly 1,000 women are killed in so-called honour killings every year," the report stated. Here's what has happened The 24-year-old women was walking with a male colleague through Fatima Jinnah park, known locally as F-9 park and the city's largest, when they were allegedly attacked by two armed men. The man was chased away and the woman raped. A forensic checkup of the victim confirmed bruises consistent with sexual assault. Meanwhile, suspects are being traced through CCTV footage and Safe City cameras, said police, according to a Geo News report. The gun-toting aggressors took the two to a nearby thicket at gunpoint and separated them, first information report (FIR). The attackers reportedly beat the woman up when she pleaded with them to let her go and even offered them money in exchange for her safety. The FIR says when the victim tried to raise her voice, she was beaten and threatened by the attackers. Her attempts to run away were also foiled by the attackers. As they were leaving into a nearby thicket, the alleged culprits returned "all our things and gave us 1,000 to stay quiet" while also telling the victim that she should not be in the park at this time of the night, according to the FIR, reported Geo News. National outrage The alleged gang-rape incident in the country has caused national outrage and activists are demanding swift justice for victims. Many have taken to social media platforms to express their shock and disgust at the attack in islamabad. One user said: "News about a heinous incident in Islamabad. A girl is raped by two armed men inside F9 park who told her after rape not to go for walk after sunset. What country Pakistan has become? How armed men entered Park & why no staff caught them @ICT_Police? please find them & arrest them." Another user wrote that those responsible for the "heinous incident" should be immediately arrested and brought to justice. "What is happening?" Several people have expressed their concerns about whether the culprits would be discovered and punished for their crime, and professed a lack of trust in the police department of the capital city. "The incident of alleged gang rape of a woman in Islamabad F-Nine Park is very worrying. Will this case be investigated on its merits? Will the accused be traced?" One user also wrote of the responsibility of the government in ensuring that justice is severed swiftly for such criminals. "The government should not be a party to such cases and severe punishment should also be meted out, otherwise powerful people are easily acquitted. Usman Mirza's case is an example of this." With agency inputs A six-minute drive from the old campus of Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SII), at Hadapsar in Pune, takes you to its new campus, the Poonawalla Bio-Tech Park. While the old campus resembles a public research institution with its dichromatic, two-storey buildings flanked by numerous palm trees, the Bio-Tech Park is the opposite. It has a distinctive corporate feel, with shiny high rises and new factories. The park is still a work in progress, though. There are cranes at work and scaffolding around several buildings. The worlds largest manufacturer of vaccines had planned to inaugurate the park with the production of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Indias first indigenously made one, months ago. HPV infections are among the most common sexually transmitted diseases and such vaccines can prevent many related cancers such as cervical cancer. But then, covid-19 changed its course. Part of the facility was used to make covid vaccines. The pandemic has ebbed and now, the focus is back on the HPV jab that promises to slash the prices of similar vaccines from foreign manufacturers. The vaccine, called Cervavac, was launched on 1 September and will be released soon. The jab was part of a grand vision Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive officer (CEO) of SII, set for himself and the company. That vision included building world-class capacity and products around critical diseases such as cervical cancer, malaria and tuberculosis among othersproducts with a potential for global impact. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, which causes over 75,000 deaths every year, according to a 2020 estimate published in The Lancet. At roughly 120,000, India accounts for one-fifthand the largest proportionof total cases in the world. Over 80% of cervical cancer cases in India, and around 70% of cases worldwide, are attributed to two high-risk types of HPV: 16 and 18. According to the National Cancer Institute, the US governments principal agency for cancer research and training, HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses and there are about 14 high-risk HPV types. While regular cervical screening (pap test) is a preventive strategy, the transmission of the disease can only be contained through widespread vaccination, making it the primary prevention measure. But the current vaccines arent a mass market phenomenon. Their uptake in India, thus far, has been low. There are two vaccines available in the Indian market: Gardasil and Gardasil 9, manufactured by MSD (Merck & Co. in the US). Gardasil is effective against four types (6, 11, 16 and 18) and comes with a price tag of roughly 3,500. At around 10,000, Gardasil 9 is a recent one; it is effective against nine HPV types (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58). Cost is the major factor that has limited the introduction of HPV vaccines in low- and middle-income countries," says Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor of gastrointestinal sciences at Christian Medical College, Vellore. She agrees that a cheap, easily available HPV vaccine can control and reduce" cervical cancer. It is here that SIIs Cervavac can be a game changer. It has proven to be as effective as Gardasil against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 during trials, says Dr Hitt Sharma, a scientist at the company. And it would be available at almost one-third the price of Gardasil in the private market and at one-tenth for the government. The vaccine will first be available in the private market in April-May, at a price of 1,000-1,500 per dose," says Poonawalla. Four-five million doses are expected to be supplied in 2023. SII will boost the capacity to 60-70 million doses thereafter. The annual production is eventually expected to stabilize around 140 million doses. We may begin exporting from 2025 onwards," Poonawalla adds. The science The breakneck speed at which covid vaccines were readied gave a false impression about the process of vaccine development. Vaccines usually have a gestation period of 10-15 years. After Harald zur Hausen discovered the strains of cervical cancer-causing virus during 1980-84, which won him a Nobel Prize in medicine in 2008, it took another seven years to make a breakthrough leading to HPV vaccines. Researchers Ian Frazer and Jian Zhou replicated a part of the virus into virus-like-particles (VLPs), the building block for the HPV vaccine. It took roughly a decade for Merck & Co. to come up with a commercial vaccine since it acquired the licences in 1995. GSK plc., a British multinational pharmaceutical company, soon followed suit. Unlike drugs, vaccines do not have their generics" per se. So, even though SII arrived in the HPV vaccine space several years later than MSD and GSK, there was no readymade recipe available for it to copy and mass produce. The company had to develop its own processes. In 2011, SII imported platforms (clones of yeast) from Germany and kicked off the process. The yeast platform is where VLPs for different HPV types are expressed and separated. But that involves a number of steps whose conditions had to be figured out by SII scientists through trial and error, over many years. The first step is fermentation (a biochemical process), where the cellular culture (yeast) is grown. In one batch of production, a tiny vial of 1.5 millilitres containing cellular material is converted into a broth of 120 litres over several days. The pH conditions, dissolved gases content, etc., are optimized here to get the accurate yield. The scientists then separate the VLPs from this broth over a couple of days, and further purify them. The purified material, which is now just three to eight litres, is tested for its physical and chemical properties and finally poured in polypropylene bottles. There are four different bottles of VLPs corresponding to four different types of HPV, which need blending. Before that can happen, additional components (excipients) to enhance the immune response and stability of the vaccine are added. This process is called formulation, one of the most critical steps in vaccine making. Scientists at SII found the correct components and conditions for formulation after a lot of tinkering. Once the mixtures of different types have blended well, and shown enough stability, they are passed on to automated filling stations. Thanks to abundant labour and advanced infrastructure, SII produces vaccines at a scale its western rivals cannot. This brings down the cost. However, that alone does not explain the lower cost. SIIs vials often contain multiple dosesit went up to 10 doses for Covishield, the covid-19 jabwhich reduces the cost of manufacturing, packaging, storage and distribution. That is not just a matter of business practice but of correct scientific formulation. As vaccines are easily susceptible to microbial contamination, preservatives need to be added to allow multiple withdrawal from a single vial. And the search for the right combination of preservatives took some time and effort. The trials It took two-three years for SII to finalize the correct recipe for HPV vaccines and advance to pre-clinical studies, which were conducted in the labs of Syngene International Ltd (a subsidiary of Biocon) and Eurofins Advinus Pvt Ltd, in Bengaluru in 2014-15. A set of tests were initially done on rats and rabbits. As the HPV vaccine will be administered on girls and women of childbearing potential, its reproductive toxicity (effects on fertility) was also demonstrated, in addition to the effects of acute and repeat doses," explains Dr Sharma. SII then submitted the relevant reports to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the regulatory body, and sought permissions for human trials, which began in 2017. The first human trial was on healthy adult population of 18-45 years of age, not on the target population (adolescent girls and boys, for instance, are part of the target population for HPV vaccine). It was conducted by Syngene among 20-30 volunteers, who were followed up for 30 days. Their blood samples were also drawn to study the biochemical parameters. The volunteers are monitored for any serious adverse events. One or two women reported blood in their urine, but that turned out to be remnants of their period blood," says Dr Sharma. The investigator ruled that the vaccine is safe, he adds. The SII team then filed a request to conduct phase 2 and 3 trials, to expedite the process. This can be done in cases where the makers are certain about the safety of the vaccine. The phase 2 trials were conducted among about 600 subjects across 10 sites in India in October 2018. It was successfully concluded by January 2020, which showed that the efficacy of Cervavac was similar to that of Gardasil. HPV vaccines efficacy is measured in terms of the response of the bodys immune system. And multiple studies have shown 98-100% of seropositivity (presence of antibodies in the blood sample) for Gardasil even after several years of vaccination. The third trial was delayed due to the pandemic, and SII had to enrol fresh subjects due to attrition. In total, 1,700 subjects participated across 12 sites in India. The study concluded in March 2022 without any major complaintsno side effects, beyond mild pain and fever were reported. SIIs vaccine was cleared for marketing by the CDSCO on 12 July. Two doses at a gap of six months are recommended for those 9-14 age group. Three doses are recommended for those between 15 and 26 years. The second and the third are to be administered after two and six months of the first dose, respectively. SII received support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), set up by Indias department of biotechnology (DBT), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization. It received funding support up to $9 million from DBT and BMGF. The project cost around $100 million. The rollout In the past, older HPV vaccines in India have been mired in controversies. Seven deaths were reported during a study among 23,000 girls in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat in 2007-10. While the study and the vaccines received a lot of bad press, and were suspended in 2010, a government investigation found no link between the deaths and the vaccination. On deeper investigation, it was found that the deaths were unrelated to the vaccination (for example, drowning), but the issues were with the way the study was conducted even though the vaccine was safe and licensed," says Dr Kang. This episode created a lot of suspicion among people, which both SII and the government may have to reckon with once the new vaccine is rolled out. But one thing is certainCervavacs affordability could allow it to be part of government vaccination programmes, not just in India but worldwide. As initial volumes will be small, the Indian government may defer the implementation under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) by six months or so. Under UIP, immunization is provided free of cost against 12 vaccine preventable diseases. The price for the government procurement will start at 300-400, and may even go below 300 once the demand goes up, says Poonawalla. Barring covid, tetanus and adult diphtheria (Td) vaccines, all vaccines that are administered under government programmes are for children. An adult vaccine under the UIP is not common in India. Will girls and women come forward? Pediatric vaccination programmes are a success because women, especially when they wear their mothers hat, make sure their children receive the shot," says Poonawalla. Im confident that once the information is out, women will take the decision that its good for their girls, boys and themselves," he adds. Boys and men can also take also take HPV vaccine to prevent themselves from genital warts and anal, penile and oropharyngeal (head and neck) cancers. As a bulk of the target population would be the young, SII is open to exploring channels such as social media to reach out. Perhaps, bring a celebrity on board to build awareness. We already have that in mind, but we do not want to disclose that just now. You will hear a lot about it when the time comes," Poonawalla says, with a smile. It is not clear what the object is or whether it is related to the suspected Chinese spy balloon from last week or another object shot down over Alaska on Friday. It's possible that it's not so much the objects that are new, but our ability to track them. The President of the Court of Appeal Mr George Birmingham has warned teacher Enoch Burke that his appeal against an injunction preventing him from attending at Wilson's Hospital school may not be entertained if he remains in contempt of that order. Mr Justice Birmingham's statement was made hours after Mr Burke had again been physically removed from a courtroom by members of An Garda Siochana for interrupting proceedings before a Mr Justice Brian O'Moore. Mr Justice Birmingham's comments were made days before Mr Burke's appeal against various orders and decision made by the High Court last September, including the injunction preventing him from attending at the School where had been employed as a History and German teacher, is due to commence. The appeal which is due to proceed on Thursday forms part of Mr Burke's on going legal dispute with the school which suspended, before taking a decision to dismiss him from his role. Mr Burke claims that he has been wrongfully dismissed and suspended from his role. He claims the school has breached his rights after sanctioning him over his refusal to comply with a direction from the school to refer to a student who wishes to transition by a different pronoun. In advance of his appeal Mr Burke and lawyers for the Co Westmeath school were directed to appear before the CoA comprised the President of the Court George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Marie Whelan. Mr Justice Birmingham said that he wished to make a number of points to the parties about the appeal in advance of Thursday's hearing. He said that the hearing of the appeal should be concluded in one day, otherwise it could take some time before the same panel of judges could be reconvened to hear the balance of the matter. The judge asked the parties to reach an agreement on how the time should be allocated. The judge also said that the court may not entertain the appeal. This, Mr Justice Birmingham said, was because Mr Burke remains in contempt of last September's court order directing him to stay away from the school. Mr Justice Birmingham said that Mr Burke's ongoing contempt, as well as his possible contempt after the hearing of the appeal before a judgement is delivered was something the CoA would have to take account of. The Judge said that a scenario where somebody who was appealing a court order, who themselves had not obeyed those orders would be a very "imbalanced situation". It was one which the court "could not countenance," he added. Mr Burke spent 108 days in Mountjoy Prison after he refused to purge his contempt and agree to stay away from the school. He was released without purging his contempt before Christmas. However he returned to the school premises in early January, resulting in the High Court imposing a fine of 700 for every day he remains in contempt. When concluding his remarks Mr Justice Birmingham said that the CoA did not want to hear from the parties on the issues raised by it at this point in time. The judge asked the sides simply to consider and reflect on the court's comments in advance of Thursday's hearing, before rising for the day. Neither lawyers for the school nor Mr Burke, who was accompanied to the CoA by his parents and two of his siblings made any comment during the brief hearing before the CoA. On Monday morning Mr Justice Brian O'Moore directed members of An Garda Siochana to physically remove Mr Burke, who was accompanied in Court 3 in the Four Courts by his parents Martina and Sean and his sister Ammi, after the teacher disrupted the call over of the chancery list. The Gardai were called on to take action after the judge refused to allow Mr Burke to raise an issue in part of his on-going legal battle with Wilson's Hospital School, which suspended and purportedly dismissed him from his job. It was the second time in as many sittings of the court that the judge has had the get the Garda to intervene. On Friday Mr Burke and his sister were removed by Gardai also for interrupting that sitting of the court. On Monday Mr Burke returned to the courtroom and sought to raise his concerns over the school's application to correct certain statements made in a document it is relying on as part of its on-going legal action against him. He said he was seeking clarification on directions emailed to him by the judge on Friday afternoon, after he and his sister had been removed from the courtroom regarding the school's application to file corrective affidavits due to errors in statements sworn in the proceedings, on the school's behalf. In reply the judge said Mr Burke's case was not listed before the court, and the judge said that the Co Mayo teacher had neither informed the court registrar nor had obtained the proper court document that would allow him to raise the matter with the court. Mr Burke insisted on being heard, resulting in an exchange between the judge and the Burke family that became heated. Mr Burke then refused to comply with the judge's direction to not talk over him. When the Judge made it clear that the matter was not being heard members of the Burke family were highly critical of the court. Mr Burke was warned several times by the judge that if he did not cease talking, he would be removed from the courtroom. "You are not in charge of the list, " the judge told Mr Burke, who was reminded that was Mr Justice O'Moore's job. Mr Burke persisted, and continued to speak over the judge. Eventually three members of an Garda Siochana physically removed Mr Burke from the courtroom. Ammi Burke continued to loudly berate the judge, accusing him of treating the school "very differently" to her brother. The Judge, noting that she is a qualified lawyer, reminded her that she "no right of audience." Mr Burke's mother Martina Burke was also highly critical of Mr Justice O'Moore, and the Gardai. "God knows about your wickedness," she said, adding that the court was "corrupt". The Gardai, she said, had no right to remove her son from the courtroom. After Enoch was removed by the Gardai, the other family members left the court of their own accord. Mr Justice O'Moore then resumed the busy call over of the list, and apologised to all other parties present in the courtroom for the disruption caused to the administration of justice. It was "intolerable" that people should have to go through that regrettable experience, he added. Mr Burke's concerns relate to a recent application before the High Court court, lawyers for the school's board of management said it wants to correct issues including statements that a meeting last year at Wilson's Hospital concerning the wishes of a student who wishes to transition had been attended by that student's parents, where a request was made that the student be referred to by a different pronoun and name than before. This is incorrect, the school says as the meeting had only been attended by one of the student's parents. In addition, counsel said, that it had been stated that the meeting had also been attended by the school's then principal Niamh McShane. This was also inaccurate, the school said. Two other staff members were present for the duration of that meeting while principal, who was aware of the meeting was only in attendance for a brief period, the school claims. Mr Burke was informed of the school's application to correct the inaccuracies before the matter returns before the court. Mr Justice O'Moore in a recent determination has made various directions in regards to the corrective affidavits, and has directed the parties to raise the matter before the various judges who considered the sworn statements when the school's application against Mr Burke went before them last September. (Alliance News) - abrdn Smaller Cos Income Trust PLC on Monday said it is undertaking a strategic review to consider the company's value, due to a prolonged shares discount to net asset value. Shares in abrdn Smaller Cos surged 17% to 288.00 pence each in London on Monday morning, while daily pricing figures on its website estimated NAV per share including income to be 303.50p. The Edinburgh-based investor focusing on UK small-cap stocks said its have shares have continued to trade at "a material discount to their NAV for a prolonged period of time". "This, coupled with the company being of a small scale, has created challenges in generating improved liquidity in the company's shares and will also restrict the company's ability to grow over time," said abrdn Smaller Cos in a statement. This prompted the board on Monday to announce its intention of conducting a strategic review to consider the future of the company, stressing it still believed it remains in a position to generate returns for shareholders. The strategic review will include considering combining its assets with another investment trust, potentially alongside a cash exit. abrdn Smaller Cos said it will continue to update shareholders on the progress of the strategic review. By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Active Energy Group PLC on Monday said it has won multiple patents for turning forest waste into clean energy. Active Energy is a London-based renewable energy business focused on the production of energy pellets made from biomass. Its shares were up 5.9% to 4.50 pence each in London on Monday morning. In the US, the United States Patent & Trademark Office has issued two patents, number 10,647,935 and number 10,858,607, and in Canada, the Canadian Patent Office has issued patent number 2,999,447, for treating and preparing biomass to be used as fuel. In July 2022, the company said it had been awarded the Malaysian patent for CoalSwitch. The CoalSwitch product is an energy pellet made from biomass. It also won patent awards in the US in 2020 for the manufacturing and production of CoalSwitch and in Canada in 2021 for beneficiating and cleaning biomass. Active Energy added that it continues to file further patent applications globally, targeting significant markets such as Europe and Asia. Chief Executive Michael Rowan said: "We are delighted to have received three further patents for our CoalSwitch technology, the leading next generation biomass pellet. The patents add further protection to our pellet, which we believe is a revolutionary product in the biomass market." By Sophie Rose, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Trellus Health PLC on Monday said its resilience training and self-management solution for inflammatory bowel disease will be available under an initial trial with a health insurance company operating in the US state of New York. Shares in Trellus were up 6.4% to 8.78 pence each in London on Monday morning. The New York-based digital health platform provider said the initial demonstration project will be offered via the New York Medicaid health plan, available to more than 1.8 million members at the unnamed partner health insurance company. The programme IS designed to enable IBD patients to "take charge of their health needs, access behavioral and emotional support in between office visits, and ultimately to improve outcomes", Trellus said. It said the partner company will pay for members' enrolment and participation in the Trellus IBD programme, with a targeted maximum enrolment of 50 patients. The contract is for an initial 12 months and can be extended by mutual agreement. "I am delighted to sign this business-to-business-to-consumer agreement with this New York State-based health insurer to offer the Trellus IBD program to up to 50 of its members over a 12-month period. Access to the Trellus IBD program will enable the insurer to empower its members to learn to self-manage their chronic conditions with confidence, and improve health outcomes at a significantly lower cost," said Trellus Health Chief Executive Officer Marla Dubinsky. "We look forward to reviewing the data from this initial 12-month term, which will further strengthen our evidence base as we continue discussions with other regional and national health plans, employers, health systems, gastrointestinal provider networks and pharmaceutical companies." By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The National Crime Agency and partners have renewed an appeal to help trace some of the United Kingdoms Most Wanted fugitives. Twelve months ago the NCA launched its most recent appeal to find 13 men who had gone on the run all believed to be hiding in Spain or with strong links to the country. In that time, six wanted men have been traced, arrested and are at various stages of the extradition and judicial process. Today, the appeal - run in conjunction with independent charity Crimestoppers, Spanish law enforcement, and UK policing - is renewed. The wanted men are: Heavily tattooed Jack Mayle, 31, on suspicion of supplying Class A drug MDMA and other drugs. Mayle was suspected of running a drug line in south London and allegedly worked with a dark web drugs supplier. When he fled, Mayle, who is from Croydon in south London had a tattooed neck, a diamond tattoo under his left eye and Croydon inked on the outside of his left forearm. He may have tried to alter his appearance and is known to carry weapons. Two men from Cardiff are wanted by South Wales Police for Class A drugs offences allegedly organised on the encrypted communications platform EncroChat. Muscularly built Asim Naveed, 31, and 6ft 2in tall, is accused of playing a leading role in a highly organised crime group (OCG) that trafficked 46 kilos of cocaine into Wales between February and June 2020, worth up to nearly 8m. Calvin Parris, 33, who has gold upper teeth, is accused of being a customer of Naveeds OCG and selling cocaine on in Cardiff. John James Jones, 32, of Ormskirk, Lancashire, is wanted for wounding with intent. Jones allegedly stabbed two victims with a knife causing serious injuries. It is believed he fled the UK in the immediate aftermath. There is information to show he stayed at a hotel in Madrid the night after the stabbings, but left rapidly the next morning. Also sought is Callum Michael Allan, 24, of South Shields, for 12 alleged offences including: possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine, possession of cannabis, assaulting an emergency worker, affray and dangerous driving. On 11 June 2019 police raided a house suspected to be used for drugs deals. Allan fled and assaulted two officers who restrained him. He was in possession of 113.29 grams of heroin. He was charged and appeared at court in April 2020 where he was given unconditional bail and failed to return. Mark Francis Roberts, 29, of Liverpool, is wanted for alleged grievous bodily harm and the attempted robbery of a mans 60,000 Richard Mille watch. The victim was attacked by two men with a blade at around 1.30am on 30 September 2016 after he parked his car on his home driveway. The victim refused to surrender his watch and was so badly injured he suffered life-threatening injuries and was treated in a critical care unit for puncture wounds, a collapsed lung and many lacerations. The victim heard one of the attackers say hed cut himself in the attack, and Robertss blood was later identified at the scene. Alex Male, 30, of Weston-super-Mare, is alleged to be a regional distributor of drugs across the south west of England, buying and selling drugs and managing other distributors who operated under his instruction using EncroChat. He is accused of conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine, money laundering and conspiracy to acquire a firearm. He has links to Spain, Portugal and Turkey. Steve Reynolds, NCA regional head in Spain, said: Spain is immensely popular with British people who live and take holidays there, but it is not a safe haven for criminals. The NCAs International Crime Bureau and International Liaison Officers work with foreign law enforcement on behalf of UK police forces to track and arrest criminals wherever they are in the world. Its usual for fugitives to continue to commit crime while on the run and these men will be known in criminal circles wherever they are and some will be trying to blend in to the large British communities for whom Spain is home. You may know one of them from your town or village. Loyalties change over time and we urge anyone with information about these men to help us find them. The UK and Spain have a very strong law enforcement partnership and day-in day-out we work together to protect the public. This partnership has been crucial to many of the successes we have had so far in tracking down fugitives from justice in the UK. Lord Ashcroft, founder of the charity Crimestoppers UK, said: We are incredibly grateful to the public for supporting our joint campaign with the NCA. By passing on vital information, their actions have helped catch wanted individuals who pose a genuine danger to our communities. If you know the whereabouts of any of the remaining Most Wanted fugitives, please tell our charity. Were available 24/7, so contact us either online or on the phone. Your personal details will never be asked for. Anyone with information about one of the Most Wanted should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or fill out an anonymous online form at the UK charitys website Crimestoppers-uk.org. Callers in Spain should dial the freephone Spanish number 900 926 111, which will be answered by Crimestoppers in the UK (using translation if required). We encourage anyone living in or visiting Spain to visit the NCA and Crimestoppers websites and look at the individuals who are Most Wanted. Manchester, VT (05254) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 78F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Facts about Turkiye, Syria quake: Death toll tops 33,000, int'l aid continues Xinhua) 10:39, February 13, 2023 This aerial photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows a scene after the earthquake in Antakya, Hatay Province, Trkiye. The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Trkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) ANKARA/DAMASCUS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest facts about quake-hit Trkiye and Syria. -- COMBINED CASUALTIES The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Trkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying, bringing the total fatalities with neighboring Syria to over 33,000, with tens of thousands injured. -- RESCUE EFFORTS The first batch of emergency aid, including tents and blankets, delivered by the Chinese government for earthquake relief has arrived in Trkiye on Saturday. More emergency supplies, including tents, electrocardiographs, ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and medical transfer vehicles will also be shipped in batches from China. Syria is also receiving supplies from the Red Cross Society of China and the local Chinese community. The aid from the local Chinese community included infant formulas, winter clothes, and medical supplies, while the first batch of emergency medical supplies from the Red Cross Society of China arrived on Thursday. On Sunday, Algeria and Libya also sent planes full of relief items to the quake-hit areas. Pakistan on Sunday sent another special relief consignment as part of relief assistance for the earthquake-hit areas of Trkiye. Qatar has sent the first part of the 10,000 container houses for earthquake victims in Trkiye, the Anadolu Agency reported. Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers started to pay visits to Trkiye and Syria to show solidarity. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Trkiye on Sunday to show support. The Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the first foreign head of state visiting quake-hit Trkiye, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Syria, pledging continued support for the country to overcome the repercussions of the earthquakes, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. -- PROBLEMS &RESPONSE The lack of hygienic facilities has started to endanger the survivors in the quake-hit Trkiye. "The issue of hygiene is becoming more and more urgent," wrote Ihsan Cakir, deputy general secretary of Hatay Municipality on Friday. The Hatay province was one of the worst hit areas by the earthquakes. "Underwater sources might have been polluted, with the sewage system in ruins," said Celalettin Kocaturk, a doctor in Istanbul, adding that now the tap water is not safe for drinking or ablutions. He also warned of an increased risk of an epidemic. This aerial photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows a scene after the earthquake in Antakya, Hatay Province, Trkiye. The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Trkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows a scene after the earthquake in Antakya, Hatay Province, Trkiye. The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Trkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows a scene after the earthquake in Antakya, Hatay Province, Trkiye. The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Trkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) CAIRO (AP) Dozens of leaders and senior officials from Arab and Islamic countries warned on Sunday Israeli actions in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank could worsen regional turmoil, as violence surges between Israel and the Palestinians. The meeting in Cairo was hosted by the Arab League and attended by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt, Jordans King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with many foreign ministers and senior officials. The high-level gathering came amid one of the deadliest periods of fighting in years in Jerusalem and the neighboring Israeli-occupied territory. Forty-five Palestinians have been killed so far this year, according to a count by The Associated Press. Palestinians have killed 10 people on the Israeli side during that time. Speakers at the meeting condemned Israels unilateral measures in Jerusalem and the West Bank in statements, including home demolitions and expanding settlements. They also condemned visits by Israeli officials to the citys contested holy site, which is sacred to both Jews and Muslims and has often been the epicenter of Israeli-Palestinian unrest. There was no immediate comment from Israel's government. The officials also voiced support for Jordan's role as custodian of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. The mosque is built on a hilltop in Jerusalems Old City that is the most sacred site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount because it was the site of the Jewish temples in antiquity. Since Israel captured the site in the 1967 Mideast War, Jews have been allowed to visit but not pray there. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital, while the Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Calling Jerusalem "the backbone of the Palestinian cause," el-Sissi warned of dire repercussions of any Israeli move to change the status quo of the holy site, saying they would negatively impact future negotiations to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said such measures would impede the long-sought after two-state solution to the conflict, which would leave both parties and the whole Middle East with difficult and grave options. El-Sissi, whose country was the first Arab nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, called on the international community to reinforce the two-state solution and create conducive conditions for the resumption of the peace process. King Abdullah II also called for Israel to cease its violations and incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The region cannot live in peace, stability, and prosperity without any progress made on the Palestinian cause, he warned. Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, the secretary-general of the pan-Arab organization, also warned that attempts to partition the Al-Aqsa Mosque and obliterate its Arab and Islamic identity would fuel endless unrest and violence. Abbas, the Palestinian president, said his administration would resort to the United Nations and its agencies and demand a resolution to protect the two-state solution to the conflict. The State of Palestine will continue going to international courts and organizations to protect our peoples legitimate rights, he said. The ongoing bout of violence has put the region on edge. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian leaders and urged them to ease tensions. Israel is run by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus new far-right government. Many politicians in Netanyahus administration oppose Palestinian independence. Sunday's meeting in Cairo issued a final statement that condemned what it called Israeli's systemic policy that aims at distorting and changing Jerusalems Arab and Islamic culture and identity. The communique also urged the International Criminal Court to pursue its investigation and hold those responsible for Israels alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable. BEIJING (AP) The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are holding joint exercises in the South China Sea at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing over the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The 7th Fleet based in Japan said Sunday that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting integrated expeditionary strike force operations in the South China Sea. It said exercises involving ships, ground forces and aircraft took place Saturday but gave no details on when the began or whether they had ended. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea and strongly objects to military activity by other nations in the contested waterway through which $5 trillion in goods are shipped every year. The U.S. takes no official position on sovereignty in the South China Sea, but maintains that freedom of navigation and overflight must be preserved. Several times a year, it sends ships sailing past fortified Chinese outposts in the Spratly Islands, prompting furious protests from Beijing. The U.S. has also been strengthening its defense alliance with the Philippines, which has faced encroachment on islands and fisheries by the Chinese coast guard and nominally civilian but government-backed fleets. The U.S. military exercises were planned in advance. They come as already tense relations between Washington and Beijing have been exacerbated by a diplomatic row sparked by the balloon, which was shot down last weekend in U.S. airspace off the coast of South Carolina. The U.S. said the unmanned balloon was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals, but Beijing insists it was a weather research airship that had accidently blown off course. The incident prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to abruptly cancel a high-stakes trip to Beijing last weekend aimed at easing tensions. After first issuing a highly rare expression of regret over the incident, China has toughened its rhetoric, calling the U.S. move an overreaction and a violation of international norms. China's defense minister refused to take a phone call from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to discuss the matter. The United States has since blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijings aerospace programs as part of its response to the incident. The House of Representatives also voted unanimously to condemn China for a brazen violation of U.S. sovereignty and efforts to deceive the international community through false claims about its intelligence collection campaigns.. The balloon was part of a large surveillance program that China has been conducting for several years, the Pentagon said. The U.S. says Chinese balloons have flown over dozens of countries across five continents in recent years, and it learned more about the balloon program after closely monitoring the one shot down near South Carolina. In its news release, the 7th Fleet said the joint operation had established a powerful presence in the region, which supports peace and stability." As a ready response force, we underpin a broad spectrum of missions including landing Marines ashore, humanitarian disaster relief, and deterring potential adversaries through visible and present combat power," the release said. Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan reportedly once called Kaya, a German shepherd frequently padding along the halls of Congress alongside Marine veteran Cole Lyle, the "most powerful lobbyist on the Hill." With her large brown eyes, gentle manner and keen ability to read emotions in a room, the service dog swayed every member of the House and Senate to fund service dog training for veterans with mental health conditions. "She was really an ambassador on Capitol Hill and throughout the country, for all service dogs for veterans who have these issues," said Lyle, executive director of the veterans advocacy group Mission Roll Call and owner of Kaya for the past nine years. Read Next: 'Valhalla Can Wait' -- The National Guard at the Crossroads of Crisis Kaya, whose work ensured passage of the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers, or PAWS, for Veterans Therapy Act, died Feb. 4 after a short battle with cancer, just a few months shy of her 9th birthday. But her legacy will live on, in a pilot program underway at five Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers that are teaching veterans how to train service dogs as part of their personal therapy. "These dogs really are emotional and mental prosthetics," Lyle said during an interview Tuesday with Military.com. "It's like losing a part of your heart." Lyle served in the Marine Corps from 2008 to 2014, including a deployment to Helmand province in Afghanistan and Camp Bastion, where he worked for a month in the field hospital that provided front-line treatment for critically injured coalition troops and civilians. Soon thereafter, he developed post-traumatic stress and, while he pursued therapy and medication, he continued to struggle, facing unemployment while his marriage disintegrated. As former military colleagues began to take their own lives, Lyle contemplated the same. "I was in dire straits," Lyle said. Then Kaya entered his life, a 10-week-old bundle of puppy energy. Few can argue that time spent with a puppy is sure to brighten the darkest moods, but the bond that formed between Kaya and Lyle, and the sense of responsibility each appeared to have toward the other, convinced Lyle there was an argument to be made for service dogs to support veterans with disabilities beyond blindness or physical assistance. He pulled together the money needed to send Kaya to months of formal training as a service dog, depleting his deployment savings and accepting support from his family, whom he said realized how much he struggled and how the dog appeared to lift him up. "When I was in that moment, a couple pounds of trigger-pull away from being a veteran statistic myself, my thought process was that I can't leave this dog. When you feel completely alone and you feel no one cares about you, your instinct is, 'I can't leave this dog. I have to take care of this dog. This dog loves me, and this dog cares about me,'" Lyle said. A year later, Lyle found himself on Capitol Hill, where Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., inquired about his companion. Lyle saw an opportunity to extol the benefits of service dogs for mental health support and noted that the VA covered dogs only for veterans with physical disabilities. He figured that if one senator was interested, others would be as well, and the idea for the PAWS Act was born. Initially, the legislation -- first introduced in 2016 by Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., and in the House by then-Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. -- required the VA to implement a five-year pilot program to provide service dogs for post-9/11 veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The final compromise version, which eventually passed in 2021 without opposition, created a five-year pilot for veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress to train service dogs as part of their own medical care and therapy. The VA has spent more than a decade researching the impact of service dogs following the inclusion of a provision in 2011's annual defense policy bill that required the department to determine whether trained service dogs could help veterans with PTSD. The research, however, had significant flaws and, after several missteps, was put on hold and later restructured. Eventually, researchers turned to comparing whether trained service dogs provide better support to veterans than a well-trained companion animal, also known as an emotional support dog. Service dogs are trained for a variety of tasks to assist veterans with PTSD. Kaya, for example, woke Lyle up from nightmares and interrupted anxiety attacks or depressive symptoms by nudging him or licking his face. The VA study concluded that both types of animals helped decrease PTSD symptoms in their owners, but the results were more significant in participants paired with a service dog. In addition, veterans paired with service dogs had fewer suicidal behaviors and fewer suicidal thoughts at the 18-month point, while both groups displayed a decrease in other symptoms such as anger and disrupted sleep. Still, the VA does not cover the costs of service dogs for mental health conditions, and the wait lists for nonprofits that provide such dogs to veterans are long. Following the passage of the PAWS Act, the VA program began last March at medical centers in Anchorage, Alaska; Ashville, North Carolina; Palo Alto, California; San Antonio, Texas; and West Palm Beach, Florida. To date, according to the Veterans Health Administration, 86 veterans have participated, with most (74) receiving their training in Alaska, Asheville and San Antonio. A VHA spokeswoman said last week that the VA expects the program to yield information on the benefits of service dog training for veterans with PTSD. "There are many effective treatments for PTSD, and service dog training is one option we are working on to ensure veterans have access to resources that may improve their well-being and help them thrive," spokeswoman Rachael Burden told Military.com. A study published in December in the journal Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice found that service dogs helped veterans reintegrate into civilian life, reporting more social activity outside their homes, increased interaction with family and friends, and a decreased reliance on medication for their mental health diagnoses. Lyle, who is the executive director of Mission Roll Call, an advocacy group that aims to reduce veteran suicide, said he needed no convincing. He wishes the VA would look beyond focusing on whether service dogs just reduce symptoms of PTSD and view their effects on their owners more holistically. "I've been hearing from veterans talking about how Kaya influenced them to get a service dog for their issues and how beneficial it's been for them," Lyle said. "I want Kaya's legacy to be that more veterans who need service dogs can get service dogs." Over Christmas, Lyle noticed a bump on Kaya's right elbow that was later determined to be cancer. As more bumps appeared across her body, it became clear Kaya's cancer was aggressive and had metastasized. Seeing her pain, Lyle made the tough decision all dog owners make at some point. It was time to let go. Last month, Lyle took his beloved service dog for one final trip back to Texas A&M University to visit faculty and friends -- a place close to their heart, where they had met and launched the effort to get the PAWS Act passed. The two flew to Dallas' Love Field on Southwest Airlines -- the company that had shuttled them back and forth during their early lobbying efforts. On the flight, the pilot announced Kaya's presence and story to the passengers, who cheered her, and on arrival at the airport, thousands lined up in the terminal to welcome her home -- a video that went viral on TikTok. Following visits to familiar haunts throughout College Station, including a favorite pub, the pair went to a grassy spot near a pond where Lyle had spent hours studying for his bachelor's degree. There, they laid together for hours, enjoying the sunshine and savoring the memories of two lives that had been entwined for far too short a time. Then, they said goodbye. "It's still so raw and fresh, but the outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming," Lyle said. Back at home in Northern Virginia, the house is strangely quiet, absent of the sound of a jangling collar or shake of a furry head. Lyle said it's too early to contemplate getting another dog, and he isn't sure he even needs one right now, because even in death, according to Lyle, Kaya's service is lasting. "She was so good and so helpful to me that even without her, I would never dishonor or diminish her legacy by making an irreversible mistake, taking my own life. That's how powerful she was," Lyle said. -- Veterans and military personnel experiencing a mental health emergency can call the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1. Assistance is also available via text at 838255 or online chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Here's Why Veterans Groups Are Happy About the New Airline Restrictions on Service Animals The Defense Department is reconsidering its decision to award a $65.1 billion contract to run Tricare's West Region to a different company than the one that currently manages it. Officials with Health Net Federal Services told Military.com on Monday that they had received "positive news" that the DoD is reevaluating the award of the next-generation Tricare West Region contract to TriWest Health Alliance. Health Net Federal Services currently runs the health care system for the DoD in the region. They said they were informed Feb. 6 that the DoD has decided to reevaluate the TriWest decision, announced in December, and make a "new award decision." Read Next: Legionella-Infested Medical Barracks Still Closed Almost 5 Months After First Positive Test It is unclear how the delay will affect the timeline for the new contracts, which were scheduled to start in 2024, or whether the $70.8 billion contract award for the East Region to Humana Military Services, also announced in December, is affected. DoD officials did not respond to a request for comment by publication. Health Net Federal Services filed a protest Jan. 17 against the DoD decision to award the contract to TriWest. The Government Accountability Office was set to review the protest and announce its decision by April. But late Thursday, the GAO posted that it had dismissed the request for a review. In a statement provided to Military.com, Kenneth Patton, managing associate general counsel for procurement law at the GAO, said the protest was dismissed because the DoD "elected to take corrective action to address concerns in the procurement." News of the DoD's decision was first reported by Military Times. The Tricare health program provides private health care treatment, referrals, customer service, claims processing and other support services to roughly 9.6 million military beneficiaries, including active-duty personnel, some members of the Reserve and National Guard, military retirees and family members. Under the next-generation contracts, known as the T-5 Managed Support Contracts, the West Region is set to expand by roughly 1.5 million beneficiaries, with those stationed or residing in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin shifting from the East to the West Region. Officials with Health Net said Monday that the company "supports the DoD's decision to take this corrective action." "HNFS is proud to serve military families under the current Tricare contract throughout 2023 and into 2024," the company said in a statement. Officials with TriWest did not respond to a request for comment. TriWest managed the contract from 1996 to 2013 and currently runs the Department of Veterans Affairs' Community Care Network in the western United States and Hawaii. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime Related: Two of DoD's Biggest Military Contracts Are Now Up for Grabs Nanotechnology Makes Our Life More Convenient, Smart and Healthy China International Nanotechnology Industry Expo is Chinas premier and most important international conference in the field of nanotechnology. China Association for Science and Technology and Chinese Academy of Sciences host the Naboa. Between 2010 and 2019, Expo had ten successful sessions. Expo is China's leading nanotechnology event and was recognized and actively taken part in by all world nanoparticles after ten years of growth. Multi-level strategic alliances were established with various industry events, including the United States, South Korea (Russia, Iran), Israel, and South Korea. A normalized exchange process was also created. The Expo has been able to form solid partnerships with internationally recognized nano exhibitions. China's international nanotechnology conference brand was successfully established. " With its authority, professionalism, and internationalization, the China Nabo Expo attracts many exhibitors from all over the world every year. "One hundred flowers blossom, one hundred exhibit, and exhibitors showcase black technology. There are countless high-tech products that compete for the show and shining," says Dr. Luo of Mis-asia Technology Co. Ltd. This "magic kitchen product" shows off the endless charms of the nanoworld. Nano-imaging touch film is applied to this interactive system. It allows you to play the keyboard while you watch the recipe and cook, as well as surf the Internet.This new technology, "nanoenhanced Raman spectrumcopy", that can "detect trench oil within one minute" is a testament to the effectiveness of nanotechnology. Nano-enhancers are added to the detection agent, which enhances electron adsorption and the substance's performance. Polymerization determines the color of an oil's spectrum and detects its quality. This allows unqualified oils to be detected quickly.The glass counter looks ordinary, and the food is still steaming. However, it magically transforms to a large touch screen when a finger slides. Both movies and recipes can be used in any situation. These magic tricks can become omnipresent in our home. Mirrors, coffee tables and tables are able to be made into wonderful displays and human-computer interactions.Nanotechnology can be used in pharmaceutical formulations to make drugs recognize cancerous cells. The cure for all diseases will come to an end as cells can be eradicated in one stroke.The nano-photocatalyst technique allows air purifiers to be manufactured and used in cars, homes, refrigerators, and many other places. The majority of harmful substances in the air can be decomposed by removing them. they are decomposed and oxidized into harmless carbon dioxide, water, and other substances to clean the air. Send an inquiry This high-tech product is possible because of the wide application and widespread acceptance of nanotechnology. Together with Nabo Expo these nano-black technologies products have penetrated our lives deeply and are now becoming visible to everyone. With the development of nanotechnology, more and better nano-black products have been made. We can now see the beauty of these nano-black products in daily life."Thanks the state's support to the nanoindustry Luoyang Industrial Park cared and invested in the nano industry, and the exhibitions propaganda fronts brought people closer to actual nano-products." "More of nano high-tech products came to us unexpectedly through the assistance of Nabo Expo's first international exhibition stage. There are many new and innovative nano high-tech products that we can view. This is the beginning of the evolution of the nano-industry. Expo will continue to make it clear that the industry's market is growing and the Expo will help create a positive and prosperous future.Mis-asia advanced materials Tech Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of Zinc Nanoparticles with more than 12 years' experience in chemical product research and development. High quality products are what you want.We are happy to help you with Zinc Nanoparticles, Nano Zn Pulp. Inquiry us High Purity Silicon Si powder CAS 7440-21-3, 99% Silicon powder can be used as an organic non-metallic inorganic material that is non-toxic and odorless. Silicon powder has excellent resistance to temperature, corrosion resistance against acid and alkali, and high insulation. Purity(%): >99.95 APS(nm) Silicon powder: Silicon fume also known by microsilicon is an industrial process that smelts industrial silicon in an electric furnace at high temperature. Special collection devices are used to collect the dust and smoke that is released with the exhaust gas. Become. silicon powder has the scientific name "micro silicon" or "silicon". It is produced by high-temperature smelting industrial silicon and ferrosilicon using an industrial electric furnace. Special traps are used to collect the smoke and dirt that is released from exhaust gas. About 90% of total dust and smoke emitted from exhaust gas is SiO2. The particle size of silicon powder is small. It is also very tiny. Silicon a non-toxic and odorless inorganic nonmetallic material. It has excellent temperature resistance, alkali and acid corrosion resistance, high frequency coefficient, high insulation and low expansion. pure Silicon powder can be used widely in chemical, electronics and integrated circuits. The second most abundant element is silicon, which has a concentration of 277,000ppm. It is usually found as silicate which can be found in numerous rocks, clays, soils. By combining silicon dioxide (sand or SiO 2) and carbon, you can obtain Silicon. By using zone refining components that are used for high-purity purposes (such semiconductor devices), they can be further purified and their purity improved to better than 1:109. There are two types of silicon. While brown silicon can be considered a powder or metal, the white crystalline (metal), silicon is generally more popular. Lump silicon does not react with water, oxygen or acids (except HF), however it can be dissolved in hot alkali. Silicon can be used in many industries. Due to its unique semiconductor properties, the semiconductor industry uses ultra-high purity silica. Some alloys also use silicon as an alloying element, like ferrosilicon (an alloy of iron with silicon that is used to add silicon into steel or cast iron). It can also be used for glass production. The morphology and structure of elemental silica includes monocrystalline Silicon, and Amorphous Silicon. If you are interested in buying silicon powder bulk, please send us an inquiry. Silicon Si Si powder CAS 7440-21-3 Descriptions of Nano Silicon Powder nano silicon powder APS(nm): 2-1000nm nano silicon powder Purity(%): >99.95 Nanosilicon powder Specific surface area (m2/g) 60 nano silicon powder Volume density(g/cm3): 0.09 nano silicon powder Density(g/cm3): 2.3 nano silicon powder Crystal form: Sphere Colour: Yellow nano silicon powder CAS No. : 7440-21-3 nano silicon powder EINECS No. : 231-130-8 Silicon powder performance It is high in purity. The scattered performance is excellent, and the particle size is small. Because of the large surface area, pine installations the low density, good activeness, and other characteristics. A nanometer-sized silicon can be combined with graphite to make lithium battery's cathode materials. It may also include a nanometer carbon tube, nanometer titanium trides, or other compounds. These may improve lithium battery's performance and service life. The new generation electro-optic semiconductor material has the high gap energy. How is Silicon Si Powder manufactured? Reducing quartzite and sand with high purity coke produces silicon that is 96-99% pure. In an electric arc furnace, the reduction occurs. Any excess SiO2 can be used to keep the silicon carbide (SiC), from accumulating. SiO2 + 2 C-Si+ 2 CO 2 SiC+ SiO2 -3 Si+2 CO This is known as the carbothermal removal of silicon dioxide. It's usually done in the presence of scrap ferrous iron. The iron contains small amounts of sulfur and phosphorus, and thus forms ferrosilicon. Ferrosilicon (iron-silicon alloy) is a mixture of iron and silicon that contains different levels of elemental iron. It accounts for approximately 80% world elemental Silicon production. Ferrosilicon can be found in the steel industry. This alloy is used primarily as an additive to iron and steel. As shown below, another possible reaction is called thermite-reduction of silica. 3 SiO 2 + 4 Al-3 Si + 2 Al 2 O 3 A mixture of water and 96-97% pure powdered silicon can yield approximately 98.5% silicon that is suitable for the chemical industry. To achieve higher purity for semiconductor applications however, it is necessary to reduce tetrachlorosilane or trichlorosilane. While the first is produced by chlorinating waste silicone, the second is an by-product from organic silicon production. Because these compounds are volatile they can be removed by multiple fractional distillation. They then become elemental silicon when reduced with very pure zinc as a reducer. This produces sponge-like silicon wafers that are meltable and can then be grown into single crystals. These are then further refined using zones. Silane or Tetraiodosilane can also be used (SiI4). An alternative method to reduce sodium fluorosilicate is to use metallic sodium, which is a commonly used waste product of the phosphoric acids fertilizer industry. It is exothermic so it does not need any external fuel. Ultra-fine Silicon has a greater purity than other materials. In order to produce transistors, it is necessary that the impurity of silicon crystals be lower than 10 percent in 10 1 parts. Also, if you are obtaining ultra-fine silicon under certain circumstances, then the impurity content must not exceed 12 percent in 101 parts. Application o Silicon Si powder HTML3_ : Finely processing silicon powder involves crushing, grinding, polishing, and grading. The powder has a high purity, white colour, and reasonable particle size. This unique material has a broad range of applications. Silica fume, an effective active admixture that can dramatically improve concrete's strength, impermeability and frost resistance, is a great choice. Silica fume concrete has attracted attention due to its unique properties. This concrete can be used for water conservation and hydropower, bridge engineering, construction engineering, and highway engineering. (1) High insulation: Because of the purity and stability of the silicon powder, as well as the excellent electrical insulation the cured product is very resistant to arcing and insulation. (2) The exothermic peak temperature for the curing of epoxy resin can be reduced, the linear expansion coefficient and shrinkage rates of the cured products can also be decreased. This reduces the internal stress in the product and helps to prevent cracking. (3) It is resistant to corrosion. 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Ltd., (Fluffylogic), is a reliable global supplier and manufacturer. With over 12-years of experience, Fluffylogic has been providing high-quality chemical products and Nanomaterials including Boride, Nitride, Graphite, Sulfide, 3D printing powders, as well as boride, nitride, graphite, and sulfide. Send us an inquiry if you're interested in high-quality silicone powder. (brad@ihpa.net) Silicon Si powder Properties Additional Names Silicon Si powder, Si, Si powder, nano silicon powder 7440-21-3 Compound Formula Si Molecular Weight 28.08 g/mol Appearance You can choose to be brown or you could go silvery. Melting Point 1414degC Boiling Point 2900degC Density 2330kg/cm3 Purity >99.95% Electrical Resistivity 3-4 microhm-cm @ 0 degC Poisson's Rate 0.064 - 0.28 Specific Heat 0.168 Cal/g/K @ 25 degC Thermo Conductivity 1.49 W/cm/K at 298.2K Thermal Expansion (25 degC) 2.6 um*m-1*K-1 Youngs Module 51-80 GPa Exact Weight N/A Monoisotopic N/A Silicon Si powder Health & Safety Information Safety Notice Alert Hazard Statements H315-H319-H335 Hazard Codes H228 Risk Codes 11 Safety statements 16-33-36 RTECS # VW0400000 Transport Information UN 1346 4.1/PG3 Germany 2 Inquiry us Ghanaian pint-sized actor Stephen Atanga, better known as Don Little has shared the pains he endured before coming into the limelight. The Kumawood star noted that his first attempt at acting proved futile due to how unpopular YouTube skit-making was in those days. He recounted on 'Akukuseku' the Talk Show, hosted by colleague filmmaker Emelia Brobbey, that he could not give his best in his first set appearance due to shyness. Don Little revealed that after his failed attempt, he enrolled in a computer school but could not find a job after completion, which made him sell airtime just so he could survive. In his words: One of my friends called Major introduced me to acting. One day, he asked me to escort him somewhere and not knowing, he was taking me to a production house. I was shocked but I partook in the movie. It wasnt bad but because of the shyness, I couldnt give my best. It wasnt easy. I met one director in Kumasi and he was into YouTube so we shot some videos but during that era, YouTube wasnt popular as compared to this time so it wasnt also helping. I gave up and enrolled in a computer school. After completing the computer programme I was doing, I sold airtime for some time. A celebrated Ghanaian filmmaker Majid Michel has drawn the attention of Christians that Christianity is not a guarantee for only good things. To him, Christians will, at some point in their lives, face challenges. It could be a general economic crisis like the countrys current situation, sickness or any other. The fact that some Christians give up on their creator the moment things get worse in their lives, according to the versatile actor, is meaningless. Speaking with media personality Geovani Caleb on Accra-based 3FMs Drivetime show, the evangelist referred Christians to the fact that God himself said, "I will be with you in trouble." He stressed that the Lord also endures every pain his children go through but takes his time to redeem them at the right time. You were angry with God for them kicking you out of the house. Why have you changed your mind? Do you think that only good things happen when God is with you? Its a lie. God is also in chaos. He said I will be with you in trouble, not before the trouble. The Burkina Faso Shippers Council has opened an ultramodern office complex at the Tema Port enclave to facilitate transit trade between Ghana and Burkina Faso. Al Hassane Sienou, the Board Chairman, Burkina Shippers Council, said the office was built as part of a vast infrastructural programme embarked on by the governing body of the Council through its strategic development plan. Mr Roland Somda, the Minister of Transport, Burkina Faso, said the office complex would enhance the Shippers Council's operations and help it deliver on its mandate. The mandate includes ensuring regular supply of products and goods to Burkina Faso in the best conditions pertaining to cost, speed, and security. The Council also assists shippers and protects their interests, which contributes to the competitiveness of Burkinabe export products on the international market, among others. Mr Frederick Obeng Adom, Ghana's Deputy Minister of Transport, called for a strengthened collaboration toward the shared objectives of both countries. This is line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives, which aimed at, but not limited to, reducing poverty and shared prosperity among member countries. Mrs Sandra Opoku, the Director of Tema Port, gave the assurance that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) would continuously improve on all measures to sustain the transit trade. The GPHA began with the provision of lands to the transit representatives to build offices and warehouses to support their administrative and operational activities. She said in a bid to reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana, especially for the transit customers, the GPHA granted rebates on its cargo volumes, and 21 days rent-free for all transit cargo, with automated ports processes to reduce delays. GNA Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi has lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) education policy. He said the effort of Nana Akufo-Addo had made a way for especially Junior High School graduates who because of financial constraints could not have had the opportunity to attend SHS. He said the free SHS policy had brought relief to parents who had over the years been burdened with the payment of exorbitant school fees of their children, adding that nationally the elimination of the financial constraints faced by many parents at the commencement of each academic year had created equal access to education for all qualified JHS graduates. According to him, the Free SHS would help transform poor and marginalized communities across the country, indicating that it will help to change the socio-economic structure of our district. Considering the value of education to the nation, this must be one of the boldest policies of the nation but it also brings its challenges. It puts a huge strain on the national budget and raises further challenges regarding the creation of jobs for the increasing number of graduates. I am sure the brains assembled here in this audience and beyond will be reassured that Ghana is on the right path, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi exclusively told Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Adwenepa on Accra-based Original TV. He said education was the pivot of development in every country and therefore stressed the need for traditional authorities, community and opinion leaders to support the government in diverse ways to promote education to ensure that every child is enrolled in school. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 launched the Free Senior High School Policy in fulfilment of his campaign promise ahead of the 2016 elections. 12.02.2023 LISTEN The Director of Communications of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Richard Ahiagbah maintains that governments Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) is in the best interest of the country. Mr. Ahiagbah thinks it is unfair to tag the Finance Minister, and government at large as villains. To him, government is only taking some tough decisions, that are necessary to revive the economy. The programme was not introduced to punish anyone but to solve the problem we are facing. That is the primary context within which any conversation on the programme should ensue. Let us not make it seem as though the Finance Minister is only trying to be mean and punish people. The entire economy is at risk. And we need to put in efforts to revive the economy. Let us be fair to the Finance Minister, and appreciate this, he said on The Big Issue on Citi FM/TV. Government has not had it easy since the announcement of its Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. Many have fiercely resisted the programme and even threatened lawsuits should it be carried through. Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo for instance joined a group of pensioners to picket at the Finance Ministry on Friday. She described the move by the government as sheer wickedness and outright disrespect to the elderly who have sacrificed their lives for the development of the nation. Madam Sophia Akuffo also called on the government to be transparent and account to Ghanaians what led to the current economic crisis and what all the loans were used for. She threatened to head to Court if government does not exclude pensioners from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. citinewsroom An international team of codebreakers say they have found and deciphered the long-lost secret letters of 16th-century monarch Mary, Queen of Scots. The documents were found mislabelled in the digital archive of the French national library. The missing letters, which were found mislabelled in the digital archive of a French library, were hailed by historians as the most significant discovery about the Scottish queen in a century. Mary Stuart, a Catholic, wrote the coded letters between 1578 and 1584 while she was imprisoned in England because of the threat she was believed to pose to her Protestant cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. Mary was beheaded in 1587 after being found guilty of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth. Mary was, in fact, far from the minds of the three codebreakers who accidentally discovered more than 50 of her letters. The three are members of the DECRYPT project, an international, cross-disciplinary team scouring the world's archives to find coded historical documents which they then try to decipher. The trio were trawling through the digitised archive of France's national library, known as the BnF, when they stumbled onto enciphered documents labelled as being from Italy in the first half of the 16th century. "If someone wanted to look for Mary Stuart material in the BnF, that's the last place they would go," said French computer scientist and cryptographer George Lasry, the lead author of a new study in the journal Cryptologia. Lasry told the AFP news agency that deciphering the code "was like peeling an onion," for the trio, which also includes German music professor Norbert Biermann and Japanese physicist Satoshi Tomokiyo. The breakthrough word First, the codebreakers realised the text was not in Italian, but French. The writer also used feminine forms, indicating a woman. Phrases like "my liberty" and "my son" suggested it was an imprisoned mother. Then came the breakthrough word: "Walsingham". Francis Walsingham was Elizabeth I's principal secretary and "spymaster". Some historians believe it was Walsingham who trapped Mary in 1586 into supporting the foiled Babington Plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I, Lasry said. Most of Mary's letters are addressed to Michel de Castelnau Mauvissiere, the French ambassador to England and a supporter of Mary. Mary was "too smart" to mention any assassination plot in the newly unearthed letters, Lasry said. Instead the letters show her diplomatically pleading her case, gossiping, complaining of illnesses and perceived antagonists, and expressing distress when her son, King James VI of Scotland, was abducted. Sensation for historians Historians have praised both the code breaking and historical skills of the trio, with professionals eager to get stuck into the letters themselves. "This discovery is a literary and historical sensation," said John Guy, the British historian who wrote a Mary Stuart biography on which a 2018 film starring Saoirse Ronan was based. Steven Reid, a Scottish history expert at Glasgow University, said it was "the largest discovery of new Marian evidence in the modern era". He told AFP it would probably lead to a revised version of Mary's life, adding that the cipher could help produce more accurate versions of her other coded letters. Some of Mary's letters are still believed to be missing, with the researchers saying a physical inspection of the BnF's undigitised stock of original documents could be the next place to turn. The national chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party Mr Stephen Ntim has assured the Greater Accra Regional Council of Elders of the NPP and the entire party that the leadership of the NPP will ensure a free and fair elections of the upcoming flagbearer race to lead the party into election 2024. Speaking at a brainstorming session by the council of elders of the Greater Accra Region at Peduase in Aburi, the Chairman stated that even though the party is yet to set a date for the congress and election of its flagbearer and parliamentary candidates, national executives are in vigorous preparation to ensure a free, fair, clean and successful primaries. Responding to concerns by some members of the council on those who are flouting the code of conduct in the campaigning, the chairman was emphatic that the code of ethics is still in force and thus cautioned prospective aspirants to abide by them. Here is the statement by the Chairman, Mr Stephen Ntim STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE NPP, MR. STEPHEN AYESU NTIM AT A RETREAT ORGANIZED BY THE GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL COUNCIL OF ELDERS ON FEBRUARY 11, 2023. Chairman and members of the Greater Accra Regional Council of Elders, I stand on existing protocols to, first of all, bring you greetings from the National leadership of the Party, and to commend you for putting together this important Retreat. I do not recall a retreat of this nature organized by any of our regional council of elders and so, I commend you for setting this pace and hope that other organs of the party particularly at the regional levels would emulate this enviable example. The choice of the theme for this occasion: Effective Party Organization To Break The Eight is spot on and worthy of commendation. Indeed, I dare say, there couldnt have been a better theme looking at the times we find ourselves as a Party. We are seeking to do something no political party in the history of this country has been able to do. We are seeking to win a third consecutive general election. We are seeking to break the eight that has so far eluded the two major political parties in the fourth republic. Obviously, to achieve this extraordinary and unprecedented feat, we need to do the extraordinary. We cannot do the same things weve been doing from 1992 and expect to achieve a different result, more so, when the result in question, is one that no political party in Ghana has been able to achieve. This consciousness is what I expect to drive our 2024 project. We must all be conscious of the enormity of the task ahead of us to be able to work our hearts out towards its realization. Consistent with our mandate, we, as national officers, following our election in July 2022, set for ourselves, a target of working assiduously to retain power in 2024 to justify the confidence that had been reposed in us by the partys delegates. This particular commitment to delivering nothing but victory to the party come 2024, has, at all times, been our primary focus in everything we do. We began by appointing hardworking party members to serve as deputy national officers, directors at the national secretariat and as members of the various committees of the Party to help us effectively deliver on our mandate. Of course, we can only be successful on this mandate if we get the support and cooperation of the members of our Party. More importantly, we can only succeed on our mandate when we continue to receive wise counsel from the members of our council of elders from the constituency to regional and national levels to put us on track at all times. As members of the council of elders, the wisdom and advice you offer us is so crucial to help us effectively organize and manage the party. This is crucial in winning the 2024 general elections. With your continuous support thus far, I am happy to report that the NPP is the most organized political party in Ghana. In respect of the current state of the NPP as evidence of our level of preparedness for the 2024 general elections, I can say confidently that, building on the hard work started by the previous administration, we continue to be the most vibrant and the leading political party in Ghana. Indeed, despite the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on political activities, we were the first party in Ghana that was able to organize conferences and elected polling station executives in all the over 38,000 polling stations in the country; elected constituency executives in all the 275 constituencies; elected regional executives in all the 16 regions of the country and ultimately elected national executive officers. We have equally successfully undertaken a nationwide membership registration, and have also begun rolling out a new biometric membership ID card with the launch of a new biometric membership identification system to issue new party cards to our members and for the management of membership data. We have successfully organized orientation and training workshops for the national and regional party executives to prepare ourselves for the task ahead. We have initiated the Party-Government Engagements series, which is an initiative that is aimed at bridging the gap between the party and government by strengthening the relationship between government appointees and party executives at all levels through regular face to face interactions. Following the introduction of the initiative, some senior government officials and CEOs of government agencies have visited the Party headquarters and held fruitful interactions with party officials. Without a doubt, all these feats, can certainly, only be achieved by a well-organized political party that is well prepared to go into the 2024 general elections and win by the grace of God. Mr. Chairman, having come this far, another crucial activity that is ahead of the Party going into election 2024 is the organization of parliamentary and presidential primaries to select our respective candidates. This exercise is so crucial that our victory in 2024 is largely hinged on how we conduct ourselves before, during and after these primaries. On account of this, I wish to make a passionate appeal to all prospective aspirants, their supporters, party members and all stakeholders of the Party to respect the rules of engagement. We should always be guided by the supreme interest of the party and eschew all acts that have the tendency of dividing our ranks. We cannot have an effective and well organized party to break the eight if we do not prioritize the partys interest. Our victory in 2024 will largely depend on how we conduct ourselves in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries. It is in view of the importance of these primaries on our electoral fortunes that the National Council of the Party formulated a Code of Conduct to regulate our conduct during the period preceding the opening of nominations for these primaries. It is also worth reminding all party members that the Code of Conduct is still in force, and as national officers, we will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure maximum conformity. This is crucial to help us close our ranks going into the 2024 general elections, and to be able to break the eight. As members of Council of Elders of our Party you have an important role to play in promoting the Code of Conduct and generally, in ensuring party discipline, which again is absolutely necessary for our victory in 2024. I therefore appeal to every member of the party to support us in this endeavor. This is needed for the party to break the eight. Distinguished Elders, I also wish to report to you that the party is currently engaging stakeholders and would very soon come out with a timetable for the conduct of the Partys parliamentary and presidential primaries. For your information at the last Steering Committee, National Executive Committee and National Council meetings held on 2nd February, 2023, it was resolved that due to the importance of this exercise on the partys electoral fortunes in 2024, there was the need for the party to build consensus among all relevant stakeholders before deciding on timelines for the conduct of the primaries. At the right time when a broader stakeholder consultation is done and this decision is eventually taken, the Party would issue appropriate rules and regulations to govern the conduct of these primaries. I once again plead to all party members to abide by these rules and regulations in the interest of the party. I wish to reiterate the point that as national officers of the Party, not only are we going to be impartial, but will also ensure a level playing field for all prospective aspirants in the conduct of both the parliamentary and presidential primaries. We admonish supporters of would be aspirants and members of the party to refrain from the use of provocative language in the lead up to the partys primaries. We should all remember that we remain the sons and daughters from the womb of one giant elephant. This is the only party we have. We should remind ourselves of the very reason for our existence as a political party which finds expression in Article 2(3) of the Partys Constitution. i.e. to win political power through democratic means in order to pursue the partys agenda as provided for in the partys manifesto for a general election. LONG LIVE THE NPP LONG LIVE GHANA KUKRUDU! KUKRUDU! In a controversial move that has strained its relationships with the EU and the US, South Africa will host naval exercises off its eastern coast with Chinese and Russian ships. The exercises coincide with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The South Africa National Defence Force (Sandf) confirmed on 19 January that South Africa will host the navies of China and Russia during a "multilateral maritime exercise" over the period 17 to 27 February. The exercise, codenamed "Mosi" ("Smoke" in Swahili), will take place around the Durban and Richards Bay areas of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, according to the statement. According to Russia's Tass news agency, the Admiral Gorshkov, a ship "carrying Tsirkon hypersonic missiles" will take part in the exercises as well after taking in supplies in Russia's navy base in Tartus, Syria. It will be only the second time that the naval forces of the three countries have held joint operations. The first took place in November 2019 in Cape Town, just before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Criticism at home and abroad The latest exercise ("Mosi II") has come under fire from South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which claims that with hosting the exercises, Pretoria has "chosen sides". "While our government has claimed to be neutral, this is just another of many incidents where the [ruling party] ANC has clearly exposed their favoritism towards Russia and has in fact done nothing but to showcase and prove [the] government's lack of neutrality in this case," according to the party's shadow minister of defence and military affairs, Kobus Marais. In a statement, he called the war games "nothing more than an expensive publicity stunt". Meanwhile, David Feldman, a spokesperson for the US Embassy in South Africa, was quoted by CBS News as saying that the US is "concerned about South Africa's plan to hold joint naval exercises with Russia and the [People's Republic of China] in February, even as Moscow continues its brutal and unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine". Pauline Bax of the International Crisis Group pointed out that the exercises coincide with the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which she remarks is "diplomatically quite awkward, and something that South Africa could have pushed to another date". But South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, who met with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov when he visited Pretoria earlier in January, said that the drills were to be "merely an exercise with friends". Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise was quoted by South Africa's Independent Online portal as saying the exercises are "highly beneficial for the three navies", adding that "nobody protested" when the US held its own military exercises with the Sandf in July last year. Russia 'not as isolated' as West wants By hosting the war games, "South Africa sends a clear signal that it is not going to join the anti-Russian front", Marcin Kaczmarski, a secuity expert with the University of Glasgow, told RFI. The exercises show that "Russia is not as isolated as the West would like", he said. His remarks are backed up by the Democracy Index 2022 published last month by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which states that "two-thirds of the world's population live in countries that are either neutral or Russia-leaning when it comes to the war in Ukraine". China remains its most powerful ally. Russia's Tass news agency described a visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping, planned in the coming months, as "the main event in the bilateral agenda for 2023". The trip is a follow-up to Putin's visit to Beijing in February last year just before Russia invaded Ukraine when the two countries pledged a "friendship without limits". It is unclear to what extent their military cooperation will expand. But China may have its reservations too. Combined power The upcoming exercises hosted by South Africa demonstrate "the potential for Russia-China cooperation in the Indian Ocean, and how the two present a much greater threat to a continued US role and influence in the region than either would individually", according to Oriana Skylar Mastro, a fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the American Enterprise Institute. "Both China and Russia have gradually been increasing their presence in the Indian Ocean. Russia recently announced it would establish a naval facility in Port Sudan on the Red Sea," she told RFI, pointing out that China opened its first overseas base in Djibouti in 2017. "China and Russia hold a series of these multilateral exercises less for military purposes and more for political purposes," Mastro says, adding that they are "not particularly threatening in any way on the military side of things". According to the analyst, "Russia is willing to take some political risks to support Chinese military activities with the upcoming war games", which represent the latest challenge to the United States and its allies. China is already stepping up its military presence in "controversial locations such as the South China Sea" by constructing bases on atolls and reefs, Mastro points out. The Taiwan question But overall, Mastro thinks that China isn't too happy with Russia's invasion of Ukraine "largely because they don't believe in [that] kind of foreign military intervention as an effective foreign policy tool". Another reason, she says, is that Beijing doesn't want to show too much support for Russia because "they don't like the parallels between Ukraine and Taiwan. From the Chinese perspective, they have a very strong, legitimate claim on Taiwan. And Russia does not have the same strong, legitimate claim on Ukraine". While Beijing has always recognised Ukraine's sovereignty and extended "heartfelt" congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the country's independence, it regards self-ruling Taiwan as one of its provinces that, eventually, must return to the "motherland". Dr. Titus Beyuo 13.02.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has warned the government not to attempt to touch the pensions of its members in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). In an interview, the General Secretary of GMA, Dr. Titus Beyuo argued that members are already being underpaid and must not be made to suffer by having their investments affected by the DDEP. He warned that if government touches the pensions of members, they will embark on massive strike action and abandon hospitals. If you touch peoples pensions they are not going to sit down. Already you are underpaying us and what we are saving towards pension the same threat that existed before for which reason the government backed down on pension funds is the same that prevails. We have told the government what will happen if they touch our pension funds and we will desert the hospitals. We will go on a total strike and that is what we have decided to do. We have given out a letter and everything that we will do is the same principle that will apply here, Dr. Titus Beyuo said in an interview on Starr FM. The General Secretary of GMA added, It was the same thing the government sought to avoid that they will not touch pension funds. So if they are now going to touch some pension funds under the pretext that they are not regulated by the MPRA, when the government is aware that prior to the establishment of MPRA organizations like the GMA, the Universities and other organizations set up independent pension funds to help their members. The government introduced the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme to help bring the country out of its difficult economic situation. Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director at Medicas Hospital, Dr. Yaw Osafo has given the solution to the lack of enough sleep. The medical expert noted that the best way for a person to sleep well is to be in love. To him, people who always think about the excitement they enjoy in love don't struggle with sleep. "You sleep better when youre in love, even when youre in a poorly ventilated room. When youre curdled up against your loved one, Im telling you, sleep comes and takes over," Dr. Osafo said in an interview on Accra-based JoyPrime TV. According to him, having enough sleep helps one grow fit medically and physically, thereby protecting them from illness. "When you sleep, things like growth hormone, which is important for growth, get released, and the rate of release hits its peak during sleep," he said. The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) convened a technical working-group meeting to review the Draft Harmonized Framework of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority Information System (ECIS) from February 6 -10 2023, in Banjul, the Republic of The Gambia. The meeting brought together four (4) technical experts from the ERCA Consultative Competition Committee (CCC) and ERCA staff to review the Harmonized information system framework on the competition before submission for regional validation by the CCC. The meeting of the working group provided an opportunity for the experts to review and edit the draft documents and make the necessary recommendations to improve the document and ensure it is in line with ERCAs regulations and best practices. The Executive Director of ERCA, Dr Simeon Koffi welcomed the working group members to Banjul and thanked them for attending the meeting. He stated that it is essential to receive recommendations from the technical working group to ensure that the ECIS is comprehensive to respond to the needs of Member States who be one of the main users of the platform. He added that the ECIS is fully digitalized including its statistical system which will help in detecting and analysing anti-competitive practices within the ECOWAS region. The Chairperson of the CCC, Ms. Boladale Adeyinka, in her presentation, stated that the meeting is aimed at strengthening the harmonization of the ECOWAS Region in relation to competition and consumer protection. She emphasized the importance of statistics in competition enforcement within the region and opined that the diverse list of participants with their different expertise will contribute to having a robust deliberation on the draft Harmonized Framework of the ECIS. She thanked Member of the CCC continuous support and the technical expertise of the CCC members and other experts at the meeting. The meeting concluded with the experts making necessary recommendations to improve the draft information system and ensure it is in line with ERCAs requirements and best practices. Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has reiterated his outfits quest to help clamp down on criminals in the country. The IGP noted that they have been sacrificing a lot, including using some women of the service as bait. They are made to disguise themselves as prostitutes to help trap criminals. At a durbar with some police officers in the Bono Regional Capital, Sunyani, on Friday, February 10, Dr. Dampare averred that the security agency is also keen on bringing back its lost glory by way of ensuring internal discipline. "Some of them, including some women, we were using as baitthey dress as prostitutes, unknown to everybody... to get intelligence for us and things we do, you dont know or you think that the crime in the country has just shot to the lowest level magically? Do you know the things we have done? If we are to tell you, it will blow your mind," he said. He added, It is not the arrest we are interested in; we feel very uncomfortable arresting people because sometimes our own are arrested. When we started this policy of bringing discipline across the country, as many as about 18 police officers have been arrested and put in court for many traffic offences." While they arrest and prosecute officers who go contrary to the rules, the IGP said they have been promoting hard-working and diligent personnel. For this whole idea that we are the people who know our rights, and that why is this person promoted and not promoted while the laws are there? It means you dont read; go and read your CI. What you should know is that something that has never happened before has happened on our watch, and that type of promotion that is done probably to some few people at headquarters and others, we changed it the Commanders they know the people who are killing themselves for this job; identify them, as long as they are two years in their rank, we will promote them," the IGP said. The SNV Ghana through the European Union-funded, Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) Project has trained and certified 114 entrepreneurs in the agriculture value chain. The beneficiaries selected from the Ashanti and Western Regions of Ghana were trained and certified by the Kwadaso Agricultural College. The 114 beneficiaries are graduates of SNVs Basic and Advanced Skills training under its Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) Programme. They have undergone weeks of training facilitated by Kwadaso Agricultural College and extension officers from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Speaking to this reporter at the sidelines of the graduation ceremony on Friday, February 10, 2023, a Skills Development Advisor for SNV GrEEn Project, Dorcas Hammond said the practical training was part of SNV Ghana's target to create over 3,500 self-employed opportunities in the green ecosystem. She disclosed that the beneficiaries were taken through ten courses including, Agro-processing, Basic concepts in value chain, Climate Smart Agriculture, Crop production management, Financial literacy and sensitisation, Livestock production, Poultry Production, Entrepreneurship, Agric Marketing and Resource Use Efficiency. She noted that the lessons included in-class theory from Kwadaso tutors and practical, field exercises facilitated by extension officers from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. She noted that SNV Ghana will continue to support startups in the green value chain. "SNV Netherlands Development Organisation has a mission to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that result in sustainable impact in our three sectors of focus: agri-food, energy, and water systems and these 114 OYE service recipients graduation from this successful partnership with Kwadaso Agricultural College, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ghana Education Service is a testament to our commitment," Dorcas Hammond said. She acknowledges the contributions of the European Union and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana who has made it possible for this partnership to come to fruition. "The European union has continuously funded the Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana, popularly known as the GrEEn Project- the European Union is continuously showing its dedication to promoting the growth of green jobs and green businesses at the local and national level and we at SNV Ghana are proud to partner with the EU to support the job creation and skills development goals of the government of Ghana," she stressed. For his part, the Ashanti Regional Director for the Ministry of Food And Agriculture, Rev. John Manu commended the SNV Ghana and the European Union for contributing positively to the development of Ghanas agribusiness. He noted that the government will always be ready to partner with them to help train and support youth in the Agricultural sector. Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, the MP for Anyaa Sowutuom, is urging Ghanaians to appreciate President Akufo-Addos administration for what it has done so far in spite of the countrys current economic difficulties. According to him, when he hears some Ghanaians criticizing the way the current administration is running the countrys economy, he feels sad. Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi told Kwaku Owusu Adjei(Patoo) on Adwenepa on Accra-based Original TV that, If you were patient for the economy to be mismanaged and even paralyzed for eight years, why wont you be patient for the economy to be fixed? He added, Ghanaians should not lose hope they should support the government because very soon things are going to change about our economy." Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi said the countrys economy was in a bad state under the erstwhile John Mahamas administration. He indicated that the economy started recovering due to the competent Akufo-Addo administration. He, however added that the situation is changing because Ghanaians no longer call their homes after closing from work to find out whether there is power as was the case under the previous administration. He added that the Akufo-Addo administration has worked hard by restoring fiscal discipline, saying the economic indicators are now showing positive signs. Citizen Ato Dadzie, the GCPPs General Secretary claims the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme being forced on Ghanaians by Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta shows lack of respect for bondholders. Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo wants Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to go back to the drawing board and rethink the Debt Exchange Programme. Sophia Akuffo livid over the inclusion of Pensioners investments in the Domestic Debt Exchange programme said: Im encouraging people not to sign up to anything, Yes, and if need be we can all go to court. She said this when she joined pensioner bondholders to picket at the Ministry of Finance for their total exclusion from the controversial Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. This Citizen Ato Dadzie says the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has demonstrated insensitivity to bondholders in the rollout of the DDEP. I am very sad today how can we treat pensioners who have worked very hard for their monies like this? Ken Ofori Atta is a very wicked man; his project is to destroy this country he doesnt have the country at heart what crime have we committed giving the NPP a second term? "The government will not listen; they lost all ideas. We are carrying a heavy load. Do they need a class one person to teach them this, cant they see? We are crying today, so if a pensioner took a pen and made this analysis where the government is doing a help-me-I-help-you policy. And the government is still opening up expenditures. How do you think she will feel, Citizen Ato Dadzie exclusively told Samuel Huntor on Amayosen on Accra-based Original TV. He added that the NPP caused the current economic mess by doubling previous funds that were being allocated to Ministries and the presidency. Barring any last minute changes, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will present this year's State of the Nation Address on February 28, 2023. The exercise by the President is in fulfilment of Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution which mandates a sitting President to address Parliament at the beginning of each session of the legislative house and before the dissolution of the house. The scheduled event was disclosed by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and the Majority Leader of Parliament; Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu during an exclusive interview on the Kumasi-based OTEC 102.9 FM's morning show Nyansapo on Monday, February 13, 2023. "President Akufo-Addo will deliver a message on the State of the Nation on February 28, 2023, if nothing changes in the agree schedule," he told the programme's host Captain Koda. The President during a State of the Nation Address outlines the governments key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead and also uses the opportunity to highlight achievements of the government, challenges and measures for the coming financial year. He however explained that the event was delayed due to the slight changes in the time Parliament began this year's session. "The President normally presents SONA in the middle of February, but we had to change the usual schedule because Parliament for the first time since the fourth Republic, began its sessions in February instead of January," he emphasised. H.E. Mrs Fanta Cisse, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Cote d'Ivoire, took part in the official Award Ceremony of the Felix Houphouet-Boigny-UNESCO Peace Prize. The Prize was awarded to Mrs Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and winner of the 2022 edition, on Wednesday, 8 February 2023 at a ceremony in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire. The ceremony, chaired by H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, was attended by several Heads of State including H.E. Umaru Sissoco Embalo, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. George Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, and H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, and Chairperson of the African Union. Former Presidents Henri Konan Bedie and Laurent Gbagbo, Mrs Therese Houphouet-Boigny, Mr Tiemoko Meyliet Kone, Vice-President of the Republic of Cote dIvoire, Mr. Patrick Achi, Prime Minister of Cote d'Ivoire, Heads of State Institutions, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Mrs Audrey Azoulay were also present at the important ceremony. The Felix Houphouet-Boigny-UNESCO Peace Prize, named after the first President of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, was established in 1989 by a resolution unanimously adopted by 120 UNESCO Member States. It honours living individuals and active public or private institutions or organisations worldwide that have made a significant contribution to promoting, seeking, safeguarding or maintaining peace. The Jury awarded the 2022 Prize to Mrs Angela Merkel, former Federal Chancellor of Germany, for granting asylum and protection to more than one million people fleeing the war in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea, in 2015, when she was still in office. Speaking during the occasion, President Alassane Ouattara noted that the hosting of the ceremony in Yamoussoukro was an opportunity to celebrate the efforts made to preserve the peace that was so dear to the Founding Father of the Ivorian Nation, while emphasizing the legendary hospitality of Cote d'Ivoire both in times of crisis and in times of peace. He also congratulated and commended the Prize Winner, highlighting her leadership both in Germany and around the world, and her values of courage, humanism and solidarity. The ceremony featured several other addresses, notably by the Director-General of UNESCO, President Macky Sall, representing Mr Abdou Diouf, former President of the Republic of Senegal and Patron of the Prize, and former President Henri Konan Bedie, Sponsor of the Prize. They all commended the leadership of the Prize Winner, Mrs Angela Merkel, her courage, humanism and sense of solidarity. They also called for efforts towards building a better world. After receiving her Prize, consisting of a certificate and a medal, from President Alassane Ouattara and Mrs. Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mrs Angela Merkel donated the accompanying cash prize, worth US$150,000 to SOS Enfance en danger, an NGO based in Cote d'Ivoire. The Jury also awarded an honourable mention to Mrs Julienne Lusenge, President of the NGO Solidarite feminine pour la paix et le developpement integral, for her commitment to women who were victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The ceremony ended with a group photograph and a reception hosted by the presidential couple. Government will on Tuesday, February 14 announce the final terms of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme following its expiration of the registration on Friday, February 10, 2023. The government has a hard time convincing domestic bondholders to sign onto the debt exchange resulting in the extension of the deadline five consecutive times. The announcement of the new terms will mean government has met some of its preconditions for securing financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta launched the DDEP on December 5, 2022. Mr. Ofori-Atta said the objective of the Programme was to invite holders of domestic debt to voluntarily exchange approximately GH137 billion of the domestic notes and bonds of the Republic, including E.S.L.A. and Daakye bonds, for a package of New Bonds to be issued by the Republic. He stated that it was time for his Ministry and the Government to take such drastic measures now because the Government may not be able to fully service its debt down the road if no action is taken. The Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) demonstrated unequivocally that Ghana's public debt is unsustainable, and that the Government may not be able to fully service its debt down the road if no action is taken. Indeed, debt servicing is now absorbing more than half of total government revenues and almost 70% of tax revenues, while our total public debt stock, including that of State-Owned Enterprises and all, exceeds 100% of our GDP. This is why we are today announcing the debt exchange, which will help in restoring our capacity to service debt. By Citi Newsroom French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah is "happy" to have been released from prison in Iran but uncertainties remain about when she could return to France, her lawyer said at the weekend. Adelkhah, who was first arrested in June 2019 and had been serving a five-year sentence, was released from prison on Friday night, the lawyer Hojjat Kermani told the French AFP news agency. She has returned to her family's home and "she is happy" to have left Evin prison in north Tehran, he added. The lawyer said she had been released following a decision by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to pardon or reduce the prison terms of a "significant number" of convicts ahead of the 44th anniversary of the Islamic republic, which was celebrated on Saturday. "The case is closed so there is no legal obstacle for her to leave the country," he said, while adding "we have to wait and see if there is any political decision against her departure from the country." A specialist in Shiite Islam and a research director at Sciences Po university in Paris, Adelkhah was arrested in June 2019 along with her French colleague and partner Roland Marchal. Six French nationals still held Marchal was released in March 2020 in an apparent prisoner swap after France released Iranian engineer Jallal Rohollahnejad, who had faced extradition to the United States over accusations he had violated US sanctions against Iran. Adelkhah's case was more complicated because Iran does not recognise dual nationality for its citizens. She was sentenced in May 2020 to five years in prison for conspiring against national security. She was allowed return to her home in Tehran in October 2020 with an electronic bracelet before being returned to jail in January 2022. Six French citizens were still being held by Iran, according to the French government. They are among two dozen foreign nationals described by their families and supporters as innocent people. Former Chairman of the Electoral Commission Kwadwo Afari-Gyan has said a refusal by party agents to sign collation forms (pink sheets) during an election does not automatically invalidate the results declared. At a lecture organised by the Rotary Club of Accra West on Wednesday, 8 February 2023, Dr Afari-Gyan also warned political parties against using just anybody at all as polling station agents since, according to him, a lot of brainwork goes into that job. Fortunately, in some elections, I have seen some big people serving as agents", he observed, adding: "Dont go and recruit nonentities to go and do the work at the polling stations; it is brainwork". Explaining the law that deals with signing of result forms, Dr Afari-Gyan said: "Refusing to sign the pink sheet, as we call it in Ghana, does not automatically invalidate the election results". Some candidates believe that if the agents dont sign, it means the results are invalid. "Sometimes, we are told that the candidates even tell the party: If I lose very badly, dont sign it, thinking that it will be invalidated". "No", Dr Afari-Gyan educated, pointing out: "Refusing to sign the pink sheet does not, automatically, invalidate the election results". What does the law say?" he asked. "The law says if you are refusing to sign, you must give reasons in writing at the polling station why you do not sign it and then the Electoral Commission will later look into the reason that you have given". "If you have not written any such thing, then ignore it". So, it is important to remember that being an agent at the polling station is brainwork; it is not a brawl, it is not a fight; you are not going to fight at the polling station. It is brainwork." "The person must understand what is going on so that he can raise these things", the Dailyguidenetwork quoted the ex-Chair of the EC as saying. "I have said many times that given the importance of pink sheets, I think nobody is too big to serve his or her party as an agent on election day", he stressed. Source: Classfmonline.com The Divisional Chief Otumfuo Brempong of Kumasi, Nana Saforo Koto II who also doubles as the Chief of Bekwai-Abodom in the Amansie District of Ashanti Region has stressed the need for his people to bury their differences and rally behind him to develop the town and those under his jurisdiction. Nana Saforo Koto II made the statement in reaction to the situation where some youth in the area have been resisting development projects he intends to undertake for the area. According to Asantehene's Brempong, as a chief he has good intentions for his people since the responsibilities of chiefs go along with development projects to improve the living standards of the people. Nana Saforo Koto II said he is ready to forgive everyone who has offended him. "I will encourage you to be at your positions within my jurisdiction as l have no idea to sack or demote you," Nana confidently assured his people. He added that all he wanted from the people is unity, peace and stability to enable him develop the area. Nana Saforo Koto II observed that in this era of technological advancement, it is a collective responsibility of all to ensure that the communities are well developed to catch up with the modern times. "Therefore it is in line with this concept hence l am calling for peace and unity to help us develop our communities," Otumfuo Obrempong Nana Saforo Koto II emphasised. Two homes and a superyacht belonging to Equatorial Guinea's vice president have been seized in South Africa after a local businessman sued for unlawful arrest and torture, a lawyer said Monday. A high court ordered the seizure of Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue's properties, along with his superyacht docked in Cape Town. The orders arose from a lawsuit by South African businessman Daniel Janse van Rensburg. He said he had been unlawfully detained and tortured for 491 days in a notorious Equatorial Guinea jail when a business deal went sour in 2013, his lawyer told AFP. "We attached (seized) two houses...in Cape Town in a formal application two weeks ago and the superyacht last Tuesday," lawyer Errol Eldson, told AFP. An application to auction the assets has been filed. A Cape Town high court in 2021 ordered Obiang -- the son of the iron-fisted President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo -- to pay Janse van Rensburg around 40 million rand ($2.2 million) in damages. The lawyer said his client had been hired by an Equatorial Guinea politician, Gabriel Angabi, "to set up an airline" in the oil-rich but impoverished country. After nearly two years of setting up the airline and "everything in place and aircrafts were ready to start flying", the businessman was called by Angabi for what he assumed would be the airline launch, according to Eldson. "When he got there, Angabi said 'we don't want to do this anymore, we want our money back'," said the lawyer. Having spent all the money on the project, Janse van Rensburg failed to refund Angabi, who is allegedly related to the first family. "He picked up the phone to vice president Obiang and within 10 minutes the rapid force intervention was there they picked Daniel up and threw him into Black Beach prison". In his memoir published in September, Janse Van Rensburg wrote "what was supposed to be a short business trip to Equatorial Guinea turned into a journey to the depths of hell." Obiang's furniture from his two residences in Cape Town's affluent suburbs have already been auctioned. His lawyer Victor Nkhwashu refused to comment. Playboy image Obiang's father, 80-year-old father is the longest-serving head of state alive today, excluding monarchs. He seized power in August 1979, toppling his uncle, Francisco Macias Nguema, who was then executed by firing squad. Firmly suppressing dissent and surviving a string of attempted coups, he has remained at the helm of the oil-rich central African state ever since. He has long been considered to be grooming his son, usually called Teodorin, to be his successor. However, the scion's image has been stained by a playboy reputation and scandals abroad over assets suspected to have been acquired illegally. France, Britain and the United States have ordered him to forfeit millions of dollars in assets, from mansions to luxury cars, while France also handed him a three-year suspended sentence and a fine of 30 million euros (dollars). Government has cautioned radio presenters and broadcasters who operate within conflict-prone areas in the country to be mindful of hate and spiteful speeches that may cause instability. According to the government, it acknowledges the importance of radio, radio managers and broadcasters, but radio has also become a major tool for misinformation and disinformation to incite opponents of various groups instead of helping to bring peace and stability. Delivering a solidarity message on World Radio Day marked today, 13 February 2023 globally, on behalf of the government of Ghana, Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, cited the conflict in Bawku which he said is mostly fuel by various opponents on radio. He, therefore, urged broadcasters to deliberately use their mediums to propagate peace and harmony amongst others. World Radio Day is being celebrated across the Globe today. The day is observed every year to raise awareness among the public and the media about the importance of radio and to encourage access to information through radio. The theme for the 12th edition of World Radio Day is Radio and Peace" to remember the unique power of Radio which touches lives and brings people together from every corner of the world. Source: Classfmonline.com George Opare Addo, the National Youths Organizer of the main opposition NDC, has expressed optimism about his partys electoral victory in 2024. Pablo, as he is affectionately called, believes NDC will win overwhelmingly in the next election. Speaking on Atinka TV's "Oman Mu Nsem," hosted by Nana Owoahene Acheampong, the youth leader lamented the hardships in the country, particularly the recent brouhaha surrounding the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. "We will increase our votes in the next election...It is not only about victory; it is about the state of the Ghanaian economy. "It is about you and I. If 70-year-olds and 90-year-olds today are picketing at the Finance Ministry, then you should know all is not well in this country," Mr. Opare Addo said. To him, having old-aged citizens picketing at the Ministry of Finance (MoF), including a former Chief Justice, Mrs. Sophia Akufo, shows the NPP government has failed woefully. "To have a former Chief Justice, who is an Article 71 office older, and still a member of Governing Council of the University of Ghana, then you should know all is not well. So, it is not only about the NDC winning power, but it is about the soul of this country," he noted. He stressed, If we don't speak the truth to this government, it won't be a good thing for this country. Ghana is bankrupt as we speak. Over the years, the venerable Prof Stephen Adei has reiterated what he calls a radical approach to addressing the falling standards of public basic education in Ghana. To him, the solution lies in sacking all public basic school teachers and allowing head teachers to take the lead in the recruitment process. He has also called for intense supervision, monitoring, and accountability measures to ensure that the best is obtained from teachers, however, I believe educational challenges are multifaceted and must be tackled from various fronts to achieve substantial and sustainable results. Though his position might hold water in some aspects, it is also flawed in several areas. It is a grim reality that supervision, monitoring, and accountability are major problems in our public school system. My experience with supervision and monitoring in basic schools in Ghana reveals a sad experience for both internal and external supervisors. The internal supervisors are not only administrative leaders but in most instances are also instructional leaders. This mostly renders them very ineffective; some do not have the requisite skills in school management and administration while others have very poor leadership skills and are not able to get the best out of their already poorly motivated staff. Also, to be very effective in supervising and monitoring the delivery of quality education in a basic school, the internal supervisor should be well-resourced. It is interesting that Prof Adei mentions that the head should be paid well, however, the problem is not just about better remuneration, it is also about providing the needed resources to be able to function effectively. An internal supervisor cannot be effective if the payment of the capitation grant is delayed for months which technically is the money needed to run the school administratively. The external supervisor also faces the same challenge of inadequate resources. Again, two very important variables of accountability which are the community and the parents are now very inactive in the entire scheme of public basic schools. In these perspectives, I agree with the venerable Professor. However, his prescriptions for addressing the challenge of poor supervision, monitoring, and accountability are problematic and parochial. It is problematic because Prof will agree with me that the delivery of quality education and ensuring improved standards is not only about output variables. It is more about input variables which invariably determine the output or outcome (the performance of the learners). Hence, every good educational system pays critical attention to the input variables which are not only about teachers but also the quality school environment, infrastructure, educational resources, nature of the curriculum, etc. It is when all input variables are performing above average that one can be sure of improved output. Consequently, sacking teachers and re-employing them without providing the needed resources to the head teacher and the teachers and also not creating a very conducive environment for students to learn would be counter-productive. Teachers in public basic schools in the country teach under very deplorable conditions. In most instances, it takes the ingenuity and innovativeness of teachers to be able to deliver the content to learners with some using their meager salary to provide teaching resources. This is the duty of the employer. It is therefore sad that the teacher is the first to be blamed anytime the issues of quality education are mentioned. Sadly, within our educational framework, quality parameters such as student-to-desk ratio, student-textbook ratio, student-teacher ratio, etc. are all below standard. How do you achieve quality education when your own quality variables are not up to standard? Again, the position of Prof brings back the discussion of decentralizing our educational system. It is a fact that the recruitment of teachers is done in a centralized manner. Currently, the Ghana Education Service has opened a portal calling for teachers to apply. Therefore, proposing that heads of basic schools should be made to hire teachers is indirectly asking for a revisitation of the discussion on educational decentralization which seems to have been abandoned in recent years. This is a major policy decision that requires broader consultation and fidelity to implementation when adopted. Again, tying the performance of learners to the salaries of heads can be problematic, this is because Pay for Performance (P4P) has been flagged by various authorities as ineffective in low and middle-income countries. The sad reality of the state of our public basic schools has resulted in parents enrolling their wards in private basic schools although they complain of exorbitant fees. Filomena, a Brazilian student is quoted as saying the educational system is a framework or a puzzle where each actor has its role, and when one of them breaks the chain, the whole system is impacted. We have succeeded in widening the inequality gap between public and private basic school learners and gradually collapsing the public basic school system. This can never be repaired by focusing on only the teacher. Prof Adei should, therefore: ask the government to prioritize spending efficiency, cut waste in the system, and channel resources to the foundation of our educational system. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, 7.9 million Ghanaians, who are six years and older cannot read and write with understanding. This can only be addressed with commitment from the relevant authorities to provide the needed resources at the basic level and not just by sacking teachers. charge on the government to INCREASE and RELEASE the capitation grant to public basic schools on time. advocate that there should be a national plan on how to address the school environmental and infrastructural challenges in public basic schools. With this, the Multidimensional Educational Resource Deprivation Index (MERDI) comes in handy. join the call to the Ministry of Education to pay attention to the school-based data they have and follow through with an equitable distribution of educational resources and should not wait for media houses to prompt them. reactivate the discussion on the decentralization of education in Ghana push for improved conditions of service for basic school teachers in the country admonish community leaders to show maximum interest in the public basic schools in their area advise parents to renew their commitment to their wards education. By: Peter Partey-Anti (Ph.D.) ****The writer is an Education Economist, Curriculum and Pedagogy expert, and Educational Researcher. He is a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast and the Executive Director for the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST) an education think-tank in Ghana. Geneva/Sinjar As the Yazidi community in Iraq continues to rebuild in the wake of genocide, construction of a cemetery and memorial in Solagh, Sinjar, has officially commenced. Launched by Nadias Initiative (NI) in 2021 in response to requests from the Yazidi community, NI spent the last two years designing the cemetery and memorial in partnership with community members and a Yazidi architect. This week, construction is officially underway with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Iraq and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Grief is part of the healing process, said Nadia Murad, founder and president of Nadias Initiative. Having a place to collectively mourn and remember our families, friends, and neighbors is vital for survivors, especially those who have returned to Sinjar. It also serves an educational purpose reminding the world of what our community suffered, and how we must continue to focus on preventing such atrocities. When a community has experienced this degree of trauma and devastation, memorializing the past and paying tribute to lost loved ones become essential components of efforts to support survivors as they return home from displacement, said IOM Iraq Chief of Mission, Giorgi Gigauri. This is what we are endeavoring to do here a memorial by and for the community, that is also consistent with the provisions enshrined in the Yazidi Survivors Law, which IOM and Nadias Initiative have worked to support from its inception, and to which we remain committed as the reparations roll-out continues. In August 2014, the Yazidi ethno-religious minority community in Sinjar was attacked by Daesh in a systematic attempt to erase them from existence. Thousands of people were killed, hundreds of thousands were displaced, and more than 6,000 women and children were enslaved. Today, around 2,700 Yazidis are still considered missing, while dozens of mass graves remain unexhumed. This cemetery will be the first project of this scale documenting the Yazidi genocide. It will be a historical landmark for future generations and will visually demonstrate the magnitude of the genocide and its impact on our community. Establishing a symbolic mass grave will attract the attention of public figures and those who are interested in human rights and justice issues, says Khaled Talo Khedr, community member and relative of a Solagh victim. Memorializing the victims of genocide is essential to the Yazidi community, many of whom remain displaced within Iraq more than eight years later. The final design for the cemetery and memorial was selected through extensive consultations with survivors both displaced and returned and aims not only to honor those who were lost, but also to act as a catalyst for the collective healing of a people, community, and region that has withstood incredible trauma. This is the first memorialization project of this size and scope to be implemented in Sinjar. The constructions design aims to preserve and honor the memories of Yazidis in Sinjar, and it will serve as a place of solace and remembrance for the greater Yazidi community. About Nadias Initiative: Nadias Initiative is an international NGO dedicated to rebuilding communities in crisis and advocating globally for survivors of sexual violence. Its current work is focused on the sustainable redevelopment of the Yazidi homeland in Sinjar, Iraq. Nadias Initiative works with the local community and a variety of implementing partners on the ground in Sinjar to design and support projects that promote the restoration of education, healthcare, livelihoods, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), culture, and womens empowerment in the region. All Nadias Initiative programs are community-driven, survivor centric, and work to promote long term peacebuilding. Nadias Initiative advocates governments and international organizations to support efforts to rebuild Sinjar, seek justice for Yazidis, improve security in the region, and support survivors of sexual violence worldwide. About IOM Iraq: IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration, working in cooperation with the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, civil society organizations and international partners to provide support across the countrys 18 governorates. As part of its multi-sectoral response covering camp management and camp coordination, shelter and infrastructure rehabilitation, healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, livelihood assistance, policy development and more, IOM plays a key role in advancing a trauma-informed, survivor-centered transitional justice process in Iraq. 13.02.2023 LISTEN National Democratic Congress (NDC) stalwart, Sylvester Mensah finds it refreshing to have seen the former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, picket at the Finance Ministry in solidarity with pensioners and other individual bondholders. Mr. Mensah in a Facebook post said he deduces from the CJs statements that she understood the voluntary nature of opting onto the DDEP. He however, believes the former Chief Justice only sought to articulate some of the issues in an effort to bring clarity to how we got here, and government's inadequate share of the burden of domestic debt restructuring. She also articulated the government's arrogant posture and the vain threat of sinking together if bondholders refuse to participate. The former NHIA Boss expected the former Chief Justice to have gone further to say there is a lack of confidence in the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, whose poor management and self-interest in the reckless borrowing over the past 6 years have brought Ghana to the edge of a cliff. How do we re-fuel our bus for the same bad and reckless driver, who has driven us into a ditch to drive us safely home? Change the driver, Mr. President! We applaud former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo for her discerning and distinguished voice in these deeply troubling times in Ghana. It is entirely predictable that NPP apologists and grassroots attack dogs would be unleashed to devour her, but to no effect: Ghanaians have been awoken from their slumber by the super incompetence of the worst government in Ghana's post-independence history, he added. -citinewsroom Prof. Ransford Gyampo 13.02.2023 LISTEN Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, Prof. Ransford Gyampo has hit out at persons condemning former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo for protesting the governments Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). In his opinion, lessons must rather be taken from the show of courage by the former Chief Justice who stood up to speak up on behalf of her colleague pensioners. Sharing his thoughts on social media, Prof. Ransford Gyampo admonished top government officials to speak up now and stop complaining behind the scenes. We must take lessons from what Sophia Akufo is doing. Better late than never. Top public servants who irresponsibly gag their mouths today, will regret their silence tomorrow, when they are old and on retirement. Dear Top Public Servants who are cowardly complaining behind the scenes, speak up now that you have the energy or demonstrate in the sun in future when you are weak, have BP, diabetes, and expected to be taking medication, Prof. Ransford Gyampo shared on his Facebook page. The UG Political Science lecturer added, It is the height of arrogance for those who have invested their wealth in foreign offshore accounts to attempt to berate, re-gag, and stampede Sophia Akufo into silence. We made an honest mistake; it doesnt mean Ghana belongs to them. Today, more pensioners have converged at the Finance Ministry to protest their inclusion in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. The pensioners have been protesting every day in front of the Ministry since last Monday. A Somali court on Monday sentenced a freelance journalist to two months in jail on security-related charges, a press association said, in a case criticised by rights campaigners and media advocacy groups. The sentencing of Abdalle Ahmed Mumin was "a pure travesty of justice", the president of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said on Twitter, vowing to appeal the ruling. Mumin, who is the secretary general of the SJS, was arrested in October last year on what authorities say are security-related charges. His detention came days after the government announced a crackdown on media outlets that publish what it deems propaganda for the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab. SJS and four other media advocacy groups had protested the directive, warning it clamped down on free speech. "Today's court sentence not only sends a chilling message to the entire media fraternity but also instills fear among media professionals and press freedom advocacy groups," SJS president Mohamed Ibrahim said. In the runup to the sentencing, rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Press Institute had called for the charges to be dropped, saying Mumin faced ongoing threats and persecution by Somali authorities for advocating for the right to freedom of expression. "Continuing his prosecution not only casts a chilling effect on media freedom and journalism, but it also significantly contributes to the closing civic space in the country," they said in a joint letter to Somalia's attorney general in December. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Saturday said Mumin was facing persecution for defending the freedom of speech. "During Abdalle's trial it became more evident that his prosecution was about silencing a press freedom advocate and sending a message of fear to other journalists," it said. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, ranks Somalia 140th out of 180 countries on its global list of press freedom, with more than 50 journalists killed in the country since 2010. The nation of 17 million people is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa, according to RSF. The main threat is from Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab fighters trying to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, however authorities are also accused of numerous violations. Former fetish priestess and founder of Heavenway Champion International Ministries, Evangelist Patricia Asiedu also known as Nana Agradaa has caused stir. Affectionately called Mama Pat, said she will name her next child Judas Iscariot. She believes that Judas, who was one of the Apostles must also be appreciated for his betrayal of Jesus Christ. It is common knowledge, mostly among Christians, of how Judas betrayed Jesus Christ by disclosing His whereabouts for 30 pieces of silver. Being hated by many because of this act, Nana Agradaa explained that Judas was only used to fulfil the will of God. To her, if not for Judas, Christians would still be wallowing in their sins and may never have gotten their redemption. "If Im to give birth again, Ill name the child Judas. Judas is a name everyone despises, but for me, I like it. Ask me why," she said to her church members. "If he hadnt betrayed Jesus, we wouldnt have gotten our freedom," Nana Agradaa explained. The controversial evangelist said if the apostle were to be alive, she would have given him a car and a house for playing an integral role in her redemption. "If he were to be alive, I would have gifted him a car and a house because if not for what he did, we wouldnt have gotten our freedom," she noted. Can there be a society without politics? Does politics influence people? Is politics helpful? Let us see. Politics plays an integral role in our lives as citizens. Even before Ghana gained independence, many prominent people engaged in politics one way or the other in the struggle for independence. Every issue was argued and criticized through politics. As the years go by, many Ghanaian politicians have risen to power. Some look at issues with a political lens while others believe in applying common sense. The growing merits of politics has made many citizens become interested in political issues. Others also believe that politics and politicians do nothing but lie to gain fame. But has politics been a burden or helpful? Let us take our time to critically scrutinize these issues because a society without politics is like an athlete ready to run with no legs. Politics is what drives people to take either rational or irrational decisions. Let us take a look at what politics really means and the role of politicians in governance. There are many philosophies on politics. A school of thought explains politics as the actions or activities which people use to achieve power in a country. But for some people they see politics to be an avenue to argue and debate on national issues. Everyone has a unique definition of politics but the most important aspect of politics is the government and the people. Without these two stakeholders, politics will not exist. With this understanding, what then does it mean to politicize an issue? Politicizing an issue is causing something or someone to view issues not on a neutral perspective but from a bias political lens. Neutral people politicize issues because of the positive and negative impact it has on society and the economy. This shows that a lot of people do not know the thrills, twists and turns in politics. This makes them speak anyhow. These group of people in my opinion are political illiterates. Everything in Ghana has been politicized negatively, from education to health to transport. Why do we keep politicizing issues than giving solutions to solve them? If we politicize issues, because we lack knowledge of the subject, hate a particular groups policy or because we have the freedom of speech then my question still stands: Has politics been helpful or burdensome? We claim to be a country with one identity as Ghanaians and boast of our rich agriculture and resources such as gold. Why then do political parties rise against other political parties to criticize their policies when it benefits the majority in society? An example is the Free Senior High School policy. Let us remember that we are one people with one identity as Ghanaians. If politics becomes a reason for the division of citizens then politics and political discourse is needless. Politics has been a Ghanaian bane for some time now. We negatively over politicize issues rather than giving solutions to them. Citizens who are heavily affected by political issues end up having divided attention because of divisive politics. This makes most citizens become less interested in politics because of the negative thoughts they have accumulated on politics. They no longer partake in any decision making process of the country. Politics becomes need less when it fails to unite the citizens and politicians in governance. Let us take a look at the role of politicians in governance. A politician is a person whose job is in politics, especially a member of parliament and so on. Politicians are to see to it that every political issue is broken down for all to understand. Even though every politician has a different mindset on issues, it should not be an avenue to quarrel openly with opposition parties to dent the image of politics Politicians should ensure that everything that concerns them is clean. No issues of bribery and corruption. No embezzlement of state funds and so forth. Politicians should not use their social status in influence peddling infringe on the rights of others. Remember, ignorance of the law is no excuse. To conclude, instead of criticizing issues, we should focus on suggesting solutions to issues of national concern. The solution might require difficult decisions to be taken. Politicians, kindly remove your political lenses and deal with issues realistically for a better country and peaceful co-existence. Boye Armah Emmanuel Nicholas Nii A student of the Presbyterian Senior High. Mampong, Akuapem. 2 Arts 5. France's defence minister, Sebastien Lecornu, has condemned the latest instalment of Marvel's Black Panther franchise Wakanda Forever which depicts French troops caught trying to steal resources belonging to the fictional African kingdom. Taking to social media on Sunday, Lecornu said "I strongly condemn this false and deceptive representation of our armed forces," responding to a clip from the November movie posted by a journalist. The scene turns on a group of bound French soldiers being brought into a United Nations meeting, embarrassing Paris' ambassador, after they were caught on a secret mission to a Wakandan base in Mali. Journalist Jean Bexon, who posted the "Black Panther" clip, noted, "The evil French mercenaries operating in Mali are dressed like soldiers from Operation Barkhane," a real-life military mission. No censorship, no revisionism France is particularly sensitive to its image in West Africa after military juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso demanded the departure of French troops, deployed to the Sahel region since 2013 to fight jihadists. "I am thinking of and honouring the 58 French soldiers who died defending Mali, at its request, in the face of Islamist terrorist groups," Lecornu wrote. The defence ministry has underlined, however, that France was not calling for withdrawal or censorship of a work of art. But "no revisionism can be allowed about France's recent actions in Mali: we intervened at the county's own request to fight armed terrorist groups, far from the story told in the film, namely a French army coming to pillage natural resources," the ministry added. People close to Lecornu said he was "angry at seeing the film", which was released as Russia appears to be making progress in turning West African populations against France and its military deployments. Anti-French propaganda in West Africa Mali's military called on Russia's Wagner mercenary group to reinforce its army once French troops left although the junta continues to deny hiring the fighters and there has been speculation that Burkina may follow suit. Online, cartoons spread by pro-Russian accounts and influencers have shown France sending skeletons and a giant snake to "conquer all of Africa". Armed white men in Wagner combat fatigues are seen coming to the rescue of soldiers carrying the flags of Mali, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire. Last November, President Emmanuel Macron stressed that "influence" is now a "strategic priority" for France. (with AFP) The Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu Constituency, Kwame Agbodza has reacted to news of the suspension of Appeals Court sittings in multiple regions in the country. In a letter from Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, he has directed that all sittings in Appeals Court of the regional capitals of four regions including Volta, Northern, Central, and Eastern regions should be suspended The directive indicates that Court of Appeal sittings in Ho, Tamale, Cape Coast, and Koforidua are suspended. According to the letter from the Chief Justice, all appeals from the Northern Sector of the country including the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, Savannah, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North, and Ashanti regions would be heard in Kumasi. In view of this, all pending appeals in the Court of Appeal listed above are accordingly transferred to Kumasi and Accra respectively. Please take the necessary actions to effect this directive, parts of a letter written by the Chief Justice said. Reacting to the letter from the Chief Justice, Minority Chief Whip Kwame Agboza says the move is wrong. He is demanding an explanation for the decision by Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah. In a post on Twitter, Kwame Agbodza said, This is very wrong. We are building more courts, training more layers and judges to bring justice closer to our people. What is the reason for this? Hundreds of alleged rebels accused of "assassinating" former president Idriss Deby Itno went on trial in a Chadian court on Monday, the chief prosecutor and lawyers told AFP. The hearings will be held behind closed doors at Klessoum prison, just southeast of the capital N'Djamena, where the suspects will also face charges of terrorism and undermining state security. Chief prosecutor Mahamat El-Hadj Abba Nana said "over 400" were on trial, while lawyers gave a figure of 454, of whom 386 would be present for the hearings. In early 2021, the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), the most powerful of several rebel groups opposing Deby's regime, launched an offensive from its strongholds in southern Libya. On April 20, the army said the president who had ruled Chad since 1990 had been killed while leading troops against the rebels. His death was announced just a day after he had been declared victor of a presidential election that gave him a sixth term in office. Despite criticism of his authoritarian rule, Deby was a key ally in the West's anti-jihadist campaign in the unstable Sahel, particularly due to the relative strength of Chad's military. Chad. By (AFP) His son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, immediately took over as head of a "transitional military council" while promising free elections within 18 months. But last October, authorities extended the election deadline to 24 months despite international opposition, with delegates of a "national reconciliation dialogue" -- boycotted by most opposition groups -- also saying Deby would be eligible to run for the presidency. Chad, one of the world's poorest countries, has endured repeated uprisings and unrest since gaining independence from France in 1960. A Somali journalist said he had been freed from jail Monday just hours after a court handed down a two-month sentence on security charges, a case widely criticised by rights campaigners and media advocacy groups. Abdalle Ahmed Mumin was arrested in October last year after the government announced a crackdown on media outlets that publish what it deems propaganda for the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab. The court sentenced Mumin to two months in prison but in a surprise move he was released shortly after the ruling, having already spent around five months in jail. "When I was taken to Mogadishu central prison, officers refused to jail me granting my immediate freedom," he said on Twitter. "I went straight to my office to conduct my daily routine. I will continue to be on the forefront of defending press freedom and human rights in Somalia," he added. Mumin is the secretary general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), which had vowed to appeal the ruling, calling it "a pure travesty of justice". In a text message sent to AFP, SJS president Mohamed Ibrahim said: "This afternoon Abdalle has been released by the prison chief, saying that he has already served this sentence despite the verdict." Ahead of the sentencing, rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Press Institute had called for the charges to be dropped, saying Mumin faced ongoing threats and persecution by Somali authorities for advocating the right to freedom of expression. "Continuing his prosecution not only casts a chilling effect on media freedom and journalism, but it also significantly contributes to the closing civic space in the country," they said in a joint letter to Somalia's attorney general in December. The SJS and four other media advocacy groups had protested the government's security directive, warning it clamped down on free speech. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, ranks Somalia 140th out of 180 countries on its global list of press freedom, with more than 50 journalists killed in the country since 2010. The nation of 17 million people is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa, according to RSF. The main threat is from Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab fighters who are trying to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, though Somali authorities are also accused of numerous violations. The President of Challenging Heights, James Kofi Annan, has urged member countries of the African Continental Free Trade Association (AfCFTA), to take urgent steps to address issues of modern slavery and human trafficking in their business supply chains, or risk not gaining anything from the AfCFTA initiative. He said most African countries have enacted human trafficking and modern slavery laws, but none so far is known to have enacted such laws directed at businesses, to address supply chain issues. James Kofi Annan was addressing global business leaders and government ministers around the world, at this years Bali Process Government and Business Forum (GABF), held in Adelaide, Australia. This years Bali Process was jointly chaired by Australia and Indonesias Foreign Ministers and two Business Co-Chairs Andrew Forrest (Australia) and Garibaldi Thohir (Indonesia). In a speech, James Kofi Annan told the gathering that Ghana is presently hosting the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Association AfCFTA). According to him, this is a continental zone created for companies in Africa to be able to compete on the global market. He said although most African countries have passed human trafficking laws, nearly all the laws are weak on slavery in supply chain due diligence requirements. I am yet to know any company within the AfCFTA enclave doing anything to address issues of slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains because there is no obligation to do so, Mr. Annan emphasized. According to James Kofi Annan, the absence of any modern slavery and human trafficking due diligence law on the African continent, presents a greater risk for the survival and success of AfCFTA, and the companies operating within the enclave. He said, with the passage of the Australian Modern Slavery Act, the impending passage of the European Union Due Diligence Legislation, as well as several such laws being passed by most industrialized countries, most African companies would soon be required to comply with foreign due diligence laws to do business internationally. Therefore, James Kofi Annan wants AfCFTA member countries to emulate the Bali Process example, by acknowledging that the problem exists and act to address issues of human trafficking and modern slavery in their supply chains. Human Trafficking and modern slavery have gained wide international attention in the last couple of decades. Available data shows that there are nearly 50million victims of slavery worldwide, with nearly every country in the world being affected by the situation. The annual profit from this illicit trade is estimated at $150billion, the second largest illicit trade in the world. In Ghana, it is estimated that there are over 133,000 people who are victims of modern slavery, with over 20,000 children affected on the Lake Volta fishing business alone. Challenging Heights has been a leading activist in the space, having rescued over 1,800 children from human trafficking situations since 2003. The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a press release to commemorate World Radio Day 2023. All over the world, today, Monday, February 13, is being marked as the 2023 World Radio Day to, among other objectives, extol the importance of radio, promote international cooperation among radio broadcasters and urge decision-makers and duty-bearers to create and provide access to information through radio. In its press release today, the GJA has admonished Parliament to work towards the immediate passage of the Broadcasting Bill. The association is of the view that once passed, the Bill will help sanitise the airwaves. The GJA believes one critical step needed to be taken to sanitise the airwaves is the passage of the Broadcasting Bill which has been going in and out of Parliament for many years. We urge the Executive and Legislature to give maximum attention to the bill and get it passed immediately, part of the GJA press release signed by its General Secretary Kofi Yeboah said. The release added, In fact, the Executive and Parliament cannot absolve themselves of blame as far as the current state of radio broadcasting in Ghana is concerned, and until they work in concert to pass the Broadcasting Bill immediately, they cannot raise any clean hands against the ills of radio broadcasting in Ghana. Meanwhile, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is encouraging radio broadcasters to be conscious of their obligation towards peace, especially as the 2024 electioneering gathers momentum. Below is a copy of the GJA press release: GJANEWS/GS/011 February 13, 2023 NEWS RELEASE PARLIAMENT MUST PASS BROADCASTING BILL IMMEDIATELY Today, February 13, 2023, is World Radio Day. In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted February 13 as an International Day after it was earlier proclaimed by UNESCO Member States in 2011. The day is meant to, among other objectives, extol the importance of radio, promote international cooperation among radio broadcasters and urge decision-makers and duty-bearers to create and provide access to information through radio. The theme for the commemoration of this years World Radio Day is: Radio and Peace. UNESCO seeks to use the occasion to highlight the importance of independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention and peace-building. The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) could not have agreed more with the theme due to its significance in the Ghanaian context. The GJA wishes to reiterate the fact that radio is a powerful communication channel that can be used for good and evil in equal measure. In the case of the latter, the broadcast of hate propaganda by Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines in Rwanda, which fueled the infamous genocide that occurred in that country in 1994, leading to the death of about 800,000 people, is still fresh in memory. However, and in the case of the former, one of the cardinal purposes of radio, which UNESCO seeks to highlight in the commemoration of this years World Radio Day, is to prevent conflict and promote peace. On this occasion, the GJA also wishes to encourage radio broadcasters to be conscious of their obligation towards peace, especially as the 2024 electioneering gathers momentum. The high stakes at the intra-party and inter-party levels of politics, as well as the high-voltage anxiety, tension and frustration emanating from the countrys current economic challenges, provide good seeds of disorder, chaos and violence. But under no circumstance must radio provide the fertile ground for the sowing and germination of such destructive seeds. Rather, radio owners, managers and broadcasters must use their platforms for peace-building and conflict prevention. Indeed, the GJA is deeply concerned about the many instances of radio programmes or broadcasts that tend to foment violence to a very large extent rather than promote peace. We call on the owners and managers of such radio stations to refine their programmes and ensure sanity on their airwaves. It is disheartening to note that sometimes the owners and managers of radio stations who are expected to guide radio broadcasters on the path of professional righteousness are themselves the masterminds and promoters of unprofessional conduct that tend to undermine peace. We wish to call on the National Media Commission (NMC), as the regulatory body, and institutions of authority such as the National Communications Authority (NCA), to collaborate to call erring radio broadcasters and stations to order. We expect the NMC in particular to be proactive in its monitoring function and sanction radio stations that violate professional and ethical principles. The GJA believes one critical step needed to be taken to sanitise the airwaves is the passage of the Broadcasting Bill which has been going in and out of Parliament for many years. We urge the Executive and Legislature to give maximum attention to the bill and get it passed immediately. In fact, the Executive and Parliament cannot absolve theemselves of blame as far as the current state of radio broadcasting in Ghana is concerned, and until they work in concert to pass the Broadcasting Bill immeidately, they cannot raise any clean hands against the ills of radio broadcasting in Ghana. The GJA wishes to take the opportunity presented by World Radio Day to congratulate all radio broadcasters who have been faithful to professional and ethical practice, as well as working diligently to promote the cause of peace and national development. May you continue to bear the flag of peace, and may your professional deeds bear good fruits for national development. Kofi Yeboah (General Secretary) Traders at Dome, Taifa, Abokobi and Kwabenya markets have distanced themselves from a demonstration purported to have been staged by market traders last Thursday, February, February 9, 2023. The said demonstration which was held to demand the removal of the current Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Elizabeth Kaakie Mann was allegedly sponsored by the former MCE, Janet Tulasi Mensah. According to the leadership of these markets, they are not aware of the organization of any such demonstration and that their members were not part of the group who stormed the Dome market on Thursday to demonstrate. Addressing a press conference, the Public Relations Officer of the Dome New Market Association, Diana Dowuona-Owoo indicated that the former MCE Janet Tulasi Mensah and her self-seeking individuals whose interest is to destroy the market to their advantage have constantly launched several diabolic attacks on the only Queen mother of the Dome market, Madam Evelyn Abena-Sebie and her leadership. She averred that realizing they have failed, Janet Tulasi and her cohorts hatched another plan to attack and call for the removal of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ga East, Hon. Elizabeth Kaakie Mann. We want to put on record that, these disturbances and attacks are being sponsored by no other person but the former MCE Madam Janet Tulasi Mensah. Janet Tulasi Mensah during her time as MCE, caused serious troubles in Dome market and we can say for a fact that all the controversies surrounding the tension in the market are her handiworks, she stated. She noted that the so-called demonstrators were brought from an event organised by Janet Tulasi Mensah who allegedly load the demonstrators in a vehicle to the market for the said demonstration. Diana Dowuona-Owoo said the leaders of that demonstration are dissatisfied members of the dissolved Oversight Committee which was set up by Janet Tulasi Mensah to be collecting unapproved monies in the market. We therefore dont need anybody to tell us who are behind these attacks. Evidences are clear that Janet Tulasi Mensah who is out of office is doing all she can to ensure that Dome market does not see peace. This indeed has failed. We want to send a message to her and her cohorts that the current MCE in the person of Elizabeth Kaakie Mann is one of the best MCEs we have ever had, she stated. She described the current MCE Elizabeth Kaakie Mann as affable, down to earth and a team leader. She has proven beyond every reason that she is capable of uniting all fronts within the market towards the growth of the traders. Under her leadership, we identified one thing, which is, she is making sure that market women have the freedom to trade at the market and not to be exploited, abused and intimidated as it was in the past under Tulasi-Mensah, the PRO indicated. She also mentioned that the collection of unapproved monies, harassment and attacks on traders are now things of the past under the current MCE indicating that Elizabeth Kaakie Mann, "our MCE of this Municipality is the right person for the job." She added, We want to tell the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that Elizabeth Kaakie Mann, our MCE of this Municipality is the right person for the job and that people are calling for her interdiction because she refused to conform to their diabolic activities. Janet Tulasi Exposed Exposing further the failures of Janet Tulasi when she was serving as the MCE, the PRO stated that Janet Tulasi had during her time, used her political position to intimidate and cause confusion within the rank and file of the Dome Market Womens Association leadership, and had advanced plots to get Felicia Karley Amui installed as Queen mother when there was a sitting and legally installed Queen mother in the person of Madam Evelyn Abena-Sebie, thereby eroding the peace being enjoyed by traders in the Dome Market over the years. She had assembled known members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to form a Committee to oversee the administration of the activities of the market with the sole aim of taking over the leadership and administration of the market and handed it over to Felicia Karley Amui. When she took over as MCE, Madam Janet Tulasi Mensah claimed she cannot work with the Queen mother and her leadership hence decided to establish the Oversight Committee, she stressed. She mentioned that the Association took the Assembly to court over the establishment of the Oversight Committee set by Janet Tulasi Mensah and the court ruled on July 19, 2021 in their favour. However, Janet Tulasi according to her, ignored the court orders and installed Felicia Karley Amui on four different occasions as the Market Queen, but in all these installations market women have refused to accord her that recognition as they described them as illegal installations. Felicia Karley Amui and her cohorts led by the former MCE, Janet Tulasi Mensah have also written to the Onamroko Adain Family, Traditional owners of the property on which the Dome Market is sited, for their assistance in the selection and appointment of Dome Market Queen. However, the Onamroko Adain Family which is very aware of the existing Market Queen and the Market Association, wrote to the Association seeking clarification of whether there is a current Market Queen and who it is and what regulation regarding the installation of a Market Queen. After furnishing the Onamroko Adain Family with all the details of whatever they were seeking for, the family in avoiding backlash withdraw from the purported installation of Felicia Karley Amui as requested by the former MCE. That notwithstanding, Felicia Karley Amui wrote a letter on September 7, 2020 to some traders in the market asking them to accord her recognition as their Market Queen because she has been installed. Strangely, the people Madam Janet Tulasi Mensah left behind to continue causing the troubles in the market continue to collect unapproved monies from traders. One Madam Abena Fosua is the one collecting these unapproved monies from traders for over five years. This development came to the attention of the current MCE, Elizabeth Kaakie Mann who called for meetings over the matter and later referred the matter to the Regional Coordinating Council where it was established that the market already has an issue relative to enstoolment of market queen and hence the collecting of money by Abena Fosua be suspended. On Wednesday 14th December 2022, the Assembly through its officer went to announce the suspension of that money collection at the market. Abena Fosua protested this announcement and took the microphone forcefully from the Assembly officials and tried to incite traders against the Assembly officials which led to her arrest. Last Thursday, February 9, 2023, a group of persons wielding placards stormed the Dome market claiming to be traders from Dome, Taifa, Abokobi and Kwabenya markets attacking the MCE. According to the recalcitrant group of persons, the MCE is destroying their markets and for that matter, she must be sacked. The President of the Greater Accra Market Association (GAMA), Madam Mercy Afoowa Needjan who took time to attend the press conference called for peace in the Dome market and stressed that the only recognised Dome market Queen mother is Madam Evelyn Abena-Sebie. She cautioned the former MCE Janet Tulasi Mensah to desist from any act which can undermine the work of the new MCE pointing out that her (Tulasi) time is gone and a new MCE was appointed by the President to work and it would be in the interest of mother Ghana for her (Tulasi) to allow the new MCE Elizabeth Kaakie Mann to work. General (Rtd) Corneliu Pivariu, Member of IFIMES Advisory Board and Founder and the former CEO of the INGEPO Consulting 13.02.2023 LISTEN The geopolitical evolutions in the Middle East marked by the so-called Arab Spring, the conflict in Yemen, the threat represented by the Iranian nuclear program and other global geopolitical developments determined United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take some important steps for modernizing and improving its intelligence services starting with the middle of the last decade[2]. As demonstrated by the evolutions of modern intelligence services, the countries enjoying considerable financial resources as it is the case of UAE are developing predominantly their technical segments such as Signal Intelligence and more recently Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is due to the fact that getting certain important results by using technical means for acquiring information is relatively faster and safer as compared to using information gathered by human sources (HUMINT), which requires longer time for readying and exploiting such capabilities[3]. Besides enhancing its intelligence technical capabilities, UAE continued as well to encourage the development of the private sector of security especially in the cyber field, under a relatively tight government control of these activities indeed. Nevertheless, some slippages occurred such as the Raven Project[4] (the Emirati company Dark Matter was embroiled among others), which triggered a FBI investigation for the use of certain activities of digital espionage leading to arresting foreign dissidents, besides a certain degree of involvement in Jamal Khashoggis assassination, gathering information about Gulf monarchies and other Middle Eastern countries. UAE further enhanced the capabilities of the National College of Defence, headed presently by Maj. Gen. Aqab Shahin Al Ali, and having Thomas Drohan as Dean (he was preceded by John R. Ballard, the Colleges first Dean). Joel Haywords name, considered an important international specialist in the field of military strategy and history of war, a New Zealander, is mentioned at one of the Colleges faculties. National Electronic Security Authority (established in 2012 with the US assistance) headquartered in Abu Dhabi was renamed Signal Intelligence Agency (SIA). The Authority is the counterpart of NSA in the US and penetrating ISIS in UAE was one of its achievements. At the same time, there were suspicions that the Authority or other Emirati intelligence services were involved in using Tik Tok App for recording certain conversations, relations, meetings and pictures of the general public in the Emirate. For the 2022-2026 Five Year Plan, the UAEs approved cyber budget amounts to 79 billion dollars, the biggest in the countrys history. According to Global Security Index 2020, UAE ranks 5th in the world. Financial Intelligence Unit (UAEFIU) is another important institution headed presently by Ali Faisal BaAlawi. The name dates back to 2019 and it is in fact the continuation of an organization established in 1998 by the UAE Central Bank as a special investigation unit of fraud and suspicious transactions, renamed Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit in 2002. Although it is not part of the established field of the intelligence services, it is worth mentioning that UAE created a ministry of Artificial Intelligence, more precisely the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, headed by Omar Sultan al Olama. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE declared that we want UAE to become the best prepared country in the world in the field of Artificial Intelligence, and an ambitious program for 2031 was launched to this purpose. The program will have an important impact on the evolution of the Emirati intelligence services as well. Last but not least, we notice a strengthening of the relations with intelligence services of other states, notably Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel, USA and maintaining good relations with correspondent services of countries such as Egypt, Russia, China and other. In the development of the intelligence services activities, UAE hire experts among the specialists in the field from other countries, especially retirees in states like USA, Great Britain and other who are enticed with attractive salaries. A competitor from non-wine producing Latvia has caused a stir at this year's Best Wine Taster in the World contest, claiming the top prize at the prestigious Paris showdown. "I can't believe it," said Raimonds Tomsons on the stage after the final of the contest, which took place in public on Sunday at the La Defense Arena just outside Paris. Raimonds Tomsons beat another contestant from northern Europe, Denmark's Nina Jensen, who was runner-up for the second consecutive edition of this triennial competition. To the presenter who asked him, in a joking tone, if there were vineyards in his country, Tomsons replied: "Let's rather enjoy Latvian beer". Less relaxed but more precise, Tomsons beat Jensen who impressed spectators with her confidence in the competition which was broadcast live. At the semi-final on Friday, Tomsons told French news agency AFP that not growing up in a wine-making culture had been "an advantage". "We don't have a history and our minds are freer," he said. "In Latin America or classic countries like Spain and Portugal, they find it harder to open up to the wines of the world, because they are very proud of their own," he said. Reeze Choi from Hong Kong finished third, while French competitor Pascaline Lepeltier failed to qualify for the final and came fourth. "In France, we are spoiled children. The new countries that discover wine have such a thirst to learn and share, they have this incredible enthusiasm and they go very fast," she said after the semi-final. Non-alcoholic drinks, vegan menus The final rounds consisted of identifying wines blind, pairing wines with dishes, finding errors in a price list, and guessing the bottle from a series of pictures. But to get to this point contestants had to identify five non-alcoholic drinks from around the world and imagine a vegan menu to accompany them. The correct answers were not revealed until after the final and everyone, including jurors, agreed that it had been almost mission impossible. In another test, candidates had to mix classic cocktails - Aviation and Sazerac - with deliberately missing ingredients for which they had to find alternatives. 'Having skills in all drinks' For Philippe Faure-Brac, president of the Union of French Sommeliers and winner of the competition in 1992, having skills "in all drinks" around the world is now essential. Compared to the environment of the first edition of the competition in 1969, consumers now have "much more information" and the profiles of sommeliers "who can travel and train in different places" are diversifying. As for the "nolo", the alcohol-free or low-alcohol drinks, very popular in the English-speaking world and Scandinavian countries and also gaining ground in France, "we cannot fight against the evolution of tastes and give up along the way on people who want to enjoy things differently," he added. (With AFP) The US Army launched military exercises with the Kenya armed forces on Monday. American troops will also take part in wargames with Pakistan and separate drills with Japan. This flurry of activity precedes joint South Africa/Russia/China military manoeuvres coinciding with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Just days before South Africa hosts joint naval exercises with China and Russia, the US is taking part in the "Justified Accord 23" war games, scheduled from 13 to 24 February, officially a "multinational exercise" consisting of "field training, live-fire and maritime exercises," as well as "special operations and cyber courses." The US military called it "US Africa Command's largest exercise in East Africa." Kenya hosts the manoeuvres that will involve events in Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana and Djibouti. Meanwhile, the US Navy is also represented at the so-called Peace, or Aman, exercises being hosted by Pakistan, and scheduled to end this week. According to FirstPost, the Pakistani Navy invited 110 countries to take part in Aman 23, but only seven are taking part. The participants are the US, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy, and Japan. In 2021, the last time Pakistan staged the Aman exercises, Russia took part as well. Heightened tensions The US Navy and Marine Corps are holding joint exercises in the South China Sea at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing over the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The 7th Fleet based in Japan said Sunday that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting operations in the South China Sea. It said exercises involving ships, ground forces and aircraft took place Saturday but gave no details on when they began or whether they had ended. These three separate sets of wargames precede naval exercises hosted by South Africa later this month, in which Chinese and Russian ships will take part. The exercises coincide with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. It will be only the second time that the naval forces of the three countries have held joint operations. The first took place in November 2019 in Cape Town, just before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. (With news agencies) Inside the beating heart of many students and a large number of learners lies an inner cheat. To get passing grades, every effort will be made to do the least to achieve the most. Efforts to subvert the central class examination are the stuff of legend: discreetly written notes on hands, palms and other body parts; secreted pieces of paper; messages concealed in various vessels that may be smuggled into the hall. In the fight against such cunning devilry, vigilant invigilators have pursued such efforts with eagle eyes, attempting to ensure the integrity of the exam answers. Of late, the broader role of invigilation has become more pertinent than ever, notably in the face of artificial intelligence technologies that seek to undermine the very idea of the challenging, individually researched answer. ChatGPT, a language processing tool powered by comprehensive, deep AI technology, offers nightmares for instructors and pedagogues in spades. Myopic university managers will be slower to reach any coherent conclusions about this large language model (LLM), as they always are. But given the diminishing quality of degrees and their supposed usefulness, not to mention running costs and the temptations offered by educational alternatives, this will come as a particularly unwelcome headache. For the student and anyone with an inner desire to labour less for larger returns, it is nothing less than a dream, a magisterial shortcut. Essays, papers, memoranda, and drafted speeches can all be crafted by this supercomputing wonder. It has already shaken educational establishments and even made Elon Musk predict that humanity was not far from dangerously strong AI. Launched on November 30, 2022 and the creative offspring of AI research company OpenAI, ChatGPT is a work in progress, open to the curious, the lazy and the opportunistic. Within the first five days of launching, it had 1 million users on the books. It did not take long for the chatbot to do its work. In January, the Manchester Evening News reported that a student by the name of Pieter Snepvangers had asked the bot to put together a 2,000-word essay on social policy. Within 20 minutes, the work was done. While not stellar, Snepvangers was informed by a lecturer that the essay could pass with a grade of 53. In the words of the instructor, This could be a student who has attended classes and has engaged with the topic of the unit. The content of the essay, this could be somebody thats been in my classes. It wasnt the most terrible in terms of content. On receiving the assessment from the lecturer, Snepvangers could only marvel at what the site had achieved: 20 minutes to produce an essay which is supposed to demonstrate 12 weeks of learning. Not bad. The trumpets of doomsday have been sounded. Beverly Pell, an advisor on technology for children and a former teacher based in Irvine, California, saw few rays of hope with the arrival of the ChatGPT bot, notably on the issue of performing genuine research. Theres a lot of cheap knowledge out there, she told Forbes. I think this could be a danger in education, and its not good for kids. Charging the barricades of such AI-driven knowledge forms tends to ignore the fundamental reality that the cheat or student assistance industry in education has been around for years. The armies of ghost writers scattered across the globe willing to receive money for writing the papers of others have not disappeared. The website stocked with readily minted essays has been ubiquitous. More recently, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, online sites such as Chegg offer around the clock assistance in terms of homework, exam preparation and writing support. The Photomath app, to take another striking example, has seen over 300 million downloads since coming into use in 2014. It enables students to take a picture of their maths problems and seek answers. Metas chief AI scientist Yann LeCun is also less than impressed by claims that ChatGPT is somehow bomb blowing in its effects. In terms of underlying techniques, ChatGPT is not particularly innovative. It was merely well put together and nicely done. Half a dozen startups, in addition to Google and Meta, were using very similar technology to OpenAI. It is worth noting that universities, colleges and learning institutions constitute one aspect of the information cosmos that is ChatGPT. The chatbot continues to receive queries of varying degrees of banality. Questions range from astrology to suggest gift ideas to friends and family. Then come those unfortunate legislators who struggle with the language of writing bills for legal passage. When asked to write a bill for a member for Congress that would make changes to federal student aid programs, writes Michael Brickman of the American Enterprise Institute, ChatGPT produced one in seconds. When asked for Republican and Democrat amendments focused on consumer protection, it delivered a credible version that each party might conceivably offer. What are the options in terms of combating such usurping gremlins? For one, its gratis status is bound to change once the research phase is concluded. And, at least for the moment, the website has a service that occasionally overloads and impairs responses to questions users may pose. To cope with this, OpenAI created ChatGPT Plus, a plan that enables users to access material even during those rocky fluctuations. Another relevant response is to keep a keen eye on the curriculum itself. In the words of Jason Wingard, a self-professed global thought leader, The key to retaining the value of a degree from our institution is ensuring your graduates have the skills to change with any market. This means that we must tweak and adapt our curriculum at least every single year. Wingards skills in global thought leadership do not seem particularly attuned to how university curricula, and incompetent reformers who insist on changing them, function. There are also more rudimentary, logistical matters one can adopt. A return to pen and paper could be a start. Or perhaps the typewriter. These will be disliked and howled at by those narcotised by the screen, online solutions and finger tapping. But the modern educator will have to face facts. For all the remarkable power available through AI and machine related learning, we are also seeing a machine-automated form of unlearning, free of curiosity. Some branches off the tree of knowledge are threatening to fall off. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He currently lectures at RMIT University. Email: [email protected] The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has sent a huge warning to the government about including their pension funds in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). Medical practitioners, like any other bondholders, want their bonds totally exempted from the fund. The General Secretary of GMA, Dr. Titus Beyuo, speaking on Accra-based Starr FM on Monday, February 13, told the government to refrain from the thought of using their investments. Mr. Beyuo explained that government has been paying them peanuts as salaries from which their investment comes, indicating that they are not ready for a double slap. If you touch peoples pensions they are not going to sit down. Already you are underpaying us and what we are saving towards pension the same threat that existed before for which reason the government backed down on pension funds is the same that prevails. We have told the government what will happen if they touch our pension funds and we will desert the hospitals. We will go on a total strike and that is what we have decided to do. We have given out a letter and everything that we will do is the same principle that will apply here, Mr. Beyuo stated. He continued: It was the same thing the government sought to avoid that they will not touch pension funds. So if they are now going to touch some pension funds under the pretext that they are not regulated by the MPRA, when the government is aware that prior to the establishment of MPRA organizations like the GMA, the Universities and other organizations set up independent pension funds to help their members. As the world marks World Radio Day on 13 February 2023 under the theme 'Radio and Peace', which highlights the role of radio in encouraging peace and avoiding conflict, senior lecturer of communication at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) Dr. Timothy Quashigah has warned that it is dangerous for anybody to work as a radio broadcaster without professional training. A celebrated former broadcaster, Dr. Quashigah, told Johnnie Hughes on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show that the poor standard of radio in Ghana is not due to pluralism but the lack of proper understanding and professional training. It's not about multiplicity, it is rather the rate at which we think we can own radio stations without seeking to have knowledge. Anybody who is on radio without training is a danger to society he told 3FM Sunrise. Dr. Quashigah shares the view that media pluralism should rather offer a lot more competition than lowering the standards. He advised that media houses should on their own accord put in place someone to serve as an internal ombudsman whose job is to train the people on the job. I believe in training, consistent training of people and retraining. I think we can do that because seriously speaking we wouldn't have been here if we had not welcomed media pluralism. I think the problem is not about how many radio stations; it is not about how many television stations but I think that people are simply not ready to invest in training Dr. Quashigah said. The renowned broadcaster and journalism lecturer questioned why there are no trainers in most media firms and why media organizations are not reaching out to experienced broadcasters to help train their staff. A few times that I have been called to train people for some few radio stations, you go there and they are simply not ready to sit in on the lectures. One time I was taking a pay cheque for the work I went to do and I was unhappy to take the cheque because the people were simply not ready to be trained. They would walk in and walk out he expressed his disappointment. He also added that it is also true that some owners of radio stations might not entirely have an idea of what kind of standards they should have. Unlike the BBC and some few local stations that have their own standards, most of the media outlets in Ghana have no standards. -3news.com A Russian military frigate docked in Cape Town harbour on Monday ahead of controversial military drills with South Africa and China, coming as Moscow is about to mark one year since its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Russian consulate in Cape Town tweeted a photo of the ship, the "Admiral Gorshkov", in the harbour, saying it was on "its way to Durban where it will take part in joint... drills". The exercises dubbed "Mosi", which means "smoke" in the local Tswana language, are scheduled for February 17 to 27 off the port cities of Durban and Richards Bay. They will coincide with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. More than 350 South African armed forces will take part in the exercises "with an aim of sharing operational skills and knowledge" with Russia and China, the South Africa military said last month, the second such exercises between the three naval forces. The Zircon missile system on the Russian frigate "has no equivalent", President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying last month at the launch of the warship for a training mission in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. "I am sure that such powerful weapons will make it possible to reliably protect Russia from potential external threats," Putin was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying. South Africa has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine which has largely isolated Moscow on the international scene, saying it wants to stay neutral. South Africa's largest opposition group, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has denounced the joint drills. "This vessel will be sailing towards the Black Sea and taking part in the invasion against Ukraine," said Kobus Marais, a DA member of parliament with oversight of party's stance on defence, told AFP. "That can very easily make South Africa complicit in these war crimes," he said. "We are drawn into the propaganda show of Russia." The Russian consulate and embassy in South Africa did not respond to an AFP request for comment. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), the two major power distribution companies in Ghana, are currently owing the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) to the tune of GHS 2.7 billion. The legacy debt, accrued over a period of 20 years, is said to be impeding the infrastructure development and efficiency of GRIDCos operations. Mr Ebenezer Kofi Essienyi, the Chief Executive Officer, GRIDCo, who made this known in Accra on Monday, admitted that the debt was posing a serious challenge to the company's operations and called for a strategic way to addressing it. Answering questions from journalists on its operations, he said the Government, being fully aware of the debt situation, had made conscious efforts to find some resources to cushion GRIDCo to carry out its mandate. Mr Essienyi said if those debts were redeemed on time, it could help GRIDCo to pay compensation to people who had released lands for the expansion of its infrastructure and transmission lines. Commenting on the debt situation, Mr Sammy Nkansah, Director of Finance, GRIDCo, said the debt was incurred due to challenges within the power distribution value chain, with the ECG experiencing some commercial losses in its operations. In view of that, the government, in 2020, implemented a Cash Flow Waterfall system, which ensured equitable distribution of revenue collected from customers. The implementation of the System, he explained, helped the power distribution companies to increase revenue from 20 per cent to about 60 per cent. I believe that if were able to build a robust infrastructure and the ECG plug its commercial losses, the revenue collection rate would go up and be able to redeem the debt, Mr Nkansah said. Its a work in progress and we need to work together to resolve it, he added. In an earlier presentation, Mr Essienyi chronicled some successes of GRIDCo within the past five years, touching on a 99.95 per cent availability achievement of the National Interconnected Transmission System, with fully automated and integrated business processes. He pegged the countrys energy penetration rate to between 85 and 86 per cent. Ghana has installed power generation capacity was 5,231 MW while the Circuit-km of transmission lines is 6,472.23. To eliminate congestion and increase transmission transfer capacity reliability, Mr Essienyi said the company had been rehabilitating key transmission lines including the 161KV Aboadze-Cape Coast-Winneba-Mallam line at a cost $55 million, expected to be completed in 2026. It was also rehabilitating the 161kv Mallam to Pokuase transmission line at a cost of $42 million and would be completed in 2024. The 161kv middle corridor transmission lines from Akosombo-Tafo-Nkawkaw-Konongo-Kumasi were being rehabilitated at a cost of $140 million and would be completed in 2025. The number of bulk supply sub-stations had also increased within the last three years from 65 to 68, thereby boosting electricity supply across the country, Mr Essienyi said. He called for collaborative efforts in dealing with the galamsey menace, explaining that illegal miners had dug around some GRIDCo masts and other infrastructure, thus posing a serious threat to their effective functioning. He re-affirmed the companys vision of becoming a model electricity grid company in Africa to provide reliable power for socio-economic development. Without the grid, there will be no electricity. And so when there is shortfall in fuel and electricity, there will be a disaster in this country and so our eyes are always on the ball. GNA 13.02.2023 LISTEN Equatorial Guinea today confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease. Preliminary tests carried out following the deaths of at least nine people in the countrys western Kie Ntem Province turned out positive for the viral haemorrhagic fever. Equatorial Guinean health authorities sent samples to the Institut Pasteur reference laboratory in Senegal with support from World Health Organization (WHO) to determine the cause of the disease after an alert by a district health official on 7 February. Of the eight samples tested at Institut Pasteur, one turned out positive for the virus. So far nine deaths and 16 suspected cases with symptoms including fever, fatigue and blood-stained vomit and diarrhoea have been reported. Further investigations are ongoing. Advance teams have been deployed in the affected districts to trace contacts, isolate and provide medical care to people showing symptoms of the disease. Efforts are also underway to rapidly mount emergency response, with WHO deploying health emergency experts in epidemiology, case management, infection prevention, laboratory and risk communication to support the national response efforts and secure community collaboration in the outbreak control. WHO is also facilitating the shipment of laboratory glove tents for sample testing as well as one viral haemorrhagic fever kit that includes personal protective equipment that can be used by 500 health workers. Marburg is highly infectious. Thanks to the rapid and decisive action by the Equatorial Guinean authorities in confirming the disease, emergency response can get to full steam quickly so that we save lives and halt the virus as soon as possible, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival. A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies, as well as candidate vaccines with phase 1 data are being evaluated. Source: WHO Africa News Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery visited a police officer at the Police Hospital in Accra who sustained gunshot injuries during official duties. The officer in question, sustained the injuries on Sunday, February 12, 2023, when he, together with his colleagues went to rescue a residence from suspected armed robbers at Tsive-Kpotame near Kpadzakope, a suburb of Abor in the Volta Region. The Minister, who was accompanied by the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, expressed worry about the unfortunate incident and assured him and other officers who are in a similar situation of the Government's commitment to the welfare of security officers in the country. Take heart, we celebrate you as a hero. Your welfare is our priority. Government will continue to resource the security services to ensure that they perform their mandate well for peace and security in the country, he said. Mr. Dery also visited another Police Officer in the same hospital from Oti Region who also sustained injury during official duty. He wished them a speedy recovery and God's protection for their good work for mother Ghana. The Minister, who did not mince words, warned all to desist from any criminal activities because the security personnel are up to task and will deal with criminals and armed robbers in the country for the safety of the good people of Ghana. The Minister and his entourage also visited the site where fire gutted last week at the Police Headquarters. He assured that necessary measures will be put in place to forestall any future occurrences. Source: Ministry of the Interior The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George has descended heavily on Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. During an engagement on TV3, the lawmaker accused the Vice President of running the country's economy like a 'Ponzi Scheme' and the Finance Minister also behaving like a fraud boy. In his view, the two leading members of government must be blamed for collapsing the Ghanaian economy. How different are Ken Ofori-Atta and Mahamudu Bawumia from NAM1? Tell me how different they are from NAM1. Are these not the persons managing investments in the country? What Ken has done, has he not run our economy as a ponzi scheme? What happens to Ponzi schemes, they go bust. Has Ghanas economy not gone bust due to poor management? Even in this case when there is regulation the man is working outside the regulation. Between Bawumia and Ofori-Atta it is one running a Ponzi scheme and one behaving like a fraud boy. They have simply run this who economy aground, Sam George opined. Reacting to the allegations, MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh admitted that times are hard but assured that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will turn things around. Yes, we admit we have challenges. We shall steer out of it certainly. Just watch as we do the needful. It would get better sooner, the Majority Chief Whip noted in a post on Twitter. February 13, 2023 The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Sunday, February 13, 2022 In early 2022 Ukraine had finished the preparations for an overwhelming attack on the renegade People Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk (DPR and LNR). Half of the Ukrainian army, some 120,000 men recruited and trained during the last 7 years, were stationed near the ceasefire line and ready to go. On the opposing side only some 40,000 men were under arms. They would have little chance to withstand an onslaught. Russia could not let a Ukrainian attack happen. If Ukraine could regain the renegade provinces it would have been able to join NATO. Russian public opinion was decisively on the side of the Russian speaking DNR and LPR. It would surely demand an intervention. Since the 2014 coup in Kiev some four million Ukrainians had already moved to Russia. There are lots of family ties between the two countries. In sight of this Russia had put some of its own forces on alert and had moved weapons and munition to assembling points near the Ukrainian border. The U.S. had for months warned of an upcoming Russian attack on Ukraine. It could do that because it knew the Ukraine would attempt to regain the republics by force. It knew that Russia would have to respond. On January 12 2022 CIA director Bill Burns had secretly met Zelensky in Kiev. Burns often carries messages from President Joe Biden. On Sunday February 13 2022, after a phone call with U.S. president Joe Biden, the Ukrainian president Zelensky gave the final order for the planned Ukrainian attack. That the decision had been made was immediately leaked in London as well as in Kiev. In its summary of the day the Guardian listed a lot of activities that were consistent with the imminent start of a conflict. Diplomats and foreign military were moving out of Ukraine. Weapons flew in. Tipped off by its government the British insurance conglomerate Lloyd stopped reinsurance services for anything Ukraine: Anatoliy Ivantsiv, head of Ukrainian insurance firm Expo, told Interfax that British reinsurance giant Lloyds announced it would temporarily cease all conflict risk insurance over Ukrainian airspace from Feb. 14. When the news of the attack order leaked in Kiev, its 'elite' oligarchs and some parliament members were ready to leave. On February 13 and the following days they fled the country: Ukraines richest men are fleeing the country with their families as the number of private jet charters jump after the possibility of war spiked in recent days, according to flight traffic information posted on social media on February 13. ... Switzerland, Austria and the south of France were the most popular destinations for the charter flights. Ukrainska Pravda stated that such an exodus on charter flights hasnt been witnessed in six years of observations. The publication reported that planes belonging the countrys top oligarchs, including Rinat Akhmetov, Viktor Pinchuk, and Boris Kolesnikov, as having left the country. A private plane for 50 people was also ordered by Igor Abramovich, another top business figure. ... bne IntelliNews sources confirm that two residential English tutors, both British citizens, working for an MP and a businessman respectively, will leave for the south of France this week. Neither confirmed that the flights had anything to do with increased fears over an invasion, as both families travel regularly with their staff for work holidays. Even last month, when the war drums began to beat more loudly for the first time, tutors and teachers working at private schools in Kyiv reported a large number of children absent, away on holidays. Some members of the Ukrainian parliament were also bailing out. on February 14 Kiev Independent reported: More than two dozen lawmakers out of a total 424 MPs, who are due to attend parliamentary sessions starting this week, are not currently in Ukraine. Almost half, or 12 deputies, are from the pro-Russian party Opposition Platform-for Life, five deputies are from the presidential Servant of the People party. Most of the lawmakers, or 20 people, left the country in February. As part of the Minsk agreement the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) had a Special Observer Mission at the ceasefire line in east-Ukraine. Over the weekend of February 12 and 13 the front had been relatively quiet: In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 11 and 13 February, the Mission recorded 261 ceasefire violations, including 50 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 114 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 11 and 13 February, the SMM recorded 114 ceasefire violations, including 24 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 258 ceasefire violations in the region. The observed numbers of explosion were less than the average of the last 7 and 30 day periods. Explosions occurred on both sides of the ceasefire line. Posted by b on February 13, 2023 at 16:53 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Allison Brown, the contractor previously responsible for bus routes Nos. 61 and 163, spoke at the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education meeting on Thursday about the status of one of the routes and the suspension of her daughter as a bus driver.Brown no longer has Route 61. Mykeya Brown was suspended last month for some verbal altercations with students.Allison [] A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Former Philippine energy official, group appeal to Marcos: Take full control of Malampaya Eighteen individuals from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota learned about food safety in a training session conducted by the Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services in partnership with the University of Idaho. Yves here. This article by Andrew Bacevich on Ukraine is revealing, and not in a good way. True, Bacevich does challenge the wild-eyed claims about a loss in Ukraine having catastrophic outcomes. In fact, defeat would diminish US power and NATOs even more so. But it is hardly clear that the emergence of a multipolar world would be a bad thing save for US arms merchants, financiers, and our surveillance state. In the unlikely event we got over our hegemonic aspirations, the US could redirect some of its supersized military spending to domestic needs. However, while Bacevich does call out the most rabid of Russia-haters, using Timothy Snyder as his object lesson, he still depicts Putin as evil: he is indeed a menace of the first order and his reckless aggression deserves to fail. Bacevich ignores that Putin repeatedly rejected the request of the separatists to join Russia, and that he muscled them into accepting remaining in Ukraine via the Minsk Accords, which Ukraine, France and Germany have confirmed for them was just a ruse to buy time for Ukraine. Nor is there a peep about the idea that even if we put aside the question of Western provocation (would the US have tolerated a hostile major power training and arming a country on its borders) and concede that Putin is responsible for the decision to invade, it was the West that scuppered the peace talks in Istanbul. Their breakdown, and the continuation of the war beyond that point, is on us. The inability to consider the concerns of the other side, which Bacevich demonstrates is strong even in the supposedly enlightened left when the other side is Russia, is fatal to diplomacy. This piece is yet another proof that the odds of a negotiated end to the war are effectively zilch. The Collective West has done such an effective job of demonizing Russia that any treaty acknowledging Russias security interests would be dead on arrival. And thats before the wee problem that Russia has learned we dont honor our commitments. As readers know, I view Let Me See Your Smile as [an] Ugly Power Trip and Classification Struggle. Recently, however, a non-smiler[1] won a victory, so I want to do a happy dance in this post. Ill also reinforce the notion of classification struggle, which I think is an important analytical tool, and muse a bit more on this particular struggle. Our story begins at Sheetz, a regional gas-station chain with robust food offerings, doing business in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. (I believe some of our Pennsylvania friends hotly debate the relative merits of Sheets and its competitor, WaWa.) Sheetz, being three-ring binder driven, like any franchise, has an employee handbook (i.e., an ugly power trip by Human Resources). It reads in relevant part: In the event a current employee develops a dental problem that would limit their ability to display a pleasant, full, and complete smile [2], we cannot permit this situation to go on indefinitely, it says. In cases such as this, the employee and store management, to include the District Manager and Employee Relations as necessary, will work to come up with a mutually agreed upon resolution. (In fairness to Sheetz, I should mention that Sheetz does have a dental plan, though of course thats no guarantee of dental care[3].) Sheets fell afoul of Rose Marie Counts. As usual, the Daily Mail tells the story in the headline: EXCLUSIVE: Domestic violence survivor is left in tears after her boss at convenience store chain Sheetz warns that missing tooth knocked out by ex breaks staff smile policy which forbids missing, broken or partially-discolored teeth. Or in Countss own words on her Facebook page: I was asked to come to the office at work. I was nervous having only been with the company for about a month. When I walked in the office the manager had the company policy pulled up to were it talks about employees appearances. I was informed that policy states all Sheetz employees must have and remain with a perfect beautiful warm welcoming smile. If you are an employee with this company and you break a tooth you have 90 days to have it fixed, Note that pleasant, full, and complete has transmogried into perfect beautiful warm welcoming, whether in the managers words or Countss mind Im not sure; equally ghastly either way. More: The conversation starts with her manager appearing to show some understanding over Counts position who had a new set of top front teeth and was about to embark on a new set of bottom teeth a lengthy and painful process in and of itself. But then: If you can type out a letter a written plan in detail including a time, duration and cost to get it fixed. I know you said you were going to get some work done, the manager asks. Speaking of ugly power trips. More: I had my top ones done and my appointment for my bottom ones is later this month. My insurance will not pay for me to have temporary teeth so it will be three months for the swelling to go down and then theyll make them which can take up to six month, Counts explains. I would like to thank the American system of dental care for making this lovely conversation possible: So nine months total? the manager replies, showing signs of exasperation. So if you can, and I appreciate you being understanding The manager then deploys the 90-day requirement. There is a momentary pause before Counts makes the decision before the manager can formally dismiss her. Maybe this isnt the line if work that I am supposed to be in. Ive always done health care and wanted something different. Ive loved it. I dont want to be here anymore, she says, her voice breaking. I pause here to appreciate the great job the manager did: He actually got the employee to quit, and dodged an expensive dental care bullet; clearly on the career path to Assistant To The Regional Manager! (I focused on the employer/employee interaction here, but the Daily Mail story is well worth a read. Counts, like so many, seems like a good person caught up in the sorts of terrible situations that end up with Rule #2 being invoked. Ive always done health care and wanted something different. Ive loved it. oddly, none of the coverage characterizes our health care system as abuse, but there we are. I dont want to say tragic, or do the attention must be paid schtick, because what is a tragedy that happens to millions? Something else Im not sure we have words for, or even fits in the dramatic, cathartic frame.) An avalanche of bad publicity for Sheetz ensues, and Sheetz reviews its policy: Sheets then reverses its policy. From the Inquirer, Sheetz is dropping its controversial smile policy after employees spoke up: Stephanie Doliveira, Sheetzs executive vice president of people and culture, said in a statement Wednesday that the policy had been discontinued effective immediately. As a family-owned and operated company, nothing is more important than creating an environment that is inclusive and supportive of all of our employees, Doliveira said. Recently through employee feedback, we have learned that the smile policy is not aligned with these values from their perspective. We agree. Smart move. Smart lawsuit-avoiding move: A Philadelphia employment lawyer, Eric Meyer, of law firm FisherBroyles, said last month that the policy was unusual and problematic. Even taking into account the carve-out for people with disabilities it could have the impact of discriminating against certain protected classes, Meyer said. There may be particular protected classes that have less access to a dentist. Meanwhile, Counts wont be back. From Parade: Counts said she was offered her job back at the company with the promise of fully paid dental work, but she politely turned it down. Here, however, was the context one employee placed the whole episode in: I hate the policy, a former employee in North Carolina said. This person, who worked for Sheetz for several years before leaving last year, declined to speak on the record for fear of professional consequences. Its really disgusting and kind of classist , especially when the majority of people youre employing are going to be lower-income, the former employee said. Interesting! We have the notion of class introduced (classist), but immediately identified with income: lower income as opposed to working class (i.e., working for a wage). I dont know why the connection isnt made; however, we have rac ist , and sex ist , so perhaps classist is a back-formation. Indeed, teeth are a famous class marker. That said, in my previous post, I didnt take into account that something I saw as a new and grotesque imposition is something (most) women undergo routinely: Yep. As if they have the right. I hate it when I see some male saying to a grocery checker, waitress etc smile if she has a serious look on her face. Me. Have no right! Now I have to wonder, how many men wearing respirators get the lower your mask I want to see your smile? karmac (@HorsesnBCs) February 11, 2023 Yech. I really hate the idea that the world is divided into big tippers and compliant waitresses. Yech. Fifty lashes with a wet noodle for lambert on that one. * * * The beauty of this episode besides Countss victory for Sheetz workers and workers everywhere is that it is, just as Bourdieu described it, a classfication struggle: Classifications are a site of conflict. Our starting point is the simple realization that people are engaged in a constant struggle to insult or classify each other no need to give further examples and that the daily struggles over classification are struggles to impose the dominant criterion. The fact of knowing that the social world is an area of conflict allows us to question the work dof the classifier. We see above that a demand for the modern, tooth-revealing smile allows classification by (social) class; bad teeth are a mark of being working (low) class. Thats a generalization, but the demand also takes a particular and personal form: To be classified as submissive. I would speculate that these two social functions of the modern smile are essential to ruling class elites, and thats why they deprecate masks. (We know from Ron Klains interview of really by Caryles David Rubenstein that elites care about only two things, with Covid: Vax, and no masks.) Here, the struggle is even more pointed: The Sheetz employee handbook classified Counts as an unacceptable employee, Counts resisted, Sheetz lost, and the employ handbook was revised to eliminate the offensive classification. Worth a happy dance! NOTES [1] I dont hate smiles or smilers! However, the relentless power-tripping of those who use let me see your smile as a club to get maskers to risk infection has convinced me that smiling is an intimate matter, best practiced in the privacy of ones own home. Perhaps, when those of us still taking precautions form our own religion, we can make that one of the tenets. Then we could become a protected class! [2] Any sociologists in the readership might wish to unpack pleasant, full, and complete. What, for example, is the difference between full and complete? There does seem to be no requirement for sincerity (showing some humanity from HR). If the smile doesnt reach the eyes, is it pleasant? Id argue no, but many might disagree. A media analyst might begin with this scene from Office Space: What do you think of a person who only does the bare minimum? [3] The filling my last major corporations dental chain put in cracked and fell out in two years, though to be fair, if Id allowed them to upsell me to having all my wisdom teeth pulled they might have done a better job. Matt Taibbi used Unimportant Flying Objects as a point of departure for his must-read Government by Panic. We will shortly argue that the sudden and obviously non-organic emergence of the gas stove as a public menace that must be metered way down hews to that pattern. But first to Taibbi: Now take a hypothetical. Say youre a member of the American political establishment after the 2016 election of Donald Trump. Youre staring at four years as part of a government-in-exile and need a new message to solve your belief problem. Whats your answer? My hypothesis is such people never bothered to find one. Instead, they declared a state of emergency. What emergency? Doesnt matter. Russian interference was a good startup disaster, but you can keep changing them. The important thing is the pattern. One, declare a crisis. Two, spread panic. Three, take emergency measures. If you do this over and over, you end up with permanent crisis, permanent panic, permanent emergency rule. So long as new crises keep evoking unconscious fear and anxiety, the legitimacy of the political establishment is continuously justified. Now even though something as pedestrian as kitchen devices hardly seems to merit ad emergency response, the way this issue has been moved to the front burner suggests it too is getting the panic treatment.and like the Chinese balloon intruder, with an underwhelming news hook. The plan to Do Something about gas stoves apparently got traction via an October 2022 memo by Richard Trumka, a Biden appointee to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Word of the initiative broke on January 9. Per Bloomberg: A federal agency says a ban on gas stoves is on the table amid rising concern about harmful indoor air pollutants emitted by the appliances. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission plans to take action to address the pollution, which can cause health and respiratory problems. This is a hidden hazard, Richard Trumka Jr., an agency commissioner, said in an interview. Any option is on the table. Products that cant be made safe can be banned. Natural gas stoves, which are used in about 40% of homes in the US, emit air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter at levels the EPA and World Health Organization have said are unsafe and linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems, cancer, and other health conditions, according to reports by groups such as the Institute for Policy Integrity and the American Chemical Society. Consumer Reports, in October, urged consumers planning to buy a new range to consider going electric after tests conducted by the group found high levels of nitrogen oxide gases from gas stoves. New peer-reviewed research published last month in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that more than 12% of current childhood asthma cases in the US can be attributed to gas stove use. The study was published December 21 and picked up by the Washington Post on January 6. It no doubt was in circulation prior to publication. Due to being jet-lagged, yours truly has not read the article in full. However, it was a meta-study, meaning the general drift of its findings was not novel, as demonstrated by initiatives by 42 cities to end gas stove use as of 2021. Note the analysis is based on population-level correlations.1 That means there is no consideration whether gas stove indoor pollution can be adequately mitigated by better ventilation. The Trumka gas stove ban threat generated strong opposition, which led to a retreat. From Bloomberg two days after the interview, on January 11: The head of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said the agency has no plans to ban gas stoves, days after one of his colleagues said a ban was one option under consideration in comments that ignited a political firestorm. I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so, Alexander Hoehn-Saric said in a statement Wednesday. He added that the four-person commission is researching emissions from the appliances and looking for ways to reduce related indoor air-quality hazards. Hoehn-Sarics comments follow remarks made by Richard Trumka Jr., an agency commissioner, who told Bloomberg that the CPSC would consider a ban as part of efforts to address hazards posed by gas ranges. His words ignited criticism from the gas industry and from lawmakers ranging from House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers to Senator Joe Manchin. I can tell you the last thing that would ever leave my house is the gas stove that we cook on, the West Virginia Democrat said in a statement Tuesday. If this is the greatest concern that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has for American consumers, I think we need to reevaluate the commission. Per Rodgers remark, how many card-carrying members of the PMC have restaurant-sized stoves with gas burners as status statements? Fox got access to the Trumka memo and discussed it on February 2. a cursory search didnt turn up the full text. But the Fox account, with supporting excerpts, argues that the Biden Administration most assuredly had been pursuing a ban. But back to elite kitchen fetish objects class issues cut the other way too. The reason gas stoves are so common in urban apartments is that they are cheap to operate. And the Trumka memo argued that the CPSC had a duty to ban consumer products that generate hazardous substances under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act: There is sufficient information available for CPSC to issue an NPR [Notice of Proposed Rulemaking] in FY 2023 proposing to ban gas stoves in homesThe additional work needed to complete an NPR is primarily economic One has to assume that the proposed Department of Energy rules restricting both gas and energy stoves to energy-efficient, which generally means lower-power, units, quietly launched at the end of the month, were meant primarily to provide the CPSCs economic case. Note the DoE, contrary to the typical practice of Federal agencies, has not posted the proposed rule on its site; you have to go rummaging about to find it in the Federal Register or Regulations.gov. An overview from NBC: The proposed standards, which focus on energy consumption, would require that both gas and electric stoves meet certain efficiency thresholds. The proposal also suggests new standards for gas and electric ovens. As required by Congress, the Department of Energy is proposing efficiency standards for gas and electric cooktops we are not proposing bans on either, a department spokesperson said in a statement. The proposed standards would not go into effect until 2027 and cumulatively save the nation up to $1.7 billion. Every major manufacturer has products that meet or exceed the requirements proposed today. The article does acknowledge the new rules are for countertops and ovens.when most Americans buy ranges. So how does that work? In addition, by law, energy efficiency rules are not warranted unless they are technologically feasible, economically justified, and result in significant energy conservation (see 42 U.S.C. section 6295(o)(2)(A), (o)(3)(B)). That is questionable here. Bloomberg quoted industry sources that contended that the new rules would amount to a near ban: This approach by DOE could effectively ban gas appliances, said Jill Notini, a vice president with the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, a Washington-based trade group. We are concerned this approach could eliminate fully featured gas products. Lobbyists are wont to say that sort of thing. But more telling, the economic case, which recall is required by statute, is weak. Up to $1.7 billion cumulatively as over the usual CBO 10 year scoring period of ten years, across all US households, is close to rounding error.2 Note that cooking accounts for 4% to 5% of home energy use. Water heaters, washers and driers, and lights each amount to more than twice as much. The details of the very long regulatory discussion are over my pay grade. However, it makes clear consumers will have to pay more for appliances: The effect of new or amended energy conservation standards on individual consumers usually involves a reduction in operating cost and an increase in purchase cost. This again hurts lower income consumers. And confirming the marginal nature of the savings, in most cases the payback period is 14 years or more.3 In addition, I do not see the analysis allowing for the cost of changing gas to electrical connections, as in sealing the gas piping and running new 220v to the stove/range/oven location, since in most cases, the outcome would be to replace gas appliances with electric. That will add to upfront costs, and those have a disproportionate impact in NPV terms. Finally, it appears that the DoE didnt consider the impact of extra demand for electrical power on creaky grids. Even if there are efficiency gains, they are likely to be more than offset by shifting gas demand over to electricity. Grids are already projected to be unable to handle the demands of more electric vehicles. But this sort of mandating changes without considering downstream effect is typical for our PowerPoint dwelling leaders. Finally, dont kid yourself that our lovers of tricked-out kitchens will be denied the sort of equipment that elite rental chefs will need to perform well. Is this sort of product is outside the contemplated regulations? It seems to be in a novel category: Ok, I'm so ignorant. China already has electric fire stoves for years, and I haven't heard of it. While Americans are arguing if they should ban gas stoves and use induction. pic.twitter.com/G6zyK4qNG2 (@InfernoXhell) February 12, 2023 Mind you, as much as I liked using a gas stove in New York City, I do not feel deprived by no longer having one. The reason for taking interest in the anti-gas stove push is that its sudden emergence as a Biden priority suggests a big money interest must be behind it. But if so, its remained well hidden so far. And finally, amusingly, the Administration appeared to have thought it had a trump card in the spectacle of childrens health. After the lack of uproar over Covid deaths and likely long-term harm, Team Biden should have recognized from their experience that despite all the sentimentality, children are disposables in an neoliberal economy. _______ 1 Note the paper appears to have gotten an expedited review. It was submitted November 4 and accepted December 14. The abstract: Indoor gas stove use for cooking is associated with an increased risk of current asthma among children and is prevalent in 35% of households in the United States (US). The population-level implications of gas cooking are largely unrecognized. We quantified the population attributable fraction (PAF) for gas stove use and current childhood asthma in the US. Effect sizes previously reported by meta-analyses for current asthma (Odds Ratio = 1.34, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.121.57) were utilized in the PAF estimations. The proportion of children (<18 years old) exposed to gas stoves was obtained from the American Housing Survey for the US, and states with available data (n = 9). We found that 12.7% (95% CI = 6.319.3%) of current childhood asthma in the US is attributable to gas stove use. The proportion of childhood asthma that could be theoretically prevented if gas stove use was not present (e.g., state-specific PAFs) varied by state (Illinois = 21.1%; California = 20.1%; New York = 18.8%; Massachusetts = 15.4%; Pennsylvania = 13.5%). Our results quantify the US public health burden attributed to gas stove use and childhood asthma. Further research is needed to quantify the burden experienced at the county levels, as well as the impacts of implementing mitigation strategies through intervention studies. Note the paper prominently flags that amelioration strategies have not been investigated. 2 From the proposed regulation: Using a 7-percent discount rate for consumer benefits and costs and NO X and SO 2 reduction benefits, and a 3-percent discount rate case for GHG social costs, the estimated cost of the proposed standards for consumer conventional cooking products is $32.5 million per year in increased product costs, while the estimated annual benefits are $100.8 million in reduced product operating costs, $67.0 million in climate benefits and $64.9 million in health benefits. The net monetized benefit amounts to $200.3 million per year. 3 Since I do not know the industry, it is possible that some of the categories with short payback periods are disproportionate in terms of industry sales. South Africa: SA defence sector companies to exhibit at IDEX Eleven South African companies that operate in the defence sector will participate in the International Defence Exhibition and conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The participation of the companies in IDEX has been made possible by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme to showcase their products at the 16th biennial event. The companies will participate in the event from 20-24 February 2023. The aim of the scheme is to develop export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country. IDEX is the only international trade show in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region showcasing the latest technologies in land, sea and air sectors of defence. The 15th edition of IDEX held in 2021, brought together more than 62 000 visitors and 900 exhibitors from almost 60 countries. According to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Nomalungelo Gina, IDEX provides a platform and an opportunity to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments and businesses in the Middle East. The South African aerospace and defence companies that we will be assisting to participate in IDEX 2023 manufacture a range of products related to the defence industry. This is part of our efforts to support the recovery and further development of the defence industry in South Africa through assisting companies to access international markets. The show will provide the South African companies with an opportunity to sign new deals, explore new partnerships and stay up-to-date with the latest market trends, Gina said on Monday. The companies will also be in a good location to attract potential buyers, distributors and agents. They will also be able to gather trade leads, as well as trade and investment market intelligence in order to increase their knowledge of the UAE market. The Middle East has increased its military spending over the past decade, making it a strategic and important market for South Africas defence products and services. The UAE is key to South Africas export strategy in the region, representing 78.5% (R33.9 billion) of total exports to the Middle East region in 2021. Our bilateral trade increased by 38.11% to reach R61.71 billion in 2021, from R44.68 billion in 2020. The market access support provided to the 11 firms and the greater industry will contribute to increasing the market share in a high-growth market such as the UAE, explains Gina. She notes that IDEX 2023 provides an important platform to highlight South Africas strong manufacturing and technological capability of the defence industry, whilst increasing value-added exports to the UAE, Middle East region and globally. The dtic seeks to support local South African manufacturers through participation at the event, and to contribute to a competitive export industry, which is a key focus area of the countrys Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. Gina is hopeful that the participation of local companies in IDEX 2023 will result in the increase of South Africas exports to the UAE and create an awareness of South Africa as a strategic trade partner and competitive investment destination. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-02-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Libya sends 2 planes of aid to Turkiye, Syria Xinhua) 10:43, February 13, 2023 Supplies provided by Libya as humanitarian aid to quake-hit Trkiye and Syria are seen at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, Libya, Feb. 12, 2023. The Libyan government on Sunday sent two airplanes full of relief items to Syria and Trkiye to help deal with the impacts of the deadly earthquake. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan government on Sunday sent two airplanes full of relief items to Syria and Trkiye to help deal with the impacts of the deadly earthquake. "We sent airplanes carrying relief items as well as more than 70 medical, emergency and recovery personnel," Gibril Shtewi, a Libyan aid official told Xinhua. The Libyan teams so far rescued 27 people, recovered 53 bodies, and provided medical assistance to more than 400 people in southern Trkiye. The Libyan government has sent 55 rescue and safety specialists as well as four tracing dogs to "help authorities in Trkiye deal with the consequences of the earthquakes." More than 30,000 people were killed and many more were injured so far after two strong earthquakes hit Syria and Trkiye on Monday. Supplies provided by Libya as humanitarian aid to quake-hit Trkiye and Syria are loaded onto a plane at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, Libya, Feb. 12, 2023. The Libyan government on Sunday sent two airplanes full of relief items to Syria and Trkiye to help deal with the impacts of the deadly earthquake. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (Natural News) The U.S. Border Patrol is spilling the beans on President Joe Bidens plan to release hundreds of thousands or even millions of illegal aliens into the interior of our country, which is an impeachable offense considering he vowed to uphold our laws and defend the country when he was installed into office. According to a report by The Center Square, about six weeks before he was slated to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Gloria Chavez, a chief Border Patrol agent, met with local police and sheriffs deputies in Weslaco, Texas, where she laid out the administrations plans for mass releases of illegal immigrants after the Trump-era COVID rule Title 42 ended. The administration had tried to end the rule for months, but federal courts kept the policy in place because the Department of Homeland Security was attempting to end it in an arbitrary and capricious manner and without properly following federal law to sunset such policies. Texas was one of several states to sue the federal government to keep the rule in place, and in December, a federal court sided with the plaintiffs. The outlet reported further: Border Patrol agents in December were averaging taking 15,000 illegal foreign nationals into custody every day, she said, with some sectors at 150% capacity. There is an expectation that we will be seeing an increase in flow and parole in the RGV Sector, she said. The sector was also receiving roughly 20 flights and eight busloads a week of illegal foreign nationals from Yuma, Arizona, and El Paso and Del Rio in Texas because its facilities can hold more people. Border Patrol apprehensions and reported gotaways in December were the highest in U.S. history with more than 300,000, according to data obtained by The Center Square. At that December meeting, according to an audio recording of the meeting provided to the outlet, one senior Border Patrol agent briefing the law enforcement personnel noted that everything has changed in the last two years, the period of time Biden has been in office. Over the past two years, the entire landscape has changed, not only with the entries but the demographics and types of people who are exploiting the immigration process, the agent continued, according to The Center Square. Due to the volume of people who were crossing into the U.S. illegally, more folks get processed for release because we just cant sustain it, said the agent. All regional holding facilities and by law, illegal crossers are supposed to either be deported or held in custody awaiting their asylum hearings were at 100 percent capacity, at least. Nearly half of the nine facilities in the southwest border sectors were in the red and closer to 150 percent holding capacity, the agent added. Interestingly, those being held included the highest number of Cubans and Nicaraguans in custody in U.S. history, he noted further, before asking: How do you apprehend more Cubans than you do Mexicans? From 2021 to fiscal 2022 there are cities in Mexico where people say they are going to go to find smugglers who charge less to bring them across the Rio Grande River, he said, noting that Texas has the greatest traffic of gotaways. It should also be noted that single, military-aged men make up about 70 percent of those crossing illegally into the country, which in and of itself is alarming. Worse, by this spring, all of the airship balloons the Border Patrol uses to monitor the border will not be flying because they havent been funded in the massive $1.7 trillion spending bill Democrats rammed through ahead of losing control of the House in January. In fact, some of them are already coming down, Fox News reported. Biden and his regime purposely allow our country to be invaded, and Democrats in Congress are aiding and abetting it by refusing to hold him responsible. Meanwhile, China flies its spy balloons over our country with impunity. Our nation is headed to collapse if we continue to let Democrats run it. Sources include: HeadlineUSA.com FoxNews.com (Natural News) Andrew Bridgen, a conservative member of the British parliament, is in hot water after he compared Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to the Holocaust. Bridgens own party leaders suspended the MP after he stated that the harms caused by COVID injections represent the biggest crime against humanity since the holocaust. Saying this apparently makes Bridgen an anti-Semite (Related: Covid vaccines are also anti-sperm). A formal investigation was launched after Bridgen tweeted the statement on January 11. Bridgen has also been dubbed Parliaments most vocal critic of the COVID vaccines. Prior to his offensive tweet, Bridgen gave a speech on December 13 in which he praised eminent and trusted cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra whose peer-reviewed research concluded that there should be a complete cessation of the administration of the COVID mRNA vaccines for everyone because of clear and robust data of significant harms and little ongoing benefit. Interestingly, there has so far not been a single rebuttal of Dr. Malhotras findings in the scientific literature, despite their widespread circulation and the fact that they made international news, Bridgen observed at the time, adding that policymakers in the United Kingdom mainstream media are guilty of willful blindness concerning the dangers of COVID injections. Bridgen has repeatedly called for these entities to break this conspiracy of silence surrounding the jabs, which continue to injure and kill the people who took them. In stating this, Bridgen has made himself a big target for the pro-vaccine zealots who will have been looking for an excuse to punish and cancel him, and who have predictably leaped on the first offensive thing they could find, according to Will Jones of the Daily Sceptic. Just like racism, the term anti-Semitism has lost all meaning because of how often and incorrectly its used to silence people A group of Jewish doctors and scientists are speaking out against the witch hunt against Bridgen. They say that the anti-Semitism assertion of his critics is illogical and invalid. They are also defending another part of Bridgens now-deleted tweet in which he shared safety monitoring analyses data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) proving the shots to be a deadly scourge on humanity. Bridgens critics, including John Mann, the UK governments independent anti-Semitism adviser, want to see him removed from office. Mann specifically stated that Bridgens comparison of COVID jabs to the Holocaust should [not] be allowed to stand at the next election. Former health secretary Matt Hancock also lashed out at Bridgen during a question session in which he accused Bridgen of spreading disgusting, anti-Semitic, anti-vax conspiracy theories that are deeply offensive (and) have no place in this House or in our wider society. According to the dictionary, anti-Semitism means being hostile to or prejudiced against Jewish people. In what parallel universe could Bridgens statements comparing deadly COVID jabs to the Holocaust be considered anti-Jewish? The claim is nonsensical to the core, just like how the term racist is commonly misused to vilify people who embrace conservative ideology, as one example. Both terms are losing all meaning because of how excessively and inappropriately they are used as a weapon to silence opposing viewpoints about controversial matters. Igor Chudov, a blogger who self-identifies as a Jew, echoed this sentiment in writing that he cannot understand how Mr. Bridgens tweet (is) antisemitic. He does not express any dislike of Jews, Chudov says. He also states that [COVID] is the biggest crime since Holocaust.' Mr. Bridgen does not even compare the COVID vaccine to Holocaust! His comparison does not involve Holocaust at all! Since Holocaust means that he is looking at crimes past-Holocaust. Where is the antisemitism, exactly? Want to learn more about the dangers and ineffectiveness of covid injections? Visit ChemicalViolence.com. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A leaked internal letter from Pfizer warned employes against revealing confidential company information. Whistleblower group Project Veritas obtained a copy of the said letter and posted it on Feb. 7 on its Twitter account. The letter appeared to pertain to the groups earlier expose involving Jordon Trishton Walker, Pfizers research and development director. We are aware of and managing a recent incident where one of our colleagues was baited into conversation in a social situation and recorded without their knowledge, the letter said. It added that working at the New York-based drug company makes colleagues an ongoing target for groups such as Project Veritas. As Pfizer colleagues, we all have much to be proud of in the work that we do each and every day and enjoy sharing our work lives with our trusted loved ones. That said, we must safeguard all sensitive and confidential information at all times and exercise extreme caution amid any discussions with acquaintances. The letter also warned employees of individuals posing as news media to gain company information. In those situations, employees were advised to refer them to Pfizers media relations team. Only approved spokespeople are authorized to speak publicly about Pfizers products, operations and reserch efforts, the letter stated. (Related: Pfizer responses to Veritas expose.) The internal correspondence described the group founded and headed by James OKeefe as among anti-science activists increasingly brazen in their drive to gain and manipulate information. The tactics of these activists can be surprising and confrontational including targeting specific individuals who are perceived to have confidential information about our science and in particular our COVID-19 vaccine. This targeting can happen online through social media and dating apps as well as in person through industry conferences or simple social situations, such as a casual conversation with a new acquaintance in a bar, on a date or at a party. Letter appears to be in response to Walker revelations While the correspondence did not explicitly mention Project Veritas and Walker by name, the timing of its release appeared to coincide with the whistleblower groups expose. The first revelation by the group, which it posted on Jan. 25, pertained to the Pfizer directors claims that the company is directing the evolution of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). This, he added, is to facilitate the development of new vaccines that will allow Pfizer to rake in huge profits. One of the things we are exploring is, Why dont we just mutate [COVID-19] ourselves so we could preemptively develop new vaccines, right? So we have to do that, he told an undercover Project Veritas journalist. If were [going to] do that though, theres a risk. No one wants to be having a [pharmaceutical] company mutating viruses. According to Walker, Pfizer scientists had already been optimizing the process, albeit at a slow pace. He said: Obviously, they dont want to accelerate it too much. I think they are also just trying to do it as an exploratory thing becauuse you dont want to advertise that you are figuring out future mutations. We can do these selected structure mutations to make them more potent. The way it would work is that we put the virus in monkeys. We successively cause them to infect each other, and we collect serial samples from them. The Pfizer executive told the undercover journalist of the risks doing such an experiment. You have to be very controlled to make sure that this [SARS-CoV-2] that you mutate doesnt create something that just goes everywhere. Youre not supposed to do gain-of-gunction research with viruses. There better not be any more outbreaks. Ultimately, Walker disclosed why Pfizer wanted to manipulate the pathogen responsible for COVID-19: Its going to be a cash cow. COVID is going to be a cash cow for us for a while going forward. Head over to BigPharmaNews.com for more stories about Pfizer. Watch Fox News host Tucker Carlson put in his two cents on Jordon Trishton Walkers revelations on Tucker Carlson Tonight below. This video is from the Prevent Global Genocide channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: ADMISSION: Pfizer executive says company is purposely mutating covid through directed evolution to keep profit stream flowing; covid is going to be a cash cow for us. Phreakazoid Pfizer executive goes BERSERK when confronted by Project Veritas over HIS OWN claims of virus mutation research and vaccine profiteering. Pfizer executive openly admits to crimes against humanity, illegal gain of function research, and the building of bioweapons. Project Veritas BOMBSHELL: Pfizer director admits company carries out illegal gain-of-function research. Sources include: HeadlineUSA.com Timcast.com ProjectVeritas.com Brighteon.com A wall of snow could fall on the United Kingdom as a winter storm threatens subzero temperatures. According to some computer modeling, there is even a risk of "widespread snow," although others say that is unlikely. Forecasters stated that freezing air from the United States could collide with warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a supercharged jet stream and colder conditions. A Mild Start With Persistent Cloud And Possible Drizzle Forecasts from the United States predict colder weather here, while the Met Office in the United Kingdom predicts rain and milder conditions, as per SomersetLive. Some computer models are now favoring a bitter easterly blast later next week, and this could bring the risk of widespread snow, Exacta Weather's James Madden told the Mirror Online. This is expected to happen before next weekend; if it does, temperatures will drop across the country. Snowfall in some areas could cause disruption, and depending on the severity of the blast, this could be on par with or worse than anything we've seen so far this winter. Temperatures could drop to -10C or even -15C in some urban areas during a cold spell that could last seven to ten days. According to Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern, a large area of cold air across North America is colliding with milder air to the south, and we're getting a powerful jet stream, which is helping to deepen areas of low pressure. Although the jet stream deepens an area of low pressure, the size of that low affects the shape of the jet stream and helps to push its energy southwards and northwards, amplifying the jet stream. Also Read: UK Weather Update: Met Office Warns of Dangerous Snow, Ice Conditions; Flood Warnings Reported Weather Set To Make A Dramatic Shift The Met Office has predicted snowfall in the United Kingdom this month, with specific dates revealed. The country is expected to have warm weather this week, but the Met Office predicts snow, as per StokeonTrentLive. Temperatures in England could reach 13C this week, which is higher than the 8C February average, but this is expected to change by the end of the month. However, he added that a downturn could begin on February 26. "This could introduce a north-south split, with drier conditions across the north and wetter conditions across the south," McGivern said. Temperatures are expected to be mostly around average, but a period of colder or much colder temperatures remains a small possibility, bringing widespread wintry conditions. It comes after weeks of teeth-chattering weather, with freezing conditions and sub-zero temperatures across large parts of the UK, including Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, which have shivered with overnight frosts as the mercury drops to below zero for days at a time. After any mist or fog clears, it will be mostly cloudy in the east, with prolonged sunny spells developing further west. Winds are light in the east but becoming breezy in the west, particularly near the coast. The highest temperature recorded was 11 C. Cloudy in general, but with a few breaks that allow isolated mist and fog patches to form. Grass frosts in rural areas are possible. Winds are light in the east and breezy in the west. The minimum temperature is 4 degrees Celsius. Another dry day, cloudy in the east at first but with prolonged sunny spells developing by the afternoon. In the morning, there may be some patchy mist or fog. Windy in the far west. The highest temperature recorded was 11 C. Related article: UK Weather Forecast: Colder Temperatures, Snow to Continue; Experts Warn of Cold-Related Health Risks Tropical storms named Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Freddy are threatening the region surrounding Australia and New Zealand. Meteorologists warned that the tropical cyclones are in addition to Tropical Storm Dingani, which was reportedly moving away from landmasses in the central Indian Ocean, according to AccuWeather. Tropical Cyclone Alert AccuWeather forecasters clarified that the trio of storms make the Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season to be in full swing, affecting the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. However, no direct impact is expected to hit Australia. Still, flood-stricken New Zealand is reportedly on alert as another round of inclement weather is on its way. This comes after the state of New South Wales in Australia experienced flooding last week and also after New Zealand's biggest city suffered from massive flooding due to heavy rain. Also Read: Two Tropical Cyclones Track in Australia; Flooding Rain to Unload in New Zealand, Queensland's Norfolk Island Cyclone Gabrielle Local authorities urged residents of Auckland on Sunday, February 12, to make preparations for a potential impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, currently downgraded to a sub-tropical low pressure system from a Category 2 cyclone, which hit Norfolk Island overnight on Saturday, February 11, Reuters reported. The storm caused power outages and downed trees with no immediate reports of casualties. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins warned the public about severe winds and strong rainfall, as the storm has already caused damage to Norfolk Island, the media company Deutsche Welle reported. In addition, airline company Air New Zealand issued the cancellation of all its domestic flights to and from Auckland until Tuesday noon, February 14. Also referred to as a tropical rainstorm, Gabrielle navigated the region with destructive winds that missed the island before heading to an area 1,460 kilometers (910 miles) south of New Zealand. The former cyclone struck North Island and its largest city from Sunday night. Auckland was a site of large-scale devastation after torrential rain and flash flooding last month, leaving at least four people dead. Severe Storm Warnings The MetService, New Zealand's national meteorological service, as of Monday, February 13, stated Cyclone Gabrielle was approaching the upper North Island, where its impact was already felt across the northern parts of the island. These weather hazards are expected to spread through the norther portion of the South Island on Monday and Tuesday. The meteorological service warned that the storm system poses a "very high" risk of extreme, powerful, and unexpected weather in many regions of the North Island until Tuesday. The weather agency urges the public to monitor local weather development from MetService forecasts and follow advice issued by local authorities. In addition to the risk of torrential rain and floodwaters, agency issued severe storm warnings or severe weather warnings to the following areas until 9:00 p.m. local time on Monday: Westland Central Otago Southern Lakes Clutha Southland Fiordland The warnings highlight the dangers posed by strong winds, lightning strikes, and potential tornadoes, which are common during a severe thunderstorm. The said adverse weather is connected with the lingering system from Cyclone Gabrielle. Related Article: Storm Alert: Nearly 20,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded in New Zealand Recently Parts of the Southern United States can expect severe weather conditions, including isolated tornadoes, flooding rainfall and damaging winds. The Southern United States is no stranger to severe weather events. Isolated tornado outbreaks are common in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Louisana. Recently, CNN reported that an isolated tornado emerged in Northern Louisiana, leaving damaged parish and trees. There was no recorded injury or casualty. Isolated tornadoes and damaging winds According to AccuWeather's latest forecast, the severe weather conditions in the South would unleash isolated tornadoes, heavy rain and stronger winds. The weather forecast added that a possible flash flood would emerge this week. According to AccuWeather's outlook, rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in Lubbock, Wichita and Houston. The forecast added that severe thunderstorm risks would unload in Little Rock, Tulsa and Dallas. Meanwhile, North-Central Texas and Eastern Oklahoma could anticipate severe weather conditions on Monday night. Travel disruptions, damaging winds and flooding downpours are expected in Dallas, Shreveport, Jackson and Springfield from Monday to Tuesday. On Wednesday, the weather forecasts added that isolated tornadoes are possible in Dallas, Shreveport, Little Rock, Memphis and Fort Smith. From Thursday to Thursday evening, the severe weather risks would spread in Baton Rouge, Mobile, Jackson, Columbus, Memphis, St. Louis, Montgomery, Atlanta, Huntsville, Nashville and Louisville. On the other hand, the potent storm could help unload snowfall on Wednesday night and Thursday night. The snowfall is expected in Omaha, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Sioux Falls, Minneapolis, Green Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. Preparing for tornado outbreaks This week, the weather forecasts emphasized the possibility of tornadoes. In Central Florida, Nature World News reported potential tornado outbreaks. Now, the South is expected to experience severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. According to American Red Cross, tornado safety is essential. Knowing to withstand tornado outbreaks will help prevent injuries and casualties. Here are important reminders before and during tornado outbreaks. Emphasizing safety during severe to extreme weather events is crucial. Know the tornado news alerts. Weather forecasts report the latest tornado watches and warnings to help residents and communities prepare. Nature World News reported the difference and importance of tornado watches and warnings. Read here. It is important, especially if you plan to travel when there are tornado warnings. Protect yourself and your family. Preparing an emergency plan with your family members helps to stay safe. Cover your head as you move or evacuate to a secure place at home. Before possible tornadoes, check your home for damages. Secure or bolt all cabinets or anything that can be blown away. Also Read: Severe Storms, Isolated Tornadoes, Heavy Rain Likely to Hit Central Florida This Weekend Family members should stay at home or look for a safe shelter. According to American Red Cross, the report explained the importance how reconnecting with your family members. Emergency preparedness kit Keeping emergency kits at home is helpful. There are times when roads become inaccessible to severe weather events. In previous reports, the emergency kits should have a battery-operated radio, power banks, extra mobile phones, non-perishable goods, a flashlight, medicines and primary documents. Related Article: Developing Storm in Western U.S. to Unleash Rounds of Rain, Snow Next Week; Chilly Conditions to Unfold in San Francisco, Las Vegas For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature News. A fisherman in Belfast Lough caught a rare blue lobster while fishing. The catch is considered super rare due to million chances. However, BBC's recent report explained that a lucky fisherman from Bangor in County Down managed to catch a super rare lobster. Stuart Brown chanced upon the mesmerizing blue color of the crustacean near the Blackhead Lighthouse. Thought to be a regular catch, Brown did not expect to come across the rare lobster on his fishing journey. Catching a blue lobster is not easy. The uncommon sea creature would take possible million chances to chance upon a good catch. According to How Stuff Works, the University of Maine's Lobster Insitute explained finding a blue lobster is one in two million chances. Meanwhile, BBC added that Brown immediately searched the information about the blue lobsters, noting the chances of catching one. Because of the lobster's size, Brown brought it back to the lobster in the sea. Lucky blue in Maine Meanwhile, The USA reported in 2022 that a father and son found a rare blue lobster on Peaks Island. They have named the lobster 'Lucky Blue.' The discovery amazed them, incredibly how lucky they were to catch one of the rarest colors of lobsters. According to the report, the blue lobster was legally in size and healthy. Also Read: Texas' Galveston Bay Suffers from Increasing Ocean Acidification That Could Affect Oyster Reef, Marine Ecosystem In BBC News, the report explained that most lobsters in the sea are dark brown. Other uncommon colors, such as yellow, red and orange. The report explained that the abnormal genetic difference in lobsters results in a different color. For example, Times reported that catching brown-and-orange lobsters is considered a one in 50 million chance. The bizarre coloration of the said lobsters is amazing and majestic, adding the rare chance to unravel from the sea. Did you know? More facts about lobsters According to Britannica, lobsters are known marine crustaceans. They are covered with shells, one of the sea's favorite foods. Unlike other animals, lobsters are resourceful animals that look for dead animals in the sea for food sources. According to Times, lobsters can generate their limbs if it is injured or damaged. They can grow more by eating more food from scavenged dead animals, including fish. The report added that, unlike other crustaceans, lobsters have their way of eating. With the gastric mill inside their stomach, they can grind food. Meanwhile, NOAA Fisheries reported the United States has two known lobster species: the American 'True' lobster and the spiny lobster. NOAA added that the American lobster could weigh up to 45 pounds and be found in North Carolina, Newfoundland and North America. In addition, the report explained that lobsters could lay eggs. Female lobsters are great mothers, carrying the eggs for about nine to 12 months. Visit the NOAA Fisheries website for more facts about lobsters. Related Article: 'Flaco' the Owl Becomes Instant Avian Celebrity After Escaping Central Park Zoo For more weather news in the U.S., don't forget to follow Nature World News. Xinhua is one of the largest news organizations in the world, with a global network of correspondents and bureaus. In a major step forward for Sri Lanka Guardian, we are pleased to inform our readers that we and Xinhua News Agency have signed a syndication agreement recently. This agreement will allow the two media organizations to share content, resources and information to provide more in-depth coverage of regional and international news to their respective audiences. With the rise of digital media and the globalization of information, it is essential for news organizations to collaborate and pool their resources to provide comprehensive coverage of the worlds events. The syndication agreement between Sri Lanka Guardian and Xinhua will provide benefits for both organizations and their audiences. Sri Lanka Guardian will now have access to a wider range of news from China, the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond. Having the opportunity to exchange the content and resources of Xinhua will also foster greater understanding and cooperation between the two countries. This is especially important in a world where the flow of information is often fragmented and biased. By sharing content and resources, both organizations can help to provide a more balanced and accurate picture of the worlds events. The signing of the syndication agreement between Sri Lanka Guardian and Xinhua is a significant step forward for cross-border journalism. This agreement will allow us to better serve our audience by providing more comprehensive and accurate coverage of regional and international news. It also highlights the importance of collaboration and cooperation between media organizations in an era of overwhelming information inflows. Xinhua is one of the largest news organizations in the world, with a global network of correspondents and bureaus. The role of media organizations like Xinhua becomes even more critical in todays fast-paced and interconnected world. The rise of digital media and the proliferation of information have made it increasingly difficult for audiences to separate fact from fiction. By providing accurate and impartial coverage of events, these media organizations help to inform and educate the public and promote greater understanding and cooperation between countries. In conclusion, Sri Lanka Guardian and Xinhua are two of the most important media organizations in their respective countries, playing a critical role in providing accurate and impartial information to their audiences. The signing of the syndication agreement between these two media organizations will provide significant benefits for both organizations and their audiences, fostering greater understanding and cooperation between Sri Lanka and China. Editorial Team Examination of the wreckage of crashed Iranian Shahed-131, Shahed 136, and Mohajer-6 cruise missiles in November showed that 82 percent of them had some Western electronic components the Iranian sanctions are supposed to access to. Most of the banned components were manufactured in 2020 and 2021 and some of them improved the existing capabilities of the Iranian UAVs used as one-way cruise missiles. Iran is assisting Russia in setting up a UAV manufacturing plant in Russia and the two heavily sanctioned countries are combining their component smuggling efforts. This cooperation will allow improvements in current weapons and military equipment used by both countries as well enable the development of more capable systems. Russia also has a problem with a growing number of Ukrainian spies operating in Russian occupied portions of Ukraine as well as pro-Ukraine )pr anti-Putin) Russians inside Russia who are provide Ukraine with target and other information about Russian military activities. Ukraine abides by the American restrictions on using American supplied missiles on targets inside Russia. Instead, Ukraine uses improvised or Ukrainian-made long-range weapons to strike these targets. Ukrainian special operations forces have also operated inside Russia and carried out some spectacular attacks on Russian military bases and industrial sites crucial to their war on Ukraine. The damage, especially spectacular explosions and fires are hard to hide from commercial and military satellites overhead or curious Russians with cellphone cameras and access to the Internet outside Russia. This lack of adequate or effective air defenses or facility security is embarrassing for the Russia government but no surprise to most Russians and Ukrainians. Some information comes from Russians themselves as they complain about how their own government is treating then, especially government efforts to put more Russians into uniform and sent them, off to fight and die in Ukraine. This sort of thing is nothing new for Russians. They experienced it in the 1990s when Russia needed more troops to fight and die fighting Chechens in the Caucasus. Before that there was the eight year campaign in the 1980s that kept over 100,000 Russian troops in Afghanistan and sent 15,000 of these Russian soldiers home in coffins. Only a few thousand died in Chechnya. So far in Ukraine over 150,000 Russians have died in less than a year. The Wagner Group recruitment of convicts with the promise of a pardon if they served six months backfired when it became known that only about 20 percent of the first convicts recruited survived their six months and received their pardons. Recent recruiting efforts show that far fewer convicts are will to volunteer and, justifiably, feel safer serving out their sentences. While Ukraine continues to catch, prosecute and punish corrupt officials, Russia is eliminating anti-corruption laws to enable corrupt officials to evade detection and continue to profit from corrupt practices. This encourages Ukrainians to keep fighting and Russians to resist getting mobilized into the military. This also encourages more Russians to sabotage the war effort via individual efforts. There are of Russians with Ukrainian or Belarussian roots, or anti-Putin Russians, who are willing to provide information to Ukrainian special operations forces or even participate in operations against the Russian war effort. Russia is increasingly at war with itself as well as Ukraine. Meanwhile Ukrainian and NATO weapons specialists continue examining captured (largely intact) Russian weapons for useful details on how they operate or are supposed to operate and develop better methods were defeating these systems. This has been going on ever since the war began and Ukraine shares this captured gear with its NATO allies with a constant flow of Russian weapons sent to Poland and beyond for further examination and analysis. This has been particularly hard on Russian electronic systems, especially counter-measures that are supposed to reduce the effectiveness of Western weapons. Russia developed some interesting new tech which losses most of its effectiveness when the enemy know how it works and how to remotely make it not work. Russia ahs captured some Western systems but not to extent that their systems have been captured and analyzed. These losses are common in any war and first became a major factor during World War II. This was especially true with the electronic warfare German and British engineers engaged in to keep their bombers operational over enemy territory. This established the model for tech warfare that persists to the present, especially in Ukraine and Russia. During World War II the Russians were allies of Britain and the United States and received a lot ofo impressive (to the Russians) Western tech. Russia found that even when they had this tech they had a hard time duplicating it. Throughout the Cold War Russia continued to fear the Western edge in tech and the Russian inability to manufacture it themselves. That changed after the Soviet Union disappeared in 1991 and a new democratic (for a decade or so) Russia had free access to Western manufacturing technology as well as the tech itself. During the last decade Russia has again gone to war with the West and no longer has all that access to Western tech and is feeling the widening gap between Russian and Western technical capabilities. China has long learned from Soviet and Russian mistakes and is now nearly equal to the West in terms of tech and a much more formidable foe for the West and, if need be, Russia. China is replacing Russia as the primary trade partner of the central Asian states that were more part of the Soviet Union and later post-Soviet Russia. The war in Ukraine has given China the opportunity to completely replace Russia in Central Asia, where Russia is facing growing Chinese activity. Russia long believed their eastern flank was secure but now there is a potential threat from China and a two-front war if Russia survives the current conflict with Ukraine and its NATO allies. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Sunny along with a few clouds. High 82F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 47F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Irregular heart rhythms were detected in about 1 in 5 people who survived an ischemic stroke due to atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty substances in the arteries) after being continuously monitored for three years with an insertable cardiac device, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2023. The meeting, to be held in person in Dallas and virtually, Feb. 8-10, 2023, is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. We know that about 25% of ischemic strokes happen in patients who have survived a previous stroke. This drives our quest to understand not just the cause of the most recent stroke, but also their risk for future strokes due to all treatable causes, so we can do our best to prevent the next one." Lee Schwamm, M.D., FAHA, lead study author, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston Survivors of ischemic strokes that were caused by atherosclerosis (or hardening) of the brain arteries, and not by a blood clot traveling from the heart to the brain, do not typically receive continuous cardiac monitoring after discharge, Schwamm explained. However, unrecognized irregular heart rhythms may increase the risk of another stroke caused by a blood clot formed in the heart that travels to the brain. Atrial fibrillation, or AF, is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm. This analysis is a 3-year follow up to the Stroke AF study, which monitored heart rhythms in this type of stroke survivor for one year. This follow-up, multicenter study explored whether the incidence of atrial fibrillation would continue to increase over the full three years of follow up after the first stroke. It included 492 participants who had an ischemic stroke caused by a clot that formed in a diseased artery, instead of one originating in the heart, and who had no diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. The patients were older, average age of 67 years, more often male (62%) and had multiple vascular risk factors. Half of the study participants were randomly assigned to receive an insertable cardiac monitor that recorded the rhythms of the heart 24 hours a day for a full 3 years. The other half received standard medical treatment i.e., no continuous heart monitoring and follow-up care every six months for three years. Researchers compared the rates of atrial fibrillation detection between patients in both groups. The study found: The continuous cardiac monitoring device detected atrial fibrillation in more than 20% of the participants during three years after the first stroke. Standard follow-up care detected atrial fibrillation in about 2.5% of participants representing a 10-fold increased detection rate when using the 24-hour monitoring device. Among participants who had atrial fibrillation detected via the insertable cardiac monitor, half experienced an irregular heart rhythm episode of 10 minutes or more, with more than two-thirds of them having an episode lasting greater than one hour. "It's important to note that six minutes of atrial fibrillation significantly increases risk of stroke," Schwamm said. No significant difference was seen in the rates of recurrent stroke between the participants who received the insertable cardiac monitor and those who received standard care at the three-year mark (17% versus 14.1%, respectively), although the study was not designed or powered to detect differences in treatments or clinical outcomes. "We found that the rate of atrial fibrillation continued to increase over the course of the three years, therefore, it's not just a short-lived event and self-resolving related to the initial stroke," Schwamm said. "Fibrillation is common in these patients. Relying on routine monitoring strategies is not sufficient and neither is placing a 30-day continuous monitor on the patient. Even if fibrillation is ruled out in the first 30 days, most of the cases are missed because, as we found, more than 80% of the episodes are first detected more than 30 days after the stroke." Symptoms of atrial fibrillation may include heart palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, chest pain and shortness of breath. Still, many people do not notice any symptoms. "More than 80% of patients in our study didn't have any symptoms of fibrillation, we just captured it on the monitor," Schwamm said. "There is still a lot that we don't yet understand about why people who have had a previous stroke have another one; however, this study contributes important information to one potential cause namely, unsuspected atrial fibrillation for some of those 25% of patients with recurrent strokes. These patients are at increased risk of recurrent strokes due to their known vascular risk factors, such as hypertension and elevated cholesterol and blood pressure. What we need to sort out is what additional risk does atrial fibrillation add, and can the use of anticoagulation reduce that risk, especially for the type of major and disabling strokes that are often associated with atrial fibrillation." Schwamm noted the study's major limitation is that the full clinical significance of atrial fibrillation when detected by a continuous cardiac monitoring device in this population, as compared to when it is detected due to symptoms, is not yet established and needs to be studied in future research specifically designed to answer this important question. Pregnant and scared, Natasha Valle went to a Tennova Healthcare hospital in Clarksville, Tennessee, in January 2021 because she was bleeding. She didn't know much about miscarriage, but this seemed like one. In the emergency room, she was examined then sent home, she said. She went back when her cramping became excruciating. Then home again. It ultimately took three trips to the ER on three consecutive days, generating three separate bills, before she saw a doctor who looked at her bloodwork and confirmed her fears. "At the time I wasn't thinking, Oh, I need to see a doctor,' Valle recalled. But when you think about it, it's like, 'Well dang why didn't I see a doctor?'" It's unclear whether the repeat visits were due to delays in seeing a physician, but the experience worried her. And she's still paying the bills. The hospital declined to discuss Valles care, citing patient privacy. But 17 months before her three-day ordeal, Tennova had outsourced its emergency rooms to American Physician Partners, a medical staffing company owned by private equity investors. APP employs fewer doctors in its ERs as one of its cost-saving initiatives to increase earnings, according to a confidential company document obtained by KHN and NPR. This staffing strategy has permeated hospitals, and particularly emergency rooms, that seek to reduce their top expense: physician labor. While diagnosing and treating patients was once their domain, doctors are increasingly being replaced by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, collectively known as "midlevel practitioners," who can perform many of the same duties and generate much of the same revenue for less than half of the pay. APP has numerous cost saving initiatives underway as part of the Companys continual focus on cost optimization, the document says, including a shift of staffing between doctors and midlevel practitioners. In a statement to KHN, American Physician Partners said this strategy is a way to ensure all ERs remain fully staffed, calling it a blended model that allows doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide care to their fullest potential. Critics of this strategy say the quest to save money results in treatment meted out by someone with far less training than a physician, leaving patients vulnerable to misdiagnoses, higher medical bills, and inadequate care. And these fears are bolstered by evidence that suggests dropping doctors from ERs may not be good for patients. A working paper, published in October by the National Bureau of Economic Research, analyzed roughly 1.1 million visits to 44 ERs throughout the Veterans Health Administration, where nurse practitioners can treat patients without oversight from doctors. Researchers found that treatment by a nurse practitioner resulted on average in a 7% increase in cost of care and an 11% increase in length of stay, extending patients' time in the ER by minutes for minor visits and hours for longer ones. These gaps widened among patients with more severe diagnoses, the study said, but could be somewhat mitigated by nurse practitioners with more experience. The study also found that ER patients treated by a nurse practitioner were 20% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital for a preventable reason within 30 days, although the overall risk of readmission remained very small. Yiqun Chen, who is an assistant professor of economics at the University of Illinois-Chicago and co-authored the study, said these findings are not an indictment of nurse practitioners in the ER. Instead, she said, she hopes the study will guide how to best deploy nurse practitioners: in treatment of simpler patients or circumstances when no doctor is available. "It's not just a simple question of if we can substitute physicians with nurse practitioners or not," Chen said. "It depends on how we use them. If we just use them as independent providers, especially for relatively complicated patients, it doesn't seem to be a very good use." Chen's research echoes smaller studies, like one from The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute that found nonphysician practitioners in ERs were associated with a 5.3% increase in imaging, which could unnecessarily increase bills for patients. Separately, a study at the Hattiesburg Clinic in Mississippi found that midlevel practitioners in primary care not in the emergency department increased the out-of-pocket costs to patients while also leading to worse performance on nine of 10 quality-of-care metrics, including cancer screenings and vaccination rates. But definitive evidence remains elusive that replacing ER doctors with nonphysicians has a negative impact on patients, said Dr. Cameron Gettel, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Yale. Private equity investment and the use of midlevel practitioners rose in lockstep in the ER, Gettel said, and in the absence of game-changing research, the pattern will likely continue. "Worse patient outcomes haven't really been shown across the board," he said. "And I think until that is shown, then they will continue to play an increasing role." For private equity, dropping ER docs is a 'simple equation' Private equity companies pool money from wealthy investors to buy their way into various industries, often slashing spending and seeking to flip businesses in three to seven years. While this business model is a proven moneymaker on Wall Street, it raises concerns in health care, where critics worry the pressure to turn big profits will influence life-or-death decisions that were once left solely to medical professionals. Nearly $1 trillion in private equity funds have gone into almost 8,000 health care transactions over the past decade, according to industry tracker PitchBook, including buying into medical staffing companies that many hospitals hire to manage their emergency departments. Two firms dominate the ER staffing industry: TeamHealth, bought by private equity firm Blackstone in 2016, and Envision Healthcare, bought by KKR in 2018. Trying to undercut these staffing giants is American Physician Partners, a rapidly expanding company that runs ERs in at least 17 states and is 50% owned by private equity firm BBH Capital Partners. These staffing companies have been among the most aggressive in replacing doctors to cut costs, said Dr. Robert McNamara, a founder of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and chair of emergency medicine at Temple University. "It's a relatively simple equation," McNamara said. "Their No. 1 expense is the board-certified emergency physician. So they are going to want to keep that expense as low as possible." Not everyone sees the trend of private equity in ER staffing in a negative light. Jennifer Orozco, president of the American Academy of Physician Associates, which represents physician assistants, said even if the change to use more nonphysician providers is driven by the staffing firms' desire to make more money, patients are still well served by a team approach that includes nurse practitioners and physician assistants. "Though I see that shift, it's not about profits at the end of the day," Orozco said. "It's about the patient." The "shift" is nearly invisible to patients because hospitals rarely promote branding from their ER staffing firms and there is little public documentation of private equity investments. Dr. Arthur Smolensky, a Tennessee emergency medicine specialist attempting to measure private equity's intrusion into ERs, said his review of hospital job postings and employment contracts in 14 major metropolitan areas found that 43% of ER patients were seen in ERs staffed by companies with nonphysician owners, nearly all of whom are private equity investors. Smolensky hopes to publish his full study, expanding to 55 metro areas, later this year. But this research will merely quantify what many doctors already know: The ER has changed. Demoralized by an increased focus on profit, and wary of a looming surplus of emergency medicine residents because there are fewer jobs to fill, many experienced doctors are leaving the ER on their own, he said. "Most of us didn't go into medicine to supervise an army of people that are not as well trained as we are, Smolensky said. We want to take care of patients. 'I guess we're the first guinea pigs for our ER' Joshua Allen, a nurse practitioner at a small Kentucky hospital, snaked a rubber hose through a rack of pork ribs to practice inserting a chest tube to fix a collapsed lung. It was 2020, and American Physician Partners was restructuring the ER where Allen worked, reducing shifts from two doctors to one. Once Allen had placed 10 tubes under a doctor's supervision, he would be allowed to do it on his own. "I guess we're the first guinea pigs for our ER," he said. "If we do have a major trauma and multiple victims come in, there's only one doctor there. We need to be prepared." Allen is one of many midlevel practitioners finding work in emergency departments. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are among the fastest-growing occupations in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Generally, they have master's degrees and receive several years of specialized schooling but have significantly less training than doctors. Many are permitted to diagnose patients and prescribe medication with little or no supervision from a doctor, although limitations vary by state. The Neiman Institute found that the share of ER visits in which a midlevel practitioner was the main clinician increased by more than 172% between 2005 and 2020. Another study, in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, reported that if trends continue there may be equal numbers of midlevel practitioners and doctors in ERs by 2030. There is little mystery as to why. Federal data shows emergency medicine doctors are paid about $310,000 a year on average, while nurse practitioners and physician assistants earn less than $120,000. Generally, hospitals can bill for care by a midlevel practitioner at 85% the rate of a doctor while paying them less than half as much. Private equity can make millions in the gap. For example, Envision once encouraged ERs to employ "the least expensive resource" and treat up to 35% of patients with midlevel practitioners, according to a 2017 PowerPoint presentation. The presentation drew scorn on social media and disappeared from Envision's website. Envision declined a request for a phone interview. In a written statement to KHN, spokesperson Aliese Polk said the company does not direct its physician leaders on how to care for patients and called the presentation a concept guide that does not represent current views. American Physician Partners touted roughly the same staffing strategy in 2021 in response to the No Surprises Act, which threatened the company's profits by outlawing surprise medical bills. In its confidential pitch to lenders, the company estimated it could cut almost $6 million by shifting more staffing from physicians to midlevel practitioners. In a recent study posted to medRxiv* preprint server, researchers examined the factors associated with stroke following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. *Important notice: medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Background Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are effective and safe. However, some rare thrombotic events related to Janssens COVID-19 vaccine (Ad26.COV2.S) raised warnings for use in high-risk populations. The first cerebral venous sinus thrombosis case was identified following vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S in 2021. A study observed vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia in individuals mostly primed with viral vector vaccines. In contrast, other studies on mRNA vaccines have not observed a higher incidence of ischemic stroke after vaccination. The advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) has recommended the preferential use of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines over Janssens vaccine after comprehensively reviewing existing data. The study and findings In the present study, researchers assessed the association of baseline factors, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and vaccine type with early onset of stroke after the first COVID-19 vaccine dose. They included all adults from Georgia, United States (US), vaccinated from December 2020 to February 2022. Demographic and vaccination data were sourced from the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS) database. GRITS data were linked to data from the Georgia State Electronic Notifiable Disease Reporting System (SENDSS) and Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry (GCASR). A 15-digit alphanumeric identifier, the Georgia Longitudinal ID (LONGID), was used to link the data sources. Records lacking LONGID were excluded. The studys outcomes were acute hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke within 21 days after the first COVID-19 vaccine administration. This cut-off period ensured that patients were ineligible for the second dose of any vaccine. People with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during this period were considered to have a concurrent infection. Vaccine type served as the main predictor, while demographic variables were covariates. Logistic regression was used to determine the relative risk of early stroke by vaccine type. Five million Georgian adults received their first vaccine dose in the specified period. Most subjects were females (55%) and White (51%). Of these, around 9% had a history of COVID-19 before vaccination, and 0.4% were infected during the 21-day interval. Most participants received Pfizers BNT162b2 (54%), followed by Modernas mRNA-1273 (41%) and Ad26.COV2.S (5%). The incidence of ischemic stroke within 21 days post-vaccination was 11.14, 8.14, and 10.4 per 100,000 individuals, respectively, for mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and Ad26.COV2.S recipients. Notably, ischemic stroke risk increased by 57% for Ad26.COV2.S recipients, relative to those vaccinated with BNT162b2, after adjusting for sex, age, COVID-19 status, and race. It was not different between BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 recipients. Individuals with a concurrent SARS-CoV-2 infection had an elevated risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. No association was observed between vaccine type and concurrent infection. Conclusions In sum, the researchers found that a SARS-CoV-2 infection within 21 days post-vaccination was strongly associated with an elevated risk for hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, irrespective of the type of vaccine. Moreover, ischemic stroke risk was higher with Ad26.COV2.S vaccination after adjustment. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 infection was highly associated with the early incidence of hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes after receiving the first vaccine dose compared to those not infected. That Ad26.COV2.S vaccination was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke post-vaccination than BNT162b2 further corroborates the ACIP recommendation for preferential use of mRNA vaccines. *Important notice: medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. A study of two widely used cardiovascular medications cilostazol and isosorbide mononitrate in more than 350 patients confirmed the two medications were well-tolerated and safe for people who have experienced a stroke in a small blood vessel deep in the brain. The results suggest the medications may help improve patient outcomes, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2023. The meeting, held in person in Dallas and virtually Feb. 8-10, 2023, is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. Small vessel disease of the brain accounts for about 20% -25% of all ischemic strokes, according to previous research. A lacunar stroke, or small vessel stroke, occurs when the inner lining of the tiny blood vessels inside the brain are damaged, leading to a stroke or dementia. "Currently, there is no proven treatment to prevent poor outcomes after lacunar stroke, so the ultimate goal with this research is to evaluate if medications with potential modes of action on the inner lining of blood vessels might help improve small vessel function and prevent or slow long-term brain damage after lacunar stroke," said lead study investigator Joanna M. Wardlaw, M.D., FAHA, professor of applied neuroimaging, honorary consultant neuroradiologist, head of neuroimaging sciences and the director of Edinburgh Imaging at Edinburgh University in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is also the foundation chair of the U.K. Dementia Research Institute. The medications in the study are commonly prescribed for other cardiac conditions. Isosorbide mononitrate is used to treat chest pain by relaxing blood vessels and decreasing blood pressure. Cilostazol improves the flow of blood by relaxing the blood vessels and reducing blood clotting. It is often prescribed for people with peripheral artery disease a narrowing of the peripheral arteries that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. This study, called LACunar Intervention Trial 2 (LACI-2), is the second largest ever trial in lacunar stroke. It examined whether such a trial was feasible among people with lacunar strokes and if the medications would be well-tolerated for one year after lacunar stroke. Researchers also analyzed safety and other outcomes, including recurrent stroke, cognitive impairment, dependency, mood and quality of life. This detailed information is needed for the next stage of research - a phase 3 trial, which would include more study participants. Results of the analysis on cognitive status at one year will be presented separately in the same Main Event session on Feb. 9. From Feb. 2018 to May 2022, researchers enrolled 363 adults who had experienced lacunar stroke from 26 stroke centers throughout the United Kingdom. The participants were average age 64 years, and 31% were women. All study participants continued to take their usual prescribed medications as per stroke guidelines, including those that reduce blood clotting, lower blood pressure and/or lower cholesterol all of which may lower the risk of a second or recurrent stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: 40-60 mg/day of oral isosorbide mononitrate alone; 200 mg/day of oral cilostazol alone; both medications; or neither medication for one year. The participants completed phone surveys at 6 and 12 months to assess health status, including recurrent stroke and heart problems, cognitive tests, symptoms, quality-of-life surveys, and had brain imaging at 12 months. The study met its initial goals to determine if a larger trial was feasible and if the medications were safe and tolerable. After one year, 358 of the adults were still participating in the study, with 95% of participants taking at least half of medication doses prescribed for the trial. Safety criteria were also met: four participants died; there were four episodes of bleeding outside of the brain; no excessive falls or dizziness. Some participants experienced mild symptoms (such as headaches), which were expected. Researchers also saw some potential benefits from the medication groups, including data that indicated the group who took the combined isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol had a reduction in the amount of assistance they needed with everyday living tasks, a reduction in cognitive impairment and positive impacts on mood and quality of life. Isosorbide mononitrate alone reduced recurrent stroke, cognitive impairment and improved quality of life; cilostazol alone reduced the need for daily assistance. There appeared to be some potential benefits that will need to be confirmed in a larger phase 3 trial. We saw good hints of efficacy, particularly for isosorbide mononitrate on reducing recurrent stroke and cognitive impairment, and we also found that both medications together seemed to work synergistically, rather than counteracting any benefit. This is very encouraging since no study has previously found any medications that positively affect cognitive impairment in small vessel disease strokes. So, we cautiously hope that these medications may have wider implications for other types of small vessel disease." Joanna M. Wardlaw, M.D., FAHA, lead study investigator The study has some limitations, including that it was relatively small at 363 patients and not designed to measure efficacy, thus the results showing effectiveness should be interpreted cautiously. The trial was open label, meaning participants and clinicians were aware of which medication/s and doses they were taking; however, the follow-up staff for the study were unaware of which treatment the patients were assigned. Additionally, the investigators did not collect data on race or ethnicity, and many ethnic groups were suspected to be underrepresented. Study co-lead author is Philip M. Bath, D.Sc., FAHA, UK Stroke Association Professor of Medicine at the University of Nottingham. The list of authors' disclosures is available in the abstract. The study was funded primarily by the British Heart Foundation, with support from the UK Alzheimer's Society, the U.K. Dementia Research Institute, the Stroke Association, the Fondation Leducq, NHS Research Scotland and the U.K. National Institutes of Health Research Clinical Research Networks. The work was conducted by the University of Edinburgh and the University of Nottingham. Using blood pressure medications to lower the top number of blood pressure reading (systolic blood pressure) may not be safe or effective among people who have an acute ischemic stroke and undergo a successful mechanical clot removal endovascular therapy, according to a phase-2 late-breaking clinical trial presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2023. The meeting, to be held in person in Dallas and virtually, Feb. 8-10, 2023, is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. Health care professionals should be cautious when lowering blood pressure after endovascular treatment, as there are some signs that blood pressure that's too low may be harmful." Eva Mistry, M.B.B.S., lead study author, stroke neurologist and assistant professor in the department of neurology and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio "Individual patients might require lowering of blood pressure due to medical and neurological reasons, however, it should not be done as blanket practice with all patients. It may benefit some patients and needs to be customized," she said. "Endovascular therapy has changed the landscape in acute stroke treatment," she continued. "Patients do drastically better when they receive endovascular treatment, compared to when they don't. And, despite the enormous effectiveness of endovascular treatment, about 50% of patients remain disabled or die at 90 days, so we are on a quest to understand if there are additional strategies that may further improve outcomes in these patients." Previous research has indicated that higher systolic blood pressure after endovascular treatment is associated with greater disability in people who have had an acute ischemic stroke (most common type of stroke caused by a blockage). Endovascular treatment is a catheter-based therapy used to remove a blood clot blocking arteries and thereby restoring blood flow. Systolic blood pressure between 140 mm Hg and 160 mm Hg has been associated with better outcomes following the procedure. Normal blood pressure is considered as less than 120 mm Hg systolic (top number in a blood pressure reading) and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic (bottom number in a blood pressure reading). However, whether using blood pressure medications to artificially lower systolic blood pressure to less than 180 mm Hg is safe and effective has not been demonstrated following clot removal. "There is always the concern if blood pressure is lowered too much in patients who are having an acute ischemic stroke that it could make the size of their stroke worse by reducing already compromised blood flow in that area," Mistry explained. In this study, called Blood Pressure After Endovascular Stroke Treatment, or BEST II, researchers hypothesized that patients allocated to lowering systolic blood pressure targets might have a higher volume of stroke size at 36 hours and a higher disability at 90 days. Researchers enrolled 120 patients (average age of 70 years, 57% female) who had an acute ischemic stroke and successful endovascular treatment at one of three urban comprehensive stroke centers (Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee; University of Cincinnati in Ohio; and Hartford Health Medical Center in Connecticut) between January 2020 and February 2022. Forty patients were randomly assigned to have their systolic blood pressure lowered to a target of less than or equal to 180 mm Hg; 40 patients were assigned to a systolic blood pressure target of less than 160 mm Hg; and 40 patients were targeted to reach a systolic blood pressure of less than 140 mm Hg. Patients were treated with an anti-hypertensive medication called nicardipine, administered intravenously, started within one hour after endovascular treatment and given for 24 hours if their systolic blood pressure was above the target they were assigned. Researchers wanted to assess whether lowering blood pressure may cause harm to brain tissue, which is particularly vulnerable during the 24 hours after a stroke, and to assess disability 90 days later. The study found: In the less than or equal to 180 mm Hg-target group, average systolic blood pressure reached 129 mm Hg. In the below 160 mm Hg-target group, the average systolic blood pressure reached 130 mm Hg. In the less than 140 mm Hg-target group, systolic blood pressure was lowered to an average of 123 mm Hg. The average 36-hour stroke volumes showed no conclusive evidence of harm. In the 90-day disability outcome, there was only a slight indication of harm. "The main outcomes of the study were the size of stroke at 36 hours and degree of disability at 90-days," Mistry said. "Although the study did not find significant evidence of an unequivocal harm of lower blood pressure targets in this population in terms of worsening size of stroke or increasing disability, the trends indicated that there may only be marginal benefit on patients' long-term disability by lowering blood pressure after endovascular treatment. In fact, there was indication that lowering the blood pressure after thrombectomy may worsen patients' long-term disability." "This study provides indication that patients' blood pressure should be allowed to be auto regulated after endovascular treatment unless about 180 mm Hg, and clinicians might want to be cautious when they reflexively lower the blood pressure since there may be some signal of harm," Mistry said. "There should be individual patient decision making, such as if there are other medical reasons for lowering the blood pressure or if there are signs of significant bleeding in the brain." The study's limitations include the small number of patients involved in the trial. Additionally, because the trial was conducted at three centers, the results may not apply to stroke patients treated elsewhere. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa commended the Royal Humanitarian Foundations humanitarian mission to provide assistance and support to the people in Syrian and Turkey who were affected by the earthquakes. HM the King expressed deep thanks and gratitude to all the people in Bahrain who supported and participated in the national campaign to help the victims. He stressed that this reflected the values of solidarity, mutual support, and cooperation with all that characterise the Bahraini society. His Majesty was speaking as he received yesterday His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. HM King Hamad hailed the participation of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) in the humanitarian relief mission in Turkey through the Royal Guard search and rescue team and their endeavours to ease the suffering of the victims and HH Shaikh Nassers supervision and follow-up. He lauded the RHFs role and stressed that the initiative reflects Bahrains humanitarian presence and readiness to extend a helping hand and assistance to all countries under various circumstances. The meeting, at the Sakhir Palace, was attended by HM the Kings Personal Representative HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the Kings Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Adviser and Commander of the Royal Guard HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Royal Court Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. National matters, mainly moving forward to achieve the goals of the Kingdoms progress, were reviewed. HM the King praised HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Ministers achievements for the nation and dedicated endeavours to consolidate Bahrains status and competitiveness in a way that contributes to fulfilling the peoples aspirations for further progress and prosperity. HM King Hamad stressed that Bahraini citizens remain at the core of all development plans. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The search and rescue taskforce of the Bahrain Defence Force's Royal Guard has succeeded in rescuing a woman who had been under the rubble for seven days in Turkey. The Royal Guard's taskforce is currently in Turkey, within the "Arms of Relief Operation, to search for survivors, the injured and the victims in the earthquake-affected areas in Turkey. HM the King's Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, posted a video clip of the rescue operation on his Instagram account. "The heroes of Bahrain and Oman are saving a woman who had been under the rubble for seven days. May Allah the Almighty bless you with strength," HH Shaikh Nasser wrote on his account. The video clip showed the members of the Royal Guard's taskforce and Omani rescuers while pulling out a woman who had been trapped in the earthquake rubble for seven days. The Royal Guard's search and rescue taskforce began its humanitarian relief mission in Turkey last Saturday. Agencies | Riyadh The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced that it will send its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, and a male astronaut, Ali AlQarni, to the International Space Station (ISS) during the second quarter of 2023. Both astronauts will join the crew of the AX-2 space mission, which is scheduled to launch from the United States. This mission aims to enhance the country's capabilities in human spaceflight and contribute toward serving humanity and benefiting from the promising opportunities offered by the space industry, as well as contributing to scientific research in many aspects such as health, sustainability, and space technology. In addition to Barnawi and AlQarni, two more astronauts, Mariam Fardous and Ali AlGamdi, are also being trained for future space missions as part of the Saudi Human Spaceflight Programme, reports Saudi Press Agency. The programme is supported by the Saudi Space Commission, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Sport, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, and international partners such as Axiom Space. The Chairman of the Saudi Space Commission, Eng Abdullah Bin Amer Al-Swaha, emphasised the Kingdoms commitment to give unlimited support to the space program. Through this program, the Kingdom seeks to activate scientific innovations at the level of space sciences, enhance its ability to independently conduct its own research that will reflect positively on the future of the industry and the country, increase the interest of graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and develop human capital by attracting talents and the necessary skills. Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Tamimi, the CEO of the Saudi Space Commission, expressed his gratitude for the support and empowerment given to the commission, which has enabled the country to make major leaps into the space sector. He noted that human spaceflight is a symbol of a country's superiority and competitiveness in technology, engineering, research, and innovation. The Saudi Space Commission also states that this programme comes in cooperation with a group of entities, led by the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Sport, the General Authority of Civil Aviation and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, in addition to international partners such as Axiom Space, which specialises in human spaceflights and the development of space infrastructure in the USA. This flight is an integral milestone of a comprehensive programme aiming to train and qualify experienced Saudis to undertake human spaceflight, conduct scientific experiments, participate in international research, and future space-related missions contributing to the Kingdoms Vision 2030. Agencies | Ankara The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Search and Rescue Team of the Royal Guard of the Bahrain Defense Force continues its field operations as part of its humanitarian relief mission, "Arms of Relief Operation", to search for survivors and find the injured and victims from the rubble in the earthquake-affected areas in Turkiye. This came in compliance with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander. The participation of the Search and Rescue Team stems from the principle of presenting the humanitarian initiatives undertaken by Bahrain towards friendly countries, and its always benevolent endeavors to stand by the affected and help the afflicted in various countries of the world. The team showed its full readiness to provide the necessary support to the afflicted brothers in Turkiye within the search and rescue operations and to carry out such tasks with high morale. OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today issued the following statement: "With Black History Month underway, I have the privilege of marking this important occasion with a special citizenship ceremony presided by Citizenship Judge Rochelle Ivri and featuring special guests. A livestream of the event will be available, as we welcome 21 of Canada's newest citizens. "As Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, I honour the past, present and future contributions of Black Canadians toward building a nation that is economically, socially and culturally prosperous. In 1995, the Honourable Jean Augustine championed the creation of Black History Month in Parliament, providing all of us with an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Black communities to Canada. Jean Augustine continues to be a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusiveness in Canada. As Canada's first female, black member of Parliament, she has played a significant role in helping the country embrace these values and create a more inclusive society. Her contributions to Canadian society are a testament to her unwavering commitment to serving her community. "The theme for this year's Black History Month is "Ours to tell." It is an opportunity for all Canadians to listen to the many diverse and vibrant Black voices in communities across the country as they tell their own, unique stories. Whether these stories have been shared for three or 300 years, Black History Month is a time for all Canadians to remember where we've been and to acknowledge where we still have work to do. "This month and every month, we must continue to recognize systemic racism and racial discrimination faced by far too many people and communities in Canada and around the world. Given our nationbuilding mandate, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada continues to actively work toward achieving racial equity, reaffirming that diversity is our strength through our Anti-Racism Strategy 2.0. "All of us have a responsibility to take action, and today I encourage all Canadians to learn about Black History Month and take part in community events." "It is my privilege to extend a warm welcome to our newest citizens as we observe Black History Month. Last year, Canada achieved a historic milestone by welcoming 373,000 new citizens. Now, we are poised to surpass that record with even greater numbers. This remarkable growth showcases the strength and diversity of our country, as well as the abundant opportunities and freedoms it offers to all citizens. This month, we celebrate the invaluable contributions of Black Canadians to our shared history, and acknowledge their significant impact on shaping our society. Let us also embrace the bright future they are helping to forge for us all." SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada For further information: (media only), please contact: Bahoz Dara Aziz, Press Secretary, Minister's Office, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, [email protected]; Media Relations: Communications Branch, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 613-952-1650, [email protected] Program to provide equitable access to financing, support and financial education for Black-owned businesses TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 /CNW/ - TD Bank Group (TD) takes another step toward positive change to address anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination with the launch of the Black Entrepreneur Credit Access Program. A lending program founded on providing more equitable access to credit for Black entrepreneurs, who disproportionally face hurdles securing funding for their businesses, helping to foster economic inclusion. Designed to help Black business owners drive their businesses forward, the Program also offers dedicated support and resources via specialized Account Managers and Black Customer Experience regional teams as part of TD's Black Customer Experience Strategy. "TD is committed to supporting Black communities by helping remove obstacles when it comes to loan access, wealth management and specialized advice," says Al Ramsay, Vice President, 2SLGBTQ+ & Black Customer Segments, TD Bank Group. "Through our Black Entrepreneur Credit Access Program, we're thrilled to offer holistic support to Black-led businesses, including flexible access to credit, regional teams of specialized Account and Small Business managers as well as resources within our ecosystem of affiliated organizations." Research Based Approach to Providing Credit Access Research by Abacus Data* found that 76 per cent of Black entrepreneurs surveyed said they felt race made it harder to succeed, citing access to funding, financing, and capital as some of their top challenges a sentiment echoed in our research with Black community leaders and small business owners. The same research unveiled that Black entrepreneurs feel there is little done before, during and after a credit application to help Black Small Business Owners succeed and insufficient information is supplied to rejected applicants on next steps after a decline. Dedicated Resources Steeped in Making a Positive Difference As part of the Program, TD offers an enhanced credit review process that includes a holistic view of the applicant's credit application, and where necessary a secondary review by a specialized credit review committee. Applicants can also work directly with TD's Black Customer Experience Team which can support entrepreneurs in navigating the Bank and can make connections to organizations that TD supports via funding, such as the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), or numerous regional organizations. To take part in the Program, businesses must attest to their eligibility, which includes being 50 percent or more Black-owned. "With this strong foundation in place, we are better able to help support Black entrepreneurs with access to credit directly through TD and through many allied organizations," says Ramsay. Bringing the Bank to the Community Since 2011, TD has worked to provide greater financial support and inclusion for Black Canadians, beginning with a research-based approach to understanding the needs of Black communities in Canada, helping form TD's Black Customer Experience (BCE) Strategy in October 2021. Since its inception, the BCE Strategy has focused on bringing the "whole bank" to Black communities, including hiring and training regional managers to provide local community support. Accelerating TD's Diversity and Inclusion Journey Today's announcement highlights the acceleration of TD's Diversity and Inclusion journey and the Bank's commitment to doing more for Black customers. In September 2021, TD announced a $10 million, five-year commitment to the Black Opportunity Fund, one of the largest contributions in Canada to a Black-focused, Black-led and Black-serving organization. The donation and suite of initiatives supports TD's continued efforts to combat anti-Black racism and broader systemic discrimination and helps meet the needs of Black communities across Canada by creating opportunities for economic inclusion. *May 2021 Abacus Data Research - Commissioned by the African Canadian Senate Group and Nova Scotia Independent Senator Colin Deacon About TD Bank Group The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets and serves over 27 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in The Charles Schwab Corporation; Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with more than 15 million active online and mobile customers. TD had $1.9 trillion in assets on October 31, 2022. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. SOURCE TD Bank Group For further information: Media contacts: Jillian Tanouye, TD Bank Group, [email protected] The federal government has ordered the closure of all polytechnics in the country for the conduct of the coming elections. The development comes one week after the National Universities Commission (NUC) ordered the closure of all universities until after the elections. NAN reports that the directive was given by Adamu Adamu, minister of education, in a letter signed by I.O Folorunsho on February 10. The letter, made available to journalists on Monday, was addressed to Idris Bugaje, executive secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The letter said the directive should be conveyed to rectors and provosts of all polytechnics. It added that academic activities would be stopped between February 22 and March 14. In view of concerns expressed on the security of staff, students, and properties of our respective institutions, the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, has, following extensive consultations with the relevant security agencies, directed that all polytechnics be shut down, the letter reads. And academic activities will be suspended between Wednesday, Feb.22 and Tues. March 14, 2023. Meanwhile, the presidential election will be held in 13 days. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not ruling out the possibility of last-minute reconciliation between Governor Nyesom Wike and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The hostility involving the Rivers helmsman and the former Vice President, who has kept his cool, started shortly after the May 2022 special convention in Abuja. A strong contender, Wike refused to take his loss to Atiku lightly as he unleashed a series of tirades against our enemies, a veiled reference to the winner and associates. The vociferous politician has used every platform flag-off or commissioning of projects, the media, interviews, public gatherings to attack PDP leaders. Reiterating his stance on power shift to the South during a speech last November, Wike informed his supporters that he would, in January, announce the flagbearer they should vote for on February 25. The governor repeated the comment in December with a vow to go round the country to campaign for any of Atikus opponents he aligns with, declaring nothing will happen. All of you who have been in suspensesaying all kinds of things, abusing me, wait, January is here, Wike said while commissioning a flyover in Port Harcourt. Speculations are rife that Wike, accused of anti-party activities, is supporting Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, though some presume he prefers Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP. Months after his boast, the former Minister of Education is yet to openly endorse a candidate less than two weeks to the presidential election. The PDP is optimistic about a peaceful resolution. Talks are not done on the pages of newspapers, 24 hours is a lifetime in politics, National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said on Sunday night. The former House of Representatives member noted that the state of the nation since the APC assumed power far outweighs personal interests, urging citizens to oust the ruling party. Our candidate has made it clear that he is open to reconciliation. What is at stake is beyond individual interests, it is the countrys interests. We must come together and clean this mess. People are going through a lotinsecurity, no cash, no fuel. All these happening under a party that came to defraud Nigerians. The crisis is complicated by bad policies; this is not what we asked for. They printed money, we dont know how they did it, no adequate information; now the money is not in circulation. What happened? They approved naira redesign but the new notes are not available. Are they not the people..their partykeeping the money? There are reports of about N22.5billion allegedly hidden in a Government House (in Northwest). The PDP believes Nigeria is in a bad shape. So, regarding reconciliation between Atiku and Wike, we will continue to have conversations, Ologunagba stressed. Wike finished the 2022 Abuja contest as the runner-up after Governor Aminu Tambuwal stepped down for Atiku just before voting commenced at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. The Sokoto helmsman, who currently heads the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, is Director General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council, PCC. Intriguingly, at the 2018 convention in Port Harcourt, the former Obio/Akpor LG Chairman supported Tambuwal who likewise finished second behind the Wazirin Adamawa. After the outcome of the last primary, Wike and loyalists started a cold war with Atiku and the PDP leadership led by former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu. The ex-Minister of Internal Affairs remains the National Chairman despite G5 governors initial opposition to a Northerner occupying the seat after another Northerner won the presidential ticket. Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) met variously in France, Spain and the United Kingdom, a voyage ex-diplomats criticised. The governor is also at loggerheads with former ally and Ayus predecessor, Uche Secondus for siding with Atiku and his camp. We will take every might we have. All of you going to Abuja to hold meetings with our enemiesIm going to finish you to the last, he threatened at an event. In response, Secondus, who last September accepted Atikus appointment as a Technical Adviser in his campaign, averred he would not bow to Wike. Wike you cannot crush anybody. I cannot fight or join issues with you, only God can crush, the former PDP National Chairman said in a statement. The ambition of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, suffered a setback on Monday after leaders of the party and members in the Southwest moved en masse to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The LP chieftains who were received into the APC by the National Chairman of SWAGA, Dayo Adeyeye, were led by the Southwest Chairman of the party, Banji Omotosho. While vowing to work for the victory of the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the polls, Omotosho said they decided to decamp to APC after realizing that LP is not viable and lacked the clout to win the 2023 elections. He maintained that their movement into APC was facilitated by the South West Agenda For Asiwaju Tinubu, SWAGA, 2023, under the leadership of Adeyeye and other members of the group. The Labor Party presently is a shaky platform for anybody to contest. It is a failure platform for anybody to contest. I dont know Peter Obi, and Im less concerned about him than I am about those who are celebrating the Labour Partys mediocrity within Nigeria. In view of this, we leaders of the Labour Party in the Southwest have decided to leave the party because we have a lot of mediocre there, and what they are looking for is money, they are not ready to serve Nigeria. On his part, Adeyeye assured the decampees will be fully integrated into the party and they will not regret their actions. Bola Tinubu, standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he has nothing against the naira redesign policy in principle. Tinubu, in a statement on Sunday, said his concern is about the hardship Nigerians are facing as a result of the cash scarcity. He expressed solidarity with those affected by the scarcity at the grassroot level, adding that they have felt the brunt of petrol shortage and scarcity of new naira notes. While the scarcity arising from the supply limitations of the new naira notes is still with us, we are encouraged about reports that the fuel queues across the country are easing out as a result of better supply to fuel stations, the statement reads. We are now confronted with how to bring quick, sustainable solution, and relief to Nigerians on the challenges still posed by the non-availability of new Naira notes, so that social and economic activities can move on unimpeded and normalcy can immediately return to our financial services sector and overall productivity of our nation. On February 10, members of the council of state had asked the apex bank to make new naira notes available or recirculate old notes to ease the suffering of Nigerians. Tinubu supported the position of the council, saying we agree with the wisdom of the council of states as a necessary starting point to begin redressing the unintended consequences of what would have otherwise been a good policy that required mainstream adoption. Furthermore, Tinubu clarified that the duo of himself and Kashim Shettima, his running mate, as well as the APC campaign council, have nothing against the naira redesign and cashless policies. For the records, I and my running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and our campaign council do not have anything against the CBN Naira redesign and cashless policy in principle, he said. We are, however, only concerned about its disruptive implementation and the hardship it has brought on the generality of our people who currently cant access their hard-earned money to meet obligations and the attendant consequences on the informal sector, where majority operate. Despite the challenges and current difficulties, we are a country of resilient, bold and courageous people who dont succumb to hard times. We have always overcome our most difficult times and come out better as a people and a nation. This time will not be different. We will make lemonade out of our current lemons. Tinubu asked the CBN to take the council of states recommendations into consideration in order to provide immediate relief to the populace. The CBN should announce that the old and new Naira notes (especially the non-withdrawn notes and coins) will co-exist as legal tender for the next 12 months to follow examples of countries that have successfully implemented similar monetary policy, he said. This will immediately remove growing tension in the country, eliminate panic reactions by the populace and allow time to scale up infrastructural gaps around alternative payment options to cash. Also, he called for the immediate suspension of associated charges on online transactions, bank transfers, and payments via POS, until the current crisis is fully resolved. This cost should be considered a roll-out expense by the CBN to incentivise the envisaged shift to alternative transaction channels; for both the financial services consuming public and those in charge of implementing the scale-up programme, he said. Furthermore, he called for the mobilisation of all deposit money banks and payment platforms to show clear commitment and timelines on expanding their infrastructure and support services. Bring in Fintech companies with capabilities into currency swap programme for the next 90 days to help decongest banking halls and ATM points where people line up for hours, the presidential candidate added. The Central Bank and other relevant MDAs should form an Inter-Agency Action Committee for immediate oversight over the cash supply gaps from the Nigerian Security and Minting Company and deal with issues around capabilities and turn around time to meet the needs of the informal sector and unbanked people. The CBN, National Orientation Agency and Ministry of Information, State and Local Governments with their relevant organs in both the public and private sectors should commence a major public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign to further educate and empower our people on the new naira and cashless policy for better understanding and mainstream adoption. Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, has ordered the closure of Wellcare supermarket over its refusal of old naira notes from customers. The government, who is against the naira redesign, had directed the continued acceptance of the old naira notes in the state. On Thursday, the state government filed a suit against the federal government over the naira redesign. Kano is seeking an order mandating the federal government to reverse the policy to recall the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes from circulation. Speaking to journalists after the closure, Baffa Agudi, chairperson of the states consumer protection council, said legal action will be taken against the supermarket. Agudi warned other marketers in Kano to be aware that the state government has not banned the use of old naira notes as legal tender. He said any shop that is caught refusing the old naira notes will be dealt with decisively. Responding to the closure, the management of the supermarket, in a letter to the governor, apologised for its action. It pleaded with the governor to reopen its business premises. Due to the federal government policy on the New Naira Notes, we gave wrong instructions to our staff that from the 10th day of February, 2023, only the new approved Naira Notes are to be in circulation, the letter reads. On an expansive investigation with our bankers, they declined to receive old Naira Notes on our behalf, unknown to all parties that the state has a policy that the old notes are to be in circulation. On this basis, we sincerely apologise for our actions and deeply regret any inconvenience this may have caused the state. We humbly plead that our business should be re-opened for deserving members of the public as we undertake to receive ootenotes as valid tender to when the state issues and otherwise directive. Please do accept our regards and sincere apologies. One of the members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Momodu, has insisted Atiku Abubakar will win all the 19 States in the North. Momodu also disclosed that Atiku would emerge second wherever Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, comes first in the Southern part of the country. He made the disclosure on Monday while fielding questions on Arise Televisions Morning Show program. Momodu also dismissed all polls predicting that Obi would become president. He said, The Obidients are beginning to see the importance of structure. Structure is a needed requirement. How many governors have he (Obi) got? How many Senators or Senatorial candidates have he got and how many people from the House of Reps or Assembly? Theyre also going to be needing thousands of agents nationwide and that form part of the structure. So, a PDP that has been in the system since 1999, how is he going to compete with them when in every ward they have the structure, in every federal constituency they have the structures. The structures also includes funding the structures. The polls cannot help Obi. If they like let one million polls say Obi is going to win. I can tell you for free, the structures dont favour him. Atiku is going to get all his 25 percent in all the nineteen Northern States and in the South, wherever Obi is number one, Atiku will be number two. Wherever Tinubu is number one Atiku will be number two. Atiku will actually pick some states in the South. Im very sure about that. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has urged undecided voters to support him in the forthcoming presidential election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has fixed the presidential and national assembly elections to hold on February 25. The governorship and state house of assembly polls will take place on March 11 Obi in a post on his official Twitter handle on Monday said Nigeria needs a leader who is capable of moving the country toward the direction of national rebirth. Good Morning Nigeria. We are down the stretch with 12 Days to go. I have a message for Nigerians, especially those that are sitting on the fence; It is DECISION TIME!, he writes. Every nation has significant moments in their history when a situation arises, which requires that nation to take specific steps that would mark her turning point. Nigeria is at that historical junction. How we have done as a nation is no longer in debate. We have done poorly due to bad leadership. We must now seize this moment. We must save Nigeria now or never. Twelve days from now we will be called upon to make very hard choices. It wont be about tribe or religion; it wont be about the traditional sentiments of my turn. It will be about National Interest. We have gambled with Nigeria, her destiny, and the fate of our children. That must stop. We must revisit lessons learned and missed opportunities. What Nigeria needs now is a visionary, transformational leader, capable of moving the country in the direction of National Rebirth. For long we trusted the elders. Those of us born after independence must now be given the opportunity to reshape the destiny of this nation. What kind of a leader does Nigeria need at this time? We need leaders who will take full responsibility to protect Nigerian lives, property, and prosperity. That is what Datti and I represent. Banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, millions of children on our streets, hunger, unemployment, and poverty are not our portion. It cant be. This moment calls for a new kind of leader. We have set out our vision and plan. We are asking Nigerians to give us the mandate to deliver on them. We stand at a critical moment in our history as a nation. We must not waste this moment. We must seize the moment. Bashir Bashir, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Kano state, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). An associate of Bashir disclosed under condition of anonymity, on Sunday night, that the major reason for the defection was the exclusion of major northern stakeholders in the decision-making process of the partys campaign. The associate also said another reason for the defection was the lack of clear direction on the interest of northern Nigeria. Bashir was said to have held meetings with Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, as well as Kashim Shettima, the running mate to Tinubu. The meetings reportedly held in Lagos and Abuja, where agreement was said to have been reached on the terms of defection. Bashir reportedly promised to mobilise his supporters to vote for the APC presidential candidate. Meanwhile, during the LP presidential campaign rally in Kano in January, Bashir had boycotted the event. The development also comes days after Yusuf Tsoho, the LP governorship candidate in Jigawa, defected to the APC. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has advised the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to address the concerns raised over the naira redesign policy. The policy, which has been followed by scarcity of naira notes, has led to protests in parts of the country. In a communique issued at the end of a meeting held on Saturday, the governors said the hardship brought on by the scarcity of naira notes could have been avoided. While noting that the scarcity of naira notes could lead to a CBN-induced recession, they also urged the apex bank to take urgent measures to address the situation, following the ruling of the supreme court on the deadline for the old naira notes. While we acknowledge the submission of the Attorney General of the Federation that the Federal Government will comply with the ruling of the Supreme Court which calls for the halting of CBNs plan to end the use of the old currency notes, we are yet to observe changes in the financial system, the communique, signed by Aminu Tambuwal, NGF chairperson, reads. Consequently, we call on the Federal Government and the CBN to respect the Rule of Law and listen to the voice of reason expressed by Nigerians and several other stakeholders including the Council of State, before the damage to our economy becomes too great to fix by the next administration. The governors also said state attorneys-general will be directed to review the suit at the Supreme Court with a view to consolidating the legal reliefs pursued by States. President Muhammadu Buhari has met with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele at the Presidential Villa Abuja. Emefiele met privately with Buhari for the third time since the cash crunch started in the country. The CBN Governor, however, did not speak to journalists as he left the Presidential Villa. The agenda of the meeting is, however, unknown at the time of filing the report. Since February 10, Nigerians have been hit by Naira scarcity due to the swap of the currency. CBN had redesigned N200, N500, and N1000 notes which commenced in December 2022. It is 10 days today and President Muhammadu Buhari is still silent on how he intends to address the ongoing cash scarcity caused by the currency redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Buhari had given his approval for the introduction of the policy in October last year with a three-month deadline (January 31, 2023) to allow Nigerians deposit their old notes. He had argued that Nigeria had a lot to gain from the change in naira notes. Buhari added that he did not consider the period of three months for the change to the new notes as being short. People with illicit money buried under the soil will have a challenge with this but workers, businesses with legitimate incomes will face no difficulties at all, he had said. The policy is also aimed at helping the CBN to better control money supply and aid security agencies in tackling illicit financial flow. Since Buhari unveiled the new naira notes N1000, N500, and N200 to the public in November, 2022, implementation has been difficult. Although Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, had said the policy has achieved a success rate of 75 percent, it has also led to a scarcity of cash causing a nationwide hardship on Nigerians who are struggling to access the new naira notes. Despite various interventions by the CBN (cash swap, a deadline extension to February 10, the involvement of the supreme court, and others) to ensure a seamless implementation of the policy, things have only got worse as many fear that the continued cash scarcity could lead to a breakdown of law and order. Already, some commercial banks have shut down operations in some branches due to violent attacks on their staff members and facilities. Many businesses have also been negatively impacted as traders, and fillings stations begin to reject the old naira notes in some states. Buhari, speaking on these issues on February 3, said he had seen reports about cash shortages and the effect on local businesses and ordinary people. He then asked Nigerians to give him seven days to resolve the crisis caused by the scarcity of the new naira notes. I will revert to the CBN and the Minting Company. There will be a decision one way or the other in the remaining seven days of the 10-day extension, the president had said. The seven days have since elapsed, but there is still no word from the president. All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential running mate, Kashim Shettima, has identified why Northerners should not vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Shettima said Northerners should ditch Atiku for opposing the Islamic legal system in the North. He made the call while speaking with APC faithful at the partys local government conference in Daura, Katsina State. The APC presidential running mate urged Northern voters to reject Mr Abubakar at the February 25 polls because he fought against Sharia. According to Shettima: This person you call your own says you should not call him Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, but rather Atiku Abubakar. Your person says he is the only person that fights against Sharia in the North. Is that your person? Chelsea forward, Joao Felix has predicted the Blues to win the UEFA Champions League trophy this season. Felix, who is currently on loan at Chelsea from Atletico Madrid, stated this following his sides Premier League 1-1 draw with West Ham United over the weekend. Recall that Felix scored his first goal for Chelsea as they drew with West Ham United at the London Stadium. In a post-match interview with Chelsea media, Felix said: We have to focus on the next game. The most important game is always the next. It is the Champions League. That is the competition we want to win, so it starts on Wednesday, and it needs to be ours. Chelsea are set to face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16 on Wednesday. Locally reported news and sports Stay Current with What's Happening Get the most of NNY360, register today! By providing your email address, you consent to receive emails and special offers from NNY360.com 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. American democracy is strong only in mirage 11:01, February 13, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily The United States has long been considering itself a "beacon of democracy." American politicians always lie through their teeth, claiming that "democracies have become stronger, not weaker," despite the problems that plague their country, such as money politics, political polarization, social divide, wealth gap, racial discrimination and gun violence. Obviously, American politicians are still in the dream of "a City upon a Hill" even though American democracy is experiencing a continuous decline. American democracy is a "game of the rich" based on capital, and money remains a "strong currency" in U.S. politics. American historian Charles Beard once said inexplicitly that the U.S. Constitution is essentially an "economic document." As a matter of fact, American democracy represents and serves only the interests of a few capitalists. Money politics exists in the country's election, legislation and governance, which turns economic inequality into political inequality and imperceptibly oppresses and restricts citizens' right to political participation. Money politics has pushed the cost of American elections to new highs. The total cost of the 2020 election reach an unprecedented $14 billion, making it the most expensive election in history. According to statistics, winners of 91 percent of U.S. Congressional elections are the candidates with greater financial support. And those so-called representatives of the people, once elected, often serve the interests of their financial backers. Renowned American scholar Noam Chomsky once pointed out that the U.S. is a "really existing capitalist democracy", where there is a positive correlation between people's wealth and their influence on policy-making. American democracy always flaunts the separation of powers, but it is gradually trapped in a whirlpool of partisanship. American political scientist Francis Fukuyama pointed out that there is an entrenched political paralysis in the U.S. Political polarization continues to grow as the two parties drift further apart in political agenda and their areas of consensus have reduced significantly. The country is in a vicious circle where Democrats and Republicans dissent from each other and make political dilemmas. Over the recent years, "vetocracy" has been staged in the U.S. continuously when it comes to the issues of COVID-19 fight, gun violence control and raising debt ceiling. Both Republicans and Democrats take voting down each other as a weapon, which of course results in weakening governance, sabotaged rule of law, expanding social divide and residents becoming victims. "The United States has long wasted and exhausted our precious democracy and it is now on the verge of committing suicide," said former U.S. senator Tom Daschle in a recent article. The disorder of American democracy has frequently triggered chaos and consumed people's confidence. The Capitol riot completely exposed the hypocrisy of American democracy. Systemic racial discrimination has made ethnic minorities in the United States "can't breathe." Frequent gun violence is taking away people's sense of safety. The unequal distribution of economic development results has led to long-term stagnation in people's income, exacerbating the progress that "the rich become richer while the poor are made poorer." A survey by the Pew Research Center showed that 57 percent of international respondents and 72 percent of Americans believe that democracy in the U.S. has not been a good example for others to follow in recent years. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, a Sweden-based think tank, listed the U.S. as a "backsliding democracy" for the first time in 2021. The problematic American democracy is taking the general public increasingly farther from quality governance. However, the U.S. is not showing any will to get back to the right track. Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, noted that American democracy, which was once described as a "shining city on a hill," is now under siege from within. Facts prove that the U.S. has never been a "good student" in democracy, let alone a "role model." The hollow slogans of American politicians won't make the chaotic American democracy any stronger. American politicians, who are addicted to self-deception, make democracy a political tool and weapon, and interfere in other countries domestic affairs, should face up to the structural flaws of the American system and do something that's good to Americans and the people in the rest of the world. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Several environmental groups are petitioning federal regulators to require employers to document a wider range of illnesses, including cold- and flu-like symptoms, suffered by cleanup workers and emergency responders during oil spills. Earth Island Institute, Healthy Gulf, Alaska Community Action on Toxics and 12 other groups sent their request to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday. The petition is the latest step in a more than decade-long effort to better protect oil spill responders from a range of long- and short-term health problems suffered after BPs Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in 2010 and other spills. The groups are urging OSHA to reconsider its decision to exempt the common cold and flu from employer recordkeeping requirements. Oil spill exposure often triggers symptoms that mimic cold and flu symptoms, and may be an early indicator of toxic exposure linked to slow-developing lung, heart, and brain illnesses, according to the petition. OSHAs cold and flu exemption is untenable, said Riki Ott, an Earth Island marine toxicologist. BPs workforce during the 2010 response consisted largely of local fishermen and residents, many of whom are sick, dying or already dead. BP declined to comment on the petition. In legal filings, the company has said workers own negligence caused their injuries, or that the contractors BP hired could be to blame. OSHA began requiring employers to note cold and flu symptoms in 1971 to help track and respond to workplace illnesses. The requirement was eliminated in 2001 after companies complained the rule was time-consuming and unnecessary. Many Coast Guard members and workers who helped clean and contain the Deepwater Horizon spill in Gulf Coast marshes and beaches reported respiratory problems, headaches, nausea and other flu-like symptoms. Similar complaints were noted by crews deployed for the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. Ukrainian servicemen fire a mortar shell towards Russian troops at the frontline position near the Vuhledar town, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Feb. 11, 2023. (Marko Djurica/Reuters) KYIVThe city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine was coming heavy Russian artillery fire on Monday as Ukrainian forces there braced for possible ground attacks, Ukrainian military officials said. Positions in Bakhmut have been fortified and only people with a military role were being allowed in, a deputy battalion commander said. Any civilians who still wanted to leave the city would have to brave the incoming fire, he said. Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, is a major objective for Russian President Vladimir Putin and months of Russian shelling have already left much of it in ruins. With the first anniversary of Russias invasion approaching and a big new Kremlin offensive anticipated, the situation there has become even more acute. The city, the citys suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling, said Volodymyr Nazarenko, deputy commander of Ukraines Soboda battalion. Every road is being shelled by artillery in a chaotic way. Nazarenko said that although no fighting was taking place in the city centre right now, the defenders were prepared to meet any assault. The city is a fortress, every position and every street there, almost every building, is a fortress, he said. The capture of Bakhmut would give Putin a new foothold in the Donetsk region. The Russian assault has been spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner group, who have made small but steady gains. Donetsk and Luhansk regions make up the Donbass, Ukraines industrial heartland. Russia partially occupies it and wants to win full control. Earlier on Monday, the Russian defence ministry said its troops had pushed forward a few kilometres along the frontlines, without specifying exactly where in a war zone that encompasses several regions in the south and east. The Ukrainian military reported Russian shelling all along the frontline and said 16 settlements had been bombarded near Bakhmut. It said that over the past day, its forces had repelled a number of attacks near Bakhmut as well as assaults in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces had attacked Bilogorivka from all sides before dawn on Monday. But our forces fought back there, he told Ukrainian television. It was the same situation in the direction of Kreminnaa lot of them (Russians) appeared there. But they pulled back after the fight with our forces. Repeating comments he made last week that Russian attacks have been stepped up ahead of a new offensive, he said: Preparations for this offensive are already under way, the amount of shelling, air strikes and attacks by small groups has already increased. We are waiting for them to start massive round-the-clock attacks. Reuters was not able to independently verify the battlefield reports. Western Support With Ukraine asking for more weapons and munitions to turn the tide of the war, defence ministers from several NATO countries allied to Kyiv were due to meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss possible further military aid. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said the main items on the agenda of the talks at NATO headquarters will be air defences, forming a tank coalition, training of troops and logistical support. As the new Russian offensive looms, Ukraine says it needs fighter jets and long-range missiles to counter this and to recapture lost territory. Also on Monday, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said Ukraine was meeting consumers energy needs after carrying out repairs to the national power network following the latest wave of Russian air strikes on Friday. The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation on Monday announced a donation of $50 million to Purdue University's Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business in the name of Bruce White, who recently died after a yearlong battle with cancer. Purdue will name its undergraduate business program the Bruce White Undergraduate Institute after the late hotel developer and longtime supporter of his beloved alma mater. The White Foundation donation is the lead gift for the relaunched School of Business, which itself was recently named for former Purdue President and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. The White donation is the largest ever to Purdue University's business school. The university's MBA and other graduate business programs will be called the Krannert Graduate Institute, retaining the name of the erstwhile Krannert School of Management. The newly named Bruce White Undergraduate Institute honors the founder and chairman of Merrillville-based White Lodging. White was a former member of the Purdue University Board of Trustees, redeveloped the Union Club Hotel on the West Lafayette campus, funded scholarships and donated to the hospitality school, leading to its renaming as the White Lodging-J.W. Bill Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The White Family Foundation has long been a truly dedicated partner in helping Purdue achieve excellence at scale. The naming after Bruce White, one of the most prominent Boilermakers our university has ever known, is particularly meaningful to us, Purdue University President Mung Chiang said. This gift ensures Purdue will educate exceptional undergraduate business students who will create and grow competitive businesses in a technology-driven, free market economy." The White family gave to Purdue over the last three decades. Bruce White gave $30 million to the Union Club renovation that transformed the on-campus lodging into a learning laboratory for hospitality students. My brother Bruce was a phenomenal human being, said Craig White, president of the Board of Trustees of the White Family Foundation. His success in business was tremendous, but his success as a person and as a leader is even more impressive he put his heart and soul into every aspect of his life, and he has inspired countless other people to do the same. Naming the undergraduate program after him couldnt be more natural. Two years ago, Purdue renamed its hospitality and tourism school the White Lodging-J.W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management to reflect White's charitable giving. White long built Marriott hotels around the country and insisted it also bear the Marriott name. Bruce was a wonderful husband, father and friend, his wife, Beth White, said. He was successful in his personal and business life because he was himself in all settings. Integrity was not just a word to Bruce; it was foundational. His values were matched by a tremendous drive to constantly improve in all aspects of life, to never accept the status quo and to have the courage to ask the tough questions even of himself. When a leader like that shows up, things become dynamic. Everyone is inspired to give their best, and a journey toward excellence begins. Our family is very honored and pleased to know that the values and qualities Bruce lived by will be instilled and replicated in future generations of leaders who get their start at the Bruce White Undergraduate Institute. The Bruce White Undergraduate Institute will serve as a flagship of the rebranded Daniels School of Business. The Board of Trustees is slated to approve the name changes. Purdue is recognized as a dynamic national leader in higher education, where it has redefined the meaning of value. As such, Purdue is seen as a strategic partner of our foundation, said Bill Hanna, executive director of the White Family Foundation. Bruce was an instrumental part of Purdues progress over the last decade and more, working closely with senior university leadership as both a trustee and a dedicated alum. He represents a true north that students can look to as a model, and the White Family Foundation is proud to support the Bruce White Undergraduate Institute. The school will offer new degree programs, including business analytics and integrated business and engineering, which it hopes will account for 40% of its undergraduates, or around 1,600 students. White already funded a real estate finance minor program at Purdue with a $20.8 million donation he made in April. The White Family Foundations commitment to an increasingly prominent Purdue inspired us to imagine a business school that addresses the need to reshape business education and produce technology-based graduates who build and lead successful companies, Daniels said. Their gifts provide tremendous momentum to realize our goals. The School of Business aims to increase enrollment to 4,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students by 2028 and also to grow faculty this decade. It plans to add additional square footage to allow for growth. The transformation of our business school is a huge part of our future as a university, and this gift is a testament to the legacies of Bruce White, the White family and Purdue, said Mike Berghoff, chairman of the Purdue Board of Trustees. We have always taken pride in how much we invest in our undergraduate students. This commitment reinforces our mission. State lawmakers have dropped plans for now to overrule the ordinances adopted in 10 Northwest Indiana communities over the past two years prohibiting the sale of dogs and cats at commercial pet stores. However, Senate Bill 134 would ensure no other Indiana municipality ever again does the same. The Republican-led Senate Agriculture Committee voted 7-2 along party lines Monday to advance the measure to the full Senate. Under the plan, Indiana localities that did not ban the sale of dogs at retail pet stores prior to Jan. 1, 2023, would be required to allow such sales in accordance with the terms of the legislation. Specifically, local governments could not bar retail pet stores from acquiring dogs from a state-registered or federally licensed commercial dog breeder or broker, or a "hobby breeder" who maintains between five and 20 female dogs that are at least 12 months old. Pet stores selling the dogs would be required to disclose all fees associated with the purchase, each dog's age and breed, medical history, breeder name and address, details needed for pedigree registration, proof of microchipping and the store's return policy. A purchaser would be entitled to a return or refund, including repayment of veterinary bills, if a veterinarian certifies within certain time frames that the dog was sick or died because it was unfit for purchase due to illness or disease, or possesses a congenital or hereditary condition requiring significant veterinary care, according to the legislation. Advocates for the proposal, sponsored by state Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, said it is a consumer protection measure that will ensure Hoosiers purchasing dogs at pet stores only are getting quality dogs from reputable breeders. "Not everyone wants to go to a shelter to adopt a mixed-breed pit bull," said state Sen. Sue Glick, R-LaGrange. "These people have a right to select the animal they want that is companionable with their families and their situations, and all we're doing is putting parameters around that." State Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, said he recently toured some puppy breeding facilities and found them to be "as clean as they could be." "These animals are taken care of," Tomes said. "They take care of the animals better than some people take care of their own kids." Opponents of the legislation said there's plenty of evidence of bad actors operating "puppy mills" featuring overbreeding, inbreeding and unsafe conditions, and local governments should be entitled to prevent such abuse by banning dog sales at community retailers. "If a community wants to do this, I don't think we should be in the business as the state telling them they can't," said state Sen. Jean Breaux, D-Indianapolis. The proposal as originally written, along with the similar House Bill 1121, sponsored by state Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron, would have eliminated existing local ordinances banning dog and cat sales at retail pet stores. It remains to be seen whether the local preemption provision is added back to the plan as it continues moving through the Senate and House. 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 Jerry Davich Jerrys career began in 1995 as a political cartoonist/columnist with The Times of NWI, writing thousands of columns and stories through narrative storytelling, or shining a light on societys darkest corners, or provoking unpopular conversations. Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today No outlet to Indiana. This sign immediately caught my attention as I drove south on State Line Road between Hammond and Calumet City. Its an otherwise ordinary-looking street separating Indiana and Illinois, two states that at times feel like two different countries. For years I heard about a border wall between a small section of those two cities. I shrugged it off, figuring it was more symbolic than anything else. Turns out it is more real than I imagined. And a bit confounding for first-time visitors such as me. The executive editor of The Times asked if I knew anything about this unusual concrete structure that partly divides two cities. I knew very little, so we drove to check it out. Our first clue was a road sign stating, Local traffic only, no outlet to Indiana. No outlet? Seriously? Yep, no outlet. We drove south along State Line Road, a one-way thoroughfare running parallel to a long concrete curb designed for flood control purposes. Later that day, I found out it has a controversial history. This wall is not for water-control; this wall is for people-control, Kevin Dean, of Calumet City, told The Times in 2017. A project completed that year raised the height of the wall, prompting memories of a concrete curb that was first put in place in that area in 2005. It was designed to stop traffic from using local east-west side streets to cross between Indiana and Illinois, and also to cut down on burglaries, officials said at the time. The newer project, however, was designed to stop water, not traffic, crime, and people. It didnt matter. The optics looked bad, like erecting a fence between two neighbors who never had a fence. Its jarring at first, then becomes commonplace. I don't like walls," Sharon Nicola, of Calumet City, told The Times in a previous story. "I don't care where they are. Walls are a common fixture when it comes to Indiana and Illinois residents, though most of them are invisible. Hoosiers and Illinoisans have historically clashed with each other for pretty much any reason at all. Our politics. Our geography. Our beaches (or lack thereof). Our racial demographics. And the Chicagoization of Northwest Indiana, in regard to the crimes seeping into Indiana from the major metro city to our west. Its more affordable to live in our Region than in Cook County, so it lures people of all kinds, including criminals, police say. Violence and guns are second nature, a Region cop told me. In certain neighborhoods along the state line, longtime residents feel outnumbered and intimidated by outsiders who bring a more dangerous attitude, and more guns, though often purchased in Indiana. Its a lethal combination, the cop said. Those longtime residents are scared to come out at night, a cop said. Not all walls can be seen while driving along State Line Road. If you didnt know Indiana was to the immediate east and Illinois to the west, both sides look similar to me. Only the unusual traffic signs identified my location when I visited those neighborhoods. I thought back to my youth in Gary, a city with countless invisible walls dividing residents since its existence. Back then, we called Illinois residents FIPs for (expletive) Illinois People. Every weekend from early summer to early fall, a steady stream of vehicles with Illinois plates drove into Indiana to clog up our Lake Michigan beaches. They still do, but I no longer call them FIPs. Some of them use the same term for Hoosiers (expletive) Indiana People. Its only fair, I guess. Many of them have similar contempt for Region residents. Northwest Indiana has historically been described as a backward-thinking, isolationist wasteland of steel mills, urban thugs, backward bumpkins, and corrupt officials. Check, check, check, and check. Illinoisans have prided themselves on keeping their distance from most things Indiana with the exceptions of public beaches, casino boats, liquor stores, and gas stations. Our Region has served more as a no-need-to-stop bypass route to southwest Michigan, the East Coast, and anywhere but the Hoosier state. Our smokestack skyline has been called the armpit of Indiana by other Hoosiers across the state, including those who live in southern parts of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. Walls, walls, walls. Theyre everywhere, even when you cant see them. An odd coincidence happened as I wrote todays column. While listening to a random playlist on Spotify, the song Wall, by the Greyhounds played in the background. What are the odds, huh? I stopped for a minute to look up its lyrics. Let's break down the walls that they put between us. All the walls that we build ourselves. No one can tell you which side you're on. You've gotta decide for yourself where the lines are drawn. Let's tear down the walls inside of our minds. It would be easier to tear down that concrete wall along State Line Road, which has helped many homeowners get out of a designated flood plain. It makes them feel safer in more ways than one, if you know what I mean. Neighbors there have gotten used to the structure, similar to how people everywhere get used to the structure of territorial tribalism. We claim we dont like walls or barriers between us, yet we keep erecting them. The only difference is that the one along State Line Road is easier to identify. Knox resident Jenna Hullett said she could not bring herself to tell young Judah Morgan on that fateful day in April 2021 that the visit with his biological parents was not going to be like the ones earlier. The 3-year-old had no idea he would not be going home with Hullett, a second cousin who had raised him from birth after the child was born with the marijuana drug THC in his system and had been temporarily placed in foster care by the Indiana Department of Child Services. "Mommy, take me home please," Judah whispered to Hullett. Hullett did not know it at the time, but those would be the last words she would hear from the boy. Despite her having stepped in to raise the child and offering to adopt him with the one-time blessings of the boy's biological mother, Mary Yoder, Judah was ordered by the DCS to be placed with his biological mother and father, Alan Morgan, in their Hamlet home. Yoder forbade Hullett from seeing the boy again, and on Oct. 11, 2021, the boy's malnourished, badly injured and tortured young body was found dead inside his home by LaPorte County police officers responding to a report of an unconscious child. Alan Morgan later plead guilty to murdering the boy and was sentenced in November to 70 years behind bars. He recently announced his intention to appeal the lengthy sentence. Yoder, 27, is also charged and remains behind bars while her case proceeds. Hullett, wearing a "Judah's Army" T-shirt, was on hand Friday during a hearing in Yoder's case that resulted in a status hearing being scheduled for March 10. 'I was his mommy' Hullett said that she warned DCS officials Judah was at risk in the home and that she cannot understand the agency's decision to proceed with what they call reunification despite the red flags with Yoder and Alan Morgan, whom the child hardly knew. "In his eyes, they were the foster parents," she said. "I was his mommy." Hullett, who is now fueled by anger alongside her immense grief, has since filed a civil lawsuit against Alan Morgan and put the DCS and the LaPorte County Office of Child Services on notice of her intention to sue. The tort notice claims Judah was a Child in Need of Services and a ward of DCS at the time of his torture and killing. "DCS is charged with overseeing the protection of Hoosier children such as Judah," the claim reads. "DCS is the primary state agency responsible for receiving and assessing reports of alleged child abuse and neglect." "DCS failed to protect Judah and his siblings and failed to properly assess, monitor and investigate the horrific conditions in the home that DCS was obligated by law to inspect and supervise." The attorney general's office responded that it had investigated the claim against the DCS and is of the opinion "settlement is not warranted in this matter and, therefore, this claim is denied." When The Times contacted the DCS for comment on its role in the Judah Morgan case, Director of Communications Noelle Russell said the agency is prohibited by law from "disclosing information about fatalities during a police investigation and any subsequent criminal prosecution." She invited The Times to reach out again at the conclusion of the criminal prosecution process, apparently referring to Yoder's ongoing case. Alleged abuse caught on home surveillance video Family and friends of Judah wept during Alan Morgan's sentencing hearing as the lead LaPorte County investigator in the case, Jacob Koch, described video surveillance that showed Alan repeatedly physically and psychologically abusing the boy during the days leading up to the discovery of his dead body. The officer said video footage from inside the family's Hamlet home shows Alan Morgan repeatedly punching his son, repeatedly holding the boy up by his neck and dropping him on the floor, and leaving him alone for hours in a cold and dark basement. The basement had no furniture and officers found remnants of duct tape apparently used to bind the child, he said. Alan Morgan is seen punching the boy at least 13 times Oct. 7, 2021, and at least 15 times the following day, in addition to kicking and throwing the child, and ultimately carrying his lifeless body from the basement and doing internet searches on how to perform CPR on a toddler. Yoder was hit with additional charges when investigators allegedly saw her on the surveillance footage striking one young son Oct. 6, 2021, throwing him to the floor and repeatedly kicking him, a court document says. Footage from the following day shows Yoder and others leaving the house without Judah and then returning about two hours later, following which Judah is seen walking naked from the basement to a bathroom followed by his parents, police say. The surveillance system reportedly captured the same type of scenario two days later. Dad needs to 'explain himself' Hullett's Mishawaka-based attorney Charles Rice said the suit against Alan Morgan is aimed at getting answers from him. "I think Allen's got to explain himself," Rice said. The DCS also has some answering to do, he said, including why it closed out Judah's case so quickly once the boy was placed with his biological parents. "Two months," Rice said. Rice would also like to know how many home visits the DCS carried out during the two months prior to closing out the case, and if it was aware that Alan Morgan had been charged with multiple criminal offenses after the case was closed but prior to the child's murder. Alan Morgan was charged Aug. 2, 2021, with felony resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor operating while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, OWI involving a controlled substance, reckless driving and possession of paraphernalia, court records show. He pleaded guilty Sept. 21, 2022, to the resisting law enforcement charge along with murder and an amended felony battery charge stemming from his son's killing, court records show. Rice said he has seen DCS cases languishing in the system since the COVID-19 pandemic and cases still being handled remotely, which require just the most minimal effort by parents in the system, who should be held to greater accountability. Judah's case is featured in a recent DCS report that says the number of Hoosier children dying from abuse or neglect grew 20% in 2021 following a similar-sized drop the prior year. The 2021 DCS Child Fatality Report, which covers the Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 period, shows 60 Hoosier children died directly as a result of abuse or neglect, including two abused and five neglected children in Lake County. Judah's entry in the report says that there was "no open DCS involvement" at the time of his death and that the number of previous unsubstantiated assessments for the victim was 10 and previous substantiated assessments was one. The DCS reported Judah Morgan was found dead in his bed, "malnourished and covered in bruises." "A sibling said the child had previously been left in the basement and bound with duct tape for extended periods," according to the report. "A sibling heard the child being abused in the basement. The home was unsanitary and contained a refrigerator with a lock on it." Judah's death triggers changes Hullett said she does not believe the number of assessments reported by the DCS is correct. She said she had called the state's child abuse and neglect hotline 15 to 20 times herself in the case and knows of at least one other person who also made repeated calls. Hullett said gains are being made to head off the same fate for other children who find themselves in the hands of the DCS. State lawmakers last year approved Senate Enrolled Act 410, which automatically authorizes an adult relative caring for a child after the child has been removed from a dangerous home situation to directly participate in court hearings concerning services needed by the child or terminating the parent-child relationship. Previously, only state-licensed foster parents had a statutory right to intervene in legal proceedings pertaining to abused or neglected children. The sponsor of that measure, state Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, said he now wants to be sure familial caregivers can effectively participate in court hearings by providing them with state-funded legal representation if they cannot afford to hire an attorney on their own His Senate Bill 26 provides that the costs of representing eligible familial caregivers in court will be paid out of the Public Defense Fund. According to the DCS, approximately 10,000 children in need of services were in an out-of-home placement during the last 12 months, with about 50% living with a relative. A proposal now pending before state lawmakers House Bill 1189 would require DCS to provide more information on child death and near-death cases, "after consulting with the county attorney about the potential for specific, material harm to a criminal investigation or prosecution." The proposal would further allow, "A person to bring a cause of action to seek judicial review of the department's decision not to disclose additional information," a summation of the bill reads. Times Staff Writer Dan Carden contributed to this report. LAKE STATION Several area police agencies were involved over the weekend in a vehicle and foot pursuit of a stolen car that resulted in the arrest of two Chicago men in a Portage cornfield, according to an incident report. "Officers recovered two loaded Glock pistols in the vehicle," Lake Station police said. The incident began around 6:50 p.m. Saturday when Lake Station police were alerted by a license plate reader system about a stolen vehicle traveling south on Ripley Street, the department reported. The vehicle was located traveling east on U.S. 6 and was confirmed to have been stolen out of Chicago on Feb. 3, police said. "Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and it fled east into Porter County evading the officers," according to the report. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Malik Tyler Mehmoog, and passenger Javan Green, both 21 and of Chicago, fled on foot in the area of 700 North and Willowcreek Road in Portage, police said. The pair fled into a nearby cornfield where they were apprehended by police. Lake Station police were assisted by officers from Portage, Porter County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police and Hobart. The Lake Station Fire Department assisted with a drone and Lake County brought in its aviation unit. The two men face felony and misdemeanor charges. GARY The Gary Common Council will head into federal court Tuesday with new legislative maps at the ready. The city's redistricting debacle began when the Common Council failed to redraw the city's legislative districts by the Dec. 31, 2022, deadline. Without updated maps, the city that lost 11,969 residents between the 2010 and 2020 censuses has been left with markedly unequal districts. Longtime Gary resident and voting-rights advocate Barbara Bolling-Williams filed a federal lawsuit Jan. 25 against the Gary Common Council. By failing to redistrict, the Common Council is depriving Mrs. Bolling of the right to vote in a council district which complies with Indiana law," the lawsuit states. A preliminary injunction hearing for the lawsuit is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The council approved a new redistricting proposal during an emergency meeting Friday. Federal, state and municipal election boundaries must be examined after each census; total district deviation should be less than 10%. According to the lawsuit, Garys total district deviation is about 24%. A proposed redistricting map with a total deviation of about 10.7% was presented Tuesday during a council meeting, but multiple council members said they did not feel comfortable approving the map on such short notice. After the meeting, a portion of the Redistricting Committee met and amended the proposed maps, reducing the total deviation to 7.34%. "Part of being in this business is criticism, but we recognize that we have to get it done and we need to do it in a way that is equitable to our neighborhoods, that is compliant with the law, that is minimally disruptive to our neighborhood boundaries and communities, that also does not affect any person who is running for office," council President William Godwin, D-1, said. "This map meets those requirements. The amended redistricting plan was first presented during a Redistricting Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Friday; the emergency council meeting convened immediately afterward. The plan was approved by the council, 6-3; voting against it were Ronald Brewer, D-at large; Darren Washington, D-at large; and David Fossett, D-2. I do agree with the map. What I do not agree with is us moving forward with us missing the December 31st deadline," Brewer said, explaining fears that the council might be violating state law. 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. Washington said he'd rather the city resolve the redistricting issue through HB 1116 because it allows "more public input." HB 1116 passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 9. However, during a Feb. 1 initial hearing for the lawsuit, U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon expressed concerns about how long it would take for the bill to become law, considering that the primary election is May 2. Also Friday, the council approved giving Godwin the ability to sign a settlement agreement if the judge approves the new redistricting plan. The vote was again 6-3, with Brewer, Washington and Fossett voting "no." With the adoption of the map, now we can go into court on the 14th and the president would have the authority of this body to sign the settlement agreement ... which would prevent us from engaging in lengthy, protracted litigation," council attorney Rinzer Williams III said. PHOTOS: Decay Devils spruce up downtown Gary landmarks Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary A Chicago woman was sentenced to just over five years in prison after fraudulently obtaining the identities of dozens of dead people, from infants to adults, and using the information to steal more than $45,000 of government funds, according to prosecutors and court records. The woman, Katrina Pierce, acquired more than 36 death certificates for murder victims in Illinois ranging from 2 to 22 years old from 2019 to 2021 by pretending to be related to them, according to court records. She then used personal details, such as dates of birth and Social Security numbers, gleaned from the documents to file for tax refunds and pandemic stimulus payments. Sometimes she used her name, once claiming on a federal income tax return that a 7-year-old boy who died in 2015 of a gunshot wound was her son. Other times, Ms. Pierce, 51, relied on aliases to pose as relatives of dead people to claim their tax refunds, according to court documents. Brian Havey, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, said in a sentencing memorandum last month that Ms. Pierces identity theft scheme was not only illegal but morally repugnant. ESPO: ... On Saturday night, Wiebke Huster, a German dance critic, was taking a break from watching a ballet program at Hanovers main opera house when the choreographer Marco Goecke appeared in front of her. That morning, Ms. Huster, 57, had published a review of Mr. Goeckes latest work, and it wasnt positive. Watching his new dance, In the Dutch Mountains, audiences would feel like theyre either going insane or being killed by boredom, she wrote in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a major German newspaper. So it was perhaps unsurprising when Mr. Goecke, 50, the ballet director at the Hanover State Opera, confronted her, asking why she wrote so negatively about him. What was a surprise was that Mr. Goecke who is known for his pet dachshund, Gustav, as well as for his work then pulled a bag filled with dog excrement out of his pocket and rubbed the feces on Ms. Husters face. Robert Geddes, the transformative first dean of Princetons School of Architecture and an architect of elegant modernist buildings, many in New Jersey and his native Pennsylvania, died on Monday at his home outside Princeton, N.J. He was 99. His son, David Geddes, confirmed the death. As an educator, Mr. Geddes worked to put architecture on an equal footing with other academic disciplines. Before he arrived at Princeton in 1965, beginning a 17-year tenure there as dean, architecture was part of the art and archaeology department and taught from a fine arts perspective. Mr. Geddes forged ties to social scientists (even giving sociologists appointments in the architecture school) and to policy experts in the universitys School of Public and International Affairs, to enrich his urban planning curriculum. He had a vision of architecture as a complex endeavor connected to many different fields, said Stan Allen, a Princeton architecture professor who served as the schools dean from 2002 to 2012. Mr. Geddes elevated the schools profile by bringing in a number of important architectural historians and theorists, including Kenneth Frampton, Anthony Vidler, Alan Colquhoun and Robert Maxwell, all of them from the United Kingdom. (Mr. Geddes admired the work being done by British architects and urban planners at the time.) LOS ANGELES This beige 1985 Chevy cargo van has been around the block. When the artist Ruben Ochoa was young, his parents used it for selling tortillas on a route north of San Diego. As a graduate student in the early 00s, he used it to commute from Los Angeles to Irvine. And during that time he also transformed it into a fly-by-night, no-rent art gallery, inviting other artists and curators to take it over, hanging paintings inside, plastering the back with bumper stickers or creating a halfpipe on the roof. Now, for the first time since 2005, Ochoa is opening the doors of his storied and rather rusty van to the public again, parking it on the tarmac of the Santa Monica airport for the run of Frieze Los Angeles there (Feb. 16-19). Its engine is shot, so this time the van, known as Class: C (after the standard type of drivers license needed to operate it), will be towed into place. Another change: The van will showcase Ochoas own work, bronze sculptures he recently made of stacks of tortillas monuments to the history of the van and to my mom, who pioneered our tortilla delivery route, he said in an interview. Commissioned through a city grant program, the tortillas resemble giant coins, touching on the idea that they represent his familys currency. De La Soul, Pass the Plugs' (1991) The second De La album sardonically titled De La Soul Is Dead pushed back on the daisies and fluorescents with a sound that was a little more disillusioned and dark but still breezy. Taking the second verse of Pass the Plugs, Jolicoeur bemoans the industry panopticon of radio programmers, promoters and a record label that wanted more hit singles. De La Soul, Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa (1991) The most lyrically and thematically intense song of De La Souls career, Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa tells the story of a Brooklyn girl abused by her father by the songs end, she takes her revenge with the titular weapon as he works as a department store Kris Kringle. The story is narrated mainly by Mercer, who was channeling real-life emotions after finding out a friend was a survivor. However, in a masterful storytelling technique, Jolicoeur takes two verses as the doubting acquaintance who doesnt believe the girls accusations. Teenage Fanclub and De La Soul, Fallin' (1993) Treating an entire song like one of its famous skits, De La play washed-up, once-successful rappers on this collaboration with the Scottish jangle-rock band Teenage Fanclub for the Judgment Night soundtrack a weirdly prescient rock-meets-rap experiment. We wouldnt play ourselves to do something that was wack, but the way the concept plays itself out, its supposed to be wack, Jolicoeur told Vibe in 1993. The track is supposed to sound wack. Instead, the groups look at the other side of fame produced some of the most poignant verses of its career. Raps Jolicoeur, I knew I blew the whole fandango/When the drum programmer wore a Kangol. De La Soul, Ego Trippin (Part Two) (1993) On this single from De La Souls jazz-flecked third album, Buhloone Mindstate, Jolicoeur draws a sarcastic line between his group and contemporary hip-hop machismo and bragadoccio. I change my pitch up, smack my bitch up, I never did it, he raps, flipping a classic line from New Yorks Ultramagnetic MCs. The flavors bein bought, but brothers aint gettin it. De La Soul, Stakes Is High (1996) Stakes Is High was not just the evocative title to De La Souls fourth album. As Mason told Okayplayer, I mean the whole energy around developing that record, it was a crucial place of not knowing if we was going to continue or we going to be forced to go get regular jobs and become common folk. For the lead single and title track produced by the emerging beatmaker Jay Dee, later known as J Dilla Jolicoeur unleashes a torrential downpour of criticism deriding the state of mainstream hip-hop: Sick of swole-head rappers with their sickenin raps/Clappers of gats, makin the whole sick world collapse. De La Soul, Itzsoweezee (Hot) (1996) The last track recorded for Stakes Is High, though it ultimately became the albums second single, was a rare solo turn for Jolicoeur. As Mafioso imagery began taking over hardcore New York rap, Jolicoeur popped the bubble with lines like Why you acting all spicy and shiesty?/The only Italians you knew was Icees. On a cold winter day after her return from filming in Pakistan, Kaur talked about her elaborate chai fixings, a return to her faith and escapism in reality TV. These are edited excerpts from the conversation. 1 Morning Rituals I wake up after being mean to my alarm a couple of times. Finally, by the third time, Im like, fine, youre right, I should start my day. I do morning pages, which is stream-of-consciousness writing. The days I need to do it the most are the days I resist. Then Ill get up and listen to Japji Sahib, which is a morning prayer, and then I have my chai. I have a cupboard in my kitchen just for chai spices. Every day I wake up, and Im like, what do I want today? What does cardamom go well with? Do I want fennel seeds? Do I want ginger? Thats really nice. Some people have that with coffee. For me, its chai. 2 Acting Class Ive been studying at the Lonsdale Smith Studio in Toronto for six years now, continuously. I take classes, even while on set, every Sunday. When Im not on set, Ill take class a couple of times a week. Its a religious place for me. Acting class in many ways was my first religion. In Pakistan, I took class from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., virtually. 3 A Special Piece of Paper I have this paper, which youre supposed to keep in your pocket, but I keep it in my bra so that its closer to my heart. The paper holds an exercise we did in acting class where you write down three things that are true of yourself that you dont wish to be true. The whole idea is to come to terms with and face the parts of myself that hurt the most, or that I dont like, to come into consciousness of who I truly am. 4 Sikhism I aspire to be far more in touch with my faith. I think its in my nature to be quite devoted; its in the bones of who I am. When I found out Id be going to Pakistan, there were so many messages that I needed to go on a pilgrimage. I went first to Nankana Sahib on the border of India and Pakistan, which is the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the creator of Sikhism. People who are Muslim and Hindu still go to show him respect, and I think that is so telling. I stayed overnight, spoke to the priest and learned so much about my culture and my history. Reports of layoffs have cast a shadow over the recent surge in quitting. Tech behemoths like Amazon and Meta and, most recently, Dell and Microsoft have led the way in cutting jobs, along with companies like BlackRock and Goldman Sachs; layoffs are planned at McDonalds, as well. In absolute terms, resignations still far outnumber reductions people are quitting at three times the rate of layoffs, said Anthony Klotz, an associate professor of organizational behavior at the University College Londons School of Management. (He coined the term the Great Resignation.) Indeed, the U.S. Labor Departments January jobs report said employers had added over 500,000 jobs, exceeding expectations and bringing the unemployment rate down to 3.4 percent, the lowest since 1969. Nonetheless, frequent headlines of work force reductions across industries may be having a cumulative effect on the collective labor market psyche. Although some workers even unhappy ones might decide to stick with their jobs when the market appears uncertain, news of layoffs can, conversely, spur more quitting. Layoffs create an environment where people worry it might happen to them next, said Laszlo Bock, who was Googles senior vice president for people operations before helping found the human resources platform Humu. Poorly handled reductions may degrade trust in management as people start hearing rumors of further cuts, he said, and that in turn raises anxiety, which causes more people to quit. But about 57 percent of girls and 69 percent of gay, lesbian or bisexual teenagers reported feeling sadness every day for at least two weeks during the previous year. And 14 percent of girls, up from 12 percent in 2011, said they had been forced to have sex at some point in their lives, as did 20 percent of gay, lesbian or bisexual adolescents. When were looking at experiences of violence, girls are experiencing almost every type of violence more than boys, said Dr. Ethier of the C.D.C. Researchers should be studying not only the increase in reports of violence, she said, but its causes: We need to talk about whats happening with teenage boys that might be leading them to perpetrate sexual violence. The researchers also analyzed the data by race and ethnicity, finding that Black and Hispanic students were more likely to report skipping school because of concerns about violence. White students, however, were more likely to report experiencing sexual violence. The increase in sadness and hopelessness was reported across all racial groups over the last decade. Though Black students were less likely to report these negative feelings than other groups, they were more likely to report suicide attempts than white, Asian or Hispanic adolescents. The 2021 survey asked about students sexual orientation but did not ask about their gender identity, so data on risk factors for transgender students is not available. Who are your closest friends? How much do you share with them? Do you actually like your friends? What have you learned from them? Below, weve rounded up 15 questions weve asked students over the years all about friendship. You can use them as prompts for writing or discussion, inside the classroom or out. We hope theyll inspire you to reflect on your friendships, consider how you can strengthen the ones you have, and motivate you to reach out and make new ones. Each prompt includes an excerpt from a related New York Times article, essay or photo; a link to the related piece; and several questions to help you think deeply about it. Many of these questions are still open for comment from students 13 or older. You can find even more ideas for teaching and learning about friendship in our related lesson plan: How Students Can Cultivate Meaningful Friendships Using The New York Times. Shasta Nelson, the author of Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness, defines friendship as any relationship where two people both feel seen in a safe and satisfying way. In the Smarter Living article How to Maintain Friendships, Ms. Nelson shares that a healthy friendship includes three interrelated areas: The first area is positivity: laughter, affirmation, gratitude and any acts of service. The second is consistency, or having interactions on a continual basis, which makes people feel safe and close to each other. The third is vulnerability, which is the revealing and the sharing of our lives. (An important note about vulnerability: While this word may have a negative connotation to some people, research shows that it is really about taking courageous risks and leaning into uncertainty. In the context of friendship, vulnerability supports meaningful connection. It can include inviting an acquaintance to get together despite not knowing how they will respond, and the potentially difficult task of asking a friend for much-needed help.) Because of your unique set of personality traits, friendship experiences and the societal messaging youve received, you are likely to have developed your own views on friendship. These views may or may not align with what research says about friendship. As a result, your students will benefit from your reflecting on your own social circumstances, educating yourself on the most recent research and exploring friendship-strengthening strategies. Here are some quick, engaging ways to do that: Assess your relationships with a quiz. The first task of Wells 7-Day Happiness Challenge invites you to find out how strong your relationships are. Answer these 13 questions and then get research-backed tips to help you strengthen your social ties. If you notice self-judgment arise while completing the quiz (a common experience), keep in mind this compassionate advice from Marisa Franco, a friendship expert: I want people to understand that they are much more typical if they dont have friendship all figured out. The data shows that so many people are lacking for community, and that is nothing to be ashamed about. I am trying to teach people how to swim upstream against a current that is pulling us all in the opposite direction because loneliness is a societal issue that affects most of us. Our communities used to be built-in, not sought after. Bringing in this perspective will be helpful when working with your students, too. Reflect on these critical nuggets of friendship research. In the Well piece Text Your Friends. It Matters More Than You Think, Catherine Pearson shares several important insights from the world of friendship research, including: The liking gap: In general, we tend to think people like us less than they actually do. The beautiful mess effect: When we reveal an aspect of our vulnerability to others, its common to become concerned that they will see us as a mess and that their response will be one of judgment. A set of studies reveals that in fact it tends to be the opposite: Other people appreciate the courage it requires to share the truths of our lives a beautiful mess they can relate to or empathize with. We tend to underestimate the positive power of small-scale check-ins, such as texting a friend to ask how theyre doing. In the context of friendship, a little can go a long way. How might these ideas affect how you interact with others? You might also be interested in the research on teacher friendships. If so, KQEDs What Difference Can Teacher Friendships Make at School? makes some thought-provoking points. In a way, this is a story of who the jurors are. What do we know about that and how the composition of the jury might affect what goes on in the jury room? As in all criminal trials, one factor is where the individual jurors come from. This jury is anonymous the jurors names have not been made public and we dont know much about them. We do know that they live in what is known as the Southern District of New York, which typically draws jurors from Manhattan, the Bronx and Westchester as well as five other downstate counties north of the city. Whats interesting about a Southern District trial, particularly one held in Manhattan, is that jurors come from a mix of cosmopolitan and rural areas, and there is also a diversity of race, ethnicity, financial status and political viewpoints. All of those factors would seemingly ensure that a defendant like a Saipov would have his or her case heard by a cross-section of the community. But a cross-section of the community here is different from a cross-section in other places. Stephen Bright, a lawyer who has represented death penalty defendants in three Southern states and also teaches at Yale Law School, told us that if you try a death-penalty case in the Southern District of Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, for example youd probably have a very different outcome. Moreover, in a federal death penalty case, the composition of the jury is tilted in the governments favor, because a prospective juror who is unalterably opposed to capital punishment an absolutist is not allowed on the jury. Every one of the 12 jurors in Saipovs case had to indicate during jury selection that he or she would be willing to vote for the death penalty in the appropriate case. On a recent weekend, Lola Stars dog Dazzle, a mini goldendoodle just shy of 2 years old, ate a joint she found on the ground in Staten Island. It wasnt the first or even the 10th time the dog had done this, Ms. Star said with a prolonged sigh. She had not seen it happen but there was a telltale sign. I was taking her out of the car, and I saw her little head bobble, Ms. Star, who lives in the Prospect Park South neighborhood of Brooklyn, said. Thats when you know your dog is stoned. Her dog is not the only unwitting weed consumer. Now that marijuana is widely available in New York City after the city legalized adult recreational use of the drug in 2021 and the first legal dispensary opened in December veterinarians are saying theyve recently noticed a steady increase in the number of cases of dogs accidentally eating cannabis products. And pet owners say their dogs are running into more used or dropped items on streets and sidewalks during walks. Representative George Santos has spent his campaign money in plenty of conspicuous ways, from lavish hotel stays in Las Vegas and Palm Beach, Fla., to an unusual slew of payments for exactly $199.99 two cents below the threshold where receipts would be required. But deep within Mr. Santoss campaign filings, The New York Times found another eye-catching number: $365,399.08 in unexplained spending, with no record of where it went or for what purpose. The mysterious expenditures, which list no recipient and offer no receipts, account for nearly 12 percent of the Santos campaigns total reported expenses many times exceeding what is typical for congressional candidates. Fellow New York House members, for example, failed to itemize between zero and 2 percent of their expenses this past cycle. Without explanations for each expenditure in the reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, its impossible to determine if Mr. Santos spent campaign funds on legitimate election-related purposes. Each day, the reported death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria grows. Its not just a local tragedy killing people far away. Natural disasters have struck, and will strike, around the world including in the United States. What are their repercussions? What lessons can be learned from them? Perhaps the most salient is this: Bad luck is inevitable and we must anticipate and prepare for it. To Americans, our first association with earthquakes may be the one that destroyed San Francisco in 1906. It killed an estimated 3,000 people, but there have been at least eight documented earthquakes since the year 1500 with death tolls over 100,000 including the 1923 Tokyo earthquake that killed 143,000 people, topped by one that killed nearly a million people in China in 1556. As lethal as earthquakes are volcanic eruptions. Much more deadly than the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption that killed 57 Americans were the eruptions of Vesuvius in A.D. 79, of Krakatoa in 1883, of Santorini that may have undermined Cretes Minoan civilization and the 1902 eruption that killed about 30,000 people within a few minutes on the Caribbean island of Martinique. To the Editor: Re The Biden Administration Is Escalating the War in Ukraine, by Christopher Caldwell (Opinion guest essay, Feb. 9): As Vladimir Putin continues to escalate his war against the civilian population of Ukraine with indiscriminate bombing of apartment houses, hospitals, schools and vital infrastructure, Mr. Caldwell attempts to mount an argument that it is the Biden administration that is wrongly escalating the conflict. He writes that Russians say this is a war in which Russia is fighting for its survival and against the United States in an unfair global order in which the United States enjoys unearned privileges. Mr. Caldwells thesis seems to be that if we leave Ukraine in a relatively weakened military position, peace will come through negotiations. We learned almost a century ago how that kind of appeasement strategy is a recipe for disaster. It is Mr. Putin who is now fighting for his own survival, not the survival of Russia. And there is no reason to believe that he can or will settle on terms that do not involve the acquisition of substantial Ukrainian territory. When I interviewed Naszodi last week, she made a joke, with Valentines Day approaching, about Cupids invisible hand. She assured me that she does not specialize in the economics of romance. She said she studies mating behavior because it sheds light on inequality, one of her research topics. She also works on exchange rates, monetary policy and bank regulation. The tricky part of figuring out what Cupids invisible hand is doing is that there are lots of driving forces. Opportunity matters as much as preference. For example, women used to be less educated than men, in general. As women became more educated, it became more likely that educated men would marry educated women, just by chance, even if there wasnt a change in preference. Its easy enough for scholars to observe what people are doing; whats hard is establishing the counterfactuals how things might have gone differently. For example, what would marriage patterns look like if opportunities for marrying someone similar had not changed over the past 10 years? Naszodi and Mendonca came up with a way of establishing those counterfactuals, based on work by Haoming Liu and Jingfeng Lu of the National University of Singapore that was published in Economics Letters in 2006. Using that method, Naszodi and Mendonca concluded that late baby boomers had a weaker preference for a spouse of the same education than early baby boomers had. That signaled a decrease in inequality. When late Gen Xers reached the marriage market, the preference for a spouse of the same education level had strengthened, a mark of increasing inequality, they concluded. (They looked at people when they were 30 to 34 and studied only heterosexual relationships.) If you dont have a date for Valentines Day, assortative mating could be one of your problems. Poor, uneducated men are being excluded from the marriage market because there are fewer women who want to marry them. Women have become better educated and prosperous, on average, and they would rather marry someone who is their socioeconomic equal. However, theres a shortage of unmarried men with high socioeconomic status. So, many of the women with high aspirations remain single. Naszodi and Mendoncas latest finding, in a forthcoming paper, is that millennials are somewhat less picky about the education level of their mates than Gen Xers. It gives rise to optimism, Naszodi wrote me in an email. Millennials have better chances to find a suitable partner than Gen Xers used to have. I remember the first time I saw Nikki Haley. It was in a high school gym before the 2012 South Carolina Republican presidential primary. Tim Scott, who was then a congressman, was holding a raucous town hall, and Ms. Haley was there to cheer him on. The first woman to be governor of South Carolina, the first Indian American ever elected to statewide office there, the youngest governor in the country. Whatever that thing is that talented politicians possess, Ms. Haley had it. People liked her, and more important, she seemed to like people. She talked with you, not to you, and she made routine conversations feel special and important. She seemed to have unlimited potential. Then she threw it all away. No political figure better illustrates the tragic collapse of the modern Republican Party than Nikki Haley. There was a time not very long ago when she was everything the party thought it needed to win. She was a woman when the party needed more women, a daughter of immigrants when the party needed more immigrants, a young change maker when the party needed younger voters and a symbol of tolerance who took down the Confederate flag when the party needed more people of color and educated suburbanites. When Donald Trump ran in the 2016 Republican primary, Ms. Haley stood next to Senator Marco Rubio, the candidate she had endorsed, and eviscerated Mr. Trump as a racist the party must reject: I will not stop until we fight a man that chooses not to disavow the K.K.K. That is not a part of our party. That is not who we want as president. She was courageous, fighting on principle, a warrior who would never back down. Until she did. The politician who saw herself as a role model for women and immigrants transformed herself into everything she claimed to oppose: By 2021, Ms. Haley was openly embracing her inner MAGA with comments like, Thank goodness for Donald Trump or we never would have gotten Kamala Harris to the border. In one sentence, she managed to attack women and immigrants while praising the man she had vowed never to stop fighting. She had gone from saying I have to tell you, Donald Trump is everything I taught my children not to do in kindergarten to I dont want us to go back to the days before Trump. There is perhaps no Zoom meeting less satisfying than one scheduled on a cold weekday morning to talk about food specifically, the food that one ought to eat in Paris. We couldnt gather in a great restaurant, for the people assembled were chefs and writers spread across continents, some racing from their kitchens, others dialing in after dropping off their children. The frenetic life wed all once known was, in many senses, back. And so was the Paris culinary scene, driven by that thrilling hunt for places both new and old, French and not, an obsession among natives and tourists alike. As with a similar list we made for New York and as part of our ongoing T 25 series, which has surfaced significant and memorable travel destinations, buildings, interiors, art, fashion and books we wanted to name the essential Parisian dishes to eat right now. With both visitors and residents in mind, Id assembled a panel of experts who either work in the city, are from there or spend lots of time in town, including the pastry chef Dominique Ansel; the cookbook author Dorie Greenspan; Moko Hirayama and Omar Koreitem, the couple who run the restaurants Mokonuts and Mokoloco in the 11th Arrondissement; and Marie-Aude Rose, the French chef of New Yorks La Mercerie (who is also, as might be expected, involved in several businesses throughout America and France overseen by her husband, the chef Daniel Rose). Id asked each of them to nominate 10 or so candidates ahead of time, which ranged from entire meals at gastronomic temples to pastries and street-food staples theyd happened upon on their blocks; the goal was to include classically rich options as well as newer, more internationally inflected choices. And nothing could be nominated from any of our panelists establishments (although there would have been many worthy contenders). Surprisingly, or perhaps not, no one chose a baguette or a croissant. On these longer lists, there were just two overlaps: ice cream by Jessica Yang, a rising chef who co-owns a cave a vin called Folderol, and Ispahan macarons by Pierre Herme, the grand-pere of contemporary French desserts. We quickly advanced those and some other sweets to the next round, then spent hours that day, and in a few follow-up calls, discussing everything else we felt merited inclusion: bistro fare, as well as its 21st-century permutations; genteel seafood; haute patisserie; European favorites, particularly from Italy, that have recently crossed borders; and other items influenced and made by the immigrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East who make Paris what it is today. The final list, which appears in unranked alphabetical order below and covers most arrondissements, isnt what we expected, nor is it like the myriad Parisian food rankings weve all encountered before. Theres nothing from impossible to reserve (and impossibly expensive) prix fixe stalwarts, but there is the best fried chicken youll find outside of the Philippines. Naturally, a few popular wine bars and bistronomy spots made the cut, although mostly for modernizing things like chou farci and steak au poivre. But this list, like all lists, is subjective: It reflects the palates and sensibilities of our panelists on a few gray January mornings. Above all, it speaks to the fact that great food particularly in Paris, particularly right now looks forward and backward at once: Thats what makes eating there (and debating where to eat there) so deliciously freewheeling. Kurt Soller Many years ago, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Buddhist monk and spiritual leader, posed a question to Marc Benioff, the co-founder and chief executive of Salesforce. What is more important, being successful or being happy? he asked. Mr. Benioff answered pretty much the way you would expect a Silicon Valley entrepreneur to answer. Both, he said. Thich Nhat Hanh cautioned that if everything is important, nothing is important. But for many years it seemed that Mr. Benioff, just like Silicon Valley itself, was able to have success as well as happiness not to mention money, respect and influence. Salesforce, which makes software to help companies sell better, became a hard-driving and influential tech company, the biggest employer in San Francisco. Mr. Benioff, 58, became a philanthropist, the advocate for a new model of capitalism and, at least in the Bay Area, as inescapable as the 61-story tower that bears his companys name. On Sept. 28, Hurricane Ian made landfall on Cayo Costa, a barrier island northwest of Cape Coral and Fort Myers, Fla., as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of more than 150 miles per hour. Killing 149 people in Florida, it was the states deadliest hurricane since 1935. More than four months later, the storms extraordinary power remains evident: In Fort Myers Beach, multistory oceanfront apartment buildings are still just piles of twisted steel and concrete rubble, and massive shrimping boats sit tilted and smashed together like toys in the corner of a tub. The storms wrath extended up and down the west coast of Florida. But Sanibel Island, one of the areas most popular vacation destinations, was hit especially hard. The fish-hook-shaped barrier island, some 12 miles long and three miles across at its widest, was devastated. Even the causeway that connects it to the mainland was partly destroyed. On a recent afternoon, sitting at a table outside the Sanibel Grill, which roof and water damage kept closed for months, the mayor of Sanibel, Holly Smith, 61, was blunt. Theres no spring break here, she said. As far as the recovery of tourism, we have a long way to go. Is Ron DeSantis the next Scott Walker? Its a question Ive been hearing a lot lately. The premise is that theres an important similarity between the two: They both earned the affection of conservatives by owning the libs as governors, rather than by giving soaring speeches or otherwise demonstrating the skills to win a presidential nomination. In the end, Mr. Walkers success in Wisconsin did not translate to the national stage; the implication is that Mr. DeSantiss success in Florida might not translate either. A wave of articles over the last few weeks has questioned whether he has the charisma, charm and likability to win the nomination. If he falters, the ending of his campaign might read a like lot the story of Walker for President. But, at least at the beginning of the race, Mr. DeSantis is no Scott Walker. He would start the campaign in a very different and far stronger position, even if there is still no way to know whether he has what it takes to succeed against former President Donald J. Trump. MBABANE Eswatini will be one of the first countries to participate in a global public-private partnership to bring reliable, renewable energy solutions to health clinics throughout the country. The US Embassy in Eswatini said it would continue advocating for green energy and supporting countries in this call. This came after the Russian Federation Ambassador to Eswatini Alexander Surikov, criticised developed countries for their green energy advocacy. Surikov, during a press conference on January 17, 2023, cited his countrys interest to invest in the energy sector in the country. The ambassador criticised the calls for green energy production. He said green energy production was just a scam by certain countries in order to collapse the economy of small nations. He added that the cost of renewable energy was just too high and most of the machinery used was sold in those countries that are at the forefront, calling for green energy. He also called for scientists do thorough research and stop misleading the world. US Embassy Spokesperson, Stephanie Sandoval said; The U.S. is prepared to set a strong example in the global fight against climate change. Green energy is an area where we are focusing our efforts and setting an example to follow.For example, as part of our longstanding health partnerships, the US Government has prioritised funding for Eswatini to be one of the first countries to participate in a global public-private partnership to bring reliable, renewable energy solutions to health clinics throughout the country. This partnership is the Power Africa Health Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance (HETA) initiative. The spokesperson said the Biden Administration was committed to achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, putting the United States on an irreversible path to a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050. She highlighted that climate change was a pressing global security threat, an impending crisis that would especially impact the most vulnerable people and places on our planet. As such, President Biden was raising global climate ambition and placing action at the top of his agenda. The United States produces 15 per cent of the worlds carbon pollution. But even if we brought it down to zero, we wouldnt solve the crisis, because the rest of the world is producing the other 85 per cent. This is the definition of a problem we need to work together, as a community of nations, to solve. And we cant settle for only doing the bare minimum. We have to challenge ourselves and each other to do more, she added. Now, the College Board is defending the A.P. course it has spent years developing. The nonprofit has infuriated many African American studies scholars for what they view as a stealth betrayal. And its once-heralded course is mired in dissension. Greg Carr, an African American studies professor at Howard University and an adviser on the curriculum, said the high school class is a step forward, and that it was unrealistic to expect it to look like a true college-level African American studies course. The College Board is not revolutionary, he said. It maintains the status quo in this country the hierarchy, the formation. The question we have to ask ourselves is what is possible. The Choice For over a decade, there had been talk about the need for some kind of Advanced Placement course focused on the Black experience. But after the murder of George Floyd in 2020 inspired global protest, the College Board decided to roll out an African American studies class, with a strong emphasis on United States history, politics and culture. The selection of African American studies instead of a more conventional history course was pivotal, putting the staid, mainstream College Board into close contact with a left-leaning group of scholars deeply engaged in contemporary politics. The discipline, also called Black studies or Africana studies, toggles between the past and present, melding history, the arts and theory. In introductory classes, the achievements of ancient African civilizations might be taught as a source of pride, while the legacy of Jim Crow might be traced into the lives of Black Americans today, in the education, housing and criminal justice systems. ATLANTA A Georgia judge said on Monday that he would disclose parts of a grand jury report later this week that details an investigation into election interference by former President Donald J. Trump and his allies, though he would keep the jurys specific recommendations secret for now. In making his ruling, the judge, Robert C.I. McBurney of Fulton County Superior Court, said the special grand jury raised concerns in its report that some witnesses may have lied under oath during their testimony. But the eight-page ruling included few other revelations about the report, the contents of which have been carefully guarded, with the only physical copy in the possession of the district attorneys office. The ruling does, however, indicate that the special grand jurys findings are serious. The report includes a roster of who should (or should not) be indicted, and for what, in relation to the conduct (and aftermath) of the 2020 general election in Georgia, Judge McBurney wrote. For the last two years, prosecutors in Atlanta have been conducting a criminal investigation into whether Mr. Trump and his allies interfered in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, which he narrowly lost to President Biden. Much of the inquiry including interviewing dozens of witnesses was conducted before the special grand jury, which under Georgia law had to issue a final report on its findings, which in this case includes charging recommendations. Special grand juries do not have the power to issue indictments. The city is worse than its ever been, said Pamela Wortham, 65, as she pushed her grocery cart out of a Jewel-Osco store. Her neighborhood, South Shore, has struggled with gun violence and poverty. But with the right person, she said, we could come up again. Whether that person is Ms. Lightfoot, who is seeking a second term at City Hall, will be determined in the next few weeks. She is an unpopular mayor whose support has nose-dived in the last four years, in part because of her performance and in part because of the circumstances of the pandemic. Her own polling shows her leading an unwieldy pack of nine mayoral candidates, several of whom have run unsuccessfully before but it shows her doing so with only 24 percent of the splintered vote. The mayoral election on Feb. 28 has attracted a long line of challengers, including Representative Jesus G. Garcia, whose Congressional district includes parts of the city, and Paul Vallas, a former head of the Chicago Public Schools. Unless a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote an extremely unlikely scenario there will be a runoff in April between the two top finishers. Mr. Vallas, who was endorsed by The Chicago Tribunes editorial board, has made solving the citys crime problem his signature campaign issue. Mr. Garcia, the son of Mexican immigrants, would be Chicagos first Latino mayor; he won enough votes in the 2015 mayoral race to force Mr. Emanuel into a runoff. Edwin Eisendrath, a businessman and former alderman who has endorsed Mr. Garcia, said that he supported Ms. Lightfoot in 2019 but has been disappointed in her approach to governing. The executive director of Oregons liquor control agency announced his resignation on Monday amid a criminal investigation into accusations that top officials had hoarded bottles of top-shelf spirits including rare bourbons that can fetch more than $5,000 on the secondary market. The official, Steve Marks, wrote in a resignation letter that Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon had requested that he step down from his position as executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Because I believe that the governor is entitled to have her own management team, I will honor that request, Mr. Marks wrote, adding that his resignation would become effective at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Elisabeth Shepard, a spokeswoman for Ms. Kotek, declined to comment on Monday. The announcement by Mr. Marks came after an internal agency investigation, made public last week, found that he and five other commission officials had abused their positions by diverting bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon and other liquor from a state warehouse so that they could buy them in stores. At the hearing last week before the administration panel, as he tried to justify the use of his government car, Mr. Blanton further infuriated lawmakers when he admitted that he was not present during the Jan. 6 attack. He said he had been coordinating with his team over the phone and via a radio system installed in his official vehicle instead of going to the Capitol that day because he thought it would not be prudent to drive to work as thousands of protesters blocked access to the complex. That drew indignant responses from lawmakers in both parties. Im trying to understand why you physically werent here on a pretty important day, Representative Terri A. Sewell, Democrat of Alabama, said at the hearing. Especially given the fact that you have access to information being on the Capitol Police Board about potential problems that we have on this campus. Representative Stephanie Bice, Republican of Oklahoma, said she found it mind-blowing that he was not present, noting how he knew probably a lot more than we did that day. Mr. Blanton was one of the Capitols top security officials, overseeing more than 18.4 million square feet of facilities, 570 acres of grounds and 2,000 employees. He was also one of three voting members on the Capitol Police Board along with the top security officials in the House and the Senate which oversees the Capitol Police force and has decision-making power relating to security around the complex. He had previously testified to the House Appropriations Committee that he had a limited role in the strategic planning around Jan. 6. Mr. Blanton said he was not included in conversations about calling for the National Guard to assist with the violence that day with the other members of the Capitol Police Board. Lawmakers also raised concerns about the allegation that Mr. Blanton had impersonated a police officer. According to the report, he used one of his official vehicles, equipped with police lights and sirens, to pursue a car that had hit a car belonging to his daughters boyfriend. Mr. Blanton is listed on a police report from the scene as an off-duty D.C. police officer. Whatever the outcome, the spread of basic income programs is a reminder of the growing divide between Democrats and Republicans, urban voters and rural conservatives, those who want more government in peoples lives and those who want less. Theres no indication that I see that the American public thinks what we really need is more aid to people who choose not to work, said Robert Rector, a conservative public assistance expert at the Heritage Foundation who helped shape the welfare changes of the 1990s. But in Democratic cities, in states deep blue and bright red, such as Columbia, S.C., Shreveport, La., and Birmingham, Ala., political leaders are moving in the opposite direction. Mayor Lightfoot may be in the throes of a difficult campaign for re-election, but none of her eight rivals for the Democratic mayoral nomination ahead of the first round of voting on Feb. 28 have made an issue of her guaranteed income effort. Instead, the mayor is picking a fight with the national Republican Party. These are the same people that didnt want to expand health care, and look at the number of people in their communities, these ruby red communities, that are suffering, Ms. Lightfoot said. These are the same people, frankly, that are attacking the very core of our democracy, demonizing being different, being the other, based upon your religion, your creed, who you love, your gender identity. She added: Im the mayor of the city of Chicago. I know what our people need. Adrian Talbott, associate dean for civic engagement at the Crown Family School of Social Work at the University of Chicago, called the effort a prime example of Democrats assertion that government can work. He added that the expectation was, with big bets on behalf of traditionally marginalized, vulnerable populations in light of the pandemic, government can meet this moment. In December, about a minute after a United Airlines flight departed from Kahului Airport in Maui, the plane, a Boeing 777-200, entered a steep dive and came within 775 feet of the surface of the Pacific Ocean, according to flight data. The plane had initially ascended to an altitude of 2,200 feet before suddenly falling at a rate of nearly 8,600 feet per minute, according to The Air Current, which reported on the episode on Sunday after analyzing data from the Dec. 18 flight. The flight, which did not appear to have been widely discussed on social media, departed Maui the same day that 36 people were hurt, 11 of them seriously, when a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Honolulu from Phoenix was rocked by severe turbulence. Joshua Freed, a United Airlines spokesman, declined to say how many passengers were aboard United Flight 1722 when it took off from Maui at 2:49 p.m. local time on Dec. 18. The Boeing 777-200 can carry 312 passengers. Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia on Sunday ordered the shutdown of the Voice of Democracy, one of the countrys last independent news outlets, intensifying a long-running crackdown on the news media and political opposition as he consolidates his grip on power. Mr. Hun Sen said he was angry at a reference to his son and presumed heir, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, by the outlet, and was not satisfied with the apology he received. A leading Cambodian human rights organization, Licadho, noted the significance of the action, saying the news outlet, known as VOD, has become one of the most important independent media outlets in the country in recent years, publishing in Khmer and English. Voice of Democracys radio arm was shut down in 2017, and it was one of dozens of frequencies taken off the air in a broad sweep before the countrys 2018 elections. Since then it has published online and on Facebook, where it has 1.8 million followers. In 2019, years before a hulking high-altitude Chinese balloon floated across the United States and caused widespread alarm, one of Chinas top aeronautics scientists made a proud announcement that received little attention back then: His team had launched an airship more than 60,000 feet into the air and sent it sailing around most of the globe, including across North America. The scientist, Wu Zhe, told a state-run news outlet at the time that the Cloud Chaser airship was a milestone in his vision of populating the upper reaches of the earths atmosphere with steerable balloons that could be used to provide early warnings of natural disasters, monitor pollution or carry out airborne surveillance. Look, theres America, Professor Wu said in an accompanying video, pointing on a computer screen to a red line that appeared to trace the airships path across Asia, northern Africa, and near the southern edge of the United States. By the time of the report, it was over the Pacific Ocean. Professor Wus announcement is part of a body of evidence revealing in new detail the scope of the Chinese governments ambitions to use high-altitude airships to track earthbound activities, with an eye on both domestic and military needs. Chinese media reports, academic studies and officials speeches suggest that Professor Wu has been central to Chinas balloon development efforts. MBABANE The Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF) President, Busi Mayisela, says the State is not behind the arson attack at Thabiso Khumalos homestead. Khumalo is the SFDF Shiselweni Branch Chairperson and his home, located at Hluthi in the Shiselweni Region, was torched by unknown people on Saturday night. Mayisela alleged that the attack came at a time when the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) had been threatening her partys members. Speculations After the news of the arson attack at Khumalos homestead broke out, there were speculations that the State was behind the attack as it had always happened when a member of any political party was attacked. However, this time around, the leader of the affected member of SFDF has cleared the State. Mayisela had posted on her Facebook account yesterday morning that the arson attack at Khumalos home was not sponsored by the regime as it had always been the narrative that attacks on political party members were carried out by the State. Shattered In her post, Mayisela said she was shattered by the attack. She said Khumalo reported all the threats he had been receiving from the time he joined SFDF. Unfortunately, those threats were not from the regime. Why would the regime target your house just after the successful Muzi Mmema Branch launch? Im really trying to be diplomatic here, wrote Mayisela. Mayisela said it was clear that it was not the regime. The Muzi Mmema Branch was launched on Saturday at the late Mmemas home at Ntondozi. Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF) Shiselweni Regional Chairperson Thabiso Khumalo, whose home was petrol-bombed, suspects that the arson is politically motivated. The incident happened at Hluti next to Florence Christian High School, where Khumalos home is situated. Narrating events before the incident; Khumalo stated that he was from the Muzi Mmema Branch launch at Ntondozi and had left with fellow members who reside in the Shiselweni Region. He stated that he went to drop each and every one of them in their different homesteads and then headed home after 7pm. Khumalo said he went home to collect a few items he needed, including laundry as the idea was not to spend the night at his home after having communicated with his wife that it was no longer safe for him. It was gathered that there was no one at home over the weekend as their children had visited their grandmothers place along with their mother. Phone He narrated that when he arrived at the homestead, he went to the house leaving the car opened as he intended to step in and out of the house. He said he then decided to charge his cellphone and stayed a little longer as he was yet to collect all the things he was supposed to leave with. I heard a loud bang from the window and at first I thought it was a gunshot and I ran to another room, he narrated. Khumalo shared that he then saw flames coming from his room and quickly stepped out of the house and ran towards a neighbours home where he raised the alarm. He stated that they ran back home and tried to put out the fire by pouring water on it. He said as they checked around the house, they noticed that the arsonists had also broken a few windows as they were throwing stones. Khumalo added that they also noted that his car was opened but nothing was taken. He said there was money and another cellphone in the car. Attack The arson attack happened just when Khumalo had returned home from hiding after the assassination of Mmema as he also received threats and had to flee. He added that he told the police about the threats and his intentions to go into hiding. He came back on January 15, 2023 because schools were about to open and he had to report to work. Khumalo said he had been lying low all along. Khumalo said he had reasons to believe that the arsonist(s) was following him when he dropped the other people and made his way home. He also said that he believed they were targeting his life personally as there was no one home on Friday, but the arson happened just when he got back home. When asked who he thought could be behind the attack, Khumalo said he did not want to commit but he believed the attack was politically motivated. After the incident, Khumalo shared that he had to flee to neighbouring SA for his safety. When reached for a comment Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that the incident was reported to the police. She stated that they were still going to do further investigations into the matter. Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF) President Busi Mayisela has made serious allegations that SWALIMO has been threatening her partys members for some time now. SWALIMO stands for Swaziland Liberation Movement and it was once Mayiselas political home before she formed her own party, the SFDF. Mayisela left SWALIMO shortly after an audio, where she, together with Dr Siphetfo Dlamini, were heard speaking with one man identified as Agent 001. In the trios conversation, they spoke about a number of things which included criticising SWALIMO President Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelanes leadership style. In an interview with this publication, Mayisela alleged that the threats issued against the members of her party started when the members left SWALIMO to join SFDF. Torched Mayisela alleged that her partys member, Thabiso Khumalo, whose house was torched on Saturday night, received threats from SWALIMO as he was their member before joining SFDF. In an interview with this publication, Khumalo confirmed having received threats such that he even recorded a statement with the police and informed them of his intention to go into hiding so they could be aware in case they wanted from him. She alleged that the late SFDF Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Muzi Mmema got threats from SWALIMO as well. Mmema was first abducted from his home at Ntondozi by four unknown men on December 27, 2022 and he was found dead the next morning in a nearby forest. He was found with a gunshot wound in his chest. The State was accused of being behind Mmemas death but government refuted those claims, instead asked the nation to give police a chance to investigate the matter. There have been no arrests pertaining the case yet. Mmema was also a SWALIMO member before joining SFDF. Mayisela further alleged that Lawyer Maxwell Nkambule whose car was also shot at last year, received threats from SWALIMO. Mayisela said Nkambule got the threats after registering to attend the SFDF launch, which was held last year December in South Africa. When sought for comment, Nkambule said he would not think that his attack was based on him registering to attend the launch. He said he agreed to attend the launch even after the shooting incident. Nkambule said he could not place the attack against him to factionalism within parties. I represent any member irrespective of political colour. I am a lawyer, he said. He stated that his attacks were based on his work. In the interview, Mayisela added that another member who was not spared from the threats was Gift Dlamini, who is the current SFDFs Secretary General. He was also a SWALIMO member before joining the new party, SFDF. Dlamini confirmed to be in hiding because of the threats. He told our sister newspaper, the Times SUNDAY, on January 8, that he was forced to skip the country after receiving threatening messages from a certain political leader. He said similar threats that were issued to him by the leader were repeated to the late Mmema. It was gathered that Dlamini had formally raised concerns of the bickering and threatening among members of different parties, in particular SFDF and SWALIMO members. Our NOS Phephile got threats from SWALIMO. She was DSG2 in SWALIMO before joining SFDF, said Mayisela. NOS means national organising secretary and DSG means deputy secretary general. Mayisela said there was also another SFDF member identified as Comrade Zipora, who left SWALIMO to join another political party and he also got threats from SWALIMO. Other comrades who wanted to come to our launch were threatened, they cancelled on the last day, said Mayisela. When sought for comment, SWALIMO Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo said Mayisela was causing unnecessary tension to the struggle. Harming Silolo said the SFDF president was actually trying to echo the narrative that political parties were harming each other in the mass democratic movement (MDM), when it was clear that the regime was taking advantage of the disagreements they had as the MDM.She cannot imagine the harm she is causing to emaSwati. SWALIMO cannot threaten anybody and we have never done such a thing this low, said Silolo. He alleged that Mayisela was still having the hangover of losing grip on SWALIMO. Busi cannot allow peace to reign supreme and go on with life as a president of her new party, said Silolo. He said SWALIMO did not support violence of any form by anybody, but they understood the concerted efforts by some at ensuring that the movement was vulgarised in every way possible so it loses its threatening membership. He said as SWALIMO, they would not lose strength though, as they had work to do. He said emaSwati needed freedom and as SWALIMO they shall lead the way. In the latest jab over aerial surveillance, China said on Monday that high-altitude balloons from the United States had flown over Chinese airspace without permission more than 10 times since the start of last year. Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesman, said that it was a common occurrence for U.S. high-altitude balloons to illegally enter the airspace of other countries, while providing no further details. Chinas claims were swiftly rejected by the United States. Any claim that the U.S. government operates surveillance balloons over the P.R.C. is false, said Adrienne Watson, a National Security Council spokeswoman, referring to the Peoples Republic of China. This is the latest example of China scrambling to do damage control, Ms. Watson said in a statement. Eight years ago, the Czech president, on a visit to Beijing, offered his country as Chinas gateway to Europe. But the entry ramp for an expected flood of Chinese investment has narrowed to a patch of muddy land on the edge of a tiny Czech village. The land was purchased in 2018 by a Chinese real estate company with ambitious plans for a sprawling spa resort and housing development. Getting construction started, however, has been so slow that local farmers now use the Chinese-owned property to grow corn. Instead of a showcase for a bonanza of Chinese money, the project, in the Czech region of South Moravia, has become a symbol of the pitfalls of a Chinese overseas business model that depends on energetic support from foreign government leaders and local officials. Without that support easier in European countries with authoritarian, Beijing-friendly leaders, like Hungary and Serbia, than in more vibrant democracies, like the Czech Republic Chinese ventures often struggle, stalled by bureaucratic hurdles, pressure from environmental activists and hostile media coverage. SWIETOSZOW, Poland One by one, Leopard tanks crewed by Ukrainian troops and their Polish instructors zipped up a muddy field, bouncing over deep ruts and cresting a low dirt berm. They stopped, fired smoke grenades, then raced back in reverse to their starting points. The demonstration on Monday, for President Andrzej Duda of Poland and his defense minister, was the first since Ukrainian troops began training on the Leopard 2A4 tanks after being promised them by Western allies nearly three weeks ago. With a massive Russian operation already building in eastern Ukraine, officials said they had compressed the tutelage for operating and maintaining the machines which usually takes up to a year into a couple of months. Ukraines leaders and their NATO backers hope the German-made tanks will be a crucial part of a campaign to push Russian forces out of the cities and towns where fighting has been centered in recent weeks. The Leopards, which move as swiftly backward as they do forward, are considered particularly useful for urban combat. Ukrainian Maj. Vadym Khodak, 57, said he and his fellow soldiers had been pulled off the front lines in Donetsk and Luhansk, the provinces that make up the heavily contested Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, and given three days to report to this drab Polish base near the German border. A week after a devastating earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, with families crowded under tarps and cardboard shelters, a severe shortage of tents, housing and medical supplies is imperiling relief efforts, leaving survivors struggling amid ruins and in extreme cold. The death toll for both countries surpassed 35,000 on Monday, and more than one million people were left homeless in Turkey alone, according to the Turkish government. One of the most urgent needs was shelter to help the thousands of people whose homes were either destroyed or may be unsafe. In the towns and cities in the earthquake zone, people appeared to be crowded everywhere except inside the cracked and unstable buildings where they had once worked and lived. Large apartment towers stood dark and empty while tents and makeshift shelters filled parks, sidewalks and the courtyards of mosques. Conditions were dire enough that Bashar al-Assad, the authoritarian president of Syria, decided to open two more aid crossings from Turkey into northwest Syria, where opposition forces control territory, the United Nations announced on Monday. By luck, the bullets missed him, he said. He lay in the dark until he was captured by Ukrainians who slipped into the buffer area between the two trench lines. The New York Times interviewed the Russians at a detention center near Lviv in Ukraines west, where many captured enemy soldiers are sent. From there, some are returned to Russia in prisoner exchanges. The Times also viewed videos of interrogations by the Ukrainian authorities. The prisoners are identified only by first name and rank for security reasons, because of the possibility of retribution once they are returned. Though they are prisoners of war overseen by Ukrainians, the Russians said they spoke freely. Their accounts could not be independently corroborated but conformed with assessments of the fighting around the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut by Western governments and military analysts. The soldiers in Sergeis squad were recruited from penal colonies by the private military company known as Wagner, whose forces have mostly been deployed in the Bakhmut area. There, they have enabled Russian lines to move forward slowly, cutting key resupply roads for the Ukrainian Army. Russias deployment of former convicts is a dark chapter in a vicious war. Russia Behind Bars, a prison rights group, has estimated that as many as 50,000 Russian prisoners have been recruited since last summer, with most sent to the battle for Bakhmut. A battle over the future of Israels judiciary perceived by many as a fight for the soul of Israels democracy grew more fraught and fractious on Monday as roughly 100,000 protesters from across the country filled the streets outside Parliament in Jerusalem in one of the biggest-ever demonstrations in the city. Protesters came by bus from Haifa, train from Tel Aviv and car from the occupied Golan Heights. They carried Israeli flags, megaphones and homemade banners. And they were chanting for democracy, freedom and judicial independence. The demonstrators gathered to oppose a sweeping judicial overhaul proposed by Israels new government the most right-wing and religiously conservative in the countrys history that has bitterly divided Israelis. The changes, envisioned by the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, would reduce the Supreme Courts ability to revoke laws passed in Parliament and give the government greater influence over who gets to be a judge. The demonstration followed a dramatic televised speech on Sunday night by Israels mainly ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, in which he called for compromise and warned that the crisis had left the country on the brink of constitutional and social collapse, and possibly a violent clash. On Feb. 3, a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in eastern Ohio, igniting a fire that covered the town of East Palestine in smoke. Fearful of an explosion, the authorities carved out an evacuation zone and carried out a controlled release of toxic fumes to neutralize burning cargo inside some of the train cars. Residents feared for their health as concerns mounted about the effect the derailment and the fire could have on the environment and the transportation network. Heres what to know about what happened, and what comes next. The balloon was about the size of three buses and was flying at an altitude of 60,000 to 65,000 feet. The incident prompted Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to cancel a trip to China that would have been the first by a Biden cabinet secretary. China has maintained that the device was a civilian aircraft that strayed into American airspace. However, senior American officials increasingly believe the balloon was originally supposed to conduct surveillance over U.S. military bases in Guam and Hawaii, but winds carried it off course. Feb. 10 A U.F.O. is shot down off Alaska. A U.S. fighter jet brought down an unidentified object over the waters of Alaska. The object broke into pieces was most likely not a balloon, a Defense Department official said. A White House official said the object was the size of a small car. The object was first detected on the evening of Feb. 9 and was headed toward the North Pole. Feb. 11 A U.F.O. is shot down over Canada. An American F-22 fighter downed an object over the Yukon Territory, which borders Alaska. The object, which a Canadian official described as cylindrical and smaller than the spy balloon, was picked up on radar on Feb. 10 as it passed over Alaska. This article was first published in 2017. It has been updated. Valentines Day is upon us again. Its a time of candlelit dinners, heart-shaped candy boxes from the drugstore and (depending on your relationship status) watching old romantic comedies while you drink wine by yourself. Its a great celebration. But where did it come from? And why do we care about it so much? People have been trying to answer those questions for a long time. The New York Times pondered the days origin in 1853 but called it one of those mysterious historical or antiquarian problems which are doomed never to be solved. The new offices of Citi Bahrain Global Technology Hub in Manama were inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on Sunday. His Royal Highness highlighted the importance of enhancing the private sectors role as a strategic partner to increase its contribution to the kingdom's development goals, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, said a Bahrain News Agency report. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister emphasised that investing in Bahraini citizens and providing promising opportunities is an essential pillar of the kingdom's ongoing comprehensive development. His Royal Highness highlighted the role of financial and banking institutions in supporting the economic sector and positioning Bahrain as an attractive business and investment destination. In this regard, he outlined how the kingdom's advanced and innovative digital infrastructure supports financial and banking services technologies regionally and globally. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister emphasised the role financial and banking institutions play in creating job opportunities for Bahrainis and highlighted the capabilities of Bahraini professionals in the sector. His Royal Highness noted that the Kingdoms economic diversification efforts continue to advance by developing various plans and strategies for all sectors, and attracting investments, which contribute to the creation of new job opportunities for Bahraini citizens in accordance with the goals of the Economic Recovery Plan and Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. For his part, Citi Bahrain CEO, Michel Sawaya, expressed his appreciation to HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his commitment and support to the Kingdom's banking and financial sector, which has contributed greatly to the sectors development. He also highlighted how strategic partnership with Bahrains Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and the Economic Development Board (EDB) has strengthened the efforts in making the Citi Bahrain Technology Hub an employer of choice that helps build sustainable careers for young Bahrainis in the financial technology domain. Alexandra Brykman, Chief Operating Officer for Institutional Clients Group Operations & Technology at Citi, confirmed Institutional Client Group Technology's commitment to continuing to invest in the kingdom's wider efforts to expand its global footprint. She noted that the continued efforts to develop technological ecosystems and local talent in Bahrain, will contribute to greater growth of its teams, which will be supported by a strong value proposition that offers unparalleled career opportunities for Bahrainis in innovative technology domains across ICG businesses. Citi launched the Global Technology Hub in 2021 as part of a strategic partnership with the Bahrains Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and the Economic Development Board (EDB), with the goal of creating 1,000 programming jobs over the next 10 years. Citi chose Bahrain because of the kingdom's business incubator environment, which supports growth, development, and equal opportunities. Additionally, it is well equipped with qualified human resources, as Bahraini talents outperformed other regions in specialised tests and interviews in the field of programming. Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Rasheed Mohamed Al Maraj, and a number of senior officials were also present at the event. A Chinese man who concelaed a lottery win of 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) from his then-wife for two years has been ordered by a court of law to compensate the woman. In 2021, the man, surnamed Zhou, won a lottery prize of 10 million yuan. After paying the mandatory tax, he was left with 8.43 million ($1.23 million). That was still lifechanging money for him and his family, only instead of sharing the wonderful news with his wife, he reportedly kept acting like nothing happened. On the day that the lottery prize was wired to his bank account, Zhou transferred 2 million to his sister and another 700,000 yuan to his ex-wife, to help her buy an apartment. He didnt mention the lottery win to his wife for two years. Photo: Xie lipton/Unsplash Its unclear how Zhous wife found out about his decption, but the moment she did, she filed for a divorce and also sued him for her cut of the lottery prize. Since the two were married at the time of the win, the money is considered common property of the two spouses, but because Zhou had gone to great lengths to conceal the win from his wife, she actually asked for two thrids of the 2.7 million yuan he had sent his sister and former wife without her consent. On February 1st, a Wenzhou court agreed to the womans request for 60 per cent of the concealed winnings, and no party has sought an appeal against the ruling. The story went wiral on Chinese social media, with the vast majority of people blaming Zhou for keeping his wife in the dark about their common property for so long. He used the couples common property to buy a lottery ticket and won the top prize. He wanted to enjoy it alone? one person asked rhetorically. Interestingly, this is not a unique case. Just last November, we wrote about another Chinese man who collected his lottery prize in disguise so he could keep it a secret from his wife and kids. FINN Partners picks up communications and digital marketing in the UK for Little Caesars, which is launching in the country this year. The UK brief for 2023 will focus on building brand awareness, supporting the company with country-wide venue openings, and ensuring that its product USPs are brought to life through an integrated approach encompassing PR, digital strategy, social media, content creation and SEO. The FINN London team will work in close collaboration with the agencys Chicago team on the account. The agencys partnership with Little Caesars currently includes market entries in Spain, Colombia, Russia, South America and Portugal, as well as in the U.S. FINNs expertise in consumer, corporate and digital comms means they are the right agency for us and will help Little Caesars, as a US brand, expertly navigate the UK market in 2023 and beyond, said Little Caesars global communications director Rebecca Smith. The Pollack Group signs on to work with YouHodler, a Swiss-based international fintech platform providing various Web3 crypto and fiat services. TPG will work to bolster YouHodler's brand in the fintech space as a pioneer of Web3 banking, focusing its efforts on promoting the companys subject matter experts. YouHodlers platform streamlines trading and management of both fiat and crypto assets through such services as Multi HODL, crypto loans, crypto staking and Web3 wallets. Pollack came to the table with many ideas as to how to present YouHodler to the media, and have good connections and relations with the top-tier media outlets to generate global visibility, as well as important coverage in niche media outlets, said YouHodler CEO Ilya Volkov. The James Collective, which has offices in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, adds food and home company Food52 to its client roster. The agency will lead integrated public relations, thought leadership, gatekeeper and earned influencer partnerships, and communications strategy for Food52, while also supporting its family of companies, including Dansk and Schoolhouse. The James Collective brings a wealth of experience and creativity with a proven track record of success in the food and beverage space, said Food52 chief growth officer Joy Peabody. Shuwanza Goff Shuwanza Rebecca Goff, deputy assistant to the president and liaison to Congress, will join Cornerstone Government Affairs on March 3. She has handled outreach to the House of Representatives on issues such as infrastructure, COVID-19, gun violence, semiconductor manufacturing, and the confirmation of Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Prior to joining the White House, Goff was director of legislative operations in the office of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland and became the first Black woman to serve as floor director for the House of Representatives. Cornerstone president & managing director Geoff Gonella said Goff enjoys a stellar reputation among both Democrats and Republicans, Her knowledge of floor procedure and the politics between the executive and legislative branches is unmatched, he said. Cornerstone has more than 140 professionals in 14 offices across the US. 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. THE former convent in Kilcormac will be used to accommodate Ukrainian families, not single men from a number of different African countries as has been claimed, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has said. Asked for an update on the plan for the use of the building, a department spokesperson said: The accommodation referred to will be used by Ukrainian families, primarily women and children. There will be a total capacity of 58. Since Thursday there were claims that the former Convent of Mercy on the Main Street in the town was being prepared for occupation by between 50 and 150 men. There was outrage at the language used in a video widely shared on social media on Thursday and Friday which referred to single males from one named country in Africa and other s...hole countries. John McGhee, a former National Party member who first came to public attention in Offaly when he opposed the opening of a direct provision centre in Tullamore three years ago, recorded the video and called for people to attend a protest in Kilcormac on Friday evening. An estimated 30 people stood outside the convent, some carrying Offaly flags, to register their opposition to the accommodation centre. As many as 50 people gathered on the other side of the street. A video was later posted on YouTube where a woman, identified locally as Tess (Theresa) Dunican, addressed the other people at the protest and said she did not believe it was women and children who would be coming to the convent. Earlier, Theresa Dunican said she would speak to the media, only to change her mind when a man who was present advised her not to do so. In the video posted on YouTube and then distributed on social messaging platforms, she (pictured below) began by saying You all know me. She then stated the convent would not be used for women and children: It's not happening. They're bringing in 150 men who have not been vetted. They're coming in with no papers, no passports and the Government and Micheal Martin says 'shure it's grand, in ye come'. We'll put ye into all the small tiny villages so that ye can infiltrate the small villages, so there is going to be more of them than there is of us. Ms Dunican also said Kilcormac had to be kept for the people of Kilcormac instead of people from African countries: I was born in this town. I don't want to give up my town to foreigners. She said she wouldn't care if it was women and children who were coming to Kilcormac but she believed it will be nothing only men who will come. Ms Dunican also said she would be calling to the office of Cllr John Leahy and pointed out that he had not attended the protest. Speaking on Monday, Cllr Leahy condemned Ms Dunican's use of the word foreigners and praised the contribution made by people from other countries to Kilcormac. A lot of people have taken offence at what she said. We have people who are providing employment in the town that are foreigners, said the local Independent councillor. We have foreigners that are Polish and different nationalities that are working, living and actually part of our community. The people are annoyed over that statement, He also hit out at claims made in the past week that he was an owner or part owner of the company which bought the former convent. I do not have a shareholding and that can be easily checked out in the public records, he said. Automatically these people want to associate me with it because I'm not supporting them. I couldn't support them in a million years. The councillor added: If Tess wants to come to me and she wants to protest about women and children going into the convent I've no problem listening to her. But the one thing I will ask them to do is refrain from saying that I have a financial interest in the convent. He said that if those who were making the ownership claims checked his directorships they would find that they mostly involved voluntary organisations. Cllr Leahy recalled that the local group known as the Concerned Residents of Kilcormac had opposed the convent's previous proposed use as a residential addiction treatment centre. He said he was not going to live in the past but continue to work to ensure that the future use of the convent best suits the town. In relation to claims that local services will not be adequate to cater for any additional people, Cllr Leahy said: I will be fighting tooth and nail. If the services are depleted in any shape or form for the people of Kilcormac, on the back of anybody using the convent, I will be making political noise. Vladimir Putin has isolated himself from most of the European leaders, the Hungarian Prime Minister is among the few if not the only leader within the bloc to still support him. With the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has isolated himself and Russia from the democratic world. However, there is only one EU country and leader that still supports him. Putin's oldest ally: Viktor Orban The Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, is probably one of the oldest Vladimir Putin allies outside of Russia. Last year, Orban visited Putin in Moscow in a rare in-person meeting at the Kremlin despite the rumors that the Russian President was increasingly paranoid about Covid-19 and was avoiding meeting people other than his inner circle. Orban described the trip to Moscow as a peacekeeping mission, however, the meeting which took place at the beginning of February preceded the Ukraine War, Politico reports. Orban said: Difficult times, but we are in very good company. The alliance between Putin and Orban is one of the longest relationships of any EU leader with the Russian President. Something which was confirmed by Orban during their last meeting together. This is our 12th meeting, Thats rather rare. Those who were my fellow leaders then in the Union all have already gone. For the past 13 years working together, the two of us have the longest memory of the European Union and Russias relationship. During this meeting, Putin sat down with Orban at the now-famous big white table. Orban commented: In my life, I have never sat at such a long table before Victor Orban's warning According to Politico, as the war is nearing its first year anniversary, Orban called Ukraine a no-mans land and compared it to Afghanistan in a recent interview with The American Conservative. It's Afghanistan now. The land of nobody. He also warned the West that Vladimir Putin 'cannot afford' to lose the war with the upcoming elections, and that the West should understand that time is on Russia's side. He said, as phrased by the publisher: The West needs to understand that Putin cannot afford to lose, and will not lose, because he's up for re-election next year, and he cannot run as the president who lost a war. The West doesn't understand that time is on Russia's side in Ukraine. Russia is a huge country, and can mobilize a vast army. Ukraine is already running out of troops. When that happens, then what? Orban: Putin is not losing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called Ukraine a "no man's land" and called on Kiev to surrender "Vladimir Putin will not lose and time is on Russia's side," he told Politico. According to the Hungarian head of government, Ukraine is pic.twitter.com/VUFqnkBbs3 dana (@dana916) February 5, 2023 Viktor Orban's snubs President Zelenskyy Orban is currently in his fourth consecutive term as Hungarys leader and besides his closeness with Vladimir Putin, he has often described his animosity towards the Ukrainian President such was the case back in April when he was re-elected, Newsweek reports. 'We will remember this victory until the end of our lives because we had to fight against a huge amount of opponents, and the Ukrainian president, toowe never had so many opponents at the same time.' Most recently, during the recent visit of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to the EU Commission, Orban was the only EU leader seemingly not happy about his visit. When Zelenskyy entered the main hall, Orban was seen pretending he is busy while later during the photo shoot, All EU leaders are seen clapping except for Orban. As Ukrainian President Zelensky walks up for the family photo with EU leaders in Brussels, they all seem to clap, apart from one: Hungarys Viktor Orban. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/H2W6yotNzd Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) February 9, 2023 According to CNBC, Hungarys Orban has often times made EU authorities in Brussels angry. Besides complicating internal EU matters, he has often become a roadblock for the EU support towards Ukraine by vetoing financial support for Kyiv. Despite this, Orban says he supports peace and an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Important #EUCO today with President @ZelenskyyUA . Hungary will continue to provide humanitarian and financial support to . We support an immediate ceasefire in order to prevent the further loss of human lives. Hungary belongs to the peace camp! Orban Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) February 9, 2023 Sources used: -Politico: Strongmen strut their stuff as Orban visits Putin in Russia -Newsweek: Old Putin Ally Appears to Snub Zelensky on Camera -Politico: Orban is telling Ukraine to quit -CNBC: Putins old EU ally Viktor Orban is once again aggravating Brussels People are paying tribute to former longtime Mississauga, Ont., mayor Hazel McCallion as she lies in state for two days, starting Sunday, before her funeral on what would have been her 102nd birthday. Omans Bank Nizwa, which has a total market share of 24% in the Islamic Banking sector has driven significant expansion and development in Islamic banking, said Chief Executive Officer Khaled Al Kayed. Moreover, Bank Nizwa, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is committed to diversifying its income streams by exploring new products, clients, and segments, he said. The bank also places a strong emphasis on keeping its cost-to-income ratio in check and ensuring that it operates as efficiently as possible. To achieve these goals, the Islamic institution is dedicated to continuously monitoring its performance and making necessary adjustments to drive growth and success, he said. Fastest-growing As the fastest-growing Islamic bank in the country, Bank Nizwa has consistently set new benchmarks and established itself as the fastest-growing bank in the country. He stated: "Celebrating our 10-year anniversary is both an exciting and humbling experience, as we reflect on the numerous achievements of Bank Nizwa during this time. Our commitment to Islamic finance goes beyond being a prominent player and industry leader, it allows us to make a positive impact on people's lives and uphold the trust of our valued customers. At Bank Nizwa, we remain dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of excellence, integrity, and transparency, values that have been crucial to our success." Al Kayed highlighted the remarkable journey of Bank Nizwa since its establishment. He emphasised how the bank has strategically aligned its growth with that of conventional banking, while also contributing to the overall enhancement of the banking ecosystem in Oman. Bank Nizwa has recorded a positive trajectory of growth as reflected in its financial results in the last quarter of 2022. Financial performance As a testament to its progress, Bank Nizwa has turned in a commendable financial performance by registering a 20% growth in net profit. The banks total assets also increased by 6%, reaching OMR1.49 billion ($3.88 billion) in December 2022 from OMR1.41 billion in December 2021. The gross financing portfolio improved by 10% to OMR1.24 billion, whilst the total customer deposit portfolio rose by 7% to OMR1.19 billion. The banks operating income witnessed a growth of 18%. In addition, Bank Nizwa has achieved significant growth in its retail and wholesale business and also has showcased its strong dedication to maintaining a people-centric approach and spearheading initiatives that add value to the lives of its employees as well as the community at large. The banks increased emphasis on integrating ESG into operations and its unwavering commitment to the digitalisation agenda were strongly applauded at the event. As a bank that has advocated the principles of Shariah, Bank Nizwa reiterated its keen focus on nurturing a knowledge economy that is financially conscious, pragmatic and reserves a savings mindset. The bank was also able to share interesting insights and statistics from the various Islamic banking awareness campaigns it conducted across a number of wilayats, Al Kayed said. At the forefront As the Islamic banking sector continues to evolve and expand, Bank Nizwa remains at the forefront, driving innovation and setting new standards for excellence. With a deep understanding of its customers needs and a steadfast commitment to ethical and transparent banking practices, Bank Nizwa has become a trailblazer in the industry, delivering a range of cutting-edge financial products and services that are fully aligned with Islamic values and principles. The banks team of knowledgeable and experienced professionals is dedicated to providing personalised and efficient solutions, ensuring customers receive the highest level of service and support, he added.-- TradeArabia News Service The Turkish Canadian Society is calling for a change in the way Canada deploys rescue crews to international disasters after only one team deployed to Turkiye after last week's earthquake. The oldest brother of a Canadian woman missing since an earthquake struck Turkiye last week says excavation equipment has begun moving rubble at the site where his sister was last heard from. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Upworthy 14 Feb 2023 The official death count from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has now topped 37,000. But a week after the disaster and against.. The five largest Western oil firms announced nearly $200 billion in profits after the Ukraine war sent energy prices soaring. Strong Chinese oil demand could mean more huge payouts alongside calls for windfall taxes. The Munich Security Conference is set to convene, one year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In its annual report, the MSC warns of a growing divide between 'competing world orders.' NATO's Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine was using ammunition faster than NATO members could produce it. Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv both report heavy fighting around Bakhmut. Follow DW for the latest. The city of Bakhmut in Eastern Ukraine was under heavy Russian artillery fire on Monday as Ukrainian forces there braced for possible ground attacks, Ukrainian military officials said. Democracy should not be a tool of U.S. to maintain hegemony 11:04, February 13, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily U.S. President Joe Biden recently talked big about democracy once again, bragging that American democracy remains "unbowed and unbroken" and running his mouth to defame other countries. However, the fact is just the other way around, despite his efforts to gloss over the problems of American democracy. Political wrestling is getting increasingly fierce in Washington, and governance challenges are still troubling the United States. Democracy disorder and governance failure have become outstanding issues in the United States today. The country is in no position to act as a judge of democracy. The failing American democracy is causing pain for the American society. The Wall Street Journal recently said in an article that most of America does not seem to appreciate Biden's bragging, and Americans also observe a fraying social consensus that has them worried about the country. According to a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, only a quarter of U.S. adults say things in the country are headed in the right direction. A previous poll by Gallup also suggested that over half of Americans considered that both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party were doing poorly in representing the American people. The recent news headlines in the United States well explain why American democracy has encountered a trust crisis "A Wake of Tragedy in California After Mass Shootings", "Protesters hit streets in U.S. after deadly police beating of Tyre Nichols ", "U.S. hits borrowing limit, kicking off fight between Republicans and Democrats "... American democracy not only failed to make a prescription to the "diseases" that have long troubled the United States, but also made problems trickier. It's not surprising that Americans are losing confidence in American democracy, which only stages shows and pursues no real outcome. Rather than reflecting on the problems of American democracy, the United States takes democracy as a tool that helps it maintain its global hegemony. It launched the War in Afghanistan that lasted 20 years and forced American democracy upon the country, which threw Afghan people into an abyss of misery. After ruining Afghanistan and the future of a generation of Afghan people, the U.S. realized its failure in transplanting American democracy to Afghanistan and withdrew its troops in panic. It even illegally froze the assets of the Afghan central bank. The U.S. interference in Syria's domestic affairs under the disguise of democracy also led to disasters. Today, the United States is still plundering petroleum from Syria despite a severe humanitarian crisis that the big earthquake has caused for the Syrian people. What it signals is only overbearing indifference. Facts prove that the U.S. exportation of democracy is indeed a weapon of mass destruction that hurts other countries. Jeffrey Sachs, a professor from America's Columbia University, once denounced the hypocritic American democracy, saying the most violent country in the world is the U.S. since 1950. Since the Biden administration assumed office, it has always been playing the "democracy card" in its diplomacy and selling the hypocritic rhetoric of "democracy versus authoritarianism," trying to build so-called "alliances of values." However, as a matter of fact, it is just forming cliques against those that are different and making ideology and values a tool to oppress other countries and advance its geopolitical strategies, which is exactly fake democracy and true hegemonism. The United States monopolizing the definition of democracy with its own standard is the best example of being undemocratic. Doing the opposite of democracy in the name of democracy and provoking separation and confrontation seriously undermines the stability of the international order and only brings turbulences to the world. Paul Heer, a distinguished fellow at the Center for the National Interest of the United States warned that the Biden administration sees U.S.-China relations as so-called "democracy versus authoritarianism," which would lead to risks of over confrontation. Today's world is different from what it was in the past. The U.S., trying to replicate a Cold War, has seriously misjudged the current international landscape and the trend of the times. Democracy is a common value of humanity. It should not be merely a decorative vase or a tool to maintain hegemony. The international community is clearly aware of the dangers of the hypocrisy of American democracy and that as a hegemonic tool of the United States. The U.S. attempts to provoke confrontation, divide the world and suppress other countries in the name of democracy are doomed to fail. The United States and the Biden administration had better face up to and well manage their own problems, and make Americans believe that their country is headed in the right direction, rather than pointing fingers at other countries and meddling in their domestic affairs. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Bahrain's tourism sector last year exceeded targets set under its 2022-26 tourism strategy, Tourism Minister Fatima bint Jaffer Al Sairafi has said. Tourism revenues topped BD1.5 billion ($3.98 billion) in 2022, an increase of 50% compared to the target figure for the same year, which stood at BD1 billion, said the minister chairing the board meeting of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) on Sunday. She stressed the importance of harnessing all efforts to achieve more tourism successes during the next stage in order to reach the goals of the economic recovery plan, a Bahrain News Agency report said. According to the 2022 statistics, the number of visitors arriving for tourism purposes reached 9.9 million, up by 19% over the target number of 8.3 million visitors. The average daily expenditure of tourists exceeded the target number by 10%, with a record of BD76 per visitor, compared to a target average expenditure of BD69. The average duration of stay for tourists exceeded the target number of 3.3 days, recording 3.5 days, which represents an increase of more than 6%. BTEA Chief Executive Officer Dr Nasser Qaidi said inbound tourism in Bahrain has recovered during the year 2022 by 90% compared to pre-pandemic levels, outperforming the international recovery rate, which was estimated by the World Tourism Organization at a rate of 65%. Dr Qaidi highlighted the implemented tourism projects, including the approved schedule for cruise ships for the 2023 season, and the results of the Bahrain holiday season, which was launched last December. He highlighted BTEA's preparations related to the Gulf Air Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, which will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit from March 3 to 5. He underlined efforts to restore the wedding tourism momentum in Bahrain, highlighting cooperation with partners to host 14 weddings in the first quarter of this year. Upworthy 16 Feb 2023 An Atlanta judge released part of a grand jury report Thursday saying jurors believe one or more witnesses committed perjury during.. Finland and Sweden's NATO membership bids remain blocked by members Turkey and Hungary. Germany's top diplomat Annalena Baerbock said she expected their NATO accession take place "without further delay." Meanwhile, Canadian investigators are hunting for the wreckage of a UFO that was shot down by a US jet over Yukon territory on Saturday. Cadets of Israel's Foreign Ministry visited Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates for the first time as part of their course. The Security Cabinet has also decided to reinforce police units and expand security operations against inciters and supporters of terrorism in Jerusalem. Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service said it had intelligence that 60 militants had been recruited and were undergoing training at an American base in Syria. The US has repeatedly warned its citizens to leave Russia. The last public warning was in September after Putin ordered a partial mobilization. Oneindia 03 Apr 2023 A well-known Russian military blogger was killed in an explosion at a cafe in St. Petersburg yesterday in what appeared to be an.. Senior MPs from both the UK's main parties have attacked the government for allowing the governor of Xinjiang to come to the country, despite the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in his province. Washington (AFP) Feb 12, 2023 A US warplane shot down another flying object on Sunday, this time over Lake Huron on the US-Canadian border, the fourth in a dramatic series that began with the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon a week ago. Jittery Americans have been watching the skies as the mysterious incursions unfolded against a backdrop of acute tensions with China - although only the first object has so far Eagle Hills Muscat, a partnership between Eagle Hills and Izz International, announced that Omans first luxury branded residences, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, has been approved as an Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC). ITCs are opening up Omans real estate sector, as they allow foreign investors to own freehold property and granted a residence visa based on this ownership. These complexes are gaining popularity due to their luxurious facilities, better security and prime locations. As an ITC, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental will welcome international buyers and expatriates, offering them inspired community living in the heart of Muscat. The development introduces a new concept of luxury living to the Sultanate, providing the first branded offering in the heart of Muscat. The project is aligned with Omans 2040 Tourism Strategy of attracting 11.6 million visitors and raising the tourism sectors GDP contribution to over 6% by 2040. The 156 exclusive Residences at Mandarin Oriental offer one to three-bedroom luxury apartments and four-bedroom penthouses. Residents will benefit from outstanding facilities including 24-hour concierge, a private drop-off area, valet parking, an exclusive residents-only lounge, an expansive beachfront and a waterfront sanctuary boasting multiple retail and food and beverage outlets. Mandarin Oriental hotel will be open by the end of 2023, and its located in Shati Al Qurum. As an Integrated Tourism Complex, Eagle Hills is committed to delivering potential buyers with a high quality, branded experience that will redefine Omans luxury property landscape. TradeArabia News Service Upworthy 16 Feb 2023 President Biden addressed the three unidentified aerial objects shot down by the U.S. military and said he gave the order out of an.. Upworthy 15 Feb 2023 Celebrities have paid tribute to Brianna Ghey, the transgender teenager stabbed to death in a park in the United Kingdom. Brianna.. The pair and the woman's husband were pulled from a Turkish apartment block after the earthquake. BBC Local News: London -- PC Jack Beadle sprayed the 17-year-old in the face with an incapacitant during an arrest. The U.S. military shot down a flying object over Lake Huron near the U.S.-Canada border, U.S. officials said on Sunday, in the fourth such interception by American fighters Eurasia Review 28 Feb 2023 Most expert observers agree that the Ukraine war has resulted in much of a military stalemate. The Russians appear to have the.. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, #thomsonreuters Watch VideoA U.S. fighter jet shot down an "unidentified object" over Lake Huron on Sunday on orders from President Joe Biden. It was the fourth such downing in eight days and the latest military strike in an extraordinary chain of events over U.S. airspace that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent. Part of... People buried under rubble in southern Turkey continue to defy the odds, surviving freezing weather and a week without water. A 40-year-old woman was pulled alive in Gaziantep province early Monday. Rumble 26 Mar 2023 In every war in history, commanders who invested in the future by using their experience and knowledge have saved their countries,.. NATO Defence Ministers are meeting in Brussels this week (14-15 February 2023) to strengthen the Alliances deterrence and defence, and step up and sustain for Ukraine. Previewing the meeting on Monday (13 February 2023), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted the urgency of delivering key capabilities to Ukraine... We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Vancouver's B2Gold to buy Sabina with eye on Nunavut deposits We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing #sabina #nunavut #torontostockexchange #mali #philippines #namibia #uzbekistan #finland #colombia #sabinasbackriver New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Monday called on Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' in Kathmandu and held productive discussions on bilateral issues, including economic and development cooperation. The Indian Embassy in Nepal in a tweet said: Foreign Secretary Kwatra called on Rt. Hon. PM @cmprachanda and held productive discussions on bilateral issues across various sectors, including economic and development cooperation. Earlier in the day, the Indian Foreign Secretary, who is on a two-day visit to Kathmandu, called on Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Nepalese Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal during which the two sides had a fruitful exchange on strengthening the bilateral ties. The Indian Embassy in Nepal, in tweets, said that the FS conveyed the greetings of Indian President Droupadi Murmu to the Nepalese President: Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra paid a courtesy call on Rt. Hon'ble President of Nepal Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari at Sheetal Niwas and conveyed greetings on behalf of Hon'ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu. On his meeting with the Nepalese Foreign Minister, the Embassy said: Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra called on Honble Foreign Minister of Nepal @bimalarp today and had a fruitful exchange on strengthening the comprehensive India-Nepal relations. He also held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal and reviewed the wide-ranging bilateral relationship. Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra met his counterpart Mr Bharat Raj Paudyal and reviewed the wide-ranging India-Nepal partnership. #IndiaNepalFriendship, the Indian Embassy said. The Nepalese Foreign Ministry in a statement said that Nepalese Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal and his Indian counterpart Vinay Mohan Kwatra, during their meeting, reviewed various aspects of Nepal-India relations covering connectivity, trade and transit, power sector cooperation, agriculture, education, culture, health sector and people to people relations, among others. They reviewed with satisfaction the progress made in the connectivity projects such as railways, transmissions lines, bridges and the ICPs. The Nepalese side thanked the Government of India for the supply of fertilizers, easing of export restrictions on food grains, and delivery of dialysis machines. The two sides discussed the early conclusion of the renewed transit treaty, review of the trade treaty, and convening of the Inter-governmental Committee on Trade (IGC) at an early date, the statement said. They expressed commitment to allow export of power from Nepal to India on long-term basis utilizing all products of the exchange market. They also discussed technical upgrading of cross-border transmission lines and early approval of the four proposed transmission line projects under the LOC-IV. The Nepalese Foreign Secretary reiterated the request of his government for additional air-entry routes as well as early concurrence of the near border flight operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa. They also discussed the boundary matters. In this regard, they exchanged views on completing the boundary works in the remaining segments through the established bilateral mechanisms. They also agreed to finalize the MoU between foreign service academies of the two countries. The meeting was held in an atmosphere of friendship and cordiality reflecting the close and multifaceted relations between the two neighbours. Foreign Secretary Paudyal hosted luncheon in honour of the visiting Indian Foreign Secretary and the members of his delegation, the statement said. Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Kwatra, a former Indian envoy to Nepal, arrived in Kathmandu at the head of a four-member team. He was received at Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport by his Nepalese counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava and others. From the airport, he went directly to Hotel Yak and Yeti. Nepal desk chief at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary Anurag Srivastava (North) is also part of FS Kwatras team. A Nepalese daily quoting sources said that Kwatra is visiting Nepal to fix the date and agenda of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahals India visit. This is the first stand-alone visit of the Foreign Secretary to Nepal since he assumed charge of his post. UNI RN Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, met with the chairman and members of the Board of Directors of the Zakat (Religious Alms) Fund to discuss support for the needy during the month of Ramadan scheduled for the second half of March next year Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned against an increase in the prices of sorghum and millet, the stable food in Sudan, which will impact millions of people particularly in regions affected by civil strife and insecurity Photo: (Photo : Pexel/August de Richelieu) The Korean alternative to KN95 masks is proven to be not only effective but also readily available. Most kids are back in school, and though the world is slowly returning to normal, the COVID-19 virus is still very much present. Thus, parents must ensure that their children, especially those under 12 years old and unvaccinated, are still protected by wearing the best possible face mask. According to Sabrina Rojas Weiss of Parenting.com, both parents and experts, herself included, have found the smarter choice of face mask for their kids to use, the Korean-made KF94 masks. What are KF94 masks; why are they better? KF94 masks are manufactured in South Korea and regulated by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Technically, it is the equivalent of China's KN95 masks. "KF" stands for Korean filter, and the number "94" implies the percentage of particles it can filter. Thus, it can filter 94 percent of the 0.3 microns in size, or probably larger, particles. Despite the SARS-CoV-2 virus having 0.1 microns, since it travels through larger droplets and aerosols, masks are still one of the best ways to prevent one from having and transmitting COVID-19. The KF94 masks, which are made up of four layers of nonwoven material, have been proven through a study - "Performance Evaluation of Commercially Available Masks in Korea for Filtering Airborne Droplets Containing Bacteria'' published in the National Library of Medicine, to be almost a hundred percent effective in blocking the virus. It works nearly as effectively as the FDA-approved N95 masks worn by professionals in the medical field. If only there were available N95 masks for kids, it would be the smartest choice for kids to use, but since there aren't, KF94 masks are the next best in line or the "exceptional option," as experts describe them. Like N95 masks, KF94 masks provide a secure fit over the bridge of the nose through its adjustable bridge. They also have side flaps to contour the face, which help close the gaps around the face and limit the entry of unfiltered air, according to Dr. Sara Andrabi. Moreover, KF94 masks have no counterfeit issues, unlike KN95. Aaron Collins, a self-described "citizen engineer," and a real-life mechanical engineer, somehow made the KF94 masks famous. He has been using YouTube to inform people about the benefit of this mask by testing its filtration properties to find the best masks out there. "I've been testing them and screening them and talking about them from the top of my lungs. In South Korea, if you put a KF94 stamp on your masks and don't meet the standards, the government will fine you heavily. I like these masks because of the quality system in place," Collins explained to Health as he takes pride in the "rigorous screening process" of KF94 masks. Read also: Chelsea Clinton Says Mask Wearing Teaches Children about Kindness Where can parents get KF94 masks? Here are the top three best KF94 masks for kids. 3. Happy Life Kids KF94 Face Masks at $27.88 for a 20-piece pack According to some feedback from Amazon customers, these masks run big. Thus, they are best to be used by tweens and pre-teens. They are guaranteed KF94s from Korea and have no counterfeiting reports. According to Collins, they have an efficiency of 98.5 percent filtration. 2. The Bio For Preschool Kids 'U&I' KF94 Adjustable at $16.00 for a 10-piece pack Collins reported a 99.3 percent filtration efficiency for this brand. Further, it has been highly appreciated and recommended by parents with preschoolers stating that it perfectly suits and stays in their kids' faces and that kids do not have any complaints about it. 1. Dr. Puri KF94 Small White Mask at $27.99 for a 20-piece pack According to NY The Strategist, this is the best KF94 mask for kids to wear, with the highest filtration efficiency of 99.4 percent, as reported by Collins. Moreover, this mask's design opens up like an envelope and "sit slightly off the face," allowing the kids more room to talk and breathe. It comes in three sizes. Related Article: Best Face Mask for Kids: What Parents Need To Know Before Buying Photo: (Photo : Tasos Katopodis /Getty Images) A 7-year-old is one of the suspects behind the most recent food truck robbery. Robberies in food trucks have been increasing at an alarming rate. Some of these crimes were caught on video. These robbers were allegedly armed with guns and knives, usually stealing cash and belongings from the food trucks. 7-year-old suspect in DC food truck robbery The District of Columbia Police Department is actively searching for a robbery suspect believed to be between the ages of seven and 10, according to a report from WUSA9. Although the details surrounding the robbery were not yet known, including the method used, what was taken, the location of the crime, and whether or not the young suspect was armed, the authorities had confirmed that the suspect was as young as seven years old. The police described the appearance of the young suspect, who was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, gray gloves, and a multi-colored backpack. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) released a tweet regarding the robbery just before 5:30 P.M. The crime took place in the 1400 block of 11th St. NW. Alert: Robbery Investigation in the 1400 block of 11th St, NW. Lookout for (S1): B/M, black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, gray gloves; (S2): B/M, 7-10 years of age wearing a multi-colored backpack. DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 10, 2023 In addition to searching for the 7-year-old suspect, the police department is also searching for an adult accomplice who was with the young suspect during the robbery. This accomplice had been described as wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and gray gloves. According to DC News NOW, the police had made public a surveillance footage in connection to a string of food truck robberies in Montgomery County. Authorities were hunting for individuals they suspected to be connected to the thefts. The police stated that the series of robberies began in January 2023 and had impacted food trucks throughout Montgomery County and Takoma Park. Read Also: Missing Students in School Number to Hundreds of Thousands Due to COVID-19 Takoma Park food truck robberies Takoma Park and Montgomery County Police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the culprits behind a series of food truck robberies. The first reported incident occurred on January 23 at Elvira's Kitchen Food Truck on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. An initial investigation showed that two Hispanic male suspects approached the truck at around 2:55 P.M., jumped over the barrier, and entered the truck. Once inside, one of the suspects pulled an object from his waistband, causing the employee to believe it was a weapon and flee the truck. The suspects made off with an undisclosed sum of money and fled the scene in an unknown direction. According to Source of the Spring, MCPD said the suspects were two Hispanic males aged 18 and 25 with thin builds. The suspects entered the food trucks, displayed weapons in each subsequent robberies, and took cash. These thefts occurred at the following food trucks on the following dates: Vanessa's Pupuseria on Piney Branch Road on Thursday, February 2 at 5:05 P.M. Pupuseria Luisa on New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park on January 27 at approximately 4 P.M. Pupuseria y Taquiera Lupita Food Truck on New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park on January 20 at around 3 P.M. Pupuseria Luisa on New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park on January 13 at approximately 2 P.M. Anyone with any information regarding these crimes is urged to contact the police at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). The police are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to an arrest. Related Article: New Jersey Student Commits Suicide After Video of Her Being Bullied Circulates Online Photo: (Photo : CHANDAN KHANNA / Getty Images) A Texas father has been convicted of capital murder due to his 14-year-old son's shooting. On Friday, a jury in Dallas found Richard Acosta, 34, guilty of capital murder in connection with a shooting that took place in 2021 and resulted in the deaths of three people. Acosta's 14-year-old son, Abel Elias Acosta, shot three people and injured one the day after Christmas in 2021, which stunned the community. Texas father found guilty of capital murder According to ABC News, the son of Richard Acosta, Abel Elias Acosta, was charged as a culprit in a shocking shooting incident that left three teenagers dead and a 15-year-old cook injured. Despite the horrific events, the Texas father testified that he had no knowledge of the shooting or that his son was involved. The Texas father said he went to the store alone to buy medicine for his wife. He only became aware of the situation when Abel told him to drive away from the scene because someone was shooting. Since the incident, Abel has been on the run and is considered armed and dangerous by the authorities. Despite a nationwide search, he has yet to be apprehended. Richard Acosta surrendered to the police a few days after the incident and was later indicted for his role in the shooting. He claimed that his son disappeared on the same night of the shooting and that he had no information about his whereabouts. The police charged his 14-year-old son, Abel, with capital murder and issued a warning to the public to be cautious as he is considered dangerous. An arrest affidavit released by the authorities showed that surveillance footage placed Richard in the driver's seat of a pickup truck near the scene of the shooting, with the suspect standing in plain view at the front door and shooting those inside. Read Also: Missing Arizona Teen Found in Convicted Offender's Utah Home 14-year-old's shooting incident The events leading up to the shooting were caught on surveillance video, which showed the shooter approaching the store in a crouch and armed with a handgun. As reported by Associated Press, the shooter burst into the store and fired over 20 rounds from a .40-caliber pistol before making a quick escape in a pickup truck driven by the Texas father. According to Richard's lawyer, the son was distressed and ran back to the truck, where his father drove them both home. The surveillance footage also showed that the pickup driver had made a stop at the store before the shooting, where he appeared to purchase medicine. The shooting was believed to be a targeted attack to retaliate against one or more individuals in the store. The Garland Police Department had made it clear that they would not rest until Abel Acosta, the suspect in the shooting, was captured. In a statement, they acknowledged that they were only halfway to justice and that their search would persist until the suspect was found. The shooting was a tragic event that impacted the community, and the authorities were determined to bring the perpetrator to justice. Furthermore, according to Texas law, a person can be charged as an accomplice to a crime even if they did not physically commit it themselves. Texas law defines an accomplice as a person who aids, promotes, encourages, or instigates the commission of a crime, either before or during its commission. This means that if a person assists another individual in planning or carrying out a crime, they can be charged with the same crime as the person who committed it, even if they did not physically participate in the act. Related Article: Teens' Suicide Unravels Severe Bullying in New Jersey High School; Superintendent Shifts Blame to Family Photo: (Photo : CHANDAN KHANNA / Getty Images) Florida rapper Billy Adams allegedly killed his pregnant girlfriend, Alana Sims. Billy Bennett Adams III, 25, also known as Ace NH, was identified as the suspect in the homicide and was arrested Wednesday for killing the pregnant mother in New Tampa. Police said the arrest comes nine days after Alana Sims, 22, was found shot to death outside her car in the 10700 block of Pictorial Park Drive. Florida rapper accused of killing Alana Sims Fox News reported Sims was shot outside her car while her young son was inside. Despite the violence that took place, the boy was found sleeping by the authorities and was unharmed. According to Tampa Police Major Michael Stout, Sims had thought she would attend a party celebrating Adams' recent acquittal in a double murder case. However, the authorities believed that the Florida rapper had other plans and was not ready to become a father or have Sims in his life. At the time of the incident, Sims was five months pregnant, and the child was believed to be Adams' offspring. According to WFLA-TV, when the detectives questioned Adams, they felt something was amiss with his initial statements. Other witnesses also did not support his alibi, leading the authorities to believe something was off. The video footage showed Adams' car near the crime scene, even though he had denied being anywhere near. Despite this, Adams later admitted to killing Sims in a conversation with the detectives. He was arrested at his parent's house in New Tampa and now faces charges of first-degree murder and killing of an unborn child by injury to the mother. Read Also: Six-Year-Old Boy Becomes Face of Crisis as South Dakota Tribe Sues US Government Authorities say it is an unthinkable crime Tampa Interim Police Chief Lee Bercaw expressed his shock over the alleged crime committed by Adams and stated that he hoped this arrest would bring some solace to the victim's family, who had suffered the loss of two loved ones. The Police Chief has affirmed that they are working with the State Attorney's Office to ensure the suspect will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. State Attorney Susan Lopez also expressed her disbelief and called the suspect's actions unfathomable, referencing the previous trial. On the other hand, on January 27, a jury in Hillsborough County, Florida, found Adams acted in self-defense in the fatal shootings of Trevon Albury and Daniel Thompson at a recording studio in November 2020. During the trial, prosecutors had portrayed Adams as a ruthless killer, but he testified in court that he had feared for his life during the altercation at the Lutz, Florida, recording studio. The jury ultimately sided with Adams, finding him not guilty. According to the New York Post, State Attorney General Lopez stated that her office did not agree with the verdict, but they will continue collaborating with the Tampa Police Department to bring him to justice for these latest crimes. Major Michael Stout commented that Adams allegedly admitted to pulling the trigger in the fatal shooting but did not display much remorse during the interview with the detectives. Stout stated that he did not observe any remorse in Adams during the interview. Related Article: Alleged 7-Year-Old Suspect Sought in DC Food Truck Robbery Spree By Mir Afroz Zaman Dhaka, Feb 13 (UNI) India and Bangladesh are scheduled to hold Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on Wednesday, which will review the ongoing cooperation between the two countries apart from the issues of mutual interests. Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra will arrive in Dhaka after the completion of his two-day official visit to Nepal from 13 to 14 February. Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen and his Indian counterpart will discuss all the bilateral issues at the FOC. Kwatra assumed charge as foreign secretary on 1 May last year, and this will be his first Bangladesh visit after that. Preparatory works regarding the FOC are now underway, said Seheli Sabrin, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a weekly briefing Thursday. She said the last FOC was held on 29 January, 2021, in New Delhi, India. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to attend the 18th Group of Twenty (G20) Summit which will take place in New Delhi on 9-10 September this year. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi invited her Bangladesh counterpart Hasina to attend the Summit. Meanwhile, foreign minister AK Abdul Momen will attend the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi on 1 and 2 March. The issues related to the upcoming visits by the prime minister and foreign minister are likely to be discussed during the Indian foreign secretarys visits, said a diplomatic source. Kwatra is likely to meet the prime minister and foreign minister during his visit. India, which holds the presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November, 2023, invited Bangladesh as a "guest country" in its all meetings, Seheli said. Bangladesh sees its series of engagements with the G20 under India's presidency this year as a "big honour". "We will raise our issues there. It is a big honour for us. We should be prudent," Momen told the reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently, noting that Bangladesh is the only South Asian country invited by the host. The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, which plays an "important role" in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues. India invited Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as guest countries to its meetings and summit, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, India. Apart from the G20 leaders, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil El-Sisi, Mauritian prime minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, Oman head of state Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez, UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan were invited to the G20 Summit. Hasina paid a state visit to India from 5 to 8 September last year at the invitation of Modi. The G20 comprises 19 countries Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK, the US and the European Union. The G20 members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. UNI MAZ GNK During Apple's Financial Conference Call on Feb. 03, Apple's CEO Tim Cook stated at one point: "And looking at the business in India, we set a quarterly revenue record and grew very strong double digits year over year. Taking a step back, India is hugely exciting market for us and is a major focus. We brought the online store there in 2020. We will soon bring Apple retail there. So we're putting a lot of emphasis on the market. We are, in essence, taking what we learned in China years ago and how we scale to China and bringing that to bear" in India. Today we're learning that a top Finlands Salcomp executive stated today, that it plans to double its workforce in India to 25,000 over the next three years. The plans come as Apple shifts production away from China after its strict COVID-related lockdowns and restrictions, and with rising trade and geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington. Sasikumar Gendham, managing director, Salcomp Manufacturing India, told reporters in Chennai city in southern India during an industry event today that "The whole supply chain is now looking at an alternative. And India is poised to be one of the best alternatives." He further added that "Everyone knows that the whole world has been depending on this one nation (China) over the last few decades and its time to really diversify and decluster." Gendham told Reuters that Salcomp will have a 'significant role' in Apples supply chain in India. Salcomp started their Chennai operation in 2020 having reached an agreement a year earlier to take over the facility formerly owned by Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia. For more on this, read the full Reuters report. In early January 2023, Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that BOE had received orders for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus and was likely to gain up to 70% of Apple's iPhone 16 display business overtaking Samsung. Samsung legal went into high gear to ensure that this development would not materialize by starting with a complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission about Chinese OLED makers. The Elec had claimed that the threat was really aimed at BOE and a message to Apple to not proceed with a plan to replace them as the leader of iPhone displays. While only time will tell how that will play out in the months ahead, BOE is determined to break the Samsung-LG monopoly on OLED displays for Apple and is pushing forward on another front: OLED displays for future iPad and MacBooks. According to The Elec, Gao Wenbao, CEO of China BOE's display division, is scheduled to visit Canon in Japan later this month. Canon will be discussing the production of 8th generation organic light emitting diode (OLED) deposition equipment for Apple devices with LG Display, Samsung Display and BOE. 8th generation OLED for IT is a technology for mass production of medium-sized OLED products such as notebooks. At present, Samsung may be first to receive the new equipment, with LG second and BOE third with receipt of equipment in Q4 2024. Yet that's not set in stone at present. The order of who will get the equipment first could be disrupted if Canon hears from Apple that they want BOE to receive the equipment first. The Elec believes that BOE Display's CEO will request that their company be prioritized in the existing slot acquisition ranking. Yet, it may boil down to what Apple decides is going to be their leading OLED display maker for future MacBook and iPads. Panel makers are expected to make the final decision on the technology method and investment considering the OLED price they can receive from Apple and the amount of profit they can leave behind. The OLED panel of the OLED iPad, which is expected to be released for the first time next year, is made in the 6th generation line of Samsung Display and LG Display. The evaporator for 8th generation OLED for IT, which Korean and foreign panel makers are currently discussing with Canon, can be brought in early next year at the earliest, so the start of mass production will be later than that. In the 8th generation OLED line for IT, there is a high possibility that it will focus on notebook OLED rather than tablet. For more, read the full report by The Elec. With Samsung legal waving OLED-related patents in BOE's face, It's unknown whether BOE will back down in Challenging Samsung for Apple's business or double down with the help of the Chinese Government in an attempt to break Samsung's stranglehold on Apple's OLED business. It's being reported this morning that BOE is expected to supply Apple with a single OLED panel for the iPhone 15 series this year. only one type of OLED in the Apple iPhone 15 series this year. BOE's iPhone OLED yield has been lower than that of Korean panel makers, and Samsung Display's patent infringement warning acted as a pressure factor. Samsung Display is expected to deliver all 4 types of OLEDs in the iPhone 15 series this year, and LG Display is expected to focus on producing 2 types of OLEDs in the top lineup. According to industry sources, China's BOE is likely to supply only one type of organic light emitting diode (OLED) in the lower lineup in the Apple iPhone 15 series to be released in the second half of this year, as they did for the iPhone 14 series. Specifically, BOE is expected to deliver only one type of LTPS method OLED for the 6.1-inch general model, which is a lower lineup in the iPhone 15 series this year. This year's iPhone 15 series is based on thin-film transistor (TFT) technology, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) OLED in the lower two lineups (6.1 and 6.7 inches), and low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) in the upper two lineups (6.1 and 6.7 inches). Method OLED is applied. LTPO, which is advantageous for low power consumption, has more processes and higher technical difficulty than LTPS. Samsung Display is expected to produce all four OLEDs for the iPhone 15 series, and LG Display is expected to focus on the top two LTPO type OLEDs. Contrary to previous industry estimates, BOE will not supply LTPS-type OLEDs for the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus, so Samsung Display is expected to supply all of the OLEDs for the model. According to The Elec, BOE is expected to find it difficult to significantly increase iPhone OLED shipments this year due to technology and patent issues. BOE needs to raise expectations that it can supply two types of LTPS-type OLEDs for the lower lineup in the iPhone 15 series this year and LTPO-type OLEDs for the upper lineup in the iPhone 16 series next year. The industry cites Apple's intention to diversify risk and Samsung Display's patent infringement warning as the main reasons for the recent development in a direction different from the original expectation. The Elec is referring to Ming-Chi Kuo's prediction that BOE would overtake Samsung for iPhone 15 and 15 Pro displays who claimed that Apple had placed an order with display supplier BOE for the panels of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro in the second half of 2023. By 2024, the supplier could overtake Samsung as the largest display supplier for the iPhone. Ming-Chi Kuo went so far as to predict a 70% share of Apple's iPhone 16 displays. This is why Samsung Display has made it clear to Apple that any such move to choose BOE over them would be disrupted by patent infringement cases that could affect supplies of displays for iPhones. Apple's first Mixed Reality Headset that's expected to roll out later this year will be a high-end device with a high-end display. This development has apparently pushed Meta to collaborate with both South Korean component makers SK Hynix and LG Display to develop a high-end MicroOLED display for a future headset. Meta can't afford to have Apple's headset win out on display quality and so the pressure is on. According to The Elec, Meta recently signed a collaboration agreement with South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix for the development and production of MicroOLED. SK Hynix is also close to signing an agreement with Meta, sources said. LG Display already has such an agreement signed with the social media giant, they said. Their alliance will see Meta design the needed chip; SK Hynix will produce the wafer for the chips; and LG Display will handle the final step where the OLED is deposited on the wafer and then cut to be a MicroOLED panel. MicroOLED panels are OLED panels cut out of silicon wafers instead of glass or plastic substrates. This allows them to be thinner and smaller while having ultra-high definition resolution, making them optimal for application in mixed reality (XR) devices, an area Meta is planning to expand on. For more details, read the full report by The Elec. It's been rumored that Apple's HMD will initially offer 4K displays which equals 2,160 pixels tall and 3,840 pixels wide. Apple patents point to future 8K foveated displays. The current Meta Quest Pro Infinite Display offers 1800 x 1920 pixels per eye. So it's clear that Meta wants to be able to match or exceed Apple's upcoming 4K display quality. Herewith, I post another brief set of preliminary notes for (this time) a couple of chapters in my projected book on the Beatitudes. The first two entries in this littler series are Introducing a Blog Focus for the Sabbath and Blessed are the poor in spirit. So here, for whatever its worth, is my third installment: In the King James Version of the Bible, Matthew 5:4 reads as follows: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted []. The Greek word (in transliteration, paraklethesontai) is the term that is rendered in the KJV as they shall be comforted. It might perhaps ring a bell even with non-readers of Greek: The Holy Ghost is commonly called the Comforter. The first place in the Bible where that term is used in that sense is John 14:16-17: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [], that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The word that the KJV renders as Comforter is [Latin paracletus], which often shows up even in English as [the] Paraclete. It might also plausibly be translated as helper or advocate. In any case, its clearly a close relative of the Greek verb in Matthew 5:4, which suggests, quite truthfully, that mourners will or, at least, can receive the Spirit, the Comforter. This is certainly true for believers. Because of the assurance of life beyond the grave, and because of the miraculous defeat of death effected by the resurrection of Christ, they can have confidence that mourning is not the final word. To borrow language from the Psalmist, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5). And resurrected life wont merely be a resumed life. It will be a glorified life. Moreover, as the Prophet Joseph Smith testified, All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection. By the vision of the Almighty I have seen it. In the meantime, though, our confidence in the future making-right of all things can and will be sorely tried and wrenchingly tested. (For some thoughts on that, see my recent remarks to the U.S. Hazara Conference 2022, which have now been published as Beautiful Patience.). Many of us have asked ourselves the perpetual question implicitly posed by the biblical Job: The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure. (Job 12:6) I remember when I myself began, as a teenager, to grow serious about the gospel. I quickly discovered that, where some of my high school friends could get drunk and be immoral and swear and do everything else with a seemingly clear conscience and in apparent happiness, I agonized over being late to priesthood meeting. It wasnt fair. My newly-hypersensitive conscience seemed to make me less happy than they were! I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked . . . They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men . . . Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish . . . Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. (Psalm 73:3, 5, 7, 12-14) Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the Lord spake often to one another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3:13-18) Well, thats a hasty first pass at Matthew 5:4. We now move on to an even hastier glance at the verse immediately following: The King James translation of Matthew 5:5 is: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. The first thing that leaps out here is the positive valuation of the earth. This is very biblical. Consider, for example, the final verse of the creation narrative given in Genesis 1: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Such a positive attitude wasnt universally shared in antiquity, though, and it isnt universally shared today. In his dialogue Phaedo, for instance, Plato has Socrates refer to philosophy as the practice of death. What he seems to have meant by this is that the philosopher tries to remove herself from the distractions of the sensible world in effect, to will a separation of mind or spirit from body in order to reflect more perfectly on the eternal, unchanging, and invisible world of the Platonic Forms or Ideas. With this sort of attitude, who would want to inherit the earth? Why, for that matter, would anybody want to be resurrected? Who would want that old, distracting physical body back? Who, after the liberation of death, would want to return to dragging a physical carcass around? Consider, too, this passage about the great founder of Neoplatonism, Plotinus (204/5-270 AD), from the first chapter of On the Life of Plotinus and the Arrangement of His Work, by his student, admirer, and editor Porphyry of Tyre (ca. 234-ca. 305 AD): Plotinus, the philosopher our contemporary, seemed ashamed of being in the body. So deeply rooted was this feeling that he could never be induced to tell of his ancestry, his parentage, or his birthplace. He showed, too, an unconquerable reluctance to sit to a painter of a sculptor, and when Amelius persisted in urging him to allow of a portrait being made he asked him, Is it not enough to carry about this image in which nature has enclosed us? Do you really think I must also consent to leave, as a desired spectacle to posterity, an image of the image? Perhaps influenced by Platonism, the gnostics wanted nothing more than to escape this world. And, curiously, they have been followed by generations of Christians as is illustrated, I think, in hermeticism and monasticism, but not only there. Is a resurrected physical body really necessary for, or even relevant to, the notion of salvation as beatific vision (understood by some, at least, as a largely if not purely intellectual contemplation of God)? Would it not, rather, be if anything an obstacle and a distraction? However, what about the meek who are pronounced blessed in Matthew 5:5? Meek comes from an old Germanic root meaning mild, gentle, or soft.[i]. The Greek is , meaning not only meek but gentle or, in the case of animals, tame. It can also have the sense of gentle, low, or soft when used with regard to sounds. But we are certainly not talking, here, of anything weak or Casper Milquetoast: Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3) In fact, Jesus describes himself as meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). [i] The English word meek is ultimately related to the word mucus, astonishingly enough. See Eric Partridge, Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English (New York: Greenwich House, 1983), 394. Theres lots more to be said about these two verses, obviously, but thats enough for today. Lucas Banzoli is a very active Brazilian anti-Catholic polemicist, who holds to basically a Seventh-Day Adventist theology, whereby there is no such thing as a soul that consciously exists outside of a body, and no hell (soul sleep and annihilationism). This leads him to a Christology which is deficient and heterodox in terms of Christs human nature after His death. He has a Masters degree in theology, a degree and postgraduate work in history, a license in letters, and is a history teacher, author of 27 self-published books, as well as blogmaster (active on and off) for six blogs. He has many videos on YouTube. This is my 60th refutation of Banzolis writings. For almost half a year (5-25-22 to 11-12-22) he didnt write one single word in reply, because my articles were deemed to be without exception poor, superficial and weak . . . only a severely cognitively impaired person would be inclined to take them seriously. Despite this childish rationalizing, he found my refutations so entertaining that he bravely decided to make a point of rebutting them one by one; this effort being his new favorite sport. He has now replied to me 15 times (the last one dated 2-9-23). I disposed of the main themes of his slanderous insults in several Facebook posts under his name on my Anti-Catholicism page. I plan (by Gods grace) to ignore the insults henceforth, and heartily thank him for these innumerable blessings and extra rewards in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). Google Translate is utilized to render Lucas Portugese into English. Occasionally I slightly modify clearly inadequate translations, so that his words will read more smoothly and meaningfully in English. His words will be in blue. Words from past replies of mine to him will be in green. ***** This is my reply to Lucas Banzolis article, Refutando as 20 maiores provas biblicas que Dave encontrou do papado de Pedro (Parte 1) [Refuting the 20 Greatest Biblical Proofs Dave Found for the Papacy of Peter (Part 1)] (1-22-23). Despite his heroic resolve to refute any and all of my [now 60] critiques of his arguments one by one, for some odd reason he chose to pass over my massive four-part counter-reply, Reply to Lucas Banzolis 205 Potshots at St. Peter (5-26-22) and to concentrate on my older article (not directed towards him): Top Twenty Biblical Proofs for the Office of the Papacy (12-12-15). Obviously, twenty arguments are easier to address than 205, but one hopes to see him defend his larger effort, which I disposed of over eight months ago now. 1. Matthew 16:18 (RSV) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. The rock (Greek, petra) is St. Peter himself, not his faith. Jesus is the Architect who builds. Today, the overwhelming consensus of biblical commentators of all stripes favors this traditional Catholic understanding. St. Peter is the foundation-stone of the Church, making him head and superior of the family, but not founder of the Church; administrator, but not Lord of the Church. I admire the effort, but there are several problems with this argument. First: the text says you are Peter, not you are pope. Thats perfectly irrelevant. A concept can be present in a passage without having a word usually associated with it. The classic example is the absence in the NT of the word Trinity. Apologists like myself have provided hundreds of biblical proofs of the Holy Trinity and deity of Christ. The lack the word Trinity is no argument against any of them. In this instance, the historical debate is whether Jesus called Peter himself the Rock and built His Church upon him (obviously as its human, earthly leader), or whether it was merely his faith (as Protestants has historically tried to argue, but much less so now). Even if the text really were to be understood in the sense that Dave wants and needs (i.e., that Peter was the rock of the text in question), that would still not make Peter a pope, and the proof of this is what he claims himself when he says that biblical commentators of all stripes defend this interpretation. If non-Catholics defend this, it is because the text does not prove any papacy (otherwise, they would be Catholics too). Its not the entire papacy that can be proven from this passage (lets not get ahead of ourselves), but merely one key aspect of it: whether the Church was built upon Peter and whether he was the leader in the early Church. Papal succession, or an institutional papacy is a separate, entirely different argument, that I have also dealt with: The Biblical Argument for Papal Succession [12-12-15]; Papal Succession: A Straightforward Biblical Argument [4-28-17]. Many of the very best Protestant commentators (like D. A. Carson and R. T. France) exegete the passage in the same manner that Catholics today do. See: Protestant Scholars on Matthew 16:16-19 (Nicholas Hardesty) [9-4-06]. This is important to note because it proves that its not merely Catholic bias that causes someone to interpret the passage in terms of Peter being the Rock. Just to cite one example, in another text Paul is not just called a rock, but actually the leader of the sect of the Nazarenes, as Christians were called (Acts 24:5), and yet no one considers Paul a pope. In that instance, it is Tertullus, spokesman for the high priest Ananias who made this judgment (rather than Jesus Himself saying that He will build His Church on Peter the Rock), and he didnt say (in RSV) that Paul was the ringleader of Christians, but a ringleader. This makes a huge difference. A ringleader is not the head or supreme leader. In over thirty English versions for Acts 24:5, all have a ringleader or a leader with the exception of just one, which has the ringleader: as Banzoli argues. And that version is the MSG, or The Message: surely not one of the major English translations. Its on the extreme end of the spectrum of paraphrased translations and uses contemporary American slang. To get an idea of what its like, here is the Lords Prayer (Mt 6:7-13): Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do whats best as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. Youre in charge! You can do anything you want! Youre ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay! Not my kind of Bible, to be sure (in 2014 I actually edited a New Testament derived from five other versions that sought to maintain Victorian high British language). But this is the only one in a long list that translated the way Banzoli thinks this text should be rendered. Not impressive . . . Apparently, in the mid-60s AD, the Jews were not yet aware that Peter was the leader of the Church, and Paul only a subordinate They may or may not have known who the leader was, though Peter was confronting them as the ostensible leader before Paul ever did (Acts 4:1-13), and they may have thought that Stephen was the leader before they stoned him to death (Acts 6-7). Thats neither here nor there, in the final analysis. The important thing is the person that Jesus decided to make the leader of Christians. The problem is compounded when we consider that the vast majority of Church Fathers who for Dave were good Roman Catholics considered the stone to be Jesus or Peters confession of faith in Christ, not Peter himself Patristic exegesis of texts changes or develops through the centuries. Catholics are not bound to their interpretations (or to hardly any binding exegetical interpretations at all, for that matter). Suffice it to say that the problem goes beyond the bad exegesis of the text itself, because the Catholic interpretation subverts the scheme present throughout the NT, where Jesus is always and invariably the rock on which all Christians (including Peter) are built (Col. 2:6-7; Rom 9:32-33; 1Co 10:4; Mk 12:10; Matt 21:42; Acts 4:11). Peter himself said that Jesus is the chief stone (1Pe 2:7) and that we are living stones built on his foundation (1Pe 2:4-7). And to put an end to any discussion, Paul said that no one can lay any foundation other than what is already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1Co 3:11). That is, there is only one foundation, and that foundation is Jesus. Its impossible to be clearer. I disposed of this typically either/or false dichotomy (very typical in Protestant thinking) in this article: Can Christ & Peter Both be Rocks? [4-21-22]. It is the same analogy of the body, present in so many biblical texts that speak of the Church as the body (Col 2:17; 1Co 12:12, 27; Eph 3:6, 5:23) and of Christ as the head (Eph 1:22, 4:15, 5:23; Col 1:18; 1Co 11:3), indicating authority and government. He is ultimately the head, but He understood that the Church also needs live, flesh-and-blood leaders, in order to bring about order and a hierarchical structure, to determine true doctrine. God spoke through human beings all through history (Moses and the prophets being obvious examples). Thus, to say that Peter is the rock on which the Church is built is more than ignoring the most basic principle of biblical hermeneutics (that the Bible interprets the Bible, that is, that the clearest texts shed light on the more obscure); it is to infer that Peter is above Christ in the government of the Church, which is nothing more than blasphemy . . . [this] is to place the creature above the Creator something the Papists understand well. But no informed Catholic has ever said such an idiotic thing, so this is just one of Banzolis many straw men. 2. Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven . . . The power of the keys (according to many Bible commentators) has to do with ecclesiastical discipline and administrative authority with regard to the requirements of the faith, as in Isaiah 22:22 (cf. Is 9:6; Job 12:14; Rev 3:7). This entails the use of excommunication, absolution, imposition of penances, and legislative powers. In the Old Testament a steward, or prime minister is a man who is over a house (Gen 41:40; 43:19; 44:4; 1 Ki 4:6; 16:9; 18:3; 2 Ki 10:5; 15:5; 18:18; Is 22:15, 20-21). the Isaiah text says And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. (Is 22:22). Although many Catholics apply this text to Peter, it actually refers to Jesus, as we see in the parallel reading of Revelation There are lots of dual applications in Scripture (as I explained at length to an atheist). The immediate application in Isaiah 22:22 (this is the exegesis that Banzoli constantly calls for) is to Eliakim (22:20). Thats the reason why Catholics cite this. It shows that a man can have a very high administrative office, helping the king (the analogy to God). Likewise, popes help administer Gods will for His Church, with the protection of the Holy Spirit. It is true that Dave, unlike other Catholic apologists, does not explicitly say that Peter has the keys cited in these texts, I do say that, because (again) it was Jesus Who gave them to him. Conclusion: in his deliberate attempt to confuse the reader, Note the almost ubiquitous charge that I am a deliberately dishonest deceiver and dont truly believe in what I write about and defend. I usually ignore the insults (per what I stated in the standard introduction above), but I wanted to provide readers with just one example of hundreds that I have to constantly ignore: sort of like a billion mosquitoes . . . Needless to say, lies like these poison any hope of true dialogue (which presupposes the sincerity and good will of the opponent). Banzoli makes it impossible. I only reply to him in order to prove to observers of the exchange how terrible and unworthy of belief his (sincerely held) arguments are. Dave quotes texts that . . . say nothing about keys, Isaiah 22 certainly discusses keys as a symbol of administrative leadership. Many reputable Protestant commentators note that this was the reference Jesus was making in Matthew 16:19. He literally tries to take the texts that say that Jesus has the keys in the sense of authority Isaiah 22 is not about Jesus. Its about Eliakim. The great Protestant Bible scholar F. F. Bruce observed: And what about the keys of the kingdom? . . . About 700 B.C. an oracle from God announced that this authority in the royal palace in Jerusalem was to be conferred on a man called Eliakim . . . (Isa. 22:22). So in the new community which Jesus was about to build, Peter would be, so to speak, chief steward. (The Hard Sayings of Jesus, Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1983, 143-144) and apply them to Peter (as if Peter has the keys/authority that Jesus has, which is not even a bad argument, but a blasphemy indeed). Its applied analogically to Peter by Jesus Himself. If Jesus wills to give Peter these keys who are we to second-guess Him? But in effect, thats what Banzoli is forced to do, because he has to take an anti-Peter / anti-Catholic view of the passage. Its obviously not opposed to Jesus, if Jesus Himself wills the thing. But that would actually be logical (not Banzolis strong suit). And I say that not as a bald insult, but as the studied determination based on my observation of his arguments, in the course of 60 critiques. Hes just not very good at logical thinking or at debating. Thats why he has to constantly insult, to sort of fill in the blanks. If we were as dishonest as Dave and used the very same criteria that he uses in this fruit salad of biblical texts, we could conclude that Peter also has the keys of death and Hades, since Jesus said that I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Rev 1:18), Sheer nonsense. We cant say that because the parallel that Jesus drew from, in giving Peter the keys, Isaiah 22 , doesnt say it. Revelation 1:18 is about drawing from the passage (which happens all the time in Scripture: its called types and shadows) and making further application of it to Jesus. Therefore, this aspect is not one that Peter possesses. for Dave any key is the same key and does the same thing. This is Armstrongs crude level of exegesis, . . . This is an example of one of many of Banzolis fantasies pulled out of a hat, which purport to explain how I think (when in fact I never thought this at any time). The analogical argument from Isaiah 22 is found in many many Protestant commentaries. Its not merely a Catholic thing. The question is, do we really have a text analogous to Matthew 16:19 that would serve to shed light on it? And the answer is just two chapters later, in Matthew 18:18: Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18 ) By you, Jesus meant all twelve apostles (Peter included, but not just him). Note that the language is exactly the same as in Matthew 16:19 . . . In other words, we are dealing here with exactly the same thing. Jesus gave to Peter the same as he gave to all the disciples, not some special or differentiated burden from others, which would put him above them. The point (which Banzoli sadly misses so often) is that Peter receives the keys in a preeminent sense as the leader. He is given them as an individual (and the only person who was said to receive them; the analogy to Isaiah 22); the others in Matthew 18:18 are a collective. This is exactly analogous to popes and bishops in the Catholic Church. Bishops can bind and loose in their own domain, but popes can do it over the entire Church, in certain situations. And popes in ecumenical councils have a veto power, or power to modify, over the resolutions of bishops. The context has nothing to do with universal jurisdiction over the entire Church, but only speaks of excommunication: If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Mt 18:17). Matthew 18:17 is not the context of Matthew 16:19 at all. Its absurd and dumbfounded to claim so. The latter was uttered at Caesarea Philippi, which is 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, where Capernaum was (Mt 17:24), where the sayings of Matthew 18 took place. In-between, Jesus and the disciples went to the mount of transfiguration (Mt 17:1-2), which was Mt. Tabor: 55 miles away from Caesarea Philippi and thirty miles from Capernaum. Thus, in-between the two sayings, there were travels of 55 miles to the transfiguration, and then another 30 to Capernaum (I visited all three sites myself in 2014). Yet Banzoli claims that the context of Matthew 16:19 is Matthew 18:17. This is sheer nonsense. Paul ordered excommunication on one occasion (1 Cor 5:5), which proves that (1) this was not the prerogative of a pope, It was not only his prerogative then and it isnt now in the Catholic Church. They can be issued by bishops (for their dioceses); and even from regular prelates for religious orders (but priests cannot). There is also such a thing as automatic excommunication for very grave sins. and (2) Matthew 18:18 is not limited to just the twelve (although Jesus spoke to the twelve), just as Matthew 16:19 is not limited to just Peter (although Jesus did speak to Peter). I agree! Matthew 18:18 is issued by logical extension to all future bishops, just as Matthew 16:19 is to all future popes, represented by the first pope appointed by Jesus: St. Peter. If the same words that were addressed to Peter were also addressed to all twelve, and if the concept to which they refer applies beyond the twelve, it is obvious that Jesus was nowhere near saying anything that would make Peter a pope or anything close to that. But they were not completely the same words. Only Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven according to the inspired Bible. Banzoli reiterates the same nonsense that I have just refuted in his next section, so I need not spend any further time on that. 4. Peter alone among the apostles receives a new, solemnly conferred name, Rock, (Jn 1:42; Mt 16:18). God also changed her name from Sarai to Sarah. Does it mean Sarah became a pope? I guess Banzoli missed my qualifier, among the apostles. Because of that he goes on to make one of his famous (or infamous) non sequiturs. Changes of name in the Bible denote significance. Therefore, the insinuation is that Peter was the most significant (i.e., the leader of) the original twelve disciples: who were clearly as a group the leaders of early, post-Pentecost Christianity. If only Jesus had changed Simons name to something that meant leader or boss or father (hence the word pope), we might even be open to discussion. Being the Rock upon which Jesus built His Church is quite sufficient for the purpose. 5. St. Peters name occurs first in all lists of apostles (Mt 10:2; Mk 3:16; Lk 6:14; Acts 1:13). Matthew even calls him the first (10:2). Judas Iscariot is invariably mentioned last. This means something. If the fact that Peter is cited first in lists of disciples means that he was pope, what about when Peter is not cited first in texts that mention someone outside the Twelve? Lets see an example: and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, . . . (Galatians 2:9) Yeah, I addressed that: Did St. Paul Seek St. Peters Approval for His Ministry? (+ Does The Word Order in Galatians 2:9 Suggest a Lowering of Peters Primacy?) [4-27-17 and 9-4-17]. Note, first, that Peter is called a pillar, not a foundation which in itself already refutes the Catholic interpretation of Matthew 16:18, that Peter is the very foundation of the Church. Its not even an interpretation; Jesus said it! A rock upon which something else is built is a foundation. Thats why it is an important discussion to determine if Peter himself was the rock, or just his faith. And even being the most prominent is very different from being pope, which means ruling over others. In this sense, Christ himself was clear in saying that call no one on earth your father, for one is your Father, who is in heaven (Mt 23:9), which is where the term pope comes from. See: Biblical Evidence Regarding Calling Priests Father [2-24-16]. It is only in Daves not-quite-sober mind that the fact that someone is mentioned first must necessarily mean that he is more important or, worse still, that he exercises a papacy over all others, with full, supreme and universal power, as the Catholic catechism says (#882). The kind of argument thats far more facetious than childish, . . . See: St. Peter Listed First in Lists of Disciples: A Debate (vs. Jason Engwer) [10-12-20]. 7. Peter was the first apostle to enter the empty tomb of the risen Jesus (Jn 20:6). Peter wasnt even the first to enter the tomb, because if Dave went back just five verses, he would find that Mary Magdalene got to the tomb before him (John 20:1). . . . I still dont know how no Catholic authority (a bishop, a cardinal or the pope himself) didnt realize Daves genius and elevated Magdalene to the rank of popess. See that word enter above, in my statement? It means something. John 20:1 never states that Mary Magdalene entered the tomb. She may have, but we would never be able to determine that from this text alone. 9. Peter is regarded by Jesus as the Chief Shepherd after Himself (Jn 21:15-17: Feed my lambs . . . Tend my sheep . . . feed my sheep.), singularly by name, and over the universal Church, even though others have a similar but subordinate role (e.g., Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:1-2). Nowhere in the text does Peter call the Supreme Shepherd. This is again Dave putting his daydreams into the text, rather than extracting from the text simply what the text says. What do we call the folks who feed and tend sheep? Why, its shepherd! DUH!!!! Jesus is commissioning Peter to tend to His sheep (i.e., Christians). That is precisely being Jesus chief shepherd. Jesus says this to no other of His disciples. To make matters worse, in 1 Peter 5:1-2, Peter himself explicitly says that I do so as an elder like them, not as a superior, as Dave claims. If he was right in his thesis that John 21:15-17 refers to a Supreme Shepherd and in these other texts only to subordinate shepherds, Peter would have said that I do so in the capacity of a Supreme Shepherd above them, and not an elder like them. Exactly! Just like Jesus said, For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve (Mk 10:45). Jesus washed their feet, and said, No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, (John 15:15) and You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave (Mt 20:25-27). St. Peter, then, is quite obviously following Jesus example of humility. But I suppose that is too complex and spiritual and biblical for Banzoli to grasp. Otherwise, he wouldnt have made such a stupid argument. to say that there is another Supreme Shepherd besides Jesus is more than saying what no text says: it is blasphemy, which tries to rob Christ of his place and give it to Peter (and, worse than that, to popes by logical extension!). I didnt claim that. I referred to Peter as the Chief Shepherd after Himself. This is why the pope calls himself the vicar (literally substitute) of Christ, in a supreme example of the usurpation of the one who is called the only high priest (or high priest) of Christians (cf. Heb 4:14, 6: 20, 8:1, 8:6, 9:11, 10:21). Its the sort of language (agents, ambassadors, etc.) that Jesus Himself used, in referring to His disciples (the word disciple itself is not far in meaning from vicar): Matthew 10:40 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. John 13:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me. We also see instances of radical identification with Jesus, such as the term Body of Christ for the Church, or St. Paul partaking in Christs afflictions (Col 2:8; cf. 2 Cor 1:5-7, 4:10, 11:23-30; Gal 6:17), or our suffering with Christ (Rom 8:17; 1 Cor 15:31; 2 Cor 6:9; Gal 2:20; Phil 3:10; 1 Pet 4:1, 13). Wheres the beef, then? Jesus routinely refers to something highly akin to vicar in these statements (and the Apostle Paul picks up on the motif in a big way). So the pope represents Christ to the world, in a particularly visible, compelling fashion. This is not outrageous blasphemy; it is straightforward biblical usage. Who is being more biblical? Go to Part II: 20 Biblical Proofs for the Papacy, Pt. II (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [2-13-23] *** Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,000+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-one books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart! *** Photo credit: Detail of Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter (1481-82) by Pietro Perugino (1448-1523) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Summary: Brazilian anti-Catholic polemicist & apologist Lucas Banzoli takes on my 20 Biblical Proofs for the Papacy, and I offer a systematic, comprehensive counter-reply. *** Microsoft has infused its Bing search engine with the ChatGPT text generation AI taking the world by storm and a lot of users want to give it a shot. After a brief media preview last week, the company opened a sign-up system, but access to the full-power search was restricted in favor of a few canned responses. According to emails sent out early this week, a few Microsoft users now have access to the whole kit and kaboodle. The ChatGPT system allows Bing to return complex textual responses to natural language questions in English. For the moment the interface is desktop-only, though mobile versions should be coming to phones and tablets eventually. The Bing version of the ChatGPT system has a few limitations on both content and work-related queries, as explained last weekthough it seems like there are ways around them, some of which may be worth the attention of teachers and parents. Microsoft is betting big on the ChatGPT integration to revitalize Bing versus its competitors. Its also using the buzz around the new version of the search engine to boost engagement with its other brands like the Edge browser and Windows 11 by encouraging users to reset some default programs. At the moment, theres no way to try it without signing up with a Microsoft account and waiting for a bit, but the new version of Bing should be available to the web at large sometime later this year. The economy spent over GH6.8billion (equivalent to US$560million at current market rates) importing rice, a grain that can be produced locally, last year. While total rice consumption stood at 1.4 million metric tonnes in 2022, imports valued at US$560 million accounted for 800,000 metric tonnes (mt) of the consumption figure, with domestic production catering for the remaining demand according to data from IDH Sustainable Trade, a foundation headquartered in The Netherlands. Similarly, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, between 2010 and 2020 the countrys rice imports hit a staggering US$8billion. This, in addition to imports of other food items that can be produced locally, has been a major source of concern for stakeholders. This high dependence on imports of food staples like rice, despite vast untapped domestic potential, however, comes with ramifications for the cedi and local job prospects, warns Country Director for IDH, Robert Asugre. Just like many other industry watchers and economists, Mr. Asugre is of the view that rising consumption of the grain presents huge opportunities for real value creation and jobs if the right investments and policies on local production are prioritised. The rice value chain in Ghana, when supported, will lead to increased commercialisation and improved production of high quality and quantities that are competitive, he said. This, he added, will help to reduce the impact of rice imports on the economy. Mr. Asugre spoke on the sidelines of the National Rice Fair held in Walewale in the North-East Region, and called for greater commitments from government and the private sector to ease the import burden on the economy of rice and other foodstuffs which can be produced locally. Buttressing his point, he said northern parts of the country alone, for instance, have potential to meet the rice needs of Ghanaians if the right investments into infrastructure including irrigation systems, milling machines and storage facilities as well as suitable policies can be put in place. He added that the result of such investments will have far-reaching impacts on the economy, as it will retain value within as well as creating sustainable jobs for the countrys teeming youth. Rice has become the second staple food consumed in the country after maize, with production increasing from 48,800mt in 1970 to 925,000mt in 2019; growing at an average annual rate of 9 percent, according to the Food and Agriculture Ministry. Though the figures depict high potential for growth in local production, challenges including access to finance, skilled labour, shortage of combine harvesters, milling machines and storage infrastructure continuously threaten the crops production. Though one of the first countries in the sub-region to launch the National Rice Development Strategy, challenges still persist with Ghana having already missed out on its local rice production agenda as part of the Coalition for African Rice Development policy. That strategy, which was unveilled in May 2008 as the National Rice Development Strategy for the period 2009-2018, aimed at increasing domestic production up to 70 percent and promoting consumption through quality improvement, targetting both local and international markets. The strategy ended almost four years ago, albeit rather achieving an opposite figure of 70 percent imports with the Ghanaian consuming public still largely dependent on imported rice brands. 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 Ethiopia has limited access to social media and messaging platforms amid mounting tensions between the authorities and the Orthodox church. Netblocks, an organisation that monitors freedom of access to the internet, said the restrictions impacted Facebook, Messenger, Telegram and TikTok. This comes after the churchs highest body, or the synod, defied a ban by authorities and announced it would go ahead with planned protest rallies. Schools were closed on Friday following a directive by the authorities. The Orthodox Church, the countrys largest religious denomination, accuses the government of backing a breakaway faction in Oromia region. The breakaway clergy accuses the church of maintaining a system of linguistic and cultural hegemony in which congregations in Oromia are not served in their native languages. The church denies the accusation. Ethiopia has previously been accused by rights groups of blocking access to the internet. 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 Officials in Turkey say 113 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed in Monday's earthquake. Turkish police have already taken at least 12 people into custody, including building contractors. Meanwhile, unrest in southern Turkey has disrupted rescue efforts in some places. The number of people confirmed to have died in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 28,000. More arrests are expected - but the action will by seen by many as an attempt to divert overall blame for the disaster. For years, experts warned that many new buildings in Turkey were unsafe due to endemic corruption and government policies. Those policies allowed so-called amnesties for contractors who swerved building regulations, in order to encourage a construction boom - including in earthquake-prone regions. Thousands of buildings collapsed during the earthquake, raising questions about whether the natural disaster's impact was made worse by human failings. With elections looming, the president's future is on the line after spending 20 years in power. Mr Erdogan has admitted shortcomings in the response, but, during one visit to a disaster zone, he appeared to blame fate. "Such things have always happened," he said. "It's part of destiny's plan." On the sixth day after the quake hit, the situation is growing more desperate. On Saturday, German rescuers and the Austrian army paused search operations because of clashes between unnamed groups in Hatay province. Security is expected to worsen as food supplies dwindle, one rescuer said. "There is increasing aggression between factions in Turkey," Austrian Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Kugelweis said. "The chances of saving a life bears no reasonable relation to the safety risk." The search for survivors resumed under the protection of the Turkish army. Read Full Story .... HERE >>> : Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A court in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced seven soldiers to death for cowardice in the face of the enemy and murder. They were found to have fled advancing M23 rebels, retreating through the town of Sake where they caused the death of two people by recklessly discharging their arms. Their lawyers plan to appeal. Last November, three other soldiers were convicted of cowardice and sentenced to death. In DR Congo death sentences are commuted to life imprisonment. Fighting in the mineral-rich North Kivu province has intensified, driving tens of thousands from their homes, despite a passionate appeal by Pope Francis to end conflicts when he visited the country last week. "Hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa, it is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered," Pope Francis said at a Mass in the capital Kinshasa, estimated to have been attended by a million people. DR Congo has been beset by conflicts since its independence in the 1960s. Some have been driven by the fight to control its mineral wealth, others by ethnic rivalry. There's been public anger against the UN and the East African regional force for failing to stop M23 rebels from capturing large swathes of territory in North Kivu. DR Congo, the US and UN experts accuse neighbouring Rwanda of backing the rebels - a claim it denies. 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 Somalia has reopened its embassy in the UK after 32 years, in a ceremony attended by ambassador Abdulkadir Ahmed Kheyr, Olympic champion Mo Farah and Somali-Canadian model Sabrina Dhowre, among others. The embassy in London is expected to provide consular services to the nearly 500,000-strong diaspora community in the UK who are eligible for Somali citizenship, and other services including travel documentation and marriage certificates. It will also host cultural and other informative events. Ambassador Kheyr said that reopening the embassy was a positive step in strengthening UK-Somali relations. The Somali embassy in London was officially closed in 1991 following the collapse of the central government. However, diplomatic relations have strengthened in recent years. Britain reopened its embassy in Mogadishu in 2013 after a 22-year absence. 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 Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey has expressed disappointment in the delay in making Accra work again. The Minister, who introduced the "Let's Make Accra Work Again" project to keep the capital city clean and the residents disciplined, says it is becoming a great challenge for him to achieve the goal of the project. Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, the Minister showed his unhappiness with the rate at which project is moving. "From where I sit, it hasn't gone the way I wanted it to go. We started well by the grace of God. The media, corporate bodies and entire Ghana, everybody jumped on board...I'm not the type who runs away from the truth; generally, I want to say it hasn't gotten to the stage that I thought it should by this time. So, clearly, there is more room for improvement", he stated. He however assured the residents in the Region that there is going to be a rise in ensuring that Accra works again. "I think we have to get to this stage where the average Ghanaian will he, himself, understand that it is a civic responsibility that he should help the system for the system to help him to work", he charged the residents. 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 Two spiritual leaders have conferred to seek God's intervention to address the current challenges facing the country and the world at large. That, they said was to ensure that the world became a better place for peace and sustainable development. The religious leaders at the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and the Founder of the Israel King of the Jews Church, Nakoa Prophet Nazareth Ansah Jamson. Meeting The meeting of the two took place at the residence of the Chief Imam at New Fadama in Accra when Nakoa Jamson paid a courtesy call on him. The meeting followed the hullabaloo over the government's debt exchange programme, the challenges with the country's economy and the recent earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. Commencing the discussions, Nakoa Jamson said he was at the residence of the Chief Imam to empathise with Ghanaians over the troubling times they found themselves in. "It is very sad that we do not seek the reason why these things are happening from the Almighty God so that He will show us what to do. "We rather rely on our own knowledge which will obviously lead us to nowhere," he said. Nakoa Jamson, who is also the Spiritual Leader of the Council of Spiritual Churches, Ghana, said times were indeed hard and it was for that reason "we need to cast our minds back to how our forefathers survived similar situations". "We can identify instances of difficult times from both Holy Bible and the Holy Quran. But in all these we can tell or learn how our forefathers patiently waited on the Almighty God to keep and deliver them from such hard and troubling moments. "We ought to also seek direction and the intervention of Almighty God so we can also sail through these troubling times," he emphasised. He said it was not time to blame anybody since that was not the solution. Solution The Almighty God, he said was the solution, adding that if the country was given all the money in the world without God's intervention and directions, the country would suffer. "Earthquake and other disasters are natural and signs of the end time, without the intervention of God all our efforts would be in vain. Let's cry out to the Lord Most High to have mercy upon us and minimise all this happenings" The Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu indicated that what Nakoa said was exactly what was going on in the world. He said what was happening was a remembrance and food for thought for everyone, especially with how to deal with it. The National Chief Imam said if people found themselves in difficulties, the only solution was to turn to God. He said the advise had been well taken and gave the assurance that the message would be communicated to Muslim faithful. 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 Osafric Construction and Mining with its sister company Osafric Ventures Ltd a freight forwarding firm donated items worth GHC30,000 to all schools in Ehiamenkyene Circuit in the Fanteakwa South District. Printing and making photocopies were serious challenges to teachers in the Circuit. They relied on the small stationery shops in the town and the shop was opened once in a week when it was market day. The company got wind of the challenges through the District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa South District Assembly and intervened with a brand-new projector, Printer, Desktop Computer and 700 customized exercise books. Mr Bright Baah, School Improvement Support Officer(SISO) for the Circuit who also represented the District Director for Education together with all school Headteachers received the items on behalf of the schools in the Circuit. He thank the company for the kind gesture and assured the company of equitable distribution of the exercise books and other items donated. Mr David Amponsah who is the project manager for the company seized the opportunity to highlight some of the donations made by the company for a couple of years now. The company had made donations to Akropong School of the Blind, Nsawam Prisons, Akyem Akroful JHS, PPE materials to Atiwa East District Assembly, and last yearGyampomani Presby Primary School. The company supports tertiary students with the payment of fees and other. He reiterated that last year was a tough year for the company as prices of building materials skyrocketed but the company decided not to use the fund for get-togethers for the staff but given to Ehiamenkyene Schools. Mr Raphael Odonkor, District Coordinator for NADMO who represented the District Chief Executive also thanked the company for such a wonderful move to mitigate the suffering of the teachers in the Circuit. He also admonished the teachers to make good use of the items. . The Chief Executive Officer for Osafric Construction and mining and Osafric ventures Ltd Mr Oscar Adu Sarfo said he has education at heart and it's his basic aim to see that every child gets better education irrespective of geographical location. His company has been supporting education to improve the living conditions of teachers and also develop our children for they are the future of this country. The company liaise with Yah-Salem Foundation to give sensitization on personal hygiene and adolescent reproductive health issues to the students. The Founder and Leader of Yah-Salem Foundation, Mrs Mary Adu Sarfo advised the students, especially the girls on the importance of adhering to personal hygiene and staying chaste to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STIs. Osafric Group of companies together with the Yah-Salem Foundation fed the students with a hot meal, drinks and water to make the occasion memorable. Lastly, Rev Frimpong of the church of Pentecost prayed for the CEO, his wife, staff and the company for a successful and productive year. 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 Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, will present a policy brief on the domestic debt exchange programme (DDEP) to Parliament on Thursday, February 16, 2023. The briefing is pursuant to the Speakers directive to the Business Committee last Tuesday to programme the minister to appear and brief members of the House on the DDEP. The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who made this known to Parliament today said the leadership of the House had engaged him. The minister, in his response, indicated that he had committed to an earlier engagement on behalf of the government on the said Tuesday, he told the House. Mr Afenyo-Markin disclosed this when he presented the business statement for the next week ending Friday, February 17, 2023 The minister was initially to have been scheduled by the Business Committee to appear before the House on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Directive The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, last Tuesday directed the Business Committee to schedule the Finance Minister to appear before the House to brief members on affairs of the DDEP. He said the briefing was necessary since Parliament was ever prepared to assist the government to get out of that quagmire. This is a very urgent matter particularly dealing with elderly people; if pensioners are picketing at the Finance Ministry, we need to do this as quickly as possible, the Speaker said. MPs concerns Mr Bagbin gave the directive after some Minority MPs had raised concern after the Vice-Chairman of the Business Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had presented the business statement for the week. First, the National Democratic Congress MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had told the House that in spite of the enormous public interest in the ongoing DDEP which the government was pursuing, it never found space in the business statement. He recalled how the leadership of Parliament, during recess, had received a petition from the Association of Individual Bondholders and the picketing by bondholders at the Ministry of Finance. Those developments, he said, had created enormous anxiety, with Ghanaians being concerned about their life savings and investments. No briefing Mr Ablakwa said although the House had received no briefing or debated the programme, the Ministry of Finance was going ahead to implement it as a conditionality of the IMF programme. The North Tongu MP also drew the Houses attention to how the Finance Minister, while presenting the 2023 budget, had assured MPs that the details of the DDEP would be announced soon to the public, and that the investor community had been engaged. Mr Speaker, this engagement has not taken place; MPs have not been engaged and individual bondholders are not being engaged. Indeed, the President had, a few days prior to the announcement, assured Ghanaians that bondholders would be exempted, but now all those who were told they would be exempted have been included, he said. The Finance Minister must come and brief us for us to debate and agree on what should be the nature of this DDEP and its full ramifications on the economy and the citizenry, he added. Unconstitutional act Second, the NDC MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, said the duty of the Finance Minister was not to simply engage the House. He said Article 181 (3) of the Constitution and sections 55 and 56 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 were clear that the government was borrowing on behalf of the state. Hence the terms and conditions of the borrowing must ordinarily be laid before the House and approved by a resolution of the House. To the contrary, the Finance Minister has gone ahead to define his own terms and conditions of borrowing, negotiating with bondholders terms and conditions that have not been approved by the House, coercing and compelling banks and insurance institutions to accept terms and conditions that have not been approved by Parliament, he said. The conduct of the Finance Minister, he added, was clearly illegal and unconstitutional, a clear breach of his responsibility as Minister of Finance and an affront to the House. He must, therefore, bring the terms here for us to approve before he offers them to individual bondholders and institutions for them to accept or reject, he said. Weve engaged all bondholders Responding, a Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, said in the 2023 budget, the Finance Ministry sounded and mentioned that the government was going to come up with a domestic debt exchange policy. She said based on the budget that was approved by the House, Parliament gave the Finance Ministry the permission to spend compensation, borrow and undertake capital expenditure and goods and services to a certain tune. For Honourable Ayariga to say that we are now going to borrow is untrue, as these are funds that were approved for us to utilise previously, she said. She added that due to the situation in which the government found itself, it publicly announced that it would not be able to discharge what it initially had agreed with its debtors. 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 Aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has said the voting pattern in the Volta Region will change drastically in favour of the party, if he gets the nod from the delegates at the primaries. He said he enjoyed massive goodwill from the people of the Volta Region, which he described as his second home, adding that the goodwill would definitely influence the choice of President in the 2024 elections. For the people of the Volta Region, it is a case of bringing Alan and we will have a change of mind, the aspiring flag bearer said at a news conference in Ho last Thursday. Mr Kyerematen said history might not be in favour of the NPP with regard to general election in the Volta Region, but it had now become clear that Ghana needed a new precedent which required the election of a new leader who would leverage on his credibility with the people to lift the country to greater development heights. The 2024 general election is very critical in the countrys history, with greater emphasis on a leader who will be the preference of the majority of Ghanaians, and not just a leader of a political party, he said. Initiatives Mr Kyerematen said Ghana would definitely rise again under his Great Transformational Agenda (GTA), which would involve the judicious and rapid utilization of available resources in the country to create wealth for the nation. For instance, he said, adding value to extract from the petrochemical and bauxite sectors, and improving the pharmaceutical and automobile industries would rapidly transform the fortunes of the country and create substantial job for Ghanaians. He touched on the Presidents Special Initiatives (PSIs) on cassava, starch, oil palm, garments and textiles, and industrial salt during the President Kufuor era, which he said were his brainchild, and pledged greater commitment of resources to those initiatives to rake in immense fortunes for the nation. Mr Kyerematen said he introduced those PSIs when Ghana was pursuing the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative, and that bore ample testimony to his status as a man of great vision for his country. On the continental front, he said he was instrumental in bringing the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) to Ghana, in a clear display of patriotism and support for continental harmony. Shedding light on the state of the economy, he conceded that the national budget was in crisis, adding that the IMF support which the government was seeking was to correct the frailties in the economy and bring the economy back to pre-COVID levels. Further, he said his GTA was also to ensure that Ghana did not go to the IMF again after the economy was restored. Earlier, Mr Kyerematen toured the Ho Central Market where he received a rousing welcome from traders. We have embraced you wholeheartedly, the Market Queen, Rejoice Novixoxo told the aspiring flag bearer, amid loud cheers from the traders. Mr Kyerematen also held a closed-door meeting with local clergymen as part of his visit to the Volta Regional capital. 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 Dr Smart Sarpong, a Senior Research Fellow at the Kumasi Technical University has asked government to listen to the call of pensioners to exempt them from the controversial Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). The pensioners have been picketing at the Ministry since Monday, February 6 to be exempted from the Programme. Dr Smart speaking to Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', wondered how "pensioners and their money be our lifeline as a country? Nobody should tell me that...let's look elsewhere and leave our elderlies alone. A state that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for..." Listen to him in the video below Meanwhile, former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo has described as "wicked" and "disrespectful" government's decision to include pensioners in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).Speaking to journalists after she joined pensioners to picket at the Ministry of Finance in Accra on Friday, February 10, she said: We are over 70 years now, I am no longer government employed, my mouth has been unguarded and I am talking and I am saying that we have failed and it is important that the elderly should be respected. I find this wicked, I find it disrespectful, I find it unlawful, I find it totally wrong.According to her, these are all people who have worked, they have worked very hard, they could have left the country when others were going but they stayed, they worked for the nation...Quite a number of people here today, when they retired last two years they have put everything into government bonds, it is a contract and now all of a sudden, you virtually want to force them to agree with you that the repayment of the yield of their investment should be as you dictate it. Why?Why are we in the mess? Nobody has fully explained to us, yes we took debt, what was it used for? and where is the accountability? Exactly what was it used for? You are not telling us about how you are going to be able to make things better but just that help me and I help you, no, you help yourself first, let me see you doing something serious because we have seen these sort of things too many times" she added. 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 Anthony Kweku Boahen, a communication officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who is standing trial with the erstwhile National Chairman of the Party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has filed an appeal challenging an order on him by an Accra High Court to open his defence. The two are before the court for offences relating to assault of public officers when they allegedly planned to assault some public officials including the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). They are on trial over a leaked audio tape which captures how the opposition NDC was allegedly planning to commit crimes in the country and turn around to blame them on the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). Among the strategies were the creation of a general state of insecurity in the country through kidnappings, arson and verbal attacks on public officials like the Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), Prof. Emmanuel Asante, and EC boss, Jean Mensa. Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo has been charged with one count of conspiracy to cause harm and two counts of assault against a public officer. Mr. Boahen, on the other hand, is facing one count of conspiracy to cause harm. An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, a Supreme Court judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, on January 26, 2023, dismissed an application for no case to answer filed by the accused persons following the conclusion of the prosecutions case. The court, in its ruling, rejected the arguments of the defence lawyers and held that the prosecution had made a prima facie case against the accused persons, and subsequently ordered them to open their defence. But Mr. Boahen, not satisfied with the courts decision, has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the entirety of the ruling on ground that the trial judge erred in his decision. The Notice of Appeal avers that The Learned High Court judge erred in law by failing or neglecting to render a reasoned ruling on the 2nd Accused/Appellants (Mr. Boahens) application of no case to answer. It says the court was duty-bound to analyse or evaluate the evidence adduced by the prosecution and to demonstrate in a clear or verifiable manner whether or not the prosecution had established a prima facie case, but the court failed to do so, thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice. The court was duty-bound to consider the case, the evidence, legal authorities and/or legal submissions of the second accused/appellant but the court failed or neglected to do so, thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice, the notice of appeal argues. It further avers that the ruling was not reasonable, and the trial judge was wrong to refuse the application of no case to answer as the evidence stood at the conclusion of the case of the prosecution. He is, therefore, seeking an order reversing the decision of the Learned High Court Judge and a further order upholding the second accused/appellants application of no case to answer. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video THE BUSINESS Committee of Parliament, pursuant to a directive by the Speaker, has programmed the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta to present a policy brief on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) on Thursday. Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who disclosed this, said the leadership, after an engagement with the Finance Minister, realised that the Tuesday schedule could not be possible. He was presenting the Business Statement for the second week ending Friday, February 17, 2023. According to him, the minister indicated that he had committed to an earlier engagement on behalf of the government on the said Tuesday, and has, therefore, agreed to attend upon the House for the policy brief on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Speaker Alban Bagbin last week directed the Business Committee of the House to summon the Finance Minister to brief Parliament on the ongoing governments Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, after some members of the Minority demanded to know the policy details of the DDEP. Parliament is ever prepared to assist [the] government to get out of this quagmire. So, what I can say now is that Parliament has spoken and that is the end of it. The Minister must be scheduled by the Business Committee as early as possible because this is an urgent matter because the pensioners are picketing at the Ministry, the Speaker said. Parliamentary Democracy Meanwhile, Parliament has earmarked a number of activities throughout the year to mark 30 years of parliamentary democracy since the inception of the Fourth Republic. Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the official launch of the 30 years of parliamentary democracy is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 9:00 am. Source: Daily Guide 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 Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey has been giving reasons for his deafening silence. Henry Quartey who has served as the regional minister for the capital of Ghana since 2021, launched the Lets Make Accra Work campaign with a view of helping to bring discipline and sanity to the region. Mr. Quartey has through this campaign demolished a number of structures at unauthorised places and waterways, and cleared some major streets of hawkers among others. He also took on persons who had built on Ramsar sites. He also introduced the operation clean your frontage to force people living in Accra to keep their environs clean. Mr. Quartey also succeeded in relocating onion traders from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku Market in the Ga West Municipality. Meanwhile, the Greater Accra Regional Minister has gone on the quiet in the last few months with rumours rife that he has given up on this Lets Make Accra Work campaign following the massive resistance he encountered from affected persons. Speaking for the first time following his supposed self-imposed exile, the Greater Accra Regional Minister said he was charging his battery and will bounce back strong. Maybe I havent put much petrol in the car, this is 2023, some people said I have resigned, others also said I am slow, or I have gone to bed, but I am a battery, and I am charging, he said. The Minister made this known when he addressed the 8th Investiture Ceremony of the Advertising Association of Ghana over the weekend. Mr. Quartey used the opportunity to call for concerted efforts to accelerate the passage of the advertising bill to mitigate the indiscriminate mounting of billboards. When you go outside of this jurisdiction, billboards are properly done, its a system, we have to walk the talk. The problem is that I need a billboard because I have to campaign and my brother [Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah] also needs a billboard, so we are not able to tell the Goro people to back off. Very soon I am going to strike about this indiscipline about billboards, mark my words; we will do the job, Mr. Quartey said. Source: citinewsroom.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 Photojournalist Amber Bracken, centre, lawyer Sean Hern, back left, and Emma Gilchrist, editor-in-chief and executive director of The Narwhal, listen during a news conference after filing a lawsuit at B.C. Supreme Court against the RCMP, in Vancouver, on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Bracken was arrested and detained while covering the enforcement of an injunction in Wet'suwet'en territory as a journalist in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) admitted that Republicans only want to fund Social Security year to year which would open the door to killing the program. Video: Mike Rounds on CNN suggests he supports funding Social Security on a year-by-year basis pic.twitter.com/a8TluKtZn2 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2023 Rounds said on CNN State Of The Union: I kind of look at security the way I would at the Department of Defense and our defense spending. Were never going to not fund defense. But, at the same time, we every single year, we look at how we can make it better. And I think its about time that we start talking about Social Security and making it better. We have got 11 years before we actually see cuts start to happen to people that are on Social Security. And I think itd be very responsible for us to do everything we can to make those funding programs now and the plans right now, so that we dont run out of money in Social Security and that it continues to provide all the benefits that it does today. Simply looking away from it and pretending like theres no problems with Social Security is not an appropriate or responsible thing to do. So, I guess my preference would be, lets start managing it. Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Republicans protested that they dont want to cut Social Security during and after the State Of The Union, but they keep admitting that they are looking for a way to defund or kill Social Security. Technically, what Rounds was suggested wasnt cuts themselves, but the first step to cuts. If Republicans ever get the Senate majority back, they want to make funding Social Security a regular program that must be voted on. Guess what happens after Senate Republicans decide not to fund Social Security? The program will either be cut or die. Republicans want kill Social Security through privatization and cuts, and they are telling anybody who listen that the goal is to harm the beloved program. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print After a judge ruled that parts of the special grand jury investigation into Trump potentially violating Georgias election meddling laws will be released on Thursday, attention will turn to Fulton County. Politico reported: In an order released Monday morning responding to requests from media organizations for access to the special grand jurys report, McBurney said he intends to put the introduction and conclusion to the summation on the public record this week, along with a portion of the report discussion about potential false statements made to the grand jury under oath. McBurney ruled that aspects of the report that recommend whether to indict or not indict specific individuals should remain private for now in part because those individuals are not afforded the same due process rights during the grand jury process they would have in court if theyre charged. Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Thursday will provide insight into what the select grand jury found in their investigation. There are a lot of Americans who want Trump indicted immediately, but this case has several Trump enablers like Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman who could also be criminally charged. If Trwontnd only Trump is indicted in any of the cases, it might have the opposite impact that many are hoping for. It is important for the people who carried the plan to overturn the election to face charges. Republicans wont be able to claim that Donald Trump is a singular bad apple who attacked democracy. The best to preserve democracy is for all of those who were involved in the criminal plot to face charges. DA Fani Willis will decide if anyone gets indicted, but the report will bring the nations attention back to Fulton County, Georgia. An assistant manager at a local fast food restaurant is facing assault and battery charges . Carmichael Williams, 46 of Fairfax, was arrested and charged Feb. 10 with first-degree assault and battery, according to jail records. The victim told police she was sexually assaulted by the suspect on April 26, 2021, according to incident report from Aiken Department of Public Safety. Police said the incident took place at a fast food restaurant in the 2080 block of Whiskey Road where Williams was an assistant manager, the report said. Williams was listed as an inmate in the Aiken County detention center and has bonded out. One of Aiken County's largest tourist attractions is also among its the most peaceful, with Redcliffe Plantation Historic Site covering 369 mostly pastoral acres and including the massive home of an antebellum icon, Newberry County native James Henry Hammond. Read moreWe Are Aiken County: Redcliffe Plantation site offers study of several generations Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 84F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening, then skies turning partly cloudy overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. The Rev. DeMett Jenkins isn't focused on evangelism. Im not trying to convert her, Jenkins, an ordained Baptist minister, explained to a friend who had asked whether Jenkins intended to convince her aunt, a Jehovah's Witness, to follow Jesus Christ. That is not my calling. ... I don't feel called to convert. I feel called to care. Caring is for anybody. That ministry of caring a calling first nurtured by her family of civil rights activists who, in the face of racial oppression, sought to improve the political, educational and economic lives of Black people in Charleston while demonstrating the love of God to those they encountered is what has propelled Jenkins her entire life. This calling will continue to guide her in her current role of leading the faith-based programs of Charlestons new International African American Museum, where she seeks to shed light on the ways race and religion have shaped the city. Jenkins progressive theological views are somewhat of a rarity locally, particularly from the African American church perspective. For example, she calls herself a believer instead of a Christian as a way to emphasize the need to care, not convert. The Gullah-Geechee daughter of the Sea Islands hopes to use her voice and platform to have difficult conversations about the citys past and the ways in which racism continues to manifest itself in religious spaces, along with challenging the church to focus on the issues that matter. "Im open to all faiths and religions," she said. "I don't say, 'mine is better than theirs.' " Its part of the Jenkinses' history to serve others. Her grandparents, Esau and Janie Jenkins, founded organizations in the Lowcountry that served the Black population. The couple pooled their money in the 1940s to fund buses that were used to transport kids on the Sea Islands to school. In the late '40s, they and other families opened the Progressive Club on the island, which housed a grocery store, sleeping rooms, classrooms, recreational spaces and a gas station. The club also taught adults how to read so that they could register to vote. Among those who facilitated courses at the club included Septima P. Clark and Martin Luther King Jr. A widely circulated photo shows King during one of his visits to Charleston seated in the pulpit of Emanuel AME Church while Esau Jenkins introduces the world-renowned civil rights advocate. The photo reminds DeMett Jenkins of her rich family legacy. She called her grandfather a "humble country boy who just loved people." DeMett Jenkins' grandmother Janie was as involved in the freedom struggle as her husband. Janie Jenkins was the financial brains behind the Jenkinses' operations, DeMett Jenkins said. "Im proud to be a part of Esau and Janie's legacy," she said. "I pray I can live up to their expectation." Jenkins' mother, Georgetta, had the same passion for helping others. Georgetta would often stop on the side of the road to pick up people in need of transportation, either offering them a ride to their destination or a warm meal back at the Jenkins residence. Its in my DNA to help people, Jenkins said. I dont know to do anything different. She got involved early in the family businesses. Jenkins was born in 1966, in France, while her father was serving in the Air Force. Her family moved back to the United States while she was still a child, and soon after she was working at the Johns Island-based Progressive Club alongside her siblings, stocking shelves and pumping gas. She also worked at the familys restaurant and motel in Atlantic Beach, the African American beach located near the segregated, Whites-only beaches of the Grand Strand. The family also owned a record store on King Street where Jenkins uncle taught African history courses and Black authors were invited to mingle and converse. The Jenkins family didnt hide from their children the harsh truth of racial discrimination. But the Jenkins adults taught the young people about their history and faith. The latter was especially important in helping a young DeMett Jenkins closely identify with Jesus, who was always Black in the family home, she said. Jenkins felt the nudge toward ordained ministry while serving as a social worker for the United Family Services shelter for abused women. While there, she realized the individuals she was helping needed a connection to a greater power that would help them overcome lifes obstacles. In 2008, her ministry work led her to a hospital chaplaincy position in Emory University Hospitals emergency department. She provided spiritual care for patients, families and medical professionals. It was really a meaningful place to work in their jobs and help them deal with life issues coming before them, she said. But while shed committed her life to helping those who have encountered difficult circumstances, Jenkins herself would have to wrestle with loss. She first learned that the IAAM was searching for a faith-based program coordinator when her brother, Abe Jenkins Jr., sent her the job description. The role connecting with faith communities across the globe to raise awareness about Charlestons new African American museum seemed like the perfect fit for the Gullah-Geechee woman whod been formed by the Lowcountrys faith communities. It was just like Abe to be thinking of his sister. Decades since the siblings mother passed away, Abe had been DeMett's father figure and confidant. He died in January 2022, leaving behind a legacy that included fundraising to restore and reopen the old Progressive Club. I lost three people in one person, Jenkins said. He was magical. The loss is very, very heavy. Abe's hunch that his sister would be the right woman for the IAAM job proved true. Jenkins was hired in the role in 2018, and has since been organizing programs centered around spirituality and race. Part of the goal is to bring hard conversations into the public sphere. Last March, the museum hosted an online event, "From the Balconies of our Churches," based on a documentary being produced by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. The film explores the racism that was demonstrated by White churches in the Palmetto State, many of which segregated worshippers by forcing Blacks to sit upstairs. The museum also wants to focus on Black spiritual practices that don't get as much attention as Christianity. In 2020, the faith-based program held a six-part webinar on Elijah Muhammad, who led the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. In February, the museum will welcome Iya Funlayo E. Wood-Menzies, who earned her Ph.D. in African and African American Studies and Religion from Harvard University. Wood-Menzies will touch on the variety of African spiritual practices, something that Jenkins hopes to discuss more frequently through the museum's faith-based initiatives. Were not a Christian organization," Jenkins said. "We are an organization that talks about faith and religion of all kinds and traditions." COLUMBIA A crowd of 15 Black University of South Carolina alumnae dressed in bright blazers, floral dresses and power suits crouched around 18 fresh bricks in the Horseshoe on a sunny afternoon. The bricks displayed the engraved names and class years of the women who were among the "firsts" at South Carolina's largest college. The 8-by-4-inch monuments in a section of campus built in the early 1800s represent the impact these women had as professors, athletes, elected student government officials and homecoming queens. The Feb. 10 event came after a senior honors thesis project by USC students grew into an internationally screened documentary, "The Backbone." Almost a year after the films premiere, USC hosted an event unveiling the bricks funded by USCs Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that honored the womens contributions. Among those honored was Aiken City Council member Gail Diggs, who was USCs second Black homecoming queen in 1974. At her crowning, she was denied an official scepter and harassed with racial slurs and thrown popcorn. Last year, her crowning was re-created at a USC home game, where she finally received her scepter. In making the documentary, Hannah White, now a graduate student in London, focused her USC thesis on archiving the impact of Black women at the state's largest college. White pulled in her friend, Lyric Swinton, a doctoral student in education who is a campus activist, to work as the films producer. This was really just friends helping friends, but it turned into so much more, Swinton said. This is our love letter to USC and specifically to the Black women here. After the premiere in March last year, Swinton took up the brick project. The Horseshoe is covered in engraved bricks that alumni and fans can buy to support the university. USC paid $6,300 for the bricks. COLUMBIA Students have been raking up meal debt in Richland County School District Twos cafeterias since the school year started, but their parents might not know it. Until February, the district had not notified parents about students meal debt since August, but in the meantime, the money owed to the fifth-largest school district in South Carolina had ballooned to close to $550,000. That debt from a district representing the northern portions of Richland County is more than the student meal debt at the state's three largest districts in Charleston, Greenville and Horry counties combined. The debt is partly due to the district not informing families about what they owe, according to Will Anderson, the districts chief operations officer. But thats probably not the only reason, he said. Some people might not even realize they have to pay for school meals this year. Until summer 2022, students in the United States were able to eat for free as a part of the federal governments COVID-19 relief efforts, and some families might not realize that school lunches once again cost money, Anderson said. The district sent letters to every parent in the 28,500-student district on Feb. 9 reminding them that they have to pay for meals, and were starting to sending out weekly messages on Feb. 12 reminding parents to upload money to their children's accounts. Members of the districts board of trustees had urged the administration to take similar measures at recent board meetings. If (parents) dont know, they cant do anything about it, board Vice Chairwoman Monica Scott said during a Jan. 31 board workshop. Theyre not making payments because they dont care," she said. "Theyre not making payments because theyre not aware. Most of the families in debt don't owe very much money, Anderson said. Of the total debt, 65 percent owe less than $25, and 90 percent owe less than $100. The district is reaching out to families who owe $500 or more to work out payment plans. Chicago-based improvisational drummer Tim Daisy is coming back to Columbia for a concert Feb. 18 at an art gallery in the Vista. The experimental percussionist, who started a concert and workshop series in Columbia in 2021, will be joined this time by the trumpeter, composer and arts writer Jacob Wick. The two musicians have a history of performing in Columbia spanning more than two decades. Because Wick, who's now based in Mexico, is visiting Columbia on the same weekend as Daisy, the professional improvisers decided they might as well jam together for a night at Mike Williams Art studio and gallery on Lincoln Street. Daisy specializes in drums, marimba and xylophone while Wick's primary instrument is the trumpet, but both have made names for themselves internationally, as composers who experiment with writing and sound. "It's not your typical ColaJazz (festival) kind of stuff ... a bit more out there than that," said promoter Ross Taylor, who booked the show as well as Daisy's first show in Columbia. "For those of us that feel it, well, we really feel it," Taylor said of the pair's sound. "These musicians keep pushing the boundaries of their expressions and their instruments for the sake of the art, not money." Jazz fans, especially those who may be unfamiliar with the avant-garde approaches to the already boundary-less genre that Daisy and Wick take, are in for a partly improvised treat. Daisy and Wick will each have a solo set, then perform and show off their improvisational skills as a duo. Entry to the show, which starts at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, costs $15 per person. Tim Daisy and Jacob Wick Feb. 18. $15. Mike Williams Gallery. 1221 Lincoln St. GREENVILLE Over a 37-year-career as a leading cancer researcher and practicing physician in Greenville, Dr. Larry Gluck built an innovative program at the Prisma Health Cancer Institute. Gluck arrived in Greenville in 1986 at a cancer institute that now bears his mark as a proponent of the dual roles of a doctor as a physician-scientist. He called it a rare pathway, still, in the field of cancer treatment, but sees value in a cancer doctor whose work one-on-one with patients informs their laboratory research. His work focused on cancer research and treatment with phase one clinical trials, first-in-human drug trials and a revolutionary long-term cancer prevention study. Now, as Gluck plans to retire May 12 from his clinical work and responsibilities leading the institute, Prisma will raise money to create a $3 million endowed chair to continue and expand on the advances in cancer treatment made during Glucks career. The endowed chair will be called the W. Larry Gluck, MD Endowed Chair of Translational and Molecular Oncology Research, and it is designed to attract and fund a high-level physician-scientist to join a core team of cancer researchers in Greenville who study the cellular and molecular basis of cancer to find new treatments and work toward cancer prevention. Over Gluck's tenure, the cancer institute grew to more than 30 physicians and 450 staff members across five campuses in the Upstate. It has earned more than $30 million in research and grant funding and has raised another $15 million from community support. The institute in 2014 became one of 32 institutions designated by the National Cancer Institute as an NCI Community Oncology Research Program, which it was awarded again in 2020. The institute expanded from clinical trials to laboratory-based cancer research and has evolved into a sophisticated program with a team that now can bring therapies out of a lab and into initial clinical trials. We participate with more than 50 biotech and universities worldwide where we bring these to Greenville and make them available to appropriate patients, Gluck said. These are all FDA-approved trials. The institute wanted to provide research options and clinical trials to cancer patients in South Carolina so they wouldnt have to travel to Duke or Vanderbilt universities for similar programs, Gluck said. It now serves cancer patients for clinical trials from all over the world. The institute has now participated in 18 first-in-human clinical trials and more than 1,000 clinical trials in coordination with other university and bio-tech researchers. Greenville has been able to move science forward, Gluck said. When Greenvilles Lisa Smith contracted a rare form of cancer called adnoid cyctic carcinoma in 2016, doctors at Duke University told her they had exhausted treatment options and sent her home with an expectation she would have six months to live. A church connection led Smith to the cancer institute in Greenville where she became the first participant in a new clinical trial. She had 119 metastatic tumors in her lungs, said her husband, Mark Smith. In a matter of four months, she was down to one. Over the next six years, Gluck and others at the institute continued to monitor Smiths cancer. When it began to attack again as a previous therapy stopped working, they tried a new one. In all, she participated in eight or nine clinical trials before she died in October 2022. The Smiths knew from the start her cancer would be terminal. They never expected to have seven more years, and Mark Smith credited the doctors at the cancer institute with their prolonged time together. Dr. Gluck, he just played a vital role in it. He put together a team that always put my wife first, Mark Smith said. Its the research facility but they always put the patient first. Mark OHalla, president and CEO of Prisma Health, called Gluck a visionary in the field of cancer treatment and prevention, and a hero to thousands of patients and families of those he cared for over his career. We will miss him personally, but his presence will be felt for decades to come through the system of premier cancer care that he spent his career assembling, OHalla said. Gluck said he plans to continue teaching at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville and will continue his research work, including with a long-term project called Prevent Cancer-Greenville that studies the links between patient lifestyle and cancer development. South Carolina will soon begin reviewing hundreds of thousands of people who got health coverage through Medicaid during the pandemic to see if they can keep it, which could affect the families of more than 90,000 children. The S.C. Department of Health and Human Services, however, is taking a deliberate approach that means some reviews will not happen for a year as it goes through about 1.3 million people. Under the federal Families First Act passed in March 2020, states like South Carolina got a 6.2 percent boost in Medicaid funding to help them deal with the pandemic, including potential increases in enrollment caused by those losing their jobs and children becoming newly eligible. In return, the states agreed not to kick anyone off while the federal Public Health Emergency was in effect. The emergency declaration was renewed every 90 days over three years but will now expire on May 11. However, recent federal legislation dictated that the continuing coverage of Medicaid recipients could end before that on March 31, which means states are free to begin the reevaluation and disenrollment of those deemed no longer eligible beginning April 1. South Carolina will begin that process then but will take the full 12 months recommended by federal health authorities to conduct the review. That has been the department's plan all along, spokesman Jeff Leieritz said. "Weve not wavered from that plan to take the 12 months to make sure that were doing our due diligence and carrying out this process effectively," he said. But those redeterminations have led to great concerns that millions across the country will lose their health insurance, some because they no longer qualify but others because they do not receive renewal notices or other important paperwork they need to stay enrolled. Advocates have dubbed it "the unwinding" of Medicaid recipients. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that Medicaid enrollment grew 32.2 percent from February 2020 to October, or 20.5 million. In South Carolina, those on Medicaid grew from 1.05 million to approximately 1.3 million at the end of December, Leieritz said, or by about 250,000. Many of those recipients will likely lose coverage, however. According to an estimate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Health Policy, 17.4 percent of adults and children on the program, or 15 million people, will be booted off during the process. A little more than half, 9.5 percent or 8.2 million, will lose coverage because they no longer qualify, HHS reported. But 7.9 percent or 6.8 million will likely lose coverage despite still being eligible, whether through miscommunication, lack of a current address or other bureaucratic barriers or mistakes, the federal agency estimated. That includes 3.9 million children nationwide. Children on Medicaid in South Carolina on the program grew from 654,000 to 744,000, or by 90,000. More Information The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging its 1.3 million members to reach out and update their contact information now as the department begins its review of Medicaid eligibility. Members can go online to: apply.scdhhs.gov Or call (888) 549-0820 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday Or find an eligibility office in their area at: www.scdhhs.gov/site-page/where-go-help. But that includes many of those who would likely have aged out of the program when they turned 19 were it not for the prohibition against ending coverage, Leieritz said. Those kinds of reviews, looking at people who are not likely to still be eligible for Medicaid, will be an early part of the process, he said. Others would be people who typically are only on Medicaid for a set period of time. Refugees, for instance, are eligible for eight months before they are reviewed to see if they qualify for coverage in other ways, said Lori Risk, chief of the Bureau of Eligibility Policy for South Carolina Medicaid. The state will use electronic data sources, such as the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, to check income eligibility, and if verified, may be sending members a "continuation of benefits" notice instead of a renewal form. At least seven states already began that "ex parte" renewal process Feb. 1, including Arkansas, Ohio, New Hampshire and Idaho, said Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Reviews take at least 60 days, she said. "If states want to start terminating people April 1, which is the first date they can terminate people, then they are starting now," Alker said. That South Carolina is taking the 12 months for its review "is good," she said. "The quicker the state goes, the more chance there is for error." South Carolina Medicaid has set up a website for members to update their information if they have moved in the past three years or are unsure if the state has the correct address at apply.scdhhs.gov. The state will use text and emails to follow up with members who have a phone or address on file. The department will also call members when possible if there is returned mail with no forwarding address or other way to ascertain an address, Risk said. The Georgetown center will be releasing data later this week on how the continuous coverage on Medicaid has broadened health insurance in the U.S., particularly for children. More than half of them are now covered by Medicaid. Those enrollment gains led to big drops in the uninsured rate for children, such as in South Carolina, where the rate dropped from 5.8 percent to 5.3 percent. Children are the most likely to remain eligible for Medicaid but are at risk for being dropped if their family doesn't get the renewal notice or hits another bureaucratic wall, Alker said. "This is of huge consequence for children," she said. Last week, I wrote in my review of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves that I wasnt really familiar with the Dungeons & Dragons game, and that may have affected my enjoyment of the movie. There will be no such disclaimer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. My brother and I we Read moreThe Super Mario Bros. Movie To celebrate World Autism Awareness Month, Mount Pleasant Towne Centre and local nonprofit Just Bee are teaming up for a special event for families with children on the spectrum. Read moreLights & Love returns to Towne Centre for Autism Awareness Month China's school campuses resume liveliness as spring semester kicks off Xinhua) 08:06, February 14, 2023 BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- About 300 million teachers and students are returning to school campuses across China, as the spring semester kicks off in a staggered manner in each provincial-level region. The new school term is the first semester after China downgraded its management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B on Jan. 8. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Feb. 6 urged efforts to optimize school management in accordance with the country's adjusted COVID-19 response and fully restore normality in school life. On Monday, over 1 million primary and middle school students in Beijing returned to school. A pupil walks into the school at a primary school in Yizhuang of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) In Beijing No. 13 Middle School, Qin Sheng, vice president of the school, announced that the stage of the school opening will be used to hold a coming-of-age ceremony for the seniors in high school. "The ceremony was originally planned for the last fall semester, but delayed due to the epidemic. We invited the students' parents to honor the ceremony," said Qin. In the past three years, due to safety concerns in the country's fights against the epidemic, students were frequently restricted to their homes and educated through the schools' online guided study. Ma Luo, director of the student sports center at the Guangqumen Middle School in Beijing's Dongcheng District, said the PE classes this term would focus on helping students "gradually restore their physical strength with setting-up exercises and ball games at first instead of running." With downgraded epidemic control measures, school campuses no longer require negative nucleic acid test results to enter the campus. Pupils have class on their first day of the new semester at the Experimental Primary School of the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) "In accordance with the new guidelines, we conducted a health survey of teachers and students prior to the start of the new term," said Duan Chunlan, a school doctor at the Qingnian Lake Primary School in Beijing's Xicheng District. Students are required to report their body temperature before returning to school, according to the requirements of the education authorities. If students experience symptoms such as fever, they are required to report them truthfully and delay their return to school while confirming the COVID-19 infection status. At the Shanghai Experimental School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, thorough preparations have been made to ensure a safe and hygienic environment. An ample supply of disinfection materials has been obtained and kept on hand to maintain the highest standards of hygiene. Partitions remain on dining tables in the school cafeteria for epidemic prevention. Xia Hongmei, principal of the school, said that in the new semester, the off-peak dining requirements will continue to be in effect to limit the gathering of people. Different regions of the country began the spring semester at different times. Schools in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong started the new term as early as Feb. 6, while northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces are scheduled to start the new term later this month due to local weather conditions. Schools in north China's Hebei Province and central China's Henan Province started the new term on Feb. 7. Li Baozhi, principal of Hengshui No. 4 Middle School in Hebei, encouraged students to approach the first day of classes with a relaxed and stress-free demeanor. "It is normal to feel a little uncomfortable in the classroom," Li said, extending his best wishes for the new semester. The principal noted that after an extended period of home study amidst the epidemic, students may be grappling with various psychological pressures due to a lack of vital interpersonal communication intertwined with adolescent impulsiveness. To address this, the school has dedicated the first day of the new term to a lesson on mental wellness, aimed at fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Students attend psychology class at Hengshui No. 4 Middle School in Hengshui, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 13, 2023. (Xinhua) The Shanghai Experimental School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences distributed seeds to each student on the first day of the new term. Principal Xia encouraged students to "sow hope" as they plant the seeds and tend to the growth of the young saplings. Li Mingxin, principal of the Qingnian Lake Primary School in Beijing, informed students that the school would organize a series of activities such as kite flying, hiking and the outdoor sports of cuju, which is the ancient form of modern-day football. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) When my child has a substitute teacher, the regular teacher often leaves behind busywork, computer work or no work at all (the kids will just watch movies instead of learning). Ive heard you say there are only 180 opportunities a year for teachers to make an impact, and every one of them sh Read moreTeacher to Parent: Reasons why substitute teachers often supply busywork Local prosecutors and police convened at a West Ashley synagogue Feb. 13 for a discussion on the importance of measured and ethical prosecution as part of a course created by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that scrutinizes the German polices role in enabling genocide. The conversation, facilitated by law enforcement officials from Arizona and North Carolina, encouraged more than 100 members of the Ninth Circuit Solicitors Office to refrain from blindly enforcing the law and to exercise judgment and ethics when making decisions. The interactive training "What You Do Matters: Lessons from the Holocaust" has educated nearly 10,000 professional law enforcement members across 36 states since 2012, according to its website. Designed by Arizona officials and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C., it examines the role of policing in Nazi Germany, where police were charged with enforcing laws in the 1930s that gradually suspended civil liberties. By 1945, the Nazi government, ruled by Adolf Hitler, had engineered the systematic killing of approximately six million Jews. Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson, whose office spans Berkeley and Charleston counties, said she invited the program to the Lowcountry as part of her effort to promote discretion in prosecution to achieve fair outcomes. "A lot of things that were done leading up to the Holocaust were done legally," Wilson said. "It's about using your discretion. It's about being wise and thinking through what we're doing so that we get a fair and just result." The three-hour training, which occurred at Synagogue Emanu-El, was sponsored by local philanthropist Anita Zucker, whose parents survived the Holocaust and immigrated to the United States after World War II. Course instructor and Arizona prosecutor Elizabeth Ortiz described how German police gradually shifted from being protectors of the people to enforcers of Nazi ideology. She presented a slippery slope where police initially carried out routine tasks in conjunction with Nazi officers foot patrol, crowd escorts, civil standby but were later charged with shooting Jews to death. Officers in Germany were enforcing legally passed laws, but in doing so, they enabled crimes against humanity. The course challenged participants to consider how they can resist blindly following the law. Assistant Solicitor Denton Matthews said learning about police's role in Nazi Germany reaffirmed to him that his actions as a prosecutor even a seemingly small decision can affect scores of people. "You have a lot of power over somebody's life," Matthews said. "You've got to wield it with the right amount of respect." The training was part of a broader effort at the 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office to understand prosecutors' roles in fueling injustices, including racial disparities. Wilson unveiled a rigorous data collection initiative in 2019 to identify and better understand racial bias in prosecution. Data on tens of thousands of criminal cases was shared with researchers at the Justice Innovation Lab and Loyola University in Chicago. In a 2021 report, they found Black men are disproportionately accused of crimes in Charleston County, but are treated similarly to White men once they enter the court system. To reduce racial disparities in arrests, Wilson said the office now screens arrest warrants for lower level offenses that are often dismissed for insufficient evidence. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested Pastor Uche Aigbe of the House on the Rock church, Abuja, according to an official statement. The statement signed by Josephine Adeh, FCT Police Public Relations Officer, said the police acted on intelligence to arrest Mr Aigbe and two others on Monday. The cleric, who is a pastor of the church, caused a stir on Sunday when he mounted the pulpit carrying a gun. The incident took place during the second service, which frequently has a high turnout of the congregation, the Punch newspaper reports. Pictures of Mr Aigbe holding the AK 47 rifle have gone viral on the internet with social media commentators raising concern about the clerics action. The pastors message and demonstrations were tagged inciting by various media and social media users, the police statement read, adding, The Church Chief Security Officer and one Inspector Musa Audu were also arrested. The police also confirmed that Mr Audu was on duty on the said day and he unprofessionally released his rifle to the said pastor without permission or recourse to police authority. Discrete investigation has commenced, the police added, urging members of the public to shun actions or utterances that are in breach of extant laws. The law is trite and all violators will be adequately sanctioned, the police said. Pastors action is regrettable Earlier in a statement on Monday evening, the House on the Rock church said Mr Aigbe carried the gun to illustrate his message to the congregation not to incite violence. The statement said: On Sunday, February 12, a resident pastor of House on the Rock, Abuja Church, Pastor Uche Aigbe in a message about fighting the good fight with spiritual weapons, carried an unloaded gun to illustrate his message on Guarding your Faith. Pastor Uche has been a leader in House on the Rock, Abuja since 1999 and has always shown exemplary leadership. However, he realises that even with the best of intentions, carrying a gun to illustrate his message was ill-advised and regrettable. Without hesitation, the church said, Mr Uche acknowledged the gravity of his actions and apologised unreservedly for them. As a church, House on the Rock rejects all forms of violence and we stand on the good news gospel of Jesus Christ which embraces peace and goodwill for all of mankind. We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they carry out their investigations into this incident, and we will continue to engage internally to ensure this break in protocol does not happen again, the statement said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, says her country has no preferred candidate in Nigerias general election. Ms Phee stated this when she visited the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu in his office on Monday in Abuja. She expressed confidence that the general election would be hitch-free and successful. Democracies are exciting experiments in human governance. It doesnt matter whether youre rich or poor, whether you live in a city or the countryside, what your religion is, what your nationality is. Every single vote counts and Nigerians should have confidence in their electoral process. Thanks to the excellent work of INEC. We are honoured to be here to see you today. We are proud of our contribution to technical assistance to help you meet the challenges of conducting such a large election. It is such a large and diverse country. We, like your other international partners, are confident that you will succeed, she said. Ms Phee said although the US had no preferred candidate in the election, it would back the processes toward a credible poll. She said the US highly valued its partnership with Nigeria. We are both a diverse democracy and we want to encourage a successful election that is free and fair and peaceful, and Im happy to say that I have great confidence that you will have a successful election. Since 1999, Nigeria has been moving up in solidifying and consolidating its democratic trajectory. And now, with INEC under the leadership of the chairman, and the support of his superb team, all Nigerians can have confidence in the integrity of the upcoming election, she said. READ ALSO: Ms Phee advised Nigerians to ensure that there was peace in the country before, during and after the election. I do want to emphasise the importance of conducting a peaceful election. I do want to emphasize that every citizen, every stakeholder, every party involved in the election has a responsibility before the election, during the campaign period, during the election and after the election, to be peaceful, she said. In his remarks, Mr Yakubu re-stated INECs commitment to free, fair and credible elections that would uphold the will of the people as expressed in the poll. Like the United States, INEC is only interested in the process. The commission is not a political party. We have no candidates in the election. We only focus on the process, the choice ultimately belongs to the people of Nigeria. The commission will uphold the choice made by Nigerians. We are committed to free, fair, credible, and inclusive and I must also add verifiable elections in 2023, he said. Mr Yakubu said INEC looked forward to consolidating its partnership with the U.S. If the United States is the largest presidential democracy in the world, which country is the second largest presidential democracy in the world? It is actually Nigeria. Yes, you may have other countries like India, Indonesia, other democracies, but they are a parliamentary democracy, not presidential democracy. Based on the projection of Nigerias population in the next two years, who knows we may also utterly overtake the United States as the largest presidential democracy in the world. So were interested in ensuring that we consolidate our democracy. There is no system of government better than a democratic system where the will of the people will continue to prevail, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United States on Sunday shot down the fourth flying object in its skies in less than 10 days. The BBC reported that the latest object was not deemed a military threat, and has been described by defence officials as an unmanned octagonal structure with strings attached to it. The object was first detected above military sites in Montana on Saturday and was downed by a missile near Lake Huron, close to the Canadian border, on Sunday afternoon on the orders of President Joe Biden. The object could have interfered with commercial air traffic as it was travelling at 20,000ft (6,100m), BBC quoted a Pentagon statement as saying. On 4 February, the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina after hovering for days over the continental US. Officials said it originated in China and had been used to monitor sensitive sites. China however denied the object was used for spying and said it was a weather monitoring device that had been blown astray. This further put a strain on the already strained relationship between the US and China. On 10 February, a second flying object was shot down off northern Alaska. Officials said the object lacked any system of propulsion or control. One day after (11 February), a fighter jet shot down a high-altitude airborne object over Canadas Yukon territory, about 100 miles (160 km) from the US border. It was described as cylindrical and smaller than the first balloon The US Air Force general overseeing North American airspace, Glen VanHerck, said it still was not clear how the objects were being propelled through the air or where they were coming from. He also said he had not ruled any explanation out including extraterrestrial life. I will let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out, BBC quoted Mr VanHerck as telling reporters. Another senior official told ABC News that the three most recent objects to be shot down were likely weather devices and not surveillance balloons. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, said some non-state actors have their eyes on an interim government as an outcome of the ongoing presidential election process. The governor spoke about the people and forces he characterised as elements whose patterns and conducts are consistent with plans to subvert or topple a civilian-to-civilian transition after the next presidential election. It turned out that some of the wildest stories of conspiracy to derail the transition at best for APC to lose, preferably for the whole system to result in no election leading to an interim arrangement began to rear their heads, Mr El-Rufai told PREMIUM TIMES. He came short of naming these elements who he insists are not worth the conventional Nigerian appellation of a political cabal. The notion of a powerful cabal, according to Mr El-Rufai, admits a level of sophistication and discipline, which the group around President Muhammadu Buhari lacks. I have no problem naming them. Im not afraid of anybody. But for me, naming them is giving them traction. They are nothing. They are not capable of winning elections. They have no idea of electoral or political legitimacy. They can only hide behind the likes of President Buhari to achieve their objectives, he noted. The Kaduna State governor also took time to address contentious issues around President Buhari and the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. When asked about the mixed signal perceived from the presidents lukewarm attitude to Mr Tinubus campaigns, he insisted there are no mixed signals. President Buhari considers the APC like a child he conceived and held in pregnancy for 18 months and gave birth to. He will never, I am ready to stake my neck and my life, President Buhari will never work against the APC. He will never work against the candidate of the APC even if the candidate is the devil himself, Mr El-Rufai said. He insisted that the president is a party man and an establishment person whose support for Mr Tinubu is sure. He went further to paint a picture and illustrate the operational mode of some disgruntled power-hungry cliques within the party that he admitted was hurting the party. What is happening is that there are people around the president that had their presidential candidates. They had two candidates that they preferred to succeed Buhari Godwin Emefiele from the South and Ahmad Lawan from the north and they got neither. READ ALSO: Mr Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had purchased the APC presidential form but could not contest in the primaries following public outcry. Many Nigerians had called for his removal as CBN chief for taking part in partisan politics. Mr Lawan, the current senate president, took part in the primaries but came fourth behind Mr Tinubu, ex-transport minister Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. PREMIUM TIMES will publish the full interview with Mr El-Rufai in the coming days. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government in partnership with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) is holding a one-day national dialogue on Womens Economic Empowerment (WEE) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) policy. The event, holding at the banquet hall of the State house in Abuja on Monday, is supported by the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), under the Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The high-level dialogue, according to the organisers, is to sensitise national and subnational stakeholders on the importance of the WEE M&E policy to secure buy-in for subnational-level domestication and implementation at all levels. The organisers said the national policy on M & E will also be launched at the event. The event will bring together government officials, economic analysts, women advocates among others. WEE, an intervention sponsored by the Gates Foundation, which believes that womens economic empowerment is beneficial not only to individual women but also to their children, households, and communities. The programme aims to help women and girls move from limited power, voice, and chores at home and in the economy to having the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to compete equitably and benefit from economic gains. To ensure implementation, the Nigerian government in September 2021 inaugurated a technical working group for the pilot monitoring and evaluation framework for the WEE interventions. The group was inaugurated following a national symposium organised by NIPSS in collaboration with the dRPC on the application framework as it relates to WEE. Todays high-level dialogue will shed more light on the progress made in implementing WEE programmes and interventions. Stay on this page as PREMIUM TIMES provides live updates of the event scheduled to commence by 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m.: Participants are still trooping into the hall and registration is ongoing. The director-general of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Usman, are among the guests expected at todays event. 10:00 a.m: Its a beautiful Monday morning and we are live at the banquet hall of the State House in Abuja to provide update on the one-day dialogue on National Monitoring and Evaluation policy on WEE. Although, the high level dialogue was scheduled to commence by 10:00 a.m, it will be starting late as some participants are yet to arrive. Please stay with us. 11:15 a.m: All is set for the commencement of the event. The lead facilitator of the event, Umar Kawu, takes the podium and welcomes the participants to the event. 11:16 a.m: The event commences with the National Anthem and the second stanza as the opening prayer. 11:17 a.m: Mr Kawu introduces the special guests present at the dialogue. 11:20 a.m.: Mr Kawu calls on the Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, Nebeolisa Anako, to deliver the welcome address. 11:21 a.m: Mr Anako takes the podium to deliver his speech. He said the objective of the dialogue is to sensitise relevant stakeholders and guide them on national policies regarding WEE. He noted that this will further strengthen government capacity. 11:23 a.m: He said nations with strong M&E delivery systems perform better than those without. He urges participants to use their expertise to develop recommendations that will help in the operationalisation of the policy. 11:25 a.m: He said the ministry of finance will ensure the smooth delivery of the WEE policy. Mr Anako ends his remarks and leaves the podium. 11:30 a.m: Mr Kawu, the facilitator, welcomes the director-general of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, to deliver his opening remark. Mr Omotayo is represented by the Director of Research, NIPSS, Pam Dung. 11:33 a.m: Mr Omotayo expressed his delight for the dialogue convened today. He said the collaboration with dRPC and others has gone a long way to help NIPSS in fulfilling its mandate. 11:35 a.m: He said todays event will gather experiences and insight from various stakeholders. We hope that the contributions will be harnessed for a better future, he said. 11:37 a.m: He said the participants must ensure result-oriented policies to get a better country in terms of service delivery. We need an M&E framework that will keep monitoring national projects. 11:39 a.m: Mr Omotayo said NIPSS is committed to supporting M&E policies at all levels of governance in Nigeria. He noted that there is a need for a strong culture of accountability and transparency. He urges everyone to fully participate in various projects relating to WEE. 11:43 a.m: He ends his speech and leaves the podium. 11:44 a.m: Mr Kawu calls the representative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Katja Schiller, to deliver her goodwill message. 11:45 a.m: Ms Schiller said BMGF is guided by the principles of equity and is always mindful of how their projects are impacting Nigerians. 11:46 a.m: She said the foundation finds a huge gap in the M&E framework of a delivery system in the country. She said the foundation is willing to partner with major stakeholders in collecting data on M&E policies and WEE. 11:48 a.m: Ms Schiller ends her speech and leaves the podium. 11:51 a.m: The next speaker is UNICEFs Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate. Ms Munduate said UNICEF is encouraged by the leadership of the ministry of finance and is committed to supporting the M&E policy. 11:53 a.m: She reiterated that UNICEF will support the implementation of the M&E policy at the state level. She ends her speech. 11:55 a.m: The lead facilitator, Mr Kawu takes the podium to welcome the next speaker, a representative of dRPC, Emmanuel Osaghie. 11: 56 a.m: Mr Osaghie takes the podium. He said dRPC has worked for several years to get here today. He said various stakeholders contributed to the implementation of the M&E policy which will be launched today. 11:57 a.m: He said the dRPC is committed to strengthening the M&E policy document and also to provide technical and facilitatory support for subnational-level domestication of the policy, focusing on WEE following this meeting. He ends his remark and leaves the podium. 12:00 p.m: The next speaker is the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba. Mr Agba will deliver the keynote address on the implementation of the National Development Plan, NDP (2021-2025). 12:01 p.m: He said todays dialogue will provide a platform to sustain the M&E policy document. He said the dialogue is important to sensitise all stakeholders as it is important in achieving NDP 2021-2025. 12:03 p.m: Mr Agba said the NDP is a medium-term blueprint designed to unlock the countrys potentials in all sectors of the economy for a sustainable, holistic and inclusive national development. He said it is developed by the different facet of the private sector, Sub-National Government, Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and facilitated by the Nigerian government. 12:05 p.m: He said this was deliberately done for inclusiveness, participation and citizen engagement to ensure no one is left behind. 12:07 p.m: He noted that the plan will require an investment of about N348.1 trillion to achieve its objectives within the period of 2021- 2025. It is estimated that the Government capital expenditure during the period will be N49.7 trillion (14 per cent) while the balance of N298.3 trillion (86 per cent) will be incurred by the private sector. Of the 14 per cent government contribution, FGN capital expenditure will be N29.6 trillion (9 per cent) while the Sub National Governments capital expenditure will be about N20.1 trillion (6 percent), he said. 12:10 p.m: Mr Agba said the successful implementation of this Plan will be heavily dependent on a strong partnership between the private and public sector and both sectors playing their expected roles effectively. 12: 13 p.m: He reiterated that the role of M&E in the implementation of the plan cannot be over emphasised as it is key to ensuring effective delivery of the achievements of the objectives of the plan. 12:15 p.m: Conventionally, some of the roles of M&E in any project, programmes and policies implementation include: provision of consolidated source of information showcasing project progress; generating reports that contribute to transparency and accountability, revelation of mistakes and offer of paths for learning and improvements; provides a way to assess the crucial link between implementers and beneficiaries on the ground and decisionmakers; and adds to the retention and development of institutional memory, he said. 12: 20 p.m: The minister urges all participants to fully engage in the implementation of this policy. He ends his keynote address and leaves the podium. 12:23 p.m: The co-facilitator of the dialogue, Folashade Boriowo, takes the podium to announce launch of the M&E national policy. Ms Boriowo calls on the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Agba to lead the moment. 12:24 p.m: Mr Agba launched the M&E national policy and its time for group photograph. 12:27 p.m: The photograph session has come to an end and the participants are ready for tea break It is time for tea break. We will be back shortly, kindly stay with us. 01:00 p.m: Tea break is over and the second session of the dialogue has commenced. 01:02 p.m: The next speaker is the Director of National Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Ministry of Finance, Zakariyau Lawal. Mr Lawal will give an overview of the National M&E policy in Nigeria and its influence on the pilot WEE M&E framework supported by NIPSS and the PAWED project. 01:05 p.m: He said the principles of good governance comprises accountability, rule of law, public participation, responsiveness and effectiveness. He noted that good governance is about effective and satisfactory service delivery to citizens of a country. 01:07 p.m: Mr Lawal said it is observed that there is always a symbiotic relationship between good governance and M&E. But, at the centre of any good governance framework is a good monitoring and evaluation system, he said. 01:10 p.m: By this policy we are trying to inculcate the culture of evaluation. Without a good M&E system there wont be effective service delivery. He said the policy was developed to promote core principles for evaluation in government policies. 01:13 p.m: Mr Lawal said the National M&E policy ensured that all MDAs are involved in monitoring of government policies,, programmes and projects in their ministry. He said MDAs should also prepare performance improvement plan based on the findings and recommendations of the monitoring report and prepare bi-annual reports on the performance of the respective MDAs. 01:16 p.m: He said the coordinating M&E departments at federal and state level shall collaborate on a systematic and regular basis with the statistics office of the federation. The unit responsible for the policy monitoring in government, the audit, inspection and control functions in government to avoid duplication of mandates, of activities, as well as to prevent waste of public resources, he said. 01:18 p.m: Mr Lawal highlights key areas tracked under the WEE M&E framework. They include access to finance; access to skills acquisition; access to employment; access to quality health care services; access to marketing facilities; access to agricultural inputs; and regulatory and policy. 01:20 p.m: He ends his presentation and leaves the podium. Panel Discussion one 01:22 p.m: The next session is a panel discussion on Opportunities and challenges for operationalising the National M&E policy in states and indonor-supported programmes and projects. The facilitator of this session is the president, Nigerian Association of Evaluators, Sulleiman Adediran. 01:25 p.m: The first panellist is Umma Aboki, the commissioner, Kaduna State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. Ms Aboki said the National M&E policy is an important document. She said the Kaduna State govt domesticated the M&E framework since 2015. 01:27 p.m: She said the state has mobilised all M&E officers within MDAs to sensitise them in monitoring activities of the state. Government is here to serve the people and therefore, policies must be result oriented, she said. 01:30 p.m: Ms Aboki said Kaduna State has a platform that measures what the government is doing, one of the first in the country. She said the state is also embarking on integrating all employees of government on a single platform. It gives an idea to know who is on board and who is off board and this platform allows us to see the liabilities of the state and monitor impact of state projects, she said. 01;34 p.m: She explained that the government is providing clear transparency through this system. 01:37 p.m: The next panellist is Micheal Ilesanmi, a senior social development specialist at the World Bank. Represented by Jeph Oluwagbemiga, Mr Ilesanmi said the World Bank has a project specifically designed to track impact. 01:40 p.m: He said there is also the M&E programme targeted at womens engagements. He said the World Bank is also coming up with software that allows people to monitor projects across states which will make data available and serve as a reference point. 01:42 p.m: Mr Ilesanmi said with the advent of the M&E policy, its no longer business as usual. Things are open now and there is transparency. 01:45 p.m: The next panellist is Musa Umar, a director at NIPSS. Mr Umar said the institute engaged the ministry of finance and development partners on why its necessary to have a tracking system. 01:47 p.m: He said citizens are making more demands, asking questions on whats happening with various programmes and projects. Unless you have M&E, you wont be able to know whats happening. 01:49 p.m: He said there is a need to build the capacity of state and local government officials when it comes to M&E. He said necessary conversations must commence and NIPSS is always ready for these developments. 01:52 p.m.: To end the discussion, Ms Aboki said speaking of ensuring project prioritisation, we have projects that are prioritised that were developed. The citizens are the ones that prioritised these projects. 01:53 p.m.: She calls for continuous collaboration between the federal, state and local governments. 01:54 p.m: Mr Umar said, we have something that can guide us in terms of service delivery but we can engage the national assembly to strengthen the policy. 01:58 p.m.: The first panels discussion has ended. Second panel discussion 02:05 p.m: The second panels discussion is on Model and opportunities for MDAs to work together to monitor and evaluate policies targeting women; youth; communities in emergencies; and the rural poor. The facilitator is the Director of Research at NIPSS, Dung Pam. He is represented by Sola Adeyanji. 02:10 p.m: The first panellist is the Director of Social Development, Ministry Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Sanjo Faniran. Mr Faniran said M&E policy will expose discrepancies. He noted that the policy will expect reports that will show what is missing. The policy gives an opportunity for gender balance and equity and ensures women are carried along, he said. 02:14 p.m: The next panellist is a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ibrahim Tanimu. Mr Tanimu said the agriculture ministry is dealing with people at the grassroots. He said its quite challenging to get reliable data at the grassroots. You are dealing with humans here and technology is not available in many parts of the country, he said. 02:18 p.m: The third panellist is the Statistician-General, NBS Semiu Adeyemi. Mr Semiu is represented by the Director of the prices and trade statistics department, NBS, Austen Anyakorah. 02:22 p.m: Mr Adeyemi said for M&E to be effective, you need to generate reliable data. He said for you to get quality data, you must have a reliable source and soundness of methodology. The data must also be comparable using global benchmarks. Unless you follow this process of the data collection framework, there wont be inclusivity, he said. 02:25 p.m: He said administrative data is available at the national and sub-national levels. We must develop the human capacity to be able to generate data. At NBS, we have adequate arrangements for data gathering, he said. 02:28 p.m: Mr Faniran said we must deploy the latest technology for information gathering. 02:30 p.m: Mr Tanimu said there is a need to get the sources of data generation. If we get it right then everything becomes easier. To do that, you must also deploy the right infrastructure at the grassroots level, he said. 02:35 p.m: The second panels discussion has ended. Third panel discussion 02:37 p.m: The third panels discussion is on Using evidences generated from M&E findings in policy formulation advocacy, decision making: The role of parliament, executives, CSOs and media. The facilitator is the senior special assistant to the president on finance and economy, Sarah Alade. 02:41 p.m: The first panellist is the director, policy innovation centre, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Osasuyi Dirisu. Ms Dirisu said it is excellent to have an M&E policy that will guide the conversation. The work has just begun but this policy is not enough to translate the tracking of projects. 02:45 p.m: The second panellist is the director of M&E, Kaduna State, Jummai Bako. Ms Bako said the new policy means people will begin to get quality services and begin to see the value of government spending. 02:47 p.m: The third panellist is Theophilus Abbah, a representative of the Daily Trust Foundation. Mr Abbah said there is a limitation in getting data from the government, but if the M&E policy is implemented, it means data will be available and accessible. 02:51 p.m: He said journalists can demand accountability if they are able to gather data and ask questions. This is a good development but those responsible for data collection must do their work effectively, he said. 02:55 p.m: The fourth panellist is the National Representative of the PAWED coalition, Vera Ndanusa. Ms Ndanusa said if women and citizens can monitor government projects, it means poverty will be reduced. 02:58 p.m: She said it is a welcome development and it means Nigeria is on the right track. She added that the CSOs have a critical role to play in complementing the governments efforts. 03:00 p.m: Mr Abbah said the major challenge journalists encounter is getting information from the government. A lot of time, we write to government agencies requesting data but we are told that this data is not available. It shouldnt be this difficult to get data from the government. We are appealing to government agencies to make data available so that journalists can do their jobs, he said. 03:03 p.m: Ms Dirisu also spoke on collecting baseline data. She said we must have gender considerations in collecting data. 03:06 p.m.: She said implementing the M&E policy requires more than a document. She said Nigeria cannot continue to rely on CSOs to get feedback. Sometimes we have to get the feedback directly. 03:08 p.m: She noted that the government also needs to align the framework they are using to remain consistent. 03:12 p.m: Ms Jummai said in Kaduna State, they are recruiting more M& E personnel to take them across MDAs in the state. She said the M&E officers return to the state secretariat to report what is happening at MDAs. She called on the federal government to implement such an effort. 03:15 p.m: Ms Jummai said she is looking forward to the capacity development of M&E officers through the policy framework. 03:17 p.m: Mr Abbah, the Daily Trust Foundation representative, said there is a need for M&E officers to do their job effectively and make data available after collecting them. 03:20 p.m: Ms Ndanusa said if Nigeria must succeed, there is a need to evaluate government projects. She added that for Nigeria to perform well, there has to be a collective project to which everyone is contributing. 03:25 p.m.: The panel session has come to an end. 03:29 p.m: The Deputy Director, National Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Ministry of Finance, Olasumbo Yakub takes the podium to give the closing remarks. Ms Yakub who was represented by Margaret Dibigbo said the event was productive. 03:32 p.m: She urges everyone to continue to advocate for M&E policy implementation even after todays gathering. She wishes everyone a safe journey back to their various destinations. 03:36 p.m: This brings us to the end of todays event. Thanks for staying with us all through. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The management of RegentAfrica Times newspapers announces the 2nd annual public lecture and awards, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT-Chapter, with support from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Themed: 2023: Enhancing Professionalism Among Security Agencies, Media and Voters for Free, Fair & Credible Polls, the event is scheduled for 14th February, as Nigeria heads for the presidential poll in days ahead. In a press statement e-signed by the Editor-in-Chief, RegentAfrica Times newspapers, Shola Akingboye, on Monday, the media organisation noted that the 2023 lecture focuses on addressing the key players in the coming elections the security agencies, media, and the electorates whose roles and conducts are expected to shape the much anticipated Nigeria general elections. The event focuses on tasking everyone on how to synergize for peaceful elections. We are joining the advocacies for free, fair and credible polls with support from our major partners: the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ-FCT), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the Africa Independent Television, AIT. As a media organisation, we must organise an event of this nature given the oath we swore to keep as a member of the fourth realm of the estate, saddled with the constitutional responsibility to inform and keep the public better informed on unfolding issues, especially as the 2023 Nigerias transition election approaches. However, the 2nd and the 2023 edition is strategic given the coming general elections and the need to engage critical stakeholders, hence the theme of the event and the February 14th date set aside for this years lecture, when the Presidential election is eleven days away. The 2023 edition is designed to remind key players in the coming elections, the security agencies, the media, the electorates, including election observers on the need to apply rules and operational ethics in discharging their duties while in the field for a peaceful and credible 2023 Nigerian polls. The event is organised in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ-FCT Council), with support from our key media partner, the African Independent Television (AIT) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which is playing host to the event at the commissions headquarters in Maitama, Abuja given the NHRCs advocacy for citizens participation in the forthcoming 2023 general elections. Meanwhile, the annual Humanitarian Awards segment is designed to honour individuals who are human rights promoters in their various capacities, including caregivers and humanitarian champions that live for others and the less-privileged, More deeply to our hearts in these categories of awards are the post-humours awards reserved for the fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the fatherland. Relevant stakeholders expected at the event are invitees from the government quarters, the INEC, the legislative arm, the media, security agencies, NGOs, civil society organisations, including members of the diplomatic community in Nigeria, and the general public. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Yobe State All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council has denied that supporters of Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, stoned the Governor of the State, Mai Buni, at a Yobe North Senatorial district zonal rally held in the state last week. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the event was disrupted after supporters of Mr Lawan threw objects on the podium when the governor rose to speak during the rally. But despite the account of our reporter who was at the event and witnessed the disruption, the Director General of the APC Campaign Organization, Mohammed Hassan, told journalists in Damaturu, the capital of the state, that the report was false. He said the rally was a success and wondered how the story of the stoning came about. Mr Hassan who admitted that the size of the crowd could cause fracas maintained that no incident of stoning the governor or any dignitary at the rally happened I am here to address the press regarding yesterdays event at Gashua which was the flag off of the APC campaign rally in the State. We chose Gashua as the first senatorial district to flag off the campaign. As you are aware, the senate president and the governor were there. We also had a guest in the person of the executive governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Inua Yahaya. Series of events took place and one of them was the commissioning of the Nguru Ultra-Modern Market, and thereafter we went to Gashau for the flag off the campaign. Unfortunately, the media was washed with what I will term fake news in the sense that the story of saying that some leaders of our party were stoned at the event. I want to categorically state that that was completely false. That did not happen. In fact, I personally made efforts to find out the source of such fake news and if there was, I would have expected to have seen the video clip especially now that social media dominates stories around the world. But I havent seen any. But of course, such fracas usually happens especially when you have a huge crowd like that of yesterday. I can tell you that, that turnout was unprecedented and people all over came to support the party, support the governor of Yobe and his activities and the senate president. Clearly what we saw yesterday was the governor not just going for the campaign but showcasing his projects and what he has done for the people. I can confirm to you and for those who were there that there was no stoning of any individual. There is nothing new in this game. You see supporters of the same candidate trying to show supremacy in terms of number. No political rally that is devoid of these kinds of things, Mr. Hassan said. He accused the opposition of having a hand in the incident that took place at Gashua. I want to tell you that, there is a hand of opposition in the matter and such fracas are normal in a political rally, he said. When asked why no dignitary spoke at the event, Mr Hassan said: We were mindful of the time and the safety of everybody at that event. The huge crowd that graced the rally was unprecedented and we didnt want to risk anybodys life at that point. Even the people at the podium were too much and it was almost breaking down and so we had to quickly cut off the long speeches. It was also close to prayer time. Governor also denies attack Also in a statement, the governors spokesman Mamman Mohamed, blamed the report of the stoning on merchants of fake news. In the statement which was titled; The Merchants of Fake News Have Failed Mr Mohamed alleged that the governor hurriedly left the rally because the podium was going to collapse. We read with dismay Media reports making rounds that some party stalwarts were stoned at a rally in Gashua, Yobe state. We have found it necessary to respond to the false, alarming and precarious report to avoid misleading the general public. The rally witnessed a very large crowd ever seen in the political history of Gashua Town. The tumultuous crowd were out to welcome the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Governor Buni and members of the Campaign Council. Governor Buni walked freely through the crowd acknowledging cheers from the supporters as he walked to the podium. When it became obvious the podium was threatened to collapse with an overwhelming crowd, the Director General of the APC Campaign Council, Sen. Muhammad Hassan, stopped all speeches after the Senate President. He, therefore, ordered everyone to get down from the podium for safety before it collapses. The rally continued with dances and until all the dignitaries left, there was no breach of security and no one was attacked. It was gathered that much later when the Governor and members of the Campaign Council had departed Gashua, two supporting groups were engaged in disagreements with threats to each other but never degenerated to attack. The publishers of the fake news only engaged in a futile attempt to create an impression of a bad relationship between the people of Gashua and the APC government in Yobe state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says he cannot support the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, because of ideological differences. Mr Sirika, in a tweet on Sunday, said he does not share Mr Obis vision or agree with his standing on issues, therefore, cannot endorse his candidacy. He added that Bola Tinubu was his candidate long before the 8 June primary election that produced him as the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). I am ideologically opposite of Peter Obi, I dont share his vision nor do I stand for what he stands for. I have not endorsed him. I am APC, he is Labour. Asiwaju was my candidate long before the primaries and he still is. God willing we are coasting to victory. Jagaban all the way, he tweeted. Mr Sirika did not state his ideological position nor what side of the divide he thinks Mr Obi is on. The former Anambra State governor is running on the platform of the LP, a party that is affiliated with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), although, his position on issues is a bit to the capitalist side. Mr Obi has insisted on the removal of petroleum subsidy and the implementation of the Oronsaye report two issues that conflict with the stance of the organised Labour unions in Nigeria. Meanwhile, in the same Twitter thread, Mr Sirika also disclosed that irrespective of the outcome of the election, he will not be joining the next cabinet. Even if it were possible for PMB to succeed himself, by whichever miracle, I never will be a minister. Public office is not a dynasty, it is transient. If it were permanent, I wouldnt have met it. From General Manager to House of Reps. to Senate, then to Minister. E do na, he stated. Mr Sirika, a former member of both chambers of the National Assembly, has been in the federal cabinet since 2015. He was first minister of state (transportation) but had oversight over aviation. In 2019, he was made the full fledged minister of aviation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it requires 13,000 security personnel for the general elections in Enugu State. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Chukwuemeka Chukwu disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Enugu. INEC has fixed Saturday, 25 February, for the presidential and National Assembly elections and 11 March 11 for the governorship and State Assembly elections. Mr Chukwu said the Inter-agency Consultation Committee on Election Security was working to mobilise and deploy the required number of security personnel to ensure hitch-free elections in the state. He said the security personnel would be deployed to the 4,145 polling units, 260 Registration Area Centres and collation centres across the 17 council areas in the state. The REC revealed that security had been beefed up at local government offices of the commission, adding that deployment of non-sensitive materials had commenced ahead of the elections. We are working ahead of the commissions schedule and ensuring practical proactive implementation of all timelines of INEC in the state. We have continued to have constant meetings and engagement with stakeholders to ensure secured, free, fair and credible elections in Enugu state. We are ready to ensure that 2023 elections will be the best in the state, especially with the use of technology, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Elections will not be held in 240 polling units in 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said. This is because no voter chose the polling units during the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) between June 2021 and July 2022. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this when he addressed members of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Monday. According to him, the polling units are part of the over 56,000 newly created polling units. INEC had from 2021 increased the number of polling units from a total of 119,973 to 176,846. With this development, the presidential and national assembly as well as states and their houses of assembly elections will be held in 176,606 polling units, he added. There are 240 polling units without registered voters spread across 28 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They range from one polling unit to 12 polling units in each State and the FCT, except Taraba and Imo States with 34 and 38 polling units respectively. No new registrants chose the polling units and no voters indicated interest to transfer to them during the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), mainly for security reasons. This means that no elections will hold in these polling units. You may recall that in 2021, with your support and that of other critical stakeholders, the Commission successfully expanded voter access to polling units 25 years after the last delimitation exercise in 1996. Consequently, the number of polling units increased from 119,973 to the current figure of 176,846, Mr Yakubu said. Redistribution of Voters Meanwhile, the INEC chairman said voters whose polling units have been changed will receive text messages from the commission. He said voters can also confirm the locations of their polling units through a dedicated portal on its website. From the feedback we received from our officials and accredited observers following the recent nationwide mock accreditation using the BVAS, it is clear that some voters could not easily identify their polling units. This should not happen on election day, he said. We have also compiled the register of such voters and our state offices will give it wide publicity, especially for those who may not have provided their telephone numbers during voter registration or those whose numbers may have changed. Voters can locate and confirm their polling units before election day by sending a regular text or WhatsApp message to a dedicated telephone number. Details of the simple procedure will be uploaded to our social media platforms shortly. Mr Yakubu said the commission had redistributed voters to other newly created polling units to avoid congestion in pre-existing ones. The redistribution was done only for voters in proximate locations, where they are separated by distance, this must be done after consultation with the voters. According to him, this has been done by our state offices nationwide. The INEC chairman said the commission would make available to Nigerians, a comprehensive list of the polling units by name, code number and their locations by state, local government and registration area. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday, visited the families of the three police officers killed by gunmen in Anambra State. The deceased officers were Inspectors Lucky Aleh, Celestine Nwadiokwu and Jude Obuh, who were attached to Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit at the Government House, Asaba. Gunmen ambushed and killed them at a spot along Ihiala-Orlu Road in Anambra while on their way to Umuahia on official duty on Friday. Mr Okowa commiserated with the families and wives, Nwamaka Aleh and Juliet Obuh of Agbor Obi and Orogodo in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area. He also condoled with the wife, Onyeisi Nwadiokwu and the Nwadiokwu family of Owa Ekei, Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state for the loss. The governor prayed for the bereaved families and asked them to take solace because the deceased died in active service for the nation. He assured that the state government would continue to identify with them through the trying times. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor was accompanied on the visit by member, representing Ika Federal Constituency, Victor Nwokolo. Also, the member representing Ika South in the State House of Assembly, Festus Okoh, his Ika North East counterpart, Anthony Elekeokwuri and the Commissioner for Works, Noel Omodon, his Information counterpart, Charles Aniagwu, were in the entourage. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against postponing the coming general elections scheduled to commence with the presidential and national assembly election on 25 February. INEC has, on multiple occasions, assured of its commitment to go ahead with the polls as scheduled. Yet, IPAC Chairman, Yabagi Sani, told the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday that under no circumstances should this election be postponed. Speaking at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during a meeting between IPAC and the electoral commission, Mr Sani condemned a situation where he said state governors frustrate the campaign activities of opposition parties in their states. Today it is an abhorrence and crudity if not savagery to see states governors denying campaign venues to political parties other than their own. This is crude, primitive and uncivilised, he said. He also called on political parties to accept the outcome of the elections for the love of our country. Where aggrieved, he urged political parties to approach the court of law for administration of justice. I, therefore, call on all Nigerians of good conscience to take credible results of the election the way it is. At worse, parties should resort to the law court for adjudication, Mr Sani said. INEC on track Mr Sani, who is also the presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), commended INEC for the preparations so far, including the outcome of the recently conducted mock accreditation exercise, which he said was a success. He called on the commission to double down on making sure the actual elections are also as smooth. By what we hear and read in the news, your mock accreditation exercise was a success. That is very encouraging, he said. As we know, a mock examination cannot be taken to be the real examination whose coverage is wider and complex. So far, the BVAS that were used were reported to have performed perfectly. We are encouraged by this and also wish to appreciate INEC while expecting them to keep the flag of perfection flying. He said the councils evaluation of INEC activities revealed that the commission has been on track, especially on how it is confronting the current challenges posed by the naira redesign and fuel scarcity. He said: On the basis of our evaluation that INEC has been well on track, the leadership of IPAC additionally wishes to use this occasion to commend, the efforts of INEC in confronting the extraordinary environmental challenges occasioned by naira redesign and fuel scarcity through Mr. Chairmans visit to the relevant agencies. I wish to firstly reiterate the continual commitment of IPAC to the long standing cooperation and mutually beneficial relationship between us and INEC. I want to use this occasion to also reaffirm the confidence of IPAC in the leadership of INEC for its consistent demonstration of diligence, uncommon zeal and patriotism in the pursuit of the agencies statutory mandate, Mr Sani said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Some leaders of Fulani communities (Ardos) from across the country under the aegis of Fulbe United for Peace and Development, have endorsed the presidential bid of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu. The leaders, who converged on Abuja on Sunday, said as leaders of Fulani ethnic nationality, they were satisfied with the antecedents of Mr Tinubu and his Renewed Hope agenda for Nigeria. The group, at the event, which was held in conjunction with a socio-political group, Arewa New Agenda, said it would use its 33,661 members to mobilise millions of their members to vote for Mr Tinubu at the presidential poll. Addressing the gathering after performing the kola nut-sharing tradition, the leader of the group, Aliyu Bobboi, said with the sharing of the kola, the leaders would go back with the message to their people on the decision reached at the meeting. He said the gathering was an avenue to underscore their support, trust in his leadership qualities and capacity to administer the country effectively if he emerges victorious at the poll. According to him, the Ardos, as leaders of the people, have the final say on the position of their people and would follow it to the latter to ensure compliance. Mr Liman, who made reference to Tinubus Fulani associates who accompanied him to the meeting, including Governors Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Abubakar Badaru of Kano and Jigawa States, respectively, and pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, expressed optimism that the Tinubu-led presidency would ensure the well-being of the Fulani ethnic nationality in Nigeria. The group also conferred on Mr Tinubu the title of Barkindo (the blessed one) which they described as a revered title among the Fulani. Mr Ganduje who spoke glowingly of Mr Tinubus leadership qualities described the Fulani people, who have cohabited peaceably with their fellow Nigerians, as an endangered specie that deserves to be catered for and protected in the years ahead. READ ALSO: The Kano State governor said Mr Tinubu was committed to the task of improving the livestock sector and the lives of herdsmen, saying he is on the verge of producing a blueprint aimed at achieving the goal. Tinubu promises inclusive environment for all Nigerians Speaking at the event, the APC presidential candidate, who reminisced about the cordial relationship between his late mother Abibatu Mogaji, himself and Fulani inhabitants of Lagos State over the years, expressed gratitude for the show of love and support for his ambition. He reiterated his commitment to creating an enabling environment where Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic and religious backgrounds shall cohabit and live peaceably with one another without let or hindrances. Mr Tinubu said: Prior to this day I never thought I would meet a Fulani man who speaks better Yoruba. That is very wonderful. This is the Nigeria that we want, we expect Nigeria to be united with one voice, sharing of culture and belief in each other. I want to tell you if we stay here for the next five hours its the same story you would be hearing from me. Thank Almighty Allah. We have had problems with herders. But I guarantee you today that the problem would be solved permanently. The blueprint is almost ready. We will plan with it. The world is fair and good for all of us. We have to live in peace not only because of today but because of our children and grandchildren. What we learn about the Fulanis is their simplicity and commitment to promises. When they give you the commitment you get it. I hope I can transfer the blood, and spirit that I got from you to my grandchildren for the unity stability and peace of Nigeria. You know you are in my heart. We will make Nigeria great. And we will make the name Fulani a very respectable name. Mr Ribadu, in a vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to the Fulani leaders describing Mr Tinubu as a credible human being who would surely match his words with action if voted into power. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Some Labour Party (LP) leaders in the South-west states have switched their support to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, saying the party has become a shaky platform. Omotoso Banjo, who is the chairperson of the South-west branch of the party, led the group to address a press conference in Akure on Monday. He said the LP in the region had collapsed its structure into the support groups of Mr Tinubu ahead of the 25 February presidential election. The Secretary of the LP in Ondo State, Omowumi Olosola, also announced her defection at the event, along with other party members. Labour Party presently is a shaky platform for anybody to contest. Labour Party is a failed platform for anybody to contest. I dont know Peter Obi and I am less concerned about him but I am concerned about those who are celebrating the Labour Party mediocrity within Nigeria, Mr Omotoso said. In view of this, we leaders of the Labour Party in the South-west have decided to leave the party because we have a lot of mediocrity there and what they are looking for is money, they are not ready to serve Nigeria. Labour Party is not ready to serve Nigeria, that is why we decided to leave the party and come to the APC. I collapsed the structure of the party in Ekiti State. So, I dont know how Obi can come now and embarrass us here in the South-west. We are the pillars of that party in the South-west, and to the glory of God Almighty, we have pulled down the structure today. I was so surprised to hear from the DG of the party, Akin Osuntokun, we dont know him in Labour Party, Osuntokun is representing his own personal interest. So, Osuntokun we dont know you and it is better you come back to the APC and work for Bola Tinubu. We are leaving and collapsing the Labour Party structure in the entire South-West through the Senator Dayo Adeyeye into APC. The former Minister of State for Works and the National Coordinator of the Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju, SWAGA 2023, Dayo Adeyeye, while receiving the decampees, said their move was a boost to the APC in the region. There was no immediate reaction from the partys hierarchy to the sudden defection of the leaders. However, factions continued to exist in Ogun and other South-west states, but Mr Obi had maintained such would not affect his campaigns and his goal to win the presidential election. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Armed robbers invaded a Chicken Republic branch in the Lekki area of Lagos on Sunday and shot one of its staff members. The restaurant management in a series of Tweets described the incident as an attempted robbery. Earlier today, a member of our team was shot at our Admiralty Lekki 1 Branch, in an attempted robbery. He is currently receiving medical attention and we ask that you join us to pray for his recovery, the management said. We are deeply saddened by this despicable act of violence and are already working with the @PoliceNG to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book. Our efforts remain consistent in ensuring our outlets are secure nationwide. The police spokesperson in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday. He noted that there is no update yet on the matter. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), has invited a spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, over a comment he made on alleged coup plot. Mr Fani-Kayode, in a statement on Monday, confirmed the invitation by the SSS and also pledged to honour it. Mr Fani-Kayode, via a tweet last week, alleged that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, met secretly with some serving military generals. He said the meeting could be part of a plan to destabilize the country and pave the way for a coup detat. Is this meeting part of the wider agenda to disrupt the elections, destabilise the country, set us on fire, incite chaos and violence, provoke a coup detat and establish a new and unconstitutional order in our beloved country under the auspices of an ING?, Mr Fani-Kayodes tweet reads. The Nigerian Army already denied the alleged secret meeting with Atiku and described it as wicked and very malicious propaganda. It also said it was loyal to the government. Some members of the main opposition party have since called for the arrest of Mr Fani-Kayode over the comment. In the past couple of weeks some members of the ruling APC, including serving governors have been floating the idea of fifth columnists working within the presidency to sabotage the party during the forthcoming general elections. The conspiracy theory became louder following the scarcity of Naira notes occasioned by the CBN policy. 48 hours to appear before SSS Mr Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister, said the SSS gave him 48 hours to appear before them otherwise the worse may happen. He further disclosed that he earlier dismissed an invitation sent to him via text message but that an official letter had been addressed to him by the secret police. He stated that even though some persons within the Atikus campaign have called for his arrest, the sequence of events shows that the SSS was not under the influence of anyone but merely doing their job. Clearly the DSS were not influenced by Atiku and were simply doing their job by inviting me on a matter that needs explanation and clarification and for a thorough interrogation. And of course being a responsible and law-abiding citizen I will present myself before them accordingly, he said. Mr Fani-Kayode maintained his innocence on the comment made, noting that he just raised questions in reaction to a news publication. For the record, I have said or done nothing wrong or that I should not have said or done and I stand by everything that I have said or written in the past on all issues. It is not a crime to express my concerns about the despicable activities of Atiku who, in my view, has a hidden agenda and who is so desperate for power that he is prepared to do anything and turn the whole country upside down in order to achieve it, he said. Nigeria has a long history of military interventions. Since independence, there have been a total of eight military coups detat, two were unsuccessful. The current Fourth Republic is the longest democratic rule the nation has had without military incursion. Democracy was restored in the country in 1999. Read Fani-Kayode s full statement PRESS STATEMENT: MY INVITATION TO THE DSS Three days ago, on the day that I tweeted about newspaper reports alleging that Atiku was secretly meeting with Army Generals, I received a text message from someone who claimed to be a DSS officer asking me to report to them on a matter of national security. I dismissed the invitation because it was vague and I was not sure whether it really came from the DSS. In any case I had no intention of going anywhere unless I was formally invited. To my surprise I received a formal letter from them to report to their office without fail two days later, which was yesterday evening. I put a call through to them and was advised to take the matter very seriously and report to them on the stipulated day and time otherwise the worse may happen. I found it interesting that a call came from one of Atikus dogs for me to be arrested by the security agencies yesterday and had it not been for the fact that the DSS had actually sent a text to me two days earlier I may have thought that they were acting on the instructions of what can only be described as a hopeless and desperate presidential candidate, opposition party and PCC who are clutching at straws, drowning fast, seeking to silence those that give them sleepless nights, shivering in despair and staring defeat in the face in the upcoming presidential election. Clearly the DSS were not influenced by Atiku and were simply doing their job by inviting me on a matter that needs explanation and clarification and for a thorough interrogation . And of course being a responsible and law abiding citizen I will present myself before them accordingly. Unlike cowards like Emefiele, Atiku and their strange bedfellows I do not fear my own shadow and neither do I shiver and shake when I am invited by the security agencies. I always honor their invitations when properly invited because that is the right and proper thing to do. This is all the more so when it touches and concerns matters of national security which I take very seriously and when it involves agencies like the DSS who are professional and thorough in their methods and approach. I have nothing to hide and consequently I will present myself before the DSS this morning as I have been asked to do. I maintain my utter contempt for Atiku and the vermin that are around him and no matter what happens to me today or at any other time, know that as long as there is life in me I will oppose the darkness and evil that they represent. I am used to arrest, interrogation, detention, prosecution and so much more and have suffered these indignities on many occassions over the last 15 years. I have no fear: nothing moves me and only death can silence me. The most important thing now is not what happens to me but rather achieving the noble quest to ensure the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our next President. That is the mission that we must focus on because that is the only way to save our country. I hope that I will be at liberty and free to continue to play my role in that quest but if I am not and I am detained indefinitely or till the election is over so be it. In such circumstances be rest assured that I will be praying fervently for Asiwajus victory from the inside. For the record I have said or done nothing wrong or that I should not have said or done and I stand by everything that I have said or written in the past on all issues. It is not a crime to express my concerns about the despicable activities of Atiku who, in my view, has a hidden agenda and who is so desperate for power that he is prepared to do anything and turn the whole country upside down in order to achieve it. May God protect our people and nation from such a shameless and questionable character and such a disasterous plight and may He continue to be with us all. (Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Sadaukin Shinkafi, 13th February, 2023) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen have shot the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbaku Ward, Mbaitolu Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria. The victim, Charles Oke, was shot at his residence, Umunomo Nsokpo in the community, on Saturday night, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. The gunmen were said to have laid an ambush at the house of the PDP chairman, who entered the house unaware at about 9 p.m. Mr Oke was shot in one of his legs, sources said. The attackers reportedly gained access into his residence after scaling a parameter fence. Sources said the victim was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. When contacted, the spokesperson of the PDP in the state, Collins Opuruozor, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES, Monday morning. Mr Opuruozor said the party in the state was on top of the situation, assuring that the details of the attack would be made public as soon as possible. The police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, told PREMIUM TIMES that the police in the state had commenced investigation to track down the attackers. Patrols within the area have been intensified with the aim of nipping in the bud any untoward situation, said Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police. Worsening insecurity 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. The latest attack occurred less than two weeks after gunmen killed a Nigerian judge in the state during a court session. Gunmen, about three weeks ago, beheaded the sole administrator of Ideato North Local Government Area of the state. In late January, a police officer was killed by gunmen who attacked Oguta Divisional Police Headquarters in Oguta Local Government Area of the state. Gunmen, suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in mid-January, attacked Agwa Vigilante Group in Agwa Community in the same Oguta Council Area of the state. Three suspected members of the IPOB were killed by police operatives who foiled the attack. The Nigerian government has accused the IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is a leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In a rapidly shifting global order and with continued threats to Africas security, the African Union (AU) must strengthen ties with multilateral bodies and governments outside the continent. So far, it has struggled to extend engagements beyond its traditional partners the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), United States (US) and China. The UN and EU are the African blocs biggest partners, and the EU is the largest contributor to the AUs budget. Funding is a major issue shaping the continental bodys external relations and often results in collaborations driven more by partners priorities than Africas. The AU relies heavily on partners to fund its activities, with two-thirds of its 2023 budget drawn from external sources. The AU-EU relationship is formalised through summits and regular official interactions. Their respective security arms exchange information and undertake joint field missions. Collaboration between the AU and UN is governed by the 2017 peace and security framework and the 2018 Joint Framework for the Implementation of the AUs Agenda 2063. Annual AU-UN conferences are also held. These interactions help parties pool resources, improve coordination and undertake joint assessment missions. Common positions are agreed on pressing security challenges, including using sanctions in conflict situations. Efforts have also been made to align decisions of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and UN Security Council (UNSC). While there have been dividends, the PSC still complains of being marginalised in the UNSC. The AU has long-standing ties with the US on security, governance, economic growth and climate issues. The US backed recent AU attempts to resolve the Ethiopian war and supported the fragile Sudan and Chad transitions. At the inaugural democracy summit in 2021, 16 AU states committed to bolstering democratic initiatives. Chinas cooperation with the AU on security has seen it send soldiers to peacekeeping operations in more than a dozen African countries. China also provides the AU with technical assistance, capacity building, technologies and equipment to help it combat piracy, terrorism and other threats. Exchanges on maritime security, logistical support, military education, training and medicine are notable. A major challenge to productive partnerships is the AUs continued overreliance on funding from the EU and others. That has led to gaps in priority setting and ownership of Africas peace and security agenda. In 2016, the AU established a peace fund to provide predictable funding and enhance its financial autonomy. But the goal of financing 25 per cent of Africas security activities remains unmet. To date, states have contributed only $60 million against a targeted $400 million. Added to this is the longstanding problem of how the UN can better contribute to AU peace support operations (PSOs). The AU funding situation means international partners interests often drive partnerships. The European Peace Facility, for example, allows direct funding for a broad range of continental peace support operations, even those not authorised by the PSC. These include African military coalitions, national armies such as in Nigeria and Mali, and Gulf of Guinea coastal states militaries and navies. This breaks the norm of channelling funds through the AU a move that could prove counterproductive. The AU-US partnership appears primarily driven by geopolitical competition. The new US strategy for Africa promotes transparency and accountability, strengthening democracy and reducing regional instability. It focuses on post-pandemic recovery, economic opportunities, and the climate crisis but also aims to counter the expanding influence of China and Russia in Africa. The AU lacks a coherent strategy for engaging partners. Its relations with Japan, for example, have no clear focus on security. Japan has supported strengthening PSC-UNSC ties, democracy, and issues relating to women, youth and children in armed conflict. But its triannual Tokyo International Conference on African Development concentrates primarily on Africas development agenda. The AU needs to focus on the quality, not just quantity, of its partnerships. To yield more security dividends, it must deal with perennial challenges that undermine its external collaborations. A sound strategy for AU interactions is vital, as is finalising the draft partnerships policy framework by the February 2023 deadline. AU capacity to plan and manage peace support operations needs bolstering. Decisions on financing security activities must be quickly implemented and financial oversight mechanisms enhanced. Key to reducing the AUs reliance on international partner financing is ensuring that member states pay their dues, as required by their statutory commitments. Hopefully the launch of the revitalised AU Peace Fund and formation of a board of trustees by the AU Commission chairperson, announced on 5 December 2022, will lead to action in the short term. Institute for Security Studies (ISS) PSC Report team (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned hearing on a bail application filed by Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bellos nephew, Ali Bello, in a N3 billion money laundering trial. The judge, Obiora Egwuatu, adjourned the case until Tuesday, 14 February, due to a mix-up in the filings by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Last Friday, the anti-graft agency filed a counter-affidavit to Mr Bellos bail request, but the judge had yet to get the filing as of Monday when the matter came up. At Mondays proceedings, Ahmed Raji, the defence lawyer, acknowledged receipt of the prosecutions objection to his clients bail request. Mr Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), sought a speedy hearing of the bail application, prompting the judge to adjourn the suit until Tuesday. The prosecuting lawyer, Kabiru Hussain, said the counter-affidavit was mistakenly taken to a different court instead of Mr Egwuatus. Mr Bello and his co-defendants, who have been remanded since last Wednesday (8 February), would have to stay at least one day longer in detention until their bail application would be heard and possibly granted on Tuesday. Background The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on 8 February, arraigned Mr Bello alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyada Sadat on money laundering charges. The offences, according to the anti-graft agency, involved alleged misappropriation of over N3 billion. Mr Bellos wife, Rashida Bello, who is allegedly involved in the alleged crimes, is said to be on the run. The defendants that were present in court last Wednesday pleaded not guilty. Subsequently, the judge remanded them in prison. The prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had prayed the court to give a date for the trial of the defendants. But Ahmed Raji, also SAN, urged the court to grant his clients bail pending the hearing and determination of the suit. Charges In count one of the charges, the EFFC said the defendants and Mrs Bello (now at large) in Abuja sometime in June 2020 procured E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) whichforms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation. The prosecution said the alleged offence is contrary to sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act. In count three, the anti-graft agency accused the defendants and the Kogi governors wife of using a company, E-Traders International Limited, to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty United States Dollars) to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America. It added that the funds forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, which violates section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, is not mopping up new naira notes ahead of the 25 February election. This was disclosed in a statement by Mr Tinubus media office signed and made available to journalists by Mahmud Jega on Monday. The statement noted that the allegation credited to the PDP that the former Lagos State governor was stockpiling new naira notes so that he can do vote buying on election day is utterly false, spurious and baseless. It also described as unconscionable and devilish the allegation made by one Jafar Jafar and Bulama Bukarti based in the UK that the currency change policy of the CBN was made because Mr Tinubu had already stockpiled billions of naira in every state of the federation for vote buying. There is no iota of truth in this claim which was concocted for mischievous and devilish purposes by these PDP agents, a part of the statement said. The statement urged Nigerians to disregard the allegations being peddled by the PDP and its surrogates, Bukarti and Jafar and continue to exercise patience and to exhibit love, support and determination until the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima ticket is delivered at the polls with a landslide. Read the full statement below: PDP lied, Asiwaju Tinubu has not stockpiled new Naira notes Our attention has been drawn to the irresponsible and infantile allegation by Atiku Abubakars Peoples Democratic Party, claiming that our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is mopping up new naira notes to buy votes. The allegation is simply ludicrous, spurious and a desperate attempt to divert public attention from the anti-people posturing of the PDP candidate, after he and Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi asked the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] not to extend the deadline for the use of old naira notes. They took the position despite the pains our compatriots are experiencing. They actively promoted the sanctity of the deadline in the calculated hope of reaping a political windfall from the peoples suffering. We are not surprised that the PDP made a volte-face to conjure a completely unfounded allegation against Tinubu. Having realised that Atikus selfish, uncaring position has generated popular anger and resentment against him, he came up with this absurd claim that our candidate is mopping up new currency notes. We want to assure Nigerians that the claim is utterly false. Our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, being always the voice of the voiceless and champion of the underprivileged, at numerous rallies and campaign stops, identified with our people and boldly called on CBN to extend the deadline and end the public suffering. Also spurious, devilish and unconscionable is the claim by two UK-based Nigerians, one Bulama Bukarta and one Jafar Jafar, that the currency change was made because Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stockpiled billions of naira in every state with the intention of vote buying. There is no iota of truth in this claim which was concocted for mischievous and devilish purposes by these PDP agents. The duo claimed they heard the information from knowledgeable sources. These sources clearly exist only in the partisan imagination of Bulama Bukarti and Jafar Jafar. They made this serious allegation recklessly without a shred of evidence, believing that by living in the UK, they are beyond the reach of Nigerian laws of defamation. We urge all Nigerians to disregard the allegations being peddled by the PDP and its surrogates, Bukarti and Jafar and continue to exercise patience and exhibit love, support and determination until the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima ticket is delivered at the polls with a landslide. Tinubu Media Office Mahmud Jega Special Adviser, Media & Public Affairs February 13, 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, says the Nigerian armed forces are overburdened because of inadequate manpower and numerous security challenges confronting the nation. The minister stated this on Monday in Abuja at the 25th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Scorecard Series organised to showcase the achievements of the government. Presenting the scorecard of his ministry, Mr Magashi, a retired general, said one of the challenges of his ministry was the excessive demands being made of the military despite its inadequate manpower. Adequate manpower is paramount for any military force to perform effectively. As of 2022, Nigeria with an estimated population of about 220 million people has a total military strength of about 223,000 personnel. This gives a ratio of military personnel to a population of approximately 11,000. This is lower than those of Nigerias neighbours except Niger (Republic), he said. In addressing the challenge, the minister stressed the need to enhance the capacity of the police and other paramilitary agencies to enable them to discharge their primary responsibility of internal security. READ ALSO: According to the minister, Nigeria also needs consistent recruitment of about 12,000 soldiers bi-annually to enhance the capabilities of the military to meet the security challenges of the country. Section 217 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) establishes the armed forces for the Federation which shall consist of an Army, a Navy and an Air Force. Section 217 (2) (a-d) also spells out the function of the armed forces to include defending Nigeria from external aggression; maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea, or air, suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order, when called upon to do so by the president, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly; and performing such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. A group, Global Firepower, had in January rated the Nigerian Armed Forces 35th out of 142 countries in the global military ranking in 2022. It also said the Nigerian military was the fourth most powerful in Africa. Synergy among security agencies Mr Magashi also underscored the need for security agencies to work in synergy and shun inter-agency rivalry. He noted that in the recent past, security agencies in the country always competed to emerge as the masses favourites or the ones that are most effective in terms of discharging their responsibilities. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Monday in Gombe State, canvassed votes for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu. Messrs Buhari, Lawan, some APC governors and the partys National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, were in Gombe to attend the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the state. Mr Buhari restated his support for Mr Tinubu and his running mate Kashim Shettima, urging Nigerians to elect the APC flag bearer to come on 25 February. He said insinuations that he was not supporting Mr Tinubu were untrue, adding that he would continue to work for Mr Tinubus victory towards ensuring that APC returns to power in 2023. Represented by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, Mr Buhari said all candidates presented by the APC for various elective offices across the country had his full support. I am in full support of all the candidates produced by my party and also in support of the partys presidential candidate 100 per cent. So, anybody who comes and tells you the contrary is not saying the truth, he said. He enumerated several projects executed by the federal government in Gombe State, including oil exploration, which he said was discovered about 40 years ago but was not explored till the coming of his administration. He said his administration had implemented several projects in the state that had improved the well-being of citizens, adding that voting Mr Tinubu would help consolidate on gains so far recorded. On his part, Mr Lawan said Messrs Tinubu and Shettima were competent enough to succeed president Mr Buhari in 2023. Mr Lawan said the North-east region of the country had benefited a lot from the APC-led government hence, the need to vote for the party to sustain the good governance it was enjoying under the party. He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 16 years left the Kolmani Oil project unattended while Boko Haram and infrastructural challenges were not addressed, leaving the people of the North-east to suffer. He cautioned the electorate not to allow themselves to be deceived by PDP, because some candidates are saying they should be voted for because they are from the North-east. Yet they did nothing for the people of North-east when they were in power until the coming of APC. Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State said the APC had done a lot for Nigerians and Gombe State, hence deserved to be returned to power to protect the interests of Nigerians. Vote APC from top to bottom; vote Tinubu and Shettima and Inuwa Yahaya for Gombe State and we will not disappoint your confidence and trust, he said. Mr Adamu said the APC would continue to deliver on its mandate of developing the country, hence urged the electorate in Gombe State to vote for all candidates of the party. On his part, Mr Tinubu, while addressing a huge crowd of supporters at the 12,000-capacity Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe, said if elected, he would ensure the prosperity of Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerians. He appealed to voters in the state to give him their votes and also vote for all APC candidates at all levels. Mr Tinubu, who was in Gombe to inaugurate his Presidential Campaign Council, was accompanied by Mr Shettima. Others in attendance were the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Governors Simon Lalong of Plateau, Mai-Mala Buni of Yobe; Babagana Zulum of Borno and Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa States. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The management of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojoo, has declared that the second-semester examination for the 2022/2023 academic session would commence on 13 February (today) and continue till the evening of 23rd February before a four-day break is observed. The university said its students would resume to continue the examination on Tuesday, 28 February and observe another break between 9 and 13 March, and should resume on Tuesday, 14 March to continue the examinations. The latest development is against the directive by the National Universities Commission (NUC) that all universities and university centres be shut between 22 February and 14 March so that students could participate in the general elections. New schedule The university said the decision was taken by its Senate at an emergency meeting held Monday. A university bulletin published on Monday by the Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR), was titled: Decision of Senate on the Ministerial Directive on the Closure of All Universities and Inter University Centres During the Upcoming 2023 General Election. According to the bulletin, the decision followed a paper presented by the Vice-Chancellor, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who doubles as the chairman of the Senate. The decisions of the senate as contained in the bulletin are that: The ongoing examination should continue up to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, 23rd February 2023; students should vacate the campus immediately and resume to continue their examinations by 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 28th February 2023, and that students should vacate the campus by 6:00 p.m. on Thursday 9th, March 2023 to resume to continue their examination by 8:00 a.m on Tuesday, 14th March 2023. Calls for students enfranchisement As Nigeria plans to hold the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 25 February, and Governorship and States Houses of Assembly elections on 11 March, a coalition of CSOs had demanded ample time and opportunity for students to exercise their civic responsibilities. The coalition includes the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), ConnectHub, Dataphyte, Enough is Enough Nigeria, #FixPolitics, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Reclaim Naija, The Electoral College Nigeria, Women Advocates and Research Development Centre (WARDC) and Yiaga Africa. The House of Representatives also asked the government agencies in charge of tertiary institutions to shut them down during elections. Meanwhile, according to the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, as of October 2022, students make up 40 per cent of the newly registered voters during the Continuous Voters Registrations between June 2021 and June 2022. Mr Yakubu said they also make up 27.8 per cent (26,027,481) of the total 90 million registered voters, the electoral commission said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, said they have killed one of the gunmen who attacked Ogidi Police Divisional Headquarters in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state. The incident happened at about 2:15 a.m. on Monday. The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement, said the attack was foiled by police operatives on duty. Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the gunmen stormed the area in their numbers with an unmarked Toyota Hiace Bus, a Toyota Hilux pickup truck and three motorcycles. The police spokesperson said the attackers, on arrival, started shooting indiscriminately and attempted to gain access into the police facility. They were fiercely resisted by police officers on duty and due to the superior gunfire of the operatives, the hoodlums fled the scene while one of the armed men was neutralised by the operatives, he said. He said the police facility was intact and that there was no casualty on the part of the police. The area has been reinforced by the tactical teams of the command and police operation is still ongoing, Mr Ikenga added. Increased attacks Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The latest attack occurred about one week after gunmen attacked Abagana Divisional Police Headquarters in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state. Two vigilante operatives were killed by the gunmen during the attack. Hours after the attack in Abagana, gunmen also killed a police officer and a vigilante operative in Obosi, a community in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state. The gunmen also bombed a police anti-cult unit in the community during the attack. Earlier this month, gunmen bombed a local office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area and also attacked a Police Divisional Headquarters in Nnobi, another community in the same council area of the state, killing a 16-year-old boy and injuring a 15-year-old girl during the attack. The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Dayo Ekong, the chairperson of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, has explained why the partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, did not visit the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, during his mega rally in the state on Saturday. Unlike in other states where Mr Obi always made it a point of call to first visit traditional rulers before embarking on his campaigns, he started out in Lagos at the Alaba International Market, wdominated by traders from the South-east region of the country. He later headed for the Tafawa Balewa Square, where a carnival like campaign was held with scores of his supporters and party faithful in attendance. While many have termed Mr Obis action as disrespectful, Mrs Ekong, during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, said the LP presidential candidate actually made attempts at paying the foremost traditional rulers a courtesy visit but met with a brick wall She said: People say what they dont know. If you have been following the campaign train of Mr Obi, he goes to the royal fathers to pay homage, Obi made an attempt to see the Oba of Lagos but we were not able to see the Oba of Lagos. When asked if Mr Obi was actually turned back after getting to the palace, She said No, we didnt get to the palace. You know normally, if he is going to the palace there should have been a pre arrangement informing the Oba that he is on his way. In a situation whereby they say, the Oba is not available, he (Obi) will not go to an empty palace. Mrs Ekong alluded to the fact that Mr Obi had sent a letter to the Oba and since there was no positive response, he would not go to an empty palace. He wont go to an empty palace to see the Oba. The first thing we should know is that Mr Obi respects the culture and that is what he has been doing everywhere. This is the 37th rally, there is no way Obi would have neglected who we term our traditional ruler, the head in Lagos State and ignore him, she stated. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print FIBERTalk 2023 sees a houseful attendance by the industry With the new name and brand it becomes more relevant to industry to build a sustainable future proof connected generation KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC (earlier FTTH Council Asia-Pacific) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia Smart Cities Alliance at Malaysia (MSCA) today. The MoU entails collaborations in capacity building for sustainable and Smart Cities project performance evaluation, as well as exploring potential large market reach in IR 4.0 technologies-based education and training segments. FIBERTalk 2023 sees a houseful attendance by the industry (PRNewsfoto/FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC) The Council convened the country's leading telecommunication (telco) industry players at Malaysia FIBERTalk 2023 conference to discuss industry updates and address Fiber to Home challenges and opportunities in enabling 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) for Smart Cities. Along with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), responsible for regulating the industry, the event was attended by top executives from Telekom Malaysia, Celcom Digi and local government from Penang, Melaka and Selangor to discuss updates, trends, challenges and opportunities in the industry. "Keeping the future global prospects and inclusiveness of the industry in mind, we have re-branded the council to FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC to crystalize our message further and keep pace with the industry and forge a new growth path that will create a seamlessly connected future," said Mr. Venkatesan Babu, President FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC on the MoU. Adding to it, Dr. Raslan Ahmad, Chairman of MSCA also said, "Next generation technology like 5G and IoT are a key part of developing Smart Cities that require a lot of sensors communicating with each behind the scenes. For this to be in real time with low latency internet, a fiber solution integrated within the city's infrastructure is essential. We are committed towards creating the best in quality and delighted that FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC has taken the lead in championing an essential change for a truly smart global world of the future." The MoU between FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC and MSCA, will enable the former to leverage on the latter's network of members to collectively drive collaborations in the development of Smart Cities. This will involve frequent exchange of knowledge, expertise, technologies and know-how to provide sustainable long-term telecommunication solutions to develop Smart Cities. All the above announcements were part of the Malaysia FIBERTalk 2023. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2000320/FIBERTalk_2023.jpg SOURCE FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Shenzhen Daily: During a 10-day business promotion trip to Europe, a delegation from Shenzhen's Guangming District reached intent of cooperation agreements with multiple enterprises in Germany and France. A strategic cooperation framework agreement is signed between Guangming and Diribo GmbH on Feb.10. The delegation, led by Cai Ying, Party chief of the district, arrived in Paris, France on Feb. 7, and had an investment promotion conference in Berlin, Germany on Feb. 10. The delegation's next stop after Germany is Switzerland. At the conference, Cai introduced the business environment and industrial development of Guangming and had face-to-face communications with representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Germany, the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, the Global Sensors Competence Center (GSCC), and 20 European sensors enterprises. Michael Schumann, Chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA), said that both Germany and China are major industrial countries that share a solid foundation for cooperation. Despite the pandemic, the countries' bilateral trading has reached new highs. Shenzhen, as an economic center of China, will complement Germany in terms of technology, market development, and supply chains. Schumann said that he hopes more German enterprises will become involved in effective cooperation with Guangming and Shenzhen through the efforts of the Guangming government. A strategic cooperation framework agreement was signed between Guangming and Diribo GmbH, the world's largest digital platform for the intelligent sensors industry. Diribo GmbH will set up its Shenzhen and GSCC headquarters in Guangming to expand technical communication, trading and resources to bridge China and Europe in the field of smart sensors, and to provide consultancy services for the development of smart sensors in Guangming. In addition, multiple enterprises in the field of sensors have authorized the GSCC to expand their businesses in China. They also intend to participate in projects including smart city construction. Cai said that, as a central area for the development of intelligent sensors in Shenzhen, Guangming has built a complete system in terms of policies, industrial spaces, supporting facilities and industrial agglomeration. An industrial park for the intelligent sensors, which will cover an area of more than 1 million square meters, is also under planning. Shenzhen has also set up an exclusive industrial fund of 5 billion yuan to support the development of intelligent sensors. The delegation also visited Siemens, RWE and a hidden champion enterprise in the sector of special equipment. Siemens will set up an industrial software research and development center and will start interior decoration and arrange staffers in the Guangming office in April. RWE plans to build a comprehensive testing and technological competence center in the district, which will include a new-energy battery laboratory, an intelligent product laboratory and a high-end medical equipment laboratory. The hidden champion enterprise will set up a production base for nanocoating equipment in Guangming, and the production base will also serve as its Asia-Pacific sales center. Before the trip to Germany, the delegation visited the Paris Fashion Week event and had an in-depth communication with the organizer. The talks led to further exchanges and cooperation between the China International Intimate Apparel Culture Week and Paris Fashion Week events, thus facilitating more Shenzhen garment enterprises to go global. They also visited Carlin International, one of the world's four major fashion publishing organizations, and Chantelle, a renowned French lingerie brand. Carlin International, Guangming District and the Shenzhen Underwear Association signed a three-party strategic cooperation agreement, according to which Carlin International will release trends and provide creative guidance for Shenzhen's underwear industry, to enhance the international competitiveness of Shenzhen's underwear brands. Chantelle is keen to expand into China's domestic market and will participate in the China International Intimate Apparel Culture Week events on April 19, and on that occasion will arrange for its Asian affairs representatives to explore cooperation with Shenzhen's leading underwear companies. Cai also had a meeting with Rene Celestin, a top international fashion show director, founder of New York Fashion Week, and creative director of Victoria's Secret. The delegation talked with Clestin about the potential of introducing an international fashion show to Guangming District and invited him to provide guidance for the China International Intimate Apparel Culture Week events. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2000962/image.jpg SOURCE Shenzhen Daily LONDON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wirex, a leading crypto payments platform, has signed a long-term strategic global partnership with payments company network, Visa. This includes becoming a member of Visa in APAC and the UK that will allow Wirex to directly issue crypto-enabled debit and prepaid cards themselves to over 40 countries. The agreement between Wirex and Visa will support further collaboration in major markets, including APAC, UK, Europe and the USA. Membership of Visa enables Wirex to offer new innovative products to utilise crypto in the everyday, improve user-experience and pilot new blockchain initiatives. The news is another milestone for the London-based company with over 5 million customers. Wirex's largest customer-base is in the UK, with rapid growth in APAC, having been a finalist for the SFF Global Fintech Awards at the Singapore Fintech Festival in November last year. It's hoped that this partnership will continue helping them to empower everyone to access the benefits of crypto. The announcement builds on the two companies existing relationship. In 2015, Wirex were the first company in the world to develop a crypto-enabled card, allowing users to buy, hold, exchange, sell multiple traditional and cryptocurrencies, and spend them at over 80 million locations where Visa is accepted. Customers benefit from real-time point-of-sale conversion, exclusive interbank and OTC exchange rates, free international ATM withdrawals, zero monthly fees, free fiat-to-fiat exchanges, and up to 8% Cryptoback rewards for every purchase. Svyatoslav Garal, Regional Managing Director of Wirex APAC, said "It's great to strengthen our partnership with Visa, who have played an important role in allowing us to bridge the gap between the traditional and digital economies. Visa's proven commitment to safety, security and innovation will help us to continue developing a next-generation app and card." Matt Wood, Head of Digital Partnerships, Asia Pacific, Visa, commented: "Visa wants to bring more payment options to consumers by connecting digital currencies with our network of banks and merchants. We're excited that Wirex is expanding their focus on Asia Pacific, making it easy and seamless for people to spend their crypto balance at the millions of merchants that accept Visa in the region." Wirex will continue working closely with Visa to expand services and roll out their card program worldwide. In the coming weeks, Wirex will announce another significant partnership for card issuance in Australia. About Wirex Wirex is a worldwide digital payment platform and regulated institution that has forged new rules in the digital payments space. In 2015, the firm developed the world's first crypto-enabled payment card that gives users the ability to seamlessly spend crypto and traditional currencies in real life. Founded in 2014 by CEOs and co-founders Pavel Matveev and Dmitry Lazarichev, Wirex was created to make the digital economy accessible to everyone. With over 5 million customers and rapid expansion into new territories, including the US, Wirex is uniquely placed to support and promote the mass adoption of a cashless society through creative solutions. To reflect the growth of the metaverse, throughout 2021, the company has continued to expand their offering into the CeFi and DeFi sectors. | wirexapp.com | Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1761027/Wirex_Logo.jpg SOURCE Wirex Rural community, critical access, and specialty hospitals leverage Oracle Cerner CommunityWorks technology to help provide better, more consistent care to patients AUSTIN, Texas and KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population lives in rural areas and can face barriers to accessing healthcare for a variety of reasons. Without rural hospitals, millions of Americans could face delays and travel challenges to seek the diagnosis, treatment, and care they may need. To better help serve their communities, 32 new clients selected Oracle Cerner CommunityWorks last year, including OSS Health and Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District. Oracle Cerner CommunityWorks is designed to meet the unique needs of smaller communities. Today, more than 300 rural community, critical access, and specialty hospitals in 45 US states are more effectively and efficiently treating patients closer to home using Oracle Cerner's technology. "Our technology offers a more personalized and simplified experience for both patients and providers." Tweet this "People should have access to healthcare no matter the size of the city, town, or county where they reside," said Eric Geis, national vice president of client relationships, Oracle Cerner. "Because rural providers are often caring for their neighbors, they know their patients well. With limited resources and staffing challenges, they need the right tools to expand access to quality care that will allow them to do the most with what they have. Our technology is tailored to support them, offering a more personalized and simplified experience for both patients and providers." More patients in smaller communities to benefit from integrated health record Healthcare providers in small communities are often challenged with how to do more with less while trying to provide the best care for their patients. Geographic location, workforce shortages, technology disparities, and diminishing resources are all examples of how it can be harder to deliver care in some communities. Oracle Cerner technology provides clinicians with an integrated digital record of the patient's health history, including clinical and financial data. One example is OSS Orthopedic Hospital, LLC dba OSS Health, in rural Pennsylvania, which seeks to consolidate their disparate ambulatory and hospital systems into a single digital patient record. Their work with Oracle Cerner will help optimize workflows, interoperability across systems, and offer customizable automation to help eliminate inefficiencies, improve patient experience, and optimize provider care delivery which can lead to higher value healthcare. "Oracle Cerner offers an approach focused on helping us with implementation, support, and innovative vision for the future of healthcare technology," said Troy Phillips, CEO, OSS Health. "We're excited about analytics we'll gain to help with data-driven decision making and a revenue cycle platform that improves charge capture, submit clean claims more quickly, and automates many of the manual workflows." Additional CommunityWorks client contracts recently signed include: Uintah Basin Healthcare is Utah's largest rural independent healthcare system. A new emergency room was added recently to the Vernal campus with expanded radiology (including Xray, MRI, CT, and Ultrasound), lab services, and additional clinic space. All services are using Oracle Cerner for an integrated, patient centered electronic health record (EHR) platform across their continuum of care. Community members will be provided more options and more opportunities to receive quality healthcare. Basin Healthcare is largest rural independent healthcare system. A new emergency room was added recently to the Vernal campus with expanded radiology (including Xray, MRI, CT, and Ultrasound), lab services, and additional clinic space. All services are using Oracle Cerner for an integrated, patient centered electronic health record (EHR) platform across their continuum of care. Community members will be provided more options and more opportunities to receive quality healthcare. Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH), a non-profit 61-bed hospital serving communities across southern Vermont , New Hampshire , and Massachusetts , extended their agreement with Oracle Cerner through 2027. Working with Oracle Cerner, BMH has committed to leveraging innovative and data-driven technologies with the goal to continuously enhance the patient and caregiver experience, community outreach services, and revenue cycle outcomes. , , and , extended their agreement with Oracle Cerner through 2027. Working with Oracle Cerner, BMH has committed to leveraging innovative and data-driven technologies with the goal to continuously enhance the patient and caregiver experience, community outreach services, and revenue cycle outcomes. Sierra Vista Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in New Mexico , selected Oracle Cerner as its new EHR platform based on staff output, because of CommunityWorks' efficient process to obtain data and is a user-friendly platform. , selected Oracle Cerner as its new EHR platform based on staff output, because of CommunityWorks' efficient process to obtain data and is a user-friendly platform. Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District (PMHD), a 107-bed community hospital located in California , chose CommunityWorks due to the value of true integration, ease of use, stability, and autonomy. After utilizing disparate EHR's throughout its health system for years, PMHD will now consolidate to a single integrated record to better support its patient and caregiver needs. Additionally, Carroll County Memorial Hospital (CCMH) in rural Missouri has worked with Oracle Cerner since 2010. Key benefits they state they have experienced include being able to better manage regulatory and quality information as well as supporting caregivers with a single patient record. Health information is centralized into one view for caregivers, no matter what area of the hospital or what clinic the patient visits, which CCMH believes is pivotal to patient safety and care. See their video to learn more. Visit the website to learn more about how Oracle Cerner supports caregivers in smaller communities. About Oracle Cerner Oracle Cerner's health technologies connect people and information systems at thousands of contracted provider facilities worldwide dedicated to creating smarter and better care for individuals and communities. Recognized globally for innovation, Oracle Cerner assists clinicians in making care decisions and assists organizations in managing the health of their populations. The company also offers a connected clinical and financial ecosystem to help manage day-to-day revenue functions, as well as a wide range of services to support clinical, financial, and operational needs, focused on people. For more information, visit Cerner.com , Oracle Cerner Perspectives , connect on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Twitter or join the discussion on Oracle Cerner's podcast Perspectives on Health & Tech . About Oracle Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. SOURCE Oracle BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Logicalis, a global technology service provider, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named the company to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Security 100 category for 2023. Logicalis has been on the distinguished list every year for a decade, underscoring its technology expertise and success helping clients drive digital transformation and deliver sustainable outcomes. Logicalis was recognized especially for its strength in the security space as it develops tailored security solutions with a holistic, architectural approach. Logicalis considers each organization's unique infrastructures and leverages proven, industry-standard frameworks to build strategies that align with its customers' overall business goals. "In this ever-changing environment, we strive to help our customers meet current needs, while future-proofing their organizations to be adaptable to whatever lays ahead," said Logicalis US CEO Jon Groves. "We are honored to be acknowledged for the success of our security solutions, and even more so to have secured inclusion on the MSP 500 list for an entire decade. The consistency of this recognition is a true testament to the strength of our teams' commitment to serve as Architects of Change each and every day." The annual MSP 500 list recognizes industry-leading service providers in North America who are driving a new wave of growth and innovation for the channel through forward-thinking approaches to managed services, helping end users increase efficiency and simplify IT solutions, while maximizing their return on investment. It is divided into three sections: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, recognizing large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on- and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premises and cloud-based security services. "MSPs continue to see increased demand for their managed communications, collaboration and security services," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "The solution providers on our 2023 MSP 500 list deserve credit for their innovative and game-changing approaches to managed services in these unpredictable times, as well as their ability to optimize operational efficiencies and systems without straining IT budgets." The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2023 issue of CRN and online at www.crn.com/msp500. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 2023 The Channel Company LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. About Logicalis US We are Architects of Change. We help organizations succeed in a digital-first world. At Logicalis, we harness our collective technology expertise to help our clients build a blueprint for success, so they can deliver sustainable outcomes that matter. Our lifecycle services across cloud, connectivity, collaboration and security are designed to help optimize operations, reduce risk and empower employees. As a global technology service provider, we deliver next-generation digital managed services, to provide our clients with real-time visibility and actionable insights across the performance of their digital ecosystem including; availability, user experience, security, economic performance and sustainability. Our 7000+ 'Architects of Change' are based in 27 countries around the globe, helping our 10,000+ clients across a range of industry sectors, create sustainable outcomes through technology. Logicalis has annualized revenues of $1.7 billion, from operations in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Africa. It is a division of Datatec Limited, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with revenues of over $4.6 billion. For more information visit https://us.logicalis.com SOURCE Logicalis This plant is expected to support ADAMA's goal to deliver several new products to the Brazilian market in the coming years TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA, one of the world's leading crop protection companies, announces the opening of a new multi-purpose plant (MPP) in Taquari, Brazil. The new plant produces key active ingredients (AIs) for the crop protection industry, including Prothioconazole, an important fungicide which protects Brazil's soybean crops against Asian Soybean Rust. This plant will improve ADAMA's ability to supply Prothioconazole-based products using our in-house capabilities. This additional capacity will support the launch of several new products to the Brazilian market within the next five years. This new MPP supplements ADAMA's other Prothioconazole manufacturing facilities across the globe, positioning ADAMA as one of the top global producers and a leading supplier of this important molecule. With this plant, ADAMA has the capacity to fully supply its global future pipeline of Prothioconazole-based products based on its in-house production. Production has already started to support ADAMA Brazil's leading products such as ARMERO. "The in-house production of this key active ingredient provides ADAMA a competitive advantage in Brazil, one of our most important markets, and decreases our dependence on external suppliers", said Bruce Morris, Head of Active Ingredients Manufacturing & Sourcing. "Moreover, our competitive, backward-integrated capability allows us to engage in new partnerships as a major supplier in the global Prothioconazole market". Prothioconazole is a key active ingredient in the global fungicides market with estimated global sales of $1.2 billion. ADAMA's new plant represents an investment of over $50 million, of which approximately 30% was spent on implementing sustainable practices as part of ADAMA's ongoing commitment to improve sustainability in its production facilities. This plant was built using advanced technologies that reduce energy and water consumption and limit waste generation. It also implements gas and particulate filtration systems that help avoid atmospheric pollution. In recent years, ADAMA Brazil launched several leading products including Armero (fungicide); Araddo (herbicide) and Arremate (herbicide for pasture). About ADAMA ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. ADAMA has one of the widest and most diverse portfolios of active ingredients in the world, as well as state-of-the-art R&D, manufacturing and formulation facilities. With a culture that empowers our people to listen to farmers and ideate from the field, ADAMA is uniquely positioned to offer a vast array of distinctive mixtures, formulations and high-quality differentiated products, delivering solutions that meet local farmer and customer needs in over 100 countries globally. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Twitter at @ADAMAAgri. ADAMA Contact: Tal Moise Public Relations Email: [email protected] SOURCE ADAMA Ltd. RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers from the Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) unveiled the AESOP Early Warning System for Outbreaks with Epi-Pandemic Potential at the 6th Global Science Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC) in Rio de Janeiro, with support from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), that co-organizes the Conference. Currently under development, AESOP is designed to signal new disease outbreaks that have the potential to cause health emergencies, an increasingly common occurrence due to climate change, population growth, and migration. AESOP collaborators aims to support Brazilian health authorities by coupling actionable data with proposed strategies to mitigate the risks of infectious diseases like dengue. The AESOP data platform will allow health scientists to track early-stage outbreaks by integrating data collected from Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) with other health, environmental, and sociodemographic data sources. Currently under development, the platform will ultimately allow health leaders to explore a range of diverse data sources in a single system and, using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, pinpoint areas where infectious diseases are likely to spread rapidly. "The AESOP seeks to geographically identify the beginning of the outbreak through the analysis of Primary Health Care data, and other data related to the manifestations of the disease, such as the sale of medicines and rumors on social networks," explained Manoel Barral-Netto, Researcher and Project Coordinator with Fiocruz. According to Barral-Netto, after identifying the outbreak area, two actions take place in parallel to model the risk and characteristics of the spread of the outbreak: research teams collect field samples to identify infectious agents involved, and AESOP data scientists then integrate other bio-climatological data to model the development of the outbreak and inform control measures. "Building open, transparent and scalable platforms that transform data into action is vital to ensuring an informed, coordinated and swift response to current and future infectious disease outbreaks," said Kay van der Horst, Managing Director, Health Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation. "It's inspiring to see how the AESOP project team, supported by Fiocruz and The Rockefeller Foundation, has established strong, cross-sector partnerships with a diverse stakeholder community to build this innovative platform. It's a model that, we believe, can serve as a best practice for other regions as the world advances towards more robust, coordinated pathogen surveillance and outbreak response." The 6th Global Science Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC) in Rio (13-15 Feb) aims to bring together the global sustainable technology and innovation community to drive the search for innovative technological solutions, integrated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Conference is organized by Fiocruz, together with seven international research institutes: VITO (Belgium), The Scientific and Industrial Research Council (CSIR, South Africa), Guangzhou Institute for Energy Conversion (GIEC, China), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, (GIST, South Korea), National Center for Technology Management (NACETEM, Nigeria), Institute of Energy and Resources (TERI, India) and Solutions Network for Sustainable Development of United Nations (SDSN). G-STIC Rio is supported by primary sponsors Petrobras, Pfizer and Fiotec, with additional support from Aegea, IBMP, Helda Gerdau Institute, Klabin, Enel, Firjan, Sanofi, Engie, and the Institute for Climate and Society. Registration for the conference is now open. About Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (Cidacs) Cidacs conducts studies and research based on interdisciplinary projects originating from the linkage of large volumes of data. The Center's mission is to contribute to the production of innovative scientific knowledge to broaden the understanding of determinants and social and environmental policies on the health of the population. These studies aim to help and support decision-making in public policies for the benefit of society. About Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) UFRJ's history dates back to the beginning of the 19th century and is filled with remarkable scientific, cultural, and artistic accomplishments. It is currently the 3rd best university in Brazil and the 7th best university in Latin America (QS Rankings 2018). With many campuses and faculties scattered around Rio de Janeiro State, it comprises institutes, schools, and other facilities, including museums, hospitals, and the third largest ocean basin in the world for research on offshore oil exploitation. SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation General applications accepted until April 1, 2023, with 10 semifinalists selected to compete for grand prize via Instagram. TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian venture capital company, The Drive Group, announced it was accepting applications for its first annual Drive 250 contest, offering a quarter-of-a-million in funding to one lucky startup. Taking the form of detailed idea pitches, initial applications will be reviewed by the company before selected participants go on to publicly compete on Instagram. Finalists will later travel to Toronto for the last round, pitching their ideas before judges from The Drive Group for a chance at winning the grand prize. Interested startups and entrepreneurs are encouraged to go online now to learn more and begin the application process. Trivelle Simpson Headshot "I know what it's like to have great ideas but not be able to implement them because you lack funding," said Trivelle Simpson, founder of The Drive Group. "And this is my answer to that. Drive 250 is a chance to receive the crucial investment a new idea needs to really get off the ground. And through our Instagram campaign, along with a short documentary covering the competition, even the startups that don't take home the prize will get some help in the form of raised brand awareness and publicity to encourage other interested investors." Drive 250 Contest Specifics How It Works: All initial submissions will be reviewed internally by The Drive Group, who will then select 10 semifinalists to compete online via separate posts on The Drive Group's Instagram page. Semifinalists will pitch their project to the public using text/art/video and other Instagram media. Every week, the two semifinalists with the least number of Instagram likes will be eliminated from the competition. All initial submissions will be reviewed internally by The Drive Group, who will then select 10 semifinalists to compete online via separate posts on The Drive Group's Instagram page. Semifinalists will pitch their project to the public using text/art/video and other Instagram media. Every week, the two semifinalists with the least number of Instagram likes will be eliminated from the competition. Four finalists will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Toronto in June , where they will pitch their ideas to a panel of select judges. The contest winner will be selected from the finalists and receive $250,000 in funding for their startup. , where they will pitch their ideas to a panel of select judges. The contest winner will be selected from the finalists and receive in funding for their startup. Who Can Enter : Entrepreneurial startups with any idea and at any stage of funding. Those who are still at the earliest stages are especially encouraged to apply. Entrepreneurial startups with any idea and at any stage of funding. Those who are still at the earliest stages are especially encouraged to apply. Deadlines: The deadline for the first online application is April 1, 2023 . Semifinalists will be selected from those and announced on April 14 th. Any subsequent deadlines will be announced by The Drive Group via Instagram. For more details about the Drive 250 Contest and other company updates, visit The Drive Group on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube. About The Drive Group Don't Walk Into the Future; Drive There Founded using the proceeds of a single tax return, The Drive Group has since grown into a multimillion-dollar venture capital company that focuses on compelling startups with great ideas. Analyzing data and trends to help businesses thrive and grow, The Drive Group has a particular interest in commercial, retail and community real estate, and excels in scaling small businesses and disruptors that have fantastic plans but insufficient working capital. The Drive Group sponsors the annual Drive 250 Contest, a major competition offering $250,000 to the best startup pitch. Learn more at: www.TheDriveGroup.ca. Media Contact: Ryan Forneri 1-647-459-1229 [email protected] SOURCE The Drive Group WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Land Title Association (ALTA) Good Deeds Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded by ALTA, the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. ALTA Past President Bill Burding NTP is executive vice president and general counsel of Orange Coast Title Co. in Santa Ana, Calif. Burding successfully led the ALTA Board of Governors as President from 2020-2021, in the midst of major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Aaron M. Davis, ALTA Good Deeds Foundation Board Member Bill Burding NTP, ALTA Good Deeds Foundation Board Member "I am truly honored to be appointed to the Foundation's Board of Directors," Burding said. "Having raised more than $1 million and awarded more than $550,000 in grants to 97 community nonprofits in 36 states and Washington D.C., the Foundation has done an amazing amount of work in less than three years. I look forward to helping the Foundation reach even bigger goals over the next few years." CEO of AMD Enterprises, Aaron M. Davis is an ALTA member and a past board member of the Florida Land Title Association. Davis took a temporary leave of absence from his business and volunteered in Harper, Texas, following severe winter storms in February 2021. With Davis' support, the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation awarded the Harper Volunteer Fire Department a $5,000 emergency grant during the time of crisis. He also has been recognized by national media outlets, including People Magazine and The Kelly Clarkson Show, for his charitable service assisting Harper and other communities after natural disasters and was awarded the 2021 October Research Philanthropy Award, in part, for those efforts. "It is a genuine honor to be asked to serve as a member of the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation Board," Davis said. "The title industry has been incredibly generous to me throughout my entire career. So it's humbling to be asked to serve alongside some of the industry's most respected and charitable leaders. I appreciate the opportunity to serve the Foundation and to continue supporting the charitable efforts of our members." "I am excited to welcome Bill and Aaron to the Foundation Board, two people who have had such an impact on the title insurance industry," said Foundation Board Chair Mary O'Donnell, president and CEO of Westcor Land Title Insurance Co. and ALTA past president. "Both men will have an immediate impact on the Foundation's growth." "We are so excited to have Aaron and Bill joining the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation Board," said Diane Tomb, ALTA CEO and Foundation Board member. "Each bring their own expertise and experience to this role, which will allow us to support even more ALTA members' community efforts in addressing affordable housing issues across the country." The ALTA Good Deeds Foundation was launched in 2020 to bolster the charitable efforts of ALTA members. Land title insurance professionals can apply for grants on behalf of recognized 501(c)(3) organizations that they support financially or through volunteer efforts; preference is given to housing-related charities. Contact: Megan Hernandez Direct Office Line: 202-261-0315 Email: [email protected] SOURCE American Land Title Association NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market by Type, 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 10.67% and register an incremental growth of USD 1,108.53 million during the forecast period. The report includes historic market data from 2017 to 2021. In 2017, the anesthesia monitoring devices market was valued at USD 1,121.48 million. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of 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 Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market 2023-2027 Regional Analysis By region, the global anesthesia monitoring devices market is segmented into North America, Asia, Europe, and Rest of the World. North America will account for 37% of the market's growth during the forecast period. The improved healthcare infrastructure, an increasing number of surgeries being performed under general anesthesia, and a growing prevalence of chronic diseases and their related risk factors are driving the growth of the regional market. Company Profiles The anesthesia monitoring devices market report includes information on the key products and recent developments of leading vendors, including: B Braun Melsungen AG: The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as B-Smart Injection Pressure Monitor and Stimuplex HNS12 Nerve Stimulator. The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as B-Smart Injection Pressure Monitor and Stimuplex HNS12 Nerve Stimulator. Becton Dickinson and Co: The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as Aeon8800A and Aeon8600A. The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as Aeon8800A and Aeon8600A. Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd: The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as E-Series PSG System. The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as E-Series PSG System. General Electric Co: The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as Drager Atlan A300, A300 XL, and Drager Fabius Plus. The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as A300, A300 XL, and Drager Fabius Plus. Getinge AB: The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as Optiflow Switch and Optiflow Trace. The company offers anesthesia monitoring devices such as Optiflow Switch and Optiflow Trace. Koninklijke Philips NV Medtronic Plc Compumedics Ltd. Dixion Vertrieb medizinischer Gerate GmbH Fukuda Denshi Co. Ltd. Infinium Medical Inc. Masimo Corp. To gain access to more vendor profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Market Dynamics The market is driven by factors such as the increasing number of surgeries requiring general anesthesia, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases and associated risk factors, and advances in anesthesia technology. However, the high cost of anesthesia monitoring devices is 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 type , the market is segmented into standalone and integrated . The standalone segment accounted for the largest share of the market. , the market is segmented into . The segment accounted for the largest share of the market. By geography, the market is segmented into North America , Europe , Asia , and the Rest of World. North America held the largest share of the market. Related Reports: Diagnostic Wearable Medical Devices Market by Application, Device, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027: The diagnostic wearable medical devices market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 15.2% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 7,333.3 million. The growing demand for early diagnosis is notably driving the market growth, although factors such as data privacy issues may impede the market growth. Cerebral and Tissue Oximetry Devices Market by Product, End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027: The cerebral and tissue oximetry devices market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.77% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 73.7 million. The growing use of cerebral and tissue oximetry devices in cardiac surgical procedures is notably driving the market growth, although factors such as the high cost of cerebral and tissue oximetry devices 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 anesthesia monitoring devices market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the anesthesia monitoring devices market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the size of the anesthesia monitoring devices market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the anesthesia monitoring devices market across Asia , North America , Europe , and Rest of the World. , , , and Rest of the World. A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of anesthesia monitoring devices market vendors Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 163 Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 10.67% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1108.53 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 9.0 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 37% Key countries US, Germany, UK, China, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled B Braun Melsungen AG, Becton Dickinson and Co., Beijing Aeonmed Co. Ltd., Dragerwerk AG and Co. KGaA, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd., Fresenius SE and Co. KGaA, General Electric Co., Getinge AB, Koninklijke Philips NV, Medtronic Plc, BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Compumedics Ltd., Dixion Vertrieb medizinischer Gerate GmbH, Fukuda Denshi Co. Ltd., Infinium Medical Inc., Masimo Corp., Mindray Bio medical Electronics Co. Ltd, Nihon Kohden Corp., SCHILLER AG, and Siemens AG 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 Type 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 anesthesia monitoring devices market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global anesthesia monitoring devices market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Type 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 Type 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Type 6.3 Standalone - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Standalone - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Standalone - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Standalone - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Standalone - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Integrated - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Integrated - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Integrated - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on Integrated - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Integrated - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Type ($ 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 Ambulatory service centers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 51: Chart on Ambulatory service centers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Ambulatory service centers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 53: Chart on Ambulatory service centers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 54: Data Table on Ambulatory service centers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 55: Chart on Clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Chart on Clinics - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Clinics - 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 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 95: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 99: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on Japan - 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 B Braun Melsungen AG Braun Melsungen AG Exhibit 108: B Braun Melsungen AG - Overview Exhibit 109: B Braun Melsungen AG - Business segments Exhibit 110: B Braun Melsungen AG - Key news Exhibit 111: B Braun Melsungen AG - Key offerings Exhibit 112: B Braun Melsungen AG - Segment focus 12.4 Beijing Aeonmed Co. Ltd. Exhibit 113: Beijing Aeonmed Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 114: Beijing Aeonmed Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 115: Beijing Aeonmed Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.5 BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Exhibit 116: BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 117: BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 118: BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.6 Compumedics Ltd. Exhibit 119: Compumedics Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 120: Compumedics Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 121: Compumedics Ltd. - Key offerings 12.7 Dragerwerk AG and Co. KGaA Exhibit 122: Dragerwerk AG and Co. KGaA - Overview Exhibit 123: Dragerwerk AG and Co. KGaA - Business segments Exhibit 124: Dragerwerk AG and Co. KGaA - Key offerings Exhibit 125: Dragerwerk AG and Co. KGaA - Segment focus 12.8 Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. Exhibit 126: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 127: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 128: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 129: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.9 Fresenius SE and Co. KGaA Exhibit 130: Fresenius SE and Co. KGaA - Overview Exhibit 131: Fresenius SE and Co. KGaA - Business segments Exhibit 132: Fresenius SE and Co. KGaA - Key news Exhibit 133: Fresenius SE and Co. KGaA - Key offerings Exhibit 134: Fresenius SE and Co. KGaA - Segment focus 12.10 General Electric Co. Exhibit 135: General Electric Co. - Overview Exhibit 136: General Electric Co. - Business segments Exhibit 137: General Electric Co. - Key news Exhibit 138: General Electric Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 139: General Electric Co. - Segment focus 12.11 Getinge AB Exhibit 140: Getinge AB - Overview Exhibit 141: Getinge AB - Business segments Exhibit 142: Getinge AB - Key news Exhibit 143: Getinge AB - Key offerings Exhibit 144: Getinge AB - Segment focus 12.12 Koninklijke Philips NV Exhibit 145: Koninklijke Philips NV - Overview Exhibit 146: Koninklijke Philips NV - Business segments Exhibit 147: Koninklijke Philips NV - Key news Exhibit 148: Koninklijke Philips NV - Key offerings Exhibit 149: Koninklijke Philips NV - Segment focus 12.13 Masimo Corp. Exhibit 150: Masimo Corp. - Overview Exhibit 151: Masimo Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 152: Masimo Corp. - Key offerings 12.14 Medtronic Plc Exhibit 153: Medtronic Plc - Overview Exhibit 154: Medtronic Plc - Business segments Exhibit 155: Medtronic Plc - Key news Exhibit 156: Medtronic Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 157: Medtronic Plc - Segment focus 12.15 Mindray Bio medical Electronics Co. Ltd Exhibit 158: Mindray Bio medical Electronics Co. Ltd - Overview Exhibit 159: Mindray Bio medical Electronics Co. Ltd - Product / Service Exhibit 160: Mindray Bio medical Electronics Co. Ltd - Key offerings 12.16 Nihon Kohden Corp. Exhibit 161: Nihon Kohden Corp. - Overview Exhibit 162: Nihon Kohden Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 163: Nihon Kohden Corp. - Key news Exhibit 164: Nihon Kohden Corp. - Key offerings 12.17 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 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 170: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 171: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 172: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 173: Research methodology Exhibit 174: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 175: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 176: 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 WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) , the world's largest association of facial plastic surgeons, today released its 2022 member survey outcomes. With in-person work, events and socializing moving towards a return to pre-pandemic levels, 2022, like 2021, saw an increase in demand for facial plastic surgery and cosmetic treatments. In fact, 58 percent of AAFPRS facial plastic surgeons report an increase in bookings and treatments over the past year, with more than 75 percent indicating they have seen a bump of more than 10 percent in patient demand. Back to Reality "As people returned to the office and eased back into the routine of daily life without quarantine, interest for elective surgeries and non-invasive 'tweakments' remain high," shares AAFPRS President Theda Kontis, MD . "In 2022, our members continued to see the impact of the "Zoom Boom," with 79 percent of respondents pointing to the "Zoom Effect" as a major contributing factor in patients' desire to seek treatment." A second source of motivation, following closely behind the Zoom Effect at 60 percent, was an increase in disposable income. "Many patients reported spending money saved during the pandemic on cosmetic procedures," says Kontis. According to the new data, 82 percent of the total number of procedures performed in 2022 were minimally invasive; the remaining 18 percent were surgical. Of these, the three most common treatments were neurotoxins, fillers, and topicals (think chemical peels), while the top three surgical procedures were Facelifts, Blepharoplasties, and Rhinoplasties. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rhinoplasty continues to be the single most requested surgery among patients under 34 years old. It is still no surprise that women continue to reign when it comes to undergoing facial plastic surgery. In 16 of the 18 procedures tracked, surgeons indicate more of their patients are women, with the exceptions of hair transplantation, which skews toward men. Otoplasty, surgery to diminish ear prominence, has the highest gender equality. The Buzz About Buccal Fat 2022's resurgence of Doc Martens, crop tops, and wide-leg jeans paved the way for an equally 90s facial trend: Sharp, prominent cheekbones a la Cindy, Kate, and Naomi. Indeed, the sculpted, chiseled look is in vogue once again, with 15 percent of facial plastic surgeons reporting an increase in buccal fat removal to achieve a slimmer facial appearance. The most headline-making trend of 2022, the intentional removal of buccal fat has taken Hollywood (and those who take a cue from its A-listers) by storm. This was followed closely by the hollowed-out 'Ozempic Face," trend, a side effect of the Diabetes weight-loss drug Semaglutide. While popular, all of this cheekbone worship certainly has many surgeons scratching their heads, as the procedure delivers the opposite effect of filler and fat injections, a common request of middle-aged women hoping to re-inflate the cheeks of their 20s. The moral of this story? Consider the long-term effects of any surgerybuccal fat removal includedvery carefully before proceeding. "Buccal fat surgery is not reversibleso while you may love the look in your 20s and 30s, as you age, your face naturally loses fat, and therefore volume," says Dr. Kontis. In regard to "Ozempic Face" specifically, she adds that rapid weight loss can actually accelerate the aging process. "Like any massive weight loss treatment, Semiglutide treatments can cause fat pads to shrink, making facial volume depleted and the skin can appear lax and saggy," she says. "Of course, we can treat these unwanted side effects with everything from fillers to facelifts, but the point is there's no such thing as a magic pill." Selfie Satisfaction The media has been quick to brand the phrase "Snapchat dysmorphia" in regards to Gen Z seeking treatments and tweakments aimed to mimic Snapchat filters. In reality, though, Gen Z's influence in the aesthetic marketplace is not yet generating leaps in facial plastic surgery procedure numbers (and that's probably a good thing). Consistent with 2021, close to 75 percent of facial plastic surgeons report increases in the number of patients under 30 years old requesting cosmetic surgery or injectables, representing a consistently higher plateau over the 5 previous years. But pre-juvenation and low-to-no downtime is still top of mind for these age groups; 78 percent of AAFPRS members believe there will be a greater emphasis on earlier maintenance and age prevention starting in the 20s-30s to forestall bigger procedures and surgeries for later down the road. In fact, this year's survey indicates that surgical procedure activity sees significant increase once patients reach the 35-55 year age group. So while there isn't much credence behind "Snapchat Dysmorphia," patients have indeed taken 2020's Zoom effect a step further; in 2021 and 2022, a desire to up that selfie game took center stage. In fact, a whopping 79 percent of facial plastic surgeons agree that looking better in selfies continues to trend upward. To that end, lip lifts, a new category for the 2021 survey, were up 3 percent in 2022; at least 73 percent of AAFPRS members performed lip lifts in 2022 versus 70 percent in 2021. As facemasks continue to become less and less prevalent, this intel doesn't really come as a surprise. The trendy procedure aims to remove some skin under the nose in order to shorten the skin of the upper lip, overall increasing the amount of visible pink lip. "We lose bone under the nose as we age, which can cause the nasal tip to droop and the upper lip to elongate; in other words, 'the table becomes too small for the tablecloth,'" says Dr. Kontis. "By removing this excess upper lip skin, it shortens the upper lip skin and everts the upper lip, which results in a more youthful appearance." Another selfie-boosting procedure, the blepharoplasty, has seen an upward climb in popularity, with blephs sitting just behind rhinoplasty as the most-requested procedure of 2022. "Upper blepharoplasty removes the excess skin above the eyelid, reducing that hooded appearance that can occur naturally with age, while lower blepharoplasty targets the fat pads below the eye, restoring a smoother, more youthful look," says Kontis. "Both are relatively minor procedures that lend themselves to tremendous patient satisfaction." The Bottom Line Whether patients are considering significant surgery or a trendy tweakment, choosing a qualified surgeon is a non-negotiable. Steve Jurich, CEO and Executive Vice President of the AAFPRS advises, "Finding the right, most qualified, physician to perform any procedure is priority number one. Always select a surgeon specifically trained in procedures of the face, head, and neck and make sure the physician is qualified, experienced and board-certified in the procedure you want." The good news? Just 20 percent of surgeons report patients referencing celebrities when coming in for consultations, which points to a more educated consumer base, thanks to the multitude of candid plastic surgery depictions on social media and the prevalence of data driving individual research. The 2022 AAFPRS annual member survey was conducted in December 2022 by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. through an online survey from a select group of the organization's 2,200 members. ABOUT THE AAFPRS: The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the world's largest specialty association for facial plastic surgery. It represents more than 2,200 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons throughout the world. The AAFPRS is a National Medical Specialty Society of the American Medical Association (AMA), and holds an official seat in both the AMA House of Delegates and the American College of Surgeons board of governors. AAFPRS members are board certified surgeons whose focus is surgery of the face, head, and neck (inclusive of Rhinoplasty and Facial Rejuvenation). More information at www.aafprs.org . SOURCE American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery WEST DES MONES, Iowa, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce (WDM Chamber) is accepting applications for the 2023 Athene Black & Brown Business Summit (BBBS) pitch competition, brought to you by exclusive pitch competition partner Bank of America. Deadline to submit applications is Wednesday, March 1 by 5 p.m. Applicants to the 2023 Athene BBBS pitch competition must be 51% minority owned, have been in business for at least two years and be a for-profit business. Those who are selected will be invited to participate on April 20 in workshops featuring area experts. Applicants also can win part of a cash prize given to the companies with the best pitches. Over the last two years, pitch competition winners have received a total of $52,000 in prize money. Applications open for the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit pitch competition. Over $40,000 total prize money. Tweet this The 2022 pitch competition saw 40 minority businesses participate, with ten of them winning cash prizes. Winners included Lumena Energy at first place winning $12,000, Autistic & Loved at second place winning $10,000 and Stagerie, Inc. at third place winning $6,000. Additional pitch winners won $2,000 and included A Little Buzzed, Dae-licious Delights, Dupee Consulting Group LLC, Evry Intention LLC, Iowa Media Co., Light Pong, and Mountain High Jz Coffee LLC. Those interested in applying to participate in the pitch competition can view the application here. Learn more about the Athene BBBS and purchase tickets here. About the WDM Chamber of Commerce The mission of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce is to champion all things West Des Moines and to position WDM as the best suburban city in America. A 2022 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist, the Chamber produces programs and events for everyone. Learn more at wdmchamber.org. Bank of America At Bank of America, we're guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We're delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. Visit www.bankofamerica.com to learn more. WDM Contact: Katherine Harrington [email protected] (515) 689-4447 Learn More About the WDM Chamber SOURCE West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce - Responding to Growing Needs for Urban-type Proton Therapy in Thailand - TOKYO and BANGKOK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- B dot Medical Inc. and Thammasat University, a leading national university in Thailand, have signed a memorandum of understanding to install the ultra-compact proton therapy system developed by B dot Medical. The agreement encourages installing the advanced cancer treatment system in Thailand, where the population profile is aging at the fastest pace among major ASEAN countries. The agreement provides B dot Medical an opportunity to expand proton therapy further in the global market. Logos: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105528/202302072729/_prw_PI5fl_8gH8o1u5.jpg Photo: Associate Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Thammasat University (second from right) and Takuji Furukawa, B dot Medical (furthest to right) https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105528/202302072729/_prw_PI3fl_14A1bZIu.jpg The memorandum of understanding was realized through a sales alliance with Olba Healthcare Holdings, Inc., a leading medical device distributor in Japan. Olba Healthcare established a subsidiary in Thailand, THAI OLBA Healthcare Co., Ltd., in 2023 in anticipation of the growing healthcare industry in that region. They will provide strong partnership for the business development of B dot Medical in Thailand and the ASEAN region. In recent years, countries in Southeast Asia experienced population growth, accompanied by rising GDP and national incomes, leading to calls for more advanced medical care to be made available. In Thailand, in particular, the country's social security system reforms since 2000 have changed its medical environment, and at the same time, economic growth has led to a sharp increase in the number of cancer patients, and the need for advanced cancer treatment, such as proton therapy. However, the space needed for a conventional large-scale proton therapy system is an issue due to the high population density of Bangkok, as approximately 1/5 of the country's total population is concentrated in that area. Therefore, there is only one facility for proton therapy in Thailand as of 2023. B dot Medical's ultra-compact proton therapy system, one of the smallest in the world, is suitable for placement in such urban areas. This breakthrough prompted Thammasat University to go forward with proton therapy. Thammasat University will be celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2024. A new hospital ward in the university is planned to mark the milestone, with the therapy project also highlighted. The clinical trial required for the sale of a proton therapy system in Thailand will be led by Thammasat University. The three-party collaboration will allow the partners to work closely together for the success of the project, marking this as the starting point for the advancement of proton therapy in the global market. Comment from Associate Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University: "Thammasat University has continued creating social innovation in all dimensions for the people and the future. As the economic development of recent years has caused an increase in the number of cancer patients, we are proud to bring this groundbreaking proton therapy system and look forward to providing people with advanced medical treatment." Comment from Yohei Maeshima, President and CEO of Olba Healthcare: "We position Thailand as the medical hub in the ASEAN region where the population is aging, and a point of development for our business in the ASEAN countries. Through the introduction of proton therapy, we aim to contribute to the healthy life span of the people and to become the bridge between Thailand and Japan in the medical field." Comment from Takuji Furukawa, President and CEO of B dot Medical: "The signing of this MOU is the first step toward global expansion for us, and signifies that B dot Medical's work is being recognized around the world. We look forward to working with Thammasat University on this innovative project to bring the advanced world-class cancer treatment to ASEAN countries, including Thailand." For more details about proton therapy, please visit: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202302072729-O5-I68YRBu3.pdf About Thammasat University https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202302072729-O3-6C64H7Z1.pdf About Olba Healthcare Holdings, Inc. https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202302072729-O4-4tn51Y25.pdf About B dot Medical Inc. B dot Medical is a startup company originating from the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS). The company has developed the "ultra-compact proton therapy system" utilizing the advanced technology and experience gained at NIRS. The company is challenging the world with Japanese technological innovation. Name: B dot Medical Inc. Address: 5-10-10 Harue-cho, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-0003 JAPAN Representative: Takuji Furukawa, President and CEO Founded: March 1, 2017 Business activity: Developing proton therapy systems Consulting support for particle therapy B dot Medical's official website: https://bdotmed.co.jp/en/ SOURCE B dot Medical Inc., Thammasat University BBT.live & Advantech team with Intel to simplify service provider SASE connectivity BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Advantech, a global leader in Industrial infrastructure solutions, announced today that it will feature BBT.live' BeBroadband at Mobile World Congress. BBT.live is a Tel Aviv based SaaS start-up focused on enabling service providers to offer secure and efficient connectivity for businesses with multiple locations. Mobile World Congress will take place from February 27 to March 2 in Barcelona with Advantech and BBT.live in Hall 5, Stand #5D74. BBT.live will participate with Advantech at Mobile World Congress later this month in Barcelona BBT.live will demonstrate its SASE solution based on the Advantech FWA-1212VC at the Advantech booth. BBT's SD-WAN based SASE is an all-in-one secure cloud-based connectivity solution designed for service providers to gain faster and easier access to new market segments and revenue streams, allowing them to improve profitability without sacrificing quality. The FWA-1212VC is a flexible and fanless network appliance based on Intel Atom C3000 processor with support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6 for the fast-paced and ubiquitous enterprise edge. As a member of the Intel Network Builders global ecosystem initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of network solutions based on Intel architecture BeBroadband edge devices, including the FWA-1212VC, utilize Intel technology. "We are thrilled to be showcasing our solution at MWC alongside Advantech," said Erez Zelikovitz Chief Product and Revenue Officer at BBT.live. "Partnerships are a core element of our solution, and Advantech is the perfect fit for our customer's edge unit needs." "Service providers are looking for more intelligent and flexible network solutions that help them thrive in a post-pandemic, fast-paced business environment", said Brian Wilson, AVP of Sales, Advantech. "The solution we are demonstrating at MWC combines BBT cloud-based SASE with Advantech versatile network edge appliances to help customers build elastic and secure enterprise networks that accelerate digital transformation and unlock new revenue streams." This will be BBT.live's first time participating in Mobile World Congress following their founding in 2020. BBT.live recently completed a seed round after raising $7.4 million. This latest cooperation with Advantech follows their security and WAN optimization partnership announcements with Check Point and Rodhe & Schwarz. Last month BBT.live began a strategic distribution partnership for the US market with MitoTec. BBT.live cloud based SASE solution is one of 3 companies that were chosen to be featured by Advantech. They will be featured alongside Albis-Elcon and TietoEvry. To book a meeting at #MWC23 with BBT.live reach out to Guy Levinson, head of business development at BBT.live at [email protected]. About BBT.live BBT.live offers the first-of-its-kind software defined cloud-based solution for secure network connectivity between all types of branch users designed for service providers and their customers. By combining security with network functionality in the cloud, BBT.live offers lean SASE architecture designed for simplicity, security, and top application performance. About Advantech Advantech has the corporate vision to "Enable an Intelligent Planet". The company is a global leader in the fields of IoT intelligent systems and embedded platforms. To embrace the trends of IoT, big data, and artificial intelligence, Advantech promotes IoT hardware and software solutions with the industrial IoT platform - WISE-PaaS core to assist business partners and clients in connecting their industrial chains. Advantech is also working with business partners to co-create business ecosystems that accelerate the goal of industrial intelligence. ( www.advantech.com ) Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. BBT.live Media Contact David Weissmann 973-58-795-5088 [email protected] Advantech Media Contact Brand Development & Public Relations Dept. Jennifer Huang Tel: +886-2-7732-3399, Ext. 7388 Mobile: +886-987-246-804 [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2000912/BBT_Live.jpg SOURCE BBT.Live Since 1997, Bryant University's Women's Summit has been New England's top event celebrating professional women SMITHFIELD, R.I., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 26th Bryant University Women's Summit returns to the Smithfield campus on Thursday, March 16 with a lineup of inspiring keynotes, dynamic breakout sessions, and collaborative networking. This year's theme, "Moving Forward Together: Me, We, Us.," highlights the interconnectedness of the business landscape while paying tribute to the Summit's mission - to provide attendees with an opportunity for professional and personal development and financial empowerment. Established by Kati Machtley in 1997, the Bryant Women's Summit is the largest and longest-running event of its kind in Rhode Island and the region. Registration is now open at WSummit.Bryant.edu Women's Summit at Bryant provides opportunities for professional and personal development and financial empowerment. Tweet this Womens leadership expert Sally Helgesen, author of Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace; Beverly Johnson, groundbreaking supermodel, author, activist, and Founder, Chairwoman, and CEO of Beverly Johnson Enterprises, LLC; and Darria Long Gillespie, MD, MBA, women's wellness expert and author of Mom Hacks deliver keynotes at Bryant University's Women's Summit. Three dynamic women offer keynote addresses: Beverly Johnson, groundbreaking supermodel, author, activist, and Founder, Chairwoman, and CEO of Beverly Johnson Enterprises, LLC; women's leadership expert Sally Helgesen , author of Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace; and Darria Long Gillespie, MD, MBA, a former ER doc whose holistic advice empowers women to take charge of their wellness. This year's 17 breakout sessions are crafted to turn inspiration into action. Led by industry leaders, the sessions tackle topics like leadership and communication, financial empowerment, mental wellness, sustainability, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. "Bryant is honored to host the exceptional keynote thinkers, leaders, and game-changers who make the Women's Summit a premiere event for professional women. Alongside the keynote speakers, we are excited to once again give a warm welcome to the Bryant alum who return to campus as robust speakers to share their deep knowledge and expertise with our community," said Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. "We are particularly proud that our women graduates have exceptional professional outcomes, including narrowing the wealth gap between their male counterparts." The Bryant Women's Summit is supported by generous sponsors including Amica Insurance (Platinum sponsor); Bank of America and Fidelity Investments (Diamond sponsors); PwC (Gold sponsor); Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Brown Medicine, FM Global, Hasbro, IGT, Navigant Credit Union, Providence Journal, TIAA, The TJX Companies, Inc., and Washington Trust (Silver sponsors); AAA Northeast, BankNewport, BD, Centreville Bank, Dassault Systemes, Diego's Newport, EY, Gilbane, Hope Global, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Marcum LLP, Ocean State Job Lot, Target, The Women's Advisory Group (Bronze sponsors). The media sponsors are Providence Business News, Providence Media, Rhode Island Monthly, and WBSE RI PBS. Over the past 26 years, the Bryant Women's Summit has featured prominent speakers who have helped thousands of women and men discover and achieve their full potential. Notable keynote speakers have included Mika Brzezinski, Geena Davis, Viola Davis, Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., Amy Edmonson, Ph.D., Geraldine Ferraro, Jody Hoffer Gittell, Ph.D., Carla Harris, Arianna Huffington, Soledad O'Brien, Suze Orman, and Jane Pauley. About Bryant University For 160 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The University delivers a uniquely integrated academic and student life experience with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences. At Bryant, women succeed. Through exceptional leadership education and key academic programs that align with the ever-changing workforce, Bryant's women graduates continue to shrink the wealth gap. Located on a 428-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students from 38 states and 49 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top 1% national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, College Factual and Barron's. Bryant.edu SOURCE Bryant University NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (OTC QB: BNET), a developer of advanced livestock waste treatment technology and premium sustainable beef, announced that the first shipment of process units for the commercial scale demonstration and optimization project at Fair Oaks, Indiana, has been delivered on-site. The structure that will house the system has been completed; facility services, including electrical, will be installed concurrently with the assembly of the process units. The first shipment included the evaporator, pre-heaters and associated thermal exchange units. Final inspections of the remaining units, including the distillation and absorption columns, diffusion tanks and defoaming units, are now being conducted at Buflovak/Hebeler Process Solutions, LLC, Bion's process engineering and equipment fabrication vendor located in Buffalo, New York. They will be shipped to Fair Oaks within a week of final inspection verification, which is scheduled for February 15. No further delays associated with supply chain issues or fabrication are expected. Bion anticipates assembly will be completed in mid-April, followed by start-up and preliminary data soon after. The demonstration and optimization system at Fair Oaks is at commercial scale, designed to treat and recover the ammonia from the waste load from approximately 1,500 cattle. Once optimized steady-state operations have been achieved, Bion will have the data needed to complete the final design of the systems needed to treat the waste from the 15,000-head module(s) that comprise a Bion project. That will allow Bion to move forward with project development, including financing and permitting, on multiple fronts. Bill O'Neill, Bion's CEO, said "We are really looking forward to checking the boxes at Fair Oaks. While we know the technology works and moreover that it will perform even better as we scale it up, we understand it is critical that we prove that to our potential JV partners that have not been involved in our technology development. We are excited to get that accomplished, as well as produce the data that will allow us to design optimal performance into our 15,000-head facilities that support the projects we intend to begin developing this year." About Bion: Bion's patented third generation technology (Gen3Tech) was designed to largely mitigate the environmental impacts of large-scale livestock production, increase its resource efficiencies, and deliver a USDA-certified sustainable product to the consumer. The platform simultaneously prevents pollution to air, water, and soil, while recovering high-value organic fertilizer coproducts and renewable energy that increase revenues. Bion's Gen3Tech platform can create a pathway to true economic and environmental sustainability with 'win-win' benefits for a premium sector of the $175 billion U.S. livestock industry and the consumer. For more information, see Bion's website at https://bionenviro.com. This material includes forward-looking statements based on management's current reasonable business expectations. In this document, the words 'will', 'expect(ed)', 'scheduled (for)', and similar expressions identify certain forward-looking statements. These statements are made in reliance on the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, Section 27A of the Securities act of 1933, as amended. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could result in actual results differing materially from expected outcomes. SOURCE Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boviet Solar Technology Co. Ltd. (Boviet Solar), a leading global solar energy technology company specializing in the manufacturing of PERC PV cells, Gamma Series Monofacial and Vega Series Bifacial PV Modules, today announced it will attend the InterSolar NA conference and exhibition (https://bovietsolar.com/newsroom?type=trade-events) at the Long Beach convention center . The conference will run from February 13-16. Exhibitions will be held from February 14 to February 16. Boviet Solar's exhibition booth will be located in Exhibit Hall A, booth number 2137. Boviet Solar will be at Intersolar NA, Exhibit Hall A, Booth #2137 Tweet this Boviet Solar will present its Gamma Series Mono-Monofacial PV modules as well as its Vega Series Mono-Bifacial PV Modules. Boviet Solar's Gamma Series Monofacial and Vega Series Bifacial PV modules are designed with better- technology in mind, made from robust products components under stringent quality control steps and high-tech manufacturing processes. PERC, half-cut, multi-busbar, and large cell designs enables Boviet PV modules to pack more power per module, capture more photons, produce more energy, and provide reliable, dependable system performance under different installations requirements, difficult weather, or environmental conditions. Boviet Solar has maintained its position as a BloombergNEF Tier 1 solar module manufacturer since 2017. The company offers financial stability, technology know-how, manufacturing excellence and supply chain transparency. Boviet Solar's PV Modules are known for their power, performance and quality and have been rated as top performers on the PVEL module reliability scorecard since 2019. Boviet Solar also successfully completed Black and Veatch's independent factory audit in 2022. About Boviet Solar Founded in 2013 in Vietnam, Boviet Solar is part of Boway Alloy and a global Tier 1 solar technology company that specializes in the manufacturing of Monocrystalline PERC cells, Gamma Series Monofacial and Vega Series Bifacial PV modules, as well as solar project development. The company works with IPPs, EPCs, project developers, solar installers, and contractors to deliver top-performing PV modules for utility-scale, commercial, industrial, and residential solar projects. With a proven track record of success working with many of the industry's leading players, Boviet Solar has maintained its position as a BloombergNEF Tier 1 solar module manufacturer and supplier since 2017. The company offers financial stability, technology know-how, manufacturing excellence and supply chain transparency. Boviet Solar's PV Modules are known for their power, performance and quality and have been rated as top performers on the PVEL module reliability scorecard since 2019. Boviet Solar has offices in the USA and Germany, and its global headquarters are in Vietnam. For more information, please visit www.bovietsolar.com. SOURCE Boviet Solar HOUSTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) ("Callon" or the "Company") today announced L. Richard Flury's intention to retire from the Board of Directors following the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Annual Meeting"). "With guidance from Richard's deep experience in the energy industry, Callon has built a high-quality asset base of more than 200,000 gross acres in the leading oil plays in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale that has allowed us to profitably grow our production throughout his tenure," commented Callon President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Gatto. "Richard's leadership supported Callon through transformational acquisitions that have positioned the Company to execute our "Life of Field" Co-Development model on a deep inventory of high-return projects while preserving balance sheet strength. In addition, his focus on good governance has resulted in a strong and diverse Board that will continue to pursue sustainable value for all stakeholders. We are deeply appreciative of Richard's enduring contributions to the Company and wish he, Liz and their family all the best." Mr. Flury has served as director of the Company for nineteen years and as Board Chair since 2017. Prior to joining the Board, he spent a 30-year career with BP plc and predecessor entities in roles of increasing responsibility including as Chief Executive for Gas, Power and Renewables. Mr. Flury's previous board service includes McDermott International, Chicago Bridge and Iron Company where he served as board chair, and QEP Resources, Inc. "It has been a great honor to serve Callon during a period of extraordinary growth and change for our Company and our industry. I am confident that now is the right time to transition the role of Chair as Callon is well positioned with a strong board and management team to continue pursuing strategies to drive shareholder value," commented Mr. Flury. In preparation for Mr. Flury's forthcoming retirement, the Board has named independent director Matthew R. Bob as Chair-elect and expects to appoint him as Chair immediately following the upcoming Annual Meeting. Mr. Bob has served on the Callon Board since 2014 and is currently Chair of the Compensation Committee. He recently retired as President of Eagle Oil & Gas Co., an independent oil and gas company with operations in Texas. A registered geoscientist, he is also the founder and managing member of MB Exploration, LLC. Mr. Bob previously served as a director of Southcross Energy Partners, a natural gas processing and transportation company in South Texas, prior to its acquisition by Targa Resources Corp. Pursuant to the Company's mandatory retirement policy, director James M. Trimble will also retire from the Board at the upcoming Annual Meeting after nine years of distinguished service. Mr. Flury and Mr. Trimble's retirements are a continuation of Callon's planned Board refreshment and commitment to good governance. About Callon Petroleum Callon Petroleum Company is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of high-quality assets in the leading oil plays of South and West Texas. Contact: Kevin Smith Director of Investor Relations Callon Petroleum Company [email protected] (281) 589-5200 SOURCE Callon Petroleum Company DENVER, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyst Solutions is proud to announce their performance in the year 2022 with an impressive 80% growth. Catalyst was recognized for its outstanding services by the Healthcare Business Review and was awarded the Top Ten BPO Companies of 2022. "We are extremely proud of our accomplishment," said Catalyst President, Scott Martin. "We've been able to maintain strong growth while keeping our margins tight, making sure that our business model is sustainable and prosperous." Catalyst Solutions is proud to announce their performance in the year 2022 with an impressive 80% growth. Tweet this In 2022, Catalyst Solutions focused on investing in new technologies and developing innovative solutions to meet rapidly changing customer back-office needs. The company offered several new capabilities, including a clinical consulting and clinical outsourcing program. Additionally, Catalyst was able to offer offshore solutions, providing customers with affordable labor, a diverse talent pool and 24/7 operations. Catalyst also launched its Data and Analytics initiative to help leverage customer data to drive optimizations that reduce spend and increased healthcare outcomes. "We are focused on remaining at the forefront of the industry," said Scott Martin. "Our goal is to provide our clients with the best quality services and solutions that will help them succeed in their businesses." Internally, Catalyst Solutions made investments, as well. In addition to replacing administrative systems, the company also made investments in their employees by launching a robust employee engagement program and Catalyst University. "Our headcount grew by almost 28% in 2022," said Chief Operating Officer, Suraya Yahaya. "Our employees are passionate about making positive and measurable change on behalf our clients and the communities in which they live. Catalyst University will give our people incredible opportunities to learn and grow." "As exciting as 2022 was, we already have aggressive plans to continue to grow in 2023," said Scott Martin. "There are so many exciting horizons for us to explore. Combining our core, tried-and-true offerings with new products and services, we hope to help our clients drive to increase their focuses on value-based care and consumerism and, ultimately, patient wellness." About Catalyst Solutions Catalyst Solutions has an extensive history of exclusively serving the payer industry. With 20+ years of deep industry expertise, Catalyst provides outsourced BPO, IT, and consulting services. As a diversity-certified, woman-owned company based in the U.S., our mission is to help insurance payers drive down costs, optimize revenue, and most importantly, improve member healthcare outcomes. We deliver comprehensive and flexible solutions that meet the unique needs of payers, and we are committed to exceeding customer expectations by providing unmatched, white-glove service. We are passionate about making positive and measurable change on behalf of the clients we serve and the communities in which we live. SOURCE Catalyst Solutions SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, CIMC IoT, a subsidiary of CIMC Group, won the bid for the process tender section of Lianyungang International Automobile Green Intelligent Logistics Center Project (hereinafter referred to as: Lianyungang Project), which is a national logistics hub and short board supplementing key support project, and another major transportation new infrastructure project won by CIMC IoT after the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong port artificial island automated parking project. The Lianyungang International Automobile Green Intelligent Logistics Center Design Concept A parking building that is also an vehicles logistics centre The project mainly serves the roll-on roll-off automobile import and export business in Lianyungang, with a planned 5200 parking spaces, all using AGV robot automatic parking. After completion, it will not only become the first robotic parking lot at the port, but also the world's largest robotic parking lot. Empowered with intelligence, CIMC once again takes the lead in the global intelligent parking industry. As the eastern stronghold of the New Asia-Europe Continental Bridge and the logistics cooperation base of "Belt and Road" in the Sino-Kazakhstan region, Lianyungang applies digital and intelligent technology to the roll-on roll-off automobile transportation, speeds up the digital transformation of the port, and implements the Party's strategic deployment of "Accelerating the construction of a strong transportation country and digital China, promoting the deep integration of digital economy and real economy" through practical actions. The project also indicates that CIMC participates in the construction of the national logistics hub by empowering new transportation infrastructure, helping Lianyungang become a sample of a smart port with innovative leadership. Over 200,000 vehicles were exported from Lianyungang, but only 9,000 parking spaces are available. As an important node of the Maritime Silk Road, the port has a pivotal role in the construction of "Belt and Road". The "Layout and Utilization Plan of Mainstream River Ports and Port Shoreline Protection" was issued by the Ministry of Transport and the National Development and Reform Commission on November 24th. The plan mentions accelerating the construction of smart ports and promoting the digital transformation and intelligent development of key port areas. Efforts will be made to promote coordinated ship-to-shore operations, automated terminal and yard construction, in order to actively facilitate the research and application of automation and intelligent operation technology in port loading and unloading, yard operations, etc. Lianyungang Port is the largest seaport in Jiangsu. Since 2022, Lianyungang Port has taken advantage of its strategic position as the starting point of the New Asia-Europe Continental Bridge and international hub port to rapidly develop its rolling stock automobile business. On November 26, 2022, the number of vehicles exported from Lianyungang Port exceeded 200,000 and is expected to reach 350,000 by 2025. Its trade has covered over 40 countries and 100 cities globally. Lianyungang Port ranks among the top three in the country by automobile export volume. Automobile is regarded as one of the icons of an industrialized nation. According to the latest data released by China Customs, the number of automobiles exported from China reached 1.91 million in the first eight months of 2022, close to the full-year figure of 2021, surpassing Germany and becoming the second largest automobile exporter in the world, just after Japan. "This acceleration", new energy vehicles has become one of the core growth points. From January to September this year, the export of new energy vehicles reached 389,000, a more than 1-fold increase compared to the same period last year. It is understood that, prior to shipment, exported vehicles are stored at the terminal yard for inspection and loading, usually for about a week. However, the current yard used for storage of exported vehicles in Lianyungang Port only covers an area of 150,000 square meters and has 9,000 parking spaces, which is far from sufficient to meet the rapid increase of exported vehicles. In order to enhance the port's storage capacity, the Lianyungang International Automobile Green Intelligent Logistics Center has emerged. All 5200 parking spaces adopt robotic parking to achieve an annual turnover of 180,000 units The Lianyungang International Automotive Green Intelligent Logistics Center Project is a key supportive project for the national logistics hub, which is also a medium- and long-term development of the port based on the whole vehicle import and export business. The project focuses on building a main engineering hub for automotive logistics that serves the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and coordinates the development of the Longhai-Lanxin Economic Belt. The project is located in the core area of the port in the Lianyungang Free Trade Zone in Jiangsu, with a total investment of 336 million yuan. The total floor area is 30,200m2, and a 7,400m2 intelligent three-dimensional garage with 5 levels is planned to be built with 5,200 parking spaces fully equipped with AGV automated robotic parking systems. The total number of parking space will be increased by 9 times compared to traditional ground parking and with 48 AGV robots to be run at full capacity, it can serve up to 368 vehicles per hour. The annual turnover capacity can reach 180,000 vehicles, and once completed, it will become the world's largest AGV intelligent parking building. Efficiency is key at the ports. With the integration of technologies such as the Internet of Things(IoT), big data, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving, the car park management system can be intelligently dispatched. Before a car arrives at the port, the car park management system will receive an inbound instruction from the port management system, and can pre-allocate a parking space. Based on the port operation plan, the car park management system generates a vehicle outbound plan, and the intelligent dispatch system will lock the outbound vehicle. The vehicle can be taken out earlier or moved to a closer parking space, reducing the outbound time, and achieving efficiency through intelligence. At peak times, AGV can be dispatched across floors for coordinated work, achieving the highest overall efficiency with single parking and retrieval efficiency reaching up to 228 vehicles per hour. AGV can freely move under the parking space, and two AGVs can meet flexibly in the same lane. The garage operation management system has automated, digitalized, and visualized management of vehicle information and equipment operating status, effectively improving management efficiency. In terms of green and low-carbon aspects, the roof of the garage adopts photovoltaic green power to achieve integrated "light storage and charging". In addition to meeting the electrical needs of all garage equipment, the surplus power can also support the power needs of other port operations. Compared to traditional self-driving parking lots, the double reduction advantage of AGV robot parking is obvious, with a 70% reduction in carbon emissions for each stored vehicle, and a reduction of 9 tons of carbon emissions per year. The person in charge of the China International Intelligent Connected Cloud Port Project, Han Leijun, introduced that the development of smart ports is an inevitable trend faced by all port enterprises worldwide. In the construction of smart ports, the role of AGV robots as intelligent handling equipment has become increasingly prominent in recent years. This is the first time that China International's AGV has been applied in a port and serves the import and export automobile business of Lianyungang Port. The project presents itself as an intelligent warehouse, which is actually a visual and intelligent storage created through digital technology. Han Leijun, the head of the CIMC IoT Lianyungang project, introduced that the garage management system of the Lianyungang project is integrated with the port administration system and the intelligent dispatch system, forming an innovative model of "wide online information interconnection, intelligent off-line parking space dispatch, and online and offline coordination". In addition, the intelligent gate outside the garage replaces manual inspection, and the AGV robot inside the garage replaces daily manual inventory, using intelligent equipment to replace manual labor, which can save labor and accurately, quickly, and dynamically record data. This realization of automated data collection has a demonstration effect on the intelligent upgrade of traditional port yards. CIMC Technology Empowering Technology Helps Promote the Construction of a Smart Port in Lianyungang as a 'China Model' In September 2021 and January 2022, the Ministry of Transport and the State Council respectively released the "Action Plan for the Construction of New Infrastructure in the Field of Transportation (2021-2025)" and the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System". It requires the promotion of automation of terminal operation equipment, acceleration of the construction and transformation of new automated container terminals and yards, digitalization of the entire process and cycle of port construction maintenance and operation, and speeding up of comprehensive applications such as intelligent scheduling, intelligent yards, intelligent gateways, intelligent handling, intelligent security early warning, and autonomous driving in the port area. CIMC is one of the leading enterprises in China that entered the vertical parking industry early on. CIMC IoT is fully responsible for CIMC's smart parking business. At present, relying on CIMC's ability and advantages in high-end equipment manufacturing, intelligence, and IoT technology, CIMC IoT has built and completed thousands of smart vertical garage projects in many places across the country, with many projects becoming industry benchmarks. With 30 years of technological precipitation and accumulated project experience, China International United leverages technology to continuously innovate and lead in multiple fields, expanding innovative applications in various domains. As the era of intelligence arrives, the self-developed double-deck AGV parking robot of China International United is poised to be widely used in airports, ports, hospitals, industrial parks and other areas. By integrating Internet of Things, big data and autonomous driving technologies, the parking process will become intelligent, vehicle management will become visual and operation will become more efficient. "Port is an important logistics hub for a country which represents the situation of real economy and its level of digitalisation will define the core competitiveness of a port, thus different major ports take digitalisation as a key catalyst in the transformation and development of ports." Cheng Hongda, Managing Director of CIMC IoT, said that CIMC IoT has realized the intelligent, automated and unmanned innovative demonstration application of ro-ro car yard in Lianyungang Port through IoT and big data, which has helped to promote the transformation and upgrading of the port and improve the quality and efficiency of the enterprise, and also contributed to the "CIMC solution" for the upgrade of global port intelligence. According to Cheng Hongda, as the information technologies such as IoT, autonomous driving, and 5G become increasingly mature, and with ports being a typical enclosed operational scenario, using autonomous AGV vehicles to achieve transportation, loading and unloading, and handling in ports will become an inevitable trend in port development. The enhanced efficiency driven by digitalisation is surpassing the impact of physical facilities and equipment, and through model innovation and technological empowerment, the operation of ports will achieve a leap from quantity to quality. We are entering into a digital era of the global economy, technologies such as IoT, big data, and artificial intelligence will become opportunities for the development of the shipping industry. In recent years, empowered by technological advancement, the construction of smart ports has been growing rapidly in the port industry. Through the automation upgrade of the entire process of traditional docks and the construction of the next-generation intelligent docks, the construction of smart ports is accelerating domestically. Public information shows that tech giants including Tencent, Huawei, Baidu, Alibaba, JD, etc. have all laid out plans for building smart ports, providing digital connectivity and management services for personnel, goods, containers, ports, and ships, optimizing the logistics process and helping ports to reduce costs and increase efficiency. SOURCE CIMC LOCKPORT, Ill., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Will County Habitat for Humanity and the CITGO Lemont Refinery recently presented a Habitat family with the keys to their new home located in Lockport, Ill. "CITGO is proud to have partnered with Habitat for Humanity on this home," stated Jim Cristman, CITGO Lemont Vice President and General Manager. "I am also proud of all of our employees who volunteered their time on this project," Cristman added. Through its Community Resilience Grants program, CITGO awarded a $25,000 grant to Will County Habitat for Humanity. CITGO Lemont volunteers then got to work on the Fairmont neighborhood Habitat home, holding several CITGO Build Days to help with rehabilitation projects. Refinery employees volunteered nearly 200 hours at the home where they assisted with outdoor clean up and indoor repair projects. When it was complete, many of the volunteers came out to congratulate the new homeowners at the recent home dedication ceremony. "CITGO's donations are appreciated, but it is the partnership that is truly valued," stated Executive Director of Will County Habitat for Humanity Nicole Murray. Murray added, "We appreciate the CITGO volunteers, and the pride CITGO takes in partnering with Habitat. Together we might not be able to change the world, but together we are changing one family's world." Will County Habitat homeowners purchase their homes with an affordable mortgage, invest 250 sweat equity hours on the construction site building their own and their neighbors' homes, and enroll in financial and homeownership preparation classes. Will County Habitat for Humanity has been serving the community for 35 years and has helped place close to 100 families in homes. SOURCE CITGO Corporation New Spring 2023 Collection Available to Borrow on DerekLam.com and through Modern Luxury's ModLux.Rent Subscription Service NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Now you can Borrow the latest styles from Derek Lam 10 Crosby including the Spring 2023 collection in a thrilling new way. Derek Lam 10 Crosby Partners with CaaStle to launch Borrow on DerekLam.com. Now you can Borrow the latest styles from Derek Lam 10 Crosby on DerekLam.com. Derek Lam 10 Crosby has partnered with CaaStle, the leading B2B rental technology and logistics platform for fashion brands, retailers and content creators, to expand their offering in the circular economy and provide new opportunities for consumers to experience the Derek Lam 10 Crosby brand. Customers can now rent the brand's contemporary ready-to-wear collection on Derek Lam's website with the Borrow button as well as through rental services powered by CaaStle starting with Modern Luxury Media's new luxury clothing rental service ModLux.Rent. Dan Shamdasani, CEO of Public Clothing Company (PCC), owner of the Derek Lam 10 Crosby brand stated, "We are excited to offer our customers an innovative new way to experience the Derek Lam 10 Crosby brand with the launch of Borrow. Since acquiring Derek Lam, a significant driver of growth has come from our ability to leverage our platform to introduce new retail partners and business models that generate broader awareness and access to the brand. Our partnership with CaaStle aligns perfectly with our growth strategy as it will help us to further increase our direct-to-consumer business and reach a larger base of customers that are younger and more aspirational to the brand." Introducing Borrow from Derek Lam 10 Crosby It's never been so easy to get dressed with Borrow. Available now on www.dereklam.com, Borrow allows you to rent and wear current garments available through Derek Lam's website. At the end of the prepaid period, you can either return the items, continue with a daily fee to extend the rental, or buy the item at a discount. Daily fees are applied as a discount to the buy price. If paid daily fees equal the buy price, the customer will own the item with no penalties, EVER. Beginning today, customers can be the first to Borrow select styles from the energetic new Spring 2023 ready-to-wear collection inspired by the elegance of Morocco as well as Pre-Spring, Denim and Essentials collections from Derek Lam 10 Crosby to mix and match their favorite pieces. Customers can find a collection of all styles available to Borrow at dereklam.com/collections/borrow or while browsing the Derek Lam website. Pick an item you love and the size you wear. If the style is available to Borrow the button will appear. Derek Lam's Borrow program will have new pieces added regularly depending on the given collection and season. Leveraging CaaStle's Network The latest styles from Derek Lam 10 Crosby will also be included in Modern Luxury Media's ModLux.Rent, the first apparel subscription service offered by a media company. ModLux.Rent offers members unrestricted access to the styles for a flat monthly fee of $125, with the option to keep and purchase an item at an exclusive discount. New members can try the service free for the first 30-days and will receive three items at a time that they can wear as long as they want. When they're ready, they can exchange styles for three new ones with unlimited exchanges and returns, free priority shipping and complimentary laundering services. Derek Lam 10 Crosby will be a featured brand in the ModLux.Rent service which offers apparel from contemporary brands including Vince, ba&sh, Scotch & Soda, The Kooples, Saloni, FARM Rio, Kobi Halperin, Acler, Saylor, and Yigal Azrouel. Christine Hunsicker, CEO of CaaStle added, "With the launch of Borrow, Derek Lam 10 Crosby is expanding access to its clothing and enabling the brand to engage with a broader customer base in a highly profitable and revenue enhancing way. The brand exposure will continue after the initial Borrow transaction when the inventory will flow into CaaStle's network. Here it will be introduced to more than 16 million affluent consumers through services like Modern Luxury's ModLux.Rent, which will feature the introduction of Derek Lam to its collection. It's a win-win powered by CaaStle's pioneering technology." High Resolution Images from Derek Lam 10 Crosby can be found here. About Derek Lam 10 Crosby : Designer Derek Lam founded his namesake brand in 2003 and in June 2011, presented a new advanced contemporary line Derek Lam 10 Crosby. His idea for the collection is to reach a woman of substance who desires clothing that will carry her through every aspect of her life, from the more formal, go to work occasions and also for the more informal aspects of her life. The 10 Crosby collection is created with an accessible appeal while maintaining Lam's core design principles: Clothing of value and integrity of design. Unique to Derek Lam 10 Crosby is its intelligent sense of style combined with surprising twists that make the collection look and feel special. For more information visit dereklam.com and follow on social @DerekLam. About CaaStle : CaaStle is the leading B2B rental technology and services company driving the next evolution of the circular economy for apparel and beyond. The Company's innovative CaaS ("Clothing as a Service'') rental ecosystem has created a new economy for apparel - enabling retailers, fashion brands, content creators, and digital communities in the U.S. and U.K. to strategically participate in the rental economy and connect with highly engaged consumers looking for a more flexible and sustainable way to experience fashion. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for two consecutive years, CaaStle is proving that rental is an essential and lucrative component of a brand's strategy for success. For more information, visit CaaStle.com or follow on Instagram @CaaStle_Inc. Media Contact : Jaime Cassavechia EJ Media Group [email protected] 646-701-7041 SOURCE CaaStle Cummings' visit also includes personal mentoring session for five NexTech HS students GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Renee Cummings, Data Science Professor of Practice at The University of Virginia, and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution, is returning to Grand Rapids in February to continue the discussion about the challenges of "data injustice" and the barriers and obstacles Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating for society. Renee Cummings, Data Science Professor of Practice at The University of Virginia and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution, will discuss data ethics, AI and the future of our algorithmic society. Cummings will speak about disrupting data injustice on Thursday, Feb. 16, 4:30-6 p.m. at LaFleur Marketing, 549 Ottawa Ave. NW in Grand Rapids. Open to the public, this free event is sponsored by LaFleur Marketing and Michigan Auto Law and includes a focus on the roles AI and technology are playing in the legal profession. The event will also be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Registration is open now for the event. Informed people need to be on the front line Cummings strongly believes that informed people need to be on the front line where technologies are being designed, developed, and deployed, and where the debates are happening on how to use data ethically. "We've got to ensure algorithms are not eliminating people from receiving opportunities, resources and the access they need to thrive," said Cummings. "If people are becoming lost in the data, then we are undermining a resilient, sustainable AI future." Role of AI and technology on local marketing and legal professionals Chip LaFleur, President and CEO of LaFleur Marketing, recognized the importance of Cummings' message and invited her back to the community at this critical time to continue these discussions. "Renee Cummings' work is essential, and we want to amplify her message as much as we can," said LaFleur. "Our team works with data and AI tools, and we understand how bias can infiltrate data sets, leading to misinformation, flawed analysis, and even hate speech. It's our goal to build awareness of this growing problem and be a force for positive change." "Attorneys have an obligation to ask hard questions and stand up for what's right. This event is in line with those values," said Steven Gursten of Michigan Auto Law. "We're helping educate our community about how AI and data workand how we can build a more equitable society." Cummings Continues Personal Mentoring for Five NexTech High School Students In November 2022, Cummings discussed the role of systemic bias in artificial intelligence and machine learning as part of a week-long event in Grand Rapids called Disrupting Data Injustice . During that visit, one of her most meaningful interactions was speaking to students at NexTech High School where she became acquainted with five young women of color who were searching for role models and mentorship. "I saw the potential for greatness in them," said Cummings. "All they need to know is that someone really cares." Now, through support from LaFleur Marketing and The Delta Project , Cummings will be personally mentoring these five teens, beginning with a structured day of nurturing and career exploration on Friday, Feb. 17. The young women are excited for this opportunity to explore their potential while also learning how to design their futures in a world where data, AI, and algorithms play an outsized role in determining our success. Partnership with the Delta Project "The Delta Project is thrilled to partner with LaFleur Marketing to bring Renee Cummings back to Grand Rapids," said Joel Van Kuiken, Delta Project co-founder. "During her visit last November, she helped our community see how technology and data can empower our futures, while also understanding the threats it can pose." Cummings and LaFleur are available for interviews to discuss the upcoming visit to Grand Rapids. Cummings and LaFleur are also available for media opportunities on Thursday morning, Feb. 16. About LaFleur Marketing Founded in 2015, LaFleur Marketing is a forward-thinking, comprehensive digital marketing agency headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI. Initially serving the legal field, LaFleur has grown to provide innovative, data-driven marketing strategies for businesses across several professional industries, including financial services, healthcare, education, and technology. Recently, the agency has started providing marketing within the cannabis industry as well. LaFleur is guided by a set of core values that inform everything they do: a commitment to excellence, investment in what matters, strong relationships, and recommendations grounded in good faith. Aligning with these values, the company gives back to the community through a variety of programs and strives for a truly inclusive and psychologically-safe environment. Learn more at https://lafleur.marketing/ About Michigan Auto Law Michigan Auto Law is the state's largest law firm specializing in motor vehicle accident claims. Its attorneys have helped people recover more million-dollar settlements and jury awards than any other law firm in Michigan. Learn more at https://michiganautolaw.com. About The Delta Project The Delta Project began in late 2017 with a desire to use simple human storytelling to help people see their circumstances from a different perspective. This vision led to the creation of the Delta Project team a group of people committed to amplifying the stories of students caught in the cycle of incarceration. The Delta Project mission is to provide programming for West Michigan youth and young adults who have been or are at risk for being engaged with the juvenile justice system, supporting them to find their voices and proactively envision a future of their choosing. Learn more at https://thedeltaproject.co About NexTech High School NexTech High School was established in 2012 in the city of Grand Rapids. NexTech is a blended school that combines virtual and onsite learning to help prepare students for the real world. The focus is on mentorship and individualized learning for all students. For more information please reach out at www.nextechhigh.org/gr Media Contact Joel Van Kuiken, APR, [email protected], 616.308.3789 SOURCE LaFleur Marketing Dutch Bros will donate $1 from every drink sold to nonprofits providing meals to their communities GRANTS PASS, Ore., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, Feb. 17, all Dutch Bros Coffee locations will share the Dutch Luv with its annual campaign to help provide meals for its communities. Each of the company's 650+ locations will donate $1 from every drink sold to local food organizations. On Friday, Feb. 17, all Dutch Bros shops will host its annual giveback to help provide meals for its communities. Tweet this Dutch Bros will donate $1 from every drink sold to nonprofits providing meals to their communities Dutch Bros will donate $1 from every drink sold to nonprofits providing meals to their communities "Giving back to the communities we serve is part of our DNA," said Katie Hutchison, vice president of philanthropy at Dutch Bros Coffee. "As we kick off our 17th annual Dutch Luv day, we continue our goal to impact local communities by providing an opportunity for our customers to give back in a big way. We're so grateful for the customers and crews that show up to make this day a success every year." In 2022, Dutch Bros raised more than $800,000 on Dutch Luv day. This year, local Dutch Luv partners include Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Boise Rescue Mission, Utah Food Bank, Houston Food Bank and St. Mary's Food Bank in Arizona. About Dutch Bros Dutch Bros Coffee is a drive-thru coffee company dedicated to making a massive difference one cup at a time. Headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, where it was founded in 1992 by Dane and Travis Boersma, it's now sharing the "Dutch Luv" with more than 650 locations in 14 states. Dutch Bros serves specialty coffee, smoothies, freezes, teas, an exclusive Dutch Bros Blue Rebel energy drink and nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee. Its rich, proprietary coffee blend is handcrafted from start to finish. In addition to its mission of speed, quality and service, Dutch Bros is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. Through its Dutch Bros Foundation and local franchisees, the company donates several million dollars to causes across the country each year. To learn more about Dutch Bros, visit www.dutchbros.com, follow Dutch Bros Coffee on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, & TikTok, and download the Dutch Bros app to earn points and score rewards! SOURCE Dutch Bros Coffee FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Experienced and accomplished digital learning practitioners from EdisonLearning, the longtime innovator in public education and leading provider of digital learning solutions for grades 6-12, will speak as session leaders at the upcoming Digital Learning Annual Conference (DLAC), February 13-15, 2023, at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas The DLAC is designed for K-12 digital learning practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to share, learn and debate best practices, challenges, successes, bumps and bruises, and future innovations in online and blended learning. Additionally, the conference helps to fill a gap in the professional opportunities for online and blended learning educators and administrators. The five sessions led by EdisonLearning educators are: Improving Achievement and Closing Gaps for Diverse Student Populations Dr. Eunice Casey and Dr. Sharard Walker EdisonLearning NorthStar Academies This session will cover how schools can integrate digital curriculum with supplemental programs and direct instruction in a model that allows students to quickly recover credit and accelerate progress towards graduation. All of this was done at NorthStar Academies while improving academic performance and identifying post-secondary goals with students. Building Digital Learning for Quality, Engagement, and Success Carly Fuller, Vice President of Product Design & Innovation - EdisonLearning Instructors and school leaders are faced with the challenge of finding or creating curriculum that meets a long list of requirements. In this session, Ms. Fuller, head of product for an online learning provider, shares considerations for creating high quality digital curriculum that engages the student and leads to meaningful results. It's all about Induction! Keeping first year virtual teachers learning, growing and eager to come back for a second year! Darla Posney - EdisonLearning In the world of virtual learning, how do we keep the best and brightest teachers as virtual instructors. It is all about the support of a strong Induction/Mentoring program that teaches the skills necessary to succeed in the virtual learning arena. This session will detail what Induction and Mentoring look like and how to maintain the best and the brightest. Strength in Numbers: Using Data Inquiry Teams to Transform Learning Lora Grasso - EdisonLearning Data inquiry teams builds on the use of data and collaboration among professionals where the teachers are making real, evidence-based, data-backed analyses of learners and applying appropriate, research-supported interventions. This session highlights why this is so important, how these teams can be implemented, and what it can do for our students. The Power of Words: How Our Words Can Affect Learning and Relationships Lora Grasso - EdisonLearning In this session, Ms. Grasso reconsiders the language we use when communicating to students, parents, colleagues, and institutions; acknowledge the role of growth mindset in effective communication; and share examples of just how impactful our language can be with our students. Each of these members of EdisonLearning's accomplished team of professional educators, brings a career's worth of expertise in K-12 education and education technology. They understand how to deliver high-impact support based on industry-recognized best practices to ensure every child has access to an excellent education. EdisonLearning offers comprehensive online and blended learning solutions with EdisonLearning eCourses - 150+ full eCourses in core and elective subjects, plus Career and Technical Education (CTE), social-emotional learning (SEL) and student empowerment content, and nearly 50 embedded project-based learning (PBL) units focused on mastery; EdisonLearning's proprietary learning management system, eSchoolware; instructional and Student support services; and full support for school staff through eSource implementation training. Contact: Michael Serpe, [email protected] SOURCE EdisonLearning DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EmergeOrthoTriangle Region's Dr. Phillip Shadduck , general surgeon, gastrointestinal (GI) and hernia surgeon , helped conduct training courses for young doctors in laparoscopic and robotic surgery at the Pleven Medical University in Bulgaria. Among other American surgeons were Professor Richard Satava, Professor John Morrison, Professor Jay Redan, and Professor Ian Hodgdon. All are Society of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeons affiliates. EmergeOrtho orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Phillip Shadduck, receives a plaque from Professor and Rector Dobromir Dimitrov as a sign of gratitude for Shadducks joint work. Taking place on Oct. 6, 2022, the laparoscopic and robotic surgery training course for residents immediately preceded the 18th Bulgarian National Congress of Surgery program on Oct 7, 2022. More than 30 young doctors across the country completed the resident training course, for which Dr Shadduck served as Program Chair. At the XVIII Bulgarian National Congress of Surgery meeting, also hosted at the Medical University in Pleven, Bulgaria, Dr Shadduck moderated a session of presentations by US faculty. More than 150 reports were presented at the National Meeting. Presentations were divided into four main topics: "Surgical infections," "Gastric carcinoma: diagnosis and treatment," "Surgical complications from the Covid infection," and "Robotic surgery: modern possibilities." Within the Congress, two consensus statements were adopted, emphasizing the national level of acute pancreatitis treatment and offering guidelines for applying the laparoscopic technique in treating gallbladder and biliary tract diseases. "Our team travels all over the world, with our mission being to teach minimally invasive surgery all over Europe, the Americas, and China/Asia," said Dr. Shadduck. "When we were first invited here in 2019, we were very impressed. We are impressed by what Rector Dr. Dobri Dimitrov Academician Dr. Grigor Gorchev, and Professor Slavcho Tomov have built in the last decade." "It is an honor for the MU in Pleven to host such a congress," said Dr. Stoykov, chairman of The Bulgarian Surgical Society and forum organizer. "This is recognition for Pleven surgeons, for the school of Academician Grigor Gorchev, for the entire surgical community." After the laparoscopic and robotic surgery training course, Dr. Shadduck presented certificates to the young specialists from the university. To learn more about Dr. Phillip Shadduck, Dr. Baerman, and Dr. Scarritt, visit the EmergeOrthoTriangle Region website. If you are looking for treatment from any of EmergeOrthoTriangle Region's team of skilled general surgeons, call 919-281-1723 or request an appointment . About EmergeOrthoTriangle Region: Since 1952, EmergeOrthoTriangle Region has provided comprehensive subspecialty orthopedic care to address various injuries and conditions. Our Triangle practices consist of 15 locations, including 13 Orthopedic Urgent Cares located in Apex, Brier Creek, Burlington, Chapel Hill, Durham, Dunn, Fuquay-Varina, Oxford, Southpoint, Smithfield, Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Wilson. MEDIA CONTACT: Annette Corona (919) 281-1820 [email protected] SOURCE EmergeOrtho, P.A. Acquisition of Bahia Project expected to supply the raw materials needed by the Company's US facility for the production of advanced rare earth materials used in EVs, clean energy, and defense technologies. LAKEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced acquisition (the "Closing") of seventeen (17) mineral concessions between the towns of Prado and Caravelas in the State of Bahia, Brazil totaling 15,089.71 hectares (approximately 37,300 acres or 58.3 square miles) (the "Bahia Project"). The Closing followed the Brazilian Government's approval of the transfers to Energy Fuels' wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary Energy Fuels Brazil, Ltda. At the Closing, the Company paid the mineral owners the remaining $21.9 million cash. As previously reported, the Bahia Project is a well-known heavy mineral sand ("HMS") deposit that has the potential to supply 3,000 10,000 metric tons ("MT") of natural monazite concentrate per year for decades to Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill in Utah (the "Mill") for processing into high-purity rare earth element ("REE") oxides and other materials. As used herein, the term "monazite concentrate" refers to an HMS concentrate containing roughly 80% to 90% monazite. While Energy Fuels' primary interest in acquiring the Bahia Project is the REE-bearing monazite, the Bahia Project is also expected to produce large quantities of high-quality titanium (ilmenite and rutile) and zirconium (zircon) minerals that are also in high demand. REE production is highly complementary to Energy Fuels' existing US-leading uranium business, as monazite and other major REE-bearing minerals naturally contain uranium that will be recovered and other impurities that will be removed at the Mill before further processing into advanced high-purity REE materials. 3,000 10,000 MT of monazite concentrate contains roughly 1,500 5,000 MT of total REE oxides ("TREO"), including 300 1,000 MT of neodymium-praseodymium ("NdPr") and significant commercial quantities of dysprosium ("Dy") and terbium ("Tb"). The Company is focused on monazite at the current time, as it has superior concentrations of these four (4) critical REEs compared to other REE-bearing minerals. These REE's are used in the powerful neodymium-iron-boron ("NdFeB") magnets that power the most efficient electric vehicles ("EV"), along with uses in other clean energy and defense technologies. For reference, a typical EV utilizes roughly one (1) to two (2) kilograms of NdPr oxide in its drivetrain. Based on this assumption, monazite concentrate from the Bahia project alone is expected to supply enough NdPr oxide to power 150,000 to 1 million EVs per year. The uranium contained in the monazite, which is expected to be comparable to typical Colorado Plateau uranium deposits, will also be recovered at the Mill. Update on Growing Monazite Supply Portfolio: The acquisition of the Bahia Project is a part of the Company's efforts to build a large and diverse book of monazite concentrate supply for its rapidly advancing REE processing business. The Company expects to procure monazite concentrates through Company-owned mines like the Bahia Project, joint ventures or other collaborations, and open market purchases, like the Company's current arrangement with The Chemours Company ("Chemours"). The Company is currently in advanced discussions with several additional current and future monazite producers around the world to supply Energy Fuels' initiative. Energy Fuels, through its White Mesa Mill in Utah, is currently the only U.S. company extracting REE's and producing commercial quantities of partially-separated mixed REE carbonate ("RE Carbonate"), which it extracts as a coproduct, along with its uranium production from monazite. This is the most advanced REE material being produced in the US today at scale, since it is a high-purity product ready for REE separation without further processing, refining or purification. The Company is currently selling all its RE Carbonate to a separation facility in Europe for further processing into advanced REE products further down the supply chain, including metals, alloys, and magnets. Though as discussed below, the Company is currently modifying and enhancing its existing circuits and facilities at the Mill with the expected ability to produce separated REE oxides (or oxalates) from these process streams starting as soon as later this year. The Company is also recovering the uranium that naturally occurs in monazite for use in carbon-free nuclear energy. Update on Ongoing Sonic Drilling Program at the Bahia Project: Prior to Closing on the Bahia Project, the Company commenced a sonic drilling program on the property to further define and quantify the HMS resource, particularly at depth. Under the previous owners, 3,300 vertical exploration auger holes were drilled on the property indicating significant concentrations of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon), and rare earth elements (monazite) at and near the surface. However, due to inherent limitations, historic augur drilling averaged only 5.7 meters in depth. Utilization of a sonic drill allows for relatively undisturbed collection of sediments both above and below the water table. The limited sonic drilling completed by Energy Fuels over the past few months is confirming that the mineral bearing sands are expected to continue at depth. The Company expects to finalize Phase 1 sonic drilling at the Bahia Project this month totaling 2,250 meters. Following drilling, the Company will begin sampling and sending the material to labs for testing, including metal assay, mineralogic characterization, and process testing. The Company plans to announce Phase 1 drilling results this year and start Phase 2 drilling in Q3-2023. Once data from both drill programs are available, the Company plans to engage industry leaders to calculate an initial mineral resource estimate for use in an S-K 1300 (US) compliant Initial Assessment and an NI 43-101 (Canada) compliant Technical Report. Update on Production of Separated NdPr Products at the White Mesa Mill & Plans for Future REE Separation: The Company is currently separating lanthanum ("La") and cerium ("Ce") from its commercial RE Carbonate stream utilizing existing Mill infrastructure to produce an RE Carbonate product with higher concentrations of NdPr and "heavy" REEs. Energy Fuels is also proceeding with the modification and enhancement of its infrastructure at the Mill ("Phase 1") to expand its "light" REE separation facilities to be capable of producing commercial quantities of separated NdPr oxide (or oxalate) by later this year or early 2024, followed by planned further enhancements to expand NdPr production capability ("Phase 2") and to produce separated Dy, Tb and potentially other REE materials in the future ("Phase 3") from monazite and potentially other REE-bearing process streams. Earlier this year, the Company began construction on its "Phase 1" REE separation facilities, which includes modifications and enhancements to the solvent extraction ("SX") circuits at the Mill. "Phase 1" is expected to have the capacity to process approximately 8,000 to 10,000 MT of monazite concentrates per year from the Mill's process streams, producing roughly 4,000 to 5,000 MT TREO, containing roughly 800 to 1,000 MT of recoverable separated NdPr oxide (or oxalate) per year. Because Energy Fuels is utilizing existing infrastructure at the Mill, "Phase 1" capital is expected to total only about $25 million. "Phase 1" is expected to be operational later this year or early 2024, subject to receipt of sufficient monazite supply and successful construction and commissioning. If these milestones are achieved, Energy Fuels believes it will be the 'first to the market' among US companies with commercial quantities of separated NdPr available to EV, renewable energy, and other companies for offtake. During "Phase 2", Energy Fuels expects to expand its NdPr separation capabilities, with an expected capacity to process roughly 15,000 to 30,000 MT of monazite concentrates per year and expected recovery of roughly 7,500 to 15,000 MT of TREO, containing roughly 1,500 to 3,000 MT of NdPr oxide per year, or sufficient NdPr for 750,000 to 3.0 million EVs per year. "Phase 2" is also expected to add a dedicated monazite "crack-and-leach" circuit to the Mill's existing leach circuits. Currently, the Mill is utilizing its main uranium processing circuits to process monazite and extract the REEs and uranium. A dedicated leach circuit will allow the Mill to simultaneously process monazite in the new dedicated circuit and to process other mined uranium and uranium/vanadium ores in the main circuit. The Company expects to complete "Phase 2" in 2026, subject to licensing, financing, and receipt of sufficient monazite feed. During "Phase 3", Energy Fuels expects to add "heavy" REE separation capabilities, including the production of Dy, Tb, and potentially other REE oxides and advanced materials. The Company will also evaluate the potential to produce La and Ce products. Monazite concentrates naturally contain higher concentrations of "heavy" REEs, including Dy and Tb, versus other REE-bearing ores, like bastnaesite, mainly due to the presence of another REE-bearing phosphate mineral called "xenotime." "Phase 3" is expected to enable Energy Fuels to produce separated Dy, Tb, and potentially other "light" and "heavy" products. The Company also expects to have additional "heavy" REE feedstock stockpiled from "Phase 1" and "Phase 2." During these earlier phases, the Company expects to produce NdPr oxide (or oxalate) and a samarium-plus ("Sm+") "heavy" REE concentrate, which the Company will either sell or stockpile as feed for "Phase 3" REE separation. For reference, the monazite concentrates the Company has analyzed to date contain roughly 1% to 3% Dy and Tb, so 10,000 MT of monazite concentrate contains roughly 100 to 300 MT of Dy and Tb. The Company expects to complete "Phase 3" in 2027, subject to licensing, financing, and receipt of sufficient feed. Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels stated: "Energy Fuels has achieved yet another important milestone for our expanding rare earth business through our acquisition of the Bahia Project. We look forward to further defining the heavy mineral sand resource through our sonic drilling program and moving forward toward mining in the most prospective areas of the project. Using conservative development and market assumptions, we expect to receive monazite concentrates from the Bahia Project at a very low cost within the next few years. By receiving monazite feeds from a variety of sources, including mineral projects that we own, like the Bahia Project, and open market purchases, like from Chemours and others, we expect to be a low-cost US producer of advanced REE materials. "As we continue to build our book of monazite supply through acquisitions of projects like Bahia and other transactions, we are also moving faster down the rare earth supply chain than any other U.S. company to produce more advanced rare earth materials at our White Mesa Mill in Utah. We are currently expanding our SX separation circuit at the Mill that is expected to enable us to commercially produce NdPr oxide or oxalate by later in 2023 or early 2024. NdPr is a key ingredient in permanent rare earth magnets used in EVs, wind energy, and defense technologies. Later in 2026 and 2027, we expect to increase the scale of our NdPr production and add 'heavy' REE separation capabilities, including the ability to produce Dy, Tb and potentially other products, subject to securing additional monazite supplies. "Of course, uranium production remains our core business, where we continue to make excellent progress on resuming production at our mines. As the largest US producer of uranium, Energy Fuels recently sold 300,000 pounds of uranium into the newly established strategic US uranium reserve where we earned total gross proceeds of $18.5 million, and we have nuclear utility contract deliveries beginning this year. We look forward to providing markets with further updates on both our REE and uranium business segments. "With our leading position as a uranium producer in the US, our US-leading vanadium production capability, our rapidly advancing US-leading REE production capability, and our evaluation of radioisotopes for use in emerging cancer treatment therapeutics, Energy Fuels is truly becoming a leading producer of critical minerals in the United States." ABOUT ENERGY FUELS Energy Fuels is a leading US-based critical minerals company. The Company mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced rare earth element ("REE") materials, including mixed REE carbonate, and plans to produce commercial quantities of separated REE oxides in the future. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado, near Denver, and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States. Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery ("ISR") Project in Wyoming. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil, which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com. Daniel Kapostasy, P.G., Director of Technical Services for Energy Fuels, is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying such disclosure. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in the United States and Canada. Forward-looking information may relate to future events or future performance of Energy Fuels. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, with respect to Energy Fuels' objectives and goals, as well as statements with respect to its beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, and intentions, are forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this discussion include, but are not limited to, the following: any expectation as to the concentrations or quantities of uranium and heavy minerals, including monazite, NdPr, Dy and Tb contained in the Bahia Project; any expectation as to the potential annual supply of monazite sands from the Bahia Project to the Mill, the contained MT of TREO per year, or the number of years or decades of such potential supply; any expectation as to the number of EVs that can be powered by NdPr oxide produced from the Bahia Project; any expectation that drilling results at the Bahia Project will confirm that the mineral bearing sands continue at depth; any expectation as to the timing and results of the Company's drilling program at the Bahia Project and the timing of any announcements relating to drilling results; any expectation that the Company will complete an S-K 1300 compliant Initial Assessment and an NI 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment relating to the Bahia Project and the timing of any such assessments; any expectation as to the timing of mining at the Bahia Project; any expectation as to the costs to the Company of monazite concentrates from the Bahia Project and the timing of receipt of any such concentrates; any expectation as to the Company's ability to build a large and diverse book of monazite concentrate supply; any expectation as to the Company's ability to rapidly advance its REE processing business; any expectation that the Company will produce separated REE oxides (or oxalates) from its Mill process streams starting as early as next year; any expectation that the Company will be a low-cost US producer of advanced REE material; any expectation that the Company will complete its Phase 1, Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 separation facilities on the time frames indicated, if at all; any expectation as to the expected throughput rates, production capability, REEs to be produced and capital and operating costs of such facilities; any expectation that the Company will be the first to the market among US companies with commercial quantities of separated NdPr available to EV, renewable energy and other companies for offtake; any expectation that monazite concentrates will naturally contain higher concentrations of "heavy" REEs, including Dy and Tb versus other REE-bearing ores, like bastnaesite; any expectation as to the Company's ability to produce radioisotopes needed for emerging cancer treatments on a commercial basis or at all; and any expectation that the Company will continue to be a leading US based uranium mining company and a leading producer of critical minerals in the United States. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: technical difficulties; mining or processing difficulties and upsets; licensing, permitting and regulatory delays; litigation risks; competition from others; political actions or instability in foreign countries; and market factors, including future demand for and prices realized from the sale of uranium, vanadium and REEs. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and Energy Fuels disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Energy Fuels assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law. SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc. NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ESG and stakeholder capitalism will have a meaningful and lasting impact on US corporate boards, according to a new study by The Conference Board. 68 percent of survey respondents believe that ESG will have a significant and durable impact on their boards, while 53 percent say the same about stakeholder capitalism. Released today, a suite of reports describes how the focus on ESG and multi-stakeholder interests is affecting boards, and provides forward-looking insights on how boards can: Incorporate ESG and stakeholder interests into their core business decisions; Adjust their composition, structure, and capabilities; Enhance the information that they receive and how they engage with stakeholders; and Improve how they evaluate the company's, senior management's, and their own performance. "We are at the outset of a sustainability transition of business, which overall may be as significant as the digital transition but will affect each company differently," said Paul Washington, co-author of the report and Executive Director of The Conference Board ESG Center. "Accordingly, as with any 'strategic inflection point,' the role of the board is changing and becoming more of a strategic partner with management in setting priorities and balancing the interests of multiple stakeholders. This does not require a shift in the line between board and management responsibilities, but does require a fresh look at board composition, structure, and capabilities." The reports by The Conference Board ESG Center were produced with Morrow Sodali and Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Included throughout are insights from a Working Group featuring more than 240 executives from 137 companies. Highlights include: Part 1: Implications of ESG and Stakeholder Capitalism for Boards Overall impact and outlook The focus on ESG and concern about the long-term welfare of stakeholders have already affected boards. Topics discussed: For virtually all boards (95 percent), ESG and stakeholder capitalism has affected topics discussed, according to Working Group participants. For virtually all boards (95 percent), ESG and stakeholder capitalism has affected discussed, according to Working Group participants. Factors considered in decision-making: For 52 percent, it has affected the factors the board considers in decision-making. For 52 percent, it has affected the the board considers in decision-making. Actual decisions: For 24 percent, it has affected the actual decisions they make. "Boards do not need to reinvent the wheel. They have long considered issues that now fall under the heading of ESG and have factored the well-being of employees, customers, and communities into their decision-making. Just as companies are integrating sustainability more deeply into their business, boards should evaluate how they can build ESG and stakeholder perspectives into existing board and governance processes," said Merel Spierings, co-author of the report and Researcher at The Conference Board ESG Center. Part 2: Board Composition and Capabilities While corporate proxy statements tend to emphasize the diversity of "hard" skills and experience of the board, the company and the board are well-served by having directors with certain attributes in common. These include a clear understanding of the role of a board, strategic business experience, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to "do the work": Boards should be especially cautious in recruiting directors whose views of sustainability were cemented at a time when it was a siloed discipline. Boards should be especially cautious in recruiting directors whose views of sustainability were cemented at a time when it was a siloed discipline. Having specialist directors can be counter-productive if the rest of the board defers to them too much: While companies may want to add directors with specialized experience in key areas such as HCM and cyber, generalist skills and attributes are more important. Committee Structure & Leadership The shifts toward ESG and stakeholder capitalism are affecting the board's committee structure and leadership. 84 percent of Russell 3000 companies currently disclose the assignment of some form of ESG responsibilities to the full board and/or one or more board committees. The Nominating and Governance committee leads the way in ESG responsibilities: This committee is also most likely to be responsible for climate-related topics and corporate political activity. This committee is also most likely to be responsible for climate-related topics and corporate political activity. However, this approach will likely evolve over time: While the Nominating and Governance committee currently leads the way, companies will continue to experiment with different approaches to address the shifts toward ESG and stakeholder capitalism. "As companies are thinking about the allocation of ESG responsibilities they will want to consider the responsibility for coordination as well," said Lyuba Goltser, Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges. "A benefit of allocating ESG responsibilities to several board committees is that each committee can dig deep into its assigned areas, but there are risks as well, including potential overlap in responsibilities, and the siloing of issues with individual committees. These risks need to be controlled and managed." Part 3: Board Information and Engagement The amount and quality of information on ESG and stakeholder expectations can be improved. 43 percent of Working Group respondents say boards typically receive too little information regarding ESG and stakeholder expectations; 39 percent say they receive just the right amount. None of the respondents indicate the board is receiving too much information. 48 percent of Working Group respondents say that the quality of information that's provided to the board is "just OK," while 43 percent say it is good. None say it is excellent. "In support of the greater board awareness and focus on ESG-related topics, keeping directors connected to stakeholder views requires a combination of consistently insightful and relevant information as well as direct board engagement," said Susan Choe, Head of US Corporate Governance & Sustainability, from Morrow Sodali. "When it comes to direct board engagement, companies can take several steps, in coordination with management, including having their board members directly engage with shareholders, meet formally and informally with employees, and serve on and meet alongside management with community advisory groups." Part 4: Board Evaluations of Corporate, Management, and Its Own Performance Boards are evaluating their company's performance in ESG and stakeholder relationships, but can do a better job. The boards' evaluations of ESG can be improved: 56 percent of Working Group respondents indicate that their board evaluates their company's ESG performance on at least an annual basis. But 48 percent of respondents think their board is doing only an OK job. 56 percent of Working Group respondents indicate that their board evaluates their company's ESG performance on at least an annual basis. But 48 percent of respondents think their board is doing only an job. Stakeholder relationships are discussed in a piecemeal way: 60 percent of Working Group respondents say the stakeholder relationships are discussed in a piecemeal way. Only 8 percent say the process to evaluate the company's relationships with stakeholders is comprehensive. 60 percent of Working Group respondents say the stakeholder relationships are discussed in a piecemeal way. Only 8 percent say the process to evaluate the company's relationships with stakeholders is comprehensive. It is important to ensure that there is alignment among the board's annual evaluations of the company's performance, management's performance, and the board's own performance in addressing key ESG topics. If an area is strategically important to the company, it should appear at all three levels of review. About The Conference Board ESG Center The Conference Board ESG Center serves as a resource, platform, and partner to help Member companies address their priorities in corporate governance, sustainability, and citizenship. www.conferenceboard.org/esg About The Conference Board The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conferenceboard.org About Morrow Sodali Morrow Sodali is a leading provider of strategic advice and shareholder services to corporate clients around the world. The firm provides corporate boards and executives with strategic advice and services relating to corporate governance, shareholder and bondholder communication and engagement, capital markets intelligence, proxy solicitation, shareholder activism and mergers and acquisitions. From headquarters in New York and London, and offices and partners in major capital markets, Morrow Sodali serves more than 700 corporate clients in 40 countries, including many of the world's largest multinational corporations. In addition to listed and private companies, its clients include mutual funds, ETFs, stock exchanges and membership associations. www.morrowsodali.com About Weil, Gotshal & Manges Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has provided legal services to the largest public companies, private equity firms and financial institutions for more than 90 years. Widely recognized by those covering the legal profession, Weil's lawyers regularly advise clients globally on their most complex Litigation, Corporate, Restructuring, and Tax and Benefits matters. With approximately 1,200 lawyers in offices around the globe, Weil has been a pioneer in establishing a geographic footprint that has allowed the Firm to partner with clients wherever they do business. www.weil.com SOURCE The Conference Board Lange Law Firm: Artificial Tears eye drops linked to one death, five reports of vision loss, dozens of infections nationwide TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As federal authorities widen a multistate investigation into antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial contamination linked to EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drops, a woman has now filed a federal lawsuit against EzriCare and retailer Walmart after using the eye drops and suffering a serious infection that resulted in injury. Prominent food and product safety attorney Jory Lange with The Lange Law Firm, who recently filed the first individual personal injury lawsuit related to this outbreak in Florida, filed this latest suit along with co-counsel Rachel Placitella of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, one of New Jersey's leading products liability lawyers. The plaintiff in this case is among more than 50 people across the country who have been infected with an antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One person has died, and there have been five reports of vision loss. "Our client's eyes became infected after she used EzriCare Artificial Tears sold by Walmart. After attacking her eyes, the infection spread to other parts of her body," said Jory Lange. "Her doctors are still trying to find the right combination of antibiotics to fight the antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection that she got from Ezricare eye drops." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert for healthcare providers and have advised consumers to stop using the product. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has posted a voluntary recall for two artificial tear brands EzriCare and Delsam Pharma for possible contamination. Cases have been reported in 12 states so far: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa originates from soil and water and can be spread person-to-person from contact with contaminated hands, equipment, or surfaces. The antibiotic-resistant bacteria can cause infections in the blood, lungs (pneumonia) or other parts of the body and is particularly dangerous in healthcare settings. The case is Ward v. EzriCare, LLC, EzriRx, LLC, Aru Pharma Inc., and Walmart, Inc., Case number 3:23-cv-00808, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. How The Lange Law Firm can help: Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by products contaminated with deadly bacteria. When corporations cause bacterial outbreaks, we use the law to hold them accountable. If you suspect that you have been infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa by EzriCare or Delsam Pharma eye drops and are interested in making a legal claim for compensation, we can help. Call us for a free no obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here. About the legal team: Jory Lange with The Lange Law Firm, PLLC is one of the nation's leading lawyers specializing in food and water safety, representing clients across the United States in bacterial outbreak cases ranging from Pseudomonas aeruginosa to E. coli, Salmonella, and Legionnaires' disease. Rachel Placitella with Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. handles complex litigation matters, including asbestos litigation, product liability and personal injury matters. She is an experienced litigator handling each case from early investigative stage through settlement or trial, and has a reputation for excellence, marked by her participation in a number of significant litigation cases. Media Contact: Jason Cunningham 800-559-4534 jason@androvett.com SOURCE The Lange Law Firm, PLLC The rise in demand for low-energy consumer electronics, rapid technological advancements in electronic devices, and increase in the use of flexible OLED screen in a variety of consumer electronics, including television displays, smartphones, and others drive the global flexible OLED market. PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Flexible OLED Market By Type (AMOLED, and PMOLED), Application (Smartphones and Tablets, Televisions, Laptops and Monitors, Wearables, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031", according to the report, the global flexible OLED industry was valued at $4.1 billion in 2021 and is estimated to generate $117.7 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 40.4% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chain, regional landscape, and competitive scenario. Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/7236 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities The rise in demand for low-energy consumer electronics, rapid technological advancements in electronic devices, and an increase in the use of flexible OLED screen in a variety of consumer electronics, including television displays, smartphones, smart watches, tablets, and others fuel the growth of the global flexible OLED market. However, high cost of manufacturing, lower performance, and low temperature tolerance of flexible OLED panels are likely to hinder the global market growth. On the other hand, advances in autonomous and electric vehicles and growing demand for smartphones with large displays and flexible design features will present new growth opportunities for the global flexible OLED market in the coming years. Report Coverage and Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $4.1 billion Market Size in 2031 $117.7 billion CAGR 40.4 % No. of Pages in Report 327 Segments Covered Type, Application, and Region Drivers Growing use of smartphones and new innovative products Opportunities Growing rivalry between OLED and LCD technology Restraints High manufacturing cost COVID-19 Scenario: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the flexible OLED market. Due to lockdowns in several countries, production and manufacturing facilities around the world were shut down due to labor shortages globally. In addition, the pandemic disrupted the global supply chain, creating a significant gap in the supply chain. The players operating in the industry faced challenges due to a lack of skilled specialists to develop flexible OLED solutions, which led to a reduced turnover during the period, 2020-2021. However, the market recovered after 2021 and will remain in the growth phase during the forecast period. The AMOLED segment to dominate the market during the forecast period Based on type, the AMOLED segment contributed to the largest share of nearly two-thirds of the global flexible OLED market in 2021, and is expected to rule the roost during the forecast period. The same segment is projected to witness the fastest CAGR of 41.02% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the increasing need for faster reference rates for better viewing angles and smoother interactions. Moreover, AMOLED technology can be easily integrated into displays of any size, which facilitates the application of flexible organic light-emitting diodes in various devices such as smartphones, TVs, monitors, and wearables. Moreover, due to its unique properties such as ultra-flexibility and shatter resistance, AMOLED technology is widely used in industrial applications and expected to drive revenue growth of the segment. The smartphones and tablets segment to maintain its leadership in terms of revenue during the forecast period Based on application, the smartphones and tablets segment held the largest share of more than one-third of the global flexible OLED market in 2021, and is expected to maintain a prominent revenue during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing adoption of flexible OLED in mobile phone and tablet screens due to its many advantages, such as excellent image quality and ultra-high contrast ratio; a wider range of colors; faster refresh rates; wide viewing angles; lighter, thinner, more durable compared to glass-based screens; and a foldable OLED screen. However, the laptops and monitors segment is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR of 41.35% in 2031. This is due to the need for portable and lightweight devices where flexible OLED displays are used to offer improved visual quality compared to traditional LCD displays as well as wider viewing angles, brighter colors and more. North America to garner the largest revenue by 2031 Based on region, the market in North America was the largest in 2021, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global flexible OLED market and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. This is due to the rising disposable incomes of consumers in the region that encourage them to purchase high-end electronics such as curved display televisions and luxury smartphones. Also, the demand for flexible OLED in the region is anticipated to increase due to rising corporate presence, which will increase the deployment of curved displays for multitasking by employees. However, the market in Asia-Pacific is likely to show the fastest CAGR of 42.39% during the forecast period. This is attributed to the presence of big companies such as Sony Group Corporation, LG Display, and Samsung Electronics in the region. Moreover, the launch of innovative products by these players and rapid growth of consumer electronics, especially in countries such as China, India, and Japan, are expected to boost the growth of the market. Interested to Procure the Data? Inquire Here (Get Full Insights in PDF - 327 Pages): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/7236 Leading Market Players: OSRAM GmbH. Sony Group Corporation Corning Inc. Universal Display Corporation Visionox Company LG Display Co., Ltd. BOE Technology UK Limited AU Optronics Corp Ritdisplay Corporation Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Key Benefits For Stakeholders: This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the flexible OLED market analysis from 2021 to 2031 to identify the prevailing flexible OLED market opportunities. The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities. Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network. In-depth analysis of the flexible OLED market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities. Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market. Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players. The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global flexible OLED market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies. Flexible OLED Market Key Segments: By Type: AMOLED PMOLED By Application: Smartphones and Tablets Televisions Laptops and Monitors Wearables Others By Region: North America (U.S., Canada , and Mexico ) (U.S., , and ) Europe (U.K., Germany , France , Italy , Spain , Russia , Netherlands , Belgium , Poland , and Rest of Europe ) (U.K., , , , , , , , , and Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Australia , Malaysia , Thailand , Philippines , Indonesia , and Rest of Asia-Pacific ) ( , , , , , , , , , and Rest of ) LAMEA ( Latin America , Middle East and Africa ) Buy this Research Report at Discounted Price @ https://bit.ly/3JY4iWu Trending Reports in Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount + COVID-19 Scenario): Display Market By Application (Smartphone and Tablet, Smart Wearable, Television and Digital Signage, PC and Laptop, Vehicle Display, and Others), Technology (OLED, QUANTUM DOT, LED, LCD, E-PAPER, Others), Industry Vertical (Healthcare, Consumer Electronics, BFSI, Retail, Military and Defense, Automotive, and Others), Display Type (Flat Panel Display, Flexible Panel Display, and Transparent Panel Display): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 3D Display Market By Type (Volumetric Display, Stereoscopic, and HMD), Technology (DLP RPTV, PDP, OLED, and LED), Access Method (Screen Based Display and Micro Display), and Application (TV, Smartphones, Monitor, Mobile Computing Devices, Projectors, HMD, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Flexible Electronics Market By Component (Flexible Display [OLED, E-paper, and LCD], Flexible Battery, Flexible Sensor [Bio Sensors, CMOS Hybrid Sensors, Photo Detectors, Piezo Resistive, and Others], Flexible Memory, and Flexible Photovoltaics) and Application (Consumer Electronics, Automotive, Medical & Healthcare, Energy & Power, Aerospace & Defense, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Organic LED Market By Product Type (Display and Lighting), Technology (PMOLED, AMOLED, Transparent OLED, Top-Emitting OLED, Foldable OLED, and White OLED) and End Use (Consumer Electronics, Automotive, Retail, Industrial, Commercial, Aerospace & Defense, Healthcare, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Interactive Display Market By Panel Type (Flat Panel, Flexible Panel, and Transparent Panel), Technology (OLED, LED, LCD, and QD), Screen Size (Less than 35", 35" to 60", and More than 60"), Application (Interactive Table, Interactive Monitor, Interactive Kiosk, Interactive Whiteboard, and Video Wall), and End User (Healthcare, Retail, BFSI, Military & Defense, Transportation, Education, and Other): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 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] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research HOUSTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Venus Aerospace welcomes Jim Bridenstine to its accomplished startup team. Venus is building the fastest reusable hypersonic drones and spaceplanes in the world to provide one-hour global flight that connects the world and makes it safer. Jim Bridenstine joins Venus Aerospace as an Advisor Tweet this Dr. Andrew Duggleby and Sassie Duggleby with Jim Bridenstine Jim Bridenstine Bridenstine served as the 13th administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a Member of Congress on the Armed Services Committee, and a Navy pilot. "I'm excited to be on the board of advisors for Venus Aerospace. We have been plowing through the atmosphere at Mach 0.7 for over 70 years. This not only wastes time, but it also costs too much money and places greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. It's time to disrupt the transportation business and Venus Aerospace has the talent to do it." Bridenstine goes on to say, "Now we're going above the atmosphere, at hypersonic speeds, to get from one side of the planet to the other in a much cleaner way. I'm so excited to be a part of this." "Jim brings a very unique perspective and capabilities from aviator to congressman to administrator," says CTO and co-founder Dr. Andrew Duggleby. "The thing that gets me most excited is his ability to jump in, understand the context, and know exactly where he can make an immediate difference." Since its incorporation in 2020, Venus has scaled quickly both in technical advances and milestones. The company raised a $20M Series A last spring to fund engine development and subscale initial flight testing. Venus is fast becoming a world leader in hypersonic development. The Houston based team just became the first company in the world to get room temperature storable liquid fuels to operate in a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) . RDRE is a dual use technology that enables high speed point-to-point travel and hypersonic defense applications at high altitudes above traditional aircraft. With this vantage point, Venus will avoid significant heating and will in turn provide short turnaround times and high reuse. "Jim has already provided incredible support for Venus since he joined our team. His willingness to dig in, make the connections that accelerate our development, or discuss strategy has been incredible. We're beyond excited to have him on team Venus as we advance our engine technologies and begin our flight test program," says Sassie Duggleby, CEO and co-founder. About Venus Aerospace Venus Aerospace is an early stage, deep tech company, founded by Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby and Dr. Andrew Duggleby. Venus is building the fastest reusable hypersonic spaceplanes and aircraft for one-hour global flight that connects the world and makes it safer. For more information, head to our website: www.venusaero.com . Contact: Stephanie Gracia Director of Communications [email protected] 832-225-8367 SOURCE Venus Aerospace NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GenNx360 Capital Partners announced today that ITsavvy LLC ("ITsavvy"), a provider of end-to-end technology solutions, has acquired INOC LLC ("INOC" or the "Company"). ITsavvy is a portfolio company of GenNx360 Capital Partners ("GenNx360"), a New York-based private equity firm investing in middle-market businesses. ITsavvy is an Addison, Illinois-based technology solutions provider that delivers frictionless IT experiences by leveraging the power of its partner ecosystem to design, develop and deliver technology infrastructure solutions that accelerate business outcomes on behalf of its clients. INOC, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, provides 24x7 Outsourced Network Operations Center ("NOC") Support and NOC Operations Consulting. Founded in 2000, INOC specializes in infrastructure support via NOC solutions designed to meet the specific needs of its clients' technology environments and operational workflows. Additionally, INOC is a vendor-certified managed service provider for several critical network OEMs. ITsavvy CEO Munu Gandhi said, "We are thrilled to welcome INOC and its ~200 colleagues to our firm. The cultural and strategic fit across our firms will create significant value for our colleagues, clients, and partners. INOC has built a strong reputation in the marketplace. Its AIOps-enabled Ops 3.0 platform is a solution designed to drive lower MTTR, higher availability, and greater client satisfaction. Prasad Ravi, Prasad Rao, and their team are thought leaders in designing, building, and operating NOCs. With the addition of INOC, ITsavvy will enhance our Intelligent Edge and Multi-Cloud solution capabilities, enabling us to accelerate time to value in delivering business outcomes for our clients." INOC CEO Prasad Ravi said, "INOC's commitment is to provide leading-edge NOC services. With investments in our next-generation AIOps NOC platform, we have reached an exciting stage in our evolution. With ITsavvy's expansive solutions portfolio and expertise in the broader infrastructure market, we can provide quicker technology innovations and better service scalability to clients globally." "This strategic combination is an excellent opportunity for both companies," said INOC President and COO, Prasad Rao. "Through our conversations with ITsavvy, it became clear that a partnership was highly synergistic and would allow both platforms to benefit greatly." Ron Blaylock, GenNx360 Founder, Managing Partner, and Chairman of the ITsavvy Board of Directors, noted, "The INOC acquisition hits at the core of ITsavvy's inorganic growth strategy, adding a technical service capability that is highly accretive to the overall platform." About INOC INOC is an ISO 27001:2013 certified 247 NOC and an award-winning global provider of NOC Lifecycle Solutions, including NOC support, optimization, design, and build services for enterprises, communications service providers, and OEMs. INOC solutions significantly improve the support provided to partners' and clients' customers and end users. INOC assesses internal NOC operations to improve efficiency and shorten response times, and provides best practices consulting to optimize, design, and build NOC operations, frameworks, and procedures. Proactive 247 NOC support is provided with several options, including North America, EU, or APAC only or global integrated NOCs. INOC's 247 staff provides a hands-on approach to incident resolution for technology infrastructure support. About ITsavvy ITsavvy is a provider of integrated IT products and technology solutions in the United States. Combining a comprehensive value-added reseller business with industry-leading IT solutions, ITsavvy is a single-source, end-to-end IT partner that strives to continuously deliver peace of mind to its clients. About GenNx360 Capital Partners GenNx360 Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on acquiring middle market businesses. GenNx360 partners with companies having proven and sustainable business models in expanding industries with the objective of implementing and supporting value-enhancing organic and inorganic initiatives to accelerate growth, deliver cost efficiencies, and generate strong financial returns. GenNx360 was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New York City. For more information on GenNx360 Capital Partners, please visit www.gennx360.com . For media inquiries about this press release, please contact: GenNx360 Capital Partners Carmen Rojas, Director of Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 212.257.6772 SOURCE GenNx360 Capital Partners DUBLIN, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Digital Respiratory Devices Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Smart Inhalers & Nebulizers, Sensors & Apps), by Indication, by Distribution Channel, by End-use, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global digital respiratory devices market size is expected to reach USD 304.3 billion by 2030, based on a new report. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 28.5% from 2022 to 2030. Companies Mentioned Cohero Health, Inc. Cognita Labs Adherium Limited Amiko Digital Health Limited Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Propeller Health Novartis AG Pneuma Respiratory, Inc. 3M Health Care Limited Health Care Limited Findair Sp. Z O.O. Airehealth, Inc. The market growth can be attributed to an increase in the number of people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis, and lung disorders. Moreover, COVID-19 has prompted a rise in the number of innovative digital devices and systems for respiratory and pulmonary care, which is driving the demand for digital respiratory devices. For instance, in March 2022, Brisbane-based ResApp informed about the positive data that it received from the Covid-19 instant screening test. The cough sound is used with the help of a smartphone to detect the presence of the Covid-19 virus in the new test. Furthermore, during the Covid-19 outbreak, several patients were unable to receive consultations and treatments in person. The pandemic demonstrated how serious respiratory illnesses and infections may become if not treated quickly and carefully. As a result of this, in the post-pandemic era, smart inhaler adoption is anticipated to increase as healthcare professionals turn to connected medical devices to ensure that patients receive the best care and consultation possible, regardless of the circumstance. Additionally, a growing number of technological advancements in the field of digital respiratory devices are scaling up the digital technologies into existing product portfolios to improve the efficiency of medication as well as the management of asthma and COPD. Moreover, recent studies conducted by research experts have shown that smart inhaler technology may be able to resolve this problem and offer patients a simple way to keep up treatment compliance and control symptoms. For example, a 2019 study from the Cleveland Clinic found that COPD patients utilizing Propeller smart inhalers had a significantly lower risk of being admitted to the hospital, with a nearly 35% drop in visits compared to the previous year (2020). Digital Respiratory Devices Market Report Highlights In 2021, the smart inhalers and nebulizers product segment held the largest revenue share of over 60.0% owing to the prevalence of asthma and other respiratory conditions rising in direct proportion to air pollution levels, which, in turn, drives the demand for smart inhalers and nebulizers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals in North America between the ages of 30 and 70 who use tobacco are around 14 percent and are more likely to die from any cause. It is thus anticipated that an increase in smokers and environmental pollution would increase the demand for nebulizers between the ages of 30 and 70 who use tobacco are around 14 percent and are more likely to die from any cause. It is thus anticipated that an increase in smokers and environmental pollution would increase the demand for nebulizers In 2021, the COPD indication segment held the largest revenue share of over 50.0%. The growth of the COPD segment can be attributed to people continuing to smoke and longer life expectancies The hospital pharmacies distribution channel segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 35.0% in 2021. The older population is regularly hospitalized in hospitals for various chronic respiratory illnesses, and they obtain medicine from hospital pharmacies for such conditions. Additionally, hospital pharmacies give medicinal supplies to healthcare professionals so that patients may easily obtain medications The online pharmacies distribution channel segment is anticipated to expand at a lucrative CAGR of 31.1% over the forecast period. The market growth is being favorably impacted by the quick expansion and modernization of the existing pharmacies to boost market penetration. Moreover, pharmacies are implementing a number of digitization initiatives to meet the rising customer demand and build a successful business model. For instance, CVS Health launched a program called Digital Transformation to use data, analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to customize the healthcare experience In 2021, the hospitals end-use segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 50.0%. The rising rates of chronic respiratory diseases among developing nations and the rising aging population suffering from asthma and COPD are contributing to the segment growth The homecare settings end-use segment is anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR of 29.5% over the forecast period. The rapid increase in the world's elderly population, the high incidence of cigarette use, urbanization, rising pollution levels, and changing lifestyles are all factors contributing to the rapid expansion of the market In 2021, North America dominated the market with a share of over 45.0% owing to increasing respiratory disorders among the senior population, new amendments in the government regulations such as favorable reimbursement rebates, and a well-established healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, a growing geriatric population in the U.S. is driving the burden of chronic respiratory disease, which is fueling the expansion of the regional market. For instance, over the next 40 years, the number of Americans 65 and older will more than double, reaching 80 million in 2040 dominated the market with a share of over 45.0% owing to increasing respiratory disorders among the senior population, new amendments in the government regulations such as favorable reimbursement rebates, and a well-established healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, a growing geriatric population in the U.S. is driving the burden of chronic respiratory disease, which is fueling the expansion of the regional market. For instance, over the next 40 years, the number of Americans 65 and older will more than double, reaching 80 million in 2040 Asia Pacific is projected to register a lucrative growth rate of 30.7% from 2022 to 2030. This growth can be attributed to the growing COPD and asthma incidence rates in China and India . In China , COPD positions first among the leading cause of disability and is a growing public health concern Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Report Scope and Objectives Chapter 2 Methodology Chapter 3 Executive Summary 3.1 Market Outlook 3.2 Segment Outlook 3.2.1 Product 3.2.2 Indication 3.2.3 Distribution Channel 3.2.4 End Use 3.2.5 Region 3.3 Competitive Insights 3.4 Digital Respiratory Devices Market Outlook, 2021 Chapter 4 Market Variables, Trends & Scope 4.1 Market Lineage Outlook 4.1.1 Parent Market Outlook 4.1.2 Ancillary Market Outlook 4.2 Digital Respiratory Devices Market Dynamics 4.2.1 Market Driver Analysis 4.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis 4.3 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Business Environment Analysis Tools 4.4 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping 4.5 Technology Trend Analysis 4.6 Regulatory Framework 4.7 Impact of COVID-19 on Digital Respiratory Devices Market Chapter 5 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Product Analysis 5.1 Digital Respiratory Devices Product Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 5.2 Digital Respiratory Devices Product Market: Segment Dashboard 5.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the Product Segment 5.3.1 Sensors And Apps 5.3.1.1 sensors And Apps Market, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 5.3.2 Smart Inhalers And Nebulizers 5.3.2.1 Smart inhalers and nebulizers market, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 6 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Indication Analysis 6.1 Digital Respiratory Devices Indication Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 6.2 Digital Respiratory Devices Indication Market: Segment Dashboard 6.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the Indication Segment 6.3.1 Asthma 6.3.1.1 Asthma market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) 6.3.2 COPD 6.3.2.1 COPD market, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 6.3.3 Others 6.3.3.1 Others market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 7 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Distribution Channel Analysis 7.1 Digital Respiratory Devices Distribution Channel Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 7.2 Digital Respiratory Devices Distribution Channel Market: Segment Dashboard 7.3 Market Size & Forecasts And Trend Analyses, 2017 To 2030 For The Distribution Channel 7.3.1 Hospitals Pharmacies 7.3.1.1 Hospitals Pharmacies Market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) 7.3.2 Retail Pharmacies 7.3.2.1 Retail Pharmacies Market, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 7.3.3 Online Pharmacies 7.3.3.1 Online pharmacies market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 8 Digital Respiratory Devices Type Market: END-USE Analysis 8.1 Digital Respiratory Devices Type Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 8.2 Digital Respiratory Devices End-Use Market: Segment Dashboard 8.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the End Use Segment 8.3.1 Hospitals 8.3.1.1 Hospitals Market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) 8.3.2 Homcare Settings 8.3.2.1 Homecare Settings Market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) 8.3.3 Other Settings 8.3.3.1 Other settings market, 2017- 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 9 Digital Respiratory Devices Market: Regional Analysis Chapter 10 Competitive Analysis 10.1 Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants 10.2 Company Profiles For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5pjjqm 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 SOURCE Research and Markets DESIGNATED NEWS RELEASE VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Gold Royalty Corp. ("Gold Royalty" or the "Company") (NYSE American: GROY) is pleased to announce an amended and restated credit agreement with the Bank of Montreal and the National Bank of Canada to expand its existing secured revolving credit facility by US$10 million to US$35 million. The expanded credit facility consists of a US$20 million secured revolving credit facility (the "Facility"), with an accordion feature providing for an additional US$15 million of availability (the "Accordion") subject to certain additional conditions. Andrew Gubbels, the Company's Chief Financial Officer commented: "We are pleased with the expansion of our existing revolving credit facility with the Bank of Montreal and the participation of a new lender, the National Bank of Canada. The attractive terms of the Facility provide additional flexibility and liquidity as we continue to grow our business through disciplined and accretive acquisitions." The Facility, secured against the assets of the Company, will be available for general corporate purposes, acquisitions and investments, and bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate plus a margin of 3.00% or Adjusted Term SOFR plus a margin of 4.00%, as applicable. The Facility will have a maturity date of March 31, 2025. The Facility is subject to conditions to advances thereunder customary for transactions of this nature. United Nations Global Compact Gold Royalty is pleased to announce that it has joined the United Nations Global Compact (the "UN Global Compact"), the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. Formed in 2000, the UN Global Compact comprises over 17,000 companies across 177 countries. As a participant, Gold Royalty has voluntarily committed to align its operations and strategy with the ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, and to take action to support the broader UN Global Compact goals, including its Sustainable Development Goals. The UN Global Compact provides members with a principle-based framework, best practices, resources and forum for discussion with a goal to strengthen corporate sustainability practices for the betterment of society. Joining the UN Global Compact is an important part of Gold Royalty's focus on sustainability in its strategy and operations. Gold Royalty also intends to publish its inaugural ESG and Sustainability report later in 2023. About Gold Royalty Corp. Gold Royalty Corp. is a gold-focused royalty company offering creative financing solutions to the metals and mining industry. Its mission is to invest in high-quality, sustainable, and responsible mining operations to build a diversified portfolio of precious metals royalty and streaming interests that generate superior long-term returns for our shareholders. Gold Royalty's diversified portfolio currently consists primarily of net smelter return royalties on gold properties located in the Americas. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information: Certain of the information contained in this news release constitutes 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws ("forward-looking statements") which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. Such statements can be generally identified by the use of terms such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "believe", "plans", "anticipate" or similar terms, and include statements relating to the Facility's expected impact on the Company's business and prospects. Forward-looking statements are based upon certain assumptions and other important factors, including assumptions relating to the timing of any additional advances under the Facility and the ability of the Company to exercise of the Accordion. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including, among others, risks related to the Company's ability to satisfy the conditions and covenants necessary to exercise the Accordion, and other factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2022 and its other publicly filed documents under its profiles at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE Gold Royalty Corp. Marketing Patented Beverage Technology CannaCap and Tyson 2.0 Heavyweight Drinks into Montana LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Good Mood Cannabis Kitchen, Inc., (GMCK) owner of the patented innovative drink delivery system - CannaCap, announced a partnership with the Yellowstoned Family of Companies (Yellowstoned), Montana's premier focused cannabis brand, to launch the portable and discreet CannaCap which stores flavored THC powder adding a THC BOOST to any drink, anytime, anywhere! "Yellowstoned is a forward-thinking Company with the highest quality standards, creating a perfect licensing partner for our innovative drink boosters," states Derek Hopkins, CEO of GMCK. CannaCap 100mg Tyson 2.0 THC Drink Boosters Licenses Technology with Montana Cannabis Partner Yellowstoned Dispensaries. Tweet this CannaCap 100 mg Heavyweight THC Drink Booster - Any Drink, Anywhere, Anytime! Danielle Kingston, Co-Founder and CEO of Yellowstoned adds, "Thanks to our new partners at CannaCap, Montana will experience TYSON 2.0's first cannabis beverage and a custom Yellowstoned CannaCap drink boosters in multiple flavors and doses." GMCK launched CannaCap in California last year with deliciously flavored 10mg and 100mg doses in its THC Drink Boosters. GMCK is successfully marketing its Tyson 2.0 drinks and licensing CannaCap to all legal medical marijuana markets in US states and globally. Kingston adds, "We believe the quality of your cannabis experience should be just as exceptional as the wild landscapes of Montana. With GMCK and Tyson, it's a knockout partnership. Our passion for delivering the finest products pairs nicely with Tyson's ethos and GMCK's innovation." About Good Mood Cannabis Kitchen Good Mood Cannabis Kitchen is dedicated to sustainable packaging with CannaCap 100% recyclable and soon produced using hemp resins as an alternate material. CannaCap continues to expand its multi-state operations with strategic regional and global partners. GMCK focuses on food science, water-soluble technology, and cannabis foods and beverages which fit the ethos of the GMCK brand. For licensing opportunities for Cannabis and Hemp, visit www.goodmoodcannabisktichen.com contact: Derek Hopkins 617-417-4807. About Yellowstoned Welcome to Yellowstoned, where premium cannabis meets the rugged beauty of Montana. Our passion for delivering the finest top genetic strains is evident in every product we make. That's why we strive to provide premium strains, ensuring that every experience is as elevated as the breathtaking views of the West. From our carefully crafted buds to our commitment to customer satisfaction, we strive to provide the ultimate cannabis experience. Visit our dispensary and see for yourself what sets Yellowstoned apart as we make Montana a great place to be Yellowstoned, www.yellowstonedmt.com. Media Inquiries: Derek Hopkins 617.417.4807 [email protected] SOURCE Good Mood Cannabis Kitchen Company Remy Martin and M&M's Fumble during the Big Game EVANSTON, Ill., Feb. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Google Pixel is the big winner in strategic ad rankings with their #FixedOnPixel spot in the 19th consecutive Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review. Other brands that earned top marks included Doritos and Kia, with T-Mobile, in particular, averaging a top rating based on both of their ad spots. Not all advertisers had a winning night, including Remy Martin and M&M's, which received low grades during this year's Super Bowl. The Kellogg School of Management Super Bowl Ad Review Winners and Losers Kellogg School of Management Ad Plan Framework "Google Pixel excelled at explaining their product benefits and value proposition all while keeping the consumer interested and engaged," said Derek Rucker, the Sandy & Morton Goldman professor of entrepreneurial studies in marketing and co-lead of the school's Ad Review. Overall, the panel saw many brands bring advertisements with a remarkably carefree tonality and a focus on nostalgic moments and characters, suggesting that a combination of comfort and emotional connection is what is resonating with consumers. "By and large, advertisers played it safe this year, sticking with broadly appealing themes. It's apparent advertisers are working hard to avoid very costly mistakes given the huge exposure of the Super Bowl," said Tim Calkins, clinical professor of marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and co-lead of the school's Ad Review. Companies honed in on celebrity partners to make their propositions come to life, with the likes of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez (Dunkin'), Bradley Cooper (T-Mobile), Serena Williams (Remy Martin and Michelob Ultra), and Kevin Hart (DraftKings) playing themselves, while Ben Stiller (Pepsi Zero Sugar) and Alicia Silverstone (Rakuten) made reference to their characters from Zoolander and Clueless. Google Pixel, this year's winner, featured Amy Schumer, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Doja Cat, all appearing as themselves. "Squarespace recovered this year with the help from popular actor Adam Driver, after multiple years of below-average results from our panel," said Rucker, "The advertisement clearly stated its brand distinction unlike previous years." Uber, who won the panel's top spot in 2022, returned this year to promote Uber One, a joint membership to bring together their ride-share and delivery services. The battle between electric vehicles continued as well, but this year between stereotypical gas-guzzlers (Jeep, Ram Trucks) whose spots intended to end the hesitation to adopt new EV technology. "A lot of money is on the line for any brand who advertises in the Super Bowl, and they put themselves in position to benefit from the exposure by bringing awareness to their product offerings," said Calkins. Some brands opted for bringing "double awareness" this year through the use of co-branded ads. Is it advantageous to one brand over the other? And is it worth the cost? "Partnerships are difficult to execute, and it is often not clear if the payoff is worth the complexity," continued Calkins, "PopCorners and GM's spot with Netflix, for example, performed very well for our panel." Beverage companies were back again as well, but this time with a new leader of the pack with advertisements from Heineken, Molson Coors, and Remy Martin the first time in three decades that alcohol brands not owned by Anheuser-Busch aired national spots after the Budweiser and Bud Light parent company gave up their exclusivity last June. "Molson Coors featuring Miller Lite, Coors Light, and Blue Moon in one spot was a clever way to ensure all their brands potentially benefit," said Rucker. M&M's advertisement with Maya Rudolph received low grades, failing on the company's weekslong leadup of "retiring" their famous "spokescandies" only to bring them back with this spot. "Their effort to connect the conversation around M&M's in the last month with this ad proved unsuccessful, resulting in negative results from the panel," said Calkins. The Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review uses a strategic academic framework known as ADPLAN to evaluate the strategic effectiveness of Super Bowl spots. The acronym helps viewers grade ads based on Attention, Distinction, Positioning, Linkage, Amplification and Net Equity. A full list of the rankings is available here. To learn more about the Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review, visit https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news-events/super-bowl.aspx. For more information about the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, visit www.kellogg.northwestern.edu Media Contact Haley Robinson [email protected] SOURCE Kellogg School of Management The Gotham Book Prize is awarded annually to the author of the best book set in or about New York City Previous winners include Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott (2022) and Deacon King Kong by James McBride (2021) NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gotham Book Prize, an annual award first created in the early months of the pandemic to encourage and honor writing about New York City, announced eleven finalists for the 2023 prize today. A jury made up of leading New Yorkers and authors will select the third annual winner in the coming months, who will be awarded a $50,000 prize this spring at an event at P&T Knitwear , a new independent bookstore on the Lower East Side. For the 2023 prize, the jury has selected as finalists : Activities of Daily Living , Lisa Hsiao Chen , An Honest Living , Dwyer Murphy , Big Girl , Mecca Jamilah Sullivan , Mecca Jamilah Sullivan Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta, James Hannaham Olga Dies Dreaming , Xochitl Gonzalez , Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion , Bushra Rehman , The Deceptions , Jill Bialosky , The Sewing Girl's Tale , John Wood Sweet , Stories from the Tenants Downstairs, Sidik Fofana Three Muses, Martha Anne Toll Trust, Hernan Diaz "There's no other city that has the diversity, vibrancy, and culture of New York, and the Gotham Book Prize is once again going to honor an author who has captured the remarkable character of our city," said Gotham Book Prize co-founders Bradley Tusk and Howard Wolfson. "While the darkest days of the pandemic are behind us, our cultural community is still recovering. By highlighting these eleven outstanding books and awarding one author a $50,000 prize, we hope to support and encourage even more writers to share the unique stories of our city in the years to come." The Gotham Book Prize was created in mid-2020 by Bradley Tusk the founder of P&T Knitwear and Howard Wolfson to recognize the culture that has made New York City special for generations and to uplift the creative community during the challenging early months of the pandemic. The Gotham Book Prize is awarded annually to the best book published that calendar year either fiction or nonfiction that either is about New York City or takes place in New York City. Deacon King Kong by James McBride was selected as the first annual Gotham Book Prize winner in April 2021. Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott was selected as the second winner in April 2022. This year, the jury will select one winner and the $50,000 prize will be awarded in spring 2023 at P&T Knitwear , where all of the finalist books can be purchased. The jury of leading New Yorkers and authors that will select the award's winner, include: Anna Akbari , writer, entrepreneur and sociologist , writer, entrepreneur and sociologist Ric Burns , documentarian and filmmaker , documentarian and filmmaker Stephanie Danler , novelist and memoirist , novelist and memoirist Dr. Christina Greer , Fordham University professor and political scientist , professor and political scientist Tom Healy , writer, poet and Director of the Curator Culture series at The Bass Museum , writer, poet and Director of the Curator Culture series at The Bass Museum Patricia Park , American University professor and novelist , professor and novelist Melissa Rivero , novelist , novelist Safiya Sinclair , poet , poet Bradley Tusk, CEO of Tusk Holdings and founder of P&T Knitwear Dennis Walcott , Queens Public Library CEO and former NYC Schools Chancellor , Queens Public Library CEO and former NYC Schools Chancellor Julie Wernersbach , General Manager of P&T Knitwear , General Manager of P&T Knitwear Howard Wolfson , Education program lead of Bloomberg Philanthropies Howard Wolfson works for Bloomberg Philanthropies, serving as its Education program lead and also runs former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Super PAC. Bradley Tusk is a venture capitalist, political strategist, philanthropist, and writer. The two became friends while working on Mayor Bloomberg's 2009 re-election campaign. In May 2022, Tusk opened a new independent bookstore and NYC's only free podcast studio, P&T Knitwear, on the Lower East Side, named after a 1950s garment shop operated by his grandfather on Allen Street after surviving the Holocaust and and immigrating from a displaced persons camp in Germany. For more information, please visit gothambookprize.org . Book images and graphics available here Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Gotham Book Prize Valued senior consultant elevated to leadership after years of service to the fundraising consulting firm NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Laura Stoffel McGarry has been appointed Chief Talent Officer at Graham-Pelton, a fundraising consulting firm for leading nonprofits worldwide. Laura will lead internal talent efforts and professional development, including the recruitment and onboarding of new employees. A member of the senior leadership team, she will also participate in growth planning for the firm. Laura Stoffel McGarry has been appointed Chief Talent Officer at Graham-Pelton, a leading fundraising consulting firm. Tweet this Laura Stoffel McGarry was named Chief Talent Officer at Graham-Pelton. A leader with extensive experience in talent development and innovation, as well as fundraising and relationship management, Laura shifts roles at Graham-Pelton after serving as a Vice President and advising clients in a consulting capacity. "Throughout my career, a consistent intersection with my fundraising expertise has been a focus on talent development. And throughout my years as a consultant and manager at Graham-Pelton, helping other people be successful whether they're a client or colleague has been most impactful as well as personally fulfilling," said Laura. Before joining Graham-Pelton, Laura most recently served as Associate Director, Leadership Gifts at Princeton University and Director of Young Alumni Philanthropy at Lehigh University. Throughout her career, she has consistently proven her ability to support people, be an ambitious thinker, and raise funds. She received her Master of Education in Counseling from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in History and German from Lehigh University. "I am driven by the curiosity I have in what makes people tick, connecting patterns that drive behavior, and acting from that whether it's identifying something that needs to change or simply understanding it so we can act accordingly," said Laura. "Growth is a fundamental principle at Graham-Pelton. Developing our talent is important not only to our growth, but to the growth of our clients and the fundraising industry." Growth is also what Graham-Pelton President Walt Edwards identified in Laura when they worked together on a variety of projects, including a webcast focused on talent management, the research and adoption of a talent management system, and a client engagement with Gonzaga University. "Since our introduction, I have witnessed Laura's passion for internal talent development and colleague growth," said Walt. "Additionally, I noted how her capacities, developed over many years of internal progress at Graham-Pelton, align with our objectives. I look forward to all that she will continue to bring to Graham-Pelton in her new capacity as Chief Talent Officer." About Graham-Pelton Graham-Pelton is the fundraising consulting firm chosen by leading nonprofit organizations worldwide. Our mission is clear: elevate philanthropy so nonprofits can flourish. Graham-Pelton is a member of Collegium, a broad system of best-in-class professional services firms exclusively serving nonprofits. For more information, visit grahampelton.com. If you would like more information about Graham-Pelton or the appointment of Ms. McGarry, please call Katie Rozycki at 1.800.608.7955 or email [email protected]. SOURCE Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc. 2023 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards honor leaders for effective solutions to pressing, high-profile challenges facing the state SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The James Irvine Foundation announced today the recipients of its 2023 Leadership Awards, honoring seven leaders from six organizations for advancing solutions to critical issues affecting millions of Californians: housing and homelessness, tribal sovereignty and family welfare, criminal justice reform, human rights, education, food insecurity, climate change, and economic justice. Each year, the Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations displaying a commitment to innovation and a record of success in improving people's lives, creating opportunity, and contributing to a better California. Each recipient's organization receives a $250,000 grant to support their work that benefits the people of California and merits expansion, replication, or policy support. The Foundation also helps recipients share their approaches with policymakers and practitioners. "The California Way means finding new solutions to big problems, and that's exactly what these leaders have demonstrated through their innovative work to tackle homelessness, climate change and other challenges facing our state," said California Governor Gavin Newsom. "Thank you to The James Irvine Foundation for its commitment to lifting up the impactful work of community leaders across our state to build a more vibrant, inclusive and resilient California." The 2023 Award recipients (see more information below) are: Chris Contreras , Chief Program Officer of Brilliant Corners, for helping people exit homelessness through rapid housing placements and supportive services Chief Program Officer of Brilliant Corners, for helping people exit homelessness through rapid housing placements and supportive services Saru Jayaraman , President of One Fair Wage , for improving pay and working conditions for Californians through advocacy, organizing, and shifting the narrative about the value of work , President of , for improving pay and working conditions for Californians through advocacy, organizing, and shifting the narrative about the value of work Blair Kreuzer and Delia Sharpe , current Co-Executive Director and founding Executive Director of California Tribal Families Coalition, for advancing tribal sovereignty by unifying tribes to protect their children and families , current Co-Executive Director and founding Executive Director of California Tribal Families Coalition, for advancing tribal sovereignty by unifying tribes to protect their children and families Maen Mahfoud , Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Replate, for addressing climate change by helping businesses donate surplus food and reduce waste , Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Replate, for addressing climate change by helping businesses donate surplus food and reduce waste Dorsey Nunn , Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, for fighting for dignity, freedom, and opportunity for people affected by incarceration , Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, for fighting for dignity, freedom, and opportunity for people affected by incarceration Linda Ventriglia-Navarrette , Ph.D., Director of Project Moving Forward, for transforming language and literacy education for early childhood English learners "These leaders are an inspiration for the work they have done - and for what they will continue to do to improve the lives of Californians," said Don Howard, President and CEO of The James Irvine Foundation. "The Award recipients are bold visionaries who are making a significant and demonstrable impact through their work. The Irvine Foundation is proud to lift up their leadership and support them as they tackle some of the most significant challenges facing our state." Howard and representatives of the Foundation will join California policymakers, Leadership Award recipient alumni, and elected officials to honor the Award recipients at a reception in Sacramento on February 13. Photos and video of the recipients are available here . The Irvine Foundation has honored more than 100 California leaders since the program began in 2006. Award recipients are chosen by an independent selection committee that reviews nominations based on several criteria, including the significance, effectiveness, and innovation of the leader's work. More detail about the work of this year's recipients is below. To learn more, please visit IrvineAwards.org . Chris Contreras is the Chief Program Officer of Brilliant Corners, which operates the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool (Flex Pool) in Los Angeles County. The Flex Pool is a first-of-its kind public-private partnership which pairs rental subsidies with tenancy supports and case management services to help the County's most vulnerable populations secure and maintain housing in a more coordinated and streamlined way. Since 2014, Contreras and Brilliant Corners have facilitated permanent supportive housing placements for roughly 10,500 formerly unhoused Angelenos through the Flex Pool. Saru Jayaraman is the President of One Fair Wage, an organization dedicated to raising wages, eliminating subminimum wages, and improving the working conditions of workers. When the pandemic struck, millions of people either lost their jobs or faced dangerous working conditions. Jayaraman jumped into action, raising $24 million in 4 months to support service workers and quickly mobilizing tens of thousands to help lead an emerging and unprecedented new worker rights movement. Currently, the organization is focused on its 25 by 250 Campaign, working on legislation in 25 states including California to raise wages to better reflect the rising cost of living and to end subminimum wages for millions of workers by the Country's 250th anniversary in 2026. Blair Kreuzer and Delia Sharpe are the current Co-Executive Director and Founding Executive Director of the California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC). Founded by tribal leaders in 2017, CTFC advocates for policy and statutory change on behalf of tribes, provides legal counsel for tribes in child welfare cases, and boosts the capacity of tribes to deliver their own child welfare and behavioral health services; all in the mission of protecting and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of tribal children and families. Since its inception, CTFC has successfully passed legislation, changed regulations, secured funding for tribes, and reduced barriers to protect Indian children and families and advance tribal sovereignty. Maen Mahfoud is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Replate, which is addressing climate change by helping businesses donate their surplus food to community organizations. Replate's technology helps businesses reduce waste by providing food recovery services and on-demand data insights that can be used to make smarter decisions about inventory, meal planning, and food distribution. These changes help businesses save money and time, reduce their environmental impact, and improve community relationships. Since 2016, Replate has helped 1,500 businesses divert over 3.6 million pounds of surplus food from the landfill to those who need it. This effort has also prevented the production of more than 3,600 tons of CO2 emissions that's equivalent to planting 59,526 trees and saved 985 million gallons of water which is the annual amount used by 12,300 households. Dorsey Nunn is the Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC), which aims to improve conditions for those who are incarcerated and enhance opportunities for people to rebuild their lives after release. Through its policy advocacy arm, All of Us Or None (AOUON), Nunn helps people who have been incarcerated to shape policies that affect them, fueling a civil rights movement for this constituency. By centering the voices and lived experiences of system-impacted people, LSPC and AOUON's organizing and advocacy has successfully changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Californians by ending long-term solitary confinements, improving conditions in correctional facilities, expanding access to housing and employment, and restoring voting rights to people on parole and probation. Linda Ventriglia-Navarrette, Ph.D. is the Project Director of Project Moving Forward, which accelerates language and literacy attainment for early childhood English learners. Navarrette pioneered the "RULE of 3" curriculum which includes three steps REHEARSE, ANALYZE, and PRODUCE and combines analytical thinking, hand gestures and movement, and peer interactions to build language and literacy skills. The approach is reinforced at the student's home with extensive digital content and an animated teacher that engages the entire family. A critical distinction of Navarrette's model is that students learn through analyzing and producing independent thought rather than through memorization alone. Now taught in over 800 classrooms, Navarrette's "RULE of 3" curriculum is significantly reducing student opportunity gaps across California and nationwide. About The James Irvine Foundation The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit, grantmaking foundation dedicated to expanding opportunities for the people of California. The Foundation's current focus is a California where all low-income workers have the power to advance economically. The Foundation provided $187.3 million in grants in 2022 to organizations in California. Since our founding in 1937, Irvine has made more than $2.4 billion in grants throughout the state. For more information about the Irvine Foundation, please visit our website at www.irvine.org . Contact: Yianni Kazanis 916.505.1891 [email protected] SOURCE The James Irvine Foundation First dosage administered at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania following FDA approval Elucirem has the highest relaxivity compared to other non-specific GBCAs (gadolinium-based contrast agents) 1 Elucirem requires only half the gadolinium dose of conventional non-specific GBCAs, addressing practitioners' concerns about gadolinium exposure. 2,3 PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Guerbet, a global leader in medical imaging with more than 30 years of experience in MRI, announced today the commercial launch and dosing of the first patient with Elucirem (gadopiclenol) injection following FDA approval in 2022. This next generation GBCA from Guerbet, highly stable macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA), has the highest relaxivity in its class for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and is indicated for use in adults and children aged 2 years and older.1,4 Elucirem requires only half the gadolinium dose of conventional non-specific GBCAs, addressing practitioners' concerns about gadolinium exposure.2,3 The first dosing took place at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. "As a leader in the field of GBCA-based MRI imaging agents, we are proud to mark the first usage of Elucirem. This milestone is the first of many for this novel new product, which has proven to be a promising step forward for the scientific and digital imaging community," said David Hale, Chief Executive Officer at Guerbet. Elucirem (Gadopiclenol) injection is used to detect and visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the central nervous system (brain, spine, and associated tissues) and the body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system).1 Guerbet received FDA approval of Elucirem (NDA 216986) on September 21, 2022 after priority review, a designation assigned to applications for drugs that provide significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions compared to available therapies.5 GBCAs improve the contrast between lesions and surrounding tissues by accelerating the relaxation of protons thanks to interaction with gadolinium atoms. Gadopiclenol, the active drug substance of Elucirem, has been designed to enable twice as much interaction, resulting in the highest relaxivity among all non-specific GBCAs.4 This allows use at half the conventional gadolinium dose to reveal high quality images. "Having the ability to use a lower dose of gadolinium, while seeing the diagnostic value and good tolerance during the MRI would be a significant improvement for the practice of neuroradiology," said the study's principal investigator, Dr. Laurie A. Loevner, Division Chief, Neuroradiology and Professor of Radiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Elucirem is manufactured by Liebel-Flarsheim Company LLC, a Guerbet Group company, in Raleigh, North Carolina. About Guerbet At Guerbet, we build lasting relationships so that we enable people to live better. That is our purpose. We are a global leader in medical imaging, offering a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and digital and AI solutions for diagnostic and interventional imaging. As pioneers in contrast products for over 95 years, with more than 2,600 employees worldwide, we continuously innovate and devote 8%-10% of our revenue to research and development in five centers in France, Israel, and the United States. Guerbet (GBT) is listed on Euronext Paris (segment B mid caps) and generated 732 million in revenue in 2021. For more information, please visit www.guerbet.com. About Gadopiclenol Gadopiclenol, initially invented by Guerbet with subsequent contribution of Bracco intellectual property, is a new macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) with high relaxivity. The efficacy and safety of Gadopiclenol have been evaluated in MRI of the central nervous system (brain, spine, and associated tissues) and the body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system) in adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older. (refer to the approved USPI for full information). Details on Phase III clinical trials are available on www.ClinicalTrials.gov: Efficacy and Safety of Gadopiclenol for Central Nervous System (CNS) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov Efficacy and Safety of Gadopiclenol for Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov Gadopiclenol is currently in the process of examination by the European Medicines Agency. About Guerbet and Bracco Imaging Collaboration Guerbet and Bracco Imaging entered in December 2021 into a worldwide collaboration on Gadopiclenol manufacturing and research and development. Through this global collaboration, Guerbet and Bracco will commercialize the product independently under different brand names. Both Guerbet and Bracco Imaging each own valuable intellectual property on Gadopiclenol. Furthermore, after an agreed transition period when Guerbet manufactures Gadopiclenol for both Guerbet and Bracco Imaging, both companies will manufacture Gadopiclenol active ingredient and finished product. Forward-looking statements This press release may contain statements of a forward-looking nature, based on assumptions and predictions made by the management of Guerbet group. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to marked differences between the future results, financial situation, development and performances of the company, and the estimates made here. These factors include those mentioned in the public reports of Guerbet, available on its website www.guerbet.com. The company assumes no responsibility whatsoever in relation to the updating of these forward-looking statements, or how they correspond to future events or developments. ELUCIREM (gadopiclenol) injection Important Safety Information WARNING: NEPHROGENIC SYSTEMIC FIBROSIS (NSF) See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs in these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrasted MRI or other modalities. The risk for NSF appears highest among patients with: Chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), or Acute kidney injury. Screen patients for acute kidney injury and other conditions that may reduce renal function. For patients at risk for chronically reduced renal function (for example, age >60 years, hypertension or diabetes), estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through laboratory testing. Indications and Usage ELUCIREM (gadopiclenol) injection is indicated in adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older for use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect and visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the central nervous system (brain, spine, and associated tissues), and the body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system). Contraindications History of hypersensitivity reactions to ELUCIREM Warnings and Precautions Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: GBCAs increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs among these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast MRI or other modalities. The GBCA-associated NSF risk appears highest for patients with chronic, severe kidney disease as well as patients with acute kidney injury. GBCAs increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs among these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast MRI or other modalities. The GBCA-associated NSF risk appears highest for patients with chronic, severe kidney disease as well as patients with acute kidney injury. Hypersensitivity Reactions: With GBCAs, serious hypersensitivity reactions have occurred. In most cases, initial symptoms occurred within minutes of GBCA administration and resolved with prompt emergency treatment. Before ELUCIREM administration, assess all patients for any history of a reaction to contrast media, bronchial asthma and/or allergic disorders. These patients may have an increased risk for a hypersensitivity reaction to ELUCIREM. With GBCAs, serious hypersensitivity reactions have occurred. In most cases, initial symptoms occurred within minutes of GBCA administration and resolved with prompt emergency treatment. Before ELUCIREM administration, assess all patients for any history of a reaction to contrast media, bronchial asthma and/or allergic disorders. These patients may have an increased risk for a hypersensitivity reaction to ELUCIREM. Gadolinium Retention: Gadolinium is retained for months or years in several organs. Linear GBCAs cause more retention than macrocyclic GBCAs. Consequences of gadolinium retention in the brain have not been established. Pathologic and clinical consequences of GBCA administration and retention in skin and other organs have been established in patients with impaired renal function. While clinical consequences of gadolinium retention have not been established in patients with normal renal function, certain patients might be at higher risk. These include patients requiring multiple lifetime doses, pregnant and pediatric patients, and patients with inflammatory conditions. Consider the retention characteristics of the agent when choosing a GBCA for these patients. Minimize repetitive GBCA imaging studies, particularly closely spaced studies when possible Gadolinium is retained for months or years in several organs. Linear GBCAs cause more retention than macrocyclic GBCAs. Consequences of gadolinium retention in the brain have not been established. Pathologic and clinical consequences of GBCA administration and retention in skin and other organs have been established in patients with impaired renal function. While clinical consequences of gadolinium retention have not been established in patients with normal renal function, certain patients might be at higher risk. These include patients requiring multiple lifetime doses, pregnant and pediatric patients, and patients with inflammatory conditions. Consider the retention characteristics of the agent when choosing a GBCA for these patients. Minimize repetitive GBCA imaging studies, particularly closely spaced studies when possible Acute Kidney Injury: In patients with chronically reduced renal function, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis has occurred with the use of GBCAs. The risk of acute kidney injury may increase with increasing dose of the contrast agent. Do not exceed the recommended dose. In patients with chronically reduced renal function, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis has occurred with the use of GBCAs. The risk of acute kidney injury may increase with increasing dose of the contrast agent. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Extravasation and Injection Site Reactions: Injection site reactions such as injection site pain have been reported in the clinical studies with ELUCIREM. Extravasation during ELUCIREM administration may result in tissue irritation. Ensure catheter and venous patency before the injection of ELUCIREM. Injection site reactions such as injection site pain have been reported in the clinical studies with ELUCIREM. Extravasation during ELUCIREM administration may result in tissue irritation. Ensure catheter and venous patency before the injection of ELUCIREM. Interference with Visualization of Lesions Visible with Non-Contrast MRI: As with any GBCA, ELUCIREM may impair the visualization of lesions seen on non-contrast MRI. Therefore, caution should be exercised when Gadopiclenol MRI scans are interpreted without a companion non-contrast MRI scan. Adverse Reactions: In clinical trials, the most frequent adverse reactions that occurred in > 0.2% of patients who received ELUCIREM included: injection site pain, headache, nausea, injection site warmth, injection site coldness, dizziness, and localized swelling. Adverse reactions that occurred with a frequency 0.2% in patients who received 0.05 mmol/kg BW ELUCIREM included: maculopapular rash, vomiting, worsened renal impairment, feeling hot, pyrexia, oral paresthesia, dysgeusia, diarrhea, pruritus, allergic dermatitis, erythema, injection site paresthesia, Cystatin C increase, and blood creatinine increase. Use in Specific Populations Pregnancy: GBCAs cross the human placenta and result in fetal exposure and gadolinium retention. There are no available data on ELUCIREM use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. GBCAs cross the human placenta and result in fetal exposure and gadolinium retention. There are no available data on ELUCIREM use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Lactation: There are no data on the presence of ELUCIREM in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, published lactation data on other GBCAs indicate that 0.01 to 0.04% of the maternal gadolinium dose is excreted in breast milk. There are no data on the presence of ELUCIREM in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, published lactation data on other GBCAs indicate that 0.01 to 0.04% of the maternal gadolinium dose is excreted in breast milk. Pediatric Use: The safety and effectiveness of ELUCIREM have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 2 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of ELUCIREM have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 2 years of age. Geriatric Use: This drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. This drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Renal Impairment: In patients with renal impairment, the exposure of gadopiclenol is increased compared to patients with normal renal function. This may increase the risk of adverse reactions such as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Avoid use of GBCAs among these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast MRI or other modalities. No dose adjustment of ELUCIREM is recommended for patients with renal impairment. ELUCIREM can be removed from the body by hemodialysis You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see the full Prescribing Information, including the patient Medication Guide, for additional important safety information. 1Elucirem [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Guerbet LLC; 2022 2Loevner LA, Kolumban B, Hutoczki G, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Gadopiclenol for Contrast-Enhanced MRI of the Central Nervous System: The PICTURE Randomized Clinical Trial. Investigative Radiology ():10.1097/RLI.0000000000000944, December 19, 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/RLI.0000000000000944 3Data on file (PROMISE trial. GDX-44-011) 4 Robic, C., Port, M., Rousseaux, O., Louguet, S., Fretellier, N., Catoen, S., Factor, C., Le Greneur, S., Medina, C., Bourrinet, P., Raynal, I., Idee, J. M., & Corot, C. (2019). Physicochemical and Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Gadopiclenol: A New Macrocyclic Gadolinium Chelate With High T1 Relaxivity. Investigative radiology, 54(8), 475484. https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0000000000000563 5 US FDA. Priority Review. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review/priority-review. Accessed August 22, 2022 Contacts: Guerbet Leeann Essai, Head of Marketing, North America 609-480-9850/ [email protected] Syneos Health Edie Elkinson, Media Relations 310-430-6838/ [email protected] SOURCE Guerbet NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the world's largest health and wellness network, Havas Health & You (HH&Y) is building on its creative momentum by appointing Alex Okada as CCO of Havas Lynx Group, one of its leading health communications agencies. Alex joined Havas Lynx Group on February 1st and will work closely with Lynx's newly appointed CEO Claire Knapp and HH&Y Global CCO Eric Weisberg to help architect the creative future of Lynx and drive impactful work for its global clients. Claire Knapp and Alex Okada Alex brings nearly 20 years of award-winning creative excellence to this role, during which he led creative work across 5 continents. His work has been internationally celebrated by Cannes Lions, Clio, the Effies, among many others. Most recently, he served as Executive Creative Director for International Accounts at MullenLowe, where he led creative work globally for brands like Bayer, Persil/OMO, Knorr, and lead the pitch wins of Bayer, AkzoNobel, Amazon Prime Video, and more recently Ferrero International. He has also held CCO level positions at Publicis, Leo Burnett, and McCann Erickson. "Havas Lynx Group is a powerhouse in health & wellness, and I'm thrilled to join the team in this exciting and growing category," said Alex Okada, CCO of Havas Lynx Group. "The creative opportunities and the chance to work side by side with this amazing, talented team is fantastic. I'm arriving with all my passion for creativity to help our people, culture, brands, and clients to thrive." "Alex brings unbelievable talent paired with the empathy, energy, and vision to nurse massive creative ideas and let them come alive. Every now and then, you meet someone, and it just clicks from the first moment it was clear that we had the same belief in what is possible and a shared approach in how to make it happen," said Claire Knapp, CEO of Havas Lynx Group. "Alex is a natural leader and will undoubtedly help elevate our work, nurturing our already award-winning talent to new levels. We couldn't be more excited for the impact Alex will bring for our people, our clients, and of course, our work." Alex's appointment comes on the heels of exponential growth for Havas Lynx Group, and its recent recognition as European Creative Pharma Agency of the Year at the London International Awards. Alongside this, most recently the agency was recognized for marketing effectiveness at the Effie Awards, picking up a silver accolade for Hidden Lifesavers a campaign which raised critical awareness of Naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. "Havas Lynx Group is already home to some of our industry's most brilliant thinking, but I'm psyched to see Alex bring this storied agency to the next level," said Eric Weisberg, HH&Y Global CCO. "As AI, data, content, and experiences transform human health, Alex stood out as a leader who embraces technology, media, and culture to build modern brands and improve lives." About Havas Health & You Havas Health & You unites Havas Life, Health4Brands (H4B), Lynx, Red Havas and Havas Health Plus, all wholly owned health and communications networks, with the consumer health businesses and practices of Havas Creative Group. The network's approach is centered around Human Purpose and has the talent, tenacity, and technology that health companies, brands and people need to thrive in today's world. For more information, go to www.HavasHealthandYou.com. SOURCE Havas Health & You NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the world's largest health and wellness network, Havas Health & You (HH&Y) is building on its creative momentum by appointing Alex Okada as CCO of Havas Lynx Group, one of its leading health communications agencies. Alex joined Havas Lynx Group on February 1st and will work closely with Lynx's newly appointed CEO Claire Knapp and HH&Y Global CCO Eric Weisberg to help architect the creative future of Lynx and drive impactful work for its global clients. Claire Knapp and Alex Okada Alex brings nearly 20 years of award-winning creative excellence to this role, during which he led creative work across 5 continents. His work has been internationally celebrated by Cannes Lions, Clio, the Effies, among many others. Most recently, he served as Executive Creative Director for International Accounts at MullenLowe, where he led creative work globally for brands like Bayer, Persil/OMO, Knorr, and lead the pitch wins of Bayer, AkzoNobel, Amazon Prime Video, and more recently Ferrero International. He has also held CCO level positions at Publicis, Leo Burnett, and McCann Erickson. "Havas Lynx Group is a powerhouse in health & wellness, and I'm thrilled to join the team in this exciting and growing category," said Alex Okada, CCO of Havas Lynx Group. "The creative opportunities and the chance to work side by side with this amazing, talented team is fantastic. I'm arriving with all my passion for creativity to help our people, culture, brands, and clients to thrive." "Alex brings unbelievable talent paired with the empathy, energy, and vision to nurse massive creative ideas and let them come alive. Every now and then, you meet someone, and it just clicks from the first moment it was clear that we had the same belief in what is possible and a shared approach in how to make it happen," said Claire Knapp, CEO of Havas Lynx Group. "Alex is a natural leader and will undoubtedly help elevate our work, nurturing our already award-winning talent to new levels. We couldn't be more excited for the impact Alex will bring for our people, our clients, and of course, our work." Alex's appointment comes on the heels of exponential growth for Havas Lynx Group, and its recent recognition as European Creative Pharma Agency of the Year at the London International Awards. Alongside this, most recently the agency was recognized for marketing effectiveness at the Effie Awards, picking up a silver accolade for Hidden Lifesavers a campaign which raised critical awareness of Naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. "Havas Lynx Group is already home to some of our industry's most brilliant thinking, but I'm psyched to see Alex bring this storied agency to the next level," said Eric Weisberg, HH&Y Global CCO. "As AI, data, content, and experiences transform human health, Alex stood out as a leader who embraces technology, media, and culture to build modern brands and improve lives." About Havas Health & You Havas Health & You unites Havas Life, Health4Brands (H4B), Lynx, Red Havas and Havas Health Plus, all wholly owned health and communications networks, with the consumer health businesses and practices of Havas Creative Group. The network's approach is centered around Human Purpose and has the talent, tenacity, and technology that health companies, brands and people need to thrive in today's world. For more information, go to www.HavasHealthandYou.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2000362/Havas_Health_Claire_Knapp_and_Alex_Okada.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1820144/HH_Y_Logo_Logo.jpg SOURCE Havas Health & You Company to Utilize its New Edison System with Advanced Imaging Features for Use in Kidney Tumors MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HistoSonics, (www.histosonics.com), the developer of a non-invasive platform and novel sonic beam therapy called histotripsy, announced today the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company sponsored #HOPE4KIDNEY Trial which is designed to evaluate the safety and technical success of the Edison System in targeting and destroying targeted primary renal tumors, completely non-invasively and without the need for incisions or needles. FDA approval of the #HOPE4KIDNEY IDE Trial comes after the company recently submitted results to the agency from their #HOPE4LIVER Trials where the studies met both primary endpoints of safety and efficacy in destroying targeted liver tumors. Example of HistoSonics technology targeting kidney tissue to be destroyed in a non-invasive histotripsy procedure. "We are very pleased with the FDA's approval of our #HOPE4KIDNEY Trial and appreciative of the agency's prompt review process. This approval represents a substantial milestone for our company as we continue to expand histotripsy and its potential benefits into diseases that impact the lives of so many people," commented Mike Blue, President and CEO of HistoSonics. Blue added, "We are excited to expand on our experiences in successfully targeting and treating in the liver using our enhanced Edison platform that combines advanced imaging and targeting capabilities with real time treatment monitoring. The kidney is a logical next application as treating in the kidney has very similar procedural and anatomical considerations as the liver, and Edison was specifically designed to treat anywhere in the abdomen, as a starting point. In addition, the prevalence of kidney disease remains high with many patients kept in active surveillance or watchful waiting." In the United States there are an estimated 600,000 people living with tumors of the kidney and renal pelvis with rates of new cases increasing since the 1990's. Current therapies such as partial nephrectomy and thermal ablation are invasive and exhibit complications from bleeding and infection that non-invasive histotripsy may avoid. While surgical intervention is the "gold standard" in removing kidney tumors, a non-invasive approach with histotripsy provides the potential to destroy targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted kidney tissue. Additionally, histotripsy's purely mechanical mechanism of cellular destruction could preserve function of the kidney's urine collecting system and eliminate certain complications seen with existing invasive approaches. HistoSonics' image guided sonic beam therapy system uses advanced imaging and proprietary sensing technology to deliver non-invasive, personalized treatments with precision and control. The science of histotripsy uses focused sound energy to produce controlled acoustic cavitation that mechanically destroys and liquifies targeted liver tissue at sub-cellular levels. The company believes that the novel mechanism of action of their proprietary technology provides significant advantages to patients, including the ability of the treatment site to recover and resorb quickly. Uniquely, the HistoSonics' platform also provides physicians the ability to monitor the destruction of tissue under continuous real-time visualization and control, unlike any modality that exists today. The Edison System is not currently available for sale. It is pending FDA review for a destruction of liver tissue indication. The #HOPE4KIDNEY trial is expected to support a future expansion of the indication to include the destruction of kidney tissue. About HistoSonics HistoSonics is a privately held medical device company developing a non-invasive platform and proprietary sonic beam therapy utilizing the science of histotripsy, a novel mechanism of action that uses focused ultrasound to mechanically destroy and liquify unwanted tissue and tumors. The company is currently focused on the continued development of its EdisonTM Platform, global clinical studies, and new strategic projects including future clinical applications and platforms. HistoSonics has offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Minneapolis, MN. For more information please visit: www.histosonics.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2000594/Kidney_Simulation_image_for_PR_v3.jpg SOURCE HistoSonics, Inc. Q4 2022 Purchase Further Establishes Horizon as Leading International Port Agency and Comprehensive Marine Logistics Company NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Air Freight announced today its recent acquisition of Transmarine Navigation Corporation, further establishing its leadership positions as an international port agency and customer-first logistics solution for ship owners, operators, and charters, making ports of call in North and South America. Horizon CEO Steve Leondis said the transaction was completed in Q4 2022. "In the spirit of Horizon and Transmarine, we began our partnership with a focus on our customers and the quality of our services," he said. "Now it is time to share the big news with the public. Our acquisition of Transmarine allows us to better coordinate critical services for our customers' vessels calling North and South America. Together, we'll get everything they need to their ports of call and manage all their in-port logistics too, all with our shared commitment to excellence in the service of our customers. It's a simpler and more streamlined solution for our clients, all provided by two companies the industry has trusted for generations." The combined services after the acquisition include: Best-in-class customer experience in agency for North and South America Best-in-class door-to-deck marine logistics solutions globally White-glove port call service with talent on board to ensure customer success Freight forwarding of spares, supplies, and equipment from any vendor worldwide Port call agency services at Transmarine's 12 served ports along the Gulf Coast, West Coast, Hawaii , and Argentina , and Spares and supplies consolidation at Horizon's 30 global warehouses Import and export documentation services Last-mile delivery services at any port of call Transmarine recently announced that Leslie Clements was stepping into the role of Managing Director, a position previously held by Jim Papp, who is assuming the role of Head of Strategic Ventures. Papp was instrumental in developing the partnership with Horizon. "After nearly 40 years at the company, I can confidently say that there has never been a more exciting time to be a part of Transmarine," Papp said. "A new ownership structure, combined with a great new leader in Leslie, will ensure that our best days are upon us. "It's an honor to continue Transmarine and Horizon's great work," Clements said. "The new visionary leadership team, alongside the legacy of producing results for our clients, is the perfect combination." Existing customers of Horizon and Transmarine can take advantage of the newly integrated services immediately by reaching out to their current account representatives. New customers can contact Horizon through haf.com or by calling 800-221-6028. About Horizon Air Freight Horizon Air Freight keeps fleets shipshape and on schedule with global marine logistics by air, land, and sea. Critical marine spares, supplies, and equipment from any vendor worldwide: consolidated, expedited, delivered door to deck. Whatever you need, wherever you need it, we'll get it there on time and on budget. With more than 50 years of experience, we keep more than 3,000 ships safe, able, and sailing. To learn more about how Horizon and Transmarine's combined services can help your fleet, call 800-221-6028 or visit haf.com. About Transmarine Founded in 1938, Transmarine is a leading U.S. tramp ship agency, headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with offices in a dozen port cities along the Gulf Coast, West Coast, and Hawaii. The most prestigious firms in the shipping industry trust Transmarine to manage their port call operations with safety and efficiency. To learn more visit www.transmarine.com. CONTACT: Jon Waterhouse [email protected] 678.770.9561 SOURCE Horizon Air Freight NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Fashion Week showcases international fashion designers twice a year. Global Fashion Collective (GFC) captivated the crowd with its designers' upcoming fall 2023 collections. With designers from Japan, Indonesia, Mozambique, Mexico, and Korea, the audience saw lots of diversity and creativity throughout the show. The first collective show began at 1 p.m.ET and was streamed live through GFC's social media channels. HEEYONGHEE Top left to right: HEEYONGHEE, HEEYONGHEE, NOLO. Bottom left to right: NOLO, NOLO, User-Defined X MALDITO HEEYONGHEE HEEYONGHeE's collection of women's wear was powerful to say the least. The collection was sexy and sophisticated with feminine details, yet still capturing a woman's strength and independence. It focused on reds, blacks, and whites and dabbled in a few other colors, earthy tones, and peppering in texture. Perfect for the metropolitan woman taking her from work to a hot night out. Designer Hee-yong Shin of the brand 'HEEYONGHeE' is a new fashion designer who made her debut by participating in New York Fashion Week. She was invited to attend NYFW by GFC after she posted her master's works for the graduate school of Hongik University Fashion Design on her website. As a designer and modelist, she independently conducts most of her experiments on pattern making and fabric development and gets her inspiration mainly from 'visual phenomena' and 'conceptual art.' 'Spatialism,' the first theme of 'HEEYONGHeE,' started from the concept of space that influenced minimalism. It is a collection that expresses slash, combination tucking, drilling, and holes. Instagram Link:https://www.instagram.com/heeyonghee_studio/ NOLO Nolo showcased a mix of adult and kids' New York-inspired streetwear with jewel tones, some whites, metallics, prints, and not to forget matching tops and bottoms. Luis Corrales, better known as Manolo, is the emergent head designer of NOLO Mx Brand based in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. With a basis in graphic and interior design, he started his career as a fashion designer in 2017 while in his late twenties after finding fashion design his true passion. He discovered his love for fashion after visiting New York, NY, and being inspired by the culture of absolute freedom of expression in the New York streetwear scene. Here he witnessed fashion used as a medium to reveal one's true self and convey intimate ideas. He started designing custom pieces for local professional actors, dancers, and musicians from the urban scene, as well as for universities' theatre and dance programs in and near Hermosillo, Sonora. Through fashion, he found an art form through which he could express himself in ways he always knew he wanted to. Manolo returned to Sonora, Mexico, with a hunger to learn everything there is to know about high fashion design. Soon, he began making and wearing his clothing, which often elicited questions like "Where did you get that?" from friends, family, and strangers. A month after Luis made his first piece, he produced for local buyers and collaborated with national artists. In December 2017, NOLO became a brand design. The first appearance of NOLO design in an international fashion event was in July 2018 at INTERMODA, an international fashion showcase in Mexico, and again in 2019. Then came an invitation to present at New York Fashion Week in February of 2020, where NOLO attended its first professional fashion show as an emergent designer presenting its Mexicanolo Collection. NOLO collaborated with the New York Based Sprayground brand in the same week. NOLO's online store is coming soon. Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/nolo.mx/?hl=en Website Link: http://nolomx.com/ User-Defined X MALDITO User-defined x Maldito delivered an impactful show. The aim of its presentation is social impact to raise questions on gender and sexuality amongst younger generations. Maldito is a multimedia project inviting a young community to engage with the main character of the eponymous Manga, released in 2022. MALDITO built the project as a totem of queer and camp culture, and we express ourselves through different physical and digital media such as fashion, illustration, porcelain, glassblowing, and NFTs. Through Maldito's love story, we aim to offer a lifestyle and raise questions on gender and sexuality amongst our young community. Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/eusoumaldito https://www.instagram.com/user_defined_nft/ Makeup by Claudia Trejo with New York Makeup Academy and Latina Glam using BULLY BLOCKER - full mineral based products on all models. Hair by Odete DaSilva using Goldwell and Varis @OdeteDailvahair @Goldwellus @VarisProHair For media, designer interviews and full photo link access please contact Monique Tatum at [email protected] . About Global Fashion Collective Launched in October 2017, Global Fashion Collective (GFC) is a platform led by a group of dynamic individuals who share the common goal of cultivating an inclusive and diverse fashion industry. Global Fashion Collective's mission is to accelerate designer development by producing innovative runway showcases globally in fashion capitals to increase international media visibility and expand new market opportunities for their show's participating designers. As the sister company to Vancouver Fashion Week, which has been producing shows since 2001, GFC works with a wide range of international designers at all runway shows. After showcasing in Paris, New York, and Tokyo, the Collective plans to expand its reach with upcoming shows in London and Milan for 2023. Global Fashion Collective aims to grow to be the industry leader in providing collective shows worldwide. Media contact: Monique Tatum [email protected] 8778417244 SOURCE Global Fashion Collective CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Obligees requiring physical bond copies with handwritten signatures are slowly becoming a thing of the past. With Jet Insurance Company's newly launched electronic signature service, principals can save time and money by letting Jet handle the bond filing. Jet Insurance Company's new process inserts the principal's online signature directly onto the bond form. After purchase, the digital bond form is ready to be filed with the obligee. The signature is time-stamped, records the signer's IP address, and contains Jet's unique identifying number. "Customers continually tell us our online process is incredibly fast and easy to use. From application to checkout, and ultimately filing the bond, Jet's online platform guides our customers every step of the way," says Omar Agha, Lead Underwriter at Jet Insurance Company. Electronic signatures are the latest in a host of new features launched by Jet Insurance Company within the last year, including Jet's exclusive "pay-as-you-go" subscription option and the application which helps principals find the correct bond, get a quote, and pay within minutes. Jet continuously works to bring new features that simplify the bonding process for principals and obligees. Jet Insurance Company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is currently licensed in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Jet is in the process of obtaining authorization to write surety and fidelity products in all 50 states. For more information, email [email protected] or visit https://jetsurety.com . SOURCE Jet Insurance Company Investment will Accelerate Company's Growth and Innovation NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KPS Capital Partners, LP ("KPS") announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling equity interest in Princess Yachts (Holdings) Limited, ("Princess Yachts" or the "Company"), a leading global manufacturer of luxury motor yachts. Existing stockholders will retain ownership in the Company. Completion of the transaction is expected in the first quarter of 2023 and is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals. Princess Yachts is a leading builder of luxury motor yachts and is recognized for its timeless design, hand-crafted quality and exceptional seakeeping. Headquartered in Plymouth, England, the Company's unparalleled level of vertical integration including on-site design, engineering and manufacturing has helped position Princess Yachts as one of Britain's most iconic luxury brands. Princess Yachts serves a global customer base through its best-in-class international dealer network. The Company has approximately 3,200 employees and operates five manufacturing facilities in Plymouth, England. Ryan Harrison, a Partner of KPS Mid-Cap Investments, said, "We are excited to make this significant investment in Princess Yachts, a leading company in the luxury global yachting industry with an iconic brand grounded in British tradition, a remarkable and growing product range and worldwide reputation for quality and innovation. KPS' investment will accelerate Princess' growth trajectory and fund numerous investments for its future. We look forward to working with Princess' existing stockholders, Chief Executive Officer Antony Sheriff, the senior leadership team and the talented employee base at Princess Yachts." Antony Sheriff, Chief Executive Officer of Princess Yachts, said, "We are thrilled to partner with KPS for this exciting new chapter for Princess Yachts. KPS and the Princess Yachts team are deeply committed to investing in the Company's future while continuing to further strengthen our portfolio of best-in-class motor yachts. With a current order book nearing a record $1 billion and many model lines sold into 2025, we have never been in a stronger commercial position. Together with KPS' tremendous track record of manufacturing excellence and investing in leading brands, we are now positioned to take Princess Yachts to the next level of industry leadership in quality and innovation. Under KPS' ownership, we will accelerate a range of growth and operational initiatives to build upon our long and successful history." Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel to KPS. Macquarie Capital and Latham & Watkins LLP served as financial advisor and legal counsel, respectively, to Princess Yachts. About Princess Yachts Princess Yachts is a leading builder of luxury motor yachts and is recognized for its timeless, understated design, unique craftsmanship and exceptional seakeeping. Headquartered in Plymouth, England, the Company's unparalleled level of vertical integration including on-site design, engineering and manufacturing has helped position Princess Yachts as one of Britain's most iconic luxury brands. Princess Yachts serves a global customer base through its best-in-class international dealer network. The Company has approximately 3,200 employees and operates five manufacturing facilities in Plymouth, England. For additional information, please visit www.princessyachts.com. About KPS Capital Partners KPS, through its affiliated management entities, is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of investment funds with over $14.4 billion of assets under management (as of September 30, 2022). For nearly three decades, the Partners of KPS have worked exclusively to realize significant capital appreciation by making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse array of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer, healthcare and luxury products, automotive parts, capital equipment and general manufacturing. KPS creates value for its investors by working constructively with talented management teams to make businesses better and generates investment returns by structurally improving the strategic position, competitiveness, and profitability of its portfolio companies, rather than primarily relying on financial leverage. The KPS Funds' portfolio companies have aggregate annual revenues of approximately $22.0 billion, operate 232 manufacturing facilities in 27 countries, and have approximately 53,000 employees, directly and through joint ventures worldwide. The KPS investment strategy and portfolio companies are described in detail at www.kpsfund.com. SOURCE KPS Capital Partners, LP Lilly offers its human insulin API at reduced price to IABL to support insulin production in Bangladesh INDIANAPOLIS and DHAKA, Bangladesh, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) will supply its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for human insulin at a reduced price to International Agencies (Bangladesh) Ltd. (IABL) in an effort to increase patient access and improve affordability for high-quality insulin for nearly one million people living with diabetes in Bangladesh by 2030. IABL will formulate, fill and finish human insulin vials and cartridges under its own trademark and brand name by 2025. The IABL-produced insulin will be exclusively for the Bangladesh market. "Lilly is committed to addressing the critical gaps in access to essential medicines for people living with diabetes in low- and middle-income countries," said Ilya Yuffa, president of Lilly International. "Through collaborations like this one with IABL, we are working to reduce barriers to access and ensure ongoing production and uninterrupted supply of insulin so that a greater number of patients can live healthier lives." Addressing the impact of diabetes has been at the heart of Lilly's purpose for more than a century. This is the second recent collaboration aimed at ensuring access to high quality, reduced cost insulin and improving diabetes care across the world. In December 2022, Lilly announced an agreement with EVA Pharma to enhance sustainable access to affordable insulin in 56 low- and middle-income countries, mostly in Africa. Both are part of Lilly's 30x30 initiative, which aims to improve access to quality healthcare for 30 million people living in limited-resource settings, annually, by 2030. These collaborations are in line with the private sector asks in the World Health Organization's Global Diabetes Compact, a global initiative to support countries in implementing effective programs for the prevention and management of diabetes. Today, people with diabetes can also access more than 150 Lilly patient support programs across 51 countries, reaching close to two million people each year. "We are very pleased that Lilly has made their world-class insulin crystals available to IABL so that we can manufacture and supply the highest quality insulin to people living with diabetes in Bangladesh," said Mr. Swapan Kumar Modak, managing director and CEO of IABL. "Local manufacturing of human insulins will help meet the insulin demand in Bangladesh and reduce the cost of diabetes treatment and disease complications." According to the IDF Diabetes Atlas, 13.1 million people are living with diabetes in Bangladesh and this number is expected to increase to about 22.3 million by 2045. Through the Lilly 30x30 initiative, Lilly is active in Bangladesh in additional capacities, including nonprofit collaborations to help improve health outcomes for children and adolescents living with chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and to provide high-quality diabetes care and treatment for children with type 1 diabetes. "This agreement has a remarkable potential to reach more patients with locally manufactured human insulins using Lilly's API and augment the company's Lilly 30X30 vision to transform communities and make life better for people around the world," said Vineet Gupta, associate vice president and managing director of Lilly India and alliances. "As a company, Lilly remains committed to delivering breakthrough outcomes for people with diabetes, including in resource-limited settings." About Lilly Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 47 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/newsroom or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. I-LLY About IABL International Agencies (Bangladesh) Ltd. (IABL) group is one of the largest healthcare providers in Bangladesh. IABL group (Established in 1977) has a long & strong heritage of 44 years in healthcare sector of Bangladesh including diabetes. More than 44 years later, we remain committed to compliance & ethics through every aspect of our business and the people we serve starting with those who take our medicines and extending to health care professionals, employees, and the communities in which we live. IABL group is marketing several lifesaving drugs in Bangladesh to serve the community. Our prime objective is to serve the nation. We harness healthcare trends continuously offering innovative, convenient, and safe products for all customers. IABL group has represented many multinationals in Bangladesh like Sclavo Diagnostics, Novo Nordisk, Swiss Serum & Vaccine Institute, Smith & Nephew (UK). Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about a collaboration between Lilly and IABL and its potential benefits and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any such undertaking, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development and commercialization. Among other things, there can be no guarantee that Lilly will realize the expected benefits of the collaboration, that the collaboration will succeed, or that Lilly will execute its strategy as expected. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company; IABL The event helped families and individuals connect with local organizations that provide nutrition assistance, health services and educational programs. Additional photos available upon request. MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Avenue Capital (LAC), a mission-driven affordable housing company, hosted a Family Resource Day event for residents at Santa Clara I & II Apartments, which provide quality, affordable homes for lower-income families in the Miami area. "Our Family Resource Days are an important opportunity for Lincoln Avenue Capital's residents to discover and access local resources and connect with groups in their community," said LAC CEO Jeremy Bronfman. "We are proud to partner with nonprofits and service providers in Miami to help us enrich our residents' lives." "At Lincoln Avenue Capital, we believe a quality, affordable home is the building block of a better future." Tweet this Photo courtesy of Lincoln Avenue Capital. Santa Clara residents met with representatives of local service providers including Catalyst Miami, The Honeycomb House, Jessie Trice Community Health System, Miami-Dade Head Start/Early Head Start, YMCA of Miami, Affirming Youth, LTHYOC, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and the Divine Empowerment Resource Center. These groups provide assistance with health care, nutrition and wellness, early education, emergency services, and other programs and benefits. Residents also enjoyed complimentary meals from a local food truck and engaged in outdoor activities. "At Lincoln Avenue Capital, we believe a quality, affordable home is the building block of a better future," said Rebecca Schultz, LAC Vice President of Asset Management. "We take pride in supporting the overall health of our residents at Santa Clara I & II Apartments and our other communities across the nation." LAC regularly hosts Family Resource Days at properties across its nationwide portfolio for residents to engage with service organizations, participate in outdoor activities, and enjoy local food options. About LAC: Lincoln Avenue Capital is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for low- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. LAC is a mission-driven organization that serves residents across 22 states, with a portfolio of 117 properties comprising 20,000+ units. SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Capital BOSTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from Mondly by Pearson, the app teaching over 100 million people around the world how to learn a new language, has revealed that nearly half of Massachusetts residents are creatively finding a new way to say 'I love you' this Valentine's Day by learning a romantic phrase in a new language. In fact, for Valentine's Day, 33% of Massachusetts residents have expressed the desire to learn French, followed by Italian (25%) followed by Spanish (24%), to say a romantic phrase to their partner. Language of Love This Valentine's Day And it's not just Valentine's Day that is inspiring language learning. Massachusetts residents are also developing new language skills to communicate better with their significant others and strengthen their relationships. The study found that: Of the 19% of Massachusetts residents who say they are dating someone who speaks another language, 66% are actively trying to learn the language their partner speaks residents who say they are dating someone who speaks another language, 66% are actively trying to learn the language their partner speaks And this is true for both genders with 69% of Massachusetts males and 63% of Massachusetts females learning how to speak new languages for love. males and 63% of females learning how to speak new languages for love. Across generational divides, the motivation is far stronger for Massachusetts Millennials with 74% actively trying to learn their partner's language. This is all part of a wider commitment to Massachusetts residents focusing on their self-improvement in 2023. Surprisingly, learning a new language is among the top four things Massachusetts residents want to do to improve their lives this year, behind only focusing on their finances, prioritizing their health, and cleaning up clutter. This comes as 30% of Massachusetts residents feel uninformed and uneducated by not knowing more languages and 30% say they feel isolated when other languages are being spoken around them. As a result, 61% of Massachusetts residents are learning languages to feel more knowledgeable while 34% are developing these skills to bridge cultural gaps. "Learning a new language has always been a transformative way for people to express themselves and form new connections with others," said Alex Iliescu, Co-founder and CEO of Mondly by Pearson. "The results of the study prove that now more than ever, people want to learn languages to strengthen their relationships, improve themselves, and find love. Mondly by Pearson wants to help people make these connections by offering unique language tools and immersive learning experiences that engage their minds and transform their lives." This Valentine's Day, Mondly by Pearson is helping you find your love language by offering a lifetime membership for only $89.99. Available here! The study was conducted in partnership with Morning Consult from January 1 January 12, 2023, and polled 1000 adults that speak or are interested in learning another language in Massachusetts. To learn more about Mondly by Pearson and kick-start your language-learning journey, visit https://www.mondly.com/ About Mondly by Pearson Being named "App of the Year" by Facebook, "Best New App" by Apple, and "Editors' Choice" by Google Play, Mondly is a leading language learning platform with 100 million learners worldwide. Launched in 2014, it quickly became a leading app in the mobile space, reaching the #1 position in Education in most European countries, LATAM and Asia. According to Statista, Mondly is currently in the Top 5 language learning apps worldwide by number of downloads. About Pearson: At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That's why our c.20,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world's leading learning company, serving customers in c.200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. Visit us at pearsonplc.com MC: Joe Wiggins, [email protected] SOURCE Pearson MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark E. Kutner, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Top Pinnacle Professional as an Internist and Pulmonologist and for his contributions to the healthcare field. Dr. Kutner earned a medical degree from the SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine in 1983. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 1986 and completed fellowship training in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Medical Center in 1988. The doctor is board-certified in both pulmonary disease and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). According to Dr. Kutner, the ABIM is a physician-led non-profit independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world. Dr. Kutner works with PrimeHealth Physicians and serves patients at his office in Miami, FL. The doctor notes that the mission of PrimeHealth Physicians is to proactively meet the primary care needs of the patients in their community as the healthcare environment undergoes tremendous change. PrimeHealth Physicians deliver coordinated and high-quality services cost-effectively by partnering directly with third-party insurers and other healthcare service providers including home health agencies diagnostic centers pharmacies and hospitals. Dr. Kutner has been in practice since 1988 and has been with PrimeHealth Physicians since its inception about nine years ago. He explains that pulmonology is a medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory tract. According to Dr. Kutner, a pulmonologist is an internal medicine physician who specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions and diseases that affect the lungs, bronchial tubes, and the respiratory system, including the nose, pharynx, and throat. Dr. Kutner has been recognized as the Patients' Choice Award (2020, 2018); Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2020, 2018); On-Time Doctor Award (2020); and the Coral Gables Magazine Top Doctor Award (2019), as well as a Vitals Preferred Provider. Dr. Kutner chose to pursue healthcare as his profession even though he comes from a family who works in the finance industry. He notes that he focuses more on internal medicine these days rather than pulmonology. The doctor credits his success to hard work and not taking any shortcuts. In his spare time, the doctor enjoys boating, fishing, scuba diving, and going on cruises. For more information, visit www.phpmds.com. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Two great Italian names join forces to promote quality, innovation and sustainability TRIESTE, Italy, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The iconic chef Massimo Bottura - holder of three Michelin Stars and a world-renowned pioneer of taste - has joined forces with illycaffe, a leader in sustainable high-quality coffee. Starting from January 2023, Massimo is an international ambassador for the illy Chef Ambassador project, dedicated to showcasing the uniqueness of the illy blend within the high-end world of cuisine. Massimo Bottura is illycaffe's new Chef Ambassador The project involves creating a bespoke, custom coffee blend for a select handful of Michelin Star chefs. And it is now the turn of Massimo Bottura to come up with his very own bespoke coffee, following in the footsteps of Niko Romito, Viki Geunes, Antonia Klugmann, Ciccio Sultano, Rupert Blease, Felipe Rodrigues and other names from the international fine dining scene. Massimo Bottura's variation on a theme will be based on the nine ingredients that make up the unique illy blend, tweaked with different quantities and proportions according to his own style, sensory preferences and of course, the most important factor of all, taste. The final outcome was achieved using the Personal Blender (a machine patented by illy the prototype was launched in the Coffee Cluster at Expo Milan 2015) with the contribution of tutors from the Universita del Caffe. It will be offered as a unique experience at the end of a tasting menu to customers of the Osteria Francescana, the Casa Maria Luigia guesthouse, the bistrot Franceschetta58 and the Cavallino restaurant. "We are delighted to start the new year with this prestigious partnership with a big Italian name like Massimo Bottura. He is one of the most innovative and successful masters of taste in the world and shares illycaffe's core values of innovation, sustainability and absolute quality" commented Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffe. "This is a great opportunity to promote our coffee culture in the world of haute cuisine, perpetuating a virtuous cycle of sustainable quality". "Cooking is about quality and that is as much about ideas as ingredients. Every Famiglia Francescana menu focuses on the way ideas take shape, inspired by culture and motivated now more than ever by social choices. Illy's philosophy is based on values we share and firmly believe in, combining creativity and quality with a sustainable approach to food" says Massimo Bottura. In 2021, illycaffe was the first Italian company in its sector to obtain B Corp certification. This was an outstanding achievement but also a launch pad, as demonstrated by this prestigious partnership with the Michelin Star chef Massimo Bottura. Massimo has also been awarded the Michelin Green Star, the Michelin Guide award that illy supports in Europe and the United States, given to chefs who are best in class when it comes to sustainable practices. With this in mind, the illy Chef Ambassador project has recently undergone a radical shift in direction, in a desire to involve haute cuisine professionals with whom illycaffe shares the same values of sustainability and absolute quality: the sustainable chefs, recognised by the Michelin Guide and awarded the Green Star, and the illy Masters of Excellence, i.e. the great Michelin Star chefs. Learn more about the illy Chef Ambassador program: https://www.illy.com/chefambassador About illycaffe illycaffe is an Italian family-owned company, founded in Trieste in 1933. Its mission has always been to offer the best coffee to the world. Illycaffe produces a unique 100% Arabica blend, combining 9 of the best varieties in the world, selected by illycaffe: every day 8 million cups of illy coffee are served in over 140 countries around the globe, in the cafes, restaurants and hotels, in single-brand cafes and shops, at home and in the office. As a result of its innovations, illycaffe contributes to the coffee technology progress at global level. In 1991, the "Premio Ernesto Illy de qualidade sustentavel do cafe para espresso" was launched in Brazil for quality espresso coffee. Illycaffe has contributed to the sharing of the know-how, paying growers a premium price for the best quality selected by illycaffe. Since 2016, with the "Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award", the company has celebrated coffee growers all over the world that, according to illy, have produced the best sustainable coffee. Since 2013, the company has been in the list of the World Most Ethical Companies. In 2019, it enhanced its commitment to pursue a sustainable business model integrating the interest of people with the environment, adopting the status of Societa Benefit (Benefit Company) and adding this commitment into its own bylaws. In 2021, illycaffe was the first Italian company in the coffee sector to obtain the international certification as B Corp as a result of its commitment to comply with the highest standards of social and environmental performance. The company also founded the University of Coffee, which has the objective of sharing culture at all levels, offering a comprehensive and practical training to growers, baristas and coffee lovers. Everything that is "made in illy" is about beauty and art, the founding principles of the brand, starting from its logo, designed by artist James Rosenquist, up to illy Art Collection cups, decorated by over 120 international artists. In 2021, the company had 1305 employees and a turnover of about 500 million. There are 205 illy single-brand shops in over 40 countries all over the world. In 2021, Rhone Capital became a minority shareholder of illycaffe with the aim of contributing to the company's international growth plans. SOURCE illycaffe Institutions Receive Critical Funding to Create and Support Curatorial Positions with Expertise in Latinx Art NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mellon, Ford, Getty, and Terra Foundations today announced Advancing Latinx Art in Museums (ALAM) the new initiative represents the second phase of a multi-year funding collaboration seeking to nurture and prioritize US Latinx art. The funding partners have committed a combined $5 million to the initiative, which will provide ten grants of $500,000 to institutions in support of the creation and formalization of ten permanent early and mid-career curatorial positions with expertise in Latinx art. Latinx artistscreatives of Latin American or Caribbean descent who live and work in the UShave made significant and vital contributions to American culture for generations. ALAM is a collaborative initiative that aims to bolster museums and visual art organizations that have shown a commitment to collecting, studying, exhibiting, and engaging with Latinx art and artists by ensuring they have the capacity to employ specialist curators. Funding will support the hiring of five new curators and the promotion of five curatorial staff into permanent roles at institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico. The grant program will also include opportunities to enhance and grow the existing community of curators with expertise in Latinx art, connecting the individuals supported at each participating institution to each other and to a wider circle of museum professionals working in this space. "The deep knowledge and understanding of Latinx art these ten curators hold comes from rigorous expertise and commitment to the creative expression of Latinx communities in the United States and Puerto Rico," said Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Mellon Foundation. "Through ALAM we are proud to help expand opportunities for Latinx art curatorship across the country, and to do our part in upholding the centrality of this work in our museums and arts organizations." "We need to invest more if we want Latinx art to be more broadly represented in our museums, with dedicated curators who can focus exclusively on building and stewarding these collections," urges Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty Foundation. "ALAM is a decisive next step made possible through collaborative funding." "We are beyond thrilled to be selected as it represents a milestone for our institution to bring on more curatorial support in our projects specific to Puerto Rican artists in our collection," explains Marianne Ramirez Aponte, executive director and chief curator of the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico. "With this funding, we will encourage greater knowledge about contemporary art by Latinx artists, expand our network with US-based Puerto Rican artists and other Latinx intersections, and build our support for artists on the island and in the diaspora." "Institutional change can happen when we have experienced and knowledgeable voices at the table. We are eager to support the new curator as they join our team and help shape our work, all while affirming the importance of Latinx art and artists in the wider story of art and reinforcing our commitment to engage and serve Latinx audiences," says E. Carmen Ramos, chief curatorial and conservation officer of the National Gallery of Art. "Our renowned collection offers opportunities for Latinx art to be presented in dialogue with both the national and the global, and we anticipate that the curator's work will benefit from the breadth and depth of our expanding holdings." People who identify as Latinx comprise nearly twenty percent of the U.S. population overall and considerably more in some of the country's largest cities. Yet, Latinx causes and organizations routinely receive less than two percent of philanthropic funding. While annual funding for Latinx arts and culture has seen a gradual annual increase since 2020, Latinx artists remain the largest majority missing from most museum collections, exhibitions, scholarship, and programming. ALAM, and the greater Latinx Art Visibility Initiative, is part of a long overdue effort to support Latinx artists and to ignite a public conversation about the rightful place of Latinx art within American art. ALAM recipients include large institutions, college and university museums, and leading Latinx museums spanning scale, modality, and location all aligned in their commitment to building or expanding a curatorial focus on Latinx art and ultimately creating a more inclusive curatorial field. The 2022 Advancing Latinx Art Museums Recipients Institutions are 516 ARTS, Albuquerque, NM Arizona State University Art Museum in partnership with CALA Alliance, Tempe, AZ Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin, TX El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego, CA National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL Newark Museum of Art; Newark, NJ Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles, CA Forty-eight museums and visual arts organizations from the US and Puerto Rico, that have shown a commitment to collecting, studying, exhibiting, and engaging with Latinx art and artists, were invited to apply. Applications were reviewed by a panel of five experts in Latinx visual art and museums. For more information on Advancing Latinx Art in Museums, visit here . About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation's largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. Learn more at mellon.org. About the Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Learn more at www.fordfoundation.org. About the Getty Foundation The Getty Foundation fulfills the philanthropic mission of the Getty Trust by supporting individuals and institutions committed to advancing the greater understanding and preservation of the visual arts in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Through strategic grant initiatives, the Foundation strengthens art history as a global discipline, promotes the interdisciplinary practice of conservation, increases access to museum and archival collections, and develops current and future leaders in the visual arts. It carries out its work in collaboration with the other Getty Programs to ensure that they individually and collectively achieve maximum effect. Additional information is available at www.getty.edu/foundation . About the Terra Foundation for American Art The Terra Foundation for American Art, established in 1978 and having offices in Chicago and Paris, supports organizations and individuals locally and globally with the aim of fostering intercultural dialogues and encouraging transformative practices that expand narratives of American art, through the foundation's grant program, collection, and initiatives. Learn more at terraamericanart.org. SOURCE Ford Foundation We Are Up in Humboldt County, CA to benefit from $25,000 matching donation SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mendocino and Humboldt Redwood Companies have agreed to a matching donation of $25,000 to the Humboldt County, California non-profit, We Are Up. Based in McKinleyville, California and led by Mary Keehn, founder of Cypress Grove Cheese, We Are Up is building an inclusive, inter-generational community that will offer secure housing, income opportunities, and mutual support systems for adults with developmental disabilities, Seniors, Students, and traveling medical professionals. Claudia Lima has joined the We Are up Board of Directors. Not only is Claudia a highly recognized and well-known artist, she also brings to the We Are Up Board the perspective of a parent of an adult child with Down's Syndrome. In the first year, with all volunteer help and donations from the community, We Are Up has secured 15+ pastoral acres within walking distance to grocery, health care, banking, movies, public transportation, and many other services. They have completed a year of environmental testing, filed CEQA documents, held community meetings, and fundraising events. "Mendocino and Humboldt Redwood Companies are excited to announce support for We Are Up, an innovative non-profit that will have a direct and positive impact in Humboldt County," states John Andersen, Director, Forest Policy. "This will bring us one step closer to building this much needed community," states Mary Keehn, Director, We Are Up. Mendocino and Humboldt Redwood Companies will match all donations up to $25,000 made to We Are Up through April 1, 2023. Donations can be made online at weareup.org. About the Mendocino Family of Companies The Mendocino Family of Companies include Allweather Wood, Humboldt Redwood Company, Humboldt Sawmill Company, Mendocino Forest Products, Mendocino Redwood Company. In aggregate Mendocino Companies owns 440,000 acres of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC C013133) certificated timberland, constitutes the largest waterborne wood treater in the Western USA, and is the largest producer of redwood lumber in the world. Collectively providing 900 employees and their families with excellent wages and benefits in rural communities of the Western USA. Additionally, Mendocino Companies owns and operates a 25-megaWatt biomass Cogen plant and largest wood pellet plant in California. For more information, please visit www.MendoCo.com. About We Are Up We are Up is a nonprofit organization that has created a design unique in the United States, whose mission is to build an inclusive, inter-generational community that will offer secure housing, income opportunities and mutual support systems for adults with developmental disabilities, Seniors, Students and traveling medical professionals. Residents will contribute to the community at large through a community center, commercial kitchen, farm-to-table food production and conservation of open spaces. For more information, please visit www.weareup.org. SOURCE Humboldt Redwood Company, LLC; Mendocino Redwood Company, LLC EAST LANSING, Mich. , Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) has signed a letter of intent (LoI) to explore collaboration opportunities with African Agriculture Inc. , a US-based, Africa-focused corporation. MSU will explore training, research and technology transfer opportunities with farmers and students in Mauritania, West Africa. Michigan State University was the first land-grant college in the United States and the model for the nation's land-grant system, leading advancements in agricultural and natural resources research, education and outreach. In 1855, the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, now known as MSU, was founded to provide a practical education to all citizens regardless of social class. It was the first institution of higher learning in the United States to teach scientific agriculture and has educated students to become farmers, engineers, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs and leaders. "CANR's commitment to agricultural advancement starts in Michigan, but it extends to working with farmers and households worldwide as they strive to make a living and provide nutritious food for their communities," said Dr. Kelly Millenbah, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at MSU. Under the terms of the LoI, MSU and African Agriculture, Inc. will explore site visits and stakeholder consultations as well as potential educational exchanges with students at ENFVA (Ecole Nationale de Formation et de Vulgarisation Agricole), an established agricultural education center in the city of Kaedi, Mauritania. Potential areas of collaboration to be explored include agronomy, soil science and animal science. "Exploring collaborative solutions to advance environmentally sustainable agriculture, especially in light of climate change, not only at home but around the world is a critically important part of the MSU mission," said Dr. George Smith, director of MSU AgBioResearch. African Agriculture, Inc., recently entered into a public-private partnership with the Government of Mauritania and the communities of Boghe (18 agricultural cooperative societies incorporating approximately 6,000 farmers, organized under GIE DYNN) in the Senegal River Valley for a phased commercial farming buildout up to $500 million of investment with the potential of over 500,000 hectares of arable land. Alan Kessler, CEO and Chairman of African Agriculture, Inc Click here to continue reading full article. CONTACT: [email protected] SOURCE African Agriculture Inc. CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Mobile Device Management Market size is expected to grow from USD 6.9 billion in 2022 to USD 22.0 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 26.1% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The increasing 5G transformation of mobile devices is driving the growth of the MDM market. Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=105562389 Services segment is to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period Services are vital for managing mobile devices in a corporate setting. Most MDM suppliers provide support services to businesses in order to increase income. Professional and managed services are the two main categories of services they provide. The three subcategories of professional services include consulting, implementation, and support services. MDM service providers make money by helping businesses select the right MDM solution depending on their needs. By educating the IT staff to properly implement the deployed MDM systems, they also aid in the installation process of MDM solutions. On the other side, managed services assist firms in reducing security risks and safeguarding company data. Overall, effective service delivery increases operational effectiveness, system reliability, and cost savings for businesses. Security management segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period Trends like BYOD and CYOD are prevalent in businesses. Because of this, companies give workers access to sensitive information via their own devices in order to boost productivity. The organization is now more vulnerable to hacks because employees can now access the company's critical data from their devices. By identifying latent data breach incidents across the corporate network, security management systems assist enterprises in protecting this data that is accessed and shared via mobile devices. With a prompt response to a potential data breach, it tracks, notifies, and avoids incidences of data loss. With the use of geofencing, app-sharing permissions, and restriction controls, the solution secures company data. Any malware attack that enters the network port is monitored, detected, and alerted to, and the device is automatically fixed utilising remote lock and quarantine management. Passwords, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), screen lock patterns, and other restrictions can also be set using this tool. Data security, device security, and application security are the main features of the security management solution. The security management solution protects company data and gives mobile users a superior, hassle-free experience. Request Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=105562389 North America region to record the highest growing region in the Mobile Device Management Market The MDM market in North America accounts for the biggest market share. One of the drivers of market expansion, along with digitalization, is the desire to boost mobile devices' productivity and efficiency. Employees in the US and Canada have an increased reliance on BYOD and CYOD trends that give them real-time access to a variety of data and applications, which has also prompted the region to adopt MDM solutions. Employers of all sizes routinely permit their staff members to use their mobile devices at work. Because of the compact nature of mobile devices, it has been simple to carry sensitive firm data, but the risk of data loss and security breaches has significantly increased. Governments have prepared a number of protective strategies to safeguard data. An example of a set of requirements is the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) plan of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which is intended to secure the resources needed to run the bulk electric system in North America. Technicians are using mobile devicesfrom smartphones to tabletsmore frequently to maintain vital infrastructure. Key and innovative vendors in the Mobile Device Management Market are VMware (US), Microsoft (US), IBM (US), Blackberry (Canada), Citrix (US), Google (US), Cisco (US), Samsung (South Korea), Micro Focus (UK), ZOHO (India), SolarWinds (US), SAP (Germany), Quest Software (US), Ivanti (US), Sophos (US), SOTI (Canada), Jamf (US), Qualys (US), Snow Software (Sweden), Matrix 42 (Germany), Rippling (US), 42Gears (US), ProMobi (India), Baramundi (Germany), Mitsogo Inc (US), Codeproof Technologies (US), AppTec (Switzerland), Addigy (US), Kandji (US). Browse Adjacent Market: Mobility and Telecom Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports Unified Communication and Collaboration Market - Global Forecast to 2027 5G Services Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Wi-Fi Market - Global Forecast to 2027 mmWave 5G Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Push to Talk Market - Global Forecast to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are moulded 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 MarketsandMarkets 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] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/mobile-device-management-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/mobile-device-management.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets REDDING, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled, 'Molecular Diagnostic Market by Product (Reagents & Kits, Systems, Software), Test Type (Lab, PoC), Technology (PCR, ISH, INAAT, Sequencing, Microarray), Application (Infectious Diseases, Oncology), End User (Hospital, Diagnostic Lab) - Global Forecast to 2030' published by Meticulous Research, the molecular diagnostics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2030 to reach $46.69 billion by 2030. Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5375 A major factor contributing to market growth is the use of Point-of-Care (POC) diagnosis. PoC tests are becoming increasingly popular among people. Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics involve the use of rapid analytical devices-based technologies that quickly provide clinical information that can be directly accessed on-site. Professional healthcare providers consider these devices a crucial part of standard clinical medical practice as they facilitate the development of evidence-based control strategies for the diagnosis and management of various health conditions. Also, the aging population is driving a steady increase in the number of people suffering from chronic diseases. According to the World Population Ageing 2020 report released by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, globally, there were 727 million people aged 65 or above in 2020. It is estimated that by 2050 this number will cross 1.5 billion. Hence, there will be an increase in the number of age-specific diseases leading to early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Additionally, the increase in focus and funding for R&D of diagnostic products and technological advancements in molecular diagnostics drives the market growth. Moreover, the developments in companion diagnostics and growth opportunities in emerging economies is expected to offer significant opportunities for the players operating in the molecular diagnostics market. Speak to our Analysts to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Business: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/cp_id=5375 The molecular diagnostics market is segmented by Product & Service (Kits & Reagents, Instruments, Software & Services); Test Type [Laboratory Tests, Point-of-Care (PoC) Tests]; Technology [Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), In Situ Hybridization (ISH), Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology (INAAT), Microarrays, Mass Spectrometry, Sequencing, Other Technologies]; Application [Infectious Diseases (COVID-19, Hepatitis, HIV, Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs), Chlamydia trachomatis/ Neisseria gonorrhoeae (CT/NG), Human papillomavirus (HPV), Tuberculosis, Influenza, Other Infectious Diseases), Oncology (Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Lymphoma, Leukemia, Cervical Cancer, Other Cancer Types), Genetic Testing, Neurological Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, Other Applications]; End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Diagnostic Laboratories, Academic & Research Institutes, Other End Users); and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa). The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes their market shares at the global and regional levels. Based on product & service, the kits & reagents segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The major factors contributing to the segment's high growth are rising prevalence of chronic disease leading to the development of assays for the diagnosis. Also, the emergence of novel diseases such as the coronavirus will lead to development of new molecular diagnostic assays due to their accuracy compared with other diagnostic kits. Based on test type, the PoC segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The major factors contributing to the segment's high growth are simplicity, convenience, rapid turnaround time, and the potential to improve patient outcomes. Based on technology, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. PCR helps in detecting specific pathogens, provides rapid results, and its sensitivity are the factors which propels the segment growth. Based on application, the infectious diseases segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The major factors contributing to the segment's high growth are rising prevalence of infectious diseases and outbreaks of infectious diseases around the world and also measures taken by the government for its prevention leading to early diagnosis of these diseases. By Now- " Molecular Diagnostics Market - Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecasts (2023-2030) " click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/18320359 Based on end user, in 2023, the hospitals & clinics segment is expected to account for the largest share of the molecular diagnostics market. Hospitals & clinics perform a wide range of tests to diagnose various medical conditions, including communicable and non-communicable diseases and other medical conditions to ensure proper clinical planning of treatment and prevention. As hospitals are present in urban as well as rural areas, people prefer visiting there for the diagnosis. Also, during the pandemic, hospital admissions were observed, which increased the demand for diagnostic products. Post-pandemic, a large population is regaining their accessibility to healthcare/medical services and has started visiting hospitals and other healthcare settings for routine medical checkups or testing, contributing to the large market share of this segment. However, the diagnostic laboratories segment is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Major factor contributing to the growth of this segment is the increasing demand for clinical testing leading to requirement of more laboratories and diagnostic products. Also, the funding available for well-equipped infrastructure of the laboratories contributes to the growth of segment. Based on geography, in 2023, North America is expected to dominate the global molecular diagnostics market, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. The increasing number of patient admissions, the increasing awareness among people for early diagnosis, and the high adoption of self-testing kits among the general population are the factors contributing to this market's large market share. However, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Major factors contributing to the growth of this segment are the ageing population in the region, growing demand for clinical testing, and government initiatives for access to molecular diagnostics. Some of the key players operating in the molecular diagnostics market are F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Hologic, Inc. (U.S.), QIAGEN N.V. (Netherlands), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), bioMerieux S.A. (France), Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) (U.S.), Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany), DiaSorin S.p.A. (Italy), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Illumina, Inc. (U.S.), and Seegene, Inc. (South Korea). Browse in-depth TOC on " Molecular Diagnostics Market - Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecasts (2023-2030) " click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/molecular-diagnostics-market-5375 Scope of the Report : Molecular Diagnostics Market, by Product & Service Kits & Reagents Instruments Software & Services Molecular Diagnostics Market, by Test Type Laboratory Tests PoC Tests Molecular Diagnostics Market, by Technology Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) In Situ Hybridization (ISH) Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology (INAAT) Microarrays Mass Spectrometry Sequencing Other Technologies Molecular Diagnostics Market, by Application Infectious Diseases OVID-19 Hepatitis HIV Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs) Chlamydia trachomatis/ Neisseria gonorrhoeae (CT/NG) Human papillomavirus (HPV) Tuberculosis Influenza Other Infectious Diseases Oncology Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Lung Cancer Prostate Cancer Lymphoma Leukemia Cervical Cancer Other Cancer Types Genetic Testing Neurological Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Other Applications Molecular Diagnostics Market, by End User Hospitals & Clinics Diagnostic Laboratories Academic & Research Institutes Other End Users Molecular Diagnostics Market, by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain Rest of Europe (RoE) (RoE) Asia-Pacific China Japan India Australia Rest of APAC (RoAPAC) Latin America Brazil Mexico RoLATAM Middle East & Africa Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5375 Related Reports: HLA Typing Market by Product (Instruments, Software), Technology (Molecular [PCR, Sequencing [Sangers, NGS]], Serology), Application (Diagnostics [Cross Match, Cancer, Infectious Disease, Transfusion], Research), End User, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2029 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/hla-typing-market-5311 Tissue Diagnostics Market by Product Type (Antibodies, Kits, Reagents, Instruments [Slide Stainer, Scanner]), Technology (Digital Pathology, IHC, ISH, H&E Staining), Cancer Type (Breast, NSCLC, Colorectal, Prostate), End user -Global Forecast to 2029 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/tissue-diagnostics-market-4971 Rapid Diagnostics Market by Product (Kits [OTC, Professional], Readers), Platform (Lateral Flow, Serological, PCR), Application (Blood Glucose, Infectious Diseases, Pregnancy, Drugs of Abuse), End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Labs, Home Care) Global Forecasts to 2029 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/rapid-diagnostics-market-5240 Next-generation Sequencing Services Market by Type (Targeted Sequencing, Exome, RNA-Seq, ChIP Sequencing), Technology (Sequencing by Synthesis, Nanopore, SMRT), Application (Clinical Diagnosis, Biomarker Discovery), & End User - Forecast to 2028 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/next-generation-sequencing-ngs-services-market-5041 Infectious Disease Diagnostics Market by Product & Solution (Consumables, System, Software & Services), Technology (Immunodiagnostics, PCR, INAAT), Disease (HIV, HAIS, Influenza), End User (Hospital, Reference Lab, Research) Global Forecast to 2027 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/infectious-disease-diagnostics-market-4976 In-vitro Diagnostics Market by Product & Solution (Consumables, Systems, Software & Services), Technology (ELISA, Rapid Tests, PCR, Microbiology), Application (Infectious Diseases, Oncology), End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories)Forecast to 2027 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/ivd-market-4858 Latin America Next Generation Sequencing Market by Type (Consumables, NGS Platform), Sequencing Type (Whole Genome, Targeted), Technology (Sequencing by Synthesis, Sequencing by Ligation), Application (Clinical, Research), End User - Forecast to 2027 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/latin-america-next-generation-sequencing-market-5106 Latin America Point of Care Diagnostics Market by Product (Blood glucose monitoring, Coagulation monitoring, Hematology testing, Cholesterol testing), Platform (Microfluidics, Molecular diagnostics), Mode (OTC Testing), End User- Forecast to 2027 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/latin-america-point-of-care-diagnostics-market-5107 Influenza Diagnostics Market, by Test Type {[Traditional (RIDT, Direct Fluorescent Antibody, Viral Culture, Serology), Molecular [RT-PCR, INAAT (NASBA, LAMP)]}, End User (Hospitals, Laboratories, Academics, Research Institutes) - Forecast to 2027 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/influenza-diagnostics-market-5099 Point of Care Molecular Diagnostics Market by Product & Solution (Assay, Analyzer, Software, Services), Technology (RT-qPCR, INAAT), Application (Respiratory Diseases, Hospital Acquired Infections, STD), and End User Global Forecast to 2027 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/point-of-care-molecular-diagnostics-market-5081 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- [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research Blog: https://meticulousblog.org/top-10-companies-in-molecular-diagnostics-market/ Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/602/molecular-diagnostics-market-2030 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1757980/Meticulous_Research_Logo_1.jpg SOURCE Meticulous Market Research Pvt Ltd. EDISON, N.J., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA), the vehicle fleet industry's largest membership association, today announced an all-new press event featuring the latest breaking industry news to be held at NAFA 2023 Institute & Expo, the industry's largest gathering of fleet and mobility professionals. This year's conference will take place April 17-19 in Baltimore, Md. NAFA 2023 I&E exhibitors will have the opportunity to unveil their breaking news, innovations or announcements in a press-conference style event featuring back-to-back announcements every 15 minutes. Leading fleet and mobility suppliers to share breaking news, innovations or other announcements at NAFA Institute & Expo Tweet this "The fleet and mobility industry continues to advance at a rapid pacealong with the evolution of technology support systems," said Raymond Brisby, CAFM, NAFA Board President. "As the premier professional development and networking event of the year bringing together hundreds of fleet professionals across the industry, it's only natural to feature the latest breaking news announcements impacting fleet and mobility on this stage." NAFA's new Media Day will take place in the I&E Press Room at the Baltimore Convention Center on April 17 from 2:15-4:45 p.m. NAFA exhibitors can apply to participate in Media Day here. Applications are due by March 17. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from industry leaders and experts. View the NAFA 2023 Institute & Expo program and register today . Media registration is complimentary for credentialed journalists register now . Media planning to attend Media Day should RSVP to [email protected] for additional information. About NAFA Fleet Management Association NAFA Fleet Management Association is the membership organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements of vehicle fleets that include commercial, public safety, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA's members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.8 million vehicles that drive an estimated 84 billion miles each year. NAFA's members control assets and services well above $122 billion each year. For more information, please visit www.nafa.org , and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn , Facebook , and Twitter . Media Contact Colleen Gallagher OnWrd & UpWrd, on behalf of NAFA [email protected] 315.447.2331 SOURCE NAFA Fleet Management Association Following his recent coming out and NASCAR return, Herrin is partnering with the national LGBTQ+ litigation nonprofit. NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASCAR driver Zach Herrin has announced a partnership with Lambda Legal, the leading national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV through litigation and public advocacy. As an openly gay NASCAR driver, Herrin is honored to support the important work of Lambda Legal. Zach Herrin racing in Lambda Legal partnership as seen in car #12. Credit Zach Herrin Racing Zach Herrin racing in Lambda Legal partnership as seen in car #12. Credit Zach Herrin Racing "We are so grateful for Zach announcing his partnership with Lambda Legal in Florida, where we are currently fighting against the discriminatory 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' law," said Kevin Jennings, Lambda Legal CEO. "By drawing attention to the anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination for which Florida is becoming increasingly known, Zach will have a great impact for our community." Herrin has been making waves since recently returning to racing following a 10-year hiatus. He's making his NASCAR return and Brandt 200 debut as an openly gay man. Herrin has been open about the fact that finding sponsors as an out gay man has been a challenge. He credits the LGBTQ community for giving him support during his 10-year hiatus. "I am committed to using my platform to make a positive impact on the world. I'm grateful for the opportunity to partner with Lambda Legal and their efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable society," said Herrin. "Lambda Legal fights for justice in the courts and in the court of public opinion. I hope that others will join us in supporting these efforts." Lambda Legal this year is celebrating its 50 years fighting for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. More information about Lambda Legal's 50-year journey can be found here. More information about Lambda Legal can be found online at: www.lambdalegal.org. Contact Info Dave Poston T: 404-875-3400; [email protected] Fiayo Agbaje T: 404-875-3400; [email protected] Shannon Holleran T: 404-875-3400; [email protected] SOURCE Lambda Legal Sends Letter to Special Committee Proposes Publication of Management Forecast and Changing Record Date to March 10, 2023 so that All Shareholders Can Make an Informed Decision Before Voting Reiterates its Intention to vote AGAINST the Proposed Transaction with Thoma Bravo PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Nellore Capital Management LLC ("Nellore"), the largest holder of subordinate voting shares ("SV Shares") of Magnet Forensics Inc. (TSX: MAGT) ("Magnet") holding over 10% of the issued and outstanding SV Shares, today wrote a public letter to the Special Committee of Magnet (the "Special Committee") in response to the Special Committee's presentation from February 10, 2023, reiterating its concerns and its intention to vote AGAINST the proposed transaction with Thoma Bravo. The text of the letter is as follows: Dear Special Committee, Thank you for your response. I will respond to your technical arguments with my own technical arguments. But before doing that, I will get to the punchline. Firstly and most obviously, if CAD $44.25 being offered to SV Shareholders is so attractive, why then are the rolling shareholders opting to roll 55% of their stake? If a non-executive inside investor (from whom a roll would not normally be required) and two executives who have the most experience and knowledge about their business and industry are saying CAD $44.25 is not the value maximizing price for them is telling and is more relevant than the fact that an independent advisor concluded that it is "fair". There is SOME price at which these insiders would take the all-cash option or at least a much greater proportion of cash so that all shareholders could have an equal opportunity to roll their shares? If you are forcing us to sell all of our shares for cash at a price that is unattractive to these insiders, price discovery is paramount. Secondly, and more actionably, you are claiming that the cash consideration is a fair price based on consensus estimates. In the absence of Q4 results or management forecast, what we see are consensus estimates that are far too conservative and the Special Committee and its advisors justifying a transaction on those overly conservative and stale forecasts. My 2023 EBITDA estimate of $37.5mm is 46% (!) higher than the consensus estimate of $25.6mm and my 2024 EBITDA estimate 71% higher. I agree with you that 51x 2023 EBITDA is fair value for the business but based on which EBITDA number? We are currently being asked to make a decision without material information. The Rolling Shareholders, Thoma Bravo, CIBC and Morgan Stanley all have the management forecast. The SV shareholders do not. So here is my proposal: either publish the management forecast today (so that shareholders can review and have time to make investment or divestment decisions ahead of the company's accelerated meeting record date), or move the record date to after March 10th when Q4 results come out. If you do neither, well, then we know that you are trying to get a structurally unfair, undervalued and opportunistic transaction to the finish line as soon as possible. Further, in light of the new disclosure that Thoma Bravo is comfortable with buying 25% of the MV shares instead of the 45% currently proposed, we continue to welcome them to turn this transaction into a PIPE and contribute Grayshift at currently negotiated prices (with public shareholders buying the remaining 20% from the company's founders). We believe this is a win / win / win situation with all parties achieving their goals and keeping this great company in the public markets. We have the utmost respect for Thoma Bravo and it is clear they are capable of adding value to public-scale companies with Dynatrace, Meridian Link, Instructure and Ellie Mae as shining examples. The rest of my technical arguments hinge on a simple fact: Magnet doesn't need to be valued based on revenues, it generates strong cash flow that is growing at a rapid clip. Investors don't go around quoting Microsoft is valued at 10x revenues, they quote it valued at 25x FCF. Investors don't go around quoting Visa valued at 15x revenues, they quote it valued at 27x FCF. Investors don't go around quoting Adobe trading at 9x revenues, they quote it valued at 23x FCF. But these three companies are growing at <10%, Magnet is growing at 35%! For the reasons outlined above and previously, I intend to vote AGAINST the proposed transaction with Thoma Bravo. My full technical argument and our long form analysis, including regarding the standalone execution and strategic risks, will be both available on SEDAR and at www.secureMAGT.com Sincerely, Sakya Duvvuru No Solicitation This press release is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation of proxies. Any proxies solicited will be solicited by Nellore as permitted by Canadian corporate and securities laws. Advisors Goodmans LLP is serving as legal advisor to Nellore. Carson Proxy Advisors is acting as strategic shareholder and communications advisor to Nellore. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "objective", "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", "plans", "continue", or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, statements of Nellore regarding the meeting and how Nellore intends to vote on the resolutions proposed by Magnet. Although Nellore believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. Except as required by law, Nellore does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. A copy of this news release may be obtained on Magnet's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The head office of Magnet is 2220 University Avenue East, Suite 300, Waterloo, Ontario, N2K 0A8. The address of Nellore is PO Box 1237, 855 Jefferson Avenue Redwood City, CA 94063-9992. About Nellore Capital Management LLC Nellore Capital Management invests in entrepreneurially managed, competitively advantaged technology businesses globally for the long term. SOURCE Nellore Capital Management LLC NetSfere's cloud-based secure messaging solutions protect corporate data and intellectual property, while maintaining high privacy levels in organizations. SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently researched the secure messaging solutions industry and, based on its findings, recognizes NetSfere with the 2023 Global Competitive Strategy Leadership Award. NetSfere provides users with security and message delivery capabilities with pioneering features, such as device-to-device encryption, high-definition audio, cloud-based secure storage of messages and files, administrative controls, and secure video capabilities. The company complies with today's regulatory requirements, including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Sarbanes-Oxley, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), among other modern global regulations. These features make NetSfere one of the most trusted companies for organizations in industries such as finance and healthcare that are exposed to multiple regulations and are required to keep their data fully protected. NetSfere NetSfere's platform enables employees to communicate sensitive business data safely and in real time through its reliable mobile messaging app or its user-friendly web interface. NetSfere delivers centralized administrative control over end-user policies and privileges. In addition, the company allows enterprises to have complete control over data, including access control for employee accounts and remote wipe capabilities, empowering businesses to communicate with outside vendors and clients using NetSfere's guest access feature. "NetSfere has over 25 years of experience in the mobile and messaging technology realm, servicing over 500 million end users by offering unique patented secure communications services, along with an omnichannel platform powering products and services within the messaging and mobility realm," said Sarah Pavlak, Industry Principal at Frost & Sullivan. NetSfere offers significant advantages, such as encrypted message delivery, total control over messaging accounts, and the transfer of information within the organization. These features are particularly relevant in a wide range of industries that benefit from the convenience of NetSfere, including banking and finance, healthcare, insurance and risk management, law enforcement, and government. Additionally, NetSfere provides a first-class customer experience with 24/7 support while maintaining highly affordable service for users. As a result, NetSfere outperforms its closest competitors, and its highly differentiated and cutting-edge services enable it to gain a fairly broad customer base in several industries. "NetSfere excels in secure messaging solution needs in the financial industry by providing cloud-based messaging solutions that meet full compliance requirements with key legislation and regulatory organizations in the United States, including Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank, FINRA, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the SEC," noted Pavlak. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has leveraged competitive intelligence to execute a strategy successfully that results in stronger market share, competitive brand positioning, and customer satisfaction. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion . Contact: Ashley Weinkauf P: 210-844-2505 E: [email protected] About NetSfere NetSfere is a secure enterprise messaging service and platform from Infinite Convergence Solutions, Inc. NetSfere provides industry-leading security and message delivery capabilities, including global cloud-based service availability, device-to-device encryption, location-based features, and administrative controls. The service is also offered in partnership with Deutsche Telekom GmbH, one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies, and with NTT Ltd., a global information communications & technology service provider, to jointly offer NetSfere to its worldwide customers. The service leverages Infinite Convergence's experience in delivering mobility solutions to tier 1 mobile operators globally and technology that supports more than 500 million subscribers and over a trillion messages annually. NetSfere is also compliant with global regulatory requirements, including GDPR, HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, ISO 27001, and others. Infinite Convergence Solutions has offices in the United States, Germany, UK, India and Singapore. For more information, visit www.netsfere.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1995968/NetSfere_Award.jpg SOURCE Frost & Sullivan CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The network switches market is projected to grow from USD 33.0 billion in 2023 to reach USD 45.5 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.6% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of the network switches market is driven by the augmented global demand for data centers coupled with need for simplified networking communication management and automation and growing investments in digital platforms. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=18720083 Browse in-depth TOC on "Network Switches Market" 163 Tables 57 Figures 333 Pages By type, the fixed configuration switches are projected to hold the larger share of the network switches market during the forecast period. The market for fixed configuration switches is expected to hold a larger share of the network switches market during the forecast period. Fixed configuration switches include managed, unmanaged and PoE switches. The reason for the growth can be attributed to the fact that fixed configuration switches provide ethernet switching solutions for a variety of applications, including enterprise branch offices, campus, midsize companies, and small and medium-sized business (SMB), and provide access security, sustainability, operations excellence, and enhanced work experience. These factors play a vital role in fueling the demand for fixed configuration switches across the globe. By switching port, 200 GBE and 400 GBE switching port segment is projected to exhibit highest CAGR for the network switches market during the forecast period. By switching port, 200 GBE and 400 GBE switching port segment exhibited highest growth in 2022 and is expected to retain the trend during the forecast period. The 200 GbE to 400 GbE network switches are optimized and offer economic switching solutions for data center and non-data center applications. Moreover, in large scale networks, the switching speed between switches is a critical factor for increasing efficiency and lowering costs. These switching ports are designed for superior performance in demanding enterprise data centers and storage environments. Hyperscalers have been the primary drivers for 200 GBE & 400 GBE demand. But other segments of the market, including telecommunications service providers rolling out 5G networks and high-end enterprises in verticals such as financial services, will also adopt the technology. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=18720083 North America is expected to hold the largest share in the market by 2028. The North American region is expected to hold the largest share of the network switches market during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the increasing IT capacity requirements and rising adoption of new data center technologies. The presence of prominent players such as Cisco Systems (US), Arista Networks (US), Juniper Networks (US), HPE Aruba (US), and NETGEAR (US) has contributed to the growth of the network switches market by providing a comprehensive range of network switches for various industry verticals. Moreover, new technological developments and an increase in R&D investments in the region are contributing to market growth. Key players in the network switches market include Cisco Systems (US), Huawei Technology (China), HPE Aruba (US), Juniper Networks (US), Arista Networks (US), NETGEAR (US), D-Link Corporation (US), Extreme Networks (US), NVIDIA Corporation (US), TRENDnet (US), Lantronix (US). Apart from this, Alcatel Lucent Enterprise (France), Dell Technologies (US), Pica8, Inc. (US), Larch Networks (US), STORDIS (Germany), IP Infusion (US), Buffalo Americas, Inc. (US), Linksys (US), TELEFLY Telecommunications Equipment Co., Ltd. (China), Allied Telesis (Japan), Moxa (Taiwan) are among a few emerging companies in the network switches market. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=18720083 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: Network Monitoring Market by Offering (Equipment, Software & Services), Bandwidth (1&10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, 100 Gbps), Technology (Ethernet, Fiber Optic, InfiniBand), End User and Geography - Global Forecast to 2027 Data Center Switch Market by Type (Core, Distribution, and Access), Technology (Ethernet, Fiber Channel, and InfiniBand), End User (Enterprise, Telecom, Government, and Cloud), Bandwidth, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 Network Management Systems Market by Component, Enterprise Size, Deployment Mode, Business Function (Accounting & Legal, Sales & Marketing, and Procurement & Supply Chain) Vertical and Region - Global Forecast to 2027 Network Packet Broker Market by Bandwidth (1 and 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, 100 Gbps), End User (Enterprises (Large, Small and Medium-Sized), Service Providers, Government Organizations), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 Silicon Photonics Market by Product (Transceivers, Switches), Application (Data Center & High-performance Computing, Telecommunication), Waveguide, Component, and Geography (2021-2027) 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] Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/network-switches-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/network-switches.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Screening with FibroScan (VCTE technology) is recommended for individuals at high risk for NAFLD and NASH PARIS and WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The growing prevalence of fatty liver disease in the U.S. has led the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) to call for expanded use of noninvasive liver evaluations. The new Practice Guidance from the AASLD suggests the use of VCTE, a patented technology used by FibroScan solutions from Echosens, for detecting and diagnosing NAFLD in high-risk individuals, including those with type 2 diabetes (T2D). New Practice Guidance from the AASLD suggests the use of VCTE, a patented technology used by FibroScan solutions from Echosens, for detecting and diagnosing NAFLD in high-risk individuals, including those with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Tweet this New guidance calls for the use of noninvasive liver examinations, including FibroScan, for earlier detection of NAFLD and NASH. At least 25% of people worldwide have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and this number is expected to rise1. NAFLD can be reversed in its early stagesbut most patients are asymptomatic and unaware they're at risk until the disease has reached advanced stages when there are limited treatment options available. Early identification and risk stratification of patients can help improve outcomes and significantly reduce downstream healthcare costs. "AASLD is one of the leading liver health associations. Their actionable recommendation for the use of FibroScan earlier in the clinical care pathway speaks volumes to the tremendously positive impact this noninvasive technology can have on the prevention of advanced disease and reducing its tremendous cost burden on our healthcare system," said Jon Gingrich, CEO of Echosens North America. "Previously backed by thousands of peer-reviewed studies and hundreds of international guidelines, VCTE technology is now being recognized as the standard of care for liver health. Increased clinical adoption of and patient accessibility to this simple, noninvasive test is going to have a tremendously positive impact on patient outcomes." NAFLD/NASH is known as a silent killer. An estimated 70% of people with T2D are affected by NAFLD, but only 5% of this population is currently diagnosed2. Because the progression of NAFLD can result in more serious complications, more than half of people with T2D will develop advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, also known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is the leading cause of liver-related death. Furthermore, NAFLD makes a person twice as likely to experience cardiac-related mortality than liver-related mortality. FibroScan can be used to predict the risk of disease progression and decompensation, guide management decisions, evaluate response to treatment, and significantly reduce the need for a biopsy. "Making FibroScan a noninvasive standard of care is a vital step in helping to close the significant diagnosis gap of NAFLD," said Dr. Mazen Noureddin, MD, Medical Director, Houston Research Institute. "Any practitioner caring for patients at risk for NAFLD should heed the guidance for noninvasive risk stratification with FibroScan (VCTE technology). By incorporating noninvasive liver evaluations into the clinical care pathway for T2D patients, providers can identify those at higher risk for damage earlier on and refer them to a specialist for more advanced treatment options." Despite clinical evidence that NAFLD is increasingly common, identifying those at risk of suffering adverse outcomes and connecting them with preventative care and treatment remains inadequate. Frequently, patients are presented to specialty clinics when the disease has progressed to advanced stages, and therapeutic options are limited. By implementing VCTE technology earlier in the diagnosis process, endocrinologists and primary care clinics can best identify high-risk NAFLD patients and connect them with gastroenterology or hepatology specialists to manage patients at risk of NASH or cirrhosis. "Early diagnosis of NAFLD is crucial for providing timely and effective strategies for preventing disease progression," said Dr. Noureddin. "However, until now, early screening was limited. The only option for those with existing liver problems was invasive procedures, such as a biopsy. VCTE with FibroScan has allowed for early detection of the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, bettering the chances of managing or reversing the condition before it's too late." To access the complete guidance published by AASLD, visit https://www.aasld.org. About Echosens Pioneer in its field, Echosens significantly changed the practice of liver assessment with FibroScan, the non-invasive solution for comprehensive management of liver health. FibroScan is recognized worldwide and validated by over 3,500 peer-reviewed publications and 160 international guidelines. Echosens has made FibroScan available in over 100+ countries enabling millions of liver examinations worldwide. https://www.echosens.com/ 1 "Noninvasive biomarkers in NAFLD and NASH current progress and future promise," Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2018 2 "Nonalcholic Fatty Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus," Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, June 2018 SOURCE Echosens Great American Homes launches a new 55+ community, 1776. GASTONIA, N.C., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Great American Homes, a new company founded by NewStyle Communities, an Epcon Communities franchise, has announced a new 55+ housing development in Gastonia, N.C., aptly named 1776 Gastonia . 1776 is a trademarked brand specific to residential housing that blends patriotism, the American dream, and the founding ideals of the United States. The community, located 30 minutes outside of Charlotte, will feature 43 homes constructed for active retirees. 1776 Gastonia will open lots for sale in March. 1776 Gastonia 1776 Gastonia is the first of many 1776 developments across the country. Great American Homes will be expanding the 1776 brand to other states. The company will also partner with other home builders and existing homeowner's associations to license the 1776 brand and standards into their communities. While the governing documents of each community promote American traditions and values, the only visible standard homeowners must follow is flying the American flag on their front porch throughout the year a fixture which is included in the purchase of each 1776 home. "The goal of 1776 is to create a community with the American dream at its core," said Brock Fankhauser, Founder of Great American Homes. "For many, owning a home in our great country is the American dream. 1776 Gastonia offers seniors, who have worked and sacrificed for the dream, to celebrate their accomplishments in a community that honors American values." 1776 Gastonia will set a precedent for future developments. The development will host community events and activities such as farmer's markets, speaker events, and American holiday celebrations. To further Great American Homes' mission, each 1776 community will donate a home to a disabled veteran. For more information about 1776 Gastonia, please visit 1776community.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram @1776community. About Great American Homes Great American Homes' vision is to provide adult residents with a quality, value-driven, maintenance-free lifestyle in a patriotic environment. The company's leader is a franchise of EPCON Communities and brings a wealth of experience to each unique development. Each 1776 Community built by Great American Homes shares the same motto: Where Patriotism Lives. SOURCE Great American Homes Northstar approved for award of up to $7,088,856 of a total of $50 million committed by ERA as part of its 'Circular Economy Challenge' launched in March 2022 $7,088,856 in funding for Northstar's Empower Calgary Facility represents 100% of Northstar's request to ERA VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. (TSXV: ROOF) (OTCQB: ROOOF) ("Northstar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Northstar's planned scale up facility in Calgary, Alberta (the "Empower Calgary Facility") has been approved for a non-repayable government grant of up to approximately $7.1 million by Emissions Reduction Alberta ("ERA"), an Alberta-based government entity funded by the Government of Alberta. Mr. Aidan Mills, President & CEO and Director of Northstar, stated, "As a sustainable clean technology company, we are beyond excited that ERA has selected our Company for funding of up to approximately $7.1 million in non-repayable government grants. We applied for $7,088,856 for funding the Empower Calgary Facility and we have been approved for 100% of our request. We believe in ERA's long-term mandate to reduce GHG emissions and grow Alberta's economy by accelerating the circular economy and the development and adoption of innovative technology solutions. We are thankful to ERA for its support towards fulfilling our mission of becoming a leader in the recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles in North America and we look forward to our partnership and collaboration." Mr. Justin Reimer, CEO of ERA, stated, "A more sustainable, diversified provincial economy requires using our resources more wisely, we need to think about waste as a resource rather than a cost. Northstar's technology will divert end-of-life asphalt roof shingles from Alberta's landfills and turn them into valuable products, delivering economic and environmental benefits in the process. It establishes a circular economy approach that, if successful, could be exported and deployed across North America." The lead applicant organization is Empower Environmental Solutions Calgary Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Northstar, and the net proceeds received by the Company from the government grant will be used to further design, construct and commission the Empower Calgary Facility. ERA's funding approval is subject to timely written confirmation from Northstar that all other sources of funding for the Empower Calgary Facility have been secured, as well as the successful negotiation of a contribution agreement with ERA on terms satisfactory to ERA. About Emissions Reduction Alberta The Alberta government provides grants to ERA from the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund. For more than 13 years, ERA has been investing the revenues from the carbon price paid by large final emitters to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative clean technology solutions. Since ERA was established in 2009, ERA has committed over $821 million toward 231 projects worth $6.5 billion that are helping reduce GHG emissions, create competitive industries and are leading to new business opportunities in Alberta. For further information on ERA, please visit www.eralberta.ca. About Northstar Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. is a Canadian-based clean technology company focused on the sustainable recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles. Northstar has developed a proprietary design process for taking discarded asphalt shingles, otherwise destined for already over-crowded landfills, and extracting the liquid asphalt for use in new hot mix asphalt, shingle manufacturing and asphalt flat roof systems, and aggregate and fiber for use in construction products and other industrial applications. Focused on the circular economy, Northstar plans to reprocess used or defective asphalt shingle waste back into its three primary components for reuse/resale at both its Empower Pilot Facility in Delta, British Columbia and its first commercial scale up facility in Calgary, Alberta. As an emerging innovator in sustainable processing, Northstar's mission is to be the leader in the recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles in North America, extracting the recovered components from asphalt shingles that would otherwise be sent to landfill. For further information about Northstar, please visit www.northstarcleantech.com . On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Aidan Mills President & CEO, Director Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information 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. The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This press release may contain forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which forwardlooking information reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements concerning: (i) the anticipated deployment of the proceeds from the ERA grant by the Company; (ii) the timely raising of the remaining funds required to complete the Empower Calgary Facility; (iii) the successful negotiation of a Contribution Agreement with ERA, and (iv) the Company's ability to become a leader in the recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles in North America. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control of the Company as well as those risks and uncertainties which are more fully described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the final prospectus of the Company dated June 18, 2021 and in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile on SEDAR. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, labour shortages, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, the global financial climate and the conflict in Ukraine and surrounding regions are some additional factors that are affecting current economic conditions and increasing economic uncertainty, which may impact the Company's operating performance, financial position, and future prospects. Collectively, the potential impacts of this economic environment pose risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forwardlooking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. SOURCE Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. Young assistants give senior citizens a soothing bathing experience People's Daily Online) 13:09, February 13, 2023 Many young people have opted for careers in in-home bathing services for the elderly, especially those with mobility issues, as the services gain popularity in some parts of China. Zhang Hui, 22, is a bathing assistant at an elderly care company in Jinan, capital city of east China's Shandong Province. She has helped over 100 elderly people take warm baths since she got into this industry six months ago, and found the work very meaningful. "In-home bathing services can help the elderly ease their discomforts and relax mentally," Zhang said. Zhang Hui performs a physical examination before bathing a senior. (Chinanews.com/courtesy of the interviewee) The gratitude in the eyes of the elderly and their family members, and the comfort the senior citizens felt after having a bath gave her a sense of accomplishment, which is also a driving force for her, the young caregiver said. Statistics from an e-commerce platform in China showed that the search volume for "bathing services for the elderly" and similar keywords in 2021 surged by 808.06 percent year on year, while related orders placed on the platform rocketed by 1,450 percent. According to Cao Shuai, the founder of the company, having a bath, which is easy for the young, can be a big challenge for many senior citizens. Cao's octogenarian grandfather, who was left bedridden by illness, found it challenging to take a bath. Zhang Hui and her colleagues bathe a senior citizen. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) Born in the 1990s, Cao believes young and professional assistants are needed. Before entering this industry, he went to Japan to learn from a bathing service company. "Young employees, who account for a large part of our staff, have received training before serving the clients," he explained. To ensure senior citizens enjoy comfortable and decent lives, society and family members must all play a part, Cao said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Orange County Solar Inc. was selected as the Top Residential Installer of the Year for Southern California by Panasonic Corporation of North America for their ultimate customer service experience. IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange County Solar Inc. ("OC Solar"), a leading residential and commercial solar solutions installer, received the installer of the year award for Southern California, from Panasonic Corporation of North America (Panasonic). Since 2019 the Panasonic Customer Appreciation Awards program recognizes authorized Panasonic solar installers and EverVolt battery installers who exceed customer expectations. "It's an honor to be recognized by Panasonic as the top residential solar installer in Southern California by Panasonic," Said Vinnie Curcie, President, and Owner, of OC Solar. "Providing an enhanced customer service experience is the cornerstone of our business. We go out of our way to give the very best product options, prices, advice, and service. My team and I pride ourselves on delivering an enhanced customer service experience, and this award is a recognition of our dedication to customer satisfaction." "We are proud to recognize Orange County Solar as Panasonic's residential installer of the year for the Southern California Region," Said David Lopez, National Sales Manager, Solar & Storage Panasonic Eco Systems North America. "Their commitment to delivering an enhanced experience and building trust with their customers from project start to final installation is aligned with Panasonic's goal to be America's most trusted solar brand. We look forward to continuing to partner with OC Solar as they expand their business into new markets." Opened in 2016, OC Solar is the premier installer of residential and commercial solar panels and energy storage products in Southern California. Based in Irvine, OC Solar has installed more than 2,000 residential commercial solar solutions across Southern California. They have helped hundreds of customers access the benefits of NEM 2.0 (Net Energy Metering). With more than 140 five-star reviews on Yelp, OC Solar is a proven leader in customer satisfaction for solar solutions. About OC Solar Orange County Solar Installation has become one of the most trusted suppliers of Solar Energy in the Southern California region. The business began in 2016 by Vinnie Curcie, whose passion for construction and renewable energy led him to take a leap into the booming Solar industry. Today, Orange County Solar Installation is one of the top suppliers in Orange County, offering only top-quality products as well as a variety of renewable energy services at the most competitive prices in the market. SOURCE OC Solar Two projects achieve major milestones SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to enhance the Texas electrical grid with more clean, reliable, and sustainable energy, OCI Solar Power has now originated more than 3 GW of utility-scale solar projects. "Texas is a leader in the renewables industry, and we have spent the last decade establishing ourselves as a leading developer in large-scale solar projects throughout the state. As we continue to expand our project portfolio, companies around the globe are taking notice," said Charles Kim, President & CEO, OCI Solar Power. In 2021, Buckeye Partners, L.P. acquired OCI Solar Power's construction-ready Project Parker. The 200 MWac project located in Falls County is now supplying electricity to the ERCOT electrical grid. Last year, OCI Solar Power sold its construction-ready Project SunRay to Israel-based Arava Power and Paz Oil. It is now under construction on nearly 1,800 acres of privately-owned land in Uvalde County. OCI Solar Power previously developed 500 MWac in collaboration with CPS Energy, the nation's largest public power, natural gas, and electric company. These projects began operations between 2012 and 2019. Additionally, OCI Solar Power has established a development pipeline in excess of 2 GW of projects located throughout the state, including in Bell, Dickens, Falls, Hill, Kent, La Salle, McClennan, and Wharton counties. The San Antonio-based company is also developing a 100 MWac battery energy storage system in Bexar County with more planned. OCI Solar Power expects several of its projects to reach their commercial operation dates in 2024 and 2025. About OCI Solar Power LLC OCI Solar Power is a leader in the solar power industry. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, OCI Solar Power develops, constructs, finances, owns, and operates solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities, specializing in utility-scale and distributed generation solar projects throughout the U.S. OCI Solar Power is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OCI Company, Ltd., a publically traded company in Korea that provides solutions to customers from basic chemical products to solar PV generation and urban development under the vision of "Global Leading Green Energy and Chemical Company." For more information, visit ocisolarpower.com. Contact: Leslie Garza Marketing & Communications Manager [email protected] l 210-612-4978 SOURCE OCI Solar Power Local staffing agency encourages residents to attend free experience that will arm job seekers with resumes, headshots and career confidence HOUSTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Insight Global, a leading national staffing company dedicated to empowering people through opportunity, is inviting all local residents to attend an immersive, completely free experience this Saturday, February 18 aimed at providing personalized, one-on-one career counseling. All Houston-metro area job seekers who want to gain confidence and access to job resources like writing a resume, interview skills or headshots are encouraged to register and attend. Free child care will also be available. Insight Globals Be The Light Tour is coming to Houston on Saturday, February 18 to arm job seekers with resumes, headshots and career confidence. "We're committed to inspiring and empowering job seekers with skills needed to create a brighter future," said Bree Davis, Social Impact Manager for Insight Global. "Whether you are looking for a job, or simply want to get career ready for your next move, we are thrilled to bring this transformative experience to Houston. We kicked off our tour in Atlanta, and nine out of ten attendees felt more confident and inspired after the event. We want to bring that same confidence to our Houston community, so we encourage everyone to attend." Mobile Career Center: Helping People through the Dignity of Work This first-of-its-kind experience will take place on Saturday, February 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at POST Houston International Food Hall (401 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77002). It will be full of the experts, technology and tools that will help job seekers as they look for jobs or think about a career. Whether it's needing more access to resources, technology or even the childcare that a job search often requires, Insight Global is working to remove these barriers and meet people where they are to enable a better future for them. www.insightglobal.com/careerstart. The mobile career center will feature FREE: One-on-one consultations with Insight Global experts who will provide a personalized experience based on attendees' career goals. with Insight Global experts who will provide a personalized experience based on attendees' career goals. Career Readiness Workshops on resume writing, interview skills and job hunting. on resume writing, interview skills and job hunting. Headshot Studio complete with a stylist and a professional photographer who will take photos and upload photos to LinkedIn profiles (and create a profile). complete with a stylist and a professional photographer who will take photos and upload photos to LinkedIn profiles (and create a profile). Career Networking with recruiters from Insight Global and client partners who will be on hand to offer tips, tricks and best practices for job seekers and share opportunities that may be available. with recruiters from Insight Global and client partners who will be on hand to offer tips, tricks and best practices for job seekers and share opportunities that may be available. Child Care Services staffed by qualified childcare professionals. staffed by qualified childcare professionals. Additional supportive services, including assistance for Spanish speakers and the hearing and physically impaired. including assistance for Spanish speakers and the hearing and physically impaired. Food for fuel with locally-sourced, free culinary options. with locally-sourced, free culinary options. Merchandise Checkout where attendees who complete the day will earn free swag. Everyone Is Welcome The Be The Light tour is open to anyone looking to better their job or career. In particular, AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander), BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), first generation college grads, unhoused individuals, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQIA, justice impacted, single-income families, veterans, women and young adults. Throughout the country, many communities face challenges when it comes to entering the workforce or career bettermentfrom social and economic inequality to disenfranchisement. Insight Global is on a mission to change that, and in turn, change lives. Insight Global is setting a goal to positively impact 5,000 job seekers in the first year of the tour, and 15,000 job seekers by 2025, creating economic sustainability, bridging the gap by breaking generational poverty and providing equal access and opportunity for all. Space is limited, so registration is highly encouraged. Contributors that Make These Dreams a Reality A number of local and national corporate and charitable organizations are working in partnership with Insight Global to make the Be The Light tour possible, including Microsoft, LinkedIn, Floor & Decor and Alston and Bird. For a full list of partners, visit www.insightglobal.com/careerstart. About Insight Global: Insight Global is a national staffing and services company dedicated to empowering people. We relentlessly pursue opportunities for others, because when we all work together, anything is possible. We specialize in sourcing information technology, accounting, finance, and engineering professionals, and delivering service-based solutions to Fortune 1000 clients. Our team spans across more than 67 offices throughout the world and has pledged to place more than 80,000 people in jobs in 2022. Insight Global's services extend far beyond just filling roles. In addition to staffing services, we provide culture consulting, diversity, equity and inclusion guidance, specialized health care staffing and resources, and an array of managed services through our managed services division called Evergreen. To learn more about Insight Global, visit insightglobal.com. SOURCE Insight Global Google selected Optimizely as a web experimentation partner to support customers' migration as Google Optimize sunsets NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimizely , the leading digital experience platform (DXP) provider, today announces it has been selected by Google to collaborate on an integration with Optimizely Web Experimentation and Google Analytics 4 (GA4). This announcement follows Google's decision to sunset Google Optimize, its former web analytics and testing tool. Google's selection of Optimizely marks the start of a new chapter for both companies and their customers. To access real-time statistics, generate personalized customer experiences, and integrate seamlessly with other tools in their tech stack, digital marketers typically sacrifice speed or user experience. Optimizely's experimentation tool offers all of these capabilities without compromise. Google selected Optimizely as a web experimentation partner to support customers' migration as Google Optimize sunsets. Tweet this "We couldn't be happier to be selected by Google to collaborate on integrations for GA4, bringing our partnership with Google to new heights," said Alex Atzberger, CEO of Optimizely. "We take pride in helping the world's leading brands source meaningful data and stay one step ahead of their customers' needs. We look forward to welcoming Google Optimize customers into the fold, making their transition smooth, and supporting them to drive positive business outcomes." This first-of-its-kind collaboration will revolutionize how digital marketing practitioners leverage actionable insights to seamlessly deliver more personalized brand interactions and the best possible customer experiences. Google and Optimizely's collaboration will enrich both organizations' capabilities and empower marketers worldwide to execute world-class experimentation programs at scale. Optimizely's powerful web experimentation platform has long delivered tangible benefits for users in 2022 alone, the DXP provider enabled over 1.8M experiments and achieved $1B in incremental revenue for its customers. This comes nearly a year after Optimizely moved its leading experimentation solutions to Google Cloud, as another extension of their partnership and continued commitment to innovation. Google Optimize customers can now scale their experimentation practices with the accuracy and enterprise-grade tools of Optimizely, the category creator for experimentation. For more information about how to transition from Google Optimize, visit https://www.optimizely.com/google/optimize/. About Optimizely At Optimizely, we're on a mission to help people unlock their digital potential. With our leading digital experience platform (DXP), we equip teams with the tools and insights they need to create and optimize in new and novel ways. We're reinventing marketing and allowing marketers to innovate without limits through confident content creation, inclusive collaboration and customer foresight. Now, companies can operate with data-driven confidence to create hyper-personalized experiences. Building sophisticated solutions has never been simpler. Optimizely's 700+ partners and nearly 1500 employees in offices around the globe are proud to help more than 9,000 brands, including Toyota, Santander, eBay, KLM and Mazda, enrich their customer lifetime value, increase revenue and grow their brands. Learn more at optimizely.com. All third-party trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference purposes. SOURCE Optimizely DUBLIN, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Ceramic Matrix Composites Market: Global Market Size, Forecast, Insights, and Competitive Landscape" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global ceramic matrix composites is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 8.7% during 2023-2030. This report on global ceramic matrix composites report provides holistic understanding of the market along with market sizing, forecast, drivers, challenges, and competitive landscape. The report presents a clear picture of the global ceramic matrix composites by categorising the market based on various segments including detailed regional segmentation. Also, detailed profiles of companies operating in the global ceramic matrix composites are provided in this report, which includes company description, business overview, product portfolio, and financial details. This report provides an in-depth analysis of overall market and its segments. The historic numbers and forecasts are provided for each of the segments and for the countries covered in the report. This report also includes a detailed impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global ceramic matrix composites market. Apart from the quantitative analysis, the report also provides qualitative analysis, including SWOT analysis, porter's five forces, and value chain of the industry. It also includes descriptive market drivers, opportunities, on-going & future trends, and challenges. Key Highlights of Report Overview of global ceramic matrix composites market Analysis of global market trends, historical data, market estimates for the base year, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through the forecast period Profiles of the key companies SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces, and value chain analysis of ceramic matrix composites market Key Questions Answered in the Report What will be the global ceramic matrix composites market size and the growth rate in the coming year? What are the main key factors driving the market? What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the market? What are the market opportunities and threats in the market? What industrial trends, drivers and challenges are manipulating its growth? Which are trending factors influencing the market shares of the top regions across the globe? Who are the key market players in the industry? What is the degree of competition in the industry? What is the impact of COVID-19 on the current industry? Key Topics Covered: 1. Preface 2. Key Insights 3. Global Ceramic Matrix Composites Market 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Market Drivers 3.3. Market Challenges 4. Global Ceramic Matrix Composites Market Analysis 4.1. Market Portraiture 4.2. Market Size 4.3. Market Forecast 4.4. Impact of COVID-19 5. Global Ceramic Matrix Composites Market by Product Type 5.1. Introduction 5.2. C/C Ceramic Matrix Composites 5.3. C/SIC Ceramic Matrix Composites 5.4. Oxide/Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composites 5.5. SIC/SIC Ceramic Matrix Composites 5.6. Others 6. Global Ceramic Matrix Composites Market by End User 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Automotive 6.3. Aerospace 6.4. Defence 6.5. Energy & Power 6.6. Electrical & Electronics 6.7. Others 7. Global Ceramic Matrix Composites Market by Region 7.1. Introduction 7.2 Europe 7.2.1 Germany 7.2.2 United Kingdom 7.2.3 France 7.2.4 Italy 7.2.5 Spain 7.2.6 Russia 7.2.7 Netherlands 7.2.8 Rest of the Europe 7.3 North America 7.3.1 United States 7.3.2 Canada 7.4 Asia Pacific 7.4.1 China 7.4.2 Japan 7.4.3 India 7.4.4 South Korea 7.4.5 Australia 7.4.6 Indonesia 7.4.7 Rest of the Asia Pacific 7.5 Latin America 7.5.1 Mexico 7.5.2 Brazil 7.5.3 Argentina 7.5.4 Rest of Latin America 7.6 Middle East & Africa 7.6.1 Saudi Arabia 7.6.2 Turkey 7.6.3 Iran 7.6.4 Rest of Middle East & Africa 8. SWOT Analysis 9. Porter's Five Forces 10. Market Value Chain Analysis 11. Competitive Landscape 11.1 Competitive Scenario 11.2 Company Profiles 11.2.1 General Electric Company 11.2.2 Rolls-Royce 11.2.3 SGL Carbon 11.2.4 Axiom Materials Inc. 11.2.5 United Technologies 11.2.6 3M Company 11.2.7 COI Ceramics 11.2.8 Lancer Systems 11.2.9 CoorsTek 11.2.10 Applied Thin Films 11.2.11 Ultramet 11.2.12 CFC Carbon Co., Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3ag2ma-matrix?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 DUBLIN, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Clean Beauty Market: Analysis By Product Type (Skin Care, Hair Care, Cosmetics, Fragrances, and Others), By Distribution Channel (Speciality Stores, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Online, and Others), By Region Size And Trends With Impact Of COVID-19 And Forecast up to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global clean beauty market was valued at US$7.22 billion in 2022. The market value is expected to reach US$14.36 billion by 2028. Clean beauty means that the product is non-toxic, free of harmful ingredients, and has all the ingredients mentioned in the labeling. Clean beauty doesn't shy away from synthetic (or lab-created) ingredients - as long as those synthetic ingredients are safe. Consumers are paying close attention to the ingredients in products, which is driving strong demand for clean beauty products. Over the past couple of years, consumers have spent more time focusing on skincare versus makeup which has driven increased awareness of ingredients in products. The higher up on the clean spectrum, the higher the growth. Moreover, younger consumers are slightly more inclined to purchase only clean products. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approx. 12% during the forecasted period of 2023-2028. Market Dynamics: Growth Drivers: The global clean beauty market growth is predicted to be supported by numerous growth drivers such as surging gen Z and the millennial population, increasing social media users and digital ad spending, increasing consumer awareness, growing e-commerce, increasing disposable income, favorable government regulations and initiatives, and many other factors. The influence of social media on consumer purchasing behavior has been significant. Due to the ubiquitous social media advertising, people are better informed about ingredients and more driven to make environmentally friendly purchases. As a result, the market for clean beauty products has been expanding over the years. Challenges: However, the market growth would be negatively impacted by various challenges such as the absence of a regulatory body or industry-wide standards, threats from counterfeit beauty products, etc. Trends: The market is projected to grow at a fast pace during the forecast period, due to various latest trends such as the growing integration of AR, VR, and AI in the beauty industry, product personalization, rising demand for eco-friendly products, search engine marketing, brand collaboration/ partnership, etc. AR and AI technologies are proving both popular and successful in the beauty industry because it can offer shoppers a personalized experience, which aims to make shopping much more targeted and easier for consumers. Whether it's through a skincare diagnostic selfie experience or a shade-matching try-on, AI and AR provide a wide range of solutions to fit in with the needs of a beauty brand and its customers. Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and Way Forward: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to negative growth rates in the initial period, as there was a supply chain disruption that affected the production of clean beauty products. In the later period, people became more aware of clean beauty. When the people's routines were put on hold, consumers started evaluating their lifestyle choices. The typical consumer began reading the fine print of the products they use, only to realize the damage such products have been causing. Thus, owing to the increased level of awareness among consumers, the clean beauty market faced positive growth in the year 2021. In the post-COVID era, the e-commerce of clean beauty products is expected to increase significantly. Competitive Landscape: The global clean beauty market is fragmented. The key players in the global clean beauty market are: Estee Lauder Companies Inc. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. The Honest Company, Inc. LVMH (Sephora) Natura & Co (Avon Products, Inc.) Credo Beauty Orveon (BareMinerals) Beautycounter Ilia Beauty Ere Perez RMS Beauty NakedPoppy Some of the strategies among key players in the market are mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations. For instance, in 2022, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. announced that the company had signed an agreement to acquire the TOM FORD brand. On the other hand, in 2022, Keys Soulcare, an e.l.f. Beauty's brand announced that the company had introduced key Soulcare's First Daily Moisturizer with SPF30 to Protect Your Light. Moreover, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) ranking, ELF is one of the best among the top-five mass beauty brands. ELF has the lowest percentage of products in the high-hazard area. Whereas, according to Green, Clean, Responsible (GCR) beauty rankings, ELF uses 100% clean ingredients, and works on meeting Clean 2.0 standards. On the other hand, more than half of the product category in other companies like Maybelline and Cover Girl uses clean ingredients. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Introduction 2.1 Clean Beauty: An Overview 2.1.1 Introduction to Clean Beauty 2.1.2 Difference between Clean, Natural, and Organic Beauty 2.1.3 Properties of Clean Beauty Products 2.2 Clean Beauty Segmentation: An Overview 2.2.1 Clean Beauty Segmentation 3. Global Market Analysis 3.1 Global Clean Beauty Market: An Analysis 3.1.1 Global Clean Beauty Market: An Overview 3.1.2 Global Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.1.3 Global Clean Beauty Market by Product Type (Skin Care, Hair Care, Cosmetics, Fragrances, and Others) 3.1.4 Global Clean Beauty Market by Distribution Channel (Speciality Stores, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Online, and Others) 3.1.5 Global Clean Beauty Market by Region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World) 3.2 Global Clean Beauty Market: Product Type Analysis 3.2.1 Global Clean Beauty Market by Product Type: An Overview 3.2.2 Global Skin Care Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.2.3 Global Hair Care Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.2.4 Global Cosmetics Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.2.5 Global Fragrances Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.2.6 Global Others Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.3 Global Clean Beauty Market: Distribution Channel Analysis 3.3.1 Global Clean Beauty Market by Distribution Channel: An Overview 3.3.2 Global Specialty Stores Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.3.3 Global Hypermarkets & Supermarkets Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.3.4 Global Online Clean Beauty Market by Value 3.3.5 Global Others Clean Beauty Market by Value 4. Regional Market Analysis 5. Impact of COVID-19 5.1 Impact of COVID-19 on Global Clean Beauty Market 5.2 Impact of COVID-19 on Clean Beauty Products 5.3 Post COVID-19 Impact on Global Clean Beauty Market 6. Market Dynamics 6.1 Growth Drivers 6.1.1 Surging Gen Z and Millennial Population 6.1.2 Increasing Social Media Influence and Digital Ad Spending 6.1.3 Increasing Consumer Awareness towards Natural Products 6.1.4 Growing E-commerce 6.1.5 Increasing Disposable Income 6.1.6 Favorable Government Regulations and Initiatives 6.2 Challenges 6.2.1 Absence of a Regulatory Body or Industry-wide Standards 6.2.2 Threat From Counterfeit Beauty Products 6.3 Market Trends 6.3.1 Growing Integration of AR, VR, and AI in Beauty Industry 6.3.2 Growing Product Innovations 6.3.3 Product Personalization 6.3.4 Rising Demand for Eco-Friendly Products 6.3.5 Search Engine Marketing 6.3.6 Brand Collaboration/ Partnership 6.3.7 Increasing Focus on Sustainable Packaging 6.3.8 Blue Beauty 6.3.9 Increasing Demand for Cleanical Products 7. Competitive Landscape 7.1 Global Clean Beauty Market Players by GCR Beauty Rankings 7.2 Global Clean Beauty Market Players by EWG Rankings 7.3 Global Clean Beauty Market Players by Advertising Spend 8. Company Profiles 8.1 Estee Lauder Companies Inc. 8.1.1 Business Overview 8.1.2 Net Sales by Product Category 8.1.3 Business Strategies 8.2 e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. 8.2.1 Business Overview 8.2.2 Net Sales by Region 8.2.3 Business Strategies 8.3 The Honest Company, Inc. 8.3.1 Business Overview 8.3.2 Revenue by Product Category 8.3.3 Business Strategies 8.4 LVMH (Sephora) 8.4.1 Business Overview 8.4.2 Revenue by Business Group 8.4.3 Business Strategies 8.5 Natura & Co (Avon Products, Inc.) 8.5.1 Business Overview 8.5.2 Business Strategies 8.6 Credo Beauty 8.6.1 Business Overview 8.6.2 Business Strategies 8.7 Orveon (BareMinerals) 8.7.1 Business Overview 8.7.2 Business Strategies 8.8 Beautycounter 8.8.1 Business Overview 8.8.2 Business Strategies 8.9 Ilia Beauty 8.9.1 Business Overview 8.9.2 Business Strategies 8.10 Ere Perez 8.10.1 Business Overview 8.11 RMS Beauty 8.11.1 Business Overview 8.12 NakedPoppy 8.12.1 Business Overview For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/85o4a3-clean?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 SOURCE Research and Markets OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is partnering with the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry Company (Angel Island Ferry) to support the electrification of The Angel Island vessel, which plans to operate as California's first zero-emission, electric propulsion short-route ferry beginning in 2024. The electrification project represents an important milestone for PG&E's Electric Vehicle (EV) Fleet Program, expanding the program's support of transportation electrification to include the marine sector. The Angel Island ferry plans to operate as Californias first zero-emission, electric propulsion short-route ferry beginning in 2024 "The Angel Island ferry is an important part of California history and Bay Area tourism, carrying hundreds of thousands of visitors to Angel Island State Park for nearly a half-century. We are excited to support and collaborate on its conversion to an electric propulsion vessel," said Lydia Krefta, PG&E's Director for Clean Energy Transportation. "For years, PG&E has been leading the way toward California's clean energy transportation future and supporting our customers as they electrify their vehicle fleets. This partnership marks a significant expansion of our resources beyond land-based electric vehicles, and it demonstrates how we deliver for our hometowns and in support of California's clean energy goals." PG&E's EV Fleet Program helps medium- and heavy-duty fleet customers easily and cost-effectively install charging infrastructure via comprehensive construction support and financial incentives. Through the collaboration with Angel Island Ferry, PG&E plans to bolster electricity transmission to the ferry terminal and support the installation of charging infrastructure to help power the 59-foot, 400-passenger vessel for its ferry service, sunset cruises and chartered events. "We are very excited that The Angel Island will be the first of the short-run ferries in California to be 100% zero-emission, as our company continues supporting the natural environment of the Bay and our beautiful state park," said Captain Maggie McDonogh, fourth-generation owner and operator of The Angel Island ferry. "Getting adequate electricity to our ferry terminal is an essential part of this plan. We could not move forward with going electric without the important support we receive as a participant in PG&E's EV Fleet Program. It shows that PG&E supports small family-owned businesses like ours that are trying to reduce emissions." California-based Green Yachts has been selected to transform The Angel Island to an electric propulsion vessel. "This electrification project wouldn't be possible without sufficient electrical supply for fast charging between ferry runs. PG&E has been a great partner throughout the collaboration," said Graham Balch, Managing Broker of Green Yachts. "An electric semi-truck requires 2 kWh to go one mile, and The Angel Island ferry requires 30 kWh to go one mile. The increased energy requirement per mile shows the significant challenge associated with electrifying the marine sector." "The electrification of The Angel Island vessel aligns with our core focus of proactively preparing the grid for the future, increasing access to charging infrastructure, and supporting electric transportation adoption through rates, rebates, tools, and education," said Aaron August, PG&E Vice President, Utility Partnerships and Innovation. "PG&E is committed to providing easy-to-use and affordable clean transportation programs and incentives that help redefine the energy landscape to support California's clean air and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and collective action on climate change." As part of the 2030 clean energy goals outlined in PG&E's Climate Strategy Report, the company is aiming to proactively prepare the grid for 12,000 GWh of EV-related electric load and improve processes to enable rapid, safe EV energization and interconnection. It is also working to enable 2 million EVs to participate in vehicle-grid integration applications, allowing EVs to be a cornerstone of both reliability and climate resilience. PG&E offers a wide variety of resources and programs to support its commercial and residential EV customers. About PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/. About Angel Island Ferry Angel Island Ferry has been providing ferry service since 1959 and brings tens of thousands of visitors annually to Angel Island State Park from the Town of Tiburon in Marin County. It also operates sunset cruises and special events. For more information, visit www.angelislandferry.com or email [email protected]. About Green Yachts Green Yachts' mission is to decarbonize the marine sector and advance the electric revolution on the water. It is dedicated to the sale and servicing of electric boats and converting commercial and recreational vessels to electric propulsion. It is the first marine sector authorized dealer in California's CORE (Clean Offroad Equipment) program and an authorized dealer for EPTechnologies,, IPTechnology, and Salona Yachts. For more information, visit www.greenyachtsales.com. SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The pharmaceutical filtration industry is expected to grow significantly in the near future due to the increasing demand for accurate and safe treatments, the growing need for drug development, and the need for biosecurity. The industry is expected to benefit from advances in technology, such as the development of new materials, enabling the development of new, more efficient filtration systems. The industry is also expected to benefit from the increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals, as these drugs require more advanced filtration systems. Furthermore, the increasing need for reducing the cost of drug production is expected to drive the growth of the pharmaceutical filtration market. Pharmaceutical Filtration Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $13.5 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $26.2 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 14.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The pharmaceutical filtration market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.2% during the forecast period. Growth in the pharmaceutical filtration market can be attributed to factors such as rapid growth in the R&D and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, growing adoption of single use filters, new product developments by key market players, growing filtration scrutiny by regulatory bodies, and advanced development in nano fiber technologies. Despite this, issues such as membrane fouling, and large capital investment required to set up new production facilities are expected to hinder market growth. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=209343847 Browse in-depth TOC on "Pharmaceutical Filtration Market" 514 - Tables 49 - Figures 454 - Pages Pharmaceutical Filtration Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2022 $13.5 billion Estimated Value by 2027 $26.2 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 14.2% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product, Technique, Type, Application, Scale of operation, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America (LATAM) and Middle East and Africa (MEA) Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Growth opportunities in emerging economies Key Market Drivers Rising R&D spending in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries The single use systems segment accounted for the largest share of the systems segment in the pharmaceutical filtration market in 2022. Based on products, the pharmaceutical filtration market is segmented into filters, systems, and other products. Filters segment accounted for the largest share of the pharmaceutical market; membrane filters are the key revenue contributors to this segment. Membrane filters are microporous plastic films with specific pore size ratings. These filters are used to separate contaminated particles from liquids. They are available in a variety of polymers, pore sizes, diameters, and surface types. The nanofiltration segment accounted for the smallest share of the process segment in the pharmaceutical filtration market in 2022. Based on technique, the pharmaceutical filtration market is segmented into microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and other techniques. The other techniques segment includes reverse osmosis and ion exchange. The nanofiltration techniques accounted for the smallest market share of this market in 2022, and this can be primarily attributed to the limited retention for salts and univalent ions by nanofilters; nanofiltration membranes being comparatively more expensive than reverse osmosis membranes. The Asia Pacific region is the fastest-growing region of the pharmaceutical filtration market in 2021. Based on the region, the pharmaceutical filtration market is segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment of the market owing to the rapid technology development in nanofiber technologies, expanding manufacturing of generics, growing government budget for R&D, and growing biotechnology industries. Request for FREE Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=209343847 Pharmaceutical Filtration Market Dynamics: Drivers: Growth of biopharmaceutical industry to drive filtration products demand Rising R&D spending in pharmaceutical & biotechnology industries to drive market growth Increasing adoption of single-use technologies New product launches by leading players support market growth Increasing purity requirements in end user segments Restraints: Issues in membrane fouling to restrict market growth High capital investment for new production facilities to limit entry of small players Opportunities: Emerging economies offer lucrative growth opportunities Advances in nanofiber technology to drive possibilities of nanofiltration Challenges: Increased cost, reduced speed, and yield of filters to restrict market growth Difficulty in small players and new entrants survival Key Market Players: Key players in the drug discovery service Market include Merck KGaA (Germany), Danaher Corporation (US), Sartorius AG (Germany), 3M (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US). Recent Developments: In January 2023 , Sartorius AG ( Germany ) and RoosterBio, Inc. (US) signed a collaboration deal to provide purification solutions and establish scalable downstream manufacturing processes for exosome-based therapies. Through this collaboration, Sartorius will provide its scalable filtration equipment, such as SartoflowSmart and Sartoflow Advanced, for the clarification, concentration, and formulation of exosomes. , Sartorius AG ( ) and RoosterBio, Inc. (US) signed a collaboration deal to provide purification solutions and establish scalable downstream manufacturing processes for exosome-based therapies. Through this collaboration, Sartorius will provide its scalable filtration equipment, such as SartoflowSmart and Sartoflow Advanced, for the clarification, concentration, and formulation of exosomes. In June 2022 , Donaldson Company Inc. (US) acquired Purilogics, LLC (US), an early-stage biotechnology company that manufactures membrane chromatography products. Through this acquisition, the company will have access to the purification tools for a wide range of biologics, including mRNA, plasmid DNA, viral particles, monoclonal antibodies, and proteins that Purilogics offers. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=209343847 Pharmaceutical filtration Market - Report Highlights: The market size is updated for the base year 2022 and forecasted from 2023 to 2028 by studying the impact of the recession on the overall pharmaceutical filtration industry. The new edition includes the impact of recession on the pharmaceutical filtration market (especially the region-wise impact in the geographic analysis section, product, type, technique, the scale of operation, and application sections) in 2022. There is variation in the growth rate of the market due to the ongoing recession. Additional points such as ranges/scenario, trends/disruptions impacting customer's business, pricing analysis, value chain analysis, supply chain analysis, ecosystem analysis, patent analysis, key conferences and events (2023), the list of key regulatory bodies & regulatory landscape, Porter's Five Forces analysis, key stakeholders, the influence of buying decision, and buying criteria among end users have been added in the market overview chapter. The new edition of the report provides updated financial information till 2022 (depending on availability) for each listed company in a graphical representation. This will help in the easy analysis of the present status of profiled companies in terms of their financial strength, profitability, key revenue-generating region/country, and business segment focus in terms of the highest revenue-generating segment. Recent developments are helpful in understanding market trends and growth strategies adopted by players in the market. The number of product launches has increased in the last three years ( January 2019 to January 2023 ). to ). Tracking product portfolios of prominent market players helps to analyse the major products in the pharmaceutical filtration market. The new edition of the report provides an updated product portfolio of the companies profiled in the report. Key market strategies/right to win, market share analysis for 2022, revenue share analysis of key market players from 2020 to 2022, and competitive leadership mapping have been added in the competitive landscape section of the report. The new version of the report includes competitive leadership mapping for companies operating in the pharmaceutical filtration market. This new section is an output of a comprehensive study of the key vendors offering coagulation analysers. The top 25 vendors were shortlisted from a list of 50+ vendors, and these were evaluated based on market share/ranking and product footprint, rated, and positioned on a 2x2 quadrant, referred as Company Evaluation Quadrant, categorizing them as 'Star,' 'Emerging Leader,' 'Pervasive,' and 'Participant' companies. Browse Adjacent Market: Biotechnology Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Laboratory Filtration Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 Hollow Fiber Filtration Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 Pharmaceutical Membrane Filtration Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 Depth Filtration Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 Sterile Filtration Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/pharmaceutical-filtration-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/pharmaceutical-filtration.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets The products being promoted include, among others, pineapple, banana, yuca, taro, eddoes, sweet potato, green coconut, chayote, sugar cane, and papaya. SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Diversity, excellence, quality, and innovation are just some of the characteristics that make up the essence of the Costa Rican agricultural sector, which is putting its exportable products on display at the most important fresh produce fair in Europe: Fruitlogistica 2023, taking place in Germany from February 8 to 10. Along with the country's brand Essential Costa Rica and the Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER), the companies participating in the trade fair include Golden Roots, ByC Exportadores, Chestnut Hills, Grupo Batgal, Exportaciones Donatella Costa Rica, Exportaciones Nortenas, Grupo Acon, Grupo San Alberto, Agricola Industrial La Lydia, Pinalbo, Cultivated Pineapples from Costa Rica, PROBIO, Tropifoods Costa Rica, Upala Agricola, Verita Costa Rica, and Grupo Visa. This year, Costa Rica's participation includes a varied offer of products such as fresh pineapples, bananas, yuca, taro, eddoes, traditional sweet potatoes and orange sweet potatoes, green coconuts, chayote, sugar cane, papayas, mangoes, plantains, and organic pineapples. "Costa Rica's agricultural sector is recognized the world over thanks to factors such as the diversity of its offer and the quality of the fresh products exported. This has allowed us to position ourselves in international markets as a supplier of excellence. Costa Rica is recognized as the world's top exporter of pineapple (2021, Trademap), the top supplier of roots and tubers to the United States, and ranks #5 in the European Union (2021, Trademap), among others. This recognition translates to employment and well-being in many regions of the country, especially for those outside the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) that are traditionally engaged in agricultural activities," said Pedro Beirute Prada, general manager of PROCOMER. Every year, more than 1,900 exhibitors from 87 countries participate in Fruitlogistica, and around 72,000 professionals from the sector visit it, seeking to establish new business relations, follow up on current ones, and discover trends and innovations. Merilyn Acuna, key accounts manager of Grupo Visa, commented that "the main purpose of being here (at Fruitlogistica) is growth. For this reason, we are looking for new business opportunities as well as taking care of the clients we already have. Europe is an extremely important market where we are experiencing growth. And being here, hand in hand with PROCOMER, makes us feel confident that the trade fair will bring us important opportunities." As she sees it, Gabriela Sandi, commercial manager of Exportaciones Nortenas, added that "the goal of the company, in its participation at Fruitlogistica, is to build commercial relations in Europe. There is always room to establish contacts with companies, follow up, and visit with our current clients. And what better way to do that than hand in hand with PROCOMER, who has always been a strategic ally." Beirute emphasized the fact that Fruitlogistica is a strategic trade fair for PROCOMER and for the sector since agricultural exports represent 3.2% of the country's GDP and 10% of the employed population works in activities related to the agricultural sector. "Since exports and the agricultural sector are the engine of our economy, we must encourage, innovate, and support the sector in search of new business opportunities," he concluded. The agricultural sector in numbers Exports from the agricultural sector represent 19% of total exports, the second most important sector (2022). Source: PROCOMER. The Costa Rican agricultural sector exported 2,243 million dollars' worth of goods to 104 destinations (2022). Source: PROCOMER. 594 companies exported 176 products from the agricultural sector in 2022. Source: PROCOMER. The #1 exporter of pineapples in the world (2021). Source: Trademap. The #1 supplier of roots and tubers to the U.S. and the #5 to the European Union (2021). Source: Trademap. The #3 exporter of bananas in the world (2021). Source: Trademap. The #2 supplier of bananas to the European Union (EU-27) (2021). Source: Trademap. The #1 supplier of yuca to the European Union (EU 27) (2021). Source: Trademap. The #4 exporter of yuca in the world (2021). Source: Trademap. The #1 supplier of bananas to Spain and Germany (2021). Source: Trademap. and (2021). Source: Trademap. The #4 supplier of melons to the Netherlands (2021). Source: Trademap. (2021). Source: Trademap. The #1 supplier of watermelons to the Netherlands (2021). Source: Trademap. (2021). Source: Trademap. The #2 supplier of chayote to the US (2021). Source: Trademap. The #1 exporter of ginger from Central American countries (2021). Source: Trademap. The #2 supplier of ginger to the European Union (2021). Source: Trademap. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2000266/1.jpg SOURCE PROCOMER TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Rapyuta Robotics, a pioneer in cloud robotics with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan and Schaumburg, Chicago in the US, and the number one supplier of collaborative pick-assist autonomous mobile robots (PA-AMR) in Japan, has partnered with Infinite Outsourcing Solutions, a premier provider of staffing and outsourcing solutions in Canada. The alliance aims to offer comprehensive solutions to companies seeking to optimize their operations, leading to improved efficiency, accuracy, safety, cost savings, scalability, and increased employee morale. Pick-assist autonomous mobile robots (PA-AMR) in collaboration with the workforce. (CNW Group/Infinite Outsourcing Solutions) "We are thrilled to partner with Infinite Outsourcing Solutions to provide our customers with end-to-end solutions for optimizing their operations," said Dr. Gajan Mohanarajah, CEO of Rapyuta Robotics. "By leveraging both companies' strengths, expertise, and resources, we can provide a complete solution that will enable companies to stay ahead of the competition and scale their business." Infinite Outsourcing Solutions' CEO, Ragavan Baladurai, stated that "the partnership with Rapyuta Robotics will drive innovation and uphold social labor responsibility for our clients. This collaboration will bring cutting-edge solutions to the market and offer unique value to customers, streamlining operations, and ensuring competitiveness in today's rapidly evolving business world while addressing labor challenges." The partnership between Rapyuta Robotics and Infinite Outsourcing Solutions is set to start immediately and both companies are looking forward to a successful and long-lasting relationship. About Rapyuta Robotics Rapyuta Robotics Co., Ltd., a top provider of PA-AMR in Japan(1) is a Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) spin-off with a vision to be the leader in making robots more attainable and useful by taking an open, platform-centric approach to develop and operate robotics solutions. Their solutions are designed to enhance efficiency, productivity, and safety in the warehouse by utilizing a collaborative approach. About Infinite Outsourcing Solutions Infinite Outsourcing Solutions is a leading provider of business solutions and staffing. With extensive industry experience, they offer tailored outsourcing services to tackle HR change, and challenges in today's market. They prioritize efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction while offering supply chain solutions to streamline clients' operations. Their team of experts delivers exceptional support worldwide and their commitment to excellence and passion for innovation make them a reliable partner for businesses seeking growth and success. For Information: Client Relations 647-707-6044 [email protected] Will Childress 773-236-2401 [email protected] Note. 1 Source: Deloitte Tohmatsu Mic Research, sales share in 2021 for PA-AMR market SOURCE Infinite Outsourcing Solutions CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- King & Spalding announced today that Geoffrey M. King has joined the firm's Corporate, Finance and Investments (CFI) practice group as a partner. He is based in the Chicago office. Geoffrey M. King King advises on all aspects of complex corporate restructuring, workouts, bankruptcy proceedings, distressed asset acquisitions and bankruptcy-related litigation. He represents large and mid-sized corporate debtors, secured lenders, equity sponsors, purchasers, unsecured creditors and other interested parties in both in-court and out-of-court restructurings. He also has considerable experience advising boards of directors, independent directors, and special committees of boards of directors in distressed situations, including in connection with internal investigations. "Geoff adds additional first-chair capabilities to our restructuring team, and his broad range of experience fits well with our platform, our client base and our plans for continued expansion of the team," said Todd Holleman, head of the firm's CFI practice group. "Geoff is a bright, energetic lawyer with a stellar service orientation whose counsel will be highly valued by clients, especially as this period of economic uncertainty continues." King joins the firm from Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, where he was a partner. He earned his undergraduate degree from Miami University and his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. "I've been impressed by King & Spalding's seamless practice integration and team approach to service and am excited about bringing that to clients facing significant challenges in the unpredictable economic environment we are in," said King. "The firm's platform and strategic vision provide a great opportunity to expand my practice and be part of an exciting growth story for the firm's transactional team." About King & Spalding Celebrating more than 130 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 1,200 lawyers in 23 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com. SOURCE K&S SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard Runyon is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Business Professional for his work as Senior Investigator and Analyst. Mr. Runyon earned a criminal justice degree at California State University, which he notes is where he discovered his love for science. He returned to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, and earned a K-12 teaching credential along with his Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science degree in biology. According to Mr. Runyon, he worked as a biology instructor at the College of the Redwoods, a public community college with its main campus in Eureka, CA, and Allan Hancock College, a public community college in Santa Maria, CA, before becoming an environmental health specialist for Santa Barbara County. He also worked as a facilities coordinator for Lockheed Martin Space Operations Command. Mr. Runyon noted that before joining the Food and Drug Administration, he spent more than a decade as a senior scientist for Halliburton NUS Corporation and held an adjunct faculty position at Chapman University, a private research university in Orange, CA. He is also a retired investigator and senior analyst for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working there from 2000 until 2014. Mr. Runyon is considered an expert in handling risk management, food, and interstate travel cases for the FDA. His experience includes international investigations of melamine-contaminated pet food and work on Mexican petrochemical plants with NUS. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific organization. According to Mr. Runyon, the AAAS seeks to "advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people." Mr. Runyon credits his success to perseverance, flexibility, and passion for travel to provide community education on his specialty topics. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who USAA and the Federal Trade Commission Report an 80% increase in cases over two years SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the United States military are increasingly finding themselves the victims of identity theft and subjects of romance and imposter scams. In 2021, the FBI received more than 25,000 reports of romance fraud complaints. The FTC announced that in the last five years, people have reported losing a staggering $1.2 billion to romance scamsmore than any other FTC fraud category. Both USAA and the FTC say that the trend is rapidly expanding and have cited an 80% increase in the number of cases since 2020. "Unfortunately, the military is somewhat of an easy target for these kinds of scams," said Stacey Nash, senior vice president and head of fraud management and central operations at USAA Federal Savings Bank. "Because they're often stationed overseas, it's very easy for the scammers to explain why they might need money or why they can't meet in person." Some warning signs that you might be getting targeted by a scammer in a military romance or imposter scam include: Asking you to send them money for food, housing, medical treatment or travel. Saying that they've been cut off from their bank or that someone they love has misused their money. Communicate that there is an emergency and need to get money quickly. They tell you they cannot talk on the phone or on video for security reasons. Ask you to purchase a luxury item like a laptop computer from a third party and send it to them. In today's social media and online-driven world, it's easy to have your identity stolen and used for these types of scams, Army Col. Daniel Blackmon, Chief of Staff, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill knows this firsthand. Using stolen photos that he had posted on Twitter, thousands of scammers were pretending to be the Army officer and asking for money and other things of value. "The military provides basic necessities like food and housing and we all can get access to our banks," said Blackmon "If people know that, then perhaps it will disrupt the idea behind the scam that troops are stuck without money, can't deposit their paycheck, or need help getting funds to a sick family member." If you find that you've become the victim of an imposter or romance scam, there are several ways to report it: Report the fake profile and contact the dating app you've been using immediately. There are fraud protocols on most apps. Visit the Federal Trade Commission identity theft website at identitytheft.gov Contact the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov Call 877-ID-THEFT If you are a soldier, follow guidance issued by the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division. Report the scam to your bank or financial institution immediately by using the number on the back of your debit card or statement. USAA members can call 877-782-7256. About USAA Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to more than 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs approximately 36,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com. Contact: USAA Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE USAA PORTLAND, Maine, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Running Tide and Deloitte announce their cooperation in the form of an independent review of key components of Running Tide's carbon removal system towards the generation of high quality carbon removal credits. Transparency and independent validation and verification are critical to the advancement and eventual large-scale deployment of carbon removal technologies. In Running Tide's case, this includes a review of processes for quantifying net carbon removed, assessing its permanence and additionality, the application of the best available science, and a comprehensive consideration of environmental and ecological impacts associated with deploying Running Tide's carbon removal systems. The review will be carried out by carbon experts from Deloitte and will focus on Running Tide's planned 2023 carbon removal research and operations in Iceland. The first phase will include Deloitte's review of Running Tide's project proposal and Environmental Impact Assessment plans. During phase two, Deloitte will review Running Tide's Framework Protocol detailing the quantification approach for their carbon removal system in accordance with ISO standards, specifically ISO 14064-2, which describes the principles and requirements carbon projects must follow as the basis for generating high quality carbon credits. Deloitte's review of the Framework Protocol is being conducted in parallel with a thorough peer-review process. The peer-review process is currently ongoing and has garnered feedback from experts in the carbon removal, oceanographic, and climate spheres, and will ensure stakeholder considerations are effectively integrated into the public release of the Protocol. It is expected that this expert review and independent oversight will be a requirement for all planned and future carbon removal projects conducted by Running Tide, which will also be subject to additional third party validation and verification. About Deloitte: Deloitte provides industry-leading audit and assurance, tax and legal, consulting, financial advisory, and risk advisory services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500 and thousands of private companies. Our professionals deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way toward a stronger economy, a more equitable society and a sustainable world. For over 20 years, Deloitte has helped organizations make progress toward delivering sustainable value for their stakeholders from investors, customers and business partners, to regulators, governments, and communities. Deloitte serves organizations as they redefine their strategies, embed sustainability into their operations, meet disclosure and regulatory requirements and helps them accelerate the transformation of their organizations. About Running Tide: Running Tide is a global ocean health company. Our mission is to restore ocean health, rebalance the carbon cycle, decarbonize global supply chains, and revitalize coastal communities. We develop integrated software and hardware systems, design monitoring and measurement capabilities, and deploy solutions, including systems for open ocean carbon removal and combatting ocean acidification. For additional information, please reach out to [email protected]. SOURCE Running Tide BOONE, N.C., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse accepted its first patients at the Emergency Field Hospital in Antakya, Turkey. Back-to-back earthquakes rocked the region last week, killing more than 36,000 people and leaving tens of thousands in desperate need of medical care. The Emergency Field Hospital was airlifted on Friday, along with critically needed supplies, such as hygiene kits, solar lights and shelter tarp to aid families in the hardest-hit areas. The Samaritan's Purse Emergency Field Hospital in now open in Turkey, treating earthquake survivors. Tweet this Samaritan's Purse doctors and nurses care for earthquake survivors at the organization's Emergency Field Hospital in Turkey. The field hospitalequipped with 52 patient beds, a pharmacy and 2 operating roomsis located in the parking lot of a 1,100-bed hospital, which is no longer functional due to the earthquake. Samaritan's Purse doctors and nurses treated dozens of patients in the first hours of operation. "Our Emergency Field Hospital is now open, and our medical team has already treated earthquake injuries like broken bones, wounds and infections, said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "People are suffering, and we are there to meet their physical needs in Jesus' Name. Please pray for everyone affected and for our Disaster Assistance Response Team as they meet these emergency needs." The N.C.-based organization has 93 disaster response specialists on the ground in Turkey with more traveling to the area in the coming days. MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: Interview Nick Bechert , team lead on the ground in Turkey , team lead on the ground in Interview Mel Wubs , hospital director of the Emergency Field Hospital, in Antakya, Turkey , hospital director of the Emergency Field Hospital, in Antakya, High-quality photos and broadcast quality b-roll available here MEDIA REQUESTS Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situationsespecially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org. SOURCE Samaritan's Purse NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE: AVYA), and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, and docketed under 23-cv-00003, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Avaya securities between November 22, 2021 and November 29, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchase or otherwise acquired Avaya securities, you have until March 6, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Avaya purports to be a "global leader in digital communications products, solutions and services for businesses of all sizes delivering its technology predominantly through software and services." The Company claims that its "global, experienced team of professionals delivers award-winning services from initial planning and design to seamless implementation and integration, to ongoing managed operations, optimization, training and support." The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company's internal control over financial reporting ("ICFR") was deficient in several areas; (ii) as a result of these deficiencies, the Company had failed to design and maintain effective controls over its whistleblower policies and its ethics and compliance program; (iii) the Company's deteriorating financial condition was likely to raise substantial doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On July 28, 2022, Avaya announced the termination of its Chief Executive Officer James M. Chirico, Jr.. The Company also announced preliminary Q3 2022 financial results that included expected revenues and adjusted EBITDA well below previously given guidance and an unquantified but "significant" impairment charge. In addition, Avaya withdrew its 2022 guidance. On this news, Avaya's stock price fell $1.19 per share, or 56.99%, to close at $0.90 per share on July 29, 2022. Then, on August 9, 2022, Avaya announced that: (1) it determined there was substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern; (2) it would not timely file its financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2022; (3) its Audit Committee commenced internal investigations into circumstances surrounding the Company's financial results for the quarter; and (4) the Audit Committee also commenced an investigation into matters raised by a whistleblower. On this news, Avaya's stock price fell $0.51 per share, or 45.54%, to close at $0.61 per share on August 9, 2022. Finally, before the market opened on November 30, 2022, Avaya disclosed in a Current Report filed on Form 8-K with the SEC that "control deficiencies [] management had been reviewing represent material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting" and that "management's assessment of ICFR included in Item 9A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year 2021 ended September 30, 2021, filed with the [SEC] on November 22, 2021 [] should no longer be relied upon." Specifically, the Form 8-K stated that the Company "did not design and maintain effective controls related to the information and communication component of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission framework," "did not design and maintain effective controls to ensure appropriate communication between certain functions within the Company," and "did not design and maintain effective controls over the ethics and compliance program." On this news, Avaya's stock price fell $0.16 per share, or 14.28%, to close at $0.96 per share on November 30, 2022. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of GrafTech International Ltd. ("GrafTech" or the "Company") (NYSE: EAF). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether GrafTech and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On September 16, 2022, GrafTech disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that regulatory inspectors in Mexico issued a temporary suspension notice to the Company's graphite electrode manufacturing facility in Monterrey. On this news, GrafTech's stock price fell $0.45 per share, or 8.49%, to close at $4.85 per share on September 19, 2022. Then, on February 3, 2023, GrafTech reported earnings per share of $0.17, missing consensus estimates of $0.22. GrafTech stated that is performance "was impacted by higher costs, softer industry demand, and the impact of the temporary suspension of our operations in Mexico[.]" On this news, GrafTech's stock price fell $1.01 per share, or 15.33%, to close at $5.58 per share on February 3, 2023. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Growing demand for smart flow meters in industries such as food and beverage, chemicals, petrochemicals, oil & gas industry, and water and wastewater management, rising use of IoT-based technologies, and rise in industrial automation drive the global smart flow meter market. PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Smart Flow Meter Market by Type (Magnetic, Coriolis, Ultrasonic, Vortex, Multiphase, Thermal, Others (Turbine, Variable Area, and Differential Pressure)), by End User (Water and Wastewater, Power Generation, Chemicals, Food and Beverages, Oil and Gas, Others), by Communication Protocol (PROFIBUS, Modbus, HART, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031" According to the report, the global smart flow meter industry was valued at $2.7 billion in 2021 and is estimated to generate $5.4 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 7.4% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chain, regional landscape, and competitive scenario. Download Report Sample: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/32138 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities Growing demand for smart flow meters in industries such as food and beverage, agriculture, chemicals, petrochemicals, oil & gas industry, and utility such as water and wastewater management, rising use of Internet of Things-based technologies, increased demand for accurate real-time data, and rise in industrial automation fuel the growth of the global smart flow meter market. However, rising costs due to technological advancements hinder the global market growth. On the other hand, technological advancements will present new growth opportunities for the global smart flow meter market in the coming years. Covid-19 Scenario During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global smart flow meter market experienced a negative growth. This is due to the halt in operations in the oil & gas industry which was a major driving industry for the market. The same goes for the chemical industry which heavily relies on smart flow meters. However, the market recovered soon post COVID-19 lockdowns, as operations in the oil and gas, chemical, and water & wastewater industries came back to normal. The magnetic segment to grab the largest revenue during the forecast period Based on type, the magnetic segment contributed to the largest share of nearly one-fourth of the global smart flow meter market in 2021, and is expected to rule the roost during the forecast period. This is owing to its high accuracy in data results. However, the coriolis segment is projected to witness the fastest CAGR of 7.9% from 2022 to 2031, due to its advanced technology and real-time data analysis. Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/32138 The oil and gas segment to dominate the market during the forecast period Based on end user, the oil and gas segment contributed to the largest share of nearly one-fourth of the global smart flow meter market in 2021, and is expected to maintain its leadership in terms of revenue during the forecast period. The same segment is projected to witness the fastest CAGR of 7.9% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to a rise in operational activities in the sector, owing to the growing demand as population is increasing. The PROFIBUS segment to dominate the market during the forecast period Based on communication protocol, the PROFIBUS segment contributed to the largest share of nearly one-third of the global smart flow meter market in 2021, and is expected to maintain a noteworthy revenue growth during the forecast period. The same segment is projected to witness the fastest CAGR of 7.8% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the fact that it is easy and flexible to use. Buy This Report (275 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3RTJK33 North America to achieve the largest revenue and fastest growth by 2031 Based on region, the market in North America was the largest in 2021, accounting for more than one-fourth of the global smart flow meter market, and is likely to maintain its dominance during the forecast timeframe. The same market is likely to show the fastest CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period. This is owing to the rising activities in the oil & gas industry, rising demand in the food and beverage industry, and wastewater management operations in the region. Leading Market Players ABB Ltd. Em-tec GmbH General Electric Hitachi Ltd. (Hitachi High-Tech Corporation) Siemens Honeywell International Inc. ZENNER International GmbH and Co. KG Peltek India Badger Meter, Inc. Emerson Electric Corporation The report analyzes these key players of the global smart flow meter 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. Trending Reports in Flow Meter Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Ultrasonic Flowmeter Market: Global Opportunity Analysis, and Industry Forecast, 20212028 Flow Meter Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Fuel Dispenser Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Market): Global Opportunity Analysis and Forecast, 20212030 Gas Meter Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212028 Axial Flow Pump Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 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 us: 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/energy-and-power Follow Us on Blog: https://www.marketinshort.com/ Follow Us on | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway Launches in Boca Raton, Florida Click HERE for Spirit Airlines & Lynn University aircraft photo shoot images MIRAMAR, Fla., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspiring pilots can now join the fast track to a rewarding career at one of the nation's fastest-growing airlines while they finish college. Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) and Lynn University today announced the launch of the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program at Lynn's Burton D. Morgan College of Aeronautics in Boca Raton, Florida. The collaboration is a first of its kind for Spirit, allowing students to attend a traditional university while gaining valuable experience toward a future career flying the carrier's signature yellow planes. Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway aims to expand the airline's pipeline of professional pilots by offering mentorship, program guidance and a clearly defined path to become a Spirit First Officer. Lynn students can apply for the program after completing their sophomore year and obtaining a recommendation from a faculty member in the College of Aeronautics. If successful in Spirit's interview process, they will receive a conditional offer of employment, a Spirit Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and will be mentored as they work toward completing their degree program and the flight hours required for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. "As a Lynn graduate, it's especially rewarding to work with my alma mater and create valuable opportunities for the next generation of pilots," said Ryan Rodosta, Senior Director of Flight Operations and System Chief Pilot at Spirit Airlines. "Lynn and Spirit both have a strong presence in South Florida, which makes for an exciting collaboration as the school develops highly skilled pilots for our growing airline." "This opportunity with Spirit Airlines opens another door for Lynn's highly trained students to advance and achieve success in their future aviation careers," said Mike Petroski, interim dean for Lynn's Burton D. Morgan College of Aeronautics. "The program allows Spirit access to our pool of talented aeronautic students, who in turn will receive mentorship, quality training, and the opportunity to progress to a rewarding career at a commercial airline." Spirit flies some of the newest, most fuel-efficient aircraft in the industry across a network of 90+ destinations in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Many more brand-new planes are planned for delivery in 2023, creating opportunities for First Officers to quickly upgrade to Captain. Spirit's Pilots recently approved a contract that provides a significant pay increase and other enhanced benefits. Spirit also offers its Pilots industry-leading training and great quality of life. To learn more about the program and application process, visit Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway | Lynn University Recognition Spirit was recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity 2022 following its active efforts to create and celebrate a diverse workplace environment. Spirit also recently received the top ranking in its category in both the Port of Seattle Fly Quiet Awards and the LAX Fly Quieter Program. In addition, the airline was recognized as one of LinkedIn's Top Companies in Travel & Hospitality in 2022, which ranks the 25 best workplaces to grow a career in the industry. Spirit was also recognized for safety with the FAA's "Aviation Maintenance Technician Diamond Award of Excellence " for the fourth consecutive year. About Spirit Airlines: Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the options they choose like bags, seat assignments, refreshments and Wi-Fi something we call A La Smarte. Our Fit Fleet is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the United States. We serve destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, making it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. We are committed to inspiring positive change in the communities where we live and work through the Spirit Charitable Foundation . Come save with us at spirit.com . About Lynn University: Lynn University is an independent college based in Boca Raton, Florida, with approximately 3,500 students from over 100 countries. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Lynn for its innovation, international students and value. Lynn's NCAA Division II Fighting Knights have won 25 national titles, its Conservatory of Music features a world-renowned faculty of performers, and its nationally recognized Institute for Achievement and Learning empowers students with learning differences. The school's Dialogues curriculum and award-winning iPad program help Lynn graduates gain the intellectual flexibility and global experience to fulfill their potential in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit lynn.edu. SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc. Additional location bolsters St. Croix Hospice's ability to deliver high-quality care in Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley region CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Croix Hospice continues their growth in the Midwest with a new branch in Chippewa Falls, WI. This new location marks the fourteenth St. Croix Hospice branch in Wisconsin and will help local hospice caregivers better reach the large number of patients within the Chippewa Valley community. St. Croix Hospice staff headquartered at new Chippewa Falls, WI branch "We have been serving the state of Wisconsin for many years, continuing our long tradition of exceptional patient care," says St. Croix Hospice CEO Heath Bartness. "That reputation of excellence leads more patients, families and facilities to seek our services." Hospice care continues to be underutilized throughout the country, and St. Croix Hospice is committed to expanding access to the hospice benefit throughout the Midwest. According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services statistics for July 2021 through September 2022, the most recent period for which data is available, over 1,100 eligible patients in the Chippewa Falls market did not take advantage of the hospice benefit. St. Croix Hospice raises awareness of the benefits hospice can bring to patients and family members while providing appropriate local access to caregivers. "There is tremendous demand for hospice care in the Chippewa Valley, and our new Chippewa Falls branch is in the heart of this high-need region" says Statewide Executive Director Rick Risler. "Consistent with our unique care delivery model, this new branch ensures that clinical staff are close to the communities they serve, helping us provide more patients and their families with responsive, high-quality care at a critical time in their lives." St. Croix Hospice has been steadily increasing their presence within the Wisconsin service area. With the addition of the Chippewa Falls location, St. Croix Hospice now has more than 200 Wisconsin caregivers serving 65 counties. St. Croix Hospice serves nearly 4,000 patients daily within the Midwest. Taking an integrated approach to hospice care, the expert team at St. Croix Hospice provides physical, emotional and spiritual support that meets the unique needs of each patient and their families. St. Croix Hospice teams are stationed in more than 60 branches throughout 10 states, ensuring responsive, proximate service to wherever patients call home. About St. Croix Hospice St. Croix Hospice supports patients, their families and caregivers when they need us the most, delivering exceptional hospice care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and wherever a patient calls home. With branches in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin, St. Croix Hospice takes pride in round-the-clock availability, prompt response and same-day admissions including during evenings, weekends and holidays. Contact St. Croix Hospice 24/7 at 855-278-2764 or stcroixhospice.com. CONTACT: Kelly Buethe [email protected] 612-409-0910 SOURCE St. Croix Hospice BALTIMORE , Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Transamerica announces today that Steve Chipman is appointed President of Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA). He reports to Todd Buchanan, President of World Financial Group and Senior Vice President in Transamerica's Individual Solutions division. Chipman Headshot Steve Chipman leads TFA's teams of registered representative and investment advisor representative professionals who serve the investment needs of individuals throughout the U.S. He continues to build TFA's advisory teams who provide investment products and services to clients, growing the company's success as a leading investment services provider. "Steve is a celebrated industry expert who is known for his strong client, advisor, partner, and employee relationships," said Todd Buchanan. "He persistently drives growth and top performance, and has the outstanding ability to understand and resolve emerging challenges. We are excited that Steve will empower and engage TFA's teams as they advise our clients." Mr. Chipman brings more than 25 years of advisory expertise to his new role at Transamerica Financial Advisors. He joins Transamerica from Cambridge Investment Group, Inc., and has previously served as President and CEO of investment brokerage and advisory firms, as well as in senior executive roles within large financial services organizations. He has contributed to many industry boards and committees, including his appointment to the FINRA Regulatory Advisory Council from 2013 to 2014, and his election to the FINRA District One Committee from 2008 to 2012. Steve earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, attended the Securities Industry Institute at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and holds Series 7, 24, 63 and 65 securities registrations. He lives in the Phoenix area and has two children. "Steve offers unparalleled credibility to initiate valuable partnerships and relationships, guide strategic direction, and anticipate new business opportunities," said Jamie Ohl, President of Transamerica's Individual Solutions division, which includes the Transamerica Financial Advisors organization. "He will be a tremendous asset to Transamerica as we continue our growth strategy in advisory services." About Transamerica With a history that dates back more than 100 years, Transamerica is a leading provider of life insurance, retirement, and investment solutions, serving millions of customers throughout the United States. Transamerica's dedicated professionals focus on helping people live well today and empowering them to create a better tomorrow through saving, investing, and protecting their loved ones. Transamerica serves nearly every customer segment, providing a broad range of quality individual life insurance policies, workplace supplemental insurance benefits, workplace retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and investment products including mutual funds, annuities, stable value solutions, as well as Investment services. In 2021, Transamerica fulfilled its promises to customers, paying more than $52 billion in insurance, retirement, and annuity claims and benefits, including return of annuity premiums paid by the customer. Transamerica's head office is in Baltimore, Maryland, with other major operations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Denver, Colorado. Transamerica is part of the Aegon group of companies. Each company of the Aegon group of companies is solely responsible for its own financial conditions and contractual obligations. Based in the Netherlands, Aegon is a diversified, international financial services group offering investment, protection, and retirement solutions. For the full year of 2021, Aegon managed over $1.1 trillion in revenue generating investments. For more information, visit www.transamerica.com. About Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA) is a broker-dealer and registered investment advisor that provides investment services to individuals and institutions throughout the United States. TFA is a part of Transamerica, a company with over 100 years of history, and is part of the Aegon group of companies. TFA's representatives strive to serve people from all backgrounds and encourage clients to think differently about their future in pursuit of their financial success. Properly licensed representatives may offer securities and investment advisory services through Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA), Member FINRA, MSRB, SIPC, and Registered Investment Advisor. For more information, visit https://www.tfaconnect.com/ Media inquiries: [email protected] Erin Yang (303) 383-5295 Julie Quinlan (303) 383-5923 SOURCE Transamerica CLEARWATER, Fla., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketing technology firm DirectMail2.0, known for enhancing direct mail campaigns through omnichannel marketing and the integration of digital platforms, marked its sixth straight year of double-digit growth since being founded in 2016, adding roughly 30% more revenue year-over-year in 2022 and capping another year of milestones despite challenging economic and industry conditions. DirectMail2.0 Co-founder and CEO Brad Kugler pictured above. Said Kugler of DirectMail2.0's latest achievements: "We're in an ideal position right now to accelerate growth. We have an excellent team in place that's motivated to move us into the next evolution of marketing - and that's AI and machine learning-enhanced campaigns. We're breaking new ground in AI every day and can't wait to bring this technology to everyday American businesses." DirectMail2.0's new all-time earnings high comes just a few months after once again being named to the Inc. 5000 list, a long-standing ranking of America's 5,000 fastest-growing privately owned businesses over a three-year period. In just their second year of eligibility, DirectMail2.0 has twice made the list, this year coming in at #2,538 with 227% three-year growth. Growth last year within DirectMail2.0 was led by marketing products centered on personalization, notably individual-level QR codes (which garner better campaign attribution) and its newest hyper-targeted technology, TargetMatch, which displays ads to all devices within the household on a campaign's mailing list wherever they may be, regardless of device. Personalization at this scale has only been achievable through the ongoing development of DirectMail2.0's automation platform. Originally launched in 2016 with three features, the DirectMail2.0 automation platform now boasts thirteen technologies designed to add a 50% lift in response to traditional direct mail marketing. But it isn't all work and no play for DirectMail2.0. The martech firm was again named a Best Place to Work by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, ranking eighth on a list that measures a workplace's communication and resources, manager effectiveness, team dynamics, individual needs, personal engagement and trust in leadership. "We're in an ideal position right now to accelerate growth," said DirectMail2.0 Co-founder and CEO Brad Kugler. "We have an excellent team in place that's motivated to move us into the next evolution of marketing and that's AI and machine learning-enhanced campaigns. We're breaking new ground in AI every day and can't wait to bring this technology to everyday American businesses." This year promises next-level advances for DirectMail2.0. Plans for 2023 include enterprise-level API integrations aimed at bringing responsive, fully trackable and attributed direct mail campaigns to businesses, agencies and commercial printers of all sizes. DirectMail2.0 has already begun its SOC-2 certification to provide seamless integration to more external services, furthering their potential API capabilities. Additionally, DirectMail2.0 plans to soon launch DM20.ai, an industry-first predictive analytics platform built to improve omnichannel marketing results through machine learning. DM20.ai compiles years of campaign engagement and results to analyze and predict a campaign's most effective attributes by industry, audience type, zip code, offer, timing and creative content. It will show marketers in real time the steps they can take to lift response rate through historical results and AI-generated models, thereby greatly improving the likelihood that every direct mail campaign will be a successful venture. "We're extremely excited to put this groundbreaking technology into the hands of marketers and businesses nationwide," said Kugler. "One of the advantages of digital has always been the mountains of data you get with every campaign and now we're going to bring that to direct mail and omnichannel." For additional information or to interview Kugler, call 727-335-7255 or email [email protected]. About DirectMail2.0: DirectMail2.0 (DM20) partners with printers, direct mail service providers and agencies to provide white-label digital add-on services that bring direct mail into the 21st Century with a suite of 13 digital integrations. Since being founded in 2016, DM20 has run over 750MM pieces of mail through its platform with over 40,000 digitally integrated direct mail campaigns. DM20 has been featured in Forbes, Printing News, Yahoo! Finance, and ranked #1,203 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2021. Visit www.dm20.com for more information and to request a free demo. Media Contact: Brad Kugler 7273357255 [email protected] SOURCE DirectMail2.0 New medical advisory board for health-focused social app Tell to guide user experience for verified providers and share health content and resources with general users CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tell Health Inc., the creator of new health-focused social media app Tell, today announced the first five members of its Medical Advisory Board (MAB) who will serve to guide user experience, engagement, and growth of verified providers. Easy-to-use and designed to combat the spread of medical misinformation, the Tell social media app verifies the credentials of all health experts before they are able to post health content. Only verified clinicians can create and recommend posts, and general users are able to comment, like, and engage with provider posts. The Medical Advisory Board is composed of practicing clinicians who will share their expertise to create the best user experience for verified providers while also ensuring the most important and timely health topics are addressed for general users. The company welcomes the initial MAB members: Heather Giannini , M.D., M.S., pulmonologist and critical care physician at Penn Medicine and instructor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Health System , M.D., M.S., pulmonologist and critical care physician at Penn Medicine and instructor of medicine at the Health System Peter Kahn , M.D., M.P.H., pulmonologist and critical care physician at Yale New Haven Hospital and public health researcher at Yale University School of Medicine , M.D., M.P.H., pulmonologist and critical care physician at Yale New Haven Hospital and public health researcher at Vivek K. Moitra , M.D., F.H.A., F.C.C.M., Allen I. Hyman Professor of Critical Care Anesthesiology and Division Chief of Critical Care Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons , M.D., F.H.A., F.C.C.M., Allen I. Hyman Professor of Critical Care Anesthesiology and Division Chief of Critical Care Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology at Marilynn Parker, RN , PEL-CEN, APRN, FNP, Retired National Certified School Nurse for Chicago Public Schools and a Family Nurse Practitioner , PEL-CEN, APRN, FNP, Retired National Certified School Nurse for Public Schools and a Family Nurse Practitioner Christopher Worsham , M.D., M.P.H., pulmonologist and critical care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, public health researcher and instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School "We are honored to welcome these accomplished practicing clinicians to the Tell Medical Advisory Board. We are committed to creating a safe social media space for verified clinical experts to share their knowledge and have engaging discussions with the public and other health providers," said Tell CEO and Co-Founder Nikola Nestorov. "We are on a mission to stop the spread of medical misinformation, and it is crucial that we have practicing providers advising the company on current patient needs and the most relevant health topics. Several of our medical advisors work in intensive care units and are keenly aware of the negative health outcomes associated with medical misinformation. In collaboration with this esteemed group of clinicians, we are thrilled to bring Tell to the medical community and to general users alike." "I routinely see patients who have read medical misinformation online and end up in the hospital with conditions that could have been prevented or mitigated through scientifically validated treatments and vaccines. Physicians, health providers, and researchers are in dire need of a safe, collaborative social media space to have meaningful dialogues with our peers and the public without resistance from users with no medical training," said MAB member Heather Giannini, M.D., M.S. Tell is free to join in the App Store and Google Play. Healthcare providers are encouraged to join and to apply for Verified Provider status. For more information on Tell, please visit tell.health . About Tell Tell is a social media app connecting respected and verified health experts with the public to share their knowledge for the benefit of everyone, everywhere. Founded by a physician and an engineer, Tell is on a mission to be the world's go-to source for trusted health information while curbing the increasing spread of health misinformation online. Contact Media: [email protected] SOURCE Tell Health Inc. CLEVELAND, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to Florida's booming aerospace and defense industry and the need for our clients to have the best-in-class design-build company close at hand, The Austin Company announced the opening of a new office in Merritt Island, Florida. "The Austin Company's first aviation project was for Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Corporation in 1916," explains President and CEO Mike Pierce. "Since then, Austin has planned, designed, engineered, and constructed more square footage of commercial and military aviation and aerospace facilities than any other firm of its kind in the United States. This includes projects for Northrop Grumman and Embraer on the Space Coast." The Austin Company announced the opening of a new office in Merritt Island, Florida. Tweet this "With our legacy and new clients in mind, Austin has invested in expanding its presence in Florida. We look forward to our ongoing design-build work on Florida's Space Coast," said Vice President of Operations Matt Eddleman. "This new office will be a hub for our aerospace and defense subject matter experts, designer, engineers, and construction management professionals." According to Space Florida, the Aerospace industry has contributed $5.9 billion to Florida's economy since 2007, with a projected impact of $1.1 billion every year for the next five years. Austin's legacy clients and more recent partners include Aerojet Rocketdyne, Airbus, The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Embraer, and General Atomics, including NASA, NAVFAC, and USAF. Austin is a full-service, design-build company offering site location consulting, design, engineering, and construction. Headquartered in Cleveland, Austin has offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Irvine, California; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Merritt Island, Florida; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and London, United Kingdom. The Austin Company is a subsidiary of Kajima. To learn more about Austin www.theaustin.com. SOURCE The Austin Company ALAMEDA, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (AHA) has received $20.6 million dollars from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development. "The California Multifamily Super NOFA transformed a once burdensome and lengthy funding application process into an accessible and smart one-stop shop that will get more housing built faster," said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramirez. "This results in new homes for struggling working families, veterans, farmworkers, and people exiting homelessness. California will continue to act with urgency to find new, innovative solutions to fast track housing development." Photo rendering of North Housing Senior Apartments This funding will help AHA build "North Housing Senior Apartments" which is the first phase of this long planned North Housing community development project. This senior property will include 64 affordable apartments for only seniors (ages 62 years and older) and is comprised of forty studios, twenty-three one-bedroom apartments, and a two-bedroom apartment for an onsite manager. In a full circle moment, the land, which was originally owned by the Housing Authority in the 1940s was granted back to the Housing Authority (in 2019) via the surplus land act by the U.S. Department of Navy. The land will now serve as the home for a senior property that houses military veterans. 25% of the residents at North Housing Senior Apartments will be veterans in need of supportive housing. "Studios and one-bedroom apartments are in very high demand in the City of Alameda," says AHA Board Chair Carly Grob, "and fill a great need for both seniors and previously homeless military veterans." Island City Development (ICD), an affiliate of AHA, will be the developer of this project and the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda owns the land. The architect of the North Housing Senior Apartments is HKIT Architects (www.hkit.com). Once the property opens (future opening date TBD), all leasing and property management services will be provided by FPI Management (www.fpimgt.com). AHA staff is actively planning for this community development project to begin construction in either late 2023 or early 2024. North Housing Senior residents will enjoy property amenities that include a community room, indoor mailroom/lobby, on-site parking, on-site laundry room, bike parking, Wi-Fi hotspot, and on-site property management. AHA's social services partner LifeSTEPS (www.lifestepsusa.org) will provide case management and resident services that connect seniors to resources like food, medical, rental assistance, transportation, hoarding resources, social activities, just to name a few. Interested parties can sign-up to receive "North Housing" updates via email notifications by completing the form on this webpage: www.ahagroup.live. About AHA www.alamedahsg.org For over 80 years, The Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (AHA) has provided a range of housing assistance to low-income households. The primary goal of the Housing Authority is to provide quality, affordable, and safe housing in the City of Alameda. Our programs include Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Vouchers, specialized housing assistance, family self-sufficiency, affordable real estate development, resident services, and management of AHA owned property. About ICD www.islandcitydevelopment.org Island City Development (ICD), established in 2014, is a non-profit public benefit corporation and housing developer focusing on providing decent, safe, and accessible affordable homes to working families, seniors, veterans, and households of low income where no adequate housing exists. ICD, with its partners and affiliates, own, acquires, develops, provides, finances, rehabilitates, and operates 3 properties to date. The actions or partnerships of Island City Development promote social welfare, combat blight and deterioration, work to eliminate discrimination and prejudice and seek to benefit renters within the City of Alameda. ICD partners with the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda to develop new affordable homes and execute major renovations of older properties. CONTACT: Joshua Altieri (Community Relations Manager) PHONE: (510) 747-4321 EMAIL: [email protected] SOURCE The Housing Authority of the City of Alameda Global survey of cyber security decision makers finds that while nearly all respondents are satisfied with the quality of their threat intelligence, nearly half struggle with effectively applying it RESTON, Va., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mandiant Inc. today unveiled the findings of its "Global Perspectives on Threat Intelligence" report, which provides new insight into how organizations navigate the increasingly complex threat landscape. The report is based on a global survey of 1,350 cyber security decision makers across 13 countries and 18 sectors including financial services, healthcare and government. Operationalizing intelligence: an identified challenge Despite the widespread belief that understanding the cyber threat actors who could be targeting their organization is important, 79% of respondents stated that their organizations make the majority of cyber security decisions without insights into the threat actor that is targeting them. While the report found that nearly all respondents (96%) were satisfied with the quality of threat intelligence their organization is using, respondents declared effectively applying that intelligence throughout the security organization to be one of their greatest challenges (47%). Further, almost all (98%) of those surveyed said they need to be faster at implementing changes to their cyber security strategy based on available threat intelligence. Underestimating the threat According to the survey, 67% of cyber security decision makers believe senior leadership teams still underestimate the cyber threat posed to their organizations, while more than two-thirds (68%) agree their organization needs to improve its understanding of the threat landscape. However, despite these concerns, security decision makers remain optimistic regarding the effectiveness of their cyber defenses. When asked about confidence in whether their organization is fully prepared to defend itself against different cyber security events, respondents felt most confident in tackling financially motivated threats, such as ransomware (91%), followed by those conducted by a hacktivist actor (89%) and nation-state actor (83%). When asked to rank which countries their organization would be unable to fully defend itself against, more than half of respondents (57%) said Russia, followed by China (53%), North Korea (52%) and Iran (44%). Further, just over half of respondents (53%) felt they could prove to their senior leadership team that their organization has a highly effective cyber security program. Other key findings: Cyber security is only discussed on average once every four or five weeks with various departments within organizations, including the board, members of the C-suite and other senior stakeholders. This cadence is even less frequent for groups such as investors, where the average lowers to once every seven weeks. Only 38% of security teams share threat intelligence with a wider group of employees for risk awareness. A majority (79%) of respondents relayed that their organization could focus more time and energy on identifying critical trends. Resources Access the full "Global Perspectives on Threat Intelligence" report and analysis here: https://www.mandiant.com/global-perspectives-on-threat-intelligence Quotes Sandra Joyce, Vice President, Mandiant Intelligence at Google Cloud comments: "A conventional, check-the-box mindset isn't enough to defend against today's well-resourced and dynamic adversaries. Security teams are outwardly confident, but often struggle to keep pace with the rapidly changing threat landscape. They crave actionable information that can be applied throughout their organization." Joyce continued, "As our 'Global Perspectives on Threat Intelligence' report demonstrates, security teams are concerned that senior leaders don't fully grasp the nature of the threat. This means that critical cyber security decisions are being made without insights into the adversary and their tactics." Survey Methodology Commissioned by Mandiant, the "Global Perspectives on Threat Intelligence" survey was conducted by Vanson Bourne, a global market research firm, between August and September 2022. Feedback was obtained from 1,350 IT security decision makers across EMEA, North America and JAPAC at organizations with 1,000+ employees. About Mandiant Mandiant is a recognized leader in dynamic cyber defense, threat intelligence and incident response services. By scaling decades of frontline experience, Mandiant helps organizations to be confident in their readiness to defend against and respond to cyber threats. Mandiant is now part of Google Cloud. About Google Cloud Google Cloud accelerates every organization's ability to digitally transform its business. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems. SOURCE Google Cloud DUBLIN, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Offering (Services and Software), By Deployment Type (On-premises, Hybrid and On-demand), By Industry, By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2022 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Market size is expected to reach $21.9 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 9.1% CAGR during the forecast period. Manufacturing execution system is the name of the information system that connects, monitors, and controls complex data flows and manufacturing devices or equipment on shop floors. This system's primary goals are to increase output and ensure that industrial processes are carried out effectively. It aids in maximizing manufacturing operations' efficiency, profitability, compliance, and quality. Consequently, finds use in the management of inventories, analysis of quality, allocation of resources, tracking of production, and other sectors including oil and gas, consumer electronics, food and beverage, and automotive. Automation technology advancements open up the market for more advanced and superior production execution solutions. There is an increasing need for very complicated items to be supplied in record time for many industries. It is more challenging than ever to balance customer demand with quality and traceability requirements, particularly in sophisticated industries such as aerospace and defence. By recording all as-built data down the whole production tree and providing users with access to a real-time single source of information to implement quality control and reduce risk, MES helps enterprises to fulfil traceability needs. The MES offers a wide range of capabilities for analyzing business performance and contextualizing data. Executives & supervisors can operate with the same source of data that is upgraded in real-time from the production floor thanks to the consolidation of company data and the availability of dashboards with reporting tools. Monitoring product cycle time, resource use, and scheduling adherence are crucial performance analysis tasks. Supplier data can be incorporated into MES as well, allowing manufacturers to monitor all third parties' performance. The leading players in the market are competing with diverse innovative offerings to remain competitive in the market. The below illustration shows the percentage of revenue shared by some of the leading companies in the market. The leading players of the market are adopting various strategies in order to cater demand coming from the different industries. The key developmental strategies in the market are Product Launches and Product Expansions. COVID-19 Impact Analysis Owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, the market growth for factory execution systems shrank in 2020. Major halts in many industrial operations, such as manufacturing plants not operating and low productivity in manufacturing units, were brought on by this. It had an impact on the earnings of several important market participants. The pandemic also caused a number of manufacturing facilities to close and output to be suspended in a number of different industries worldwide. Several end industry operations, including those in the power generation,oil and gas, and automotive sectors, among others, saw significant transformation during the post-pandemic phase. Manufacturing execution systems market is expected to expand in the coming years owing to the various operations & guidelines that have been established for COVID-19 for smoother operations. Market Growth Factors Rising Need for Huge Production and Connected Supply Chain One of the main factors driving the MES industry is the demand for a linked supply chain in industrial industries. An essential component for enabling effective manufacturing activities is efficient data flow throughout the factory. IoT systems could be utilized by factories for supply chain reporting, inventory tracking, and location tracking of manufactured goods. The simple flow of data across the whole supply chain is another benefit of connected manufacturing solution, which enables it simple for businesses to adapt to the shifting market conditions. Increasing Investment in MES to Boost Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Production Many large companies and SMEs are implementing manufacturing execution systems because they improve manufacturing processes. Production efficiency is aided by these systems' capacity to boost output, cut costs, boost quality, enabling real-time data collection and tracking of products. This aspect is anticipated to promote the adoption of these systems in order to boost revenues. The use of manufacturing execution systems also results in decreases in the amount of waste and energy used throughout the manufacturing process. For instance, putting a MES system on a shop floor eliminates the requirement for paperwork & physical storage space while not requiring additional IT resources. Market Restraining Factors High Cost of Installation and Maintenance of MES A company's expenses will rise as a result of the investment cost of MES, which also involves acquisition, consultation, adjustment, installation, and running costs. The capital investments for MES are especially substantial because they contain a number of services linked to this system, whose implementation varies by industry. The costs associated with MES are mostly implementation and operating costs, which consequently raise a company's costs. MES can be fairly pricey due to the intricacy of the programme and other costs like custom integration. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Market Scope & Methodology Chapter 2. Market Overview 2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 Overview 2.1.1.1 Market Composition and Scenario 2.2 Key Factors Impacting the Market 2.2.1 Market Drivers 2.2.2 Market Restraints Chapter 3. Competition Analysis - Global 3.1 Cardinal Matrix 3.2 Recent Industry Wide Strategic Developments 3.2.1 Partnerships, Collaborations and Agreements 3.2.2 Product Launches and Product Expansions 3.2.3 Acquisition and Mergers 3.3 Market Share Analysis, 2021 3.4 Top Winning Strategies 3.4.1 Key Leading Strategies: Percentage Distribution (2018-2022) 3.4.2 Key Strategic Move: (Product Launches and Product Expansions : 2018, May - 2021, May) Leading Players Chapter 4. Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Market by Offering 4.1 Global Services Market by Region 4.2 Global Software Market by Region Chapter 5. Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Market by Deployment Type 5.1 Global On-premises Market by Region 5.2 Global Hybrid Market by Region 5.3 Global On-demand Market by Region Chapter 6. Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Market by Industry 6.1 Global Discrete Market by Region 6.2 Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Market by Discrete Industry Type 6.2.1 Global Automotive Market by Region 6.2.2 Global Aerospace Market by Region 6.2.3 Global Medical Devices Market by Region 6.2.4 Global Consumer Packaged Goods Market by Region 6.2.5 Global Others Market by Region 6.3 Global Process Market by Region 6.4 Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Market by Process Industry Type 6.4.1 Global Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences Market by Region 6.4.2 Global Food & Beverages Market by Region 6.4.3 Global Oil & Gas Market by Region 6.4.4 Global Chemicals Market by Region 6.4.5 Global Pulp & Paper Market by Region 6.4.6 Global Energy & Power Market by Region 6.4.7 Global Water & Wastewater Management Market by Region 6.4.8 Global Others Market by Region Chapter 7. Global Manufacturing Execution Systems Market by Region Chapter 8. Company Profiles 8.1 Siemens AG 8.1.1 Company Overview 8.1.2 Financial Analysis 8.1.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.1.4 Research & Development Expense 8.1.5 Recent strategies and developments: 8.1.5.1 Product Launches and Product Expansions: 8.1.5.2 Acquisition and Mergers: 8.1.6 SWOT Analysis 8.2 Honeywell International, Inc. 8.2.1 Company Overview 8.2.2 Financial Analysis 8.2.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.2.4 Research & Development Expenses 8.2.5 Recent strategies and developments: 8.2.5.1 Product Launches and Product Expansions: 8.2.5.2 Acquisition and Mergers: 8.2.6 SWOT Analysis 8.3 General Electric (GE) Co. 8.3.1 Company Overview 8.3.2 Financial Analysis 8.3.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.3.4 Research & Development Expense 8.3.5 Recent strategies and developments: 8.3.5.1 Product Launches and Product Expansions: 8.3.6 SWOT Analysis 8.4 Dassault Systemes SE 8.4.1 Company Overview 8.4.2 Financial Analysis 8.4.3 Regional Analysis 8.4.4 Research & Development Expense 8.4.5 Recent strategies and developments: 8.4.5.1 Partnerships, Collaborations, and Agreements: 8.4.5.2 Product Launches and Product Expansions: 8.4.5.3 Acquisition and Mergers: 8.4.6 SWOT Analysis 8.5 SAP SE 8.5.1 Company Overview 8.5.2 Financial Analysis 8.5.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.5.4 Research & Development Expense 8.5.5 SWOT Analysis 8.6 ABB Group 8.6.1 Company Overview 8.6.2 Financial Analysis 8.6.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.6.4 Research & Development Expense 8.6.5 Recent strategies and developments: 8.6.5.1 Partnerships, Collaborations, and Agreements: 8.6.6 SWOT Analysis 8.7 Oracle Corporation 8.7.1 Company Overview 8.7.2 Financial Analysis 8.7.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.7.4 Research & Development Expense 8.7.5 Recent strategies and developments: 8.7.5.1 Product Launches and Product Expansions: 8.7.6 SWOT Analysis 8.8 Applied Materials, Inc. 8.8.1 Company Overview 8.8.2 Financial Analysis 8.8.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.8.4 Research & Development Expenses 8.9 Emerson Electric Co. 8.9.1 Company Overview 8.9.2 Financial Analysis 8.9.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.9.4 Research & Development Expense 8.9.5 Recent strategies and developments: 8.9.5.1 Partnerships, Collaborations, and Agreements: 8.9.5.2 Acquisition and Mergers: 8.10. Rockwell Automation, Inc. 8.10.1 Company Overview 8.10.2 Financial Analysis 8.10.3 Segmental and Regional Analysis 8.10.4 Research & Development Expenses 8.10.5 Recent strategies and developments: 8.10.5.1 Acquisition and Mergers: For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3796n2 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, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle and Uber Technologies, Inc., today announced a seven-year strategic cloud partnership to accelerate Uber's innovation, help deliver new products to market, and drive increased profitability. Uber Selects Oracle Cloud Infrastructure As Uber continues to grow and enter new markets, it is increasingly important for the business to focus resources on its core strengths and strategic initiatives. By migrating some of the company's most critical workloads to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Uber will be in a position to modernize its infrastructure while also accelerating its path to profitability. "Uber is revolutionizing the way people, products, and services move across continents and through cities," said Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi. "To deliver on that promise for customers while building value for shareholders, we needed a cloud provider that will help us maximize innovation while reducing our overall infrastructure costs. Oracle provides an ideal combination of price, performance, flexibility, and security to help us deliver incredible customer service, build new products, and increase profitability." This new strategic partnership with Uber along with recent analyst reports serve as powerful validation of OCI's strategy and product vision. Customers want both flexibility and best-in-class price-performance infrastructure across a global footprint. Uber can now take advantage of these capabilities that only OCI provides. "Uber is expanding into a 'go anywhere, get anything' platform, and the company needed a cloud partner that shares a relentless focus on innovation," said Oracle CEO, Safra Catz. "This landmark competitive win for OCI is further validation of the momentum and acceleration we are experiencing in the market. Enterprises, governments, and startups around the world are recognizing the differentiation of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and experiencing our performance, security, and economic benefits versus other hyperscalers." Along with the OCI agreement, the strategic partnership includes other areas of collaboration between the two companies. Oracle will become a global Uber for Business client, selecting Uber as a preferred rideshare for its employees to travel and eat around the world. Uber and Oracle will also continue co-innovating on additional retail and delivery solutions that will evolve from the cloud partnership including consumer experiences with last-mile logistics. Additional Resources Learn more about Oracle Cloud Infrastructure About Oracle Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. SOURCE Oracle ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today provided an update on its assistance efforts to the community of East Palestine, Ohio. These include direct support for residents through Norfolk Southern's Family Assistance Center, equipment for first responders, and continued environmental testing and monitoring, which is being done in coordination with the Ohio and U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA), and other environmental agencies. Family Assistance Center To date, more than 700 families and a number of businesses have been helped. In total, more than $1 million has been distributed directly to families to cover costs related to the evacuation. Those include reimbursements and cash advancements for lodging, travel, food, clothes, and other related items. Norfolk Southern is in the process of contacting and meeting with affected local businesses to provide aid. To date, more than 30 businesses have been contacted. Residents and businesses who have questions or need financial assistance should visit the Family Assistance Center at Abundant Life Church located 46469 State Route 46, New Waterford, Ohio, or call 1-800-230-7049. Community Support Norfolk Southern continues to meet with local, state, and federal leaders to assist first responders and the community. That assistance includes: Donated $220,000 to the East Palestine Fire Department to replace Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air packs, which allow firefighters to breathe compressed air when responding to fires. to the Fire Department to replace Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air packs, which allow firefighters to breathe compressed air when responding to fires. Provided more than 100 air purifiers for residents to use in their homes. Air purifiers are also being purchased for the East Palestine municipal building in coordination with the City Manager. municipal building in coordination with the City Manager. Coordinated and funded cleaning and air monitoring services for the East Palestine Elementary and High Schools. Developing a charitable fund to support the East Palestine community. This goes well beyond an initial contribution of $25,000 to the Ohio Red Cross to support the shelter established at East Palestine High School. Environmental Monitoring Norfolk Southern has been closely coordinating with the Columbiana County Health District, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio EPA, and the U.S. EPA, as well as its own experts and contractors to monitor and mitigate environmental issues and concerns. All results are shared with the above agencies and include: Completed more than 340 in-home air tests in conjunction with U.S. EPA, with more than 100 additional tests scheduled. In-home air monitoring has not shown any detections of substances related to the incident and does not indicate a health risk. in conjunction with U.S. EPA, with more than 100 additional tests scheduled. In-home air monitoring has not shown any detections of substances related to the incident and does not indicate a health risk. Thousands of data points have been collected during outdoor air monitoring in the community and continues to indicate no risk to health from incident-related substances. Sampled the Village of East Palestine's drinking water supply wells, drinking water system, and private wells in areas potentially impacted by the incident. Sample results will be available in the next week. drinking water supply wells, drinking water system, and private wells in areas potentially impacted by the incident. Established a Well Task Force to install monitoring points around the impacted waterways and incident site. Started excavating soil from the incident site and sampling the soil before safe disposal. Contacting residents on well water in the vicinity of the derailment to conduct water testing, which encompasses 38 wells. That testing will be done in conjunction with environmental and health agencies, and we will continue to work with them to identify other private drinking water wells for testing. Residents who want air and water testing should contact the Residential Re-Entry Request Hotline at (330) 849-3919. If residents have further questions or concerns, they may call the CTEH Taggart Road Hotline at (234) 542-6474 to speak with a toxicologist. About Norfolk Southern Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have 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 TITUSVILLE, Fla. and STORD, Norway, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GenH2, a U.S. headquartered industry leader in hydrogen infrastructure solutions, announced today the partnership with Norwegian-based HYDS for the production of Green Liquid Hydrogen in Norway and the rest of the Nordic market. The solutions will be available and sold through Liquiline and are based on GenH2' integrated hydrogen liquefaction technology and storage system. The agreement marks a major step towards HYDS' focus on zeroemission onsite hydrogen solutions for maritime transport, where liquid hydrogen has major advantages compared with compressed hydrogen. "We are thrilled to work with HYDS and their subsidiary Liquiline to provide local hydrogen liquefaction and storage in Norway", says Greg Gosnell, President & CEO of GenH2. "The capability to liquefy and store hydrogen locally reduces costs and risks associated with the liquid hydrogen supply chain. The partnership with HYDS opens the Nordic market for us and creates an opportunity to accelerate the transition to clean energy in Scandinavia". GenH2 focuses on the mass production of infrastructure equipment necessary for the transition to a clean energy economy. The company's technology allows safe onsite liquefaction, storage, and distribution of hydrogen. HYDS is a key player in the Norwegian hydrogen market. The company focuses on scalable, locally produced green hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives by using commercially available and proven turnkey delivery to make hydrogen a real zero-emission alternative. "Solutions for local production of liquid green hydrogen have not been commercially available in the market, and the fully integrated solutions from GenH2 represent a major game changer making liquid green hydrogen available in the market. Especially within the maritime segment this has been a missing link. HYDS explored multiple solutions for hydrogen storage and chose GenH2's modular technology for its ability to scale, integration possibilities with other technologies, safety and easy to operate", says Thor Henrik W. Hagen, CEO of HYDS. "After a close dialogue over the last years, we are thrilled to announce the partnership with GenH2. This gives us access to their leading scalable technology for safe onsite production, storage, and distribution of liquid green hydrogen. Teamed up with GenH2, we are ready to start building a value chain for liquid hydrogen in the Nordic countries, focusing on maritime use", says Knut Frland, Managing Director of Liquiline. About GenH2 GenH2 is a technology leader in hydrogen infrastructure systems for advanced clean energy. GenH2 solutions will allow for safe liquefaction, storage, and distribution of liquid hydrogen. The company will focus on mass-producing light-scale equipment to speed infrastructure buildout and make hydrogen accessible for everyday use around the globe. The Titusville, Florida-headquartered technology team includes former NASA researchers and developers who possess decades of experience researching, engineering, and building hydrogen solutions. Learn more about GenH2 at www.DiscoverHydrogen.com About HYDS Hydrogen Solution (HYDS) is a rapidly growing company established in 2021. HYDS develops, builds, owns, and operates hydrogen plants and their strategy is to produce scalable green hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives locally. The first two plants are already under construction, with a planned start-up respectively 1Q 2023 and 2Q 2023. Learn more about HYDS at www.hydrogensolutions.no/en/ About Liquiline Established in 2005 the company has an extensive list of references within transport, storage and bunkering of LNG and LBG. The company has delivered several turn-key filling stations and bunkering facilities for ships, including the bunkering facility for Fjord Line in Hirtshals, the first facility of its kind in Denmark. Since 2018, Liquiline's focus has been within hydrogen. In 2019 a partnership with Danish Green Hydrogen Systems was agreed, regarding sale of their electrolysers in Norway. Liquiline is today a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydrogen Solutions (HYDS). Learn more about Liquiline at www.liquiline.no Contact persons: Greg Gosnell, President & CEO of GenH2 Corp., email: [email protected] Thor Henrik W. Hagen, CEO of Hydrogen Solutions AS, phone: +47 901 71 479 or email: [email protected] Knut Frland, Managing Director of Liquiline AS, phone: +47 918 41 001 or email: [email protected] SOURCE GenH2 VALOUR VDAB10 becomes new crypto benchmark index benchmark index Valour ETP products are outperforming similar competitors due to exact tracking TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Valour Inc. (the "Company" or "Valour") (NEO: DEFI) (GR: MB9) (OTC: DEFTF), is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Valour Inc. (Cayman) ("Valour Cayman") VALOUR VDAB10 Index got selected as the benchmark index on MoneyMoon, one of the major European exchange traded product comparison platforms with far over 75,000 monthly active users. According to independent research provider MoneyMoon, Valour's ETP products are consistently delivering a higher performance compared to their peer group. VDAB10 (ISIN: CH1149139623) tracks the performance of the top 10 largest crypto assets based on a market capitalization with a cap of 30% for any constituent, providing investors a diversified exposure to the evolving crypto landscape. "To ensure a full transparent comparison for the users of the app, we perform in-depth analysis to find the best benchmarks for each ETF/ETP category to guarantee a fair comparison within the ETF/ETP categories. In case of crypto basket ETPs, a lot depends on the weighting of the cryptocurrencies in order to avoid non-optimal diversification. In this respect Valour Digital Asset Basket convinced us in several dimensions to be the best benchmark," said Imre Kiss Founder and CEO MoneyMoon. "We are thrilled to be selected as the benchmark index on MoneyMoon and to have our products consistently recognized for their strong performance," said Olivier Francois Roussy Newton, CEO of Valour Inc. "Our commitment to delivering the highest quality and most innovative ETP products has always been a top priority for us and it's great to see our efforts paying off. We are proud to offer investors a diversified and high-performing exposure to the rapidly evolving digital asset space through our VDAB10 Index and our ETP products." Valour Cayman offers fully hedged digital asset ETPs with low to zero management fees, with product listings across European exchanges, banks and broker platforms. Valour Cayman's existing product range includes Valour Uniswap (UNI), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX), Cosmos (ATOM), Binance (BNB), Enjin (ENJ), Valour Bitcoin Carbon Neutral, and Valour Digital Asset Basket 10 (VDAB10) ETPs with low management fees. Valour Cayman's flagship products are Bitcoin Zero and Ethereum Zero, the first fully hedged, passive investment products with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as underlyings which are completely fee free. The Company also announces that Mr. Russell Starr has elected to step down from his role as Executive Chairman but will remain as Head of Capital Markets. Olivier Francois Roussy Newton, CEO of Valour, will assume the role of Executive Chairman replacing Russell Starr. Learn more about Valour and MoneyMoon at www.valour.com and www.moneymoon.eu About Valour Valour Inc. (NEO: DEFI) (GR: RMJ.F) (OTCQB: DEFTF) is a technology company and the first and only publicly traded company that bridges the gap between traditional capital markets and finance. Founded in 2019, Valour is backed by an acclaimed and pioneering team with decades of experience in financial markets and digital assets. Valour's mission is to expand investor access to industry-leading Web3 and technologies. This allows investors to access the future of finance via regulated equity exchanges using their traditional bank account and access. About MoneyMoon: MoneyMoon is an independent european ETF/ETP platform. They preselect the most favourable exchange traded products for end users. The app can be downloaded in the App Store or Google Play Store. For more information, please visit www.moneymoon.eu Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the Offering; the regulatory environment with respect to the growth and adoption of decentralized finance; the pursuit by Valour and its subsidiaries of business opportunities; and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited the acceptance of Valour exchange traded products by exchanges; growth and development of DeFi and cryptocurrency sector; rules and regulations with respect to DeFi and cryptocurrency; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE Valour, Inc. DETROIT, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ven Johnson Law attorneys Thomas Waun and Kanwarpreet (Ken) S. Khahra have been named winners of Michigan Lawyers Weekly Class of 2023 Hall of Fame and Up & Coming Lawyers award. They have been recognized for numerous achievements gained throughout their careers and tireless dedication to their clientele. 2023 Hall of Fame Award Waun was selected as a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 - Michigan's top legal leaders who are over 60-years-old and have been practicing law for at least three decades. Over the course of his 40-year career, Waun, a managing partner at Ven Johnson Law's Flint office, has made his mark in and out of the courtroom. He has been the lead counsel for more than 100 civil jury trials that have ended in a verdict in both state and federal court, and has successfully obtained verdicts and settlements of seven figures or higher more than 15 times, and mid-to-high six figures over 50 times. In the past year, he received a $5.8 million verdict in Saginaw for a motorcyclist who suffered a traumatic brain injury and other critical injuries after he was struck by a truck. Waun has been an active member and held leadership roles in many legal organizations, including the Negligence Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Association for Justice, and American Board of Trial Advocates. He also has sat on various committees that address different issues important to the state's court system, including drafting the standard civil jury instructions used by all Michigan courts. 2023 Up & Coming Lawyers Award Khahra was named an Up & Coming Lawyer for the class of 2023. This award honors attorneys who have excelled in their professions and are standouts among their peers in their first 10 years of practice. Since passing the bar in 2015, Khahra has gained experience on both sides of the courtroom, and has practiced several diverse areas of law. He is also licensed to practice in Ontario, Canada, expanding his capabilities. After becoming a plaintiff's lawyer in 2019, Khahra has won case settlements totalling more than $15 million. In the past year at Ven Johnson Law, he has been involved with cases that have garnered national attention, including the civil lawsuit against Oxford Community Schools, a product liability lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz and several medical malpractice cases. Khahra is an active member of Michigan Association for Justice, American Association for Justice, State Bar of Michigan, and the Law Society of Ontario. "Tom and Ken are exceptional attorneys because of their passion for the practice of law and their clients. This is evident not only at Ven Johnson Law, but throughout the course of their careers," said Ven Johnson, president of Ven Johnson Law. "These are well deserved awards." Michigan Lawyers Weekly will host a recognition awards luncheon to honor the class of 2023 on April 21 at the Detroit Marriott Troy. Profiles of the honorees will be featured in the April 24 issue of Michigan Lawyers Weekly. ABOUT VEN JOHNSON LAW Ven Johnson has worked on some of the most notable personal injury cases in America, winning more than $300 million in jury verdicts and settlements totaling more than $1 billion. The firm's practice areas include trucking negligence, civil rights, police misconduct, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and many more. Johnson and his team have been recognized by legal organizations and publications across the country. For more information, visit www.venjohnsonlaw.com. SOURCE Ven Johnson Law WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Verra, the world's leading standard setter for climate action and sustainable development, welcomed Judith Simon as its new President this week. This addition will accelerate Verra's ongoing work to enable high-integrity climate and sustainable development action at scale, with a focus on improving operational excellence. Prior to joining Verra, Judith drove enterprise-level transformative efforts at large companies such as Zillow, Redfin, CarMax, and more. Her wide-reaching experience and expertise include a suite of skills that will drive excellence within Verra, including implementing disciplined and rigorous management practices, standardized and scalable processes, clear performance metrics and scorecards, and effective change management strategies. Judith joins at a critical and pivotal point in Verra's evolution, as the organization embarks on a major effort to improve its operations, from streamlining the certification process, embracing technology, and ensuring a high degree of professionalism across all of Verra's operations. As President, Judith will provide organization-wide executive leadership for departments spanning all functions including program, policy, innovation, operations, technology, and finance. With over three decades of experience in strategic development and operations in high-growth companies, Judith will provide day-to-day leadership to ensure cross-functional integration and excellence across Verra's operations and programs. "I am incredibly excited about Judith joining the team. Our work is core to achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement and ensuring sustainable development around the world, and we need to make sure that Verra can support markets seeking to address these important challenges. Judith joining Verra helps ensure that we both meet the demands of the present and build an organization for the future," said David Antonioli, CEO of Verra. "I am thrilled and humbled to join this important organization," said Judith Simon, President of Verra. "I am excited to work with the incredible team at Verra to help the organization unlock its full potential to accelerate action on climate change and sustainable development." Judith will report to Verra CEO David Antonioli and oversee all elements of Verra's internal operations. For questions and inquiries, please contact: Anne Thiel, Senior Manager, Communications, [email protected], +1 (202) 470 5664 SOURCE Verra GURUGRAM, India, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam Construction Chemical Industry is a moderately fragmented market with the presence of local as well as international brands in the market. Currently, there are ~40 International players in the organized market, including manufacturing units & import (raw materials & finished products) from other countries. More than half of the market is organized and major share of the market is highly concentrated and rest of the industry is fragmented. Some of the major players in the Vietnam Construction Chemical Market are Sika, Silkroad, DOW, BASF, Bestmix, FOSROC etc. Rapid urbanization, growing use of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) and green chemical will lead to increase in usage and quality of Chemicals in Construction industry in Vietnam . . Vietnam Construction Chemicals Market is moderately fragmented with the top player holding more than half of the market share in the organized market and remaining market being highly unorganized. Construction Chemicals Market is moderately fragmented with the top player holding more than half of the market share in the organized market and remaining market being highly unorganized. Future Infrastructure Development Projects by govt. such as Bac Tan Uyen Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park III, Rach Mieu II Bridge and others will fuel the usage of construction chemicals in Vietnam . Rapid Urbanization: Vietnam's growing middle class is becoming rapidly urbanized, pushing up the demand for built environment solutionsespecially in the residential sector and in affordable housing. Vietnam's urbanization ratethe proportion of the population living in citieswas ~35% in 2019 and is expected to reach nearly 50% by 2040, precipitating a potential housing shortage. Also, the Vietnamese government has set aside USD ~1.4 Bn as incentives for developers to focus on such affordable housing projects between 2018 and 2022. Furthermore, with the opening of the school after Covid-19 and sudden increase in the demand for housing repair services has also led to the rise in the growth of construction chemical market of Vietnam. Increasing use of Green Chemical: Construction chemical companies are working on advanced technologies, equipments, high degree of mechanization and automation to ensure high quality, stability of products and competitiveness in international markets, simultaneously saving raw materials and using alternative fuels. Thus, increasing the use of green technology and increasing the focus towards protecting the environment. This push towards Green Chemicals has a significant positive impact on the Vietnam construction chemical industry. Strong Government Investments: In order to revive the economy and drive growth, the government has allocated USD ~ $35 billion to its economic recovery plan for the 2022-2023 period. Through this plan, the government is promoting infrastructure development. For instance, the Government has approved infrastructure projects like the construction of four airport in Sa Pa, Quang Tri, Lai Chau and Phan Thiet which are expected to kick off in late 2022 and early 2023. More projects like Bac Tan Uyen Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park III and Rach Mieu II Bridge are also in the pipeline. Moreover, through its 2022 budget, the government has focused on bolstering the economic recovery and progressing post-pandemic reforms like master plan of urban development in Vietnam, Vision development urban water supply, urban drainage orientation to Vietnam. With all these government initiatives, the Vietnam Construction Chemical industry is expected to see a robust growth. Analysts at Ken Research in their latest publication "Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Outlook to 2027F - Driven by growing construction sector, high FDI Investments and favorable government initiative" by Ken Research observed that Vietnam Construction Chemical market is in the growing phase, growing at CAGR of 5.6% between 2017-2022E owning to the influx of FDI, availability of cheap & abundant raw material, major merger & acquisitions, rapid urbanization, increasing use of green chemicals and strong government investments. It is expected that Vietnam Construction Chemical market will continue to grow, at a CAGR of 11.9% for the 2022-2027F forecasted period. Key Segments Covered:- Vietnam Construction Chemical Market By Region, 2022E & 2027F Northern Vietnam Central Vietnam Southern Vietnam By End-User, 2022E & 2027F Commercial Industrial Residential By Product Type, 2022E & 2027F Industrial Flooring Sealants & Adhesives Coating Grouting Chemicals Repair & Rehabilitation Chemicals Waterproofing Concrete Admixtures To learn more about this report Download a Free Sample Report By Product Type, 2022E & 2027F Organized Unorganized By Type of Concrete Admixtures, 2022E & 2027F Organized Unorganized By Type of Waterproofing, 2022E & 2027F Organized Unorganized By Type of Grouting Chemicals, 2022E & 2027F Organized Unorganized By Type of Repair & Rehabilitation Chemicals, 2022E & 2027F Organized Unorganized By Type of Coating Chemicals, 2022E & 2027F Organized Unorganized By Type of Sealants & Adhesives Chemicals, 2022E & 2027F Organized Unorganized By Type of Industrial Flooring Chemicals, 2022E & 2027F Organized Unorganized Visit this Link :- Request for custom report Key Target Audience Construction Chemical companies Concrete Additive companies Waterproofing companies Adhesive and Sealant Companies Grouting chemical companies Coating companies Time Period Captured in the Report:- Historical Period: 2017-2022E 2017-2022E Base Year: 2022E 2022E Forecast Period: 2022E 2027F Companies Covered:- Sika MAPEI FOSROC MBCC Group BASF GCP Bestmix Silkroad MC BIFI Dow Key Topics Covered in the Report:- Country Overview of Vietnam Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Overview Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Size Overview, 2017-2022E Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Segmentation Industry Analysis of Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Porter's Five Forces Challenges in Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Construction Chemical Market Trends & Developments in Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Construction Chemical Market Swot Analysis of Vietnam Construction Chemical Market List of Vietnam Construction Projects Major Mergers & Investments in Construction Chemical Industry End User Analysis of Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Covid-19 Impact on Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Competition Framework of Vietnam Construction Chemical Market (Inception, global presence, manufacturing plants, business verticals, end-user, brands, Est. revenue) Future Outlook to Vietnam Construction Chemical Market 2022E-2027F Analyst Recommendation For more insights on the market intelligence, refer to below link:- Vietnam Construction Chemical Market Related Reports By Ken Research:- Indonesian Construction Chemicals Market Outlook to 2025: Ongoing and Healthy Pipeline of Ambitious Infrastructure Projects are driving the growth of Construction Chemicals Market The construction chemicals market in Indonesia is anticipated to grow with the growing Real Estate and Infrastructure Construction Industry. Over the forecast period FY'20-FY'25, the Indonesia construction chemicals market revenue is further anticipated to increase to USD ~ Millions by FY'25, thus showcasing a CAGR of 9.23 %. The Unorganized vs. Organized Market asymmetry will get even more skewed, with Organized Players slowly eating away the Unorganized Market's share. India Construction Chemicals Market Outlook to 2025 (Second Edition): Surging Construction Industry in India is leading to the Growth of Construction Chemicals Market The construction chemicals market in India is anticipated to grow with the growing Real Estate and Infrastructure Construction Industry. Over the forecast period FY'20-FY'25, the India construction chemicals market revenue is further anticipated to increase to INR ~ Cr by FY'25, thus showcasing a CAGR of 10.0%. The Unorganized vs. Organized Market asymmetry will get more skewed, with Organized Players slowly eating away the Unorganized Market's share. Follow Us LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us:- Ken Research Private Limited Ankur Gupta, Director Strategy and Growth [email protected] +91-9015378249 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661352/Ken_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Ken Research Cross-organizational leader assumes new role following eight-year track record with Company Founder Dr. Kyle Kingsley will maintain leadership position focused on key organizational priorities MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vireo Health of Minnesota, LLC ("Vireo" or the "Company"), a physician-founded medical cannabis company based in Minneapolis, today announced that Amber Shimpa has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Shimpa's appointment to the role follows eight years of cross-organizational leadership at the Company, including serving as the Company's first Chief Financial Officer when it began operating under the name Minnesota Medical Solutions. Amber Shimpa commented, "I'm proud to join Kyle in this new role and lead Vireo into the future. I look forward to working more closely with our team members and partner organizations to improve the lives of patients and other Minnesotans who have been negatively impacted by the failed war on drugs. Our organization has been steadfast in its commitment to these initiatives since our inception, and we'll continue to do this important work despite significant challenges posed by current federal regulations and related capital constraints." Vireo Health of Minnesota was founded in 2014 by former Hennepin County Medical Center emergency room physician, Dr. Kyle Kingsley, after learning about the medical benefits of cannabis for patients with chronic pain. Dr. Kingsley will remain actively involved with the Company and continue to support Ms. Shimpa on matters related to public affairs, product quality, and as an advocate for safe and affordable access to cannabis for Minnesotans. Dr. Kingsley commented, "Amber has been an incredible advisor and business partner to me since our formation. Her tireless work to advance our mission has earned the respect of our entire organization, and she personifies the essence of the professional talent, growth mindset and integrity that cannabis companies should bring to the communities in which they operate. She has become an irreplaceable executive unique in her compassion for her team and her community, and I'm confident her enhanced role will serve our Company well." Vireo Health of Minnesota began serving medical cannabis products to Minnesota patients in 2015. Since then, the Company has grown to serve over 46,000 patients with more than 200 Minnesota-based employees. In addition to its work serving medical patients, the Company funds restorative justice programming through its ongoing criminal expungement clinics, community educational events, and direct fundraising campaigns for The Last Prisoner Project and its 1937 Impact Fund. The Company's medical and scientific research teams also continue to work collaboratively with the University of Minnesota, Health Partners and Park Nicollet to study the impacts of medical cannabis on cancer patients and adults with chronic pain. About Vireo Health of Minnesota , LLC Vireo Health of Minnesota, LLC, a subsidiary of Goodness Growth Holdings, Inc. (CSE: GDNS; OTCQX: GDNSF), is a physician-founded medical cannabis company based in Minneapolis. The Company's mission is to provide safe access, quality products and value to its patients while supporting its local communities through active participation and restorative justice programs. Vireo Health of Minnesota manufactures proprietary, branded cannabis products which it distributes through its network of eight Green Goods retail dispensaries throughout Minnesota. For more information about Vireo Health, please visit www.vireohealth.com. Media Inquiries: Amanda Hutcheson Senior Manager, Communications [email protected] (919) 815-1476 SOURCE Vireo Health International, Inc. The new plant is the most technologically advanced transformer facility for reliability in North America and will further extend the company's leadership in having the shortest lead times in the industry. Virginia Transformer can deliver a made-to-specification, state-of-the-art transformer in less than half the time of its competitors. "Virginia Transformer is thankful that our customers, representatives, vendors, and the governor and mayor were able to join us in this celebration," said Prabhat Jain. "We have a new generation facility led by dedicated employees, building upon the more than 50-year legacy of excellence, all with a focus on serving our customers. "To see the faces of our employees on this special day opening the best transformer facility in North America and knowing it will create good jobs and contribute to the community and the industry is equally gratifying," said Jain. "The process from concept to production took only 15 months. The Chihuahua team pulled together to make this happen and it is wonderful to see the pride they take in serving our customers throughout North America." The new plant (P2) is situated on 300,000 square feet with room for expansion. It joins Virginia Transformer's original Chihuahua plant (P1), which opened in 1995. The new facility employs more than 450 people, including more than 100 engineers. The plant has enormous capabilities and was designed for flexibility. It includes an in-house advanced design center, vapor-phase drying ovens, and an automated test lab. The new facility is fully temperature- and humidity-controlled and features: Four production lines for E2X oil-filled transformers up to 7 MVA. Dry-type transformers up to 7 MVA, 35 kV, 150 BIL. Integrated Power Module (IPM) production. Heavy-duty robotic carts for material delivery to shop floor, coil and core landing, and transformer transport through to final assembly (no forklifts). A class-7 clean room for the winding and assembly process. The new Chihuahua P2 capability is up to 100 MVA, 950 BIL for utility, industrial and renewable markets. Virginia Transformer, with a capacity of 67000 MVA, is the largest US manufacturer of Power Transformers in North America, with facilities in Pocatello, Idaho; Rincon, Georgia; Roanoke, Virginia; and now two plants in Chihuahua, Mexico. For more information, visit www.vatransformer.com. SOURCE Virginia Transformer Four recognized for achievements in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math Recipients celebrated for shaping the future of STEM activities as well as creating paths forward for others AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitesco Technologies announced today that four employees were honored this past weekend for outstanding accomplishments in their field at this year's 37th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Conference held near Washington D.C. Vitesco Technologies Armand Foreman, Everton Swearing and Elvin Simpson at the 37th Annual Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) Awards Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Conference. BEYA judges representing industry, academia and government leaders made their award selections in recognition of individuals who are shaping the future of science, engineering and technology as well as for opening doors in STEM-related careers for others to follow. This year's award winners from Vitesco Technologies are: > Everton Swearing, Global Head of Sales, 2-Wheeler & Powersports Customer Group - BEYA STEM Conference Award for Technical Marketing and Sales > Armand Foreman, Software Engineering Manager - Modern-Day Technology Leader Award > Elvin Simpson, Production Value Stream Manager - Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award > Joe Wright Manufacturing Support Manager - Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award "It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we celebrate with our friends and colleagues their (these?) well-deserved recognition from BEYA," said Florencia Stanfield, chief diversity officer for Vitesco Technologies. "In addition to their talents and skills within the context of science and technology, each are role models supporting our cultural goals for creating an environment where all Vitesco Technologies employees can thrive to their fullest potential. Their contributions to our business and our employee resource groups provides both direction and inspiration for achieving our goal of being an employer of choice within our industry." The BEYA STEM Conference offers K-12 students, college students, corporate, government, military professionals, business, and industry employers three days of learning, networking, celebrating excellence, and showcasing STEM career opportunities. Vitesco Technologies is a leading international developer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art powertrain technologies for sustainable mobility. With smart system solutions and components for electric, hybrid and internal combustion drivetrains, Vitesco Technologies makes mobility clean, efficient, and affordable. The product range includes electrified drivetrain systems, electronic control units, sensors and actuators, and exhaust -gas aftertreatment solutions. In 2021, Vitesco Technologies recorded sales of 8.3 billion and employs around 37,000 employees at about 50 locations worldwide. Vitesco Technologies is headquartered in Regensburg, Germany and has its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. U.S.A. Press Portal https://vitesco-technologies.com/press Social Media www.vitesco-technologies.com www.linkedin.com/company/vitesco-technologies www.twitter.com/VitescoT www.facebook.com/VitescoTechnologies www.instagram.com/vitesco_technologies www.youtube.com/VitescoTechnologies www.vitesco-technologies.com/en/WeChat SOURCE Vitesco Technologies Vivienne Tam Leverages the Vatom Platform For an Exclusive Event Fusing the Virtual and Real Worlds of Fashion NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivienne Tam, a leading international fashion brand, announced the selection of Vatom, as their strategic partner to bring to life an immersive Metaverse experience at New York Fashion Week. The collaboration between Vivienne Tam and Vatom brought both in-person and virtual attendees together for a global event at the cutting edge of technology and fashion. Known for designs that fuse East and West and harmonize traditional and modern cultures, Vivienne Tam is harnessing the power of Web3 to create a bridge to the future of fashion, uniting the virtual and real world for an exclusive New York Fashion Week runway experience. Through the Vatom-powered event, virtual attendees had the opportunity to explore the red carpet, interact with virtual and in-person guests, become immersed in past Vivienne Tam collections, enjoy the runway show, and partake in the after-party with a DJ set. "At Vivienne Tam, we see Web3 capabilities as a largely untapped opportunity in the fashion world," said the founder of the eponymous fashion brand. "Vatom is an innovative Web3 platform that empowers our team to not only enhance real-life events but enable virtual audiences to experience the beauty and emotion of fashion and NYFW. We are excited to work with Vatom to bring a powerful new dimension to our runway show." Vatom was chosen by Vivienne Tam because it was the only solution that provided an integrated easy-to-use wallet, could seamlessly connect live virtual and real event spaces, and unlike other solutions in the market can host thousands of people in the same space at the same time. Attendees of the virtual version of the show only needed a URL to access the event and were able to interact with attendees at the live event in New York. "Vivienne Tam is a visionary in the fashion world widely recognized for her pioneering digital Web3 strategy," said Eric Pulier, CEO of Vatom. "We look forward to supporting Vivienne Tam and her team as they continue to help introduce Web3 to the fashion world." The invitation-only, private Vivienne Tam FW23 runway show occurred on Sunday, February 12, 2023 in New York City and on the Vatom platform. About Vivienne Tam Vivienne Tam is an acclaimed Fashion Designer and member of the CFDA. Her collections have been displayed in multiple museums worldwide including the Victoria Albert, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Warhol Museum. A bridge between the East and West. Her collections feature Chinese inspirations and she loves to show off what she calls her "Chineseness". This collection is going deeper into the metaverse and playing with many Metaverse themes like new forms of monetization, art, the future, creation and innovation. Vivienne is inspired by the most ancient Chinese writing Oracle Bone Script and how we've gone from drawing pictures to communicate and document our existence to now drawing complete new worlds to cohabit and thrive in. About Vatom At Vatom our mission is to enable both companies and individuals to easily engage directly with the emerging Web3. Founded in 2019 by seasoned tech entrepreneur Eric Pulier, Vatom has built the world's first enterprise-ready Web3 engagement solution that enables companies to better connect to their customers, employees, and stakeholders, while streamlining processes and improving profitability. As a result of this effort companies such as Pepsico, P&G, Deloitte, Verizon, State Farm, WPP, and others are all actively using the Vatom platform to build ongoing Web3-based programs. https://www.vatom.com SOURCE Vatom SINGAPORE, Feb. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- XT.COM , the world's first socially infused trading platform, is thrilled to announce the listing of HLPR on its platform in the main zone, and the HLPR/USDT trading pair is open for trading from 2023-02-11 08:00 (UTC). About HLPR HLPR, also known as "Helper Coin", is the native token of CallforBlessing, an online platform to help bring those with christian beliefs together. The cryptocurrency is a BEP20 token deployed Binance Smart Chain with a max supply of 1,004,024 HLPR tokens. Helper Coin can be used as a donation token in the CallforBlessing app that can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices. This donation method allows people to donate without having to pay additional fees, which are normally charged by banks or other donation systems. HLPR holders are also rewarded for supporting the project's blockchain video player, Mirror. Users that create their channel on the Mirror video platform will be able to earn Helper Coins. HLPR tokens can also be used to buy stuff like books, shirts, calendars, and other religion-related products on the associated app. About the CallforBlessing CallforBlessing is a blockchain project aiming to bring together people who believe in Christianity. The network connects people around the world using its mobile app, downloadable on both iOS and Android devices. Users can take advantage of the platform's remittance feature for seamless donations around the world with the help of blockchain technology, ensuring transparency and security for each and all transactions. This one-stop platform provides their community members with their religious needs such as Christian books, movies, clothes, and all other spiritual merchandise. The network also has a blockchain video player called Mirror, where community members can upload their videos and earn rewards. Unlike other religious networks, CallforBlessing has built its own decentralized exchange (DEX), which is powered by the Ethereum blockchain. The main purpose of the network's DEX is to encourage its community to use crypto in their financial transactions, effectively removing any middle man unlike banks and other traditional financial institutions. Website: helperworld.io Whitepaper: helperworld.pdf Twitter: https://twitter.com/helper_token Telegram: https://t.me/helperworldofficial "We're delighted to have HLPR listed on our trading platform. Such a project, regardless of the religion, is utmost welcome at XT.COM as we welcome all religions and faith of all users," said Albin Warin , CEO of XT.COM. "The company is headed toward a brighter future and users can look forward to more unique web3 opportunities with our various trading portfolios." About XT.COM Founded in 2018, XT.COM crypto exchange now serves more than 6 million registered users, over 1,000,000+ monthly active users, 40+ million users in the ecosystem, and 800+ trading pairs. Covering a rich variety of trading categories together with an NFT aggregated marketplace, our platform strives to cater to its large user base by providing a secure, trusted and intuitive trading experience. As the world's first social-infused digital assets trading platform, XT.COM also supports social networking platform-based transactions to make our crypto services more accessible to users all over the world. Furthermore, to ensure optimal data integrity and security, we see user security as our top priority at XT.COM. Website: https://www.xt.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/XTexchange Telegram: https://t.me/XTsupport_EN SOURCE XT.com RACINE, Wis., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CASE Construction Equipment is putting the construction industry on notice with a promise that "You'll See the Difference" at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023, held in Las Vegas March 14-18, 2023. The 180-year-old+ manufacturer will highlight "The New CASE" at the industry's largest North American trade show showcasing groundbreaking new equipment, exciting new partnerships, and a range of new solutions designed to help contractors get more work done, easier and more profitably than ever before. You'll See the Difference with CASE at CONEXPO 2023 "A focus on innovation is extremely important but it isn't enough to support our industry in 2023 our dealer network, our equipment, and our team will build on our legacy and turn heads as we make moves to greatly enhance equipment users' productivity," says Terry Dolan, vice president North America, CASE Construction Equipment. "At CONEXPO, CASE will launch exciting new machines, reveal some unexpected products and our booth will clearly demonstrate our plan for making work easier and more productive." "All great companies and great brands evolve," says Rebecca Bortner, director of marketing, CASE Construction Equipment. "'The New CASE' marks the next step in our evolution as a brand and we're looking forward to making some waves in the industry." The CASE booth [West Hall W40800] will showcase industry and business solutions to make contractors' jobs easier this includes more than 30 new machines, tons of new attachments, ingenious new technology and educational sessions with tips on best practices around technology, equipment, fleet management and more. CASE will also host new product presentations in the booth Tuesday through Friday at 10 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM, in addition to having loads of knowledgeable team members ready to help industry members get more done, with greater ease than ever before. "These are just some of the ways CASE is digging deeper, pushing harder and reaching higher to help contractors and business owners win," says Brad Stemper, director of product management North America, CASE Construction Equipment. "We are focused on delivering swift, smooth and smart machines with an operator-first focus and industry leading hip-pocket support from field staff and dealers all throughout North America." CASE will tease some of this new attitude and business approach at the 2023 ARA Show in Orlando, Florida [Booth 4870] February 13-15 including a sneak peek at one of the new products the company will officially announce at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023. "We are making moves with the speed and agility of a startup all anchored in 180 years of experience in the earthmoving business," says Stemper. "Last year we launched the most talked-about machine in recent history with the industry-first compact dozer loaderthe CASE Minotaur DL550, and we're moving forward with that same hustle on innovation and practical solutions that will really make a difference for businesses all throughout North America." The CASE Minotaur DL550 compact dozer loader, which made countless year-end lists as one of the best new products of the year, will be showcased alongside other recent innovations such as the all-new CASE E Series excavators (new models of which will be shown at the show). The company also promises numerous new product introductions including some entirely new categories for CASE, business solutions, and exciting brand partnerships that will build the foundation for "The New CASE" moving forward. "2023 will be a year where we reshape the industry and help businesses and equipment owners do better in all facets of their work," concludes Dolan. "CONEXPO is just the start." For more on CASE at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023, visit CaseCE.com/SeetheDifference. CASE Construction Equipment is a global full-line manufacturer of construction equipment that combines generations of manufacturing expertise with practical innovation. CASE is dedicated to improving productivity, simplifying operation and maintenance while achieving lower total cost of ownership for fleets around the world. The CASE dealer network sells and supports this world-class equipment, by offering customized aftermarket support packages, hundreds of attachments, genuine parts and fluids as well as industry-leading warranties and flexible financing. More than a manufacturer, CASE is committed to giving back by dedicating time, resources and equipment to building communities. This includes supporting disaster response, infrastructure investment, and non-profit organizations that provide housing and resources for those in need. CASE Construction Equipment is a brand of CNH Industrial N.V., a World leader in Capital Goods listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CNHI) and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario of the Borsa Italiana (MI: CNHI). More information about CNH Industrial can be found online at http://www.cnhindustrial.com/. SOURCE CASE Construction Equipment Stockholm, Feb 13 : Sweden has discarded nearly 8.5 million doses of vaccines against Covid-19, local media reported. The discarded doses equal to about 20 per cent of vaccine doses Sweden has procured, according to Swedish Public Health Agency's statistics, Radio Sweden reported on Sunday. Richard Bergstrom, Sweden's former national vaccine coordinator, told Radio Sweden that the total value of the discarded doses was 1.5 billion Swedish kronor ($143 million), Xinhua news agency reported. The main reason for doses being discarded was the fact that individuals had not had their booster doses as expected, Bergstrom said. "The bulk is doses that people have chosen not to take, in other words, the third, fourth, or fifth (booster) dose. These were already purchased and now have to be destructed," Bergstrom added. As of Thursday, 88.2 per cent of all individuals aged 18 years or above have received at least one dose, while 86.4 per cent have received two doses or more, Swedish Public Health Agency's statistics show. Addressing the global Covid-19 vaccine disparity already in 2021, World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that six times more Covid-19 boosters were administered a day globally than primary doses in low-income countries. Countries with the highest vaccine coverage "continue to stockpile more vaccines," while "low-income countries continue to wait" for the shots -- "a scandal that must stop now". Tripoli, Feb 13 : A cruise line between Libya and Tunisia was launched for the first time in more than 11 years. The launch ceremony of the cruise line was attended by the Transport Minister Mohamed al-Shuhubi, the Tunisian Ambassador to Libya al-As'ad al-Ajli, and a number of senior Libyan officials, the Libyan Ministry of Transport said in a statement on Sunday. Efforts will be made in the future to launch several cruise lines from Libya to several neighbouring countries, the statement added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. "The Libyans were waiting for the launch of this cruise line for more than a decade. The first trip will be from (the capital) Tripoli to (Tunisia's) Zarzis. We are working to launch cruise lines to Malta, Morocco, and Egypt," Ala al-Sokni, director of the Tripoli marine passenger station, told Xinhua. Two years ago, the Libyan government launched a cruise line between Libya and Turkey for the first time in more than 20 years, a step aimed at promoting the partnership between the two countries' public and private sectors, according to the Ministry of Transport. Tripoli, Feb 13 : The Libyan government has sent two airplanes full of relief items to Syria and Turkey to help deal with the impact of the deadly earthquake. "We sent airplanes carrying relief items as well as more than 70 medical, emergency and recovery personnel," Gibril Shtewi, a Libyan aid official told Xinhua on Sunday. The Libyan teams so far rescued 27 people, recovered 53 bodies, and provided medical assistance to more than 400 people in southern Turkey, Xinhua news agency reported. The Libyan government has sent 55 rescue and safety specialists as well as four tracing dogs to "help authorities in Turkey deal with the consequences of the earthquakes". More than 30,000 people were killed and many more were injured so far after two strong earthquakes hit Syria and TArkiye on February 6. Damascus, Feb 13 : A total of 275 shelters have been opened across Syria, hosting victims of the earthquake that hit the country on February 6, the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment said. In a short statement, the Ministry on Sunday said that 235 shelters were opened in the northern Aleppo province, 32 in the northwestern province of Latakia, five in Hama province, and two in Tartous province. The statement spelled no details about the situation in the rebel-held areas in Idlib province and the northern countryside of Aleppo, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the Syrian Health ministry, the death toll has risen to 1,414 and the wounded to 2,349 as of Sunday evening. The UN said on Friday that the earthquake in Syria had displaced 5.3 million people. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the death toll could be more than 5,300 in Syria, and the number could rise to as many as 7,000 as many people are still buried under the rubble. Ankara/Damascus, Feb 13 : The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Turkey and Syria last week has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively. The number of wounded, meanwhile, rose to more than 80,000 in Turkey and 2,349 in Syria, according to official figures released on Sunday. Turkey has issued arrest warrants for 134 suspects involved in the faulty construction of buildings that collapsed in the earthquakes, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Sunday. Three of the suspects were arrested, Bozdag told reporters. The catastrophic earthquakes have flattened more than 20,000 buildings across the 10 quake-affected regions, Xinhua news agency reported. Yavuz Karakus and Sevilay Karakus, contractors of many buildings destroyed in the earthquake in southern Adiyaman province, were detained at Istanbul Airport while trying to escape to Georgia, the local NTV broadcaster reported on Sunday. Two more people were arrested for cutting the column of a building that collapsed in Gaziantep province, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. Thousands of rescuers continued to search for any sign of life in collapsed multi-storey buildings on the seventh day of the disaster. Hopes for finding alive survivors are fading, but the teams still manage some incredible rescues. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca posted a video of a girl child rescued at the 150th hour. "Rescued a little while ago by crews. There is always hope!" he tweeted on Sunday. Rescue workers pulled out 65-year-old women in the Antakya district of Hatay province 160 hours after the quake, the Anadolu Agency reported. A survivor was rescued from the debris in the Antakya district of Hatay province by Chinese and local rescuers on Sunday afternoon, 150 hours after the quake hit the region. On Sunday, Algeria and Libya also sent planes full of relief items to the quake-hit areas. Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers started to pay visits to Turkey and Syria for showing solidarity. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Turkey on Sunday in a show of support. "We will continue to do our best to overcome difficult times, both at bilateral and the level of the European Union," said Dendias, the first European Foreign Minister visiting Turkey after the disaster. The visit by the Greek Foreign Minister comes amid long-standing tensions between the two NATO states over territorial disputes. The Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the first foreign head of a state visiting quake-hit Turkey, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday. Qatar has sent the first part of the 10,000 container houses for earthquake victims in Turkey, the Anadolu Agency reported. On Sunday, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Syria, promising continuing support for the country to overcome the repercussions of the catastrophic earthquake, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Canberra, Feb 13 : The Australian government has announced a new national plan to address indigenous disadvantage, describing previous attempts as an "enormous failure". Linda Burney, Minister for Indigenous Australians, on Monday released the new plan to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people across areas, including access to clean drinking water, housing, food and education. The new plan comes with additional funding and was revealed on the 15th anniversary of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's historic national apology to the Stolen Generations, Xinhua news agency reported. The landmark 2008 speech acknowledged that successive governments had failed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and committed to improvement. However, Burney on Monday conceded the promise had not been honoured. "I think governments have tried but there is enormous failure in meeting all the closing the gap targets," Burney said. "More needs to be done to close the gap." Established later in 2008, the Closing the Gap framework aims to reduce socio-economic disadvantages faced by indigenous people. The latest update, which was presented to Parliament by Burney in November, found only four of the 18 socio-economic targets are on track. The new implementation plan focuses on practicable ways to improve quality of life and includes funding over four years to provide safe water to remote communities and to make nutritious food more accessible. "Our measures are going to be more specific and more targeted, making real impact that complement work under way in states and territories, and back-in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to lead work in their communities," Burney said. -- Syndicated from IANS Bengaluru, Feb 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the prestigious five-day Aero India 2023 on Monday at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka, Bengaluru. Karnataka is hosting the show for the 14th time. PM Modi arrived in the state capital on Sunday night. "A warm welcome to PM Modi Ji to Karnataka. The PM will inaugurate Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru which will mesmerize the audience with sorties, aerobatic performances and mid -air formations. Our own Light Combat Aircraft Tejas will also be the centre of attraction," Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated. This is the biggest airshow and a maximum number of foreign defence ministers, Air Force CEOs will be attending. An exhibition has been organised on a 35,000 square feet area with 600 to 809 shows. As many as 98 foreign dignitaries are participating. The number of agreements are expected to be more this time. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said the people will remember the Aero India Show-2023 and will carry the sweet memories from here. The event will be a grand success and will be helpful in the extension of the aerospace and defence industry. The CM said hosting the Aero India show is a matter of pride and it has become a practice for Karnataka and Bengaluru to host it. Every year, this event has been held successfully both in the defence and aerospace industries and displays its strength. "Karnataka has been playing an important role regarding Aerospace as the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was established in Karnataka in 1940 and NAL, BHEL, and DRDO have hiked the R&D capacity. "The ISRO was established in Bengaluru in 1960 and in each decade, aerospace has developed along with place and capacity. In 1960, the Aryabhata satellite was put into orbit from Bengaluru and 67 per cent of aerospace equipment is manufactured in the state," he said. Singapore, Feb 13 : After a year-long restoration, Singapore's oldest Hindu temple in Chinatown with close to 200 years of history, opened its doors to the public with its sixth consecration ceremony. Braving the early morning rain, about 20,000 devotees thronged Sri Mariamman Temple to witness the ceremony, also known as Maha Kumbabishegam, which occurs every 12 years. Amid reverberation of religious chants, Hindu priests climbed the Raja Gopuram, or grand entrance tower of the temple, and the six 'vimanams', or temple towers, to perform the sanctification rituals, The Straits Times reported. "This is part of living in multicultural Singapore, where the whole community comes together to celebrate each other's cultural and religious milestones," Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a Facebook post. Wong attended the ceremony along with Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, Transport Minister S. Iswaran and Bukit Batok MP Murali Pillai. The restoration at the cost of SG$3.5 million involved 12 specialist sculptors and seven metal and wood artisans from India. They worked on the sanctums, domes and ceiling frescoes, retaining the temple's original colour and structure. "The consecration is just as big an affair as it was in my childhood. There is the same intense piousness, and yet much less hassle," Sumathi Nadesan, an Indian-origin devotee in Singapore, told The Straits Times. The ceremony will be followed by Mandalabishegam -- 48 days of religious rituals and cultural programmes. Lucknow, Feb 13 : The beautifully designed tent city in Vrindavan Yojana where the Global Investors' Summit was held, will now be opened for the public. According to a tweet from the Uttar Pradesh tourism department, the three tent cities -- named Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura -- will remain open for the public between February 13 and 15. The three tent cities have 250 rooms each. The idea behind these cities was to depict the state's cultural heritage and develop a mini-UP for the GIS event. The gate to the Ayodhya tent city showcases Ramayan-era designs, the gate to the Mathura tent city depicts Lord Krishna era-designs, and the gate to the Kashi Tent city has designs associated with the age-old city of Kashi. In all, there are 750 luxury tents with five-star hotel facilities for guests. Apart from this, there is a gym, spa, dining hall, meeting hall, conference room, game zone, badminton court, hospital, and cultural event hall. With the tent cities opening to the public, people would be able to check out a deluxe cottage that has a drawing room, two sofa sets, a central table, a lantern, AC, chandeliers, fancy lights, Maharaja-style beds in the bedroom, television, and side-tables on both sides of the bed. Sofa-tables have been put in the bedroom as well. There are small cupboards and rugs on the floor. Even the bathrooms in the cottages are luxurious with cold and hot water systems. Gonda : , Feb 13 (IANS) Two minor siblings died and as many children were injured when they fell into a pit in Mankapur area of the district. According to police sources, the incident took place on Sunday evening in Setia village when Shiva (6), his brother Shivam (10), Pankaj (11), and Sanjay (12), were playing along the road side. "While playing, they fell inside a pit dug up along the road and the soil fell on them," the police said. On hearing their cries, the local residents reached the spot and rushed the children to the community health centre where doctors declared Shiva and Shivam dead. Pankaj and Sanjay are being treated at the CHC. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday moved an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the China transgressions issue. In the notice, he stated, "Since April 2020, China has engaged in what can only be described as a steady land grab. Till 16 January 2023, 17 rounds of Commander level talks have taken place between India and China with little success. All the while China continues to build significant infrastructure, including bridges, roads and accommodation for its troops. China is attempting to unilaterally change the status quo. "The clashes in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh were another indication of China's steady aggression aimed at changing the status quo on the border. What is more, such aggression is no longer limited in territorial scope as is evidenced by the clashes that took place in Arunachal Pradesh, around 2000 kms away from the place of previous clashes." He said there is a growing concern that China is unwilling to restore the status quo ante, a situation that puts India at a massive disadvantage. Despite this, China's large trade surplus with us has continued to surge since the military confrontations began in 2020. The trade deficit for India stood at USD 101.02 billion, crossing the 2021 figure of USD 69.38 billion. "I urge the government to take this matter with utmost seriousness and have a detailed discussion in Parliament with regard to the border situation with China." Chennai, Feb 13 : With a large number of migratory birds reaching the Vaigai river in Madurai, environmentalists and bird watchers have urged the district administration and Tamil Nadu government to prevent people from polluting it by dumping sewage waste and plastic waste. Sankaran Suryanarayanan, an avid bird watcher and naturalist based out of Madurai while speaking to IANS said,"There was a heavy flow of migratory birds into the Vaigai river and surrounding areas. A large number of visitors are arriving here to watch them. While the current season is about to end, the state government and the Madurai district administration must take action to prevent the river Vaigai from being polluted by unscrupulous elements." It is to be noted that the Vaigai river flows 12 km within the Madurai city limits from Vilangudi till Viraganur dam and branches out at 36 places. Some people who live on its banks illegally release sewage into it and pollute the river thus affecting the water species." The migratory birds have arrived in large numbers in the Vaigai river and its surroundings and the birds that reached the river include, Black wing stilts, egrets, and Asian Openbill. Mukundarajan, an environmentalist and research scholar while speaking to IANS said, "A large number of migratory birds have nested in the water bodies through the Madurai district and will be in search of food for themselves and their hatchlings. Since Vaigai is the main source of water in the district, the government and district administration must take stringent action against the pollution menace." The environmentalist also said that the state government and Tamil Nadu forest department must take initiative to preserve irrigation tanks in Avaniyapuram, Karisalkulam, and a few other tanks where the migratory birds arrive for nesting. Beijing, Feb 13 : President of Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi will pay a state visit to China from February 14 to 16 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Raisi, 63, previously served as the country's chairman of the General Inspection Office, Prosecutor-General and Chief Justice of Iran, Xinhua quoted. He was elected to the presidency in June 2021 and sworn in as president in August that year. The spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying announced on Sunday that the president of Iran will travel to China at the official invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Tasnim News Agency reported. "At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi will pay a state visit to China from February 14 to 16," she said. In a congratulatory message to Xi Jinping on securing a third term as the Communist Party's leader in October 2022, Raisi described the goals of strategic cooperation between Tehran and Beijing as a model of broad relations on the basis of mutual respect. The Iranian president also noted that cooperation between Iran and China within the framework of multilateral organisations and institutions would serve the interests of the two nations and help protect international peace and stability. San Francisco, Feb 13 : A group of protesters gathered outside the Twitter headquarters here in support of employees who were laid off by its CEO Elon Musk. The rally took place outside Twitter headquarters at 1355 Market Street over the last weekend, according to NBC Bay Area. Steve Zeltzer, who led the protests with fellow labour activist Andrew Kong Knight, was quoted as saying that the rally was in support of both the laid-off workers and those who remain at the company. "We think he (Musk) should comply with the labor laws. He has a history of flagrantly flouting labour laws. He fired 700 Tesla workers who were trying to organise," Zeltzer said. Performers at the event included the Angry Tired Teachers Band, a pro-labour group. Some of the laid-off employees filed a class-action lawsuit against Twitter and Musk, alleging the sacking violated state and federal labour laws. Last month, the group of sacked Twitter employees was told by a US judge to drop their class-action lawsuit against Musk. In a ruling, US District Judge James Donato said that the workers must make their case in private arbitration instead, "citing the employment contract they signed with Twitter." The lawsuit accused Twitter of not keeping its promise on severance pay package. Musk initially promised three months of severance pay but several employees, who were sacked, claimed they only received one-month pay in addition to the two months of non-working pay they also received in compliance with the US WARN Act. New Delhi, Feb 13 : PokerBaazi, India's biggest online poker platform, suffered a significant security lapse after an internal database containing sensitive user information was left exposed online for more than 2 months, a cyber-security researcher has claimed. Security researcher Anurag Sen told portal XposedOrNot that this exposure was "due to a misconfiguration in the system and could be easily accessed by anyone with knowledge of the database's IP address". The size of the exposed data was more than 6GB in size, and growing. Sen also tweeted that India's PokerBaazi site suffered a major security lapse. "Even after multiple attempts to contact. No reply so far. Contacted," he posted, tagging the country's cyber agency Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT.in). The exposed data allegedly contained full names, email address, location, 'Oauth' tokens and internal logs. Sen said he tried to contact PokerBaazi but to no avail. PokerBaazi was yet to react to the cyber-security researcher's data breach claim. "The exposed data is still available on the Internet without any protection," according to the report. PokerBaazi.com is India's biggest online poker platform that provides potential customers with an opportunity to play poker safely and securely. The gaming mobile and the desktop app provide 24/7 customer support, a user-friendly interface as well as a wide array of tournaments, making PokerBaazi.com an engaging platform to get involved with. Spearheaded by its Founder and CEO Navkiran Singh, the platform last reported over 2 million registered users. India will not let go off any opportunity nor spare any effort to become leading defence sector player: PM Modi at Aero India 2023 inaugural Image Source: IANS News India will not let go off any opportunity nor spare any effort to become leading defence sector player: PM Modi at Aero India 2023 inaugural Image Source: IANS News India will not let go off any opportunity nor spare any effort to become leading defence sector player: PM Modi at Aero India 2023 inaugural Image Source: IANS News India will not let go off any opportunity nor spare any effort to become leading defence sector player: PM Modi at Aero India 2023 inaugural Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, Feb 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday inaugurated Asia's biggest Aero India show 2023 at the Yelahanka Airbase in Bengaluru, and said the country will not let go of any opportunity nor spare any effort to become a leading defence sector player. Addressing the gathering of defence ministers, Chief Of Defence Staffs and dignitaries from various countries, PM Modi said that 21st Century India will not let go of any opportunity to become the leading defence sector player. PM Modi also stated that by 2024-25, the Indian defence exports are going to be five billion dollars. He explained that from being an importer of defence products, India is exporting six times more. In 2021-22 the exports have crossed 1.5 billion dollars. "This is being done in spite of the notion that the defence market and business are complicated," he said. "For Amrit Kaal Bharat, there is no fear to achieve the highest glory. This India will take decisions immediately. However, the speed might be, always India will be connected to its roots," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also claimed that India from being a market is now ready to play the role of a defence partner for various countries. "For the global defence manufacturing industry, India is not only a market, it is a potential defence partner. "The country can offer cost effective, credible, best innovations, and honest intent is also present. There is 'niyat' (true loyalty and honest intentions) in policies which are exceptional. There is a government which is decisive and well aware of the ground situation," PM Modi said. "The system is supportive and investors can take advantage. He described that the skies of Bengaluru are giving an example of a dependable India, they are a witness to new heights that India has scaled. Aero India 2023 shows the growing capability of the country," he said. "The delegates from over 100 countries are participating in the event, which shows the trust of the whole world towards India. This event has broken all past records. India's MSMEs, startups as well as reputed global companies are taking part in the event," PM Modi stated. The Prime Minister viewed a majestic display of the Indian Air Force at Aero India Show 2023. He also released commemorative stamp of the event. Mumbai, Feb 13 : Television personality Shiv Thakare, who became the first runner-up of the 16th season of reality show 'Bigg Boss', is happy that he lost out to his buddy MC Stan. The contest narrowed down to a close call as it pitted two best friends in the form of Shiv and Stan against each other in the finale with Stan being crowned the winner on Sunday night. Talking to the media after the end of the show, Shiv said, "I and Priyanka were good players. MC Stan accha insaan hai aur usne trophy k liye kabhi khela hi nahi (MC Stan is a good human being, he never played it for the trophy). And that's what made him the winner." Shiv, who is also the winner of 'Bigg Boss Marathi 2', further mentioned, "I have always said this whenever I was asked that Stan was a perfect fit for the show. Aaj jo wo jeeta hai, wo deserve karta hai, Haq hai usko bhai! (He fully deserves to be the winner)." Shiv also added that it feels great that 'Bigg Boss 16' trophy came home to a mandali referring to the Marathi crowd. Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 16 Los Angeles, Feb 13 : Warner Bros. has released another look at 'The Flash', dropping new footage of the DC Comics film, ahead of the Super Bowl, which concluded on Sunday evening, reports 'Variety'. After first appearing in a cameo role way back in 2016's 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice', Ezra Miller is suited up as the Scarlet Speedster once again -- this time for their own solo movie. The new trailer, according to 'Variety', shows Miller's Barry Allen crashing into the multiverse and running into another version of himself and not one, but two versions of Batman -- played by Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton. There's also a return of Michael Shannon's General Zod from 'Man of Steel' and the debut of Sasha Calle's Supergirl. The cast also includes Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Antje Traue and Maribel Verdu, 'Variety' adds. The trailer marks the first major promotional material for the film since a series of controversies surrounding Miller. 'The Flash', 'Variety reports', has faced a troubled runway over the past year with Miller's numerous legal troubles. In March 2022, they were arrested twice in Hawaii within one month, first for disorderly conduct and harassment and then for second-degree assault. Miller pleaded no contest to the assault charge and the harassment charge was later dismissed. In January, 'Variety' continues, Miller took a plea deal in a Vermont case, pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful trespassing and having two other criminal counts against them dropped. Miller has also been accused of choking a woman in an Icelandic bar and harassing another in her home in Berlin. Badaun : , Feb 13 (IANS) A 30-year-old farmer allegedly ended his life by hanging after his crop was damaged by stray cattle. The incident took place at Madarpur under Zarifnagar police circle. The deceased farmer, Shri Krishna's brother, Kishan Kumar, said, "My brother was upset and worried when his crop was completely ruined. He killed himself due to heavy losses because he had taken a loan for farming." Vijay Kumar Mishra, SDM (Sahaswan), said, "We are investigating the reason behind the step taken by the farmer. Appropriate action will be taken once the probe is complete." The farmer's body has been sent for autopsy and the report is awaited, police added. Chennai, Feb 13 : The CPI(M) and the CPI -- the two prominent left parties in the Secular Progressive Alliance of Tamil Nadu led by the DMK -- are upset with the state government over police crackdown on student activists over screening of the controversial BBC documentary. While both the parties in private open up their frustration against the DMK government, they are not coming out openly against this for fear of antagonising the Chief Minister and the DMK. Notably, the Tamil Nadu police had crackdown on the Student Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Student Federation (AISF) activists of Tamil Nadu for trying to screen the BBC documentary in some universities including central universities. The senior leaders of CPI(M) and CPI have been trying to cool down the tempers of the student and youth activists but in private they admit that the government acted in a tough manner against their student and youth leaders. A senior CPI leader told IANS, "The DMK government is cracking down on our student leaders and activists. This is only because they tried to screen the BBC documentary on Gujarat communal carnage. Who are the DMK fearing? We don't want to break the relationship with the DMK out of secular credentials but they should also understand that the police crackdown against our activists is a little overboard." The CPI and the CPI(M) have two members each in Lok Sabha from Tamil Nadu and both the parties do not have their own strength to win these seats. Hence the left parties will choose to remain silent in the open while trying to keep the issue burning in the party and among the cadres. However, the senior leaders will have to take the student and youth leaders of the parties into confidence and hence some private outbursts against the government which are not considered seriously by the DMK. S. Duraimuurgan, senior leader of the DMK and Minister for water works in the Tamil Nadu government, said, "We don't have any issues with the CPI or the CPI(M) and we have been together since the past several years. These have been controversies brought out by the opposition and we continue our relationship with the left parties." It may be noted that the left parties were unhappy at Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his cabinet colleagues attending the 'At Home' reception of Governor R.N. Ravi on Republic Day. A senior CPI(M) leader said, "The Chief Minister attending the 'At Home' function of the Governor is understandable but why a battery of ministers attending the programme while on the ground serious issues were taking place with the Governor." Kochi, Feb 13 : Country's seafood exports are likely to reach an all-time high of US$ 8 billion in FY 2022-23 despite three years of a sluggish global market caused by the pandemic, logistical hurdles and strict inspections of shrimp consignments. During 2021-22, India exported 13,69,264 tonnes of marine products worth US$ 7.76 billion (Rs 575.86 billion), registering an all-time high export by value, while shrimp production crossed one million MT. Frozen shrimp remained the major export item in quantity and value, accounting for a share of 53 per cent in quantity and 75 per cent of the total revenue. D.V. Swamy, chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) said they are optimistic about achieving new heights through a multipronged strategy hinging on sustainable fishing methods, value addition, increased aquaculture production through diversification, and aggressively tapping into new markets. "Further, the slashing of the customs duty on ingredients, such as fish lipid oil, fish meal, Krill meal, mineral, and vitamin premix which are used in manufacturing aquatic feed, will help to reduce the production cost, thereby providing a competitive edge to the entire stakeholders of the aquaculture industry," said Swamy. As part of the strategy to boost exports in FY 2022-23, MPEDA has organised around 40 Virtual Buyer Seller Meets (VBSMs) with Japan, China, Russia, the UK, Vietnam, Germany, Malaysia, South Korea, Oman, Singapore, and Spain. MPEDA researched the seafood market in China, the second largest importer of Indian seafood, while similar studies for countries in CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), the Middle East and South East Asia have been planned. Listing the other steps that would boost exports, Swamy said the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), the technology standardisation and transfer wing of MPEDA, is setting up the pilot project of Broodstock Multiplication Centre (BMC) of Penaeus monodon (tiger prawn), developed from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in Visakhapatnam with the aid of Department of Fisheries. "MPEDA has been making required interventions in the production, value addition and market promotion of seafood to achieve the export target," said Swamy. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13 : Taking potshots at the ongoing protest of the Congress over the attacks of wild elephants in Idukki district, CPI(M) legislator M.M. Mani on Monday said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was not the creator of wild elephants. "The Vijayan government is doing its best to control it and mind you, even if Sonia Gandhi was to rule, nothing more could be done than what's being done now. Vijayan is not the creator of wild elephants," said Mani, who is known for his sharp tongue. Mani also slammed the leader of opposition, V.D. Satheesan said, "If that be the case, we will entrust Satheesan to catch these wild elephants," added Mani. Of late there has been an increase of attacks by the wild elephants and cases of deaths have also been reported from districts like Idukki, Kannur and Palakkad. Patna, Feb 13 : The opposition parties are trying to destroy the 'Sanatan' ideology in the country, Union Minister of state (home) Nityanand Rai said on Monday. "At present, the opposition parties are attacking spiritualities, legends, Ramayan, Geeta and other holy books in the country. The Ganga river is important for us, religious places have historic importance but the political parties are attacking it only to get into power. We will not allow them to succeed in their efforts," Rai said during the three-day party's seminar in Begusarai. "They follow only one rule-- opposing every policy of the central government. They want to attack continuously on Sanatan ideology to defeat it," Rai said. "Saints and legends have made our country a Vishwa Guru and we are working on the path from the land to space. We have to concentrate on political activities as well," Rai said. Meanwhile, the political temperature of Bihar has been soaring ever since education minister Chandrashekher Yadav made an objectionable remark on Ramcharitmanas. Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also raised objections over some lines of Ramayan. In the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the BJP leaders are leaving no chance to exploit the statements of these leaders. Phnom Penh, Feb 13 : Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen is on a two-day official visit to neighbuoring Laos, a senior official said. Sry Thamarong, a minister attached to the Prime Minister, said that in Vientiane, Hun Sen will hold bilateral talks with his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone to discuss ways to further enhance bilateral ties in all areas, Xinhua reported. "After their talks, the two Prime Ministers will sign two bilateral documents, namely the Action Plan for the Comprehensive and Long-Lasting Strategic Partnership for 2023-2027, and the treaty on border demarcation between the two countries," he told reporters at the Phnom Penh international airport before departure. "The visit is another historical milestone and it will open a new chapter for bilateral cooperation in all fields, particularly in tourism and economics in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era," he said. Thamarong said during the visit that Hun Sen will also pay separate courtesy calls on Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith and National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane. Cambodia shares about 540 km of border with Laos to the north and northeast. According to the official, so far, the two neighbours have completed 86 per cent of the border demarcation. Lucknow, Feb 13 : UP Minister for Animal Husbandry Dharampal Singh has urged the public to worship cow on Valentine's Day. He said that the Valentine's Day should be celebrated by offering 'gud' and 'roti' to cows and their blessings should be taken. He said, "Valentine's Day, known as love day, on February 14 should be celebrated by expressing love and faith towards cows by offering them 'gud and roti'. Besides, their blessing should be taken by touching their head and neck." Singh further said that 'Gavo Vishwasya Matarah' in Vedas means "Cow is the mother of the world." The minister further said, "On this day, a resolution should also be taken to serve the mother cow regularly. Cow products are used in every fast, festival, worship and rituals in Indian society. Cow has been paramount not only because of emotional or religious reasons but also because of fulfilling the essential needs of human society. That is why it becomes more necessary that we also express our special love for the mother cow on February 14 on Valentine's Day and also make each other aware and motivated." Singh's statement is the latest in the BJP and the Hindu activists' push to cow. The statement comes days after the Union government's Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) withdrew its appeal to observe February 14 as Cow Hug Day. The appeal was withdrawn after it was severely criticised. The Hindu activists have been opposed to the Valentine's Day which it sees as Western ritual encroaching on Indian culture. Singh also appealed that on the occasion of 'Holika Dahan,' cow dung should be used as it is environment-friendly and reduces air pollution. Latest updates on Valentine's Day 2023 Mumbai, Feb 13 : A minor boy was killed when a massive fire broke out in around 50-100 hutments in a slum colony in suburban Malad east here on Monday morning, the BMC Disaster Control said. The blaze was reported are 11 a.m. in Jamrishi Nagar in Kurar village and quickly spread to other hutments. At least five fire-tenders rushed to battle the conflagration and prevented it from spreading further while the cooling operations were on. A 12-year-old boy, Prem Tukaram Bore was found from one of the burnt hutments and was declared dead at the BMC's Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali. The cause of the fire is being probed and further details of casualties are awaited. Ramallah, Feb 13 : Palestinian authorities have rejected and condemned the Israeli cabinet's decision to legalise nine Israeli settlement outposts, which was recently constructed in the West Bank. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said: "Today's decision of the Israeli cabinet to legalise nine illegal settlement outposts is a challenge to the Arab and international efforts and a provocation to the Palestinian people," Xinhua reported. "These unilateral measures are unacceptable under the international resolutions and the signed bilateral agreements and will lead to more tension and escalation," he said in a press statement sent to reporters. After a six-hour meeting on Sunday evening, the Israeli cabinet overwhelmingly agreed to recognise nine settlement outposts that had been set up recently in the West Bank, reported Israeli media. Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said in a statement that the Israeli cabinet's decisions are just an "open war against the Palestinians." Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 and established dozens of settlements there, which are considered a violation of international law. The settlement issue is the most prominent aspect of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and one of the main reasons for halting the last direct peace negotiations between the two sides in 2014. Vijayawada, Feb 13 : A policeman was injured in stone pelting as a protest by Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) over the demand for categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) turned violent on Monday. MRPS workers had gathered on Vijayawada-Hyderabad highway for a road blockade called by the organisation to demand that the Bill for categorisation of SCs be tabled in Parliament. Holding flags and raising slogans, dozens of protestors had blocked the highway at Thotacharla. Police swung into action to remove the protestors. This led to a scuffle between the two sides. As the tension mounted, some protestors pelted stones, injuring a constable. He sustained head injuries and was rushed to Nandigama government hospital Police arrested several protestors and shifted them to the police station. Police personnel also entered houses in the villages to arrest those allegedly involved in stone pelting. This led to strong protest by the residents. Meanwhile, in Hyderabad MRPS founder and president Manda Krishna Madiga was placed under house arrest. Police did not allow him to leave his residence at Amberpet area in the city to prevent him from leading the protest on the highway. MRPS has long been demanding that the Centre introduce a Bill in the Parliament for categorization of SCs into A, B, C and D groups. It is also urging governments of both the Telugu states to exert pressure on the Centre. Alleging that some Scheduled Castes were cornering more benefits of reservation than others, MRPS says that categorization would ensure fair distribution of quota. New Delhi, Feb 13 : In view of Delhi Police challenging Saket court's February 4 order discharging 11 accused, including Sharjeel Imam in a 2019 Jamia violence case, the High Court on Monday said that there will be no influence on the further investigation or trial of the remaining accused due to the trial court's order. "Since further investigation will be carried out, observations made against the investigating agency will not affect either further investigation or trial of any accused," a single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said while she also issued notice on the police's revision petition. Justice Sharma while listing the matter to continue on March 16, granted liberty to police and respondents to file written submissions and relevant case laws in the matter. Representing Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain said that it is only through trial that it would be fair to decide if the accused discharged in order dated February 4, were only curious bystanders and did not have any role in violence. He argued: "Whether their role in part of protest was silent, peaceful or violent will emerge in trial. Or will it be pre judged at the stage of charge?" Criticising trial court's observations regarding the court's duty to uphold the right to dissent in order discharging former JNU student and activist Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha and nine others, ASG said there is no aspect of dissent involved in this matter but is a simple question of an unlawful assembly turning violent. "All this is good for a seminar or lectures," he said. Asking the court to issue notice, the ASG demanded before the court to pass an interim order saying that trial court's order should not affect the ongoing trial against against Mohd Ilyas as the court had found sufficient evidence to frame charges against him, further investigation in the FIR and further filing of supplementary charge sheet. He said: "My interim request is to stay observations. Clarification is necessary, otherwise without that these observations will continue to haunt me. Your lordships may clarify that investigation and further charge sheets will remain uninfluenced. And that this order may not be relied on in any proceedings." Claiming ASG's submission to be false, appearing for Tanha, Advocate Sowjhanya Shankaran said: "It is completely incorrect to suggest that the third supplementary charge sheet was not considered at all." Tanha's counsel further argued that the trial court has considered the law on "mere presence" in protests and there is no error in observations made by the trial court. "Those observations are necessary for the kind of prosecution this case has been," Shankaran said. She added: "As regards the stay or partial stay, they can do further investigation. Mohd Iliyas may be impleaded in the first instance, he has the right to be heard. This is revisional jurisdiction." While agreeing to the ASG's submissions, the court said that it will not expunge the remarks at this stage. Justice Sharma said: "I cannot interfere in the investigation. I am calling for TCR in digitised form. I don't need a case diary because I am hearing it against discharge, not acquittal. I am only going to say that observations made against the investigating agency will not influence them at all. I am not expunging remarks right now." The ASG also argued regarding Additional Sessions Judge of Saket Court Complex, Arul Verma's observations, who had pulled up police and said the police were unable to apprehend the actual perpetrators behind the commission of the offence, but surely managed to rope in these 11 accused as 'scapegoats'. Incidents of violence at Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019, erupted after a clash between the police and people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Verma said that the protesters were surely there in large numbers and it cannot be denied that some anti-social elements within the crowd created an environment of disruption. However, the moot question remains as to whether the accused persons herein were even prima facie complicit in taking part in that mayhem, Verma asked. ASJ Verma had framed charges of unlawful assembly and rioting against Mohd. Ilyas. "Photographs of Mohd Ilyas have been clearly shown in a newspaper, hurling a burning tyre, an overt act has been ascribed to him, and he has been duly identified by police witnesses," he had noted. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Turkish Ambassador to India Firat Sunel took to Twitter and thanked the Indian citizens for extending help and donating essential items to the people affected by the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6. A Turkish Airlines flight took off from Delhi carrying material donated by the Indians on Monday. The Ambassador tweeted: "Thank you, India! Each tent, each blanket or sleeping bag are of vital importance for the hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors." India has been running 'Operation Dost' in Turkey and Syria, ever since the countries were hit by the calamity. Sunel had previously tweeted: "Another batch of emergency in-kind donations from the people of India is on the way to Turkey. @TurkishAirlines @TK_INDIA carries the aids on a daily basis to the earthquake hit region, free of charge." The death toll in Turkey and Syria has reached around 34,000. The Indian government has sent search and rescue teams to dig through the rubble and rescue survivors. Along with this, several medical teams have also been sent with medical supplies. -- Syndicated from IANS Washington, Feb 13 : U.S. military officials said they are unsure how three unidentified flying objects shot out of the skies of North America had been able to stay aloft. President Joe Biden ordered another object - the fourth in total this month - to be downed on Sunday, BBC reported. As it was travelling at 20,000 ft (6,100m), it could have interfered with commercial air traffic, the U.S. said. A military commander said it could be a "gaseous type of balloon" or "some type of a propulsion system." He added he could not rule out that the objects were extra-terrestrials, BBC reported. The latest object - shot down near the Canadian border - has been described by defence officials as an unmanned "octagonal structure" with strings attached to it, BBC reported. It was downed by a missile fired from an F-16 fighter jet at 14:42 local time. The incident raises further questions about the spate of high-altitude objects that have been shot down over North America this month. U.S. Northern Command Commander General Glen VanHerck said that there was no indication of any threat, BBC reported. "I'm not going to categorise them as balloons. We're calling them objects for a reason," he said. "What we are seeing is very, very small objects that produce a very, very low radar cross-section," he added, BBC reported. Speculation as to what the objects may be has intensified in recent days. "I will let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out," Gen VanHerck said when asked if it was possible the objects are aliens or extra-terrestrials, BBC reported. "I haven't ruled out anything at this point." A suspected Chinese spy balloon was downed off the coast of South Carolina on 4 February after hovering for days over the US. Officials said it originated in China and had been used to monitor sensitive sites. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Unidentified persons broke into the office of a BJP MLA in Delhi and decamped with two television sets, an official said on Monday. The incident occurred on Saturday night. A senior police official said that a case has been registered in connection with the alleged break in at the office of Om Prakash Sharma, BJP MLA from Vishwas Nagar in east Delhi and an investigation is underway. "Police team is scanning CCTV footage from the area to identify the culprits," the official said. This is the third time that Sharma's office has been targeted by thieves in the past few years. The last break-in was reported in January 2017. Seoul, Feb 13 : South Korea's Army academy is seeking to restore its Korean War history class as a requirement for all cadets next year, officials said on Monday, reversing a decision in 2018 to make it optional for many cadets. The move came amid concerns that many cadets could enter military service without a sufficient grasp of the 1950-53 conflict that still affects security on the Korean Peninsula, as it ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty, Yonhap reported. The Korea Military Academy said it is pushing to alter the curriculum to require all cadets to take the war history class, which has been mandatory only for those majoring in defence strategy. Cadets majoring in command management, military science and military engineering have not been required to take the history class under the current curriculum implemented from 2019. "We are pursuing the amendment in the 'future-oriented' 2024 curriculum to cultivate core talents who have internalised a proper view of the country and its history, and will lead a 'strong military in science and technology,'" the academy said in a statement. It added that current fourth-year cadets who have yet to take the war history course will complete a 30-hour complementary class on the subject before they are commissioned as officers next month. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to make "sure that most of what is expected is done" in connection with the appointment and transfer of judges. During the hearing, a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said the court is also concerned with the issue and the issue is more than one. Advocate Prashant Bhushan said, "It cannot go on endlessly like this...at some point your lordship will have to crack the whip. Otherwise, it will go on endlessly like this." Justice Kaul said, "We are equally concerned with what is happening, but sometimes..." Bhushan said the Central government selectively notified appointments of some judges and others they do not act upon and also transfer of judges is also not acted upon by the government, and so on. Justice Kaul said, "I am putting it after two weeks. Please make sure most of what is expected is done. Please communicate to the Attorney General. List on March 2." Taking up a contempt plea by the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, a bench presided over by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said, "We are concerned about certain issues." Senior advocate Arvind P. Datar, representing the petitioner, submitted that a chart has been prepared and one category is related to the appointment of chief justices on which some appointments were made while some others are pending. The bench said that there has to be consent from the state government in this regard. The court put the matter for consideration on March 2 as counsel on behalf of Attorney General R. Venkataramani sought a short adjournment. On February 3, the Supreme Court had warned the Centre on the delay in clearing the transfer of high court judges recommended by the apex court collegium, saying it may result in both administrative and judicial actions which may not be palatable. The apex court told the Attorney General R. Venkataramani, representing the Centre, "Don't make us take a stand which will be very uncomfortable...", and further added that if transfer of judges is kept pending then it is a serious issue. Justice Kaul said transfer is a very serious issue and warned against the interference of third parties in the process. The bench orally observed, "We will have to take a difficult decision. Do not make us take a hard stand," and told the AG, who said the court may not record anything as it is happening. The Central government recently appointed seven new judges to the Supreme Court and a host of other judges as chief justice of various high courts. The top court was hearing a contempt petition filed by Advocates Association of Bangalore against Centre breaching the timeline for judicial appointments. Earlier, the apex court had expressed its displeasure over the delay in clearing of the names approved by the collegium for appointments. San Francisco, Feb 13 : Tech giant Google is reportedly planning to add cloud backup support to the "Locked Folder" of its photo sharing and storage service 'Google Photos'. The new feature has been discovered in a hidden settings page in the application's latest version, reports Android Central. With the new capability, users will get a way to back up images and videos saved in Locked Folder. Introduced in 2021, the space is meant to keep sensitive photos out of the users' main camera roll. Currently, the photos and videos locked behind the folder are not able to recover once the users' phone is reset or the Photos application is uninstalled, the report said. In September last year, a report mentioned that several Google Photos users had complained that their old photographs had been "corrupted". People began noticing that their years-old photos (over five years, approximately) had lines and deep cracks running through them. Meanwhile, Google, last year, had also added new filters in Google Photos to help users show their skin in its true shade. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Union Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal in a media interaction after the adjournment of House proceedings on Monday, accused the opposition parties of insulting Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and demanded an apology from them. On Monday, the last day of the first phase of Parliament's budget session, the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha could not proceed smoothly due to the ruckus created by the opposition parties. Dhankhar was constantly seen trying to convince the opposition MPs, but he adjourned the House till March 13 when the uproar continued. Goyal said that it was a misfortune that the opposition did not let the House proceedings continue despite repeated requests by the Chairman. He added that the opposition leaders come to the House with the intention of not letting the House function. Goyal, while terming it as a violation of MPs' privilege, said that the MPs did not get a chance to raise important issues even during Zero Hour. On the demands of withdrawing the suspension of Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajani Patil, Goyal said that she broke the rules by recording House proceedings and should apologise and follow procedure. Goyal added that those who insulted the Chair, violated rules and did not allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give his answer, should apologise. Chennai, Feb 13 : An independent candidate contesting the Erode East bypoll, Agni Sriramachandran has petitioned Chief Electoral Officer, Satyabrata Sahoo to cancel the by-election to Erode East constituency to be held on February 27. The petitioner said that the nomination of one of the candidates, Kumaraswamy( Serial no 11) had a glaring mistake and said that the candidate was allocated Green Chilly as election symbol. However, Agni Sriramachandran said that Kumaraswamy was designated as a Janata Dal (S) candidate and charged that the candidate does not belong to the Janata Dal and that the party had not given him Form A and B which was mandatory to use party name. He also said that money and food were distributed by several candidates to the voters but this glaring mistake must be properly taken into account and the election cancelled. In the petition, Agni Sriramachandran said that the Election commission must countermand the bypoll to the Erode East constituency and conduct a fresh election at a later date. It is to be noted that the by-elections to Erode East constituency was necessitated following the passing away of the sitting legislature, E. Thirumahan Everaa of the Congress. EVKS Elangovan, senior leader of the Congress party and father of the deceased MLA. Seoul, Feb 13 : An Army staff sergeant had attempted to cover up the suicide of a conscript he bullied, but no proper investigation has been conducted by the military, a civic group claimed Monday. The 21-year-old private, identified by his surname Kim, was found shot dead at an Army unit in Inje near the border with North Korea in late November, and an investigation showed later that he took his own life after being bullied by eight people who verbally abused and threatened him, Yonhap reported. The Center for Military Human Rights Korea claimed one of the bullies, a staff sergeant, initially reported the death as an accident caused by malfunctioning of the gun to authorities to cover up his wrongdoing. "The staff sergeant's false report caused confusion in the relevant investigation by the unit, but the military police did not even book him for probe," an official of the civic group said in a press conference. The centre plans to file a complaint against the staff sergeant on charges of making a false report to the military, the official said. The centre also claimed, based on records by fire authorities, an ambulance was dispatched after Kim was found but was made to wait for 13 minutes in front of the unit. "According to information by an anonymous person, there was a debate inside the unit about 'who called for a private ambulance,'" the official also said, accusing the military of attempting to secretly deal with the death. Issuing a press release, the Army denied both of the centre's claims. "No circumstances of a false report were discovered in a relevant investigation ... nor did the unit intentionally block (the entrance) of the ambulance," the Army said. The Army also said the eight bullies have been referred to the civil police for investigation on charges of coercing and insulting the victim, while 12 others will be referred to the military prosecution or punished on charges that include lax supervision. Bijnor, Feb 13 : A case has been registered against the principal of Chamno Devi Inter College in Seervasuchand village of Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district for allegedly thrashing a 16-year-old Dalit student, the police said. The Class 11 student got bruises on his face and hands due to the beating. The accused has been identified as Yogendra Kumar. As per the police, the student, while attending the college's farewell party drank water from a bottle kept on a bench in front of him which enraged the accused. Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Ram Arj said that an FIR has been lodged against the accused teacher at Afzalgarh police station on the complaint of the student, under section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC and provisions of the SC-ST Act. Further investigation in the matter is underway. Hyderabad, Feb 13 : Union minister for Tourism and Culture G. Kishan Reddy on Monday said that he is ready for a debate with Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on the country's economy. Reacting strongly to CM KCR's speech made in the state Assembly on Sunday, the central minister alleged that he insulted the country and its hardworking people through his baseless comments. "We are ready for debate. Will you come to Press Club or martyrs' memorial or want us to come to Pragati Bhavan or your farmhouse," asked Kishan Reddy. The BJP leader also wanted to know from the chief minister if he would come with his resignation letter in his pocket. Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the most inefficient Prime Minister the country has seen, KCR had reeled out statistics to say that the country is lagging on various economic parameters. The chief minister had said that if the statistics given by him proved wrong he was ready to resign. Talking to reporters in New Delhi on Monday, Kishan Reddy remarked that KCR will anyway have to resign after a few months as BJP will come to power in Telangana. Kishan Reddy alleged that KCR misused his office and the Budget Session of the Assembly to target the Centre and the Prime Minister. He said KCR overstepped his limits to compare India with other countries but did not speak even a word about the state Budget. He said that KCR spoke out of his ignorance about the state of India's economy and suggested that he search the data on Google. Kishan Reddy asked if KCR did not know that during Manmohan Singh's tenure India was the 11th largest economy in the world but under Narendra Modi, it became the fifth largest economy. He also pointed out that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that India will overtake Germany to become the fourth largest economy by 2027. The BJP leader also disputed KCR's claim on India's high rate of borrowings and claimed that this is lower than the borrowings of countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. He said that the US'debt to GDP ratio is 120 per cent while for the UK it is 273 per cent. India's debt to GDP is only 19.9 per cent, he said. The central minister questioned KCR's silence on the state's finance position and claimed that Telangana's debts, which were Rs 60,000 crore in 2014, have now mounted to Rs 5 lakh crore due to indiscriminate borrowings by KCR government. He also alleged that thousands of crore of rupees were swindled in Telangana in the name of projects by raising debts. The BJP leader asked why there was no debate in the Assembly on family rule in Telangana, double bed-room scheme, irregularities in Dharani portal, unemployment allowance and unfulfilled promise to allot three acres of land to every Dalit family. Ahmedabad, Feb 13 : The Gujarat ATS has arrested five people for blackmailing and attempting to extort money from a retired officer. The gang had created an affidavit in the name of a woman to trap the former IPS officer. In a press statement, the ATS stated that it has arrested two politicians and three journalists in connection with a blackmail and extortion attempt. Those arrested are G K Prajapati, Haresh Jadav, Mahendra Parmar alias Raju Gemini, Ashutosh Pandya, and Kartik Jani. According to the statement, Prajapati had convinced a woman to get an affidavit in her name, in which she had to allege that a very senior retired officer had raped her twice. Based on this affidavit, the gang had planned to blackmail the retired officer and extort at least Rs 8 crore from him. In order to get the affidavit prepared, the woman was taken to a bungalow in Ahmedabad, where a person was introduced to her as a senior police officer, who had raped her on two occasions. The person had impersonated an officer, but he was not a member of the gang. The police have arrested all the five persons for rape, extortion, criminal intimidation, and other violations of the Indian Penal Code. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Delhi Police on Monday questioned Lokesh Sharma, officer on special duty (OSD) to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in connection with the July 2020 phone-tapping case. "Sharma appeared before the city police's Crime Branch unit on Monday," said an official. Delhi Police had issued a summon to Sharma asking him to appear before them on Monday to get his statement recorded. It was the sixth notice sent to Sharma under Section 41.(1) of Cr.PC. The notice was issued days before Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the Crime Branch's application seeking vacating of an interim order staying coercive action against Sharma. Earlier, Sharma's statement was recorded on two occasions on December 6, 2021 and May 14, 2022. On July 3, 2021, the Delhi High Court had granted some relief to Sharma by asking the Crime Branch not to take coercive action against him. Sharma had moved the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the FIR. The Crime Branch has also moved a plea before the Delhi High Court seeking vacating of the interim order. The Delhi Police have alleged that Sharma was deliberately delaying the investigation. Union minister and BJP MP from Jodhpur, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, had lodged a complaint against Sharma and others, accusing them of phone-tapping. This came after purported audio clips of Shekhawat in which he was talking to rebel Congress leaders to topple the Rajasthan government had gone viral. Acting on his complaint, Delhi Police had lodged an FIR on March 25, 2021. Science and Technology Backyard project gives boost to Africa's agricultural development People's Daily Online) 13:53, February 13, 2023 Looking back on his experience of taking part in the Science and Technology Backyard project, David Muttendango, a Zambian student at China Agricultural University, said he has learned a lot. The learning experience, which included testing soil fertility in a lab, checking the growth of crops in the fields, sharing experience in selecting seeds and cultivating seedlings with farmers, and having discussions with agricultural experts on the promotion and popularization of agricultural technologies, has been rewarding, according to Muttendango. Chinese agriculture expert Wang Xuemin (2nd L) hands over rice seeds to local people at a demonstration farm operated by a Chinese firm in Abuja, Nigeria, June 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Jun) China has vigorously developed modern agricultural technologies and significantly improved crop yields, he pointed out, telling People's Daily that he wants to learn the technologies involved so that he can contribute to agricultural development in his hometown. The project that Muttendango benefited from was based at Quzhou Experiment Station of China Agricultural University (CAU), and launched in 2019. It aims to train talents in agricultural science and technology for African countries through farming practice and technological exchanges. Adopting an educational model that emphasizes the importance of practice and the combination of practice and theory in solving problems, the project arranges for foreign students to take part in farming activities, first to discover problems, then to acquire basic knowledge and methods through theoretical courses, and finally to go to the front line of agricultural production to solve problems using the theoretical knowledge they have gained. Muttendango is one of the first batch of students of the project. Corn yield in Zambia has long remained at between 1 and 3 tonnes per hectare, while in China it has exceeded 6 tonnes since 2020, he noted, adding that he came to China to learn how the country improves crop yields through agricultural technologies. After more than three years of learning in China, Muttendango has found the answer to his question. He discovered that while Zambian farmers seldom take measures to replenish their soil with nutrients, most Chinese farmers have a good knowledge of scientific fertilization methods. Furthermore, the selection of high-yield crop varieties and improvement in irrigation facilities for farmland, among other practices, also contribute to the increase in crop yields, according to Muttendango. So far, the project has trained more than 60 students for 12 African countries. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has given high praise to the project for its practice-based educational model, and recognized it as one of the best poverty reduction practices in 2021. In 2022, a demonstration village for agricultural development and poverty reduction under the Science and Technology Backyard project was unveiled in Malawi. At the village, students taking part in the project seek technological innovations and conduct demonstrations and experiments together with local farmers, in a bid to improve farmers' agricultural production skills and increase crop yields. Many African countries are faced with challenges such as food insecurity and poverty, pointed out a Malawian student of the CAU, noting that the Science and Technology Backyard project not only helps African students master advanced agricultural technologies, but also promotes the sustainable development of agriculture in Africa. "The Science and Technology Backyard project focuses on exchanges in agricultural technologies between China and African countries and the cultivation of talents, so as to help more African farmers benefit from China's advanced agricultural technologies," said Wang Wen, an official of the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, CAU. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Ranchi, Feb 13 : Four houses were gutted after an 11,000 volt overhead live wire fell on their roofs in Sajwan village of Jharkhand's Palamu district on Monday. The fire spread after a gas cylinder exploded. It caused loss of property, along with claiming the lives of a few cattle. All the residents of the houses were evacuated safely with the help of villagers. Haidernagar police station in-charge Azad Ansari reached the spot immediately after receiving information. As per sources, the fire brigade took around an hour and fifteen minutes in covering a distance of 12 km to reach the spot. Four families lost their homes in the incident. The villagers alleged that they had submitted several applications to the electricity department urging them to install guards at the wire. Despite the repeated requests, 440 volt wires are supported by bamboo poles in the village. Phnom Penh, Feb 13 : Cambodia's Ministry of Information on Monday officially revoked the license of the West-backed VOD (Voice of Democracy) radio for broadcasting "slanderous" information. In its announcement signed by Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, the ministry cancelled the license held by the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM), which oversaw the VOD radio, for "gross professional misconduct," Xinhua reported. The announcement said their "intentionally slanderous" report and failure to run corrections in accordance with the press law had tarnished the "reputation and prestige of the government". The revocation of the media outlet's license was made at Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen's order on Sunday. The Cambodian government accused the VOD radio of broadcasting an "intentionally slanderous" article pertinent to the country's recent relief aid to the earthquake-hit Turkey. Hun Sen said the article totally distorted the truth regarding the government's budget management system, adding only the Prime Minister has the authority to make a decision on humanitarian aid to a foreign country. He had asked the radio to make a correction and apologise publicly, but the broadcaster ignored his request. Hun Sen said that the radio's foreign donors should take their funding back to their countries or divert the money to help other countries, and its staff should seek new jobs. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Border Security Force (BSF) personnel airlifted three patients for treatment from Tangdhar sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Along with this, the mortal remains of four people were also airlifted and sent for last rites. This area of Kashmir gets cut off from the main road due to heavy snowfall, said the BSF. A BSF spokesperson said that on the request of the Kupwara district administration, personnel from Tangdhar sector airlifted three patients in a BSF helicopter for treatment at the medical centre on Monday. At the same time, four bodies were also airlifted, as their last rites could not be performed since the past 5 days due to heavy snowfall and road closure. As per BSF officials, Tangdhar remains cut off from the rest of the valley due to accumulation of snow in Sadhna pass after heavy snowfall in winter, which is why the border population has to contend with the lack of medical treatment. The BSF not only guards the Line of Control, but also works closely with the civil administration for the welfare of the border population and for meeting their emergency needs. IG BSF Kashmir Frontier Ashok Yadav said that the force is always present to serve the people of Kashmir and ensuring their well-being is a topmost priority. Gaza, Feb 13 : Israeli fighter jets bombed a military post in the Gaza Strip early on Monday in response to a rocket launch from the Palestinian enclave on Saturday. Sources with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) told Xinhua that several explosions were heard in separate areas of the coastal enclave, which is home to more than two million Palestinians. Witnesses saw ambulances and civil defense crews moving to the bombing sites. An Israeli army spokesman said in a statement that the underground post produced raw materials for manufacturing missiles and was run by the Hamas, Xinhua reported. "The airstrike deals a serious blow to Hamas' capabilities to fortify and arm itself," the statement said. On Saturday night, the Israeli army said that it had detected and intercepted one rocket launched from Gaza. This is the third time that Hamas military posts in Gaza have been bombed in response to launching rockets from the Strip toward Israel since January 1. The military escalation in Gaza came amid growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, causing more than 50 deaths, according to official figures. Kabul, Feb 13 : Afghanistan's Red Crescent Society donated 4.5 million afghanis (about 50,000 U.S. dollars) in cash to help the quake-affected people in Turkey, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported Monday. The Afghan caretaker government had earlier announced to donate 15 million afghanis (166,712 dollars) to the quake-affected people in Turkey and neighbouring Syria. Two devastating earthquakes measuring 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, killing over 33,000 people, with tens of thousands injured. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Monday said that its personnel have arrested eight persons for smuggling gold through the Bangladesh border, and seized 24.4 kg gold worth Rs 14 crore. The DRI said that the accused had hidden the gold in strips in the false cavities of vehicles. These strips were also hidden in specially-tailored waist belts worn by each of them. "We launched an operation codenamed 'Operation Eastern Gateway', which involved developing intelligence over a substantial period of time to bust the smuggling racket. A syndicate based in Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal was smuggling huge quantities of gold from Bangladesh to India through the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura," said the official. Teams from the DRI were stationed at different locations in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura at the Indo-Bangladesh border so that the modus operandi of the smuggling syndicate could be unearthed. "On the basis of intelligence inputs, 8 persons of the syndicate were identified and in a simultaneous and well-coordinated operation at three locations all the eight persons were apprehended red-handed," the official said. The DRI said that the team at Siliguri apprehended four persons, while they were travelling in a train from Badarpur Junction in Assam to Sealdah, at Dalkhola Railway Station in West Bengal and recovered 90 gold strips from their possession weighing 18.66 kg, worth Rs 10.66 crores. These strips were hidden in specially-tailored waist belts worn by each of them. "Another team at Agartala apprehended one person who was driving a four-wheeler near the Indo-Bangladesh border near Agartala and found two gold bars weighing 2.25 kg, valued at Rs 1.30 crores, clandestinely concealed in a special cavity built under the driver's side front door," the official said. Another team at Karimganj in Assam apprehended three persons while they were travelling in a train from Agartala to Sealdah and seized eight bars of gold weighing 3.50 kg valued at Rs 2.03 crores from their possession. "In the said operation, smuggled gold cumulatively weighing 24.4 kg, valued at Rs 14 crores, was seized and all the eight apprehended persons were arrested," the official said. The all-India gold seizure by the DRI in this financial year has crossed 1000 kg. Chennai, Feb 13 : The French-Japanese Renault-Nissan alliance will invest $600 million (Rs 5,300 crore) over a five year period in India to roll out more models including EVs and also in the research and development (R&D), said a senior official. The Renault Nissan Automotive Pvt Ltd signed a MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for investing Rs 3,300 crore in the first phase of the investment plan, a state government statement said. Announcing the new investment, Nissan Motor Company Director and Chief Operating Officer, Ashwani Gupta, aid the alliance will invest $600 million in the new projects. He said the new investments will create 2,000 jobs at Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre at Mahindra World City near here. Gupta also said the alliance's India manufacturing joint venture Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd having its plant near here will roll out six new models - equally badged between Renault and Nissan - including electric vehicles (EV). The new models include four new C-segment sport utility vehicles (SUV). Two new A-segment electric vehicles will be the first EVs for both Renault and Nissan in India. The alliance plant rolls out Renault and Nissan badged cars out of its plant near here. Gupta also said additional investments will be made in the model Magnite including left hand drive for export markets. The fresh investments will increase the car plant utilisation to 80 per cent. According to the Tamil Nadu government, the 4.8 lakh units per annum Renault Nissan Automotive plant currently rolls out about 2 lakh units per year. The company plans to increase the production by another 2 lakhs per annum that includes launching new models necessitating the fresh investments of Rs 5,300 crore over a five year period. According to Gupta, by 2025 the entire plant will be powered by renewable power. The car plant is also targeted to become 100 per cent carbon neutral by 2045 by reducing energy consumption by 50 per cent and 100 per cent renewable power. Gupta also said the two partners are realigning their shareholdings globally and it will happen here too. Bengaluru, Feb 13 : The Karnataka unit of AAP will kick-start its campaigning for the Assembly election with a yatra called 'Broom is the solution', on February 15, party state working president Mohan Dasari said here on Monday. Addressing a press conference at the party's state office here, Dasari said, "The yatra will start in the front of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna railway station in Bengaluru. "We will reach Freedom Park via Sangolli Rayanna Circle, Anand Rao Circle and hold a meeting there. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is the only solution to the problems related to basic amenities like cleanliness, education, health, electricity etc. The yatra has been organised in the name of 'Broom is the solution' with the aim of making people aware of this," he said. Aam Aadmi Party Bengaluru city president Dr Satish Kumar said, "The yatra to be held on February 15 will be attended by state and city level party's office-bearers, aspirants, activists and supporters. "The people of Karnataka, especially those in Bengaluru, are fed up with the rule of the BJP, Congress and JD(S) which have ruled the state. They are convinced that AAP is the only solution to the burning problems. The people of Karnataka want to see the pro-people governance that the Aam Aadmi Party is providing in Delhi," he said. Bengaluru City Vice-President Ashok Mruthyunjaya was present at the press meet. Bhopal, Feb 13 : Forced installation of Hanuman's idol in a Muslim's house triggered communal tension in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district but prompt police action prevented the violence from escalating. The state is yet to get over the horror it witnessed last year in Khargone. According to official reports, the incident was reported on Sunday in a residential colony located near Munshi Chowk area in Khandwa, around 360 km from Bhopal. The situation was under control, police said on Monday. However, a heavy police force was deployed in the area and Section 144 imposed in nearby areas. At least four police personnel, including a Chief Superintendent of Police and SHO, were reported injured in stone pelting. Five alleged perpetrators of the incident have been detained so far, and identification of more was under way, police said on Monday. "On Sunday, around 8.30 p.m, a group of people barged into the house, installed Hanuman's idol and chanted mantras. This led to people from both communities gathering outside the house. Both sides pelted stones at each other, but police jumped into action and dispersed the crowd," a senior police official told IANS on Monday. As per the police, the house where the incident took place belonged to one Ganesh Jadhav, which was recently sold to a Muslim, Shaikh Asagar. The agitated people even attacked the police who arrived to control the situation, prompting them to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. "Three cases under different IPC Sections pertaining to house-trespassing, attempt to murder and rioting lodged and as many as five persons have been detained so far. The prime accused in the entire incident is a self-styled Hindu leader Ravi Awhad," police officials said. Notably, last year (on April 10, 2022), a communal clash had broken out in Khandwa's bordering district - Khargone. Suva, Feb 13 : A Sikh professor, who was deported from Fiji in 2021 by the then government over his efforts to expose financial mismanagement in a top university, returned after two years to a warm welcome. Professor Pal Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor and president of the University of South Pacific (USP), and his wife were received at the Nadi International Airport by students and staff from the university. "We have arrived in Nadi. What a fabulous reception. USP Staff, Students and so many well wishers to meet us fills our hearts with joy. Beautiful singing and prayers. Thank you Fiji," Ahluwalia tweeted upon his arrival. "We want to thank God and the new Fiji government for allowing this. To our USP students and staff we are so humbled by your support and very much look forward to seeing you," he wrote. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka revoked the prohibition order on Ahluwalia in December 2022 to ensure the exiled professor and his wife's return to Fiji. "I will apologise on behalf of the people of Fiji for the way they were treated," Rabuka had said, adding that the prohibition order against Ahluwalia was "unreasonable and inhumane". Ahluwalia has been working out of the USP's Samoa Campus in Alafua since December 2021. The Kenya-born professor, who holds Australian and Canadian citizenships, had angered the then Fijian government over a leaked internal report, which he wrote in 2019. The report alleged widespread financial mismanagement within the university, abuse of entitlements, unearned promotions and millions of dollars improperly spent under former administrations seen as closely allied, politically, to the Frank Bainimarama government, The Guardian reported. Up to 15 immigration, police and military officials entered Ahluwalia's home in Suva on the night of February 3, 2021, revoked his work permit and forced on a flight under military guard to Australia. Calling him a "prohibited immigrant", a government statement said that Ahluwalia had breached Section 13 of the Immigration Act and had "conducted himself in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of Fiji." The government also claimed unspecified "repeated breaches" of the immigration act and visa conditions. Ahluwalia denied all allegations of misconduct and said he has been "the victim of a witch-hunt". The move to send Ahluwalia in exile had provoked widespread outrage and condemnation from staff, students, opposition politicians and human rights groups. The USP will be holding a thanksgiving ceremony on February 14 to officially welcome the return of Ahluwalia and his wife. The University of South Pacific, which is jointly owned by 12 countries, is seen as an example of Pacific cooperation at work. Chennai, Feb 13 : A 24-year-old youth, Gokul was hacked to death by a four-member gang wearing masks near the Coimbatore court complex. The deceased, according to the police, was part of a gang that had killed a youth V. Sriram alias Kurangu Sriram (22) in December 2021. Sriram was killed by the rival gang for area dominance. The police said that Gokul along with his friend had reached near the court complex after the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him for not appearing before the court after he had come out on bail in the murder case of Sriram. Gokul's friend Manoj was with him when the four-member gang approached them. Onlookers told the police that one of the gang members hacked Gokul who got a cut on his neck and died on the spot. Manoj who hails from Sadasivapuram in Coimbatore tried to stop the gang which injured him also. He has been admitted to Coimbatore government medical college with injuries on his head. The four-member gang walked away through the busy State Bank road where both the Commissionerate of police and the district collector's office are situated. The Coimbatore City police commissioner has constituted five teams of police to arrest the culprits. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday asked officers to ensure foolproof arrangements for the upcoming festival of Hola Mohalla at Sri Anandpur Sahib. Chairing a meeting here to finalise arrangements for the event, he noted that the festival is a symbol of the martial spirit of the Punjabis in general and the Sikh community in particular. Mann said huge participation is witnessed on the holy land of Sri Anandpur Sahib during the festival, and elaborate arrangements should be made to facilitate lakhs of devotees from across the state. The Chief Minister said every year pilgrims celebrate this traditional spirit of these festivals with the colours of unity, tolerance, brotherhood and compassion. He said that elaborate arrangements for traffic diversion, parking of vehicles, security arrangements, boarding, lodging and other facilities should be made for the pilgrims. He said Sri Anandpur Sahib has the privilege of having been founded by the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, in 1665, who sacrificed his life to uphold human dignity and human rights. He said this revered place was also the birthplace of Khalsa as in year 1699 the tenth master of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, laid the foundation of Khalsa Panth at this sacred land on the historic day of Baisakhi. Mann said with all its humility and enthusiasm the state government is duty bound to ensure world-class arrangements for the devotees visiting the holy city during Hola Mohalla. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : Punjab Police have arrested 10,576 drug smugglers, including 1,540 big fish, since July last year, Inspector General of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill said on Monday. The police have registered 7,999 first information reports (FIRs) of which 915 are related to commercial quantity. At his weekly press briefing here, Gill said the police have recovered 529.53 kg heroin from the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas. Additionally, 147.5 kg heroin was recovered by the police from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 677.03 kg in seven months, he said. Apart from seizing big-haul of heroin, the IGP said the police have also recovered 424 kg opium, 480.24 kg ganja, 255 quintals of poppy husk, and 51.39 lakh tablets, capsules, injections and vials of pharma opioids. The police have also recovered Rs 10.03 crore of drug money in seven months. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Central government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the existing structure, which includes the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and others agencies, are fully equipped to handle the situation which occurred after Hindenburg report on Adani group, and it would not oppose the court's suggestion to constitute a committee to strengthen the existing regime. It stressed that the court could permit it to suggest the remit of that committee with possible suggestions of names of the committee. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud that: "Our instructions are that existing structure - Sebi and other agencies - are fully equipped not only regime wise but otherwise also, in taking care of the situation. "However, responding to suggestion which fell from your lordshipsathe government has no objection in constituting a committee." Mehta stressed that the remit of the committee should be very relevant because any unintentional message to the international investors and domestic investors that even a regulator or statutory monitoring authority also needs a monitoring by a committee appointed by the Supreme Court may have some adverse impact on the flow of money. He sought that the court could permit the government to suggest the remit of that committee with possible suggestions of names of the committee in a sealed cover, as it may not be appropriate to discuss in open court hearing. "We suggest some names, which appeal to your lordships, may not appeal... but would be the people of some calibre or some standing in their respective fields, but the remit will be very relevant," he said. The bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, asked the SG to come back with the proposed remit of the committee by Friday and put it down on a note for the bench to examine, so that it could either modify or reflect on it, and then it can pronounce an order. Advocate Vishal Tiwari, one of the petitioners, argued that although organisational structure is there, yet this problem has arisen, there may be some loopholes which could be examined by the expert committee. The bench said it will continue hearing the matter on Friday. On February 10, the Supreme Court had observed that there is a need for a robust regulatory framework to protect the interest of the investors and if Centre agrees, a committee may be set up to suggest regulatory improvements. The apex court was hearing a plea seeking a direction to set up a committee monitored by a retired apex court judge to investigate the Hindenburg Research report, which resulted in crashing of Adani group company share prices and caused massive loss to investors. Two separate petitions have been filed by advocates Tiwari and M.L. Sharma in connection with the Hindenburg report on Adani group. New Delhi, Feb 13 : BJP National President J.P. Nadda and Agricultural Minister Narender Singh will launch "Natural Farming Kisan Jagran Abhiyan" -- a mission to reach out to 1 lakh villages and inform the people about organic farming in Uttar Pradesh's Shukratal village next week. The initiative is being launched on the instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For the same mission, BJP Kisan morcha organised a workshop at BJP central Office earlier in the day. Minister Nadda lit the lamp and addressed the morcha members. National President of BJP Kissan Morcha Rajkumar Chahar tweeted, "Today, the national training workshop of BJP Kisan Morcha 'Natural Farming Kisan Jagran Abhiyan' was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at BJP Headquarters and along with him addressed all the state office-bearers present in the workshop. Nashik/Mumbai, Feb 13 : At least four railway trackmen were crushed to death after a train tower wagon rolled down from the wrong side near Lasalgaon in Maharashtra's Nashik, triggering protests by local rail workers, officials said here on Monday. The tragedy occurred around 5.45 a.m. when the workers were working on the tracks and tower wagon suddenly came from the wrong direction, killing them instantly. Tower wagons are used for maintaining overhead equipment and electrical fittings in electrified sections of the railway networks, generally during low traffic hours. On learning of the gruesome tragedy, Lasalgaon police and local Central Railway officials rushed to the spot and the tower wagon driver was detained. The victims have been identified as Dinesh S. Darade, 35, Santosh B. Kedar, Sukhdev Shirshat, both 38, and Krishna A. Ahire, 40. Shocked by the calamity hitting their four colleagues, several railway employees staged protests at Lasalgaon railway station, accusing the railway officials of negligence and not reaching the spot for several hours. They also blocked the Mumbai-bound Manmad-LTT Godavari Express for a few minutes before police removed them from the tracks, though CR services were marginally delayed owing to the accident. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Opposition members on Monday objected before Speaker Om Birla in Lok Sabha, after their adjournment motions on appointment of former Supreme Court judge S. Abdul Nazeer as Governor and Chinese incursions in Indian territory were rejected. As soon as Question Hour ended, Trinamool Congress member Sougata Ray got up to say that he had given an adjournment motion on Justice Nazeer's appointment as Governor of Andhra Pradesh. However, as the Speaker disallowed the motion, Congress, DMK and Trinamool members protested, saying that Nazeer's appointment as a Governor was "unprecedented". Ray could be heard saying that a judge who had given verdict on Ayodhya had been appointed as a Governor, which was unprecedented. He was joined by DMK's A. Raja and Dayanidhi Maran as well as his own party colleagues Kalyan Banerjee and Mohua Moitra. Congress members too were seen protesting. Samajwadi Party members were also seen standing near their seats. The opposition members said they know that their adjournment motions are always turned down, however whatever has happened (referring to Nazeer's appointment as Governor), was "unprecedented". Congress member Manish Tewari also got up and urged the Speaker that he may reject the adjournment motions but at least he should allow a discussion on Chinese incursions in the house. "The Chinese troops have been occupying our territory since 2020, however there has been no discussion on it in Lok Sabha," Tewari said. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present in the house during the commotion. Nazeer was on Sunday appointed as governor of Andhra Pradesh. He was part of the five-member Ayodhya bench which had decidedAthe title of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi issue in 2019. Mumbai, Feb 13 : India all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar will pay for Mumbai Indians after bagging a 1.9 crore deal in the all-rounder list of the Women's Premier League (WPL) Player Auction here on Monday. Vastrakar entered the auction for a base price of Rs 50 lakh. Delhi Capitals, Mumbai and UP Warriorz started the bidding war to acquire the services of the all-rounder before Mumbai sealed the deal for Rs 1.9 crore. Gujarat Giants acquired the services of Harleen Deol at a price of Rs 40 lakh and also took West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin for Rs 60 Lakh. While Australian Annabel Sutherland went to Gujarat Giants for Rs 70 lakh. Mumbai, Feb 13 : India wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh has fetched a 1.9 crore deal from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the wicketkeeper list of the Women's Premier League (WPL) Player Auction here on Monday. Delhi Capitals and RCB engaged in a bidding battle with the former starting the bid at Rs 50 lakh which Bangalore escalated further, then Capitals took it to Rs 1 crore. RCB took a bid of Rs 1.5 crores. A long thought before Capitals raise the paddle for Rs 1.8 crore. RCB immediately bagged Ghosh for Rs 1.9 crore. Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy will play for UP Warriorz after the Rs 70 lakh deal. She will join the Indian star Deepti Sharma, who got a Rs 2.6 crore deal. While Yastika Bhatia, who entered on a base price of Rs 30 lakh, got Rs 1.5 crore from Mumbai Indians. Chennai, Feb 13 : The sale of exotic pets continues unabated in Chennai and other cities like Tiruchi, Madurai and Coimbatore and its outskirts even after the imported pets are being seized at international airports in Tamil Nadu. In the past fifty days, two consignments of exotic pets were seized at Chennai international airport. They included mangabeys, pythons and marmosets. Interestingly 171-star tortoises meant for export to far eastern countries were also intercepted at Chennai airport in the last fifty days. In the first seizure of 2023, 45 varieties of ball pythons, three marmosets, and eight corn snakes were caught by customs at Chennai airport. P.R. Saravanan, an animal rights activist based out of Chennai told IANS, "The animals which are classified as exotic species are being smuggled in tight containers and the animals are stressed during travel. The sale of these exotic pets is touching lakhs and crores in Tamil Nadu and the illegal trade has to be curbed by the authorities." However, sources in the Chennai City police told IANS that there is a lack of coordination between the Customs department and the police and this has helped several smugglers to go scot-free. Another issue that is plaguing the law enforcers is the failure to ascertain the exact value of the seized exotic species. Tiruchi, Madurai and Coimbatore, the cities where international flights land, are also thriving hot spots for the sale of exotic species. According to animal rights activists, the smuggled exotic species of animals are taken to other states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala from these airports. Customs officials told IANS that the seized smuggled species are sent back to their country of origin. The officials were tight-lipped when asked about handing over these cases to the Tamil Nadu police. While Pakistan sinks deeper into economic crisis, the plight of the people of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (PoJK, PoGB) has increased many folds. As I sit down to write this piece, both PoJK and PoGB are suffering from severe shortages of both wheat and electricity. Hundreds of families are starving and thousands have become unemployed as a result of the closing down of small businesses and workshops. Protests against economic deprivation have been a daily occurrence for almost a year now. People have braved minus 20 degree celsius temperatures to observe daily sit-ins. Pensioners have not been paid for months in both territories as the treasury has gone dry. Government employees in PoJK have not been paid their salaries for three months. An attempt to garner support for Pakistan in PoJK-GB by observing February 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day has also backfired. On the day, protests were held in several cities in which, one after the other, speakers rejected Pakistan's claim that India was mistreating Kashmiris in the union territory. A comparison of prices of flour, onion, tomatoes and other daily essentials between the Kashmir Valley and PoJK is the talk of every town and village in PoJK-GB. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team has arrived in Pakistan and are dictating Islamabad to make deep cuts into the privileges and perks of military and bureaucracy. The IMF has asked for an increase in fuel and electricity prices and to raise $6 billion in the next five months and a total of $16 billion in foreign exchange before it presents the next fiscal budget in June this year. The IMF is demanding these reforms to be made and targets to be achieved in order for it to release a mere $1.3 billion loan, which the IMF has held back since November last year. As Pakistan's economy is in a freefall, its military has just earned a whopping Rs 40 billion profit from a record sale of fertilizer worth Rs 109 billion by Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited, which is a military business enterprise. Not to mention that its former Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, had accumulated Rs 12 billion before he retired in November last year. Millions of dollars' worth of lithium and other precious minerals from PoJK-GB are being looted and smuggled into Pakistan on a daily basis and are unaccounted for. Just to give you a perspective of the value of the loot, I must tell you that one truck load of 25 tons of lithium is worth Rs 53 crore. Pakistan is not poor and neither is PoJK-GB. However, the Military-Mullah-Feudal troika has collectively usurped the land and the minds of its people. Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun and the people of PoJK-GB are living under the barrel of the military gun. No real political or economic rights are allowed to be freely exercised by them. They have been indoctrinated for 75 years that Pakistan was Allah's creation and that 'Hindu' India is their enemy who wants to destroy Pakistan at the first available opportunity. Under the pretext of Jinnah's communal two-nation theory and the propaganda that what unites all nations occupied Pakistan is the bond of 'Qalma' or faith in Islam, Pakistan's above-mentioned troika has oppressed the people for all nations and exploited their lands. The tide is now changing. With the Baloch and the Pashtuns up in arms and the people of PoJK-GB out on the streets, Pakistan's troika's control of these oppressed nations is slipping out of its hands. At the moment, the current economic crisis is moving in one direction only and that is a total collapse. Most of the check posts erected by the Pakistan military in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces are said to have been abandoned by the soldiers. Tensions are high between Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan. China is abandoning project after project in PoJK-GB for non-payment of services and materials provided by Chinese companies. The political crisis has also deepened to the level of the pre-1971 war when the Pakistan military began operation Blue Star in east Pakistan to crush the mandate of the Awami League, which had won most seats in the National Assembly a year before. A 13-party dysfunctional coalition is running the country. Under the current scenario, it is very much possible that the Balkanization of Pakistan could take place, thus freeing all oppressed nations. However, in order to achieve liberation from Pakistan, all stakeholders, including the oppressed people of PoJK-GB, Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have to be bang on the beat and that can only become possible if they form a collective warring alliance. (Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza is an author and a human rights activist from Mirpur in PoJK. He currently lives in exile in the UK.) Tokyo, Feb 13 : Japanese police on Monday referred Tetsuya Yamagami, who has been indicted for the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to prosecutors for allegedly making a gun and damaging a building by test-firing it. Yamagami, 42, is believed to have test-fired a weapon at a facility linked to the religious group Unification Church in the western city of Nara on July 7 last year, a day before the fatal shooting, in addition to making handguns and gunpowder without authorization, according to the Nara prefectural police, Xinhua news agency reported. The latest charges against the 42-year-old are expected to mark an end to police investigations into the deadly shooting of Abe. Yamagami, an ex-Maritime Self-Defense Force worker, was arrested on the spot on July 8 last year after allegedly shooting Abe twice at close range with a handmade gun while Abe, 67, was delivering a stump speech in the western city of Nara ahead of an upper house election. In January, after months of psychiatric evaluations by prosecutors, Yamagami was indicted for murder and violating the firearms control law. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of Rs 2,355 crore has been released to selected airline operators (SAOs) for operating UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) flights till January 2023, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Monday. "As on January 1, a total number of 73 unserved or underserved airports including 9 heliports and A2 water aerodromes have been operationalised, since 2017, under the UDAN scheme," the ministry informed Rajya Sabha. "UDAN is a self-financing scheme. VGF of around Rs 2,355 crore has been released to Selected Airline Operators as on January 31, 2023 for the operation of UDAN flights," it said. In written replies, the ministry said, "The government has approved the 'Revival of unserved and under-served airports' scheme for the revival and development of 100 unserved and under-served airports, helipad and water aerodromes by 2024." "Under the UDAN scheme, the unserved and underserved airports or airstrips namely Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda and Pathankot have been identified in Punjab for operation of UDAN flights till the completion of four rounds of bidding," the ministry said. UDAN flight operations from the Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda and Pathankot airports have been commenced by the Selected Airline Operators, the reply said. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had on October 21, 2016, launched the regional connectivity scheme -- UDAN -- to stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses. UDAN is a market-driven scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time for covering more destinations and stations and routes under UDAN. Nairobi, Feb 13 : Kenyan police said on Monday that they are interrogating three suspects with 12 pieces of elephant tusks with a street value of 5.8 million shillings (46,290 U.S. dollars) in the lakeside town of Naivasha, northwest of Nairobi. National police spokesperson Resila Onyango said security forces recovered 58 kilograms of elephant tusks from the three suspects who were arrested on Sunday in Naivasha, Xinhua news agency reported. Onyango said that going by the number of recovered tusks, it shows six elephants were killed. "The trade in tusks is illegal and everyone should know this. We will investigate further to get all players involved." The suspects were driving in a saloon car on Sunday afternoon in Naivasha when they were intercepted. The suspects will appear in court later to face charges of trafficking in the tusks once investigations are complete. Conservationists have decried the entry of organized crime syndicates into the illegal wildlife trade, most notably of rhino horn and elephant tusk, which they say has created a crisis situation in many African countries. The Kenya Wildlife Service, on its part, has expressed fears that poaching has contributed to the depletion of wildlife including elephants, lions and rhinos, threatening many years of conservation efforts and animal populations that had started to recover. Was General Musharraf really a man of peace or was he a schemer and a manipulator who was determined to obtain his objectives on Kashmir by hook or by crook? On his death a Congress leader commented that Musharraf had become a real force for peace from 2002 to 2007 and was clear in his strategic thinking. Editorials and articles have appeared liberally in our press which while acknowledging the dubious part of his record in dealing with India, especially in initiating the Kargil conflict, accept that we were close to peace with Pakistan with a "non-territorial" solution to the Kashmir issue but for Musharraf getting embroiled in political controversies at home that did not give him political space anymore to carry forward the peace process with India. Kanwal Sibal Was General Musharraf really a man of peace or was he a schemer and a manipulator who was determined to obtain his objectives on Kashmir by hook or by crook? On his death a Congress leader commented that Musharraf had become a real force for peace from 2002 to 2007 and was clear in his strategic thinking. Editorials and articles have appeared liberally in our press which while acknowledging the dubious part of his record in dealing with India, especially in initiating the Kargil conflict, accept that we were close to peace with Pakistan with a "non-territorial" solution to the Kashmir issue but for Musharraf getting embroiled in political controversies at home that did not give him political space anymore to carry forward the peace process with India. If Musharraf was a "real force for peace", how to explain that during his tenure we were subjected to a series of terrorist attacks on our soil, not only in Kashmir but all across India. Before he became a "convert to peace", Musharraf presided over terrorist attacks on the Red Fort (2000), Charar-e-Sharief mosque (2001), J&K Legislative Assembly (2001),the Indian parliament(2001), Akshardam Temple in Gujarat (2002), Mumbai bombing (2003), Nadimarg massacre (2003),Delhi bombings (between 2005 to 2008), Indian Institute of Science (2005), Varanasi bombings (2006),Mumbai train bombings (2006),Samjhuata Express (2007), Jaipur (2008), Ahmedabad (2008). Though the horrific Mumbai attacks occurred two months after he left office they were obviously under preparation while he was in position. Musharraf is on record to say that until the Kashmir issue remained unresolved the terrorist attacks could not but continue, implying that the cause of the attacks was not Pakistan but a ground reaction to India's unwillingness to find a solution. It is important to understand that the ecosystem of terrorism in Pakistan precedes the taking over of power by Musharraf. Pakistan has been using the arm of terrorism since the mid-1980s in Punjab and from 1990 onwards in J&K, which also saw the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus. The Pakistan army has been nurturing jihadi groups in the country and using them as an instrument of terror against India. These groups themselves are a product of the Islamisation of Pakistan polity and society more pronouncedly under President Zia ul Haq, though the very creation of Pakistan was a production of Islamic extremist thinking. Unless a process of de-radicalisation of Pakistani society takes place genuine and lasting peace or reconciliation with India will not be possible. This was true in Musharraf's time and is true even today. The Four Point peace formula proposed by Musharraf to India for a resolution of the Kashmir issue, the back-channel negotiations on it conducted by special emissaries on both sides, and the impression created that the basic design for a peaceful solution had been reached accounts for the narrative that Musharraf was a "force for peace". Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri has propagated the notion through his book and his visits to India to sell it that a peace agreement had effectively been reached under Musharraf and that its threads needed to be taken up by the two sides after his departure. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh acknowledged in an interview with India Today some years ago that progress was made during these back channel discussions without reaching any finality. This Four Point formula was less the brainchild of Musharraf and more of the US Institute of Peace in Washington DC with the support of the State Department and the Kashmiri origin US businessman Farooq Kathwari who has today a hall carrying his name in the Institute. The exact details of the formula have never been made public but enough has appeared in the media in broad terms. The central objective of the exercise was to reopen the issue of India's sovereignty over Kashmir, give Pakistan a locus standi in the state recognised by India, accept the notion of a united Kashmiri people, allow free movement across the LoC, loosen India's control over the state, open the doors to more Islamisation of our part of Kashmir by strengthening links with an increasingly radicalised Pakistan, and make the Hindus in Jammu more insecure and vulnerable by increasing the weight of the combined Muslim population of Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC. Once India's grip was loosened, to recover control would become virtually impossible without serious internal, bilateral with Pakistan and international ramifications. The most objectionable part of this formula for peace was this notion supported by Shri Manmohan Singh of not changing borders but making them irrelevant. The obvious question that arises is that if there is no recognised border how can it be made irrelevant? Moreover, how can a non-existent border be made irrelevant in J&K without the existing border between India and Pakistan from Punjab to Gujarat being made "irrelevant" too? It is not possible to conceive of an open border in an area of India claimed by Pakistan without the overall relations between India and Pakistan reaching a state of normality that allowed similar free movement across their international border too. This would include movement of people and goods as well as transit rights. Was Pakistan ready for that? Demilitarisation in J&K in stages could not realistically take place without demilitarisation across the international border too. Would this have required a reduction in the size of the armed forces of the two countries eventually? Was how this would affect the role and power of the Pakistan army in the country's political system analysed sufficiently by our side? The scope for mutual reduction of armed forces between India and Pakistan on an equal basis has always been limited because while for Pakistan India is the enemy, for us both Pakistan and China are, and therefore there can be no symmetry in reduction of forces. We were entertaining the notion of Kashmir without a border when J&K was in turmoil, we were not in control of the situation on the ground fully and Pakistan-abetted terrorism in India was a continuing reality, This is not surprising when seen in the context of our readiness at the political level to seriously considering withdrawing from Siachen and converting the area into a Peace Park. It is not even clear if the agreement reached when announced would have received public support in India. Yes, Musharraf was clear in his strategic thinking. We were not and were willing to be fooled by a man who had fooled us in Kargil. ( is India's former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to Russia. Views expressed are personal and exclusive to India Narrative) (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative New Delhi, Feb 13: The worlds leading defence companies have lined up at the 2023 edition of the Aero India air show to showcase their cutting-edge technologies in a bid to further develop their industrial footprint in India. Ateet Sharma New Delhi, Feb 13: The worlds leading defence companies have lined up at the 2023 edition of the Aero India air show to showcase their cutting-edge technologies in a bid to further develop their industrial footprint in India. Over 100 foreign companies, including Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, Airbus, Boeing, SAAB, Safran and Rolls Royce, from more than 80 countries are amongst the major exhibitors at Asia's largest aero show which kicked off in Bengaluru today. Dassault Aviation is presenting at Aero India 2023 a model of Rafale C in the colours of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and a model of Rafale Marine which is a candidate for the renewal of the fleet of on-board fighters of the Indian Navy. The French aerospace company is highlighting its long association with India in the military field as IAF, having been equipped with Dassault aircraft since 1953, is its oldest export customer. The acquisition contract for 36 Rafale signed in 2016 and the modernization of the Mirage 2000 I/TI has extended the historic partnership. In the field of business aviation, the Falcon fleet in service in India has around 20 aircraft. Following the Rafale contract, Dassault Aviation and its partners are contributing to the 'Make in India' policy through a vast supply, training and industrial subcontracting network involving dozens of companies, in accordance with their offset obligations. The Dassault Aviation group is also showcasing at the five-day event a front section of Falcon 2000 produced by the Franco-Indian factory located in Nagpur under the terms of the agreements resulting from the Rafale contract. Also on show is ultra-long range advanced business jet Falcon 8X having a range of 6,450 nm (12,000 km), which means it is capable of non-stop flights between Beijing and New York, Singapore and London, or Sao Paulo and Moscow. Dassault believes that the trijet is particularly well-suited to the needs of Indian companies and local operating conditions considering the high temperatures and altitudes. "Dassault Aviation's participation in the Aero India show is further testimony to the partnership that has united us with India for 70 years. Providing the best materials to the Indian Forces and companies has always been our ambition and our pride," said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. US aerospace giant Boeing, which locked in an intense competition with Dassault to deck its fighter jets on INS Vikrant, is also focusing its presence at Aero India 2023 on investments in growing local services and capabilities, workforce development and partnerships in support India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. Boeing's exhibit at USA Pavilion is built around the theme of 'The Runway to a Billion Opportunities' highlighting local partnerships and investments in India. The exhibit also features a range of advanced products including the F/A-18 Super Hornet, P-8I, CH-47 Chinook, 737, 787 Dreamliner and 777X. Visitors will be able to experience the AH-64 Apache simulator and learn more the combat helicopter's capabilities and a wide range of missions. The joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) recently delivered the first fuselage for six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters ordered by the Indian Army from its state-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad. TBAL has produced and supplied Boeing's Apache final assembly plant in Mesa, Arizona with over 190 fuselages. India presently operates 11 C-17s, 22 AH-64 Apaches (with six more on order), 15 CH-47 Chinooks, 12 P-8Is, three VVIP aircraft, and two Head of State aircraft. In addition, more than 150 Boeing airplanes, including the Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX, 757, 777, and 787 Dreamliner, are operated by India's leading commercial airlines. "The Indian aerospace and defence industry is poised for growth and offers significant opportunities for Boeing with our proven portfolio of products and services. Boeing is committed to supporting and enabling this progress with a vision to bring the best of Boeing to India and take the best of India to the world," says Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative London, Feb 13 : The BBC has acquired Vice's explosive documentary about controversial influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, reports 'Variety'. Produced by Vice World News, the documentary has been years in the making and gives voice to women who were allegedly abused by the former kickboxer, 'Variety' adds. The film takes viewers inside Tate's compound in Romania, where he was recently arrested. Both Tate and his brother remain in police custody in Romania, facing allegations of rape and trafficking. In the doc, Vice reporter Matt Shea gets an inside look at Tate's 'War Room', and questions him on his public stances about the treatment of women, which have become a central part of his public persona and business. The film also delves into the so-called "loverboy method" that was sold by Tate to thousands of young men as a tool for gaining influence over women, and which Romanian authorities now allege he used to recruit and manipulate vulnerable women to perform pornographic content. The hour-long documentary, 'The Dangerous Rise of Andrew Tate', has been sold by Vice Distribution, the global distribution arm of Vice Media Group, to the British public broadcaster. The film will air on the youth-oriented channel BBC Three. It is now available on the BBC streaming service iPlayer. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court on Monday orally observed that the nominated members cannot vote in the election for the mayor of a municipal corporation. During the hearing, the office of the Delhi Lt Governor told the court that it would postpone the February 16 mayoral election to a date after February 17. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud orally observed that nominated members cannot go for the election and the constitutional provision is very clear. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the petitioner, contended before the bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, that Article 243 R of the Constitution makes it very clear. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, representing the office of Delhi LG, suggested that the election scheduled on February 16 can take place after February 17. At this, Chief Justice Chandrachud queried Jain: "Are you disputing the fact that nominated members should not vote, that is very well settled. That is a clear constitutional provision." As Senior advocate Maninder Singh said: "We should get an opportunity to convince the lordships that may be permissible...," The Chief Justice asked under which provision it is permissible? Singh said the provision under which it permits members to be part of standing committee and they become full-fledged members and urged the top court to grant some time to argue the matter. Singhvi, however, said there is a fallacy, corporation aldermen are excluded and, in the corporation, they are specifically excluded and in the standing committee they can vote, "and we are not on standing committee". Singh replied that is for the argument which has to be considered. The bench said that they will be permitted in a committee is a different aspect of the matter. Singh said there are three committees which constitute the corporation itself. The top court was hearing a petition filed by AAP leader Shelly Oberoi in connection with the election of mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing Oberoi, submitted that the petitioner is seeking two directions - nominated members shall not be allowed to vote and elections of mayors, deputy mayor, standing committee should be separate. He said this is clear from the black letter of law and also relied on Section 76 of DMC Act to argue that the Mayor and Deputy Mayor have to preside over all meetings. It was argued that the simultaneous holding of elections for three posts (Mayor, Deputy Mayor and standing committee members) is contrary to the DMC Act. The top court has scheduled the hearing in the matter on February 17. Earlier this month, the apex court had sought response of the office of the LG, pro tem presiding officer Satya Sharma of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and others on Oberoi's petition. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : The stalemate between Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday hit a new high when the former questioned the governments decisions. He also cited lack of transparency in selecting teachers for sending them to Singapore for training, and choosing to ignore all misdeeds of senior police officer Kuldeep Singh Chahal. In a missive to the Chief Minister, Purohit questioned the appointment of a "tainted" person as chairperson of Punjab Infotech, saying he was accused in property grabbing and kidnapping cases. The Governor sought the criteria and details of the entire selection process of Principals for sending them to Singapore as there were allegations of "no transparency". "Please also give detail if it (criteria) was widely published throughout Punjab. As per news reports since the first batch has come back, please let me have details of total expenditure incurred on travelling and boarding, lodging and expenses towards training," said the Governor. "In one of the letters addressed to me you had mentioned that because of the heavy mandate by the people of Punjab you are the CM, I fully agree with you on this count but you should also keep it in mind that people of the state elected you for running the administration as per the Constitution and not as per whims and fancies," the Governor told Mann. "As per Article 167 of the Constitution of India you are bound to furnish me full details and information asked by me, but you have not furnished the same and never cared to reply and treated all my queries with contempt. "To maintain cordial relations I have not revealed these letters to press because I thought you will fulfil the mandate of the Constitution but now it appears to me that you have decided to ignore my letters and I am compelled to release these letters to the press/media," said the Governor. The Governor questioned the government's silence over his letter regarding non-disbursal of scholarship and to remove the illegally appointed Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). Raising the issue of former Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal, the Governor accused the Chief Minister of choosing to ignore all misdeeds of the officer and promoting him. "You have not only promoted him but also posted him as Commissioner of Jalandhar and that too the orders being issued just before January 26, knowing very well that Governor is to unfurl the national flag at Jalandhar. I had to instruct the DGP that the officer concerned should maintain distance during the ceremony. On this issue it seems that this officer was your blue-eyed boy and you chose to ignore facts that were brought to your notice by this office," he said. The Governor said he had questioned the presence of Naval Aggarwal in meetings of senior officers, where sensitive and confidential matters of security of the country are discussed. "I have not received any reply till date. My letters asking for details of advertisements where you were asked for complete details is also perhaps lying in cold storage. "There are many other points but I have chosen to highlight five sensitive and important points covering safety and security of the state and country. The information about these points was asked by me besides two points already asked by me." "The entire information which has been sought by me may at least now be furnished within a fortnight. If you fail to provide this information within the stipulated time period as already sufficient time has passed I will be compelled to take legal advice for further action, since I am duty bound to protect the Constitution," the Governor warned. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a day-long visit to Haryana on Tuesday to inaugurate projects, provide a letter of approval of Rs 10,000 crore to cooperative institutions, and present the President's Colour Award to the state police in a ceremony organized at the Haryana Police Academy in Madhuban in Karnal. He will also release the coffee table book on the Haryana Police. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, Home Minister Anil Vij along with other cabinet ministers and dignitaries will be present on the occasion. An official spokesperson said the Union Home Minister will also take the salute of the parade to be held at the academy's Vachher Stadium. The President's Colour award is also a testament to the hard work and dedication of Haryana Police in serving the nation and maintaining law and order. Getting this mark is a moment of pride for the people of Haryana and the entire nation, he said. The spokesperson said the President's Colour is a unique and prestigious honour conferred by the President to the armed forces that have rendered exceptional service to the nation. The award serves as recognition of the sacrifices made by police personnel in the line of duty and as a tribute to their unwavering commitment to serve and protect the people. Shah will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of five cooperative sector projects under various initiatives taken by the state for the implementation of the National Cooperative Policy. He will inaugurate the Haryana Cooperative Export House and will also visit the exhibition and different outlets of HAFED. Shah will also inaugurate the Sanjhi dairy project, Panipat Cooperative Sugar Mills, Ethanol Plant at Dahar and lay the foundation stone of cooperative milk plant at Rewari's Bidawas village, beside launching Internet Radio 'Sahkarita Vani'. He will also provide a letter of approval of Rs 10,000 crore to the cooperative institutions of Haryana by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). Kohima, Feb 13 : Authorities in Nagaland, as part of their ongoing pre-poll raids against drugs, arms peddling and illegal financial transactions, have seized contraband and cash, valued at around Rs 37 crore, since the announcement of the Assembly polls on January 18, officials said on Monday. On the direction of the Election Commission the seizure, made by the enforcement agencies comprising central and state, also includes foreign liquor, freebies and numerous other items. Of the Rs 37 crore seizure, various drugs valued at Rs 26.36 crore confiscated followed by foreign liquor valued at Rs 4.26 crore, freebies and other items valued at Rs 3.51 crore, Rs 2.84 crore in cash and precious metals worth Rs 16 lakh. Election officials said that before the February 27 Assembly elections, various enforcement agencies would step up their raids against all kinds of illegal activities and clandestine trading. The police have also sought public cooperation and support during the election period for proper implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. A police officer said that after obtaining permission from court, a total of 7,843 seized liquor bottles were recently destroyed by Nagaland Police in the presence of a magistrate. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea by the CBI challenging a Delhi High Court order granting bail to Chitra Ramkrishna, a former managing director of the National Stock Exchange, in the co-location scam case. A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M. Trivedi refused to allow an appeal by the CBI challenging the high court order. "We find no reasons to interfere with the bail order," said the bench, adding that all questions of law are left open. It clarified that the observations made in the high court's order will be construed only for default bail and not affect the merits of the trial. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the CBI, submitted that the high court's order was absolutely misconceived and the law on default bail is very clear. He added that bail can be granted if the charge sheet is not filed within 60 days of arrest. On February 9, the high court granted bail to Ramkrishna in a money laundering case related to the alleged illegal phone tapping of employees, saying that, prima facie, there are reasonable grounds to believe she is not guilty. In March last year, the CBI had arrested Ramkrishna and she was granted bail by the high court in the co-location case on September 28 last year. She was arrested in the ED case on July 14 last year. On February 9, the high court said: "Prima facie there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant is not guilty of the offence and she is not likely to commit any offence while on bail." The Enforcement Directorate in September last year, had filed a charge sheet in the Rouse Avenue courts in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to phone tapping of NSE employees between 2009 and 2017. The charge sheet was filed against NSE's Ramkrishna - who was in custody for almost seven months in the matter, her predecessor Ravi Narain, and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey. Ramkrishna, who is already on bail in the CBI's case, was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs one lakh and two sureties of the like amount and certain conditions like joining the investigation and not leaving the country. The high court also observed: "In the present case there is no allegation that the applicant has derived or obtained any property or proceeds of crime. Additionally, there is no allegation or evidence produced before me to suggest that the applicant has concealed, possessed, used, projected or claimed any proceeds of crime as untainted property." New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned hearing in bail plea of jailed Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain and co-accused Ankush Jain and Vaibhav Jain in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case. On February 8, advocate Sushil Kumar Gupta appearing for Ankush Jain and Vaibhav Jain, the two aides of the Minister had concluded his submissions before a bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma. He had contended that in the present case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is just investigating the predicate offence and not the money laundering case, and that the ED had presumptively established a case of disproportionate assets (DA), but this could not be their case because the agency must first establish the existence of a scheduled offence. Citing the Vijay Madan Lal Judgment of the apex court, Gupta had argued that the role that the ED has given to his clients (Ankush Jain and Vaibhav Jain) in the current case should be different from the CBI case, but the ED has accused them under the same rules. He had further argued that the "proceeds of crime is the core" that needed to be established in the present case by the ED to have a case against his clients. Earlier, Gupta, on behalf of his clients, had said: "We have been roped in because the company, as per the Enforcement Directorate, belonged to Satyendar Jain." He had added: "We are stating that it is our company, not Satyendar Jain's." The Jains' counsel had said that Satyendar Jain has nothing to do with the company and that all the companies belong to them. Special Judge Vikas Dhull had denied the two bail on November 17 last year. Earlier, Satyendar Jain's counsel N. Hariharan had asked how is the minister involved in the present case and how is he related to it as the money belonged to Ankush and Vaibhav Jain, which came back to their account without any premium. "My (Satyendar Jain's) assets before and after the cheque period remained the same," he had said. Kolkata, Feb 13 : Indications are clear that the Raj Bhavan-state secretariat honeymoon period in West Bengal is moving towards its end. Despite an official request from the Raj Bhavan to the state secretariat on Sunday for replacement of Governor C.V. Ananda Bose's current Principal Secretary Nandini Chakroborty with immediate effect, no reply or initiative on this count has come from the state government so far. On Monday also, the Governor's House reportedly informed the state secretariat Nabanna about Chakroborty being released from her current assignment. An official from the personnel and administrative reforms department said that in case of replacement of the principal secretary, the chief secretary will have to issue a notification after a formal instruction or approval from the Governor for the replacement. "The Governor is in Delhi now and in my opinion things are held up for that reason only," the official said. He also pointed out that the appointing authority of the principal secretary to the Governor is the state government, which generally honours the suggestions of the Governor on this count. The question that is doing the rounds is whether the state secretariat will soon take a decision and announce the replacement of Chakroborty or will it prefer her to continue in her post. Political observers feel that in case of the second development, it can be said that the issue of replacement of the principal secretary will mark the beginning of another chapter of Raj Bhavan-secretariat tiff as was evident during the tenure of previous Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is currently the Vice President of India. Political observers feel that the timing of the Governor House seeking the replacement has also made the entire sequence of events interesting. The formal request for the replacement came just a day after state BJP President Sukanta Majumdar called on the Governor to apprise him of the existing situation in the state. In fact, the state BJP leadership, especially the leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, has been up in arms against Chakroborty for quite some time now. In fact, Adhikari has also accused Chakroborty of acting as "an implant" of the state government in the Raj Bhavan and "misleading" the Governor. Chakroborty, a 1994-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, was appointed as Principal Secretary to the Governor during the term of the interim Governor, La Ganesan. After Ananda Bose took charge, she continued in her post. She played a leading role in the "hate khori" (beginning of learning) of Ananda Bose in Bengali language at the Governor's House on January 26 on the twin occasions of Republic Day and Saraswati Puja, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the chief guest. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday told the Parliament that it is still too early to gauge the spillovers of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), while assailing concerns on whether it would impinge on an individual's autonomy. Replying to a question on the CBDC during Question Hour in Lok Sabha, she said that digital currency is something which the RBI issues. "Reserve Bank of India has come up with a pilot project in terms of retail and wholesale use of digital currencies for which there are several sandboxes created, so that user cases can be tested. It is only during this process and immediately after that can there be any kind of understanding on how the retail or the wholesale use of digital currencies will have any spill overs for which any action has to be planned. It has been introduced since last December. We will wait for the outcomes from there," the Finance Minister said in her reply. DMK member T. Sumathy had expressed concern while asking a question on the CBDC, whether the concept of programmable money brought forth by CBDC could potentially impinge on an individual's autonomy, thus leading to an all-controlling state. New York, Feb 13 : Indian-American judge Vince Chhabria has slapped a fine of almost $1 million on Meta, Facebook's parent company, and its law firm for creating obstacles for court and users in a data breach trial. According to a Bloomberg report, District Judge Chhabria wrote in an order that the fine is "loose change" for Facebook and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP for deceitfully denying that it shared users' private information with third parties. The San Francisco judge said that Facebook relied on "delay, misdirection, and frivolous arguments" to make the litigation unfairly difficult and expensive. "Perhaps realising they had no real argument for withholding these documents, Facebook and Gibson Dunn contorted various statements" of opposing lawyers and the court acebeyond recognition," Chhabria wrote, according to Bloomberg. "And again, after being told repeatedly that these arguments made no sense, Facebook and Gibson Dunn insisted on pressing them," he said. The judge added that Facebook also attempted to push the users, who had filed a complaint against it, into settling for a lesser compensation. The lawsuit was filed in a California court on behalf of Facebook users impacted by Meta's partnership with research firm Cambridge Analytica. The $925,078.51 penalty comes after Meta had agreed a $725 million settlement in December 2022 to resolve a class-action lawsuit, which claimed that Facebook illegally shared user data with Cambridge Analytica. In March 2018, whistleblower Christopher Wylie publicly revealed that Cambridge Analytica exfiltrated personal data of 87 million Facebook users in the US in order to influence the results of the 2016 US presidential election. This data trove included Facebook users' ages, interests, pages they liked, groups they followed, physical locations, political and religious affiliations, relationships, and photos, as well as their full names, phone numbers, and email addresses. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday told Parliament that India has taken on board the G20 member nations to formulate a standard operating protocol to regulate crypto mining. Replying to a question on crypto mining regulation in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, she said that under its G20 presidency, India is "raising this issue and having detailed discussion with the members so that a standard operating protocol emerges after the discussions in the G20 so that there is a coherent, and comprehensive approach in bringing some regulation into this whether it is mining or whether it is transacting". Sitharaman also said that crypto is largely unregulated in India, whether it is mining or whether it is an asset or whether it is a transaction. "We recognise that this is almost driven by technology, and a standalone country's effort in controlling or regulating this is not going to be effective. There is now an evolving consensus. That is why in the G20 we are raising this issue and having detailed discussion with the members so that a standard operating protocol emerges after the discussions in the G20 so that there is a coherent, comprehensive, all countries working together, kind of an approach in bringing some regulation into this whether it is mining or whether it is transacting," she said. The Finance Minister said that all this is being looked at comprehensively, because technology does not brook any borders. She was responding to a question by DMK MP T Sumathy, who wanted to know how the government plans to regulate crypto mining in India, in order to cater to environmental and energy conception concerns. Bengaluru, Feb 13 : Pictures have emerged of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Kannada superstars Yash and Rishab Shetty, who have both emerged as pan-India stars, with the PM commending their success at the national level during the meeting. 'KGF Chapter 2' fame Yash, 'Kantara' fame director-actor Rishab Shetty, producer Vijay Kirgandur, late Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar's wife Ashiwni Puneeth Rajkumar and Kannada standup comedian 'Aiyyo' Shraddha were invited for a dinner party hosted by the Prime Minister in Bengaluru on Sunday night. The photos of celebrities with PM Modi have gone viral on social media. Sources said that Modi had a detailed discussion with Yash and Rishab. Yash has proposed building a film city in Karnataka, to avoid shoots abroad, sources said. Modi appreciated Rishab for 'Kantara' and congratulated him for the film's huge success. The Prime Minister also expressed his condolences over the demise of Puneeth Rajkumar to his wife Ashwini. Yash was dressed in simple attire, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. Rishab was clad in traditional white dhoti and shirt. The Prime Minister congratulated the stars for putting the Kannada film industry on national map, sources said. Kolkata, Feb 13 : The West Bengal Assembly on Monday witnessed a ruckus following a heated discussion between Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The ruckus started when Adhikari rose to speak on the 'Motion of Thanks on the Governor's address' on the opening day of the budget session. Although, he was allotted 30 minutes to speak, he was interrupted from time to time by certain members from the treasury bench and then rushed towards the Speaker's podium. Claiming that the state government has resorted to "blatant falsehood" through the Governor's speech, Adhikari also launched a scathing attack against the state government on the issues of corruption. As the Speaker tried to calm him down, there was a heated exchange of words between them. Adhikari was then seen tearing the copy of the Governor's speech and throwing it towards the chair of the Speaker. Thereafter the BJP legislators, led by him, staged a walkout from the house. A visibly agitated Speaker said that he would bring a Motion of Privilege against the Leader of the Opposition. At the same time, there was also a proposal from the treasury bench member to suspend Adhikari for the rest of session. However, surprisingly Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rose and apologised on behalf of Adhikari and the other BJP legislators. "I admit the Leader of the Opposition has become a person of utter shame for this house. But I apologise on behalf of them," she said. Following that the Speaker refrained from bringing the Motion of Privilege against the Leader of the Opposition and said that the other should learn from the approach of the Chief Minister. Later, Adhikari told media persons that he was just about to speak on an important issue relating to housing alliance given to bureaucrats despite the state government providing them with official residences, the Speaker did not allow him. "We will bring a no- confidence motion against the speaker in the house on February 16." Addressing the house later, the Chief Minister, without naming the Leader of the Opposition, alleged that someone and his family had minted money through unfair means. "Just by joining (the BJP), he cannot come out clean of his misdeeds," she said. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday came down heavily in Parliament on states complaining about delay in getting GST compensation, saying that rather than blaming the Centre for delay in facilitating the payment, they should ensure that the accountant general's (AG) statements, which is the prerequisite for seeking the amount, are sent on time. Replying to a series of questions on GST compensation raised by DMK's A Raja and RSP's N.K. Premachandran in Lok Sabha during Question Hour, Sitharaman said that the Kerala government has not sent the AG statements for five years, i.e. from 2017-18 to 2021-22. "I am looking at my records and saying Kerala has not sent the AG's certified statements for the GST compensation for the years 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22. I am sorry to be so precisely going by year after year and thereby taking the valuable time of the House. So, you have sent it not even for one year. "Have you sent me the AG's certified account even for one year for getting your compensation dues? Then, it is accused that the Centre is not releasing the funds in time. The certified authorised statement has reached not even for one year," she said. The Finance Minister told Premachandran to convey to Kerala government that it should send all the statements together at one go. "On the receipt of that, we will clear it. You have not sent it for one year, and you keep blaming us that we are not giving you the money in time," she said. Bhubaneswar, Feb 13 : Days after joining the Congress, bureaucrat-turned-politician Bijay Kumar Patnaik on Monday alleged that Odias are being exploited in their own state. After joining the Congress in Delhi, Patnaik returned to Odisha on Monday where he was given a rousing welcome by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) at the Congress Bhawan here. Speaking to mediapersons, Patnaik said, "Odia people are being exploited in their own state. Perhaps Odisha is the only state where a conspiracy is being hatched to exploit its own people." "Odia contractors are not getting work here. Even tenders for small works are also made in such a way that Odia contractors are not able to qualify for them," he said. If small and C class contractors from other states get all the works here, where will the Odia contractors go, the Congress leader asked. Stating that unemployment is a big problem in Odisha, he claimed that graduates are moving to other states to get job while labourers are also migrating to other states in search of livelihood. Refraining from making any direct attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he said, "He was my boss. So, I don't want to criticise him. However, I can say, this Naveen Patnaik is not the same under whom I was serving." The former Chief Secretary said that he joined politics because he was unable to see the style of functioning of the present government in the state. "The common people in the state do not know whom to approach to get their grievances redressed. Be it an MLA or a minister, all claim that they do not have powers and everything is being controlled by the 'third floor' (chief minister's office)," he alleged. "Neither common man nor journalists have any access to the 'third floor'. Forget about the third floor, the journalists are restricted from entering the state secretariat," Patnaik claimed. Reacting to the allegations levelled by him, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said Patnaik wanted to go to Rajya Sabha after joining the BJD. As this could not happen, he joined the Congress now, but he is making statements like a BJP spokesperson, Mohanty said. New Delhi, Feb 13 : A 24-year-old man, who was allegedly involved in the violence in the Jahangirpuri area in Delhi in 2022 and was on the run, has been arrested by the police, an official said on Monday. The police said that a reward of Rs 25,000 was also declared for any information leading to his arrest. The accused has been identified as Salman alias Suleman, a resident of Jahangirpuri. On April 16, 2022, clashes broke out between two groups from different communities during a procession taken out to mark Hanuman Jayanti in the Jahangirpuri area. As many as eight police personnel and a civilian sustained injuries in the clashes. According to the police, on February 11, specific inputs were received about a suspicious person in the area, who was involved in the Jahangirpuri violence. "Based on the inputs, a trap was laid down near Mangal Bazar following which Salman was nabbed. On verification, he was found absconding and deliberately evading arrest since the violence in the Jahangirpuri area," said Jitendra Kumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest). "On investigation, it was found that he was a wanted criminal in two attempt to murder cases. He even fled from the hospital in injured condition as he also sustained a gunshot injury in one of the attempt to murder cases. In another house theft case, he was released on bail on January 15, 2021 and the case is pending trial," the DCP said. Amaravati, Feb 13 : Andhra Pradesh's ruling party YSR Congress on Monday dismissed as "ill-founded" the objections of the opposition parties over appointment of retired Supreme Court judge Justice S. Abdul Nazeer as the state's Governor. YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader V. Vijayasai Reddy said that all eminent citizens have equal right to become Governor. "Objections of the opposition on Justice Abdul Nazeer's appointment as the Governor of AP are ill-founded. Article 157 is clear on the qualifications for the appointment of Governor. All eminent citizens have an equal right to become a Governor of a State," tweeted the Rajya Sabha member. The Congress had on Sunday criticised the appointment of Justice Nazeer as the Governor. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that this is being made a tradition which is wrong. Singhvi recalled statement of late BJP leader Arun Jaitley that the desire of a post-retirement job influences pre-retirement judgements, and the former Union Minister had termed this as a threat to the independence of judiciary. Justice Nazeer, who hails from Karnataka, was on the Constitution bench of the Supreme Court that delivered verdict in Ayodhya case. He was also on the full bench that delivered the verdict on the triple talaq controversy. Welcoming Justice Nazeer, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Sunday that he is looking forward to working with him in unravelling Andhra Pradesh's full potential. Justice Nazeer succeeded Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, who was moved to Chhattisgarh Raj Bhavan. Harichandan, a senior BJP leader from Odisha, had assumed office as Governor in July 2019, a couple of months after YSRCP came to power. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy along with his wife Y.S. Bharathi Reddy, called on Harichandan and his wife Suprava Harichandan at Raj Bhavan on Monday. He thanked Harichandan for the services rendered to the state and wished him best in his new role as the Governor of Chhattisgarh. Mumbai, Feb 13 : Television actress Erica Jennifer Fernandes, who featured in a new music video titled 'Ishq Hua', had a gala time shooting for the song in Chandigarh as she got to experience the rural side of the city and also witnessed the making of jaggery and got to roam about mustard fields. The track has been composed by music director duo Javed-Mohsin, who are known for big hits such as 'Pal', 'Baarish Aayi Hai', 'Kabhii Tumhhe', Dhol Bajaa', 'I Love Dubai', 'Teri Bhabhi' and 'Kaali Teri'. The song also features actor Suraj Jumani. Speaking about her experience, Erica said, "It was fun to shoot in Chandigarh with that cool weather and to experience a different side of it. While I have mostly shot in the city side, this time we got to see something different. Suraj and I experienced the beautiful rural side of Chandigarh as we were able to witness the making of jaggery and the very famous 'sarson ka khet'." The music video tells the story of a couple who were childhood sweethearts and meet again after years. Describing the experience of 'Ishq Hua', composer Javed said, "'Ishq Hua' has been a very special song for all of us, and I hope that the audience will feel the same about it." Written by Danish Sabri, the track has been sung by Javed Ali and Aakritti Mehra. The music video has been directed by Druwal Patel and produced by Ravinder Soni. 'Ishq Hua' is out on Blue Music Label YouTube channel. Mumbai, Feb 13 : A day after the alleged suicide of 18-year-old Dalit student Darshan Solanki of IIT-Bombay, the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC-IITB) on Monday pointed fingers at the institution for various lapses vis-a-vis pupils hailing from non-urban areas and belonging to SC/ST categories. Solanki, in the B.Tech. First Year Chemical Engineering course, jumped to death from the 7th floor of the hostel building in the IIT-Bombay's Powai Campus on Sunday afternoon, after completing his first semester exams a day earlier. In a detailed statement on social media on campus suicides, the APPSC-IIT Bombay termed it as "an institutional issue", as students from non-urban, non-English speaking backgrounds, oppressed castes (SC/ST) and low-income families "face immense harassment and discrimination" on the campus from students, faculties and employees. "These institutional and casual ways of casteism cause mental and psychological stress on students, but IITs lack any mechanism to help them. We have been raising the issue of the lack of mental health support for our studentsa with the IIT administration as well as other forums like National Commission for SC/STs," said the group. It had raised questions on how the counselors at IIT-B are not sensitised to understand the social realities of caste that affect students from SC/ST/OBC communities, and lack of SC/ST counsellors in the Student Wellness Centre (SWC). In the wake of Solanki's suicide, the APPSC-IITB has demanded a review of the working of the SWC, called upon the IIT-B to address the issue of inclusivity in it, and make the centre more accessible to students coming from all backgrounds. Recalling the September 2014 death of SC student Aniket Ambhore, 22, the APPSC-IITB said he faced derogatory comments about his academic abilities and how such an atmosphere of discrimination affects the mental state and motivation of the reserved category students - who are generally equated with lack of merit - at IIT-B. The students group said that after sustained efforts, the SC/ST cell at IIT-B was set up in 2017, but started its student outreach only from 2022, but still lacks in many aspects like a clear mandate which hinders its appropriate status in the institute, and demanded immediate action in this regard. The APPSC-IITB said it has been highlighting the severe lack of representation of SC/ST faculty at IIT-B whereby the students from marginalised communities continue to feel alienated in such institutions, while such unfortunate tragedies shatter the dreams of their families and communities to uplift themselves. "How many more Darshans and Anikets need to die?" the APPSC-IITB asked, urging the IIT-B to shed apathy, probe Solanki's death and resolve all the issues pertaining to students from SC/ST/OBCs it had raised. Ankara, Feb 13 : Natural disasters usually work to unite people to put aside political differences, and it's been the case for the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria. The catastrophe may also have an impact on international relations. Countries at odds with Turkey and Syria have rallied in solidarity with the two quake-hit countries, sending batches of aid and rescue teams, Xinhua news agency reported. However, it's unclear whether this dynamic will continue when the disaster has passed or whether new understandings and bridges will be established, experts said. Over 9,800 rescue personnel from 70 countries have rushed to southeastern Turkey after it was jolted on February 6 by two powerful earthquakes that have killed 31,643 and wounded over 80,000, according to the latest official toll announced on Monday. This is the worst natural disaster that TArkiye has witnessed. An earthquake in eastern Turkey in 1939 had killed 30,000 people. Some countries stick out on the long list more than others, such as Greece, Armenia and Cyprus, despite having had difficult or tense relations with Ankara over decades. However, all of these old rivals have set aside their animosity and given helping hands at a time of disaster. "Natural disasters are indeed brief moments of conciliation in bilateral disputes. In the case of Turkey and Greece they are both earthquake-prone countries and have come to the aid of one another many times, allowing for reconciliation," Batu Coskun, an independent political risk analyst, told Xinhua. "Usually when the crisis subsides, bilateral tensions reassert themselves, though with less severity," he pointed out. Earthquakes that struck both Turkey and Greece in 1999 gave rise to "earthquake diplomacy" and improved previously tense ties between the two nations. Before tensions reemerged, the post-quake mood persisted for a few years. Ankara and Athens have decades-old feuds and have repeatedly come to the brink of war. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived on Sunday for a visit to Turkey's disaster-struck Adana province, where he was warmly greeted by his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu who praised Greek relief efforts. "We do not need to wait for natural disasters to improve our relations," Dendias was quoted as saying by the local press. Turkey has not had diplomatic or commercial ties with Armenia since the 1990s. The two countries also reconnected for the first time in decades in the wake of the earthquakes. A border gate between the two countries has been opened for the first time in more than three decades to allow aid for victims of the devastating earthquakes in southern Turkey, according to the semi-official Anadolu Agency. "The land border with Armenia being opened is a significant milestone. Likely, this event will become a major motivator for both countries to normalize relations and exchange ambassadors," Coskun said. He added that in the post-crisis period when foreign policy again becomes a priority for the government after disaster relief, "we will see the impact of this." Israel has also sent aid to Turkey. The two countries have improved their relations recently after over a decade of discord. Tulin Daloglu, a journalist and foreign policy analyst, said that Turkey should take lessons from this tragedy and try to move to a softer line in foreign policy towards some countries it has problems with. She specifically mentioned Sweden, whose NATO membership bid has met with objections from Ankara over security issues. "Yet, Sweden immediately rushed to assist Turkey in the aftermath of the disaster," Daloglu said, adding that such an event can change the way a country is seen by the public opinion of the host country. Agartala, Feb 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an election rally in Tripura on Monday that the BJP is the guaranty of development while the Congress-CPI(M) promote violence, corruption and tried to keep the people poor. Modi in his third election rally in three days said that the Left and Congress are doing 'kushti' (fight) in Kerala and 'dosti' (friendship) in Tripura. "Many people belonging to the Congress party were killed by the Left cadres in Tripura. The victim Congress family members would never vote for the Left parties. All of you should reject the unholy alliance for the betterment of Tripura," the Prime Minister said. He stated that during the Left regime "Chanda" (donation) collection was the only job of the Left cadres, who treated the people of Tripura as their "Ghulams" (servants). "Cadre Raj was prevailing in the police station to trade and business. If anyone hoisted flags other than CPI-M they were attacked. The BJP removed the red signal (defeated the Left parties) in the 2018 elections. The Left parties and Congress want to keep Tripura backward and the people to remain poor," Modi claimed. The Prime Minister said that the Left and the Congress looted Central funds. "One Congress Prime Minister earlier himself confessed that only 15 paise of the Centre's one rupee reached the people." Highlighting the performance of the double engine government (Central and state governments), he said that the Ayushman Bharat Yojana provided the best cashless treatment to the people. Saying that Tripura topped in the country in providing concrete houses to the people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Prime Minister said that Rs 500 crore was transferred directly to the farmers' account as the BJP government started procurement of rice since it came to power in the state. With the initiative of the Tripura government, fruits were exported, benefiting the farmers. He said that an IIIT, National Forensic University, National Law University are being set up in Tripura and added that development of the tourism infrastructure is underway and can boost employment. "For the bright future of the coming generations people should remain alert against the disastrous plan of the Congress and Left parties' joint politics," Modi said, adding that the BJP government's HIRA (Highway, I-way, Railway and Airway) model would boost the income and creation of jobs. Noting that Agartala airport is the only such modern airport in the entire northeast region, the Prime Minister said that most of the work on the Indian side of the Agartala-Akahura railway project has been completed and it is continuing on the Bangladesh side. "The new railway project would help Tripura and the other northeastern states in a big way." The Prime Minister said that the "Maitri" bridge over the Feni river would boost the economy of the region and make Tripura a hub in southeast Asia. Referring to the visit of Rabindra Nath Tagore on a number of occasions to Tripura, Modi said that the BJP government was taking forward Tripura as guided by Gurudev and the erstwhile kings. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a PIL questioning non-fulfilment of post of Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha and state assemblies of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, after hearing submissions from senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, representing petitioner Shariq Ahmed, agreed to examine the matter. The plea argued that the present (17th) Lok Sabha was constituted in the month of May, 2019 and Om Birla was chosen as the Speaker and assumed the office on June 19, 2019, however no Deputy Speaker has been elected. It further added that the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is still vacant despite the lapse of more than three and half years since the constitution of the present Lok Sabha, and working has been continuing without its Deputy Speaker which is against the letter and spirit of the Constitution as provided under Articles 93 to 96 of the Constitution. "Similarly, the post of Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assemblies of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are lying vacant though the legislative Assemblies in those states have been constituted long back", it added. The plea contended that Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies are not subordinate to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies, rather the Deputy Speaker is responsible to the Lok Sabha and is the second- highest-ranking legislative officer of the Lok Sabha and performs very important functions. "Similarly, the Deputy Speaker of a Legislative Assembly is responsible to that Legislative Assembly and is the second-highest-ranking legislative officer of that Legislative Assembly and performs very important functions. The Deputy Speakers act as the presiding officer and also assumes the administrative powers in case of leave or in absence caused by death or illness of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies respectively. A situation of constitutional void rather than a situation of constitutional crisis may be created if the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Speaker of a Legislative Assembly becomes vacant...", added the plea. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said in 11 months after assuming charge, his government has so far firmed up investment of Rs 38,175 crore which will generate 2.43 lakh jobs in the state. "This is just a pre-monsoon shower and a regular shower of monsoon will be witnessed soon in the state during the Invest Punjab summit being held on February 23-24 at Mohali," he said in an interaction with the media here. The Chief Minister said he had gone to Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, as well as Germany, to invite industrialists to the summit. He said industrial honchos in these metros were surprised to note the vast potential of industrial growth in the state. Due to strenuous efforts of the state government, these industrialists are now ready to invest in Punjab, he added. Divulging more details, he said that in real estate, housing and infrastructure, the proposed investment is Rs 11,853 crore which will generate 1.22 lakh jobs. Likewise, Mann said the manufacturing sector has attracted investment worth Rs 5,981 crore and 39,952 jobs, alloy steel and steel sector has attracted investment of Rs 3,889 crore which will provide 9,257 jobs, textiles, technical textiles, apparel and make-up sector has firmed up investment worth Rs 3,305 crore and will create 13,753 jobs, and agri, food processing and beverages sector has attracted investment worth Rs 2,854 crore. The Chief Minister further said that Tata Steel is investing Rs 2,600 crore in secondary steel sector at Ludhiana, Sanathan Polycot is investing Rs 1,600 crore in man-made fibre sector at Fatehgarh Sahib, Nabha Power (L&T) is investing Rs 641 crore in the power sector at Patiala, Toppan (Japan) is investing Rs 548 crore in packaging sector at SBS Nagar, Nestle (Switzerland) is investing Rs 423 crore in food processing sector at Moga, Vardhman Special Steels (Aichi Steel, Japan) is investing Rs 342 crore in hybrid steel sector at Ludhiana, Freudenberg (Vibracoustics, Germany) is investing Rs 338 crore in auto and auto components sector at Rupnagar, Bebo Technologies is investing Rs 300 crore in IT sector at SAS Nagar, HUL (UK) is investing Rs 281 crore at Patiala, and Cargill India (US) is investing Rs 160 crore in animal feed at Fatehgarh Sahib. Mann said that investment worth Rs 9,794 crore has been firmed up in SAS Nagar which will offer job to 68,061 youths, investment worth Rs 9,319 crore in Ludhiana which will offer job to 33,172 youths, investment worth Rs 4,246 crore in Fatehgarh Sahib which will offer job to 13,840 youths, investment worth Rs 4,079 crore in Amritsar which will offer job to 85,419 youths, investment worth Rs 2,821 crore in Patiala which will offer job to 9,927 youths, and investment worth Rs 1,200 crore in Rupnagar which will offer job to 3,172 youths. The Chief Minister said this is just a curtain raiser and more investment will be firmed up during the Invest Punjab Summit slated to be held on February 23-24. He said the objective of the summit is to attract potential investment and business opportunities, build relationships, and engage with startups on new ideas and solutions. Mann said that the summit will have participation from global and regional investors, corporate organisations, industrialists, thought leaders and others. The Chief Minister said that during the summit, Punjab will showcase its overall vision for growth and opportunities for investment for industry. He said the theme of the Summit is 'Invest in the Best' - to showcase Punjab as the most preferred investment destination in India. Mann said that there will be a total of nine sessions organized across key areas including agri-food processing, textiles, healthcare, education, tourism, IT and startups, exports, a Japan country session and the UK country session. Replying to a query, the Chief Minister said no industrial unit from the state is migrating to Uttar Pradesh or other. He said the industrial units are getting the best facilities here only due to which no one will ever migrate from the state. Mumbai, Feb 13 : The IIT-Bombay on Monday condoled the death by suicide of B.Tech. First Year Dalit student, Darshan Solanki, terming it as "a great loss to the family and to the IITB community. In its first reaction, the IIT-B said: "It is unfortunate that such a loss could not be prevented despite the efforts of the Institute and Student Mentors to support our students. A committee has been constituted to investigate the incident." The IIT-B held a condolence meeting and observed two minutes of silence in memory of the departed soul, said a spokesperson. In a shocking incident, Solanki, 18, jumped to his death from the 7th floor of his hostel building in the Powai Campus on Sunday afternoon, after his first semester exams for the Chemical Engineering course a day earlier. According to certain reports, Solanki reportedly did not heed warning shouts from other co-students who noticed him just before he took the plunge to death. "While we cannot change what has already happened, we will further increase our efforts to prevent such events in future. We pray that his family gets the strength to bear this loss. The Institute is with his family at this difficult time. We deeply mourn the tragic loss of Darshan's life," said the IIT-B. Earlier on Monday, a student group, the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle-IITB had pointed fingers at the IIT-B for alleged discrimination prevalent on the Powai Campus against students from reserved categories, various lapses on the part of the management to address their distress, etc., and sought redressal. --IANS qn/vd A New Delhi, Feb 13 : BJP President J.P. Nadda will release election manifestos for poll-bound Nagaland and Meghalaya on his two-day visit to the states starting February 14, the party's media head Anil Baluni said on Monday. Baluni said, "BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda will be on a two-day visit to Nagaland and Meghalaya starting February 14. During his visit, Nadda will release the Sankalp Patra (manifesto) for Nagaland and Meghalaya, address public rallies and chair various important organisational meetings." "The national President will visit poll-bound Nagaland on February 14 and attend a joint rally of NDA (BJP and NDPP)," the statement said. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton and state BJP President Temjen Imna Along will be present at the rally. Nadda will release the 'Sankalp Patra' for Nagaland on February 14, while the manifesto for Meghalaya will be released on February 15, The two northeastern states are set to go to the polls on February 27, while the results will be announced on March 2. New Delhi, Feb 13 : In wake of the Centre telling the Supreme Court that the government has no objections on committee to probe the matter in wake of the Adani-Hindenburg Group episode, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday questioned the government on why it was not agreeing to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC). "Today in Supreme Court Solicitor General said Govt has no objection to a commitee to examine the Hindenburg report on Adani. Then why the stubborn refusal to a JPC which will anyway be dominated by BJP & its allies? But will the proposed committee investigate Hindenburg or Adani?" he said. Various opposition parties have been demanding a JPC to examine the whole issue as they alleged that many PSBs and LIC have lost money. The Central government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the existing structure, which includes the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and others agencies, are fully equipped to handle the situation which occurred after Hindenburg report on Adani group, and it would not oppose the court's suggestion to constitute a committee to strengthen the existing regime. It stressed that the court could permit it to suggest the remit of that committee with possible suggestions of names of the committee. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13 : Congress MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi, told a public meeting at his constituency on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the last person he would be scared of. "It doesn't matter if he has all the agencies with him, because truth is not with him. One day he will have to face the truth," Rahul Gandhi said. At the public meeting, the Congress leader distributed keys of newly-built homes by the party in his constituency to 25 beneficiaries. Rahul Gandhi used the latter part of his speech to take on Modi, saying that he spoke at length in the Parliament about Modi's equation with Gautam Adani but the PM didn't reply to any question. "The truth will always come out," he said. "The only thing he told me was why I am not being called Nehru instead of Gandhi. In India, the surname that we use is that of our father," the COngress leader said. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked all Chief Justices of high courts to take a favourable view on the infrastructure in place for virtual hearings and not insist on physical presence of lawyers before the court. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, said: "What some of the Chief Justices are doing is... all the money which we have spent, they're just disbanding the technological infrastructure which we have created for virtual hearings". "Irrespective of whether a Chief Justice is technology-friendly or not, this is not how you deal with public money. You have to ensure that infrastructure is available." The top court noted the government has announced in the budget that Rs 7,000 crore would be made available for e-courts, which will be used for infrastructure improvement in all the district courts also. The bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, stressed that the high courts need to learn that technology has to be used and this is public money (budget allocation). It further pointed out that some of the Chief Justices are not allowing virtual hearings and it is disturbing. It said the judges must understand that technology is not just for the pandemic, instead it is here to stay for future and they should not insist on physical presence of lawyers. "We'll formulate an order and pass." "Our mission is to reach out to people. Lawyers who cannot understand English. We will translate judgments for them. Technology is doing that..." it said. The bench asked Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on why he cannot call a report from Bar Councils of various states on steps to be taken to improve the use of technology for the lawyers. The bench told Mishra, "Technology should not result in exclusion and you can collect the data and place it before the court..." The top court made these observations while hearing a matter for declaring a virtual hearing as part of fundamental rights. Srinagar, Feb 13 : J&K's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested an accounts assistant in a Srinagar hospital while demanding and accepting bribe. An ACB statement said that they received a written complaint from Class-IV/MTS employees of Children's Hospital Bemina, through their representative, stating therein that a fellow public servant working as accounts assistant at the hospital is demanding bribe at the rate of Rs 3,000 per employee for releasing 2-1/2 days allowance along with the salary in their favour. "The complainants were however, not willing to pay the bribe and approached Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Srinagar for taking legal action against the accused public servant as provided under law," it said, adding that a case was was registered and investigation taken up. "During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted by this Bureau. The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant red handed while demanding and accepting bribe amount of Rs 18,000 from the complainants. The money was recovered from the accused on spot. The accused has been identified as Nisar Ahmad Rather S/O Ab Ahad Rather R/O Nowshera." Shillong, Feb 13 : The Congress on Monday attacked Meghalaya's ruling National People's Party (NPP) for being involved in various scams and released a "charge sheet" against it. Congress Media Department Chairman Pawan Khera told reporters that the Conrad Sangma-led NPP government has looted the people of Meghalaya and the state has missed major development in the last five years. He said that the current government was busy doing scams. "They have done the Assembly dome collapse scam, the Covid scam, the MUDA scam, the coal scam, the Saubhagya scam, the rice scam, the excise/bond cartelisation scam, the casino scam, the friends and family scam, the government contracts scam, and the police purchase scam. These are the examples of irregularities of the NPP government," he claimed. Khera also criticised the BJP for snapping ties with the NPP just before the election and terming it corrupt. "If an ally can label such charges, I am really afraid," he said. He exuded confidence that the people of Meghalaya will surely give befitting reply to the NPP in the EVMs in the February 27 elections. Dakshina Kannada : , Feb 13 (IANS) In a controversial move, the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has announced ticket for Shafi Bellare, an accused in the murder case of BJP Yuva Morcha activist Praveen Kumar Nettare, to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka. Shafi Bellare is presently lodged in prison after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)in connection with the brutal murder of Nettare, which made national headlines in July 2022. As things stand now, Bellare will fight the elections from jail. The announcement, which was made at a public rally of SDPI on Monday, has stirred a controversy and brought back the horrific memories of revenge killings in Karnataka. Reacting to the development, state Revenue Minister R. Ashok said that the Popular Front of India (PFI) has already been banned in the country, and the SDPI should also be banned on similar lines. "I will discuss the matter with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. SDPI is giving tickets to terrorists. Later, they will press for their release and approach the courts. The person who killed Praveen Nettare will contest elections. The SDPI is an anti-national outfit," he said. The NIA, which is probing the Nettare murder case, has submitted a chargesheet against 20 accused persons to the NIA special court in Bengaluru. The agency has arrested 14 accused persons and are looking for six others who are absconding. Kolkata, Feb 13 : In the midst of a fierce war of words, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari are all slated to have a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday. State Assembly sources said that on Wednesday there will be a meeting for selection of the new Information Commissioner of West Bengal and that meeting will be conducted at the Chief Minister's room in the Assembly premises. As per convention and protocol, three persons are supposed to attend the meeting for the selection of the information commissioner. Besides the Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition, the state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay is also supposed to be present at the meeting. All focus will be on the outcome of the meeting, especially on the conversations between Banerjee and Adhikari during the course of the meeting. "If the Leader of the Opposition does not attend the meeting, it will be a clear breach of protocol. In that case we will have to update Governor C.V. Ananda Bose about this breach of protocol. So I feel that good sense will prevail and the Leader of the Opposition will attend the meeting," said a member of the state cabinet who refused to be named. Till the last information available, there were a total of 15 applications for the post of new Information Commissioners, out of which two are already out of consideration because of their age, leaving a total of 13 individuals in the fray. Last year, there was a similar meeting at the Chief Minister's room, which the Leader of the Opposition skipped citing personal reasons. Now it is to be seen whether he attends Wednesday's meeting or not. --IANS src/vd A New Delhi, Feb 13 : Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday admonished Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee and BJP MP Saumitra Khan after they entered into a war of words, asking them not to convert the House into a "municipal corporation". The drama started when Khan sought to know during Question Hour as to how many unorganised sector workers from West Bengal had registered with the e-Shram portal of the Labour Ministry, as he said that many such workers have been agitating and complaining about lack of payment of dearness allowance. While Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav replied to the BJP MP's question, Banerjee objected by saying that the matter raised by Khan was subjudice in the Supreme Court and was not part of the original question. When Birla asked Banerjee to sit down, Khan started shouting from his seat and soon both the MPs engaged in a war of words, with the Trinamool MP losing his cool and asking Khan to "shut up". At this point, there was commotion in the House as lawmakers from both sides started a ruckus, forcing Birla to say "don't turn the House into a municipal corporation". Dhaka, Feb 13 : Veteran freedom fighter Mohammed Shahabuddin has been elected as the 22nd President of Bangladesh, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal declared on Monday. A gazette notification on the Awami League candidate becoming the head of state has been issued on Monday, the CEC told IANS. Shahabuddin will succeed Md Abdul Hamid, the head of state since April 2013. Born in Pabna in 1949, he was in politics from the period of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and participated in the Liberation War. He helming the Awami League's student Chhatra League unit in Pabna's Edward College, and then its district unit and its central body. Facing many problems during the political turmoil after assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, Shahabuddin joined the civil service in 1982, and retired as district and session judge in 2006. He also served on the Anti-Corruption Commission later. Ruling Awami League's nomination body headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday recommended the name of the dedicated politician from Pabna for the highest post of the country. The CEC said two nomination papers were submitted for the 22nd presidential election and as one of these was perfectly valid, there was no need for further scrutiny. The Awami League's General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Office Secretary Biplab Barua were present during the selection process. Quader had proposed Shahabuddin for the position of head of state and his nomination was seconded by Awami League Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud, according to Barua. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) told the Supreme Court on Monday that the shares of Adani Group have seen significant decline in prices on account of selling pressure, and the wider Indian market has shown full resilience and the combined weight of the group companies in Sensex is zero and in Nifty it is below 1 per cent. In a note submitted in the apex court, Sebi said: "The events that are the subject of the PIL are related to one set of entities in the market and have not had any significant impact at the systemic level. While the shares of the Adani Group have seen significant decline in prices on account of selling pressure, the wider Indian market has shown full resilience. The combined weight of the group companies in Sensex is zero and in Nifty it is below 1 per cent." It added that Indian markets have seen far higher turbulent times in the past, especially during the Covid pandemic, when Nifty fell by around 26 per cent during March 2, 2020 till March 19, 2020 (13 trading days). "Even during such turbulent times, SEBI did not resort to banning short selling, even though there were demands for banning it; and the markets continued to function in a robust manner, recovering far faster than other global markets' investor wealth (market capitalisation of all listed companies) which was around Rs 145 lakh crore in February 2020 but has almost doubled to about Rs 270 lakh crore now," it said. The note said the subject of the PIL relates to events that are localised to a single group of companies and that there is no significant impact at a market wide level or at a system wide level that might warrant a system level review of the regulatory frameworks in operation. "The entity level issues that have arisen have had a significant impact on the entity level and warrant detailed examination by the regulator. The same has already been actioned," it said. The note added, "In the context of the PIL, the guardrails put in place by SEBI were automatically triggered when ASM (additional surveillance measures) became repeatedly applicable to shares in the Group, both when the prices were going up and recently when prices started falling." It added that in case there are any learnings from the case that warrant policy review, SEBI would, as a specialised regulator, undertake the same in the normal course, following its established process of expert as well as public consultation. "SEBI remains committed to its mandate of investor protection, market development and market regulation. In an ever-evolving and dynamic market, it would continue to welcome inputs in respect of the same," it added. The SEBI's came on a plea filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, seeking a direction to set up a committee monitored by a retired apex court judge to investigate the Hindenburg Research report, which resulted in crashing of Adani Group company share prices and caused massive loss to investors. A separate plea has been filed by advocate M.L. Sharma in connection with the Hindenburg controversy. Patna, Feb 13 : JD-U's Bihar MLC Radha Charan Shah on Monday accused the BJP, through Income Tax raids, putting pressure on him to join the party. Shah is a prominent businessman of Arrah city and Income Tax Department conducted raids on 23 sites of his and seized Rs 1.42 crore cash. Sleuths have also found the financial transaction of Rs 200 crore of his company. "If I am not paying income tax on my earnings, then the income tax action can be justified but I am paying tax regularly. There is not a single fake or illegal transaction I have done in my business. Everything is on record and it is in the domain of income tax. So, I have no tension of income tax raids in my houses and offices," he said. "The BJP leaders are misusing the Income Tax Department to deliberately apply pressure on me to join their party. They are conspiring against me through IT raids. Why would the IT Department not conduct raids on BJP leaders. I have cooperated with the IT officials for the last 4 days," Shah said. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The BJP's Delhi unit on Monday said the party has all respect for the judiciary and it will accept and abide by the judgement of the Supreme Court in the matter of Delhi's mayoral election. "BJP believes that when a matter is sub judice, we should not react on any observation made in the courtroom, ot outside it and especially avoid media trial," state General Secretary Harsh Malhotra said. BJP's mayoral candidate Rekha Gupta has moved a intervention application in the matter and we will now present our contention before the court itself, he added. Delhi's mayoral election, which was scheduled for Thursday, has now been postponed once again as the Supreme Court will hear the matter on Friday. The top court adjourned for Friday the hearing on AAP mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi's plea, challenging the Lt Governor's decision to permit the nominated members to vote in the elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the MCD. Bhopal, Feb 13 : Cornered by a bundle of questions (from the opposition) over his nearly two-decade rule in Madhya Pradesh along with a fear of anti-incumbency ahead of this year's Assembly elections, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seems to have stumped the opposition with three political masterstrokes - 'question war, 'Vikas Yatra and 'ladli behen (sister) yojna. A verbal tug-of-war had broken out between Chouhan and former CM and state Congress chief Kamal Nath began in the last week of January, and since then, both the senior politicians have been training their guns on each other regularly. Chouhan has started posing a series of questions to Kamal Nath over the 'failed' promises of the 15-month Congress government, while the latter is trying to 'expose' the ruling party in a similar fashion. On February 5, Chouhan launched the 'vikas yatra' for the entire MP BJP unit involving both Central and state ministers. All cabinet ministers and in-charge of districts have been carrying out yatras in their respective areas. Since then, there has been a series of foundation stone laying ceremonies as well as inauguration of ready projects across the state. "The development journey is continuing in Madhya Pradesh. Many innovations are taking place in different districts. Camps are being held to extend the benefits of government schemes to the beneficiaries. This yatra is great for public service," Chouhan said while briefing the press on Monday. In the meantime, the Shivraj government announced a big scheme for women in the state ahead of International Women's Day (March 8), saying every woman of the state will be given Rs 1,000 per month under the 'Ladli Behen Yojana'. The beneficiaries will continue to get the benefits of other schemes, Chouhan said. "I want to empower all sisters economically and socially. The respect for women will increase in the society. If sisters are strong, the family will be strong, so will the society and the state," the Chief Minister had said during the announcement a few days back. The Madhya Pradesh Congress led by Kamal Nath has also been countering BJP's ongoing 'Vikas Yatra', accusing it of misusing public money for political benefits. There has been a murmur in the political circles, especially among the senior Congress leaders, that the opposition has to find a similar offering or a freebie scheme to counter the BJP in the race for convincing people to get their support during the elections. A senior Congress leader and former minister accepted that the CM's announcements have created a sense of fear that the BJP may get an edge through these schemes. However, he claimed that the Congress leadership is also in a process to include a similar kind women-centric schemes in its poll manifesto. "See, they (BJP) are the ruling party and they have all the government resources in their hands. They will definitely use them at this point of time. As the main political opponent, we should think over it and work on it. We are preparing the party's manifesto on similar lines," the Congress leader told IANS. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice on an application by former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain for early hearing of a plea seeking stay on one of the two FIRs registered against him in the same case relating to the 2020 Delhi riots. A single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said that the court will not pass any order in the matter before hearing the Public Prosecutor. The application, filed through advocate Tara Narula, stated that the matter will become "infructuous" if it's not heard. Justice Sharma listed the matter to continue on March 3. The court had earlier deferred hearing on Hussain's bail pleas filed in five FIRs registered against him in connection with the 2020 riots. Counsel for Hussain had informed the court that his client's matter has been pending for last three years and everyone except him is on bail. On December 21, Hussain's counsel, senior advocate Salman Khurshid had argued in court that all the co-accused including the man who had been alleged of firing are on bail except him in the same case. Moreover, he contended that nobody saw Hussain using any firearms. Khurshid had said: "The charge sheet itself states that Hussain was constantly trying to contact police when rioting was going on and I'll demonstrate that as well." On December 13, Khurshid had argued that the FIR follow the same copy-paste pattern as of all five FIRs registered against him in Dayalpur Police Station for the Delhi riots case. Be it witnesses or evidence, statements are the same, he said. Khurshid had also objected to the issue of larger conspiracy in Delhi riots being raised against Hussain. He had argued: "What is a larger conspiracy or baby conspiracy? I will be held responsible only for what I have done." He had contended that just because Hussain is the resident of that area, he was alleged of instigating people. Patna, Feb 14 : Union Minister Pasupati Kumar Paras on Monday claimed that Bihar government will fall before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, drawing a sharp retort from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who asked him to go and "celebrate". Talking to media persons here, Paras, The President of Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), said that 'three wickets' of the Mahagathbandhan have fallen in the last 5 months. "The situation is not looking good for the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. The JD-U and RJD leaders are taking on each other every day. Three wickets have already fallen in the last five months and I am sure that the entire government will collapse before the 2024 Lok Sabha poll," he said. After the formation of Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, Kartikeya Singh Master, Sudhakar Singh, and Anil Sahani lost their posts. While Master was the Law Minister and Singh the Agriculture Minister, Sahani was an RJD MLA, who was disqualified after being convicted in the LTA scam. "NDA is preparing for the Lok Sabha election and will win all 40 seats of Bihar. At present, there are two Prime Ministerial candidates in opposition parties and one is Nitish Kumar and another is Rahul Gandhi. It is not possible to keep two swords in a sheath," Paras said. Reacting to Paras' comments, Nitish Kumar said: "Go and celebrate it. I do not take notice of these leaders." New Delhi, Feb 14 : Delhi government's Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) has arrested three men in connection with the embezzlement of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) funds worth Rs 20 crores, an official said on Monday. The accused have been identified as the owner of Aurrum e-payment Rajendran Keezhedath Nair, CFO of Aurrum e-payment Gopi Kumar Kedia and Additional Director of Aurrum e-payment Abhilash Vasukuttan Pillai. According to a senior ACB official, the move came after an enquiry was conducted by the Vigilance Department, DJB which revealed embezzlement of funds worth Rs 20 crore. "The DJB had awarded work of setting up Automotive bill Payment collection machines at different locations in its offices to Corporation Bank (now Union Bank of India) for facilitating its consumers in bill payments," said Madhur Verma, the Joint Commissioner of Police (ACB). "The bank, however, gave this contract further to Fresh Pay IT Solutions which gave it to Aurrum e-Payments. The contract was upto October 10, 2019 however Aurrum e-payments collected the amount till March 2020," said the Joint CP. Dhaka, Feb 14 : Two top leaders of the banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B) of Khulna Division were arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Malibagh area in the capital, RAB officials have confirmed. The arrested militant leaders have been identified as Abdul Quddus, 57, of Mirzapur village in Jashore district and Md. Sirajul Islam alias Salauddin, 35, of Barandipara village of the same district. RAB-3 commanding officer Lt. Col. Arif Mohiuddin Ahmed claimed that based on secret information a team of RAB-3 conducted a raid in Malibagh of the capital to arrest the Huji militants on Sunday night. Quddus is the regional and central coordinator of Jashore district unit of HuJI-B. In 2007, a militant case was filed with Jhenaidah Sadar police station against Quddus and he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the court in that case. The other militant, Islam, joined the HuJI-B in 2001. He was in-charge of recruitment and economic wing of Jashore district central HuJI-B. In 2010, an Explosives Act case was filed against him. He was arrested in 2011 at Jashore Kotwali police station in that case and was released on bail in 2012, after which he went into hiding in various areas of Khulna division and was carrying out organisational activities. Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Media) of RAB-3, Farzana Haque, confirmed the matter to IANS saying that the two arrested militants were sent to Dhaka court on Monday after primary interrogation. New Delhi, Feb 14 : The Delhi High Court sought Union government's response on a plea filed by Oxfam India - a non-profit organisation - challenging the government's decision of not renewing its registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The MHA was directed by a single-judge bench of Justice Pratibha M. Singh to file a response within four weeks' time. The bench listed the matter for the next hearing in April. Representing the MGA, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma stated that the government had sufficient material against the NGO, and the decision to suspend its FCRA was based on the same. Oxfam India was represented by Senior Advocate Ramesh Singh, who stated that they are not being allowed by the government to use Rs 21 crore, which was in their account before the suspension of FCRA registration. The government had refused to renew Oxfam's registration in December 2021. A revision application was filed against the order in January 2022, and the petitioner had come to court after months of no decision from the government. In November 11, 2022, the High Court had ordered the Centre to decide the status of the application in six weeks' time. The application was then rejected by the MHA through an order passed on December 1 the same year. Advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, who had moved NGO's plea argued that by virtue of the dismissal of the petitioners application, the Centre has shut down all available options for them to seek renewal of their registration, amounting to depreciating their work in India. The plea stated that by rejecting their renewal application, the MHA has turned a blind eye towards the decades of hard work and research done by the petitioner in the social sector. The plea read: "Rejection of the petitioner's renewal has not only impacted the petitioner, but also adversely affected, and continues to affect on each day, multiple social projects running in 16 states, impacting 1akhs of people in the country, such as Flood relief, Covid-19 relief, Women Support Centres, providing nutritious meals to underprivileged children, capacity building and training workshops for multiple stakeholders, etc." Oxfam has reported to the court that due to the non-renewal of their FCRA license they were forced to shut down seven regional offices and had to lay off nearly 180 of its 252 employees in the country. They have also stated that Oxfam currently working in nearly 300 villages and is engaged in 15 significant projects, and due to the suspension of their license, excluding three or four of these projects which are funded through domestic money, rest have come to a halt. Washington, Feb 14 : The US, South Korea and Japan will work together to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has said. The US diplomat also insisted that trilateral cooperation among the US and its two allies is only getting stronger, Yonhap news agency reported. "The DPRK continued to threaten the ROK, Japan and its neighbors and the world with the launch of an unprecedented number of ballistic missiles last year," Sherman said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Standing united, our nations will deter the DPRK and urge it to give up its nuclear weapons program and abide by its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions," she said at a joint press conference with her South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun-dong, and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori. The three met here earlier in the day for their third trilateral talks since South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022. North Korea fired 69 ballistic missiles last year, marking a new record number of ballistic missile launched in a year. Its previous annual record was at 25. "On North Korea, we shared the recognition that North Korea's intensified nuclear and missile activities, including ballistic missile launches with an unprecedented frequency in unprecedented manners, pose a clear and serious challenge to the international community," Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori said. "Against these backdrops, coordination among Japan, the US and the ROK is becoming increasingly important not only in dealing with North Korea but also in maintaining peace and stability of the region and in realising the free and open Indo-Pacific," he added, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. Cho said the three countries reaffirmed their efforts to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula. "We committed ourselves to respond to any North Korean provocation and work toward complete denuclearization of North Korea," Cho said of the trilateral vice foreign ministerial meeting. "In response to this threat, (we will) strengthen robust ROK-US combined defense posture, and at the same time enhance our trilateral security cooperation with the US and Japan," added Cho. Cho said the three countries have also expressed deep concerns over the human rights situation in North Korea, and committed to working together to raise international awareness on the issue. "We urge North Korea to return to denuclearisation talks," he told the press conference. Sherman said the trilateral cooperation between the US and its allies "remains strong and it is only getting stronger." The US official also stressed the importance of the trilateral cooperation in dealing with other regional issues, including "challenges posed by the People's Republic of China (PRC)." "Today's dialogue reiterated our core message -- we will remain aligned with the ROK, Japan, other allies and partners worldwide to push back on the PRC behaviour that challenges the rules based regional and international order," she said. Cho noted the three agreed on the "urgent need to address common security challenges, "supply chain disruptions and energy crisis". "We reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthening strategic consultation amongst three countries, including the dialogue on economic security," he said. Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is partnering with Holman Recovery Center, Snohomish County Health Department, Marysville Police Department, EvergreenHealth Monroe, Providence, Catholic Community Services, A1 Lifeline, Washington 2-1-1, and The Hand Up Project to help people in Marysville get started in recovery. According to the Medical Examiners Office Drug Overdose Dashboard, in Snohomish County alone, there were 162 overdose deaths involving opioids in 2022, with 141 of those involving fentanyl. Ideal Option data support the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Among patients who remained in treatment with Ideal Option during 2021, urine drug testing shows 98% less fentanyl use and 93% less total opioid use. Recovery Starts Today! will take place on Friday, February 24, 10 a.m. 2 p.m. at the Ideal Option clinic in Marysville located at 1617 Grove St. Attendees can surrender illicit substances and paraphernalia for safe disposal, learn about community resources, complete intake and, if desired, see a provider immediately to start medication-assisted treatment. For nearly all patients, costs are covered by Medicaid or private insurance. This event is designed to empower those in the community who are struggling with the disease of addiction to come forward without fear of legal repercussions and begin their recovery with medication-assisted treatment. For questions about this event, email Senior Marketing Manager Olivia Roe at oliviaroe@idealoption.net. About Ideal Option Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped more than 65,000 patients through a network of 84 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 11 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts all forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available. Ideal Option's team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism. In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support. The new Bay Area location will allow us to better serve the Northern California communities while also providing attorneys with a sophisticated and professional setting in which to settle disputes quickly and fairly," said Dario Higuchi, managing director at Signature Resolution. Signature Resolution, a leader in alternative dispute resolution with offices in Los Angeles, Century City and San Diego, announced they have secured new office space in Oakland, California, located at 1111 Broadway. This marks the firms fourth location in the state and official expansion into Northern California. The new office, located in the East Bay, in the heart of Oakland City Center, will have convenient BART access and alternative parking options available. As is customary in Signature Resolution offices, the facility will feature a full-service cafe, a lounge for neutrals, and 12 window-lined conference rooms with Zoom video conferencing equipment. The new space is currently under construction and will debut in Fall 2023. In the interim, hearings are being held at a temporary office space at 1939 Harrison Street. We are thrilled for the opportunity to expand into Northern California and provide our alternative dispute resolution services locally, said Dario Higuchi, managing director at Signature Resolution. The new Bay Area location will allow us to better serve the Northern California communities while also providing attorneys with a sophisticated and professional setting in which to settle disputes quickly and fairly. The Oakland office is led by established mediators, including Vivien B. Williamson, founding chairperson of the Bar Association of San Francisco ADR Section with a 35-year mediation career specializing in employment, civil rights, real estate, insurance coverage, and commercial contracts; Arnie Levinson, one of the leading coverage and bad faith attorneys in the country, whos handled more than 1,000 cases across multiple practice areas, including business and commercial disputes, employment, ERISA, insurance coverage and bad faith, personal injury, and professional liability; and Rex Darrell Berry, a defense lawyer with experience spanning across all areas of employment law. Signature Resolution also plans to expand their Northern California presence and is actively recruiting for additional mediators to join their team. About Signature Resolution Established in 2017 in the heart of Los Angeles, Signature Resolution comprises a panel of distinguished neutrals hailing from diverse backgrounds, including respected judges and trial attorneys specializing in virtually every civil practice area. The founding partners inaugurated the organization with a vision of providing the highest level of service and convenience for attorneys and their clients. Signature Resolutions panelists offer unrivaled expertise and commitment to resolve even the most challenging legal matters. For more information about the firms mediation, arbitration and other dispute resolution services, visit signatureresolution.com. # # # The merger of two complementary Microsoft Partners with the same client-centric values positions us very well for rapid growth. Im excited for what the future holds for this Group. Madhu Vajpey, Chief Executive Officer. In response to the high growth for Microsoft Business Applications across Canada and the United States, Endeavour Solutions Inc. and Purely CRM are pleased to announce the completion of a merger between their two organizations. The merger of two complementary Microsoft Partners with the same client-centric values positions us very well for rapid growth. Im excited for what the future holds for this Group. Madhu Vajpey, Chief Executive Officer. Endeavour Solutions has offices and Microsoft Dynamics 365 consultants in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. With the addition of the Purely CRM team in Vancouver, British Columbia, Endeavour is now a truly coast-to-coast Microsoft provider for SMB, Mid-Market, and Corporate clients. I believe our strength lies in our people and I am truly proud to say that this merger brings an expanded set of quality services to our clients. Terry Sunderland, Chief Operating Officer. "We are thrilled to begin this new journey as we join forces with Endeavour Solutions to become one of the largest Dynamics 365 partners in Canada. With the power of this merger, we are confident that we can reach new heights and continue to provide our customers with the highest quality CRM software solutions, say the Partners at Purely CRM. As we continue to explore opportunities to grow across North America, Endeavour would also like to acknowledge Apex Capital Advisors for their role in this merger. --- About Endeavour Solutions Inc. Endeavour Solutions is a top Microsoft Partner for ERP, CRM and Cloud Business Applications focusing on implementations, upgrades, development, data analytics, training and support for the cloud-centric Dynamics 365 Platform including, Business Central (ERP), Sales Enterprise (CRM), Microsoft 365, PowerApps, and Azure. With offices in Toronto, Halifax, London, Montreal, and Edmonton, Canada, their consultants support more than 700 active clients throughout North America including clients using Dynamics GP and Dynamics NAV. Over the years, Endeavour has been named multiple times to the Microsoft Presidents Club The top 5% of Microsoft Partners Worldwide. https://www.endeavoursolutions.ca/ https://www.gpsupportnorth.com/ About Purely CRM Purely CRM is a top Microsoft Partner for Dynamics 365 CRM with an outstanding track record and expertise in the Dynamics 365 CE / CRM and Power Platforms. With a talented team of Microsoft CRM (CE) and Power Platform consultants, architects, and developers based in Vancouver, Purely CRM has seen rapid growth in the past years serving clients in key West Coast markets including Vancouver British Columbia, Seattle Washington, and San Francisco California. https://purelycrm.com/ HealthyChildren.org Spring 2023 Sweepstakes Event HealthyChildren.org, the official American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website for parents, celebrates the arrival of Spring by giving away seven $200 gift cards in the site's 2023 Spring Sweepstakes event.Registered users of HealthyChildren.org may enter once each day during the event which runs March 27 through April 2, 2023. Winners will be drawn daily and announced on Facebook as they are confirmed. View the full contest rules. About HealthyChildren.org The only parenting website backed by 67,000 AAP member pediatricians, HealthyChildren.org offers trustworthy, up-to-the-minute health advice and guidance for parents and caregivers, along with interactive tools and personalized content. Registered users enjoy a customized home page as well as a free monthly e-newsletter. A new Ages & Stages program offers parents of young children (as well as those who are expecting a new baby) weekly texts and/or monthly emails based on the age(s) of their child(ren). The site also offers a Find a Pediatrician service, an Ask the Pediatrician tool, a KidsDoc Symptom Checker, and more than 5,000 articles in English and Spanish. First Street Napa, the premier shopping and lifestyle destination in the Napa Valley region, today announced that California apparel brand Johnny Was has signed a 10-year tenant occupancy lease. Johnny Was will open on First Street Napa in the early summer of this year. Johnny Was, a highly popular boho-chic, vintage-inspired womens apparel, accessories and home goods retailer, will occupy 1,775 square feet of space at 1210 First Street, adjacent to Archer Hotel Napa in Downtown Napa. The Johnny Was First Street Napa store location will feature the current Johnny Was collection including: tunics, kimonos, a variety of printed dresses, cashmere sweaters, denim jackets, silk pajama sets, blouses, occasion dresses and swimwear beautiful selections of jewelry, belts and accessories Johnny Was signature womens ready-to-wear embroidered bags and Italian leather handbags footwear including boots, sneakers blankets and vibrant home accessories three new Johnny Was fragrances available in eau de parfum and candles Johnny Was is very excited to be part of downtown Napa and to introduce our brand and collections of unique clothing and accessories to the Napa community, said Catherine Nation, SVP Retail. As a destination, First Street Napa offers a thoughtfully curated combination of retail, culinary, hospitality, artistic and cultural experiences, which fits very well with our vision to deliver the aspirational California lifestyle to our customers. Johnny Was is well known for its unique designs and accessories that reflect the quintessential California lifestyle, which fits perfectly with the unique varieties of retailers we have on property, said Todd Zapolski, principal and managing member, First Street Napa. First Street Napa is the destination in the Napa Valley region for retail brands that want to reach visitors from around the world who aspire to experience the California lifestyle. About Johnny Was Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Johnny Was is a high-growth apparel brand, which designs, markets, and sells boho-chic, vintage-inspired women's apparel and accessories in the U.S. and internationally through ecommerce, retail, and wholesale channels. For over 30 years, the Johnny Was brand has been known for uniquely beautiful and high-quality garments distinguished by colorful patterns, intricate embroidery, and great design. Visit http://www.johnnywas.com. About First Street Napa First Street Napa is a mixed-use shopping and lifestyle destination property spanning three city blocks in the heart of downtown Napa. First Street Napa features Napas top independent artisan retailers, popular national retail brands, exceptionally designed landscaping and seating areas, and locally curated art installations that appeal to visitors of all ages. The property was developed by Zapolski Real Estate LLC in cooperation with Trademark Properties as part of its vision to create an immersive destination experience for shopping, wine tasting, lifestyle, dining, hospitality, cultural exhibitions, and community events. Visit http://www.firststreetnapa.com and follow @FirstStreetNapa on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for complete details on other opening activities and special events. Mark is a natural fit for this position. At BP3, we are obsessed with creating exceptional value for our clients, and throughout Mark's time here and his entire career, he has been successful in forming teams that delight clients. BP3 Global, an Austin, Texas-based provider of Intelligent Automation services and solutions, announced today the promotion of Mark Mayo to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. In his new role, Mayo will lead BP3's solution development and delivery organizations, along with overseeing technology strategy. His focus will be on scaling BP3's capabilities to support enterprises globally in their digital transformation efforts. Mayo commented, Im really excited about this opportunity. We have a fantastic team at BP3 and I am really looking forward to working with them in this expanded role. At its essence, our collective job is about three things: understanding our clients needs, architecting the right solutions and, most importantly, delighting every client. Mayo joined BP3 in 2021 and most recently served as Vice President of BP3s Robotic Process Automation (RPA) practice. Prior to that, he has more than 30 years of experience in application development, IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing, and sourcing advisory consultation at leading firms, including EDS, ISG, Conduent, and transformAI. "Mark is a natural fit for this position. At BP3, we are obsessed with creating exceptional value for our clients, and throughout Mark's time here and his entire career, he has been successful in forming teams that delight clients. We look forward to Mark helping to ensure that BP3 consistently delivers exceptional client outcomes and to expand BP3s industry leading capabilities in business process modernization, Intelligent Automation technologies and enterprise UX design." - Scott Francis, CEO & co-founder, BP3 Global. Mayo is the second addition to BP3s C-Suite in the past year. He joins Mike Murphy who was appointed Chief Financial Officer in April 2022. Prior to joining BP3, Murphy served as CFO at Personiv, following a 25 year finance career at companies including Genesys, Alcatel Lucent and Arthur Andersen. Murphy is charged with building the financial infrastructure to support BP3s continued growth. Said BP3 CEO, Scott Francis, Global economic trends continue to drive enterprises to embrace Intelligent Automation to improve customer experience, accelerate digital transformation, unlock employee productivity and reduce costs. At BP3, we are responding by expanding our capabilities to support enterprises globally in their digital transformation efforts. We are excited to have Mark and Mike on the team; both are proven leaders who share our obsession with client success. About BP3 |Theres A Faster Way To Do That BP3 gives you faster ways to get things done. We streamline and automate the processes that drive your business. Since our founding in 2007, BP3 Global has focused exclusively on designing and delivering process automation solutions. Our experienced technologists and consultants help design new ways of working - connecting processes, people, and technology to achieve performance breakthroughs. Every business has broken processes, and unfortunately, addressing those challenges can be time consuming and expensive. Its no secret that many technology projects fail to meet expectations. That is why BP3 does things differently. We have a process-led and design-centric approach, along with deep expertise in the full spectrum of Intelligent Automation technologies. Thats why some of the worlds most respected brands rely on BP3 and its why we have a 99% client success rate. HB Build + Falkbuilt Workspace Combining our award-winning HB Build team with the most cost-effective, high-performing technology available, our clients will have access to Falkbuilt's nearly-limitless selection of design options with reduced lead times, at the highest quality available. HB Build, a Division of Henriksen Butler, has partnered with Falkbuiltan interior digital component construction companyto deliver prefab interior construction solutions to their clients and general contractors in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho using state-of-the-art Echo technology. This exciting partnership provides HB clients with agile and flexible construction solutions, paired with over a decade of HB Builds interior construction expertise. Learn more about how HB Build + Falkbuilt are improving the construction/design process. We are honored to partner with Falkbuilt, allowing us to provide proven solutions that offer quicker timelines for beautifully-built spaces, said Ali Kooyers, project manager for HB Build. Combining our award-winning HB Build team with the most cost-effective, high-performing technology available, our clients will have access to a nearly-limitless selection of design options with reduced lead times, at the highest quality available. Plus, well be able to deliver complete end-to-end service in half the time of typical design builds. A partnership thats truly built to last. HB Build clients will now enjoy these Falkbuilt benefits: Faster lead times: 3-4 weeks to job site after field verification Less waste (and time) on site: components precut and manufactured offsite for easy installation Reduced freight: components flat packed for shipping, requiring only of space needed when compared to modular products Long-term value: 10-year manufacturers warranty Nearly-limitless design options: unique, customizable design choices available In addition to Falkbuilts vast portfolio of solutions, were thrilled our clients will have access to Echo technology. This innovative cloud technology fuses design, manufacturing and delivery so we can track changes in real time and provide clients 3D models, pricing, and manufacturing details within minutes unlike anything Ive seen in the industry. I anticipate our design and install efficiency (easily) improving two-fold, says Ian Anderson, HB Build President. Benefits of Echo Technology include: VR: review design changes and their impact to manufacturing and cost in real time, ensuring its right before its made Made-to-order prefab: designs accepted from any industry-standard software Precise/fast 3D modeling: delivers models in minutes instead of days Up-to-the-minute tracking: QR codes on every component for accurate tracking We look forward to providing the most innovative solutions available for your design and interior construction needs in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. About HB Build HB Build is a team of specialists with over a decade of experience building smart workspaces with revolutionary visualization and planning tools. We guide clients through the process of building smarter, from design through completion, so that their workspaces and facilities work even harder. Using agile modeling and visualization technologies and prefab construction, we make design, accurate pricing, and complete customization possible. Together, we model, reconfigure, and update on-the-fly until it meets your exact specifications and budget. Then, we take care of the rest from fabrication through installation. About Falkbuilt Falkbuilts Digital Component Construction is a simple offsite approach. We manufacture digital components in a compact factory and ship to site for a fast and clean install, with far fewer materials, zero dust and virtually no waste onsite. Trades follow the same process as conventional construction but work anywhere in the schedule, in a quarter the time, with far more efficient use of labor. Falkbuilt is powered by Echoa technology that creates an engineering accurate model in the cloud, streamlining the process from design to manufacturing to installation. During design, stakeholders use mobile devices or desktops to meet inside the Revit model, in the cloud, to discuss and make real time changes. Echo empowers industry-standard software and ensures the right information goes where its needed, when its needed, reducing human error and saving time and money. R.P. Eddy I am thrilled to join Blackbird, a company dedicated to restoring trust, safety, and integrity to our communications. Today, Blackbird.AI, a global leader in providing AI driven narrative and risk intelligence, is pleased to announce the appointment of R.P. Eddy, renowned expert in national security and global investment to its Advisory Board. "We are thrilled to have R.P.s unique and dynamic perspectives which cut across such a wide range of disciplines," said Wasim Khaled, CEO, Blackbird.AI. In todays online threat landscape, where interconnected risks and challenges can impact financial and societal outcomes in an instant, we are fortunate to have someone with R.P.s breadth of experience for strategic guidance as we strive to provide maximum value to our customers and partners. R.P. Eddy brings a highly accomplished record of experience to Blackbird from his service with the U.S. Government, at the United Nations, and his work with tier-one global investment firms. With his addition to the Advisory Board, Blackbird further extends its lead as the category leader and best-in-class capability for business risk intelligence services for senior decision-makers in enterprise and government. R.P. is the Founder and CEO of Ergo, an intelligence and advisory firm that was hailed by Harvard Business Review as, "breaking from industry orthodoxy with a radical new model." Eddy is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a best selling and award-winning author, and was listed by Foreign Policy Magazine amongst Americas "most esteemed terrorism and national security experts." Over almost twenty years, weve assessed every technology for online intelligence awareness that we can find. In Blackbird we finally found a truly differentiated offering to combat disinformation, collect risk intelligence and foresee narrative opportunities. Blackbird arrives with no time to spare, as families, firms and nations are being bewildered by misinformation and malignant content, said Eddy. I am thrilled to join Blackbird, a company dedicated to restoring trust, safety, and integrity to our communications. Mr. Eddy also served as Director at the White House National Security Council and was Chief of Staff to the US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke where he led the first UN Security Council Resolution on HIV/AIDS and was a member of the State Department Senior Executive Service. R.P. helped oversee the intelligence and security of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex. Later, as a senior UN diplomat, R.P. was Senior Policy Officer to the UN Secretary-General and was an architect of the Global Fund to Prevent Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the United Nation were awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for their work on HIV. The Advisory Board brings together a team of outstanding commercial executives with diverse backgrounds across enterprise SaaS, cybersecurity, government affairs, and national security to advise and support the Blackbird.AI executive team and its shareholders. About Blackbird.AI Blackbird.AI, a global leader in Narrative & Risk intelligence, delivers advanced AI-powered solutions in its mission to empower trust, safety and integrity across the information ecosystem. The Blackbird Constellation Platform powers the detection and analysis of information-driven attacks, narrative manipulation and threat evolution across a dynamic adversarial environment. Its purpose-built and patent-pending technology offers high fidelity detection and automated decision-making, leading to reduced complexity and faster resolution times. Blackbird was recognized by Forrester as a "Top Threat Intelligence Company" and provides mission critical solutions for public and private customers globally. For additional information, please visit: http://www.blackbird.ai Media Contact: Albert Stichka albert@elkordyglobal.com The Marker Exterior Crescent Hotels & Resorts, a hotel management company renowned for its innovative leadership, is excited to announce the addition of The Marker to its portfolio of more than 100 hotels and resorts in the U.S and Canada. Debuting as the Bellevue Hotel in 1910, The Marker was reimagined to harmonize its longstanding history of hospitality with the vibrancy of the citys cultural scene today. The Marker, perfectly situated near the world-famous Union Square in San Francisco, features 208 guestrooms including 42 luxurious suites, which inspire and delight guests with jewel toned furniture, novel patterns and artistic decor. Recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as Top Hotel in San Francisco for three consecutive years, The Marker demonstrates a keen awareness of what todays travelers favor, the premiere hotel features amenities including a 24-hour fitness center, water filling stations in all public areas to help minimize plastic bottle waste, and all-natural bath products. The Markers restaurant Tratto, located adjacent to the property, is a spirited, bar-driven restaurant serving rustic Italian fare with modern sensibilities. Event managers and guests looking to host an event can leave the planning up to The Markers expert event planning and catering team. Offering 12,000 square feet of flexible event space, The Marker makes every gathering, from corporate meetings to weddings, an occasion to remember. Whether visiting San Francisco for work or play (or a little bit of both), The Markers premier downtown location promises impeccable service and the ultimate in contemporary comfort. To learn more about amenities and services offered at The Marker, view photos, or to book your stay, please visit the hotel website or call 415-292-0100. About Crescent Hotels & Resorts Crescent Hotels & Resorts is an award winning, nationally recognized, operator of hotels and resorts with over 100 properties in the United States & Canada. Crescent is one of the few elite management companies approved to operate upper-upscale and luxury hotels under the brand families of Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Hyatt. Crescent also operates a collection of independent and lifestyle properties under the Latitudes Collection umbrella. These properties include PGA National Resort, Horseshoe Bay Resort, and The Opus Westchester, Autograph Collection. Powered by innovative, forward-thinking experts, Latitudes is a modern management platform for lifestyle hotels and resorts where creative concepts connect with modern travelers from urban boutique hotels to oceanside resorts. Crescents clients include premiere REITs, private equity firms and major developers. For more information, please visit http://www.crescenthotels.com and http://www.latitudesbycrescent.com or connect with Crescent on LinkedIn. We have experience working in these types of crisis situations, and they immediately accepted our offer for assistance. International Medical Relief (IMR), a non-governmental organization based in Denver, Colorado, has dispatched a team of medical volunteers to Turkey to provide medical care, equipment, medicines and education for survivors of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake. We reached out to our long-term partners in Turkey who were working on a clinical outreach program to underserved communities and had shifted their efforts to focus on the earthquake victims, said Shauna King, president of IMR. We have experience working in these types of crisis situations, and they immediately accepted our offer for assistance. IMR has a Colorado-based Disaster Area Response Team (DART) of doctors, nurses, and EMTs in the field at ground zero working on the logistics to accept the first volunteer team, which leaves for Turkey today. The DART also delivered medicine and medical supplies for basic first aid, trauma care, and wound care, which are in short supply. IMR has been working on the front lines of the Ukrainian refugee crisis for nearly a year organizing upwards of 700 medical professionals and nonmedical staff to serve more than 365,000 refugees in shelters in Poland. The recovery and regenerative healthcare efforts are still operating in those shelters, but IMR was able to expand relief efforts to allow for a Turkey-Syria response as well. Founded in 2002, IMR has responded to catastrophic disasters around the world. The organizations preparedness operations have served 84 countries, many of which are vulnerable to disasters. International Medical Relief is actively recruiting volunteers to serve weeklong assignments and is collecting donations. Information is available on the organizations website, internationalmedicalrelief.org. About International Medical Relief: International Medical Relief (IMR), a non-governmental organization based in Denver, Colorado, contributes to the worlds communities by improving the overall health and wellness of the people via medical and dental diagnosis and treatment, partnerships with local medical designees, community training, and fostering the principles of prevention. IMR recruits highly skilled, credentialed volunteers for medical, dental, and disaster relief trips throughout the year to deliver a much-needed suite of impactful services. Learn more at internationalmedicalrelief.org. Novita Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Novita or the Company), a privately held clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel cancer drugs based on its proprietary fascin inhibitor technology, today announced that the Companys Board of Directors has appointed Alan Wills as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Wills joined Novita as Chief Executive Officer on February 6, 2023, bringing extensive experience in the global biopharmaceutical industry, notably in business development, corporate strategy, M&A and licensing, and alliance management. Prior to joining Novita. Mr. Wills was Executive Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, at CSL Group. He previously served in a range of progressively senior level roles in Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Global Marketing and Portfolio Management at Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals. In his earlier career, he worked at the Boston Consulting Group, Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford, and United Healthcare. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Alan is a seasoned pharmaceutical senior executive and a strong strategic thinker and executer, said Dr. Xin-Yun Huang, Chairman of the Board and a co-founder of Novita. He brings a depth of business experience and acumen that will be a perfect complement to Novitas founding team." We are delighted to have recruited a talent like Alan, said Dr. Jillian Zhang, President and Chief Scientific Officer, and a co-founder of Novita. Our Companys first-in-class fascin inhibitor NP-G2-044 is in the midst of a phase 2 clinical study. It is great timing for Alan to join us at this stage as we continue to advance the development of NP-G2-044 as a breakthrough cancer therapy. "It's an exciting time to join Novita, with the Company's lead compound moving through its phase 2 program and generating solid early data," said Mr. Wills. "I look forward to helping Novita advance the development of new and innovative cancer therapies that will address critical unmet medical needs." About Novita Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Novita Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Novita or the Company) is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing ground-breaking drugs based on its proprietary fascin inhibitor technology to prevent and treat cancer metastasis and at the same time to boost anti-cancer immune responses. Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of over 90% of deaths of cancer patients and yet there is no drug specifically and directly targeting metastasis on the market today. In addition, while Immuno-Oncology (IO) with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors has made a significant impact on the treatment of many types of cancer, most cancer patients do not respond to current IO treatments. Novita aims to address both these important medical needs by developing inhibitors of fascin, a key protein critically involved in tumor cell motility and highly expressed in tumor cells and in antigen-presenting cells in the tumor tissues. The Companys lead asset, a small-molecule fascin inhibitor NP-G2-044 has been shown in preclinical studies to block tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. In animal models, NP-G2-044 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrated synergistic efficacy that tripled overall survival rates in comparison to IO alone. The multicenter Phase 2 clinical trial of NP-G2-044 titled NP-G2-044 as Monotherapy and Combination Therapy in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumor Malignancies is currently ongoing and open for patient enrollment. For more clinical trial information, please go to: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05023486 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Companys control, and reflect future business decisions, which are subject to change. Among those factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are the risks associated with the Companys being a development stage company with uncertain revenue streams; uncertain results or outcomes during clinical trials; certain rights owned by others over the Companys intellectual property; failure to raise necessary capital in the future; the loss of key personnel; competition from other larger, better-capitalized peers; the Companys reliance on incorrect assumptions regarding the market for its products, the costs of developing, manufacturing and marketing the Companys products, and the timing and receipt of regulatory approval for the Companys products; adverse economic conditions; and other risks. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements, the inclusion of any such statement should not be regarded as a representation by Novita or any other person that the Companys objectives or plans will be achieved. Contact Info: Christy Shue cshue@novita-pharm.com "The Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice platform establishes a new way of thinking in education" states Brown. Browns keynote address was a vision. It was one of what education could be-and should be-in a just world that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive. She fused science, art, storytelling, and language into a tapestry for everyone in that room to discover. I think this is what led to her standing ovation: the perfectly articulated, intentional way that Semaj connected with every educator in the space in such a small-time frame Carrie Mattern, President-Elect of MCTE, Michigan Council of Teachers of English, Flint Courier News Fall of 2022, Semaj Brown, Poet Laureate of Flint, Michigan and Academy of American Poets Laureate fellow of 2021 delivered the keynote lunch speech, PSL, Poetry as a Second Language: The Semajian Method to Michigan Council of Teachers of English for their Centennial Conference in Lansing, Michigan. That afternoon also launched Browns multimedia youth platform, Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice, (BDCV). It is an intergenerational, futuristic platform that utilizes "applied poetry" as an integrative tool. The platform amplifies literacy capacity, improves skill-based learning, and heightens critical thinking and cognitive expansion across disparate disciplines of science and art. According to research, the pandemic deepened inequities in literacy rates. Students at lower-achieving schools fell further behind, potentially widening the pre-existing achievement gap between rich and poor. The COVID pandemic with its isolation and virtual teaching, exacerbated the problem of children not reading on grade level. The problem of young people reading well below their grade level increases exponentially when they attend high-poverty schools. After her presentation, news about Semaj Browns new platform quickly spread across the state of Michigan, with multiple teachers asking to initiate Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice in their classrooms. Within a week, Brown was peppered with additional requests from Colorado, California, and Togo West Africa. It is official, the multimedia platform based upon a poem is now international. When asked how she developed the multimedia platform, the award-winning educator and Poet Laureate explained, "Words are the building blocks of language, just as cells are the building blocks of the living. Each word is a world, teaming with synonyms, antonyms, histories, and mysteries, a universe of narratives to be explored. The Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice platform establishes a new way of thinking in education" states Brown. On March 18, 2023, video presentations from students from Togo West Africa will be featured along with presentations from high school students from Peckham Career Academy, and students from Holmes STEM Middle School Academy, during a community-wide Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice workshop at the Flint Public Library. With the immediate success of Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice, Brown is seeking corporate support, and funding for this innovative platform. To learn more about this new transformative educational tool, Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice click this link: https://issuu.com/1plflint/docs/colored_final_booklet_blackdandelion_mcte_color About Semaj Brown: She is Flint, Michigans inaugural Poet Laureate and the recipient of the Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship Award, 2021. She is also an award-winning educator and author of the book, Bleeding Fire! Tap the Eternal Spring of Regenerative Light. An excerpted recording is highlighted in the national AT&T Dream in Black, Black Future Makers Afrofuturistic Lifestyle television commercial. To learn more, visit: http://www.SemajBrown.com Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against Kelly Services Global, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Kelly Services Global, LLC alleging the company violated Labor Code 2699, et seq. seeking penalties for DEFENDANTs alleged violation of California Labor Code 201-203, 204 et seq., 210, 218, 221, 226(a), 226.7, 227.3, 510, 512, 558(a)(1)(2), 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802. The lawsuit against Kelly Services Global, LLC is currently pending in the Orange County Superior Court, Case No. 30-2023-01304927-CU-OE-CXC. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, Kelly Services Global, LLC allegedly failed to fully relieve Plaintiff and other Aggrieved Employees for their legally required thirty (30) minute meals breaks. Employees were also allegedly required, from time to time, to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided the legally required ten (10) minute rest periods. The California Supreme Court defines off-duty rest periods as the time during which an employee is relieved from all work-related duties and free from employer control. PAGA is a mechanism by which the State of California itself can enforce state labor laws through the employee suing under the PAGA who do so as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies. An action to recover civil penalties under PAGA is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. The purpose of PAGA is not to recover damages or restitution, but to create a means of "deputizing" citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code. For more information about the lawsuit against Kelly Services Global, 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*** Given that Clonakilty and Marussia are already working successfully in the French market, this is an exciting opportunity to introduce our brands to a wider audience in the US and lay the foundations in making Clonakilty the premium whiskey of choice for discerning US consumers." Clonakilty Distillery is an award-winning distiller of Irish whiskey and gin including brands such as Clonakilty Double Oak, Clonakilty Port Cask and Minke Irish Gin. Located by the Atlantic coast in South-West Ireland, Clonakilty has received many prestigious awards including Worlds Best Irish New Make and Worlds Best Small Batch Blended Irish Whiskey. Operating in the US market since 2018, this appointment builds on the existing 15 state footprint that Clonakilty has in the US, with expansion into four key markets immediately: California, Colorado, Illinois, and Texas. Further states will be added in the near future. Clonakilty will join Marussias successful portfolio of brands which will leverage its position with distributors in both existing and new markets. Marussias strong sales team working collaboratively with Clonakiltys existing team on the ground will help achieve significant scaling opportunities in 2023 and beyond. We are very excited to work with Michael and the entire Clonakilty team to build upon the solid foundation they have built in the US market, commented John Horn, CEO of Marussia Beverages USA. The brands they have created are special and our Marussia US family is looking forward to representing this quality portfolio in the fast-growing Irish Whiskey category here in the US. Given that Clonakilty and Marussia are already working successfully in the French market, this is an exciting opportunity to introduce our brands to a wider audience in the US and lay the foundations in making Clonakilty the premium whiskey of choice for discerning US consumers, stated Clonakilty Distillery Founder, Michael Scully. For more information about Clonakilty Distillery, visit http://www.clonakiltydistillery.ie ABOUT CLONAKILTY DISTILLERY Clonakilty Distillery is a small, family-run, state-of-the-art distillery located on the Irish coast in the town of Clonakilty, Ireland. The Scully family has been farming the lands in the Irish countryside for nine successive generations. They consider their home one of the most beautiful locations in the world, and it is their mission to create Clonakilty Whiskey utilizing the best resources that nature has to offer including prime land, pristine water and salt sea air: the perfect ingredients for a maritime distillery. ABOUT MARUSSIA BEVERAGES USA Marussia Beverages USA is a national importer of premium spirits, sake, and wines including brands such as Hatozaki Whiskies, Mozart Chocolate Liqueurs, Torabhaig Scotch Whiskies, Barenjager Honey Liqueurs, 135 East Japanese Gin, and Akashi Tai Sakes. Marussia Beverages USA is part of the global group Marussia Beverages, founded by Dr. Frederik Paulsen, with 14 distribution companies and 16 production sites throughout the world. In respect for the deep roots of tradition paired with a taste for innovation, Marussia Beverages mission is to create and distribute quality brands that elevate expectations and provide authentic consumer experiences. For more information about Marussia Beverages USA, visit http://www.marussiabeveragesusa.com ### PR Contact Sophia Martini Colangelo & Partners Cell: 917-975-8848 Email: smartini@colangelopr.com Inception Photo Booth is the photo booth of choice for event planning in 2023. The photo booth rental service is top tier when it comes to offering party goers a 5-star-experience. Instead of renting a boring old photo booth that sits in the corner, collects dust, and gets ignored by guests, Inception Photo Booth makes a point to create unique experiences while utilizing modern technologies and a sleek design. This has helped make Inception Photo Booth one of the most popular photo booth Edmonton rental services there is on the market. Their 5-star rating is confirmed by 100s of reviews across all of their platforms like Google My Business, Facebook and Weddingwire. Not only this, but Inception Photo Booth has serviced thousands of events including brand activations, birthday parties, corporate functions, weddings, company holiday parties, and all varieties of special events. Inception Photo Booth has also worked with a large number of top tier brands in order to coordinate services for extremely unique events like the Heartmelt motel done by Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc, the Grey Cup events for Alberta Blue Cross and pictures with the Easter Bunny for Leduc Chamber Of Commerce. The photo booth rental service base packages come loaded with a wide variety of options to make it the perfect experience for any event, including props, backdrops, and even unique custom template designs to fit the exact nature of the event. By modernizing the photo booth Edmonton rental experience, the Inception Photo Booth brand continues to find new and innovative ways to keep photo booth rentals both interactive and engaging. After all, their main game is putting smiles on faces. All-in-all, Inception Photo Booth is a top choice photo booth rental service for all and any events in 2023 and beyond. ### About - Inception Photo Booth is not just a photo booth, it is an interactive experience you and your guests will love and remember for years. Our Edmonton photo booth rental company is unique as we offer one of a kind products and services. We create a highly engaging experience and promise you a feeling of happiness as the end result. You will not be disappointed as we promise the most hassle free experience from start to finish! There is a special creative and supportive energy when strong women come together. That energy ultimately helps the bottom line. And thats just one of so many reasons why supporting WBENC and other women-owned small businesses is so important. Jennifer Hofmann, Founder and CEO, InSync Training. InSync Training, a certified women-owned small business specializing in Virtual Training and Hybrid Learning, is headed to the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) MOMENTUM National Conference this March. This conference is the largest of its kind in America and focuses on celebrating entrepreneurial women and their businesses. (https://www.wbenc.org/conference/) Jennifer Hofmann, Founder and CEO of InSync Training, says that the energy of strong women coming together is one of the main reasons she supports WBENC and other women-owned small businesses. The conference will bring together leaders from major corporations, government agencies, and women business owners for three days of learning, networking, and growth. For InSync Training, this conference provides an opportunity to develop as a business as well as give back to the community of supportive women entrepreneurs. Women-owned businesses are on the rise. This year's theme is "Momentum" and will feature an unrivaled Expo of certified women-owned businesses and those who do business with them, networking opportunities, and inspiring keynote speakers. During this event, thousands of women entrepreneurs and corporate executives are ready to make connections and do business. Women-owned for more than 22 years, InSync Training is proud to be supporting other women-owned businesses and helping them grow and succeed. Participation with WBENC has proven to be a great opportunity to develop as a business while celebrating women as entrepreneurs, founders, and executives, said Jennifer Hofmann, Founder and CEO, InSync. There is a special creative and supportive energy when strong women come together. That energy ultimately helps the bottom line. And thats just one of so many reasons why supporting WBENC and other women-owned small businesses is so important. This years exciting program engages participants with dynamic educational programming, inspiring keynotes, a pitch competition, instant match meetings, networking opportunities, and an unrivaled Expo of certified women-owned businesses and those who do business with them. The WBENC National Conference will be a catalyst for opportunities and growth with thousands of women entrepreneurs and corporate executives ready to make connections, do business and collaborate to spur innovation. About InSync Training (http://www.insynctraining.com) Founded in 2000, InSync has 20+ years experience supporting a variety of enterprise-wide virtual training programs for Fortune 50, 100 and 500 clients and have certified over 25,000 L&D professionals with its best-of-class approach. With a global team of 120 expert Instructional designers, researchers, and professional facilitators support clients' corporate training needs, including programmatic management and logistical support, traditional "train-the-trainer" services, blended learning, instructional design/development services, and virtual facilitation/production services. InSync Training is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training. (http://www.iacet.org) InSync regularly supports 6000+ hours of live, online, virtual, blended, and remote instruction per month in Zoom, MS Teams, Webex, Adobe Connect, Kaltura, and others. Visit InSync Training (http://www.insynctraining.com) for more on InSync Trainings industry-recognized public certifications or corporate virtual training service solutions. Skilled Nursing News, an Aging Media publication, has released the results of its 2023 Skilled Nursing Outlook Survey, identifying the top challenges and opportunities in the year ahead for providers of skilled care and post-acute rehab. Participants expressed knowledge of the tough road ahead in staffing, countered by optimism over increased occupancy rates. Asked to describe the occupancy outlook for 2023, more than half of respondents predicted an occupancy rate increase in long-term care (56%) as well as in skilled nursing and post-acute rehab (53%). But staffing remains a challenge: respondents identified recruitment/retention as the clear-cut greatest challenge the industry faces this year (53%). To help them provide great care and overcome the staffing shortage, 38% of respondents will invest in technology while 34% will deepen their relationships with ACOs. Skilled Nursing News conducted the survey in partnership with EHR provider Net Health to learn how providers are tackling todays most pressing problems. The results show the views of 272 professionals who identify as working for organizations that provide skilled nursing, painting a picture of an industry working diligently to get out from behind the eight ball. Survey results provide perspective and context around the industrys outlook in staffing, occupancy, technology and M&A. In summary, respondents indicated: Occupancy optimism for 2023 53% of respondents believe that occupancy rates for skilled nursing and post-acute rehab will rise in 2023, with 56% of respondents predicting a rise in occupancy rates for long-term care residents. A deep focus on organic growth 54% of qualified respondents indicated their organization plans to hold skilled nursing assets in 2023, and 53% are seeking financing from banks and finance companies over other sources. Tough days for staffing continue More than half of survey respondents believe recruitment and retention will be skilled nursings greatest challenge in 2023, with 43% believing hiring will not improve until 2024 or later. No health care sector was hit harder by the pandemic than skilled nursing and post-acute care, and the leaders in the industry responded with compassion, focus and a new attention to technology tools," said Skilled Nursing News Managing Editor Tim Mullaney. Though pandemic recovery is ongoing, the results from our survey with Net Health reveal a continued surge of optimism and activity. We are pleased to support SNNs work in gathering data about the state of the skilled nursing industry, says Net Health CEO Josh Pickus. We are aware of the many challenges facing our skilled nursing clients and hope the survey provides insights to help providers better navigate the months ahead. The survey was conducted online between October 17, 2022, and December 5, 2022. Access the full survey results here. About Aging Media Network and Skilled Nursing News Aging Media Network, an innovative publishing company based in Chicago, Illinois, is the publisher of Skilled Nursing News, Senior Housing News, Home Health Care News, Hospice News and Behavioral Health Business. Skilled Nursing News is the leading source for news and information covering the skilled nursing and post-acute care industry. About Net Health Net Healths mission is to harness data for human health. Net Health solutions are trusted in over 23,000 facilities across the continuum of care. Our EHR software enables caregivers and their organizations to engage effectively with patients, streamline documentation, staff efficiently, secure maximum appropriate reimbursement and maintain regulatory compliance. Our unique approach to analytics seamlessly presents insights in clinical and operational workflows to improve care and business performance. Net Health is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, Level Equity and Silversmith Capital Partners. http://www.nethealth.com. Psychiatric Medical Care will use Proem's evidence-based behavioral health solution to support its Embrace Health and embrace U initiatives. Through our partnership with Proem, we gain access to a powerful platform that will help strengthen the services we provide to program participants and better ensure the success of our new initiatives, said Stephanie Weatherly, DNP, PMH RN-BC, FACHE, Chief Clinical Officer for PMC. Proem Behavioral Health, developer of the evidence-based clinical workflow software engine that helps providers triage patients and produce better mental health outcomes, is pleased to announce that is has executed a license agreement with Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC), a national behavioral healthcare management company with multiple service lines. Under the terms of the agreement, PMC will have access to Proem's platform that provides actionable behavioral health data throughout the care process. PMC is leveraging the digital solution to support two of its newer initiatives. The company is incorporating the Proem solution into "Embrace Health," a virtual, direct-to-consumer clinic currently serving Iowan adults and families, and "embrace U," an intensive outpatient program for adolescents. The first embrace U program operates out of Brentwood, Tenn. "At PMC, we are always working to identify the most effective ways to deliver optimal outcomes to our patients," said Stephanie Weatherly, DNP, PMH RN-BC, FACHE, Chief Clinical Officer for PMC. "Through our partnership with Proem, we gain access to a powerful platform that will help strengthen the services we provide to program participants and better ensure the success of our new initiatives." The intelligent workflow engine from Proem captures and shares data at every step of the behavioral healthcare process, providing insight to help providers assess and diagnose mental illness and determine the next steps to take in a patient's care. This leads to a significant result: better outcomes for patients who suffer from mental illness. "As a leader in behavioral health, PMC understands the importance of accurate data, timely identification of behavioral health issues, and simplified processes that help providers and patients," said Proem CEO John Letter. "The selection of Proem by such an impressive organization affirms the ongoing hard work of our team and validates our continuing mission to change the ways we identify, assess, measure, and address mental health problems." ABOUT PSYCHIATRIC MEDICAL CARE Founded in 2003 and based in Nashville, Tenn., Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC) is a leading behavioral healthcare management company focused on addressing the needs of rural and underserved communities. Operating in more than 25 states, the company manages both inpatient psychiatry units and intensive outpatient psychiatry programs within hospitals. PMC also provides telepsychiatry services across a variety of clinical settings. The company's programs provide evaluation and treatment for patients suffering from behavioral health issues, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mood and cognitive disorders. To learn more, visit http://www.psychmc.com and follow PMC on LinkedIn. ABOUT PROEM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Proem Behavioral Health, formerly nView Health, provides the premier clinical workflow software engine that helps behavioral health providers and research organizations efficiently and accurately screen, test, and measure treatment success for those suffering from mental illness. Proem is the exclusive digital licensee worldwide of gold-standard, evidence-based screening solutions, structured interviews, and post-diagnosis severity measurement scales to monitor patient outcomes. To learn more, visit http://www.proemhealth.com and follow Proem on LinkedIn. The SIUE SON HRSA grant team. "This collaboration will strengthen student recruitment, retention, and improvements to the curriculum in areas of social determinants of health to better serve our community. Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles School of Nursing (SON) has been awarded a $1,050,000 grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The project focuses on recruitment of students and faculty with emphasis on diversifying the nursing workforce and retention of pre-nursing and nursing students. In addition, revision of the SON curriculum will ensure to prepare nursing students to practice in underserved areas. Our team is enthusiastic about the opportunities this grant allows for our students and our profession, said Angela Andrews, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, assistant professor and program director (PD). We are excited about the collaboration that will be enhanced between departments at SIUE as well as with external school and clinical partners. This collaboration will strengthen student recruitment, retention, and improvements to the curriculum in areas of social determinants of health to better serve our community. The three-year project is entitled, Increasing Nursing Workforce Diversity and Readiness to Practice utilizing an Innovative 4R (Recruit, Retain, Readiness & Revisions) Approach. Project team includes Jerrica Ampadu, PhD, RN, CCP, associate professor; Amy Reed, PhD, RN, assistant professor; Kelley McGuire, PhD, RN assistant professor; Sheri Compton-McBride, DNP, RN, assistant professor; and Ann Popkess, PhD, RN, associate professor. I am proud of the grant team and their ambitious goals to infuse the social determinants of health into curriculum and clinical experiences, said Judy Liesveld, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CNE, FAAN, dean of the SON. Their work will have long reaching benefit for our students, faculty and communities. The SON will collaborate with the SIUE Department of Social Work as part of the revisions of the curriculum to provide nursing students with interprofessional simulations related to social determinants of health. This project is supported by HRSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,050,000 with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov. The School of Nursings programs are committed to creating excellence in nursing leadership through innovative teaching, evidence-based practice, quality research, patient advocacy and community service. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, masters and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders in pursuit of shaping the nursing profession and impacting the health care environment. SIUEs undergraduate nursing programs on the Edwardsville campus help to solve the regions shortage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses and enhance the quality of nursing practice within all patient service venues. The Schools graduate programs prepare nurses for advanced roles in clinical practice, administration and education. Attendees will come away with insights to apply in both near-term and longer-range planning, as well as up-to-date product training for those interested. The speaker line-up for the 2023 Sovos ShipCompliant Wine Summit has been announced, featuring an array of industry analysts, experts and regulators from organizations including the TTB, Wine Institute, California Alcoholic Beverage Control and others. What: 2023 Sovos ShipCompliant Wine Summit When: April 19-20, 2023 Where: Napa Valley Marriott, 3425 Solano Ave, Napa, CA 94558 Who: Wineries of all sizes, particularly those shipping direct-to-consumers, as well as winery compliance consultants and other ShipCompliant product users The Sovos ShipCompliant Wine Summit is the premier conference for winery compliance, hospitality, and owner/operator professionals. The event gathers winery professionals for one-and-a-half days of hands-on product user training, education, networking, one-on-one Sovos ShipCompliant staff interaction, and the opportunity to meet with key vendors, including ecommerce platforms and fulfillment houses. With top-notch experts from a variety of backgrounds, the 2023 Wine Summit will educate and inspire, said Larry Cormier, vice president and general manager, Sovos ShipCompliant. Attendees will come away with insights to apply in both near-term and longer-range planning, as well as up-to-date product training for those interested. Early bird pricing Attendees who register for the Wine Summit through February 28 save $50 of the full conference rate with an automatic Early bird discount. Agenda In addition to time for idea-sharing and networking, including receptions each afternoon, the event features these sessions: April 19 - User Training Two general sessions and four breakout sessions covering a variety of topics for ShipCompliant users of all experience levels, covering both direct-to-consumer shipping and three-tier distribution solutions. April 20 - Full Conference Opening session: Sovos ShipCompliant Updates with Larry Cormier, VP, general manager, and Lexie ONeill, director, product management, Sovos ShipCompliant Opening keynote: Cannabis and Wine: Lessons from an Emerging Marketplace with Arun Kurichety, Petalfast General session: Updates from the TTB, speaker from the TTB to be announced General session: Transforming Your Business Through Budgets with Maria Pearman, GHJ Breakout session: Insights into Action: Unlock DtC Profitability with MJ Dale, Customer Vineyard Breakout session: Legal Professionals Panel with Susan M. Johnson, Stoel Rives LLP, and Suhani Kamdar, Associate, RJO, moderated by Alex Koral, regulatory general counsel, Sovos ShipCompliant Breakout session: Is Your Wine Club Coming Up Short? How Subscription Models Are Redefining Membership Services with Susan DeMatei, WineGlass Marketing Breakout session: State Regulatory Updates with Matthew Botting, California Alcoholic Beverage Control and speaker TBA Closing keynote: State of the Industry with Steve Gross, Wine Institute Find complete event information and register here: https://sovos.com/events/ship/shipcompliant-wine-summit/. About Sovos ShipCompliant Sovos ShipCompliant has been the leader in automated alcohol beverage compliance tools for more than 15 years, providing a full suite of cloud-based solutions to wineries, breweries, distilleries, importers, distributors, and retailers to ensure they meet all federal and state regulations for direct-to-consumer and three-tier distribution. ShipCompliants solutions reduce risk, lessen the burden of compliance, accelerate bringing products to market, and enable revenue growth. With 60+ partner integrations, Sovos ShipCompliant leads a robust ecosystem of technology partnerships, enabling powerful complementary solutions. For more information, visit https://www.sovos.com/shipcompliant/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Recently, the Georgia Association of Business Brokers (GABB) named twelve business brokerage firms in Georgia as members of the 2022 Million Dollar Club. The purpose of the GABB Million Dollar Club is to recognize professional business brokers in Georgia for successfully closing business acquisition transactions totaling one million dollars or more. This years group of brokers was responsible for orchestrating the sale of small, medium, and large businesses equivalent to more than $96 million. Jeffery Merry, Sr., M.B.A., J.D, founder of The Business House, Inc, was one such GABB member to be named to the 2022 Million Dollar Club. Jeffery is a past president of GABB, has been GABBs top producer on numerous occasions, and has been a part of the Million Dollar Club each year since its inception in 1999. As a business intermediary, Certified Exit Planner, and consultant, Mr. Merry has been involved in mergers and acquisitions that have ranged in acquisition price from $60,000 to more than $15 million. He was also the first recipient of the GABB Phoenix Award for being a million-dollar seller for 17 years and during this years ceremony, he was honored as a Silver Phoenix Member of the Million Dollar Club for achieving more than a million dollars in sales for any 25 years. Further, Mr. Merry is also a member of the International Association of Business Brokers, cementing his status as a leading expert in the industry. About The Business House Inc. The Business House, Inc, proudly specializes in business brokerage, buyer representation, business consulting, exit planning, business valuations, machinery and equipment appraisals, and capital infusions. For more than three decades, they have served the manufacturing, distribution, veterinary, service, and medical industries by advising, appraising, and advancing their clients objectives when it comes to selling, acquiring, or transferring a business enterprise. They take pride in their professional, confidential, expeditious, and thorough method of brokering business sales and licensing in multiple states. To get started or to learn more about the services they offer, call (770) 540-8199 or visit their website at https://thebusinesshouseinc.com/. This book shows that science and faith aren't in mutual opposition, but highly complementary Author James A. Cannon, Ph.D. explains the faith behind physics in Finding the Light: Science and its Vision ($15.99, paperback, 9781662865787; $29.99, dust jacket, 9781662865794; $7.99, e-book, 9781662865800). Contrary to the popular belief that science opposes Christian faith, Cannon teaches that historical physical science, as well as modern physics, follow faiths universal promptings within the human heart. He demonstrates how both have flourished together in the lives of prominent scientists throughout history, and argues that faith in God is a guardian of classical realism, the philosophical foundation of science. This book shows that science and faith aren't in mutual opposition, but highly complementary. Dr. James A Cannon (b.1933 - d.2020), after serving in the US Navy during the Korean war, studied and practiced journalism as managing editor of the Fordham University newspaper. Then he switched his area of concentration to physics. He earned an MA at Columbia and a B.S. and Ph.D. at Fordham. He did basic research at Bell Labs, but having the heart of a teacher, he left to pursued a career spanning five decades as a revered professor of physics and chemistry at Pace University in New York. A neurological injury led to retirement. He suffered for a dozen years until complications from Parkinsons and Covid-19 took his life. During this time, with of the able assistance of his devoted wife, Monica, Dr. Cannon wrote Finding the Light: Science and its Vision, a testament to his lifes work, his Catholic faith, his love of science and his love of teaching. ### Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. Finding the Light is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. Zeigler Auto Groups two Subaru dealerships earn coveted Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award for 2023 Subaru of Merrillville and Subaru of Kenosha, two Zeigler Auto Group dealers, have been recognized by Subaru of America with a 2023 Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award. Zeigler's Driving Vision Podcast, hosted by COO Sam D'Arc, interviewed both Zeigler Subaru GMs and discussed the importance of the award and the requirements needed to qualify. During the interview Zeigler Subaru of Kenosha GM Mike Bihun congratulated Zeigler Subaru of Merrillville GM Kyle Faiman on earning this coveted award during the first year the dealer qualified. Bihun shared how he had been actively trying to earn this award over the last five years and was impressed with Merrillville's achievement. The Love Promise Community Commitment Award nationally recognizes Subaru retailers who are making the world a better place while demonstrating an outstanding commitment to supporting passions and causes in local communities. Eligibility for 2023 recognition was from January 1 through December 31, 2022. This award is part of the 2023 Subaru Love Promise Commitment Awards program which consists of three categories: the Community Commitment award - that both dealers won; the Customer & Community Commitment "Gold" award, and the Customer Commitment award. "It is a privilege and honor to receive such recognition for the Community Commitment Award. Our team takes great pride in the relationships we've built with our partners and the positive impact it has on our community. We will continue to Share the Love by giving our support to make our Community a better place!" said Faiman, GM of Subaru of Merrillville. Zeigler Subaru of Merrillville, Zeigler's first Subaru dealer acquired in May of 2021, has made a huge impact on the community through its many programs over the years. In 2022 the dealer donated over $3,000 to the school Salk Elementary, having also supported the school the year prior, and pledging to continue its support for a third year in 2023. Besides this, Subaru of Merrillville donated nearly $50,000 over the last two years to Chasing Dreams, Inc., a local charity dedicated to providing community members with disabilities with access to programs that promote independence. "Winning this award is a huge deal for a Subaru retailer. By winning, it reinforces our store's commitment to being a positive force in something bigger by helping the community be a better place to work and live!" said Bihun, GM of Subaru of Kenosha. Zeigler Subaru of Kenosha is well known in the community for providing support to various organizations from schools to food pantries This included a $26,885 donation to local pantry and support center: the Sharing Center in 2022, which brought its total donated amount to $100,000 since 2018. With their ongoing support the Sharing Center was able to brave the challenges that came with the pandemic closures of 2020 and keep their doors open. Also last year, Zeigler Subaru of Kenosha partnered with the Kenosha Achievement Center for its 2022 Share the Love Event raising $35,000 to give back based on our customers choosing a local charity. On Memorial Day weekend 2022 the dealer also held a special event for fallen soldiers in the community, sponsoring flowers for friends and families. Besides this, Zeigler Subaru of Kenosha earned 4th place in Zeigler's Ugly Sweater Holiday Food Drive, bringing in 3,542 items in the Shalom Center Kenosha. Other ongoing efforts include donations of warming blankets and messages of hope for chemo patients to the Leukemia and Lymphatic Society. About Zeigler Auto Group Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 78 franchises across 35 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers. Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company. The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm. Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,300 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. New 'butterfly' building lands in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province (People's Daily App) 14:01, February 13, 2023 "Fluttering" above a lake, this newly built butterfly-shaped building will function as an art center for residents in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. (Produced by Du Jieqiong and Cheng Ming) (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) In honor of Black History Month, weve gathered a selection of titles for young readers that commemorate the impact of African American cultural and political figures both past and present. Picture Books All Aboard the Schooltrain: A Little Story from the Great Migration Glenda Armand, illus. by Keisha Morris. Scholastic Press, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-338-76689-9. Ages 48. This childs view of the Great Migration begins with Thelma, a Black third grader living in Vacherie, La., watching trains pass by. One train, the Sunset Limited, is headed for California, where the childs uncle fled when a man named Jim Crow had made trouble. Soon, Thelma joins a train of her own: the schooltrain, a line formed by Black kids of all ages to travel together to school. The book received a starred review from PW. An American Story Kwame Alexander, illus. by Dare Coulter. Little, Brown, $18.99 (56p) ISBN 978-0-316-47312-5. Ages 48. In this picture book, a narrator questions how to retell the painful history of America as a class of schoolchildren start a lesson. The book received a starred review from PW. Dear Yesteryear Kimberly Annece Henderson. Dial, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-059-352924-9. Ages 37. Addressed to yesteryearsAfrican American individuals featured in archival photographs from the turn of the centurythis history-steeped picture book debut offers a visual retrospective of ancestors who paved the way for Black Americans today. A Flag for Juneteenth Kim Taylor. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5224-8. Ages 48. The events of the first Juneteenth are depicted from the perspective of Huldah, an African American child whose 10th birthday is on June 19, 1865. The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music Roberta Flack with Tonya Bolden, illus. by Hayden Goodman. Random House/Schwartz, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5934-7987-2. Ages 48. Flack reflects on her childhood filled with musical inspiration and how a gift from her father kickstarted her personal passion for music. See our story on the making of the picture book. The book received a starred review from PW. Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes Traci N. Todd, illus. by Shannon Wright. Orchard, $21.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-338-30590-6. Ages 710. This picture book biography follows the journey of Ormes (19111985) towards becoming the first nationally syndicated Black woman cartoonist. How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Frank Morrison. Candlewick, Apr. 11 $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5362-1554-0. Ages 710. This picture book follows the achievements of MacNolia Cox (19231976), who in 1936 became the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio, spelling bee, thus qualifying for the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. The book received a starred review from PW. Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman, illus. by Keith Mallett. Crown, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-56322-9. Ages 48. Beginning his life in Philadelphia, where slavery was outlawed, Augustus Jackson (18081852) worked to become a successful Black ice cream vendor, his creations taking him all the way to the White House. Justice Rising: 12 Amazing Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement Katheryn Russell-Brown, illus. by Kim Holt. Viking, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-40354-9. Ages 48. Russell-Brown recognizes the contributions of Black sheroes of the Civil Rights Movement in this collection of 12 brief biographies, followed by a spread on freedom marchers. Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar: The Musical Story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Doubleday, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5935-7106-4. Ages 37. The sounds of early 20th-century Cotton Plant, Ark., contribute to a childs musical innovations in this early life portrait of Sister Rosetta Tharpe (19151973), godmother of rock and roll. The book received a starred review from PW. Love Is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement Sandra Neil Wallace, illus. by Bryan Collier. S&S/Wiseman, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-5344-5103-2. Readers can trace the life of civil rights activist Diane Nash (b. 1938), from her childhood in Chicago to her first encounters with segregation in Tennessee. The book received a starred review from PW. My Red, White, and Blue Alana Tyson, illus. by London Ladd. Philomel, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-593-52570-8. Ages 48. A Black child narrator explores what the American flag means to them. Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth Alice Faye Duncan, illus. by Keturah A. Bobo. Thomas Nelson, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4002-3125-6. Ages 48. Lee (b. 1926), a Black activist and storyteller known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, is celebrated in this picture book biography for her work to make Juneteenth a nationally recognized holiday. Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll! Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock & Roll Tonya Bolden, illus. by R. Gregory Christie. HarperCollins, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-0629-9438-7. Ages 48. Readers learn of the early life of rock and roll trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe (19151973), following her childhood traveling with her mother and singing gospel. The book received a starred review from PW. The Story of the Saxophone Lesa Cline-Ransome, illus. by James E. Ransome. Holiday House, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8234-3702-3. Ages 69. Joseph-Antoine Adolphe Sax (18141894), inventor of what was originally known as the saxophon, is highlighted for his contributions to music across the world. The book received a starred review from PW. That Flag Tameka Fryer Brown, illus. by Nikkolas Smith. HarperCollins, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-309344-7. Ages 610. Best friends Keira and Bianca have a difficult conversation about race when Keira discovers a Confederate flag flying from Biancas home. This Is Tap! Savion Glover Finds His Funk Selene Castrovilla, illus. by Laura Freeman. Holiday House, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8234-3863-1. Ages 48. Readers will learn about tap dancer and choreographer Savion Glover (b. 1973) in this picture book biography spanning from his early childhood commitment to dance to a career on the Broadway stage. To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights Angela Dalton, illus. by Lauren Semmer. HarperCollins, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-307321-0. Ages 48. This tribute to Nichelle Nichols (19322022) begins with a Black childs family tuning in to Star Trek, proud to view Nicholss Lieutenant Uhura. We Are Here Tami Charles, illus. by Bryan Collier. Orchard, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-338-75204-5. Ages 48. Collaborators Charles and Collier celebrate the Black diaspora across time and space in this ode to Black historical figures. The book received a starred review from PW. You Are My Pride: A Love Letter from Your Motherland Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by E.B. Lewis. Astra Young Readers, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-63592-387-2. Ages 48. Told from the perspective of Mother Africa, this picture book highlights the connection of humanity and nature. You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce! The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce Chiquita Mullins Lee and Carmella Van Vleet, illus. by Jennifer Mack-Watkins. Kokila, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-40650-2. Ages 48. In a fictionalized story centering woodcarver and folk artist Pierce (18921984), a narrating child and their father head into Pierces barbershop. Middle Grade Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge. Zest, $17.99 paper (216p) ISBN 978-1-7284-6407-7. Ages 10 and up. Using the historic autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself as this books source material, educators Edinger and Younge craft a found-verse narrative that draws from the subjects life. The book received a starred review from PW. YA Dark Testament Crystal Simone Smith. Holt, $19.99 (128p) ISBN 978-1-250-85436-0. Ages 14 and up. Poet Smith presents an affecting collection of blackout poemspieces developed by redacting sections of an existing work to create something newusing passages from George Saunderss Lincoln in the Bardo. The Davenports Krystal Marquis. Dial, $19.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-593-46333-8. Ages 12 and up. In this historical YA romance inspired by the real life of automobile manufacturer C.R Patterson, the children of William Davenport navigate classism, familial expectations, gender norms, and racism in 1910 Chicago. See our q&a with Marquis. The book received a starred review from PW. Best known as the author and illustrator of the Arthur books and television series, Marc Brown has been announced as the artist of the 2023 National Poetry Month poster. As part of a joint effort between the Academy of American Poets and Scholastic, this years poster will spotlight Browns tribute to the poem Carrying, written by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon, and will be distributed free of charge to more than 85,000 schools, libraries, bookstores, and families nationwide. Brown was chosen by Scholastic to create the artwork for the 2023 poster, a pastoral painting that incorporates the poems line, We were all meant for something. The artist was given free rein in selecting a fitting verse and developing his illustration. He was also asked to keep in mind that many younger audiences see the poster in classrooms and librariesand that it can often serve as their first introduction point to poetry, said Michelle Campagna, advertising and marketing director for the Academy of American Poets. Brown said in a statement, One great gift I received from doing this painting was discovering the beautiful poetry of Ada Limon. This particular poem, Carrying, was a cinematic experience. I could see the rolling meadows, the horses, and smell the cold, wet fields. Brown credited the opportunity for allowing him to flex [his] painting muscles and Limon for helping us see and feel our world more deeply through the power of your words. Every April, the Academy organizes National Poetry Month and provides free resources to teachers and librarians to help promote the annual literary celebration. The official poster is distributed through partnerships with the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English. This year marks the centennial anniversary of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program, which is administered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers; the initiative is part of the Poetry Coalition, managed by the Academy. The Academy of American Poets expects that Marc Browns National Poetry Month poster will bring a reassuring touch of brightness to classrooms and libraries across the United States this spring, assuring students of all ages and backgrounds that they are, as Ada Limon writes, all meant for something," said Tess ODwyer, chair of the board, in a statement. Were grateful to our good friends at Scholastic and to teachers and librarians everywhere who enliven minds and embolden hearts with art and poetry. To obtain a free copy of the 2023 National Poetry Month poster, click here. On Thursday, the Clarke County Board of Education voted to rename Alps Road Elementary School and Chase Street Elementary School, according to a press release. Alps Road Elementary will be renamed Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School, and Chase Street Elementary will be renamed Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School, according to the release. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 79F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening with a few showers possible late. Low 54F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 79F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, mainly cloudy late with a few showers. Low 54F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Four social media influencers outside of China share their role in protest movements and online debates. Social media influencers living outside China share their role in recent protest movements and online debates. These are mages of their Instagram accounts; from left to right, Liu Yi: northern_square, Zhang Xiaofang: confusingchina, and Xia Hao: @CitizensDailyCN. Social media accounts run by Chinese people living overseas sometimes function as informal news services or safe spaces for political discussions for people still living in China, whose freedom of expression is seriously curtailed by the governments censorship of online speech. These "anti-bandit" accounts -- slang for opposition to Beijing -- on platforms like Twitter or Instagram are providing a new focus for young, politically aware Chinese nationals and a counterweight to the power of the Chinese Communist Partys propaganda machine. Four social media influencers spoke to RFA Mandarin and The Reporter magazine, an investigative news outlet based in Taiwan, about what drives them and the responses they are getting from people in China. Liu Yi: northern_square on Instagram Bored under a pandemic lockdown, U.S.-based artist Liu Yi in May 2020 opened an Instagram account he called "Northern Square" to organize and publish images of the pro-democracy movement in China. A photo of the 1979 Democracy Wall movement was his first post. As a millennial, Liu didn't witness either the 1979 debates on whether China needed the "fifth modernization" that was democracy or the student-led mass protests in Tiananmen Square that called for an open society and ended in a massacre on June 4, 1989. He longed for nevertheless a greater political freedom for the people of China akin to what had been permitted for a time by late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping during the economic reforms of the 1980s. "[The Tiananmen protests] were the achievement of that era, but they also marked the end of it," Liu says. "You can see a vitality that our generation lacks in those young people on the square." Liu's own political awakening came when his account on the social media platform Weibo in 2009, which many believed at the time would make government censorship much harder despite growing controls. He started using circumvention software to bypass the Great Firewall of blocks, filters and human censorship, and read content that wasn't available to most Chinese internet users. Nearly two years after opening Northern Square, Liu asked his rapidly growing number of followers a simple question: "What are people currently under lockdown thinking right now?" In nearly 200 replies, people poured out their frustration at the endless lockdowns and COVID-19 testing programs of the zero-COVID restrictions and at their inability to express themselves on Chinese social media thanks to their government overseers. "Like an exile in my own country," came one reply. Liu said he began to realize that his Instagram account, which he had started on a whim, had become a relatively safe space for people to air grievances, exactly the sort of content that would be blocked instantly and sanctioned if it were sent inside the Great Firewall. "This account had acquired a new meaning. It wasn't just mine any more: it belonged to everyone," Liu says. "I found they needed an anonymous platform to express their thoughts and experiences, something that's not allowed in China." The number of followers Lius account attracted rose the most during the nationwide protests of the "white paper" movement in late November 2022, with followers sending him new footage, photos or comments on the protests every minute, he says. By Jan. 13, his account had 87,000 followers. "We often talk about how atomized society is, and about information bubbles," Liu says. "A lot of people feel lonely because they can't see content that reflects their own lives, but they get very happy and excited when they see it here. Zhang Xiaofang: confusingchina on Instagram Zhang recalls getting hundreds of private messages and contributions every day at the height of the protests in late 2022, many of which included footage and photos of protests across the country. "I opened this Instagram account because I want to keep posts that had been 404ed on the Chinese internet, or content people think is absurd," says Zhang, who used voice-altering software during his interview. But he has seen traffic fall off sharply since authorities started detaining young people who took part in the protests against the zero-COVID policy or held memorials for the victims of a fatal lockdown apartment fire in Xinjiang's regional capital Urumqi. Prequel and progress of the White Paper Movement: Chinas anti-thieves open Instagram overseas to preserve voices of dissent and identify each other in loneliness. Illustration by Huang Yuzhen "Many people have been powerless to resist the settling of scores in the wake of those events, so reducing the amount they discuss or pay attention to the white paper movement is an act of self-protection," Zhang says. Nonetheless, Zhang believes that the movement has served a purpose: People now know that they can express their demands and resist an unreasonable government. "This is just the beginning," he says. Xia Hao: @CitizensDailyCN on Twitter and Instagram, @VoiceOfCN on Telegram Millennial Xia Hao, who lives in Canada, says she started her account in response to the death of Li Wenliang, the whistleblowing Wuhan doctor who was punished for trying to warn people about the emerging pandemic despite a government cover-up, only to succumb to the virus himself. The account was inspired by the subtle ways people found on Chinese social media to get around censorship to express their condolences over Li's death, with oblique references to the self-criticism he was forced to write for his attempt to warn the world about COVID-19. Her account came on the heels of other news discussion groups on Telegram, which themselves took inspiration from accounts used to share ideas, information and strategy during the 2019 protest movement in Hong Kong. She hopes the growing number of groups like hers push Chinese authorities to rethink their efforts to control online discourse. "If I go back to China, I really hope that there won't be any need to circumvent the Great Firewall any more, and that there'll be a bit more freedom," Xia says. "I don't want to have to be fearful and make myself small. "If your country is truly a great power, then it should instill its citizens who live overseas with confidence," says Xia. Xia started off by simply posting satirical photos, but that changed when Peng Lifa made his solo demonstration from a Beijing traffic overpass on the eve of the 20th party congress in October. After Peng's "Bridge Man" protest, Xia's account became dedicated to all-out advocacy. She began to post photos of overseas Chinese hanging up replicas of the banner, which called on ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping to step down and call elections, in cities around the world. "A lot of [anti-Beijing] accounts are on Telegram, while there are more overseas student accounts on Instagram," Xia says. She started an Instagram account in a bid to influence more younger Chinese people, whether they are still in China or overseas. Users aged 18-24 make up more than 60% of Instagram's 1.44 billion users worldwide. "Ideally, content should be generated in China ... then amplified overseas," Xia says. "That worked before the crackdown on the protests, but it's kind of hard to make any big moves right now. "All we can do from overseas is to try to keep a record of the movement." Xiao Lei: @tears_in_rainbow on Instagram Xiao Lei, who runs the "Tears in Rainbow" account on Instagram, takes a similar approach. "Despite stricter censorship in China in recent years, some people are still able to read content from voices that are different from the government's preferred theme tune," she says. Epidemic prevention workers in protective aprons stand outside a locked-down residential compound as outbreaks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue in Beijing, November 23, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Peter She found the effort to learn the truth to be moving, and planned to open the account to keep a private record of such things. Then, the discovery of a woman chained in an outbuilding in the eastern province of Jiangsu in January 2022 took China's internet by storm. Amid growing public frustration with conflicting official statements on the woman's origin and status, Xiao Lei decided to take her account public and post more often. "I think overseas Chinese accounts have been more active lately, starting from the woman in chains, and all through the white paper movement," she says. "The anger has always been there, and has always been strong. "I used to believe that young [Chinese] people were different from us, because they had been so brainwashed," she says. "Lately, I discovered that we're all pretty similar. "There will always be a small number of people who wake up, realize what's happening, and decide they are going to cast off their shackles, no matter how much brainwashing goes on," Xiao Lei says. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Jim Snyder. Better scrutiny of our airspace has led to the spate of objects found in the air, according to military leaders. FBI agents assigned to the bureaus Evidence Response Team process material recovered from the high-altitude Chinese balloon that was shot down by the U.S. off the coast of South Carolina. The U.S. Air Force is seeing more airborne objects across North Americas skies after recalibrating radars patrolling U.S. airspace, defense officials said Monday after three such objects were shot down over the weekend. The intensified effort to scan the skies follows the U.S. Air Forces downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon off South Carolinas coast on Feb. 4. Beijing has denied any knowledge of the three new objects, instead accusing the United States of itself flying balloons over Chinese airspace. The three unidentified objects shot down over the U.S. and Canadaone each on Friday, Saturday and Sundaywere not assessed to be military threats, but posed potential flight hazards, authorities said. The initial spy balloon episode was something that got all of our attention and had led to better scrutiny of our airspace in the days since, said Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the chief of staff of the Air Force. He said that could be a reason for the surge of sightings of the new objects, about which U.S. officials have remained tight-lipped. Also, the adjusting of the radar sensitivities, which means we're seeing more things than we would normally see, Brown said. But we don't fully appreciate or understand exactly what we're seeing, he said the Brookings Institution Monday. Browns remark followed similar comments from Melissa Dalton, assistant U.S. secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, at a news conference on Sunday evening. Dalton said the new objects were different from the downed Chinese balloon in that we knew precisely what it was. But she said that the three subsequent objects had flown nearby key defense sites and were at an altitude dangerous for civilian aircraft. We have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase in objects that weve detected over the past week, Dalton said, noting they posed no kinetic military threat. Alleged China link Asked whether the number of objects now being found was unusual or just a reflection of increased scrutiny, John Kirby, spokesman for President Joe Bidens National Security Council, said it was safe to assume it was due to the increased sensitivity of the radar filters. One of the reasons that we think we're seeing more, is because we're looking for more, Kirby told reporters at the White House. They have modified the filters and the gains, as we call it, of the radar capabilities to look more discretely at high-altitude, small-radar cross-section and low-speed objects, he explained. If you set the parameters in such a way to look for a certain something, it's more likely that you're going to find a certain something. U.S. officials say they cannot rule out any source of the new unidentified aerial objects before further investigations, and have so far stopped short of blaming Beijing for the latest finds. But Kirby did say U.S. intelligence indicated an ongoing program of balloon surveillance linked to the Peoples Republic of China. We were able to determine that China has a high-altitude balloon program for intelligence collection that's connected to the People's Liberation Army. It was operating during the previous administration, but they did not detect it. We detected it, he said. We know that these PRC surveillance balloons have crossed over dozens of countries on multiple continents around the world, including some of our closest allies and partners. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the same press conference that one source of the unidentified objects could be definitively ruled out. There is no again, no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns, she said. I loved E.T., the movie, but Im just going to leave it there. China's counterclaim Beijing has hit back at claims it has been caught spying on U.S. military sites. It attacked the Feb. 4 shooting down of its balloon, which it says was a civilian meteorological aircraft, as an act of aggression that went against the spirit of international law. On Monday, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said Beijing had in fact identified 10 U.S. balloons in its own airspace over the last year, and that such transgressions were common. The United States should first reflect on itself and change course, rather than slander, discredit or incite confrontation, he said. Appearing on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Kirby denied the claims. Not true. Not doing it. Just absolutely not true, Kirby said when asked about the claims. We are not flying balloons over China. He said talks with Beijing over the balloon fracas were ongoing. Bloomberg reported on Monday that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was considering a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the Munich Security Conference later this week. It's not like all communications between us and the PRC have shut down, Kirby said, amid reports Chinese officials rejected phone calls over the balloon issue. That's unfortunate, but we do have the ability to communicate directly with Chinese leaders, and we have, in private settings, about our concerns over the spy balloon. It is also preparing to bring down an object flying near one of its naval bases. Members of the Navy work on a device in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 7, 2023. The Navy is carrying out an extensive operation to gather all of the pieces of the Chinese spy balloon shot down in the area. Beijing has denied any knowledge of the three airborne objects that the U.S. military shot down in North American airspace over the weekend as China prepares to take down an unidentified flying object near one of its main naval bases. Chinese Foreign Ministrys spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing on Monday that any suggestion that they came from China is just a smear. The U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced that an F-16 fired an AIM9x to successfully shoot down an airborne object flying at approximately 20,000 feet altitude in U.S. airspace over Lake Huron in the State of Michigan at 2:42 p.m. on Sunday. This object was first spotted on Saturday over Montana, when it flew near sensitive military sites, U.S. officials told the media. However, NORAD said it was not assessed to be a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground, but a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities. Before this, a "high-altitude object" was shot down on Saturday over the Yukon territory in Canada and another flying object on Friday off the Northern coast of Alaska, both by U.S. F-22 fighters. Authorities have yet to determine whether the flying objects are linked to China as recovery efforts continue. Locations of recent UFO and balloon shooting incidents. Credit: Google Maps On Feb. 4, a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down off the South Carolina coast after having drifted for days over the U.S. Beijing insisted it was a weather balloon that had veered off course but Washington was adamant the balloon had surveillance capability and had been used to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States. U.S. officials also alleged that China operates a fleet of balloons and has similarly violated the sovereignty of some 40 countries across five continents by going into their airspaces with the express point of collecting intelligence. Shooting mosquito with cannon Beijing hit back at the U.S. Monday, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying it had flown high altitude surveillance balloons over China more than 10 times over the past year. Wang said it was not rare for the U.S. to fly balloons into others territorial airspace. Beijing previously reacted angrily to the shooting of the balloon on Feb. 4, saying that by using force to attack China's civilian unmanned airship, the U.S. seriously violated international practices and set a very bad precedent. In light of the U.S. side's irresponsible and seriously wrong practice China reserves the right to take necessary measures, it said. The Chinese defense minister also refused a phone call with his U.S. counterpart. A large balloon drifts above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina, with a fighter jet and its contrail seen below it, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Credit: Chad Fish via AP Chinese newspapers have criticized the U.S. for its alleged heavy handedness. The Global Times, which is affiliated to the Communist Partys mouthpiece Peoples Daily, published an editorial slamming the U.S. political behavioral art. It mocked the U.S. Air Force over the incidents for shooting a mosquito with cannon" and said F-22 military fighters have now become known as balloon killers on the internet. The Chinese newspaper said that using advanced fighter jets to shoot down UFOs preemptively is absurd and expensive large-scale political behavioral art that could only take place because of the environment of high tension with China. China to take down object On Sunday, Chinese authorities said that they were preparing to shoot down an unidentified flying object in Shandong province in Eastern China. Chinese media said the Shandong maritime authority spotted a UFO over the waters near the coastal city of Rizhao and have alerted local fishermen to avoid the area before taking it down. The coordinates provided by the Jimo District Ocean Development Bureau in Qingdao, the capital of Shandong, show that the location of the UFO is near the Jianggezhuang, one of Chinas major naval bases. The base, which serves as the headquarters of the Peoples Liberation Army Navys North Sea Fleet, hosts a number of ballistic and nuclear attack submarines as well as the countrys first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. It remains unclear whether the shooting has taken place, despite rampant speculation on Chinese social media. Police forcibly remove Zhanargul Zhumatai from her mother's home in the regional capital Urumqi, activists say. Zhanargul Zhumatai, an ethnic Kazakh musician in the Xinjiang city of Urumqi, told RFA in early January that she has been targeted by authorities after speaking out against the government appropriation of ethnic Kazakh herding communities' land to make way for highways and hydropower stations around Urumqi. Authorities in Xinjiang's regional capital Urumqi have detained an outspoken ethnic Kazakh musician, weeks after a Kazakhstan-based rights group warned that she was at risk of being hauled off to a psychiatric facility. State security police in Urumqi's Shayibak district took Zhanargul Zhumatai, 47, away from her mother's house on Feb. 10, after she received a request for a "media interview" from someone claiming to be an Associated Press correspondent, according to the Kazahstan-based rights group Atajurt. "State security police from the Shayibak branch of the Urumqi police department detained Zhanargul at 5.40 p.m. on Feb. 10," Atajurt spokesperson Nurbek told Radio Free Asia. "She is gone." While Zhanargul's whereabouts are currently unclear, critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party have repeatedly reported being held in psychiatric facilities despite having no diagnosis of mental illness. A few days before she was detained, Zhanargul made a recording of a phone call with local state security police, who wanted to arrange a time to visit her at home. "I don't want you people in my home," she says on the recording. "I need to tell you straight, Officer Xu, I don't want anyone from the residential office, particularly not the neighborhood committee or the political and legal affairs commission, in my home either." "I don't want any of this. All I want is to be left in peace," she says. But the police paid no heed to her request. "The Xinjiang police called to threaten her at around 5.00 p.m. Urumqi time on Feb. 10, then they sent two ethnic Kazakh [officers] round," Atajurt founder Serikzhan Bilash said. "They went to her mother's house and took Zhanargul Zhumatai away by force," he said. Calls to the phone number given out by the purported AP journalist who contacted her on Feb. 8 resulted in a message saying the number was "temporarily unavailable" on Monday. Land compensation Her detention comes after she told Radio Free Asia in a Jan. 6 interview that she has been targeted by the authorities ever since she spoke out against government appropriation of ethnic Kazakh herding communities' land to make way for highways and hydropower stations around Urumqi. Zhanargul spoke out after some herding communities received low compensation or none at all for the loss of their grazing lands, with some of the compensation money believed embezzled by local government officials. "I wrote in a letter that the Urumqi county government has been suppressing herding communities and violating management regulations for national grasslands including resettlement subsidies that herding communities should get," she said in the interview with RFA Mandarin on Jan. 6. "Urumqi officials sent me to a concentration camp, for so-called re-education ... because I refused to apologize," she said, adding that she was initially detained at the Urumqi No.3 Detention Center in 2017, before being transferred to one of the mass incarceration camps across Xinjiang which the ruling Chinese Communist Party says are for "re-education" and "vocational training." She was put under huge pressure in the camp to write a confession detailing her "extremist" thoughts based on religious material on her cell phone, but continued to insist on her innocence. In the interview, Zhanargul described being made to sing revolutionary songs about the "motherland" and the Communist Party, as well as study the government's guidelines on religious "extremism," which include a number of behaviors that are required or commonly regarded as desirable for Muslims, such as reading the Quran, or wearing head-coverings or beards. She also said she was injected with unknown substances by medical staff during her time in the camp. "I nearly fainted, had diarrhea and felt nauseous afterwards," she said. "While they were injecting me, they laughed at my screams and asked if it hurt. I couldn't lift my arm for a couple of weeks after they injected me." Zhanargul said she lost nearly half her body weight during her stay, developed a number of health problems, and was denied permission to communicate with her family. "When I went in there, I weighed 86 kilos, and I was a very strong woman," she said. "By the time I got out in May 2019, I was a skeleton who weighed around 50 kilos. I almost died." Camps 'still there' Serikzhan Bilash said little has changed in Xinjiang since Zhanargul's incarceration in the camp. "The inhumane genocidal policies haven't changed; they're still being implemented in Xinjiang," he said. "The Xinjiang concentration camps are still there." He said that while the Chinese government had released some ethnic Kazahs and allowed them to be reunited with their relatives in Kazakhstan, those who remain inside China remain "under huge pressure." He said in a Jan. 6 interview that Zhanargul was "extremely brave," as she had been one of the first camp detainees to speak out about her experiences while still in China. "She is still in Xinjiang, so the state security police could make her disappear, fake her suicide, or put her in a psychiatric hospital at any time," he warned at the time. Zhanargul's detention came after U.S. lawmakers called on Washington to do more to enforce recent laws passed by U.S. lawmakers addressing the forced labor of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority group, who have made up the majority of detainees in the camps. The government has detained large numbers of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other ethnic minorities simply for posting religious videos not approved by officials, or for possessing Qurans, prayer mats and traditional clothing, all of which have been described as evidence of "extremism" by Chinese police in recent years. Sources estimate that Chinese authorities in Xinjiang have detained hundreds of ethnic Kazakhs in recent years, freezing their bank accounts and assets pending "investigation," also for extremist behavior that includes normal Islamic practices. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Paul Eckert. Sagaing region was hardest hit with almost 80% of the national total. Junta troops and affiliated militias have burned down 55,484 homes across Myanmar in the two years since the military overthrew the countrys democratically elected government, according to independent research group Data for Myanmar. A report released on Feb. 10 showed that Sagaing region was hardest hit with 43,292 houses destroyed by fire between Feb. 1, 2021, and Jan. 31 this year. One Sagaing resident, whose home in Salingyi townships Sar Htone village was torched last month, told RFA she was living in a shack made from zinc sheets salvaged from the ashes. I am in trouble. I dont even have anything to eat, said the local, who didnt want to be named for safety reasons. Some people live in tents. Others were not able to build them. We have seven family members, including two children, so we made a roof with a flannel blanket, and the burnt zinc roofs were used for walls. Now we are all facing deep hardship. Locals said 128 houses in Sar Htone were destroyed by troops in January, leaving only around 80 houses standing in the village. Magway region had the second highest number of burnt houses at 8,863. A resident from Pauk townships Kyun Taing village whose village was completely destroyed, told RFA that he was not able to return. I live in the forest. I built a tent and made the roof waterproof. We have to live like that, said the Magway resident, who also declined to be named. Now we live near the Chin [state] border close to the Chin hills, and close to Pon Taung and Pon Nya where the weather is still cold. It is cold in the night but still hot in the day. He said the villages supplies of rice, cooking oil and salt had been burned by troops, who destroyed Kyun Taings 210 houses on Jan. 30. Calls to the junta spokesmen for Sagaing and Magway regions went unanswered Monday. 'A crime against humanity' Kyaw Win, executive director of the London-based Burma Human Rights Network called the juntas actions a crime against humanity. Burning down villages, arresting people, and killing people are no longer war crimes. War crimes are crimes committed against the enemy while fighting in battle, he said. Far from controlling the population and ending the fight for democracy, the junta has failed to take control of many townships across Myanmar, forcing it to extend emergency rule by another six months. The junta has also declared martial law in 37 townships in the four regions of Sagaing, Magway, Bago, Tanintharyi and the four states of Mon, Kayin, Kayah and Chin but has failed to wrest control of many of them from local pro-democracy militias and Peoples Defense Forces local to the deposed National Unity Government. Around 2 million people have been made homeless by fighting and fire since the coup, according to Institute for Strategy and Policy figures up to Dec. 14, 2022. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees puts the figure at around 1.3 million internally displaced persons and a further 51,000 who have fled to neighboring countries, according to data released on Feb. 7. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. It also claims the China Coast Guard sailed dangerously close to one of its ships. Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 allegedly pointing laser at BRP Malapascua in this handout photo taken on Feb. 6, 2023. UPDATED AT 12:35 a.m. ET ON 02-13-2023 The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday accused China of performing dangerous maneuvers and pointing a laser at one of its vessels, causing temporary blindness to the crew. Japan meanwhile said on Sunday a Chinese Navy ship intruded into its territorial waters for the first time since December. Territorial waters are the sea areas that lie within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of a country's coast. RFA reported on Feb. 7 on the harassment of the BRP Malapascua by China Coast Guard (CCG) ship 5205 inside the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ) a day earlier. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has now confirmed the incident, saying that the Malapascua at that time was supporting a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea. The West Philippine Sea is the name usually used by the Philippines for the part of the South China Sea within the nations EEZ, where it holds exclusive rights to natural resources. Military-grade laser The PCG, in a statement sent to RFA affiliate BenarNews, said that the CCG vessel 5205 on Feb. 6 directed a military-grade laser light twice at the Philippine ship, causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge. The Chinese vessel also made dangerous maneuvers by approaching about 150 yards (137 meters) from the vessel's starboard quarter, the statement said. This is a step up in Chinas aggression against the Philippine maritime forces because it involves the use of a directed energy weapon that induces effects on the target, said Jay Batongbacal, a maritime law analyst at the University of the Philippines. Such action should be considered a threat of use of force or acts of aggression contrary to the UN Charter and the Philippines would be well within its rights to take measures to protect its ships and aircraft from such aggressive acts, Batongbacal said. The BRP Malapascua was just 10 nautical miles (18.5 kilometers) from the Second Thomas Shoal when it was harassed by the Chinese vessel and had to alter its course to continue its deployment. File photo showing the BRP Sierra Madre on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea, March 29, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Erik De Castro The Philippine ship was on a mission to deliver food and supplies to the troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, an old naval ship deliberately run aground on the shoal to serve as a military post since 1999. Another resupply mission last August by a different ship, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, was also obstructed by the Chinese Coast Guard, together with the Chinese maritime militia, according to the PCG statement. The deliberate blocking of the Philippine government ships to deliver food and supplies to our military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights in this part of the West Philippine Sea, it said. The PCG sent out two photos showing a green light being beamed from an alleged Chinese vessel. As far as I can recall, these are the first images available to the public that prove such behavior by the Chinese maritime forces at sea, said Collin Koh, a Singapore-based military analyst. Regional authorities need to persistently gather such evidence and publicize them routinely to create international awareness, Koh said. Jay Batongbacal from the University of the Philippines, meanwhile, said that in his opinion all nations should agree that the employment of such means against government vessels peacefully undertaking maritime activities within their own jurisdictions should be considered as unprovoked and hostile acts that merit a corresponding and calibrated response. Beijing has yet to respond to the Philippine Coast Guards accusation. Military grade lasers are harmful and can cause blindness if shone into a persons eyes. Pointing a laser at someone can also have a psychological impact, as laser targeting often happens right before a firing of live munitions. The Philippine Coast Guard said the laser beam had caused temporary blindness to the BRP Malapascuas crew. Credit: Philippine Coast Guard This is not the first time China has been accused of pointing laser lights at foreign aircraft and vessels. A year ago, on Feb. 17, 2022, Australia said a Chinese navy ship pointed a laser at one of its surveillance airplanes in the Arafura Sea within Australias EEZ. In Feb. 2020, a Chinese military warship reportedly trained a laser on a U.S. Navy P-8 surveillance aircraft while it was flying over the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese government denied the accusation, saying the P-8 was flying too low near its warships despite warnings. In 2019, Australian navy helicopter pilots taking part in the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 military exercise in the South China Sea said they were hit with laser beams from fishing boats suspected of being part of Chinas maritime militia. Japans security concerns In another development, Japan accused China of encroaching upon its sovereignty, causing security concerns. On February 12, it was confirmed that a Chinese Navy Shupang-class survey ship sailed through Japans territorial waters near Yakushima Island, the Japanese Defense Ministry said. The Chinese ship was first spotted at around 12:50 a.m. on Sunday south of the island of Yakushima. It entered Japan's territorial waters southwest of the island at around 2:30 a.m. and sailed there for about an hour and 40 minutes, the ministry said. This is the 10th time, the first since December last year, that we announce Chinese Naval vessels entry into Japans territorial waters, it said, adding that these Chinese naval activities are of national security concern. Since December, after Tokyo designated Beijing an unprecedented strategic challenge in its latest National Security Strategy, China has stepped up patrols around Japan, especially near the Senkaku islands which are under Tokyos control but also claimed by Beijing. On Sunday, Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. concluded his four-day official visit to Japan. Marcos told Philippine media that he was open to the idea of a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Japan as long as the deal is appropriate" and does not increase tensions in the South China Sea. Before that, the president said Manila will consider a proposed trilateral defense and security deal with the United States and Japan. Story updated to include analyst comments. BenarNews staff in Manila contributed to this report. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news organization. MINSK -- Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Byalyatski on February 13 gave his final statement at his trial on smuggling and tax-evasion charges, calling the case against him and three other defendants politically motivated and "unfair" and reiterating his innocence. Byalyatski told the Lenin district court in Minsk the case had been politically motivated from the start, as investigators set out to fulfill the task in front of them to imprison the human rights defenders of Vyasna "at any cost" and to destroy Vyasna and stop its work. Byalyatski also said state media reports about Vyasna and its work had been highly biased and noted that one of the four lawyers who defended him during the 18 months since the case opened had been imprisoned for eight years while two others had their licenses stripped. "This unprecedented pressure imposed on the lawyers indicates in what kind of dangerous circumstances they have to defend their clients," Byalyatski said. Byalyatski added that the situation in the country since the disputed presidential election in August 2020 was followed by an ongoing mass crackdown on dissent, rights defenders, journalists, and democratic institutions remained dramatic. Belarus "needs a wide civil dialogue directed at national reconciliation," he said. 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. Last week, the prosecutor asked the court to convict and sentence Byalyatski to 12 years in prison and recommended sentences for his co-defendants -- Valyantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimer Labkovich -- of 11 years for Stafanovich and nine years for Labkovich. The three men have been in custody since July 2021. The prosecutor requested 10 years in prison for a fourth defendant, Zmitser Salauyou, who is being tried in absentia. Judge Maryna Zapasnik is expected to pronounce the verdicts and sentences on March 3. The defendants, who went on trial in early January, are accused of bringing money into the country for "illegal activities and financing" of the Vyasna (Spring) human rights group in Belarus, of which Byalyatski is the chairman. Byalyatski, who has been fighting for democracy and human rights in his beleaguered homeland his entire life, was awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize along with the Ukrainian human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties and the embattled Russian rights group Memorial. He founded the Vyasna Human Rights Center, which was originally a Minsk-based organization with the name Vyasna-96. In 1999, it was reborn as a national nongovernmental rights organization. The NGO was outlawed by the Belarusian Supreme Court in October 2003 for its role monitoring the country's 2001 presidential election. It has continued its work, however, as an unregistered NGO. The main work of the organization has been defending and supporting political prisoners. The group -- and Byalyatski personally -- has regularly been harassed and persecuted by Alyaksandr Lukashenka's government since its founding. Belarusian authorities have moved to shut down critical and nonstate media outlets and human rights bodies in the wake of mass protests that erupted in August 2020 after a presidential election the opposition said was rigged. The opposition and Western governments say Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was driven into exile, won the vote, which has not been recognized by the United States, the European Union, and several other countries. Thousands have been detained since the vote and there have been credible reports of the torture and ill-treatment of detainees by security forces. Several people have died during the crackdown. PRAGUE -- In accepting a 15-minute phone call with his Taiwanese counterpart, Czech President-elect Petr Pavel broke decades of diplomatic protocol and set the stage for a new era of relations between Europe and China -- with his country potentially at the forefront. The January 30 call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen came shortly after Pavel was elected as the Czech Republic's next president and drew backlash from Beijing, which condemned the call and accused Prague of trampling its "red line." The conversation marked a departure from previous norms for dealing with high-ranking politicians from the self-governing island. Official exchanges are often limited to civil servants and the lower levels of ministries. But Pavel became the first elected European head of state to speak directly with a Taiwanese leader. The move from the incoming Czech president comes as the European Union rethinks its relationship with Beijing -- a process that has been accelerated by China's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its increasingly aggressive diplomatic rhetoric, and Beijing's continued support for Russia despite its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. "We shouldn't let China do to Taiwan what Russia is doing to Ukraine," Petr Kolar, a former Czech diplomat who advises Pavel on foreign policy issues, told RFE/RL in an interview. "I believe what's happening in Ukraine is because of [Europe's] lack of a clear message to Russia over the years. This was a wake-up call, and it shows how important it is to show from the very beginning that fellow democracies like Taiwan won't be abandoned." Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war. From the 1970s onward, most countries established formal ties with Beijing, leaving Taipei with few official friends as China's political and economic power has expanded globally. Beijing views Taiwan as a rogue province and has vowed to unify it with mainland China -- even by force, if necessary. In breaking diplomatic precedent, Kolar said the Czech Republic now finds itself well-positioned to "influence or persuade" other European leaders to break new ground in their engagement with Taipei. In recent years, a slew of European lawmakers from a handful of countries have visited Taipei and met with the Taiwanese leadership, drawing Beijing's ire. A former NATO general, Pavel has set the stage for continued outreach to Taiwan. On the campaign trail and following the call with Tsai, he vowed to meet the Taiwanese president in person -- although he has not specified when, where, or in what format the meeting would take place. "The [phone call] breaks the ice for doing this," Martin Hala, a China expert at Charles University in Prague and the director of Sinopsis, a project that tracks Chinese influence across Europe, told RFE/RL. "Now that someone has done it, others are more likely to follow." Prague's Path Ahead Pavel's shift on China and Taiwan marks a clear break with his predecessor, incumbent Czech President Milos Zeman, who will remain in office until March. During Zeman's 10-year tenure -- divided over two five-year terms -- he courted stronger ties with China and toed a pro-Beijing line on many human rights issues in hopes of attracting greater Chinese investment. In a move that drew international attention and criticism at home, Zeman appointed Ye Jianming, a former chairman of China Energy Company, as his honorary economic adviser. The billionaire was detained in 2018 by Chinese authorities and his whereabouts are still unknown. Kolar -- a political consultant who previously served as Prague's ambassador to Russia -- says Pavel is looking to align his foreign policy views with the Czech Republic's postcommunist tradition of backing democracy and human rights globally. He says the support for Taiwan should be seen as part of a broader paradigm shift in Europe shaped by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On the campaign trail, Pavel backed strong European support for Ukraine and said his first foreign trip as president will be to Kyiv alongside Slovak President Zuzana Caputova. The invasion of Ukraine is "a reminder that European democracies need to be focused on China's aggression towards Taiwan," he said. "We need to show support now so that [Beijing] won't be tempted to use force later like Russia has." Under the Czech Constitution, the presidency holds mostly ceremonial powers, but presidents can wield significant informal influence over key decisions, especially in foreign policy. The office remains separate from the government led by the prime minister, which holds formal power to govern and craft policy. But unlike Zeman, Pavel's views on Taiwan, Russia, and other foreign policy issues align with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala's coalition government, potentially ushering in a rare era of unity. Taiwan, which is critical to global supply chains, has become a larger investor than China in the Czech Republic and Taiwanese companies continue to expand their links to Europe. Taiwan produces over 90 percent of the world's semiconductors, which are crucial for manufacturing a variety of everyday and high-tech products that are vital to economies around the world. "Taiwan understands that there is an opportunity now as Europe is in the process of rethinking its relationship with China," Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, a fellow at National Dong Hwa University in Taiwan and a former adviser to the European Parliament, told RFE/RL. "Individual member states in the EU are more willing to speak out and offer new forms of support for Taiwan. Taipei is hoping to harness that." A New Reality In Central And Eastern Europe In response to Pavel's phone call with Tsai, Beijing accused the Czech Republic of violating the "One China Principle," under which Beijing considers itself as the only legitimate government of China and views Taiwan as a breakaway province. Only 13 countries and the Vatican have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognize the island of 24 million people as an independent state. Many Western governments do not openly contest China's claim to Taiwan, but they do not support it either. "It is in the interest of [the Czech Republic] to strengthen relations with Taiwan and other democratic partners in the Indo-Pacific region," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky told Politico in a recent interview. "We have our own 'one China' policy. Nothing has changed." Offering formal recognition to Taiwan is not in the cards for Prague or other EU countries. But analysts and officials acknowledge that countries in the bloc could take a bolder line toward Beijing and Taipei. This shift has been brewing in the Czech Republic and across Central and Eastern Europe -- with the exception of Hungary -- for several years. Czech Senate Chairman Milos Vystrcil led a delegation to Taiwan in 2020 and the Czech and Slovak parliaments welcomed Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu for unprecedented visits in 2021. Beijing's so-called "17+1" initiative -- China and 17 Central and Eastern Europe states -- has unraveled in recent years. Lithuania withdrew in 2021, and Estonia and Latvia followed suit after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's support for Moscow. Other members, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, have not formally left, but havedialed down their engagement with the format. "Our relationship with China is under revision," Lipavsky told The New York Times in a February interview. "A new geopolitical reality has arisen." Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on February 13 became the first senior official from a European Union country to visit Belarus since the beginning of a crackdown on the opposition in 2020. Szijjarto made the visit to keep communication channels open, according to official statements. He met with Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhey Aleynyk. Several experts contacted by RFE/RL's Hungarian Service said the visit was a demonstration of support for the authorities of Belarus and indirectly for Russia. 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. Ryhor Nizhnikov of the Finnish Institute of International Relations said Szijjarto was not representing the European Union on the visit. "This is a visit that goes against the policy of the European Union both in relation to Belarus and in relation to Russia and the Russian-Ukrainian war," Nizhnikov told RFE/RL. "Hungary is testing the limits of what is allowed. It will be watching to see now Brussels will react to the visit," he added. He noted that the European Union once had intentions to normalize relations with Belarus, but the war canceled everything. Szijjarto's trip comes as the EU is expected to consider a new package of sanctions against Belarus. The EU has already slapped sanctions on the country for the crackdown, which followed mass protests against the August 2020 presidential election, and for allowing Russian troops to traverse Belarusian territory in support of the war in Ukraine. Belarusian authorities have moved to shut down critical and nonstate media outlets and human rights bodies in the wake of mass protests that erupted after the 2020 presidential election that the opposition said was rigged. The United States, the European Union, and several other countries did not recognize the election. Authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka unleashed the crackdown, detaining thousands, and there have been credible reports of the torture and ill-treatment of detainees by security forces. Several people have died during the crackdown. Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition leader that the Belarusian opposition and Western countries say was the actual winner of the election, condemned Szijjarto's vist. "The illegitimate regime in Minsk is guilty of terrible crimes against Belarusians & complicity in Russia's war. How can the Hungarian FM possibly be friends with the usurper in Minsk? This may lead to more crimes & impunity. The EU must stay united & keep the regime isolated," she said on Twitter. With reporting by AP Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. To subscribe, click here. www.rferl.org/a/31793259.html I'm RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here's what I've been following during the past week and what I'm watching for in the days ahead. The Big Issue Iran appears to be making headway toward renewing official ties with Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf states that in some cases have been publicly avoiding Tehran for decades. The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia held talks in Beijing on April 6 in a significant step toward restoring diplomatic relations, which were cut in 2016 after protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following Riyadhs execution of prominent Saudi Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Iran also accepted an invitation from Saudi King Salman for President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Riyadh, while Tehran said it will send a similar invitation to the Saudi king. Meanwhile, a Saudi delegation traveled to Iran on April 9 to discuss the reopening of the embassy in Tehran and a consulate in Mashhad. The trip came as Iranian media reported on April 8 that a street sign near the Saudi consulate in Mashhad provocatively named after Sheikh al-Nimr had been quietly removed. An Iranian delegation also arrived in Saudi Arabia on April 12 to pave the way for the reopening of Iranian diplomatic missions there. Iran is meanwhile taking steps to improve ties with other countries in the region, naming an ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and working to decrease tensions with Egypt and Bahrain. Why It Matters: Iran and Saudi Arabia appear to be pursuing implementation of last months Chinese-brokered agreement, possibly clearing the way for Tehran to de-escalate tensions with other countries that followed Riyadhs lead on a rupture seven years ago. What's Next: Tehran and Riyadh could move surprisingly swiftly toward normalization, but its no sure thing. Abdolrasool Divsallar, a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Milan (UCSC), told me that the political environment between the two regional rivals could encourage the start of military and security talks within months. But Divsallar also warned that opponents at home and abroad could still undermine the agreement. Hard-liners in Iran may act as a spoiler rather than as a supporter of the deal, he said, adding that Israel could do the same. The regional tensions between Israel and Iran, on one side, andbetween Iran, Saudi [Arabia] and the United States, on the other side, are two dynamics that make this process very fragile, he said. Divsallar also suggested that any normalization between Iran and countries with less appetite for a quick restoration of ties, for instance Bahrain, could take longer. They feel more secure under the current status quo rather than immediately normalizing their ties with the Islamic republic and losing their leverage, he said, adding, They may wait to see a major change of policies. Stories You Might Have Missed Irans civil aviation sector has for years been under Western sanctions that prevent it from purchasing new aircraft or spare parts for repairs. Now, Russia's oldest airline, Aeroflot, has sent one of its passenger planes to Iran for repairs for the first time ever. Aeroflot reportedly ran into obstacles at home stemming from Western sanctions over Russias ongoing, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The RBK media group cited an Aeroflot representative and sources close to the company on April 11 as saying that an Airbus A330-300 had been sent to Tehran on April 5 to be repaired by specialists from Iran's Mahan Air. Iranian pensioners staged protests in more than a dozen cities across Iran, demanding higher pensions amid soaring prices. Protests were reported on April 9 in Tehran, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Arak, Qom, Shush, Tabriz, and several other cities where retirees complained of poor living conditions and chanted anti-government slogans. Labor protests in Iran have swelled as the economy deteriorates following years of mismanagement compounded by crippling U.S. sanctions. What We're Watching Prominent Iranian female religious scholar Sedigheh Vasmaghi has challenged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the Islamic republics mandatory hijab law. In a letter published online, Vasmaghi asked about the reasoning behind Irans strict model for womens dress and said the Koran does not specify the need for women to cover their hair in public. There is no evidence to show that during the time of the Prophet Muhammad women were harassed and punished for not covering their hair or even their bodies, Vasmaghi, who has published several books on Islamic jurisprudence, wrote. Why It Matters: Vasmaghis letter is significant for its timing -- just days after Khamenei asserted that the removal of the hijab in public was religiously banned. But it is also important because it comes from a religious woman who wears the veil while opposing the mandatory hijab, which is seemingly being defied by a growing number of women. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. Until next time, Golnaz Esfandiari If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday. BISHKEK -- A photo circulating online in November showed three of Kyrgyzstan's most powerful officials: the prosecutor-general, the chairman of the State Committee for National Security (UKMK), and the prime minister enjoying a meal with their families. Joining them was Tengiz Bolturuk, the man appointed the external manager of the giant Kumtor gold mine after authorities seized it in May 2021. He was also the head of a new, ambitious state holding called Heritage of Great Nomads that oversaw the mine. While the exact date of the photo is unknown, it was a reminder that before his arrest in September, Bolturuk ate at the top table. But now that table has turned on him. Both the Prosecutor-General's Office and the UKMK participated in the investigation into alleged financial impropriety at the mine that led to Bolturuk's detention. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, widely viewed as Bolturuk's promoter, washed his hands of the man that spearheaded Kumtor's nationalization, while dismissing the claims of opposition politicians that top politicians had partaken in corruption in league with Bolturuk. "If we had stolen gold then, on the contrary, we would have let him escape abroad, and [only afterward] reveal him as a thief," Japarov said in an interview with the Kabar state media outlet in November. "Let the investigation end and the amount of damages will be established. Let him reimburse all the damage. We have such a principle, because this is the wealth of the people. After that, let's see," he added. An RFE/RL inquiry to the presidential administration for comment did not receive a response. The arrest came amid growing fears about the management of Kyrgyzstan's most important economic asset since the nationalization that Japarov had claimed as a major political victory. "Just like his appointment, his arrest raises a lot of questions, questions that haven't been answered yet," Dinara Oshurahunova, an anti-corruption and rights campaigner in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, told RFE/RL. "There was surprise that a close ally of Japarov was arrested. But some people saw a maneuver to deflect some of the criticism that was building. People were asking where the gold had gone and why it had not solved all our economic problems," she said. Last week, Kyrgyzstan's Chamber of Accounts released a report detailing dozens of transgressions perpetrated by Bolturuk and Heritage of Great Nomads that investigators argue have cost the state budget around 1 billion soms (about $11.5 million). The report found that the company had spent $2 million from the state budget buying furniture for Kumtor's operating company, Kumtor Gold Company, while the same company had begun renting an office three times as expensive as its old one. Accusations about corruption in food and fuel contracts for the gold mine were made earlier, when prosecutors first pressed charges against Bolturuk. Bolturuk's lawyer called the report an "artificial creation" and defended his client's record of cost-cutting at Kumtor, noting that authorities were ignoring an audit carried out by Ernst & Young that had given Kumtor's 2021 accounts a clean bill of health. 'Another Source Of Rent' As well as an outsized contributor to a poor economy, Kumtor had long been a source of public anxiety, environmental concerns, and political fights in Kyrgyzstan. For populist Japarov and his ally Kamchybek Tashiev, the head of the UKMK who appeared in the photo with Bolturuk, the gold mine's nationalization had been a political goal since at least a decade ago, when the pair were still in opposition. At the time of the political crisis in 2020 that catapulted the two men to power, Japarov was serving out a jail sentence on charges related to a 2013 rally near the gold mine that had seen a regional governor briefly kidnapped by protesters. Japarov's nearly overnight transition from prisoner to president took even seasoned analysts of Kyrgyz power struggles by surprise. The bid to bring Kumtor under state control began not long after he cemented power with an election in January 2021. Prior to the state raid on the mine situated 4,000 meters above sea level, authorities had laid out accusations of gross environmental mismanagement and safety violations. These formed a pretext for imposing "external management" on the mine, with Bolturuk -- formerly a government representative on Centerra's board -- filling the role of external manager. Centerra, which had already filed for arbitration against Kyrgyzstan, added legal proceedings against Bolturuk for what they said was a conflict of interests. All of those claims were dropped in an amicable divorce between the government and Centerra that was reached last year. But in Kyrgyzstan, Bolturuk was amassing distrust, partly due to his Canadian citizenship, which was raised in parliament. Then there was Heritage of Great Nomads. In a discussion on RFE/RL's Majlis podcast in September, political scientist Asel Doolotkeldieva reflected on interviews that she had conducted with mining sector employees who had been laid off as a result of the new company's rapid expansion across the sector. "Why do we need this new institution -- with interests not only in mining, but in industry and tourism -- when there are other institutions that already exist in its place?" Doolotkeldieva asked. Industry sources viewed Heritage of Great Nomads and other newly created holdings as being "owned by networks" around Japarov that aimed to "take over all these projects [and use them] as another source of rent," Dooletkeldieva told the Majlis podcast. Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Questions? Details from the Chamber of Accounts report certainly suggest that Heritage of Great Nomads and its manager had a broad remit. Among more than 30 projects that the company received public money for but never fulfilled were renovations of a sanatorium and a ski resort in the Issyk-Kul region -- where Kumtor is located -- as well as the construction of a five-star hotel and a marble factory, the chamber has alleged. One official to benefit from largesse at the time the company oversaw the mine was Environment Minister Dinara Kutmanova, who was given a Toyota Land Cruiser worth more than $60,000, according to the report. When Kumtor was controlled by Centerra, Kutmanova was one of its loudest critics. The minister has said the jeep was not for personal use but to conduct site inspections at the mine. The Chamber of Accounts has said it and other vehicles handed out must be returned to Kumtor. Finance Minister Almaz Baketaev said in parliament in December that Heritage of Great Nomads will be shuttered and its funds returned to the budget, but claimed that taking care of the company's liabilities would cost some 700 million soms (about $8 million). "Will someone be held responsible for what was created, what is being liquidated?" fumed awmaker Dastan Bekeshev, in response. "This all happened under one person." Taking full control of Kumtor appears to have eased the Kyrgyz government's perennial cash-flow crisis. Doolotkeldieva noted in the Majlis podcast that the period of state administration of Kumtor had coincided with increased state salaries and surprising infrastructure drives. But the government remains secretive in terms of data. In August, shortly before Bolturuk's arrest, Japarov gave an interview with state information agency Kabar in which he said that the destination of gold exports would not be revealed in the interest of security. He also said that any panic over gold vanishing was unwarranted. State companies Kyrgyzaltyn, Kumtor Gold Company, and the National Bank would "answer with [their] heads)" if they couldnt account for every gram of gold that was mined. According to official figures, Kumtor produced 17.3 tons of gold in 2022, almost three tons more than the previous year. As pressing as the questions about transparency are, the questions about the longevity of a mine that began production as Kyrgyzstan's first major foreign investment in the 1990s are even more critical. In a letter from prison last month, Bolturuk claimed Kumtor was suffering from a severe deficit of certain specialists and warned that the mine might have to stop work in 2025 due to a build-up in its tailings dam if significant actions aren't taken. Kumtor Gold Company dismissed that possibility in a response to the letter and accused Bolturuk of using his time in charge to hire "expensive expats for fabulous salaries and fees" whom the company said had now been replaced by Kyrgyz specialists. The letter was Bolturuk's "attempt to present himself as an indispensable worker, but as the time when Tengiz Bolturuk was the head of the company showed, he misused [the company] as well as Kumtor's funds," the firm said. While there has been limited sympathy in Kyrgyzstan for the "scandalous" Bolturuk, few doubt that the process against him is political and possibly connected to high-level infighting, said Oshurahunova, the civil activist. "The process is all very dubious. Bolturuk is somebody that knows a lot, who knows where the gold goes. If he committed crimes it is unlikely that others did not benefit from them," Oshurahunova argued. Written by Chris Rickleton based on reporting by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service Moldovan President Maia Sandu has called for "maximum vigilance" after receiving documents from the Ukrainian intelligence services that she said showed that Russia planned to destabilize Moldova by using agents provocateurs to attack government buildings under the guise of public protests. "Documents received from our Ukrainian partners show documentation of the locations and logistical aspects of organizing these subversions," Sandu said on February 13. "The plan also involves the use of people from outside the country for violent actions." Reports about the alleged plot are "deeply concerning," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on February 13. While reports about the plot have not been independently confirmed, it is "certainly not outside the bounds of Russian behavior, and we absolutely stand with the Moldovan government and the Moldovan people," Kirby said. Russia's Foreign Ministry on February 14 rejected the reports, saying, "Such claims are completely unfounded and unsubstantiated." Russia blamed Ukraine for stirring tension between Russia and Moldova, saying Kyiv was trying to draw Moldova "into a tough confrontation with Russia." Sandu's news conference came amid a government crisis after Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita resigned on February 10. Seeking to prevent a deepening of the crisis, Sandu immediately appointed Dorin Recean, her defense and security adviser, to lead a new government. The Moldovan Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) confirmed on February 9 that it had received information about the alleged plan from its Ukrainian counterpart, but said it could not give any more details "because there's the risk of jeopardizing different ongoing operational activities." The alleged plan came to light earlier that day when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told an EU summit in Brussels that Kyiv had "intercepted the plan for the destruction of Moldova by Russian intelligence." Zelenskiy said the plan was very similar to the one devised by Russia to take over Ukraine. He added that he did not know whether Moscow ultimately ordered the plan to be carried out. On February 13, Sandu said that plan involved "diversionists with military training and camouflaged in civilian clothes," and that instructions were discovered for citizens from Serbia, Russia, Belarus, and Montenegro to enter Moldova to carry it out. Russia's goal, Sandu said, was to change "the legitimate power from Chisinau to an illegitimate one," as well as to thwart Moldova's European integration efforts and to use Moldova in Russia's war against Ukraine. Sandu said that anti-government demonstrations that took place in Moldova from September to November were also part of an effort to undermine the country. The protests, organized by the Russian-friendly Shor Party, called for early elections and the resignation of the pro-Western Sandu. "Attempts to undermine the state also existed last fall, but they did not achieve their goals, thanks to the prompt action of our security and public order institutions," Sandu said. "In autumn, the focus was on the energy crisis, which was supposed to cause major discontent among the population and lead to violent actions." Sandu called on state institutions to exercise "maximum vigilance" and for the parliament to quickly adopt draft laws aimed at strengthening the SIS's role in preventing and countering internal and external threats to Moldova's security. With reporting by Reuters BELGRADE -- Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik -- who has been sanctioned by the United States and Britain over alleged destabilization efforts and corruption -- has threatened that he could push for the independence of the Serbian entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina over a dispute involving a controversial property law. We are considering in the most serious terms to make a decision on independence and secede Republika Srpska [from Bosnia] unless the property issue is solved," Dodik said on April 14 while on a visit to Belgrade to meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Republika Srpska has tried multiple times to implement a property law that aims to transfer Bosnian state property to Republika Srpska, despite it being deemed unconstitutional. Republika Srpska authorities said they were implementing the law in late February. However, it represents a direct challenge to previous decisions by the high representative to Bosnia, Christian Schmidt, to repeal the decree creating the law and to suspend it pending a final decision by Bosnias Constitutional Court. Republika Srpska says the law aims to ensure that properties used by the authorities of the entity, including local governments, public companies, public institutions, and other departments founded by Republika Srpska belong to them. The countrys Constitutional Court has stated that the national parliament must adopt a property law that would be valid across Bosnia and not one of the countrys two entities. The 1995 Dayton Agreement ended the Bosnian civil war and established an administrative system under which Bosnia remains partitioned between the Serbian entity -- Republika Srpska -- and the Bosniak-Croat federation, connected by a weak central government. Dodik has long threatened to seek Republika Srpska's independence from the rest of Bosnia. He rejects the administrative arrangement and the authority of the Office of the High Representative, the international community's overseer of civil and other aspects of the Dayton Agreement. With reporting by Reuters NATO defense ministers are to begin a two-day meeting in Brussels on February 14 after a gathering in Germany of the so-called Ramstein group composed of dozens of countries that have been providing arms to Kyiv. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The Ramstein group is expected to discuss possible further military aid as Ukraine calls for its allies to provide fighter jets and long-range missiles. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the issue of aircraft is to be discussed at the NATO meeting, in which Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov will take part. Stoltenberg on February 13 backed reports from local officials that a major new Russian offensive had begun. He said the Western military alliance saw "no sign whatsoever" that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for peace. "What we see is President Putin and Russia still wanting to control Ukraine," Stoltenberg said. "We see how they are sending more troops, more weapons, more capabilities." Kyiv has been anticipating a much broader offensive that could not only target the Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east, but also the Kharkhiv region in the northeast and Zaporizhzhya in the southeast. "The reality is we have seen the start [of a Russian offensive] already because we see now what Russia does now -- President Putin does now -- is to send thousands and thousands more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty," Stoltenberg said. Russian forces have been engaged in an offensive in eastern Ukraine for months as they try to capture strategic towns and cities, including the battered city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region, which endured heavy artillery fire on February 13. Capturing Bakhmut would give Russian forces a new foothold in the Donetsk region and a rare victory after several months of setbacks. In his comments on February 13, Stoltenberg said NATO would increase targets for the stockpiling of ammunition as Kyiv burns through shells much faster than Western countries can produce them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening address on February 13 that he met during the day with military commanders to discuss the defense of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as the south of Ukraine, including Odesa. "Constant attention is paid to the supply of weapons, ammunition, and everything that adds strength and stability to our soldiers," he said, but provided no further details. Valeriy Zaluzhniy, the commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said he held a phone call on the eve of the meeting with NATO Supreme Commander in Europe Christopher Cavoli. "We discussed the issue of supplying international military aid to Ukraine and training our units on the territory of partner countries," Zaluzhniy said. A statement from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said he shared assessments of the operational situation on the front of the Russian-Ukrainian war and plans for further actions. Zaluzhniy expressed his gratitude for Cavoli's "deep understanding of the situation and significant efforts to bring our victory closer," the statement added. With reporting by Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned of the possibility of "new terrorist attacks" by Russian forces following Russia's recent strikes targeting energy infrastructure around the country. Speaking during his nightly address to the nation on February 12, Zelenskiy said power workers had repaired much of the damage caused by Russian drone and missile strikes on February 10. 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. However, he added: "This is not yet a decisive victory on the energy front. Unfortunately, there may be new terrorist attacks from Russia" that could leave people without utilities during cold winter weather. Russia has carried out repeated waves of attacks on Ukrainian energy and other utilities facilities in recent months in what critics have said is an attempt to demoralize civilians during winter by leaving them without light, heating, and water. The February 10 strikes, which hit power facilities in six of Ukraine's regions, came as Zelenskiy returned from a tour of Western European capitals in which he lobbied for more weaponry to help defend the country from the invasion launched by Russia nearly a year ago. During his visits to London, Paris, and Brussels, Zelenskiy called for advanced weaponry, including longer-range missiles, fighter jets, and more tanks amid expectations of a new Russian offensive. Intense fighting continues in Ukraines eastern Donbas region, where Russian forces have been in engaged in a major push to take the strategic Donetsk region city of Bakhmut. On February 12, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed the private mercenary group had taken a village on the outskirts of Bakhmut and has vowed to take the city located along important highway routes. February 24 will mark the one-year anniversary of Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which initially resulted in the occupation of large swathes of Ukrainian territory. A Ukrainian counteroffensive in the fall saw Ukrainian forces recapture some occupied territory in the Donbas, a territory that is composed of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russia has since been using Wagner and military troops in an effort to retake the entire territory. Ukrainian officials expect a broad Russian offensive, which many observers believe has already begun, to focus on the Donbas, the Kharkiv region in Ukraines northeast, and the southeastern Zaporizhzhya region. Kyiv maintains that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to take advantage of the new offensive to highlight battlefield success when he makes his state of the nation address on February 21, days before the anniversary of the invasion. Russian forces had suffered more than 820 casualties per day over the past two weeks, according to the Ukrainian military, leading British intelligence to say the Russian military is suffering the greatest battlefield losses since the start of the war. Much of the focus is on the well-fortified towns of Bakhmut and Vuhledar in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces are believed to have suffered major losses. In the Luhansk region, Russian forces have targeted the towns of Bilohorivka and Kreminna near the territorys western border with the Donetsk region. On February 13, the Ukrainian military said it had repelled Russian attacks on Bakhmut, Bilohorivka, and Kreminna, and in the Zaporizhzhya region. A statement by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed forces said that Russian forces had launched four missile strikes and fired 85 rounds from multiple-rocket launchers over the previous 24 hours. With reporting by Reuters Danielle is a freelance culture journalist focusing on music, food, wine, hospitality, and arts, and founder-playwright of Yeah No Yeah Theatre company, based in San Diego. Her work has been featured in FLAUNT, Filter Magazine, and San Diego Magazine. Born and raised in Maui, she still loves a good Mai Tai. Follow Danielle Allaire 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 PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 14th version of Aviation India, Asia's largest aero show, in Bengaluru on February 13. The five-day aero show with the theme 'The Runway to a Billion Opportunities' will focus on displaying indigenous technologies and tools and forging alliances with international businesses. The aero show will witness participation from more than 80 countries. Moreover, ministers of about 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023. The event will also see the participation of more than 800 defense companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies. The Indian companies participating include MSMEs and start-ups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies, and growth in aerospace and defense capabilities in the country. "We envisioned Aero India 2023 to be a big event, but it has taken shape of an even more grand event. With participants from around 100 friendly countries and 800 exhibitors, this Aero show is the biggest so far," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday. He added that the aim is to create a vibrant and world-class domestic defense industry so that the country can achieve the goal of self-reliance in the defense as well as the overall development of the nation, reported ANI. This event will also help us to move forward on this path, he said. February 13 to 15 will be business days, while 16 and 17 have been set as public days so people can attend the event. The major exhibitors include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. About 5 lakh visitors are expected to attend the event physically and millions more will connect through the internet. The event aims to promote the export of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) declared on Monday that it has expanded its collaboration to help Keysight Technologies reimagine its IT operating model for enhanced agility and user experience. Nevertheless, the Tata Group firm did not disclose the size or tenure of the deal. "As its transformation partner for this project, TCS will help Keysight drive an integrated IT services strategy covering applications, IT infrastructure services, and workplace services across the enterprise," the company stated in an exchange filing. TCS is a valuable IT partner helping Keysight drive operational excellence and digital business outcomes. To keep our company focused on that goal, we need to provide platforms and systems that enable all users throughout the business to work in a productive, secure, and satisfying manner, said Jack Wilmot, IT senior director at Keysight Technologies. Working with Keysight, TCS will assist architect an automation-driven operating model that will boost operational resilience, transform the user experience, and enhance business agility enabling Keysight to harness synergies across the value chain, the filing added. TCS offers the contextual knowledge and industry expertise necessary to build a proven, secure environment that will help Keysight achieve its business goals in fueling customer innovation, said V Rajanna, global head, communications, media, and technology business at TCS. Recent deals As per a recent report, TCS has expanded its deal with Phoenix Group, UKs largest long-term savings and retirements provider. The extended deal is worth 600 million ($0.72 billion) -- the largest for the company this fiscal. TCS will digitally transform Phoenix Groups ReAssure business using the TCS BaNCS based platform. In 2019, TCS had originally bagged a deal from the Phoenix Group valued at over $2 billion. This transformation will ensure that Phoenixs customers benefit from the clear digital focus, consistent customer journeys and customer proposition provided by one platform, Brid Meaney, chief executive officer of Heritage Division, Phoenix Group had mentioned. As per a previous report, TCS had won a deal to be the strategic partner to Canadian jet manufacturer Bombardier, to accelerate its digital transformation and drive innovation. Bombardier will undertake powerful IT and digital transformations to unlock further potential in strategic growth areas including accelerating digital service offerings, sustainable aircraft designs and defense all while continuing to progress lean manufacturing and operational excellence programs, David Murray, senior vice-president, transformation, operational excellence and information technology, Bombardier, had said. As part of India's G20 presidency, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will host the first Digital Economy Working Group meeting here from February 13-15, officials said on Sunday. Workshops, discussions, and experiences, including side events on themes that complement the overall DEWG agenda, will be happen as part of the three-day event, it said. There would be four workshops focussing on digital public infrastructure -- sharing implementation experiences of digital identity in various countries, sharing of cyber security solutions for MSMEs, digital public infrastructure to boost attainment of sustainable development goals and use of geo-spatial technologies for infrastructure and product development in digital economy. Alongside these workshops, the digital initiatives of Uttar Pradesh would also be showcased. Additionally, an exhibition with Digital India experience centre has been build to showcase how Digital India has transformed the lives of a billion plus population in India using cutting-edge technologies. Visitors can engage with more than 40 digital transformational initiatives in the experience centre. The DEWG meetings in India will continue to work towards the vision of digital transformation and the global digital economy as a means of fostering innovation and delivering public services in a secure cyber environment through a digitally skilled workforce. The next two days would feature focused deliberations on the priority areas of DEWG -- digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity in the digital economy, and digital skilling. The DEWG was originally formed in 2017 as part of the German G20 presidency with the target of promoting the implementation of a secure, interconnected, and inclusive digital economy. With the global digital economy estimated to be worth USD 11 trillion and likely to reach USD 23 trillion by 2025, the DEWG plays a critical role in shaping the global policy discourse in the digital space. In addition to the G20 member countries, India has also invited guest countries and International organisations such as the World Bank, UNESCO, OECD, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and UNDP to participate in the DEWG meetings. The DEWG will also meet in Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru in April, June and August. The ministerial meeting of DEWG will held in Bengaluru. Eek! Valentine's Day is TOMORROW which means it's too late to get anything shipped. But never fear: there are some great gifts available from local makers, brands, and stores for anyone on your list, whether you're someone looking for a big-ticket gift for your spouse, or someone who wants to spend $2 on a kiddo! Here are some of my top recommendations for Valentine gifts you can buy here locally in Sioux City and Siouxland: Local favorites (including my book!) Sioux City Gifts carries a huge selection of local gifts like foods, candles, and tons of books, including my book, 100 Things to do in Sioux City & Siouxland. I think it'd be so cute to also add in some tickets/passes/gift certificates to a place you want to visit together, or a note in the book about which places you plan to visit together (many of the places in the book are free to visit!) Sparkle and shine from Ambrosia my earrings from Ambrosia's Simplistix line This super-talented jeweler has tons of items in stock already made at her South Sioux store for any taste. If you're looking to spend thousands on a one-of-a-kind gemstone, she's got what you need, but she also has a budget line called Simplistix and I personally have and love some of her $40 earrings and wear them all the time. While they are plated and crystal rather than solid gold and gemstones like her more expensive pieces, I think they're beautiful and they seem durable so far. Definitely perfect for everyday wear for me! Her website is here, and her store is at 600 A Street in South Sioux City, Nebraska Romantic reads (and fun books for kids!) at Book People Book People is Sioux City's only independent bookstore and whatever your valentine's fave genre is, they probably have it! Besides a wide selection of the hottest new books and beloved classics for adults, they also have great books for kids, including Valentine's themed ones, and activity books like Paint By Sticker Books starting at $9.95. Book People's website is here, and the store is at 2923 Hamilton Boulevard in Sioux City, Iowa. Sweets from bulk to bespoke at Palmer's Candy This Sioux City legend has a huge variety of delicious treats for all budgets and palates, and even gift cards if you want to let kids have the fun of choosing for themselves! One of my personal favorites for Valentine's Day is the chocolate covered sea salt caramels, but there are also boxes of Bings, and tons of bulk options including candies and nuts, plus gourmet truffles that all look so delicious. This Sioux City legend has a huge variety of delicious treats for all budgets and palates, and even gift cards if you want to let kids have the fun of choosing for themselves! One of my personal favorites for Valentine's Day is the chocolate covered sea salt caramels, but there are also boxes of Bings, and tons of bulk options including candies and nuts, plus gourmet truffles that all look so delicious. Poppin' treats at Koated Kernels The Jolly Time Koated Kernels store always has delicious treats for all ages, and each year at Valentine's Day they have popcorn balls, mini bags, and other goodies. While prices vary, there are sure to be some budget-friendly treats as well as larger assortments, some starting at under $2. Furry Friends from LaunchPad Some of LaunchPad's cute plushes! Photo used with permission from LaunchPad The LaunchPad Children's Museum website is here and the store is at 623 Pearl Street. Museum admission not required to shop the gift store. Flowers or Succulents from Perry Way Bouquet This local florist has pre-made arrangements but also a flower bar so you can design your own, plus tons of gift options including home decor, bags, and more. Perry Way Bouquet also carries houseplants, so if your valentine's style is a new green addition that might last years instead of flowers thar will only last a week, Perry Way Bouquet has you covered! The Odyssey Gift Shop at the Launchpad Children's Museum is the perfect place to find a cuddly and heartfelt gift for your Valentine this year. And, by shopping at Odyssey, you're not only giving a thoughtful gift but also supporting the museum! Odyssey also has a variety of other great games and toys that might be unconventional for Valentine's Day but are sure to be a big hit. 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! China sends another aid shipment to Syria 14:16, February 13, 2023 By Wang Xiaoyu ( Chinadaily.com.cn The first batch of medical materials from the Red Cross Society of China to earthquake-hit areas in Syria departs Beijing on Thursday morning. [Photo by Red Cross Society of China/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The second batch of humanitarian aid sent by the Red Cross Society of China to earthquake-stricken regions in Syria departed from Beijing in the early hours of Monday. China's Red Cross said the shipment comprises daily necessities such as cotton tents, relief family packs and jackets as well as urgently needed medicines and other medical materials. This batch is expected to benefit about 10,000 people. The first shipment consisting of medical materials arrived at Damascus, capital of Syria, on Thursday evening local time and had already been delivered to Syrian Arab Red Crescent to be distributed to quake-hit regions. The first batch of medical materials from the Red Cross Society of China to earthquake-hit areas in Syria departs Beijing on Thursday morning. [Photo courtesy of Red Cross Society of China] The first batch of medical materials from the Red Cross Society of China to earthquake-hit areas in Syria departs Beijing on Thursday morning. [Photo courtesy of Red Cross Society of China] The first batch of medical materials from the Red Cross Society of China to earthquake-hit areas in Syria departs Beijing on Thursday morning. [Photo courtesy of Red Cross Society of China] (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Billionaire Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy has held back its oil and gas production targets for next year as it grapples with regulatory uncertainty and the collapse of an engineering contractor working on its key growth project. Beach Energy, a supplier of oil and gas from five basins in Australia and New Zealand, reported a 3 per cent drop in net profit to $207 million for the six months to December, falling short of analysts expectations. Beach Energy now expects first gas from its key growth project, Waitsia, by the end of 2023. The Adelaide-based energy producer also slashed its output guidance by 7 per cent for the full financial year, and warned it would face higher operating costs. The company, whose biggest shareholder is Stokes Seven Group Holdings, added it wont provide guidance until this August for the 2024 financial year because of the uncertain regulatory outlook. Chief executive Morne Engelbrecht on Monday told investors that the 2024 production outlook would be subject to regulatory changes, including the federal governments emergency legislation enacted in December to tame soaring east-coast energy bills. The most contentious element of the governments plans is a requirement for future gas supply agreements to reflect production costs plus a margin allowing for a reasonable rate of return. The caps, however, have given countries that havent signed up to the price caps the leverage to extract major discounts to the global price, with the price of Russian oil trading at $US30 a barrel-plus discounts to global prices. Why would Russia decide to cut production now, and what effects might the cut have? The stated reason for the reduction is to drive prices up. The announcement of that reduction, however, had only a modest impact on global prices. Brent crude rose about 2 per cent to $US86.39 a barrel over the weekend. Wildcard China The wildcard in terms of the impact of the reduced supply is China, and whether its economy does rebound significantly from last years zero-COVID policy-constrained low-growth environment. Strong growth in China could drive a surge in demand for energy even as Russias reduced production cuts supply. The global economic outlook is, however, at best for one of weak growth, if not recession, so even strong growth from within China may not produce the oil shock Russia seems to believe or hope its cut to output will generate. Anything less than a big bounce within China would see the cuts having only minimal price effects. Its also worth noting that while Russia has had some success in assembling a shadow fleet of tankers to circumvent the effects of the sanctions that support the price caps the Wests stringent sanctions on insurance and finance for cargoes sold at prices above the cap the average price it says it received for its oil in January was, at just under $US50 a barrel, well below the cap. Even if the global price for oil would surge, the caps would still restrict the price Russia could receive for much of its output and those buyers still willing to buy its oil would still be able to use the caps as leverage to extract prices well below the free market price. Even if the weaponisation of Russian oil were to drive up global oil prices, there is no guarantee that Russia would extract material benefit from it. China might have a friendship with Russia with no limits, but it has gorged itself on ultra-cheap Russian oil since the caps were imposed. India, without that close relationship, has done the same. It would be irrational of them to do otherwise. Thus, even if the weaponisation of Russian oil were to drive up global oil prices, there is no guarantee that Russia would extract material benefit from it. There are analysts who believe the announcement of the cap was Russias attempt to extract political gain from production that would have been falling anyway. Falling production The withdrawal of western companies and their technology from Russia would inevitably have an impact on Russias oil industry, particularly on the technically complex fields in Siberia where western expertise and technology have been particularly important as fields have aged and wells have gotten deeper. Most Russian production is in the permafrost, making operations very challenging. Those reserves and their infrastructure will have been degraded, and will continue to be degraded, by the broader sanctions the West imposed in the immediate aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. Even if Russia could have sustained production at or around pre-invasion levels, theres the question of finding markets for its oil when most of the developed world has decided not to buy it. Loading While there are some workarounds shipping the oil to third parties, mixing it with other supplies and then selling it back into Europe, for instance those come at a significantly higher cost/reduced revenues and dont obscure the reality that Russia is now largely dependent on China and India to maintain its sales volumes. Russian oil has flooded those markets. Absent a surge in global demand that is yet to emerge and which is unlikely unless Chinas own resurgence is very strong, those markets could easily become over-supplied, in which case Russia would have a serious problem because it has minimal oil storage capacity. There would have to be far larger forced production cuts that would have a permanent impact on Russias oil industry and the finances of a government that is dependent on its oil and gas revenues (and has lost its major gas market, Europe, as a consequence of the war in Ukraine). As the parent of a student in year 3, it has mercifully been some years now since Ive had to navigate the confusing and expensive labyrinth that is Australias childhood early learning and care system. But while Ive moved on personally, as a keen observer of public policymaking in this country, I feel a continuing sense of responsibility to point out a fundamental truth: that Australias current system of early learning and care is still utterly failing not only Australian parents and educators, but also, most worryingly, our kids. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Manuka Childcare Centre in Canberra on Thursday. Credit: Rhett Wyman As an economist, I do also feel a responsibility to push back at the notion that simply throwing taxpayer money at a problem is always the solution. Although, when you look at the benefits, spending taxpayer money in this area does appear to yield a greater investment return than many other uses to which taxpayer dollars are currently put (hello submarines...). Nobody seems to have ever been consumed by patience or ambivalence or nonchalance. Consuming emotions are the extremes: we are consumed by jealousy. Rage. Grief. Desire. The language is telling to be consumed by something makes it somehow external to us. It happens to us. That is how we understand desire, no? Theres that Sicilian expression, colpo di fulmine, that describes the thunderbolt of being struck by love the moment you clap eyes on someone. Bridgerton was packed with desire, but it continued to sell the Hollywood message that it was spontaneous. Perhaps you have heady memories of locking eyes with someone across a room, the air between you seeming to hum with electricity as everything around you dulls into a white noise. Memories of a quickening heart, a warming in your cheeks. All because you saw the object of your desire several metres away, and you havent even touched yet. And if they were to come closer? To say your name in a low voice, thick with meaning? Sending your breath a little more ragged, your pupils dilating? If this were a film, we would cut to the next scene and youd be in the bedroom tearing each others clothes off, the front door scarcely closed behind you. A Commonwealth Bank employee has died in a suspected drug overdose and 12 people were taken to hospital after attending a music festival at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday. Kieran Ngo, a senior retail lending associate at the bank, went to hospital just before 1.30am on Sunday. Commonwealth Bank employee Kieran Ngo is thought to have died from a drug overdose at a Saturday festival. Credit: LinkedIn A Commonwealth Bank spokesperson confirmed Ngos identity and expressed the organisations condolences. We are shocked and saddened by the news of the death of our valued staff member, Kieran, a spokesperson said. A woman has told a Sydney court she discovered a disturbing video depicting her husband carrying out an alleged sexual assault after she changed the locks on their home, and he repeatedly asked to come back in to collect something from the garage. A man, who cannot be named, is on trial in NSW District Court after he allegedly set up a camera to film an hour-long video of himself assaulting a woman some time between October 1991 and March 1993. He has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual intercourse without consent. The mans former wife told the court on Monday she separated from him in 2009 and locked him out of their house, providing him with all of his personal belongings. A man is on trial for 11 counts of sexual intercourse without consent. Credit: Louie Douvis She said he insisted over a period of weeks that there was something else in the garage that he needed, but wouldnt say what it was. The creator of Hamilton, the blockbuster Broadway musical, is coming to Brisbane to watch the show live. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who originally played Alexander Hamilton in the musical, will arrive next month to meet the local production and take part in an exclusive fan event. Details of the event will be released at a later date. Lin-Manuel Miranda attends The Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute benefit gala. Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP I have been waiting such a long time to come to Australia and I cant wait to be with the company Down Under in-person for the first time, he said in a statement. I have heard such great things from friends and fans in Australia, it is going to be fantastic to be able to meet them and watch them perform. The legal battle between political staffer Sally Rugg and independent MP Monique Ryan has divided generations, with some accusing Rugg of shying away from hard work and others applauding her for pushing for reasonable hours in the workplace. Are we really surprised that the intense, unrelenting workload that politicians and staffers, healthcare workers, lawyers, social workers and teachers face is an unbearable burden wreaking havoc on their mental and physical health? These professions (among others) are consistently recognised, and even commended, as some of the most overworked and undervalued in our society. Working long hours can be considered a badge of honour. Credit: iStockphoto Were now at the point where working long hours and sacrificing family and social time for ones job is often seen as a crest of honour, rather than a big red flag. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development released a report in September that examined work hour trends and job satisfaction indicators in countries including Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Britain, and found working more than 45 hours a week was associated with a lower probability of reporting good health outcomes. EnergyAustralia has been fined $1.5 million after a veteran Yallourn power station employee suffered fatal burns in an electrical explosion. Graeme Edwards had worked at the power station for more than 30 years when he agreed to connect a high-voltage cable. Graeme Edwards died while on duty at the Yallourn power station run by EnergyAustralia. The racking-in procedure involved placing a high-voltage circuit-breaker into position in a cabinet while wires were live or energised. Edwards was fully trained and had undergone his required retraining two months before his death in November 2018. Melbournes nightlife economy has surged to close to pre-pandemic levels, with data showing night-time pedestrian activity and spending is back up, the citys night mayor says. In January, pedestrian traffic between 9pm and 2am was at 96.9 per cent of the pre-COVID benchmark, up 49 per cent compared with January 2022. Penny Miles, Melbournes night mayor, the city is undergoing a huge comeback. Credit: Simon Schluter/The Age Penny Miles, the chair of Melbournes night-time economy advisory committee and holder of the position dubbed the citys night mayor, said after-dark spending had been at or above 2019 levels since April last year, even after adjusting for inflation. There has been a massive comeback, Miles said. People are wanting to come out and connect. Theyre wanting to create new moments for themselves and markers of time. Weve just been through two or three years of no markers of time. A three-year-old boy walked more than a kilometre from his Baldivis after-school care without his supervisors realising before he was found by a good Samaritan. Police were called in to return Cohen Rollinson to his traumatised family after a bystander found the young boy wandering the suburban streets near his Makybe Rise Primary School last Friday. It was Cohens first day at the after-school program run by private operator Camp Australia. Cohens mother, Ashlee Rollinson, had called to check on her son before picking him up and was shocked when she was told he had already been collected. Single mum Holly Ogden is on a mission. For the past 2 years, the 33-year-old has been splashing sunshine and happiness across blank spaces throughout Perth, asking for nothing in return except for the hope that it makes someone smile. Holly Ogden paints sunflowers for free all over Perth. She began her sunflower painting spree back when Perth was in the midst of COVID-19 lockdowns, as a way to put positive energy out there. Now there are about 250 sunflowers dotted throughout Fremantle, Scarborough and Margaret River and maps are available for people to walk a trail through the suburbs and find her work. The first witness to give evidence at a disciplinary hearing involving controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo said he and his wife were desperate when informed in 2018 his wife had only 12 to 18 months to live. The Health Care Complaints Commissions five-day hearing into Teo is before a Professional Standards Committee headed by former Family Court judge Jennifer Boland and has two Victorian neurosurgeons on the panel and one lay person. Controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo is greeted by supporters as he arrives at a disciplinary hearing into his procedures. Credit: Peter Rae The HCCCs counsel Kate Richardson, SC, said the HCCC was seeking that the famous neurosurgeon be reprimanded and conditions be put on his practising certificate. The nature and number of complaints against Teo are yet to be stated. Over the weekend, Teo sent text messages and emails to rally his supporters. As a result, dozens turned up to the hearing that only had 17 seats for the public. Former Labor minister Greg Combet was awarded a lucrative contract advising the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet without an open tender process, taking the value of contracts won by Labor figures since the Albanese governments election to nearly $160,000. Combet, the chair of Industry Super Australia and former leader of the ACTU, was in December awarded a $46,200 contract to work with the department until June, prompting questions from the opposition about the use of closed procurement processes in which government departments do not test the market for value. Former Labor minister Greg Combet was in December awarded a $46,200 contract to work until June. Credit: Louie Douvis The Rudd/Gillard-era minister told this masthead he was bound by confidentiality and could not disclose the work he was doing for the government, which has committed to de-politicising the public service after the Morrison government was accused of fostering a jobs for mates culture. Youll need to speak to PM&C, Combet said when asked why the contract was awarded through what is known as a limited tender, which means no other suppliers were approached. Money laundering, addiction and ruined lives: how a powerful lobby group has set up a multibillion-dollar industry. A bipartisan election promise to buy back 2000 poker machines is unlikely to stem multibillion-dollar losses as experts warn the pledge to reduce social harm requires a much bigger culling of machines and the introduction of reduced operating hours. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet last month said his government would buy back machines from clubs if he wins the March poll, a promise matched by his opponent, NSW Labor leader Chris Minns. Pokies reform has emerged as a key battleground issue of the March 25 state election. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone The buyback commitment from both leaders is a key pillar of their contrasting pokies reform policies: the Coalition has promised to make pokies cashless in five years, while Labor has said it would conduct a mandatory trial of the technology. Minns has also vowed an uptick in machine forfeitures (for every two machines, one must be retired), claiming that would switch off a further 7500 machines over the next decade. Two and a half months is a long time in politics, and in the 74 days since the West Australian parliament last sat there have been changes that promise to shake things up on Harvest Terrace. When parliament returns on Tuesday, while the enormous Labor backbench that fills nearly every corner of the lower house remains unchanged, across the aisle the Nationals-Liberals alliance will be operating under an entirely different regime. WA Liberals upper house MP Nick Goiran; WA Liberals Leader Libby Mettam; WA Premier Mark McGowan; WA Nationals Leader Shane Love. The two elected Liberals still occupy little more than a broom cupboard, but the leadership of that cupboard was inverted a fortnight ago when Libby Mettam successfully rolled her colleague David Honey with an eye to lead her party to the 2025 election. The wheels were set in motion for that leadership tussle just hours after Central Wheatbelt MP Mia Davies announced her shock decision to step down as leader of the opposition and Nationals WA. Madrid: The Spanish city of Salamanca has broken off a partnership with a UK-based company that promised to turn it into a mini-Dubai amid suspicions it has fallen victim to a fake sheikh scam. Carlos Garcia Carbayo, the mayor of Salamanca, announced last week he had torn up an agreement with Peace City World to bring in 15 billion ($23 billion) of investment. He had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the firm at an event in the British House of Lords last year, after the company promised to deliver a smart city with a technology park and sky lift taking tourists to and from the citys medieval centre. The Church of the Clerecia in the old town of Salamanca, Spain. Credit: iStock The company organised a conference in Salamanca last month but local officials were left wondering whether the purported investors in Arab robes were legitimate. Tel Aviv: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has used a rare prime-time speech to warn the country is on the verge of constitutional and social collapse over a government plan to reduce the power of the judiciary. Herzog, known more as reliably dull than alarmist, was speaking of a widespread concern that the change planned by the new government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is so radical that it raises doubts about the future of the countrys democracy, its appeal to foreign investors and ties to its strongest allies. The absence of dialogue is tearing us apart from within, and Im telling you loud and clear: This powder keg is about to explode, Herzog told the nation. This is an emergency. Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus new right-wing coalition and its proposed judicial reforms to reduce powers of the Supreme Court, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday. Credit: Reuters Tens of thousands have demonstrated weekly against the governments plans while scores of economists, business leaders, retired security chiefs and legal scholars have all gone on record in opposition. Antakya, Turkey: Rescuers in Turkey pulled several children alive from collapsed buildings on Monday (local time) as criticism of the authorities grew. In one dramatic rescue attempt in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras, rescuers said they had contact with a grandmother, mother and baby trapped in a room in the remains of a three-storey building. Rescuers were digging a second tunnel to reach them after a first route was blocked. I have a very strong feeling we are going to get them, said Burcu Baldauf, head of the Turkish voluntary healthcare team. Its already a miracle. After seven days, they are there with no water, no food and in good condition. Rescue workers pull out Naime Sakar from a collapsed building in Adiyaman, southern Turkey, on Monday. Credit: But rescuers admit that hopes of finding many more survivors of the 7.8 magnitude quake that has killed more than 37,000 in Turkey and Syria were fading. New Zealand could be plunged into a state of emergency after Cyclone Gabrielle left tens of thousands of homes without power with the worst still to come as the storm surged south. First identified in the Coral Sea last week, Cyclone Gabrielle has travelled across the South Pacific to sit about 200 kilometres northeast of Auckland and is forecast to move close to the east coast in the next 24 hours. Huge waves from the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle on the Goat Island Marine Reserve. Credit: Getty Images The cyclone passed over the Australian territory of Norfolk Island on Saturday night as a category-two storm with gusts of up to 155km/h. As it nears landfall in New Zealand, NZ meteorological agency MetService reported gusts of 163km/h at Channel Island, near the Coromandel Peninsula, on Monday morning. How realistic are these motions in the view of the CBCS?, the MP questions in a letter to the Central Bank.~ PHILIPSBURG:--- I did this via the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ardwell Irion, just to make sure that the bank does not deny me a response, based on formalities. It is now more than 3 weeks since 2 motions were tabled in parliament regarding the Mullet Bay property. Only one got sufficient votes to pass and that particular one requested of the minister of finance to instruct the CBCS to halt any action regarding mullet bay until at least June and await the outcome of the Mullet Bay parliamentary inquiry, which the parliament had decided on since November 5, 2019. The goal of that inquiry, according to the official resolution is to obtain insight into the ownership of the Mullet Bay area and the current volatile (legal) position that exists between the owner, Government, and the citizens. Furthermore this parliamentary inquiry serves to assess the need for Parliament and Government to intervene in every feasible way possible to protect one of its most precious coastal and inland waterways in the national interest of the country as well as to explore possibilities of how best it can be used in the interest of the people from an economic, environmental, heritage and legal perspective. In the meantime, the dynamics have changed drastically and the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten have taken a leading role in the process of deciding what becomes of the Mullet Bay property, MP Wescot stated in her release. The parliamentary Motion no. 2 of January 20, 2023, instructs the minister of finance to delay the approval of any potential sale until at least June 2023, when the inquiry is supposed to be completed. It would appear that given where things stand currently, many of the questions posed in the inquiry proposal of 2019 have become redundant. The most important tool the government has in its hands right now is to establish a development plan for the entire area as mentioned in the defeated motion of the same date the MP continued, and I hope and pray that the government will still urgently follow this route, regardless of what negotiations are taking place or will take place with the CBCS. Regardless of which route is taken, even if that route is expropriation as per the defeated motion, the conditions of a development plan and proof of finances are paramount and a legal prerequisite. Other than is sometimes portrayed, our laws are quite rigid, and luckily so, when it comes to expropriating, MP Wescot stated. With the CBCS having the reigns in the matter of Mullet Bay, it, therefore, behooves the government and parliament to at least get insight into what the state of affairs is. In my view, if the sale and/or development is to be stalled, it should be done in order to allow the government the opportunity to decide the future of the Mullet Bay area development, something that it seems the government has little interest in doing. I very much doubt that there has even been any follow-up to the motion of January 20th, 2023, to delay any potential sale, and I, therefore, hope that the CBCS will answer my following questions. Has the government of St. Maarten requested that the sale of Mullet Bay be put on hold as per the parliamentary motion? If so, what is the Banks position on the instruction to delay a potential sale of Mullet Bay until at least June 2023? What is the current status of the sale and/or development of Mullet Bay? What exactly is the Bank offering for sale or development? Is there a prospectus? Is there a cadastral certificate of the offering by the Bank? Please provide such. Is the Mullet Bay beach included? Is the Bank inclined to enter into negotiations with the government of St. Maarten regarding the expropriation of the property in question? If not, why not? Is the Bank inclined to hold off on the sale or development of the Mullet Bay property until a development plan is developed for the area in question? If not, why not? In conclusion, I think the parliamentary inquiry is not only a station passe, but awaiting its outcome without knowing what is taking place behind the scenes, we will again miss out. PHILIPSBURG:--- Last year on August 2nd at 14:00 hrs. a public tender for the reconstruction of the roofs at Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School was opened by the Minister of Education Hon. Rodolphe Samuel. The bid had three (3) participating companies; Winward Roads, LICCOM NV, and Omega construction. After the bids were evaluated, the bidder with the best price and performance ratio was Windward Roads. The deliverables for the project are The removal of the existing roof construction and to replace the existing roofs with concrete roofing. As the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport, I am happy to inform the public that the repairs of the Martin Luther King school roof reconstruction are ready to start. We know that the Management, Staff, Teachers, Parents, and students would certainly like to see their school repaired so that the students can get back into their own environment. This is also the wish of the entire community. The projected timeline for the completion of the school is the upcoming school year 2023-2024. A town hall meeting will be held so that the citizens especially of the Dutch Quarter community can ask much-needed questions pertaining to the project. I would like to thank everyone affected by the closure of the school for their patience as we move into the construction phase of the project, Minister of Education Hon. Rodolphe Samuel stated in the press statement. PHILIPSBURG:--- "I would like to start off by thanking everyone for the positive feedback I received regarding my first article The Forgotten ones describing the violations currently happening in the Point Blanch Prison. I strongly believe in a functional rehabilitation center, which is the core of reintegrating reformed people back into the community. Note, if a person is not reformed or rehabilitated, he or she will be a danger to our society. What is more, who wants to feel uncomfortable or live in an unsafe place? Consequently, I will continue writing on the ongoing saga in the Point Blanch Prison until changes or the intention of starting the change are made. According to Article 3 Lid 1 of the Landbesluit, Houdende Algemene Maatregelen, houdende vaststelling van de gevangenismaatregel, the director ensures that the detainee, while maintaining the character of the prison sentence or measure, is treated in a manner that respects his human dignity. This has not been happening according to the prison association. In a letter sent to the director and its management team, the prisoners have stated their concerns on the continued lack of medical service, healthy food, different schooling programs, inmate and guards safety, work, verlof, time off for good, and much more. In return, they received a reply from the director, Mr. Carty stating that all their worries are pure concerns stemming from their imagination and that everything has been worked on or is a pending improvement. Furthermore, they inform the inmates about the managements effort of tirelessly working to improve and enhance the prison system, that according to them is doing good and is going to be better in the future. Thus, the prisoners must wait for the changes to occur, although they are open to sitting and discussing future endeavors. The Prison Association invited me to a follow-up meeting to inform me about the current situation and in addition wants to hand me over signed documents with the signatures of all inmates proving that they do not agree with the letter they received from management. Therefore, will continue the passive strike until they get the humane treatment they deserve. There were different situations that were brought to my attention. These situations show that many violations are currently occurring at the prison. Article 7 Lid 1 from the LANDBESLUIT, HOUDENDE ALGEMENE MAATREGELEN, houdende vastelling van de Gevangenismaatregelen, is the biggest violation happening now according to the inmates. For example; 1. During a meeting that the Prison Association was having with their representative they called in a nurse to show that there is never a nurse on sight. As the inmates already knew there was none. This was done to prove to the representative that what the director stated is incorrect and the availability of a nurse on sight is almost null. 2. On the 1st of February 2023 around 4:30pm a fight broke out in the Point Blanch Prison. There were only two female prison guards and one older of age male guard available. The members of the prison association had to assist the two female guards in breaking up the fight. Luckily no one was seriously injured, although one of the inmates suffered scratches from a rusty dagger. This is unacceptable and the director and management should be reprimanded for the mismanagement and understaffing that occurred for years. This is a severe danger to the lives of the guards. How in the right mind can a management team place two females on duty, handling an amount of more than 30 prisoners? This cannot be tolerated and is just absurd. What will be done to make sure this never happens again? 3. On the 4th of February 2023 inmate J Davelaar suffered a severe toothache. Inmate Davelaar requested assistance from the female guard on duty around 11 pm. The guard had to ask other inmates for medication since there was no nurse available and the inmate could not withstand the severe pain. At 3 am the guard was able to retrieve Ibuprofen and carried it to inmate Davelaar. Note that inmate Davelaar was ringing the intercom since the morning begging for help but got assisted by a guard during the afternoon hours because the guard was doing her protocol checks. Please note: Chapter 2.4.7 Toegang zorg of De Point Blanch gevangenis en huis van bewaring het Miss Lalie Center, de politiecellen in Philipsburg en het grenshospitium in Simpson Bay. (Hint: a shortage in staff is causing many violations to occur in the Point Blanch prison and the guards can only try their utmost to help) 4. Sylvester Maduro is an inmate that suffers from frequent seizures and other medical problems. He has written many letters to the director, the nurse, and the Committee van Toezicht and till today has not received a reply to his letter. (Please see an attached letter written on September 12, 2022) (In Article 16 Lid 2 B and C of the Landsverordening tot vaststeling van beginselen van het gevangeniswezen states that the task of the supervisory committee is: (B) to take cognizance of the grievances put forward by the detainees. (C) to ensure that written complaints are handled in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XII (Complaint). Inmate Maduro is in fear for his life, due to the lack of guards and the continuous absence of a nurse in the prison. If inmate Maduro ever gets a severe seizure, it might end badly since there would be no one to immediately assist him with his seizure. When was the last time EHBO training was given to the guards? These are concerns that must be seriously looked at. 5. Another medical situation that was brought to my attention by the prison association is that of inmate F Gomez. This inmate was chopped on his hand from a machete, where two of his tendons got damaged. Mr. Gomez cannot fully extend his hand, and this has been going on for about 7 years. As you can imagine, inmate Gomez has been requesting to see a specialized doctor in the field of limbs so he can start the rehabilitation process of moving his hands. The above-mentioned matters are a few of the discrepancies currently happening in the medical part of the prison. When it comes to the food it has been stated on the floor in Parliament that the prisoners get breakfast at 7:00 am, get lunch at 11:30 am and get supper at 3:30 pm. This statement is correctly stated, as it is written in the Huisregels boek but is not happening in real-time. On Wednesday the 8th, Thursday the 9th, and Friday the 10th of February, the prisoners were placed on a lockdown (entire day). Their breakfast was served at 10:30 am on Wednesday and 11 am on Thursday. Supper was served at 3:30 pm, therefore I ask myself, did we speak on what we wrote in a book as regels in Parliament or are we supposed to inform the Parliament and the people of SXM of the truth? The breakfast in the prison has been for years a stale sandwich with the choice of cheese or peanut butter. The inmates have been asking to at least give them the option of Jam since there are a few of the inmates that cannot eat peanuts. The inmates have been on a passive strike for a while, therefore have not been assisting in the kitchen as it was so called mentioned in the Parliament meeting on. So, please inform me how are they getting their food on the before-mentioned timeslots. Instead of covering the sun with a finger, its time for the Minister, director, and management team to sit down and seriously evaluate and recalculate the monetary funds needed to make sure the prison can improve its medical facility and service, what is more, ensures the prison fulfills the requirements set by the law. The lives of others are not a political game and the internal power struggles should be put aside and together strive for a better facility. We are talking about the human lives of both the prisoners and the guards. The way things are going currently, it seems like management doesnt care about any of them. Once more, I want to show my dearest sympathy for all victims of a crime and want to reassure you that I am not defending an inmates action or crime on the contrary I am repulsed by some of their crimes, nonetheless, I am simply bringing awareness to the human rights violation currently occurring within our Judicial system. There is more! As a result, stay tuned because the saga continues... Ydellienne Heerenveen PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), the Honorable Omar Ottley, has dispelled the politically motivated contrast attempted by some who recently criticized the pace of constructing the new General Hospital in Sint Maarten as "the politricks of misinformation in an election year." Minister Ottley stated, While I share the same sentiments as the general public concerning the pace of the new hospital, the issues with the hospital started way before my political journey. Minister Ottley, said on Sunday, "As elections draw closer, it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine concerns and fraudulent misrepresentations of the truth by those who seek to manipulate the public's perception of reality." In 2019, members of parliament passed a vote of no confidence firing the then Minister of VSA Emil Lee, with one of the main points of the motion being his inability to start construction for the new general hospital, two and a half years after the contract was signed. Since then, there were three Ministers of health in the past five years prior to Minister Ottley with little to no results where construction work for the new hospital is concerned. "People sometimes forget that I have only been in the executive office for a year and seven months. Based on the progress made to build the new Hospital since then, imagine where we would have been if I was in office for four years." Said Ottley. History would recall that the Hospital's troubles surfaced in 2016 when the then government changed the General Contractor from VAMED to INSO. On November 25, 2016, the Court of First Instance said Social & Health Insurances SZV was forbidden from having INSO build the new Hospital. Failure to comply would have resulted in penalty payments starting at US $1 million to a maximum of $25 million. In March 2017, the SZV and VAMED settled their disputes out of Court, paving the way for INSO. In September that year, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Sint Maarten and dealt a further blow to the island's hopes of developing the new General Hospital. Then on December 3, 2018, SMMC and Government held the ground-breaking ceremony at the Construction Site. The Grounds were officially handed over to INSO a year later, in December 2019, to start Construction. However, no significant works had been done between then and the arrival of Minister Ottley in office. Minister Ottley said, "When you put into context the history of the new General Hospital, it shows a turbulent six years, with no construction work done. This includes a legal battle over the selection of two different General Contractors and the vote of No Confidence in then Minister of Health Lee by his own Political Party UD now DP (Democratic Party) in Parliament." INSO also had its challenges resulting in financial oversight to restore its viability. They were successful, and today, the current General Contractor, INSO, now FINSO, is in place. In stark contrast to previous years of non-activity at the job site, since Minister Ottley took office on April 21 2021, the contractors have poured over 4000 cubic meters of concrete. They have done major work to raise the level of the entire grounds for the new Hospital by 7 meters to prevent flooding. FINSO has also built a retaining wall and built a solid earthquake-resistant foundation with some of the largest single pours of concrete in Sint Maartens history under Minister Ottleys watch. FINSO has also constructed the walls around the foundation. They have already started creating seven water tanks and generator stations, and have started producing the walls as the building begins to take shape. Two major challenges overshadowed SMMC's hopes of a new hospital, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) which became a pandemic crippled global economies by 2020, and slowed the movement of goods, which increased the cost of doing business. Then in February 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, shipping, fuel, and material prices skyrocketed. Minister Ottley said, "Despite these challenges, upon reaching office, I ensured that as much Construction as possible was happening. As I stated before, more progress was made in the Construction of the Hospital than combined over the prior five years. Ottley and the St. Maarten Medical Centre executed their strategy to mitigate damage and loss already experienced by past events to ensure that the work now started on building the new Hospital did not stop. Minister Ottley said, "Since 2016, previous administrations only gave lip service to the construction process. Five years later, by April 2021, no concrete was poured into constructing the new Hospital." Lithium once a remedy for melancholy, today a raw material of the futur? It is no longer possible to imagine a future without lithium-ion batteries. The demand for lithium is enormous. In 1967, lithium carbonate came onto the market as an antidepressant. Even in the late Romantic period, people knew about the effectiveness of lithium salts against melancholy. Why this is so, one does not know exactly until today. What is known today, however, is how great the impact of lithium-ion batteries is on transportation and storage devices for renewable energy sources (wind and solar). Electric cars and portable electronic devices use these batteries. Today, lithium demand is still being met by primary supply from mine production. The secondary sector is not likely to play a major role until 2030 and later. In recent years, Europe, and Germany in particular, has become a stronghold for electromobility. Automakers and upstream manufacturing need lithium. Electric vehicles are enjoying ever greater acceptance. And this development has taken place within just a few years. Electric vehicle subsidies, improved charging infrastructure and legal bans on internal combustion engines in the EU from 2035 have driven this. In Europe, capacity expansions and settlements to produce battery chemicals are increasing. This is reducing China\-s former dominance. For Europe, self-sufficiency in lithium and associated import independence would of course be desirable. But lithium production hardly takes place in Europe. A perhaps not so well-known country with lithium is Mongolia. Here, ION Energy holds two exploration licenses. The national power grid and important development infrastructure are close by. Very good drilling results are available. One company that is more concerned with the battery anodes of the future, thus low-cost, high-performance anodes, is Li-Metal. Current company information and press releases from Li-Metal (- https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/companies/li-metal-corp/ -). In accordance with A34 WpHG I would like to point out that partners, authors and employees may hold shares in the respective companies addressed and thus a possible conflict of interest exists. No guarantee for the translation into English. Only the German version of this news is valid. Disclaimer: The information provided does not represent any form of recommendation or advice. Express reference is made to the risks in securities trading. No liability can be accepted for any damage arising from the use of this blog. I would like to point out that shares and especially warrant investments are always associated with risk. The total loss of the invested capital cannot be excluded. All information and sources are carefully researched. However, no guarantee is given for the correctness of all contents. Despite the greatest care, I expressly reserve the right to make errors, especially with regard to figures and prices. The information contained herein is taken from sources believed to be reliable, but in no way claims to be accurate or complete. Due to court decisions, the contents of linked external sites are also co-responsible (e.g. Landgericht Hamburg, in the decision of 12.05.1998 312 O 85/98), as long as there is no explicit dissociation from them. Despite careful control of the content, I do not assume liability for the content of linked external pages. The respective operators are exclusively responsible for their content. The disclaimer of Swiss Resource Capital AG also applies: https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/disclaimer/ Welcome back to Austin where the crew of the one-two-six has returned. Happily, its not in as grand of a fashion as last season where we were treated to a four-episode arc of a massive snowstorm. However, we do have some big story arcs brewing so far. Owen Buys a Motorcycle Owen, who looked like he was about to take a big step forward at the end of last season by finally shedding his past, has opted for the classic midlife crisis maneuver of buying a motorcycle. In true Owen fashion he jumps in the culture with both feet and quickly finds himself part of group of motorcycle enthusiasts. After dragging Judd to the groups bar they get clear understanding theyve walked into lair of an extremist group. Shortly afterwards Owen gets a visit from the FBI. FBI agent Rose Casey (guest starring Amanda Schull) informs Owen that hes gotten himself involved with separatists who want Texas returned to their founding fathers. Amusingly the terrorist group doesnt get that Texas was originally part of Mexico. To stop a potentially imminent terrorist attack Casey asks Owen to plant a bug in the groups bar. When Owen goes to do this hes discovered by Sgt. OBrien whos apparently involved with the group.OBrien takes Owen to his nephews house and explains hes infiltrated the group to find out whats happened to his missing nephew. Together they manage to discover where the groups training base is and find stolen explosives. However, when Owen reports this to the FBI and FBI raids the base they find everything but the explosives. Casey then reveals that OBrien is actually a founding member of the terrorist group and this may have been an elaborate con to discredit Owen.Tommy meets Trevor Parks (played bys D.B. Woodside), a recently divorced single father, and she takes a shine to guy after she saves the same twice in 24-hours. After Nancys teasing/encouragement she gives him her number and agrees to go on a date with him. Next Sunday Tommy gets a shock when she finds out hes her congregations new Reverend.This of course leads to the inevitable youre going to hell jokes from Nancy and the urging on of Grace. Reverend Parks charms Tommy and she agrees to go on a date with him. After an erotic dream with the obvious background song Dusty Springfields Son of a Preacher Man, Tommy decides she needs back up on her date and turns it into more of a dinner party. Undeterred, Reverend Parks kisses Tommy and asks her for their next date to be a little more private. Tommy agrees.Ok, give the writers credit for this one. Who predicted a sort of love triangle for Carlos and T.K Now for those you raising your hands, who saw it happening with a woman? So long story short, Carlos is married and weve seen the return of a Blake. Unfortunately, its not Liv Tylers Captain Michelle Blake but rather her little sister Lyndsy Fonsecas Iris Blake. Iris is in a much better place than last time. Shes gone from homeless to helping the homeless.Carlos and T.K. attempt to get Iris to agree to a divorce but she seems intent on making it difficult possible. When T.K. confronts her about this, Iris reveals that she would rather get an annulment as she believes it right for Carlos and T.K.s marriage to be their first. Shortly after, Carlos gets a call. Iris has gone missing near the homeless encampment where she used to live.Iris is eventually found after making a 911 call to Grace. Iris tells Carlos and a detective that she was kidnapped by a man and held in a room with him. After reviewing footage of the police raid on the area where Iris claimed she was being held, the detective concludes shes making it up as theres no evidence of Iriss captor leaving the only exit before they reach her. Carlos, though fearing Iris has lost touch with reality again, chooses to believe her story and investigates on his own. In doing so he finds one of the few answers to the locked door mystery. There was another way out of the room. Carlos finds a tunnel under secret space in the closet where Iris was held and follows it to the end. As episode three ends were left with a cliffhanger of Carlos being knocked out by a shovel.Which brings us to the last of our team. Unfortunately, theres little to say. Paul and Marjan continue to be criminally under-utilized on the show. We have sadly reached a point with both characters where they could be written out and the show wouldnt change. Almost the same can be said about Mateo and Nancy whose surprise revelation about their relationship at the end of season three could have made for some interesting in-house drama. But neither has really had much impact. As for Judd and Grace, well they at least get to soldier on in their happy little family bubble while also playing support roles for both the Tommy dates her preacher storyline and Owen is lousy at undercover storyline.It's been an interesting start to the fourth season and there are plenty of balls up in the air. So, what are you looking forward to most? How will Owen get out of his new mess? Tommys adventure in dating a preacher? What happened to Iris and Carlos? Hoping that something will happen with Marjan, Mateo, Nancy, and Paul? Leave a comment. Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sept 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sept 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (17) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sept 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (203) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (350) Sept 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (438) Jan 2014 (543) Feb 2014 (474) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sept 2014 (441) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (579) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sept 2015 (922) Oct 2015 (920) Nov 2015 (801) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (781) Feb 2016 (834) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (946) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (881) Aug 2016 (1035) Sept 2016 (966) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sept 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sept 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sept 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sept 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sept 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (702) Sept 2022 (699) Oct 2022 (737) Nov 2022 (718) Dec 2022 (692) Jan 2023 (662) Feb 2023 (611) Mar 2023 (692) Apr 2023 (308) As many as 720 people were vaccinated against COVID in the week of February 6-12, of whom 637 with the Omicron-adapted Pfizer vaccine, whose administration began on November 28, 2022, told Agerpres. According to the National Public Health Institute's National Centre for the Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases, another 83 doses of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson&Johnson vaccine were administered. Since the start of the vaccination campaign on December 27, 2020, 16,917,864 doses of the COVID vaccine have been administered. A number of 8,130,115 people received the complete vaccination scheme, 2,665,393 were given the third dose. In total, since the beginning of the vaccination campaign, there have been 20,100 side effect occurrences to COVID vaccines, 2,247 local and 17,853 systemic side effects. National leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD ) Marcel Ciolacu on Sunday evening said that he believes the government rotation will take place scandal-free, and the process will be a quick one, pointing out that he is preparing to take over the rotational premiership, told Agerpres. "I firmly believe that the rotation will take place. It will be scandal-free. The protocol will be observed and all things will be decided in advance, and things will proceed very normally and very easily. I am firmly convinced that the president will sanction the designation that will come from PSD. At the moment, I am that PM designate and I want this coalition to last throughout 2024," Ciolacu told Prima News private broadcaster. The PSD leader says that it is possible for the rotation to be completed by June 1. "I don't think there will be any problems with the rotation in May. (...) This coalition has brought stability to Romania. (...) I have never seen any statement by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca that this agreement will not be observed (...) It is possible to have everything in place by June 1. (...) It is a time in which we have to appear on television to explain certain things to the Romanians. (...) I have no private discussions with the President of Romania. We have only had institutional discussions. We don't have a strained relationship. (...) Romania definitely needs political stability at this moment. It is a big mistake to enter an area of political instability," said Ciolacu. He added that he regularly meets and talks on the phone with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca. "I meet regularly with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca (...) and we talk very often on the phone, which is a first in Romanian politics. (...) We try to coordinate our executive and legislative activity, something that has never happened between two leaders of the biggest parties in Romania. (...) There has never been a discussion between me and Mr Nicolae Ciuca that this rotation would not take place. On the contrary, the discussion was that the time had finally come in Romania for two political leaders to respect the agreements they sign. You will see that this will be the case. From my point of view, it will be a quick rotation, in a very short period of time," said Ciolacu. He added that he is preparing to take over the rotational premiership and that he wants Mihai Tudose in the future government. "I am working a lot with the teams we have at the Social Democratic Party, and I have discussions especially in the economic area because I believe that area will be the most important moving forward. I have discussions with my colleagues as detailed as possible on European funds so that no mechanism is blocked and things must not be in the hands of one person. We have some applied discussions regarding the military situation in the Black Sea area," showed Ciolacu. According to the PSD leader, the political "solution" even after 2024 could be a PSD - National Liberal Party (PNL) coalition. "I'm not hiding it from you and I've never hidden it. I think that the solution during and after 2024 is still a broad coalition between the two parties. (...) I think that together with Mr Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca we can pencil in the future, also a coalition, if not an alliance, from 2024 on." On the plagiarism scandal surrounding the interior minister, Ciolacu said that he does not know how guilty or innocent he is. "I don't know how guilty or innocent Mr Bode is. I've seen that the President of Romania said that certain things must be clarified before the rotation. In other words, he also answered that this rotation will take place. (.. .) Maybe Mr. Bode will have a decision from a court by the time of the rotation. (...)," the PSD chairman also said. The minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, will participate, on Tuesday and Wednesday, in Brussels, in the meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine (Ramstein format) and in the meeting of the ministers of Defense from the NATO member states, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday. At the meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine, which will take place in the first part of Tuesday, the minister will be accompanied by the chief of the Defense Staff, general Daniel Petrescu. The meeting of the allied ministers of defense is part of the current calendar and will mainly focus on discussing the continuation of the support offered to Ukraine and the stage of implementation of the decisions adopted at the NATO summit in Madrid last June and in the perspective of preparing the decision-making package for the summit in Vilnius, which will take place this summer. The first inter-regional electric railway frame (RE-IR) of the 37 to be produced by Alstom for Romania will arrive at the Faurei Railway Testing Centre in July 2023, in order to carry out the dynamic tests, with the second one to arrive in August when it will be tested on the Romanian Railway Company lines, after which both trains will perform running tests in multiple units, the Railway Reform Authority (ARF) informs on Sunday, on his Facebook page. According to the ARF, between February 8-10, 2023, a team of the authority - formed by members of the project regarding the purchase of 37 inter-regional electric frames (RE-IR) - carried out a technical visit to the Alstom factory in Katowice (Poland). This visit was stipulated in the agreement concluded between the ARF and Alstom Ferroviaria SpA company, on March 25, 2022, which refers to the acquisition of 20 long-distance electric frames and their maintenance for a period of 15 years. The agreement has been supplemented later, by an additional agreement, signed on September 16, 2022, which refers to the acquisition of 17 more long-haul electric frames, told Agerpres. "During the visit, the representatives of the supplier Alstom presented the current stage of the manufacturing of the first train. Thus, according to the contractual provisions, the first train will arrive at the Railway Testing Centre in Faurei in July 2023, for the dynamics tests, and the the second one will arrive in August 2023, for tests on the CFR lines, after which both trains will perform multi-unit running tests. Based on the results of these tests, a third train will be delivered to the ARF, which will be put into operation in December 2023, in Romania. According to the contractual clauses, the other trains will join the existing train fleet in 2024," the post says. The maximum running speed of the electric frames is 160 km/h, they are composed of six carriages (two end carriages with driving cabins and four intermediate carriages) and provide 351 seats. The units have an ERTMS level 1 and 2 signaling and safety system, the national PZB90 system and are equipped with air conditioning systems, wi-fi connection, bar/bistro spaces and spaces for disabled travelers, as well as an area for automatic distribution of tickets and composting machines, states ARF. The RE-IR electric frames will connect the capital city with the main urban centres of the country, but will also facilitate inter-regional connections, contributing to ensuring mobility, reducing travel times and improving the general level of public services provided for public rail transport. The routes to be served by the long-distance electric trains are: Bucharest North - Constanta, Bucharest North - Brasov - Arad - Timisoara, Bucharest North - Brasov - Cluj, Bucharest North - Brasov - Deda - Cluj, Bucharest North - Brasov, Bucharest North - Iasi, Bucharest North - Suceava, Bucharest North - Galati, Bucharest-North - Craiova - Targu Jiu- Petrosani - Simeria, Bucharest-North-Craiova-Timisoara-Arad, Cluj-Timisoara, Cluj-Suceava-Iasi. The total value of the agreement for the purchase of the 37 multiple electrical units and their related maintenance services for a period of 15 years amounts to a total cost of 2,421,771,878 RON, without VAT. The financing of the project is ensured from non-reimbursable European funds and from the state budget. Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu will participate on Tuesday, as the keynote speaker in the open meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) called "Threats to International Peace and Security: Sea-Level Rise - Implications for International Peace and Security, told Agerpres. According to a release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) sent to AGERPRES on Monday, the head of the Romanian diplomacy will present the implications of the rise in sea and ocean levels over international peace and security, at the invitation extended by the Maltese Presidency of the UN Security Council (SC), both as minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania and as co-chair of the Study Group of the UN International Law Commission (ILC) regarding the sea-level rise in relation to international law. The Foreign Affairs minister will participate in this event alongside UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi. The meeting will be chaired by Malta's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg, as the President of the UN SC. Within the meeting there will be debated the risks for international peace and security generated by the rise in sea and ocean levels, a phenomenon which is a direct consequence of climate change and there will be explored the ways in which the Security Council can address these risks within the framework of the global security architecture. Romania's presence at the UN Security Council meeting "strengthens our country's efforts to promote an efficient multilateralism and international order based on norms, such as Romania's role as an actor involved in managing the pressing global issues, including the consequences of climate change over peace and security which take an important place," the MAE release shows. The rise in sea and ocean levels has direct physical consequences over the coasts of the affected states and, therefore, over the baselines from which, according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, maritime areas are measured - the territorial sea, the contiguous area, the exclusive economic area, as well as over the access to the resources located in these areas; the loss of these resources increases the risk of conflicts between states, the MAE shows. Moreover, as an effect of this phenomenon, because of the deterioration of living conditions, population movements and forced migration might occur. Last but not least, the rise in the level of seas and oceans leads to the loss of territory, either partially or totally (in the case of island states), which can lead to the loss of statehood. Therefore, the rise in the level of seas and oceans is a phenomenon that poses existential problems for many states, the quoted release mentioned. As member of the International Law Commission of the UN, Bogdan Aurescu proposed, ever since 2018, together with other four members of the ILC, that the topic of sea and ocean level rise be included in relation to the international law on the working agenda of the ILC, as a result of the increased interest on behalf of the affected UN member states (approximately 140 states directly or indirectly affected by this phenomenon, both island states and with low coastal regions - especially developing states, but not only, thus, over two thirds of the UN member states) to find solutions based on international law to protect their rights. The second CFR freight train which carries aids for the Republic of Turkey left on Monday from the Bucharest West Train Station, the Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations (IGSU) informed. "With the support of the the Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations and the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, through the National Railway Freight Company "CFR Marfa" SA, other bedding products from the stocks of the 'Romanian ShelterCapacity (RO-Shelt)' of RescEU will will reach the Republic of Turkey," a IGSU release sent to AGERPRES shows. Furthermore, the quoted source shows that the first freight train left on 11 February from Bucharest and arrived last night in Turkey. The Romanian ShelterCapacity (RO-Shelt) represents the action undertaken by the European Commission which aims to create a rescEU temporary shelter capacity, which will be available for carrying out missions within the European Civil Protection Mechanism. Through this programme, the products can be made available to countries confronted with large-scale emergency situations, based on international assistance requests submitted, under the aegis of the Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union. Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan estimates that within 10 years the buildings with seismic risk in Bucharest (the buildings that have a red circular plaque means they are prone to collapse in case of an earthquake) could be consolidated, told Agerpres. He told a news conference that the legislation which targets the consolidation of buildings has been improved, but getting the agreement of all landlords is still "difficult," especially when we are talking about blocks with several apartments. "In the first place, this is why we launched hundreds of thousands of square meters of expertise, we must have a real situation of what needs to be consolidated. If there is the money and the fact that the Romanian state has this will to finance everything that means consolidation, probably, as happens in the administration, things proceed relatively slowly, until the world learns, until the world starts to trust, probably we will get there too, under the conditions in which the financing exists, to have hundreds of consolidated buildings per year. And, then, we can think about an interval of 10 years," Nicusor Dan argued. He mentioned that the Administration for the Consolidation of Buildings with Seismic Risk paid for the expertise of hundreds of buildings in the capital and there are dozens of buildings for which the design has been done, so that the construction site can be opened. The National Recovery and Resilience (PNRR) financing was obtained for some of these projects. At the same time, the Bucharest City Hall submitted applications for funding through the free national programme initiated by the Ministry of Development. Mayor Dan estimated that in the next period, consolidation works could start for at least two large blocks. Nicusor Dan mentioned that, based on the new legislation, the consolidation projects can also be done by the District City Halls. The Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDLPA) transferred the amount of 17,268,132.84 RON to settle the invoices for 11 investment objectives financed under the "Anghel Saligny" National Investment Programme, told Agerpres. The invoices were submitted by the local authorities for works to modernize some streets and roads of local interest, as well as for the expansion and modernization of some water supply and sewerage networks, the Minister of Development, Cseke Attila, said on Monday, according to a press release. Under the "Angel Saligny" National Investment Programme, the Government of Romania, through the Ministry of Development, has a budget of 65.5 billion RON, through which it provides basic services in localities (water, sewerage and gas) and rehabilitates roads and bridges. The status of payments carried out so far is available on the MDLPA website, at the link: https://www.mdlpa.ro/pages/plati. The General Inspectorate of the Border Police informs that on Sunday, 72,333 people entered Romania through the border crossing points, of whom 6,487 were Ukrainian citizens, told Agerpres. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday, approximately 156,200 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 40,800 means of transport,went through the border crossing points nationwide, both on the way in and on the way out of the country. As of February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 3,531,573 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania. In the areas of responsibility, the border crossing points and the "green border", the police found 45 illegal acts (19 offences and 26 misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, with the value of the fines applied exceeding 31,675 RON. Goods were seized in the amount of approximately 7,600 RON. On Sunday, 19 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions required by the law were not allowed to enter the country and 25 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. The ministry of Labor should have come up with a bill last year to solve the problem of special pensions, more precisely to bring these pensions as close as possible to contribution, MP Raluca Turcan, former minister of Labor, said on Monday. Asked in the Parliament about an interim report of the World Bank regarding the special pensions project, she showed that "the clock is ticking". "It is certain that this bill, through which we must also respect a milestone from the reform PNRR, must first of all be constitutional," declared Turcan. According to her, "the European Commission does not accept facade measures, measures that pretend to solve a problem". "As such, the project that the Ministry of Labor must propose, on the one hand, must be a constitutional one, and also, as the man who negotiated the PNRR, as minister of labor, this regime of special pensions must to bring the following elements: one - special pensions as close as possible to contribution, two - not to create other categories of special pensions and not to create discrimination between the beneficiaries of special pensions. In other words, the correct version that should include this bill is to find a formula that I left when I handed over the mandate, for calculating special pensions and for this to be extrapolated to all other categories of special pension beneficiaries," Turcan explained.AGERPRES Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu deemed on Monday as a false topic the possibility that the head of state may not appoint him prime minister at the government rotation, adding that the protocol concluded by the current coalition will be respected, told Agerpres. Ciolacu was asked whether he is afraid of the possibility that president Klaus Iohannis may not nominate him as prime minister at the government rotation that is to take place in May. "First of all, what is happening at the moment is a false topic and I say it with all due respect and love. There is no such topic for Romanians. This argument is being circulated in the absence of other matters or other answers of politicians. There is no such topic. Someone not making the proposal... (...) Let us get out of this area of speculation. The protocol will be respected. (...) PSD will respect the protocol," said the leader of the social democrats, at the Palace of the Parliament. Marcel Ciolacu mentioned that there was no discussion in the coalition about the possibility of the National Liberal Party (PNL) taking over the Ministry of Defence after the rotation of the prime ministers. "We did not have this discussion. At this moment, I am telling you with all responsibility, there was no such discussion and, more than that, Mr. Angel Tilvar [Defence minister, ed.n.], as we have seen, is doing his job very well," he added. Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu stated on Sunday evening that mistakes were made regarding Romania's accession to Schengen, told Agerpres. "Don't think that Romanians don't know the truth and that Romanians don't know exactly what happened and who is to blame. Mistakes were made regarding Romania's accession to the Schengen area. Everything we built and the approach we had during the negotiations were not the right ones. How was Romania supposed to join the Schengen area when we entered the meeting of the JHA [Justice and Home Affairs] Council together with Bulgaria? (...) What chances would Romania have had to be vote in the JAI Council? Let's say that Austria would have voted. Anyway, the Netherlands had publicly announced that it was voting against Bulgaria (...). Afterwards, Austria also announced. (...) Even if only the Netherlands had remained, Romania would not have entered Schengen anyway," Ciolacu said at the Prima News TV private channel. He said that he "never" believed that a "friend state" as Austria is, would cast a vote against Romania joining the Schengen area. "I have never believed that a friend state as Austria is and a member state of the European Union would cast a vote against Romania, against the decision of the European Commission. (...) Nobody can be held accountable for Austria's decisions. (...) The strategy we made for the accession to the Schengen Area wasn't a strategy to bring us the results we expected. We hope in the future... perhaps a negotiation can be achieved with Sweden and Austria by then, but, as far as I know, Austria still has elections in April as well. It is a very short time, but is very possible to have this decision under the Presidency of Sweden [the Presidency of the Council of the European Union]. (...) One cannot turn the back to the European Commission and the Commission's decision, the European Parliament... to turn the back for a purely internal electoral interest. Then, one has nothing to do in Europe, if one cannot respect all partners," the Social-Democrat leader also stated. Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Monday that in his conversations with visiting Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder they highlighted the need to develop co-operation in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, food industry and agriculture, noting that trade between Romania and the German land of Bavaria in the first 11 months of 2022 neared EUR 7 billion, told Agerpres. On Soder's visit to Romania a joint declaration was signed on strengthening bilateral relations between Romania and the land of Bavaria. "We had an excellent meeting, because it materialised in the signing of the joint declaration. Basically, we are discussing a declaration that was originally signed in 1999, when the officials of the land of Bavaria made a commitment to supporting Romania on its journey to the European Union. Today, we need this declaration to be revised in order to adjust bilateral relations for the current opportunities and potential. Practically, today's visit does nothing but underline, once again, the excellent relations between Romania and Germany, between Romania and Bavaria," Ciuca told a joint news conference with Soder. Discussions focused on economic co-operation, the identification of new areas in order to raise its level. "Of course, we discussed industrial relations, relations in the area of digital transformation. We also discussed artificial intelligence. There is a lot of potential in what the food industry means and, of course, agriculture co-operation," said Ciuca. He announced that an agreement was reached on resuming the activity of a joint governmental committee between Romania and Bavaria. "There is commitment on both sides, so that the first session of the joint committee may take place as soon as possible in Bavaria and the decisions we will take will help us ensure the co-presidency and everything that the technical staff component entails; we will do so that the committee can have a little more intense activity. Let's speed up everything that we emphasised at today's meeting," added Ciuca. He emphasised that in Bavaria there is a significant number of Romanian citizens who have integrated very well. "The prime minister told me that in Bavaria the Romanian community is very consistent. And the way they have managed to integrate, including culturally, brought added value to strengthening the bilateral relations, which gives us confidence that we can identify other solutions, so that we can fulfill our objectives in the declaration we signed today," added Ciuca. Romania's accession to the Schengen area was also on the agenda. "The prime minister pledged his full support, as well as that of the government of Bavaria, so that this objective of Romania may be achieved as soon as possible; there are premises that, through everything we did, Romania would demonstrate that it is still part of the solution and, practically, the technical level that we have reached in terms of meeting the standards of the Schengen acquis confirms and makes us entitled to insist on Romania's accession to the Schengen area, especially in the current context," Ciuca said. According to Ciuca, the security situation created by the invasion of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine and its humanitarian and economic consequences were also discussed. "And, of course, we discussed how Romania got involved in supporting the refugees from Ukraine, as well as in the support that the world community has extended to Ukraine so that it can face off the Russian invasion," Ciuca added. During the meeting, they also talked about joint support for Moldova. "We discussed the support that together we can provide to Moldova to secure Moldova's European path. I mentioned the activities that the government of Romania undertook and, at the same time, I thanked Germany for its involvement in providing the Moldova platform so that European countries can help Moldova cope with the current situation," Ciuca pointed out. Romania's Antic Alliance of Information Technology and Communications Trade Unions affiliated with the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) and Moldova's Federation of Communications Trade Unions have signed a collaboration agreement with the aim of developing mutual collaboration and supporting common interests, told Agerpres. "Following a co-operation agreement between the National Trade Union Bloc and the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova signed in mid-December last year at the Romanian Parliament House in the presence of Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu and Labour Minister Marius Budai, we are announcing a new partnership between the Romanian and Moldovan trade unions. In Chisinau, Moldova, on February 9, 2023, the Antic Alliance of Information Technology and Communications Trade Unions affiliated with the National Trade Union Bloc, and Moldova's Federation of Communications Trade Unions signed a collaboration agreement in order to develop mutual collaboration and support common interests," BNS reported in a press statement on Monday. The collaboration agreement has a series of objectives to achieve including initiating, drawing up, developing and promoting projects financed by the European Union; holding seminars, conferences, forums and other activities of common interest; holding regular meetings to look into trade union affairs and find acceptable solutions; drawing up studies, strategies, analyses, and conducting research in fields of interest for the two federations. According to BNS, the agreement between the two union entities was concluded for a period of two years, with a possibility for further extension. In January-December 2022, the deficit in Romania's balance-of-payments current account reached EUR 26,571 million, up from EUR 17,473 million y-o-y, according to a press statement released by the National Bank of Romania (BNR) on Monday. The deficit in trade in goods widened by EUR 9,187 million, as a surplus in services expanded by EUR 3,120 million, with the primary income deficit widening by EUR 3,852 million, while the secondary income surplus increased by EUR 821 million, told Agerpres. In January-December 2022, total external debt increased by EUR 6,136 million, of which long-term external debt at end-December 2022 ran at EUR 97,685 million (68.4 percent of total external debt), up 0.1 percent against end-2021. The short-term external debt at end-December 2022 amounted to EUR 45,036 million (31.6 percent of total external debt), up 15.4 percent from end-2021. Long-term external debt service ratio stood at 15.8 percent in January-December 2022 against 17 percent in 2021. At end-December 2022, goods and services import cover stood at 4.4 months, as compared to 4.9 months at end-2021. At end-December 2022, the ratio of the National Bank of Romania's foreign exchange reserves to short-term external debt by remaining maturity came in at 82.7 percent, as against 79.4 percent at end-2021. The Senate extended, on Monday, in plenary sitting, with 70 votes "for", 22 "against" and one abstention, the deadline for the adoption of the Government's draft law on the reduction of expenses with service pensions, at 45 to 60 days. The leader of the Save Romania Union (USR) senators, Radu Mihail, stated that the extension of the deadline for adoption in the Senate, the first chamber notified for this bill, means "extending the agony". The acting president of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu, emphasized the importance of the bill, noting that 15 days of extra debate are necessary for an important bill. The Government's draft law aims to reduce the expenses of pensions and service allowances, a milestone included in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The changes proposed by the Government concern the calculation of service pensions starting from seniority in the specialty, the reduction of the calculation percentage related to the earned income, the minimum contribution period being similar to that applied in the public pension system. "No service pension will be able to exceed the income obtained during the active period, (...) service pensions will be calculated according to contribution," reads the statement of reasons of the draft law.AGERPRES Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca is invited on 6 March, 15:00hrs, in the Senate plenary meeting, at the "Prime Minister's Question Time" at the invitation of the Save Romania Union (USR) group to discuss the special and service pensions reform, told Agerpres. USR group leader Radu Mihail stated on Monday that he is interested to know whether the Government's draft meets the requirements established through the benchmarks of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). "The request will be sent on Monday by the Secretary General of the Senate (...) Nicolae Ciuca has many things to clarify: what is the Government's standpoint regarding the special pensions, whether the EU believes that the current approach observes he benchmarks in the PNRR or is Romania risking to lose billion of euros for the sake of party specials. Nicolae Ciuca still needs to tell us why Romania borrows more and more and with higher and higher rates; what is happening with the energy bills and the delays in issuing the cards," USR Senator Radu Mihai said. According to the USR senators' leader, the draft law which has been submitted to Parliament has "major deficiencies, does not solve the substantive problem - the recalculation of service pensions based on contribution - and risks being declared unconstitutional." Radu Mihail highlighted that the Senate Regulation stipulates that "the prime minister has the obligation to participate in the requested debate." Acting Senate President Alina Gorghiu stated that "the invitation represents an occasion for the prime minister, according to the Regulation, to come and express his point of view." "We will find the suitable date together with him, so that we can debate on this topic," Gorghiu added. The Prime Minister of the Land of Bavaria, Markus Soder, who is currently paying an official visit to Bucharest, reiterated, on Monday, his support for Romania's accession to the Schengen Area, while saying that in recent years Romania has made important progress in combating corruption and structural reforms, told Agerpres. "Today's visit is a form of appreciation that we show to Romania and the Romanian people, on the one hand, but, of course, we also start from old ties that we want to deepen. First of all, we very much appreciate the developments in Romania in the last couple of years. A few years ago, Romania was facing a difficult moment, not knowing what road to take. However, in terms of fighting corruption and initiating reforms, Romania has made great progress and deserves to be further supported," said the high-ranked German official, according to the official translation, during the joint statement with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, held at the Victoria Palace. On the occasion of the visit, a joint declaration was signed focusing on the strengthening of bilateral relations between Romania and the Land of Bavaria. On the same occasion, Soder welcomed the resumption of the activity of the Joint Governmental Committee between Romania and the Land of Bavaria. "The first meetings have already taken place between the relevant ministers, Research and Economy, but we also want to contribute and help with the training in the dual system, the training of specialized personnel. Basically, this would be the scientific aspect, there is a scientific cooperation between Bavaria and Transylvania, but we also have collaborations with partners from Bucharest, collaborations in the IT field, artificial intelligence is very important. Bavaria invests more than all other federal states in artificial intelligence," explained the German official. He added that, in the future, there will be a close collaboration in the social field as well, starting from the projects that the former Bavarian minister Barbara Stamm developed in Romania. Markus Soder mentioned that there is already good cooperation in the judicial and police fields, which must be developed. He also voiced his appreciation for the support that Romania has given and continues to give to the refugee citizens of Ukraine. "It is a great achievement and Bavaria has taken in many refugees, more than France, so basically we are also linked to this support given to Ukraine and we want to stay that way," said Soder. The Bavarian Prime Minister also highlighted the role of the Romanian community in Bavaria. "It is the joint family we are in, many Romanian citizens who live and work in Bavaria, starting with the Swabians and Saxons from Transylvania and Banat, but the Romanian community is the largest community of foreigners in Bavaria, and we are proud of them, they work very well and I wish to greet you from their new homeland to their old homeland," he said. Markus Soder pointed out the need for the development of the European Union on an equal basis. "It's not just a visit to the neighborhood, it's also the goal to continue development in Europe, it's important that in Europe we treat all partners equally. We always consider ourselves in Germany as a bridge country for South-Eastern Europe, maybe because we are a little closer and understand the mentality," he explained. The Prime Minister of the State of Bavaria reiterated his support for Romania in what concerns its access to the Schengen area. "We support Romania on its way to joining the Schengen Area. It is very important that we, in Europe, understand that here, especially, considering the situation with Ukraine and Russia, the challenges are at a completely different level. And we must not feel like teachers, but we must support each other and appreciate each other, we have seen the efforts and progress that have been made. It would also be good for Europe. We are not members of the 1st and 2nd class. We are all together and we have to support each other and we will only succeed if we support each other and not otherwise. Of course we appreciate the Austrians, we don't always understand each other, but we have a very good relationship. Of course we have different opinions, like in any family, but let's try to convince them to think at least once more about those who hold them back from agreeing to the accession," Soder also stated. Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday that he expects the government to present him a briefing on the World Bank reports on the special pensions law, noting that the bill should pass through Parliament until the end of this legislative session, told Agerpres. "A legislative draft passed through the government, it is now in Parliament, but a report came and another WB report will follow after they discussed the matter with the European Commission. I think the most appropriate way to act at this moment is to see these reports, to see if changes should be made to the version already passed by the government. I am waiting for the government to present me an information, as Chamber Speaker, after the reports reach the government's desk. (...) I don't want to respond to any speculation, I'm waiting for the government's report, because the government took responsibility for this bill and it's normal that they send me all the information they have from the World Bank," Ciolacu said at the House of Parliament. He underscored that this milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan must be fulfilled. "The debate on special pensions must be closed once and for all. I think that we, the politicians, have dallied for far too long and created far too much hope among Romanians that we will close this chapter, but each time the Constitutional Court ruled that the laws we adopted in Parliament were unconstitutional. We should pass a law in such a way that it fulfills the milestone set by former Minister Ghinea and it is also constitutional," added the Social Democrat leader, voicing his conviction that the best solutions will be found. Asked if the NRRP deadline for the bill to clear Parliament by March 15 will be met, Ciolacu replied: "Not necessarily. It is included in application No. 3. It will clear Parliament until application No. 3 is submitted." "You know that there is an extension of 2 or 3 months. It will have to pass until the end of this parliamentary session," said Ciolacu. FERGUSON Emerson elicited a collective sigh of relief from the St. Louis region last week, with word that the company will search locally for its new headquarters location. But on Monday Emersons CEO made clear that St. Louis must improve schools, reduce crime and create good jobs or risk other businesses leaving. CEO Lal Karsanbhai doubled down on his commitment to the region in an op-ed piece published in the Post-Dispatch. But he wrote that keeping his business in the St. Louis area was not a foregone conclusion. We believe in St. Louis, and we are here for the long haul, ready to do our part to help the region thrive, Karsanbhai wrote. And, sometimes, that commitment includes tough love. In the op-ed, Karsanbhai wrote that every resident should have access to quality education, regardless of ZIP code, and a decent job, he wrote. And addressing crime is critical for attracting new employers and keeping existing companies. Karsanbhai wrote that it can be tempting to think of crime as solely a city problem, but said that is an easy way to shrug off the need for widespread action. Handwringing is getting us nowhere, Karsanbhai wrote. Business leaders must come together to build a stronger community that leaves no question of its viability as a great place to grow a company. In written statements, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and a spokesman for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said they are making progress on the issues Karsanbhai called out. Page noted that the countys crime commission will reconvene later this month. Karsanbhai wrote that Emerson did not consider or accept any economic incentives as part of its decision. Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, said he hopes the Emerson decision along with Bunges 2019 decision to move its global headquarters from White Plains, New York, to Chesterfield are signs that St. Louis can compete with other major metro areas and win. But, he added, when a company thats been here for 133 years launches a headquarters review, that means that there were some questions. I just think we need to be sober-eyed to that, Hall said. Weve got a lot of work to do, and its going to take all of us going in the same direction to get it done. Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones said her citys West Florissant corridor is growing as a place for business. The Urban League established an empowerment center that holds job fairs. Young people go to the Boys & Girls Club, which helps grow their self esteem and learn skills that will help them later on when theyre looking for work. Thats a step in the right direction, Ella Jones said. When the news of the headquarters search broke in October, she and her staff started brainstorming ways to keep Emerson. The company has been a great corporate neighbor, she said, citing work Emerson has done with a local nonprofit that rehabs houses for senior citizens and veterans, and helping build a new park in Ferguson. But she also acknowledged that there is more work to be done in the region. Karsanbhais appeal on Monday was not the first time in recent years that St. Louis business leaders have publicly called for change. In 2020, Michael Neidorff, the late, former CEO of Clayton-based Centene Corp. said hed chosen to add as many as 6,000 jobs in North Carolina rather than St. Louis because of shortcomings here. He called out issues from public safety to education, lack of workforce growth and poor airport connectivity. Emerson was founded in 1890 as an electric motor and fan manufacturer. In 1940, it purchased the land along West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, and built a $10.5 million plant there. In recent years, the company has been in transition, shifting away from its consumer and residential products and toward its automation solutions business. The company disclosed the headquarters search in late October. As part of a deal to sell its Climate Technologies business, it would also sell the expansive, 200-acre Ferguson campus and search locally and elsewhere for a new home base. Last week, the company said that after a rigorous three-month review, it had decided to search within the St. Louis region. Though the Ferguson campus will be owned and occupied by Climate Technologies, an exit of the larger company would have meant the loss of a legacy business for the region and one of the largest headquartered here. I think everyone was, to a certain extent, holding their breath, said Pat Kelly, executive director of the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis. I think, from a psychological standpoint, to have another large company leave would be a real negative. FERGUSON Shauna Sharp filed the tip of the tungsten rod with a bench grinder, then walked back to her station and wrapped the cord of a welding torch around her arm. She lowered her mask, held the rod against a piece of steel shed clamped to the table and melted it. When she pulled the torch away, the steel glowed orange. Sharp, 33, of Chesterfield, has been welding since she was 16. She joined the certified welding program at St. Louis Community College to advance her skills in hopes of joining the Boilermakers union. Down the hall, another class was doing a training exercise to simulate making aerospace parts for Boeing. And in yet another classroom, students were practicing electrical wiring and motor controls, in preparation for jobs at companies like Proctor & Gamble, General Motors and Anheuser-Busch. Facing a worker shortage, companies in the St. Louis region are working in new ways with local schools to build a pipeline of students who can eventually fill open jobs in manufacturing and the trades. The companies are starting new programs and growing existing ones, and looking for new ways to creatively advertise their careers to young people. The jobs are definitely out there, Sharp said. She already had to take a five-week break for the program to fill a temporary job. Most industries have struggled to hire over the past few years. But in manufacturing, industry leaders say the staffing shortages are especially difficult, for companies large and small. Experts say thats partly because more workers are aging into retirement, and theres a shortage of people with the technical skills needed to do the work. A 2021 Deloitte study found that there may be 2.1 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2030. Its an issue nationwide, for all manufacturers, said Jay Timmons, CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers. At Melton Machine & Control Company in Washington, Missouri, about 10% of the workforce has retired over the past few years, said Glenn Archer, vice president of sales and marketing. And the companys clients are seeing the same trend. Melton Machine designs and builds automated welding systems for companies in automotive, transportation, agriculture and other industries. We all share the same sorts of pains, Archer said. We cant find people. The company even brings elementary school tours through the facility to plant a seed for when the students graduate 10 years later. St. Charles-based Diode Dynamics, which makes LED lighting products, has also been working with local technical colleges to try to find skilled workers. In some cases, said CEO Paul McCain, bringing in entry-level workers and training them on-site is the cost we have realized is necessary. Businesses didnt always go to such lengths to work with schools and advertise their career offerings to students. Its market-driven. Companies saw they needed to step up, and they really needed to lean in heavily on recruitment and training, said Timmons, of the manufacturers association. Weve seen this coming for probably the last 10 years. ... The manufacturing workforce is aging. Becky Epps, manager of St. Louis Community Colleges Center for Workforce Innovation in Ferguson, said she started hearing concerns 10 or 15 years ago from manufacturing companies facing a growing number of retirements. They started asking, she said, What are we going to do when all this knowledge leaves the building? At the same time, students became less focused on the trades. Shop classes were cut. The vocational schools werent getting as many students, Epps said. Now, she said, high schools are advertising those careers more to students. There are wait lists for courses at the workforce center. The University of Missouri-St. Louis and Washington University last month announced a new program to offer students technical training at Boeing. General Motors announced a $40,000 grant for St. Charles Community College to study ways to integrate advanced manufacturing into its curriculum. Companies are battling for students attention and to change old perceptions about manufacturing jobs. Archer, of Melton Machine, said companies are delivering a message to guidance counselors, and anyone else who talks to students: Its a cool job. Its a hard sell for the students until they come in here and see what its like, he said. Weve got white lights everywhere. You could eat off the floor. ... And weve got 150 robots in various stages of getting put together. Pregnant and scared, Natasha Valle went to a Tennova Healthcare hospital in Clarksville, Tenn., in January 2021 because she was bleeding. She didnt know much about miscarriage, but this seemed like one. In the emergency room, she was examined then sent home, she said. She went back when her cramping became excruciating. Then home again. It ultimately took three trips to the ER on three consecutive days, generating three separate bills, before she saw a doctor who looked at her bloodwork and confirmed her fears. At the time I wasnt thinking, Oh, I need to see a doctor,' Valle recalled. But when you think about it, its like, Well dang why didnt I see a doctor? Its unclear whether the repeat visits were due to delays in seeing a physician, but the experience worried her. And shes still paying the bills. The hospital declined to discuss Valles care, citing patient privacy. But 17 months before her three-day ordeal, Tennova had outsourced its emergency rooms to American Physician Partners, a medical staffing company owned by private equity investors. APP employs fewer doctors in its ERs as one of its cost-saving initiatives to increase earnings, according to a confidential company document obtained by Kaiser Health News and NPR. This staffing strategy has permeated hospitals, and particularly emergency rooms, that seek to reduce their top expense: physician labor. While diagnosing and treating patients was once their domain, doctors are increasingly being replaced by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, collectively known as midlevel practitioners, who can perform many of the same duties and generate much of the same revenue for less than half of the pay. APP has numerous cost saving initiatives underway as part of the Companys continual focus on cost optimization, the document says, including a shift of staffing between doctors and midlevel practitioners. In a statement to Kaiser Health News, American Physician Partners said this strategy is a way to ensure all ERs remain fully staffed, calling it a blended model that allows doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide care to their fullest potential. Critics of this strategy say the quest to save money results in treatment meted out by someone with far less training than a physician, leaving patients vulnerable to misdiagnoses, higher medical bills, and inadequate care. And these fears are bolstered by evidence that suggests dropping doctors from ERs may not be good for patients. A working paper, published in October by the National Bureau of Economic Research, analyzed roughly 1.1 million visits to 44 ERs throughout the Veterans Health Administration, where nurse practitioners can treat patients without oversight from doctors. Researchers found that treatment by a nurse practitioner resulted on average in a 7% increase in cost of care and an 11% increase in length of stay, extending patients time in the ER by minutes for minor visits and hours for longer ones. These gaps widened among patients with more severe diagnoses, the study said, but could be somewhat mitigated by nurse practitioners with more experience. The study also found that ER patients treated by a nurse practitioner were 20% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital for a preventable reason within 30 days, although the overall risk of readmission remained very small. Yiqun Chen, who is an assistant professor of economics at the University of Illinois-Chicago and co-authored the study, said these findings are not an indictment of nurse practitioners in the ER. Instead, she said, she hopes the study will guide how to best deploy nurse practitioners: in treatment of simpler patients or circumstances when no doctor is available. Its not just a simple question of if we can substitute physicians with nurse practitioners or not, Chen said. It depends on how we use them. If we just use them as independent providers, especially for relatively complicated patients, it doesnt seem to be a very good use. Chens research echoes smaller studies, like one from The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute that found nonphysician practitioners in ERs were associated with a 5.3% increase in imaging, which could unnecessarily increase bills for patients. Separately, a study at the Hattiesburg Clinic in Mississippi found that midlevel practitioners in primary care not in the emergency department increased the out-of-pocket costs to patients while also leading to worse performance on nine of 10 quality-of-care metrics, including cancer screenings and vaccination rates. But definitive evidence remains elusive that replacing ER doctors with nonphysicians has a negative impact on patients, said Dr. Cameron Gettel, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Yale. Private equity investment and the use of midlevel practitioners rose in lockstep in the ER, Gettel said, and in the absence of game-changing research, the pattern will likely continue. Worse patient outcomes havent really been shown across the board, he said. And I think until that is shown, then they will continue to play an increasing role. For private equity, dropping ER docs is a simple equation Private equity companies pool money from wealthy investors to buy their way into various industries, often slashing spending and seeking to flip businesses in three to seven years. While this business model is a proven moneymaker on Wall Street, it raises concerns in health care, where critics worry the pressure to turn big profits will influence life-or-death decisions that were once left solely to medical professionals. Nearly $1 trillion in private equity funds have gone into almost 8,000 health care transactions over the past decade, according to industry tracker PitchBook, including buying into medical staffing companies that many hospitals hire to manage their emergency departments. Two firms dominate the ER staffing industry: TeamHealth, bought by private equity firm Blackstone in 2016, and Envision Healthcare, bought by KKR in 2018. Trying to undercut these staffing giants is American Physician Partners, a rapidly expanding company that runs ERs in at least 17 states and is 50% owned by private equity firm BBH Capital Partners. These staffing companies have been among the most aggressive in replacing doctors to cut costs, said Dr. Robert McNamara, a founder of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and chair of emergency medicine at Temple University. Its a relatively simple equation, McNamara said. Their No. 1 expense is the board-certified emergency physician. So they are going to want to keep that expense as low as possible. Not everyone sees the trend of private equity in ER staffing in a negative light. Jennifer Orozco, president of the American Academy of Physician Associates, which represents physician assistants, said even if the change to use more nonphysician providers is driven by the staffing firms desire to make more money, patients are still well served by a team approach that includes nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Though I see that shift, its not about profits at the end of the day, Orozco said. Its about the patient. The shift is nearly invisible to patients because hospitals rarely promote branding from their ER staffing firms and there is little public documentation of private equity investments. Dr. Arthur Smolensky, a Tennessee emergency medicine specialist attempting to measure private equitys intrusion into ERs, said his review of hospital job postings and employment contracts in 14 major metropolitan areas found that 43% of ER patients were seen in ERs staffed by companies with nonphysician owners, nearly all of whom are private equity investors. Smolensky hopes to publish his full study, expanding to 55 metro areas, later this year. But this research will merely quantify what many doctors already know: The ER has changed. Demoralized by an increased focus on profit, and wary of a looming surplus of emergency medicine residents because there are fewer jobs to fill, many experienced doctors are leaving the ER on their own, he said. Most of us didnt go into medicine to supervise an army of people that are not as well trained as we are, Smolensky said. We want to take care of patients. I guess were the first guinea pigs for our ER Joshua Allen, a nurse practitioner at a small Kentucky hospital, snaked a rubber hose through a rack of pork ribs to practice inserting a chest tube to fix a collapsed lung. It was 2020, and American Physician Partners was restructuring the ER where Allen worked, reducing shifts from two doctors to one. Once Allen had placed 10 tubes under a doctors supervision, he would be allowed to do it on his own. I guess were the first guinea pigs for our ER, he said. If we do have a major trauma and multiple victims come in, theres only one doctor there. We need to be prepared. Allen is one of many midlevel practitioners finding work in emergency departments. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are among the fastest-growing occupations in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Generally, they have masters degrees and receive several years of specialized schooling but have significantly less training than doctors. Many are permitted to diagnose patients and prescribe medication with little or no supervision from a doctor, although limitations vary by state. The Neiman Institute found that the share of ER visits in which a midlevel practitioner was the main clinician increased by more than 172% between 2005 and 2020. Another study, in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, reported that if trends continue there may be equal numbers of midlevel practitioners and doctors in ERs by 2030. There is little mystery as to why. Federal data shows emergency medicine doctors are paid about $310,000 a year on average, while nurse practitioners and physician assistants earn less than $120,000. Generally, hospitals can bill for care by a midlevel practitioner at 85% the rate of a doctor while paying them less than half as much. Private equity can make millions in the gap. For example, Envision once encouraged ERs to employ the least expensive resource and treat up to 35% of patients with midlevel practitioners, according to a 2017 PowerPoint presentation. The presentation drew scorn on social media and disappeared from Envisions website. Envision declined a request for a phone interview. In a written statement to Kaiser Health News, spokesperson Aliese Polk said the company does not direct its physician leaders on how to care for patients and called the presentation a concept guide that does not represent current views. American Physician Partners touted roughly the same staffing strategy in 2021 in response to the No Surprises Act, which threatened the companys profits by outlawing surprise medical bills. In its confidential pitch to lenders, the company estimated it could cut almost $6 million by shifting more staffing from physicians to midlevel practitioners. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Joe Holleman Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Joe Holleman 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 Making her way to the south end of her district, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, stopped in Monday to visit with the staff and children at the Riverbend Head Start program in Granite City. Showing some serious skills with crayons and safety scissors, Budzinski joined one class of youngsters crafting cards for the Valentines For Veterans program. I could stay here all day, Budzinski said as she pared a heart from construction paper to put on a card. This is a great stop. Budzinski is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and also serves on its health subcommittee. She started the program last month and will distribute the cards her office has received to veterans in her district. The Riverbend organization has two locations in Granite City and serves about 550 children in the Metro East area. After a 90-minute visit that included a bunch of hugs and a bit of dancing, Budzinski said her days visit to the area would evolve into more serious issues: She planned to meet later Monday with retired members of the United Steelworkers. The Granite City Steel situation is one Im watching closely and plan to be involved with, said Budzinski, who garnered strong union support in her 2022 election win. Last year, U.S. Steel announced plans to sell a large portion of the mill to Chicago-based SunCoke Energy. The company was formed in 1896 and was known as Granite City Steel for more than 70 years. In the 1970s, it became National Steel; then the Granite City Works after U.S. Steel bought the company in 2003. The sale of the mill, which now has about 1,500 employees, would likely reduce the workforce by two-thirds over a two-year period. Thats up to 900 jobs moving to Arkansas, Budzinski said. And thats not good. ST. LOUIS A 25-year-old man was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon at a Mobil gas station in St. Louis' Mark Twain neighborhood. Police found Jerry Savage Jr., of Dellwood, lying on the ground at about 2:45 p.m. in the gas station parking at 4540 North Union Boulevard. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. St. Louis police have not named a suspect in the case. Police ask anyone with information on the shooting to call detectives at 314-444-5371. People who would like to remain anonymous to possibly receive a reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. CAHOKIA HEIGHTS Police were investigating on Monday the death of a man in a house fire here, the second in less than a week. Cahokia Heights police Detective Jamal Jackson said Monday that the latest fire was reported just before 9 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of St. Leo Drive, near Illinois Highway 157. Jackson identified the victim as 69-year-old Gary Limestall, a resident of the home on St. Leo. Police officers who arrived first to the burning home forced open a door but were pushed back by heavy smoke, Jackson said. Firefighters soon found Limestall inside but he was already dead, Jackson said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, as is a fire from Feb. 7 that killed two men and injured five others at a home in the 200 block of North 45th Street, off of Grand Street. The men who died in that blaze were Larry Wetzel, 82, and Bob Tierce, 78. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, along with a bystander who tried to help. A third man who lived at the home on 45th Street was critically injured; Jackson on Monday said the man was still hospitalized. Investigators from the Cahokia Heights Police Department, the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Illinois State Police are working to find out what caused the fires, Jackson said. "Every possible angle is being investigated," he said. "We will get to the bottom of it." The two homes that burned are about six miles apart. "We haven't noticed any connection between the two," Jackson said. "Just seems like more of a tragic event, and the community has to come together." In May 2021, Alorton, Cahokia and Centreville merged to become Cahokia Heights. Police are searching for three boys who escaped from a juvenile detention facility in north St. Louis County early Monday morning. St. Louis County police Officer Adrian Washington said police were told at 5 a.m. Monday that the boys ran away from Missouri Hills, a detention facility at 13300 Bellefontaine Road. Washington didn't provide any other details about the escape or provide the boys' ages. Washington said he didn't know why the boys had been sent there. The Missouri Division of Youth Services runs the facility. DYS is part of the Missouri Department of Social Services. A spokeswoman for that agency, Heather Dolce, said confidentiality laws kept her from commenting about the boys. In general, Dolce said, the agency works with police to find runaways and reviews what happened to see something should be changed to increase safety. JEFFERSON CITY A week after the Missouri House advanced a plan to make it harder for voters to change Missouris constitution, a Senate panel took up the issue Monday as one of its top priorities for 2023. Over an initial three-hour hearing, members outlined a package of proposed changes that would raise the bar on the ability of voters to place questions on the ballot, while also raising the threshold for how the initiatives can be approved. Republican lawmakers want to crack down on initiative petitions after voters approved a series of progressive-leaning ballot questions, ranging from making marijuana legal to expanding the Medicaid program. The move comes as abortion-rights supporters have said they are considering a ballot question asking Missourians to overturn the states ban on nearly all abortions. GOP lawmakers, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, said altering state laws and rights should be not be left to voters. People do not know what they are voting on, said Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, who wants the threshold for passage of ballot questions to be raised from a simple majority to two-thirds of the votes cast. But while the matter has been pushed by Republicans who control all the levers of state government, not all conservatives are in favor of the various plans. Fred Steinbach, state finance director under former Republican Gov. John Ashcroft and the first mayor of Chesterfield, said the Legislature should reject the proposed changes. In 1992, my former boss John Ashcroft vetoed similar attacks on the process, Steinbach said. At the time, Democrats were pushing to make it harder for voters to approve amendments after the passage of the Hancock Amendment, which has guided state tax policy for three decades. Others called the citizen-led petition process is a sacred and trusted constitutional right. It gives voters the freedom to determine the laws that govern us and serves as a fundamental check and balance on the Legislature, said former Sen. Bob Johnson, R-Lees Summit. Other groups, including the Missouri chapter of the League of Women Voters, also weighed in against the proposals pending before the Senate Committee on Elections and Elected Officials. The Missouri Realtors Association opposes the changes and has signaled it will mount a campaign to defeat any proposals if they make it to the ballot. The Senate hearing came after the GOP majority in the House voted 106-50 to require ballot initiatives to get at least 60% support from voters in order to go into effect. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Mike Henderson, R-Bonne Terre, also would require public forums in all eight of Missouris congressional districts, in an attempt to help raise awareness about suggested constitutional changes. If passed by lawmakers, the proposed amendment would need voter approval. Along with Hendersons House Joint Resolution 43, senators have introduced plans to require passage of amendments to receive at least two-thirds support from voters, which would have resulted in the failure of nearly all contested initiatives. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, warned Republicans that they may be in the minority someday, leaving the ballot process as one of their only avenues to changing state law. This is something that was utilized by Republicans. The pendulum swings. I would be very wary of making changes like this, Rizzo said. Sen. Jill Carter, R-Neosho, is sponsoring Senate Joint Resolution 28 to require questions to receive a majority vote in all 163 House districts, which would essentially allow rural areas of the state to veto initiatives favored by the states bluer, urban areas. Sen. Sandy Crawford, R-Buffalo, is pushing for a plan to require people who collect signatures to be registered to vote in Missouri, thus ending a practice where out-of-state workers are brought in by signature gathering companies. Under Senate Bill 102, Crawford said only Missourians should be involved in the process of altering Missouri laws. But Denise Lieberman, testifying on behalf of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, said such a ban should be rejected. As it stands now, this measure is unconstitutional, Lieberman said. Others said lawmakers should leave the process alone. It is direct, pure democracy. We should not undermine democracy, said Angie Dunlap, a south St. Louis County resident. No votes were taken Monday on the legislation presented to the panel. Originally posted at 4:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13. A legal fight over how much tax can be collected on marijuana sales is brewing between county leaders, the pot industry and the state of Missouri. When Missourians voted to legalize recreational marijuana, they also legalized taxing it. Counties want to tax sales at dispensaries in their unincorporated areas as well as in municipalities, which would stack a county tax on top of any municipal tax. Marijuana lobbyists say their amendment made that illegal. I think its going to end up in court eventually, one way or the other, said St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. Voters in dozens of St. Louis-area counties and municipalities, and at least 70 counties statewide, will be voting on April 4 whether to allow their local governments to tax pot at up to 3%. The local sales tax would be added to the 6% state tax on recreational marijuana. But the debate over taxation could extend well beyond April. Meanwhile, the Missouri Association of Counties is telling local leaders to put forth ballot language that would allow them to tax across the board, said Steve Hobbs, the lobbyist groups executive director. Counties historically have had the ability to put that on the ballot and any taxes countywide are collected in the cities regardless, Hobbs said. The cities reside within the county, not the other way around. But people who worked on the legalization campaign say the voters of Missouri made their decision and prohibiting local governments from stacking taxes was part of the deal. They can write it that way, but it contradicts the amendment, said John Payne, who directed the Legal Missouri, the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana. The Missouri Department of Revenue emailed local government leaders last week saying Legal Missouris constitutional amendment prohibits stacking taxes. So counties would only be allowed to collect tax in unincorporated areas. But the Missouri Association of Counties pushed back, Hobbs said. On Friday, the department sent out another letter rescinding its previous decision. Going forward, the Department will not advise municipalities or counties regarding the possibility of stacking, because the constitutional amendment is too ambiguous, the letter stated. St. Louis County initially sought to only tax sales in unincorporated areas, but council members eventually approved a revised bill that removed mention of the word unincorporated. County Executive Sam Pages office believes their legislation is proper, said Doug Moore, a spokesman for Page. And St. Charles County also believes counties can impose a tax in both unincorporated and incorporated areas, Ehlmann said. The countys attorneys prepared a legal opinion saying as much. The fight could extend into the fall, but that may not affect tax collection, Hobbs said. Counties wouldnt be able to start collecting sales tax revenue on pot until Oct. 1 anyway because of bureaucratic delays, he said. That gives us time to work with the Department of Revenue on trying to figure out how this all fits into Missouri law and for everybody to decide next steps. If counties were to tax pot on top of the state and municipalities, it would amount to a total 12% tax, according to Pat Kelly, executive director of the Municipal League of Metropolitan St. Louis. And if taxes were higher in municipalities than in unincorporated county territory, its unlikely to change voters minds or consumer shopping habits, Kelly added. I dont think people conscientiously say, This sales tax is higher here than over there, Kelly said. Generally speaking, the voters consider whether the county needs it and whether the municipalities need it and then they vote accordingly. What does the law say? Both sides of the debate say the constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana is on their side. The pot industry points to a part of the constitutional amendment they say prohibits tax stacking: The only local government ordinances and regulations that are binding on a marijuana facility are those of the local government where the marijuana facility is located. But the attorney for St. Charles County says that language doesnt stop a county from taxing in municipalities. Another line in the amendment says no more than a 3% tax may be imposed on sales in such a political subdivision. There is no definition for that phrase, St. Charles County Acting County Counselor Rory OSullivan pointed out in a Feb. 2 letter to the Department of Revenue. As the plain wording of the amendment does not limit the tax to sales within a local government, it follows that it applies instead to recreational marijuana sold in the political subdivision as a whole, OSullivan wrote. The only reasonable conclusion is that the term 'political subdivision' has a separate and distinct meaning from the definition of local government. OSullivan goes on to point out that all county voters will vote on a county tax and that all other county sales taxes are applied countywide, not just in unincorporated areas. For the foregoing reasons, St. Charles County respectfully requests that the Department of Revenue revisit this issue with the utmost haste and revise its interpretation in harmony with the existing constitutional and statutory taxation framework, and with the plain language of Amendment 3, OSullivan wrote. Revenue isnt taking sides. At the moment, neither interpretation is absolute, its letter stated. If necessary, courts are tasked with interpreting constitutional language. Nassim Benchaabane of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Editor's note: This story was updated shortly after 1:15 p.m. Monday to correct the percentage tax on recreational marijuana sales. On a sale with 6% state, 3% county and 3% municipal taxes, the tax rate would be 12%. JEFFERSON CITY Although Gov. Mike Parson says a ban on using TikTok on state-owned phones is not needed, that isnt stopping his Republican counterparts in the House and Senate from pushing for prohibitions against the Chinese-owned app. In a hearing Monday, Rep. Adam Schnelting, R-St. Peters, outlined what hes calling the Anti-Surveillance and Foreign Intervention Act, which would prohibit elected officials and state employees from downloading or using any app owned by the Chinese government on their state-owned electronic device. It puts Missouri data at risk, Schnelting said. Schneltings proposal received bipartisan support from other members of the panel. I have a TikTok account. I understand the implications. It is going to be interesting how this moves even in the next five years, said Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore, a south St. Louis County Democrat. The push comes amid renewed concerns about Chinas surveillance of the U.S. after President Joe Biden ordered the military to shoot down a spy balloon that had floated over the U.S. two weeks ago. Since then, the military has taken down three other unidentified objects that were flying about North America. But Parson has previously said he wasnt planning to join other governors in banning the app because he believes current state computer policies already limit its use on state-owned equipment. State employees are monitored for social media platform downloads, which are prohibited if the apps dont apply directly to their jobs. An application is allowed on state employees work devices if it allows them to perform and fulfill their job duties. However, the administrations Office of Cyber Security monitors the devices for any potentially malicious downloads that could compromise and harm the state network. Some agencies in Missouri have reserved handles on TikTok but have not posted messages on the platform, they said. The Missouri Division of Tourism, for example, reserved the VisitMo name, but a spokeswoman said officials have no plans to use it. That approach was rejected in other states, where governors in Iowa, Alabama, Oklahoma and other states banned the app in December, arguing it could allow Beijing to mine government data. Congress also recently banned TikTok from most U.S. government-issued devices over bipartisan concerns about security. The spy balloon has given new urgency for state officials to react to it. Senate President Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, announced last week the formation of a new committee that will handle legislation related to potential incursions by foreign countries into the state. The panels name will be the Senate Select Committee on Protection of Missouri Assets from Foreign Adversaries. No vote was taken on Schneltings proposal Monday. The legislation is House Bill 919. Originally posted at 12:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13. Last week, Emerson announced it is keeping its global headquarters in the St. Louis area, building on a 130-year presence that has seen both the company and the region experience significant transformation. Staying in St. Louis was an intentional selection, made after carefully researching other attractive options. Emerson has not considered nor accepted any economic incentives in making this decision. We believe in St. Louis, and we are here for the long haul, ready to do our part to help the region thrive. And, sometimes, that commitment includes tough love. The St. Louis region stands at a crossroads. As companies reconsider real estate footprints amid workforce changes, the region runs a clear risk of businesses asking themselves whether, when looking at a new facility, should they be looking at a new city as well. We had that conversation ourselves, and it played out publicly in news headlines. Our reasons to stay are plentiful. The area has big city amenities while offering an affordable cost of living compared to many of the areas we considered. St. Louis has world-class attractions, family-friendly venues, top-notch healthcare and education options, and a burgeoning arts and culture scene. We are proud of the legacy Emerson has created here, a tradition of charitable giving that extends to employees who are engaged community members across countless boards and volunteer opportunities. But St. Louis has much further to go to compete for companies with less attachment to the region than Emerson. Turning the tide will require ensuring everyone has equitable access to three vital needs: a good education, a safe community and a decent job. Education plants the seeds for a better life, and we have to help people get on the right path much earlier. The St. Louis region must prioritize access to quality education that is not dependent on living in the right zip code. Last year, Emerson announced a pledge to devote $200 million of our charitable contributions to address education equity in the communities where we operate, going to nonprofit organizations offering results-oriented programs and initiatives that seek to bring quality education to children, with an emphasis on early childhood and student services needs in under-resourced communities. There must be a long-overdue full-court press to meet educational needs in the community. Likewise, there is an urgent demand to address public safety concerns. Even as homicide and violent crime dropped nationwide in 2022, the Council on Criminal Justice noted St. Louis stayed flat in murder rates. St. Louis has once again been tagged as one of the most dangerous cities in America, with the highest per-capita crime on one recent analysis. People can argue the methodology of this ranking, but it feeds public perceptions that are reinforced by the crime reports we see on evening newscasts and in morning papers. While the barren streets of downtown tempt us to scapegoat this as a city problem, that conclusion is an easy way to shrug off the need for widespread action as west St. Louis County carjackings have left people debating the safest way to fill their cars with gas. Addressing crime is critical to attracting new employers and creating more jobs. The United Way, Greater St. Louis Inc. and the Regional Business Council are three dedicated organizations working to create a better community and destination for the worlds top talent. Their efforts will be in vain if we cannot find creative solutions to core challenges that have plagued St. Louis for decades. I love St. Louis. It is where I choose to raise my family and why I support keeping businesses here. It is also why I am issuing a challenge to the regions business community: Words are no longer enough. Handwringing is getting us nowhere. Business leaders must come together to build a stronger community that leaves no question of its viability as a great place to grow a company. We dont have the answer, but together, with shared understanding of the needs, we can make a difference. We are ready to help lead that conversation.Emersons careful deliberation drove a clear selection: The company chose to keep our corporate headquarters here, and we are all-in on bettering the region. But if the business community does not work together in an honest, transparent manner to fix the issues we face, other companies will begin deliberations on their own future here. And I fear they may reach different conclusions. Lal Karsanbhai is president and chief executive officer of Emerson. The Republican obsession with proving Twitter conspired with Democrats and the FBI against conservatives boomeranged during a House hearing last week, exposing the wispiness of one of the new majoritys favorite made-up scandals. One ex-Twitter executive testified that the platform actually recast its moderation rules to avoid having to ban former President Donald Trump for violating them, before finally booting him in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Others denied any government involvement in Twitters handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story. Isnt it time these servants of the people stopped wasting the peoples time and money chasing partisan phantoms? Its beyond debate that Biden, the presidents son, has engaged in shady and possibly illegal business dealings, which is why hes the subject of a Department of Justice investigation a real one, unlike the House Oversight Committees hearing on Wednesday. It was an oafish GOP attempt to embarrass three of the partys favorite bogeymen these days: President Joe Biden, the FBI and Silicon Valley. To say it blew up in their faces like a gag cigar is putting it mildly. The putative subject of the hearing was to determine why Twitter in 2020 initially blocked its users from sharing a New York Post story about suspicious data discovered in a laptop Hunter Biden had owned. The social-media platform, like other outlets, says it was because of reasonable concerns early on about both the accuracy of the information and the legality of how it came to the newspaper. Republicans have asserted, based on nothing, that the platform was pressured by the FBI to tamp down the story for Joe Bidens sake. Its part of a broader narrative on the right that says, again with scant evidence, that mainstream social-media sites are in cahoots with liberals and against conservatives. So how disappointing it must have been to committee Republicans when key former Twitter executives they called into the hearing testified under oath that there was no government or Democratic involvement in the handling of the Biden story. And how they must have wished they hadnt even uncorked this bottle when a witness further testified that, in fact, the company scuttled its standing prohibition on abusive language toward immigrants so it wouldnt have to ban then-President Trump for his infamous, racist tweet in 2019 saying several American-born congresswomen of color should go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. In the words of one of those congresswomen, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, who participated in last weeks hearing: So much for bias against [the] right-wing on Twitter. Maybe the GOPs plan to spend the next two years in retaliatory investigations against Biden isnt such a bad thing after all. Not if they all go like this. A decade ago, when Missouris Republican-controlled Legislature was primarily concerned with serving big agriculture and major campaign contributors, it rewrote state law to let a Chinese company acquire more than 40,000 acres of land here. Now, todays ruling Republicans are scrambling to undo that shady deal in light of the Chinese spy balloon that drifted over Missouri this month. Better late than never. The story of how China got a foothold in Missouri in 2013 says a lot about Republicans overwhelming fealty to big business at the time and about the importance of campaign contribution limits in politics. Missouri had no such limits in 2013 (the voters would impose them three years later), so when Smithfield Foods, the worlds largest pork producer, needed lawmakers help, they were able to generously grease the skids. Smithfield that year was trying to sell itself to a Chinese conglomerate, which would turn over control of 42,000 acres of Missouri hog-farm operations and other land to the Hong Kong-based company. But Missouri law prohibited foreign ownership of agricultural land here. So lawmakers most of whom had received thousands or in some cases tens of thousands of dollars from Smithfield quickly rewrote the law to allow foreign ownership of up to 1% of Missouris agricultural land. When then-Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed the legislation, the Legislature overrode him. Critics at the time warned of food security dangers if a foreign adversary controlled a big chunk of Missouris agricultural industry. But the mostly Republican lawmakers who approved the deal were more interested in kowtowing to big ag and its deep pockets. A decade later, the GOP isnt so much conservative as populist and is less focused on (or at least not as blunt about) coddling industry than engaging in culture-war crusades and chest-thumping foreign policy, especially toward China. Which makes it unsurprising, if ironic, that state Senate President Caleb Rowden last week announced formation of a committee to address land ownership by China and other adversarial countries. The issue has been bubbling awhile, and the fact that the Chinese spy balloon floated right over Missouri has clearly added urgency to it. The committee is a good idea. But no one should forget whys even necessary. Most of the lawmakers who approved the Smithfield deal are no longer in office, but at least two remain prominent: Current Gov. Mike Parson and U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, were both state senators at the time. Both had accepted campaign contributions from Smithfield, and both voted to help China gain control over Missouri land. Why has this been allowed to reach our heartland? Parson demanded via Twitter during the balloons journey as if he and his fellow tough-talking Republicans didnt personally roll out the welcome mat for Chinas much earlier incursion here. Child Tax Credit should be expanded to fight poverty President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address that he wants to get more family access to more affordable and quality housing. He also said he wants to address poverty in America. We have a great opportunity to support this agenda and address poverty through the Child Tax Credit. In 2021, Congress expanded the Child Tax Credit, and child poverty immediately plummeted. Parents finally had the freedom and flexibility to cover rent, food and utilities when they needed it most at monthly bill time. But 51 senators let the payments expire in December 2021. Now that progress has all but disappeared. Child poverty has increased, parents cant afford childcare, and millions still struggle to afford basic necessities. We have the solution to child poverty. A lack of political will in Congress is the only thing stopping us from doing it. Our representatives and senators have the power to make this right. If Congress passes tax legislation this year, an expansion of the Child Tax Credit to all low-income families with monthly payments must be in it. Missouri Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt should work to pass an expansion of the tax credit and a renters tax credit. Sarah Miller University City Editorial decorum criticism of Republicans was hypocritical Regarding the editorial Middle-school antics replace time-honored civility during State of the Union, (Feb. 8): The editorial shock about the lack of decorum by congressional Republicans noted that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up then-President Donald Trumps State of the Union Speech on national TV. But I feel that action deserved more attention. What a great example of decorum. When Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan was elected in 2018, she used an expletive in reference to her desire to impeach President Donald Trump. What an awesome display of respect and decorum. I dont recall the Post-Dispatch writing an editorial condemning her words, but thats par for the course, in my opinion. An editorial on Josh Hawley and his cravenness is also dubious (More hot air from Hawley about the Chinese balloon, Feb. 8). During the week-long flight of the Chinese spy balloon floating across the U.S., I saw interviews with former military generals, intelligence officials and national security personnel who had the same view as Hawley. They opined that the balloon should have been shot down over sparsely populated Idaho or Montana. Their reasoning? It would be easier to recover intelligence from the balloon over land than recovering it from the ocean. Are they all craven as well? Martin W. Gallagher Oakville Hawleys call for China balloon shoot-down disregarded risks Regarding the editorial More hot air from Hawley (Feb. 9): Did Sen. Josh Hawley never study Greek history and mythology at the fancy schools he went to? Maybe he never heard of the Trojan Horse. I am not any kind of military genius, but the first thing I wondered was what is in it and whether it could contain radioactive material or explosives or dangerous new viruses. Even I, as an average citizen, knew that it couldnt just be shot down immediately without considering consequences or investigating further. Knee-jerk reactions are not the way to lead or govern. Im glad Hawley was not in charge and saner minds prevailed. No one got hurt, and we are gaining important intelligence from the recovered debris. And after all that, the information gathered by China was likely not much more than what they were already getting from satellites. Sue Jarrett Oakland Antics at speech justifies bringing back written tradition Im discouraged but not surprised by recent State of the Union antics from members of Congress. My long-term hope is that this will encourage a return to what every president between Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson did: They submitted a State of the Union address to Congress in writing and did not give a speech. Think of the posturing, posing and rehearsed histrionics we could avoid by doing this. Jim Roach St Louis Assigning citizen rights to unborn has big implications Missouri Republicans cant stop trying to undermine personal freedom in their newest fanatical, anti-choice legislation. Apparently, their abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest is not enough. Now, state Senate Bill 356 provides a fertilized egg the classification of an unborn child and gives those unborn children all the rights, privileges and immunities available to Missouri citizens. If thats the case, I think Republicans should add amendments to this bill guaranteeing that each fertilized zygote is assigned a Social Security number as soon as it is detected; that the father must pay child support backdated to the date of conception (with genetic testing provided if his identity is un-confirmed); that full health care and disability benefits be guaranteed to the pregnant mother, because lack of maternal healthcare and lack of prenatal care endangers unborn babies; and that parents may claim any Missouri tax deduction available now or in the future for dependent children, backdated to the date of conception. Helena Webb Ballwin Read letters online at STLToday.com The Russians have been surprised and dismayed by the ability of Ukrainian aircraft, especially unmanned jet or propeller driven autonomous systems, to evade the elaborate and supposedly effective Russian air defense system. Effective it wasnt as the Ukrainians carried out several spectacular attacks in the last few months that were deep inside Russia, some not far from the capital Moscow. Blowing up airbases or missile storage sites is one thing, but the targets could also be the senior military and political officials running the war against Ukraine. So far the Ukrainians appear to believe that missiles and military aircraft that carry them are more important and less easy to replace than the military and political officials in change of wartime operations. The successful Ukrainian attacks on air bases near Moscow called into question claims that the air defenses around Moscow were effective. In response the Russian air defense forces have added short-range SAM (surface to air missile) systems like Pantsir S-1 to tall buildings around key military headquarters or places where senior leaders (like Vladimir Putin) live or work. This may not work because thats been the experience with Pantsir. Russia has long been unsure about how effective its new short-range anti-aircraft systems actually are. In 2020 the troubled Pantsir S1 (SA-22) anti-aircraft system was given more chances to be useful in combat. A new version, Pantsir S1M, was shown in public for the first time in a 2020 Moscow parade. S1M was first made public earlier at the IDEX 2019 trade show. S1M systems didnt reach users and new customers until after 2021. In other words, recently. It was specifically noted that the S1M model had changes based on combat experience in Syria and Libya. That combat experience was disastrous, with over twenty Pantsir S1 vehicles destroyed by Turkish and Israeli aircraft and electronic countermeasures. Most of the losses were incurred in Libya where Russia supplied one of the two factions (the LNA or Libyan National Army) fighting a civil war there with over 20 Pantsir S1 vehicles. Most were lost to Turkish TB2 UAVs firing laser-guided missiles after the Pantsir S1s had been blinded by Turkish Koral jammers. Israel used similar tactics in Syria. The Pantsir S1M is equipped with a new, 75-kilometer range, radar plus an advanced electro-optical target tracking system. Electro-optical systems cannot be blinded easily and certainly not by electronic jammers. The S1M is now equipped to detect and take down all manner of UAVs, no matter what their size or operating capabilities. S1M now uses a new missile with a range of 30 kilometers and an improved internal guidance system. At the same time, there has been a less publicized effort by the Russian army and navy to obtain a new system to replace Pantsir, which they have lost confidence in. Given the dismal state of the defense budget, it may be a while before a Pantsir replacement can be developed and delivered. Meanwhile, Russia is apparently going to put the S1M model to the test in actual combat. While Turkey and Russia are allies, they avoid killing each others personnel in Syria and Libya and the new Pantsir S1M would be out to destroy Turkish UAVs. That will cost Turkey some hardware and reputation if S1M works but wont do the kind of diplomatic damage Russians killing Turkish troops does. Pantsir-S1 is a mobile, truck-mounted system. Each vehicle carries a radar, two 30mm cannon and twelve Tunguska missiles. The original 90 kg (198 pound) missiles had a twenty-kilometer range and the radar a 30-40-kilometer range. The missile was designed to hit targets at up to 8,400 meters (26,000 feet). The new Tunguska was heavier, had a longer (30 kilometers) range and presumably could hit targets at higher altitudes. The 30mm cannon is effective up to 3,200 meters (10,000 feet). The vehicle can vary, but the most common one carrying all this weighs 20 tons and has a crew of three. Each Pantsir-S1 vehicle-mounted system costs about $15 million, the S1M costs about a third more. Typically, four to six Pantsir vehicles are organized as a battalion along with a command post and support vehicles. Larger numbers of Pantsir vehicles are organized into a regiment of two or three battalions and more support vehicles. These consist of electronic and mechanical repair vehicles as well as other vehicles carrying spare parts and missile reloads and 30mm ammunition. There is also a system simulator that is carried in a truck or trailer. Russia has made a tremendous investment in Pantsir and does not want to scrap the system. If S1M doesnt work in combat, Pantsir will have to go if only because its survival depends so much on export customers. Russia has already gone to extraordinary lengths to protect Pantsir in the media. In a rare instance of Russian media damage control, Valery Slugin, the lead designer of the Pantsir-S1 air defense system, gave an interview to a Russian newspaper in early 2020. Slugin explained how a Syrian Pantsir vehicle was destroyed by Israel forces in early 2019. The Israelis released a video of the incident. Slugin explained that it was the fault of the Syrian crew, which had fired all of their missiles and were waiting for the missile resupply vehicle. Meanwhile, the Israelis noted the missiles being fired, found the Pantsir and destroyed it with a missile. Slugin explained that if the Pantsir crew had moved the vehicle the Israelis might not have found and destroyed it. Slugin also stated that this Pantsir had just destroyed eight targets, presumably Israeli cruise missiles, while firing its twelve missiles. The Israelis reported that the target of their cruise missiles was destroyed and only two cruise missiles failed to hit the target. Nevertheless, the state-owned Russian firm that developed, manufactured and marketed Pantsir to export customers felt it necessary to let the world know what they believed actually happened. Russian media also released a video of Pantsir missiles exploding in the air. In response, Israel revealed that the cause of this was that its Delilah cruise missiles carry a radar jammer that makes Pantsir lose track of their target. When that happens Pantsir missiles self-destruct rather than hit the ground and risk friendly casualties. Russia implied that the missile was exploding near an unseen target. This was accurate, but not the way the Russians wanted it to be. Another marketing effort in late 2019 publicized the fact that over 30 Pantsir-S1 systems had been sent to Syria, and implied that this many Pantsir-S1 vehicles could defend all of Syria from air (warplanes, UAVs, cruise and ballistic missiles) attack. The problem with Pantsir is that only Russia and Syria claim the system is effective. Its opponents (Israel, the United States, Turkey and apparently Ukraine) have another perspective that contradicts Russian and Syrian claims. Moreover, the Russian air defense systems used by Syria have, since 2011, brought down only one aircraft, an elderly Turkish RF-4E reconnaissance aircraft shot down by accident in 2012. The Turkish aircraft was flying off the coast and apparently not expecting to be attacked. Syria was then using Cold War era Russian equipment. When the Russians intervened in 2015 they brought more modern air defense systems with them, including the Pantsir. The problem is that the much-hyped Pantsir has been a flop. No proof of any Pantsir kills has ever been presented and Israeli airstrikes consistently destroy their targets, even when Pantsir is present and firing lots of those Tunguska missiles. Then there was an earlier incident where Russia was caught suppressing bad news about the performance of Pantsir-S1 in Syria. In one case the comments were from a Russian source. This took place in late 2018 when Islamic terrorists used multiple small, explosives-armed UAVs to launch several attacks on the Russian controlled Hmeimim (or Khmeimim) airbase in Syria. Russia reported that these attacks failed because Russian air defense systems shot down over fifty of the small UAVs. Unofficial reports, via the Internet, indicated that the two short-range anti-aircraft systems guarding the base performed very differently. The older Tor-M2U system used its missiles successfully to shoot down the UAVs while the more recent Pantsir-S1 missiles all missed. Russian Internet censors were quick to take down some of the negative comments but the news was now out and spreading. Around this time Russia was also given lots of publicity to new, much improved, Pantsir models. Most of the upgrades were in the radar and fire control systems. These new Pantsir S2, S2E and SM models entered service in late 2018 and early 2019. Not all Pantsir vehicles have been upgraded and the overall impact of the upgrades does not appear to have been dramatic. The late 2018 incident was not the first time Pantsir-S1 has been described as a failure. The Hmeimim airbase incidents were important because they involved a Russian controlled airbase in a combat zone. Hmeimim was built by Russia in 2015 near the port city of Latakia, which is 85 kilometers north of the port of Tartus and 50 kilometers from the Turkish border. Russia brought in Pantsir-S1, Tor-M2U and S-400 air-defense systems to protect it from attack. The irony of this is that the Tor-M system is much older, with development begun in the 1970s while Pantsir-S1 development began twenty years later. The major difference between the two was that Tor-M was more successful and more expensive. The cost factor was one reason for developing the Pantsir-S1 but at first only export customers could afford it because the Russian military procurement budgets were sharply cut in the 1990s. In 2010, three years after the first foreign customer (Syria) received the Pantsir-S1, the Russian Air Force began getting some. The Russian economy was recovering sufficiently to expand defense spending. Initially, the Russian Air Force received the S1E version, with an improved radar (36-kilometer range) and missile (more reliable). Curiously, the air force used their first ten Pantsir-S1s to guard S-300 anti-aircraft missile bases around Moscow. There was no explanation from the Russians as to why they felt a mobile, low level anti-aircraft system was needed to guard a larger, high altitude one. Perhaps as additional protection against cruise missiles. These ten Pantsir vehicles for Moscow were supposed to arrive in 2008, but there were more technical problems. There's been a pattern of that with Pantsir-S1. Development began in the 1990s. Work was sporadic for nearly a decade because there was little cash available. Meanwhile, several Arab nations were persuaded to order a total of about 150 Pantsir-S1 vehicles and most of those have not yet been in combat. Russia does not want these customers to question Pantsir reliability. After all, the system has worked during test firings and is a very popular and profitable export item. Yet the main problem with Pantsir-S1 is that in combat it doesnt work. Failures have been reported at least three times since 2007, and all occurred in Syria. Two months after Syria received Pantsir-S1s in 2007, Israel bombed a Syrian nuclear weapons development facility. The Syrians were very dismayed at how ineffective the new Pantsir-S1 systems were during the Israeli strike. The 2007 failure was attributed to Israelis figuring out how to blind these systems electronically. In 2017 Pantsir S1 again failed during an Israeli attack and the excuse this time was that the Pantsir-S1s were not turned on. The 2018 failure was with operational Pantsir systems firing missiles at UAVs and missing while Tor-M2U systems detected UAVs and regularly shot them down with missiles. The video of Israeli weapons destroying a Pantsir vehicle was something the Russians felt they had to explain away, or at least try to. The Tor-M has been around since the 1980s and has no autocannon, just missiles. It has been frequently updated. A late 2015 upgrade for their 30-year-old Tor-M (SA-15) enabled the launcher vehicle to fire its guided missiles while on the move. The latest version of Tor is the Tor-M2U which can hit aircraft up to 12 kilometers away and cruise missiles at a distance of five kilometers. The missile launcher vehicle has a crew of three (commander, driver and missile systems operator). The 176 kg (378 pound) missiles are three meters (ten feet) long, 235mm (9.25 inches) in diameter and carry a 15 kg (33 pound) warhead. Each battery has search radar and command center vehicles controlling four launcher vehicles (each carrying eight missiles, and another radar.) The original tracking radar on the missile vehicle could track one target at a time but the latest (Tor-M2) can track four at a time. Missiles can be launched from the vehicle at three second intervals. The original missile carrier/launcher vehicle was armored (against small arms and shell fragments), tracked and weighed 34 tons. Since then a cheaper towed (on a wheeled trailer) version has appeared followed by a version on a 6x6 truck that proved more maneuverable, comfortable and cheaper than the armored version. In 2018 a major upgrade was introduced; Tor-E2. With this model, the tracked vehicle was redesigned and upgraded to operate independently. The Tor-E2 carries sixteen missiles and its own search radar. The range of the missile has been increased to 15 kilometers. Russia was the original user but Tor-M has also been exported to fourteen other countries including Greece, Venezuela, China, Iran and Egypt. Russia prefers to sell export customers the Pantsir but knowledgeable customers keep ordering the more expensive Tor-M because they know it works. Now Russia is trying to do for the Pantsir what they did with Tor-M, keep improving it until it works. As of 2023 that may still be a work in progress. Italian special operations forces have ordered the Israeli Hero-30 loitering munition. This is the first European country to choose Hero-30 rather than the American Switchblade. Both these lightweight man-transportable systems are troops favorites in general but especially useful for special operations units. Thats because special operations troops have to travel light and put more emphasis on reconnaissance and surveillance than combat. Hero-30 is reusable while Switchblade is not. A complete Switchblade system (missile, container, and controller) weighs 5.5 kg (12.1 pounds). Switchblade was very popular with troops in Afghanistan, where it was first tested, and with SOCOM in all sorts of places they wont discuss in detail. Switchblade is still widely used with over 5,000 produced so far. Switchblade first saw combat in 2009 and each one costs about $80,000. For SOCOM forces, who often travel light into enemy territory, hauling along a Switchblade or two can be crucial for completing a mission, not to mention a lifesaver in emergencies. Users regarded Switchblade as a micro-UAV/cruise missile. It was both aerial surveillance and a weapon. More importantly, it could be carried and used by individual troops. Moving at up to a kilometer a minute, the Switchblade can stay in the air for 10-15 minutes (depending on whether or not it is armed with explosives) and remain under operator control up to ten kilometers away. The armed version can be flown to a target and detonated, having about the same explosive effect as a hand grenade. Thus, Switchblade enables ground troops to get at an enemy taking cover in a hard to see location. Technically a guided missile, the use of Switchblade as a reconnaissance tool encouraged developers to refer to it as a UAV. But because of the warhead option, and its slow speed, Switchblade also functions like a rather small cruise missile and can be flown by its controller or autonomously via GPS coordinates. The troops were particularly enthusiastic about the armed version because it allowed them to easily take out snipers or a few bad guys in a compound full of civilians. Israel has been developing and using similar, but much larger, systems since the 1990s and called them loitering munitions. The Israeli firm producing the larger Hero loitering munition noted the success of the American mini-loitering munition. In 2015 An Israeli firm introduced a new loitering UAV portable enough (weighing 3 kg/6.6 pounds) for infantry to carry and use. The Hero 30 has 30 minutes endurance and has a small warhead that can be used to turn it into a weapon if the onboard vidcam indicates a target that has to be taken care of immediately. Otherwise, it can be landed and reused. Hero 30 is based on the older Hero 400 which weighs 40 kg and has an 8 kg (18 pound) warhead. This UAV has a four-hour endurance and can operate up to 150 kilometers from the operator. The even larger Hero-1250 can stay in the air over ten hours and travel more than 200 kilometers from the operator. But Israel noticed that the United States was having a lot of success (and demand from SOCOM and infantry units) for the similar (to Hero 400) but much smaller Switchblade. While Switchblade underwent many upgrades since 2007, it never added reusability. Several Israeli firms have developed reusable systems similar to Hero-30 and some are much smaller. In combat troops need information about their immediate surroundings more than they need more firepower. Its easier to call in more firepower than it is to get some immediate information on what is going on around you. This is especially true with special operations forces. With Italian special operations forces adopting Hero-30, the Israeli manufacturer and their European distributor have their first sale of Hero-30 in Europe, where Switchblade had been the portable loitering munition of choice for over a decade. U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) can buy whatever they need from whoever sells it and that means American operators are familiar with the various Israeli reusable loitering munitions, some of which dont even have an explosives option. They continue to use various models of Switchblade to get their missions accomplished. The SOCOM approach is whatever works. This news release is not for distribution or dissemination in the Unites States of America TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2023 / Ubique Minerals Limited ("Ubique" or the "Company") (CSE:UBQ) announces updates on its Namib Lead and Zinc Mining Proprietary Ltd. project (the "NLZM Project"). The Company has signed Non-Disclosure Agreements ("NDAs") with 6 potential strategic partners towards securing offtake contracts for the production output from the NLZM Project. Terms of reference under discussion include financing of up to US$10 million in a combination of pre-payments, drawdown credit facility, and equity or other instruments to be primarily used towards the restart of production at the NLZM Project and related plant / production optimization and efficiency improvements. The Company also announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 Units of the Company at a price of $0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the "Offering") under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption ("LIFE Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company and one (1) common share purchase warrant, with each common share purchase warrant granting the holder the right to purchase one (1) additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.20 per share for a period of 22 months from the closing date of the Life Offering. The primary use of funds from this private placement will be towards closing the previously announced NLZM transaction (refer press release dated September 6, 2022, for details) with the payment of US$1 million to CL US Minerals LLC (the "Vendor"). NLZM Project Update Ubique has signed NDAs with 6 potential strategic partners towards securing offtake contracts for the production output from the NLZM Project. The Company initiated discussions with strategic partners in December 2022, after receiving the Namibian Competition Committee unconditional approval for its proposed acquisition of the NLZM Project. Following a series of meetings in the month of January, the Company signed NDAs with the strategic partners between January 27 and February 13, and met with the global and regional leadership teams of these strategic partners at the sidelines of Africa Indaba 2023, which is the largest mining conference in Africa. Terms of reference under discussion include, amongst other, financing of up to US$10 million in a combination of pre-payments, drawdown credit facility, and equity or other instruments to be primarily used towards the restart of production at the NLZM Project and related plant / production optimization and efficiency improvements. Ubique Private Placement Ubique announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 Units of the Company at a price of $0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the "Offering") under the listed issuer financing exemption ("LIFE Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company and one (1) common share purchase warrant, with each common share purchase warrant granting the holder the right to purchase one (1) additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.20 per share for a period of 22 months from the closing date of the Offer. The Offering may be closed in tranches. The Unit Shares and Warrants issued to purchasers subscribing under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers residing in Canada. The Unit Shares and Warrants issued to purchasers subscribing under prospectus exemptions other than the "listed issuer financing exemption" shall be subject to applicable resale restrictions under National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities. It is anticipated that insiders of the Company may participate in the Offering. By virtue of their participation, the Offering would constitute a "related party transaction" under applicable securities laws. The Company expects to release a material change report including details with respect to the related party transaction less than 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of potential financing opportunities and complete the Offering in an expeditious manner. As the related party transaction will not exceed specified limits and will constitute a distribution of securities for cash, it is expected that neither a formal valuation nor minority shareholder approval will be required in connection with the Offering. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The primary use of funds from this private placement will be towards closing the previously announced NLZM Project transaction (refer to press release dated September 6, 2022) (the "NLZM Transaction") with the payment of US$1 million to CL US Minerals LLC (the "Vendor"). Risk Factors There is no guarantee the Company will be able to close the NLZM Transaction or that the NLZM Transaction will be approved by the CSE. And, there is no guarantee that the Company will be able to raise sufficient funding in the future to explore and develop the NLZM Project. If the Company loses or abandons its interest in the NLZM Project, there is no assurance that it will be able to acquire another mineral property of merit or that such an acquisition would be approved by the CSE. Although substantial benefits may be derived from the discovery of a major mineralized deposit, no assurance can be given that minerals will be discovered in sufficient quantities to justify commercial operations or that the funds required for development can be obtained on a timely basis. The discovery of mineral deposits is dependent upon a number of factors. The commercial viability of a mineral deposit once discovered is also dependent upon a number of factors, some of which relate to particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure, and some of which are more general such as metal prices and government regulations, including environmental protection. Most of these factors are beyond the control of the Company. In addition, because of these risks, there is no certainty that the expenditures to be made by the Company on the exploration of its NLZM Project as described herein will result in the discovery of commercial quantities of ore. On behalf of the board of directors, Vilhjalmur Thor Vilhjalmsson CEO and Director About Ubique Minerals Limited Ubique Minerals Limited is an exploration company listed on the CSE (CSE:UBQ) focused on exploration of its Daniel's Harbour zinc property in Newfoundland and is engaged in exploration and is in the process of acquiring a mining asset in Namibia, Africa along with actively looking at other projects around the world. Ubique became a publicly listed company in September 2018. Ubique has an experienced management group with a record of multiple discoveries of deposits worldwide and owns an extensive and exclusive database of historic exploration results from the Daniel's Harbour area. Dr. Gerald Harper, P.Geo (NL), P. Geo (ON), a director of the Company, is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release. For more information on Ubique please contact Vilhjalmur Thor Vilhjalmsson by e-mail at [email protected] or see www.ubiqueminerals.com and by phone +354 8697296 Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and trading in the common stock of Ubique Minerals Limited., the raising of additional capital and the future development of the business. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the company's management. Although the company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Ubique can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Ubique disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Ubique Minerals Limited View source version on accesswire.com: Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) ("Callon" or the "Company") today announced L. Richard Flury's intention to retire from the Board of Directors following the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Annual Meeting"). "With guidance from Richard's deep experience in the energy industry, Callon has built a high-quality asset base of more than 200,000 gross acres in the leading oil plays in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale that has allowed us to profitably grow our production throughout his tenure," commented Callon President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Gatto. "Richard's leadership supported Callon through transformational acquisitions that have positioned the Company to execute our "Life of Field" Co-Development model on a deep inventory of high-return projects while preserving balance sheet strength. In addition, his focus on good governance has resulted in a strong and diverse Board that will continue to pursue sustainable value for all stakeholders. We are deeply appreciative of Richard's enduring contributions to the Company and wish he, Liz and their family all the best." Mr. Flury has served as director of the Company for nineteen years and as Board Chair since 2017. Prior to joining the Board, he spent a 30-year career with BP plc and predecessor entities in roles of increasing responsibility including as Chief Executive for Gas, Power and Renewables. Mr. Flury's previous board service includes McDermott International, Chicago Bridge and Iron Company where he served as board chair, and QEP Resources, Inc. "It has been a great honor to serve Callon during a period of extraordinary growth and change for our Company and our industry. I am confident that now is the right time to transition the role of Chair as Callon is well positioned with a strong board and management team to continue pursuing strategies to drive shareholder value," commented Mr. Flury. In preparation for Mr. Flury's forthcoming retirement, the Board has named independent director Matthew R. Bob as Chair-elect and expects to appoint him as Chair immediately following the upcoming Annual Meeting. Mr. Bob has served on the Callon Board since 2014 and is currently Chair of the Compensation Committee. He recently retired as President of Eagle Oil & Gas Co., an independent oil and gas company with operations in Texas. A registered geoscientist, he is also the founder and managing member of MB Exploration, LLC. Mr. Bob previously served as a director of Southcross Energy Partners, a natural gas processing and transportation company in South Texas, prior to its acquisition by Targa Resources Corp. Pursuant to the Company's mandatory retirement policy, director James M. Trimble will also retire from the Board at the upcoming Annual Meeting after nine years of distinguished service. Mr. Flury and Mr. Trimble's retirements are a continuation of Callon's planned Board refreshment and commitment to good governance. Business to be Rebranded as Private Client Select Insurance Services (PCS) NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American International Group (NYSE: AIG) today announced that it has entered into a binding memorandum of understanding with Stone Point Capital LLC (Stone Point), a leading private equity firm focused on investing in businesses within the global financial services industry, to form an independent Managing General Agency (MGA) to serve High Net Worth and Ultra High Net Worth markets. AIGs Private Client Group (PCG) business will move to this new independent platform and be rebranded as Private Client Select Insurance Services (PCS). As previously disclosed, AIG has been exploring structures that, over time, will allow PCG to be supported by third-party capital providers, including AIG and its innovative syndicate at Lloyds, referred to as Syndicate 2019. By partnering with a world-class private equity firm like Stone Point, we can maximize the strengths of this business and improve product offerings to better serve the High and Ultra High Net Worth markets, said Peter Zaffino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AIG. PCG personnel, including the experienced leadership team, led by PCGs President and Chief Executive Officer, Kathleen Zortman, will transfer to the MGA once it is formed. Throughout the transfer process, clients and distribution partners will continue to benefit from PCGs industry-leading high-touch service. We are excited to be entering this partnership and look forward to building a top performing MGA committed to excellence in the attractive High and Ultra High Net Worth markets, said Jim Carey, Managing Director Stone Point. I am confident that Stone Points experience in the insurance industry, coupled with AIGs risk management expertise and product knowledge, will create significant value for all stakeholders. Completion of the proposed transactions among AIG and Stone Point is subject to negotiation of definitive agreements, obtaining required permits and regulatory approvals. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements in this press release and any related oral statements constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the relevant partys belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside the relevant partys control. It is possible that the transactions will not be completed or that the transactions will take a materially different form from those contemplated by these statements. Each party referenced in this press release only assumes responsibility for its statements and does not affirm or otherwise adopt the statements of any other party. About AIG American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. AIG member companies provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement solutions and other financial services to customers in approximately 70 countries and jurisdictions. These diverse offerings include products and services that help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube: www.youtube.com/aig | Twitter: @AIGinsurance www.twitter.com/AIGinsurance | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aig. These references with additional information about AIG have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries and jurisdictions, and coverage is subject to underwriting requirements and actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds. About Stone Point Stone Point is an investment firm based in Greenwich, CT, with over $45 billion of assets under management. Stone Point targets investments in companies in the global financial services industry and related sectors. The firm invests in a number of alternative asset classes, including private equity through its flagship Trident Funds. Stone Point also manages both liquid and private credit funds and managed accounts. In addition, Stone Point Capital Markets supports our firm, portfolio companies and other clients by providing dedicated financing solutions. For more information, please visit https://www.stonepoint.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005565/en/ AIG: Quentin McMillan (Investors): [email protected] Dana Ripley (Media): [email protected] Source: American International Group BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BXP (NYSE: BXP), the largest publicly traded developer, owner, and manager of premier workplaces in the United States, announced today that Owen Thomas Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Michael LaBelle Chief Financial Officer, will participate in a company presentation at the 2023 BofA Securities Financial Services Conference, which will be held at the Conrad Downtown Hotel from February 14-16, 2023, in New York, New York. The BXP presentation will take place at approximately 8:00 AM ET on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. During the conference, BXP executives may discuss the current operating environment, trends and strategies; development, redevelopment and other investment activities; and other business and financial matters affecting BXP. A live webcast of the BXP presentation can be accessed by visiting the Investors section of BXPs website at investors.bxp.com. Shortly after the presentation, a replay webcast of the BXP presentation will be available in the same location. BXP (NYSE: BXP) is the largest publicly traded developer, owner, and manager of premier workplaces in the United States, concentrated in six dynamic gateway markets - Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. BXP has delivered places that power progress for our clients and communities for more than 50 years. BXP is a fully integrated real estate company, organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT). Including properties owned by unconsolidated joint ventures, BXPs portfolio totals 54.1 million square feet and 194 properties, including 13 properties under construction/redevelopment. For more information about BXP, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005649/en/ AT BXP Mike LaBelle Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer [email protected] Helen Han Vice President, Investor Relations [email protected] Source: BXP Peer Reviews from MSP Users Results in Highest Product Satisfaction and IT Management Rankings; Redstor Earns Spots as Both Best UK and EMEA Software Company ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Redstor, the smarter, cloud-first backup platform of choice for managed service providers (MSPs), today announced it has been named to G2s 2023 Best Software Awards in four categories. The worlds largest and most trusted software marketplace, G2 is visited by 80 million software buyers each year. The highly regarded awards rank the worlds best companies and products annually based on authentic, timely reviews provided by real users. Every day, users visit G2 to leverage peer reviews for intelligent software buying decisions. Throughout 2022, Redstor dominated G2 reviews and rankings in backup and disaster recovery (DR), posting highest satisfaction ratings across key categories including backup, online backup, DR and DRaaS. To be recognized as a Best Software Award winner, a company or product must have received at least 50 approved and published reviews in 2022. Top 100 products are ranked based on reviews in all categories that a vendor is a part of. Top 100 companies are ranked on a combination of Satisfaction and Market Presence scores. Redstor received the following designations in the 2023 edition, routinely besting direct industry competitors: Best Software Product, IT Management, Ranked 2nd Best Software Product, UK Companies, Ranked 6th Best Software Product, EMEA Companies, Ranked 17th Best Software Product, Highest Satisfaction, Ranked 28th Our goal is to enable MSPs to discover, manage and protect customer data in the simplest, smartest, safest way, said Redstors Chief Marketing Officer, Gareth Case. Equally important, we offer unrivaled partnership and support for MSPs who want to outperform the market. We bring business to their door with unique AI-powered insight that flags gaps in backup protection to identify new opportunities. And not only do we enable rapid onboarding that can generate revenue from day one, Redstor MSPs get their own dedicated marketing, sales and tech specialist team. While G2 publishes the Best Software Awards each year, theyre really awards from customers, said Sara Rossio, Chief Product Officer at G2. Representing a vote of confidence from real software users, these awards also spotlight those that have risen to the top among thousands of companies. With 2 million+ verified software reviews, the most in a single destination, our marketplace features more than 145,000 products and services across 2,100 different categories. Congratulations to all those named, as buyers will continue to lean on these awards as a trusted source to inform their software decisions in the year ahead. Redstor is the only cloud-first backup platform with on-demand recovery of any file. MSPs can recover massive systems in minutes, not days or weeks, with a seamless experience that delivers optimum user ease. The platform backs up from any source to any environment and management can be handled by a single, intuitive app (RedApp). AI-powered malware detection scans existing backups, isolating, quarantining and flagging suspicious files before they turn into attacks. With its cloud-first approach, Redstor also eliminates costly hardware and ongoing maintenance. Redstor offers a robust Marketplace Trial Program featuring free 30-days of use with no strings attached. MSPs can onboard end users into a product on the Redstor platform in seconds and quickly begin generating leads and qualifying prospects by identifying which are most likely to make a purchase. With an ability to seamlessly transition trials into paying customers without data loss, MSPs can greatly improve conversion rates. MSPs are also included in Redstors online partner directory to drive enquiries. Additionally, to ensure customers associate an MSP brand with its backup service, Redstor provides a fully co-branded interface and backup marketplace. MSPs interested in learning more about the power of partnering with Redstor should visit http://redstor.com. About Redstor Redstor offers MSPs the smartest backup and recovery platform along with leading sales, marketing and technical support. Built for the cloud and fast to scale, the Redstor platform unifies the protection of cloud infrastructure, SaaS business applications and on-prem data via a single app (RedApp), delivering market-leading revenue retention, bigger margins and simple pricing to MSPs. Breakthrough streaming technology offers instant data access and mobility, bringing users back in seconds after outages, whilst unlocking all the benefits of a cloud-first model. Artificial intelligence (AI) polices backups to identify and isolate malware for safe restores. With no hardware requirements and setup times of under 60 seconds, Redstor is purpose-built for the MSP growth agenda. For more information, please visit www.redstor.com About G2 G2 is the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace. More than 80 million people annually including employees at all Fortune 500 companies use G2 to make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. Thousands of software and services companies of all sizes partner with G2 to build their reputation, manage their software spend, and grow their business including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoom, and Adobe. To learn more about where you go for software, visit www.g2.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005537/en/ Redstor: Gareth Case, CMO Redstor [email protected] Redstor Media: Kelly Haddock Metis Communications [email protected] G2 Media: Jenny Gardynski [email protected] or [email protected] Source: Redstor MANCHESTER, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Just over 100 hours after the first earthquake hit northwest Syria, global charity Human Appeal has offered 1,000 newly built brick homes as housing for internally displaced families who lost their homes in the massive earthquake that recently struck the region. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005254/en/ Human Appeal's Al Zohoor town, Idlib, northwest Syria. (Photo: Business Wire) Human Appeal is the first international humanitarian NGO to offer permanent homes as shelter for those who lost their homes in northwest Syria due to the natural disaster. The homes are part of a town settlement project by Human Appeal called Al Zohoor (in English the floral town) near Idlib northwest Syria, recently completed to provide permanent housing to 1000 internally displaced Syrian families due to the ongoing conflict. Each single storey home comprises a modern design that includes a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and will offer electricity and running water. The project forms part of a major development by the charity in its ongoing efforts to alleviate the suffering of internally displaced families in the area. Demonstrating Human Appeals success in building permanent homes for displaced families in Syria, the Al Zohoor Town follows on the heels of its first successful housed settlement already populated by families with 272 houses in Azaz, north of Aleppo. Human Appeal has been active in humanitarian deployments and projects in northwest Syria for the last decade, providing ongoing medical and humanitarian assistance. Its biggest ongoing programme in the area focuses on healthcare such as mobile clinics and its Al Imaan hospital that Human Appeal has been running since 2014. The hospital provides ongoing primary medical care and a maternity ward for local residents. It offers much needed medical assistance to over 2,300 people in northwest Syria each month. The homes will still be offered to internally displaced families in northwest Syria but will now prioritize those Syrian families who have lost their homes and possessions due to the recent deadly earthquake. There are now even more displaced people in a region where 2.8 millionout of a total population of 4 millionwere already displaced. The huge consequences of this disaster require large scale international aid. Some of these displaced families do not even have a tent to shelter in from the current bitter winter conditions or coming harsh heat of summer, commented Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO of Human Appeal. For more information in Arabic visit https://ar.humanappeal.org.uk/ or English visit www.humanappeal.org.uk. ENDS. About Human Appeal: Human Appeal (registered charity 1154288) is a fully independent British charity and humanitarian NGO based in Manchester, UK. It was established in 1991 and runs targeted aid relief programmes in collaboration with recognized global organizations like the United Nations. Its purpose is to save lives through emergency response and sustainable development programmes, in over 25 countries worldwide. www.humanappeal.org.uk. Note to Editors not for publication: Photo shows Human Appeals new Al Zohoor town near Idlib, northwest Syria from the air. For all press enquiries or interview requests please email: [email protected] To request a link to download B-roll video footage taken by Human Appeal on the above topic please contact [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005254/en/ Human Appeal United Kingdom Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 161 225 0225 Source: Human Appeal Weaves all-in-one customer communication platform ranks alongside trusted SMB brands like Hubspot, BambooHR & Asana LEHI, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Weave (NYSE: WEAV), the all-in-one customer communications and engagement platform for small- and medium-sized businesses, today has been named in G2s 2023 Best Software Awards as one of the 50 Best Products for Small Business. This annual list ranks the world's best software companies and products based entirely on authenticated customer reviews. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005615/en/ Weaves unique ability to assist along the entire customer journey sets it apart from other communications and engagement platforms. Small businesses that utilize Weave are better able to attract, retain and engage new customers by leveraging features like missed-call text, appointment reminders, online scheduling, digital forms and more. The customer is everything at Weave, and Im grateful for how they champion our products every day, said Brett White, Weaves CEO. Weave is compelling to small business owners because it can automate the most tedious and time-consuming tasks, saving their office time and money while delivering a better customer experience. G2s top products are ranked based on reviews across all categories they are a part of. To be recognized as a Best Software Award winner, a software company or product must receive at least 50 approved and published reviews during the 2022 calendar year. Scores reflect only data from reviews submitted during this evaluation period. Weaves all-in-one platform has continuously been recognized as an industry leader. Recently Weave won a Dentaltown Townie Award for Best Patient Communication System and was named the Best SMB CRM Solution by the Martech Breakthrough Awards. To learn more about Weave, visit www.getweave.com/newsroom About Weave Weave is the all-in-one customer communication and engagement platform for small- and medium-sized businesses. From the first phone call to the final invoice and every touchpoint in between, Weave connects the entire customer journey. Weaves software solutions transform how local businesses attract, communicate with and engage customers to grow their business. Weave has set the bar for Utah startup achievement & work culture. In the past year, Weave has been named a Great Place to Work, and a G2 leader in Patient Engagement, Optometry, Dental Practice Management and Patient Relationship Management software. To learn more, visit getweave.com/newsroom/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005615/en/ Kali Geldis Sr. Director of Communications, Weave [email protected] Source: Weave U.S. easing sanctions on quake-hit Syria proof of indifference to humanitarian needs Xinhua) 14:31, February 13, 2023 CAIRO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- After the tragic loss of at least 3,500 lives in quake-hit Syria, the United States, bowing to international pressure, announced a temporary easing of sanctions on the war-torn country. It came four days after the strong earthquakes rocked on Monday, missing the Golden 72 hours for rescue. The sanctions led to a severe humanitarian crisis for the Syrian people. The easing of sanctions illustrates how Washington's previous claims that its sanctions don't target aid to the quake-hit country were utterly false, clearly revealing U.S. indifference to the humanitarian situation in Syria. URGENT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS As of Sunday night local time, at least 3,500 people were killed in both the government-control and rebel-held areas, according to the Syrian government and aid agencies. The earthquake hit Aleppo, Latakia, Tartous, and Hama in northern Syria and the rebel-held Idlib province. Many Syrians criticized the brutal U.S. blockade surrounding their country from every direction, which has badly hampered rescue work and led to high casualties. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued Syria General License 23, which, according to its announcement, "authorizes for 180 days all transactions related to earthquake relief that would be otherwise prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations." Thuraya al-Saeedi, a displaced Syrian living at the Sarada camp in southern Lebanon who lost four of her relatives in Aleppo, said the U.S. decision comes too late. Syria's Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash noted that the suffering of Syria's medical sector is not a result of the recent massive earthquakes that hit the country on Monday but rather the Western sanctions imposed on Syria for 12 years. "Due to a lack of tools, some rescuers had to dig through the rubble with bare hands in search of survivors in snow and rain," said Muhammad Hijazi, chairman of the Aleppo Governorate Council. INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE The U.S. eased sanctions only after repeated calls from international organizations and several countries. On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that "the humanitarian crisis in northwestern Syria was already worsening, with needs at their highest level since the conflict began." He stressed, "this is a moment in which everybody must make very clear that no sanctions of any kind interfere with relief to the population of Syria in the present moment." For his part, Geir Pedersen, UN special envoy for Syria, said that "emergency response must not be politicized." On Thursday, the first UN aid convoy crossed from Turkiye to Syria's northwestern Idlib province. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday demanded an immediate lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria as the tremor-stricken country is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. "Even today, U.S. troops still occupy Syria's principal oil fields, plunder more than 80 percent of the country's oil production, and have smuggled and burned Syria's grain stock, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis there," said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian deplored the U.S. sanctions on Syria, saying they have exacerbated the situation of the quake-hit people in the Arab country. Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, said the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria requires an end to "collective punishment, especially the Caesar Act imposed by the United States," adding the U.S. sanctions on Syria "have no justification for their continuation." The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, also known as the Caesar Act, is a piece of U.S. legislation that sanctions the Syrian president and government over what Washington claimed to be "war crimes against the Syrian people." The act was signed into law by former U.S. President Donald Trump in late 2019 and came into effect in mid-2020. LIES WITH INDIFFERENCE Experts said that the U.S. announcement softening sanctions "to support earthquake relief efforts" proved the country's previous lies that its sanctions don't target humanitarian aid to the quake-hit country. Syrian political expert Mohamed Al-Omari told Xinhua that "the U.S. Treasury's announcement is a confession" that Washington lied by claiming its sanctions did not affect humanitarian aid. Kamal al-Jafa, another Syrian political expert, echoed that if the previous U.S. claims were correct, it would not have decided to ease the sanctions for six months. "This decision indicates that Washington knows the sanctions imposed on the Syrian people were unjust and led to worsening the living conditions over the past few years," he added. Some experts said that Washington's latest move is far from enough to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. Adel Samara, a Palestinian political expert from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, told Xinhua the U.S. move is merely a show for the media, with little change on the ground. Saeb Rawashdeh, a political analyst at the Jordan Press Foundation, said relieving transactions for 180 days shows "a lack of concern for the actual well-being of the Syrian people." "The Syrian people deserve access to the resources and support they need to recover and rebuild their lives and communities, regardless of political considerations," he added. Ahmed Maher Abo-Gabal, an Egyptian researcher in international relations and political affairs, said U.S. Treasury's announcement comes too late given the high death toll. "Six months is by no means enough time for reconstruction in the quake-hit areas," he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today that the American automaker is investing $3.5 billion to build the countrys first automaker-backed LFP battery plant in Michigan, offering customers a second battery technology within Fords EV lineup. The BlueOval Battery Park Michigan plant, as its being called, will initially employ 2,500 people when production of LFP batteries begins in 2026. Ford also has the option to further grow its battery capacity at its Marshall, Michigan, plant, which will be part of a wholly owned Ford subsidiary. We are committed to leading the electric vehicle revolution in America, and that means investing in the technology and jobs that will keep us on the cutting edge of this global transformation in our industry, said Bill Ford, Ford executive chair. I am also proud that we chose our home state of Michigan for this critical battery production hub. Offering LFP as a second battery chemistry allows Ford customers to choose an electric vehicle with unique battery performance characteristics most aligned with their needs. LFP batteries are very durable and tolerate more frequent and faster charging while using fewer high-demand, high-cost materials. This lower-cost battery, at scale, will help Ford contain or even further reduce EV prices for customers. Fords electric vehicle lineup has generated huge demand. To get as many Ford EVs to customers as possible, were the first automaker to commit to build both NCM and LFP batteries in the United States, said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. Were delivering on our commitments as we scale LFP and NCM batteries and thousands, and soon millions, of customers will begin to reap the benefits of Ford EVs with cutting-edge, durable battery technologies that are growing more affordable over time. Ford and its battery tech collaborators have announced $17.6 billion in investments in electric vehicle and battery production in the United States since 2019, as part of the companys commitment to invest over $50 billion in electric vehicles globally through 2026. In the next three years, these investments will lead to more than 18,000 direct jobs in Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Missouri and more than 100,000 indirect jobs, according to the methodology from a 2020 independent study. Shares of F are up 2.08% in mid-day trading on Monday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cannabix Technologies Inc. (CSE: BLO) (OTC PINK: BLOZF) (the Company or Cannabix) developer of breath testing devices for law enforcement and the workplace reports that Friedel, LLC (Friedel Clinic) based in Montana will commence piloting Cannabixs Contactless Alcohol Breathalyzer (CAB). In the fall of 2022, the Company developed its CAB technology for workplaces and vehicles that consist of wall-mounted and in-vehicle versions. The Friedel Clinic has a robust drug testing operation and is one of the top drug testing providers to employers within the state of Montana. The high-volume clinic has a diverse range of patients and focuses on private sector testing for alcohol and illicit drugs. The Friedel Clinic has extensive experience piloting with new alcohol and drug testing technologies. Video of the CAB device can be viewed at https://cannabixtechnologies.com/technology/contactless-alcohol-breathalyzer/. Montana Senator Chris Friedel stated, The Friedel Clinic has been a pioneer in alcohol, drug and brain health testing in the state of Montana. We have tremendous amount of experience with a range of new testing and monitoring equipment. In addition, we are excited to see how the Cannabix Contactless Alcohol Breathalyzer devices can enhance safety in both workplace and in-vehicle settings in particular the potential to disrupt legacy alcohol interlock methods which have seen little innovation over the last 40 years. The wall mounted CAB would be targeted for employers needing to deploy a pre-access test for alcohol consumption before and during work hours in a fast and cost-effective way. The CAB technology allows for a user to direct a single breath sample towards a small orifice integrated into a wall mounted unit (for indoor use) and behind the steering wheel for in-cabin vehicle use in a completely contactless manner. The CAB is fundamentally different than existing alcohol breathalyzers and interlock systems that require users to use a mouthpiece or straw and directly blow into a handheld device that is connected to the vehicle usually with a cable. The Cannabix CAB could be integrated into various locations in the vehicle cabin. The CAB provides a warning, pass or fail result along with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level on the screen for the driver to see. This kind of technology holds potential to be integrated with interlock systems and be used in various settings including automotive, heavy-duty equipment, heavy transport vehicles, watercraft and motorbikes. Furthermore, the device could be used in bars, restaurants and hotels for both patrons and employees. Vehicle Alcohol Breath Screening The Company has developed its CAB technology in response to interest in new vehicle alcohol detection technologies. In September 2022, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a recommendation that all new vehicles be equipped with technology that would prevent a person impaired by alcohol from driving (1). In November 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives, passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which called for new cars to come equipped with technology that will detect alcohol in breath. The legislation directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to set new safety standards within three years for impaired driving safety equipment on all new vehicles (2) (3). Manufacturers such as Volvo have experimented with offering alcohol-detection systems as optional equipment. (1) https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20220920.aspx (2) https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/alcohol-detection-systems-could-prevent-more-than-a-fourth-of-u-s-road-fatalities (3) https://www.madd.org/press-release/auto-technology-that-stops-drunk-driving-now-required-by-law Readers are advised that, although the Company has achieved proof of concept prototype for the CAB, the testing method and device is still in the preapproval stage and accordingly the Company is not currently making any express or implied claims that the technology will proceed to commercial use. About Cannabix Technologies Inc. Cannabix Technologies Inc. is a developer of marijuana breathalyzer technologies for law enforcement and the workplace. Cannabix is working to develop drug-screening devices that will detect THC - the psychoactive component of marijuana that causes impairment using breath samples. Breath testing for THC would allow employers and law enforcement to identify recent marijuana use that better aligns with impairment. Cannabix devices are in the advanced prototype and pre-clinical testing stage. We seek Safe Harbor. On behalf of the Board of Directors Rav Mlait CEOCannabix Technologies Inc. For further information, contact the Company at [email protected] The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company, such as final development of a commercial or prototype product(s), successful trial or pilot of company technologies, no assurance that commercial sales of any kind actually materialize; no assurance the Company will have sufficient funds to complete product development. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Companys plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) risks regarding protection of proprietary technology; (iii) the ability of the Company to complete financings; (iv) the ability of the Company to develop and market its future product; and (v) risks regarding government regulation, managing and maintaining growth, the effect of adverse publicity, litigation, competition and other factors which may be identified from time to time in the Company's public announcements and filings. There is no assurance that its development of breathalyzer technology will provide any benefit to the Company, and no assurance that any proposed new products will be built, will be successful in beta testing or clinical trials. The is no assurance that the Company will enter into any partnerships to advance any of its corporate initiatives or technologies. There is no assurance that any patent pending or provisional patents technologies licensed by the Company or owned by the Company will receive patent status by regulatory authorities. The Company is not currently selling commercial breathalyzers. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/471fe74a-65f0-4912-8530-cb17a2a19bda Cannabix Contactless Alcohol Breathalyzer Contactless Alcohol Breathalyzer for workplace and vehicles (Cannabix Technologies Inc) Source: Cannabix Technologies Inc. TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Churchill Resources Inc. (Churchill or the Company) (TSXV: CRI) is pleased to announce final 2022 results from its work on the Florence Lake and Taylor Brook properties both in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada. Paul Sobie, CEO, remarked that 2022 was our first full year working our NL projects and we accomplished much in advancing the high-grade nickel discovery potential on both Taylor Brook and Florence Lake. Drilling and channel sampling of the partially outcropping Layden Intrusive on Taylor Brook has successfully exposed both high-grade massive and net textured nickel-copper-cobalt mineralization at shallow depths over approximately 200m of strike now we must follow those intersections to depth. In all, CRI has intersected the high-grade nickel zones at Layden and the adjacent Western Dyke with eight drillholes (including hole TB22-30 reported below) with the deepest intersection at ~100m vertical. Regionally we have now confirmed through age dating, petrography, and geochemistry that the host gabbronorite intrusive to the nickel mineralization at Layden is of the same relative Silurian age as the large adjacent Taylor Brook Gabbro Complex, and that the linear Layden intrusive extends for 5km, with magnetics suggesting at least another 3km of strike. Soil sampling has located a highly anomalous area ~2.5km southeast of Layden along the trend, now designated TBS-1, where mineralization likely outcrops, for early 2023 follow-up. We are provisionally planning for 5000m of drilling in 2023 that will include Layden targeted drilling focused on the high-grade system, as well as scout holes at new targets. At Florence Lake we are very encouraged by the large number of nickel-cobalt soil anomalies with coincident VTEM conductors that have been defined. Most have seen little or no work by past explorers and therefore represent potential new discoveries of high-grade nickel mineralization. These types of magmatic system are known to contain multiple deposits at Raglan, Thompson, and Timmins in Canada as well of course as Kambalda, in Western Australia. Work is well along for planning and permitting the camp and a 5000m drill program on the project in the summer, 2023, to be assisted by detailed magnetic and LiDAR surveys this spring. Florence Lake Project The Florence Lake project consists of four map-staked licenses totalling 316 claims (69km2) located approximately 70km west of the coastal community of Postville in central Labrador. CRI entered into a two-year option agreement with Altius Resources Inc. (Altius) to acquire a 100% interest in the property, subject to a 1.6% gross sales royalty on any metals produced, in an agreement dated June 24, 2021. Fig. 1 The property is host to several Raglan-type ultramafic-hosted massive and disseminated sulphide nickel showings, and was last explored by Falconbridge, and latterly Tapestry Ventures, between 1990 and 1997. The CRI work to date has included compilations of all past work, a detailed helicopter VTEM electromagnetic and magnetic survey, and collection of ~2,870 soil samples. Results reported here include 524 additional samples collected and analyzed since the news release on 9 November, 2022. As well the Company has purchased and shipped to Postville much of the heavier items needed for construction of a field camp on the property. Figure 1 below presents B-horizon soil sample results for Ni along with VTEM conductor axes, nickel showings and past drilling. Based on Ni, Cu, Co, Cr and Mg anomalies from the 2022 soil sampling work, at least twelve new target areas have been identified along with the known showing areas on the CRI grids. Critically, the new targets represent geochemical footprints that are similar-sized to much larger than the known showings; none of the twelve areas have been drilled in past exploration programs. Metal contents at the new targets are anomalously high, ranging between 500ppm Ni up to 0.16% Ni in sample 904061 from new target area #7 previously unexplored. All these areas are being compiled in detail for drill program planning purposes. As well at Florence Lake the Company is planning a detailed helicopter-based magnetic gradient and LiDAR surveys, both of which will be integrated into the detailed and regional compilations in progress. Work has commenced on an NI43-101 report on the project, which will provide recommended drilling and ground geophysical programs for the upcoming summer/fall field season.The Company is planning on a 5,000m drilling program, based out of a new camp to be established on Florence Lake, and supported out of Postville and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Taylor Brook ProjectThe Taylor Brook Project consists of eight map-staked licenses containing 685 claims totalling 171.25 km2, of which six licenses totaling 166.5km2 are 100% Churchill owned, and two totalling 4.75km2 are in the 2nd year of 3-year options to earn 100%. Altius retains a 1.6% gross sales royalty on the Churchill licenses. CRIs regional work at Taylor Brook is focused on following a magnetic trend hosting a near-surface linear intrusive body thought to be the conduit to the Ni-Cu-Co-bearing Layden gabbronorite body which has been drilled and channel sampled by the Company over the past 12 months. Examples of massive, net-textured and breccia-type mineralization have been intersected with initial results announced in a news release dated October 11th, 2022. Highlights of the soil sampling results from the first 1888 samples collected on 100m spaced lines were announced on November 9th, 2022, are augmented by an additional 1617 samples collected during October and November, 2022; the entire dataset are shown in Figure 2. The 2022 soil sampling results continue to emphasize the anomalous nickel (plus cobalt, chromium and magnesium) values associated with the Layden Intrusive Trend, and critically point to several areas with much more anomalous nickel in soil results then the known outcropping Layden Showing mineralization all to the southeast and towards the Taylor Brook Gabbro Complex. Line-cutting was completed at the TBS-1 anomaly before operations ceased due to heavy snowfall in mid-November. The Company is excited by anomaly TBS-1 which lies on the Taylor Brook South licenses which were added to the original Altius property in 2022. Stripping and trenching will follow detailed prospecting in the Spring. Fig. 2 The balance of the Companys 2022 drilling campaign included eleven additional holes beyond the nine holes announced on October 11th, 2022, all tabulated below in Table 1. The highlight from the additional drilling was hole TB22-30 which was drilled to intersect a small BHEM plate within the high-grade southern area of the Layden Intrusive. The hole intersected 1.79% Ni, 0.24% Cu and 0.04% Co over 1.46m at 124.57m representing one of the deeper intersections of high-grade mineralization. Most of the later holes in the 2022 program were drilled for geological purposes to better delineate the Layden gabbronorite intrusive as well as the contained mineralized breccia unit within where low-grade nickel, copper and cobalt values have been Hole Name UTM X UTM Y Elevation Dip Azimuth Target Metres Drilled EOH (m) Mineralization TB21-01E 483870 5498170 227.86 -88 220 Extended for BHEM Surveying 51 253 not sampled TB21-10E 483868 5498167 229.00 -45 45 Extended for BHEM Surveying 151 352 not sampled TB21-11E 483845 5498205 222.13 -50 181 Extended for BHEM Surveying 132 349 not sampled TB21-13E 483874 5498166 230.92 -53 360 Extended for BHEM Surveying 198 379 not sampled TB22-14 483840 5498165 227.78 -63 229 BHEM Plate 11-1 109 109 missed plate, not sampled TB22-15 483840 5498165 229.40 -45 213 BHEM Plate 8-1 46 46 1.65%Ni, 0.41%Cu, O.03%Co / 2.35m from 5.2m 2.79%Ni, 0.54%Cu, 0.05%Co / 4.44m from 9.58m TB22-16 483841 5498167 229.11 -82 220 BHEM Plate 12-1 166 166.3 missed plate, not sampled TB22-17 483842 5498165 230.60 -77 197 BHEM Plate 12-1 202 202 weak Layden Bx / 48m from 136.45m, locally anomalous in Ni, Cu & Co TB22-18 483842 5498165 230.43 -77.5 180 BHEM Plate 3-2 151 151 missed plate, not sampled TB22-19 483923 5498024 263.05 -48 231 BHEM Plate 5-1 214 214 2.43%Ni, 0.08%Cu, 0.04%Co / 0.55m from 106m TB22-20 483849 5498065 252.77 -45 0 Geology - N-S transect Layden Intrusive 451 451 1.04%Ni, 0.24%Cu, 0.02%Co / 7.55m from 24.6m TB22-21 483847 5498066 252.77 -65 350 BHEM Plate 11-2 121 121 missed plate, not sampled TB22-22 483880 5498172 224.74 -51 17 Northern BHEM Plates 400 400 trace to weak Layden Bx / 368m from 32m, locally anomalous in Ni, Cu and Co TB22-23 483950 5498100 231.19 -70 360 Geology - SE Margin Layden Intrusive 193 193 not sampled TB22-24 483958 5498118 231.19 -45 0 Northern BHEM Plates 433 433 trace to moderate Layden Bx / 14m from 276.78mm, locally anomalous in Ni, Cu & Co TB22-25 483950 5498100 231.19 -45 265 Geology - SE Layden Intrusive 175 175 not sampled TB22-26 483879 5498173 226.32 -60 20 Northern BHEM Plates 345 418 not sampled TB22-27 484114 5498101 230.90 -45 0 Geology - Layden Extension to the East 85 85 not sampled TB22-28 484129 5498083 230.90 -45 0 Geology - Layden Extension to the East 516 516 not sampled TB22-29 484292 5498010 219.55 -50 0 Geology - Layden Extension to the East 427 427 not sampled TB22-30 483892 5498047 255.48 -60 320 BHEM Plate 25-1 151 151 1.79%Ni, 0.24%Cu, 0.04%Co / 1.46m from 124.57m TB22-31 483872 5498289 204.05 -45 45 Northern BHEM Plates 350 350 not sampled TB22-32 483872 5498289 204.05 -65 45 Northern BHEM Plates 350 350 weak to moderate Layden Bx /150m from 4.86m, locally highly anomalous in Co (0.06%), anomalous in Ni and Cu TB22-33 483872 5498289 204.05 -90 0 Northern BHEM Plates 322 322 not sampled 5739 CRI defines anomalous as >0.2%Ni, >0.1%Cu and >0.01%Co Table 1 Summary of 2022 Drilling at Taylor Brook intersected over 100+ metres in multiple holes. The Company continues to interpret the breccia unit as proximal and possibly coalescing at depth mineralization to the higher-grade massive sulphides, with interesting metal tenors. Plans for 2023 at Taylor Brook include completing the NI43-101 report in progress, ground CSAMT surveys over Layden and along the trend, and 5000m of drilling, roughly split between deeper holes chasing the high-grade mineralization at Layden to depth, and scout holes into anomalous areas like TBS-1. Fig. 3 The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Derek H.C Wilton, P.Geo., FGC, who is a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and independent of the Company. The soil samples were placed in labelled, sealed kraft paper bags and delivered to Eastern Analytical of Springdale, NL, an ISO/IEC 17025 certified facility. OREAS Standards and blanks were inserted in the sample batches. The samples were analysed using ICP 34 (inductively coupled plasma) analytical protocols. Samples with over limit Ni contents were re-assayed using Easterns Ore Grade Assay (multi acid digestion) overlimit method. Quality control results, including the laboratorys control samples, were evaluated immediately. About Churchill Resources Inc. Churchill is managed by career mining industry professionals and currently holds four exploration projects, namely Taylor Brook in Newfoundland, Florence Lake in Labrador, Pelly Bay in Nunavut, and White River in Ontario. All projects are at the evaluation stage, with known mineralized Nickel-Copper-Cobalt showings at Taylor Brook, Florence Lake and Pelly Bay, and significantly diamondiferous kimberlitic intrusives at White River and Pelly Bay. The primary focus of Churchill is on the continued exploration and development of the Taylor Brook and Florence Lake Nickel Projects. Further Information For further information regarding Churchill, please contact: Churchill Resources Inc. Paul Sobie, Chief Executive Officer Tel. +1 416.365.0930 (o) +1 647.988.0930 (m) Email [email protected] Alec Rowlands, Corporate Consultant Tel. +1 416.721.4732 (m) Email [email protected] 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", proposed, "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 to, among other things, the Companys objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Companys properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans. 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: the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; failure to identify any additional mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Companys properties; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); 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); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing 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); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; ongoing uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; and those factors described in the most recently filed managements discussion and analysis of the Company. 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. 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. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/188ee34a-b14e-4a3d-bb3b-35032c804d9f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/155695ea-7456-43f5-8b91-0c45ece2c478 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e5d2f39-bbe5-42a4-970e-f53b928731e1 Fig. 1 Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 3 Source: Churchill Resources Inc. CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 13, 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 and its partners, KB Drilling (KB) and RESPEC Consulting Inc. (RESPEC) has begun drilling at the Phase 1 exploration drill program at its 17,334 acres Horizon Lithium Project (Horizon) located in Esmeralda County that is 7.4 miles west from Tonopah, Nevada. The Company will focus immediate efforts on eleven (11) priority drill holes of the fully permitted twenty-two (22) core drill hole program. The Company has detailed an execution plan sequence for the eleven (11) priority drill holes (Table 1). Figure 1 Drill Rig on Site at the Horizon Lithium Project RESPEC has setup a core shed area in Tonopah for the Company where core logging, photographs, sample selection, core cutting, sampling bagging, and sample shipment prop will take place. KB safely mobilized equipment and personnel from Carson City to Tonopah and had the rig and associated equipment set-up at drill pad HL010 mid-morning on February 12th. Drilling commenced at HL010 the evening of February 12th. Jason Latkowcer, Chief Executive Officer comments, We were thrilled to receive our first daily drilling report from RESPEC over the weekend where staging and setup of the drill program were confirmed to be done safely and with tactical professionalism. On February 12th, our field operators confirmed drilling kicked off at our first priority drill hole HL010. Were excited to get started on this maiden drill program and believe we have the best team to get it done safely and successfully. Table 1 - Drilling Target Sequence 1 HL010 2 HL009 3 HL022 4 HL021 5 HL008 6 HL018 7 HL020 8 HL007 9 HL006 10 HL005 11 HL016 Figure 2 - Phase 1 Drill Holes 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 DirectorsJason LatkowcerCEO & DirectorContactPhone: (587) 885-5970 Email: [email protected] Forward-Looking StatementsCertain 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/920be695-51f1-42b2-a0d5-51203d97433ehttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6a6be2a-380e-427d-be81-fee092aa8233 Figure 1 Drill Rig on Site at the Horizon Lithium Project Figure 2 Phase 1 Drill Holes Source: Pan American Energy Corp. CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Physician Growth Partners (PGP) is pleased to have advised Georgia Dermatology Partners (Georgia Derm), a 23-provider practice serving the greater Atlanta market, in its new partnership with PhyNet Dermatology (PhyNet). This transaction represents a significant expansion of PhyNets current footprint in Georgia while simultaneously adding another dermatologic leader to its growing national footprint. Founded in 1978, Georgia Derm has grown into a market leader with a reputation for delivering consistently excellent clinical care. Currently led by five exceptional physician shareholders, Georgia Derm offers comprehensive dermatologic services at offices in Snellville, Loganville, Braselton, and Brookhaven. Services include medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology services, as well as dermatopathology and MOHS surgery. Drs. Jonathan Weiss, Alia Brown, Keith Wright, Jessica Mercer, and Kirk Saddler lead a team that includes general and sub-specialty trained physicians, along with multiple mid-levels and aestheticians delivering unmatched clinical services and top-of-the-line cosmetic results. Georgia Derm will utilize PhyNets additional operational resources and growing presence in the state to accelerate growth in the Atlanta market and beyond while maintaining its commitment to clinical outcomes of the highest quality. PGP served as exclusive transaction advisor to Georgia Derm in its evaluation, negotiation, and execution of the transaction. Dr. Weiss was impressed with the firms work throughout the process. Physician Growth Partners could not be more appropriately named. From first contact until the closing of our transaction, Michael Kroin and his associates were engaged 24/7. They took the time to learn our culture. Their advice was always on-point and they helped us find the best partner for our practice. PGPs professionalism, negotiating skills and availability were unparalleled. After interviewing several investment banks, our choice was clear and could not have been better. Thank you PGP for being a true partner in this journey. Dr. Brown, who is a partner of the practice with Dr. Weiss, was also pleased with the outcome along with the rest of the shareholders. We had an outstanding experience working with Michael and the PGP team. They were extremely knowledgeable and had the expertise to oversee and execute a partnership with an amazing company. They were available, day and night, working to make the process seamless. In my mind, the most important thing was that they took the time to get to know us as individuals, as well as a group. This was integral in finding a company with whom our goals aligned, and while also allowing us to maintain our culture.Jeremy Murphy, Vice President at PGP, said, We couldnt be more excited for the future of Georgia Derm as they enter this next stage of growth. Theyre a group of excellent physicians and even better individuals. It was an honor to advise them as they sought a partner capable of expanding upon their mission to provide the best level of dermatologic care to the Georgia community. John Dickenson, Chief Development Officer of PhyNet, said, We continue to be very intentional and selective in our practice affiliations and could not be more pleased being selected as Georgia Derms partner of choice. We look forward to collaborating with them in future growth while helping them maintain the same excellent standard of care that has been in existence for over 45 years. We appreciate PGPs responsiveness and professionalism throughout this entire transaction. Their immediacy and dedication to their client played an important role in consummating this transaction in a timely fashion. PGP CEO and Managing Partner Michael Kroin added, I am extremely pleased with the outcome Georgia Derm was able to achieve. There is no doubt their clinical renown and desire to expand in a sustainable fashion was recognized by the market. I am very excited to see the incredible foundation they have built over the years expand with proper strategic alignment via the PhyNet partnership. About Physician Growth PartnersPhysician Growth Partners is one of the most active national healthcare advisory firms dedicated to representing medical specialty practices in transactions with private equity. PGP creates value by providing operational support, strategic positioning, and transaction advisory, delivering an optimal outcome for its clients. For more information about Physician Growth Partners, please visit: www.physiciangrowthpartners.com or contact us at [email protected] 432 N. Clark Street, Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60654 Source: Physician Growth Partners TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, RBC iShares expands its exchange traded fund (ETF) lineup with the launch of five iShares ETFs. The funds cover several new ETF strategies, offering easy and affordable access to a range of exposures including long government bonds, emerging market equities, and electric and autonomous vehicles. The five ETFs (collectively the iShares Funds) are listed in the table below and are expected to begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX) today; the new iShares Funds will be managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (BlackRock Canada), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. Fund Name Ticker Annual Management Fee iShares Core Canadian 15+ Year Federal Bond Index ETF XFLB 0.15% iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF XTLT, XTLT.U 0.18%1 iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XTLH 0.18%1 iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index ETF XEMC 0.30%1 iShares Global Electric and Autonomous Vehicles Index ETF XDRV 0.39% Helen Hayes, Head of iShares Canada, BlackRock: With the launch of these new ETFs, were working to empower Canadian investors to take a more granular approach to portfolio construction and enable financial advisors to create highly customizable portfolios to help their clients reach their investment objectives. ________________________1 If applicable, BlackRock Canada or an affiliate is entitled to receive a fee for acting as manager of each ETF managed by BlackRock Canada or an affiliate (iShares ETF) in which this iShares Fund may invest (an underlying product fee and together with the management fee payable to BlackRock Canada, the total annual fee). As the underlying product fees are embedded in the market value of the iShares ETFs in which this iShares Fund may invest, any underlying product fees are borne indirectly by this iShares Fund. BlackRock Canada will adjust the management fee payable to it by this iShares Fund to ensure that the total annual fees paid directly or indirectly to BlackRock Canada and its affiliates by this iShares Fund will not exceed the percentage of the NAV set out above. The total annual fee is exclusive of HST. Any underlying product fees borne indirectly by this iShares Fund are calculated and accrued daily and are paid not less than annually. The iShares Core Canadian 15+ Year Federal Bond Index ETF (XFLB) provides exposure to Government of Canada bonds with remaining maturities of 15 years and greater. XFLB is currently the only Canadian Federal Long Bond Index ETF which contains federal bonds exclusively. This provides Canadian investors pure exposure to an asset class typically considered a strong hedge for Canadian equity exposure in periods of economic uncertainty. The iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF (XTLT, XTLT.U) and iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) (XTLH) each provide exposure to U.S. Treasury bonds with remaining maturities greater than 20 years. XTLH seeks to hedge any resulting U.S. dollar currency exposure back to Canadian dollars. These launches compliment RBC iShares existing suite of fixed income ETF solutions to provide an efficient, transparent and easy way to empower investors to construct bond portfolios. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index ETF (XEMC) provides exposure to securities of issuers located in emerging markets, excluding China. XEMC is currently Canadas first emerging market equities ETF that omits China exposure, allowing investors to take a tailored approach to their equity allocation for the region. The iShares Global Electric and Autonomous Vehicles Index ETF (XDRV) provides exposure to securities of issuers that could benefit from the development and adoption of electric and autonomous vehicles, as determined by the index provider. This launch is the latest addition to RBC iShares expanding suite of Megatrends ETFs. RBC iShares aims to help clients achieve their investment objectives by empowering them to build efficient portfolios and take control of their financial futures. RBC iShares is committed to delivering a truly differentiated ETF experience and positive outcomes for clients. For more information about RBC iShares, please visit https://www.rbcishares.com. 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. About RBC Global Asset Management RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and includes money managers BlueBay Asset Management and Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management. RBC GAM is a provider of global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies. The RBC GAM group of companies manage approximately $525 billion in assets and have approximately 1,500 employees located across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. RBC iShares ETFs are comprised of RBC ETFs managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. and iShares ETFs managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. ETFs 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. / TM Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. iSHARES is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. Used under license. 2022 BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited and RBC Global Asset Management Inc. All rights reserved. Contact for Media: Reem Jazar Email: [email protected] Source: BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (iShares) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (West Red Lake Gold or the Company) (TSXV: WRLG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. William (Will) Robinson as Vice President Exploration and Mr. Amandip Singh as Vice President Corporate Development. Mr. Will Robinson is an exploration and mining professional with 19 years of industry experience, primarily in precious metals, planning and successfully implementing exploration programs at all stages of advancement, from remote grassroots field programs to advanced-stage resource development projects. He has a comprehensive understanding of mineral resource development from taking reconnaissance-based field programs to target generation and exploratory drilling through to resource/reserve definition and mine development. Mr. Robinson was most recently Exploration Manager for Coeur Mining, Inc. where he focused on sourcing and evaluating new gold and silver opportunities for Coeurs project pipeline, as well as providing technical support and leadership to mine site exploration teams to systematically develop and advance regional concepts and near-mine exploration targets at operations such as Kensington, Silvertip, and Rochester. Additionally, he was part of the team that discovered the Manh Choh gold-silver deposit in Alaska that is currently being developed by Kinross Gold and Contango Ore. Mr. Robinson is a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo) licensed in British Columbia, Canada, and a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) with the American Institute of Professional Geologists. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a Master's in Mining Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Mr. Amandip Singh is a geologist and mining professional with over 15 years of experience in the mining industry, finance and academia. As a finance professional, Mr. Singh was a sell-side mining analyst at a boutique mining focussed brokerage, his coverage ranged from developers all the way up to senior producers. With GT Gold, Mr. Singh was part of the management team that saw the Saddle North Cu-Au porphyry project advance from discovery to eventual acquisition by Newmont Mining in a transaction valued at USD $311M. Mr. Singh holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto. We are pleased to welcome Will Robinson and Amandip Singh to the West Red Lake Gold team, stated Tom Meredith, CEO of West Red Lake Gold Mines. Their experience and enthusiasm will add considerable value to our efforts towards advancing our Properties as well as identifying new and complimentary opportunities. Pursuant to the Companys incentive stock option plan, the Company has granted 565,000 stock options to certain officers and consultants of the Company at a price of $0.50 per share exercisable for 10 years. The Company further announces that it has adopted a new restricted share unit and deferred share unit plan (the RSU/DSU Plan) which was approved at the meeting of shareholders on November 14, 2022. A summary regarding the RSU/DSU plan can be found in the Company's information circular dated October 7, 2022, which is filed on SEDAR. ABOUT WEST RED LAKE GOLD MINES West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company focused on gold exploration and development in the prolific Red Lake Gold District of Northwest Ontario, Canada. The Red Lake Gold District is host to some of the richest gold deposits in the world and has produced 30 million ounces of gold from high grade zones. The Company has assembled a significant property position totalling 3,100 hectares in west Red Lake (the "West Red Lake Project") which contains three former gold mines. The Mount Jamie Mine and Red Summit Mine properties are 100% owned by the Company and the Rowan Mine property is held in a 69% - 31% joint venture with Evolution Mining Limited. The West Red Lake Project property covers a 12 km strike length along the Pipestone Bay St Paul Deformation Zone and the Company is continuing to explore the property both along strike and to depth. ON BEHALF OF WEST RED LAKE GOLD MINES LTD. Tom Meredith Tom Meredith Chief Executive Officer FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Tel: 416-203-9181 ext 4600Email: [email protected] or visit our website at https://www.westredlakegold.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. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements". When used in this document, the words "anticipated", "expect", "estimated", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. These statements are based on current expectations of management, however, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward- looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof, except as required by securities laws. Source: West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd Newport Beach, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2023) - Greenbriar Capital Corp.(TSXV:GRB) (OTC PINK:GEBRF)("Greenbriar or "the Company") is very pleased to announce the following updates: Montalva Solar Project Greenbriar and PREPA are very close to reaching an agreement on moving forward with the Montalva Solar Project. On February 10, 2023, PBJL ENERGY ("Greenbriar") and PREPA filed a Joint Motion with the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau stating that both parties are in the process of reaching an agreement in principle that would allow them to end the case shortly and to complete the process, including drafting the settlement agreement to obtain all the necessary regulatory approvals. Both parties request a twenty working day extension to complete this stage of the settlement process. Both parties are working in good faith to move the Montalva Project forward through the process within the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau. Sage Ranch Greenbriar's independent professional engineers filed the completed PDP to the City on Nov. 17, 2022. Revisions were requested by the City on December 23, 2022. Greenbriar will file the revisions by the end of February 2023. Greenbriar is targeting soon thereafter to pull the first of the construction permits. Greenbriar purchased a dedicated building downtown and is currently completing an extensive renovation that will house both the Sage Ranch sales office and the Keller Williams sales office. A home sales website was commissioned before the end of 2022 and should be completed shortly. Greenbriar is currently working with our California Department of Real Estate consultant to prepare and file for our "yellow" report application which will allow the completion of binding purchase and sale agreements for Phase I, which consists of the 1st year of 144 homes out of the 995-home buildout. Greenbriar is engaging a world class engineering firm to document the green credits Sage Ranch will create from its near carbon neutral footprint as well as making the appropriate applications for all of the environmental certifications documenting such achievements. About Greenbriar Capital Corp: Greenbriar is a leading ESG Alternative Asset developer of renewable energy and sustainable real estate. With long-term, high impact, contracted sales agreements in key project locations and led by a successful, industry-recognized operating and development team, Greenbriar targets deep valued assets directed at accretive shareholder value. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeffrey J. Ciachurski Chief Executive Officer and Director Phone: 949.903.5906 Fax: 604.608.9572 www.greenbriarcapitalcorp.ca The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service 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. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and include any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Company's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/154558 RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers from the Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) unveiled the AESOP Early Warning System for Outbreaks with Epi-Pandemic Potential at the 6th Global Science Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC) in Rio de Janeiro, with support from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), that co-organizes the Conference. Currently under development, AESOP is designed to signal new disease outbreaks that have the potential to cause health emergencies, an increasingly common occurrence due to climate change, population growth, and migration. AESOP collaborators aims to support Brazilian health authorities by coupling actionable data with proposed strategies to mitigate the risks of infectious diseases like dengue. The AESOP data platform will allow health scientists to track early-stage outbreaks by integrating data collected from Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) with other health, environmental, and sociodemographic data sources. Currently under development, the platform will ultimately allow health leaders to explore a range of diverse data sources in a single system and, using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, pinpoint areas where infectious diseases are likely to spread rapidly. "The AESOP seeks to geographically identify the beginning of the outbreak through the analysis of Primary Health Care data, and other data related to the manifestations of the disease, such as the sale of medicines and rumors on social networks," explained Manoel Barral-Netto, Researcher and Project Coordinator with Fiocruz. According to Barral-Netto, after identifying the outbreak area, two actions take place in parallel to model the risk and characteristics of the spread of the outbreak: research teams collect field samples to identify infectious agents involved, and AESOP data scientists then integrate other bio-climatological data to model the development of the outbreak and inform control measures. "Building open, transparent and scalable platforms that transform data into action is vital to ensuring an informed, coordinated and swift response to current and future infectious disease outbreaks," said Kay van der Horst, Managing Director, Health Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation. "It's inspiring to see how the AESOP project team, supported by Fiocruz and The Rockefeller Foundation, has established strong, cross-sector partnerships with a diverse stakeholder community to build this innovative platform. It's a model that, we believe, can serve as a best practice for other regions as the world advances towards more robust, coordinated pathogen surveillance and outbreak response." The 6th Global Science Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC) in Rio (13-15 Feb) aims to bring together the global sustainable technology and innovation community to drive the search for innovative technological solutions, integrated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Conference is organized by Fiocruz, together with seven international research institutes: VITO (Belgium), The Scientific and Industrial Research Council (CSIR, South Africa), Guangzhou Institute for Energy Conversion (GIEC, China), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, (GIST, South Korea), National Center for Technology Management (NACETEM, Nigeria), Institute of Energy and Resources (TERI, India) and Solutions Network for Sustainable Development of United Nations (SDSN). G-STIC Rio is supported by primary sponsors Petrobras, Pfizer and Fiotec, with additional support from Aegea, IBMP, Helda Gerdau Institute, Klabin, Enel, Firjan, Sanofi, Engie, and the Institute for Climate and Society. Registration for the conference is now open. About Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (Cidacs) Cidacs conducts studies and research based on interdisciplinary projects originating from the linkage of large volumes of data. The Center's mission is to contribute to the production of innovative scientific knowledge to broaden the understanding of determinants and social and environmental policies on the health of the population. These studies aim to help and support decision-making in public policies for the benefit of society. About Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) UFRJ's history dates back to the beginning of the 19th century and is filled with remarkable scientific, cultural, and artistic accomplishments. It is currently the 3rd best university in Brazil and the 7th best university in Latin America (QS Rankings 2018). With many campuses and faculties scattered around Rio de Janeiro State, it comprises institutes, schools, and other facilities, including museums, hospitals, and the third largest ocean basin in the world for research on offshore oil exploitation. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advanced-surveillance-project-using-artificial-intelligence-aims-to-anticipate-alerts-of-infectious-disease-outbreaks-301744595.html SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation 1% of healthcare research and innovation is invested in conditions unique to women In its second year as a company, 10,000 employees around the world, including over 400 employees in Organon's Middle East North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region will receive paid time off to dedicate International Women's Day in service of women's health DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For far too long, women's health issues have been underfunded, under researched and underserved. Leading up to International Women's Day on March 8, Organon (NYSE: OGN), a global women's health company, is challenging the healthcare ecosystem along with academia, investors, policymakers, researchers, and others to consider the consequences of continuing to treat women's health as an afterthought. For the second consecutive year, the company is also providing its employees, including over 400 employees in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey region (MENAT), with paid time off to shine a light and speak out in service of women's health. Women account for more than half of the population and mothers make approximately 80% of health care decisions.1 Despite this, tremendous gaps exist in research and development efforts to advance treatment options for women. In fact, only 1% of healthcare research and innovation is invested in conditions unique to women, according to a 2020 study,2 Across the MENAT region, plenty of untapped opportunities and challenges remain. According to a Q4 2021 analysis released by FemTech Analytics a subsidiary of the UK-based Deep Knowledge Group - investment in healthtech in the MENA region grew by 280% but none directed at femtech (women-led health start-ups). Furthermore, according to the report, MENA's overall share of the total number of femtech companies barely reaches 6%.3 "The launch of Organon in the MENAT region came with a promise to deliver a better and healthier world to women and their families. As a company that is focused on innovations that improve women's health, it is pivotal for us to understand and address the needs of our over 400 employees in the region. For our second year as a young company, Organon is launching a global initiative on the occasion of International Women's Day where all employees will receive paid time off to focus on their health and wellbeing" said Ramy Koussa, Associate Vice President for the MENAT region at Organon. Mr. Koussa added: "The first step of advancing women's health is listening to women, to understand her needs truly. Moreover, to achieve this goal, it is vital to engage all relevant stakeholders involved and committed to this cause, and we call on these stakeholders to join us in marking international women's day with us. In the MENAT region, since we launched our company in the region, we have been engaged in multiple activities, panels, initiatives, and projects to support her health and raise awareness about her needs. We continue to work closely with key government stakeholders and various medical societies to educate and empower women". Multiple research and studies across numerous areas of women's health reveal crucial and dangerous gaps that impact nearly all stages of a woman's lifer life. For instance: Menopause: Women can experience physical symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, for up to ten years.4 These symptoms can disrupt sleep, lower energy and affect emotional health as well as productivity in the workplace. One study found that 83% of respondents felt menopause negatively affected their day-to-day.5,6 Another study shows that the average age for menopause in the Middle East is 46.9-47.8.7 Women can experience physical symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, for up to ten years.4 These symptoms can disrupt sleep, lower energy and affect emotional health as well as productivity in the workplace. One study found that 83% of respondents felt menopause negatively affected their day-to-day.5,6 Another study shows that the average age for menopause in the Middle East is 46.9-47.8.7 Maternal health: According to UNICEF, while the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined by 50 per cent in the MENA region from 1990 to 2015 (from 220 to 110 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) much is to be left to be done. The main causes of maternal mortality in the MENA region are pregnancy and delivery-related complications such as hemorrhage and abnormal bleeding, hypertensive disorders, maternal sepsis and other related infections. According to UNICEF, while the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined by 50 per cent in the MENA region from 1990 to 2015 (from 220 to 110 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) much is to be left to be done. The main causes of maternal mortality in the MENA region are pregnancy and delivery-related complications such as hemorrhage and abnormal bleeding, hypertensive disorders, maternal sepsis and other related infections. Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a common and chronic condition that affects up to 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, causes severe abdominal pain and is associated with infertility.8 Endometriosis can also limit economic opportunities for some women who experience debilitating pain that prevents them from going to work or school.9,10 The prevalence of endometriosis is estimated to be 12.9% in Middle Eastern women undergoing laparoscopy.11 About Organon Organon is a global healthcare company with a focus on improving the health of women throughout their lives. Organon has a portfolio of more than 60 medicines and products across a range of therapeutic areas. Led by the women's health portfolio coupled with an expanding biosimilars business and stable franchise of established medicines, Organon's products produce strong cash flows that will support investments in innovation and future growth opportunities in women's health. In addition, Organon is pursuing opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators looking to commercialize their products by leveraging its scale and presence in fast growing international markets. Organon has a global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach, world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 10,000 employees with headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey For more information, visit https://www.organon.com/menat-en/ and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 1 "General facts on women and job based health," Employee Benefits Security Administration fact sheet, US Department of Labor.2 Evaluate Medtech (accessed July 2021); Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2021; Pharmaprojects (accessed July 2021); Report of the Advisory Committee on Research on Women's Health, Fiscal Years 20172018: Office of Research on Women's Health and NIH Support for Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health, Office of Research on Women's Health, October 2019 3 https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/emea/uae-leads-femtech-gulf-major-challenges-remain4 Watkins, E. (2018). Menopause. Physician Assistant Clinics, 3(3), 373383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpha.2018.02.0065 Menopause. (2023, January 1). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-203533976 Driving the change: Menopause and the workplace. (2021, March 30). Circle In. https://circlein.com/research-and-guides/menopause-at-work/7 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-28526-y8 Endometriosis. (n.d.). Who.int. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis9 Nnoaham, K. E., Hummelshoj, L., Webster, P., d'Hooghe, T., de Cicco Nardone, F., de Cicco Nardone, C., Jenkinson, C., Kennedy, S. H., Zondervan, K. T., & World Endometriosis Research Foundation Global Study of Women's Health consortium. (2011). Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and work productivity: a multicenter study across ten countries. Fertility and Sterility, 96(2), 366-373.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.05.09010 Culley, L., Law, C., Hudson, N., Denny, E., Mitchell, H., Baumgarten, M., & Raine-Fenning, N. (2013). The social and psychological impact of endometriosis on women's lives: a critical narrative review. Human Reproduction Update, 19(6), 625639. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmt027 11 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8593935/#B13 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1999647/DSC07464.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ahead-of-international-womens-day-organon-calls-for-recognition-of-the-impacts-of-underinvesting-in-womens-health-301745004.html SOURCE Organon HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited (the "Company") (NYSE: BORR) (OSE: BORR) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a new contract and two extensions for its premium jack-up drilling rigs "Ran", "Gerd" and "Natt". These awards increase the company's firm backlog by approximately 625 days, excluding unexercised optional periods. The premium jack-up drilling rig "Ran" has secured a contract with Fieldwood Energy for work in Mexico. This contract will cover a firm scope of two wells with an estimated duration of 50 days, and one optional well with an estimated duration of 75 days. The firm work has an estimated contract value of $7.5 million, excluding mobilisation and demobilisation. The contract is expected to commence in June 2023, in direct continuation of the rig's ongoing contact, and is expected to keep the rig contracted until Q4 2023 when it will start its subsequent contract, as previously disclosed by the Company. The premium jack-up drilling rig "Gerd" had certain priced and unpriced options exercised by Addax, extending the contract by a total period of ten months. This extension is expected to maintain the rig contracted until the end of January 2024 and has an estimated contract value of $40 million. No further options are available under this contract. Lastly, the premium jack-up drilling rig "Natt" had three well options exercised by ENI, extending he contract by an estimated period of 270 days. This extension is expected to maintain the rig contracted until Q1 2024 and has an estimated contract value of $22.7 million. Forward looking statements This press release includes forward looking statements, which do not reflect historical facts and may be identified by words such as "expect", "will", "estimated", "expected" and similar expressions and include statements relating to rig contracting and extensions and exercises of options including the duration and value of such contracts and backlog, and other non-historical statements. Such forward -looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements included herein, including risks related to actual performance under drilling contracts, the risk that backlog may not be realized, the number of rigs that will be in operation and rates that are achieved, and other risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by the forward -looking statements included herein. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. We do not undertake to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. CONTACT: Questions should be directed to: Magnus Vaaler, CFO, +44 1224 289208 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/borr-drilling-limited--announcement-of-new-contract-and-extensions-301745010.html SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 2)* Rezolute, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (Title of Class of Securities) 76200L309 (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2022 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [X] Rule 13d-1(b) [X] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. 1 CUSIP No. 76200L309 1. Names of Reporting Persons. Stonepine Capital Management, LLC 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ______ (b) X 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization California Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power 3,021,504 6. Shared Voting Power 0 7. Sole Dispositive Power 3,021,504 8. Shared Dispositive Power 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 3,021,504 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) ______ 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 8.2% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IA, OO 2 CUSIP No. 76200L309 1. Names of Reporting Persons. Stonepine Capital, L.P. 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ______ (b) X 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power 3,021,504 6. Shared Voting Power 0 7. Sole Dispositive Power 3,021,504 8. Shared Dispositive Power 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 3,021,504 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) ______ 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 8.2% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) PN 3 CUSIP No. 76200L309 1. Names of Reporting Persons. Jon M. Plexico 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ______ (b) X 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization U.S.A. Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power 3,021,504 6. Shared Voting Power 0 7. Sole Dispositive Power 3,021,504 8. Shared Dispositive Power 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 3,021,504 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) ______ 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 8.2% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) HC, IN 4 CUSIP No. 76200L309 1. Names of Reporting Persons. Timothy P. Lynch 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ______ (b) X 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization U.S.A. Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power 3,021,504 6. Shared Voting Power 0 7. Sole Dispositive Power 3,021,504 8. Shared Dispositive Power 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 3,021,504 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) ______ 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 8.2% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) HC, IN 5 CUSIP No. 76200L309 Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer Rezolute, Inc. (b) Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices 275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500, Redwood City, CA 94065 Item 2. (a) The names of the persons filing this statement are: Stonepine Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the General Partner) Stonepine Capital, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership) Jon M. Plexico Timothy P. Lynch (collectively, the Filers) The General Partner is the general partner and investment adviser of the Partnership. Mr. Plexico and Mr. Lynch are the control persons of the General Partner. The Filers are filing this Schedule 13G jointly, but not as members of a group, and each disclaims membership in a group. Each Filer also disclaims beneficial ownership of the Stock except to the extent of that persons pecuniary interest therein. In addition, the filing of this Schedule 13G on behalf of the Partnership should not be construed as an admission that it is, and it disclaims that it is, a beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act, of any of the Stock covered by this Schedule 13G. (b) The principal business office of the Filers is located at 919 NW Bond Street, Suite 204 Bend, OR 97703-2767 (c) For citizenship of Filers, see Item 4 of the cover sheet for each Filer. (d) This statement relates to the Issuers Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the Stock). (e) The CUSIP number of the Issuer is: 76200L309 6 CUSIP No. 76200L309 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to rule 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) [ X ] An investment adviser in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E). As to the General Partner. (f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F). (g) [ X ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G). As to Mr. Plexico and Mr. Lynch. (h) [ ] A savings association as defined in section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813). (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3). (j) [ ] A non-U.S. institution in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(J). (k) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution _______________________________________________________________. Item 4. Ownership. See Items 5-9 and 11 of the cover page for each Filer. The percentages reported in this Schedule 13G are based on 36,827,567 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of November 7, 2022, as reported in the Issuers Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2022. Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ]. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. The Partnership holds the Stock for the benefit of its investors and has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Stock. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company. Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group Not applicable. Item 10. Material to Be Filed as Exhibits Agreement Regarding Joint Filing of Statement on Schedule 13D or 13G. Item 11. Certification of the General Partner, Mr. Plexico and Mr. Lynch By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under 240.14a-11. Certification of the Partnership By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under 240.14a-11. 7 CUSIP No. 76200L309 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: February 13, 2023 STONEPINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC By: /s/ Timothy P. Lynch Timothy P. Lynch Managing Member STONEPINE CAPITAL, L.P. By: Stonepine Capital Management, LLC, General Partner By: /s/ Timothy P. Lynch Timothy P. Lynch Managing Member /s/ Jon M. Plexico Jon M. Plexico /s/ Timothy P. Lynch Timothy P. Lynch 8 CUSIP No. 76200L309 EXHIBIT A AGREEMENT REGARDING JOINT FILING OF STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 13D OR 13G The undersigned agree to file jointly with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) any and all statements on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G or Forms 3, 4 or 5(and any amendments or supplements thereto) required under section 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with purchases by the undersigned of the securities of any issuer. For that purpose, the undersigned hereby constitute and appoint Stonepine Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company, as their true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority for and on behalf of the undersigned to prepare or cause to be prepared, sign, file with the SEC and furnish to any other person all certificates, instruments, agreements and documents necessary to comply with section 13(d) and section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with said purchases, and to do and perform every act necessary and proper to be done incident to the exercise of the foregoing power, as fully as the undersigned might or could do if personally present. Dated: May 15, 2017 GRAFENWOEHR, Germany Short-range missile defense was a prominent part of U.S. Army strategy in Europe for several decades, until it became an afterthought with the end of the Soviet Union and the rise of counterinsurgency warfare elsewhere. But with Russia unleashing missile barrages on Ukrainian cities and neighboring U.S. allies concerned about projectiles flying over their borders, the soldiers of the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment training at Grafenwoehr, the Armys largest training area in Europe, find their mission back in the spotlight. In recent days, the Ansbach-based brigade has been practicing here to certify their gunnery skills on the maneuver short-range air defense system. It is seeking to become the worlds first all-M-SHORAD unit with technology well beyond what Cold War soldiers used but perhaps familiar-looking to their grandkids. During the training, soldiers learned to use a device that looks like an Xbox controller. I wouldnt necessarily say its difficult, but there is a lot of information that we have to take in, vehicle commander Sgt. Elijah Ryan said in describing the system, while 30mm cannons boomed over the snow-covered fields. SHORAD is used to protect ground troops from cruise missiles, drones and other low-flying aircraft. While air defense modernization became a priority in the years after Russia illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, officials say the Kremlins full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year has bluntly made the case for greater air defense capacity, especially in Europe. In the past, we took air superiority for granted, Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said during a recent interview. We have been rudely disabused of that idea now. Karako was referring to the wide range of air and missile threats on display in Ukraine, adding that in the present climate, short-range air defense is not something nice to have; its a must-have. The U.S. had little need for air defense during its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq because of its air superiority. As a result, the Army inactivated most of its SHORAD units and transferred their equipment to the National Guard. Although SHORAD is generally viewed as equally important as medium- and long-range air defense, the Army has a larger short-range capacity gap that it needs to address. Thats where the soldiers training at Grafenwoehr come in. The battalion is upgrading from the Avenger, a Humvee-based system that was developed in the 1980s. The more advanced M-SHORAD consists of a Stryker armored fighting vehicle equipped with a stinger missile launcher, an XM914 30 mm cannon, an M240 machine gun and a sophisticated radar system. It provides more protection for those inside the vehicle than the Avenger does, and the soldiers using it described it as more accurate, lethal and maneuverable. As soldiers learn to operate the machine, they give feedback to manufacturers in the U.S. For example, Ryan said he wasnt completely happy with how a switch works for tracking targets on those Xbox-like controllers. In recent months, the U.S. provided four Avenger systems to Ukraine. U.S. soldiers trained over a dozen Ukrainian counterparts on the systems at Grafenwoehr, spokesman Maj. Robert Fellingham told Stars and Stripes. The systems must be integrated with others to provide maximum protection. For the U.S., this means merging its capabilities with those of other NATO partners. Since arriving in Europe, most troops with the 4th ADA regiment have been sent with Avengers to countries on NATOs eastern flank. M-SHORAD platoon leader 2nd Lt. Marina Delmoro deployed to Germany just two weeks before she was sent last March to Lithuania, where people were wary of the Ukraine conflict spilling into their territory. Delmoro is looking forward to the activation of an additional short-rage air defense battalion, likely to happen this fall, to help meet the growing SHORAD demand. The 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment also will be based in Ansbach. It will be an Avenger battalion for a few years before a planned change to the indirect fire protection capability, Army officials say. That system works with other air defense methods to defeat rockets and drones, among other threats. The two Ansbach battalions and a third in Baumholder that specializes in the long-range Patriot system fall under the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, which was activated last year in Sembach. Its expected to be about six months before the soldiers working with the M-SHORADs complete their training and all three dozen systems are in theater, brigade commander Col. Bruce Bredlow said. This newest capability is coming to Europe first, Bredlow said. This is a sign that we are very committed to Europe and the security of NATO. HUDSON, Mass. (Tribune News Service) All these years later the prison walls talk again through coded knocks, projected images and narration. The American Heritage Museum's "Hanoi Hilton" exhibit opened Sunday with 20 former American prisoners of war on hand and two cells reassembled from materials salvaged decades ago in Vietnam at the infamous Hoa Lo prison. Part of the Hanoi prison, formerly a French colonial house of detention, was demolished for development in the 1990s. Artifacts and building materials were collected and stored. The Hudson exhibit marks 50 years since Feb. 12, 1973, when the first POWs were released from Hoa Lo. U.S. Navy pilot Capt. Leo Hyatt, 88, from Salem, N.H., was a prisoner at Hoa Lo for more than five years, released March 14, 1973. U.S. Navy pilot Capt. James Mulligan, 96, from Lawrence, Mass., spent part of his 7-year imprisonment in the infamous Hanoi cells after his plane was downed March 20, 1966. Hyatt now resides at a VA hospital and Mulligan died Jan. 18. Their stories, and those of their families, are told through the museum's exhibit. "All of them were tortured through starvation and physical torture," said Hunter Chaney, museum communications director. Among the POWs at the opening were U.S. Navy Capt. John Michael McGrath, U.S. Air Force Col. Thomas Kirk, and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Timothy Sullivan of Acton, Mass. In videos projected on the cells' walls, POWs speak of how they got there, the isolation, torture and starvation they endured, and how communication helped them survive. "The story I want everyone to take away, is the survival story, and communication was essential for them to survive," said Rob Collings, CEO of the Collings Foundation, which houses the museum. Code a key to survival The POWs, isolated in cells separated by thick brick walls, would reach out to any occupant in an adjoining cell with call and response knocking, dubbed "shave and a haircut." This was to determine if anyone was there and if they were American. One person taps five notes: "duun, dun-dun, duun duun." If from the other side of the wall, following a silence, came two response knocks "duun duun," the prisoners knew those replying were Americans. As Kirk and McGrath explain, the "shave and haircut" rhythm was part of every American's lexicon, so widespread was it in movies and music. The sound all Hanoi Hilton POWs dreaded was that of jangling keys approaching in the hallways, a sign that a guard was coming to take one of them out to be tortured. It was also between these thick walls that a tap code based on a grid and the alphabet was established among the POWs. It was crucial to morale, to withstanding the brain-racing stress, for some, during years of isolation. "One of the cruelest punishments for anyone is when your mind is whirling 24 hours a day and it doesn't stop," said Kirk. Having that tapping back and forth, where they could start to talk, meant everything to them. Later, as the end of the war approached, POWs were removed from isolation and put into cells together where they were in a constant state of learning, of teaching languages and math and auto repair to each other. One POW, who entered speaking one language, left being able to speak four. Families stories told, too Between February and March of 1973, North Vietnam released 591 American servicemen, most of them officers and airmen. Operation Homecoming was a much better experience for the POWs than the often scornful response college students and others gave soldiers and Marines who had served during the war. The POWs received warm welcomes and intensive psychological and medical care. Yet, for many of the married POWs, the long separations from their wives were too great to overcome and the couples divorced. Leo Hyatt, who grew up on a Salem Depot farm and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1957, had a 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son when he was shot down in 1967. The daughter, Ashlen Nunnery, today runs a UPS shop in Fleming Island, Fla. Nunnery said her family didn't even know that Leo was alive until 1971. His picture was in an edition of Life Magazine, in a story about the POWs. She idolized her father and still has his POW pajamas and sandals, as well as his retirement uniform and service revolver. It was a confusing and terribly trying time for the families and wives, she said. She sees how it must have been excruciating for the POWs to find out their wives had remarried, and also extremely hard for the women left alone not knowing whether their husbands were alive. "If there is a story to be told it's the families, the kids and the wives," she said. Collings said that story is told in the exhibit. The American military typically did not know if men from shootdowns survived. Letters went out to families reporting them as missing in action. Wives and mothers undertook a campaign for more information about their husbands or sons, whether they were alive and where they were and in what condition were they in, Collings said. 'How awful war is' The design of the well-known POW/MIA flag was paid for by a family of a POW. Millions of Americans owned POW bracelets, engraved with the names, ranks of POWs and those missing in action. Later, around 1970, the POWs were allowed to receive mail. POW McGrath told Collings that when he returned it had been eight years for his wife, but, for him, it had been essentially no time, as if time had stood still for those eight years. The couple and family had to get to know one another again. "When people see the black (POW) flag flying around on all the flagpoles, it is hard to truly understand what that flag means," Chaney says. Ultimately, the immersive exhibit and others in the enormous museum filled with tank and plane exhibits drive home the horrible consequences of going to war. "As we are spinning around on this little blue marble in the blackness of space, it is times like this that we truly hope that people realize how awful war is," Chaney said. tdate@northofboston.com (c)2023 the Gloucester Daily Times (Gloucester, Mass.) Visit at www.gloucestertimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa Tokyo lodged a diplomatic complaint with Beijing on Sunday after a Chinese navy vessel entered Japans territorial waters off the southern tip of its main islands, according to Japanese government statements. A Shupang-class survey ship crossed the 12-mile territorial limit around Yakushima, an island 40 miles south of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands, at approximately 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Japans Defense Ministry said in a statement that day. The vessel remained for slightly less than two hours before exiting to the southwest of neighboring Kuchinoerabu island, the statement said. The survey vessels intrusion was the first of the year by the Chinese navy, according to the Ministry of Defense website. Shupang-class survey vessels made five intrusions in 2022, according to the ministry. Japans Foreign Affairs Ministry lodged a complaint with the Chinese Embassy in Japan and with the government in Beijing on Sunday, expressing strong concern over the incident, a ministry spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday. Some government officials in Japan are required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. The vessels intent was unclear, but Japanese authorities were concerned that China has stepped up military activities in the region, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Monday. We will keep paying close attention to the sailing of Chinese navy vessels in our waters and take all the possible measures to conduct vigilant surveillance in the surroundings of our country, Matsuno said at a press conference in Tokyo, according to a video clip uploaded to Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas website. Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted the survey vessel south of Yakushima in the countrys contiguous waters, a maritime zone that extends 12 nautical miles beyond the territorial limit, around 12:50 a.m. Sunday, according to the ministry statement. The vessel then entered Japans territorial waters southwest of Yakushima, the ministry said. A P-1 maritime patrol aircraft from Fleet Air Wing 1 at Kanoya Air Base, a P-3C surveillance plane from Fleet Air Wing 5 at Naha and the JS Shirataka, a guided-missile destroyer from Sasebo Naval Base, tracked the Chinese vessel. Even warships of one country are permitted innocent passage through another countrys territorial waters under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. The convention spells out exceptions to the rule. The Chinese vessel exited Japans territorial waters southwest of neighboring Kuchinoerabu at 4:10 a.m., according to the ministry. Kuchinoerabu is less than 10 miles northwest of Yakushima. The incident comes amid the fallout from the U.S. shooting down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic on Feb. 4, leading to a series of diplomatic snubs and charged rhetoric by both countries. The USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit took part in integrated expeditionary strike force operations over the weekend in the South China Sea, a 7th Fleet statement said Sunday. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says hed consider a reciprocal military access agreement with Japan to guard his countrys fishermen and sea territory amid tension with China. If it will be of help to the Philippines in terms of protecting, for example, our fishermen, protecting our maritime territory, if its going to help, then I dont see why we should not adopt it, Marcos said, according to an official transcript of an interview with reporters on his flight back Sunday from a five-day official trip to Tokyo. Philippine officials are assessing whether such an agreement would help their country or worsen tensions in the South China Sea, Marcos said. "We have to be careful also because we do not want to appear provocative, he said. That instead of calming the situation in the South China Sea, we would heighten it, right? That's not what we want. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida briefly discussed the concept of a defense pact when the two leaders met on Thursday, Marcos said. That day, the pair signed an agreement that allows Japan to deploy its forces for humanitarian missions and disaster response in the Philippines, The Associated Press reported Friday. Marcos comments came 10 days after the United States and the Philippines announced that U.S. forces will gain access to four more bases in the islands. The allies previously agreed that American troops could access five Philippine installations under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Defense cooperation is coalescing amid tension with Beijing in the South China Sea, where China has territorial disputes with many of its neighbors, including the Philippines. The Philippine coast guard, in a statement Monday, said a Chinese coast guard vessel on Feb. 6 twice hit a Philippine coast guard vessel in the South China Sea with a "military-grade laser light," temporarily blinding crew members. The Chinese ship maneuvered dangerously to block the Philippines BRP Malapascua patrol ship from approaching the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, according to the statement. Japan, which occupied the Philippines during World War II, has sent troops there in recent years to participate in training with U.S. and Philippine forces. Tokyo has promised to develop infrastructure to help Japanese military deployments to the Philippines, according to Jeff Kingston, a professor of history and Asian studies at Temple University, Japan Campus. Both nations see a growing threat from China in disputed territories and waters and the [Philippines] is eager to upgrade its weak military capacity while [Japan] seeks to participate in and shape the emerging regional security architecture, he said in an email Monday. Marcos comments will be welcome in Washington, where greater cooperation between its allies and security partners is seen as key to containing China, Kingston said. However, Marcos, like his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, seems hesitant to provoke Beijing, he said. China has recently pledged $24 billion of investment in the Philippines against $5 billion from Japan, although Tokyo is a more welcome partner, Kingston said. Experts weigh in Reciprocal access agreements allow Tokyo to engage with security partners beyond the core U.S.-Japan alliance, according to James Brown, an international affairs expert at Temple University, Japan. Japan has already announced such agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom, Brown said in an email Monday. With the South China Sea being a key focus for Japan's security, [a reciprocal access agreement] with a southeast Asian country is an obvious next step, he said. Marcos may hope that an agreement with Japan wont raise tensions, but Beijing is not likely to see it this way, Brown said. China can therefore be expected to apply pressure on the Philippines to prevent this agreement from ever seeing the light of day, he said. In a Taiwan crisis, having the Philippines supportive of the U.S. and Japan and allowing military access is a huge advantage, according to retired Marine Col. Grant Newsham, a senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo. U.S.-Philippine and U.S.-Japan-Philippine maritime patrols would be a good idea, Newsham said in an email Monday. Beijing will howl, but if these aren't done the Chinese will gradually establish its control over Philippine maritime territory, he said. Marcos comments are consistent with the trajectory of security policy in Manila and Tokyo, according to Brad Glosserman, deputy director and visiting professor at the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University in Tokyo. The question is how long Marcos will stay the course, he said in an email Monday. China is going to put him under substantial pressure. Will he stand up? NATO needs to set more ambitious goals for replenishing ammunition stockpiles as Ukraine burns through reserves faster than allies can refill them, NATOs top official said Monday. The current rate of Ukraines ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of high-level talks in Brussels this week. This puts our defense industries under strain. Stoltenberg, who will host a meeting of NATO defense ministers Tuesday and Wednesday at alliance headquarters, said Ukraines enormous consumption of munitions prompted the alliance to carry out an extraordinary survey of its inventories. The message from that review is that allies need to increase their targets for stockpiling ammunition, he said. For example, the waiting time for large-caliber ammunition has increased from 12 to 28 months, Stoltenberg said. Orders placed today would only be delivered two-and-a-half years later. So we need to ramp up production and invest in our production capacity. For the U.S. and other allies, the scale of Russias war on Ukraine has put a spotlight on shortcomings in the defense industry when it comes to ramping up large-scale production on short notice. A key will be getting allies to secure long-term contracts that will enable industry to increase production capacity, Stoltenberg said. The good news is that several allies, including the United States and France, have already signed new multiyear contracts with the defense industry, Stoltenberg said. But he added that more progress is needed. During talks in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also will convene a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group, a collection of allies and partners focused on ways to increase military support for Ukraine. As the war approaches its one-year mark, Russian President Vladimir Putin has given no indication that he is looking for an off-ramp, Stoltenberg said. He is launching new offensives, so we must continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to win and to achieve a just and sustainable peace, Stoltenberg said. The NATO chief described the war now as a race of logistics involving supplies like ammunition, fuel and spare parts that must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield. Speed will save lives, he said. The U.S. and other allies have steadily expanded the array of weaponry they are sending Ukraine. Modern battle tanks and Patriot air defense missiles are among the items soon expected to arrive, after Ukrainian troops complete training on the systems. In Brussels, the defense ministers likely will grapple with the question of whether to send fighter planes to Ukraine. Some members, such as Germany, have been opposed to the idea, which Berlin regards as escalatory. Other allies, such as Poland and the Baltic states, have been warmer to the idea. President Joe Biden, however, has said he has no plans to send U.S. fighter aircraft to Ukraine for now. YEREVAN, Armenia As Russian troops stormed into Ukraine last February, sending millions of Ukrainians fleeing for their lives, thousands of other Russians raced to pack their bags and leave home, fearing the Kremlin would shut the borders and impose martial law. Some had long opposed rising authoritarianism, and the invasion was a last straw. Others were driven by economic interest, to preserve livelihoods or escape the bite of sanctions. Then, last autumn, a military mobilization spurred hundreds of thousands of men to run. Russian President Vladimir Putin's war has set off a historic exodus of his own people. Initial data shows that at least 500,000, and perhaps nearly 1 million, have left in the year since the invasion began a tidal wave on scale with emigration following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. Now, as then, the departures stand to redefine the country for generations. And the flood may still be in its early stages. The war seems nowhere near finished. Any new conscription effort by the Kremlin will spark new departures, as will worsening economic conditions, which are expected as the conflict drags on. The huge outflow has swelled existing Russian expatriate communities across the world, and created new ones. Some fled nearby to countries like Armenia and Kazakhstan, across borders open to Russians. Some with visas escaped to Finland, the Baltic states or elsewhere in Europe. Others ventured farther, to the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Thailand, Argentina. Two men from Russia's Far East even sailed a small boat to Alaska. The financial cost, while vast, is impossible to calculate. In late December, Russia's Communications Ministry reported that 10 percent of the country's IT workers had left in 2022 and not returned. Russia's parliament is now debating a package of incentives to bring them back. But there has also been talk in parliament of punishing Russians who left by stripping them of their assets at home. Putin has referred to these people as "scum" and said their exit would "cleanse" the country even though some who left did not oppose him, or the war. With the government severely restricting dissent, and implementing punishment for criticism of the war, those remaining in the depleted political opposition also faced a choice this year: prison or exile. Most chose exile. Activists and journalists are now clustered in cities such as Berlin and the capitals of Lithuania, Latvia and Georgia. "This exodus is a terrible blow for Russia," said Tamara Eidelman, a Russian historian who moved to Portugal after the invasion. "The layer that could have changed something in the country has now been washed away." While Ukrainian refugees were embraced in the West, many countries shunned the Russians, uncertain whether they were friends or foes, and whether, on some level, the entire country was culpable. Some nations have blocked arrivals by imposing entry restrictions or denying new visas, at times spreading panic among Russians already abroad, especially students. Meanwhile, the influx of Russians in countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, which have long sent immigrants to Russia, set off political tremors, straining ties between Moscow and the other former Soviet states. Real estate prices in those countries have shot up, causing tensions with local populations. Nearly a year after the start of the invasion and the new outflow of Russians Washington Post journalists traveled to Yerevan and to Dubai for a close look at how the emigres are faring, and to ask if they ever plan to return. Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, a former Soviet republic, is a destination for Russians with lower financial mobility an Orthodox Christian country where Russian is the second language. By contrast, pricey Dubai, in the Persian Gulf, is predominantly Muslim and Arabic-speaking, and attracts wealthier Russians seeking either glitz or business opportunity. Yerevan For many Russians choosing to flee, Armenia was a rare easy option. It is one of five ex-Soviet countries that allow Russians to enter with just a national ID making it a popular destination for former soldiers, political activists and others needing a quick escape. Given the shared religion and language, Russians typically do not face animosity or social stigma in Armenia. Obtaining residency permits is also straightforward, and living costs are lower than in the European Union. Yerevan has attracted thousands of IT workers, young creatives and working-class people, including families with children, from across Russia. They have established new schools, bars, cafes and robust support networks. In the courtyard of the "Free School" for Russian children, established in April, Maxim, a construction company manager, was waiting for his 8-year-old son, Timofey. The school started with 40 students in an apartment. Now, there are nearly 200 in a multistory building in the city center. Maxim, whom The Post is identifying by only his first name for security reasons, flew to Yerevan from Volgograd to avoid the mobilization in September. "We left for the same reason everyone did: There was suddenly a real danger in the country for me and, above all, my family," he said. The family has adapted seamlessly to Yerevan. Everyone around them speaks Russian. Maxim works remotely on projects in Russia. Timofey likes his school and is learning Armenian. Maxim said he is sure the family will not return to Russia. "Perhaps we will move on somewhere else, maybe even to Europe if things start to normalize," he said. At a shelter on the outskirts of Yerevan, Andrei, 25, a former military officer from Russia's Rostov region, said he was also adjusting to his new life after similarly fleeing conscription. "I did not want to be a murderer in this criminal war," said Andrei, who is being identified by his first name for safety reasons. Andrei works as a delivery driver, and shares a modest room with two other men in a shelter set up by Kovcheg, a support organization for Russians emigrants. "Before the war I never followed politics, but after the invasion I started reading about everything," Andrei said. "I feel so ashamed about what Russia has done." Meanwhile, at a co-working space downtown, Russian activist groups organize debates, political meetings and therapy sessions. Messages of support for Ukraine hang on the walls, along with the white and blue flag adopted by Russia's opposition. At one meeting in late January, dozens of Russians were hunched over tables, writing letters to political prisoners in Russia. "The more letters, the better," said Ivan Lyubimov, 37, an activist from Yekaterinburg. "It's important that they don't feel they are alone." He held up a cartoon of a smiling panda. To circumvent prison censorship, they must avoid writing anything political, but drawings are certain to be delivered. Tanya Raspopova, 26, arrived in Yerevan last March with her husband, but without a plan, overwhelmed and frightened. Then, she heard another emigre was seeking partners to set up a bar, a space where Russian expats could come together, and she wanted to help. Tuf, named after the pink volcanic rock common throughout Yerevan, opened its doors within a month. They started with a neon-lit bar and kitchen on the ground floor, which soon expanded into a small courtyard. Then they opened up a second floor, then a third. Upstairs there is now a recording studio, a clothing boutique and a tattoo parlor. On a Wednesday night in January, the place was packed with young Russians and Armenians singing karaoke, drinking cocktails and playing ping-pong. "We have since created such a big community, a big family," Raspopova said. "Tuf is our new home." Dubai Russians are everywhere in Dubai: clutching Dior totes perched atop Louis Vuitton suitcases in the airport, walking around malls in tracksuits and filming TikToks and Reels near the Burj Khalifa. Russia's rich and powerful have long traveled to Dubai, but it was just one of many hot spots. That changed when the war cut Russians off from the West. Thousands have chosen the UAE, which did not join Western sanctions and still has direct flights to Moscow, as their new home. Russians enjoy visa-free travel for 90 days, and it is relatively easy to get a national ID through business or investment for a longer stay. The high cost of living means there are no activists or journalists. Dubai is a haven, and the go-to playground, for Russian tech founders, billionaires under sanctions, unpenalized millionaires, celebrities and influencers. Shortly after the invasion, conversations in Moscow's affluent Patriarch Ponds neighborhood turned to the best Dubai real estate deals, said Natalia Arkhangelskaya, who writes for Antiglyanets, a snarky and influential Telegram blog focused on Russia's elite. A year later, Russians have ousted Brits and Indians as Dubai's top real estate buyers, Russian-owned yachts dock at the marina, and private jets zigzag between Dubai and Moscow. Russians can still buy apartments, open bank accounts and snag designer leather goods they previously shopped for in France. "Dubai is built on the concept that people with money come here," Arkhangelskaya said. The UAE's embrace of foreign business has enticed a stream of Russian IT workers seeking to cut ties with Russia and stay linked to global markets. Start-ups seek financing from state-supported accelerators. Larger firms pursue clients to replace those lost to sanctions. A 40th floor apartment in one of the Jumeirah Beach Residence towers, with stunning views, is reserved for weekly meetups open to IT newcomers. On a windy January evening, the organizer, Ivan Fediakov, who heads a consulting company, greeted guests, wearing a black hoodie with "Everyone understands everything" printed on it a catchphrase popularized by Alexey Pivovarov, a Russian journalist branded by Russia as a foreign agent whose YouTube channel has 3.5 million subscribers. About a dozen people arrived to discuss opportunities in India, which has maintained ties with Russia despite the war. Most expressed bitterness about the Kremlin's politics and longing for Moscow when it was an aspiring global hub. Alexandra Dorf, an IT entrepreneur, moved to Dubai with her two children in April. "No one knew what was going to happen next," Dorf said. "Borders can be shut abruptly," she said. "A decision had to be made; you either stay or you go quickly." In 2022, Dorf severed all ties with Russia: She sold her apartment and car and found a new job in Dubai as a business development officer at an AI-focused company. "For the first two months, you are constantly stressed, your children have been torn out from their usual way of life, and you can't enroll them into a school midyear," she said. "But Dubai is a blooming hub." "The most important thing for me is to be able to develop international projects and to integrate my kids into a global community, so they grow up in a free environment," she added. Aside from techies, many middle-class Russians followed the money to Dubai for hospitality jobs, to open beauty salons or simply work remotely far from the warmongering motherland. Artem Babinov, founder of a co-living space called Colife in Moscow, opened an office in Dubai days before the invasion, hoping to attract British finance specialists. The war changed his plans, and he now rents dozens of properties as short-term housing, mainly to Russians in their 30s. "The community here is key," Babinov said. "People just need other people." Third exodus Like the white Russian emigres of the Bolshevik era and the post-Soviet immigrants of the 1990s, many of those leaving Russia because of the war in Ukraine are likely gone for good. Eidelman, the Russian historian, said that the longer the war, the deeper the scars. "Every extra month leads people to get used to a different country," she said. "They get a job there, their children go to school, they begin to speak a different language. The longer the war lasts, the longer the dictatorship in the country continues, the fewer people will return." But technology makes this exodus unlike its predecessors, guaranteeing that Russians abroad will remain connected to their past. Matthew Rojansky, president of the U.S. Russia Foundation, a Washington-based group, said the Russian expats could become "a repository of relevant skills for a better, freer, modern Russia." For now, though, Rojansky said, the outflow sends an clear message. "It's historic," he said. "These people are voting with their feet. They are leaving because of what the Putin regime is doing." Ebel reported from Yerevan, Armenia, and Ilyushina reported from Dubai. ERUSALEM A Palestinian man on Monday was killed during a shootout in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian paramedics said, and an Israeli police officer was killed while trying to stop a Palestinian stabbing attack in east Jerusalem, police said. The incidents were the latest violence in a surge of deadly Israeli-Palestinian fighting that began last spring and shows no signs of slowing. The Israeli military said it carried out raids across the West Bank overnight, and that troops came under fire during the arrest of two men suspected of killing an Israeli soldier in October. The army said the two wanted men were injured in the shootout in the northern city of Nablus and arrested. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Amir Bustami, 21, was killed in the Israeli army raid. It was not clear if he had been involved in the shootout. In east Jerusalem, meanwhile, Israeli police said a young teenage Palestinian boy pulled out a knife and stabbed a paramilitary officer during a routine inspection at a military checkpoint. Police said a security guard opened fire, apparently shooting the officer. The boy was arrested, and the officer later died of his wounds, police said. Tensions have mounted for months as Israel has conducted nightly arrest raids in the West Bank, which were prompted by a spate of Palestinian attacks on Israelis last spring. Some 30 people were killed in Israel by Palestinians in 2022, and at least 11 others in attacks so far in 2023. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed last year in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, making it the deadliest year in those areas since 2004, according to figures by the Israeli rights group BTselem. At least 46 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops since the start of this year. Israel says that most of those killed have been militants but others including youths protesting the incursions and other people not involved in confrontations have also been killed. Israel says the military raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks while the Palestinians view them as further entrenchment of Israels open-ended, 55-year occupation. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians claim for their hoped-for independent state. Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military said aircraft bombed a rocket manufacturing site and military installations in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants launched four rockets into southern Israel overnight. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Gaza-Israel frontier had been largely quiet in recent months, but there have been intermittent rocket fire and airstrikes as tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem have soared. (Tribune News Service) For 56 years, Mary Dowling has driven to Joint Base Lewis-McChord from her Tenino home to visit the grave of her husband, Bob Dowling, a decorated helicopter pilot killed in the Vietnam War. On every visit, Mary would turn her gaze to the plot next to his, secure in the knowledge and the promise from the Army that the empty grave site would one day be hers. Until Veteran's Day last November. That's when she saw freshly turned earth and realized someone else had been buried in her plot. "I couldn't believe it," Mary said. "And I didn't know what to do. I just stood there for a while." Mary, who never remarried after her husband's death, had received annual assurances from the Army that her plot was secure. A board outside the entrance listed her name on the grave site. A map, still on the Army's website, clearly shows two side-by-side plots listed as "Dowling." When the couple's four children became adults, they periodically checked with the cemetery to make sure their mother's final wish would be carried out. In several meetings with the family over the last three months, the Army has admitted a mistake was made and offered several alternatives. None involve giving Mary her plot back and she has stood firm that is the only solution she will accept. Now, the Army and the 83-year-old widow are at an impasse. Meeting Bob Mary and her future husband both grew up in Centralia, Wash., but didn't meet until 1957, just after she had graduated from Centralia High School. The 18-year-old college student soon became smitten with Dowling, then 19. "I just thought he was very handsome," she recalled. The U.S. Marine Corps reservist with the tight crew cut was a sharp dresser in pullover sweaters, khakis and loafers. It didn't hurt that he drove a Corvette. They married in November 1958. Dowling had been flying planes since he was 16, Mary said. But it was the relatively new world of helicopters that soon attracted his eye. "He was crazy about flying," Mary said. "That was his favorite thing." In 1963, Dowling left the Marines and joined the Army to become a helicopter pilot. On the other side of the world, a long-simmering conflict in a country few Americans had heard of was about to heat up. Vietnam When Lyndon B. Johnson took office in late 1963 following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, he ramped up America's support of South Vietnam. "It didn't take too long after that," Mary said. "We were concerned that he might get sent over there." Dowling deployed to Vietnam in spring 1965 as a chief warrant officer with the Army's 197th Armed Helicopter Company. Mary recalls the day he left Fort Lewis. Dowling was wearing his fatigues and holding the hands of his three daughters, 2, 3 and 5 years old at the time, and his son, Bobby, 4. "The night before he left, he talked to Bobby and told him that he was the man of the house now even though he was only 4," Mary said. Lessons from Dad That son, Bobby Dowling, can recall that night like it was yesterday, he said in a phone interview from his North Carolina home in January. "He came into my bedroom. He was in his uniform," Bobby recalled. "I just remember standing up and he gave me a hug. And he said, 'You're man of the house now, Bobby. You take care of your mom and your sisters'." "And I always have," Bobby said, his voice choked with emotion. Bobby recalled walking the grounds of Fort Lewis with his father. They wore matching Army uniforms. The boy's haircut mimicked his father's crew cut. "I was literally his shadow," Bobby said. "Of course, I had to look up to him both figuratively and literally." The Dowlings have a history of service in the U.S. military dating to the Civil War. Dowling's stepfather was a B-17 tail gunner in World World II. Bobby's father-in-law was an admiral in the U.S. Navy. Sometime before his father deployed in 1965, Bobby went to a Centralia drugstore with him. There, unbeknownst to his father, Bobby swiped a pack of chewing gun. Later at home, Dowling asked him where he got the gum. Bobby confessed. "And he took me back to the store," Bobby said. "I remember looking at the owner and I had to apologize. And I just said, 'I'm sorry, I won't do it again.' And that, to me, was the turning point." Bobby credits that right versus wrong moment as a template for the rest of his life, including a career as a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and later with the Department of Homeland Security, assigned to the FBI. "That really was kind of a North Star for me in my career in terms of where I ended up," he said. Shot down On Jan. 1, 1966, Bob Dowling's helicopter was shot down, giving him a sprained left hand and a severe blow to the head. Still, he salvaged a grenade launcher and a rifle and returned fire until his ammunition was expended, according to Army records. When a rescue helicopter landed, Dowling provided cover fire and refused to leave his position until his crew was safely aboard the aircraft. He was soon flying again, but he had time to write Mary a letter describing the incident. It would be the last she would receive from him. On Jan. 12, 1966, Dowling was flying a mission along the coast of the South China Sea in an area known as Tuy Hoa. He was to pick up and relocate a unit of Korean Marines. During the flight, Dowling's UH-1B Huey was hit by enemy fire. It fell into the sea. Dowling and his wounded co-pilot, Russ Kistler, made it out of the craft. Dowling's wingman, Lt. Col. Byron Byerly, steered his helicopter toward Dowling, but he waved him off. He wanted Kistler rescued first. After picking up Kistler, Byerly returned to Dowling. "Just as I approached Bob, a huge hammerhead shark lifted Bob up out of the water then took him down," Byerly recounted in the book "Returning Fire". "I'll never forget the look on his face when the shark hit. It was over in an instant." Byerly hovered for a few minutes, hoping for a miracle, he said. Dowling died at age 27 Lewis County's first casualty in the Vietnam War. At the time, the Army said Dowling died from enemy fire. "It should be made record that Bob Dowling died a hero," Byerly said. "His unselfishness in telling me to take care of Russ first was the bravest act I ever saw and it cost him his life." A telegram arrives Back in Centralia, a taxicab driver brought Mary a telegram. Her husband was missing in action. "I was just in shock," Mary recalled. She tried to hide her concern from her children. "And then my mother came over after she'd gotten a telegram and she was in bad shape and crying and the kids were asking what was wrong with Nana?," Mary said. A few days later, uniformed officers showed up at her home with the news no military family wants to hear. It was up to Mary to make the funeral arrangements. Dowling had been adamant that he would return from Vietnam alive. "He refused to say that anything would happen to him," Mary said. "He said, 'No, I'm gonna be back again. And nothing's going to happen'." Mary chose the Fort Lewis cemetery because the Army post was the first where they had been stationed. "I just felt a connection to Fort Lewis," she said. "And the cemetery was really pretty." She can recall Dowling's burial and subsequent memorial like pictures in a photo album: the flag-draped casket unloaded from a train. The flyover of Army helicopters in the missing man formation. The commanders and their speeches. Dowling was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star for Valor, given to Army personnel who show exceptional heroism in combat. Reassured Shortly after Dowling was buried in the cemetery, Mary received the first of what became annual letters from the cemetery. "They asked me if I was still unmarried," Mary said. "And if I still wish to retain my reservation, and so I always checked the boxes and sent the form right back." In later years, after those letters stopped coming, she asked Bobby and her daughters to check with the cemetery to make sure her plot was still safe. Since her husband's burial, Mary has visited the cemetery every Memorial Day and Veterans Day. She fits in a few extra visits during the year. Sometimes she brings flowers. Other times she comes armed with towels and cleanser to make sure Dowling's marble marker shines brightly. "And every time I went, the big name board, just outside the inner gate to the gravestones, always had my name on it," she said. "I would always go over and look at it." Grave mistake On Nov. 12, Mary visited the cemetery, a bouquet in her hands. When she approached her plot, she noticed freshly dug earth. A temporary grave marker with a stranger's name was placed on it. Then she noticed the plot map outside the cemetery entrance was gone. Shortly after that day and in the ensuing weeks, Mary and other family members met with and called JBLM staff and officers to understand the mistake and how it could be remedied. They were told moving the serviceman buried in Mary's plot was not an option. The Army gave Mary three choices: 1) have her casket placed on top of her husband's, provided there was room; 2) Have her cremains placed on top of her husband's casket or 3) Be buried in another nearby plot. Mary rejected all three. She wanted the plot promised to her. "They broke a promise and it's morally wrong," Mary said. "And it shows disrespect for a soldier who died in combat for his country, for his widow, for their children and for all Gold Star families." Bobby hopes that the inherent promise of support the military makes to its families, and especially its Gold Star families a designation given to families who have had a family member killed in a time of conflict will be kept. He described the Army's mortuary personnel as compassionate and he hopes that compassion extends to his mother. The Army's response In a detailed statement emailed to The News Tribune on Feb. 10, David Fullmer, JBLM Garrison chief of staff, said the Army regrets any errors made regarding Mary's planned interment at the Fort Lewis Post Cemetery. The Army, he said, had no record of annual verification letters mailed to Mary or any records showing a reserved plot for her although Fullmer did not doubt those letters were sent. "Without a reservation we cannot keep plots obligated indefinitely and deny other veterans and eligible family members a place of rest," Fullmer said. Fullmer acknowledged both online and physical maps showed the Dowling name on two plots. "No one currently working at JBLM knows who produced or maintained the map," Fullmer said. "The map should have only reflected persons actually buried at the cemetery. Nonetheless, the map lends credence there was a plot reservation for Mrs. Dowling at one time." Sometime between 1984, when the map was made, and August 2022 when records were uploaded into the cemetery's official burial management system, Mary's reservation was lost, according to the Army. Furthermore, Fullmer said the plot reserved for Mary could not have held a casket without disturbing an adjacent row of buried urns. The remains buried in October in Mary's plot are cremains in an urn. That urn cannot be moved because interments are considered final and permanent, according to Army regulations. A January visit A sturdy overhead sign marks the entrance to Fort Lewis Post Cemetery. Fir trees and moss-covered boulders line the road to a small parking lot. The roughly 1,000-plot graveyard is a small oasis in the bustling base. In late January, Mary visited the cemetery with her daughter Bonnie Pollard by her side. A reporter and photographer with The News Tribune and Army public information officer Joe Piek accompanied them. It's a short walk from the cemetery entrance to the Dowling plots. On this day, only helicopters passing overhead broke the silence. They reminded Mary of her husband's funeral, she said. "56 years is such a long time that I just expected that I would be buried here next to my husband and it is important to me," Mary said, looking at her now occupied plot. "It was my plot for all that time I just don't understand why " A permanent marker for the man buried in her plot was recently erected. Both Mary and Bobby say they have respect for the man and his family. "I just feel very sorry that they had their loss," Bobby said. The Dowlings have no animosity toward the Army, they said. They simply want the promise made to Mary more than half a century ago to be kept. "I'm having bad dreams about it," Mary said. "I just think about it constantly. It really bothers me." Pollard has seen the toll it's taking on her mother. "I've heard how devastated she is and how she can't sleep at night," Pollard said. "I think she's being nicer than she needs to be." "I'm at the stage where I might need it any day," Mary said before taking one last look at the grave site. A meeting On Feb. 3, JBLM officials met again with Mary and other family members. According the Dowling family, officials admitted a mistake had been made but were adamant the remains buried in Mary's plot could not be moved. The Army had probed the graves and found there was enough room to place Mary's casket adjacent to her husband's because his casket was slightly offset from his headstone. Instead of her own headstone, her name could be engraved on the back of his, she was told. In a letter to the Army dated Feb. 4, Mary Dowling rejected that option. "In my view, the only way to correct this error is to make the grave site that has been promised to me for almost six decades available to me again," she said. (c)2023 The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) Visit at www.TheNewsTribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Chrissy Stewart (46) was vulnerable and taken advantage of, her lawyer said Mum-of-four Chrissy Stewart of Rinawade Vale, Leixlip, Co Kildare, was given a suspended sentence Collins Dublin, Garrett White A Department of Transport worker counterfeited a seafarers ID card for a man she met on a dating app and was taken advantage of, she claimed. Chrissy Stewart (46) had a job at the departments Mercantile Marine Office when she created fake seagoing credentials for the man who was not entitled to the documentation as he had no Irish passport. Judge Paula Murphy said it was a serious breach of trust and gave the mother-of-four a six-month suspended sentence. Stewart, of Rinawade Vale, Leixlip, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to making a false instrument at her workplace on August 21, 2019. This was an Irish Seafarers Identity Card and Seafarers Record Book & Certificates of Discharge. The intention was that it be used to induce another person to accept it as genuine and... to do some act, to the prejudice of that person or any other person, the charge stated. Detective Garda Deirdre Collins said an investigation was carried out and a mobile phone was seized. WhatsApp messages were found and a search warrant led to documents being seized. The accused admitted creating documents in a mans name. Det Gda Collins said an Irish seafarers ID card can only be issued to people with an Irish passport working in sea navigation. The accused had no previous convictions and had co-operated with the investigation. There were other prosecutions and Stewart was at the lower end, the court heard. At the time, Stewarts marriage had ended and she was going through a bad period. She made contact with people on a dating app, was vulnerable and taken advantage of, her lawyer said. Stewart was ashamed to be in court. She lost her job but had since re-started her life and had a new partner. Judge Murphy said Stewart had been in a position of trust. She suspended the sentence for 18 months. Roisins father Michael said not a day went by that he did not visit her grave and that he cried every day when thinking of her A drunk, speeding driver who was jailed for 18 months for a crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl, causing her father never-ending pain, has had his jail term increased by a year by the Court of Appeal. Michael Welby (24), of Loughgannon, Roscahill, was sentenced at Galway Circuit Court last July, after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of teenager Roisin Hession after the car he was driving hit a wall in the townland of Porridgetown, Co Galway, in March 2020. The sentencing court heard that Welby had been been drinking and speeding on the night while driving a car with defective tyres. Roisins father, Michael, wrote a victim impact statement saying there was not a day that went by that he did not visit her grave and that he cried every day when thinking of her. In sentencing, Judge Brian OCallaghan said that the needs of society to deter others from dangerous driving meant that Welby had to go to prison. Judge O'Callaghan sentenced Welby to three years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended for two years. Today, the State successfully appealed the sentence, submitting it was unduly lenient and that the headline, pre-mitigation sentence of five years identified by the trial judge was too low. Ms Hession died as a result of a single-vehicle collision shortly after 1am on March 1, 2020, when the car crashed at a local road at Porridgetown, Oughterard, after gardai attempted to stop the speeding vehicle. The court heard that Ms Hession and Welby had been socialising at a friends house in the Oughterard area, and that Welby had also been drinking at two pubs in the village that night. Ms Hession had left the house to go home but got a lift from Welby, who drove towards Oughterard. Garda Peter Naughton told the sentencing hearing he saw Welbys Volkswagen Passat driving at speed and activated blue lights to get the car to stop. However, Welby sped away and turned onto a country road where Gda Naughton later found the car crashed after it flipped and collided with a bank of trees and then a wall 40 metres away. Gda Naughton found Welby hanging out the driver's side window and only upon inspection saw there was also a passenger, Ms Hession, in the car. Gda Naughton performed CPR on Ms Hession until paramedics arrived but she died at the scene. Welby was tested for alcohol, which revealed the presence of 125mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Two of the cars tyres were found to be dangerously defective, as was one wheels shock absorber. The Passat also had a tinted window sticker that allowed 18pc transparency when the legal limit was 60pc transparency. Welby had also told gardai that he saw the flashing blue lights of the pursuing vehicle but that he did not know that the lights belonged to a Garda car. Today at the three-judge Court of Appeal, Geri Silke BL, for the State, successfully argued that Welby's sentence was unduly lenient. Ms Silke said Welby was driving at twice the legal limit and pointed out that that blood sample was only taken over two hours after the crash. Ms Silke said that Welby chose to get into the car, had a knowledge of cars and knew it had two bald tyres. Counsel said that Welbys five-year headline sentence had already been discounted by a huge 40pc down to three years imprisonment before the suspended 18 months was applied. Ms Silke said a 16-year-old girl had lost her life and the sentence was simply too light. Conall MacCarthy BL, for Welby, said the trial judge had given careful consideration to the construction of the sentence. Mr MacCarthy said Welby had a good work history and no previous convictions to his name at the time and had entered a genuinely remorseful guilty plea and apology to the family. Mr MacCarthy said that speed was the main cause of the fatal accident and that his client had admitted this liability to gardai. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said Welby had sped up to avoid apprehension which led to a garda pursuit. Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, said the case was a heart-rending one given the harm done to the Hession family. In quashing the original sentence today, Ms Justice Kennedy said the sentence had been unduly lenient in a case of dangerous driving causing death. Ms Justice Kennedy noted conditions on the day were poor in that a red weather warning had been issued the day before and that Welby had been reserved in telling gardai how much alcohol he had consumed. Ms Justice Kennedy described the loss of Ms Hession as a tragedy for the family and the court noted that her father was enduring never-ending pain and devastation in addition to the loss of Ms Hession's mother when she was eight years old. The judge said the DPP had argued that the five-year headline sentence represented a substantial departure from the norm in such cases. Ms Justice Kennedy said the aggravating factors in the case were that Welby drove at speed to avoid apprehension in a defective vehicle while over the limit in bad conditions and that his serious recklessness led to a "tragic consequence. Ms Justice Kennedy said the headline sentence of five years was to be quashed as it amounted to an error in principle. Ms Justice Kennedy said the court would re-sentence Welby to a six-year headline sentence with two years discounted for his guilty plea and remorse. The judge said the court would apply the same 18-month suspended portion to the remaining four years, leaving two-and-a-half years to serve with a four-year driving ban still in place. At the sentencing hearing, Mr MacCarthy said he was instructed to make a full apology to Mr Hession, and the Hession family for a series of catastrophic errors of judgment by Welby that meant Ms Hession lost her life at an age when no-one should. We photographed Dubliner Craig Kelly outside his home in Walkinstown, Dublin, early on Saturday Josh Conlon was 18 at the time of the attack Collins Dublin Craig Kelly took part in the second brutal attack on Lynsey Byrne Gary Ashe A thug jailed for five months over a nightmare attack in which a woman had a kettle of boiling water thrown on her was released from prison just hours after being sentenced. We photographed Dubliner Craig Kelly outside his home in Walkinstown, Dublin, early on Saturday four days after he was sentenced for assaulting Lyndsey Byrne with a stick before co-accused Paul Clarke threw a kettle of boiling water on her. Sickeningly, Kelly who has 109 previous convictions for offences including road traffic matters, drug offences and robbery declined to acknowledge his guilt when confronted by the Sunday World. Asked to comment about the case, he responded: Its all lies but its nothing to do with me, buddy youve got the wrong fella. Despite Kellys denials, we can reveal he was released from prison on Tuesday evening just hours after he was handed a five-month sentence by Judge Martin Nolan. Kelly had already spent four and a half months in custody while awaiting trial and because he automatically benefits from 25pc remission, his sentence had already expired on his return to custody. Josh Conlon was 18 at the time of the attack Collins Dublin Paul Clarke was considered the main man in the brutal attack and was jailed for four years and three months. Josh Conlon, who turned 18 on the day of the attack, and who boiled the kettle of water used by Clarke to scald Byrne, avoided a custodial sentence on account of his age. The court heard the three men called to the apartment Lyndsey Byrne shared with her partner Emmet Black over the course of two days in November 2021. Ms Byrne told gardai she was tortured by Paul Clarke (29) and thought she was going to die from the pain she endured after he poured a kettle and several cups of freshly boiled water over her during the two attacks. Clarke was accompanied by Conlon (19) on the first day of the assault, and by Kelly (38) on the second day. Clarke pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to Lyndsey Byrne at the apartment she lived in at The Maltings, Watling Street, Dublin 8. A second count of assault causing harm to Emmet Black was taken into consideration. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and Kelly pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of simple assault. Craig Kelly took part in the second brutal attack on Lynsey Byrne Gary Ashe Garda Kerrie Sullivan said Clarke phoned Mr Black on the day in question, looking for a box of cannabis that Mr Black was supposed to be holding for him. He then called to the couples apartment accompanied by Conlon and became angry when he learned Mr Black did not have the drugs. Mr Black was ordered to come up with a sum of 7,000 to pay for the missing drugs. He then left to try and get money from the Credit Union. Clarke then ordered Ms Byrne to put her hands out on the table, before he repeatedly struck her with a broom handle which she described as agony. He told Conlon to boil a kettle of water and to add sugar to the kettle. The sugar could not be found, but the kettle was boiled and the water was poured into a number of cups, which Clarke poured over Ms Byrnes hands and arms. Ms Byrnes wrists were then bound with a phone charger, and a scarf was tied around her mouth before Clarke sat her down in the chair and hit her with the stick. Some time later, Clarke phoned Mr Black and flew into a rage upon hearing he had not been able to get any money. He ordered Mr Black to return to the apartment and Ms Byrne was taken into the bathroom and forced into the bath. The court heard Mr Black was attacked upon his return to the apartment and Ms Byrne was ordered to clean up the blood and tend to his head wound. Paul Clarke The two men then left the apartment, with Clarke saying he would return the next day. Around lunchtime on November 12, Clarke came back to the apartment accompanied by Kelly. Another row ensued before Kelly hit Ms Byrne over the chest twice with a stick and Clarke poured a kettle of boiling water over her, hitting her shoulder and arms. The court heard Ms Byrne was in absolute agony and her skin was blistering. She said Clarke then told her: You think thats bad, wait until I skin you alive. The men left shortly afterwards and Ms Byrne, who had called 999 before they arrived, ran out of the apartment and was met by two gardai. She was taken to hospital and treated for second-degree burns and a suspected collapsed lung. In her victim impact statement, Ms Byrne said it was the most traumatic and frightening thing to have ever happened to her and it changed her life forever. She genuinely thought she was going to die from the pain, the court heard. Enoch Burke shouted: Why am I being treated differently from the school? That is not justice Judge, to treat somebody differently from the school. Enoch Burke outside the entrance to Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath. Picture by Gerry Mooney Dismissed schoolteacher Enoch Burke was physically removed from the High Court by gardai today after again interrupting the courts list. It was the second time in four days that Mr Justice Brian OMoore directed his removal from the court after he turned up seeking to raise issues when his case was not listed. The latest incident occurred after he attended court this morning accompanied by his sister Ammi and parents Sean and Martina, and sought to make an application. The judge asked Mr Burke if he had filed an ex parte, or one side only, docket. Mr Burke said he did not believe he had to as he was only seeking clarification on court directions in his dispute with Wilsons Hospital School. The issue relates to the schools application to file an affidavit correcting errors in a previous filing. Mr Justice OMoore told Mr Burke he would not allow him to hijack the list and directed he be removed from the courtroom when he repeatedly talked over the judge. Three gardai physically removed Mr Burke. Enoch Burke. Photo: Collins Collins Photos The judge also directed his sister Ammi be removed after she repeatedly talked over him as well. However, she left of her own volition without garda intervention. Mr Burke had asked the judge if he was delaying consideration of the affidavit issue until after a separate aspect of the case is dealt with in the Court of Appeal this week. Before her brother was removed, Ammi Burke loudly protested: Mr Burke should not be removed from the court. She told the judge: You are treating the school very differently from Mr Burke. Enoch Burke shouted: Why am I being treated differently from the school? That is not justice Judge, to treat somebody differently from the school. Martina Burke also shouted at the judge. It is absolutely corrupt. You are covering up your tracks, she said. After the Burkes had left the courtroom, Mr Justice OMoore apologised to the large number of lawyers who were present. It is absolutely intolerable that people are subjected to that, the judge said. Last Friday, Mr Justice OMoore accused Enoch and Ammi Burke of making groundless complaints and abusive comments following a stand-off in which they both refused to leave his courtroom. The judge twice rose from the bench when the Burkes protested and refused to leave the court after the judge said he would not deal with an application the schoolteacher wanted to make. Their protests led to the courts list, which contained 46 cases, being suspended for two hours. Despite being hit with a daily fine of 700, Mr Burke has continued to show up each day at the school in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath. Mr Burke has previously indicated he is unwilling to pay the fines. Asked last month if he would pay, Mr Burke said: I dont believe I should pay it. I am putting it in the nicest possible way. The history and German teacher was suspended by the board of management last August after clashing with management over a request from then principal Niamh McShane that teachers comply with a transgender childs wishes to be called by a new name and by their preferred pronouns. Mr Burke, who is from a well-known family of evangelical Christians, publicly objected to the request on religious grounds. His suspension followed incidents in which he voiced his opposition to the request at a church service and following a school dinner. However, he continued to show up for work, even after the school secured court orders restraining him from doing so. This led to him being jailed for 108 days for contempt of court. He was eventually released just before Christmas despite not purging his contempt. Mr Burke resumed attending at the school when it reopened on January 5 following the Christmas break. The schoolteacher was dismissed from his post on January 20, a day after a disciplinary meeting descended into chaos amid objections and shouting by Mr Burke, his sister Ammi, brother Isaac and mother Martina. The High Court subsequently issued a ruling on an application from the board of management seeking either the sequestration of his assets or the imposition of a fine. Mr Justice OMoore opted to impose a daily fine of 700, which he said could be increased if Mr Burke did not comply. The judge said the fines should persuade Mr Burke to end his utterly pointless attendance at a school which does not want him on its property. However, they have not dissuaded him from doing so. An appeal Mr Burke has against various High Court orders is due to be heard by the Court of Appeal this week. Chartered accountant Edward Timmins made a major mistake by failing to participate in an appeals process, it has been found A Fine Gael county councillor who accused his employer of setting up a total sham redundancy in a 312,000 unfair dismissal claim made a major mistake by failing to participate in an appeals process, it has been found. Chartered accountant Edward Timmins, who had claimed his redundancy from a 108,000-a-year position as finance director of Co Wicklow-based AB Group Packaging Ireland Ltd was motivated by an alleged row with its owner over cash withdrawals from the firm, has lost his claim before the Workplace Relations Commission. Lawyers acting for Mr Timmins, who represents the Baltinglass Municipal District in Co Wicklow, said relations with the owner of AB Packaging Ltd in Blessington, where he was finance director, went from robust management exchanges to totally unprofessional in the wake of the failure of the companys US arm in 2017. He said he was ultimately railroaded out of his job of 19 years. The company maintained Mr Timmins never raised any allegations of an interpersonal dispute before being notified of a redundancy and only ever alluded to them during a consultation process. Its barrister, Mary-Paula Guinness BL, argued her client had had carried out a lawful termination on the grounds of a genuine redundancy situation and in a decision just published, the Workplace Relations Commission agreed. Giving evidence, Mr Timmins said he and other directors put a warning in writing to the firms owner, Dermot Brady, because they claimed the businessman effectively took no pay cut despite agreeing to a one-fifth reduction in his remuneration. Stock image It was claimed Mr Brady was effectively in receipt of 50,000 per month instead of 32,000 at a time when some suppliers had not been paid for months. We both recognised there was a clash which I can trace back to me coming to him to tell him to stop taking money out of the company, Mr Timmins said. Under cross-examination from Ms Guinness, both former chairman Tony Richie and fellow director Gay McCabe stated that the directors did not demand Mr Brady sell his Dalkey home to provide funding for the business, only that he recapitalise the firm. How he did that was his own business, Mr Richie said. Of course I didn't like it, but did I do it? Yes I did, and I did it in the best interests of the company and the security of the staff, Mr Brady said in his own evidence. He denied that bore any resentment towards the directors and said: I was going to move out of the house anyway. Under cross-examination from Kate Kennedy BL, for Mr Timmins, Mr Brady said he had invested a sum of 1.7m from the proceeds of the sale of his house in Dalkey back into the firm. Whats the problem? he added. Well youre out of houses, Mr Brady, Ms Kennedy said. Mr Brady said he was close to 60 years of age and needed to squeeze the assets to make provision for himself in retirement. He asked, I listened, I took my decision, Mr Brady said of Mr Timmins, adding that he had every right to withdraw the money from the company as its sole shareholder. Ms Kennedy, who appeared for Mr Timmins, put it to him that the cash withdrawals had exceeded a statutory threshold. I would find that very strange because our auditors who deal with the ODCE were looking for information and say theyre not sure what they [the ODCE] are looking for, he said. Mr Brady confirmed that a report had been made to the ODCE by a third party in 2018. We have answered all questions. Nothing has been proven or said against me or the company, Mr Brady said. Its all documented with the audited accounts, he added. The complainants refusal to participate in the appeal process was, I believe, a major mistake on his part He said the ODCE had came back looking for additional information in 2021, adding at a hearing in July last year: There hasnt been a word from the ODCE since. Counsel for the respondent, Ms Guinness, said it was the firms position that there were no interpersonal difficulties between Mr Timmins and Mr Brady and that the complainant never made a complaint to that effect during his employment. HR consultant Mark Slattery of Adare HRM said the complainant only ever alluded to any alleged issues during a consultation process on his redundancy. He said the company had financial issues to be dealt with after the failed US expansion and that Mr Brady had called in his firm for a restructuring programme starting in 2018. He said he wrote to Mr Timmins in January and February 2020 and met with him four times for a consultation process. Mr Slattery said the company had set out a business case for a restructuring arrangement because of the companys retraction from the US market; the reduction in financial management needs because of a new software system and the continuing need to reduce the cost base of the business. During the consultation process, the tribunal heard, Mr Timmins position was that the suggestion the firm needed to cut costs was at odds with the owner extracting significant amounts of money. The complainant added that the company had lost business due to being stripped of experienced people in a mass exodus of staff and that making him redundant would damage the firm further, the tribunal was told. Mr Slattery said Mr Timmins failed during the consultation process to outline any alternatives to his redundancy which would achieve the same results as the proposed restructuring plan and was ultimately made redundant on February 24, 2020. He said Mr Timmins was offered an appeal by an investigator engaged by the firm, but raised questions about the independence of the individual. The complainants refusal to participate in the appeal process was, I believe, a major mistake on his part. It would have provided the opportunity to air many of the points he had raised throughout the consultation process, wrote adjudicating officer Jim Dolan in his decision. This was a genuine redundancy situation, he added, and rejected Mr Timmins claim. The decision comes over two years after Mr Timmins original complaint, following four hearing dates and a second adjudicating officer being assigned to hear the matter after Mr Timmins barrister asked the first to recuse himself over an alleged conflict of interest. Commenting today on the outcome of his claim, Mr Timmins said: "Having been through the process I have questions I will be following up on. Whether that is through the appeals process or otherwise I haven't yet decided." I went to the Housing Executive about it and asked to be moved, but I didnt have enough intimidation points Defiant Jolene Bunting has insisted she will fight her ban from public office over a doctored payslip. The disgraced former Belfast City councillor was banned from standing for election for three years last week after a local government watchdog ruled she had altered a payslip for financial gain. The Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards said she had doctored the document to gain financially from former Britain First leader Paul Golding. Ms Bunting rejected the commissioners ruling and said she would fight to clear her name. She said: I dont accept it, no. I knew it was coming, Ive been saying for years that they were going to ban me. I just didnt realise it would be over something like this. Im still dealing with another case which I was suspended for and which pre-dates this issue. I find it strange that this has been dealt with first, but Im not surprised. My solicitor and I actually called this outcome beforehand. Im obviously disappointed. Id be lying if I said I wasnt, but I will be appealing. The legal papers are already in, and my legal team still needs to discuss it, but there will be an appeal and maybe further legal action. Jolene Bunting (left) and Jayda Fransen She was sanctioned last week over an attempt to claim cash from Britain First in January 2018. The party sent her money over allegations she had been fined by Belfast City Council for a video stunt involving former deputy leader Jayda Fransen. Fransen sat in the mayors chair and donned mayoral robes during the incident, which caused outrage at the time. Ms Bunting, a former TUV and then independent unionist councillor, facilitated the filming of Ms Fransen and later told Britain First she had been fined. However, a watchdog hearing was told a 545.38 deduction in Ms Buntings council pay was actually because she had exceeded the data allowance on her mobile phone. Britain First leader Paul Golding made a complaint over the affair to the local government standards watchdog, with the matter finally being dealt with last week. Jolene Bunting Ms Bunting said she had been forced to move house over the case and has had sleepless nights as a result. Ive been intimidated out of my home. There were people hanging around outside my house. I called police several times about it, she added. I was followed while taking my two children to school, and I was so shaken I had to call them again, and now Ive been forced to move. I went to the Housing Executive about it and asked to be moved, but I didnt have enough intimidation points. A few weeks later, they called me to say they had been made aware of my circumstances and agreed to move me. It took about a month or two, but I have now moved. It was very stressful for us as a family. I have little ones and it caused me so much anxiety I couldnt sleep. It was a lot for us to go through, so when we moved, it was a relief. Paul Golding At an adjudication hearing in Belfast last week, the local government watchdog ruled Ms Bunting had improperly used her position to secure financial advantage. It said it was satisfied that the respondents alteration of her payslip and her surrounding discussions with Mr Golding had brought her position as a councillor into disrepute. Ms Bunting was elected in 2014 as a TUV candidate but left the party in 2017 and continued at City Hall as an independent until she lost her seat in 2019. She did not attend the hearing. In earlier interviews with investigators, she rejected Mr Goldings allegations and denied doctoring the payslip. In a lengthy statement issued after the proceedings, Ms Bunting described it as a vexatious case. She said: I have many regrets about associating with this man, and many friends and family warned me not to get involved. The former councillor said she had never been disingenuous or dishonest in any way towards Mr Golding. She added: As far as I was concerned, Mr Golding had loaned me this money. Speaking after the hearing, Mr Golding said he now intended to report the matter to the PSNI. Shane Whitla was gunned down at a pre-arranged meeting in the Co Armagh town last month, a judge was told Police at the scene of the murder of Shane Whitla in Lurgan last month: Picture by Kevin Scott Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A man shot dead in Lurgan was executed over his suspected drug debt to a notorious crime gang known as The Firm, the High Court heard today. Shane Whitla was gunned down at a pre-arranged meeting in the Co Armagh town last month, a judge was told. The alleged circumstances were set out as the Public Prosecution Service appealed a magistrates decision to grant bail to one of three men charged with the murder. Joshua Cotter, 29, of Madrid Street in Belfast, is accused of the killing based on circumstantial CCTV, telephone and forensic evidence. With the defendant denying any involvement in the murder, his barrister described the case against him as tenuous and flimsy. Mr Whitla, a 39-year-old father of four, was shot on January 12 in an alleyway off Woodville Street but made his way to Lord Lurgan Park where he collapsed and died. Prosecution counsel Natasha Fitzsimons said CCTV footage showed Cotter and co-accused Jake OBrien, 27, of Church Walk in Lurgan, walking together towards the general area of the murder earlier that evening. Detectives believe a third man charged with the murder, Kevin Conway, 25, from Deeny Drive in Lurgan, then phoned the victim to tell him where to meet his killers. Mr Whitla was viewed leaving his home and going into the alleyway, the court heard, followed by two unidentified men who re-emerged and fled a minute later. After police believe the execution happened, Conway makes contact with OBrien four times within an 18-minute period, counsel alleged. The gun used to carry out the murder has still not been recovered. But Ms Fitzsimons argued that a balaclava, hoodie and trousers seized from Cotters home contained particles potentially indicative of firearm discharge residue. Police at the scene of the murder of Shane Whitla in Lurgan last month: Picture by Kevin Scott Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Opposing his release from custody, she said: Police believe that he is part of an organised criminal gang known as The Firm. Police believe the murder of Shane Whita was motivated by Mr Whitla owing The Firm a drug debt. Defence barrister Michaal Ward insisted Cotters alleged affiliation to the gang was nothing more than social media tittle-tattle. He also told the court forensic experts concluded that the particles on the seized clothing were unlikely to be linked to bullet casings recovered from the alleway or anything worn by the murder victim. The evidential value of these particles is extremely limited, he submitted. Branding the CCTV footage of the unidentified suspected killers as blurry and of poor quality, Mr Ward contended there is a fundamental gap in the prosecution case. It is wholly circumstantial, it is tenuous and it is flimsy, he added. Adjourning the hearing, Mr Justice Rooney requested further checks on the forensic evidence before deciding if Cotter is to be granted bail. The accused (55) had a book of evidence served on him when he appeared in Dublin District Court today A man has been sent for trial accused of harassing a woman, coercively controlling her and threatening to maliciously share intimate pictures of her. The accused (55) had a book of evidence served on him when he appeared in Dublin District Court today. Judge Bryan Smyth sent him for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. A previously-imposed ban on publishing his name will remain in force until the case comes before the circuit court. The man is accused of harassing the woman at various locations in the State over 16 days in February 2021, under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He faces a connected Domestic Violence charge of persistent controlling or coercive behaviour against the woman, with whom he previously had an intimate relationship. The final charge is under the recently-introduced Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 and is for threatening to distribute or publish intimate images without consent with intent to cause harm. This law covers cases of online harassment and bullying as well as so-called "revenge porn." It does not specifically provide for the anonymity of an accused, but prohibits reporting of information that could lead to the identity of the alleged victim. Prosecuting solicitor Anna Bridgeman today told the court a book of evidence had been served on the accused. The DPP was consenting to the accused being returned for trial to the current sittings of the circuit court on the three charges, she said. Judge Smyth ordered the prosecution to disclose evidence to the defence and gave the accused the formal notice that he has 14 days to furnish the prosecution with any alibi details. When asked if he understood this, he answered: "Yes, judge". The judge remanded him on bail on existing terms to a date next month and when asked to acknowledge his signature on the bond, he again replied: "yes, Judge." On the last court date, Judge Smyth had granted anonymity to the accused following an application by Defence barrister Keith Spencer, which was consented to by the DPP. The court had heard the alleged victim did in fact consent to the man being named in the media. However, the judge made the non-publication order after hearing gardai were not sure that the woman was fully aware of what naming the accused "means for her." Today, Mr Spencer again raised the issue of publication of his client's identity, saying the "status quo should apply" and it could be addressed in the circuit court. Ms Bridgeman agreed that "we can deal with it in the circuit court." The accused, who denies all charges, is not in receipt of free legal aid. The 2020 Act was introduced to deal with the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and online harassment. It is known as Cocos Law after 21-year-old Nicole Coco Fox took her own life following years of online bullying. On conviction, the offence carries a potential maximum seven-year sentence, as does the other harassment charge, while coercive control can result in five years imprisonment. Murphy (63) is currently in jail for drug trafficking after pleading guilty to having 260k worth of drugs Gardai investigating jailed former superintendent John Spud Murphys links to the Hutch organised crime gang have extended their probe to his business dealings in the capital. Murphy (63) is currently in jail for drug trafficking after pleading guilty to having 260,000 worth of drugs at his home and in his car. Before his conviction, he was known to provide security and dispute resolution services to a number of builders and business owners in Dublin in relation to properties and sites in the city, according to sources. These included disputes over tenancies and access. Gardai are investigating whether the former senior officer invoked his alleged connections in the course of his business dealings in the city. Detectives gathering information on his methods are understood to have interviewed a number of business owners about their dealings with Murphy, as well as payments made and to whom, according to sources. Murphy was taken from prison earlier this month and interviewed by the National Criminal Investigations Bureau. The bureau is investigating whether the passed confidential garda information to Gerry The Monk Hutch. Two serving officers were suspended from the force as part of the investigation, but they have not been charged with any offences. The investigation is continuing. Murphy retired from An Garda Siochana in 2010 and celebrated with a function at the Aviva Stadium attended by several celebrities. He came on to the garda radar after the Regency Hotel attack that resulted in the shooting of David Byrne and the subsequent murderous feud between the Kinahan and Hutch crime gangs. The Sunday World has previously reported how Murphy was suspected of, at worst, leaking confidential garda information that could benefit the Hutch gang. He was identified as a suspect following an internal investigation to trace leaks from the Pulse system. Detectives searched Murphys house expecting to seize phones and electronic devices. Instead, they found the drugs and 47,000 in cash. Officers later recovered CCTV footage in which he is seen collecting the bags of cannabis that were found at his home. At his sentencing hearing, Murphy was portrayed as a good man who had fallen on financial hard times. He had racked up debts of 855,000 because of poor business decisions. He had invested 300,000 in taxi plates, had a loan of 700,000, credit union loans of 14,000 and credit card debts of 12,000. He borrowed 129,000 from friends, his son and his brother. He was a functioning alcoholic who drank large amounts every day for as long as anyone could remember, the court was told. Drinking had clouded his judgment and brought him to this sorry pass. Notorious Dublin criminal was charging 50,000 a year fee so cartels could use phones The cyber bunker served the needs of the cartel once run by dead crime boss Pablo Escobar Mitchell sold phones at 1,500 per unit, but police still managed to seize drugs and weapons Kevin Mc Nulty George 'The Penguin' Mitchell and the inside of the cyber-bunker George The Penguin Mitchell has been formally designated as a suspect by German police investigating an encrypted phone network busted this week. Mitchell, who goes by the name Mr Green, is understood to be the 71-year-old Irishman listed as part of five major suspects behind the Exclu network, which was taken down by police months after it was secretly hacked by Dutch police. It was developed over several years in an underground bunker in Germanys Mosel Valley and Mitchell is suspected of being one of the owners of the system as well as the senior sales executive whose reputation sold the promise of privacy to 3,000 users. Police believe the system was being used by gangs involved in top-level organised crime, mainly based in the Netherlands but also in Sweden, France, Germany and Italy. It was compromised by the police hack over a period of five months when intelligence on the criminal groups and their activities was gathered. Police managed to seize drugs and weapons Officers from the Dutch National High Tech Crime Unit began working with their German counterparts last April 2022 and cracked the codes sometime around the following September. Unknown to the users, police then began to listen live as drug, cash and firearms were bought and sold and serious organised crime was planned. Twelve hundred officers from the co-operating countries were involved in raids on 79 premises and the discovery of two drug laboratories and cocaine storage facility. Drugs, guns, weapons, luxury goods and cash was also seized as 45 people were arrested. German police are investigating the set up of Exclu and those behind its development on the basis that they are suspected of facilitating organised crime by providing the hack resistant phone system. Mitchells long-term friend and business partner Hermann Johann Xennt, from the Netherlands, a Polish software developer, a Spanish tech expert and another unidentified individual are under investigation for their roles in Exclu. Xennt is currently serving a sentence for his role in the German bunker, which was raided in 2019 by 650 police. There they discovered numerous computer servers and found that it was a secret hub of dark net activities, including drug dealing, pornography and weapons. The high-tech cyber bunker was purchased by George Mitchell Customers to Exclu were sold a specially developed phone and a licence to use the app service for 500 for three months. German police have already named George The Penguin Mitchell as their number one target in their previous investigation into the cyber bunker, and wire-tapped 16 of his phones as they gathered evidence on the dark net bunker. However, they did not charge him during a massive trial in Trier which came to its end last year. Over the course of the trial, it emerged he was under surveillance for years as he visited the bunker and met withXennt, the self-professed Lord of the Darknet. Secret files obtained by the Sunday World show how officers believed he was the boss of a cyber gang working out of it. The explosive files reveal how officers in Europe believe Mitchell deals directly with Colombian cartels; supplies drugs and weapons to Northern Ireland; imports tonnes of cocaine into Europe, floods Holland with heroin, and is under investigation for money laundering in Spain. They also claim he may have been involved in a Kinahan Cartel murder in 2014 and had a role in the feud between the mob and the Hutch gang, although Irish police sources claim he has stayed firmly neutral. The wire taps and covert surveillance on Mitchell from a period from 2015 detail how he met with the head of the Bandidos biker gang and a leading figure in the Hells Angels in Germany to flog them encrypted phones with an app that would keep their activities under the radar. At the time, the files reveal he planned to sell expensive 1,200-a-unit Blackberry phones coupled with a 3,000 secure app for communications with an annual service fee of up to 50k, which guaranteed customers they would not be bothered by the authorities. The system developed in Warsaw in Poland came with a panic button so customers could delete all data in an emergency. Hermann Xennt (left) with George The Penguin Mitchell Kevin Mc Nulty The files show that phones were shipped to customers in Bogota and Medellin, home of the notorious Columbian drug cartel once headed by Pablo Escobar. Business from the bunker was also provided for criminal gangs in the Philippines, North Africa, Dubai, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Scandanavia. The lengthy investigation by Rhineland police culminated in a raid in September 2019 which saw police surround the bunker and seize control of it. The Penguins business partner Herman Xennt was amongst more than 10 people arrested, but Mitchell was long gone. The top target of the pricey probe was not amongst those later prosecuted in a year-long trial. The Sunday World first tracked down Mitchell to Traben Trarbach, where we snapped him with Xennt. He had bought the former Cold War bunker in 2014 and registered it as a data centre. Pablo Escobar AFP file At one point during the probe prosecutors applied to have 16 of Mitchells phones tapped but despite the huge volume of time and resources put into the operation, police were hampered by the secret language and codewords used by The Penguin and developed over years at the highest echelons of organised crime. In applications to the courts for surveillance, details of Mitchells criminal empire were laid out. In 2014, he was suspected of smuggling 10kg of cocaine andguns from Holland to Northern Ireland. He is said to have been involved in heroin trading in Holland and details of his son, Derek Maradonna Dunnes murder in Amsterdam in 2000 are given. Files allege that he shipped cocaine from North Africa via Spain or Portugal to Holland in containers of oranges. The quantities are detailed as up to three tonnes a time. Hermann Xennt (left) with George The Penguin Mitchell Kevin Mc Nulty In November 2016, he is cited as being behind a 283kg cocaine seizure in Brazil headed for Europe. Spanish police in Marbella are investigating him for money laundering, it is alleged. Throughout the investigation into activities in the bunker, files detailed that Mitchell is hierarchically above others. In 2017, German investigators admitted they lost sight of him and the chief public prosecutor later said there was no probably cause to prove he headed it up. Now it seems Mitchell may not have escaped the law after all as he faces possible charges of helping mobs to commit their crimes. Thirty-seven-year-old twins Claire and Stephen ONeill were found unconscious in the early hours of last Saturday Claire ONeill was a mum of three, while brother Stevie, right, was a father of one A taxi driver is suspected of supplying the deadly drugs which snatched the lives of tragic twins Claire and Stephen ONeill. His full identity is known to the Sunday World and we can reveal he is a long-term and trusted member of the UDA in south Belfast. Now a grandfather, he was once in charge of the loyalist terror groups youth wing in the Ormeau/Annadale area but these days he sorts out neighbourhood disputes. We have been told he was one of several UDA men who fled the area following the brutal IRA execution of UDA members Joe Bratty and Raymond Elder. Bratty and Elder were ruthlessly gunned down in broad daylight on the Ormeau Road shortly before the IRA called its ceasefire. It is understood the taxi driver went to ground earlier this week amid rumours he is wanted for questioning by his paramilitary bosses. Loyalist sources say he hasnt been seen at his home or at a property where he routinely spent the weekends with his girlfriend. Hes lying low at the moment, but its only a matter of time before this catches up with him. The cops know all about this and so does the UDA, a source told us. Police at the scene in Annadale Thirty-seven-year-old twins Claire and Stephen ONeill were found unconscious in the early hours of last Saturday. The siblings died side by side in a ground-floor apartment Claire shared with her partner and their five year-old son in the Annadale area of south Belfast. Police and emergency rescue services rushed to the property at Annadale Crescent in numbers around 2.45am last Saturday shortly after the twins dead bodies were discovered. After receiving a phone call from a man who was staying in Claire ONeills flat, police raced to the property. At one stage two fire engines, three ambulances and five police cars were crammed into the narrow street near the River Lagan Embankment. Firefighters used breathing apparatus to enter the property before pronouncing it safe for police officers to enter. Two men inside were rushed to hospital where they underwent emergency treatment for suspected drugs inhalation. It is understood they are still in a serious condition. But shortly after 9am, neighbours huddled together in shock and disbelief as the bodies of twins Claire and Stevie ONeill were carried out in bags. Claire O'Neill On Saturday afternoon, police confirmed two people had died at the property. But a statement released only after the Sunday World contacted the PSNI press office omitted to reveal the suspected cause of death. Portmortem examinations carried out on the next day simply confirmed the deaths werent considered suspicious. The ONeill twins who were known to be very close had attended a gathering in their parents David and Maries home in nearby Whitehall Parade, where they all enjoyed a family meal together. And afterwards the twins went to Claires apartment in Annadale Crescent for a party. Other friends living in the same street were invited to join them and it is believed the taxi driver supplied drugs. A mum of three, Claire Michelle ONeill was a well-known and popular member of the local community which at one time was staunchly loyalist, but in recent years has become much more mixed. Claires mum Marie was originally from Hamill Street in the Divis area of west Belfast, but she moved to south Belfast after she married her husband Davie ONeill. Together they raised a family of three sons and two daughters including twins Claire and Stephen. As a youngster, Claire worked in a local newspaper and grocery store where she was a popular member of staff. Even after she became a teenage mum, she was still a regular on the Ormeau Road. Neighbours say she was bursting with pride when her eldest son became a soldier. But like many of her generation, Claire developed an addiction to drugs. Her problem brought her into conflict with state agencies. And last year, she was required to attend a corrective course. Stevie O'Neill Friends in Annadale say Claire was completely open with neighbours and friends about her addiction problems, which she was determined to overcome. One of them said this week: Claire was a lovely person and she was frank and honest about her difficulties with drugs. But she had done well with her recovery programme and we all thought it was behind her. She added: The entire Annadale and Ormeau Road areas are devastated about this tragedy. Drugs are a major problem everywhere and we all feel so sorry for the family. Like his twin sister, Stephen ONeill was also a well-known and popular figure on the Ormeau and Annadale areas of south Belfast, where he had lived all of his life. A father of one, Stevie, as he was known, worked at the Interior & Floor Design Ltd, based in Carryduff. He had been employed by them just short of 20 years. And earlier this week the company placed a heartfelt tribute to its esteemed former colleague on its Facebook page. It read: Its with great sadness and heavy hearts that we at IFD inform you of the sudden and unexpected death of our colleague and friend Stephen ONeill alongside his twin sister Claire ONeill on Saturday 4th February 2023. Stephen had recently signed up for a 56-mile challenge run as part of a fundraiser for cancer research. And he and his twin sister had also set up a fundraising Facebook page in aid of cancer research. The ONeill twins will be buried together on Wednesday in Roselawn Cemetery in east Belfast. Michelle Scholfield was murdered in 1987, and her husband Leo, who protests his innocence, has remained behind bars for the crime ever since. When Gilbert King was asked by a judge to look into a case of wrongful conviction he was shocked by the request and intrigued by the story. Michelle Scholfield was murdered in 1987, and her husband Leo, who protests his innocence, has remained behind bars for the crime ever since. In King's new podcast series Bone Valley, he looks at the trial which put Schofield behind bars, shocking new evidence which puts a convicted murderer at the scene of the crime and the tragic murder of a young woman. I'm Clodagh Meaney and this is Crime World a podcast from sundayworld.com Crime Word Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud. MORE EPISODES "Kinahan has enjoyed the protection of powerful political figures in Zimbabwe despite the allegations raised by international authorities." Fugitive cartel boss Christy Kinahan is being protected in Zimbabwe by local political figures, according to reports. Despite the world-wide manhunt for the Irish criminal, he has been able to operate from the African country, according to the Zimbabwe Independent. They report a key associate of Kinahans allegedly has connections with powerful political figures in the country." "The two structured an alliance sometime between 2015 and 2017, when an increasingly desperate Kinahan sought an alternative base to Dubai as both local and international law enforcement agencies turned up the heat. "Kinahan has enjoyed the protection of powerful political figures in Zimbabwe despite the allegations raised by international authorities." It was also reported by the news outlet police figures in Zimbabwe were aware of his presence. "State security agencies are said to have monitored the situation since 2020 and have expressed disquiet at Kinahan's presence in Zimbabwe." Kinahan has an office in capital Harare uses a three-bedroom town house during visits to Zimbabwe where the gang also keep a fleet of luxury cars. "The Independent is reliably informed a fleet of high-end vehicles were available for Kinahan, his family and a stream of guests from the UAE, Turkey, Spain, Ireland and Iran, among others. It added certain political figures were turning a blind eye to Kinahans activities in the country. Dubai had been the preferred base for Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christy junior until they were subject of a US sanctions and a $5 million reward for their arrest placed in their heads in April last year. Daniel Kinahan Since then a series of revelations from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has shown how Kinahan senior sought to set up a network of aircraft across Africa. These included that Kinahan had planned a new life in Zimbabwe as he aimed to take control of one of the worlds key shipping routes for cocaine. The Dapper Don had purchased luxury properties in capital Harare amid plans to relocate his family there from the United Arab Emirates. Kinahan, along with his partner Nessy Yildirim, planned to base themselves in Harare, where they had already chosen and bought properties to meet their needs. A deal to buy a fleet of Egyptian military planes followed by the US sanctions put paid to his African dream. Reporters from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists discovered that Kinahan posed as a humanitarian aviation consultant and, with Yildrims help, tried to buy a fleet of planes known for short take-off and landing capabilities. Kinahan, along with his partner Nessy Yildirim, planned to base themselves in Harare It is claimed Kinahan also tried to establish a permanent home and a business hub in Zimbabwe, but was forced to abandon his plans after being denied residency. In July, the Sunday World also revealed how the Kinahan gang were moving cocaine across Africa in air ambulances. It emerged how the cartel had bought off officials for use of landing strips and took control of the key transport route to Europe, making the Irish gang second only in importance to the Colombian Cartels. The Irish mafia had effectively taken control of Africas lucrative cocaine corridor one of the main routes for importing drugs into Europe. After the drugs landed in the southern part of Africa, the Kinahan gang would use air ambulances to move the cocaine through the continent to ports where it could be shipped into Europe. According to the leaked documents, a Dubai company linked to Kinahan tried to purchase as many as nine used de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalos from the Egyptian air force in 2020. It is claimed he also attempted to do lucrative deals in Africa and Latin America and even explored buying an Antonov An-26 turboprop in Venezuela. "In everything, they never gave up hope. Little Ava never gave up hope. She turns four next month. Maurice, says: you need a lot of things to beat cancer. But the first thing you really need is hope. A Waterford man whose medical miracle daughter survived a battle with cancer and his wife received a standing ovation at US President Joe Bidens State of the Union Address. Maurice Barron, who is originally from Kilmacthomas, and his wife Kandice, who is originally from Panama, were praised by President Biden for their fortitude as their first child, four-year-old daughter, Ava recently recovered from cancer. Barron had written to Biden, whose son Beau died from cancer in 2015, about Ava's cancer battle just after Christmas 2021. Around 200 people attended the funeral service for Samuel McAuley this morning 26 year old Samuel McAuley from the Belfast area A young man killed after being hit by a bus in Belfast city centre loved life and adored his two children, mourners heard. Around 200 people attended the funeral service for Samuel McAuley this morning. He died in the accident near the City Hall last month. A service took place in James Brown & Sons Funeral Directors on the Newtownards Road. Rev Mervyn Gibson recalled how the 26-year-old had grown up in Belfast and regularly attended Sunday school in Westbourne Presbyterian Church where his grandparents were both members. Samuel also attended all the evening activities, he said. As he grew up, he was big into DJing and did that for lots of community groups. He even played at the Mandela Hall in Queens University. Staff from Compassion Belfast were among those paying their respects, including many of the friends Samuel made at the organisations Tool Box project. He was a regular at the weekly workshop and completed a range of woodwork projects. Rev Gibson said the popular father of two was well liked everywhere he went and within his own community in north Belfast. He was a quiet young man, but he made friends easily, he added. He knew people from all over the city. He was a good-looking guy who, despite being reserved in many ways, enjoyed life and was always willing to help. But Samuel had two children, whom he adored: his seven-year-old daughter, Aria, and his two-year-old son Jacob. Mr McAuley was predeceased by his parents, Samuel and Eileen. Mourners were also told that his devastated family, including his brother, William, and aunts and uncles, were still thinking of the bus driver involved in the collision. This was a horrible thing for him as well. And they know how difficult that must be, Rev Gibson said. Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident, which happened on Donegall Square West at around 7.40pm on Saturday, January 28. At the time they said the Translink employee was spoken to at the scene. Loved ones wept as Samuels coffin was carried from the funeral home along to the song Everglow by Coldplay, which includes the lyric, This particular diamond was extra special. And we swore on that night, wed be friends til we die, says one poignant verse about blood brothers. But the changing of winds, and the way waters flow, life is short as the falling of snow and now Im gonna miss you, I know, the song continues. Close family and friends then made their way to Roselawn Crematorium, where a committal service took place. The hospitals management urged people seeking non-emergency care to seek assistance from other parts of the health service Tallaght University Hospital is appealing to members of the public with non-emergency conditions to avoid its emergency department because it is extremely busy today. According to the IMNOs TrolleyWatch figures, a staggering 50 patients were on trolleys this morning at the Dublin hospital. Other Dublin hospitals are also under pressure with The Mater Hospital recording 25 patients waiting for a bed this morning while 27 were waiting in St Vincents University Hospital. In a statement issued this morning, management urged people seeking non-emergency care to seek assistance from other parts of the health service. "At the moment the Emergency Department (ED) is under significant pressure with many patients requiring admission due to a combination of factors. Where possible the hospital are asking patients with non-emergency conditions to seek assistance from other parts of the health service such as their local pharmacist, GP, GP out of hours service, or a local injury unit, a spokesperson for the hospital said. I don't feel safe. My colleagues don't feel safe. Staff are leaving in bulk because of assault. Unfortunately, patients who are presenting at the ED with non-urgent conditions are experiencing very long waiting times to be seen. However, the hospital has stressed that any patient who needs emergency hospital care will be seen and it urged such patients to attend the ED without delay. TUH is also reminding those attending the ED in an emergency to wear a mask, practice social distancing and to ensure that they tell the triage personnel if they have any signs or symptoms of Covid-19. Tallaght University Hospital apologises for any inconvenience caused and once again thanks the public for their support and understanding, the spokesperson added. Acting Sergeant Major Declan Doc O'Connell was due to marry his long-term partner in the coming weeks The Irish soldier who died in a tragic parachuting accident in Spain on Sunday has been remembered as a champion for all the Defence Forces values, especially moral and physical courage, selflessness and integrity. Speaking as an investigation was launched into the fatal tragedy, Defence Forces leaders here said Acting Sergeant Major Declan Doc O'Connell was a great soldier, team-mate and friend to all who knew him, and a born leader who inspired the many cadets that he trained over the years, The 54-year-old Co Kildare man was due to marry his long-term partner in the coming weeks, and had travelled to Spain on his own time to gain further qualifications as a skydiving instructor in a private capacity. It is reported that he became entangled in the lines of his parachute during a jump while on the training course with Skydive Spain. It was the same club with which a member of the British Red Devils display team also died, while skydiving in the same area last October. Declan O'Connell PA Skydive Spain confirmed Mr OConnell (54) had flown with it and said it was assisting Spanish police in their ongoing investigation. Acting Sgt Maj O'Connell joined the Defence Forces in February 1990 and his home unit was the Cadet School, Military College in the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh Camp. He had a very distinguished 33-year career in the Defence Forces and completed a number of international military courses, including the prestigious Platoon Sergeants Battle Course with the UK Armed Forces, and leadership courses in the NATO School, in Oberammergau, Germany. He was a physical training instructor, confidence training instructor, driving instructor, APC Instructor and live fire tactical trainer, and he trained officer cadets in the Cadet School for over 20 years. He also served overseas on nine occasions with the Defence Forces, in Lebanon, Kosovo, Mali and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Acting Sgt Maj OConnell was an avid parachutist and jumpmaster who qualified as a military jumpmaster in 2018 and had completed almost 700 jumps. "Declan was an outstanding soldier and leader who was highly respected by all who had the pleasure to serve with him. He will be sorely missed by his Defence Forces family and my thoughts and condolences go out to his family at this extremely difficult time, said Lieutenant General Sean Clancy, the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and President of Defence Forces Parachuting, Major General Adrian O Murchu, said "Acting Sgt Maj Declan Doc OConnell was an exemplar for all that is good about the Defence Forces. Along with his remarkable military career, overseas service and many other achievements, he was a leading member of the Black Knights, the Defence Forces Parachute Display Team. "In that capacity he was always the first to volunteer, either to take part in a display or to support the team as Drop Zone Controller, even if it meant that he didnt get to jump himself, he added. Ms Bunting abused her position as a Belfast City councillor to commit fraud against me and Britain First Britain First leader Paul Golding says he has reported former Belfast City councillor Jolene Bunting to the PSNI for fraud. It comes less than a week after a public services watchdog found Ms Bunting had doctored a wage slip to convince the far-right political party to pay a fine she received for allowing member Jayda Fransen to sit in the mayoral chair at Belfast City Hall. Bunting was later given money through two online payments made by Mr Golding for the alleged council fine, before an internal investigation by the party caused them to suspect they had been misled. After last weeks NI Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) ruling, Mr Golding said he has reported the incident and is now waiting for the PSNI to get in touch to take a full statement. Ms Bunting abused her position as a Belfast City councillor to commit fraud against me and Britain First, he alleged. NIPSO has already found her to have committed fraud and she is banned from standing for election as a result. Now, the case has been handed to the PSNI for criminal investigation and I will pursue this to the bitter end. Jolene Bunting (left) and Jayda Fransen In January 2018, Ms Fransen at the time the deputy leader of Britain First posted a video of herself sitting in the Lord Mayors chair in the council chamber of Belfast City Hall and wearing official robes. Fransen, who had just appeared in court on incitement charges that morning, was heard saying she intended to fight the case and clear her name for a speech in which I mentioned the I word, Islam. Her access to the chamber had been facilitated by Bunting, who was an independent councillor for the Court ward, having originally been elected on a TUV ticket. Belfast City Council said at the time that the protocols for filming in the chamber were not followed and that it was not made aware of the plans. It said it was looking into the circumstances. A complaint from Mr Golding to NIPSO was upheld last Wednesday, which ruled that Ms Bunting brought her role into disrepute by doctoring a wage slip to get money from Britain First. The adjudication hearing was told that, in July 2018, Bunting at the time an independent councillor had told Golding that she had been financially sanctioned by the council. Paul Golding She was said to have told Golding in a flustered phone call that this was as a result of letting Ms Fransen sit in the Lord Mayors chair. By July of that year, with Fransen in prison serving a jail term for incitement, Bunting contacted Golding claiming she had been sanctioned 500 for the propaganda stunt. She was later given money through two online payments made by the Britain First leader for the alleged council fine, before the internal investigation caused them to suspect they had been misled. Ms Bunting told the Sunday Life that she would fight her ban from public office and that she had been intimidated from her home following the complaint. There were people hanging around outside my house. I called the police several times about it, she said. I was followed while taking my two children to school and I was so shaken I had to call them again. And now Ive been forced to move. In a lengthy statement issued after the proceedings, Ms Bunting described the case as vexatious. I have many regrets about associating with this man, and many friends and family warned me not to get involved, she said. The former councillor said she had never been disingenuous or dishonest in any way towards Mr Golding. As far as I was concerned, Mr Golding had loaned me this money, she added. The PSNI has been contacted for comment. Asked if officials have ruled out extra-terrestrials, Mr VanHerck said: I havent ruled out anything at this point. The remnants of a large balloon drift above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina (Chad Fish via AP) Chad Fish A US fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron on Sunday on orders from President Joe Biden. It was the fourth such downing in eight days and the latest military strike in an extraordinary chain of events over US airspace that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent. Part of the reason for the repeated shoot downs is a heightened alert following a spy balloon from China that emerged over US airspace in late January, General Glen VanHerck, head of Norad and US Northern Command, said in a briefing with reporters. Since then, fighter jets last week also shot down objects over Canada and Alaska. Pentagon officials said they posed no security threats, but so little was known about them that Pentagon officials were ruling nothing out not even UFOs. In this photo provided by the US Navy, sailors recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (US Navy via AP) Uncredited We have been more closely scrutinising our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase, said Melissa Dalton, assistant defence secretary for homeland defence. US authorities have made clear that they constantly monitor for unknown radar blips, and it is not unusual to shut down airspace as a precaution to evaluate them. But the unusually assertive response was raising questions about whether such use of force was warranted, particularly as administration officials said the objects were not of great national security concern and the downings were just out of caution. Mr VanHerck said the US adjusted its radar so it could track slower objects. With some adjustments, weve been able to get a better categorisation of radar tracks now, he said, and thats why I think youre seeing these, plus theres a heightened alert to look for this information. He added: I believe this is the first time within United States or American airspace that Norad or United States Northern Command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object. Asked if officials have ruled out extra-terrestrials, Mr VanHerck said: I havent ruled out anything at this point. The Pentagon officials said they were still trying to determine what exactly the objects were and said they had considered using the jets guns instead of missiles, but it proved to be too difficult. They drew a strong distinction between the three shot down over this weekend and the balloon from China. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz tweeted that airmen in the 148th Fighter Wing, an Air National Guard fighter unit in Duluth, shot down the object over Lake Huron. The extraordinary air defence activity began in late January, when a white orb the officials said was from China appeared over the US and hovered above the nation for days before fighter jets downed it off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. That event played out over live stream. Many Americans have been captivated by the drama playing out in the skies as fighter jets scramble to shoot down objects. A US military jet shoots down a Chinese balloon. AP Chad Fish The latest brought down was first detected on Saturday evening over Montana, but it was initially thought to be an anomaly. Radar picked it up again on Sunday hovering over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and it was going over Lake Huron, Pentagon officials said. US and Canadian authorities had restricted some airspace over the lake earlier on Sunday as planes were scrambled to intercept and try to identify the object. According to a senior administration official, the object was octagonal, with strings hanging off, but had no discernible payload. It was flying low at about 20,000 feet, said the official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Meanwhile, US officials were still trying to precisely identify two other objects shot down by F-22 fighter jets, and were working to determine whether China was responsible as concerns escalated about what Washington said was Beijings large-scale aerial surveillance programme. An object shot down on Saturday over Canadas Yukon was described by US officials as a balloon significantly smaller than the balloon the size of three school buses hit by a missile on February 4. The cases have increased diplomatic tensions between the United States and China (Kiichiro Sato, File/AP) Kiichiro Sato A flying object brought down over the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday was more cylindrical and described as a type of airship. Both were believed to have a payload, either attached or suspended from them, according to the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Officials were not able to say who launched the objects and were seeking to figure out their origin. The three objects were much smaller in size, different in appearance and flew at lower altitudes than the suspected spy balloon that fell into the Atlantic Ocean after the US missile strike. The officials said the other three objects were not consistent with the fleet of Chinese aerial surveillance balloons that targeted more than 40 countries, stretching back at least into the Trump administration. The cases have increased diplomatic tensions between the United States and China, raised questions about the extent of Beijings American surveillance, and prompted days of criticism from Republican lawmakers about the administrations response. The 77-year-old was the first woman appointed as a staff newsreader on RTEs Nine News She passed away this morning at her home in Mornington, Co Meath. The writer was 77 years of age. In a statement her family told Independent.ie they are all deeply grieving the sudden loss of Deirdre. To the date before her death, Deirdre was full of plans, schemes and dreams as she always was. Deirdre made friends wherever she went and will be remembered by so many as a vibrant, clever and caring companion. The talent, vivacity and sharp mind that made her an award-winning journalist, a globally successful fiction writer and in her youth a talented Abbey Theatre actress, never left her. She was a force of nature and we will miss her desperately. Ms Purcells friend, fellow author Patricia Scanlan said: When Deirdre was your friend, you were befriended and minded and cherished. Everyone that knew her was taken in under her wing and you kind of shone in her light, Ms Scanlan told RTEs News at One. I remember long before I knew her personally, reading her articles in the Sunday Tribune. She used to do interviews with people, features, and I was always fascinated by her and the way she wrote her way of forming words and sentences. She was very, very special. The award-winning writer had many strings to her bow, including actress, journalist, columnist and was the first woman appointed as a staff newsreader on RTEs Nine OClock News. Often referred to a pioneer of popular female fiction, she published more than 19 books during her illustrious career. This included Falling for a Dancer which was later turned into a hit BBC series in 1998 starring Oscar-nominee Colin Farrell. Known for pushing the boundaries and exploring difficult subjects, her 1997 novel Love Like Hate Adore saw her shortlisted for the Orange Prize and she said the book changed her life. She also wrote non-fiction and penned the 1989 biography on the Late Late Show legend Gay Byrne entitled The Time of My Life. Acclaimed for her descriptive and insightful writing style, she won a number of prestigious awards during her career and was a member of the permanent company of The Abbey. She had a leading role in Eugene ONeills Long Days Journey into Night at the National Theatre. She spent six years fronting the What it Says in the Papers segment on RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland and became known for her catch-phrase So whats next? She was one of the first writers of long-form interviews during her time in the Sunday Tribune and did a famous interview with novelist and former politician Jeffrey Archer. Ms Purcell grew up in Dublin and lived in various places around the city including Blanchardstown, Glasnevin and Castleknock. Her parents bought their first house in Willow Park Grove in 1958 and she attended boarding school in Crossmolina, Co Mayo. She credits the nuns there with helping to instil a strong work ethic in her. For the past three decades, she has had a second family home in the stunning Beara Peninsula in Cork where she did a lot of her writing. Her 2019 novel Grace in Winter used a cruise liner as an intriguing backdrop and in an interview with the Irish Independent, she spoke about her love of the sea. I love ships. Life for me is quite busy and stressful in some ways and on a ship, you have no decisions to make at all, she said. In writing, you can make it whatever you want someone can go missing or die in mysterious ways. But I love people-watching on them because everyone is in great humour and there to enjoy themselves. Its a way to live a life without care. Deirdre Purcell is survived by her husband Kevin Healy and two sons Adrian and Simon Weckler. Adrian is the Irish Independents Technology Editor. Saoirse Ronan is famously private about her relationship with fellow actor, Jack Lowden Saoirse Ronan stars in 'The Outrun' which is co-produced by boyfriend Jack Lowden and due out later this year. Jack Lowden attends a preview screening of new BBC Drama Series "The Gold" at BFI Southbank on January 17, 2023 in London, England. Photo by David M. Benett/Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireIma Saoirse Ronan is famously private about her relationship with fellow actor, Jack Lowden, but the Scotsman gushed over her in a recent interview following this weeks release of BBC drama, The Gold. Speaking with i News, Lowden spoke about collaborating with Ronan on their upcoming project, The Outrun. The film, due out later this year, is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Amy Liptrott. Starring Ronan and with Lowden at the production helm, it will be the first time the couple have worked together since they met on the set of 2018s Mary Queen of Scots. Saoirse Ronan stars in 'The Outrun' which is co-produced by boyfriend Jack Lowden and due out later this year. The film is produced by Arcade Pictures; a company set up by Lowden, Ronan and producer Dominic Norris. Ronan is a four-time Oscar nominee, so it comes as little surprise that Lowden is awe-struck by watching her work on the film. My first love is actors, he told the website, and when youre given a Ferrari like her, its all about how you make everything good for the Ferrari to show off. "Dont make a Ferrari do what a Renault Clio does. Its a dreadful analogy but theyre like gold dust, good actors. He goes one further, opening the door on what its like living with one of the best actors in the world. Having someone on call to run lines is no doubt every actors dream, one that is his reality even if it means upstaging one another. Sometimes she gives a better performance than me off-camera and youre a bit like, Can you, erm, not?, Lowden said. Jack Lowden attends a preview screening of new BBC Drama Series "The Gold" at BFI Southbank on January 17, 2023 in London, England. Photo by David M. Benett/Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireIma Unlike most famous couples in the industry, the pair maintain a low profile, and there is rarely much of an insight given to the public. According to Lowden, that is not something they take for granted. Were hugely appreciative of the level of scrutiny we have, he told i News. Were treated well but we dont seek it either. People have got it far worse. Its also obviously of our own making. And despite the occasionally prying eyes, it seems Lowden is happy with his lot. Whatever as long as weve got each other, were alright with any of that, he said. The 57-year-old died on Saturday, with his wife and children by his side. Tributes have been paid to James Flynn, the co-producer of Banshees of Inisherin, following his death. The 57-year-old died on Saturday, with his wife and children by his side. A statement issued by Metropolitan Films, the company he founded with his wife Juanita Wilson, said Mr Flynn died peacefully on Saturday morning after a short illness. All of us in Metropolitan Films are deeply saddened by the passing of our esteemed co-founder, colleague and great friend James Flynn, the statement said. From an early age, James was passionate about cinema and was delighted to commence his career with John Boormans Merlin Films as Head of Development. He was appointed business manager, and subsequently deputy CEO, of the then newly established Irish Film Board from 1993 to 1997 and made a crucial contribution to the development of the then fledgling indigenous Irish film production sector. In 1997 James, along with his wife Juanita, established Metropolitan Film Productions Ltd to make strong, independent and resonant Irish developed films for the international market. Mr Flynn has developed and produced a number of critically acclaimed and award-winning productions including Irish dramas Love-Hate and Kin, Tomato Red, and the Academy Award nominated The Door. Through James partnership with Morgan OSullivan, they successfully brought many major drama productions to Ireland including The Tudors, six seasons of The Vikings, three seasons of Vikings Valhalla and many more, the statement added. No words can adequately describe the immense contribution James has made to the Irish film and television industry over three decades on both a national and international level. James fought his recent illness with courage, dignity, and positivity to the very end. For that reason, we are acutely aware that the news of his passing has been an unexpected shock for all of us. The Martin McDonagh dark comedy Flynn co-produced, which stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, has won a number of awards, and has been nominated for a total of nine Oscars. Culture Minister Catherine Martin said she was greatly saddened by the news of Mr Flynns death. His most recent success with Banshees of Inisherin was the culmination of a career at the very forefront of Irish cinema & TV drama production, she said. My deepest sympathies to Juanita and his family. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland said it was deeply saddened by the passing of producer James Flynn, a huge loss to the industry and our thoughts are with his family". This year's Mount Everest Challenge, which started on Sunday, attracted some plucky and hardy individuals who climbed Mauao early in the morning ahead of the looming storm and track closures. Live for More Operations Manager Megan Warn joined David Mitchell and Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell to take on the challenge and make the first climb of the next 50 days before the rain and wind took hold. Tauranga's 95.8 The Breeze which is running the Mount Everest Challenge selected Live for More as this years chosen charity. So far, after just one day, the Mount Everest Challenge 2023 has raised $16,029. The mission of the charity fundraiser is simple walk, run or crawl up Mauao 38 times in 50 days; which is the equivalent to climbing Mount Everest, all while raising much needed funds for a local charity. Grab a team or do it as an individual. Can we reach $100,000? 'David is taking on the challenge and reached out to me to join him," says Sam. Live for More Operations Manager Megan Warn, Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell and David Mitchell on Sunday morning. Photo: Supplied. The trio were able to get in one climb before Tauranga City Council had to close the walking track on Monday morning, due to Cyclone Gabrielle. No one is able to climb Mauao or walk around the Mauao base track until the mountain has been reopened once again to the public. The situation will be reassessed on Tuesday. For Mount Everest Challengers, the track closure just means fitting the 37 remaining climbs into about 47 days. Here we go again, only this time I'm 60 years of age and a little broken, says David, who is asking for people to sponsor his challenge. Nothings guaranteed so join me on my journey to raise funds for Live for More. David says the charity means a lot to him and during the challenge he plans to open up a little as to why. My task is to climb Mount Maunganui 38 times in 50 days starting February 12. In my case I have 49 days as I fly out to Australia on the 1st of April. David Mitchell says this is his scared look. Photo: Supplied. Aside from climbing David will be doing a daily journal keeping his supporters up to date with his thoughts, progress and donations. I'd love company so if you'd like to join me on a climb just message me on messenger, says David. I'd love your help and the best way you can help aside from donating is by sharing this story so your friends also have the opportunity to donate to such a worthy cause. When asked how much hed like people to donate, he says as much as you feel comfortable with. He got the ball rolling by donating $100 himself. I invite you to join me be it $1 or more, says David. To make a donation to Daves Everest Challenge, the details are: Bank: DaveEverestChallenge - ANZ H Asplin - 01-0755-0269403-01 Or anyone in New Zealand or overseas can donate to PayPal via DavesEverestChallenge@gmail.com I've given the task of looking after donations to a close friend and a man whose integrity and honesty are beyond reproach, says David. He will from time to time keep us up-to-date with donation totals etc. I've done this to avoid the fees that a Give-a-little page will charge as hosts. David says that he wants to ensure every dollar donated to his challenge will go to the charity. Live for More Operations Manager Megan Warn and Tauranga's 95.8 The Breeze Promotion Manager Kelsey Harrap on the Mauoa stone steps. Photo: John Borren. Live for More Live for More is a Tauranga-based charitable trust that uses surf therapy to reach young people to help them find freedom from their troubled pasts and be inspired to live positive and fulfilling lives. Through their programmes, they transform troubled lives one wave at a time. The young people often have had very difficult lives and the majority have experienced a significant amount of trauma. Tai Watea meaning "Waves of Freedom" gives them the opportunity to re-engage with positive people and healthy activities, allowing them to see their potential and giving their lives meaning and purpose. Funding is needed so that Live for More can continue to provide the clinical support and counselling to the people they are helping, transforming them into positive productive members of our community. The challenge campaign, previously run by More FM, kicked off on February 12 and will end on April 2. Last year we raised just over $84,000 for Good Neighbour so it really is an awesome feel-good challenge, says Tauranga's 95.8 The Breeze Promotion Manager Kelsey Harrap, who had set herself a goal of $50,000 for 2022. Tauranga's 95.8 The Breeze Promotion Manager Kelsey Harrap and Live for More Operations Manager Megan Warn. Photo: John Borren. Over the past eight years, The Mount Everest Challenge has raised $547,097 for local charities. In 2015, $95,000 was raised for surf clubs, while in 2016, Homes of Hope was the chosen charity with $45,000 raised. The list goes on: 2017 - Womens Refuge, $71,000; 2018 - Waipuna Hospice, $120,000; 2019 - Riding for the Disabled, $63,000; 2020 - Rescue Helicopter, $32,800; 2021 - St Johns, $36,200 and last year Good Neighbour received $84,097. Taurangas 95.8 The Breeze wants to continue to grow this to support various charities in the Bay of Plenty, but they can only do it if people seize hold of this challenge, whether its participating in climbing or donating to those who are. Participants can sign up as an individual or as a team on the Give a Little Page and join the Mount Everest Challenge Facebook Page throughout the challenge to stay up to date and for awesome giveaways thanks to local businesses. Strong swells and surging sea waves combining with the full tide in Tauranga this afternoon are concerning some local residents. "Two hours before full tide, the water was already high," says one SunLive reader who lives at a Tauranga harbourside property in Te Puna. A video sent to SunLive by a Tauranga resident also shows the impact of the swells near the Marine Parade and Oceanbeach Road roundabout. Both Mauao and Moturiki at Mount Maunganui are closed off to ensure public safety. The situation is being monitored and will be reassessed on Tuesday. Waves were pounding Mount Maunganui beach at high tide around 1.18pm today. Western Bay of Plenty District Council is encouraging everyone in low lying coastal and harbourside environments to prepare to self-evacuate from their homes now. Opotiki Mayor, David Moore has declared a state of emergency for the Opotiki district. The mayor says that the declaration was done early given the districts unique situation long coastlines, vulnerable roads and history of issues in extreme weather events. Waves at Mount Maunganui Main Beach. Photo: David Hall. Cyclone Gabrielle is bearing down on the North Island, and despite widespread damage and disruption last night and this morning, the worst weather is still to come for many regions today. MetService forecasters, in collaboration with local councils and Civil Defence, continue to update the Severe Weather Warnings pertaining to ongoing heavy rain and severe gale strength wind. This is a major weather system and shouldnt be taken lightly," says meteorologist Angus Hines. We have a couple more days of wild weather ahead. Weve never had such an extensive range of Red Severe Weather Warnings which are the highest classification of Severe Weather Warning MetService can issue. Waves at Mount Maunganu's Shark Alley next to Moturiki. Photo: David Hall. Cyclone Gabrielle has been generating extremely strong wind about the upper North Island. Wind gusts have exceeded 130km per hour in parts of Auckland, and 150km per hour in exposed parts of Northland. Trees and powerlines have been damaged, as has peoples property, including rooves and outdoor furniture. As Gabrielle moves southeast in the next 36 hours, the angle of the wind across the upper North Island will change as they wrap around the moving centre, but the wind speed stays very high. Red Wind Warnings remain in force for Northland, Auckland, and the Coromandel Peninsula, and Taranakis Wind Warning has been upgraded to Red this morning. Orange Wind Warnings blanket all remaining North Island locations as well as the top half of the South Island, meaning wind damage is possible almost anywhere. There is expected to be a gradual easing to the wind late on Tuesday, and throughout Wednesday. Once again, northern parts of the North Island will be drenched by persistent heavy rain. Red Rain Warnings are active for intense rainfall over Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, and the north of the Tairawhiti/Gisborne area. All of these places have already dealt with immense rainfall this year, and lots of them are in clean up mode from recent flooding, says Angus. Unfortunately, we expect further flooding, slips power outages, and road closures Monday and Tuesday, prolonging this unprecedented wet summer. Eastwards facing parts of the country Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough and Kaikoura are all expected to get heavy rain as well and have Orange Rain Warnings in place with Gisborne on a Red Warning. While Gabrielle has been affecting the atmosphere, it is also having a major impact on our oceans. Enormous waves are battering eastern coastlines of the North Island, which may wash onto coastal roads and property, particularly about high tide (early this afternoon for those areas). Conditions can get dangerous quickly, and people are advised to steer clear of beaches. Bay of Plenty Are you a Class 2 or 4 driver or do you have a Class 4 license but no experience thats OK! I NEED YOU! This is a fantastic... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz abhikb BHPian Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 455 Thanked: 1,621 Times Day-0, 25th Jan-23, Reporting at Tharad: Our flag-off Point Nadabet was 200 kms from Ahmedabad which is a 4 hour drive, hence, we had planned for Reporting at Tharad which is 60 kms away from Nadabet. The convoy was formally flagged off from BPCL Outlet near Helmet char rasta at Ahmedabad, BPCL's state head came down personally to greet the participants. Post flag-off all the participants were to report at Tharad directly and check-in at the hotel. Day-1, 26th Jan-23, Tharad-Nadabet-Munabao-Sam: All the participants were required to assemble at Nadabet by 8:30am, a short information about Nadabet is as mentioned below: Quote: Nadabet is designed to take the visitor on a journey of grit and resilience. Right from the gates till the very Indo-Pak border located 25KM inside, it is an enthralling experience where every visitor entering, will leave a patriot. T-Junction and 0-point offer tourists a wholesome experience along with many other attractions. A high watch-tower is especially designed to give the visitors a view across the zero line, as well as a number of scenic spots. It is jointly managed between Gujarat Tourism and BSF. Post flag off the convoy rolled from Nadabet and took the State highway upto Mavsari, from there on we had to cross a 20 kms river bed and move upto Bakhasar. From Bakhasar we had to travle upto Munabao using Bharat mala road via Sata-Gagariya-Gadra Road. On such a drive, refueling points area must, in this regard BPCL team ensured hassle free transit at their petrol pumps on Bharat mala road. We had arranged lunch for the participants at Serva on Bharat mala road itself. The departure from Nadabet had delayed slightly hence, the convoy could reach Munabao around 6pm right before sunset. BSF had arranged for Tea and refreshments at Munabao for all the participants and we were allowed to go upto Zero Point which otherwise is not allowed on this stretch. Short information about Munabao is as follows: Quote: A 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)-wide metre-gauge line from Luni to Shadipalli, in Sind, was built across the Thar Desert in 1902 and the line from Shadipalli to Hyderabad (now in Pakistan) was regauged.The LuniBarmerMunabao section was converted to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge in 2004. During the 1965 war, the railway station came under the control of Pakistan. According to a 1929 issue of the Railway Gazette, the Sind Mail used to run on this route between Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, Sindh. The route was in use with through services between Jodhpur and Karachi till around 1965. On the Pakistan side, Khokhrapar was the terminus of a metre-gauge branch line from Hyderabad, Sindh via Mirpur Khas, 135 km from the border. The rail link across MunabaoKhokhrapar border was restored in 2006. As per the agreement between Indian and Pakistan railways, the Thar Express travels once a week from Karachi during a six-month block, crosses the international border, and the passengers change over to an Indian train at Munabao for their onward journey to Bhagat Ki Kothi in Jodhpur. On the Indian side the Thar Link Express runs non-stop once a week from Bhagat Ki Kothi (near Jodhpur) to Munabao and back. Pakistan Railways have set up a new railway station at Zero Point. There is a passenger train linking Munabao to Barmer, which ran on all days except Monday. The train connectivity has now been stopped since 2019 escalation of tension between India and Pakistan. During the registration session this communication was made to the participants that the first day's drive will be 13-14 hours, this helped to prep up the participants for the day and also through our food partner Kabhib, food packets were distributed at Munaboa to keep people charged for the last leg of the journey. Our flag-off Point Nadabet was 200 kms from Ahmedabad which is a 4 hour drive, hence, we had planned for Reporting at Tharad which is 60 kms away from Nadabet.The convoy was formally flagged off from BPCL Outlet near Helmet char rasta at Ahmedabad, BPCL's state head came down personally to greet the participants. Post flag-off all the participants were to report at Tharad directly and check-in at the hotel.All the participants were required to assemble at Nadabet by 8:30am, a short information about Nadabet is as mentioned below:The Border Quest event flag off was part of the event proceedings at Nadabet, the team got a grand reception as the flag off was done at the hands of IG-BSF GJ frontier.Post flag off the convoy rolled from Nadabet and took the State highway upto Mavsari, from there on we had to cross a 20 kms river bed and move upto Bakhasar. From Bakhasar we had to travle upto Munabao using Bharat mala road via Sata-Gagariya-Gadra Road. On such a drive, refueling points area must, in this regard BPCL team ensured hassle free transit at their petrol pumps on Bharat mala road.We had arranged lunch for the participants at Serva on Bharat mala road itself. The departure from Nadabet had delayed slightly hence, the convoy could reach Munabao around 6pm right before sunset. BSF had arranged for Tea and refreshments at Munabao for all the participants and we were allowed to go upto Zero Point which otherwise is not allowed on this stretch.Short information about Munabao is as follows:The final leg of the journey between Munabao-Sam was around 170 Kms, 3 hours drive on Bharatmala road and followed with a Narrow stretch of road through the dunes. We started from Munabao around 7pm, since the route was desolated and mobile network was not available on this route, the entire convoy rolled together on this route and we made it to the resort right on time around 10pm.During the registration session this communication was made to the participants that the first day's drive will be 13-14 hours, this helped to prep up the participants for the day and also through our food partner Kabhib, food packets were distributed at Munaboa to keep people charged for the last leg of the journey. Attached Thumbnails Attached Images Last edited by Aditya : 13th February 2023 at 06:42 . What just happened? In a situation thought to be unprecedented in peaceful times, the US military has shot down a fourth flying object over North American airspace this month. The latest target, described as an octagonal structure with strings but no payload, was shot over Lake Huron in Michigan at 2.42 pm local time on Sunday following orders from President Biden. A Pentagon statement said the object was detected traveling at 20,000 feet above military sites in Montana on Saturday, an altitude that could have caused it to interfere with commercial air traffic. F-16 fighter jets used an air-to-air missile to down the object as it traveled across the Great Lake region. The incident marks the fourth of its kind in eight days. On February 4, a large balloon suspected to be used for surveillance was shot down off the coast of South Carolina. China said it belonged to the country but insisted the balloon was blown off course while carrying out weather research, though the Pentagon says the equipment it carried could have been used to intercept communications. The objects shot down in Alaska and Yukon, Canada, were much smaller than and did not closely resemble the first balloon. The military has been on heightened alert and looking for UFOs on radar since the initial sighting. As per the BBC, a defence official said the US had communicated with Beijing about the first object after receiving no response for several days. US Air Force Gen Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and US Northern Command, said the military had not identified what the three most recent objects were or how they stayed afloat. He told reporters they were being referred to as "objects, not balloons, for a reason." Talk of unidentified flying objects has led to questions about extraterrestrials. When asked if such a scenario had been ruled out, VanHerck said, "I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything." However, an anonymous defense official told Reuters that there had been no evidence suggesting the objects were extraterrestrial, and one senior official told ABC News that the three most recent objects were likely weather balloons rather than surveillance balloons. The US and Canada are currently in the process of recovering debris from the downed objects for analysis. Some debris from the first balloon has already been recovered. "What's gone on the last two weeks or so [...] has been nothing short of craziness. And the military needs to have a plan to not only determine what's out there, but determine the dangers," said Jon Tester, the senior senator from Montana. The incidents have caused tensions between the US and China to reach heights not seen since Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year. Bloomberg writes that China is preparing to take down an unidentified object flying over waters near the port city of Qingdao, about 15 miles east of Jianggezhuang Naval Base, home to ballistic and nuclear attack submarines and the country's first aircraft carrier. "China reserves the right to use necessary means to deal with similar situations," China's Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei said after the first object was shot down in the US. TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust A hot potato: There were plenty of Super Bowl commercials yesterday, including one involving a Tesla. But this wasn't a promotion from the electric vehicle company; it was a 30-second criticism filled with simulated child deaths from an organization dedicated to banning the automaker's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. The Super Bowl ad, aired in Washington, DC, Austin, Tallahassee, Albany, Atlanta, and Sacramento, was the work of The Dawn Project, an organization calling for software in critical computer-controlled systems to be replaced with unhackable alternatives that never fail. The ad shows a Tesla Model 3 with FSD engaged (according to The Dawn Project) running down a mannequin on a crosswalk the same size and dressed as a child, swerving into oncoming traffic, hitting a stroller, going past stopped school buses, ignoring 'do not enter' signs, and driving on the wrong side of the road. The voiceover then claims Tesla is endangering the public with its "deceptive marketing" and "woefully inept engineering." Exactly. This will greatly increase public awareness that a Tesla can drive itself (supervised for now). --- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 12, 2023 CEO Elon Musk didn't seem concerned by the commercial, tweeting that it would likely increase public awareness that Tesla's can drive themselves (with supervision). He also responded to a Tesla fan account claiming the ad was fake with a laughing emoji. This isn't the first time the Dawn Project has taken out a public notice slamming Tesla. Back in January 2022, it paid for a full-page ad in the New York Times claiming FSD software malfunctions and commits critical driving errors every 8 minutes. The ad demanded FSD be removed from public roads until it has "1,000 times fewer critical malfunctions," and offered $10,000 to the first person who could name "another commercial product from a Fortune 500 company that has a critical malfunction every 8 minutes." The following August, The Dawn Project released a video that, again, showed four child-size mannequins wearing children's clothes being hit by Tesla vehicles. The company sent a cease-and-desist letter on August 11 to Dan O'Dowd, founder of the Dawn Project, demanding the video be taken down. It also asked O'Dowd to issue a public retraction and send all material from the video to Tesla within 24 hours of receiving the letter. O'Dowd responded in a blog post that called Musk "just another crybaby hiding behind his lawyer's skirt." O'Dowd is also the CEO of Green Hills Software, which develops operating systems and programming tools for embedded systems. Its real-time OS and other safety software are used in BMW's iX vehicles and other cars from various automakers. Detractors have called The Dawn Foundation's testing methodology in these ads into question, while others note that one of Green Hills Software's customers is the Intel-owned Mobileye, which makes chips for self-driving software. It's been a mixed year so far for Tesla. While its director of software admitted that the famous 2016 Autopilot demo video was staged, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak slammed the company and Musk over claims they robbed him and his family, Tesla's Autopilot system was exonerated after NTSB investigators found it was not engaged at the time of a fatal crash in 2021. Desk booking apps have become an important tool for businesses to keep track of their appointments and reservations efficiently. In 2023, there are so many choices that it can be hard to pick the right one. We've put together a list of the top 5 best desk booking software to help you make an informed choice. These booking systems are made to make scheduling easier, to automate processes, and to give both businesses and their customers a smooth experience. There's a booking software on this list for everyone, whether you're running a small business or a big company. What Is a Desk Booking App? With a desk booking app, you can set up flexible, activity-based workspaces all over your organization. This lets users book a workspace when needed, balancing their work and personal lives. Which Online Booking System Is the Best? Apps that allow users to book desk space quickly and easily have become increasingly common in today's offices because they make it possible to monitor desk occupancy. The following are some of the best desk booking apps to consider: 1. deskbird deskbird is a desk booking app for managing workplaces and optimizing office use. The focus is on people and the spaces they occupy. It can be accessed on mobile devices, the web, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. In particular, it is designed to meet the needs of businesses adopting the hybrid work model. deskbird offers an app for workplace management that concentrates on users instead of buildings to increase employee adoption rates. Employees' weekly planning requires just five clicks, whether from home or in the office. Employees can view their coworkers' schedules, whether they will be present at the office or telecommuting. With the assistance of a booking feature that only requires two clicks, users can schedule resources for office days, such as hot desking, meeting rooms, and parking spaces for the company. Administrators can use analytics to get a comprehensive picture of how many employees are coming into the office, which days are the busiest, which spaces are being utilized, and many other insights. deskbird, as a desk sharing app, allows flexible workplaces to become increasingly widespread in today's businesses. The software solution offered by deskbird is designed to emphasize ease of use and assist companies in effectively implementing hybrid work models and desk booking. Discover how to improve your employees' productivity by 20% and add 1 day of productivity with hybrid work with deskbird. Efficiency and Data Protection With Advanced Workplace Management With just two clicks, employees can plan office and work-from-home days, view a list of other people who are currently present in the building, and reserve desk space for themselves. The deskbird solution's primary focus is not the buildings but the people who will use them. They also offer full MS Teams integration. They are GDPR compliant (General Data Protection Regulation), have encryption at the enterprise level, and have a wide variety of options for configuring data protection. Workplace managers have access to a bird's-eye view of statistics such as office occupancy and consumption, which assists them in developing a flexible work environment that employees adore. This information allows managers to serve their employees' needs better. Learn how to save 30% on office costs. It would be the best office cost-saving method you will ever need with deskbird. Leading the Way in Workplace Solutions: Rapid Growth and Trust by Top Companies They are one of the software as a service (SaaS) startups in Europe experiencing the most rapid growth. One of the things they do is provide an office solution that helps individuals and businesses realize their full potential thanks to an intuitive tool for hybrid work scheduling. Wefox, Vitra, FlatexDEGIRO, Knauf, Volksbank, and many other companies have faith in them to keep employees' happiness and productivity high by utilizing their highly regarded app. Many other companies also trust them. Key Features It only takes two clicks to book a desk. Make a reservation for a meeting room and synchronize it with your Google or Outlook calendar. View all offices and scheduling analytics in the administrative portal. Use the interactive seating chart to locate a spot that better suits your needs. Prepare a schedule for the week and let the team know who will work from home and who will be in the office. Multi-language app: deskbird solution is available in English, German, French, Spanis, Czech and Italian. Key Benefits of Using deskbird Book desks, meeting rooms, parking spots, and more resources Workforce and office analytics for managers in the workplace Schedule your office and home office days ahead of time. deskbird offers a smart workspace booking solution ideal for remote and hybrid work offices, so you can check if your colleagues are working from home, in the office, or taking a day off. Book a demo for free to get to know the deskbird solution. You can also start a free trial with deskbird to manage your hybrid office in just 2 clicks! 2. Deskfound Deskfound is a desk booking app designed specifically for hybrid offices that allows you to book a desk and helps you get to know your fellow employees. Because it has integrations that are compatible with both Google and Slack, it is an excellent option for businesses using both services. Users can log in using Google Single Sign-On, reserve desks using Slack shortcuts, book meeting rooms compatible with Google Calendar, and send Slack notifications such as lunch polls to get more people involved in the office. Currently, Deskfound does not make its mobile application available for download. Instead, it uses Slack to present users with a straightforward and familiar experience that is integrated into their already operating environment. Deskfound, as desk booking software, can provide users with additional information about office locations and a weekly view of office bookings by leveraging the power of the web application. Administrators are given the ability to view reports, manage their workspaces, print quickly, and link to Google Maps from this page. Key Benefits Dedicated Desk: Gives each employee a permanent place to work. Gives each employee a permanent place to work. Hybrid desk: Gives your employees the freedom to book a desk when needed. Gives your employees the freedom to book a desk when needed. Guest Booking: Books a desk for guests by letting them check in. 3. Skedda With Skedda's customizable booking system, you can track how your desks, meeting rooms, studios, labs, and anything else you want to make bookable. Their desk booking software is made to make managing spaces easier by automating the process and letting people book rooms on their own. This means that you only have to set up the items that can be reserved and the automated rules for users once. Then, your employees will be able to help themselves. Key Features Booking Calendar: Your Skedda calendar is where everything happens. It's where you can see and manage your bookings in one place. Your Skedda calendar is where everything happens. It's where you can see and manage your bookings in one place. Automation of Scheduling: Desk booking software Skedda lets businesses automate the complicated and time-consuming parts of managing their bookable spaces. Desk booking software Skedda lets businesses automate the complicated and time-consuming parts of managing their bookable spaces. User Management: It's easy to decide how people can book space at your business. It's easy to decide how people can book space at your business. Maps and Floor Plans Online Payments: You can accept secure online payments for your bookings through their partner, Stripe, which handles payment processing. You can pay in advance or use their unique "Book Now, Pay Later" option. You can accept secure online payments for your bookings through their partner, Stripe, which handles payment processing. You can pay in advance or use their unique "Book Now, Pay Later" option. Sign-in Options: Make it easier for your users to log in to Skedda. They support social logins from Google, Facebook, and Microsoft and fully support SAML SSO. Make it easier for your users to log in to Skedda. They support social logins from Google, Facebook, and Microsoft and fully support SAML SSO. Mobile-friendly: You can talk to Skedda from the palm of your hand while you're on the go. You don't have to return to your PC or laptop because Skedda can be used anywhere. You can talk to Skedda from the palm of your hand while you're on the go. You don't have to return to your PC or laptop because Skedda can be used anywhere. All-star Support: Their friendly, all-star team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help you with anything you need. 4. WorkInSync WorkInSync is a desk booking app to make the hybrid workplace easy to use and improve the employee experience. It is a simple SaaS solution that makes office work more accessible and efficient for everyone involved. WorkInSync has many features that help create a digitized, hybrid workplace, whether collaborating with team members or ensuring a sanitization flow is in place. WorkInSync's three primary goals are flexibility, collaboration, and getting things done. With WorkInSync, you can plan and coordinate your whole team from different locations, make it easier for people to get to work, and make the workplace safer. WorkInSync is called "One App for All Your Hybrid Workplace Needs" for a good reason. Key Features Allows Choosing Work Preferences: Employees can select their preferred day, time, and place to work. They can also make sure that their choices are the same as their coworkers' so they can work together better. Employees can select their preferred day, time, and place to work. They can also make sure that their choices are the same as their coworkers' so they can work together better. Desk Booking: Voice-enabled desk booking app lets employees choose their favorite desks, amenities, parking spots, and ways to get to work. Voice-enabled desk booking app lets employees choose their favorite desks, amenities, parking spots, and ways to get to work. Contactless Access Management: With the Digipass and thermal scanner based on QR codes, employees can enter the office without touching anything foreign. With the Digipass and thermal scanner based on QR codes, employees can enter the office without touching anything foreign. Wayfinding: Employees don't have to work hard to find their desks and meeting rooms if the floor plans are accurate and can be changed. Employees don't have to work hard to find their desks and meeting rooms if the floor plans are accurate and can be changed. Book Cafeteria Seating: This simple feature lets employees find seats and book meals ahead of time. 5. Robin Robin Powered is a room booking software and scheduling solution for businesses in many fields, including real estate, consumer electronics, marketing, advertising, finance, IT, and more. Some essential features are automated scheduling, scheduling for groups, room booking management, and support for multiple locations. The advanced desk sharing software offered by Robin empowers employees while also providing facility management teams with the tools they require to manage safety, security, and space utilization effectively. Users are always aware, as a result of their real-time analytics, of how many desks are assigned. Quick bookings can also be made through the company's mobile app, desktop interface, or kiosks in key locations throughout your office, such as meeting rooms. Key Features Space Management is a feature that lets users see office maps and workplace analytics in real-time. Digital signage can also be set up for meeting rooms on different devices, such as tablets and TVs. Robin Powered has features like reporting on resource use, managing attendees, and online booking. The solution comes with mobile apps for iOS and Android devices and can work with third-party apps like G Suite, Office 365, and Exchange. The services are available for a monthly fee that includes support by phone, email, and live chat. The introduction of desk booking software has transformed how office planning and spaces are managed. Employees can reserve and manage desks, meeting rooms, and other office resources conveniently and effectively with the help of these systems. deskbird, Deskfound, and Skeeda, among other similar apps, are the most effective desk booking systems currently available. Consider using a desk booking app such as deskbird to boost the amount of work done in your office or make better use of the space. 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Billionaire tech entrepreneur Mark Cuban has recently raised concerns over the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and their potential to spread misinformation online, CNBC reports. Cuban made his comments on an episode of "The Problem with Jon Stewart" podcast, where he explored the impact of AI on society and the spread of false information. Is the Shark Tank investor's latest prediction correct? Could AI Bring About Online Misinformation? Cuban believes that AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, could further aggravate the issue of fake news on social media platforms, as these systems place the decision-making power in the hands of computers. "Once these things start taking on a life of their own ... it will be difficult for us to define why and how the machine makes the decisions it makes, and who controls the machine," Cuban voiced. As more people turn to social media platforms, such as TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, for their news, they are increasingly exposed to false information. A NewsGuard investigation found that nearly 20% of videos presented as search results on TikTok contained misinformation. With more people using AI systems like ChatGPT to create content, this problem could become even more severe, as the technology is still in its early stages and prone to making errors. Here's an early example: Gizmodo reports that readers compelled the tech media site CNET to make numerous major revisions to a post published in the tech news portal last January. This comes after CNET published posts generated by artificial intelligence software that were later discovered to have significant inaccuracies. Read Also: Google's AI Chatbot Bard Causes $100 Billion Market Loss With Incorrect James Webb Telescope Answer Instances like this make it challenging for people and governing bodies to understand why certain decisions are being made and who is responsible for them. With the growth of AI, the spread of false information could become even more widespread and challenging to regulate. Adapting to New Technology Cuban also commented on the different reactions of different generations to AI and the spread of misinformation. He said that while older generations may not fully understand the impact of AI, younger generations are more aware and able to block out false information. "Our generation, Gen X and older, doesn't get it," Cuban said in the podcast. "Gen Z and younger, they're not only native to it, they know how to block things out ... They're more in tune to all these issues." This highlights the need for education and awareness about the potential consequences of AI, particularly for those who are less familiar with the technology. ChatGPT, for example, has been at the top of many universities' priority lists, with administrators forming task forces and holding university-wide discussions to address the tool, with much of the advice focusing on technology adaptation. The Problem with Artificial Intelligence Since its launch in November, ChatGPT has become a popular platform, with hundreds of millions of users leveraging its machine-learning capabilities. However, the system has also been proven to be fallible, with users discovering loopholes and tendencies for bias. Bard, Google's AI chatbot, suffers a similar problem. Alphabet Inc., Google's parent firm, recently lost $100 billion in market value due to a single error. Cuban's concerns about the rise of AI and misinformation online are reasonable. As AI systems become more advanced, it will become even more challenging to regulate their impact on society and control the spread of false information. With millions of people having free access to AI systems like ChatGPT, steps must be taken to ensure that these systems are used responsibly and in a way that does not harm society. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: ChatGPT: Hackers Bypass OpenAI Restrictions to Create Malware, Improve Codes via Telegram Bot 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Canada recently took down an unidentified object flying mysteriously over the Canadian border, its second operation in two days. The United States helped by sending its F22 fighter jet to help take down the unknown aircraft over at Yukon after violating restrictions. It shot down the said object per the cautionary discretion of the country's militaries, wary after a Chinese spy balloon was seen hovering around South Carolina last week. NORAD, Canada Took Down Unidentified Object (Photo : Lockheed Martin) The US NORAD and Canada recently deployed F-22 fighter jets to monitor and take down an unidentified object flying over the Canadian border in Yukon. The US NORAD and Canada recently deployed F-22 fighter jets to monitor and take down an unidentified object flying over the Canadian border in Yukon. According to the United States Department of Defense, there was a recent joint operation for two days straight between the US and Canada after discovering an unknown object flying over at Canada's border. The US NORAD helped monitor the incident alongside its F-22 fighter jets, the critical aircraft in the operations. The decision to take down the said object was per the advice of its defense agency heads, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Minister of Defence Anita Anand. It followed a call between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden, which led to appointing the F-22 jets to monitor the aircraft three days earlier. The F-22 used AIM 9X missiles to take down the said object.PM Trudeau recently released a statement via a tweet confirming the operations with NORAD. Read Also: [LOOK] US Navy Shares Images of Alleged Chinese Spy Balloon After Take Down I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023 Operations Against Flying Unidentified Objects Recently, US authorities also shot down an unidentified cylindrical object after its flight in Alaskan airspace, which is now on its way to recovery amidst the winter. The investigations would examine what happened to determine who or what is behind these flights and learn more about the rising cases. Airspace Restrictions and Defense Last week rattled the United States military and its core, as there was an unidentified object flying around its airspace, particularly the infamous Chinese "spy" balloon, which was recently tracked by the Pentagon. Shortly, the country centered on defensive measures and shot down this bizarre, bizarre object in the air. The balloon was flying over sensitive military locations in the country, and it perceived it as a violation of its airspace and defense, ordering its shot down. The United States Navy already shared photos of the taken-down balloon, further heightening the tension between the US and China for its retaliation amidst the incident. A series of unidentified objects are now popping up in different locations in the North American region, and its Defense agencies are already looking into the phenomena. These recent NORAD and Canada joint operations have recently sent out F-22s for three days straight, aiming to protect the country from unknown threats. Related Article: The US Navy Powers an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Artificial Intelligence 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Once again, Tesla's vital Full Self-Driving Beta v11 software update is delayed, as reported by Electrek. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) FREMONT, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks during an event to launch the new Tesla Model X Crossover SUV on September 29, 2015 in Fremont, California. It seems that Tesla is having trouble shipping the update. The FSD Beta will allow Tesla vehicles to drive autonomously to a destination entered in the vehicle's navigation system. However, the driver must always be vigilant and ready to take control. That said, the responsibility still rests with the driver, which is why it is still considered a level two drover-assist system. Software Updates The automaker has been releasing new software updates to the FSD Beta program and adding more owners. There are over 400,000 Tesla owners in the program in North America. Still, many of these owners still need to receive significant FSD beta updates on Tesla. The automaker was supposed to release v11 to the fleet in November 2022, but it has been stuck in testing within their closed fleet since then. An Important Update The update is crucial to the system because it has many neural networks. Additionally, it is expected to merge Tesla's FSD Beta software stack, mainly used on roads and city streets, with Tesla's Autopilot software stack, which is used as a level 2 driver assist system on highways. Also Read: Tesla v11 UI still Face Backlash; Elon Musk Criticizes Fanmade Version Saying Car Should Do it Right A Limited Beta? (Photo : Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images) SHANGHAI,CHINA - MARCH 29: An aerial view of Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory on March 29, 2021 in Shanghai, China. Recently, Elon Musk said that the v11 was coming last week, but it didn't. Musk said it is coming this week, but it will be in a limited beta before wide release in North America. He said that after that, they would adapt for Eu roads and submit to regulators. Generally, the update will be pushed to choose only a few early beta testers. Musk also admitted that the update was much more complicated than expected. He blamed the re-architecture of neural nets as well. Despite Musk's comments on the update, it remains to be seen what's taking it too long to release. It should also be noted that the 400,000 Tesla owners with FSD Beta last saw significant improvements a while ago. In other news, earlier this month, the 2023 Tesla Model 3 was found detecting distances without ultrasonic sensors. It was discovered during test drives in Poland and was noticed by a prospective owner. Tesla replaces demo vehicles every three months, which means the vehicle wouldn't have ultrasonic sensors. It has happened before. It can be recalled that a 2018 Tesla Model 3 can also detect distances without USS. With this, an update to display distances to close-by objects may arrive soon. Related Article: Tesla FSD Beta v11 Update Offers Single Software Stack for Highway, City Driving! Elon Musk Not Hyping the Upgrade? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nissan recalls Leaf electric vehicles (EVs), spanning nearly 65,000 car owners, over an error in their driver manuals, which gives the wrong defroster instructions. The Japanese carmaker notes that the wrong instructions in the driver's manual could "decrease defroster performance." (Photo : CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) The Nissan Leaf electric car is pictured at the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo on October 25, 2019. Nissan Leaf EV Recall Car owners typically keep their driver's manuals inside their vehicles to help them reliably in navigating their automobiles. It should provide them with the proper guidance on using features like the defroster. However, this time around, an error in the manual of the Nissan Leaf EV gave the wrong instructions. (Photo : Michael Dodge/Getty Images) MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: People inspect he new Nissan Leaf vehicle on July 11, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. The Nissan LEAF was launched in Australia on Wednesday, with Nissan's local manufacturing plant makes exclusive parts for the electric vehicle. As per a report by Inside EVs, the Japanese tech giant has rolled out roughly 64,700 Nissan Leaf EVs, specifically the second generation model, which spans from 2018 to 2023. And the recall is all due to some grave error in its driver's manual, which guides its users on how to use the defroster of the all-electric car. Wrong Defroster Instructions The Leaf EV driver's manual tells car owners to turn on their defroster at maximum fan speed. However, doing so pretty much ruins the performance of the defroster. By placing the fan speed at maximum, Inside EVs notes that the heater of the electric car will end up in fail-safe mode. And with that, its performance is gravely affected. And as such, by following the manual, the defroster might not perform as it should. And in extremely cold climates, the visibility of the folk behind the wheel might be affected as well. The problem might sound trivial at first. Yet, it could lead to some safety concerns. In worse cases, Cars.com notes that the decreased output of the heater might increase the risk of accidents. Given that, Nissan is now recalling its 2018 to 2023 Leaf EVs. Read Also: Nissan Ambition 2030: Plan for EVs, Clean Energy Plans Coming This Decade Here's What Nissan Plans to Do The Japanese carmaker plans to send roughly 65,000 Leaf EV owners the correct instructions for its defroster. It should arrive at their doorsteps on or before April 1, Cars.com reports. (Photo : Michael Dodge/Getty Images) MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: A charging device for the the new Nissan Leaf vehicle is seen on July 11, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. The Nissan LEAF was launched in Australia on Wednesday, with Nissan's local manufacturing plant makes exclusive parts for the electric vehicle. Inside EVs notes that Nissan is reportedly planning to replace its affordable EV offering with a new crossover. Although the Nissan LEAF has been famous for its sheer affordability, some consumers need to be more impressed with its battery range, which is lagging compared to most offerings. Not to mention that the technology within the electric car fails to keep up with other EVs out there. Related Article: Nissan LEAF EV Now Powers Homes - How to Use Bi-Directional Charging? Zeekr, China's Geely's EV brand, has raised $750 million from five new and existing investors, as reported by Reuters. (Photo : HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) A Zeekr stand with cars is seen during the 19th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai on April 20, 2021. In a statement on Monday, Zeekr says that the funding will be used to support technology research and the global expansion of their brand. The investors include Mobileye Global and Yuexiu Industrial Fund. Supporters of the funding round also include CATL, a Chinese battery maker. More EVs Coming Soon The automaker has two purely EVs today, and recently, the Zeekr X, formerly known as Zeekr 003, was unveiled. This is the third EV of the brand, and it looks different than the rest. The Zeekr X features a cool design-a high beltline, frameless doors, hidden door handles, shiny black wheel arches, and a two-tone body. It is based on Geely's SEA platform. When it comes to its size, it is similar to the Volvo XC30. It is also expected to get the same power trains. What makes the Zeekr X so unique could be because of its rear with an ultra-small rear window topped by a spoiler. Below the window features an illuminated ZEEKR nameplate and a light bar. The Zeekr X will be available on the Chinese market in early Q2, and then go to Europe. Also Read: ZEEKR Starts Production of MPV, Rolls Off Its Assembly Line EV Domination Earlier this month, Zeekr talked about their ambitious goals to double their sales over 2022 levels. Thus, this means they shift more than 140,000 electric cars in 2023. As part of the goal, they will start marketing their vehicles to consumers outside China. According to Electrek, the company's vision is to compete on a global stage sooner or later. That's why the brand is already eyeing mature markets in Europe where EVs are gaining popularity, such as in The Netherlands and Denmark. In 2022, Zeekr sold 72,000 vehicles mostly in China. Its 001 model competes with Tesla's Model Y crossover and other luxury vehicles on the Chinese market. This led to Tesla cutting its prices and production in China due to the competition from Chinese brands, such as Zeekr. Also this month, a second Zeekr model, the 009, will go into production. When it comes to entering the US market, the brand currently has no plans to. The Rise of Chinese EVs The success of Zeekr is part of a more significant trend of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) companies taking over the market. Chinese EV startups, such as NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto, have seen their stock prices rise rapidly in recent months. This is due to government subsidies, investments, and China's growing demand for electric vehicles. The Chinese EV market is expected to grow in the coming years, with more Chinese companies entering the market and offering competitive options for consumers. The Chinese EV market will likely become a significant player in the global EV market shortly. Related Article: Geely's New EV Battery Auto Swap Stations Arrive! Lifting Heavy Electric Cars No Longer Needed 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CryptoWatch is here to deliver the top news inside the world of cryptocurrency from last week, and one of the latest developments here is the United Kingdom's quest to debut its new coin, "Britcoin." This also goes alongside the temporary pausing in PayPal's development of a stablecoin it develops and the insider trading case against Coinbase's former manager. UK is Joining the Crypto Game with 'Britcoin' (Photo : Tech Times) The United Kingdom is looking into joining the world of cryptocurrency with a new project it aims to soon deliver to its citizens that centers on a digital coin for its country. This project is dubbed as the "Britcoin," and it aims to deliver a blockchain that would enable its constituents to own crypto that has the same value as its British pound. There is a massive trend in the world now, and these are central banks launching their digital currencies to provide their citizens access to the blockchain world. According to a report by AP, the country is now seeking public feedback regarding a supposed central bank digital currency which it may soon launch in the future. Research by PwC claims that 80 percent of the world today either has launched its digital currencies or is already planning to have one in the future. Former Treasury head, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, dubbed it "Britcoin," but is still a name in progress as the Bank of England noted it might bring confusion to the public soon. Read Also: CryptoWatch: What's the Latest Prices of the Coins? Premiere League's NFT Fantasy Game, and MORE PayPal's Stablecoin Development PayPal has plans in developing a stablecoin to bring to the world, but that saw a significant halt in its creation now, due to many factors surrounding its development. One reason centers on the ongoing heat behind Paxos, its stablecoin developing partner, which is currently under investigation by the New York Department of Financial Services. According to Bloomberg, this temporary pause will also help PayPal know more about the path they are to tread in the stablecoin development, as the company revealed to be looking into future work with regulators for the digital currency. Stablecoins are famous for being low-risk in the blockchain industry, but this does not mean that it is a sure shot toward fame and dominance in the crypto world. Coinbase Insider Trading Suit A former manager from Coinbase will soon be facing the consequences of his former actions, and this is because of his hand in insider trading secret actions back when he was still working for the company. Ishan Wahi already admitted to his former scheme which generated a whopping $1.5 million in ill-gotten wealth. He supplied the information to his brother, Nikhil Wahi, and friend, Sammer Ramani. His brother, Nikhil, already faced an earlier lawsuit, looking at ten months in prison. Ishan used his position to supply knowledge on which coins will launch on the platform, which Nikhil and Ramani would buy early, giving them an edge over the competition. Related Article: Cash Cloud Files for Bankruptcy; Bitcoin ATMs Now in Deep Mess 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. "Thousands of corpses discovered": FSB published documents about Nazi atrocities in the prisoner of war camp near Stalingrad The Future of Online Casinos and the Technologies That Will Shape It "A deliberate and premeditated act": in Angers, an investigation opened after the ransacking of a church "Can cause very serious complications": doctors - about the increase in the incidence of measles in Russia 10 restaurants to eat (very good) for less than 40 euros in Madrid 11 exclusive menus to try in the most fashionable places in Madrid Bordeaux: a car ploughs into the crowd during a wild race, 7 injured, 2 of them serious Japan also participates in the successful launch of the Jupiter spacecraft, approaching Jupiter in 2031 Why is the matter of napping so much attention Contrary to Macron's position on the Taiwan Strait. Why is Germany warning of a catastrophic scenario for the world? "Korean Fool" Cheng Beomyong: How does the philosophy of bonsai connect the friendship between China and Korea? - China News Network video That reply email is "heinous" in order not to get infected with PC virus The final bell of Got Talent: "It's one of the strongest things I've experienced in all these years" China-Laos Railway: Driving Out of a New Atmosphere The "Lancang" does not stop on the road to get rich "Sport will be killed in the country": Ukrainian officials banned athletes from competing with Russians and Belarusians Tuchel considered himself his first lawyer and asked for his forgiveness. Bayern Munich impose huge financial penalty on Mane Eslov won the eighth Swedish Championship: "One of the better teams in Europe" The Shanghai vs Suzhou match caused controversy, and the Chinese Basketball Association issued a response in the early morning The questions surrounding Beatriz Flamini and her 500 days in a cave: "I can think of many questions" Shohei Ohtani played a full game and had one hit, and the team came from behind to lose May Day Holiday Train Tickets On Sale Today Be aware of these changes Inflation: the Smic will increase "by a little more than 2%" on May 1, according to Elisabeth Borne Money flight: the population in the United States began to actively buy cryptocurrencies and gold against the backdrop of the banking crisis Siluanov spoke about plans for the transition to the normalization of Russia's budget policy Wages see biggest increase in 15 years, but still not enough to offset prices The youngest is only 25 years old There are already 55 "post-90s" chairmen in A-shares According to an INSEE study, the social mobility of the poorest has not changed in 16 years National Bureau of Statistics: The sales prices of commercial residential buildings in various tier cities increased month-on-month in March Hokkaido: Moves toward the abolition of coal-fired power generation and the introduction of offshore wind power generation Faster than expected: the head of the Ministry of Economic Development Reshetnikov predicted Russia's GDP growth of 1.2% in 2023 New home prices in 3 cities in China in March: more than ninety percent of cities rose month-on-month, hitting a new high in nearly four years The US "leakgate" suspect appeared in court and was charged with two criminal offenses Prime Minister of Ukraine Shmyhal announced in Washington the imminent counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine The Google Pixel 6a is more accessible than ever with this Amazon offer How millennials are forced to hold on to their wallets to cope with the economy Pensions: after the validation of the law, repair the damage and relaunch the five-year term From Paris to Marseille, boos and anger after the decision of the Constitutional Council Comprehensively deepening reform, expanding high-level opening up to the outside world, and taking the forefront in promoting Chinese-style modernization - General Secretary Xi Jinping's inspection tour in Guangdong aroused strong repercussions among the vast number of local cadres and people "Qiushi" magazine published General Secretary Xi Jinping's important article "Accelerating the Construction of a New Development Pattern and Grasping the Initiative of Future Development" Mass poisoning on MasterChef 11: "We're sorry. It is an absolutely exceptional case in these 11 years" Naoko, Emma Nogueiro and the other women in Sanchez Drago's life (always younger and with short hair) Former Pentagon adviser McGregor: Ukraine may disappear as a state by the end of the year The sexist murder of an influencer shakes the Dominican Republic: her ex shoots her in the head three days after trying "Pocket the funds allocated by the United States": Hersh announced the misappropriation of at least $ 400 million by Zelensky and his entourage The Future of Online Casinos and the Technologies That Will Shape It Political scientist Dudchak on Hersh's statement about Zelensky: there are probably a lot of such stories She demanded to separate from him and found all his money in the name of his mother. Shock at Moroccan Achraf Hakimi's divorce and Spanish wife Beatriz Flamini's incredible statement after 500 days in a cave: "I didn't want to go out" The athlete Beatriz Flamini leaves the cave where she has remained alone and isolated for 500 days 11 exclusive menus to try in the most fashionable places in Madrid Participants of the inter-Arab meeting in Jeddah called for the return of Syria to the Arab fold The youngest is only 25 years old There are already 55 "post-90s" chairmen in A-shares The questions surrounding Beatriz Flamini and her 500 days in a cave: "I can think of many questions" Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. Merchants at the world's largest textile professional market upbeat about sales recovery People's Daily Online) 14:32, February 13, 2023 With China Textile City, the world's largest textile professional market, seeing a strong rebound of customers and sales, merchants there have made preparations through different methods to promote sales, including product innovation, cross-border sales, and live-streaming. Customers visit the Beilian market inside China Textile City in Shaoxing, east Chinas Zhejiang Province. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing) Located in Keqiao county, Shaoxing city, east Chinas Zhejiang Province, China Textile City offers over 50,000 varieties of fabrics. Their products are sold in 192 countries or regions around the world. The textile city recorded over 1 million visits by customers in the week after the Spring Festival holidays, setting a record for the last three years. Wang Jiangfeng, a merchant at the market, has launched three new product series. In the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, his orders increased by 20 to 30 percent year on year. He is optimistic for business in 2023, predicting that the number of orders will increase significantly. Textile merchants exchange information on curtains in China Textile City in Shaoxing, east Chinas Zhejiang Province. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing) Hu Chang, who focuses on interior decoration designs and textile R&D, had a good start to the year. I can feel a strong sign of recovery. I hope to engage with more foreign buyers, and bring my products to the world, he said. Hus products have been selling well around the world for over 10 years. However, sales virtually ground to a halt after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is looking forward to further exploring overseas markets this year. A merchant arranges curtain samples in China Textile City in Shaoxing, east Chinas Zhejiang Province. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing) The textile business has attracted many foreign businessmen, such as Indian merchant Bobby, who has settled down in Keqiao. Both my clients and sellers in the market are optimistic about this years prospects. I am looking forward to welcoming more clients, said Bobby. Recently, many of my Indian clients called me and are planning to visit China in February. A merchant transports fabrics in China Textile City in Shaoxing, east Chinas Zhejiang Province. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing) Wang Li, a 10-year veteran of Beilian market in the textile city, believes that this years sales will definitely outperform last years, but said that recovery takes time. We did see large numbers of customers at the beginning of the year, but textile sales have peak and slack seasons. We need to respond to the situation calmly in order to recover our lost orders, said Wang. A merchant talks with a client in China Textile City in Shaoxing, east Chinas Zhejiang Province. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing) The textile city upgraded its facilities before the Chinese New Year in order to support shopkeepers. Over 300 stores in Beilian market alone have been renovated this year. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Du Mingming) You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close Its been nearly a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, but shoppers in Moscow can still get a hold of Activia yoghurt and Oral-B electric toothbrushes and LOreal serums. Some products are left over from the days before President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border, but many goods continue to be supplied by American and European companies with outposts in the pariah state. And should these companies change their mind about staying in the face of mounting legal and reputational risks, they now have another challenge: the Kremlin is making it more expensive to leave. While there are no Western sanctions on the everyday consumer sector, restrictions on Russian banks and individuals have made operating in the country more difficult. Groups that have been open about their choice to stay, such as Colgate, Procter & Gamble and LOreal, have a complicated balance to strike: They must protect their bottom lines and local staff, retain a foothold in a major market, and not come across as morally compromised, even as they pay taxes to the Kremlin. Shoppers in Russia can still get a hold of many Western everyday products. Credit: AP Outgoing Unilever Chief Executive Officer Alan Jope, for instance, has said that he has a responsibility to the 3,000 employees in Russia, and that he doesnt want Unilevers four in-country production sites to fall into the hands of pro-Kremlin tycoons or the state itself. When shooting on the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes finishes in Sydney this week, Jen Cornwell reckons she has about a months more work in post-production on the big-budget movie. After that, she says, Im unemployed. For the past four or five years the veteran unit production manager has worked non-stop on big films in Sydney and on the Gold Coast: Kong: Skull Island, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder, Shang-Chi, Pirates of the Caribbean. All have been made possible by government subsidies that make it attractive for the Hollywood studios to film here, but which are set to soon run out, years ahead of schedule. And uncertainty about what comes next is already beginning to have an impact. After five years of constant film projects, unit production manager Jen Cornwell is facing unemployment. Because its known that were coming to the end of that fund, Disney has nothing coming in after Apes, Cornwell says. Im petrified, and I know a lot of the crew are feeling the same way. Were all contractors. When its over, its over. Cornwell who has worked in the business for almost 35 years and has never seen it so busy was in Canberra on Monday to help present the study Impact of Film and Television Production Incentives in Australia to parliament. The report, by consultants Olsberg SPI, was commissioned by the Australia New Zealand Screen Association, whose members include the five major Hollywood studios, streamer Netflix and Village Roadshow. Three horses have been captured after escaping their owner and running from Brighton-Le-Sands to Taren Point in Sydneys south. Bewildered motorists began phoning police about 5.15am on Tuesday after seeing the riderless horses galloping through the streets including over the Captain Cook Bridge. I just saw the weirdest thing driving to work just now. I saw three horses galloping down the Princes Highway, said Michael, who phoned radio station 2GB to report his odd encounter. I had to pinch myself. I thought it was a dream. Washington: The US has not been able to identify the mysterious objects shot down in North American airspace over the past few days, but has categorically ruled out alien involvement. After military jets shot down a third aerial object in as many days, the Biden administration still cant explain what kind of objects are floating in the skies and who exactly owns them, as authorities were still trying to recover debris. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby discusses the mystery. Credit: AP However, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre walked back comments made by US Air Force General Glen VanHerck, who yesterday said he had not ruled out anything at this point - including the possibility of aliens or extraterrestrials. I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent take downs, she said. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 80F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. American Public Schools, R.I.P. Commentary Many of the bizarre features of the pandemic response can be explained by industrial self-interest, graft, power lust, confusion, and so on. One feature doesnt have such an obvious explanation: the closure of public schools, for as long as two years in some places. The extremely low-to-minimal risk to the kids was known from very early on. They could have stayed in school the entire time, as they did in Sweden. Scared older teachersrealistically at very low riskmight have found substitutes. There were surely other workarounds besides utterly destroying education. What civilized society does this? None. It appears that school closures were just part of the mix of the panicked response. Indoor and outdoor venues where groups of people congregate should be closed, said Trumps sweeping and astonishing edict on March 16, 2020, and that included schools. Period. What happened to the kids? They stayed at home and their parents left work to oversee them. They pretended to learn as they were able but enrollment in the school system collapsed by 1.2 million nationwide. Some 26 percent declared themselves to be homeschooled. Private-school enrollment also grew by 4 percent, though it was limited by capacity restrictions, shortages of offerings, and the sheer expense (not everyone can afford to pay both taxes and tuition for school). But here is whats extremely strange. According to The Wall Street Journal, an analysis of enrollment data conducted by Stanford University in collaboration with the Associated Press found that there were no records last school year for more than 240,000 school-age children living in 21 states and the District of Columbia, which provided recent enrollment details. How is this possible? Theres this chunk that we just cant explain, said study author Professor Thomas S. Dee. The most likely explanation is rather obvious. Some parents might have picked up and moved out of the country. Many changed states of residency and just never got around to reenrolling. Others just decided to drop out and not notify the school district, as theyre supposed to else be declared truant. But after the utter chaos of the lockdown period and the demand that if kids come back they have to be masked and even vaccinated, hundreds of thousands of families just decided to say Forget it. They dont even trust the system enough to file a paper with the school district. How incredible: Homeschooling, until relatively recently, existed in most places under a legal cloud and was widely put down by elite commentators, even as homeschool kids have so clearly outperformed everyone else in test scores and later achievements. And yet, nearly overnight, what was previously considered outlier behavior suddenly became the norm, if not the mandate. I simply cant believe that anyone planned for this to happen. Whats not clear is how the heck all of this was permitted to happen at all. It seems the least likely turn of events in the whole of American politics and culture. The U.S. public school system was the first and most celebrated achievement of the Progressives in history. They came along and grew throughout the 1880s and were deployed as a measure to acculturate immigrants. The move to make school compulsory came about in the 1920s. The deal was completed in 1936 when the government outlawed most jobs for kids under the age of 16. The institutionalization of public schooling as a norm was completed by World War II. It was heavily funded and heavily enforced, and remained the pride and joy of social reformers ever since. After that period of time, the plan for American kids was in place. Their job was to sit at a desk for 12 to 14 years. Thats all. To be sure, there are some odd features of American public schooling that make it different from Commonwealth countries and other European states. The funding is mostly locally provided even today and drawn from property taxes. Therefore, enrollment is enforced on a geographic basis with tight school districts. The value and quality of the education one gets in schools is, in turn, reflected in home valuations. So, in effect, parents are paying tuition, not directly to the school but to the school district via property taxes. Funding for schools is allocated by enrollment numbers. If the students arent there, the funding dries up. This is creating a genuine crisis for schools around the country. In addition, in vast numbers of American schools, the publicly funded part only pays for the basics. If your kid is in sports, music, or some other club, thats funded by parents and their booster clubs. Its surprising just how much of what people consider the high quality part of American public schooling is in fact funded by a pay-to-play scheme. When the closures were ordered, all of this was shut down. But the taxes that paid for the education still had to be paid of course! And the money for booster clubs just sat in the bank as arts, sports, and other activities were flat-out banned. Once they reopened, everything had obviously changed. The schools are in shambles and nowhere near normal. Most districts report extreme shortages of teachers simply because so many just refused to go back. In addition, among those who remain: 80 percent of educators indicate that burnout is a serious problem. 55 percent of educators now indicate that they are ready to leave the profession earlier than planned. 76 percent of educators feel student behavioral issues are a serious problem. Only 10 percent of educators would strongly recommend the profession to a young adult. Only 30 percent of teachers are satisfied with their current position. 65 percent of educators agree that bureaucracy interferes with teaching. 78 percent of teachers feel symptoms of stress and depression. In addition, half of American school kids are a full year behind in educational goals, a fact which proves that remote education, especially during a political panic, was a tremendous flop. All of which is to say that the shutdowns have pretty well wrecked what was already a very fragile system. Lets presume that no one at the top really intended to smash what was left of the American public school system. Proposition: All of this came about, and the closures perpetuated as long as they did, because the system was already on the verge of collapsing. Consider the decades of curriculum reforms that teachers face again and again. New books, new methods, new theories, and new strategies, all hatched by educational professionals who arent in the classrooms and then enacted by politicians seeming to do something about the problem. These waves of reforms piled on top of each other and finally collapsed into a mechanized and industrialized classroom entirely devoted to teaching to the test, thus wiping out volition on the part of both teachers and students. Behavioral problems, too often addressed not through discipline but prescription drugs, are the result of extreme boredom and the growing refusal to sort students by aptitude. Everyone is just shoved into rooms, told what to learn, shuffled from year to year in the same pattern, move from subject to subject, regardless of interest or achievement, even as the curriculum has become alienated ever more from what the bourgeois once saw as being a quality education. Its tragic to say but when the schools closed, it appears that there were vast numbers of stakeholders from teachers to administrators to students who quite simply breathed a sigh of relief: finally! When the pressure mounted to bring them backparents needed a place to plant the kids so they could get back to workthe teachers unions decided to use the push to make more demands for salaries and benefits. Once parents got kids home and began to examine what they were actually being taught, school boards faced an amazing explosion of outrage. Thus began the populist uprising against critical race theory. The mask mandates and then vaccine mandates only exacerbated the problem. The point is that none of this wouldve happened had the schools been healthy and functioning. The lockdowns were the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. A dysfunctional system finally fell apart. Thats where we are today, and the replacement that is emerging is not something that comes from someones idea of reform. Weve had more than enough of that. Whats emerging is spontaneous, cobbled together, partially the result of noncompliance, but in keeping with the always passionate desire on the part of parents that their children are well-educated. Homeschooling has become completely normal, and I personally know many businesspeople who are looking to start whole franchises of private schools with a greater emphasis on classical methods and content. Various religions are fully engaged to provide their own educational systems apart from the public ones, and on a more extensive basis than ever. It might not be obvious right now but in a few years, we could all look back and observe that March 2020 marked the beginning of the end of the great Progressive experiment in public education. Something else is emerging now. This isnt a story that any responsible person wouldve scripted but the end result, and despite all the carnage along the way, might be a better overall system for the next generation of students, parents, and teachers. From the Brownstone Institute Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. US Embassy Advises Americans in Russia to Depart Immediately Due to Risk of Arrest, Terror Threat The U.S. national flag waves on the territory of the embassy of the United States of America in Moscow on April 2, 2018. (Vasily Maximov/AFP via Getty Images) The U.S. State Department is urging any Americans remaining in Russia to leave immediately, citing an elevated risk of arbitrary arrest by Russian security officials amid a more general warning of unpredictable consequences stemming from the Ukraine war and the possibility of terrorism. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately. Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions, reads the latest advisory from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, which is overseen by the State Department. The travel advisory, issued on Feb. 12, noted a series of security risks facing U.S. citizens in Russia, including arbitrary enforcement of local law and the possibility that they could be forced to fight in the war. Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance, subject them to mobilization, prevent their departure from Russia, and/or conscript them, the warning states. Americans in Russia face the potential for harassment as well as the threat of being singled out for arrest, the embassy warned. The State Department said that recent legislation has expanded the ability of Russian authorities to detain and question people suspected of acting against Moscows interests, noting that U.S. citizens in Russia have been interrogated without cause and threatened by Russian officials, and may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion. Compounding the security risk to American citizens in Russia is the fact that the U.S. Embassys ability to provide emergency services in the country has been severely limited because of restrictions on travel for embassy staff and the suspension of services at U.S. consulates. Do not travel to Russia, the State Department cautioned. The U.S. Embassy building in Moscow on July 31, 2017. (Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images) Terrorists May Attack Regarding the threat of terrorism mentioned in the travel advisory, the State Department said that both transnational and local terrorist organizations continue plotting possible attacks in Russia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, it cautioned, listing possible targets such as tourist locations, shopping malls, hotels, clubs, restaurants, and places of worship. The State Department noted that travel to the North Caucasus is prohibited for U.S. government employees and strongly discouraged for ordinary citizens amid the terror threat. A day after the State Department issued the warning that includes mention of the terror threat, Russias Foreign Intelligence Service was cited by Russian state media as saying it has received credible information of an alleged U.S. military plot to recruit ISIS-linked jihadists to carry out terrorist attacks in Russia. The spy service claimed that 60 terrorists with combat experience in the Middle East were picked in January and are undergoing a fast-track training course at a U.S. military base in Syria, where theyre being instructed in subversive methods and on how to make improvised explosives. It claimed that in the near future, small groups of these terrorists would be deployed to Russia, tasked with attacking diplomats, civil servants, law enforcement agents, and military personnel. The State Department didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Not New Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the advisory, telling reporters in Moscow on Feb. 13 that the U.S. State Departments alert is something weve heard in the pastits not new. The travel advisory level for Russia has been at level four, Do Not Travel, since shortly before Russias invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago. Relations between the two countries have slumped to their lowest point since the Cold War amid what Russian President Vladimir Putin describes as a special military operation to remove from power what he says is a Nazi regime in Kyiv that was becoming increasingly hostile to Moscow. Peskov also addressed the warning to U.S. citizens that they might be conscripted and forced to fight in the war. The fact that citizens with dual citizenship are mentioned there these citizens for us are, first of all, citizens of Russia, regardless of what [other] citizenship they have, Peskov said, according to the Anadolu Agency, a Turkish state-run media outlet. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a joint news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow on Feb. 18, 2022. (Sputnik/Sergey Guneev/Kremlin via Reuters) The spokesperson denied that a second round of mobilization was looming while also addressing the elevated terror threat in the context of Putins public engagements. The security of the president is provided at the proper level, taking into account all the risks and dangers, Peskov said, adding that Putins public appearances would not be curtailed despite the presence of a heightened risk of terror attacks, according to the Anadolu Agency. Meanwhile, Russian forces continued over the weekend to shell Ukrainian positions amid a grinding push to seize more land in the east of the country. Russian forces carried out 12 missile and 32 air strikes and over 90 rounds of shelling from multiple rocket launchers in the 24 hours leading up to Ukraines General Staffs daily morning update of Feb. 12. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, told Ukrainian television on the eve of Feb. 11 that the much-anticipated Russian offensive had begun. They have begun their offensive, theyre just not saying they have, and our troops are repelling it very powerfully, Danilov said. Animals Falling Sick, Dying Near Hellish Ohio Train Derailment Site, Locals Claim 'We basically nuked a town with chemicals' ONG 52nd Civil Support Team members prepare to enter an incident area to assess remaining hazards with a lightweight inflatable decontamination system (LIDS) in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 7, 2023. (Ohio National Guard via AP) Animals are falling sick or dying near the train derailment and chemical fire in East Palestine, Ohio, according to reports, which has sparked fears of more widespread impacts. Taylor Holzer, owner of a farm just outside the evacuation zone near the fire, told WKBN that several animals that he keeps on his property became ill. Some developed a range of symptoms, including liquid diarrhea and puffy faces. Out of nowhere, he just started coughing really hard, just shut down, and he had liquid diarrhea and just went very fast, Holzer told the outlet of one of his animals. Smoke and chemicals from the train, thats the only thing that can cause it, because it doesnt just happen out of nowhere, he added. The chemicals that were being told are safe in the air, thats definitely not safe for the animals or people. Authorities have said the train was carrying highly toxic vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and other hazardous materials before it derailed. The Norfolk Southern Railroad train derailed while it was heading to Pennsylvania on Feb. 3. Professor Kevin Crist, the director of Ohio Universitys Air Quality Center, said that vinyl chloride is carcinogenic, causing cancer of the liver and other organs. Breathe those in under heavy concentrations, and its really bad for you, Crist told ABC News. Its like an acid mist. Its not something that you want to be around in high concentrations. One woman, a North Lima resident, claimed some of her chickens died in recent days. My video camera footage shows my chickens were perfectly fine before they started this burn, and as soon as they started the burn, my chickens slowed down and they died, Amanda Breshears of North Lima, Ohio, told ABC27. If it can do this to chickens in one night, imagine what its going to do to us in 20 years. There were also claims of fish dying in waterways in or near East Palestine. A local environmental official confirmed fish die-offs in reports last week. Leslie Run comes out of East Palestine and that goes into Bull Creek, which then goes into North Fork. And we know for sure that there has been some fish kill in Leslie Run and Bull Creek, and some portions of the North Fork, Matthew Smith, assistant regional scenic river manager for the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, told WKBN. The fire was set as part of a controlled release to avoid a tanker failure that could have set off an explosion, authorities have said. But one local hazardous materials expert expressed reservations about the idea. Referring to reports of dead animals, Environmental Protection Agency official James Justice told news outlets that his agency has been conducting constant air-monitoring tests in the area. They found that no toxic threats have been monitored in the area, while residents were told its safe to return home, he said. Smoke rises from a derailed cargo train in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 4, 2023. (Dustin Franz/AFP via Getty Images) But some locals in East Palestine told The Washington Post that theyve suffered deleterious health effects after returning home. One of them, Maura Todd, said she and family members experienced headaches and nausea this week. Now, she wants to move away. Ive watched every news conference and I havent heard anything that makes me think that this is a data-driven decision, Todd, 44, told the outlet. We dont feel like we have a whole lot of information. Another resident, who was not identified, said, I dont want to take my kids back to that, reported the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. None of us have the money to completely start over somewhere. Were not going to have a choice but to take our children back to that place, and its not fair. Response Responding to those animal die-off reports, Kurt Kollar with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Emergency Response, said in a news conference that those claims are being monitored. We knew at the onset of this incident there was impact to Sulfur Creek and waters of the state of Ohio. Since that point in time, we have been able to successfully control that runoff and contain the water and either treat it in place, along with a robust sampling program for the water quality, Kollar said. In a news release, the EPA wrote that it is continuing to monitor the air quality around East Palestine. Air monitoring since the fire went out has not detected any levels of concern in the community that can be attributed to the incident at this time. For example, there have been some exceedances of PM2.5 screening values, but those are both upwind and downwind of the derailment site so likely had another cause, it said on Feb. 12. Residents may still smell odors from the site. If you experience symptoms, Columbiana County Health Department recommends calling your medical provider. Nuked a Town We basically nuked a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open, said Sil Caggiano, a hazardous materials specialist, in an interview with WKBN over the weekend, referring to the controlled burn. Other than vinyl chlorideused to manufacture PVCCaggiano noted that the train had ethylhexyl acrylate on board. The substance is not only carcinogenic, but it can cause burning and irritation in the skin and eyes, coughing, and shortness of breath. The continuing cleanup of portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 9, 2023. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo) I was surprised when they quickly told the people they can go back home, but then said if they feel like they want their homes tested they can have them tested. I wouldve far rather they did all the testing, Caggiano told the media outlet. Down the road, there might be surges in cancer rates near East Palestine, he noted. Theres a lot of what ifs, and were going to be looking at this thing 5, 10, 15, 20 years down the line and wondering, Gee, cancer clusters could pop up, you know, well water could go bad, Caggiano said. The Epoch Times has contacted the EPA for comment. Australian Government Spends $424 Million to Close the Gap between Society and Indigenous Community The Australian government has announced a $424 million (US$293 million) plan to improve the well-being of Indigenous people with a focus on clean drinking water and support for domestic violence survivors. The announcement coincides with the 15th anniversary of the former Kevin Rudd governments formal apology to Australias Indigenous people over the Stolen Generationthose who were forcibly taken from their families and community between 1910 and 1970 due to government policy. The new funding is not included in the $1.2 billion investment for the Indigenous community previously announced in October 2022 budget. Under the new 2023 Closing the Gap implementation plan, the federal government will invest $150 million to provide safe drinking water for remote Indigenous communities over four years. I think it would be a shock to many people that there are many communitiesremote Aboriginal communities in Australiathat do not have clean drinking water and cannot have dialysis because the water is not clean enough for the dialysis machines, despite the fact that renal failure is such an issue in our communities, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Another $112 million will be spent on new remote housing in a one-year partnership with the Northern Territory government. Members of the Mutitjulu Aboriginal community walk through the grounds in Mutitjulu, near Alice Springs, Australia, on July 6, 2007. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images) In addition, the federal government will grant $68.6 million to family violence and prevention legal service providers that support women and children, while another $22 million will go to programs tackling domestic violence. The plan also includes $38.4 million for the on-country education program for remote students over four years and $11.8 million for making nutritious food more accessible in Indigenous communities over two years. Our measures are going to be more specific and more targeted, making real impacts that complement work underway in states and territories, and back-in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to lead work in their communities, Burney said. Meanwhile, Indigenous Australians assistant minister Malarndirri McCarthy praised the package, saying it would be a game changer for many remote communities. Government Admitted Failing to Close the Gap The new funding package comes as Burney admitted the government was unable to keep promises regarding improving life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as shown in the 2022 Closing the Gap report. It was the first report since state and federal governments entered into a national agreement on Closing the Gap with the Indigenous community in 2021. The report showed that only four of the 18 socio-economic targets were on track and that more work needed to be done to address the issues facing the Indigenous community. I think governments have tried, but there is an enormous failure in meeting all the closing the gap targets, Burney said. The Voice and Closing the Gap Apart from clarifying details of the new funding package, the Indigenous Australians minister said that a voice to the parliament was fundamental in helping the Indigenous community solve their problems. Its going to mean there will be Aboriginal voices advising the parliament on what we need to do to do things like close the gap, Burney said. This is going to be a monumental opportunity for all Australians to have a say in meeting the aspirations of Aboriginal people and closing those gaps. Protesters make their way towards Victoria Park during a protest in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2023. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) The Voice is an initiative by the Labor government to change how Indigenous policy is designed and functions by creating an advisory body that provides advice to parliament and the government on issues that have an impact on the Indigenous community. The government is expected to roll out a referendum in the second half of 2023, where Australians will decide whether a voice to the parliament is necessary. Labor Senator Pat Dodson believed that Australian people would support the referendum and that it could pass even with objection from the Opposition. I put my trust in the Australian people, he said. The Australian people have been hearing for so long now that call by First Nations people with a very simple proposition that they want to be recognised in the constitution. Meanwhile, Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has launched a $1.45 million campaign that says no to the referendum on Feb. 13. The Voice will drive a wedge between Indigenous peoples and divide Aussies by race, her campaign website said. Its divisive, its dangerous, its expensive, and its not fair. Berlin Chooses Change in Rerun Election With Clear Lead for Conservatives Berlin's frontrunner for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Kai Wegner, for the rerun of state elections reacts at the regional state parliament in Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 12, 2023. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters) BERLINGermanys conservative CDU party was course for a clear victory in a repeat election in Berlin, in a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats who have governed the city state for 22 years. An exit poll by broadcaster ZDF on Sunday put the Christian Democrats (CDU) on 28 percent of the vote, 10 percentage points more than in the 2021 election, which a court was ruled invalid due to irregularities. The Social Democrats, who have governed the German capital in a coalition with the environmentalist Greens and hard-left Die Linke, scored 18.2 percent. The Greens and Die Linke were on 18.2 percent and 12.8 percent of the vote respectively. Berlin chose change, CDU top candidate Kai Wegner said of the results, adding that there was a clear mandate for his party to form a state government. Wegner invited both the Greens and the SPD to exploratory talks over possibly forming a new coalition. Berlins left-wing mayor Franziska Giffey acknowledged the election defeat but said the CDU would still need a stable majority to govern in the city. We have to be very clear that this result is first shows that Berliners are not satisfied with the way things are now. They wish things would be different, Giffey said. Despite the CDU win, the so-called red-green-red coalitionnamed after the parties colorsstill has a majority at the city of Berlins House of Representatives. Susanne Mertens, Greens co-leader in the state and the Greens top candidate Bettina Jarasch both said the party would prefer to continue the coalition with the SPD and Die Linke. Our preference is the government alliance with red-red, Mertens told Reuters. Talk of a possible two-way coalition with the CDU was received with booing at the Greens election party on Sunday. But even if the Greens and SPD decide to continue with the current coalition, Giffey could lose her job to Jarasch, depending on which party comes second. An ARD poll showed the Greens nudging ahead with 18.5 percent and the SPD at 18.3 percent. The repeat vote, ordered after the September 2021 election was marred by irregularities including long queues and voters receiving incorrect ballot cards, is one more item on the charge sheet for those who see Berlin as a sclerotic mess that belies Germanys reputation for efficiency. The German capital made headlines earlier this year after youth riots that erupted on New Years Eve, rekindled a debate over immigration and making security in the city a top priority for Berliners, a central topic in the CDUs election campaign. The CDU will be hoping the victory in Berlin will put wind in its sails ahead of Octobers vote in the state of Hesse, home to Germanys financial capital Frankfurt, where a conservative premier risks losing office to another Scholz ally. The vote could also complicate life for the SPD by depriving its federal coalition of more votes in the upper house of parliament. By Riham Alkousaa Hoy en #Piura nos reunimos con militantes y dirigentes de Fuerza Popular del norte de nuestro pais, en el marco de la reorganizacion partidaria a poco de cumplir 13 anos de vida institucional. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/n3rLp0w6v4 Biden Fires Capitol Architect After Inspection Revealed Abuses Architect of the U.S. Capitol Brett Blanton testifies before the House Administration Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 9, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) President Joe Biden has removed Capitol architect Brett Blanton from his post in the aftermath of an inspection which revealed Blanton had abused his position. Blanton will cease to serve as the architect of the Capitol at 5:00 PM EST, the White House announced. Biden removed the architect, who serves at the presidents pleasure, after Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he had lost confidence in Blantons ability to perform his job. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job, McCarthy wrote in a Feb. 13 Twitter post. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. Blanton was terminated at the Presidents direction, the White House said on Monday. Concerns about Blanton center around an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report finished last year that found administrative, ethical, and policy violations. These included abuse of his government vehicle and misrepresentation of himself as a law enforcement officer (pdf). At the top of the document, the OIG report concludes: J. Brett Blanton, Architect of the Capitol, Abused His Authority, Misused Government Property and Wasted Taxpayer Money, Among Other Substantiated Violations. Prior to and throughout the OIG investigation, Blanton consistently contradicted his vehicle-use authority, the report reads. The report relays an ethics tip describing an encounter with Blantons vehicle. The complainant spotted Blantons government-issue black Ford Explorer. At the time, the vehicle was reportedly driving extremely reckless[ly] through a parking garage. The driver, a female, was going an estimated 65 miles per hour or faster in an area with a speed limit of 30. The driver at the time was later revealed to be Blantons daughter. The report noted that while the Architect of the Capitol (person) or their designee has the authority to determine if a compelling operational condition exists that would benefit AOC operations by using a motor vehicle for [home-to-work] use, Blanton had not identified his daughter as an authorized driver of the vehicle. The report goes on to list other violations committed by Blanton with other government-issue vehicles. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), who chairs the House Administration Committee, agrees with McCarthy on the need to remove Blanton. [The] Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, Steil was quoted as saying on a Twitter post. [Blantons] refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately. It was not only Republicans who are critical of BlantonDemocrats have also blasted the embattled former architect. During a hearing, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) told Blanton she was outraged by his decision to work from home on Jan. 6, 2021. Blanton chose to work from home that day, which law enforcement leaders expected could take a turn for the worst. Citizens for Ethics, a left-leaning political oversight organization, also called for Blantons removal in a Jan. 18, 2023 letter to the leadership of the 118th Congress (pdf). Blanton could not be immediately reached for comment. Border Patrol Encounters With Chinese Nationals at Southern Border Up 719 Percent Police Lt. Marco Santana leaves his vehicle to inspect a section of the southern border wall in San Luis, Ariz., on Jan. 27, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has encountered 2,999 Chinese nationals at the southern border so far in fiscal year 2023a 719 percent increase year over year, according to CBP data released on Feb. 10. The total also exceeds the amount recorded for the entirety of fiscal year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022), during which 2,176 such encounters were reported. According to the Department of Homeland Security, CBP encounter data includes illegal immigrants who have been apprehended under Title 8 immigration law, Title 8 inadmissibles, and noncitizens processed for expulsion under Title 42. By this time last year, Border Patrol agents had encountered a total of 366 Chinese nationals at the U.S.Mexico border. Nationwide, however, the year-over-year increase in encounters is less dramatic, with the current total for this fiscal year sitting at 10,587 compared to last years 9,707. Nonetheless, with national totals increasing month over month since October 2022, the trend has begun to alarm some current and former officials. We literally apprehend immigrants from China, former CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan noted at a Feb. 9 press conference. Do you think we are getting what their background is before we release them? Of course were not. News of the trend comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and China after the former discovered and subsequently shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month. This past weekend, additional unidentified flying objects were sighted over Alaska, Canada, and the Great Lakes region and shot down by the U.S. government. The Chinese government is spying from above, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote in a Feb. 9 tweet. Fentanyl from China is killing Americans in every community. More Chinese nationals are crossing illegally at our southern border. This is why I created the select committee on Chinato confront these problems head-on. Despite the uptick in Chinese nationals illegally entering the country, CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller noted on Feb. 10 that January marked a 42 percent decrease in encounters with illegal immigrants of all nationalities between ports of entry at the southern border. The January monthly operational update clearly illustrates that new border enforcement measures are working, with the lowest level of Border Patrol encounters between Ports of Entry since February of 2021, Miller said in a statement. Those trends have continued into February, with average encounters of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans plummeting. Total southern border encounters also decreased last month to 156,274, down nearly 40 percent from Decembers record high of 251,978. CBP attributed the decrease to the success of the new immigration measures announced by President Joe Biden last month, which included the expansion of a parole program that grants illegal immigrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua authorization to work and live in the United States with the sponsorship of a U.S. resident after a background check. However, others have criticized the program as a means of granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. 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, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said last month. The Republican, along with 19 other attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration challenging the legality of the program. Brazils New President Seeking Validation and Support From China and US Presents Challengesand Opportunities President Joe Biden and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) walk together along the Rose Garden colonnade at the White House on Feb. 10, 2023. (Andrew Caballero/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary It sounds paradoxical, but President Lula da Silva of Brazil is seeking closer ties with both the United States and Communist China. Lulas administration claims he will keep Brazil firmly [in] the democratic camp. At the same time, Lula chose to meet with Wang Qishan, a close ally of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping, the day after his inauguration. He then publicly proposed that the Latin American trade group Mercosur establish a free trade agreement with our Chinese friends. Given Lulas leftist ties, some analysts believe his ambivalence is a smokescreen for a realignment with Beijing. But the key to interpreting Lulas actions is his stated commitment to reassert his country as an international power, to place it back on the world stage. In foreign policy, Brazils president will be pragmatic. For now, that means he will take what he can get from both the United States and the CCPso long as it benefits his agenda. America remains the partner of choice for most countries in our region, and Brazil is no exception. Thats why Lula chose to meet with the Biden administration before visiting Beijing. He knows that his people share democratic values with the United States and that policymakers in Washington wont threaten their sovereignty like the CCP. But if America is Brazils partner of choice, Beijing is too often seen as the partner of necessity. When Lula needs large amounts of cash and no questions asked, he will turn to China. This is bad news for everyone in our region. Wherever Chinese companies go, they bring shoddy craftsmanship and horrific labor conditions in their wake. Whats worse, they bring the CCP, which works to expand its political and military influence through everything from infrastructure laced with spyware to mass surveillance systems to secret overseas police stations. The history of Chinas economic projects is a history of Beijing holding foreign governments hostage through debt-trap diplomacy. But while Lulas openness to Beijing is a mistake, it also reveals the failure of Americas international financing efforts. Instead of offering viable alternatives to Chinese investment, the Biden administration has used U.S. agencies to force pie-in-the-sky climate goals and woke ideology on people who neither want nor need them. That will have to change if we are to keep authoritarian regimes from dominating our hemisphere, and now is the time to do it. President Joe Biden must take a firm line with Brazils new president, holding Lula to account for his friendliness toward the CCPas well as other bloody-handed dictatorships, like those of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. At the same time, Biden must work with Congress to reshape our international financing efforts, so that countries dont feel forced to buy into Beijings empty promises. Only by presenting strength and offering meaningful cooperation can the United States avoid the pitfalls and seize the opportunities of the 21st century. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Cambodian Independent News Site to Cease Operation on Prime Ministers Order Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the closure of one of the countrys few remaining independent news sites for attacking his son in a report regarding Cambodias relief assistance to quake-hit Turkey. Local media Voice of Democracy (VOD) had its license revoked at 10 a.m. on Feb. 13. The Ministry of Information said the company has failed to issue an apology for a misquoted article published last week. In the article, VOD claims that Lt. Gen. Hun ManetHun Sens son and presumed successorauthorized the arrangement to provide $100,000 in aid to quake-hit Turkey on his fathers behalf. Authorizing such an agreement would exceed his jurisdiction because only the prime minister can decide on foreign aid. Hun Manet denied the claims and urged VOD to provide evidence of his signing the agreement. Hun Sen also demanded that VOD issue a public apology within 72 hours. VOD did issue a letter expressing regret for its mistake and explained that it had quoted government spokesperson Phay Siphan. But this did not appease the Cambodian leader who has ruled the country since 1985. Siphan allegedly told VODs reporter that the fact that Mr Hun Manet acted on behalf of his father by signing documents to give aid to Turkiye, which has suffered from an earthquake, is not wrong since his father Prime Minister Hun Sen is busy, according to Khmer Times. Hun Sen was dissatisfied with the response, claiming that the word regret does not amount to an apology. Can the use of the word regret or asking for forgiveness replace the word apology? For me, its unacceptable, he stated on Facebook, according to Khmer Times. Is this explanation intended to put the blame on the government official? Let Phay Siphan sue them in court. His son heads the army and has been nominated by Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party to succeed him when he steps down. The next election is in July. With most opponents silenced, including the only credible opposition party, Hun Sen is expected to lead his party to another victory in a general election scheduled for later this year. VOD has reported extensively on sensitive issues, such as land grabbing and criminal gangs operating with near impunity to carry out internet scams with people, especially foreigners, tricked into working under conditions of near slavery. A previous media clampdown has already forced several outlets out of business on disputed grounds that they had not properly paid their taxes. Ridiculous Order Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said the Cambodian government has never liked VODs reporting, and given Prime Minister Hun Sens authoritarian attitude towards independent media, its likely VOD has been living on borrowed time for a while. But thats no excuse for this outrageous and ridiculous order to shut them down based on the silliest of rationales about who signed a government document to give aid to Turkey. This flimsy and absurd decision barely masks the governments real intent to further suppress media freedom. He said that historically, Hun Sen and his party usually crack down hard on any independent voices ahead of a national election. Going after VOD is a good indication that [the] scheduled July 23 poll will be neither free nor fair, Robertson said. VOD spokesperson Sothoeuth Ith said after receiving the closure order, So for now, we will stay silent, we will not continue our broadcast. Maybe, hopefully this is not the end of everything. In what appeared to refer to the possibility that Hun Sen might eventually restore VODs license, he added, We will try our best to work with all relevant stakeholders, and hopefully, a solution can be realized. The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia said in a statement that it was deeply troubled by the abrupt decision of the Cambodian government to revoke VODs license and urged the government to revisit its decision. A free and independent press plays a critical role in a functioning democracy, providing the public and decision-makers with facts and holding governments to account, it said. For more than 20 years, VOD has provided objective, fact-based reporting on issues that serve the interests of the Cambodian people. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Canada Pension Plan Signals Exit From Alleged China Slave Labour Investments A woman holds a sign at a demonstration calling on the British Parliament to vote to recognize persecution of China's Muslim minority Uyghur people as genocide and crimes against humanity in London on April 22, 2021. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) Human rights advocates have criticized the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for passively investing about $14 billion in companies that allegedly profit from slave labour camps in China. Centre Ice Canadians, which describes itself as an advocacy group for centrist Canadians, has urged CPP to investigate two of its equity indices allegedly linked with Uyghur internment camps in China. We are very attentive to what it means to be invested in China at this point in time, as well as the potential implications in the future, CPP Senior Managing Director Michel Leduc said in a Feb. 7 letter to Centre Ice Canadians. We share your view that all companies in which we invest as well as our investment partners, including index providers, must consider relevant issues such as human rights in how they conduct their businesses, Leduc said. Centre Ice Director Rick Peterson said CPPs response is a hopeful step in the right direction. CPP had previously declined to take action, Peterson said in a video posted to Twitter Feb. 8, because it didnt directly invest in the allegedly offending companies. It invested instead in index funds, which include various stocks, among them stocks in these companies. Peterson said of CPPs response, They agree with our position that they should not be investing indirectly in passive index funds that are supporting companies taking advantage of slave Uyghur slave camps in China. Peterson said in a release, No Canadian wants their retirement funds benefitting from human rights abuses, even indirectly. So this is a huge win for all Canadians. Passively Funding Crimes Against Humanity However, CPP isnt the only Canadian government investor in such companies, according to rights group Hong Kong Watch. Hong Kong Watchs report Passively Funding Crimes Against Humanity is what initially motivated Centre Ice to start a petition and arrange a meeting in December with CPP officials. The report said two other federal employee pension funds, as well as six provincial pension funds, have similar investments. It said CPP currently has $14 billion invested in two equity indices that hold shares in companies allegedly profiting from Uyghur slave labour in China. One is the MSCI China Index and the other is the MSCI Emerging Market Index. Both were listed as CPP holdings in CPPs March 2022 report. MSCIs website says it strongly opposes slavery and human trafficking and will not knowingly support or conduct business with any organization involved in such activities. The Hong Kong Watch report said, however, that it and Sheffield Hallam Universitys Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice has found that many firms on the MSCI Index actively use Uyghur forced labor or source from suppliers that do. Many of these commercial entities are not listed in the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act recently introduced by the United States, the report said. And thus, many Western pension funds invest in them. Centre Ice said in its petition that the slave labour underpins nearly every industry in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), from solar panels to agricultural production and processing. Factories are surrounded by razor wire fences, iron gates and security cameras. CPP to Investigate It called for CPP to investigate Hong Kong Watchs allegations, report back to Canadians on its findings, and redeem the $14 billion it invested if the funds were indeed used to support the repression of Uyghur ethnic minorities. After meeting with CPPs Leduc in December, and following the recent letter from CPP, Peterson said he is confident CPP is taking this matter seriously. I really get the sense that Michel [Leduc] took our concerns very seriously, Peterson said in a release. He said of CPP, They listened carefully to our suggestions and came back with this letter, showing they are taking positive steps to address the issue. Theyve also committed to keeping us updated on developments. Cancer-Stricken Elderly Chinese Woman Sentenced Again for Her Faith, Denied Medical Parole Reenactment of one of the many torture methods used by the Chinese Communist Party to persecute Falun Gong practitioners in China. (Minghui.org) A persecuted Chinese woman arrested again for her faith was denied medical parole after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The police told her family that she doesnt meet the criteria for parole. Jiang Shumei, 67, from Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, was at her home with Xu Zhenying, 76, on Feb. 26, 2021, when the police broke in. Both women were reading the teachings of Falun Gong, an ancient self-cultivation spiritual system rooted in the Chinese tradition. The police ransacked the place, took away the spiritual books, printer, and computerand arrested them both. A large group of Falun Gong adherents practice the exercises in Shenyang City, China, before the Chinese Communist Party began persecuting the spiritual system. (Minghui.org) Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a meditative practice based on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Fearing the immense popularity of the practice, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a campaign of persecution on July 20, 1999. Since then, countless Falun Gong adherents have been arrested, imprisoned, and tortured to death. The police detained Jiang and Xu at Shenyang City Detention Center without informing their families. Jiang was diagnosed with breast cancer during a physical exam at the detention center. Three months later, in May 2021, Xu was sentenced to two years; Jiang was sentenced to five years in September 2021. A year after the sentence and her cancer diagnosis, in October 2022, Jiang was transferred to Liaoning No. 2 Womens Prison. The prison accepted her this time after having rejected her admission previously. Jiangs family applied for medical parole, but the authorities declined the application, claiming she didnt qualify. Jiang has previously been detained for a total of nine years, according to another report by Minghui.org. In 2000, she was arrested and detained for a year at the notorious Masanjia Forced Labor Campthe infamous Chinese camp featured in the award-winning documentary Letter From Masanjia which exposed the brutalities and human rights abuses taking place inside its dark cells. In 2004, Jiang was arrested and then beaten and shocked with electric batons while in police custody. She was injured so severely by the torture that she was unable to walk. Later, after a month at the Zhangshi Brainwashing Center, she was sentenced to a further eight years at the Liaoning Province Womens Prison. In the prison, Jiang was constantly beaten and verbally abused while being forced to perform unpaid labor for many hours every day. An illustration of a forced labor camp in China. (Minghui.org) Xu has also been arrested in the past. In February 2020, her home was ransacked and she was taken into custody. The police also arrested her husband, who is not a Falun Gong practitioner, and their two children. Her husband was released later. Xu and her children remained under house arrest for six months after the detention center refused to accept them due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Xu was summoned to the court in August 2020, but she went into hiding to avoid being sentenced. She was arrested again in February 2021 while at Jiangs home. CCP Operates Massive Spy Ring in US Research Institutes, Top Republican Warns Flanked by House Republicans, U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Nov. 17, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) U.S. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) warned on Feb. 12 that China is stealing intellectual property and operating a massive spy ring within institutions across the United States as he denounced the Biden administration for failing to take a tougher stance on that countrys communist regime. During an appearance on ABC Newss This Week, Comer labeled the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a problem, arguing that the regime continues to steal hard-earned research and development. They continue to steal our patents. They manipulate their currency, he said. We believe they have a big footprint in academia with a massive spy ring within our research universities where they continue to steal our hard-earned research and development. So, Chinas a problem. And this administration thus far hasnt set a very good example of standing up to China, he continued. I think that, you know, shooting the balloon down in the Atlantic once it flew over all the military bases, including my own Fort Campbell, Kentucky, its very disturbing. The lawmakers comment follows weeks of international fallout that began when China flew a spy balloon over the United States, which was ultimately shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4, a week after it was first spotted over Alaskas Aleutian Islands. Since the Feb. 4 incident, the Pentagon has confirmed three other objects have been shot down after entering U.S. and Canadian airspace in the past week. Comer noted that hes glad the Biden administration took it more seriously with respect to the balloons, but he believes the nation is facing a whole lot bigger problem from CCP surveillance. Weve got a whole lot bigger problem with China than the spy balloons, he argued, explaining that the communist regimes military continues to grow and expand. Theyre continuing their Belt and Road Initiative all over the world where theyre trying to create a dominant world economy. This is a problem for the United States. And we need an administration to stand firm to China, he said. On Feb. 12, the Pentagon said that President Joe Biden acted on guidance from military officials to shoot down an object flying near Lake Huron, Michigan, and also confirmed that it had transited near sensitive military sites. That shootdown took place after Comers ABC interview. That downing of that objectwhich was likely the same one that was picked up on radar in Montana on Feb. 11came after U.S. military planes downed two other objects on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11. One object was shot down in northern Alaska, above the Arctic Circle, while the other was shot down in the Yukon Territory of Canada, located adjacent to Alaska. Like the Lake Huron incident, few details about those objects have been provided by the Pentagon so far. There have been no updates about the recovery efforts for either as of early on Feb. 13. CCP Surveillance Not Limited to Balloons During the This Week interview on Feb. 12, Comer also addressed an internal investigation that revealed ByteDancea Chinese company that owns TikTokreportedly used the corporations access to user data to improperly track unsuspecting Americans. TikTok executives testified in Congress a year or two ago that none of the data that TikTok collected ever left the United States. But what weve learned fromfrom whistle-blowers and media accounts is some of that data did, in fact, go back to China and thats a concern, he said. Its a concern for high-level people in the government because with that data, ByteDance cancan tell where you are if you are using TikTok, he added. So, that would be a concern if we continue to see escalation [between] China and the United States. We certainly dont want the Chinese bad guys to know where our public officials are. And thats why youre seeing more state governments ban TikTok. And I think thats going to continue a trend. Bipartisan legislation to ban the social media giant from the United States has recently gained momentum in Congress following the incursion of the Chinese spy balloon. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who originally introduced the legislation in December, reintroduced the bill, titled Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act, or ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act, with bipartisan support this month. Rubio explained that its vital that the United States works quickly to prevent the CCP from stealing more Americans data and further undermining U.S. national security. CCP law dictates that all companies in China, including ByteDance, must make their data available to the regime on request, and the companys access to TikTok user data has sparked significant security concerns. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. From NTD News Central Bank Digital Currency Tyranny Is ComingHow to Prepare A visual representation of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin at the Bitcoin Change shop in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images) Commentary Weve all heard stories about people who survived the Great Depression by hiding cash under their mattresses or burying it in their yards because theyd lost trust in banks. Imagine taking it a step further and taking money from the flawed banking system and putting it into the untrustworthy hands of the government. Thats what will happen when America embraces central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), as many other countries already have. There will be no way of hiding money you have because it will all be digital, and it will all be tracked and controlled by the U.S. government. And its looking more and more likely that America will have a CBDC sooner rather than later. Heres what you need to know so you can prepare. The Current Status of CBDCs Around the World A CBDC is essentially a digital form of currency centralizing all of a countrys citizens financial information in a digital database controlled by the government. Here is what CBDCs currently look like globally: Fox Business reports, One hundred and fourteen countries are exploring digital currencies, and their collective economies represent more than 95 percent of the worlds GDP. A recent report by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) found that two-thirds of the central banks said they would issue a CBDC within 10 years. In January 2023, Bank of America even suggested CBDCs are the natural evolution of money and payments. In the Bank of America report, analyst Alkesh Shah wrote that CBDCs have the potential to revolutionize global financial systems and may be the most significant technological advancement in the history of money. One nation in particular, China, has already embraced CBDCs. The digital yuan is being used by millions of Chinese citizens, giving the government the ability to obtain vast amounts of public data and strengthen its surveillance state. CBDCs will give the Chinese government authority to turn off peoples money like a light switch. India, Nigeria, and the Bahamas have also already embraced CBDCs. The Current CBDC Narrative in America At this point, the U.S. federal government is quick to say, We have no plans to create a CBDC. A September 2022 White House report states: A United States central bank digital currency (CBDC) would be a digital form of the U.S. dollar. While the U.S. has not yet decided whether it will pursue a CBDC, the U.S. has been closely examining the implications of, and options for, issuing a CBDC. The Federal Reserve also states: While the Federal Reserve has made no decisions on whether to pursue or implement a central bank digital currency, or CBDC, we have been exploring the potential benefits and risks of CBDCs from a variety of angles, including through technological research and experimentation. In a FAQs section of the Federal Reserve website, it states: The Federal Reserve issued Money and Payments: The U.S. Dollar in the Age of Digital Transformation as a first step in fostering a broad and transparent public dialogue about CBDCs in general, and about the potential benefits and risks of a U.S. CBDC. The paper is not intended to advance any specific policy outcome, and no decisions have been made at this time. The Federal Reserve does not intend to proceed with issuance of a CBDC without clear support from the executive branch and from Congress, ideally in the form of a specific authorizing law. However, the United States is clearly studying CBDCs with the idea of one day implementing one. Now is the time to start stocking up on tangible items of value that cannot be taken by the powers that be, including cash, water filters, and emergency survival food. What America Is Actually Doing After reading all the emphatic No, we are not implementing a CBDC statements, its more telling to see what our government is actually doing. This is quoted straight from the Federal Reserve website: The Federal Reserve is engaged in a number of experiments related to digital currencies, including a hypothetical CBDC. Moreover, news was recently released that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has already been experimenting with a CBDC. In November 2022, an official from the New York Fed announced that over the past several months, the bank had been working on a wholesale CBDC to speed up transfers between banks around the world. Recently, the World Economic Forum (composed of billionaires and not elected officials) met in Davos, Switzerland, and one of the major topics that was discussed were CBDCs. According to the World Economic Forum on Jan. 17, 2023: Over the past year, an interdisciplinary research team funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and including the MIT Digital Currency Initiative, Maiden Labs, University of Virginia, and 13 research teams in India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Mexico examined where existing payments technologies were failing to serve societys most vulnerable members and whether a central bank digital currency (CBDC) might fill this gap. Pay attention to the Americans involved in this major discussion. The Risks of CBDC You may be wondering why a CBDC would be a problem. Some people mistakenly believe that because they never use cash and rely on their debit or credit cards, this is no different. Wrong. A CBDC takes the control of money from banking institutions into its own hands. According to The CATO Institute: The problem is that there is no limit to the level of control that the government could exert over people if money is purely electronic and provided directly by the government. A CBDC would give federal officials full control over the money going intoand coming out ofevery persons account. Here are just a few examples of what that sort of total control may look like: Government in total controlThe government could not only withhold money whenever they deemed fit but they could also devalue the currency. Lack of privacyThe government will be aware of all of your financial information, what you owe and to whom, what you are spending money on, and what assets you have. The end of personal securityNo longer can you hide savings under your mattress. The government will always know how much you have and will have access to it. Tracking of purchasesThe government will be able to track everything you purchaseand potentially stop you from buying it. Lets say it is something the political party in charge disagrees with, such as legalized marijuana. They can track you and prevent you from purchasing it again. Tracking pornography purchases, abortion payments, tax evasion, and more. While you may not think this is a bad idea, what if it goes a step further? What if they think you need to eat less red meat? Hacking and data breachesMy head hurts just thinking of all the ways a CBDC could be attacked by hackers or cyber terrorists. Real News Stories That Show the Weaponization of Money It would be easy to dismiss what I am saying as a little too extreme. But we are already seeing how this is happening. Remember the Freedom Convoy through Canada? Authorities froze as many as 257 bank accounts of protestors to prevent protestors from making necessary purchases and to end the protest. Multiple news stories came up in the past few years where conservatives have had their bank accounts closed without notice simply because they posed a reputational risk for the banking institutions. If banks can close accounts of those they dont agree with, what will the government do? In China, its getting scarier by the minute. Hackernoon writes, Already, countries like China have social credit systems that determine your access to certain services, based on your political views, shopping habits, online activity, work history, and other attributes. Pairing social credit systems with CBDCs means governments can punish those who contravene its rules by stopping them from spending money. Governments can also limit how much and where you spend your money. In Nigeria in December 2022, the government limited cash withdrawals to $45 a day to push citizens to their CBDC. How to Prepare for CBDC Tyranny The truth is that it is only a matter of time before we are cashless and living with a CBDC. Its better to start preparing for it now than waiting to see if it will really happen. These steps should help: Get your financial house in order. Start by getting your finances in order. Pay down any debt you have, make wise investments, and set aside savings. Work with more trustworthy banking and credit institutions. Make wise purchases today. Think carefully about what you buy today. There may come a day when you wont feel safe making those same purchases (such as handguns or ammo). Stock up on bartering supplies. When America embraces a CBDC, not everyone will be on board. But cash will be useless. In this case, youll have to barter. Stock up on items that will be easy to barter in the future. Pay attention. Stay aware of what is happening. For example, the Federal Reserve pilot CBDC program was announced right before Thanksgiving, when people likely werent paying attention. Written by Grant Miller Preparedness Adviser, My Patriot Supply My Patriot Supply is the nations largest preparedness company, with millions of families prepped for any kind of disaster. Specializing in high-quality, affordable food that stays fresh for up to 25 years as well as emergency survival gear. 6,000 5-star reviews. When survival depends on self-reliance, you can depend on My Patriot Supply. China Spent Billions Building Makeshift Hospitals Nationwide, Most Abandoned or Unfinished Expert: It may be the largest unfinished project in the history of the regime This photo taken on November 22, 2022 shows employees working at a makeshift hospital that will be used for Covid-19 coronavirus patients in China's southwestern city of Chongqing.(CNS/AFP via Getty Images) Since the outbreak of COVID-19 three years ago, Beijing has ordered the construction of countless makeshift hospitals nationwide, some costing as much as 10,000 yuan (about $1,500) per square meter. Those facilities were primarily used to quarantine mild to asymptomatic COVID-positive patients. However, when Beijing abruptly ended its Zero-COVID policy last December, makeshift hospitals nationwide were abandoned, and many in construction were left unfinished. The regime spent large sums of money on these projects amid nearly three years of draconian COVID-19 restrictions. Makeshift hospitals, also known as Fangcang hospitals or mobile field hospitals, were widely used in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. The facilities were temporary shelters for mandatory isolation of those who tested positive for COVID-19, regardless of the severity of their symptoms. Workers set up beds at a Fangcang hospital in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 4, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) A recent report on NetEase, a Chinese state-owned news network, said a colossal makeshift hospital in Guangzhou, capable of quarantining 80,000 people, was abandoned after the regime walked back its stringent pandemic restrictions. The facility was hastily completed in November last year, with over 6,000 workers participating in its construction. It has a covered area of 814,600 square meters (about 8.77 million square feet) and a construction area of 547,100 square meters (about 5.89 million square feet). It houses 21,870 rooms and over 78,000 isolation beds. It is reportedly the largest makeshift hospital ever constructed in Guangzhou. The report did not disclose how much it cost to build. The local government of Minquan County, Henan Province, reportedly invested 250 million yuan (about $37 million) to build a 10,000-square-meter makeshift hospital, with an average cost of 25,000 yuan (about $3,700) per square meter. However, the construction was canceled in December last year as Beijing lifted pandemic control measures. Minquan County is a resource-poor county in China, with a population of 700,000. The millions were wasted on a project that never saw the light of day. Likewise, in May last year, Shangqiu City, Henan Province, spent 135 million yuan (about $20 million) on building permanent shelters with 1,000 isolation rooms. In Shandong, the provincial government invested 23 billion yuan (about $3.387 billion) to build makeshift hospitals province-wide. Over 119 isolation shelters with more than 200,000 beds were constructed in its prefecture-level cities, including Jining, Zibo, Zaozhuang, Dongying, Yantai, Weifang, Jining, Taian, Weihai, Rizhao, Binzhou, Dezhou, Liaocheng, Linyi, and Heze. Most of the facilities were completed by the end of last year as required by the local authorities, but none are currently in use. Current affairs commentator Qin Peng told The Epoch Times that makeshift hospitals might be the largest unfinished project in the history of the Chinese regime. In addition to the super-sized makeshift hospitals, the Chinese Communist Party built a manifold of isolation facilities nationwide for the sole purpose of achieving Zero-COVID. Chinese Balloon Did a Lot of Damage, Says House Foreign Affairs Chair McCaul Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) speaks as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on The Biden Administration's Priorities for U.S. Foreign Policy on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 10, 2021. (Ken Cedeno-Pool/Getty Images) The Chinese high-altitude balloon that passed over the United States at the start of February did a lot of damage, according to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In an interview on CBSs Face The Nation program, McCaul said the Chinese balloon was a sophisticated spy balloon that went across three nuclear sites as it floated over the United States from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4. McCaul specifically noted the balloon passed over nuclear bases in Montana, the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), and a base that hosts nuclear bombers in Missouri. Specifically, the balloon passed over Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana and Offutt Air Force Base. Malmstrom is home to U.S. nuclear missile forces. Offutt is home to STRATCOM, which is tasked with detecting and deterring attacks against the United States and its allies, including nuclear strikes. The balloon also flew near Whiteman Air Force Base, which hosts the nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. It did a lot of damage, McCaul said of the high-altitude balloons flight path. The balloon passed over the various U.S. military sites before it was shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4 The fact is, whether it be the hypersonic weapon theyve made that circled the world and landed with precision, to the spy balloon, we have to stop selling them the very technology that they use in their most advanced weapon systems that they can turn against us, McCaul added. Recent reports have indicated the Chinese government has bought U.S.-produced software products for use in its hypersonic missile programs. In recent years, U.S. officials have accused Chinese spies of stealing key technologies, and lawmakers have been considering laws to curb Chinas access to sensitive U.S. defense programs. US Military Says it Mitigated Balloons Surveillance U.S. defense officials have said they mitigated the balloons intelligence-gathering capabilities during its transit over the U.S., though they did not specify what means were used to block or reduce the balloons ability to transmit sensitive data back to China. Officials in President Joe Bidens administration have also said they took measures to mitigate the balloons ability to gather data. On Feb. 9, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the military was able to protect any national security, sensitive information, that was on the ground as [the balloon] was moving on its path. McCaul shared his doubts about those mitigation efforts during the CBS interview. They say they mitigated it but my assessment, and I cant get into the detail of the intelligence document, is that if its still transmitting going over these three very sensitive nuclear sites, I think if you look at the flight pattern of the balloon it tells the story as to what the Chinese were up to as they controlled this aircraft throughout the United States going over those sites, McCaul said. In my judgement it would cause great damage. Remember, a balloon can see a lot more on the ground than a satellite. The Biden administration has said he elected to wait until after the balloon was passing over open water before shooting it down in order to avoid endangering people with falling debris and maximize the chances of collecting information from the downed balloon. Shooting the balloon down over water wasnt just the safest option, it maximized the chance of recovering the payload, giving us a better chance to get information from the Chinese surveillance balloon payload, Jean-Pierre said on Feb. 6. Other Unidentified Objects After shooting down the Chinese high-altitude balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4, the U.S. military has observed other objects passing through U.S. air spaces. One of the unidentified objects, described as being the size of a car, was flying at about 40,000 feet before it was shot down over Alaska on Friday. Additional unidentified objects were either shot down or observed over North America over the weekend. Its unclear to me what these other three unidentified objects are. It could be space debris could be really quite frankly anything, McCaul said. McCaul said the U.S. may have a keener awareness after the recent Chinese surveillance balloon incident. From NTD News En vivo: Presidenta Dina Boluarte participa en ceremonia funebre en homenaje a los policias caidos en la emboscada ocurrida el pasado sabado 11 de febrero en el Vraem. https://t.co/mwEE8Rp0Wg Chinese Police Report Lists Location in a Richmond, BC, Mall as a Chinese Overseas Police Service Centre Police officers stand guard as residents queue to undergo COVID-19 testing in Nantong in China's eastern coastal Jiangsu Province on Feb. 15, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) An online post by a local police bureau in China lists a shopping mall location in Richmond, B.C., as one of the bureaus affiliated Chinese overseas police service centres. The phone number of the centre matches the contact number of the B.C.-based Canadian Association of Nantong Merchants Abroad. The post by the Nantong Public Security Bureau, which is being first reported in English by The Epoch Times, was published in July 2020. Nantong is a city in Chinas eastern coastal province of Jiangsu. The post said the Nantong police bureau in 2016 took the lead to establish Chinas first police-and-overseas-Chinese joint service centre in collaboration with the Municipal Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Association of Nantong Merchants Abroad (ANMA). The Canadian Association of Nantong Merchants Abroad, a non-profit organization registered in B.C., is a branch of the ANMA. The Chinese overseas police stations are affiliated with different local police bureaus in China. According to Spanish NGO Safeguard Defenders, which first drew public attention to the existence of these stations in a September 2022 report and produced a follow-up report in December 2022, most of the stations identified in the follow-up report were established starting in 2016 by two local Chinese jurisdictions, Nantong and Wenzhou, the latter a city in Chinas southeastern coastal Zhejiang Province. The RCMP in December 2022 reportedly paid a visit to the Wenzhou Friendship Society (WFS) in a mostly residential area in Richmond, a part of Metro Vancouver. While not directly confirming the police action in response to media inquiries, the RCMP on Dec. 12, 2022, cited its ongoing investigation into reports of criminal activity in relation to the so-called police stations nationally, according to Global News. The WFS has not returned The Epoch Times requests for comment. The B.C. location posted by the Nantong Public Security Bureau is the address of a unit thats part of a mall in Richmond. The listed address of the Canadian Association of Nantong Merchants Abroad is in a building right beside the mall location. Regional Chinese police jurisdictions. (Safeguard Defenders) RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told MPs at a House of Commons committee hearing on Feb. 6 that the national police force is currently investigating four alleged unofficial Chinese police stations in Canada: three in the Toronto area and one in Vancouver. Uniformed officers have visited these four locations so that the public can see the visible presence of police and thus provide the RCMP with more information, Lucki told the Special Committee on the Canada-Peoples Republic of China Relationship (CACN). Safeguard Defenders said in its December 2022 report that it had so far learned of the presence of five such stations in Canada: three in the Toronto area, one in Vancouver, and another one in an unspecified location. The Epoch Times asked the RCMP whether it is aware of the Nantong police bureaus listing of the Richmond mall location as an overseas service station, but didnt hear back by publication time. The national police force first confirmed in October 2022, in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, that it was investigating reports of these overseas Chinese police stations. Police Services Chinese authorities say the so-called unofficial Chinese overseas police stations provide services to Chinese nationals living abroad such as helping them renew their drivers licences. Safeguard Defenders says these stations eschew official bilateral police and judicial cooperation and show the worrying growth of the CCPs transnational repression and long-arm policing. An individual in the Vancouver Chinese community who in January called the phone number of the Nantong-affiliated Richmond location told The Epoch Times that the man who answered the phone denied being associated with a Chinese police service centre. The caller, whom The Epoch Times is not naming out of concern for the individuals safety, also described the mans reaction to his phone call as being peculiar. I told him I saw in media reports that the Chinese police service centres could [help Chinese nationals] renew drivers licences, and I asked if they could provide this service to me. The man said they dont provide such services, the caller told The Epoch Times. He then asked who introduced me [to call this number]. I was caught off guard and gave him a random name. The man said he doesnt recognize this name and immediately hung up. It seems very peculiar to me. The Epoch Times called the number numerous times, but the calls all went unanswered. Canadian Association of Nantong Merchants Abroad The phone number of the Canadian Association of Nantong Merchants Abroad, which is the same number as that of the overseas station listed by the Nantong police, is also the same as the listed phone number of the associations president, Zhou Yuan. Victor Chen, listed as vice-president on the associations website, confirmed to The Epoch Times that the phone number belongs to Zhou. When asked about links to Chinas overseas police stations, Chen said inquiries should be directed to Zhou. Chen added that Zhou is currently in China and will be staying there for several months. The Epoch Times contacted Zhou via email but didnt receive a response. A post on the website of the Association of Nantong Merchants Abroad, the mother organization of the Canadian association, says the Canadian branchs unveiling at a June 2017 ceremony in Vancouver was done personally by Lu Zhipeng, Nantongs Chinese Community Party (CCP) Party secretarythe citys highest-ranking official. Another post on the associations website, from July 2018, shows Zhou posing for a photo with Dai Junliang, deputy director of the United Front Work Department of the CCPs Central Committee. A report by Public Safety Canada cites research by think tanks that says the CCPs United Front Work Department is a primary foreign interference tool. The Canadian Association of Nantong Merchants Abroad was among multiple Chinese organizations in Canada which often take pro-Beijing positions signing their names in a 2021 newspaper advertisement opposing calls for boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over human right concerns. Location The address of the Nantong-associated Chinese overseas police service station is that of an empty store in the Aberdeen Square in Richmond. An Epoch Times reporter who lives in the area says the store was active last summer. The unit listed by the Nantong Public Security Bureau as a Chinese overseas service station, inside Aberdeen Square in Richmond, B.C., on Jan. 13, 2023. (Iris Liang/The Epoch Times) The empty store has a sign that reads & . The address of the unit appears on the Richmond municipal government website on a list of new business licences issued in 2017. The address appears as that of a business registered under the name Sigma & Pai Investment International Ltd., whose licence was issued on Aug. 11, 2017. The Epoch Times called the listed phone number of the business, but the calls went unanswered. The website ImportGenius.com, which tracks global import and export data, lists Sigma & Pai Investment Internationals supplier as Nantong New Top Trade Co. Ltd. The store currently has the contact information of a realtor listed on its storefront. The Epoch Times contacted the realtor multiple times, but the calls went unanswered. The Epoch Times visited the address of the listed owners of the property, whose residence is in Vancouver, but no one answered the door. A neighbour told The Epoch Times that she has never seen anyone entering or coming out of the residence. Extending Chinese Police Services Overseas The Richmond location was only one of 29 Chinese overseas police service centre branch locations on the list provided by the Nantong Public Security Bureau in the July 2020 post on QQ.com, a Chinese social media site. The list also included locations in New Zealand, Australia, France, South Africa, Peru, Cambodia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others. The list appears to be part of a handbook titled Overseas Preventive Security Guidance Handbook published by Nantongs police-and-overseas-Chinese joint service centre. Another July 2020 post, by the QQ.com account of Jiangsu Legal News, a state-owned Jiangsu Province media outlet, includes the handbooks cover page and several opening pages, whose colours and design match those of the list in the other QQ.com post where the Richmond location appears. The post by the Nantong Public Security Bureau says the overseas locations provide the functions of sharing various types of information between domestic and foreign governments and private organizations, and to ensure that the reach of [Chinese] public security agencies services are extended overseas. Persuade to Return Campaign Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told MPs at the Feb. 6 House of Commons CACN committee hearing that he was briefed about the presence of Chinas overseas police service stations within the last year. Brigitte Gauvin, RCMP acting director for federal policing and national security, told MPs at the same committee hearing that the alleged Chinese police service centres may contribute to forced repatriation of individuals to China. The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police E Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on April 13, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) This is concerning for several reasons. These alleged police stations may contribute to the involuntary return of individuals to China. Also, families living in both China and Canada may become the target of harassment, intimidation, or experience other negative consequences, Gauvin said. Gauvins remarks were consistent with concerns captured by the Safeguard Defenders September 2022 report. According to open-source information compiled by the NGO, Chinese authorities have touted that an estimated 230,000 nationals had been persuaded to return to face criminal proceedings in China between April 2021 and July 2022, in some cases with the support of Chinese overseas police service centres, as part of a 2018 national campaign aimed at fighting fraud and telecommunications fraud by Chinese nationals living abroad. Safeguard Defenders noted that this persuade to return campaign has also targeted dissidents and individuals who had fled persecution, as well as their family members back in China. Fanny Qiu, Iris Liang, and NTDs Vivian Yu contributed to this report. Elections That Mark 2023 as a Key Year An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) validates a voter at a polling station during the gubernatorial election at Ede in Osun State, southwest Nigeria, on July 16, 2022. Voters went to the polls to elect a new governor for Nigeria's southwest Osun state, in what has become a battleground to test support for the leading presidential hopefuls ahead of presidential elections in 2023. (Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary Elections, even in small nation-states, can have global consequences, and three national elections, at least in 2023, will have significant strategic ramifications beyond their borders: those in Nigeria, Turkey, and New Zealand. Nigerias Feb. 25 presidential and parliamentary elections are the most important of Africas 10 scheduled 2023 elections because Nigeria is both Africas largest economy and its largest population. And as Nigeria goes, so does much of the fortune of sub-Saharan Africa. Until this election, Nigeria has been in a protracted downward spiraleconomically and sociallyand the 2023 election offers a unique opportunity for a breakthrough. Without that breakthrough, Nigeria risks business as usual: a continued downward spiral. Turkeys presidential and parliamentary elections, should they occur on May 14 (moved up from the scheduled June 18 date), are critical because they would determine whether Turkey, as the pivotal geographic region between the eastern and western blocs, moves further under authoritarian expansionist governance or back to economic stability. But the incumbent president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has demonstrated that he will imprison his challengers, utilize the great earthquake that hit Turkey on Feb. 6, or initiate war with neighboring Greece to either postpone or distort the scheduled elections. The change of the election date, and the declaration of a state of emergency due to the earthquake are all signs of desperation on the part of a president who has so comprehensively destroyed the Turkish economy that a normal election would see him guaranteed to lose power. And Erdogan is not prepared to accept that. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement after the cabinet meeting with the agenda of Russia and Ukraine in Ankara, Turkey, on Feb. 28, 2022. (Presidential Press Office via dia images via Getty Images) Erdogan, in fact, is just one example of how political parties and leaders have come to take for granted the post-modern view that countries belong to them rather than that they belong to their countries. Turkey aside, this has been the result of largely republican-style practices of short-term transactions that have seamlessly bought off electorates so that populations have reverted to becoming subjects of their government rather than government being subject to the electorate. Thus, democratic societies have voted for their own subordination. New Zealands parliamentary election on Oct. 14 determines whether there is a chance for the survival of one of the most important treaties in post-World War II years: the UKUSA Accords (Five Eyes) linking the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Absent a return of New Zealand, and then Canada (where elections are not required until October 2025), to historical patterns for those countries, the great alliance structure of the West would likely move to a new phase and center around a new bloc, AUKUS, the Australia-UK-U.S. accords nations. Elections have consequences, and frequently not just for the societies that hold them. Voters in most societies consider only the immediate and localand often transactionalaspects of their elections rather than the longer-term strategic ramifications. And while the fundamental issue of sovereignty, particularly as it has evolved from the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia, gives sole control of elections to the sovereign states conducting them, the reality is that external societies may be profoundly affected by them and seek to play a role in them. There is no mechanism in a Westphalian world for these external powers to play a legal influencing role in such elections. So attempts are made in the white (open), grey (indirect and blurred origin), and black (covert and deniable) psycho-political warfare spectra, particularly by major powers, to shape foreign elections to their strategic desires. The outcry in the United States in recent years of Russian interference in U.S. elections disguises the reality that it is a practice employed by all major powers, including the United States itself, and is designed to achieve strategic outcomes that would be more desirable than being forced to face a future military situation from a foreign government not of their choosing. In recent years, the most extensive operations to influence elections around the world, and utilizing advanced cyber operations, have been those of China. This gets to the two largely unspoken and incompatible questions. How do we preserve our sovereignty against foreign interference? How do we ensure that the elections of a foreign country do not damage our nation-state? Of the three keyor globally significantelections of 2023, it is possible that Turkey will either postpone or cancel its poll, or attempt to shape it in such a way that Erdogan retains office, regardless of popular opinion. There is very little that he could do, short of accepting electoral defeat, which would not cause a reassessment by Turkeys alliesEast or Westas to its position. Even now, there is growing momentum within NATO about whether Turkey should remain a member. Leaders of member states of NATO line up for a group photograph in Madrid, Spain, on June 29, 2022. (Denis Doyle/Getty Images) But NATO without Turkey opens the doors to Russian domination of the Black Sea/Mediterranean link, and gives Russia great leverage in the Eastern Mediterranean. And Turkish membership in NATO saves Ankara from subordination to Russia. The only answer is that, for Turkey to survive and recover, Erdogan must go. But clearly Erdogan is prepared for Turkey to die with him, just as Adolf Hitler insisted that Germany should die with him in 1945. Erdogan, like Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has made himself a lightning rod by eliminating all potential rivals and insisting on being seen as the sole source of power. That has meantas with Xithat he must take the blame for all that goes wrong as well as the praise for all that goes right. And lately, capped with the earthquake that has devastated much of Turkey, little has gone right in Erdogans homeland. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. England Ends COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Programme for Under 50s From Monday, healthy people under 50 in England can no longer get seasonal booster shots as part of the governments COVID-19 vaccination campaign. It comes after the UK governments advisory body on vaccines, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), recommended that the offer for the age group should end with the autumn 2022 vaccination campaign. According to NHS England, Everyone aged 5 or over by Aug. 31, 2022, will still be offered two primary doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while over-16s and vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 can still get a booster dose, but those who are under 50 and are not in a clinical risk group can no longer get further boosters. The JCVI has said the uptake of the initial booster in the under-50 age group has been under 0.1 percent per week since April 2022. In Wales and Northern Ireland, shots after the primary booster have not been available for under 50s who are not clinically at risk. In Scotland, boosters for healthy people aged between 16 and 49 will end on March 31. The JCVI has also said the primary vaccination offer should become more targeted over the course of 2023, to include over-50s, health and social care workers, carers, over-5s who are in clinical risk groups, and over-12s who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression. Dr. Tess Lawrie, director of Evidence-Based Medicine Consultancy Ltd. (Screenshot/The Epoch Times) The UKs medicines regulator the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), on Feb. 3 said COVID-19 vaccination is still the single most effective way to reduce deaths and severe illness from COVID-19 while many doctors, including the UKs Dr. Tess Lawrie and U.S. doctor Peter McCullough, have insisted since early days of the pandemic that a number of cheap repurposed drugs work well in early treatment of COVID-19. The effectiveness and safety profile of the mRNA vaccines are also contested. Health authorities, including the MHRA, have maintained that severe side effects such as myocarditis and pericarditis, are very rare, while the opposition has said the vaccines are either overrated, useless, or harmful. The Health Advisory and Recovery Team, a group of British doctors and scientists skeptical of the governments COVID-19 responses, in January wrote to the MHRA, calling for an urgent pause in the Covid vaccination programme, pending a thorough and independent review of all available safety data. British cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra, who previously supported the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, also joined the opposition camp last year, calling for a halt of the vaccination programme. Denmark has stopped vaccinating healthy people under 50 since autumn last year, saying those in the age group are generally not at particularly higher risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19. The Danish Health Authority also said the purpose of its vaccination campaign was to prevent severe illness, hospitalisation, and death and not to prevent infection with COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci in Washington on Dec. 9, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Dr. Anthony Fauci, former chief medical adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden, recently joined a growing number of officials who are acknowledging that the COVID-19 vaccines dont work well against infection. Vaccines against both COVID-19 and influenza have deficiencies, including that they elicit incomplete and short-lived protection against evolving virus variants that escape population immunity, Fauci and top National Institutes of Health officials wrote in a recent paper. Meanwhile, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added COVID-19 vaccines to its routine immunization schedule for children and adults, attracting criticism for the decision. According to the CDCs 2023 immunization schedule for children and adolescents, two or three doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been recommended beginning with infants who are just six months old. Children in the age group of 6 months to four years, and five years to 11 years are recommended COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna or Pfizer. Among children aged 12 to 18, Novavax vaccines are also recommended in addition to Pfizer and Moderna. In the list for adults, two or three doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been recommended from the age of 19 years. The 2023 COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for kids and adults is included among other typically-recommended vaccines for measles, flu, rubella, and so on. Advisers to the CDC in 2022 recommended adding the vaccines to the schedule. Though the CDC has added COVID-19 vaccines to the recommended list, it has not mandated the vaccines. The agency does not have the authorization to do so, but local and state jurisdictions can, and many mandate most of the vaccines on the schedule. However, there are hardly any states that make flu vaccinations mandatory in public schools. Zachary Stieber and Naveen Athrappully contributed to this report. Erin Brockovich Responds to Ohio Train Fire: Trust Your Eyes and Get Out of There A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, on Feb. 6, 2023. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo) Erin Brockovich, the consumer advocate made famous by the eponymous movie, said that she is attempting to gather information about the derailment and train fire that prompted the evacuation of the village of East Palestine, Ohio Im trying to gather information on this very serious situation in Ohio involving a train derailment with hazardous chemicals, Brockovich wrote on Twitter over the past weekend. What I will say is this. Trust your eyes, ears and nose and get the hell out of there if your senses are telling you too. On Monday afternoon, Brockovichwho was the subject of the 2000 Academy Award-winning film Erin Brockovichcalled on the federal government to be more transparent. The Biden administration needs to get more involved in this #PalestineOhio train derailment now. We are counting on you to break the chain of administration after administration to turn a blind eye. STEP UP NOW, she wrote. Earlier this month, a train with about four-dozen freight cars heading from Illinois to Pennsylvania derailed in East Palestine, sparking state officials to issue an evacuation of the area amid a controlled release, meaning burning, of toxic materials. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that the train was carrying hazardous materials, including the highly toxic vinyl chloride. So far, there have been some reports from local residents of animals dying off, including fish, chickens, and livestock. One local official confirmed there was a fish die-off in waterways around East Palestine. Leslie Run comes out of East Palestine and that goes into Bull Creek, which then goes into North Fork. And we know for sure that there has been some fish kill in Leslie Run and Bull Creek, and some portions of the North Fork, Matthew Smith, assistant regional scenic river manager for the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, told WTDN. The Epoch Times has contacted the EPA, Department of Transportation, and several other federal agencies for comment. Few federal officials have made mention of the derailment and toxic fire, while Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg did not reference the incident on Monday morning. On Sunday, the EPA issued an update to its website, posting a document from train operator Norfolk Southern that confirmed it was carrying more chemicals. Glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, and isobutylene were also in the rail cars that were either on fire, derailed, or breached. EPA was initially informed orally of the contents of derailed cars in order to develop a plan for air monitoring. Upon request, Norfolk Southern provided the attached list detailing the rail cars that may have derailed in the incident, the update said. This was created by Norfolk Southern and EPA cannot speak to the design or creation of this document. Erin Brockovich as seen in a 2007 file photo. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Amid reports of animals dying off and locals saying theyve suffered from respiratory problems in recent days, the EPA said that it is continuing to monitor the air quality around East Palestine. Air monitoring since the fire went out has not detected any levels of concern in the community that can be attributed to the incident at this time. For example, there have been some exceedances of PM2.5 screening values, but those are both upwind and downwind of the derailment site so likely had another cause, said the EPAs update. A reporter with the Washington Post interviewed several East Palestine residents who were evacuated and later returned. One woman, Maura Todd, indicated that she and her family suffered from nausea and headaches, adding that shes planning on moving to Kentucky. Another local man, Taylor Howzer, told WKBN that some of his animals became ill in recent days. Out of nowhere, he just started coughing really hard, just shut down, and he had liquid diarrhea and just went very fast, Holzer said. Smoke and chemicals from the train, thats the only thing that can cause it, because it doesnt just happen out of nowhere, he added. The chemicals that were being told are safe in the air, thats definitely not safe for the animals or people. And a woman in North Lima said some of her chickens have died after the burning was initiated. My video camera footage shows my chickens were perfectly fine before they started this burn, and as soon as they started the burn, my chickens slowed down and they died, Amanda Breshears of North Lima, Ohio, told local outlet ABC27. If it can do this to chickens in one night, imagine what its going to do to us in 20 years. LYON, FranceOn Thursday, Feb. 9, the Shen Yun Performing Arts Global Company performed its last show in Lyon, closing six days of discovery of the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. Based in New York, Shen Yuns mission is to bring to life the very rich traditional Chinese culture of multiple ethnicities and dynasties that have succeeded each other during its 5,000 years of history. Jean-Pierre Ligot, a retired nurse, and Hillary Bell-Ligot, an English teacher, were in Lyon and took this opportunity to attend Shen Yun at the Amphitheatre 3000. Exceptional! Its really a show where you feel like youre living again dancing with them! We would like to accompany them on stage! exclaimed Jean-Pierre Ligot. Mrs. Bell-Ligot is from England and liked the philosophy behind it, while being appreciative of the explanations given by the emcees before each piece, which helped her to understand what is behind all these traditions the dances. Shen Yuns website states that something that makes Shen Yuns performers unique is that they strive to live by the principles of truth, compassion, and tolerance and that they believe that cultivating the heart is the way to create art that is beautifully sublime. Demonstrating remarkable self-discipline and dedication, these artists have moved audiences around the world, states the presentation booklet. Its important, Mrs. Bell-Ligot points out, especially with all the troubles in China these days, to know that I didnt know there was such a group with these values living and working in this academy in New York! The couple shared their feelings about the show; while Mr. Ligot said he felt a calming effect, his wife confided she felt more of the divine especially with the images in the background. It really emphasized that connection between reality, earth, and heaven. High school and university teacher Mrs. Bell-Ligot was sensitive to the values conveyed in Shen Yun and made a comparison between these principles and those that animated the knights of 12th century France. In fact, it is a bit like the ideals of the 12th Century: the courtly romance in France and the ideals of the knights at the time: fidelity, loyalty, respect for religion, good against evil, justice, these are the values that are eternal values, said Mrs. Bell-Ligot, who said these values were and still are universal. Reporting by NTD and Sarita Modmesaib. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Explosions Rock Gaza, Israel Says It Hit Hamas Rocket Factory The Israeli army carries out retaliatory air strikes against Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Aug. 16, in response to firebombs sent into Israeli territory attached to balloons. (SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images) GAZASeveral explosions rocked the Gaza Strip early on Monday, according to a Reuters witness, as Israels military said it attacked an underground site used by the Palestinian enclaves Hamas Islamists to manufacture rockets. The air strikes, in which there was no immediate word of casualties, followed what Israel described as its shooting down over the weekend of a rocket that had been fired over the border from Gaza. There was no Palestinian claim for that launch. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, another Palestinian territory, witnesses said troops had surrounded a house in the city of Nablus, with gunfire ensuing and possible casualties. The Den of Lions, a group of Palestinian gunmen based mostly in Nablus and nearby Jenin, which has been subject to intensified Israeli raids over terrorist threats over the past year, said it had ambushed an army unit. Israel had no immediate comment. Hamas extremists seized control of Gaza in 2007 and have fought several wars with Israel there since. When smaller Gazan factions attack Israel, it generally retaliates against Hamas. Palestinian sources said Israeli ground forces also fired on Hamas border positions on Monday. Sirens sounded in Israeli towns near the Gaza border, warning of possible new rocket launches. FDA Announces Recall of Tens of Thousands of Unapproved COVID Test Kits A recall was issued for more than 56,000 COVID-19 rapid tests last week because they were not distributed with the proper clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to an announcement posted on its website. Some 56,000 Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test Kits are being recalled by its maker, Universal Meditech Inc., because the products were distributed without appropriate premarket clearance or approval which potentially could result in inaccurate test results due to lack of performance evaluation by the FDA, according to an FDA notice, dated Feb. 10. People who have the Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Tests should stop using the device and contact the distributor for a return, according to the notice. The recalled products were made between October 2021 and December 2021 and were distributed in January 2022. They were distributed with Skippack Medical Lab instructions in three separate packaging boxes, the recall notice said. One is a purple and white box with the Skippack Medical Lab brand, a green and white box with the DiagnosUS brand, and a white box that didnt have a brand name. Some 56,000 Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Tests were recalled, according to an FDA announcement on Feb. 10, 2023. (FDA.gov) Universal Meditech Inc. said it recalled the test kits after learning of the distribution violation via the FDA, the notice added. There have been no reported injuries or adverse events associated with the kits. Universal Meditech Inc. is notifying its distributors and customers by phone and email and is arranging for return of all recalled products, the notice said, and it added that the kits were sent to California and Texas distributors. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, there have been a number of recalls involving COVID-19 test kits, some of which produced false test results, and some were sold inside the United States without FDA approval. Last December, an FDA announcement said that COVID-19 tests made by Detect Inc. and sent to customers between July 26 and Aug. 26 of last year were recalled by the manufacturer due to false test results. Those tests were given an FDA emergency use authorization, the announcement said. There is an increased chance that the tests from the lot numbers listed below may give false negative results, the announcement said. Detect has conducted a thorough investigation to identify this issue and has made the decision to conduct a voluntary recall for these lots. Meanwhile, in March 2022, the FDA said that some COVID-19 rapid tests shouldnt be used due to the possibility theyll produce false results. Officials told consumers not to use Celltrion DiaTrust COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test, the SD Biosensor Inc. STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag Home Test, and the Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Self-Testing). Last February, the FDA similarly issued a warning about two tests made by Empowered Diagnostics because those devices werent approved by the FDA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning people to stop using the Empowered Diagnostics CovClear COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test and ImmunoPass COVID-19 Neutralizing Antibody Rapid Test, the FDA statement said. These tests were distributed with labeling indicating they are authorized by the FDA, but neither test has been authorized, cleared, or approved by the FDA for distribution or use in the United States. Feds Replace Chief Pandemic Manager for Fourth Time in 28 Months Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference as he visits the Public Health Agency of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on July 31, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) The federal government has replaced the countrys chief pandemic manager for the fourth time in 28 months, announcing the appointment of a new president of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on Feb. 10. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in a statement that Heather Jeffrey, who is currently serving as associate deputy minister of health, will become the new boss of the countrys public health division effective Feb. 27. PHAC was formed in 2004 following the 2002-2003 SARS virus and is responsible for the control and prevention of chronic and infectious diseases. PHAC is part of Canadas health portfolio and works closely with Health Canada, responding to public health threats, and focusing on disease and injury prevention. The chief public health officer advises the president of PHAC and the federal minister of health. Jeffrey was formerly a deputy minister on the Health Canada COVID-19 task force and previously worked for the department of global affairs and as a director in foreign affairs and international trade. Nancy Hamzawi, currently assistant deputy minister of the health products and food branch at Health Canada, will be joining Jeffrey as executive vice-president of PHAC, effective Feb. 27. Hamzawi was assistant deputy minister at the COVID-19 Testing Secretariat for Health Canada from 2020 to 2021. She formerly worked in the climate change and environmental protection departments of the federal government. Jeffrey will be replacing veterinarian Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, who was appointed to the role of head of PHAC on Oct. 12, 2021. Kochhar was formerly associate deputy minister of health. Following the shuffle, he will be taking a new role as president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, effective Feb. 27. Before Kochhar, the role of PHAC president was held for roughly a year by Iain Stewart, who led the agency during much of the pandemic. Stewart came under fire from MPs in the House of Commons in June 2021 for failing to provide unredacted documents related to the firing of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. Stewarts exit from PHAC was announced on Oct. 12, 2021. Stewart had formerly been president of the National Research Council of Canadathe governments main scientific research armbut was appointed to lead public health after the previous president, Tina Namiesniowski, resigned from the job in September 2020. After 18 months in the role, Namiesniowski said at the time she needed to take a break and that the public health agency needed someone who will have the energy and the stamina to take the agency and our response to the next level. While responding to this crisis, weve done many things since then to add capacity, improve processes, take on new roles and really build up the competence that had diminished in recent years. All of this work has taken a personal toll on so many people I put myself in that category, she said in a letter announcing her departure, which was released by PHAC. Many of the newly announced appointments are being attributed to the retirement of four public service bureaucrats in other departments. 5 Lingering Questions About Chinas Spy Balloon The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, S.C., on Feb. 4, 2023. (Randall Hill/Reuters) Commentary China neither fears nor respects America under a compromised and craven Biden administration. That much was predicted before Joe Bidens presidency, and has been clear from its outset. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders made their position known early and often in wordhitting their Biden administration counterparts with a barrage of anti-American invective at the infamous March 2021 Anchorage, Alaska, reset meetingand deedflexing their muscles months later with a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile test. For its part, the Biden administration has rewarded the CCP for its malevolence and invited still more aggression not only in its weak and flat-footed responses, but also in its actions. It has let the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) off scot-free for its central role in the coronavirus pandemic andseemingly at the request of its regimecut sweetheart deals to dispose of criminal cases against prominent Chinese nationals, and killed the FBIs critical counterintelligence program, the China Initiative. So, few should have been surprised that Beijing saw fit to brazenly violate Americas airspace on the eve of a high-level meeting between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping, sending a spy balloon the PRC patronizingly claimed was meteorological, of the kind capable of delivering an electromagnetic pulse weapon or hypersonic missile that could cause catastrophic damage, soaring over our most sensitive sites. This was a demonstration of strength that also almost assuredly aimed to probeto test our reflexes and resolve. Nor should anyone have been surprised that the Biden administration failed this test. But baffling aspects of its frequently-shifting response raise questions perhaps more troubling, and revealing, than whatever information the balloon might have beamed back to China before being blasted out of the sky, and its leaders might have gleaned about our intelligence and defensive capabilities. Here are five such lingering questions: Would the Biden Administration Have Ever Shot Down the Spy Balloon Had American Civilians Not Seen It? According to Bloomberg, Biden administration officials were aware the Chinese balloon had entered U.S. airspace several days before the public, but were intent on keeping it on the down-low with Secretary Blinkens high-profile trip at stake. Administration officials were reportedly concerned about a heated political environment ahead of 2024 elections, with Republicans agitating on which party could strike a harder or tougher line on China. In other words, Team Biden was keeping the breach of our sovereignty hush-hush for political reasons. Montanans foiled the Biden administrations plans when they identified the balloon, causing the administration to form a response. The Pentagon trotted out spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, who sought to reassure Americans that the balloon does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. A senior defense official added that the balloon had limited additive value from an intelligence collection perspective. The implication then was that this was no big deala position reinforced by claims such breaches of our sovereignty by China had happened before, including under President Donald Trump. Biden himself, only after the balloon was shot down, stated that It was always my position to strike it, and that once the balloon floated over the United States from Canada, I told the Defense Department I wanted to shoot it down as soon as it was appropriate. One cant prove a hypothetical, but that the Biden administration didnt shoot down the spy balloon the second it entered our airspace, that the initial reporting on White House deliberations emphasized its political focus, and that the administration downplayed the danger of the balloon and cast the incursion as something of a commonplace occurrence, call into question the presidents candor in saying he always intended to strike it down. Why Did the Biden Administration Let the Balloon Traverse the Entire United States? The Biden administrations rationale for not shooting down the balloon upon its entry into our airspace that it feared damage to those on the groundstrains credulity, particularly when one considers that it made that case when it was known the balloon was traveling over the third most sparsely populated state by density in the country. Does America truly lack the capability to safely pop a balloon over a state with fewer than eight people per square mile? One also wonders if forces could have intercepted or otherwise brought the balloon down without causing damage to it for observation and study. Instead, the Biden administration let the vehicle complete a mission of sorts in canvassing the country unmolested, surely to Chinas delight. That it was shot down, sending its pieces flying, only after it had emerged off the shore of South Carolina over the Atlantic Ocean, necessitated a seemingly complex recovery effort both on the waters shifting surface and beneath it. According to the Defense Department, its possible that some debris could escape notice and wash ashore. Does the Biden Administrations Related Assertion That There Was a National Security Benefit to Letting the Balloon Fly Really Hold Water? Two days after the balloon was shot downthat is, retrospectivelyNORAD Commander Gen. Glen VanHerck claimed that there was a national security benefit to permitting the balloon to float over the United States. Doing so, said Gen. VanHerck, gave intelligence officials the opportunity to assess what they were actually doing, what kind of capabilities existed on the balloon, what kind of transmission capabilities existed. But did the benefits really outweigh the costsincluding that China of course also observed our response? Could officials not have assessed the balloons capabilities at any point during its flight over the United States and then promptly shot it down, rather than risk potential compromise of our military sites? Was this really an intelligence coup for America, or is the administration deploying this narrative to save faceto try and bolster its curious argument that it spared the balloon until it crossed the country on public safety grounds? Did American Forces Really Fail to Detect Previous Balloon Breaches, or Did Officials Conceal Them From Their Superiors? Among the suspicious aspects of the Biden administrations response, which calls into question its overall candor on the Chinese spy balloon, was its shifting message about such Chinese operations. While claiming the balloon didnt pose a threat originally, sources also notedunbeknownst to virtually every Trump administration national security principal questioned about itthat such balloon incursions had happened during the former presidents tenure too. Later, officials indicated that those incursions went undetected in real-time. Getting the truth about what our leaders knew about these spy balloons, when they knew it, and who was in the know, is imperative. If past balloons evaded Americas air defensesas seems to be the casethat calls into question the very integrity of such defenses, irrespective of officials claims to the contrary. If America couldnt detect these balloons historically, what else might we be missing, and what kind of vulnerabilities does this blindness create? If such balloons were detected, and top administration officials during the Trump years up to and including the president himself were kept in the darkfor any reason whatsoeverthis would be an unconscionable act of insubordination. The importance of getting to the bottom of all this is only underscored by the fact that now the Biden administration is acknowledging that Chinas spy balloon program is expansive and national security-threatening. What Did Gen. Milley Know, When Did He Know About It, and What If Anything Did He Communicate to His Chinese Counterparts? Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is reportedly among those who urged Biden not to shoot down the spy balloon as it floated over America. Its odd that he, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and others seemed to take a less aggressive position than Biden is reported to have favored, given the militarys generally more hawkish posture than that of the president. In any event, Gen. Milleys position is worthy of particular scrutiny given what we know about his posture towards China. Recall that in the waning days of the Trump presidency, he arguably subverted the chain of command, and treacherously so, in telling his Chinese counterpart that We are not going to attack or conduct any kinetic operations against you. He reportedly added, If were going to attack, Im going to call you ahead of time. Its not going to be a surprise. Gen. Milley claimed that he was seeking to defuse any potential hostilities between the United States and Chinathat intelligence indicated China believed a U.S. attack might be imminent. But can anyone imagine Trump directing an underling to let a top Chinese general know that if America was going to attack, we would give fair warning? In fact, Trump said he was wholly unaware of such calls, and that if reporting was true, Gen. Milley should be tried for treason. Its worth noting that, in the past, Gen. Milley has said that China is not an enemy. Congress ought to question Gen. Milley about his role in the balloon bungle, what he might have communicated to his Chinese counterparts, and whether he acted in Americas national interest. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Google AI Chatbot Bard Flubs an Answer in Ad The logo for Google LLC at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York, on Nov. 17, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Google published an online advertisement in which its much-anticipated AI chatbot Bard delivered an inaccurate answer. Introduced on Feb. 6, Bard was touted in an online ad by Google that ran in the companys Twitter feed. In the tweet, Google described the chatbot as a launchpad for curiosity that would help simplify complex topicsand included a short GIF video ad of Bard in action. In the ad, Bard is given the prompt: What new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope (or JWST), can I tell my 9-year old about? Bard responds with a number of answers, including one suggesting the JWST was used to take the very first pictures of a planet outside the Earths solar system, or exoplanets. This is inaccurate. The first pictures of exoplanets were taken by the European Southern Observatorys Very Large Telescope in 2004, as confirmed by NASA. The error was spotted hours before Google hosted a launch event for Bard in Paris, where a Google senior executive touted Bard as the future of the company. Googles launch event came one day after Microsoft unveiled plans to integrate its rival AI chatbot ChatGPT into its Bing search engine and other products. As for Bards mistake, a Google spokesperson told Reuters: This highlights the importance of a rigorous testing process, something that were kicking off this week so that Bards responses meet a high bar for quality, safety, and groundedness in real-world information. Health-Care Funding Proposal Is Final, Minister Says Alberta Premier Danielle Smith (2nd L) answers a question as Canada's premiers hold a press conference following a meeting on health care in Ottawa on Feb. 7, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) The countrys premiers will meet to discuss the federal governments health-care funding proposals on Feb. 13, but the final amount is not up for negotiation, says Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc. Were not negotiating to buy a residential property here, where you make a counteroffer, and then make a counter counteroffer, LeBlanc said during an interview with CTVs Question Period. What weve said is that is the financial commitment that we believe the Government of Canada is able to make, he said. Its a significant commitment, its a long-term commitment, and weve invited the provinces to discuss with us to negotiate the best agreement within those financial parameters for their jurisdiction. The Liberal government offered a total of $196 billion in health-care transfers to the provinces on Feb. 7, of which $46 billion would be new money. The government has also defined a set of conditions to access the funding. To access their share of the federal funding, including the five percent CHT [Canadian Health Transfer] guarantee, provincial and territorial governments are asked to commit to improving how health information is collected, shared, used, and reported to promote greater transparency on results, and to help manage public health emergencies, said a statement issued by the prime minister on Feb. 7. The provinces budgeted $204 billion for health care in the current fiscal year and wanted the federal share to increase to 35 percentabout $28 billion annually. Instead, the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) was set at $45 billion, or about 22 percent, which works out to, on average, less than $5 billion in new funding a year. The federal government says that its bilateral deals with provinces already bring its share of the costs closer to 38 percent. Each province or territory will negotiate details under a bilateral agreement to identify specific priorities in each jurisdiction. COVID Spending According to LeBlanc, COVID is to blame for the shortfall in the health-care funding offer, stating the government stepped up massively and spent an additional $72 billion, much of which went to the provinces and territories for the health-care system, the cost of all of the vaccines. He said the federal government paid the provinces to administer the vaccines, we paid them to improve ventilation in schools and public buildings. As a result, he said, the governments fiscal position is different than it might have been four years ago. The kind of deficit we had five years ago was nothing compared to the deficit that we incurred because of COVID two years ago, and last year, and again this year, LeBlanc said. At a news conference of premiers following the meeting with Trudeau, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, chair of the Council of the Federation of Premiers, said the offer was disappointing. Its significantly less than we were looking for in terms of the baseline funding injection into the Canada Health Transfer, she said. The premiers still have to agree to any new accord with Ottawa and develop action plans describing how they will use the funding to improve their health care around four shared health priorities. These include family health care; health workforce and backlogs; mental health and substance use; and modernizing the health care system with standardized information and digital tools. The research is hard to ignore, vaccines can trigger autoimmunity with a laundry list of diseases to follow. With harmful and toxic metals as some vaccine ingredients, who is susceptible, and which individuals are more at risk? No one would accuse Yehuda Shoenfeld of being a quack. The Israeli clinician has spent more than three decades studying the human immune system and is at the pinnacle of his profession. You might say he is more foundation than fringe in his specialtyhe wrote the texts. The Mosaic of Autoimmunity, Autoantibodies, Diagnostic Criteria in Autoimmune Diseases, Infection, and Autoimmunity, Cancer and Autoimmunityis one of a list 25 titles long and some are cornerstones of clinical practice. Its hardly surprising that Shoenfeld has been called the Godfather of Autoimmunologythe study of the immune system turned on itself in a wide array of diseases from type 1 diabetes to ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis. But something strange is happening in the world of immunology lately and a small piece of evidence of it is that the Godfather of Autoimmunology is pointing to vaccinesspecifically, some of their ingredients including the toxic metal aluminumas a significant contributor to the growing global epidemic of autoimmune diseases. The bigger evidence is a huge body of research thats poured in over the past 15 years, and particularly in the past five years. Take for example, a recent article published in the journal Pharmacological Research in which Shoenfeld and colleagues issue unprecedented guidelines naming four categories of people who are most at risk for vaccine-induced autoimmunity. On one hand, vaccines prevent infections which can trigger autoimmunity, say the papers authors, Alessandra Soriano, of the Department of Clinical Medicine and Rheumatology at the Campus Bio-Medico University in Rome, Gideon Nesher, of the Hebrew University Medical School in Jerusalem, and Shoenfeld, founder and head of the Zabludowicz Center of Autoimmune Diseases in the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. He is also editor of three medical journals and author of more than 1,500 research papers across the spectrum of medical journalism and founder of the International Congress on Auto-immunology. On the other hand, many reports that describe post-vaccination autoimmunity strongly suggest that vaccines can indeed trigger autoimmunity. Defined autoimmune diseases that may occur following vaccinations include arthritis, lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) diabetes mellitus, thrombocytopenia, vasculitis, dermatomyositis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and demyelinating disorders. Almost all types of vaccines have been reported to be associated with the onset of ASIA. Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvantsor ASIA, (also known as Shoenfelds syndrome)first appeared in the Journal of Autoimmunology four years ago. It is an umbrella term for a collection of similar symptoms, including chronic fatigue syndrome, that result after exposure to an adjuvantan environmental agent including common vaccine ingredients that stimulate the immune system. Since then an enormous body of research, using ASIA as a paradigm, has begun to unravel the mystery of how environmental toxins, particularly the metal aluminum used in vaccines, can trigger an immune system chain reaction in susceptible individuals and may lead to overt autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disease results when the bodys systemmeant to attack foreign invadersturns instead to attack part of the body it belongs to (auto is Greek for self). If the immune system is like a national defense system, antibodies are like drones programmed to recognize a certain type of invader (a bacteria say) and to destroy them or mark them for destruction by other special forces. Autoantibodies are like drones that are misidentifying a component of the human body and have launched a sustained attack on it. If they mistakenly target a component of the conductive sheath around neurons, for example, nerve impulses stop conducting properly, muscles go into spasms and coordination fails, and multiple sclerosis results. If autoantibodies erroneously focus on joint tissue, rheumatoid arthritis results. If they target the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, type 1 diabetes, and so on. Throughout our lifetime the normal immune system walks a fine line between preserving normal immune reactions and developing autoimmune diseases, says the paper. The healthy immune system is tolerant to self-antigens. When self-tolerance is disturbed, dysregulation of the immune system follows, resulting in emergence of an autoimmune disease. Vaccination is one of the conditions that may disturb this homeostasis in susceptible individuals, resulting in autoimmune phenomena and ASIA. Who is susceptible is the subject of the paper titled, Predicting post-vaccination autoimmunity: Who might be at risk? It lists four categories of people: 1) Those who have had a previous autoimmune reaction to a vaccine, 2) Anyone with a medical history of autoimmunity, 3) Patients with a history of allergic reactions, 4) Anyone at high risk of developing autoimmune disease including anyone with a family history of autoimmunity, presence of autoantibodies which are detectable by blood tests and other factors including low vitamin D and smoking. Previous Reaction Regarding those who have had a previous adverse reaction to vaccines, the paper cites five relevant studies including the case of a death of a teenage girl six months following her third Gardasil injection against the HPV virus. She had experienced a range of symptoms shortly after her first dose, including dizziness, numbness, and tingling in her hands, and memory lapses. After her second injection, she developed intermittent arm weakness, frequent tiredness requiring daytime naps, worse tingling, night sweats, chest pain, and palpitations. A full autopsy was unrevealing but blood and spleen tissue analysis revealed HPV-16 L1 gene DNA fragmentsmatching the DNA found in vials of the Gardasil vaccine against cervical cancerthus implicating the vaccine as a causal factor. The DNA fragments had also been found to be complexed with the aluminum adjuvant which, according to the report, have been shown to persist for up to eight to 10 years causing chronic immune system stimulation. Although data is limited, Shoenfeld and his colleagues concluded, it seems preferable that individuals with prior autoimmune or autoimmune-like reactions to vaccinations, should not be immunized, at least not with the same type of vaccine. Established Autoimmune Condition The second group, which the paper cites for vaccine exemption, is patients with established autoimmune conditions. Vaccines dont work so well in them, say Shoenfeld and his colleagues, and they are at risk for flares following vaccination. Inoculations that contain live viruses including chickenpox, yellow fever, and the measles, mumps, and rubella triple vaccine are generally contraindicated for people with autoimmune conditions because of the risk of uncontrolled viral replication. But inactivated vaccines are not such a good idea either because they usually contain the added ingredient aluminum, linked to autoimmunity. The immunologists describe recent studies in which patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease given the influenza vaccine (without aluminum) suffered more joint pain and fever than controls and whose levels of autoantibodies (the drones that attack self) increased after receiving the flu vaccine. Whats more, they developed new types of autoantibodies that werent present before the vaccinesand those persisted. As the presence of autoantibodies can be predictive of developing autoimmune disease in patients without symptoms, even years ahead of disease onset, this is troubling to those who understand immunology. A number of studies claim vaccines are safe for the overwhelming majority of patients with established autoimmune diseases, the study allows, but they only looked at rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and not at severe and active cases so the potential benefit of vaccination should be weighed against its potential risk, they cautioned. Patients With a History of Allergy Vaccine trials have usually excluded vulnerable individualsonly extremely healthy individuals with no allergies are recruited. Its a selection bias, say Soriano and Shoenfeld, and has likely resulted in serious adverse events being considerably underestimated in real life where vaccines are mandated to all individuals regardless of their susceptibility. The true incidence of allergic reactions to vaccines, normally estimated at between one in 50,000 to one in a million doses, is probably much higher and particularly where gelatin or egg proteins are on the ingredients list, they say. Theres a long list of vaccine ingredients that are potential allergens: Besides the infectious agents themselves, there are those from hens egg, horse serum, bakers yeast, numerous antibiotics, formaldehyde, and lactose, as well inadvertent ingredients such as latex. Peoples allergic histories have to be taken before vaccination say the researchers. But some signs of reaction dont show up until after the shot. The public health nurse or general practitioner might tell patients that a long-lasting swelling around the injection site after a vaccine is a normal reaction, for example. But that is not what the immunologists say. [A]luminum sensitization manifests as nodules [hard lumps] at the injection site that often regress after weeks or months, but may persist for years. In such cases, they say, a patch test can be done to confirm sensitivity and to avoid vaccination. According to a growing body of research, though, allergy may be only the beginning of many dangerous aluminum-induced phenomena. The Trouble With Aluminum Aluminum has been added to vaccines since about 1926 when Alexander Glenny and colleagues noticed it would produce better antibody responses in vaccines than the antigen alone. Glenny figured the alum was inducing what he called a depot effectslowing the release of the antigen and heightening the immune response. For 60 years his theory was accepted dogma. And over the same time, the vaccine schedule grew decade on decade, but few ever questioned the effects of injecting aluminum into the body, which is strange considering its known toxicity. A PubMed search on aluminum and toxicity turns up 4,258 entries. Its neurotoxicity is well documented. It affects memory, cognition, psychomotor control, damages the blood-brain barrier, activates brain inflammation, depresses mitochondrial functionand plenty of research suggests it is a key player in the formation of the amyloid plaques and tangles in the brains of Alzheimers patients. Its been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and autism and demonstrated to induce allergy. When kidney dialysis patients were accidentally infused with aluminum, the dialysis-induced encephalopathy they developed neurological symptomsspeech abnormalities, tremors, memory loss, impaired concentration, and behavioral changes. Many of the patients eventually went into comas and died. The lucky ones survivedwhen the source of toxicity, aluminum, was removed from their dialysis they recovered rapidly. With these new observations, researchers began investigating the adjuvant effects of aluminum and in the past decade, there has been a flurry of research. Far from being a sandbag that holds the antigen for a while and then gets excreted, it turns out that aluminum salts trigger a storm of defense action. Within hours of injection of the same aluminum oxy-hydroxide in vaccines into mice, for example, armies of specialized immune cells are on the move, calling in grid coordinates for more specialist assault forces. Within a day, a whole host of immune system commandos are in playneutrophils, eosinophils, inflammatory monocytes, myeloid and dendritic cells, activating lymphocytes and secreting proteins called cytokines. The cytokines themselves cause collateral damage but they send out signals, directing cell-to-cell communication and recruiting other cells into action. If the next phase of the attack is launchedfibroblast growth factor, interferons, interleukins, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor and tumor necrosis factor might all be engaged. Theres evidence that poorly understood and pesky inflammasomes, (currently a topic of cutting-edge cancer causation research) such as the NOD-like receptor 3 are activated too, but its all still too early to say exactly what theyre doing. New research emerging from the University of British Columbia has found that aluminum adjuvant injected into mice can alter the expression of genes associated with autoimmunity. And in their recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, immunologists at the University of Colorado found that even host DNA is recruited into the aluminum assault, that it rapidly coats injected alum, triggering effects that scientists have barely scratched the surface of understanding. The Significance of Macrophagic Myofasciitis This mobility or translocation of aluminum in the body is perhaps the most disturbing of the mounting evidence in current aluminum research. In 1998, French researcher Romain Gherardi and his colleagues observed an emerging condition of unknown origin that presented in patients post-vaccination with chronic fatigue-like symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, joint and muscle pain, and exhaustion. Tissue biopsies of the patients deltoid revealed lesions up to 1 cm in diameter and unique from similar lesions of other diseases. They went to the lab for analysis and to Gherardis astonishment, they mainly consisted of macrophageslarge white blood cells in the immune system whose job is to swallow up foreign invaders in the body. Enclosed in the cellular fluid of these phagocytes were agglomerates of nanocrystals of aluminum. Gherardi and his colleagues began injecting mice with aluminum to see what happened. Their research published in 2013 revealed that the metal particles were engulfed by macrophages and formed MMF [magnetomotive force]-like granulomas that dispersedto distant lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and eventually the brain. This strongly suggests that long-term adjuvant biopersistence within phagocytic cells is a prerequisite of slow brain translocation and delayed neurotoxicity, writes Gherardi in his February 2015 review of the relevant research in Frontiers in Neurology. A more frightening animal study of aluminum is that of Spanish veterinary researcher Lluis Lujans study of ovine ASIA. After huge numbers of sheep in Spain died in 2008 in the wake of a compulsory multiple-vaccine campaign against bluetongue in Spain in 2008, Lujan set out to find out what killed themand he began by inoculating them with aluminum. His 2013 study found that only 0.5 percent of sheep inoculated with aluminum vaccines showed immediate reactions of lethargy, transient blindness, stupor, prostration, and seizurescharacterized by a severe meningoencephalitis, similar to post-vaccine reactions seen in humans. Most of them recovered, temporarily, but postmortem exams of the ones who didnt revealed acute brain inflammation. The delayed onset chronic phase of the disease affected far more of the sheep5070 percent of flocks and sometimes virtually 100 percent of animals within a given flock, usually including all of those who had previously recovered. The reaction was frequently triggered by exposure to cold and began with restlessness and compulsive wool-biting, then progressed to acute redness of the skin, generalized weakness, extreme weight loss, and muscle tremors, and finally, entered the terminal phase where the animals went down on their front quarters, became comatose and died. Post-mortem examinations revealed severe neuron necrosis and aluminum in the nerve tissue. The immune systems reaction to aluminum represents a major health challenge, Gherardi declares in his recent review, and he adds that attempts to seriously examine safety concerns raised by the bio-persistent character and brain accumulation of alum particles have not been made A lot must be done to understand how, in certain individuals, alum-containing vaccines may become insidiously unsafe. Back to the problem of which certain individuals should avoid vaccination to avoid autoimmune disease. People Prone to Develop Autoimmunity Soriano and Shoenfeld identify a final categoryanyone at risk of developing autoimmune disease. Since a number of them have been shown to have genetic factors that would include anyone with a family history of autoimmune disease. It also includes anyone who has tested positive for autoantibodies which can indicate disease years before symptoms show up. Vaccinations, the doctors say, may trigger or worsen the disease. Smokers too, have an exceptionally high risk of developing an autoimmune disease, says the report. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 18 percent of Americans smoke. That means about 42 million Americans have an elevated risk of developing an autoimmune disease and theyre stacking the odds with every vaccine. And finally, factors that Shoenfeld and Soriano associate with high risk of developing autoimmunity are high estrogen and low vitamin Dwhich means anyone taking birth control or hormone replacement therapy and, according to one 2009 study of vitamin D status, about three-quarters of American teens and adults should be wary of vaccines. Shoenfeld doesnt seem to mean to exclude all of these people from immunization, however. The paper concludes that for the overwhelming majority of individuals, vaccines carry no risk of systemic autoimmune disease and should be administered according to current recommendations. Which is in stark contrast to the body of the paper. The final word is cautionary about weighing the potential benefit of vaccination against its potential risk. Its exemplary of a strange sort of schizophrenia in a wide range of recent immunology papers. The doctors seem to be trying to reconcile a century of safe and effective vaccine dogma with the last decades worth of terrifying research findings. Theres a lot of on the one hand and on the other hand in them. The new research seems about to gain the upper hand, however. A 2013 overview of ASIA by six immunologists including Shoenfeld, for example, is a catalog of vaccine side effects from Gardasil deaths, narcolepsy epidemics, infertility, chronic fatigue, dead sheep, and aluminum-addled brains. It is rife with statements that would have been virtually unheard of inside mainstream medicine a decade ago. Like this shocker: Perhaps, in twenty years, physicians will be dueling with better-characterized particles of autoimmunity, and the vaccines may become fully safe as well as effective. Nonetheless, the recognition of ASIA has initiated the change to put more efforts in identifying the good, the bad, and the ugly of vaccines and in particular of adjuvants as triggers of autoimmunity. Bad and ugly of vaccines? Whats wrong with the adjuvants? Thats not in the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] hand-out. Or how about this one: Despite the huge amount of money invested in studying vaccines, there are few observational studies and virtually no randomized clinical trials documenting the effect on mortality of any of the existing vaccines. One recent paper found an increased hospitalization rate with the increase of the number of vaccine doses and a mortality rate ratio for 58 vaccine doses to 14 doses of 1.5, indicating a statistically significant increase of deaths associated with higher vaccine doses. Since vaccines are given to millions of infants annually, it is imperative that health authorities have scientific data from synergistic toxicity studies on all combinations of vaccines That could be any anti-vaxxer jabbering on but its not. But here is the topper: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that vaccines makers are immune from lawsuits charging that the design of the vaccine is defective. Thus there is need for innovative clinical trial design and the vaccines themselves should be redesigned. Immunologists including the worlds leading authority on autoimmunity are saying it is time to take vaccines back to the drawing board. Autoimmune disease is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is now among the top 10 killers of young American women. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association estimates that 50 million Americans suffer from one of 88 autoimmune diseasesfrom type 1 diabetes to systemic lupus erythematosusand some research puts the figure at one in five globally. At least 40 more diseases are suspected to be immune-mediated. Most of them are devastatingfrequently crippling, expensive to treat, and incurable. And they are increasing at an astonishing pace. At this stage, it looks like the more the research pours in, the harder it is going to get for pro-vaccine immunologists to keep multiple personality disorderor complete nervous breakdownat bay. Ten years of cutting-edge research into aluminums effects on the immune system has revealed primarily how wrong they were. And how little they know. If, after 90 years, doctors finally have begun to seriously examine the mechanism and question the merits of injecting metal toxins into newborn babies, what have they yet to discover? ASIA sounds awful. (Too bad for all the people whose kids suffered through chronic fatigue when it was just a Freudian yearning to sleep with their mother.) But what if, like Lujans sheep, the negligible minority that has been paying the price for the good of humanity is actually only the tip of the iceberg? What if some people with no apparent adverse immune reactions still have nanocrystals of aluminum silently depositing in their brains? What if ASIA really includes Alzheimers? ALS, autism? ADD? And thats just the As. Even if immunologists keep wearing their rose-colored glasses, and vaccine ingredients are only responsible for a tiny fraction of the exploding autoimmunity, the ugly in vaccines will still get harder and harder to ignore. When everyone on the planet is getting injected, 20 years is a long time for disabled people to stack up while scientists duel with the characterized particles of autoimmunity. Time is running out for doctors and researchers who see the bad and ugly side of vaccines and their adjuvants to do something about it. Republished from GreenMedInfo.com 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. What is the role of science? If science has matured to the point where it can change nature, should it? In the 21st century, society has come to the point where they have allowed the scientific endeavor to operate under the premise that if a scientist can do something, he or she should be able to do that thing. I will say it outright. This is wrong and in some cases it is immoral. As an example, lets take the trans movement. This group of people believes that they have the right to change the biological reality of gender through the use of science and medicine. That scientists and physicians, working with the trans movement, have the right to remold society, to the point where gender is considered by many to be a fluid concept. This movement has found willing partners (and financial beneficiaries) in physicians, biotech, hospitals, big-tech, and pharma who have profited tremendously from this movement by providing drugs, surgeries, and services to the trans individual. The concept of gender fluidity has been pushed on societies and nations across the world in a harmonized and coordinated fashion. This has morphed into the idea that it is a governments duty to teach children, starting as soon as they are able to conceptualize gender, that gender is something that can be changed through the use of surgery, drugs, hormones, education, behavioral training, and conditioning. That it is the right of every child to move from one gender to another, regardless of the long-term consequences to individual health, longevity, happiness, and the family structure. This concept of gender fluidity is tearing apart the very fabric of society without any evaluation of the scientific progress that has made it possible for this new concept to be pushed to the mainstream. Even worse, these globalized efforts have been highjacked by transnational corporations, who are making billions off of pharmaceutical products to support what are largely scientific experiments being conducted on a massive scale on humanity across the world. Sound familiar? Where have we seen this mentality and medical (non)ethics before? This should not ever have been the role of science or medicine to enable this. It is evil, truly evil. Creating a large minority of the population to look, act, speak, and behave as a different gender is an experiment. It involves trying to change the very nature of biology. Physicians who are prescribing drugs to suppress hormones as well as the hormones themselves, to create an illusion of a different gender, are violating a sacred oath to do no harm. Physicians who are performing cutting edge surgeries that involve removing and modifying genitalia are harming people. It needs to stop. In 2002, the results of a large relevant study were reported in a paper titled: Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: Principal results from the Womens Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. The results of this study literally shut down hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the United States and elsewhere for many years. All it took was a study to highlight the small increases in cardiac, stroke, and cancer rates in women taking HRT to shut down an entire industry. It wasnt until many years later that safer formulations, at decreased dosages, entered the marketplace again. The truth is that even small amounts of excess hormones can negatively impact the body in myriad ways. Yet, without any long-term studies and irregardless of consequences, there is a revolution in progress that seeks to change men to women and women to men. This is irresponsible and wrong, and the long-term medical harm is unknown. Sound familiar? Where have we seen this mentality and medical (non)ethics before? A brief analysis of the hormone suppression drugs, hormones, as well as a multitude of other drugs being administered to gender fluid individuals is horrifying. As we all know, these medications arent just being prescribed to adults, they are also being administered to children. Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine: Department of Medicine has published Practical Guidelines for Transgender Hormone Treatment, which is frankly shocking. The drugs listed in the guidelines have a myriad of side effects and adverse events. No one seems to care. But this is just one example. Other examples include: The injections of baby blood products into a wealthy elite population, so that they can live longer is occurring across the world. Gain of function research to create new and different viruses continues throughout the world at a break-neck pace. Bioweapons development programs continue, with almost no oversight. The agricultural science of factory farming, which has created breeding grounds for new viruses and toxic bacterial strains, has become normalized. Then there are the weather modification programs, which governments are utilizing with increasing frequencies. There is even talk that head transplant research in humans continues to be conducted in China. Science knows no bounds. Literally, it has no bounds. No moral or ethical guardrails. Is a lack of morality in science an immorality? I believe resoundingly, the answer is yes. There is no Hippocratic oath for scientists or science. Yet, science has radically changed culture, society, nature, biology, and even the world. Science and scientists act as if the practice and practitioners of Science were a Godlike entity, free of moral constraints. The ethics of Science (or Scientism) have all too often been twisted to seek to replace the role of God in society. Science and scientists need a declaration of appropriate behavior and guidance. A code of ethics. A tradition of do no harm. I fully understand that this oath has not stopped some physicians from doing harm, but at least it is something and it acts as a partial barrier between good and evil, that has stood the test of time. Just because something can be done, does not mean that it should be done. Pandora opened a jar left in her care containing sickness, death, and many other unspecified evils which were then released into the world. In the absence of clear accepted boundaries between the possible and the ethical, once Pandoras box has been opened, it becomes impossible to reverse the consequences. Scientific endeavors designed to describe and illuminate the amazingly intricate complexity of the physical world, and to define and describe the truth therein, are essential to comprehending and interacting with that world in a responsible manner. Scientific endeavors seeking to enable modification of man and the natural world, to enable a transhuman fourth industrial revolution where man and machine become one, where man assumes control of his own evolution via synthetic means, these types of activities must have guardrails. Man is not God. Those who advocate for a second bite of the apple demonstrate a profound, narcissistic lack of wisdom and perspective. It only takes one Pandora to destroy paradise. As both Robert Oppenheimer and Robert Malone have learned, once the genie has left the bottle, the Jinn travels on the wind and can never be returned. The consequences cannot be predicted. 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. Holocaust Survivor Sees Parallels Between Nazi Germany and Approach to COVID Pandemic A man shows his COVID-19 "Super Green Pass" before getting on a train on the day Italy brings in tougher rules for the unvaccinated, at Termini main train station in Rome, Italy, on Jan. 10, 2022. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters) Holocaust survivor, Vera Sharav, directed a documentary series drawing parallels between what happened under the Nazi regime in the 1930s and the recent policies under COVID-19. Sharavs first film, Never Again is Now Global, was launched on Jan. 30. It is a five-part series of interviews with holocaust survivors as well as children and grandchildren of survivors and German people drawing on their grandparents stories. It didnt begin as a series, Sharav told The Epoch Times. I felt that what I was feeling, and seeing, and observing was too reminiscent of what I call the prelude to the Holocaust. So she decided to see if there were other survivors who were observing what she was observing. It turned out to be a five-and-a-half-hour series because what the people were saying had to be documented, Sharav said. This was not done as a commercial venture. This was done really as a lesson. Sharav said she had no script and no preconceived objective. I wanted to see where it would go. The people who participated in the documentary did so because they just wanted to talk, she said. They had a very heavy heart, and they wanted to tell what they know, and how theyre viewing all this. I Was Right Not to Obey Sharav was born in Romania in April 1937. In 1941 her family was deported and herded into a concentration camp in Ukraine. Sharavs father died there before she was five of typhus, which was raging in all the ghettos and concentration camps at the time. That concentration camp was not a death camp but a transit camp where they were left to starve. But the fear of being put on a list to be sent to a death camp was always hovering over everyone. So it was a constant state of fear, of course cold, and starvation, Sharav said at the beginning of the first episode. Sharavs mother learned that there was going to be a rescue of some orphan children. So she lied and put Sharav on an orphan list to save her life. Sharav left on a cattle train where she befriended a family. When they got to the harbor city, there were three small boats waiting to take them. They had lists assigning people, each one to their assigned boat. Sharav was assigned to the boat with the orphaned children, but she refused and would not budge. Everybody boarded and Sharav was left alone. Eventually, she was able to get on the boat with the family that she had wanted to be with. During the night, a submarine torpedoed the boat carrying the orphaned children. None of them survived. I was right not to obey, Sharav said in the film. Thats a lesson that I think has kind of made who I am. She arrived in the United States in January 1948. Parallels to the COVID Policies The policies enacted against COVID-19 were the most audacious crime against humanity said Sharav to The Epoch Times, and this time they werent targeting just one group. Jews were not the focus but the paradigm is the same. Its just that its global. Vera Sharav in New York City in 2022. (Courtesy of Vera Sharav) People were being told one thing after the other which was very harmful both in terms of psychological health and biological health, she said. The lockdowns and the isolation were the worst things according to Sharav. Government restrictions were heavy handed, not allowing people to enter public places including restaurants and concerts. People needed to show a green passport, which had the effect of separating those who would obey and were rewarded, from the people who chose not to listen to government but to their own reasoning, said Sharav. In that situation people start rationalizing well, its not so bad, she said. We could shop in a different shop. We dont have to go to the major market. We dont have to go to the movie. The children dont have to go to these schools, and it goes on and on. During the lockdowns in various places there were people who called the police to tell on their neighbor when people werent allowed to go out after curfew, Sharav said. What does that remind one of? As for masking mandates theres never been any science or any health model to show that masks protect anyone from a virus, said Sharav. They are a symbol of shame and slavery, she said. Slaves had to wear masks. Not these masks, but masks. It is a symbol, the equivalent symbol of the yellow star. Some people are offended that Sharav would compare the holocaust to COVID-19 policies. I am not being radical, she said. This comes from very deep pain, to see that that is what has happened in these 80 years or so. One of the issues is that most people, including Jews, including Israelis, do not really know the history, Sharav said. And the history is that Hitler took over control in January 1933. The final solution didnt begin until 1942. In between, there were many phases that strangled Jewsfirst, into ghettos, and then all their assets were removed, Sharav said. Only in 1938 did the borders close, which trapped the Jews. Until then, they had time to leave Europe. But they didnt. The tragedy was also that the Jewish leadership mislead people and told them just obey, everything will be alright, this will be over, said Sharav. Thats how they got trapped. All these COVID-19 measures really reminded me of some very ominous signs, she said. Now the technology is far more advanced, Nazis could only dream of the kind of digital IDs that governments now have, said Sharav. If people agree to become an ID [number] instead of their identity. Thats it. That is the worst weapon. It comes straight out from the tattoo number. Those tattoos were IBM identification numbers. Now, do most people know that? she asked. Edwin Black, one interviewee in the documentary, is the author of IBM and the Holocaust published in 2001. He argued that the numbers the Nazis tattooed on prisoners began as five-digit IBM Hollerith numbers. Hollerith tabulators were machines that sorted data on punch cards and were used to identify and track Jewish residents of the country. In a 2001 statement, the company acknowledged the use of its equipment by the Nazis: IBM and its employees around the world find the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime abhorrent and categorically condemn any actions which aided their unspeakable acts. It has been known for decades that the Nazis used Hollerith equipment and that IBMs German subsidiary during the 1930sDeutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH (Dehomag)supplied Hollerith equipment. Dehomag came under the control of Nazi authorities prior to and during World War II. Propaganda Feeds the Fear In the second episode of her documentary series, Sharav tells about the loss of her son, Amichai, who died of a reaction to a prescribed drug. Well, you know, the personal tragedy of that I cant really talk about that. But what I can talk about is what it taught me, she said. The drug that killed him was marketed as the magic bullet to cure his condition. His death led Sharav into the advocacy work she has been doing for decades. Sharav founded the Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP), which has a mission to ensure that the moral right of voluntary medical decision-making is upheld. The organization also endeavors to actively counter widely disseminated false claims that exaggerate the benefits of medical interventions, while minimizing risks, according to the AHRPs website. The heavy handedness of the governments COVID-19 policies dictating suddenly how to live your life and the barrage of the single narrative didnt ring right, Sharav said in the film. As time went on, it became apparent to her that people were sort of pushed as a herd. Those who are responsible for the pandemic have used two of the weapons that the Nazis used, which was fear and propaganda, she said, adding, propaganda feeds the fear. In the Nazi regime, the fear was against Jews who were accused of being spreaders of infectious disease. The government in the time of the Nazis had totally taken over medicine and they were the ones that drew up the protocols for the genocide, Sharav said in the film. In March and April of 2020 governments all over Western Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia issued directives that included lockdown and isolation policies and the forced usage of masks. These policies were followed by mandated vaccination in many places the following year. Long before COVID-19, Sharav saw the connection with the so-called umbrella of public health. Private doctors are not allowed to treat patients according to their professional judgment, using fully licensed FDA medicines, said Sharav. Why are they only allowed to use what is government dictated? she asked. What kind of superior authority or knowledge do government bureaucrats have over real scientists, real doctors, who abide by the Hippocratic oath which is to first do no harm to the individual? Public health is not about the individual, said Sharav. The major problem is that when the individual is no longer regarded as the most important consideration moral standards go by the wayside, and thats what were witnessing. Sharav dedicated the documentary series to Vladimir Zelenko, a Jewish doctor from New York. He was a third generation relative of a holocaust survivor, who has since passed away. Zelenko said in the movie that he saw early on in the COVID-19 pandemic that any doctor who spoke against the government narrative was immediately deplatformed, adding that the only thing that was relevant was the narrative that the government wanted you to know. Anything that gave people hope, whether it was hydroxychloroquine, or later Ivermectin, or even just a simple concept of early treatment, which is common sense, was marginalized, vilified, he said. Holocaust Is Used Like a Club Andrew Bridgen, who was a Conservative Member of Parliament in the UK, was suspended from his Party earlier this year after he posted a tweet comparing COVID-19 policies to the Holocaust. As one consultant cardiologist said to me this is the biggest crime against humanity since the holocaust, he posted on Twitter in a since-deleted tweet. I agree completely with him, said Sharav. And the ones who removed him from the conservative party were using the Holocaust to discredit him, she said. What they really threw him out for was a speech that he delivered earlier that outlined the scientific evidence about the excess deaths the injections were doing to the UK population, according to Sharav. They didnt want a Member of Parliament to be able just to tell the truth, she said, so they used the Holocaust as a way to defame him. The Holocaust is used like a club to bash people, which is outrageous said Sharav. Its come about because those who consider themselves to be the gatekeepers of the Holocaust, decide what youre allowed to say and what youre not allowed to say, she said. On Jan. 30, twenty-five Jewish scientists, doctors, and researchers from Israel, the UK, Canada, and the United States sent a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in protest of Bridgens suspension. Weaponization of the important issue of antisemitism for these purposes is particularly objectionable and disrespectful towards its victims, the authors wrote. The letter said the UK parliament seized upon the opportunity to raise the issue of antisemitism in order to limit the free speech of those who raise legitimate concerns about the efficacy and safety of these COVID vaccines and their mandating or coercion, which breached many well-established ethical norms. The authors asked Sunak to withdraw the accusations of antisemitism leveled at Bridgen. What Makes Us Civilized Sharav said she hopes that people today would draw on their experience and their intuition and not delegate their choices to government authorities. Adults have responsibility, and people are allowed to make choices, she said. This is God given, not government given, and we can choose to do good or evil and we can choose to be responsible or to delegate our lives to whatever the experts say, said Sharav. You have to go by human values and moral principles. Thats what holds the society together. Thats what makes us civilized, she said. The Nazis obliterated all moral values. The Nazis and Stalin denigrated parents because they wanted the children to look up to the authorities according to Sharav, either the Komsomolthe All-Union Leninist Young Communist League in the Soviet Unionor the Nazi youth league. But the family unit is the most important, she said. That is basic. Parents look after their children. The state never takes care of them. If people use their God-given brain to put the dots together, they stop obeying, said Sharav. They realize this is against their interest and against their family. The Nazi system said Sharav was to relegate some people to be worthy and other people to be unworthy. In Europe, they were called Jews, and now they are called the unvaccinated, Sharav said. This is the most dangerous poisonous virus that continues to infect. And none of this is going to go away unless we all resist. Thats the messagethe importance of resistance, Sharav said. Just resist, resist with all your might. Because if you dont, there will be a time very quickly where you wont be able to. House GOP: Fix Critical Mineral Shortage Biden 'rush-to-green' policies hike demand for minerals, products that fed regulations prevent US industry from providing Artisanal miners carry sacks of ore at the Shabara artisanal cobalt mine near Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Oct. 12, 2022. (Junior Kannah/AFP via Getty Images) The Biden administrations rush-to-green energy policies designed to create a net-zero carbon power sector by 2035 are causing economic upheaval and making the United States reliant on imported minerals and products, including from China, several witnesses warned during nearly 10 hours of hearings before House committees Feb. 7-9 in Washington. While promising utopia, critics say the administration is steaming ahead in pushing electric vehicles (EVs), for instance, without a domestic supply chain to support it, inducing demand for imported lithium and EV batteries. China controls more than 80 percent of the global markets for raw lithium and batteries, making the Chinese Communist Party among beneficiaries of Bidens energy policies, witnesses and Republican panel members agreed. Meanwhile, the demand for minerals key to emerging technologies is set to explode by 2040. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), demand for lithium will grow 40 times; for graphite, cobalt, nickel 2025 times; for copper by 200 percent; with rare earth elements to see three to seven times higher demand. Many of these mineralsand much of the capacity to develop themare controlled by adversaries like China and Russia, Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) said. We cannot stake our future on certain technologies that then rely on our adversaries for the minerals and mineral-processing needed to develop them. These rush-to-green energy policies are unsustainable and lead to greater reliance on countries like Russia, or in our case, China, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) said. This is not a future any of us want. The U.S. must focus on supplying these materials at home, as well as restoring domestic smelting, refining, and processing capabilities, National Mining Association (NMA) Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Katie Sweeney said. Mineral security is energy security. Steenkampskraal (SKK) rare-earth mine, about 50 miles from the Western Cape town of Vanrhynsdorp in South Africa. (Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images) GOPs New Agenda The NMA, which represents more than 275 mining and hard rock companies, is among organizations lobbying for adoption of the proposed Securing Americas Critical Minerals Supply Act, which seeks to secure a domestic critical minerals supply chain all the way back to the mine. The act is the flagship legislation among bills dealing with strategic minerals and mining introduced by Republicans since January. One prohibits importation of Russian uranium, others call for permitting reform and loosening regulations related to critical or strategic minerals in the Clean Air, Toxic Substances Control, and Solid Waste Disposal acts. The critical minerals bills are part of a 17-bill package introduced by Republicans and discussed during hearings before the House Energy & Commerce Committee on Feb. 7, Natural Resource Committee on Feb. 8, and Natural Resources Committees Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee on Feb. 9. Congressional reps wont return to the capitol until Feb. 27 following consecutive district work weeks. The concerted GOP push to unleash the nations domestic energy production is not pausing during the break, but hitting the road with public hearings across the country, including the Natural Resources Committees Energy & Mineral Resources Subcommittees Federal Energy Production Supports Local Communities hearing at the University of Texas campus Feb. 13 in Midland, Texas. This March 2019 photo shows a worker manning a furnace during the nickel smelting process at Indonesian mining company PT Vales smelting plant in Soroako, South Sulawesi. (BANNU MAZANDRA/AFP via Getty Images) Rhetoric Vs. Reality Sweeney said the United States has the resources and the industrial capacity to meet domestic needs as well as become an exporter of many critical minerals, but after a decade of dithering over how to develop that foundational supply chain, little has been done. In fact, she said, Despite the rhetoric around securing our mineral supply chains, we are at a crisis point. In 2022, the U.S. reached its highest recorded mineral import reliance in its history. Imports now constitute more than one-half of 51 non-fuel mineral commodities consumed in the United States, up from 47 commodities that met that metric in 2021, Sweeney said. Mark Menezes, who served as U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary in the Trump administration, testified that, The U.S. relies on imports for 31 of the 35 critical minerals necessary for Americas defense and economy14 of which we are totally dependent on imports. Therefore, Sweeney said, As we enter the most mineral-intensive era in human history, [the U.S.] needs to focus on securing domestic supply chains all the way to the mines. Those who control these critical materials and possess the processing and manufacturing know-how will hold the balance of industrial power in the 21st century. Citing the surging demand for EV batteries reinforcing reliance on China and the United States lack of domestic production, she said American automakers are among domestic industries imperiled by the Biden administrations energy policies. Automakers understand that truth, and worry that the coming battery mineral shortfall will decimate the EV revolution, Sweeney said. A rare earth mine in the Baiyunebo mining district of Baotou in north Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (AP Photo, File) Imports Up, Industry Idles The estimated value of U.S. metal mine production in 2022 was $34.7 billion, 6 percent lower than the revised value in 2021, Sweeney said. In 2022, the U.S. mining industrys capacity utilization was 61 percent, leaving a lot of unused assets not producing, she added. There is an estimated $6.2 trillion worth of mineral resources here in the United States that could meet these needs, including lithium and uranium, she said, noting with further mapping all the time, theres more likely to be found. But rather than encourage a highly trained and highly compensated workforce to tap into these resources under world-class environmental and safety standards, Sweeney said the Biden administration has hamstrung the nations mining industry with burdensome regulations and permitting complexities. Without permitting reform, the U.S. will be watching the global competition for energy dominance from the sidelines she said, and each new announcement of a blocked mine, such as Twin Metals Project in Minnesota, or [canceled] foreign sourcing agreements with countries because of a host of issues, locks in our position of competitive weakness. Sweeney cited several examples of federal land-use and environmental regulations nixing mining projects, including recently locking up more than 225,000 acres in federal Forest Service lands from mining for two decades, and terminating 60-year-old federal leases in areas with the nations largest reserves of nickel, cobalt, copper, platinum, and palladium. These decisions could only be described at best as short-sighted and at worst self-sabotage if domestic energy security is the objective, she said. This must stop, Johnson agreed, accusing the Biden administration of promising utopia while prohibiting our own mineral production, like canceling leases for nickel mines in Minnesota, lithium mines in Nevada, and rescinding a land swap necessary for a copper mine in Arizona. Crews with heavy construction equipment work at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center 15 miles east of Sparks, Nev., where Tesla Motors, Inc. plans to build a 6,500 worker gigafactory to mass produce cheaper lithium batteries for its next line of more-affordable electric cars. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner) Permitting, Regulatory Reform Menezes said among initiatives in the proposed Securing Americas Critical Minerals Supply Act is amending the DOEs organizational structure to designate an agency with clear authority to address securing the supply of critical energy resources necessary to develop energy technologies and the operation of energy systems. This bill is a needed clarification of DOEs responsibility and leadership throughout the interagency process, he said, noting another proposed measure would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator to waive requirements, sanctions, fees, with respect to processing or refining of critical energy resources at a critical energy resource facility, and for other purposes. Congress and federal agencies must also focus on the industrial capacity to process minerals and metals, a domestic industry that has been regulated into paralysis, he said. While plenty of attention is on the supply chains of critical minerals, we mustnt forget that, as a nation, we should continue to ensure the operation of our critical energy facilities producing our critical energy resources during emergencies and threats to our energy security, Menezes said. Congress has recognized the importance and efficiency of executive agency action necessary to ensure the speedy recovery from natural disasters. Other bills address administrative bottlenecks in several key environmental laws, including the 1972 Clean Air Act, that Sweeney and others said would allow the nations mining industry to produce the materials necessary for robust and independent energy generation. Permitting delays have been, and continue to be, one of the most significant risks to meeting domestic mineral production goals, she said. As the permitting process for important projects across the U.S. drags on, geopolitical rivals are taking advantage of our bureaucratic inertia. A Controlled Thermal Resources drilling rig in Calipatria, Calif., in December 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Time to Get Digging Sweeney said opening or expanding a mine in the United States typically involves multiple agencies and tens or even hundreds of permitting processes at the local, state and federal levels over an average of seven-to-10 years. The process comes with little transparency into status, delays arising from duplication among federal and state agencies, an absence of firm timelines for completing environmental assessments, and failures in coordination of responsibilities between various agencies, she said, noting it takes less than three years to process similar permits under similar environmental rules in Australia and Canada. The NMA believes that valid concerns about environmental protection should be fully considered and addressed but permitting processes should not serve as an excuse to trap mining projects in a limbo of duplicative, unpredictable, endless, and costly review without a decision point, Sweeney said. She agreed with Menezes in noting the bills dont just seek to unchain the nations mining industry but seek to improve supply chain security by allowing for more smelting, processing, and refining capabilities in the United States necessary to claw back these essential processes from geopolitical adversaries like China, which controls more than 80 percent of global rare earth element production, nearly 90 percent of global mineral processing capabilities as well as the market prices for rare earth elements at each step of the process. Demand for lithium and cobalt will skyrocket 3040 percent in less than two decades, Johnson said. This is hard to comprehend. The bottom line is, we need a lot more mining and a lot more mines. We can do that with the right permitting in place. We need the right policies in place to unblock that potential, Sweeney said. Were not asking for shortcuts, were asking for a more transparent, predictable process. We have to bring battery production here. To do that, we have to solve these things and we dont have much time. Superintendent Dr. Arturo Almendarez from Calallen Independent School District, speaks about how his district has bottles of water for students in December 2016, in Corpus Christi, Texas, after the citys water system was contaminated with petroleum-based chemicals. (Gabe Hernandez/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via AP) Fast-Tracking Criticism Committee Democrats and several witnesses claimed the bills propose ways to skirt regulations with solutions that dont address shortfalls in critical minerals but merely reinstall gas and oil as the dominant source of energy generation. Several of the bills would create new loopholes in important environmental laws, Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) said, noting the 17-bill slate is to be fast-tracked with little concerns for Americans air, water, and safety. Few bills of the 17 we have here today actually establish a definition of critical energy sources, Earthjustice Legislative Director for Healthy Communities Raul Garcia said. What they actually say is, Lets leave that definition up to the Secretary of Energy. Thats a Trojan horse. That means everything can suddenly become a critical energy source depending on the whim of a bureaucrat. Garcia cited a proposed amendment to the Toxic Substances Control Act that would have us consider the economic impacts, the economic costs, when determining if a substance is toxic or not. That makes so little sense, he said, its bound to be lethal. That would mean, if we put poison in three cups of water, we are going to drink them all and figure out what the economic costs would are going to be to us of drinking three cups of water with poison in them, he said. So, he concluded, another question I have to the proponents of the bill is, What is the cost of a human life? What is the cost that poison is going to inflict on a human being? We havent talked about [risks] here yet, so that is what I think we need to focus on in this committee because these bills failflat-out failto do that. House Intelligence Committee Leaders Question Biden Admin Over Objects Shot Down Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) speaks during a press conference on the 2023 Fiscal Year at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Dec. 14, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) The top Republican and Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee on Feb. 12 expressed their concerns over how the Biden administration has communicated with Congress over shooting down aerial objects. Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said the administration needs to provide timely briefings for lawmakers. This is particularly annoying about this administration. The Biden administration needs to stop briefing Congress through our television sets and actually come and sit down and brief us, Turner told CNNs State of the Union. What were seeing here is a number of announcements by the administration without any real information being given to Congress, Turner continued. This could be because they dont have any information. From the press conference we saw, it does seem like they took this action without a real understanding for what they were going after. Turner suggested that there should be more engagement between the Biden administration and Congress. Probably theyre a little hesitant after the Chinese balloon fiasco, where they let it go across the country, to great criticism, bipartisan and bicameral criticism from Congress, Turner added. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) questions witnesses on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 21, 2019. (Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images) Separately, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the committees ranking member, expressed concern about the Biden administration not being more forthcoming about the objects shot down over Alaska and Canadas Yukon territory. I have real concerns about why the administration is not being more forthcoming with everything that it knows, but part of the problem here is that both the second and the third objects were shot down in very remote areas, Himes told NBCs Meet the Press. Himes added that the Gang of Eightthe four congressional leaders from the House and Senate and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Select Committees on Intelligencegot a very extensive briefing on the Chinese spy balloon. Then subsequently, the entire Congress got a top-secret briefing on it. So were pretty good on that one, Himes said. Since then, of course, theres been the shoot down over Alaska and the shoot down over the Yukon. Congress has been out of session, and so we have not been directly briefed on that. The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House for comment. Incidents The Chinese spy balloon, which had flown over the continental United States for days while passing near several U.S. military bases, was shot down by a U.S. fighter jet off the South Carolina coast on Feb. 4. President Joe Biden has come under GOP criticism over allowing the balloon to transit the nation. However, Biden addressed his critics on Feb. 9 when he said he didnt consider the incident to be a major breach, adding that shooting the balloon over land could pose a risk to people on the ground. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has defended the president, saying Biden and his team were calm, calculating, and effective in taking down the balloon. Less than a week later, on Feb. 10, a high-altitude object off the coast of Alaska was shot down by the U.S. military. According to the Pentagon, the object was flying at 40,000 feet before being taken down. On Feb. 11, an unidentified cylindrical object was shot down by a U.S. fighter jet in a joint operation with Canada. According to the Canadian government, the object was taken down over Yukon, which borders Alaska to the east. A day later, the U.S. military shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron, which borders Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. The Pentagon said in a statement on Sunday that the object was flying at about 20,000 feet before being shot down by an F-16 fighter jet. Based on its flight path and data, we can reasonably connect this object to the radar signal picked up over Montana, which flew in proximity to sensitive DOD [Department of Defense] sites, the Pentagon said. Several lawmakers from Michigan quickly responded to the shooting over the lake. The increasing incidents of unidentified objects, the latest over Lake Huron in Michigan airspace, are disturbing, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said in a statement on Sunday. We need the facts about where they are originating from, what their purpose is, and why their frequency is increasing, Dingell continued. Our national security is of the utmost importance, and we must work in a bipartisan way with this Administration and all relevant partners for answers and the appropriate reaction. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) wrote on Twitter that transparency is key. He added: We need accurate information to be shared w/Congress & the American people. With this being the 4th incident, President Biden & the Pentagon need to be forthcoming with us all. China House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), in an interview with ABCs This Week on Sunday, said Chinas communist regime poses a threat to the United States more than just spy balloons. Weve got a whole lot bigger problem with China than the spy balloons, Comer said. Their military continues to grow and expand. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, delivers remarks during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Feb. 1, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) China continues to steal our intellectual property. They continue to steal our patents. They manipulate their currency, Comer added. We believe they have a big footprint in academia with a massive spy ring within our research universities where they continue to steal our hard-earned research and development. Comer also criticized the Biden administration for allowing the Chinese spy balloon to transit the United States for days. So China is a problem. And this administration thus far hasnt set a very good example of standing up to China. I think that, you know, shooting the balloon down in the Atlantic once it flew over all the military bases, including my own Fort Campbell, Kentucky, its very disturbing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was originally scheduled to arrive in China on Feb. 5 for a two-day visit. He postponed the trip on Feb. 3, a day before the spy balloon was shot down, telling Beijing that its action was irresponsible and a clear violation of U.S. sovereignty. The telegraph revolutionized communication in 1844, and inventors everywhere raced to improve upon it. In November 1874, Alexander Graham Bell wrote to his parents about his efforts to invent a machine that could transmit spoken words before his rival, Elisha Gray. It is a neck and neck race between Mr. Gray and myself who shall complete our apparatus first. He has the advantage over me in being a practical electricianbut I have reason to believe that I am better acquainted with the phenomena of sound than he isso that I have an advantage there. A Curious Spirit Bells background and inquisitive spirit prepared him well to undertake this endeavor. He had never been particularly interested in school, and by his own admission didnt graduate from Edinburgh, Scotlands Royal High School, with honors. However, he always loved inventing. Bells fascination with sound arose partly from his mothers deafness and his fathers occupation as a professor of speech therapy. As a child, Bells father encouraged him and his brother to build a speaking machine. After studying anatomy books, Bell made a machine with a basic oral structure. He used wood, wire, and a rubber-like substance called gutta-percha, so that the machine even had a tongue and teeth. His brother made a larynx for their machine with rubber and tin. After a great deal of work, they were able to get this contraption to wail Mama when they blew into it with a tube. Another of young Bells inventions included a contraption that removed the husks from grain. Voice sounds were transmitted for the first time on June 3, 1875, over this instrument invented by Bell and Thomas Watson. The instruments diaphragm was made of tightly stretched animal membrane. (Everett Collection/ Shutterstock) Also when he was young, Bell experimented with tuning forks and the different sounds they elicited. He noticed how different vowel sounds corresponded to various musical scales. His growing knowledge of sound and his bent toward invention would serve him well. An Incredible Invention Bell moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in the 1870s. He taught at the Pemberton Avenue School for the Deaf and soon became interested in the idea of building a machine that could transmit the spoken word. Bell knew that he needed an assistant, so he hired a machinist named Thomas Watson, and they got to work. On March 10, 1876, the breakthrough came. With Watson in one room and Bell in the other, Bell uttered his now-famous words into his machine: Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you. Watson heard the message loud and clear. I rushed down the hall into his room and found he had upset the acid of a battery over his clothes, Watson remembered. He forgot the accident in his joy over the success of the new transmitter when I told him how plainly I had heard his words. Bell presented his invention at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in June 1876. People were amazed, and in 1877 Bell created the Bell Telephone Company. Later, the company changed its name to the American Telephone Company, or, as it became known, AT&T. Though Bell continued to invent, he remained involved in teaching the deaf, and he pioneered methods for teaching deaf children to lip read and speak. Ultimately, whether teaching or inventing, Bell wanted to help people. An inventor is a man who looks upon the world and is not contented with things as they are, Bell said. He wants to improve whatever he sees; he wants to benefit the world. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. How Californias Law Requiring Annual Diversity Reports Is Affecting Hospitals Commentary On Sept. 6, 2019, I voted against Assembly Bill (AB) 962 on the floor of the California State Senate. AB 962, authored by Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke (D-Inglewood), is legislation requiring hospitals to file reports with the state on the diversity of their suppliers. Its now a few years later, so lets reflect on the outcome. If you look AB 962 up on Californias legislative information website, youll find that the bill would require a licensed hospital with operating expenses of $50,000,000 or more, and a licensed hospital with operating expenses of $25,000,000 or more that is part of a hospital system, to annually submit a report to the [Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development] on its minority, women, LGBT, and disabled veteran business enterprise procurement efforts. It would also require the office to convene a hospital diversity commission comprised of a member of the public and health care, diversity, and procurement stakeholders who are appointed by the Director of Statewide Health Planning and Development for specified terms of office. Although it might be difficult to impose an affirmative action approach to implementing quotas on hospitals from a constitutional standpoint, Sacramento felt it could at least mandate reporting requirements to determine how hospitals were doing of their own free will. After all, hospitals do receive Medi-Cal (California Medicaid) funds to assist those who need a safety net for services rendered. Requirement Costs The obvious opponent of the bill was the California Hospital Association. They argued that although hospitals may wish to engage with minority or women owned companies, the lack of diversity in this area of manufacturing means that they simply do not have that option. And the cost of complying with this bill adds costs to the health care system. While I served as an Orange County Supervisor, I spent my first four years on the CalOptima Board of Directors. This gave me firsthand knowledge of the operation of health care in the County and made me quite aware of the low profit margins with which hospitals operate. One hospital even came to CalOptima nearly every day to pick up reimbursement checks because its cash flow was that precarious. For another mandate on health care providers, the cost is ultimately borne by the patients and then passed on in the way of higher medical insurance premiums. So, I agreed with the industrys argument regarding the cost of complying. While serving in the California State Legislature, I observed the pursuit of feel-good policies by my colleagues. But these proposals would add regulations and administrative costs to the impacted parties. Who can argue against promoting diversity in one of the states health sectors? But Ive always preferred market pressures in the pursuit of appropriate policies and procedures. The government should not intervene unless there is severe abuse in the marketplace. Hospitals suggested they were willing to pursue the initiative but without the heavy hand of Sacramento, providing another good reason to oppose the bill. Lastly, Sacramento also has an insatiable appetite to establish commissions, something I regularly opposed when considering how to vote. Although he was not very successful, Governor Schwarzeneggers emphasis on blowing up the boxes of government made sense, so I voted against establishing new ones in legislative proposals. AB 962 passed with all 29 Democratic Senators in support and the 11 Republican Senators voting in opposition. It would be signed by Governor Newsom a month later, on Oct. 12. Its diversity reporting mandate now affects some 350 California hospitals. Many businesses see supplier diversity programs as a means of improving their image and making them more desirable for customers. And the tools are there to determine if a supplier is certified to qualify. When you need a hospital, are you going to ask for their procurement report before being admitted? Probably not. If Im on my way to the Emergency Room, Im just hoping the best physicians, equipment and medical supplies will be there when I arrive. And all at a reasonable cost. Hospital Compliance So how is the implementation of AB 962 working? Are the hospitals complying with this new mandate? With the threat of civil penalties, it looks like most of them submitted diversity reports for the year 2021. The documents are available to the public online, a requirement of the bill. Lets compare and contrast the responses from two hospitals located in my former Senate District. The opening request is the provision of the hospitals Supplier Diversity Policy Statement. College Hospital in Costa Mesa was direct enough to simply state it will create a mission statement for our purchasing department as well as devise a policy that demonstrates awareness and promotes supplier diversity. It looks like it will have to evolve into meeting certain specific goals, such as matching the diversity of its community. Kaiser Permanente Foundation Hospital in Irvine really stepped up to the plate, responding that The Supply Chain Services Impact Spending Department, (formerly known as National Supplier Diversity and hereafter referred to as Impact Spending) maintains procurement guidelines for the use of diverse suppliers to be used by employees responsible for purchasing. It is policy to prefer to use a qualified diverse supplier whenever one is both available and able to meet [the hospitals] business terms and conditions at a competitive price. [The hospital] is not obligated to use a diverse supplier over others when they are not able to meet the business requirements including pricing. Concerning outreach and communication, the first hospital candidly stated it will maintain our current relationship with our suppliers, however we will welcome the opportunity to establish new partnerships with diverse businesses. The second was more direct, stating we strongly recommend all prospective suppliers and service providers register on our portal [giving our] decision makers access to your companys information when conducting supplier searches. Be sure to update your registration annually. On supplier certification, College Hospital declared that it would support all organizations no matter the diversity. Meanwhile, Kaiser boldly communicated that it proudly supports the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women Business Enterprise National Council, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce as corporate members. Filing the report gives hospital management a tool to balance cost concerns with equitable allocation to competitive suppliers. The goal is equality of opportunity. Successful hospitals focus on quality, cost, and liability. If they succeed in achieving these, then equity, inclusion, and diversity will also be addressed. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. How Humankind Came To Be Carries a Good Message for the Test of Life, Teachers Say Mary Rose Martin, an elementary school teacher, sees life as a test and agrees that the purpose of life is to pave the way to heaven. Upon reading How Humankind Came To Be, an article Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi published in The Epoch Times last month, she wrote to the newspaper: Living in the way he [Li] suggests would certainly bring about a very different worldly experience. In her view, life is like a stream that extends forever. Right now, this is a very short, little piece of the stream. So what we do here will matter only insofar as what were going to go from here, down the rest of that stream, she told The Epoch Times. This is a test, and how we live our lives in this test will determine what happens to us next, she told The Epoch Times, adding that Mr. Li mentioned in his article different degrees of realms or glory for a being, which is in line with her belief, in different semantics or theories. I dont think I would want to live in a world where there was no moral anchor, she said. To her, a moral anchor is what religions provide. In believing in any higher power, you are becoming a better person. Therefore, she said she is grateful to anyone with a spiritual goal. Mr. Li introduced the spiritual belief of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, to the public in China in 1992. Before the persecution started in China in July 1999, the number of followers reached over 70 million, and the Chinese communist regime praised the practice for its healing and fitness benefits. Frame of Mind Drives Outcome At 73 and currently living near Sacramento in California, she said she had gone through various difficulties all her life, starting from losing her father at the age of 11. The family was poor, and life in the 1950s for a widowher motherwas very different from today. Martin had to make peace with and sense of her fathers death and the difficult upbringing, They had to mean something. And she finally achieved that when she joined the Mormon church at the age of 17. One of the factors was the fact that I truly believed and felt in my heart that its true that we have another life after this, she said, adding that she knew she would see her father again. Ive found that when Im happy and try to see the good in anything and everything, then those things [sufferings] are not so important. She spoke of how different thoughts would bring about different outcomes. Because its a frame of mind; its an attitude. Its how you think because you become what you think. In Mr. Lis article, he wrote that ones wealth in this life was an outcome of ones cumulated blessings and virtues by doing good. Although she doesnt believe in reincarnation, Martin agrees with the principle, I dont think we were ever meant to all be the same and have the same circumstances. To her, not having wealth could be a trial for one person, and having wealth could be a trial for another. Its not good if a rich person looks down upon others who arent rich or if a poor person covets it. In her view, what matters is ones attitude toward wealth, not the economic status itself. There Is a Creator Laura Seifert, a retired piano teacher in Florida. (Courtesy of Laura Seifert) Mr. Li mentions the Creator many times in his article. I know that there is a Creator, Laura Seifert, a retired piano teacher currently living in Florida, told The Epoch Times, adding that she studied anatomy in college. Once you see whats inside the human body, that couldnt have just happened. There has to be a Creator. She said she had thought of the Creator shortly before she came across Mr. Lis article How Humankind Came To Be. She went to a nursing school but eventually went into music after having an opportunity to play the organ to accompany the nurses choir. In addition to teaching piano, she worked as choir director and organist in a Quaker Christian church. To her, other messengers of God might be sent to earth for other people. Therefore, other religions might have different names for God. I think about Buddha, who taught all these wonderful, good things and taught people how to be good in life, she added. As a member of the Mormon church, Martin said she looked at similarities rather than differences between Mr. Lis teachings and her beliefs. There are others who also believe, and it may not be exactly the same as my belief, but it is a belief system that, if practiced by all, would make a better world. Seifert has noticed some criticisms of the article: Some of them were like from Christians who have these walls built around their religion. So when Mr. Lis saying doesnt fit their idea of what Jesus says, they criticized the article. Thats too bad, she added. But maybe some eyes were opened from reading [it]. Thats my hope; some people will give it a second thought. Society Needs a Moral Anchor Seifert came across Falun Gong over a year ago and attended two webinars about spiritual belief. This [The article] was beautiful. Thank you so much for publishing it. I am very interested in the practice of Falun Gong; I just havent found the time to do all the reading and try to find a group near where I live. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Li Hongzhi, she wrote to The Epoch Times after reading the article. Asked how she sifted through mixed information online and formed such a favorable opinion of Falun Gong, she said, I think hes [Li Hongzhi] right. I believe what he [Li] says about being good and living a good life. Thats so important. She recalled the three tenets of the practicetruth, compassion, toleranceand quipped, Tolerance: thats the one I have had to work on a lot. I think whats happened to the people in China has just been atrocious. Its still happening, from what I gather, Seifert added, referring to the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Falun Gong practitioners take part in a march to raise awareness about the Chinese regimes brutal persecution of the spiritual practice, including forced organ harvesting, in New York on May 13, 2022. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times) Martin also knows of the persecution, He [Li Hongzhi] is promoting goodness and kindness; how come that is a threat? How is he surviving in China when theyre trying to kill what hes trying to do? she asked, relieved that Li is still alive and lives in the United States. Seifert said she thought that Mr. Li was right in pointing out that the world was heading toward destruction. She was concerned that todays people became very ungodly. They are evil. They are doing terrible things to other people. Thats not the world I thought I was living in. Martin shares Seiferts concerns about the rise of atheism and points to China as an example of a society intolerant of freedom of belief, To try to navigate this life without a moral anchor leads exactly to what they are having in China. Negotiations on the resumption of the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have continued at different rates over the past year and a half, but they have been conducted in a concerted and continuous manner, and that communications between the two sides are now ongoing, Ali Baqeri, Iran's deputy foreign minister for political affairs and Iran's chief negotiator of the nuclear agreement, told Lebanese TV channel al-Manar, news.am informs. February 13, 2023, 09:47 Iran announces continuation of negotiations on resumption of nuclear agreement STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: The high-ranking diplomat also noted that one of the Islamic Republic's main red lines is the issue of guarantees by which the opposite side adheres to its commitments. "The Islamic Republic has said that it sees no obstacles to completing the agreement, even in the short term, within a framework that respects its red lines and interests," he added. According to Baqeri, Western countries have failed to use the recent foreign-backed unrest in the country as leverage in the negotiations. He said the West has made a "miscalculation" regarding recent developments in Iran. "Regarding developments inside Iran, (Western states) may have made a miscalculation, but when they faced the realities, they came up empty-handed and had nothing to criticize for at the negotiating table," he said. Negotiations to renew the 2015 agreement began in the Austrian capital of Vienna in April 2021. The aim of the talks for the Iranian side was to lift sanctions and examine the seriousness of the U.S. intention to join the JCPOA. However, discussions have been stalled since August 2022 due to Washington's categorical refusal to lift all sanctions that were imposed on Tehran by the previous U.S. administration, Tasnim reported. Ideas That Formed the Constitution, Part 17: Sir Isaac Newton Commentary Although each essay in this series is pegged to one or more individuals, the series fundamentally isnt about the individuals, but the ideas they represent. Sir Isaac Newton wasnt a political thinker like Marcus Cicero or John Locke. He was a scientist. Indeed, he exemplified the Scientific Revolutionan event that changed not only how people thought about the physical universe, but also how they thought about politics and government. In that way, Newton and his scientific colleagues greatly affected the U.S. Constitution. Newton and the Scientific Revolution Aristotles works dominated the theory and practice of science throughout antiquity and the Middle Ages. Aristotles dominance faded during the Renaissance, however, and in the ensuing years. Nicolaus Copernicus refined the already-existing theory that the sun, not Earth, was at the center of the solar system. Johannes Kepler described the nature of planetary orbits. Francis Bacon outlined the scientific method. Galileo Galilei made discoveries in physics and astronomy. Rene Descartess mathematics facilitated the integration of math and physics. Gottfried Leibnitz advanced the fields of mathematics, physics, and philosophy. Newton was the exemplar of this enlightened age. He was born in 1643 (by our current calendar) in Lincolnshire, England. He had a difficult childhood, and his talents surfaced rather late. His string of astounding discoveries began after he enrolled at Cambridge University. Newton invented calculus and made breakthroughs in optics and the laws of motion. His Latin term for the universal attractive forcegravitas, heavinessgave us our word gravity. Encyclopaedia Britannica describes his book Principia Mathematica as the fundamental work for the whole of modern science. Later in life, Newton became president of the Royal Society and warden of the British mint. He became deeply involved in the mints operations. The first scientist to be knighted, Sir Isaac died in 1727, at the age of 84. Effects on Political Thought The Scientific Revolution, and particularly Newtons work, taught men that the universe wasnt willful or chaotic, but governed by rules of order. Once you knew the rules, the physical universe became predictable. The physical world was, in 18th-century parlance, a mechanical place. Newtons fame encouraged others to tinker with mathematics, machinery, and astronomical models. Garry Wills book Inventing America describes both the 18th-century fascination with mechanical order and balance, and the efforts to apply mechanics to politics. Wills wrote of the Declaration of Independence, for example: The Declarations opening is Newtonian. It lays down the law. Wills added that Newtons ordering of the inanimate universe led men to seek an equivalent pattern in human activity. Effects on the Constitution Participants in the 17871790 debates over the framing and ratification of the Constitution frequently drew analogies between scientific law and political and constitutional systems. Illustrative are some observations by John Dickinson during the Constitutional Convention. Here is their context: The early days of the convention were dominated by arguments for a powerful national government that would relegate the states to wholly subordinate roles. James Wilson and James Madison were among those making such arguments. Madison also favored a small aristocratic Senate. He claimed that a larger Senate would have insufficient influence. He compared the case to that of the tribunes in the Roman Republic: When their number was increased, Madison said, they lost influence. On June 7, 1787, Dickinson decided he had had enough of this. According to Madisons own notes, here is what Dickinson said: The preservation of the States in a certain degree of agency [i.e., independent activity] is indispensable [sic]. It will produce that collision between the different authorities which should be wished for in order to check each other. To attempt to abolish the States altogether, would degrade the Councils of our Country, would be impracticable, would be ruinous. He compared the proposed National System to the Solar System, in which the States were the planets, and ought to be left to move freely in their proper orbits. The Gentleman from Pa. [Mr. Wilson] wished he said to extinguish these planets. If the State Governments were excluded from all agency in the national one, and all power drawn from the people at large, the consequence would be that the national Govt. would move in the same direction as the State Govts. now do, and would run into all the same mischiefs. The reform would only unite the 13 small streams into one great current pursuing the same course without any opposition whatever. He adhered to the opinion that the Senate ought to be composed of a large number, and that their influence from family weight & other causes would be increased thereby. He did not admit that the Tribunes lost their weight in proportion as their no. was augmented and gave a historical sketch of this institution. If the reasoning of [Mr. Madison] was good it would prove that the number of the Senate ought to be reduced below ten, the highest no. of the Tribunitial corps. Notice how Dickinson reduced Madisons argument about the Roman tribunes to an absurdity. More important for present purposes, however, were Dickinsons mechanical modes of expression: collision between authorities, the solar system, the flow of a great river, references to weight. Analogies like these occur throughout the constitutional debates. Participants besides Dickinson enlisted the solar system in particular. A writer using the pen name Marcus asserted that under the Constitution, The State Judiciary will be a satellite waiting upon its proper planet: That of the Union like the sun, cherishing and preserving a whole planetary system. My favorite example from this genre comes from the Massachusetts ratifying convention, held in early 1788. Opponents of the Constitution had been arguing for annual elections, which, they said, were suggested by nature itself. William Hershel had discovered the planet Uranus only seven years previously. A supporter of the Constitution, James Bowdoin, took advantage of the discovery to make a point at the opponents expense: If the revolution of the heavenly bodies is to be the principle to regulate elections, it was not fixed to any period, as in some of the systems it would be very short; and in the last-discovered planet it would be eighty of our years. Charles Turner rose in response: In reply to the Hon. Mr. Bowdoin, He was, he said, greatly in favor of annual elections, and he thought it would be establishing a dangerous precedent to adopt a change; for the principle may so operate, as, in time, our elections will be as seldom as the revolution of the star the honorable gentleman talks of. Effect on the Constitutions Structure Much of the final Constitution resembles an interlocked and finely tuned machine. As Charles Carroll of Carrollton wrote: The three distinct powers of the federal Govt. are skilfully [sic] combined so as to balance each other, by that reciprocal check & counterpoise, which the most approved writers on Govt. consider as its chief perfection [T]he several State-Governments will always keep it within its own & proper sphere of action: [T]hus while it restrains the State-Governments within their orbits, it is by them retained within its own; acting, & acted upon it will produce that order, that stability in the civil, which we see exists in the physical world, where if I may compare great things to small, every planet, every center of each system attracting & attracted, repelling, & repelled keeps that station, & rolls within those spheres, which the great Author of all being has prescribed to each. Further exemplifying the intricate and balanced structure is the Constitutions Article V, which sets forth the amendment process. Madison was its principal draftsman, and it shows that he shared his generations mechanical mode of thought: Article V prescribes two ways of proposing amendmentsa more democratically based congressional method and a state-government-based convention method. For Congress to consider proposing, only a voting majority need agree; but to actually propose, two-thirds of each house must agree. Conversely, for a convention to consider an amendment, two-thirds of the states must agree; but for the convention to propose only a voting majority of states need agree. Paralleling the two ways of proposing are the two ways of ratifying: by popularly elected state conventions (considered the more democratic mode) or by state legislatures (more state-government based). Both methods of ratification require approval by three-fourths of the states, a margin that ensures both widespread state agreement and widespread popular agreement. Balance and order. All very Newtonian. Read prior installments here: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Israel to Its Citizens: Be Armed and Alert in Public to Foil Terrorist Attackers Commentary While most governments of democracies, and all governments of tyrannies, strive to strip their law-abiding citizens of the right to bear arms, Israel now does the opposite. Get guns, keep them loaded, and be ready to shoot when out in public, it tells its citizens. Because police cant be everywhere at all times, theres no alternative to a vigilant citizenry capable of taking down terrorists. The logic of Israels aggressive new policy was on full display in Jerusalem on Feb. 10, in a terrorist ramming attack at a bus stop that killed three, including two children aged 6 and 8, and injured four. Often, a terrorist will ram his vehicle into a crowd, then leave his vehicle to attack others with whatever weapons he might have. Only Friday, the terrorist didnt have an opportunity to continue his rampage. As video footage from the scene shows, several bystanders quickly pulled out their guns and killed the terrorist before he could leave his vehicle. Until recently, the government prevented people on numerous criteria from obtaining a firearm license, even though they felt that they and their families might be at risk from the many random attacks that occur. To remove impediments to obtaining a permitthe current backlog of Israelis who have applied for a permit now stands at 17,000Israelis newly elected government is doubling the licensing departments staff, increasing its hours of operation, and doubling the number of interviews it conducts per hour to determine a citizens eligibility to carry a firearm. Interviews will be waived altogether for those who previously served in the security forces or are now working in the Fire and Rescue Service. As a result, Israel expects to process between 5,000 and 8,000 licenses per month. While all Israelis could fall prey to a terrorist attack, synagogue-goers have been at particular risk, partly because Jews dont ordinarily carry guns on the Sabbath. On Jan. 27 in Jerusalem, a 21-year-old terrorist went on a shooting spree as congregants were leaving a Sabbath synagogue service, leaving seven people dead and three others injured. None of the congregants was armed. The Sabbath shooting led the Chief Rabbi of the Israeli Police to exhort rabbis across the country to encourage congregants to stay armed on the Sabbath, and also to bring their weapons to synagogues. In deliberation with prominent rabbis and on the recommendation of relevant police authorities, I appeal to the rabbis of Israel to instruct their communities that everyone who has a license to carry a firearm should carry that firearm with them on Shabbat, especially during prayer times in the synagogues, he said, adding that terrorists have historically shown a preference for attacking religious neighborhoods and synagogues. Arming the citizenry entails the risk that civilians might inadvertently shoot innocents in the confusion that could arise during a terrorist attack, as initially appeared to be the case after Fridays car ramming, when a TV station erroneously reported that one of the hospitalized may have been shot by an armed bystander. So far, that risk is one that the Israeli public seems willing to accept, given the far greater risk that a terrorist can kill at will in the many minutes it would ordinarily require for the police to arrive at the scene of an attack. In contrast to the seven deaths that occurred on Jan. 27 when synagogue goers were all unarmed, the following day at a tourist site a terrorist managed only to wound two passersby before two armed civilians brought him down. This demonstrates the importance of having a large number of citizens who carry a personal weapon, said Israels national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. We have an obligation to speed up the licensing process and reduce the amount of bureaucracy, for the sake of our children, for the sake of the lives of us all. Until a few years ago, Israels gun-control laws were strict, with government policy aimed at reducing the number of guns held by private citizens, thinking that a proliferation of guns would lead to violent acts. Citizens needed to be 21 years old, pass a psychological test, have a proficiency with weapons that exceeded what was required of many in the armed forces, and be able to convince the authorities of their need for a gun. Even if they convinced the authorities of a needa desire for self-defense didnt do itthey were generally limited to one pistol and 50 cartridges. Israel learned that strict gun laws were counterproductive the hard wayafter innocents were being stabbed on an almost daily basis during the 2015 Stabbing Intifada. By 2018, a member of the Israeli Knesset struck a nerve when he stated that a civilian carrying a weapon is more of a solution than a threat, and doubles as assistance for the security forces, noting that in 11 attacks in just the Jerusalem area, they neutralized the threat. The government has since been reversing its gun controls, tentatively at first, forcefully now, as it realizes the best defense lies in the capabilities and courage of its citizenry. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Among the constitutional amendments, the First is the most sacred. Its guarantees of the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition have made American shores a beacon for the world. The quiet and bookish man who first proposed it spent many years reflecting on its related issues in solitudean uncommon pastime for a politician. The First Amendment has become so fundamental to the way Americans think about themselves as social creatures that it is easy to forget the skepticism, and even outrage, that it caused in its day. A Scholar Enters Politics James Madison was a shrewd student of political history. Of his many thoughts on government, though, one concern was foremost. In The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President, Noah Feldman observes: The subject that most animated James Madison was the freedom of religion and the question of its official establishment. He developed an academic interest in the topic at Princeton under the Rev. John Witherspoon, who filled him with ideas of religious liberty inspired by the Scottish Enlightenment. After graduating, Madison witnessed the persecution of religious dissenters in his native Virginia, where the Anglican Church was the established religion. In a letter to a friend dated January 24, 1774, Madison described traveling to a nearby county and encountering imprisoned Baptist ministers, 5 or 6 well-meaning men who did nothing more than publish their orthodox views. That April, he wrote: Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect. James Madison by John Vanderlyn, 1816. Oil on canvas. The White House, Washington, D.C. (Public domain) Madison entered local politics and attended Virginias constitutional convention in 1776. There, George Mason submitted his draft for a Declaration of Rights, which included a clause stating that all Men should enjoy the fullest Toleration in the Exercise of Religion, according to the Dictates of Conscience. Madison was not satisfied. He understood that a majority, in granting a minority permission to practice religion, could take it away as well. Going beyond John Lockes idea of toleration, Madison successfully proposed changing the wording to reflect the right of free exercise of religion. This guarantee ended the Anglican Churchs spiritual monopoly in Virginia. Eight years later, though, Patrick Henry spearheaded legislation to levy religious taxes. Madison opposed Henry but knew he was too soft-spoken to match the eloquent orator. He responded by writing a petition, Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments. Religious belief, he argued, must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. Belief could not be coerced and must exist in a separate sphere from civil government. Even a small tax could become oppressive. Madisons essay became foundational for the idea of the separation of church and state. The petition garnered enough signatures to defeat the proposed bill, and in 1786 the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was passed. The Bill of Rights By 1789, Madison had designed the Constitution and convinced most of the states to ratify it by authoring 29 of the articles that comprised The Federalist Papers. But the groundbreaking document was not safe. North Carolina and Rhode Island still had not ratified it. Opponents who favored states rights over federal power wanted to hold a second constitutional convention to undo the new government. To prevent this, Madison drafted amendments that would address the Constitutions flaws. He submitted his draft to Congress on June 8, proposing protections of individual liberties without changing the governments structure. He sought to encapsulate, among these, his years of religious reflections. The clause of the proposed amendmentoriginally the fourth rather than the firstwas more descriptive than its final version: The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext infringed. This proposal had three aspects: guaranteeing equal treatment of minority views, barring Congress from establishing a national church, and establishing conscience as a right free from coercion. The Bill of Rights includes the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. (Jack R Perry Photography) Madison struggled to get his amendments passed. Federalists ridiculed them as useless milk and water. Anti-Federalists unanimously opposed him. His old nemesis Patrick Henry called for a total revision of the Constitution, claiming a national bill of rights did not sufficiently guard them for individuals or states. An anonymous author, writing under the pen name Pacificus, asserted in a New York newspaper that Madisons paper declarations were trifling things and no real security to liberty. Madison defended his bill, arguing it would limit the tyranny of the majority and establish the public opinion in favor of rights. Federalist support began to trickle in. Madison wanted to fold the amendments into the Constitution itself, but he settled for appending them at the end. Representatives eliminated some of his proposals and altered others. The final version of the First Amendments clause on religious liberty came to read: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. This slightly more restrictive version omitted Madisons phrasing on the rights of conscience, but it is otherwise consistent with his intentions. Madisons achievement made him the worlds foremost champion of religious liberty. His recognition of free exercise, rather than mere toleration, has been a model for other governments around the globe. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. Republicans Renew Demands for Interviews With Ex-Intel Officials Who Discredited Hunter Biden Laptop as Disinformation Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, during a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 14, 2022. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Pressure is ratcheting up on signers of a controversial October 2020 statement alleging that the Hunter Biden laptop bore all the classic earmarks of a Russian disinformation operation to agree to on-the-record transcribed interviews with investigators for the House Judiciary Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The Committee on the Judiciary and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence are conducting oversight of federal law-enforcement and intelligence matters within our respective jurisdictions. The judiciary committee made a prior request to you for documents and information about the public statement you signed in October 2020 that falsely implied the New York Posts reporting about Hunter Biden was the product of Russian disinformation, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said in Feb. 13 letters obtained by The Epoch Times. This request, to include a request for a transcribed interview before the committees, remains outstanding. These documents and your testimony are necessary to further our oversight. As we begin the 118th Congress, we write again to reiterate our outstanding request and ask that you immediately comply in full, Jordan and Turner told the recipients. You have been on notice about our oversight requestand aware the request is outstandingfor months. For your convenience, we have attached the letter from the Judiciary Committee dated April 6, 2022. To date, you have not complied with this request. Accordingly, we reiterate our requests and ask that you comply promptly, Jordan and Turner wrote. The 10 recipients of the request from Jordan and Turner include former Secretary of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta, Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA Senior Operations Officer, former CIA Chief of Staff Larry Pfeiffer, former CIA Senior Intelligence Officer Kristin Wood, former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Deputy Director Douglas Wise, former CIA Chief of Staff Rodney Snyder, former CIA Senior Intelligence Officer Patty Brandmaier, former CIA Senior Intelligence Officer James Bruce, former CIA Senior Operations Officer Paul Kolbe, former National Intelligence Officer Roger George. The Epoch Times is seeking comment from each of the 10 recipients. The 10 letters made public on Feb. 13 follow similar missives to another dozen of the 51 signers of the Oct. 19, 2020, statement that was widely publicized by the mainstream media and cited as justification by social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook for censoring news reports about the laptop that was left at a Delaware computer repair shop by President Joe Bidens son, Hunter. Among the dozen recipients of last weeks letters were Rick Ledgett, former National Security Agency (NSA Deputy Director, John McLaughlin, former Acting CIA Director, Michael Morell, former CIA Deputy Director, Nicholas Rasmussen, former National Counter-Terrorism Center Director, Russell Travers, former DIA Soviet and Russian analyst, Michael Vickers, former Department of Defense (DOD) Under-Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Nick Shapiro, former Deputy CIA Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Director, former CIA Chief of Staff Jeremy Bash, former National Intelligence Council Chairman Thomas Finger, and Michael Hayden, former CIA Director. The New York Post was the first U.S. media outlet to report that the laptops contents include more than 22,000 emails, including many concerning multiple business deals and describing income to be received from overseas private firms with links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Russia, and Ukraine, among others. Biden has claimed since the 2020 presidential campaign to have known nothing about his sons international business dealings, but references to the Big Guy receiving a 10 percent cut of revenue from one of the deals point to the Chief Executive, according to former Biden business associate Tony Bobulinski. Most voters in the 2020 presidential contest between Biden and former President Donald Trump were unaware of the Hunter Biden laptop story as a result of the censorship, but a 2022 survey of Biden voters made public in December 2022 found that half of them would have voted differently had they known about the controversy. All 51 of the October letter signers have been asked by Jordan to do transcribed interviews and a number have already done so. The Judiciary and Intelligence panels are working together in investigating why the signers attached their names to the letter. In the months since the 2020 election, mainstream media outlets, including the New York Times and the Washington Post have independently concluded the laptop is actually Hunter Bidens and the contents are legitimate. Signer Douglas Wise also conceded in January that the emails on the laptop are legitimate. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) promised during the 2022 mid-term campaign that subpoenas will be issued if necessary in order to get all 51 signers of the October 2020 statement on the record. Kremlin Dismisses Claims Putin Was Involved in MH17 Downing Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on Feb. 3, 2023. (Sputnik/Pavel Byrkin/Kremlin via Reuters) MOSCOWThe Kremlin dismissed on Thursday the findings of international prosecutors investigating the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) who said they had found strong indications of Russian President Vladimir Putins involvement in the incident. The prosecutors said on Wednesday at The Hague they had found strong indications that Putin had approved the use of Russian BUK missile systems that were used to shoot down the plane over eastern Ukraine in 2014. In Moscows first reaction to their claim, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia could not accept the results of the investigation since it took no part in the process. He also said the investigators had not publicly presented supported evidence. MH17 was shot down by a Russian BUK missile system as it flew over eastern Ukraine from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew, including 196 Dutch citizens. At the time, Russian-backed separatists were fighting Ukrainian forces for control of the eastern Donbas region. A Malaysian air crash investigator inspects the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on July 22, 2014. (Maxim Zmeyev/Reuters) Phone Calls Prosecutors cited intercepted phone calls for their findings, but said evidence of the direct involvement of Putinor other Russian officialswas not conclusive enough to pursue a criminal conviction, and halted their probe. Russia has repeatedly denied state involvement in the downing of MH17. Peskov on Thursday dismissed the evidence which had been presented by investigators. We know that a recording of a supposed phone call was published in which not a single word is said about weapons. Even assuming that this conversation is real there is not one word about weapons. Nobody has published anything else, so its impossible to say anything, Peskov told reporters. Asked specifically about the claim that Putin approved the delivery of BUK missile systems to pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine, Peskov said: Russia did not take part in this investigation, so we cannot accept these resultsespecially since no basis for these statements has been made public. Following the planes destruction, the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Ukraine, and Malaysia set up a joint investigation team to establish who was responsible and to assemble evidence for criminal prosecutions. In November, a Dutch court convicted two former Russian intelligence agents and a Ukrainian separatist leader of murder for helping arrange the missile system used to shoot the plane down. The men, who were tried in absentia, remain at large. Labor Govt Opens Door for 19,000 Asylum-Seekers to Apply for Permanent Residency Sri Lankan asylum seekers after their boat broke down in Indonesia. They were on the way to Australia's Christmas Island. (Oscar Siagian/Getty Images) More than 19,000 asylum seekers have been given the go-ahead to apply for permanent residency in Australia by the Labor government. In a statement, the Australian immigration minister said the country owed asylum seekers protection, but at the same time, Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil issued a warning to people smugglers. Let me be crystal clearif you try to enter Australia without a valid visa, you will be turned back or returned to your port of origin. There is zero chance of settling in Australia under Operation Sovereign Borders [OSB], she said, noting that the new residency pathways are only being offered to those who arrived in Australia before the launch of OSB in 2013. The Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force are patrolling our waters to intercept and return any boats that try to enter. Under the provision, the Albanese government would fulfil an election commitment to provide visa pathways to existing Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) holders. There are thousands of TPV and SHEV holders in the community that have endured ten years of uncertainty due to the policies of the previous Liberal government, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said. He said TPV and SHEV holders were working, paying taxes, and employing Australians, but were unable to get loans to buy a home or pursue further studies. It makes no senseeconomically or sociallyto keep them in limbo, he said. An Australian navy boat cruises by Christmas Island on Feb. 29. A boatload of asylum seekers from China decided to seek refugee status in Australia rather than attempt the dangerous journey toward New Zealand. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) Refugee advocacy group the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre welcomed the move. The significance of this announcement cannot be underestimated. We have tears of joy for all those who have been waiting for 10 years to have the permanency they deserve, said Jana Favero, the centres advocacy director. Teal independent MPs Kate Chaney and Allegra Spender also applauded the move. At last. Limbo ends for thousands of refugees who now can apply for permanent residency, Spender wrote on Twitter. Coalition Opposes Move, Warns Smugglers Will Be on the Move In 2008, Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd abolished offshore processing, a John Howard-era policy that resulted in a surge of smugglers making an attempt to enter Australias borders. Its estimated that between 2007 and 2013, more than 50,000 people were detained, with 1,200 dying at sea. Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan criticised the governments move, saying it would encourage people smugglers. Temporary Protection Visas are a key pillar of Operation Sovereign Borders, and brick by brick, the government seems to be dismantling Operation Sovereign Borders, he told Sky News Australia on Feb. 13. Suspected asylum seekers were spotted abandoning their boat in croc-infested waters of far North Queensland after it ran aground on Aug. 26, 2018. (Reuters) Youve got to remember that Kevin Rudd in 2013, with Mr. Albanese as his deputy, said that these people would never settle in Australia. What the people smugglers will be thinking, if theyve seen this all before, theyve seen these statements all of a sudden when you test the will of [Prime Minister] Anthony Albanese in the end, that will bend, and what we will see is the boats will start again. Nationals leader David Littleproud said the government had given smugglers a product to sell. What this will do is send a very strong message to those that are trying to sell a product in faraway countries that Australia [is] back on the menu, he told Sky News Australia. The government will set aside $9.4 million over two years to fast track visa applications. Leave Immediately: Bushfires Rage Across Queensland A supplied image obtained on Monday, February 13, 2023, of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) at Kobble Creek in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland. (AAP Image/Supplied by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services) Emergency warnings urging residents to flee are being issued as bushfires rage on the Western Downs, northwest of Brisbane. Residents are being urged to leave immediately as a fast-moving fire at Myall Park, and Hookswood near the town of Miles puts properties under threat. The warning to people between Leichhardt Highway, Gearys Road, Greens Road and Ryalls Road was issued at 4.20 p.m. A fast-moving fire is travelling from Warramoo Road and is expected to impact Ryalls Road overnight, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said on Monday afternoon. This fire may pose a threat to lives. Major roads in the area may be impacted. The fires flared out of control on Monday as firefighters faced challenging conditions. There are 50 bushfires burning across the state, but authorities are most concerned about three blazes, with emergency warnings in place for fires at Myall Park near Miles, Montrose at Tara and Fairyland near Jandowae. More than 40 residents from homes at Tara remained in evacuation centres on Monday. Firefighters believe a number of structures have been lost but have been unable to access either area. No fatalities or significant injuries have been reported, but firefighters said a number of people had been treated for smoke inhalation or heat exhaustion. Unfortunately, we are expecting another warm day, not as warm and not as challenging as yesterday, but still a very difficult day so the conditions will probably worsen through the day as the heat of the day comes on, QFES state operations co-ordinator James Haig told the ABC. Were really focused on containing the fires thats stopping them spreading further and then bringing them under full control, Haig said. The Myall Creek fire has burnt through about 2300 hectares and continues to pose a threat, travelling between Myall Park Road and the Leichhardt Highway towards Warramoo Road and Old Forrest Road. Firefighters are working to contain the fire, but major roads in the area have been impacted. The fire at Tara is about 840ha in size and continues to burn between South Road, Chinchilla Tara Road, Wieambilla Road, Church Road and Weranga North Road. A prepare-to-leave alert was issued on Monday afternoon for the Jandowae fire, which is travelling from Nudley State Forest towards Burra Burri Creek Road and Davis Road. Water-bombing aircraft, two air support crews and dozens of ground crews remain on alert for the blazes. Queensland sweltered through its hottest day in almost two years on Sunday, with 40-plus degrees temperatures in various parts of the state. Man Gets 14 Years in Prison for Dealing Deadly Dose of Fentanyl in Costa Mesa SANTA ANA, Calif.A 25-year-old man was sentenced Feb. 13 to 14 years in federal prison for dealing a baggie of fentanyl in Costa Mesa, Calif., to a 22-year-old woman, who overdosed and died in Huntington Beach. Matthew Benjamin Hurley of Virginia told U.S. District Judge James Selna that the defendants own selfish addiction to drugs led him to deal fentanyl to Rose Avelar on Aug. 3, 2020, in the parking lot of a Travelodge motel in Costa Mesa. Hurley pleaded guilty Sept. 19 to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in a death. Prosecutors argued for 210 months in federal prison. Hurleys attorney, Sam Cross, argued for 10 years. I would like to give my condolences to the victims family, Hurley said. The pain and grief I caused because of my selfish addiction is hard to swallow I hold myself accountable 100 percent. I am deeply sorry. Hurley pledged to stay off drugs and take advantage of classes and self-help programs while in prison. I want to change, and I will change, Hurley said. Avelars family, who came from Boston for the sentencing hearing, offered tearful statements. The victims mother, Michele, said her only daughter was optimistic about her future at the time of her death. She had just enrolled in college and was volunteering for a humane society charity, she said. Rose was a beautiful young woman, her mother said. I miss her contagious laugh. The victims sister-in-law, Ann Avalar, said she knew Rose since she was a pre-teen and that her death felt like a Mack truck driven through our family We will never get over it. The pain of her passing is so hard to accept. Rose had brown hair, brown eyes, and a smile that lit up a room, she said. The victims big brother, Austin, tearfully recounted how he has struggled with grief. She was my baby sister, my best friend, he said. She died alone, far away from me and her family. The pain of her death is so deep. I feel like it will never go away. He said his sister would often call him on FaceTime and was so happy to show me her apartment. The victims father, Luiz, said, I miss my daughter. She would call me every day. And she would always start with a question. She had such an inquisitive mind. The victims father said investigators told him that despite the victims death Hurley kept dealing drugs. Selna said he was moved by the familys testimonials. I listened carefully to each of the victims family members, and this is a day I will remember for quite some time, the judge said. But, the judge added, he also had to weigh the defendants troubled upbringing and mental health issues. It doesnt excuse the crime, Selna added. Hurleys mother and aunt and uncle traveled across the country to attend the sentencing, the defendants attorney said. Cross said his client had a happy childhood until his teens when his parents split up. He was also traumatized by finding his friend dead in the woods, the attorney said. The defendant bounced back and forth between both parents and never finished high school, his attorney said. When he was about 16 or 17 he got hooked on heroin, and fentanyl came when he was 22, Cross said. Hurley came to the Southland to seek drug rehabilitation, Cross said. But he ended up dealing to subsidize his addictions, the attorney said. Manufactured Evidence Planted on Enrique Tarrio to Frame Him and Other Proud Boys Defendants, Defense Alleges Court filing alleges "outrageous government misconduct" with key document Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, then leader of The Proud Boys, holds a U.S. flag at a protest showing support for Cubans demonstrating against their government, in Miami, Fla., on July 16, 2021. (EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images) The most damning piece of evidence in the trial of five members of the Proud Boys was created by the U.S. intelligence community and planted on defendant Enrique Tarrio to frame him and others for alleged Jan. 6 crimes, an explosive defense motion alleges. Filed on Feb. 10 by an attorney for Proud Boys defendant Dominic Pezzola, the motion asks U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly to declare a mistrial due to outrageous government misconduct. The controversy surrounds a document titled 1776 Returns that federal prosecutors contend is a blueprint for the Proud Boys to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That document was messaged to Tarrio, although defense attorneys say there is no evidence he opened, read, or forwarded it. Government-Created Scheme It appears that the government itself is the author of the most incriminating and damning document in this case, which was mysteriously sent at government request to Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio immediately prior to January 6 in order to frame or implicate Tarrio in a government-created scheme to storm buildings around the Capitol, defense attorney Roger Roots wrote in a seven-page document filed with the court. Charged in the case are Tarrio, Pezzola, Zachary Rehl, Ethan Nordean, and Joseph Biggs. The Proud Boys defendants are on trial in the U.S. District Court in Washington, accused of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings, obstruction of official proceedings, and conspiracy to prevent certain federal officers from performing their duties on January 6. Tarrio, Rehl, Nordean, and Biggs face nine criminal counts, while Pezzola is charged with 10. The trial is about to enter its fifth week in Kellys courtroom. Attorney Steven Metcalf (2nd L), representing seditious conspiracy defendant Dominic Pezzola for his alleged role in the attacks of Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse on Dec. 19, 2022. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) On Feb. 9, FBI Special Agent Peter Dubrowski testified that the 1776 Returns document was sent to Tarrio on the messenger chat app Telegram by Erika Flores, an erstwhile romantic interest, on or around Dec. 29, 2020. The PDF describes plans to Storm the Winter Palace, a reference to the Russian revolution in 1917. Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Mulroe elicited testimony from Dubrowski that the document described a plan to lay siege to Capitol Hill by strategically occupying most of the congressional office space around the Capitol, the motion stated. A member of the U.S. intelligence community testified before the now-defunct January 6 House Select Committee that portions of 1776 Returns were taken from a document he authored in August or September 2020 to map out possible scenarios if there were chaos surrounding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Samuel Armes, who has done work for the U.S. State Department and the Special Operations Command, located at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida, told the Select Committee he gave Flores a copy of his war game scenario document. He testified that he first met Flores in an online cryptocurrency group in 2017. Armes testified that at the University of South Florida, he had been groomed to join the CIA and FBI. He told the Select Committee that he did not write 1776 Returns, but some of his war game document was included in it. Get Document to Tarrio According to the defense motion, Flores told the Jan. 6 Select Committee that Armes wrote the entire 1776 Returns document and asked her to give it to Tarrio. In his appearance before the Select Committee on July 18, 2022, Armes denied authorship and asserted that Flores was blame-shifting and throwing [him] under the bus. I can confidently say Ive never seen this document in my life, Armes said, according to the official hearing transcript. It uses stuff that I talked about, but even the name, Ive never even heard of the name, right? So, yeah, Im just a scapegoat, I guess, is the best way to word it. Armes testified that he met Tarrio in person maybe twice through Flores, but that Tarrio was not a friend of his. Proud Boys defendant Ethan Nordean (right, mirror shades) was among protesters on the west side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Was never interested in pursuing any kind of a relationship, as I was pretty familiar with what he stands for and represented, so I kept my distance, Armes told the January 6 committee. According to defense attorney Roots, if Floress testimony about 1776 Returns is true, this means the most damning document in this trial was authored by the intelligence communitysomeone groomed by the FBI itself. And this CIA and FBI asset requested Tarrios friend to share the document with Tarrio just prior to January 6. The motion asks for an immediate evidentiary hearing on the origins and authorship of 1776 Returns, which Judge Kelly ruled in December 2022 could be admitted as evidence in the trial. If the information presented in the motion is deemed true by Judge Kelly, Roots wrote, the solution would be a mistrial and dismissal of this entire case, with prejudice. This is either entrapment or outrageous government conduct, or both, Roots wrote. Equally improper, it is a Brady [exculpatory evidence] violation because the Department of Justice must surely have known these revelations before putting Special Agent Dubrowski on the stand on February 9 to introduce this evidence. Federal prosecutors have not yet filed a response to the motion. The trial is scheduled to resume on Feb. 13. More Documents With Classification Markings Found in Searches at Trumps Properties, Lawyer Says Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Additional materials with classification markings were found during searches at former President Donald Trumps properties, a lawyer said on Feb. 12. We conducted a search back in December, which is where we found these documents. And we turned them over immediately, Timothy Parlatore, the lawyer, said during an appearance on CNN. The number of materials wasnt specified. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) officials didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. We have gone through, we have tried work with the DOJ, we have tried to do searches of all the relevant places. And anytime weve found anything, weve immediately turned it over, Parlatore said. DOJ personnel found roughly 100 materials marked classified at Trumps Mar-a-Lago, a Florida resort, while executing a search warrant in 2022. Trump is under investigation for possibly violating federal laws in his handling of sensitive documents. The former president has alleged that he declassified all the materials in question before leaving office. Materials with classification markings have also been located at the homes of President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence in recent months. Attorney General Merrick Garland, a Biden appointee, has appointed separate special counsels to investigate whether laws were broken in the Trump and Biden cases. Parlatore said the White House does not have proper procedures for handling classified information, placing the blame on a lack of procedures when staffers pack up materials and ship them to the homes of outgoing administration officials. He confirmed that scans of documents marked as classified were located on a laptop computer held by an aide for the Save America political action committee. He said the person is also an aide to Trump. As part of her job, the aide scanned a box with thousands of documents, primarily daily schedules from Trumps time in office, so the schedules would be easier to search through for those working on projects such as speeches and biographies. Just a handful of pages had classification markings on the bottom. The aide didnt see those initially, according to Parlatore. Parlatore also said Trump had been using an empty folder once used to hold classified materials as a way to cut down on the light from a bedside phone. He has one of those landline telephones next to his bed, and it has a blue light on it, and it keeps him up at night, Parlatore said. So he took the manila folder and he put it over it so that it would keep the light down so he could sleep at night. Now, the president has to find a different way to keep the blue light out of his eyes. A similar folder is on display at the bar at Trump Tower. The folder is essentially a piece of stationary because it no longer holds classified materials, Parlatore said. The president didnt take the materials it once held, he said. Pence Subpoena Former Vice President Mike Pence was reportedly subpoenaed by special counsel Jack Smith, whos investigating Trump for possible crimes, including obstruction. Parlatore didnt dispute the reports; Pences team declined to comment on them. Asked if Trump had instructed Pence to assert executive privilege, Parlatore said the former presidents team has been instructing any witness going before a grand jury to assert privilege on questions that call for information thats protected by privilege. We dont want to create a precedent where DOJ can run roughshod over privilege because its a new administration, Parlatore said. Smith hasnt commented on the probe since it started, although leaked information about the investigation has regularly appeared in the media. He said when he was appointed that he intended to conduct the investigations independently and in the best traditions of the Department of Justice. Turner Comments Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said he was confused by the situations that have unfolded with Trump, Biden, and Pence. We dont understand how this could be happening. We dont understand how all three could have been so lackadaisical about this, Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on CNN on Feb. 12. Classified materials are not to be taken lightly, he said. And were just amazed as people keep finding them stuffed in the strangest places, like behind Bidens Corvette. Materials with classification markings were discovered in recent months at one of Bidens homes in Delaware, at Bidens former offices in Washington, and at Pences home in Indiana. FBI agents have since gone to each location to conduct a review. The searches have aimed to uncover any other documents with classification materials, as well as any materials that may fall under the Presidential Records Act. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan is calling on the international community to go from talks to action as it has done in other regions when there were early warning signs of genocide. February 13, 2023, 10:55 The international community should togo from talks to action. President Harutyunyan made a statement regarding the two-month blockade of Artsakh STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: President Harutyunyan issued a statement on social media titled Two-months-long blockade of Artsakh: The international community should go from talks to action. For two months now, Azerbaijan, resorting to criminal and terroristic actions, has been keeping around 120,000 people of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) under blockade, aiming at carrying out ethnic cleansing in Artsakh. This illegal blockade contradicts all the norms of international law and the obligations assumed by Azerbaijan, including those within the framework of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020. The blockade, based on the Azerbaijani state policy of racial hatred against Armenians, is all-encompassing: it deprives 120,000 citizens of Artsakh of natural access to food, energy, healthcare and other vital goods and services, and is, therefore, a serious, deliberate and massive attack on the right to life and other rights of our compatriots. Since January 20, in order to solve the acute food shortage caused by the blockade, the Artsakh government has been forced to restrict access to food by introducing coupons: one kilogram of rice, buckwheat, pasta, sugar and vegetable oil per person per month, the scope of which will be increased in the near future. Azerbaijan exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh by disrupting the electricity and gas supplies in harsh winter conditions. Due to problems with heating and food, all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in the country have been closed, depriving about 20,000 children and adolescents of the country of the opportunity to receive education. The work of many economic enterprises has also been suspended, leaving thousands of citizens unemployed. The construction of about 3,700 apartments and houses intended for people forcibly displaced from the territories occupied by Azerbaijan, as well as other construction works, have been halted. Scheduled surgeries in medical institutions have been cancelled, jeopardising the health and lives of around 600 citizens. We are grateful to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the RF peacekeeping mission for their efforts to ensure the transfer of about 90 persons in critical health conditions to Armenia, to reunite dozens of separated families and to transport the minimum amount of food to Artsakh that allows us to prevent famine in the country. However, the situation remains unbearable amid severe shortage of food, medicine and other essentials, continuous disruption of gas and electricity supplies, separation of thousands of families, collapse of the economy and other crisis conditions. We welcome the clear appeals of the executive and legislative authorities of many countries, as well as international organizations, to Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally lift the blockade. Those demands and positions, however, are ineffective in the conditions of Azerbaijan's fanatical and hateful intransigence. This is why the international community must act, as it has done in other regions when there are early warning signs of genocide. We appeal primarily to Russia, the USA and France, which co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as to all members of the international community, to jointly or individually take effective measures to open Artsakhs road of life and prevent new crimes. In that context, we urge them to impose sanctions against all perpetrators and supporters of crimes against the people of Artsakh, and the state of Azerbaijan, among other sanctions, by banning them from entering their own territories and freezing their movable and immovable properties in their countries. Azerbaijan's attempted ethnic cleansing of the people of Artsakh complies with the legal concept of crimes against humanity (erga omnes). Its prevention is a moral, legal and political obligation binding on all signatories of the United Nations Charter. Therefore, it is the duty of every member of the international community to do their best to protect the people of Artsakh and their dignified life in their own homeland, reads the statement of the President of Artsakh. mRNA Vaccine in Food Products Could Be Banned in Tennessee A laboratory technician holds a dose of a CCP virus vaccine candidate ready for trial on monkeys at the National Primate Research Center of Thailand at Chulalongkorn University in Saraburi on May 23, 2020. (Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images) Tennessee might prohibit the manufacture, sale, delivery, holding, or offering for sale of any part of livestock or meat food product containing an mRNA vaccine or vaccine material without clear labels stating the vaccine contents, according to a proposal filed in the states General Assembly. The measure, filed by Republican legislators in the state House and Senate, defines mRNA vaccine or vaccine material as a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against disease by introducing messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) that corresponds to a viral protein. State Rep. Susan Lynn, the legislations Republican sponsor in the House, said the COVID-19 vaccine raised enough questions that food producers shouldnt indiscriminately use it on animals. I dont think its a good idea until we know more, she said in an interview with The Epoch Times. The slower you go, the better it is sometimes to make sure no mistakes are made impacting human lives or stocks of animals. Lynn said the bills primary sponsor, state Sen. Frank Niceley, asked her to sign on because of her previous work on bills related to health and animals. Niceley didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. If the measure is enacted, Lynn said farmers can designate that the animals have been raised in Tennessee and also bear an insignia stating that no mRNA vaccine was used on the animal. There really is a market for this, she said. Ive talked to farmers who say their customers want their meat not to have as few antibiotics and vaccines as possible, as well as things like being grass-fed. Lynn noted that such a law could be beneficial to farmers because it helps small farms with their breeding operations by standing out and also for the public because it gives them the particular product theyre looking for. If you want an animal thats been bred in Tennessee or one thats not had an mRNA vaccine, youll have the assurance of knowing its local and nonvaccinated, she said. Lynn said the next step for the bill is the agriculture committee for debate. I hope itll spark a conversation about our food supply, she said. Clearly, weve done a lot of things wrong with our food supply, or else Type 2 diabetes and heart disease would not be thriving. Clearly, I think a lot of people believe there is a problem with the vaccines and that needs to be sorted out and those people to be helped. State Department of Agriculture No vaccines are used in food products in Tennessee, Kim Doddridge, public information officer for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), said in an email to The Epoch Times. However, she said some livestock ultimately slaughtered for food may have been vaccinated against disease at some point; all meat products sold commercially for human consumption must pass U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection first. Vaccines are not present in animal carcasses, Doddridge said. Milk from animals is also tested to ensure it is antibiotic free. She noted that the department doesnt track animal vaccine ingredients, so she was unable to answer whether any mRNA vaccines are currently used in animals in Tennessee. She said the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service approves vaccines for animals. The TDA reserves taking a position until a proposal is scheduled to be heard in committee, according to Doddridge. mRNA Studies on Animals Messenger RNA vaccines hold great promise for animals in the prevention of infectious diseases, according to the National Library of Medicines National Center for Biotechnology Information. In past years, several mRNA vaccines have entered clinical trials and have shown promise for offering solutions to combat emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases such as rabies, Zika, and influenza, a research paper reads. Recently, the successful application of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has further validated the platform and opened the floodgates to mRNA vaccines potential in infectious disease prevention, especially in the veterinary field. Multiple Pedestrians Struck, Dragged by Truck in NYC Rampage: Official Police vehicles surround a truck that was stopped and the driver arrested in New York on Feb. 13, 2023. (John Minchillo/AP Photo) A man driving a truck went on a rampage and hit several pedestrians in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, on Monday morning, said a New York City councilman. A man driving a U-Haul went on a rampage in Bay Ridge, City Councilman Justin Brannan wrote on Twitter Monday, adding that several people were hit and badly injured. We have no idea of motives at this time but this wasnt an accident, Brannan claimed. Suspect was actually arrested near the [Brooklyn] Battery Tunnel, he added. We think he hit at least 6 people with the truck and 2 are in very bad shape. PLEASE pray for these folks. Video footage posted online on Monday showed the incident in Brooklyn involving a U-Haul truck. Police officials told local media reported that a man in his 30s was hit by the U-Haul on 4th Avenue, while three other men who were on mopeds were struck and sustained minor injuries. Suspect was actually arrested near the BK Battery Tunnel. We think he hit at least 6 people with the truck and 2 are in very bad shape. PLEASE pray for these folks. Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) February 13, 2023 The incident happened on the same day a convicted terrorist, Sayfullo Saipov, is facing sentencing for killing eight people in a 2017 rampage while driving a U-Haul truck down a New York City bike path. A jury is considering a possible death sentence. Saipov has previously expressed admiration for the ISIS terrorist group and has said he had an obligation to carry out those attacks, according to his attorney. And as we sit here today, he still believes that, he still believes the ISIS messaging and he still believes it was Gods will that he do what he did, Saipovs attorney David Patton said last month. Officials have not publicly said whether the two incidents were linked. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said the suspect attempted to evade capture before police arrested him following a chase. Roberts Boyce, the former New York City Police Department chief of detectives, told ABC7 that both incidents are comparable. Its the first thing I thought, Boyce told the outlet. I worked the Sayfull Saipov case I remember how dangerous it was and what he did and how deadly it was. That was the first thing that came to mind when I heard the rented truck. So lets hope its not that and its a person in mental distress at this point and its nothing more than that. Its difficult to link the two right now but how can you not think about that? On New Years Eve, three NYPD officers were attacked by a man wielding a machete near Times Square, officials said. Trevor Bickford, a 19-year-old from Maine, was arrested and charged in that case last month as reports indicated that he may have been motivated by Islamic extremist viewpoints. NATO Chief: China, Russia May Be Increasing Surveillance With Balloon Incidents NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (Front), followed by NATO Spokeswoman Oana Lungescu, leaves after a press conference at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Nov. 16, 2022. (Olivier Matthys/AP Photo) The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said Monday that recent balloon incidents are part of a pattern suggesting that the Chinese regime and Russia are increasing surveillance of U.S. territory. What we saw over the United States is part of a pattern where China and also Russia are increasing surveillance activities on NATO allies, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday. Earlier this month, a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon traveled over much of the United States before it was shot down by a fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Feb. 10, 11, and 12), U.S. military jets downed three objects over North America: one was shot down in northern Alaska, one in Canadas Yukon Territory, and one was shot down near Lake Huron, Michigan. In Sundays incident over Lake Huron, U.S. military fighter jets downed an object that was described as octagonal in shape, according to Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) and alleged unnamed U.S. officials. Few details have been provided about that object, and the Pentagon has not directly responded to The Epoch Times questions about the shape of the Lake Huron object. Chinas foreign ministry told news outlets that it had no information on the latest three flying objects that were shot down. Last week, Stoltenberg asserted that the surveillance balloon confirms a pattern of Chinese behavior and shows the U.S. military should be more aware of the Chinese regimes intelligence-gathering efforts. A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter, taking part in the U.S.-led Saber Strike exercise, flies over Estonia on June 6, 2018. (Ints Kalnins/Reuters) And weve also seen increased Chinese intelligence activities in Europeagain, different platforms. They use satellites, they use cyber, and as weve seen over the United States, also balloons, Stoltenberg said. He added: So, we just have to be vigilant. We need to be aware of the constant risk of Chinese intelligence, and then step up what we do to protect ourselves. And we need also to react in a prudent, responsible, and vigilant way, as we have seen the United States has reacted to this specific balloon over North America and the United States. Adversaries Testing US Systems A former North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) official, Retired Maj. Gen. Scott Clancy, told CNN on Monday that its possible the object fly-bys are attempts by adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or Russia to test U.S. radar systems. The first thing is what Gen. VanHerck, my old commander, referred to as intelligence gaps that exist with our systems of detection across North America. As he said in his briefing after the initial shootdown of the Chinese-attributed balloon, that they have since closed those gaps I think theres maybe a little bit more to that, but what it does is it allows these systems to be seen more often, Clancy told the outlet. He added that based on his opinion, I think youre also seeing the confluence of distinctive activity by our adversaries to test our systems. Heightened Alert Part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a heightened alert following a spy balloon from China that emerged over U.S. airspace in late January, U.S. Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said in a briefing with reporters Sunday. Since then, fighter jets last week also shot down objects over Canada and Alaska. Pentagon officials said they posed no security threats, but so little was known about them that Pentagon officials were ruling nothing outnot even UFOs. We have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase, said Melissa Dalton, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense. VanHerck said the U.S. adjusted its radar so it could track slower objects. With some adjustments, weve been able to get a better categorization of radar tracks now, he said, and thats why I think youre seeing these, plus theres a heightened alert to look for this information. He added: I believe this is the first time within United States or American airspace that NORAD or United States Northern Command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object. The Pentagon officials said they were still trying to determine what exactly the objects were and said they had considered using the jets guns instead of missiles, but it proved to be too difficult. They drew a strong distinction between the three objects shot down over this weekend and the balloon from China. The Associated Press contributed to this report. New Immigration Policy Change Allows Boat Refugees to Bring Family Members to Australia Rescuers are searching for survivors off the coast of Christmas Island after a boat carrying suspected asylum seekers capsized on June 22, 2012. (Scott Fisher/Getty Images) The Australian government has lifted a restriction that prevents asylum seekers who arrived by boat from bringing family members to the country. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles recently announced the Labor government had replaced several directions on immigration policy that put reunion application visas by boat refugees under the lowest priority in processing. The former Coalition government adopted those directions as a deterrent measure to prevent asylum seekers from coming to Australia by boat. The change is expected to affect the visa applications of thousands of family members of boat refugees who are looking to come to Australia, with those from countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka most impacted. The new directions only apply to refugees on permanent protection visas, while those on temporary visas will see no change. The Government is improving the family reunion pathways for these permanent visa holders, many of whom have been separated from family for over a decade, exacerbating mental health issues and imposing great and enduring uncertainty on their lives, Giles told SBS News. Australian Immigration Minister Andrew Giles during the opening of the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 18, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) At the same, the government said it had added more immigrant staff to fast-track visa applications for individuals in complicated situations, raising the number of employees from 20 to 40. This is Labors latest action to tackle a large backlog of visa applications inherited from the previous government, following the recent addition of 400 immigration staff. Response from Relevant Parties Following the announcement, the Opposition warned that Labor had made it easier for asylum seekers to come to Australia by boat. Labors decision has gifted the people smugglers a new marketing campaign because they can now tell desperate people that if you reach Australia, you will be allowed to settle here, and your family will be allowed to join you, Opposition Immigration Spokesman Dan Tehan said. Temporary protection visas were a key pillar of Operation Sovereign Borders that helped stop the boats and end the deaths at sea. Meanwhile, Jana Favero, the advocacy director at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, welcomed the decision, saying refugees had been long calling for the government to prioritise family reunions. We are overjoyed that finally an intentional and deliberate policy to keep refugees separated from their families has been abolished, she said in comments obtained by AAP. There should not be any hold up in processing now the direction has been abolished. Nevertheless, Favero said the government needed to extend the change to those on temporary protection visas, as well as increase the number of permanent visas granted to refugees. This is the first step in humanity. It should be swiftly followed by granting a pathway to permanency, she said. Australia Extends Offshore Detention Policy The abolition of immigration directions comes shortly after the Labor government rushed a bill through the parliament to renew the already expired offshore detention policy on Feb. 7. The Gillard government first introduced the policy in 2012 to deal with a sudden surge in the number of refugees arriving by boat. Under the measure, the Australian government will send boat refugees to a third country and keep them there while processing their claims. Refugees with a valid claim will then be settled in another advanced country, such as New Zealand or the United States. At the time, the Australian government said the measure would prevent smugglers from sending boats to Australia and ensure a fair and orderly migration system. Refugee advocate and human rights groups have long criticised the policy, saying it caused harm to refugees and their children. Refugee supporters hold placards as they gather to protest the Nauru refugee detention camp in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 5, 2016. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images) The policy lapsed in October 2022, but the Labor government had not taken any action until very recently. It was unclear why there was a delay, although Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil was reportedly informed about the issue in December 2022. If the bill passes the parliament, Nauru, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, will continue to host Australias offshore asylum seekers. However, given the bill needs approval from both houses of the parliament, it is expected to take another two months to fix the gap in national security. Meanwhile, the Opposition criticised the Labor government for the delay, saying it left a hole in Australias border system. It is unforgivable that the Labor government could do absolutely nothing in a four-month period of time to ensure there was a regional processing centre designated, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said. New Report Reveals American Companies With High Likelihood to Go Woke A new report puts the spotlight on businesses at the risk of going woke by pushing ideologies rather than focusing on profits and revenues, giving Americans the ability to take preemptive action against such companies. The Corporate Bias Ranking report by the nonprofit 1792 Exchange assessed policies, practices, and other relevant criteria of more than 1,000 companies to determine the likelihood that a firm will cancel a client contract, boycott, or deny services to customers based on a difference in ideological beliefs. The 1792 Exchange found that 12 percent of companies in its analysis were at high risk of going woke, including big names such as Alphabet (Google), Best Buy, Amazon, Ford, Alaska Airlines, GM, Visa, and Adobe. Thirty percent of firms were assessed as having a medium risk of going woke, and 58 percent of businesses were rated as lower risk. Paul Fitzpatrick, president of 1792 Exchange, pointed out that customers have incredible power. In an interview with Fox, he advised people to ensure that woke companies are held accountable for their actions. We recommend that folks find the companies that they patronize, print off the report, walk into the office, the local branch, and if its a high-risk company, asked [sic] politely to calmly speak with the manager and say, Why are you doing this? Are you going to cancel me? And if youre a business or a nonprofit, ask to have the terms of your agreement changed, he said. If its a low-risk company, go into that office, thank them, encourage your friends to shop there, and we believe that market forces will work If we change behavior, our behavior, the companies will change their behavior. Scoring Criteria, Protecting Freedom of Speech The 1792 Exchange report scores companies across six criteria, which include whether firms have previously denied services to customers or vendors based on their religious or political beliefs; whether employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political or religious ideologies; and whether they use corporate reputation to support causes hostile to freedom of speech. The organization points out that ideological cancellations are occurring at an alarming rate. As an example, it cites the chief executive of software firm Tripwire, who wrote in a tweet that he supported Texass abortion restrictions as he was a pro-life gamer. Subsequently, the company received threats from vendors, suppliers, and other partners who warned that they would cancel their contracts if the CEO remained employed. Tripwire soon denounced its own CEO, forcing him out. While powerful public and private companies continue their cancellation campaigns against those who dissent from secular progressive ideology, we remain committed to protecting the freedoms we cherish and need, the organization said. We must fix and protect our economic system, which has lifted millions out of poverty and created unprecedented prosperity, and restore viewpoint neutrality. Woke, ESG Discrimination Fitzpatrick points to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies as one of the tools that are used to transition a firm to a woke corporate culture. Several Republican states are enacting laws to prevent the infiltration of woke ESG ideologies in businesses. In 2021, the Texas Legislature passed a law that prohibited public contracts with public companies deemed to discriminate against the firearms industry. Recently, Citigroup was removed as a potential underwriter of $3.4 billion worth of municipal bonds in the state because of the banks opposition to firearms businesses. U.S. citizens also dont want businesses to mix politics with their operations. A recent poll by the Trafalgar Group and Convention of States Action (COSA) found that almost 80 percent of likely voters said that, given the choice, they were more likely to buy from a company that was politically neutral. That number includes more than 75 percent of both Democratic and Republican voters. This is a blowback thats coming, Mark Meckler, COSA president, told The Epoch Times. Its coming big time against all this woke politics in business. Its not even that folks want their companies to reflect their politics; they want their companies, the people they buy from, to just ignore politics. New Years Eve Machete Attack Suspect Pleads Not Guilty NEW YORKA Maine man charged with attacking police officers with a machete near New Yorks Times Square on New Years Eve pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted murder and assault charges in a new state indictment. Authorities have said Trevor Thomas Bickford of Wells, Maine, began studying radical Islamic ideology last summer. They say the 19-year-old decided in November to attack U.S. officials and officials of other governments he thought to be anti-Muslim. Bickford entered the plea to the 18-count indictment during an appearance in state court in Manhattan. His lawyer, Rosemary Vassallo, would only confirm the plea and declined further comment in an email to The Associated Press. Bickford is also facing federal terrorism charges. Three officers were injured in the attack at the edge of the high-security zone where throngs of revelers had gathered, about two hours before the new year began. Prosecutors say Bickford struck the officers in the head with the machete and tried to grab an officers gun. One officer suffered a fractured skull. Bickford was shot in the shoulder by police and taken to a hospital. Hes now detained without bail. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the state indictment earlier Wednesday. The charges include six counts of attempted murder and 10 assault charges. Trevor Bickford allegedly carried out planned attacks on three members of the NYPD in Times Square on New Years Eve as they did their duty to protect our city, Bragg said in a statement. The charges contained in the indictment demonstrate just how seriously we are treating this incident. The Legal Aid Society, a public defender organization representing Bickford, has urged the public to refrain from drawing hasty conclusions and to respect the privacy of our clients family. Newsom Gunning for More Gun Bans Commentary President Joe Biden looked chipper in his recent State of the Union Address. That means his re-election announcement could come soon. And it means Gov. Gavin Newsoms own quest for the presidency probably will have to wait until 2028. In the meantime, hes still burnishing his bona fides with the left wing of the Democratic Party, which likely will become even more dominant over the next six years. The latest is his continued push for even more gun control laws. Even though Californias more than 100 such laws havent prevent the recent spate of mass shootings. Nor would any new laws, had they been on the books already, prevented the shootingsif only because mass killers obviously dont care about following laws against murder of any kind, and in any case can get guns in other states or on the black market. As Dan Walters reported: Nor have these laws prevented the lawless from obtaining weapons via theft, smuggling from other states or the illicit manufacture of untraceable ghost guns. Indeed, state restrictions have made the black market even more lucrative, mirroring the side effects of Prohibition and the decades-long drug war. One law Newsom is backing is Senate Bill 2, by state Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank). It would require extensive new requirements to get a concealed-carry permit, in the bills words including the applicant is of good moral character. And it would ban carrying a gun in public buildings, such as libraries and police stations, as well as, A church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship, a financial institution, and other places. The government, of course, can regulate the buildings it owns or controls. But banning guns in private buildings directly flies in the face of last years New York Rifle & Pistol Assn. v. Bruen decision (pdf) of the U.S. Supreme Court, which clearly banned onerous restrictions on concealed-carry permits as violations of the Second Amendment. Portantino seemed to acknowledge that problem. The bill also included exceptions if a private business owner put up a sign welcoming people bringing their guns. He said, This is not window dressing. This is to put a strong bill on the governors desk to withstand a legal challenge that is sure to come. Gun Owners of California issued a response: Although this bill is purely intent language at this point, GOC has no doubt that this will be a reintroduction of last years SB 918, which virtually prohibited any individual with a CCW [Carry Concealed Weapon permit] from carrying anywhere in the state. Its legislative twin in New York has been declared unconstitutional TWICE in federal court. Among other provisions in the New York law, it required the CCW holder to have good moral character, something obviously impossible to define in this context, but which was copied for SB 2. In enforcing it, Democrats and Republicans each could say the other was morally defective. However, more recently the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the New York law to continue, at least for now. CNBC reported: The justices kept on hold a federal judges ruling that invalidated various provisions of the law. There were no dissenting votes, but in a statement attached to the brief order, conservative Justice Samuel Alito said that the decision is not expressing any view on the merits of the case and the challengers should not be deterred. That means more legal wrangling. However, as to Californias SB 2, if it passes, it probably would be implemented at least until the New York situation is clarified. But the New York situation could affect the transition from the current intent language in the bill to what ends up being in the final version. Whats clear, though, is the gun controllers in California, as in New York, are not going to give up their quest to disarm their law-abiding citizens. Theyll keep passing laws, tying up the federal courts for years. If they lose, theyll pass more laws. Meanwhile, the sorts of people who oppose these laws continue to leave California for Arizona, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, and other states that not only back the Second Amendment, but enjoy low taxes. For the refugees, its a win-win. In fact, CCW holders are among the most law-abiding citizens. According to GunFacts.info (which includes copious links to studies): There are approximately 182,000 defensive gun uses in public each year. Gun homicides were 10 percent higher in states with restrictive CCW laws, according to a study spanning 1980-2009. Crime rates involving gun owners with carry licenses have consistently been about 0.02 percent of all carry permit holders since Floridas right-to-carry law started in 1988. After passing their concealed carry law, Floridas homicide rate fell from 36 percent above the national average to 4 percent below. In Texas, murder rates fell 50 percent faster than the national average in the year after their concealed carry law passed. Rape rates fell 93 percent faster in the first year after enactment, and 500 percent faster in the second. Assaults fell 250 percent faster in the second year. In sum, if SB 2 is passed, signed into law by Newsom, upheld in the courts, and takes effect, it likely will increase crime in California because fewer law-abiding citizens will be armed and ready to act on their own to stop crimes. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. North Dakota State House Declares People Superior to Animals and Inanimate Objects Bill aims to block 'rights of nature' movement in the state The North Dakota House of Representatives passed a personhood bill on Feb. 2, declaring humans superior to animals, environmental elements, artificial intelligence, inanimate objects, corporations, and governmental entities. The measure, House Bill 1361 (pdf), passed by a vote of 877. The bill was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Cole Christensen. The people on the committee were like, Is this really necessary? And I said, Unfortunately, it is, Christensen told The Epoch Times. He cited news from the World Economic Forum and elsewhere indicating that granting nonhumans the status of persons is increasingly being promoted or implemented. Nature as a Rights-Bearing Entity For example, in 2021, the Magpie River in Quebecknown by the indigenous Innu nation as Muteshekau-shipubecame the first river in Canada to be granted personhood rights. The Innu Council of Ekuanitshit and the Minganie Regional County Municipality declared the river a legal person. The move assigned the river nine rights, including the right to flow and to maintain its biodiversity. It also allows for the appointment of legal guardians to ensure these rights are respected, a 2021 joint press release (pdf) from the Muteshekau-shipu Alliance and the International Observatory on the Rights of Nature said. The rights that come with personhood can be protected in court or government policy. The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature promotes a rights of nature ideology, which holds that nature should no longer be treated as property under the law and that ecosystems should have rights, according to its website, where it keeps a timeline of movement milestones. An essential step in achieving this is to create a system of jurisprudence that treats nature as a rights-bearing entity and not as property to be exploited at will, the website says. The Great Lakes region is home to over 30 million people and holds one-fifth of the worlds freshwater resources. (Courtesy of SeaWiFS Project NASA/GSFC and Geoeye) Rights of Nature In 2018, Crestone, Colorado, became one of the first cities in the United States to legally acknowledge the rights of nature, with the adoption of its Rights of Nature Resolution, which stated that nature, natural ecosystems, communities and all species possess intrinsic and inalienable rights which must be effectuated to protect life on Earth. In 2021, the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe sued the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in tribal court on behalf of wild rice after an oil pipeline company was allowed to pump massive amounts of ground water, risking the wild rice in lakes. In 2018, White Earth leaders had adopted a tribal law recognizing the rights of wild riceknown as manoomin in Ojibwato exist and flourish (pdf). In 2022, the New York Legislature introduced a bill giving rights to the Great Lakes ecosystem. The bill, which aimed to create a Great Lakes bill of rights covering an area containing one-fifth of the worlds freshwater, did not move out of committee. The Great Lakes ecosystem, the Great Lakes, and the watersheds that drain into the Great Lakes and their connecting channels, shall possess the unalienable and fundamental rights to exist, persist, flourish, naturally evolve, regenerate and be restored by culpable parties, free from human violations of these rights and unencumbered by legal privileges vested in property, including corporate property, reads the proposed legislation from New York state Assemblyman Patrick Burke, a Democrat. The North Dakota bill, which has now moved to the state Senate, affirms that an individuals rights are superior and not equal to environmental elements, artificial intelligence, animals, inanimate objects, corporations, or governmental entities and that environmental elements, artificial intelligence, animals, inanimate objects, corporations, or governmental entities may not be granted personhood in the state or any right personhood entails. It is easy to find examples of human rights being assigned to nonhumans in the United States and around the world. However, if HB 1361 passes the state Senate, there will be no such examples in North Dakota. Novavax has secured a vaccine deal to provide the U.S. government with 1.5 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, a latecomer to a market in which the biggest buyers have stopped buying. The Maryland-based biotech company reported on Feb. 13 that it has agreed with the U.S. government to modify an existing contract but didnt disclose how much it will be paid for the vaccine doses. The amended deal will also support the development of smaller dose vials, strain selection in line with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations, and a smooth transition to the commercial market, according to the company. The move also indicates that the Biden administration still seeks to diversify its COVID-19 vaccine arsenal with non-mRNA vaccines. Novavax is a protein subunit vaccine, meaning that it directly injects a version of the spike protein of the virus that causes COVID-19 infection into the body to stimulate the production of antibodies. By contrast, PfizerBioNTech and Moderna vaccines work by introducing mRNA into the recipients muscle cells, which then produce copies of the spike protein to trigger an immune response. This agreement acknowledges the need to offer the American people a diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio and underscores the importance of Novavaxs partnership with the U.S. government to ensure continuous access to a protein-based option as part of public health measures, said John Jacobs, Novavax president and CEO. In July 2022, the FDA authorized emergency use of Novavax in individuals 18 years of age and older. In October 2022, the FDA approved its use as a booster for those who took mRNA vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna as their primary vaccination. The U.S. government has since purchased 3.2 million doses. The Biden administration has signaled that it would soon stop buying COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests. According to Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, the shift might take place as early as this summer or fall. All I can say, because I literally dont know, we dont have the specific dates, is that its going to happen sometime over the summer into early fall. And youll see that transition, and well kind of give people as much notice as we can possibly give, Jha said earlier this month during a webinar hosted by the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco. Japan Discontinues Novavax Deal Japanese public health officials, on the other hand, have canceled an order of nearly 142 million doses of Novavax vaccines, sold in the Asian country under the brand name Nuvaxovid. In 2021, the Japanese government agreed to purchase 150 million doses of Nuvaxovid manufactured locally by pharmaceutical giant Takeda. In a report filed on Feb. 10 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, however, Takeda stated that Japan no longer wants to buy the remaining 141.76 million doses. Available doses of Nuvaxovid already supplied to the market can still be used as an option for individuals who cannot receive a bivalent omicron mRNA vaccine, or who wish to receive a recombinant protein vaccine, stated Takeda, which is also contracted to make and distribute Moderna vaccines in Japan. Object Shot Down Over Great Lakes Flew Near Sensitive US Military Sites: Pentagon The Pentagon is seen from a flight taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Nov. 29, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The Pentagon on Sunday night said that President Joe Biden acted on guidance from military officials to shoot down an object flying near Lake Huron, Michigan, and also confirmed that it transited near sensitive military sites. The objectlikely the same one that was picked up on radar in Montana on Saturdayflew in proximity to sensitive [Department of Defense] sites, the DOD confirmed in a statement. It was taken down by an F-16 fighter jet that fired an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile at it, officials said, while providing few details about what it might be. We did not assess it to be a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground, but assess it was a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities, the statement continued. Our team will now work to recover the object in an effort to learn more. Its path and altitude raised concerns, including that it could be a hazard to civil aviation. The location chosen for this shoot down afforded us the opportunity to avoid impact to people on the ground while improving chances for debris recovery, the Pentagons statement also said. There are no indications of any civilians hurt or otherwise affected. On Sunday evening, a House lawmaker told Fox News that the object was octagonal in shape, which triggered widespread speculation on social media about what it might be. Alleged unnamed U.S. officials also told Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and other outlets that it had that shape. During a news conference on Sunday evening, U.S. military and Department of Defense officials did not make mention of the shape of the object. They did say, however, that its not clear how the object was being kept in flight or what it used as a means of propulsion. In response to questions from The Epoch Times about the shape of the object, a Pentagon spokesperson said that we do not have anything to offer beyond a transcript of Sundays news conference. Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, the commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, was asked by reporters on Sunday about whether the Lake Huron object was extraterrestrial in origin. Ill let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I havent ruled out anything, VanHerck replied. At this point, we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America, with an attempt to identify it, he added. U.S. F-16 fighter jets are seen in a file photo. (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP) But another alleged Defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the military had not seen any evidence that the objects were extraterrestrial in origin. Other Objects Sundays downing of the object comes after U.S. military planes shot down two other objects on Friday and Saturday. One object was shot down by an F-22 Raptor in northern Alaska, above the Arctic Circle, while the other was shot down by a similar jet in Yukon Territory, Canada, located adjacent to Alaska. Like the Lake Huron incident, few details about those objects have been provided by the Pentagon so far. There have been no updates about the recovery efforts for either as of Monday morning. About a week before, a Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down by an F-22 off the coast of South Carolina, coming after it transited over much of the continental United States. It was first reported on in the press when it entered airspace near Billings, Montana. Some Republicans have criticized the White House over its handling of the incursion by the alleged Chinese spy balloon. Theyve said it should have been shot down much earlier, or even after it was detected in U.S. airspace. Before the Lake Huron incident, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told ABC News on Sunday that White House officials believe the objects were smaller balloons. But the administration, responding to Schumers claims to Reuters, asserted that they did not closely resemble the Chinese balloon. We will not definitively characterize them until we can recover the debris, which we are working on, a spokesperson told the outlet. Meanwhile, recovery efforts for the objects that were downed in Alaska and the Yukon Territory will face severe weather conditions. Both areas are sparsely populated, experience brutally cold weather conditions, and get little sunlight during this time of the year. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will end his term as planned in October, Reuters reported citing a NATO spokesperson, after a newspaper reported a further extension was in the works. February 13, 2023, 11:38 NATO's Stoltenberg will not seek another extension of his term, spokesperson says STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: "The mandate of Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been extended three times, and he has served for a total of almost nine years," NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said late on Saturday. "The Secretary-General's term comes to an end in October of this year and he has no intention to seek another extension of his mandate." Earlier, Welt am Sonntag reported Stoltenberg's term was to be extended again as the alliance sought to maintain stability during the war in Ukraine. Object Shot Down Over Lake Huron by US Military Likely Crashed in Canadian Waters: Official U.S. Air Force General Glen VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, attends a hearing held by the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, on March 1, 2022. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) An unidentified octagonal object shot down by a U.S. military F-16 fighter jet over Lake Huron on Feb. 12 most likely crashed in Canadian waters, according to an official. Gen. Glen VanHerck, the head of North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and Northern Command, said during a briefing on Feb. 12 that efforts to recover the objects remains from Lake Huron are underway. What we saw was [an] object that began drifting, potentially most likely landed in Canadian waters in Lake Huron, said VanHerck. And we have ongoing recovery operations with Coast Guard assets moving towards this area. VanHerck added that he remains in contact with Canadian Armed Forces chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre. The Canadians were very supportive. The Canadians launched two F-18s plus their tanker as well to support this operation, said VanHerck. The downing of the flying object over Lake Huron comes after U.S. military planes shot down two other cylindrical objects in the days prior, one of which was brought down in northern Alaska and the other in the Yukon. Asked by reporters about the nature of the flying objects, VanHerck said he would not categorize them as balloons like the high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. Were calling them objects for a reason, said VanHerck. I am not able to categorize how they stay aloft. It could be a gaseous type of balloon inside a structure or it could be some type of a propulsion system. But clearly, theyre able to stay aloft. Canadian Response Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Feb. 12 before the object was shot down over Lake Huron and that the federal government is in constant communication with the U.S. to assess the situation. You can know that this is something that NORAD and Canada and the United States are taking extremely seriously, and we will continue to keep people informed as we know more, he said during a press conference. The prime minister added that efforts to recover the remains of the flying object shot down in the Yukon several days prior were ongoing. The Canadian military and RCMP recovery teams were searching for the objects remains using a CP-160 aircraft on Feb. 11. Theres still much to know about it, Trudeau said. Thats why the analysis of this object is going to be very important. Defence Minister Anita Anand said on the same day that it was potentially similar to the Chinese surveillance balloon shot down by the U.S. earlier in February. It appears to be a cylindrical object and we are working to analyze the debris to identify more specifics about this object, she said, adding that it appears to be smaller in size than the balloon shot down on Feb. 4 by the United States. At this point that is the information that I can share, Anand said. Jack Phillips and The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Eugene, Oregon, Bans Natural Gas Hookups in New Residences City Council says it aims to be free of fossil fuels despite strong public opposition The city council of Eugene, Oregon, has moved to ban to ban natural gas hookups in new residential construction. In this aerial view, completed and under construction new homes at a site in Trappe, Maryland, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) After more than two years of debate, the City Council of Eugene, Oregon, voted on Feb. 6 to ban natural gas hookups in new residential construction, becoming the states first city to prohibit new homes from using gas furnaces, water heaters, or appliances. During a closed meeting, the council first decided to deny a request by opponents to put the issue on the May ballot. According to DHM Research, 70 percent of those surveyed oppose the ban. The council then voted 53 in favor, citing concerns about climate change and public health, and saying the ban would reduce carbon emissions and eliminate the air quality hazards of gas stoves. Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis applauded the move. We have a governor who has pledged to build 36,000 new houses a year, Vinis said in a public statement after the meeting. We do not want those houses with natural gas hookups. And we can lead the way in the city of Eugene to say This is how its done.' Strong Opposition Councilor Mike Clark voted no on the ban, claiming the change will discourage developers as well as anger the many voters who were strongly opposed and wanted the issue on the ballot. Sid Leiken, executive director of the Western Oregon Builders Association echoed Clarks concerns. Our members are committed to helping create the housing our community needs to solve our homelessness and affordability crisis, Leiken told The Epoch Times. We believe that actions like the surprise vote the Eugene councilors took will do little to actually improve our climate, and significantly hurt our local builders ability to create housing that is truly affordable for our neighbors. The Western Oregon Builders Association will work with the opposition to repeal the measure, he added. This extreme policy to end energy choice was adopted despite a torrent of public testimony against the ban from local businesses, restaurant operators, and average citizens, Lane County Republicans wrote to The Epoch Times. This ban is certain to worsen the housing shortage and impose prohibitive costs on small businesses struggling to recover from the pandemic. NW Natural, which supplies natural gas to more than 2.5 million Oregon homes, or 80 percent of natural gas in the state, fought the ban, claiming it limits energy choice and that the science does not support it. It has been alarming to see the extent to which some organizations will go to make misleading or inaccurate claims based on poorly constructed studies that are used to justify sweeping conclusions to support electrification, the company wrote. This diminishes the importance of rooting policy in sound science. The natural gas provider cited a study that says ventilation plays a key role in mitigating cooking-related air emissions that come from both gas and electric stoves. This is why kitchen exhaust has been required for all new homes in Oregon for many years, whether they have gas or electric cooking. But supporters of the ban are just getting started. Councilor Jennifer Yeh called the resolution just a first step to a fossil fuel-free Eugene. Its going to be slow, and its going to take us decades, but we have to start moving and this is that movement. Gas Stoves and the Culture War Eugenes ban comes just as the furor had subsided over Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) member Richard Trumka Jr.s suggestion that the agency should develop new regulations on gas stove emissions and shouldnt rule out an end to sales of the product. As of 2020, about 38 percent of the countrys households used natural gas for cooking, according to Census data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This is a hidden hazard, Trumka said in an interview with Bloomberg. Any option is on the table. Products that cant be made safe can be banned. His statement put gas stoves at the center of the culture wars. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said in a post on Twitter that a gas stove ban would be a recipe for disaster. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted a photo of a gas stove on the Gadsden Flag. If the CPSC really wanted to do something about public health, it would ban cigarettes or automobiles, long before it moved on to address stoves, said Mike McKenna, a GOP energy lobbyist. Its transparently political. CPSC Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric quickly disavowed the idea of a federal gas-stove ban but acknowledged research finding that gas stoves may pose air-quality hazards. The commission plans to launch information gathering and public comment activities into the hazards posed by gas stoves later this winter and could consider barring the manufacture or import of gas stoves and setting standards on emissions from the appliances. Meanwhile, the battle over gas stove bans is spreading like wildfire in state and local governments. Eugene is among nearly 100 local municipalities across the nation working to ban the use of natural gas in new residential constructions, even as more than a dozen states have prohibited such bans. Pentagon Spotting More Flying Objects Due to Enhanced Military Radar: Officials The rise in the number of high-altitude objects recently identified flying in U.S. airspace is due in part to the government enhancing its radar systems, a top Pentagon official said on Sunday. Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, told reporters in a briefing on Sunday that officials have been closely scrutinizing U.S. airspace ever since the first Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down on Feb. 4 after making its way across the United States and approaching the Atlantic coast. In light of the Peoples Republic of China balloon that we took down last Saturday, we have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase in objects that we detected over the past week, Dalton said. She added that the Pentagon is also aware that a number of high-altitude objects can be used by a range of companies, countries, and research organizations for purposes that are not nefarious, including legitimate research. With that being said, Dalton noted that officials had not been able to definitively assess or verify what the recent objects that were discovered flying over U.S. airspace were being used for, and thus the government acted out of an abundance of caution to protect national security. 4 Objects Shot Down in Recent Days The Pentagon said on Sunday that a U.S. F-16 fighter jet shot down another airborne object flying at approximately 20,000 feet over Lake Huron, bordered by Michigan, earlier in the day at the direction of President Joe Biden. According to officials, the object flew over sensitive Department of Defense sites. An assessment found that it was not a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground but was a flight safety hazard. Its path and altitude raised concerns, including that it could be a hazard to civil aviation, the Pentagon statement said. Sundays downing of the object marked the fourth such object in recent days to be shot down over North American airspace. On Feb. 10 and 11, unidentified flying objects were shot down by U.S. jets over Alaska and northern Canada. Dalton reiterated the Pentagons comments during Sundays briefing with reporters, noting that the objects had flown in close proximity to sensitive sites across the country but were deemed to be more of a hazard to civilian aviation than anything else. The pentagon official added that the government is now laser-focused on confirming what the objects were being used for. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) described the latest object as having an octagonal structure in a Feb. 12 interview with Fox News. More Objects Possibly Flying Over US Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, told reporters during Sundays briefing that he is not categorizing the three most recent objects as balloons until further studies are conducted. VanHerck said the latest object was initially spotted in Canadian airspace on Saturday before it crossed into the United States and was spotted over Montana, then Wisconsin and Michigan. However, he stopped short of providing details regarding the exact shape of the latest object, noting that due to its speed and the speed at which U.S. forces shot it down, this was difficult to assess. What were seeing is very, very small objects that produce a very, very low radar cross-section, he said, adding that the object is not yet being attributed to any particular country until it can be fully recovered and studied. When asked if there are potentially more objects flying over the Uinted States, VanHerck said its certainly possible but that he couldnt confirm that at the time. The Pentagon added that officials are continuing to work to recover the latest downed object and coast guard officials are aiding in the recovery process. VanHerck said that object is currently in Lake Huron and most likely drifted into Canadian waters. Dalton, meanwhile, said the United States may be able to look back at prior instances that were potentially overlooked following an analysis of the characteristics of the latest downed balloons. PM Defends Shooting of Flying Object Over Canadian Soil by U.S. Fighter Jet The tracking and shooting down of unauthorized flying objects over North America is part of joint work between Canada and the U.S., hence who pulls the trigger is not important, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Feb. 13 while visiting Yukon. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a joint command, Trudeau said, which means we do things together over North America. Canadian and American fighter jets were scrambled on Feb. 11 to intercept an unauthorized and unidentified flying object over the territory in northwestern Canada. It was a very much based on the context and the situations of who was there, who had the capacity to do it before we lost the object into darkness or into situations, Trudeau said. He added the focus was not on who would get credit for the take down, but rather on achieving the outcome. The prime minister said the wreckage area to be searched by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is between Dawson City, 100km east of the Alaska border, and Mayo. The two towns are 230km apart by way of Highway 2. That area is closer to U.S. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska compared to Cold Lake, Alberta, where Canada has one of its two wings hosting fighter jets. Trudeau said a lot of CAF resources were being deployed to the area, but that as time goes by different instructions could be passed to local outfitters and trappers. The prime minister has insisted on the joint nature of continental defence, but in reality there would be a very low likelihood of reciprocity where Canadian jets would be taking down targets in U.S. airspace. The Conservative opposition has raised concerns about the U.S. involvement. We do not have the capacity to defend ourselves and our sovereignty, tweeted Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong on Feb. 11. Hard questions need to be asked about the state of the Canadian armed forces. Nature of Objects The nature of what was shot down is also the subject of speculation and comes in the context of similar incidents occurring over the past few days. It started off with a Chinese spy balloon that flew over the entire continent from West to East through Canada and the U.S. before being shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Feb. 6 Canadians had not been warned about the flyover because lives were at stake. This time authorities had no such qualms and took down the flying object, but have released few details about what it is. They have mostly not referred to it as a balloon nor have they called it an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). No information has been provided on which country or entity could be behind the flying objects. National Defence Minister Anita Anand called it a small cylindrical object. A readout of a Feb. 11 call between Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden says the object is unidentified and unmanned. Gen. Glen VanHerck, the head of NORAD, said on Feb. 12 he does not call the latest objects balloons. Were calling them objects for a reason, said VanHerck. I am not able to categorize how they stay aloft. It could be a gaseous type of balloon inside a structure or it could be some type of a propulsion system. But clearly, theyre able to stay aloft. Trudeau says there have been significant diplomatic and international engagements on the issue and expressed concerns over the trend. Obviously there is some sort of pattern in there, the fact that we are seeing this in a significant degree over the past week is a cause for interest and close attention, he said. There is much analysis going on at the highest levels of NORAD in both Canada and the United States to try and understand more. Other events over recent days include a shoot down of an object at 40,000 feet over Alaska by a U.S. fighter jet on Feb. 10. Another object, this time described as being octagonal in shape, was taken down by the U.S. Air Force over Lake Huron on Feb. 12 and likely crashed in Canadian waters, according to VanHerck. Populist Rhetoric: Major Coal Miner Lambasts Government for Limiting Exports Australia is responsible for a third of the world's traded coal. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images) Dreams of creating an Elysian fields of a renewable economy have created a potential energy shortfall in New South Wales (NSW) which has forced the government to limit how much coal miners can send overseas, says leading miner Whitehaven Coal. The government is set to impose a quota on mining firms to reserve 10 percent of their output for domestic use, a move Whitehaven CEO Paul Flynn says is a problem created entirely by poor government decision-making. He wrote in The Australian newspaper that despite populist rhetoric, coal was an economic lifeblood to Australiasupplying two-thirds of the electricity on the east coast and worth $141 billion to the economy. The NSW government doesnt like to acknowledge this and has constrained investment in coal and the supply chains that deliver this energy while quietly pocketing the windfall royalties they generate, he said. Now, faced with the consequences of its own mismanagementtighter supply and rising pricesit has hastily diverted coal bound for export markets. Flynn said it was a continuation of the chronic mismanagement of the industry by the government and will end up doing more harm than good. Coal Reservation Scheme Draws the Ire of Japan In January, Energy Minister Matt Kean (also the treasurer) announced the plan that would compel coal miners to reserve 10 percent of their output for domestic use as a hedge against soaring international commodity prices and supply disruptions. This coal cap scheme will see NSW doing our part at the request of the Albanese government to contribute to the national solution of this national problem, Kean said in a statement. I know those currently providing coal for the local market will appreciate that companies enjoying super profits on the back of the war in Ukraine will now do their part for the domestic market. Of course, they should provide Australian production for Australian consumers, he added. These new arrangements will help even the playing field among coal producers. Premier Dominic Perrottet also framed the issue along sovereignty linesa politically popular tacticsimilar to when the Queensland government increased its mining tax to cover its burgeoning budget deficit. Ill stand with families and small businesses across NSW, not with major coal companies who are earning super profits at a time when people are struggling, the NSW premier said. The move has drawn criticism from NSWs major export destination Japan with energy giant Idemitsu objecting to the scheme. Large-scale, long-term investments in major energy and resources projects require long-term fiscal stability, mutual trust and ongoing consultation between all parties, CEO Steve Kovac told the Sydney Morning Herald. There are simpler ways for the government to achieve its desired outcomes, which will not negatively impact exports and customer relationships, particularly in Japan and other key export markets. Last year, the Queensland government drew the ire of the Japanese ambassador after it increased its mining royaltiesalong with a host of other new taxesto deal with its ballooning debt problem. The decisions by both governments come as they also invest billions into renewable energy development. NSW Left Exposed to Global Energy Volatility Meanwhile, Flynn said the NSW government was dismantling the architecture of our existing energy system before figuring out how to reliably replace the capacity it delivers. For a government that has indulged rhetoric about the Elysian fields of a renewable economy lying just around the corner, its ironic the treasurers emergency powers are being used to nationalise a component of domestic coal production, he wrote. How on Earth did we get here? He said despite the state having large coal and gas reserves, long-term selloffs of state-owned generating assets, as well as embargoes on new mining approvals, have left the stateand its residentsexposed to global export prices. Domestic coal supply has tightened, and prices have nudged higher as older mines contracted to supply power stations are exhausted and not replaced. Even still, coal is a relatively cheap fuel source and reliable as ever. The energy density of coal (and other fossil fuels) means that absent nuclear energy, its replacement will take decades. Religious Freedom Summit Highlights Atrocities in China, Russia, Nigeria Commentary Dmitri Bodyu, a Ukrainian American pastor, is a three-time religious refugee who last year added Russian prisoner to his list of life-or-death challenges. As a teenager in 1989, Bodyu and his family fled religious persecution in the Soviet Union and moved to Texas where they were given legal refugee status and eventually became U.S. citizens, free to worship as they pleased. In the mid-2000s, he and his wife moved to Ukraine and founded a network of thriving evangelical Christians churches there. While pastoring a church in Crimea in 2014, he was given 10 days to pack up and leave amid Russias invasion and annexation of the strategic port-filled peninsula. The couple and their children moved inland to the Ukrainian city of Melitopol and rebuilt their churches and ministry, only to have history repeat itself last year, this time with a far more brutal chain of events. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February, Bodyu started sheltering some four dozen refugees at his church. That is dangerous work. Human rights experts say Russian soldiers have targeted pastors and churches first when taking over territory in Eastern Ukraine. In Russia, most Christians belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, and the church leadership, based in Moscow, views the breakaway Orthodox Church of Ukraine as illegitimateand evangelical Christians like Bodyu and members of his Word of Life Church as apostates. After rockets started hitting the city of Melitopol in early March, the U.S. embassy called Bodyu and let him know he could leave and seek legal refuge in the United States. But I said that were not going to leave the churchwe cannot leave the church and go, he said. So, I stayed, and my family stayed with me, and we worked the first few weeks when the war started in the city because it was like an Armageddon. On March 19, 2022, at 6:30 in the morning, a group of Russian soldiers ransacked their home and churches and captured Bodyu, put a black bag over his head and took him to jail where they alternately threatened to kill him and tried to enlist him into the Russian army. Despite the bleak circumstances, Bodyu and his family prayed for his release, and after a number of days the soldiers inexplicably released him on one of their commanders orders. Still, the soldiers continued to keep his house under surveillance, so the family fled to Poland where they continue to assist church members and Ukrainian refugees. Other fellow Christian ministers, priests, and their followers werent as fortunate, with reports of many being tortured and killed by their Russian captors. In occupied territory, we still have Christians there, and its very tough to be an evangelical Christian in occupied territory because they are hunting all the ministers and they took our building [for a military base], Bodyu said while speaking on a Tuesday, Jan. 31st panel at the International Religious Freedom summit, a meeting of lawmakers and human rights advocates in Washington, D.C. that happened on Jan. 31Feb. 1. Bodyus harrowing experience was just one of countless personal accounts of religious and ethnic persecution spotlighted at the annual IRF summit. The two-day gathering, which has taken place annually for the last three years, was organized by Sam Brownback, a former Kansas governor who served as President Trumps ambassador at large for religious freedom, and Katrina Lantos Swett, the daughter of the late Democratic Rep. Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress and a longtime champion of human rights. Religious freedom is under a growing threat by China, Russia, and other totalitarian regimes, activities officials and lawmakers at the summit warned as they worked to confront and expose religious persecution around the globe. Rashan Abbas, a prominent Uyghur activist, urged more action to stop the Chinese regimes genocide against her people, a Muslim ethnic minority in northwest China. In 2021, President Biden formally declared Chinas treatment of the Uyghur people as genocide, responsible for attempting to decimate the population through mass detention and forced sterilization. A lifetime pro-democracy activist, Abbas left the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China and came to the United States to study at Washington State University in 1989. She continued her human rights advocacy and became a broadcaster for Radio Free Asias Uyghur Service and later testified before Congress about Beijings Uyghur forced labor camps. After she appeared on a panel in 2018 at the conservative Hudson Institute, Abbass sister and aunt, who were still living in Xinjiang, disappeared from their homes. Since their disappearances, the Chinese regime has confirmed that her sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, is being held in a prison inside China on alleged terrorism charges. Less information is known about Abbas aunt. Abbas urged all Americans not to buy any goods marked made in China because its so difficult to determine if any of them were made by Uyghurs and then transferred to other parts of China for export. It hurts me to see people buying these things, she told RealClearPolitics. [I wonder] is that a product made by my sister in a forced labor camp? Another leading summit event focused on the ongoing slaughter of Nigerian Christians by Muslim militants and Boko Haram, one of the worlds deadliest Islamist militant groups that became known worldwide after its members kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in 2014. Only half of those girls, many of whom are Christians, eventually won their freedom, according to human rights experts, including former Rep. Frank Wolf, a former GOP House member for more than three decades who now serves on the U.S. Commission for Religious Freedom, or USCIRF. In gripping testimony, Tassie Ghata, the director of Grace and Light International, a non-denominational Christian ministry in Nigeria, described her abduction in January 2020 by Boko Haram militants who threatened to rape her but ultimately let her go after three days. I dont know where the courage came from because I was very scared, she recounted. I told them I was a Christian and to die would bring me much peace. Nigeria is the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian, even though Christians make up nearly half of Nigerias population of 200 million, according to leading religious freedom advocates. The World Index of Christian Persecution states that Nigeria is where 89 percent of Christians killings throughout the world took place over the last several years. The report also notes that 7,600 Nigerians were reported murdered between January 2021 and June 2022. On Tuesday, Jan. 31, Rep. Chris Smith, a leading human rights champion in Congress, introduced a bipartisan resolution to add Nigeria to the State Departments annual blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom. The Biden administration omitted Nigeria as a country of particular concern in its 2021 and 2022 International Religious Freedom Reports, attributing the slaughter of Christians not to religious persecution but to a conflict over resources exacerbated by climate change. USCIRF and other leading human rights organization ardently disagree. In December, USCIRF issued a statement expressing outrage over Nigerias inexplicable omission on the State Departments annual blacklist. USCIRF is tremendously disappointed that the Secretary of State did not implement our recommendations and recognize the severity of the religious freedom violations that both USCIRF and the State Department have documented, said USCIRF chairman Nury Turkel. At the summit, several top human rights advocates called on Congress to pass Smiths resolution, which is co-sponsored by Reps. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, and French Hill, an Arkansas Republican. We can no longer permit whats taking place in Nigeria to continue, Wolf said in addressing the Tuesday, Jan. 31st gathering. The Virginia Republican called for the passage of Smiths resolution and the appointment of a special envoy to focus on the mass shootings and slaughters of Nigerian Christians. Despite pressing news on Russia and Nigeria and several other conflict zones around the globe, deep concern over Chinas brazen and systemic persecution of all religions was the predominant theme of the two-day summit. You Si-kun, who serves as the speaker of Taiwans parliament, traveled to Washington and headlined Wednesday, Feb. 1st morning session, accusing Beijing of an all-out assault on faith-based liberty. His visit and religious freedom summit address was viewed as a bookend to former Speaker Nancy Pelosis controversial trip to Taipei in August. In lengthy remarks, You also blamed Chinese leader Xi Jinping for launching a disturbing new era of religious persecution, starting in 2014. Chinas efforts to stamp out all religions include the decades-long repression of Tibetans and members of the Falun Gong, and efforts to stop millions of Christians from worshiping in underground churches. More broadly, You made a case for continued U.S. protection of Taiwan, upholding the islands thriving democracy as an important bulwark against the Beijings totalitarian regime in the Pacific. [Taiwan has] overthrown myths propagated by certain ethnic Chinese leaders, who maintained that human rights and democracy are imports from the West, and unsuitable for Asian nations, he said. Taiwan has shown that democracy, born of the West, can indeed flourish in Chinese-speaking regions. The top Republican and Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee spoke one day before You and hit on similar themes. Rep. Mike McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the panel, said Xi Jinping and Chinas communist apparatchiks were conducting an all-out assault on religion and committing genocide against the Uyghur Muslims. The stories of forced sterilizations, forced abortions, brainwashing, and murder are horrifying, he told the summit on Tuesday, Jan. 31. McCaul vowed to continue working to fight religious persecution and praised the 2021 congressional passage of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which prevents businesses from importing any product into the United States unless they can prove the good was not mined, produced, or manufactured by forced labor. McCaul also condemned numerous documented reports that the Chinese regime is harvesting organs from both the Uyghurs and the Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that preaches the virtues of meditation and forbearance, banned by Chinese regime in 1999. After his remarks, McCaul told RealClearPolitics that the forced labor prevention law is definitely helping prevent the import of goods produced in Uyghur forced labor camps into the United States. But, he said, other countries need to step up and pass similar laws in order for the U.S. law to pack a real economic punch for China and possibly convince Xi Jinping to reconsider instituting forced labor. We need other countries to step up and join forces with us, he said in a brief interview. Rep. Jim McGovern, a longtime co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Congress, joined McCaul on stage, noting that he and the Texas Republican dont agree on several pressing foreign policy issues but have worked closely on religious freedom over the years because its one of the main topics that come before their committees. Thats because the right to practice ones religion of choice is so frequently violated by governments all over the world, said McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat. Some examples that immediately come to mind will be well known to everybodythe Uyghurs and Tibetans by China, the Muslims and Sikhs in India, Coptic Christians in Egypt, Rohingya Muslims in Burma, Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, Bahai in Iran, Yazidis in Iraq, Shia Muslims in Sunni-governed countries, Catholics in Nicaragua, Jews in France, I can go on and on and onthe list is way too long. Some of the most forceful remarks from U.S. officials came from those who have dedicated their careers to promoting pluralism and fighting religious persecution. Samantha Power, who leads the U.S. Agency for International Development, said she learned first-hand about the role of religious persecution in war-torn regions when working as a young reporter in Bosnia in the early 1990s. She would go on to write a book, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, about Americas complicit role in enabling several mass atrocities and the human rights advocates who risked their lives and careers in an effort to convince U.S. leaders to intervene. To see people pulverized strictly on the basis of religion in so far as ethnicity coincided with religion and to see the mosques, just getting obliterated . And then in other parts of the country, to see Catholic churches fire-bombed from within, it was such an awakening for a young person, she said. In her remarks to the summit, Power called Chinas Uyghur genocide a devastating example of wholesale denial of religious freedom and condemned forces worldwide trying to thwart attempts to bring more transparency to totalitarian governments persecution of their own people. These kinds of crimes, she said, come coupled with full campaigns to shield the perpetrators of those crimes. That isnt helpful to create a culture of accountability, which is what we need when it comes to human rights more broadly, she added. As a practicing Catholic, Rep. McGovern said safeguarding faith-based liberty is deeply important and personal for him. Im very aware that my right to freedom of religion is only as strong as that of my Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist neighbor, he said. In our diverse world, unless the right to freedom of religion exists for everyone it doesnt truly exist for anyone. From RealClearWire Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Republican, Democratic AGs Form Dueling Coalitions Over FDA Approval of Abortion Drugs Mifepristone (Mifeprex), one of the two drugs used in a medication abortion, is displayed at the Women's Reproductive Clinic in Santa Teresa, N.M., on June 15, 2022. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Dozens of Democratic and Republican attorneys general are taking sides in a legal battle, the outcome of which will decide whether two widely used chemical abortion drugs may still be sold in the United States with federal approval. In the lawsuit, filed last November in the U.S. District Court in Northern Texas, conservative advocacy group Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine accused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of ignoring science and law to appease pro-abortion advocates when the agency evaluated and eventually approved mifepristone and misoprostol in 2000. Specifically, the Alliance claimed that the FDA never studied the safety of those drugs under the labeled conditions of use, disregarded the potential negative effects the hormone-blocking regimen has on pregnant girls, and removed the few safeguards that were in place. The only way the FDA was able to approve the drugs was by characterizing pregnancy as an illness and arguing that these dangerous drugs provide a meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing treatments, the complaint (pdf) reads. But pregnancy is not an illness, nor do chemical abortion drugs provide a therapeutic benefit over surgical abortion. Accounting for about half of all abortions in the United States, the combination of mifepristone and misoprostol remains the most common method to end pregnancy nationwide, according to a 2022 survey by pro-abortion research group the Guttermatch Institute. With a new rule the FDA adopted in January, those who wish to get an abortion may order mifepristone from certified retail pharmacies by mail. Dueling Coalitions Democratic and Republican attorneys general have formed coalitions over the fate of mifepristone. A coalition of 22 attorneys general, led by Democrat Letitia James of New York, on Friday asked the court to toss the case, claiming that withdrawing federal approval for mifepristone would block millions of people from getting safe abortion care and miscarriage management. The consequences of annulling the FDAs approval of medication abortioncurrently the most common method of obtaining early abortionwould be nothing short of catastrophic, the Democrats stated in a brief (pdf) filed Friday, adding that taking the pills out of market will push millions of people to even more dangerous abortion methods. Another coalition, also consisting of 22 attorneys general, is led by Republican Lynn Fitch of Mississippi. They are not only supporting the challenge, but are also seeking to terminate the new abortion pill-by-mail rule. Current federal criminal law plainly prohibits the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs through the mail, Fitch said, citing the federal law that bans using mail to transfer obscene or crime-inciting matter. Even if the FDAs approval of mifepristone harmonized with the agencys own regulations and federal criminal law, those actions would not simply displace state laws regulating abortion, the Republicans argued in their brief (pdf), also filed Friday. States are entitled to enforce their duly enacted laws regulating chemical abortion in the interests of life, health, and safety. The whole point of the Administrations recent actions is to encourage and achieve evasion of those state laws, they said. FDA Response In their response (pdf) filed last month, lawyers for the FDA argued that the case should be dismissed, since there is no precedent where a court has second-guessed FDAs safety and efficacy determination and ordered a widely available FDA-approved drug to be removed from the market. Moreover, a court decision to nullify FDA approval of a drug could harm the U.S. pharma industry and public health in the long run, the FDAs legal team said. If longstanding FDA drug approvals were so easily enjoined, even decades after being issued, pharmaceutical companies would be unable to confidently rely on FDA approval decisions to develop the pharmaceutical-drug infrastructure that Americans depend on to treat a variety of health conditions, they said. The FDA lawyers also argued that the Alliance, which consists of individual physicians, simply lack the standing to sue. The Alliance, on the other hand, claimed that they do have third-party standing on behalf of their patients suffering from complications as result of chemical abortions. The legal challenge also comes as major retail store chains are seeking certification to sell mifepristone in-person and by mail. The nations two largest pharmacy chains, CVS and Walgreens, have said they are applying for certification and will sell mifepristone in states where the drug is legal. They cannot offer the pill in states that have revived their anti-abortion laws in the wake of the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Rescuers in Turkey Dig to Rescue Family a Week After Earthquake as Death Toll Rises to Nearly 36,000 A son of a Turkish woman Saadet Sendag reacts as his mother is rescued after 177 hours, at the site of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Hatay, Turkey, on Feb. 13, 2023. (Umit Bektas/Reuters) ANTAKYA/ELBISTAN, TurkeyRescuers in Turkey pulled out several people alive from collapsed buildings on Monday and were digging to reach a grandmother, mother, and daughter from a single family, a week after the countrys worst earthquake in modern history. With hopes of finding many more survivors in the rubble fast fading, the combined official death toll in Turkey and neighboring Syria from last Mondays 7.8 magnitude quake rose to nearly 36,000 and looked set to keep increasing. The rescue phase is coming to a close, with urgency now switching to providing shelter, food, schooling, and psychosocial care, United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said during a visit to Aleppo in northern Syria on Monday. Some 176 hours after the first earthquake, a woman named Serap Donmez on Monday was pulled out alive from a collapsed apartment block in Antakya by search and rescue teams from Turkey and Oman, state broadcaster TRT reported. Another woman was rescued in southern Gaziantep Province a few hours earlier CNN Turk reported. A 35-year-old was rescued from the rubble of a building in Adiyaman city, officials said. Rescue workers in Kahramanmaras said they had contact with a grandmother, mother, and baby trapped in one room in a three-storey building, with a fourth person possibly in another room. They said they were trying to break a wall to reach the survivors but a column was delaying them. Members of a Spanish rescue team, Turkish army, and police search crews were working at the building, which remained largely intact. We dont know whether they are alive. We just saw heat with the thermal cameras, but they havent made any sound, a soldier with the Turkish army told Reuters. The deadliest quake in Turkey since 1939 has killed 31,643 people there, Turkeys Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said. More than 4,300 people were reported dead and 7,600 injured in northwest Syria as of Sunday, said a U.N. agency. The quake is now the sixth most deadly natural disaster this century, behind the 2005 tremor that killed at least 73,000 in Pakistan. A man sleeps at a park, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in Hatay, Turkey, on Feb. 12, 2023. (Dilara Senkaya/Reuters) Syria Aid In Syria, the disaster hit hardest in the rebel-held northwest, leaving homeless yet again many people who had already been displaced several times by a decade-old civil war. The region has received little aid compared with government-held areas. What is the most striking here, is even in Aleppo, which has suffered so much these many years, this moment, that moment was about the worst that these people have experienced, the UNs Griffiths said. The people of the region have been failed, he said in an earlier Twitter post. There is currently only a single crossing open on the Turkey-Syria border for U.N. aid supplies. Griffiths said that the UN would have aid moving from government-held regions in Syria to the rebel-held northwest. The United States called on the Syrian government and all other parties to immediately grant humanitarian access to all those in need. Earthquake aid from government-held regions into territory controlled by hardline opposition groups has been held up by approval issues with terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which controls much of the region, a U.N. spokesperson said. The United Nations has said it is hoping to open an additional two border points. A general view of destroyed houses covered in snow, in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake, in Elbistan town, Kahramanmaras, Turkey, on Feb. 12, 2023. (Issam Abdallah/Reuters) Security Concerns Residents and aid workers from several Turkish cities have cited worsening security conditions, with widespread accounts of businesses and collapsed homes being robbed. In a central district of one of the worst hit cities, Antakya in southern Turkey, business owners emptied their shops on Sunday to prevent merchandise from being stolen by looters. Amid concerns about hygiene and the spread of infection in the region, Turkeys Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said at the weekend that rabies and tetanus vaccine had been sent to the quake zone and that mobile pharmacies had started to operate there. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the government will deal firmly with looters, as he faces questions over his response to the earthquake ahead of an election scheduled for June that is expected to be the toughest of his two decades in power. Turkey said on Sunday about 80,000 people were in hospital, and more than 1 million in temporary shelters. Robert Kadlecs 20-Year Plot Commentary When it comes to the business of vaccines and biosecurity, the land of free enterprise is all up for large-scale state intervention to create and prop up markets. Some of the generals behind the biosecurity Manhattan Project believe the War on Microbes is too important to leave to politicians or Adam Smiths invisible hand. In June 2020, former Senator Bill Frist appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reminding them hed argued the need for this project fifteen years earlier. I called for and had outlined a greater than Manhattan Project for the 21st century with no less than the creation, with war-like concentration, of the ability to detect, identify and model any emerging or newly emerging infection, natural or otherwise; for the ability to engineer the immunization and cure, and to manufacture, distribute and administer whatever may be required to get it done and to get it done in time, Frist told the Senate in his testimony. We have a dangerously inadequate vaccine manufacturing base in the United States. This must be rectified. Bottom line: theres so little profit and so much uncertainty in vaccine manufacturing today. We must establish longstanding public-private partnerships with industry that are sustained and are not at risk of disappearing with each [Congressional] appropriations cycle. We cannot expect the private sector to independently invest billions of dollars developing antivirals and vaccines for novel viruses that we hope well never need to use. Thats not a sustainable business model. For some years to come, Frist asserted, this should be the chief work of the nation, for the good reason that failing to make it so would be to risk the life of the nation. Whether this idea originated from Senator Frist is another matter. Dr. Robert Kadlec, the General Ripper behind this new Manhattan Project, and later the COVID Czar under Trump, was at that time the leading biosecurity official in President George W. Bushs administration. He was at the April 2005 National Academy of Sciences Pandemic Influenza Symposium where an unidentified participant called for funding for a Manhattan-like Project to protect against a pandemic, calling it an insurance policy. But the groundwork for this Manhattan Project was being laid even earlier. In June 2001, two months before the 9/11 atrocity, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (CHS) held a table-top exercise it called Dark Winter, simulating a smallpox bioterrorism attack on the United States orchestrated by Osama bin Ladens al-Qaeda. Dr. Tara OToole, who founded the CHS in 1998, was the principal designer of the exercise, but Kadlec is credited with giving it its name. Colonel Randall Larsen, whod hired Kadlec to work at the Air War College in the mid-1990s, was another designer of the exercise along with Tom Inglesby, the CHSs current director. Kadlec became the Homeland Security Director of Biosecurity Policy in January 2002 and soon after attempted to restart the smallpox vaccination programme. In 2004, he launched Project Bioshield, a $5.6 billion ten-year programme which created BARDA, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. This was intended to motivate U.S. pharmaceutical companies to start developing biodefence products (medical countermeasures which are principally vaccines) by providing a substantial guaranteed market, expediting governmental contracting practices and clarifying FDA regulatory requirements for products used in a public health emergency. Project Bioshield funding enabled the U.S. government to stockpile smallpox and anthrax vaccines manufactured by the companies Bavarian Nordic and Emergent BioSolutions. Both companies and the industry lobby group Biotechnology Innovation Organization were amongst the funders of Kadlecs Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense he founded ten years later, in 2014, when he was working as a paid consultant to Emergent BioSolutions. The company, founded by Fuad El-Hibri and originally known as BioPort Inc., purchased a vaccine factory and the rights to manufacture anthrax vaccine for the U.S. military in 1998. On his appointment as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in 2017, Kadlec failed to declare a conflict of interests on his ethics forms, that in 2012 he and El-Hibri had co-founded an international biodefence company called East West Solutions LLC or that he had been employed by Emergent BioSolutions as a consultant. In September 2019, when Kadlec was ASPR and in control of the U.S. national stockpile, Emergent BioSolutions was awarded a ten-year $2 billion contract to replenish the U.S. national stockpile of smallpox vaccine. Emergent BioSolutions was later subcontracted to manufacture COVID vaccines for AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson in the United States. However the companys poor manufacturing standards led to a Congressional investigation being launched in 2021. Since COVID, the war on microbes has not let up: attention simply moved on to the next opportunity to promote a vaccine. Each outbreak seems to follow the oft-repeated pattern of having been preceded by a Strangelove-like situational simulation based on a fictional scenario. Outbreaks of disease, requiring the WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and public health authorities to announce a vaccination campaign, have a strange knack of occurring soon after the simulation exercises, ensuring the public health community is well prepared in advance. In December 2020, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), whose interim vice president is the former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret Hamburg, conducted a consultation with experts for a table-top exercise on reducing high-consequence biological threats in preparation for the exercise to run at the Munich Security Conference in March 2021. The scenario involved a fictitious monkeypox outbreak. Hamburg was herself a player in the June 2001 Dark Winter smallpox table top exercise and is a member of the Biodefense Commission. At the 2021 Munich monkeypox simulation she was joined by a familiar roster of biosecurity figures including the ubiquitous Sir Jeremy Farrar, his old friend George Gao, the then head of the China CDC, Dr. Chris Elias of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, U.S. Senator Sam Nunn who played the President in Dark Winter, Luc Debruyne, vice president of CEPI, Dr. Michael Ryan, director of the WHO Emergencies Programme, with whom Anthony Fauci was in weekly contact in early 2020 during the time that COVID was escalated to a pandemic, and Arnaud Bernaert, the World Health Organization (WEF)s Head of Shaping the Future of Health and Health Care. Bernaert, Gao, and Elias were involved in Event 201, the coronavirus table-top exercise co-sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security, the Gates Foundation, and the WEF in October 2019. In the WEF press release for Event 201 Bernaert said, We are in a new era of epidemic risk, where essential public-private cooperation remains challenged, despite being necessary to mitigate risk and impact. Now is the time to scale up cooperation between national governments, key international institutions and critical industries, to enhance global capacity for preparedness and response. In May 2022, the WHO declared a monkeypox outbreak which was escalated to a full-scale Public Health Emergency of International Concern in July 2022. Bavarian Nordic, the Danish headquartered vaccine manufacturer belonging to a Washington-based consortium called the Alliance for Biosecurity, signed a contract with an unnamed European country to supply smallpox vaccines for use as a monkeypox vaccine. The company is a sponsor of Kadlecs Biodefense Commission, and its largest shareholder is ATP, Denmarks national pension fund. Other notable entities amongst its top five shareholders include Vanguard Asset Management and Norways sovereign wealth fund Norge Bank. The next part will examine how Kadlec began preparations for his Manhattan Project two years before the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Originally published on TCW, reposted from the Brownstone Institute Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Russian Forces Bombard Ukraines Bakhmut as Ukrainian Forces Brace for Assault Ukrainian servicemen fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Feb. 11, 2023. (Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Reuters) KYIVThe city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine was coming heavy Russian artillery fire on Monday as Ukrainian forces there braced for possible ground attacks, Ukrainian military officials said. Positions in Bakhmut have been fortified and only people with a military role were being allowed in, a deputy battalion commander said. Any civilians who still wanted to leave the city would have to brave the incoming fire, he said. Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, is a major objective for Russian President Vladimir Putin and months of Russian shelling have already left much of it in ruins. With the first anniversary of Russias invasion approaching and a big new Kremlin offensive anticipated, the situation there has become even more acute. The city, the citys suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling, said Volodymyr Nazarenko, deputy commander of Ukraines Soboda battalion. Every road is being shelled by artillery in a chaotic way. Nazarenko said that although no fighting was taking place in the city centre right now, the defenders were prepared to meet any assault. The city is a fortress, every position and every street there, almost every building, is a fortress, he said. The capture of Bakhmut would give Putin a new foothold in the Donetsk region. The Russian assault has been spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner group, who have made small but steady gains. Donetsk and Luhansk regions make up the Donbass, Ukraines industrial heartland. Russia partially occupies it and wants to win full control. Earlier on Monday, the Russian defence ministry said its troops had pushed forward a few kilometres along the frontlines, without specifying exactly where in a war zone that encompasses several regions in the south and east. The Ukrainian military reported Russian shelling all along the frontline and said 16 settlements had been bombarded near Bakhmut. It said that over the past day, its forces had repelled a number of attacks near Bakhmut as well as assaults in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces had attacked Bilogorivka from all sides before dawn on Monday. But our forces fought back there, he told Ukrainian television. It was the same situation in the direction of Kreminnaa lot of them (Russians) appeared there. But they pulled back after the fight with our forces. Repeating comments he made last week that Russian attacks have been stepped up ahead of a new offensive, he said: Preparations for this offensive are already under way, the amount of shelling, air strikes and attacks by small groups has already increased. We are waiting for them to start massive round-the-clock attacks. Reuters was not able to independently verify the battlefield reports. A Ukrainian tank moves near the front line in Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast, Ukraine, on Oct. 21, 2022. (Carl Court/Getty Images) Western Support With Ukraine asking for more weapons and munitions to turn the tide of the war, defence ministers from several NATO countries allied to Kyiv were due to meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss possible further military aid. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said the main items on the agenda of the talks at NATO headquarters will be air defences, forming a tank coalition, training of troops and logistical support. As the new Russian offensive looms, Ukraine says it needs fighter jets and long-range missiles to counter this and to recapture lost territory. Also on Monday, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said Ukraine was meeting consumers energy needs after carrying out repairs to the national power network following the latest wave of Russian air strikes on Friday. Hong Kong: Libby Lee meets medical experts Acting Secretary for Health Dr Libby Lee today met a delegation led by Member of the Leading Party Members Group and Deputy Commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Zhao Junning. They exchanged views on issues such as further driving the development of Chinese medicine (CM) drugs, the bureau said in a press release. Dr Lee said: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government expresses sincere gratitude to the NMPA for its staunch support on the development of CM in Hong Kong, including its facilitation to the streamlining of the approval procedures for Hong Kong registered traditional proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms) for external use to be registered and sold in the Mainland. The measure enables Hong Kong pCm manufacturers to expand their markets, and creates favourable conditions for Hong Kong pCms to go global in the long run. The delegation then met Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam and was given an introduction by the department on the regulatory framework and the latest development of CM drugs in Hong Kong. There was also an in-depth discussion on CM drug testing, reference standard research, and the enhancement of quality and safety of CM drugs. The group also visited the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute managed by the department at the Science Park. Through touring laboratories and the Chinese Medicines Herbarium, they learnt about CM drug testing and research work in the city. The delegation arrived in Hong Kong yesterday for a three-day trip to gain a better grasp of the latest development of CM drugs in Hong Kong, the bureau said. The itineraries include meeting the CM sector and calling on Baptist Universitys School of Chinese Medicine as well as viewing a pCms manufacturer's facility, it added. This story has been published on: 2023-02-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China rewriting development blueprint, trade expert says 15:04, February 13, 2023 By YIFAN XU ( China Daily This aerial photo taken on Feb 3, 2023 shows the Jinfeng Wujiang River bridge in Southwest China's Guizhou province. [Photo/Xinhua] Common purpose seen as underlying reason for infrastructure achievements A virtuous cycle has been formed in China's infrastructure development, and China is rewriting the development blueprint on infrastructure, a US economic and trade expert said. Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Institute for China-America Studies, said that China is in a transition phase, from an emerging economy and a developing country to an advanced economy, but its infrastructure is "first-rate" and "the best infrastructure that there is in any advanced society". Gupta said this is very thoughtful and forward thinking in terms of how to create the fundamental underpinnings to stimulate and invigorate growth in an economy. He mentioned "incredible bridges "and "high-speed rail", and referring to the "rail built all the way to Tibet "as a typical example. At a news conference in September 2022, Zheng Jian, director of the Department of Infrastructure Development at the National Development and Reform Commission, said that China's overall infrastructure has improved by leaps and bounds in the past 10 years, and it has been powerfully supporting the nation's economic growth and social development. Zheng also said that China would support the construction of major projects, focusing on implementing 102 key ones mapped out during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and others in the five-year plan for transportation development. Common purpose, Gupta said, is one underlying reason for China's achievements in infrastructure. "China knew it had to do this, and it went about doing this." In his recent State of the Union address, United States President Joe Biden announced that in the US, all construction materials used for federal infrastructure projects would be required to be "made in America". But the source of these materials apparently cannot solve the US' problems regarding infrastructure, which is too backward to match its level of economic development, according to Gupta. He said the US did very well in the 1950s, but unfortunately the age when people came together as a society and trusted each other faded away in the 1970s. "Starting from the 1970s and 1980s, a new mantra took over in the US that the private sector could do it all, and the private sector had these long horizons and would make these decisions," he said. "That's not what the private sector does. One needs patient capital to do that," he said. Gupta mentioned that some developing countries in East Asia, including China, understood the value of this "patient capital "because they knew that the state needs "a bit of autonomy" from society to chart development paths and allow the economy to go on a high-growth trajectory at an early stage of development. "China did that wisely. Infrastructure was critical and fundamental. There was a common purpose behind it," Gupta said. He said a really strong push from the central government played a significant role in China's dealing with the remnants of poverty over the past 10 years. "And there is sort of a virtuous cycle to it, where people notice that infrastructure is the foundation for growth. It is showing how to deliver growth." Gupta noted that China is rewriting "development literature" on its own through the concept of "social good", and it is also saying that there is value in creating high-quality public assets. "People will value it, people will protect it, people will help that asset grow and they will grow themselves grow on that, on the strength of that asset." He gave an example. In the initial stages, a road in a rural area that has been underserved may seem to be a loss-making project. "From a larger perspective, it creates not just economic growth and connectivity, but also social cohesion. People come together on that basis. These are the things that China has been able to facilitate in creating unity in a society," he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Today, chaired by State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, a working consultation was held with the participation of the leading staff of state bodies, the press service of Artsakh Government stated. February 13, 2023, 16:05 I am sure that all the problems we face are solvable. A working consultation chaired by Ruben Vardanyan was held STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: Presenting the current situation, the State Minister noted that the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan has been continuing for more than two months, with serious consequences for both the economy and all other spheres of public life. "Although the challenges are profound, the society responds to them with dignity. We constantly communicate with various groups of the population, there is really a great power in Artsakh, which is not visible outside. We need this inner strength to overcome difficulties together. There is a lot of work to be done. The works we have launched will be continued more actively. I am confident that all the problems we face are solvable," said the State Minister. During the consultation, the heads of state bodies presented the current situation in their fields, a number of urgent issues were discussed. Minister of Social Development and Migration Armen Mangasaryan informed that from February 21, it is planned to expand the list of essential goods provided with coupons. Currently, organizational and technical works are being carried out in that direction. In this context, the State Minister instructed to summarize the situation related to the instillation of the coupon system within a month, in order to make appropriate analyzes and, if necessary, to make corrections in the process. Information was also presented on the progress of support measures aimed at mitigating the economic and social consequences of the blockade. It was noted that the social assistance programs will be launched soon, as for the economic assistance program, the application process has already started. In parallel, work is being carried out to develop next-stage measures aimed at mitigating the consequences of the blockade. The issue of preparation of spring agricultural work was also touched upon. Minister of Agriculture Hrant Safaryan presented information on the provision of seeds and diesel fuel. Urgent issues related to education, healthcare, infrastructure and a number of other areas were also discussed during the consultation. Schumer Supports Lawmakers Investigating Introduction of a Nationwide TikTok Ban Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Dec. 7, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said during a Feb. 12 interview that lawmakers should consider a countrywide TikTok ban. Schumers comments came during an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week. Its something that should be looked at, Schumer said of a potential ban on the app. We do know theres Chinese ownership of the company that owns TikTok. And there are some people in the Commerce Committee that are looking into that right now. Well see where they come out. The Senate leaders comments came after a number of states have taken steps to ban the app from being used on state-issued devices. At the end of January, Maine became the 29th U.S. state to ban TikTok from the devices of government employees, and Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas announced plans to make his state the 30th to pass such a law. A bipartisan coalition of senators presented legislation to ban the application in the United States, citing worries that it may be used to spy on Americans. Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, is scheduled to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in March. The committee says that he will discuss TikToks consumer privacy and data security practices, the platforms impact on kids, and their relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the legislation in December and has since encouraged lawmakers to work quickly to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from stealing more Americans data and further undermining U.S. national security, as The Epoch Times previously reported. The legislation was reintroduced in February of this year and Rubio said in a prepared statement, TikTok allows the Chinese Communist Party to access peoples private data. This is a direct threat not only to our national security interests but also to the American people. Im proud to continue to lead the bipartisan fight in Congress to ban TikTok, as well as other social media companies that are controlled by the CCP, so long as they are under dangerous foreign ownership. The legislation is titled, Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act, or ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act. If enacted, it would block and prohibit transactions from any social media company in or under the influence of China, Russia, and several other foreign countries of concern, unless they became fully divested of dangerous foreign ownership. LYON, FranceFrom February 4 to 9, the City of Light vibrated to the sounds of traditional China: Shen Yun Performing Arts is back in France. On Feb. 8, hundreds of people embarked on a marvelous journey through time and space: from their seats at Lyons Amphitheatre 3000, they were able to admire the landscapes of ancestral China while laughing, marveling, or even crying for some, at the stories told by the famous classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yun brings back to life the tales, the myths, the ethnic groups that populated the Middle Kingdom, as well as the dynasties that followed, bringing with them a new culture. Gino Bismara is a construction engineer who has created his own company for the integration and support of people in difficulty. Many elements of Shen Yun were a source of emotion and inspiration for him: The colors, the headdresses, the costumes everything is there! And then the perfection of the dancers and the choreographers, of course! And also the orchestra, which I also often watch, which is fantastic. This engineer could feel a lot of feelings as well as a mixture of fascination, because, he explained, Shen Yun touches us because we feel that it is lived and that it speaks. The show was, for him, carrying a message. The truth, in fact the message where there are people who aspire to a lot of tranquility and others to a little less And its always a bit the same fight And its a bit of a shame, said Mr. Bismara. A believer, Mr. Bismara also experienced the feeling, within the performance, a connection with the divine. Its fantastic! Im a believer, my wife is, too. So, it speaks to us it transports us, he said. And above all, it brings joy to our hearts, in fact. Because, somewhere, we are not the only ones who believe. Mr. Bismara believed that Shen Yun constitutes a return to the roots. Back to the roots with true things with what we call sincerity and I would say, a little less serious! he said. Michel Barbier a former sales engineer, now retired, was also in attendance that Wednesday. This show is absolutely extraordinary really extraordinary! he said. I must admit that I was amazed by all these dancers by the costumes by this combination between the screen with films, projections, then the dance itself! I found it absolutely extraordinary. He was also sensitive to the messages conveyed during Shen Yuns dance tableaux. He felt they were spiritual in nature, and brave in its stance for traditional culture even in the face of a certain number of modern beliefs that distance us, as it is said, from the Creator, he said. Here, it is for all these reasons that I really found this show absolutely original and remarkable! Reporting by NTD and Sarita Modmesaib. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Lara James enjoyed Shen Yuns matinee at the California Center for the Arts, on Feb. 12, 2023. (NTD) ESCONDIDO, Calif.Company director Lara James experienced Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time at the California Center for the Arts on Feb 12. Though Ms. James had no idea what to expect as she stepped into the theater, as soon as the curtain went up, she knew she was in for a treat. It was absolutely amazingthe colors, the dance, learning about the culture, it was truly tremendous! Ms. James exclaimed. A lot of effort and talent went into ityouth and energy. Based in New York, Shen Yun is the worlds top classical Chinese dance and music company. In addition to solo performances and folk dances inspired by the various regions of China, Shen Yun presents short story-based dances that tell tales from ancient times to the modern day. Each year, the company returns with a brand-new set of programs. Having learned about Shen Yuns mission to revive traditional culture and bring back Chinas lost glory, Ms. James said she was touched by the companys presentation of these values. The pieces that addressed [values] such as the willingness to sacrifice oneself for belief and for love [were] really moving, Ms. James said. She thought it was a wonderful thing that Shen Yun demonstrates for the world a China before communism. I love that. It was joyous. Theres a tremendous amount of culture and history that was built into [Shen Yun] and that made me more curious to learn about China. Ms. James was not at all surprised that Shen Yun is banned by the Chinese Communist Party from performing in China. Living here in America, its amazing that we can say and do pretty much what we want as long as were not harming others, Ms. James said. You cant express your opinion openly in China even through dance and storytelling. [The performance] reminded me to appreciate what we have here. Something New Every Time Also at the matinee were Dr. Nelson Westerhout and his wife, Lisa. Shen Yuns performance kept the couple on the edge of their seats the whole time. The curtain goes down, and you dont know whats coming next, then it comes up and its something newits exciting. You see something new every time the curtain comes up, Dr. Westerhout said. Dr. Nelson Westerhout and his wife, Lisa, at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the California Center for the Arts on Feb. 12, 2023. (Jane Yang/The Epoch Times( For Mrs. Westerhout, there was an extra surprise. Ive got hearing loss. So, the communication of the showbeing able to visually understand whats going on [through] the dancers was amazing, she said. I love it, I love it! Its very uplifting and very educational. I was looking forward to seeing it and its definitely gone above my expectations, she said. Referring to Chinas ban on Shen Yun and the companys mission to revive traditional Chinese culture, Dr. Westerhout said, I cant understand why something as nice as this would not be allowed back in their own country. Its ridiculous. It doesnt make any sense to me at all. [Shen Yun] is definitely making a big impact. I think its great. Hopefully, this will open peoples eyes and spread the word. Reporting by NTD, Jane Yang, and Jennifer Tseng. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Autumn Johnson (2nd L) and her family enjoyed Shen Yuns matinee at the California Center for the Arts on Feb. 11, 2023. (Jane Yang/The Epoch Times) ESCONDIDO, Calif.Autumn Johnson, senior managing editor at Patch.com, had looked forward for months to seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts. After finally attending its matinee at the California Center for the Arts on Feb. 11, Ms. Johnson thought it was absolutely incredible. Theres so much talent that its overwhelming. Its not just the dancers, the musicians, the costumes, even the set design was really clever, she said. There was a little bit of humor sprinkled throughout. That was great. Everybody in my group really enjoyed themselves. Ms. Johnson also loved Shen Yuns portrayal of traditional culture and was very happy to be able to share this experience with her daughter and niece. Anytime we get a chance to learn about other peoples culture, I think its such a wonderful thing for us to take advantage ofespecially, to expose our children to it so that they get to learn and enjoy the arts, she said. I was really, really excited for them to be able to see it. Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded in 2006 by elite Chinese artists who had fled the persecution of the communist regime. The companys mission is to revive Chinas 5,000 years of divinely inspired traditions that were forced to the brink of extinction by decades of communist rule and the spread of atheism. Now the worlds top classical Chinese dance and music company, Shen Yun has grown to include eight equally sized companies that perform simultaneously in packed venues around the world. Ms. Johnson said enjoyed Shen Yuns music. It was so beautiful. [The soloists] just bring out emotions, she said. Its so lovely to listen to. It takes you away a little bit while youre absorbed in the music. According to its website, Shen Yuns orchestra features a classical Western ensemble as the foundation while highlighting traditional Chinese instruments such as the two-stringed erhu and the pipaan ancient Chinese lute. Shen Yun can be expected to present a brand-new set of choreography and compositions each year. Referring to the spiritual aspects of Shen Yun, Ms. Johnson said it was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed it because they were able to tie it all in with the beautiful traditions. Its neat to see that its being preserved and shared. The message of compassion and kindness was definitely woven throughout the different dances. Autumn Johnson The message of compassion and kindness was definitely woven throughout the different dances. I think, no matter what culture, thats an important message to share to everyone, she said. All the time we need to be thinking about that. I really love that [Shen Yun] was sharing it with us. Reporting by Jane Yang and Jennifer Tseng. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Social Justice Debt Is Turning US Businesses Into State-Owned Enterprises The emerging reality of US government and banks dictating how companies do business and how people think via ESG policies resembles the CCPs policies more than Americas free enterprise system Hundreds of climate protesters walk from Times Square to New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls office to demand more action against climate change, in New York on Nov. 13, 2021. The protesters, representing a cross section of environmental groups, are demanding that New York State do more to pass legislation that will hold major companies with a history of polluting accountable. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Commentary Its the journey, not the destination, that matters, goes the old saying with regard to life. Perhaps so. But when it comes to the fate of Americas financial and economic system, the destination is ultimately the only thing that matters. In fact, the journey on which we now find ourselves is actually a preview of our destination, and its, without doubt, an ugly one. The drive to render social justice in America feels more like an all-encompassing social debt that all companies and businesses owe certain groups of society. The federal government, with its urge for top-down control, will ensure that debt is paid. This is nothing more than a backdoor into turning American companies into essentially state-owned enterprises, similar to what the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been doing for decades. Lets look at how debt is being used in China and compare notes with whats going on right here in the good ol U.S. of A. Massive Debt Crushing Chinas Economy Over the past decade or so, China, led by Xi Jinping and the CCP, has seen its domestic debt explode. The reasons for Chinas exploding debt included the states overreaction to the global financial crisis of 2008, when it issued a $600 billion in stimulus to its economy, compared to the $152 billion U.S. package and Japans $100 billion stimulus. It did so again in 2020. Since then, debt levels have ratcheted up, mostly through local government funding vehicles (LGFV), which are made by local, CCP-controlled banks. The debt is an off-balance sheet of large but unknown amounts. Much of it consists of debt rollover cycles, where new larger loans are issued to cover old, unpaid ones. Today, Chinas debt is growing four times faster than its economy, at an annual rate of about 20 percent. As a result, Chinas corporate debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio of about 160 percent is well above the global average of about 100 percent. About three-quarters of it is a nonfinancial corporate debt attached to state-owned enterprises. In other words, the CCP is responsible for the debt levels that are crushing the economy. And yes, much of that debt is in Chinas collapsing real estate investment sector but certainly not all of it. In fact, because the Party controls the money and lending policies, massive indebtedness is standard across the Chinese economy. In contrast, growth in the Chinese economy is slowing. Where it used to report annual rises in GDP of 7 percent or even as high as 1012 percent over the past several years, China has only managed to report about 3 to 5 percent in annual GDP growth, which includes debt service in GDP calculations. A Chinese migrant worker walks by the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) in Beijing on May 1, 2013. The PBOC released the Financial Stability Law (Draft for Comments) on April 6, 2022, saying that resolving financial risks is a constant theme. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) Rather than take responsibility for the unsustainable debt levels imposed on businesses by the CCP, the Party lays the blame at the feet of local governors. The CCP then uses it as an excuse to confiscate even more private companies and divest powerful business titans of their assets and lofty positions. Social Justice: A New and Pervasive Debt That Everyone Owes Now compare that debt dynamic to the deep indebtedness of social justice in which American businesses now find themselves, care of state and federal policies. In the name of righting past social injusticesboth historic and imaginedcompanies are being coerced to adopt a woke culture and business models. The social justice or woke message is clear: Companies must do more to fight racism and social injustice. Unfortunately, the implicit message seems to be that a companys success is due to social injustice, which constitutes a debt that all companies owe to society at large and to certain groups and subgroups of society specifically. This new woke policy is a massive undertaking wherein the U.S. government pushes businesses to change how they do business. That involves adhering to woke ESG (environmental, social, and governance) business practices on a broad and penetrating scale. For many companies, noncompliance could result in the threat of legal action, media exposure, and reputational damage. The low-hanging fruit are these policies that are hiring requirements according to diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria for federal workers, which stipulate representation of all groups of people, especially by race and gender. Similar group representation requirements are applied to corporations and their boards of directors. For manufacturers and other firms, large and small, green business practices are implemented by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, adopting solar and wind power sources, and whatever else they might be. But the social justice debt collection process also goes much further. Thought Police at the Water Coolerand in Your Head Social justice diversity, equity, and inclusion divisions demand that people have freedom of expression, which largely consists of the right to be whoever they think they are on any given day. But inclusion also demands validation of men who identify as women using the womens bathrooms and other accommodations. But what it doesnt include is free speech, which has been often defined as hate speech if one disagrees with the current social narrative of evolving genders, new identity pronouns, and other fictitious progressive, anti-tradition constructs. Such speech is often censored in corporate America and by social media. Forced compliance with new woke rules is certainly fine by government agencies and watchdog groups, as is the persecution of those who practice the free expression of traditional religious values, most specifically Christian Biblical precepts and beliefs. Going Woke and Broke Perhaps not so ironically, many companies that are kneeling to the new woke agenda are seeing their revenues fall, forcing them to lay off workers. Thats because progressive social and political agendas are often in service to an ideal that isnt rooted in reality. Top-down socialist control over individual creativity, initiative, and the profit motive all work against human nature. They favor group identity over individual merit, introduce divisiveness into business culture, and force solutions that reduce profitability and increase bureaucracy. In communist China, the pretext of excessive debt is the latest pretext to justify the confiscation of private businesses. In the emerging communism we see in America, the progressive-dominated Biden administration, Wall Street banks, and other organizations are using the mythical debt of social justice to gain control over public and private companies. Thus, the journey in China is different than the one in the United States, but the destination is the same. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Speaker McCarthy to Lead Freshman Congressmen on Tour of Southern Border A Border Patrol agent pulls tires behind his vehicle to smooth out the road to make detecting footprints easier, near Naco in Cochise County, Arizona, on Dec. 6, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will lead a contingent of four freshman congressmen in a tour of the U.S.Mexico border on Feb. 16. Newly elected Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), and Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) will accompany McCarthy on Thursday for an aerial tour of U.S. Border Patrols Tucson sector and a briefing from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. Approximately 262 miles long, the Tucson sector covers most of the state of Arizona, from the New Mexico state line to the Yuma County line. According to CBP, it is one of Border Patrols busiest sectors for illegal alien apprehensions and marijuana seizures. The visit will mark McCarthys first time leading a House delegation to the border since becoming speaker. Previously, as the minority leader in Congress, he led three such trips in March 2021 and April and November of last year. Just last week, Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas testified under oath that, yes, the border is secure, McCarthy noted Nov. 22 while visiting the border in El Paso, Texas. Im here to tell you it is not, he added, noting that more than 4 million illegal border crossings had taken place since President Joe Biden took office. McCarthy has been highly critical of the Homeland Security secretarys management of the southern border, calling on him to resign and warning of potential impeachment proceedings to oust him. And McCarthy would appear to have the support of his conference in that move, as Reps. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) have both filed articles of impeachment against Mayorkas in the weeks since their party gained control of Congress. Every day Secretary Mayorkas remains in office, America becomes less safe, Biggs contended in a Feb. 1 statement, charging that Mayorkas was the chief architect of the crisis at the southern border. Describing the Republicans impeachment efforts as unprecedented, unjustified, and partisan, a Homeland Security spokesperson told The Epoch Times on Feb. 10 that the department had already hired outside legal counsel in anticipation of a potential inquiry. DHS will continue prioritizing its work to protect our country from terrorism, respond to natural disasters, and secure our borders while responding appropriately to the over 70 Congressional committees and subcommittees that have oversight of DHS, the spokesperson added. Sunak Brushes Aside Criticism of Minister Attending Secret Brexit Summit Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has played down cabinet minister Michael Goves attendance at a secret conference last week which Lord FrostBritains former Brexit negotiatorclaimed was evidence of a remainer plot to undermine the choice made by voters at the 2016 referendum. Lord Mandelson, a former EU commissioner, was a speaker at one of the events, How can we make Brexit work better with our neighbours in Europe? at the Ditchley Park conference in Oxfordshire. Frost told the Daily Mail: This secret conference is a further piece of evidence that many in our political and business establishment want to unravel the deals we did to exit the EU in 2020 and to stay shadowing the EU instead. A Downing Street spokesman said on Monday the prime minister had not been aware in advance of the cross-party gathering. During a visit to Oldham, a town in northern England, Sunak told broadcasters: I was proud to vote for Brexit and now as Prime Minister Im keen to make sure we deliver the benefits of it. He said Britain had taken control of its immigration system since Brexit and added: Now what we want to do is make sure we drive growth in our economy by seizing the opportunities of Brexit to do things differently. Sunak refused to comment on whether Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, should have attended the summit and said: It is not about the meeting, Im talking about what the government is doing, and thats making sure we capitalise on the benefits of Brexit. Labour frontbenchers David Lammy and John Healey attended as did former Tory party leader Lord Michael Howard and ex-Conservative chancellor Lord Norman Lamont, according to the Observer, which first reported the meeting. David Lidington, a minister under Theresa May, and Mays former Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins, were also there according to the Observer, which prompted Frost to describe them as, those responsible for Theresa Mays failed backstop deal. Frost Says Brexit Doesnt Need Fixing Frost said: Brexit doesnt need fixing. It needs this Conservative government, elected with a huge mandate on a Brexit programme, to fully and enthusiastically embrace its advantages instead of leaving the field to those who never wanted it in the first place. I and millions of others want the government to get on with that instead of raising taxes, deterring investment and pushing public spending to its highest level for 70 years. Nigel Farage, the former leader of UKIP and the Brexit Party, said the Ditchley Park summit was evidence a full sell-out of Brexit is under way. Conservative MP and former minister Sir John Redwood said: Instead of talking of sell-out at private conferences the UK establishment needs to complete Brexit and use its freedoms. It comes amid reports Sunak is considering softening Britains stance on the Northern Ireland Protocol. As part of the Brexit deal, the protocol created a trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The trading arrangement was agreed by the UK and EU in 2019 to ensure free movement of trade across the Irish land border after Brexit. Becoming effective in 2021, the arrangements shifted customs and regulatory checks to the Irish Sea and created new red tape on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with trade in the region remaining subject to certain EU single market rules. But in July 2022 the British government introduced legislation to scrap parts of the protocol. The European Commission responded by triggering four infringement procedures against the UK. Last week the UK Supreme Court ruled the protocol itself was legal. The court dismissed the judicial review appeal on all three grounds including the claims that the Brexit trading arrangements breached the 1800 Acts of Union and the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Former Labour MP and minister Kate Hoey, former Ulster Unionist Party leader Steve Aiken, former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib, and Belfast-based loyalist Clifford Peeples had all challenged the protocol. Summarising the judgement, Lord Stephens said: The most fundamental rule of UK constitutional law is that Parliament, or more precisely the Crown in Parliament, is sovereign and that legislation enacted by Parliament is supreme. A clear answer has been expressly provided by Parliament in relation to any conflict between the Protocol and the rights in the trade limb of Article VI [of the 1800 Acts of Union]. PA Media contributed to this report. Perhaps it was war, or perhaps love, that motivated the ritual whereby a 3,000-year-old brown Bronze Age sword was plunged into the Danube River in what is now modern-day Budapest, Hungary. The descendants of the Eurasian nomads who once inhabited this region might have wished to commemorate a battle or the loss of a loved one by depositing a cherished weapon into the river. Believed to date from 1080-900 B.C., according to a Field Museum press release, the sword wouldnt be retrieved from the Danube for another three millennia. It was discovered in the 1930s before being acquired from Europe by Chicagos Field Museum. But because it was in such good conditionalmost entirely untarnished by timefor nearly a century, the museum assumed it was just a well-made replica. This Bronze Age sword (1080-900 BC) was retrieved from the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary, in the 1930s. It came into the collection nearly 100 years ago and was thought to be a well-made replica, but a new analysis of the sword revealed that it is the real deal, dating back 3,000 years to the Bronze Age. (Courtesy of The Field Museum of Natural History) Having uncovered documentation of the sword in Hungary, Gabor (right) suspected it was authentic. Working alongside Field Museum officials, scientists used an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) gun to match this swords chemical composition to known Bronze Age swords in Europe. (Courtesy of The Field Museum of Natural History) However, in preparation for an upcoming Field Museum exhibition in March 2023, Hungarian archeologists and museum scientists asked to examine the blade. Upon inspecting it using an X-ray fluorescence detector, an instrument that looks rather like a ray gun, they saw that its chemical makeup matched that of comparable known Bronze Age specimens. A chemist alongside archeologists found the swords bronze, copper, and tin content was nearly identical to that of authentic swords of that period. Usually, this story goes the other way round, said Bill Parkinson, a curator of anthropology at the Field Museum. What we think is an original turns out to be a fake. (Courtesy of The Field Museum of Natural History) Installation of a Bronze Age Era sword (1080-900 B.C.) in the Field Museums main hall as a preview for an upcoming special exhibition, First Kings of Europe. (Courtesy of The Field Museum of Natural History) Parkinson is helping curate First Kings of Europe, an upcoming exhibition at the Field Museum that will feature weapons, armor, and jewelry from some of the Balkans earliest societies, dating as far back as 5,000 B.C. Among the artifacts to be shown is a gold laurel crown of a Thracian prince and the Varna treasureconsisting of some of the oldest man-made gold objects in the world. Had this replica sword been recognized for what it was earlier, it might have been included in the Bronze Age era section of the exhibition. Now that it has been officially authenticated, it will instead be installed in the museums main hall as a preview for the upcoming show this spring. 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 Taiwan Will Shoot Down Chinese Balloon If Poses Threat: Official The Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, S.C., on Feb. 4, 2023. (Randall Hill/Reuters) Taiwans military will take measures to shoot down Chinese balloons if they pose a threat to national security, a defense official said on Feb. 13, amid mounting military threats posed by Chinas communist regime. In an interview with Bloomberg, defense ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang said that Taiwan will adopt appropriate measures to new threats, including shooting threats down, according to the level of concern. The ministry has rules in terms of response and will continue revising the rules in a timely manner to respond to new threats such as balloons, Sun told the news outlet. Beijing has flown dozens of balloons across Taiwans airspace in recent years, and such incursions have occurred at least once a month, the Financial Times reported, citing senior Taiwanese officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. They come very frequently, the last one just a few weeks ago, one of the officials said. Taiwans military said on Feb. 10 it detected four Chinese balloons flying over the self-ruled island in February and March 2022, and urged the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to refrain from any actions that would harm regional stability, Taiwan News reported. Some of the balloons are fielded by the PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] Air Force and some by the Rocket Force, the second official said, noting that Taiwans military normally deploys aircraft to monitor the balloons. On Feb. 1, the United States shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it drifted eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean. The CCP condemned the U.S. move and claimed that the balloon was a civilian airship that had been blown off course. The balloon, described by U.S. officials as a high altitude surveillance balloon, was first spotted on Feb. 1 above an airfield in Montana, one of three U.S. states where the nuclear missile fields are based. It drifted over North Carolina in Asheville and then near Charlotte on the morning of Feb. 4. The presence of the balloon has exacerbated the already tense relations between the United States and China and prompted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a planned trip to Beijing earlier this month. China-Taiwan Tensions Taiwan has been a self-governing democracy since the Chinese civil war ended in 1949. Still, the CCP regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be united with mainland China by any means necessary. Chinese incursions into Taiwan have occurred almost daily as the CCP has increased military pressure on the self-ruled island. Taiwans military detected 18 Chinese aircraft and four vessels on Feb. 12, with 11 of the aircraft crossing the Taiwan Straits median line. CIA Director William Burns said on Feb. 2 the United States is aware as a matter of intelligence that Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ordered his military to be prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027. Burns said that Xis military order may not represent his timeline for the CCPs invasion of Taiwan, but it demonstrates his seriousness in pursuing this goal. Our assessment at CIA is that I wouldnt underestimate President Xis ambitions with regard to Taiwan, Burns said at an event at Georgetown University in Washington. A missile is launched from an unspecified location in China on Aug. 4, 2022. The Chinese military fired missiles into waters near Taiwan as part of its planned exercises on Aug. 4. (CCTV via AP) In September 2022, Taiwans military shot down an unidentified civilian drone that invaded its airspace as the CCP increased military drills near Taiwan in retaliation against former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) visit to Taiwan in August. They repeatedly ignored our warnings to leave, and we had no choice but to exercise self-defense and shoot, Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang said. This is the most appropriate reaction after repeated restraint and warnings. The CCP responded that Taiwan was trying to hype up tensions over the incident, which follows the islands complaints of harassment regarding drones from China flying close to the Kinmen islands as Beijing stages military drills around Taiwan. Eva Fu and Reuters contributed to this report. For 50 years, his name was a household word. Horatio Alger Jr. (18321899) was the creator and chief proponent of the rags to riches story. Once his writing career took off, he put out over a hundred novels, most of them aimed at adolescents. They were tales of street urchins and poor young men who by dint of their virtue, education, hard work, and enterprise broke free of their poverty, often with the aid of a rich patron who rewarded them for some brave deed of rescue. Algers influence was profound. His books were read by countless young Americans. The renowned journalist Heywood Broun called the authors stories simple tales of honesty triumphant, and comedian and film star Groucho Marx said: Horatio Algers books conveyed a powerful message to me and many of my young friendsthat if you worked hard at your trade, the big chance would eventually come. As a child I didnt regard it as a myth, and as an old man I think of it as the story of my life. Not all have viewed his work so favorably. In Poor Little Stephen Girard, Mark Twain satirized Algers poor-boy-makes-good stories, and later writers and critics attacked his work as formulaic, which it is, and false in its premises. His books were already losing popular appeal when the Great Depression struck, seeming to put an end to the Algeresque formula that sweat, honesty, and ambition equaled success. Yet even now, Algers vision inspires countless Americans. The Small Man With the Big Message Faded portrait of Horatio Alger Jr. from 1880. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) Unlike his characters, Horatio Alger never knew poverty firsthand, though his father, a Unitarian minister, had faced financial ruin and often had trouble making ends meet. At 16, Alger entered Harvard University, of which he later recorded: No period of my life has been one of such unmixed happiness as the four years which have been spent within college walls. On earning his degree in 1852, he turned to writing as his livelihood, and then teaching. But later, failing to support himself in these endeavors, he entered Harvard Divinity School and graduated in 1860. Deemed unfit for service in the Union ArmyAlger was sickly most of his life and was only 5 feet, 2 inches tallhe served in war-related work until 1864, when he was ordained and accepted a position at a church on Cape Cod. In 1866, he resigned his post and departed for New York City. First serialized in a magazine in 1867, Algers Ragged Dick, Or Street Life in New York With the Boot-Blacks, appeared in book form in 1868 and became an immediate hit. This novel, which the author hoped would bring attention and help to the swarms of homeless children on New Yorks streets, also served as Algers template for the scores of stories that came afterward. These books sold millions of copies both during and after Algers lifetime, the proceeds of which he often donated to charitable works intended to improve the lives of children. Alger spent his final years living with his sister in Natick, Massachusetts, where his impaired health and frequent depression affected his ability to write. On his instructions, after his death his sister burned his letters and personal papers. From Rags to Respectability Cover of the 1895 Henry T. Coates and Company edition of Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger Jr. (Public Domain) Ragged Dick, which is one of the few Horatio Alger books remaining in print, is as simple in its storyline as in its prose. Richard Hunter, who goes by the nickname Ragged Dick, is a 14-year-old living on the street and making his way as a shoeshine boy. He has some bad habitsI am afraid he swore sometimes, and now and then he played tricks on unsophisticated boys from the countryand he throws away most of his earnings on shows at places like the Bowery Theater and on gambling. On the other hand, he is honestHe would not steal, or cheat, or impose upon younger boys, but was frank and straight-forward, manly and self-reliant. Throughout the novel, he has several opportunities to swindle others, but he always rejects that option. Hes also kind to the bootblacks who are younger or inept at their trade, springing for a meal or offering them encouragement. Alger wrote tales of street urchins who broke free of their poverty. Shoeshine Boy, 1891, by Karl Witkowski. Oil on canvas. Private Collection. (Public Domain) Several times, his honesty and generosity bring returns. After treating the orphan Henry Fosdick to a meal, for example, and then offering him a place in his newly acquired room, the barely literate Dick discovers that Fosdick can read and write, and strikes a bargain with him, offering him a permanent place in his quarters in exchange for lessons. The two boys team up, open bank accounts with their paltry earnings, save their money, and slowly begin the long haul out of poverty. Others also respond to Dicks truthfulness and resourceful spirit. Having promised a Mr. Greyson to bring him change for a ten-cent shine, Dick eventually fulfills that obligation, an act that leads him to Mr. Greysons church and Sunday school, with a Sunday lunch with Greysons family in the bargain. Later, it is Greyson who helps Henry Fosdick by way of recommendation to procure a job as a store clerk. Dicks best break comes at the end of the novel, when he rescues a 6-year-old boy who has fallen from a ferry. The boys father, who owns a counting room, a sort of combination bank and accounting office, offers Dick a job. In the last lines of Ragged Dick is this exchange between Henry and Dick: When, in short, you were Ragged Dick. You must drop that name, and think of yourself now as Richard Hunter, Esq. said our hero, smiling. A young gentleman on the way to fame and fortune, added Fosdick. Helping Hands Tuckered Out The Shoeshine Boy, circa 1888, by John George Brown. Oil on canvas. Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Mass. (Public Domain) Young readers of Ragged Dick and Algers other stories were shown steppingstones to success: aspirations, a virtuous character, an education, a willingness to work hard and to open the door to opportunity when it came knocking, and a heart for the less fortunate, all aided by the blessings of good fortune. Heres just one example: When Dick takes a job for a day escorting a wealthier country boy, Frank, on a tour of the city, Franks father gives Dick one of his sons suits. That change of clothing and his conversations with Frank about education give Dick a new outlook on his life, a belief in the possibility that he might someday attain Franks status. Though critics accuse Alger of painting a false picture of the benefits born from Ragged Dicks attributes and mock the writers focus on individual effort, Alger recognized the part played by others in that arduous climb out of the gutter, the mentors who help Dickand who help the rest of us as well. In the Authors Preface, Alger explicitly emphasizes this need for assistance, writing that he hopes his books will have the effect of enlisting the sympathies of his readers in behalf of the unfortunate children whose life is described, and of leading them to co-operate with the praise-worthy efforts now made by the Childrens Aid Society and other organizations to ameliorate their condition. Making the Most of Ones Life Shoeshine Boys, 1889, by Karl Witkowski. Oil on canvas. Private collection. (Public Domain) To most fiction, we bring a set of natural prejudices. Readers who enjoy fast-paced action, an eccentric hero, and suspense will probably find a home in Lee Childs Jack Reacher series; those who prefer more sedate stories will instead open Jane Austen. Aside from those connoisseurs who might dislike Ragged Dick for its literary imperfections, some may argue that Ragged Dick seems little more than a preachy, bogus fantasy. Yet Algers vision of work, virtue, and personal responsibility meshed with the American Dream of his time. Even today, this dream survives, as can be seen by the many immigrants coming to our country, the shelves of self-help books that by their very genre speak of individuals taking charge of their own lives, and the pride that so many Americans still take in their work and achievements. Ill go to work and see what I can do, says Dick in a conversation with Frank about education. Theres the Alger ethic. And theres the dream that still lives. The Ukrainian people in the conflict with Russia are doing dirty work that the US would not want to do, former US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told the Russian pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov (Vovan) and Alexey Stolyarov (Lexus). February 13, 2023, 16:03 Former Pentagon chief says US uses Ukraine to achieve goals against Russia STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: The pranksters called Esper on behalf of former Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko and asked the former Pentagon chief for his opinion on US involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. "The Ukrainian people are doing the dirty work of what we never wanted to do here in the United States, which is why we should continue to support you [Ukraine] with everything we can, whether it's munitions or arms or intelligence," Esper said. According to him, the expansion of Russian influence in other countries, including Africa, "is a problem" for the United States. At the same time, the former Pentagon chief expressed concern that US technology could end up in the hands of other countries because of arms deliveries to Ukraine. He stressed that it was important for the US to make sure that its technology would not fall into the wrong hands. TUCSON, Ariz.In a society where everything must be proven with science, it is easy for some to forget that there are higher powers around us. Shen Yun Performing Arts is using its art to portray the way that the divine help those who are deserving. I mean we all know inside our hearts that there is more than just what we can see, and I think as we live our lives we do want to have courage, we want to be kind, we want to be truthful, and we want to have compassion for other people. So those of course touch your heart, because that is who we truly are inside, said Maryann Garcia, who attended Shen Yuns performance with Alex Garcia, a business owner. The two saw the performance at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall on Feb. 12. Shen Yun is based in New York and, using classical Chinese dance and music, is telling audiences around the world about the beauty of China before communism, as well as how communism has changed China. Its very interesting learning about whats happened through communism there, and were actually very interested in learning more, said Mr. Garcia. Since communism took power in China, the regime has used its totalitarian power to erase the tradtitional culture that differs from its atheist ideology. Shen Yuns mission is to revive that lost civilization. What theyre sharing is how they believe in a Creator, and I think that everyone should be allowed to believe what they want to believe as long as they dont impede on other peoples freedoms, said Ms. Garcia. Ms. Garcia felt the themes in Shen Yun were timely. With cellphones and social media becoming more influential by the day, the performance and stories showed the importance of unplugging and really socializing with people. I think we definitely have lost the ability to truly be. It seems that through social media, everybodys being impacted on how should they act and behave in order to gain popularity and acceptance, said Ms. Garcia. Shen Yuns orchestra is an ensemble that uses a classical orchestra as its foundation while highlighting traditional Chinese instruments like the pipa and erhu. The music is beautiful. The conductor and the group are doing an amazing job. I told my son, its shocking that this is all happening live, said Ms. Garcia. Each year, Shen Yun puts on an all new production. With 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, there is no end to the material that Shen Yun can choose from. Ms. Garcia wanted to convey a message of gratitude. Thank you so much for working hard to put this together and get this message out. I think its very helpful to individuals and to families to help continue to rebuild traditional values, said Ms. Garcia. Reporting by Mary Mann and Maria Han. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Turkey, Israel, Syria, Earthquakes, G-d, and Me Commentary Almost exactly 52 years agoFeb. 9, 1971a large magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook L.A.s San Fernando Valley emanating from the vicinity of the Magic Mountain amusement park. I was living in the citys Echo Park district then in an old (1920s) Craftsmen-style house. It was approximately 6 a.m. when the quake hitI was fast asleepand lasted for about a minute. It felt much longer. But it was plenty long for what happened. A two-story brick chimney that I didnt know existed, because it had been covered over with plaster who knows when, completely came apart next to my bed, missing me by less than a foot. Would it have killed me? I dont know. But it could easily have seriously maimed me. When I stopped shaking myself and could look somewhat calmly at the huge pile of bricks, I saw not one inch of rebar in the smoke and rubble. At the time I judged myself blind lucky. Now, decades later, I see myself as having been spared by G-d. Having spent much of my life in California, I have been through several shakes, as well as one in Spain when I was living there for the better part of a year, but in no other case did I have such a narrow escape. You will note that I used the spelling G-d, the way the Hasidic Jews do. I make not the slightest claim to be an orthodox or even a good Jew. I dont keep Kosher, nor do I observe the Sabbath, unless invited to someones house. But something, maybe its getting older, maybe its the times in which we live, impels me to actor at least writeto a small degree like the Hasidim, whose name is translated as G-d fearing or more precisely those who fear a separation from G-d. You can certainly understand that fear when you see the horrifying pictures from southern Turkey (or Turkiye, as its now called) and northeastern Syria. It sent me searching for similarly catastrophic earthquakes on the internet. There have been quite a few, one as recent as 2005, the Kashmir Earthquake that killed approximately 86,000 people in India, Afghanistan, and China. The Middle East seems to get more than its fair share, as if it doesnt have enough of human-caused catastrophe as documented by the brilliant Israeli television series Fauda (chaos in Arabic) that, in my view, is the most powerful of all film dramasforeign or domesticin recent years. I thought of it when I read the Syriansmired so deep in their own faudarejected Israeli aid after the quake when they knew well Israel, of all countries in the world, certainly for its size, was the most prepared to deal with such emergencies. Fortunately for some Syrians, Turkiye had been going through one of those periods of rapprochement with the Jewish state and responded differently. The Times of Israel reports: An Israeli military field hospital established near the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras has so far treated around 180 people, including Syrian refugees living in the country, who were injured in the devastating earthquake that struck the region earlier in the week. On Friday, a four-year-old Syrian refugee whose parents were killed in the quake was brought to the field hospital. This is an area with a lot of Syrian refugees. This boy was rescued three or four days ago, his whole family was killed, and he was brought by his uncle. We treated him and calmed him down. He came in a moderate to serious condition, said Lt. Col. Aziz Ibrahim, a nurse and a commander in the IDF Medical Corps. I found myself taking out halva from our combat rations and giving it to him, and he loved it, Ibrahim said, referring to the popular sesame snack. Of course, I also spoke to him in Arabic. Ibrahim said the boys uncle came up to him and said, You Israelis treat us better than our people. Many will jump in to say this is propaganda from an Israeli media outlet. Possibly. But have you been to Syria? As one who has paid close attention to the Middle East conflict for decades, having been to the region five times myself, I can say that Israel is easily the most lied-about country in the world. The purpose of the U.N., these days, seems to be no more than the vilification of Israel. But in a moment of crisis, I would choose Mogen David Adam (their Red Cross) or their military in a heartbeat over ours. Do you think the Israeli Air Force would have allowed a Chinese spy balloon to fly over the nuclear sites in the Negev for more than a minute? Gimme a break! I know by saying this I will be accused of being one of those Jews whose loyalty is to Israel and not to America. Thats absolutely not true. I chose and choose to live here. I could easily have done otherwise. Im just hugely disappointed with the recent evolution of our countrynot the least of which is that instead of spending their time helping the beleaguered peoples of Turkiye and Syria, both of which have horrendous governments, they send our Secretary of State to Israel to badger their leadership over their recent election that many would say was more democratic than our own. I may be just beginning at a late age my own spiritual reformation, but I know that isnt what G-d wants. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. UK to Review Airspace Security After Chinese Spy Balloons Found Over Americas The UK is launching a security review in light of the Chinese spy balloons found over the Americas, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Feb. 12. It comes after the United States sanctioned six Chinese entities involved in aiding Beijings surveillance balloon programs. The UK and her allies will review what these airspace intrusions mean for our security, Wallace said. This development is another sign of how the global threat picture is changing for the worse. Balloons and Flying Objects In the past nine days, U.S. and Canadian military have shot down a Chinese spy balloon and three other unidentified flying objects in North American airspace. Another Chinese balloon was found flying over Latin America on Feb. 3. The current status of the balloon is unclear. On Feb. 4, U.S. military jets shot down a 200-foot-tall high-altitude surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean after the balloon traversed from Alaska to across Canada and the United States. A senior defence official told reporters that the balloon had flown near many potential sensitive sites. President Joe Biden said he had considered shooting the balloon down earlier but decided against the move over fears of harming civilians on the ground. Map shows path of suspected spy balloon. (AP Photo) Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has acknowledged that both that balloon over the United States and the one in Latin America were from China but insisted they were civilian weather balloons. A U.S. State Department official told The Epoch Times that high-resolution imagery showed that equipment on the first balloon was clearly for intelligence surveillance and inconsistent with the equipment onboard weather balloons. The other flying objects of unknown origin were downed in the past three days. On Feb. 10, a U.S. F-22 jet shot a missile to take down an unknown flying object off the coast of Alaska. The object was about the size of a small car and didnt appear to have maneuverable capability, in contrast with the first balloon that was shot down on Feb. 4. On Feb. 11, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a joint venture between the United States and Canada to provide air defence for both countries, dispatched two F-22 jets from a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, and shot down an unidentified cylindrical object over Yukon, Canada, with an AIM-9X missile. On Feb. 12, the U.S. military scrambled an F-16 jet to shoot down an octagonal structure over Lake Huron. Senior U.S. officials said improved surveillance capabilities have allowed the Biden administration to retroactively detect multiple instances of spy balloons passing by during President Donald Trumps time in the White House. Trump denied those claims, saying that it never happened. Kash Patel, who served as the Pentagons chief of staff to Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller under Trump, said there wasnt a shred of intelligence shared among senior government officials suggesting that a Chinese spy balloon flew or was going to fly across the United States during the Trump administration. Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a suspected Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon that was downed by the United States over the weekend over U.S. territorial waters off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 5, 2023. (U.S. Fleet Forces/U.S. Navy photo/Handout via Reuters) The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously voted on Feb. 9 to condemn the Chinese regimes use of a spy balloon over the United States. The U.S. Department of Commerce sanctioned on Feb. 10 five Chinese companies and a Chinese research institute, which were found to be involved in helping with aerospace programs including airships and balloons and related materials and components for the Chinese military. Downing Street: Britain Well Prepared to Protect Airspace UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decline to comment on whether similar incidents have occurred in the UKs airspace. We will do whatever it takes to keep the country safe, he said. We have something called the quick reaction alert force which involves Typhoon planes, which are kept on 24/7 readiness to police our airspace, which is incredibly important. I cant obviously comment in detail on national security matters, but we are in constant touch with our allies and, as I said, we will do whatever it takes to keep the country safe. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons, in London, on Jan. 25, 2023. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) Transport Minister Richard Holden told Sky News that he believes it is possible that Chinese spy balloons have already been used over the UK. It is also possible, and I would think likely, that there would be people from the Chinese government trying to act as a hostile state, he said, noting that the UK has to be realistic about the threat these countries pose to the UK. Asked about Holdens comments, the official spokesman at Downing Street said he couldnt comment on security issues. He said the UK is well prepared to deal with threats to our airspace, as the prime minister highlighted, noting that threats would be judged on a case-by-case basis. Asked whether the prime minister agreed with Holdens description of Beijing as a hostile state, the spokesman said the characterisation will be considered when updating the Integrated Review. As weve said on a number of occasions, China poses a systemic challenge to our values and interests, he said. It is a challenge that grows more acute as it moves to even greater authoritarianism. Pressed on whether the UK government is likely to change the Chinese regimes designation, the spokesman said, Youll see our position when it is published. He confirmed that Sunak agrees with the view that the Chinese regime is becoming more authoritarian. It has been our long-standing position, the spokesman said. I think weve seen from some of the action from China on a number of areas, be it militarily or on freedom of speech, these are concerning actions which we seek to raise with our Chinese counterparts. Andrew Thornebrooke, Marnie Cathcart, Katabella Roberts, Jan Jekielek, and PA media contributed to this report. Unidentified flying objects were shot down by authorities in Canada and Alaska. The Chinese regime says it is also planning to shoot down a flying craft near its borders, and other odd incidents are being reported elsewhere. While details are thin on what the flying crafts were, this comes soon after the United States shot down a Chinese spy balloon. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is being accused by investigative journalist Seymour Hersh of having destroyed the Nord Stream pipeline in a clandestine military operation. While the White House denies the claims, it is bringing deeper attention to possible motives for the destruction of the pipeline. In this live Q&A with Crossroads host Joshua Philipp well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience. Victims of Lismore Floods Still Waiting for Government Promised Land Buy Backs People use small boats to travel through flood water in Lismore, Australia, on Feb. 28, 2022. (Jason O'Brien/AAP Image via AP) Almost a year on from the deadly Lismore floods, the community is still waiting for a single at-risk home to be acquired through a government repair package. Record-breaking flooding devastated the NSW Northern Rivers in February and March last year, killing five people and destroying 4000 homes. The unprecedented devastation led to a $520 million (US$359 million) commitment from the state and federal governments to buy homes and land from people living in the most flood-prone parts of the region. The Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Fund, with a total budget of $800 million, also promised flood victims the opportunity to retrofit, repair, or raise their homes to prevent future flood impacts. Close to four months on from the government announcement, locals continue to wait for land buybacks or other remediation packages to be handed out. When asked how many home and land buybacks, retrofitting and home raising packages had been offered, a spokeswoman for the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation told AAP it expected to send offers for buybacks in early 2023. The assessments of more than 6000 registrations were in the early phase, she said. It is anticipated several homeowner assessments, valuations, and letters of offer for voluntary buybacks under the Resilient Homes Program will be completed in early-2023, with progress updates to be provided to community, the spokeswoman said. The corporations customer outreach and case management pilot launched in December, and voluntary buybacks in the areas most at risk of renewed flooding were being prioritised. This early phase involves more than 130 homeowners, with the program to ramp up across the region this month, she said. More than 6,500 people have registered for the suite of offers, including buybacks, repair, retrofitting, home raising or knockdown and rebuild. Another 300 landowners have registered their interest in the $100 million Resilient Land Program, where the NSW government will relocate residents to a new land safe from flood impact. Land assessments were underway, and a shortlist of landholdings was expected by March, she said. A man pushes water out of a flood-affected business in Lismore, Australia, on March 31, 2022. (Dan Peled/Getty Images) The corporation had held almost 50 meetings with the community and stakeholders over the past three months, she said. It comes after a community-led rally outside the corporations headquarters in Lismore last month, with protesters holding placards saying We need answers and Living in LimboNo Really Real Communication. Shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey said locals had already suffered through a slow response to the flood from the governments disaster-response agency Resilience NSW. I would hate to think that the victims of the floods would be left at the mercy of a bureaucracy, he told reporters last week. I think theres a bipartisan agreement to get this done as fast as possible. The NSW government introduced legislation to create the Reconstruction Authority in November, making the body the lead agency for disaster management and cleanup. The authority, which will replace the since-abolished Resilience NSW, will merge with the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Authority in March. Buttigieg Makes No Mention of Cancer-Causing Chemical Release From Fiery Ohio Train Derailment The continuing cleanup of portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. The image was taken on Feb. 9, 2023. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo) As reports of strange objects in the sky dominate the headlines, another potential danger in the airvinyl chloride and other chemicals released following a Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania borderhas received comparatively little publicity, including from some relevant federal authorities. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg didnt comment on the incident during a Feb. 13 morning appearance at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, though he did mention the safety risks of balloons, to laughter from the audience. The Department of Transportations (DOT) website doesnt have any press releases focused on the derailment yet. Neither does the website for the DOTs Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). While the FRA is also concurrently investigating the accident under our own authority, questions about the accident should be addressed to the NTSB [National Transportation Safety Board], a spokesperson for the railroad administration told The Epoch Times in a Feb. 13 email. Individuals drawing conclusions about causes and effects of the accident are speculative and should not be treated as fact until a final report is issued. The NTSBs public relations Twitter account posted about the incident on Feb. 4, stating that a go-team from the safety board was heading to the scene. Team is expected to arrive today, the NTSB wrote. An email from the NTSB directed The Epoch Times to a Feb. 4 media briefing on the incident, available to watch on YouTube. Additional information will be issued when available, the NTSB email states. Representatives for the secretary of transportations office didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. After the Feb. 3 derailment of 50 freight cars from a Norfolk Southern train, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway declared a state of emergency as black smoke billowed from the crash site. The Times Leader reported that the incident marks the third train derailment in Ohio since October 2022. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered on Feb. 6 the evacuation of a two-mile by one-mile zone spanning the state line. A statement from DeWine cited the presence of vinyl chloride in five boxcars, announcing that the possibility of a devastating explosion would be mitigated through a controlled release later that day. The statement said that residents who stayed near the controlled release risked grave danger of death. After the vinyl chloride release, DeWine and other officials said on Feb. 8 that residents near the incident could return to their homes. Residents of nearby communities have reported that animals on their properties have been sickened or even died, raising concerns about the risk to livestock and humans. Amanda Breshears of North Lima, Ohio, told ABC27 that video footage shows her chickens dying following the release. If it can do this to chickens in one night, imagine what its going to do to us in 20 years, she said. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an updated report on the incident on Feb. 12. Air monitoring since the fire went out has not detected any levels of concern in the community that can be attributed to the incident at this time, the EPA statement reads. Residents may still smell odors from the site. If you experience symptoms, Columbiana County Health Department recommends calling your medical provider. The statement also notes that the agency will work with local authorities to eventually phase out community air monitoring. It also links to a document attributed to Norfolk Southern detailing the contents of the cars that derailed. That document indicates that cars containing polyvinyl, another chemical, also burned. EPA cannot speak to the design or creation of this document, the agency statement reads. A spokesperson for the EPA directed The Epoch Times to the agencys emergency resources website. A reporter covering the incident was arrested on Feb. 9 while DeWine was providing an update on the incident, as reported by the Associated Press. DeWine said he didnt give the go-ahead to arrest that journalist, according to The Associated Press. White House officials didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. What Are We Doing to Counter CCP Spying? The sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recovering a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 5, 2023. (U.S. Navy via AP) Commentary The determination of the Chinese communist regime to spy and collect information as part of its relentless efforts to expand its influence throughout the world was in stark relief this past week. The revelation that hundreds of security cameras in Australian government buildings were potentially collecting information for China followed the saga of the first spy balloon passing over sensitive military bases in the United States until it was shot down. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a long history of spying on its own citizens. The use of facial recognition cameras on the streets of Xinjiang province to control the movement of the Uyghurs has long been known. The presence of the surveillance cameras in federal government agencies in Australia was revealed after a six-month audit by Senator James Patterson, the shadow minister for cyber security. The removal of the devices manufactured by two Chinese companies, Hikvision and Dahua, which are part-owned by the CCP, follows the revelations. Hikvision cameras in an electronic mall in Beijing on May 24, 2019. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images) It follows similar bans by two of the other Five Eyes partners, the United States and the United Kingdom. It is surprising that government departments and agencies had not been alert to the concerns earlier, given the knowledge of Chinese surveillance. All levels of government in Australia should urgently undertake their own audits, as should private businesses. The audit should extend to other equipment, including drones used by the military and police forces. The surveillance cameras and the spy balloons are part of the CCPs vast intelligence network. If asked about travel balloons, most people think of spirited adventurers swinging in a wicker basket beneath a colourful canopy filled with hot air, drifting in the prevailing winds until the gas burner is turned down and it gently returns to earth. Others may recall the Zeppelin airships from the beginning of last century and the modern blimps that tend to be used as advertisements in the sky. None of these devices resemble the modern weather balloons that can soar tens of thousands of feet above the earthnor their latest incarnation, the spy balloons being utilised by the Chinese military. Unravelling the Surface of the CCPs Balloon Network When a balloon was discovered floating above sensitive military installations in the United States, the CCP feigned surprise. It was merely a meteorological balloon that had drifted off-course, said a Chinese foreign affairs spokesperson. Except this giant orb, some 60 metres (197 feet) in height, was also self-propelling, and had been manoeuvred to pass over the missile bases. Carrying the payload of a domestic airliner, it is now believed to be part of an elaborate global surveillance network. The CCP publication the Global Times announced recently that China planned to build a ground satellite station on Antarctica. The balloons design and materials, and the height at which it was operatingfar above normal aircraftmade it less likely to be detected by radar. In this photo provided by Chad Fish, the remnants of a large balloon drift above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina, with a fighter jet and its contrail seen below it, on Feb. 4, 2023. (Chad Fish via AP, File) Another balloon was discovered over Colombia with sightings over Venezuela and Costa Rica. There have also been reports of sightings over India and the Philippines. Multiple other unidentified objects in North American skies have been shot down. Subsequent information reveals that the balloon and its sensitive equipment was manufactured by a PLA-related company in China. It is believed to have been launched from another military site on Hainan Island. The PLA has been discussing the use of balloons for military purposes for a decade. Nine years ago, it noted a balloons lasting ability to stay airborne and provide instant response based on command. Other Chinese military researchers wrote: [The balloon can] induce and mobilise the enemys air defence system, providing the conditions for the implementation of electronic reconnaissance, assessment of air defence systems early warning detection and operational response capabilities. The CCP tested hypersonic missiles by dropping them from a balloon in 2018. Given the existence of sensitive military installations in the north of Australia, the Australian government should reveal if any spy balloons have been detected over the continentand what measures are being implemented to detect and counter any such activities. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. What Was the Point of Denying Natural Immunity? Commentary On Nov. 13, 2020, just as the vaccine was being rolled out (surely a sheer coincidence that it was just after the election), the World Health Organization (WHO) made a hugely significant change to its website. It pertained to the section on herd immunitythe concept theorizing how a new pathogen goes from pandemic to endemic, from socially disruptive to manageable. Its about how a society gets back to normal. Previously, the website said it happens with immunity upgrades through exposure plus vaccines. On that day, the WHO changed its website. The science hadnt changed. But the body presuming to guard and govern world health changed it anyway. The website suddenly struck out natural immunity and even put it down. The new text said, Herd immunity is achieved by protecting people from a virus, not exposing them to it. Wow, amazing news! You mean that for all viruses, we will now rely only on vaccines, even though natural immunity has been the way that humanity evolved with viruses from the beginning of time? And even though natural immunity and exposure are how infectious disease went from being possibly the No. 1 problem humanity faced over most of history to becoming a relatively minor problem in the modern age? Thats right. The WHO announced that scientists and their potions would protect the whole of humanity from everything! Astounding. And unbearably false. It just so happened that this grand reveal happened just as COVID vaccines were about to hit the market. There was a minor uproar online, but it was enough even to reach the inner chambers of the organization. And so by Jan. 4, 2021, the website of the WHO dialed back its absurdity a bit. Herd immunity happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection, the site then said. It added, however, in case there was any doubt, that the WHO supports achieving herd immunity through vaccination. This is surely one of the most bizarre chapters in the history of public health. Weve known about natural immunity for at least 2,500 years. Its a basic concept without which there is no understanding of disease at all. To think that the WHO tried to wipe it out with a website change is beyond belief. The month before the WHO came out with its preposterous claim, the British medical journal The Lancet had more-or-less trumpeted the same blather. As the Norfolk Group has written: In October 2020, a widely circulated Memorandum published in The Lancet, a top British medical journal, questioned infection-acquired immunity. It stated that there is no evidence for lasting protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 following natural infection, claiming scientific consensus for this view. The Memorandum was co-authored by several senior US scientists, including Drs. Marc Lipsitch (Harvard), Ali Nouri (president, American Federation of Scientists) and Rochelle Walensky (Harvard). With extremely few reinfections at the time, clear evidence for the existence of infection-acquired immunity, and despite what we know about other coronaviruses, on what basis did these scientists question that infection with SARS-CoV-2 provided lasting protection from severe disease for recovered individuals and, early on, from reinfection? What was the rationale for The Lancet Editor-in-Chief Dr. Richard Hortons decision to publish the Lancet Memorandum that questioned infection-acquired immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection without citing supporting data and which ran in opposition to well established immunologic principles? The memorandum in question was supposed to be a response to the Great Barrington Declaration. They called it the John Snow Memo. Today, its nothing if not embarrassing. Of course, the evidence rolled in from all over the world over the coming months that natural immunity to this pathogen works exactly as one would expect. Its robust and broad and lasting. Simply incredible. Then what happened? Something absolutely remarkable. It turned out that the vaccine failed to prevent infection or transmission. That is to say, vaccination turned out to make no contribution to herd immunity or public health. Not just some but none. Forget the idea that we would vaccinate our way out of this mess. Nope. Far from it. The pandemic would end the old-fashioned way, the same as every pandemic of the pastthrough natural exposure and recovery. This fiasco has to rank among the most egregious failures of public health in history. The worlds most respected institutions actually opened themselves up to be major sources of massive disinformation for the entire planet Earth. And then, everything they promised turned out to be a complete lie. Why did the WHO change basic immunological realities? I have my own theories. Theyre so captured by industry and Big Pharma in particular that they WANTED the population to stay immunologically naive and unprotected in order that they could market and test a new technology. Again, that has to rank among the most egregious experiments in modern life, and its one that utterly and completely failed. If you think about it, and if this is true, this accounts for nearly all the insanity of government for the better part of three years. It explains the deprecation of early treatments. It explains the relentless and bizarre demand to flatten the curve even though there was no threat to the healthcare system. The point was to preserve the non-immune state of the population as long as possible so that they could get shots in the arms of everyone, even those who didnt want them or need them. It explains the lockdowns. It explains the closures and capacity restrictions. It explains the travel restrictions. It explains the demand that we put ourselves under house arrest and avoid contact with anyone. If we had to go out, we were told to socially distance and mask up. It was all a plot to keep us vulnerable to the pathogen that the vaccines were supposed to magically whisk away, even though weve never in history had a vaccine for a widespread coronavirus respiratory infection that mutates quickly. In fact, weve also long known that getting repeatedly vaccinated for a fast-mutating virus is itself a great danger due to immunity imprinting and original antigenic sinmaking us sicker than ever. And not only that More and more mutations are also given strength by the vaccination itself, in which case the vaccination not only prolonged the pandemic but even added a new layer of unusual sickness on top of that. They actually put profit and industrial capture ahead of matters of health. And they did it for the entire planet. They experimented with the worlds population to create a new platform technology for perpetual boosters not only for this virus but all diseases. This is the only possible explanation. Its a scandal of epic proportions. Once you understand this, if you were already angry about what has happened to us, you would add another layer of fury. Crucially, none of these errors in judgment have any justification in ignorance. They knew. They just decided to ignore science and experience and replace it with industrial propaganda, at great expense to the health of the population all over the world. Will you ever regain your trust in public health? You shouldnt, not until theres full accountability and open admissions of wrongdoing. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. What We Know About the Flying Objects Shot Down Over North America The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, S.C., on Feb. 4, 2023. (Randall Hill/Reuters) The U.S. military has shot down four flying objects over North American airspace over the past eight days. Three of the objects remain unidentified as of late Sunday, and were separately shot down within three days. The latest unidentified object was shot down on Sunday over Michigans Lake Huron. Heres what we know so far about these four objects: Feb. 4: Chinese Spy Balloon Shot Down The first object was initially reported as unidentified until U.S. officials said it was a Chinese surveillance balloon. The White House and Pentagon said the balloon had violated U.S. sovereignty by entering American airspace without permission. The 200 feet-tall balloon was first reported after being seen by civilians near Billings, Montana, after which it was allowed to traverse across the United States by officials citing safety concerns, despite the maneuverable balloon passing over the site of sensitive airbases and strategic nuclear missile silos. Map shows path of suspected spy balloon. (AP Photo) The China-claimed balloon drifted east toward the Atlantic Ocean before a F-22 fighter jet shot it down off the South Carolina coast, around 2:39 p.m. ET. The balloon was flying at an altitude of about 50,000 to 60,000 feet in the stratosphere where there is no commercial air traffic. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which is operated by the United States and Canada, was tracking the balloon the entire time. Officials said the balloon, with a place of origin in China, had entered U.S. airspace over Alaska on Jan. 28. It flew over Canada before re-entering the United States on Jan. 31. President Joe Biden ordered the balloon taken down where debris posed no risk to people on the ground and it was shot from the sky on Feb. 4. A State Department official told The Epoch Times that the balloon could monitor communications signals. Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said on Feb. 3 the balloon also had a large payload underneath the surveillance component. An FBI official later said they havent found any indications that the balloon carried a payload capable of causing harm. We have not identified any sort of any energetic or offensive material, the official said, reported Reuters. The Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, S.C., on Feb. 4, 2023.; and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flies over a debris field during recovery efforts on Feb. 4, 2023. (Randall Hill/Reuters; U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Jerry Ireland) China claimed it was just a civilian weather-monitoring device that became accidentally blown off course to enter U.S. airspace. But a White House official said that an assessment of the balloons remnants showed it is equipped with propellers and a rudder, allowing it to change directions, and that the balloon had the ability to speed up and down, turn, and loiter. It mainly relied on air movement in the jet streams to travel, although it had some limited ability to maneuver within that. Ryder also said in a statement on Feb. 7 that Chinas Defense Minister Wei Fenghe had declined a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a phone call about the downed balloon. Lines between our militaries are particularly important in moments like this, he said. Unfortunately, the PRC has declined our request, he said. Our commitment to open lines of communication will continue. John Kirby, coordinator of the National Security Council, said that other similar balloons had previously entered U.S. airspace: three times during the Trump administration and once since Biden took office. We have reached out to key officials from the previous administration and offered them briefings on the forensics that we did and expressed our willingness to walk them through what we learned, Kirby said. In a later press conference, Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command, built on Sullivans statements, stating that the Pentagon had an awareness gap that allowed previous Chinese balloon incursions to go undetected at the time. Feb. 10: Small Car-Sized Object Shot Down Off Alaska Coast Two F-22s took down an unknown flying object over U.S. waters off the northern coast of Alaska on Feb. 10, at around 1:45 p.m. ET. The object was first spotted on Feb. 9. It was hovering at around 40,000 feet where commercial airliners do cruise. Biden had ordered it to be taken down after it was determined to be a reasonable threat to civilian flight safety, according to officials. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier in the day had issued a no-fly warning over Alaska where the object was located. It was then taken down with a single AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, the same type of missile used to take down the Chinese spy balloon on Feb. 4. Kirby said the object was shot down out of an abundance of caution. He added: This was an object. Let me just clarify: Im not classifying it as a balloon right now. Its an object. Were still trying to learn more from it. Pentagon spokesperson Ryder said the object was the size of a small car, and didnt resemble in any way the Chinese spy balloon. He added that there was no indication that it was manned and no indication at this time that it was maneuverable. We have no further details about the object at this time, including any description of its capabilities, purpose, or origin, he told reporters on Feb. 10. He added that recovery teams were working to collect debris that fell on top of ice in U.S. territorial waters. Feb. 11: Cylindrical Object Shot Down Over Canada An unidentified cylindrical object was shot down by a U.S. F-22 over Yukon Territory as part of a joint NORAD operation with the Canadians on Feb. 11. It marks the first unidentified object downed over Canadian airspace. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who ordered the take down, said on Feb. 12 that the object unlawfully entered Canadas airspace and posed a reasonable threat to civilian aircraft. He added that recovery teams were looking to find and analyze the object. Ryder said that a U.S. F-22 shot down the object in Canadian territory using an AIM 9X missile following close coordination between U.S. and Canadian authorities. Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said on Feb. 11 the object was detected flying at around 40,000 feet. It was shot down approximately 100 miles from the Canada-United States border over Canadian territory in central Yukon, at 3:41 ET, she said. She added that this was the first time that a NORAD operation has downed an aerial object. We have no further details about the object at this time, other than it appears to be a small cylindrical object, and smaller than the one that was downed off the coast of [South] Carolina, she said. Feb. 12: Octagonal Object Shot Down Over Lake Huron The Pentagon confirmed on Feb. 12 that a U.S. F-16 shot down an object at 2:42 p.m. ET with an AIM-9x short-range air-to-air missile. The object was flying at about 20,000 feet altitude in U.S. airspace over Lake Huron, Michigan, when it was taken down. Its path and altitude raised concerns, including that it could be a hazard to civil aviation. The location chosen for this shoot down afforded us the opportunity to avoid impact to people on the ground while improving chances for debris recovery, read a Pentagon statement. NORAD had detected the object on the morning of Feb. 12. Based on its flight path and data, we can reasonably connect this object to the radar signal picked up over Montana, which flew in proximity to sensitive [Department of Defense] sites. We did not assess it to be a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground, but assess it was a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities. Our team will now work to recover the object in an effort to learn more, the statement reads. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) described the latest object as having an octagonal structure in a Feb. 12 interview with Fox News. NORAD confirmed that it implemented a temporary flight restriction airspace over Lake Michigan at approximately 12 p.m. EST on Feb. 12, 2023. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed to The Epoch Times that it temporarily restricted the airspace over Lake Michigan before that airspace was reopened a short while later. Zachary Stieber, Jack Phillips, and Eva Fu contributed to this report. Whats Going to Happen to the Economy? Billionaire Challenges Governments Rejection of Coal Mine Australian mining tycoon Clive Palmer has said the governments cancellation of his companys proposal to build a coal mine in central Queensland will be a blow to the regions economy. Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on Feb. 9 announced she had decided to reject Palmers proposed mine, the Central Queensland Coal Project, in the Styx Coal Basin, to be located 130 kilometres northwest of Rockhampton and about 10 kilometres from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park but 170 kilometres from the iconic outer reef, over potential risks to the environment despite proposed management efforts. This is the first time a coal project has been refused in two decades, citing national environmental laws in Australia. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek speaks during a stand-up in the Press Gallery at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on March 24, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) According to a submission to the government by Palmers company Waratah Coal, the opencast mine would operate for 20 years, mining both coking coals used for steelmaking and thermal coal used for electricity. The mine, which would hire from 100 to 500 employees, is estimated to have an export value of A$60 billion (US$41.48 billion) and provide A$32 billion (US$22.12 billion) in state and federal royalties over its lifetime. The company said that by comparison, the Great Barrier Reef contributes A$6.4 billion (US$4.42 billion) per year to the economy, meaning per hectare the reef would be valued at $1,858 while the mine would generate $1.6 million. This aerial photo shows the Great Barrier Reef in Australia on Dec. 2, 2017. (Kyodo News via AP) Economic Concerns Speaking at a media conference in the Gold Coast on Friday, Palmer argued that the refusal of the mine will affect the local communitys standard of living, especially at a time when some families are struggling to put food on the table. Weve got men and women depending on their jobs and livelihoods, and we had to do what we could to help it, he said. We have to have a lot of compassion for the people and the families of the coal fields. Whats going to happen to our country? Whats going to happen to the economy? he added. He said his project had already taken measures to limit environmental risks into consideration and further alleged that the decision by the centre-left Labor government was about doing deals with the Greens to get legislation through federal parliament. The Labor party says one thingthat they support coaland they do things like this. The billionaire argued his company certainly dealt with all the ministers worries but havent been given a fair go before the minister. There will be action taken, I cant really talk about it, he said. The Epoch Times has reached out to Waratah Coal but didnt receive a response in time for publication. Plibersek Cites Environmental Grounds In a 71-page statement of reason explaining the decision for cancellation, Plibersek said the mine would pose unacceptable environmental risks to the Great Barrier Reef. For example, there is potential the mines water would pose a risk to estuarine and near-shore ecosystems, and release increased sediment into the Great Barrier Reef. Landscape view of the open cut coal mine at Muja, near Collie in Western Australia. (Philip Schubert/Adobe Stock) The environment minister also noted that the mines use of groundwater would reduce base flow in nearby freshwater creeks and lead to the dieback and loss of up to 165 hectares of groundwater-dependent vegetation. She also warned about changes to surface water quality from controlled and uncontrolled discharges, with the potential to impact aquatic environments within, adjacent to, and downstream of the proposed action site. In addition, the mine would cause disturbance of sonic soils, which are prone to erosion, potentially increasing sediment loads in local waterways, she said. When announcing the decision on Wednesday, Plibersek said: I have decided not to approve the Central Queensland Coal Project because the risks to the Great Barrier Reef, freshwater creeks, and groundwater are too great. Ill make a decision on a case-by-case basis on every project that comes before me, she said. The Greens and others are saying that we should just refuse every application for a coal mine or gas project. Thats absolutely not what Im doing here. Plibersek added: Protecting the Great Barrier Reef is not just important environmentally, its also important economically. Meanwhile, in a 192-page document, the Queensland government explained that Palmers project would cause direct disturbance to 1,372 ha of land, as well as threaten fauna and vegetation communities and lead to a loss of 8 kilometres of waterways for fish passage. The state government also said the mine would also cause potential indirect impacts on surface water and groundwater quantity and quality and endanger threatened species. Scientist Argues Reef Not At Risk But Queensland-based physicist Peter Ridd said that while the coal mine may damage the environment surrounding it, theres no possibility that it would damage the Great Barrier Reef, which is over 100 kilometres off the coast. He said the Great Barrier Reef is located near a part of the ocean called Broad Sound, which has an incredibly muddy estuary, so while there will be some coal dust coming off Palmers mine, coal is not exactly a hyper-poisonous substance compared to the sediments in the water. Its not plutonium or cyanide or something, he told TNT Radio on Feb. 9. And compared to the amount of mud thats floating around in Broad sound, youll be flat out even measuring at the time that little bit of coal dust. He argued theres a political overtone in the rejection of the coal mine because the state and federal government has been approving coal projects left right centre in the last couple of years. The government is also not stopping the enormous Hay Point coal terminal in North Queensland, which is located right on the coast. Its extremely inconsistent what theyre doing here, he noted. I think the fact that its Clive Palmer who had a previous political career and who has made a lot of enemies. The decision comes as the coal industry faces increased pressure from the Queensland government, which last year introduced a coal tax hike to royalty payments that are already the highest in the world. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko called for greater unity in the Collective Security Treaty Organization as he met with Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Imangali Tasmagambetov on 13 February, BelTA reports. February 13, 2023, 17:33 Lukashenko calls for greater unity in CSTO, certain position by member states over Russian-Ukrainian conflict STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: Challenges are many. We took the risk to compile the program of our presidency in the organization so that we could try to solve the problems that we have, especially on the borders of CSTO member states. I do not speak of your experience in vain. You have a great memory. You know well both the Caucasus and Central Asia. We have problems there. Let us try to resolve them and, as much as possible, bring the Collective Security Treaty Organization together in these difficult times. You see what is happening on the perimeter, BelTA quoted President Lukashenko as saying. Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that all members of the CSTO should unite and act together. White House: No Sign of Aliens or Extraterrestrials in Recent UFO Takedowns White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Feb. 13, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Americans have nothing to fear from aliens in the wake of recent UFO takedowns by the U.S. military, the White House confirmed. There is no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a White House press briefing on Feb. 13. I wanted to make sure that the American people knew that, and all of you knew that, Jean-Pierre said. It was important for us to say that for you because weve been hearing a lot about it. The U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic on Feb. 4 after observing it cross the North American continent. Three other unidentified aerial phenomena, formally known as UAPs, were shot down in the week that followed. A UAP that was considered a hazard to air traffic was downed by U.S. F-22 fighter jets over Alaska on Feb. 10. The next day, a cylindrical object was shot down by an American fighter plane over Yukon, Canada. Then on Feb. 12 an octagonal object was shot down by Air Force Reserve fighter jets over Lake Huron. Adm. John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters on Feb. 13 that ownership of the latest three UAPs is not yet known. Debris has not yet been recovered from the crash sites, which are in remote areas. A 2022 report by the Director of National Intelligence indicated 366 new sightings of UAPs reported from March 2021 into 2022. Of those, 163 were described as balloon or balloon-like entities. Others appeared to be drones or drone-like objects, airborne plastic bags, weather events, or birds. UAP sightings have provided fodder for conspiracy theories and hoaxes since the 1940s, some centered on the idea of government collusion with alien life forms. In response to a reporters question, Kirby emphatically echoed Jean-Pierres statement that no evidence of alien involvement had been detected in the recent UAP events. I dont think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these craft, period, Kirby stated. I loved ET, the movie, Jean-Pierre said jokingly, but Im just going to leave it there. FAA rules stipulate that persons wanting to report UFO/unexplained phenomena activity should contact a UFO/ unexplained phenomena reporting data collection center, such as the National UFO Reporting Center, which is located in Davenport, Washington. Why Is America Desperate to Talk to China After Balloon Intrusion? A jet flies by a Chinese spy balloon as it floats off the coast in Surfside Beach, S.C., on Feb. 4, 2023. (Randall Hill/Reuters) Commentary We believe in the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] in order to responsibly manage the relationship, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, declared in a Feb. 7 statement. Unfortunately, the PRC has declined our request. Our commitment to open lines of communication will continue. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had tried to arrange a telephone conversation with Chinas Defense Minister, Gen. Wei Fenghe, after the Feb. 4 shoot-down of the Chinese spy balloon, but the Chinese official refused to take the call. Austin must now be accustomed to being rebuffed by Wei. In November 2022 in Cambodia at a meeting of defense ministers, Austin proposed reopening communication channels that Beijing had ended after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to Taipei, Taiwan. The Chinese so far havent replied. Since the USs irresponsible wrongdoings failed to create an atmosphere for communication between the militaries of the two countries, China does not accept the USs proposal for a defense chiefs call, said Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei in the words of Chinas semi-official Global Times. Good. The United States should stop trying to talk to China. There are many things wrong about Austins attempts to communicate with Wei. As an initial matter, Weis rank is far below Austins. As defense minister, hes a central government official with little or no authority over the Chinese military. The Peoples Liberation Army doesnt report to the Chinese government. It reports to the Communist Party. The Communist Party official with a comparable rank to Austin is Xi Jinping, in his role as chairman of the Partys Central Military Commission. Our defense secretary should insist, when he talks, to talk to the people in charge. Americans love to talk. I do hope that the United States and China can find a way to have a dialogue on these issues, Leon Panetta, a defense secretary during the Obama years, said to Andrea Mitchell on Feb. 9 on her MSNBC show, referring to the spy balloon incident. As evident from Panettas comment, Americans are big on dialogue. They believe, as an article of faith, that there must be communication to maintain relations. In fact, communication with China has, over the course of decades, made matters worse. How so? American attempts at dialogue empower the worst elements in the Chinese political system by showing everyone else that bad conduct works. The cycle is well-known in Beijing: China engages in belligerent conduct and America then tries to placate the hostile regime. Desperate attempts to talk make America look like a supplicant. Austin, unfortunately, reinforced that image after the shoot-down. As James Fanell of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy told Gatestone, if Secretary Austin was going to call anyone in Beijing, it shouldnt have been after the balloon shoot-down, thereby making it look like America was trying to justify its action. Austin, if he were to call, shouldve done so as the craft approached U.S. airspace in late January. Americans are focused on making sure that everyone understands each other. I think its important that we try to avoid a miscalculation, Panetta told Mitchell. Its important that the United States and China at least develop a process to try to work together on these kinds of issues to avoid what could be an instance that could have us in a war. A process? Americans already have many consultative processes with the Chinese military, such as those established in a 2008 agreement on a military-to-military hotline and the September 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on the same topic. The Peoples Liberation Army has continued to ignore communication mechanisms. The Peoples Republic of China cannot be trusted to comply with any agreement they sign, noted Fanell, also a retired U.S. Navy captain who served as director of Intelligence and Information Operations of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Chinese leaders dont want to have communications with foreigners until they settle on their positions after internal bargaining and deliberations. They are, in the words of the Associated Press, suspicious of Americans talking their way out of repercussions for a U.S. provocation. No agreement can get Chinese officials to engage in dialogue when they consider dialogue to not be in their interests. In short, China will talk only when it wants to. What should Washington do now? America should reverse the dynamic and break off communication with China. Severing dialogue could intimidate Chinese leaders and officials. What will Beijing think when normally eager-to-talk Americans dont call and even refuse to answer their phones? Moreover, the United States can up the pressure by ordering Beijing to close its remaining four consulates and to strip down its overly large embassy to just the ambassador. Ordering the closures and expulsions now will, among other things, emphasize that America is no longer willing to tolerate dangerous behavior. If these steps dont work, Washington can end other tiestrade, investment, technical cooperationthat China needs for its struggling economy, something the United States should do anyway. Are these steps risky? Yes, but after decades of misguided policy, every option is risky, and the riskiest policy of all is to continue with an approach that created this perilous situation in the first place. Chinas officials say that America no longer deters them. Americans need to take them at their word and try something different to reestablish deterrence. The brazen balloon intrusion shows the utter disrespect of the United States by Chinas regime. We dont know why the Chinese thought they could get away with such an act, but attempts at dialogue cant solve the problem. In any event, Americans may wonder what is the point of talking with a Chinese regime that isnt prepared to deal with their country in good faith. The Chinese are masters in the art of getting what they want by not talking. Americans need to learn this skill as well. Originally published by Gatestone Institute. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Worlds First Unvaccinated Dating Service Launches in Hawaii In a climate of hostility and medical censorship, founders see a growing need for matching like-minded people Online dating often reinforces the quest to seek the perfect mate rather than focus on self-improvement. (Rendy Novantino/Unsplash) Nowadays, online dating seems less a game of hit or miss than medical truth or dare, given the deal-breaker question, Are you vaccinated? Businesswomen Shelby Thomson and Heather Pyle of Maui, Hawaii, found the online dating game a frustrating experience for the un-jabbed at the height of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in 2021. Faced with discrimination and censorship, many unvaccinated people lost jobs and relationships because they chose to remain unvaccinated. The un-jabbed didnt have the option to say they were unvaccinated to potential online dating partners, Thomson said. A health worker draws out Moderna vaccine during a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont., on Jan. 2, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg) They were only allowed to be vaccinated. And you had to have this badge in your [online] profile. Too often, the unvaccinated would hear on dating sites, Swipe leftmove on. In May 2021, the two business partners, moms, and best friends launched Unjected, a dating app for the unvaccinated, on the Google and Apple stores. We started seeing people wanting to find partners, Thomson said of their unvaccinated friends. However, soon after the apps launch, Thomson and Pyle started receiving hate emails, then negative publicity in the media. Apple decided to remove Unjected from the app store, claiming it provided medical disinformation. We tailored everything and played this chess game until it [met] Apple standards, Thomson recalled. But it still wasnt enough. It took us until July 31 to get banned. When Google threatened to follow suit, Thomson and Pyle pulled the plug on both media giants, and Unjected.com went live using the web domain host GoDaddy in August 2021. We decidedOKthe big-tech world is not our friend. They dont want us to exist in this realm. Theyll always go out of their way to ensure were censored or taken down. Thomson said Unjected is more than a dating service for the unvaccinated. Its also a blood bank database and a fertility bank for the unvaccinated. The dating service alone boasts 110,000 subscriptions in 85 countries and 3,000 to 5,000 new clientele every month, Thomson said. Pandemic of Censorship Unjected was founded to help us easier connect in a world of medical discrimination and censorship, according to Unjecteds online introduction. We all have a lot in common when it comes to being conscious about our choices, and we think that there are great connections to be made when like-minded people gather in the same social space. Thomson said 2021 was the fastest-growing year for the new dating site because so many unvaccinated people had lost their jobs in the pandemic. The [vaccine] mandates were heavily enforced. Now, were seeing the trend differently. People are starting to realize things they didnt before, Thomson said. Life for mothers changes through different stages of childhood, but the key is to be crystal clear on your priorities and remind yourself that youre doing your very best. (juanma hache/Getty Images) Its been interesting to see how many people still find their way in every group. Its not limited to any age group. Thomson described the unvaccinated population as a health-conscious group concerned about their childrens futureliving and unborn. We used to get almost 1,000 emails a day before the app launched from people wanting to join. Occasionally, theres the keyboard warriors who chime in. Youre killing people. The vaccines are safe.' As the worlds first unvaccinated dating platform, Thomson said Unjected is part of an unvaccinated blood matching coalition that includes the Pureblood Registry, Blessed by His Blood, and Safeblood, founded by Swiss naturopathic physician George Della Pietra. Thomson refers to the coalition as the Blood Superteam. We have a dating service, but we also have profile opportunities for friendships and a community, Thomson told The Epoch Times. Non-Partisan Appeal We also had an entire section for business listings as well. It was very multi-faceted. It wasnt just people looking [for a date], Thomson said. We want the most dedicated people. Its time to begin funding ourselves within our community. The support has been incredible. Thomson said, as Unjected co-founder, she has learned to deal with online detractors and threats of censorship. As a professional photographer, she even had clients cancel on her because of her position against the mRNA vaccines. It even reverberated in my personal life, said Thomson, whose had her personal and commercial photography pages deleted on Instagram. One person asked, Are you that anti-vax person I see all over Google? Is this the same person? Because I dont want you taking my pictures, Thomson said. Ive always been on the unvaxxed team, Thomson said. A new study suggests that Latin dance classes may help your brain, and learning the intricate steps of salsa, samba, and merengue can improve memory. (Supavadee butradee/Shutterstock) I do believe a vaccinated child is a patient for life. I was getting kicked out of the doctors office long before 2020. Ironically, Unjected clients include conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats, and many others concerned about the safety of mRNA vaccines. Its such a melting potalso politically speaking, its authentic people coming together, Thomson said. We have 70-year-old grandmas looking for friends. Many members said they used to be die-hard liberals. Like everything else, Thomson said its about making choices free of coercion. I see the need for dating and companionship [among the unvaccinated.] That will always be a kind of uphill growth because people want to find love and families, Thomson said. That release could not be found. The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to remarks made by one Baale of Igbara community, Jakande, in Eti-Osa LGA of Lagos State to the effect that only residents who have their Permanent Voter Cards, PVC and are ready to vote for the All Peoples Congress (APC) would be allowed to do business with them in the community He made the remarks while addressing his cabinet on Monday, January 30, 2023. The traditional ruler added: We are ready to fight; yes, I am not hiding it; I have narrated everything to you. In Nigeria, there is Lagos; in Lagos, there is Eti-Osa; within Eti-Osa, we have Igbara community and by the grace of God in Igbara today, we can take our decision. The Baale went on to say: You want to vote for PDP or Labour Party? Not here...among others. In April 2015, the Oba of Lagos, His Majesty Rilwan Akiolu was quoted to have threatened the Igbo living in Lagos that anyone that fails to vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would perish in the lagoon. Although His Majesty was able to restore the Igbo confidence in him when the late Ambassador George Obiozor, the former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led an Igbo delegation to pay him a visit with respect to one spurious and frivolous allegation against the Igbo in Lagos State, yet the remark by His Majesty is to say the least, most unwarranted. Although the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin is quoted to have stated that the traditional ruler will be invited for questioning. And that everyone should feel free to vote for the candidate of his or her choice. Ohanaeze calls on the Presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, security agencies and indeed the lovers of democracy in Nigeria, to caution the Baale for such unreflective, provocative, incendiary and inflammatory remarks by a Baale in Lagos State. The Baale should be made to understand that Nigeria has gone beyond such careless and inciting rhetoric as: We are ready to fight; yes, I am not hiding it And that the Baale and his cohorts may know why the fight will begin but will surely not know how, where, when and in whose favour the fight will end. In other decent climes, the said Baale should be arrested and detained until the election is over. This will serve as a deterrent to some other ethnic chauvinists, crises entrepreneurs, hoodlums and low opportunists. A few days ago, hoodlums in Lagos State attacked supporters of the Labour part y said to be on their way to Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) the venue of the partys presidential campaign rally. The hoodlums were said to have targeted the supporters to prevent them from attending the Labour Party rally. Some of the supporters had their clothing torn to shreds, while others sustained various degrees of injury during the incident. The report further indicates that lives were lost. This is one of the outcome of the Baale incantations. Most recently, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Mr. Segun Agbaje stated that the reason the Igbo in Lagos cannot have their PVC is that they are from the South East part of the country, inferring that they are immigrants; in what Dr. Bolaji O Akinyemi criticized as a Conspiracy against Democracy: INEC REC; Segun Agbajes Outburst, Other Matters Arising and thus accused the INEC REC of being complicit in a plan to disenfranchise the Igbo in Lagos. The erudite Akinyemi asked: How can the head of the umpire be the echo of the unreasonable voice of street touts against the Igbo. In Segun Agbaje's mindset the Igbo aren't citizens of Nigeria in Lagos, but immigrants who must be denied access to rights of citizens in Lagos. Segun has joined force with market touts and Area boys demanding that Alaba traders should return to Onitsha. The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR expresses disappointment that some people would descend so low at this level of our national development. One would expect that soliciting votes in a democracy requires the greatest public relations skill such as persuasion, entreaties, lobbying and the likes. Nigerians are informed that there is this spirit that emboldens and stirs the passion, soul, and tigritude of the average Igbo, which once it is sufficiently provoked, becomes irrepressible. For instance, the first major freedom march in America's history was by the Igbo. Known as the Igbo Landing, the Igbo slaves in 1803 chose to die than live a life of misery and slavery. They took control of the ship conveying them from a Spanish captain, Joseph Cinque and drowned everybody including the captain at Dunbar Creek on St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia, USA. In other words, self-esteem, achievement motivation, resourcefulness, hard work, forthrightness, tenacity, friendliness and cosmopolitanism are the hallmarks of the Igbo persona, but to threaten the Igbo is to embolden them to the contrary. Intimidation is not only antithetical to democratic norms but a source of allergy to the natural Igbo reflexes. In spite of all the orchestrated conspiracy, machinations and deprivations against the Igbo, and now the Labour Party and Mr Peter Obi, the initiated will easily realize that there is a mystic wind blowing across the land; a wind that does not recognize the rigid human barriers of ethnicity, religion, gender, class or creed; a wind of redemption from poverty, corruption, inequity and other pathologies that have held Nigeria down for several decades; a cosmic wind that attracts the virtuous as it overwhelms the vicious. In the words of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the blessed memory, only the deep can call to the deep. Ohanaeze Ndigbo therefore urges the Igbo in Lagos and indeed everywhere to ignore all forms of retrogressive subversive shenanigans and stand up for your rights. Signed: Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, (National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide) Missing fishing boat found PHUKET: The Phuket fishing boat Sor Sakulphet, measuring three metres wide and 10m long, has been found after more than three weeks at sea without contact. marineSafety By The Phuket News Monday 13 February 2023, 05:04PM The boat was reported some 40 nautical miles west of Phuket. The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command dispatched a search plane, which confirmed the boat had been found, officials reported this afternoon (Feb 13). A helicopter has since been dispatched to render assistance, officials confirmed. The Sor Sakulphet departed Phuket Fishing Pier on Jan 19. The boat with its Thai captain, Rung Khamluewong, 44, and his crew of one Thai national and three Myanmar nationals were reported to be heading out to fish some 120 nautical miles southwest of Phuket. However, the boat had been out of contact since it left port. Rear Admiral Arpakorn Yukongkaew, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command 3, on Feb 5 defended the Navys efforts to find the boat after harsh criticism of the search efforts so far. Success came today, following officials from the Phuket Fisheries Office, Phuket Social Development and Human Security Office and the local Labor Protection and Welfare office visiting the families of those on board, urging the families to not give up hope. Authorities are investigating the tragic death of an 8-year-old boy who was killed while on holiday at a luxury resort in Fiji. The holiday horror unfolded last week on Denarau Island, a popular travel destination for Australians that is sprinkled with high-end resorts. According to TripAdvisor, the island "offers luxury tourism at its finest". The young boy, who lives in Sydney, was reportedly on holiday with his family when he was found motionless near a garden bed at Club Wyndham Resort in Fiji on Thursday. An elderly guest is understood to have found the boy on their way back from the pool, Nine News reported. He was rushed to Nadi Hospital but was pronounced dead by nursing staff. Authorities believe the boy was electrocuted at the luxury resort. Source: clubwyndhamsp.com Police reveal grim theory over boy's death Police believe the boy was electrocuted, with a Fiji police spokesperson telling media that a post-mortem examination would soon confirm the cause of death. The hotel has expressed deep sympathy for the family in the wake of the tragedy. "We have expressed our heartfelt condolences to the family and our thoughts remain with them at this time," a Wyndham spokesperson said in a statement shared with media. "Our management team is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and co-operating with the police and authorities." While the boy lived in Australia, it's been confirmed he was a New Zealand citizen. A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson confirmed that officials were supporting the boy's family, the ABC reported. "We are aware of the death of a child in Denarau and are providing assistance to the family," they said. For privacy reasons, no further details have been released. 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. Patong Police accused of ignoring attack on Canadian tourist PHUKET: A Patong police patrol officer has been accused of ignoring a plea for help from a Canadian tourist after he was violently mugged. patongviolencecrimetourismpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Monday 13 February 2023, 11:01AM The Police Box at the beach end of Bangla Rd, Patong. Photo: The Phuket News / file The incident was brought to light through a post on a popular Phuket social media forum yesterday (Feb 12), with Thais asking officials to help the Canadian man. Later yesterday, officers from the Phuket Tourist Police, led by Pol Lt Col Ekachai Siri, were instructed to investigate the assault and robbery. According to the report, the Tourist Police met the Canadian tourist, William Lamarach, 27, at Bangkok Hospital Siriroj, where the explained that he was attacked and robbed opposite the Patong Condotel building near the Patong beachfront at about 2am on Feb 11. Five men attacked him and stole his Rolex watch and about B50,000 in cash, he said. Mr Lamarach then made his way back along the Patong beach road, where he saw a police officer on patrol. He informed the officer of the attack, to which the officer allegedly refused to help. Mr Lamarach went to a nearby clinic for treatment for his injuries, but was told that he needed to see a specialist for his broken nose. He returned to his accommodation. in the Kata area, and went to see a doctor at Bangkok Hospital Siriroj the next day. At the hospital he was told that the specialist was unavailable, so he made an appointment to see a different doctor on Feb 12, Tourist Police reported. The incident has now been reported to the Patong Police Chief in order for the attack to be investigated, Tourist Police reported. Police urge against Valentines Day sex tapes BANGKOK: The Technology Crime Suppression Division has warned lovers not to video-record their sex on Valentines Day to avoid being blackmailed after the relationship ends. sexpolice By Bangkok Post Monday 13 February 2023, 08:30AM Artificial roses and dolls are available at Sampeng market in Bangkok ahead of Valentines Day. Police have warned lovers not to video-record their sex during the festival of love. Photo: Apichart Jinakul Pol Col Siriwat Deepor, deputy commander of the division, said yesterday (Feb 12) that lovers often express their passion for one another on Valentines Day, but they should take precautions - by not recording it on video, reports the Bangkok Post. Lovers may voluntarily record their sexual intercourse. [But] if they break up in the future, men may release the clips online and damage women, he said. Such cases fall into the category of sextortion by those who have pornographic material of others in their possession. Such wrongdoers could be people with close relationships, or strangers who managed to convince others to share their private pictures online, Pol Col Siriwat said. Such private images could be abused for blackmail to demand money or sex as offenders could threaten to post the pictures or videos in public, the deputy commander said. Sextortion is only one of several categories of crimes linked to love, although it causes the greatest financial and reputational damage, he said. Another is romance scams, where scammers use profiles of handsome foreigners to develop relationships and finally trick their victims into transferring money to them, he said. A third kind is a hybrid scams that involve criminals luring women into falling in love with them and then convincing their victims into investing their money before they were realised they were being conned, Pol Col Siriwat said. Pol Lt Col Nopawan Panya, deputy spokeswoman of the Royal Thai Police Office, said that last month alone 168 romance scams and 235 hybrid scams had been reported. Total damage in the cases was estimated at about B190 million. On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO The Royal Navy used a Wildcat helicopter to stop a smugglers boat in The Gulf (PA Media) A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter forced Iranian weapons smugglers to abandon controls of their speed boat by swooping so low as it raced across The Gulf of Oman, The Standard understands. As the three men were forced onto the floor of the skiff by the aircrafts powerful downwash, a Royal Marine boarding party was able to seize control of it in the dead of night. The smugglers were caught making two crossings, with missile components and crucially a quadcopter drone. The internal drive of the drones controllers was found to still have a record of 22 test flights carried out at a known headquarters of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The evidence is believed to have blown apart efforts by the Iranian regime to conceal the origins of weapons being shipped to Houthi rebels fighting a civil war in Yemen. Iranian military engineers went to great lengths to hide any sign that weapons being sent across the Gulf had been made in their country. They even included trying to replicate a circuit boards serial plate. But crucially, they made a tiny slip when using a lower case l or number 1 instead of an i. Britain is now presenting the findings to a United Nations Panel of Experts to prove that Iran is in breach of sanctions over Yemen and on the proliferation of advanced weapons. The interdictions of the smugglers crossings were carried out by HMS Montrose in January and February in the early hours of the morning as their boat, travelling at up to 40 knots, was speeding across The Gulf. The Ministry of Defence has spent months analysing the seized weapons, which were wrapped in plastic and included full components of a surface to air missile, an engine for a land attack cruise missile, and the quadcopter. By decrypting the internal memory of its controllers, the MoD discovered the records of 22 test flights conducted at the IRGC Aerospace Force Headquarters and test facility in western Tehran. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: The UK is committed to upholding international law and will continue to counter Iranian activity that contravenes United Nation Security Council Resolutions and threatens peace across the world. Story continues That is why we have a permanent Royal Navy deployment in the Gulf region, conducting vital maritime security operations and working in support of an enduring peace in Yemen. The missiles are suspected of being the type used by the Houthis to attack Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Iran has also supplied hundreds of Shahed kamikaze drones to Russia, which have been used in attacks in Ukraine, including on civilians and key infrastructure sites such as power plants. Becca Rausch was one of only three state senators to vote against dropping term limits for the Senate presidency. We congratulate her. 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 A man driving a U-Haul truck swerved onto sidewalks and plowed into scooter riders in New York City on Monday, injuring at least eight people before police were able to pin the careening vehicle against a building following a mileslong pursuit. At least eight people were hurt, including two people who were in critical condition, authorities said. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell described the drivers actions as a violent rampage through Brooklyn but said there was no evidence of terrorism involvement. The truck sped through the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn before police stopped it more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) away near the entrance to a tunnel leading from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The driver was arrested. Police didnt immediately identify him, but his son identified him as Weng Sor, and told The Associated Press he had a history of mental illness. [/video Very frequently hell choose to skip out on his medications and do something like this. This isnt the first time hes been arrested. Its not the first time hes gone to jail, said Stephen Sor, 30, in an interview outside his Brooklyn home. He said he recognized his father from photos of his arrest, posted on social media. The first report of a truck crashing into pedestrians and cyclists came in at 10:30 a.m., police said, and other reports followed as the vehicle moved through a busy section of Brooklyn. Katherine Aronova said she saw the U-Haul run a red light, hit a delivery worker on an e-bike in the middle of the road and drag him a short distance. His head was covered with blood, Aronova said. He was unconscious, and his shoes were scattered on the sidewalk. The electric bicycle was destroyed completely. [video width="480" height="640" mp4="https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/13115700/mAz0vm8REyI2UAdN.mp4"]https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/13123823/WhatsApp-Video-2023-02-13-at-12.36.53-PM-1.mp4 A security camera video showed the truck clip a scooter, then swerve onto a sidewalk and nearly plow into a pedestrian, who dived to safety just in time. A police patrol car then followed the truck down the sidewalk at high speed. I was in shock and didnt know what was happening until I saw the police patrol was chasing it, a witness, Andrea Vasquez, said in Spanish. Thank God that man saved himself, she added of the person who narrowly escaped. Aerial video from news helicopters showed the truck on a sidewalk after the chase ended, its path blocked by a police cruiser. Authorities examined the vehicle to make sure it didnt contain explosives. The drivers son said his father had been living in Las Vegas for the past few years. He said he didnt speak to his father often, and was completely caught off guard when he showed up in Brooklyn in the middle of the night about a week ago. He described his relationship with his father as rocky, and said his father had a history of mental illness, as well as not taking medications and acting out. I try to just distance, as long as he leaves us alone, Sor said. (AP / YWN World Headquarters NYC) Israeli security officials are worried about a new trend, made evident by the terror attack in Ramot on Friday and the shooting attacks in Neve Yaakov and Ir Dovid two weeks ago, Kikar HShabbat reported on Sunday. Young Israeli-Arabs with no organizational affiliation with terrorist organizations and no prior security background carry out self-sacrifice attacks [as they are termed in the security system] and succeed in carrying out serious attacks. The Shin Bet began to notice the trend in recent months. Tragically, the theory was strengthened by the Neve Yaakov terror attack, which was carried out by a resident of East Jerusalem without any security history or affiliation with terror groups. The 13-year-old terrorist who carried out the Ir Dovid attack also had no security background or organizational affiliation. The Ramot terrorist, as a resident of the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya without any organizational affiliation or security background, also fits the profile. The fear of security officials and Shin Bet operatives is that the attacks will motivate more young Arabs from East Jerusalem to carry out similar attacks, chalilah. In such cases, involving young Arabs with no organizational affiliation or security past, preemptive deterrence via intelligence is almost impossible. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) As media outlets across the world play the both sides game over the horrific murder of a newly married avreich and two brothers, ages 6 and 8, in Yerushalayim on Friday, Palestinian terror supporters arent hiding their glee over the cold-blooded massacre of innocent civilians and children. A sickening cartoon making the rounds on social media portrays Palestinians gathered around a table and partaking in a meal made out of the head of one of Fridays terror victims. The stomach-turning cartoons caption reads: The best Friday and the best upside-down (Mansaf). Mansaf is a popular Arab dish that actually has an antisemitic legend connected to it, in which the ancient king of Moav told his people to cook meat with milk as an insult to Jews, who cannot eat it. An Al Jazeera article about the dish stated that the dish continues to be served and that its cookers use it as a way of declaring their enmity towards the Jews until the Day of Judgement. A commenter wrote, If this is true, then eating mansaf is a sort of jihad against the Jews. These are the people nay, the animals that the world at large insists Israel must make peace with. Animals who not only delight in the murder of innocent Jews including one children but hand out sweets, dance in the streets, and create vile cartoons about, all in the name of stomping out Jews. Theres no both sides argument to make. One side despises death, the other revels in it. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Donald Trump is reportedly floating several new nicknames for Florida Ron DeSantis as he gears up for a bitter primary battle against the popular Florida governor. Trump rolled out Ron Desanctimonious as his preferred nickname for his top 2024 challenger several months ago, but the nickname hasnt quite stuck, considering both that its a mouthful and has far less appeal than other Trump-minted nicknames like Crooked Hillary. Desperate for one that will stick against DeSantis, Trump is reportedly now testing several different nicknames, including Meatball Ron -apparently an attempt to insult his physical appearance and Shutdown Ron, which falsely implies that DeSantis kept Florida in a Covid lockdown longer than was necessary despite Trump urging governors to keep their shutdowns in place well after DeSantis lifted the one in Florida. Since November, despite the criticism he faced at the time, Mr. Trump has periodically hit out at his potential rival, albeit to a relatively small audience, the New York Times reported. He posted his most recent innuendo about the governor on Truth Social, where he has just under five million followers. And he has insulted Mr. DeSantis in casual conversations, describing him as Meatball Ron, an apparent dig at his appearance, or Shutdown Ron, a reference to restrictions the governor put in place at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, DeSantis is preparing for a late May or early June entrance into the 2024 sweepstakes, according to the Times report. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Few have navigated the turbulent politics of the Trump era like Nikki Haley. In early 2016, the then-South Carolina governor said she was embarrassed by candidate Donald Trump and decried his reluctance to condemn white supremacists. Nine months later, she agreed to join his Cabinet, serving as a key validator as Trump sought to win over skeptical world leaders and voters at home. And shortly after Trump left the White House, Haley, whose resume by then included an ambassadorship to the United Nations, vowed not to step in the way if he ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Yet on Wednesday, she is poised to become the first major Republican candidate to enter the race against him. Its going to be quite the high-wire act, said veteran Republican strategist Terry Sullivan. She says shes always been an underdog. She will be again. The 51-year-old Haley may be the first to take on Trump, but a half-dozen or more high-profile Republicans are expected to join the GOPs 2024 presidential nomination contest over the coming months. Some would-be competitors may be more popular than Haley even in South Carolina, where she lives and has established a campaign headquarters. Likely rivals include Sen. Tim Scott, a fellow South Carolinian and perhaps the most celebrated elected official in a state where Trump has already locked up endorsements from the governor and its senior senator, Lindsey Graham. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence could also be formidable foes should they run, as widely expected. Indeed, on the eve of this weeks announcement, there is broad agreement that Haley the only Republican woman of color expected in the 2024 contest, a politician who loves to remind people that she has never lost an election is about to be tested as never before. Trump has stepped up his attacks on Haley in recent weeks. But allies describe the former governor, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, as a savvy executive uniquely positioned to lead a new generation of Republicans. They understand that the fight ahead could get ugly. She took the bull by the horns and said, That doesnt matter to me, Im going to run, said longtime supporter Gavin J. Smith. She did that when she ran for governor, and thats what youre going to see when she runs for president. Perhaps more than anyone this young presidential primary season, Haley personifies the Republican Partys shifting views on Trump. Her reversal on whether to challenge the former president was based less on concerns about his divisive leadership or policy disagreements than the growing belief within the GOP that Trump is losing political strength. Haley, like the vast majority of her party, largely supported Trump even after he inspired a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. It was not until Trump-backed candidates across several key states were defeated in last falls midterm elections that a wave of high-profile Republicans began to openly weigh 2024 bids against him. New York-based Republican donor Eric Levine says hes convinced that another Trump Republican nomination would lead to his partys destruction. Haley, he said, is among the three favorite Trump alternatives. I think as a woman of color and a daughter of legal immigrants from India, shed give the Democratic Party no reason to exist. All their woke crap goes out the window, Levine said. I think shes a spectacular candidate. Haleys announcement will take place Wednesday in Charleston, the historic coastal city where her campaign will be based. Almost immediately, shell travel to meet voters in New Hampshire and Iowa. Shes entrusted her campaign to a collection of senior staff led by longtime aides. Betsey Ankney, who heads up Haleys PAC, will manage the campaign, with the PACs development director, Mary Kate Johnson, as finance director, Haleys team told The Associated Press. Longtime Haley adviser Chaney Denton and Nachama Soloveichik, who was a spokeswoman for recently retired Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, will head up communications. Strategist Jon Lerner will serve as senior adviser, and Barney Keller of Jamestown Associates will be Haleys media consultant. For Haley, this weeks launch marks a significant step on a long road that began in South Carolinas Good Old Boys Club, she wrote in a Friday fundraising appeal. People thought I was too brown too female too young too conservative too principled, she wrote. Born in 1972 in rural South Carolina, Haley has long spoken of a Southern rural childhood in which she felt she didnt fit. She was raised in the Sikh faith with a mother who wore traditional saris, and a father clad in a turban. Nikki has been regularly underestimated, said Catherine Templeton, a Republican who served Haley in two roles, leading South Carolinas labor and public health agencies. But it makes her work harder. In her first campaign in 2004, Haley, formerly an accountant, defeated the longest-serving member of South Carolinas House. After six years in the Legislature, she was considered a longshot when she mounted her 2010 gubernatorial campaign. The GOP field was filled with more experienced politicians, and at times, she faced blatant racism. Then-state Sen. Jake Knotts appeared on a talk show and used a racial slur in reference to Haley. He apologized, saying it was meant as a joke. Still, Haley became the first woman and person of color elected South Carolinas governor and the nations youngest state executive. After winning reelection in 2014, her second term was marred by crisis. She spent weeks attending funerals of Black parishioners gunned down by a self-avowed white supremacist at a Charleston church in 2015. Later that year, she pushed for and signed legislation to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, where it had flown for more than 50 years. Haleys political skills were tested in a different way in 2016, as Trump went from late-night television punchline to serious Republican presidential contender. She endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ahead of South Carolinas high-stakes Republican primary, then backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz once Rubio was knocked out. Then, Haley described Trump as everything a governor doesnt want in a president. She also said she was embarrassed by his attacks against former President George W. Bush and condemned Trumps reluctance to disavow the KKK. But shortly after Trump won the presidency, Haley agreed to serve as the new administrations ambassador to the United Nations, a Cabinet-level position. I proudly serve in this administration, and I enthusiastically support most of its decisions and the direction it is taking the country, Haley said in a 2018 op-ed. Later that year, Haley abruptly announced her departure from the U.N. in the wake of an ethics probe, fueling speculation that she might challenge Trump in 2020 or replace Pence on the ticket. Neither happened. Instead, Haley returned to South Carolina, joined the board of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. and hit the lucrative speaking circuit, reportedly commanding fees as high as $200,000. She also penned two books. Her public support for Trump continued even after the attack on the Capitol. Im really proud of the successes of the Trump administration. Whether it was foreign policy or domestic policy, we should embrace those, she tweeted three weeks after the insurrection. But its unclear whether such platitudes will give Haley much cushion in a party that, for now, remains dominated by Trump and his supporters. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the No. 3 House Republican, has already endorsed Trumps 2024 bid. While she declined to comment directly on Haleys candidacy, she insisted that Trump would defeat any Republican challenger by massive margins. It is time for Republicans to unite around the most popular Republican in America, she said of Trump. (AP) A jury on Monday will begin considering whether an Islamic extremist who killed eight people on a New York City bike path should get a death sentence, an extraordinarily rare penalty in a state that hasnt had an execution in 60 years. Sayfullo Saipov, 35, was convicted last month in the 2017 attack, in which he intentionally drove a truck at high speed down a path along the Hudson River, mowing down bicyclists on a sunny morning hours before the citys Halloween celebrations. The same jury that found Saipov guilty will return to work, hearing from additional witnesses in the trials penalty phase. Anything less than a unanimous vote for death will mean Saipov will spend the rest of his life in prison. Saipovs lawyers hope to convince jurors that a life term is punishment enough for the attack that killed five friends from Argentina, a woman from Belgium and two Americans. New York does not have capital punishment and hasnt executed anyone since 1963, but Saipovs trial is in federal court, where a death sentence is still an option, though one rarely sought with success. The last time a person was executed for a federal crime in New York was in 1954. President Joe Biden put a moratorium on federal executions after taking office and his Justice Department has not, until now, initiated any new death penalty proceedings. Saipovs lawyers have argued it is unconstitutional for prosecutors to seek his execution when the government has stopped seeking death in so many other cases, including some with defendants who killed more people. There is no rhyme, reason, or predictability as to why the government chooses to seek death in some murder cases but not in others, they wrote in one recent court filing. They noted that then-President Donald Trump quickly urged a death sentence, tweeting a day after the attack that Saipov SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY! The lawyers said it was Trumps way of furthering his anti-immigrant agenda. There is a legitimate concern that the death penalty sometimes (and impermissibly) turns on the defendants race, ethnicity, national origin, and religious beliefs, they wrote. Even in deadlier attacks, including the 2019 racist attack at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, that killed 23 people, death was not sought, the lawyers noted. The gunman in the Walmart attack could still receive the death penalty, however, under separate state capital murder charges in Texas. The lawyers said it seemed arbitrary for the U.S. Justice Department to spare some defendants but single out Mr. Saipov, a Muslim immigrant, for the death penalty even though their culpability is arguably greater. Prosecutors are expected to focus on Saipovs victims. In the first phase of his trial, jurors heard from survivors who described the horror and sorrow at losing loved ones and the pain they continue to suffer from injuries. More of that kind of emotional testimony was expected as prosecutors present their case over the next week. Saipov, meanwhile, has been unrepentant since he was shot after emerging from his truck and waving pellet and paintball guns at a police officer. Later, in a hospital bed, the Uzbekistan citizen smiled as he requested that a flag of the Islamic State group that inspired his rampage be put on his rooms wall, prosecutors said. Prosecutors plan to introduce evidence intended to show jurors that, if kept alive, Saipov may still be able to communicate with sympathizers. They noted in one pretrial document that a Federal Bureau of Prisons officer was prepared to testify that Saipov last year asked a guard to give a bag of candy to another inmate who is subject to strict rules to prevent communication with others. The bag, prosecutors said, contained a message for the other inmate saying they soon would be with their fellow religious enthusiasts. Saipovs lawyers said even before trial that he would be willing to plead guilty and consent to life in prison if death was not sought. Any death sentence rendered by the jury would likely by subject to years of appeals. New Yorks last federal death penalty case involved a man who murdered two police officers in 2003. Federal juries in Brooklyn twice imposed a death sentence, first in 2007 and again in 2013, but each time that sentence was ultimately overturned on appeal. (AP) On Monday evening, an Israeli border patrol officer was killed in a stabbing attack at a checkpoint near the entrance of the Shuafat refugee camp in Jerusalem. The officer and a civilian security guard were conducting a routine inspection of passengers entering the city when a 13-year-old Palestinian terrorist pulled out a knife. The terrorist managed to stab the officer and wound him. The civilian security guard then opened fire inside the bus, but accidentally hit the Border Police officer. The officer, in his 20s, was taken to Hadassah Hospital in critical condition. Doctors attempted to resuscitate the officer but were unsuccessful. The officer killed in the attack has been identified as Staff Sgt. Asil Suad, 22, from the northern Bedouin village of Hosniyeh. The attack was the second to occur in Jerusalem within hours. Suad served as a career member of the N.D. company in the Border Police, responsible for protecting Jerusalem. Sgt. Asil enlisted in the Border Police in March of 2019 for his mandatory service and served in the same company. At the end of his mandatory service, he fought to serve permanently at the same company and location. Sgt. Asils friends in the company talk about him as the happiest man, always helping and assisting everyone, always committed to every task and loved serving towards the security of the country. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Britain says it has for the first time presented evidence that Iran is supplying advanced weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, after finding images of tests conducted at the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran on the hard drive of an unmanned aircraft seized by the Royal Navy. Personnel from the British ship HMS Montrose seized the unmanned quadcopter along with a shipment of missiles and missile parts in February last year when they stopped and searched a number of fast-moving skiffs in the Gulf of Oman. The weapons and other evidence were presented to the United Nations as linking Iran to violations of Security Council resolutions barring weapons shipments to the Houthis, Britains Ministry of Defense said Monday in London. This is the first time we have been able to present evidence to the U.N. that indicates a direct link between the Iranian state and the supply of these weapons, a ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with departmental policy. The UN has prohibited weapons transfers to the Houthis since 2014, when the rebels descended from their northern stronghold, toppled the internationally recognized government of Yemen and seized the capital, Sanaa. Iran has long denied arming the rebels. The commercial quadcopter seized by the Royal Navy is designed for reconnaissance flights, the ministry said. Investigators were able to decrypt the data on the aircrafts internal memory, which hadnt been wiped. Thats where they discovered the records of 22 test flights conducted at the Revolutionary Guards aerospace headquarters in western Tehran, the ministry said. The drone was in the same shipment as a number of surface-to-air missiles and components for Iranian Project 351 land attack cruise missiles. The discovery adds to a growing body of evidence of Iranian interference in the conflict in Yemen, which has spawned one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. Western nations, U.N. experts and others have traced Houthi weaponry ranging from night-vision scopes, rifles and missiles back to Tehran. Most recently, French naval forces in the Gulf of Oman in January seized thousands of assault rifles, machine guns and anti-tank missiles coming from Iran and heading to the Houthis. In November, the U.S. Navy announced that it had found 70 tons of a missile fuel component hidden among bags of fertilizer aboard a ship sailing to Yemen from Iran. Once again the Iranian regime has been exposed for its reckless proliferation of weapons and destabilizing activity in the region, said Tariq Ahmad, Britains minister of state for the Middle East. Irans sustained military support to the Houthis and continued violation of the arms embargo has stoked further conflict and undermined U.N.-led peace efforts. (AP) Struggling publisher Bonhill has agreed to sell its UK and Asia divisions to business-to-business media group Mark Allen, in a deal worth 6.5million. The sale will include its custom content creation arm, Bonhill Create, as well as its publications aimed at fund managers, including Portfolio Adviser, Expert Investor, Fund Selector Asia and ESG Clarity. The deal, which now needs to be approved by Bonhill shareholders, follows last week's announcement of a separate 5.4million offer for its American arm, InvestmentNews, from an unnamed buyer. Magazines for fund managers such as Portfolio Adviser and Expert Investor are being sold Mark Allen, founder and executive chairman of his eponymous company, said the deal was 'very significant' for his family-owned group. 'We are inheriting some fantastic brands, which we aim to develop further with the help of an excellent and professional team of around 50 people globally,' he said today. 'Wealth management and financial services is an area of considerable interest and will add to the array of sectors in which we operate. 'The acquisition also gives us a foothold in Singapore and Hong Kong, an area of the world where we have long wanted to have a presence.' Mark Allen Group owns an array of B2B titles in several sectors - from healthcare, education and music to aviation, telecommunications and HR. London-based Bonhill produces magazines and online publications for wealth managers, and organises events for the financial sector. Bonhill assets will be placed in a new company, MA Financial Media, with Bonhill chief executive, Patrick Ponsford, becoming the head of the new company. Ponsford said the deal will help Bonhill rebuild and grow the business after 'a difficult few years', during which Covid hit the company's events division. 'It's a pleasure to be taking our set of market leading brands to be part of a thoroughbred B2B media company that truly understands what we do and how we do it,' Ponsford said. 'Being part of this bigger group with access to new technology and data platforms will help us accelerate our growth plans. 'It's been a difficult few years with Covid impacting our considerable events portfolio and a new home will help us rebuild and grow the business.' Assuming shareholders approve the offer, this will be the fourth deal the Mark Allen Group has clinched this financial year. The first of these was the acquisition of Regen, an exhibition, conference and networking event for the regeneration industry based in Liverpool. This was followed by the acquisition of EMEX, a net zero and energy management expo. In November it bought Sterling Events, another Liverpool-based company, which organises exhibitions for the healthcare sector. Mark Allen's latest audited accounts up to March 2022 show turnover of 60million, an increase of 37 per cent from the year before, and pre-tax profit of 9.3million, up 54 per cent from the previous year. Bonhill announced a strategic review in October after warning it would slump to a loss as clients increasingly cut back on marketing spend. An investment vehicle run by Playtech founder and Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi has tabled a higher bid to fully acquire software provider Kape Technologies. Unikmind is now offering the company's investors a $3.44 (2.85) per share for total control of the business, having had a 265p per share proposal rejected two months ago. The latest offer represents a premium of about 25 per cent on Kape's share price the day before the first takeover approach was made in early December and values the AIM-listed firm at $1.51billion (1.25billion). New Bid: Unikmind is now offering Kape's investors a $3.44 (2.85) per share deal for total control of the business, having had a 265p per share proposal rejected two months ago Based in North London and formerly known as Crossrider, Kape originally began life as an advertising technology startup before shifting its focus to cybersecurity, buying up firms like Cyberghost and ExpressVPN in the process. Sagi's Unikmind, which already owns a 54.8 per cent stake in the group, helped underwrite the equity placing that was used to partly finance the purchase of the latter company, one of seven acquisitions it has made in the past five years. It claimed that taking Kape fully private was the most suitable way forward for the business, given the current economic climate and uncertainties in capital markets. Unikmind added that the deal would help realise the investment needed to further growth and avoid many of the costs associated with being a publicly-traded firm. Sagi stated: 'Having weighed the pros and cons of a public listing under the current macro uncertainties and thin stock market trading as well as new growth avenues, we are firm in our view that Kape's next chapter in its corporate journey should be within the private arena. 'We are committed to Kape's further growth within our group of companies, enabling it to exploit operational synergies and to access capital for its continuous growth, especially as the convergence of technologies is gaining momentum.' Kape Technologies shares climbed by 12 per cent to 291.4p on Monday following the announcement of the offer, making them one of the ten biggest risers on the junior AIM market. In a statement, Kape said it had not yet decided whether to recommend the approach and would inform investors 'in due course.' Should shareholders approve the proposal, it would represent the latest in a long list of British technology giants to be swallowed up by foreign buyers taking advantage of a weaker pound sterling. Just last month, engineering software developer Aveva was bought for 10billion by French conglomerate Schneider Electric, and IT company Micro Focus was snapped up by Ontario-based OpenText. Aveva's takeover was controversial due to Schneider's close links with business and political elites in China, where it has a joint venture with electrical products maker Delixi Electric, and concerns among investors that the offer price was too low. Hunter Boot, which holds two royal warrants, has recruited advisers from AlixPartners to sound out potential acquirers A wellie-maker loved by celebrities such as Kate Moss is looking for a buyer. Hunter Boot, which holds two royal warrants, has recruited advisers from AlixPartners to sound out potential acquirers amid a post-Covid boom. Founded in 1856 as the North British Rubber Company, the heritage footwear brands waterproof boots have been worn by Royals such as the late Princess Diana. The boots which sell for 125 have also been worn by celebrities such as Rita Ora, Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe and Cara Delevingne. Demand for the brands boots have surged due to the return of music festivals this summer after the easing of pandemic restrictions. And the boots have become must-haves for festival goers after supermodel Moss wore them to Glastonbury in 2005. Hunter is also expected to reap the rewards of Covid-19 restrictions in China being scrapped, with demand for high-end apparel from shoppers in this market set to rebound. Sales tanked amid the pandemic when shoppers were home-bound, causing the upmarket retailer to require a 18.5m lifeline from its investors. Since 2020, the business has been controlled by Goldman Sachs-backed investment vehicle Pall Mall Legacy. Edinburgh-based Hunter Boot is also nearing the completion of a 7million cash injection, in addition to separate discussions about an outright sale. Alongside majority shareholder Pall Mall Legacy, other investors include Searchlight Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, and Pentland Group, the owner of sportswear brands like Speedo and Berghaus. As the North British Rubber Company founded in Scotland by Americans Henry Lee Norris and Spencer Thomas Parmelee the company supplied rubber boots to the Army during the First and Second World Wars, after it was the first firm to manufacture the product in the UK. Its most recent set of accounts revealed that the company posted a loss of 5.1million on sales of 108million in the year to January 2022. It has physical stores in Bicester Village in Oxfordshire and Woodbury in New York. The business also opened a store in Londons Regent Street in 2014. Although known for selling its range of Wellington boots, it has more recently launched a wider range of accessories and clothing, such as bags and puffer jackets. Liberty Global took a stake of almost 5pc in Vodafone as it pins its hopes on the share price bounce-back through acquisitions and cost-cutting plans. The US-based telecoms giant said it bought 1.3bn shares, representing a 4.92 per cent stake worth 1.2billion in the company, but confirmed it would not seek a board seat or make an offer for Vodafone. Mike Fries, Liberty chief executive, said: The stocks cheap its an opportunistic and financial investment. Vodafone said it bought 1.3bn shares, representing a 4.92% stake worth 1.2bn in the company, but confirmed it would not seek a board seat or make an offer for Vodafone Fries added that Vodafone had some interesting catalysts for potential value creation, including a proposed merger with rival Three UK owned by CK Hutchison for which talks are continuing. We only have one market with four mobile players everyone else has consolidated to three Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland. The UK is an anomaly, he said. The deal was financed mostly through derivatives, Liberty said, and required 225million in equity funding from the Denver-based group. Vodafone shares jumped 2.1 per cent following the news, countering its steady decline on the FTSE 100. The Berkshire-based firm has lost more than half its value in the past five years as it struggles to perform in its largest markets and continues to fall short against competitors. A number of major telecom players have built up stakes in Vodafone in recent years, including French billionaire Xavier Niel, who bought a 2.5 per cent stake in September, and United Arab Emirates telecommunications giant e&, which has a 13pc stake. Karen Egan, head of mobile at Enders Analysis, said the latest move from Liberty was opportunistic. A 5 per cent stake will give them a voice and Liberty will be keen on deal-making something that Vodafone has been accused of being too reluctant to do. Liberty Global owns Virgin Media O2 in partnership with Spanish giant Telefonica. It has also invested in 75 companies across telecoms, media and infrastructure. Paolo Pescatore, telecoms analyst at analysts PP Foresight, called Liberty boss Fries a shrewd operator who could cash in on the frenzy surrounding Vodafone. Another element at play is the firms ongoing leadership race to replace the ousted Nick Read, who departed the firm in December. Chief financial officer Margherita Della Valle, who stepped up to the top spot on a temporary basis, has refused to rule herself out as a permanent fixture. It is rumoured that former EE chief Olaf Swantee is frontrunner. Vodafone declined to comment on Libertys stake. An art exhibit honoring advocates for justice will be featured at Cayuga Community College in Auburn and Fulton this spring. "Americans Who Tell the Truth," a collection of reproductions of portraits by Robert Shetterly, is on display at the college's Auburn campus through March 9. It will then be on display at the college's Fulton campus from March 13 through March 24. The exhibit is on loan from the Southern Cayuga Anne Frank Tree Project. This stunning exhibit is a collection of portraits of individuals who did their part or are doing their part now for justice and change. Each portrait gives a glimpse into their fearless fight for justice, Cayuga professor Melissa Johnson said in a news release. Johnson coordinated bringing the exhibit to the college with the assistance of Lou Lombardo, Bill Zimpfer and the project. Shetterly's portraits include quotes addressing issues related to justice, equity, diversity and citizenship. He has completed more than 260, and his subjects include Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks and Zora Neale Hurston. Each portrait is meant to capture the likeness, personality and strength of its subject, encouraging viewers to reflect on the struggle for economic, environmental, racial and social justice. Shetterly is the subject of a documentary, "Truth Tellers," that will be screened at noon Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the library of the Auburn campus, 197 Franklin St. Students in the college's studio art and design program will also complete portraits after viewing the exhibit. They will visit Colgate University to see the exhibits "A Wicked Commerce: The U.S. and Atlantic Slave Trade Through the Lens of William Earle Williams" and "Nona Faustine: White Shoes," the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University and the Skanonh Great Law of Peace Center in Liverpool. For more information, visit americanswhotellthetruth.org or sccsannefranktree.org. Southern Cayuga Conversations: Americans who tell the truth Elaine Meyers shares what's new in the Southern Cayuga Central School District: February is Black History Month, and I have three recommendations from Black authors: a memoir, a historical fiction and a powerful novel. Goldie Taylors memoir The Love You Save shares her story growing up in tough east St. Louis in the 1970s. Goldies mom works long hours at her job at a hotel in a white suburb of St. Louis where they live, and Goldie is left on her own frequently. After Goldie is sexually assaulted by a neighbor teen, Goldies mother drops her off at Aunt Gerald and Uncle Ross home back in east St. Louis and doesnt return. Many family members live off and on at Gerald and Ross home, and one had to be quick to get enough to eat before the food was gone. The children had to sleep on living room with just a blanket to cover them. Goldies saving grace was her thirst for knowledge. She taught herself math by reading her older sisters textbooks and hid a set of Jane Austen books in her grandmas closet, along with any library books she could get her hands on. Her school was decrepit, supplies were short and violent fights broke out often. When a middle school teacher saw Goldies talent for speech she encouraged her to join the speech team, and that is where Goldie was able to shine. Taylors vivid description of the people in her life particularly Aunt Gerald and Uncle Ross is so strong, you feel that you know them. She shares empathy for her family members who tried their best in difficult circumstances. You learn a lot about how the city of east St. Louis came to be a mostly Black community, and the struggles it faced with white flight and the scourge of crack cocaine and crime in the 1980s. The Love You Save shows the resiliency of the human spirit, and fans of Educated and The Yellow House will want to read this one as well. Sadeqa Johnsons historical fiction The House of Eve is set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Ruby is a 15 year-old Black teen in Philadelphia who has her heart set on being the first member of her family to go to college. When she falls in love with a Jewish boy whose family owns a local coffee shop, Rubys plans for college become imperiled, and she has to face a difficult decision. Eleanor leaves her small town in Ohio to attend Howard University, where she falls in love with William, a medical school student and scion of a wealthy and powerful family in D.C. They marry and want a baby. After a few miscarriages, Eleanor fears that her dream of motherhood is not meant to be, along with her dream of a career. The author shows us the difficulty of being a woman in the 1950s, how your dreams can be taken away so quickly. I liked how her male characters are kind and caring toward the women in their lives, and the end of the novel is extremely satisfying. Ayobami Adebayos debut novel Stay With Me was one of the most compelling books I read in years, and her second novel, A Spell of Good Things, is just as powerful. Set in Nigeria, we meet two families, one wealthy and one in poverty, whose worlds collide. Eniola is a young teen whose family is plunged into poverty when his father is one of 6,000 teachers who lost their job. His father comes deeply depressed and he, his mother and his sister are forced into begging family and strangers for money for food, rent and school tuition. Wuraola is a doctor from a wealthy family who becomes engaged to a longtime family friend. She begins to question her future when her betrotheds behavior becomes intolerable, knowing that her family will be angry if she calls the wedding off. Eniolas involvement with a local group of young men with ties to a powerful politician at first seems to be the answer to his familys money problems, but it soon turns dangerous. Adebayo brings the reader directly into this Nigerian setting, with the dichotomy of the poverty of Eniola and the wealth of Wurolas circle jumping off the page at you. The customs, the food and the education, political and medical systems provide an eye-opening experience for the reader. Once again, Adebayos story is heartbreaking and you ache for these characters that you will not soon forget. Rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey on Monday and another team was digging a tunnel to reach what was believed to be a trapped grandmother, mother and 30-day-old baby, broadcaster CNN Turk reported. A week after a major earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, the toll of dead rose to nearly 34,000 and looked set to keep increasing as hopes for finding any more survivors faded. But CNN Turk reported that Sibel Kaya, 40, was rescued in southern Gaziantep province, some 170 hours after the first of two major quakes struck the region. Rescue workers in Kahramanmaras had also made contact with three survivors, believed to be a mother, daughter and baby, in the ruins of a building, the broadcaster reported. The toll in both countries rose to nearly 34,000 on Monday. The deadliest quake in Turkey since 1939 has killed 29,605 people there. More than 4,300 people were reported dead and 7,600 injured in northwest Syria as of Sunday, said a U.N. agency. In Kahramamaras, the rescuers hoping to reach the three survivors consisted of a Turkish military team, miners and Spanish firefighters who were first alerted to there being life in the rubble by a search dog, said engineer officer Halil Kaya. A thermal scan signalled that there were people alive, about five metres within the building, and then a muffled sound was detected, Kaya told the broadcaster. The miners have excavated around three metres through a neighbouring building that is still standing, putting up support beams as they go. When we said knock on the wall if you can hear us, we heard faint tapping, he said. Our colleagues are all here working for 24 hours without sleeping We will all be here until we get those people out of there. On Sunday, rescue teams from Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus pulled a man alive from a collapsed building in Turkey, about 160 hours after the quake struck, Russias Ministry of Emergency Situations said. SECURITY WORRIES In a central district of one of the worst hit cities, Antakya in southern Turkey, business owners emptied their shops on Sunday to prevent merchandise from being stolen by looters. Residents and aid workers who came from other cities cited worsening security conditions, with widespread accounts of businesses and collapsed homes being robbed. Amid concerns about hygiene and the spread of infection in the region, Turkeys Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said at the weekend that rabies and tetanus vaccine had been sent to the quake zone and that mobile pharmacies had started to operate there. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the government will deal firmly with looters, as he faces questions over his response to the earthquake ahead of an election scheduled for June that is expected to be the toughest of his two decades in power. The quake is now the sixth most deadly natural disaster this century, behind the 2005 tremor that killed at least 73,000 in Pakistan. A father and daughter, a toddler and a 10-year-old girl were among other survivors pulled from the ruins of collapsed buildings in Turkey on Sunday, but such scenes are becoming rare as the number of dead climbed relentlessly. At a funeral near Reyhanli, veiled women wailed and beat their chests as bodies were unloaded from lorries some in closed wood coffins, others in uncovered coffins, and still others just wrapped in blankets. Some residents sought to retrieve what they could from the destruction. In Elbistan, epicentre of an aftershock almost as powerful as Mondays initial 7.8 magnitude quake, 32-year-old mobile shop owner Mustafa Bahcivan said he had come into town almost daily since then. On Sunday, he sifted through rubble searching for any of his phones that might still be intact and sellable. This used to be one of the busiest streets. Now its completely gone, he said. SYRIA AID COMPLICATED BY YEARS OF WAR In Syria, the disaster hit hardest in the rebel-held northwest, leaving homeless yet again many people who had already been displaced several times by a decade-old civil war. The region has received little aid compared with government-held areas. We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria, United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Twitter from the Turkey-Syria border, where only a single crossing is open for U.N. aid supplies. They rightly feel abandoned, Griffiths said, adding that he was focused on addressing that swiftly. The United States called on the Syrian government and all other parties to immediately grant humanitarian access to all those in need. Earthquake aid from government-held regions into territory controlled by hardline opposition groups has been held up by approval issues with Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which controls much of the region, a U.N. spokesperson said. An HTS source in Idlib told Reuters the group would not allow any shipments from government-held areas and that aid would be coming in from Turkey to the north. The United Nations is hoping to ramp up cross-border operations by opening an additional two border points between Turkey and opposition-held Syria for aid deliveries, spokesperson Jens Laerke said. U.N. Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said in Damascus the United Nations was mobilising funding to support Syria. Were trying to tell everyone: Put politics aside, this is a time to unite behind a common effort to support the Syrian people, he said. Turkey said on Sunday about 80,000 people were in hospital, and more than 1 million in temporary shelters. SOURCE: REUTERS Auburn's mayor and its superintendent of schools will be among the guests on some upcoming public affairs shows this week. On Tuesday, Auburn Mayor Michael D. Quill will be the guest on "Inside Government with Guy Cosentino." He will discuss his decision not to seek a fifth term, the citys new nuisance law and the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The show airs at 7 p.m. on Spectrum 12 on Tuesday and at 8 p.m. Thursday and replays on Spectrum 12 and 98 and Verizon channel 31 on Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. from the Auburn Regional Media Access (ARMA). A second "Inside Government with Guy Cosentino" will follow with Auburn Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Pirozzolo for a district update that includes a discussion of the proposed increase in state aid and the decline in graduation rates. The show airs at 7:30 p.m. on Spectrum 12 on Tuesday and at 8:30 p.m. Thursday and replays on Spectrum 12 and 98 and Verizon 31 on Saturday and Sunday at 5:30 p.m. from ARMA. On Thursday, the guest on "Beyond The Front Page with Guy Cosentino" will feature an update from Nicks Ride on their work and promoting their Winterfest this Saturday. The show airs at 7 p.m. on Spectrum 12 and at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 and will replay on Spectrum 12 and 98 and Verizon 31 on Saturday and Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. from ARMA. A second show on Thursday, the guest on "Beyond The Front Page with Guy Cosentino" will be YMCA Camp Director Melissa Kanga Cartner and Membership and Marketing Director Stephanie Bales to discuss the Y-Camps 100th birthday and their annual meeting celebrating it. The show airs at 7 p.m. on Spectrum 12 on Thursday and at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and replays on Spectrum 12 and 98 and Verizon 31 on Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. from ARMA. The shows are rebroadcast starting at 10 a.m. each Saturday on the CCCs radio station WDWN89.1 FM. In addition, The Citizen posts them to its website, auburnpub.com, for viewing on demand. Future guests this semester include Cayuga County Legislative Chairman David Gould, Dr. Adam Effler of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council, new Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Director Amy Fuller, Michael Miller, the new head of the Cayuga Economic Development Agency, Father Vasile Colopelnic of SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Church and film director Loch Phillips. Viewers who wish to pose questions for any of the shows guests can e-mail cozguytho@aol.com. The shows are taped at the college on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons by the students of Cayuga Community Colleges Telecom/Media Department. [February 13, 2023] United Way of Pennsylvania, PA 211 and LinkLive Team up to Help Vulnerable Populations LinkLive, a leading cloud-based Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) provider, has partnered with United Way of Pennsylvania to deliver a complete, state-of-the-art customer engagement solution to address community needs across the state using the Pennsylvania 211 network (PA 211). The PA 211 network is a free, confidential, 24/7/365 service that connects Pennsylvanians with health and human services and is available by phone, text, live chat or self-service on its public website. "PA 211 is committed to continuing to grow our capacity to help community members in search of support," said Kristen Rotz, President and PA 211 Executive Director at United Way of Pennsylvania. "Our new contact center solution allows our call center agents to quickly and confidently assist residents through any communication channel, in any language. LinkLive will make our agents more efficient and improve the customer experience." The secure, multichannel nature of LinkLive allows PA 211 options to provide support for residents via text, phone and video. This new solution will also allow any resident and agent to connect via live chat with real-time translation - enabling the customer and agent to converse in their native languages. "We are really excited about our partnership with PA 211. Beyond the translation feature, we are exploring ways to help PA 211 manage its valuable customer service teams with solutions like our AI-enabled Workforce Management (WFM) solution," said Patrick Reetz, LinkLive Chief Product Officer. "The LinkLive WFM solution is powered by advanced AI, which allows administrators to easily and seamlessly manage schedules, reporting and adherence, and aligns well with the priorities for PA 211." Future enhancements for PA 211 will include LinkLive AI, which recognizes keywords and guides an agent to minimize the time spent reviewing the eligibility of programs for residents. LinkLive also taps second-party data regarding location, need and eligibility to expedite referrals for community resources. This will reduce Agent handle time and allow for a best-in-class customer experence. "Data tells us that the BIPOC community, immigrants and refugees are among those more likely to face economic hardship in our state," said Rotz. "The complete engagement platform, developed by our partner LinkLive, is crucial to enabling better equity and accessibility of PA 211 services. LinkLive has helped us deliver on our promise to citizens of Pennsylvania by allowing us to connect through any channel and deliver with the human touch." About LinkLive Systems | https://linklive.ai/ LinkLive, founded in 2003, makes and secures intelligent customer connections to help people live healthier lives. The company develops electronic messaging application services, using its unique SAFEc architecture to create the first all-in-one cloud-based engagement platform that provides secure, encrypted communications for all mediums: voice, messaging, video conferencing, fast mail, file share, appointment scheduling, and a digital office in one pane of glass. Additionally, the company is the first to offer 'presence' capabilities, which alert customers in real-time to service personnel's availability. This is important to contact centers' marketing, sales, and support center functions. LinkLive products are compliant with GLBA, SEC, SOC2, HITRUST, Sarbanes-Oxley, and HIPAA requirements for logging, privacy, and security. About United Way of Pennsylvania and PA 211 | https://www.PA 211.org/ United Way of Pennsylvania is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to champion United Way as a leader and partner in building more financially resilient families and thriving communities throughout Pennsylvania. United Way of Pennsylvania envisions an inclusive, impactful and collaborative network of United Ways working with business, community, faith and government leaders to advance equitable access to health, education and financial stability for all Pennsylvanians. PA 211 is a subsidiary of United Way of Pennsylvania, and is a nonprofit organization responsible for assuring that all Pennsylvanians can access help through 211, a vital service leveraged by millions of people across North America. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services and childcare and family services. To reach PA 211, dial 211 from your phone or text your zip code to 898-211. A guided search for community resources, and web chat, including the chat translation tool, is also available at www.pa211.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005062/en/ [ Back To Call Center Management Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] ILUS Confirms the Incorporation of Its Defense Subsidiary, Hyperion Defense Solutions NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire - ILUS International Inc. (OTC: ILUS) is a Mergers and Acquisitions company focused on acquiring and growing companies in the public safety, industrial, defense and renewable sectors. The company has incorporated Hyperion Defense Solutions to roll out its defense sector growth through several acquisitions and partnerships which are currently in progress. ILUS co-founded Hyperion Defense Solutions (Hyperion) alongside two experienced and esteemed British military veterans, Chris Derbyshire, and Tim Grey. Through their combined 34 years of military service and 22 years holding senior roles in the defense sector, they have amassed a wealth of technical expertise and senior level contacts as well as an acute understanding of defense customer requirements and military procurement processes. Building on this foundation, Hyperion is now rolling out its aggressive triple pronged growth strategy, which includes the following: 1. Acquisition of defense companies with advanced technology that is critical to protecting warfighters and the communities they serve. 2. Acquisition of the intellectual property rights to groundbreaking defense technology. 3. Strategic partnerships which leverage senior relationships at both government and international organization level for participation in several large projects. The Global Defense market has been estimated to reach $718 billion in 2027, although newer data is expected to reflect higher projected growth due to the continued war in Ukraine, increased geo-political tensions in many regions globally, and an increase in cyber-terrorism threats. This and several additional factors have led to increased instability, placing heightened demand on the defense sector leading to increased growth. Hyperion aims to provide effective defense capability through advanced technology in the following key areas: Joint Close Air Support (JCAS) Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (CIED) Security Risk Management Simulation Technology and Services Hyperion offers agnostic turnkey solutions that provide improved capability directly to the warfighter. Through strategically aligned and profitable acquisitions, strong partnerships, and a network of trusted military veterans from both regular and Special Operations Forces (SOF), Hyperion aims to provide its customers with the technological capability, solutions and services that will protect their warfighters and provide them with a technological advantage. Currently, Hyperion is negotiating a large JCAS acquisition and is also in talks to acquire the Intellectual Property Rights of revolutionary Counter IED technology. The company has already leveraged and continues to leverage its industry experience to develop a network of mutually beneficial partnerships that will complement these and future acquisitions. Hyperion Defense Solutions has riginally been incorporated by ILUS in the United Kingdom. A link to the Hyperion Defense Solutions website can be found here: https://hyperion-defence.com The formation of Hyperion is integral to the successful roll out and scale up of our defense subsidiary. We expect this division to deliver upwards of $15 million in profitable revenue this year before it ramps up exponentially in 2024. More importantly though, we believe Hyperions technology could save thousands of lives every year and prevent tens of thousands of critical injuries. Using just one example, IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) have been responsible for the majority of civilian and military deaths in war zones and account for nearly half of the US troop deaths in war zones between 2011 and 2020. We aim to globally launch and commercialize the groundbreaking technology which more efficiently detects the explosive devices that are responsible for causing such widespread and catastrophic loss of life. This is one of several key areas where we believe Hyperion will play a valuable role in delivering our overall ILUS vision, said ILUS Managing Director John-Paul Backwell. For further information on the companies, please see their communication channels: Website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: @ILUS_INTL Contact: Email: [email protected] Source: ILUS Related Links https://ilus-group.com Forward-Looking Statement Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has provided guidance to issuers regarding the use of social media to disclose material non-public information. In this regard, investors and others should note that we announce material financial information via official Press Releases, in addition to SEC filings, press releases, Questions & Answers sessions, public conference calls and webcasts also may take time from time to time. We use these channels as well as social media to communicate with the public about our company, our services, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, considering the SEC's guidance, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the following social & media channels: website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: OTC_ILUS Note: ILUS Coin does not sit within ILUS International Inc (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc), so the public are recommended to follow the correct Media Channels relating to the public company OTC: ILUS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 12, 2023] Huawei and partners win World AI Cannes Festival Special Prize for protecting Norway's endangered wild Atlantic salmon CANNES, France, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei and its partners were awarded the Neurons Awards Special Jury Prize yesterday at World AI Cannes Festival 2023 for an AI-based solution to protect endangered wild Atlantic salmon native to Norway. Wild Atlantic salmon are an integral part of Norway's identity, culture, and economy. However, its numbers have halved since the 1980s due to the proliferation of Pacific salmon (also known as pink or humpback salmon), an invasive species that out-competes its Atlantic cousin for resources and spawns in great numbers. In 2021 under Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative, Huawei partnered with Berlevag Jeger-og Fiskerforening (BJFF), a local association of hunters and anglers, to design and deploy an AI-based filtering system to prevent the spread of Pacific salmon in Norway's rivers, with the pilot project taking place in Storelva River in Berlevag. The solution uses underwater video technology and AI to identify Pacific salmon, with an automated gate system filtering the invasive species into a holding tank and preventing them from swimming upstream to breed. The system lets wild Atlantic salmon and Arctic red-spotted salmon pass through to complete their breeding cycles. As well as preserving local biodiversity, the survival of wild Atlantic salmon is crucial to Norway's fishery industry as the genes for farmed salmon are pulled from wild salmon. "Norway's wild salmon are threatened by other species, including humpback salmon and escaped farmed salmon. The monitoring system using AI is helping to stop his and enable future-proof river management," said Tor Schulstad, Administrator for BJFF. With Huawei's Ascend platform providing the solution's computing infrastructure, local partners Simula Consulting and Troll Systems developed the recognition algorithm and automated sorting mechanism, respectively. "It has been a very exciting and motivating project to be a part of. At Simula Consulting we strive to make deep tech available to everyone, and it's heartening to see that that can include wildlife," said Dr. Omar Richardson, Acting Chief Technology Officer for Simula Consulting. Introduced this year at World AI Cannes Festival, the Neurons Awards Special Jury Prize recognizes projects that use AI for the common good and the creation of a better future. The winner is selected by a jury consisting of 12 representatives from the business world, academia, and the political community. "We are honored to have won the first Neurons Awards Special Prize at WAICF. Huawei strongly believes in the power of digital technologies to build a more inclusive and sustainable society," said Zhang Minggang, Deputy Managing Director of Huawei France. "This project is proof that AI is making a difference in protecting the planet and we will continue working with our partners to deliver change through innovation. It was with this conviction that we launched our TECH4ALL initiative, through which Huawei has already been involved in dozens of projects that have a positive impact on communities, people, and the environment across the globe." Following the successful pilot in Berlevag, the scalable solution can potentially be expanded to Norway's system of 500 rivers, which also face the same problem with invasive Pacific salmon. About Huawei TECH4ALL TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term digital inclusion initiative that aims to leave no one behind in the digital world. It focuses on four domains: enabling education equity and quality, conserving nature with technology, enabling inclusive healthcare, and development. For more information, please visit Huawei TECH4ALL website at https://www.huawei.com/en/tech4all Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HUAWEI_TECH4ALL SOURCE Huawei [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 12, 2023] TUV Rheinland qualifies for audits under the ICTI Ethical Toy Program Audits in the supply chain of the toy industry / TUV Rheinland successfully goes through qualification process of the ICTI Ethical Toy Program (IETP). BANGKOK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TUV Rheinland can start offering audits as part of the ICTI Ethical Toy Program (IETP) with immediate effect. The globally active testing service provider has now qualified to neutrally and independently audit companies' compliance with the standards defined by the IETP. To become part of the program, TUV Rheinland successfully went through a qualification process that included scrutinizing the quality of TUV Rheinland's audits and the company's own compliance systems. In the future, TUV Rheinland auditors will audit supplier companies in the toy industry, primarily in China and Southeast Asia. Compliance with social and environmental standards in the supply chain is becoming increasingly important, not least due to legal requirements. By getting certified according to the standards of the IETP, suppliers can show their customers that they reliably comply with the required social and environmental standards. The standards defined in the IETP deal, for example, with occupational safety, exclusion of child labor and all forms of modern slavery, and compliance with environmental regulations. The IETP is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 2004 to secure and improve ethical and sustainable standards in the global supply chain of the toy industry. Member companies include the likes of Mattel, Lego and Walmart. Further information on supply chain audits by TUV Rheinland is available at www.tuv.com/supply-chain-audits. About TUV Rheinland: TUV Rheinland stands for safety and quality in virtually all areas of business and life. The company has been operating for more than 150 years and ranks among the world's leading testing service providers. It has more than 20,000 employees in over 50 countries and generates annual revenues of around 2.1 billion euros. TUV Rheinland's highly qualified experts test technical systems and products around the world, support innovations in technology and business, train people in numerous professions and certify management systems according to international standards. In doing so, the independent experts generate trust in products as well as processes across global value-adding chains and the flow of commodities. Since 2006, TUV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website: www.tuv.com Media Contact: Ryan Tng +65 96784993 [email protected] SOURCE TUV Rheinland [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 12, 2023] Christophe Sut, President of Sandvik Manufacturing Solutions, to leave Sandvik STOCKHOLM, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Christophe Sut, President of Business Area segment Sandvik Manufacturing Solutions, has decided to leave Sandvik for a CEO position in a different company. He will leave Sandvik as of August 11, 2023. The process to find a successor will now be initiated. "Christophe Sut has made a strong contribution during his time at Sandvik, strengthening our digital manufacturing offering. He has been an appreciated member of the Group Executive Management. While we of course would have liked to see him stay at Sandvik, this also shows our capability to build excellent leaders within Sandvik. I wish him all the best for the future," says Stefan Widing, CEO and President of Sandvik. Stockholm, February 11, 2023 Sandvik AB For further information, contact Louise Tjeder, VP Investor relations, phone: +46 (0) 70782 6374 or Johannes Hellstrom, Press and Media Relations Manager, phone: +46 (0) 70721 1008 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. The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/208/3713291/1842696.pdf Christophe Sut, President of Sandvik Manufacturing Solutions, to leave Sandvik View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/christophe-sut-president-of-sandvik-manufacturing-solutions-to-leave-sandvik-301744807.html SOURCE Sandvik [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] Americaneagle.com Soars to New Heights with Achievement of Earning All 5 of Sitecore's Core Composable Product Specialization Badges DES PLAINES, Ill., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Americaneagle.com, a family-owned global digital agency, is thrilled to announce that it has achieved both the Sitecore OrderCloud specialization and Sitecore CDP + Personalize specialization. The achievement officially marks the remaining two specializations required to earn the coveted status for all five of Sitecore's core composable products, which also include Content Hub, Experience Platform (XP), and Experience Commerce (XC). This makes Americaneagle.com one of only three agencies in the world with all five specializations. The Sitecore Practice Specialization Framework (PSF) is a way to highlight partners' product skills and capabilities, giving partners and customers a head start on project success. Companies that use Sitecore can look to Americaneagle.com with confidence for the successful delivery of their projects, allowing them to focus on maximizing their return on investment. To achieve the latest two specializations, Americaneagle.com completed practice-wide product immersions including verification of product enablement requirements, training at multiple levels for enablement of sales, solution architects, and developers, and creation of a dedicated, capable, and scalable practice with proven customer satisfaction. "We are extremely excited about this monumental accomplishment," Jon Price, Global Sitecore Practice Director at Americaneagle.com, says. "Achieving these five specialization badges is a true testament to our teams' dedication and expertise within Sitecore. Being one of the first agency partners to accomplish all of the compoable specializations speaks to our commitment to this partnership and the desire to reach success for our clients. We will continue to blaze trails in the world of Sitecore composable software and have many more specialization achievements ahead." Americaneagle.com is a Global Sitecore Platinum Implementation and Hosting Partner with more than 30 named MVPs over the last six years. The global digital agency is one of the original Platinum Partners and has been in the Sitecore ecosystem for more than a decade. Over the years, Americaneagle.com has completed 1,000+ Sitecore project implementations across North America, Europe, United Arab Emirates, and more, 100+ certifications, and now, has earned specialization status across all five of Sitecore's core composable products. Contributing to Americaneagle.com's Sitecore success is its vast experience in designing and developing advanced ecommerce websites. Since 1995, the agency has built robust ecommerce functionality for hundreds of B2B and B2C companies looking to amplify their online shopping experiences. Americaneagle.com works to drive ecommerce success through enhanced integrations, secure hosting, and dedicated support. About Americaneagle.com Americaneagle.com is a full-service, family-owned digital agency that has been dedicated to providing best-in-class web design, development, hosting, post-launch support, and digital marketing services for over 25 years. With a global team comprised of 700+ skilled professionals and subject matter experts, Americaneagle.com focuses on achieving measurable results and exceeding goals for all of our clients. Thanks to our flexibility and expertise in a wide range of online services, we have the capabilities to handle any business of any size in any industry. CONTACT: Michael Svanascini, President [email protected] 847-699-0300 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1427094/Americaneagle_com_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/americaneaglecom-soars-to-new-heights-with-achievement-of-earning-all-5-of-sitecores-core-composable-product-specialization-badges-301744186.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] Pramerica Life Insurance receives over 1300 community projects from Emerging Visionaries Top 25 student volunteers will be honoured from across India GURGAON,India , Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The '2023 Pramerica Emerging Visionaries', organized in India by Pramerica Life Insurance, received 1300+ applications from students of classes 8th-12th who plan to solve societal and financial challenges in their communities through volunteer service. Students from over 200 schools across the country are competing in these awards, the application for which closed on 31st January. From the applications received, 25 entries will qualify for national-level judging. An eminent jury panel will select two student national honourees, who will each win a prize money of INR 50,000, a beautifully engraved gold medallion, a trophy for their school and an opportunity to represent India on the international platform. The rest 23 finalists will receive silver medallions and certificates for their vision and action towards building solutions for their communities. For the past 12 years, Pramerica Life Insurance has been felicitating students who have shown passion, courage, and conviction towards making a positive change in society. With so much happning around the world the company has been providing a platform to the youth of India who hold conviction and hold on to their human spirit to make a change. Pramerica Emerging Visionaries is an evolution of The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards which has honored thousands of young students in India. Globally, for over 26 years, Prudential Financial, Inc. has been organizing the awards to recognise young change makers who have been contributing towards building a better world. Apart from USA, the program has been successfully rewarding students in various other countries such as Brazil, China, India and Japan. The India award finale is due to be held in the month of March in Delhi-NCR. About Pramerica Life Insurance Limited Pramerica Life Insurance Limited, headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, provides trusted guidance on a wide range of life insurance solutions for individuals as well as groups. It has pan India presence with 131 branches (as on 31st December 2022), multiple distribution channels catering to diverse financial needs of a broad range of customers to build a worry-free future. It has more than 2000 employees and over INR 7000 Crores as Assets Under Management (as on 31st December 2022). Pramerica Life Insurance is powered by large Indian and Global conglomerates; Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited (PCHFL) and Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd. (PIIH), with a legacy of business excellence spread over decades. For more details, you can visit our website www.pramericalife.in View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/pramerica-life-insurance-receives-over-1300-community-projects-from-emerging-visionaries-301744867.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] Lleida.net Receives a New Patent in Denmark and Raises its Intellectual Property Portfolio to 220 MADRID, Spain, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Technology services company Lleida.net (LLN.MC) (ALLLN.PA) (LLEIF.US) has received a new patent from the Danish authorities and now adds 220 recognitions to its intellectual property portfolio. The patent, entitled "Method for electronically signing contracts," is signed by Sisco Sapena, CEO and founder of the company, and Cristina Sola, from the company's technical team. The patent is numbered DK3767875 and is valid for 20 years. It is number 220 in its portfolio. "Our presence in the European Union continues to be key for the company, and this patent in Denmark endorses the technical capacity of Lleida.net," explained Sapena. The EuropeanUnion authorities recently granted Lleida.net a new patent for its EIDAS-certified procurement method. Lleida.net's growth strategy in the electronic signature, notification, and contracting market in the countries where it is present and where it plans to be in the future is based on a solid growth policy in intellectual property and R&D, as well as on reinforcement of its internationalization policy. Lleida.net is a European leader in the registered electronic signature, notification, and contracting sector and already has 220 patents received from more than 64 countries around the world. Its portfolio is one of the strongest in the sector worldwide. More than 60 countries on five continents have granted patents, including the European Union, the United States, China, Russia, India, Mexico, Japan, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Nigeria, Australia, and New Zealand. It is listed on the OTCQX index in New York, Euronext Growth in Paris, and BME Growth in Madrid. [February 13, 2023] Summit Partners Closes Fourth Europe Growth Equity Fund at 1.4 Billion Summit Partners, a global alternative investment firm, today announced the first and final closing of its newest Europe growth equity fund. Summit Partners Europe Growth Equity Fund IV closed at its hard cap with 1.4 billion in total commitments. Launched in October 2022, the fund was oversubscribed. "With the closing of this new fund, we further our commitment to Summit's growth equity strategy across Europe, serving as the partner of choice for category-leading, profitable growth companies within our core sectors of focus," said Peter Chung, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Summit Partners. "We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our limited partners and for their trust and confidence in our global team and our growth-focused strategy." Summit Partners Europe Growth Equity Fund IV will target minority and majority equity investments between 20 and 80 million in Europe-based companies, applying the growth equity strategy the firm pioneered in 1984. "As we invest this fund in Europe, we will build upon nearly 40 years of experience as a growth investor, leveraging our deep sector knowledge, extensive global network and value enhancement resources to support the growth of our portfolio companies," said Han Sikkens, Managing Director and Head of Europe at Summit Parners. "Europe has been an integral part of Summit's global investment strategy since 2000, and we have been proud to partner with exceptional founders and management teams over that time." Summit's London-based team collaborates closely with the firm's global team of more than 115 investment professionals, working together to identify and partner with growth companies in key industry sectors, including technology, healthcare and life sciences, and growth products and services. As active board members and through dedicated value enhancement resources, Summit offers its portfolio company leaders strategic support focused on areas we believe are critical to accelerating and supporting long-term, profitable growth, including human capital, go-to-market and operations, technology and data science, and capital markets. Since the firm's inception in 1984, Summit Partners has raised more than $43 billion in capital. About Summit Partners Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm with capital dedicated to pursuing growth equity, fixed income, and public equity opportunities. Summit invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 550 companies in healthcare, technology, and other growth industries. Summit maintains offices in North America and Europe and invests in companies around the world. For more information, please see www.summitpartners.com or Follow on LinkedIn. In the United States of America, Summit Partners operates as an SEC-registered investment adviser. In the United Kingdom, this document is issued by Summit Partners LLP, a firm authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Summit Partners LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC388179 and its registered office is at 11-12 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JJ, UK. This document is intended solely to provide information regarding Summit Partners' potential financing capabilities for prospective portfolio companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230210005380/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] City Kyle Benjamin Shorter, 31, 34 Pulteney St., Geneva, was charged Feb. 10 with petit larceny, fourth-degree criminal mischief and aggravated family offense. Michael Anthony Maycumber, 40, transient, Auburn, was charged Feb. 10 with petit larceny. Quincy D. Atkins, 39, 9 Aurelius Ave., Auburn, was charged Feb. 11 with second-degree menacing, two counts of first-degree criminal contempt, second-degree criminal contempt, aggravated family offense, petit larceny, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Jody M. Butera, 52, 230 State St., Apt. 2, Auburn, was charged Feb. 11 with driving while intoxicated-first offense and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of at least 0.08%. Theresa M. Taylor, 53, 38 Johnson Drive, Aurelius, was charged Feb. 11 with driving while intoxicated-first offense and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of at least 0.08%. Lawrence Andrew Atkins, 46, 44 Wallace Ave., Apt. 2, Auburn, was charged Feb. 12 with petit larceny. Alivia Lynncejaye Solomon, 23, 111 Osborne St., Apt. 2, Auburn, was charged Feb. 12 with resisting arrest and third-degree falsely reporting an incident. County Mark A. Ratliff, 56, 12073 Southard Road, Ira, was charged Feb. 12 with driving while intoxicated-first offense and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of at least 0.08%. State Lisa M. Compagni, 34, Mattydale, was charged Feb. 10 with third-degree burglary and petit larceny. Michael B. Brady, 50, Auburn, was charged Feb. 11 with driving while intoxicated-first offense and aggravated driving while intoxicated. Preston J. Smalley, 22 Auburn, was charged Feb. 11 with driving while intoxicated-first offense, driving with a blood-alcohol content of at least 0.08% and fourth-degree criminal mischief. [February 13, 2023] Domino Data Lab Announces Domino Code Assist to Help Close Data Science Talent Gap and Democratize Advanced Analytics Revolutionary new product for Python and R users unifies work of low-code and expert data scientists in one platform with professional-grade tools for all users Former Plotly CEO and co-founder Jack Parmer joins Domino to lead low-code product development SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Domino Data Lab , provider of the leading Enterprise MLOps platform trusted by over 20% of the Fortune 100, today announced the general availability of Domino Code Assist (DCA), a groundbreaking new product for business analysts that enables enterprises to rapidly close the data science talent gap and democratize data science. With DCA, Domino Data Lab enters the low-code space to elevate business analysts using Python and R into the data science world. Described by the Harvard Business Review as "the sexiest job of the 21st century," data science roles are projected to have a growth rate of 36% by 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . DCA enables Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and Chief Data Analytics Officers (CDAOs) to involve more analytics professionals in data science and machine learning projects using a code-first strategy. At the same time, by generating the code which helps business analysts learn and grow, DCA offers them an opportunity to learn valuable coding skills and helps an organization develop new data science talent from within, all while improving efficiency of both business analysts and data scientists. Domino's unique code-first approach to low-code data science allows business analysts to generate code rather than using a black-box tool or proprietary drag-and-drop interface. This allows data prep, dashboards and models to be transparent and portable while enabling business analysts to collaborate with advanced data scientists in the same languages and environments scientists work in. "Python is the new Excel and Domino Code Assist is about pushing the adoption of code-first data science in a way that has not been conceived of before," said Sean Otto, PhD., Director of Analytics at AES Corporation. "By enabling both our advanced and low-code team members with a common platform to deliver AI and ML with Domino, we can accelerate the innovative use of our data across a wide variety of technical and non-technical data practitioners and data-adjacent parts of our business." "Domino Code Assist is a game-changing opportunity for CDAOs and all analytics executives who strive or growth and expansion in their data science talent and culture," said Nick Elprin, co-founder and CEO at Domino Data Lab. "I am excited to witness the impact this new superpower will bring in solving the most challenging business problems faced by enterprise data science teams." Enabling a Code-First "Pyramid" Strategy With DCA, enterprises can pursue a code-first "pyramid" or "mosaic" data science talent strategy: leveraging a select group of highly skilled experts and larger numbers of less advanced members who still write some code. With everyone working in code on the same platform, organizations maximize the value of experts, while enabling and empowering analytics professionals at all levels. "No-code solutions with drag-and-drop interfaces are appealing at first because they promise an easy path to data science, however, their limitations can prove frustrating for unlocking the full value of data, and the inner workings of analytics solutions are often a 'black box.' This leads leaders to skepticism and mistrust around insights for business-critical decisions," said David Stodder, Senior Director of Research at TDWI. "Building a code-first talent pyramid connected by shared data science programming languages improves data science collaboration, the mentorship of newer data scientists, and ultimately increases workload capacity while accelerating transformation into a true data-driven organization." By empowering a broad range of data science and analytics professionals to unlock the power of data in a single platform, DCA helps CDOs, CDAOs, and their staff address three key elements of democratizing AI: First, DCA helps address the "cold start" problem by reducing time-to-insight for everyone: Business analysts can use wizards in DCA to automatically generate standard Python and R code for data ingestion, preparation, visualization, and app creation tasks. They can also review other models and analyses as the starting point for their work, and to help learn the necessary commands and syntax. For data scientists, DCA boosts productivity by eliminating the need to write code and remember the precise syntax for repetitive tasks. This frees up precious time for higher-value work. Second, DCA exposes low-code business analysts to well-written code: It generates standard, editable Python and R code for common tasks. Business analysts get a repository of existing work for use in helping ensure that their work is consistent with the rest of the team. They can also easily collaborate with more experienced peers and mentors. All team members can save snippets of code as wizards to share across the organization, increasing code re-use, best practice adoption, and standardization efforts. Third, DCA helps align all data science work with broader governance, prioritization, and review processes. Data-savvy analysts and other non-data scientists can safely gain the professional data science skills they need. With DCA, less-experienced analysts' can have someone more seasoned review their work to ensure that the datasets are being used appropriately, the model was trained correctly, the project is scoped properly and aligned with organizational priorities. Domino Welcomes a Top-Notch Low-Code Leader Domino also announced that former Plotly co-founder and CEO Jack Parmer is joining the Domino team. Parmer, who was instrumental in bringing the Dash framework for Python to market, will ideate and execute major new product strategy initiatives in close collaboration with Domino's customers and leadership team. "Domino is hands-down the leading platform for enterprise data science among the Global 2000," said Parmer. "I'm thrilled to leverage my experience in building Plotly to help Domino's customers solve for the AI talent gap with a code-first strategy to democratize AI using Python and R analytics." Additional Resources Learn more about Domino Code Assist . . See how industry leaders protect data sovereignty, reduce cloud costs and future-proof their investments with Domino Nexus . . Learn more about DSA and the Domino Enterprise MLOps Platform in the Domino Data Lab Blog . . Learn more about the capabilities in Domino 5 through blogs, demo videos, and more. through blogs, demo videos, and more. Conduct an immediate data science lifecycle assessment with Domino's Model Velocity Assessment . About Domino Data Lab Domino Data Lab powers model-driven businesses with its leading Enterprise MLOps platform trusted by over 20% of the Fortune 100. Domino accelerates the development and deployment of data science work while increasing collaboration and governance. With Domino, enterprises worldwide can develop better medicines, grow more productive crops, build better cars, and much more. Founded in 2013, Domino is backed by Coatue Management, Great Hill Partners, Highland Capital, Sequoia Capital and other leading investors. For more information, visit www.dominodatalab.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/domino-data-lab-announces-domino-code-assist-to-help-close-data-science-talent-gap-and-democratize-advanced-analytics-301744393.html SOURCE Domino Data Lab [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Building Hope Announces IMPACT Grant Semi-Finalists Building Hope, a non-profit foundation dedicated to creating high-quality K-12 charter school opportunities for students through its expertise in real estate, finance and operational services, today announced the semi-finalists for its second annual Building Hope IMPACT Grants. The 28 semi-finalists stood out from more than 260 applications received from schools in 38 states across the nation. Building Hope IMPACT Grants honor charter schools that excel in community engagement, educational innovation, student empowerment and have perfected their charter school model. A total of $170,000 in grants will be awarded across four categories: Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, and, new this year, Model Charter School. "Over the past few months, we've had the privilege to review charter school applications from across the nation, stories reminding us that jewels of excellent education shine in communities in every state," said Building Hope President and CEO Bill Hansen. "Thank you to all the applicants to this year's grant program. The depth of your dedication to your students inspires us." The 2023 IMPACT Grant semi-finalists are: Student Empowerment Community Engagement Education Innovation Model Charter Building Hope also named these six schools as Honorable Mentions for their excellence: IMPACT Grant finalists will be announced in March, and grants will be awarded during Building Hope's second annual IMPACT Summit & Awards taking place May 3 and May 4, 2023 in Miami. In addition to receiving grant award dollars, school finalists will receive an expense-paid trip to the Annual Summit & Awards. Additional information, including selection criteria and program rules, is available at https://buildinghope.org/impact/awards/. About Building Hope Building Hope is a national non-profit that empowers advancements in education through our work with charter schools providing unparalleled facility financing, real estate development, and operational services. We believe a facility should never be the barrier preventing a child from attending a great school. During our 20-year history, Building Hope has invested $482 million in high-impact charter schools serving nearly 200,000 children. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005460/en/ [February 13, 2023] Award-Winning Dubai Celebrity Photographer Suh Chenwi Eric Set For Induction Into the Photographers Hall of Fame Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Elite Photographers Hall of Fame Organizers has officially announced the induction of Award-Winning Dubai Celebrity Photographer Suh Chenwi Eric popularly known as @deinephoto on instagram into the 2023 Elite Photographers Hall of Famers Class. The prestigious ceremony has been scheduled to take place in Dubai in December 2023, although an official date is yet to be announced. The organizers have promised in attendance many super stars and musicians. Suh Chenwi Eric's humble beginning is a story that will inspire anyone who is struggling to make it in life. The Cameroonian born Suh's journey as a photographer has taken the celebrity photographer to some amazing places, from the breathtaking landscapes of Norway to the bustling streets of Dubai. Eric had to start from scratch after moving back to Cameroon and had to leave everything behind, the experiences never got in the way of the photographer's dreams. The support from family helped Suh to purchase a camera and start building a photograpy business that has grown so big as one of the biggest photography businesses in Dubai. Through hard work, dedication, and the support of the loving family and clients of the celebrated photographer, Suh was able to make a name as a celebrity photographer in Dubai and has won so many prestigious photography awards. One of the biggest challenges Suh faced was having to start over in a new country where no one can vouch of his abilities and talent as a photographer. Suh worked for free just to get his foot in the door and build his portfolio. Additionally, the civil unrest in Cameroon forced Suh to flee to Dubai, which was a tough transition. However, the celebrity photographer never gave up and immersed himself in the culture of Dubai to capture its unique beauty. For the orignal news story, please visit: https://prdistribution.com/news/award-winning-dubai-celebrity-photographer-suh-chenwi-eric-set-for-induction-into-the-photographers-hall-of-fame/9539805# Attachment Award-Winning Dubai Celebrity Photographer Suh Chenwi Eric Set For Induction Into the Photographers Hall of Fame Media Contacts: Full Name: Elite Photographers Company: Elite Photographers Hall of Fame Phone Number: 2128767730 Website: www.elitephotographers.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] Mary Kay Inspires Next Generation of Female STEAM Leaders at Youth Summit Mary Kay Inc., a global advocate for women's empowerment and education, recently hosted a group of 25 young women from Dallas Independent School District's Young Women's Preparatory Network (YWPN) / Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School for an educational, inspirational exploration of Women in STEAM. The events led up to the celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005585/en/ Mary Kay Inc. welcomed students from the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School to R3 for a STEAM themed summit exploring being a woman in STEAM. (Photo: Mary Kay Inc.) The high school-aged students spent the day at Mary Kay's Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing / R&D Center (R3) in Lewisville, TX, where they toured the state-of-the-art facility and learned about the different aspects of STEAM-related manufacturing processes in a complex, global beauty company. Following the tour, students heard from a panel of female experts in their respective STEAM fields. The panel was comprised of experts in fields such as Upstream Innovation, Product Formulation, Information Technology, Product Research, Portfolio & Strategy Planning and Process Development. In the afternoon, students engaged in a mentoring lunch where they had the opportunity to discuss different career paths for women in STEAM, personal and professional aspirations, and how we can better encourage, prepare and bolster young women pursuing careers in STEAM fields. "Mary Kay is committed to empowering and inspiring the next generation of women to pursue their passions-because the future is STEAM," said D. Lucy Gildea, Chief Innovation Officer, Product and Science at Mary Kay. "Women are underrepresented in the STEAM workforce, but we can narrow that gap by providing critical early learning opportunities and exposure for young women to seek out and explore STEAM careers of interest." Young Women's Preparatory Network is a nonprofit agency that partners with public school districts across the state of Texas to operate the largest network of all-girl, public, college preparatory schools in the nation. YWPN schools are located in struggling urban neighborhoods and have a proven track record of academic achievement, high school graduate and college acceptance rates. YWPN formed the first public/private partnership with the Dallas Independent School District, opening the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School in 2004. "We are thrilled to have our young women participate in a day filled with meaningful connections to women in STEAM, and are grateful to Mary Kay for this opportunity," said Lynn McBee, Chief Executive Officer, Young Women's Preparatory Network. "These future leaders are bright, talented young women. To have exposure to other successful women in STEAM fields and see the impact they can make provides them that extra motivation to reach farther, achieve more, and hopefully, one day, change the world through STEAM." Mary Kay celebrates and encourages young women who are taking charge of their futures through leadership, innovation, and determination to excel in STEAM fields. Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math. [1] By offering continued support to young women in STEAM fields, the company is continuing Mary Kay's mission, which is to improve the lives of women everywhere. [1]Sources National Girls Collaborative Project (2022). The State of Girls and Women in Stem. https://ngcproject.org/resources/state-girls-and-women-stem About Mary Kay Inc. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching women's lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in 35 plus countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005585/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] Boutique SEO Agency JCT Growth Acquires Independent Small Business Journal ROSEVILLE, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JCT Growth is proud to announce the acquisition of The Small Business Journal , an independent publishing company for small businesses that is owned and operated by Jay Block. This acquisition is a reflection of JCT Growth's goals of providing strategic business advice for small-business owners. The Small Business Journal has historically focused on reporting interesting stories for business owners. Some of the past interviews have included Kevin O'Leary and Mark Cuban, hosts of Shark Tank, as well as Shark Tank contestants such as Robbie Cabral of BenjiLock and Kim Meckwood of Click & Carry. JCT Growth's plans are to continue developing insightful interviews with successful business owners and entrepreneurs as well as creating a business advice and thought leadership hub for smallbusinesses. Future topics will include talent acquisition and career development for employees, software reviews and comparisons, digital marketing guides, data journalism focused on small businesses, and market trend analysis. "While software and technology continues to become more and more advanced for small businesses, the sheer amount of information a SMB owner is faced with can be overwhelming," said Adam Busch, VP of JCT Growth. "We are excited to continue The SBJournal's legacy of inspiring interviews while going further to create the best hub of information to help SMBs navigate their software choices, business development, profitability, and marketing strategies." About JCT Growth Headquartered in Roseville, California, and founded by Jesse Teske in 2019, JCT Growth is a boutique SEO agency that helps ecommerce , SaaS, and local businesses to grow their digital presence through SEO and content marketing , and content sprints . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boutique-seo-agency-jct-growth-acquires-independent-small-business-journal-301745547.html SOURCE JCT Growth [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Pitch Competition Now Accepting Applications WEST DES MONES, Iowa, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce (WDM Chamber) is accepting applications for the 2023 Athene Black & Brown Business Summit (BBBS) pitch competition, brought to you by exclusive pitch competition partner Bank of America. Deadline to submit applications is Wednesday, March 1 by 5 p.m. Applications open for the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit pitch competition. Over $40,000 total prize money. Applicants to the 2023 Athene BBBS pitch competition must be 51% minority owned, have been in business for at least two years and be a for-profit business. Those who are selected will be invited to participate on April 20 in workshops featuring area experts. Applicants also can win part of a cash prize given to the companies with the best pitches. Over the last two years, pitch competition winners have received a total of $52,000 in prize money. The 2022 pitch competition saw 40 mnority businesses participate, with ten of them winning cash prizes. Winners included Lumena Energy at first place winning $12,000, Autistic & Loved at second place winning $10,000 and Stagerie, Inc. at third place winning $6,000. Additional pitch winners won $2,000 and included A Little Buzzed, Dae-licious Delights, Dupee Consulting Group LLC, Evry Intention LLC, Iowa Media Co., Light Pong, and Mountain High Jz Coffee LLC. Those interested in applying to participate in the pitch competition can view the application here. Learn more about the Athene BBBS and purchase tickets here. About the WDM Chamber of Commerce The mission of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce is to champion all things West Des Moines and to position WDM as the best suburban city in America. A 2022 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist, the Chamber produces programs and events for everyone. Learn more at wdmchamber.org. Bank of America At Bank of America, we're guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We're delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. Visit www.bankofamerica.com to learn more. WDM Contact: Katherine Harrington [email protected] (515) 689-4447 Learn More About the WDM Chamber View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/athene-black--brown-business-summit-pitch-competition-now-accepting-applications-301745688.html SOURCE West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] NRGene Canada Advances the Fight Against Canola Clubroot Using Genomics and AI, NRGene Canada has identified novel non-GMO canola genetics that exhibit high resistance against multiple pathotypes of clubroot disease. By breeding novel Canola varieties with resistant traits, the Canadian economy could see billions of dollars in economic stimulus due to yield gain and reintroduction of infected acres. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based AI genomics firm, NRGene Canada Inc. is pleased to announce the development of novel non-GMO genetics in Canola (Brassica napus L.). These genetics exhibit high resistance to multiple pathotypes of the fungal disease, commonly referred to as clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae). For some of the new pathotypes in the prairies, this is the first time resistant genetics have been identified. The dominantly inherited high resistance has been noted during the research and development process. This development is creating a unique defense strategy against this devastating disease affecting Canadian farmers. "We brought our genomics and AI capabilities to the heart of the Canadian Prairies, to help local producers grow better yielding, and healthier crops. Our mission is to help create a food secure future, and the prairies are at the forefront of these efforts," says Dr. Gil Ronen. NRGene founder and CEO, "we are looking for local partners to continue to combat diseases found in Canola to improve the crops health, production and vitality." Canola is one of Canada's most valuable crops driving over $29.9B annually towards the Canadian economy[1]. Clubroot has been exponentially expanding through the Canadian prairies since 2003; this disease is affecting root structure and the plants' ability to uptake nutrients, in turn affecting yield output. Press releases from Saskatchewans' Ministry of Agriculture state that clubroot has increased its foothold of Saskatchewan soil by 269% since 2018 [2]. Clubroot has a severe negative impact on crop production that can cause a yield loss of 60% to 90%, correlating to a significant negative economic impact, as well as a negative impact on the race towards ensuring global food security[3]. To date, no chemical treatment is available to eliminate the fungal disease from soil, leaving farmers with fewer and less desirable options in their rotation schedule. "At SaskCanola, we are excited to see the development of new sources of clubroot resistance coming from industry. The potential of multiple resistance genes in future canola varieties may lead to durable resistance that could reduce disease severity in fields that are already being managed for clubroot. As well, these developments could reduce the ability of clubroot pathogen populations to adapt and defeat new resistance genetics which benefits all canola growers," says Doug Heath, Research Manager at SaskCanola. Developing elite varieties with durable multi-variant resistance is the most strategic course to fight clubroot. NRGene Canada is pleased to announce a significant milestone towards achieving the goal of multi-pathotype resistance: - Identifying resistant sources to the most severe pathotypes. - Identifying resistance traits in the progenies of canola plants that present dominant genetic inheritance. - Identifying potential candidate genes of which are responsible for durable resistance. NRGene Canada has recently filed a provisional patent to secure the intellectual property of these high resistance traits derived from novel non-GMO genetics. Based on the achievement of this significant milestone, NRGene Canada assesses that by the end of 2023 the company will finalize the genetic markers development, which will ensure the successful introgression of the resistance traits to elite canola lines of its customers and partners. NRGene Canada anticipates that this project will be completed by 2025, with the support of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). NRGene Canada is actively seeking local Canadian and global partners to ensure that varieties with these resistance genes are available to farmers and producers. "The idea was to set up NRGene Canada within the Canadian prairie region, where agriculture innovation grows. Bringing our technology closer to the Canadian agricultural community allows us to work closely with our partners and producers, who can now take advantage of our Genomic and AI technology to work towards creating a more productive and sustainable future for Canadian agriculture." - Dr, Masood Rizvi, General Manager, NRGene Canada ______________________________ [1] https://www.canolacouncil.org/about-canola/economic-impact/ [2] https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2019/january/09/clubroot-survey + https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2023/january/09/2022-clubroot-distribution-in-saskatchewan [3] https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2021/03/new-clubroot-strains-show-genetic-resistance-isnt-enough-to-protect-canola-say-researchers.html View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005628/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC signs MoU with MSCA - Malaysia FIBERTalk 2023 sees a houseful attendance by the industry India's fiber penetration is only 3.3% and needs a lot of fiber to be deployed MUMBAI, India, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC (earlier FTTH Council Asia-Pacific) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia Smart Cities Alliance at Malaysia (MSCA) today. The MoU entails collaborations in capacity building for sustainable and Smart Cities project performance evaluation, as well as exploring potential large market reach in IR 4.0 technologies-based education and training segments. The Council convened the country's leading telecommunication (telco) industry players at Malaysia FIBERTalk 2023 conference to discuss industry updates and address Fiber to Home challenges and opportunities in enabling 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) for Smart Cities. Along with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), responsible for regulating the industry, the event was attended by top executives from Telekom Malaysia, Celcom Digi and local governmentfrom Penang, Melaka and Selangor to discuss updates, trends, challenges and opportunities in the industry. "Keeping the future global prospects and inclusiveness of the industry in mind, we have re-branded the council to FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC to crystalize our message further and keep pace with the industry and forge a new growth path that will create a seamlessly connected future," said Mr. Venkatesan Babu, President FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC on the MoU. Adding to it, Dr. Raslan Ahmad, Chairman of MSCA also said, "Next generation technology like 5G and IoT are a key part of developing Smart Cities that require a lot of sensors communicating with each behind the scenes. For this to be in real time with low latency internet, a fiber solution integrated within the city's infrastructure is essential. We are committed towards creating the best in quality and delighted that FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC has taken the lead in championing an essential change for a truly smart global world of the future." The MoU between FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC and MSCA, will enable the former to leverage on the latter's network of members to collectively drive collaborations in the development of Smart Cities. This will involve frequent exchange of knowledge, expertise, technologies and know-how to provide sustainable long-term telecommunication solutions to develop Smart Cities. All the above announcements were part of the Malaysia FIBERTalk 2023. About FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC This is a non-profit organization established in 2005 in Singapore. The organization is building on the success of its sister organizations in the US and Europe to educate the industry and the general public on the opportunities and benefits of Fiber Network solutions. The council members represent all areas of broadband industries, including telecommunications, computing, networking, system integration, engineering and content-provider companies, as well as traditional telecommunications service providers, utilities and municipalities. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2000320/FIBERTalk_2023.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/fiber-network-council-apac-signs-mou-with-msca---malaysia-301745706.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 13, 2023] CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW HONOREE DIVES INTO AUSTRALIAN POOL MARKET SYDNEY, Feb. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh from an award-winning showing at one of the world's biggest tech events and just a week after gifting the world's biggest music stars its products at the 65th Grammy Awards, Aiper is making a splash in the Australian market with its revolutionary new pool cleaning robots. Favoured by American consumers, Aiper is diving into Australian pools with gusto, consumers lapping up the innovative brand that has just earned itself an award at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). CES is considered the most influential tech event with global innovators tripping over themselves to feature in it. The Home Appliance Innovation gong recognises Aiper as a global leader in home tech, an enviable achievement for a product range that has been praised by some of the most reputable outlets in the United States. "We love to see exciting new smart cleaning technology, and we think that these aquatic pool vacuum robots from Aiper are impressive tools," USA Today said of the products. Aiper's Elite Pro and Seagull SE are available for purchase in Australia now, while the Seagull Plus will soon be joining the posse Down Under in mid-February. The cordless cleaners are equipped with hassle-free features that takes out the backbreaking work associated with traditional creepy crawlies, including self-parking capabilities, fast charging time, and an eco-friendly lithium battery. "The whole industry is going towards wireless, robotic and smart," Aiper's US General Manager Brent Korner said. "We want to get away from cords since wireless is the wave of the future." According to the Las Vegas Review Journal Aiper solves the pool cleaning pain point that most homeowners find themselves having to deal with. Getting your hands on the latest and greatest doesn't need to break the bank either. The Seagull Plus, launching in Australia on February 15th, gives pool owners a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing the high techs and specs. Being the second most advanced product in the Seagull series, the Seagull Plus features upgraded features including a nylon holding tray, run time of 110 minutes, and can be recharged in just 2.5 hours. Equipped with a dual-motor system, the cordless cleaner is able to limit the time pool owners have traditionally spent dealing with sand, dirt, leaves, or any other pesky pool debris. The Seagull Plus features Aiper's signature hydrodynamic design, allowing the robot to glide over a pool floor's surface with less water resistance compared to its bulky, creepy crawly counterparts. The Seagull Plus, which is valued at $569.99 and will be available for purchase through Aiper's website from February 15. Those who order theirs between February 8 and 22 will be eligible for an Early Bird discount of $80. For more information on Aiper's full range of cordless robotic cleaning products, visit au.aiper.com About Aiper Aiper is the leading global creator of eco-friendly, cordless robotic pool cleaners on a mission to create simple, smart cleaning solutions. After doing a deep dive into the pain points of traditional pool cleaners and the overall hassle of keeping a pool clean the company embarked on a path to merge smart technology with innovative solutions to create the world's most easy-to-use robotic pool cleaner. Unlike other products on the market, each Aiper product is guaranteed to minimize the time and money spent laboring, and more time enjoying quality time with friends, family by the pool. Through that, Aiper has earned its place as the world's best cordless robotic pool cleaner since its launch in 2017. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2001405/Aiper_CES_Innovation_Award_Honoree.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1853840/Aiper_Logo.jpg SOURCE Aiper [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Sadly, and against the advice of much smarter people . . . If the Kansas City Chiefs win there will be a lot more shooting . . . It might not be too late to invest in a helmet. Meanwhile, here's a peek at antics from our suburban neighbors and their guests . . . Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . World awaits return of Chinese tourists 15:07, February 13, 2023 By Jinith de Silva ( China Daily (MA XUEJING/CHINA DAILY) Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the world's most important source of international travelers, and Chinese tourists were the biggest overseas spenders. According to the United Nations' World Tourism Organization, Chinese tourists spent $255 billion overseas and made 166 million overseas trips in 2019. Tourism expenditure is an important criterion to determine the health of a country's tourism industry. With a population of more than 1.4 billion, massive increase in economic power and remarkable improvements in people's living standards, China became the most important source of outbound tourists who were also the biggest overseas spenders. During the past three years, however, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many Chinese people to forgo international travel and cut household spending. But now that the suppressed spending power is likely to be unleashed thanks to China easing the prevention and control measures, there could be a huge explosion in spending by Chinese tourists. The pace of China's reopening is of significance to the global tourism industry. Tourism officials and professionals in many countries are looking forward to the mass return of Chinese tourists as early as possible, because they could fuel the recovery of the tourism sector worldwide and promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world. Several Southeast Asian countries that depend, to a large extent, on tourism have kept entry rules relatively relaxed for Chinese tourists despite the recent COVID-19 outbreaks in China. They include Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. New Zealand, too, has waived testing requirements for Chinese visitors, who were the second-largest source of tourism revenue for the country before the pandemic. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and China, the two countries took a number of steps in the political, economic, trade and cultural fields to strengthen bilateral ties. Thanks to the strong bilateral relations, cultural familiarity and reliable visa policies, a large number of Chinese tourists visit Sri Lanka every year. In fact, China is one of the top three sources of tourists for Sri Lanka, with 167,863 Chinese tourist arrivals being recorded in Sri Lanka in 2019. Tourism is the third-largest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka. The tourism industry of Sri Lanka, which was dealt a catastrophic blow by the pandemic, now has the opportunity to recover rapidly. And it is all set to welcome Chinese tourists, especially because the island country's government has adopted a series of new policies to attract Chinese travelers. In order to draw more Chinese tourists, hotels in Sri Lanka have introduced Digital QR Chinese menus. Hotel experts say their intention is to make Chinese people feel welcome and provide the exquisite traveling experience for them. Sri Lanka has been ranked first among the top 24 countries to visit in 2023 by travel site Travel Triangle. According to Travel Triangle, golden beaches, wildlife-rich forests, rolling tea plantations, and mist-shrouded mountains make Sri Lanka one of the best Asian countries to visit. Also, Sri Lanka is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To begin with, there are the ruins of the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura in the North Central Province, which flourished from the 5th century BC to the 10th century CE. There are also the ruins of the successor kingdom, Polonnaruwa (9th-14th century), and the incredible Sigiriya Rock fortress in the northern Matale district in Central Province. The entire city of Kandy (the seat of kings from the 16th to the 19th century) with its revered temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as are the Dambulla caves and temple dating from the 1st century BC. Galle Fort, begun by the Portuguese in 1588, too, is on UNESCO's heritage list. The two natural landmarks on the list are the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the Central Highlands (Peak Wilderness, Horton Plains and the Knuckles Conservation Forest.) No wonder China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that Sri Lanka will be among the countries in its outbound tourism pilot program, which started on Feb 6. Sri Lanka's tourism revenue fell precipitously in the past three years as the country more or less closed its borders during the pandemic. But, with China "reopening" after three years, millions of tourists are poised to travel across the world, raising hopes of a rebound of the hospitality industry and an increase in employment in Sri Lanka. This proves the importance of China to global tourism. The resumption of outbound travel by the Chinese people, which used to be a considerable source of revenue for economies that depend heavily on tourism, will help revive the tourism sector and promote cultural exchanges at the international level. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On Feb. 6, BYD broke ground on its new energy vehicle (NEV) auto parts industrial base in Fufeng county, Baoji city, Shaanxi province, according to baojinews.com, a local news agency of Baoji city. The said project, which BYD Company Limited signed up for on Nov. 9, 2022, involves a total planned investment of 5 billion yuan ($732.73 million), 3 billion yuan ($439.638 million) of which would be poured in the first phase. Photo credit: baojinews.com Covering an area of around 1,400mu (933,300 square meters), the first-phase project will carry out the construction of the production lines for vehicle wiring harnesses, shock absorbers, sunroofs, seat covers, power batteries, and other NEV-related components. According to baojinews, the completed first-phase project is expected to generate an annual production value of more than 10 billion yuan ($1.465 billion) and yearly tax revenue of over 500 million yuan ($73.273 million), creating around 17,000 jobs. The second phase is scheduled to involve 2 billion yuan ($293.092 million) worth of investment. BYDs boom in new energy vehicle business significantly flows from its powerful vertical integration capability. Aside from the Baoji-based facility, BYD forged a strategic partnership with the municipal government of Xuzhou city, Jiangsu province in last Nov. as well, while its power battery subsidiary, FinDreams Battery, inked an agreement with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. ("XCMG"), a Xuzhou-based state-owned heavy machinery manufacturer, for a joint-venture project. Through the cooperation, BYD planned to build a new power battery plant in Xuzhou Economic & Technological development Zone. The trend line doesn't look good . . . We'll share some reporting on this topic but first a question . . . HOW ARE REPUBLICANS ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN CONSERVATIVE POLITICS?!?!? Actually . . . This situation isn't totally hopeless. Online pundits like Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh & Steven Crowder are producing tons of conservative content for the NEXTGEN . . . Our question is . . . Where is Kansas in this effort??? As far as we know there's a pretty good conservative blog out there that has great info but it's a policy wonk snooze-fest . . . The kinda thing 40-somethings might appreciate but OBVIOUSLY won't resonate with anyone in their 20s. Meanwhile . . . Like it or not . . . It just looks like progressives are having more fun with marches, protests and . . . Most importantly . . . Parties and chances to socialize with the opposite sex and even a trans entertainer or two . . . Which is much more fun than hearing somebody talk about the flat tax. Now . . . Here's the data to back up my dissertation . . . The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, for example, estimated that more than a quarter of people aged 18 to 29 the second highest turnout from young voters in nearly three decades cast a ballot in the 2022 midterm elections, which occurred just months after the Dobbs decision. The conclusions drawn from these polls shouldn't be surprising to Republican leaders, as they've already seen voters come out in droves against a proposed constitutional amendment in Kansas post-Dobbs. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Tax season is upon us and with it comes the ever-present threat of fraud. Canadians should be wary of scammers posing as Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employees who will trick their victims into sending them money or providing personal information that can be used to take over a bank account. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Human Horizons, the Chinese electric vehicle maker owning the luxury brand HiPhi, recently saw its third production model exposed via a catalogue released by Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Photo credit: MIIT Positioned as a mid-size SUV, with a possible name of HiPhi Y, the new model is designed with a subtle design language that is less aggressive and more ordinary than other HiPhi models. Although, HiPhis signature programmable headlights and display are kept in the new models design. The hood of the car is decorated with a light strip and sporty air intake. In addition, according to photos released by the MIIT, several cameras around the body and a LiDAR unit on the front windshield are quite distinct. Photo credit: MIIT The new model measures 4,938mm long, 1,958mm wide, and 1,658mm tall, with a 2,950mm wheelbase. It is powered by two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors on the front and rear axles, which churns out a respective maximum power of 124kW and 247kW. Moreover, the electric SUV is mounted with ternary lithium-ion batteries from Chinas major battery maker CATL. Currently, HiPhi has two models on the market, namely the HiPhi X SUV and the HiPhi Z sedan. In Great Britain, Finnish instructors conduct shooting training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Instructors of the Armed Forces of Finland have been delivering training to practice methods of apply fire from different positions, grouping and bore sighting and zeroing at ranges for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who are undergoing training in Great Britain as part of an international training operation for basic military training, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook. As reported, the British government launched military basic training in 2022. It is part of the UK's ongoing commitment totaling more than 2.3 billion to support Ukraine. Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine President Maia Sandu of Moldova spoke of Russias plans to organize a coup in the country, involving opposition protests and engaging participants with military training, as well as citizens of the Russian Federation, Belarus, Serbia, and Montenegro, to attack government buildings and topple the government. The leader stated this on Monday at a press conference on the issue of the country's security, Ukrinform reports with reference to NewsMaker. According to Sandu, this is not the first time Russia intends to destabilize Moldova. Such attempts were made last autumn, but thanks to the prompt intervention of the Moldovan authorities, they were foiled, the president said. "The plan (drafted by Russia - ed.) for the future period envisages sabotage with the involvement of persons with military training, disguised as civilians, to resort to violence, attack government buildings, and take hostages," the president said. She noted that with the help of opposition protests, Russia intends to implement a coup d'etat scenario. "The documents received from our Ukrainian partners expose the locations and logistical aspects of this subversive acts organization. The plan also involves the use of foreigners in committing violent acts. For example, the documents received contain instructions for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Serbia, and Montenegro on how to cross into Moldova," said Sandu. She assured that state security agencies are working to prevent these acts of provocation and keep the situation under control. As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine during his speech at a special meeting of the European Council last week said that Ukraine intercepted Russia's plan to destabilize the political situation in Moldova. AUSTIN, TexasInteractive Life Forms (ILF), maker of the Fleshlight and Fleshjack brand products, has debuted a new line of male masturbators, the Fleshlight Boost. According to the company, the nascent line introduces more new features than any Fleshlight product since the original debuted over 25 years ago. In addition to brand-new case and skin tone colors, the Boosts four models (vagina, male butt, female butt, and mouth) are touted as "more detailed and life-like than ever." Each toy also features the new Suction Control Cap, which allows users to dial up their preferred tightness with ease. The toys also contain patented Fleshlight Turbo Techsuspended rings inside the sleeves that create a tighter grip. True to its name, the Fleshlight Boost line of products takes everything you love about Fleshlight products and cranks it up a notch, Fleshlight director of marketing Daniel Harvell said. Once again, Fleshlight is leading the way for the next evolution in male masturbators. Everything is designed to create an even more pleasurable experience for the user. Along with the return of a frequently requested hyper-realistic mouth orifice, these products deliver everything our users want in a male masturbator. All of the new sleeves have unique inner textures. The vagina orifice features the Bang sensation; the butt orifices feature the Blast sensation; and the mouth features the Blow sensation. The products are designed and produced in the U.S., and as with all products under the Fleshlight brand, they are made of the 100 percent body-safe patented SuperSkin material. All products are currently available worldwide for end-users at fleshlight.com/boost and for wholesale customers at fleshlightdistribution.com. Almost 150 high-ranking officials from all over the world will take part in the Munich Security Conference. However, there will be neither Russians nor German right-wingers. Thats according to Christoph Heusgen, MSC Chairman, who spoke at a briefing in Berlin on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to Heusgen, almost 150 high-ranking officials are expected to arrive in Munich late this week, including over 45 heads of state and government, 83 ministers of foreign affairs and defense, etc. Among the guests are German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France and Andrzej Duda of Poland, leaders of Scandinavian nations, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the largest delegation of American lawmakers in the history of the conference (according to Heusgen, this will be a third of the Senate), heads of international organizations, including NATO, EU, and UN. Read also: Ukraine MFA names three priorities at Munich Security Conference From what is known at the moment, Ukraine will be represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, as well as over 20 lawmakers. As for Russia, Christoph Heusgen repeated what he said in an interview with Ukrinform: it was decided not to invite Russian officials. "We have been watching intensively in recent months and weeks whats happening. In his statements, Putin did not shift from his line one iota. He denies the right to the existence of an independent Ukraine... there are signs that the traces of the MH 17 accident lead to the Kremlin... Therefore, we should not expect the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov, who is the mouthpiece for Putin and the Kremlin, so that he does not use the forum for propaganda," said the German diplomat. Members of the German Bundestag with the Alternative for Germany party were not invited to the conference either. The Munich Security Conference will be held on February 17-19. More than 1,000 journalists will be covering the event. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers the statements by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi regarding President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine unacceptable and reminds of the political and moral responsibility for encouraging Russia to pursue their crimes in Ukraine. This is stated in a comment by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleg Nikolenko on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. Nikolenko recalled that in 2010, the then-Prime Minister of Italy, Berlusconi, kissed the hands of the Libyan dictator during the official meeting with Muammar Gaddafi in Libya in the presence of TV cameras, to demonstrate his loyalty. "Berlusconi's senseless accusations against the Ukrainian President are an attempt to kiss Putin's hands that are drenched in blood up to the elbow. This is an attempt to demonstrate his loyalty to the Russian dictator," said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Nikolenko, the Italian politician should be aware that by spreading Russian propaganda, he encourages Russia to continue its crimes against Ukraine, and therefore bears political and moral responsibility. "On the other hand, we highly appreciate the prompt reaction on the part of Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who confirmed the Italian government's unwavering support for Ukraine after Berlusconi's unacceptable statements," Nikolenko stressed. As reported, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi criticized the incumbent PM, Giorgia Meloni, for meeting with the President of Ukraine in Brussels. Berlusconi also said that, had Volodymyr Zelensky stopped "attacking" Donbas, there would have been no war. In response to Berlusconi's comment, Giorgia Melonis goverment stated that the country strongly and convincingly supports Ukraine. In a phone call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre discussed a new defense package for Ukraine and further cooperation. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Twitter, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Had a phone call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre. Thanked for the new defense package that will strengthen us on land, in the sky & at sea. Im also grateful for a significant 5-year aid package being prepared for approval in Norway. We discussed further cooperation. Victorious together! Zelensky wrote. A reminder that Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre proposed to allocate NOK 75 billion (USD 7.3 billion) in aid to Ukraine over five years. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine mk Head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak held a meeting of the working group on the issue of establishing a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. As the press service of the Head of State informs, the meeting was attended by Deputy Heads of the Presidents Office Andriy Smyrnov and Andriy Sybiha, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Anton Korynevych, and other members of the working group. Yermak noted that most allies support Ukraine's initiative: "Today, almost all of them say they are willing to participate in the creation of the tribunal. We are no longer discussing the likelihood of the idea itself, but the specific mechanisms of its creation." Deputy Head of the President's Office Andriy Smyrnov emphasized that two of the three possible scenarios for the creation of the tribunal are acceptable to Ukraine. According to Yermak, it is necessary to prepare specific proposals that can be presented at international platforms to persuade partners to support the scenario of establishing the tribunal that Ukraine needs. "We need to find our own recipe for each country. We need to find the key to each country," the Head of the Presidents Office believes. To engage partner countries more effectively in the process of establishing a special tribunal, Yermak suggested holding informational briefings at the Presidents Office for representatives of states that support Ukraine's initiative. Smyrnov noted that at the end of January, a meeting of the Core Group was held in Prague (Czech Republic), where representatives of more than 20 countries discussed further steps towards the creation of a special tribunal. According to him, Eurojust is also working on holding an international summit on responsibility for the crime of aggression in Ukraine, which should serve as a basis for systematizing evidence in order to formulate charges of the crime of aggression. In addition, the Presidents Office informs that work is underway to establish the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine. As reported, in September 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky formed a working group headed by Andriy Yermak to study the issue of creating a special tribunal to hold the leadership of the Russian Federation criminally liable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The creation of such a tribunal was supported by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and some countries. ALASKAPleasure industry newcomer, Adam Claflin, has announced the grand opening of SheAlwaysComesFirst.com, an online adult retailer focused on women's sexual happiness. In addition to stocking popular vibrators, the website includes dedicated sections for luxury lingerie, plus-sized lingerie, and kink accessories for couples play. Based in North Pole, Alaska, Claflin's e-tail business will center on fair pricing and providing a comfortable purchasing experience through discreet, consistent customer communications. While shopping for adult toys over the years, I realized that a ton of toys were way overpriced, said Claflin. I've also known many people who have been too embarrassed to go into an adult store. Everyone deserves pleasure and satisfaction, and for a reasonable, affordable price for great quality products. Within the B2B space, Claflin seeks distributor and manufacturer partners. Claflin says he plans on attending industry expos in the near future to further develop and energize his adult industry connections. I'm really hoping to make more solid partners, Claflin continued. Sexual health has always interested me, so I am constantly learning more by listening to books and podcasts. I've done a huge amount of research to prepare for what sex toy consumers expect from an online store. I'm entering this industry with an open mind and an eagerness to absorb feedback. I hope that my new colleagues will recognize my genuine interest in becoming a part of the entire adult products and sexual wellness community. Throughout 2023, Claflin says he will continue growing his business by adding new team members to his customer service department. Claflin will also add more OnlyFans models and cam girls to his brand ambassador program. Potential B2B partners are encouraged to connect with Adam Claflin at [email protected]. Learn more at SheAlwaysComesFirst.com, and follow She Always Comes First on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. LUCERNE, SwitzerlandPayment processing firm Vendo Services today announced its first Merchant Conference of 2023, scheduled for Thursday, February 16. Delivered every quarter, Vendo Merchant Conferences help online merchants and streaming platform providers optimize their business operations by sharing the latest trends, resources and innovations in payment processing. Conferences feature the industry expertise of both Vendo leaders and guest speakers, while providing an ideal platform for networking. The February 16 event will kick off with company updates from Vendo CEO and president Mitch Platt, and insights from director of data science Xisca Pericas on the key takeaways of 2022 and critical trends in 2023. Next, guest speaker and epag co-founder Julian Migura will share his frontline knowledge of payment systems in emerging markets and how online merchants can access them. Founded more than a decade ago, epag facilitates cross-border online payments with a focus on Brazil and Latin America, a landscape that varies dramatically from the U.S. and European markets, where consumers can easily make international purchases. As Migura explains, In Latin America, the e-commerce customer base is expected to expand by 20 percent and generate more than $160 billion in sales by 2025. But first, vendors need to overcome the hurdles of complex, highly localized payment systems. As an example, Brazil represents the largest market, yet 93.5 percent of Brazilians use payment options that block them from making international transactions. The event will also include updates on Visa and Mastercard, SEPA and PIX from Vendos director of payments and risk, Fernando Latorre, and an overview by Pericas on the business benefits of Vendos custom reports. Vendo Merchant Conferences have become increasingly popular, according to Platt. As our clients know, the world of e-commerce and payments is continuously evolving, he says. Our Merchant Conferences bring people together and equip them with mission-critical industry knowledge to help them grow their businesses. For more information, visit www.vendoservices.com. For more information on epag, visit www.epag.com. As of April 1, Twitter is requiring a paid subscription to Twitter Blue to have a verificati Read moreMain Point: Verification doesnt equal credibility February 13 2023 Cruden Homes have shared updated proposals for the site of a former primary school in Jedburgh, outlining how the site could play host to 76 homes for social rent. The former Howdenburn Primary closed in 2020 with pupils transferring to Jedburgh Grammar Campus at Hatrigge Park. Since demolished the 5.57-acre site has been taken on by Eildon Housing Association which will also oversee a new network of roads, footpaths and open space. Nile Istephan, Eildon chief executive, commented: The addition of more social rented homes in the Borders is part of our 137m investment into the local economy. Part of our strategy is to build up to 800 new homes across the area and address the ongoing need for high-quality affordable housing. A mix of three-storey colony-style flats and houses is planned for the site. Led by Aitken Turnbull Architects the project is currently out for consultation. February 13 2023 Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has awarded a threatened former sawmill office with a Category C listing in recognition of its special interest, dismissing objections from the owner. Subject to a live planning application for 60 flats the City Sawmills building at 124 Craighall Road, Port Dundas, of a once sprawling Port Dundas timber business dating from the late nineteenth century. Designed by George Bell II of Clarke and Bell the red brick structure with sandstone detailing retains many period features internally, including a 'turned open' staircase with arched panelled frieze and coloured glaze. The entrance lobby also retains a mosaic-tiled floor, parquetry and art nouveau-style fireplaces. Detailing the importance of these elements the heritage body wrote: "The interior floorplan remains legible as a late 19th-century office and has a detailed entrance stairway, public meeting rooms and a corridor of office rooms reflecting its business function. The interior decorative scheme retains a variety of high-quality timber decorative details which advertised the buildings status as the office block of a nationally recognised timber merchants. The features in the former public meeting rooms include multi-panel doors with ornate architraves, carved fireplaces and unusually decorative wood veneer parquetry on both dado panelling and office floors." Paul Sweeney MSP, the author of the original designation request, commented: The City Sawmills at Port Dundas are an outstanding example Glasgow's industrial past, of which we should be incredibly proud. As a city and as a population, we should celebrate our history and our heritage, including our industrial past. There was absolutely no justification whatsoever for demolishing it and I am delighted HES have agreed with my application and awarded the site C listed status meaning it can be preserved for years to come." Untouched Victorian industrial architecture is increasingly rare with surviving examples often significantly altered from their original condition. Criminals running cryptocurrency scams in Southeast Asia are targeting Filipinos to work for them because of their English-language and computer skills, a Philippine foreign ministry official said Monday Manila, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2023 ) :Criminals running cryptocurrency scams in Southeast Asia are targeting Filipinos to work for them because of their English-language and computer skills, a Philippine foreign ministry official said Monday. Filipinos were "prized" targets for scam networks operating in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, said Eduardo de Vega, acting undersecretary for migrant workers' affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs. De Vega said efforts to repatriate Filipinos sucked into the scams were ongoing, with more than 100 brought home since last year. The latest group arrived in Manila on Monday. Four men, all in their 30s, had been trafficked into Myanmar for "less than two months", during which they were held in compounds, De Vega told AFP. The men were in Dubai when they were recruited online to work as "customer support representatives" in Thailand, the ministry said. When they arrived in Bangkok, they were taken to the western Thai city of Mae Sot and ferried across the border into Myanmar "rebel territory", De Vega said. There they were "forced to trick individuals into investing in cryptocurrency", the foreign ministry said in a statement. Myanmar's rugged borderlands are home to a patchwork of ethnic rebel groups and military-aligned militia that have fought each other for decades over territory, lucrative timber and jade resources, and the drug trade. Typically, Filipino recruits would pretend to be women and develop online relationships with their targets, usually Westerners, De Vega said. They receive a wage and get a share of the profits, but are subjected to corporal punishment if they do not scam enough people, he said. Four Filipino women in their 20s, who were detained in Myanmar for illegally entering the country from Thailand a few weeks ago, also returned to Manila on Monday. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet here on Monday approved gas price revision for domestic, commercial and power sectors for six months from January to June, 2023 ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2023 ):The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet here on Monday approved gas price revision for domestic, commercial and power sectors for six months from January to June, 2023. The Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) tabled a summary on Natural Gas Sale Pricing for FY 2022-23 and presented tariff proposals for all consumer categories in accordance with the Review of Estimated Revenue Requirement (RERR) for fiscal year 2022-23, according to a Finance Ministry press release. The cabinet committee also allowed the Ministry of Economic Affairs for signing of a debt rescheduling agreement with Russia for debt suspension of Covid-related amount $14.53 million. The approval was given after the ministry presented a summary on G-20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). This debt relief was announced in April 2020 for IDA eligible countries to mitigate the socio-economic impact of Covid-19. Under this initiative, the debt relief was extended through the suspension of principal and interest payments. So far, 37 debt rescheduling agreements with 15 creditor countries have been signed. The ECC granted Rs 40 billion as Technical Supplementary Grant to th eBenazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to meet its budgetary requirements for an increase in unconditional and conditional grants. The Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety presented a summary on the enhancement of the BSIP budget. It briefed the committee on the ongoing BISP programmes, including Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Programme "Benazir Kafaalat" covering around 9 million families, two Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programmes namely Benazir Taleemi Wazaif and Benazir Nashonuma. Besides, this disbursement of cash assistance to the affectees of floods as an emergency relief of Rs 25,000/- was provided per affected family to around 2.7 million families. In the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, there have been accelerated enrolments in the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif and it is anticipated that additional 1 million children will be enrolled by the end of June, 2023. Also the BISP has extended the CCT Benazir Nashonuma to all the districts of the country. Among others, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar; Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan; Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha; MNA/Ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi; Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Finance Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries and other senior officers. Federal Minister for Industries and Production Syed Murtaza Mahmud, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik and the Governor of State Bank of Pakistan attended the meeting virtually through video link. The European Commission said on Monday that it cannot rule out the risk of gas shortages and hikes in gas prices during the winter of 2023-2024 in the EU, amid high volatility and geopolitical tensions MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) The European Commission said on Monday that it cannot rule out the risk of gas shortages and hikes in gas prices during the winter of 2023-2024 in the EU, amid high volatility and geopolitical tensions. The commission stated that although there were currently positive tendencies in gas prices in the European market, with future contracts on the TTF index (the largest hub in Europe) expected to be below previous forecasts for 2023 and 2024, a negative scenario should not be ruled out. "Yet, gas prices are still more than three times higher than 2019 prices. Moreover, in a context of high volatility amid continued geopolitical tensions, a flare-up in prices like the one experienced in 2022 cannot be ruled out, especially now . .. Risks of gas shortages in the winter of 2023-2024 cannot yet be dispelled," the commission said in its Winter Economic Forecast. Possible increases in gas prices could be caused by rising imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU and a "more vigorous rebound" in China's demand for LNG, due to the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions there, according to the forecast. The European Union has been facing a massive energy crisis after it imposed sanctions on Russia following the launch of its military operation in Ukraine on February 24. Since late 2022, gas prices in Europe have been decreasing, though experts warn of further uncertainties in the market. Several new Israeli settlements in the West Bank were legalized following a cabinet meeting on national security affairs, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said TEL AVIV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) Several new Israeli settlements in the West Bank were legalized following a cabinet meeting on national security affairs, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said. "I am glad that the cabinet accepted my request this evening to approve nine settlements," Ben-Gvir said on Twitter late on Sunday night, adding that "it is an important start" but "not enough." The press service of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the construction of new housing units on the territory of existing settlements was expected to be approved in the coming days. According to the Israeli government, the cabinet has already taken steps to boost law enforcement in Jerusalem. Israeli media reported at the end of January that Netanyahu's government was discussing a series of steps that could facilitate the issuance of permits for the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The government's plan reportedly includes approving the construction of 18,000 new housing units in the coming months, as well as the creation of a separate entity to approve the construction of non-residential complexes. 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 has refused to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, and has been constructing settlements in the occupied areas despite objections from the United Nations. Deputy Russian Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday that national energy giant Gazprom was working on accelerating construction of the Far Eastern gas route and Power of Siberia 2 pipelines, which would attract billions of dollars of additional investments MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) Deputy Russian Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday that national energy giant Gazprom was working on accelerating construction of the Far Eastern gas route and Power of Siberia 2 pipelines, which would attract billions of Dollars of additional investments. "We see the potential for growth in gas supplies to Asia-Pacific. Work has been intensified to further diversify the export infrastructure. For this purpose, Gazprom, on behalf of the Russian president, is working on accelerating the construction of the Far Eastern route, as well as the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline," he wrote in an article in the journal "Energeticheskaya politika." The deputy prime minister added that the development of these projects would attract additional 4-5 trillion rubles ($54-68 billion) of direct investments and 1. 5-2 trillion rubles in related industries, including metallurgy, cement industry, chemical industry and so on. Gazprom is supplying gas to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline. In February 2022, Gazprom signed a long-term contract with the China National Petroleum Corporation on the export of 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year via the Far East route from the Russian island of Sakhalin under the Sea of Japan. Russia and China signed an intergovernmental agreement on this route two weeks ago, however, the document has yet to be ratified. The focus on the Russian gas deliveries to China is also connected with the discussions on the construction of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which would be capable of delivering 50 billion cubic meters per year to China through Mongolia. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Bakhmut, Ukraine, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2023 ) :An ambulance screams toward a triage hub for wounded Ukrainian soldiers outside Bakhmut, the stage for the longest battle of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where there is no end in sight to a brutal stalemate. Men with limbs lost to mines and artillery wounds are pulled from battlefields carved with trenches and scarred by shells in a fight drawing comparisons to infamous battles of World War I. "It's like Verdun out there," said Ivan, an ambulance driver waiting on a roadside outside the battered industrial city in the eastern Donetsk region. Like the 1916 fight on the western front in France, the battle for Bakhmut, now in its seventh month, has been long, bloody and futile. Victory over the city, pounded to ruin, would be merely symbolic as the anniversary of the conflict looms on February 24. Yet even as the dead and wounded are rushed out or abandoned on the battlefield, both sides are digging in and flinging more troops at Bakhmut to break the deadlock. Moscow has ramped up efforts to score its first significant victory after months of setbacks, while Kyiv is determined to hold its ground. "It's a classic World War I problem," said Mark Cancian, a senior security programme adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. When Moscow's first attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces failed, Russia "kept attacking", he said. And even if they do succeed, he added, "it will mean nothing operationally and strategically". "It has a lot of symbolism, so if they captured Bakhmut, they'd make it sound like it was important, but it wouldn't be." But, he conceded, Ukraine's options are limited. "If that's where the Russians are attacking, the Ukrainians don't have a choice but to defend." British intelligence has estimated Russia's progress to be halting, but that hasn't eased pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has called for more weapons from Western partners. "If weapon (deliveries) are accelerated -- namely long-range weapons -- we will not only not withdraw from Bakhmut, we will begin to de-occupy Donbas," he told senior EU leaders in Kyiv earlier this month, referring to the wider region, including Donetsk. "We will fight as long as we can" for Bakhmut, he said. But to keep Russia at bay, Ukraine's forces also need more standard artillery and ammunition, said Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Ukrainian military analyst. "If this does not happen, then we will have serious problems in Bakhmut," he told AFP. Despite the arrival of hundreds of tv channels in the public and private sectors the world over, the importance of radio has not reduced MIRPUR (AJK) : (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2023 ):Despite the arrival of hundreds of tv channels in the public and private sectors the world over, the importance of radio has not reduced. These views were expressed by the speakers while talking to APP on the occasion of World Radio Day observed on Monday across the world. Seasoned broadcaster and head of news, current affairs section of Kashmir Radio and Radio FM-101, Ali Akhter Saleem said the observance of the World Radio Day by the PBC including AJK Radio was, indeed, an occasion of global importance for the PBC like other International Broadcasting Organizations across the globe. Highlighting the importance of the World Radio Day, Saleem observed that all the three stations of Azad Kashmir Radio Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Tararkheil planned to bring special programs on air marking the World Radio Day on Saturday. Elaborating the significance of Radio as the swift mean of infotainment, Ali Akhter Saleem underlined that the Radio still remains the medium that reaches the widest audience worldwide, in the quickest possible time. He recalled that Azad Kashmir Radio Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Tararkheil as well its sister FM channels always performed a significant role being the quick source of information and knowledge for their valued listeners during the era of emergency especially during the worst natural catastrophe of killer earthquakes of October 8, 2005 and September 24, 2019 in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur AJK particularly which had turned the life standstill following collapse of the basic infra structure. "Both of the radio stations of Muzaffarabad and Mirpur continued their uninterrupted transmissions by shifting to the containers as the broadcasting houses had gone down to earth in the deadly catestrophes of above earthquakes'', he underlined. It may be added that Azad Kashmir Radio Mirpur and its sister FM-101.04 radio are still performing in a container installed at the car-parking of its broadcasting house despite tough circumstances despite non-availability of the required infra-structure. Other speakers including seasoned casual news and program artists of different languages including English, urdu, Gojri, Pahari and Kashmiri including A. H. Rao Nizami, Muhammad Imran Chaudhry, Lateef Ghous, Aliya Sayed, Marayam QWureshi and others while referring to the role of AK Radio Mirpur and its affiliated unit FM-101, pointed out that the station was highlighting the Kashmir issue since its inception on September, 30, 2002 proving an effective voice of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir as its transmission covers the area across the LoC in Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. They underlined, while talking to APP on the World Radio Day that radio has always emerged as the quick source of infotainment because of its specific medium of functioning for swift dissemination of information and knowledge for human interest across the globe. Meanwhile, AK Radio Mirpur Monday observed the World Radio as momentous by bringing on air special programs to acknowledge the role of Radio in upgrading the extent of awareness. Mirpur Radio including its co-unit FM-101 marked the World Radio Day also produced and brought on air in national and regional languages in line with the plan inked by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday constituted a committee to meet Punjab Governor on Tuesday to consult polling date of Punjab Assembly elections in the light of Lahore High Court verdict ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2023 ) :The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday constituted a committee to meet Punjab Governor on Tuesday to consult polling date of Punjab Assembly elections in the light of Lahore High Court verdict. The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, decided to seek time from Punjab Governor to meet the committee on Tuesday for devising a future strategy regarding holding of provincial assembly elections. The committee headed by the Secretary ECP and comprising the Special Secretary and Director General Law will brief the Commission about the outcome of the meeting with the Governor. The meeting was attended by members of the Commission, Secretary ECP and senior officers of the Commission. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2023 ) :Radio Pakistan on Monday recalled Saudi King Faisal bin Abdulaziz's visit to Radio Pakistan Karachi made in May 1955 by sharing his pictures on its official social media account Twitter handle on the occasion of World Radio Day. https://twitter.com/radiopakistan/status/1624826410283208704?s=48&t=UZaZ-8b5e1nibYQE3OLGJQ Taking to Twitter, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki also cherished the beautiful memories of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz who paid a historical visit to Radio Pakistan Karachi in the mid-fifties. https://twitter.com/ambassadornawaf/status/1625049619271938048?s=48&t=mG4RLt8S_Z7kILxohyWB4Q World Radio Day is being celebrated across the world including Pakistan and the theme for the 12th edition of World Radio Day, marked on 13th February 2023, is "Radio and Peace". In reporting and informing the general public, radio stations shape public opinion and frame a narrative that can influence domestic and international situations and decision-making processes. On World Radio Day 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) highlighted independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention and peace-building. That is the reason why support for independent radio has to be viewed as an integral part of peace and stability. Meanwhile, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation organized a grand dialogue among FMs, stream channels, and OTT platforms to discuss the emerging new digital broadcasting ecosystem here at Radio Pakistan headquarters in the Federal capital. The dialogue would help shape new opportunities for broadcasters and listeners to cope with the challenging role and scope of the broadcasting industry. As part of this main event, similar events were also held at the provincial headquarters including Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan through Zoom on the same day. The dialogue was aimed at communication, collaboration, cooperation, and critical thinking for the development and effectiveness of broadcasting media in the country. It is pertinent to mention here that radio is an important source of mass communication even in the present era, which remains vital during war, peace, catastrophe, and pandemic. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Jawad Sohrab Malik on Monday met with Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mehmat Pacaci, here, and signed the condolence book ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2023 ) :Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Jawad Sohrab Malik on Monday met with Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mehmat Pacaci, here, and signed the condolence book. The SAPM expressed solidarity with the brothers and sisters of Trkiye in the wake of widespread damage and loss of lives caused by calamitous earthquakes. He also reiterated the resolve of PM Shehbaz Sharif for the people of Turkiye that "not to spare any effort to reach to our brothers in their hour of need". Penning down his remarks in the Condolence Book, the SAPM said: "The catastrophic earthquakes have not only jolted the Southern Turkiye, but the hearts of the 220 million people of Pakistan also and filled them with such a pain that would never go away. With mourning heart we as a nation pray Allah Almighty for granting eternal peace to the souls of martyrs of these earthquakes, bestow consolation, comfort and strength upon the families forever changed by grief and loss and shower. His countless blessings upon those who have survived and heal their memories of trauma and devastation. May they have the courage to face the long road of rebuilding ahead. Ameen!'" (@FahadShabbir) Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday thanked the United Arab Emirates for its emergency response and tens of millions pledged in aid to the quake-hit country, the presidency said Damascus, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2023 ):Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday thanked the United Arab Emirates for its emergency response and tens of millions pledged in aid to the quake-hit country, the presidency said. "The UAE was among the first countries that stood with Syria and sent huge relief and humanitarian aid and search and rescue teams," Assad said during a meeting in Damascus with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Nahyan arrived in Syria on Sunday, six days after a devastating earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 33,000 people in total, including over 3,500 in Syria. The minister also toured quake-hit areas in western Syria, according to UAE's official news agency WAM. A Syrian pro-regime newspaper shared images of the Emirati minister in the coastal city of Jableh, among the worst hit by the quake and where Emirati search and rescue team have been based since Friday. His visit is the first by a senior Gulf official since the 7.8-magnitude quake hit. Nahyan said the UAE remains "committed to standing by the brotherly people of Syria and providing the required support and assistance," according to WAM. The UAE minister last visited Damascus in January, when he also met Assad, on a trip that signalled warming ties with war-torn Syria after years of strained relations. The UAE pledged some $13.6 million to Syria after the disaster before announcing another $50 million in assistance. The oil-rich Gulf nation has dispatched planes to Turkey and Syria with emergency aid, food, medical supplies and rescue teams. "Sixteen Emirati planes have arrived in Syria since the earthquake hit," said Suleiman Khalil, an official at Syria's transport ministry. "Around the clock, Emirati planes have been providing an air bridge for those affected by the earthquake." In Jableh, rescue teams have worked at several locations, scouring the rubble for survivors and remains of the dead. Ties between Damascus and Abu Dhabi were strained after the Syrian civil war broke out more than a decade ago. Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League over the bloodshed. The UAE reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital in December 2018, suggesting an effort to bring Assad's regime back into the Arab fold after years of boycott. Last March, Assad made a visit to the UAE, his first to an Arab state in more than a decade. Since Monday's disaster, Arab leaders have reached out to the long politically isolated Assad to offer support for the Syrian people and pledge aid. The Syrian president received a call from his Egyptian counterpart offering support, their first official exchange since Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assumed office in 2014. Similarly, the ruler of Bahrain, which re-established diplomatic relations with Syria in 2018, called Assad on Monday, their first official conversation in more than a decade. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) Executive Vice-President for gas and low-carbon energy of the British Petroleum Company (BP) Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath said on Monday that the company's decision to maintain high fossil fuel production is not linked with the low profitability of renewable energy. Last week, the company stunned the sector with the decision to partly abandon its largest commitment in the industry to reduce oil and gas production by 2030 amid consequences of the Ukraine conflict, the Financial Times newspaper reported. The company, however, noted that it would increase funding of its low-carbon businesses by $8 billion over the next eight years, the report said. "(There is) absolutely no link between confidence in returns from renewables and the production target on the oil and gas side. I have the support to deploy $30 billion of capex (capital expenditure) to the end of the decade in my business . . . and I've seen what this company is capable of doing," Dotzenrath told the newspaper. The company will maximize profits from wind and solar projects along with lower-carbon businesses with high profitability such as hydrogen production and electric vehicle charging, the report added. "This is why you will see us being very active in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK because this is where we have excellent integration options with hydrogen, with e-mobility, with trading, with e-fuels," Dotzenrath noted. BP is one of the six largest oil and gas corporations in the world. Last year, the company registered a net loss of $2.5 billion. Europe has been facing a massive energy crisis and struggling to keep its industries running in the aftermath of the global economic recession and Russia's military operation in Ukraine. The crisis has placed energy security high on both the global and national agendas, pushing many European governments to resort to contingency measures. The selection procedure of a new NATO Secretary General is highly non-transparent, with the bloc's leading powers exerting inordinate influence over the process, a European diplomat told the Foreign Policy journal on Monday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) The selection procedure of a new NATO Secretary General is highly non-transparent, with the bloc's leading powers exerting inordinate influence over the process, a European diplomat told the Foreign Policy journal on Monday. "It is the least transparent election of all elections," the anonymous diplomat was quoted as saying in the report. The selection of a successor to the current NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, will be happening through consultations between members of the alliance, with the ultimate decision based on consensus, Foreign Policy stated, adding, however, that the US, Germany, France and the UK exercise "inordinate influence" during the process. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas are among likely candidates to succeed Stoltenberg as head of the bloc, according to the report. Stoltenberg's term as secretary general was due to expire in October 2022, but it was extended for another year, until September 30, 2023, against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis. Last year, The New York Times also named Slovak President Zuzana Caputova and ex-Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic as strong contenders for Stoltenberg's successor. The South Jakarta district court on Monday sentenced former Indonesian National Police Inspector General Ferdy Sambo to death for the intentional murder of his bodyguard, Yosua Hutabarat, in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in the country's history MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) The South Jakarta district court on Monday sentenced former Indonesian National Police Inspector General Ferdy Sambo to death for the intentional murder of his bodyguard, Yosua Hutabarat, in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in the country's history. Ferdy was convicted of the premeditated killing of Yosua at his residence on July 8, 2022, with the police general unsuccessfully trying to challenge the verdict ever since. "The defendant, Ferdy Sambo, was legally and convincingly guilty of committing a crime, participating in premeditated murder ... Therefore, (the court is) sentencing the accused (to) the death penalty," presiding judge Wahyu Iman Santoso was quoted by the Channel news Asia broadcaster as saying. The police general stated during the trial that the bodyguard had died in a firefight with another officer that broke out after Yosua had sexually assaulted Ferdy's wife. The court stated that Ferdy had ordered his advisers to carry out the murder and create the impression that a shootout had taken place. Judges also found no evidence that Ferdy's wife, Putri Candrawati, had been raped. The police general told his subordinates that Yosua had insulted him and that he "must die," Wahyu told the court. referring to a possible motive for murder. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) Moscow is closely following the development of Japan's military potential, and in the event of any threats to Russia's Far Eastern regions, such as the appearance of hypersonic missiles on the Japanese border islands, Russia will immediately respond in accordance with the defense doctrine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told Sputnik. Earlier this month, Japanese media reported that Tokyo was ready to consider the deployment of US medium-range missiles on its territory if Washington initiates official negotiations on this matter. In January, there were reports that the Japanese government had decided to start developing cruise missiles with interchangeable warheads with a range of over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), as early as this year. "Indeed, recently, Japan has sharply stepped up the modernization of its military potential, ramping up dangerous activities near the Russian borders, including conducting large-scale exercises jointly with the United States and other countries, and testing new types of missile and conventional weapons. In this regard, we have repeatedly expressed strong protest to the Japanese side through diplomatic channels," Rudenko said. Asked about how Moscow assesses Japan's plans to create long-range hypersonic missiles, Rudenko told Sputnik that Russia will continue to closely monitor the development of Japanese military potential. "...in the event of any potential security threats to our Far Eastern regions, we will immediately take retaliatory measures in accordance with Russia's defense doctrine," the deputy foreign minister said. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) The US Department of Defense (DOD) currently lacks sufficient information on the airborne objects that were shot down over the weekend, according to the Pentagon. "We have not yet been able to definitively assess what these recent objects are. We have acted out of an abundance of caution to protect our security interests," US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs Melissa Dalton said during a Sunday Pentagon briefing. Earlier on Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed that an airborne object was shot down over Lake Huron in the US state of Michigan, at the direction of US President Joe Biden, because it presented a threat due to potential surveillance capabilities. On Saturday, an unidentified object was shot down by a US F-22 aircraft over the Yukon Territory in Canada. The White House said that the downed object had been tracked over 24 hours and was unmanned. (@FahadShabbir) Residents around East Palestine, Ohio, are skeptical of US Environmental Protection Agency claims that it is safe to return home, after a train derailment earlier this month led authorities to burn hazardous materials inside tanker cars to preempt an explosion, NewsNation reported on Monday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) Residents around East Palestine, Ohio, are skeptical of US Environmental Protection Agency claims that it is safe to return home, after a train derailment earlier this month led authorities to burn hazardous materials inside tanker cars to preempt an explosion, NewsNation reported on Monday. Residents have since complained of feeling ill and noted animals getting sick and fish dying in bodies of water. Three days after the derailment on February 3, authorities burned vinyl chloride inside five tanker cars, which released hydrogen chloride and phosgene, the report said. The EPA says tests indicate the surrounding air and water are safe for residents. Two Pennsylvania residents filed a Federal lawsuit last Thursday against Norfolk Southern, calling for the railway to pay for medical screenings and care for residents living within a 30-mile radius of the derailment site in Ohio and Pennsylvania. ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) An order for the arrest of 31 people was issued in the central Turkish province of Malatya as part of the case over buildings destroyed by the deadly earthquakes, a Turkish media outlet reported on Monday. The prosecutor's office in Malatya launched an investigation into construction defects of the collapsed buildings, the TRT Haber broadcaster reported. The number of people arrested on the case is expected to grow, the news outlet added. On January 6, parts of Turkey and Syria were hit by a series of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks that killed over 33,000 people, most of them in Turkey, destroying thousands of homes. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad "a short while ago," United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad "a short while ago," United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. "Mr. Griffiths met with President Assad short while ago. We are still waiting for a readout of that meeting," Dujarric said during a press briefing on Monday. Griffiths visited over the weekend the areas affected by the recent devastating earthquakes and is expected to soon relay to the United Nations his impressions about the humanitarian situation in the country. (@ChaudhryMAli88) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2023) The US Department of Defense (DOD) currently lacks sufficient information on the airborne objects that were shot down over the past days, according to the Pentagon. "We have not yet been able to definitively assess what these recent objects are. We have acted out of an abundance of caution to protect our security interests," US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs Melissa Dalton said during a Sunday Pentagon briefing. Dalton said that after the Chinese balloon incident, the US military has been more thorough in tracking suspicious objects in US airspace, which is why a larger number of objects has been detected. Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, head of the US Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), said during the Sunday briefing that he was urging people not to attribute the recent airborne object incidents to any specific country, since the Pentagon lacked information in that respect. When asked about the objects' possible connection to aliens, VanHerck told reporters that he has not "ruled out anything" and was going to "let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. " The NORAD head said he could not explain precisely how the objects stayed in the air - there could have been gas-filled balloons inside the objects or another type of propulsion system. Earlier on Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed that an airborne object was shot down over Lake Huron in the US state of Michigan, at the direction of US President Joe Biden, because it presented a threat due to potential surveillance capabilities. On Saturday, an unidentified object was shot down by a US F-22 aircraft over the Yukon Territory in Canada. The White House said that the downed object had been tracked over 24 hours and was unmanned. On Friday, the Biden administration announced that the United States shot down an unidentified object flying at approximately 40,000 feet near Alaska's northern coast along the Arctic Ocean. Biden ordered US military aircraft to take down the object due to a potential hazard to civilian airplanes. USM Celebrates Arbor Day with Planting of Live Oak Trees Mon, 02/13/2023 - 10:37am | By: Van Arnold Students from the DuBard School for Language Disorders at The University of Southern Mississippi help plant trees as part of Arbor Day festivities. (Photo by Kelly Dunn) The University of Southern Mississippi celebrated Arbor Day with the planting of three live oak trees on Friday, Feb. 10 at the front lawn of the Hattiesburg campus. The planting also coincided with the 10th anniversary of a destructive F-4 tornado that tore through that section of the campus. Among the casualties from the 2013 tornado were three of the four majestic legacy oak trees that once adorned the front landscape. Those trees were estimated to be at least 90 years old. Approximately 75 trees were lost during the devastating tornado of 2013, but USM officials worked with Neel-Schaffer Engineering on a landscape restoration plan that has helped rebuild so much of that damage, said Michael Scully, Superintendent of Campus Landscape at USM. Since the tornado, we have planted about 130 trees and also added a significant irrigation system to the campus. All of this has helped to complete the vision of 2013. Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. The first Arbor Day occurred on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska City, Nebraska. It's estimated that nearly one million trees were planted on this day. A Lincoln crash involving a Beatrice ambulance sent two workers with Beatrice Fire and Rescue to an area hospital. On Sunday, Beatrice Fire and Rescue workers were involved in a crash while transporting a patient to Lincoln. The crash occurred when a vehicle failed to yield to Beatrices ambulance at an intersection in Lincoln. The ambulance was totaled in the crash, according to Beatrice Fire and Rescue. Two Fire and Rescue employees were taken to Bryan West Hospital in Lincoln to be evaluated. The department did not share the status of the patient who was being transported at the time of the crash. Both Beatrice Fire and Rescue workers were released from the hospital that afternoon. Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. The Philippine Coast Guard said Monday that when Chinas coast guard aimed a military grade laser earlier this month at a Philippine crew, the light temporarily blinded the crew members. The ships were in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Images of the incident show a green light coming from the Chinese ship. Other countries have also accused China of the same thing. The Philippine crew was delivering food and supplies to military personnel stationed on a ship in Second Thomas Shoal, 195 kilometers off the Philippine province of Palawan. The Philippine coast guard also accused the Chinese ship of making dangerous maneuvers as it approached the Philippine vessel. China claims the entire South China Sea, but other countries have also laid claim to portions of the sea. Some information in this report came from Reuters. The United States military reported Sunday that 12 al-Shabab militants were killed in a new airstrike in central Somalia. The U.S. Africa Command known as AFRICOM said in a statement that the collective self-defense strike occurred February 10 at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia. The strike occurred in a remote area approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) southwest of the Indian Ocean port town of Hobyo, about 472 kilometers (293 miles) northeast of Mogadishu, according to the statement. AFRICOM did not specify the location, but Somali government media reported it took place in Donlaye, near Amara town in Galmudug state. The Somali government claimed 117 militants were killed in Fridays operation. Brigadier General Mohamed Tahlil Bihi, infantry commander of the Somali national army, told state media that the militants were in trenches fighting against Somali government forces. He also confirmed an airstrike targeted the militants during the firefight with Somali forces. AFRICOM said the strike took place in a remote location and assessed that no civilians were injured or killed. U.S. Africa Command will continue to assess the results of this operation and will provide additional information as appropriate, the statement read. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operations security. Its the fourth collective self-defense strike by the U.S. military in Somalia this year. The previous three strikes occurred January 20 near Galcad town, killing approximately 30 al-Shabab fighters, January 23 near Harardhere town, killing two militants; and a January 25 near Harardhere which killed four militants. In addition, the U.S. conducted a counterterrorism operation January 26 that killed Bilal al-Sudani, a key Islamic State Somalia branch commander in the Cal-Miskaad mountains in the Puntland semi-autonomous region. The Somali government has been engaged in military operations aimed at recovering territories from al-Shabab. The U.S. and Turkish governments have been providing air support to the Somali army. Both governments are also training elite Somali forces who have been at the forefront of the recent military operations. Editor's note: Corrects story to clarify that latest strike was the fourth collective self-defense strike by the U.S. military in Somalia this year. Algerian authorities have arrested the mother and sister of wanted activist Amira Bouraoui days after she left for France, a rights group and a radio reported on Sunday. Bouraoui, a French-Algerian doctor by training, had been arrested in Tunisia last week and risked being deported to Algeria, but she was finally able to board a flight to France on Monday evening. The 46-year-old was sentenced in Algeria in May 2021 to two years in jail for "offending Islam" and for insulting the president. Her departure, following French intervention, created a diplomatic incident between Algiers and Paris, with Algeria recalling its ambassador from France for consultations. On Saturday, officers in Algiers arrested her mother, Khadidja Bouaroui, 71, and her sister Wafa and searched their home, the National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees (CNLD) and Radio M reported. Early Sunday, Wafa was released but Bouraoui's mother was kept in detention and transferred to Annaba near the border with Tunisia, the CNLD said. A cousin who lives in Annaba was also arrested, the reports said. Algeria, in an official statement released by the president's office Wednesday, "firmly protested against the clandestine and illegal exfiltration" of Amira Bouraoui via Tunisia to France. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune also ordered ambassador Said Moussi to be recalled "with immediate effect. Ties between France and Algeria had been frosty since autumn 2021 but warmed when French President Emmanuel Macron visited Algiers last August. On the 15th anniversary of its historic apology to Australias Stolen Generations, the government has announced a $292 million plan to address Indigenous disadvantage. The money will be spent in areas such as housing, food, education and water supplies. In 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized to First Nations people who had been forcibly removed from their families over successive generations until the early 1970s. The apology was an acknowledgement that successive governments had failed Indigenous Australians. Fifteen years later, the center-left Labor government conceded that Australia needs to do much more to tackle disadvantage in First Nations communities. The 2022 annual report on closing the gap between the health and well-being of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians found only limited progress had been made. On Monday, the Canberra government released its new Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, which allocates $292 million to improve First Nations housing, education and water infrastructure and make food more affordable in remote areas. Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Monday that the funding will improve basic services. There are many communities remote Aboriginal communities in Australia that do not have clean drinking water, cannot have dialysis because the water is not clean enough for the dialysis machines despite the fact that renal failure is such an issue in our communities, Burney said. Indigenous Australians make up about 3% of Australias population of 25 million people. First Nations history dates back an estimated 65,000 years, but campaigners insist that the impact of European colonization in the late 1800s was, and remains, catastrophic. Community groups argue that the loss of customary land, discrimination and marginalization has left Aboriginal communities with disproportionately high rates of poverty, imprisonment and ill-health. On average, life expectancy for Indigenous Australians is about eight years less than for their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy told local media that the plan announced Monday would help "turn the tide" toward improving the lives of Australia's original inhabitants. Thousands of refugees across Australia who have lived on temporary visas for years will be eligible to permanently stay under new rules, starting Monday. Australia has, however, reiterated its support for controversial border protection measures. Around 19,000 people who arrived in Australia before the start of Operation Sovereign Borders in 2013 will be covered by the changes. The center-left government promised last year to abolish Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas, which were described as cruel by human rights groups. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles told local media Monday that it made no sense to keep refugees in limbo. Those granted a new visa will have the same rights as other permanent residents in Australia. They will have access to welfare payments and higher education support. They will also be able to become citizens and will be able to sponsor relatives to come to Australia. Jana Favero, director of advocacy at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, a rights organization, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Monday the new visas will change lives. This change is truly monumental in the lives of people who are on temporary protection visas as they can now get on with and rebuild their lives, see their family and have the permanency and safety that they deserve, Favero said. However, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil has reiterated the government's support for the decade-old border policy and has both warned asylum-seekers not to try to come to Australia by boat and said they would not be allowed to stay if they did. Under Operation Sovereign Borders, the navy has been towing or turning away migrant boats trying to reach Australian waters. The policy has been condemned by rights groups. Opposition lawmakers say the new visa changes will encourage more asylum-seekers to try to reach Australia by sea and would enliven opportunities for people smugglers. President Joe Biden has fired the embattled Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, following a scathing inspector general report on his personal and professional management and calls for his removal. The White House said Monday that Blanton's appointment was terminated. It comes as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday he'd lost confidence in Blanton's ability to do the job. An inspector general report released last year found "administrative, ethical and policy violations" by Blanton, a Trump-era appointee, including that he abused his government vehicle and misrepresented himself as a law enforcement official. A House hearing last week unearthed new questions and criticisms including that he was not at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when it came under attack by former President Donald Trump's supporters. "The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately," McCarthy said Monday in a tweet. The speaker's statement came as questions and criticism swirled around the architect, who is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the historic Capitol building and its surrounding complex and grounds. Blanton has come under intense criticism after the inspector general report found Blanton allowed unauthorized use of his work vehicle, including by his wife and adult daughter, racking up nearly 30,000 miles about triple the estimate for his official use. Blanton also came under fire when he testified that he was not at the Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack because it was a "telework" day under COVID-19 protocols. He also faced fierce questions about Capitol tours he allowed and sometimes conducted despite pandemic restrictions. An investigation launched after a hotline tip about unauthorized use of his work vehicle drew attention to his office. On Monday, the chairman of the House Administration Committee, Rep. Bryan Steil, a Republican from Wisconsin, also called on Blanton to immediately resign. "The Inspector General's report was highly concerning," Steil said. He said at last week's hearing, Blanton's "refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately. I look forward to continuing to conduct robust oversight to ensure our government is accountable to the American people." The Office of the Inspector General report issued in October 2022 found that Blanton had "Abused His Authority, Misused Government Property and Wasted Taxpayer Money, Among Other Substantiated Violations." The inspector general said it received a hotline complaint on March 7, 2021, "concerning the misuse" of an AOC (Architect of the Capitol) vehicle. It said the black Ford Explorer near the Walmart at Tyson's Corner was driving "extremely reckless in the parking garage and swerving out of the garage at a high rate of speed, estimated to be about 65 miles per hour (mph) in a 30-mph zone." The complainant said the driver, a woman later identified to be Blanton's adult daughter, "made obscene gestures toward them while at the stop sign outside the parking garage." The report said the family racked up miles on the vehicle beyond what was estimated for the architect's official use, amounting to $13,926.56 in questioned costs. It said the daughter had referred to using the AOC's fuel as "free gas." "The AOC OIG found overwhelming evidence that Blanton and his family continually misused AOC vehicles" intended for home-to-work use, the report said. Blanton was nominated in December 2019 by Trump as the 12th Architect of the Capitol and confirmed to the post by the U.S. Senate. The architect's job is sweeping and historic, responsible for maintenance and operation of the U.S. Capitol and its expansive grounds and building complex. Blanton, a former U.S. Naval officer, is a civil engineer and previously worked as deputy vice president at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. California's U.S. Senate race is unfolding at a furious pace, with candidates reporting seven-figure fundraising and holding competing rallies and campaign events more than a year before the 2024 primary election. The fight for the safely Democratic seat held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who at 89 is the oldest member of Congress, is shaping up as a marquee match-up between nationally known rivals and is likely to become one of the most expensive Senate races in the country next year. On Saturday, Democratic U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, who rose to prominence as the lead prosecutor in former President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial, gathered hundreds of supporters in a union hall parking lot for a rally in his hometown of Burbank, California, where he implored the cheering crowd, "Let's go win this thing." Schiff, who announced his candidacy last month, said he was running for Senate after two decades in Congress "to build an economy that works for everyone, a democracy that will last for all time and a planet that doesn't melt beneath our feet." A day earlier, Democratic U.S. Rep. Katie Porter brought her Senate campaign to Los Angeles, where she met with local leaders to discuss pollution in lower-income neighborhoods. She said such areas are often overlooked in Washington and Sacramento, where residents' complaints about unhealthy conditions go unheard. Porter, a leader in Congress' progressive wing, built a reputation for her tough questioning of CEOs and other witnesses at congressional hearings often using a whiteboard to break down information. Other potential contenders for the seat include Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. If she runs and is elected, Lee would be the only Black woman in the Senate. Feinstein has yet to say if she will seek a seventh term. In recent years, questions have arisen about her cognitive health and memory, though she has defended her effectiveness. However, her reticence about her future has created a publicly awkward dynamic the race to replace her is rapidly taking shape, even as the senator remains unclear about her intentions. Schiff's rally, held on a nippy, mostly overcast morning, marked the start of a two-week statewide tour, with stops to include San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno and San Francisco. He was joined by his wife, Eve, one of his two children, Alexa, and David McMillan, whom the congressman mentored as a youth and considers part of his family. After recounting his career as a federal prosecutor, state legislator and member of Congress, Schiff made clear he would anchor his campaign to his role as impeachment manager and Trump's chief antagonist in Congress. He has been a frequent target of conservatives Trump in particular since the then-GOP-led House Intelligence Committee he served on started investigating Trump's ties to Russia in the 2016 election. He mentioned "democracy" more than a half-dozen times in the speech. He's selling T-shirts and coffee mugs on his campaign website, with the slogan "Democracy Matters." He called Trump, who has announced his 2024 campaign for the presidency, "a demagogue bent on destroying our democracy." "We investigated Trump. We impeached him. We held him accountable and then we defeated him at the ballot box," Schiff said to cheers. "And we will defeat him again, if the GOP is foolish enough to nominate him. He will never see the inside of the Oval Office, never again." Trump was impeached in December 2019 on charges he abused the power of the presidency to investigate rival Joe Biden and obstructed Congress' investigation. The Republican-led Senate acquitted Trump of both charges. In 2021, he became the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, this time for inciting the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol after he lost the 2020 election. He was again acquitted by the Senate. Schiff's other foundational issues include fighting climate change and improving the economy. "Too many people are working multiple jobs but cannot pay the rent, afford groceries or pay for lifesaving medication," he said. "Too many children are growing up in poverty and hungry." Schiff and Porter, both prolific small-dollar fundraisers, already are dueling over campaign dollars and endorsements. Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco is backing Schiff, providing Feinstein retires, and Porter is supported by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Democrats are expected to dominate the contest in the famously liberal state a Republican hasn't won a statewide race in California since 2006, and the past two Senate elections had only Democrats on the November ballot. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to allow the United Nations to temporarily use two additional border crossings from Turkey to get aid to earthquake victims inside Syria. "I welcome the decision today by President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to open the two crossing points of Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra'ee from Turkiye to northwest Syria for an initial period of three months to allow for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid," Guterres said in a statement while the Security Council met on the issue. "As the toll of the 6 February earthquake continues to mount, delivering food, health, nutrition, protection, shelter, winter supplies and other lifesaving supplies to all the millions of people affected is of the utmost urgency," the U.N. chief added. The announcement came hours after his humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, met with Assad and senior Syrian officials in Damascus. Griffiths has called in recent days for the regime to open more access for humanitarians. "President al-Assad affirmed the need for bringing in the urgent aid to all areas in Syria, including those that are subjected to occupation and the dominance of the armed terrorist groups," the official Syrian news agency SANA said about the meeting. Griffiths was in a private meeting briefing the council remotely when the secretary-general made the announcement. If Assad had failed to agree to the access, it could have led to a contentious effort in the 15-nation council to have the request approved in a resolution. Since 2019, Russia has narrowed four crossing points to just one that helps the U.N. reach 2.4 million Syrians each month in the country's northwest. After 12 years of civil war, the region is the last opposition stronghold. The 4 million residents, already exhausted from war, a crippling economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, were also hit hard by last Monday's earthquake. The U.N. has come under criticism from many quarters for the slow response to people inside Syria, particularly in that area. The first aid convoy crossed into northwest Syria on February 9, after the road from the U.N.'s transshipment hub at Gaziantep in Turkey was cleared of rubble. Since the quake, the U.N. says a total of 58 trucks have crossed into northwest Syria from the hub in Turkey, through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, carrying mainly shelter and non-food items. That included six trucks on Monday. "Opening these crossing points along with facilitating humanitarian access, accelerating visa approvals and easing travel between hubs will allow more aid to go in, faster," Guterres said. The U.N. plans to launch flash appeals this week to fund quake-related humanitarian operations in both countries for the next three months. OMAHA, Neb. The fiery derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals sending a huge plume of smoke in the air and forcing residents of a small Ohio town to evacuate has highlighted the potentially disastrous consequences of train accidents and raised questions about railroad safety. The railroad industry is generally regarded as the safest option for most goods and federal data show accidents involving hazardous materials are exceedingly rare. But with rails crossing through the heart of nearly every city and town nationwide, even one hazardous materials accident could be disastrous, especially in a populated area. Rail unions believe the industry has gotten riskier in recent years after widespread job cuts left workers spread thin. It raises all kinds of questions, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told Fox & Friends this week when he was asked whether hazardous materials are too dangerous to transport by rail. Weve seen it up close and personal the last few days," DeWine said. "This is a big, big deal. About half of the 4,800 residents in the eastern Ohio town of East Palestine and those in the surrounding area, including parts of Pennsylvania, had to evacuate as officials monitored air and water quality following a controlled burn of chemicals released from damaged tank cars. The evacuation order was lifted Wednesday after the air was deemed safe. Im scared to go back home, resident Brittany Dailey said Monday. Im eventually going to have to go back, but it makes me want to sell my house and move at this point. Ian Jefferies, head of the Association of American Railroads trade group, said 99.9% of all hazardous materials shipments reach their destinations safely. Federal Railroad Administration data showed hazardous chemicals were released during 11 train accidents nationwide last year, out of roughly 535 million miles, with only two injuries reported. In the past decade, releases of hazardous materials peaked at 20 in both 2018 and 2020. Railroads are the safest form of moving goods across land in the country without question, Jefferies said. But railroads are also working to drive toward zero incidents. Railroads try to route hazardous materials shipments on the safest path. Most of the worst derailments in recent years happened in rural areas, but in 2013 a derailment in Canada killed 47 people in the town of Lac Megantic and caused millions of dollars in damage. A 2005 derailment in Graniteville, South Carolina, killed nine people and injured more than 250 after toxic chlorine gases were released. Hazardous materials account for about 7-8% of the 30 million shipments that railroads deliver across the country every year. But because of the way railroads mix freight together, at least a couple cars of hazardous materials can be found on nearly any train besides grain or coal trains. Railroads are a very safe form of transportation from a standpoint of statistics, said professor David Clarke, who previously led the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee. "That doesnt mean that youre never going to have an accident. That would be unrealistic for any type of transportation to have zero accidents. Some say that's not enough. An East Palestine business owner and two other residents sued the rail operator in federal court on Tuesday, alleging negligence. Among other things, the lawsuit says the railroad failed to maintain and inspect its tracks and rail cars, failed to provide appropriate employee training, and failed to reasonably warn the public. Greg Regan, president of the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department coalition, said he worries the chances of a catastrophic derailment are increasing because major freight railroads have eliminated roughly one-third of their workers over the past six years. Companies have shifted to running fewer, longer trains and say they don't need as many crews, mechanics and locomotives. Before those operating changes, Regan said inspectors used to have about two minutes to inspect every railcar. Now they only get roughly 30 to 45 seconds to check each car. Signalmen who maintain crossing guards and safety signals along the tracks also have bigger territories, making it harder to keep up with preventative maintenance. Theyre really just trying to squeeze as much productivity out of these workers as they can," Regan said. "And when youre focused on timing and rushing, unfortunately sometimes things can fall through the cracks. Professor Allan Zarembski, who leads the University of Delaware's Rail Engineering and Safety Program, said railroads are continually working to improve safety and prevent derailments. Railroads are developing new acoustic detectors being placed along tracks to signal if a bearing is about to fail. Heat sensors also have been in place for years to spot overheating bearings, which is one of the most common causes of an axle failure, Zarembski said. Railroads and the shipping companies that own tank cars also have been steadily improving them to reduce the chances they will rupture in a derailment. Railroads also invest about $24 billion per year in maintaining and improving tracks to help prevent problems. Why the US falls behind in passenger train travel Why the US falls behind in passenger train travel The US has one of the most extensive rail systems in the world, but its primarily used for freight Freight-related delays have limited Amtrak's on-time performance Investment in rail has lagged behind highways and air travel Private and state investment could also expand passenger infrastructure There were tears at Cambodias Voice of Democracy on Monday as journalist Khan Leakhena reacted to the sudden order to close the news website. I worked here not for money, but due to my love, said Khan Leakhena, as others comforted the reporter. Khan Leakhena is one of more than 30 journalists affected by Prime Minister Hun Sens order to revoke the outlets license. The order is in response to the media outlet reporting on Cambodia agreeing to send $100,000 in humanitarian aid to Turkey after last weeks devastating earthquake. Voice of Democracy reported that the prime ministers son, Hun Manet, had signed an aid order on behalf of Cambodias leader. The leader and his son later denied that was the case and demanded an apology. Voice of Democracy sent two letters to Hun Sen expressing regret and requesting forgiveness [for] any unintentional wrongdoing. The media outlet later ran a follow-up story to say that Hun Manet had denied signing the order. But the move to revoke the license remained. [T]he news outlet seriously breached journalistic professionalism by affecting the fame and prestige of the government due to not running any correction in accordance with Press Law, read a letter from Cambodias information ministry. And in a Facebook post on Hun Sens official page early Monday, the prime minister said his order to close the outlet stood. Cambodian internet service providers and mobile operators later blocked access to Voice of Democracys news websites in English and Khmer. And the Ministry of Information revoked the operating license. Ith Sothoeuth, media director at the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, which oversees Voice of Democracy, said the action has shut down credible and reliable news for the public. We are hopeful that this is not the end of everything yet. We will try our best to work with relevant stakeholders. Hopefully, the solution will be realized soon, he told media outlets that had gathered at the Voice of Democracy newsroom Monday. Media analysts see Voice of Democracy as one of the few independent news outlets left in Cambodia. Founded in 2003, the media outlets journalists have taken on big issues including deforestation, cyber scams, and a repressive political space in the lead-up to the 2022 local elections. In the past year, it published dozens of articles on a people trafficking operation inside Cambodia. Khan Leakhena, 31, had joined Voice of Democracy as an intern about 10 years ago and worked her way up in the newsroom. She was regularly featured on the outlets Facebook Live feed, which has 1.8 million viewers, to report on breaking news and protests. The shutdown was very rushed. I cried not because I lost the job, but I regretted my work that I have built for many years, she told VOA Khmer. Serious threat Media rights organization and the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh voiced concern at Mondays decision. In a statement, the embassy said it was deeply troubled by the abrupt decision. For more than 20 years, VOD has provided objective, fact-based reporting on issues that serve the interests of the Cambodian people, said the statement. We urge Cambodian authorities to revisit this decision. Media groups noted that the order comes ahead of elections scheduled for July. A joint statement from nearly 100 nongovernmental organizations said that the closure undermines the governments claims to respect a free press and appears to reflect a failure to uphold the 1995 Law on the Press. The decision to revoke [Voice of Democracys] media license ahead of the July 2023 national elections represents a fresh wave of intimidation tactics against the countrys dwindling independent media that mirrors the 2017 closure of the Cambodia Daily and the 2018 sale of the Phnom Penh Post, read the February 13 statement. Prime Minister Hun Sens arbitrary deadline signals a serious threat to all independent media and journalists in Cambodia. Cambodia has existing laws for how to deal with an alleged misquote or factual error in a media report, it added. Under the press law, people have the right to demand a retraction and reply from a publisher when they believe a statement is false. Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement that authorities had never liked Voice of Democracys reporting, including its coverage of a cyber scam syndicate involved in human trafficking. Its likely [Voice of Democracy was] living on borrowed time for a while. But thats no excuse for this outrageous and ridiculous order to shut them down based on the silliest of rationales about who signed a government document to give aid to Turkey, Robertson said. A spokesperson for Cambodias information ministry could not be reached for comment via phone late Monday, local time. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Hun Sen said, Foreign friends or civil society group need to understand both facts and legal aspects of this case before expressing opinion [critical of government]. The rights group Licadho likened Mondays order to the government pressure on journalists ahead of the 2018 national election. Also, Shawn Crispin of the Committee to Protect Journalists noted the forthcoming election. In a statement, he said, If Cambodia wants to maintain any pretense of democracy ahead of this years general elections, independent media must be allowed to report without fear of reprisal. Chak Sopheap, executive director of the nongovernmental Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said she hoped that Prime Minister Hun Sen would reconsider his decision. We need to acknowledge the values of [Voice of Democracy] which has contributed than using small things to shut [it] down, she told the media on Monday. Cambodia ranks 142 out of 180 countries, where 1 denotes the best media environment, on Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom index. This story originated in VOAs Khmer Service. Economic hardship and media restrictions stemming from the 2021 return to power of Afghanistan's Taliban have reportedly forced approximately 34% of radio stations to shutter operations in the country, rendering hundreds of men and women jobless. The Afghan Independent Journalists Union (AIJU), a Kabul-based local media monitor, released the figures Monday to mark World Radio Day. AIJU President Hujatullah Mujadidi told VOA that 345 radio channels were operating in the country before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, employing nearly 5,000 people, 25% of them women. But 117 stations have since ceased broadcasting due to economic problems, Mujadidi said, adding that 1,900 people, more than half of them women, subsequently lost their jobs. The remaining 228 stations employ more than 1,800 workers, including a few dozen women. International sanctions on Taliban leaders and the suspension of financial assistance have deepened economic troubles in the largely aid-dependent country, multiplying challenges facing the Afghan media industry. Critics say increasing censorship and alleged abuses of journalists by Taliban authorities have severely undermined the Afghan free press. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported last November that more than 200 journalists had suffered "arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment, threats, and intimidation" since the Taliban retook the country. Hundreds of Afghan journalists have since fled to neighboring Pakistan and other countries, fearing reprisals for their critical reporting while the Taliban were waging a deadly insurgency against the United States-backed former Afghan government in Kabul. Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says within the first three months of the Taliban takeover in 2021, 43% of Afghan media outlets were shuttered, and 84% of female journalists lost their jobs. Taliban authorities reject the accusations of abuse and blame the closures on lack of funding. Critics question that assertion. The Taliban in late 2022 blocked VOA FM broadcasts, and in 2023 at least three privately owned telecoms companies blocked access to VOA's Pashto and Dari websites and the sites for Azadi Radio, run by VOA's sister network, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. In an interview with VOA's Afghan Service on Monday, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid did not directly respond to questions about why they ordered the broadcaster to be blocked. "After the Taliban came to power, we have not blocked a single media outlet. All of them are active," Mujahid said. "Of course, there are amendments in the publications. The fundamental Shariah and Islamic problems that existed have been corrected." The spokesperson said that any outlets that have shuttered did so because of a loss of funding and "due to the weak economy." The Islamist rulers are also under fire for their sweeping restrictions on Afghan women, who are barred from receiving an education and from most workplaces in the country. No foreign government has yet granted legitimacy to the Taliban regime over human rights concerns, especially the treatment of Afghan women. VOA Afghan Service's Najiba Salam contributed to this report. Police in New York said Monday a man drove a small U-Haul rental truck onto a sidewalk in Brooklyn, striking multiple people before he was taken into custody. A police official told The Associated Press that at least eight pedestrians were injured, and two are in critical condition. Police pursued the truck on a chase through the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, stopping it 5 kilometers away before the vehicle entered a tunnel to Manhattan. Video from news helicopters over the scene showed the truck pinned next to a building, its path blocked by a police cruiser. New York City councilmember Justin Brannan tweeted, "We have no idea of motives at this time, but this wasn't an accident." He told WABC-TV in New York that "police approached this driver and tried to get him to pull over, and at that time, he said something to the effect of, 'I want to die,' and then proceeded to start driving on the sidewalks in Bay Ridge." The station reported that police called in a bomb squad to search for explosives in the vehicle but found nothing suspicious. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Russian forces continue their assault on Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut. Moldovas President claims Russia is trying to destabilize the country, so how will its new government address the challenge? Plus, providing aid to abandoned pets in war zones. The German government wants to temporarily ease visa restrictions for survivors of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria who have close family ties to Germany if they are facing homelessness or were injured. "It's about helping in times of need. We want to make it possible for Turkish or Syrian families in Germany to bring close relatives from the disaster region," German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser tweeted late Saturday. "They can find shelter with us and receive medical treatment," Faeser said. "With regular visas, which are issued quickly and are valid for three months." However, not all the requirements of a regular visa procedure are being waived. Applicants must still be able to present a valid passport likely to be an obstacle for people who fled collapsing buildings. Several million people in Germany have Turkish roots because, more than 60 years ago, West Germany recruited "guest workers" from Turkey and elsewhere to help the country advance economically. More recently, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees came to Germany looking for safety from the brutal civil war back home. Turkish and Syrian immigrants in Germany have been collecting aid, sending donations and worrying for their relatives back home. Calls to allow them to take in close family members from the devastated regions had been growing for days. The German government said it would ease the normally very strict and bureaucratic visa conditions quickly, adding that the foreign ministry had already both increased its staff in Turkey and redeployed capacity at visa acceptance centers there. Earthquake victims who wish to seek refuge in Germany and want to apply for a three-month visa need to prove that they have close family members in Germany who have German citizenship or a permanent right of residence, German news agency dpa reported. The German host family member must submit a declaration promising to pay for the living expenses and subsequent departure of the person taken in. Greeces foreign minister is the first among his European colleagues to visit quake-hit Turkey to survey the extent of the disaster caused by last weeks twin quakes there. His visit was greeted warmly a sharp contrast to the tension and hostility that has gripped relations between NATO allies Greece and Turkey for years. Pundits speak of a thawing in relations and the start of so-called earthquake diplomacy. However, serious problems remain between the two countries.]] The image took many Greeks and Turks by surprise Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias stepping off the plane in Turkey only to be greeted by his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglou, with open arms, a huge hug, and a meaningful message. "We should not have to wait for an earthquake or some sort of natural catastrophe to improve relations between us," he said. Cavusoglou's remark was quickly echoed by the Greek foreign minister. But Dendias then went further, spelling out the extent of Greeces willingness, as he put it, to assist its rival neighbor, a week after a set of powerful earthquakes flattened several cities, leaving tens of thousands of people dead and thousands homeless. At the instruction of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Dendias said, I come here to reassure Turkey that Greece will not only do its utmost to provide assistance on a bilateral level but also as a European Union member state. That means support for EU crisis funding to Turkey money that the government in Ankara and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan desperately need in the wake of a financial crisis that has been gripping Turkey for months now. Although NATO allies, Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over competing rights to the Aegean Sea that divides them. A similar set of deadly quakes in both countries in 1999 saw a spectacular turn in relations, allowing the two rivals to re-configure their testy ties. Pundits and politicians now hope for a repeat show of earthquake diplomacy, as it was dubbed 20-plus years ago. Since the deadly quakes last week, scores of Greek rescue teams have sped to assist in many recovery operations. A massive public outpouring of aid and sympathy has seen convoys of aid leaving Greece for Turkey daily. And Erdogan, the Turkish president who publicly swore last year to never speak to the Greek leader for urging the U.S. Congress to block the sale of F-16 warplanes to his country, is now taking his calls, accepting 80 metric tons of medical and first aid equipment. Senior Greek officials tell VOA that the government is also preparing to send cruise ships to Turkey to help accommodate tens of thousands of people left homeless after the deadly shocks. A break in the hostility gripping relations between Greece and Turkey for three years now would prove remarkable, pundits, politicians and military experts here say. But they also warn Mitsotakis and the government not to lose sight of what they call a problematic neighbor. Retired Military Chief Konstantinos Ginis explains. "The geopolitical conditions of 1999 are completely different than those today," he said. "Back then, the government was weaker Erdogan was on the rise, posing as a sympathetic force to Europe and the West. But now, that is not the case. And with elections looming in Turkey, Erdogan remains unpredictable." A court run by Yemen's Iran-backed rebels on Sunday upheld a five-year sentence against a female actor and one of her companions who were convicted of committing an indecent act and having drugs in her possession, her lawyer said. The arrest of Intisar al-Hammadi and the three other women in February 2021 as well as the court proceedings against them have been widely criticized by international rights groups. The case has mirrored widespread Houthi repression and crackdown on women in areas they control in war-torn Yemen. Al-Hammadi and one of the women were first sentenced in November 2021 to five years. The other two were handed one and three years in prison, respectively. The Court of Appeals in the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa upheld the sentences against al-Hammadi and Yousra al-Nashri, who was also handed a five-year sentence, according to lawyer Khalid al-Kamal, who represents all four women. Al-Hammadi, who is also a model, was born to a Yemeni father and an Ethiopian mother. She has worked as a model for four years and acted in two Yemeni soap drama series in 2020. She was the sole breadwinner for her four-member family, including her blind father and a disabled brother. Human Rights Watch has previously criticized the court proceedings as "marred with irregularities and abuse." It said the Houthis confiscated al-Hammadi's phone and "her modeling photos were treated like an act of indecency." Yemen has been convulsed by civil war since 2014 when Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital of Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in March 2015 to try to restore the government to power. In the Houthi-held areas, women who dare dissent, or even enter the public sphere, have become targets in an escalating crackdown by the Iran-backed rebels. Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards flooded the streets of Madrid on Sunday for the largest protest yet against the regional government's management of the capital city's health care services. More than 250,000 people rallied in the city center, according to the central Spanish government. Organizers claimed the crowd was bigger by several hundred thousand. Many protest participants carried homemade signs with messages in Spanish like, "The right to health is a human right. Defend the health service." Health worker associations led the demonstration, which was backed by left-wing parties, unions and normal citizens concerned with what they see as the dismantling of the public health care system by the Madrid region's conservative-led government. These groups have taken to the streets on a regular basis in recent months, and their movement is gathering strength. Madrid's regional chief, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, alleges the protests are motivated by the political interests of left-wing rivals ahead of May regional elections across most of Spain. Health care workers claim that Diaz Ayuso's administration spends the least amount per capita on primary health care of any Spanish region even though it has the highest per capita income. They say that for every two euros spent on health care in Madrid, one ends up in the private sector. Critics of her administration say that produces long waits for patients and overworked doctors and nurses. Spain has a hybrid health care system, but the public sector is larger than the private one and is considered a basic pillar of the state. It is run by Spain's regions. Israel has retroactively authorized nine Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank. Mass construction of Israeli homes in the settlements will also be part of the deal. The newly authorized settlements will likely be a hindrance to a Palestinian peace deal with Israel, as the Jewish settlements are on land the Palestinians want for a Palestinian state. Most of the international community regards the settlements as illegal. The authorization is one of the first moves of the government of newly reelected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Recent attacks in occupied East Jerusalem have killed at least 10 Israelis. Israeli lawmakers met on Monday to discuss contested government plans to give deputies more control of the judicial system, as tens of thousands rallied outside parliament against the proposals. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies in the government, the most right-wing in Israel's history, say the reforms are necessary to correct an imbalance that has given judges too much power over elected officials. Supreme Court President Esther Hayut has branded the proposed reforms an "unbridled attack" against justice, in a rare public rebuke. Here are the main elements of the package of reforms proposed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin: Override clause Critics of Israel's top court have argued that judges have exceeded their authority by claiming the right to strike down legislation. They say judges have exercised this right through an erroneous reading of the so-called Basic Laws, Israel's quasi-constitution. In response, the Netanyahu government wants to implement an override clause which, if passed, would allow parliament to overrule any Supreme Court decision with the support of 61 lawmakers in Israel's 120-member parliament, or Knesset. Opponents have warned this measure would give the legislative branch nearly unchecked authority. Naming judges Netanyahu's coalition also wants to change the system through which judges are appointed, giving the government a de facto majority in the nomination process. Currently, top jurists are chosen by a panel overseen by the justice minister that includes judges, lawmakers and lawyers representing the Israeli Bar Association. Under Levin's plan, the bar association members would be removed from the process, with his office naming two "members of the public" to sit on the panel instead. Parliament would also hold public hearings on Supreme Court nominations. Sitting judges would still be on the panel, as would another Israeli minister. 'Reasonability,' legal adviser Levin's plan would also prevent judges from using the so-called "reasonability" clause to strike down legislation. Critics of the court, notably on the right, point to this as among the most grave examples of judicial over-reach. In the recent high-profile decision to prohibit a Netanyahu ally from serving in cabinet, some Supreme Court judges said it would not be "reasonable" for Aryeh Deri to join the government as interior and health minister, given his previous conviction for tax evasion, even if there was no law that directly barred him from serving. The ruling infuriated the government. Netanyahu was forced to fire Deri, but criticized judges for overruling the will of voters. Levin also wants to curb the authority of legal advisers attached to government ministries. Currently, their guidance has quasi-legal force, as Supreme Court judges cite it when ruling on the propriety of government actions. Levin says such guidance should be clearly categorized as advice, not binding. Critics of the plan condemn that as another example of the Netanyahu government trying to diminish the authority of civil servants. An agreement to reach a yet-undetermined compromise was enough to convince concerned state lawmakers to advance a bill that would allow Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit. The Legislatures Judiciary Committee voted 5-0 Friday to push LB77 out of committee and into the first round of debate. Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney, both Democrats from Omaha, voted yes. Sen. Wendy DeBoer, also a Democrat, was present not voting. Wayne, the committee chair, said Fridays vote reflected the fact that lawmakers are working to reach an agreement with the bills sponsor, Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, to address some of the concerns expressed during a public hearing two weeks ago. As of Friday afternoon, however, lawmakers hadnt settled on the terms of the agreement. LB77 would allow Nebraskans over the age of 21 to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Such measures are sometimes called constitutional carry in reference to some gun rights advocates belief that the U.S. Constitution gives people the right to carry concealed guns without a permit. Currently in Nebraska, getting a concealed-carry permit requires passing a criminal background check, paying a $100 fee and taking an eight- to 16-hour gun safety class. Brewer has tried to get the Legislature to approve the issue since he first took office in 2017. A similar bill he brought last year narrowly fell short because of a filibuster. The recent public hearing on LB77 lasted hours, with dozens of people testifying both for and against the bill. Opponents generally argued that the legislation would make Nebraska more dangerous, but Brewer said the agreement is more focused on concerns from local police. The Omaha and Lincoln Police Departments, along with the Omaha police union, oppose LB77. Police have opposed previous iterations of the bill, and Brewer has proposed amendments in an attempt to gain their support, but those amendments also failed and were not incorporated into LB77. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said he was concerned that the bill would make it easier for people with criminal offenses to access firearms. During the hearing, Schmaderer suggested altering the bill to make exceptions for Omaha. Such a carveout was proposed last year but failed in the face of opposition from hard-line gun rights advocates who opposed any exceptions. Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins, also speaking at last months hearing, drew a hard line against the bill in its entirety. I have not asked for a carveout, Ewins said. I think this legislation is extremely dangerous. Brewer did not specify what could be considered as part of an agreement, but said he hopes legislation on judicial reform will help lawmakers reach a resolution. He declined to elaborate when asked. Sen. Suzanne Geist, a Republican member of the Judiciary Committee and candidate for Lincoln mayor, was not present for Fridays vote but is actively seeking amendments to the bill, the Nebraska Examiner reported. Though the Legislature is dominated by Republicans, accounting for 32 of the 49 lawmakers, Brewer said he is invested with resolving the agreement. He said many factors, including the agreement, could impact the bills success on the floor. Its just one of those issues that it causes folks to usually kind of polarize one way or another, Brewer said. And you just hope that enough of them are on your side. Meet the Nebraska state senators making laws in 2023 A Georgia judge on Monday ordered the partial release later this week of a special grand jury report into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss. The report's introduction and conclusion, as well as a section in which the grand jurors expressed concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath, will be released on Thursday, said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney. Any recommendations on who should or should not be prosecuted will remain secret for now to protect their due process rights, McBurney wrote. McBurney's order came three weeks after hearing arguments from prosecutors, who urged the report be kept secret until they decide on charges, and a coalition of media organizations, which pressed for its release. The release is a significant development in one of several cases that threaten legal jeopardy for the former president as he ramps up a 2024 White House campaign. The special grand jury spent about seven months hearing testimony from witnesses including high-profile Trump allies, such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and high-ranking Georgia officials, such as Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp. McBurney wrote that the report includes recommendations for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, including "a roster of who should [or should not] be indicted, and for what, in relation to the conduct [and aftermath] of the 2020 general election in Georgia." The special grand jury did not have the power to issue indictments, and it will ultimately be up to Willis to decide whether to seek indictments from a regular grand jury. The special grand jury's final report was requested by Willis and is meant to inform her investigative decision-making process, McBurney wrote, adding that the panel's investigation was largely controlled by the district attorney and her team and was "a one-sided exploration." There was "very limited due process" for people for whom the grand jurors recommended charges, McBurney wrote. Some may not have had the opportunity to appear before the panel, and those who did appear did not have the right to have their lawyers present or to offer any rebuttal. For that reason, the judge concluded, it is not appropriate to release the full report at this time. It is not clear if or when Willis will present the case to a regular grand jury with the purpose of getting one or more indictments. At a Jan. 24 hearing, she said decisions are "imminent" but did not elaborate. Trump told The Associated Press last month that he did "absolutely nothing wrong." He said he felt "very confident" that he wouldn't be indicted. At the January hearing, Willis had argued against the immediate release of the report, saying it could violate the rights of potential defendants and negatively affect the ability to prosecute those who may be charged with crimes. "We want to make sure that everyone is treated fairly and we think for future defendants to be treated fairly, it is not appropriate at this time to have this report released," Willis said during the hearing. A group of news organizations, including the AP, argued in favor of releasing the report immediately in full, saying that public interest in the report is "extraordinary." "The discomfort of the prosecuting authority in disclosing court records isn't enough to make them sealed," said attorney Tom Clyde, representing the media. "It has to be significant, identifiable evidence that's going to cause a problem." Willis said in an emailed statement Monday that she believes McBurney's order is "legally sound and consistent with my request" and that she has no plans to appeal. Clyde declined to comment. Willis and her team began investigating two years ago, shortly after the release of a recording of a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In that conversation, the then-president suggested that Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, could "find" the votes needed to overturn Trump's narrow election loss in the state to Biden, a Democrat. "All I want to do is this: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have," Trump said on the call. Since then, the investigation's scope has broadened considerably. The special grand jury operated behind closed doors, as required by law, but public court filings and hearings related to its work provided a window into some of the topics Willis was exploring. Those included: Phone calls by Trump and others to Georgia officials in the wake of the 2020 election. A group of 16 Georgia Republicans who signed a certificate in December 2020 falsely stating that Trump had won the state and that they were the state's "duly elected and qualified" electors. False allegations of election fraud made during meetings of state legislators at the Georgia Capitol in December 2020. The copying of data and software from election equipment in rural Coffee County by a computer forensics team hired by Trump allies. Alleged attempts to pressure Fulton County elections worker Ruby Freeman into falsely confessing to election fraud. The abrupt resignation of the U.S. attorney in Atlanta in January 2021. The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut on Monday endured heavy artillery fire. The Ukrainian military reported Russian shelling all along the front line and said 16 settlements had been bombarded near Bakhmut. Ukrainian fighters, who have already held out there for months, are bracing for new ground attacks, Ukrainian military officials said. Bakhmut is a prime objective for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and its capture would give Russia a new foothold in the Donetsk region and a rare victory after several months of setbacks. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions make up the Donbas, Ukraines industrial heartland now partially occupied by Russia, which wants full control. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said a new major Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine has already begun as the anniversary of Russias February 24 invasion approaches. "It is clear that we are in a race of logistics, Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels. Key capabilities like ammunition, fuel and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield. Speed will save lives," he stressed. Stoltenberg said Ukraines use of ammunition in the war against Russia is outstripping supply and that the alliance needs to increase production to meet Ukraines needs. The NATO chief made these comments one day before the ninth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, known informally as the Ramstein summit, set to take place in the Belgian capital. NATOs call for an increase in ammunition production is expected to dominate the discussions on Tuesday. Stoltenberg said the contentious issue of providing modern combat aircraft to Ukraine would be discussed, as well. The Russian assault on Bakhmut has been headed by mercenaries of the Wagner paramilitary group. The renewed Russian shelling has made the situation even more tense. "The city, the city's suburbs, the entire perimeter and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka, are under crazy, chaotic shelling," said Volodymyr Nazarenko, deputy commander of Ukraines Svoboda battalion. The head of the Wagner Group claimed Sunday to have taken control of Krasna Hora, a village a few kilometers north of Bakhmut. Serhii Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, denied Russian claims that Krasna Hora had been captured. "There are ongoing battles there," Cherevatyi said. "We are keeping it under our control, he told CNN. "We have the ability to supply weapons, food, equipment, medicines, and to evacuate the wounded from there," he added. A report by Britains Ministry of Defense says that as of February 7, Russia had likely further strengthened defense fortifications in the central part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in particular near the town of Tarasivka. Russian forces have also established defensive fortifications between the towns of Vasylivka and Orihiv in the same region as of January 8. Russia has "highly likely" restarted major offensive operations in Ukraine aiming to capture the remaining Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donetsk Oblast. Russia's front line in Ukraine is approximately 1,288 kilometers, with the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast front line amounting to 192 kilometers, the report adds. A significant breakthrough by Ukrainian troops in Zaporizhzhia Oblast would "seriously challenge" the viability of the Russian "land bridge" connecting its Rostov region and occupied Crimea, the ministry wrote in its latest intelligence update. Wagners private army is pushing hard to give Russia battlefield wins in Ukraine, but mounting evidence suggests the Kremlin has moved to curb what it sees as the excessive political clout of Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group. Recently, Prigozhin, a 61-year-old ex-convict, grabbed headlines over his bloody role in Ukraine. Wagner has openly criticized Russia's top military brass and tried to win the Kremlins favor through his groups battlefield success. Prigozhins public prominence has created speculation among analysts that he is eyeing an official role in politics. There is growing evidence though, that the Kremlin has moved to nip such speculation in the bud, ordering Prigozhin to halt public criticism of the Defense Ministry while advising state media to stop mentioning him or Wagner by name. "The position of the [Kremlin] political bloc is not to let him into politics. They are a little afraid of him and find him an inconvenient person," Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser who remains close to the authorities, told the Reuters news agency. Prigozhin confirmed last week he had also been stripped of the right to recruit convicts from prisons a key element of his growing political influence and one which had bolstered his forces to make small but steady gains in eastern Ukraine. Moldova coup attempt The president of Moldova accused Russia on Monday of planning to use foreign saboteurs to bring down her leadership and break Moldovas path to Europe. Moldova has been granted candidate status in the European Union. Moldova's breakaway region, Transnistria, has survived for three decades with support from Moscow. President Maia Sandu made her comments after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that his country had uncovered a Russian intelligence plan "for the destruction of Moldova." Days later, the government of the country, which borders Ukraine and Romania, resigned. Responding to reporters during the White House briefing on Monday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S government is concerned over reports of Russias attempts to influence the pro-European government of Moldova. We absolutely stand with the modern Moldovan government and the Moldovan people, he said. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Nigeria's National Peace Committee says election-related violence is spiking as the countrys February 25 national polls draw near. During weekend campaign rallies, gunmen attacked a security team of a vice-presidential candidate, killing three police. At another rally, supporters were attacked with machetes, injuring several, and damaging campaign vehicles. Idayat Hassan is the spokesperson for the National Peace Committee, a government-sponsored body of former heads of state and officials attempting to promote calm and stability in the country. Speaking to Lagos-based Channels Television, Hassan raised concerns about the increased attacks at campaign events and said Sunday that authorities must prohibit anyone, apart from security agents, from bringing weapons to campaign rallies. "The casualties are higher, and the numbers of incidents are rising," he said. "There have been more than 134 attacks on INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission] facilities and personnel. It is quite disturbing that this is actually happening at this point in time. If this continues, how can we have elections?" On Friday, unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed three members of the security team for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). On Sunday, Okowa visited the families of the slain security officers and condemned the killings. In another incident, one person was killed and five arrested after a violent clash between supporters of the PDP and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) party during a campaign rally in northern Jigawa state. Hours later, many supporters of the Labour Party were attacked and injured by thugs on their way to a rally in Lagos, a stronghold of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Paul James is a program officer at Yiaga Africa, a nonprofit that promotes democratic elections. "For elections to be concluded in Nigeria, a candidate has to score a quarter of the votes in at least 24 states," he said. "Politicians are using violence in different forms as a means of voter suppression. So, what were seeing is the build-up of terror, the build-up of fear so that it perhaps impacts on citizens' participation for the politician especially the ones that are having the sense that they may not be able to pull the national spread that is required for the election." Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director at the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project, says authorities have been hesitant to address the problem. The rights group petitioned the International Criminal Court, to investigate election-related violence and hold the Nigerian perpetrators accountable. "Poverty, rising rates of unemployment... can be remote causes but the impunity of [the] government is a key driver of these incidents which is why you'll see that lack of political will to either take action to prevent these attacks," said Oluwadare. On Monday Nigeria's electoral commission said voting will not take place in 240 polling units across 28 states mainly due to a lack of registered voters in those areas. The voters didnt choose those polling units due to insecurity. Imo state had the highest number of cancelled polling units, 38. The election comes amid growing frustrations among citizens, caused in part by shortages of fuel and the newly designed currency. In Abuja Monday, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled new police vehicles, tasers, stun guns and anti-riot equipment, including cannons, designed to improve the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force. Whether this will make voters feel more secure it is too soon to tell. Few have navigated the turbulent politics of the Trump era like Nikki Haley. In early 2016, the then-South Carolina governor said she was embarrassed by candidate Donald Trump and decried his reluctance to condemn white supremacists. Nine months later, she agreed to join his Cabinet, serving as a key validator as Trump sought to win over skeptical world leaders and voters at home. And shortly after Trump left the White House, Haley, whose resume by then included an ambassadorship to the United Nations, vowed not to step in the way if he ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Yet on Wednesday, she is poised to become the first major Republican candidate to enter the race against him. Its going to be quite the high-wire act, said veteran Republican strategist Terry Sullivan. She says shes always been an underdog. She will be again." The 51-year-old Haley may be the first to take on Trump, but a half-dozen or more high-profile Republicans are expected to join the GOP's 2024 presidential nomination contest over the coming months. Some would-be competitors may be more popular than Haley even in South Carolina, where she lives and has established a campaign headquarters. Likely rivals include Sen. Tim Scott, a fellow South Carolinian and perhaps the most celebrated elected official in a state where Trump has already locked up endorsements from the governor and its senior senator, Lindsey Graham. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence could also be formidable foes should they run, as widely expected. Indeed, on the eve of this week's announcement, there is broad agreement that Haley the only Republican woman of color expected in the 2024 contest, a politician who loves to remind people that she has never lost an election is about to be tested as never before. Trump has stepped up his attacks on Haley in recent weeks. But allies describe the former governor, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, as a savvy executive uniquely positioned to lead a new generation of Republicans. They understand that the fight ahead could get ugly. She took the bull by the horns and said, That doesnt matter to me, Im going to run,'" said longtime supporter Gavin J. Smith. "She did that when she ran for governor, and thats what youre going to see when she runs for president. Perhaps more than anyone this young presidential primary season, Haley personifies the Republican Party's shifting views on Trump. Her reversal on whether to challenge the former president was based less on concerns about his divisive leadership or policy disagreements than the growing belief within the GOP that Trump is losing political strength. Haley, like the vast majority of her party, largely supported Trump even after he inspired a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. It was not until Trump-backed candidates across several key states were defeated in last fall's midterm elections that a wave of high-profile Republicans began to openly weigh 2024 bids against him. New York-based Republican donor Eric Levine says he's convinced that another Trump Republican nomination would lead to his party's destruction. Haley, he said, is among the three favorite Trump alternatives. I think as a woman of color and a daughter of legal immigrants from India, she'd give the Democratic Party no reason to exist. All their woke crap goes out the window, Levine said. I think she's a spectacular candidate. Haley's announcement will take place Wednesday in Charleston, the historic coastal city where her campaign will be based. Almost immediately, she'll travel to meet voters in New Hampshire and Iowa. She's entrusted her campaign to a collection of senior staff led by longtime aides. Betsey Ankney, who heads up Haley's PAC, will manage the campaign, with the PAC's development director, Mary Kate Johnson, as finance director, Haleys team told The Associated Press. Longtime Haley adviser Chaney Denton and Nachama Soloveichik, who was a spokeswoman for recently retired Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, will head up communications. Strategist Jon Lerner will serve as senior adviser, and Barney Keller of Jamestown Associates will be Haley's media consultant. For Haley, this week's launch marks a significant step on a long road that began in South Carolina's Good Old Boys Club, she wrote in a Friday fundraising appeal. People thought I was too brown too female too young too conservative too principled, she wrote. Born in 1972 in rural South Carolina, Haley has long spoken of a Southern rural childhood in which she felt she didn't fit. She was raised in the Sikh faith with a mother who wore traditional saris, and a father clad in a turban. Nikki has been regularly underestimated, said Catherine Templeton, a Republican who served Haley in two roles, leading South Carolinas labor and public health agencies. But it makes her work harder. In her first campaign in 2004, Haley, formerly an accountant, defeated the longest-serving member of South Carolinas House. After six years in the Legislature, she was considered a longshot when she mounted her 2010 gubernatorial campaign. The GOP field was filled with more experienced politicians, and at times, she faced blatant racism. Then-state Sen. Jake Knotts appeared on a talk show and used a racial slur in reference to Haley. He apologized, saying it was meant as a joke. Still, Haley became the first woman and person of color elected South Carolinas governor and the nations youngest state executive. After winning reelection in 2014, her second term was marred by crisis. She spent weeks attending funerals of Black parishioners gunned down by a self-avowed white supremacist at a Charleston church in 2015. Later that year, she pushed for and signed legislation to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, where it had flown for more than 50 years. Haley's political skills were tested in a different way in 2016, as Trump went from late-night television punchline to serious Republican presidential contender. She endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ahead of South Carolina's high-stakes Republican primary, then backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz once Rubio was knocked out. Then, Haley described Trump as everything a governor doesn't want in a president." She also said she was embarrassed by his attacks against former President George W. Bush and condemned Trump's reluctance to disavow the KKK. But shortly after Trump won the presidency, Haley agreed to serve as the new administration's ambassador to the United Nations, a Cabinet-level position. I proudly serve in this administration, and I enthusiastically support most of its decisions and the direction it is taking the country," Haley said in a 2018 op-ed. Later that year, Haley abruptly announced her departure from the U.N. in the wake of an ethics probe, fueling speculation that she might challenge Trump in 2020 or replace Pence on the ticket. Neither happened. Instead, Haley returned to South Carolina, joined the board of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. and hit the lucrative speaking circuit, reportedly commanding fees as high as $200,000. She also penned two books. Her public support for Trump continued even after the attack on the Capitol. Im really proud of the successes of the Trump administration. Whether it was foreign policy or domestic policy, we should embrace those," she tweeted three weeks after the insurrection. But it's unclear whether such platitudes will give Haley much cushion in a party that, for now, remains dominated by Trump and his supporters. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the No. 3 House Republican, has already endorsed Trump's 2024 bid. While she declined to comment directly on Haley's candidacy, she insisted that Trump would defeat any Republican challenger "by massive margins. It is time for Republicans to unite around the most popular Republican in America, she said of Trump. Militiamen killed 22 people in two separate attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Ituri province on Sunday and Monday, a local official and a human rights group said, in ongoing violence in the region. The DRC's government declared martial law in Ituri and neighboring North Kivu province in 2021 to quell the bloodshed, but deadly raids have continued. The first attack on Sunday took place in the town of Mongbwalu, in Djugu territory, where 10 people were killed. Mongbwalu Mayor Jean-Pierre Bikilisende blamed the attack on CODECO, one of many militias operating in the DRC's conflict-ridden east. The group could not be reached for comment. Bikilisende told Reuters the rebels opened fire on a phone credit seller and then on other civilians standing on the same street before escaping in a car when police arrived. The second attack occurred around 60 kilometers (37 miles) away, in Irumu territory, during the night between Sunday and Monday. Christophe Munyanderu, coordinator of the local group Convention for the Respect of Human Rights (CRDH), said 12 villagers were killed. He said the attackers were from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan armed group that has operated in east Congo for decades. It has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and stages frequent deadly raids on villages. Munyanderu also confirmed the 10 deaths in Mongbwalu. The ADF could not be reached for comment and the DRC's army did not respond to calls. There was no indication as to the motive of either attack, but militia violence has racked the vast mineral-rich east for two decades despite local and regional military interventions and U.N. peacekeeping efforts. Thousands of opponents of Iran's ruling authorities rallied for a second day in Paris on Sunday to pressure European Union states to list Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in response to a crackdown in the country. Tehran has been engaged in a violent crackdown on protesters since September, including carrying out executions, and it has detained dozens of European nationals. The EU has become increasingly critical of its actions. Ties between EU members and Tehran have also deteriorated in recent months as efforts to revive talks on Iran's nuclear program have stalled and the country has transferred drones to Russia to help it in its war against Ukraine. Sunday's rally in Paris, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and which followed a similar rally on Saturday by European-based Iranians, aimed to highlight the IRGC's role in cracking down on protesters, but also its activities outside Iran. "This will be a revolution... The youth know there is no future under this regime. They say they are better off dying in the streets than living in this country with this regime," said Ela Zabihi, a university lecturer in London. Widespread anti-government demonstrations erupted in Iran in September after the death of young Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by morality police for allegedly flouting the strict dress code imposed on women. While some EU member states and the European parliament have pushed for the IRGC to be listed, others have been more cautious fearing that it could lead to a complete break in ties with Iran, harming any chance of reviving nuclear talks and jeopardizing any hope of getting their nationals released. Designating the IRGC as a terrorist group would mean that it would become a criminal offense to belong to the group, attend its meetings and carry its logo in public. Set up after Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the Shiite clerical ruling system, the Guards have great sway in the country, controlling swathes of the economy and armed forces and put in charge of Irans ballistic missile and nuclear programs. "The IRGC must be added to the list of designated terrorist organizations by the European Union," Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the NCRI told the rally of several thousand people. "The valiant youth have the right to defend themselves against the IRGC, covert agents, and the barrage of bullets that pierce their eyes, heads, and hearts." The People's Mujahideen Organization of Iran is the main component of NCRI. The group, also known by its Persian name Mujahideen-e-Khalq, was once listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union but not since 2012. Tehran has long called for a crackdown on the NCRI in Paris, Riyadh and Washington. The group, whose level of support is unclear, is regularly criticized in state media. Pope Francis expressed sadness and worry Sunday at the news that Bishop Rolando Alvarez, an outspoken critic of the Nicaraguan government, had been sentenced to 26 years in prison in the latest move against the Catholic Church and government opponents. Hours later in Nicaragua's capital, Cardenal Leopoldo Brenes said someone had asked him what they could do for Alvarez. Pray, that is our strength, Brenes told those gathered inside the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Pray that the Lord gives him strength, gives him judgment in all of his actions. Alvarez was sentenced Friday, after refusing to get on a flight to the United States with 222 other prisoners, all opponents of President Daniel Ortega. In addition to his prison term, Alvarez was stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship. The news that arrived from Nicaragua has saddened me no little, the pontiff told the faithful gathered in St. Peters Square for the traditional Sunday blessing, expressing both his love and concern for Alvarez. He called on the faithful to pray for the politicians responsible to open their hearts. The comments by Pope Francis and Cardinal Brenes Sunday were the first made publicly by the church about the expulsion of the prisoners several priests did board the flight and of Alvarez's sentence. Ortega ordered the mass release of political leaders, priests, students and activists widely considered political prisoners and had some of them put on a flight to Washington Thursday. Ortega said Alvarez refused to board without being able to consult with other bishops. Nicaraguas president called Alvarezs refusal an absurd thing. Alvarez, who had been held under house arrest, was then taken to the nearby La Modelo prison. In the run-up to Ortega's reelection in November 2021, Nicaraguan authorities arrested seven potential opposition presidential candidates to clear the field. The government closed hundreds of nongovernmental organizations that Ortega has accused of taking foreign funding and using it to destabilize his government. The former guerrilla fighter has long had a tense relationship with the Catholic Church, but targeted it more directly last year in his campaign to extinguish voices of dissent. Ortega kicked out the papal nuncio, the Vatican's top diplomat in March. Later, the government shut down several radio stations in Alvarez's Matagalpa diocese ahead of municipal elections and Alvarez was arrested in August along with several other priests and lay people, accused of undermining the government and spreading false information. The church's response to the government's increasingly aggressive behavior has been muted, apparently to not inflame tensions. On Saturday, a few thousand Ortega supporters marched in the capital in a show of support for the expulsion of the opposition prisoners. While some seemed genuine in their support, the government has earned a reputation for turning out people by making government employees attend. Outside Managua's cathedral Sunday, it was clear that the lengthy sentence for a priest and stripping critics of their citizenship rankled people in the still heavily Roman Catholic country. Jorge Paladino, a 49-year-old architect, said he felt disillusioned, upset, dismayed. He said those who were expelled will always be Nicaraguans, regardless of what they are told. Maria Buitrago, a 61-year-old retiree, spoke softly but with indignation. They took their nationality in a horrible way as if they are gods and can take from someone where they live, where they were born, Buitrago said. They can't take Nicaraguan blood. They can't take it, but they do what they please. The Biden administration says its working with the governments of Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador to combat a documented rise in the availability and lethality of illegal drugs containing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be up to 100 times stronger than morphine. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the potency of pills is rising in 2022, six out of 10 pills contained a potentially lethal dose of the narcotic. President Joe Biden mentioned the deadly drug in his recent State of the Union address, in which he spoke of a record number of personnel working to secure the border, arresting 8,000 human smugglers, seizing over 23,000 pounds of fentanyl in just the last several months. And Biden outlined his administrations plan to tackle the epidemic in different ways, including funding screening measures, checking packages and expanding access to evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. VOAs Jorge Agobian spoke to Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to find out how the U.S. is battling the overdose epidemic both inside and beyond its borders. The problem of fentanyl and synthetic drugs is not limited exclusively to the United States or Mexico, Gupta said. It's a global problem. And secondly, the supply chain is also global. So whether it's precursor chemicals that are converted into fentanyl, coming from China into Mexico or North America, or the synthesis of these drugs, we need to be making sure that we're monitoring all of it, and we're addressing specific choke points in this supply chain. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. VOA: A key component of President Biden's State of the Union address was the fentanyl crisis. What next steps will the administration take on this issue? Dr. Rahul Gupta: Fentanyl is killing 70,000 Americans a year overall as part of the overdose crisis. It is a top priority for President Biden to address that. It's important for us to make sure we have an education campaign, especially for children, to be aware and understand that they have the power to not only be aware about this deadly threat, but also maybe carry Naloxone, the antidote for it so they can help their friends and others. Also, what we can do is to ensure that we have the treatment available to everybody who needs it. We know that far too many Americans today aren't able to get the treatment. So along with the antidote, weve got to get more people into treatment, and he talked about how he had challenged Congress the year before about removing barriers to doctors to prescribing, and he worked in a bipartisan manner with both sides of Congress to get that to happen. And he signed that into law. He also talked about how there's controlling of the fentanyl-related substances already, but it's temporary we need to make that permanent. President Biden highlighted how we have through the highest levels of fentanyl seizures at the border twice as much as 2020 and four times as much in 2019. Why? Because we've implemented technology to be able to detect more, but the problem doesn't begin or end at the border. We have to work with Mexico. VOA: What in this strategy is the role of Mexico cooperating with the United States? And how much does the United States rely on Mexico to prosecute? Gupta: People in Mexico are dying from overdoses and poisoning from fentanyl just like in America. So it's very important that we work with a shared sense of responsibility, to make sure that we're working to secure our country to make sure that we're going after the bad guys who are intending harming Americans as well as Mexicans at the same time, we're working on enhancing public health treatment, and the antidote Naloxone or Narcan and make it available to anyone who needs it. We have made sure that we're providing as much assistance to Mexico in partnership as a key player in helping us, but we also want to make sure that were holding traffickers, manufacturers and others accountable for their actions by preying on vulnerable people. It's important because we want to make sure that they're not making profits off the back of unsuspecting people who are dying and being poisoned. So it's important whether it is in the United States or across the border, that our governments hold bad actors accountable in a forceful way. VOA: Does the White House believe that the war on drugs is a failed campaign, as the president of Colombia has called it? Gupta: When President (Gustavo) Petro was inaugurated in Colombia early last year, I went, as the first delegation from the United States. We had a long and good conversation, and I said to him, Look, we recognize that not all policies have been proven to be successful of the United States. But the important part is that we have a problem where an American is dying every 5 minutes around the clock. You have a problem where the economy is dependent, a lot, on cocaine production. We need to work with our 200-year relationship productively to see how we can secure a future both for the American people and the Colombian people. And we need to see the way forward which is humane, which is protective of the environment. And we need to figure out how to get people gainful employment, give hope, and the ability to have economic development as a way to address this. And that's exactly some of the things that we're going to be working with countries like Colombia. VOA: What about the other countries in the Western Hemisphere? Gupta: We know that these profits and the drugs don't only kill Americans, but the profits go back to cause more destabilization, more crime and corruption and violence. Its very important for us as a global leader to continue to work as good partners with other countries across Latin America. And there's a history of us working with them, but to make sure that we're doing in a way that yields us results, mutual respect and mutual cooperation. So we can hold the bad actors accountable, while ensuring that people everywhere have a chance to live safely, securely and healthy. VOA: And finally, what about Venezuela? There is no cooperation between the two governments, of course, but Venezuela is still a key player in all these industries. Gupta: Were going to continue to focus with our partners in Colombia, and as well as Ecuador, to make sure that people there are getting the support when it comes to both the people coming in from Venezuela as well as resources. And then that work will continue, you know, as far as so I don't have anything new to report on that at this point, from a policy perspective. Anita Powell contributed to this report. FOR HELP: The World Health Organization says there are three common signs and symptoms of an overdose: pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness and difficulties with breathing. Learn more about overdoses in the WHO's fact sheet. For the unfamiliar, fentanyl goes by several nicknames. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lists several commonly used in the U.S.: Apache, China Girl, China Town, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Jackpot, King Ivory, Murder 8, and Tango & Cash. Check the DEA's website for details. Media reports say dissident Iranian film director Mohammad Rasoulof has been released from prison, more than six months after he was taken into custody for criticizing the government. The AP Monday cited pro-reform newspaper The Shargh, associated with Irans reform movement. The award-winning Rasoulof was detained in July after facing accusations he encouraged protests after a building collapsed in the city of Abadan last May. In January, other media reports quoted Rasoulofs lawyer as saying the director had been released for two weeks due to health reasons. There has been no official comment, according to AP. Two months after he was detained, 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian Mahsa Amini was arrested for allegedly violating the countrys strict dress code imposed on women. Her death in the custody of the morality police sparked widespread protests. Many of the protests have turned deadly. Rasoulofs anti-death penalty film, "There Is No Evil, won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2020. Rasoulof did not accept the award in person since he was not allowed to leave Iran. Earlier this month, another director, Jafar Panahi, was released from prison on bail after starting a hunger strike. Reports say he was arrested in July after attending a court hearing for Rasoulof. Some information provided by the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. Ukraine said Monday that Russian forces were hitting the area north of Bakhmut with intense shelling and storming actions. Bakhmut, located in Ukraines Donetsk region, has been the site of months of heavy fighting with Russia pushing to capture the area. Ukraines presidential office said in its daily report that the situation in the village of Paraskoviivka, just north of Bakhmut, was difficult. The Ukrainian military reported Russian artillery and tank attacks against 16 settlements in the Bakhmut area. The head of the Russian Wagner paramilitary group claimed Sunday to have taken control of one such village, Krasna Hora. Power cuts During his nightly video address Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised workers efforts to restore power systems damaged by drone and missile attacks by Russia on Friday. Zelenskyy said most people had not had to face too many outages on Saturday and Sunday. "The very fact that... after a massive missile strike this week, we can have such peaceful energy days proves the professionalism of our energy workers," he said. "We have to realize: this is not yet a decisive victory on the energy front. Unfortunately, there may be new terrorist attacks from Russia. There may be new restrictions if there is further destruction or growth in consumption." Zelenskyy said scheduled energy outages would once again be in place when the working week started on Monday. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. U.S. willful practice of long-arm jurisdiction harms others without benefiting itself People's Daily Online) 15:31, February 13, 2023 Cartoon by Ma Hongliang. For a long time, the U.S. has frequently exerted long-arm jurisdiction over other countries in order to maintain its hegemony, and its "arms" are now extending further. Its arbitrary sanctions have had a grave impact on the world. By fiscal year 2021, the number of active U.S. sanctions designations had increased to more than 9,400, according to the Treasury 2021 Sanctions Review released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In 2021 alone, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Commerce and other agencies imposed various sanctions on over 2,000 entities, according to a recent report titled "The U.S. Willful Practice of Long-arm Jurisdiction and its Perils". Through long-arm jurisdiction, the U.S. has not only interfered in the internal affairs of other countries and undermined the international order, but has also violated the basic human rights of the people of other countries. On Feb. 6, devastating earthquakes struck southern Turkiye, close to the Syrian border, causing massive casualties in the two neighboring countries. However, despite the severe natural disaster, the U.S. still refused to lift its sanctions on Syria, hindering international relief and assistance from arriving at the quake-stricken areas. With the world in urgent need of global solidarity, the U.S. will eventually find its willful practice of long-arm jurisdiction and illegal unilateral sanctions backfiring. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Montanas new Commissioner of Political Practices, appointed by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, took a bipartisan leap toward confirmation Friday afternoon. Longtime lobbyist Chris Gallus secured a unanimous, 10-0 vote from the Senate State Administration Committee just 10 minutes after his confirmation hearing wrapped up. If eventually confirmed by a majority of the Senate, Gallus would replace former commissioner Jeff Mangan as the states top enforcer of campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws. The position is a nonpartisan, appointed position limited to a maximum of one six-year term. It can also be a political lightning rod, with accusations of partisan bias as old as the position. One of the commissioners main duties is to investigate and issue decisions on complaints filed against political candidates. Its an easy way to make enemies in the Legislature. In an interview Thursday, Gallus said he would strive to be even-handed, despite a lengthy political history that includes serving as an attorney for the state Republican Party and many sessions lobbying for the Montana Chamber of Commerce. We care about the job and applying facts to statutes that the Legislature has adopted and directed us to enforce, Gallus said of his new office. I very much intend to do that and abide by that, regardless of anybodys particular party or anything else they might be bringing into it. While his partisan background received minimal discussion Friday, lawmakers on a nominating committee that met in December noted that his predecessor had entered the job as a former Democratic legislator who nonetheless won accolades from both sides of the aisle for his work. Mangan was nominated by former Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. That bipartisan nominating committee considered Gallus alongside four other candidates, ultimately deadlocking on which ones to nominate to the governor. That failure to advance a slate of nominees gave Gianforte free rein to nominate anyone who met the basic qualifications laid out in law. A long career in politics Gallus was born in Chicago, but his family soon moved to Butte, where he was raised. He was one of seven kids, including his brother, Steve Gallus, who served as a Democratic state lawmaker from Butte from 1999 to 2013. While still attending Carroll College Gallus got his start in the Legislature as an intern in 1987, working for the Butte-Anaconda delegation of lawmakers. He returned the next session as a lobbyist representing Butte-Silver Bow, and continued working as a lobbyist for the state Chamber of Commerce and other clients for the next three decades. Along with his extensive lobbying background, he also has a long history of contributions to campaigns for candidates from both parties, though for the past decade he has exclusively supported Republicans for office. He didnt donate to Gov. Greg Gianfortes most recent campaign, but last year donated to the campaigns of two senators on the committee that voted to confirm him Friday: Sens. Mark Noland, R-Bigfork; and Shelly Vance, R-Belgrade. Gallus also worked closely with a ballot initiative. Campaign finance records show he served as the treasurer of a political committee formed to support a proposed constitutional referendum in 2018, and contributed several thousand dollars to the effort. "Complaints are going to come in and complaints are going to be investigated, and were going to look at the law and apply that on a case-by-case basis," Gallus said Thursday. "Regardless of whos involved and what else might be going on, what motivations there might be." He said hell also continue to build on Mangans work to educate those that interact with his office. I think he did an excellent job on public outreach and public education, appearances before candidate groups and the like, and give people a clear understanding of whats required, Gallus said. With clients including the Republican Party, special interest groups and the occasional candidate for office, Gallus told the committee Friday he anticipates potential conflicts of interest arising for him. He didnt pledge to specifically recuse himself in any instances, but did say hes reached out to the State Bar of Montana for guidance. In the last three weeks, Gallus said hes been busy meeting with senators on both sides of the aisle, and has appeared before the Senate Democratic Caucus to answer questions. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers said Friday before the hearing that the caucus had not decided whether they were going to back Gallus nomination. He has been very transparent with us about his background and what he hopes to bring to the office, Flowers said, adding that Gallus also pledged to be diligent in enforcing state campaign laws on out-of-state organizations. Pulling back on advocacy In addition to the basic duties of the office, commissioners frequently testify on legislation that impacts campaign laws and transparency issues. Gallus said he plans to take a more hands-off approach than his predecessors, deferring to the Legislature to chart a path on policy matters. Thats somewhat in contrast to Mangan and Jon Motl whom Mangan succeeded both of whom advocated for more transparency in campaign-related disclosures and retaining limits on campaign spending. Were not kind of tinkering in a major way with things that are going on, Gallus said Thursday. But were also not going to be asleep at the wheel If something did come out that was just antithetical to that or just kind of ripped at the foundation of what were doing, Ill absolutely step up on something like that. In testimony on a campaign finance bill last week, Gallus neither formally opposed or supported a bill that would strike a requirement for PACs in Montana to disclose a person associated with the group on its flyers and other ads. He said it would simplify the process for political committees that often fail to provide that disclosure. I think its an honest attempt just to simplify it so those technical violations dont occur, Gallus said in the interview. When the commissioners office makes a determination that a group or candidate broke state campaign laws, the complaint first gets referred to a state county attorney for prosecution. Past commissioners have typically sent those to the county attorney for Lewis and Clark County, but Gallus said he plans to refer action to the counties where the campaigns are active. Typically county attorneys punt the decision to prosecute back to the commissioner, who can then take the case to court if the parties dont reach a settlement. I think those are the people that I think are most affected by the failure to properly disclose, or whatever the case may be, Gallus told the committee on Friday. Gallus told the Montana State News Bureau that he also intends to break with his predecessors work to push back against election conspiracy theories in Montana. Particularly during his last year in office, Mangan became increasingly vocal about election misinformation circulated by right-wing activists in Montana, and the related threats against and harassment of election officials across the state. Election misinformation, disinformation, the stuff thats happening across the state, is harming and putting at risk our election officials, our election judges, our election volunteers and poll-watchers in the coming elections, Mangan told an interim committee last June. Gallus said while he finds actions that disrupt the election process repugnant, he doesnt plan to build on that role, suggesting it would be more appropriate for the Secretary of State to lead that effort. My approach is really to the functions of the office, and what were assigned to enforce, and to do that, Gallus said. ... To venture into all these other issues and debates that are going on, I just see those as problematic for how the office ultimately is to function if we also got involved in those. Carbon County lawsuit Gallus recently represented a pair of conservative activists who have pushed unsubstantiated claims casting doubt on the security of Montanas election system. Roy McKenzie and Lisa Bennett are suing Carbon County to obtain election-related records. The Carbon County News first reported Galluss involvement in the case. The county has produced some of the documents but citing the voluminous nature of the requests, has asked for more time to comply in full. McKenzie and Bennett allege the county has been unresponsive to their requests. The countys request to dismiss the case is pending in state district court. McKenzie publishes a right-wing blog that has advanced unfounded claims of irregularities in the states elections and potential tampering with tabulator machines and ballots. Bennett has emerged as a vocal critic of election officials in Carbon County, alleging fraud and recently circulating an edited surveillance video from the November election claiming to show ballots being shredded in the election office. Carbon County, in a January press release, called the videos allegations false and said footage was taken out of context and does not show ballots being shredded. In an interview Thursday, Gallus distanced himself from those actions by his clients, saying his role was limited to ensuring that public records are made available as required by law. When people reach out to me with a problem, I dont judge who they are, he said. I dont judge whether theyre Republican, Democrat or the like, or if they have a sufficient enough point of view that aligns with my own. Gallus said he couldnt remember exactly how he first got involved with the Carbon County case, but thought someone may have referred Bennett to him. Bipartisan support Gallus won endorsements from a handful of lobbyists during his confirmation hearing Friday, along with longtime Democratic Party activist Evan Barrett. I have often disagreed with the groups Chris represented, but I have never questioned that they were getting good legal advice from Chris Gallus, Barrett said, offering testimony remotely over Zoom. He also got praise from Gianforte policy director Glenn Oppel, Montana Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Charles Robison and Montana Trial Lawyers Association Executive Director Al Smith. While the COPP nomination process has set up protracted fights between the Legislature and the governors office in the past, Senate Resolution 49, to confirm Gallus, now heads to the Senate on the back of a bipartisan, unanimous committee vote. He just needs a majority of the Senate to get confirmed. Republicans control the chamber 34 to 16. The U.S. said Monday it does not know the origin of the three high-altitude objects it shot down over the last few days as they drifted in the winds over North America. The government said it does not believe the objects were surveillance aircraft, though it is leaving open the possibility that they may be. "They didn't have propulsion," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at the White House. "They were not being maneuvered. They didn't have surveillance [capability], but we couldn't rule it out." "We're sort of in uncharted territory here," Kirby said. He said parts of all three objects fell "in remote, difficult places to reach" ice off the coast of the far northwestern U.S. state of Alaska, the Yukon territory of northwestern Canada and the depths of Lake Huron on the U.S.-Canada border. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said U.S. personnel have not yet recovered any debris from the three objects. Austin told reporters Monday in Brussels, where he is scheduled to meet with NATO defense ministers this week, that weather is hampering recovery efforts in Alaska while the remote terrain in Canada is affecting the search there. He said the priority for the Pentagon is "debris recovery so that we can get a better sense of what these objects are." Kirby declined to refer to any of the three airborne objects as balloons. "We don't know who owns them," he said, in contrast to the Chinese spy balloon the U.S. shot down February 4 over the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of the southern state of South Carolina after it traversed the U.S. mainland for eight days. China is continuing to claim the balloon was an errant weather-monitoring aircraft that drifted off course. But U.S. officials say the parts they have recovered from the ocean floor show the balloon was on a surveillance mission. Kirby said President Joe Biden "has made this a very top priority," to determine the ownership and origin of the three objects downed by U.S. fighter pilots, either on his orders, or in the case of the one that landed in the Yukon, in consultation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The spokesperson said the three objects were shot down because they posed a "very real" threat to civilian aviation, with the objects near Alaska and over the Yukon territory drifting about 12,000 meters (40,000 feet) above the Earth and the one over Lake Huron at half that height. After the Chinese balloon was discovered, Kirby said U.S. radar has been recalibrated to look for more objects. "One of the reasons we're seeing more is we're looking for more," he said. Earlier, Kirby vehemently rejected Beijing's accusation Monday that the U.S. had flown more than 10 high-altitude balloons over China as the two superpowers continued to spar over the American shootdown of the Chinese balloon off the eastern U.S. coastline. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, at a daily briefing, contended, "It is also common for U.S. balloons to illegally enter the airspace of other countries. Since last year, U.S. high-altitude balloons have illegally flown over China's airspace more than 10 times without the approval of Chinese authorities." He said the U.S. should "first reflect on itself and change course rather than smear and instigate a confrontation." Kirby told MSNBC, "Not true. Not doing it. Just absolutely not true. We're not flying balloons over China." Both countries deploy spy satellites, but after Wang accused the U.S. of flying balloons over China, he offered no details about how they had been dealt with or whether they had alleged links to the U.S. government. The U.S. said Monday it has also spotted Chinese balloons flying through the Middle East. But Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of the U.S. Air Forces Central, said, "They've not been a threat. They've flown through a few times since I've been in command but nothing that I would be concerned about in any way." China has accused the U.S. of overreacting by shooting down the balloon that traversed the U.S. mainland before crossing over open waters. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said, "It is China that has a high-altitude surveillance balloon program for intelligence collection, connected to the People's Liberation Army, that it has used to violate the sovereignty of the United States and over 40 countries across five continents." "This is the latest example of China scrambling to do damage control," she said. "It has repeatedly and wrongly claimed the surveillance balloon it sent over the United States was a weather balloon, and to this day, has failed to offer any credible explanations for its intrusion into our airspace and the airspace of others." Following the balloon incident, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a visit to Beijing that potentially could have eased relations between the two countries and disputes over Taiwan, trade, human rights and threatening Chinese actions in the disputed South China Sea. VOA national security correspondent Jeff Seldin and Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. President Joe Biden ordered U.S. fighter jets to shoot down an "unidentified object" over Lake Huron on Sunday, the Pentagon said. The object is believed to be the same one that had been detected over Montana on Saturday, the Pentagon said. It is the fourth object shot down this month. The object was described as octagonal in shape with strings hanging off but no identifiable payload, a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said. Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder said in an official statement that the object posed no military threat, but as it was traveling at 6,100 meters altitude, it posed a potential threat to commercial airplanes. U.S. Air Force General Glen VanHerck, who is responsible for safeguarding U.S. airspace, told reporters in a briefing that the military has not been able to identify what the three most recent objects are, how they stay aloft, or where they are coming from, Reuters reported. "We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason," VanHerck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command, said. Pentagon officials also said they don't know when the last shootdown of an unknown or unauthorized object over U.S. territory occurred before this spate of incidents. Earlier Sunday, U.S. and Canadian officials had restricted airspace over the lake, which is located along the border of the two countries, as military planes were sent to try to identify the object. U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, who represents a district in Michigan near where the incident occurred, tweeted that "the object has been downed by pilots from the U.S. Air Force and National Guard." Meanwhile, U.S. national security officials said they believe two other high-altitude objects shot down over the northern reaches of the United States and Canada were balloons, but much smaller than a Chinese spy balloon shot down over the Atlantic Ocean more than a week ago, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday. Schumer told ABC's "This Week" show that he had been briefed Saturday night by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan about the initial findings about the objects, one shot down over frozen waters near the state of Alaska on Friday and a second one Saturday over Canada's Yukon region. Schumer did not say where the balloons originated. But he said both were shot down by U.S. fighter jets, the second on authorization from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after both were spotted on radar at about 12,000 meters (40,000 feet) above the Earth and were considered a threat to commercial aircraft that fly at a similar altitude. "You can be sure that if any American interests where people are at risk, they'll take appropriate action," Schumer said. Watch related video by Veronica Balderas Iglesias: With the four shootdowns in an eight-day period, U.S. authorities are trying to learn how they, until now, missed at least three balloon sightings during the White House tenure of former President Donald Trump and another earlier in Biden's presidency, all believed to be part of a Chinese spy program conducted by Beijing's People's Liberation Army. "I think our military, our intelligence are doing a great job, present and future," Schumer said. "I feel a lot of confidence in what they're doing. But why why as far back as the Trump administration did no one know about this?" "It is wild that we didn't know," Schumer said. "Now they are learning a lot more. And the military and the intelligence are focused like a laser on, first, gathering and accumulating the information, then coming up with a comprehensive analysis of what went on before, what's going on now, and what could go on in the future." China has acknowledged launching the first balloon, the one shot down February 4 off the coast of the southern state of South Carolina, but claimed it was a weather balloon that drifted off course, a contention that the U.S. has rejected. The U.S. concluded the balloon was a surveillance aircraft that could be maneuvered over key military installations as it drifted across the U.S. mainland. After the first balloon was shot down, China responded that it reserved the right to "take further actions" and criticized the U.S. for "an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice." Schumer said, "We got enormous intelligence information from surveilling the balloon as it went over the United States," although both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have questioned why the U.S. did not shoot it down sooner than it did before the Chinese flew it over military bases. Biden ordered the U.S. military to shoot it down as soon as it was safe to do so without endangering Americans on the ground, which the military decided was only after it moved offshore. The U.S. said this past week it had taken steps to jam information being sent from the balloon. Now, Schumer said that with Navy divers collecting parts of the balloon's payload from the seabed for forensic analysis by FBI experts at a laboratory outside Washington, "We're going to probably be able to piece together this whole surveillance balloon and know exactly what's going on. So that's a huge coup for the United States." "I think the Chinese were humiliated," Schumer said. "I think the Chinese were caught lying. And I think it's a real it's a real step back for them." He predicted that Beijing is "probably going to have to get rid of [the balloon surveillance program] or do something, because they look really bad. And they're not just doing [it over] the United States. This is a crew of balloons; we saw one in South America. They've probably been all over the world." Despite the U.S. conclusion about China's balloon spying, Schumer said, "We can't just have a Cold War with them. We have to have a relationship with them. But China has taken advantage of us over and over and over again." Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. The United States on Sunday called for the United Nations Security Council to "vote immediately" to authorize the delivery of U.N. aid to rebel-held northwest Syria through more border crossings from Turkey after last week's deadly earthquake. Since 2014, the U.N. has been able to deliver aid to millions of people in need in the northwest part of war-torn Syria through Turkey under a Security Council mandate. But it is currently restricted to using just one border crossing. "Right now, every hour matters," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said in a statement to Reuters. "People in the affected areas are counting on us." "We cannot let them down - we must vote immediately on a resolution to heed the U.N.'s call for authorization of additional border crossings for the delivery of humanitarian assistance," she said. "It's time to move with urgency and purpose." U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, who is in Turkey and is due to visit Syria, told Sky News on Saturday that he would ask the Security Council to authorize aid access through two more border crossings, arguing there is "a very clear humanitarian case." Griffiths "is working the phones very hard on that front on the diplomatic front, speaking to everyone to unlock more border crossings," spokesperson Jens Laerke said. Griffiths would brief the U.N. Security Council on Monday and hoped to use a "water-tight argument" about urgent needs to overcome historic resistance from Russia a key ally of Damascus to the cross-border aid operation. On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had pushed for more access. On the 15-member Security Council, Brazil and Switzerland take the lead on negotiating any action related to the Syria humanitarian aid access issue. Diplomats said no draft resolution has yet been circulated to authorize more crossings. The death toll from the earthquake last week in Turkey and Syria passed 33,000 on Sunday. Of the 3,500 deaths so far reported in Syria, where the number has not been updated for two days, the bulk occurred in the northwest part of the country. A resolution would need nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass. Syrian ally Russia has said that the existing council mandate for a single border crossing was sufficient. The Syrian government views aid deliveries across its border without its approval as a violation of sovereignty and says aid should be delivered across the front lines of the 12-year-old civil war. On Friday, it approved aid deliveries across front lines. But the U.N. said on Sunday that earthquake aid from government-held parts of Syria into the northwest part of the country has been held up by "approval issues" with one hardline group. The ambassadors of Brazil and Switzerland said on Friday they wanted Griffiths to brief the Security Council before any action was discussed. Diplomats said Griffiths is likely to speak to it on Monday. Griffiths on Sunday visited the one Turkish border crossing that the U.N. is currently authorized to use to deliver aid to northwest Syria, where about 4 million people needed help before the earthquake struck the region. "We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria," Griffiths said in a post on Twitter. The downing of a huge Chinese balloon off the U.S. coast, followed by the shootdowns of two smaller objects over Alaska and Canada and another over Lake Huron on Sunday has raised concerns about North American security and further strained relations with China. Here is what we know so far: What were the four objects? The drama began in late January, when a giant Chinese balloon dubbed a spy craft by U.S. officials drifted for days through U.S. skies before being shot down February 4 by an F-22 jet off the South Carolina coast. China insisted the balloon was conducting weather research. The Pentagon said it had a gondola the size of three buses and weighed more than a ton; that it was equipped with multiple antennas and had solar panels large enough to power several intelligence-gathering sensors. Then Friday, U.S. fighter jets downed another object off northern Alaska, the military said, adding it was "within U.S. sovereign airspace over U.S. territorial water." It lacked any system of propulsion or control, officials said. On Saturday, a U.S. F-22 jet, acting on U.S. and Canadian orders, downed a "high-altitude airborne object" over Canada's central Yukon territory, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the U.S. border, saying it posed a threat to civilian flight. Canada described it as cylindrical and smaller than the initial balloon. Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand would not speculate on whether it originated in China. On Sunday, Biden ordered U.S. warplanes to down an unidentified object over Lake Huron "out of an abundance of caution," a senior administration official said. The object was described as an octagonal structure with strings hanging off it and was not deemed to be a military threat to anything on the ground but could have posed a hazard to civil aviation as it flew at about 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) Michigan, the official said. U.S. Senate majority leader Charles Schumer, who was briefed by the Biden administration following the incident over the Yukon, said Sunday before the Lake Huron incident that the previous two objects were likely balloons, "but much smaller than the first one," both flying at around 40,000 feet (12,200 meters). Officials described the second and third objects as about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. Only the first object so far has been attributed to Beijing. What has been recovered? Military teams working from planes, boats and minisubs are scouring the shallow waters off South Carolina for the first object, and military images showed the recovery of a large piece of balloon. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is taking custody of the debris for analysis. Operations to recover the second object continue on sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska. "Arctic weather conditions, including wind chill, snow and limited daylight, are a factor," the military said. Recovery teams backed by a Canadian CP-140 patrol aircraft are searching for debris from the third object in the Yukon, Anand said Saturday. The Pentagon said the FBI is working closely with Canadian police. No information was immediately available about recovery of the fourth object. What was the objects' purpose? U.S. officials say images of the first balloon show it had surveillance equipment that could intercept telecommunications. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said it was intended "to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States." A former chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael Mullen, suggested China, or some in its military leadership, intentionally wanted to subvert an impending visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The United States has said the balloons were part of a "fleet" that has spanned five continents. Some analysts say it may be the start of a major Chinese surveillance effort targeting foreign military capabilities ahead of possible acute tensions over Taiwan in coming years. Why so many objects now? Analysts said U.S. and Canadian intelligence constantly receive huge amounts of raw data, and generally screened some out to focus on the threat of incoming missiles, not slow-moving objects like balloons. "Now, of course, we're looking for them. So I think we're probably finding more stuff," Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told NBC. Officials have said three balloons are now known to have briefly overflown U.S. territory during Donald Trump's administration undetected at the time and one earlier in Joe Biden's term. What's the impact on US-China ties? The United States scrapped Blinken's visit, intended to stabilize severely strained relations, and has sanctioned six Chinese entities believed to support military spy balloon programs. Beijing denounced the first balloon's downing, saying it "seriously violated international practice." It reserved the right "to use necessary means to deal with similar situations." There has been no Chinese reaction to the latest downings. Rescuers in Turkey pulled several more people alive from the rubble Monday, more than a week after a series of powerful earthquakes struck the region, but hopes were fading that many more survivors will be found. In the southern town of Islahiye, in Gaziantep province, rescuers pulled out a 40-year-old woman, while in southern Hatay province, a 13-year-old was rescued after spending 182 hours under the rubble, drawing cheers from rescue workers. Turkish television broadcast scenes of several other people being rescued Monday, but experts warned the window is closing for finding more people alive in what remains of collapsed buildings. Turkish residents in Samandag, Hatay, complained the government has not done enough in the search for survivors. One earthquake survivor told VOAs Turkish service that everything is being done through volunteers and community efforts, not by the government. We rescued a lady and her baby from under the rubble. Alive. With our own efforts. With our own sledgehammers, with our hammers. I had many friends with me. This is not acceptable, the survivor said. Another said, Volunteers are working here, day and night, nonstop. They dont even eat. They don't even come down to drink water. AFAD (Turkeys Disaster Management Authority) came to save us supposedly. The team came here to work on detecting. They just came and left. They said, There was nothing here, and turned back and left. Turkish authorities have reported at least 31,643 deaths from the massive earthquake centered in the Gaziantep region. Across the border in northern Syria, the United Nations humanitarian office said Monday the death toll there had topped 4,300, with another 7,600 injured. International search and rescue teams as well as medical and other aid have poured into Turkey since the earthquake hit in the early morning hours of February 6. Officials in Turkey said Monday that more than 150,000 survivors have been moved to shelters outside the affected provinces. Getting aid into earthquake-hit parts of Syria has been a bigger challenge, with outside deliveries restricted to a single crossing at the Turkey-Syria border. Shipments from government-controlled areas to rebel-held areas have been held up amid negotiations with the various parties to allow humanitarian access. We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria, U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths tweeted Sunday as he visited the region. They rightly feel abandoned. Griffiths said the rescue phase was "coming to a close," with the focus switching to helping those who need shelter and food. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged the U.N. Security Council to immediately vote on a resolution to authorize additional border crossings to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria. Right now, every hour matters, she said in a statement late Sunday. We have heard the calls from UN leadership that the Security Council needs to authorize two additional crossings to help deliver lifesaving aid to people in the northwest of Syria. People in the affected areas are counting on us. They are appealing to our common humanity to help in their moment of need. Investigation Turkey is targeting 134 contractors and others for alleged shoddy and illegal construction methods. Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag has vowed to punish anyone responsible for the collapse of thousands of buildings. He said Sunday that to date three people had been arrested pending trial, seven people detained and seven others barred from leaving the country. Prosecutors have begun gathering samples of buildings for evidence of the materials that were used in their construction. The quakes were powerful, but victims and technical experts are blaming bad construction and lax enforcement of building codes for worsening the devastation. Two contractors reportedly attempting to leave the country for Georgia were detained by authorities Sunday at Istanbul Airport. The contractors were held responsible for the alleged shoddy construction of several collapsed buildings in Adiyaman, the private DHA news agency and other media reported. One of the arrested contractors, Yavuz Karakus, told reporters, "My conscience is clear. I built 44 buildings. Four of them were demolished. I did everything according to the rules," DHA reported. Two more people were arrested in Gaziantep province suspected of having cut down columns to make extra room in a building that collapsed, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. The VOA Turkish Service contributed to this report, which includes some information from The Associated Press and Reuters. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden ordered U.S. fighter jets to shoot down an "unidentified object" over Lake Huron on Sunday, the Pentagon said. The object is believed to be the same one that had been detected over Montana on Saturday, the Pentagon said. It is the fourth object shot down this month. The object was described as octagonal in shape with strings hanging off but no identifiable payload, a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said. SEE ALSO: Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder said in an official statement that the object posed no military threat, but as it was traveling at 6,100 meters altitude, it posed a potential threat to commercial airplanes. U.S. Air Force General Glen VanHerck, who is responsible for safeguarding U.S. airspace, told reporters in a briefing that the military has not been able to identify what the three most recent objects are, how they stay aloft, or where they are coming from, Reuters reported. "We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason," VanHerck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command, said. SEE ALSO: Pentagon officials also said they don't know when the last shootdown of an unknown or unauthorized object over U.S. territory occurred before this spate of incidents. Earlier Sunday, U.S. and Canadian officials had restricted airspace over the lake, which is located along the border of the two countries, as military planes were sent to try to identify the object. U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, who represents a district in Michigan near where the incident occurred, tweeted that "the object has been downed by pilots from the U.S. Air Force and National Guard." Meanwhile, U.S. national security officials said they believe two other high-altitude objects shot down over the northern reaches of the United States and Canada were balloons, but much smaller than a Chinese spy balloon shot down over the Atlantic Ocean more than a week ago, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday. Schumer told ABC's "This Week" show that he had been briefed Saturday night by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan about the initial findings about the objects, one shot down over frozen waters near the state of Alaska on Friday and a second one Saturday over Canada's Yukon region. Schumer did not say where the balloons originated. But he said both were shot down by U.S. fighter jets, the second on authorization from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after both were spotted on radar at about 12,000 meters (40,000 feet) above the Earth and were considered a threat to commercial aircraft that fly at a similar altitude. "You can be sure that if any American interests where people are at risk, they'll take appropriate action," Schumer said. With the four shootdowns in an eight-day period, U.S. authorities are trying to learn how they, until now, missed at least three balloon sightings during the White House tenure of former President Donald Trump and another earlier in Biden's presidency, all believed to be part of a Chinese spy program conducted by Beijing's People's Liberation Army. SEE ALSO: "I think our military, our intelligence are doing a great job, present and future," Schumer said. "I feel a lot of confidence in what they're doing. But why why as far back as the Trump administration did no one know about this?" "It is wild that we didn't know," Schumer said. "Now they are learning a lot more. And the military and the intelligence are focused like a laser on, first, gathering and accumulating the information, then coming up with a comprehensive analysis of what went on before, what's going on now, and what could go on in the future." China has acknowledged launching the first balloon, the one shot down February 4 off the coast of the southern state of South Carolina, but claimed it was a weather balloon that drifted off course, a contention that the U.S. has rejected. The U.S. concluded the balloon was a surveillance aircraft that could be maneuvered over key military installations as it drifted across the U.S. mainland. After the first balloon was shot down, China responded that it reserved the right to "take further actions" and criticized the U.S. for "an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice." SEE ALSO: Schumer said, "We got enormous intelligence information from surveilling the balloon as it went over the United States," although both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have questioned why the U.S. did not shoot it down sooner than it did before the Chinese flew it over military bases. Biden ordered the U.S. military to shoot it down as soon as it was safe to do so without endangering Americans on the ground, which the military decided was only after it moved offshore. The U.S. said this past week it had taken steps to jam information being sent from the balloon. Now, Schumer said that with Navy divers collecting parts of the balloon's payload from the seabed for forensic analysis by FBI experts at a laboratory outside Washington, "We're going to probably be able to piece together this whole surveillance balloon and know exactly what's going on. So that's a huge coup for the United States." "I think the Chinese were humiliated," Schumer said. "I think the Chinese were caught lying. And I think it's a real it's a real step back for them." SEE ALSO: He predicted that Beijing is "probably going to have to get rid of [the balloon surveillance program] or do something, because they look really bad. And they're not just doing [it over] the United States. This is a crew of balloons; we saw one in South America. They've probably been all over the world." Despite the U.S. conclusion about China's balloon spying, Schumer said, "We can't just have a Cold War with them. We have to have a relationship with them. But China has taken advantage of us over and over and over again." Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. New research diving into the human factors impacting wildlife conservation found that grizzly bear management is less polarized than researchers originally thought. The study, conducted by the University of Montana and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, found the majority of Montanans surveyed supported grizzly bears right to exist and also some sort of hunting season to manage their population. Researchers mailed over 5,000 surveys to Montana households in 2019, and analyzed 933 responses. Of those respondents, 58% were male, 66% were hunters, 11% worked in agriculture, 63% were from urban counties, and 41% lived in grizzly range. The research was published in the Conservation Science and Practice journal this February. It was surprising. We found overwhelming support for grizzly bears, said Alex Metcalf, a professor of human dimensions at UM and co-author for the study. We found 80% to 90% of respondents think bears have a right to exist that they make Montana special and that we need to learn to live with them. The research also found that 33% of respondents believed Montanas grizzly population was the right size, while 43% said the population was too high and 23% too low. Over 80% of respondents wanted some sort of grizzly hunting: 30% supported a limited hunting season that wouldnt impact population size, 49% supported enough hunting to manage the population, and just under 4% wanted as much grizzly bear hunting as possible. Almost 17% of respondents said that grizzly bears should never be hunted. This month, FWP will wrap up public comment for its grizzly bear management plan. That plan could become more important if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decides to remove Endangered Species Act protections for grizzlies and hand management to the state. The federal agency has started a status review for the populations in and around Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. The UM survey results will factor into FWPs management plan, Metcalf said. The animal has been federally managed since 1975, but its population has made significant steps toward recovery. Now there are around 2,000 grizzly bears on the Montana landscape up from less than a thousand when the species was first listed as threatened. But aside from asking about population and management, the survey also looked at why people hold particular attitudes towards grizzly bears, Metcalf said. Before collecting data, the research team predicted it would see an urban-rural divide in attitudes toward bears. They figured agricultural producers and people in rural areas would most likely believe there were too many bears in Montana, along with people who had personal negative experiences with the animal. We expected to see that in the data and it just wasnt there, Metcalf said. Other factors were more important. The research found that hunters, and those who believed hunting should be used for grizzly bear conflict, were most likely to believe Montanas grizzly bear population was too high. Metcalf added that rather than personal encounters, it was hearing secondhand about others property damage from bears that led people to think the grizzly population was too high. Conversely, support for FWP and positive attitudes toward grizzlies were the most important predictors for thinking the states grizzly population was too low. Theres a lot of benefit in actually taking a look and measuring certain assumptions, Metcalf said. The data will serve as a useful baseline for comparison in the wake of policy changes surrounding grizzly bears, Metcalf said. For example, if Montana grizzly bears are delisted, the state will be able to track how grizzly bear perception changes based on these results. The trick facing Montana is to find that sweet spot where grizzly populations are just right, said study author Holly Nesbitt in an UM news release. (That means) where bear populations are healthy, and the people of Montana are happy in their coexistence with those grizzlies. This content is expired! Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again. Italian government stresses its support for Ukraine. Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi is at the centre of a fresh controversy over his stance on Ukraine after saying that if he were still head of government he would not seek a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymir Zelensky. Berlusconi, 86, told reporters on Sunday that had he been the prime minister he would never have gone to talks with Zelensky "because we are witnessing the devastation of his country and the slaughter of its soldiers and civilians". Berlusconi, whose centre-right Forza Italia is part of Italy's ruling right-wing coalition, said that if Zelensky had ceased attacking the two separatist republics of the Donbass the war would not have happened, adding: "I judge, very, very negatively the behaviour of this gentleman." He also suggested that US president Joe Biden should guarantee a Marshall Plan, valued at between $6 billion and $9 billion, to rebuild Ukraine, on condition that Zelensky orders an immediate ceasefire. Durissime dichiarazioni di Berlusconi su Zelensky: "a parlare con lui non ci sarei mai andato, bastava che lui cessasse di attaccare le due repubbliche autonome" #elezioni #Berlusconi #localteam pic.twitter.com/AkISMDp4Wk Local Team (@localteamtv) February 12, 2023 As the opposition rounded on Berlusconi's comments, the office of prime minister Giorgia Meloni issued a statement underlining the Italian government's "firm and convinced" support for Ukraine. Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani, who is also Italy's deputy premier and a senior figure in Forza Italia, wrote on Twitter that his party "has always been in favour of the independence of Ukraine, on the side of Europe, NATO and the West." Berlusconi, who before Russia's invasion of Ukraine had long boasted of his friendship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, made his explosive remarks in Milan after voting in the Lombardia regional election. His outburst came just a few days after Meloni criticised France and Germany after she was not invited to a dinner in Paris with Zelensky, whom she met subsequently on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels. Last September a leaked audio recording surfaced of Berlusconi telling parliamentarians from his Forza Italia party that Zelensky had pushed Putin into an endless war by "tripling" attacks on the Donbass region. On Saturday night a letter from Zelensky was read on the stage of Italy's Sanremo Music Festival, in which the Ukrainian leader said: "Ukraine will definitely win this war. It will win together with the free world. It will win thanks to the voice of freedom, democracy and, of course, culture." Photo credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com A bill that sought to combine administration in smaller public school districts and cap superintendent salaries was killed after a unanimous vote against it in the North Dakota House of Representatives. Even Rep. Matt Ruby, R-Minot, who introduced House Bill 1251, went against his own proposition. After hearing about what the practices of some of the small school districts have done, it became evident this would do harm to more school districts than it would potentially help. This was a conversation that many felt needed to be had, and we certainly got that going with this one. Now it needs to die, so vote red, Ruby told legislators on the House floor Friday. The bill would have limited one superintendent for a minimum of 475 students and capped superintendents' salaries at 1.5% of total tax revenue per district. If the bill had passed, it would have eliminated 60 superintendent positions. The bill stirred up fiery opposition from Democrats, who called the proposition micromanagement and government overreach. After hearing from 11 people who opposed the bill during the education committee hearing, the committee gave the bill a "do not pass" recommendation on a 10-4 vote, said Rep. Donald Longmuir, R-Stanley. Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, D-Fort Berthold, said the bill would impact tribal schools, adding that superintendents in her district are culturally and traditionally connected to students. Josh Ruffo, president of Turtle Lake-Mercer School Board, said his district has 177 students, and many smaller school districts already have the option to share superintendents. The superintendent at Turtle Lake-Mercer Public Schools typically serves as the activities director, a substitute teacher and a coordinator of government programs, and works with the special education board and more, Ruffo said. We currently only employ one K-12 principal, and if this bill passes, we will have to hire an additional person to cover all the additional roles that the superintendent does, he said. Alexis Baxley, executive director of the North Dakota School Boards Association, opposed the bill, saying it would be bad for schools across the state. We believe that school districts are best run by the parents of the children who fill those halls, by the members of the community who pay taxes to fund them, and we believe this bill is an attack on that governance style and that local control, she said. "We dont believe this decision should be made at the state level." Longmuir said on the House floor that superintendents often are required or volunteer to work additional hours and jobs to keep schools functioning. The future holds many challenges for smaller school districts, and the districts will meet these challenges, he said. Cioccolentino festival unites chocolate with eternal love. The 2023 edition of the Cioccolentino festival takes place in the Umbrian city of Terni, in honour of Valentines Day, from 10-14 February. The event is designed to unite chocolate with eternal love, and there is nothing casual about the choice of location: a third-century bishop from Terni was none other than St Valentine himself. The five-day festivals programme of events include lessons in handmade chocolate and tastings as well as a series of demonstrations and workshops by some of the regions most skilled pastry chefs and master chocolatiers on the streets of the historic centre. Visitors to Terni can even pay their respects to St Valentine, whose relics are preserved in the citys basilica under the sign St Valentine, patron of love. Terni is about 75km from Rome and can be reached by train from the capital's Termini station. For full details see website. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Accusations of stock-market manipulation by the Adani Group, strenuously denied by the conglomerate, have shone the spotlight on a festering global problem loosely estimated to amount to between 2% to 5% of the worlds output: Money-laundering. Obscure funds based in Cyprus and Mauritius, one of whom is linked to an intermediary thats also alleged to have played a role in the $4.5 billion 1MDB looting from taxpayers in Malaysia, may be funneling someone elses money into Adani stocks, the short seller Hindenburg Research has alleged. But whose money is it and whose job is it to find out? A listed entity does not have control over who buys/sells/owns the publicly traded shares or how much volume is traded, or the source of funds for such public shareholders, the Indian group said in its 413-page rebuttal. Nor is it required to have such information for its public shareholders under laws of India. Hence we cannot comment on trading pattern or behavior of public shareholders. Advertisement The Securities and Exchange Board of India, however, can and must talk and act. A more than $100 billion rout in the share prices of the highly leveraged infrastructure owner has the potential to spark a broader contagion, especially if the local banking system gets infected. Its SEBIs job to restore trust in the Indian market. Stripping off the layers of shell companies and gleaning hard evidence on people behind them is tough for regulators. Not all overseas jurisdictions are willing to share information without prima facie evidence of criminality. Its a doubly knotty challenge in India, where families control large business empires and have a natural incentive to shortchange minority shareholders. While other developing countries struggle with money leaving their shores via mispriced trade invoices and other illegal means, India is one of the weightiest emerging markets after China in the schema of index providers like MSCI Inc. Illicit flows tend to come back, to profit at the expense of genuine investors. To keep the market clean, SEBI has to rely on an 11,000-member club. The lot is known as foreign portfolio investors, the registered conduits through which funds flow into Indian exchanges from the rest of the world. Members comprise Wall Street and other banks, active and passive money managers, sovereign wealth repositories and pension plans. But they also include the likes of Cyprus-based New Leaina Investments Ltd. Advertisement New Leainas website claims to offer a variety of investment possibilities, though more than 95% of its assets were in Adani Green Energy Ltd. in June 2021, according to public filings. Regulators worldwide want long-term, patient money, but surely SEBI should ask questions if its registered investors are seen to be behaving irrationally? Back in the summer of 2021, too, there were jitters in the market about Adani stocks. Ever since, there has been considerable public interest in wanting to know their actual beneficial owners, or at least the senior management professionals in instances where the people receiving the gains from the stock couldnt be listed (as in the case of, say, BlackRock Fund Advisors buying shares for its exchange-traded funds). In response to a question in parliament in July 2021, New Delhi provided a list of foreign investors in Adani Group. It named Margaret Sjak Shie-Sankatsing, Jan Scheelings, and Collin de Wit as the people behind New Leaina. Hindenburg alleges they are likely employees of Amicorp Group, a corporate services firm with extensive ties to Adanis web of offshore entities. Shie-Sankatsing did retire from Amicorp in 2015 as a managing director. Scheelings worked there as well, according to their LinkedIn profiles. Advertisement But so what? Amicorp is a recognized firm that provides secretarial services to various entities and corporate groups from across the globe and not just the Adani portfolio entities, the Indian conglomerate countered. We are not concerned with these completely unrelated scandals that you refer to in a blatant attempt to build a false narrative around our group, Adani said in response to the short sellers allegation that Amicorp also played a key role in Malaysias 1MDB fraud, creating money laundering entities masquerading as mutual funds. Short sellers come up with whatever allegations they want in the hope something sticks, Toine Knipping, a co-founder and chief executive of Amicorp, said in an email reply to my questions. If there would be anything strange going on in an entity Amicorp is in any way connected to, I am sure it would be part of our ongoing conversations with any relevant regulator. None of the three New Leaina functionaries responded to my queries sent via LinkedIn. While nobody has accused them of wrongdoing, their presence in this drama serves to illustrate a frustrating problem. The regulators goal in lifting the veil from opaque corporate structures offshore is to arrive at real people. In the 1MDB scam, the investigation reached bank accounts in the name of the then-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, through which the proceeds of the loot from the state fund allegedly flowed. Thats how Najib was convicted. Advertisement Such breakthroughs are rare, however. When the trail ends with officers of a corporate secretarial firm in a tax haven, the regulator has no further layers to peel and no case thatll stand up in court. But the stakes are too high for SEBI to hide behind legal difficulties. French energy giant TotalEnergies SE has put a multi-billion dollar plan to produce green hydrogen with Adani on hold for now. Total owns about a fifth of Adani Green, where some of its recent fellow investors have been Elara India Opportunities Fund, LTS Investment Fund, Vespera Fund and Albula Investment Fund, all SEBI-registered foreign investors from just a couple of addresses in Mauritius. Together with New Leaina from Cyprus, they owned a little less than 120 million shares between them in June 2021; Total had a little over 300 million. The SEBI has written to custodian banks asking for details on beneficial owners of offshore funds and foreign portfolio investors by September, Reuters reported this week. However, theres nothing the custodians can tell it by September that it doesnt already know. To do more than just spruce up its database, the regulator will need to get creative, and arm itself with additional powers so that the fruit of its more robust supervision can withstand scrutiny by the appellate authority and Indias courts. Illicit flows must be stopped at the gate, but delicately. Or else, genuine investors will get irritated with Indias compliance burden. Advertisement Madhabi Puri Buch, the former banker who last year became the first woman to head SEBI, has the chance to shape investors perception of Indian markets for the next 20 years. Politically, too, its an opportune moment. As opposition politicians try to corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his proximity to Adani, and the government tries to distance itself from the saga, she can afford to get tough against powerful business families. India, it is said, always does the right thing in the end when theres a crisis. Hopefully, this time wont be different. Hindenburg Gives a Master Class. Adani Flunks: Andy Mukherjee Adani Short Seller Hindenburg Opened a Pandoras Box: Shuli Ren Indias Billionaires Banded Together for Adani: Andy Mukherjee (Corrects the date of offshore funds positions in the two charts to June 2021. Removes references to the funds December 2022 positions and replaces with June 2021 in the seventh and the 14th paragraphs.) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andy Mukherjee is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies and financial services in Asia. Previously, he worked for Reuters, the Straits Times and Bloomberg News. 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 happens when Florida and Texas blacklist Wall Streets largest municipal bond underwriters because of their support for environmental, social and governance practices? The answer is a hidden tax foisted on their residents amounting to hundreds of millions of additional dollars. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight If socialism means state control of production, distribution and exchange of goods and services, then Florida and Texas fit the description. Thats not the case with California, whose embrace of ESG and free markets has allowed it to borrow more cheaply than Florida and Texas even though it has lower credit ratings. Superior demand makes California debt the outstanding performer among the three largest US states. Companies committed to ESG favor protection of natural resources, human rights, health and safety, community engagement, transparency, compliance with regulatory policies, diversity, equity and inclusion. Investors like the potential. Asset allocation based on ESG criteria has grown to be at least a $35 trillion industry, according to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance. The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF has expanded 3,400 times to $20 billion since its inception in 2016, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. No less than Larry Fink, chairman, chief executive officer and co-founder of BlackRock Inc., whose $10 trillion in assets makes it the largest money manager, is a believer. He told his shareholders that Wall Streets embrace of ESG is capitalism, driven by mutually beneficial relationships between you and the employees, customers, suppliers and communities your company relies on to prosper. Advertisement Elected officials in Florida and Texas, not to mention half a dozen other states which voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, dont want their residents to believe that. They decry ESG as woke, ignoring its original meaning (as my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Stephen Carter explained) as a watchword for Black Americans derived from a Mississippi Delta blues song warning euphemistically of labor exploitation in the early 20th century mills. These southern states, where racist laws prevailed 50 years ago, now prohibit the biggest Wall Street banks from arranging and selling their new bond offerings because theyre woke, often assigning the job smaller firms that may not have the resources or reach to ensure that the borrowers are getting the lowest possible borrowing costs. In Texas alone, the states municipal borrowers are paying as much as $532 million more in borrowing costs because of Republican lawmakers war with Wall Street over ESG, according to a paper published last year by Daniel Garrett, a University of Pennsylvania professor, and Ivan Ivanov, a principal economist at the Federal Reserve. Citigroup Inc. initially was excluded from handling a bond sale by the Lone Star state after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, himself indicted five years ago on still unsettled felony securities law charges, determined the bank discriminates against the firearms industry. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., with 25,500 Texas employees (the most in any state outside New York), were similarly barred over their support for gun safety regulations and alternative energy. Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan managed $540 billion of municipal offerings during the past five years, or 25% of the market for new issues, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The average 0.38% fee the banks charged were 11 basis points, or 0.11 percentage point, lower than the average for 145 underwriters. Since it began its assault on ESG in 2022, Texas, with its perfect AAA credit rating, is paying 19 basis points more in yield (the equivalent of $1.9 million on every $1 billion of bonds sold) than AA rated California on routine borrowings, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The sudden cheapening of Texas debt is a marked contrast to the zero average spread between Texas and California new debt issues since 2005, when such data initially was compiled. The city of Anna, Texas, in September paid more than it should have on two bond sales totaling almost $100 million when it rejected the most competitive bid from Citigroup because of the Republican-backed state law punishing financial firms for promoting gun safety. Advertisement With JPMorgan, a major employer in the state through its acquisitions of Texas Commerce and First National Bank of Houston in the last century, Texas now is biting the hand that feeds it. JPMorgan contributed more than $17.5 million to non-profit workforce readiness programs, community development and neighborhood revitalization in 2019 and continues to expand its main Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio workforce among the hundreds of branches in 130 Texas locations throughout the state. Florida became a visible antagonist of ESG last year when Governor Ron DeSantis revoked Walt Disney Co.s special tax and self-governing privileges after the states largest private employer criticized the DeSantis law prohibiting classroom instruction about sexual orientation. DeSantis then redrew a congressional map diminishing Black representation, fired the elected state prosecutor of Tampa for refusing to enforce the states 15-week abortion ban, announced new election police that later charged 20 people for mistakenly voting in 2020 in a deceptive crackdown on insignificant voter fraud, and rounding up Venezuelan asylum seekers in San Antonio and sending them on private planes to Massachusetts at the expense of Florida taxpayers. Most recently, DeSantis barred high school students from taking an Advanced Placement course in African American history on the 100-year anniversary of the Rosewood Massacre, the racially motivated murder and destruction of a Florida community. He is simultaneously defunding diversity programs at state colleges and universities while ousting the president of New College of Florida and closing the diversity offices at the public liberal arts institution in Sarasota. Advertisement DeSantis now attacks the giants of money management and securities underwriting for opposing fossil fuel, voter suppression and the criminalizing of reproductive rights as they promote investment strategies furthering sustainability, the essential pillar of ESG. For all his venom toward ESG, DeSantis is poisoning the market for AAA rated Florida debt. Shorn of the liquidity that comes from a robust group of underwriters, Florida now pays 43 basis points more in yield (or $4.3 million for every $1 billion of bonds sold) than California with an inferior credit rating, or 0.35% more than it did prior to 2022. The Florida deterioration is a record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. This is what happens when socialism comes to the Lone Star and Sunshine States. --With assistance from Shin Pei and Matthew Himel. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Matthew A. Winkler, editor in chief emeritus of Bloomberg News, writes about markets. 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 Unusually for high-altitude balloons, the Chinese one shot down by the US Air Force in February flew low enough to be seen from the ground. That turned it into a rare, in-your-face symbol for what US officials call an increasingly aggressive, years-long spying campaign by China around the globe. Under President Xi Jinping, China has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into upgrading its military, from nuclear missiles to hypersonic glide vehicles. That apparently includes investing in the so-called near-space arena to improve surveillance capabilities as well. 1. What do we know about Chinas alleged spy balloon? Officials in China said the airship whose payload was similar in size to a regional jet was a civilian weather balloon that blew off course. US President Joe Biden said it was gathering information over America. High-resolution imagery provided by U-2 spy planes that flew past the balloon revealed an array of surveillance equipment capable of collecting communications signals, according to a State Department official. The balloon traveled over sensitive military sites and had a small motor and propellers, indicating that it was maneuverable. (According to the Pentagon, US officials took steps which werent detailed to protect against the balloons collection of sensitive information.) After a week during which it traversed North America, a US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter shot it down on Feb. 4 off the South Carolina coast. Navy and Coast Guard personnel were sent to recover the debris in relatively shallow waters a few miles offshore. In the days after, several other airborne objects were shot down, though it wasnt clear what they were. Advertisement 2. Why use balloons? Cheap, quiet and hard to reach, balloons have long been used for reconnaissance, including during the US Civil War. Today, balloons have limited ability to collect meaningful data beyond what the Chinese can already gather through their satellite network, US officials have told Bloomberg News. Still, they are able to photograph facilities from different angles and linger for longer over areas than satellites, providing a possible advantages. They can also be deployed unexpectedly so the US has less time to hide assets they are hoping to keep secret and often have infrared sensors that provide different information than satellites. The New York Times reported that Peoples Liberation Army Daily, the main newspaper of the Chinese military, published an article as early as 2020 describing how near space has become a new battleground in modern warfare and has repeatedly urged officers to take balloons seriously. It also said Chinese military scientists have worked on new materials, designs and navigation tools to make them more durable, harder to detect or even to serve as weapons platforms. 3. What other kinds of espionage does China conduct in the US? Advertisement The US and its allies have accused China of increasing the scale of spying and influence operations including the hacking of Microsoft Corp.s Exchange email servers in 2021 and of using spies, scholars, company insiders and front companies to gain access to cutting-edge technology and research. The US State Department ordered the Chinese consulate in Houston, Americas energy capital, to close in 2020 after two Chinese citizens were convicted of trying to steal trade secrets. A former Harvard University chemical biology professor was convicted in 2021 in connection with hiding ties to a Chinese-run recruitment program. Biden has maintained a proclamation by his predecessor, Donald Trump, barring visas for thousands of post-graduate students and researchers deemed to have ties with Chinas military schools. 4. What does China say? China has called such espionage charges slanderous and has long insisted that its a victim, not a perpetrator, of cyberattacks as well as aggressive behavior by the US and other adversaries. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said in February that US balloons have flown illegally over China more than 10 times since early 2022. China has long complained about US surveillance by ships and spy planes near its territory, leading to occasional confrontations. It has said the US is the worlds number one country of spying, eavesdropping and surveillance, that is plainly visible to the international community. Advertisement 5. Who coordinates Chinese intelligence? Chinas main intelligence agency is the Ministry of State Security, established in 1983. Compared with the US, its something of a mashup: It conducts intelligence operations abroad like the Central Intelligence Agency, counterespionage at home like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and cyber-snooping like the National Security Agency. The number of employees is classified, as is the exact location of MSS headquarters, said to be a nondescript building in western Beijing. It has no public website or press office. Its former boss, Chen Wenqing, was promoted to the Politburo and the Central Secretariat in October, the first chief spy to make it to the Communist Partys inner political circle since the ministry was established in the early 1980s. 6. How good is Chinas espionage? Advertisement Hard to know. The New York Times reported in 2018 that Chinese (and Russian) intelligence monitored Trumps calls on unsecured cellular devices. Trump called the report incorrect. In 2017, the Times reported that Chinese authorities had dismantled CIA operations in China over several years, killing at least a dozen of the agencys sources in what US officials called one of their worst intelligence breaches in decades. Australian outlets Fairfax Media/Nine News reported that the MSS was responsible for a wave of attacks on Australian companies in 2018, despite a bilateral agreement not to steal each others commercial secrets. A senior MSS officer, Yanjun Xu, was sentenced to 20 years in a US prison last year for attempting to steal trade secrets from Western aerospace companies. He was the first Chinese spy to be extradited to the US to face charges, after his arrest in Belgium. 7. How worried is the US? The annual threat assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence last year listed China first in a list of challengers that also included Russia, Iran and North Korea. It warned about Chinas growing military power, including its nuclear arsenal, and called the country the top threat to US technological competitiveness and the broadest, most active, and persistent cyber espionage threat to government and private sector networks. The US National Counter intelligence and Security Center developed new guidance for academic institutions to help them to protect their crown jewels from Chinese and other spies. Meanwhile, the US is working on its own high-altitude inflatables to add to an already extensive surveillance network, Politico reported last year, citing Pentagon budget documents. Advertisement 8. Where else are aircraft being spotted? The Chinese balloon was part of a military-led spy program that spanned more than 40 countries, Biden administration officials said. General Glen VanHerck, head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, has said that Norad had failed to detect balloons that flew near US bases during the Trump presidency and later learned about them from the US intelligence community. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said China over the last few years has invested heavily in new military capabilities, including different types of surveillance, including in Europe. In Taiwan last year, a balloon was reported to have hovered for hours over the Taipeis Songshan Airport, which is also used by the military. Japanese media have reported at least two similar-looking balloons floating over the country since 2020. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters on Feb. 6 that a balloon that the Pentagon spotted over Latin America had, like the US one, been blown off course. She said China follows international law, adding that we will not pose any threat to any country. --With assistance from Peter Martin, Tony Capaccio, Karen Leigh and Low De Wei. (Updates with other objects in question 1, China comment in question 4) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which they offered evidence against criminal defendants over more than a two-decade period before 2000. Of 28 examiners with the FBI Laboratorys microscopic hair comparison unit, 26 overstated forensic matches in ways that favored prosecutors in more than 95 percent of the 268 trials reviewed so far, according to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Innocence Project, which are assisting the government with the countrys largest post-conviction review of questioned forensic evidence. The cases include those of 32 defendants sentenced to death. Of those, 14 have been executed or died in prison, the groups said under an agreement with the government to release results after the review of the first 200 convictions. The FBI errors alone do not mean there was not other evidence of a convicts guilt. Defendants and federal and state prosecutors in 46 states and the District are being notified to determine whether there are grounds for appeals. Four defendants were previously exonerated. The admissions mark a watershed in one of the countrys largest forensic scandals, highlighting the failure of the nations courts for decades to keep bogus scientific information from juries, legal analysts said. The question now, they said, is how state authorities and the courts will respond to findings that confirm long-suspected problems with subjective, pattern-based forensic techniques like hair and bite-mark comparisons that have contributed to wrongful convictions in more than one-quarter of 329 DNA-exoneration cases since 1989. In a statement, the FBI and Justice Department vowed to continue to devote resources to address all cases and said they are committed to ensuring that affected defendants are notified of past errors and that justice is done in every instance. The Department and the FBI are also committed to ensuring the accuracy of future hair analysis testimony, as well as the application of all disciplines of forensic science. Peter Neufeld, co-founder of the Innocence Project, commended the FBI and department for the collaboration but said, The FBIs three-decade use of microscopic hair analysis to incriminate defendants was a complete disaster. We need an exhaustive investigation that looks at how the FBI, state governments that relied on examiners trained by the FBI and the courts allowed this to happen and why it wasnt stopped much sooner, Neufeld said. Norman L. Reimer, the NACDLs executive director, said, Hopefully, this project establishes a precedent so that in future situations it will not take years to remediate the injustice. While unnamed federal officials previously acknowledged widespread problems, the FBI until now has withheld comment because findings might not be representative. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a former prosecutor, called on the FBI and Justice Department to notify defendants in all 2,500 targeted cases involving an FBI hair match about the problem even if their case has not been completed, and to redouble efforts in the three-year-old review to retrieve information on each case. These findings are appalling and chilling in their indictment of our criminal justice system, not only for potentially innocent defendants who have been wrongly imprisoned and even executed, but for prosecutors who have relied on fabricated and false evidence despite their intentions to faithfully enforce the law, Blumenthal said. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and the panels ranking Democrat, Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), urged the bureau to conduct a root-cause analysis to prevent future breakdowns. It is critical that the Bureau identify and address the systemic factors that allowed this far-reaching problem to occur and continue for more than a decade, the lawmakers wrote FBI Director James B. Comey on March 27, as findings were being finalized. The FBI is waiting to complete all reviews to assess causes but has acknowledged that hair examiners until 2012 lacked written standards defining scientifically appropriate and erroneous ways to explain results in court. The bureau expects this year to complete similar standards for testimony and lab reports for 19 forensic disciplines. Federal authorities launched the investigation in 2012 after The Washington Post reported that flawed forensic hair matches might have led to the convictions of hundreds of potentially innocent people since at least the 1970s, typically for murder, rape and other violent crimes nationwide. The review confirmed that FBI experts systematically testified to the near-certainty of matches of crime-scene hairs to defendants, backing their claims by citing incomplete or misleading statistics drawn from their case work. In reality, there is no accepted research on how often hair from different people may appear the same. Since 2000, the lab has used visual hair comparison to rule out someone as a possible source of hair or in combination with more accurate DNA testing. Warnings about the problem have been mounting. In 2002, the FBI reported that its own DNA testing found that examiners reported false hair matches more than 11 percent of the time. In the District, the only jurisdiction where defenders and prosecutors have re-investigated all FBI hair convictions, three of seven defendants whose trials included flawed FBI testimony have been exonerated through DNA testing since 2009, and courts have exonerated two more men. All five served 20 to 30 years in prison for rape or murder. University of Virginia law professor Brandon L. Garrett said the results reveal a mass disaster inside the criminal justice system, one that it has been unable to self-correct because courts rely on outdated precedents admitting scientifically invalid testimony at trial and, under the legal doctrine of finality, make it difficult for convicts to challenge old evidence. The tools dont exist to handle systematic errors in our criminal justice system, Garrett said. The FBI deserves every recognition for doing something really remarkable here. The problem is there may be few judges, prosecutors or defense lawyers who are able or willing to do anything about it. Federal authorities are offering new DNA testing in cases with errors, if sought by a judge or prosecutor, and agreeing to drop procedural objections to appeals in federal cases. However, biological evidence in the cases often is lost or unavailable. Among states, only California and Texas specifically allow appeals when experts recant or scientific advances undermine forensic evidence at trial. Defense attorneys say scientifically invalid forensic testimony should be considered as violations of due process, as courts have held with false or misleading testimony. The FBI searched more than 21,000 federal and state requests to its hair comparison unit from 1972 through 1999, identifying for review roughly 2,500 cases where examiners declared hair matches. Reviews of 342 defendants convictions were completed as of early March, the NACDL and Innocence Project reported. In addition to the 268 trials in which FBI hair evidence was used against defendants, the review found cases in which defendants pleaded guilty, FBI examiners did not testify, did not assert a match or gave exculpatory testimony. When such cases are included, by the FBIs count examiners made statements exceeding the limits of science in about 90 percent of testimonies, including 34 death-penalty cases. The findings likely scratch the surface. The FBI said as of mid-April that reviews of about 350 trial testimonies and 900 lab reports are nearly complete, with about 1,200 cases remaining. The bureau said it is difficult to check cases before 1985, when files were computerized. It has been unable to review 700 cases because police or prosecutors did not respond to requests for information. Also, the same FBI examiners whose work is under review taught 500 to 1,000 state and local crime lab analysts to testify in the same ways. Texas, New York and North Carolina authorities are reviewing their hair examiner cases, with ad hoc efforts underway in about 15 other states. If Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo is the MVP, the NBA will give the award to a foreign-born player for the fifth straight year. Ubank, which has more than 600,000 customers, was one of Australias first digital banks when it hit the market in 2008. Loading A decade later, 86 400, a neobank backed by payments provider Cuscal, was launched in 2019. It was one of the first start-ups to be granted a banking licence by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, and alongside a number of other neobanks, promised to disrupt the traditional banking oligopoly and be a point of difference for Australians. But then came the coronavirus pandemic, bringing with it economic uncertainty and a rocky outlook for tech start-ups and other digital disruptors. Cuscal agreed to sell 86 400 to NAB. The acquisition gained approval from the shareholders, regulators and the Federal Court, and in May 2021, the merger was officially completed, with former CBA executive Philippa Watson at the helm. Five former and current staff, who spoke to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald on the condition of anonymity to protect their jobs, said it has been far from smooth sailing. Some employees, particularly those who had come from 86 400, were sceptical of the deal to begin with, and quickly felt their concerns had come to fruition once the two companies merged. Instantly, it was obvious that while this was pitched as a merger where they wanted to keep 86 400 people and systems, it was we bought the people and the systems and they would do things differently, said one former employee of 86 400. We could see it was a takeover and it wasnt a nice environment to work in I couldnt get out quick enough and most people felt the same. The decisions theyve made are not the decisions we would have made. Another employee said she had loved the company when she started, but things changed when it was bought by NAB. This was an NAB takeover. They needed the tech ... it wasnt about the people, or the process of disrupting the market, she said. They took advantage of a situation where all neobanks were very vulnerable, and they just took us out. Employees said a main source of the tension was a culture clash between the 86 400 start-up mentality to disrupt the banking landscape and the big bank mindset. 86 400 staff felt cheated, said one. The big goal of 86 400 was to be better than the big four and then they got sold out to one of the big four. That was a cultural shock to the people who invested their time in the organisation. It got very toxic. Since the merger, all except one of 86 400s original leadership team have left the merged ubank in what one employee described as a mass exodus. In response to the claims from former staff, a ubank spokeswoman said they had expanded their banking, technology and service teams and had recently received strong employee engagement scores. In the past year, ubank has experienced significant growth and our team has more than doubled in size, she said. Were extremely happy with the team weve built as we continue on a strong trajectory of growth. Loading A former ubank staff member, who has since left, also said he felt confusing decisions had been made about the way customer accounts were migrated to the 86 400 technology platforms. The man said months of work was done before the transfer of accounts to 86 400s platforms, with the aim to make the process as smooth as possible for customers. A number of plans were drafted, including encouraging customers in advance to ensure their passwords and postal address were correct so new debit cards could be sent to the right place. The new debit cards were needed to log into the new app, and customers who didnt receive them couldnt access their account on their mobile, including those who were overseas. A lot of work was done to find out what customers wanted to know when and if their accounts were migrated, said the former employee. Instead, he says, much of this work wasnt used. The root cause is that they started moving customers based on how convenient it was for ubank. The calls blew out The process of migrating accounts, which is being called an upgrade, began towards the end of last year, with customers moved over in batches. It didnt take long for customers to have issues. In November, ubanks social media pages were flooded with complaints from irate customers who were unable to access their accounts or were having trouble getting their money. In mid-January, ubank tightened the privacy settings on its Facebook page, no longer allowing comments from customers and hiding the complaints that were previously public. However, customers continue to complain on Twitter, particularly about the hours-long wait times to reach someone from customer service. Loading They didnt have the people for it, said an employee. The calls blew out. The migration process was paused over Christmas, as ubank worked to onboard 170 new people in customer service roles to help customers move onto the new banking platform and support the banks growth, a spokeswoman said. It will recommence soon. The banks deposit and mortgage balances are growing faster than general market growth rates, she said, and ubank had been retaining existing customers while welcoming thousands of new ones every week. Incredible amount of stress After Grant was unable to get into his account, he reviewed the email that said he would be sent a new debit card. He hadnt received anything. It was impossible to get onto anyone through ubanks helpline. It was a stalemate. You couldnt log in or use the card, he said. He lodged a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, which prompted ubank to contact Grant. During this time, the bank accidentally closed his account, which they later said was due to a manual processing error in a letter which also contained an apology for the disruption. Grant had to open a new account, and when he got access he moved all his money to another bank. I didnt trust them anymore, he says. The French artist Louise Bourgeois was at the height of her artistic powers when she died in New York in 2010, having produced arguably her greatest run of artwork when she was in her 70s, 80s and 90s, including one of her most famous works a crouching steel and bronze spider created seven years before her death at age 99. These sinuous spiders brought Bourgeois the nickname Spider Woman and belatedly roused the wider art world to her great talents. A spider sculpture titled "Maman" by French-American confessional artist Louise Bourgeois stands in front of the Kunsthalle museum in Hamburg in northern Germany. Credit: AFP/Angelika Warmuth Australias largest survey of Bourgeois inventive seven-decade career will open in Sydney in November, one of three exhibitions by internationally renowned figures of modern and contemporary art destined for the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art. For the first time, two of those blockbusters are by women. Bourgeois more than 150 works will be presented in two contrasting spaces Sydney Moderns major exhibition gallery and the darkened Tank gallery, where the creatures of South American artist Adrian Villar Rojas roam. 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 Were all familiar with the tropes of romantic comedies: two characters who viscerally repulse each other, only to get hitched in a lavish wedding around the 90-minute mark; frantic dashes through airports to confess undying devotion; teenage boys blasting love songs through boomboxes outside a girls window (a sure-fire way to get slapped with a restraining order in real life). But not every such movie is a grab-bag of cliches. In the lead-up to Valentines Day, we asked 10 well-known Australians to divulge their favourite romcoms. Some are classics, some might surprise you and Love Actually remains as divisive as ever. When Harry Met Sally (1989) Celia Pacquola: actor, writer and comedian I actively dislike most romcoms although maybe Im just a cold-hearted woman except When Harry Met Sally. It bucked the trend of what romcoms are and its the only one where I actually wanted Sally (Meg Ryan) and Harry (Billy Crystal) to get together. I feel like Sally and Harry are matched well in terms of age and attractiveness; my bugbear is seeing these impossibly stunning women with slovenly, immature men. The writing and acting are so subtle and Nora Ephrons dialogue made me laugh so much. My favourite scene is where Sally is crying, Harry makes her laugh, then she remembers shes meant to be sad and starts crying again which is something I can relate to! And I loved seeing Sally and Harry not just as a couple but also as friends. Bernard Curry: actor and writer Advertisement A lot of the time when you say romantic comedy the comedy part gets overlooked, but for me, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are both hilarious. When Harry Met Sally allows you to get carried away with the sentimentality and romanticism without it tipping over into schmaltz. Its so tightly written and beautifully executed. I probably watched it about 15 times in the 1990s. Back when I was dating Id go to Blockbuster and rent it on VHS because its a great date-night movie. On the other hand, Love Actually is a film I loathed. I just remember rolling my eyes so many times. Theres a fine line with romcoms between sentimentality and over-sentimentality, which then becomes schmaltz, and then it becomes melodramatic and unbelievable. It tripped over a line I felt shouldnt be crossed in romcoms. Rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and YouTube Deadpool (2016) Jordan Raskopoulos: actor, writer, musician and comedian Deadpool was released around Valentines Day and its a marvellous story about a couple who fall in love, one of them finds out he has cancer, and they have to come to terms with that during his treatment. It does away with the whole meet-cute scenario and just gets into the difficulties of being in a relationship and the allies they recruit to overcome the things that stand in the way of love. So many movies end just as the couple fall in love, but in fact, thats when a relationship begins. Sometimes you think people wont love you after they see your scars and the horrors youve endured but, in the end, love conquers all. Ive seen it at least 60 times and, while Ryan Reynolds is known for his romantic comedies, you dont see much of his face yet hes so emotive behind his mask, its a testament to his acting skills. Streaming on Disney+ Youve Got Mail (1998) Advertisement Jessie Tu: author, journalist and poet This came out pre-2000, during a very pregnant stage of the internet in terms of what it could provide. Youd sit at your computer and that was your network to the wider world. A lot of people feel romcoms are not feminist because theres often a befuddled heroine who doesnt know how attractive she is and has a great career but is romantically unsuccessful. But Meg Ryans character, Kathleen Kelly, is in a loving relationship with a successful partner and theres no bitterness when they break up, which is beautiful. That would be rare in real life, but the best romcoms are often far from reality. It showed me that literature doesnt have to be all dreary. I dont think Ive seen another film that captures the magic of books like this one does. Rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and YouTube Coming to America (1988) Dane Simpson: comedian, writer, producer and actor Being an Aboriginal man growing up in Australia, I didnt see much representation of what we would call Blackfullas on TV or in movies. I dont think Id even seen a Black American movie so to me, it felt like representation. It stars Eddie Murphy playing an African prince who comes to America and pretends to be a poor student to find a woman wholl love him for himself. The black characters werent incidental, they were the stars of the movie. It was such a fun, character-driven film, and so many scenes reminded me of interactions Id have in my community. Even the scenes in the barber shops weve got a lot of barbers in Australia who are Polynesian boys, and they cut our hair and laugh and tell stupid stories and we have such a great time. It really felt that I knew these characters, and Id lived a similar life in a lot of ways. Streaming on Amazon Prime, Binge, Netflix Advertisement Crazy Rich Asians (2018) Antoinette Lattouf: broadcaster, columnist and author When you adore a book its hard for the film to live up to expectations, but I loved watching this over-the-top romcom about a poor girl who finds her Prince Charming. I spent a lot of time in Asia because my now-husband lived in Singapore, so the outlandish wealth Kevin Kwan describes in his books is something Ive been exposed to. One thing I was able to relate to was the meddling of Eastern cultures when it comes to young love and romances. I think, in a modern Western context, its not as readily accepted that parents play such a role but in a lot of Eastern cultures that still plays quite a big part in the success or failure of relationships. Its a bit cliched in that it plays into the rich-boy-meets-poor-girl fairytale but to its credit, its an all-Asian cast and it exposed us to stars like Awkwafina, whos gone on to amazing things in Hollywood. Streaming on Binge, Netflix, Paramount+ Notting Hill (1999) Michael Rowland: ABC News Breakfast co-anchor I was single when I first saw Notting Hill in the late 1990s and one of the reasons I liked it is because I projected myself into a fantasy where I was William Thacker (Hugh Grant), wishing I owned a bookstore and hoping that someone Hollywood-esque like Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) would walk in and wed go from there. As a journalist, Ive been in so many hotel corridors for publicity jaunts just like that scene in the movie and I always have nightmares about sleeping in without getting to do my research and all of a sudden Im asking stupid questions of stars about horses and submarines. Its obviously a fantastical plot, but thats part of the charm of the romcom genre. Love Actually is another one thats on high rotation. I love that it has a few different subplots and I especially like Colin Firth (Jamie) as the frustrated writer who moves to France, falls in love with his housekeeper and hilarity ensues. Advertisement How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) John Aiken: Married at First Sight relationship expert I love it because, essentially, youre seeing all these behaviours play out, in dating and relationships, that you dont want to do yourself. Much like MAFS, you learn what not to do single people see these red flags they need to watch out for, while couples might say, We need to do things differently here. Kate Hudson as Andie Anderson and Matthew McConaughey as Benjamin Barry had good chemistry, and at times you see a glimmer that maybe itll work out but then at other times it makes you cringe. And when youre cringing its like seeing a train wreck coming at you; youre desperately hoping someone will read the room and adjust their behaviour, but ultimately they dont, and it ends up hurting them and others. It also makes us reflect on how we might be a bit clingy in our own relationships, and hopefully prompts people to reflect on how they need to navigate togetherness and separateness. The other film I love is Love Actually because it shows all different types of love: the good, the bad and the ugly. Streaming on Binge, Netflix and Stan* 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Jordan Barr: Popgays podcast co-host and comedian Advertisement The federal government says its own workplace reforms improving gender equality and job security should not dictate the urgency of a highly anticipated pay rise for aged care workers, as the industry and unions call for the increase to be given immediately. A government submission to a Fair Work Commission hearing also argues it is not within the bodys remit to determine when the Commonwealth must deliver on its election promise to fund the pay rise, and says the haemorrhaging of the workforce should have no bearing on the timing either. The federal government has come under fire for the proposed timing of a pay increase for aged care workers. The commission does not need to consider whether it would theoretically be possible for the Commonwealth to fund the full interim increase through its funding mechanisms sooner than it has decided, the submission lodged on Friday said. Fair Work ruled in November that aged care workers were entitled to a 15 per cent pay rise after unions launched a wage case calling for an increase of 25 per cent, or about $5 an hour. London: The makers of the latest instalment of Marvels Black Panther movie franchise have infuriated members of French President Emmanuel Macrons government by depicting French troops attempting to steal resources belonging to a fictional African kingdom. Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu has lashed out at the Disney-owned Marvel Studios for its false and deceptive representation of Frances soldiers in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, in a sign the French remain highly sensitive about their presence on the continent during the past decade. French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Credit: AP The scene from the film, released late last year, portrayed French military personnel with their hands bound dragged into a United Nations meeting in Geneva following their thwarted attempt to steal vibranium a fictional metal in the Marvel universe belonging to Wakanda. I strongly condemn this false and deceptive representation of our armed forces, Lecornu wrote on Twitter. A French journalist, Jean Bexon, had earlier posted the Black Panther clip, noting, The evil French mercenaries operating in Mali are dressed like soldiers from Operation Barkhane, a real-life military mission. From 7 to 10 February 2023, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) jointly held two online workshops (one in English and the other in French) for the WCOs West and Central Africa (WCA) region on combatting the trafficking of substandard and falsified medical products. This initiative was also supported by the Council of Europe with the participation of the Executive Secretariat of the Medicrime Convention. These workshops were organized in response to the proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products and cases of lethal paediatric products recently reported by the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System. Some 36 Customs officers specialized in enforcement and risk management took part in the workshops, representing 12 countries in the WCA region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Cote dIvoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Senegal. During these sessions, participants had the opportunity to improve their knowledge of pharmaceutical crime and become familiar with related tools and instruments provided by the WCO to its Members, such as the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) CENcomm platform, e-commerce risk indicators and the online CLiKC! module specifically dedicated to combatting illicit medicines and counterfeit or substandard medical supplies related to COVID-19 and other pandemics. In his opening address, Mr. Boubacar Camara, Deputy Director General of Benin Customs, welcomed the WCO Secretariats initiative and recalled the key role Customs play in protecting borders and consumer health against falsified and/or substandard medical products. He went on to emphasize that Benin Customs is ready to play a leading role in the WCOs WCA region to dismantle illicit medicine trafficking networks. The representative of the WCO Secretariat highlighted the need to develop capacity building activities for Customs administrations in the region so that they might be better able to protect society against illicit trafficking, particularly as such activities are among the priorities identified in the WCO Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and in the WCO IPR Strategy 2020 approved by the 41st Meeting of the Enforcement Committee. During the workshop, five rights holders representing pharmaceutical companies presented techniques and best practices for detecting falsified or substandard pharmaceutical products from the perspective of the private sector. The WCO, through its IPR, Health and Safety Programme, will continue to raise awareness in this area and build the capacity of Customs administrations to combat the trafficking of substandard and falsified medical products. Owners of property leased to the state and of property management companies contracted with the state would be disclosed under a bill the North Dakota House of Representatives passed Monday. House Bill 1288, introduced by Rep. Shannon Roers Jones, R-Fargo, passed in an 87-3 vote. It now goes to the Senate. The bill would require state leases and rental agreements to list owners with an interest of 10% or more in the leased property, as well as owners of state-contracted property management companies with an interest of 10% of more. Such information would be available from the state Office of Management and Budget's Facility Management Division. Rep. Vicky Steiner, R-Dickinson, said the bill is "a good expansion of transparency to the public on who is in the LLC companies that are leasing their buildings to the state." The bill follows an interim legislative study on leasing as well as new Attorney General Drew Wrigley's disclosure last June of a $1.8 million building cost overrun incurred under his late predecessor, Wayne Stenehjem, who died in January 2022 at age 68 due to cardiac arrest. An investigative report prepared for lawmakers by State Auditor Josh Gallion last fall noted Rep. Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck, as a co-owner of the attorney generals leased building at 1720 Burlington Drive in south Bismarck. Dockter also co-owns Parkway Property Management, which upgraded the building for the attorney general. Dockter was Stenehjem's campaign treasurer in 2016 and 2018. The lawmaker has said he and Stenehejm were friends, "but it didn't have anything to do with" the building. Roers Jones has said her bill seeks transparency and is not specifically directed at one episode or issue. The bill passed with no debate. Dockter was absent from the vote. The 2021 Legislature arranged for the interim Government Administration Committee to research state-leased property and whether any restrictions or prohibitions should be imposed on state officials and lawmakers who lease to state government. That included reviewing a list of state agency space needs and leases, including lessors. Some corporations didnt provide or refused to provide names of their owners. The study unfolded before Dockters ownership in the attorney generals building was made public. The committee did not recommend any related legislation to the 2023 Legislature. This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week. Up Its good to see the creation of a joint Bismarck-Burleigh committee after the Burleigh County Commission reconsidered its earlier rejection of the idea. The Burleigh County Commission and the Bismarck City Commission have overlapping interests, and its in the best interest of taxpayers that the governing bodies work together. Recently the relationship has been strained. Examples include clashing over funding for Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health and for a new public health building under construction and a difference of opinion over the Renaissance Zone program. The special joint committee, composed of leaders of each commission and staff leaders, will meet monthly. Its a good step toward better collaboration. Down President Joe Biden has issued a disaster declaration for seven North Dakota counties in response to a record-setting early November blizzard, but Burleigh and Morton counties aren't among them. That's despite the fact that Bismarck got a record amount of snow on Nov. 10, and Mandan got slammed with even more. But the counties still didn't meet the threshold for federal aid. The state Department of Emergency Services says it's difficult for larger counties in the state to meet those thresholds. The city of Bismarck spent nearly $1.5 million on snow removal from October through December, way above average. And Mandan spent $480,000 in that time span, when the city typically spends $250,000 to $300,000 for an entire winter. Help might be coming in the form of state snow removal grants for local governments in a bill making its way through the Legislature. Up COVID-19 deaths are on the decline in North Dakota. Provisional data from the state Division of Vital Records shows 305 North Dakotans died due to COVID-19 in 2022, nearly half the number in 2021 and almost one-fourth of the tally in 2020, the year the pandemic began. COVID-19 was North Dakota's third-leading cause of death in 2020 and 2021, but it dropped to No. 8 last year. Officials cite in part growing community immunity and vaccine uptake. But North Dakota still lags behind the national COVID-19 vaccination rates. Down Cryptocurrency is a complex industry, making regulation even more important. Nexo Capital Inc. was recently accused of selling unregistered securities when it failed to register its Earn Interest lending product. State Securities Commissioner Karen Tyler says the laws and regulations are designed to protect investors. But Nexo sold its product to more than 93,000 investors in the U.S., totaling more than $800 million, without any federal oversight. There were 169 accounts in North Dakota, totaling $770,000. The good news is the company didn't get away with it. Nexo has agreed to pay a $22.5 million fine to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and $22.5 million in fines to states and U.S. territories to settle the charges. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mainly cloudy and much cooler than we've been (but still not bad for April) with some occasional showers or an afternoon t-storm, but not a washout. . Tonight Mainly cloudy with a lingering shower in the evening, then some patchy fog or drizzle late. Bill Budington reports on Patrick Hinchy, a New York resident who made software that made it easy to compromise others' hardware and spy on them. Fined $410,000, Hinchy must also update the software to alert all the victims. Stalkerware, a type of commercially-available surveillance software, is installed on phones without device users' knowledge or consent to secretly spy on them. The apps track victims' locations and allow abusers to read their text messages, monitor phone calls, see photos, videos, and web browsing, and much more. It's being used all over the world to intimidate, harass, and harm victims, and is a favorite tool for stalkers and abusive spouses or ex-partners. In a press release announcing the fine, New York's Attorney General Letitia James put it in no unclear terms: "These apps and products put New Yorkers at risk of stalking and domestic abuse, and were aggressively promoted by Patrick Hinchy through 16 different companies. Today's agreement will block these companies from allowing New Yorkers to be monitored without their awareness, and will continue our ongoing fight to protect New Yorkers' rights, safety, and privacy." Here's what Hinchy's spyware did, according to the ruling (PDF): As the curtain falls at the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards Concert, the full list of winners has been revealed. The Awards introduced gender-neutral performance categories for the first time this year, alongside the new and returning additions of Best Professional Debut, Best Takeover, Best Concert Event and Best Casting Direction. The biggest winner of the night was the RSC's beloved stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro, which secured five awards, including Best Direction (for Phelim McDermott), Best Set Design (for Tom Pye and Basil Twist), Best Lighting Design (for Jessica Hung Han Yun), Best Sound Design (for Tony Gayle) and Best Musical Direction/Supervision (for Bruce O'Neil and Matt Smith). It did not, however, take home the Best New Play trophy, which instead went to the highly acclaimed West End production of Prima Facie, with its lead Jodie Comer also triumphing in the Best Performer in a Play category. Ahead of its return to the London stage next month, Bonnie and Clyde managed to see off its competition to be crowned Best New Musical on a night where its leading actors Frances Mayli McCann and Jordan Luke Gage also gave a performance as the titular outlaws. In the revival categories, Marianne Elliott's celebrated staging of Cock and the mould-breaking reimagining of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Oklahoma! at the Young Vic (also transferring to the West End later this week) triumphed as Best Play Revival and Best Musical Revival, respectively. The latter was also recognised for Joshua Thorson's video design. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's revival of Legally Blonde cemented its popularity with Courtney Bowman one of the trio of hosts for the night and Lauren Drew each receiving the nod for Best Performer in a Musical and Best Supporting Performer in a Musical, respectively, while To Kill a Mockingbird's Gwyneth Keyworth (Best Supporting Performer in a Play), Wicked's Lucie Jones (Best Takeover Performance) and Heartstopper and The Trials favourite Joe Locke (Best Professional Debut) also went home as freshly crowned WhatsOnStage Award winners. Other shows that didn't leave empty-handed this evening include Curve's Billy Elliot (Best Regional Production), But I'm A Cheerleader: The Musical (Best Off-West End Production), the soon-to-be-returning Grease (Best Choreography), the UK premiere tour of The Cher Show (Best Costume Design) and the star-studded staging of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends (Best Concert Event). The queens of Six will also continue their reign for a third consecutive year as Best West End Show. The evening featured a variety of special performances include an exclusive appearance from Prima Facie composer SELF ESTEEM and We Will Rock You star Mazz Murray. 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. New Republican congressman George Santos, also known as Anthony Devolder, Kitara, and heaven knows what else in his extensive life as a fraudster, grifter and chancer, faced charges of writing $15,000 in bad checks in Pennsylvania in 2017. Santos used the checks to buy dogs from the Amish, but the charges were dropped for obscure reasons and later expunged from his record. Santos' former friend Tiffany Bogosian, who is also an attorney by trade, is speaking out. She says Santos asked for advice after claiming his checkbook was stolen. Santos apparently told her he was involved in politics, and he couldn't have a record. The charge was eventually dismissed. "He doesn't deserve to be trusted with anything, let alone representation of people's interest in Congress," she said. "I just wish I never even got involved." Influenza hospitalizations and deaths in the state are quickly declining as each week passes by, after Minnesota saw an early peak in November. According to the most recent data released by the Minnesota Department of Health, there were only 16 hospitalizations related to influenza during the week ending on Feb. 4. Those 16 add to the 3,220 hospitalizations so far this season in the state with a large number happening in November, when some weeks saw more than 500. This influenza seasons high peak and quick drop-off in hospitalizations came weeks earlier than that of any flu season in the past five years. Deaths related to influenza have seen a similar decrease in recent months in the state. So far this influenza season, there have been 144 deaths recorded in the state none of which have been children, according to MDH. As for in Winona specifically, Tina Glenzinski, director of primary care at Winona Health, shared on Wednesday, Here at Winona Health were currently seeing very little flu-related hospitalization and not many flu cases in the clinic either especially in the past month. Our caregivers continue to encourage good hand washing and avoiding being around others when sick. Weve administered approximately 7,250 flu vaccinations this season. For more information about influenza season in Minnesota, visit health.state.mn.us. For information about how to get vaccinated at Winona Health, visit winonahealth.org or call 507-454-3650. IN PHOTOS: UW-La Crosse donates gift baskets to health care workers Donations Donations Donations Donations Donations Donations Donations Donations Donations Donations WASHINGTON Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week. House votes Energy and information networks: The House has passed the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act (H.R. 302), sponsored by Rep. Deborah K. Ross, D-N.C., to have the Energy Department establish an Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Program for funding research into energy infrastructure and cybersecurity by graduate students and post-doctorate researchers. Ross said the program will confront growing cyber threats against our countrys critical energy infrastructure by making real investments in a strong and diverse workforce that is ready to meet the challenges we face. The vote, on Feb. 6, was 357 yeas to 56 nays. Yeas: Finstad, R-MN (1st) Impact of vaccine mandate: The House has approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., to a bill (H.R. 185) that would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to send Congress a report on the number of foreigners denied entry to the U.S. because of the CDCs COVID vaccine requirement for foreign tourists. Boebert said the report would require the CDC to account for those who have felt the negative ramifications of this rule. It will also provide transparency and allow congressional oversight of the consequences of this vaccine mandate. An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said the requirement was a public health measure, therefore the proposed report was irrelevant. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 253 yeas to 168 nays. Yeas: Finstad, R-MN (1st) COVID testing and China: The House has approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. John W. Rose, R-Tenn., to a bill (H.R. 185) that would state that H.R. 185 does not impact a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rule requiring visitors to the U.S. from China to show proof of a negative COVID test or recent recovery from COVID. Rose said: We cannot fall asleep at the wheel when it comes to protecting our nation, its people, and our safety with respect to the adversarial and all-too-often nefarious actions and intentions of the Peoples Republic of China. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 426 yeas to 8 nays. Yeas: Finstad R-MN (1st) COVID vaccines and foreigners: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 185), sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to end the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID vaccine requirement for foreigners visiting the U.S. by air. Massie referenced the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people who have been separated at our border because of this ridiculous, illogical, unscientific policy. A bill opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said if the mandate ended, I would be very concerned about people coming from places like Russia, China and Cuba not being vaccinated because of the lack of attention to public health in those countries. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 227 yeas to 201 nays. Yeas: Finstad, R-MN (1st) China balloon flight: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 104), sponsored by Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, to condemn China sending a high-altitude surveillance balloon across the U.S. last week as a violation of U.S. sovereignty. McCaul said the resolution sends a clear, bipartisan signal to the CCP and our adversaries around the world that this action will not be tolerated. The vote, on Feb. 9, was unanimous with 419 yeas. Yeas: Finstad, R-MN (1st) D.C. elections: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 24), sponsored by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., to disapprove of and void a Washington, D.C., Council law allowing non-citizens living in the District to vote in local elections. A supporter, Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy, R-N.Y., said D.C.s new law potentially allows foreign agents from China, Russia, and other adversaries to participate in local elections held within this nations capital city. A resolution opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said it violates the principle of local, democratic self-government, which is at the heart of the home rule charter for Washington, D.C., and also violates the equal protection and democratic principles that animate our Constitution. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 260 yeas to 162 nays. Yeas: Finstad, R-MN (1st) D.C. criminal laws: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 26), sponsored by Rep. Andrew S. Clyde, R-Ga., to disapprove of and void a Washington, D.C., Council law that made various changes to the Districts criminal laws, including reducing punishments and expanding the right to a jury trial for misdemeanor cases. Clyde said the law, by eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for all crimes except first-degree murder, eliminating life sentences, and reducing maximum penalties for violent crimes including burglary, carjacking, and robberies will undoubtedly embolden criminals and threaten the safety of both residents and visitors. A resolution opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said Congress should leave democratic self-government and local self-government of Washington to the people of Washington, D.C. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 250 yeas to 173 nays. Yeas: Finstad, R-MN (1st) Senate votes Appeals court judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of DeAndrea Gist Benjamin to be a judge on the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Benjamin was a private practice lawyer with her own law firm in Columbia, South Carolina, from 2001 to 2011, and since 2011 has been a circuit court judge in the state. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 53 yeas to 44 nays. Yeas: Klobuchar, D-MN; Smith, D-MN Liberals are boosting an election denier in a critical Republican state Senate primary and are attacking one of the two conservatives running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court a week before voters head to the polls. Its a tactic Democrats employed nationally in last years midterms to mixed reviews from their partisan camp. The strategy involves implicitly siding in partisan primaries with the GOP candidate opponents feel would appear to voters as most conservative in the general election, then going after that candidate and casting them as out of touch with voters after the primary. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin paid for flyers that appear to endorse Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, an anti-abortion advocate supported by former President Donald Trump, who is facing off against two other Republicans in the 8th Senate District primary. If Republicans win the GOP-leaning seat in eastern Wisconsin, they will secure a veto-proof majority in the 33-member chamber. Unlike typical hit pieces that seek to portray a candidate in an unflattering light, the liberal-funded flyer shows a smiling Brandtjen and says, On abortion, Republican Janel Brandtjen is as conservative as they come. The mailer, which includes a pro-life logo and touts Brandtjens status as a Pro-life legislator of the year, urges recipients to vote in the February primary and the April 4 general election. Its only on the reverse side that the sponsorship is revealed: Paid for by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, as an in-kind to the State Senate Democratic Committee. Brandtjen is facing state Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, who has made his anti-Trump views public, and Thiensville Village President Van Mobley in the February primary. The lone Democratic candidate in the race is Jodi Habush Sinykin of Whitefish Bay. One of Habush Sinykins ads contrasts her abortion rights views with Brandtjens anti-abortion stance but does not mention the other conservative candidates. Janel Brandtjen would be a disaster in the State Senate, and we look forward to continuing to put her extremism front and center for voters in the coming weeks, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Joe Oslund said. Brandtjen did not respond to a request for comment. High court race In the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where voters will decide Feb. 21 which two candidates advance in the nonpartisan primary, a liberal group is spending over $2 million attacking conservative candidate and Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow. The ads, posted online by WisPolitics, highlight Dorows past cases, calling her dangerous in one for not sentencing a sex offender to prison. Some conservatives are interpreting the spending from liberal group A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund as a sign that liberals would rather go up against the other conservative candidate, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly, in April. Its never been more clear that Judge Jennifer Dorow is the only candidate who can beat the liberal special interest groups in April and stop the lefts efforts to remake Wisconsin via judicial fiat, Dorow spokesperson Amber Schroeder said about the spending on Feb. 6. A spokesperson from the liberal group would not say on the record why the group placed the anti-Dorow ads. Kelly has faced questions over his electability after losing the 2020 Wisconsin Supreme Court race to current liberal Justice Jill Karofsky. Dorow has faced those same questions for what some conservatives deem her lack of preparedness in the race. But she was also recently in the national spotlight for presiding over the trial against the man who drove through the Waukesha Christmas parade in 2021, killing six people and injuring more than 60 others. The liberals in the race are Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz and Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell. The top two vote-getters in next weeks nonpartisan primary will advance to the April election. Conservative groups are also getting in the game ahead of the primary. The Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Issues Mobilization Council is spending just over $250,000 and the Wisconsin Alliance for Reform is spending just under $500,000 on ads attacking Protasiewicz, according to the liberal Brennan Center for Justice. But unlike the liberal groups, who hope to sway which conservative candidate advances to the general election, conservatives are certain they will face the far better-funded Protasiewicz in April and are laying the groundwork for a general election campaign. Any outstanding question about the Wisconsin Supreme Court elections national importance has just been answered: Of liberal candidate Janet Protasiewiczs $195,000 fundraising haul in large donations last week, only $7,500 came from in-state donors. The Milwaukee County judges influx of out-of-state funds highlights national liberals atypical financial and political investments in the race. A liberal winning in the April 4 election could lead to the realization of numerous Democratic priorities, from redrawing the states legislative maps to legalizing abortion and having a court majority in case of any 2024 presidential election challenges. Conservatives consider the race to be just as important as liberals, as they seek to protect the same policies Democrats want to reverse, but no conservative candidate reported any big donations from non-Wisconsinites last week. All four Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates must report their fundraising hauls between Jan. 1 and Feb. 6 on Monday. From Feb. 6 on, candidates must also report any donation over $1,000 from a single source. Protasiewiczs $195,000 comes from the latter category. Protasiewicz also raised $725,000 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 6, leaving her with $276,000 cash on hand, campaign finance filings show. Thats more cash raised in the years first reporting period than the rest of the candidates combined. Liberal billionaires are setting up a pipeline of money to Milwaukee Judge Janet Protasiewicz because she ... has promised to be a rubber stamp for the Democrats agenda, Republican Party of Wisconsin Mark Jefferson said. Between Feb. 8 and Feb. 12, conservative candidate and Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow reported raising just over $50,000 in large donations, entirely from in-state donors. From Jan. 1 to Feb. 6, she raised $365,000, with just under $270,000 left on hand at the end of the reporting period. Conservative candidate and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly reported $1,000 in large donations last week from one in-state donor. He raised just over $100,000 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 6, according to his finance report. He has just over $200,000 cash on hand. Liberal candidate and Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell reported $3,500 in large monetary donations last week from two out-of-state donors. He raised $70,000 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 6, ending the period with just under $121,000 cash on hand. Outside groups have added millions to the mix. The liberal A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund is spending over $1.5 million attacking Dorow pre-primary. The pro-Kelly group Fair Courts America, funded by the Illinois-based Republican donor Richard Uihlein, is spending around $1.8 million on his behalf, according to the liberal Brennan Center for Justice. The Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Issues Mobilization Council is spending just over $250,000 and Wisconsin Alliance for Reform is spending just under $500,000 attacking Protasiewicz, according to the Brennan Center. The pro-Dorow group Justice for Wisconsin is spending $55,000 supporting Dorow pre-primary. A Java man was charged with assault with intent to injure a state trooper after being arrested in connection with a burglary investigation on Friday, state police said Sunday. Troopers out of the Warsaw barracks responded to a burglary in progress in Java and found that the suspects had fled on foot. Troopers said they found the person who committed the burglary, but that Ryder J. Berry, 22, began interfering with the investigation by acting unruly. They said Berry resisted arrest and injured officers who tried to take him into custody. He was charged with three counts of felony assault with intent to cause injury to an officer, two counts of menacing with a weapon, obstructing governmental investigation and resisting arrest. Troopers did not describe the burglary location or suspect, or the weapon involved in the menacing charge. Berry was arraigned in front of a town of Warsaw judge and remanded to the Wyoming County jail in lieu of a $40,000 bond. He is due back in court Wednesday. How do you destroy pollution so stubborn that it's nicknamed forever chemicals? Thats a question researchers and companies across the country are eager to answer, as regulation tightens on PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and the chemicals producers face a mountain of lawsuits. The chemicals are in fast-food wrappers, firefighting foams, nonstick cookware and dental floss. They dont break down readily in the environment, they easily flow with water, and research has linked them to health effects like immune and fertility problems and some cancers. Getting rid of the harmful chemicals is a multi-billion-dollar elephant in front of us, said Corey Theriault, a technical expert focused on PFAS treatment at the engineering and consulting firm Arcadis. PFAS have been destroyed via incineration, but there are questions about how thoroughly burning works, and the Defense Department halted the practice of burning these chemicals last year. Firefighters use PFAS-based foam to extinguish a helicopter fire during a training exercise in 2007. (Staff Sgt. James H. Christopher III / U.S. Army) Everyone from municipal water providers to Fortune-100 companies have shown interest in the technologies, Theriault said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is offering a contract to handle, destroy and replace fire-fighting foam that is rich in PFAS, worth some $800 million, according to the governments solicitation document. PFAS became so popular in consumer goods because of the durable carbon-fluorine bond that makes up the links in short-chain and long-chain versions of the chemicals. These bonds help repel stains, water and grease, and cut off oxygen to dangerous blazes. But that chemical bond is also exceedingly hard to break. Many methods being tested right now to eliminate PFAS have often been used in other chemical cleanups. Engineers are trying to burst the molecules in modified pressure cookers; split them with UV light and energized additives; rupture the PFAS chains with electricity, or strip apart atoms with cold plasma, a charged and reactive gas. No technology is yet being deployed on a large scale, but Theriault said those furthest along in development could be ready in the next six to 18 months. However, none of these technologies will directly treat a contaminated water source. First, the water would have to be filtered so that the PFAS ends up in a concentrate that is more cost-effective to treat, because there are more of the chemicals in each gallon. The state of Minnesota already uses a machine that sucks PFAS out of contaminated groundwater by repeatedly stirring the groundwater into a foam, where the chemicals tend to collect. The cost per volume of liquid to treat for these destructive approaches is much higher, said Timothy Strathmann, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He is developing a destruction method called hydrothermal alkaline treatment or HALT, that he described as a pressure cooker on steroids. The need for a concentrated chemical soup to experiment on has led at least a dozen companies to pitch their products to Minnesota, because the state is already creating it with its filtering machine, said Drew Tarara, a geologist and program manager with AECOM. It does feel like everybodys trying to get their foot in the door, Tarara said. Minnesota is partnering with AECOM to investigate new PFAS technologies. The first six months of this pilot study cost $500,000, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency spokeswoman Andrea Cournoyer wrote in an email. Minnesota will next use the De-Fluoro system, an electrochemical approach marketed by AECOM, to try to destroy the PFAS in its foamy concentrate. The state faces a decades-long PFAS contamination problem in the eastern part of the Twin Cities where Maplewood-based 3M, one of the original PFAS developers and manufacturers, polluted groundwater with leaky landfills and disposal sites. Money from a lawsuit the state settled with 3M in 2018 is paying for the work being done today with AECOM. The De-Fluoro unit is still very much in field testing, Tarara said. The unit will be tested at the Washington County landfill for up to six weeks, where it will process the states collected PFAS concentrate, but Tarara and state officials have been cautious in describing what the De-Fluoro may do. Rebecca Higgins, a senior hydrogeologist at MPCA, previously told the Star Tribune that De-Fluoro may only be able to snap long-chain PFAS into shorter segments rather than destroy them. State officials have said before they want to test other technologies, too. Cournoyer wrote that any additional systems would be selected in accordance with the states procurement rules, and officials will also be searching scientific literature for reports on other technologies. Minnesota is testing new PFAS destruction technology to pair with these high-tech PFAS water filters. (Courtesy of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) But the world of PFAS destruction is rife with proprietary methods and non-disclosure agreements, making it hard to assess what actually works. One notable exception is a study published in the journal Science last year, where researchers boiled the chemicals with two other compounds on low heat. But the method is still in lab testing. Companies like Claros Technologies, a Minnesota-based startup, are mostly mum about who exactly owns the PFAS waste theyre experimenting on, because those partners may have legal liabilities. That makes it hard to validate the companys stated results: 99.9% to 99.99% destruction of PFAS, when treated with UV light and an additive. Those tests for Claros arent being verified in peer-reviewed scientific journals either, because the process is proprietary. John Brockgreitens, the director of research and development for Claros, said the company one day hopes to treat tens of thousands of gallons of liquid daily. But he admitted that its hard to answer detailed questions about the results of the companys photochemical method. We talk to teams of scientists and they ask us the same thing, he said. Walking that line is a challenge. Theriault, who said his firm remains agnostic on what technologies it recommends to its clients, said Arcadis had partnered with Claros and that their method has definitely shown its promise to be useful in more applications than some other methods. There is no one technology thats going to crush it across the board, Theriault said. But for the communities facing pollution, the technologies cant come soon enough, because current waste handling methods arent containing the chemicals. Any landfill will fail, it doesnt matter how theyre built, said Rainer Lohmann, director of the University of Rhode Islands STEEP lab and an authority on PFAS contamination. Many landfills no longer accept waste thats known to be contaminated with PFAS, sources said. And until a regulator like the Environmental Protection Agency sets standards for how thoroughly PFAS need to be destroyed, theres no official benchmark for the new technologies, Lohmann said. Does it destroy 95%? 99%? What do you do with the rest? Lohmann said. Evan Flury was working in his West Side home on Jan. 27 when his fiancee came home and asked: "Did you move your car?" He hadn't. But the 2017 Hyundai Elantra that he had parked outside his residence was gone. Four days later, a police officer called and told him the car had turned up in the Fruit Belt. The vehicle's back right window was broken and the steering column was cracked open but the car was otherwise undamaged. When he called the insurance adjuster, Flury told him he had heard of six other thefts. The adjuster was surprised surprised that he knew of only six. The theft of Hyundais and Kias, a crime trend that started on social media last summer and burst into the spotlight in Buffalo in the fall with a crash that killed four teenagers, looked to be slowing down as 2022 was coming to a close. But by December, the thefts were back to where they were in October. Then in January, that number doubled. As of Jan. 31, 112 Kias were reported stolen in Buffalo alone, along with 79 Hyundais. In all of 2022, 275 Kias and 141 Hyundais were reported stolen in Buffalo, according to the latest Buffalo police crime data. "Obviously, it's a real problem," said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia. The problem started around July, when a "challenge" began circulating on TikTok, YouTube and other social media platforms that showcased how easy it is to steal many models of Kias and Hyundais, according to a class action suit that's been filed against both companies. The challenges dare others to steal cars and post videos of their exploits. In many cases, the culprits are juveniles. But unlike the days of cars being stolen and taken to "chop shops" never to be seen again, these vehicles often are found abandoned a few days later, usually with damage that can be costly to repair. Why are they so easy to steal? The lawsuit alleges that the Kias manufactured between 2011 and 2021 and Hyundais made between 2015 and 2021 don't have engine immobilizers which make them difficult to steal unless you have a key or a fob. All a thief needs is to break a window, crack the steering wheel and use a USB connector to hot-wire the cars. Immobilizers became widely used by other manufacturers by 2000 and in 2015, were standard on 96% of other manufacturer's vehicles, compared to 26% of Hyundais and Kias, according to a September 2022 report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. If it doesnt have an immobilizer, it does make it somewhat easier to steal, Darrell Russell, a former auto theft investigator who is now at the National Insurance Crime Bureau, told the insurance institute. Kia officials have said that criminal behavior is to blame and have offered to work with police departments to provide anti-theft clubs to try to deter thefts but both companies have said their vehicles exceed federal safety standards. However, 2022 vehicles of both makers now have the engine immobilizers. In the meantime, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against the automakers on behalf of car owners. And State Farm and Progressive insurance companies just announced that they would no longer accept new policies for certain Kias and Hyundais that are vulnerable to thefts, according to a USA Today report. During the summer, the trend began to take off in California and Chicago and other cities, with police reporting spikes in thefts involving Kias and Hyundais. In the Buffalo area, the phenomenon seemed to begin in August when 37 Kias and 16 Hyundais were reported stolen in the city. Police officials knew something was up; in all of 2020, 55 Kias were reported stolen to Buffalo police, according to data provided by the Buffalo Police Department. In 2021, there were 69. Other towns were experiencing similar increases. Then early on the morning of Oct. 24, a Kia Sportage crashed at the entrance to the westbound Scajaquada Expressway from the westbound Kensington Expressway. Six teenagers were in the car. All five passengers were ejected through the roof. Four died and the fifth was hospitalized. The driver, a 16-year-old, was indicted on charges of manslaughter, assault and criminal possession of stolen property. The Kia had been reported stolen overnight from Buffalo, one of 65 Kias reported stolen in October in Buffalo. Recently police in Buffalo have seen a growing increase in Hyundais being stolen too. Police say they believe there are three to four "crews" of youths behind many of the thefts. Often, the crews steal one car after another in the course of one night, Gramaglia said. "They're going from car to car to car," he said. The thieves often are very young. Of the 28 suspected Kia thieves arrested in Buffalo between September 2022 and January 2023, half were juveniles. One was 11 years old. Two were 12. Of the 10 suspected of stealing Hyundais, eight were juveniles. Police have made some arrests, but they are limited in what they can do. With the suspects being minors, their cases are handled in Family Court. Also, police won't chase after a stolen car. "We are not going to endanger lives by chasing what is only to be a stolen car," Gramaglia said. Police have noticed that the Kias and Hyundais tend to be the only ones that are hot-wired. When other kinds of cars are stolen, police say, it's most often because they've been left running and unattended or the key or fob has been left inside. Gramaglia encouraged victims of the thefts to report them immediately to police and also to sign charges, if an arrest is made. Campus police agencies are warning students about thefts of Kias as well. The University at Buffalo police sent an alert to students earlier this month after two vehicles were stolen from UB South Campus, the UB Spectrum student newspaper reported, and Canisius College warned students after several Kias were broken into and ransacked. The thefts aren't limited to the City of Buffalo. In Cheektowaga this week, a police officer was critically injured in an incident involving stolen vehicles. The vehicles involved were both Jeeps. Cheektowaga Police Chief Brian Gould said police have recovered the vehicle they believe struck Officer Troy Blackchief, who was putting down stop sticks on Union Road, near the Kensington Expressway, to try to end a police pursuit of two stolen vehicles that began in Depew. The white 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV was found abandoned at a gas station at Kensington Avenue and Century Road in the town. Police were seeking a second vehicle involved in the incident, a maroon 2019 Jeep Cherokee SUV with the license plate KKS 5300, also believed to have been stolen. Buffalo police helped find that vehicle later Monday on Nicholson Street in the city. We've heard the complaints about the couple of different makes of vehicles that are frequently being stolen, Gould said. It doesn't appear that that's involved in this at this point. But we have been struggling with stolen vehicles. And we are doing our best to get public information out to remind people to keep their vehicles locked. Earlier in February, two 16-year-old girls, one from Buffalo and the other from the Town of Tonawanda, were arrested following reports of multiple stolen vehicles in Wheatfield within a few minutes one was a Kia Forte. In Amherst, town police officers took reports for 224 car thefts in 2022. So far this year, in the first 37 days, there were 45 car thefts. Amherst police did not have a breakdown of how many Kias or Hyundais were involved but they did notice an increase in those cars being stolen starting this summer, said Amherst Police Capt. Chris Meyer. Mike Chernyak of Getzville said his leased 2020 Kia Forte was broken into in October while it was parked in the lot of his apartment complex. "I noticed the car's back window was broken. Additionally the whole steering system was dismantled," he said. It took about six weeks for the repairs. He was told it was due to the huge backlog on replacement parts because of the nationwide problem. He got the car back but on Jan. 18, he got a call from the Buffalo police. They wanted to know if a car that had been found dumped downtown was his. He looked outside and realized his car was indeed gone. Again, a window was broken and there was other damage. It's back in the shop now. "We'll see how long it takes this time," Chernyak said. "... It's unbelievable what's happening." As for Flury, his recovered Hyundai is in the shop and he's considering finding something new to replace it. "It's not going to be a Kia or Hyundai," he said. Editor's Note With the care of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and under the leadership of the All-China Women's Federation, the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) launched the Spring Bud Project in 1989, to help impoverished girls return to school, and to promote girls' education in disadvantaged areas. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, in 2012, with the attention and concern of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and with the strong support of Peng Liyuan, special envoy of the Spring Bud Project for promoting girls' education, the project has conducted various activities to care for and support girls, and it has focused on girls' education, safety and health. During the past decade, the project has supported 1.76 million girls, and it has provided one-on-one companionship services and personalized psychological counseling to 133,400 girls. After they receive support from the project, the Spring Bud girls never forget to give back to society. With love and various actions, the girls have demonstrated the Spring Bud spirit of "unremitting self-improvement, striving for excellence, developing stronger virtues and pursuing better lives." Today, we introduce a new section, Spring Bud Blooms, to share stories about Spring Bud girls who have grown up and become contributing members of society, and to encourage society to care for the development of girls. Ye Heilong is one of them. With support from the Spring Bud Project, Ye Heilong has become the first individual from the Wa ethnic group in Ximeng Wa Autonomous County, in Pu'er, a city in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, to receive a doctorate. She is now a lecturer at Yunnan University, in Kunming, capital of the province. Ye says she overcame many difficulties, due in large part to the assistance she had received from many people over the years. Her experience in the pursuit of education reflects the historical transformation of local education in recent decades. Ye was born in Daigela Village, in Ximeng. When she was a child, the residents made a living by growing crops, and most had a difficult time making ends meet, as yields were generally low. Ye's family was no exception. To save money, she and her classmates in Ximeng Ethnic Primary School often walked several hours to return home on weekends rather than take the bus. Ye recalls how she was prepared to drop out of school, after she completed middle school, in the summer of 2002. One day, in July 2002, she received a call from Ximeng Women's Federation, during which she learned, given her outstanding performance on the high school entrance exams, her head teacher had recommended her to study in a Spring Bud class in Kunming. The tuition fees would be covered by the project. Nevertheless, it was still a burden for Ye's family to cover the more than 200-yuan (US $29) bus fare from Ximeng to Kunming. Luckily, Ye and her father met a relative in Pu'er, and that relative offered to help Ye. "I am lucky. Without the Spring Bud Project, I would not have had the chance to go to a high school," Ye says. In addition to waiving the tuition and accommodation fees, the Spring Bud class also offered her, and other eligible students, food subsidies. To ease the economic burden on her family, Ye took housekeeping jobs on weekends, and during her summer and winter vacations. Ye made up her mind to study hard, and to attend a university, after her teacher took her class to visit Yunnan University. Ye scored more than 580 on the national college-entrance exam in 2005, and as a result she was admitted to Minzu University of China, in Beijing. Ye received her undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees from that university. While attending the university, Ye spent most of extracurricular time participating in work-study activities, physical exercises and events to promote the cultures of various ethnic minorities. Ye Heilong (middle) conducts an inspection tour in Yongren County of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in Yunnan Province. As she was a beneficiary of the Spring Bud Project, and given her outstanding academic performance, Ye was awarded subsidies and a tuition exemption from another national education-aid project. Ye was invited to attend the grand celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at Tian'anmen Square, in Beijing, on October 1, 2009, as a representative of ethnic minorities. She was also one of the 56 students or teachers from Minzu University of China to march through Tian'anmen Square during the grand parade. Ye says she is lucky to live in a good era, and she is grateful for the Spring Bud Project, for its assistance in helping her lead a totally different life. Ye has become a living example of the remarkable development of education in the autonomous county over the past three decades. She often says local schools now have better hardware, and more competent teachers. As a lecturer and a researcher of the Wa ethnic culture at a research center of Yunnan University, Ye is committed to collecting and studying the linguistic resources of the Wa people, and to promoting social and cultural studies involving the Wa people. Ye has done her best to live to the fullest as she has born the expectations of the locals, the Spring Bud Project and those who extended a helping hand to her in the past. She has grown into a role model in the eyes of locals, and she has demonstrated that knowledge can make a difference in people's lives. Photos Supplied by CCTF (Women of China English Monthly issue) Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Cambodian PM's China visit injects fresh impetus into building high-quality community with shared future Xinhua) 15:47, February 13, 2023 Artists perform lion dance at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Jan. 21, 2023. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The just-concluded visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to China has given new momentum to the building of a high-quality China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, Cambodian scholars have said. The Cambodian leader ended his three-day official visit to China on Saturday, where he had held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Hailing the visit as another historic milestone in the Cambodia-China ties, Pov Sok, an advisor to Hun Sen, said that it further boosted the bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, trade, investment, tourism, culture, agriculture and education, among others. "This visit has not only taken the Cambodia-China ties to new heights, but also injected new vitality into the building of the high-quality community with a shared future between our two countries," he told Xinhua. "This visit has also further deepened the unbreakable ironclad friendship between our two countries," Sok said. This photo taken on Jan. 1, 2023 shows the construction site of a China-funded bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) Close ties, he said, will continue to provide tangible benefits to the people of both countries and contribute to peace and prosperity of the region and the world. Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said that as Cambodia and China are "ironclad and all-weather friends," the visit further deepened political, economic, social, and cultural ties between the two countries. "The visit has opened a new era of jointly building a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future," he told Xinhua. "I believe that the visit will encourage more Chinese investors and tourists to come to Cambodia." Longan fruits are on display at the launching ceremony of Cambodian longan export to China, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) "As Cambodia has set its goals to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050, China's steady support in all forms -- official development assistance and investment -- will help Cambodia achieve these ambitious dreams," Matthews said. Vun Phanith, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy, an arm of the state-run Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that "Cambodia-China relations are based on the principle of mutual respect, support and benefit as well as non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and their bilateral ties are very stable and unbreakable." "Their close relations have not only benefited the two countries and their people, but also contributed to maintaining peace, stability, security and development in the region," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The sign greeting drivers on Main Street reads, "Welcome to the Historic Village of Williamsville / Founded 1800," over an image of the Williamsville Water Mill. It's clear Williamsville embraces its history, even as decades of redevelopment and rising traffic have reshaped the Main Street corridor. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the area around the mill, which sits near picturesque Glen Falls and was built by the village's namesake more than 200 years ago. Yet a proposal to set up a water mill historic district sparked pushback from some village residents and business owners. The monthslong debate, as is often the case in Williamsville, centered on the tension between encouraging investment in the village without sacrificing its historic identity. The Village Board recently approved the inclusion of 13 commercial properties in the new district. "This is a very important tool for our community to use to maintain the character of the village," said Kate Waterman-Kulpa, an architect who chairs the village Historic Preservation Commission. Critics say the creation of the district ignored property owners' views and the decision on which properties to include seemed arbitrary. "I felt that the criteria for such a designation was not being applied equally and not transparently enough," said Dave Sherman, a longtime Amherst town historian and Amherst Bee editor who also served as Williamsville's deputy mayor. Waterman-Kulpa said officials for nearly two decades have studied whether to establish a village historic district, with the water mill as a focal point, so the idea is nothing new. The first building at the water mill site, off Main Street along East Spring Street and Ellicott Creek, was constructed by Jonas Williams in 1811. By 2005, the village government stepped in to rescue the mill from foreclosure and possible demolition. The property now is owned by Howard and Tara Cadmus, owners of Sweet Jenny's, who sell ice cream, chocolates and comic books from the main building and have tenants in two other buildings. The Cadmuses supported the proposal, introduced by Waterman-Kulpa at the Aug. 23 Historic Preservation Commission meeting, to set up a historic district in the mill area. "Historic designation is designed to help protect the investments of owners and residents from poorly planned development that undermines property values. It provides incentive, or at least it did for me, knowing our significant investment is protected over time," Tara Cadmus wrote later to the Village Board. The district as proposed ran along and to the north of Main Street, from Rock Street east to the pedestrian entrance to Glen Park. The district, focusing on construction between 1811 and 1949, had 13 properties: one on Rock, five on East Spring and seven on Main. The list included the Eagle House restaurant, Moor Pat tavern, Share Kitchen & Bar Room and the Center for Plastic Surgery. Waterman-Kulpa said 10 of the 13 meet the criteria for local landmark designation. "There's such a cluster of historic buildings in the area. It has the oldest commercial buildings in the village. It made great sense to start there," she said. At the well-attended hearing in September, nearly all of the 16 speakers argued against the creation of the district or questioned the process, according to meeting minutes. Several noted many buildings within the proposed district had been modified since their initial construction. "I do feel that it's important, especially with this historic district, that you have some kind of consensus," Ray Herman, a lawyer who spoke that evening, said last week. Herman's great-grandfather served as Williamsville mayor and ran a barbershop out of 5590 Main, now Share, and an uncle had a veterinary practice in the Moor Pat building. Others questioned the sense of urgency and implored commission members to get more feedback from property owners. This included Chad Schlee, an owner of 15 Rock St., home to the Vibe Salon that his wife, Kelly, runs. I dont see how we can survive, running a small business, with all these changes that could take place, Schlee said, according to the Amherst Bee, which covered the district debate extensively. People talk about how hard it would be to just change the aesthetics of it. The public hearing continued on Oct. 25. "Our villages history contributes to the pride we have as a community. Designating a historic district maintains that architectural and historical integrity," Williamsville Trustee Eileen Torre said that night, minutes show. "Such historic designations will help to protect our village from losing grand buildings by demolition and unwanted urban sprawl." However, Sherman questioned why the district boundary skirted two buildings on Main, just east of Rock: the former Village Artisans building and the Bee's longtime home, where he worked for decades. The oldest part of the Bee building, Sherman noted, was constructed in 1835, just a few years after the Eagle House building. Waterman-Kulpa said the district buildings are contiguous and all offer a view of the water mill. This viewshed is what the village wants to preserve from future overdevelopment, she said. Sherman, however, said the rear of the Bee building offers a sightline to the mill. Including the Bee in the district, Sherman said last week, "To me, that's a slam dunk." The Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 25 voted to recommend the Village Board approve the district. The vote was 5-1 with Herman, now a commission member, voting no. At the Village Board public hearing, which started Dec. 12 and carried over to Jan. 9, some of the same critics, joined by others, blasted the proposed district as unneeded and burdensome. The few supporters said it was important to preserve historic village buildings because a number were lost to the wrecking ball in decades past. Village Board members voted 4-1 on Jan. 23 to approve the district, with Mayor Deb Rogers the only "no" vote. Waterman-Kulpa said she's not surprised the district generated controversy, contending some of it is politically motivated, and she emphasized she is one of seven commission members. Historic Preservation Commission reviews of proposed business expansions or renovations also have proven contentious. This was the case when Share owner Joel Schreck last year sought permission to enclose the outdoor tables along one side of the restaurant and set out new patio seating on the roof of this addition. After months of wrangling, commission members eventually issued a certificate of appropriateness for the project. The back and forth left Schreck frustrated. Waterman-Kulpa, however, described it as a collaborative process. Looking ahead, what does inclusion in the district mean for Share and the 12 other properties? Officials said it gives the village, through the commission, more say over any exterior changes. Waterman-Kulpa points to the parking lots along East Spring Street and said the district designation also offers protection from future, multistory construction blocking the view of mill. "We want development but we want it done appropriately," she said in an interview. Herman said the preservation debate raised valid questions. Not every old building is truly historic, he said, and many historic buildings like Share's already have been significantly altered. "I am all for historic districts but, really, this is not Colonial Williamsburg. It's not Charleston, South Carolina. Or Savannah, Georgia," he said. China said Sunday they spotted an "unidentified flying object" above waters near the port city of Rizhao and were "preparing to shoot it down." Pictured is the Port of Rizhao in Shandong province, eastern China. The Hannah family is pleading for the safe return of their dog, Tess. Elon Musk controls Tesla, SpaceX and The Boring Company. Adrees Latif/Reuters The Boring Company is working with a construction company to build housing near Austin, Texas. "Project Amazing" will have street names including Boring Boulevard and Waterjet Way. An initial 110 homes are planned for the development, documents show. Elon Musk is planning to build hundreds of homes in Texas for workers at his companies. The development in Austin's Bastrop County, which was first reported by the Austin Business Journal, is close to facilities for The Boring Company and is known as "Project Amazing." Mel Hamner, the Bastrop County commissioner, told a meeting last month that Florida-based house builder Lennar was partnering with Musk's tunnel construction firm to build an initial 110 homes near its headquarters, the publication reported. County documents show the subdivision has streets named Boring Boulevard, Cutterhead Crossing, Waterjet Way, and Porpoise Place. It is unclear when construction would begin. The land is owned by Gappes Bass LLC, a company affiliated with The Boring Company, according to online records. Adam Pashaian, a corporate controller for the Boring Company, is also registered as an agent for Gapped Bass. Austin is also home to a Tesla gigafactory that could eventually employ up to 20,000 workers, Musk said in late 2021. SpaceX is also expected to build a factory in the area. Hamner said there was a housing affordability crisis in the area, therealdeal.com reported earlier this month. "That's part of why The Boring Company is building housing for their workers, so they can afford to be living somewhere close to their facilities," he said, per the outlet. Matt Holm, a real estate agent in Austin and president of the city's Tesla Owners' Club, told Insider that many more homes would be needed for workers at Musk's companies. Lennar advertises 3D-printed homes on its website, and Holm said it could use the technique for the Austin development. The Boring Company, Lennar, and Bastrop County didn't respond to requests for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider As part of a general lurch further right in politics across Canada, Toronto Mayor John Tory announced a significant increase in the police budget at the beginning of the year. The allocation of close to $50 million more for law enforcement is a 4.3 percent increase on what was already a bloated $1.1 billion police budget in 2022. Tory, who announced his sudden resignation last Friday after admitting to having an affair with a staffer, claimed that a spike in crime prompted the increase. The additional funds were necessary to keep Toronto safe, he asserted. In comparison to the gusher of money being directed at the police, Tory announced just $2 million for programs designed to address the roots of violence. Predictably, the increase received unanimous approval from the Police Services Board on January 10. The increase is almost double last years $25 million hike and would add 200 new officers to the ranks. Toronto city authorities have brutally attacked and dismantled homeless camps. [Photo: Mark McAllister, @McAllister_Mark/Twitter)] As in other cities in the United States and Canada, Torontos municipal government cited a slight uptick in violent crime since the onset of the pandemic as a pretext to expand the police. Faced with the ramifications of decades of social spending austerity, the ruling class is responding to rampant poverty, homelessness, and mental health and substance abuse issues by criminalizing their very presence. In a radio interview with the CBC, Tory specifically said he was trying to please downtown business interests, who were pleading with him for more police to make the city safe. The increased spending on the forces of state repression will exacerbate the citys already sharp fiscal crisis. Ontario municipalities are barred from running deficits. The federal Liberal and Doug Ford-led Ontario governments are fully committed to post-pandemic austerity, and the city administration to upholding a low-tax regime for big business and the generally more privileged layers who are homeowners. The city is therefore placing its financial woes on the backs of workers and the most vulnerable. The new municipal budget also includes cuts to public transit services. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is cutting service hours by 9 percent compared to the previous year. The loss of commuters during the pandemic has further strained an already underfunded service and the city is determined that riders should make up this gap with increases to fares of around 3 percent. The fare hike will fall disproportionately on the least well-off sections of workers, who lack access to private vehicles and cant work remotely. While the TTC budget will increase overall, the extra money will do little to improve the service. A portion of the new funds is earmarked for 50 more transit police officers. These forces are primarily in place to harass homeless people who seek refuge in the subways, particularly during the cold winter months. Subway stations are one of the few options available to them, due to overflowing shelters and routine crackdowns on outdoor encampments by the city. The city council underscored its callous indifference to the plight of homeless people last week when it rejected a proposal to ensure warming centres are available at all times during winter months. It instead voted to examine the issue and return to it only at its April 25 meeting. By then, winter will have passed, leaving a tragic trail of many more homeless deaths. According to data released last week, 202 homeless people in Toronto died last year, or, on average, four every week. Apart from hiring additional police, the transit funding hike will go to building the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) line which will bisect much of the city. Under a so-called public-private partnership, large construction and engineering giants like EllisDon and SNC-Lavalin have handsomely enriched themselves during the now 10-year-long project. Meanwhile, its cost has ballooned and its completion continues to be delayed. After a slight decline in late 2020, rents in the city have skyrocketed. Residents must devote an ever greater portion of their income to keep a roof over their heads. The high-interest regime instituted by global central banks to beat back the wage gains of the working class has made home buying, already out of reach for most, virtually unattainable for even the highest-earning workers. This has pushed more people into the rental market, allowing landlords to capitalize from the resulting bidding wars. These factors have combined to render more Torontonians homeless. On an average night in December 2022, shelters in the city turned away more than 100 people. The city authorities and their right-wing media allies have scapegoated the homeless, particularly those with mental health and substance abuse problems, to twist the arms of the public into accepting the need for more police. On the eve of the unveiling of the new budget, the media prominently featured a handful of violent incidents on transit facilities in December. These incidents underscore the growth of social tensions and the crisis facing the most impoverished sections of the population. There is no shortage of resources in Toronto, which is the most unequal city in the nation according to Statistics Canada. Second and third place are taken by Calgary and Vancouver. Toronto is home to 17 billionaires by one count, including the countrys richest family. With assets including the Thomson-Reuters media conglomerate, the Thomsons are estimated to be worth more than C$70 billion. As documented in Oxfams recent report on global wealth inequality, the richest 1 percent received 34 percent of wealth generated in the past decade in Canada. The bottom half of the population received only 5 percent over the same period. The same report found that during the pandemic billionaires in Canada have seen their wealth grow by 51 percent. As social inequality rises at breathtaking speed, the ruling class relies more and more on the police and authoritarian forms of rule to protect its privileged position. As Friedrich Engels explained during the late 19th century, the police are part of the special bodies of armed men, at the disposal of the capitalist state, to defend the existing social and political order. The right-wing shift in Torontos local politics is part of a general trend at all levels of government across the country. The Progressive Conservative Party provincial government, led by the erstwhile Trump enthusiast Premier Doug Ford, has enforced round after round of brutal austerity on workers. Ford is turning to increasingly authoritarian forms of rule to impose his attacks on workers. Last fall, he sought to ban a strike by 55,000 education support workers and force through a massive real-terms pay cut. After the workers defied his draconian anti-strike measures, and amid growing calls for a general strike, Ford relied on the union bureaucracy to strangle the strike and implement a wage-cutting deal. At the federal level, Trudeaus Liberals are working with their allies in the trade unions and New Democrats to spend billions on imperialist war and enforce austerity at home. Torys ability to force through a huge hike in the police budget was due in part to laws introduced last year by the Ford government that dramatically strengthen the powers of the Toronto and Ottawa city mayors at the expense of the local city councils. A key goal of this reform was to ensure that the hard-right policies favored by Ford could be imposed without even token concessions to progressive politicians, i.e., local capitalist politicians aligned with the Liberals, NDP or Greens. Adopted last December, the Better Municipal Governance Act (Bill 39) allows the mayors of Ontarios two largest cities to impose bylaws that are opposed by up to two-thirds of city council members. Tory requested this anti-democratic power from Ford after the Ontario government, earlier last fall, adopted its Strong Mayors Act. That law granted the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa sweeping powers over city budgets and staff hiring and firing. After the massive earthquakes struck both sides of the Turkey-Syria border a week ago, the official death toll has approached 35,000. Hope is dwindling for tens of thousands of people still feared to be under the rubble. Thousands of buildings have been rendered uninhabitable and millions of people have been left homeless. Basic social services are still not provided in many places. There is a social catastrophe and humanitarian crisis in the two countries that directly or indirectly affects tens of millions of people. Turkish rescue workers carry Ergin Guzeloglan, 36, to an ambulance after pulling him out from a collapsed building five days after an earthquake in Hatay, southern Turkey, early Saturday, February 11, 2023. [AP Photo/Can Ozer] In Turkey, both the failure to take any safety precautions, despite the fact that a major earthquake was expected in the region, and the total failure of the official search, rescue and relief operation have led to enormous social anger against President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government and the capitalist system as a whole for enabling this social massacre. People protested against governors and ministers in many places in the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake. Most recently in Diyarbakr, protesters against Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag were detained. However, the government and the entire ruling class are aware that social anger is explosive and extends throughout society. The ruling class is sitting on a social powder keg. Despite Erdogans attempts to blame the earthquake disaster on fate, the masses disagree with this fatalism and have lost confidence in the capitalist political establishment. In Turkey, where the let it spread policy against the COVID-19 pandemic led to over 300,000 excess deaths in three years, there is a prevailing feeling that the tens of thousands of lives lost in the earthquake could have been saved if necessary measures had been taken. Under these conditions, a dangerous and misleading media campaign is being whipped up with the encouragement of a faction of the ruling class. In the earthquake-affected area, people, especially Syrians, who have never been tried or convicted in any way, are being beaten as thieves or looters in actions captured on video. These criminal actions, which appear to involve police officers, are shared on social media to legitimize them. The Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu (Socialist Equality Group) calls on workers, intellectuals and youth to oppose this fascistic campaign. At least 30,000 people have died and tens of thousands are still under the rubble, in a disaster whose consequences could have been prevented. There is clearly a carefully coordinated campaign aiming to make alleged incidents of theft by Syrians the main issue and to legitimize extrajudicial executions. The rightful anger of those who lost their loved ones and homes in the affected region, and the millions of people who share their grief, is buried by false news reports. As always, these reports scapegoat the most vulnerable members of society. This right-wing campaign serves to hide, and even whitewash, the obvious responsibility of the government and the ruling class for these preventable mass deaths. In fact, the January-June 2022 report of the Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Ministry identified, one by one, the buildings that would collapse in such an earthquake. The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) reports revealed that the state was unprepared for big earthquakes. It was known that the construction amnesties brought to parliament by the government, which were not opposed by the bourgeois opposition parties, paved the way for this destruction and the mass deaths. Under these conditions, while officials across the political establishment and the state should be facing trial for mass murder, no official has been arrested so far. In places where major earthquakes are expected, especially in Istanbul, still nothing is being done. In fact, immediate official action must be taken to build earthquake-resistant buildings and cities to prevent larger social disasters. This fascistic media campaign has been intensified since the government made so-called looting incidents, which it had previously called isolated, one of the justifications for declaring a state of emergency. Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Omer Celik said on Friday, We will be extremely ruthless in the face of looting incidents. They will live with this shame for the rest of their lives. The Victory (Zafer) Party, a breakaway from the far-right Good Party, has been particularly prominent in the anti-Syrian lie campaign. The Good Party is the major ally of the Kemalist Republican Peoples Party (CHP) in the Nation Alliance. The Victory Partys leader Umit Ozdag targeted Syrians after the earthquake, making numerous false claims on his Twitter account. Although each of the allegations was refuted, he continued his lies without fear of any legal sanction. This party is trying to divert the massive social anger that has developed after the earthquake and to divide the working class with a foul resort to anti-Syrian chauvinism. Anti-refugee campaigns in Turkey did not start after the earthquake disaster. The millions of Syrians who fled the destruction and death caused by the war for regime-change in Syria launched by the NATO powers, including Turkey, in 2011 have been scapegoated by the entire political establishment, especially the bourgeois opposition parties, for years. The victims of the crimes of the imperialist powers and the Turkish bourgeoisie have been hit hard by the earthquake on both sides of the border. In Syria, the people have not only witnessed the destruction of their war-torn homes due to the quakes. The crippling sanctions of the United States and the European Union have worsened the situation, while the imperialist powers have turned a blind eye to the catastrophe in Syria. Many Syrians living in the earthquake zone in Turkey were trapped under the rubble. The survivors have faced discrimination in the provision of aid, such as tents and food, due to a long-standing chauvinist campaign in the country. Now they are being targeted as looters and thieves. The attempt to strip people of their right to a trial and subject them to lynch-mob attacks is a serious warning to the working class. This fascistic violence, which today targets the most vulnerable, i.e., Syrians, could tomorrow be directed against workers and against people involved in relief activities for earthquake victims in the region. This violence, as history clearly demonstrates, is a threat to the emerging movement of the working class. In fact, the ruling class and the political establishment are troubled that the impotence of the state was exposed in the eyes of the masses after the earthquake on the one side, and that millions of working people and youth spontaneously responded to the disaster in a much stronger way on the other. Since last Monday, tens of millions of people across the country and around the world have mobilized to help those in the affected region in an important act of solidarity. Many people traveled to the region voluntarily. They are trying to help search and rescue workers and earthquake victims in places where the state is unable to provide basic needs such as electricity, water, shelter, sanitation and security. It is possible to build earthquake-resistant cities and prevent natural disasters from turning into mass slaughter. For this, the great mobilization and anger of the masses must be armed with a socialist program, made conscious and mobilized against the capitalist system, the main cause of this catastrophe. The only way to achieve this is through the international unity and political independence of the working class. With no public explanation, the United States Air Force has begun shooting down what it claims to be unidentified objects in US and Canadian airspace on a daily basis. The US military said it shot down a flying object over Northern Alaska on Friday; Yukon, Canada on Saturday; and Lake Huron on Sunday. FILE - A Raytheon-built AIM-9X Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missile, which was allegedly used to attack the unidentified objects. [AP Photo/Mark Farmer, File] These actions are unprecedented. At a Pentagon briefing Sunday, Associated Press reporter Tara Copp said that there was a large and quick escalation to shooting down objects, and asked if there was any precedent for what has occurred in recent days. Air Force General Glen VanHerck, head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), replied, This is the first time within the United States of America airspace that NORAD or United States Northern command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object. This amounts to a massive live fire exercise over US airspace, with the population given no meaningful explanation of what the military is doing or why. The Biden White House, for reasons that only it knows, has withheld the vast amount of photographic, radar and infrared images the advanced fighters that shot down the objects collected from their targeting pods. No photos or radar data have been released that would give the public any understanding of what is happening. The apparent change in policy was hinted at during last weeks State of the Union address, where President Joe Biden largely avoided foreign policy, but explicitly threatened China. If China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country, Biden said. Unlike other changes to US military posture, which are typically conducted under conditions of media blackout, the actions beginning Friday have taken place against the backdrop of nonstop, wall-to-wall coverage. The coverage is clearly aimed at inspiring feelings of fear and agitation in the public, reminiscent of the medias role immediately following the 9/11 terror attacks. In this super-heated atmosphere, and despite the total lack of information made available, the media and political establishment have insinuated that China, the principal target of the US militarys years-long military buildup, is responsible for the unidentified objects. The latest round of US Air Force attacks follows the shooting down on February 4 of what China claims was a non-maneuverable research balloon that was blown off course, and what the United States claims was a spy balloon. In that case, unlike the string of shootings that began on Friday, the US categorically asserted that the aircraft it attacked and destroyed was launched from China. The most plausible explanation for the events of the last three days is that the US military has begun shooting down weather and research balloons, with no serious explanation to the public or to the scientific, meteorological or aviation community about the change in policy. In light of the Peoples Republic of China balloon that we took down last Saturday, we have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase in objects that weve detected over the past week, said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs Melissa Dalton at a Pentagon briefing Sunday. We also know that a range of entities ... operate objects at these altitudes for purposes that are not serious threats, including legitimate research, she added. She acknowledged that the US has not been able to say definitively yet what these recent objects are. Democratic Connecticut Representative Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, echoed these statements in an appearance on Meet the Press Sunday, saying, There is a lot of garbage up there. The truth is that that most of our sensors, and most of what we were looking for, didnt look like balloons, he said. Now of course were looking for them. So I think were probably finding more stuff. Meteorologists around the world launch hundreds of weather balloons every single day, and dozens of long-duration weather balloons have been launched by NASA in recent decades. To these can be added the thousands of unmanned aircraft and drones launched at various altitudes by commercial and recreational pilots. The vast majority of these devices would not have FAA transponders, and would thus be qualified as unidentified flying objects. On Sundays Meet the Press, host Chuck Todd asked Himes, So, do you thinkare we changing our posture? It does seem as if wed see this unusual aerial phenomena and the decision, if there was not a threat to the country, or threat to an individual, or an airline, we let it fly up there. Do you sense were changing our posture, that if we dont know the origin, we're shooting it down now? Himes replied, Well, I certainly hope not. I mean, if thats where were going to go, there will be an accident, you know? At some point, were going to shoot down something we dont want to shoot down, whether its civil aviation or what have you. If the US military continues its present pace, it will be shooting down hundreds of objects every single yearmany without being able to visually verify themraising the possibility that it will accidentally shoot down a civilian aircraft. A deliberate aim of the climate of hysteria being whipped up by the US militarys shooting spree is to create the conditions for a massive expansion of military spending, and the pretext for a military escalation against Russia and China. In a strategically placed article, the New York Times wrote: A senior administration official said one theoryand the person stressed that it is just a theoryis that China or Russia sent the objects to test American intelligence-gathering capabilities. They could be sent to learn both how quickly the United States becomes aware of an intrusion and how quickly the military can respond to such an incursion, the official said. Such theories are completely without substantiation. Yet they are being used to press for a major expansion of the US military forces. Ohio Republican Representative Mike Turner called for a major expansion of US military capabilities. And then we need to invest. Whats become clear in the public discussion is that we dont really have adequate radar systems. We certainly dont have an integrated missile defense system. Were going to have to begin to look at the United States airspace as one that we need to defend and that we need to have appropriate sensors to do so. Cranes remove debris next to destroyed buildings in Antakya, south-central Turkey, Friday, February 10, 2023. [AP Photo/Hussein Malla] The twin earthquakes that devastated south-central Turkey and northern Syria last Monday have produced a disaster whose toll in death, destruction and mass suffering is apocalyptic. Nearly 35,000 are dead, according to official figures, and that number is rising steadily. Entire cities have been leveled. And millions are now facing deprivation and further death in mid-winter weather, with aid that is grossly inadequate compared to the enormous need. United Nations relief coordinator Martin Griffiths said that the reported death toll is likely to double or more. He added, grimly, Soon, the search and rescue people will make way for the humanitarian agencies whose job it is to look after the extraordinary numbers of those affected for the next months. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 26 million people have been directly impacted by the quake, and many of these will face the threat of hunger, disease and physical and psychological trauma. The colossal scale of the disaster is difficult to grasp from the reports in the corporate media, which inevitably focus on a handful of successful rescues rather than on the thousands of bodies hauled out of collapsed buildings. Even the aerial photos of mass graves, taken by drone-mounted cameras, only give a glimpse of the dimensions of this tragedy. The tremor exploded along 300 miles of fault lineroughly the distance from Detroit to Chicago, or Paris to London. According to a NASA geophysicist, This generated extremely strong shaking over a very large area that hit many cities and towns full of people. The rupture length and magnitude of the 7.8 earthquake were similar to the 1906 earthquake that destroyed San Francisco. Entire cities have been laid waste, some of them steeped in millennia of history. The ancient city of Marash, a crossroads of the Near East, now the modern city of Kahramanmaras, with a population of 600,000, was the epicenter of the quake. The ancient city of Antioch, now the modern city of Antakya, population 400,000, has been virtually destroyed. A few comparisons: the February 6 earthquake is already the fifth-worst natural disaster of the 21st century in terms of death toll, and will likely soon be third-worst, behind only the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which killed as many as 316,000 people, and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, in which an estimated 228,000 people died across 14 countries, with Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India hardest hit. Those areas were among the poorest in the world: Haiti, the poorest in the Western hemisphere, but also the regions around the Indian Ocean where the tidal wave struck with full force. Turkey, however, is a country of middle income, with a large industrial base, a fully qualified candidate for entry into the European Union, although blocked for political reasons. Millions of Turkish workers make up a substantial component of the working class in Germany, Europes economic powerhouse. The manifest failure of the Turkish governments response is therefore not due to lack of access to technology or skilled labor or economic resources. It is entirely due to the financial considerations of Turkish and global capitalism, which reject spending on long-term infrastructure, such as ensuring that buildings in major fault zones are able to withstand earthquakes, in favor of short-term maximization of profits. The right-wing government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is more concerned about the potential political impact of the disaster than its human toll. A handful of building owners have been arrested to serve as scapegoats for systematic government corruption in the oversight of the construction industry, and to cover up the regimes record of refusing to heed the warnings of scientists about earthquake dangers. There are bloodcurdling threats against looters, and reportedly more police sent to the region to suppress the population than relief workers to save lives. While the Erdogan government certainly bears responsibility for this catastrophe, blame must be focused on the imperialist powers, and above all the United States, which has devastated the entire region in pursuit of global domination. In Syria, the imperialist blockade has had such a savage impact that Griffiths of the UN said the world has failed the people in north-west Syria They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international help that hasnt arrived. US sanctions on Syria have blocked the flow of relief supplies, while US troops occupying parts of the country to control its oil production have stood by rather than provide aid to the victims of the earthquake. Amidst the devastation, the mission of the US military is to continue its regime-change operation, while subjecting tens of thousands of Syrians to barbaric conditions of imprisonment. The pathetic sums offered in aid from the wealthy countries are dwarfed by their vast expenditures on the war against Russia over Ukraine and on the overall military build-up towards World War III, which would turn the entire world into a replica of the hellish scenes in the earthquake zone, and worse. The US and European powers are presently flooding Ukraine with tanks and fighter jets, but when it comes to a massive social catastrophe, a pittance is offered. So much for the pretenses of humanitarian imperialism. On Friday, the Pentagon comptroller confirmed that in its budget to be delivered March 9, the Biden administration will request the largest amount of military spending in American history, close to $900 billion. Meanwhile, the administration will provide $85 million, one-ten-thousandth of that amount, for the relief of Turkish and Syrian survivors of the quake. Even this will be utilized in a way to advance the interests of American imperialism in both Syria and Turkey. Only in the working class is there evidence of the enormous sympathy and solidarity of ordinary people for the plight of their brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria. Aid workers from throughout the world have rushed to the scene, joining the tens of thousands of survivors seeking frantically to dig their spouses, children, parents and neighbors out of the mountain of rubble. Coal miners, who themselves risk death daily from cave-ins and explosions in Turkeys notoriously dangerous mines, have trekked to the region to lend their assistance and expertise. But these efforts have been held back by the drastic shortage of the necessary equipment and technical expertise to conduct successful rescue operationsthe responsibility of the major imperialist powers, which enjoy a near-monopoly in that sphere. One week ago, the WSWS pointed to the contradiction between the vast development of science and industry worldwide, which makes earthquake-resistant cities fully possible, and the constant neglect of social infrastructure and disaster-relief preparations. This commentary drew the conclusion: All major social issues today, including averting natural disasters, are by nature global problems requiring a socially coordinated solution. Yet the private profit interests of the bourgeoisie and the division of the world into rival nation-states stand in the way of any progressive response. This is why there has been no worldwide scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic or to global climate change... The obstacle to a planned, rational response to urgent social problems can only be removed by a frontal attack by the international working class on the power and wealth of the ruling class, thereby subordinating private profit to social need. The preventable devastation of yesterdays earthquakes has demonstrated once again the urgent necessity of replacing capitalism with global socialism. The week since these words were written has fully confirmed this declaration. It is urgently necessary for working people throughout the world to raise with redoubled force the demand for emergency aid to the people of Syria and Turkey, the lifting of all sanctions and blockades, and a vast program to rebuild the devastated region. New Zealands newly installed Labour Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, visited his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on February 7. It was his first overseas trip as leader after he assumed office on January 25 following the resignation of his predecessor, Jacinda Ardern, a week earlier. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, left, meets Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. [AP Photo/Hilary Wardhaugh] New Zealand media focussed largely on issues around citizenship rights and Canberras contentious 501 deportee policy introduced by the former Liberal government. Under this, New Zealanders who acquire criminal records can be forcibly repatriated, even if they have lived most of their lives in Australia. Following repeated protests from Wellington, Albanese has agreed to moderate the operation to make what he claimed would be common sense decisions based on individual circumstances. The Australian media was far more interested in Hipkins position on China. His first two questions at the leaders press conference were on defence and security issues, forcing Hipkins to give assurances over New Zealands foreign policy direction. One reporter, claiming that Ardern had been reluctant to stand up against bad behaviour by China asked if he was concerned about Chinese coercion in the Pacific. Hipkins replied that a change in prime minister did not mean a change in foreign policy. China is an important partner for New Zealandan important trading partner and a partner in other areas as well. That doesnt mean there arent going to be areas where we disagree from time to time, he said. Albanese answered the same question, stating that dealings with China would be done in Australias national interest and all else would flow from that. The New Zealand ruling elites unsteady balancing act between China and the US is not sustainable. The country is a minor imperialist power allied with the US and Australia and relies on both to support NZs own neo-colonial interests in the Pacific. The US military is preparing for war against China within as little as two years and Australia is already putting itself on the front line, strengthening its military integration with the US, including stationing nuclear capable US bombers in Darwin. Stuff political editor Luke Malpass noted that for an Australian audience, Hipkins calibration was not quite right. There are longstanding and vociferous complaints in Canberra that New Zealand is softer on China. New Zealand is part of the Five Eyes intelligence and security alliance which includes Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States, but Wellington has often been accused of failing to pull its weight. In a speech at the Lowy Institute in Sydney last July, Ardern sought to downplay New Zealands support for the US-led military build-up in the Indo-Pacific. She defended New Zealands trade relationship with China and said even as China becomes more assertive in the pursuit of its interests, there are still shared interests on which we can and should cooperate. In 2021, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta declared she was uncomfortable using the Five Eyes intelligence grouping to criticise China over human rights. While New Zealand escaped the trade sanctions and breakdown in diplomatic relations experienced by Australia under the Morrison government, NZ Trade Minister Damien OConnor had caused consternation by suggesting Australia should speak with more respect and diplomacy in its dealings with Beijing. Victoria University of Wellington commentator Geoffrey Miller told NZs Today FM that the focus of Hipkins talks with Albanese was on unity between the two countries. Thats what Australia and their ally the United States really want at the moment, he said, noting that the two powers want New Zealand on-side on their geo-strategic competition in the new cold-war with China, especially in the Pacific. The reality is that while Hipkins and Ardern have both sought to smooth over tensions with China, Labour has significantly strengthened the alliance with the US over the past five years. A New Zealand defence policy statement in 2018 for the first time identified China and Russia as threats to the international order, and New Zealand has integrated itself completely into the US-led proxy war against Russia in the Ukraine. While there have been calls for New Zealand to be made a part of AUKUSthe trilateral security pact between Australia, UK and USHipkins reaffirmed New Zealands commitment to be nuclear-free. Australia and the US and the UK are incredibly important security partners for New Zealand, but our nuclear-free policy has not changed, Hipkins said. Albanese said defence cooperation with New Zealand would continue alongside AUKUS, and that NZ remains an important defence partner. AUKUS is about a whole range of issues, including the inter-operability of our forces and also it is co-operation on technology and other issues, he said. Another questioner, noting that Wellingtons defence budget is just over one percent of GDP, asked whether New Zealand is relying too much on Australia for its defence. Without giving specifics, Hipkins declared his government was going through major changes in its defence policy and making a significant transformation with major investments in the portfolio. The Labour-Greens coalition has massively increased military spending into the armed forces. Defence Minister Peeni Henare last year launched a policy review aimed at ensuring that the Defence Force is fit for purpose amid the intensification of strategic competition, and a world which is seeing a brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Henare boasted that the government had already overseen historic investments worth $4.5 billion in 12 major defence capability projects, including new aircraft and armoured vehicles. Albanese said he and Hipkins also discussed the great value we place on our role as members of the Pacific family and praised positive developments in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).The 18-member body had been under pressure after Kiribati announced last year it would withdraw following a dispute over the appointment of the Cook Islands Henry Puna as general secretary. Fijis new Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, visited Kiribati last month, in an Australian government-supplied aircraft, to convince Kiribati to remain in the forum. The PIF has been used by Australia and New Zealand for decades to pressure small and impoverished nations in the region. Following interventions last year by US President Biden and Vice-President Harris, the PIF has assumed central importance in Washingtons agenda to confront China diplomatically, economically and militarily in the Pacific. While Hipkins was in Australia, Mahuta was sent on a visit to India to restore relations with the strategically significant country. In Wellington last October, Indias external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was publicly critical of New Zealands unwillingness to renew visas for Indian students who had left during the COVID-19 pandemic and called for fairer and more sympathetic treatment. The comments dominated Indian media coverage of his visit, the first in 20 years by an Indian foreign minister. In an interview with the Hindustan Times last week, Mahuta falsely described India as a counterbalance to the superpower contest, and told ABP Live we need to figure out who we can trust, who we can rely on in this time of need and India is such a significant contributor to ensuring greater peace and stability in the region. In fact, Mahutas trip occurred just a week after US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland visited Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. India is Washingtons principal military-strategic partner in South Asia. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been transformed into a frontline state of the US war drive against China. New Delhi has developed bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral alliances with the US, Japan and Australia, with clear implications for New Zealand. The only way to stop what is quickly developing into a third world war is through the socialist strategy to unify the working class in an international anti-war movement, aimed at putting an end to the capitalist and nation-state system. OTTAWA A model F-35 sits in a place of prominence on the corner of Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny's desk. The miniature grey aircraft is propped in the air by a plastic stand as if it is flying, and Royal Canadian Air Force markings are visible on its wings. Displaying such a model inside National Defence Headquarters, let alone on the desk of Canada's Air Force commander, was strictly verboten before the Trudeau government officially committed to buying the plane last month. With the decision made, Kenny is now able to do more than display a model on his desk. He can also speak openly about the Air Force's plan to transition from its aging CF-18s to the F-35, part of what he describes as a larger leap into a new age for the organization. "It's an exciting time," he said in an interview. "The F-35 is going to not only bring us into being a fifth-generation Air Force, it's really going to change how the Department of Defence looks at security and data and information, and what we do with that data." Between plans to buy armed drones, launch satellites and upgrade North America's early warning system, the F-35 is just one of several high-tech additions that Kenny suggests will firmly entrench the Air Force in the 21st century over the next decade. "The Air Force of 2035 is going to look completely different than the Air Force in 2023," he said. "The amount of projects that are going through right now is similar to what we saw in the late '70s and early '80s." Yet while Kenny and his staff have developed a carefully choreographed plan to make the transition as seamless as possible without putting the country at risk over the next decade, it isn't without its risks. That starts with a shortage of personnel. Like the rest of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Air Force is struggling to recruit and retain enough people to fill its ranks. Kenny revealed the Air Force is short nearly 2,000 full-time members and 500 reservists, at a time when it is supposed to be expanding. Story continues "And we expect the gap to become bigger up until 2025, assuming we achieve our recruitment numbers," he said. Those personnel shortages are expected to put pressure on the Air Force as it tries to co-ordinate, for example, the training of personnel for the F-35 while having enough pilots, mechanics and other members to continue flying the CF-18 until the transition is completed. "All this only works if we have people," he said. "So I have to balance the people piece, not only of today, but of the future." The successful arrival of the first F-35 on Canadian soil by 2029 will also require significant upgrades to the Air Force's aging hangars and maintenance facilities at its main fighter bases in Bagotville, Que., and Cold Lake, Alta., as well as the military's computer networks. "What we need to do is have enough time to have all the infrastructure in place, the security in place, the (information technology) backbone, so that when the F-35 comes to Canada, we actually have capability," he said. Plans to modernize the North American Aerospace Defence Command, or Norad, which is responsible for guarding the continent against airborne attack, will also require significant investments in sensors and control centres over the next decades including in the Arctic. Yet Ottawa's record on military infrastructure is extremely mixed, particularly in the Far North. The Defence Department recently confirmed delays in upgrading and rebuilding two jetties in Esquimalt, B.C., and a new armoury in New Brunswick. All of that is in addition to constant delays in procuring new military equipment and problems when that equipment is finally delivered, which the Air Force has seen first-hand with its new Kingfisher search-and-rescue planes and Cyclone helicopters. The Kingfishers were an example of how a carefully laid plan by the Air Force got derailed by delays, with Kenny having to reassign transport planes and air-to-air refuellers to save Canadians in distress while waiting for the new planes to be ready. Acknowledging the challenges, Kenny said he will do what he can to ensure a smooth transition for the Air Force into the future a transition he says is critical as adversaries develop new weapons and flex their muscles in new and worrying ways. "There's always so much complexity with each of these projects, and there's possibilities that certain things will be later than others and therefore there'll be a ripple effect," he said. "I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure we deliver as fast as we can. Because if we don't, then I think we're at risk of not being able to meet the future security threats that are coming." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2023. Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press The F-16 fighter jet that shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron in Michigan on Sunday took off from Madison, although the fliers were airmen with the 148th Fighter Wing based in Duluth, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz confirmed late Sunday. The Bulldogs executed their mission flawlessly, protected the homeland, and got the birds home safe, Walz said in a tweet Sunday night. Im proud of the airmen in the @148FW, based out of Duluth, who earlier today took off from Madison, WI to shoot down a flying object over Lake Huron as part of a federal mission. The Bulldogs executed their mission flawlessly, protected the homeland, and got the birds home safe. Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) February 13, 2023 The shoot-down was the fourth time in eight days a high-flying balloon or other craft has been brought down over the U.S. or Canada. Home to the 115th Fighter Wing, Madison's Truax Field is currently in between combat aircraft after the last of the Wisconsin Air National Guards F-16 fighter left Madison in October to prepare for its next mission, flying a newer generation of F-35 jets. Pilots from other units around the country are still flying F-16s out of Madison, however, in support of the Guards homeland defense mission while the unit gets ready for the new jets. Civilian aviation photographers captured images of two of the jets returning to Madison Sunday evening, each with one AIM-9X Sidewinder missile missing from one of its underwing docks, suggesting at least two missiles were fired on the mission. The latest sighting caused confusion after military officials detected a radar contact over Montana on Saturday but ruled it an anomaly after sending fighter aircraft to investigate. Radar contact was reestablished on Sunday over Wisconsin and Michigan, leading to the shootdown. North American Aerospace Defense Command detected the object Sunday morning and maintained visual and radar tracking of it. Based on its flight path and data, we can reasonably connect this object to the radar signal picked up over Montana, according to the Pentagon. The Associated Press contributed to this report. WASHINGTON A U.S. fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron on Sunday on orders from President Joe Biden. It was the fourth such downing in eight days and the latest military strike in an extraordinary chain of events over U.S. airspace that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent. Part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a heightened alert following a spy balloon from China that emerged over U.S. airspace in late January, Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said in a briefing with reporters. Since then, fighter jets last week also shot down objects over Canada and Alaska. Pentagon officials said they posed no threats, but so little was known about them that Pentagon officials were ruling nothing out not even UFOs. We have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase, said Melissa Dalton, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense. U.S. authorities have made clear that they constantly monitor for unknown radar blips, and it is not unusual to shut down airspace as a precaution to evaluate them. But the unusually assertive response was raising questions about whether such use of force was warranted, particularly as administration officials said the objects were not of great national security concern and the downings were just out of caution. VanHerck said the U.S. adjusted its radar so it could track slower objects. With some adjustments, weve been able to get a better categorization of radar tracks now," he said, "and thats why I think youre seeing these, plus theres a heightened alert to look for this information." He added: I believe this is the first time within United States or American airspace that NORAD or United States Northern Command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object." Asked if officials have ruled out extraterrestrials, VanHerck said, I havent ruled out anything at this point. The Pentagon officials said they were still trying to determine what exactly the objects were and said they had considered using the jets' guns instead of missiles, but it proved to be too difficult. They drew a strong distinction between the three shot down over this weekend and the balloon from China. The extraordinary air defense activity began in late January, when a white orb the officials said was from China appeared over the U.S. and hovered above the nation for days before fighter jets downed it off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. That event played out over livestream. Since, then many Americans have been captivated by the drama playing out in the skies as fighter jets scramble to shoot down objects. The latest brought down was first detected on Saturday evening over Montana, but it was initially thought to be an anomaly. Radar picked it up again Sunday hovering over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and it was going over Lake Huron, Pentagon officials said Sunday. U.S. and Canadian authorities had restricted some airspace over the lake earlier Sunday as planes were scrambled to intercept and try to identify the object. According to a senior administration official, the object was octagonal, with strings hanging off, but had no discernable payload. It was flying low at about 20,000 feet, said the official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disusc Meanwhile, U.S. officials were still trying to precisely identify two other objects shot down by F-22 fighter jets, and were working to determine whether China was responsible as concerns escalated about what Washington said was Beijing's large-scale aerial surveillance program. An object shot down Saturday over Canada's Yukon was described by U.S. officials as a balloon significantly smaller than the balloon the size of three school buses hit by a missile Feb. 4. A flying object brought down over the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday was more cylindrical and described as a type of airship. Both were believed to have a payload, either attached or suspended from them, according to the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Officials were not able to say who launched the objects and were seeking to figure out their origin. The three objects were much smaller in size, different in appearance and flew at lower altitudes than the suspected spy balloon that fell into the Atlantic Ocean after the U.S. missile strike. The officials said the other three objects were not consistent with the fleet of Chinese aerial surveillance balloons that targeted more than 40 countries, stretching back at least into the Trump administration. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABCs This Week that U.S. officials were working quickly to recover debris. Using shorthand to describe the objects as balloons, he said U.S military and intelligence officials were focused like a laser on gathering and accumulating the information, then compiling a comprehensive analysis. The bottom line is until a few months ago we didnt know about these balloons, Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the spy program that the administration has linked to the Peoples Liberation Army, Chinas military. It is wild that we didnt know. Eight days ago, F-22 jets downed the large white balloon that had wafted over the U.S. for days at an altitude of about 60,000 feet. U.S. officials immediately blamed China, saying the balloon was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals and could maneuver itself. White House officials said improved surveillance capabilities helped detect it. China's Foreign Ministry said the unmanned balloon was a civilian meteorological airship that had blown off course. Beijing said the U.S. had overreacted by shooting it down. Scanfil Has Signed a CEO Agreement with Christophe Sut Published: 13 February 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes OULU, FINLAND Today, Scanfil has signed an agreement with Christophe Sut, who will start as the new CEO of Scanfil at the latest on the 1st of September 2023. Until he assumes his new role, the current CEO Petteri Jokitalo will continue as the CEO. After that, Petteri Jokitalo will act as an advisor to the Board of Directors by the end of 2023. Christophe Sut is currently the President of the Manufacturing Solutions at Sandvik Group. He has an extensive experience in business development, sales and marketing in B2B environment, with over 12 years in leading positions. I am honored to be appointed as the new CEO of Scanfil. It is one of the top players in the European EMS industry, says Christophe Sut. The company is financially strong and fast growing. It is a highly appreciated business partner among its customers and suppliers, and a respected employer among its employees. We have all the elements to build future success. On behalf of the Board, I would like to welcome Christophe to the company, says Harri Takanen, Chair of the Board of Directors. We are delighted to get him on board and lead Scanfil to the next phase of international growth and margin improvement. About 100,000 chickens died in a fire over the weekend at a Connecticut farm that is one of the top five egg producers in the country. Officials from the state Department of Agriculture confirmed Monday that an estimated 100,000 hens were killed in a fire at the Hillandale Farms property in Bozrah, Conn., on Saturday, The Associated Press reported. The report said that dozens of firefighters responded to the fire, which was contained to just one of the farms buildings. According to local CBS affiliate WFSB, firefighters from 21 different departments responded to the fire and were on the scene for eight hours. The report also said the states agriculture agency does not expect the fire to impact egg prices, which have been rising over the past year. No employees were injured in the fire, but the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, according to a statement posted on the Hillandale Farms website. The website confirmed that one chicken house was lost in the fire. Our team continues to work closely with the local fire departments and state officials to thoroughly investigate the fire that occurred on Saturday, January 28. We can confirm that one chicken house was lost and that no other buildings were compromised. We are deeply grateful that no employees were hurt in the fire, the farms executive leadership team said in the statement. Although it remains under investigation, we are working with local and state authorities to determine the cause. We appreciate the tremendous response from local fire departments for their swift action and for the continued support from across our industry, the statement continues. Hillandale Farms, which has properties across the United States, raises more than 20 million chickens for eggs and is one of the top five egg producers in the country, according to its website. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the rise in egg prices last week, asking the commission to look into whether the egg industry is using a record outbreak of bird flu as a cover for price gouging. Story continues Average egg prices have more than doubled in the last year, from $1.79 in December 2021 to $4.25 in December 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This rise in prices has been attributed to a nationwide avian flu outbreak, supply chain challenges and the rising cost of chicken feed. The bird flu alone affected 10 percent of laying hens, further driving up prices. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Colorado police officer died over the weekend after he was critically injured when he fell from a 40-foot bridge while pursuing suspects in a carjacking earlier this month, police said. Fountain City Police Officer Julian Becerra was pronounced dead Saturday at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, officials said. Becerra, who was 35, worked in the patrol division as a K9 officer. Fountain City is about 15 miles south of Colorado Springs. Becerra, a four-and-a-half year veteran with the department, previously served in the U.S. Air Force. He is survived by his wife and two children. According to a news release from the police department, the officer fell from an overpass while trying to catch a carjacking suspect on Feb. 2. After he was hospitalized, he had been on life support prior to his death. Fountain City Police Officer Julian Becerra died on February 11, 2023 night in Colorado Springs. Becerra, who was 35, worked in the patrol division as a K9 officer. Becerra, a four-and-a-half year veteran with the department is survived by his wife and two children. Officers had been asked to help the Department of Corrections find a carjacking suspect from Pueblo, about 30 miles south of the city around 4 p.m. the day of the fall. "We appreciate the public's outpouring of support over the past week for Officer Becerra, his family and the Fountain Police Department," police spokesperson Lisa Schneider posted in a statement on social media. "This is an evolving process, and the family is requesting privacy while they navigate the difficult task of planning for Julians final rest." The pursuit unfolded over several hours eventually leading to a foot chase between one carjacking suspect and officers near the intersection of Interstate 25, police said. The driver and two passengers in the stolen car were arrested on warrants and on suspicion of felonies that occurred during the pursuit, officials said. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the lead agency investigating the case, identified the suspects in the case as Devon Bobian, Danisha Pacheco and Anthony Vallejos. The driver had tried to jump off the bridge, but officers caught him, pulled him to safety and took him into custody, the sheriff's office 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: Fountain City Colorado police officer dies in fall from bridge, chase Police respond to the scene of a shooting Saturday involving Columbus SWAT officers at a Home Depot parking lot in Grove City. Columbus police have identified three SWAT officers who were involved in the Saturday night fatal shooting of an Athens County man in a Home Depot parking lot. Bret Andrews, 46, of Athens, Ohio, was shot around 8:20 p.m. Saturday following an encounter with Columbus police SWAT officers in the store parking lot located at 1680 Stringtown Road in Grove City. Andrews had an active warrant for his arrest out of Athens County, according to court records, and Columbus SWAT was attempting to serve that warrant. More:Columbus police officer involved in Sunday shooting also shot teen in August Sgt. David Scarpitti said during the encounter officers fired at Andrews, who was rushed to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. A firearm was recovered at the scene, Scarpitti said. What Columbus SWAT officers were involved in the shooting? The officers were identified as James Ashenhurst, Robert Cutshall and Matthew Liford. Ashenhurst has been an officer for 23 years, Cutshall for 26 years and Liford for 24 years. All three officers are currently on administrative leave, as is division policy. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the ongoing investigation into the shooting. Columbus police have not released any additional information about what led up to the shooting or said when camera footage from the incident might be released. Why were Columbus SWAT officers serving a warrant on Bret Andrews? Andrews' warrant was for rape of a child under the age of 13 and had been filed in December, according to Athens County court records. The alleged incident occurred in October 2021, according to court records, which indicate that Andrews fled Athens County after the victim accused him of sexual assault and made comments about being fearful of spending the rest of his life in prison. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police identify SWAT officers in Saturday fatal shooting This drone photo shows the continuing cleanup of portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Feb. 9, 2023. Is Columbus' drinking water safe from contamination? That question has been on the minds of some central Ohio residents ever since crews last week released toxic chemicals from derailed tanker cars near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Officials said the cars, part of a convoy that derailed in a fiery crash in East Palestine around 9 p.m. Feb. 3 as the 141-car Norfolk-Southern train was heading from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania, had been in danger of exploding. An evacuation order has since been lifted for the area. Is Columbus' drinking water safe? Of the roughly 150 cars on the train, approximately 20 were carrying hazardous materials, according to a letter the Environmental Protection Agency sent Norfolk Southern on Friday. "Cars containing vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether are known to have been and continue to be released to the air, surface soils, and surface waters," the letter reads. Ohio train derailment:What are vinyl chloride and isobutylene? More about the chemicals released in Ohio train derailment The derailment site is far from nearby watersheds and pose no risk to local water supplies, a spokesperson for the city's department of public utilities said Monday via email. Dwayne Stokes, a water research analyst at the city of Columbus' Water Quality Assurance Lab, said in an interview that city employees regularly monitor the three watersheds that the city draws from Big Walnut Creek, the Upper Scioto River and Alum Creek and notify his lab if they detect anything out of the ordinary. Additional testing on local water sources is done when Columbus' Division of Water is notified by the Ohio EPA that a spill has occurred in a watershed, Stokes said. Say a gasoline truck overturns on I-270. That might run into our watershed, and we would do testing around that area, along with the Ohio EPA," he added. A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. Five of the derailed tanker cars were carrying vinyl chloride, a precursor to the production of PVC plastic. A large plume of smoke appeared over East Palestine when the flammable, carcinogenic substance was released from the cars and ignited. Story continues If vinyl chloride or a chemical similar to it were to infiltrate the local water supply, Stokes said, Columbus' three water plants would remove it using powder-activated carbon. In addition, booms could be used to soak up any vinyl chloride sitting on top of a body of water. "It's partially soluble, kind of like an oil sheen," Stokes said. Columbus' Division of Water operates three water treatment plants: Dublin Road, Hap Cremean and Parsons Avenue. The plants also have the ability to limit their intake if the concentration of something in a water supply is high enough to warrant concern, Stokes said. What is vinyl chloride? Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas that's primarily used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Vinyl chloride is also found in tobacco smoke. The Akron Beacon Journal, a sister paper to The Columbus Dispatch, reported Wednesday that multiple agencies are monitoring air and water quality in streams around the derailment area, including the Ohio River. Officials said at the time that none of the air or water contamination detected outside the derailment site was within limits considered hazardous to humans. What's Columbus' air quality after East Palestine controlled release? The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) forecasts and issues alerts in central Ohio based on Ohio EPA air monitoring information for ozone and particulate pollution, according to the city of Columbus. Results are on the MORPC website and air quality is rated between 0 and 300. The higher the number, the more unhealthy the air is considered to be. As of Monday, the quality was at or below 50, which is considered good. Monroe Trombly covers the workplace and environmental issues for The Dispatch. mtrombly@dispatch.com @monroetrombly This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is Columbus' water safe from contamination after train derailment? The new Congress has accomplished almost nothing so far and conservatives are quite pleased about it. For Republicans who want to slow President Joe Bidens agenda and court confrontation with Democrats, the beginning of the year has played out beautifully. The House and Senate have not passed any new laws, the speaker is jostling with Biden over the debt ceiling and the new Congress most significant collaboration was agreeing to meet for the State of the Union. The Democratic Senate has held just eight roll-call votes on nominees and approved only one piece of new legislation alongside a host of non-binding resolutions. The House GOP, meanwhile, has rammed through dozens of bills few, if any, of which have a chance of coming to the Senate floor. Its a preview of the long slog that Washington expects during divided government. But the limping pace is also a textbook example of the strategy some Republicans hope to execute for the next two years, running out the clock on Bidens presidency and betting on beating him in 2024. Summing up the view of many conservatives, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said: Every day Senate Democrats are not destroying America is a good day. House conservatives extracted myriad concessions from Speaker Kevin McCarthy, winning historic sway over key levers of Congress including the panel that sets the chambers floor votes. Even in the Senate, the GOPs right flank is celebrating the sleepy six weeks since being sworn in on Jan. 3 and mounting its first-ever challenge to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Congress will assuredly have to clear legislation this year to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government. Yet there are few signs of anything else making its way to Biden's desk. The Senate spent its first three weeks in recess, and then a long GOP internal fight over committee assignments delayed Senate organization for another two weeks. I actually appreciate this go-slow approach, said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), who said the country needs a breather after the past two years. It's time to slow down. Story continues Over in the House, McCarthy's bruising fight for the speakership gave way to a "honeymoon" period, as Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) cheekily put it. While the party then moved quickly to pass a series of bills including two on abortion and one that aimed to rescind new IRS funding those proposals will serve little purpose beyond political messaging, since they wont survive the Democrat-controlled Senate or the president's veto. It's not all sunshine for Republican leaders, who had to pull other pieces of legislation favored by conservatives. That included two police bills, one that aimed to hold prosecutors accountable and another that expressed support for law enforcement. Yet their swift passage of legislation that has little chance of becoming law is allowing the narrow House majority to divide Democrats on issues like autonomy from Congress for the D.C. government, as well as to ding Senate Democrats who one month ago watched McCarthy fight for his political life and are just now ramping up their pace. We're crashing through. We've passed a lot of our priorities. We split the Democrats on many of these votes, said Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), head of the House GOP campaign arm. What matters is: Are we going to be able to get our spending bills done? And I'm hopeful that we'll see some activity over there on their side. The tables could always quickly turn, particularly when the debt-ceiling negotiations ramp up this summer, given the possibility that centrist Republicans could team with Democrats to ice out the right. For now, though, both Senate and House conservatives are emboldened. That looks different depending on the chamber you look at: 10 Republican senators opposed McConnells election as GOP leader, and challenger Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is among those still battling with the Kentuckian, accusing him of using panel assignments as retribution (Of course, he tossed me off the committee, because I ran against him, Scott said of the Commerce Committee). In the House, McCarthy won over much of his opposition after a bruising speaker fight, leading to praise from unusual corners like Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who said that Kevin has kept his promises to the right. The Houses comparatively rapid pace, for now, is no surprise given the procedural constraints in the Senate. But at some point, roughly 18 months from now, upper-chamber Democrats will run out of floor time before the election and perhaps regret that they didn't jump in more quickly. Thats in part due to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers decision to start the year on a three-week recess. Following that break, the chamber's Democrats contend that Republicans intentionally slowed committee organization during an internal fight over where senators like Rick Scott and a new crop of GOP freshmen would end up. Schumer says at least having a 51-49 majority will allow them to evade some GOP roadblocks. Republicans want to slow-walk because they cant stand that the Democrats are in the majority, said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the Senate Banking Committee chair. It's always a slow start. But this has been worse. McCarthy seemed to enjoy watching Democrats across the building, remarking last month: Is the Senate even in this week? What did they do this week? Oh, yeah, they haven't been in. The last Senate started at a similarly glacial pace, with McConnell delaying an organizing resolution and the chamber forced to immediately take up an impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump after Democrats took slim control of the chamber. But Schumer pivoted quickly to a Covid aid package, kicking off a historical period of legislating between an evenly divided Senate and a small House Democratic majority. In a split government, any legislative goals will have to be more circumspect. Schumer is looking to bring a modest tax treaty with Chile to the Senate floor soon, along with repeal of the authorization for use of military force that cleared the way for the George W. Bush-era invasion of Iraq. And while House Republicans joked that gridlock is good when there is a Democratic president in office, some were also optimistic about bipartisan goals, even with the 2024 presidential election looming. You can get big things done when you can share the blame, said Hudson, pointing to the debt ceiling. In the immediate term, Democrats are shifting their focus to what can be done unilaterally. Senate Democrats just confirmed their first judge of this Congress, and Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who chairs the chamber's Judiciary Committee, said the party is ready to roll on dozens more. We want to get moving, said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the No. 3 Democrat. But even then, a single Republican can slow down Circuit Court nominees for up to 30 hours a gambit that adds up over time. Its just one more example of why the right isnt exactly upset about the halting start. From their perspective, yes, its a problem, said Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, the No. 4 GOP leader and a more conservative member of party leadership. From our perspective, its been great. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) says President Biden needs to explain to the American public what U.S. fighter jets shot down over Alaska, Canada and Michigan in recent days, which the military has only vaguely referred to as objects. The president owes the American people an explanation, direct and on camera, of what we know about these objects and what steps hes taking to protect Americas sovereign airspace, Cotton said in a statement Monday. No commander-in-chief should hide behind press secretaries and anonymous sources in a time of crisis, he said. Lawmakers are demanding answers on what the three objects were and where they came from after they were shot down over a three-day span, roughly a week after the U.S. military took down a suspected Chinese spy balloon. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the military was not able to gain access to the downed objects because of weather conditions. Cotton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has emerged as a sharp critic of the presidents handling of the Chinese surveillance balloon that drifted across the United States earlier in the month. He says the Biden administration should have ordered the balloon shot down over Alaska instead of waiting to let it float off the coast of South Carolina before taking it out. We all know it was a spy balloon trying to collect information across the United States. I will say that you dont know that in advance though, he told reporters after senators received a briefing on the balloon from administration officials last week. Thats why we shouldnt let Chinese aircraft float on their merry way all across the United States. Cotton said Monday that Bidens response to the Chinese balloon that dominated the news last week was not consistent with how he reacted to the three objects over Alaska, Canada and Michigan, though those objects are reportedly much smaller than the balloon, which was about 200 feet tall and weighed roughly 2,000 pounds. Story continues After allowing a Chinese spy balloon to fly across America when we couldve downed it off the Aleutian Islands, President Biden has now downed three objects despite claiming last week that wouldve posed unacceptable risks to public safety. The president owes the American people an explanation, direct and on camera, of what we know about these objects and what steps hes taking to protect Americas sovereign airspace. Justin Trudeau did that, so surely Joe Biden can, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Special tip lines have been set up to take information in the deaths of Libby German and Abby Williams, who were killed while hiking the Delphi Historic Trails on Feb. 13, 2017. Like teenagers do Libby German and Abby Williams likely believed six years ago that the best days of their lives laid ahead of them. They never got the opportunity to follow their dreams or live their lives. The world now knows of the two best friends' last few days and their tragic slayings. Abby, 13, spend Sunday night at 14-year-old Libby's house since Delphi schools didn't have classes on Monday. The next day Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 dawned sunny with a forecasted high of 45 degrees. The girls got permission to hike the trails east of the small city of Delphi and were dropped off by a family member. It was the last anyone ever saw of them. When the girls didn't show up for the rendezvous for the ride home, Libby and Abby's families began searching for them. Residents gather outside the Delphi Municipal Building Tuesday, February 14, 2017, in Delphi. At an afternoon press conference, police said searchers found two bodies around 12:15 Tuesday next to Dear Creek. Foul play is suspected, however, police would not say whether the bodies were that of missing Delphi teens Liberty German, 13, and Abigail Williams, 13. When sun dawned the next day, search parties of police, firefighters, friends and classmates and even people who never knew the girls searched the trails. One of the search parties found them dead on the northside of Deer Creek about a quarter of a mile east of the Monon High Bridge. Weeks slipped into months, and months turned into years without an arrest. The first two years were marked with an Indiana State Police news conference, and local and national news reports heralded each anniversary, which included dutiful promises from police agencies that Libby and Abby's killings were still being actively investigated. Then came Oct. 28, 2022. News leaked out that police arrested a suspect Richard Allen, 50, of Delphi. Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland charged Allen on Oct. 28 with two counts of murder. Allen had been arrested since Oct. 26, although police called it "detained." Indiana law requires that for all arrests, the name, age and identifying information, as well as suspected crimes must be released within 24 hours of the arrest. Indiana State Police waited until their news conference on Oct. 31 to release Allen's name and charges. The Journal & Courier has a pending complaint with the Indiana Public Access Counselor's Office against the state police alleging that police ignored state law by not releasing Allen's name for five days after his arrest. Story continues Mike and Becky Patty, grandparents of Libby German, address the media during a press conference addressing updates regarding the investigation of the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German, Monday, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, at Delphi United Methodist Church in Delphi, Ind. Over the years, Libby German's grandfather, Mike Patty, became a voice for the family and spearheaded efforts to keep the girls' memories in the public's mind. "Its somewhat bittersweet," Patty told reports after the Oct. 31 news conference, "knowing it allows us to move to the next turn, the next chapter. "Weve still got, now weve got a big mountain ahead of us. And were going to stay after it. We have never given up. And you guys have not given up on us. Were going to keep pushing all the way." Since Allen's arrest, a court order bars family members, police, prosecutors and Allen's defense attorneys from commenting on the case. The Journal & Courier texted Patty asking if he wanted to comment for this story about the loss. He responded without a comment. Mugshot of 50-year-old Richard Allen, charged in the 2017 Delphi murders. Allen remains incarcerated awaiting trial. His attorneys have petition that he be released on bond while awaiting trial, arguing that the evidence against Allen is not strong. In Indiana, all defendants, except those charged with murder or treason, are entitled to a bond set high enough to ensure their appearance in court. If a state's case is not persuasive, a judge may grant bond for a defendant charged with murder. Prosecutor's probable cause affidavit links Allen to a semiautomatic bullet found at the crime scene. That bullet, prosecutors say, has tool markings that indicate it was ejected from Allen's pistol. Police and prosecutors have not released how the girls were killed, but Libby's phone was recording when their killer approached them from behind. On the video, one of the girls says, "Gun," according to prosecutors. Allen's attorneys requested that his Feb. 17 bond hearing be postponed. As of Thursday, Judge Frances Gull has not ruled on the motion. Reporter Noe Padilla and Editor Deanna Watson contributed to this report. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Delphi teenagers' dreams killed six years ago; families await justice CANTON Central Catholic High School seniors Georgia Bentzel and Ryan Parlin recently received awards on behalf of the American Legion Massillon Post 221 for scoring the highest grade on the Americanism & Government test. According to the American Legion, the Americanism and Government Test is recognized as a leading youth program in the state of Ohio. The test is open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12. Students answer a multiple-choice test and complete an essay question. Bentzel and Parlin earned the highest scores for Post 221 in the District and County awards. There was a total of six winners from Post 221. As a result of their test scores, their essays have been selected to move onto the next level of the contest and will be sent to the 10th District Commander. Central Catholic High Principal David Oates recently presented awards to Ryan Parlin on behalf of the American Legion, Massillon Post 221 for scoring the highest grade on the Americanism & Government test. Central Catholic High Principal David Oates presented an award to Georgia Bentzel on behalf of the American Legion, Massillon Post 221 for scoring the highest grade on the Americanism & Government test. Scholarships available The Alzheimers Foundation of America is offering scholarships of up to $5,000 to college-bound high school seniors affected by Alzheimers disease or other dementia-related illnesses as part of its annual Teens for Alzheimers Awareness Scholarship. Entries can be submitted at www.alzfdn.org/scholarship and must be received by 5 p.m. March 1. Eligible teens can apply for the scholarship by submitting an essay (1,500 words maximum) or submitting a video, no more than four minutes long, describing how Alzheimers disease has impacted their lives and what they have learned about themselves, their family and/or their community through their experience with Alzheimers. Examples of ways that Alzheimers impacted a students life can include: Having a loved one with Alzheimers disease or another dementia-related illness Helping care for someone with Alzheimers disease or another dementia-related illness Volunteering or working in a care setting that serves individuals with dementia Raising Alzheimers awareness in their school or community Conducting Alzheimers research The program is open to current high school seniors living in the United States who will be attending a U.S. college or university this Fall. Students already attending college are not eligible to participate. Story continues The top prize awarded is a $5,000 scholarship. Additional prizes are awarded for runners up and honorable mentions. Last year, AFA awarded $90,000 in scholarships to 117 high school students. The Alzheimers Foundation of America has been able to provide these scholarship funds with the support of charitable donors. People wishing to support this and other programs and services for families affected by Alzheimers disease can do so by visiting www.alzfdn.org/donate or calling the Alzheimers Foundation of America at 866-232-8484. Mount Union awarded second Choose Ohio First grant worth $504,000 ALLIANCE For the second consecutive year, the Ohio Department of Higher Education has awarded the University of Mount Union funding as part of its Choose Ohio First grant program. The total awarded to Mount Union was $504,000, and combined with the previous grant received, the University has been awarded a total of $709,625 from Choose Ohio First. Mount Union plans to use these funds to increase access for underrepresented students from Northeast Ohio wishing to pursue majors and careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), according to a news release. This includes bolstering existing partnerships with Akron North High School and Alliance High School, as well as support neighboring school districts in Stark and Summit Counties. Included as part of these efforts would be to provide gap funding to students from these local high schools wishing to study STEMM related disciplines at Mount Union. This would help make a college education possible for students of all backgrounds who are interested in Mount Union. The Ohio Department of Higher Education has awarded more than $161.3 million in grants over the past four years as part of the COF initiative to support STEMM education. Walsh receives expansion grant for 'Bridge to Literacy Success 2.0 NORTH CANTON Walsh Universitys School of Arts, Sciences and Education received a $65,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Education through a collaboration with the University of Cincinnati in support of the Ohio Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement initiative. Funding will be used to sustain and expand Science of Reading applications from past grant funding at the undergraduate and graduate levels while supporting new partnerships with local school districts, according to a news release. This is the third facet of the project, which includes expanding partnerships with local school districts. The Bridge to Literacy Success 2.0 grant encompasses Clearmount and North Wood Elementary Schools in North Canton, McKinley Elementary School in Lisbon Exempted Village, Watson Elementary School in the Perry Local School District, plus teaching and professional resources for Walsh literacy education students. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Education roundup: Central Catholic seniors receive awards U.S. federal agencies are required to comply with White House cybersecurity executive orders, FedRAMP requirements, CISA Binding Operational Directives, NIST guidelines and FISMA modernization mandates. Compliance may also be a requirement at the state and local levels, as well as private sector firms that do business with federal agencies. Qualys, a provider of disruptive cloud-based IT, security and compliance solutions, released its new offering on the federal market with its GovCloud platform as well as news of its achievement of FedRAMP Ready status at the High impact level. GovCloud is a comprehensive offering that federal agencies can use as the foundation for their cybersecurity programs. The highly scalable platform supports federal and commercial organizations cost-effectively, delivering integrated capabilities, 24/7 support and training while maintaining a high level of protection. Qualys (News - Alert) GovCloud solutions and capabilities include cybersecurity asset management with external attack surface management, vulnerability management detection and response, configuration and policy compliance, file integrity monitoring and container security. Cybersecurity asset management with external attack surface management identifies, discovers inventory and classifies all known and unknown assets with security context. VMDR assesses, prioritizes, and remediates vulnerabilities based on TruRisk to meet Executive Order 14028, OMB M-21-31 as well as monitor posture against NIST requirement of RA-5. GovCloud's regulatory compliance management with policy compliance capability allows government agencies to assess configuration posture against DISA while auditing and reporting their compliance with a wide range of standards. File integrity monitoring detects and alerts on unauthorized changes to software firmware and information to align with the NIST SI-7 requirement. With container security, continuously discover, track and secure containers from build to runtime, aligning with the key federal DevOps initiative while addressing the additional FedRAMP requirement of NIST RA-5 regarding assessing containers for vulnerability risk. With these solutions and capabilities, GovCloud is ready to meet the stringent cybersecurity assurance requirements of FedRAMP at the High impact level. FedRAMP is a government program that promotes the adoption of secure cloud services across federal agencies. It offers a rigorous, standardized approach to security authorizations for cloud service offerings. High certification is the most stringent with 421 security and risk management controls. We are dedicated to providing federal agencies with a modern alternative to legacy scanners to improve their security posture as they embrace digital transformation, said Sumedh Thakar, President and CEO of Qualys. Edited by Alex Passett A few days before Christmas, a tire blowout started a chain reaction that put Felicia Gates and her family in a financial bind. The car wasnt drivable, so Gates left it by the side of the road near Iowa Falls, where she lives with her husband, Kyle, and three young daughters. Her car was towed to an impound lot, so they had to pay to get it out of the lot and then towed to a repair shop. Gates didnt have a way to get to her job as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in a community an hour away, so she lost her job. Since she was out of work, the family didnt have the money to pay February rent. Friends told Gates about the Des Moines Registers Embrace Iowa program, which gives Iowans grants of up to $750 to pay for things that fall outside of standard assistance programs like car repairs, beds, working appliances, even rent if the family has fallen behind. The Gates family received an Embrace Iowa grant, which helped them cover February rent while they work to get back on their feet. Gates currently gets a ride from a friend to her new CNA position closer to home, and shes hopeful shell be able to pay to get her car out of the shop soon. Embrace Iowa applicants apply through 16 local Community Action Agencies serving all 99 counties across the state. First-time applicants are given priority in the review process, and applicants must be at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. We were in a tough spot that made it hard to get out of the sinkhole we were in, Gates said. The grant money for rent prevented us from being put out on the street. This program is such a good thing; it helped us more than people might realize. More:Donate to Embrace Iowa to help Iowans meet basic needs such as new glasses, stove repair The Des Moines Registers 2022-23 Embrace Iowa fundraising campaign raised $343,178 from 1,303 donations from Iowans ranging from $10 to tens of thousands of dollars. During this years campaign, the Register introduced readers to five Iowans in addition to the Gates family who received grants from Embrace Iowa. Story continues We met Cady Walsh, who used her grant to buy an ADA-compliant range, allowing her to cook for her 2-year-old son. Barry Refleng, who lives on disability income, used his grant to replace a leaky fridge. Single mom Mary Campbell was able to replace her tires so she could safely drive herself to work and her teenagers to activities. And Karen Meyer, who lives with her two daughters with disabilities, used her grant to replace a broken range. The Iowa Community Action Network and our association want to thank the generous contributors who supported the Embrace Iowa campaign this year, said Katherine Harrington, executive director of the Iowa Community Action Association. The personal contributions and corporate citizens supporting this statewide fundraising effort help provide Iowans in need who often have nowhere else to turn to in a crisis with resources that help right now. Make no mistake, there is far more need than Embrace Iowa can fulfill, Harrington continued. Every donation truly makes an impact. We receive so many thank you notes from folks who this program has helped, and they are blown away by the generosity of everyday Iowans who dig a little deeper to support their struggling neighbors. We honor them in print and in our hearts. More:Donate to Embrace Iowa to help Iowans meet basic needs How you can help Embrace Iowa accepts funds year-round. The 2022-23 campaign has closed, so money contributed going forward will be applied to the 2023-24 campaign. You can donate to Embrace Iowa online at iowacommunityaction.org/about/donate. Or checks can be mailed to Embrace Iowa, P.O. Box 10611, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0611. One-hundred percent of donations are used to help the applicants, not to pay staff or agency costs. Donation receipts are available upon request for donations under $250; youll automatically receive a letter for donations of $250 or more. Missy Keenan is a freelance writer based in Des Moines. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Embrace Iowa helps woman who lost her job pay her rent. You can help. EXETER New Hampshire's Charitable Trusts Unit will host a public hearing next month on the proposed affiliation between Exeter Health Resources and Beth Israel Lahey Health in Massachusetts. The hearing will take place Wednesday, March 1 at 4 p.m. at Exeter High School, 1 Blue Hawk Drive in Exter. Remote attendance through videoconferencing also will be available. Instructions on how to participate remotely will be posted on the attorney generals website at https://bit.ly/3ltAhDA. The hearing comes after Exeter Health Resources signed a definitive agreement to join Beth Israel Lahey Health in July. The main entrance to Exeter Hospital on Alumni Drive. The state's Charitable Trusts Unit is one of the state regulators that will need to sign off on the deal. It will also need approval from the state of Massachusetts and the Federal Trade Commission. Previous story:Exeter Hospital, Beth Israel Lahey deal could mean $375M investment in Seacoast Kevin Callahan, president of Exeter Health Resources Inc., previously said the affiliation is critical to ensure the long-term sustainability of Exeter Hospital. The partnership, he said, would allow the local hospital to diversify and grow clinical services to meet the needs of the community, as well as control health-care costs by leveraging the purchasing power of a larger healthcare system. Under the proposed terms of the affiliation, Beth Israel Lahey Health would become the sole corporate member of Exeter Health Resources, which includes Exeter Hospital, Core Physicians and Rockingham Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice. Exeter Health Resources' structure will stay the same and the local board will continue to oversee ongoing operations, reviewing and recommending strategic plans and operating and capital budgets as well as philanthropy and community benefit funding. As part of the deal, Beth Israel Lahey Health will maintain and grow access to clinical services in Exeter Health Resources, making an overall $375 million capital investment over 10 years. Story continues More:C/A Design building $35M headquarters in Exeter: Here's why company is leaving Dover Like Exeter, Beth Israel Lahey Health is not-for-profit. It comprises 13 hospitals, 25 major ambulatory facilities with 35,000 employees, and operating revenue of $6.2 billion. The new potential affiliation comes more than a year after Exeter Hospital's potential merger with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and its parent company Mass General Brigham officially fell through after the New Hampshire Attorney General announced opposition to the merger in 2019 because of antitrust concerns.The merger under Mass General Brigham would have brought the not-for-profit Exeter Hospital under the same leadership as Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in nearby Dover, which was acquired by MGH in 2017. Officials are optimistic they won't run into the same regulatory hurdles they did with MGH. Callahan said in May that Beth Israel Lahey Health has "deep experience" in securing complex regulatory approvals noting their 2019 merger between Beth Israel Deaconess and Lahey Health. Information about the proposed affiliation, including documents submitted by the parties to the state attorney generals office, may be found at https://bit.ly/3ltAhDA. The director of Charitable Trusts will continue to accept written public comments on the proposed transaction through March 17. Written comments may be submitted by email to charitabletrustsunit@doj.nh.gov or by regular mail to: Director of Charitable Trusts, Department of Justice, 33 Capitol St., Concord, NH 03301. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Hospital, Beth Israel Lahey proposed merger gets public hearing Ten million people died from cancer across the world in 2020 according to the World Health Organization. If you talk to most people, they will tell you theyve been touched by cancer in some way. I sure have. John Grant The State of Florida has been a leader in cancer treatment and that tradition continues with a new Moffitt Cancer Center in Pasco County. It will be called Speros FL, the name is a derivative of the Latin verb Sperare meaning to hope. The facility is being built on 775 acres that are easily accessible to Tampa International Airport. In fact, it will encompass 16 million square feet and will be bigger than Downtown Tampa. The project officially starts later this year and will bring the best and brightest minds in cancer research and treatment to our state. Oh, and by the way, its expected to create about 14,500 new jobs. The state-of-the-art groundbreaking research center will include carbon ion therapy. Even though the treatment was discovered in the 1970s in the United States, there are currently no carbon ion treatment centers in North America. The future of cancer treatment is expected to rely heavily on this proton therapy. Cancer treatment is constantly evolving and in the past few years, there have been significant breakthroughs including the DNA sequencing of more than 12,000 cancer tumors and a new test for diagnosing pancreatic cancer one of the deadliest cancers. Precision oncology is another great new weapon in fighting cancer. This involves studying the genetic makeup of cancer tumors in individual patients, identifying changes in cells that might be causing cancer to grow and spread, then personalizing treatment. Speros FL will be the most ambitious project in Moffitts 36-year history and it will expand the hospitals global footprint. Moffitt describes it as A dynamic hub for biotech and life sciences enterprises that will meet at the intersection of medicine, pharma, education, research, commerce, venture, incubation/acceleration, and wellness. Story continues Last year alone, Moffitt Cancer Centers saw more than 598,000 outpatient and screening visits. The hospital has treated more than 100 unique cancers and conditions in patients from all 67 Florida counties, across all 50 states, and from more than 130 countries. I dont know about you, but it gives me peace of mind that a world-class cancer treatment center is right in our backyard. I was there to participate in the groundbreaking, as I celebrated my more than 30 years as a member of the board. I served with Lee Moffitt in the Florida House of Representatives when we voted to create the cancer center which has become more than we could have imagined. I was so impressed by this project and what it will mean to the state. Lives will be saved, and the quality of lives will be improved. The treatment and research will provide hope. Many of us seniors know, hope is a way of life. It involves the courage to turn dreams into reality. Florida residents are lucky to live among these innovators who dare to dream and provide a beacon of hope for the world. John Grant, former state representative and state senator, is president and CEO of Seniors Across America. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Future Florida hospital global beacon of hope for cancer patients A bipartisan panel of governors from Maryland, New Hampshire, New Mexico and North Dakota said they agreed on elements of each other's ideas to address addiction and the fentanyl crisis, speaking Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation." "That is probably going to be the nexus of real bipartisan work," Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said to North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican, after he described treating addiction as a disease. The governors were in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association conference, and dealing with fentanyl was one area where they clearly found common cause. Burgum said his state is working to make sure the war on fentanyl doesn't become "a war on people," contrasting his approach to the hard-line enforcement against drug offenses championed in decades past. "If we think that the way we're going to stop drug consumption is with with longer prison terms, or higher penalties, we're actually just incarcerating people that have a health issue," Burgum said. U.S. drug overdose deaths surpassed 107,000 in 2021, setting a record and bringing the number of drug overdose deaths to more than 1 million since 2001. The number of deaths from synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, rose over the course of that year. And opioids overall accounted for more than 80,000 of those deaths. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, also expressed agreement with the idea of keeping the opioid reversal drug naloxone in schools, after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, described Maryland's use of the policy. "You need access points to schools," Sununu said to host Margaret Brennan. "Kids need to know that that there is help there, what those systems are. Rural access to care is absolutely huge." Maryland, like New Jersey, Rhode Island and Washington, requires public schools to stock naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan. Lawmakers in California are pushing to not only supply schools with the drug, but also to allow students to carry and administer it. If you are interested in helping survivors of the earthquakes that devastated Turkey and Syria, Charity Navigator recommends donating to reputable and registered charities. The series of earthquakes crumbled thousands of buildings and killed over 30,000 people as of Sunday. Millions have been left homeless in what are now labeled the deadliest earthquakes in more than a decade, according to USA TODAY. Charity Navigator, a website that rates charities, has compiled a list of organizations sending aid to Syria and Turkey. Charity Navigator also recommends sending monthly donations for long-term recovery efforts since many disaster relief groups see donations wane after a few weeks. Some organizations named are Turkish Red Crescent (a Red Cross affiliate), Syrian Red Crescent (Red Cross affiliate), The White Helmets, Syrian Medical Society and Doctors without Borders. Further information about those organizations and other organizations involved in relief efforts has been compiled by USA TODAY. Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter @NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How you can help earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria Future site of the underground parking garage at the Stratton Building, viewed from the west Tuesday Jan. 31, 2023. The view from a sixth-floor conference room at the Stratton Building on a cold January afternoon was clear. Progress was being made on one of the most ambitious renovation projects at the Illinois State Capitol. A big hole in what was a parking lot to the north of the building adjacent to Monroe Street and the construction associated with it has led to road closures along the busy throughway to downtown Springfield. In addition, the northern part of the Capitol has been closed, forcing the state Senate to relocate to the Howlett Building while construction continues around their chamber. The work that began in July is going according to plans according to Capitol Architect Andrea Aggertt, who oversees the Capitol renovations. The $225 million project funded by the state's Rebuild Illinois initiative will update facilities on the north wing of the statehouse while also building more parking underneath the Stratton Building. More:Federal judge's order demands answers from Springfield man convicted in Jan. 6 breach "The goals and objectives of the north wing are very similar to what was done in the west wing in 2011-13," Aggertt said. "Some of the areas that we're going to improve upon are life-safety; code upgrades for a building built many decades ago that didn't have the same codes that were built currently." Safety systems upgraded For instance, portions of the west half are not covered by fire sprinklers. Without the renovations, Aggertt said any kind of fire in the Senate wing could be disastrous. "If we have some type of catastrophic event, it would be horrible for the state Capitol building," Aggertt said. "We would not have a fire suppression system that would put that out. A building like that is just not replaceable." Along with new sprinklers come a new fire alarm system, which Aggertt said would benefit the visually and auditorily impaired, and new security measures to ensure that employees can feel safe while working that the Capitol. Story continues "We determined that the north drive was allowing cars to park a little bit too close to the building, so not only are we relocating or removing those cars from the north drive, but making sure we have lockdown procedures (and) restricted access in some areas in the event there would be an incident," Aggertt said. A new entrance A new entrance is also being built below the north lawn to allow the public better access inside the Capitol for visits and advocacy. "(It) will really help the public and visitors navigate the Capitol," Aggertt said. "We'll have a drop-off on Monroe for buses, rally groups, student tourists or even a spouse dropping a significant other off. It's an area that will be able to screen visitors prior to entering the Capitol proper, which goes back to that safety and security (element). (We're) making sure that we keep visitors, employees, and members safe." In addition, the new entrance will be more accessible and built to Americans with Disabilities Act standards. "The state made a promise to the federal Department of Justice that we would work on making our statehouse fully accessible," Aggertt said. "That promise was made many years ago, and we're just continuing to work on that promise statement. That means that 60% of the entrances to the Capitol need to be accessible to someone who uses a wheelchair, a walker, a cane. Unfortunately, as we stand today, only one entrance is accessible. The new north entrance will completely be accessible." Making repairs, preserving history The north wing of the building dates back to the 1860s, shortly after the end of the Civil War, and maintenance of key systems such as the plumbing and HVAC systems is a constant struggle. "You have to address the pipes so they don't leak (and) the HVAC equipment so it runs efficiently," Aggertt said. "Those are all in very dire need (of repairs) in our north wing. Some of the infrastructure is 10-15 years beyond its life expectancy, so we literally limp those systems along, making daily repairs and responding to emergencies rather than trying to maintain a good working system." Even with the need for modernization, Aggertt said that there's plenty of room for returning the historic nature of the facility, in much the same way that the west end was refurbished a decade ago. She said that some of the mezzanines installed during prior renovations in the 1960s will be taken out in order to restore the historic charm of the building. "Somebody thought it would be a great idea to get additional square footage within (the) Capitol proper and essentially bisect a room, put an additional floor in there and we've completely destroyed the fabric (and) the historic context of those rooms," Aggertt said. "While it reduces the square footage in that north wing, we'll be removing those mezzanines." More:Survey pushes for greater focus on teacher recruitment and retention amid shortages More space to park Underground, the parking garage is designed to be a replacement for the north drive of the Capitol, which had 110 spaces for state employees. The garage will have space for 440 cars along with electric vehicle charging stations and room to add chargers. It will also be connected to the Stratton Building and the Capitol through an underground conference space that will also be home to space for rallies and a cafe for guests and employees. While Aggertt said the need for more parking for employees and the public the need to beautify and add green space around the state government area is a major reason for the new garage. "It's our response to get more and more green space on the Capitol complex," Aggertt said. "If we can move parking underground, then someday when the Stratton Building comes down, then we will have entirely green space here. This is the first step." Future site of the underground parking garage at the Stratton Building, viewed from the 6th floor Tuesday Jan. 31, 2023. What happens to the Stratton Building? The age and condition of the Stratton Building have been subjects of debate over several decades and while there are no set plans to demolish the building, Aggertt said, there likely will come a time when the building is no longer needed. "We have a good plan as to what's going to happen on this complex in the next five all the way up to 50 years," Aggertt said. "I can state that the Stratton Building's not here for long, but it will be here until additional funding is given to build a replacement." When will the work be finished? The parking garage should be completed by the fall, with final completion of the full Capitol project planned for 2025. The Senate will be back in chambers by January of that year, with the finishing touches in the spring or summer of 2025. Until then, it's continued digging, pouring and excavating. So far, Aggertt said, the only major snags came with a pair of structural trusses that couldn't be removed requiring all of the renovations work around the load-bearing parts. "It just goes to show that having documentation of a building is so important," Aggertt said. "We're working around the trusses; they're going to stay (and) we're not going to take them out. We think we have figured out what they're holding up. We're not about to cut them out." This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois State Capitol construction includes new garage and entrance Learn how a resort in the Dominican Republic got one travel writer to truly disconnect and relax. Courtesy of Alison Fox Im not good at relaxing. In fact, I never have been. Thats why I couldnt quite believe where the time had gone when I left the spa at the Finest Punta Cana. I was so relaxed, I had spent more than three hours without even realizing it. Thats the resorts goal, of course, to lull you into a state of complete bliss with hydrotherapy rituals, aromatherapy massages, and indulgence at every turn. But rarely does it actually work for me. The all-inclusive resort opened in late 2021 as one of the newest properties in The Excellence Collection, welcoming both families and adults to the shores of the Dominican Republic. The hotel practically functions as three properties in one with both kid-friendly areas (including an impressive kids' club complete with a mini water park) and adults-only pools and restaurants. It was my first-ever stay at an all-inclusive hotel, and I wasnt sure what to expect. But within moments of arriving, I was snacking on complimentary Oreos from the minibar, looking out at the pool and the ocean beyond, and deciding which restaurant to try first. Courtesy of Alison Fox I was staying in the hotels adults-only side, the Excellence Club, which included its own check-in area, exclusive club-only restaurants, and a pool that tended to be quieter than the kid-friendly one on the other side. On my first day there, I walked the length of the property in the way youd explore a city if you had too little time. I checked out each pool, each food truck, and each beach palapa. I mapped out a plan in my head. By the second day, I had forgotten my plan existed. Instead, I found myself lying at the beach as a gentle breeze washed over me, listening to the waves crest and crash. I took a dip in the warm water before lazily making my way back up the buttery sand to the plush beach chair and basking in the pleasantly warm sun. Hours later, I traded in the beach for the pool, a long stretch of deep blue surrounded by rows of palm trees and white modern architecture with contrasting black trim. I was suddenly faced with the (not so hard) decision of what to get from the swim-up bar: coconut water or a strawberry daiquiri. Story continues Of course, the beauty of an all-inclusive meant there wasnt really a choice at all. And so I learned a crucial lesson: one of the best ways to relax was to simply indulge. And one of the ultimate indulgences is a day at the Finests spa. The One Spa takes relaxation seriously Domingo Aznar, the vice president of sales and marketing for The Excellence Collection, told me it was designed to deepen our connection with the mind, body, and soul. Alison Fox They take it so seriously, in fact, theres a multi-step hydrotherapy circuit. First, I stepped into the sauna, allowing the heat to settle into my skin, before alternating between hot and cold drenching myself under an ice bucket, sitting in the intense heat of the steam room, plunging into frigid water. One hydrotherapy session complete with a relaxing scalp massage is included in each Excellence Club and Finest Club room, and its worth every minute. Then, to really take it to the next level, I headed upstairs for a stop in the aromatherapy room and a citrus-scented massage. That evening I got dressed up, swapping my flip flops for heels, and headed out to dinner at Le Petit Plaisir, the hotels adults-only French restaurant. I sampled a deconstructed potato salad with dijon sauce and dug into a rich chickpea cassoulet before ordering a slice of apple tarte tatin. Courtesy of Alison Fox By my last day, I had the all-inclusive thing down: I ordered two breakfasts (the open-face molletes were too good not to) and then took full advantage of the gazpacho bar at lunch, topped off with some warm rice pudding and a few cookies for good measure. I finally learned to relax and treat myself. And as I headed back to the hustle of New York, I hoped to take that lesson with me. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. It seems like Simon Porte Jacquemus isn't finished with his Nike partnership just yet. The designer took to social media to tease what seems like another collaborative release -- featuring the Air Force 1 this time around. Just in case you're hearing of this collaboration for the first time, Jacquemus initially joined forces with the Swoosh back in June 2022, debuting the Air Humara alongside ready-to-wear pieces on its Fall/Winter 2022 "Le Papier" runway in the south of France. Dropping in neutral beige and brown shades, the release later followed up with a bold pink iteration. Based on the images we've seen so far, the upcoming AF1 collaboration seems to feature white leather uppers along with a mesh tongue. The close-up image of the shoe shows "JF1" branding on the dubrae, most likely short for "Jacquemus Force 1." The design also comes with Nike-branded leather aglets -- a nod to the Air Humara that featured the same detail. Stay tuned as we learn more about the partnership. The Jacquemus x Nike Air Force 1 is expected to drop this coming summer. King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort during the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on November 22, 2022 in London, England. This is the first state visit hosted by the UK with King Charles III as monarch, and the first state visit here by a South African leader since 2010. Chris Jackson/Getty King Charles and Queen Camilla King Charles III put out a new photo with Queen Camilla while meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine last week. The King, 74, met Zelenskyy, 45, for the first time at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday after the Ukrainian leader made a surprise speech in the House of Parliament and met U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The British monarch welcomed Zelenskyy to the 1844 Room, one of the palace's many state rooms, where a previously unseen picture of King Charles and Queen Camilla was framed and displayed on a table behind them. A closer look reveals the image to be a formal portrait of the royal couple seemingly taken during the first state banquet of Charles' reign in November 2022. The diplomatic dinner was held in honor of Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, during his three-day state visit to the U.K. RELATED: Queen Camilla Tests Positive for COVID-19 for the Second Time, Cancels Week's Engagements King Charles III (L) welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) at Buckingham Palace, in London, ahead of an audience during his first visit to the UK since the Russian invasion of Ukraine AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images As seen in the new picture, where the royal couple stood close together, Camilla, 75, popped in a royal blue gown that complemented her husband's Order of the Garter sash in the same shade. Prince William and Kate Middleton also attended the state dinner as they helped host Ramaphosa's visit in their elevated royal roles as the Prince and Princess of Wales. They took on the new titles following Charles' accession upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September. King Charles Aaron Chown/Getty On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Camilla tested positive for coronavirus. The news comes nearly a year to the day after her first diagnosis with COVID-19 was announced. "After suffering the symptoms of a cold, Her Majesty The Queen Consort has tested positive for the Covid virus," the palace said in a statement. "With regret, she has therefore cancelled all her public engagements for this week and sends her sincere apologies to those who had been due to attend them." Story continues RELATED: King Charles' Coronation Photographer Announced and He's Been Behind the Camera for Royal Weddings Camilla, Queen Consort, gives a speech as she visits the S.T.O.R.M Family Centre Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images Last February, Clarence House announced that Camilla tested positive for COVID. The royal tested positive four days after Charles entered self-isolation following his own positive coronavirus diagnosis. In a short statement issued on Feb. 14, 2022, a spokesman at Clarence House said, "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating. We continue to follow government guidelines." The palace added at the time that Camilla was tripled-vaccinated against the viral disease. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! About a month later, in March 2022, the then-Duchess of Cornwall discussed her lingering symptoms during a meeting at Clarence House. "It's taken three weeks and still can't get shot of it," Camilla told rowers Kat Cordiner, Abby Johnston and Charlotte Irving, according to Hello! magazine. "Probably my voice might suddenly go, and I might start coughing and spluttering." OMAHA A 29-year-old Omaha man was arrested early Saturday after police say he crashed a stolen pickup truck into a Nebraska State Patrol cruiser while fleeing from officers. According to a news release from the State Patrol, troopers were notified that the Omaha police helicopter was tracking a suspected stolen vehicle that had crossed into Nebraska from Iowa at about 11:15 p.m. Friday. About 20 minutes later, the helicopter tracked the vehicle, a Chevrolet Silverado, to a residence near 99th Street and Park Drive in southwest Omaha. Troopers arrived at the residence shortly after 11:35 p.m. and located the truck. According to the release, the driver accelerated, drove through a yard, hit a cruiser and fled from the area. The state trooper inside the cruiser was not seriously injured, but the cruiser was disabled because of the impact. A different trooper began to pursue the Silverado as it fled. Omaha police deployed stop sticks and the truck came to a stop near 96th and Nina streets. The driver fled but was eventually taken into custody at about midnight, according to the State Patrol. The driver was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer, flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, theft by receiving stolen property, leaving the scene of a crash, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under a suspended license. Top Journal Star photos for February 2023 The scarcity of child care facilities and qualified workers to staff them is costing Massachusetts families $1.7 billion a year in lost wages due to missing work or reduced work hours, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Additionally, employers are losing $812 million a year in low productivity and employee turnover and replacement costs because workers cannot find adequate child care, according to the foundation. Whats needed, the report suggests, is the reform of the states child care system. Reform will grow the economy and lift families, businesses and the state with it. Cape Cod Children's Place executive director Cindy Horgan outside the Eastham facility. That idea is shared by child care providers, employees and businesses across the state and Cape Cod. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., recently announced another call for the federal governments support of universal child care. Under Warren's proposed plan, a family in Massachusetts making $130,125 annually with an infant and a two-year-old would pay no more than $10 per day, or $200 per month, far lower than the current average cost of $3,128 per month, according to Warrens office. The bill would also ensure that higher-income families pay no more than 7% of their income on child care, and lower-income families making less than 75% of their states median income would be fully subsidized. According to a report by the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy for the Cape Cod Commission released in June, the average cost of infant care in the state is $21,000 a year or $1,743 per month. The average cost for a toddler is $15,000 a year, or $1,250 per month. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that families spend about 7% of their income on child care. In order to meet that benchmark, with the $21,000 average cost of infant care, a family would have an income of $300,000. Child care as critical as investing in infrastructure Tom Weber, executive director at the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education, gives Warren credit for making child care a national topic of conversation. Her proposal would cap child care costs with the help of federal funding. Story continues Cape Cod Childrens Place Executive Director Cindy Horgan said the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundations report is proof that investing in child care and early childhood education is as critical as investing in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and wastewater. When we improve how we take care of families, the outcome is an economic gain for everybody, she said. Warren agrees, saying the issue is about democracy. "We come together to make laws that are good for all of us, that help promote an economy that works for everyone, to help promote opportunities for everyone who wants a chance to work, Warren told the Times in a telephone interview on Friday. The same way roads, bridges, transit and power are all about making investments so this country and this economy can operate. Child care is just part of that. Scarce child care, labor shortage connected Weber thinks federal resources are necessary to deliver what families and the local economy need. But he said businesses are increasingly recognizing the connection between child care and labor force challenges, such as finding and retaining talent. Nothing brought that realization home as dramatically as the COVID pandemic. Child care workers left the industry in droves. Low pay and substandard benefits have long been barriers to filling those positions. Without workers, there isnt room for children. Without child care, some people cant work. Without workers, businesses suffer. The state loses about $188 million a year in lower tax revenues due to lower earnings and lost wages, according to the taxpayer foundation. The combined loss to families, business and the state due to the lack of child care is $2.7 billion a year. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, shown in this Aug. 23, 2022 visit to Cape Cod, recently announced a plan to limit the cost of child care saying it would open opportunities to workers and businesses. Public policies and strategies that incentivize employers to invest in this area make fiscal sense, Weber said. But incentives must be specific to individual businesses and their needs. For example, onsite child care, referral services, remote work possibilities, and even company contributions to child care expenses might be possible. Warren claims federal support is necessary to ensure companies pay, that no one shirks their responsibilities and that resources are made available to every child. She likened it to taxpayer support for educating children from kindergarten through 12th grade. The economics of child care doesnt work without government support, she said. Raising pay for child care workers 'essential' The United States is 35th out of the 37 richest nations in terms of the investment we make in our babies, Warren said. That's a terrible mistake. No nation can build a future, strengthen its economy by shortchanging child care and early childhood education. Massachusetts could pass its own bills this legislative session. Sandra Faiman-Silva, a Cape Cod activist with Common Start Coalition, is hopeful that bills before the state House and Senate will be passed and provide money for child care that would be administered through the states Department of Early Education and Care. The legislation would provide a comprehensive approach to securing money, she said. Funding is essential, Faiman-Silva said. Parents cant afford it (child care). Facilities cant run high-quality facilities without money. They (facilities) cant find workers because of low pay. Raising the pay of early childhood education workers is essential, Horgan said. Many employees walked away from their $15-an-hour jobs during the pandemic, she said. Keeping children safe during the pandemic, coupled with low pay and poor benefits led to an exodus, which led to child care facility closures, which led to a child care crisis on Cape Cod. This isnt about a puppy mill, Horgan said. Its about creating a workforce who can make a living. Warren said her proposal would give mothers an opportunity to go into the workforce, put child care workers earnings in line with their training and responsibilities, and enhance children's early development. We know that babies are learning when they are still in the crib, and high-quality child care is also early childhood education, Warren said. Contact Denise Coffey at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT. Stay connected with Cape Cod news, sports, restaurants and breaking news. Download our free app. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Addressing $2.7 billion cost of inadequate child care in Massachusetts banana peel On Friday (Feb. 10), Fox News reported that 55-year-old Robert Ivarson was recently sentenced up to nine years in prison for racially harassing his neighbors. The official announcement was made by District Attorney Marian Ryan. The Lexington, Massachusetts man also pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to criminal harassment, a criminal civil rights violation and more than 100 weapons charges. In 2016, Ivarson was arrested for racist acts against his Black neighbors. The family, who had just moved into the area from Haiti, told officials banana peels were found on their property at least 30 to 40 times over the course of several months. Police officers even witnessed him tossing the fruit onto the residents land ahead of his arrest. He has since been ordered not to have any contact with the family and must undergo a mental health evaluation as well as any recommended treatment. Mr. Ivarson targeted his neighbors because of their race. His repeated throwing of banana peels into their driveway was terrorizing and caused them to feel unsafe in their own home, the district attorney revealed in a statement. In both January and October 2017, officials conducted legal raids of his home in which more than 70 guns, including handguns, assault rifles, an Uzi, large-capacity magazines and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition were found. Massachusetts authorities also discovered Confederate, KKK and Nazi paraphernalia during the search. Ryan added, This case reflects our unwavering commitment to actively prosecuting those who intend to intimidate and threaten members of our communities because of their race. When someone who commits civil rights violations, at the same time, illegally possesses high-capacity firearms, they pose a substantial threat to the safety of the community. As we continue our work to remove unlawfully possessed firearms from our streets we will aggressively use enforcement as a tool to hold those who violate the Commonwealths gun laws accountable. Trending Stories NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: Michael B. Jordan attends the Feature Presentation Podcast official launch on February 03, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images) Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Michael B. Jordan is not rushing back into dating following his breakup with Lori Harvey. In a feature interview with Rolling Stone published Monday, the Creed III actor/director, 35, said he wants to "try to be responsible" when it comes to any future romantic relationship. "Of course I think about it, but I definitely want to try to be responsible with that, knowing how I wanted to be as present as possible," he said. "It's gonna happen when it's supposed to happen." Jordan and Harvey, 26, split in June after more than a year of dating. A source told PEOPLE at the time that both Jordan and Harvey were left "completely heartbroken" after the breakup. During the Black Panther actor's appearance on CBS Mornings last week, Jordan clarified to Gayle King that he was "joking" when he said during his recent Saturday Night Live monologue that he is on the dating app Raya before speaking to how he handled the relationship ending. RELATED: Jonathan Majors Says He and 'Best Buddy' Michael B. Jordan Talk About 'Girl Troubles' BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: (L-R) Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey attend the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Frazer Harrison/Getty 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. "I think for me it's just that I was lucky enough to have a lot of work," Jordan said. "I'm a firm believer in that what's for you is what's for you, and coming out of that situation not to give it, you know, any energy and kind of move from that is you know, it was an experience for me to grow and learn." Jordan said during the interview that he's confident "so many great things" still lie ahead for him. "I'm in my light right now. This is my Jordan year, I mean that," he said. "This is my year. There's so much going on, so many blessings, so many great things." Story continues RELATED VIDEO: Michael B. Jordan, Lori Harvey Break Up After Over 1 Year: 'Both Completely Heartbroken,' Says Source Jordan echoed that sentiment while speaking with Rolling Stone, though he noted that the notion of "not reaching my full potential" is a "fear" of his. "I have not reached my full potential. That's another fear," Jordan told the magazine during a wide-ranging conversation about his career, life and the notion that "being forgotten" is a fear of his too. "To go on these solo journeys, to be so f---ing locked in, to shut out the world and focus on certain things in order to advance or get better or master your craft, you know, you gotta be a little obsessed and a little off," the actor added of his focus on work. Creed III is in theaters March 3. Hes one of the hottest stars in Hollywoodstarring in the Best Picture-nominated Top Gun: Maverick as the video clip for Taylor Swifts I Bet You Think About Me. He also appeared opposite his significant other in a commercial for Bud Light, so who is Miles Tellers wife, Keleigh Sperry, with whom he shares a relatively private life? The couple met in 2013 at an afterparty for the Grammys, hosted by The Black Keys, with whom they share a mutual friend. In an interview with Vogue in September 2019, they both gushed about their first meeting. Keleigh had caught my eye early in the night, and we talked. I didnt think it went well, but after a few more attempts, I got her to dance with me, and a week later, we went on a date. After we met, I knew she was the one, he said. She recalled: He was so charming and charismatic. I adored him from the first moment we met. Could they get any cuter? Heres everything we know about Miles Tellers wife, Keleigh Sperry. More from StyleCaster Who is Miles Tellers wife, Keleigh Sperry? Miles Tellers wife Keleigh Sperry is a model who dabbles in actingand if youre wondering how to pronounce her name, its said just like Kelly and shes one of six siblings. Teller and Sperry work together within his own production company, Lime Tree Productions. She also appeared in Taylor Swifts I Bet You Think About Me music video with her beau. Miles Teller, Keleigh Sperry. Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Click here to read the full article. As mentioned, they met at a Grammys after-party in 2013. They had been dating for four years before taking a big trip to South Africa on vacation and thats where he proposed. We stopped for our usual coffee break, and Miles and I were taking in the view when I spotted a rose on a tree. I was surprised to see a rose in the middle of winter in Africa, so I walked over and found a note attached to the rose that said the day we started dating and the day it was. I turned around, and he read it and said, that was the first day you became my girlfriend and today is the last, and he got down on one knee. It was so thoughtful and romantic, Sperry told Vogue. Surprising Keleigh is really hard, and I knew she would think Id travel to Africa with the ring, Miles admitted. We started our trip in the Seychelles. I think she thought I would do it by a beach, so I waited to do it on safari and take her by surprise. Story continues They quickly decided on Maui for the location for their wedding as Sperrys family spends every summer there. Miles started joining us on vacations, and we fell in love with it together, she said. We both felt happiest there and wanted it to be a big part of our lives forever. On February 12, 2023, Teller and Sperry appeared in a commercial for Bud Light as part of the beer brands Super Bowl LVII campaign. It was a small snapshot into their home life as well as natural chemistry. They said it was really important for them to show a real relationship, and Keleigh and I are very happily married, Teller told The Hollywood Reporter. Keleigh and I are pretty private people, but this is kind of a bucket-list thing. It was a no-brainer. Their French Bulldog, Bugsy, also made an appearance and Teller added to AP of the brief: They said, Look, we really just want this to feel like a slice-of-life moment. We both felt like this would be something that wed be proud to show our kids. Hold music historically doesnt get a great rap. If youre Teller and Sperry though, Opus No. 1 by Tim Carlton and Dereck Deel, which was hold music for Cisco in the 90s, is a dance-worthy tune. The ad depicts Sperry, who is on hold while lying on the sofa, her iPhone on speaker on her forehead. He starts dancing to the music and she soon joins in while they both sip Bud Lights. Whats more, we get a cameo from their super cute French Bulldog, Bugsy. Teller is obviously a great dancer, having scored the role in the 2011 remake of Footloose. It was pretty collaborative and we came up with the dances together so that was really fun. I get to dance around him and cheerlead him on, Keleigh said, adding that Im not in my comfort zone being on screen. But watching him is like experiencing a master class. Hes able to shut off when he hears action and suddenly get completely in character. Hes already thought out every step hes going to take in the next 30 seconds. Its crazy. In a 2015 interview with People while promoting his film Insurgent in Los Angeles, Teller praised Sperrys support of his career. Before her, I would never invite a girl into that world [Hollywood] because I didnt think I could have both, he said. Shes allowed me to be able to really focus on acting and do what I want to do. She can come to set and visit me and hang out and doesnt really distract me from it. He also said his life has gotten drastically more relaxed since their wedding. In a 2020 interview with Mens Health, Teller spoke of how positive an influence she is on his mental health and how time in isolation together during the COVID-19 pandemic made their relationship stronger. We just hang out. She keeps me calm. Its pretty great, he said of their time in social distancing at home. Im with her now from when I wake up to the moment I go to bed. We have a lot of friends whose relationships got put under a magnifying glass during these times, but we are really great. Once you get married and you make that ultimate commitment, life is just a lot less stressful. You just know that person is always going to be there. Top Gun: Maverick is available to stream on Paramount Plus. Heres how to watch it for free. StyleCaster Shopping Newsletter Sign Up Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think youll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission from the sale. Best of StyleCaster MU Ukrainian students Vlad Sazhen and Alina Rohulia are seen on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Gateway Residence Hall. University of Missouri Ukrainian students Alina Rohulia and Vlad Sazhen on Wednesday puzzled over some of Russia's actions in Ukraine. They spoke in Gateway Residence Hall. "Yesterday, Russia launched six rockets on Kharkiv Central Park," Rohulia said. "It was such a strange attack." It occurred in the middle of the night, with no one around and no structures to damage, they said. They're from Kharkiv and their parents and Vlad's sister live there. Their family heard the explosions, though they live a good distance from the park. Another unusual attack was on Kharkiv Architectural University, Sazhen said. No one was injured and there's no strategic point of attacking the building. They speculated that Russia may be ridding itself of extra rockets and shells, then decided it was pointless to speculate about Russian motives. "Their stupidest decision was to invade Ukraine," Sazhen said. Sazhen had attended a talk on campus Wednesday by Ukrainian international agriculture expert Svitlana Synkovsk, who spoke about food shortages being causes by Russia's invasion of a major European agriculture producer. Ukraine is a major supplier of sunflower oil and wheat, Sazhen said. Synkovsk told the full room that Ukrainian crop losses in 2022 totaled $8.5 billion and export losses totaled $18,5 billion, Sazhen said. "Some countries in Africa hugely depend on Ukrainian grain," Sazhen said. War hasn't prevented Ukraine from helping, he said. "Even during war, Ukraine donates grain to Africa," Sazhen said. "That made me smile and made me proud of my government and country." Russia has looted or stolen farm machinery, he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made trips to London and Brussels, seeking commitments to provide fighter jets. The European Parliament president gave the plan her backing. "We are pretty sure we will receive our aircraft pretty soon," Rohulia said. "With a lot of tanks coming, I think we will definitely get fighter jets." Story continues Sazhen said he's also confident. "One country that supplies fighter jets will destroy the whole veto by the other countries," Sazhen said. Ammunition shortage. There were news reports that Ukraine is running out of ammunition. It's true of both sides, but Ukraine is in the better position, Sazhen said. "Ukraine itself can't produce enough ammunition to keep its soldiers supplied,' Sazhen said. "Ukrainians are being supplied ammunition by Western countries." While Russia also is running low on ammunition, with no one to provide them because of Western sanctions, which Sazhen said are working. Russia now is draining a large Ukrainian reservoir, according to news reports. Sazhen labeled it "another terrorist act by the terrorist state." "Russians deliberately put thousands of civil lives and irrigation for crops under huge risks and will probably try to use the situation to blackmail Ukrainian government to have a ceasefire, which will give them time to regroup and strike again," Sazhen wrote Friday in a text message. Rohulia's father is in the army, but she said she hadn't received any recent information from him. "They don't usually talk about war with me," Rohulia said. They don't want to upset her, she said. They have a lot of exams in their classes, they said. "I'm taking 18 credits, so it's kind of overwhelming," Rohulia said. "But there's nothing that Ukrainians can't do." Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Russia attacks Kharkiv park at night, confusing MU Ukrainian students lost cat reunion facebook Last November, Jamie McCall was on a cross-country drive as she prepared to move from Florida to Michigan. She stopped at a hotel for the night in Cleveland, Tenn., and while she was getting herself a bite to eat, her beloved cat Tucker escaped from her room. "My cat's an escape artist," explains McCall. "He sits hunched at the door and waits for someone to open it, then he runs out." It somehow happened during McCall's quick errand, and she was devastated to return and find Tucker missing. "I could not find him. I looked everywhere, for hours." When Tucker still hadn't turned up, McCall had no choice but to continue on her journey to Michigan, though it broke her heart to drive on without Tucker. A friend told her to post Tucker to the Cleveland, Tenn., lost pets page on Facebook, which she did. Two days later, Holly Lillard was at work at a CBD dispensary near McCall's hotel. She went outside to sweep and saw a cat jump out from underneath someone's car. She called the cat over, and he came, which made Lillard sure that he belonged to someone who was missing him. She asked around and when no one claimed him, she posted a photo of Tucker to her area's "Lost and Found Pets" Facebook group. (She was a regular there, not just because she's an animal lover whose own dogs are also escape artists, but because her aunt and cousin are the page administrators.) lost cat reunion facebook "Before the day was even over, I'd found Jamie and her post," Lillard tells PEOPLE. "She sent pictures and I knew immediately it was Tucker," says McCall. RELATED: Even More Everyday Acts of Kindness There was just one problem: by the time they connected, McCall was already in Michigan. "I was trying to make arrangements to get him back to me, but I just couldn't afford it," says McCall. "I was not financially able to have him shipped back to me or anything like that." Lillard, however, had an unexpected solution. Her grandparents, who lived near her in Tenn., happened to have a home in Michigan, too, and they'd be coming up in December. Tucker could catch a ride with them and Lillard's grandfather would drop him off at McCall's new place. "What are the odds!?" McCall asks, laughing. Story continues She of course accepted, and during the month-long wait for their reunion, McCall says Lillard would call her with updates, like how Tucker liked to cuddle with Lillard's 10-year-old dog. "I would actually talk on the phone to my cat!" McCall says. "Holly and I more or less became family during that time, because she was taking such good care of him. Even though he was away from me, I felt so comfortable that he was with her." McCall sent Lillard money to help take care of Tucker, but Lillard returned that to her, too. When Lillard's grandfather (a former record label exec who now drives tour buses for bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd) completed the 600-plus-mile journey, with Tucker in hand, McCall says her joy was indescribable. "He was returned to me right before Christmas, and I was having a really hard time then," she says. "It was a wonderful thing." Not only did McCall get Tucker back, Lillard had sent along a handmade Christmas sleigh for McCall, with some money tucked inside. "It was enough that they brought my cat back to me, at no charge, all the way across the United States, but to offer me a Christmas gift tooI was so overwhelmed," says McCall. "When he handed that gift to me, I didn't want to put it down, but I was also trying to hold Tucker!" She couldn't let him get away again, after all! Tucker's cross-country adventures were the start to a lasting friendship between McCall and Lillard. "I fell in love with her from the get-go," says McCall, who says Lillard reminds her of her own children. RELATED: Celebrities on the Kindest Thing Anyone's Ever Done for Them "Jamie is amazing. I still talk to her about once a week," says Lillard. "She's so funny. I'm so glad she found us." And every time McCall pets her beloved cat she thinks of how lucky she is that, of all people, Lillard found him. "She really set this whole thing in motion," says McCall. cat found Courtesy Jamie McCall Lillard was happy to be someone's kindness hero. "I've spent my whole life trying to help people," she says. "I mean, I would want someone to do it for me! It felt so great helping her. It was really good for my soul." The post Post Malone Turned Away from Posh Bar Because of Tattoos appeared first on Consequence. Post Malone was turned away Down Under for his ink up top, telling The Western Australian that he was denied entry to a posh bar because of his face tattoos. Posty and entourage had tried to enjoy the swanky rooftop bar at QT Hotel in Perth, Western Australia. They turned me away for my tattoos, he said (via Daily Mail). Ive never really experienced anything like that. The QT Hotel has a strict dress code that prohibits face, neck, and offensive tattoos. Post Malone has oodles of ink on his face and neck, including the words Always Tired under his eyes and Stay Away above them, plus a sword, a hammer, his daughters initials DDP, a pair of Aces, a crown of barbed wire, and more. Posty reportedly consoled himself by traveling to a nearby bar, 18 Knots, where he bought drinks for fellow patrons and mingled with fans. Post Malones most recent album, Twelve Carat Toothache, dropped last summer. He had been in Australia and New Zealand touring with Red Hot Chili Peppers, and up next hell be performing at Bottle Rock Napa Valley 2023. Tickets to that festival are available here. Post Malone Turned Away from Posh Bar Because of Tattoos Wren Graves Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. Sunday's unidentified flying object incident was not an isolated one in Michigan. Multiple UFO sightings throughout the state have garnered headlines, remaining unsolved to this day: Lake Huron 2023 U.S. Air Force and National Guard pilots shot down an unidentified object flying 20,000 feet over Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Sunday. This marked the third UFO shot down by the United States this week. On Friday, an unidentified object was shot down in Alaska, then again in Canada on Saturday, and now in Michigan. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the object was not a military threat, but it was "a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities. Our team will now work to recover the object in an effort to learn more. Limited information has been given to the public about these objects. In a statement, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell said, the increasing incidents of unidentified objects, the latest over Lake Huron in Michigan airspace, are disturbing. We need the facts about where they are originating from, what their purpose is, and why their frequency is increasing." More: U.S. downs unidentified object over Lake Huron after flight restrictions Lake Michigan 1994 Unfamiliar lights filled up the skies nearly 200 miles along Lake Michigan's shoreline from Ludington south to the Indiana border, on March 8, 1994. This incident is known as one of the largest UFO sightings in Michigan history. UFO reports were made by hundreds, not only to 911 dispatchers but also to the Mutual UFO Network's (MUFON) Michigan chapter. Sightings were reported by citizens, police officers, a meteorologist and others. Cindy Pravda of Grand Haven told the Free Press in 2019 that four lights in the sky looked like "full moons" over the line of trees behind her horse pasture. She still believes the lights were UFOs. A conversation between a National Weather Service meteorologist and a Holland police officer was reported by the Detroit Free Press in 1995. Story continues There were three and sometimes four blips, and they werent planes, the NWS radar operator said. Planes show as pinpoints on the scope, these were the size of half a thumbnail. They were from 5 to 12,000 feet at times, moving all over the place. Three were moving toward Chicago. I never saw anything like it before, not even when Im doing severe weather. Wurtsmith Air Force Base 1975 In October 1975, a bright white disc was spotted hovering over Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A plane was sent to pursue it, but the UFO reportedly shot into space before they could reach it. There were nuclear weapons at that base, Bill Konkolesky, Michigan director of the Mutual UFO Network, told the Free Press in 2021. It was seen on the ground by the soldiers on the ground. It was seen from the air traffic tower, it was caught on radar, so multiple ways that this was being observed. And then the other thing, too, is that within a two-week period, at least four other bases altogether in the United States that have nuclear weapons were visited by a very similar UFO. More: 'Unsolved Mysteries' investigates 1994 alleged UFO sighting that still haunts witnesses Swamp gas 1966 Speculation began on March 14, 1966, when Washtenaw County officers and Selfridge Air Force Base observers said they saw lights in the sky, moving at high speeds. Then on March 20, 1966, the sheriff's office received reports of a UFO landing in a swamp in Dexter Township. It was sort of shaped like a pyramid, with a blue-green light on the right-hand side and on the left, a white light. I didnt see no antenna or porthole. The body was like a yellowish coral rock and looked like it had holes in it sort of like if you took a piece of cardboard box and split it open, Truck driver Frank Mannor told WDIV-TV (Channel 4) at the time. Mannor went into the swamp and "got about 500 yards of the thing" with his son Ronald. Hundreds of sightings continued throughout the county all week. Dr. J. Allen Hynek,was a United States astronomer, professor, and ufologist. Dr. J. Allen Hynek from Project Blue Book, a part of the Air Force that investigated UFOs, said the incident was just swamp gas. This drew criticism and accusations of a government cover-up. Kinross 1953 An Air Force jet disappeared over Lake Superior on Nov. 23, 1953. A blip appeared on the radar in a restricted air space near Soo Locks, an important commercial gateway, and the U.S. Air Force at the Kinross base sent two experienced pilots in an F-89 Scorpion jet to investigate. The jet chased the object for about 30 minutes and then the two radars, the jet, and the unidentified object, seemingly intersected over Lake Superior. They lost radio contact and the Air Force pilots were never heard from again. Reporter Emma Stein contributed to this report. Contact Nour Rahal: nrahal@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Prominent UFO sightings in Michigan's history Today in Crypto: Wirex Signes Long-term Global Partnership with Visa, Bank of Brazil Says Citizens Can Pay Taxes with Crypto, MetaMask Warns Users About Phishing Attempts Source: Adobe/prima91 Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news investigating the stories flying under the radar of todays crypto news. __________ Payments news Crypto payments platform Wirex signed a long-term strategic global partnership with payments company network Visa , which includes becoming a member of Visa in APAC and the UK that will allow Wirex to directly issue crypto-enabled debit and prepaid cards themselves to over 40 countries. According to the press release, the agreement will support further collaboration in major markets, including APAC, UK, Europe, and the USA. Membership of Visa enables Wirex to offer new innovative products to utilise crypto in the everyday, improve user-experience and pilot new blockchain initiatives, it added. signed a long-term strategic global partnership with payments company network , which includes becoming a member of Visa in APAC and the UK that will allow Wirex to directly issue crypto-enabled debit and prepaid cards themselves to over 40 countries. According to the press release, the agreement will support further collaboration in major markets, including APAC, UK, Europe, and the USA. Membership of Visa enables Wirex to offer new innovative products to utilise crypto in the everyday, improve user-experience and pilot new blockchain initiatives, it added. Digital asset platform Bakkt announced that it would be ending its consumer-facing app and would focus on scalable business-to-business-to-consumer solutions. "Bakkt will continue its core focus of providing businesses with crypto and loyalty experiences for their customers through SaaS and API solutions on a secure and compliant platform," said the press release. Tax news Bank of Brazil (Banco do Brasil) announced that citizens could pay their taxes with crypto. According to the press release by the major bank, this is enabled through a partnership with a blockchain solutions company Bitfy. With the arrangement, [Bitfy] will start to act as the Bank's collection partner. The service allows partners (financial institutions, fintechs, among others) to offer the payment solution for tax bills, fees and obligations to their customers, using the agreements signed by [Bank of Brazil] with entities and concessionaires of public services, the banks said. Security news Major crypto wallet provider MetaMask warned about phishing attempts by scammers who are trying to contact users through web hosting company Namecheaps third-party upstream system for emails. MetaMask said that it does not collect KYC info and will never email you about your account! Do not enter your Secret Recovery Phrase on a website EVER. If you got an email today from MetaMask or Namecheap or anyone else like this, ignore it & do not click its links! Namechap detected the issue and informed its users. CBDC news The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) plans to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for cross-border and domestic use as part of its newly-launched financial infrastructure transformation (FIT) program. According to the announcement, the program will implement nine key initiatives: the first stage includes a series of digital payment infrastructures and services such as the launch of a Card Domestic Scheme, an Instant Payments Platform, and the issuance of the CBDC. These digital payment initiatives will drive financial inclusion, promote payment innovation, security and efficiency, and achieve a cashless society, it said. Regulation news The Group of 20 (G20) big economies is exploring whether the group could collectively regulate cryptocurrencies, Reuters reported, citing Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "We are talking to all nations, that if it requires regulation, then one country alone cannot do anything. [] We [are discussing] if we can make some standard operating procedure which is followed by everyone to make a regulatory framework, and if it can be effective." Sitharaman said. Charity news Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin made a donation of ETH 99 to help those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. According to transaction data from Etherscan , Buterin sent the funds from his wallet address vitalik.eth to a recipient wallet labeled Ahbap Yardm/Earthquake Support. , Buterin sent the funds from his wallet address vitalik.eth to a recipient wallet labeled Ahbap Yardm/Earthquake Support. Payment gateway Alchemy Pay has made a donation of 1 bitcoin (BTC) to help the Turkey earthquake relief efforts. Per the press release, it is prepared to extend support to its Turkish customers and partner companies in any way possible, it said and added: Should you require additional assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Web3 news Democrats and Republicans spent Sunday questioning the Biden administration over the takedowns of two unidentified aerial objects in recent days, with some criticizing the White House over a lack of transparency about what the objects were and where they came from. The takedowns came on the heels of President Bidens order just over a week ago that directed the U.S. military to shoot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that had spent days drifting across the continental U.S. That led to revelations by Pentagon officials that similar aircraft had been seen in American airspace at least three times during the previous administration and once earlier in the Biden administration. It prompted a host of questions about why the information wasnt shared with the public earlier, which was not helped by the two new shootdowns of objects flying over American and Canadian airspace on Friday and Saturday, about which even some Democrats said they wanted to see the administration be more candid. Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.) the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he has real concerns about the Biden administration not being more forthcoming about the recent incidents. I have real concerns about why the administration is being not more forthcoming with everything that it knows, Himes said on NBCs Meet the Press. But part of the problem here is that both of the second and the third objects were shot down in very remote areas. So, my guess is that theres just not a lot of information out there yet to share. While Himes, who said he has not been briefed on the incidents that took place Friday and Saturday, said the administration took proper steps in taking down of the first balloon off the South Carolina coast, he acknowledged that the public was not made aware of it until it reached Montana via Alaska. You know, in an absence of information, people will fill that gap with anxiety and other stuff. So, I wish the administration was a little quicker to tell us everything that they do know, Himes said. Story continues A possible third aerial object was taken down on Sunday over Lake Huron, according to Michigan lawmakers who said they were in contact with the Defense Department. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) said the military had decommissioned an object over the Great Lakes region. I appreciate the decisive action by our fighter pilots, Bergman tweeted before adding, The American people deserve far more answers than we have. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who along with Himes is part of the so-called Gang of Eight lawmakers in both chambers who receive high-level classified briefings, said he spoke to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan Saturday evening about the incidents of the past two days. He relayed on ABCs This Week that the administration believes what was taken down Friday and Saturday were also balloons, but much smaller than the one that traversed the country. Schumer joined a chorus of lawmakers in saying that the parts recovered from the balloon brought down over water will likely help the U.S. learn more about China and its surveillance and tech. Were gonna probably be able to piece together this whole surveillance balloon and know exactly whats going on. So thats a huge coup for the United States, Schumer said. I think the Chinese were humiliated. I think the Chinese were caught lying. I think its a real step back for them, the majority leader said. Schumer offered more details on the last two takedown incidents than White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who told MSNBCs The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart that the move to take down an object over Canadas Yukon territory was out of an abundance of caution. Were always gonna track, were always going to detect and were always going to defend our airspace, Jean-Pierre said. Republicans expressed frustration that the Biden administration let the Chinese surveillance balloon float for days along a path that defense officials determined went over sensitive military sites. But House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) appeared to offer some praise for the administrations quick actions against the two sightings that followed. They do appear somewhat trigger happy, although this is certainly preferable to the permissive environment that they showed when the Chinese spy balloon was coming over some of our most sensitive sites, Turner said on CNNs State of the Union. But Turner also called the Biden administration particularly annoying for not briefing Congress about the new objects and any updates on whats been learned from the balloon. The Biden administration needs to stop briefing Congress through our television sets and actually come and sit down and brief us, Turner said. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, meanwhile, said the Chinese surveillance balloon did a lot of damage by flying over the sensitive U.S. sites. They say theyve mitigated it but going over those sites, in my judgment, would cause great damage. Remember, a balloon could see a lot more on the ground than a satellite, McCaul said on CBSs Face the Nation. Democratic Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.) appeared to contradict the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) when he said on Face the Nation that its possible an object may still be flying over Montanas airspace after NORAD detected a radar anomaly Saturday and sent a fighter aircraft to investigate while it issued a temporary flight restriction above central Montana. Tester, whose team has been in close touch with the Department of Defense, suggested an object could still be at large, if not a false alarm. There was an anomaly and theyve investigated I think it got dark last night so they couldnt fully check it out. There may still be something up there, it may be a false alarm, Tester said. When asked about Testers comments, NORAD referred The Hill to its statement from Saturday evening in which it said it did not identify any objects that correlated to what appeared on the radar. NORAD provided no updates on the matter on Sunday. The Montana senator, who was critical of the Biden administration for not shooting down the first suspected Chinese surveillance balloon when it crossed over Montana earlier this month, also said the country needs to have a game plan for any future incidents like the ones over Alaska and Canadas Yukon territory in recent days. Going on in the future, I think there needs to be a plan thats right up front. So we know exactly whats going to happen when these balloons come in and their threat is assessed, whats going to happen. But I got briefed, both in open session and a classified session and quite honestly, the military and intelligence communitys explanation of what transpired with that balloon, I accept, Tester said. Stephen Neukam contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Trump Investigations (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Manhattan prosecutors investigating Donald Trump have convened a new grand jury to hear evidence in a years-old probe into payments made to keep the porn star Stormy Daniels quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with the former president, according to multiple news reports. The news outlets, citing unnamed sources, reported that witnesses started testifying before the grand jury on Monday, signaling an escalation in what Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has alluded to as the next chapter in his offices Trump investigation. A spokesperson for Braggs office declined comment. In a post to his Truth Social platform, Trump blasted Bragg as the Radical Left Manhattan D.A. and said the new grand jury was a continuation of the Greatest Witch Hunt of all time. Grand juries have been convened before in New York to explore the possibility of criminal charges against Trump, but to date none have issued an indictment. The Manhattan grand jury would be the latest legal threat to Trump as he ramps up his presidential campaign. A special grand jury in Atlanta has investigated whether Trump and his allies committed any crimes while trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia. Last month, the House Jan. 6 committee voted to make a criminal referral to the Justice Department for Trumps role in sparking the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The FBI is also investigating Trumps storage of classified documents. The hush-money investigation in New York involves payments of $130,000 to Daniels and $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to buy their silence in the run-up to Trumps 2016 election victory. Trump has denied having affairs with either woman. Trumps former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, made the payment to Daniels through his own company and said he then was reimbursed by Trump. McDougals payment was made through the publisher of the supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer, which then squelched her story in a journalistically dubious practice known as catch-and-kill to help Trump become president. Story continues The New York Times reported that the National Enquirer's former publisher, David Pecker, was spotted entering the building where the grand jury was meeting on Monday. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges that he violated campaign finance law by arranging the payouts. He served about a year in prison before being released to home confinement because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal prosecutors said Trump was aware of the payouts, but they declined to charge him with any crime. Cohen previously told The Associated Press he recently met with Manhattan prosecutors for 2 hours. The Trump Organization was convicted last month of tax fraud and fined $1.6 million as punishment for an unrelated scheme in which top executives dodged personal income taxes on lavish job perks. Now with the trial having ended, we are now moving on to the next chapter, Bragg told The Associated Press in an interview after the tax fraud trial. The Trump Organization in a statement suggested that Bragg, a Democrat, was trying to undermine Trumps fledgling 2024 presidential campaign. Reviving the investigation years after federal prosecutors had decided not to bring a case is simply reprehensible and vindictive," the company said. Braggs predecessor as district attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr., also examined the hush money payments before shifting the probes focus to the Trump Organizations tax and business practices. Three More Flying Objects Have Been Shot Down by Military Since the Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon The United States military shot down additional unidentified flying objects over North America this weekend, bringing the tally to four aerial objects downed over the U.S. and Canada this month including the suspected Chinese spy balloon. On Sunday afternoon, an F-16 aircraft successfully shot down an unidentified airborne object flying at approximately 20,000 feet in the airspace over Lake Huron in Michigan, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced in a news release. Detailing that the "path and altitude" of the object "raised concerns, including that it could be a hazard to civil aviation," the DOD said they were given the go-ahead to remove it from the air through direction from President Joe Biden and based on the recommendations from both Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and military leadership. "The location chosen for this shoot down afforded us the opportunity to avoid impact to people on the ground while improving chances for debris recovery," the DOD said in its news release. "There are no indications of any civilians hurt or otherwise affected." Turnip Rock on Lake Huron in Port Austin Michigan. An underwater view shows rocks under the clear surface of the water Getty Images/iStockphoto Lake Huron, where the fourth unidentified aerial object spotted over North America in February was downed The organization added that it "did not assess [the unidentified object] to be a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground," but that it was rather "a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities." RELATED: U.S. Military Shoots Down Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Off Carolina Coast This picture taken 26 December 2011 shows the Pentagon building in Washington, DC. The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), is the world's largest office building by floor area, with about 6,500,000 sq ft (600,000 m2), of which 3,700,000 sq ft (340,000 m2) are used as offices. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel work in the Pentagon. AFP PHOTO (Photo by STAFF / AFP) (Photo by STAFF/AFP via Getty Images) STAFF/AFP via Getty In a statement shared on Twitter Sunday, Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin said the object was removed from its location over Lake Huron by pilots from the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard. "Great work by all who carried out this mission both in the air and back at headquarters. We're all interested in exactly what this object was and it's [sic] purpose," she wrote. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer added in her own social media statement she's been in contact with the federal government after the object's takedown. Story continues "Our national security and safety is always a top priority. I've been in contact with the federal government and our partners who were tracking an object near our airspace. I'm glad to report it has been swiftly, safely, and securely taken down," she tweeted. "The @MINationalGuard stands ready." RELATED VIDEO: Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon 'the Size of 3 Buses' Is Spotted Flying Over United States Sunday's event marked the third time an unidentified object was shot down over North American airspace in three days and the fourth overall this month. Previously on Saturday, an unidentified object was shot down over Canada, and on Friday, another was shot down in Alaska airspace, CBS News reported. Prior to those occurrences, a Chinese balloon, which was described by officials as a spy aircraft, was shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. A defense official said at a media briefing Sunday, per NBC News, that there was "no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns." 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. Gen. Glen VanHerck, the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), would not rule the option out when he was asked about the objects being connected to extraterrestrials. "I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out," he said, per the outlet. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Parliament in London on Wednesday, as the United Kingdom announced plans to increase its deliveries of "lethal aid." "I have come here to stand before you on behalf of the brave," Zelenskyy said after receiving a standing ovation from members of both Houses of Parliament. He thanked Britain for training troops "who will be then deployed to the front line -- front line -- skilled, eager and equipped to win." PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, inside Downing Street in London, Feb. 8, 2023. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP) The visit was Zelenkyy's second known international trip since the Russian invasion began almost a year ago. The trip underscored the United Kingdom's "unbreakable friendship" with Ukraine, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a statement. MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates Downing Street announced the surprise visit on Wednesday morning, saying it comes as the United Kingdom expands it training for Ukrainian armed forces. Zelenskyy also met with King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, after saying he wanted to thank him for his support. "The King was an Air Force pilot, and In Ukraine every Air Force pilot is a king," Zelenskyy told Parliament members. PHOTO: King Charles III holds an audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, at Buckingham Palace in London, Feb. 8, 2023. (Aaron Chown/Pool via AP) Zelenskyy and Sunak were expected to discuss what the United Kingdom's described as its "two-pronged" approach to aiding Ukraine, which included a "surge" in the supply of military equipment and long-term support with training for troops. "As part of today's talks, the Prime Minister will offer to bolster the UK's training offer for Ukrainian troops, including expanding it to fighter jet pilots to ensure Ukraine can defend its skies well into the future" U.K. officials said in a statement. PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses parliamentarians in Westminster Hall, London, during his first visit to the UK since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Feb. 8, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP) About 10,000 Ukrainian troops have been trained in the United Kingdom in the last six months, officials said. More than 20,000 additional troops are expected to be trained this year. British officials said they expected the program to continue scaling throughout the year. Zelenskyy on Wednesday planned to meet with U.K. defense officials to discuss the training. Story continues PHOTO: Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, left, holds the helmet of one of the most successful Ukrainian pilots which was presented to him by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 8, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP) "I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future," Sunak said in a statement ahead of the visit. British officials said they planned on Wednesday to also announce further sanctions in response to Russia's invasion. The sanctions will target people who've helped Russian President Vladimir Putin build personal wealth, along with "companies who are profiting from the Kremlin's war machine," officials said. Zelesnkyy also laid out a proposal under which any country that acts as an aggressor or terrorist state will eventually be held financially responsible for its crimes. PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, inside Downing Street in London, Feb. 8, 2023. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP) He called an eventual victory for Ukraine and its allies the "most important victory of our lifetime," which would amount to a warning for Russia and any other countries considering attacking a sovereign neighbor. "Any aggressor is going to lose," he said. ABC News' Joe Simonetti, Guy Davies and Zoe Magee contributed to this report. Zelenskyy addresses Parliament in London as UK prepares to increase 'lethal aid,' military training originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Richard Corcoran in 2018. Mired in controversy since Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed six new board members last month to implement a conservative overhaul, New College found another point of contention Monday in the compensation package approved for the school's interim president. The board hired former Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to serve as interim president at an annual salary of $699,000, more than double the previous president's compensation and an amount that drew concerns from trustees and the public. Some trustees worried that the small school, which has a long list of critically-needed improvements to campus facilities that many blame for its enrollment problems, can't afford Corcoran's salary. Members of the public also accused Corcoran of leveraging his political connections, as a close ally of DeSantis, for financial benefit. Corcoran will takeover as interim president on Feb. 27 and hold the job until Sept. 1, 2024 or a permanent president is picked, whichever comes first. That means he will earn more than $1 million if he stays in the job until the end of his contract. In addition to his salary, Corcoran gets $104,850 annually in retirement compensation, $84,000 annually for housing and $12,000 annually for his car allowance. Corcoran also could receive a bonus of up to 15% of his annual salary for achieving goals he establishes for the school. With his retirement money and a maximum bonus, Corcoran would earn $908,850 annually. New College has about 700 students, so Corcoran is earning about $1,000 per student in base salary. He makes nearly as much as Florida State University President Richard McCullough's $700,000 base salary when he was hired in 2021. McCullough's school has more than 45,000 students. College Hall, on the Bayshore Campus of New College, is the former Charles and Edith Ringling Mansion. The University of Central Florida's president earns $600,000 in base pay at a school with 68,000 students, although he can earn an annual bonus of up to $300,000 and receives $120,000 annually in deferred compensation, or $1,020,000 combined. Story continues New College's revamped board fired former President Patricia Okker on Jan. 31 as part of a major shakeup at the school. Okker earned $305,000 a year. She also had a $40,000 annual housing allowance and $8,000 annual car allowance. DeSantis has targeted New College to implement a conservative vision for reshaping higher education, and Corcoran will take the lead. Corcoran is an attorney and the former Republican speaker of the Florida House who later served as the governor's top education official. He is considered a close ally of DeSantis. Diversity, equity and inclusion:New College wants to become more diverse, but DeSantis' board appointees stand in the way 25 days that shook New College:How Ron DeSantis swiftly transformed the Sarasota school Who is Richard Corcoran?The new interim president of New College Corcoran will make roughly $400,000 more annually than Okker, noted student Trustee Grace Keenan. That raises concerns about setting salary expectations too high at the small school, she said. Were raising the bar pretty high, Keenan said. Board Chair Debra Jenks said she reviewed other contracts for university leaders and I am comfortable 1,000 percent with whats proposed in this contract. The New College Board of Trustees voted to make Debra Jenks, left, the new board chair, and voted for Ron Christaldi, right, to continue as vice chair recently. Both Jenks and Christaldi are New College alumni. (Photo: Mike Lang, Sarasota Herald-Tribune) Jenks, a DeSantis appointee who took over as chair at the Jan. 31 meeting, said Corcoran is the leader the college needs at this moment. Jenks said Corcoran will be leading the conversation "on what higher education is now and what it should be at New College, and will be leading the conversation in the national spotlight, and that is going to require someone who is battle tested and ready on day one." DeSantis' effort to remake New College has drawn significant national attention as an experiment in conservative education reform. Matthew Spalding, a new board member appointed by DeSantis, also praised Corcoran. I think he will be a dynamic head to launch us in this great new opportunity to rebuild the school," Spalding said. New College board member Matthew Spalding suggested Richard Corcoran as interim president for the school. Corcoran's contract was approved Monday. Corcoran's salary drew intense criticism from the public. Eliana Salzhauer called it a "boondoggle." What you are doing here is throwing taxpayer money to your friends," Salzhauer said. Spalding suggested Corcoran as interim president during the Jan. 31 meeting, describing him as a longtime friend. Before the Jan. 31 meeting had even begun, a conservative news outlet aligned with DeSantis reported that Corcoran was poised to take Okker's place, which the governor's office confirmed, suggesting it had been orchestrated behind the scenes. Keenan said Monday that Spalding's friendship with Corcoran could raise ethical concerns. Spalding pushed back against the implication that friendship is somehow unethical." He said Corcoran's resume "speaks for itself" and compared him to the leader of a football team. Quarterbacks are important," he said. "I think we need to hire a great quarterback to get us forward, to get us to our Super Bowl." Corcoran did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Keenan wondered whether New College can afford Corcoran's contract. The school has struggled financially and college leaders have long complained about badly outdated facilities, from dormitories with mold to a 1960s era classroom building without bathrooms. A portion of Corcoran's contract will be paid through the college's foundation. We did confer with the finance director of the foundation and confirmed that in the foundations account we do have the nondiscretionary dollars available," Jenks said. A state legislative committee is set to meet this week and award $15 million in additional funding to New College for the current fiscal year. Keenan was the only trustee to vote against Corcoran's contract, although Trustee Sarah Mackie also raised concerns about the size of his salary and Trustee Matthew Lepinski noted that his housing allowance also is high. "Do we think we'll have the funds to sustain this if we have to continue with this high of a compensation package?" Mackie wondered, adding that the college's financial problems are "whats kind of gotten us into this situation... so I think we need to really make sure we've got this for the future, too." New College board member Matthew Lepinski noted that Interim President Richard Corcoran's $84,000 housing allowance is at the high end for Florida university presidents. Lepinski noted that about half the institutions in Florida's university system provide a housing allowance and half provide a residence for their president. Of those that provide a housing allowance, he said the range is between $24,000 and $84,000. "So this is the upper end of housing allowance," said Lepinski, the faculty representative on the board. Jenks responded that this job of this interim president is going to be a very hot one, and very intense, so we do need him to be available and active in the Sarasota area." Multiple speakers blasted Corcoran during the public comment portion of the meeting. Anna Eskamani, a Democratic state House member, said Corcoran is "the indoctrinator-in-chief" and accused him of being a grifter. This is a hilarious open grift," she said, adding: Stop using the public dime to fund your grift. Corcoran's contract Base salary: $699,000 Housing allowance: $84,000 Car allowance: $12,000 Performance bonus: %15 of salary This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Richard Corcoran will lead DeSantis overhaul of New College of Florida Migrants carry a smuggling boat on their shoulders as they prepare to embark on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France on October 12, 2022 (AFP via Getty Images) Migrant small boat crossings have dropped off with none in two weeks following last months dinghy tragedy that claimed the lives of four people. Government figures appear to show that no migrants attempted to cross the English Channel for 14 days -the longest stretch without any arrivals for nine months. No crossings have been recorded by the Ministry of Defence since January 2, when 44 people made the journey in one boat in the only crossing of the year so far. Government officials previously suggested any drop in crossings over the winter could be seasonal and linked to weather conditions, with numbers expected to rise again in the spring. The drop in crossings came the month after four people died after their dinghy capsized in the stretch of water on December 14. That followed another dinghy disaster which saw at least 27 migrants die when their vessel sank on the way to the UK from France in November last year. More than half of migrants who claimed to be victims of modern slavery after crossing the Channel in the first half of last year were Albanian, figures suggest. Home Office data obtained under freedom of information (FOI) laws indicate 1,156 people were recorded as making such a claim between January and June 2022. Of these, 591 were Albanian, according to figures provided by the department following a request from campaign group Migration Watch. Some 116 other people claiming to be victims of modern slavery during this period were from Eritrea, 89 were from Sudan, 71 were from Iran, 69 were from Vietnam and 46 were from Afghanistan. The number of crossings has increased steadily each year since 299 people were detected making the journey in 2018. There were 1,843 crossings in 2019, 8,466 in 2020 and 28,526 in 2021, according to the Home Office. The provisional total for 2022 45,756 is 60% higher than the figure for 2021. The Chinese spy balloon is shot down on February 4, and Elon Musk. REUTERS/Randall Hill; Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images Elon Musk joked on Sunday about the latest UAP to be shot down over North America. "Just some of my [alien] friends of mine stopping by," the SpaceX CEO tweeted. Three more unidentified objects have been shot down since the Chinese spy balloon on February 4. As officials continue searching for answers about the three unidentified flying objects which have been shot down over North America in recent days, Elon Musk has weighed in with a joke. "Don't worry," the SpaceX CEO tweeted Sunday. "Just some of my [alien] friends of mine stopping by," he added, including emojis of an alien and a flying saucer. Musk's quip came an hour before an American F-16 fighter jet shot down an object over Lake Huron, Michigan. The same object had been tracked from Montana, where it flew over sensitive military sites, the Pentagon said. Like the two other downed objects, officials decided it was a risk to civilian aircraft due to the altitude at which it was flying, the statement said. The Chinese spy balloon which was shot down off the South Carolina coast on February 4 was flying at a much higher altitude and couldn't be taken down earlier due to a risk of debris hitting civilians, Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said. Earlier on Sunday, Musk tweeted: "Hopefully, one day we will be the aliens visiting other worlds." The SpaceX CEO has made clear his plans to make humanity an interplanetary species. Last Thursday, Musk said it's "highly likely" humans will go to Mars within ten years, but added that he's "congenitally optimistic." In addition to the object over Lake Huron, unidentified anomalous phenomena the government's name for UFOs were also shot down near Deadhorse, Alaska, and over Canada's Yukon territory, on Friday and Saturday respectively. While officials were able to determine that the spy balloon came from China, they're not yet sure where the most recent three airborne objects are from. The Yukon object was described by Canadian authorities as "cylindrical," while an anonymous official told Reuters that the one over Lake Huron was "octagonal" and apparently had no payload like the Chinese spy balloon. Story continues Efforts to figure out what the objects are and where they came from are ongoing, as officials recover wreckage. General Glen VanHerck, the NORAD commander, said he hadn't ruled them out as being extra-terrestrial, per Reuters. However, there's no suggestion the devices came from another planet, The New York Times reported a senior official as saying. Read the original article on Business Insider Rescue Diary in Turkiye: Love knows no boundaries as rescue efforts continue 16:25, February 13, 2023 By He Jun ( People's Daily Online Gao Zhijiang and rescue dog Lucky of the Rescue Team of Ramunion carry out a search and rescue operation. (Photo provided by the Rescue Team of Ramunion) On Feb. 12, the Rescue Team of Ramunion continued its search and rescue mission in Iskenderun, Turkiye. Search and rescue dog Lucky has been working tirelessly for over three days. To ensure it performs to the best of its ability, we have been providing Lucky with the necessary water and food during breaks, while Luckys handler, Gao Zhijiang, is always by its side to offer support and comfort. Lucky is not just an important partner for the team, but also a valued comrade-in-arms"! Gao Zhijiang stays by Luckys side during a break in relief efforts. (Photo provided by the Rescue Team of Ramunion) During today's rescue operations, a Turkish rescuer who was assisting with clearing the debris suffered an injury to his foot. Our part-time medic quickly cleaned and dressed his wound. A part-time medic of the Rescue Team of Ramunion dresses the wound of a Turkish rescuer. (Photo provided by the Rescue Team of Ramunion) Our rescue mission in Turkiye has received support and care from local power plants, Chinese corporations, and overseas Chinese. Two women from Chinas Liaoning and Fujian provinces wake up early every morning to prepare meals for us. Every rescue operation relies not only on the tireless efforts of the front-line rescuers, but also on the great support from logistics and information personnel. Every persons contribution is like a little drop in a mighty ocean of love. When people from all over the world join hands in the battle against the disaster, we transcend language barriers and nationalities. The rescue efforts continue... (The article is edited and translated from an interview with He Jun, founder of the Rescue Team of Ramunion) A team leader of Turkiyes Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) hugs a member of the Rescue Team of Ramunion to express gratitude for their help. (Photo provided by the Rescue Team of Ramunion) Two women from Chinas Liaoning and Fujian provinces prepare meals for the Rescue Team of Ramunion every day. (Photo provided by the Rescue Team of Ramunion) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chengliang) Information is from police reports and may be incomplete depending on the status of an investigation. Phone numbers are nonemergency. The claim: Australian court banned Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for children A Dec. 28 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims the Australian High Court recently made a significant ruling related to COVID-19 vaccines. "We won the high court case against ATAGI and TGA Today and Moderna and Pfizer will no longer be available to children 0-6 and up!" reads the post. "The government have (sic) started to remove RECALL all covid vaccines from the Australian market as they are not safe or effective in the prevention of Covid-19." The post garnered 90 shares in three weeks. Similar versions of the claim have been shared on Facebook. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: False The COVID-19 vaccines are still available for children in Australia, the Department of Health confirms. The High Court is still reviewing the case in question and has not made a ruling. The Federal Court of Australia previously dismissed a case filed by the same group seeking to repeal approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old. The High Court has not made a ruling yet Ben Wickham, a spokesperson for the High Court, told USA TODAY in an email that the online claims were likely referring to the case, "Parry v Secretary, Department of Health. This case was submitted by an anti-vaccine group called the Australian Vaccination-risks Network against Brendan Murphy, secretary of Australia's Department of Health, according to a press release published by the group. The group is challenging Murphy's approval of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years, according to the press release. Fact check: Catastrophic Contagion tested pandemic preparedness in 2022, wasn't a prediction Wickham told USA TODAY the case is still in its early stages of review, and the High Court has not yet made a decision. The court may hear the case or dismiss it without a hearing. Story continues Jason Donohoe, a Department of Health spokesperson, also told USA TODAY in an email that the High Court has not yet decided on the case. In March of last year, the same group submitted a similar case to the Federal Court of Australia in which they sought to repeal the approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old. That case was dismissed. COVID-19 vaccines are still available for children in Australia Donohoe told USA TODAY the Australian government still recommends getting the Moderna vaccine, though it is now being replaced by the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. "Children aged 6 months to under 5 years who have an increased risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 will still be able to access the Moderna Spikevax pediatric COVID-19 vaccine as part of a primary schedule until May 2023," Donohoe said. "The Pfizer vaccines remain available for people under 18 years of age for primary courses and boosters." Fact check: Post falsely claims doctor tweeted she does not regret vaccine, even if it kills her The Australian Department of Health website confirms the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for children under the age of 6 in specific cases. "COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for children aged 6 months to under 5 years with severe immunocompromise, disability and those who have complex and/or multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19," the website says. There is no mention of any recall for any of the COVID-19 vaccines on the website. USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment. AFP has debunked this claim 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: No, Australia hasn't banned COVID-19 vaccines for children Parsons alum and Fashion Fund finalist Jacques Agbobly is changing his brand's name to reflect its broader ambitions. Jacques Agbobly is ready for a new beginning. After months of planning, the designer is ready to reintroduce the label that put them on the map. But make no mistake: This is not a rebrand. "I feel it's more of an evolution," Agbobly says. BlackBoyKnits is no longer the name of their brand. Now, the studio known for joyful knits that celebrate Black, queer and immigrant narratives will go by the founder's last name, Agbobly, paying homage to their familial surname and Togolese heritage. View the original article to see embedded media. Agbobly, an immigrant from Togo to the west side of Chicago, started the brand straight out of the Parsons School of Design. Upon graduating in 2020, there were practically no job listings available. They realized that, maybe, they needed to take matters into their own hands. "I felt I needed to launch my brand sooner than I expected, just because during those times, a lot of things were uncertain," the 25-year-old says. "After sitting alone with my thoughts and feeling as if that was the end of the world, I really had to go full-throttle and launch my own thing." BlackBoyKnits was born later that year, and its vibrant, chunky, crystal-adorned sweaters quickly became an industry favorite. In 2022, the brand was among the 10 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists, alongside names like Elena Velez, KidSuper, Fe Noel and more. "I launched my brand at that time because I believe in my talent and in my self-worth," Agbobly says. "I believe in what I'm able to produce. So why not do it now, rather than chasing work and trying to find jobs that were inevitably not going to happen?" BlackBoyKnits became a sort of diary for the designer, the products resulting from much self-reflection. But becoming associated with one particular technique or category like knitwear can feel limiting. Agbobly felt it was time to finally push the brand even further. There are other parts to the story that they're ready to explore. Story continues Taofeek Abijako (L) and Jacques Agbobly at the 2022 CFDA Fashion Awards Photo: Dominik Bindl/Getty Images "I've always put myself into the work that's why I started with knitwear, because I could control my own narrative," they say. "But there's so much more to my journey that I've yet to tap into... When I first started, I didn't really have any funding, and a lot was done alone, so I took all of these challenges as an opportunity to scale. The reality is that if I continue to make everything on my own, it's going to be really hard for me to be able to grow, especially [after] gaining so much attention, so quickly." With this new chapter, Agbobly hopes to continue to build their namesake business in a more controllable way, that's well within their means. They'd like to hire staff, for one. "I'm so protective of the knitwear since I've always designed alone, but for the first time, I want to work with people who can complement my workflow," they say. This'll allow the brand to exist in a more consistent way." After getting by through small capsules and made-to-order styles, Agbobly also wants to lean into wholesale a bit more, working with retailers while still offering its bread and butter. "I'm going to be re-launching my direct-to-consumer this year with items that are already made, and I'll still keep the option to do customized pieces," Agbobly says. "But a lot of the feedback that I got from customers was that they didn't want to wait six or so weeks for their sweater to be made. This next step is about diversifying the offerings in terms of products, too." So fear not: BlackBoyKnits will still live within Agbobly, just in a new way. "It's not a complete death to it, but it's going to come back in other iterations throughout my future collections," they tease. For 2023 (and beyond), Agbobly is looking for a few things "lightness and positivity," for example, but also "wealth spiritual wealth, financial wealth and all around." "I hope for good health. That's something that, whenever you speak to a lot of West Africans about what they're looking forward to, is good health," they say. "I have to put that in there for my mom." Want the latest fashion industry news first? Sign up for our daily newsletter. PERTH, Australia Justin Tafa is happy with how he got out of the gate in 2023. The heavyweight scored a quick and brutal knockout over Parker Porter on the main card of Saturdays UFC 284 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. Tafa (6-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) slept Porter just 66 seconds into the contest. It was as clean as it gets with a knockout, and no follow-up shots were needed. Theres nothing like a walk-off KO in Australia, your home turf, hometown, home soil, Tafa told reporters at his UFC 284 post-fight news conference. The 29-year-old now has back-to-back wins in the UFC for the first time and is happy with the victory and some of the strides he made. For me, its all these intangible things that you dont see mental things, being able to absorb the crowds energy without making it blind your vision, and all that, Tafa said. Its good to come back and knock someone out in front of my sons. They didnt believe me that I knock people out. Related Yair Rodriguez wants title unification bout vs. Alexander Volkanovski in Mexico Islam Makhachev doesn't want to simply be called champion after UFC 284: 'I'm the best fighter' Tafa is hoping to get a quick return. He wants in on the UFC 287 card in Miami on April 8 an event headlined by a middleweight title rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya. Im thinking that card that Izzy is on, Tafa said of his return. My little brother might be on that, so I want to be on the same you know, save some flight money in there. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkies event hub for UFC 284. Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie Jenny Larson was excited to start her job as a therapist for Rising Hope, a counseling network that serves 17 communities across South Dakota, at its Mobridge office. But because of a non-compete agreement Larson signed with her previous employer that barred her from working within 60 miles of Mobridge, shes been traveling 100 miles to work for Rising Hope in Aberdeen. What I'm noticing is not just the impact on myself, it's impacting my family, Larson said, explaining her three children tend to get nervous when she leaves for work. She leaves early Tuesday mornings and returns late on Wednesday nights, tending to stay overnight in Aberdeen between her two work days. New legislation with the goal of barring non-compete clauses in hiring agreements within the mental health profession would affect counselors like Larson. Lawmakers met Monday to hear Larsons story along with other mental healthcare professionals about why barring non-compete agreements would help when they want to transition to other jobs in the field. More:How mental health issues remain unsolved in South Dakota's juvenile detention system Doctors and nurses are already exempt from the non-compete clauses after legislation was passed in 2021. When a health care provider has a non-compete contract, or clause in his or her contract, and is forced to leave the community and in some instances forced to leave the state, the provider-patient relationship is fractured or broken, Rep. Fred Deutsch, R-Florence, who brought the legislation, said. Leaving the patient in limbo in some cases, needing to find another provider and that's particularly troublesome in rural districts like mine. Larson told lawmakers her efforts to negotiate her non-compete clause had failed, and because of the two-year term of the clause, she must continue traveling to Aberdeen for the next year. Another counselor who testified said she and her husband had been required to move out of South Dakota for a year because of the clause she signed in her contract. Story continues Its widely accepted that mental health services are needed and that non-compete agreements can cause a barrier, said Jill Janecke, a counselor and owner of Rising Hope. More:Why access to South Dakota mental health specialists hasn't improved much in a decade Especially when you have somebody who's living in that rural area, to find professionals in the rural area is key in our profession, Janecke said. Who wants to help the community, who wants to be that helping hand, that therapeutic person, and when we find them in these rural areas we want to keep them there. While the bill passed out of the House committee and has the support of the Gov. Kristi Noem's office, there was some soft opposition from lobbyists from Sanford Health and Avera Health, because of a second section that would seek to ban non-solicitation agreements. Essentially, if a mental health practitioner was leaving their clinic, they could tell their clients where they were going to keep them on as patients, said Mitchell Rave, a lobbyist for Sanford. We're not trying to prevent a patient from following or tracking down their provider independently, Rave said. Its just that specific going after your book of clients. Lobbyists said Sanford and Avera tend not to use non-compete clauses in their hiring contracts. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: New bill targets non-compete clauses for mental health professionals Mexico Sends Famous Search and Rescue Dogs to Turkey (Picture Credit: Boris Roessler / picture alliance via Getty Images) Following the recent earthquake in Turkey, the BBC reported that Mexico is sending its famous search and rescue dogs to help with disaster relief. 16 Dogs Making the Trip According to the article, a plane with 16 dogs on board took off from Mexico City early on Tuesday. In 2017, Frida the Golden Lab gained international fame during the earthquake that hit Central America that same year. Significantly, a photo of Frida wearing safety goggles and boots while on the job won hearts globally, turning the dog into a celebrity. Since then, Frida was retired with honors, and passed away just last year. However, one of Fridas work colleagues was on the plane heading to Turkey last week. Ecko, a Belgian Malinois, was at the Mexico City airport with his Navy handler. However, its not just military dogs lending a paw in this dire moment. Apparently, a volunteer group called Los Topos de Tlatelolco (The Moles of Tlatelolco) will be joining them. After hearing about the disaster in Turkey, the groupcomposed of highly-trained volunteerslet Mexicos Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard know that they were willing to help. A Large-scale Search and Rescue Effort To Meet an Unprecedented Disaster So far, the magnitude 7.8 earthquake has claimed over 25,000 lives in both Turkey and Syria. Aerial photos show huge fissures spreading for miles across the landscape. Unfortunately, rescue operations have been complicated by the ongoing civil war within Syria. Specifically, getting disaster relief and supplies to the countrys rebel-held northwestern territories has been difficult. Although Syrian President Bashar al-Assad criticized western countries for their response, saying they have no regard for the human condition, the fact is theres help on the way. Alongside Mexico, groups from the United States, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Libya, Poland, Switzerland, and the UK have deployed rescue dogs. Officials say time is of the essence, and their main mission is saving lives. Hopefully, their speedy deployment will result in rescues more than recoveries. The post Mexico Sends Famous Search and Rescue Dogs to Turkey appeared first on DogTime. As the state continues to discuss a proposed revision to South Dakota's social studies standards, more than 100 people attended the third public hearing of the standards Friday at Rushmore Hotel in Rapid City. Outside of the hotel, a group of Indigenous education advocates held a demonstration holding various signs and banners against the proposed standards. During the hearing, impassioned testimony was heard from proponents and opponents of the rewritten standards, with 24 people speaking in favor and 26 people speaking against. Audience members listen during testimony against the proposed South Dakota social studies standards during a hearing Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, at the Rushmore Hotel in Rapid City. The hearing began with statements from those in favor of the standards. Dr. Ben Jones, state historian, previous Secretary of Education and a member of the Social Studies Content Standards Commission, was first to testify. He cited a study from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an ideologically conservative think-tank that compares educational standards from around the country. Two other proponents were associated with the institute. Jones pointed out that the institute's board and staff consists of Republicans and Democrats. After explaining the criteria the think-tank used, Jones said the current state standards, in place since 2015, earned a C- in civics and a D+ in U.S. history. "The state that got A's were Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia," he said. "The list of states with A's would indicate that they don't have a preference of red states or blue states. Both types are in their top five." Jones said South Dakota schools were lacking in their social studies education and that something needed to change. More: Gov. Kristi Noem replaces Aberdeen superintendent with local businessman on Board of Ed Standards Greg Von Wald taught history and was president at Mitchell Technical Institute. He agreed with Jones' assessment and cited a study from the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, a New Jersey-based bipartisan nonprofit group that looks to promote democracy through higher standards. Story continues "The 2018 study found 49 states had over half of their citizens fail the U.S. citizenship test. South Dakota had 52% of its citizens fail this test," Von Wald said. "The standards are good solid start and progress many of the flaws in our current social studies standards." However, Von Wald also agreed with some of the opponents of the standards, seeking adjustments to elementary school expectations. "They do need some modification at the lower elementary grade levels to reflect age appropriate material for world history," he said. "I hope these modifications can be made without the standards being rejected simply because local educators were not invited to the table." A lack of historical proficiency of South Dakotans was much of the inspiration for the proponents. This is in response to the two previous hearings in Aberdeen and Sioux Falls, where opponents of the proposed standards said they were too challenging and rigorous for young learners. Jon Schaff is a professor of government and the director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Public History at Northern State University. He was also a member of the Social Studies Content Standards Commission. Schaff said the proficiency statistics are proof that new standards need to be adopted. "Given these distinct statistics, does anyone think that we should just do things the way we've always been doing them?" Schaff said. "I think that these standards, [if] well implemented, will play at least some part in making for a healthier democracy." Opponents of the standards included a large contingency of teachers. Christopher Bordeaux is the executive director of the Oceti Sakowin Education Consortium and has extensive background in elementary education and administration. He said the new standards violated an agreement to involve tribal leaders. "There are so many things not right the social standards as presented. As many have stated, the processes set by the state of South Dakota Department of Ed violated of their own or federal laws," Bordeaux said. "The [Elementary and Secondary Education Act] states that the tribe be consulted if there are any changes that addressed the tribes and South Dakota." Bordeaux said the new standards inadequately cover tribal history. More: SDEA says new revision of proposed social studies standards still falls short "High school students are required to know only one tribe in South Dakota but in the third grade, they have to memorize the preamble of the Constitution," he said. Bordeaux said tribal sovereignty and tribal constitutions are not adequately addressed in the proposed standards. He said the standards do not address treaties and changes in culture since the nation's founding. "We are mentioned as warlike, merciless Indian savages from the Declaration of Independence," he said. "None of the federal laws addressing Indigenous people are addressed." A major aspect of a January revision draft was the inclusion of common historical Native American figures and Native American language. Shaun Nielsen, a Rapid City Area Schools social studies teacher, was the only teacher included in the Social Studies Content Standards Commission. He said the revision was needed because the standards were derived by out-of-state interests. Indigenous education activists demonstrate their opposition Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, to proposed social studies outside the Rushmore Hotel in Rapid City. "These standards were handed to us and the core content of the document did not come from South Dakota educators. At best, our commission was allowed to reword a sentence or move something to another grade," Nielsen said. "The mountain of opposition compared to the molehill of support is loud and clear. The people have spoken and there is no question of the course they wish to take." Opponent Lynn Arnold asked for William Morrisey, the state-contracted author of the standards, to present himself at Friday's meeting. Morrisey is a retired professor from Hillsdale College and private conservative institution in Michigan. The state paid Morrisey $200,000 to develop the standards. After a quiet pause of which no one was acknowledged, Arnold reminded the board that the state also paid Morrisey $25,000 to facilitate the hearings though he was absent. After the opponent section was completed, a rebuttal portion was conducted by Jones. During this time, Jones said the standards are not meant for students to memorize but for them to be familiarized with the concepts. "That's why so much of the [proposed] elementary curriculum are exceeding the [current] standards at the elementary level. They are to get the students introduced to these people and places," Jones said. An opponant of South Dakota's social studies standards placed a T-shirt on the statue of President John F. Kennedy outside the Rushmore Hotel in Rapid City prior to a public hearing about the standards on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. He explained the spiraling structure of the standards. According to Jones, rehashing of previously-learned concepts, "is important to facilitate that memory recall." The fourth and final hearing will take place April 17 in Pierre. Registration for public testimony is open. Individuals wishing to register for the April hearing can do so by going to doe.sd.gov and following the public comment link via email and traditional mail. Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Shaun Nielsen's name. The story has been updated to reflect this change. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: More than 100 turn out for hearing on social studies standards three glasses of bubbly cava on table background Courtesy of D.O.Cava TABLE OF CONTENTS On This Page What Is Cava? How Cava Has Improved What to Pair With Cava Sparkling wine can make any day feel like a celebrationpop a bottle of bubbly and it's a party. You have plenty of options. Champagne is the best-known, but carries a hefty price tag. Prosecco and Cremant d'Alsace have their fans, too, but one we think is worth exploring is cava. This Spanish sparkler is food-friendly and easy to drinkand sommeliers say it's a great value. "If you like sparkling wine and would prefer to spend $20 instead of $50, try a bottle of cava," says Catherine Fallis, master sommelier at wine club Bright Cellars. The approachable price tag, however, is not the only reason to consider cava. It was once dismissed as a budget wine not on par with Champagnebut cava makers are placing a premium on quality and making a play for consumers who love bubbly and want to drink it more often. They're also producing aged cava that might be set to compete with Champagne. Related: What Is the Best Glass for Sparkling Wine? What Is Cava? Dubbed the Champagne of Spain, cava is a sparkling wine with small, fine bubbles from the Cava Denominacion de Origen (D.O.) area. It can be white or rose (rosado). Most cava is non-vintage, meaning it is a blend of wines from different years. The name cava comes from the Spanish word for "cave," referring to the cellars where the wines age. How Cava Is Made Like Champagnebut not like proseccocava is produced using the metodo tradicional, which is what the French call methode champenoise, or bottle fermentation. "Metodo tradicional is a multi-step process including a second fermentation in bottle, as opposed to tank, followed by extended aging before release. It is therefore considered a high-quality sparkling wine," says Fallis. This production method is one of the reasons why Champagne is so expensiveit requires time, space, and human hands, and eyes to ensure a quality finished product. Story continues Prosecco, on the other hand, is made using the charmat or tank method; the wine becomes sparkling in the tank, before it is bottled. Grapes Cava is primarily made up of three different types of native grapes: xarel.lo, macabeo, and parellada. There are a few other varietals that can be included, such as chardonnay and pinot noir. Rosado styles of Cava are made from the red grapes garnacha, monastrell, pinot noir, and the Catalan variety trepat. Regions Cava is made in four main regions which span different regions of Spain: Comtats de Barcelona (over 95 percent of all cava is made here), Ebro Valley, Vinedos de Almendralejo, and the Levante zone. Aging By law, all cava must be aged for a minimum of nine months in the bottle. Wine aged for this time is called Cava de Guardaand this budget-friendly, bright sparkling wine is the biggest category of cava, the one you're most likely to find at your local wine store. "These cavas are known for their zesty, citrus, and uplifting notes on the palate. It is one of my favorite bubbles to pair at a seafood bar," says Jessica Green, owner of Down The Rabbit Hole Wine Boutique and Wine Vie, a personal wine consulting and concierge service. The rules for cava get tighter as the age time and quality increase. Reserva cava requires 18-months of aging, Gran Reserva is aged for 30 months, and Paraje Calificado has a minimum age time of 30 months. In addition, these wines are required to be 100 percent certified organic by 2025 and must have a vintage showcased on the bottle. The D.O. is also promoting longer-aged cava, with grapes that spend three to five years on lees. The result? Wines with extravagant, delicate flavor and a creamy finish on the palate that can rival the best Champagnes. "Very similar to Champagne, the older cava wines that I have tried display nutty notes with a strong brioche-y quality. Often, there is a bit of toffee and dates, too," says Liz Martinez, general manager and sommelier of Apparatus Room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel. Why Now Is the Time to Start Drinking Cava Put simply, cava is the best it has ever been. "Cava was seen as a wine of poor or cheap quality for many years. [Now], producers are hand picking organic grapes and allowing for extended autolysis [a winemaking process that imparts richness and creaminess]," says Martinez. "This is creating a unique wine that is extremely fragrant and textural. The reality is that these are wines that rival Champagne." Over the last few years, the Regulatory Board of the Denominacion de Origin Cava has shifted and tightened the rules for making the wine, to encourage quality wine that is produced sustainably. The wines have improvedbut the prices remain competitive. What to Drink Cava can be bone dry or sweet, similar to the span of styles of Champagne. Also similar to Champagne, cava's level of sweetness is a result of the amount of sugar added to the wine at bottling. The most common style of cava is brut, with the driest style, extra brut, coming second. Cava Food Pairings If you're looking for a food-friendly, effervescent sipper, go for cava. "It is amazingly food friendly. Because of its high acidity, it pairs beautifully with seafood, cheese, and charcuterie and because of its complexity, it can pair with heartier fare such as grilled meats and mushroom risotto," says Jeff Jenssen, a wine educator and co-author of five books, including White Wine. Because cava has a range from dry to sweet, there is truly something for every palate and every dish. Pros say starting with cava as an aperitif can open the palate up and will enhance the flavors of the bites you are about to take. Better yet, cava can be paired with every course of a meal, says Martinezit even works with fried foods. According to Green, seafood is a perfect match for cava, as well as native Spanish meats (think Iberico ham) and cheeses. And remember: This sparkling sipper is versatile enough to stand up to heavier dishes and dessert. A state of emergency has been imposed in Nevada after a leak was detected in a pipeline that supplies fuel to Las Vegas. Nevada governor Joe Lombardo announced the state of emergency late on Friday night to mitigate the impact of the California fuel pipeline leak in Southern Nevada. The leak was detected in the pipeline on Thursday at a pumping station in Long Beach, California, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, the operator of the affected pipeline, stated. A company spokesperson announced that both the station and the pipeline were isolated and shut down. In a subsequent statement on Saturday, the spokesperson mentioned that the leaks source had been isolated, and restart activities had commenced. We expect these pipelines to resume operations this afternoon and begin delivering fuel to their respective market areas later today, the companys spokesperson Katherine Hill said. Officials in Clark County, Nevada have said that the emergency declaration would enable the state to relax restrictions on trucking and other delivery methods to transport fuel into the county. This leak has not impacted the supply of fuel, but rather the method in which this fuel normally comes into Southern Nevada, county officials said in a tweet. Clark County is in regular communication with Kinder Morgan and they are working as quickly as possible to repair the leak. Updated statement from Clark County.#ClarkCounty Declares Fuel Emergency. This is in the wake of the leak in a Kinder Morgan gas pipeline in So. California. pic.twitter.com/3RUJIPTUy7 Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) February 11, 2023 Mr Lombardo urged residents not to indulge in panic buying to avoid unwarranted shortages. However, social media videos and local media reports showed queues of cars lining up at local gas stations. Story continues Tonight, I declared a state of emergency to help mitigate the impact of the California fuel pipeline leak in Southern Nevada. Please see the executive order and my full statement below. pic.twitter.com/rLKpgtUGQQ Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) February 11, 2023 Nye County officials announced to its residents on Saturday afternoon that fuel systems were returning online following the shutdown. Fuel should be flowing within the next few hours, the county tweeted, telling residents to delay fuel purchases if possible to allow supply to refill due to recent panic purchasing. Update: The pipeline leak has been located, and systems are now coming back online. Fuel should be flowing within the next few hours. Residents are encouraged to delay fuel purchases if possible to allow supply to refill due to recent panic purchasing. pic.twitter.com/lDhemaGG6I Nye County, Nevada (@nyecounty) February 11, 2023 The operator has confirmed that it is still investigating the leaks cause and quantity and has notified the appropriate regulatory agencies. SOMERSWORTH Amy Bassett the New Hampshire district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, recently announced the signing of a strategic alliance with Raude Raychel, founder and president of Indonesia Community Connect Inc. in Somersworth. The two groups say they will have a working relationship between the SBA and ICC to connect the Indonesian community to business resources. The mission of the SBA is to provide aid, counseling, business development assistance, SBA financing, government contracting, and access to workshops and events. We are excited to formalize our connection with ICC and affirm our commitment to provide its community members greater access to SBAs many resources for new entrepreneurs and emerging businesses. SBA is dedicated to ensuring that our programs and services are widely accessible to all entrepreneurs, and we remain steadfast in reaching underserved communities. Our new partnership with the Indonesian community affirms our pledge to addressing barriers that diverse business owners face, Bassett said. On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Amy Bassett the N.H. district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the signing of a Strategic Alliance Memorandum with Raude Raychel, Founder and President of Indonesia Community Connect Inc. in Somersworth, N.H. This is such an historical moment for ICC. This partnership highlights the hard work of the team as we work together with a U.S. federal agency," Raychel said. "This opens doors for many, as we establish direct access to information resources, facilitate mutual understanding among different cultures and values, and promote the richness of the Indonesian cultural diversity. ICC will be a platform and channel to many local and Indonesian entrepreneurs with interests in small business startups and trade of import/export with Indonesia." More:Indonesian Community Connect celebrates milestones, pitches future plans in Somersworth The ICC, working with a local Indonesian population of more than 2,000 people, has a goal to build a Little Indonesia district in Somersworth. "We are building the momentum toward a longer vision of an economic and cultural hub, Raychel said. This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Indonesian group in Somersworth, NH SBA work to provide opportunities Olivia Newton-John attends the VIP reception for upcoming "Property of Olivia Newton-John Auction Event at Juliens Auctions on October 29, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Olivia Newton-John Olivia Newton-John's Australian fans will have a chance to pay tribute to the late star at a state memorial service in her childhood city of Melbourne, Australia. The memorial which was organized with the star's family will take place at the Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne on Feb. 26, months after her death last August. Tickets for the service will be free, though only a limited number are available. Beginning on Feb. 10, fans can register for the event at vic.gov.au/olivia-newton-john. The event will feature special tributes from family and friends, along with a musical performance by Delta Goodrem who previously collaborated with Newton-John and played her in the 2018 Australian biopic miniseries: Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You. RELATED: Pink Opens Up About Her 2022 AMAs Tribute to Late 'Legend' Olivia Newton-John: 'She Was an Icon' "Dame Olivia Newton-John was an inspiration to many around the world her work in cancer research and treatment saved lives and changed lives and her music was the soundtrack to a generation," Daniel Andrews, Premier for the State of Victoria, said in a statement. He added, "We know Victorians are eager to celebrate the life of a driving force in medical research and an icon of film and music, with a service befitting her international acclaim." The memorial service has been in the works since August, per CNN, when Andrews tweeted about wanting to do something special to celebrate her life and her family agreed. On Aug. 8, the four-time Grammy winner and Xanadu star died at age 73 after a 30-year experience with breast cancer, John Easterling, her husband, announced on her social media channels. RELATED VIDEO: Olivia Newton-John Was an 'Angel on Earth,' Remember Friends: 'There Will Never Be Another Like Her' "Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer," he wrote at the time. "Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation." In September, Newton-John's friends and family remembered her at a memorial service attended by John Travolta, Marie Osmond, Leeza Gibbons and Sir Cliff, her rep confirms. Other pals from Down Under also made the trip from Australia for the service. "It was at a vineyard near her home in Southern California on the 21st," a source told PEOPLE at the time. "The family wanted this to be very quiet and private." A West Pennsboro Township man on Monday announced he is seeking the magisterial district judge seat that covers a number of municipalities in western Cumberland County. John Hanner, an Army combat veteran and police officer, said he seeks the seat in District 09-3-02, which covers Cooke Township, Lower Mifflin Township, Newville Borough, North Newton Township, Penn Township, South Newton Township, Upper Frankford Township, Upper Mifflin Township and West Pennsboro Township. Vivian Cohick holds the seat now. As a husband and father who is raising his family here and a police officer who has served local residents, I have stood up to dangerous criminals to keep our families safe, so I understand the difference between a real criminal and a kid who just makes a mistake, he said in his announcement. I will bring this experience and common sense to our district court. Hanner said he has passed the required magisterial district judge certification course administered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and he has handled many of the legal issues a district judge must address, such as dealing with filings of criminal complaints, search warrants, court orders and summary citations. Hanner graduated from Shippensburg University with a degree in criminal justice. He served in the Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq from 2008 to 2009 and later to Kuwait from 2012 to 2013. He was honorably discharged in 2014 at the rank of staff sergeant. He lives on a mini farm in West Pennsboro Township with his wife and four children, and they are members of Carlisle Reformed Presbyterian Church. He said he is also a member of the NRA and local Fraternal Order of Police. As magisterial district judge, I will continue to follow the principles of trust, honesty, integrity and respect, which have served me well throughout my career, he said. It is what residents deserve. Hanner plans on cross filing for the Republican and Democratic nominations on the May 16 primary ballot. Jennifer Le posted the TikTok on January 18. Jennifer Le via TikTok Jennifer Le works at her parents' Vietnamese restaurant, Lee's Noodle House, in California. In January, Le posted a video of her dad waiting for customers, surrounded by empty tables. Viewers were sympathetic and came to support the struggling business, according to Le and her dad. A TikToker who shared a video of her parents' empty Vietnamese restaurant has drawn sympathy from local TikTok viewers who are now visiting the business in droves, she said. Jennifer Le posted a clip on January 18, where a man who she said was her father could be seen standing behind the counter of his restaurant, Lee's Noodle House, in Santa Rosa, California, surrounded by empty tables. "It makes me so sad to see my parents just wait for customers to walk through the door to eat at their Vietnamese restaurant," an on-screen caption on the post read. Le's video went viral, receiving 1.2 million views, and dozens of commenters said they looked up the restaurant's location on Google and were planning to visit and support the family. "Seeing this right before my trip to Santa Rosa tomorrow it's a sign! I'm definitely coming by!" wrote one commenter. Other viewers said they liked or commented on the clip in the hope that interacting with the post would cause the algorithm to boost the video, a common theory among TikTok users. On January 21, Le posted a follow-up video in which she thanked viewers for their kind comments and interactions on her initial post. In another video from February 2, she wrote in a series of on-screen captions that she has been working at her parents' restaurant for the past six years, and while she had recently gone back, she would be returning soon to post more updates on how the business was doing. "The amount of love & responses from the TikTok community has been insane! also, thank you for the customers who have been coming for years too! the comment sections has brought my parents and I to tears. we are so grateful for all the support, and for everyone who is coming out," a secondary caption under the post read. Story continues In an interview with local outlet ABC 7 News, Le said business had been "really slow" for her parents since the pandemic, but that after her video went viral, the restaurant became packed with customers. "My dad always talks about how he is stressed and tired of waiting around where we have to close early so I kind of just made the video to help them out a little bit," Le told the outlet, adding, "I just didn't expect it to blow up. I just thought, 'oh a couple people will see it.'" Le's father, Vuong, told the outlet that his daughter's video has made a "big difference." "A lot of people from the community come out and support us and I'm really thankful," he said. A statement on the Lee's Noodle House Instagram page from February 9 stated that there may be longer wait times at the restaurant due to the increase in customers and small number of staff. A number of commenters under the post said they recently visited the restaurant, and found that it was "completely full" and "packed" with people. "So thankful for their sweet daughter and her social media skills," one commenter wrote. In the past, viral TikToks about small businesses have helped to significantly boost sales for the owners involved in the videos. Perhaps most notably, a Las Vegas-based TikTok named Keith Lee has skyrocketed to fame, amassing 10 million followers, after posting videos where he reviews family-owned businesses to help them get attention from new customers. In January, Lee reviewed a local independent restaurant called Frankenson's Pizzeria, and the owner Frank Steele told Las Vegas ABC affiliate KTNV that the impact was "overwhelming" and led to countless orders being placed at the business over the phone. Jennifer Le and Lee's Noodle House did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here. Read the original article on Insider Police are begging for the publics continued assistance in locating a missing 11-year-old North Carolina girl who wasnt reported missing until weeks after she was last seen by her family. Madalina Cojocaris disappearance has flummoxed authorities, who have struggled to locate the sixth grader after she was reported missing by her mother on Dec. 15, approximately three weeks after she was last seen alive. On Thursday, the Cornelius Police Department again appealed to the public in a desperate attempt to gather new leads regarding the missing 11-year-old. "Thank you for continuing to spread information on social media to help us #FindMadalina," The Cornelius Police Department said in a Facebook post on Jan. 19. "We still need your assistance in continuing to flood the area with her precious face." Hundreds of officers and agents from multiple agencies, including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI, are assisting local authorities in the search for the girl. A police handout of missing girl Madalina Cojocari Madalina Cojocari Photo: Cornelius Police Department Madalinas mother, Diana Cojocari and stepfather Christopher Palmiter, 60, were charged in December for failing to report the 11-year-olds disappearance. Diana Cojocari told investigators she last saw the 11-year-old alive at their Cornelius, North Carolina home on Nov. 23, according to court documents, Fox News reported. She was last spotted in public getting off a school bus on Nov. 21. RELATED: Georgia Man Allegedly Kidnapped South Carolina Woman, Raped Her For Months Detectives, however, say Diana Cojocari waited until Dec. 15 to report Madalina Cojocari missing after Charlotte-Mecklenburg School employees contacted her multiple times regarding her ongoing absence. Authorities, who since then have conducted a massive investigation into the 11-year-olds missing persons case, have stressed the delay had severely hindered investigative efforts to locate her. Madalina Cojocari Bus Video Photo: Cornelius Police Department Story continues One of the challenges in the case, simply put, we were not notified she was gone a delay of three weeks, Captain Jennifer Thompson of the Cornelius Police Department said in a video posted to social media on Dec. 27. Authorities have also accused her parents of intentionally withholding information from investigators. RELATED: Massachusetts Woman Sentenced To Life Without Parole For Ritualistic Murders Of Young Sons Diana Cojocari allegedly told to school workers that shed last seen her daughter when the 11-year-old went to bed on the evening before Thanksgiving. The North Carolina mother also claimed she and Palmiter had engaged in a verbal argument the same night and that he then departed on a trip to Michigan to visit family. Diana Cojocari said that her daughter was nowhere to be found the following morning. She added that she didnt attempt to inform Palmiter or notify police regarding Madalinas disappearance because she was afraid it would exacerbate the couples ongoing dispute. A police handout of missing girl Madalina Cojocari Madalina Cojocari Photo: Cornelius Police Department The girls stepfather later admitted to detectives that hed driven to his familys home in Michigan to recover some items, per Fox News but hadnt seen the girl for roughly a week prior to leaving. Upon his return, Palmiter divulged that hed confronted Diana Cojocari about hiding the girl, which she denied. She also asked him if he knew her whereabouts, which he allegedly said he didnt. Neither immediately reported the 11-year-olds disappearance to law enforcement. Earlier this month, Cornelius Police announced that they suspect Diana Cojocari may have taken a trip to the mountains in Madison County, North Carolina sometime between Nov. 22 and Dec. 15. Theyre currently seeking eyewitnesses who may have seen the 37-year-old mother or the silver Toyota Prius she was believed to have been driving. Law enforcement also seized a number of mobile devices from the familys North Carolina property, Charlotte television station WCNC-TV reported. Oxy App On Dec. 22, Madalina Cojocaris other family said they were devastated and absolutely heartbroken by her disappearance in a handwritten note released by investigators. "Madalina is a beautiful, smart, kind and loving 11-year-old girl with greatness in her future," her family wrote. "We are desperate to find her right now, she needs all of our help." Oxygen.com has reached out to the Cornelius Police Department for further information. Anyone with additional information pertaining to Madalina Cojocaris whereabouts or other information relevant to the case is urged to call the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or the FBI at 1-800-Call FBI. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Apparently Prince Harry and Meghan Markles invitation to the Coronation will be arriving imminentlyand it will ultimately be up to the couple if they choose to attend. Before the Will they or wont they? push/pull surrounding the Coronation, the same happened with the Queens Platinum Jubilee last June, which they ultimately flew in to the U.K. from their home in the U.S. This time around, though, there is even more tension than last summerwhich we didnt think was possible, but happened after the December release of Netflixs Harry & Meghan and, most especially, the release in January of Harrys tell-all, Spare, which took numerous swipes at the royal family. Add to the mix that the Coronationset for May 6 at Westminster Abbey in Londonis also the fourth birthday of Harry and Meghans son, Archie, and, in a word? Its complicated. But it seems both sides want this family feud to end, and, according to The Daily Express , for Harry and Meghan, that will include a capitulation and an apology from the royal family to end the drama once and for all. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused royal aides of actively working against them and refusing to counter negative press coverage about them, the outlet reports. The couple is now expected to return to the U.K. and attend the Kings Coronation, but speculation is rife about the state of their relationship with the family. An insider says, the problem is that [the Sussexes] want a capitulation and apology by the Palace, but when recollections vary, thats quite difficult. Harry in particular, in interviews surrounding the release of Spare, has called on the royal family to apologize specifically to Meghan for the treatment she received when she married into the institution in May 2018. It was all so avoidable, but they just couldnt help themselves, Harry said, adding that the royal family treated him as if he were delusional and paranoid. He continued, You know what you did, and I now know why you did it. And youve been caught out, so just come clean. Story continues Royal historian Robert Lacey says the rift might take a while still to heal, but Harry and Meghans behavior during the Platinum Jubilee and the funeral of Her late Majesty showed that the Sussexes were able to set aside any drama to put forward a united front with the royal family when needed. Its almost insulting to ask, When are they going to kiss and make up? Lacey tells People, per The Daily Express. There have been some very grave disagreements between them. But the Platinum Jubilee and the funerals of the Queen and Prince Philip did demonstrate that they could put personal enmity aside for the sake of the bigger cause. And that is what the Coronation will be all about. Royal expert Robert Jobson says that, despite the rumor mill churning that King Charles has called in the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to broker peace talks between members of the family and the Sussexes, there has not been much connection, Jobson says. Even that Welby stuff is wide of the mark. Theres a lot of guesswork going on. My understanding is that theres been no real contact whatsoever, so I dont know where a lot of people are getting it from. Im told that its not the case. Jobson says that peace talks might not happen until after the Coronation, as the last thing theyll want to be doing is having all sorts of reconciliation talks in the middle of a Coronation. The world doesnt revolve around Meghan and Harry, even if they think it does. Theyre focused on state visits to Germany and France, and then the Coronation. The drama continues to play out Andrey Medvedev is tense. He arrives unsmiling. Sitting in a hotel lobby in central Oslo, he anxiously eyes a man walking past the bar, asking why he's looking at him. Medvedev's anxiety is understandable. Until recently, he was a unit commander in the Wagner Group, the Russian private military company that has served as Kremlin shock troops in the war in Ukraine and is notorious for its brutal tactics. A month ago, Medvedev fled Russia to Norway and started speaking out against Wagner, describing what he said were war crimes he said were committed by the group, including summary executions of those who refused to fight. MORE: Russian army officer says he saw Ukrainian POWs tortured "I saw how they brought two people to the training ground and shot them publicly," Medvedev told ABC News this week. He said the two Wagner troopers were executed to set an example for those who might refuse to go into battle, adding that such punishments were routine. PHOTO: Graves of Russian Wagner mercenary group fighters are seen in a cemetery near the village of Bakinskaya in Krasnodar region, Russia, January 22, 2023. (Stringer/Reuters) "The whole system is rooted in that," he said. "In the best outcome, they will badly beat someone up," Medvedev said. "In the worst outcome, they'll just shoot him." Medvedev has applied for political asylum in Norway and is now living under the protection of the country's security agencies. He gives a glimpse into the mercenary force that the Kremlin has increasingly come to lean on in its efforts to shift the war in its favor, according to Ukrainian officials and military experts. Founded by a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, for roughly a decade Wagner has operated overseas in conflicts, from Syria and to Libya, when the Russian government prefers to retain a veneer of deniability. MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates: Ukraine braces for Russian Donbas offensive But since Russia invaded Ukraine, Wagner has swelled dramatically. It has acted as an army within an army, known for its pitiless methods, including sending waves of convicts into battle, according to Ukrainian troops on the ground. They have become particularly prominent in the battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, in January giving Russia its first notable battlefield advance in months when they seized the nearby town of Soledar. Story continues Wagner has been allowed to recruit large numbers of convicts from Russia's prisons, promising to gain them pardons in exchange for fighting in Ukraine. Last year, a video emerged of Wagner's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, personally addressing hundreds of inmates, offering them the chance to join and if they survived to go free. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters the U.S. estimates Wagner has as many as 50,000 fighters in Ukraine. He said around 40,000 of them are convicts. FILE PHOTO: The founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin is seen inside a cockpit of a military Su-24 bomber plane over an unidentified location, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in this image taken from handout footage. (Concord Press Service/via Reuters) Medvedev said he saw many inmates while in Ukraine, sent into frontal attacks, with little training or equipment. "They are throwing people in as meat, with small arms on armored vehicles," he said. Medvedev, 26, said he joined Wagner last July. Originally from the Siberian city of Tomsk, he said he had first served in Russia's military as an 18-year-old conscript in Ukraine in 2014. MORE: Russian army officer says he saw Ukrainian POWs tortured Because of that military experience, Medvedev said Wagner sent him to Ukraine two weeks after joining. But within days, he said he realized he had made a mistake, appalled at what he saw. "I realized practically on the first day what was happening there. I understood what role Russia was playing on that territory," he said. Before arriving, Medvedev said he had believed Kremlin propaganda that Russia was fighting a defensive war against fascists. But once there and speaking with local civilians, he said he realized he had been duped. PHOTO: An image, released by founder of Russia's Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin's press service, shows what it said to be Wagner fighters posing for a picture at the entrance sign to the village of Krasna Hora near the embattled city of Bakhmut, Ukraine. (Concord Press Service/via Reuters) "Of course, in fact, I realized late," he said. "I didn't see anything like that, no fascists or Nazis. Ordinary people who were protecting their territory, their home." After four months, he said he found a chance to escape. Going on the run, he said he spent two months hiding in Russia, moving between safe houses and being pursued by Wagner's security service. He was aided, he said, by a Russian human rights activist based in France who has helped other defectors. In mid-January, Medvedev said, he finally crossed the border to Norway on foot by running across a frozen river. He said he was now helping Norwegian police investigate a potential war crimes case against Wagner forces in Ukraine. Medvedev said he believed Wagner might try to harm him in Norway. A videos posted online last year appeared to show Wagner contractors using a sledgehammer to execute a fighter they accused of surrendering. A video of a second apparent execution using a sledgehammer was posted by a Wagner-linked blogger on Monday. But Medvedev said he wasn't afraid. "I'm at risk. I'm not afraid," he said. "There's a Russian expression: if you're afraid of the wolves, don't go into the woods." PHOTO: Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia's Wagner mercenary group poses for a picture during an interview in Oslo, Norway February 1, 2023. (Janis Laizans/Reuters) Wagner's founder, Prigozhin, has sought to leverage Wagner's role in Ukraine to grow his influence with Putin, according to Kremlin-watchers. Some observers believe he's even trying to position himself as a potential successor to Putin. In frequent social media posts, Prigozhin has presented Wagner as Russia's only capable fighting force, publicly slamming Russia's general staff. Medvedev said he saw Prigozhin address Wagner troops in eastern Ukraine. "'The Russian army has screwed up. We are the only ones fighting, that we're the only hope. The country puts its hope in us. That there are Germans there, fascists there, Nazis there,'" Medvedev recalled Prigozhin telling the men. MORE: 'Kidnapped' by Russian soldiers: Ukrainian orphans, guardian share their story after release Western officials and some military analysts recently have suggested Wagner's costly tactics appear to have worn it down as a force, estimating thousands of its fighters have been killed and wounded in the fighting around Bakhmut. Recent reports in independent Russian media suggest the number of inmates willing to enlist has dried up as news of the slaughter has filtered back. This week, Prigozhin in an interview with a Russian blogger said Wagner was no longer recruiting prisoners. Medvedev called a Wagner a "criminal organization." He said Russians had been deceived by their leaders and said he apologized to the Ukrainian people. MORE: US surveillance data crucial for Ukraine, top commander says "It's not the Russian people who gathered on a square and took the decision to go to war against Ukraine. It was our authorities," he said. "I believe that the people will end this war themselves. I really hope that all the same the people will take power in their hands and peace will really come," he said. Russian defects from Wagner mercenary group, says it's committing war crimes in Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com As the war in Ukraine approaches the one-year mark, new satellite images show intense fighting along the countrys frontline. Satellite images released by private space technology company Maxar show the Vuhledar area in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The area is the site of concentrated fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Images from 8 to 10 February reveal areas of intense artillery shelling in the farms and fields south of Vuhledar as Ukrainian forces reportedly pushed back Russian troops that have been attempting to capture territory in the area. Images of Petrivka, Ukraine before intense shelling (picture captured on 24 August 2022) (Maxar) Images of Petrivka, Ukraine after intense shelling (picture captured on 10 February 2023) (Maxar) The images also show probable Russian military units, including tanks and armored personnel vehicles, deployed along tree lines in the fields as well as in residential areas in Krylivka and Petrivka. The new images come as Russian forces have unleashed fatal missile attacks on Kherson, causing damage to the railway and preventing trains from Kyiv and Lviv reaching the city, according to reports. Armored vehicles positioned behind residential buildings in Krylivka, Ukraine (image captured 8 February 2023) (Maxar) On Saturday, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that Kyivs forces are holding the frontline in Donetsk, with fierce battles raging in Vuhledar and Maryinka. Mr Zaluzhnyi added that Russia was carrying out approximately 50 attacks per day in the Donetsk region. Russia launched its war in Ukraine on 24 February last year as president Vladimir Putin declared the start of what Russia officially calls a special military operation. Image shows the Svyato-Uspensky Mykolo-Vasilyivsky monastery in Mykilske, Ukraine last summer on 20 June 2022 before shelling (Maxar) Image shows damage to the monastery and surrounding areas after recent intense fighting (picture captured 10 February 2023) (Maxar) In a statement on Monday, Russias defence ministry said that Moscows soldiers have managed to advance 2km (1.24 miles) west into Ukraine. In four days the front moved 2 kilometres to the west, the ministry said, reported Interfax news agency. In a statement Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraines southern military forces, said the country should prepare for further air attacks, possibly on the first anniversary of Russias invasion. Considering the enemys commitment to sacred dates, its necessary to be ready, she was quoted as saying. Additional reporting by agencies US general refuses to rule out aliens after third suspicious flying object is shot down by the military over its airspace An F-16C Fighting Falcon flies by during a US Air Force firepower demonstration on September 14, 2007 near Indian Springs, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images) The US has shot down three objects flying over North America in as many days. A top US general said he wasn't ruling out an extra-terrestrial origin for the objects. It comes after the US shot down a spy balloon it alleged was sent by China. A top US Air Force general said that he was not ruling out the possibility that flying objects shot down over North America could have been aliens. General Glen VanHerck, the commander who oversees North American airspace, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing Sunday that he wasn't ruling out extra terrestrials or any other explanation for the objects, and was deferring to US intelligence. "I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything," he said when asked if the objects may be aliens, Reuters reported. "At this point we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it," said VanHerck, head of US North American Aerospace Defense Command and Northern Command. However Reuters said that another US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no evidence the objects, or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomens (UAPs,) were extra-terrestrial in origin. The assessment was echoed by a US defense official in comments to NBC News Monday. The New York Times said US officials believed the objects may have been sent by a foreign power to test US responses. The remarks come after the US military shot down three objects flying in North American airspace over the last 3 days. The latest incident came on Sunday, when President Joe Biden gave orders for an object, described by US officials as octagonal in structure, to be shot down by an F-16 over Lake Huron in Michigan near the Canadian border. An object flying at high altitude had been shot down on Biden's orders over northern Alaska Friday, while another was downed over Yukon in north-western Canada Saturday. Story continues US air defences had been placed on heightened alert after a spy balloon the US says was sent by China was shot down off the coast of North Carolina on February 4. China has denied the balloon was being used for espionage, and says it was used for meteorological research. VanHerck said that the military was not classifying the three latest objects as balloons, and had been unable so far to establish how they were able to stay in the air. "I'm not going to categorize them as balloons. We're calling them objects for a reason," VanHerck said at Sunday's briefing. "What we are seeing is very, very small objects that produce a very, very low radar cross-section," he added. The White House said that officials were still attempting to recover debris from all three objects, a search made more difficult by the remote Arctic locations that 2 of the objects were detected in. Read the original article on Business Insider Cornerback is something that the Minnesota Vikings are in dire need of and will continue to be mocked cornerbacks until they address the situation via trade or free agency. If they do choose to address it in free agency or via trade, we might see mock drafts go a different direction regularly. The Draft Networks Brentley Weissman released his latest mock draft on Sunday and sent the Vikings Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes. A tale as old as time, mocking the Vikings a corner. In all seriousness, the team does need more help at corner and we know new DC Brian Flores values man-cover defenders. Emmanuel Forbes is thin and a tad undersized, but he offers very good cover quickness and instincts to excel as a man defender. His ball skills are also outstanding. Forbes is eerily similar in body type to current Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler but his aggressive nature and ball skills are what separates him from the former Bulldog. He attacks the ball with aggressiveness and is great with the ball in the air. More Mock Drafts! Touchdown Wire mock sends Vikings feisty Utah corner Vikings select top ranked corner in latest mock draft from The Sporting News Pro Football Network's has the Vikings selecting 2 positions of need in latest mock draft Physical cornerback Kelee Ringo selected by Vikings in latest CBS Sports Mock Draft Vikings get aggressive cornerback in latest NFL Mock Draft Story originally appeared on Vikings Wire Ford Motor Co. plans to create 2,500 battery plant jobs in Marshall as part of a multibillion-dollar factory investment, the Detroit Free Press has confirmed. While the project will be a partnership between two companies, Ford will own the physical structures, run the operations and employ the workers; its partner is a global expert on battery design and technology, the Free Press confirmed Friday. A number of media outlets have reported tidbits about the project but nothing is official yet. Details will be revealed Monday by the Dearborn automaker and state officials who negotiated the deal. Neither Ford, nor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has discussed the project publicly. It is protocol for these announcements to be made by state and local economic development officials. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets guests before delivering her State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. The city of Marshall, which lists on its website a 2021 population of 6,870 residents, sits 36 miles east of Kalamazoo and 108 miles west of Detroit. What we know so far Ford has said it wanted to build a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant. The company has been scouting sites throughout North America. The estimated budget for the project is $3.5 billion. The states of Virginia and Michigan have been among the finalists. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, criticized the project because it would include a Chinese technical partner and withdrew Virginia from consideration late in the process. Ford is planning to partner with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL), the world's largest battery company. While it is based in China, it is not a government-owned enterprise. The company has plants all over the world and supplies batteries to companies including Tesla and Honda. This would not be a joint venture but, rather, a factory owned by Ford with CATL design and technology support. The Chinese battery company holds IP (intellectual property) that's valuable to Ford. More:Ford to build new plants in Tennessee, Kentucky in $11 billion investment in electric vehicles Story continues "Virginia's loss is Michigan's gain," according to the source who has watched the process with Marshall come together. "This is a big get." Details about potential government incentives were not available Saturday. Also, it is unknown whether the UAW will organize the site. Ford has said it will not impede labor union efforts at any of its battery plants. Batteries technology shapes the future "There's going to be future LFT battery plants in America and that's an important technology," the source close to the project told the Free Press, noting that everyone will benefit from domestic battery supplies including Ford's primary competitor Tesla. Shipping batteries is a costly logistical challenge for all automakers. Being an early mover on battery plant production positions Ford to compete in a race to scale up electric vehicle production, which dramatically cuts costs. A small city with big ambition This Ford news comes just weeks after the governor of Virginia dragged the iconic automaker through harsh headlines, criticizing the project as a potential front for the Chinese Communist Party. Rick Snyder, a Republican who served as Michigan's governor from 2011 through 2018, aggressively reached out to China and Chinese companies to bring jobs to the state during his eight economic development trips to China. More:2 electric vehicle battery plants to be built in Michigan, promising nearly 4,500 jobs More:GM to invest $650 million in lithium mining company in US Meanwhile, Marshall is no stranger to the automotive industry. Its top employers, according to the Marshall Area Economic Alliance, include: Tenneco Inc., a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of clean air and ride performance products. Eaton Corporation, a global technology leader in electrical systems for power quality, distribution and control. Tribal Manufacturing, a machining and manufacturing company. The community, developed by fur traders in the 1800s, is filled with hundreds of historic Greek Revival, Gothic Revival and Italiante homes and buildings, according to choosemarshall.com, operated by the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance. Its 19th-century architecture has been recognized by the National Park Service. Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer to close deal with Ford, bring 2,500 battery jobs to Marshall Two men were shot while traveling south on I-95 near Claymont early Monday, Delaware State Police said. The gunfire came from an unknown vehicle that was also traveling south on the interstate, according to police. The incident began as the men were heading south on I-95 in a Nissan Altima in the area of Darley Road. The Altima was in the interstate's left lane when police said an unknown vehicle traveling in I-95's right lane began shooting at the passenger side of the Altima. The gunfire struck the face of the 33-year-old driver and the torso of the 30-year-old front-seat passenger, according to police. A rear-seat occupant was not struck, police said. The driver pulled onto the right shoulder, while one of the passengers called police. The driver then drove to an area hospital, where both victims were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Police met the men there at about 2:50 a.m. The Altima, with damage from several bullet holes, was found in front of the hospital's emergency room. More:Teen charged after 15-year-old boy shot, killed in New Castle home, say police For subscribers:Why you didn't hear from Wilmington police on the violent attack of an 82-year-old woman Troopers who responded to the area where the shooting occurred found five shell casings on I-95 south. There was no description of the suspect vehicle available early Monday afternoon. Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: I-95 shooting near Claymont, Delaware, leaves 2 men injured Unemployment seems to be staying about the same according to the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) report for St. Francois County. Numbers have slightly increased since September 2022, which was the best month for the county the year, but have since stayed around a 3.1%. According to the Fed, St. Francois County started off 2022 with the highest unemployment since the previous year, with 4.7% of the county being considered unemployed. The best month for unemployment in the county during 2022 was September, which saw a low of 2.5%. October and November show a slight increase, with October 2022 seeing 3.1% and November 2022 seeing 3.2% unemployment, but the number had slightly decreased for the month of December, dropping to 3.1% While December 2022 is a slight decrease compared to November, the number is still relatively low compared to the previous years. Since COVID, this December has been the lowest in three years. In December 2020, St. Francois County saw 5.5% unemployment, in December 2021 the number decreased to 3.9%, and now this past December the countys unemployment rate was 3.1%. The data from the Fed is looked at monthly from current population surveys and looks at the civilian labor force, people aged 16 or older, to see who is employed or unemployed. Employed people are defined as people who did any work as paid employees, worked in their business, profession, or farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in an enterprise operated by a member of their family. Unemployed people are defined as those who had no employment during the reference week, were available for work except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the four-week period. People who are waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off are not required to be looking for work to be classified as unemployed. Branch Manager Kendall Bourne with Proman Staffing out of Farmington said there have been layoffs in the area and imagines it would be a reason to see an increase in unemployment. I would say were seeing a heavier applicant flow of people looking for work than what weve seen in the past couple of years, especially like post-COVID, said Bourne. Its starting to pick up a little bit in terms of applicants, but now the business isnt really there. Bourne said, while there might have been more than 20 clients at one time, Bourne said there are currently eight or nine businesses wanting to hire people. While Bourne said the number of businesses looking to hire is down, employers are still looking for workers. Bourne mentioned the Department of Corrections is always hiring. We keep getting told, in the spring things will pick up, said Bourne, but what do we do until then? I dont see that businesses are as active as they once were. Bourne mentioned having talked to the women at Express Employment Professionals and they have been seeing the same issue. Were hopeful in the next few months or by the end of the year we have more openings to fill for people. I hope to see that unemployment number drop, said Bourne. A state Senate committee is considering legislation that would incentivize unemployed Missourians to rejoin the workforce. Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 21, which would modify the duration an individual can receive unemployment benefits by creating a sliding scale model tying the length of unemployment benefits to the states unemployment rate. The duration would range from a high of 20 weeks if the state unemployment rate is higher than 9%, to eight weeks if the unemployment rate is at or below 3.5%. Sen. Bernskoetter is a small business owner and said he has had trouble trying to find employees for the business. A similar bill has been introduced in the Missouri House by Rep. Jeff Knight, R-Lebanon. Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director of Legislative Affairs Heide Sutherland said the Missouri chamber supports Sen. Bernskoetters bill, saying the current labor shortages create a need to pass the legislation. Dr. Justin Dunnavant The Devils Hole pupfish is the rarest fish on the planet, with fewer than 200 in the world. Though the stats are not quite as stark, Black women divers are also a rarity. More than 85 percent of professional divers in the U.S. are men, 63 percent of all divers are white, and 9 percent Black, according to Zippia. Despite these small numbers, Black women are making their mark in organizations like Diving With a Purpose, founded by Ken Stewart in 2003 to provide education, training, certification, and field experience to adults and youth in maritime archaeology and ocean conservation. DWP focuses on the protection, documentation and interpretation of African slave trade shipwrecks and the maritime history and culture of African Americans. Ayana Omilade Flewellen, PhD., Rebecca Hunter, and Shirikiana Gerima are aqua adventurers who dive with DWP and volunteer as mentors and instructors with the organization, shared stories of how they came to diving, their experiences diving around the world, searching for slave wrecks, teaching the next generation and more. Flewellen is an assistant professor at Stanford Universitys Department of Anthropology and a marine archaeologist, one of about 20 Black women in the U.S. with this certification. The 32-year-old has been a diver since 2016. She was inspired by a DWP board member she met at a conference who was looking for Black archaeologists to learn maritime archaeology. Hearing about the mission of DWP opened my mind to the possibility. Before that meeting, I never imagined I would become a diver or do underwater archaeological work. Once I was in the water, there was no way of getting me out. I was hooked, Flewellen says. Rebecca Hunter. Matthew Lawrence To do underwater research you must obtain a Scientific SCUBA Driving certification through the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, a process that can take 6-12 months. We learn so much during our certification, including the history of diving, regulations, human physiology underwater, elementary chemistry for gas compositions as well as underwater navigation. Story continues Flewellens come a long way from that girl trying to swim during summer camp who nearly drowned. (Her mother ended up enrolling her in a free swim program.) Now, Flewellen has dived in St. Croix, St. John, the Red Sea in Egypt, and Florida. Ive done work around ships involved in the Transatlantic Slave Trade like the Clotilda (the last known slave ship to arrive in the U.S.) project in Mobile, Alabama. It was an amazing experience to dive on a vessel known to have carried enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. It is also the only ship found to date that has the most intact hull where enslaved Africans were held. Emotional doesnt even begin to articulate what that experience was like. To actually touch the wood of that vessel, to be able to hold fragments of that history I actually dont have words for it, just a deep reverence. She has never encountered danger while diving, But one time while doing a coral survey in Key Biscayne a huge white manta ray swam right up beside me and was like, What are you doing here?. It scared the life out of me! The ocean is full of life, they are as curious about us as we are about them. Whats troubling, she says, is in the 21st century we are still dealing with firsts. In 2008 Grace Turner was the first Black woman to get a masters in maritime archaeology. The field is inaccessible for many of us, in terms of representation, cost, and educational obtainment. Until recently there were no internal drives from within the discipline to shift that. DWP has changed that. Shes optimistic though. There are barriers like the cost of training, the cost of equipment and for education field schools for students, but Black women are making strides, simply by showing up and carving out our own paths and ensuring that those pathways are sustainable for people who come after us. The truth is, its not only those issues. Black people have a history with water, coming to this country via ships, being dumped in riversthere is real trauma. Black Americans didnt always have access to public pools and beaches which I would argue left generational scars in regard to our relationship to water, she says. But the rewards are huge for taking to the water. I gained a new-found sense of how interconnected everything is. Whats her word to other Black women? The water is calling. There is a whole other world to experience. Rebecca Hunter was a snorkeler, who while on vacation in Mexico more than two decades ago was encouraged by a friend to try scuba. She took an introductory course, and they did a shallow dive. She would go on to get her certification in 1998. Shes retired and at 61, spends her time between California and Florida. Shes been diving for 25 years in far flung locales such as Indonesia, the Maldives, Fiji, Egypt, Tahiti, and Australia. It didnt come easy at first. I had to get out of my own head. I experienced a great deal of anxiety. It would sometimes hit me that there was a huge amount of water between me and the surface. I learned to calm myself by touching another person to center myself and I also tried underwater photography to focus my attention on finding something to photograph, says Hunter, who volunteers with the DWP Maritime Archaeology Program and the DWP Cares Coral Program as an instructor and mentor. She is a lifetime member of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers. I had always hoped to get up close to whales, sharks, dolphins and I have, she says but she gets as much joy peering into holes and crevices for small creatures and watching the sea life exist and co-exist in its natural environment. Although theres a lot of activity down there, the ocean is also a very peaceful place where the only sound you hear is our own breathing. Its beautiful. Theres beauty below, but above on the boat, there can be challenges. I was the only Black woman on a dive boat. Needless to say, there was not much enthusiasm when everyone else learned that someone would need to be my dive buddy. But I think more people are becoming aware of the fact that we are here. Black women are getting more exposure thanks to the climate in the country and world that has forced some to acknowledge our presence and qualifications. Shirikiana Gerima is psyched to return to the hunt for the slave ship Guerrero shipwreck in July. After two decades of searching, the DWP and Biscayne National Park are partnering to go for what may be the final mission after 20 years of searching in those waters for it. I am so excited! she confesses. We have been trying to make a positive identification for years. Were getting close. Gerima is a certified dive master, scientific diver, and DWP instructor, and is working on becoming a diving instructor. Shes been diving since 2013. I love diving, particularly as it relates to finding ways to make the world a better place, says the 67-year-old filmmaker and co-founder of Sankofa Video and Books & Cafe in Washington, D.C. This is what my work in film and my bookstore has always sought to do and now, extending this work into the oceans has been wonderful. She was doing laps in a swimming pool in Washington, D.C. with her daughter when she saw some Black divers training in the pool, and asked them how she might become one, too. These days shes training young folk in marine archaeology advocacy through DWP, and working with organizations on coral conservation. Gerima was part of the crew in 2015 scouring the waters of Biscayne National Park in Florida for the Guerrero. Its emotional and a little eerie, but at the same time I feel like I have a mission to uncover history, to not waste my time on the planet. Discovery is important. You think about how long those souls have been wondering when someone was coming for them. Its spiritual. I want them to know that were trying to understand what they went through and grateful for their bravery. Protecting cultural heritage in the ocean is top-of-mind. We dont want these sites to be destroyed and looted, but to preserve history to see what can be learned. 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. Valley of the Sun United Way's first Latina CEO, Carla Vargas Jasa, poses for a portrait at the VSUW offices on Jan. 20, 2023, in Phoenix, Ariz. Valley of the Sun United Way has been serving Maricopa County since 1927, tackling systemic inequities that lead to issues in health, housing, education and employment. Maricopa County is home to many communities of color, but none larger than the Latino community, which represents 32% of the countys population, per recent Census data. So when Carla Vargas Jasa was named the organizations first Latina president and CEO in 2019, it dawned on her how impactful that feat was for her and her community. I didn't even know that until I read the press release that the group had drafted and asked me to approve before it was sent out announcing me coming onboard, Vargas Jasa told The Arizona Republic. I was like, really? So yeah, it did surprise me and certainly was an honor. Since being appointed as the president of the organization, Vargas Jasa has implemented goals and strategies that aim to address the needs of all Maricopa County residents, especially when so many identify as Latinos and immigrants. She sees them, she said, in a way that only a child of immigrants can. Settling down in the United States Vargas Jasas parents migrated to the United States from Paraguay when her mother was pregnant with her. She was born while her parents were living in student housing at Penn State University, where her father was working on his doctorate degree. Her parents had been blacklisted from their home country of Paraguay. Vargas Jasas father was a leader of the student movement against the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner in Paraguay, the longest-standing dictatorship of the 20th century in the Global South. After being jailed and tortured for leading protests against the dictatorship, Vargas Jasas parents left the country as soon as they married. Once Vargas Jasa was born, her parents began their careers. Her father alternated between being a professor of business administration and working in that industry; her mother became an English teacher. Despite her mother not being as fluent in English when she first arrived in the U.S., Vargas Jasa said it became a priority for her to learn and instill that in her daughter. Story continues She didn't speak much English when we came here, Vargas Jasa said. She had studied it, but she made a point of teaching English first, knowing that they likely wouldn't be able to return to Paraguay and wanting me to be able to function in the society. Vargas Jasa didnt learn to speak Spanish fluently until her family moved to Mexico for a couple of years while her father was working in Guadalajara. Vargas Jasas father relocated for jobs a few times during her childhood. Vargas Jasa moved to Tucson twice, where she lived while her father worked at University of Arizona. She permanently moved to metro Phoenix in 2019. Finding her calling After graduating from El Dorado High School in Orange County, California, Vargas Jasa went on to earn her bachelors degree in political science from UC Berkeley. Her goal was to become a human rights lawyer, but after working at a law firm during college, she decided to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector. I shifted my thinking about wanting to work in the nonprofit sector to really influence issues that I cared about that I realized were human rights issues, Vargas Jasa said. Like people being able to have a safe home to live in and having access to education no matter where it was that they grew up, and being able to be healthy and having a good job. And I realized that the nonprofit sector was the best place to do that work and ultimately made that transition. Vargas Jasa remained in California for a few years and used the legal skills she learned during college to work as a legal advocate at a domestic violence shelter organization, assisting women in filing restraining orders and guiding them in other legal procedures. Valley of the Sun United Way's first Latina CEO, Carla Vargas Jasa, poses for a portrait at the VSUW offices on Jan. 20, 2023, in Phoenix, Ariz. In 1998, Vargas Jasa joined Orange County United Way as vice president of investor relations. She later became senior vice president of community impact and chief operating officer in 2017. In September 2019, the organization named her president of the Arizona chapter. According to Vargas Jasa, her move to Arizona and to Valley of the Sun United Way was inspired by her time spent in Tucson, as well as a long-distance relationship-turned-marriage that she maintained for five years. Vargas Jasa was able to learn more about Arizonas different communities and the issues they faced because her now-husband held a job in Scottsdale and shed visit him every weekend. Establishing leadership during the pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic started less than a year after Vargas Jasa began her leadership role in Phoenix. Vargas Jasa said that despite the hardships of the pandemic, Valley of the Sun United Way was able to continue working smoothly because they already had a hybrid work environment set up. With that system already in place, Vargas Jasa and her team were able to launch a COVID-19 response fund within a week and partnered with Arizona Community Foundation to distribute more than $400,000 to nonprofits across the Valley. The response fund ultimately raised $3 million. It felt like every day we would wake up and not know what was going to be going on that day, Vargas Jasa said. And so, you know, that was hard. It's hard for anybody, right? It was hard for me too but you know, you need to roll with it. And I feel like I really stepped into my authentic leadership style during that time frame. Vargas Jasa and her team launched MC2026 in March 2021, a five-year plan for Mighty Change in Maricopa County. Some of those goals include: Decreasing food insecurity by 50% by 2026. Increasing the number of individuals with access to affordable health care by 100,000 by 2026. Reducing homelessness by 50% by 2026. Valley of the Sun United Way received a $25 million gift from Amazon co-founder and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in December 2020, the largest single donation ever received by the organization. Vargas Jasa told the Republic that receiving the gift from Scott was one of her proudest moments as a leader. Being the first Latina President and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way, Vargas Jasa said that she feels the community has been very receptive to her and that her background as a Latina woman helps provide insight into the community that she serves. I have seen firsthand a lot of the challenges that people deal with in their home countries and coming here, and yeah, I do think that that's been helpful. Vargas Jasa said. I'm also an only child of two immigrants who again have their own trauma and issues that they dealt with both in their childhoods and coming here and I hope that people understand that and see that and know that I see them. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Becoming the 1st Latina leader of Valley of the Sun United Way Shauna Meyer finds a safe place to receive her COVID-19 vaccination mother Jackie Meyer's lap in this 2021 archive photo from Ventura. Officials say free vaccines will still be available after the local and state COVID emergency ends on Feb. 28. COVID-19 vaccines will remain free for all at least temporarily after local, state and federal emergency orders end but people will have to pay more for home tests starting in May and many may eventually face charges for medications like Paxlovid. On Tuesday, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to end the nearly 3-year-old local COVID emergency order on Feb. 28, the same day Californias statewide emergency ends. The federal declarations conclude about two months later on May 11. Nearly all mandates and restrictions in Ventura County were long ago removed. The local order was used mostly to facilitate federal reimbursement of pandemic aid programs. Officials said few if any disturbances to vaccines, testing and medications are expected after the order's end in about two weeks. But the May expiration of the federal order will mark the beginning of a transition to insurance coverage, which determines how much people pay for COVID-19 tests and eventually vaccines and medications like Paxlovid. Those who are uninsured and under-insured will lose out. That is a common thread, said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation nonprofit that analyzes national and global health issues. Officials for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services said on Thursday access to care will be maximized and set a goal of making the transition as "seamless as possible." Kates expects there will be problems, partly because of the intertwined involvement of government agencies, insurers and other private entities. I do think its not going to necessarily be the smoothest transition. There could be gaps and snafus along the way, she said. Will vaccines remain free for all? The federal government has already bought more than 1 billion doses of vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna, according to Kaiser Family Foundation, in a supply expected to last until summer or fall. The vaccines are distributed to states and then local jurisdictions like Ventura County. Story continues The supply means little is expected to change immediately. People who want vaccines will still be able to use the state My Turn website or make appointments directly with pharmacies for free shots and boosters. Vaccines are also available at two public health clinics in Oxnard with an inventory expected to last the rest of the year. Change is expected when the supply diminishes and cost burdens shift to insurance companies. People without insurance will likely have to pay while those covered privately or through Medicare and Medi-Cal will still be covered through provisions of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. If you have insurance, youre pretty much guaranteed free vaccines, Kates said. People who are uninsured are not going to get the same protection. Will I be able to get tested? Nearly all of the state-run test sites in the county have already closed and two mobile mini-bus sites are set to shut down Feb. 24 in Oxnard and Thousand Oaks. People can still request free tests mailed to their home from the federal government but that program could end when supplies diminish. After May 11, private insurers will no longer be obligated to provide eight home tests a month. Tests will still be readily available but won't be free. "Our estimate is that most people will be faced with at least cost-sharing," Kates said. "We know anytime there's a cost-sharing, it creates a burden for some people." What about Paxlovid? Antiviral medications like Paxlovid are used to reduce the chance of serious illness and hospitalizations in people at higher risk because of age or health condition. The medication will continue to be provided free until the federal governments inventory runs out. Coverage will then depend on insurance. Uninsured people may have to pay for the medicine, sparking concerns that many will go without, increasing their risk of complications. Not everyone can afford it, said Dr. George Yu, a Camarillo pulmonologist. These people will get sick. Rigoberto Vargas, director of Ventura County Public Health, said officials will be monitoring the COVID care transition and will work to hurdle any issues that emerge with medications, vaccines and tests. It may be a little different but I dont think there will be any significant broad barrier, he said. What else will change? Low-income residents received a minimum of $95 a month more for food during the pandemic in the state's CalFresh program. The payments end in March in Ventura County. As many as 50,000 Ventura County residents could lose Medi-Cal coverage over 14 months because pandemic measures that eliminated the need for eligibility review and barred programs from dropping members are expiring. State officials have launched an outreach campaign aimed at people who need to update their eligibility status. The end of the state of emergency will also impact hospitals. They stand to lose waivers that include providing for surge plans that expand intensive care areas, said Jan Emerson-Shea, spokeswoman for the California Hospital Association. She said the waivers are still needed and noted hospitals are also asking the state for $1.5 billion in aid to alleviate the massive financial impact of COVID. Hospitals are still in a very precarious situation, she said. While we all want the pandemic to be over, its not. Hospitals are the place where this shows up. Will the money keep coming? The Federal Emergency Management Agency reimburses the county more than $800,000 a month in costs related to COVID, much of it for a Project Roomkey program that uses local motels to house homeless people at high risk of serious illness. County officials say they are hopeful the reimbursements will continue until the federal emergency ends in May but there is no guarantee. County officials said the goal is keep the program going until people can be transitioned into other housing programs. During the pandemic, the health care system was streamlined. Outside of some notable gaps, it was relatively easy to get vaccinated or tested or to find Paxlovid. The end of the emergency orders will likely mean more barriers, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infection disease specialist from UC San Francisco. People will have to plan every step. Some, who long grew tired of the pandemic, may not try. They may just decide to go without. People will give up, Chin-Hong said. Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: To see more stories like this, subscribe here. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: End of COVID emergencies means Ventura County residents may pay more Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Florida SouthWestern State Colleges Collier County campus on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. TALLAHASSEE As a feud over an African American studies course continues between Gov. Ron DeSantis administration and the College Board, the governor said Monday that Florida will "look to re-evaluate" its relationship with the organization. This College Board, like, nobody elected them to anything. Theyre just kind of there, and theyre providing service. So you can either utilize those services or not. And theyve provided these AP (Advanced Placement) courses for a long time. But, you know, there are probably some other vendors who may be able to do that job as good, or maybe even a lot better, DeSantis said during a news conference in Naples. Tension between Florida education officials and the College Board became public last month after the state objected to several topics that were proposed for inclusion in an Advanced Placement African American studies course that was being developed. The Florida Department of Education sent a letter to the College Board citing topics that were initially planned for the course, including Black queer studies and the reparations movement, and essentially saying the state would not offer the course unless changes were made. The College Board develops Advanced Placement courses, which are college-level classes offered to high-school students. The College Board on Feb. 1 released an updated framework for the course that scrubbed the topics that the department took issue with, as well as works of various authors also called into question by the department that would have been required in the course. It also sought to dispel that it was making the changes because of Floridas objections. No states or districts have seen the official framework that is released, much less provided feedback on it. This course has been shaped only by the input of experts and long-standing AP principles and practices, the organization said in a statement that accompanied the framework. The Florida education department responded to the updated framework in a Feb. 7 letter. The departments Office of Articulation highlighted a series of communications that it said had taken place with the College Board since early last year. Story continues That FDOE and The College Board have been communicating since January 2022 regarding the proposed course is remarkable. We do appreciate the regular, two-way verbal and written dialogue on this important topic, the departments letter said. Without accepting the revised course framework, the department said it is looking forward to reviewing your complete and official resubmission of the course for next school year. But in a statement posted to its website Saturday, the College Board expressed regret at not pushing back against the DeSantis administration. We deeply regret not immediately denouncing the Florida Department of Educations slander, magnified by the DeSantis administrations subsequent comments, that African American Studies lacks educational value. Our failure to raise our voice betrayed Black scholars everywhere and those who have long toiled to build this remarkable field, the statement said. Asked about the College Boards statement Monday, DeSantis again took shots at what he called indoctrination in education. The College Board was the one that, in a Black studies course, put queer theory in. Not us, they did that. They were the ones that put in intersectionality. They put in other types of neo-Marxism into the proposed syllabus, the governor said. Flanked by state legislative leaders, DeSantis said he has already talked with House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, about re-evaluating the states use of the College Boards products. In addition to Advanced Placement courses, the College Board also creates the SAT test that evaluates prospective college students on reading, math, writing and language and is factored into higher-education admissions. I think the Legislature is going to look to re-evaluate kind of how Floridas doing that. Of course, our universities can or cant accept College Board courses for credit. Maybe theyll do others. And then also just whether our universities do the SAT versus the ACT. I think they do both. But were going to evaluate kind of how that process goes, DeSantis said. The 2023 legislative session is slated to start March 7, and various proposals targeting what DeSantis calls trendy ideology have been floated for consideration. Meanwhile, the DeSantis administrations rejection of the African American studies course has drawn ire from Black state lawmakers and religious leaders. Prominent civil-rights attorney Ben Crump also has threatened to file a lawsuit against the administration because of the move. Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, accused DeSantis of potentially threatening educational access for Florida students if the state severs ties with the College Board. Imagine this, the Gov is willing to sink the entire ship, denying students of educational access, all for what? Wokeness, which is really anti-Blackness, racism, and the epitome of TRUE indoctrination, Jones said in a Twitter post Monday. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis further criticizes provider of Advanced Placement courses Attorney Scott North from the firm of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP speaks on behalf of Chestnut Solar LLC during the Marion County Commissioners' meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. The commissioners approved a resolution opposing the proposed Chestnut Solar facility in Pleasant Township. The Marion County Commissioners have adopted a resolution expressing opposition to a proposed solar energy facility in Pleasant Township. In 2016, the National Renewable Energy Corporation (NARENCO) based in Charlotte, North Carolina, began concept work for a proposed Chestnut Solar LLC solar farm in Pleasant Township. According to the Chestnut Solar LLC website, the 68 megawatt project would be located on about 500 acres of farmland. The company has filed an application with the Ohio Power Siting Board. Commissioners Mark Davis and Kerr Murray voted in favor of the resolution during the commissioners meeting on Thursday. Commissioner Andy Appelfeller was not present at the meeting. This is the first resolution approved by the Marion County Commissioners regarding solar or wind energy facilities that names a specific company. Other resolutions have affirmed resolutions from township trustees seeking to restrict the development of large-scale solar and wind facilities. The commissioners resolution approved on Thursday states that the Facility proposed in the Chestnut Solar application is incompatible with the adopted policies for development of renewable energy and farmland preservation under terms of the amended Marion County Land Use Plan adopted by the commissioners on March 8, 2012. The resolution further states that the construction and operation of the Facility would be incompatible with the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Marion County, and therefore would not serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity of the residents of the County. Attorney Scott E. North of the law firm Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP attended Thursdays meeting to represent Chestnut Solar. He told the commissioners that adopting the resolution would be premature and ill-advised given its reliance on a false statement contained in the resolution, according to Chestnut Solar officials. Story continues According to a document North provided to the Star, Chestnut Solar and its representatives take issue with the following statement in resolution: Chestnut Solar has not provided the Marion County Board of Commissioners with the evidence necessary to demonstrate that the Facility is grandfathered from the application of Sections 303.61, 303.62, and 4906.102 of the Ohio Revised Code, despite several requests starting four months ago by the Boards representatives for that evidence. North said Jack Van Kley, an attorney retained by the Marion County Commissioners to investigate Chestnut Solars claims that the company is grandfathered under terms of Ohio Senate Bill 52, has not yet completed his investigation and was scheduled to meet with Chestnut Solar officials and its attorneys on Thursday afternoon at the offices of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP in Columbus. At that meeting, North said, Van Kley would be shown non-public information and documents that would corroborate information that Chestnut has already provided to Attorney Van Kley, demonstrating that the Project is grandfathered. Charles Hall, Marion County assistant prosecuting attorney, told the commissioners that Van Kley has shown him emails sent to Chestnut Solar requesting the information that would show the company is grandfathered under terms Ohio Senate Bill 52. Hall stated that the company did not comply with the requests for information. In June 2022, the county commissioners approved a resolution submitted by the Pleasant Township Trustees to restrict the development of large-scale solar and wind facilities in the township. According to the resolution, which Pleasant Township Trustees approved on Dec. 29, 2021, "no solar or wind farms considered 'major utility facility' are to be constructed in Pleasant Township." The Marion County Commissioners have approved resolutions seeking to restrict the development of solar and wind projects from trustees in eight of the county's fifteen townships: Big Island, Claridon, Green Camp, Pleasant, Prospect, Richland, Salt Rock, and Waldo. According to the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) database, only one solar project has been approved to operate in Marion County. The Marion County Solar Project LLC is a proposed 100 megawatt solar energy facility that will be located on approximately 500 to 600 acres of land in northern Marion Township. The OPSB granted approval for the project in November 2021. Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion County Commissioners voice opposition to Chestnut Solar project As the Elmira historian, Ive always felt that our city was short-changed when we changed our name from Newtown to Elmira. Had we kept the Newtown moniker, we could have a welcome to Newtown sign that would have said settled around 1788, instead of Town of Elmira town incorporated 1808, or City of Elmira incorporated 1864. The name change cut off 76 years. If we start from Native American history, Elmira dates to the autumn of 1730 when Red Jacket, the wise orator, sent couriers to the Five Nations and convened a council at Pine Plains (the Chemung County area), a well-known place of assembly near todays eastern end of Water Street and Interstate 86. Elmira was then called Ka-na-we-o-la. The native village had, at one time, 20 well-built houses. Cartographer Guy Johnson drew the first map of our area in 1771, called Country of the Six Nations. Chemung County was still a blank space. General John Sullivan destroyed the Indian village of Kanaweola (near todays Kennedy Valve) in 1779. Four years later, Matthias Hollenback opened the first local trading post near todays Clarion hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn) on East Water Street. A few settlers arrived after the 1786 Treaty of Fort Stanwix, which theoretically made our region safe for white settlers. The Iroquois were to remain in western New York. The villages of Newtown, Wisnerburg, and Dewittsburg combined into the Village of Newtown in 1790. Guy Johnsons 1771 map of New York. From the 1892 book by Thomas Donaldson Indians The Six Nations of New York. At its earliest dates, Newtown, now Elmira, had no bridges over the Chemung River. Matthias Hollenbacks trading post was the only store within 20 miles. For most of the year, a Durham boat on the Susquehanna and Chemung rivers provided the transportation for goods from his large warehouse in Wilkes-Barre. When the weather was terrible, Hollenback resorted to using packhorses. Hollenbacks store offered coffee, guns, gunpowder, brown sugar, chocolate, blankets, soap, cloth, candles, whiskey, and more. Inns and taverns served nut brown ale that kept locals and visitors happy. It was not uncommon to see Native Americans strolling down River Street. Wolves howled in the nearby hills. According to legend, Captain Nathan Teall came to Newtown around 1794 and opened Tealls Tavern on Sullivan Street near East Water. One of the frequent guests was State Assemblyman Judge Emmanuel Coryell, who lived somewhere between Athens and Owego. At the time, Judge Coryell was head of a committee to change the name of Newtown as there were several other Newtowns in the state. Consumers:Behind on NY utility bills? Relief is coming. But ratepayers will eat the cost Education:Bath school superintendent handoff will be seamless: What outgoing, incoming chiefs are saying Groceries:Why is Wegmans carrying more of its own products, and what do customers think? According to the Star-Gazette on June 27, 1939, One night in 1806, little Elmira Teall, Nathans youngest daughter, climbed into his [Coryells] lap and went to sleep. Noticing her beauty, Judge Coryell thought it matched the beauty of the surrounding country and later, according to the story, asked for the Board of Trustees to change the name of Newtown to Elmira. The name Elmira is said to come from Spanish words of Moorish origin, El Mira meaning beautiful outlook. Wellingtons troops took the name back to England from their Spanish campaigns, and eventually, it became the name of a character in a book. It is surmised that Mrs. Teall had read the book and named her youngest child after that character.Our main street in the earliest times was Sullivan Street, named for General John Sullivan of the Battle of Newtown. Todays Water Street was called River Street. Down the road, in Chemung, New York, their sign says established 1788. Wellsburg dates to 1788. Van Etten dates to 1794. Owego dates to 1786. The only existing reference to the name Newtown lives on as Newtown Creek, which meanders from Park Station through Chemung County where it connects with the Chemung River in Elmira. Diane Janowski is the Elmira city historian. Her column appears monthly. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Chemung County history: Indigenous settlements to a girl named Elmira Hamayoon Azizi looks at a workbook with his children at their home in Iowa City. This is the second part of a two-part series about two refugee families living in Iowa City. The sound of laughter and cheerful squeals of three young, energetic siblings fills the Azizis home in Iowa City one January afternoon. They put together a puzzle depicting a bright red barn and farm animals on the floor of their living room the same room with the TV they accidentally damaged from too much indoor play before quickly bringing out large hopper balls to bounce on and toss around. Two-year-old Mohammad Yasin repeatedly loses his balance playing with the large ball, falling with a grin on his face, far too excited to care about anything else. Meanwhile sister Omra, 4, and older brother Mohammad Abasin, 5, play around with each other. Its rather quiet outside in this southeast Iowa City neighborhood. Most noticeably, there are no gunshots, a sound that sometimes rang out around the childrens home in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Father Hamayoon Azizi and mother Rukhsar told their children the sound was from a neighbors wedding. But they knew better. Life changed for the Azizi family following the Talibans return to power in 2021 as the U.S. military withdrew from the country and ended the 20-year war in Afghanistan. Like hundreds of thousands of others, the Azizis fled their home, leaving family, friends and the familiar for safety. At the time, they didnt know theyd end up in a city theyd never heard of located in Americas Midwest, all thanks to six community members who formed a Sponsor Circle. Nor could they anticipate some of the meaningful relationships theyd make in the process of adjusting to life in Iowa City. Over half a year journey to America Hamayoon Azizi looks at a workbook with his children as they put together a puzzle at their home in Iowa City. For about six-and-a-half months, the Azizi family lived within one of the largest Afghan refugee camps in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Humanitarian City, a facility housing Afghan migrants and refugees, made headlines last year as residents there protested its prison-like conditions and the slow resettlement process, Reuters reported in August. Story continues Their room was small. There was no couch, no table, no chair. Just one double bed and one single bed for five people. The food they ate was unfamiliar. Life was boring. It was also taxing on their morale, a seemingly endless period of waiting to get the greenlight to go to America. More:A family of 3 fled Ukraine. Now, they live in Iowa City, where community members stepped up to help. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Hamayoon knew someone like him was at risk. He had worked with a private American company for just over three years, and that association could get him killed. Supervisors assured him theyd help him, his family, and more than 100 other colleagues and their families flee the country. What ensued was multiple attempts to leave over the course of a few months, made unsuccessful with challenges like lack of passports causing the Azizi family to be turned away from the airport despite evacuation plans in place attacks on airports, flight cancellations and fear. Lots of fear, Hamayoon explained. So much that a colleague of Hamayoons died by suicide. Finally, on Oct. 26, 2021, the Azizis successfully left Afghanistan for Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Theyd remain there until mid-May 2022, when they were finally allowed to come to Virginia to the National Conference Center. The Leesburg-based center had acted as a temporary housing facility for thousands of Afghan nationals whod arrived to America as part of Operation Allies Welcome, which helped resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked on behalf of the U.S., according to a Department of Homeland Security news release. Hamayoon was to resettle in America through the Sponsor Circle Program, which launched in 2021 to allow eligible people to form a group of at least five to sponsor and provide the initial assistance to Afghans arriving in the country. The program was to complement the work resettlement agencies, according to a U.S. Department of State news release. Many of Hamayoons peers were wary of the new program. They recommended he not move forward with it. He chose to trust his instincts and his luck. After all, he said, his family had made it to America with that. In Afghanistan, Hamayoon had heard of California, Texas, Hawaii and New York, and other big states. He knew big cities, like Chicago. He didnt know Iowa, and the unfamiliarity made him hesitant to go. But it was the same big cities that Hamayoon knew that other people at the National Conference Center warned him about. Hes new, and he has a wife and three children to support. Big cities would be expensive. With that knowledge, Hamayoon agreed to move to Iowa City. When I come, I (feel) ready to come, he said. A Wilsons Orchard & Farm trip reminds them of home Peg Bouska, right, goes over an English lesson with Rukhsar Azizi at their home in Iowa City. Eric Jones first learned of the Sponsor Circle Program following a tragic U.S. drone strike killed 10 innocent people in Afghanistan earlier 2021. It had moved him to tears. He wanted to help. So did five others. The members of the Sponsor Circle prepared for a family. But for some time, they were without a match, ready to accept that maybe they would never get paired. Until they did. Until they were having a phone call with Hamayoon, a fairly stilted conversation, Jones recalled to be expected considering they were strangers who didnt share the same language. It was encouraging nonetheless. The Azizis arrived late on June 6 at the Eastern Iowa Airport. Sponsor Circle members greeted the Azizis, with the help Tony Razavi, an Iowa City community member from Iran who speaks Dari like Hamayoon and Rukhsar. He interpreted, making their arrival easier. Sally Hartman was among the members who cooked an Afghan meal for the Azizis within the first week at their new home. She said through their connections to other Sponsor Circles and folks involved in similar efforts, it was recommended to cook them a meal and make them feel at home. The dishes they prepared included qabili palaw, a popular rice dish containing meat, carrots, raisins and spices, and zamarod palaw, a rice dish cooked with spinach and other seasonings. Well, they were very appreciative, Hartman said. However, later, we found out that the food we cooked wasn't that good. The Sponsor Circle have helped the Azizis fill out applications for early childhood learning program Head Start, setting up bank accounts, getting them enrolled in English classes at Kirkwood Community College, arranging dental appointments, and more, Carol Tyx explained. Peg Bouska, right, goes over an English lesson with Rukhsar Azizi at her home in Iowa City. There have also been plenty of moments for fun, including a beautiful fall day Tyx and the Azizis spent at Wilsons Orchard & Farm outside of Iowa City. The children raced up and down the rows of apple trees. The day they went, the fruit had been picked over a bit, so theyd lifted the children up high to pick the apples. Rukhsar packed some snacks for them to enjoy. We all sat in the grass and it's the kind of thing that they did in Afghanistan, being outside, going somewhere beautiful and enjoying each other in the surroundings, Tyx said. On weekends in Afghanistan, especially in the summer, Hamyoon said theyd travel somewhere for a picnic. Otherwise, theyd be spending time in their home with family, including his mother and two brothers. They talked about times that they had done things like that in Afghanistan and how much that meant to them to be in the orchard with us, Tyx said. Becoming a family When Hartman recently accompanied Rukhsar to the dentist, she was treated to two large containers of foods that Rukhsar cooked. She insisted that Hartman take it. Hartman explained that the relationship between the Azizis and the members of the Sponsor Circle is mutual, both parties extending invitations to spend time together, including for birthday parties or for holiday gatherings, Tyx later mentioned. Tyx said her children and grandchildren visit with the Azizis when they are in Iowa City. They're part of our extended family, she said, clarifying that she meets with the family frequently separate from those visits. Having them meet my extended family has been (an) important part of feeling like they are part of my close circle. Right now we want to fly: The next phase of life in Iowa City Should the Azizis have remained in Afghanistan under Taliban control, Rukhsar and Omras rights would have been severely restricted, with women exiting both the private and public workforce, whether it be due to finances, indirect coercion, or precautionary measures, according to a UN Development Program report released in October of last year. Secondary education for girls remains severely curtailed in most provinces in Afghanistan, the report stated. Food insecurity and poverty plague Afghanistan as well, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Life in Iowa City is simple. As Hamayoon puts it, its safe, public school education is good and free, and there are opportunities to find work. Right now we are happy, he said. Both Hamayoon and Rukhsar study English, the latter of the two learning rapidly, frequently praised by her tutor, her husband and members of the Sponsor Circle. In mid-January, the Department of State in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services announced Welcome Corps, a new program where American citizens or permanent residents can privately sponsor the resettlement of refugees from around the world. The Azizi children put together a puzzle at their home in Iowa City. Hartman explained that there are phases to the Azizis resettlement journey. The first theyve achieved, from getting them acquainted with their home and neighborhood to getting enrolled for services like Head Start or English classes. The next phase is getting them more integrated into the community. Though the Azizis insist they dont care about the fact that the members of the Sponsor Circle arent their age, Hartman does want them to form connections with people of their age, which may happen as their kids attend school and they meet fellow parents. Community, Jones said, is something he believes they miss. Rukhsar used to regularly cook for dozens of family members, and it was that same large family that would help with parenting. Though its hard to change, Hamayoon said, they want to. One of those changes includes hearing how their young children, particularly daughter Omra, speak their native language with an increasingly American accent, Jones said. For a long time, they were under pressure in Afghanistan, Hamayoon said. Right now we want to fly, he said. Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: How these Afghanistan refugees found new family, life in Iowa City Turkey honours rescue dog who died during earthquake rescue mission (Red Cross/ @CruzRoja_MX) Humanitarian aid charity the Mexican Red Cross has released a video honouring a rescue dog who died while carrying out a mission in Turkey. Posting on Twitter, the charity paid tribute to the dog, called Proteo, who died after helping find two survivors of the Turkey-Syria earthquake, according to local reports. The cause of death has not been reported. It shows rescue staff standing in a square formation in silence before applauding. Hoy despedimos con honores a un gran canino, elemento de la @SEDENAmx que siempre trabajo con valentia y arrojo. Gracias "PROTEO" cuidamos desde un mejor lugar y guia a nuestros binomios en cada busqueda. pic.twitter.com/1AzTGtjf8A Cruz Roja Mexicana IAP (@CruzRoja_MX) February 12, 2023 Today we say goodbye with honors to a great canine, an element of the @SEDENAmx who always worked with courage and courage, the charity wrote. Thank you PROTEO we take care of you from a better place and guide our pairs in each search. Proteo was one of sixteen rescue dogs the Mexican government sent to Turkey last Tuesday to assist with the rescue effort in the country. The dogs had previously been deployed when there was an earthquake in Mexico in 2017, the BBC reported. The secretariat of national defense, a Mexican government department, issued a statement saying: As members of the Mexican Army and Air Force, we are deeply saddened by the loss of our great comrade, the dog named Proteo. You fulfilled your duty as a part of the Mexican team in the search and rescue efforts we carried out for our brothers in Turkey. Thank you for your heroic work. The Independent is appealing for help in raising urgently needed funds following the deadliest earthquake to hit Turkey and Syria in almost a century. It comes as more than 33,000 people have died after the immense 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria last Monday. The toll is expected to increase as rescue crews stop finding survivors ove the coming days. Story continues UN aid chief Martin Griffiths described the earthquake as the worst event in 100 years in this region and predicted that the death toll would at least double. Speaking during a visit to the Turkish city of Adana, he said: I think it is difficult to estimate precisely as we need to get under the rubble but Im sure it will double or more. Thats terrifying. This is nature striking back in a really harsh way. The rescue dogs are trained find survivors in rubble, by sniffing out humans and alerting their handlers by barking and scratching the ground where the smell is strongest. For regular updates on the appeal sign up to our Morning Headlines newsletter by clicking here. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 13: (L-R) White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby take questions during the daily press briefing at the White House February 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Kirby discussed the recent flying objects shot down by U.S. military jets over North America in the past 3 days. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Until we know for sure what was blasted out of the sky Sunday over Lake Huron, expect some theories a lot of theories. And, experts fear, some of the more far-fetched ones are likely to spread on the internet faster than the truth can shoot them down. "We are on high alert for everything," U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing, told WDIV-TV, when the former CIA officer was asked Monday morning about the object at an event in Howell. She said she didn't know whether it was connected to international espionage or academic research. "We are watching our skies much more closely." Later, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there is "no indication of alien or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns." And John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications for the National Security Council, added they are still "working to understand" the recent "high altitude, low-speed craft" that were shot down, adding he "cant go into details." More:U.S. downs unidentified object over Lake Huron after flight restrictions More:Whitmer to close deal with Ford, bring 2,500 battery jobs to Marshall As the Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard search for the object's wreckage, the two groups for whom the unknown object seem to be fascinating the most are those that believe in extraterrestrial aliens and that the government is covering up knowledge of them, the Area 51 folks, and those that fear foreign governments, particularly China, have been spying on us, and that, too, has been covered up. "I would initially describe them as rumors," Wayne State University distinguished professor Matthew Seeger said Monday morning of the various theories that are emerging in the absence of official explanations. "A rumor develops where there is inadequate information about an important topic. And clearly, we have inadequate information about these objects." The informational voids lead to uncertainty and fear, and that, Seeger said, leads people to grasp for explanations that often feed conspiracy theories, and long-standing beliefs about what powerful people and institutions are concealing from them. Story continues Was it a 'real UFO?' In short, here's what we know or have been told, those suspicious of the government would say about what happened. An unidentified flying object UFO that had been tracked across Michigan was shot down by military jets before 3 p.m. Sunday over Lake Huron under the president's orders. The object, whatever it was, was 20,000 feet over Michigans Upper Peninsula. The wreckage, officials said, will be recovered and analyzed. The military said Sunday it wasn't ruling out anything, including the existence of extraterrestrials, but its statement made no mention of an alien spaceship and hinted that it was most likely some sort of spycraft that was wafting its way across the country and one of the Great Lakes afforded the best opportunity to bring it down safely. The fact that the military could shoot down the object and that it wasn't doing "crazy maneuvers," makes it unlikely that it was extraterrestrial or "super unusual," said Dr. Mark Rodeghier, the scientific director of the Center for UFO Studies in Chicago. "In the history of the UFO subject, we have never been successful in trying to successfully down a UFO a real UFO," he said, meaning an extraterrestrial craft. In those cases, he said, the aircraft sensors went haywire. "Everything points to the fact they were terrestrial. That said, I'm still interested in what happened." Long before Sunday afternoon, there have been UFO sightings and worries that the government wasn't telling the truth about it. In 1966, then-U.S. House Minority Leader Gerald Ford urged Congress to investigate a "rash of reported sightings of unidentified flying objects" in Michigan. He said Americans were increasingly alarmed by UFO stories. He was unsatisfied by an Air Force explanation attributing sightings to "swamp gas." The UFO that was downed Sunday over Michigan was one of three the magic number to take an incident to a conspiracy that U.S. fighter jets took out on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The other two were over Alaska and Canada, and it set off not only speculation about what the objects were but why the government is blowing them out of the sky. The Department of Defense's statement Sunday said the object's "path and altitude raised concerns, including that it could be a hazard to civil aviation," and where it was shot down offered the least "impact to people on the ground while improving chances for debris recovery." The Pentagon went on to say that based on its flight path and data "we can reasonably connect this object to the radar signal picked up over Montana, which flew in proximity to sensitive DOD sites," and the military "did not assess it to be a kinetic military threat." Not a kinetic military threat, for civilians, means that it wasn't a weapon. The government claimed it was "a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities." Kirby drew a contrast Monday between the balloon shot down over the Atlantic which was at a much higher altitude, had a payload as big as three school buses, was known to be part of a surveillance program and the three other objects, which were much smaller, but riding prevailing winds. He said there are lots of aircraft for countries, companies, research purposes "that are not nefarious at all." The government, Kirby added, does not know who owns the three other objects that were shot down. But, he said, because the objects were at a lower altitude, they posed a possible risk to aircraft and were downed "out of an abundance of caution." The case for secrets In a news conference Monday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin seemed to deflect questions asking whether the three objects that were downed were connected to China. Instead, the ministry spokesperson reiterated that the entry of the "Chinese civilian unmanned airship" into American airspace was "purely unintended, unexpected and an isolated event," and shooting it down was a "trigger-happy overreaction." Seeger, an expert in crisis communication, said it's possible, though, that the explanation is much simpler. The government just might really not know yet what UFOs are, and unmanned objects were in the atmosphere and the military shot them down as a precaution, a change in standing orders, since the high-flying balloon connected to China that was spotted last month. In addition to Slotkin, U.S. Rep Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, confirmed military aircraft downed the object. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a former Navy officer, tweeted that he was "glad the object was neutralized" over Lake Huron and will continue pressing the defense department "for transparency." And Monday, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton who said "we must continue to defend our airspace and investigate these incidents" began wondering whether there might be a connection between the object being shot down, even though we don't know it's Chinese in origin, is related to Ford's plans to build a massive electric vehicle factory with a Chinese partner in Marshall. Richard Stamps, Oakland University professor emeritus of anthropology, said he believes that it's more likely that the object was some kind of spycraft than an alien spaceship. "When unknowns come up, we as human beings try to understand it and that's where a lot of conspiracy theories come from," Stamps said Monday. "They are attempts to describe the unknown, and many times they are attempts within adequate data." He urged patience and caution before drawing conclusions. Time, and science, will likely tell what the objects were. But in some cases, the government has to keep secrets to protect us. "Is it important to say something?" he added. "When the time is right, say it. When the time is not ready, I'd say go ahead and keep a few secrets. Keep a few secrets from the citizens and keep a few secrets from the news media. There's a time to talk, and a time not to talk." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. Objects shot down Sunday: The object was flying at 20,000 feet over Michigan. Air Forces Northern Command Gen. Glen VanHerck said, when asked about whether it might be extraterrestrial during a news conference, said he hadn't "ruled out anything." Saturday: A UFO that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said violated its airspace. Friday: A UFO over Alaska. It reportedly was the size of a car. Feb. 4: Chinese spy balloon downed over the Atlantic Ocean. It reportedly came into the United States over Alaska in January, and then floated across the country over Idaho and then to the Carolinas. One theory: it was designed to surveil military bases. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rumors, theories spread about UFO shot down over Lake Huron Editor's note: The Tennessean has been covering the concern, controversy and legislation surrounding gender affirming care from the reaction of elected officials to the pushback concerning from advocates of transgender youth. This issue has spurred debate across the community. You can link to other views below. Two pillars of The Tennesseans opinion and engagement mission is to welcome diverse viewpoints and amplify underrepresented views. First, do no harm. The American medical community has strayed a long way from the Hippocratic ideal when treating gender dysphoria. Instead of letting scientific evidence drive treatment protocols, the mainstream medical community in the United States has been driven by ideology with their affirm-only/affirm early gender affirming care policy. These life-altering procedures have questionable benefits at best and well documented adverse health effects. Research shows that by adulthood, many children will outgrow gender dysphoria, making these permanent procedures even more inappropriate. We must protect children from the political beliefs of providers who push elective medical procedures on children that threaten their quality of life now and into adulthood. More:Gender affirming care, Boro Pride, HIV/AIDS funding: Readers respond | Letters Why I am sponsoring this legislation I am sponsoring Senate Bill 1 to prohibit irreversible hormone treatments and surgeries for minors to change their gender identity to differ from their biological sex. The legislation is based on credible scientific studies that point to the dangers of treating children with gender affirming care. Story continues State Rep. William Lamberth and State Senator Jack Johnson arrive for the Inauguration Ceremony of Governor Bill Lee at Legislative Plaza Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Many on the left and in the mainstream medical community would have you believe that Senate Bill 1 is an example of extreme, right-wing conservatives inserting their political ideologies into medical practice without evidence. This couldnt be further from the truth. The science is far from settled. In fact, progressive European countries are reversing course on gender affirming care. Evidence of poor treatment outcomes has convinced these countries to change their protocols to restrict gender affirming care practices. The U.S. standard of care for gender dysphoria is based on low to very low-quality evidence. The most comprehensive study reviewing the scientific research on the efficacy of gender affirming care comes from the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. It concluded there was limited evidence for the effectiveness and safety of gender-affirming hormones in children and adolescents with gender dysphoria, with all studies being uncontrolled, observational studies, and all outcomes of very low certainty. The corresponding NHS study into the efficacy of puberty blockers found similar results. Even in the U.S., puberty blockers are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat gender dysphoria due to the lack of evidence and risks. Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns. How European countries are responding While much of the American medical community seems to think puberty blockers are the gold standard for treatment, these drugs are being used off label. As a result of the NHS research, the UK closed the worlds largest pediatric transgender clinic and reversed its standard of care, abandoning the almost universal use of puberty blockers and crosssex hormones to treat gender dysphoria in children. The new primary treatment for gender dysphoria in the United Kingdom is psychotherapy and psychoeducation. Likewise, both Sweden and Finland, following their own systematic reviews of the evidence, have significantly reversed their long-held pediatric gender affirming treatment protocols in favor of much more cautious treatment guidelines, prioritizing psychosocial interventions while sharply restricting hormone treatment and surgery. When determining medical best practices, we must take into consideration that many of these children will outgrow gender dysphoria. Research from Dr. Michael K. Laidlaw, a medical doctor specializing in endocrinology who has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, shows that the vast majority of children with gender dysphoria will outgrow this condition by adulthood. Authors writing in the peer-reviewed Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy document a spike in children who identify as transgender. They argue that this dramatic rise coupled with scant medical evidence of the long-term benefits of gender affirming care in children raise serious ethical concerns about the ability of trans-identified adolescents -- and more importantly their parents -- to give true informed consent for procedures that have irreversible effects. Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee. Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee. The legislation would press pause until adulthood Finally, the evidence does not support that gender affirming care reduces adolescent suicide deaths. We heard testimony in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee from opponents of SB 1 contending that without puberty blockers and hormones, children would be more likely to die by suicide. State Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin However, once again, the evidence simply does not bear this out. The most comprehensive study of its kind examined the suicide rates of 324 patients over a 30-year period who had taken cross-sex hormones and had undergone sex reassignment surgery. The authors of this Swedish study from 2011 found that when followed out beyond ten years, the sex reassigned group had 19 times the rate of completed suicides and nearly three times the rate of all-cause mortality and inpatient psychiatric care compared to the general population of Sweden. To say the science is settled on the medical effectiveness of gender affirming care is intellectual dishonesty at best, and medical malpractice at worse. Given the permanency of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender reassignment surgeries, there is not enough reliable evidence for doctors or parents to make informed decisions in favor of these practices, and children simply do not have the capacity to consent. This information should give everyone pause and thats all this bill is asking, to press pause on physically transitioning a child until that child is an adult and can make a decision that will have life-long ramifications. Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, is the Senate Majority Leader in the Tennessee General Assembly. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jack Johnson: Why we seek to prohibit gender affirming care for minors Parkland Health Center recently welcomed Ryane Fitzwater, PA-C, to its cardiology team. Fitzwater is a certified physician assistant specializing in cardiovascular disease and emergency medicine. She is accepting new patients at Medical Arts Specialty Clinic, located inside Parkland Health Center at 1103 W. Liberty Street in Farmington. Fitzwater sees patients ages 18 and above for cardiovascular conditions, coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and more. She is part of BJC Medical Group of Missouri, a multi-specialty physician group. Before joining BJC Medical Group Cardiology, Fitzwater practiced as an emergency medicine physician assistant for nine years in Parkland Health Centers emergency department. I find cardiovascular treatment interesting and rewarding, as there are always exciting new procedures and patient care techniques being developed, Fitzwater said, adding she enjoys the patient-provider relationship and always puts her patients first. Fitzwater said she focuses on patient education, her availability to her patients, and time spent understanding and answering their questions. Fitzwater is a mother of two and a triathlete. She loves to read and enjoys new food and new experiences. Fitzwater completed her medical training at Nova Southeastern University in Orlando, Florida. To make an appointment, patients can call 573-760-8488 or visit parklandhealthcenter.org. An Adel computer programmer who entered the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot has been sentenced to three years of probation and 15 days in jail. Chad Heathcote, 42, is one of eight Iowans so far to face charges related to the attack on the Capitol. He pleaded guilty in November 2022 to a single charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol. What did Chad Heathcote do in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot? According to court filings, Heathcote traveled to Washington, D.C., for the rally that preceded the riot, and by 3 p.m. Jan. 6 was outside a door on the northeast side of the building, speaking to an officer who told him not to enter. Another rioter opened the door from inside to leave, and Heathcote went inside, followed by others, disobeying orders from an officer to leave until a group of officers ejected them through the door they'd entered. Heathcote was not accused of property damage or violence toward officers. Chad Heathcote was charged Tues. May 5, 2022, with participating in the Jan. 6., 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Heathcote was arrested in Adel Wed. May 4, 2022. Who is Chad Heathcote? In court filings and at Monday's sentencing, defense attorney Andrew Graeve has portrayed Heathcote as a hardworking family man. According to Graeve, Heathcote came from an abusive childhood home, served as a mechanic in the National Guard and Navy and worked as an engineer and entrepreneur before teaching himself computer programming, which he now does for a central Iowa company. He is married and has one child. Previously:Another Iowan pleads guilty to charges from Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot Prosecutors on Monday agreed that Heathcote's background, which includes no criminal record, spoke in his favor. Instead, they focused on what they believed to be his role in furthering the riot. What was Chad Heathcote's sentence? Heathcote requested he be sentenced 12 months probation, while prosecutors asked for 36 months as well as 30 days of incarceration. Judge Carl Nichols sentenced Heathcote to 36 months probation and ordered him to serve 15 days in jail, broken up into weekends, and pay $500 restitution for damage to the Capitol. Story continues Prosecutor Jason Manning said jail time was appropriate because Heathcote had been the first through the door and inspired others to follow. "His conduct was critical in helping a group of rioters breach a door that, before Mr. Heathcote approached it, was not breached," he said. Nichols said Heathcote's actions were "about average" compared with other Jan. 6 participants convicted of similar charges and noted he accepted responsibility and expressed remorse for his actions. Court documents also note Heathcote previously held aircraft pilot and training licenses, which have been revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration because of his involvement in the Jan. 6 riot. What did Chad Heathcote have to say about his actions? Heathcote spoke before Nichols announced the sentence and said he appeared with "deep regret and a heavy heart." "In hindsight, I wish I had never gone to D.C.," he said. "If this experience has taught me anything, its that I only have the ability to change myself. I'm determined to make amends and move forward positively." Nichols said he found Heathcote's statement to be sincere and counted it in his favor at sentencing. More:As first cases resolve, some of Iowa's Jan. 6 riot defendants begin to speak Which Iowans still face charges? Eight Iowans have been charged in the Jan. 6 attack, and seven have been convicted or pleaded guilty. Only Leo Kelly, a technology executive from Cedar Rapids, is still awaiting trial, scheduled for May. Of the seven convicted, five have been sentenced, including Heathcote. The longest has been for Kyle Young of Redfield, sentenced to more than seven years in prison; the shortest, next to Heathcote, was a 30-day sentence for Daryl Johnson of St. Ansgar. Still awaiting sentencing are Polk County mother-and-son duo Deborah and Salvador Sandoval in April. 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: Iowa Navy veteran involved in Jan. 6 Capitol riot gets 15 day sentence A 65-year-old woman died in a fire Saturday evening at this house at 118 North 11th St. in Thibodaux, shown Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. A 65-year-old Thibodaux woman died after her house caught fire Saturday, authorities said today. The victim was identified as Patricia Cooper Kennedy, according to the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office, which is investigating. The Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department said it responded to the blaze at 118 North 11th St. at 4:47 p.m. Saturday. "First units arrived at 4:50 p.m. and observed heavy fire in the rear on the right side of the structure," the department said in a post to its Facebook page. "Members advanced into the structure and extinguished the fire." More local news:Candlelight ceremony planned for Dulac deckhand missing from tugboat in Gulf of Mexico For subscribers:Big crowds prompt changes for next year's King Cake Festival in Thibodaux. Here's the plan. Firefighters found the woman's body in her bed, Fire Chief Tony Boudreaux said. Kennedy had limited mobility, and authorities suspect smoking was a factor in the fire, Fire Marshal's Office spokesman Ashley Rodrigue said in a telephone interview Sunday. "At the moment, we are unable to rule out the possibility of unsafe smoking practices as the cause," Rodrigue said. Kennedy and her husband owned the home, which sustained substantial damage. He was out purchasing cigarettes at the time of the fire, Rodrigue said. The house did not have smoke detectors, she said. Neighbor Jeremy Gaudet said he and friend Cullen Boudreaux were playing the "Call of Duty" video game Saturday evening when Gaudet looked out his window and saw the smoke coming from the house across the street and firefighters responding. "I look out the window and this is what I see," Gaudet said showing the video. "We felt really bad; we didn't hear a thing." He and Boudreaux went outside and shot video of the action. After a time, the husband Gaudet did not know his name rode up on his bike and began yelling to firefighters that his wife was inside. A.C. Clause was farther up the road. He said he stepped outside when he heard all the commotion and found about about 10 firetrucks and firefighters' personal vehicles lining the road. Both Clause and Gaudet said the woman was bedridden and that neither had ever seen her. This article originally appeared on Daily Comet: Thibodaux woman dies in house fire; smoking suspected as cause An unidentified object that had been tracked across Michigan was shot down by Air Force jets Sunday afternoon, two members of Congress from Michigan confirmed. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin tweeted shortly before 4 p.m. that "the object has been downed by pilots from the US Air Force and National Guard," while Rep. Jack Bergman tweeted: "The US military has decommissioned another 'object' over Lake Huron." Slotkin, a Democrat from Holly and a former CIA employee, earlier tweeted that the military was tracking the object. Well know more about what this was in the coming days, but for now, be assured that all parties have been laser-focused on it from the moment it traversed our waters, Slotkin said. Bergman, R-Watersmeet, said, "I appreciate the decisive action by our fighter pilots. The American people deserve far more answers than we have." More:Discovery of unidentified unmanned aircraft sparks new concerns on Capitol Hill over US-China relations The North American Aerospace Defense Command had implemented temporary flight restrictions over Lake Michigan near the US-Canada border with the help of the Federal Aviation Administration Sunday afternoon. According to a Twitter post from NORAD, the airspace closure began at noon to ensure air traffic safety. The post was released at 1:44 p.m. and said the air restrictions have since been lifted. This is a breaking story, check back for more information. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lake Huron object decommissioned after air closures justin trudeau with canadian flags behind him An American F-22 fighter jet has shot down a car-size unidentified flying object (UFO) over Yukon, Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday (Feb. 11). A fighter jet with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which is run by both the U.S. and Canada, shot down the strange object at the behest of Canada, Trudeau said, according to The New York Times. "I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace," Trudeau wrote on Twitter. Canada is now in the process of recovering the wreckage to determine its origin and nature. Related: US military shoots down small object over Alaska This is the second time in a few days that a strange object has been shot down after entering U.S. airspace. Another object was detected entering U.S. airspace around 9 p.m. Alaska time on Thursday (Feb. 9) and the U.S. government subsequently sent a surveillance plane to track it. The object was flying between 20 and 40 mph ( 32 and 64 km/h) at an altitude used by civilian aircraft. It crisscrossed land over Alaska before heading out to sea. It was flying toward the North Pole when it was shot down over the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Canada, John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a news briefing on Friday (Feb. 10). Thus far, the U.S. does not see evidence that that object posed a military threat, officials said. Related: Previous Chinese spy balloons over US were classified as UFOs: report RELATED STORIES Aliens haven't contacted Earth because there's no sign of intelligence here, new answer to the Fermi paradox suggests Search for alien life just got 1,000 times bigger after new telescope joins the hunt Scientists are working on an official 'alien contact protocol' for when ET phones Earth The U.S. is now in the process of recovering the wreckage to determine what that first object was. But harsh, icy conditions mean that recovery efforts, which are being assisted by U.S. Northern Command, Alaska National Guard units, the F.B.I. and local law enforcement, are slow-going, according to the New York Times. Story continues And just a week ago, a Chinese spy balloon was destroyed Feb. 4 after being detected over Idaho in late January. That balloon, which was much larger than the object shot down over Canada this week, was traveling tens of thousands of feet above civilian airspace and was allowed to cross into the Atlantic Ocean before being taken down by an air-to-air-missile. This strange flying object is just one of many being investigated by the U.S. Department of Defense. In early January, the Pentagon released documents indicating that it was struggling to explain about half of the hundreds of UFO reports it received last year. Editor's Note: This story was updated to note that two separate UFOs have been shot down by the U.S. in the past few days. A previous version of the article conflated the two. Originally published on LiveScience.com Not many people have anything good to say about the freezing rain earlier this month that, when it turned to ice, led to power outages across the Texas capital for a week. But the silver lining on that dark cloud is that were seeing drought in Texas receding again and cumulative rainfall totals in Austin trending higher than normal for an otherwise dry winter month. Here's what we know about drought in Central Texas so far: What is the drought status in Texas? Drought data released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor, a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, the U.S. Agriculture Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, indicate that drought conditions across Texas have eased slightly, with about 78.4% of the state experiencing drought. This week's percentage is lower than last week by 2 percentage points the first decrease after rising for four consecutive weeks. It's a drop of nearly 11 percentage points from mid-November 2022 as rainfall became more frequent in that especially dry year. Drought Monitor data also indicate that only about 7.1 million of the state's 29 million residents live in drought-stricken areas. More:We could say adios to La Nina by spring. Here's what it means for a parched Texas. Unfortunately, drought conditions continue to maintain a grip on parts of Central Texas: About 19% of Hays County, along its western border, remained in exceptional drought, which is the worst level of drought and is typified by widespread crop loss and sensitivity to fire danger. The southwest corner of Travis County, or about 12%, remained in extreme drought, the second-worst level, which includes cracked soil, decreased crop yields and the need for supplemental feed for livestock. About 30% of Caldwell County, or most of its western half, remained in severe drought, which is typified by poor pasture conditions, hard soils and low crop yields. About 63% of Williamson County remained in moderate drought, which often can mean stunted crops, early cattle sales and increasing frequency of wildfires Most of Bastrop County, or about 81%, was considered abnormally dry, the lowest level of drought, with only its northern corner drought-free. Story continues How much rain have we gotten in February? Austin's pelting by freezing rain and normal rain this month has yielded about 1.68 inches at Camp Mabry, the site of the city's main weather station. At this point in February, Austin on average would have recorded only 0.78 inch of rainfall, according to National Weather Service data. For the year to date, though, the city remains slightly below normal for cumulative rainfall. Since Jan. 1, gauges at Camp Mabry have measured about 2.94 inches of rainfall, which is about a half-inch short of normal for this time of year. How are Austin-area water supplies holding up? Readings from critical water sources, such as underground aquifers and the Highland Lakes west of Austin, continue to reflect a lack of replenishing moisture from regional watersheds. Data from the Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages the Highland Lakes for hydroelectricity and flood control, show the volume of water stored in the reservoir lakes, Travis and Buchanan, would be full at about 2 million acre-feet. As of Sunday, that number was around 1.04 million acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water it takes to cover an acre a foot deep. Lake Travis, which doubles as a regional water source and aquatic playground, was considered to be at only 46% of capacity, LCRA data show. The water elevation at Mansfield Dam, which forms the lake, was about 639.7 feet above mean sea level, which is 28.9 feet below the historical average for February. Readings from index wells in the Edwards Aquifer, an underground layer of porous, water-bearing rock sitting beneath Central Texas, show slight improvement. At the start of February, the aquifer level at the J-17 index well in Bexar County had a 10-day average reading of 637 feet, which is 31.5 feet lower than the historical February average, according to the National Weather Service. On Sunday, however, the J-17 well's 10-day average was 638.1 feet, with a daily reading of 638.6 feet, the Edwards Aquifer Authority reported. What's the weather forecast this week? This time of year, those of us in Central Texas live in a no man's land where otherwise predominant warm air from the Gulf of Mexico sometimes surrenders to powerful cold fronts sweeping in from the northwest. This week's extended forecast from the National Weather Service typifies this epic contest of natural forces and shifting winds. Balmy southerly winds of 5 to 15 mph will return to the region Monday, introducing more clouds and pushing Austin temperatures to a daytime high of 69, forecasters said. Rain will come back to Austin starting late Monday, with a 50% chance in the wee hours before dawn Tuesday. Overcast skies will help keep nighttime temperatures above 58 degrees amid gusty south-southeast winds of 15 mph. By Tuesday afternoon, sunshine will take over again in Austin, this time with blustery west winds of 10 to 15 mph and a maximum temperature of 74 degrees. In the evening, more clouds and humid air will roll in from the south, which will keep overnight temperatures above 50. Wednesday is expected to bring the highest temperatures of the month: a daytime high approaching 80 degrees, thanks in part to warm southerly winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts as strong as 25 mph. But then temperatures in Central Texas will take a chillier turn with the passage of a cold front before dawn on Thursday, when temperatures will stay below 57 degrees amid fierce north-northwest winds of around 20 mph. "The best chances for any showers or storms will be early Thursday morning as the front passes, generally along the I-35 corridor and into the Coastal Plains," the weather service said in a bulletin Sunday. "Dry and breezy wind return behind this system with a significant temperature decrease seen Thursday compared to the previous day." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Wet February iced Austin but has diminished Texas drought, data show Read the full article on Motorious Well if it isnt the consequences of the thiefs actions! Too often, car thieves seemingly get off with a slap on the wrist, if theyre even caught at all. Depending on your feelings, you might believe a guy who stole a 1972 Chevelle from a storage unit in Casper, Wyoming got off a little too easy after pleading guilty to the crime. Find out why Robert Downey Jr. is giving away his car collection here. The theft in question happened last September. Thankfully, the classic muscle car was recovered and the thief caught just two weeks after the crime. Since then, 27-year-old Jaelin Miller has been incarcerated. On February 3 he entered the guilty plea in court, saying I really regret my decision and it affected some pretty good people in the community. The judge reduced Millers bond to $10,000 personal recognizance. The week after, Miller was to furlough to inpatient treatment instead of continuing his incarceration. Assistant District Attorney Jared Holbrook informed the court the state agreed to recommending a 5-8-year suspended sentence with 3 years supervised probation. According to a local report, the 72 Chevelle was kept in a storage unit by the owner, who didnt notice it was missing until his birthday on September 6. The man has a tradition of driving his grandkids to school for the first day, so when he went to pull it out he received the shocking news. Social media posts about the stolen muscle car lead to a witness reporting to police about seeing the Chevelle dropped off at night to a residential garage. Police went to the home on September 10 to perform a welfare check and took the opportunity to mention the tip they received to the homeowners. With permission to search the property, they entered the garage and found the stolen Chevy. According to police, the homeowner said Miller told him he needed to store the classic muscle car there since his girlfriend would trash it. Maybe that was true, but he forgot to mention it was also stolen property. Story continues Source and image: Oil City News Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. At 2 p.m. Feb. 3, I met John Fleming, his sister, and Ruby Miller, at the American Museum of Science and Energy. It was my privilege to provide a tour to acquaint our speaker for the evening with aspects of Oak Ridge that he might not have known previously. In addition to AMSE, we spent a couple of hours touring and talking about our history. One of our other stops was the Scarboro Community Center for the excellent display there of African American history in Oak Ridge. Ruby Miller, from left, John Fleming, and Jim Palmer. Miller and Palmer are co-leaders of "Roots of America" and Fleming is the first featured speaker of the series. I was pleased to see Carolyn Krause in attendance at the "Roots of America" event that evening. She has graciously provided a review of the talk Fleming gave regarding the history of African American music and its influence on our gospel music and other forms of American music as well, thus influencing our culture. Enjoy the review: *** After singing Lift Every Voice and Sing, known as the Black national anthem, a large multi-racial audience in the Y-12 New Hope Center last Friday heard an uplifting talk about the evolution of Black American music from its African roots and its impact on American culture, especially after Southern Blacks moved north and west in the Great Migration (1910-70). African American music is American music, said John Fleming, noting that much of this music is popular internationally. He is the immediate past director of the National African American Music Museum in Nashville. His talk was a fitting kickoff for Black History Month in Oak Ridge, as well as the first event in the new cultural exploration series called Roots of America. The series, hosted by the partnership of the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning and the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club, will feature future monthly lectures on Native Americans in East Tennessee, hate crimes against various ethnic groups and immigration issues. (These events will be held in the Oak Ridge Associated Universities Pollard Technology Conference Center Auditorium on March 9, April 20, and May 23, beginning with a reception at 5 p.m. and the program at 5:30 p.m. Ray) Story continues Fleming focused on the history of gospel music, as well as the influence of this Black music form on other genres and on white religious music. With the help of two films, he also conveyed Black music history and promoted the museum, which flourishes in the Music City. Nashville, he noted, annually attracts more than 2 million visitors from overseas. Residents of Nashville, he added, better understand why the National African American Music Museum is located there, thanks to the Ken Burns series of PBS videos on country music. John Fleming speaks to a large audience in the Y-12 New Hope Center Zach Wamp Auditorium. In doing our research, we found out that African Americans made a major contribution to country music, Fleming said, adding that the PBS series provides musical evidence of this finding. The museum, 510 Broadway, has seven films, 17 interactive exhibits in galleries, and a 360-degree theater in which visitors enjoy performances. You can witness, for example, the late Marian Anderson as she stood before the Lincoln Memorial after being denied the opportunity to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt arranged with the National Park Service for Anderson to sing Easter Sunday in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The first museum film Fleming showed started off with a recording of Wade in the Water, a song with a coded message that Harriet Tubman and others used to warn enslaved Blacks trying to escape to leave the trail for the water to prevent slaveowners dogs from finding them. A large crowd gathered in the Y-12 New Hope Centers Zach Wamp Auditorium for the first "Roots of America" program to hear John Fleming speak on "Roots of American Black Music: its influence on American Culture." Black music is deeply rooted in African musical and cultural traditions, Fleming said. It was influenced and shaped by the Black experience in America and finally has become American and world music. The music: From slavery to the Civil Rights Movement Fleming focused mostly on gospel music, one of five native genres of African American music; the others are blues, jazz, rhythm and blues (R&B) and hip-hop music (including rap and breakdancing), which has existed for 50 years.Enslaved American Black people, he said, kept up the African traditions of music and dance and built African instruments, such as kalimbas, banjos and drums. Early white historians believed that Africans arrived in the Americas without culture, Fleming said. We now know that they brought with them a rich cultural heritage that would become central to the development of American culture. During the early colonial period, even though Africans were both forced and encouraged to convert to Christianity, they still practiced their religion in the absence of their slaveholders. After working hard all day, these Africans would go into the woods surrounded by brush and large vessels used to contain the sounds they would make during their secret services. While enslaved, Africans preferred to practice their own religious tradition. From the film and Fleming, the audience learned that Black religious music morphed into gospel music in the early 20th century, thanks partly to William Seymour, an African-American holiness preacher who initiated the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, prompting the rise of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. Seymour made central to worship the early form of gospel music that blended spirituals with emerging blues, ragtime and jazz music. Another important African American in gospel music history was the Rev. Charles A. Tindley, born to a slave father in 1855. As his congregation grew to 500 times its original size by 1924, he created gospel hymns. He composed and copyrighted scores of original gospel songs, including Stand by Me and most notably the 1901 hymn Ill Overcome Some Day. This song was famously adopted by the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s as the anthem We Shall Overcome. Thomas Dorsey: 'Precious Lord, Take My Hand' Thomas Dorsey came to be known as the father of gospel music in written form. In the late 1920s, he began composing religious tunes, selling sheet music of his gospel songs to churches in Chicago and throughout the nation. Blending blues and jazz with religious lyrics and themes, Dorseys songs began to draw notice and eventually Dorsey left writing his earlier music to concentrate on gospel, Fleming said. First recorded in 1937, his Precious Lord, Take My Hand, written after the death of his wife and baby, sold millions of copies throughout the years and was recognized by Martin Luther King as his favorite gospel song. Over the course of a half century, Dorsey authored nearly 1,000 gospel tunes including the all-time favorite There Be Peace in the Valley. The rise of radio and the recording industry enhanced the promotion of gospel music, and its performance grew in African-American worship services and homes throughout the country. In 1968 when soul radio stations aired O Happy Day, gospel music made its entry into popular culture. The migration from the South to the North, Midwest, and West Coast The second museum video described the Great Migration this way: Between World War I and the 1970s, 6 million African Americans moved from the South to urban areas throughout the North, Midwest, and West Coast. The Great Migration transformed the American economy, politics and culture. World Wars I and II brought increased opportunity for jobs in urban areas, and wartime factory jobs presented a desirable alternative to sharecropping in the South. White terrorism in the Jim Crow South crushed the lives of African Americans. Leaving the South, the only home that they had ever known, was a wrenching decision, but it made the courageous Black migrants feel more dignified, independent and self-confident. However, they learned that racism and segregation in housing and schools permeated all American society. Music was essential to coping and adapting, stated the film. The music they brought that developed in the Deep South held people together in shared culture. During migration, African Americans from the South interacted for the first time with many other cultural movements such as those from the Caribbean, leading to new types of creativity. Advancements in technology such as the amplification of instruments and voices led to new musical forms. New systems of broadcast and distribution helped the music to spread across the nation. More people were being exposed to African American music, including Black people outside of the South, white people throughout the country and eventually audiences in Europe and Asia. The first recordings of jazz by African American musicians occurred in New York in 1916 in Los Angeles in 1922. Soon jazz spread into popular culture. Religious music moved into the cities and new forms were greatly influenced by the Pentecostal Holiness Movement in the sanctified tradition. Around World War II, traditional blues transformed into urban blues in conjunction with blues musicians relocating into the urban North, and in their new environment, blues musicians began making studio recordings of this new blue style. The Great Migration went on to inspire the development of R&B, rock n roll, soul and hip-hop music. As with the rhythm and blues vocal groups who had drawn on stylistic elements of gospel before the end of the 1960s and 1970s, numerous soul music performances reflected backgrounds steeped in the music of the church in which they had been raised, Fleming said. Chief among them are figures such as Chicagos Curtis Mayfield and Detroits Aretha Franklin and Philadelphias Patti LaBelle. Louis Armstrong came out of New Orleans and went north as part of the Great Migration, which greatly influenced the musical tradition of the country. On Thursday, March 9, at 5 p.m. at the Pollard Technology Conference Center of Oak Ridge Associated Universities, 210 Badger Ave., Lavita Hill, a Cherokee, will speak on the proposal approved by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Tribal Council to change the name of Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi. This peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was named in 1859 after North Carolina senator and Confederate brigadier general Thomas Lanier Clingman. It will the second of four free Roots of America talks that explore the achievements and challenges of various American ethnic groups. *** Thank you Carolyn for your usual excellent review of events in Oak Ridge. This event was truly enlightening for the large crowd and entertaining, as well. I must now visit the 56,000 square-foot National Museum of African American Music located at Fifth and Broadway (510 Broadway) in downtown Nashville. One of the many things I enjoy about being the Oak Ridge city historian is the amazing people I get to met and provide tours of our citys history. Dr. Fleming is certainly one amazing individual. D. Ray Smith, writer for the Historically Speaking column. D. Ray Smith is the Oak Ridge city historian and longtime "Historically Speaking" columnist for The Oak Ridger. Carolyn Krause This article originally appeared on Oakridger: How African music became American music "Birth of Venus" meets Virgin Mary. Daniel Janssens South of the equator, fashion seems to get a little more casual. Case in point: bikinis and flip-flops seem to be the uniform of choice in places like Sao Paulo and Copacabana. Over the weekend, Barbie Ferreira attended the Vogue Ball at Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro in a look that channeled the Renaissance and added a twist with a pair of custom flip-flops that were equal parts balletcore and Botticelli beauty. The Euphoria actress was in attendance to tease an upcoming Havaianas x Barbie Ferreira global project, which the brand says is on the horizon. For the event, Ferreira wore a pink gown with floral details and a coordinating veil, adding a dose of Heavenly Bodies vibes to her look. The Gen-Z twist came via very casual pair of flip-flops that Havianas made for the event. The shoes included coordinating floral details and eye-catching ties that crisscrossed up her legs. Daniel Janssens Daniel Janssens :Barbie Ferreira Gets Candid About the Illusion of Confidence and "Toxic" Body Positivity Culture In a context of so much pressure and uncertainty, we seek to bring to the world an inviting message, in which it is possible to allow experimentation without much judgment. We want Havaianas to be a symbol of creativity and delicacy, from the fashion that offers freedom of choice, Maria Fernanda Albuquerque, Havaianas CMO, said of partnering with Ferreira. In this context, Barbie is an expression of this invitation that the brand makes in the broadest form in its communication. During her trip to Brazil, Ferreira also wore a sunny yellow dress for a photo shoot, which she paired with split-toe Mary Janes. For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on InStyle. If you run into a large ape wearing a helmet in the window of a storefront in Panama City, dont panic its just the mascot for the areas newest bicycle shop. Owner Kody Gilliam held a grand opening for Skunk Ape Cyclery Friday morning, welcoming the community for a peek inside. The bike shop sits at 1106 Harrison Ave. Suite E, and offers all things cycle-related as well as repair services. Operation hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Upcoming event:7 things to know about the Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival in Panama City Beach Also:Capital City Bank opens in Watersound Town Center, and more businesses coming this year Since he was young, Gilliam said he has always had a love for bicycles. He quickly grew a passion for cycling that would later place him in jobs in the cycling industry where he learned more about the mechanics of bicycles. Skunk Ape Cyclery is Panama City's newest bicycle shop at 1106 Harrison Ave. Suite E. Gilliam opened his first shop, Uptown Cyclery, in Bremerton, Washington, in 2020, to live out his dream as a bike shop owner. Despite his rough start amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the lengthy shipment periods of cycle supplies, he kept his head above the water. I always knew I wanted to work with bicycles because this is what Im passionate about and I didnt know of anything else I wanted to do with my life," Gilliam said. Skunk Ape Cyclery is a new bicycle shop in Panama City. Pictured is owner Kody Gilliam at the grand opening celebration on Feb. 10, 2023. Last July, Gilliam moved to Panama City to be closer to his family. But he had a plan to continue as a bike shop owner, which was when the idea of Skunk Ape Cyclery was born. Skunk Ape Cyclery is a full-service shop that services any work related to bicycles, including triathlon bikes, BMX bikes, mountain bikes and electronic bikes. In addition, the business sells bike parts and equipment as well as new and used bicycles out of the store. Skunk Ape Cyclery offers all things cycle related as well as bike repair services. If its got wheels and pedal-powered I work on it, Gilliam said. Common brands featured in the store include Cannondale, GT and Salsa cycles. Once the business gets flowing, trade-ins and rentals will also be a sales option. Story continues The business got its name from Floridas mythical skunk ape, commonly known in other parts of the country as bigfoot. As the stores mascot, a life-sized ape (which is just a mannequin) is placed in the window to welcome customers in. Although it was a part of his old shop in Washington, Gilliam said that it played a key factor in helping him name his new business. Skunk Ape Cyclery is a new bicycle shop in Panama City. Pictured is owner Kody Gilliam with the 'Skunk Ape' at the grand opening celebration on Feb. 10, 2023. It was the first thing people would see when they walked into the shop, and it became so popular that sometimes they only come to see the ape, he said. When I moved here, I learned that skunk ape was a popular name for bigfoot in Florida. I thought it was a cool name for my shop, so decided to go with it. With his new journey shifting into gear, Gilliam said he hopes hes able to connect with the community through family fun and bicycles. Looking into the future, he hopes to become involved in the community with plans to arrange group rides and charity events within his business. He said hes confident that this new journey will paint a bright future for Skunk Ape Cyclery. Once we fall into our rhythm, I know this will be fantastic, Gilliam said. I think its just about showing people good, clean fun thats family-oriented, and bicycles are a great tool for that. For more information about the bike shop, call 850-215-4201 or visit Skunk Ape Cyclery LLC on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: A new full service bike shop now open in Panama City When Kathryn Darnell was diagnosed in the late 90s with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, the Akron, Ohio, woman wasnt overly concerned about how she got it. What bothered her was knowing shed die from it. Darnell, who worked for B.F. Goodrich Co. for 18 years, suffered in the last months of her life. She died in June 2001. It got to where she was in a great deal of pain, recalled Marilyn Holley, Darnells daughter who lives in Akron. To see a loved one suffer like that thats not good at all. Holley, 77, who has now outlived her mother, is among about 3,800 Akron rubber workers and their heirs who will soon be getting payouts because of a $72.5 million settlement against Eastern Magnesia Talc or Emtal. This Delaware company was the biggest supplier of talc or soapstone to rubber companies from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Talc was used to keep rubber from sticking. It contained asbestos a fact that Emtal and its employees and lawyers lied about and hid for many years from the rubber companies they supplied, the attorneys and plaintiffs suing them, and the courts. As much as $60 million of the talc settlement is expected to go to Akron rubber workers and their heirs. They will receive payments of between $4,000 and $300,000, depending on the severity of the asbestos-related disease they endured. Attorney Patrick Walsh addresses Judge Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer as attorneys Tom Bevan and Kani Hightower listen during a hearing on hundreds of Akron rubber workers who are eligible for settlements for litigation involving talc used in the rubber-making process in Summit County Probate Court. Tom Bevan and Pat Walsh, whose Boston Heights firm represents most of the rubber workers, are searching for family members of more than 500 rubber workers who may be eligible for payments through the settlement. What were doing now is correcting an injustice that occurred as many as 30 years ago, Bevan, who has worked on asbestos litigation throughout his career, said during a hearing in Summit County Probate Court about the talc settlements. Unfortunately, these people havent survived to see the money, but it should go to their children or heirs. Bevan said this is the largest asbestos settlement ever for Akron rubber workers in terms how much they are getting. Story continues Bevan and others involved with the talc settlement hope it sends a message that this type of deception wont be tolerated. Companies cannot take profit over people, said Holley, who was part of the federal lawsuit that resulted in the talc settlement. This particular one was awful because of the fraud and spoilation of proof. They had no intention of doing the right thing. Talc: The flour of the rubber industry Bevan said talc, which is mined from the earth, was used extensively in the rubber industry to keep rubber from sticking the same as flour added to a rolling pin during baking. It was the flour of the rubber industry, Bevan said. Rubber products were dusted with talc, which settled on piping and workers clothing. Everybody in the rubber industry was breathing in that soapstone or talc, Bevan said. Rubber workers at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. handle uncured raw rubber that was milled in the industrial products department and dusted with talc or soapstone to prevent the uncured rubber from sticking to machinery or other slabs of rubber. The slabs were then used to make products like mats, hoses and conveyor belts. Dave Prentice, the head of the Tri-County Regional Labor Council, recalls well talc or soapstone being used at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. where he worked as a pipefitter for 37 years. Prentice, who joined Goodyear in 1970, followed in the footsteps of his father, Ellsworth Prentice, who also was a pipefitter at Goodyear. Prentice said talc was prevalent in Goodyears reclaim plant, where old rubber was broken down and reused. He said talc helped keep the milled rubber from sticking to itself. He said the rubber was so sticky that workers could lose a pair of gloves on it. Custodians tried to sweep the floor to keep up with the collection of talc, but Prentice said it was on the floors and under the tables. He said it was a white powder that looked like baby powder but had no odor. It was never mentioned that it was harmful, Prentice said. There was no mask requirement. Prentice said the talc was so heavy in the air that you couldnt see from one side of the reclaim plant to the other. He said workers would sometimes put water on the talc and throw it at each other like snowballs. The reclaim plant had a shower room but employees had to walk through the plant to leave, which meant they likely got talc on them again, Prentice said. Prentice moved to different Goodyear facilities but his father mainly worked at the reclaim plant. He said his father, a World War II veteran, loved his job and never complained. He was thankful to have his health and have a job and provide for his family, said Prentice, who has four kids and seven grandkids. Ellsworth Prentice worked for Goodyear for 17 years before being diagnosed with liver cancer. He died in 1973 at the age of 54. Rubber workers sue over asbestos-related diseases Dave Prentice continued to work at Goodyear until 2009, seeing a growing awareness about the dangers of asbestos that started in the mid-1980s. Asbestos, a substance known to be a good insulator and fire resistant, was used throughout the rubber plants until the realization dawned that it was harmful. In the mid-1980s, rubber workers began being tested for asbestos-related diseases. Many were diagnosed with asbestosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Some rubber workers ended up with lung cancer or mesothelioma, a deadly and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Prentice learned in 2013 that he has asbestosis, which can affect a persons breathing. He said he cant think of anyone who worked in the rubber shops who was tested and had no asbestos-related diseases. He said, though, that he hasnt let his diagnosis slow him down. I dont think about it, he said. Youve got to keep moving. Many rubber workers who contracted asbestos-related diseases and their heirs have filed lawsuits. In 2004, a fund totaling $80 million was set up after insurance giant Travelers Cos. reached a settlement with attorneys representing tens of thousands of U.S. employees with asbestos-related claims. Travelers insured Johns Manville Corp. of Denver the largest U.S. manufacturer of asbestos-containing products for more than a century. Across the country, 19,000 cases were paid from the settlement. Summit County had the largest number of cases, with about 6,000. Damage claims ranged from $2,100 to $23,000 based on the type of asbestos-related illness. Emtal claims talc has no asbestos Emtal, which also was known as Englehard Corp., was among the companies sued by rubber workers with asbestos-related diseases in the 1980s and 1990s, but the company claimed for many years that its talc contained no asbestos. The company was the largest supplier of talc for the rubber industry, selling 12 million pounds of talc from the 1950s until 1982, which was about 80% of the market share of talc, Bevan said. Rubber workers filed lawsuits against Emtal in state and federal courts in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The company and its attorneys claimed in sworn statements and letters to attorneys and courts that its talc contained no asbestos. In a document filed in a 1988 Summit County lawsuit, the company said it mined talc from a single mine in Johnson, Vermont, from 1967 to 1983 and the talc from this mine did not contain asbestos. In a 1992 letter, Emtals attorneys asked to be dismissed from a rubber worker case in Cuyahoga County because its talc contained no asbestos. Cuyahoga County talc document by Stephanie Lawrence on Scribd Emtal also told its customers that its talc had no asbestos. In a letter to Goodyear in January 1962, the company said, "There is no technical data in our files on the toxicity of our talc, as it has never before been considered toxic in any form or application." In a technical data sheet Emtal provided in February 1978, the company said "no trace" of asbestos minerals had been detected in its talc. As a result of its continued denials, Emtal was dismissed from thousands of cases or reached settlements for nominal amounts from 1987 to 2009. Lies are exposed through lawsuits Emtals deception, though, began to unravel through several court cases. In a 1979 lawsuit filed against Emtal in Rhode Island, company witnesses admitted in depositions that the companys talc contained asbestos. Emtal, though, settled this case in 1983 with a confidentially order that resulted in the documents being destroyed or hidden for 30 years. Donna Paduano, the daughter of a retired Emtal chemical engineer, sued Emtal in 2009 in New Jersey. She claimed she got mesothelioma because of her father bringing asbestos home on his clothing. Her father testified that in March 1984 Emtal issued a memo telling the research department to purge its talc records. Talc Document Collection Memo by Stephanie Lawrence on Scribd Ellen Poole, an Emtal representative, admitted in 2010 that asbestos was found in talc as far back as 1972 in multiple tests by different entities. Despite these results, she said, Emtal told its customers, the federal government, courts and plaintiff lawyers in multiple states there was no asbestos in the talc. Based on what you know and the history that you have researched, is the statement that Emtal contained no asbestos a true statement? Poole was asked in a deposition. No, she responded. Talc lawsuit results in settlement In 2010, the heirs of five Akron rubber workers filed a class action lawsuit against Emtal, several of its employees and its attorneys in New Jersey federal court. All five workers died of lung cancer or mesothelioma. The heirs claimed that Emtal, which was bought by chemical company BASF Catalysts LLC in 2006, and its attorneys had engaged in fraud, misrepresentation and an abuse of process by claiming for many years that its talc didnt contain asbestos when it did. Holley, whose mother, Kathryn Darnell, a B.F. Goodrich employee from Akron, died of mesothelioma, was among the plaintiffs. The trial court threw out the case, but an appellate court reversed the decision, saying the claims were legitimate. Holley helped with the suit, including traveling to New Jersey for a day during an attempt to reach a settlement and giving a deposition in Cleveland in 2019. She recalled being nervous and angry during her deposition, especially when she saw the 10 attorneys representing the company. I hated the whole thing what it stood for Oh no, our talc does not have asbestos, she said. I really had attitude. However, Holley said the attorneys were cordial and it wasnt as bad as she feared it would be. A $72.5 million settlement was reached in the case in September 2021, with checks expected to be sent to rubber workers and their heirs this February and March. Jeff Gramley, whose father, Jack Gramley, worked for the rubber companies in Akron, is among those who will be eligible for a settlement. Jack Gramley worked for Slater Systems that ran food carts at B.F. Goodrich and later was a rubber worker for B.F. Goodrich and Goodyear in the '50s and '60s. Gramley was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1992 and opted against having any treatment. He died on Christmas Eve of 1994 at age 58. Donna and Jack Gramley at a family wedding. Family photo Jeff Gramley said his father didnt know how he got the disease. If I know him, he wouldnt have been bitter, Gramley said. I think he would have looked at it like, Thats the way things were back then. The younger Gramley, though, mourns his father and what he missed, including getting to spend time with his grandchildren one who was named after him and meet his great-grandchildren. Had he not gotten this, he might still be here, Jeff Gramley said as he sat in front of a wall of family portraits. It took him way too soon. It didnt have to be that way if they had taken the necessary precautions. Holley, Kathryn Darnells daughter, recalls her mother coming home from B.F. Goodrich extremely dirty. She said her mother, who kept her Akron home spotless, would take her clothes off right away and wash them. Darnell worked for Goodrich from 1969 to 1987, retiring when the plant closed. Kathryn Darnell with her grandson, Michael Holley, at his college graduation. Darnell got a $30,000 settlement because of the earlier asbestos litigation. She used the money for new carpeting, furniture and drapes for her living room. She died, though, in 2001 at age 73 before completing improvements to her kitchen. Her family finished this project. Holley, who has three children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild, thinks her mother would be amazed that the asbestos and talc litigation has gone on for as long as it has and would be proud of her for seeing it through. Holley said she hasnt enjoyed being involved but feels an obligation to stand up for the many rubber workers and their families who have suffered because of the use of asbestos. Its just sad, Holley said. It came at a cost. Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj. Read the series: Talc settlement: By the numbers Total talc settlement: $72.5 million. Amount going to Akron rubber workers: $50 million to $60 million. Estimated payments to workers/heirs: $4,000 to $300,000, based on severity of asbestos-related disease. Rubber workers/heirs owed settlements: About 3,800. Rubber workers whose heirs havent been identified: More than 500. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio rubber workers sickened by talc getting millions in settlement Members of the St. Francois County Ambulance District taught more than 50 members of the public how to perform CPR during the Save Your Sweetheart event at Memorial United Methodist Church in Farmington on Saturday. St. Francois County EMS Educator Dustin Tate said he had received many calls about the program, which was posted on social media. The event, coinciding with American Heart Month, taught attendees how to perform hands-only CPR, in which a person uses chest compressions to get the blood circulating through the body, without mouth-to-mouth breaths. Instructors at Save Your Sweetheart taught attendees where to place their hands on a persons chest, how deep to compress, and the rate at which compressions need to be done. Instructors relayed four basic steps when it comes to CPR: assessment, compressions, ventilation, and the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED. In the assessment step, according to Tate, the person performing CPR makes sure they are in a safe location to proceed. Once thats determined, the rescuer should try to wake up the victim by using gentle tapping and speaking to the person. If the person is somewhat awake and moving they may not need CPR, said Tate, but they will still need emergency services. Lastly, if the victim needs CPR, the person administering it needs to remove any clothing which could impede access to the victims chest. From there, Tate said, it is important to listen for any breathing for no less than five seconds but no more than 10 seconds. Someone should call 911, and be as specific as possible about the location. You may not know Walmart is 707 Walton Drive, but you can tell the 911 dispatch that Im at the Walmart in Farmington, Tate said. Now, think about how many Dollar Generals we have. You know if you say Im at Dollar General and hang up the phone, guess what, now we got to search this one and that one. To administer compressions, the rescuers hands are placed on the center of the victims chest and pushed down no more than two inches. Compressions force the blood out of the heart, then back in after allowing for chest recoil. Tate said the rate of chest compressions needs to be 100 to 120 beats per minute, and a common frame of reference to keep a beat is Staying Alive by the Bee Gees or Baby Shark. The instructors also showed the assembled students how to use an AED. A majority of AEDs now have pictures for instructions. When in use, the machine analyzes the patients heart rate to see if a shock is advised. If so, a button will flash and a shock is delivered. The AED has an internal timer that allows for two minutes of chest compressions before analyzing the situation again. Jan Brunk attended the class Saturday, and said, after learning from the paramedics how to give CPR she felt comfortable if a situation arose and she needed to perform it. I asked them how often you should refresh, and they recommended every year if you can, and I can see that being very important, said Brunk. You know, to keep your memory of what you learned right up front. Tate said he is looking forward to hosting more events to teach CPR throughout the year at different locations in the county. Looking ahead, he plans to offer classes bookending summer vacation, in hopes of teaching the younger generation CPR skills. Almaty, Kazakhstan--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2023) - Visit Dala Resources at Booth #2944 at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canadas (PDAC) Convention at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) from Sunday, March 5 to Wednesday, March 8, 2023. About Dala Resources Dala Resources is 100% privately owned company with its HQ in Almaty (Kazakhstan). The company holds the exploration licences for rare metal deposits (lithium, tantalum, tin and beryllium) in Eastern Kazakhstan. About PDAC PDAC 2023: The Worlds Premier Mineral Exploration & Mining Convention is the leading event for people, companies and organizations connected to mineral exploration. This annual convention in Toronto, Canada is known for attracting up to 30,000 attendees from over 130+ countries for its educational programming, networking events, outstanding business opportunities and fun. Since it began in 1932, the PDAC Convention has grown in size, stature and influence. Today, it is the event of choice for the worlds mineral industry hosting more than 1,100 exhibitors and 2,500 investors. For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://www.pdac.ca/convention/attend/registration. We look forward to seeing you there. For further information: Dala Resources Almaz Ashirov +996555311115 ashirov@dalares.kz dalares.kz Top Deals on Air Force 1's, Air Max & more. Even with the rise of Amazon-brand everything, Nikes continue to remain in style. Those Jordans you wore while pretending to live out your hoop dreams at recess? Still a thing. Ditto for the Air Force 1's you wore while bopping to Nelly on TRL and the Air Max shoes your parents probably rocked while pushing you in a stroller in the early-90s. Nike sneaks showcase status and style and are comfortable and functional to boot. They're also on sale. This week, the lion's share of deals on Nike sneakers are on Nike's own website. But we found a few more slam dunks around the Internet. Here at Parade.com, we're all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned. Related: The Most Comfortable Slip-Ons Ever The Best Women's Nike Sneaker Sales This Week Nike Air Force 1 Fontanka, Originally $130, Now $72.97 at Nike A comfy lifted midsole, soft suede and an ultra-soft react foam make these reimagined Air Force 1's crossover stars that transcend generations. the sesame/black color gives them a worn-in look. Snag them in the hue for 44% off and under $75. Nike Air Force 1 Fontanka, $72.97 at Nike Nike Air Max Dawn, Originally $115, Now $71.97 at Nike The orange-white-off-white color combo on these Air Max Dawns beautifully toes the line between worn-in and brand-new. Runners and walkers adore the heel cushioning, while green-conscious sneakerheads give it points for being made with at least 20% recycled content. Speaking of percentages, it's down 37%. Nike Air Max Dawn, $71.97 at Nike Nike Air Force 1 '07 LX, Originally $120, Now $89.97 at Nike The bold white/prime pink colorway makes these Air Force 1's true standouts. 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Nike Air Force 1 High SE, $80.97 at Nike Nike Air Max SC, Originally $85, Now $76.97 at Nike Suede, leather and a cool-and-crisp colorway combine to make these marked-down Air Max sneaks an instant classic. Nike Air Max SC, $76.97 at Nike Nike Air Max 90, Originally $150, Now $101.97 at Nike It's hard to pick a favorite thing about these Nike Air Max 90 sneakers. The tranquil pastel colors like blue, green and pink? The mixed media construction? The cushioning? How about the price? With a 32% discount, the price comes out to $101.97. Nike Air Max 90, $101.97 at Nike Nike Women's Air Max 270 Shoes, Originally $159.99, Now $111.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods These top-selling Air Max sneakers are on sale for $111.99 in select colors at Dick's, including the bold atomic green. Nike Women's Air Max 270 Shoes, $111.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods Nike Air Max Dawn Sneakers, Originally $120, Now $78 at Nordstrom If you're keeping score, it's easy being an atomic green-loving sneakerhead this week. These Air Max shoes with a 4.5-star rating at Nordstrom have dipped under $80. Nike Air Max Dawn Sneakers, $78 at Nordstrom The death toll from historic earthquakes that rocked Turkey and Syria a week ago rose further Monday even as miraculous rescues fueled the tiniest hope for those seeking to learn about their loved ones, and new paths to help victims in Syria seemed about to open up. Rescue workers in Turkey saved a 10-year-girl from the rubble of an apartment block Monday in the southern Turkish province of Kahramanmaras, 183 hours after the first quake shook the region, state broadcaster TRT Haber reported. In Hatay province, a 13-year-old boy named Kaan was found alive under debris. And in Adiyamanyaman, Bunyamin Idac, 35, was removed from a destroyed building. "We have saved another life in the works we have been carrying out," said Ilhan Colak, team leader of a rescue group that included 20 miners from Somalia. "I can't find the words to speak." The confirmed death toll stood at more than 36,000 for the two nations and was expected to rise in coming days, but it appears those impacted in Syria will have a better chance to survive. The United Nations said Syrian President Bashar Assad has agreed to open two new crossing points from Turkey to the rebel-held northwest to deliver quake aid. Earlier Monday, Turkey had offered to establish a second border crossing. For now, the U.N. has only been allowed to bring aid to that area through the crossing at Bab Al-Hawa. Despite the rare, inspiring rescues, thousands of bodies were being removed from toppled buildings, and experts say the chances of finding survivors are increasingly slim. And a week after the quakes hit, many people were still in the streets without shelter. The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes struck nine hours apart in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb. 6. Scores of strong aftershocks added to the damage as more than 6,000 buildings collapsed. HOW YOU CAN HELP: How to help Turkey, Syria: Relief efforts ongoing after deadliest earthquake in years Story continues Zehra Kurukafa walks past a destroyed house in the village of Polat, Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023 New developments: The baby girl born under the rubble of her family's home in northern Syria was in good health Monday, her doctor said. Her great-uncle, Saleh al-Badran, said Aya Arabic for a sign from God" may leave the hospital in the next couple of days and will be raised by her paternal aunt, who recently gave birth. Turkish Airlines said it has resumed flights from Hatay Airport and evacuations were underway. The airport's runway had been damaged by the quakes. Hundreds gathered in New York's Time Square on Sunday to pay homage to the quake victims. DEATH TOLL RISES: Anger builds over response time: Live updates U.N. brokers deal to open more routes for aid to reach rebel-held territory U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Assad's decision to open crossing points at Bab Al-Salam and Al Raee, allowing much-needed aid and equipment to reach millions in rebel-held northwest Syria for three months. "Delivering food, health, nutrition, protection, shelter, winter supplies and other life-saving supplies to all the millions of people affected is of the utmost urgency, Guterres said in a statement. Assad had met in Damascus with U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, who had advocated for more help for northwest Syria and briefed the Security Council. Opening these crossing points along with facilitating humanitarian access, accelerating visa approvals and easing travel between hubs will allow more aid to go in, faster, Guterres said. UN official 'encouraged' by increased help for Syria Even before news broke that new crossings to bring aid into Syria may be set up, the top UN aid official said he was heartened by the increase in relief convoys rolling into the country Monday, but warned that more must be done. "I am encouraged by the scale-up of convoys from the UN transshipment center at the Turkish border," tweeted Martin Griffiths, U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief. "We need to open more access points and get more aid out fast." Earlier, Griffiths had lamented that aid efforts had "failed the people in northwest Syria." The earthquake death toll in that opposition-held region has reached 2,166, according to the rescue group the White Helmets. Another 1,414 people have died in government-held areas, according to the Syrian Health Ministry, for a total of 3,580. NATO chief pledges shelters, other help NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that alliance members have agreed to provide shelter facilities "as soon as possible" to help accommodate people displaced by the earthquakes. Thousands of emergency response personnel have been supporting the recovery, including search and rescue teams, firefighters, medical personnel and seismic experts, he said. He said NATO is in "strong solidarity" with Turkey. Stoltenberg stressed that the earthquakes will have long-term consequences. "I think it is important both to make sure that we get support quickly but also to ensure that we actually are able to stay," he said. WHY TURKEY IS VULNERABLE: Deadly earthquakes have hit Turkey before: Why there? Could a similar quake strike the US? 'What do I have left?': Newly homeless Turks despair amid brutal conditions In Turkish cities and villages alike, the extent of the devastation and the harsh conditions amid frigid weather are leading some to despair. Turkish authorities said more than 150,000 have been moved to shelters outside the affected provinces. In the city of Adiyaman, where many who are now homeless lined up for meals Monday, 25-year-old Musa Bozkurt wondered about the point of going elsewhere. Were going away, but we have no idea what will happen when we get there, Bozkurt said. We have no goal. Even if there was (a plan), what good will it be after this hour? I no longer have my father or my uncle. What do I have left? In the village of Polat, about 60 miles from the epicenter in Kahramanmaras, there were hardly any houses left standing, and a shortage of tents forced groups of residents to share the ones available. We sleep in the mud, all together with two, three, even four families, survivor Zehra Kurukafa said. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Turkey earthquake updates: Miracle rescues; death toll at 36K Acquisition of Bahia Project expected to supply the raw materials needed by the Company's US facility for the production of advanced rare earth materials used in EVs, clean energy, and defense technologies. LAKEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced acquisition (the "Closing") of seventeen (17) mineral concessions between the towns of Prado and Caravelas in the State of Bahia, Brazil totaling 15,089.71 hectares (approximately 37,300 acres or 58.3 square miles) (the "Bahia Project"). The Closing followed the Brazilian Government's approval of the transfers to Energy Fuels' wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary Energy Fuels Brazil, Ltda. At the Closing, the Company paid the mineral owners the remaining $21.9 million cash. Energy Fuels' Bahia Heavy Mineral Sand & Rare Earth Project in Brazil (CNW Group/Energy Fuels Inc.) As previously reported, the Bahia Project is a well-known heavy mineral sand ("HMS") deposit that has the potential to supply 3,000 10,000 metric tons ("MT") of natural monazite concentrate per year for decades to Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill in Utah (the "Mill") for processing into high-purity rare earth element ("REE") oxides and other materials. As used herein, the term "monazite concentrate" refers to an HMS concentrate containing roughly 80% to 90% monazite. While Energy Fuels' primary interest in acquiring the Bahia Project is the REE-bearing monazite, the Bahia Project is also expected to produce large quantities of high-quality titanium (ilmenite and rutile) and zirconium (zircon) minerals that are also in high demand. REE production is highly complementary to Energy Fuels' existing US-leading uranium business, as monazite and other major REE-bearing minerals naturally contain uranium that will be recovered and other impurities that will be removed at the Mill before further processing into advanced high-purity REE materials. 3,000 10,000 MT of monazite concentrate contains roughly 1,500 5,000 MT of total REE oxides ("TREO"), including 300 1,000 MT of neodymium-praseodymium ("NdPr") and significant commercial quantities of dysprosium ("Dy") and terbium ("Tb"). The Company is focused on monazite at the current time, as it has superior concentrations of these four (4) critical REEs compared to other REE-bearing minerals. These REE's are used in the powerful neodymium-iron-boron ("NdFeB") magnets that power the most efficient electric vehicles ("EV"), along with uses in other clean energy and defense technologies. For reference, a typical EV utilizes roughly one (1) to two (2) kilograms of NdPr oxide in its drivetrain. Based on this assumption, monazite concentrate from the Bahia project alone is expected to supply enough NdPr oxide to power 150,000 to 1 million EVs per year. The uranium contained in the monazite, which is expected to be comparable to typical Colorado Plateau uranium deposits, will also be recovered at the Mill. Story continues Update on Growing Monazite Supply Portfolio: The acquisition of the Bahia Project is a part of the Company's efforts to build a large and diverse book of monazite concentrate supply for its rapidly advancing REE processing business. The Company expects to procure monazite concentrates through Company-owned mines like the Bahia Project, joint ventures or other collaborations, and open market purchases, like the Company's current arrangement with The Chemours Company ("Chemours"). The Company is currently in advanced discussions with several additional current and future monazite producers around the world to supply Energy Fuels' initiative. Energy Fuels, through its White Mesa Mill in Utah, is currently the only U.S. company extracting REE's and producing commercial quantities of partially-separated mixed REE carbonate ("RE Carbonate"), which it extracts as a coproduct, along with its uranium production from monazite. This is the most advanced REE material being produced in the US today at scale, since it is a high-purity product ready for REE separation without further processing, refining or purification. The Company is currently selling all its RE Carbonate to a separation facility in Europe for further processing into advanced REE products further down the supply chain, including metals, alloys, and magnets. Though as discussed below, the Company is currently modifying and enhancing its existing circuits and facilities at the Mill with the expected ability to produce separated REE oxides (or oxalates) from these process streams starting as soon as later this year. The Company is also recovering the uranium that naturally occurs in monazite for use in carbon-free nuclear energy. Update on Ongoing Sonic Drilling Program at the Bahia Project: Prior to Closing on the Bahia Project, the Company commenced a sonic drilling program on the property to further define and quantify the HMS resource, particularly at depth. Under the previous owners, 3,300 vertical exploration auger holes were drilled on the property indicating significant concentrations of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon), and rare earth elements (monazite) at and near the surface. However, due to inherent limitations, historic augur drilling averaged only 5.7 meters in depth. Utilization of a sonic drill allows for relatively undisturbed collection of sediments both above and below the water table. The limited sonic drilling completed by Energy Fuels over the past few months is confirming that the mineral bearing sands are expected to continue at depth. The Company expects to finalize Phase 1 sonic drilling at the Bahia Project this month totaling 2,250 meters. Following drilling, the Company will begin sampling and sending the material to labs for testing, including metal assay, mineralogic characterization, and process testing. The Company plans to announce Phase 1 drilling results this year and start Phase 2 drilling in Q3-2023. Once data from both drill programs are available, the Company plans to engage industry leaders to calculate an initial mineral resource estimate for use in an S-K 1300 (US) compliant Initial Assessment and an NI 43-101 (Canada) compliant Technical Report. Update on Production of Separated NdPr Products at the White Mesa Mill & Plans for Future REE Separation: The Company is currently separating lanthanum ("La") and cerium ("Ce") from its commercial RE Carbonate stream utilizing existing Mill infrastructure to produce an RE Carbonate product with higher concentrations of NdPr and "heavy" REEs. Energy Fuels is also proceeding with the modification and enhancement of its infrastructure at the Mill ("Phase 1") to expand its "light" REE separation facilities to be capable of producing commercial quantities of separated NdPr oxide (or oxalate) by later this year or early 2024, followed by planned further enhancements to expand NdPr production capability ("Phase 2") and to produce separated Dy, Tb and potentially other REE materials in the future ("Phase 3") from monazite and potentially other REE-bearing process streams. Earlier this year, the Company began construction on its "Phase 1" REE separation facilities, which includes modifications and enhancements to the solvent extraction ("SX") circuits at the Mill. "Phase 1" is expected to have the capacity to process approximately 8,000 to 10,000 MT of monazite concentrates per year from the Mill's process streams, producing roughly 4,000 to 5,000 MT TREO, containing roughly 800 to 1,000 MT of recoverable separated NdPr oxide (or oxalate) per year. Because Energy Fuels is utilizing existing infrastructure at the Mill, "Phase 1" capital is expected to total only about $25 million. "Phase 1" is expected to be operational later this year or early 2024, subject to receipt of sufficient monazite supply and successful construction and commissioning. If these milestones are achieved, Energy Fuels believes it will be the 'first to the market' among US companies with commercial quantities of separated NdPr available to EV, renewable energy, and other companies for offtake. During "Phase 2", Energy Fuels expects to expand its NdPr separation capabilities, with an expected capacity to process roughly 15,000 to 30,000 MT of monazite concentrates per year and expected recovery of roughly 7,500 to 15,000 MT of TREO, containing roughly 1,500 to 3,000 MT of NdPr oxide per year, or sufficient NdPr for 750,000 to 3.0 million EVs per year. "Phase 2" is also expected to add a dedicated monazite "crack-and-leach" circuit to the Mill's existing leach circuits. Currently, the Mill is utilizing its main uranium processing circuits to process monazite and extract the REEs and uranium. A dedicated leach circuit will allow the Mill to simultaneously process monazite in the new dedicated circuit and to process other mined uranium and uranium/vanadium ores in the main circuit. The Company expects to complete "Phase 2" in 2026, subject to licensing, financing, and receipt of sufficient monazite feed. During "Phase 3", Energy Fuels expects to add "heavy" REE separation capabilities, including the production of Dy, Tb, and potentially other REE oxides and advanced materials. The Company will also evaluate the potential to produce La and Ce products. Monazite concentrates naturally contain higher concentrations of "heavy" REEs, including Dy and Tb, versus other REE-bearing ores, like bastnaesite, mainly due to the presence of another REE-bearing phosphate mineral called "xenotime." "Phase 3" is expected to enable Energy Fuels to produce separated Dy, Tb, and potentially other "light" and "heavy" products. The Company also expects to have additional "heavy" REE feedstock stockpiled from "Phase 1" and "Phase 2." During these earlier phases, the Company expects to produce NdPr oxide (or oxalate) and a samarium-plus ("Sm+") "heavy" REE concentrate, which the Company will either sell or stockpile as feed for "Phase 3" REE separation. For reference, the monazite concentrates the Company has analyzed to date contain roughly 1% to 3% Dy and Tb, so 10,000 MT of monazite concentrate contains roughly 100 to 300 MT of Dy and Tb. The Company expects to complete "Phase 3" in 2027, subject to licensing, financing, and receipt of sufficient feed. Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels stated: "Energy Fuels has achieved yet another important milestone for our expanding rare earth business through our acquisition of the Bahia Project. We look forward to further defining the heavy mineral sand resource through our sonic drilling program and moving forward toward mining in the most prospective areas of the project. Using conservative development and market assumptions, we expect to receive monazite concentrates from the Bahia Project at a very low cost within the next few years. By receiving monazite feeds from a variety of sources, including mineral projects that we own, like the Bahia Project, and open market purchases, like from Chemours and others, we expect to be a low-cost US producer of advanced REE materials. "As we continue to build our book of monazite supply through acquisitions of projects like Bahia and other transactions, we are also moving faster down the rare earth supply chain than any other U.S. company to produce more advanced rare earth materials at our White Mesa Mill in Utah. We are currently expanding our SX separation circuit at the Mill that is expected to enable us to commercially produce NdPr oxide or oxalate by later in 2023 or early 2024. NdPr is a key ingredient in permanent rare earth magnets used in EVs, wind energy, and defense technologies. Later in 2026 and 2027, we expect to increase the scale of our NdPr production and add 'heavy' REE separation capabilities, including the ability to produce Dy, Tb and potentially other products, subject to securing additional monazite supplies. "Of course, uranium production remains our core business, where we continue to make excellent progress on resuming production at our mines. As the largest US producer of uranium, Energy Fuels recently sold 300,000 pounds of uranium into the newly established strategic US uranium reserve where we earned total gross proceeds of $18.5 million, and we have nuclear utility contract deliveries beginning this year. We look forward to providing markets with further updates on both our REE and uranium business segments. "With our leading position as a uranium producer in the US, our US-leading vanadium production capability, our rapidly advancing US-leading REE production capability, and our evaluation of radioisotopes for use in emerging cancer treatment therapeutics, Energy Fuels is truly becoming a leading producer of critical minerals in the United States." ABOUT ENERGY FUELS Energy Fuels is a leading US-based critical minerals company. The Company mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced rare earth element ("REE") materials, including mixed REE carbonate, and plans to produce commercial quantities of separated REE oxides in the future. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado, near Denver, and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States. Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery ("ISR") Project in Wyoming. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil, which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com. Daniel Kapostasy, P.G., Director of Technical Services for Energy Fuels, is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying such disclosure. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in the United States and Canada. Forward-looking information may relate to future events or future performance of Energy Fuels. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, with respect to Energy Fuels' objectives and goals, as well as statements with respect to its beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, and intentions, are forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this discussion include, but are not limited to, the following: any expectation as to the concentrations or quantities of uranium and heavy minerals, including monazite, NdPr, Dy and Tb contained in the Bahia Project; any expectation as to the potential annual supply of monazite sands from the Bahia Project to the Mill, the contained MT of TREO per year, or the number of years or decades of such potential supply; any expectation as to the number of EVs that can be powered by NdPr oxide produced from the Bahia Project; any expectation that drilling results at the Bahia Project will confirm that the mineral bearing sands continue at depth; any expectation as to the timing and results of the Company's drilling program at the Bahia Project and the timing of any announcements relating to drilling results; any expectation that the Company will complete an S-K 1300 compliant Initial Assessment and an NI 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment relating to the Bahia Project and the timing of any such assessments; any expectation as to the timing of mining at the Bahia Project; any expectation as to the costs to the Company of monazite concentrates from the Bahia Project and the timing of receipt of any such concentrates; any expectation as to the Company's ability to build a large and diverse book of monazite concentrate supply; any expectation as to the Company's ability to rapidly advance its REE processing business; any expectation that the Company will produce separated REE oxides (or oxalates) from its Mill process streams starting as early as next year; any expectation that the Company will be a low-cost US producer of advanced REE material; any expectation that the Company will complete its Phase 1, Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 separation facilities on the time frames indicated, if at all; any expectation as to the expected throughput rates, production capability, REEs to be produced and capital and operating costs of such facilities; any expectation that the Company will be the first to the market among US companies with commercial quantities of separated NdPr available to EV, renewable energy and other companies for offtake; any expectation that monazite concentrates will naturally contain higher concentrations of "heavy" REEs, including Dy and Tb versus other REE-bearing ores, like bastnaesite; any expectation as to the Company's ability to produce radioisotopes needed for emerging cancer treatments on a commercial basis or at all; and any expectation that the Company will continue to be a leading US based uranium mining company and a leading producer of critical minerals in the United States. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: technical difficulties; mining or processing difficulties and upsets; licensing, permitting and regulatory delays; litigation risks; competition from others; political actions or instability in foreign countries; and market factors, including future demand for and prices realized from the sale of uranium, vanadium and REEs. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and Energy Fuels disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Energy Fuels assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/energy-fuels-completes-acquisition-of-rare-earth-and-heavy-mineral-project-in-brazil-301744927.html SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2023/13/c3264.html Pennsylvania is offering its residents the chance to purchase highly coveted collector bottles of whiskey in a lottery this week. Residents and liquor licensees in the state can enter the lottery to purchase a bottle from the highly-sought after Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, which drops annually and features whiskey that has been aged for at least 15 years. Pennsylvania is one of 17 states that have direct control over the distribution of alcoholic beverages via a state liquor control board, according to the National Alcohol Beverage Association. In 2015, Pennsylvania implemented a lottery system to make rare releases more accessible to the states bourbon enthusiasts, according to Shawn Kelly, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Before 2015, the state would simply list the bottles for sale on its site, which would reliably crash once swarmed by prospective buyers. Pappy Van Winkle probe: Love of rare bourbons lands Oregon officials in criminal investigation The allocations that we would get would not be big enough for, you know, the state the size of Pennsylvania," Kelly said. "We're talking a couple 100 bottles for a state with a population of 13 million. The lottery system, Kelly said, also gives consumers the opportunity to purchase the bottles at an affordable price. For some people, this is the holy grail, Kelly told USA TODAY. They may look their entire lives to try to find these bottles that are very difficult to find on store shelves in other states. In the secondary marketthey may pay three, four or five times what we charge in Pennsylvania. Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2022 Each 750 milliliter bottle from the 2022 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in Pennsylvanias lottery will retail for $109.99, the board said, and participants will be limited to purchasing a single bottle. Bottles in lottery: 18-year-old Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (14 for consumers, four for licensees) 17-year-old Eagle Rare Straight Bourbon (16 for consumers, five for licensees) William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof (72 for consumers, 24 for licensees) George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof (111 for consumers, 36 for licensees) Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof (149 for consumers,49 for licensees) Story continues Additionally, the board said it is holding two separate lotteries for a rare bourbon worth more than $1,000 and another worth $150. 20-year-old Michter's Straight Bourbon Limited Release (eight for consumers, two for licensees): $1,149.99 Blanton Straight From The Barrel Bourbon (243 for consumers, 81 for licensees): $149.99 Entrants have until 5 p.m. ET Friday to enter into the lottery on its website, the board said . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pennsylvania liquor lottery offers Buffalo Trace Antique Collection ireland baldwin ireland baldwin/instagram Ireland Baldwin is celebrating six months of pregnancy. On Sunday, the mom-to-be, 27, shared a series of photos of her posing in a lime green bikini with her growing baby bump proudly on display. "6 months! Time for a Super Bowl of vanilla ice cream with hot sauce in it," Baldwin wrote in a caption alongside the pics. "Happy Sunday!" Baldwin also included her pet husky, Kota, in the last photo of the slide who fellow model Sailor Brinkley Cook referred to as Baldwin's "first baby" in a comment. In another photo, shared to her Instagram story, Baldwin wrote, "none of my bikinis fit me anymore ," as she posed in the mirror in the same green two-piece. RELATED: Pregnant Ireland Baldwin Reveals 'Classy, Beautiful' Name She and Boyfriend RAC Chose for Baby ireland baldwin ireland baldwin/instagram Baldwin who revealed during an appearance on the GirlBoss Radio podcast in January that her baby girl will be named Holland in an ode to her own country-inspired name announced that she and boyfriend RAC (born Andre Allen Anjos) were expecting a baby on Instagram in December. In a joint post shared to both their accounts, the couple shared a photo of a sonogram, announcing their exciting news. Baldwin's cousin, Hailey Bieber, who commented "cryin" on the post, was one of many famous friends who wished the expecting parents good luck. Rumer Willis (who is also expecting!) wrote "Yay can't wait to meet you little one," and both Sarah Paulson and Paris Hilton congratulated the couple on their exciting news. RELATED: Ireland Baldwin Admits 'Pregnancy Is Hard' as She Shares Candid Post: 'I've Struggled to Adapt' ireland baldwin ireland baldwin/instagram RELATED: Kim Basinger Confirms Daughter Ireland Baldwin Is Having a Girl in Post Comparing Their Sonograms Since she revealed that she's expecting, Baldwin has been candid on social media about her pregnancy journey. Story continues In January, she shared a note on Instagram detailing how "hard" pregnancy has been for her. "It takes so much out of you. I wasn't ready for that," she wrote. Baldwin added that she "grew up with a very jaded perception of what love really looked like," and because of that, wanted to have a child of her own "with someone who would treat us right and love us unconditionally." "I underestimated just how hard pregnancy would be on my mind and my body," she continued. "Being someone who deals with extreme health anxiety on a daily basis, pregnancy turned things into high gear. I've struggled to adapt to these changes." ireland baldwin ireland baldwin/instagram 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. Baldwin who is actor Alec Baldwin's oldest daughter from his relationship with ex-wife Kim Basinger shared that she would have "lost [her] mind" without her boyfriend. "He's everything and more to me," she wrote, but added that it's still hard being "somewhere with no family." "It's hard not being really close to family to begin with because they live far or are idiots that I want nothing to do with," she continued. Ossie Davis in Do the Right Thing You know, when I wrote my article on the best Sidney Poitier movies, I knew I would eventually get to Ossie Davis (birth name, Raiford Chatman Davis), as how could I not? Besides being featured in some of Poitiers films (He made his film debut in Joseph L. Mankiewiczs No Way Out, which also starred Poitier), he was also a civil rights activist like Poitier, and often took on more distinguished roles rather than stereotypical ones, elevating the perception of Black people. Ive already celebrated John Leguizamos highly diverse career, as well James Hongs unique career, so now, its Daviss turn. Ossie Davis in The Scalphunters The Scalphunters (Joseph Lee) I wish I had seen The Scalphunters when I wrote my article on seven great westerns that arent traditional at all, as I would have definitely put this on the list. Directed by Sydney Pollack, and starring Burt Lancaster, Telly Savalas, Shelly Winters, and of course, Ossie Davis, The Scalphunters is about a not-too-bright fur trapper (Lancaster) who trades his furs for a smart slave (Davis), and the adventures they go on together, contending with a brutal scalphunter (Savalas). Davis is hilarious in the role, often acting as a foil to all of the nonsense that the other characters get themselves into. Its a film that tackles bigotry in a way that a movie probably couldnt get away with today, but even as a slave, the actor is somehow the classiest character of them all. Oh, and theres also a great, comically long fight scene that rivals the sunglasses battle in They Live. Its wonderful! Characters in Countdown at Kusini Countdown At Kusini (Ernest Motapo) Directed by Davis and filmed in Lagos, Nigeria, Countdown at Kusini is part action film, part tale of revolution. It's about a jazz musician who falls in love with a revolutionary, played by Daviss real-life wife, and frequent contributor, Ruby Dee, and the fight they embark on. The star plays revolutionary leader, Ernest Motapo, and he gets to do all the inspiring scenes, while the other characters get to do all the action beats in motorboats and such. Davis is interesting in the film, as he always is, but I think his directorial skills are even more impressive here. If you can find this movie, watch it. Story continues Ossie Davis as Da Mayor in Do the Right Thing Do The Right Thing (Da Mayor) Spike Lees Do the Right Thing, which is still relevant today (and which Im still, to this day, bothered did not get nominated for Best Picture at the 1990 Academy Awards), is about a single, hot summer day, and the racial tension that bubbles to the surface. Davis plays resident old-timer (and sage), Da Mayor, who has lived on the block long enough to know that cooler heads always prevail (even though its kind of hard to keep a cool head when everybody wants to tear each other apart). He plays the role perfectly, and even does that thing where he says the title of the movie to another character. Its a small performance, but a vital one. Ossie Davis in Joe Versus the Volcano Joe Versus The Volcano (Marshall) In this romantic comedy directed by John Patrick Shanley, and starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, a man is diagnosed with an incurable disease, and is offered a chance to live out the last of his days in luxury as long as he jumps into a volcano to appease some residents on an island. Its bizarre, and it's cute. Very, very cute. Davis is only in the film for a short time, but he plays a clothes-obsessed chauffeur named Marshall who believes that clothes make the man. Somehow, he manages to steal the whole movie with his scenes, as he plays the role straight, but with impeccable comic timing for every line. Hanks is hilarious in the movie, but he cant beat Daviss deadpan approach. He just cant. Ossie Davis in Grumpy Old Men Grumpy Old Men (Chuck) Directed by Donald Petrie, and starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith, and our boy, Ossie Davis, I still cant believe that this film, or its sequel, Grumpier Old Men, even exist. This is mainly because in our highly saturated superhero market these days, it's hard to fathom that a film about two old codgers fighting for the affection of an English professor was actually a huge hit back in the 90s. Davis isnt in the movie for all that long, unfortunately, but he plays a lovable owner of a town bait shop. Hes the charming old guy while Matthau and Lemmon are the crude old guys, making penis jokes and playing pranks on each other like theyre still living out their days on The Odd Couple. Even as a kid, I loved this movie, and Daviss brief performance is definitely a reason for it. I'm still waiting on that Grumpy Old Men remake starring Eddie Murphy, by the way. Whatever happened to that? Ossie Davis in Touched By An Angel Touched By An Angel (Erasmus Jones/Gabriel/Gabe) Speaking of blasts from the past, do you remember Touched By an Angel? It was one of the most popular shows in the 90s, and it was about angels who come down to earth to fill people with the holy spirit and let them know that things are going to be okay. I found it to be pretty sappy as a kid, but Ive grown to appreciate it more as an adult. Davis was on it multiple times as Erasmus Jones, and as the archangel Gabriel. While many were perfectly fine with accepting Morgan Freeman as God in Bruce/Evan Almighty, I think its pretty easy to see this man as an angel. Hes one right now, in fact. So, of course he could play one on TV. Ossie Davis in Dinosaur Dinosaur (Yar) In this Disney Animation Studio movie from the 2000s, an iguanodon finds a new family with lemurs after a meteor shower. Davis plays the patriarch of the lemurs, named Yar. Look, do you want to know how youve made it in Hollywood? Youve made it when youre voicing a lemur in a Disney animated feature, and Davis does a good job of it. Of course he has to play the tough, leave-him-alone character who doesnt want any trouble, but behind his cold exterior, he has a heart of gold. I ask you, who would be better to play that role than Ossie Davis? Im waiting. Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis in Bubba Ho-Tep Bubba Ho-Tep (Jack/JFK) Lastly, and quite possibly the strangest film on this list, directed by Don Coscarelli, and starring Bruce Campbell (as Elvis), and Davis as a man who claims to be JFK, Bubba Ho-Tep is about a mummy terrorizing a senior citizen community, and the heroes who are out to stop him. I know this might be embarrassing to admit, but Bubba Ho-Tep was my introduction to the actor. Here was a man who had all the poise of a gentleman, but was playing a man who claimed to be JFK. It was a ridiculous performance, but one that brought me down the Davis rabbit hole, which Im still going down today. He was an amazing actor who was always full of surprises. And, thats it. Whats your favorite Ossie Davis performance? For more celebrations of other highly diverse careers, make sure to swing by here often. REUTERS ROMEItalys Silvio Berlusconi has been accused by Ukraine of kissing Putins bloody hand after the three-time-prime minister and bunga bunga octogenarian said he would never meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he blames for Russias invasion of his country. Berlusconi, whose record with doing the right thing is shaky at best, made the comments Sunday night at a polling station for regional elections in northern Italy. All [Zelensky] had to do was to stop attacking the two autonomous republics of the Donbas and this would not have happened, Berlusconi saida stance which is in direct conflict with Italys coalition government under Giorgia Meloni, of which he is a major stakeholder. I judge, very, very negatively the behavior of this gentleman. Kyiv was quick to respond, with Ukraines Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko writing on Facebook: Berlusconis senseless accusations against Zelensky are an attempt to kiss Putins hands, bloodied up to the elbows. An attempt to demonstrate his loyalty to the Russian dictator. Meloni, who had been snubbed at a state dinner with the Ukraine president hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron last week, has been steadfast in her support for Ukraine, despite Berlusconi and her other coalition partner Matteo Salvinis demonstrable soft spot for Putin. Salvini has been photographed with a Putin T-shirt standing in Red Square, and few will forget Berlusconis Putins bed scandal when an escort taped him directing her to the white ruffle bed he said his friend Vlad had given him. The comments have opened a widening fissure in Italy about its continuing support for Kyiv. An invasion of Ukraine brings the war closer to home, not further away, Meloni told reporters in Brussels last week. Whoever helps Ukraine works for peace. But several figures on the right are calling for a vote on Italys continuing military aid, seemingly hoping to harness the anti-Zelensky energy introduced by Berlusconi. And some on the left, including socialist senator Enrico Borghi, say the rift should lead to a confidence vote to test whether Melonis four-month-old government is intact. Berlusconis pro-Putin and anti-Zelensky statements are a reason for resounding contradiction within the majority on such a fundamental issue as aid to Ukraine, Borghi said Monday. These positions isolate Italy and weaken the Western front. Story continues Mykhailo Podolyak, a top Zelensky adviser, called Berlusconi a VIP agitator who acts within the framework of Russian propaganda, trades Italys reputation for his friendship with Putin. "His words are damaging to Italy, Podolyak said in an interview with La Repubblica. Throw off the mask and say publicly that you are in favor of the genocide of the Ukrainian people. 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. Lakewood Ranch High School's Kelly Smith-Williams was recognized Thursday night at as the School District of Manatee County's Teacher of the Year. Kelly Smith-Williams was named Educator of the Year by the School District of Manatee County on Feb. 9 at Parrish Community High School. The Lakewood Ranch High School honors anatomy and physiology instructor has taught in the Manatee school district since 2016. LRHS Principal Dustin Dahlquist lauded Smith-Williams for her dedication to enhancing the lives of her students both in the classroom and outside. "Ms. Smith-Williams is the consummate education professional - a teacher in every sense of the word," Dahlquist said in a district press release following a celebration at Parrish Community High School. "She is at the top of her game at a school crowded with exceptional educators." Dahliquist noted her work in her honors class, which includes introducing students to innovative learning tools in her anatomy class as well as spending time during summers to help teens work towards their graduation goals. The District's Excellence in Education Awards included the top honor of Educator of the Year along with Support Employee of the Year. The ceremony concluded with the naming of winners and each honoree received a $5,000 check provided by Suncoast Credit Union. Smith-Williams was one of four Teacher of the Year finalists honored and was nominated by a senior student for the award. Smith-Williams advances to the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Program where she will represent Manatee County among other educators across the state. The Educator of the Year Finalists included Tiffany Barrett-Greer, 2nd Grade Teacher at Braden River Elementary School; Kendall Carrier, Director of Bands at Parrish Community High School; Michelle Dowell, Biomedical Science Teacher at Palmetto High School; and Smith-Williams. First Row: (L-to-R) Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, Brianna Hall (Support Employee of the Year), Kelly Smith-Williams (Educator of the Year), Deputy Superintendent Doug Wagner; Second Row: Representatives from Suncoast Credit Union; Third Row: (L-to-R) School Board Member Gina Messenger, School Board Member Mary Foreman. In addition, the the district recognized Brianna Hall, who performs clerical duties at Lincoln Memorial Middle School, as the Support Employee of the Year. She started and heads the school's Parent Teacher Organization, tutors students and offers them help with homework, the news release noted. Hall, like Smith-Williams, receives $5,000, and other perks. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Lakewood Ranch High School's Kelly Smith-Williams is teacher of year After putting on the April ballot a proposed 3% tax on recreational marijuana sales in Farmington, the city council held a public hearing Thursday. The council is considering changes to city zoning regulations regarding the sale of medical marijuana that would be expanded to include its sale for recreational purposes. Mr. Mayor, on the screen, this kind of showed how it kind of went around the state, said Development Services Director Tim Porter. The green areas represent counties that passed Amendment 3 [which in November legalized Missouri marijuana use]. The red areas are areas that did not. But overall, it was about 53% to 47% in favor. In Farmington, we were at about 51% to 49%. So our city kind of matched the county and the state. Friday of last week, the state began the approval process for dispensaries around the state. And I sent you all an email, I believe, last week. It kind of took everybody by surprise. It wasnt supposed to be done until, I believe, Monday of this week. So they were ahead of the curve a little bit. But, basically, what Amendment 3 does is it says that if you were a medical dispensary, you could apply for a comprehensive license that would allow you to sell both medical marijuana and adult-use marijuana meaning for those 21 and older. And so Greg and I talked, and the only way that we could, I guess, you as city council could ask for that not to be legal would be to place it on a ballot in the November of 2024 presidential election. Even then, it would require I believe what they call a supermajority. So, we said, if you got your license go ahead and sell it. One of our dispensaries had some technical issues, and they werent able to open. I dont know where theyre at in getting that cleaned up, but we had another one that got theirs, and we went ahead and told them, you know, its okay for you to have that license from the state. You gotta follow the rest of our rules, you know, in terms of hours of operation or, you know, requirements that were in existence already. But these are not new facilities, these are existing ones. So, the ordinance before you tonight, which Planning and Zoning recommended at last months meeting, takes our medical marijuana ordinance and makes it into kind of a comprehensive ordinance that includes both medical and adult use. Ordinance rewritten According to Porter, the section containing the definition of the citys existing medical marijuana ordinance has been rewritten. We changed a few things, and we moved it from our general zoning definition portion, he said. We moved it down specifically to the section related to marijuana. So the reason why we thought that was important was because theres some specific definitions that are related only to medical marijuana. Other than that, its pretty much just taking the existing ordinance and adapting it to include adult-use marijuana. The locations in terms of where you can sell, grow, manufacture, infuse, all thats pretty much the same as what it was before. Its just that this kind of makes the ordinance in compliance, we believe, with Amendment 3. Porter emphasized that marijuana has only been legalized in the state for recreational users who are 21 years old or older. Its illegal for anyone under 21 to be in possession of marijuana in any amount, he said. If youre under 21 years of age, youre in violation. Over 3 ounces, if youre over 21, you cant possess. And there are some other tricky things, like, its illegal to consume it if youre the passenger in a motor vehicle; its kind of like an open container. You cant be using it even as a passenger in a motor vehicle. And some things like that. There were no questions from the public at the hearing, and so it was adjourned by Mayor Larry Forsythe. Later in the regular meeting, the council voted unanimously on the first reading of the proposed ordinance change. A second reading on the matter will take place at the councils next meeting. Residential swimming pools A public meeting was also held before the regular meeting to receive feedback about a proposed ordinance amending the municipal code governing the construction of residential swimming pools. This ordinance has to do basically with lot coverage, Porter said. Our zoning ordinance basically says every lot in town has a percentage of lot coverage that exists, meaning that your buildable area cannot exceed 30% or 50%, depending on the zoning designation of the lot coverage. And the building area is defined by the sum of the horizontal areas of the grade story of the main building and all accessory buildings. So the problem is that our building inspectors were taught years ago to interpret the ordinance as counting a below-ground swimming pool towards the overall lot coverage. And our ordinance also goes a step further and says that lot coverage, 30% of your rear yard, has to be free of buildable area. So, this ordinance was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission to do a couple of things. It defines swimming pools a bit more specifically, and then it also spells out that in-ground swimming pools, as defined, shall not count towards calculating the overall maximum water coverage or towards calculating the maximum water coverage in the rear or allowed side yard. But still are subject to the required setbacks. What brought this up? Well, it has been a problem for folks that wanna build a swimming pool and pool house in their backyard, or you would tell them no, you cant do it because you dont have enough room. So, its a clean-up. It makes it a little less restrictive. Porter said there are several reasons the city has an ordinance regarding lot coverage. Depending on which city youre in, for us, it has to do with keeping the amount of stuff above grade so that it doesnt clutter the yard up, he said. So you can only put so much stuff in your backyard. For some cities, it reduces the impervious area thats created by the buildable area. But for us, its all about just kind of keeping things decluttered. Sounds good. Ironically Mr. Mayor, under our ordinance, if somebody wanted to concrete their entire yard, they would be allowed to. It would be expensive, obviously. Not only would the concrete be expensive, but the stormwater buyout fee would be off the charts. Hearing no questions, Mayor Forsythe closed the public meeting. The council unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance later in the regular meeting and will hold the second reading at its Feb. 27 meeting. Public Works In his Public Works Committee report, Ward 3 Councilor Wayne Linnenbringer discussed the items covered at its meeting held earlier that evening in the Development Services Building. We basically talked about solving problems with traffic load and rainwater, he said. And our first item of business was on the Weber Road and Plaza intersection design project. The motion was made and passed that were going to stick with the design as is out there on Weber Road to make it one-way traffic by Panera Bread. The second item was the infrastructure cost to provide power to new developments. We basically talked about it. We didnt get anywhere. Were seeking more data on what other communities, like the city of Farmington, are doing. And then, in new business, we talked about the VFW erosion issue. Theres a creek behind the VFW hall, as youre well aware of, and every time we get a lot of rain, the water rushes past there, its creating a lot of erosion. So nothing has been decided on that. Lead pipes Mayor Forsythe brought up a subject mentioned by President Joe Biden in his State of the Union Address given on the previous Tuesday night. If anybody watched the entertaining presidents speech to the nation, he mentioned lead pipes, lead pipes, you know, in Flint, Michigan, all that, he said. And it really funnels down to us. It funnels down through each small city. We have to take a random count of all the lead pipes we have in the ground feeding the houses, and [Public Works Director Larry Lacy] is working on that. Addressing City Administrator Greg Beavers, Forsythe asked, Am I right there? Beavers said, Yeah, its been around for a couple of years, but we have to inventory it. He did say something at the State of the Union about that. Because of Flint, the typical response is that everybodys a bad actor, so we have to inventory all structures that were built after a certain date. The service lines are buried, so were looking at some equipment that basically just measures the resistivity of the pipe to determine what the material is. We know, of course, that most construction in the last 40 or 50 years was done with either copper or PVC-type pipe, but there probably are some older homes or older neighborhoods that have some residual lead sections in them. They went through a period of time where lead was popular, and then galvanized pipe replaced that and copper. Were gonna have to go through and do an inventory. Asked by the mayor if the city will have to replace any lead piping thats found, Beavers said, Yeah, well have to replace them eventually. You know, we dont, on our mains, when were operating on them, occasionally well find the lead joint. Lead joints were kind of common to use because its malleable. Weve tried those components on very, very rare occasions on our distribution system. I doubt there are a lot of lead pipes still in Farmington. The thing about water pipes is they eventually leak, and they eventually get replaced. And those are the ones that are too old. Beavers added that the federal mandate requires that the check for lead piping be completed by sometime next year. Ordinances In other actions by the city council, first readings were held on ordinances to approve and adopt a rate increase for electrical service provided by City Light & Water, adopting new sewer rates, the use of water meters and the rates prescribed, a new addition to airport operations, and giving the mayor authorization to declare a deed restriction on the Play It Forward in the Parkland all-inclusive playground in Engler Park. Asked by the mayor about the need for a deed restriction on the playground, Beavers said, We have a Land Water Conservation Fund grant, so the property where the playground is has to be dedicated for public use. Closing the meeting, Mayor Forsythe announced that, because of changes made at his place of employment, he will once again be able to serve on the Farmington Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and tourism board. He thanked Ward 4 Councilor Vanessa Pegram and Ward 3 Councilor Chris Morrison for serving in his absence. A Lee County grand jury returned an indictment in a 2015 murder of a Lehigh Acres man who died of a heart attack while being beaten during a robbery, officials announced Thursday afternoon. State Attorney Amira Fox said her office's Cold Case Unit worked with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, convening the jury on Friday. Christopher Eddie Perez, 28, is charged with first-degree murder and armed burglary. Fox said Perez and "several other perpetrators" broke into the Lehigh Acres home of Hemchand Bhagwandin, 68, and Sabitree Bhagwandin, 66, on March 15, 2015, carrying firearms and wearing masks. Members of the Lee County Sheriff's Office investigate the scene of a home invasion involving a death on Plumosa Ave. in Lehigh Acres on Monday 3/16/2015. Hemchand Bhagwandin, 68 was killed. More:Lehigh Acres man, 68, tortured and killed at home More:Brutal 2015 murder of Lehigh Acres grandfather remains unsolved; Crime Stoppers up reward They separated the Bhagwandins at gunpoint and tied them up, demanding to "know where the money and gold was," she said. The robbers then beat them with their fists and guns. Hemchand Bhagwandin had a heart attack and died of cardiac arrest and blunt force trauma. "Since Mr. Bhagwandin died during the commission of a felony," Fox said, "Perez faces murder charges." Relatives said the Bhadwandin family emigrated from India to Guyana in South America, and then relocated to the United States years ago, moving to New York, then LaBelle and, finally, Lehigh Acres. Bhagwandin was a retired auto mechanic. Lee County Jail records indicate Perez was arrested six times after the 2015 slaying and has remained jailed since April 28 on a $100,000 bond in the case. The Plumosa Avenue home in Lehigh Acres pictured July 7, 3022. The address is where Hemchand Bhagwandin, 68, was killed March 15, 2015, during a home invasion. In first-degree murder cases, a state attorney convenes the grand jury; if the grand jury delivers an indictment, the accused is given formal notice that it is believed that he or she committed a crime. Court documents indicate Perez is serving a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2017 to negligent manslaughter in the Nov. 5, 2015, slaying of Rashawn Myers of Fort Myers. His sentencing had been delayed. Perez is due in court at 10 a.m. Tuesday before Judge Frank Porter. Story continues Neither Fox, nor Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno accepted questions after the news conference Thursday. However, Marceno did praise the teamwork by both offices to resolve the crime. Stacey Henson is the breaking news and visuals editor for The Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You may reach her at shenson@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lee County grand jury indicts man in Lehigh homeowner's murder MILLINGTON, Tenn. A local graduate, now a Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, recently participated in the 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan. Petty Officer 2nd Class Victoria Gosser, a native of Heath and a 2011 Lakewood graduate, was one of eight sailors selected to participate in the festival. They are assigned to the U.S. Naval Air Facility (NAF) in Misawa, Japan, and arrived on Jan. 28 to begin work on a Navy-themed snow statute for the festival. It was the 38th year of the Navy's participation. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Victoria Gosser, a Heath native and Lakewood graduate, serves at Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Detachment (AID) Misawa (Japan) as an aviation support equipment technician. She is responsible for operating and maintaining all ground support equipment needed to fly naval aircraft. The team was scheduled to complete the snow sculpture by Feb. 4, spending the remainder of their time in Sapporo participating in community relations projects and meeting and interacting with the visitors at Snow Festival this year. More than two million visitors attend the Sapporo Snow Festival annually to marvel at the large snow statues built by teams from all over Japan and dozens of countries. The sailors selected for the team were chosen because of their superior work performance and dedication to the U.S. Navy both on and off-duty. Many were also selected for awards such as Sailor of the Year at their respective commands. Gosser joined the Navy over five years ago. "I needed a decent paying job and my uncle, grandfather and father all served in the Navy," Gosser said in an article written by Rick Burke of the Naval Office of Community Outreach. "My father retired after 20 years, and no other branch crossed my mind." Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Heath. "I'm from Ohio, and learned how to drive in the snow and ice," said Gosser. "Being stationed in Misawa, this lesson came in handy." Gosser serves at Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Detachment (AID) Misawa as an aviation support equipment technician, responsible for operating and maintaining all ground support equipment needed to fly naval aircraft. AID Misawa is a tenant command of NAF Misawa that provides intermediate maintenance level support for deployed aircraft, visiting Carrier Air Wings and Marine Air Groups. Story continues NAF Misawa is tasked with providing aviation and ground logistic support and services to all permanent and transient USN and USMC forces in Northern Japan. With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy. "Our mission remains timeless, to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Admiral Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy." As a member of the Navy, Gosser is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy. "The Navy contributes to national defense by being a show of force," said Gosser. "We are present all around the world, which helps our allies feel safe and keeps our adversaries in check." Gosser has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service. My proudest achievement has been reaching my goal to petty officer second class and helping other sailors," said Gosser. As Gosser and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy. Serving in the Navy has given me the chance to experience different cultures and go to school," said Gosser. "Being on a ship has its pros and cons," added Gosser. "Most people talk about the cons, but the pros are a lot of fun. You get to travel the world and make the best of things however you can with people you become really close with. My best memories are from the ship." This article was submitted by the U.S. Navy. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Local Navy officer, Lakewood grad Gosser part of Sapporo Snow Festival Giant auto supplier Magna International won the contract to supply battery enclosures on the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado electric pickup, work that is expected to create hundreds of new jobs in Michigan. On Monday, Magna announced it will produce the enclosures at its Magna Electric Vehicle Structures facility in St. Clair, where it already makes the battery enclosure for the GMC Hummer EV pickup. Production of the enclosure for the Silverado will start later this year. 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 electric pickup. Between the new Silverado EV business and the contract for Hummer EV, Magnas St. Clair facility expects to go from roughly 300 employees today to about 1,200 employees when it reaches full capacity over the next couple of years, said Tracy Fuerst, vice president of Magna corporate communications. The accelerating shift toward vehicle electrification opens up exciting growth opportunities for Magna beyond powertrain, John OHara, president of Magnas body and chassis group, said in a statement. We have been able to leverage our expertise to supply battery enclosures a product for which we see strong potential going forward. A spokesman for GM declined to comment on this deal. All EVs require battery enclosures, which house high-voltage batteries, electrical components, sensors, and connectors. They protect the crucial battery components from impact, heat and water. In October, Magna announced it would invest $426 million to expand the plant in St. Clair, which it opened two years ago, to support future growth of EVs. Magna is now constructing the 740,000-square-foot expansion to the 345,000-square-foot facility. Magna has 348 locations around the world and says it has consolidated sales of $37.8 billion for all of 2022, a 4% increase from the previous year. It makes a variety of auto parts from technology to body and exteriors to power train. It is well known for car seats. As North Americas largest auto supplier, Magna employs more than 11,500 people in Michigan and supplies parts to all the major carmakers. Story continues GM will assemble the Silverado EV at Factory Zero, which straddles Detroit and Hamtramck, starting later this year. GM currently builds the Hummer EV and the all-electric Hummer SUV at Factory Zero. Magna is hiring for various positions, including managers, engineers and operators. Those interested in applying can go to http://www.magna.com/careers. More:GM salaried workers should expect smaller bonuses: How formula works More:New GM partnership gives automaker long-term supply of semiconductor chips Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Supplier Magna wins GM account that will create 880 jobs $10 million in non-dilutive support from SDTC helps: Fast track and convert North America's only LFP plant to pilot Nano One's One-Pot Process. Leverage high-quality acquisition of LFP plant and amplifies expansion plans. Accelerate strategic growth and offtake opportunities with consortium partners Rio Tinto, Lithion Battery Inc., and undisclosed auto OEM. Clear a path to industrial scale piloting, demo commercial production and revenues. Maximize shareholder value, support cleantech innovation and enhance security of supply. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2023 / Nano One Materials Corp. ("Nano One" or the "Company") (TSX:NANO)(OTC PINK:NNOMF)(Frankfurt:LBMB) is a clean technology company with patented processes for the low-cost, low-environmental footprint production of high-performance cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. Nano One is pleased to announce an award of $10 million in non-dilutive, non-repayable contributions from Sustainable Development Technology Canada ("SDTC"). These funds will support the conversion of Nano One's recently acquired Candiac facility to the patented One-Pot Process for industrial-scale pilot production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP). SDTC's continued support has been an important contribution to Nano One's success and will accelerate the LFP piloting while advancing the plan towards commercial operations. The SDTC project also includes financial support for the design, construction, and operation of a multi-cathode piloting hub (MCPH) to help customize and advance Nano One's One-Pot and metal-direct-to-CAM (M2CAM) processes for the industrial scale pilot production of next-gen LFP, NMC and LNM cathode active materials (CAM). These processes are being developed independently by Nano One and jointly with global cathode partners1,2 and various automotive collaborators for future licensing, joint venture and independent production opportunities. Nano One will lead the project with valuable contributions from consortium partners Rio Tinto, Lithion Battery Inc., and an undisclosed automotive OEM3. "These funds will help us fast track the conversion of North America's only LFP plant to Nano One's patented One Pot Process," said Nano One CEO Mr. Dan Blondal. "This will showcase world-class cathode materials, made right here in Canada, and differentiated on a global scale by driving down costs, energy intensity and environmental footprint. It will enable joint development, industrial scale piloting and customer validation of LFP, NMC and LNM CAM, and it will help accelerate licensing and offtake while shortening the journey to revenue, full-scale commercial demonstration and wide-scale expansion. This aligns well with Nano One's mission to maximize shareholder value, create prosperity in Canada, and secure supply chains for the North American lithium-ion battery ecosystems. It does so by leveraging our recent acquisition in Candiac, and by setting the stage for high-quality resilient business opportunities that will promote steady growth into the future." This project is named Pre-Commercial Trial and Multi Cathode Piloting Hub, will be multi-phase, multi-year and milestone driven. This follows two other successful Nano One SDTC projects4,5 which assisted in demonstrating the One-Pot process at small pilot scale production volumes and advanced the technology to this point of pre-commercial trials. This project also leverages Nano One's recent high-value acquisition of the Johnson Matthey6 LFP business in Candiac, Quebec, Canada, on November 1, 2022. It amplifies the opportunity for global LFP business expansion and is further validated by the support of the federal government and the project's industrial consortium partners. Nano One's project in Candiac is further enhanced by a team with deep technology commercialization experience, scale-up knowhow and automotive quality CAM production expertise, all led by a seasoned executive team. Mr. Blondal added, "We thank SDTC, the Government of Canada and our consortium members for their continued support. It adds strength for Nano One and our valued shareholders as we pursue the advancement and commercialization of our technology. We are aligned with government in creating supply chains that are competitive, resilient, and differentiated with minimal waste, cost, energy, water usage and security issues. Our Candiac facility will be a launch-pad for a new generation of scalable cathode materials and sustainable supply chains." Leah Lawrence, CEO of SDTC, commented,"As the global electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow, ensuring a reliable supply of EV batteries is essential to Canada's economic competitiveness. Nano One's innovative cathode active materials (CAM) manufacturing process will ensure a cleaner and efficient battery supply chain here at home in Canada and North America as well. SDTC is proud to continue our support for Nano One as it enters its next stage of growth." Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of ISED, said, "Canada is moving aggressively to seize the economic opportunities from critical minerals mining, refining, and manufacturing. We are committed to leveraging our competitive advantages-abundance of critical minerals, skilled labour, clean energy, proximity to markets-to achieve this goal. Canada's innovation ecosystem is another key advantage, and we must harness revolutionary technologies that drive innovation in this space. To that end, we're proud to support Nano One as they change the way battery materials are made, reducing the cost and environmental footprint of electric vehicle batteries, and advancing made-in-Canada innovation." The company looks forward to presenting further details as it executes on its vision, strategic initiatives and plans in 2023. 12022 05 31 - https://nanoone.ca/news/news-releases/nano-one-and-basf-enter-into-a-joint-development-agreement-for-lithium-ion-battery-materials/ 22022 12 22 - https://nanoone.ca/news/news-releases/nano-one-and-umicore-enter-into-joint-development-agreement-for-battery-materials-process-technology/ 32020 12 18 - https://nanoone.ca/news/news-releases/nano-one-enters-into-a-cathode-evaluation-agreement-with-major-global-automotive-company/ 42019 09 30 - https://nanoone.ca/news/news-releases/nano-one-receives-1-181-944-from-sdtc/ 52022 08 23 - https://nanoone.ca/news/news-releases/nano-one-receives-c-1.8m-towards-sdtc-milestone-4-and-granted-2-patents/ 62022 10 01 - https://nanoone.ca/news/news-releases/nano-one-announces-closing-of-candiac-acquisition-from-johnson-matthey-and-appoints-denis-geoffroy-as-chief-commercialization/ ### About Sustainable Development Technology Canada At SDTC, we support companies attempting to do extraordinary things. From initial funding to educational support and peer learning to market integration, we are invested in helping our small and medium-sized businesses grow into successful companies that employ Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We are relentlessly focused on supporting our companies to grow and scale in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The innovations we fund help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges: climate change, regeneration through the circular economy, and the well-being of humans in the communities they live in and the natural environment they interact with. About Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a mining and metals company operating in 35 countries around the world that produces the materials essential to human progress. It aims to help pioneer a more sustainable future, from partnering in the development of technology that can make the aluminum smelting process entirely free of direct GHG emissions, to providing the world with the materials it needs - such as copper and titanium - to build a new low-carbon economy and products like electric vehicles and smartphones. Rio Tinto has a long history in Quebec, Canada where it operates significant aluminium, iron and titanium businesses. Rio Tinto is building a leading battery materials business, with three lithium projects in development across the United States, Argentina and Serbia. About Lithion Battery Lithion is a vertically integrated manufacturer of cells and rechargeable and non-rechargeable battery modules and packs serving the industrial, medical, robotic, military / defense and energy end-markets. Lithion works closely with original equipment manufacturers and end users to provide high-quality power solutions for critical applications where reliability is paramount. Working closely with customers while producing Lithium Iron Phosphate and other lithium-ion cells and battery modules and packs out of Lithion's North American based manufacturing operations, allows the Company to reliably deliver product to customers - products which are controlled by highly customizable battery management systems. Highly differentiated product coupled with reliable supply allows Lithion to provide the electrification solutions customers require. About Nano One Nano One Materials Corp (Nano One) is a clean technology company with a patented, scalable and low carbon intensity industrial process for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials. It employs approximately 120 people at its innovation and commercialization hubs in British Columbia and Quebec, including the only LFP plant and production team in North America. It has strategic collaborations and partnerships, that include Rio Tinto, BASF, Umicore, CBMM and various automotive OEMs. Nano One's technology is applicable to electric vehicles, energy storage, consumer electronics and next generation batteries in the global push for a zero-emission future. Its One-Pot process, its coated single crystal materials, and its Metal to Cathode Active Material (M2CAM) technologies address fundamental performance needs and supply chain constraints; they also reduce equipment and raw material costs, operating expenses, and carbon intensity; and they eliminate a significant waste stream for a much-improved environmental footprint. The Company aims to pilot and demonstrate its technology as turn-key CAM production solutions for license, joint venture and independent production opportunities. This leverages Canadian talent, critical minerals, renewable energy, and a thriving ecosystem with access to large emerging markets in North America, Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Nano One has received funding from the SDTC, Government of Canada and Government of British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.nanoone.ca Company Contact: Paul Guedes info@nanoone.ca (604) 420-2041 Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the development of technology, supply chains, and plans for construction, scale-up and operation of a multi cathode piloting hub (MCPH), achievement of industrial scale piloting, demo commercial production and revenues, successful current and future collaborations that may happen with OEM's, miners or others, including consortium partners, the execution of the Company's plans which are contingent on support and grants and the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', target', goal', encouraged', projected', potential' or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing, including the receipt of total grant monies from SDTC; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals; general and global economic and regulatory changes; next steps and timely execution of the Company's business plans; successful execution of industrial scale piloting, demo commercial production and revenue generation; the development of technology, supply chains, and plans for construction and operation of a multi cathode piloting hub (MCPH), continuation and future collaborations that are/may happen with the OEM's, miners or others, including the consortium partners; the Company's ability to achieve its stated goals; the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents and other risk factors as identified in Nano One's MD&A and its Annual Information Form dated March 28, 2022, both for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in recent securities filings for the Companies which are available at www.sedar.com. 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. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Nano One Materials Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/739048/Nano-One-Awarded-10-million-from-Sustainable-Development-Technology-Canada VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from four reverse circulation ("RC") holes and one core hole recently completed at its Atlanta Gold Mine Project located 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend. These holes were drilled 200m north of the Atlanta pit on Section 22-16N (Figure 1) and cut across the high-grade feeder zone that includes a network of structures comprising the Atlanta Mine Fault Zone ("AMFZ"). The Company has incorporated these new results to produce an updated interpretation on cross section of this part of the AMFZ (Figure 2). Highlights: Hole No From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22WS-2 227.1 298.8 71.7 2.31 5.8 Bottomed in mineralization includes 265.2 298.8 33.6 4.10 10.2 Bottomed in mineralization AT22NS-28T* 65.5 130.3 64.8 0.50 9.2 Table 1: Highlight hole intervals released today Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward, and true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. *Denotes core hole. Hole AT22WS-2 (2.31 g/t Au over 71.7m) was drilled in the Northwest Target Zone, 32m eastward from historical hole DHRI-11-NRC3 (3.90 g/t Au over 56.4m). The Northwest Target Zone was initially identified by Meadow Bay in 2011 with hole DHRI-11-NRC3, but most of their subsequent holes stepped out westward and southward from this initial discovery hole and failed to go deep enough to fully penetrate mineralization. Nevada King started its drilling in the Northwest Target Zone in late 2022 with the objective of defining mineralization eastward from DHRI-11-NR3 moving toward the AMFZ and eventually southeastward into the main Gustavson 2020 resource envelope. Today's holes released along Section 22-16 do indeed confirm that gold mineralization connects eastward into the AMFZ and presents an impressive 215m wide and 55-80m thick mineralized zone that remains wide open to the west and at depth, with averaged intercept gold grades ranging from 0.21 g/t to 3.9 g/t Au. Several of the holes released today and nearby historic holes bottomed in mineralization. Step-out drilling is currently underway along this section line and on parallel fences aligned along a north-south axis aimed at expanding the drill defined mineralized envelope laterally and to depth. Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, stated, "Meadow Bay made a significant high-grade discovery with its 2011 and 2012 drilling of the Northwest Target Zone. Advancing where they left off, Section 22-16N confirms connection of gold mineralization from the Meadow Bay intervals eastward to the AMFZ. Nevada King's fence drilling across the southern end of the Atlanta Mine Fault Zone along sections 22-5N (January 12, 2023), 22-6N (January 6, 2023), and 22-8N (February 1, 2023) demonstrate the importance of the AMFZ with respect to controlling thick zones of mineralization within the volcanic section west of the fault, as well as higher-grade mineralization on both sides of the fault. Follow-up drilling will allow for a better understanding of both the structural geometry and distribution of higher-grade mineralization, as well as defining the bottom to the mineralization. Drilling has been active on adjacent parallel sections and new results are anticipated shortly, which will allow us to further refine our modeling of grade distribution in the Northwest Target Zone. "Looking back at the drilling done from our start in May 2021 to today, the one characteristic that remains constant from hole to hole throughout the entire system is the consistent and contiguous nature of the gold mineralization seen in drill intervals. Grade distribution is generally even and does not fluctuate greatly from sample to sample in the drill intervals. Even with the high-grade intervals, gold values increase and decrease in a steady and even manner. In my experience, this type of grade consistency is generally the hallmark of a strong and well-developed gold system. As it stands right now, we do not know how deep the gold mineralization extends at Atlanta nor do we know what the lateral boundaries of gold mineralization are. Knowing we are drilling into a strong gold system without knowing what the lateral and vertical limits on the system are, we can only imagine what is possible at Atlanta as we move into this 2023 exploration season." Figure 1. Location map for holes reported in this news release along drill section 22-16N relative to the perimeter of the historical Atlanta Pit and footprint of the Gustavson 2020 NI 43-101 resource. Shallow drillholes on the mine dumps have been removed from the plot for clarity. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Figure 2. Cross section 22-16N looking north across the central portion of the Atlanta Mine Fault Zone. Shallow intrusive activity and closely associated gold mineralization are localized within the volcanic and sedimentary sequence along the western side of the West Atlanta Fault. Higher grade mineralization is concentrated within narrow fault blocks formed adjacent to the East Atlanta Fault and east of the West Atlanta Fault. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Hole No From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22WS-3A 179.9 259.1 79.3 0.44 3.8 AT22WS-12 204.2 259.1 54.9 0.21 1.2 Bottomed in mineralization AT22NS-28T* 65.5 130.3 64.8 0.50 9.2 AT22WS-2 227.1 298.8 71.7 2.31 5.8 Bottomed in mineralization Includes 265.2 298.8 33.6 4.10 10.2 Bottomed in mineralization AT22NS-29A 1.5 32.0 30.5 0.66 14.0 Table 2: All holes released today along Section22-016N. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward, and true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. *Denotes core hole. Hole No From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AT21-13 53.4 67.1 13.7 0.82 3.8 AT21-14 0.0 24.4 24.4 0.35 38.4 DHRI-11-NRC03 263.7 320.1 56.4 3.9 20.9 includes 265.2 280.5 15.3 8.6 13.22 DHRI-12-MRC1^ 271.3 349.1 77.8 1.95 6.49 GC96-09 0 27.4 27.4 0.41 2.35 AR-41 0 19.8 19.8 0.16 21.7 Table 3: Historical holes used in Section 22-16N. AT21 series holes were drilled by Nevada King in 2021. DHRI series holes were drilled by Meadow Bay in 2011 and 2012. GC series hole was drilled by Golden Chief in 1996. AR series holes were drilled by Goldfields in 1990. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward, and true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. ^Denotes hole that bottomed in mineralization. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $9.3 million as of February 2023. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work given the global COVID-19 pandemic, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Nevada King Gold Corp. logo (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2023/13/c4161.html Every year, around the end of January and the start of February, the worlds colored stone buyers and sellers converge on Tucson, Ariz., for a confluence of some 40 gem and mineral shows that take over this desert city for the better part of a month. Attending the gathering, which dates back to the 1950s, when members of a local gem and mineral society began to stage regular meetups, is a time-honored ritual for many leading jewelry designers, but it has taken on new resonance in the age of social media. More from Robb Report The Tucson gem shows are starting to become known amongst jewelry connoisseurs as the place designers go to get high-end colored stones, says Ali Galgano, founder of Serpentine Jewels, a custom jeweler based in New York City. People have an image of colored stones, she says, where you have to go to the country of origin to get the best selection. I want an emerald, I should book a ticket to Colombia. Or: Im going to Thailand, I should buy a gemstone there. Thats not really the case. In Tucson, I can see a sapphire dealer Ive worked with for years whos based out of Bangkok or a Colombian dealer I wouldnt even know about without the connection the gem show offers, she adds. Its really cool that everyone there is bonded by their love of jewelry. Read on for three takes on this years gem extravaganza in the Sonoran Desert. Ali Galgano, Serpentine Jewels Ali Galgano on the Tuscon gem shows For Galgano, coming to Tucson is all about buying and selling. In addition to scoping out neon-red spinels and kite-shaped stones for custom projects already in the works, the jeweler, who recently opened a glam new townhouse in Greenwich, Conn., has found that posting videos and photos of the gem show experience to her social channels draws loads of clients her way. Story continues People love seeing things at their genesis, Galgano tells Robb Report. This year, I brought my designer along with me she will sketch things on the spot. We were shopping for a 5- to 6-carat blue sapphire in an oval shape, slightly lighter than a Kashmir sapphire. We found it and Molly sketched up a quick idea of what it would like in a three-stone ring. Ultimately, we were able to sell it, using a sketch, a video and pictures. Its kind of a new world, she adds. I find people over the past few years have become so much more comfortable buying things sight unseen because the technology is so much better. Because you can send a really crisp picture and video theres not much left to the imagination anymore. Galgano is hardly the only jeweler to pre-sell her pieces via Instagram, well before theyre even made, but she is among a new and growing cohort of designers doing so from the rough and tumble tents of the Tucson gem shows. I started to go to Tucson in 2020, says the graduate gemologist. I had only dealt with vendors from New York. I didnt know gemstone dealers beyond that. The first Tucson experience I had was so enlightening because I met dealers from all over the world and was able to home in on people who had great selections and who I had the best relationships with. During this years event, Galgano made it to the biggest and most important shows on the Tucson calendar: the GemFair organized by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) at the Tucson Convention Center, the Gem and Jewelry Exchange (GJX) show located in a tent across the street, and the Pueblo Gem and Mineral Show, which sprawls across the nearby Ramada Inn property and surrounding parking lot. I had a list of clients I was shopping for, says Galgano. Im really into spinel right now and I have an idea for a spinel ring that requires an electric reddish pink spinel. But its very hard to find that exact stone. People who carry that product arent plentiful. And yet, because this is Tucson, a gem emporium like no other, Galgano says she ultimately found the right stone. I havent bought it yet because it was very expensive, she says. But I think Im going to pull the trigger on it. Jade Ruzzo Jade Ruzzo on the Tuscon gem shows A Tucson first-timer, Jade Ruzzo came to the shows prepared. I was worried it would be extremely overwhelming, but I was pleasantly surprised, says the designer. I found it fairly easy to stay focused. I came with a list of the sizes and colors of stones that fit into my new collection, and was also looking to build relationships with vendors of stones that I am drawn to, like moonstone and pearl. From her home base in New Yorks Hudson Valley, the designer, a former personal stylist who segued over the past couple years into making custom jewelry, is currently at work on a collection inspired by the world of percussion (think: wind chime earrings) in honor of her late father, Vic, a drummer. He was an 80s hair band rock-n-roll guy, Ruzzo tells Robb Report. He was an in-studio session drummer. He had a drum shop in our house. Before I was born, he played a lot with Alice Cooper. After her dad passed away six years ago, Ruzzo put together a small smattering of pieces patterned after a piece of jewelry hed given her and introduced it last May. One of his friends had made me a handmade turquoise ring and I used that as a reference, she says. That was my foray into jewelry. From there, I learned so much. Im having fun playing with different stone types and 18 karat gold. Im really into weighty pieces. I like the heft and feeling of an heirloom piece. At first glance, Ruzzos style, which leans minimalist, might not seem compatible with heaps of color, but she is learning to work with hues that complement her aesthetic. My first mini capsule collection was green-heavy I love tourmaline, Ruzzo says. Since then, Ive started feeling my way through color that can act as a neutral. In Tucson, Ruzzo was enamored with colored stones in cabochon cuts. What I love is something that can be worn during the day casually but can be elevated at night, she says. Its that juicy, candy, gemmy vibe that Im drawn to. She was also captivated by pearls. I found some incredible dusty lilac mauve-pink pearl strands and walked away with a lot more pearls than I anticipated, Ruzzo says. I fell in love. Andy Lifschutz, Andy Lif Jewelry Andy Lifschutz on the Tuscon gem shows In the months leading up to Tucson, Andy Lifschutz, the founder of Los Angeles-based Andy Lif Jewelry, starts reaching out to his best clients and planting seeds for Tucson. If someone is looking for a gemstone and they desire to create a custom piece and have the most options available for price, size and color, it is such an incredible opportunity to have someone who can go to look at all these different pieces of earth, all these different localities, Lifschutz tells Robb Report. You can compare stones from Brazil, Afghanistan, Maine and theyre all tourmaline and they all have nuance to them, he says. In my studio, I cant offer that selection. But in Tucson, I can offer all these options and theres a strong likelihood of having that aha moment of finding a stone that connects to you. This year, Lifschutz had plenty of those moments for himself. Across the board, I leaned brighter this year, whether for the line or private clients, he says. Bright can be a pastel shade of sapphire as well as a bright pink spinel both things I bought. I did not buy any gray spinels, or darker blues, he adds. Im leaning into the brights. Why? Thats whats coming out of the ground right now. Theres some really exciting material coming out of East Africa. After nearly a week of walking the shows, the designer was also struck by the progress he noted among gem dealers who are committed to acquiring their gems responsibly. The traceability and ethical sourcing is really a big takeaway, Lifschutz says. More than any year Ive been to Tucson, its a priority and its a passion for gem dealers, collectors and the end consumer. Giving back is starting to bear fruit; all the schools that have been built, and wells that have been dug the circle has been connected. For Lifschutz, whos been attending the gem shows since 2017, the most important aspect of Tucson is how it unites the entire gem and jewelry ecosystem. The events around the shows are just as essential as the shows themselves, he says. All the gemological talks, cutting demonstrations and just talking at events with gemologists, geologists, paleontologists. For those of us who love geeking out on what these minerals are comprised of before they become a jewel, Tucson is like Disneyland, Lifschutz concludes. Its not possible to have a boring conversation here. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. SOUTH BURLINGTON - South Burlington High School students can now access free food all day, every day, thanks to the school's new "sharing fridge." Located in one of the school's two cafeterias, the glass door refrigerator is accessible at any time for students to put food in or take food out. When students take a juice box, milk carton, apple, or other item from the lunch line, but later decide they no longer want it, they can pop it in the fridge. When students are hungry and want a free snack, they can grab it from the fridge. South Burlington High School principal Patrick Burke poses with the school's new "sharing fridge" on Jan. 24, 2023. The "sharing fridge" follows the lead of other free community fridges, also known as "freedges," that have popped up across the country over the past several years. "This year we have universal lunch for all of our students, but our cafeteria only serves lunch between certain times," said Principal Patrick Burke. "So the extent that we can increase universal access to food, that's obviously really a good thing for us." A South Burlington High School Student drinks a juice box from the sharing fridge on Jan. 24, 2023. Tackling food waste The idea originated from the school's environmental club, called The Green Team. The club approached Burke for a conversation about compost, and the conversation quickly shifted to talking about food waste in general. The typical Vermont high school student produces about 0.35 pounds of food waste per week, according to 2014 data from a Vermont Solid Waste Management District. This translates to about 327 pounds of food waste per week for the approximately 935 students at South Burlington High School. South Burlington High School principal Patrick Burke grabs a milk carton from the sharing fridge on Jan. 24, 2023. To address food waste, the Green Team first thought about doing a "sharing table," but then decided with Burke on a "sharing fridge" for preserving perishable items. "Around here, we get some of our best ideas from our students," Burke said. "Their ideas can germinate and kickstart little changes around the school that that can make a difference." Contact April Fisher at amfisher@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AMFisherMedia This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: South Burlington High School "sharing fridge" fights hunger and waste In a case that gained widespread attention on social media, a Southaven couple says their 17-year-old son, who is autistic, was improperly arrested Feb. 6 by Southaven Police and held in juvenile detention for three days. "Detective Patricia Taylor told me my son called a suicide hotline, threatening to cause violence at his school and they take school threats seriously," Pamela McKelvy Hamner said in a Twitter thread. "For 2 hours in front of my home 4 unmarked suvs and one police car converged, blocking traffic, demanding my husband & I give them my son's phone. They had no warrants, no evidence, and no jurisdiction. My son attends school in Tennessee. Our 17 year old repeatedly denied the accusation said: 'Mom, someone Swatted me.'" Swatting is the practice of making a call to emergency services with the intention of sending a large number of armed police officers to a specific address. Hamner said that things escalated when one of the Southaven officers told she and and her husband that their son was being arrested because he "committed a crime, terrorism" and that after an hour, officers threatened to get a warrant to search their home for their son's phone. Hamner also said her husband was told he was obstructing justice for not providing his son's phone and that he was arrested as well. In the Twitter thread, Hamner also included a few videos. One of them appears to show officers threatening to tow her car at her expense because it was part of the crime scene. On Monday afternoon, Southaven Police Department responded, also in a Twitter thread, calling Hamner's twitter thread a "misleading version of events." "On February 6, 2023, the Southaven Police Department received a call from a suicide prevention hotline stating that an individual who resided in Southaven had made threats to either shoot up a school or commit suicide on February 15th," the department said in the twitter thread. "For obvious reasons, the Southaven Police Department takes any threat to commit acts of violence against themselves or other children at school very seriously." Story continues The department alleges that they verified the identity of the person who made the threats and contacted his mother, Hamner, who agreed to meet at the residence. "Upon further investigation, a youth court custody order was granted for the juvenile suspect, who was then taken into custody," the department said in the Twitter thread. "During this investigation, based on the actions of the father of the juvenile suspect, the father was subsequently arrested for hindering prosecution, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest." The father, Dabney Hamner, has been charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct/failure to comply with officers and hindering prosecution in the second degree, according to the online Southaven court dockets. His initial appearance is set for Feb. 15. "So who made the call to the suicide hotline and how did you vet the caller?" Hamner said on Twitter in response to the police department thread. She went on to say the threat was made by an individual who doesn't live in Southaven. Also on Twitter, Hamner said, "Will you investigate the caller with as much veracity as you did my son?" The Southaven Police Department said the entire event was captured on body-worn cameras and that the department is not able to release the footage until the investigation is complete. The department said the case is "now in the hands of the DeSoto County Youth Court and the Southaven Municipal Court." Pamela McKelvy Hamner is a former broadcast reporter, working in the late '90s and early 2000s as a reporter and anchor at WREG-Channel 3 in Memphis. In 2021, she ran unsuccessfully to be the Southaven Ward 6 alderman. "When I tell y'all we will liquidate all of our assets in filing a civil lawsuit, we are NOT bluffing. They busted upon our home without proof, harassed and bullied us, embarrassed us, charged my husband with resisting arrest, obstructing justice & disorderly conduct...," Hamner said in the twitter thread. "Bullied us, abused their authority, maliciously arrested my son and husband, booked my husband, who now has to go before the medical board..has TRAUMATIZED all of us. I'm in tears bc I havent slept since this happened and didn't eat until my son was in our arms." This story will be updated. Gina Butkovich covers DeSoto County, storytelling and general news. She can be reached at 901-232-6714 or on Twitter @gigibutko. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Southaven couple says son was improperly arrested, held for 3 days Transaction Transforms Spire into One of the Largest Orthopedic Platforms in the US STAMFORD, Conn., February 13, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Orthopedic Partners, one of the nations largest management services organizations serving best-in-class orthopedic and spine surgeons, announced today a new partnership with Poughkeepsie, NY-based Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County (OADC) and its affiliated ambulatory surgery center, The Surgery Center at Orthopedic Associates (SCOA). This partnership is reflective of Spires ongoing expansion and focus on market-leading orthopedic practices in primary markets across the Northeast. OADC and SCOA represent Spires first transactions of the new year and its third in the State of New York. "Our partnership with Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County is emblematic of our focus on building geographic concentration in our existing markets and our maniacal focus on quality care. We came to know the physicians of OADC through strong existing relationships between our current Spire affiliated physicians and the OADC physician team. As has always been the case in our physician-led organization, our existing physician partners have informed our roadmap for growth and new partnerships," said Chris Fusco, CEO of Spire. "Spire looks forward to supporting the teams at OADC and SCOA to ensure they continue to thrive in todays increasingly challenging private practice marketplace. We plan to support our new partners with access to meaningful growth capital and our best-in-class management services to take the business to the next level." Founded in 1975, OADC and its fellowship trained surgeons provide Hudson Valley communities with advanced, accessible and vertically integrated orthopedic care. With 24 sub-specialty trained physicians practicing across five clinical locations and a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center, OADC is the largest and most established practice in its markets. With the addition of OADC, the Spire network is comprised of 319 providers, including 128 physicians, 78 physician assistants and 113 physical therapists providing care across 28 clinical locations, nine MRI centers and three ambulatory surgery centers in three states. The resulting scale of the platform will allow Spire to deliver integrated care to even more patients across its existing markets and in the appropriate settings, enabling the organization to deliver value to payors and patients through creative value-based payment models, ensuring we remain on the right side of the cost curve. "For nearly 50 years, Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County has provided advanced, accessible and comprehensive orthopedic care to our neighbors and surrounding communities," said Dr. William Colman, Managing Partner of OADC. "Spire and OADC share the belief that the best orthopedic care is delivered locally and that care decisions should be shaped by physicians. After getting to know the Spire team and being familiar with the respected practices that make up the Spire network today, it was clear that this relationship would position us to continue delivering high quality, local orthopedic care while expanding our footprint with the goal of delivering care to even more patients." Spire is a majority physician owned organization supported with the capital resources of Kohlberg & Company, a leading private equity firm based in New York. Since its inception in 1987, Kohlberg has organized nine private equity funds, through which it has raised $13 billion of committed equity capital. Spire continues to seek partnership opportunities with like-minded, market-leading physician practices that share a passion for clinical quality, excellent patient care and an unwavering vision for the future. Spire has a strong foundation and meaningful capital resources to fuel future growth for our partner practices. About Spire Orthopedic Partners Spire Orthopedic Partners is a growing partnership of orthopedic practices that provides the support, capital and operational resources physicians need to grow thriving practices for the future. As a management services organization, Spire provides the infrastructure for administrative operations that allows practices to operate at their highest level, so physicians can focus their efforts on what matters most patient care. The Spire network spans the Northeast with more than 126 physicians, 1,500 employees and 28 locations in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://spireortho.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230213005347/en/ Contacts Dan Schlacter dschlacter@jarrardinc.com 615-500-2594 Corvallis officials and staff hope no new taxes will convince voters to renew a levy to fund city services. For the past several months, Corvallis City Council members have been preparing for a potential 2024 local option property tax levy renewal to maintain current service levels. Levies, which must be approved by the electorate, can pay for operational expenses, such as salaries. Councilors indicated desire for a five-year levy renewal on the November 2023 ballot during a work session last November. The current levy expires June 30, 2024. Corvallis has significantly increased the levy rate each of the last three times out, according to a staff report, though no councilors seem to want to follow suit this time around. Rate adjustments would be considered a structural change, and therefore the messaging that the levy is a straight renewal and the phrase no new taxes would no longer be an accurate portrayal to the voters, the staff report states. The current levy rate is $1.07 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The revenue supports social services grants ($360,000), the Library Department (51.9%), and the Parks & Recreation Department (48.1%). The levy is budgeted to generate $6,100,000 in fiscal year 2022-2023. If the rate remains unchanged, projected revenue for the following five fiscal years are as follows: 2024-2025 $6.5 million 2025-2026 $6.7 million 2026-2027 $6.9 million 2027-2028 $7.1 million 2028-2029 $7.3 million It comes to $34.6 million total for the city over the five-year period. At the November work session, some councilors asked to explore increasing the social services portion either by allocation or by making it percentage based. A fixed increase to $480,000 has been proposed. At a February work session, councilors reviewed projections from small rate increases, which aren't recommended by staff. "I said it in November; I'll say it again. I'm solidly opposed to increasing the amount," Councilor Paul Shaffer said. "It complicates the messaging at a time that people don't want to hear it. And I think it's not worth the modest increase in the amount of revenue we can get." 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. Regardless of the levy rate, Corvallis residents are paying more to support the government. Fee hikes to support city services were approved by the City Council in December. The fees 10 in total appearing on monthly city service bills support infrastructure, public safety, and urban forestry. Most of the fee hikes will hit residents in February, but one of the biggest increases police services is being delayed until July because of council concerns about undercutting Benton Countys upcoming justice system improvement bond, expected to be around $110 million and slated for the May ballot. In total, the city projects more than $40.5 million in annual revenue from the fees, up around $5.6 million with the 2023 increases, according to staff reports, which show the average residential bill will rise from around $105 to around $125. Voters renewed and expanded the levy by a 73-27% margin in 2019, staving off proposed major cuts for the citys Parks & Recreation Department and the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. Library hours were spared and the Osborn Aquatic Center, Chintimini Senior and Community Center and the Majestic Theatre remained open. Although the five-year levy aimed at raising around $29 million was passed with a wide margin in all nine Corvallis wards, analysis showed the lightest voter support stemmed from Ward 1 (southwest), Ward 8 (northwest), and Ward 9 (northeast), as did the levys predecessors. The strongest support was seen in Ward 5 (north of Oregon State University) and Ward 2 (downtown). The 2019 levy passed by the biggest margin of the three the city has put forward since 2011. A 2011 levy had 65% approval and a 2013 levy was supported by 52% of voters. In comparing the 2019 city levy with a 2017 county levy and a 2018 Corvallis School District bond, analysis revealed Wards 1, 8 and 9 consistently provided the three highest totals of no votes. And in the case of the narrow 2013 city levy vote, all three wards voted to reject the measure. The three wards also tend to be among the highest in terms of voter turnout, whereas turnout for the 2019 levy was lowest in the three wards offering the most support for that levy Ward 2, 4 (near Oregon State University), and 5. The council is expected to vote on a motion regarding the levy renewal at a future meeting. Finalizing ballot language for a November 2023 levy measure is expected to take place between May and July. The deadline to file ballot titles is Aug. 18. A collaborative new whiskey release is always a good marketing ploy, but the reality can be either just a known name added to a brand or actual, real deal involvement. The new Pinhook Collaboration Series happens to fall into the latter category, and this surprisingly good bourbon is a testament to both the quality of the distillery the whiskey came from and the talents of the guest star involved in the blending. That would be Garrett Oliver, who has made his living as the brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery for three decades. This brewery is located in Brooklyns Williamsburg neighborhood, and has become a household name around the country since its founding in 1987. Whether or not its still a craft operation is subject to your interpretation, given that Japanese drinks company Kirin acquired a minority stake in 2016, and Carlsberg purchased brand rights for Europe and parts of Asia to the tune of about $130 million in 2021. And not all of the beer is produced in Brooklynsome of it is contract brewed in upstate New York. Still, Brooklyn Brewery is a legit OG of the craft movement and makes very good beer. Oliver, who has been with the brand since 1994, is also an author and an expert on spirits and wine in addition to beer, which made him an obvious choice for this collaboration. More from Robb Report Pinhook was co-founded by ex-restaurateur and sommelier Sean Josephs in 2010, and for over a decade has sourced whiskey from various distilleries into annual vintage blends as master blender. MGP in Indiana and Castle & Key in Kentucky have supplied much of the whiskey over the years, and Josephs has put together a series of high-quality whiskeys with fetching label designs featuring racehorses. The Collaboration Series launched in 2021 with Maison Noir winemaker Andre Macka 10-year-old bourbon sourced from Wyoming Whiskey that was said to be made with a winemakers approach. That whiskey was good, but the second in the series (which I guess was made with a beermakers approach) is even better. Story continues Garrett was deeply involved in the blending process of 20 barrels of whiskey selected by Josephs that were brought to Brooklyn from Texas distillery Still Austin. In some ways, the blending process was very familiar because Ive been blending barrel-aged beers for many years, said Garrett. My goal was to create an expression that was complex, interesting throughout, and delicious, but not obvious. I think we did that; this bourbon is great on its own, but it also makes an awesome Old Fashioned. No disrespect to Still Austin, but that source may come as a surprise to whiskey fans just based on lack of name recognition alone. And if youve tried a lot of craft whiskey before, you might be worried that means immature bourbon on the thin sidebut that is absolutely not the case here. This high-rye bourbon was distilled and aged for four years in Texas, and has a palate that belies that relatively young age. The mashbill is 75 percent corn, 20 percent rye and 5 percent malted barleyfairly standard for a bourbon, maybe a bit higher on the rye side but not extravagantly so. And its bottled at 118.9 proof, which is substantial but not overpowering. At a recent tasting, a fellow writer remarked that the whiskey reminded him of Bookers, which seemed like an unexpected but accurate assessment. This new Pinhook bourbon is a truly pleasurable high-proof drinking experience, with rich notes of caramel, molasses, vanilla custard, and apple tart leading off on the palate. Despite being nearly 120 proof, the alcohol burn is minimal. The color is a deep reddish brown, and that redness follows through flavor-wise with bright raspberry and strawberry notes, along with darker stone fruits. Theres also a cause thats important to Oliver and so many others involved here. Proceeds from sales of the bottle will be donated to The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling, an organization chaired and founded by Oliver that awards scholarships to people of color who want to pursue brewing and distilling education. At that recent tasting, Oliver spoke quite a bit about the impact of being a Black man in the predominantly white craft brewing industry over his many years, and how difficult it has been for people of color to find entryway based on bias and the cost of education. He acknowledged realizing at a certain point in his career that he, as a well-respected gatekeeper in the industry, was actually contributing to the problem on some level. This served as the impetus to start the foundation in 2020 to initiate structural change in the industry. I generally like Pinhook Bourbon, but I really, really like this particular expression. Good bourbon, good causethis is a win-win whiskey that is worth tracking down and sharing with friends. Score: 97 100: Worth trading your first born for 95 99 In the Pantheon: A trophy for the cabinet 90 94 Great: An excited nod from friends when you pour them a dram 85 89 Very Good: Delicious enough to buy, but not quite special enough to chase on the secondary market 80 84 Good: More of your everyday drinker, solid and reliable Below 80 Its alright: Honestly, we probably wont waste your time and ours with this Every week Jonah Flicker tastes the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world. Check back each Friday for his latest review. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Many people in Japan have been outraged by a recent trend dubbed "sushi terrorism." Videos across social media show people carrying out all kinds of unhygienic acts, like licking the spoon for a container of green tea powder. Another video, which has more than 98 million views on Twitter, showed a person licking the top of a soy sauce bottle and a teacup's rim before putting them back at a branch of the Sushiro chain. The company said it has replaced all the soy sauce bottles and cleaned every cup at the affected restaurant. To combat this gross trend, one chain, Kura Sushi, said it would use artificial intelligence to look for "suspicious opening and closing of sushi plate covers," Nikkei Asia reported. The company plans to upgrade existing cameras, used to track the dishes customers take from conveyor belts to determine their bill, by early March. If the system detects suspicious behavior, it will alert employees. Mat Smith The Morning After isnt just a newsletter its also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here. The biggest stories you might have missed Much less glue. The original HomePod was notoriously difficult to repair cutting tools were sometimes necessary. The second-gen model, however, isnt as bad. iFixit has torn down the new smart speaker and discovered the large amounts of glue are gone you can get inside using little more than a screwdriver, and the internal components are similarly accessible. Combine this with the detachable power cord and it should be feasible to fix some parts yourself. However, Apple hasnt yet added its newest HomePod to its Self Service Repair program, but at least it would now be a more realistic addition. Story continues Continue reading. The world is beautiful and bursting with secrets. TMA Hogwarts Legacy arrives with all the controversy of a Harry Potter project and a lot of anticipation. For many, this is, finally, a game that does justice to the magic and spectacle of the pop-culture phenomenon, with an open-world design, side quests, customizable characters and more. Theres a solid game, here, with an entertaining combat system and plenty of mysteries to solve. Continue reading. Awesome images, improved video, unbeatable autofocus. Sonys full-frame A7R IV was one of the best mirrorless cameras Engadgets Steve Dent ever reviewed, so there was a lot of pressure on its successor. Fortunately, this fifth-generation model is improved in pretty much every way. Its a technological tour de force, featuring most of the companys industry-leading tech. It has the best articulating screen on the market, the best autofocus system and much-improved video at up to 8K internally. The only real drawback is the rolling shutter effect that can mar video or photos taken in electronic shutter mode. Continue reading. A busy week of news from OnePlus, Nintendo, Samsung and more. It was a busy week. Microsoft and Google both unveiled their AI products for the masses, with Microsoft holding an entire event this week to show off the new Edge and Bing. Google also had an event in Paris and unveiled the first Android 14 developer preview, while OnePlus launched its first-ever tablet alongside a new flagship phone. Cherlynn is joined this week by guest co-host Sam Rutherford to tear into the weeks onslaught of news and see how we feel about Samsungs Galaxy S23 Ultra while reviewing it. Continue reading. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said in an interview aired on Sunday that President Biden has earned an incomplete grade on the U.S.-Mexico border amid humanitarian concerns and partisan discord over immigration policy. I think the grade would be incomplete, right? Theres plenty to do. We know that its a humanitarian issue down at the southern border, Aguilar told ABC News contributor Maria Elena Salinas on This Week. Aguilar said he thinks Biden is trying to find balance between dealing with an overwhelmed immigration system and respecting migrants seeking refuge within U.S. borders by increasing the pathways that people have to declare asylum, so they can declare asylum in their home countries or while they are in transit. But the California representative said his party still has work to do not only on the issues, but on communicating to voters on the topic. Theres no cookie-cutter way to talk about Latino issues. We need to realize that. We need to have a plan to talk to those voters and those individuals. And I think that we need to do a better job of that, Aguilar said. Aguilar, who has long been a proponent of helping so-called Dreamers achieve citizenship, said more friends and allies are needed in the Senate to get legislation passed. I can respect that at certain times, you know, the House has been at fault and the Senate has been at fault, but in the last ten years, Democrats have continually put these bills on the floor, and Republicans have stood in the way on the House side to see any real reform happen, Aguilar said. With their new control of the House, Republicans have homed in on Bidens border policies as a target of their probes into the president and the administration. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters in New York By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States on Sunday called for the United Nations Security Council to "vote immediately" to authorize the delivery of U.N. aid to rebel-held northwest Syria through more border crossings from Turkey after last week's deadly earthquake. Since 2014 the U.N. has been able to deliver aid to millions of people in need in the northwest part of war-torn Syria through Turkey under a Security Council mandate. But it is currently restricted to using just one border crossing. "Right now, every hour matters," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said in a statement to Reuters. "People in the affected areas are counting on us." "We cannot let them down - we must vote immediately on a resolution to heed the U.N.'s call for authorization of additional border crossings for the delivery of humanitarian assistance," she said. "It's time to move with urgency and purpose." U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, who is in Turkey and is due to visit Syria, told Sky News on Saturday that he would ask the Security Council to authorize aid access through two more border crossings, arguing there is "a very clear humanitarian case." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday pushed for more access. 'FAILED' On the 15-member Security Council, Brazil and Switzerland take the lead on negotiating any action related to the Syria humanitarian aid access issue. Diplomats said no draft resolution has yet been circulated to authorize more crossings. The death toll from the earthquake last week in Turkey and Syria passed 33,000 on Sunday. Of the 3,500 deaths so far reported in Syria, where the number has not been updated for two days, the bulk occurred in the northwest part of the country. A resolution would need nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass. Syrian ally Russia has said that the existing council mandate for a single border crossing was sufficient. Story continues The Syrian government views aid deliveries across its border without its approval as a violation of sovereignty and says aid should be delivered across the frontlines of the 12-year-old civil war. On Friday it approved aid deliveries across frontlines. But the U.N. said on Sunday that earthquake aid from government-held parts of Syria into the northwest part of the country has been held up by "approval issues" with one hardline group. The ambassadors of Brazil and Switzerland said on Friday they wanted Griffiths to brief the Security Council before any action was discussed. Diplomats said Griffiths is likely to speak to it on Monday. Griffiths on Sunday visited the one Turkish border crossing that the U.N. is currently authorized to use to deliver aid to northwest Syria, where the some 4 million people needed help before the earthquake struck the region. "We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria," Griffiths said in a post on Twitter. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Paul Simao) U.S. Embassy in moscow NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty A new travel advisory issued by the U.S. Embassy in Russia advises Americans not to travel to Russia or, if there already, to "depart immediately." The advisory comes as the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine nears. According to the advisory, "due to the unpredictable consequences of the unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces," Americans in Russia face harassment, unlawful detention, and the possibility of terrorism. What's more, Americans in Russia could be subject to mobilization and conscripted into the Russian military. RELATED: Zelenskyy Remembers How His Family Woke Him Up to Say a War Had Started The advisory notes that, in September, the Russian government partially mobilized citizens to the armed forces in support of its invasion. "Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals' U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance, subject them to mobilization, prevent their departure from Russia, and/or conscript them," the advisory added. The recent mobilization which saw Russian citizens in the military reserve or those with military experience being called to active duty marked the county's first military mobilization since World War II. In calling for the partial mobilization in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin also made veiled threats that have raised fears the autocrat could turn to nuclear weapons. "When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people. It's not a bluff," Putin said, per a Reuters report. 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. Recent reports have claimed that Russian soldiers are suffering from exhaustion and a lack of resources, though U.S. officials have been cautious about suggesting Putin could withdraw from the region. Story continues In a Friday press briefing, John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, said the Putin's attacks on Ukraine could get even "more vicious" as winter wanes and the weather improves. "Clearly, as we've seen over the last 12 hours, [Putin is] willing to continue to barrage the country with cruise missiles, knocking out civilian infrastructure, and trying to make life more difficult for the Ukrainian people," Kirby said. "And we do believe that he will try to take advantage of these winter months to restock, resupply, rearm, contribute to his manpower in in what could be offensive renewed offensive operations come spring." RELATED: U.S. Embassy in Ukraine Urges Americans to Leave Country Immediately: 'Conditions May Deteriorate' Russian forces launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, with the invasion drawing condemnation around the world and increasingly severe economic sanctions against Russia and its leaders, including Putin himself. Details of the fighting have changed by the day, with scores of civilians reported dead or wounded, including children, though the actual number of deaths is difficult to determine. More than 7 million have fled the country as refugees and half are children, according to the United Nations. Millions more have been displaced inside Ukraine. The Russian attack on Ukraine is an evolving story, with information changing quickly. Follow PEOPLE's complete coverage of the war here, including stories from citizens on the ground and ways to help. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is urging former service members whose illnesses may be linked to contamination at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to seek disability benefits even if doing so might complicate future quests for legal recourse. As of the end of last month, the VA said that it had received 102,265 disability claims related to exposure to cancer-linked compounds at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune since it began tracking such submissions more than a decade ago. But for veterans who were exposed and have yet to submit claims, landmark legislation passed last year could complicate their decision. The Honoring Our PACT Act, an expansive bill signed into law in August, seeks to make significant improvements to health care for veterans who were exposed to toxins during their service. Within it is a measure permitting lawsuits for those who suffered from contamination at Camp Lejeune. While this long-sought provision was celebrated as a victory by veterans and their families, it comes with a catch: Any legal compensation awarded in court must be offset by disability claims related to Camp Lejeune exposures that the individual is already receiving. These instructions apply to any program administered by the secretary of Veterans Affairs, Medicare or Medicaid, according to the provision. Regardless of this caveat, however, VA officials urge veterans to move forward with their disability claims. VA wants to make sure that no one is dissuaded from pursuing their VA remedies, David Barrans, a lawyer in the VAs Office of the General Counsel, told The Hill. We just want to make sure that people understand that VA is not going to reduce or deny your benefits because you pursued your other remedies under the PACT Act, Barrans added. The Marine Corps first discovered volatile organic compounds in the drinking water generated by Camp Lejeune treatment plants in 1982, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Story continues The agency has since determined that exposure to contaminants such as trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene and vinyl chloride likely raised the risk of developing certain illnesses. Veterans who were on active duty in Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, became eligible for free health care services if they suffered from any of 15 specific cancers and conditions, following the passage of key legislation in 2012. The VA expanded these benefits in 2017 to include veterans, reservists and National Guard members who developed any of eight illnesses presumed to be connected to their service. None of thats changed, Jessica Pierce, a management analyst for the VA, told The Hill. Veterans can continue to submit claims for those presumptions of service connection or for hospital and medical care based on those other specified conditions, Pierce added. Camp Lejeune-related disability claims are distinct from the more than 213,000 submissions received by the VA thus far related to the broader PACT Act. While the PACT Act does not affect Camp Lejeune disability claims, it does provide an option for legal recourse outside the VAs jurisdiction to veterans and their families who spent time at the base. Theres essentially two remedies here, the VA benefits remedy and the tort claim or the damage claim remedy, Barrans said, The VA remedy has not changed. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, folded into the PACT Act, allows those harmed by the toxins on base to file a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Northern Carolina. This measure overrides North Carolinas restrictive statute of repose, which prohibits lawsuits if more than 10 years have passed since the contaminating event. Congress has allowed people who were injured by the Camp Lejeune water to bring an action in court, through the administrative and then judicial process, Barrans said. Plaintiffs must first file an administrative claim with the Navys Office of the Judge Advocate General and await a settlement or denial prior to filing a lawsuit. VA benefits and health care services are distinct from this process and will not be impacted if an individual files a lawsuit, according to a fact sheet issued to veterans. The same may not true in the opposite direction, however. If a veteran is already receiving VA benefits related to Camp Lejeune, then the court award will be offset by the amount of any disability award, the fact sheet warns. The law says you have to reduce that award by the amount of any VA benefits that the VA is paying for the same condition, Barrans confirmed. The role of the VA in that process is minimal limited to providing information that the courts or the Justice Department request about the payments a plaintiff has been receiving for injuries related to Camp Lejeune, according to Barrans. How the courts will actually apply that to determine the offset is something that the courts will have to decide, he said. I dont think we have clear information at this point that we could provide on how that will work because VA doesnt control that process, Barrans added. Quantifying how such an offset might occur is currently impossible due to all the complex factors that would contribute to such a calculation, according to Barrans. Some such factors could involve accounting for the value of future disability payments or assessing health care services received for multiple conditions but only some of which are related to Camp Lejeune, he explained. There would be some work that would have to go into determining how much of that VA benefit payment is attributable to the Camp Lejeune injury, Barrans said. The Department of Justice declined to comment when asked if further details are available as to how the offsetting process will occur. Acknowledging that theres potential for confusion in the law, Barrans said that the VA is encouraging veterans to apply for their disability benefits nonetheless. VAs primary message is always we want veterans to apply for the VA benefits theyve earned and the VA health care that theyve earned, he said. And at the same time, we dont want to dissuade anyone from pursuing any other remedies. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Fortune Business Insights The Virtual Pipeline Market size was valued USD 0.99 billion in 2021. The market size of Virtual pipeline industry projected to grow from USD 1.02 billion in 2022 to USD 1.48 billion by 2029. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is expected to be 5.4% during this period.; Expansion of the natural gas industry to drive market growth. Pune, India, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global virtual pipeline market size was valued at USD 0.99 billion in 2021 and USD 1.02 billion in 2022. The market is expected to reach USD 1.48 billion by 2029 with a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. A virtual pipeline is the replacement of a physical pipeline where gas is transported to the delivery point by sea, road, rail, or incorporation of one or more of such modes of transport. Increasing demand for the enhanced gas pipeline is set to propel market growth. Fortune Business Insights shares this information in its report titled Virtual Pipeline Market, 2022-2029. Key Companies Analyzed in report: Kinder Morgan (U.S.) Stabilis Solutions, Inc. (U.S.) Hexagon Agility (U.S.) Fiba Technologies (U.S.) Petronas (Malaysia) CNG Services (U.K.) Gas Malaysia (Malaysia) Galileo Technologies (Argentina) NG Advantage (Vermont) Marline Gas Services (U.S.) Snam (Italy) Certarus Ltd (Canada) Get Free Sample Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/virtual-pipeline-market-101758 Virtual Pipeline Market Overview: Market Study Period: 2021-2029 Global Virtual Pipeline Market Size in 2021 USD 0.99 billion Virtual Pipeline Market Forecast CAGR 5.4 Virtual Pipeline Market Size Forecast in 2029 1.48 Billion Global Virtual Pipeline Market Growth Drivers: Increasing Demand to Enhance Gas Pipeline to Spur Market Opportunities. Shifting Trend Toward Cleaner Energy Resources and Rising Demand for Natural Gas to Propel Market Growth. COVID-19 Impact: Impact on the Supply Chain Activities During Pandemic to Have Negative Market Growth The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the natural gas industry due to decline in global economic activity and considerable disruption of global supply chains. This led to the downturn in demand for crude oil, natural gas, NGL, refined petroleum products, CO2, steel, chemicals, and other products. The lockdown led to drop in gas prices. Story continues Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/virtual-pipeline-market-101758 Segments CNG to Dictate as it is the Best Alternative to Costly Underground Pipelines On the basis of fuel type, the market is divided into CNG, LNG, and others. CNG is anticipated to dominate as it is the best alternative to costly underground pipelines for transporting natural gas to remote locations. It can be used for distances up to 250 miles. Other types of fuels, such as hydrogen and renewable natural gas, are transported through virtual pipelines. Transportation to Lead the Segment Owing to Need for Natural Gas Based on application, the market is divided into transportation and industrial & commercial. The transportation segment is expected to have a major part due to the growing need for clean energy and the demand for natural gas. The transportation segment consists of natural gas distributors such as CNG & LNG stations. Report Coverage The report provides a detailed analysis of the top segments and the latest trends in the market. It comprehensively discusses the driving and restraining factors and the impact of COVID-19 on the market. Additionally, it examines the regional developments and the strategies undertaken by the market's key players. Drivers and Restraints Adoption of Clean Energy Resources to Drive Market Expansion Trend for the adoption of cleaner energy resources and demand for natural gas is anticipated to drive the virtual pipeline market growth. The world has been facing threats of global warming resulting in a shifting trend toward cleaner energy resources, which has led to an increase in demand for natural gas. A virtual pipeline does not require massive installation of a physical pipeline, resulting in many cost savings of pipeline installation leading to market growth. However, the rising adoption of renewable energy resources and volatility in gas prices are projected to obstruct market growth. Such adoption of renewable sources of energy had led to decreased investments in the crude oil industry. Get Customized Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/virtual-pipeline-market-101758 Regional Insights North America to Lead Market Share Due to Presence of Numerous Key Players North America is expected to govern the virtual pipeline market share due to them presence of many key players such as CERTARUS Ltd, Xpress Natural Gas, CNG Services, Edge Energy, and others. The key players offer pipeline services in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The market growth in Asia Pacific is attributed to the presence of Gas Malaysia and Petronas in China and Malaysia. Shift toward the adoption of hand clean energy with the adoption of CNG, LNG, and other clean energy fuels in Europe is set to have a noteworthy position in the market. Competitive Landscape Agreement Strategies by Key Players to Advance Market Course Market participants have been investing in research and development activities, which are set to generate better returns. Leading companies have been opting for agreement strategies. In December 2021, Gas Malaysia Energy and Services Sdn. Bhd. (GMES), a subsidiary of Gas Malaysia, signed the Gas Sales Agreements (GSAs) with leading Malaysian gas company Petronas. The company has signed the agreement through its Marketing arm Petronas Energy & Gas Trading Sdn. Bhd. (PEGT). The deal will help in ensuring of supply of natural gas from PEGT in Malaysia. Key Industry Development August 2022: Kinder Morgan acquired North American Natural Resources, Inc. and its affiliated companies for USD 135 million. The acquisition includes seven quantities of landfill gas to power plants located in Michigan & Kentucky. Through this acquisition, Kinder Morgan makes the Final Investment Decision (FID) to convert 4 of the 7 gas to power plants to renewable natural gas plants at a capital expenditure of approximately USD 175 million Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions & Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Key Emerging Trends For Major Countries Latest Technological Advancement Insight on Regulatory Landscape Porters Five Forces Analysis Impact of COVID-19 on Virtual Pipeline Market Global Virtual Pipeline Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights, and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Fuel Type CNG LNG Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa North America Virtual Pipeline Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights, and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Fuel Type CNG LNG Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Country US Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Canada Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Europe Virtual Pipeline Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights, and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Fuel Type CNG LNG Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Country UK Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Germany Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Italy Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Rest of Europe Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Transportation Industrial & Commercial Continued Speak to Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/virtual-pipeline-market-101758 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them in addressing various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. U.S.: +1 424 253 0390 U.K. : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com BELOIT West Branch Local Schools Board of Education has honored students Liam Granger, Lucas Herold and Olivia Greeneisen. Liam Granger The fourth-grader at West Branch Intermediate School was the honored student for November. Teachers recognize him as a role model leading, helping, participating and being conscientious in his work. Liam is the kind of kid that exhibits a strong sense of duty, maturity, and responsibility at a young age, says West Branch Intermediate Principal Fritz Schlueter. Fritz Schlueter, West Branch Intermediate School principal, with fourth-grader Liam Granger, the district's honored student for November. Lucas Herold The seventh-grader at West Branch Middle School was the honored student for December. His personality, academic and musical skills, and creativity are noted by teachers throughout his three years at the Middle School. His musical talents earned a position in the District 5 Ohio Music Education Association Middle School honors band this fall, placing fourth chair out of 16 players from three counties. Lucas is a creative, inquisitive student who is always engaged in designing his projects, says his STEM teacher, Mrs. Ginocchi. West Branch Middle School Principal Jayson Yeagley with seventh-grader Lucas Herold, the district's honored student for December. Olivia Greeneisen The West Branch sophomore was the honored student for January. She is active both in and out of school while maintaining a strong academic standing. Olivia is involved in Altman Ambassadors, a member of the color guard squad and an office aide. Olivias pleasant demeanor, work ethic, and kind heart do not go unnoticed by our students and staff here at the high school, says West Branch High School Assistant Principal Penny DeShields. Januarys honored student Olivia Greeneisen, center, with West Branch High School Assistant Principal Penny DeShields, left, and Principal Brian Coffee. This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: West Branch board honors students Business Reporter Joel Donofrio is the business reporter for the Yakima Herald. He was born and raised in the Chicago area, but he and his wife, Cathy, fell in love with the beauty (and low humidity) of the West and moved here in 2009, eventually relocating to Yakima in September 2021. They have two young adult children, Anthony and Joanna, and a dog, Molly. When he is not taking photos of construction sites, tracking down new and relocating businesses or catching up on agricultural trends, Joel enjoys playing guitar, singing, listening to music and playing and watching sports. Ukrainian servicemen walk on the road toward their base near the front line in the Donetsk region on Feb. 4, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 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. The Hungarian president said in an interview published by economic portal Portfolio.hu on Saturday that the values of the countries in the Balkans were European values and their culture is European culture. Stability in the region could be promoted by preserving the sovereignty of each country but by co-opting them to our alliance, Katalin Novak said. On the subject of the war in Ukraine, she said the Russian president crossed the Rubicon when it invaded Ukraine and the so-called western world shouted not any further! as one person, the president said. The goal, she added, was to make Europe an independent, self-sustainable, economically strong, secure, and peaceful area with its own defence. Further escalation of the war, the use of nuclear weapons, and the outbreak of a third world war must be prevented, she insisted, and called for immediate ceasefire and peace. Some say peace is not possible unless one side defeats the other, so armament and the war should go on, she said. The Hungarian position, however, is that a ceasefire should come first to be followed by talks on the basic conditions for a long-term peace, she added. As a president, a Christian, and a mother, I vote for a ceasefire as soon as possible, she said. Concerning Hungary-Russia ties, Novak said Russia has not been Hungarys most important partner and will not be in future. The Hungarian government is reducing the countrys dependence on Russian energy and is looking for good business opportunities worldwide while promoting Hungary as an attractive destination for foreign investments, she said. We have not created but inherited dependence on Russian energy, she said, adding that that dependence could and should be decreased. The government seeks to increase the role of nuclear energy and renewables, while working to diversify gas supply sources, Novak said. Referring to her recent talks in Italy, the president said Hungary and Italy look into the same directions in terms of fighting illegal migration, the European integration of the Western Balkans, protecting Christians and promoting family values. Concerning ties with the United States and China, the president called for restoring a pragmatic cooperation. It is in our interest to be in agreement with America, an ally, as well as China; with both West and East, Novak said in the interview. Novak: Without Europe 'No Future for Hungary' "There is no future for Hungary without Europe just as there would be no future for Europe without Hungary," the president said in an interview published by economic portal Portfolio.hu. We are an independent, sovereign, grown-up nation with its own values and interests, Katalin Novak said. Hungary is not just west-oriented but has been an integral and unalienable part of the West for at least a thousand years, she said. She added she was not happy with the fast and loose between the European Commission and the Hungarian government, but said that the countrys sovereignty must be protected. We demand the same full-fledged membership and respect as the citizens of any founder (of the EU) or later entrant are entitled to; a regular place at the table in Brussels. It would be good to return to cooperation based on mutual respect, and that indeed requires compromises, Novak said. She said the EU has weakened rather than strengthened during the past decade, and is now lagging behind the United States and Asia in terms of its ability to promote diplomatic interests and competitiveness. Europe has forgotten about common strategic policy making and has placed ideological issues in the focus, she said, adding that we must wake up. Russian cruise missiles have not violated Hungarys airspace, the defence ministry said. The ministry issued a statement in reaction to press reports that earlier in the day, the Russian Navys Black Sea Fleet launched long-range missiles, two of which targeted Ukraines western regions as part of a large-scale operation. Hungary continues to support peace; lives can only be saved through peace which is why Hungary urges the sides involved to settle their conflict through negotiations, the ministry said in a statement. Hungary maintains its position of not supplying military hardware or arms to Ukraine, and neither will it allow the transit of weapons deliveries through its territory into Ukraine, the ministry said. At the same time, our country is providing to Ukraine its largest ever humanitarian support, it said in the statement. This war is causing the senseless deaths of thousands of people, which Hungary does not support. Today in Bengaluru, the 14th iteration of Aero India 2023, the biggest aero exhibition in Asia, will be officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The five-day event will be centered on showcasing homegrown tools and technologies and forming alliances with foreign businesses. "The Runway to a Billion Opportunities" is the theme of Aero India 2023, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The `CEOs Round Table`, under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will be held on February 13 on the theme `Sky is not the limit: opportunities beyond boundaries`. "Prime Minister`s emphasis on Aatmanirbharta in the Indian Defence sector will also be displayed, as the event will showcase the country`s progress in design leadership, growth in UAVs Sector, Defence Space, and futuristic technologies. Also read: WATCH: IAF Suryakiran Aerobatic Team Practice 'Stunning' Stunts Ahead of Aero India 2023 Further, the event will promote the export of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)," the PMO said in a statement. The event will also help in integrating domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production. Aero India 2023 will witness participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of about 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023. Aero India 2023 exhibition will witness the participation of more than 800 Defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies. The Indian companies participating in the exhibition include MSMEs and start-ups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies, and growth in aerospace and defence capabilities in the country. Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. As per the Ministry of Defence, the five-day event will radiate the rise of a strong and self-reliant `New India` by displaying India`s growth in aerospace and defence capabilities. The focus will be on showcasing indigenous equipment or technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies, in line with the `Make in India, Make for the World` vision for a secure and prosperous future. Addressing the curtain raiser press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the Aero India 2023 will showcase the country`s manufacturing prowess and progress towards realising the `Aatmanirbhar Bharat` as envisioned by the Prime Minister." This event will significantly contribute to the development of the aerospace and aviation sector, he said. Singh said that February 13 to 15 will be business days, while 16 and 17 have been set as public days to allow people to witness the show. The event comprises a Defence Ministers` Conclave; a CEOs Round Table; a Manthan start-up event; a Bandhan ceremony; breath-taking air shows; a large exhibition; an India Pavilion and a trade fair of aerospace companies. "Organised at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in a total area of around 35,000 sqm, the event, the biggest-ever till date, is likely to witness the participation of 98 countries. The Defence Ministers of 32 countries, Air Chiefs of 29 countries, and 73 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are expected to attend the event. Eight hundred and nine (809) defence companies, including MSMEs and start-ups, will showcase the advancement in niche technologies and the growth in the aerospace and defence sector," the Ministry said. Singh termed the record of international participation as the reflection of not just India`s buyer-seller ties with different countries, but also their shared vision of global prosperity. The Defence Minister emphasised that Aero India 2023 will provide a renewed thrust to the Government`s efforts to create a vibrant and world-class domestic defense industry to achieve the goal of `Aatmanirbharta` in defence as well as the overall development of the nation. "A strong and self-reliant defence sector will play a pivotal role in helping India emerge as one of the top three world economies in the times to come. Achievements in the defence sector provide wide spin-off benefits to the Indian economy. The technologies developed in the field are equally useful for civilian purposes. In addition, a temperament towards science & technology and innovation is created in the society, which helps in the overall development of the nation," he said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also host Defence Ministers` Conclave on February 14. Defence Ministers of friendly foreign countries will participate in the meeting, which has been organised on the theme `Shared Prosperity through Enhanced Engagements in Defence (SPEED). The conclave would address aspects related to deepening cooperation for capacity building (through investments, R&D, joint venture, co-development, co-production, and provisioning of defence equipment), training, space, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and maritime security to grow together. The conclave is an opportunity for the defence ministers to engage with each other to carry forward the `Make in India, Make for the World` vision. Singh termed the Defence Ministers` Conclave as an extremely important event, which he said, will justify its theme by providing `SPEED` to the increasing defence cooperation with friendly countries. A number of bilateral meetings will be held on the sidelines of Aero India among defence ministers, ministers of state for defence, chiefs of defence staff, and defence secretaries. The annual defence innovation event, Manthan, will be the flagship technology showcase event to be held on February 15. Being organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the Manthan platform will bring the leading innovators, start-ups, MSMEs, incubators, academia, and Investors from the defence and aerospace ecosystem under one roof. The Raksha Mantri will preside over the event. The `India Pavilion`, based on the `Fixed Wing Platform` theme, will showcase India`s growth in the area, including future prospects. There will be a total of 115 companies, displaying 227 products. It will further showcase the growth of India in developing an ecosystem for the Fixed Wing platform which includes demonstrating various structural modules, simulators, systems (LRUs), etc. o,f LCA-Tejas aircraft produced by Private Partners. There will also be a section for Defence space, New Technologies, and a UAV section which will give an insight about the growth of India in each sector. A full-scale LCA-Tejas aircraft in Full Operational Capability (FOC) configuration will be at the center stage of the India Pavilion. (With ANI Inputs) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) "grounded" an Air Asia plane at a runway in Pune on Sunday after discovering one of the aircraft's tyres to be "cracked," according to officials. The aviation regulator reported that after portions of the tyre tread were discovered on the Bengaluru runway, from where it was taxied, a flight headed for Pune was examined on the mentioned runway. Upon inspection at Pune, the sidewall of the number 3 tyre was found cracked, DGCA said, adding that the flight has been stopped from further take-offs. Further information is awaited. Also read: Aero India 2023: PM Narendra Modi to Inaugurate Asia's Biggest Aviation Show in Bengaluru Today Earlier, Air Asia India ran into trouble with the aviation watchdog for lapses found in pilot training. The Tata Group-owned low-cost carrier AirAsia India was fined Rs 20 lakh by the aviation safety watchdog DGCA on Saturday for violating some pilot training regulations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also ordered the dismissal of the airline's head of training from his position for a period of three months, in addition to fining eight Designated Examiners (DEs) Rs. 3 lakh each. On January 23, PTI reported that AirAsia India may be subject to enforcement action from the safety authorities due to allegations that it violated aviation standards regarding pilot competency checks and instrument rating exams. In more than a month, this was the third enforcement action taken against a Tata Group carrier. In a statement, AirAsia India stated that it is evaluating the DGCA judgement and considering an appeal. Following a surveillance examination of the airline by the DGCA between November 23 and 25, 2013, and a subsequent show-cause notice to the airline, its head of training, and all DEs, enforcement action was taken. A spokeswoman for AirAsia claimed that the airline has already required pilots to participate in exercises as part of simulator training that went above and beyond the minimum regulatory training requirements. (With ANI Inputs) Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 14th iteration of Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru. This show comes as the biggest aero exhibition in Asia and will present a slew of aircraft and show from multiple exhibitors. In addition, the five-day show will be focused on showcasing homegrown equipment, aircraft, and technologies and forming alliances with foreign businesses. It is to be noted that the inauguration ceremony was completed in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. At the massive air show's opening ceremony, Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari of the Indian Air Force led the Gurukul formation on a flypast."The Runway to a Billion Opportunities" is the theme of Aero India 2023, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Additionally, by bringing together international investors and attracting co-development and co-production collaborations, the event will assist in integrating domestic MSMEs and start-ups into the global supply chain. Also read: Air Asia Flight Grounded in Pune, DGCA Takes Action After Tyre Found Cracked More than 80 nations participated in Aero India 2023. Aero India 2023 is expected to draw participation from 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs as well as ministers from roughly 30 different nations. Aero India 2023 exhibition witnessed the participation of more than 800 Defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies.The Indian companies participating in the exhibition include MSMEs and start-ups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies, and growth in aerospace and defence capabilities in the country. Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen and Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. The five-day event will radiate the rise of a strong and self-reliant `New India` by displaying India`s growth in aerospace and defence capabilities. (With ANI Inputs) Aero India 2023, Asia's biggest aero show is ongoing in Bengaluru. The show is witnessing an exhibition of multiple India-made and foreign aircraft from major brands, among those, is the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet making its debut at Aero India 2023. The advanced fighter jet is one of the most capable fifth-generation American aircraft. The aviation show in India witnessed the entry of the fighter jet's two variations, i.e., Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and F-35A. It is to be noted that this is the first time the prized possession of the US Air Force has touched Indian grounds. After departing from Utah and Alaska air force stations in the US, respectively, the two jets arrived at the Yelahanka Air Force station outside of Bengaluru. It is to be noted that these fighter jets are accompanied by the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the American section. Also read: Aero India 2023: Light Combat Helicopter 'Prachand' Performs Thrilling Aerobatics in Bengaluru; Watch Video The aircraft comes in three variations which are the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C. Furthermore, it is a single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft that can engage other aircraft in air superiority operations as well as carry out air strikes on ground targets. The fictional examples of the aircraft's capabilities to engage other fighter jets were demonstrated in the Top Gun: Maverick movie as well. Two American F-35 fighter aircraft at the #AeroIndia show for the first time. The American contingent also includes the F-16 and F-18 fighter jets which have been offered to Indian armed forces for different requirements. pic.twitter.com/f9caMbvWTn ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2023 The aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 jet engine, which is installed in the F-35, enabling the aircraft to travel at speeds of Mach 1.6 (1.6 times the speed of sound) while still carrying a payload of weapons internally without sacrificing its stealth capabilities. The F-35 carries its payload of armaments internally in two loadout bays during stealth operations. The plane can also transport weapons on its six external weapons bays for non-stealth operations. On its four internal and external stations, the fighter can carry smart bombs as well as air-to-air, air-to-surface, and anti-ship missiles. The B61 nuclear weapon can also be carried by the F-35. A 25 mm GAU-22/A 4-barrel rotary gun with 180 rounds of ammo is also mounted on the jet. Besides, America, China, and Russia are the only two nations to have fifth-generation fighter jets. In contrast, India is working to create the AMCA Gen 5 aircraft, which, if successful, will join a select group of countries that possess the fifth generation of fighter jets, and will eventually replace the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI in the Indian Air Force. Kolkata: West Bengal minister of state for finance (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya is all set to table the state budget for the financial year 2023-24 in the assembly on February 15. As per indications so far it is almost certain that West Bengal will not only meet its target for state excise collection for the financial year ending March 31, 2023 but will also surpass it. As per the budget estimates for the fiscal ending March 31, 2023, the target for state excise collection was Rs 16,500 crore and as per records of the excise department the collections under this head had already crossed Rs 13,500 crore as of January 31, 2023. "We can now confidently set a much higher state excise revenue collection in the budget estimates for the financial year 2023-24, considering that there had been an upward revision in liquor prices in January this year," said a senior finance department official who refused to be named. There is the question that while the state government will exceed its target of excise collection, whether the state government will achieve its targeted collection of the state's own tax revenue, where excise is just one of the 12 components. As per the budget estimates for 2022-23, the state government has set a target of collecting Rs 79,346 crore as state tax revenue. Besides excise, this time there is yet another proposal to get substantial funds for the exchequer. The state government is planning to change the land holding laws to convert leased land to owned land. Under the change, the state government will give an option to the parties to whom they have leased lands on a long-term basis to purchase that land at the existing market rates in the areas where the land is located. "Generally, when the state government gives the land on lease to any party the lease amount is much less than the market price of land. So now, by selling that same land at market rate, the state government will be able to get substantial funds for the state exchequer which can be used for different welfare and development projects," said an official. Economists feel that while this is undoubtedly an effective way to get funds for the exchequer, this will not help the state government in earning or improving its own tax revenue. "By selling a piece of land the state government will get a one-time fund for its exchequer. But if the same land could be used for setting up a big industry, the tax revenue generated from that industry would have been there year after year. Selling assets for meeting expenditure is not healthy economics. Rather using assets for recurring revenue generation should always be the target. In fact it seems the policies of the Union government and the state government on this count are the same, which is selling state assets for meeting regular government expenditure," said professor of economics Santanu Basu. Meanwhile, finance department sources said that the budget speech this time might announce some policies for encouraging start-ups and the manufacturing sector. According to economist PK Mukhopadhyay while encouraging start- ups will be a good initiative on the part of the state government, it is high time that the focus is shifted to attracting big-ticket investment both in the manufacturing and the services sectors. "But for the manufacturing sector the necessity is the change in the land policy of the state government where it has come out of its announced stand of no state role in land procurement for industry. Considering the fragmented land holding nature no industrialist will be interested in purchasing land from individual owners especially when the land requirement at one go is high. As for the services sector, especially information technology and IT-enabled services sector, it will be difficult for the state government to attract big-ticket investments unless it moves away from its stand of not allowing fresh special economic zones in the state," he said. Also, all eyes will be on what will be the projected accumulated debt of the state government by the end of the next financial year of 2023-24. As per the budget estimates for the financial year 2022-23, the state's total accumulated debt is slated to rise to Rs 5,86,438.05 crore by March 31, 2023, up from Rs 5,28,833.05 crore as per the revised estimates for 2022-23. During the financial year ending March 21, 2011, which was the last fiscal under the previous Left Front regime, West Bengal's accumulated debt was around Rs 1,90,000 crore. Yes, electric cars came into existence before ICE models. With the latter offering more value over DC motors, internal combustion engines were chosen as the powertrain for the course. But now, with environmental concerns and to reduce the dependability of fossils, electricity is being examined and considered as the fuel for our future set of wheels. While new brands and luxury automakers have been selling electric cars for some time, Indias largest carmaker - Hyundai, has jumped into the pool with the Ioniq 5. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is priced at Rs 44.95 lakh and gets a claimed range of 631 kilometres on a full charge. So, is it the best premium electric car in our market, period? Read on to find the answer. Electric vehicles are using egg-shaped cabins in an effort to boast a low aerodynamic drag coefficient. With the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the company has kept this rule at an arms distance with straight lines and sharp creases. So much so, we can bet designers only used a scale to carve out the Ioniq 5s bodywork except for wheels and wheel arches. The Ioniq 5 has the essence of the companys first-ever passenger vehicle - Pony. Thereby, retro-ness is a part of the appeal. Modernity is not compromised in any way though. The nose gets a wide piano black panel mimicking the air dam and merging into slim LED headlamps, which also use Parametric Pixel LED DRLs. We admit, they transmit an angry face to the Ioniq 5, and the bumper gets adaptive vents, along with a contrast finish for the cladding, which runs across the sides. Doors flaunt concealed handles, and the design for 20-inch rims looks busy but appealing. Step around the tail, and it shows that cohesiveness is a neat element, with the help of Parametric Pixel LED taillamps. Furthermore, the bumper gets a similar treatment as the nose. While the Ioniq 5 misses out on a rear wiper, the spoiler is designed with two larger voids. Moreover, crevices are used in abundance around the lower portion of the car, which we believe will make for an additional task while cleaning the car. The overall design is appealing with a crossover-like silhouette. What we did like is minimalism. There are no stupidly-funky green or blue elements to announce that it's an EV. The Ioniq 5 is sketched out keeping it conventional and contemporary. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: Cabin - Innovative & Intelligent Inside Airy is how the Hyundai Ioniq 5s cabin feels other than being feature-loaded to the brim. To ensure there is enough light on the inside, a colossal-sized moonroof is fitted on the top. Sadly, it is fixed and doesnt slide or tilt. The highlight of the cabin remains the overall interior theme with the use of white, grey, and black colours. Yes, the interior thus has the tendency to get soiled easily. Also, there are too many quirks in this rather practical cabin. Talking of features, Hyundai is using two larger 12.3-inch displays for the infotainment unit and instrument cluster. They are crisp and legible in all sorts of lighting conditions. In fact, theres tons of information on disposal. The bezels of these screens are in white colour, which remains my personal dislike. The steering wheel misses out on a Hyundai logo, but the hub felt cute. It is made out of recycled material and finished with biologically-extracted paints. While this is enough innovation, theres more to it. The whole centre console is slidable, and it has a lot of space to store knick-knacks. Theres a wireless charger, along with two USB ports. While there are a total of 5 USB charging ports in total on the Ioniq 5, all of them are type-A examples. Theres dual-zone climate control on offer, and the rear AC vents are pillar-mounted. Seats on the Ioniq are comfortable and large. It gets two-way adjustable front headrests, and the seats come with extra thigh support. The rear bench is very wide and spacious and comes with a reclining function. It should be noted that the rear seats are wide and spacious. Ioniq 5 further gets level-2 ADAS tech, in addition to other passive safety systems and an 8-speaker Bose sound system. Also, the Ioniq gets a frunk, which is practical enough to keep a duffle bag, while the boot can eat up a couple of full-size strollers. Also read - Kia EV6 India review: Takes the electric mobility to a whole new level Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: Performance - Brisk Hauler Powering the rear wheels of the Ioniq 5 is an electric motor that generates 217 PS and 350 Nm of peak output. The acceleration is brisk, and the Ioniq 5 can reach the 100 kmph mark in just 7.6 seconds. Well, there are three driving modes in total, and the Sport gets the car in its wildest form. Yes, it can slide its tail, when the A-pedal is pushed hard with traction control turned off. Also, the battery pack sitting underneath the floor makes sure theres not too much of a body roll to keep it grounded with a ground clearance of 163 mm. Dialling in the Sport mode takes a press of a button sitting on the steering wheel. Also, plonking in gears (Read - Selecting drive mode) is not tough, a column-mounted selector is present here, quite like a Benz. Coming to the suspension, it is supple and comes with the right amount of damping for both bad roads and tight bends. No stress saying the Ioniq 5 offers the best balance of comfort and dynamics with a Hyundai badge in India. Talking practicality, the claimed range stands at 631 kilometres. With our full-throttle test run, we can say that a full charge will last 500 kilometers with no sweat. In fact, there are multiple regenerative braking modes, which are selectable by steering-mounted paddle shifters. Our favourite is the intelligent mode, which offers a seamless single-pedal driving experience. Yes, Hyundai has managed to keep the range anxiety away. In fact, retrieving the 500 km-range mark is not tough. Around 18 minutes of fast charging via a 350 kW charger is all it takes. The car can be charged via a 50 kW fast charger too. Well, the E-GMP architecture is a skateboard-style platform, and they are known for elevating a lot of space on the inside and assuring enough fun from the steering wheel. Also read - BYD Atto 3 First Drive Review: Astonishingly awesome to punch Hyundai Kona Electric? Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: In Summation By now, we believe you have already answered the question - Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 the best electric car in India? Priced at Rs 44.95 lakh, the Ioniq 5 is the most-expensive Hyundai car you can buy in India today. Also, it is built as an electric car ground-up. The real-world range is over 500 kilometers and 350 kW fast charging capabilities are purely impressive. Besides, the Hyundai badge ensures easy peace of mind. Therefore, it comes out as one of the best premium electric cars in India, period. It's a sad but true fact about the world we live in that many of us never even think about the poor and downtrodden. Most of the time, it's only that nightmares like the Covid-19 pandemic occur when people come forward to help others. Otherwise, the only thing that most business people, who claim to understand and fulfill the needs of the poor, actually care about is their company's bottom line. As a human being, it is indeed a great characteristic to be a successful businessman as well as a person whose heart beats for the poor and downtrodden. But, there are still people who care for the needy, due to which the world is going on. Meet one such person: Gujarat-based entrepreneur Abdul Razaq HabibKhan Pathan, who as a social activist and humanitarian is always ready to help the poor and uplift the downtrodden. Moreover, he has made providing affordable homes, food, and education the mission of his life. To achieve this goal, Abdul Razaq Pathan has carried out extensive social work for the upliftment of children and women in socioeconomically weak and backward parts of India. It is these qualities of Abdul Razaq Pathan that sets him apart from many other business leaders not only in the country but also in the world. His strong focus on his mission not only impresses his critics but also contributes to a sense of social peace. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Abdul Razzak Pathan became a diligent and motivated young man when people had to stay at home without support during the lockdown. He came forward as a Covid-19 warrior and acted as a natural leader to mobilize teams and resources on short notice. He also fought against all obstacles to help people and avert hunger, for over two years. Last year, Abdul Razzak Pathan was asked to delegate to the Best Diplomats United Nations Simulation Conference, which was held in Dubai, UAE, from September 16 to September 19. At the moment, he serves as a Peace Ambassador for the World Human Rights United Nations and the Gujarat State President of Parwaz Media. The Boulder County district attorney charged a deputy sheriff with two felony counts of vehicular assault in connection with a crash in August, which seriously injured two people, according to a news release. Daniel Pratt, 45, has worked for the Boulder County Sheriff's Office since 2015, according to the release. He has been placed on administrative leave without pay until the criminal case concludes. He has a court appearance scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m. On August 12, Pratt responded to a call for assistance at the Boulder County Fair grounds around 9:30 p.m. because of reports of fights. He was driving on Colorado Highway 119 toward Longmont when he hit a Prius going east through the intersection at Niwot Road. Pratt and his police dog were unharmed, but the two people in the Prius were seriously injured, according to the release. The Colorado State Patrol investigated the case along with the district attorney's office. The investigation considered the speed of the cars, right of way, the red traffic light, eyewitnesses recollections and the sheriff's office policies for activating lights and sirens and as well as the policy for approaching a red light while running emergent, the release says. I appreciate the thorough investigation by the Colorado State Patrol," District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in the release. "This crash was incredibly scary, and the victims were seriously injured. Bengaluru/ New Delhi, 13th February 2023: Yoga is connected to Indian culture and tradition. Yoga, which means "to unite" in Sanskrit, implies a way to have a healthy existence. Yoga aligns and strengthens the body while disciplining the mind via meditation. According to yoga, our health is actually influenced by our body's neurological system. Daily yoga practise helps to purify the neurological system, which keeps our bodies fit and healthy. The Akshar Yoga Research and Development Centre has grasped this achievement with yet another feat on Saturday, 11th February 2023 with over 500 people performing three different Asanas to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. The event conducted as part of the Mandala Yoga Festival in Bengaluru saw the participants performing Vashishtasana, Ushtrasana and Halasana Asanas under the aegis of revered Yoga and spiritual mentor Himalayan Siddha Akshar. Presided over by Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Dr C. N. Ashwath Narayan, it was the largest group ever to simultaneously perform 3 yoga Asanas to create 3 new Guinness World Records. Referring to the remarkable achievement, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar said, It is a matter of immense pride for Akshar Yoga R&D Centre and participants from all walks of life, who underwent intense training over the past few weeks to attain such a remarkable feat. From police personnel and nursing home staff to students and working professionals, all participants understood the essence of Yoga to perfect Vashishtasana (Side Plank Pose), Ushtrasana (Camel Pose) and Halasana (Plough Pose). We are elated with the successful completion of the Mandala Yoga Festival. The officials from the team of Guinness World Records invigilated all three record attempts by the participants and declared the successful completion, with 560 successful participants for Halasana (Plough pose), 510 for Vashishtasana(Sideplank), 572 for Ushtrasan(Camelpose). Three brand new additions to Guinness World Records. Numerous yoga enthusiasts from all walks of life, including 250 members of the Karnataka State Police, over 100 disadvantaged youngsters, and children with disabilities all attended the Mandala Yoga Festival. The participants accurately reflected diversity because they originated from 20 different nations, including all 28 of India's states. Such events make the importance of yoga and a healthier lifestyle something we should all aim for and achieve, there are some records you need to keep in check for yourself. Delhi government`s Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) has arrested three men in connection with the embezzlement of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) funds worth Rs 20 crores, an official said on Monday. The accused have been identified as the owner of Aurrum e-payment Rajendran Keezhedath Nair, CFO of Aurrum e-payment Gopi Kumar Kedia and Additional Director of Aurrum e-payment Abhilash Vasukuttan Pillai. According to a senior ACB official, the move came after an enquiry was conducted by the Vigilance Department, DJB which revealed embezzlement of funds worth Rs 20 crore. "The DJB had awarded work of setting up Automotive bill Payment collection machines at different locations in its offices to Corporation Bank (now Union Bank of India) for facilitating its consumers in bill payments," said Madhur Verma, the Joint Commissioner of Police (ACB). "The bank, however, gave this contract further to Fresh Pay IT Solutions which gave it to Aurrum e-Payments. The contract was upto October 10, 2019 however Aurrum e-payments collected the amount till March 2020," said the Joint CP. (The above article is sourced from news agency IANS. Zeenews.com has made no editorial changes to the article. News agency IANS is solely responsible for the contents of the article) New Delhi: Agra, Varanasi, Chennai, Pune and Ahmedabad are among the 22 cities that will complete all projects under the government's ambitious Smart Cities Mission by next month, giving their citizens a better quality of life and a clean and sustainable environment, officials said on Sunday. In the remaining 78 cities selected under the mission, the ongoing projects will be completed in the next three-four months, a senior official of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said. The Narendra Modi government launched its flagship Smart Cities Mission on June 25, 2015, and 100 cities were selected for redevelopment through four rounds of competition from January 2016 to June 2018. "Smart Lighting Poles" have been installed across Bhopal under the Smart Cities Mission.#TransformingUrbanLandscape #TransformingIndia pic.twitter.com/MDU7rAcYHI Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (@MoHUA_India) June 28, 2019 According to the ministry, the mission's objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give its citizens a decent quality of life and a clean and sustainable environment, besides adopting "smart solutions" to various issues. 22 cities part of 'Smart Cities Mission' that will be ready by March The 22 smart cities where all projects will be completed by March are Bhopal, Indore, Agra, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Ranchi, Salem, Surat, Udaipur, Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad, Kakinada, Pune, Vellore, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Madurai, Amaravati, Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur. "We will complete 22 smart cities by March as projects in these cities are in final stages. In the next three-four months, we will be completing the project works of the remaining cities," the official told PTI. The implementation of the Smart Cities Mission at the city level is done by a special purpose vehicle. These SPVs plan, implement, operate, monitor and evaluate their Smart City projects. The project involves the development of parks, walkways, cycle tracks, LED lighting along the bunds of the lake. A childrens park is the highlight of this vibrant public project. Islands in the lake will provide habitat for birds.#TransformingIndia #CitiesFightCorona pic.twitter.com/4iPsPEioVp Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (@MoHUA_India) March 27, 2020 On February 6, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore told Rajya Sabha that as on January 27 this year, out of 7,804 projects worth Rs 1,81,322 crore for which work orders have been issued in the 100 smart cities, 5,246 projects worth Rs 98,796 crore have been completed. The central government has released Rs 36,447 crore under the mission, of which Rs 32,095 crore (88 per cent) has been utilised. According to the mission guidelines, the central government will provide financial support to the extent of Rs 48,000 crore over five years, on an average Rs 100 crore per city per year. An equal amount on a matching basis will be contributed by the state government or urban local body. Redevelopment of Chandra Bagh Bridge riverfront was undertaken in Indore under the Smart Cities mission. The place has now become a spot for gathering of people from all walks of life. #TransformingUrbanLandscape #TransformingIndia pic.twitter.com/3k04pPFlvZ Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (@MoHUA_India) August 14, 2019 The ministry has said that currently, there is no proposal under consideration by the government for adding more cities under the Smart Cities Mission. New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday (February 12, 2023) slammed the Narendra Modi-led government over the appointment of ex-Supreme Court judge S Abdul Nazeer as the new governor of Andhra Pradesh and called the move a "great threat" to the independence of the judiciary. Nazeer, who retired last month, was part of several path-breaking verdicts, including those on the politically sensitive Ayodhya land dispute, instant 'triple talaq', and the one that declared the 'right to privacy' a fundamental right. He is now among the six new faces who were appointed as governors on Sunday. Asked about Nazeer's appointment, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters, "One of your (BJP) tall leaders sadly no more with us, Arun Jaitley, on September 5, 2013, in the House and several times outside stated that 'the desire of a post-retirement job influences pre-retirement judgments. It is a threat to the Independence of the judiciary." He also dismissed the argument that this has happened several times earlier also so such an appointment is acceptable. "We are not talking about persons or individuals. Personally, I have very great respect for this person (Nazeer). I know him, it is not about him at all. As a matter of principle we oppose it, as a matter of principle we believe it is a matter of great diminution and a great threat to the Independence of the judiciary for the reasons I have just quoted on the excerpt I played out," Singhvi said, referring to Jaitley's remarks. LIVE: Congress party briefing by Shri @DrAMSinghvi at AICC HQ. https://t.co/hiv1csLIAU Congress (@INCIndia) February 12, 2023 "Therefore, we condemn it, we oppose it and we do not agree with it," the Rajya Sabha MP added. Attacking the Centre, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also retweeted a video on Twitter of former Union Minister Arun Jaitley saying in 2012 that "pre-retirement judgments are influenced by post-retirement jobs". "Adequate proof of this in the past 3-4 years for sure," Ramesh said. Whole ecosystem is in full swing once again: Kiren Rijiju on criticism over Abdul Nazeer's appointment as governor In an apparent swipe at the Congress, after it questioned the appointment of Abdul Nazeer as a governor, Union Law Minister and senior BJP leader Kiren Rijiju said that the "whole ecosystem" is once again in "full swing" over the issue. They should better understand that they can no longer treat India as their "personal fiefdom", the minister said, without naming anyone. Taking to Twitter, Rijiju said India will be guided by the provisions of the Constitution. "The Whole Eco-system is once again in full swing on the appointment of a Governor. They should better understand that, they can no more treat India as their personal fiefdom. Now, India will be guided by the people of India as per the provisions of the Constitution of India," he said in a tweet. The Whole Eco-system is once again in full swing on the appointment of a Governor. They should better understand that, they can no more treat India as their personal fiefdom. Now, India will be guided by the people of India as per the provisions of the Constitution of India. Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 12, 2023 It's Congress's habit to politicise every issue: BJP's Anil Baluni on criticism on appointment of ex-judge Abdul Nazeer as Andhra Pradesh governor BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni also rejected the Congress' criticism and said such appointments have past precedents and they are also not barred by the Constitution. Baluni said the Congress has a habit of politicising every issue, and it was unfortunate that the opposition party is doing so with the appointment of governors also. "Former judges have been appointed to different positions countless times in the past. Our Constitution also says nothing against the post-retirement appointment of judges," the Rajya Sabha member said, noting that previous Congress governments affected such appointments on numerous occasions. New Delhi: Congress Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday (February 13, 2023) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting him and alleged that his words were not taken off the record during parliamentary proceedings. Rahul Gandhi made these remarks a day after the Lok Sabha Secretariat sought Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's reply on the Breach of Privilege notice issued against him by the BJP. Rahul Gandhi claimed that parts of his speeches were expunged although he did not insult anybody. "Parts of my speech in Parliament were removed. I did not insult anybody. I was asked to show proof with regards to what I said and I have written a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker with every point they have removed along with supporting proof," said Rahul Gandhi. "I dont expect my words will be allowed to go on the record. The PM of the country directly insult me but his words are not taken off the record. He said why is your name Gandhi and not Nehru," he added. Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey issued privilege notice against Rahul over "misleading, derogatory, unparliamentary and incriminatory statements" during a discussion of the motion of thanks on the President's address. Rahul Gandhi also said that PM Modi thinks he is powerful but he doesnt realise the absolute last thing Im scared of is Narendra Modi. It doesnt matter if he is the PM of India. Because one day he will be forced to face his truth," said Rahul Gandhi. Chennai: Taking a jibe at Pazha Nedumarans shocking claim that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is healthy and alive, Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Alagiri has said that he is ''very happy'' to hear this and that he will ''go and meet him.'' Speaking to ANI, Alagiri said, "I am very happy. If Pazha Nedumaran shows me Prabhakaran, I will go and see him. No problem." His remark came after Tamil Nationalist Movement leader Pazha Nedumaran claimed on Monday that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader KS Alagiri is alive. I am very happy. If Pazha Nedumaran shows me Prabhakaran, I will go and see him. No problem: KS Alagiri, Tamil Nadu Congress chief https://t.co/5AdEnqvnox pic.twitter.com/ZHQVBQfhZo ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2023 In a press conference, Pazha Nedumaran, a noted Tamil nationalist leader, prefixed his declaration as a 'true announcement' and said the international (political) atmosphere and fierce opposition to Rajapaksas by the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka has created the right conditions for the leader of the Eelam Tamils, Prabhakaran to emerge. Asserting that the LTTE leader is doing well, Nedumaran said the announcement would end 'planned' suspicions spread about him. Prabhakaran is all set to soon announce a plan for the dawn of the Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka, he said. Pleased to announce the truth about our Tamil national leader Prabhakaran. He's fine.I'm very happy to announce this to the Tamil people all over the world. I hope this news will put an end to the speculations that have been systematically spread about him so far: Pazha Nedumaran pic.twitter.com/NYblumbybP February 13, 2023 He appealed to Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Tamils living in all other parts of the world to stand together and extend him their their full support. Till such time the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was powerful, they did not allow any forces inimical to India to find a toehold in the regions held by them in Sri Lanka, he said. Let me inform you that he (Prabhakaran) is soon going to announce a plan for the liberation of the Tamil race. All the Tamil people of the world should support him together: Pazha Nedumaran, President of the World Tamil Federation pic.twitter.com/ftwiEytBDX February 13, 2023 They not only opposed such forces but also have not received any support from such nations opposed to India, he added. It may be recalled that Prabhakaran was killed in 2009 in the war between Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE. 'Eelam' in Tamil denotes the homeland of the Tamil people. NEW DELHI: Janata Dal-United leader and former MLC Gulam Rasool Balyawi, who is known for making controversial statements, has once again made objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Bageshwar Dham godman Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. While addressing a gathering in an event organised by Markazi Idara-E-Saria in Nawada on Sunday, Balyawi said, "If PM Narendra Modi is scared of Pakistan, allow 30 per cent recruitment of Muslim youths in the armed forces. When Pakistan made missiles and terrorised India, it was a son of a Muslim APJ Abdul Kalam who came forward and gave a befitting reply." Coming down heavily on the Yoga guru, the JD-U leader alleged that Baba Ramdev is not an Indian and has a strong connection with the banned terror outfit Lashkar-E-Taiba. "Baba Ramdev is not an Indian. How he obtained such big assets needs to be investigated. Different governments have given lands to Baba Ramdev. How the manufacturing of the products of his company (Patanjali) is taking place. Which are the companies supplying it? All these things need to be investigated," Balyawi said. Shifting his focus to Baba Bageshwar, who came into the limelight with his statement on Sanatan Dharma and Hindu country, Balyawi said, "I don`t know who this man is. We knew the constitution and court of the country. No one would mislead the country by wearing a dress and make-up." Earlier on January 19, Balyawi created a row after he said that Muslims will turn every city into Karbala if any finger is raised towards the Prophet Muhammad. Balyavi was addressing a gathering in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh. During the address, the JDU leader recalled the remarks made by expelled BJP leader Nupur Sharma and said that Muslims won't tolerate the insult of their master. He also slammed so-called 'secular' political parties for not demanding an arrest of Nupur Sharma. Balyavi said that Muslims won't hesitate as their life and breath are not theirs but for the Prophet's. He said that Muslims live with the belief that a day will come when only the Prophet will be there and no other people will be alive. Chhatarpur: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath on Monday visited Bageshwar Dham and met with Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. "I have built a Hanuman temple of over a height of 101 feet in Chhindwara. Today, I came here to worship Lord Hanuman so that the future of Madhya Pradesh would be safe. The challenges that are in Madhya Pradesh today, let us face all these challenges together. Maharaj ji gives blessings to everyone and he gives blessings to me as well," Kamal Nath told reporters here. When asked about Dhirendra Shastri`s statements on making India a Hindu nation, he said, "India runs according to its constitution. Babasaheb Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar made the constitution. That is the Constitution of India." A Mahayagya is being organised at Bageshwar Dham regarding the making of the Hindu nation from February 13 to February 18 here. According to reports, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will also visit Bageshwar Dham on February 18. On the other hand, Saint Gurusharan Maharaj (also known as Pandokhar Sarkar) is organising a two-day program at Kaliyasot Maidan, Nehru Nagar locality in the state capital Bhopal from today. Before starting his program on Monday, he interacted with the media persons. When Maharaj was asked about the trend of preparing chits that predict about devotees` future has become popular these days, Maharaj said, "In today`s time more than 200 saints are doing the same in the country. In MP alone, over 50 saints are making chits. This practice of making chit is very old. My method of making chit is 32 years old." When asked about the trick of preparing the note, Maharaj said, "I have been preparing it for a long time. Making a note is not a miracle but fixing life`s spoils is a miracle." Gurusharan Maharaj talked about holding a program in Nagpur as well and also challenged magician and mind reader Suhani Shah to argue with him. Tanjore (Tamil Nadu): Tamil Nationalist Movement leader Pazha Nedumaran on Monday claimed that the chief of outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Velupillai Prabhakaran was "healthy and fine" and will soon "announce a plan for the liberation of the Tamil race." Addressing a press conference in Thanjavur, Nedumaran said that the changing global situation and Sri Lanka`s political crisis including the removal of the Rajapaksa government, breathed a new lease of life into the LTTE chief encouraging him to step outside. Nedumaran, who is the Tamil President of the World Tamil Federation Pazha Nedumaran said it was time to lay to rest "rumours" about the death of the `Thamizh Desiya Thalaivar`(Tamil Nationalist leader) Prabhakharan. LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is 'healthy and fine' "Let me inform you that he (Prabhakaran) is soon going to announce a plan for the liberation of the Tamil race. All the Tamil people of the world should support him together," Nedumaran said. "I would like to reveal some truths about LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. I am happy to reveal a truth that would dispel doubts about Prabhakaran. We will like to tell all the Tamil people that LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is healthy and fine," Nedumaran said. Let me inform you that he (Prabhakaran) is soon going to announce a plan for the liberation of the Tamil race. All the Tamil people of the world should support him together: Pazha Nedumaran, President of the World Tamil Federation pic.twitter.com/ftwiEytBDX ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2023 Tamil Eelam is a proposed independent state that many Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora aspire to create in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Pointing out that China is expanding its influence in Sri Lanka through investment schemes and projecting India as an enemy of Sri Lanka, he exhorted the Indian government to initiate necessary steps to prevent China from firming up its presence in the island nation. Nedumaran recalled when the LTTE was strong, they never allowed any country which was opposed to India to set foot in Sri Lanka. "LTTE has fought against that. In any situation, the LTTE never sought any help from the countries which were against India. China has set its foot in Sri Lanka and is trying to project India as Sri Lanka`s enemy," Pazha Nedumaran said. Nedumaran expressed concern that China has extended its dominance in the Indian Ocean also. "We request the Indian government to take steps to counter China," he added. Stand with Prabhakaran, requests Pazha Nedumaran "In these critical times, we request unity among the Tamil Nadu government, Tamil politicians, and Tamil Eelam people to stand with Prabhakaran," Nedumaran added. When asked whether he had contacted Prabhakaran, Nedumaran said he had contact with Prabhakaran`s family members, and based on the information he received he was "releasing this based on their approval." Queried on how the LTTE leader who was declared dead by the Sri Lankan government managed to survive Nedumaran said, "No doubt that everyone including me wants to know where he is. However, he will soon come to the fore and the world will know about it." LTTE chief Prabakaran was killed by Sri Lanka in 2009 Prabakaran was killed by the Sri Lankan government troops on May 18, 2009, in Mullaivaikkal in the northern Mullaithivu district of the island country. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned till Friday the hearing on AAP and Shelly Oberoi's plea challenging the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor's decision to permit the nominated members to vote in the elections for mayor and deputy mayor in MCD. In its ruling, the Supreme Court also stated that the "Law is very clear that nominated members have no right to vote." Supreme Court adjourns for Friday the hearing on AAP and Shelly Oberoi's plea challenging the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor's decision to permit the nominated members to vote in the elections for mayor and deputy mayor in MCD. ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2023 Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has given his approval to convene the next session of the MCD House on February 16 for election to the post of mayor. This will be the fourth meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House since December's civic polls to elect the mayor. The last three meetings were adjourned amid ruckus and commotion over the decision to give voting rights to the aldermen. The government had sent the proposal to hold the House session on February 16 and Saxena accepted it, the Lt Governor's Office said. Besides the mayor, the House will also elect the deputy mayor and members of the standing committee. According to a note issued by Saxena, "As recommended by... (the) chief minister (of Delhi), I approve (the) proposal to convene the adjourned first meeting of Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Thursday, 16th February at Dr SP Mukherjee Civic Centre for the election of mayor, deputy mayor and six members of the standing committee." Praveen Shankar Kapoor, the BJP's Delhi unit spokesperson, welcomed Saxena's decision and said the AAP should abide by the presiding officer's directions. "The BJP will extend all cooperation to the presiding officer in holding the three elections simultaneously through the secret ballot with voting rights for aldermen, as announced by the presiding officer in the last meeting. After the MCD polls in December, the House first convened on January 6 but was adjourned following acrimonious exchanges between BJP and AAP members. The second meeting on January 24 was briefly adjourned after the oath-taking ceremony before being adjourned till the next date by the pro-tem presiding officer. On Monday, the House was adjourned for the third time without electing a mayor following a ruckus over the decision to allow aldermen to vote in the mayoral poll. The AAP alleged a "planned conspiracy" by the BJP to stall the process and said the mayoral poll could not be held as the BJP was "strangulating democracy and the Constitution of India". The saffron party, on the other hand, accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit of making excuses to stall the process and blamed it for the stalemate. With 134 seats, the AAP emerged as the clear winner in the December polls, ending the BJP's 15-year rule in the civic body. The BJP won 104 wards while the Congress won nine in the 250-member House. The civic body in Delhi was trifurcated into north, east and south corporations in 2012 before being re-unfied into a sole MCD last May. Jeff Johnston felt a sexual attraction to other boys in adolescence and also found himself fascinated with pornography. I struggled with my identity who am I, what does this mean about me if I have some of these feelings, he said. I asked God to take it away, and that didnt happen. An internal battle raged within Johnstons young mind, body and spirit, as he fought to reconcile his Christian spirituality with his sexual desires. Christian alternatives to scouting programs on the rise in Colorado Springs Johnston said he fulfilled in adulthood what his heart was yearning for to live as a heterosexual man through professional counseling, pastoral counseling, prayer and involvement in his church. We didnt focus on Lets make you not gay, he said. There were counselors who said, Well help you develop your heterosexuality. Counseling also rectified painful and confusing issues from childhood, he said. "When I go into prayer with someone and they're praying for me, I've never heard them say, 'We pray for this to go away,'" Johnston said. "In prayer time, it was an issue God brought up, and God brought healing to it. That's how prayer works." Hes now the culture and policy analyst for Focus on the Family, an evangelical Christian broadcasting and media organization headquartered in Colorado Springs. Johnston and his wife have three sons. I made a decision I was going to follow Jesus, even if these feelings dont go away, he said. I realized I needed to grow into a healthy sense of my masculinity. Like other issues, homosexuality is divisive in Christianity, with some denominations interpreting the Bible to mean same-same relations are sinful, while other denominations say that's not what the Bible says. Helping people who question their sexuality also has become controversial. Focus on the Family has been criticized for something leaders like Johnston and President Jim Daly say Focus doesnt do: Promote whats known as conversion therapy. We at Focus do not advocate for any therapy that requires or promises categorical change or sexual conversion, Daly writes in a blog on the organizations website. Colorado Springs adolescents refurbish memorial to teen shooting victims at New Life Church As a Christian organization, Focus supports the availability of professional counseling in matters of sexuality that is respectful, safe, ethical and responsive to the clients values and desires, Daly says. Many view conversion therapy as harmful, though, particularly for adolescents. Paul Gross, a licensed professional counselor who has owned 4Square Counseling in Colorado Springs for the past decade, says he agrees with the American Psychological Association, which in 2009 released a report that found insufficient evidence to support using psychological interventions to change sexual orientation. The association now is calling for a nationwide prohibition on conversion therapy for youth. Ive had people come to me who call themselves religious refugees, who have said theyve gone to different aspects of the church and said, Can we get help and felt it hurt them, Gross said. The shame, the guilt they were made to feel was what they were using to change the way they were living. Clients have told him they heard things like, You shouldnt do this, its against this, or This is bad or Youre going to hell. That in and of itself can create a whole lot of trauma and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, on top of already having anxiety and depression from How do I come out and tell my family and friends Im gay, Gross said. Johnston of Focus on the Family decries the movement for states to criminalize such therapy. "I want to emphasize that 'conversion therapy' isn't a thing counselors can't force you to do something," he said. "We believe people should get the help they want and therapists should be able to help them. We advocate for people's freedom of speech, freedom of religion and self-determination." Colorado is one of 20 states and the District of Columbia to ban conversion therapy for minors under age 18, by licensed psychiatrists or licensed, registered or certified mental health providers, according to the Movement Advancement Project, or MAP. Colorado's law took effect in 2019 and defines conversion therapy as "efforts to change an individual's sexual orientation, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex. It does allow for mental health professionals to provide acceptance, support and understanding for minor patients sexual exploration, as long as their techniques are sexual-orientation neutral interventions that do not try to convert someones sexual orientation or gender identity. New survey to study Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ population and needs Johnston said Christians who believe the Bible opposes homosexuality should be given the freedom to choose counseling and support thats one with their goals," but that the current legal trend prevents parents from doing so. If youre a parent and you have a 5-year-old boy whos confused about his identity, in Colorado you cant find a counselor who will help him embrace his masculine identity, and thats a travesty, he said. Some states, including California, want to prohibit such therapy for adults. Legal challenges to laws pertaining to juveniles, including in Colorado, are ongoing. Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor in Colorado Springs, sought a preliminary injunction last year to stop Colorados conversion therapy ban for minors from proceeding, but in December, a federal district court judge denied blocking enforcement. Chiles argued that the law violates her First Amendment rights as a professional and as a Christian, describing the law as censorship and saying she wants to be able to talk freely with patients. In striking down Chiles' claims, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney, the first openly gay federal judge appointed in Colorado, called Chiles assertions disingenuous. In her ruling Sweeney wrote that Chiles is still allowed to provide therapeutic practices for a minor child client with the condition that she does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity. However, Colorado law does allow for gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy, for minor children, with parental consent. But youth can access mental health care without parental consent at age 12, which means psychotherapy of any kind, including gender-affirming counseling, is available for children 12 and older. Pikes Peak Library District completes testing for meth residue at three busiest locations The World Health Organization defines gender-affirming care as encompassing social, psychological, behavioral and medical interventions designed to support and affirm an individuals gender identity when it conflicts with their birth gender of male or female. Adolescents under age 18 also can go through social transitioning, which means using a different name and pronouns to reflect the gender they identify with, and taking reversible puberty blockers, if that's deemed necessary for their mental well-being, said Liss Smith, spokesperson for Inside Out Youth Services, which supports LGBTQ+ youth. Its critical that youth be allowed this freedom to explore their identities, to be respectful and valued for who they say they are not what the world perceives them to be, Smith said. Doing so can help prevent suicide, Smith said, since studies show that respecting a young persons chosen name and pronouns can reduce their risk of suicide by 56%. Inside Out does not provide medical care but does offer individual, family and group therapy, and social opportunities for LBGTQ+ youth. For Gross' LGBTQ+ patients who felt they were traumatized by conversion therapy, a combination of talk therapy, medication and eye movement and desensitization reprocessing psychotherapy have helped them get past that trauma of Were going to pray the gay away. Im not going to say the churchs methods or conversion therapists methods cant be useful, but I do feel it does more harm than good , he said. His patients have reported that they felt conversion therapy was misrepresented, since they were told it would help them cope but instead they felt like they were being attacked. There are people who maybe it does help, but it seems to me like a coercion and more like lets stack shame and guilt on you so you can pack it down, Gross said. I personally dont condone conversion therapy, but everyone needs to make their own choice. Choice is also what Focus on the Family advocates for, according to leaders. Focus President Daly says in his blog that people should have the right to seek assistance in living within biblical guidelines, adding that the organization realizes its values are not everyone's values. Individuals with unwanted homosexual attractions or gender concerns often suffer stress, family strain, depression, anxiety and questions that are deeply perplexing," he said. As such, we believe in empowering individuals for health and realistic living toward their goals, Daly said, which can include therapeutically investigating their sexuality and exploring faith-compatible responses for their individual situation. While Focus does not provide individual counseling, the organization has compiled a referral network of Christian counselors who address any topic, including issues relating to sexuality and gender. The organization also distributes a variety of materials for families and individuals who request assistance. Johnston said the subject is among the top 10 concerns to Focus call center, which provides consultation and guidance. New Delhi: Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Monday (February 13) adjourned till March 13 with Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar telling the Opposition parties that it is "not the way to run the House. Rajya Sabha was first briefly adjourned in the morning as Opposition leaders disrupted the House, demanding revocation of the suspension of Congress MP Rajani Patil and setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe allegations against the Adani Group. Chairman Dhankar was also upset at Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for alleging that the government was putting pressure on the chair. #BudgetSession2023#RajyaSabha adjourned till 11:00 AM on March 13. The second part of the #BudgetSession will commence on March 13th. pic.twitter.com/0CDHVl3Kae SansadTV (@sansad_tv) February 13, 2023 Kharge was speaking about the suspension of Patil, who was suspended from the House for the remainder of the Budget session for circulating an unauthorised video of house proceedings. He was also speaking on the expunction of his part of speech by the chair during the motion of thanks on President's Address. "LoP, you've indicated in so many words that the Chair is acting under pressure. These words are expunged. You are forfeiting your right to hold the floor of the House... every time you are saying that the Chair is acting under pressure," Dhankhar said. "Deliberate obstruction is being created and this is not the way to run the House. We have already wasted a lot of time. If the House is subjected to such disruption, I will be constrained to act as per the expectation of people," the Vice President said. He also warned several opposition MPs, who had trooped into the well of the House. The House will now meet at 11 am on March 13 during the second part of the Budget Session. Leaders of 14 Opposition parties meet to chalk out strategy in Parliament Earlier in the day, leaders of 14 Opposition parties held a meeting to discuss their joint strategy in Parliament. The leaders of Congress, RJD, DMK, NCP, JDU, AAP, and Left parties met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament complex. "Parliament should be the platform of discussion, debate and honest deliberations. Parliament should not be used as a platform to stifle the voice of the opposition. Opposition parties met today to discuss further strategy in this regard," Kharge said in a tweet and shared a picture from the meeting. Parliament should be the platform of discussion, debate and honest deliberations. Parliament should not be used as a platform to stifle the voice of the opposition. Opposition parties met today to discuss further strategy in this regard. pic.twitter.com/eBKP6HZngd Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha (@LoPIndia) February 13, 2023 The meeting came in the wake of a continued attack on the Narendra Modi-led government over the Adani issue and the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into it. Adani Group stocks have taken a beating on the bourses after US-based short-selling firm Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the business conglomerate. The Adani Group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. (With agency inputs) Parliament Budget Session 2023: There was nothing unparliamentary in what Rahul Gandhi said in the Parliament, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday, reacting to the Lok Sabha Secretariat's notice. Talking to the media, here in the national capital, Kharge said, "Whatever Rahul Gandhi had mentioned in the Parliament was already in the public domain and there is nothing unparliamentary about this. So he will respond to the notice accordingly." Incidentally, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha has also called a meeting of like-minded opposition parties ahead of the last day of the Budget session. "Since today is the last day (of the first part of the Budget session) in the Parliament, we will discuss how we can resolve this Adani issue and what our chairman will be doing. Will also seek the opinion of the leaders of other parties," he said. Notably, Lok Sabha Secretariat has sought Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's reply on the breach of privilege notice given against him by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over "misleading, derogatory, unparliamentary and incriminatory statements" during a discussion of the motion of thanks on the President's address. Rahul Gandhi has been asked to furnish his reply by February 15 for consideration by the Lok Sabha Speaker. The communication by the Privileges and Ethics Branch of the Lok Sabha Secretariat was sent to Rahul Gandhi on February 10. "I am to request you kindly to furnish your reply/comments in the matter by February 15, 2023," said the letter written by a Lok Sabha official. Rahul Gandhi, in his speech in the Lok Sabha on February 7, made several allegations against the government over the Hindenburg-Adani row. In his letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Dubey said the Congress MP made certain "unverified, incriminatory and defamatory statements" in contravention of the rules. He said Rahul Gandhi made these against Prime Minister Narendra Modi "without giving advance notice to the Speaker and also to the Prime Minister as required under Rule 353". "These statements are misleading, derogatory, indecent, unparliamentary, undignified and incriminatory in nature to the dignity of the House and Prime Minister being a Member of Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi, despite making a statement in the House that he would provide documentary evidence, has not submitted any duly authenticated document for supporting his statements," Dubey wrote. "As such, he has made a statement which amounts to misleading the House in the absence of any documentary evidence besides being a reflection upon the Prime Minister. This conduct is in clear violation of privileges of the House and its members besides being a clear case of contempt of the House," the BJP MP added. Joshi, who wrote a similar letter, said Rahul Gandhi`s remarks are liable to be expunged by the Speaker as these are "derogatory, indecent, unparliamentary and undignified". Union Minister Pasupati Kumar Paras on Monday claimed that Bihar government will fall before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, drawing a sharp retort from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who asked him to go and "celebrate". Talking to media persons here, Paras, The President of Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), said that `three wickets` of the Mahagathbandhan have fallen in the last 5 months. "The situation is not looking good for the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. The JD-U and RJD leaders are taking on each other every day. Three wickets have already fallen in the last five months and I am sure that the entire government will collapse before the 2024 Lok Sabha poll," he said. After the formation of Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, Kartikeya Singh Master, Sudhakar Singh, and Anil Sahani lost their posts. While Master was the Law Minister and Singh the Agriculture Minister, Sahani was an RJD MLA, who was disqualified after being convicted in the LTA scam. "NDA is preparing for the Lok Sabha election and will win all 40 seats of Bihar. At present, there are two Prime Ministerial candidates in opposition parties and one is Nitish Kumar and another is Rahul Gandhi. It is not possible to keep two swords in a sheath," Paras said. Reacting to Paras` comments, Nitish Kumar said: "Go and celebrate it. I do not take notice of these leaders." Pulwama: February 14 2023, Tuesday marks 4th anniversary of gruesome Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans. A group of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack resulted in the death of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans. The attack was carried out by a young man named Adil Ahmad Dar, who was a local resident of Pulwama and was affiliated with the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). JeM claimed responsibility for the attack, which sparked widespread outrage and condemnation across India. Tensions between India and Pakistan increased as a result of the incident, and India's government responded by taking a number of diplomatic, economic, and military actions against Pakistan. India launched airstrikes against terrorist bases in Kashmir that is managed by Pakistan, which was viewed as a significant uptick in hostilities between the two countries. The attack was also denounced by the world community, with numerous nations voicing their support for India and demanding action against terrorism. The incident was denounced by the United Nations and the United States, who also demanded that those responsible be brought to account. Special Messages for the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their life in the Pulwama terror attack Wrapped in tricolor, shiny metals stuck to chest. A hero arrived home in a casket full of depth. Jai Hind! Roses above the coffins are screaming angrily, tricolor around our soldier is weeping silently. Salute to all CRPF jawans of Pulwama attack. Jai Hind! Laashen kaha hain, kafan lapetne ke liye, chithade chug raha hoon, tirange mein sametane ke liye. Jai Hind! Somewhere people were celebrating their Valentines Day with red roses. Miles away, the CRPF Jawans were battling for their Bharat Mata with red blood. Jai Hind! Pulwama Attack The Pulwama incident serves as a sobering reminder of the persistent threat posed by terrorism and the requirement for greater international coordination and collaboration in the fight against this scourge. To combat terrorism and guarantee that those responsible for such horrible atrocities are held accountable, the international community must keep cooperating. In conclusion, the incident in Pulwama on February 14, 2019, was sad and will live on in India's history forever. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the necessity to continue being vigilant against the threat of terrorism while the nation continues to mourn the death of its gallant warriors. Agartala: In a bid to ensure free and fair assembly elections in Tripura, the international border with Bangladesh and inter-state boundaries will be sealed from Monday, a senior poll official. Elections to the 60-member assembly of the northeastern state will be held on February 16. "The international border with Bangladesh and the inter-state boundaries with Assam and Mizoram will be sealed from Monday, following instruction from the Election Commission," Chief Electoral Officer, Tripura Gitte Kirankumar Dinkarrao told reporters on Sunday. The BSF, which has been "maintaining strict vigil along the India-Bangladesh border", has been asked to seal the boundary for free and fair elections, he said. Dinakarrao also said the commission will launch checking at hotels, hostels and marriage halls from Monday, 72 hours before the polling, to ensure that "outsiders do stay in a particular area where he or she is not a voter". Stating that the ongoing campaign for the ensuing elections will end at 4 pm on Monday, the CEO said candidates can request their respective returning officers to enhance security arrangements during the voting if they face threats and intimidation. The casting of votes through postal ballots for polling staff, security personnel and other officials is scheduled to be over on Monday, he said. "Over 56,000 voters have exercised their franchise through postal ballots. A total of 65,000 such ballots were issued in all the 60 assembly constituencies," he said. On the deployment of state armed police for the elections, the CEO said they are "performing duties with great integrity". Notably, former chief minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar had on Saturday voiced concern over the deployment of state armed police for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Taking objection to the celebration of Valentines` Day on February 14, the Shri Ram Sena has stated that its activists will keep a hawk`s eye on parks, parlours and hotels. Speaking to reporters, Pramod Muthalik, national president of the Sena, said that they oppose the celebration every year and the group will oppose it this year also. "We will stop the drug and sex that will happen on the pretext of celebration of Valentine`s Day. It will be done according to the law," he said. Speaking about contesting from the Karkala assembly constituency, presently represented by Minister for Power, Kannada and Culture V. Sunil Kumar who is a blue eyed boy of the Sangh Parivar, Muthalik stated that he won`t backtrack under any circumstances. "The BJP insiders have appreciated me for choosing the constituency. Those who are in the CM race if the BJP comes to power in the state have pledged their support," he said. "I have been touring the Karkala assembly constituency for three months. I have failed in politics before. If I had supported fake Hindutva, I would have been in a powerful position today. I don`t know politics. I am competing in terms of fake and genuine Hindutva. The BJP government has lodged 109 cases against me," he said. Live TV BHOPAL: Days after mocking the Centre over its appeal to hug the cow on Valentines Day, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena has now warned couples planning to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14. A video posted on the micro-blogging platform Twitter shows a group of Shiv Sena workers armed with lathis (sticks) and warning people against celebrating Valentines Day. In the viral video, they can be seen shouting, "Jahan Milenge Bittu-Sona, Tod Denge Kona Kona (Wherever they will find Bittu-Sona, they will break every part of them". In the video, the saffron-clad Shiv Sena workers can also be seen oiling and worshiping their lathis and pledging to teach a lesson to couples found celebrating Valentine's Day on Wednesday. The video is being shared on Twitter and has been re-tweeted several times. Shiv Sena has issued this warning for people in Madhya Pradesh where it is known to have issued such threats in past too. Several right-wing outfits believe that St Valentine's Day is a festival of western countries and need not be followed here in India. Activists of these outfits in the past visited different places in their respective cities including parks etc and confronted couples celebrating Valentine's Day. Every year, they issue warnings to pubs and restaurants which organize any such event on Valentine's Day. The Shiv Sena (UBT) had earlier mocked the 'Cow Hug Day' initiative for Valentine's Day on February 14 and took a swipe at Narendra Modi claiming billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani was a "holy cow" for the Prime Minister. Mocking the BJP government at the Centre, Shiv Sena said in an editorial in Saamana, "Adani is the big bull of the stock market, but for Modi, he is a holy cow," adding the PM had embraced the "big bull" and was not ready to loosen the grip. The Animal Welfare Board of India had earlier issued an advisory urging people to celebrate Valentine's Day as 'Cow Hug Day' to spread "positive energy" and encourage "collective happiness." However, the appeal was withdrawn after the move met resistance from several quarters and also led to a meme fest on Twitter ridiculing it. Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday took a swipe at the Central government's recent appeal urging people to celebrate Cow Hug Day on Valentine's Day and asked ''what if the cow hits people?'' Mocking the ruling BJP at the Centre, the TMC supremo also asked will the ruling BJP give compensation to anyone who gets hurt by a cow. If the cow hits us, what will happen? Will they (BJP) pay us compensation? They should first approve the compensation of Rs 10 lakh for those who might get hurt after being hit by the cow," the Bengal CM said, according to PTI. If cow hits us, will they (BJP govt) pay compensation: Mamata Banerjee on row over 'Cow Hug Day' February 13, 2023 The Animal Welfare Board of India had earlier issued a notification urging people to celebrate ''Cow Hug Day'' on February 14 - a day widely celebrated as Valentine's Day. However, the notification was later withdrawn. She made these remarks while addressing the state assembly during which she also reiterated her call to defeat the BJP in 2024, and said the country should strive for installing a "people's government to end anarchy". In an apparent reference to BJP president J P Nadda's recent remark on violence and corruption in Bengal, Mamata asserted that her state happens to have a better law and order situation than other parts of the country. The CM slammed the Centre for maintaining silence over the killing of innocent villagers by BSF in the bordering areas of West Bengal. "The BSF has unleashed terror in the border areas of West Bengal. Innocent people are being killed in these areas. The Centre never bothers to send a fact-finding team to look into these killings," she said. Hitting out at the BJP for letting loose a malicious campaign against the TMC by trying to project the entire party and the government as corrupt, Banerjee said people will teach the party a lesson. "The BJP is behaving as if it is the only party of honest leaders and ours is a party of thieves. The saffron party is like a washing machine. A tainted person becomes a saint after joining the BJP," she said. "They are arresting our people for coal scam, but why is no action being taken against the custodian of the coal mines and the officials of the Centre-owned Coal India and ECL," she questioned. New Delhi: Shares of Adani group of companies declined in morning trade on Monday, with flagship company Adani Enterprises falling over 4 per cent after credit rating firm Moody's revised the rating outlook on four companies of the conglomerate to 'negative' from 'stable'. On the BSE, the scrip of Adani Enterprises dived 4.32 per cent to Rs 1,767.60 apiece in the early trade, while shares of Adani Ports and Economic Zone slipped 2.56 per cent to Rs 568.90 per share. Some of the group firms also touched their lower price bands. In the morning session, shares of Adani Power plummeted to Rs 156.10, Adani Transmission to Rs 1,126.85, Adani Green Energy to Rs 687.75 and Adani Total Gas to Rs 1,195.35 per share on the bourse. All these scrips declined 5 per cent each. The scrip of Ambuja Cements plunged 3.34 per cent to Rs 349, Adani Wilmar went lower by 3.31 per cent to Rs 421.65, NDTV nosedived 2.25 per cent to Rs 203.95 and ACC fell 1.49 per cent to Rs 1,853 apiece on the BSE. In the morning session, the 30-share BSE Sensex was trading 393.56 points or 0.65 per cent lower at 60,289.14 points. In a statement, Moody's Investor Service on Friday said that it has revised the rating outlook on four Adani Group companies to negative from stable after a significant and rapid decline in market value following a report by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research. The combined market cap of the group companies is down by 51 per cent as compared to that on January 24, when US-based activist short-seller Hindenburg Research through its adverse report made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation at the Gautam Adani-led group. A veteran Jefferson County Sheriff's K-9 named Graffit received a heros funeral Monday, hours after he was allegedly shot and killed by a fleeing suspect. The 9-year-old German shepherd had tracked a fugitive from town into the woods near Golden just after midnight Monday when his handler unleashed him to apprehend the suspect, according to the Jefferson County Sheriffs. It all happened very fast, Jefferson County Sheriff spokesperson Jenny Fulton said. He died doing exactly what he supposed to do. Golden police suggested 13 charges for the suspect, Eduardo Armando Romero, 30, including aggravated animal cruelty, felony menacing, motor vehicle theft and DUI. At about 12:15 a.m. Monday, Golden Police officers responded to assist the Colorado School of Mines' Police Department near 19th Street and Elm Street in Golden, according to police. After waking a sleeping driver slumped over his steering wheel twice, the suspect began ramming officers' patrol cars while trying to get away, according to police. Officers broke the driver's window and put the vehicle in park, police said. While removing the suspect from the car, he was able to get away from police, ran eastbound on 19th Street and pointed a handgun at officers. Romero allegedly fired shots from a handgun, striking and killing Graffit, according to Golden Police. The School of Mines campus was on lockdown for a time and morning classes cancelled, but the suspect was arrested and operations returned to normal by noon. In law enforcement, the death of a K-9 is often approached with the same weight as the death of a human partner. Graffit was "considered to have been shot in the line of duty," said Jeffco spokesperson Karlyn Tilley. Officers stood in salute to the working dog as he was carried from the crime scene on a stretcher to a waiting Jefferson County Sheriff vehicle. Graffit was then taken by a thirty-vehicle police procession to Colorado State University, where a forensic necropsy will be performed. In the meantime, a Critical Incident Response Team from the Jefferson County District Attorneys office is gathering evidence. The suspect surrendered just before dawn Monday after a five-hour ordeal. According to Colorado School of Mines spokesperson Emilie Rusch, Romero drove away from police slowly and then started ramming their vehicles. As officers were removing him from his car, Romero fled on foot into a wooded area with Graffit and his handler in close pursuit. Graffit was killed just before 1 a.m., Fulton said. Graffit (pronounced gra-FEET) was one of six K-9s in service for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, and one of the only service dogs who has died in the line of duty for the department. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Jefferson County Sheriffs who were kind enough to bring their K-9 to help us, said Golden Police Sgt. Ben Salentine, who said that Graffit mostly likely saved an officers life. A post on the Sheriff's Facebook page announcing Graffit's death with a large photo of him garnered 1,500 comments and was shared more than 3,000 times at the time of this writing. MUMBAI: B-Town adorable couple Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, who recently tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony at Jaisalmer's Suryagarh Palace, hosted a grand reception for their friends and colleagues from the film industry. The couple looked extremely adorable as they entered the reception venue walking hand-in-hand. While the bride gave a ditch to tradition embellished outfit as she opted for a black and white form-fitting gown which she teamed with emeralds and diamonds. On the other hand, the groom wore a glittering black outfit. Alia Bhatt, who welcomed her first child, a daughter Raha Kapoor, attended the wedding reception looking gorgeous in a shimmery grey saree. The actor arrived with her friend and Brahmastra director Ayan Mukerji at the event. It is to be noted that Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra made their debut in Bollywood with Karan Johar's 'Student Of The Year' in 2012 and later appeared in 'Kapoor And Sons'. The two reportedly fell in love during the shooting of their second film and dated each other. While Ranbir Kapoor gave a miss to the wedding reception, her mother and veteran actor Neetu Kapoor was seen at the event. She shared an adorable moment with her daughter-in-law Alia Bhatt on the red carpet. Shilpa Shetty Kundra looked pretty as always in a bright shimmery saree. While Shah Rukh Khan also gave the event a miss, his wife and interior designer and producer Gauri Khan attended the reception in an orange floorlength dress. Kareena Kapoor Khan attended the event in a bright shimmery saree. The actor tied her hair in a sleek bun and looked stylish as always. Her husband Saif Ali Khan was not seen at the event. She arrived with filmmaker Karan Johar at the reception. Kajol and Ajay Devgn were also seen at the wedding reception of Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra. Kriti Sanon, who has been promoting her upcoming film 'Shehzada', took time out of her busy schedule and attended the wedding reception of Kiara and Sidharth. Rumoured couple Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani pose together at the wedding reception. Vidya Balan and her husband and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur posed for the cameras at the wedding reception of Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra. It all began for Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra on the sets of 2021 film Shershaah. The two reportedly dated each other for several years before they took the plunge. It was a close-guarded event. Kiara was last seen in Govinda Naam Mera opposite Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar, Sidharth's new film Mission Majnu released last month. Beijing: Amid the ongoing row over spy balloons, Beijing has now alleged that balloons from the United States flew into Chinas airspace more than 10 times since January 2022. The allegation from Beijing came days after an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down by the United States. Its not uncommon as well for the US to illegally enter the airspace of other countries," Chinas Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said during a briefing. Since last year alone, US balloons have illegally flown above China more than 10 times without any approval from Chinese authorities," he added. Asked how China responded to those alleged incursions, Wang said Beijings handling (of these incidents) was responsible and professional". If you want to know more about US high-altitude balloons illegally entering Chinas airspace, I suggest you refer to the US side," he added. It may be recalled that the ties between the US and China have strained in recent weeks in the wake of Washington's decision to shoot down the alleged spy balloon in early February, which Beijing has insisted was for civilian purposes. A number of other such devices have since been shot down over the United States and Canada, though Beijing has only admitted that the first was one of its own. Meanwhile, a UFO-like was spotted over waters near Qingdao and the Chinese authorities were preparing to shoot it down, The Paper reported. An employee at the marine development authority of Qingdao Jimo district said "relevant authorities" were preparing to take down the object, The Paper reported. The employee said fishermen in the region have been told to remain careful about safety, as per the news report. The development comes after US and Canada shot down three high-altitude airborne objects in recent days. An American fighter jet, acting on the orders of US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, shot down another unidentified flying object on Saturday. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a statement on Twitter said, "I ordered the takedown of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace." He said an American F-22 with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which is operated jointly by the United States and Canada, successfully fired at the object over the Yukon. Trudeau also said he had spoken with US President Biden on Saturday afternoon. "Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object," he said in his Twitter post, adding, "Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America." Meanwhile, the White House released a statement stating that Biden and Trudeau had "discussed the importance of recovering the object in order to determine more details on its purpose or origin." White House on Friday (local time) confirmed that the US shot down a second `high altitude object` over Alaska. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the Department of Defense shot down a "high altitude object" that was in Alaska`s airspace in the last 24 hours. Last week, US military fighter aircraft shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon which was flying in its skies for a few days. Taipei City: More than a dozen Chinese aircraft were detected around Taiwan on Monday (February 12) morning after the US Navy and Marine Corps held a joint exercise in the South China Sea. "18 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities," Taiwan`s Defense Ministry tweeted. "11 of the detected aircraft (J-11*2, J-10*4, J-16*2, Z-9 ASW, Y-8 ASW, and BZK-005 UAV RECCE) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan`s southwest ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated," it added. 18 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities. pic.twitter.com/JfZhvG1U2W February 13, 2023 Amid the deteriorating relations between China and US, the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit carried out the "integrated expeditionary strike force" operations in the South China Sea on Saturday. And China`s incursions have become the latest sign of aggression against the exercise, according to Fox News. "The mobility and sustainability provided by amphibious platforms give the Navy and Marine Corps team an asymmetric advantage in a maritime environment," the 7th Fleet based in Japan said. "This seamless naval integration established a powerful presence in the region, which supports peace and stability," it added.China`s claim to a wide swath of the South China Sea has put the country at odds with its neighbors in the region, reported Fox News. In December, the State Department called on China "to respect the international law of the sea in the South China Sea," saying that their actions "reflect a continuing disregard for other South China Sea claimants and states lawfully operating in the region." US and China relations have hit a rough patch in the wake of the shooting down of the suspected Chinese spy balloon over South Carolina coast.In total, the US has shot down four unidentified objects since then. "Make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did," President Biden said in his State of the Union address last week, reported Fox News. New Delhi: As US military fighter jets brought down another flying object on Monday (February 13, 2023), the fourth such shootdown over North America in a little more than a week, a senior US General said that he would not rule out aliens or any other explanation yet. Asked whether he had ruled out an extraterrestrial origin for three airborne objects shot down by US warplanes in as many days, General Glen VanHerck, who is overseeing North American airspace, said, "I'll let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out. I haven't ruled out anything." "At this point, we continue to assess every threat or potential threat, unknown, that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it," VanHerck, who is the head of the joint US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the US Air Force Northern Command, added. He also told reporters that the military has not been able to identify what the three most recent objects are, how they stay aloft, or where they are coming from. "We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason," VanHerck said. REPORTER: Have you ruled out Aliens or Extraterrestrials? GENERAL GLEN VANHERCK: I haven't ruled out anything at this point. pic.twitter.com/Vrnnbyjwpq ALX (@alx) February 13, 2023 His comments came during a Pentagon briefing after a US F-16 fighter jet shot down an octagonal-shaped object over Lake Huron on the US-Canada border, acting on orders from President Joe Biden. US brings down another flying object, fourth within 10 days Earlier in the day, Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said in an official statement that on Biden's order, a US F-16 fighter shot down an object at 2:42 p.m. (local time) over Lake Huron on the US-Canada border. Though it "did not pose a military threat", the object could have potentially interfered with domestic air traffic as it was traveling at 20,000 feet and it might have had surveillance capabilities, Ryder said. DoD Statement on Today's Actions by North American Aerospace Defense Commandhttps://t.co/X4rejpbWvn Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder (@PentagonPresSec) February 12, 2023 The object reportedly appeared to be octagonal in structure, with strings hanging off but no discernible payload. The incident has once again raised questions about the spate of unusual objects that have appeared over North American skies in recent weeks and increased tensions with China. The US had identified the first object as a Chinese surveillance balloon and shot it down off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. On Friday, a second object was shot down over sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska, while a third object was destroyed over Canada's Yukon on Saturday. WASHINGTON: U.S. military fighter jets on Sunday shot down an octagonal object over Lake Huron, the Pentagon said, the latest incident since a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon put North American security forces on high alert. It was the fourth unidentified flying object to be shot down over North America by a U.S. missile in a little more than a week. On President Joe Biden's order, a U.S. F-16 fighter shot down the object at 2:42 p.m. local time over Lake Huron on the U.S.-Canada border, Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder said in an official statement. Though it did not pose a military threat, the object could have potentially interfered with domestic air traffic as it was traveling at 20,000 feet (6,100 m), and it might have had surveillance capabilities, Ryder said. The object appeared to be octagonal in structure, with strings hanging off but no discernable payload, said a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity. The object was recently detected over Montana near sensitive military sites, prompting the closure of U.S. airspace, the Pentagon said. pic.twitter.com/uI3kBZLZ4h North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) February 12, 2023 The incident raised questions about the spate of unusual objects that have appeared over North American skies in recent weeks and raised tensions with China. "We need the facts about where they are originating from, what their purpose is, and why their frequency is increasing," said U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell, one of several Michigan lawmakers who applauded the military for downing the object. U.S. officials identified the first object as a Chinese surveillance balloon and shot it down off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. On Friday, a second object was shot down over sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska. And a third object was destroyed over Canada's Yukon on Saturday, with investigators still hunting for the wreckage. "The security of citizens is our top priority and that's why I made the decision to have that unidentified object shot down," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Sunday. North America has been on guard against aerial intrusions following the appearance of the white, eye-catching Chinese airship over American skies earlier this month. That 200-foot-tall (60-meter-high) balloon - which Americans have accused Beijing of using to spy on the United States - caused an international incident, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call off a planned trip to China only hours before he was set to depart. Pentagon officials said they have been scrutinizing radar more closely since then and have not been able to identify what the most recent objects are, or how long they are staying aloft. North America has been on guard against aerial intrusions following the appearance of the white, eye-catching Chinese airship over American skies earlier this month. That 200-foot-tall (60-meter-high) balloon - which Americans have accused Beijing of using to spy on the United States - caused an international incident, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call off a planned trip to China only hours before he was set to depart. Pentagon officials said they have been scrutinizing radar more closely since then and have not been able to identify what the most recent objects are, or how long they are staying aloft. "We're calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason," said Air Force General Glen VanHerck, who safeguards U.S. airspace as head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command, told reporters. The military will try to recover the object downed over Lake Huron, which they said likely fell in Canadian waters, to learn more about it, VanHerck told reporters. Surveillance fears appear to have U.S. officials on high alert. Twice in 24 hours, U.S. officials closed airspace - only to reopen it swiftly. On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration briefly closed space above Lake Michigan. On Saturday, the U.S. military scrambled fighter jets in Montana to investigate a radar anomaly there. China denies the first balloon was being used for surveillance and says it was a civilian research craft. It condemned the United States for shooting it down off the coast of South Carolina last Saturday. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told U.S. broadcaster ABC that U.S. officials think two of the latest objects were smaller balloons than the original one. The White House said only that the recently downed objects "did not closely resemble" the Chinese balloon, echoing Schumer's description of them as "much smaller." "We will not definitively characterize them until we can recover the debris, which we are working on," a spokesperson said. Millicom reported a strong 2022 in its latest Q4 financial report despite macroeconomic challenges and stated market share growth in mobile and fixed lines in the majority of its units. In a statement, Millicom CEO Mauricio Ramos said the company will continue to invest and modernise networks, pointing to its introduction of 5G services in Guatemala as an example. Revenue in the quarter grew 10.1% to US$1.38 billion which was attributed mainly to its acquisition of Tigo in Guatemala, which offset an 8.5% weakening of the Colombian peso. But the deal impacted net profit which plunged 91.2% from US$643 million to US$57 million. The Guatemala transaction saw the company book a one-time non-cash gain of US$670 million. At the end of the quarter, Millicom recorded 10.6 million customers which was an increase of 561,000 with gains seen across all of its units including 200,000 in Paraguay (mostly in prepaid). Capex was US$266 million in the quarter as Millicom added 670 points of presence to its 4G network, which now totals 17,900, a 14% increase year-on-year. The groups 4G coverage now covers 80% of the population which is a rise of 2% year-on-year. Orange Madagascar has signed a ten-year Network-as-a-Service (NAAS) deal that will see infrastructure provider AMN Group deploy a minimum of 500 rural base stations across the country. The agreement will allow Orange to provide 2G and 3G connectivity to over 1 million people in areas that have previously received no coverage. In additional to the socio-economic and educational boost provided by this access, the agreement will also expand financial inclusion via Orange Money. Deployment has already commenced, with many of the sites expected to be functional by year-end. Orange Madagascar CEO Frederic Debord said that the agreement demonstrated Oranges ongoing strategy of investing in rural infrastructure to boost connectivity in underserved areas, supporting the governments initiative to close the digital gap. Last month, Orange signed another NAAS deal with Canadian infrastructure provider NuRAN Wireless. The agreement similarly was for the delivery of around 500 sites aimed at providing 2G and 3G connectivity in rural areas although it specifically focused on Madagascars east coast. Is Cuba planning on a Russian-style privatization of its health system? A sector of the Cuban population, especially those over 50, has for years accepted the lack of freedom entailed by Communism in exchange for 'guaranteed health and education.' But what about now? Strange things are happening in Cuba. They have just granted authorization to a MIPYME (TaTamania) for doctors, nurses and therapists to set up a private business taking care of the elderly. And Havana has not reacted hostilely to the announcement of a private business (Horus Intellicare Solutions) to provide telemedicine services in Cuban territory from the United States, where the community of exiles will pay for the medical attention for their family members and friends on the island. What is the reason for the regime's silence and tolerance of these developments while new and stricter measures are being devised against the exodus of doctors and nurses from the public health system? The Cuba Siglo 21 think tank informed us last month that GAESA's oligarchs in Cuba are inclined to copying the economic system of Russia's mafia-controlled state. Unfortunately, this forecast was validated by an official Russian-Cuban announcement that Cuba would proceed with a general overhaul of its economic system, with Moscow's advice and supervision. While that is worrisome, what was happening with the Cuban health system, before this announcement was made, was already a cause for concern. According to official figures, in Cuba the number of hospitals fell 32% from 2008 to 2021. Investments in luxury hotels, however, have for years surpassed those made in the Public Health sector, by billions of dollars. In just five years, from 2017 to 2021, public health and social assistance received 1.29% of investments, while "business services, real estate and rental activities" accounted for 50.48% of total investments. It is no coincidence that the poor hygiene at hospitals causes infections and deaths each year, the most recent being those of 10 newborns at a maternal hospital. A sector of the Cuban population, especially those over 50, has for years accepted the lack of freedom entailed by Communism in exchange for "guaranteed health and education." But in the 2021 Covid-19 pandemic Cubans faced the cruel reality that the public health system is a mirage. Patients have to bring to hospitals not only sheets and towels, but also everything from sutures for operations to serums and antibiotics, and all this comes from the community of exiles, whether it is products, or through remittances to acquire them on the black market. What exists today in Cuba is something new and worse than Communism: whether you call it a mafia state, a criminal state, a mafiocracy, an autocratic kleptocracy or whatever you prefer, the new Cuban state has no intention of providing its population with health and education in exchange for taking away their political and civil liberties. Rather, they keep taking them away without guaranteeing them anything else. Will public health improve thanks to advice of the Russian mafia? It is unlikely. There should be no objection to the possibility of opening up a private health sector, but not a Russian-style one, in which case the public system would give way to a favoring of the oligarchy with permits to set up their private medicine businesses. The ideas of the Russian technocrats resulted in, between 2000 and 2018, the number of hospitals in their country plummeting from 10,700 to 4,390, for a population of 146 million. And most were located in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Despite the existence of a private medical sector, it is currently estimated that only 20% of the Russian population has access to quality medical services. In Russia, investment in public hospitals has been neglected, and their infrastructure is deteriorating. Although private hospitals usually feature acceptable conditions, the average citizen cannot afford them. The Russian leaders and technocrats now advising Miguel Diaz-Canel called that process in their country the "optimization" of public health infrastructure. Where will the island's public health end up under their guidance? Can they sink it any further? Will they "reorganize" it? Will they privatize it in favor of the new Cuban mafia and its friends? This must be condemned and stopped in time. A Dothan man faces three counts of sexual torture after his arrest in an investigation into allegations involving a victim under the age of 16. Clinton Dale Hillman, 31, was arrested Sunday after a six-day Dothan Police investigation into sexual abuse crimes alleged to have been committed in January 2022. Hillmans bond is set at $180,000. Due to the nature of this case and the Alabama Juvenile Privacy Laws, no further information will be released. OZARKCarroll High School JROTC Cadet Capt. Paul Swanson has been chosen to represent the 16,000 JROTC cadets across the state as a member of state Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackeys Student Advisory Committee. Paul is a very impressive young man. He knows exactly what he wants to do, and he is making strategic choices in high school that will prepare him for success, Casey Moore, Career and Technical Education director for Ozark City Schools, said Monday. Thats what Career Tech Education is all about. Moore said that the State Superintendents Student Advisory Committee, which includes state officers from each of the Career Tech Student Organizations, met in Montgomery Feb. 2. The students were also invited to participate in Gov. Kay Iveys proclamation signing declaring February as Career and Technical Education Month in Alabama. Swanson is currently serving as the Alabama JROTC Army vice president, said Moore. Only four JROTC cadets were selected from across the state to serve as state officers. The son of Corey Swanson is a CHS junior honor student and serves as Alpha Company Commander for the Ozark City Schools JROTC Program, under the command of Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Palfreeman. Swanson is a member of the CHS JROTC Rifle Team, which has lost only one match in 11 weeks of competition in the North Alabama Rifle League, said Moore. After high school, Swanson plans to apply for the United States Coast Guard Academy. He hopes to pursue a career as an officer in aviation. Since being named state superintendent in April 2018, Mackey has focused on innovative initiatives including Career Technical Education, and workforce development. Good meeting with the Superintendents Student Advisory Committee members today, Mackey said following the meeting. I appreciate the input and perspective from this great group of student leaders. The Wiregrass United Way held an orientation session Thursday for more than 40 volunteers, from the six counties covered by WUW who are participating in the funds distribution process. These volunteers are divided into four committees, according to WUW Chief Executive Officer Walter Hill. Each of the 37 partner agencies are in one of the four focus areas, which are Helping Youth Succeed, Meeting Basic Needs, Serving People with Special Needs, and Strengthening Families and Individuals. Hill said that until March 14, United Way volunteers will visit all of the partner agencies. During these visits, not only will they tour their facilities, they will have meetings with their lead staff and volunteers. During these meetings, they will discuss accomplishments from the previous year, goals and objectives for the year ahead, challenges and opportunities facing the organizations, and their operating budgets, Hill said. After completing all of the agency visits, the committees will each meet to discuss allocation amounts for each agency in their assigned focus area and make recommendations to the WUW Board of Trustees on allocation totals for 2023 for each organization. They will also recommend which special projects are funded with the $400,000 Challenge Grant contributed by the Wiregrass Foundation. These funds cannot be used for operating expenses. They must be used for capital improvement projects or other one-time expenses for technology upgrades, equipment, vehicles, and other items needed by the partner agencies, Hill said. Trae Avant of Ozark chairs the 2023 Funds Distribution process. He has previously served on various Funds Distribution committees and is past Dale County Board Chair for WUW. The four Focus Area Chairs are Nikki Dyess, Helping Youth Succeed; Linda Cunningham, Meeting Basic Needs; Amy Butler, Serving People with Special Needs; and Katie Saliba, Strengthening Families and Individuals. These four volunteers are all previous committee members who have been involved with WUW for a number of years, Hill said. The committee members and the counties they represent are: Helping Youth Succeed: Mallory Herring and Terri Ricks in Barbour County; Ashley Avery and Mary Sue Cain in Coffee County; Ben Baker and Heather Cohen in Dale County; Marlene Ferrell in Geneva County; Pam Dyson and Gabby Johnson in Henry County; and Sue Gilland and Dr. Debra Wright in Houston County. Meeting Basic Needs: Barbour County: Sarah Osmer and Keisha Russaw; Coffee County: Bruce Faulk and Gabby Ingram; Dale County: Tara Baker and Laura Bruce; Geneva County: Tammie Byrd and Lisa Hales; Henry County: Rhonda Harrison and Sara McKee; Houston County: John Brown and Wayne Hendley. Serving People with Special Needs: Jessica King in Barbour County; Kathy Haynes and Audra Kelley in Coffee County; Danny Fell in Dale County; Gayla Land and Richard Pickron in Geneva County; Debra Baker and David Norwood in Henry County; and Tonya Dyer and James Ivey in Houston County. Strengthening Families and Individuals: Brooke Goff in Barbour County; Ben Bradley and Lee Milliner in Coffee County; Nicole Alvestad and Andy Coleman in Dale County; Rev. Russell Clausell and Tory Hargrave in Geneva County; Heather Shippey and Whitney Woodham in Henry County; and Terressa McLeod and Judy Thomas in Houston County. The WUW has served the Wiregrass area since 1938, currently funding 37 member agencies serving Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, and Houston counties. Funds raised by Wiregrass United Way are used locally in the six county areas. For more information call (334) 792-9661 or visit the website at www.wuw.org. At a warehouse in the southern province of Tien Giang is full of durian waiting to be packaged for export to China. Photo by Linh Dan The price of durian jumped to a record high last month, while those of other fruits tripled their values from a year earlier as China's reopening caused their exports to surge. China's economy started to reopen on January 8 after 3 years of Covid isolation. Since then, the wholesale price of durian surged to VND190,000 (US$8) per kilogram, the highest cost ever recorded. The price of white dragon fruit rose to VND18,000-25,000, red dragon fruit jumped to VND35,000-38,000, custard apple hiked to VND50,000-60,000, and jackfruit rose to VND18,000-25,000. Experts say that the reopening of the major Chinese export market has created a surge in demand for fruits that are currently out of season, thus low supply has spiked prices. Linh, a veteran trader in the southern province of Tien Giang, said this is the first year she has had to pay a commission of VND1,000 per kilogram of durian to anyone who introduces her to an orchard. "At one orchard, I spent dozens of millions of dong on commissions. However, overall supply is still limited because durian is not in full season now. The output is not enough to supply my partners," she said. Prices of other agricultural products such as sweet potato, taro, and watermelon also increased sharply in January. Sweet potatoes were sold for VND14,000 per kilogram, up 50% against January 2021. The sweet potato price was the highest in the last four years, said Thanh Mai, an agricultural product trader in the Central Highlands region. Since China reopened its doors, the export volume of Vietnamese potatoes has increased. Currently, sweet potatoes in the Central Highlands region are off-season, so output is low. Therefore, their prices will continue to surge in the next 1-2 months, said Mai. Trade boom Reports from the departments of agriculture and rural development in the provinces of Gia Lai, Long An, An Giang and Tien Giang all showed that prices of most agricultural products had surged to their highest levels since the onset of Covid. More goods being exported to China means more local trade and more local processing, which means higher prices as demand outweighs supply. The volumes of agricultural products purchased in Vietnam and exported to foreign countries, including China, has increased by 20-50% over the last 12 months, according to official statistics. Last month, Hoa Cuong Fruit Import-Export Company bought 300-500 tons of dragon fruit from traders and growers each day. Ngo Tuong Vy, CEO of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Company, said her companys agricultural product exports to China last year were up 60% against 2021. The figure this year will surpass last year, she predicted. Traders buy sweet potatoes in the Central Highlands region. Photo by Linh Dan Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit Association, said 19.2% of Vietnams agricultural, forestry and fishery products are exported to China. He called the Chinese market the most highly potential export market for Vietnam this year after the northern neighbor abandoned its "zero Covid" policy. According to the Lang Son Province Customs Department, exports to China through border gates in the northern province are flowing smoothly. The department reported that over 700 trucks carrying Vietnamese products, mainly fruit, complete customs clearance procedures each day. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, China imports nearly $10 billion worth of agricultural products from Vietnam each year. Exports to China usually account for more than half of Vietnams total fruit and vegetable exports. ELKO Students at four elementary schools in Elko County School District are building their home libraries with thanks to a statewide initiative to encourage reading at home as a family activity. Spread the Word Nevada kicked off the start of their literary services in Elko County during the week of January 23 at Spring Creek Elementary, Northside Elementary, Liberty Peak Elementary, and Grammar No. 2 Elementary. Each child in attendance received three gently used books and two brand new books. The family literacy nights were highly attended. Director of Elementary Education Candice Tournahu said the book distributions and reading events will continue at the selected schools. Each month students will choose books to add to their personal home libraries. Additionally, students families will have an opportunity to learn different read aloud techniques and strategies on a bimonthly basis. Spread the Word Nevada had a tremendous experience adopting the four schools in Elko County, said STWN Program Facilitator Heather Krall. Our STWN staff would like to thank all the principals, teachers, and faculty at our new schools as well as the Elko community for the spectacular hospitality. Our district is very lucky to have been chosen and we hope to expand Spread the Word Nevada to more campuses next year, said Tournahu. This sponsorship is made possible thanks to funding from the additional Community Recovery Grants approved by Nevada lawmakers to direct relief dollars to those organizations who can make immediate impacts for constituents to alleviate challenges the pandemic introduced to the state. An international rescue delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security presents medical equipment to Turkey on February 12, 2023 The aid includes emergency medicine, essential drugs, medical supplies, tents, chemicals for disease prevention and control, and medical equipment used in disaster emergency situations. The Vietnamese delegation coordinated with AFAD to allocate these equipment and other supplies to recipients, including the largest hospital in Adiyaman city. AFAD deputy director in Adiyaman Isamail Sahin appreciated Viet Nams aid and expressed his deep thanks for this assistance of the Vietnamese Government and people and the Ministry of Public Security. Adiyaman is one of the three places most affected by the February 6 earthquake. As of February 13 noon (Viet Nam time), the deadly disaster had killed more than 34,000 people in not only Turkey but also Syria. This is the first time Viet Nam has deployed search and rescue forces in coordination with other countries following a natural disaster. The Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey reported that six families with Vietnamese citizens have been affected by the earthquake, and they are facing many difficulties. The embassy has received and provided financial support, and goods to help them overcome the difficult time. The embassy will continue to provide support for Viet Nams rescue and relief teams, and maintain contact with overseas Vietnamese in Turkey and implemented plans to quickly deploy citizen protection measures in case of necessity. Earlier, 76 military personnel of Viet Nam departed for Turkey on February 12 night to assist the country in recovery efforts following a devastating earthquake./. Nation's helping hand demonstrates spirit of global solidarity, cooperation A special ceremony to honor China, held recently in the Dominican Republic, marked the first time that the Caribbean nation's Senate has recognized a foreign government for bringing hope and light to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Santiago Zorrilla, vice-president of the Senate, conferred a certificate of honor on then Chinese ambassador to the Dominican Republic Zhang Run at the ceremony on Feb 2 and said the country will always remember China's timely assistance in its darkest hour. "I received two doses of Chinese vaccines, and so did my family members," Zorrilla told Xinhua News Agency, adding that China brought hope to the Dominican people and helped Dominicans return to normal as much as possible. Lorraine Hernandez, who works at a health center in the country's capital, Santo Domingo, said she was thankful to China for providing vaccines that have helped to protect her family. "The first vaccine that we doctors and health personnel received two years ago was the Chinese Sinovac," she said, emphasizing that Chinese vaccines played a key role in protecting medical personnel and curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country. According to the Dominican Republic's embassy in Beijing, millions of Dominicans have benefited from Chinese vaccines. The embassy told China Daily that the country is thankful to the Chinese government and people for the fast and prompt authorization of the export permit for the more than 15.7 million doses of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccines that were acquired for its national vaccination plan. It also received the donation by China of 50,000 doses produced by Sinopharm, together with protective medical gear and ventilators. "When the world was shrouded in darkness by the pandemic, China stepped up and offered us help, demonstrating (the spirit of) solidarity and cooperation," Dominican Senator Aris Yvan Lorenzo said. Lorenzo, who proposed the motion to honor China, said his proposal received unanimous support from senators of various parties in November. As of June, more than 120 countries, including the Dominican Republic, and international organizations had received a total of 2.2 billion doses of vaccines from China through donations or purchases. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has championed the equitable distribution of vaccines and played an active role in narrowing the vaccination gap, thus making crucial contributions to helping the world overcome the pandemic at an early date, experts said. "Particularly in 2020 and 2021, when the original strain and the Delta variant went rampant globally, Chinese vaccines have helped to save numerous lives," said Yao Jinxiang, an assistant researcher at the China Institute of International Studies' Institute of Developing Countries. Many countries' leaders even came to the airport for handover ceremonies when the shipments of Chinese vaccines arrived, and more than 50 heads of state or government have taken the lead in getting inoculated with Chinese vaccines, according to the Foreign Ministry. In January 2021, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera welcomed the arrival of nearly 2 million doses of Sinovac vaccines at Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in the capital, Santiago, when the South American country was preparing for a mass vaccination campaign. "Today is a day of joy, excitement and hope," Pinera said after the aircraft landed. He later received the first dose of the Sinovac vaccine along with those age 71 and older. "China's efforts have played a key role in addressing the global shortage of COVID-19 vaccines and added confidence and strength to the fight against the virus in developing regions," Tian Huifang, a senior research fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote in an opinion piece published on the China Global Television Network's website. In 2020, President Xi Jinping proposed at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly that COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, would be made a global public good. "This will be China's contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries," he said at the virtual event. When addressing the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 in April, Xi declared that China would donate another 600 million vaccine doses to Africa and 150 million doses to ASEAN member countries. Yao, of the CIIS, said, "China is honoring its commitments with concrete actions, because we believe that no country can stay unaffected in the face of the pandemic, and only when an overall anti-pandemic protective system across the world is established can we truly walk away from it." Allawi Ssemanda, a research fellow with the Development Watch Center, a think tank based in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, said that when some developed countries practiced vaccine nationalism, which resulted in the hoarding of much-needed vaccines at the height of the pandemic, China stood shoulder to shoulder with developing countries, especially in Africa. China has been working to ensure that many people are vaccinated against COVID-19, by donating billions of vaccine doses to African countries, he said in an article published on the New Vision website. As of August, China had provided 189 million doses of vaccines to 27 African countries. In addition to vaccine deliveries, China was also among the first to support intellectual property rights exemptions for vaccine research and development and has taken the lead in carrying out joint production with a dozen countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Indonesia and Brazil, with an annual production capacity of 1 billion doses. Speaking at the launch ceremony of a joint China-UAE project to initiate the first COVID-19 vaccine production line in the UAE, the country's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the two countries' partnership has set "an example to be emulated for collaboration between friendly nations in times of crisis". The top diplomat emphasized that the dividends of this significant project will be reaped not only by the UAE and China, but by the entire world. Yao, of the CIIS, said, "China is building a global community of health for all and upholding true multilateralism through efforts in realizing the local production of vaccines in other countries." Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the world's most important source of international travelers, and Chinese tourists were the biggest overseas spenders. According to the United Nations' World Tourism Organization, Chinese tourists spent $255 billion overseas and made 166 million overseas trips in 2019. Tourism expenditure is an important criterion to determine the health of a country's tourism industry. With a population of more than 1.4 billion, massive increase in economic power and remarkable improvements in people's living standards, China became the most important source of outbound tourists who were also the biggest overseas spenders. During the past three years, however, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many Chinese people to forgo international travel and cut household spending. But now that the suppressed spending power is likely to be unleashed thanks to China easing the prevention and control measures, there could be a huge explosion in spending by Chinese tourists. The pace of China's reopening is of significance to the global tourism industry. Tourism officials and professionals in many countries are looking forward to the mass return of Chinese tourists as early as possible, because they could fuel the recovery of the tourism sector worldwide and promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world. Several Southeast Asian countries that depend, to a large extent, on tourism have kept entry rules relatively relaxed for Chinese tourists despite the recent COVID-19 outbreaks in China. They include Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. New Zealand, too, has waived testing requirements for Chinese visitors, who were the second-largest source of tourism revenue for the country before the pandemic. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and China, the two countries took a number of steps in the political, economic, trade and cultural fields to strengthen bilateral ties. Thanks to the strong bilateral relations, cultural familiarity and reliable visa policies, a large number of Chinese tourists visit Sri Lanka every year. In fact, China is one of the top three sources of tourists for Sri Lanka, with 167,863 Chinese tourist arrivals being recorded in Sri Lanka in 2019. Tourism is the third-largest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka. The tourism industry of Sri Lanka, which was dealt a catastrophic blow by the pandemic, now has the opportunity to recover rapidly. And it is all set to welcome Chinese tourists, especially because the island country's government has adopted a series of new policies to attract Chinese travelers. In order to draw more Chinese tourists, hotels in Sri Lanka have introduced Digital QR Chinese menus. Hotel experts say their intention is to make Chinese people feel welcome and provide the exquisite traveling experience for them. Sri Lanka has been ranked first among the top 24 countries to visit in 2023 by travel site Travel Triangle. According to Travel Triangle, golden beaches, wildlife-rich forests, rolling tea plantations, and mist-shrouded mountains make Sri Lanka one of the best Asian countries to visit. Also, Sri Lanka is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To begin with, there are the ruins of the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura in the North Central Province, which flourished from the 5th century BC to the 10th century CE. There are also the ruins of the successor kingdom, Polonnaruwa (9th-14th century), and the incredible Sigiriya Rock fortress in the northern Matale district in Central Province. The entire city of Kandy (the seat of kings from the 16th to the 19th century) with its revered temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as are the Dambulla caves and temple dating from the 1st century BC. Galle Fort, begun by the Portuguese in 1588, too, is on UNESCO's heritage list. The two natural landmarks on the list are the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the Central Highlands (Peak Wilderness, Horton Plains and the Knuckles Conservation Forest.) No wonder China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that Sri Lanka will be among the countries in its outbound tourism pilot program, which started on Feb 6. Sri Lanka's tourism revenue fell precipitously in the past three years as the country more or less closed its borders during the pandemic. But, with China "reopening" after three years, millions of tourists are poised to travel across the world, raising hopes of a rebound of the hospitality industry and an increase in employment in Sri Lanka. This proves the importance of China to global tourism. The resumption of outbound travel by the Chinese people, which used to be a considerable source of revenue for economies that depend heavily on tourism, will help revive the tourism sector and promote cultural exchanges at the international level. As a sign of the reinforced high-level contact between Beijing and Teheran, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is set to visit China this week, giving a boost to the two countries' collaboration in areas including the economy and international hot-spot issues, observers said. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Raisi will make a state visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Sunday. In July and September, the two presidents held a phone talk and had a face-to-face meeting in Uzbekistan's Samarkand, reaching fresh consensus on deepening China-Iran relations, Chinese officials said. As part of enhanced two-way political ties, the Chinese Consulate General in Iran's port city of Bandar Abbas was officially opened in December. It is China's first consulate general in the Middle East country. "China-Iran high-level contacts have constantly advanced, and pragmatic cooperation in various fields has continued to deepen," Chinese Ambassador to Iran Chang Hua said last month at a reception. Trade between China and Iran also maintained positive growth last year. China continues to be Iran's leading trade partner, largest export destination and second-largest source of imports, according to the Foreign Ministry. "China's economy keeps unleashing its dynamism and improving steadily, which will provide greater development opportunities for all countries in the world, including Iran," Fu Lihua, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Teheran, wrote in an article published by the Tehran Times newspaper last week. Foreign Minister Qin Gang held his first phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian last month. Advancing the two countries' comprehensive cooperation plan and offering support to safeguard each state's sovereignty were high on the agenda. During their phone talk, the Iranian side said it also appreciated China's "constructive role" in the progress of negotiations on resuming compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the landmark Iran nuclear deal enacted in 2016. Vietnam imports 14,500 completely built-up (CBU) cars of all kinds in January (Photo: tienphong.vn) Most notably, Thailand regained its position from Indonesia to become Vietnams largest car exporter, with the number of autos imported from Thailand amounting to roughly 6,700 worth US$125.5 million, according to Radio the Voice of Vietnam. Indonesia came second with nearly 6,200 cars valued at US$89.7 million being shipped to Vietnam in the first month of the year, followed by the United States with 432 cars, and China with 328 cars. The number of cars imported from these four major markets accounted for 94.3% of the countrys total car imports in January. Despite the increasing number of imported cars, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA) said that January sales for the whole market reached just over 17,300 vehicles, a decline of 51% compared to December, 2022. Of the figure, the sales of domestically assembled cars reached 8,000 units, down 54%, whilst the sales of imported complete units stood at more than 9,200 vehicles, down 48%. In 2022, the figures of domestically assembled and imported vehicles were 8,000 and 9,200, down 54% and 48%, respectively. Vietnamese team begins search, rescue mission in Turkey A 24-member team deployed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has begun engaging in search and rescue efforts in the Turkish southeastern city of Adiyaman, which is among localities bearing the brunt of the devastating February 6 earthquake, said the Vietnam News Agency. Vietnamese police on duty in Turkey (Photo courtesy of the delegation) According to the ministrys police department of fire prevention, fighting and rescue, the delegation arrived in the Istanbul international airport on February 10. Due to difficulties in traveling and having to transport 15 tonnes of equipment for rescue work, they were divided into two groups to reach the site where their services are needed. On February 11, they began working at the rubble of a building in Adiyaman where the local authorities said 15 people are trapped. The team works at the site (Photo courtesy of the delegation) Related inspection and planning activities are thoroughly conducted given extremely difficult conditions, as the temperature drops to minus 6 degrees Celsius and collapsed buildings continue to fall, said a representative of the team. The group left Vietnam for Turkey on February 9, marking the first time Vietnam has sent a delegation on an international search and rescue mission to a disaster site far away from its territory. Banh cuon among top ten meals around the world: Australian magazine Banh cuon (steamed rolled pancakes) has been named one of the top dishes from around the world by Australian daily online Traveller, reported by the Vietnam News Agency. According to Traveller, banh cuon is a simple dish and less popular with international tourists compared to pho (noodle soup) and bun cha (vermicelli with grilled pork and fresh herbs). However, making the dish requires a lot of skill. There's a certain magic to how these big sheets of steamed rice noodles are made before they're wrapped around savoury fillings and served with herbs and sauce, it says. Vietnam's banh cuon is one of the ten must-try dishes of the world in 2023, according to Australian daily online Traveller. (Photo: dulich.laodong.vn) The famous US magazine, Travel and Leisure, also recommended that banh cuon is one among three must-try dishes on a food tour in Vietnam, besides pho and banh mi. Nine other dishes were also named on the list are grilled turbot of Spain, Oklahoma smash burger from the United States, mole negro from Mexico, short eats from Sri Lanka, sushi from Japan, ragu napoletano from Italy, sarawak laksa from Malaysia, duck sausage sanga from Australia, and tahdig from Iran. Banh cuon impressed diners with its special cooking style and the harmony of flavours from its ingredients. The dish can be found across Vietnam, but each region has variations in ingredients, cooking methods and tastes. The most famed variation is said to be found in banh cuons cradle, Thanh Tri, an ancient suburb of Hanoi. Thanh Tri rolled pancakes are paper thin and look almost transparent. Minced pork and wood ear mushrooms are rolled in the rice sheet, and the whole dish is served with dipping sauce. The sauce served with the rolled pancake is similar to that in bun cha (noodles served with grilled pork) fish sauce with sugar, water (to lessen the saltiness), chilli and vinegar. They could also be eaten with cha que (orange-hued, roasted cinnamon sausage) or cha lua (Vietnamese classic silky sausages) to boost their taste. Unlike Hanois version, Phu Ly steamed rolled rice pancakes in Ha Nam province have no stuffing. This type of banh cuun is eaten cold with charcoal-grilled meat instead of roasted cinnamon pork. The meat must be both lean and fatty to be soft, fragrant, and not too dry. The pancakes are dipped in diluted fish sauce and served with various herbs. In the northern provinces of Cao Bang and Lang Son, rolled pancakes are eaten with pork bone broth instead of fish sauce like in Hanoi. While spreading the wet batter over the steaming basket, cooks would add an egg and then cover the cooked egg with a rice sheet. Diners could add some fermented bamboo shoots and chilli to fortify their broth. In central provinces like Nghe An and Ha Tinh, banh cuon is also known as banh muot. Here, the steamed Vietnamese rolls often contain only rice batter, without any pork or mushroom. In Nghe An, locals often serve banh muot with eel soup, another local delicacy, while in Ha Tinh, the dish is eaten with ram, the local version of spring rolls. To enjoy this dish, diners wrap the crispy spring roll with the rice pancake and dip it into fish sauce. New Zealand reporter shares travel experiences on Con Dao Island Brett Atkinson, a reporter of The New Zealand Herald, has published an article sharing his interesting experiences when visiting Con Dao Island in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam. According to Atkinson, from the late 19th century to 1975, the strikingly beautiful destination was viewed as hell on earth due to the extremely harsh conditions imposed on political prisoners, particularly those incarcerated during French colonial rule. He suggested that visitors pay a visit to Con Dao Museum to gain a comprehensive overview of this tragic period in the islands history. Con Dao Island in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau (Photo: chinhphu.vn) With minimal traffic, Con Dao island is one of the best places in Vietnam to ride a scooters. Sweeping coastal roads are shadowed by forested peaks, and trailheads lead to remote beaches, the reporter noted. Atkinson added that most guesthouses and hotels are able to arrange speedboat and snorkeling trips to Con Daos smaller islands, with March to September being the best time to go diving with the Con Dao Dive Centre. Furthermore, according to the New Zealand reporter, visitors should not miss out on sampling some of the delicious food on offer on the island, with Con Son towns covered central market being the best place for breakfast. Begin the day with banh tieu (Vietnamese doughnuts) and an iced coffee, or get your noodle fix with bun thit nuong (grilled pork and vermicelli) crammed with fresh herbs, he stressed. Sizzling steak and egg platters served with a crunchy baguette offer good sustenance if youre going hiking, and there are also banh mi sandwiches to take away, Atkinson added. For those looking to enjoy a lighter meal, Atkinson recommended Chays Day Vegetarian Kitchen that is a simple place serving up meat-free renditions of Vietnamese classics such as pho (noodle soup), spring rolls, and banh xeo savoury pancakes. For fresh Con Dao seafood, head along for hot pot at Thu Ba, he concluded./. Rescuers carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Trkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) ANKARA/DAMASCUS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Trkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. The number of wounded, meanwhile, rose to over 80,000 in Trkiye and 2,349 in Syria, according to official figures. FAULTY CONSTRUCTION Trkiye has issued arrest warrants for 134 suspects involved in the faulty construction of buildings that collapsed in the earthquakes, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Sunday. Three of the suspects were arrested, Bozdag told reporters. The catastrophic earthquakes have flattened more than 20,000 buildings across the 10 quake-affected regions. Yavuz Karakus and Sevilay Karakus, contractors of many buildings destroyed in the earthquake in southern Adiyaman province, were detained at Istanbul Airport while trying to escape to Georgia, the local NTV broadcaster reported on Sunday. Two more people were arrested for cutting the column of a building that collapsed in Gaziantep province, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. RESCUE CONTINUES Thousands of rescuers continued to search for any sign of life in collapsed multi-storey buildings on the seventh day of the disaster. Hopes for finding alive survivors are fading, but the teams still manage some incredible rescues. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca posted a video of a girl child rescued at the 150th hour. "Rescued a little while ago by crews. There is always hope!" he tweeted on Sunday. Rescue workers pulled out 65-years old women in the Antakya district of Hatay province 160 hours after the quake, the Anadolu Agency reported. A survivor was rescued from the debris in the Antakya district of Hatay province by Chinese and local rescuers on Sunday afternoon, 150 hours after the quake hit the region. INT'L AID &SUPPORT The first batch of emergency aid, including tents and blankets, delivered by the Chinese government for earthquake relief has arrived in Trkiye on Saturday. In the coming days, more emergency supplies, including tents, electrocardiographs, ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and medical transfer vehicles will be shipped in batches from China. Syria is also receiving supplies from the Red Cross Society of China and the local Chinese community. The aid from the local Chinese community included infant formulas, winter clothes, and medical supplies, while the first batch of emergency medical supplies from the Red Cross Society of China was sent to the country on Thursday. On Sunday, Algeria and Libya also sent planes full of relief items to the quake-hit areas. Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers started to pay visits to Trkiye and Syria for showing solidarity. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Trkiye on Sunday in a show of support. "We will continue to do our best to overcome difficult times, both at bilateral and the level of the European Union," said Dendias, the first European foreign minister visiting Trkiye after the disaster. The visit by the Greek foreign minister comes amid long-standing tensions between the two NATO states over territorial disputes. The Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the first foreign head of a state visiting quake-hit Trkiye, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday. Qatar has sent the first part of the 10,000 container houses for earthquake victims in Trkiye, the Anadolu Agency reported. Also on Sunday, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Syria, promising continuing support for the country to overcome the repercussions of the catastrophic earthquake, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. Rescuers are seen near earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Trkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) Rescue teams including Chinese rescuers carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Trkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) Rescuers transfer an earthquake survivor in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Trkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) Editor: WXL A 2018 photo of the Earth and the moon taken by the mini satellite Longjiang 2, which is deployed in lunar orbit with the Queqiao 2 relay satellite. China plans to carry out more than 70 launch missions this year, according to the nation's major space contractors. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the nation's dominant space enterprise, has more than 60 launch missions planned for this year, and it aims to deploy more than 200 spacecraft in orbit, according to the Blue Book of China Aerospace Science and Technology Activities in 2022, which was compiled and published by the company last month. The document reviews China's space programs during the past year and briefly introduces CASC's plans for the next 12 months. The planned spaceflights include two manned missions Shenzhou XVI and XVII and the Tianzhou 6 robotic cargo flight to the newly assembled Tiangong space station. Three backup satellites for the Beidou Navigation Satellite System are scheduled to be launched to further strengthen the reliability of the network, currently China's largest civilian satellite system and one of four global navigation networks. The system has 45 satellites in active service at present. In addition, the blue book says that CASC will place dozens of Earth-observation, weather, communications and experimental satellites to serve socioeconomic development. In addition to the rocket launches, the company will continue with the research and development of the Tianwen 2 asteroid probe and the Chang'e 7 lunar probe, according to the document. The Tianwen 2 mission is scheduled for launch in about 2025 to deploy a probe on an asteroid to collect and bring back soil samples. The Chang'e 7 mission will land a sophisticated multipart spacecraft on the moon's South Pole sometime around 2026 to search for traces of water, investigate the satellite's environment and weather, and survey its landform. Another State-owned space contractor, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, is planning 10 spaceflights using its Kuaizhou 1A and Kuaizhou 11 solid-propellant rockets. In addition to the State-owned actors, several private companies plan to launch many of their own rockets. However, project managers have said that the implementation of their schedules depends on whether government-run launch bases can spare service towers for them to use. Last year, China conducted 64 rocket liftoffs, transporting 188 spacecraft into space, which were both national records. Editor: JYZ The management of Ukraine's largest mineral water producer IDS Ukraine is concerned about the announcement of a competition to select a corporate rights manager of the company by the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) and doubts that the transfer of management of the enterprise to other persons will a positive impact on his company's operations. "The company's management is concerned about the start of the competition to select a manager for the assets of the largest producer of drinking water in the country. After all, since the transfer of corporate rights to ARMA in November 2022, no actions have been taken by the company that would require a change in the management of IDS Ukraine, including compliance with all imposed restrictions," the IDS Ukraine said on its website on Monday. At the same time, the transfer of management of IDS Ukraine to other persons is unlikely to have a positive impact on the company's activities, since ARMA has not previously shown successful cases of working with assets that fell into its management. The company recalled that its management managed the business effectively in the extremely difficult conditions of the Russian military invasion, in which it maintained its market share at the level of 2021, although it reduced sales by 29%. Organizational business performance has remained broadly constant over the past 20 years, despite repeated changes in ownership structure. "The confirmation of the latter is the unconditional leadership and impeccable business reputation of the company, so we are convinced that there is no need to change the company's management and its employees," the company said. The management of IDS Ukraine expressed the hope that "the state is interested in preserving the large Ukrainian water producer and will not allow changes in the management structure, which has proven its effectiveness in the past and in the current difficult conditions," the press service said. IDS Ukraine said it continued to produce drinking water and contribute to the further development of the soft drinks category in Ukraine. Thus, in 2022, the production of Mirgorodska Lahydna non-carbonated water was resumed. In 2023, the production of the Volya energy drink began. The first batch of the drink of 40,000 cans was distributed among the frontline defenders of Ukraine. Also, according to the company, IDS Ukraine remained the largest taxpayer in the industry, transferring UAH 699 million to the budgets of all levels last year, even taking into account the temporary occupation of one of its enterprises in Hola Prystan, Kherson region. According to the press release, in cooperation with 194 funds and volunteer organizations, the producer of mineral waters provided charitable assistance valued at over UAH 100 million in 2022, including for the needs of the military, hospitals, and IDPs. Goods worth UAH 67 million for de-occupied territories were transferred free of charge. In addition, in January 2023 alone, the company supplied 120,000 liters of drinking water to de-occupied Kherson. Currently, IDS Ukraine provides jobs for 3,000 Ukrainians, and also continues paying to all mobilized workers the total amount of such payments in 2022 reached UAH 18.7 million. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, February 12, signed a decree on the implementation of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on the imposition of personal sanctions against 200 individuals associated with Russia. Relevant document No. 75/2023, along with the decision of the National Security and Defense Council and its annex, was published on the presidential website. According to the decision, the sanctions are imposed on the basis of proposals submitted by the SBU. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Secretary of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov discussed by phone issues related to the West's supply of artillery and air defense systems to Kyiv as priorities to be raised at a meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), the Pentagon said. "Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov regarding priorities for next week's Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in Brussels, including air defense and artillery," the Pentagon said in the statement. It notes the parties also stressed "the importance of delivering the capabilities pledged at last month's UDCG being delivered to the battlefield as quickly as possible." Reznikov "provided an update of dynamics on the ground in Ukraine," the Pentagon said. Rapid response units of Kharkiv regional organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) are evacuating people from the settlements of Kupiansky district, which are shelling the Russian armed forces. "Over the last two weeks, shelling in the area has become more frequent and more people are asking to be taken to a safe place. A rapid response detachment of Kharkiv regional organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society goes to the settlements of the region and evacuates those who cannot do this on their own for various reasons," the society said on its official Facebook page. Among the evacuees there are many elderly people, they are settled in the dormitories of Kharkiv, providing for the first time with everything necessary for life. Only in one of the last days, the URCS volunteers evacuated nine residents of Kupiansky district of Kharkiv region. Denmark has handed over to the Ukrainian army all self-propelled artillery installations of the French production Caesar, which it owned, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said. "Denmark has given Ukraine all of its Caesar self-propelled howitzers. A true friend who knows that our fight is Europe's fight. Tak, Danmark," according to the Twitter post. As reported, the Danish government agreed on the transfer of the Caesar ACS on January 19. According to the decision, Ukraine received 19 howitzers. At the same time, it was noted that the transfer of self-propelled guns to Ukraine would delay the deployment of the first brigade of Denmark, so the Danish government is considering the possibility of launching a rapid acquisition of new weapons. The city of Kyiv received two solar power plants from the French manufacturer of photovoltaic panels Roy Group Energy as humanitarian aid, the press service of Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has reported. According to the mayor, these power plants will operate in medical institutions in the Sviatoshynsky district of Kyiv. For their acquisition, the French partners raised EUR 250,000. One of the power plants (25.6 kW) will operate in the Consultative Diagnostic Center, and the second (at 76.8 kW) at the Sviatoshynsky psycho-neurological nursing home. French specialists will start assembling power plants today. "Medical institutions should work 24/7 to save the health and lives of Kyiv residents. But doctors, in the current conditions of power outages, cannot provide proper medical care only by the light of lanterns or candles. Special equipment, resuscitation, and laboratories must operate, which require electricity. Therefore, we continue supplying the critical infrastructure of the capital with alternative power sources," the mayor said. He thanked friends and partners for their help and support, which "is so necessary, especially this winter when the Russian aggressor does not stop shelling critical infrastructure and is trying to leave the people of Kyiv without electricity, water, and heat." The new modification of the Russian Orlan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which was recently shot down by the Ukrainian military, uses the most modern ICs of the American company AMD Xilinx, which is a dual-use product and is subject to sanctions. The co-founder of Monobank and the manufacturer of Ukrainian Dovbush T10 drones, Volodymyr Yatsenko states this on the air of the Unified National Telethon. The effectiveness of sanctions depends on what efforts are made so that they are not violated. Two weeks ago, we disassembled the downed Russian drone Orlan, and in the radio communication module we found the most modern and very powerful chip. The very same chip is in the Iranian Shahid, and it is also used in the guidance systems of Russian missiles. Unfortunately, this is a microchip of the American company AMD XILINX, it costs more than two thousand dollars and is a dual-use product, i.e. it is not sold without certain licenses. Therefore, in my opinion, in addition to sanctions, a lot of work should be done to track and interrupt illegal ways of supplying military technology to prohibited countries. Chinese engines can also be used, but without the latest technology, it is impossible to create a modern drone. An inspection from the United States has arrived in Ukraine to monitor the use of military assistance, and I hope that they will see this nonsense: while we spend American missiles to shoot down enemy UAVs, i.e. the funds of the American people, these drones fly on American chips, says Volodymyr Yatsenko. He notes that Ukrainian drone manufacturers should improve their technologies in order to be two steps ahead of the enemy. "Due to the fact that Russian drones are improving their characteristics, we must also improve our technologies to be two steps ahead. I can say that today we have created really up-to-date technologies in a certain segment, namely in the segment of plastics. Today we work with materials that are stronger than metals and are used by the aviation industry, including such global giants as Boeing and Airbus. This makes it possible to surpass the level of Russian and Iranian UAVs. But they don't stand still either. The modern Orlan is a fairly high-quality drone, so we must move faster in new technologies and new components", says Volodymyr Yatsenko. As previously reported, the co-founder of Monobank and a team of Ukrainian engineers, managed to create a modern Ukrainian Dovbush T10 drone, unattainable for enemy EW and air defense, which is much cheaper than its Western counterparts. This is an universal UAV that is modified into an attack or reconnaissance drone within an hour. All drones are transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine free of charge. The Foundation of the First Lady of the country Olena Zelenska is launching a pilot project of inclusive buildings for ten family-type orphanages (DDST), whose housing was completely destroyed due to the Russian war against Ukraine, and is looking for partners in Australia for it. "While Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues, the number of affected children is increasing they need help. Therefore, the focus of the Foundation's work is to support children throughout Ukraine, including those who grow up in DDST," Zelenska said in an interview with the Australian edition of the Australian Financial Review. According to her, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, some 461 children have died, some 921 have been injured, some 348 children have gone missing, and some 16,207 have been forcibly deported to Russia due to the actions of the Russian military. The first lady said in addition to family-type orphanages in Ukraine, there are still Soviet-style orphanages and public boarding schools, which were abandoned by a large part of progressive countries. At the same time, one of the conditions for Ukraine's accession to the European Union is the closure of such institutions in favor of family forms of education, foster families or FGST, in which from five to ten children are brought up. The Foundation actively supports this initiative and cooperates in this direction with the state. At the same time, Zelenska said although such a reconstruction and provision of all conditions for at least 25,000 children [orphans and children deprived of parental care] is a difficult task even without a war, she still considers it feasible. She cited as an example the experience of neighboring Romania, which, before joining the EU in 2007, transferred 100,000 children who had previously been in such institutions to family forms of education. "This is not just possible. This is a window of opportunity that we must take advantage of," the first lady said. She also said although Australia and Ukraine are far from each other, the common "basic human values" between the two countries can overcome any distance. "We value human life. We love our children equally. We take care of our parents. We have much more in common than what is different," Zelenska said. Currently, the Foundation's team is in Australia and is looking for partners to raise the necessary funds and help first dozens, and later thousands of DDSTs throughout Ukraine. As noted, inclusive houses will be equipped with bomb shelters and everything necessary. The Ukrainian military have started training to work with the German Leopard 2 combat tank in Germany, the Tagesschau.de has reported with reference to the German Ministry of Defense. "The training will mainly take place at the Tank forces school in Munster, Lower Saxony. It should be completed by the end of the first quarter so that the transmission can be synchronized," the report says. Stoltenberg: Putin not preparing for peace, launching new offensives, we must continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to win NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not preparing for peace since he is launching new offensives, and that the allies must continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to win in this war. Stoltenberg said this at a press conference ahead of the meetings of NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels on Monday. The meeting will be held at the NATO headquarters on February 14-15. "Almost one year since the invasion, President Putin is not preparing for peace. He is launching new offensives. So we must continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to win. And to achieve a just and sustainable peace," he said. The Secretary General also said Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov will join the meetings of both the U.S.-led Contact Group for Ukraine and NATO Ministers. "Together, we will address Ukraine's urgent needs. It is clear that we are in a race of logistics. Key capabilities like ammunition, fuel, and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield. Speed will save lives," he said. Stoltenberg said that the allies will strengthen support for Ukraine. "So I welcome the recent announcements by Allies on new tanks, heavy weaponry, and training for Ukraine. And I look forward to further deliveries. Our message is clear. NATO stands with Ukraine. For as long as it takes," he said. The overwhelming majority of Ukrainians (93%) called the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, including Crimea, as acceptable conditions for a ceasefire, these are the results of a survey conducted at the end of November by the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and Kekst CNC. Even a Russian withdrawal from previously occupied areas would be unacceptable for the majority of Ukrainians if it does not also include Crimea. Premature peace negotiations, calls for which are particularly vocal in some Western capitals, would thus likely meet fierce resistance among the Ukrainian population, the annual Munich Security Report says. It is clarified that only 11% of Ukrainians surveyed agreed with such terms of the ceasefire, while 80% called it unacceptable. The option of returning Russian troops to the line on February 24, 2022 for a ceasefire was approved by 7%, and keeping them in the occupied territories by 1%, while 85% and 97% opposed, respectively. Astonishingly, only six percent of Ukrainians feel unprepared to take on Russias invasion, and even during a winter marked by blackouts and shortages they feel more prepared to face the risk of energy supply disruption than any G7 public, Munich Security Index, included in the report, says. The survey confirmed Ukraine's unequivocal Western orientation. The overwhelming majority of Ukrainians want to live in a world formed according to European rules 63%, to a lesser extent according to American rules - 22%. Another 2% chose the option "economically developed countries", while the Chinese vision of the order is close to only 1%. It is noted that unlike some Western politicians, whose concerns about further military escalation seem to undermine more resolute support, Ukrainians are not intimidated by threats from Russia. No matter how destructive the use of tactical nuclear weapons against a city or on the battlefield, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians about 90% say they would still refuse to surrender if it happened. The Munich Security Conference also calls on Ukraine's transatlantic partners to start planning how to ensure Ukraine's long-term security from Russian attacks. Ukrainian citizens are well aware of the ongoing threat posed by Putin's Russia (83% vs. 6%), and the overwhelming majority (75% vs. 8%) believe that they need Western security guarantees, but it is not yet clear what they might look like. The majority of Ukrainians (72% vs. 6%) also believe that they will need constant supplies of weapons from the West. A clear majority (65% vs. 13%) also fears that Ukraine will never be safe outside of NATO, which is confirmed by the fact that Ukrainians trust the United States more/NATO (63% vs. 5%) is more than the EU in the matter of protection from Russia. (The difference between the sum of the specified votes and 100% undecided). The document notes that these models are also reflected in the Ukrainians' assessment of the reaction of other countries to the war. Respondents rate all G7 countries, as well as Turkey, unequivocally positively. But there are significant differences between them, which is not surprising, given the difference in the material support provided, the messages and the urgency with which the countries reacted to the war. The UK tops the rating with an indicator of 77% (the difference between those who rated positively and negatively the reaction to the invasion of the Russian Federation), followed by the USA and Canada (76% and 72%), the states of Western Europe lag behind the English-speaking countries by about 30 percentage points, NATO by 40 percentage points, although the EU is rated at the level of 61%. At the same time, Ukrainians believe that China and India reacted particularly badly (-37% and -27%, respectively), but in general, all actors of the "Global South" have negative points in the rating (-13% in South Africa, -7% in Brazil, -1% in Indonesia and -15% on average). In another question about countries that Ukrainians consider allies or enemies, China and India have a negative balance of answers of 29% and 2%, while Russia and Belarus have 97% and 85% respectively, and Hungary has 13%. The Russian occupiers continue to build defensive fortifications in the occupied areas of Zaporizhia region, according to a defense intelligence report published on Twitter by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Monday. As of 07 February 2023, open source imagery indicated Russia had likely further bolstered defensive fortifications in central Zaporizhia region, southern Ukraine, particularly near the town of Tarasivka. As of 08 January 2023, Russia had established defensive fortifications between the towns of Vasylyivka and Horikhiv, Zaporizhia region, the report reads. The intelligence service notes that, despite the current operational focus on the central Donbas, the Russian Federation is still concerned about the protection of the entire front line, which stretches for 1,288 km, in particular, in Zaporizhia region - for 192 km. Also, the construction of defensive fortifications continues in Luhansk region. A major Ukrainian breakthrough in Zaporizhia would seriously challenge the viability of Russias land bridge linking Russias Rostov region and Crimea; Ukrainian success in Luhansk would further undermine Russias professed war aim of liberating Donbas. Deciding which of these threats to prioritise countering is likely one of the central dilemmas for Russian operational planners, the British intelligence says. Russia lacks in quality of its troops and is trying to compensate for it in quantity, the current rate of ammunition consumption by the Ukrainian army is higher than the current rate of production, thus it is necessary to ramp up production, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said. "I think the reality that we're seeing the start already, because we're seeing what Russia is just now, what President [of Russia Vladimir] Putin do now, is sending thousands and thousands of more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty, taking big losses, but putting pressure on the Ukrainians. And what Russia lacks in quality, they try to compensate in quantity [] they have more forces. [] So for me, this just highlights the importance of timing. It's urgent to provide Ukraine with more weapons. The faster we can deliver weapons, ammunition, spare parts, fuel to the Ukrainian front the more lives we save, and the better we support efforts to find a peaceful, negotiated solution to this conflict," he told a press conference in Brussels on Monday. Stoltenberg also said that the war in Ukraine is consuming an enormous amount of munitions, and depleting Allied stockpiles. "The current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production. This puts our defense industries under strain. For example, the waiting time for large-caliber ammunition has increased from 12 to 28 months. Orders placed today would only be delivered two-and-a-half years later. So we need to ramp up production. And invest in our production capacity," he said. According to the Secretary General, NATO has just completed an extraordinary survey of its munitions stockpiles, and it plans to increase its targets for munitions stockpiles through the NATO Defense Planning Process. "We need to produce more, to be able to deliver sufficient ammunition to Ukraine, but at the same time, ensure that we have enough ammunition to protect and defend all NATO Allies, every inch of Allied territory. [] And it just shows the importance of increased defense spending," Stoltenberg said. He also said that "we see no sign whatsoever that President Putin is preparing for peace, or ready to negotiate something, which will respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine." "What we see is that President Putin and Russia still want to control Ukraine. And therefore, the only way to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign nation is to continue to provide military support to Ukraine. I'm not speculating what Russia will or President Putin will do on the 24th [of February]. But more importantly, is that we see how they are sending in more troops, more weapons, more capabilities, to try to pressure the Ukrainians. And we see also how Ukrainians are able to resist and stand up against the Russian aggression," NATO Secretary General said. Three Russian carrier ships of the Kalibr type missiles with a combined salvo of 16 missiles are currently in the Black Sea, the Operational Command Pivden (South) said on its Facebook page. "The enemy is increasing the presence of missile carriers in the Black Sea and intensifying aerial reconnaissance. A frigate has been added to the two submarines, so the total salvo of Kalibr-type missiles is currently 16," the report says. In addition, it is reported that an increase in the number of reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles is being recorded along the front line. Earlier on Monday, the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 11 enemy ships on combat duty in the Black Sea, of which there were two carriers of Calibers with a combined salvo of eight missiles. There is one invaders ship in the Sea of Azov, 10 in the Mediterranean, of which five carriers of Calibers with a combined volley of 72 missiles. According to the General Staff, during the day, in the interests of the Russian Federation, 27 vessels passed through the occupied Kerch-Yenikal Strait towards the Sea of Azov (nine of them came from the Bosphorus Strait) and 30 towards the Black Sea (10 of them continued to move towards the Bosphorus). Border guards detain Russian, who tried to illegally enter Ukraine, for second time A citizen of the Russian Federation tried to enter Ukraine for the second time, despite the existing ban on entry: now he faces three years in prison, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports. "The second attempt has failed: the border guards again detained a Russian who wanted to get to Ukraine," the Service said on its Telegram channel on Monday. "In January of this year, a Russian on an inflatable mattress swam across the Western Bug from Poland to Ukraine. Then he was fined and banned from entering the territory of our country for five years," the Border Guard Service informs. "This time the man was caught on the border with Moldova. Now the violator faces three years in prison," the message reads. Ukraine should not violate the principles that bring it closer to NATO by allowing a military person to head the Defense Ministry, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Yehor Cherniev (Servant of the People faction), who also chairs the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, has said. "Even if there is a question of changing the minister, it must still be a civilian and we must not violate the principles that we have already taken as obligations in order to be as close to NATO as possible. Because there will be questions from NATO as well," Cherniev said on the air of the national telethon on Monday. According to him, worthy candidates for the position of Defense Minister can be found among civilians. At the same time, the member of parliament (MP) noted that the issue of changing the Defense Minister of Ukraine has been suspended for today. Answering a question about a bill that would allow a serviceman to head the ministry for a period of martial law, Cherniev replied, "I have not seen this bill, not even a bill, but an amendment to the existing bill... As far as I understand, this is solely an initiative of our colleague." Cherniev also said that Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov is in his place, but "you still need to do your homework and correct the mistakes that were made." Earlier, Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security Maryana Bezuhla (Servant of the People faction) said the committee has prepared an amendment providing for the possibility of appointing a defense minister from among the military during martial law. On Thursday, February 16, at 14.30, the press centre of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference entitled "Children and war: presentation of study on IDPs needs and Winterization program's result." Participants include National Director of a charitable non-governmental organization "SOS Children's Villages Ukraine" Serhiy Lukashov; Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Uliana Tokaryeva; National program director of the charitable non-governmental organization "SOS Children's Villages Ukraine" Daria Kasianova; the developer of the Children and War study, a scientist of Kharkiv Institute of Social Research and other experts in the protection of children's rights and social assistance Andriy Chernousov (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event will be streamed on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Details at: (063) 341 9035 (Viktoria). The National Union of Architects of Ukraine has asked the president of Ukraine to help stop pressure on the organization caused by its criticism of the draft law on urban planning reform (No. 5655). "We appeal to the president of Ukraine with three positions. The first one is to stop the shame regarding the unsuccessful urban reform and veto draft law No. 5655. Second: to start a public and expert dialogue on the creation of the Urban Planning Code and a real urban planning reform, which will give people hope for fair construction in the country. Third: put an end to the pressure on the union, our professional environment, and unblock the work of architects in Ukraine," Anna Kyrii, the deputy head of the union's Architectural Chamber, said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Monday. According to her, the union, an independent self-regulatory organization, has been actively criticizing the draft law on the reform of urban development for two years, which, in its opinion, has become the reason for the persecution of the union and its leadership by law enforcement agencies. Lawyer of the union Yaroslav Yatsenko pointed out accusations of the union officials of unlawful actions during the professional attestation of architects are unfounded, since the union was not deprived of the relevant delegated powers. "The investigator and the prosecutor established a fact, allegedly of legal significance, that since May 2022 the union has no delegated authority to conduct professional certification of architects. But this statement is untrue and contrary to the law, because, in accordance with the statements in the unified state electronic system in the construction sector, the union certainly has such delegated powers until this time," he explained. According to the lawyer, there is no corresponding order of the head of the relevant ministry to terminate the delegated powers of the union, as required by the current legislation in such cases. Thus, there is no event of a criminal offense, and the notifications of suspicion are and unfounded, Yatsenko stressed. "We can conclude that such actions of the chief investigator of the National Police of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine have signs of deliberate pressure on the National Union of Architects of Ukraine and its leadership and targeted persecution," the lawyer said. URCS, State Emergencies Service, National Police tell children in Kamyanske about behavior when explosive object is found Representatives of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, together with the employees of the State Emergencies Service, the National Police, conducted a lesson on mine safety, traffic rules and behavior on ice for children from Kamyanske, Dnipropetrovsk region. "An instructor on mine safety from the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, together with representatives of the State Emergencies Service of Ukraine, conducted lectures for 154 children in Kamyanske, Dnipropetrovsk region," the URCS reported on its Facebook page. At the lesson, small residents of the town learned how explosive objects look like, where and how they can be identified and how to behave when an explosive object is detected. The rescuers also explained to the children how to behave on ice and National Police representatives told about traffic rules. 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. Representatives from nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday to discuss their stance and moves to end the decade-long isolation of President Bashar Al-Assad, Arab diplomats said Tuesday. Egypt has taken bold actions in monetary policies in recent years to deal with ongoing economic challenges, and will not hesitate to do more, stressed the Governor of the Central bank of Egypt (CBE) Hassan Abdallah. Almost 26 million people have been affected by the deadly earthquake that ravaged Turkey and Syria this week, the WHO said Saturday, warning that dozens of hospitals had been damaged. As the death toll from the quake rose above 25,000, the UN health agency launched a flash appeal Saturday asking for $42.8 million to help it address the immediate, towering health needs. The World Health Organization, which has already released $16 million from its emergency fund, had previously said up to 23 million people could be impacted. But on Saturday, that rose to nearly 26 million, with 15 million affected in Turkey and nearly 11 million in war-torn Syria. Among them, more than five million people were considered to be particularly vulnerable, including close to 350,000 elderly people and over 1.4 million children. WHO estimated that in Turkey, where more than 4,000 buildings have collapsed in the quake, 15 hospitals had suffered partial or heavy damage. In Syria, where the health care system had already been ravaged by 12 years of civil war, at least 20 health facilities across the hard-hit northwest, including four hospitals, had sustained damage. This is making it all the more difficult to help the tens of thousands of people who have been injured in the disaster. And while emergency medical services have been overwhelmed with trauma patients, essential health services have been severely disrupted, WHO warned. The UN agency said there was a dire need for immediate trauma care, post-trauma rehabilitative care, essential medicines, prevention and control to prevent disease outbreaks and access to mental health support. "WHO's goal is to save lives in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, to minimise its downstream health consequences, including mental health, and to rapidly restore essential health services across all earthquake-affected populations." The agency added that it had flown 37 metric tonnes of trauma and emergency surgery supplies to Turkey on Thursday, while 35 metric tonnes had arrived in Syria on Friday. "These life-saving supplies will be used to treat and care for 100,000 people as well as for 120,000 urgent surgical interventions in both countries," it said. A third flight carrying a similar load was scheduled to reach Syria on Monday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who arrived in Aleppo on Saturday, tweeted that he was "heartbroken to see the conditions survivors are facing ... freezing weather and extremely limited access to shelter, food, water, heat and medical care". Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday where he was received by his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at the airport, the Egyptian Presidency said. El-Sisi and bin Zayed held talks during a short break at El-Shatti palace where they discussed bilateral relations between Egypt and the Emirates as well as the latest developments in the region. During their meeting, the Egyptian president offered his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on the passing of his mother-in-law Sheikha Maryam Al-Falasi. The meeting was attended by high level Emirati officials, most importantly Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, National Security Adviser. El-Sisi is currently heading Egypts official delegation to the World Government Summit (WGS) 2023 in Dubai from 13-15 February. Egypt will take part as a guest of honour at the two-day WGS. The summit this year is held under the slogan Shaping Future Governments. During discussion panels, El-Sisi will explain the strategies and priorities of the Egyptian government at the economic and development levels, Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said earlier. Egypt's participation in this edition is the biggest ever, the spokesman said, adding that this reflects the distinguished relations binding Egypt to the UAE. Formed by a team of experts in 2013, the WGS event is held annually in Dubai to act as a platform for government officials and thought leaders. It also acts as a platform for business leaders and the private sector on government policies, and for discussing technology innovation and a host of other topics. The summit will witness the participation of 20 presidents, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Senegalese President and Chairperson of the African Union Macky Sall, Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The WGSs 2023 edition will also convene over 250 ministers, more than 10,000 government officials, thought leaders and global experts around the world, and over 80 international, regional and governmental organisations, according to Emirati Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the WGS Organisation Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Gergawi Search Keywords: Short link: Israel hit Gaza with air strikes on Monday in response to a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave at the weekend, the army said, as unrest persisted in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Red Crescent said one person was killed in a predawn Israeli army raid in Nablus in the northern West Bank, the scene of near-relentless violence over the past year. The army did not immediately comment on the Nablus raid. But in Gaza, the military claimed it had struck "an underground complex containing raw materials used for the manufacturing of rockets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation". The strikes were launched "in response to the Saturday rocket launch from Gaza into Israel", the army added in a statement. Following the Israeli strikes, air raid sirens sounded in communities near the Gaza border, the military said. Photos show Palestinians inspecting a destroyed wedding hall, early Monday, following the Israeli strikes on the city. There were no reported casualties in Gaza following the latest round of missile fire. But the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is enduring a dramatic increase in violence. Since the start of the year, the conflict has claimed the lives of 47 Palestinian adults and children, including militants and civilians, following the latest death in Nablus. Nine Israeli adults and children and one Ukrainian civilian have been killed over the same period, according to an AFP tally based on official sources from both sides. In a move likely to inflame tensions, Israel's security cabinet announced last week it would legalise nine West Bank Jewish settlements claiming that many of the newly authorised communities had existed for years but had not previously been recognised as legitimate by Israel's government. The security cabinet also said it intended to announce a new round of settler housing construction in the West Bank, a step likely to draw widespread international condemnation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned against settlement expansion in a trip to the region last month. Since 1967, the government has built 58,000 homes for Israeli settlers in the eastern part of the city, and fewer than 600 for Palestinians, said Daniel Seidemann, an Israeli lawyer specializing in the geopolitics of Jerusalem, citing the government's statistics bureau and his own analysis. In that time, the city's Palestinian population has soared by 400 percent. "The planning regime is dictated by the calculus of national struggle,'' Seidemann said. Israel's city plans show state parks encircling the Old City, with some 60 percent of Jabal Mukaber zoned as green space, off-limits to Palestinian development. At least 20,000 Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem are now slated for demolition, watchdogs say. While there are no reliable figures for permit approvals, the Israeli municipality set aside just over 7 percent of its 21,000 housing plans for Palestinian homes in 2019, reported Ir Amim, an anti-settlement advocacy group. Palestinians are nearly 40 percent of the city's roughly 1 million people. "This is the purpose of this policy,'' said Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher at Ir Amim. "Palestinians are forced to leave Jerusalem." On Sunday, at the Arab League's (AL) 'Jerusalem Support' conference in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called "on the international community and peace partners not to give in to the current political stalemate and work together to implement the two-state solution and provide appropriate conditions for resuming the peace process between Palestine and Israel. The conference was attended by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordans King Abdullah II along with high-level representation from Arab, regional and international bodies. On Thursday, Egypt received a Palestinian delegation from the Gaza Strip led by prominent members of the Islamic Jihad Movement. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi wished Cypruss President Nikos Christodoulides success in leading his country and its friendly people to further progress and prosperity in a message of congratulations to the new Cypriot leader on his election. On behalf of the government and people of the Arab Republic of Egypt, I have the pleasure to extend congratulations to Mr. Nikos Christodoulides on his election as the president of the Republic of Cyprus and his winning of the confidence of Cypriot voters, El-Sisi said in a post on Monday on the Facebook page of the Spokesperson of the Egyptian Presidency Ahmed Fahmy. The 49-year-old former Cypriot foreign minister won tight run-off presidential elections on Sunday by 51.9 percent of the votes against 48.1 percent for his rival, diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis. In his message, El-Sisi praised the Egyptian-Cypriot relations as historical, saying he looks forward to continuing the active and high-level coordination and consultation with the new Cypriot leadership on further enhancement of the two countries partnership. The Egyptian-Cypriot relations have always been and will remain extended and historical that are based on a solid foundation of cross-cultural cooperation, rich human exchanges and the high values that bring us together, El-Sisi said. He also praised the Egyptian-Cypriot relations as based on the mutual strategic interests by virtue of the geographical proximity and on continuous cooperation to face the joint challenges and achieve stability, security and prosperity to our regional neighbourhood. At the end of his message, El-Sisi expressed deep appreciation for outgoing President Nicos Anastasiades on his pivotal role over the years as president in strengthening and developing the bonds of Egyptian-Cypriot friendship, wishing him all success in the future. Egypt-Cyprus: Closer cooperation Over the past several years, Egypt and Cyprus have developed closer bilateral cooperation especially in the political, energy, economic and military fields as well as trilateral cooperation with the inclusion of Greece. Since November 2014, the leaders of the three countries have held nine summits to boost their trilateral cooperation in several fields and coordinate on regional issues of mutual concern, the last of which was in Athens in October 2021. In October 2021, Egypt signed an accord with Cyprus on electrical power linkage between the two countries electrical grid at a capacity of 2,000-3,000 MW. In the same month, Egypt also signed a trilateral agreement with both Cyprus and Greece on power linkage. Egypt and Cyprus are members of the EastMed Gas Forum (EMGF), a Cairo-based international organisation that aims to establish a regional gas market in the Eastern Mediterranean and enhance trade relations among the member states. Egypt and Cyprus shared a trade volume of $66 million in 2021, according to figures released by the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry. Cypriot investments in Egypt has reached $358 million in the same year across 191 projects in the sectors of services, industry, constructions, communication and information technology, tourism and agriculture, according to ministry figures. Egypt and Cyprus have also maintained coordination on regional issues of mutual concern and in the fields of combatting terrorism, extremism and irregular migration. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt condemned on Monday the Israeli governments most recent decision to "legitimise" more pockets of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories as well as the building of new settlement units. In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that this decision represents a glaring violation of UN Security Council resolutions and relevant international law and confirms the lack of legality and legitimacy of settlement activities in all its forms. The foreign ministry described the decision as "an unacceptable provocative act coinciding with the holding of Jerusalem Support Conference," which took place in Cairo on Sunday. The Jerusalem Support conference, which was hosted by the Arab League, was attended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordans King Abdullah II along with high-level representation from Arab, regional and international bodies. During the conference, President El-Sisi called "on the international community and peace partners not to give in to the current political stalemate and work together to implement the two-state solution and provide appropriate conditions for resuming the peace process between Palestine and Israel. President El-Sisi also stressed Cairo's rejection and condemnation of any Israeli measures to change the historical and legal status quo of the city of Jerusalem and its sanctities. "Egypt repeats its warning of the dire consequences that may result from a breach of this or an attempt to pre-empt or impose a fait accompli that negatively affects the prospects for final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides," El-Sisi said. The foreign ministry also called in its statement for the immediate cessation of all unilateral Israeli actions, including home demolitions as well as a halt to the arrests and raids that target the Palestinian people and their properties. The statement came in response to the Israeli national security ministers recent decision for the immediate demolition of dozens of Palestinian homes in the Israeli-annexed sector of Jerusalem. The statement warned of the consequences of the settlement decisions in inflaming the already tense situation in the occupied territories, adding that these activities may bring about an increase in violence with dire repercussions on the security and stability of the entire region. The only way to calm the situation situation is through Israels termination of its actions that violate both international law and human conscience, the statement said. This would prepare the ground for the return of negotiations with the aim of reaching a solution to the Palestinian cause on the basis of legitimate international resolutions, it added. This solution would be based on comprehensive and just peace where the Palestinian state resides independently adjacent to Israel in peace and security, the statement concluded. Search Keywords: Short link: The special relations between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates represent an important basis for preserving Arab security and interests in the region, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in a meeting with Emirati Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid on Monday. The meeting came on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2023 being held in Abu Dhabi which starts today. During the meeting, El-Sisi expressed appreciation for the Emirati invitation to Egypt to take part as a guest country in the summit. He added that Egypts partaking in the summit through a high-level delegation reflects the special relations between the two countries, El-Sisi added. El-Sisi said the WGS contributes to generating creative ideas that represent an inspiring way to face the various regional challenges. The Egyptian president affirmed his appreciation of the strong, deep and brotherly relations and historical ties binding the two countries and their peoples at all levels. This reflects positively on the intensive mutual coordination between the two sides on priority issues to achieve their joint interests and goals. For his part, Mohammed bin Rashid hailed Egypts pioneering role in defending Arab causes as well as the Egyptian political leaderships wise positions at the domestic and international levels. Mohammed bin Rashid also underscored the special status of Egypt and Egyptians in the hearts of the Emirati people. This years WGS is being held under the theme Shaping Future Governments with the participation of 20 presidents as well as more than 250 ministers, and 10,000 businessmen, government officials, global experts and thought leaders from around the world, according to the Emirati news agency WAM. On the sidelines of the summit on Monday, El-Sisi participated in a roundtable with a number of officials and major companies specialised in several fields, including technology applications, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and sustainable resource management. El-Sisi also met today with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva. The Egyptian president arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday where he was received by his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at the airport. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt faced daunting challenges after 2011; however, it successfully managed to confront them, said President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during the first day of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2023 in Dubai on Monday. During his speech, President El-Sisi said that the year 2011 saw the 25th of January Revolution which ended the three-decade rule of President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt, El-Sisi continued, was about to teeter toward instability and to collapse just like other countries, only to be the one country that survived the plots hatched against several Arab countries. El-Sisi also cited the support of several countries to Egypt during that period. He extended thanks to the Arab countries which supported Egypt, warning against attempts on social media to drive a wedge between Egypt and its allies. The challenges which faced Egypt were numerous and had to be confronted simultaneously, said El-Sisi, adding that the state of fragmentation, disintegration and loss of hope which prevailed among Egyptians was among the challenges. Egypt experienced chaos following 2011, he said, noting that its cost amounted to about $450 billion. Renovating Egyptian sectors During his speech, El-Sisi said that to build its capabilities the Egyptian State needs an annual budget of $1 trillion, adding that this amount is not available. He said that the state needs $250 billion to reform education. The president also said that the enormous challenges in Egypt were confronted through ideas and initiatives. The challenges besetting each country are totally different from the challenges facing other countries, he noted. "The solution - in my point of view - lies in the ideas and solutions," he went on to say. El-Sisi affirmed that the energy crisis was also among the major problems, adding that resolving the electricity problem which had gripped Egypt for 7 years was one of his immediate priorities. The government has allocated EGP 1.8 trillion to the electricity sector over the past years in order to confront the energy crisis, he further said. In this regard, El-Sisi emphasised the importance of interacting with other nations to highlight the daunting challenges facing different countries. The president also said that the renovation of the transport sector in Egypt cost about EGP 2 trillion. Overpopulation El-Sisi also shed light on the challenge of overpopulation, saying Egypt's population increased from 80-81 million in 2011 to 105 million at present. He also highlighted the challenge posed by the concentration of the majority of the population in a narrow strip extending from Alexandria to Aswan parallel to the Nile. He affirmed that the state seeks to expand the populated areas to reach 12 percent across the nation instead of 5 percent currently, noting in this respect that Egypt has constructed 24 smart cities. About 800,000 young people get married annually and they need 600,000 housing units on an annual basis, El-Sisi said. He spoke about the mega national projects in Egypt, saying that they were implemented by Egyptian companies and that they provided about 5 million jobs for Egyptians. The New Administrative Capital (NAC) falls within the framework of the state's efforts to create a new urban space, the president said. State projects "If we want to apply the success stories of South Korea and Singapore... we shall be able to do so only through work, patience and sacrifice," the president went on to say. He further said that Egypt aspires to implement an electricity linkage project with Saudi Arabia, Greece, Italy, Sudan and Libya, affirming that unlike before the country is now qualified to implement this project. The president affirmed that the state welcomed cooperation with the private sector in building hospitals and schools. The private sector is distinguished by sound management, President El-Sisi said, pointing out to the protocol forged between the public and the private sectors. The inflation rate is high in both Egypt and the whole world, he added, highlighting the perseverance of the Egyptian nation. There is a state of confidence between the Egyptian people on the one hand and the leadership and the government on the other, he said, adding that some parties have been trying for eight months or a year to shake the confidence between the government and the people. The president pointed out that the state gives top priority to the education and health sectors. He further reiterated the government's utmost keenness on generating jobs. The national projects in the field of education will bear fruit 14 years from now, he added. Speaking of the pioneering and successful initiatives which Egypt launched during the 2022 global climate conference, COP27, El-Sisi affirmed that Egypt attaches great importance to environment and climate issues. He also referred to the dredging activities that are being carried out in the 1.4 million square metre Lake Manzala. Egypt is working tirelessly to resolve all environmental-related problems, he explained. Moving on to road projects, the president said that these projects primarily aim to save $8 billion, which is the value of the fuel used in traffic. Egypt is focusing on environmental conservation, affirmed the president. Egypt officially started to pay special attention to environmental issues ever since the Paris and Glasgow conferences, President El-Sisi said. He highlighted that after being chosen to host COP27, Egypts main goal was to oblige the industrial countries to join the 'loss and damage' fund to help developing countries face the impacts of climate change. Speaking of COP28, which will be hosted by the UAE this year, the president said that there is constant coordination with the UAE in this respect. Search Keywords: Short link: A British security guard at the UK's embassy in Germany who pleaded guilty to spying was snared in an elaborate sting after sending sensitive material to Russia, prosecutors said Monday. David Ballantyne Smith, 58, has admitted to eight charges and London's Old Bailey criminal court is now considering arguments ahead of his sentencing on Friday. Smith, who worked at the Berlin embassy for five years, pleaded guilty in November to violating the Official Secrets Act. The court was told that he was motivated by an intense hatred for his homeland. Making their case for a strong sentence, prosecutors on Monday said Smith had sent a letter to a member of the military staff at the Russian embassy in Berlin. In it, he had enclosed documents including names, home addresses and phone numbers of embassy staff. After the UK and German authorities became aware of the letter, a plot was formed to try to catch Smith in the act. Smith was told that a Russian citizen called Dmitry -- in reality a UK agent -- wanted to come to the embassy to pass on sensitive information. Smith filmed CCTV footage taken of "Dmitry" inside the embassy and took packaging from a phone SIM that had been given to him by UK officials, instead of disposing of it as instructed. Another contact pretended to be Irina, an agent with the Russian military's GRU intelligence service. She tracked Smith down at a train station in August 2021, and persuaded him to talk to her on a bench in central Berlin. She then showed Smith pictures of people supposedly of interest to the Russian authorities, including "Dmitry", but he did not say he recognised him. Smith was arrested shortly after this meeting. He was also found to have taken several videos of sensitive areas inside the embassy building, while prosecutors allege that he had 800 euros (around $857) on him that could not be accounted for. Smith appeared in court on Monday wearing jeans and a blue jumper. Prosecutors say Smith, who is married to a Ukrainian, was motivated by a hatred both for Britain and Germany. "The defendant expressed views that were anti-West and anti-NATO to other employees and expressed support for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin," said prosecutors. Smith will make his case on Tuesday, and is expected to argue that he was motivated by a desire to cause embarrassment to the UK rather than causing "prejudice or any disadvantage" to it. Smith faces a maximum jail term of 14 years for spying. Search Keywords: Short link: Rescue crews on Monday pulled a 40-year-old woman from the wreckage of a building a week after two powerful earthquakes struck, but reports of rescues are coming less often as the time since the quake reaches the limits of the human body's ability to survive without water, especially in sub-freezing temperatures. The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes struck nine hours apart in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb. 6. They killed at least 33,185, with the toll expected to rise considerably as search teams find more bodies, and reduced much of towns and cities inhabited by millions to fragments of concrete and twisted metal. On Monday rescuers pulled a 40-year-old woman from the wreckage of a 5-story building in the town of Islahiye, in Gaziantep province. The woman, Sibel Kaya, was rescued after spending 170 hours beneath the rubble by a mixed crew that included members of Turkey's coalmine rescue team. Earlier, a 60-year-woman, Erengul Onder, was also pulled out from the rubble in the town of Besni, in Adiyaman province, by teams from the western city of Manisa. "We received the news of a miracle from Besni which helped put the fire raging in our hearts a little,'' wrote Manisa's mayor Cengiz Ergun on Twitter. David Alexander, a professor of emergency planning and management at University College London, agreed, saying the window for pulling people alive from the rubble is "almost at an end.'' But, he said, the odds were not very good to begin with. Many of the buildings were so poorly constructed that they collapsed into very small pieces, leaving very few spaces large enough for people to survive in, Alexander said. "If a frame building of some kind goes over, generally speaking we do find open spaces in a heap of rubble where we can tunnel in," Alexander said. "Looking at some of these photographs from Turkey and from Syria, there just aren't the spaces.'' Wintery conditions further reduce the window for survival. Temperatures in the region have fallen to minus 6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight. "The typical way the body compensates for hypothermia is shivering _ and shivering requires a lot of calories,'' said Dr. Stephanie Lareau, a professor of emergency medicine at Virginia Tech. "So if somebody's deprived of food for a number of days and exposed to cold temperatures, they're probably going to succumb to hypothermia more rapidly.'' A week after the quakes hit, many people were still without shelter in the streets. Some survivors were still waiting in front of collapsed buildings waiting for the bodies of their loved ones to be retrieved. Many in Turkey blame faulty construction for the vast devastation, and authorities have begun targeting contractors allegedly linked with buildings that collapsed. At least 131 people were under investigation for their alleged responsibility in the construction of buildings that failed to withstand the quakes, officials said. Turkey has introduced construction codes that meet earthquake-engineering standards, but experts say the codes are rarely enforced. In Syria, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said that the international community has failed to provide aid. Visiting the Turkish-Syrian border Sunday, Griffiths said Syrians are "looking for international help that hasn't arrived.'' "We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria. They rightly feel abandoned,'' he said, adding, "My duty and our obligation is to correct this failure as fast as we can.'' The earthquake death toll in Syria's northwestern rebel-held region has reached 2,166, according to the rescue group the White Helmets. The overall death toll in Syria stood at 3,553 on Saturday, although the 1,387 deaths reported for government-held parts of the country hadn't been updated in days. Turkey's death toll was 29,605 as of Sunday. In the Syrian capital of Damascus, the head of the World Health Organization warned that the pain will ripple forward, calling the disaster an "unfolding tragedy that's affecting millions.'' "The compounding crises of conflict, COVID, cholera, economic decline, and now the earthquake have taken an unbearable toll,'' Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Search Keywords: Short link: A 21-year-old Palestinian man was killed and at least seven others were injured Monday by Israeli troops during a new raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian officials said. The Israeli military said it carried out raids across the West Bank overnight, and said Israeli troops came under fire during the arrest of two men suspected of killing an Israeli soldier in October. The two wanted men were injured and apprehended in the alleged shootout, the military reported. The shooting comes as tensions continue to mount between both sides, with Israeli forces conducting near nightly raids killing 150 Palestinians last year in in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, making it the deadliest year in those areas since 2004, according to figures by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem. While some 46 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops since the start of 2023. In the same vein, 30 Israelis were killed by Palestinians last year, and at least 11 others since the start of the year. Israel claims that most of those killed have been militants but others not involved in confrontations, have also been killed. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians claim for their future independent state. Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military said aircraft struck at what it described as a rocket manufacturing site and military installations in the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants launched four rockets into southern Israel overnight. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Gaza-Israel frontier had been largely quiet in recent months, but has seen intermittent rocket fire and airstrikes as tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem have soared. On Sunday, at the Arab League's (AL) 'Jerusalem Support' conference in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called "on the international community and peace partners not to give in to the current political stalemate and work together to implement the two-state solution and provide appropriate conditions for resuming the peace process between Palestine and Israel. The conference was attended by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordans King Abdullah II along with high-level representation from Arab, regional and international bodies. Search Keywords: Short link: The UN Security Council meets behind closed doors Monday to address ways to boost humanitarian assistance to Syria following the devastating recent earthquake, amid growing calls to open new border crossings to deliver aid. The meeting requested by Switzerland and Brazil -- the United Nations co-leaders on the Syria humanitarian file -- will feature a presentation to council members by UN humanitarian affairs chief Martin Griffiths, who this weekend visited Turkey and Syria where anger over the pace of aid has swelled. But even before the session, his message was clear. "We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria," Griffiths said Sunday on Twitter. "They rightly feel abandoned," he said, adding that it was the international community's obligation "to correct this failure as fast as we can." The 7.8-magnitude quake that struck Syria and Turkey on February 5 has so far killed more than 35,000 people and left communities in both countries desperate for emergency help. Before the earthquake struck, almost all of the crucial humanitarian aid for the more than four million people living in rebel-controlled areas of northwestern Syria was being delivered from Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing. This is thanks to a cross-border mechanism created in 2014 by a UN resolution, contested by Damascus but also by Moscow, a permanent Security Council member with veto power, which has sought in recent years to reduce the number of crossings from four to one. Aid delivery through Bab al-Hawa was interrupted by the quake but has since resumed, and calls to open other crossings are multiplying. "People in the affected areas are counting on us," Washington's UN ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Sunday in a statement. "We must vote immediately on a resolution to heed the UN's call for authorization of additional border crossings for the delivery of humanitarian assistance." Malta's UN ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who chairs the 15-member Security Council this month, said members have yet to begin formal discussions on a resolution, "but I'm sure that we will." "We are doing our job," she said, when asked about criticism that the council was acting too slowly. "There's no point in meeting for us without the information" coming from experts on the ground, Frazier added. Search Keywords: Short link: The United States does not know if unidentified objects shot down by American warplanes in recent days were spying, the White House said Monday. Related China says more than 10 US balloons flew in its airspace "We don't know for sure whether they had a surveillance aspect to them, but we can't rule it out," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said in a press conference. The White House also said there is no sign of alien activity related to the unidentified objects, after a top US officer declined to rule it out. "There is no indication of aliens... with these recent takedowns, (I) wanted to make sure that the American people knew that," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told journalists. The day before, General Glen VanHerck -- the head of the US Northern Command -- was asked during a briefing if aliens or extraterrestrials had been ruled out. "I haven't ruled out anything. At this point, we continue to assess every threat or potential threats unknown that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it," VanHerck said. A US warplane shot down an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon on February 4 and three unidentified objects were downed in subsequent days. It is not clear whether the three unidentified objects -- shot down Friday over Alaska, Saturday over Canada and Sunday over Lake Huron -- have any connection to a much bigger white balloon that was downed over the Atlantic. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt is keen to continue enhancing its structural fiscal and monetary policy reforms and maximising the role of the private sector in the economy, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva. The president's comments came during a meeting with Georgieva which was held on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2023 that kicked off in Dubai on Monday. El-Sisi affirmed to Georgieva that enhancing fiscal and monetary policy reforms and maximising the role of the private sector should help secure a positive climate for all investors and global financial markets involved with the Egyptian economy, Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in a statement. The president hailed the fruitful and constructive cooperation between the Egyptian government and the IMF to continue the implementation of the Egyptian comprehensive economic reform programme. From her side, Georgieva praised the performance of the Egyptian economy and its resilience in the face of the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. This came as a result of the Egyptian states development vision under El-Sisis leadership that is improving the overall indicators of the Egyptian economy, Georgieva added. She also stressed the IMFs aspiration to maintain the special cooperation with Egypt and to support the countrys economic reforms. The meeting reviewed the relations between Egypt and the IMF in light of the ongoing cooperation programme between the two sides to continue the path of Egyptian economic reforms, the spokesman added. Egypt is currently engaged in an Extended Fund Facility programme that extends over 46 months, through which Egypt is to receive a total loan of $3 billion. Egypt has already received one tranche and is expected to receive the second tranche in the deal by the end of March following the completion of the first review scheduled in mid-March. Under the programme, Egypt has pledged to the IMF to unleash the potential of the private sector to play a greater role in the national economy and decrease the government footprint in the investment scene. The country is also set to apply structural reforms that address the imbalances of the macroeconomic indices in order to bridge an expected $17 billion financing gap over the coming four years. Meanwhile, in a separate meeting on Monday, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait told Georgieva that Egypt is adopting an economic reform trajectory that contributes to supporting its financial discipline and decreasing debt to GDP ratio and budget deficit. On Sunday, during the Seventh Arab Fiscal Forum in Dubai, Georgieva said Egypt is taking critical steps towards managing fiscal risks. She added Egypts government is helping manage the many fiscal risks it is experiencing, including from public guarantees and losses by state-owned enterprises. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt plans to expand the exploration and production of natural gas and technical support programmes for cadres in the petroleum sector, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla told EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson on Monday. Simson arrived in Egypt on Monday in a short visit to follow up on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the EU, Egypt, and Israel to support the REPowerEU Plan to reduce Europe's imports of Russian gas. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the EU's commissioner participation in Egypt Petroleum Show (EGYPS 2023) which opened on Sunday under the slogan North Africa and the Mediterranean: Supporting Sustainable Global Energy Supply and Demand. The MOU is meant to secure Europe's needs of natural gas through East Mediterranean gas supplies. The previous MoU, effective from 2018 to 2022, had achieved its objectives, Simson said. El-Molla said the meeting took up projects of carbon reduction, methane reduction plans, as well as technical support to the Egyptian petroleum sector along with the transition to new and renewable energy. He underlined the importance of cooperation with the European side in light of the rapid changes facing the energy market. EGYPS 2023 is gathering government representatives and energy industry leaders from the African and Mediterranean regions to tackle energy transition. Search Keywords: Short link: Russia said Monday its gas exports plummeted by 25 percent in 2022 after the Ukraine conflict brought turmoil to Moscow's ties with key buyers in Europe. The Kremlin's decision deploy troops to Ukraine in February last year was met with a flurry of sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe, which relied heavily on Russia to meet its energy needs. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the figures and attributed the fall in gas exports to "the refusal of European countries to buy Russian gas". The European Union, once the largest buyer of Russian gas, has drastically reduced its imports during 2022. In response to Russian intervention Germany scrapped the approval for the recently completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would have deepened European reliance on Russian gas supplies. And in September explosions on sections of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines under the Baltic Sea saw Washington and Moscow trade blame over the incident. Novak, writing in the specialised journal "Energy Policy," also attributed the fall in exports to "sabotage" of the pipelines. "Gas production in 2022 totalled 673.8 bcm. Exports decreased by 25.1 percent to 184.4 bcm," Novak said. He said that while gas deliveries to Europe had dropped off sharply, those to new buyers, in particular China, were rising rapidly. "The record amount of gas supplied per day by Russia through the Power of Siberia pipeline was beaten more than once," Novak said. "As a result, gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia increased by 48 percent and reached a historical maximum of 15.4 bcm." He also said that Russian oil exports had increased 7.6 percent over 2022 compared to a year earlier. Novak said that going forward Russia was working to pivot its energy exports to countries that had not imposed sanctions on Moscow or criticised the Kremlin's offensive in Ukraine. "Today we continue to seek and find new markets. This year, we plan to export more than 80 percent of oil exports and 75 percent of oil products to friendly countries," Novak said. Search Keywords: Short link: Despite rising tensions, internal troubles and a drone attack on one of its military facilities, there is still a window for a deal with Iran or at least many in the Gulf hope so. Hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris this week, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the bar of his rhetoric against Iran. According to the Israeli media, he reportedly blasted Tehran for its headlong rush into its controversial nuclear research programme that is widely seen as being aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Macrons tough position on Iran pleased his Israeli guest, who went on to describe his meeting with Macron as positive. Netanyahu stressed the very big rapprochement, focusing on the way we see the Iranian threat. The Israeli premier stressed that European and Israeli positions on Iran were gradually converging. The conversation was very good. We talked about concrete things. He [Macron] expressed willingness to consider the imposition of sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Netanyahu told the media following the meeting in Paris, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). But the EUs high Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell told reporters last month that the EU could only label the IRGC a terrorist organisation after a European Union court defined it as such. Some media commentators saw a paradigm shift in the European stance on Iran, concluding that efforts to revive a nuclear deal between Iran and the West are at an end. The deal was signed in 2015, but in 2018 former US president Donald Trump withdrew from it. Since the Biden administration came to power in 2021, negotiations to rejoin the deal as the best means to stop Tehran developing a nuclear bomb have been ongoing. Those negotiations stalled after the war in Ukraine last year, and Irans apparent support for Russia in the conflict. The impasse in talks deepened as Iran witnessed widespread demonstrations and protests following the death of a young woman who took off her hijab. Later, a new far-right Israeli government came to power, again led by Netanyahu, who is known to be the worlds most vocal critic of the Iranian regime. Yet neither the Americans nor the Europeans have officially admitted that the revival of a nuclear deal is off the table. This rising tension is almost considered a bargaining tactic, though the West is waiting to see how internal popular turmoil in Iran impacts its position. Israel seems to be taking every chance it gets to end efforts to revive the nuclear deal. Last month, a drone attack targeted a military site in Isfahan, central Iran. Iran accused Israel of launching the attack. Though no concrete evidence regarding who carried out the attack, many reports suggested different parties. Some have even claimed Kyiev played a part in the attack, in retaliation against Iran supplying drones to the Russian military operation in Ukraine. But in an interview with CNN after the attack, Netanyahu admitted Israel had been taking action against certain weapons developments in Iran but neither confirmed nor denied it had attacked the site in Isfahan. He added, I never talk about specific operations and every time some explosion takes place in the Middle East, Israel is blamed or given responsibility: sometimes we are, sometimes were not. It is not the first time attacks believed to be by Israel have targeted Iran. Some of these attacks were followed by strikes against ships in the Gulf or Indian Ocean. Though Iran denied involvement, it was believed to be behind them since some of those vessels were Israeli. The latest attack raised the spectre of America changing its position on Iran, especially as the attack happened in the middle of a flurry of visits by American senior figures to Tel Aviv. Some media outlets in the region started to portray the development as an Israeli and American agreement to launch a war on Iran. But that doesnt seem to be the case, as Gulf capitals are actually wary of the escalation. Following the attack on Isfahan, the United Arab Emirates Presidential Diplomatic Adviser Anwar Gargash took to Twitter to describe the blast as something that is not in the interest of the region or its future. He wrote, there is no alternative to dialogue and a political solution to avoid escalation. Some might argue that the Gulf countries position on Iran is not the same, and Saudi Arabia might be for war on Iran. But Saudi political commentator Abdul- Aziz Alkhames told Al-Ahram Weekly that this is not true. I dont see escalation to a war on Iran. On the contrary, I think there is still a chance for revival of the nuclear deal with the West. It is a known Iranian tactic: they keep blackmailing the world and at the eleventh hour they compromise and go for a deal, he said. Yet, Alkhames suggests the Israelis are keen to normalise relations with Riyadh and would use shared opposition to Tehran to that end. Netanyahu tries to placate Saudi Arabia by talking tough on Iran. He plays on the Saudis well-known resentment of Iranian aggressive meddling in the regions affairs. In a very volatile situation like the one the region is going through now, nothing can be ruled out. But the bottom line is that the Gulf Arab countries are not keen on a war on Iran not because they approve of Iranian policies, but because they anticipate the unsettling consequences of a military conflict. Some analysts do not agree that the US is fully supporting Israeli escalation. Andrew Hammond of Oxford University told Al-Ahram Weekly he doesnt think the US authorised a war on Iran, though he accepts that they were certainly in the loop about the drone attack, especially since the Israelis did it when CIA Chief Burns, then Secretary of State Blinken was visiting. But Hammond is not ruling out further escalation next year though it might have dangerous potential. Its the Israelis window for action because 2024 will be a year of presidential campaigning in the US, so better to stoke things up to war level with Iran now. Secondly, its a new [Israeli] government in power that wants to make its mark. The feeling in the Gulf is that skirmishes might continue, but the prospect of a full-blown war on Iran is not expected. It is almost a situation of wait and see, even if the Israelis continue a push for war. * A version of this article appears in print in the 9 February, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: "This the moment of support, the moment of assistance," senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine told reporters in Lebanon's capital Beirut. It comes six days after a devastating earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 33,000 people in total, including over 3,500 in Syria. Latakia, located in Syria's northwestern region, is a stronghold for President Bashar al-Assad. The Iran-backed Hezbollah is a key ally of Assad's regime and has openly been fighting alongside his forces since April 2013. Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian conflict has helped tip the scales in favour of Assad on many fronts. Adnan Moqadem, general director of civil defence in Hezbollah's health authority, said this first convoy "will be followed by others". The convoy, carrying "food, health and household supplies", will be delivered to the Red Crescent and Syrian officials, Moqadem said. The trucks carried banners marked with both the Syrian flag and of Hezbollah. Lebanon has adopted a policy of dissociation from Syria's years-long war but on Wednesday, it sent its first high-level official delegation and rescue team to Damascus since the start of the conflict. The delegation met with Assad and expressed readiness to open Lebanon's air and sea ports to help send aid to Syria. On Saturday, two Italian planes arrived at Beirut airport, carrying medical aid to be sent to Syria. Hamza, a distinguished civil engineer, left the country in 2019 amid a an investigation in legal complaint that accused him of inciting against the government. In October 2020, the High Emergency State Security Court placed Hamza on the terrorism lists and sentenced him to six months in prison in absentia over charges of inciting violence and spreading false news. On Thursday, the investigation authorities removed Hamza from the travel ban and arrival watch lists. In January of last year, authorities also removed his name from terrorism lists. Shortly after landing at Cairo International Airport from Beirut, Hamza posted a video on his Facebook saying he was received at the airport by a high-ranking officer who welcomed him home as one of Egypt's "loyal sons." He stressed in the video that he is optimistic because of the removal of his name from the watch-list, describing it as a sign of openness" and that the country "is moving in the right direction." I hope that this openness extends beyond me beacause I have met so many other loyal sons abroad and there are also many loyal sons in prison, Hamza said. In recent months, Egypt has released hundreds of pretrial political detainees and pardoned many prominent figures who had received final jail sentences in various cases as the government embarked on a national dialogue with various forces to discuss national priorities on economic and social issues. Hamza told private news website Masrawy that he will be standing for a retrial on 30 June. Prominent Egyptian political activist and opposition figure Mamdouh Hamza, 75, returned home on Sunday - after more than three years abroad - a few days after his name was removed from the arrival watch-list. Hamza, a distinguished civil engineer, left the country in 2019 amid a an investigation in legal complaint that accused him of inciting against the government. In October 2020, the High Emergency State Security Court placed Hamza on the terrorism lists and sentenced him to six months in prison in absentia over charges of inciting violence and spreading false news. On Thursday, the investigation authorities removed Hamza from the travel ban and arrival watch lists. In January of last year, authorities also removed his name from terrorism lists. Shortly after landing at Cairo International Airport from Beirut, Hamza posted a video on his Facebook saying he was received at the airport by a high-ranking officer who welcomed him home as one of Egypt's "loyal sons." He stressed in the video that he is optimistic because of the removal of his name from the watch-list, describing it as a sign of openness" and that the country "is moving in the right direction." I hope that this openness extends beyond me beacause I have met so many other loyal sons abroad and there are also many loyal sons in prison, Hamza said. In recent months, Egypt has released hundreds of pretrial political detainees and pardoned many prominent figures who had received final jail sentences in various cases as the government embarked on a national dialogue with various forces to discuss national priorities on economic and social issues. Hamza told private news website Masrawy that he will be standing for a retrial on 30 June. Search Keywords: Short link: The FAA confirmed to VOA News that airspace over Montana was closed to civilian aircraft for several hours on Saturday evening "to support Department of Defense activities." Montana Congressman Matt Rosendale said an object was spotted and "the DOD will resume efforts to observe and ground the object in the morning." The airspace was later reopened, an FAA spokesman said. Trudeau spoke with President Joe Biden, who also ordered the object to be shot down. Canadian and U.S. jets operating as part of NORAD were scrambled, and it was a U.S. jet that shot down the object using an AIM 9X missile. Later Saturday night in the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration closed some Montana airspace. The U.S. and Canada continued to monitor the object in Canadian airspace, with Canadian CF-18 and CP-140 aircraft joining the formation to further assess the object, Ryder's statement said. Two F-22 aircraft from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, monitored the object over U.S. airspace with the assistance of Alaska Air National Guard refueling aircraft, tracking it closely and taking time to characterize the nature of the object, according to a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary, Brigadier General Pet Ryder. The object crossed into Canadian airspace on Saturday. North American Aerospace Defense Command, the combined U.S.-Canada organization that provides shared defense of airspace over the two nations, detected the object flying at a high altitude Friday evening over Alaska, U.S. officials said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that on his order a U.S. fighter jet shot down an "unidentified object" that was flying high over Canada's Yukon Territory, acting a day after the U.S. took similar action over Alaska. U.S. F-22 fighter jets have now taken down three objects in the airspace above the U.S. and Canada over seven days, a stunning development that is raising questions about what is hovering overhead and who has sent them. At least one of the objects downed was believed to be a spy balloon from China, but the other two have not yet been publicly identified. While Trudeau described the object Saturday as "unidentified," a NORAD spokesman, Major Olivier Gallant, said the military had determined what it was but would not reveal details. Trudeau said Canadian forces would recover the wreckage for study. The Yukon is westernmost Canadian territory and the among the least populated part of Canada. Just about a day earlier, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said an object roughly the size of a small car was shot out of the skies above remote Alaska. Officials couldn't say if it contained any surveillance equipment, where it came from, or what purpose it had. Kirby said it was shot down because it was flying at an altitude of about 13,000 meters and posed a "reasonable threat" to the safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance. According to U.S. Northern Command, recovery operations continued Saturday on sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska. In a statement, the Northern Command said there were no new details on what the object was. It said the Alaska Command and the Alaska National Guard, along with the FBI and local law enforcement, were conducting search and recovery. "Arctic weather conditions, including wind chill, snow, and limited daylight, are a factor in this operation, and personnel will adjust recovery operations to maintain safety," the statement said. On Feb. 4, U.S. officials shot down a large white balloon off the coast of South Carolina. The Pentagon has said the balloon was part of a large surveillance program that China has been conducting for "several years." The U.S. has said Chinese balloons have flown over dozens of countries across five continents in recent years, and it learned more about the balloon program after closely monitoring the one shot down near South Carolina. China responded that it reserved the right to "take further actions" and criticized the U.S. for "an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice." The Navy continued survey and recovery activities on the ocean floor off South Carolina, and the U.S. Coast Guard was providing security. Additional debris was pulled out Friday, and additional operations will continue as weather permits, Northern Command said. Many people are still wearing masks both indoors and out although they no longer have to. Particularly young people who have spent nearly three years of their short lives behind masks are experiencing anxiety without them. In a poll of 2,200 people by Lotte last month, before the indoor mask mandate was lifted, 59 percent of respondents opposed it. Some 13.7 percent said they were against because they feel awkward without a mask. A 28-year-old high school teacher who has been in the job for four years has not shown her bare face to students yet. "New teachers, who started teaching in the coronavirus pandemic feel awkward not wearing a mask because they've never been in class without it," she said. "Several of my colleagues are saying they'll keep their mask on in class for the time being." Seoul city will offer extended childcare service until late at night to help parents with young children. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said on Sunday that 12 designated kindergartens in the capital will be open until 10 p.m. from March. Those kindergartens will stay open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. after their usual daytime service ends, from Monday to Saturday except public holidays. Licensed childcare providers and kindergarten teachers will care for the children, while dinner will be offered at no extra cost. The service is available to any parent with children aged 3 to 5 attending nursery school or kindergarten. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to allow the United Nations to temporarily use two additional border crossings from Turkey to get aid to earthquake victims inside Syria. "I welcome the decision today by President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to open the two crossing points of Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra'ee from Turkiye to northwest Syria for an initial period of three months to allow for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid," Guterres said in a statement while the Security Council met on the issue. "As the toll of the 6 February earthquake continues to mount, delivering food, health, nutrition, protection, shelter, winter supplies and other lifesaving supplies to all the millions of people affected is of the utmost urgency," the UN chief added. The announcement came hours after his humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, met with Assad and senior Syrian officials in Damascus. Griffiths has called in recent days for the regime to open more access for humanitarians. "President al-Assad affirmed the need for bringing in the urgent aid to all areas in Syria, including those that are subjected to occupation and the dominance of the armed terrorist groups," the official Syrian news agency SANA said about the meeting. Griffiths was in a private meeting briefing the council remotely when the secretary-general made the announcement. If Assad had failed to agree to the access, it could have led to a contentious effort in the 15-nation council to have the request approved in a resolution. Megalaboratorul din Spania care producea 200 de kilograme de cocaina pe zi / Era cel mai mare din Europa si se lucra 24 de ore din 24 KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2023 - 16:17 | All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida skipped a planned speech on Monday after undergoing endoscopic surgery for nasal congestion late last week. Kishida, who has been in good condition following the surgery over the weekend, resumed his official duties, but it is still difficult for him to speak for a long time, a government official said. He was supposed to give his address at Kyodo News headquarters in Tokyo. The premier, who has suffered from chronic sinusitis causing nasal congestion and other symptoms, such as headaches, underwent the surgery at a hospital in Tokyo on Saturday. After returning to his official residence later in the day, Kishida went to the hospital again for post-operative care the following day. On Monday, Kishida told reporters he is recovering "well" while sending a pre-recorded video message to the Kyodo News event. In the video message, Kishida said he will "politely explain" his government's policies to the public amid growing concern that he could carry out large-scale tax hikes to boost defense spending and cover the costs of implementing measures to facilitate child-rearing. As Kishida was placed under general anesthetic during the surgery, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno temporarily stepped in for the prime minister. Related coverage: Japan's PM undergoes surgery for chronic sinusitis KYODO NEWS - Feb 14, 2023 - 23:00 | All, Japan, World The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Gov't nominates academic Kazuo Ueda as next Bank of Japan governor TOKYO - The Japanese government on Tuesday presented Kazuo Ueda to parliament as its nominee for the next Bank of Japan governor, putting the academic and former member of the BOJ's decision-making body forward to replace Haruhiko Kuroda in its first leadership change in a decade. The new leadership is seen as attuned to the daunting challenges facing the central bank, from addressing the side effects of years of monetary easing under Kuroda that has distorted bond markets and expanded the BOJ's balance sheet to paving the way for future policy normalization. ---------- Japan GDP up 0.6% in Oct.-Dec. on pent-up demand but inflation bites TOKYO - Japan's economy grew at an annualized real 0.6 percent in October-December, helped by a sustained recovery in private consumption in the aftermath of antivirus curbs, but the first expansion in two quarters was far weaker than expected, government data showed Tuesday. Adjusted for inflation, real gross domestic product increased 0.2 percent from the previous quarter, according to the Cabinet Office's preliminary data. ---------- Shoichiro Toyoda, who turned Toyota into global automaker, dies at 97 NAGOYA - Shoichiro Toyoda, the honorary chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. who transformed the Japanese automaker into a leading global brand, died of heart failure on Tuesday, the company said. He was 97. Toyoda, a third-generation scion of the founding family who inherited its stake in the business, is credited with establishing a culture of quality control that helped Toyota evolve into a world-leading automaker. He was also responsible for pushing Toyota, which had started life as a loom manufacturer, to produce vehicles overseas. ---------- China urges U.S. to thoroughly probe alleged illegal balloon flights BEIJING - China repeated its claim on Tuesday that U.S. high-altitude balloons have illegally flown over its airspace more than 10 times since last year, urging Washington to thoroughly investigate the matter and provide an explanation. The United States on Monday flatly denied the Chinese claim, with White House national security spokesman John Kirby saying it is "just absolutely not true." ---------- Japan to buy Tomahawks in one go from U.S. in FY 2023 TOKYO - Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Tuesday Japan plans to buy all the Tomahawk cruise missiles it is seeking from the United States in one go in fiscal 2023 rather than over several years as initially planned. Hamada, speaking at a press conference, did not give a reason for the change of plan or say how many of the U.S.-developed long-range missiles the government would buy, saying only that it is eyeing procuring "all of the required quantity" in the year starting April. ---------- JOC head Yamashita downbeat after latest Tokyo Olympics arrests TOKYO - Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita stated Tuesday that the latest arrests of a former Tokyo Olympic organizing committee executive and others over bid-rigging allegations dealt a further blow to the images of sports and the Olympics. "It's true that the images of sports and the Olympics were marred again," Yamashita said after the organizing committee's former operations executive, Yasuo Mori, and three others were arrested on Feb. 8. ---------- G-7 foreign ministerial talks eyed on fringes of Munich conference TOKYO - Japan is arranging a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on the sidelines of an upcoming international security conference in Germany, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said as he announced his plan to visit Munich from Friday. The gathering of the top diplomats, the first since Japan assumed the G-7 presidency this year, is expected to take place on Saturday, according to a government source, about a week before the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. ---------- Japan delays launch of new H3 rocket to Fri. due to bad weather TOKYO - Japan's space agency on Tuesday delayed the maiden launch of its new H3 rocket to later in the week due to unfavorable weather conditions, the latest in a string of postponements. The H2A rocket's successor, which was scheduled to be launched on Wednesday, is now slated to take off on Friday between 10:37 a.m. and 10:44 a.m. from the Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima Island in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said. ---------- Video: Ukrainian territorial defense forces train in snow KYODO NEWS - Feb 14, 2023 - 02:07 | All, World A U.S. fighter jet on Sunday shot down an unidentified object flying over Lake Huron in Michigan on the orders of President Joe Biden, the Defense Department said, citing a potential hazard to civil aviation. It was the fourth flying object downed by the U.S. military over North American airspace this month. The stepped-up air defense activity began when a suspected Chinese balloon started traversing the continental United States late last month. It was shot down on Feb. 4 off the coast of South Carolina. It is also the third day in a row that the U.S. military has shot down an unidentified object, an unusual development in peacetime. Compared with the huge Chinese balloon, which was equipped with multiple antennas and solar panels and could independently maneuver, the three other objects were smaller and similar in that they all traveled at wind speed, U.S. officials suggested. The fourth object, flying at an altitude of about 6 kilometers, was reportedly an octagonal structure with strings hanging off it. It was downed at 2:42 p.m. by an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile fired from an F-16 fighter, according to Pat Ryder, the department's press secretary. Ryder said in a statement that the object was detected by the North American Aerospace Defense Command in the morning and that the location used for the downing was chosen to avoid affecting people on the ground and to raise the chances of recovering debris. The Pentagon said the object, based on its flight path, likely traveled over Montana near "sensitive" military sites and had potential surveillance capabilities, although it did not pose a military threat. On Saturday, an unidentified flying object that entered the territorial airspace of Canada was shot down by a U.S. F-22 fighter jet belonging to the defense command operated by the two countries. Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand described it as "a small cylindrical object" flying at an altitude of around 12 km. It was destroyed over the country's Yukon territory. A day earlier, another flying object was downed over Alaska. The origin of the three objects shot down after the Chinese balloon remains unknown. Beijing has insisted its balloon was a civilian airship for weather research. Asked whether the three objects belonged to China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference Monday, "irresponsible remarks should not be made without clear evidence." Wang also said U.S. high-altitude balloons have illegally flown over China's airspace more than 10 times since last year. He added Beijing responded to the incidents in a "responsible and professional" manner without providing further details. "The United States should first reflect upon itself and change course instead of smearing other countries and fanning confrontation," Wang said. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday flatly rejected the Chinese claim, saying it is "just absolutely not true." "We are not flying balloons over China," Kirby said in an interview with MSNBC. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was briefed by Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan, said Sunday that U.S. officials believe the objects shot down over Alaska and Canada in the previous two days were balloons but that they were "much smaller" than the Chinese one, estimated to have been the size of three buses. Meanwhile, Chinese media reported Sunday that the marine development bureau of Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong Province has alerted fishing boats operating in waters off the Shandong Peninsula about an unidentified flying object, saying relevant authorities were preparing to shoot it down. If the object, spotted some 60 km south of the peninsula, falls nearby after being downed, fishing boat personnel were asked to take pictures of the debris. Qingdao hosts a naval base of the Chinese military's Northern Theater Command. So far, no official announcements have been made about the downing of the unidentified object. There has been speculation on social media that the United States may have dispatched it for reconnaissance or that China may have sent the object. Related coverage: U.S. jet shoots down unidentified flying object over Canada: PM U.S. military downs unknown object over Alaska Chinese military unit involved in balloon operation: sources KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2023 - 14:28 | All, Japan A woman on Monday denied murdering her husband in 2011 with the help of her son, a former doctor who has been indicted for allegedly taking part in the consensual killing of a terminally ill woman. Junko Yamamoto, 78, told the Kyoto District Court that she "did not kill" her husband Yasushi with the help of their son Naoki, 45, and 44-year-old doctor Yoshikazu Okubo, his acquaintance. According to the indictment, the three allegedly had Yasushi, then 77, discharged on March 5, 2011, from a hospital in Nagano Prefecture where he had been undergoing treatment for a mental disorder. It is alleged he was taken to an apartment in Tokyo and murdered later that day by unknown means. According to her lawyer, Junko said she did not know how Yasushi died and questioned whether the incident amounted to a murder. But prosecutors contend Junko conspired with her son and Okubo to murder Yasushi because he was considered burdensome due to his mental illness. They stressed Yasushi was not in a condition where he was expected to die immediately after leaving hospital. Naoki was sentenced last Tuesday to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering his father. The incident came to light after Naoki and Okubo were indicted in 2020 for allegedly consensually giving a 51-year-old female sufferer of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a lethal dose of a sedative at her home in Kyoto in November 2019. Euthanasia is not legally recognized in Japan. The case involving the woman's death is ongoing and Naoki and Okubo will be tried separately, with no trial dates yet confirmed. Related coverage: Philippine-returned suspect also allegedly had scam base in Thailand Man charged with murder for fatally stabbing ex-girlfriend in Fukuoka Suspect charged again in killing of family of 3 near Tokyo in Dec. KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2023 - 21:18 | World, All The Philippine Coast Guard said Monday a Chinese Coast Guard vessel recently aimed a "military-grade" laser at its ship on a resupply mission in the contested waters of the South China Sea, temporarily blinding some of its crew. The Philippine Coast Guard also alleged that the Chinese ship "made dangerous maneuvers" in the incident on Feb. 6, sailing about 140 meters from one of their boats near the Manila-controlled Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands chain. The Chinese ship's directing of the green laser toward the vessel on two occasions, alongside the "deliberate blocking" of the Philippine Coast Guard's vessel, was "a blatant disregard for and a clear violation of Philippine sovereign rights in this part" of the South China Sea, it said in a statement. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Armando Balilo told Kyodo News it was the first time the Chinese Coast Guard committed such an act against the country's coast guard ship. The Philippines intentionally grounded a ship at the Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to enforce its claim in the area and has been delivering food and supplies to military personnel staying there aboard the ship in rotation. China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan all lay claim to the Spratlys, either in part or in whole. China's claims in the South China Sea, an area rich in minerals and a critical trade route, are considered the most expansive. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin claimed at a news conference that the Philippine ship intruded into the area unauthorized, saying China responded professionally and with restraint, in accordance with international law. "We urge the Philippine side to respect China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, avoid actions that might escalate the situation," he said, adding that Beijing has been maintaining communications with Manila on the matter. Related coverage: China, Philippines to manage South China Sea differences peacefully China, Philippines agree to "properly handle" South China Sea issue China "forcefully" seizes likely rocket debris from Philippine Navy KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2023 - 20:38 | All, Japan Police on Monday referred the man indicted for murdering former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to prosecutors on five additional charges, including of making a gun and damaging a building by test-firing it, according to investigative sources. The additional charges against 42-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, which among them also include the violation of public office election law, have concluded police investigations into the deadly shooting last July that shocked the nation. Yamagami is believed to have test-fired a weapon at a facility in Nara connected to the Unification Church on July 7, a day before the fatal shooting, in addition to making handguns and gunpowder without authorization, they said. He is also charged with obstructing Abe's election activities by shooting him. In January, after around six months of psychiatric evaluation by prosecutors, the former Maritime Self-Defense Force member was indicted for murder and violating the firearms control law. Abe, Japan's longest-serving leader, died on July 8 after being shot at close range while giving a campaign speech in the western city two days ahead of a House of Councillors election. Yamagami was arrested on the spot. He told investigators that he had held a grudge against the Unification Church, a South Korea-based religious group known for its mass weddings and aggressive donation solicitations, after his mother's substantial financial donations caused their family to fall apart. He was quoted as saying he targeted Abe because Nobusuke Kishi, his grandfather and former prime minister, "invited it into" Japan. Kishi is known for forging strong ties with an anti-Communist group launched by the church in 1968. The assassination has brought to light links between politicians, particularly members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and the controversial church, as well as traumas experienced by "second-generation" family members of religious groups and their daily struggles. Facing both scrutiny and pressure from the public, the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pushed to enact a law banning organizations from maliciously soliciting donations. The law took effect in January. Meanwhile, some of Yamagami's sympathizers have sent him food, clothes and cash totaling over 1 million yen ($7,500) from across the country, according to sources familiar with the matter. He wants to use the money "for the people suffering from the harm wrought" by the Unification Church, one of the sources quoted him as saying. Related coverage: FOCUS: Ex-PM Abe shooter trial to face issue of sympathy for church "victim" Man indicted for fatally shooting ex-Japan PM Abe during speech KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2023 - 21:52 | All, World The death toll from a powerful earthquake that devastated southern Turkey and neighboring Syria surpassed 35,000 on Monday, according to figures collated from the two countries. With a week passing since the disaster, chances to find survivors are becoming increasingly slim as rescuers continue to scour fallen buildings in the bitter cold, with concerns rising over a potential outbreak of unrest as desperation sets in. Martin Griffiths, the U.N. undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, visited southern Turkey on Saturday and said he expects the death toll to "double or more," according to Britain's Sky News. Worries over security have been growing after Turkish authorities on Saturday arrested more than 90 people for looting and theft, seizing guns and rifles, among other items. German news agency dpa reported German and Austrian rescue teams had temporarily halted activities due to safety concerns. Rescue teams from around the world have rushed to provide aid to the affected regions after the massive temblor. A Japanese emergency rescue and medical team consisting of five people arrived on Saturday in southern Turkey to gather information on the situation. It plans to provide medical care once a 35-member team, which left Japan on Sunday evening, lands in the region, the government said. A separate 73-member emergency and rescue team from Japan is already on the ground helping in the search for survivors. On Monday morning, a Japanese government plane left an Air Self-Defense Force base on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido for Turkey to deliver medical and other supplies. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said Sunday that more than 1 million people are currently in temporary shelters. At a news conference in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Japan is arranging emergency financial support as official development assistance to Turkey and Syria. Matsuno, the top government spokesman, did not provide details, however. The World Health Organization has so far provided Syria with a total of 110 tons of medical aid, chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference Sunday, adding survivors were also in need of psychological support. A plane carrying relief aid from Belarus landed on Sunday in an area under the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government, according to the country's state Syrian Arab News Agency. Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a convoy of emergency vehicles from Saudi Arabia entered the heavily damaged regions of northwestern Syria, which are under the control of forces opposed to al-Assad's rule, via southern Turkey. Despite the dire situation, local media reported a 40-year-old woman was found alive in the rubble in the southern Turkish province of Gaziantep 170 hours after the earthquake. There have been 31,643 recorded deaths in Turkey, with the death toll in affected regions in Syria topping 3,500. Related coverage: Japan to send SDF aircraft to Turkey for quake relief Turkey, Syria quake death toll tops 21,000 as rescue efforts continue Japan plans more aid as Turkey quake death toll climbs to over 10,000 RAMALLAH, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian authorities on Sunday rejected and condemned the Israeli cabinet's decision to legalize nine Israeli settlement outposts, which had been recently constructed in the West Bank. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said that "today's decision of the Israeli cabinet to legalize nine illegal settlement outposts is a challenge to the Arab and international efforts and a provocation to the Palestinian people." "These unilateral measures are unacceptable under the international resolutions and the signed bilateral agreements and will lead to more tension and escalation," he said in a press statement sent to reporters. After a six-hour meeting on Sunday evening, the Israeli cabinet overwhelmingly agreed to recognize nine settlement outposts that had been set up recently in the West Bank, reported Israeli media. Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said in a statement that the Israeli cabinet's decisions are just an "open war against the Palestinians". Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 and established dozens of settlements there, which are considered a violation of international law. The settlement issue is the most prominent aspect of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and one of the main reasons for halting the last direct peace negotiations between the two sides in 2014. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's number of charging infrastructure facilities nearly doubled in 2022, thanks to the country's commitment to boosting the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, National Energy Administration official Liang Changxin said on Monday. The cumulative number of charging infrastructure facilities nationwide has hit 5.2 million, Liang told a press conference. Some 650,000 public-charging points for electric vehicles were added last year, bringing the total to 1.8 million units, he said. A total of 1.9 million private charging facilities were installed in 2022, and the total number of these facilities topped 3.4 million units, he added. Thanks to years of rapid expansion, China now has built the world's largest and the most extensive-coverage charging infrastructure network, according to Liang. The administration said it will work with related government departments to further improve the top-level design and policy coordination, optimize the charging network layout, and enhance government oversight to better develop the charging industry. DAMASCUS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- 4,300 deaths and 7,600 injuries have been reported in northwestern Syria as a result of the massive earthquake that hit the country a week ago, a UN relief agency said Monday. The tally reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs does not include the condition in government-controlled areas. The district with the highest death toll and injuries as of Sunday is Harim, followed by Afrin and Jebel Saman in northwestern Syria, said the agency. The Syrian health ministry said in an update on Sunday night that 1,414 people in the country had been killed and 2,349 wounded. Meanwhile, the latest statistics from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights showed that the quake has killed about 5,329 people in government and rebel-held areas. Photo taken on May 27, 2022 shows farming machines equipped with BeiDou Navigation Satellite System working at an unmanned farm in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) GUIYANG, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Long, who works at a railroad signal workshop, used to worry a great deal about the safety of maintenance personnel during the annual Spring Festival holiday, as increased passenger and train traffic due to travel rush leave less time for maintenance. Thanks to the introduction of a personnel protection system supported by the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) ahead of the Spring Festival this year, Zhao's concerns have been put to rest. China's homegrown BDS is being integrated into an increasing number of application scenarios such as positioning, navigation, and international search and rescue. "The new system allows operators to obtain precise real-time positions of the maintenance personnel along the railways, as they hold terminal devices. Operators at the workshop can guide the on-site maintenance staff through video or voice commands. If they walk out of the secure area, the terminal triggers an alarm," explained Zhao, who has been working at the signal workshop in southwest China's Guizhou Province for a decade. "The new system can better protect the safety of workers." The new system integrates high-precision positioning technology, electronic fence technology based on GIS, train navigation terminal, Internet of Things and other high-tech features, providing protection for train stations, locomotives and workers, said Yi Pei, a sales manager of BeiDou's business division at Hi-Target International Group Limited. To date, the new system has been installed at over 600 train stations and covers over 10,000 km of railway lines. More than 15,000 terminals are in use, Yi added. BeiDou navigation technology has also been used in the agriculture sector. In Botou City, north China's Hebei Province, large corn harvesters have been equipped with autopilots to realize complete automatic harvesting. "There are more than 200 sets of intelligent agricultural machinery in the city, including drones, sprayers, seeders, tractors and harvesters, all of which are equipped with BeiDou navigation system," said Li Tielian, director of the city's agricultural and rural affairs bureau. BeiDou's positioning technology has assisted the traffic police in obtaining evidence, dispatching emergency personnel or undertaking rescue operations, and conducting data analysis. The deep integration of BeiDou and big data, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence has been widely used in the fields of transportation, energy, agriculture, communications, meteorology, natural resources, ecological environment, emergency response and disaster relief. According to the white paper "China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System in the New Era" released in November 2022, the BDS has entered the fast lane of large-scale application. In 2021, the overall output value of China's satellite navigation and positioning service industry reached about 470 billion yuan (about 69.24 billion U.S. dollars), the white paper said. This photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows the sea port in Tripoli, Libya. A cruise line between Libya and Tunisia was launched on Sunday for the first time in over 11 years. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A cruise line between Libya and Tunisia was launched on Sunday for the first time in over 11 years. The launch ceremony of the cruise line was attended by the Minister of Transport Mohamed al-Shuhubi, the Tunisian Ambassador to Libya al-As'ad al-Ajli, and a number of senior Libyan officials, the Libyan Ministry of Transport said in a statement. Efforts will be made in the future to launch several cruise lines from Libya to several neighboring countries, the statement added. "The Libyans were waiting for the launch of this cruise line for over a decade. The first trip will be from (the capital) Tripoli to (Tunisia's) Zarzis. We are working to launch cruise lines to Malta, Morocco, and Egypt," Ala al-Sokni, director of the Tripoli marine passenger station, told Xinhua. Two years ago, the Libyan government launched a cruise line between Libya and Turkiye for the first time in over 20 years, a step aimed at promoting the partnership between the two countries' public and private sectors, according to the Ministry of Transport. This photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows the sea port in Tripoli, Libya. A cruise line between Libya and Tunisia was launched on Sunday for the first time in over 11 years. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) GUIYANG, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The China International Big Data Industry Expo 2023 will take place in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, from May 26 to 28, according to a provincial big data conference held on Monday. The offline exhibition will have six pavilions covering an area of 60,000 square meters, and the preparatory work for the event is underway. The expo has been held in Guiyang since 2015 and is the first of its kind in China, forming a communication platform for vital achievements in the big data industry. As the country's first national big data comprehensive pilot zone, Guizhou Province has been promoting the big data industry as a backbone of its high-quality social and economic development. In 2022, Guizhou accelerated the development of the big data industry and the province's added value of the electronic information manufacturing industry rose by more than 60 percent, according to a government work report. A medical worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination point of a shopping mall in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jan. 8, 2022. (Photo by Nedim Grabovica/Xinhua) The discarded doses equal to about 20 percent of vaccine doses Sweden has procured, according to Swedish Public Health Agency's statistics, Radio Sweden reported. STOCKHOLM, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sweden has discarded nearly 8.5 million doses of vaccines against COVID-19, local media reported on Sunday. The discarded doses equal to about 20 percent of vaccine doses Sweden has procured, according to Swedish Public Health Agency's statistics, Radio Sweden reported. Richard Bergstrom, Sweden's former national vaccine coordinator, told Radio Sweden that the total value of the discarded doses was 1.5 billion Swedish kronor (143 million U.S. dollars). A child receives a shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) The main reason for doses being discarded was the fact that individuals had not had their booster doses as expected, Bergstrom explained. "The bulk is doses that people have chosen not to take, in other words, the third, fourth, or fifth (booster) dose. These were already purchased and now have to be destructed," said Bergstrom. As of Thursday, 88.2 percent of all individuals aged 18 or over have received at least one dose, while 86.4 percent have received two doses or more, Swedish Public Health Agency's statistics show. Addressing the global COVID-19 vaccine disparity already in 2021, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that six times more COVID-19 boosters were administered a day globally than primary doses in low-income countries. Countries with the highest vaccine coverage "continue to stockpile more vaccines," while "low-income countries continue to wait" for the shots -- "a scandal that must stop now." A man receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan, July 17, 2022. (Photo by Zakrullh Yazdani/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect a pharmacy damaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Feb. 13, 2023. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian was killed, and five were injured early on Monday by Israeli soldiers during clashes in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian medics and eyewitnesses said. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Nablus said that Amir Bustami, 21, died in the hospital due to severe injuries after being shot by Israeli soldiers. It said in a statement that the five others were moderately injured during clashes between dozens of Palestinian young men and the Israeli armed forces. Palestinian eyewitnesses in Nablus told Xinhua that an Israeli troop stormed the city at predawn and surrounded a building to arrest Palestinian suspects, during which gunfire could be heard all over the city. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that its security forces entered Nablus to arrest Palestinian suspects over attacks against Israel, and have seized five of them. The IDF confirmed a shootout between soldiers and the wanted persons took place "during the attempt to arrest the suspects," and that two M-16 weapons were confiscated during searches of the building. Tension has been mounting in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, mainly after the formation of the Israeli right-wing government headed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinians clean up a pharmacy damaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Feb. 13, 2023. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) Relatives of Palestinian Amir Bustami mourn during his funeral in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Feb. 13, 2023. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Amir Bustami during his funeral in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Feb. 13, 2023. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) Housing consumption is expected to serve as a key economic stabilizer for local governments this year, as a number of cities and provinces are including promotion of housing consumption in their development plans. Experts predicted a noticeable recovery of the housing market in the second quarter, with home consumption playing an important role in driving up the economy. Shanghai said on Jan 29 that it would work this year to strengthen housing demand, meet reasonable financing requirements of property developers and ensure the stable and healthy development of the local real estate market. Home consumption is regarded as a key driver for economic growth, not only because of the large existing demand for leasing and trading for living rather than speculative purposes, but also for the huge potential throughout the property sector industrial chain, said Li Yujia, chief researcher at the Guangdong Housing Policy Research Center. On Jan 28, Guangdong province voiced support for housing consumption, including differentiated mortgage policies from city to city and favorable tax measures for owner-occupied homes. "Upholding the principle that houses are for living in, not for speculation, local governments are taking differentiated measures to release the existing homebuying demand and put a lid on speculative activities at the same time," said Chen Jie, director of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Center for Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Liaoning province announced on Jan 27 that it would encourage reasonable housing consumption by such measures as providing equal subsidies and support to homebuyers of new as well as pre-owned homes. Some cities followed suit. Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, announced on Feb 6 a package of measures to stabilize its economy, including easing the purchase restriction in the home market by allowing families to buy an extra apartment in the city. Along with the constant introduction and optimization of policies that aim to boost the virtuous cycle and healthy development of the real estate sector, indexes for property development investment, commercial housing sales and capital for property development are all expected to improve, said Pang Ming, chief economist at JLL China. Pang said he expects real estate sales to see distinct recovery momentum in the first half of this year, especially in the second quarter. Li, the researcher at the Guangdong Housing Policy Research Center, said that local governments' decisions have been a good response to the tone-setting annual Central Economic Work Conference in December. The conference emphasized the significance of achieving stable growth in the real estate sector as well as unleashing housing consumption potential. The meeting also stated that priority would be given to the recovery and expansion of consumption, especially regarding better living conditions, new energy vehicles and elderly care, by raising people's income through multiple channels. "All the positive elements will effectively support a soft landing of the property market, making the sector a positive contributor to steady investment and economic growth," said Pang. In Shanghai, transaction volume of pre-owned residential apartments increased 60 percent week-on-week during the first weekend of February, and visits made to homes for sale rose between 30 and 40 percent during the same period, according to Yang Yulei, chief analyst at the Shanghai Lianjia Research Institute. A similar trend was also seen in Beijing. "I sold two apartments on Saturday alone, and brought four groups of clients to check residential flats on the spot. In fact, I was too busy to have a whole meal through the weekend," a property agent in the capital city's Fengtai district was quoted as saying by the Securities Times. Li, the researcher, said, "As home prices in first-tier cities are not falling anymore, a rebound may be felt in the latter part of the first half, with other second- and third-tier cities to follow closely." ALEPPO, Syria, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN relief chief said in quake-hit Syria on Monday that as the UN relief efforts enter a humanitarian phase, the urgency is to cover such needs as shelter, food and schooling. Martin Griffiths, UN under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said the plan now is to cover three months of humanitarian needs in Syria. "Now (in) the humanitarian phase, the urgency is providing shelter, it's like social care, food, schooling and a sense of the future for these people. That's our obligation," he told reporters in the government-controlled northern Syrian city of Aleppo, following a tour to sites damaged by the Feb. 6 earthquakes. About the situation in rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib, Griffiths said the UN would have aid moving to that region and that truckloads of relief supplies were also moving from Turkiye to northwestern Syria. He lauded the international search and rescue response to the earthquake as "unparalleled in history," wishing to see "the same for the humanitarian needs." The United Nations said Friday that the earthquake in Syria had displaced 5.3 million people. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Monday that the death toll from quakes in rebel-held areas in northwestern Syria stood at 4,300, while 7,600 others were injured. Meanwhile, the Syrian health ministry estimated that the earthquakes have killed 1,414 people and wounded 2,349 others in government-controlled areas. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Beijing had 1,048 major artificial intelligence (AI) companies as of October 2022, accounting for 29 percent of the national total, according to a report on the capital's AI development released Monday. The report, released by the municipal bureau of economy and information, noted that Beijing boasts the top industrial agglomeration capacity in China and that it has a well-developed AI industry chain. The city has more than 40,000 professionals in core AI technologies and has produced the most published papers on AI in the country, the report said. The number of smart factories and digitalized workshops in Beijing reached 36 and 47, respectively, in 2022. In 2023, Beijing will guide enterprises, research institutes, open-source communities, and others to collaborate for the achievement of core AI technology innovation. It will also support top firms in creating ChatGPT-style large models to strive for new breakthroughs in the development of the AI industry, according to the report. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Bencai, former chief procurator of the Shanghai People's Procuratorate, has been indicted for suspected bribe-taking, said an official statement released Monday. According to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), Zhang had taken advantage of the various posts he held to seek benefits for others and accepted substantial sums of money and valuables in return. After an investigation was conducted into Zhang's case, it was handed over to the Xiamen city procuratorate in Fujian Province for review and prosecution upon the designation of the SPP. The SPP statement said prosecutors had informed the defendant of his litigation rights, questioned him, and listened to the lawyers' opinions. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Information on Monday officially revoked the license of the West-backed VOD (Voice of Democracy) radio for broadcasting "slanderous" information. In its announcement signed by Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, the ministry cancelled the license held by the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM), which oversaw the VOD radio, for "gross professional misconduct". The announcement said their "intentionally slanderous" report and failure to run corrections in accordance with the press law had tarnished the "reputation and prestige of the government". The revocation of the media outlet's license was made at Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen's order on Sunday. The Cambodian government accused the VOD radio of broadcasting an "intentionally slanderous" article pertinent to the country's recent relief aid to the earthquake-hit Turkiye. Hun Sen said the article totally distorted the truth regarding the government's budget management system, adding only the prime minister has the authority to make a decision on humanitarian aid to a foreign country. He had asked the radio to make a correction and apologize publicly, but the broadcaster ignored his request. Hun Sen said the radio's foreign donors should take their funding back to their countries or divert the money to help other countries, and its staff should seek new jobs. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China looks forward to working with Iran to take the upcoming China visit by the Iranian president as an opportunity to promote greater development of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi will pay a state visit to China from Feb. 14 to 16, according to the foreign ministry. Noting that this will be President Raisi's first visit to China, Wang said at a regular press briefing that the two presidents will hold talks, jointly plan and lead the future development of bilateral relations, and exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern during the visit. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, will meet with President Raisi respectively, Wang said. "China and Iran enjoy a traditional friendship, and it is the strategic choice of both sides to consolidate and develop China-Iran relations," he said. Under the leadership of the two presidents, China-Iran relations have maintained sound development momentum in recent years. The two sides have consistently consolidated mutual political trust, steadily advanced practical cooperation in various fields, maintained effective communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and firmly safeguarded the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the common interests of developing countries, the spokesperson said. "China looks forward to working with the Iranian side to use this visit as an opportunity to promote greater development of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, and play a constructive role in enhancing the unity and cooperation of countries in the Middle East and promoting regional security and stability," Wang said. by Xinhua writer Li Rui CAIRO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- After the tragic loss of at least 3,500 lives in quake-hit Syria, the United States, bowing to international pressure, announced a temporary easing of sanctions on the war-torn country. It came four days after the strong earthquakes rocked on Monday, missing the Golden 72 hours for rescue. The sanctions led to a severe humanitarian crisis for the Syrian people. The easing of sanctions illustrates how Washington's previous claims that its sanctions don't target aid to the quake-hit country were utterly false, clearly revealing U.S. indifference to the humanitarian situation in Syria. URGENT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS As of Sunday night local time, at least 3,500 people were killed in both the government-control and rebel-held areas, according to the Syrian government and aid agencies. The earthquake hit Aleppo, Latakia, Tartous, and Hama in northern Syria and the rebel-held Idlib province. Many Syrians criticized the brutal U.S. blockade surrounding their country from every direction, which has badly hampered rescue work and led to high casualties. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued Syria General License 23, which, according to its announcement, "authorizes for 180 days all transactions related to earthquake relief that would be otherwise prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations." Thuraya al-Saeedi, a displaced Syrian living at the Sarada camp in southern Lebanon who lost four of her relatives in Aleppo, said the U.S. decision comes too late. Syria's Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash noted that the suffering of Syria's medical sector is not a result of the recent massive earthquakes that hit the country on Monday but rather the Western sanctions imposed on Syria for 12 years. "Due to a lack of tools, some rescuers had to dig through the rubble with bare hands in search of survivors in snow and rain," said Muhammad Hijazi, chairman of the Aleppo Governorate Council. INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE The U.S. eased sanctions only after repeated calls from international organizations and several countries. On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that "the humanitarian crisis in northwestern Syria was already worsening, with needs at their highest level since the conflict began." He stressed, "this is a moment in which everybody must make very clear that no sanctions of any kind interfere with relief to the population of Syria in the present moment." For his part, Geir Pedersen, UN special envoy for Syria, said that "emergency response must not be politicized." On Thursday, the first UN aid convoy crossed from Turkiye to Syria's northwestern Idlib province. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday demanded an immediate lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria as the tremor-stricken country is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. "Even today, U.S. troops still occupy Syria's principal oil fields, plunder more than 80 percent of the country's oil production, and have smuggled and burned Syria's grain stock, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis there," said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian deplored the U.S. sanctions on Syria, saying they have exacerbated the situation of the quake-hit people in the Arab country. Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, said the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria requires an end to "collective punishment, especially the Caesar Act imposed by the United States," adding the U.S. sanctions on Syria "have no justification for their continuation." The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, also known as the Caesar Act, is a piece of U.S. legislation that sanctions the Syrian president and government over what Washington claimed to be "war crimes against the Syrian people." The act was signed into law by former U.S. President Donald Trump in late 2019 and came into effect in mid-2020. LIES WITH INDIFFERENCE Experts said that the U.S. announcement softening sanctions "to support earthquake relief efforts" proved the country's previous lies that its sanctions don't target humanitarian aid to the quake-hit country. Syrian political expert Mohamed Al-Omari told Xinhua that "the U.S. Treasury's announcement is a confession" that Washington lied by claiming its sanctions did not affect humanitarian aid. Kamal al-Jafa, another Syrian political expert, echoed that if the previous U.S. claims were correct, it would not have decided to ease the sanctions for six months. "This decision indicates that Washington knows the sanctions imposed on the Syrian people were unjust and led to worsening the living conditions over the past few years," he added. Some experts said that Washington's latest move is far from enough to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. Adel Samara, a Palestinian political expert from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, told Xinhua the U.S. move is merely a show for the media, with little change on the ground. Saeb Rawashdeh, a political analyst at the Jordan Press Foundation, said relieving transactions for 180 days shows "a lack of concern for the actual well-being of the Syrian people." "The Syrian people deserve access to the resources and support they need to recover and rebuild their lives and communities, regardless of political considerations," he added. Ahmed Maher Abo-Gabal, an Egyptian researcher in international relations and political affairs, said U.S. Treasury's announcement comes too late given the high death toll. "Six months is by no means enough time for reconstruction in the quake-hit areas," he added. Relatives of Palestinian teenager Qusai Waked mourn during his funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Feb. 12, 2023. The Palestinian teenager was killed on Sunday during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian teenager was killed on Sunday during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The ministry said in a statement that Qusai Waked, 14, died in the hospital after being shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers in the city, adding that three other Palestinians were moderately injured. Palestinian eyewitnesses and local sources said that fierce clashes broke out when an Israeli army force stormed the city to arrest a Palestinian wanted by Israeli security forces for allegedly being involved in carrying out shooting attacks against Israelis. An Israeli army spokesman said in a statement that a complex military operation was carried out jointly between the Israeli army and the interior security in the city of Jenin and arrested one of the wanted Palestinians who was involved in carrying out shooting attacks against Israeli soldiers in the area. The statement added that the soldiers opened fire to disperse militants and dozens of youngsters who threw stones and hand-made bombs at the Israeli army force during the operation in the city. Meanwhile, various Palestinian military groups said in separate statements sent to Xinhua that their militants traded fire with the Israeli soldiers who stormed Jenin. They added that the militants forced the Israeli army force to pull out from the city under their heavy gunfire. Since Jan. 1, the Israeli army has killed 37 Palestinians and wounded dozens of others in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while 10 Israelis were killed in two separate attacks in Jerusalem, according to Palestinian and Israeli official sources. TOKYO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Japanese police on Monday referred Tetsuya Yamagami, who has been indicted for the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to prosecutors for allegedly making a gun and damaging a building by test-firing it. Yamagami, 42, is believed to have test-fired a weapon at a facility linked to the religious group Unification Church in the western city of Nara on July 7 last year, a day before the fatal shooting, in addition to making handguns and gunpowder without authorization, according to the Nara prefectural police. The latest charges against the 42-year-old are expected to mark an end to police investigations into the deadly shooting of Abe. Yamagami, an ex-Maritime Self-Defense Force worker, was arrested on the spot on July 8 last year after allegedly shooting Abe twice at close range with a handmade gun while Abe, 67, was delivering a stump speech in the western city of Nara ahead of an upper house election. In January, after months of psychiatric evaluations by prosecutors, Yamagami was indicted for murder and violating the firearms control law. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's renewable energy industry continued to lead globally in 2022, National Energy Administration official Wang Dapeng said on Monday. China-made photovoltaic modules, wind turbines, gear boxes and other key components accounted for 70 percent of the global market share last year, Wang said at a press conference. "The center of gravity of the global new energy industry is shifting further to China," he said. China's renewable energy development has made positive contributions to global emissions reduction. In 2022, China's renewable energy generation was equivalent to a reduction of 2.26 billion tonnes of domestic carbon dioxide emissions. China's exports of wind power and photovoltaic products helped other countries reduce emissions by approximately 573 million tonnes. The two figures added up to 2.83 billion tonnes of emissions, or about 41 percent of the world's total carbon emissions reduction converted from renewable energy, data from the administration shows. "China has become an active participant and important contributor in the global fight against climate change," Wang said. A firefighter (1st L) introduces firefighting equipment to students at a primary school on the first day of the new semester in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2023. Primary and middle school students in Beijing returned to school for the spring semester on Monday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) Students have class on their first day of the new semester at a primary school in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2023. Primary and middle school students in Beijing returned to school for the spring semester on Monday. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) Students deliver teaching materials on their first day of the new semester at a senior high school in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2023. Primary and middle school students in Beijing returned to school for the spring semester on Monday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Pupil Guo Yizhi (R) displays her homework at a primary school in Chaoyang District in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2023. Primary and middle school students in Beijing returned to school for the spring semester on Monday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) Students walk into a primary school in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2023. Primary and middle school students in Beijing returned to school for the spring semester on Monday. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) Students have class on their first day of the new semester at a junior high school in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2023. Primary and middle school students in Beijing returned to school for the spring semester on Monday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen on Friday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Xi pointed out that three years ago, Prime Minister Hun Sen visited China as a token of support and stood firmly with the Chinese people in their fight against COVID-19. This year marks the first year for China to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and also the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia, Xi noted. "It gives me great pleasure to work with you to realize our three-year appointment and open a new era of building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future at the start of spring," Xi said. Xi stressed that China firmly supports the Cambodian people in independently choosing a development path that suits their national conditions and supports Cambodia in safeguarding national sovereignty and security, steadily advancing its major domestic political agenda and economic and social development, and opposes interference by external forces in Cambodia's internal affairs. Taking Cambodia as a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy, China has been planning and advancing China-Cambodia cooperation in various fields from a comprehensive and strategic perspective, Xi said. China is ready to share opportunities, seek cooperation, and promote development with Cambodia in the process of advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization and jointly build a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, to bring more benefits to the two peoples and contribute more positive energy to regional peace, stability, and development, Xi said. The Chinese president noted that the two sides could build a cooperation framework in politics, production capacity, agriculture, energy, security, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. On political cooperation, he said the two sides need to deepen strategic communication, strengthen experience-sharing on state governance, and deepen exchanges through various channels. In terms of production capacity cooperation, the two countries should focus on building industrial development corridors, Xi said, adding that China will encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, help construct the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone in Cambodia, and support Cambodia in building transportation infrastructure. Xi said efforts should be made to carry out agricultural cooperation near lakes, ensure green development and increase investment in hydropower and photovoltaic power generation projects in Cambodia. On security cooperation, Xi said China will carry out joint operations to crack down on cross-border crimes on a regular basis and continue to provide clearing mines assistance to Cambodia. On people-to-people and cultural exchanges, China will prioritize resuming and increasing direct flights with Cambodia, encourage tourism cooperation, carry out protection and restoration of cultural heritage, and support Cambodia in developing education and health, he said. "The two sides should take the China-Cambodia Friendship Year as an opportunity to expand sub-national cooperation, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen youth exchanges, and carry forward the China-Cambodia friendship," Xi said. Hun Sen said it was a great pleasure for him to be the first foreign leader received by China after the Chinese Lunar New Year. Hun Sen said that he wanted to send a clear message through his visit three years ago and the current visit that the Cambodian people will always stand firmly with the Chinese people. The Cambodian side admires China's development achievements and believes that under the leadership of President Xi, China will achieve the goal of building itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects as scheduled, he said. He thanked China for firmly supporting the Cambodian people in choosing a development path suited to its own national conditions and providing timely and valuable support and assistance when Cambodia faced difficulties such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Cambodia firmly upholds the one-China policy, firmly supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development interests, firmly supports China's policy of "one country, two systems," and firmly opposes any external interference in China's internal affairs on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet, Hun Sen said. He said that he fully agreed with China's proposal of the cooperation framework in six major areas. He added that Cambodia hopes to take the opportunity of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with China to consolidate the iron-clad friendship between the two countries, deepen experience sharing in party and state governance and practical cooperation in various fields, push for more achievements of the Cambodia-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and jointly build a Cambodia-China community with a shared future. Hun Sen said Cambodia is willing to continue actively promoting the development of ASEAN-China relations. He said that the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative put forward by China are of great significance to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. Cambodia actively supports and participates in these initiatives. The two sides also exchanged views on issues of common concern. Xi stressed that development is not the privilege of a few countries. He said the act of power hegemony to engage in ideological confrontation, politicize and weaponize economic, trade, scientific and technological exchanges, push for "decoupling and breaking the chain," contain and suppress other countries' development, and ask regional nations to take sides, will not be supported by the people. China stands on the right side of history and will firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests as well as international fairness and justice, Xi stressed. After the meeting, Xi held a banquet for Hun Sen. Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi will pay a state visit to China from Feb. 14 to 16 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Raisi, 63, previously served as the country's chairman of the General Inspection Office, Prosecutor-General and Chief Justice of Iran. He was elected to the presidency in June 2021 and sworn in as president in August that year. John Lee (1st L), chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), listens to a briefing by a representative of Aldar Properties PJSC in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Feb. 7, 2023. (Information Services Department of the Government of the HKSAR/Handout via Xinhua) HONG KONG, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said his visit to the Middle East has yielded fruitful results. Lee wrote in an article published on Monday in the Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao that his visit, which concluded on Friday, is a journey of friendship, and also a journey to promote Hong Kong's advantages and to explore opportunities. He noted that 13 memorandums or letters of intent were exchanged between Hong Kong and enterprises and organizations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), covering areas such as finance, innovation and technology, commerce, construction professions, transport and energy. The HKSAR government and the Saudi Arabian government have agreed to start formal negotiations on investment promotion and protection agreements. Meanwhile, the financial hub has also agreed with the UAE to initiate discussions on the signing of a memorandum of understanding on green and sustainable finance, Lee said. He said that Hong Kong will continue to deepen and follow up on the achievements and progress made in this Middle East trip. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority will organize a high-level financial delegation to the Middle East in the first half of this year to further expand business opportunities. The Dubai Chambers has decided to set up a new office in Hong Kong, while the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai of the HKSAR government will deepen, broaden and promote the good relations that are already established, and further expand and consolidate the network of contacts, Lee said in the article. Lee said that the aim of choosing the Middle East as the destination of his first overseas visit this year was to showcase Hong Kong's active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and to promote win-win collaborations and people-to-people bonds. Lee stressed that deep cooperation between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia and the UAE will create unlimited value for Hong Kong's high-quality development. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Monday urged efforts to introduce more high-quality digital education services and products. Sun made the remarks while addressing the opening of the World Digital Education Conference, which opened in Beijing on Monday. Noting that modern information technology has a revolutionary impact on the development of education, Sun said the Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of digital education, and that through continuous efforts, 290 million students in schools across China now have access to high-quality education. China is willing to deepen international cooperation in digital education and strengthen the alignment of education policies and standards so as to make the fruits of digital education benefit more people of all countries, Sun said, adding that China is also ready to make a greater contribution to the progress of human civilization and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Based on the theme of digital transformation and future of education, the event is being attended by representatives from more than 130 countries and regions. A gun-free zone signage is seen near Times Square in New York, the United States, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) If the 5th Circuit's logic was adopted nationwide by the U.S. Supreme Court, the consequences would be devastating. NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Advocates for domestic violence survivors are worried that a controversial federal court ruling striking down a gun control measure will discourage victims from coming forward, reported CNN on Sunday. Earlier this month, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that those under domestic violence restraining orders have a Second Amendment right to bear arms, saying a federal law barring those alleged abusers from possessing guns is unconstitutional. The risk of homicide in a domestic violence situation increases by 500 percent if a gun is present, according to research cited by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. "Though some of the states covered by the appeals court have similar state law restrictions, the new ruling undermines a crucial tool that survivors have in protecting themselves from their abusers," said the report. If the 5th Circuit's logic was adopted nationwide by the U.S. Supreme Court, the consequences would be devastating, advocates were quoted as saying. Members of the China Search and Rescue Team perform a rescue task in a quake-stricken area in Antakya of Hatay province in southern Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. Chinese rescuers have successfully saved six survivors in Antakya as of Feb. 12, according to the China Search and Rescue Team. (Xinhua/Shadati) ANKARA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Rescue teams in Turkiye slowed down search efforts for quake victims on Monday, one week after the devastating earthquake that has so far killed at least 31,643 people in the country. Some teams have started debris removal work, while emergency teams intensified efforts to provide necessities such as medical help, food and shelter for survivors. About 238,500 search and rescue personnel are working in the field, and more than 158,000 people have been evacuated from the quake-hit regions so far, Turkiye's disaster agency said Monday. Among at least 574 children pulled from collapsed buildings who had no surviving parents, only 76 were handed to other family members, while 118 were settled in childcare institutions affiliated with the Family and Social Services Ministry, with hundreds of others still under medical treatment, according to Turkish Vice-President Fuat Oktay. A total of 9,401 foreign personnel from 77 countries are involved in emergency efforts in the field, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday, adding seven more countries are expected to send rescue teams. China has been actively providing support and assistance for Turkiye and Syria since the massive earthquakes hit the two countries, said Zheng Yuandong, an official with the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). The first batches of relief supplies provided by the Chinese government arrived in Istanbul on Feb. 11 and 12, including urgently needed blankets and cotton tents, Zheng added. More supplies from China, including electrocardiograph machines, ultrasonic diagnostics equipment, medical transport vehicles and manual hospital beds, will be shipped this week, he said. The rescue teams from China, including those dispatched by the Chinese government, have rescued over 10 survivors, Zheng told Xinhua. In Turkiye, tens of thousands of earthquake survivors are now living in tent cities or moving to other provinces for temporary shelter. Twin earthquakes measuring 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude hit southern Turkiye and northern Syria on Feb. 6. Members of the China Search and Rescue Team perform a rescue task in a quake-stricken area in Antakya of Hatay province in southern Turkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. Chinese rescuers have successfully saved six survivors in Antakya as of Feb. 12, according to the China Search and Rescue Team. (Xinhua/Shadati) Members of the China Search and Rescue Team perform a rescue task in a quake-stricken area in Antakya of Hatay province in southern Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. Chinese rescuers have successfully saved six survivors in Antakya as of Feb. 12, according to the China Search and Rescue Team. (Xinhua/Shadati) Members of the China Search and Rescue Team perform a rescue task in a quake-stricken area in Antakya of Hatay province in southern Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. Chinese rescuers have successfully saved six survivors in Antakya as of Feb. 12, according to the China Search and Rescue Team. (Xinhua/Shadati) Members of the China Search and Rescue Team perform a rescue task in a quake-stricken area in Antakya of Hatay province in southern Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. Chinese rescuers have successfully saved six survivors in Antakya as of Feb. 12, according to the China Search and Rescue Team. (Xinhua/Shadati) A member of the China Search and Rescue Team participates in a rescue task in a quake-stricken area in Antakya of Hatay province in southern Turkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. Chinese rescuers have successfully saved six survivors in Antakya as of Feb. 12, according to the China Search and Rescue Team. (Xinhua/Shadati) UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of civilians were killed in attacks by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the weekend, a United Nations spokesman said on Monday. According to preliminary reports, the armed group CODECO killed at least 20 civilians on Sunday in DRC's Ituri province and burnt several houses, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He added that the armed group reportedly also damaged medical infrastructure in a string of attacks against villages in Djugu territory. At the same time, another armed group, the ADF, attacked two villages in Irumu territory, which resulted in at least 12 civilians killed, Dujarric told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. Citing reports by MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, Dujarric also said that fighting continued between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group, including around the Sake-Kitchanga axis and within the Virunga National Park in North Kivu province. Last Friday, the M23 reportedly took control of Bukombo, 13 km northeast of Kitchanga, prompting population displacement toward Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province. The UN peacekeeping mission continued its engagement in Goma with various communities and local leaders to discuss the security and humanitarian situation in the province, as well as anti-MONUSCO sentiments, which has hampered access to communities in need of immediate assistance, especially in areas around Kitchanga, Dujarric said. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply concerned by Israeli security cabinet's announcement that it has decided to authorize nine settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, his spokesman said on Monday. "If these measures are implemented, they would further undermine prospects for a viable two-state solution," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, told a regular press briefing. Guterres reiterated that "all settlements are illegal under international law and a substantial obstacle to peace," said the spokesman, adding that the UN chief "calls for unilateral actions that erode the prospects for a political solution on the basis of United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements to stop." After a six-hour meeting on Sunday evening, the Israeli cabinet overwhelmingly agreed to recognize nine settlement outposts that had been set up recently in the West Bank, reported Israeli media. New Zealand's Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan (1st R) and Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong (L, Front) attend an event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Wellington, New Zealand, on Feb. 13, 2023. An event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year was held at the New Zealand parliament on Monday. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) WELLINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- An event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year was held at the New Zealand parliament on Monday. "The Lunar New Year is an important celebration for many of our communities here in New Zealand and there are events being held throughout the country to recognize this important cultural occasion," said Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who hosted the event. Radhakrishnan said a 2018 census showed that the population for Chinese ethnic groups in New Zealand has reached nearly 250,000, about 5 percent of the country's total population, acknowledging "the significant contributions the Chinese communities have made -- and continue to make to the economic, social and cultural progress of New Zealand." Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong also lauded the contributions made by generations of Chinese immigrants to New Zealand's economic and social development, saying "the people-to-people links between China and New Zealand have a long history and have played a foundational role in the development of our bilateral relations." The Chinese community has not only become an integral part of the country's multicultural landscape, but also served as a unique bridge and bond in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries, which helps to underpin and drive the growth of the relationship over the years, he added. With cross-border travels bouncing back, China has listed New Zealand as "one of the first 20 or so pilot countries to resume outbound group tours," said the ambassador. "The symbolism of this measure speaks to the close bond between the two countries. The clear signal it sends will help to bring widely missed tourists from China back to New Zealand," he said. Chinese community leaders across New Zealand and members of the diplomatic corps here participated in this event. People watch a lion dance during an event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Wellington, New Zealand, on Feb. 13, 2023. An event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year was held at the New Zealand parliament on Monday. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) People watch a performance during an event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Wellington, New Zealand, on Feb. 13, 2023. An event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year was held at the New Zealand parliament on Monday. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) People perform during an event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Wellington, New Zealand, on Feb. 13, 2023. An event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year was held at the New Zealand parliament on Monday. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua) CANBERRA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian immigration minister Andrew Giles announced on Monday that the government is delivering on its election commitment to providing a permanent visa pathway for some temporary visa holders. Giles fulfilled the Labor government's election pledge, inviting about 19,000 refugees on two kinds of temporary visas who arrived in Australia by boat before 2013 to apply for permanent residency. The upgrade to residency will grant the refugees access to social security, universal health care, the national disability insurance scheme, higher education loans and provide a pathway to citizenship, which would allow them to bring immediate family to Australia. Announcing the move, Giles said it made no sense to keep people who work, pay taxes, run businesses and employ Australians in limbo because of their visa status. "Without permanent visas however, they've been unable to get a loan to buy a house, build their businesses or pursue further education," he said. "It makes no sense - economically or socially - to keep them in limbo." Only those who arrived in Australia before the start of Operation Sovereign Borders - the border protection operation aimed at stopping the arrival of asylum seeker boats - are eligible for residency. Clare O'Neil, minister for home affairs, said the government is committed to the ongoing operation and that anyone who arrived in Australia by boat would not be allowed to stay in the country. "Let me be crystal clear - if you try to enter Australia without a valid visa, you will be turned back or returned to your port of origin," she said. "There is zero chance of settling in Australia under Operation Sovereign Borders. The Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force are patrolling our waters to intercept and return any boats that try to enter." VIENTIANE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, accompanied by a delegation of senior officials, arrived at Wattay International Airport in Lao capital Vientiane on Monday for a two-day official visit to Laos. In response to the invitation from his Lao counterpart Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Hun Sen is paying an official visit to Laos. Hun Sen will pay separate courtesy visits to Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, and Lao National Assembly (NA) President Xaysomphone Phomvihane, Lao News Agency reported on Monday. The prime ministers will discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas of security, politics and economy, as well as share perspectives on sub-regional, regional and international topics of mutual interest and concern. After their discussion, the two leaders will sign the "Action Plan for the Comprehensive and Long-Lasting Strategic Partnership between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic for the year 2023-2027". Experts at a center in Beijing oversee operations of crews and missions, ensuring that nation's program continues to build upon recent successes. Zhao Lei reports. Like many office workers, Hu Guolin and his colleagues deal with figures, charts and graphics on their computer screens. However, the information in front of Hu's team comes from Earth's orbit or even planets hundreds of millions of kilometers away. From the first day of its existence, people working at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center like Hu, some of the smartest minds in China have been tasked with applying their talent and expertise to realize the nation's ambitions in orbit, ranging from building a permanent space station to operating rovers on extraterrestrial bodies. Established in 1996 to serve the nation's manned space program, the center has played an indispensable role in all crewed spaceflights. It is also the country's top body responsible for controlling and tracking deep-space missions. During the past two years, mission controllers at the center, which is located inside the strictly guarded Beijing Aerospace City compound in a northwestern suburb of the capital, have often appeared on television monitoring spacecraft operations, calculating trajectories, uploading commands and conversing with astronauts. The controllers, in aquamarine uniforms with the "China Space" logo on the back, were attentive, energetic and sharp-eyed on TV. Behind that glamorous appearance, though, the work of these men and women is demanding, challenging and painstaking. A nonstop flow of information related to trajectories and positions pours into the windowless control halls 24 hours a day from orbiting spacecraft and telemetry stations across the country, as well as tracking ships on the oceans. The controllers monitor the data with rapt attention, make quick decisions on the measures to take in the event of alarms about in-orbit malfunctions or emergencies, and produce specific plans for the next step of each mission. "Our controllers on the Tiangong space station program work 12-hour shifts that start at 8 am or 8 pm. Their job requires them to be utterly focused on information that changes in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Actually, they spend much longer than 12 hours here every day because they need to attend briefings before and after their shifts, and also often need to participate in workshops on mission details," Hu, head of the controllers in charge of long-term spacecraft operations, said during a recent media tour of the center. The Tiangong space station was completed at the end of last year, after 12 launch missions. As one of the largest space-based assets ever deployed in Earth's orbit, the station currently consists of: the Tianhe core module; the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules; the Shenzhou XV crew spacecraft; and the Tianzhou 5 cargo ship. So far, four groups of astronauts have lived and worked inside the facility. The current crew the three members of the Shenzhou XV mission arrived in November. The astronauts are scheduled to live on the station until May, when the crew of Shenzhou XVI will take over. Busy days On a typical day shift in the space station operations team, the controllers start work by contacting and communicating with the astronauts inside Tiangong. A designated controller talks with the crew members about the arrangements for the day and notes their needs. Meanwhile, those in charge of the tracking apparatus relay the daily tasks to tracking stations and ships, and ensure that they are able to do their jobs. The controllers also need to amend arrangements for tracking stations and ships and relay satellites whenever any of the assets are not functioning properly, Hu said. "Some controllers are responsible for uploading commands. They prepare orders for the spacecraft based on what the mission planners want the vehicles to do, then send the signals to the spaceship in accordance with predetermined schedules," he said. "For instance, when the astronauts want to sleep, we will upload an order to the station's alarm system to shut down the voice alarms." The chief controller said that there are many unpredictable factors when it comes to operating large orbiting infrastructure such as a space station in near-Earth space, which is already crammed with satellites and debris. "It is not unusual that we have to move our space station higher or lower than its normal altitude to avoid incoming hazardous debris and that is never easy," he said. "Adjusting a spacecraft's position is not as simple as just typing some codes and sending them out, as some people may imagine. It requires systemic considerations: you must decide which tracking station or ship will upload the commands and monitor the spacecraft during the process; you need to pick another station or ship as backup; you also need to take a host of factors into account, including the orbital adjustment's impact on the space station's condition, like its power generation and the operation of internal equipment." He added that the controllers must have clear, sharp minds and be quick and decisive to figure out solutions to potential risks. "Not long ago, an alarm warned that the barometric pressure inside the Tiangong station was falling rapidly: if that were really happening, the situation would be highly dangerous for our mission crew. So, we immediately collected and analyzed all the readings and concluded that it was a false alarm caused by minor sensor errors," he said. Ultimate goal To further improve their efficiency and capabilities, the controllers continue to study and use cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence, according to Hu. "I am sure that AI technology has great potential in spacecraft control for example, in the assignment of personnel duties and orbital positioning," he said. He added that all the efforts have one ultimate goal, which is to guarantee the astronauts' safety and the long-term, smooth operation of the space station. "Our task is to make the astronauts feel safe and comfortable, and let them know that they have our full support and that of the entire nation so they can do their jobs in a happy mood," he said. He noted that he and his colleagues often meet the astronauts in person, sometimes formally and sometimes informally. "We all work inside the Beijing Aerospace City compound. Our office building and some of our residences are close to the Astronaut Center of China, so we often run into the astronauts," Hu said. "Sometimes, when we go jogging before or after work, we find some astronauts running beside us. We also take part in preflight workshops and ground simulations with them. There are discussions and debates between us, and even though the astronauts may not remember our names, we know that they trust us and that we are all striving for the same goal." 'Loud and clear' For Yuan Xudong, head of the center's communication engineers, his team's most important duty is to ensure that the astronauts are always "online". He and his engineers are in charge of establishing and maintaining communications between the center and spacecraft. "The more reliable our communications system is, the smoother the link between our controllers and the astronauts is," he said. "It is our responsibility to make the voices of the astronauts and controllers loud and clear, and that they can be heard by all posts throughout the ground control network." In addition to the routine work, Yuan's team now has a new task. The members are required to provide a video link between the astronauts and tens of millions of school students in China for the Tiangong Class science lectures. Launched in December 2021, the Tiangong Class is China's first extraterrestrial lecture series. It aims to popularize space science and inspire young people to pursue their science and space dreams. Every flight crew since the Shenzhou XIII mission has delivered one or two lectures during their stay in orbit. "I took part in the preparations for China's first space-based science lecture, hosted by the Shenzhou X mission crew in June 2013. Compared with that time, we now have more knowledge and experience in ground-to-spacecraft communications and better land- and space-based infrastructure," he said. Each time a Tiangong Class lecture takes place, schools across the country arrange for their students to watch. Sometimes, the students are allowed to repeat the experiments shown in the lecture. After one recent lecture, Yuan was invited by his son's classmates all primary school students to share some interesting stories behind the lecture and some information about spacecraft communications. "Childhood and youth are always filled with curiosity about the world and the universe. These lectures will plant the seed of science in the students, which will wait to blossom and bear fruit," he said. "Every time I realize that through our work, more boys and girls can experience the wonder and magic of outer space, I am filled with a sense of honor and mission." KABUL, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Red Crescent Society donated 4.5 million afghani (about 50,000 U.S. dollars) in cash to help the quake-affected people in Turkiye, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported Monday. The Afghan caretaker government had earlier announced to donate 15 million afghani (166,712 dollars) to the quake-affected people in Turkiye and neighboring Syria. Two devastating earthquakes measuring 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude struck southern Turkiye and northern Syria on Monday, killing over 33,000 people, with tens of thousands injured. JAKARTA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- An Indonesian court sentenced former police general Ferdy Sambo to death on Monday for the premeditated murder of his own aide Joshua Nopryansyah Hutabarat. "The defendant Ferdy Sambo has been proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing the criminal act of participating in premeditated murder," Judge Wahyu Iman Santoso said at the South Jakarta district court. The sentence was much harsher than a life imprisonment demanded by the prosecutor. The former National Police internal affairs chief said the murder was his emotional reaction to Hutabarat raping his wife, but the judge determined there was not enough evidence to support this claim. Sambo's wife, Putri Candrawathi, received a 20-year prison term for her involvement in the murder. The case has attracted wide attention with international media coverage and local TVs live streaming the months-long hearing. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The just-concluded visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to China has given new momentum to the building of a high-quality China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, Cambodian scholars have said. The Cambodian leader ended his three-day official visit to China on Saturday, where he had held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Hailing the visit as another historic milestone in the Cambodia-China ties, Pov Sok, an advisor to Hun Sen, said that it further boosted the bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, trade, investment, tourism, culture, agriculture and education, among others. "This visit has not only taken the Cambodia-China ties to new heights, but also injected new vitality into the building of the high-quality community with a shared future between our two countries," he told Xinhua. "This visit has also further deepened the unbreakable ironclad friendship between our two countries," Sok said. Close ties, he said, will continue to provide tangible benefits to the people of both countries and contribute to peace and prosperity of the region and the world. Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said that as Cambodia and China are "ironclad and all-weather friends," the visit further deepened political, economic, social, and cultural ties between the two countries. "The visit has opened a new era of jointly building a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future," he told Xinhua. "I believe that the visit will encourage more Chinese investors and tourists to come to Cambodia." "As Cambodia has set its goals to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050, China's steady support in all forms -- official development assistance and investment -- will help Cambodia achieve these ambitious dreams," Matthews said. Vun Phanith, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy, an arm of the state-run Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that "Cambodia-China relations are based on the principle of mutual respect, support and benefit as well as non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and their bilateral ties are very stable and unbreakable." "Their close relations have not only benefited the two countries and their people, but also contributed to maintaining peace, stability, security and development in the region," he said. This aerial photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows a scene after the earthquake in Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkiye. The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Turkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) ANKARA/DAMASCUS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest facts about quake-hit Turkiye and Syria. -- COMBINED CASUALTIES The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Turkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying, bringing the total fatalities with neighboring Syria to over 33,000, with tens of thousands injured. -- RESCUE EFFORTS The first batch of emergency aid, including tents and blankets, delivered by the Chinese government for earthquake relief has arrived in Turkiye on Saturday. More emergency supplies, including tents, electrocardiographs, ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and medical transfer vehicles will also be shipped in batches from China. Syria is also receiving supplies from the Red Cross Society of China and the local Chinese community. The aid from the local Chinese community included infant formulas, winter clothes, and medical supplies, while the first batch of emergency medical supplies from the Red Cross Society of China arrived on Thursday. On Sunday, Algeria and Libya also sent planes full of relief items to the quake-hit areas. Pakistan on Sunday sent another special relief consignment as part of relief assistance for the earthquake-hit areas of Turkiye. Qatar has sent the first part of the 10,000 container houses for earthquake victims in Turkiye, the Anadolu Agency reported. Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers started to pay visits to Turkiye and Syria to show solidarity. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Turkiye on Sunday to show support. The Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the first foreign head of state visiting quake-hit Turkiye, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Syria, pledging continued support for the country to overcome the repercussions of the earthquakes, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. -- PROBLEMS & RESPONSE The lack of hygienic facilities has started to endanger the survivors in the quake-hit Turkiye. "The issue of hygiene is becoming more and more urgent," wrote Ihsan Cakir, deputy general secretary of Hatay Municipality on Friday. The Hatay province was one of the worst hit areas by the earthquakes. "Underwater sources might have been polluted, with the sewage system in ruins," said Celalettin Kocaturk, a doctor in Istanbul, adding that now the tap water is not safe for drinking or ablutions. He also warned of an increased risk of an epidemic. This aerial photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows a scene after the earthquake in Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkiye. The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Turkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows a scene after the earthquake in Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkiye. The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Turkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023 shows a scene after the earthquake in Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkiye. The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Turkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) A man stands amid earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Turkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying. (Xinhua/Shadati) Rescuers carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Turkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying. (Xinhua/Shadati) Excavators are seen in rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Turkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying. (Xinhua/Shadati) Members of the China Search and Rescue Team carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Turkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying. (Xinhua/Shadati) Members of the China Search and Rescue Team carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Turkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying. (Xinhua/Shadati) This photo shows earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Turkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying. (Xinhua/Shadati) Members of the China Search and Rescue Team carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 12, 2023. The death toll from Monday's earthquakes in Turkiye has climbed to 29,605, the country's disaster agency was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying. (Xinhua/Shadati) BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday urged the United States to lift all illegal unilateral sanctions on Syria immediately and stop creating humanitarian disasters. According to media reports, the United States recently announced that it would provide six months of sanctions relief for Syria, limited to allowing certain transactions for recovery efforts following a deadly earthquake struck Syria and Turkiye a week ago. "The U.S. government should immediately lift unilateral sanctions on Syria, instead of making a political show of 'temporary relief'," spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing in response to a related query. Wang said the United States has consistently imposed military interventions and illegal unilateral sanctions on Syria for years, which has severely aggravated the crisis in the economy and people's livelihoods in Syria, and greatly weakened Syria's ability to cope with disasters. After the earthquake, the unilateral sanctions posed by the U.S. side directly hindered the rescue efforts in the first 72 hours in Syria, which made the disaster even worse. As what Syrians have said, for the United States, it is all about politics, not humanitarianism, Wang added. "We urge the U.S. side to put aside geopolitical calculations, lift all illegal unilateral sanctions on Syria immediately and stop deliberately creating humanitarian disasters," said Wang. Manila: In the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard claimed on Monday that a Chinese coast guard vessel fired a "military-grade laser light" at one of its boats, temporarily blinding the crew. The incident took place on February 6 in the Spratly Islands, about 20 kilometers from Second Thomas Shoal, where Philippine marines are stationed, according to a statement from the coast guard. It was the most recent in a string of maritime clashes between China and the Philippines, which asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and disregarded a ruling by an international court that found those claims to be unfounded. Also Read: Teenager accused of violence outside migrant hotel by UK police In the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard claimed on Monday that a Chinese coast guard vessel fired a "military-grade laser light" at one of its boats, temporarily blinding the crew. The incident took place on February 6 in the Spratly Islands, about 20 kilometers from Second Thomas Shoal, where Philippine marines are stationed, according to a statement from the coast guard. It was the most recent in a string of maritime clashes between China and the Philippines, which asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and disregarded a ruling by an international court that found those claims to be unfounded. Also Read: Report on UK counterterrorism criticized for drawing conclusions from "half a dozen cases" Additionally, the Chinese ship engaged in "dangerous maneuvers" by approaching the Philippine boat from a distance of only 140 meters. The Philippine Coast Guard declared that the deliberate obstruction of Philippine government ships carrying food and supplies to its military personnel "is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights in this part of the West Philippine Sea." The West Philippine Sea is what Manila refers to as being to its immediate west. It is unclear whether the Second Thomas Shoal resupply mission was successful. Usually, supplies are transported on privately owned vessels with the coast guard on board. Requests for comment from the Chinese embassy in Manila were not immediately fulfilled. The Philippine-garrisoned shoal was also blockaded by Chinese coast guard and maritime militia ships in August, according to the coast guard, to prevent official ships from reaching the troops. In order to prevent "miscommunication" in the region, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping decided to establish direct communication between their foreign ministries in January. If the hotline was utilized in the most recent incident is unknown. Also Read: India has completed the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway The number of Philippine bases available to US forces has increased to nine as a result of the US-Philippine agreement earlier this month. It happens as the longtime allies try to stop China's military expansion in the area. In the South China Sea, there are also conflicting claims from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. Remembering Pulwama: A look at terrorist attacks in Jammu Kashmir: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and security staff were travelling on National Highway 44 on a routine day. The greatest terrorist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir had occurred that day. On February 14, 2019, at around 3:15 pm, an explosives-packed SUV struck a column of CRPF soldiers on the Srinagar-Jammu route. Since 2015, high-profile suicide strikes against the Indian security forces have become more popular among Kashmiri terrorists with ties to Pakistan. Three assailants opened fire on a bus and a police station in Gurdaspur in July 2015. The Pathankot Air Force Station was attacked by four to six armed men early January 2016. In Pampore, insurgents killed nine and eight security personnel in February and June of 2016 respectively. In a brigade headquarters attack in Uri in September 2016, four attackers killed 19 troops. On December 31, 2017, militants also attacked the Commando Training Centre in Lethpora, murdering five security personnel. These assaults happened close to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Sajjad Ahmad Khan, a close associate of the Pulwama attack's mastermind Mudassir Ahmad Khan, was allegedly planning assaults across India, according to a charge sheet issued by the NIA. Four JeM members were charged with additional offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), sections of the Explosives Substances Act, and IPC sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 121 A (waging, attempting to wage, or aiding in the waging of war against the government of India). What happened following the incident in Pulwama? Huge demonstrations, bandhs, and candlelight marches were held around India to show support for the soldiers killed in the Pulwama terrorist assault. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which was hosting the 13th Association of Anaesthesiologists Congress in Lahore on March 7, received a cancellation from a delegation of Indian physicians who were scheduled to travel there. Pakistani actors and artists have been prohibited from working in the Indian film business, according to the All Indian Cine Workers Association, which has threatened to take harsh measures against any organisations that break the restriction. The president of the organisation vowed to "vandalise" the sets of any Indian film production that employed Pakistani artists. The Indian Film and Television Directors' Association similarly imposed a ban on Pakistani artists in films and music produced in India. The Indian government increased the customs levy on all Pakistani items coming into India to 200 percent following the Pulwama terror attack. Additionally, the government encouraged the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to place Pakistan on a blacklist. However, the FATF chose to retain the Imran Khan-led nation on the "grey list" and gave it until October 2019 to meet 27 requirements. How India avenged the terror attack in Pulwama? On February 26, 2019, Twelve Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 aircraft flew over the Line of Control and launched bombs on Balakot, Pakistan. India asserted that it attacked a Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility and killed several terrorists, between 300 and 350, as per reports. The Indian planes dropped their cargo in an empty, forested hilltop area close to Balakot, according to the Pakistani military, which was the first to declare the airstrike on the morning of February 26. Remembering Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India, on her 144th Birthday What does Valentine's Day mean to You? Happy ValantineDay: How to prepare yourself to celebrate valentine day Budapest: The Hungarian foreign minister stated on Sunday that continuing to support Ukraine with arms shipments will only serve to escalate the conflict with Russia. Speaking to radio Kossuth, Peter Szijjarto offered his opinion on recent statements made by Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, who pushed for the delivery of fighter jets and long-range weapons to Kiev. The minister claimed that the decisions made by EU lawmakers regarding Ukraine "have generally caused damage to Europe" and that additional arms shipments will only exacerbate hostilities. Also Read: Iranian President's Visit Announced by China He continued by denouncing the EU legislature, saying that it has "practically no credibility." Szijjarto claimed that the EU parliament is "one of the most corrupt organizations in the world" and cited a recent corruption scandal as evidence. He was making reference to the recent arrest of Eva Kaili, the former vice president of the parliament, who was accused of accepting bribes from Qatar in exchange for improperly advocating on behalf of the Gulf state. Also Read: Tunisia have detained former judges who had been fired by the president Szijjarto observed that while outside of "the transatlantic bubble," nations tend to favor peace over a bloody conflict, war rhetoric is "incomparably louder than the rhetoric of peace" in Western countries. The minister continued by challenging Western sanctions against Russia. The tenth package of sanctions, he claimed, "will only be suitable for causing further damage to us Europeans, similar to the previous nine ones," because they have failed to persuade Moscow to end the conflict and Europe's economy has "faced incredible difficulties." Also Read: Israel claims that nine West Bank settlements will become official Hungary has been critical of Western sanctions against Moscow ever since the start of extensive hostilities in Ukraine almost a year ago. Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Additionally, it has resisted providing Kiev with arms support or allowing the transfer of weapons across its border with Ukraine. NEPAL-INDIA: In a meeting with his Nepalese counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal, India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra decided to strengthen the bilateral relationship's extensive economic and development cooperation. On a two-day official visit, Foreign Secretary Kwatra came to this country to meet with the senior political figures to discuss the full extent of the two nations' extensive collaboration. The Indian embassy in this country tweeted, "Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra met his counterpart Mr. Bharat Raj Paudyal and reviewed the wide-ranging India-Nepal collaboration." In order to benefit the two nations as well as the area as a whole, "both parties decided to further strengthen their economic and development cooperation," the statement read. Kwatra, who was formerly India's ambassador to this country, would pay courtesy calls to Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal, also known as "Prachanda," and Foreign Minister Paudyal during his tour. It is anticipated that Kwatra will also bring up the prospect of Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda visiting India with his Nepalese counterparts. Prachanda has declared that his first trip abroad will be to India. According to a statement released by Nepal's foreign ministry here on Sunday, Nepal and India would discuss a range of bilateral cooperation issues during the foreign secretary's visit, including connectivity, power trade, agriculture, health, and culture among others. It stated that the visit was a continuation of the two amicable neighbours' customary exchange of visits. Indian Prime Minister Prachanda took power for the third time in December, and this will be his first high-level visit since then. Kwatra is also expected to meet with KP Sharma Oli, the chairman of the CPN-UML, and Sher Bahadur Deuba, the head of the Nepali Congress. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, "the visit is in keeping with the tradition of frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries and the emphasis India takes to its relations with Nepal under its "Neighborhood First" policy." India's foreign policy is fundamentally based on its "Neighborhood First" doctrine. The goal of the policy is to establish friendly and productive ties with India's South Asian neighbours in a variety of fields, including the economy, science, and technology, as well as research and education. In the framework of its broad strategic interests in the area, India values Nepal, and the leaders of the two nations have frequently referred to their historic "Roti Beti" relationship. The nation borders five Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, totaling more than 1,850 kilometres. India is a major source of transportation for Nepal, a landlocked country. Iranian President's Visit Announced by China People flocked to touch stone being brought from Nepal for statue of 'Ramlala' Dubai: A pro-reform newspaper reported on Monday that Iran has released an award-winning filmmaker who was detained more than six months ago for criticizing the government. Mohammad Rasoulof is one of several well-known artists, athletes, and other celebrities who have been detained recently for speaking out against the government. His 2020 film, "There is No Evil," won the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. He was detained in July for objecting to the government's suppression of protests in the city of Abadan in the southwest following a fatal building collapse. Nationwide demonstrations started two months later after a 22-year-old woman passed away while being held by the country's morality police. Also Read: Teenager accused of violence outside migrant hotel by UK police Without giving dates or any other details, the Shargh newspaper, which is connected to the nation's reform movement, reported that Rasoulof had recently been granted a furlough from jail and had been formally released. Nothing official was said. Famous filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who was detained in July after inquiring about the detention of Rasoulof and another colleague, was freed by Iran earlier this month. Taraneh Alidoosti, an Iranian actress, was also released by the authorities after being detained for criticizing the suppression of the most recent protests. Also Read: Report on UK counterterrorism criticized for drawing conclusions from "half a dozen cases" Iranians protested in the streets after Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish Iranian woman who was detained by the morality police for allegedly breaking the nation's strict Islamic dress code, died in September. One of the biggest challenges the nation's ruling clerics have faced since taking power in the 1979 revolution was presented by the protests, which turned into demands for their removal. Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that has closely followed the unrest, estimates that since those protests started, at least 529 protesters have died and nearly 20,000 have been detained. Official counts of those killed or detained by Iranian authorities have not been made public. Also Read: India has completed the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway The Golden Bear award was given to "There Is No Evil" at Berlin in 2020. It tells four stories that are tangentially related to the use of the death penalty in Iran. Due to an Iranian government travel ban, Rasoulof was unable to accept the award. Rescuers carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) ANKARA/DAMASCUS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Turkiye and Syria on Feb. 6 has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively as of Sunday evening. The number of wounded, meanwhile, rose to over 80,000 in Turkiye and 2,349 in Syria, according to official figures. FAULTY CONSTRUCTION Turkiye has issued arrest warrants for 134 suspects involved in the faulty construction of buildings that collapsed in the earthquakes, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Sunday. Three of the suspects were arrested, Bozdag told reporters. The catastrophic earthquakes have flattened more than 20,000 buildings across the 10 quake-affected regions. Yavuz Karakus and Sevilay Karakus, contractors of many buildings destroyed in the earthquake in southern Adiyaman province, were detained at Istanbul Airport while trying to escape to Georgia, the local NTV broadcaster reported on Sunday. Two more people were arrested for cutting the column of a building that collapsed in Gaziantep province, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. RESCUE CONTINUES Thousands of rescuers continued to search for any sign of life in collapsed multi-storey buildings on the seventh day of the disaster. Hopes for finding alive survivors are fading, but the teams still manage some incredible rescues. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca posted a video of a girl child rescued at the 150th hour. "Rescued a little while ago by crews. There is always hope!" he tweeted on Sunday. Rescue workers pulled out 65-years old women in the Antakya district of Hatay province 160 hours after the quake, the Anadolu Agency reported. A survivor was rescued from the debris in the Antakya district of Hatay province by Chinese and local rescuers on Sunday afternoon, 150 hours after the quake hit the region. INT'L AID & SUPPORT The first batch of emergency aid, including tents and blankets, delivered by the Chinese government for earthquake relief has arrived in Turkiye on Saturday. In the coming days, more emergency supplies, including tents, electrocardiographs, ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and medical transfer vehicles will be shipped in batches from China. Syria is also receiving supplies from the Red Cross Society of China and the local Chinese community. The aid from the local Chinese community included infant formulas, winter clothes, and medical supplies, while the first batch of emergency medical supplies from the Red Cross Society of China was sent to the country on Thursday. On Sunday, Algeria and Libya also sent planes full of relief items to the quake-hit areas. Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers started to pay visits to Turkiye and Syria for showing solidarity. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Turkiye on Sunday in a show of support. "We will continue to do our best to overcome difficult times, both at bilateral and the level of the European Union," said Dendias, the first European foreign minister visiting Turkiye after the disaster. The visit by the Greek foreign minister comes amid long-standing tensions between the two NATO states over territorial disputes. The Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the first foreign head of a state visiting quake-hit Turkiye, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday. Qatar has sent the first part of the 10,000 container houses for earthquake victims in Turkiye, the Anadolu Agency reported. Also on Sunday, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Syria, promising continuing support for the country to overcome the repercussions of the catastrophic earthquake, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. Rescuers are seen near earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) Rescue teams including Chinese rescuers carry out rescue operation on earthquake debris in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) Rescuers transfer an earthquake survivor in Antakya in the southern province of Hatay, Turkiye, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shadati) Mangolia: The largest coal supplier to China's steel industry, Mongolia, is changing the way it sells its product in an effort to increase transparency and increase the profits from its top export. After being hurt by a scandal that saw hundreds of thousands of tons stolen from state stockpiles near the border last year, the government is switching to an auction system that will replace the long-term contracts that Chinese buyers prefer and charge customers more for transportation. Beijing has recently sought to increase trade with Mongolia, especially after ceasing shipments from Australia, which used to be Beijing's top supplier of the higher-grade coal needed for blast furnaces. Also Read: Starlink's purpose in Ukraine is explained by Musk The objective is to sell 12 million tons via auction by July, according to comments made last week by Ganbaatar Jambal, Mongolia's mining minister, to local media. In response to inquiries, the government stated that it would use auctions for all coal sales in 2024 and 2025, including thermal coal for power plants and coking coal for steel mills. Also Read: Hungary criticizes EU efforts to arm Ukraine The majority of Chinese consumers purchase goods from Mongolia. Nearly 26 million tons of coking coal were imported from its northern neighbor last year, accounting for 40% of all purchases. The launch of the new auction system also coincides with improved ties between Beijing and Canberra, which has allowed for the restoration of Australian coal shipments that had been suspended since late 2021. As a result, Chinese consumers will now have more options, which poses a risk to Mongolian miners. Long-term contracts also shield sellers from price fluctuations, and China's steel industry's future prospects are uncertain. Also Read: African nation "clears" objections to the Russian base deal After Beijing lifted its Covid Zero restrictions, Mongolia may bet on a return to growth, but the property sector, China's largest consumer of steel, is still under pressure. According to the website of the Mongolian Stock Exchange, which is hosting the auctions that started this month, sales listed there as of now total 128,000 tons. NATO websites suffer Russian-linked cyberattacks, media report 13 February, 03:20 PM According to the German publication, Russian hackers attacked the website of the NATO special operations headquarters (Photo:pixabay) Hackers, suspected to be Russian, have attacked NATO websites, including those of the NATO Special Operations Headquarters or NSHQ, IT experts from communications group ofcompanies DPA Group wrote on Feb. 12. A NATO spokesperson also reported that several NATO sites came under hacker attack. Following the hacking incidents, the NSHQ website was unavailable for some time, but it resumed working the next morning. A number of media and social media posts speculated the pro-Russia hacker group Killnet could be behind the attack. NATO hasn't confirmed this information. Video of day Recently, cyber criminals attacked German servers. The attacks came after Germany decided to allow the transfer of main battle tanks to Ukraine. The Killnet hacker group is known for its support of Russian aggression and its numerous DoS and DDoS attacks towards governments and private companies that support Ukraine. The group has previously hacked official sites belonging to Italy, Moldova and Germany. It has declared a global cyber war against Ukraine, the United States, and some European countries. Hackers from the group announced on their Telegram channel back in spring, that "their 2-month observing of the countries that support Nazism and Russophobia" was completed, and they were ready to hack attack the governments of the United States the UK, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Germany, Poland and Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Swiss bank Credit Suisse freezes $19 billion worth of Russian assets 13 February, 12:47 PM Credit Suisse (Photo:REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann) Credit Suisse Group AG has frozen Russian assets worth CHF 17.6 billion (over $19 billion), German newspaper Sonntags Zeitung reported on Feb. 11. Sonntags Zeitung wrote that the assets account for about one third of all Russian assets declared in Switzerland. Only about CHF 4 billion ($4.3 billion) are of individuals sanctioned by Switzerland, while another CHF 13.6 billion ($14.7 billion) belongs to people sanctioned by other countries. "Besides, it could be the money of the Russian central bank or state money that does not fall under any sanctions, but they are de-facto frozen," the newspaper added. Video of day Another $8.1 billion and 15 real estate objects were seized in Switzerland earlier, following the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sonntags Zeitung wrote. On Jan. 25, the Swiss introduced a new package of sanctions against Russia, in particular in regard to about 200 individuals and entities, as well as sanctions on goods exports. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Indiana winters often bring to mind cold, snow and overcast skies, but at Seymour High School, students and 4-H members are learning how they can grow food all year long. Purdue Extension Jackson County agriculture and natural resources educator, Richard Beckort, teamed up with Mikayla Applegate, agriculture teacher at Seymour High School, and additional funding partner, Farm Credit Mid-America, to establish six aeroponic grow towers in Applegates classroom. With the vertical towers and indoor plant lights, students are learning to grow leafy greens like lettuce, kale and spinach without soil. Nutrient-rich water is poured at the top of the tower and reaches each individual plant as it trickles to the bottom. This production method can be used year-round, producing faster growth and healthy plants while using fewer resources. Lettuce seedlings can be planted into the tower and harvested in four weeks. These towers are exposing kids to opportunities they might not have even known about. Even if they dont end up in a career in horticulture, its encouraging that they know there are opportunities to grow their own food, whether they have a half-acre lot with a garden or a small apartment balcony, said Beckort. Hirani Accounting completely understands the client's concerns and provides them with the required services at a reasonable cost accounting software, such as Quickbooks and Xero. However, other programs like myob, myob essentials, handisoft, odoo, payroller, and dext are also used for Australian accounting. The values of the firms encourage attributes of honesty, ethics, and integrity, which are ingrained in the accountants' work. These adhere to the firm's mission, vision, tenets, and values, which are consistently reaffirmed through its commitment. All devices have antivirus software installed, and data is kept in a private cloud service. The management and firm's efforts to safeguard customer privacy and data security are ongoing and deliberate. The most significant and crucial concerns that clients have while seeking financial accounting services are data security, transparency, errorless output, and quick turnaround time. Hirani Accounting completely understands the client's concerns and provides them the required services at a reasonable cost, explained Sairoz Hirani, Founder, Hirani Accounting.Additionally, the accounting service includes payroll, bookkeeping, annual accounts, and self managed super fund accounts. Each of these services is provided with the highest discretion, accuracy, and adherence to the client's needs. The firm's payroll service is crucial since it creates and transmits to clients on the same day the pay slips for the casual workers of its many clients on a weekly and biweekly basis. Since then, the accountants have maintained the clients' books so they are ready for quarterly GST filings and also year end accounts done for their annual tax returns.Hirani Accounting provides services to a diverse clientele such as high network individuals, companies, partnerships, trusts and Self Managed Super Fund. Their clients are engaged in industries such as the service industry, education, banking telecommunications, media, healthcare, import/export, franchise operators, doctors, dentists, engineers, IT experts and others. To address all of the client's accounting needs, the company serves as a full-service backend support for the international CPA business.Conclusively, the company currently serves more than 500 clients. The company produces 250+ year end accounts, completes 220+ quarterly books for clients, and serves 50+ weekly/fortnightly payroll clients each year. The business started with the inconceivable objective of having 1000 clients by the year 2030 and it is now proudly moving toward achieving that target earlier than anticipated. The company has currently extended its reach to other potential clients from the US and Canada who are looking for financial accounting services. This plant is expected to support ADAMA's goal to deliver several new products to the Brazilian market in the coming years TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA, one of the world's leading crop protection companies, announces the opening of a new multi-purpose plant (MPP) in Taquari, Brazil. The new plant produces key active ingredients (AIs) for the crop protection industry, including Prothioconazole, an important fungicide which protects Brazil's soybean crops against Asian Soybean Rust. This plant will improve ADAMA's ability to supply Prothioconazole-based products using our in-house capabilities. This additional capacity will support the launch of several new products to the Brazilian market within the next five years. ADAMA Logo This new MPP supplements ADAMA's other Prothioconazole manufacturing facilities across the globe, positioning ADAMA as one of the top global producers and a leading supplier of this important molecule. With this plant, ADAMA has the capacity to fully supply its global future pipeline of Prothioconazole-based products based on its in-house production. Production has already started to support ADAMA Brazil's leading products such as ARMERO. "The in-house production of this key active ingredient provides ADAMA a competitive advantage in Brazil, one of our most important markets, and decreases our dependence on external suppliers", said Bruce Morris, Head of Active Ingredients Manufacturing & Sourcing. "Moreover, our competitive, backward-integrated capability allows us to engage in new partnerships as a major supplier in the global Prothioconazole market". Prothioconazole is a key active ingredient in the global fungicides market with estimated global sales of $1.2 billion. ADAMA's new plant represents an investment of over $50 million, of which approximately 30% was spent on implementing sustainable practices as part of ADAMA's ongoing commitment to improve sustainability in its production facilities. This plant was built using advanced technologies that reduce energy and water consumption and limit waste generation. It also implements gas and particulate filtration systems that help avoid atmospheric pollution. Story continues In recent years, ADAMA Brazil launched several leading products including Armero (fungicide); Araddo (herbicide) and Arremate (herbicide for pasture). About ADAMA ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. ADAMA has one of the widest and most diverse portfolios of active ingredients in the world, as well as state-of-the-art R&D, manufacturing and formulation facilities. With a culture that empowers our people to listen to farmers and ideate from the field, ADAMA is uniquely positioned to offer a vast array of distinctive mixtures, formulations and high-quality differentiated products, delivering solutions that meet local farmer and customer needs in over 100 countries globally. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Twitter at @ADAMAAgri. ADAMA Contact: Tal Moise Public Relations Email: pr@adama.com Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adama-opens-new-multi-purpose-plant-in-brazil-becoming-a-leading-global-producer-of-prothioconazole-301744890.html SOURCE ADAMA Ltd. Feb. 5Pete Reed, the Ukraine country director for the Santa Fe-based humanitarian aid organization Global Outreach Doctors, was killed Thursday when his vehicle was reportedly hit by a missile near Bakhmut, Ukraine. He was 33 years old. Reed was assisting in the evacuation of Ukrainian civilians at the time of his death, Dr. Andrew Lustig, founder and president of the organization, said in a statement. Global Outreach Doctors provides critical medical care and rescue services in countries affected by war, famine and natural disasters. According to its website, the organization operates humanitarian aid missions in Iraq, Nepal, Syria, Venezuela, Myanmar and other countries. A New Jersey native, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and founder of his own humanitarian aid organization, Reed joined Global Outreach Doctors in January, Lustig said, as a sympathetic care provider, inspired leader and a "beacon of humanitarian work." "He selflessly dedicated his life in service to others, especially those affected by disaster and war," Lustig said. "Pete accomplished more in his 33 years than most of us in our entire lives. He leaves behind an incredible legacy." Although Global Outreach Doctors has implemented an operational pause to evaluate the security of its team in Ukraine, Lustig said the organization's humanitarian work around the world will continue. "Pete's death underscores the devastation war has on innocent civilians and highlights the importance of humanitarian and medical aid for affected communities," Lustig said. "[Global Outreach Doctors] is committed to carrying out this work around the world in honor of Pete." Reed is at least the sixth American to be killed in Ukraine since Russia's invasion about a year ago, according to The Washington Post. Some had gone there to fight while others, like Reed, were there doing humanitarian work. Reed has been doing humanitarian work since shortly after his four-year Marine enlistment was up in 2011, The Post reported. His wife, Alex Potter, told the newspaper that another team helping to evacuate civilians from the eastern Ukrainian city came under attack and Reed's team responded, also coming under shelling. Bakhmut is currently the scene of fierce fighting as Russian forces are trying to capture the city. Ansell's solutions combine an ergonomic design and skin-friendly technology to shield surgeons' and clinicians' hands, their most valuable asset in delivering care, and supporting their overall quality of life. SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 13, 2023 /CNW/ -- Recently, Frost & Sullivan analyzed the medical gloves industry, and, based on its assessment results, recognizes Ansell with the 2022 Global Company of the Year Award. The company provides advanced protection solutions to millions of workers worldwide. Ansell aims to provide reliable and innovative safety solutions through its expertise, innovative products, and advanced technology. Its comprehensive product portfolio and brands cover several segments in various industries, ranging from industrial to healthcare and life sciences. Ansell's organizational strength and vision center on providing personal protection equipment and education specifically designed to increase safety, security, and productivity, to protect individuals exposed to risks in the workplace. Ansell connects deep-seated domain and operational knowledge with advanced technology to create cutting-edge solutions that protect workers and improve safety outcomes. It remains close to end-users to understand their problems and the dynamics of their work environments and to offer targeted, effective protection because duty performance may expose workers to safety risks. Ansell has aligned its commitments with the missions of Climate Group's RE100 and EP100 initiatives, demonstrating how its targets align with global climate ambitions. Natalia Casanovas, Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Research Analyst, noted, "Ansell established its patented Worker Experience Innovation (WEI) platform to support workplace safety. It develops a deep understanding of workers' day-to-day experiences and challenges, transforming the insights into new WEI technologies and product ideas, to support healthcare workers and patients during critical care task performance." Story continues Ansell strives to enhance local communities through education and outreach across every geography it operates, to keep caregivers and patients informed on health and safety practices. Each time Ansell produces new safety solutions, it impacts the world in terms of distribution, market share, customer satisfaction, and philanthropy. Ansell's sterling reputation and customer-centric framework have led to its coveted preferred partner status. Ansell is well-positioned to drive the medical gloves space into its next growth phase, advancing polymer technology while capturing market share and sustaining its leadership in the coming years. "Striving to remain one step ahead, Ansell maintains a proactive focus on solutions that care for people and the planet through sustainability and social projects aligned with international government regulations and requirements," added Utkarsha Soundankar, a Senior Research Analyst for Frost & Sullivan. With its forward-thinking solutions for personal protection and safety, well-earned reputation, and strong overall performance, Ansell earns Frost & Sullivan's 2022 Global Company of the Year Award in the medical gloves industry. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Kristen Moore P: 210.247.3823 E: kristen.moore@frost.com About Ansell Ansell is a world leader in providing superior health and safety protection solutions that enhance human well-being. The world's need for better protection never stops, so Ansell is constantly researching, developing and investing to manufacture and distribute cutting-edge product innovation and technology, marketed under well-known brands that customers trust. Operating in two main business segments, Industrial and Healthcare, Ansell is the market leader that continues to grow, employing 14,000 people worldwide. With operations in North America, Latin America/Caribbean, EMEA, and Asia Pacific, customers in more than 100 countries around the world trust Ansell and its protection solutions. Information on Ansell and its products can be found at www.ansell.com. #AnsellProtects Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ansell-applauded-by-frost--sullivan-for-protecting-clinicians-and-patients-using-latex-free-gloves-and-its-market-leading-position-301744543.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2023/13/c3266.html Arras Minerals Corp. Figure 1. Arras mineral exploration licenses in northeastern Kazakhstan, showing the newly granted licenses. Also shown is the location of Arras exploration office in the city of Ekibastuz and the producing Bozshakol and Maikain mines. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: ARK) (Arras or the Company) is pleased to announce the acquisition of three additional mineral exploration licences in Pavlodar Province, Kazakhstan. The new licences held by the Companys local subsidiary cover a total of 364 square kilometers (sq km) in northeastern Kazakhstan. Highlights: A total of three new mineral exploration licenses totaling 364 sq km have been granted by the Ministry of Industry and Innovational Development, Government of Kazakhstan, increasing the Companys total land package in northeastern Kazakhstan to more than 3,300 sq km. The license acquisitions further strengthen the Companys position as the largest license holder in the highly prospective Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt. All licenses are located within a 120 km radius of Arras' operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, Pavlodar Province, facilitating cost-effective exploration. Compilation, digitization, and interpretation of Soviet-era geological and geophysical datasets for the new licenses has identified multiple targets for porphyry, epithermal, volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS), and orogenic gold mineralization. Arras has established the third-largest license package prospective for copper-gold in the Republic of Kazakhstan behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group. Arras CEO, Tim Barry, spoke about the acquisition of the new license areas saying, "We are capitalizing on our position as an early player in the highly promising Bozshakol-Chingiz belt and have added valuable licenses to our portfolio. Last year, we completed our first field season and the results of our examination of Soviet-era data sets and recent geophysical surveys have led us to make these acquisitions. The Company continues to seek opportunities to enhance its project portfolio and we anticipate the analysis of the over 16,000 soil samples collected during the field season to be finished in the coming months. This will precede the start of our regional field program in May, where we plan to follow up on newly identified high-priority targets." Story continues Arras mineral exploration licenses in northeastern Kazakhstan, showing the newly granted licenses. Also shown is the location of Arras exploration office in the city of Ekibastuz and the producing Bozshakol and Maikain mines. Figure 1. Arras mineral exploration licenses in northeastern Kazakhstan, showing the newly granted licenses. Also shown is the location of Arras exploration office in the city of Ekibastuz and the producing Bozshakol and Maikain mines. Qualified Person: The technical information of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Tim Barry, a Chartered Professional Geologist MAusIMM CP(Geo), and a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo) Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 info@arrasminerals.com Further information can be found on the Companys website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp: Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Companys shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol ARK. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms measured resources, indicated resources, and inferred resources which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the use of net proceeds from the recent private placement, plans and expectations of the drill program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras management. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, continues, may, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond managements control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in the Non-Offering Prospectus filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR on May 31, 2022 and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 17, 2022 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d50fa850-3388-42a9-ba37-9f0272b7dabe SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. The most recent cardioverter defibrillator device market analysis by SkyQuest forecasts potential future development and offers up-to-date details on sales volume, industry trends, and anticipated growth. By providing a thorough market analysis, the research intends to assist decision-makers in making smart investment decisions. Key market drivers, obstacles, and opportunities are also identified by the research. Additionally, the report also contains a section on regional analysis that focuses on areas with significant growth potential and aids players in boosting their market presence. Westford, USA, Feb. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cardioverter defibrillator device market in North America is on an upward trajectory owing to several factors including the increasing usage of advanced technologies by healthcare organizations, growing healthcare expenditure, and the rising heart health related concerns. Furthermore, the heart surgeries are becoming popular trends in the on account of the rising cases of the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is predicted to boost market growth. Additionally, the launch of new defibrillator and pacemakers to make them more compact, easily accessible, and patient pocket-friendly is anticipated to drive the market growth. SkyQuests latest insights on heart health, CVDs, and usage of pacemaker and cardioverter defibrillator shows that every year, more than one million cardiac defibrillators are implanted throughout the world, with about 200,000 of those procedures taking place in the US alone. Browse in-depth TOC on "Cardioverter Defibrillator Device Market" Pages - 224 Tables - 64 Figures 68 A few of the key companies and prominent market players covered in the global cardioverter defibrillator device market research report by SkyQuest are: Medtronic PLC Abbott Laboratories Boston Scientific Corporation BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG LivaNova PLC Stryker Corporation Koninklijke Philip N.V. Cardiac Science Corporation Zoll medical corporation Nihon Kohden Corporation Progetti Srl Fukuda Denshi Co. Schiller AG Metrax GmbH Mindray Medical International Limited GE Healthcare Story continues Get sample copy of this report: https://skyquestt.com/sample-request/cardioverter-defibrillator-device-market Global Cardioverter Defibrillator Device Market Dynamics: The global cardioverter defibrillator device market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% over the forecast period. The market is anticipated to garner a revenue of USD 17.7795 Billion by the end of 2028, up from a revenue of USD 11 Billion in the year 2021. A tiny battery-operated device known as a cardioverter-defibrillator is inserted into the chest to identify and treat abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias). When necessary, this device administers electric shocks to the heart to help it return to a normal rhythm. Therefore, the cardioverter defibrillator is a kind of electronic device utilized to treat both arrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest. Additionally, the demand for the cardioverter-defibrillator device is predicted to increase during the forecast period owing to the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and rising instances of fatalities on account of CVD across the globe. According to SkyQuests research insights cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is the leading cause of death worldwide and cause over 17.9 million deaths per year. Key Takeaways from Global Cardioverter Defibrillator Device Market Research Report North America region is expected to have the largest market share The implantable cardioverter defibrillator segment is estimated to dominate the global market Hospital segment is predicted to gain the highest market share Rising Technological Advancements in the Field of Cardioverter Defibrillator Devices to Accelerate Market Growth It was noted during research that key market players are investing significantly in the development of high-tech and next-gen cardioverter defibrillator device that is predicted to propel the market growth during the forecast period. With the rising technological advancements, defibrillators now cost less, take up less space, and are simpler to use. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are two examples of technological innovation. These gadgets work well to control heart attack symptoms. After receiving the appropriate training, using a defibrillator has become simple for a bystander owing to technological developments in defibrillators. Further, these advancements and investments are estimated to boost the safety and overall efficiency of the device. SkyQuest found that Medtronic plc, a leader in healthcare technology, achieved a defibrillation success rate of 98.7% and met its safety endpoints in a global clinical trial. This system is a first-of-its-kind defibrillator with the lead positioned under the breastbone, outside of the heart, and veins. Regional Overview A detailed report of the global cardioverter defibrillator device market comprises the regional outlook for the market in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and MEA. Among these, the market in North America region is predicted to gain the largest market share during the forecast period. The growth of the market can be ascribed to the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the region owing to the rising adoption of unhealthy habits among people including the growing consumption of fast food and excessive consumption of alcohol in the region. SkyQuest noted during a market study that about 697,000 Americans died from heart disease in 2020, and about 20.1 million adults aged 20 and over have CVD. In addition to this, the increasing investment in healthcare advancements and rising adoption of smart healthcare devices in the region are predicted to boost market growth. Around 33,000 CRT-Ds devices from Boston Scientific's Resonate, Autogen, Dynagen, Incepta, and Cognis ranges were supplied globally in 2020. 16,500 of these were registered in the United States alone, showing a strong adoption rate as found by SkyQuest during the market research. On the other hand, the market in Asia Pacific region is estimated to expand at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The growing instances of cardiovascular diseases and the increasing awareness among people regarding heart health in the region are predicted to promote market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, the growing geriatric population in the countries such as China, India, and Japan is expected to positively impact the market growth as the older age population is more to acquire chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Hospital Segment to Dominate Global Market Owing to Rising Healthcare Investment and Increasing Number of Cardiac Patients The end-user segment of the global cardioverter defibrillator device market is classified into hospitals, pre-hospital, public access markets, alternative care, and home. Out of these, the hospital segment is estimated to dominate the global market by gaining the highest market share during the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be ascribed to the increasing traffic in the hospital owing to rising instances of heart disease. Moreover, the growing investment by governments and key market players in hospitals and the increasing number of hospitals across the world is predicted to boost the segment growth. SkyQuests data shows that there are around 6093 hospitals in the USA as of 2022 and this number is predicted to grow further during the forecast period. Browse Summary of the Report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC) https://skyquestt.com/report/cardioverter-defibrillator-device-market Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Segment to Garner Highest Market Share On Account of Rising Geriatric Population The type segment of global cardioverter defibrillator device market is segmented into implantable cardioverter defibrillators and external cardioverter defibrillators. Out of these, the implantable cardioverter defibrillators segment is predicted to gain the highest market share over the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be ascribed to the increasing need for devices for treating CVDs as they are compact and easy to accommodate. Additionally, the aged population as they are more prone to acquire chronic diseases and they have a weak immune system is anticipated to boost the market growth. SkyQuest has noted that from 0.9% among those aged 18 to 44 to 5.9% among those aged 45 to 64 and 18.2% among those over 65, prevalence increased with age. Key Developments in the Cardioverter Defibrillator Device Market As part of its expanding line of electrophysiological products on the global market, on February 2023, Abbott announced two approvals. The business's TactiFlexTM Ablation Catheter, Sensor EnabledTM, the only ablation catheter in the entire world with a flexible tip and contact force sensing, has been granted CE Mark1 to treat persons with irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). Boston Scientific Corp., a manufacturer of medical devices, has been expanding into new technological fields and buying additional businesses through its venture capital division in recent years. It has invested around $1 billion in purchasing shares in about 50 businesses worldwide. One of many businesses that invest in startups to discover new technologies is Boston Scientific, which provides goods with a focus on urology, cardiology, and other medical sectors. Study presented by BIO|GUARD-MI at ACC.22 indicates that insertable cardiac monitors (ICM) and remote monitoring can improve results for post-myocardial infarction patients. Early treatment of high-risk NSTEMI patients under continuous arrhythmia monitoring with ICMs may lower major adverse cardiac events (MACE). To create an integrated health system that will increase access to high-quality treatment for both urban and rural populations, Sanford Health and Fairview Health Services have signed a statement of intent. According to Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, "we organizations are connected by a shared goal to enhance the health and well-being of our citizens from chronic diseases." The research study provides thorough and in-depth analyses of the leading market players in the cardioverter defibrillator device, including information on their financials, distribution network trends, technological breakthroughs, and significant advancements. The report also includes important suggestions that businesses should take into account as they prepare for future business expansion. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/cardioverter-defibrillator-device-market Key Questions Answered in the Cardioverter Defibrillator Device Market Research Report What are the main elements shaping the cardioverter defibrillator device market globally? What commercial possibilities, difficulties, and strategies have the major players adopted? What opportunities and difficulties do global suppliers face in the market? What are the regional sales, profit, and pricing analyses for the global market? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global NGS Automation Market Global Microscopy Market Global Dermal Fillers Market Global Molecular Cytogenetics Market Global Multimodal Imaging Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter ROCKY HILL, Conn. , Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the nation's most credible employer recognition programs has awarded CATIC the Top Workplaces USA award for 2023 (150-499 employees category). This is CATIC's second consecutive year being named to this list and the company has been ranked 53rd amongst all other employers across the country in this category. Since 2018, CATIC has been the recipient of the regional Top Workplaces award and, most recently, was ranked in the top 5 among other local Connecticut businesses in 2022. CATIC Logo (PRNewsfoto/CATIC) Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great company cultures. Over 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the survey, with the winners chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey, issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey's research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks. CATIC is proud to be recognized nationally as a Top Workplace again this year. "During these challenging times in our industry, it is our people who set us apart as a company and drive our continued success. Our employees face new challenges every day with energy, creativity, and a willingness to help each other out," said James M. Czapiga, Esq., President and CEO of the CATIC Family of Companies. "Our goal or mission continues to be to serve the independent and attorney agent market, and we get up each day and work very hard to 'wow' our supportive agents. We celebrate and thank our employees for all they do to earn this incredible honor." Damon Carter, Senior Vice President and CHRO, added, "Our employees continuously demonstrate their unwavering commitment to cultivating a great workplace culture at CATIC in various ways. The senior leadership team truly appreciates their efforts to do so because it positively impacts the overall employee experience for all employees here." Story continues About CATIC CATIC, along with its sister company CATIC Title Insurance Company, is currently licensed in every state east of the Mississippi and in Texas and is currently doing business through an independent agent network in 16 states. The Company is an underwriting member of the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the North American Bar-Related Title Insurers. For more information about the Company, or to become a CATIC agent, please visit us at www.CATIC.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/catic-is-selected-as-a-national-top-workplace-in-2023-301745224.html SOURCE CATIC The Insight Partners The global centrifugal pump market growth is driven by enormous use of water in mining activities, growing emphasis on wastewater treatment, adoption of modern farming practices and proliferation of construction industry. New York, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on "Centrifugal Pump Market Size, Share, Report, Demand, Growth Strategy, Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028 by Stage (Single Stage and Multistage), Operation Type (Electric, Hydraulic, and Air Driven), Type (Overhung Impeller, Vertically Suspended, and Between Bearing), and Sector (Oil and Gas, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Mining, Power Generation, Automotive, Agriculture, HVAC, Wastewater Management, and Others) "; the global centrifugal pump market size is expected to reach USD 36.87 billion by 2028 from USD 25.15 billion in 2021; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2021 to 2028. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00009326/ Global Centrifugal Pump Market Report Scope, Segmentations, Regional & Country Scope: Market Size Value in USD 25.15 Billion in 2021 Market Size Value by USD 36.87 Billion by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 5.6% from 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2021-2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 180 No. of Tables 78 No. of Charts & Figures 86 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Stage , Operation Type , Type , and Sector Regional scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South & Central America Country scope US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Companies Covered EBARA CORPORATION, Grundfos Holding A/S, KIRLOSKAR BROTHERS LIMITED, KSB SE & Co. KGaA, PLEUGER INDUSTRIES, Sulzer Ltd, The Weir Group PLC, Tsurumi Manufacturing Co., Ltd., WILO SE, and Xylem Key Research Capabilities Global Market Assessment, Business Development Strategies, Competitive Landscape, Opportunity Analysis, Regional and Country Level Market Analysis, Market Entry Strategies, Market Dynamics, Risk and Return Assessments, Pricing Analysis, Market Size and Forecasting, Company Profiling, Value Chain Analysis, Expansion Strategies, SWOT Analysis, New Product Development Global Centrifugal Pump Market Forecast to 2028 - Latest COVID-19 Analysis https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00009326/ Global Centrifugal Pump Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments EBARA CORPORATION, Grundfos Holding A/S, KIRLOSKAR BROTHERS LIMITED, KSB SE & Co. KGaA, PLEUGER INDUSTRIES, Sulzer Ltd, The Weir Group PLC, Tsurumi Manufacturing Co., Ltd., WILO SE, and Xylem Inc. are among the major companies operating in the centrifugal pump market. Story continues In 2021 : EBARA Pumps Europe launches the Model EVMS-K Pump. The Model EVMS-K Pump is a new product that combines the Model EVMS Pump and the Model E-SPD Inverter, both of which are EPE products. It is possible to conserve energy by integrating a motor with an inverter, drive a pump more efficiently, minimize installation space, and simplify wiring and installation labor. In 2020 : KBL is now the first Indian pump manufacturing company to receive the prestigious Integrated Management System (IMS) certification for four single stages, namely ISO 9001: 2015, ISO 14001: 2015, ISO 45001: 2018 and ISO 50001:2018 by the certification Body, M/s TUV-SUD. Inquiry Before Purchase: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPRE00009326/ Centrifugal pumps are widely used equipment in wastewater treatment facilities. Developed regions such North America and Europe have modern wastewater management facilities with well-established practices; however, in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa, the popularity of such practices is gradually increasing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ~50% of the total population is anticipated to live in water-stressed regions by 2026. According to Sustainable Water Alliance, countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia are anticipated to deploy several new water and wastewater facilities by 2026. Moreover, in June 2021, an official of Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) announced its plans to partner with the Saudi Arabian private sector with an investment of US$ 4 billion for water and wastewater projects. Under these projects, the country aims to deploy 158 projects, including 11 desalination plants and 147 wastewater plants, which would be operational by end of 2023. Meanwhile, in 2021, Chinas National Development and Reform Commission made announcements regarding its plans to improve sewage water treatment capabilities as well as to focus on the conversion of sewage into reusable resources by 2026. Thus, such initiatives by governments are generating ample growth opportunities for the centrifugal pump market players. The centrifugal pump market has been segmented into three major regionsEurope, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). In 2020, APAC held the largest share of the market, followed by Europe and the MEA. The expansion of the centrifugal pump market in APAC is attributed to the region's development strategies, including the surging infrastructure investments. China reports the largest sales of centrifugal pumps. However, economic difficulties in China and the Eurozone have led to deceleration in the sales of these pumps, and the same is expected in the coming years. Moreover, the negative impact of falling oil and gas prices is another factor contributing to the projected slowdown in the global centrifugal pump market growth in the coming years. Further, Europe is experiencing significant adoption of modern farming practices such as hydroponics and vertical farming, creating substantial opportunities for centrifugal pump market players. The MEA centrifugal pump market is expected to grow exponentially during the forecast period due to flourishing infrastructure in the commercial sector in several countries in the region. Speak to Research Expert: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/speak-to-analyst/TIPRE00009326 The centrifugal pump market is segmented based on stage, operation type, type, sector, and geography. Based on stage, the centrifugal pump market is sub-segmented into single stage and multistage. Based on operation type, the centrifugal pump market is categorized into electric, hydraulic, and air driven. Based on type, the market is segmented into overhung impeller, vertically suspended, and between bearing. Based on sector, the market is segmented into oil and gas, chemicals and petrochemicals, mining, power generation, automotive, agriculture, HVAC, wastewater management, and others. Additionally, based on region, the centrifugal pump market is segmented into Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Centrifugal Pump Market: According to the latest situation report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the US, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, the UK, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Iran, and China are among the worst-affected countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the world economy suffered severe consequences of the global outbreak. The pandemic has led to disruptions in primary industries including electronics, semiconductor, and manufacturing. A sharp decline in the growth of mentioned industries is limiting the centrifugal pump market growth. The overall centrifugal pump market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources. To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining overview and forecast for the centrifugal pump market with respect to all the segments. It also provides the overview and forecast for the global centrifugal pump market based on all the segmentation provided with respect to five major regionsNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. Also, primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate data and gain more analytical insights into the topic. The participants typically involved in this process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managersalong with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leadersspecializing in the centrifugal pump market. Quickly Purchase Premium Copy of Centrifugal Pump Market Growth Report (2021-2028) at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00009326/ Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: Magnetic Drive Pumps Market The magnetic drive pumps market is expected to grow from US$ 933.25 million in 2021 to US$ 1,584.37 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% during 20212028. Electric Coolant Pump Market The electric coolant pump market was valued US$ 467.46 million in 2022, it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16.8% from 2022 to 2028. Cryogenic Pump Market The cryogenic pump market accounted to US$ 1.86 Bn in 2018 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period 2019 - 2027, to account to US$ 2.82 Bn by 2027. Industrial Heat Pump Market Industrial heat pumps are specially designed family of pumps that facilitate the conversion of waste heat into useful application and subsequently facilitate in improved energy savings. Automotive Electric Oil Pump Market The automotive electric oil pump circulates lubricant oil and pumps coolant efficiently and effectively inside various vehicle systems, such as transmission, engine, and brakes. Heat Pump Market Heat pumps are energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that use refrigerant to transfer heat between the inside and outside of a building. Regenerative Turbine Pump Market Regenerative turbine pumps are centrifugal pumps that are used to pump pure liquids. It's a popular choice for large delivery heads with modest volume flows. Stationary Concrete Pump Market The stationary concrete pump is a type of concrete pump which can be attached on a trailer and requires rubber or steal houses which need to attached to the outlet of machine. Sewage Pump Market The sewage pump is a single-phase pump used for activities that have lower power requirements, these single-phase pumps have a float switch that makes automatic operation feasible. Mobile Concrete Pump Market The mobile concrete pumps are movable concrete pump which are used to transfer liquid concrete in high volume at construction sites. About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Sameer Joshi E-mail: sales@theinsightpartners.com Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/centrifugal pump-market (Bloomberg) -- The fast and furious rally in Chinas ChatGPT shares looks set to fade as tech firms caution theyre nowhere close to turning a profit in this field. Most Read from Bloomberg Beijing Deep Glint Technology Co. stumbled as much as 10.2% before ending flat on Monday after the company said it doesnt have the capability to offer ChatGPT-linked products. That may be a foretaste of whats to come even as firms such as Cambricon Technologies Corp. and TRS Information Technology Corp. jumped over 5% to extend their recent gains. Caution toward AI-related shares is setting in after investors rushed to capitalize on whats being billed as a watershed development for the tech industry. Some market watchers are warning that the hype isnt supported by fundamentals, drawing comparisons between the rally and the blockchain mania which fizzled out after a bout of heady gains. In most cases its not immediately clear what the financial benefits are, said Vey-Sern Ling, managing director at Union Bancaire Privee. Apart from the companies with the strongest technical capabilities, most of the rest are probably just riding the wave. Such hype-driven rallies are never sustainable. The Tech Behind Those Amazing, Flawed New Chatbots: QuickTake Beijing Deep Glint isnt the only company thats reining in expectations relating to ChatGPT. 360 Security Technology Inc. said Friday there is major uncertainty on the release date and output of such services, three days after its shares posted the biggest daily surge since November 2020. CloudWalk, a face recognition technology developer, clarified that it hasnt generated any revenue from ChatGPT products and that it wasnt involved in any collaboration with OpenAI. Story continues There looks to be a speculative element to the recent rally, said Christina Woon, investment director for Asian equities at abrdn plc. It will be important to see how companies might be able to use this to enhance overall customer stickiness in their ecosystems or add value to their offerings, and ultimately, how this can be monetized, whether directly or indirectly. Market Mania for Everything AI Faces China, Google Reality Check Chinas onshore equity investors, especially retail players, have a track record of jumping on the latest craze even before the companies roll out marketable products. Apart from the blockchain frenzy, traders also loaded up on shares linked to meat substitutes over three years ago despite the fact that the market barely existed in China. Even warnings from regulators have failed to damp the ardor surrounding ChatGPT stocks. At least three companies were queried by local stock exchanges after their shares rose more than 30% over three straight sessions last week. A Chinese newspaper warned investors in a front-page commentary not to blindly join the speculative rally. Meituans co-founder Wang Huiwen also waded into the discussion on Monday, with an open call for AI talents to build the Chinese version of OpenAI, according to a post on the social networking app Jike. The entrepreneur, who left the Chinese food delivery giant in 2020, said he had invested $50 million in the project with a valuation of $200 million, and that the next round of fundraising had been secured at $230 million. Wang did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. says a slew of Chinese players will pursue ChatGPT-related technology, but the market may not have factored in potential hurdles as info accuracy is a big challenge, pricing model uncertain, and the cost of learning is high, according to a note. Baidu Surges as Hope Mounts Over Chinese Answer to ChatGPT (4) --With assistance from Sarah Zheng. (Updates with share moves in second paragraph and Meituan co-founders post in 10th and 11th paragraphs) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. America races to identify mystery flying objects as RAF ready to shoot down Chinese spy balloons America is racing to identify three mystery flying objects it downed as RAF planes were on alert to shoot down Chinese spy balloons if they fly over Britain. An unprecedented spate of mysterious flying objects over North America - including a Chinese spy balloon shot down more than a week ago - has sparked fears that national security could be compromised and planes put at risk. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday said fighter jets are on standby in Britain to be launched within minutes to shoot down Chinese spy balloons if they are flown over the country. The Prime Minister made clear that the UK would not tolerate such espionage missions after four high altitude objects were blown out the skies by America. Mr Sunak said: I want people to know that we will do whatever it takes to keep the country safe. We have something called the Quick Reaction Alert Force which involves Typhoon planes which are kept on 24/7 readiness to police our air space. In a briefing on Monday night, the White House said it was still trying to identify three of four objects shot down by US fighters jets in recent days but warned it had been able to establish that China has a high-altitude balloon programme. The first of the four objects was a 200-foot-tall aerial intruder first spotted two weeks ago. It was identified by US officials as a balloon that China was using to spy on the United States, although Beijing denies it was for surveillance. The other three remain officially unidentified, as crews work to retrieve and identify debris. They include an object about the size of a small car shot down over sea ice in Alaska on Friday, another similar in shape but smaller than the Chinese spy balloon brought down over Canadas Yukon on Saturday and an octagonal object shot down over Lake Huron on Sunday. John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, speaking at a White House briefing on Monday (AFP via Getty Images) While officials race to track down debris from the downed objects, the White House ruled out one theory. I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday night. Story continues Americas National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, John Kirby, told the briefing the US had established China has a high-altitude balloon programme for intelligence thats connected to the Peoples Liberation Army. His comments came hours after a UK Government minister said China may have launched spy balloons over Britain. Transport minister Richard Holden stressed that China is a hostile state and the UK needed to be robust in how it responded to Beijings actions. Asked on Sky News if China may have carried out such espionage missions over the UK, Mr Holden told Sky News: Its possible. Its also possible and I would think likely that there would be people from the Chinese government trying to act as a hostile state. Mr Holden, a former special adviser at the Minstry of Defence added: The Government is concerned about what is going on, concerned about influence more broadly of some states. China is a hostile state and we need to be aware of that and the way it acts and behaves. There was an era where China could have gone a different way and perhaps opened up but its quite clear at the moment its not going in that direction. We have got to be really robust in our dealings with China. The suspected Chinese spy balloon spotted over US airspace two weeks ago (AP) Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has ordered a security review following the incidents in America. His move came after US fighter jets shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron on Sunday, the fourth object to enter US or Canadian airspace in just over a week. Mr Wallace said: The UK and her allies will review what these airspace intrusions mean for our security. This development is another sign of how the global threat picture is changing for the worse. US Air Force General Glen VanHerck, who is tasked with safeguarding US airspace, said that the military has not been able to identify what the three most recent objects were, how they stayed aloft, or where they came from. Were calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason, Gen VanHerck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command, explained. He would not rule out aliens or any other explanation. Ill let the intel community and the counterintelligence community figure that out, he added. Another defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, subsequently said the military had not seen any evidence that the objects were extraterrestrial. On President Joe Bidens order, a US F-16 fighter shot down the object at 2:42 p.m. local time over Lake Huron on the US-Canada border, Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said in an official statement. Though it did not pose a military threat, the object could have potentially interfered with domestic air traffic as it was traveling at 20,000 feet (6,100 m), and it might have had surveillance capabilities, he added. The object appeared to be octagonal in structure, with strings hanging off but no discernible payload, said a US official speaking on condition of anonymity. The object was believed to be the same as one recently detected over Montana near sensitive military sites, prompting the closure of US airspace, the Pentagon said. The military will try to recover the object downed over Lake Huron to learn more about it, explained Gen VanHerck. He said it likely fell into Canadian waters. The incident raised questions about the spate of unusual objects that have appeared over North American skies in recent weeks and raised tensions with China. We need the facts about where they are originating from, what their purpose is, and why their frequency is increasing, said US Representative Debbie Dingell, one of several Michigan lawmakers who applauded the military for downing the object. Chinas Foreign Ministry said that since last year US high altitude balloons had flown over Chinese airspace without Beijings permission 11 times. The White House has rejected the claim. OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 13, 2023 /CNW/ - The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) is pleased to share key findings learned from its peer-reviewed study, Diagnostic delays in sepsis: Lessons learned from a retrospective study of Canadian medico-legal claims. The CMPA conducts data-driven research to increase patient safety, while reducing the medico-legal risks of member physicians. CMPA logo (CNW Group/Canadian Medical Protective Association) CMPA researchers examined 163 medico-legal cases closed between 2011-2020 that had documented peer expert criticism of a delayed diagnosis related to sepsis or relevant infections, including endocarditis, C. difficile, and S. aureus. The CMPA's retrospective study sought to identify the potential warning signs for patients at risk of developing severe sepsis, identify what patient characteristics and elements of healthcare contributed to delays in the diagnosis of sepsis, and identify opportunities for improvement. Sepsis explained Sepsis is the body's extreme response to a serious infection that can cause organs to function poorly or abnormally. It is a potentially life-threatening condition, which continues to be a challenging diagnosis for physicians. Although rapid treatment improves outcomes for patients presenting with sepsis, early detection can be difficult, especially in otherwise healthy adults. In 2017, there were an estimated 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide and the mortality rate has decreased very little in recent decades, despite advances in sepsis management. CMPA's key findings Healthcare provider factors were identified in 160 cases of the 163 cases. These factors include inadequate monitoring or follow-up, failure to perform a test/intervention or administer medication, and not sufficiently assessing patient conditions. "In 129 cases, which is over 80% of the cases, it was determined that healthcare providers hadn't sufficiently assessed patients' conditions," said Jacqueline Fortier, Manager of the Evidence Synthesis Unit at the CMPA. "Key considerations, such as thinking broadly about other causes of post-operative pain or taking the time to reassess a high-risk patient before discharging them from the emergency department, could contribute to an earlier sepsis diagnosis." Story continues Additional findings include: In the 163 cases included in the study, 49% of patients made multiple visits to outpatient care before the symptoms had progressed to sepsis, and almost 40% of patients required intensive care unit attention during their hospitalization. In 30% of the 163 cases, patients who brought forward a medico-legal action had experienced severe harm, such as limb amputation due to gangrene or brain damage. Deficient assessments, such as failing to consider sepsis or not reassessing the patient prior to discharge, contributed to just over 80% of the 163 cases. In nearly 24% of 88 cases where team factors were identified, communication breakdowns between healthcare providers occurred. Opportunities for improving patient safety The top contributing factors attributed to healthcare teams were inadequate documentation and communication breakdowns, either between healthcare professionals or between physicians and patients/caregivers. "How physicians communicatewith each other, with patients, and their familiesplays a significant role in delayed diagnoses," said Dr. Gary Garber, Director, Safe Medical Care Research and senior author of the study. "Critical care physicians might consider how best to coordinate the care of patients at increased risk of sepsis with other team members to help improve outcomes." Sepsis continues to be a challenging diagnosis for clinicians. Multiple visits to outpatient care may be an early warning sign requiring vigilance in the patient assessment. Being mindful of certain factors, such as deficient assessments and inadequate monitoring, can potentially improve patient outcomes. Medico-legal data can help to identify clues about the sources of delayed diagnoses. Outcomes for patients with sepsis can be improved through the early recognition of sepsis and appropriate management, which may include communicating early with critical care teams. Resources CMPA peer-reviewed research is conducted using CMPA data, the largest collection of medico-legal data in the world. CMPA studies are published in medical and science journals and inform collaborative research initiatives. Review the published research, available at Critical Care Explorations. For more information, or to arrange an interview: media@cmpa.org. About the CMPA The CMPA empowers better healthcare by delivering efficient, high-quality physician-to-physician advice and assistance in medico-legal matters. Importantly, the CMPA provides appropriate compensation, on behalf of our members, to patients injured by negligent medical care (fault in Quebec). Our peer-reviewed research results in evidence-based products and services focused on enhancing patient safety and reducing patient harm and healthcare costs. As Canada's largest physician organization and with the support of our nearly 108,000 physician members, the CMPA collaborates, advocates, and effects positive change on important healthcare and medico-legal issues. The Association is governed by an elected Council of physicians. SOURCE Canadian Medical Protective Association Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2023/13/c8781.html Poster presentation describes enhanced activity of CT-001 in peripartum patient blood, supporting advancement as a treatment to severe postpartum hemorrhage SAN FRANCISCO, February 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Coagulant Therapeutics Corporation, a privately held company focused on the design, development and commercialization of therapeutics targeted to the coagulation cascade and its adjacencies, announced data from pre-clinical studies on CT-001, an FVIIa derivative engineered for superior safety and efficacy in a poster presentation titled "CT-001, A Novel Next Generation Factor VIIa, Demonstrates Enhanced Procoagulant Activity in Peripartum Patient Samples" at the Society For Maternal-Fetal Medicine 43rd Annual Pregnancy Meeting in San Francisco, California, February 6-11, 2023. Coagulant Therapeutics Corporation is a privately held company focused on the design, development and commercialization of therapeutics targeted to the coagulation cascade and its adjacencies. (PRNewsfoto/Coagulant Therapeutics Corporation) Severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) unresponsive to first- and second-line therapies is treated with massive transfusion and aggressive procedures to control blood loss. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) has demonstrated some efficacy but an increased risk of thromboembolism has been reported. To address this liability, a novel rFVIIa, CT-001, engineered for enhanced activity and rapid clearance was developed. In previous pre-clinical studies, CT-001 has shown rapid clearance and low thrombogenicity. In this study, conducted at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, and Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Rep of Korea, respectively, CT-001 hemostatic activity was assessed ex vivo in peripartum blood samples. "There are limited therapeutic options and few data from clinical studies to help guide the hemostatic management of severe postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Our use of CT-001 ex vivo shows promise and opens the door to future clinical studies", said Dr. Andra James, MD, Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University, senior author of the study. Story continues "These studies in peripartum blood samples further support the enhanced activity of our novel rFVIIa molecule, CT-001, supporting its advancement to the clinic for the treatment of severe postpartum hemorrhage ," said Terry Hermiston, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Coagulant Therapeutics. About CT-001 CT-001 is an engineered version of FVIIa that is designed to address the limitations of the recombinant FVIIa (rFVIIa), approved for use in Hemophilia A and B patients with inhibitors, congenital FVII deficiency, and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia with refractoriness to platelet transfusions but not approved for use in the acute bleeding settings such as trauma, traumatic brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage or severe postpartum hemorrhage in the US. To improve safety, and to address the unwanted clotting risk with rFVIIa, CT-001 was engineered for rapid clearance from the blood. This feature reduces the time in which an individual is exposed to pro-coagulant activity, which reduces the risk of thromboembolic events. To improve efficacy, while compensating for the rapid removal of CT-001 from the blood, the molecule has also been engineered to target the site of bleeding more efficiently and effectively than rFVIIa, with resultant increase in activity. CT-001 was originally developed by Dr. Hermiston while he served as Vice President of Biologics at Bayer AG and subsequently acquired by the Company. CT-001 is currently under investigation for treatment of severe postpartum hemorrhage. About Coagulant Therapeutics Corporation Coagulant Therapeutics is a privately held company focused on the design, development and commercialization of therapeutics targeted to the coagulation cascade and its adjacencies. The Company's lead product candidate, CT-001, is a next-generation Factor VIIa designed for enhanced efficacy and safety in the setting of acute bleeding. Coagulant is also developing additional therapeutics targeted to APC for the treatment of acute bleeding and other coagulation cascade-related diseases. Founded in 2019, the company is based in Berkeley, California. Media Contact: Eliza Schleifstein eliza@schleifsteinpr.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coagulant-therapeutics-presents-data-on-ct-001-activity-in-peripartum-patient-samples-at-the-2023-society-for-maternal-fetal-medicine-43rd-annual-pregnancy-meeting-301744739.html SOURCE Coagulant Therapeutics Corporation WILMINGTON, DE / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2023 / Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global connected car devices market size stood at US$ 26.21 Bn in 2021 and is anticipated to reach US$ 52.78 Bn by 2031. The global market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.25% between 2022 and 2031. Improvement in technological security features, rise in auto sales & production, and increase in demand for telematics & entertainment systems in automobiles are driving the global connected car devices market. Transparency Market Research inc., Sunday, February 12, 2023, Press release picture Additionally, expansion of ADAS features for vehicle comfort & security and increase in partnerships between OEMs and service providers are projected to present significant business opportunities in the global industry. Infrastructural development across the world and government initiatives to encourage connected vehicles are anticipated to augment the global market in the near future. The Internet of Things (IoT) is crucial for connected vehicles, as it directs the vehicle's components to establish bidirectional connection with a number of other on-road vehicles as well as driver's mobile phones. Safety is one of the primary objectives of the connected vehicle system. Automotive V2X communication is made possible by connected car technology. Increase in usage of telecommunication services in the automotive industry and fierce rivalry among connected vehicle manufacturers are expected to drive market development from 2022 and 2031. Additionally, governmental rules and industry compliance that allow automobile connectivity are projected to bolster industry demand. Request to Sample PDF of this Strategic Report (Use Corporate Mail ID for Top Priority) - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=27443 Key Findings of Market Report Smartphones of driver or passenger can be accessed by connected automobiles. Smartphones could be used to turn on and off connected automobiles. These are also able to transmit diagnostic vehicle data, alert the owner of impending maintenance needs, as well as share position of the car in case it is stolen. These internal onboard capabilities are anticipated to drive the global connected car devices market. Based on technology, the advance driver assistance systems (ADAS) segment dominated the global industry in 2021, owing to greater awareness about vehicle safety and rise in disposable income. Additionally, increase in traffic congestion, rapid urbanization, and higher consumer spending power are likely to propel industry growth. In terms of connectivity, the dedicated short range communication (DSRC) segment held significant market share in 2021. DSRC enables intelligent transportation system (ITS)-equipped vehicles to interact with various other on-road vehicles or with urban infrastructure. DSRC technology is far more efficient and runs at a radio frequency of 5.9 GHz bandwidth. Hence, it is widely employed for short- to medium-distance communications. Story continues Global Connected Car Devices Market: Growth Drivers According to market trends, rise in customer demand for ADAS capabilities is likely to encourage connected car makers to incorporate IoT devices and solutions for rapid V2X communications in the automotive industry. This is likely to facilitate the incorporation of a number of connected automobile services, such as semi-autonomous & autonomous vehicle control, automatic route planning, and automatic vehicle braking to avoid collisions, adaptive cruise control, and vehicle redirection owing to traffic congestion. These technological advancements in vehicles are expected to increase demand for next-generation vehicles. This, in turn, is likely to bolster the global connected car devices market. Buy this Premium Research Report | Immediate Delivery Available - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=27443<> Global Connected Car Devices Market: Regional Landscape North America held leading share of the global connected car devices market in 2021. Manufacturers and government organizations in the region are putting a lot of effort into the development of autonomous and connected automobiles, which is projected to increase market size. Connected infrastructure is being developed as part of existing smart city initiatives in North America. This is expected to improve vehicle communications, and drive connected car device sales. Global Connected Car Devices Market: Key Players Harman International Industries, Inc. Robert Bosch GmbH Delphi Technologies PLC ZF Friedrichshafen AG DENSO Corporation Continental AG Ask for References - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ARF&rep_id=27443 Global Connected Car Devices Market: Segmentation Technology Advance Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Telematics Others Communication Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Connectivity Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) Cellular Network Others Car Type Hatchback Sedan Utility Vehicles Propulsion IC Engine Vehicles Electric Vehicles Sales Channel OEM Aftermarket Regions North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America Latest Automotive Industry Reports : - Automotive Bearing Market Growth Share from 2022 - 2031 Reach Stacker Industry Growth from 2022 - 2031 Automotive Roof System Market Growth Report 2022 - 2031 Trailer Telematics Market Size & Share Report, 2022-2031 Smart Vehicle Cabin Market Size, Share | Industry Report, 2022-2031 Vehicle Services Market Size & Share Report, 2022 - 2031 Automotive PCB Market Size | Industry Report, 2020-2031 Automotive Center Console Market Growth Share from 2022 - 2031 Microcars Industry Growth from 2022 - 2031 Hypercars Market Growth Report 2022 - 2031 About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, is a global market research company providing custom research and consulting services. TMR provides in-depth insights into factors governing demand in the market. It divulges opportunities across various segments based on Source, Application, Sales Channel, and End-Use that will favor growth in the market over the next 9 years. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Us: Nikhil Sawlani Transparency Market Research Inc. CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN, 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA Tel: 1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Blog: https://tmrblog.com Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com SOURCE: Transparency Market Research inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/739055/Connected-Car-Devices-Market-to-Grow-at-a-CAGR-of-725-during-Forecast-Period-As-per-2022-TMR-Study SYDNEY, Feb. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh from an award-winning showing at one of the world's biggest tech events and just a week after gifting the world's biggest music stars its products at the 65th Grammy Awards, Aiper is making a splash in the Australian market with its revolutionary new pool cleaning robots. Aiper CES Innovation Award Honoree Favoured by American consumers, Aiper is diving into Australian pools with gusto, consumers lapping up the innovative brand that has just earned itself an award at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). CES is considered the most influential tech event with global innovators tripping over themselves to feature in it. The Home Appliance Innovation gong recognises Aiper as a global leader in home tech, an enviable achievement for a product range that has been praised by some of the most reputable outlets in the United States. "We love to see exciting new smart cleaning technology, and we think that these aquatic pool vacuum robots from Aiper are impressive tools," USA Today said of the products. Aiper's Elite Pro and Seagull SE are available for purchase in Australia now, while the Seagull Plus will soon be joining the posse Down Under in mid-February. The cordless cleaners are equipped with hassle-free features that takes out the backbreaking work associated with traditional creepy crawlies, including self-parking capabilities, fast charging time, and an eco-friendly lithium battery. "The whole industry is going towards wireless, robotic and smart," Aiper's US General Manager Brent Korner said. "We want to get away from cords since wireless is the wave of the future." According to the Las Vegas Review Journal Aiper solves the pool cleaning pain point that most homeowners find themselves having to deal with. Getting your hands on the latest and greatest doesn't need to break the bank either. The Seagull Plus, launching in Australia on February 15th, gives pool owners a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing the high techs and specs. Story continues Being the second most advanced product in the Seagull series, the Seagull Plus features upgraded features including a nylon holding tray, run time of 110 minutes, and can be recharged in just 2.5 hours. Equipped with a dual-motor system, the cordless cleaner is able to limit the time pool owners have traditionally spent dealing with sand, dirt, leaves, or any other pesky pool debris. The Seagull Plus features Aiper's signature hydrodynamic design, allowing the robot to glide over a pool floor's surface with less water resistance compared to its bulky, creepy crawly counterparts. The Seagull Plus, which is valued at $569.99 and will be available for purchase through Aiper's website from February 15. Those who order theirs between February 8 and 22 will be eligible for an Early Bird discount of $80. For more information on Aiper's full range of cordless robotic cleaning products, visit au.aiper.com About Aiper Aiper is the leading global creator of eco-friendly, cordless robotic pool cleaners on a mission to create simple, smart cleaning solutions. After doing a deep dive into the pain points of traditional pool cleaners and the overall hassle of keeping a pool clean the company embarked on a path to merge smart technology with innovative solutions to create the world's most easy-to-use robotic pool cleaner. Unlike other products on the market, each Aiper product is guaranteed to minimize the time and money spent laboring, and more time enjoying quality time with friends, family by the pool. Through that, Aiper has earned its place as the world's best cordless robotic pool cleaner since its launch in 2017. Aiper Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2001405/Aiper_CES_Innovation_Award_Honoree.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1853840/Aiper_Logo.jpg SOURCE Aiper TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 /CNW/ - TerrAscend Corp. ("TerrAscend" or the "Company") (CSE: TER) (OTCQX: TRSSF) a leading North American cannabis operator, today announced that it has launched adult-use cannabis sales at its Cookies Detroit retail location. Through its subsidiary Gage Cannabis Co., the Company will now provide adult-use customers in Detroit with access to high-quality products from brands including GAGE, Cookies, Pure Beauty, Cali Blaze, Camino, Jeeter, Khalifa Kush, 1906 and more. TerrAscend Corp. Logo (CNW Group/TerrAscend) Cookies Detroit, located at 6030 8 Mile Rd, will host a three-year anniversary celebration this weekend. The 3,500-square-foot retail space was the first Cookies location to open its doors in Michigan and has previously hosted pop-up activations and events with George Clinton, Mike Epps, Lil Bow Wow, Rohan Marley and Trick Trick. "Gage is proud to celebrate its growing partnership with Cookies and TerrAscend in Michigan," said Jason Wild, Executive Chairman of Terrascend. "We're very excited to offer the acclaimed Cookies and Gage products to adult-use customers in Detroit, the heart of one of the U.S. cannabis industry's largest markets." To celebrate its three-year anniversary and the launch of recreational cannabis sales, Cookies Detroit will offer on-site activations, including a live DJ, food trucks, vendors, deals and special giveaways from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 18th. The first 150 customers to make a purchase of $25 or more will receive a free product. Cookies Detroit is open Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:45 pm and 10:00 am to 7:45 pm Monday - Saturday. In addition to Cookies Detroit, TerrAscend has dedicated significant shelf space to the display and sale of Cookies products at its locations in Adrian, Burton, Battle Creek, Center Line, Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Jackson and Traverse City. More information can be found at www.cookiesmichigan.com or on Instagram @cookies.michigan. About TerrAscend TerrAscend is a leading North American cannabis operator with vertically integrated operations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan and California and licensed production in Canada. TerrAscend operates The Apothecarium and Gage dispensary retail locations as well as scaled cultivation, processing, and manufacturing facilities in its core markets. TerrAscend's cultivation and manufacturing practices yield consistent, high-quality cannabis, providing industry-leading product selection to both the medical and legal adult-use markets. The Company owns several synergistic businesses and brands including Gage Cannabis, The Apothecarium, Ilera Healthcare, Kind Tree, Prism, State Flower, Valhalla Confections, and Arise Bioscience Inc. For more information visit www.terrascend.com . Story continues About Cookies Cookies, founded in 2010 by Billboard-charting rapper and entrepreneur Berner and Bay Area breeder and cultivator Jai, is the most globally recognized cannabis company in the world. Cookies values the power of the plant and focuses on creating game-changing genetics. The company offers a collection of over 70 proprietary cannabis cultivars and more than 2,000 products. Cookies also actively works to enrich communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs through advocacy and social equity initiatives. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company opened its first retail store in 2018 in Los Angeles, and has since expanded to 58 retail locations in 18 markets across 6 countries. Cookies was named one of America's Hottest Brands of 2021 by AdAge; the first cannabis brand to ever receive this accolade. To learn more about Cookies, visit cookies.co, and to learn more about Cookies CBD, visit shop.cookies.co. Caution Regarding Cannabis Operations in the United States 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 US 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 US 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 medical or adult-use cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve TerrAscend of liability under U.S. federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against TerrAscend. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of TerrAscend and any proceedings brought against TerrAscend thereunder may adversely affect TerrAscend's operations and financial performance. Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment, and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, current and future market conditions; risks related to federal, state, provincial, territorial, local and foreign government laws, rules and regulations, including federal and state laws in the United States relating to cannabis operations in the United States; and the risk factors set out in the Company's most recently filed MD&A, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2022 and as amended on March 24, 2022. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. TerrAscend disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE TerrAscend Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2023/13/c5095.html The South Dakota State Penitentiary is pictured on Friday, October 29, 2021, in Sioux Falls. PIERRE In 2022, some inmates at the overcrowded womens prison in Pierre were bunked in the gym, which closed the gym for every inmate living there. The gym is open again, lawmakers learned Monday, but now a classroom is closed because its filled with overflow inmates. Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko offered several stories about space-related shuffling during Mondays hearing of the South Dakota Legislatures Joint Appropriations Committee, in one case explaining how a housing arrangement gave inmates personal space just 14 inches wide and 24 inches deep. We had one room that went from three inmates to six inmates to nine inmates, said Wasko. The proposed budget presented to appropriators Monday included details on how the DOC will manage its overflow in the next few years and what it will cost to build new facilities to serve the states public safety needs into the future. For the women, the DOC needs space for low-level offenders. For the men, the need is for inmates at higher security levels and for a safer, modern building. The South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls holds 275 more medium- and high-security inmates than American Correctional Association guidelines recommend, and its outdated layout creates an unsafe environment for inmates and officers. When inmates line up for meals, Wasko said there are parts of the facility known colloquially as The Hill that are so loud that I can scream, I can yell, I can stomp on the catwalk and you will not hear me. We have had staff that have said that they dont feel safe, said Wasko, a nurse by training who came to the DOC 10 months ago after more than two decades of correctional work in Colorado. Ill be honest with you, Ive been doing prisons for a long time, and on The Hill, I dont feel safe. South Dakota Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko. The agency wants $60 million to add a 308-bed womens prison in Rapid City to its roster of facilities. It would be located in the northeast part of the city, just southeast of the East North Street/Interstate 90 interchange, and is projected to open in 2024. Story continues In the meantime, the DOC has contracted with the Hughes County Jail to house some female inmates, and has budgeted $2.8 million to cover the cost. House Bill 1017 would set aside another $52 million for land purchases and design of a 1,500-bed mens prison to replace the antiquated penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Beyond the immediate spending clause, HB 1017 would transfer $290 million into the states incarceration construction fund for future use. The DOCs finance director estimated total project costs for the mens prison at $540 million across the life of the project, which has no official start date or location. Cost of mens prison questioned The costs caught scrutiny on Monday, with some lawmakers asking Wasko to explain the upward trajectory of the cost and size of the new prisons. On the womens prison side, the project grew from 100 beds to 200 and then more than 300 as the DOC dug down into inmate population projections. There were also issues with the $3.8 million land purchase. Wasko told lawmakers that the 20 acres, purchased before she took over the DOC, has less than 15 acres of land suitable for building. For the mens prison, Wasko said, the DOC hopes to avoid missteps. Were looking at a little bit more due diligence on the larger land purchase for House Bill 1017, the secretary said. Rep. Tony Venhuizen, R-Sioux Falls, wanted to know how the $52 million requested for the mens prison would be divided between land and design. Its hard for me to see the land costing more than five or $10 million, and that would leave the balance for design, Venhuizen said. That seems like a very high number. Brittni Skipper, the DOC director of finance and administration, said the land near Sioux Falls would cost $10 million. The remainder would cover design, engineering and architecture fees, Skipper said, but was based on a preliminary total project cost of $600 million for the penitentiary replacement. We have since revised that down to about $540 million, Skipper said. So if some of that were not used for design, it would be used for the construction. Location worries loom The DOC went through all the necessary permitting for the purchase of the womens prison land in Rapid City, Skipper said. No final site has been chosen for the penitentiary replacement project in Sioux Falls. Both sites could be a cause for concern in their respective communities, according to lawmakers and Wasko. Rapid City Republican Sen. David Johnson told Wasko that hes heard several concerns about the new womens prison during legislative public forums. Johnson asked for a map of the location because this is getting a lot of attention in Rapid City. Rep. Dennis Krull of Hill City seconded that request. He doesnt live in Rapid City, he said, but hes familiar with the kinds of concerns that emerge from neighbors when large projects are pitched. There seems to be a general feel out there dont put it in my backyard, whether were talking about a slaughterhouse or a jail, Krull said. Wasko told lawmakers that she agrees with Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, who has said he hopes the new Sioux Falls facility is out of town. I dont want another prison in the middle of a metropolitan area, too, she said. The 1881 building would be decommissioned if the new penitentiary plan goes through, but the newer Jameson Annex and the Sioux Falls minimum security facilities would remain. The ideal location for the new 1,500-bed facility, Wasko said, would be near enough to Sioux Falls for current employees to easily access but far enough away to draw job candidates from smaller towns. But Wasko said the location probably wouldnt be the primary selling point for employees. I think that the attractiveness of this project will be that well have a state of the art correctional facility that is designed to make offender operations safer and more efficient, she said. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Corrections secretary: Millions for prisons will ease overcrowding, boost security Press Release February 13, 2023 CHIZ SAYS RCEP 'NOT A MIRACLE FERTILIZER,' CALLS FOR MORE GOV'T SUPPORT FOR FARMERS Touted by the administration as the "world's biggest free trade deal," the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) could, however, make the Filipino farmers the biggest losers if the agreement would overpromise but underdeliver like similar laws and treaties in the past. Sen. Chiz Escudero warned that RCEP could end up for farmers as another Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) or a World Trade Organization (WTO) treaty, the potential of which were not maximized and drawbacks were not contained. While admitting that the free trade deal binding 15 countries would make winners out of some Philippine industries, "it is wrong to market it as some sort of miracle fertilizer that will make Philippine agriculture bloom." The veteran legislator proposed that the administration, which has gone on a full-court press to have the RCEP ratified by the Senate, should package a companion measure that will help Philippine agriculture take advantage of RCEP's benefits and cushion its harm. He recalled that the RTL included budgetary earmarks that would help farmers weather the entry of cheap rice from abroad. "Hindi nga ba may Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or RCEF na magmumula sa mga buwis ng imported na bigas ang iniligay sa batas?" Escudero asked. "Even the country's formal ascension via a Senate treaty to the WTO almost three decades ago rode on a guarantee that an agriculture and fisheries modernization fund would follow suit as it did. If those agreements had accompanying measures, then why is such missing in what is claimed to be the biggest free trade deal in the world?" he pointed out. Reacting to government claims of windfall benefits the country would reap from RCEP, Escudero said "iba ang table top projections sa realities on the farm level." "Sasabihin mo na dahil dito open sesame na ang buong mundo sa mga produktong Pilipino. But wait, before you can export, you have to produce first, hindi ba? Paano ka magpro-produce, wala ngang tubig ang irrigation canal?" Escudero said the spin that RCEP is the "red carpet to big markets such as a China, Japan, Australia and ASEAN countries is not that simple." "Trade is a two-way street. In their eyes, we are a large customer base of 110 million. So it is actually they who are salivating at the prospects of selling their products here with ease," he said. "Isa pa iyang durian, na naging poster boy ng RCEP. Saan mo ibebenta at sino kakompetensya? Sa Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia na pawang durian heavyweights?" Another assurance from the government is that major Philippine farm produce are excluded from tariff concessions, meaning cuts or abolition. "The big picture is 1,438 agriculture tariff lines, or about 88 % of total are for elimination, 126 (7%) are for reduction, and 154 (9%) are excluded," Escudero said. He noted that the 154 protected products are suffering from low production volume. "There is nothing in RCEP that can solve this, contrary to the claim that it will result in food security," he said. "Mula 2018-2020, sa tatlong taon, kasama na ang matumal na 2020 dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic, ang negative trade balance natin sa cereals ay US$ 2.7 billion. Ang sa meat offal o laman loob, tenga at iba ay nasa US$1.14 billion." But the Bicolano legislator said that "RCEF or not," the government should be investing more funds into agriculture to arrest declining production, tame expensive inputs and improve farmer incomes. "The best trade deal for farmers is not those that have fancy acronyms but one that would result in farm-level improvements--from new irrigation to good but affordable seeds and fertilizers," he stressed. To get the full benefits of RCEP, should the Senate ratify it, Escudero said the government should urgently channel the much-needed financing to the beleaguered farm sector. "If government is raising capital for the Maharlika Investment Fund which can be invested abroad, then why can't it package financing for a critical domestic sector? Ang pagkukunan pa nga ng pondo ay ang bangko na ang mandato ay tulungan ang mga magsasaka," Escudero said. The senator was referring to the Land Bank of the Philippines, chartered to help the agriculture sector, but which under the MIF bill is a founding investor with an initial equity of PHP50 billion. He said loan portfolios of banks reflect government "risk-averse bias" against lending to farmers but "gung-ho" on the Maharlika Fund that it is being marketed short of a miracle pill. "For the longest time, we've been trying to amend the Charter of Land Bank and the DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines) to tell them you should lend to agriculture and the agriculture sector because the poorest of the poor Filipinos are in that sector," Escudero emphasized. "The basic argument of the Bangko Sentral with us in the past 12 years that I've been in the Senate before has been 'no, we cannot allow that. We cannot allow these banks to put 70% of their loanable money in agriculture because it is like putting all their eggs in one basket. If a typhoon hits, if a calamity hits, if disaster hits then the banks might collapse,'" according to Escudero. "Pero sa Maharlika Investment Fund, willing ang mga regulators at economic managers tumingin sa kabilang banda," he said. DealerAI TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DealerAI, the premier provider of AI-driven chatbot solutions for car dealerships, today announces a collaboration with Cox Automotives Xtime, the leading provider of service management solutions in the automotive industry. DealerAIs Xtime API Partner Program Certification will benefit mutual dealer customers of both DealerAI and Xtime. This data integration will empower DealerAI with access to Xtimes market-leading service management platform via API. The integration offers mutual dealer customers more accurate appointment scheduling, instant service support 24/7 and improved customer experience. One of the significant benefits of this integration is that it effectively streamlines dealership service department operations. For example, dealers can eliminate the need for manual data entry of service appointment bookings, reducing potential errors and gaining new understandings of user behaviours. This upgrade will save valuable time and resources for dealerships, allowing the service team to prioritize delivering exceptional customer assistance and ultimately improve their bottom line. We are thrilled to partner with Xtime and offer our clients this established integration, said Bryan Xu, Co-founder of DealerAI. By integrating our automation technology with Xtime, end customers of the dealers can book a service appointment with available timeslots over the chat within a minute. As a result, dealers will improve their efficiency and increase customer satisfaction. For more information about DealerAI, visit DealerAI.com. About DealerAI DealerAI is an automation platform that supplies an AI-powered chatbot solution for car dealerships. This conversational platform enables dealers to engage with customers seamlessly through various digital channels, leading to continuous growth opportunities. To learn more about DealerAI, please visit DealerAI.com. Media Contact: Lily Tsang DealerAI (+1) 416-276-7217 lily@dealerai.com Eagle Bancorp, Inc. Funding will finance a 142-unit 100% affordable multifamily project located in the Park View neighborhood of Washington, DC BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EagleBank, one of the largest community banks in the Washington, D.C. area, today announced it has provided $25,000,000 in construction financing to The Community Builders (TCB) and Dantes Partners for a 142-unit 100% affordable multifamily project located at 610 Park Road, NW, Washington, DC part of the larger Park Morton and Bruce Monroe redevelopment plan to transform a 174-unit public housing property into a mixed-income community of nearly 500 units. The property is being developed between TCB, Dantes Partners and the District of Columbia Housing Authority. In addition to the construction loan provided, EagleBank participated in an equity investment of $17,515,400 in a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) project - Stratford Fund 41 LP (for Park Morton). Once constructed, the subject property will be a five-story 173,533 GSF apartment building with 142 units, including 40 public housing replacement units and amenities such as a rooftop lounge, meeting spaces, fitness room, enclosed courtyards, bike storage, resident storage, and pet grooming station. Solar panels will be installed on the roof and parking will consist of a 30,836 sf below-grade parking garage containing 71 spaces. The site is within walking distance of MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington DC VA Medical Center, as well as Howard University and neighborhood retailers in the nearby dynamic Georgia Avenue corridor. It is also in close proximity to the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metro Station (Green/Yellow line) and other public transportation alternatives. As we continue to fulfill our strategy to promote affordable housing, were even more excited about financing a project that is in a community situated amongst a diverse mosaic of neighborhoods with strong identities and a rich historic fabric, said Ryan Riel, Executive Vice President and Chief Real Estate Lending Officer at EagleBank. Were also proud of our involvement in the Park Morton redevelopment as it implements the vision of the New Communities Initiative, designed to revitalize severely distressed subsidized housing, and redevelop neighborhoods into vibrant mixed-income communities. Story continues The transaction was facilitated by members of EagleBanks experienced commercial real estate team, Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager Teri Thompson and Portfolio Manager Devin Nguyen. Were thrilled to pave the way for 142 families to move into new quality, mixed-income homes, offering Washingtonians the opportunity to continue to live and thrive in Park View, said Jaqueline Alexander, TCB Mid-Atlantic regional vice president of development. On behalf of our organization, I extend my deepest thanks and a well-earned congratulations to the many partners and leaders who are making this redevelopment possible, including EagleBank, Dantes Partners, the District of Columbia Housing Authority, Deputy Mayors Office for Planning and Economic Development, DC Housing Finance Agency, and most especially the residents of Park Morton. We echo our partners sentiments in creating a community for our workforce to thrive and this continues to be the mission that drives our firms. We are grateful to our financial partners that also co-invest in the development of this new mixed income community. We aim to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and provide them with the comfort they deserve, while promoting an inclusive and vibrant neighborhood atmosphere." - Buwa Binitie Founder and CEO, Dantes Partners. About Eagle Bancorp, Inc. and EagleBank Eagle Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for EagleBank, which commenced operations in 1998. EagleBank is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and conducts full service commercial banking through 16 offices, located in Suburban, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. EagleBank focuses on building relationships with businesses, professionals and individuals in its marketplace. About The Community Builders The Community Builders mission is to build and sustain strong communities where all people can thrive. Our mission-driven businesses work with partners to develop, finance and operate residential communities, neighborhood amenities and opportunity programs for families, seniors and adults with disabilities. Since 1964, we have advanced housing equity through award-winning affordable and mixed-income communities and our pioneering Community Life model for resident success. Today, our ownership and management portfolio include over 14,000 apartment homes. Anchored by offices in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, New York and Washington D.C., we operate across 15 states. About Dantes Partners Dantes Partners, a division of Dumas Collective, is a first-class affordable and workforce housing development, acquisition, management, and financing company with offices in Washington, DC. Maryland, New York, and Virginia. Established in 2006, Dantes Partners is a Black owned business with a mission to develop Luxury Affordable Housing and community-focused real estate initiatives across the Mid-Atlantic region. Dantes Partners growing portfolio entails over 7,600 units that have been financed, developed, and acquired with an estimated financing and investment value of $2.2 billion dollars. Simultaneously, Dantes Partners leverages its extensive expertise in the field of real estate development, acquisition, management, and financing of company-owned portfolios and provides exclusive consulting services in public-private deal structuring and negotiations. Furthermore, Dantes Partners also offers consulting in pre-development planning and oversight, market research and analysis, debt or equity underwriting, project and asset management, community outreach, as well as portfolio due diligence. In 2022, The District of Columbia Building Industry Association named Dantes Partners Developer of the Year. For more information on Dantes Partners projects, visit www.dantespartners.com. EagleBank Contact Vikki Kayne, Chief Marketing Officer 301.986.1800 Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. The high cost of environmental testing equipment and the lack of standardization in the industry may hinder the growth of the market. Nevertheless, the increasing awareness of the importance of environmental protection and the need to comply with stringent environmental regulations are expected to drive the demand for environmental testing equipment in the coming years. NEWARK, Del, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global environmental test equipment market is expected to be valued at US$ 1.2 billion in 2023, recording a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. By 2033, the market is expected to cross US$ 2.4 billion. Governments worldwide have been taking stringent measures to reduce carbon emissions. Many times, the consequences of not managing emissions fall on the shoulders of the governments. The government in Germany was sued in September 2022 for failing to regulate the discharge of harmful air pollution. The global hospital market was valued at US$ 11 trillion in 2022. The hospital market is also meant for generating tons of waste. When items like needles, broken glass, and pathological waste are not properly disposed of, it can result in pollution of the land and water. The market participants in the hospital sector are making investments in environmental testing machinery to monitor waste production. Request a sample: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-8375 A growing automobile market represents massive prospects for the sales of environmental test equipment. The automobile market reported a revenue of US$ 2.9 trillion in 2021, and with the introduction of electric vehicles, the scope might surge. The application of fuels and the usage of non-biodegradable products, like plastic might increase land and air pollution. Owing to this, automobile manufacturers are expected to make investments in environmental test equipment to develop the right prototype. Thus, from the insights provided by FMI researchers, it can be inferred that Strict environmental regulations, surging hospital and automobile market, and a lot of other factors are expected to surge the environmental test equipment market share during the forecast period. Story continues Key Takeaways: The market is expected to record a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. In 2023, the valuation is expected to be at US$ 1.2 billion. By 2033, the market share is expected to reach US$ 2.4 billion. Based on regional insights, North America is expected to be the dominant market. The United States market is expected to record a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period. The United Kingdom market is projected to record a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. China's market is expected to advance at a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. Japan market is anticipated to record a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. South Korea market may advance at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. Based on the product, mass spectrometers are expected to hold the leading market share and are projected to register a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. Based on application, the water quality test is projected to hold the dominant share and is expected to record a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. Competitive Landscape The key players operating in the environmental test equipment market are expected to invest huge amounts in mergers and acquisitions. The manufacturers are expected to form strategic collaborations with players from other niches, to help them gain a broader perspective of the market. The focus also remains on hiring the right leader, as in the current times of economic turbulence, companies prefer hiring leaders who have relevant experience in maintaining and even amplifying the brand image. The key players are also expected to invest in research and development activities as this may assist them in creating the right dimensions and help with cost cutting. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent, Shimadzu Corporation, Waters Corporation, and PerkinElmer Inc. are some top key players in the environmental test equipment market Ask an Analyst: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-8375 Key Developments in the Market: In February 2023, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced that it is planning to power all current United States sites with 100% renewable electricity. In January 2023, Agilent and Akoya Biosciences announce a partnership to drive multiplex tissue assay development for biopharma applications. Market Segmentation By Application: Air Quality Test Soil Quality Test Water Quality Test (Organic Pollutants, PFAS, Solid Pollutants, Heavy Metals, Microbial, and Other Water Pollutants) By End User: Government Agencies and Municipal Authorities Environmental Test Laboratories Industrial Facilities Commercial & Residential Facilities Others By Product: Mass Spectrometers Chromatography Products Molecular Spectroscopy Instruments pH meters Dissolved Oxygen Analyzers Conductivity Sensors Turbidity Meters Other Products By Platform: Conventional/Benchtop Platforms Portable/Mobile Platforms Handheld Platforms By Region: North America Latin America Asia Pacific The Middle East and Africa Europe Ask For Customization: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-8375 Table of Content 1. Executive Summary | Environmental Test Equipment 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 View Full Report Details: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/environmental-test-equipment-market Have a Look at Related Research Reports of Testing Equipment Environmental Test Chambers Market Outlook: The environmental test chambers market is registering an average growth pace with an estimated CAGR of 3.0% from 2022 to 2032. The environmental test chambers market share was worth US$ 880 Million in 2022. Test rig Market Forecast: Test rig Market | Global Industry Segment Analysis, Market Overview, Demands, Growth, Regional Outlook, Share, Growth | Test rig Industry Forecast by Future Market Insights. FTIR Gas Analyzer Market Size: The FTIR Gas Analyzer market to grow with an year on year growth of 8.2% in 2022 reaching a value of about US$ 1,267.9 Million by 2022 end. The global market is expected to witness a promising value CAGR of 8.2% during the period of 2022 and 2029. Global Optical Spectrum Analyzer Market Type: The global optical spectrum analyzer market is currently valued at around US$ 342.3 Million and is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 5.7% to reach US$ 593.2 Million by 2032. Clamp Meter Market Trends: The clamp meter market is likely to strengthen its hold in the global market at a moderate CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. The global market holds a forecasted revenue of US$ 32.13 Billion in 2022 and is likely to cross US$ 61.35 Million by the end of 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. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA Tel: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Web: www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs | YouTube Evergold Corp. Figure 1 Rockland Location, Walker Lane Trend, Nevada Figure 2 Rockland Property Target Areas Figure 3 Close-up, Rockland East Historical and Newly Permitted Drill Sites TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evergold Corp. (TSX-V: EVER, OTC: EVGUF, WKN: A2PTHZ) (Evergold or the Company) is pleased to report that a detailed Plan of Operations has been approved, and a drill permit received, for its road-accessible Rockland gold-silver property, located in the Walker Lane trend of western Nevada (Figure 1). The permit approves 33 drill sites and up to 165 drill holes in the eastern half of the property, covering the 800 metre long Rockland East gold zone and nearby targets (Figures 2 and 3) which, along with the minimum 900X1500 metre area of exposed and altered rocks near the upper limit of the Mason Valley pediment, is believed to represent the upper levels of a high-grade epithermal vein system preserved as a result of down-dropping on range-front faults. As cited below, impressively long intercepts were delivered by the historical discovery holes into the Rockland East gold zone, with key holes stopping in their best mineralization, and highest grades, only due to a shortage of drill steel. Exploration in the Walker Lane is surging, stemming in part from AngloGold Ashantis (AGA) exciting new Silicon gold discovery near Beatty, now hosting more than 3 million ounces of gold and 14 million ounces of silver. In addition to the Silicon discovery, in 2022 AGA also purchased Corvus Gold for an effective enterprise value of US$459 million, acquired the Sterling project from Coeur Mining for up to US$200 million, and noted that its Walker Lane assets are expected to yield more than 300,000 ounces of gold annually over more than a decade at a tier one cost structure. In addition to AGA, other senior gold producers are active in the Walker Lane trend including Newcrest, Centerra, Barrick, Hecla and Coeur, highlighting the prospectivity and renewed attention to this under-explored district and the desirability of quality epithermal projects like Rockland. The granting of a drill permit for Rockland East is a major catalyst to our plans and we are excited to be able to move forward in evaluating key targets, said Kevin Keough, President & CEO. We have steadily advanced the project over the past 24 months and can now test what we believe to be one of the best drill-ready projects in the Walker Lane. Rockland East presents an excellent opportunity to explore for high-quality, high-margin ounces, and were very much looking forward to executing our drill plan, possibly with the assistance of a partner. Story continues About the Rockland Property Gold and silver mineralization exposed at the Rockland project is related to a low-sulphidation epithermal vein system that formed approximately 6 to 8 million years ago at the western margin of the Great Basin. Mineralization is spatially and genetically associated with Late Miocene-age rhyolite intrusive activity and occurs in intensely altered rhyolites, associated sedimentary and tuffaceous rocks, and pre-Tertiary granodiorite. The best gold grades are associated with quartz veins and rhyolite feeder dikes that cut the basement granodiorite and the overlying younger rocks. Alteration and mineralization is primarily controlled by NNE- to NE-trending structures, which are common orientations of the high-grade veins at the nearby Aurora and Borealis gold-silver mines. Rockland East Target Area The Rockland East project area consists of a large NE-trending zone of strong quartz-illite-pyrite+/-kaolinite alteration hosted within and adjacent to a series of five or more coalesced rhyolite domes. The strongly altered zone is over 900 metres wide and up to 1500 metres long and contains numerous banded crustiform to chalcedonic quartz veins and vein breccias, as well as other silicified and/or sulfidized structures. Alteration and mineralization is associated with strongly anomalous pathfinder elements typical of the upper portion of a well-mineralized epithermal system (e.g. As up to 3370 ppm; Sb up to 610 ppm; Hg up to 350 ppm). Limited historical drilling indicates a large, low-grade epithermal-style gold zone at Rockland East, with higher-grades interspersed within the zone, at moderate depth, and only sparsely drilled by historical operators along some 800 metres of strike, where it remains open along strike and at depth. The geometry of this zone is still poorly understood. Map relations in this generally poorly-exposed area, coupled with abundant associated pathfinder elements (particularly As, Sb and Hg) characteristic of the upper levels of low sulphidation epithermal vein systems found at Nevada mines such as Sleeper, Hollister and Midas, and El Penon in Chile (all +1.5 Moz deposits), and at the southern Walker Lane systems mentioned above, indicate that the Rockland East target area is down-dropped relative to the historic Rockland Mine area on the west side of the property. This suggests that the entire epithermal system could be preserved under thin cover. Significant Rockland East historical drilling intercepts include: 30.5 metres of 1.29 g/t Au including 3.1 metres of 6.13 g/t Au in Inmet hole PG-13; 16.8 metres of 1.05 g/t Au and 9.1 metres of 2.82 g/t Au including 1.5 metres of 9.20 g/t Au in Inmet hole PG-15; 109.7 metres of 0.96 g/t Au including 12.2 metres of 1.88 g/t Au in Romarco hole PG-32; 182.9 metres of 0.40 g/t Au in Romarco hole PG-33; and 59.4 metres of 1.09 g/t Au including 1.5 metres of 19.80 g/t Au in Romarco hole PG-36C Note: The historical assays referenced in this news release have not been independently confirmed. Nonetheless, the historical drilling and sampling is believed to have been carried out by competent personnel working for reputable companies, as cited. Intercept true widths are not known. Rockland Mine Target Area The past-producing Rockland Mine is located within the western part of the Rockland property. Production between 1870 and the late 1930s was largely undocumented but is estimated to have amounted to some 50,000 ounces of gold equivalent (AuEq), with grades as high 2.8 ounces per ton AuEq (96 g/t AuEq). Ore was drawn from high-grade epithermal-style veins, commonly encompassed by broad halos of lower-grade stockworks and breccia. The Rockland Mine area has yielded selected surface values to highs of 50.9 g/t Au and 1,758 g/t Ag, as well as numerous high-grade values from systematic sampling of underground workings carried out by BHP in 1989, including highs to 91 g/t Au. Stopes along the Rockland Mine adit level are reported to be several feet wide and semi-continuous for nearly 1,000 ft. along strike, and up to 1,400 feet down dip. Evergold has submitted a drill permit application for the Rockland Mine part of the project area that is separate from the newly received permit for the Rockland East area. Permit approvals for the Rockland Mine are anticipated this summer. In the vicinity of the Rockland Mine, drilling by BHP in the late 1980s returned shallow, broad intercepts of low-grade mineralization encompassing intervals of higher grade (true widths unknown), including: 39.6 metres of 1.16 g/t Au including 3.1 metres of 8.56 g/t Au in BHP hole RK-17; 59.4 metres of 1.03 g/t Au including 6.1 metres of 4.80 g/t Au in BHP hole RK-11; and 67.1 metres of 0.34 g/t Au in BHP hole RK-8 Much of the greater than 1.5 kilometre strike length of the Rockland Mine vein system remains untested for high-grade mineralization, particularly below the Rockland Mine adit level. Drilling by B2Gold in 2018 intersected a vein with 5.08 g/t Au and 354 g/t Ag over 1.5 metres in hole RK18-27, which is interpreted as the down-dip extension of the main vein historically mined. Figure 1 - Rockland Location, Walker Lane Trend, Nevada A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a6ac1d2-34c3-4dbf-98bd-e774165c60c9 Figure 2 - Rockland Property Target Areas A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/919a878b-8fda-453c-99b9-e8e4f435298b Figure 3 - Close Up, Rockland East Historical and Newly Permitted Drill Sites A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/174f5234-a4c5-44f3-844a-e28ed68b2ce2 QA/QC Charles J. Greig, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. About Evergold Evergold Corp. is a TSX Venture listed mineral exploration company with wholly-owned projects in B.C. (Golden Lion, Holy Cross, Snoball), and a single project under option in Nevada (Rockland), to which it has the right to earn a 100% ownership position. Company management is proven, with a track record of recent exploration success, most recently the establishment of GT Gold Corp. in 2016, the discovery in 2017 of both the Saddle South epithermal vein and Saddle North porphyry copper-gold deposits near Iskut B.C., and the Corporations sale to Newmont Corporation in 2021. For additional information, please contact: Kevin M. Keough President and CEO Tel: (613) 622-1916 www.evergoldcorp.ca kevin.keough@evergoldcorp.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain forward-looking statements which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys 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 managements 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 Companys objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political and geopolitical risks; an inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets, inflation, and exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release. No assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. 152.5% Increase in Full Year 2022 Revenue Compared to Full Year 2021 59% of Revenue Generated from New Growth Segments 6.4% Expansion in Full Year 2022 Gross Profit Compared to Full Year 2021 $163.8 Million in Total Assets at September 30, 2022 LISHUI, China, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmmi, Inc. ("Farmmi" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: FAMI), an agricultural products supplier in China, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, with record revenue generated by new growth segments. Logo (PRNewsfoto/Farmmi, Inc.) Ms. Yefang Zhang, Farmmi's Chairwoman and CEO, commented, "We are very pleased with the 152.5% increase in revenue we achieved for the full year 2022, which represents a new record revenue level for Farmmi. Our results are even more impressive given the significant impact on our operations COVID-19 has had since January 2020. With the reopening of China and economies around the world, we are cautiously optimistic about a return to normal activities, which we believe would be another positive demand catalyst for Farmmi. Overall, we are pleased with the performance of our new agricultural segments, which provide us with important diversification and open attractive new long-term growth opportunities. Our team has continued to do an excellent job supporting our customers worldwide, while navigating a challenging supply chain and logistics environment. We are hopeful that with the global reopening, we will also see a benefit from a normalization in our supply chain, freight and transport costs, which would collectively be a considerable driver to our gross margin and profit expansion." Looking forward, Ms. Yefang Zhang, Farmmi's Chairwoman and CEO, added, "For Farmmi, we believe that the future of agriculture is not just about feeding the world, but about creating a world where all can thrive. The growth of the agriculture industry holds the key to unlocking new opportunities, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and protecting our natural resources. We are focused on leveraging our significant competitive advantages, which include, our sophisticated quality control system, established supplier relationships, stable and experienced factory employees, and favorable location. As we continue to innovate and expand, and by embracing new technologies, sustainable practices, and cross-border partnerships, we are confident we can further cultivate revenue and profit growth in 2023 and beyond. The foundation of our growth strategy is increasing our market share now that the premium quality of our products is widely recognized by our customers. Through the expansion of our supply sources, productivity and sales network, we expect to further expand our product lines and improve our brand awareness and customer loyalty, to meet the demands of the broader market and customers, while creating value for all shareholders." Story continues Financial Highlights Revenues Year Ended September 30, Variance 2022 % 2021 % Amount % Shiitake $ 19,859,533 20.0 % $ 20,494,362 55.5 % $ (634,829) (3.1) % Mu Er 19,123,152 19.3 % 16,524,723 42.5 % 2,598,429 15.7 % Cotton 47,950,345 48.3 % - - 47,950,345 100.0 % Corn 1 10,778,197 10.9 % 1,796,006 4.6 % 8,982,191 500.1 % Other products 1,502,152 1.5 % 474,860 1.2 % 1,027,291.73 216.3 % Total $ 99,213,379 100.0 % $ 39,289,951 100.0 % $ 59,923,428 152.5 % Total revenues from continuing operations for the year ended September 30, 2022 increased by $59.9 million, or 152.5%, to $99.2 million from $39.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. Revenue from sales of Shiitake decreased by $0.6 million, or 3.1%, to $19.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $20.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, mainly due to the decrease in average unit sales price of our Shiitake products. The decrease in average unit sales price of Shiitake is in line the decrease in the price of raw materials due to the higher harvest in 2022. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in sales volume from 1,515 tons for the year ended September 30, 2021 to 1,531 tons for the year ended September 30, 2022, which resulted in an increase of $0.2 million in revenue from sales of Shiitake. Revenue from sales of Mu Er increased by $2.6 million, or 15.7%, to $19.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $16.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, mainly due to the increased sales volume and increased average unit sales price. Sales volume of Mu Er increased to 1,393 tons for the year ended September 30, 2022 from 1,205 tons for the year ended September 30, 2021, which resulted in an increase of $2.6 million in revenue from sales of Mu Er. The increase in sales volume of Mu Er was primarily due to the increase in market demand for Mu Er as a result of the recovery of market since the containment of major COVID-19 outbreak in PRC in April 2020 as well as customer growth. Revenue from sales of cotton increased by $48.0 million, or 100%, to $48.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from nil for the same period of last year, mainly due to engagement of agricultural product trading business for the year ended September 30, 2022. Revenue from sales of corn increased by $9.0 million, or 500.1%, to $10.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $1.8 million for the same period of last year, mainly due to engagement of agricultural product trading business for the year ended September 30, 2022. The increase was mainly attributed to the increase in sales volume and average unit sales price. Sales volume of corn increased from 5,572 tons for the year ended September 30, 2021 to 29,525 tons for the year ended September 30, 2022. Revenue from sales of other products increased by $1.0 million, or 216.3%, to $1.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $0.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. The increase was mainly attributed to the sales of an art collection from a recently acquired subsidiary, such sales were a one-off in fiscal 2022. For the year ended September 30, 2022, the Company sold approximately 98.2% of its products in China and 1.8% outside mainland China, including in the U.S., Japan, Canada, and other countries or regions. Although the Company's online sales only accounted for about 4.6% and 13.51% of the Company's total sales in the fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively, it plans to continue investing in, and developing its e-commerce system given e-commerce's significant business potential. Cost of Revenues Cost of revenues for the continued operations increased by $59.6 million, or 174.4%, to $93.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $34.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. Cost of revenues of Shiitake decreased by $0.3 million, or 1.8%, to $17.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $17.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. Cost of revenue of Mu Er increased by $2.3 million, or 15.8%, to $16.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $14.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. Cost of revenue of cotton, a new business, increased by $47.7 million, or 100%, to $47.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from nil for the same period of the prior year. Cost of revenue of corn increased by $8.9 million, or 511.3%, to $10.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $1.7 million for the same period of last year, mainly due to the increase in sales volume and average unit cost for corn. Cost of revenue of other products increased by $1.0 million, or 253.9%, to $1.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $0.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. The increase was mainly attributed to the cost related to sales of art collection from a recently acquired subsidiary, such cost was a one-off in fiscal 2022. Gross Profit Overall gross profit from continuing operations increased by $0.3 million, or 6.4%, to $5.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $5.1 million for the same period of the prior year. The increased overall gross profit was attributed to increased sales for the year ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the prior year period. Gross profit from sales of Shiitake decreased by $0.3 million, or 11.2%, to $2.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $2.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. Gross profit from sales of Mu Er increased by $0.3 million, or 14.9%, to $2.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $2.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. Gross profit from sales of cotton increased by $0.2 million, or 100%, to $0.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from nil for the same period of the prior year. Gross profit from sales of corn increased by $0.06 million, or 115.2%, to $0.11 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $0.05 million for the same period of the prior year. Gross profit from sales of other products increased by $0.04 million, or 46.5%, to $0.13 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $0.09 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. Overall gross margin from continuing operations decreased by 7.5 percentage point to 5.5% for the year ended September 30, 2022 from 13% for the year ended September 30, 2021. Operating Expenses Selling and distribution expenses increased by $12,658, or 4.3%, to $0.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $0.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. The increase of selling and distribution expenses was caused by an increase of $12,974 in advertising expenses to promote products for the year ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the year ended September 30, 2021. General and administrative expenses increased by $1.3 million, or 45.6%, to $4.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $2.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of share-based compensation expenses, an increase of shareholders meeting expenses, and the amortization of biological assets. Interest expense was $133,453 for the year ended September 30, 2022, as compared to $73,866 for the year ended September 30, 2021. The increase in interest expense was primarily attributable to higher average loan balances during the year ended September 30, 2022 as compared to the full year 2021. Interest income increased by $0.5 million, or 1,439.4%, to $0.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 from $33,576 for the same period of the prior year. The increase was mainly attributed to 6.5% per annum interest earned on a deposit of RMB50 million ($7.0 million) from a third party. On November 5, 2021, one of our subsidiaries signed an Equity Transfer Framework Agreement to invest 15.97% interest in an entity, Shanghai Jiaoda Onlly Co., Ltd., for a total consideration of RMB509.6 million (approximately $71.6 million). On November 5, 2021, we paid a deposit of RMB50 million ($7.0 million) as a prepayment for the acquisition. However, we decided to withdraw from the investment due to the adjustment of its business strategy and a third party is willing to undertake the above-mentioned investment. Upon consummation of the investment by that third party, the above-mentioned deposit will be returned to us from the seller and we charge that third party with an interest of 6.5% per annum on that deposit counting from the payment date. Net Income As a result of the factors described above, our net income was $2.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $0.1 million from net income of $2.4 million for the same period of fiscal year 2021. Financial Condition As of September 30, 2022, the Company had total assets of $163.8 million, which includes advances to suppliers of $48.6 million, accounts receivable of $16.4 million, short-term deposit of $35.1 million and cash of $41.2 million, working capital of $145.0 million, and total equity of $154.7 million. Subsequent to September 30, 2022, the Company collected $3.9 million or 24.3% of the accounts receivable as of February 7, 2023 and it expects to collect the remaining balance of account receivables by March 2023. The Company's advances to suppliers were mainly in anticipation of higher revenue to be generated in fiscal 2023, these advances to suppliers were to secure sufficient supply from its suppliers so as to meet its anticipated sales. Total working capital as of September 30, 2022 amounted to $144.9 million from continuing operations, compared to $152.5 million as of September 30, 2021. On September 26, 2022, the Company completed a $6.42 million convertible promissory note with an institutional investor (the "Investor"). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2022, the Company issued and sold to the Investor a convertible promissory note of $6.42 million due on September 25, 2023, convertible into ordinary shares, $0.025 par value per share, at a discount of $0.42 million. Upon issuance, this convertible promissory note converts at the 80% of the market price. The Company accounted for this conversion feature as a derivative liability. In connection herewith, the Company recorded a derivative liability of $3.87 million and a debt discount of $3.87 million upon issuance of this convertible promissory note. As of September 30, 2022, the fair value of this derivative liability was $3.45 million, the change in fair value of derivative liability of $0.42 million was recorded in other income. About Farmmi, Inc. Established in 1998, Farmmi Inc. (NASDAQ: FAMI) is an agricultural products supplier, processor and retailer of edible mushrooms like Shiitake and Mu Er, as well as other agricultural products. Farmmi sells its products both online and offline. For further information about the Company, please visit Farmmi's website. Forward-Looking Statements No statement made in this press release should be interpreted as an offer to purchase or sell any security. Such an offer can only be made in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations and intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on our customers' businesses and our end purchasers' disposable income, our ability to raise capital on any particular terms, fulfillment of customer orders, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, our ability to realize revenue from expanded operation and acquired assets in China, our ability to attract and retain skilled professionals, client concentration, industry segment concentration, and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Farmmi may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/farmmi-reports-record-company-full-year-2022-revenue-301745455.html SOURCE Farmmi, Inc. (Removes reference to a new offensive in para 1, and clarifies that this is updated advice) PARIS, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The French Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday reiterated that it "strongly" advised its citizens against going to Belarus given Russia's near year-long war in Ukraine, and again encouraged those in the country to leave. In an updated advisory to French nationals, the foreign ministry said only one border crossing was open to travelers heading to Poland from Belarus. Belarus' borders with Lithuania and Latvia were open, it added. Earlier in the day, the United States told its citizens to leave Russia immediately due to the war in Ukraine and the risk of arbitrary arrest or harassment by Russian law enforcement agencies. (Reporting by Matthieu Protard; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Richard Lough) Genius Group Limited SINGAPORE, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS) (Genius Group or the Company), a leading entrepreneur edtech and education group, releases today a schedule of shareholder actions: Wednesday, February 15th, 4.15pm EST: Virtual Investor Meeting The Companys CEO, Roger Hamilton, will hold a virtual investor meeting to provide Investors with an update on the company, including an overview of Genius Groups curriculum, Metaversity & A.I. development plans, details of the Companys recently spin-off of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd, the process for shareholders to follow to redeem their $10 per share NFT coupons and an opportunity to answer questions and respond to shareholder enquiries. A press release with details about the virtual investor meeting was released on February 6th, 2023 and can be accessed on our Investor Relations website. Investors can view the meeting live on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEjFVU-pIG4 Thursday, February 16th, 8.00am EST: Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) The Company will hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to consider and vote on the resolutions for a share repurchase mandate and a share consolidation. Shareholders (whether Beneficial Shareholders or Shareholders of Record) who have pre-registered their participation may attend, and the results of the votes will be published after the EGM. Details about the EGM meeting and resolutions were released and filed on January 25th, 2023 and can be accessed on our Investor Relations website. Tuesday, February 28th: Record Date for $10 Per Share NFT Coupons The Company is issuing a $10 Blockchain-based Digital Discount Coupon (Non Fungible Token NFT) per ordinary share to all shareholders based on the number of shares they hold at the end of the trading day on Tuesday, February 28th (The Record Date). The Company has formally applied for a dual listing on Upstream Exchange MERJ, where the NFT coupons will be issued to shareholders. Story continues Details about the dual listing and NFT Coupon were released on February 2nd, 2023 and can be accessed our Investor Relations website. Wednesday, March 15th: Issue Date for $10 Per Share NFT Coupons The Company has set the issue date for the NFT Coupons to begin on Wednesday, March 15th. Once shareholders have received their $10 NFT Coupons, they can then redeem the tokens for GEMs (Genius Education Merits) on Genius Groups Edtech platform, GeniusU. GEMs operate as a digital credit system similar to airmiles or Robloxs Robux in which students earn GEMs which can then be redeemed for discounts in further courses or products. Shareholders will have 90 days to convert their $10 NFT Coupons into GEMs, through a simple login and credit procedure on GeniusU, and a further 90 days to redeem their GEMs. The GEMs are for the use of each named investors and neither the $10 NFT tokens or GEMs can be transferred, traded or sold. The Company will provide further details about the process for shareholders to follow to claim and redeem their $10 NFT Coupons in the Virtual Investor Meeting on Wednesday, February 15th, 2023 and in the following investor Virtual Investor Meeting that will be held in March. Q2 2023 (Estimated): Record Date for spinoff of Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd The Company has commenced the legal process of a company restructure and capital reduction to spinoff its subsidiary Entrepreneur Resorts Ltd (ERL). ERL is a public listed company on the Seychelles MERJ Stock Exchange with a share price of $2.75 and market cap of $37 million, with 97% of outstanding shares owned by Genius Group. This process will be subject to shareholder approval at a future EGM and possibly a court order. If approved, it will result in all shareholders of Genius Group receiving an equal percentage of shares in ERL. This will also require a further record date at which all shares and shareholders of Genius Group will be counted in order to allocate shares in ERL. The process is estimated to take 3-4 months to complete, indicating an estimated timing of a record date in late Q2 2023. However, the precise date may be earlier or later depending on the speed of the restructuring and approval process. This schedule of actions provides an updated timeline combining actions previously disclosed in the Companys press releases. The Company will continue to release additional actions and updates as they become available. About Genius Group Genius Group is a world leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, with a mission to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, life-long learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed in todays market. The group has a group user base of 4.3 million users in 200 countries, ranging from ages 0 to 100. For more information, please visit https://www.geniusgroup.net/ Investor Notice Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2022. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release include 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. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, will, plan, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue, or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 20-F, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Reports of a Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise. Contacts Investors: Flora Hewitt, Vice President of Investor Relations and Mergers and Acquisitions Email: investor@geniusgroup.net Media Contacts: Adia PR Email: gns@adiapr.co.uk US Investors: Dave Gentry RedChip Companies Inc 1-800-RED-CHIP GNS@redchip.com VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) has invested $1.13 million into Arbutus Medical Inc., a BC-based medical device company developing innovative surgical drill technology and procedure kits that improve hospital workflow and reduce costs to treat patients. Arbutus Medical adapts DEWALT power tools into sterile surgical drills for hospitals and field settings. The company has developed methods to create a sterile enclosure around a nonsterile power drill so it can be safely used in surgery. This technology means that hospitals do not need to sterilize a drill between surgeries, providing a significant cost advantage compared to conventional sterilizable drills. (CNW Group/Genome British Columbia) Matching funds have come from a syndicate of Canadian health tech and impact investment funds, including Nimbus Synergies, the Pan-Canadian consortium MEDTEQ+, and the ScaleGood Impact Fund. There is the potential of additional matching funds by the end of March 2023. This investment supports the development of Arbutus Medical's TrakPak, a complete single-use procedure kit for skeletal traction with everything a surgeon needs in one place, pre-sterile, ready to use at the bedside. The kit can save orthopaedic trauma teams upwards of 45 minutes of preparation time per procedure, helping hospitals operate more efficiently, reduce costs, improve patient experiences, and expand access to safe surgical care. "We are setting a new standard of care for skeletal traction," says Lawrence Buchan, Chief Executive Officer at Arbutus Medical Inc. "The current workflow for these procedures takes a very long time, frustrates staff, and slows down treatment for someone with a horrible injury. "The TrakPak skeletal traction procedure kit eliminates this problem and delivers a better solution for patients, providers, and the hospital's bottom line. This financing will allow us to launch the next generation of TrakPak in 2023 and rapidly scale up." Arbutus Medical adapts DEWALT power tools into sterile surgical drills for hospitals and field settings. The company has developed methods to create a sterile enclosure around a nonsterile power drill so it can be safely used in surgery. This technology means that hospitals do not need to sterilize a drill between surgeries, providing a significant cost advantage compared to conventional sterilizable drills. The system has been approved for human use by the FDA and Health Canada. TrakPak is the company's first complete procedure kit to include their novel drill technology. Story continues Genome BC's investment is made through its Industry Innovation (I) Fund, which provides commercialization support for companies developing innovative life science technologies that address biological challenges in key economic sectors in BC: Agriculture, Energy and Mining, Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forestry, and Human Health. "Genome BC's I Fund exists to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization in BC," says Dr. Tony Brooks, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Entrepreneurship & Commercialization at Genome BC. "We're excited about the potential for Arbutus Medical's products to help hospitals operate more efficiently, reduce costs, improve patient experiences and expand access to safe surgical care." About Genome British Columbia: For more than 20 years, Genome BC has generated over $1.27 billion of investment in more than 498 genomics research and innovation projects, including over 1,000 collaborations with partners in BC and internationally. By connecting academic researchers, industry partners, and public policy priorities, Genome BC has brought $969 million in co-funding to BC and advanced 152 BC-based companies. These companies span all key social and economic sectors and address health, environmental, and natural resource challenges, generating social and economic benefits for people throughout BC and Canada. genomebc.ca About Arbutus Medical Inc: Arbutus Medical Inc. is a privately held ISO13485 medical device company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Arbutus Medical develops innovative surgical drill technology and sterile-packed orthopaedic procedure kits that save time and money for hospitals. Starting with TrakPak, Arbutus Medical is building a portfolio of procedure kits around their novel surgical drill platform to simplify surgery, reduce costs, and help healthcare providers treat patients worldwide. The company's products have been used by customers in 40 countries, enabling an estimated 85,000 surgeries and counting. For more information, visit arbutusmedical.com and follow the company on LinkedIn. Genome BC and Arbutus Medical Logos (CNW Group/Genome British Columbia) SOURCE Genome British Columbia Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2023/13/c7728.html Virtual Investor Conferences Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend real-time, interactive presentations on VirtualInvestorConferences.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giga Metals (OTCQX:HNCKF), based in Vancouver, focused on nickel and cobalt, today announced that Mark Jarvis, CEO & Chairman, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on February 16th, 2023. DATE: February 16th, 2023 TIME: 12:30 pm ET / 9:30 am PT LINK: https://bit.ly/3JCTs89 Available for 1x1 meetings: February 16th & 17th This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com . Recent Company Highlights Giga Metals and Mitsubishi Corporation form have partnered to advance the Turnagain nickel project Mitsubishi bought 15% of joint venture company Hard Creek Nickel Corp. for $8 million. Giga Metals owns 85% of Hard Creek Nickel, which contains all the assets associated with the Turnagain nickel project. Giga Metals is the operator of the joint venture. PFS to on track for Q2 2023 About Giga Metals Giga Metals Corporation's core asset is the Turnagain Project , located in northern British Columbia, which contains one of the few significant undeveloped sulphide nickel and cobalt resources in the world. Giga Metals has formed a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corporation and plans to complete a Prefeasibility Study in Q2 2023. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Story continues Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS: Giga Metals Holly Millar Director of Communications (604) 681-2300 hmillar@gigametals.com Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com Polaris Market Research & Consulting LLP [115+ Pages Research Study] According to Polaris Market Research report, the global biologics contract development market size & share expected to generate revenue of USD 13.22 Billion by 2030 and estimated to be valued at USD 5.48 billion in 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4% from 2022 to 2030. The top market company profiles included in report with their sales, revenues and strategies are Abzena Ltd, AGC Biologics, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma, Almac, Avid Bioservices, Inc; Bionova Scientific Inc, BioXcellence (Boehringer Ingelheim Biopharmaceuticals GmbH) and Others. New York, NY, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Polaris Market Research has published a new research report titled Biologics Contract Development Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Source (Mammalian, Microbial, Others); By Indication; By Product Service; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2022 - 2030 in its research database. According to the latest research study, the global biologics contract development market size & share are expected to generate revenue of USD 13.22 Billion by 2030 and are estimated to be valued at USD 5.48 Billion in 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4% from 2022 to 2030. What is Biologics Contract Development? What is Expected Size & Share of Biologics Contract Development Market? Overview Biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) provides a full range of services from drug development to drug manufacturing to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. This type of contract development may focus on the development and manufacturing of biologics alone, or they may offer the same services for both biologics and small-molecule drugs. When a pharmaceutical company plans to launch a new drug product in the marketplace, it may choose to partner with a biologics CDMO for the clinical development and manufacturing part of the process. CDMOs provide various services such as clinical research and development, a smooth manufacturing process, efficient packaging services, formulation guidance, and analytical and regulatory support, among others. The biologics contract development market size is experiencing immense growth due to the increasing outsourcing of R&D by pharma and biopharma businesses and the growing adoption of novel technologies for biological manufacturing. Story continues Request Sample Copy of Biologics Contract Development Market Research Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/biologics-contract-development-market/request-for-sample (The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, a Table of Contents, a Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis, and our research methodology.) Our Sample Report May Includes: 2030 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis. 115+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research). Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Requests. 2022 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes Updated List of tables & figures. Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis. Highlights of The Report All-inclusive information on the product portfolios of the top players in the market. An in-depth assessment of the geographic and business segments of the market. Market segmentation on the basis of the type of product, application, and region. It offers a forward-looking perspective on the developing elements driving or controlling the business areas development. The recent research and development projects performed by each key player. A thorough analysis of the markets value chain and assess the effect of Porters five forces. Some of the Top Market Players Are: Abzena Ltd AGC Biologics Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Almac Avid Bioservices Inc Bionova Scientific Inc BioXcellence (Boehringer Ingelheim Biopharmaceuticals GmbH) Curia Global Inc. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Genscript KBI Biopharma LakePharma Lonza STC Biologics Samsung Biologics Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. WuXi Biologics For Additional Information on Key Players, Download a PDF Brochure: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/biologics-contract-development-market/request-for-sample Market Dynamics Key Growth Driving Factors A supportive regulatory environment for clinical trials is pushing the market growth A favorable regulatory environment for clinical trials in developing countries is majorly propelling the biologics contract development market growth. Regulatory bodies in developing nations are synchronizing their policies with EMA and FDA standards in order to accelerate the approval process and create credibility. This is another factor boosting the biologics contract development industry expansion. Biologics contract research organizations aid businesses and institutions in completing the rising demand of the pharmaceutical and medical device industries with low R&D costs, which is expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period. Request for a Discount on this Report Before Purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/biologics-contract-development-market/request-for-discount-pricing Recent Trending influencing the market The rising prevalence of diseases fuels the market growth Increased adoption of advanced technologies for biological development and a rising number of collaborations, mergers & acquisitions with local companies to develop biologic products are some of the key biologics contract development market trends positively influencing the market growth. The growing prevalence of diseases, such as neurological disorders, gynecological disorders, cancer, ophthalmic disorders, and cardiovascular disorders, is further supporting the biologics contract development market sales. For instance, according to World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Segmental Analysis The mammalian source dominated the market Based on the source, the mammalian source held the largest biologics contract development market share in 2021 because most research was carried out using mammalian cell lines. Also, the segment witnessed the share due to the key benefit of using mammalian cells for protein expression while creating mammalian proteins with suitable post-translational modifications that offer a native structure. The three most frequently used mammalian cell cultures to produce biopharmaceuticals are murine myeloma cells, baby hamster kidney (BHK21) cells, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The process development services acquired the major market share By product service, the process development services category dominated the market and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. Biologics process development can be characterized by two techniques, including upstream process development and downstream process development. The upstream process development is majorly utilized by the manufacturer to fulfill the clients needs. The oncology segment accounts for the highest revenue share In terms of indication, the oncology category captured the greatest revenue share in the biologics contract development market. The key reason for the segment expansion is the increase in demand for therapy, as cancer can spread to any organ in the body. This is also leading to increased business investments in R&D and outsourcing. Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/biologics-contract-development-market/inquire-before-buying (Inquire a report quote OR available discount offers to the sales team before purchase.) Biologics Contract Development Market: Report Scope Report Attribute Details Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 13.22 Billion Market size value in 2022 USD 5.97 Billion Expected CAGR Growth 10.4% from 2022 - 2030 Base Year 2021 Forecast Year 2022 - 2030 Top Market Players Abzena Ltd, AGC Biologics, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma, Avid Bioservices, Inc; Bionova Scientific Inc, BioXcellence (Boehringer Ingelheim Biopharmaceuticals GmbH), Curia Global, Inc., Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Genscript, KBI Biopharma, LakePharma, Lonza, STC Biologics, Samsung Biologics, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and WuXi Biologics. Segments Covered By Source, By Product Service, By Indication, and By Region Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options Geographic Overview North America is likely to register the fastest growth throughout the forecast period By geography, the biologics contract development market in North America witnessed the highest market share owing to the increase in the number of strategic collaborations and acquisitions coupled with the growing demand for specialized testing services. Also, a surge in clinical trial activity and outsourcing activity is one of the key factors supporting the growth of contract development organizations (CDOs) in the region. Moreover, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow over the predicted period because biotechnology companies are increasingly investing in the Asia Pacific region owing to the changes made by various regulatory organizations to the clinical trial evaluation requirements to meet global needs. Browse the Detail Report Biologics Contract Development Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Source (Mammalian, Microbial, Others); By Indication; By Product Service; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2022 - 2030 with in-depth TOC: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/biologics-contract-development-market For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail At: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Recent Developments In Jan 2022, Samsung Biologics acquired Biogen's 50% stake as a joint venture to strengthen biosimilar development capabilities and future performance in novel drug development. Frequently Asked Questions Who are the crucial companies operating the market? What are the major industry norms influencing the development of the industry? Which is the most propelling country in the industry? Which application or product type will obtain progressive development possibilities during the forecast period? What is the expected growth rate of the market during the foreseen period? Polaris Market Research has segmented the biologics contract development market report based on source, product service, indication, and region: By Source Outlook Microbial Mammalian Others By Product Service Outlook Cell Line Development Microbial Mammalian Others Process Development Upstream Microbial Mammalian Others Downstream Impurity, isolation & identification Physicochemical Characterization Pharmaceutical Analysis Others By Product MABs Recombinant Proteins Others Others By Indication Outlook Oncology Immunological Disorders Cardiovascular Disorders Hematological Disorders Others By Region Outlook North America (U.S., Canada) Europe (France, Germany, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia) Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina) Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, South Africa) Browse More Related Reports: Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/dendritic-cell-cancer-vaccine-market Radiodermatitis Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/radiodermatitis-market Otoplasty Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/otoplasty-market Medical Spa Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/medical-spa-market Pharmaceutical Dissolution Testing Services Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/pharmaceutical-dissolution-testing-services-market About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for PMRs clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve PMRs diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semiconductors, and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide PMRs customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high-growth markets, emerging business environments, and the latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced, and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts, and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to PMRs customers. Contact: Likhil G 30 Wall Street 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10005, United States Phone: +1-929 297-9727 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com Follow Us LinkedIn | twitter Press Release February 13, 2023 CO-SPONSORSHIP SPEECH OF SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA "Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Act" Session Hall, Senate of the Philippines 13 February 2023 Mr. President, my dear colleagues, it is my honor to co-sponsor the bill creating the "Philippine Center For Disease Control And Prevention, Defining Its Powers And Functions, And For Other Purposes." As of February 11, 2023, a total of 4,074,563 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the Philippines, with 65,938 deaths, as reported by the Department of Health. To this day, almost three (3) years since the virus hit our country, news reports have disclosed that there is a slight increase in the number of people testing positive for the virus. In fact, it was reported that as of February 11, 2023, the nationwide positivity rate was at 13.6%. Previously, the World Health Organization had recommended a 5% rate or less to control the pandemic effectively. The onslaught of the pandemic highlighted the flaws in the Philippine healthcare system, exploiting the gaps in coverage, inadequate healthcare facilities, health disparities, and the country's inability to respond effectively in vulnerable environments. The Department of Health (DOH) is continuously facing difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Amidst the outbreak of the virus, the DOH still had to manage other epidemics, such as dengue and typhoid fever. Moving forward, it must be able to set up and adopt a robust healthcare system that can respond to the needs of the nation and other new health issues. The Constitution provides for the protection and promotion of the right to health of the people and the instilment of health consciousness among them. It also provides that the State is responsible for the adoption of an "integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health, and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost." Hence, it is imperative that there be a National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will steer and coordinate the government's response to address illnesses and other threats to public health. We have to adapt fast to the unfamiliar attributes of our new environment, as the global health emergency has now compelled us to live in the new normal. It has caused us to understand that our society, economy, and current institutions are weaker and less effective than we had anticipated. Let us not wait for another outbreak to completely crack our already fragile and weak healthcare system. Instead, let us focus on sustainable reforms to effectively address ongoing and new issues in the health sector. The right to health of every Filipino must be protected by the government. Everyone should have access to health services. The proposed policy will address not only the issues that COVID-19 has brought to our healthcare system but also ensure that our healthcare system is equipped to monitor, forecast, and develop precautions to control diseases of either national or international concern. Mr. President, these are the reasons why I wish to associate myself with the proposed measure. With Senator Pia Cayetano's assent, I wish to be a co-sponsor of this measure. Thank you, Mr. President. Company Logo Dublin, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global UV Toothbrush Sanitizer Market by Type, Applications, Price Range, Distribution Channel and Region: Competition Forecast and Opportunities to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global UV toothbrush sanitizer market is expected to grow at an impressive CAGR in the forecast period, 2023-2027. A toothbrush sterilizer, also referred as a toothbrush sanitizer, is an appliance that utilizes short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) radiation to kill or inactivate germs on a toothbrush. UV sterilizers successfully destroy bacteria and microorganisms, as per the studies published in dentistry publications. Toothbrush sanitizers typically work in one of three ways to destroy dangerous bacteria: steam and dry heat, ultraviolet light, or UV and heat. The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has resulted into an inclination towards heath consciousness and the usage of health-related products which are safe and avoids frequent visits to doctors. This further created an environment of awareness among consumers related to the usage of oral hygiene products. The COVID-19 pandemic is projected to stimulate to the increasing demand for health-conscious products, which fuels the growth for toothbrush sanitizers during the forecast period. Rise in Risk of Harmful Oral Bacteria is Projected to Accelerate the Product Demand The increasing awareness regarding the oral hygiene and harmful oral bacteria which causes numerous dental health hazards including gingivitis, periodontal disease, oral herpes, canker sores, and others are some of the primary factors propelling the growth of the market. Furthermore, toothbrush sanitizer prevents harmful bacteria from wreaking havoc in the oral cavity, resulting in an escalating demand for the product. Also, easy product availability and expanding e-commerce penetration are few other driving factors for the growth of the UV toothbrush sanitizer market. Technological Advancements to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic Supports the Market Growth The escalating demand for UV sterilization in toothbrush due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic is driving the growth of the market. Various manufacturers are promoting toothbrush sanitizers through several innovative marketing techniques. Recruitment of well-certified dentists for branding, extensive distribution network for enhanced product availability, partnership with sales staff and distributors, digital, print, and visual media through advertising campaigns in radio, television, channels, billboards, magazines, newspapers, hoardings, and competitive pricing strategies are significant innovative marketing methods followed by the key market players owing to the strong competition. This has further increased the product visibility and is expected to escalate he demand for the product in the forthcoming years. Report Scope In this report, global UV toothbrush sanitizer market has been segmented into following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below: UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, by Type: Story continues With Toothbrush Without Toothbrush UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, by Product Type: Mountable Portable UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, by Price Range: Low Medium High UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, by Distribution Channel: Offline Online UV toothbrush sanitizer Market, by Region: North America Asia-Pacific Europe South America Middle East & Africa A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Koninklijke Philips N.V. Dastmalchi Conair Ningbo Seago Electric Co., Ltd Wellness Oral Care Tao Clean Puretta Wonderchef UVNIA Pursonic Dazzlepro For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9geqth-uv?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. 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 FedDev Ontario to invest nearly $40 million for Community Futures Development Corporations to provide targeted support to grow regional economies EMBRUN, ON, Feb. 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Rural businesses, organizations and communities make a big impact on Canada's economy. In order to ensure they can meet challenges head on, our Government is providing access to the tools and support they need to succeed. Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), along with Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament for GlengarryPrescottRussell, visited Brasserie Tuque de Broue Brewery Inc. to announce an investment of nearly $40 million over the next three years for southern Ontario's trusted network of Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs). Through the Community Futures Program, this continued investment will allow the 36 CFDCs and three CFDC associations in southern Ontario to continue on their path of growth. These organizations offer expert knowledge and tailored on-the-ground support to the rural businesses, organizations and communities they serve. This includes providing business counselling and access to capital, as well as support for community economic development and strategic community economic planning. Supporting them ensures they can help rural businesses be the best they can be. Over the years, the CFDCs in southern Ontario have supported thousands of businesses. Family-owned Brasserie Tuque de Broue Brewery Inc. in Embrun received support through the Prescott-Russell CFDC which allowed them to grow their facilities and generate more business. Since then, the company has become a strong ambassador for the region, winning the Manufacturing Business Award at the Prescott-Russell CFDC's Gala of Excellence in 2022. In western Ontario, Violet's of Strathroy, a women's clothing store, received support through Community Futures Middlesex to officially launch their business in March 2022. The support they received helped them start off on the right foot and now they are a valued member of Strathroy's community. Story continues These are just two highlights in a long list of businesses across southern Ontario that are meeting their potential and contributing to growing local economies thanks to the support from their local CFDC. To find your local Community Futures organization, or for more information on the services and support they offer, visit the Community Futures Ontario website. Quotes "The support rural businesses and organizations receive from Community Futures Development Corporations is unparalleled. The tools they provide rural businesses drive economic growth and create jobs which leads to more competitive rural communities. By continuing our support for CFDCs across southern Ontario, our Government is investing in the potential of rural communities and ensuring that they will continue to thrive." - The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario "Many businesses in our region have benefitted greatly from the support offered by the Prescott-Russell CFDC. This continued investment in the Community Futures Program is great news for our community and communities across southern Ontario, ensuring that all businesses have access to the tools needed to thrive." - Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament for GlengarryPrescottRussell "The last three years have been very difficult and have required a lot of energy, creativity and adaptation both within our communities and businesses and within our organization. Thanks to the Government of Canada for its continued support to the Community Futures Program, we will be able to deploy even more vigorously our support and our recognized expertise in business development and sustainable economic development." - John Candie, Executive Director, Prescott-Russell CFDC "When we opened the brewery eight years ago, we were met with tremendous demand and our growth through various markets was acute. Working closely with our local CFDC office we were able to purchase additional equipment and hire a qualified workforce to respond to the demand and meet our sales goals. Over the years and as programs open up we have been able to access additional financing and grants to help with our continued success." - Nicolas Malboeuf, Owner, Brasserie Tuque de Broue Brewery Inc. Quick Facts For the past 38 years, the Community Futures Program has been a community-driven, economic development initiative designed to assist communities in Canada's rural areas to develop and implement strategies for dealing with a changing economic environment. CFDCs deliver a wide variety of programs and services to support community economic development and small business growth. They employ local staff and are each governed by a volunteer board of directors, made up of local residents representing the community. Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $90.2 million into the Community Futures Program, contributing to the creation of over 25,000 jobs and maintenance of over 51,500. FedDev Ontario also provided over $83 million to the region's CFDCs to deliver regionally tailored business support services during the pandemic, which helped nearly 2,000 businesses, including local retail shops, restaurants and corner stores, maintain over 6,500 jobs in rural communities across the region. Associated Links Stay Connected Subscribe to FedDev Ontario's Southern Ontario Spotlight newsletter, featuring economic development news and updates from across the region. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for more information on how we are growing businesses, cultivating partnerships and building strong communities in southern Ontario. SOURCE Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2023/13/c8978.html CANNES, France, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei and its partners were awarded the Neurons Awards Special Jury Prize yesterday at World AI Cannes Festival 2023 for an AI-based solution to protect endangered wild Atlantic salmon native to Norway. Wild Atlantic salmon are an integral part of Norway's identity, culture, and economy. However, its numbers have halved since the 1980s due to the proliferation of Pacific salmon (also known as pink or humpback salmon), an invasive species that out-competes its Atlantic cousin for resources and spawns in great numbers. In 2021 under Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative, Huawei partnered with Berlevag Jeger-og Fiskerforening (BJFF), a local association of hunters and anglers, to design and deploy an AI-based filtering system to prevent the spread of Pacific salmon in Norway's rivers, with the pilot project taking place in Storelva River in Berlevag. The solution uses underwater video technology and AI to identify Pacific salmon, with an automated gate system filtering the invasive species into a holding tank and preventing them from swimming upstream to breed. The system lets wild Atlantic salmon and Arctic red-spotted salmon pass through to complete their breeding cycles. As well as preserving local biodiversity, the survival of wild Atlantic salmon is crucial to Norway's fishery industry as the genes for farmed salmon are pulled from wild salmon. "Norway's wild salmon are threatened by other species, including humpback salmon and escaped farmed salmon. The monitoring system using AI is helping to stop this and enable future-proof river management," said Tor Schulstad, Administrator for BJFF. With Huawei's Ascend platform providing the solution's computing infrastructure, local partners Simula Consulting and Troll Systems developed the recognition algorithm and automated sorting mechanism, respectively. "It has been a very exciting and motivating project to be a part of. At Simula Consulting we strive to make deep tech available to everyone, and it's heartening to see that that can include wildlife," said Dr. Omar Richardson, Acting Chief Technology Officer for Simula Consulting. Story continues Introduced this year at World AI Cannes Festival, the Neurons Awards Special Jury Prize recognizes projects that use AI for the common good and the creation of a better future. The winner is selected by a jury consisting of 12 representatives from the business world, academia, and the political community. "We are honored to have won the first Neurons Awards Special Prize at WAICF. Huawei strongly believes in the power of digital technologies to build a more inclusive and sustainable society," said Zhang Minggang, Deputy Managing Director of Huawei France. "This project is proof that AI is making a difference in protecting the planet and we will continue working with our partners to deliver change through innovation. It was with this conviction that we launched our TECH4ALL initiative, through which Huawei has already been involved in dozens of projects that have a positive impact on communities, people, and the environment across the globe." Following the successful pilot in Berlevag, the scalable solution can potentially be expanded to Norway's system of 500 rivers, which also face the same problem with invasive Pacific salmon. About Huawei TECH4ALL TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term digital inclusion initiative that aims to leave no one behind in the digital world. It focuses on four domains: enabling education equity and quality, conserving nature with technology, enabling inclusive healthcare, and development. For more information, please visit Huawei TECH4ALL website at https://www.huawei.com/en/tech4all Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HUAWEI_TECH4ALL SOURCE Huawei MANCHESTER, England, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Just over 100 hours after the first earthquake hit northwest Syria, global charity Human Appeal has offered 1,000 newly built brick homes as housing for internally displaced families who lost their homes in the massive earthquake that recently struck the region. Human Appeal's Al Zohoor town, Idlib, northwest Syria. (PRNewsfoto/Human Appeal) Human Appeal is the first international humanitarian NGO to offer permanent homes as shelter for those who lost their homes in northwest Syria due to the natural disaster. The homes are part of a town settlement project by Human Appeal called Al Zohoor (in English the floral town) near Idlib northwest Syria, recently completed to provide permanent housing to 1000 internally displaced Syrian families due to the ongoing conflict. Each single storey home comprises a modern design that includes a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and will offer electricity and running water. The project forms part of a major development by the charity in its ongoing efforts to alleviate the suffering of internally displaced families in the area. Demonstrating Human Appeal's success in building permanent homes for displaced families in Syria, the Al Zohoor Town follows on the heels of its first successful housed settlement already populated by families with 272 houses in Azaz, north of Aleppo. Human Appeal has been active in humanitarian deployments and projects in northwest Syria for the last decade, providing ongoing medical and humanitarian assistance. Its biggest ongoing programme in the area focuses on healthcare such as mobile clinics and its Al Imaan hospital that Human Appeal has been running since 2014. The hospital provides ongoing primary medical care and a maternity ward for local residents. It offers much needed medical assistance to over 2,300 people in northwest Syria each month. "The homes will still be offered to internally displaced families in northwest Syria but will now prioritize those Syrian families who have lost their homes and possessions due to the recent deadly earthquake. There are now even more displaced people in a region where 2.8 millionout of a total population of 4 millionwere already displaced. The huge consequences of this disaster require large scale international aid. Some of these displaced families do not even have a tent to shelter in from the current bitter winter conditions or coming harsh heat of summer," commented Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO of Human Appeal. Story continues About Human Appeal Human Appeal (registered charity 1154288) is a fully independent British charity and humanitarian NGO based in Manchester, UK. It was established in 1991 and runs targeted aid relief programmes in collaboration with recognized global organizations like the United Nations. Its purpose is to save lives through emergency response and sustainable development programmes, in over 25 countries worldwide. www.humanappeal.org.uk Note to Editors not for publication: Photo shows Human Appeal's new Al Zohoor town near Idlib, northwest Syria from the air. For all press enquiries or interview requests please email: press@humanappeal.org.uk To request a link to download B-roll video footage taken by Human Appeal on the above topic please contact press@humanappeal.org.uk Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2000954/Human_Appeal_Syria.jpg Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/human-appeal-1000-homes-in-100-hours-for-displaced-of-syria-after-quake-301744931.html AFOA Canada OTTAWA, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tomorrow begins AFOA Canadas 21st National Conference, where over 1,100 Indigenous professionals, Indigenous leaders, and representatives of Corporate Canada will discuss the Indigenous Economy of Tomorrow. The event will be hosted at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, Ont. from February 14-16, 2023. The Indigenous Economy of Tomorrow is about continually working towards social and economic equality for Indigenous peoples with broader Canadian society, says Terry Goodtrack, President & CEO of AFOA Canada. The plenaries focus on how Indigenous people can navigate the rapidly transforming economy and participate in economic growth that is still connected to community values. The National Conference will include two plenary events, with a grand entry, an address by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, Wednesday morning greetings by Chief Dylan Whiteduck of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, and Thursday morning greetings by President Cassidy Caron of the Metis National Council. The ceremonies for the MNP-AFOA Canada Indigenous Community Excellence Award, the Nutrien Indigenous Youth Financial Management Award, and the Indigenous Leadership award will take place throughout the event. The conference will end with a convocation of newly certified graduates from AFOA Canadas Certified Programs. AFOA Canadas National Conference is the premiere event for the exchange of knowledge and information on Indigenous management, finance, and governance in Canada. It is an important venue where Indigenous financial professionals, Chief Administrators/Executive Officers, Program and Business Managers, Chiefs, Tribal Council members, government representatives and consultants working with Indigenous communities can get together to explore emerging strategies and tools to enhance finance, management and leadership in Indigenous communities and organizations. About AFOA Canada Entering its 24th year as an Indigenous Institution, AFOA Canada is the center for excellence and innovation in Indigenous management, finance, and governance. It is the only organization in Canada that focuses on the capacity development and day-to-day needs of those Indigenous professionals who are working in all areas of management, finance, band administration, leadership, and program management. Story continues AFOA Canadas premise is that one of the keys to successful self-determination, creating a better life for Canadas Indigenous people and a better future for the next generation lies in improving the management skills of those responsible for the stewardship of Indigenous resources. For further information and interview requests, please contact: AFOA Canada Toni Baggos 613-722-5543 tbaggos@afoa.ca www.afoa.ca CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Obligees requiring physical bond copies with handwritten signatures are slowly becoming a thing of the past. With Jet Insurance Company's newly launched electronic signature service, principals can save time and money by letting Jet handle the bond filing. Jet Insurance Company Logo (PRNewsfoto/Jet Insurance Services) Jet Insurance Company's new process inserts the principal's online signature directly onto the bond form. After purchase, the digital bond form is ready to be filed with the obligee. The signature is time-stamped, records the signer's IP address, and contains Jet's unique identifying number. "Customers continually tell us our online process is incredibly fast and easy to use. From application to checkout, and ultimately filing the bond, Jet's online platform guides our customers every step of the way," says Omar Agha, Lead Underwriter at Jet Insurance Company. Electronic signatures are the latest in a host of new features launched by Jet Insurance Company within the last year, including Jet's exclusive "pay-as-you-go" subscription option and the application which helps principals find the correct bond, get a quote, and pay within minutes. Jet continuously works to bring new features that simplify the bonding process for principals and obligees. Jet Insurance Company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is currently licensed in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Jet is in the process of obtaining authorization to write surety and fidelity products in all 50 states. For more information, email info@jetsurety.com or visit https://jetsurety.com . Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jet-insurance-company-introduces-electronic-signatures-to-surety-bond-process-301744477.html SOURCE Jet Insurance Company Transparency Market Research In terms of product type, the breath-actuated jet nebulizer segment accounted for a revenue share of over 70% in 2021 Wilmington, Delaware, United States, , Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. The global Jet Nebulizers Market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.3% during 2022-2031, according to the market outlook by Transparency Market Research (TMR). As per the market report by TMR, the breath-actuated jet nebulizer product type segment is anticipated to maintain its prominent share during the forecast period. This can be ascribed to the rise in product demand owing to its advantages, such as its ability to offer higher drug delivery capacity with less dosage waste, cost efficiency, and ease of integration. Request to Sample PDF of this Strategic Report (Use Corporate Mail ID for Top Priority): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=85361 Key Findings In terms of end-user, the home healthcare segment is expected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period, owing to surge in usage of jet nebulizers in the home setting during the coronavirus pandemic. Jet nebulizers have gained popularity among the patient population in recent years, owing to their ability to help in administering the proper dosage of medication at home by themselves. This, in turn, helps in reducing the number of hospital visits and decreasing the possibility of disease spread. Surge in the prevalence of respiratory disorders, such as COPD and asthma, is projected to drive the demand for home-based healthcare services in the near future. These factors are likely to fuel the home healthcare segment during the forecast period. As per projections, the percentage of the global population over the age of 60 is estimated to show a twofold increase from 11% to 22% between 2000 and 2050. Hence, the population of people aged 60 and above would grow from 605 million to 2.1 billion during this period. Older people are at higher risk of developing different health disorders owing to their weakened immune systems. Risks of COPD and asthma increases with age. Thus, proper management of these disorders is critical after the age of 65. Moreover, it is difficult for asthma and COPD patients in this age group to ingest liquid medication. Hence, adoption of nebulizers has increased for this patient pool for medication administration, owing to the ability of this device to convert liquid medications into mist or aerosol. Thus, rise in the geriatric population is projected to fuel growth opportunities in the jet nebulizers industry during the forecast period. Story continues Jet Nebulizers Market: Growth Drivers Rise in cases of respiratory disorders is creating high demand for jet nebulizers Increase in prevalence of COPD and asthma in the geriatric population is propelling business opportunities for producers of jet nebulizers Buy this Premium Research Report | Immediate Delivery Available https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=85361 I'm sure that regular readers of this column think all I ever talk about, write about, ruminate on and care about is abortion. Those who think I write too often about abortion tend to think women should have access to the procedure with relatively few limitations, and that my continued harping on the essential inhumanity of the act is just wrong, self-defeating, offensive and my favorite recent critique, "misogynistic." I might even concede I spend far too much time focusing on this violation of the right to life when there is so much else going on around the world: war, famine, women being murdered for unfortunate wardrobe mistakes, child abuse, genocide and such. My profession as an asylum practitioner actually does give me time to focus on those crises in real time, every day, so it's not like I'm unaware of what's happening to the sisters in Afghanistan under the Taliban or the fighters in Ukraine, or the children being trafficked across the many borders of the world, including our own. And yet, I can't ignore abortion precisely because people like Rebecca Traister won't let me. Traiser, a New York Magazine contributor, was recently interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer, kept referring to abortion as "reproductive health," which is fine since I tend to use the term "killing babies," both of which are more hyperbolic than perfectly accurate. Traiser and women like her keep prattling on about how one entire gender, one full half of the population is enslaved when they are unable to "control" their bodies. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. In fact, Gov. Tim Walz just signed a bill in Minnesota that would essentially make abortion a right that no court could overturn. Rebecca must be thrilled. You know who else won't let me ignore abortion? Merrick Garland and his Department of Justice. As I wrote last week, the Biden administration came down hard against pro-life activist Mark Houck, making a literal federal case out of a sidewalk skirmish. It was so obvious that this was a political prosecution that the presiding judge, Gerald Pappert, observed that the U.S. attorney's office might have stretched the law a bit far in bringing the case. Fortunately, a few men and women with no particular philosophical bias agreed with the judge and acquitted Houck of all charges. The attempt by the Department of Justice to intimidate a vocal pro-life activist is chilling, but simply one of many efforts waged by those who are shocked that their monopoly on the abortion message has been hijacked by another reality. They can no longer write the narrative that most Americans are OK with demonizing people of faith, with silencing uncomfortable voices, with vilifying those who pose no threat but who are attempting to do what civil rights activists have always done: follow the arc of justice. And while I was angered by the Houck prosecution and gratified by his acquittal, the thing that continues to trouble me is not the attacks against adults but, rather, the continued crusade against young people. A few years ago, it was Nick Sandman from Covington Catholic High School who was quite literally defamed for having the temerity to attend a pro-life rally wearing a MAGA hat. While much of the ire seemed focused on the hat, it was clear that most of the then-16-year-old's critics were more upset that he was attending the March For Life. How dare he, this embryonic sexual abuser a la Brett Kavanaugh, protest a woman's right to do whatever she wanted with her unborn child? We shall make him pay. Ironically, they were the ones who ended up paying directly into his savings account. And it never ends. This month, a group of students from Our Lady of the Rosary School in South Carolina were attending this year's March for Life and decided to visit the Smithsonian Institute. They were wearing pro life hats. According to reports, which were confirmed by the museum directors, the students were mocked mercilessly and then kicked out of the museum the national museum funded by our tax dollars when they wouldn't take off their hats. First Amendment, meet civil rights lawsuit. So those who wonder why I keep writing about abortion only need to take their heads out of the sand and look around. Being pro-life is still a big news item. I suspect Merrick, Rebecca and Nick would agree. (COMMENT, BELOW) Christine M. Flowers is a lawyer and columnist. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> Somehow I thought that when the midterm elections were over, when Nov. 8 came and went, the barrage of political fundraising emails would stop. Who was I kidding? They kept on coming because in the modern era of permanent campaigns, spam, digital fundraising and general shamelessness, that's just the way it is. There's no rest for the weary or the tapped out. Not only did the emails not stop coming, they seemed to ratchet up from a previous level of frantic anxiety to a new plateau of panic and hysteria. Presumably, if they didn't, you might shrug it off and fail to rush for your wallet and your Xanax. "This is absolutely critical, Nick," says one email I received from Nancy Pelosi. "I cannot overstate the severity of this situation." "Things have taken a dire turn," says another. The fundraising pleas I get are mostly from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and from a handful of politicians whose lists I've somehow fallen onto. They're sent under the names of members of Congress such as Pelosi, Adam Schiff and Hakeem Jeffries, with cameos from Barack Obama, Joe Biden and others. If I choose to contribute, my money is routed through the digital donation platform ActBlue. I've never signed up to be on their lists. I've never donated to the candidates in question. But they keep trying. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. "Nick, this is the single biggest announcement we have ever made." "We're asking no we're downright begging you to step up." "This is your last chance, Nick." Yeah, right. I'm supposed to be flattered, I guess, that these bigwigs are taking time to write to me personally, relying on the use of first names to sound chummy. "Adam suggested I get in touch with you," wrote Stacey Abrams, when she was running for governor. "Nick, I'm disgusted," wrote Pelosi. "I wanted to tell you personally." The calls to action are desperate: They're "begging" for my help, they're "pleading," they're "imploring." I'm supposed to be ashamed when they're "disappointed" in me. As in, "Nick we've reached out 19 times Now is not the time to ignore our emails, Nick." Actually, it was that last one that put me over the edge. I mean, if the week between Christmas and New Year's isn't the time to ignore their emails, when is? Answer: Never, of course. I don't know who writes this hyperbolic crap. Not Nancy, Hakeem or Barack, that's for sure. But I guess it does the trick. During the 2022 election cycle, more than 7.4 million unique donors gave 86 million contributions to 27,000 Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations totaling $3.5 billion through the ActBlue platform, the company says. Since 2004, it has raised $11.7 billion. And why should that bother me? I'm generally sympathetic to Democrats. I know they need money to win their races. Probably I should be grateful that ActBlue (and its counterpart WinRed, which offers similar services for Republicans) encourages small donations from ordinary voters to compete with the billionaires, unions and corporations that increasingly fund our elections. But I'm bothered nevertheless by the glib clickbait of the endless solicitations. As former Rep. Steve Israel of New York noted: "Isn't democracy in enough trouble without reducing it to a speed date?" Political spam has become too cheap and easy to send out. Billions of political messages are dispatched by the candidates' campaigns each year in email, text and robocalls. For us recipients, it's none too easy to opt out. While commercial solicitations by email and text are subject to certain basic rules they must have clear opt-out mechanisms and must identify who is sending the message, for instance political email is less tightly regulated. "The politicians who write the rules have e.u7xempted themselves from a lot of the rules that could apply," Ellen Weintraub, a member of the Federal Election Commission, told The Washington Post. That was in October when Google was launching a pilot program to allow campaign emails to bypass the spam filters that protect Gmail users from junk mail. How do you get on the radar of politicians who want your money? Their campaigns buy voter registration lists and trade databases with other groups. You're selected not because you've expressed interest in donating but based on your data, such as party registration, income, age, debt level, history of donating, religion and whether you own a gun. In 2021, four state attorneys general opened investigations into political fundraisers' use of prechecked boxes that signed people up automatically to pay recurring donations when they had only intended to contribute once. ActBlue (and WinRed) was investigated amid fraud allegations and refund demands; now it says it no longer uses prechecked boxes. And, oh sure, you can click "Unsubscribe" if you can find the tiny link way down at the bottom. But actually getting off the list is another story. As ActBlue says: "In general, you can usually find an 'Unsubscribe' link at the end of most emails that should take you off of that specific email list." Have you ever read a sentence with more qualifiers? Don't hold your breath. Nothing is more important than money to candidates. A week before the election, Open Secrets, which tracks money in politics, projected that all state and federal 2022 campaign spending would reach $16.7 billion. According to fivethirtyeight.com, more than 90% of House candidates who outspend their opponents win. It's a bad, broken, corrupt system in which money plays far too big a role. And I'm tired of being barraged day in and day out by patronizing, cheesy solicitations. Nancy, Hakeem, Adam, Stacey, this is absolutely critical. I'm begging you to take me off your lists. I'm pleading. I'm imploring! (COMMENT, BELOW) Nicholas Goldberg Los Angeles Times/(TNS) Nicholas Goldberg is an associate editor and op-ed columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Almost 5,000 Massachusetts residents are on the waiting list for a kidney, liver, or other organ that could be transplanted to save their lives. Believing it better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness, two Massachusetts legislators propose a modest reform that could bring some hope to patients with end-stage organ disease. Legislation filed by Representatives Carlos Gonzalez of Springfield and Judith Garcia of Chelsea would allow prison inmates to qualify for a reduction in their sentence by donating one of their organs or bone marrow. Their bill, HD.3822, imposes no mandate or penalty; it simply offers prisoners who become organ donors a chance to shorten their incarceration by up to 12 months. The reaction to this proposal has been unhinged. Critics lambasted it as "incredibly offensive," "coercive and disrespectful," and "dystopian." An "egregious violation of medical ethics," seethed one commenter on Twitter. "Utterly disgusting and predatory," railed another. What explains such hostility? Partly it seems to be the idea that for prisoners, there is no meaningful distinction between incentive and duress that an inducement to do a worthy thing is tantamount to a penalty for not doing it. "Can someone who is suffering in prison, and desperate to get out," asks a skeptical writer in MIT Technology Review, "really give free and informed consent?" But why should prisoners be thought incapable of deciding for themselves whether to become organ donors? Nothing in the bill would subject inmates to undue influence. On the contrary: The bill requires that someone designated by an organization "advocating for the rights of incarcerated individuals" be involved in supervising the program. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> It takes months for anyone, in or out of prison, to qualify as an organ donor. The screening is very elaborate. It involves not only blood tests and physical checkups but also education, psychological evaluation, multiple confirmations of informed consent, and consultation with a social worker. Potential donors are repeatedly reminded that they can opt out. No one is rushed into donating an organ. There is nothing remotely "coercive and disrespectful" about the process. But some of those pouring scorn on the legislators' proposal have a different objection: They shudder at the prospect that anyone donating an organ might receive something in exchange. And that raises an issue that goes to the heart of America's organ-donor system. Some background: To address a critical shortage of lifesaving organs available for transplant, Congress in 1984 enacted the National Organ Transplant Act. The law, among other provisions, made it a crime to reward anyone with "valuable consideration" for agreeing to donate an organ. The result nearly 40 years later? An even more critical shortage of lifesaving organs available for transplant. In decreeing that organ donors must be motivated by altruism alone, Congress meant well. It feared that offering financial incentives to potential donors might lead people to give up a kidney or a liver lobe in order to be compensated, rather than from the sheer goodness of their hearts. To be sure, Congress did not expect any of the other parties involved in an organ transplant surgeons, hospitals, nurses, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, X-ray technicians to provide their services for free. Only the person consenting to donate the crucial organ was required to forgo any reward. Many donors, bless them, are glad to do so. But not nearly enough. Approximately 105,000 Americans are currently on the waiting list for the kidney or other organ that could give them a new lease on life. Last year more than 42,000 organ transplants were performed. But that barely put a dent in the waiting list, to which another patient is added every 10 minutes more than 50,000 per year. Meanwhile, 17 people on the list die each day, waiting for an organ that never came. Congress ought to amend the 1984 law to allow financial incentives for organ donors, a reform that has drawn support from a number of scholars and is backed by public opinion. But in this matter, as in so many others, Congress is feckless to the point of paralysis. All the more reason, then, for state policy makers to act. What Gonzalez and Garcia suggest might result in only a handful of additional transplants. But while the number of patients who would be helped is tiny, the benefit they would gain is immense nothing less than life itself. Those who recoil in horror from offering prisoners early release as an incentive to become an organ donor may be sincere. Surely, though, it is more abhorrent to let another human being die prematurely for no better reason than to keep a donor from being rewarded. Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission." Q: What is happening around the area for Black History Month? Answer: Throughout history, African Americans have made countless contributions to our country in a wide range of fields such as science, sports, medicine, business and the arts. Each year, Black History Month is observed and celebrated across the United States throughout the month of February and celebrates the historical and current achievements of African Americans. The annual celebration was created by Carter Woodson, a famous educator and civil rights activist with the help of other African American leaders as Negro History Week in the late 1920s. President Gerald Ford first officially recognized and expanded it to the entire month of February in 1976 and every president has acknowledged Black History Month since then. It is interesting to note that each year it is given a new theme. The 2023 theme is Black Resistance. Winston-Salem has its own rich history of African American heritage that will be highlighted through a variety of attractions celebrating Black history, culture and contributions. For local seniors looking to participate in local Black History Month celebrations and events, there are several taking place in our area that are free and open to the public: Old Salems St. Philips Moravian Church, organized in 1822, is one of North Carolinas oldest standing African American churches. It will reopen to the public on Feb. 15 and is available to tour. The church is located at 911 S. Church St. in Winston-Salem. Hidden Figures, will be presented Feb. 18, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., at the South Fork Community Center, 4403 Country Club Road, in Winston-Salem. The event will feature Katherine Moore, daughter of the late Katherine Johnson, who worked as a mathematician for NASA on calculations that helped send astronauts into space. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) professionals will also be on hand to talk about careers opportunities. Call 336-727-2051 for more information. Showcase of Song: An African American Cultural Celebration featuring the historical significance of gospel hymns, coded messages and lyrics through performances ranging from Africa to modern-day American gospel music. The celebration will be held Feb. 25, at Union Baptist Church, 1200 N. Trade St. in Winston-Salem, at noon. Hanes Mall Black Owned Business Expo will take place Feb. 25, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at 3320 Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem. The event will celebrate and support local Black-owned businesses in our area. The Delta Arts Center is hosting Freedom Day on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. Freedom Day will feature performances by the Otesha Creative Dance Ensemble. The Delta Arts center is located at 2611 New Walkertowne Road. There is also a very exciting paid option available this month. The North Carolina Black Repertory (NCBR) is the states first professional Black theatre company and is committed to exposing audiences of all backgrounds to classic plays and performances. The NCBR typically presents three to four productions annually and hosts the National Black Theatre Festival which draws more than 65,000 people to Winston-Salem every other summer. On Saturday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, March 12 there will be the rolling world premiere of Phenomenal Women to celebrate Maya Angelou. Dr. Maya Angelous life will be honored in this production that is making its way to Broadway. For ticket information and prices on upcoming shows visit ncblackrep.org or call 336-723-2266. Q. How can I get a copy of the new Senior Services Directory of Services? Answer: Access to information and community resources continues to rank as one of the top concerns for Forsyth County senior residents. Finding help with things such as food assistance, housing, in-home support, transportation, health care and other services are important parts of being able to age successfully in our community. Senior Services prints its Directory of Services to help older adults, caregivers, and others who are interested in supporting seniors more easily find resources available in Forsyth County that focus on helping older adults live as healthily, happily, and independently as possible. Senior Services released the new 2023-2024 Directory of Services this month. It is offered free of charge and is available for pick up at their main campus, 2895 Shorefair Drive and will also be distributed to various health facilities and aging related organizations throughout our area. An online and downloadable version is available at seniorservicesinc.org/resources/directory/. Seniors and caregivers can have a print copy sent to them by contacting the Senior Services Help Line at 336-724-2040 or by emailing helpline@seniorservicesinc.org. Having access to the important information and resources that are available in our community will go far in helping older adults remain at home, living with dignity and aging with purpose. Help Line services are offered free of charge to Forsyth County residents. However, a tax-deductible contribution to offset the cost of services in appreciated. Make your gift at seniorservicesinc.org. A buyback proposal may be the spark needed for passage of a state House bill mandating the availability of muscadine grape juice in all public schools, colleges and universities. Yet, the question remains: Will students drink a sweet juice compared with the typical apple and orange juice offerings? House Bill 67, which was filed last week by state Rep. Julia Howard, has to clear the House Agriculture, Education K-12 and Rules and Operations committee before qualifying for a floor vote. The mandate would begin at the start of the 2023-24 school year if the bill is signed into law. The bill is set first for a 1 p.m. Feb. 22 hearing in House Agriculture committee. Howard, a Republican who represents Davie, Rowan and Yadkin counties, could not be reached for comment. The measure also known as the Encourage Healthy NC Food in Schools bill is very similar to language in House Bill 136, which overwhelmingly cleared the House in March 2021 only to be shelved by the Senate for the remainder of the 2021 and 2022 sessions. Both bills require the State Board of Education, local boards of education and charter schools to mandate that all public K-12 schools provide muscadine grape juice. Not only would school nutrition and lunch programs have to offer muscadine grape juice, but also vending machines. Community colleges and public universities would also be required to offer the juice in vending machines. During the House floor debate almost two years ago, state Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County Democrat, questioned the popularity of muscadines, saying grape juice is the least preferred juice among all students in North Carolina. If this juice isnt chosen by students, it will go to waste and the school will not be reimbursed. Enter the buyback component in HB 67, which involves the Food Distribution Division of the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The division would be required to include in contracts or purchasing agreements for packaged fruit products that the supplier will buy back from the (state) Farm to School program unopened and unexpired products returned by school nutrition programs. The school nutrition programs would then be credited for the returns. HB 136 passed with 25 of 46 Democrats voting in support, as well as all but one of the 67 Republicans voting. The passage, however, wasnt as smooth as that tally might indicate. After the bill sailed through three committees, there was an unexpected 22 minutes of floor debate centered on free market concerns about the mandate vs. supporting North Carolina farmers. Muscadine grapes are grown primarily in eastern North Carolina and are used in jellies, jams, preserves, syrups and dessert toppings. Its one of the good things we can do for the growers and producers in this state to make this product available in our schools, Howard said at the time. It is the state fruit. According to NC Insider, an online media outlet which covers state government, Howard was asked during a K-12 committee meeting about what happens if muscadine grape juice isnt selected by enough students to warrant being an option. If the kids would stop and try this, they would prefer it over apple and orange juice, she told committee members. Howard added that I want you to remember just one thing: We dont grow oranges in North Carolina. We grow grapes, and that is what will help our growers and producers. Rep. Larry Pittman, a Cabarrus County Republican, isnt exactly convinced. I can appreciate the desire to provide healthy options to children in school, but I see the word shall in this bill, Pittman said. This is like creating a market that I dont think is our responsibility. Nearly 300,000 North Carolinians receiving COVID-19 pandemic-related Medicaid coverage could face being removed as a recipient as soon as July 1. Those North Carolinians qualified for temporary Medicaid coverage as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that Congress passed in response to the start of the pandemic in mid-March 2020. Medicaid currently covers 2.71 million North Carolinians, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The planned May 11 ending of the national COVID-19 public-health emergency is the catalyst for several significant changes. According to a Jan. 27 letter from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to state health directors, the May 11 deadline triggers the March 31 ending of eligibility for the temporary Medicaid coverage. The March 31 expiration enables states to terminate Medicaid enrollment of individuals who no longer meet Medicaid eligibility requirements on or after April 1. We recognize people will lose coverage in this process, but our goal is to ensure people eligible for Medicaid do not lose coverage, and those no longer eligible are transitioned smoothly to affordable health plans, DHHS said. April 1, however, does not have to serve as a strict cut-off designation. CMS amended the conditions that states must meet to allow for a gradual removal of the temporary beneficiaries that could extend coverage through at least the end of the year. That includes determining if the temporary beneficiary now qualifies for permanent Medicaid coverage. DHHS said last week it will start the redetermination process on April 1, with each renewal review taking up to 90 days. We expect to start the renewal process for the last group by March 31, 2024, DHHS said in a news release. Per CMS guidance, we have 12 months to complete the process. The first day people would not have coverage would be July 1. Kaiser Health News said the ending of the coverage will put pressure on state and local health departments to disenroll those no longer qualified while directing them to other potential sources of coverage. There also will be added financial pressures on health-care systems, hospitals, doctors and other providers who rely on payments from Medicaid. DHHS said it has been preparing for the massive task of requalifying Medicaid beneficiaries for coverage. DHHS said affected temporary beneficiaries will receive a notice saying they do not have coverage and how to find insurance on the exchange. This is a longstanding federal requirement/process that we have followed when anyone is no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage, and we coordinate closely with healthcare.gov, DHHS said. Additionally, we are exploring options, including telephone calls, text messages, social media, push notifications to enhanced ePass/NC FAST accounts (online benefits tool), partner/stakeholder communications, and communications/press releases to the North Carolina media. Additionally, our Medicaid health plans are providing comprehensive communications and information to beneficiaries. We are also exploring options to support our county Department of Social Services offices and their workers as they complete the re-determination process. Medicaid expansion The end of the temporary coverage comes as the latest state House attempt at expanding the states Medicaid program was filed on Wednesday. DHHS said that many of these beneficiaries would be eligible for health care coverage under Medicaid expansion, which the legislature is considering. The House reintroduced its clean version of a bipartisan Medicaid expansion bill, officially beginning a potentially legislative-defining debate for the 2023 session. Clean, in this instance, means no additional health-care reform language remains in House Bill 76 a major component of Senate Republican leaders quid-pro-quo preference for Medicaid expansion. HB76, titled Access to Healthcare Options, has Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, as its primary sponsor and bill author. There are two Republican and one Democratic co-primary sponsors. Pivotally, HB76 is tied directly to expected funding appropriations within the 2023-24 state budget and only goes into effect when the budget become law/ If the 2023-24 state budget hasnt become law by Dec. 31, the legislation within HB76 shall expire. The bill was filed without comment by House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland. Lambeth said the plan is to have HB76 take the fast-track committee approach early next week, clearing the Health, Finance and Rules and Operations committees to have it on the House floor for its first vote no later than Wednesday. The Health committee meeting is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday. Lambeth said HB76 is a good option for North Carolina and incorporates several of the best practices we researched and heard about from other states. The expansion benefits many of our citizens, including veterans, farmers and many others who work, but cannot afford private insurance. This is a win-win. Lambeth said part of HB76s appeal is the focus on preventive and well care, encouraging participants to take care of themselves. Local impact The planned May 11 ending of the national COVID-19 public-health emergency also will affect the local availability of test kits and vaccines, Forsyth County health director Joshua Swift said. The Biden administrations decision also has ramifications for 589,000 North Carolinians who have gained Medicaid coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic through federal public-health relief legislation. Swift said DHHS-supported vendor testing is expected to end by March 30. At that time, the health department will lose many of its administrative and clinical workers dedicated to COVID-19 services as state and federal funding for those positions ends. When that happens, well have to assimilate the (COVID-19) vaccine operations into our normal vaccine operations, Swift said. Losing that support in staffing and funding will be challenging. Meanwhile, its expected that Moderna and Pfizer will begin commercial marketplace sales of their vaccines in March and April. That means county health departments, health-care providers and hospital pharmacies could be charged between $100 and $120 per vaccine dose. By comparison, Swift said the flu vaccine costs between $10 and $15 a dose. We do believe that health insurance companies will obviously allow that coverage, but were looking into that as we chart this new course with COVID in how well handle not only testing, but also the vaccine, Swift said. The vaccine remains readily available. Swift said the county health department should have enough COVID-19 test kits to last for another 12 months at the current usage rate of about 400 to 500 a month. Awareness The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reported Thursday that 64% of adults in a Medicaid-enrolled family reported having no awareness that their eligibility for the program will be reviewed and may expire. The report was conducted by the Urban Institute. Lack of awareness may mean enrollees are not prepared to complete the necessary steps to maintain Medicaid coverage or, if they are no longer eligible, obtain coverage elsewhere, according to the report. Only 5% of adults who are enrolled in Medicaid, or have a family member enrolled, reported hearing a lot about the upcoming changes in renewal processes. Just 14% of adults reported they had heard some about the return to regular Medicaid renewal processes, while 5% of adults reported they had heard a lot about the return to regular Medicaid renewal processes. Awareness was low across the country regardless of geographic region or whether the state has expanded Medicaid eligibility: Low awareness was 66.5% in the Northeast; 67.6% in the Midwest; 63.4% in the South and 61.3% in the West. There was similar lack of awareness in Medicaid expansion states at 64.5% and non-expansion states, such as North Carolina, at 63.7.% The end of the public health emergencys continuous coverage requirement means millions of people are at risk of losing continuous coverage in Medicaid, which they have relied upon for nearly three years, said Gina Hijjawi, the foundations senior program officer. States and the federal government must quickly raise awareness that many families will soon need to take steps to maintain or find new health coverage. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy of the Italian Republic Adolfo Urso, who attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a 1,280-MW thermal power plant, the largest in Azerbaijan's independence period. Speaking at the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said: - Welcome, dear Minister, I am very glad to see you in Azerbaijan. This is indeed a very important event and a project that will greatly strengthen Italian-Azerbaijani friendship. As mentioned, the Italian-Azerbaijani relations have a strategic importance, and we are trying to further expand these strategic partnership frameworks. First of all, our political relations are at a very high level. You also mentioned in your speech that President Mattarella's visit to Azerbaijan and my visits to Italy have strengthened these relations even more. Of course, the arrival of three ministers of the Italian government to Azerbaijan since January 11 to this day is very important and I can say that it is an extraordinary event. During these visits, we have and will discuss cooperation in the military, military-technical, energy, investment and trade sectors as a whole. Our strong political ties are a great foundation. Oil and gas and now power engineering projects have greatly strengthened this foundation. At the same time, we want trade relations to be more diversified. You know that the process of building the Italy-Azerbaijan University is going fast, five Italian universities are already partners with us. At the same time, the companies doing most of the work in the liberated lands represent Turkiye and Italy. I must also say that Italian-Azerbaijani relations are so deep and sincere that we have entrusted the projects we consider the most important to Italian companies. For example, in Baku, in many liberated cities, Victory and Occupation museums are being created by Italian companies. In Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, three destroyed mosques and one new mosque are being restored and built by Italian companies. So along with all other areas, these projects I mentioned are of special importance for us. Because this is our historical past. At the same time, there will be new symbols that reflect our Victory. A month after the second Karabakh war, a very important contract was signed between Azerenergy and Ansaldo. Lands liberated from occupation cover an area of 10,000 square kilometers. For comparison, it is an area the size of Lebanon. Everything is destroyed there, so we are rebuilding everything and we want more Italian companies to participate in these works - in the construction, service, investment sectors and as contractors. The Italian company IVECO has already started establishing its own enterprise there. The production of trucks is planned there. Therefore, the agenda is very extensive, and I am sure that all these issues will be widely discussed during the visit. Minister Adolfo Urso said: - Thank you Mr. President, I am grateful for the reception. I have been to your country many times. I visited Azerbaijan when I was still minister of foreign trade. Today, I attended the ceremony to celebrate the agreement with Ansaldo. A few days after you liberated your territories, I visited your country as part of the Italian parliamentary delegation. We visited those places at that time. I remember going to the city of Aghdam and taking pictures from the minaret of the mosque. I showed them to Italian news channels. This trip gave me great feelings. No-one could even imagine the level of devastation. X X X During the meeting, the sides emphasized the importance of the activity of the intergovernmental commission, of holding a meeting of this commission as soon as possible in terms of the implementation of the tasks set. During the conversation, the parties exchanged views on cooperation in renewable energy, agricultural machinery, pharmaceutical industry, science, education, culture and other fields, as well as restoration and construction work in liberated territories. The importance of the TAP project, which currently plays an important part in ensuring Italy's energy security, was also discussed, along with the issues of increasing its transmission capacity in the future. Italy's support for the development of Azerbaijan's relations with the European Union was highly appreciated and it was emphasized that Italy was an important partner for Azerbaijan among European Union countries. Instructions were given to exchange visits at the level of relevant ministries for the implementation of the issues discussed. A Beatrice Fire & Rescue ambulance crashed into another vehicle on Nebraska Parkway on Sunday while taking a patient to a Lincoln hospital, according to authorities. The ambulance was driving north on 48th Street with its emergency lights and sirens activated when it ran a red light at Nebraska Parkway and crashed into an eastbound car just before 8 a.m. Sunday, Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vollmer said. Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews responded and took the initial patient to a local hospital. Two Beatrice Fire and Rescue employees were taken by ambulance to Bryan West Campus for evaluation and have since been released, according to a department social media post. Occupants of the involved eastbound vehicle reported minor injuries, said Vollmer, who declined to name the drivers involved in the crash Monday. No citations have been issued in the crash. Lincoln restaurants that have opened in the past year B&T's - December Fleetwood - November Masa Sushi - October Oishii Japanese Steakhouse - September Chef Shawarma - September The Mettle Grill - August Motorfood - July Pita & Naan - June Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge - June Sabor Latino - May Well & Good - April L's Kitchen - April Ms. Chen 56 - March Ika San Ramen and Izakaya Aragon Tavern Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl Wahlburgers 402 Creamery While city and county officials are waiting to find out more about the local impact of President Bidens decision to allow the public health emergency to expire in May, a county commissioner has called on officials to end local emergency declarations now. Matt Schulte, who was elected in November, raised the issue at a Lancaster County Board staff meeting this week. The pandemic has long been over in Nebraska; the statewide emergency declaration was lifted 20 months ago in June 2021, Schulte said in an email. Lets embrace this reality in Lincoln and Lancaster County. Its time to move forward as a community. Commissioner Sean Flowerday said he and other commissioners favor waiting until the federal emergencies expire, because throughout the pandemic theyve tried to align their response to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The county has always tried to follow federal guidance on this, and I dont anticipate this changing, he said. Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez said they are trying to get further direction and a better understanding of how the end of the public health emergency will affect the city and county. The federal action could affect the accessibility of vaccines, tests and antiviral medications. I dont think all those decisions have been made at the federal level yet, so were monitoring it very closely to see what the impact could be for us, she said. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird told the City Council on Monday that city departments are reviewing any funding streams and outstanding payments due from state and federal emergency allocations related to the pandemic response. Theyve also asked the Lancaster County Emergency Management Department for a recommendation on how to handle the city's emergency declaration. The city and county declared emergencies in March 2020. The mayor used the emergency powers to acquire personal protective equipment and seek reimbursement for public safety spending related to the pandemic. This isnt the first time the topic of ending the emergency declarations has come up. In January 2021 just after vaccines had been approved the City Council narrowly voted to indefinitely suspend a proposal by then-Councilman Roy Christensen to end the declaration, or, at a minimum, hold a public discussion about how the city has exercised its emergency powers. At the time, the four council members who voted to shelve the proposal said it could jeopardize the citys ability to secure federal emergency relief funding. The situation is different than a year ago, although Flowerday said he doesnt agree with Schulte that the pandemic is over. An average of more than 500 people in the United States are still dying from COVID-19 each day, about twice the number of deaths per day during a bad flu season, according to the New York Times. In Lancaster County, 201 people died of COVID in 2021, 107 in 2022 and just one person so far this year, according to the health departments dashboard. Schulte, a Republican, didnt introduce a resolution at the staff meeting the board typically introduces and votes on such measures at regular meetings but his suggestion is similar to a federal bill called the Pandemic Is Over Act passed by the Republican-controlled House the day after the Biden administration announced the end to the public health emergency. The bill isnt likely to pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Schulte said its time to move forward. Its time to give the health department and emergency management its time back and allow them to work on more pressing issues, he said in an email. Top Journal Star photos for February 2023 Lincoln drummer and bar owner Jordy Elfers grew up surrounded by music. "My dad's a guitar player, my brother plays guitar, the whole family sings, it's a very musical household," Elfers said. "When I was 2 and held a plastic guitar for the first time, that's when I knew what I wanted to do, even though I don't play guitar now." Today, Elfers plays drums for Thirst Things First a band his brother created, Universe Content and Sweats. This weekend, he took to the stage for all three during Lincoln Exposed 2023 Lincoln's annual, all-local music festival. Elfers wanted to play the drums when he joined his fifth grade band in Wayne, Nebraska, but the director wouldn't let him because he didn't know piano. Now, 25 years later, he's living out his childhood dreams as a drummer in three different bands. When he was 23 years old, Elfers moved in with a roommate who had a drum kit and let him experiment with it. "Two months later, I started a band," he said. "We changed our name from Powers to Unmanned after learning about a band in Canada called Powers. We wanted to avoid a potential cease and desist because we just wanted to have fun and they were taking it seriously." Playing in more than one band isn't uncommon, he said. "It's actually way more common than you think for people to double down, especially drummers," he said. "Everybody that Im in a band with is generally in another band or has been in another band at some point some people in Sweats, we played Saturday night, played two hours before on the same stage." Elfers played two sets on Friday and another on Saturday, working behind the bar at O'Rourke's in between. The 35-year-old recently purchased the bar with fellow bartender Bridge English from original founders: Dave Moreland and Doug McLeese. "Theres no one else Id rather do it with, we even each other out so well," English said. "Hes the only person Id want to take this on with. ... If I didn't have him in these past three months, we wouldn't be here. The two met five years ago, when English joined the Saturday-night crew at O'Rourke's a shift Elfers already worked. English said they worked as a team from the start, developing a close relationship where they can both support each other and call each other out. "When we took over last October, he thought he'd have to take a break from the bands, that he wouldn't have the time," she said. "I encouraged him to keep playing, I know how important they are to him." The bar owners switch taking time off to support each other English picks up Elfers shifts when he has gigs, like Lincoln Exposed, and Elfers returns the favor. They're still figuring out everything that goes into running a bar, but the two know they need to continue the traditions and neighborhood-like atmosphere. That's why, even after two exhausting nights of Lincoln Exposed and mixed-in bartending shifts, Elfers was in the bar early on Sunday, helping set up for the annual Super Bowl Chili Cookoff. Traditional things like this the chili cookoff, St. Patrick's Day, and everything else all the things that our regular customers have come to expect at the bar, cant go away," Elfers said. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be ORourkes." Elfers said it takes a village to balance his life in the bar with his life in the music scene. But for him, it's worth it for just thirty seconds where he gets to shut off. "Theres a moment, when youre doing something you like to do, where you dont think about anything," he said. "Some people find that when they go on a jog, I find that in my music. Its that moment where you arent a person for thirty seconds and nothing exists. ... My whole life is music. Top Journal Star photos for February 2023 Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue on Monday urged the Legislature to reject confirmation of the reappointment of Jim Macy as director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy in the wake of the environmental catastrophe at the AltEn ethanol plant at Mead. Macy should have taken prompt action to shut the plant down, Blood argued, before its use of pesticide-coated seed further polluted the environment and more Nebraskans became "collateral damage." The result is that some Nebraska women will never be able to get pregnant and some children will develop cancer, she said. "This is our Flint, Michigan," Blood said, referring to the lead contamination in that community's water supply. A number of senators defended Macy's response to the pollution at Mead. "It's not being ignored; cleanup is occurring," Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, chairman of the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee, said. Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus said the reaction is "complicated by what the state can legally do." Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha argued that there was "dereliction in not acting with urgency." "I believe there were some mistakes," Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha said, but he supports confirmation of Macy's appointment. Blood's motion to recommit Gov. Jim Pillen's nomination of Macy to the Natural Resources Committee for further consideration was defeated on a 10-33 vote. That vote along with the tenor of floor debate signaled the likelihood that Macy's nomination will eventually be confirmed. Monday's two-hour debate consumed the Legislature's first floor session in two weeks, stalling an agenda that included 15 bills awaiting action. The Legislature has been holding full-day committee sessions during the last two weeks. Meet the Nebraska state senators making laws in 2023 Shed been clipped by a car more than once, messed up her face tangling with a raccoon and avoided capture for years. Nobody could get close to the yellow Labrador retriever, even all those who fed her around Eppley Airfield. Several times, a concerned citizen would spot her walking near there, sometimes carrying a fast food bag, and would call the Nebraska Humane Society. But shed vanish as soon as a white truck appeared. Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue couldnt nab her either. Thats how she got one of her many nicknames Lightning. She had a following. There are so many stories about her, Muddy Paws founder Terri Larson said. She was just a phenomenon around the area how she avoided capture. Then last May, a Lincoln couple spotted her late at night as they were leaving the airport. She got sick, had just given up and was found almost drowning in a ditch, Larson said. That couple took her home, cleaned up the ticks, posted about her on the Lost Pets of Omaha Area Facebook page and then took her to the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln. A woman who had been feeding her spotted the Facebook post and asked Muddy Paws to help. Nine months later and now named Piper, the once-elusive dog is ready for a home. Shes survived treatment for a bad case of heartworm and has begun to learn that she can trust humans. Shes had nothing but 24-hour care and room service and anything she could want, foster Colleen VanScoy said. Piper had been on the lam for so many years that she was basically feral at first, VanScoy said. Shes lost teeth and, at around 8 years old, is bothered by arthritis. Although shes still jumpy around strangers, she enjoys treats and a pat. The one thing she isnt is skinny. Shed been spotted as far west as 30th and Lake streets and apparently had food stops all along her route. She was quite a little celebrity down there, VanScoy said. She had been well-fed for several years. Its going to take a special person who has a lot of patience and time to adopt Piper, VanScoy said. Thats not always easy to find, but she says miracles do happen. Until then, she has a home with me, VanScoy said. Shell just be a forever foster and that will be fine, too. If interested in adopting Piper, go to muddypawssecondchancerescue.com and look under available pets, or call 402-515-2570. The 10 animals that have been at Lincoln's Capital Humane Society the longest 10. Sissy - Dec. 21, 2022 9. Mayonnaise - Dec. 17, 2022 8. Bella - Dec. 4, 2022 7. Dakota - Dec. 3, 2022 6. Sassy - Oct. 19, 2022 5. Quinn - Oct. 4, 2022 4. Chewy - Sept. 28, 2022 3. Baldwin - Sept. 28, 2022 2. Phil - Sept. 27, 2022 1. Chloe - Aug. 28, 2022 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 By Azernews Sabina Mammadli The rescue forces of the Azerbaijani Emergency Situations Ministry are continuing search and rescue operations in quake-hit areas in Turkiye, Azernews reports, citing the ministry. As a result of the operations, 51 people have been rescued, bodies of 613 victims were pulled from the rubble. Besides, the rescuers held a joint meeting with representatives of Turkiye's Emergency Situations Agency (AFAD) at the headquarters of the rescue forces of the ministry, organized in the territory of Kahramanmaras district. The sides discussed the current working conditions and further steps to be taken, as well as issues related to the installation of tents sent by the ministry on behalf of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reports that on January 6, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit central Turkiye. The epicenter of the earthquake was 26 kilometers off Gaziantep with a population of about 1.06 million. The earthquake's epicenter was located 7 km below the surface. According to Turkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, three more earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.4 to 6.6 shook the province of Gaziantep in southeastern Turkiye. At the time of writing, the death toll in Turkiye was 31,643. Azerbaijan was the first country to provide assistance to Turkiye immediately after the earthquake. The Ministry of Emergency Situations is continuing to send humanitarian aid and rescuers to Turkiye. Penelope Hardings doctor helped her get through years of mental agony and two suicide attempts. But when Harding realized she was a transgender woman, that same doctor denied her care to make the transition. Whats more, Harding told a panel of Nebraska lawmakers Friday, that doctor never followed through on a promise to help her find someone who would provide gender-affirming treatment. Harding told her story as one of the opponents of LB810, which backers said would afford health care providers the right to follow their conscience about medical treatments. Opponents said the bill would enshrine discrimination in state law. Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, who introduced the bill, said he did so out of concern that conservative and Christian medical students are hesitating to enter the medical field out of fear that they will have to participate in treatments that violate their religious beliefs. He claimed that 23% of medical practitioners face discrimination based on their beliefs, and 20% dont pursue specific positions out of fear of discrimination. Under LB810, named the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act, medical practitioners, such as doctors and nurses, and health care institutions such as hospitals could deny elective medical treatment that violated their right of conscience, meaning their religious, ethical or moral beliefs. The bill would also allow health insurance providers to deny coverage of non-emergency care under the same principles. Murman said health care institutions and health insurance providers would have to disclose what treatment they would not cover ahead of time. Emergency and life-saving treatment would not be affected. Although multiple doctors spoke in support of the bill at the hearing, the states major health care organizations, including the Nebraska Medical Association, Nebraska Hospital Association and Nebraska Nurses Association, testified in opposition. Other opponents included Nebraska Family Planning, the Nebraska AIDS Project and ACLU of Nebraska. Leslie Spry with the NMA said the associations biggest issue with the bill is that is doesnt allow doctors to refer patients elsewhere if they deny treatment. Though the NMA agrees physicians should act with a conscience, he said patients also have the right to be informed of all their options. Spry said Murman is currently working on an amendment that would alter LB810s language regarding referrals. If that amendment passes, he said the NMA could change its position on the bill. Several physicians who testified in support of LB810 said theyve heard from multiple medical students who are concerned about facing discrimination for their beliefs, so much so that they feared testifying. The reason these students are not here is the reason this bill needs to be passed, said Nebraska physician Carolyn Manhart. Family medicine resident Francesca Ursua, who identified as a minority, said she faces more discrimination in her field for her beliefs than her gender or race. She is interested in entering obstetrics, and said she does not want to prescribe hormonal treatment or forms of contraception to patients. Murman said the bill would not result in discrimination because it focuses on procedures, not on the patients characteristics. He said he had three procedures in mind while drafting the bill: abortions, gender-affirming treatment for transgender patients and euthanasia. Pharmacists would also have the ability to deny contraception to patients, he confirmed. LB810 would change existing legal provisions on abortions, stating that medical practitioners would have to opt in to participate in an abortion by consenting in writing. Supporters listed many of these treatments as services they or other physicians have objected to. Retired family medicine physician Dale Michels said hes refused to provide IUDs, a form of birth control, to patients after researching it. Stephanie Nichols, legal counsel for the national legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, said physicians across the U.S. have been coerced into performing assisted suicide and gender-affirming care for trans youth, which she referred to as procedures that would sterilize or remove body parts from minors. In addition to allowing physicians to deny that care, Nichols said LB810 would also allow pharmacists to refuse to provide vaccinations based on their ethical or religious beliefs. But opponents said the bill could jeopardize patients health and leave already marginalized groups without care. They said the bill would particularly affect people living outside of Lincoln and Omaha, where there may be few alternatives for treatment. Echo Perlman Koehler, speaking for the nurses association, argued that the bill would return Nebraska to a paternalistic system in which providers are the ultimate deciders about care, instead of patients. No patient should ever be denied care solely on a providers personal biases, she said. Some opponents noted that the bill appears to allow any employee of a health care institution, not just medical doctors or nurses, to refuse to participate in care. Lacie Bolte, testifying for the Nebraska AIDS Project, raised concerns that it would allow employers or insurance companies to use the cover of conscience objections to deny coverage of expensive HIV medications. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, a member of the Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee, noted that assisted suicide is currently illegal in Nebraska, so LB810 wouldnt apply to that. She also argued that the bill would not affect abortion, as state hospitals only allow abortions to be performed for life-saving emergencies or for medical necessity. The only place to access elective abortions is at abortion clinics, she said, which presumably would not hire physicians who object to the procedure. Executive Director of Nebraska Right to Life Sandy Danek disputed that, claiming at least one Lincoln hospital with Bryan Health allows physicians to perform elective abortions. John Trapp, a physician with Bryan Health, denied that, though he said it will allow abortions deemed medically necessary. That was later confirmed by a Bryan Health spokesperson. Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, another committee member, questioned whether the bill was discriminatory against patients, as supporters generally seemed focused on two areas of medicine gender-affirming care and reproductive health which only applies to two specific demographics. Day asked Nichols if there are any other industries where employees cant be fired for refusing to perform part of their job. Nichols did not directly answer, instead repeating a common argument among supporters that Nebraskas shortage of medical practitioners will worsen if LB810 doesnt pass. She later said that practitioners who object to certain procedures can still perform other services. Day pushed the point again later while questioning another supporter, Tom Venzor with the Nebraska Catholic Conference. She suggested that if a practitioner was not willing to provide a medical service covered in their field, perhaps they should practice in a different area of medicine. Venzor said Days perspective was a black and white view of the medical field. He and other supporters, including Murman, pointed out that LB810 wouldnt just apply to Christian and conservative beliefs, but would protect all viewpoints. It is protecting the diversity of belief within the medical field, Murman said. Photos: The business of governing in Nebraska in 2023 KEARNEY It took a while longer than expected, but the Kearney/Buffalo County mental health co-responder program finally is staffed and doing what it was intended to do. Its a change for the better. We have someone who can respond with us and help people who are having a mental crisis, said Buffalo County Sheriff Neil Miller. He and Kearney Chief of Police Bryan Waugh worked with Beth Baxter at Region III Behavioral Services and Lutheran Family Services in Lincoln to land grants to pay for the co-responder program, which now has a staff of two. One of those two staffers rides along with police officers or sheriffs deputies to situations in which an individual is experiencing a mental health crisis. The second staffer acts in a support role, finding follow-up help for individuals who may need counseling and medical assistance to function more normally. Goals for the co-responder program Reduce or eliminate the number of 911 calls that result in repeat encounters with someone with acute behavioral health (mental illness and/or substance use disorder) needs. Reduce the number of psychiatric acute hospitalizations and emergency room encounters that occur from unmet behavioral health needs. Prevention of unnecessary incarceration and/or Emergency Protective Custody/hospitalization of individuals experiencing a behavioral health disorder. Connect community-based behavioral health providers with individuals receiving the co-responder interventions. Provide alternate care in the least restrictive environment through a coordinated systemwide approach. Provide care coordination as needed. Facilitate the return of law enforcement units to patrol activities. It can be hard. You learn what works for you, said Megan Morris, who has been working several months in the co-responder role. In addition to bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Texas in Austin, Morris brings to Kearney several years of experience with the Austin Police Department. Morris said her job in Texas was similar to her new role in Kearney she assisted with victim services where homicides, suicides, overdoses or domestic violence could be involved. She said she has been getting her feet in the water since mid-December when she arrived in Kearney. She describes her new city as a sweet, calm town. Morris said she is grateful for the reception she has received in Kearney, where police officers and sheriffs deputies have been welcoming and respectful. Miller said Morris brings credibility to her position, and law officers appreciate her advice. Morris said officers and deputies do pretty well in their handling of mental health crises. Morris partner, Wendy Space, has a different role to play as the peer support specialist. While Morris is a first responder, Space functions in a follow-up role. She will offer advice to individuals needing help and arrange attention from mental health professionals for counseling and medical assistance. The goal is twofold, say Morris and Space. First, they manage the mental health crisis, and then they provide follow-up support so individuals can remain on course to stabilize and improve their mental health. Space brings two kinds of credentials to her work. A resident of Minden, she possesses a bachelors degree in social work from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Space also earned a degree in substance abuse from the school of hard knocks. She said the job description for her position requires that she possesses real world experience with addiction. Space said she was excited to see the peer support specialist job description because her substance abuse issues actually helped qualify her for the job, along with her experience with agencies and organizations that help people like her. After people learn what I have been through, they open up about their mental health issues, Space said. I try to help them on their journey. Morris and Spaces work is funded by a $250,000 grant from the federal Department of Justice to the county and city law agencies and another $50,000 to Region III. Miller said the grants were awarded in 2022, but implementing the co-responder program was delayed when local organizers found it difficult to hire qualified staffers. We had been looking for a long time to find someone who could ride along, Miller said. He said they will apply for an extension of the grant because of its delayed start. The money is supposed to fund two years of co-responder services in Kearney and Buffalo County. So far, the co-responder program is doing everything Waugh and Miller hoped it could, Miller said. The co-responder program is based on the belief that mental health professionals know better how to respond in crises better than most law enforcement officers. In many encounters, the mental health professional can talk down the individual. That makes it possible to get that person where they need to be for help, and it frees police officers and sheriffs deputies to return to patrolling. In many situations, the mental health professionals are on the scene with the deputy or police officer using their knowledge to safely de-escalate the situation. The mental health professionals can assist in other ways. Following a recent suicide, the professionals assisted first responders and other individuals who were closely associated with the situation, Miller said. Last year Kearney and Buffalo County were Nebraskas sole non-metro recipients of the DOJ co-responder grants. Since then, Grand Island and Hall County have been funded. Giving us a resource like this grant makes us feel a lot better about being able to do a good job, Miller said. According to DOJ, a behavioral health professional is embedded at the Kearney/Buffalo County Law Enforcement Center during peak hours. Professionals are on call the rest of the day to respond as needed. Region III Administrator Beth Baxter said co-responders will help defuse potentially explosive situations. With the co-responder program, its hoped that mental health crises can be addressed and brought under control, freeing deputies and officers to respond to other emergencies. The Buffalo County Jail has a mental health professional on staff. Baxter, who has been a behavioral health professional for more than 30 years in Kearney, told the Hub last year that she has observed a growing need for behavioral health services. That was evident after the floods of 2019, when people were traumatized by the flooding and how it radically changed their lives. Organizations such as Buffalo County Community Partners, South-Central Behavioral Health Services, Jennas Rae of Hope Foundation and others are rising to the challenge, she said. Miller said as the co-responder program establishes itself, individuals trapped in a cycle of arrests, incarceration and run-ins with the law will receive help to live more normal lives. South Korea's unification ministry said Monday it is reviewing whether to approve an application by a local association to visit North Korea over the issue of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. The Inter-Korean Separated Family Association on Friday submitted a document seeking government approval for a plan by its members to visit the North, after receiving an invitation from a North Korean organization, according to the ministry handling inter-Korean affairs. "The government is closely looking into overall details, including the characteristics of the North's entity and its reliability," Koo Byoung-sam, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing. The group said it received an invitation from a North Korean entity under the United Front Department, a unit in charge of relations with the South, in November last year. According to the invitation, the North said it will guarantee the safety of three South Koreans connected to the group, including its chief, during the visit, and shoulder relevant costs. The issue of the separated families has taken on greater urgency as more elderly people have died without having a chance to meet their kin in the North amid the secretive regime's reluctance to hold family reunion events. (Yonhap) In this file photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. AFP-Yonhap U.S. military fighter jets on Sunday shot down an octagonal object over Lake Huron, the Pentagon said, the latest incident since a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon put North American security forces on high alert. It was the fourth unidentified flying object to be shot down over North America by a U.S. missile in a little more than a week. On President Joe Biden's order, a U.S. F-16 fighter shot down the object at 2:42 p.m. local time over Lake Huron on the U.S.-Canada border, Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder said in an official statement. Though it did not pose a military threat, the object could have potentially interfered with domestic air traffic as it was traveling at 20,000 feet (6,100 m), and it might have had surveillance activities, the Pentagon said. The object appeared to be octagonal in structure, with strings hanging off but no discernable payload, said a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity. The object was recently detected over Montana near sensitive military sites, prompting the closure of U.S. airspace, the Pentagon said. The incident raised questions about the spate of unusual objects that have appeared over North American skies in recent weeks and raised tensions with China. "We need the facts about where they are originating from, what their purpose is, and why their frequency is increasing," said U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell, one of several Michigan lawmakers who applauded the military for downing the object. U.S. officials identified the first object as a Chinese surveillance balloon and shot it down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. On Friday, a second object was shot down over sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska. And a third object was destroyed over Canada's Yukon on Saturday with investigators still hunting for the wreckage. "Recovery teams are on the ground, looking to find and analyze the object," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Sunday. "The security of citizens is our top priority and that's why I made the decision to have that unidentified object shot down," he said, adding that it had posed a danger to civilian aircraft. North America has been on high alert for aerial intrusions following the appearance of a white, eye-catching Chinese airship over American skies earlier this month. That 200-foot-tall (60-meter-high) balloon which Americans have accused Beijing of using to spy on the United States caused an international incident, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call off a planned trip to China only hours before he was set to depart. Surveillance fears appear to have U.S. officials on high alert. Twice in 24 hours, U.S. officials closed airspace - only to reopen it swiftly. On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration briefly closed space above Lake Michigan. On Saturday, the U.S. military scrambled fighter jets in Montana to investigate a radar anomaly there. China denies the first balloon was being used for surveillance and says it was a civilian research craft. It condemned the United States for shooting it down off the coast of South Carolina last Saturday. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told U.S. broadcaster ABC that U.S. officials think two of the latest objects were smaller balloons than the original one. The White House said only that the recently downed objects "did not closely resemble" the Chinese balloon, echoing Schumer's description of them as "much smaller." "We will not definitively characterize them until we can recover the debris, which we are working on," a spokesperson said. The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One as it flies over Washington, March 2, 2022. AP-Yonhap To mark Womens History Month, the Holmen Area Historical Society has invited Deenie Laskey to talk about her service as an army nurse and the writing of her remarkable memoir, Journal from Iraq: A Nurses Story. There is so much in it about the courage, the sacrifices and the triumphs of our military, including medical personnel, on the front lines during a time of war. Those wishing to have her autograph a copy can purchase it ahead of time on Amazon. The event will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, March 6, at the Holmen Area Community Center, 600 N. Holmen Drive. It will also be live streamed on the Holmen Area Historical Societys Facebook page. This is a free public event. The Wisconsin Archery Alliance hosted the state indoor tournament over the weekend at the Amie L. Mathy Center on the Viterbo University campus, bringing the annual competition to La Crosse for the first time. We have all ranges here, and archery is a lifelong sport, said Beth Button, whose husband, daughter and son were shooting in and helping organize the event. Out of the more than 230 archers registered for the shoot, 71 were 17 years old or younger. More than 20 children aged 11 and younger participated, shooting at closer targets. Nine shooters over the age of 70 were scheduled to shoot on Saturday. Fond du Lac area archer Olivia Griswold made her third appearance at the state tournament but was competing as an adult for the first time in a category that ranges from 18 to 49 years old. Griswold looked forward to shooting better, having a better mindset after her first shoot on Saturday. I got my jitters out, she said. I can always go back tomorrow. The lineups included those picking up the sport for the first time and seasoned professionals who scored high two weeks ago at the Vegas Shoot, the largest indoor archery shoot in the world. Professional archers need to meet certain scoring requirements to stay in the pro class. Korie Ratelle, from the De Pere area, made her first shot in a state tournament, after her boyfriend introduced her to bowhunting in the last year. The camaraderie with the archers in her scoring group provided a calming environment, the rookie said. We all got along really well, said Ratelle. For the first time, its pretty fun once you get over your nerves. Nine professionals from Wisconsin competed during the tournament and met with youth archers Saturday afternoon to sign autographs and to participate in novel and lighthearted challenges, said Jeff Button, professional archer and the WAA pro representative. It gives them something fun and novel to do, said Jeff Button. Just to let them know the pros are normal people, too. In addition to age, gender and professional status, archers are classified by their equipment and shooting style. The National Field Archery Association, the WAA parent organization, lists 10 different bow classes broken down by factors including the type of bow, whether the bow has sights or a stabilizer, and finger placement. For some, the draw of the state tournament was the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Its fun. You meet new friends, get to hang out with people, said Jennifer Thompson, a Hudson resident who picked up archery six years ago after her daughter started. You get to try and improve your score each time and get better at something. Including Thompson, five of the seven in the household are archers. In addition to the family fun, Thompson said the focus required by the sport helps her son with special needs in school and at home. The WAA held the tournament in Wisconsin Rapids schools for over 25 years, but moved the tournament to La Crosse after organizers with the school district retired, said Jon Powell, WAA vice president. Powell noted that while La Crosse is in a less central location in the state, he hopes visiting competitors can take advantage of the citys restaurants and other recreational activities. Visiting archers, some seeing La Crosse and the Coulee Region for the first time, cited spending time downtown and on the bluffs as a highlight of the trip. As a La Crosse archer its nice not to travel, said Edward Ludwig, president of the local Blackhawk Archery club. Ludwig, who started archery in the 1960s, noted that the Mathy auditorium had good lighting and that the Viterbo students were helpful in setting up the event. The university has been very accommodating, Ludwig said. The futures bright for having it here in the future. DECORAH, Iowa Emily Fisher of Onalaska recently returned from a month-long residency in Vienna, Austria, with the Luther College Symphony Orchestra. Fisher, a senior bassoon and alto saxophone player at Luther majoring in music education, is the daughter of Craig and Caroline Fisher. I was able to tour famous palaces, museums and concert halls and perform in Vienna. Every night I went to jazz, classical or opera concerts where I was able to expand my musical knowledge, said Fisher. In addition to rehearsing, performing and experiencing music in a city known for its world class orchestras, students took part in a four-credit course taught by Luther faculty. This year, Martin Klammer, professor of English, and Kathy Reed, Paideia director and instructor in music, led the students through an in-depth study of Angus Robertsons The Crossroads of Civilization: A History of Vienna. Class lectures were paired with experiential visits to important places in Vienna, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Belvedere Palace, and to memorable performances including Brahms First and Second Symphonies at the Konzerthaus and La Boheme at the Staatsoper. While music is the heart and soul of the residency, Fisher also experienced some distinctive Viennese traditions from enjoying goulash and schnitzel for meals, to attending a formal Officers Ball at the Hofburg Imperial Palace. Some students even ventured on side trips to Hungary, Slovenia or Salzburg. The Luther College Symphony Orchestra is Luthers largest and oldest orchestral ensemble. The group is made up of more than 80 student musicians, representing a variety of academic disciplines. Many members also sing in a choir, play in a band or jazz ensemble and form small chamber groups. Every four years since 1977, the student musicians live, practice and perform in Vienna for three weeks during January. Daniel Baldwin, professor of music, has served as director of orchestral activities at Luther since 1997. COLLECTION: Good morning photos of the day Saturday ... in the park, definitely not the 4th of July Strolling swans Eagle watch First robin of spring? Opossum passing by Eagles at sundset Saturday ... in the park, definitely not the 4th of July Snowy skyline Towering Spring rain drop The end of ice fishing season Arcadia flyer Bridge sunset A foggy morning hello Spring rain drop End of ice fishing is a drag Spring snow HARBORMASTER CAPPED Hitting the open water Bikes for everyone Helping our neighbors HyVee work continues PICTURE OF THE DAY PICTURE OF THE DAY: Spring migration A tradition unlike any other... Feeling squirrelly Elm tree flowers Sitting on the dock of the bay A holiday hunt Colorful sunset A nice day for a walk A beautiful sunset Tulip blooms Sunrise in the neighborhood A great day for reflection Enjoying the breeze Right on the river Morning visitor Beautiful blossoms A patriotic pair A trip to the Capitol Misty Mississippi Mallard on the march A balancing act Apple blossoms Flowering Crab trees River overflow Flag Day next week Ready to go for a spin Riverside sunset Doggone beautiful The cat-bird seat La Crosse River at Veterans Memorial Park bike bridge in Riverside Park French Island fiery sunset Cass Street Bridge from Riverside Park End of the Day Holding it together A flower named Sue Hanging out at Goose Island Beautiful day Riding in style On parade at Catfish Days A sun-dappled cemetery lane Pecking away Bunny meets world Cranes by the creek River at Veterans Memorial Park The cat-bird seat Fingers in the fog Dragonfly on the line Breakfast at the birdhouse Spreading her wings Relaxing in the park A view from the stage The Quenten Brown Band Rocking out in Arcadia Viceroy butterfly Dog or lion? Pure Water Days, Chippewa Falls Visiting in style Pedaling is for the birds Working on the new Fire House Dockwork Hurling in the park Swimming swans Hibiscus bloom 'The Remainders' rock the stage Land of milk and honey? French Island dining Anything for a free meal A babbling creek Finches munch on cones Stunning sunset Pucker up Chowing down Hibiscus bloom President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on awarding employees of the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. The decree said as following: "Guided by paragraph 23 of Article 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I state: To award the medal "For distinction in the public service" to the following employees of the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription for productive activity in the public service: Amalia Allahverdiyeva Ruhiya Ismayilova Elnar Mammadov Rovshan Rustamov Jeyhun Valehov. WASHINGTON Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week. House votes Energy and information networks: The House has passed the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act (H.R. 302), sponsored by Rep. Deborah K. Ross, D-N.C., to have the Energy Department establish an Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Program for funding research into energy infrastructure and cybersecurity by graduate students and post-doctorate researchers. Ross said the program will confront growing cyber threats against our countrys critical energy infrastructure by making real investments in a strong and diverse workforce that is ready to meet the challenges we face. The vote, on Feb. 6, was 357 yeas to 56 nays. Nays: Van Orden, R-WI (3rd) Impact of vaccine mandate: The House has approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., to a bill (H.R. 185) that would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to send Congress a report on the number of foreigners denied entry to the U.S. because of the CDCs COVID vaccine requirement for foreign tourists. Boebert said the report would require the CDC to account for those who have felt the negative ramifications of this rule. It will also provide transparency and allow congressional oversight of the consequences of this vaccine mandate. An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said the requirement was a public health measure, therefore the proposed report was irrelevant. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 253 yeas to 168 nays. Yeas: Van Orden, R-WI (3rd) COVID testing and China: The House has approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. John W. Rose, R-Tenn., to a bill (H.R. 185) that would state that H.R. 185 does not impact a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rule requiring visitors to the U.S. from China to show proof of a negative COVID test or recent recovery from COVID. Rose said: We cannot fall asleep at the wheel when it comes to protecting our nation, its people and our safety with respect to the adversarial and all-too-often nefarious actions and intentions of the Peoples Republic of China. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 426 yeas to 8 nays. Yeas: Van Orden, R-WI (3rd) COVID vaccines and foreigners: The House has passed a bill (H.R. 185), sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to end the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID vaccine requirement for foreigners visiting the U.S. by air. Massie referenced the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people who have been separated at our border because of this ridiculous, illogical, unscientific policy. A bill opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said if the mandate ended, I would be very concerned about people coming from places like Russia, China, and Cuba not being vaccinated because of the lack of attention to public health in those countries. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 227 yeas to 201 nays. Yeas: Van Orden, R-WI (3rd) China balloon flight: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 104), sponsored by Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, to condemn China sending a high-altitude surveillance balloon across the U.S. last week as a violation of U.S. sovereignty. McCaul said the resolution sends a clear, bipartisan signal to the CCP and our adversaries around the world that this action will not be tolerated. The vote, on Feb. 9, was unanimous with 419 yeas. Yeas: Van Orden, R-WI (3rd) D.C. elections: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 24), sponsored by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., to disapprove of and void a Washington, D.C., Council law allowing non-citizens living in the District to vote in local elections. A supporter, Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy, R-N.Y., said D.C.s new law potentially allows foreign agents from China, Russia, and other adversaries to participate in local elections held within this nations capital city. A resolution opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said it violates the principle of local, democratic self-government, which is at the heart of the home rule charter for Washington, D.C., and also violates the equal protection and democratic principles that animate our Constitution. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 260 yeas to 162 nays. Yeas: Van Orden, R-WI (3rd) D.C. criminal laws: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 26), sponsored by Rep. Andrew S. Clyde, R-Ga., to disapprove of and void a Washington, D.C., Council law that made various changes to the Districts criminal laws, including reducing punishments and expanding the right to a jury trial for misdemeanor cases. Clyde said the law, by eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for all crimes except first-degree murder, eliminating life sentences, and reducing maximum penalties for violent crimes including burglary, carjacking, and robberies will undoubtedly embolden criminals and threaten the safety of both residents and visitors. A resolution opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said Congress should leave democratic self-government and local self-government of Washington to the people of Washington, D.C. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 250 yeas to 173 nays. Yeas: Van Orden, R-WI (3rd) Senate votes Appeals court judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of DeAndrea Gist Benjamin to be a judge on the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Benjamin was a private practice lawyer with her own law firm in Columbia, South Carolina, from 2001 to 2011, and since 2011 has been a circuit court judge in the state. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 53 yeas to 44 nays. Nays: Johnson R-WI; yeas: Baldwin D-WI IN PHOTOS & VIDEOS: Van Orden's journey to Congress Rep. Derrick Van Orden Election night-Van Orden Election night-Van Orden Election night-Van Orden View: Derrick Van Orden speech to supporters Van Orden on saving America Derrick Van Orden Kleefisch and Van Orden Derrick Van Orden, Wisconsin GOP roundtable GOP roundtable GOP roundtable Republican congressional candidate, community members speak out against inflation Rep. Kind and Van Orden rematch possible Barrett, Trump, Van Orden rally Derrick Van Orden Derrick Van Orden Derrick Van Orden Derrick speaks 2 Pedro Yudel Bruzon was looking for someone in the United States to support his effort to seek asylum when he landed on a Facebook page filled with posts demanding up to $10,000 for a financial sponsor. It's part of an underground market that emerged since the Biden administration announced it would accept 30,000 immigrants each month arriving by air from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti. Applicants for the humanitarian parole program need someone in the U.S., often a friend or relative, to promise to provide financial support for at least two years. Bruzon, who lives in Cuba, doesn't know anyone who can do that, so he searched online. But he also doesn't have the money to pay for a sponsor and isn't sure the offers or those making them are real. He worries about being exploited or falling prey to a scam. "They call it humanitarian parole, but it has nothing to do with being humanitarian," said Bruzon, 33, who said he struggles to feed himself and his mother with what he makes as a Havana security guard. "Everyone wants money, even people in the same family." It's unclear how many people in the U.S. may have charged migrants to sponsor them, but Facebook groups with names like "Sponsors U.S." carry dozens of posts offering and seeking financial supporters. Several immigration attorneys said they could find no specific law prohibiting people from charging money to sponsor beneficiaries. "As long as everything is accurate on the form and there are no fraudulent statements it may be legal," said lawyer Taylor Levy, who long worked along the border around El Paso, Texas. "But what worries me are the risks in terms of being trafficked and exploited. If lying is involved, it could be fraud." Also, she noted, it "seems counterintuitive" to pay someone to promise to provide financial support. Attorney Leon Fresco, a former top aide to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, said charging to be a sponsor is a "gray area" and the U.S. should send a forceful message against the practice. Kennji Kizuka, an attorney and director of asylum policy for the International Rescue Committee, which resettles newcomers in the U.S., said this type of thing happens with every new U.S. program benefitting migrants. "It looks like some are just going to take people's money and the people are going to get nothing in return," Kizuka said. Levy said such exploitation surrounding a similar U.S. program for Ukrainians prompted the government to publish an online guide about how to spot and protect against human-trafficking schemes. One common scheme with immigration programs is known as notario fraud and involves people who call themselves "notarios publicos" charging large sums. In Latin America, the term refers to attorneys with special credentials, leading migrants to believe they are lawyers who can provide legal advice. In the U.S., notaries public are merely empowered to witness the signing of legal documents and issue oaths. In another scheme, someone poses as a U.S. official asking for money. The U.S. government notes: "We do not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, or gift cards as payment for immigration fees." Fulfilling our humanitarian mission while upholding the integrity of the immigration system is a top priority for USCIS, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in response to questions about the potential for exploitation. It notes online that the program is free and says the agency carefully vets every prospective supporter through a series of fraud- and security-based screening measures. "Additionally, USCIS thoroughly reviews each reported case of fraud or misconduct and may refer those cases to federal law enforcement for additional investigation," it said. The agency did not address whether any application has been rejected because of concerns that potential sponsors might be requesting money. The Department of Homeland Security says 1,700 humanitarian parole applications were accepted as of Jan. 25 from Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans, plus an undisclosed number of Venezuelans. One Facebook post advertising paid sponsorships led to a person who identified himself as an American citizen living in Pensacola, Florida. Told he was communicating with a journalist, the person refused to talk on the phone and would only text. The person told The Associated Press he had sponsored a Cuban uncle and aunt for $10,000 each. He refused to provide contact information for those relatives, then stopped responding to questions. Another would-be sponsor said via Facebook messenger that they charge $2,000 per person, which includes a sponsorship fee, document processing and an airline ticket. Requests for more information were answered with a phone number from the Dominican Republic that rang unanswered. A man who posted seeking a sponsor said he was disturbed by some offers. "It's very easy to trick a desperate person and there are an abundance of them here," said the man, who identified himself as Pedro Manuel Carmenate of Havana. "You just have to tell the people what they want to hear." Cities with the largest immigrant populations Cities With the Largest Immigrant Populations The US foreign born population share was at a near historic high before the pandemic Mexican immigrants account for nearly 25 percent of the foreign born population More than a quarter of the California population is foreign born Small and midsize metros with the most immigrants 15. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 14. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 13. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 12. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 11. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 10. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 9. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 7. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 6. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 4. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA 3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL By Azernews Sabina Mammadli Azerbaijan has evacuated a total of 10 children, six boys, and four girls, from quake-hit areas in Turkiye, Head of the Health Organization Department of Health Ministry Aynura Zeynalova said. A. Zeynalova emphasized that among the children, twelve adults, making up six families in total, arrived in Azerbaijan, where they were taken to medical institutions on February 10. "The youngest was born eight days ago, and the oldest is 14 years old. The persons admitted to the Pediatric Research Institute were placed in the wards designated for them, and complex laboratory and instrumental examinations have begun, which are already nearing completion," the official noted. In this regard, representatives of the ministry visited patients who are being treated at the Institute of Pediatrics and inquired about their state of health and the rehabilitation process. She added that upon completion of the checkups, the children, together with their parents, will be placed in a social shelter under Azerbaijans Labor and Social Protection Ministry. Further, the official recalled that in accordance with the instructions of the Azerbaijani president, medical institutions located in Baku and other cities, as well as in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, were prepared in advance for the treatment of victims of the earthquake in Turkiye. For this purpose, 2,000 beds have been allocated in medical institutions. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reports that on January 6, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit central Turkiye. The epicenter of the earthquake was 26 kilometers off Gaziantep with a population of about 1.06 million. The earthquake's epicenter was located 7 km below the surface. According to Turkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, three more earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.4 to 6.6 shook the province of Gaziantep in southeastern Turkiye. At the moment of writing, the death toll in Turkiye is 31,643 with 93,000 injured. Azerbaijan was the first country to provide assistance to Turkiye immediately after the earthquake. The Ministry of Emergency Situations is continuing to send humanitarian aid and rescuers to Turkiye. Animal experts in Brazil are treating endangered wild monkeys with a vaccine against yellow fever. The disease is severely threatening the golden lion tamarin population. The little monkeys live in the rainforest of southeastern Brazil. They weigh about one kilogram. Yellow fever began to spread in Brazil in 2016. More than 2,000 people got sick, and 750 died. Monkeys got sick, too. The disease killed about one-third of the golden lion tamarin population. And, the population was small even before the outbreak. So, scientists created a vaccine to protect the monkeys. The vaccination campaign began last year. So far, about 300 animals have gotten shots and are reported to be doing well. But, the treatment represents a change in thinking among supporters of wildlife conservation. Historically, conservationists have believed that humans should not interfere directly with wildlife. A traditional saying in the world of conservation work is Leave it be. Vaccination idea Vaccinating animals to protect their species from extinction is a new idea, said Luis Paulo Ferraz, President of the Golden Lion Tamarin Association. The non-profit group is working to save the monkeys. The vaccination effort has raised questions about how far humans should go to save wild animals. Some conservationists now believe humans should use their latest scientific developments to save animals. They argue that humanity already negatively interferes with animals all over the world by developing in areas where they live. So, if humans have the ability to help animals with a shot, they should do so. Tony Goldberg is a scientist and animal doctor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He believes in vaccinating wild animals when possible. There are people who say we shouldnt touch nature, that we shouldnt alter anything. But really, there are no pristine natural habitats left, he said. People are realizing they have to do something, he added. Carlos R. Ruiz-Miranda agrees. He is a biologist at the State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro. He has been working to protect the monkeys. The scientist explained how human movement is mainly responsible for the fast and wide spread of yellow fever. This epidemic moved very quickly from north to south, across the country no wildlife does that, said Ruiz-Miranda. Its people. They cross vast distances in buses, trains, planes. They bring the disease with them. We realized that in five years, we could lose the entire population if we did nothing said Ferraz, of the Golden Lion Tamarin Association. Andreia Martins is a biologist for the Golden Lion Tamarin Association. It was only because of her work that people knew how many monkeys died from the recent spread of yellow fever. The first monkey died in 2018, and then the total number of tamarins dropped to 2,500. At the time of the yellow fever outbreak, Marcos da Silva Freire was a deputy director of technological development at Brazils Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. It oversees vaccine testing and production in the country. Freire organized testing of yellow fever vaccines for monkeys with the Primate Center of Rio de Janeiro. The vaccine led to antibodies in the tested monkeys and caused no harm, the scientists found. Freire and his team won government approval to treat wild golden lion tamarins soon after. So far, about 300 have been vaccinated and are reported to be doing well. Tests show that more than 90 percent of the monkeys have immunity, or resistance to the virus, since vaccination. The outbreak of yellow fever is no longer a big problem for the monkeys, and their population is starting to come back. But, even with the success of the vaccine program, scientists are still not sure about creating vaccines for other animals. Jacob Negrey is a biologist who studies monkeys. He works at Wake Forest Universitys medical school. He wondered about unpredictable effects of such wildlife treatment. He explained that you might create a treatment that helps one kind of animal, but hurts another. Im Dan Friedell. And Im Dorothy Gundy. Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story extinction n. the situation where a plant or animal has died out completely negatively adj. to have a bad effect on something alter v. to change something pristine adj. perfect or untouched/changed habitat n. the place where something lives _____________________________________________________________ We want to hear from you. Do you think scientists will be able to help more animals? 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. Astronomers have discovered 12 additional moons orbiting Jupiter. That means Jupiter now has a total of 92 moons, more than any other planet in our solar system. The new moons were recently added to a list kept by the internationally recognized Minor Planet Center. The center operated by the International Astronomical Union continually records the positions of planets, moons and other space objects. Scott Sheppard is an astronomer with the Carnegie Institution of Science. He was a member of the team that made the latest discoveries. Sheppard told The Associated Press (AP) that the new moons were found using telescopes in Hawaii and Chile in 2021 and 2022. The first sightings were confirmed with additional observations. The latest moons are between one and three kilometers in size, he said. "I hope we can image one of these outer moons close-up in the near future to better determine their origins," Sheppard added. Sheppard has already taken part in 70 moon discoveries for Jupiter. He also discovered moons orbiting Saturn. Sheppard noted that Jupiters newly discovered moons have not yet been named. He said only half of them are big enough at least 1.5 kilometers to justify a name. In our solar system, some planets have numerous moons while some have none. The American Space Agency NASA reports that Saturn had been the planet with the most moons until the most recent announcement. Saturn currently is known to have 83 moons. Saturn held the top position since 2019 when Sheppards team discovered 20 additional moons. Before that, Jupiter was the solar systems leader with 79 confirmed moons. Sheppard told the AP he expects to keep adding moons to both Jupiter and Saturn in the future. Scientists believe Jupiter and Saturns many small moons formed from crashes with larger moons, asteroids, or other space objects. Uranus and Neptune also have many small moons. But since those planets are much farther from Earth, discovering new moons orbiting those planets is more difficult, Sheppard said. Saturn has two so-called ocean moons, called Enceladus and Titan. The pieces of ice and rock that form rings around Saturn are not considered moons themselves, NASA said. But moons do exist within the planets rings and help to keep the rings in line. Jupiters moons include the largest in the solar system, Ganymede, an ocean moon called Europa and a volcanic moon named Io. NASA notes that many of Jupiters outer moons have what are called retrograde orbits. That means they orbit in the opposite direction that the planet spins in. Of the other major planets in our solar system, Uranus has 27 confirmed moons, while Neptune has 14. Mars has two and Earth has one. Venus and Mercury have no confirmed moons. Earths moon is thought to have formed when a large space body about the size of Mars crashed into Earth. Scientists believe material from the resulting crash came together to form our moon about 4.5 billion years ago. The huge gas planet Jupiter remains one of the most interesting for astronomers. Jupiters atmosphere is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. It orbits about 778 million kilometers from our sun. This year, the European Space Agency (ESA) plans to launch a spacecraft to explore Jupiter. The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer spacecraft, called JUICE, is expected to launch sometime in April. The mission will make detailed observations of Jupiter and its three large moons. ESA says it hopes the observations will help scientists learn more about Jupiters complex environment as they use the planet as a model for other gas giants across the universe. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, The Planetary Society and NASA. Quiz - Scientists Discover 12 New Moons Orbiting Jupiter Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story determine n. to discover facts or truth about something origins n. where something begins or comes from justify v. to give a good enough reason to make something seem acceptable ______________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. A recent study says there are enough rare earth metals on Earth for new low-carbon electricity generation technologies. Rare earth metals come from minerals found in countries around the world. The researchers said more mining is needed to make more of the valuable metals available to industry. Rare earth metals are in demand for products such as magnets, wind turbines, solar panels and computers. All are part of the green energy push to remove carbon gases from electricity generation. The researchers said the amount of minerals available is enough to supply a switch to renewable energy. They wrote that the carbon gasses related to electricity infrastructure may be substantial. But the study said it would be between one and nine percent of the worlds budget for carbon gas production. The study came out recently in the science publication Joule. Zeke Hausfather helped write the study. He is an expert who works at a technology company called Stripe and at Berkeley Earth, a non-profit climate research group. He called the process big and messy. But he thinks reducing carbon gases, or decarbonization, can be done. He said he is not worried about the long-term supply of rare earth materials. However, the scientists warn that in the early days of the switch to green energy, there will be shortages. For example, there could be a shortage of the element called dysprosium. It is used to make strong magnets. Industry will require three times more of the metal than is produced now. However, there is 12 times more dysprosium available than needed, the researchers said. Another element is tellurium, which is used in large groups of solar panels, called solar farms. There is just enough of that material available if the world makes a fast push to solar power, the researchers said. In addition, there are other materials that can be used instead of tellurium if needed. Daniel Ibarra is an environment professor at Brown University. He did not take part in the study but knows about lithium shortages. He told the Associated Press that the study was robust and debunks concerns about running out of rare earth materials. He said the main question is if production of the materials can keep up with demand. The United States Geological Survey reports that the countries with the largest supplies of rare earth metals are China, Vietnam, Russia and Myanmar, also known as Burma. The study also noted that mining causes pollution. But the scientists said that if the world switches to green energy, the mining will not be a problem. Rob Jackson is an energy expert and studies how humans affect the earth, but was not involved in the study. He is a professor at Stanford University. He said even with evidence that there are enough rare earth materials, humans should still be concerned with creating less pollution. Along with mining more, we should be using less, he said. The study centered on the creation of electric power and did not look at the materials used in electric car batteries. Hausfather said that study is too complicated and will be examined by the team next. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story generation n. the process of creating something, especially electricity wind turbine n. an electricity generator that uses wind for power solar panel n. a flat device that changes sunlight into electricity infrastructure n. structures, like roads, bridges and power stations, that are needed to operate a modern country substantial adj. a large amount, size or number messy adj. not organized or cared for robust adj. strong or impressive debunk v. to show that something is not true ________________________________________________________________ We want to hear from you. Do you think the world will push fast enough for these materials? 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. GRAND ISLAND The Central Platte Natural Resources Districts (CPNRD) Building Committee will meet and give a recommendation to the Board of Directors on whether to complete construction documents and request bids on the proposed education/office building at the Upper Prairie Silver Moores Flood Reduction (PSM) site northwest of Grand Island. CPNRD has $1.7 million available from funds received through the Nebraska Natural Resources Development Fund for the PSM project that were approved by the Commission to be utilized for an education center in October 2022. The monthly meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at the CPNRD office located at 215 Kaufman Avenue in Grand Island. Variance/Appeal Committee The board will consider the Variance/Appeal Committees recommendation on a request from a landowner to transfer water rights from Hall to Howard County. Violation Report Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, will report on the number of landowners and producers who irrigated land that wasnt certified or approved for irrigation through a transfer in 2022. -2023/2024 FY Budget The Programs Committee will meet to discuss budget items for the NRDs cost-share and information/education programs. Managers Report Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, will report. Natural Resources Conservation Service Joe Krolikowski, District Conservationist, and Carrie Thompson, Resource Conservationist of Lexington, will report. Nebraska Natural Resources Commission Mick Reynolds, Middle Platte Basin Representative, will report. Cost-Share Applications through the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation and the Central Platte NRD cost-share programs will be considered. Upcoming Board Meeting The Board will consider moving the upcoming meeting to March 30, 2023. A dramatic shift in the treatment of large ischemic stroke was announced today (Feb. 10) at the 2023 International Stroke Conference held in Dallas. Its a watershed moment in stroke treatment, said Pierre Fayad, MD. Dr. Fayad was invited by the New England Journal of Medicine to write an editorial about the publication of two clinical trials being presented at the conference by other researchers. Dr. Fayad is the medical director of the Nebraska Stroke Center at Nebraska Medicine and chief of the vascular neurology and stroke division in the department of neurological sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He did not participate in the research but was asked by NEJM to give his assessment as an internationally recognized expert in stroke therapy. His assessment was based on the impact from the results of two randomized clinical trials conducted by researchers in six different countries, including the United States, involving more than 800 patients that conclusively demonstrate the successful impact of endovascular therapy at improving outcomes in acute stroke with a large ischemic region caused by a blocked large blood brain vessel. The findings of those studies, along with the editorial written by Dr. Fayad, were published simultaneously online in the New England Journal of Medicine today, to coincide with the public presentation of the study results at the conference. Together, these trials, in addition to previous studies, provide reassuring information from over a thousand patients with large acute ischemic strokes in different medical systems that will probably lead to changes in patterns of care delivery, Dr. Fayad said. The consequences of a stroke can be catastrophic and lead to lasting brain damage, severe disability, or even death. Every year nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. alone are impacted by stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 87% of those are ischemic or clot related strokes. Since 1995, t-PA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) drug therapy, better known as the clot busting drug, became the first treatment to reverse the damage from ischemic stroke when administered intravenously for up to 4 hours from the onset of symptoms. The effects are modest, as the blockage in the blood vessels is resolved in 20 to 30% of patients. Another watershed event in stroke treatment occurred in 2016-2018, when several U.S. and international trials showed that endovascular mechanical thrombectomy therapy successfully removes the blood vessel blockage causing a small to moderate size stroke for up to 24 hours with small risks of brain bleeding or swelling, and dramatically improved patient outcomes in terms of mobility and disability. The results were stunning, Dr. Fayad said. Mechanical thrombectomy opened up the blood vessels in 70 to 80% of patients and became one of the most effective treatments in medicine. Mechanical thrombectomy prevents disability in one patient for every two to three patients treated. Researchers then began to look into using endovascular therapy to treat large strokes that impact a larger area of the brain and represent 20% of strokes with proximal large blood vessel occlusion. Since such patients were excluded from the studies above, the benefits and risks of thrombectomy remained unknown, and therefore these patients are not currently treated in clinical settings. A study published last year by researchers in Japan proved this same method also was effective in removing blood vessel blockages, in 202 patients with large ischemic strokes with minimal risks while improving patient outcomes. The results, however, did not change practice, as the study was done exclusively in Japanese patients, where the TPA dose is lower and MRI was exclusively used. Two other trials, one done internationally in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and the other one done exclusively in China, were halted after the results of the Japanese trial became public, prompting a review of the data that showed remarkably similar results to the Japanese trial overall, Dr. Fayad said. The benefits of endovascular thrombectomy were consistent across age, degree of neurologic deficit, imaging characteristics, and time of treatment for up to 24 hours after the onset of symptoms, regardless of geographic location among patients enrolled in the trials. Although the outcomes were overall improved, the risk of death was unchanged, but severe disability was improved to moderate disability, with more functional capabilities, including the ability to walk independently. Modest increases in risks of bleeding, brain swelling, and local catheter-related complications also were noted in the trials, without significantly affecting the positive results. Now that the results from more than 1,000 patients studied are public, clinicians at comprehensive stroke centers such as Nebraska Medicine, backed by the evidence, can more comfortably offer the treatment to patients suffering from large ischemic strokes, Dr. Fayad said. The improved chance of independent walking and the ability to perform other daily activities in patients with the most severe strokes is welcome news for patients and for the field of stroke treatment, he said. HOLDREGE The Natural Resources District with authority over the water mound underlying Phelps, Kearney and Gosper counties has voted its support for a group of irrigators worried about losing control of the mound. The 7-5 vote by the Tri-Basin NRDs Board of Directors in support of Citizens Opposed to the Merger came during a special meeting of the Tri-Basin Board Wednesday in Holdrege. This is a big step, Citizens Opposed President Gary Robison of Bertrand said in a prepared statement. Its important to us because the board who oversees the management of the Tri-Basin NRD and their oversight of our groundwater resources are also concerned about adequate representation for their constituents after this merger. If the merger is approved, the Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District Board would have 23 members. Through attrition, the board would shrink to 14 members, with six of them representing irrigators interests in Phelps, Kearney and Gosper counties. The remaining eight members would represent counties where the merged districts assets are located, including Keith County in western Nebraska, home of Lake McConaughy and some of Centrals hydroelectric and canal facilities. Tri-Basin governance includes three watersheds: the Platte, Republican and Little Blue rivers. The water mound underlies more than 580,000 acres of irrigated cropland, according to Tri-Basin General Manager John Thorburn. The delivery of canal water over decades has recharged our groundwater. We want to do everything to protect that, Thorburn said. He believes the 7-5 vote reflects his board members desire to manage and conserve the mound. Their primary concern is the representation on the proposed new district. It would disadvantage our area and potentially interfere with our ability to protect our groundwater supplies, Thorburn said. The Hub attempted to reach a Tri-Basin Board member to comment on the 7-5 vote, but the attempt was not successful. Devin Brundage, Centrals general manager, declined to comment on Tri-Basins 7-5 vote supporting Citizens Opposed to the Merger, but he said he appreciates the opportunity to address the proposed merger during Wednesdays special meeting. Brundage told the Hub that Central understands the importance of protecting water resources, and that management and conservation will continue as priorities if the Central-Dawson merger is approved. Central has long been a strong partner with Tri-Basin as well as the other NRDs and our state in innovating ways to achieve sustainability in our water supply for our region, Brundage said, and we are so excited to continue those relationships with our new partners as the Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District. Tri-Basins support for COTM comes as the Nebraska Power Review Board prepares for a hearing next week that could decide the fate of the Central and Dawson merger. The Power Review Board will hear testimony for and against the merger beginning on Wednesday. Hearing time is reserved for Thursday if additional testimony will occur. The Power Review Board will have 60 days to decide to approve or deny the merger. Leaders of the Central and Dawson districts worked two years studying the proposed merger and conducting public meetings to explain it to customers and the public in communities that would be affected. In October 2022, members of the Central and Dawson boards voted to proceed with the merger and to pursue the Nebraska Power Review Boards approval. Irrigators protested the vote, saying it was a rush decision that came at the height of harvest, when many farmers could not leave their fields to attend the merger meeting. COTM organized within days of the merger vote and announced it had 75 members and more than $225,000 in the bank. COTMs primary concern the water mound formed through the decades since the 1930s as water from supply canals and other sources gradually formed in Phelps, Kearney and Gosper counties. Contrary to trends in which aquifers and other water resources are drying up, the mound is growing, thanks to careful management and conservation. 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. COTM has sued 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. The Lexington Clipper-Herald contributed to this report. There is huge potential in Azerbaijan for the development of renewable energy. Currently, two stations are under construction - 470-megawatt solar and wind stations. The construction of the third station will start soon, and it will give us about 240 megawatts of additional power, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a groundbreaking ceremony for a thermal power plant, the largest in Azerbaijan's independence period. Currently, on the basis of the documents signed with foreign investors, up to 25 gigawatts of solar and wind power plants are to be built, most of them in the Caspian Sea, and a few onshore. So, this is really huge potential, and the wind energy potential of the Caspian Sea alone is equal to 157 gigawatts, the president emphasized. Today we are laying the foundation of a really large and important project. I am sure that the station will be built on time and will strengthen the energy potential of our country, enhance our export opportunities, and open the way for new, future projects with foreign partners, President Ilham Aliyev added. This is not your typical retail space. Instead of shelves filled with merchandise, there are scores of 75-gallon aquariums stocked with Mandarin goby, purple firefish and royal gramma. Some hold critters like hermit crabs, snails and sea stars, while others are reserved for growing aquatic plants. There are also tubs filled with circulating water used to grow colorful stands of coral with names like orange Montipora digitata, strawberry limeade acropora and blue tip staghorn. And while some of the aquatic inventory at Big Kahuna Tropical Fish is sold to customers in south-central Wisconsin, the vast majority is shipped to aquarists throughout the country. The business model is what has allowed owner Jon Healy to recover from the 2008 recession and expand his company into 20,000 square feet of space at 1010 Stewart St. Instead of a splashy store front, the new retail space that just opened is at the back of the building, with a side entrance through a nondescript windowless door. But when opened, it brings visitors into a 70-degree environment where the 18 tanks in each of the five, 1,500-gallon systems are kept at 78 degrees. It wasnt really built for retail. We just wanted something where we could sell high-quality livestock, Healy said during a tour. Thats our goal with this room. The facility is divided into two sections. Thats because Healy bought the 30,000-square-foot building in 2019 after outgrowing his 2,000-square-foot facility in Verona. He initially used the 13,000-square-foot front section of the building for his tanks, warehouse and fulfillment center, while two other automotive businesses occupied the remainder of the building. But when the tenant in the back of the building left, Healy took another step with his growing business and turned the 7,000-square-foot space into a retail and livestock space. The centerpiece of the $600,000 project, which included new flooring and a new heating and ventilation system, is the tank farm that is supplied water treated via reverse osmosis from two 750-gallon storage tanks, one for freshwater, the other for saltwater fish, plants and critters. There are racks filled with plastic plants, tank accessories, statues, pumps, filters and hoses, along with food. A small room holds a series of tanks used to nurse sick fish back to health, and the coral farm, now located at the front of the building, will soon move to the retail space. I feel the internet is the future, Healy said. Theres a big market for this stuff. More than fish The coral operation is also impressive and unique. Using two, 500-gallon systems that circulate 7,200 gallons of water an hour, LED and blue actinic lights that can better penetrate the water hang above the tanks and can account for up to 80% of the corals growth. But coral also need nutrients, which are supplied from the waste of fish that inhabit the coral tanks, the same concept used to grow vegetables on an aquaponics farm. Fragments of coral are cut from mother coral and then placed on underwater racks. Depending on the species, it can take anywhere from six months to three years to grow coral large enough so that another fragment can be cut from it without killing it. They need food, and we feed our fish heavily and, their waste feeds the coral, said Tyler Walhovd, 33, Big Kahunas general manager. Their demands are pretty high. Come spring, Healy plans to bring in koi and other pond fish and accessories, and he also wants to begin having classes, since he now has the space. Healy has three full-time technicians who provide aquarium maintenance for about 200 customers in southern Wisconsin, and has a warehouse and shipping facility in the building where his staff blends and packages its own line of food products and ships out equipment and aquarium accessories. Customers nationwide But the primary reason for the massive tank farm is to keep up with demand from his customers around the country and to expand the varieties of fish, critters, coral and plants. One of the keys to the operation is making sure fish are properly acclimated to their new environments. Some fish are raised locally by breeders or are born in the store, while most freshwater fish come from farms in Florida. But most of the saltwater fish are harvested from the wild in Bali, Manila, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. Most of the fish that arrive at Big Kahuna come in a sealed plastic bag filled with about a quart of water and pure oxygen. Once an overnight shipment arrives at the store, each bag, which typically only holds one fish, is placed in a tank for about 30 minutes to bring the water in the bag up to the temperature of the water in the tank. The fish are then released from the bag and are quarantined for 30 days. A week ago that fish was in the ocean, said Walhovd. So when we bring it in we have to get it used to living in an aquarium, used to eating the prepared foods and used to being around fish they would never see in their lifetime if they were in the ocean. When Walhovd began working for Healy in 2011 in the Verona warehouse, the company was primarily focused on tank maintenance services and had only a single 90-gallon aquarium. Healy, 53, grew up in California and learned the business from his father before moving to the Midwest and launching his own stores in 1994. By 2007, Healy had two tropical fish stores in Madison and one in Waukesha and more than 25 employees. But when the 2008 recession hit, Healy was forced to liquidate and go back to a one-man operation of taking care of tanks for homeowners and businesses. Maintenance, 70% of which is for commercial clients and 30% for residential, now accounts for about one-third of Big Kahunas revenues, with the other two-thirds evenly split between livestock and food sales. We love Madison. It has a good customer base and it is a good place for a business, Healy said. But lets face it, even if we cleaned every fish tank in Madison and sold fish to everybody in Madison, the ceiling is pretty low. The internet is pretty great. Its 24 hours. Photos: Yahara Fishing Clubs 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day A criminal complaint filed Thursday in Dane County Circuit Court confirms a 41-year-old Minnesota man arrested last week was identified through DNA as the person who allegedly assaulted a woman near a bike path on Madisons East Side more than 17 years ago. Aidison Yang, of Eagan, Minnesota, is charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault for the Oct. 15, 2005, attack in the Atwood Avenue neighborhood. According to the complaint, the then-22-year-old victim, a UW-Madison graduate student, was walking on the bike path to a coffee shop at about 8 p.m. when Yang caught up to her, brandished a knife and said, You had better come with me and Dont scream or I will kill you. He then took her behind some trees and assaulted her, the complaint states. Madison police learned on Sept. 3, 2021, that the FBI, through its Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, had found a match between DNA collected from the victim after the assault and from Yang, the complaint states. There is a six-year state statute of limitations for first-degree sexual assault, meaning prosecutors typically have that long to bring the charge in a case. But the statute contains exceptions when the case involves DNA evidence for which investigators are not able to immediately identify a match and when the suspect has been living out of state. A former town of Middleton woman who was charged last year with trying to kill her neighbors in 2014 using a deadly toxin and still faces a homicide charge in Oklahoma for the death and dismemberment of her roommate was ordered held on $1 million bail Monday after being returned to Dane County last week to face the attempted homicide charges. Kore D. Bommeli Adams, 61, told Court Commissioner Jason Hanson in court on Monday that she asked to be transferred back to Dane County to face the attempted homicide charges because her homicide trial, which was to have started last week in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, was delayed due to some discovery issues that must be addressed before the trial can begin. Shes advised me shes innocent and wants the court to enter pleas of not guilty on her behalf, said state assistant public defender Stanley Woodard, appearing with Adams during Mondays hearing. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 21. Adams was charged in Oklahoma with first-degree murder and desecrating a corpse after authorities in Polk County, Arkansas, in January 2021 found the dismembered remains of Talina Galloway in a freezer left in a wooded area. Adams had reported Galloway, who was her roommate, missing in April 2020. Adams was extradited from Dane County to Oklahoma in January 2021 to face the homicide charge. Adams was then charged in Dane County in May 2021 with two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide after a powder left behind after a 2014 break-in at the home of neighbors in the town of Middleton was tested and found to be ricin, a toxic substance made from castor beans that cause organ failure and death if enough is inhaled or injected. Investigators connected Adams to the break-in at the time, but she was never charged with burglary. She pleaded guilty, however, to using a credit card that her neighbors told police was stolen during the April 2014 break-in. Adams spent two years on probation. But left behind during the burglary, according to a criminal complaint, was a powder that was found in a hallway and in the couples bedroom, and in the sock and underwear drawer of the wifes dresser. After the Oklahoma homicide investigation began, authorities from Wagoner County contacted Dane County authorities and the woman whose home was burglarized. More powder was located in the home, which was collected by members of the Wisconsin National Guard 54th Civil Support Team and sent to the FBI, which confirmed the powder to be ricin, the complaint states. Adams former husband also told authorities that Adams had admitted to him that the powder in her neighbors home was the result of her trying to poison her neighbors, according to the complaint. Police also found evidence on Adams computer that she had researched how to make ricin from castor beans, the complaint states. A person wanted in a domestic incident was found dead in a vehicle in Beaver Dam after a police pursuit on Sunday afternoon, authorities reported. At about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Beaver Dam police were notified that a person wanted in a domestic disturbance in another jurisdiction was driving a vehicle that a Beaver Dam officer located and attempted to stop, leading to a brief pursuit, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation said in a statement. The person pulled over in the 500 block of Louise Lane in Beaver Dam and remained in their vehicle. Police knew of a firearm in the persons possession and stayed at a distance while attempting verbal commands, which the person ignored, DCI said. Ultimately, police approached and found the person dead, and a gun was recovered in the persons vehicle, DCI said. No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident, DCI said. DCI is leading the investigation and is assisted by the Dodge County Sheriffs Office and Wisconsin State Crime Lab. DCI will turn over its reports to the Dodge County District Attorney when it finishes the investigation. Responses to the Wisconsin State Journals candidate questionnaire. The primary is Feb. 21. Colin Barushok Age: 27 Family: No answer Job: Legislative assistant for state Sen. Tim Carpenter Prior elected office: UW Madison Student Services Finance Committee (appointed in 2015 and later elected to a two-year term that ended in 2017) Other public service: Madison Vending Oversight Committee, 2019 to 2022; Alcohol License Review Committee, 2022 to present Education: Mathematics at UW-Madison Juliana Bennett Age: 23 Family: I am the product of a working class family. My mom was a nurse and union member for 22 years. My dad is a retired veteran and formerly a small-business owner. Job: Madison Common Council member Prior elected office: District 8 Alder, Madison Common Council, 2 years Other public service: Co-founder, Madison BIPOC Coalition, 3 years Education: Bachelors degrees in real estate and political science, with a certificate in public policy from UW-Madison Evan McSorley Age: 28 Family: My folks, John and Amy, raised me along with my brothers, Collin, Johnny and Loren Job: Outside sales, Columbia Pipe & Supply Prior elected office: High school student council Other public service: None Education: Bachelors degree in sales management from Purdue University Q&A What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it? Barushok: The biggest challenge is housing. We must balance housing supply and demand. I support zoning changes to encourage density in appropriate areas and more by-right zoning so that developers are not discouraged by the prospect of lengthy discretionary approval processes. We also need to support housing stability and access by providing a right to counsel for tenants facing eviction. Bennett: The biggest challenge we are facing is creating true equity and inclusion. The issues regarding housing, transportation and violence prevention all fall under the citys ability to equitably distribute resources. I always use an equity lens when making council decisions. I plan to continue to actively seek community feedback and work with residents to ensure their input is heard and included. McSorley: Our citys biggest challenge is to improve infrastructure to accommodate new residents while preserving the safety, character and quality of life for our community. What is the biggest challenge in your district and how would you address it? Barushok: District 2 is the smallest district and its tremendously dense. It is home to the first historical district and many historical landmarks. These must be preserved. I will work on bringing interests together to try to end the myth that housing supply and historical preservation are inherently opposed. Historical preservation goes together with preserving naturally occurring affordable housing. Bennett: Rapid growth is contributing to the displacement of low-income people and local businesses. I am committed to finding a balance where people of all backgrounds can live, work, and do business Downtown. I will address this by championing affordable housing policy, protecting tenants from predatory practices, and supporting a robust transportation system. McSorley: Affordable housing has put undesirable pressure on folks living in District 2. As a council, we must identify and support programs directed at stabilizing housing costs, promoting new homeownership (for those wanting it), and encouraging developers to build sustainably. We must seek opportunities for land banking, TIF funds and fast-tracking affordable housing projects. What steps will be needed to resolve the citys major budget gaps beyond 2024? Barushok: Ill work hard and make sustainable decisions as we transition away from federal COVID funds. The state limits how cities raise revenue. Madisons leaders must advocate for more funds and flexibility from the state so the revenue our region generates can be put to work in our community. We should capitalize on the growth Madison is experiencing to increase revenues without hiking property taxes. Bennett: As a current alder, I have experience with how difficult it is to operate under a budget deficit. We need to invest in community needs, such as competitive wages, emergency rental assistance, and Public Healths violence prevention services. We must gather community feedback to understand resident needs. Our budget priorities should be set by residents, not what we think their priorities are. The first of 20 F-35 jets should arrive at Madison's Truax Field in late April or early May, a public affairs officer with the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing said Monday. The planes will replace aging F-16s that had been stationed at the base since 1992 but left for good in October. An F-16 that took off from the base on Sunday to shoot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron is officially part of the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, Minnesota. Truax Field is undergoing roughly $120 million worth of construction to accommodate the 20 new jets. In the meantime, pilots from other units around the country have been flying F-16s out of Madison in support of the Guard's homeland defense mission. Truax's former fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons replaced the A-10 Thunderbolt and were the eighth plane type flown by the Air National Guard unit since it was formed in 1948. Last fall, Wisconsin National Guard pilots flew the last of the unit's 25 F-16s to bases in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey and Texas, where they will be flown by other units. The jets, built in 1987, have another five to 10 years of service remaining, according to the military. Despite community division and concerns about noise and pollution, the Air Force selected the 115th in 2020 as one of the nation's first National Guard units to fly the F-35, which at a cost of more than $1.7 trillion is the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program. Maps of potential impact zones of F-35 jet noise Map of impact zone with land uses Map of noise impact on persons of color Map of noise impact on impoverished areas Whoever wins the election this spring, be it incumbent Satya Rhodes-Conway or one of the challengers, Scott Kerr or Gloria Reyes, Madisons mayor will help guide the city through some big challenges, including finances, public safety, housing, growth, racial equity, transit, homelessness and the future of the Lake Monona waterfront. The Wisconsin State Journal asked the candidates 10 questions in those issue areas to help voters better understand their positions and differences. The primary election for mayor and in eight City Council districts is set for Feb. 21. The general election is April 4. The questions and candidate responses are below. Whats the citys biggest challenge and how should we address it? Kerr: We have challenges ahead, increasing the supply of affordable housing and expanding homeownership being the biggest challenge. I believe the residents of Madison will support a combination of public and private investments to improve our housing stock by exploring innovative solutions while streamlining the permitting process to move projects forward quickly. Reyes: Too often were asked what the biggest challenge is. It is not one challenge, there are many. We need to focus on building a quality of life for Madison that is equitable for everyone, where its safe to raise families, that has attainable housing for everyone and jobs that pay more than a living wage. Quality of life in Madison today is becoming unattainable, lets change that and move Madison forward, together. Rhodes-Conway: Short term: Since the pandemic, traffic crashes and gun violence are up in unacceptable ways. Our data-informed approach is working, but more effort and collaboration is needed. Medium term: Population growth means we have to build housing to keep up. Were working to create affordable options for renters and homeowners. Long term: Climate change is a critical threat. Were lowering City emissions and supporting the community to do the same. Is the city in a good place financially, why or why not? Kerr: One-time funding sources have been used to expand programs that will have ongoing expenses. Without restoring shared revenue from the state well have tight budgets going forward. I will ask city employees to help reduce the budget strain by finding cost savings opportunities, reducing waste in every agency and exploring all possible additional funding sources. I am confident that we will find a way to improve our financial future. Reyes: No, the mayor has used one-time COVID money from the federal government and taken money from the citys rainy-day fund for ideologically driven projects that will increase the citys Structural deficit to over $32 million starting in 2027. Leaders dont make excuses, they act. Why hasnt the mayor reduced the structural deficit we face? Were on a path of fiscal failure and must act to ensure the survival of basic city services. Rhodes-Conway: The citys financial position is strong, but punitive decisions at the state level threaten our future budgets. Over the past four years, we have innovated to find efficiencies and save money. Were now budgeting on a five-year plan so we can maximize both savings and new revenue sources. Were moving to outcome-based budgeting to calibrate service levels to available resources. And were working hard to increase state shared revenue. What is the citys top public safety challenge and how should it be addressed? Kerr: We must provide body cameras for all officers to improve public trust and have evidence of all officer interactions. Not because we have officers violating the publics trust, but so when accusations are made we have the facts and can properly respond to the incident. Building and maintaining residents trust and confidence in our police force is critical. Reyes: The top public safety challenge is preventing our young people from committing crimes. We need to devise strategies that work to intervene and divert them away from crime. These are the very same young people who stay in Madison and raise a family. When we get to those root issues we will have safe neighborhoods. Rhodes-Conway: Everyone should feel safe in their neighborhoods. Two big safety challenges are traffic crashes and gun violence, both made worse by the pandemic. MPD is taking a strategic approach to both that is having a positive impact. Our Violence Prevention Unit is working collaboratively on a public health approach to gun violence, and investing in community-based programs. Vision Zero is applying education, enforcement and engineering solutions to speeding traffic. Does the city need more police officers, why or why not? Kerr: We need to have enough officers on patrol to respond to calls for service, conduct crime prevention and other community outreach activities. This will require more officers and using others to handle activities that do not need an officer, optimize the CARES team and remove officers from mental health transports to Winnebago. The area of the city and the population have expanded requiring an increase in minimum staffing numbers. Reyes: We need to support the Police Department to get them the tools and resources, including more officers, to keep up with population growth by prioritizing neighborhood safety through community responses, such as the Community Safety Intervention Team and public health approach. Its not either-or, its both. Rhodes-Conway: We need to use our resources as efficiently as possible. Thats why my budget funded the new police director of data, reform, and innovation, and why I support the chiefs strategic crime reduction initiatives. Weve also started shifting responsibilities away from MPD so they can focus on violent crime. CARES now responds to behavioral health issues, and parking enforcement is handled by Transportation. How can the city address its housing crisis? Kerr: Encouraging private development, partnering with developers and nonprofit agencies to explore every opportunity while streamlining the approval process for new developments. Focus on innovative construction practices and financing ideas while preserving our existing housing stock and neighborhoods. Reyes: We dont just have a housing shortage, we have an affordable housing shortage. We need a balanced housing strategy that prevents displacement and gentrification. I will identify the barriers to development and overcome them by getting shovels in the ground to build more housing, with an emphasis on attainable housing that consists of a mixed housing stock. Rhodes-Conway: We need to build more housing, of every type, and every level of affordability, throughout our city, and do it in a way that respects neighborhood context. My administration has more than doubled the Affordable Housing Fund, permitted thousands of new homes, and is investing in homeownership opportunities. But theres much more to do to make sure that people from all walks of life can afford to live in Madison. How can the city promote smart, equitable growth? Kerr: Through the planning process and working with private developments to ensure we expand in the most balanced ways possible. Ensuring that we have the infrastructure in place to support growth before new developments strain our existing resources. Involving the nearby residents in the planning process to address as many potential issues as possible before development begins. Reyes: We need a balanced approach that ensures that we prevent displacement and gentrification and preserve single-family homes. We need intentional strategies and investments to move communities of color to homeownership. We need to build from the bottom-up, not the top-down. With the voices of our residents in partnerships with developers we can grow our city, not just by theorizing but by realizing smart equitable growth. Rhodes-Conway: Our comprehensive plan calls for smart, infill growth and thats what weve been working on. Good planning and sensible zoning help create complete neighborhoods with accessible housing opportunities. We need to invest in our existing neighborhoods and business districts, too. Thats why my administration is planning to invest $115 million into South Madison, and why weve supported wealth-building opportunities like home and business ownership, along with job training opportunities. Is the city doing enough to promote racial equity? Kerr: Madison is a leader in promoting racial equity and social justice, providing analysis tools and training through our Civil Rights Division. Improvements are always the goal and we should continue to strive to be an even better example to others. Reyes: The city is not doing enough to promote racial equity. We need to go through an overall racial equity analysis of all our processes and procedures within city government that includes decisions that are made at the City Council level. We cant just talk about racial equity; we need data to show the work and progress we are doing. Rhodes-Conway: We created a new Division of Equity and Social Justice; we are investing in internships and apprenticeships for BIPOC; and using an equity lens in our budget and hiring processes. We are providing grants to BIPOC-owned businesses and the Black and Latino chambers. We invested in the Black Business Hub and Centro Hispanos new location. We are on the right track but there is always more to do. Is the city getting bus rapid transit, the Metro Transit redesign, and State Street right? Kerr: No, the Metro redesign including BRT failed to address existing issues, ignoring current user and staff input. The changes underway are removing pedestrian safety measures previously implemented, sacrificing pedestrian and bicyclist safety to expand bus service in areas while removing service from other areas and forcing users to walk further to reach the new system. Reyes: In an environment where public transit is used less than pre-COVID times, we have to ask ourselves how we are developing a transit system for tomorrow and why we are using the logic of yesterday? We need to make sure that when we design transit around State Street, we are supporting small businesses so they thrive, not survive. When we talk about the BRT, we need to make sure we are connecting individuals to employment from where they live. The bus routes today are not doing this. Instead they are disproportionately affecting those who depend on it most, our Black and brown, disabled communities, and senior citizens who depend on it most. Rhodes-Conway: Yes. BRT will help avoid traffic congestion, reduce our greenhouse gas footprint, and get people to their destinations quickly and conveniently. The Metro redesign will dramatically increase access to jobs for low-income households and people of color, and provide fast and frequent service across our city. And taking buses off half of State Street allows us to experiment with placemaking that supports our small businesses and draws visitors Downtown. Is the city taking the right steps to address homelessness? Kerr: We are making strides through partnerships with nonprofits and developers but there is room for improvement. Building on what we have started while exploring additional opportunities and innovations to ensure our residents can remain in their existing homes will help address the issue better going forward. Reyes: No, the city is not taking the right steps to address homelessness. We need to build an apparatus to tackle homelessness, mental health, as well as alcohol and other drug issues. We should focus on building transitional housing and offering hand-ups instead of hand-outs. Rhodes-Conway: When the pandemic hit, we transformed our approach to homelessness to one that is healthier and more humane. Now were building the first purpose-built shelter in Wisconsin, while also removing barriers to shelter. We need to work on creating more housing for people transitioning out of homelessness, and the services to go along with it. But today, we have fewer people sleeping outside, which is great progress. How aggressively should the city pursue a remake of the Lake Monona waterfront? Kerr: If private funding is provided to cover the majority of the overall costs, this would be a wonderful improvement to our Downtown. Increasing lake access for all and attracting tourism is certainly worthwhile but not at the expense of existing services. We need to be certain this project and the ongoing maintenance will not strain the budget and force reductions in other areas. Reyes: As a community, we need to focus on comprehensive plans versus one-off plans. The revitalization of the Lake Monona waterfront should be looked at as part of the Alliant Energy Center to Downtown Madison revitalization project. This is an opportunity to rebuild and invest in South Madison (long neglected) while leveraging Madisons natural beauty, creating an economic path for redevelopment, and benefiting the city as a whole. By Azernews Fatima Hasanova On February 12, the Azerbaijani Army held ceremonies for young draftees to take military oaths, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry. The ceremonies were held in accordance with the training plan for 2023, approved by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. First, a minute of silence was observed to honor the memory of the great leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, martyrs who gave their lives in defense of Azerbaijan's independence and territorial integrity, and those who died as a result of the earthquake in fraternal Turkiye. Then Azerbaijan's national anthem was played. During ceremonies, the young soldiers solemnly took the military oath and pledged their allegiance to the Motherland. Representatives from the Ministry of Defense and military unit command staff congratulated the young soldiers on taking the military oath and wished them discipline, proper mastering of weapons and equipment, and the fulfillment of their military duty with dignity for the homeland. The ceremony concluded with the military personnel marching solemnly in front of the podium. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, abruptly decided last February to block a nomination for a federal judgeship, though Johnson actually recommended the nominee just eight months before. Why the reversal? It was never very clear. Johnson said it was because the candidate, Judge William Pocan of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, didnt live in Green Bay, where the federal district is. But Judge Pocan didnt live in Green Bay when Johnson first recommended him and, at any rate, offered to move to the city if he got the job. Was it because Judge Pocan had something to do with the prosecutors decision to give low bail for a domestic violence defendant who later drove his car into a Wisconsin parade, killing six people? Thats what Johnson implied in his statement, though that accusation would be false: Judge Pocan had nothing to do with the bail decision and was unconnected to the case. Or was it because Johnson later learned that Pocan would have been the first openly gay federal judge in Wisconsin? Thats what Pocans brother, Mark Pocan, a Democratic congressman from the Madison area, charged in an interview, accusing the senator of homophobia. Johnson denied it. In the end, none of these possible reasons, or the lack of them, really matter. Johnson refused to give his home-state permission for the nomination to proceed declining to return what is known in the Senate as a blue slip and the nomination stalled, expiring at the end of the Senate term in January. The White House has not renewed it. The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Richard Durbin of Illinois, fumed about Johnsons decision at the time, saying he was disappointed by the last-minute turnabout and noting that Judge Pocan had received nothing but praise and high ratings from lawyers. But in fact, nothing formally stopped Durbin from ignoring Johnson and proceeding with Judge Pocans nomination. No rule or law prevented him from sending it to the Senate floor for final approval. The only barrier was Durbins interpretation of an archaic Senate tradition of courtesy that allows senators to effectively veto federal district judge nominations from their own state for any reason or for no reason at all. That home-state veto is a fundamentally undemocratic practice that gives far too much power to individual senators. Like the filibuster in all its forms, it allows vital Senate responsibilities to be controlled by small fractions of the chamber or even single members powers never envisioned in the Constitution. Democrats have used it to block extreme candidates from Republican presidents when they were in the Senate minority. But elections have consequences, and there will be times when Democrats will have to accept unpalatable judges for the Senate to operate along the principle of majority rule. For now, though, it is Republicans who will have to accept the consequences of their failure to regain the Senate last November, and Durbin holds the power to make that happen. He could unilaterally end this blue-slip custom at any time without requiring any kind of vote or radically upending an important Senate practice, just as Republicans decided to end it for appellate-level judges in 2018. Thats when President Donald Trump was the one nominating judges and Republicans wanted no interference in their goal of filling the circuit courts with conservatives. Its far past time for Durbin to do so. Republicans have worked for years to turn the entire judicial selection process into a proxy war for their ideological goals. Trump allowed the Federalist Society to pick his judges as part of their crusade to remake the federal courts, and the lack of home-state veto power is one of the reasons the appellate bench now contains so many unqualified and extremist choices. When in power, Republicans did their best to block President Barack Obamas nominations, which is one reason there were so many openings when the Trump administration moved in. Thats why appointing judges will be one of President Bidens most important tasks for the next two years, and many of the openings are in states with Republican senators. As the former senator Russ Feingold, D-Middleton, said in an interview, Democrats would be chumps if they honored the blue slip veto system now, knowing that Republicans will almost certainly eliminate it for district judges if they take control of the Senate after the 2024 elections. ... In a recent letter to his colleagues, first reported by The Washington Post, Mr. Durbin urged both parties not to abuse the blue slip veto, hinting at changes ahead if Republicans do so. The practice is hardly enshrined in Senate history. In fact, the Senate has been very inconsistent in how it has used blue slips, depending on the whims of the Judiciary Committee chair. For much of the 20th century, until about 1955, home-state senators could object to a nomination but not kill it. Senator James Eastland, Democrat of Mississippi, a segregationist, changed that. He allowed individual senators to kill nominations to prevent federal judges from integrating schools in the South, as one of his successors as chairman, Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, noted years later. When Mr. Biden ran the committee in the late 1980s and 90s, he followed a practice similar to one instituted by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, which did not let individual senators veto judicial nominations. A home-state senator could raise objections and refuse to return a blue slip, but that would be considered only an advisory opinion by the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Biden would let such nominations proceed, as long as the White House consulted with the two home-state senators before making the nomination. That would lend weight to the advice part of the Senates advice and consent responsibilities on nominations while not allowing a single senator to prevent consent. Thats a process that Durbin should reinstitute. A senator who doesnt want to seat a judicial nominee should step up and explain why and allow colleagues to evaluate the objection. Durbin is right to be frustrated by the impasse over judges. The Senates own traditions offer him a solution. OUR VIEW: A vote for the R today might not mean what it did only a few years ago. That should be enough to open all of our eyes. Heres a suggestion for how Idaho readers of legislative news might absorb it more effectively: Read the legislative news from other states, too. And in addition to that, the websites of organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council, and especially the cluster of ideologically-focused national education-related groups. When you see a news story declaring the latest problematic (and maybe unconstitutional) idea is being sponsored by such-and-such an Idaho legislator, theres an excellent chance its merely the local planting of something originating from a national organization. In fact, its a good probability. One of the most influential organizations at the statehouse is the Idaho Freedom Foundation, which has an outsized impact through its ratings of legislation and legislators, and has an operations base in Boise. But put aside the recent (albeit amusing) headlines about how the groups leader, Wayne Hoffman, now lives in Washington state. More important are the close ties the IFF has to conservative, free market interest groups around the country. These groups, active in many states, are far from grassroots. Not only the Freedom but also the Idaho in the IFFs name is more illusion than fact. ALEC is probably the better example of all this. Decades old (I was writing about its impact on the Idaho Legislature back in the 1980s), it is a big-money collective of top corporate lobbyists who hold regular conferences to which state legislators large numbers nationwide participate are invited. The legislators are wined and dined and carry back home legislation someone at a corporation or a well-funded thinktank or a Republican Party organization dreamed up. And then the next legislative session, and that states actual residents, have to deal with it. Its happened in Idaho (and other states) uncounted times in the last couple of generations, barely noted publicly. (Idahos current state chair is Rep. Sage Dixon.) But ALEC is by no means alone. A whole lot of that Idaho legislation comes from other places, and one of the best (and relatively few) recent outlines of how that works showed up in a recent article in the Idaho Ed News. Under the headline, Records show powerful, wealthy funders outside Idaho back school choice campaign, it describes how a collection of national organizations, centered mainly on education, have been funding Idaho legislative races and then feeding its preferred and winning candidates legislation to run through Boise. The IEN said, The national special interests groups who have poured millions of dollars into efforts to make education savings account programs a reality in states like Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Wisconsin and New Hampshire are the same donors who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars during Idahos midterm election to ensure school choice-friendly legislators occupied as many seats as possible in the Idaho Legislature, records show. Most prominently, it cited the American Federation for Children (focused on alternatives to public schools) and the State Policy Network (slogan: state solutions. national impact, and opposed generally to unions and public services overall); the IEN described them as coordinated and funded by millionaires and billionaires dedicated to conservative policy positions. Their fingerprints are all over the Idaho Legislature this term. Its not that Idaho shouldnt pick up good ideas from other states, or even national organizations, when they might make sense locally and there are many good examples of the state benefiting from doing that. But most of those ideas worth implementing are good enough to sell themselves; their advocates dont need to stuff Idaho political campaigns full of money to push them through. If your legislator is backing one of these things, ask them who theyre really working for: People in Idaho, or money bags outside of it. Heres what happened locally on Feb. 13 over the past century, as reported in this newspaper, which went from being called the Henry Bulletin to the Daily Bulletin to the Martinsville Bulletin: 1923: Martinsville has about 175 Lone Scouts. You know that an organization which has grown in seven years to over half a million members is on the right track. Two years ago, there were very few Lone Scouts here. The year 1922 was the Lone Scouts greatest year, but watch old 23! The Scout Ball team will have members from all districts in Henry county this year. 1948: Announcement of the appointment of Robert B. Smith, as co-publisher of the Daily Bulletin, was made here today following the resignation of Mr. Smith as the Advertising Director of the Newport News Daily Press and Newport News Times-Herald at Newport News, Virginia. In announcing Mr. Smiths appointment as co-publisher with William C. Barnes of The Daily Bulletin, it was stated that Mr. Smith had acquired an interest in the Bulletin Newspaper Corporation. 1973: City council will consider final action Tuesday night on requiring residents to carry garbage cans to the curb for pickup or use plastic bags. Several members of the Martinsville-Henry County Womens Club objected to plastic bags, saying they are non-biodegradable and would not allow the garbage to decompose when buried in the citys landfill. 1998: The Martinsville City School Board voted Thursday to keep students in the building when renovations at Albert Harris Elementary School begin, but some city officials were not in favor of the idea. Im opposed to using or occupying an existing school during renovation, said David Reeves, the citys community development specialist. I think its a mistake, he said, citing safety concerns Also 1998: The city of Martinsville ranks 127th among 135 state localities in out-of-wedlock births, with 55 percent of births being to unwed mothers in 1996. New College Institutes next executive director says he plans to get to know the community before making any decision about NCIs direction. Joe E. Sumner, current associate vice president for economic development of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in Valdosta, Georgia, will begin his role at the top leadership position of NCI on Feb. 28, it was announced Monday. Sumner said he will begin his time at NCI by getting to know the area. While Ive certainly conducted my research into this opportunity, before I would speak on it to say I think this, this and this, I really would prefer to get in the area and again just meet with the community members, meet with the educational partners, meet with the community leaders, our local employers and really get their input because NCI is a great resource designed to serve the area, Sumner told the Bulletin on Monday by phone. When asked what direction he would see taking NCI or what changes he might make, he replied, It may be just a bit premature for me to fully expand on that. Sumner described his management style: I lead from the front with roots on the ground. I work to be engaging. I work to be involved. I set the example that I hope my team sees and chooses to follow my lead. If I get off course, I rely on my team to ensure that I correct my course and that I follow their guidance to be the best leader that I can. A native of Georgia, Sumner holds both a bachelors degree in industrial engineering technology and a masters degree in engineering management from Kennesaw State University; he is on track to receive a doctorate in Leadership from Valdosta University this year, according to a press release from NCI. A decorated soldier who was injured while serving in during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sumner has dedicated his post-military professional career to creating the tech talent pipeline partnership between communities, education and industry, the release stated. He also has served as an associate vice president for program development, academic affairs and economic development at the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. While running his mechatronics company, Sumner Mechatronics, Automation and Robotics Technology LLC, he facilitated manufacturing and technology trainings by partnering with companies when new programing is initiated and training is needed to help with the steep learning curve that comes with that process, Sumner told the Bulletin. He also has been a leader in the STEM-C Robotics competition programs in Georgias public schools. Closing out a long transition Sumner will be the NCIs first executive director in three and a half years, since Dr. Leanna Blevins left in June 2019. Dr. Barry Dorsey was NCIs first executive director when it was founded by state charter in 2006, followed by former Sen. William Wampler (2012-2015) and Dr. Leanna Blevins (2016-2019). Karen Jackson of Richmond was its interim executive director from June 2019 through June 2022, and longtime NCI Assistant Director of Finance & Operations Christina Reed of Ridgeway took over as executive director when Jackson left. The search The NCI Executive Search Committee, led by Richard Hall, Eric Jones and Hubert Harris, received and assessed 28 applications from candidates across the country for the position, the release stated. Over the past three months, the search committee conducted a rigorous and thorough process of reviewing these applications and held multiple stages of interviews with numerous well-qualified candidates, the release stated. In the final round of interviews, NCI engaged and welcomed inputs from NCI staff, peer Virginia institutes of higher education and community colleges and supporting stakeholders from the greater Southside region. Our goal was to offer a collaborative environment to gain multiple perspectives and viewpoints as a part of the decision-making process, the release stated. State Sen. Bill Stanley, chairman of the NCI board, stated in the release, NCIs members of its Board of Directors have been working diligently in the development of an aggressive long-range strategic plan for NCI to provide innovative, state-of-the-art educational opportunities for our students that will prepare them for the high-demand, high-paying jobs in the 21st Century workforce. Joe Sumner is the just the leader we need to ensure NCIs success in the future. The members of the NCI Executive Search Committee made the following statements in the release: From Hall: Given that I am a lifelong resident of Martinsville-Henry County and a product of Bassett High School, I chose to live, work, invest, and give back to the community which we call home. Because of this, I was particularly sensitive to bringing in a leader that would embrace the hard-working blue-collar values of the residents that make up our community. Joe Sumner has demonstrated, throughout the interview process, a superior level of knowledge and expertise in the education and workforce training space, and he possesses a deep desire to work, live and raise his family in our community. Coupled with his unique blend of background in workforce training and academic leadership, Mr. Sumner is the right choice at the right time for future success of NCI. Said Jones, a 1997 graduate of Laurel Park High School: With the selection of Mr. Sumner as the Executive Director of New College Institute, I am excited to see what the future holds as NCI pursues initiatives to engage students and enhance educational opportunities across the region. Stated Harris: With the selection of Mr. Sumner as the Executive Director, New College Institute is well positioned to fulfill its mission by providing educational and workforce development programming for Martinsville-Henry County citizens and employers. Im honored, Im flattered for this opportunity and I look forward to joining the community and just walking the streets of Martinsville, greeting our neighbors, eating at the local restaurants, going to the community events. Im excited to join community and really put down roots, Sumner said by phone. Founded by the Virginia General Assembly by charter in 2006, the New College Institute is a state agency that provides access to degree programs (bachelor, master, and doctorate) through partnerships with VA colleges and universities. Located on the historic Baldwin Block in Martinsville, Virginia, NCIs main campus building is a 21st century state-of-the-art educational center that was recently purchased by the Commonwealth of Virginia from the former New College Foundation in 2020. The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has sponsored a two-week training session on writing local African languages in Arabic script. The session was held by the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Yusuf Al-Khalifa Center for Writing Languages in Arabic Script at the International University of Africa (IUA). The training session on writing local African languages in Arabic script was hosted at IUA headquarters and benefited over forty participants from twenty African countries. The beneficiaries were introduced to the latest developments in language computerization and the educational strategies and technical steps for computerizing local oral languages and writing them in Arabic script. They then presented various research projects on local idioms, proverbs and stories, some of which they translated and wrote in Arabic script. The training session, which was facilitated by experts in linguistics, language computerization and educational sciences, comes in the implementation of the terms of the cooperation agreement signed between ICESCO, IsDB and IUA, which is aimed at responding to the needs of Member States in preserving the local languages of Muslim African communities by writing them in Arabic script. In Cape Verde, the fishing owners are asking for greater investment in terms of modern equipment so that the Coast Guard can reinforce surveillance of the exclusive economic zone, and they also want support from the government for the acquisition of a tuna vessel, with a view to improving the capacity to capture tuna in particular. The ship owners complain that they are not equal in terms of means in relation to the foreign ship owners. The Minister of the Sea guarantees that the Government is fully open in the search for means that may help the private sector to improve the working and business conditions. The shipowners request is made at a time when the first round of the current fisheries agreement between Cape Verde and the European Union, which runs until the end of next year, is being held in the city of Mindelo. For the president of the Association of Fishing Shipowners, Joao Lima, the authorities have a duty to supervise and control the exclusive economic zone, hence the appeal to strengthen the capacity of the National Coast Guard. Since 2015 we have asked the government to provide the CG with a drone with flight autonomy of at least ten hours to patrol mainly the fishing grounds, since foreign shipowners who have advanced technologies and are able to chase the shoals that could enter riparian areas for artisanal and semi-industrial fishing, said Lima, who regrets the dilution of the national catch of tuna and skipjack for more than two years. Francisco Spencer, a businessman from the SUCLA cannery based in Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau, believes that at a time when the commission is meeting to discuss the fishing agreement with the EU, it would be ideal if the proposal that part of the fish caught by foreign vessels could be made available to national canneries for processing and exportation could be dealt with. These ships could catch another ten or twenty percent that would only be for our market and satisfy the demand that the industry has here in Cape Verde, he said. The Minister of the Sea, Abrao Vicente, told VOA that the government is in tune with the national business community. He assures that work is underway to provide more funding bank credit to the fishing sector. When it comes to the Coast Guard, Vicente recognizes that more and better means are needed, stressing that the Government, through the Ministry of National Defense, is working towards the acquisition of a patrol plane, the process of which is underway. The value of Cape Verdean exports of canned and frozen fish fell almost 9% from January to November, to almost 31 million euros, compared to the same period in 2021, according to official data. According to a statistical report from the Bank of Cape Verde (BCV), which details exports, this volume of sales of canned and frozen fish which represents more than 80% of the archipelagos exports amounted in 11 months of 2022 to 3,385 million escudos (30.7 million euros). In the same 11 months of 2021, this volume of exports exceeded 3,707 million escudos (33.7 million euros), which translates into a year-on-year drop in 2022 of practically 9%, taking into account the performance of the canned and frozen fish sector in the country in the same previous period. The value of Cape Verdes exports of canned and frozen fish grew 1.6% in the full year 2021, year-on-year, to more than 4,197 million escudos (38 million euros), according to official data reported earlier. In the 12 months of 2020, these sales were PTE 4,133 million (37.5 million euros). However, this performance still falls short of pre-pandemic exports of canned and frozen fish, which were PTE 5,734 million (52 million) in 2018 and PTE 4,856 million (44 million) in 2019. Overall, exports of Cape Verdean goods (not including tourism receipts) increased in 2021 by about 1.5% year-on-year to PTE 5,177 million (47 million). Of total exports, less than 10% are manufactured in the archipelago, such as footwear and clothing. According to previous data from the National Institute of Statistics of Cape Verde, Spain is the country that buys most Cape Verdean products, with a share of over 60%, maintaining a strong activity in the canning industry, on the islands of Sao Vicente and Sao Nicolau. The Angolan government began commercial operation of the Angosat-2 satellite, which will enable national and international operators and small entrepreneurs to provide telecommunications services in the country, Africa and southern Europe. During the announcement in Luanda last Friday, the minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, Mario Augusto Oliveira, noted that Angola still has many areas without any telecommunications coverage, stressing that it is now open to national operators, and others, to provide reliable telecommunications services in the country, the continent and in the southern part of Europe. The strategy will be focused on competitive prices to increase business in unconnected areas, contributing to the reduction of info-exclusion in Angola and on the continent, he noted. Angosat-2, launched into orbit last October, has different band specifications (C, KU and KA) with distinct coverage zones: Africa and Europe, Southern Africa and part of Central and Eastern Africa, and Luanda. With this initiative, national operators will have a means of communication via satellite, thus allowing them to stop paying the rental of capacity to foreign satellites and also increase the penetration of telecommunications services in the country. It will also allow national telecom operators and the government to benefit from bandwidth with costs based on national currency, thus better managing their investments, the minister added. Mario Augusto Oliveira also stressed that doors will be opened for the national telecommunications sector to provide services throughout the African continent and the southern part of Europe, also representing an opportunity for entrepreneurship in this sector and job creation. Especially for younger people, in areas linked to space technology, such as maintenance and installation of V-Sat systems and development of the software industry, he continued. In the African context, telecom investments are fundamental requirements for economic growth and satellite connectivity has been used as a factor to support socio-economic development, he also highlighted. Last month, the presidential decree was published authorizing the commercial exploitation of the satellite and whose revenues are to accrue 40% to the National Treasury and 50% to the National Space Program Management Office. By Azernews Fatima Hasanova A mobile field hospital of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations continues its uninterrupted operations to serve quake victims in the province of Kahramanmaras severely affected by the earthquake, Azernews reports per the ministry. In order to mitigate the impact of the devastating earthquake, President Ilham Aliyev ordered the Ministry of Emergency Situations to send a mobile field hospital to friendly Turkiye. The ministry claims that 215 earthquake victims received top-notch medical care over the last few days in the mobile field hospital. The hospital offers a variety of checkups and treatments. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reports that on January 6, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit central Turkiye. The epicenter of the earthquake was 26 kilometers off Gaziantep with a population of about 1.06 million. The earthquake's epicenter was located 7 km below the surface. According to Turkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, three more earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.4 to 6.6 shook the province of Gaziantep in southeastern Turkiye. At the time of writing, the death toll in Turkiye was 31,643. Azerbaijan was the first country to provide assistance to Turkiye immediately after the earthquake. The Ministry of Emergency Situations is continuing to send humanitarian aid and rescuers to Turkiye. 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: Kaplan Meier plots illustrating the outcome re-arrest or death in the study population for 365 days. Survival probability in regard to re-arrest or death is shown on the Y-axis. Time in days is shown on the X-axis. a) Plot showing re-arrest or death for entire study population. People at risk is shown in the upper table. Cumulative number of events in the lower table. b) Survival stratified by sex. Table showing cumulative number of events. c) Survival stratified by age. Table showing cumulative number of events. d) Survival stratified by causes. Table showing cumulative number of events. Credit: Resuscitation (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2022.109678 When patients receive care after cardiac arrest, doctors can nowby entering patient data in a web-based appfind out how thousands of similar patients have fared. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed three such systems of decision support for cardiac arrest that may, in the future, make a major difference to doctors' work. One of these decision support tools (SCARS-1), now published, is downloadable free of charge from the Gothenburg Cardiac Arrest Machine Learning Studies website. However, results from the algorithm must be interpreted by people with the right skills. AI-based decision support is expanding strongly in many areas of health care, and extensive discussions are underway on how care services and patients alike can benefit most from it. The app accesses data from the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Register on tens of thousands of patient cases. The University of Gothenburg researchers have used an advanced form of machine learning to teach clinical prediction models to recognize various factors that have affected previous outcomes. The algorithms take into account numerous factors that relate, for example, to the cardiac arrest, treatment provided, previous ill-health, medication and socioeconomic status. New evidence-based methods It will be a few years before official recommendations for cardiac arrest are likely to include AI-based decision support, but doctors are free to use these prediction models and other new, evidence-based methods. The research group working on decision support for cardiac arrest is headed by Araz Rawshani, a researcher at the University's Sahlgrenska Academy and resident physician in cardiology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. "Both I and several of my colleagues who treat emergency patients with cardiac arrest have already started using the prediction models as part of our process for deciding on the level of care. The answer from these tools often means we get confirmation of views we've already arrived at. Still, it helps us not to subject patients to painful treatment that is very unlikely to be of benefit to the patient, while saving care resources," Rawshani says. Highly accurate To date, the research group has published two decision support tools. One clinical prediction model, known as SCARS-1, is presented in eBioMedicine. This model indicates whether a new patient case resembles other previous cases, where patients had survived or died 30 days after their cardiac arrest. The model's accuracy is unusually high. Based on the ten most significant factors alone, the model has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 89%. The "AUC-ROC value" (ROC being the receiver operating characteristic curve for the model and AUC the area under the ROC curve) for this model is 0.97. The highest possible AUC-ROC value is 1.0 and the threshold for a clinically relevant model is 0.7. One piece of the puzzle This decision support was developed by Fredrik Hessulf, a doctoral student at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and anesthesiologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Molndal. "This decision support is one of several pieces in a big puzzle: the doctor's overall assessment of a patient. We have many different factors to consider in deciding whether to go ahead with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It's a highly demanding treatment that we should give only to patients who will benefit from it and be able, after their hospital stay, to lead a life of value to themselves," Hessulf says. This form of support is based on 393 factors affecting patients' chances of surviving their cardiac arrest for 30 days after the event. The model's high accuracy may be explained by the huge number of patient cases (roughly 55,000) on which the algorithm is based and the fact that ten of the nearly 400 factors have been found to impact heavily on survival. By far the most important factor was whether the heart regained a viable cardiac rhythm again after the patient's admission to the emergency department. Risk of new cardiac arrest The second decision support tool published has been presented in the journal Resuscitation. This tool is based on data from patients who survived their out-of-hospital cardiac arrest until they were discharged from hospital. The predictive models are based on 886 factors in 5,098 patient cases from the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Register. This tool is partly aimed at helping doctors identify which patients are at risk of another cardiac arrest or death within a year of discharge from hospital following their cardiac arrest. It also aims to highlight which factors are important for long-term survival after cardiac arrestan aspect of the subject area that has not been well studied. "The accuracy of this tool is reasonably good. It can predict with about 70% reliability whether the patient will die, or will have had another cardiac arrest, within a year. Like Fredrik's tool, this one has the advantage that just a few factors can predict outcome almost as well as the model with several hundred variables," says Gustaf Hellsen, the research doctor who developed this decision support tool. "We hope to succeed in developing this prediction model, so as to enhance its precision. Today, it can already serve as support for doctors in identifying factors with an important bearing on survival among cardiac arrest patients who are to be discharged from hospital." Three decision support tools for different aspects of cardiac arrest Currently, the SCARS-1 tool (developed by Fredrik Hessulf, addressing survival and neurological function 30 days after cardiac arrest) is available to use as an online app. SCARS-2 (developed by Gustaf Hellsen and designed to support decisions on the risk of new cardiac arrest after discharge) will be launched shortly. During 2023, publication of SCARS-3 (for in-hospital cardiac arrest) is also planned. Doctors and other health professionals can read more about these decision support tools and download the applications at http://gocares.se. More information: Fredrik Hessulf et al, Predicting survival and neurological outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using machine learning: the SCARS model, eBioMedicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104464 Gustaf Hellsen et al, Predicting recurrent cardiac arrest in individuals surviving Out-of-Hospital cardiac arrest, Resuscitation (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2022.109678 Journal information: EBioMedicine 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 time evolution of the Stringency Index across countries. Credit: BMC Public Health (2022). DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14177-7 "Pan metron ariston"everything in moderation: Author Leonidas Spiliopoulos of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development uses this Greek phrase in the title of his current study. Spiliopoulos examined the effectiveness of lockdowns and other non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in curbing the spread of COVID-19 and limiting the number of deaths. The study uncovers two important factors that can positively influence pandemic dynamics. The first is the voluntary behavioral changes that people make in response to both their personal assessment of the pandemic's severity and the signaling effect of political decisions. The second is the impressive success of extensive testing policies, which significantly reduced COVID-19 case and death growth rates without the negative social impact associated with many NPIs. Spiliopoulos analyzed data from 132 countries collected between February 15, 2020 and April 14, 2021. The dataset includes information on confirmed cases and deaths, mobility data, testing rates, and the COVID-19 Stringency Index. This index, developed by Oxford University, gauges the stringency of various NPIsincluding school closures, stay-at-home mandates, cancelation or restriction of public events, international travel restrictions, and information campaignson a single measure to allow for easier comparisons across countries. The scale ranges from 0 (no restrictions at all) to 100 (the most extreme restrictions). Moderately severe measures with a Stringency Index in the 3140 range accounted for about 90% of the maximum effectiveness of NPIs. "In this range, the positive effects of these measures on the current pandemic dynamics were close to the practically achievable maximum while minimizing the impact on physical and mental health and the economic costs," says Spiliopoulos. This range included restrictions on public gatherings of more than roughly 100 people, quarantine regulations for travelers from high-risk areas, public information campaigns, and various recommendations such as working from home, canceling events, or closing schools. The study also highlights the importance of extensive testing, which attained 50 percent of the impact of the optimal NPIs, without the significant negative societal disruption associated with the latter. "In terms of rebalancing the policy mix for future pandemics, we should seriously consider leaning more heavily on early extensive testing and targeted public campaigns aimed at helping people make informed voluntary behavioral changes," Spiliopoulos says. Surprisingly, the study also shows that a significant reduction in people's external mobility did not have the positive impact that was originally anticipated. Two prominent explanations are consistent with this observation. First, while the spread of the virus outside the home may have been reduced, infection within the home may have been facilitated as families or roommates spent more time together. Second, people's behavioral changes (e.g., social distancing, mask-wearing, switching to alternative safer transport) may have been effective enough to allow people to continue to commute and have limited contact with others without a significant increase in transmission. The study highlights the complexity of the issues at hand and the need to empirically test hypotheses about policy impact, as well as the importance of revisiting studies when further data is available in order to examine the robustness of early findings. "This analysis allows us to draw more reliable conclusions than numerous previous studies, because the data were collected over a longer period and from a very wide range of countries," says Ralph Hertwig, Director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and member of the expert panel that advises the German government on the COVID-19 pandemic. "At the beginning of the pandemic, uncertainty regarding the transmission and mortality of COVID-19 was high. Against that background, many countries decided initially on relatively restrictive policies," he says. The study's findings can inform public policy, particularly in terms of how to manage future pandemics with similar case and death rates during the critical period before vaccines are developed and rolled out. More information: Leonidas Spiliopoulos, On the effectiveness of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns: Pan metron ariston, BMC Public Health (2022). DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14177-7 Journal information: BMC Public Health 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: Christian Crocker/unsplash.com The Puerto Rican population is aging rapidly, with the percentage of older adults on the island the 10th highest in the world. Penn State researchers are discovering, for the first time, the causes of population aging and how it will negatively impact Puerto Rico. Amilcar Matos-Moreno, postdoctoral scholar in the Social Science Research Institute's Population Research Institute and native of Puerto Rico, began looking into the issue after noticing many working-age adults leaving the island following a series of economic challenges and natural disasters. "I was surprised to find that over the last 10 years, Puerto Rico has nearly doubled its percentage of adults older than age 65 due to the outmigration of over 700,000 working age adults," said Matos-Moreno. "This shift has massive implications for Puerto Rico, which is still struggling to recover from several hurricanes, earthquakes, and political upheaval." Matos-Moreno and other population researchers looked at several studies, including the "Puerto Rican Elderly: Health Conditions Study," which collected data on social, economic and health conditions from 4,291 older adults in 2002, with follow ups in 2006 and 2019. The team also looked at several studies that examined the associations between familial separation and mental health, social networks and psychological well-being, and the sociodemographic characteristics of older adults. They found that several factors are negatively impacting this segment of the population, including outmigration, lack of services, and kinlessness. Their work was published in The Gerontologist. "The older adults left behind as a result of outmigration are facing many challenges, including a reduction in government services, poor economy, disruption of social support networks and increased isolation, which can lead to health issues," said Matos-Moreno. "As a result, Puerto Rico faces significant challenges in improving income security, providing health care services, and assuring the well-being of its aging population." The Puerto Rican government has tried to address the problem of an aging population by passing the Demographic Challenge Act, which studied the factors impacting demographics on the island and the needs of older adults. However, according to Matos-Moreno, the government has mostly focused on policies that address how longevity and fertility impact aging populations. "The population of Puerto Rico continues to decline and rapidly age, but no one has paid attention to outmigration's impact on population aging. Through our research, we noticed new factors including outmigration and kinlessness that can hopefully provide insight into the problem," said Matos-Moreno. According to the researchers, kinlessness describes a growing population of older adults who do not have a spouse, children or siblings. In addition, they are expanding the definition to include the migration of all family members. "The Puerto Rican population is also experiencing kinlessness through migration, which is a new concept and something that has not been examined before," said Matos-Moreno. Kinlessness will further impact Puerto Ricans as they age, because the support that their children could provide is not there. The resulting loneliness and social isolation could have further impacts on an already vulnerable population moving forward. Adding to these challenges, the Puerto Rican government has also implemented an array of measures to reduce government spending. These measures include limiting government services, laying off public employees, eliminating social welfare programs and reducing retirement workers' pensions. According to Matos-Moreno, this is concerning, because the researchers found older adults in Puerto Rico rely on government services such as Medicare, Social Security and public assistance. "The government needs to address these reductions and incentivize working-age adults to stay or return and contribute to Puerto Rico's family structure, health care system, and economy," Matos-Moreno said. "We can't look to other countries as to what might happen, because Puerto Rico is the first to be so widely impacted by outmigration and the reduction of social services." More information: Amilcar Matos-Moreno et al, Aging and the Left Behind: Puerto Rico and Its Unconventional Rapid Aging, The Gerontologist (2022). DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnac082 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: Glomerular responses of odors used for behavioral testing. A Stimuli used during training consisted of mixtures of three odors: a contextual background odor, (s)-()-limonene, and a target background odor. Test stimuli were identical except that (s)-()-limonene was replaced by one out of 11 novel background odors. Test set trials were separated by 46 training set trials. B Head-fixed mice got rewarded with water for licking after the go target odor onset. C Intrinsic optical imaging was used to measure glomerular activation in response to odors used during the behavior. Minimal projection of the average z-score image. Activated glomeruli appeared as reductions in reflectance. D Average images of the z-score of activated glomeruli for the odors used in the behavior at the concentrations used with the test set. E Minimal projection of the odor responses to all presented odors. Yellow contours are the drawn ROIs. F Brain surface illuminated with white light. Drawn ROIs were located away from major blood vessels. G Single trial responses for individual odors. H Average z-score indicating the periods that were used to quantify the odor response. The air baseline period is also indicated as well as the z-score threshold (0.46) used to detect glomerular responses. I Average odor response versus trial-to-trial variability. Trial-to-trial variability was the combination of a component that scaled with the average odor response plus a constant. Purple line indicates mean fitted trial-to-trial variability and dotted lines are the 95% confidence intervals. J Average fraction of glomeruli activated by odors. The error bars are 95% confidence interval, n = 775 ROI. Symbols correspond to individual WT mice. K Average z-score response to an odor. Error bars are s.e.m., n = 775 ROI. L Example of the average glomerular response of one WT mouse to the two go-target odors and the two no-go target odors. M Similarity matrix between the target odors. NP Examples of the odor responses for a WT mouse to the 16 mixtures used in the training set (N) and to the 16 test set mixtures where the novel background odor was hexanal (P). OQ Average similarity matrix from 6 WT mice. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36346-x New research from New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) could help explain how the sense of smell is impacted in individuals with autism. Individuals with autism have an "insistence on sameness," and often avoid unfamiliar elements, including new smells and foods, which can impact their quality of life. While many studies have focused on the behavioral features of autism, additional research is needed to help explain its sensory aspects. Now, a study led by NYITCOM Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences Gonzalo Otazu, Ph.D., published in the journal Nature Communications, analyzes a mouse model of autism and reports differences in the neurological processes responsible for smell. The team trained two groups of miceone group with a mutation in a gene linked to autism (CNTNAP2 knockout mice) and one neurotypical groupto recognize familiar scents. When they successfully identified the target scent, the mice were rewarded with a sip of water. Both groups succeeded in identifying the target. Then, the mice were given a more challenging task: identifying target scents as unfamiliar odors were introduced in the background. Otazu, an electrical engineer, likens this task to Internet captchas, which require humans to visually identify letters and numbers set in a busy or obscured background. While the neurotypical mice were able to "filter out" new background odors and identify the target scents, the CNTNAP2 knockout mice struggled to do so. To better understand where the processing error was occurring in the brains of the CNTNAP2 knockout mice, the researchers visualized the neural activity at the input of each animal's olfactory bulb, the part of the brain that initially processes smell. An imaging technique called intrinsic optical imaging was used to visualize neural activity near the surface of the olfactory bulb. Here, "scent signals" are transmitted to other parts of the brain for further processing, playing a key role in how the brain computes smell. However, the input signals were very similar between the CNTNAP2 knockout mice and neurotypical mice. This suggests that scent processing in the autism model was impaired at a later stepafter signals were processed at the olfactory bulb input. This finding was also replicated when the researchers "reverse-engineered" the brain's processes for identifying target scents in unfamiliar backgrounds. Leveraging machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms to replicate the brain's processes, the team applied the olfactory bulb input signals to a sophisticated algorithm that matched the high performance of neurotypical mice. The neurotypical mice filtered out novel background scents and identified targets, but this complex processing was impaired in CNTNAP2 knockout mice. "We speculate that the olfactory bulbs in the mouse model of autism might be more easily overwhelmed by processing new background odors," said Otazu. "These findings illustrate why more studies related to the sensory aspect of autism are so important. By documenting the neural processes in the mouse model of autism, our findings may help to explain the brain circuitry of humans with autism and one day lead to advancements that improve these individuals' quality of life." More information: Yan Li et al, Robust odor identification in novel olfactory environments in mice, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36346-x Journal information: Nature Communications 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 Grace Sesma works methodically to set up her home office, lighting candles and cutting thorns from seven stemmed red roses for the day's first session as her client chatters nearby. The man, 47, is talking fastabout the nice view of the area from Sesma's backyard, his connection to the San Diego area, and how he got the supplies at the last minute that Sesma told him they would need: roses, an egg and tobacco. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, he has used binge drinking as a coping mechanism. He's been seeing a therapist and was recently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Therapy has helped him identify his behavior and triggering environments, but he still hasn't come to terms with the sexual abuse he suffered, he said; he wants to be at peace with himself. That's why he has traveled to Alpine, a small mountain community northeast of San Diego, to see Sesma. A therapist can teach him coping skills, but Sesma is here to help him repair his spirit. Sesma, 65, is a Mexican and Yaqui curandera, or traditional healer. Clients come to her home office, in Alpine or Colorado, for a range of needs, including PTSD, nervios (panic attacks), susto (trauma), depression and spiritual counseling. This wasn't her first line of work. Sesma spent several years as an administrator of a partial-hospitalization psychiatric program and founded a cultural consulting firm, but she felt called by her ancestors to follow a spiritual healing path and serve her community. "The philosophy behind curanderismo is that diseases are not just caused by physical factors, but also social, emotional, environmental and spiritual ones," Sesma said. Sesma is part of a world of traditional healers who are generally not considered by Western medicine to be a part of the mental health system, but for their clients, especially among a subset of Latinos, Chicanos and Indigenous peoples from Latin America, these spiritual healers offer a type of support they may trust more than therapists. Data continues to show that Latinos do not seek out therapy or other mental health support at the same rates as other racial or ethnic groups. An increasing number of Black, Asian and white Americans are seeking out mental health treatment while the rate of Latinos remains near stagnant, according to a recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This could be in part because of relatively low numbers of Latino mental health providers, a fact that could affect who seeks treatment as some patients want a provider who understands their cultural background. Stigma surrounding mental health conversations and services could be another factor. Little data, if any, is collected on those who seek support from spiritual healers. Both healers and researchers say Latinos and other Southern Californians, who aren't necessarily connected to the culture, often turn to curanderismo when they've felt Western medicine didn't meet their needs. It is difficult to definitively measure the medical benefits of spiritual healing, but these same experts point out that an integrative approach with doctors and healers working together in clinics arguably produces benefits beyond those easily documented in an X-ray or CT scan. "In other countries such as China and India, traditional medicine has been merged with modern medicine and people have options of selecting one or both types of medicine," said Eliseo Torres, a faculty member of the College of Education at the University of New Mexico. Recently, "a group of staff and a physician visited (a university health clinic in Mexico) where traditional medicine has been merged with modern medicine. We returned to the U.S with the idea of doing the same." Curanderismo is the holistic approach to healing the mind, body and spirit. A person who can heal others by looking at the whole of the person (mind, body and spirit) is called a curandera. There are other types of healers under the curanderismo umbrella, and each has their own approach based on their teachings. For example, Sesma's teachings are rooted in Mexican and Indigenous culture. In the U.S., these healers aren't typically found working alongside doctors and nurses in primary care practices, but that's changing in small pockets of the U.S. and other parts of the world. It's similar to the recent movement in California, Arizona and other states where Indigenous leaders are pushing for Medicaid reimbursement to cover traditional healing services that they see as beneficial to tribal members' mental health. Sesma is currently working with the Academy for Integrative Health and Medicine, a global community of medical professionals working toward a holistic and integrative health approach to care, where she's sharing her knowledge of traditional healing. Their collaboration will result in training for the organization's students and members on Indigenous healing practices. For almost a decade, a program at a university in Mexico has trained healers to work in clinics and hospitals. Their graduates, once dubbed "brujas" ("witches"), "witch doctors" or other slurs by their medical counterparts, are finding acceptance. "Nos vamos a revolucionar el mundo de la atencion medical de Mexico," said Rafael Colin, director of the five-year bachelor's degree program at Universidad Intercultural del Estado de Mexico. "We're going to revolutionize the world of healthcare in Mexico." A blending of healing practices In a series of dreams that started when she was a teenager, Sesma said she was visited by the spirits of her Indigenous grandmothers, who urged her to "return to the ways of the ancestors" and practice spiritual healing. It's not uncommon for curanderos to say they have been called to this work through dreams or visions. An elder can also recognize whether a person has this healing gift and help cultivate it through an apprenticeship. Before Sesma listened to the calling, she worked and raised a family as a single mother. It wasn't until her 40s that she was ready to begin her apprenticeship with a curandero in Tecate, Baja California, and understand how to heal a whole person. Curanderismo comes from the Spanish word curar, to heal. Researchers have found that curanderismo dates back to Aztecan, Mayan and Incan tribes and their religious beliefs of harmony with nature, spirit and self. When Spain colonized Mexico in 1519, the healing practice evolved to include European practices of healing, Torres said. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, Torres said, they brought their own culture, belief system and plant knowledge, introducing it to the native healers. The healers then incorporated the Spanish healing methodologies in their practice. Torres, author of "Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing," leads a summer course at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque about the history of curanderismo. The course explores an integrative approach to medicinetraditional healing complementing modern medicine. He brings in guest speakers who are healing practitioners from the Southwest and Mexico. The course explores how traditional healing methods have shaped how we treat people in the past, today and what it could be in the future. His students range from people who have some spiritual healing knowledge, people who want to reclaim their culture through these teachings and others who want to learn how to care for themselves. "We try to train people to take care of their own body, to become their own healers, and (in some cases) to learn what their grandfathers and grandmothers did years ago," said Torres, whose parents taught him about Mexican folk healing. In Mexico, students at the Universidad Intercultural del Estado de Mexico in San Felipe del Progreso, about 100 miles northwest of Mexico City, are also learning an integrative approach to medicine that they can actively use in the medical field. The university offers a five-year bachelor's degree program called the Licenciatura en Salud Intercultural that focuses on four healing methods: Mexican traditional medicine, Chinese acupuncture, psychosomatics (healing the mind and body), and conventional medicine. "Research shows that there are a lot of degenerative diseases that have an emotional aspect, so these professionals will be able to make a clinical diagnosis based on (conventional allopathic) medicine and then it's up to (the doctor) to choose what kind of treatment they are going to use," Rafael Colin, director of the program, said. The Mexican traditional healing portion of the program includes classes with parteras (midwives), yerberas (herbalists), sobadoras (traditional bodyworker) and temazcaleras (who work in sweat lodges). Treycy Velazquez, a licensed practitioner of cross-cultural health and a graduate of the first Licenciatura en Salud Intercultural cohort, now heads the traditional medicine portion of the program. She said they welcome adult students of all ages with the understanding that they aren't "blank pages." Many of the students are healers in their communities, are related to a healer, or have some understanding of the practice. Velazquez is a descendant of traditional healers. She remembers her grandmother and mother using herbs and plants to heal people and enrolled in the program about eight years ago. Part of the class curriculum is to connect with a community and learn from their healer, which isn't easy. She said it's common for the healer to be reluctant to share their skills and work because they're unsure of the students' intentions. "It's (hard) work because we don't want to just extract their knowledge," Velazquez said. "This (exercise) is about acknowledging these individuals and protecting their knowledge." Students also work with patients in the university's clinic and conduct research. Colin said the goal of the program is to demonstrate the effectiveness of this ancient knowledgeand preserve it by teaching it. It's also working to "professionalize" this knowledge by understanding the science in it and backing it up with research, Colin said. For example, the program and the National Autonomous University of Mexico will be collaborating on studying "how acupuncture and traditional herbs have synergy (to treat) some diseases" on patients who visit the program's clinic. Students who complete the program are then able to establish a practice and have a license to practice the four healing methods, including Mexican traditional healing, in a hospital or clinic. The first cohort of graduates were met with some stigma, labeled as "brujos," Colin said. However, the graduates interned with Mexico's secretary of health, as all health professionals are required to do in the state, and quickly proved themselves to their medical counterparts by working side-by-side to treat patients. Recent program graduate Vanessa Carrillo Sarmiento wasn't met with name-calling, but at the Hospital Mazahua, doctors at first didn't acknowledge her as a colleague. The hospital is in the small town of Santa Ana Nichi in Mexico; its population of nearly 3,000 is mostly Mazahua Native people. Since graduating in 2019, she's provided holistic therapies and physical therapy for patients with facial paralysis, joint or muscle pain, insomnia and anxiety. But the first six months were challenging for Sarmiento because she didn't have any patients. To fix that, she made it a point to introduce herself to the medical doctors on staff and talk to them about how she cares for patients through traditional massage work or taking more time to explain post-treatment care. Some doctors took a chance and sent their patients to her. They soon learned her value, Sarmiento said, after seeing their patients benefit from her care and now they see her as part of the medical treatment team. "I believe that the basis for the acceptance we have had with the hospital doctors was that they realized that we are a complement to the work they do and vice versa, just as we need them to achieve significant improvement in the patient," she said. Sarmiento has developed trust with her patients, her community, and has many who return to the hospital regularly for her services. This relationship between a health care provider and patient is one that she wishes her grandparents could have experienced. She remembers that her grandparents loathed doctor visits because they didn't feel heard or were scolded. "For me, I would have liked that my grandparents were treated the way that I treat my patients. The closeness that you have with people is the most beautiful thing that the profession gives you," Sarmiento said. Complementary healing Back in Alpine, Sesma sees five clients in-person and two via Zoom over the next two days. One of her clients is Roberto Camacho, a Chicano journalist and activist in San Diego, who is coming for his second session. He's seeking spiritual counseling to "clear his mind and body of self-doubt and negative thoughts" because he's making a lot of life-changing decisionsapplying for jobs and looking to move out of state. "Reflecting back on my most recent session, I believe (Sesma) has helped me look at my life with more clarity and from a perspective of abundance," Camacho said. All of Sesma's clients, including Camacho, talk about how much they value the time that Sesma gives them and her services. Sesma and other healers wish the medical field could value traditional healing methods too. "It is more likely, that I or other curanderas, would refer a client to a doctor or an ophthalmologist or gynecologist, than they are to refer (clients) to me," she said. Sesma feels that doctors don't acknowledge traditional healing as a mainstream method of healing because they haven't taken the time to learn about it or resist learning about it because it conflicts with their religious beliefs. She doesn't have the skills of a physician, for example, but a physician doesn't have her skill-set. So why can't they work together "for the benefit of the patient's whole well-being?" she asked. "Let's have some humility to understand that (science-based) allopathic medicine does not necessarily address every issue that the patient may present with," she said. "There's a spiritual aspect to all of us as human beings that not everyone is equipped to take care of, to handle or to address." 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: Macquarie University A Macquarie University study of breast implants gone wrong has found that patients with complications occurring within five years of implantation were twice as likely to have used non-certified surgeons. The study, published in the latest Aesthetic Surgery Journal and co-authored by surgeon Professor Anand Deva, analyzed data from a survey of more than 600 women who attended the Breast Implant Clinic at Macquarie University in 2018. Patients who came to the clinic, which Deva describes as a world-first, had lived with their implant for an average of 11 years and had an average age of 42. The study showed that most experienced breast pain and/or a problem with the implant and the most common complication was capsular contracture, affecting more than 90% of clinic patients. "Capsular contracture is where the shell of the implant becomes creased or folded instead of sitting smoothly within the body, and then contracts and becomes hardened," says Professor Anand Deva, who is Head of Cosmetic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Macquarie University. Visible deformities were also common, with almost a third of patients having the "waterfall deformity," where breast tissue can sag over the implant, and about one in eight patients having "double bubble" where the implant is displaced, slipping below the breast. Credit: Macquarie University Patients have poor awareness of risks Deva says the data was collected from more than 600 women who gave their consent for researchers to gather useful data about adverse events following breast implant surgery. He says there was "poor awareness universally" about the risks of breast implants among patients. "Many patients were also told not to have recommended cancer screening mammograms following breast implant surgery, which is incorrect," says Deva. "One thing that stood out is that procedures by certified plastic surgeons carried a significantly lower risk of 'double bubble' and 'waterfall' complications, which can involve implant malposition and deformity," he says. More than half the implants in women attending the clinic who had cosmetic procedures in Australia were inserted by doctors who were not qualified specialists, having either general medical registration or general practice registration. Profit-driven clinics Deva says the breast assessment clinic also revealed some concerning data about a subset of medical practitioners who had worked at the now-defunct cut-price breast implant clinic chain, The Cosmetic Institutethe subject of a current class action. Most of these doctors only held Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) general registration, and had not completed any specialist training after their internship and residency. "The lack of recognized surgical training and relative lack of experience by unqualified practitioners probably contributed to poor outcomes for many patients subject to invasive surgery," says Deva. One in five women attending the breast assessment clinic had traveled overseas to get breast implants in "fly-in, fly-out" discounted arrangements where patients may only meet their surgeon just before their pre-paid operation, by which stage "fully informed patient consent" is less likely. Australian research into medical tourism for breast implant surgery has shown that complications are common, and range from wound infection to serious outcomes including sepsis, radical mastectomy, brain injury and death. Patients who return from overseas surgery with problems can also burden the Australian health system with the cost of treating these complications, Deva says. No lifetime guarantee Breast augmentation is the most common elective plastic surgery performed in the world after liposuction. About 73% of the 65,000 breast implant patients recorded in the Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR) between 2012 and 2020 had surgery for cosmetic reasons, with the rest being post-cancer and other medical reconstruction. About a quarter of these cosmetic procedures involved surgery to correct or remove breast implants. Deva says the ABDR was established in 2012 to record all breast implants and implant revision surgery in Australian women, following a series of crises around breast implant safety. These included the failure of French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), which sold more than 300,000 implants containing poor-quality silicon, and had nearly 1,000 cases of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) reported globally. "The registry meant that for the first time, we could understand the performance of these devices," he saysbut adds the registry doesn't include the significant portion of implants now done overseas. Revision surgery is common After nine years, the registry shows that an increasing proportion of women with implants are undergoing revision surgeries. Deva says most first-generation implants from the 1960s lasted just a few years and their thin shells often contracted and ruptured, but today's "fifth generation" of implants have more robust shells. But while many breast implant manufacturers promise a lifetime warranty, Deva warns these guarantees have many loopholes and capsular contracturethe most common defectis not covered. "Our experience suggests that most implants fail over time, not just from device failure, but also from changes to the breast structure through breastfeeding, aging, menopausejust general wear and tear," he says. "After around 10 years, there's a slow and steady accumulation of problems that will eventually require the implant to be removed or replaced." Deva says that the Macquarie University breast implant assessment clinic provides a useful service where women can have their implants reviewed regularly, and there's a need for similar services to be established more widely. "Our data also shows that there are still a lot of cowboys out there, and that better regulation of elective cosmetic procedures is necessary," he says. More information: Elnaz Masoumi et al, Prospective Study of Clinical Outcomes From a Breast Implant Assessment Service, Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2022). DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjac266 Journal information: Aesthetic Surgery Journal 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: Access to medication abortion could be at risk nationwide because of a Texas lawsuit working its way through the court system. Alliance Defending Freedom, the group involved in the case in Mississippi that led to the Supreme Court overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, also filed this lawsuit. The case will be decided by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, CBS News reported. If the judge sides with the organization filing suit, the drug mifepristone, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nearly two decades ago, could become unavailable both in states that ban abortions and those where it is legal, CBS News reported. The judge's decision could also remove easier access that's been implemented more recently, including the 2021 FDA decision not requiring women to pick up the drug in person and a 2023 decision that allowed pharmacies to dispense the drug. "It could have an immediate impact on the country," said Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, told CBS News. "In some ways, this is a backdoor ban on abortion." The decision could come soon after a Feb. 24 filing deadline, and would likely be appealed, CBS News reported. The group's allegation is that the FDA should not have used an accelerated review process for this drug, CBS News reported. "Our representatives in Congress created the FDA and gave the FDA the responsibility to make sure that drugs are safe before they're allowed on the market the FDA failed that responsibility," said Julie Blake, senior counsel for the group. The FDA has responded that it didn't accelerate the drug's approval, rather that it approved it four years after the manufacturer applied, CBS News reported. It would be "extraordinary and unprecedented" to stop distribution of the drug after so long, federal attorneys said in a legal filing. Medication abortion has become more important since the Supreme Court's June decision overruling Roe v. Wade, Elizabeth Nash, state policy analyst for the Guttmacher Institute, told CBS News. Even before that decision, about half of abortions in the United States were medication abortions. In medication abortion, a mifepristone pill is taken at up to the 10th week of pregnancy. It dilates the cervix and blocks the essential pregnancy hormone progesterone. Another drug, misoprostol, is then taken 24 to 48 hours later, causing the uterus to contract and expel pregnancy tissue. Together, they are more than 95% effective. "The clinics that are open in the receiving states are stretched thin, they don't have a lot of give in their capacity and being able to provide medication abortion is very, very important," Nash said. More information: The group KFF has more on medication abortion. 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: Ube3a mRNA is diminished in the brain of a new maternal Ube3a knockout mouse but remains in a previously generated Angelman syndrome mouse model. (A) Schematics of UBE3A imprinting and Angelman syndrome. Left, in normal neurons, UBE3A proteins are only produced from the maternal copy of UBE3A because the paternal copy is silenced by UBE3A-ATS. Middle, deficiency of the maternal UBE3A (gray) leads to the loss of UBE3A proteins in neurons and causes Angelman syndrome. Right, suppressing UBE3A-ATS expression leads to the unsilencing of the paternal UBE3A. (B) Genomic structures of Ube3a wild-type (WT), e5 (also known as tm1Alb), and e6 alleles. The boxes indicate exons (e) 113. The white and gray regions indicate the coding and non-coding exon sequences of the longest Ube3a transcript, respectively. In the e5 and e6 alleles, exons 5 and 6 are deleted, resulting in a premature stop codon in exons 6 and 7, respectively. (C) Ube3a transcript levels were measured from the brains and livers of WT, Ube3ame5/p+ and Ube3ame5/pe5 mice using primer sets targeting different exons or introns as indicated in the figure. Ube3a mRNA levels were normalized by the Gapdh mRNA levels. Except the deleted exon 5, other exons in the brains of Ube3ame5/p+ and Ube3ame5/pe5 mice remain at the similar levels as WT mice. (D) Similar to (C), but for WT and Ube3ame6/p+ mice. Ube3a transcript is greatly reduced in the Ube3ame6/p+ mouse brains. The numbers of tested mice are indicated in the figure. Each symbol represents one mouse. Bar graphs are mean standard error of the mean (SEM). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey (C) or Sidak (D) multiple comparison test for all pairs of groups, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. Credit: eLife (2023). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.81892 Angelman syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by changes in brain structure, severe intellectual disability, impairments in speech, motor function, epilepsy, sleep, and unique behaviors that affects 1 in 10,000 to 24,000 people and for which no cure or treatment is currently available. Researchers at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine have now found that a gene therapy approach can effectively reverse key symptoms of this disorder in adult and juvenile rodent models, which demonstrates that the therapeutic age window for Angelman syndrome is much broader than reported previously and offers a new ray of hope for patients and their families impacted by this devastating disorder. Moreover, the study has revealed two clinically important biomarkers that can be used to evaluate the efficacy of this and other therapeutic approaches in future clinical trials for this disorder. The study was recently published in eLife. Angelman syndrome is caused by inactivation by the paternal Ube3a gene copy Angelman syndrome results when the maternally-inherited copy of the UBE3A gene is either missing or defective. People normally inherit one copy of the UBE3A gene from each parent. In most tissues, both copies of the gene are turned on (active). However, in the nerve cells of the central nervous system (i.e., the brain and spinal cord), the expression of the gene copy received from the father is turned off (silenced). This phenomenon of parent-specific activation and silencing of genes is called genomic imprinting and as a result of it, neurons of the progeny have only one active copy of this gene. If that active, maternal copy is lost due to chromosomal rearrangements or is rendered defective due to mutations, it results in the complete loss of UBE3A protein in neurons. This affects various aspects of brain development and function because this protein is critical to maintaining the balance between the synthesis and degradation of several other proteins. Previous studies in Angelman rodent models have provided some insights into mechanisms that underlie this genetic disorder and have identified potential therapeutic strategies. A therapeutic strategy that addresses the root cause of this genetic disorder and holds great promise is the reactivation of the silenced paternal copy of the UBE3A gene using gene therapy approaches such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or CRISPR/Cas9. Notably, previous proof-of-concept studies showed this approach was effective in restoring a few neurological symptoms in animal models of Angelman syndrome if the therapy was administered at very young ages. "Prior studies using the ASO strategy were able to rescue some neurological symptoms in younger animals but the approach was less effective in older animals. These experiments suggested for maximum benefit, this approach would ideally have to be administered very early, perhaps even in utero in Angelman patients," lead author Dr. Mingshan Xue, assistant professor at Baylor College and an Duncan NRI investigator, said. "This raised concerns about its efficacy in human clinical trials because a typical Angelman patient is between one to four years of age when they receive the diagnosis of this condition. So, we decided to test if administering ASO to older Angelman mice will improve two symptomsabnormal electrical activity of the brain and sleep disturbancesboth of which are clinically very crucial but have not been studied in the context of this therapy." Identifying biomarkers for later intervention using a newly-generated Angelman mouse model In this study, Xue and his team first generated a new null mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Unlike existing models of Angelman syndrome, levels of both Ube3a mRNA and protein were reduced in this new mouse model which they hypothesized would facilitate a better and more precise evaluation of gene therapy via ASOs. They used this new mouse model to examine if gene therapy in juvenile and adult mice models of Angelman syndrome would reverse three robust and clinically critical symptomshyperexcitability of brain neurons (linked to seizures), abnormal electrical activity of the brain (linked to cognitive performance), and sleep disturbancesthat had never been tested before. These symptoms are closely linked to disease progression and/or severity and if this therapy was effective, the authors predicted they could act as biomarkers to guide therapy development and future clinical monitoring of a broader range of patients. Gene therapy improves abnormal EEG patterns and sleep disturbances in the new rodent model They found that a single injection of ASO directly into the brain of the newly-generated Angelman disease model lead to a long-lasting reactivation of the paternal copy of Ube3a throughout the brains, and an up-regulation of Ube3a protein which lasted at least 10 weeks. As expected, the new Ube3a animal model they generated also exhibited abnormal brain activity and sleep disturbances, both of which were reversed by ASO injection and concomitant reactivation of the paternal Ube3a gene although it was not sufficient to observe any change in neuronal hyperexcitability. "Our study has several implications for future clinical trials using this approach and others for Angelman syndrome," Dr. Xue, who is also an investigator at the Gordon and Mary Cain Pediatric Neurology Research Foundation Laboratories and Caroline DeLuca Scholar, said. "First, our results suggest that Angelman syndrome patients of different age ranges may benefit from this gene therapy treatment. Second, a robust correlation between the Ube3a levels and EEG power spectrum supports the notion that this metric can serve as a quantitative biomarker in future clinical trials for this disorder. Third, since the EEG power correlates closely with symptom severity, including cognitive behaviors in patients, it is reasonable to speculate that this gene therapy approach may also improve cognitive function in Angelman syndrome patients." "Finally, clinicians and caregivers consistently report sleep disturbances as one of the most challenging symptoms and an important consideration for new therapy development. Our gene therapy approach demonstrates a reduction in sleep disturbance in Angelman mouse models and if this finding will hold true in human trials, we are hopeful this gene therapy approach will significantly improve the quality-of-life of Angelman syndrome patients, their caregivers, and family members." More information: Dongwon Lee et al, Antisense oligonucleotide therapy rescues disturbed brain rhythms and sleep in juvenile and adult mouse models of Angelman syndrome, eLife (2023). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.81892 Journal information: eLife Provided by Texas Children's Hospital MONDAY, Feb. 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- More than one-quarter of children with an emergency department visit for mental health (MH) return to the emergency department or are hospitalized within six months, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in Pediatrics. Jennifer A. Hoffmann, M.D., from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and colleagues conducted a retrospective study involving 28,551 children aged 6 to 17 years with MH emergency department discharges from January 2018 to June 2019 to examine the odds of nonemergent patient follow-up. The association between timely follow-up and risk for return MH acute care encounters was examined. The researchers found that 31.2 and 55.8 percent of children had an outpatient MH visit within seven and 30 days, respectively, following MH emergency department discharge. Within six months, the return rate was 26.5 percent. Children with 14 past-year MH visits had 9.53 higher adjusted odds of accessing follow-up care within 30 days compared with those with no past-year outpatient MH visits. Timely follow-up within 30 days was associated with a significantly reduced risk for return within five days of the index emergency department discharge (hazard ratio, 0.74); however, the risk for return increased thereafter. "Interventions that promote connection to follow-up care after a MH emergency department discharge should target linkage to outpatient services within five days to maximize opportunities to reduce return visits," the authors write. A man will spend almost four years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl pills around Missoula, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Jacob E. Odman, 39, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Odman was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy to 46 months in prison, which will be followed by five years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution. Missoula County officials responded to a house for an overdose report on Feb. 18, 2022. They found one man dead when they arrived, according to the press release. Officials found a small blue pill with an "M30" marking on it near the man's body. Lab testing confirmed the pill had fentanyl in it, and a toxicology report confirmed the victim had fentanyl and a fentanyl metabolite in his system when he died. Investigators determined Odman gave the man the pills the evening prior, the press release stated. When authorities first talked with Odman, he denied knowing about the pills and asked about the victim's condition. A search warrant on Odman's house found 409 fentanyl pills. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Missoula Police Department and Missoula County Sheriffs Office. Several NATO websites have suffered a computer attack on Sunday night, leaving the NATO Special Operations Headquarters website, among others, temporarily inoperative. "NATO cyber experts are actively dealing with an incident affecting some NATO websites. NATO deals with cyber incidents on a regular basis, and takes cyber security very seriously," an Atlantic Alliance official told DPA news agency. The comment has come after reports posted on social networks suggested that pro-Russian hackers had attacked the website of NATO's Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ) and others, making it temporarily inaccessible. Among the possible attackers, the aforementioned reports detail, could be the Russian hacker group Killnet, associated with other recent attacks, including in Germany, targeting the websites of the Bundestag, the Police and critical infrastructure facilities, according to the aforementioned agency. A local festivals annual competition received an award from a state organization. The Historic Morganton Festivals MADE Competition (Morganton Arts, Design and Engineering) was named the Best Event Associated with an Event at the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events ShowFest last month. The award from the association was intended to showcase events within main festivals that give those in attendance an even more unique experience, and spotlight how the event within the event can be an additional support and increase engagement for the main festival. The MADE Competition, which was first held in 2018, has become an anticipated yearly tradition for students who have a passion for arts, design and engineering. Abby Nelson, assistant director of the Historic Morganton Festival, developed the idea for the MADE Competition with hopes of incorporating engineering into an event that would engage a new crowd while also highlighting the areas students. Around the time of the competitions inception, there were several announcements about industries expanding in Burke County as well as new companies moving to the area. Also, the North Carolina School of Science and Math had just announced that Morganton would be the new location for their western campus. In combination with these announcements and the already established engineering curriculum within Burke County Public Schools, charter and private schools, Nelson thought this would be a great idea to execute in the Morganton community during the annual Historic Morganton Festival. The festival typically brings 20,000-30,000 visitors to downtown Morganton over the two-day event. To see how this competition has grown in only a few years is very humbling and exciting, Nelson said. The support it has received from so many schools, businesses and individuals is the reason it has thrived. I am excited to see even more growth in the coming years and how this will positively affect the students and our community as a whole. The MADE Competition engages Burke County middle and high school students in critical thinking, design, engineering and innovation in a way that works toward meeting the needs of local industry while also highlighting the technological skill of Burke County students. In its few years of existence, MADE has already awarded more than $20,000 directly to STEM education classrooms in Burke County. The competition changes each year to reflect new skills and abilities of students. The competitions that have taken place include 2018 Eco Chair Challenge, 2019 Junkyard Challenge-Wind Turbines, Spring 2021 Lamp Design, Fall 2021 Rescue Robot Challenge and 2022 Assembly Line Challenge. This years MADE Competition will be held as a stand-alone event at CoMMA on Oct. 20. Visit www.morgantonfest.org/made-competition to learn more about MADE and how to get involved. School damaged by vandals (Monday, Feb. 12, 1973) Vandals ransacked portions of the Rutherford College elementary and primary schools Sunday at approximately 1 a.m. and caused damage at a scout hut located nearby. School officials noted that a total of 44 windows were broken in the two schools and that entry was gained into the cafeteria of the elementary school, where tables were overturned, and several windows smashed. The only thing missing from the room were some bananas, according to a person on scene. Windows in classrooms above the lunchroom were smashed, and two statues that had been standing in a playground were pulled from their brick pedestals and broken. The remains of one of the statues was found about 50 feet from its pedestal. School authorities said the students had purchased the statues by operating a concession at the softball games. Outdoor lights located along walkways leading to the primary school were smashed as well. The vandalism was discovered Sunday afternoon by custodian James Tomlinson. Broughton staff is organized (Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1973) In an unprecedented move for state institutions, Dr. C. Capers Smith, superintendent of Broughton Hospital, requested that the medical, surgical and psychiatric staff of the hospital elect a president, vice-president, psychiatric secretary and medical-surgical secretary from among those physicians fully licensed to practice medicine on the active staff of the hospital. Dr. S.M. Shah-Khan, chief of medicine and director of the medical-surgical unit, was elected president. Shah-Khan has been recognized by all who work with him as a competent physician with unusual administrative abilities. Dr. Norman Boyer, psychiatrist and director of one of the geographic psychiatric units, was elected vice-president. Dr. Robert W. Gibson, also a psychiatrist and director of one of the geographic units, was elected psychiatric secretary. Dr. K.K. Lee, a surgeon and assistant chief of surgery, will serve as medical-surgical secretary. This move is long overdue, Smith said. Members of the staff of Broughton Hospital should be recognized as competent professionals who would help the hospital through their organization in doing their best to improve patient care and provide the administration with the necessary information as to the needs of the patient whom the hospital serves. Fire consumes boarding house (Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1973) Fire destroyed a large boarding house at 304 White St. in Morganton at 2 a.m. today. Firefighters battled the blaze for a total of six hours at two different times during the night in an attempt to save the home. It was believed to have been started by someone smoking in bed in a basement apartment. The fire gutted the basement of the house and crawled up the walls. Some flames and smoke broke through the roof. By 5:48 a.m. the stairs leading to the second story of the three-story home were charred ruins. A total of six people were reported to be in the home at the time. One boarder was taken to Grace Hospital after he was forced to jump from a second-story window to escape the fire. Art school plans Morganton visit (Thursday, Feb. 15, 1973) Plans are in the making for a small group of students from the North Carolina School for the Arts in Winston-Salem to spend a week or more in residency in Morganton in May, thanks to a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The group of eight to 15 students will be mainly drama students, with a few dancers, musicians and technicians. The residency will involve three primary functions: doing open rehearsals for a production highlighting and dramatizing the heritage of the area in Spoon River Anthology fashion; presenting the production at the state institutions, the schools and the college; and being involved in various group learning experiences with the institutions and the schools. Those involved in the project locally include the Western Carolina Center, North Carolina School for the Deaf, Broughton Hospital, Western Correctional Center, Burke County Public Schools and Western Piedmont Community College. The group will spend some time at each campus, working with the students in whichever way each institutions leadership feels is most effective. Among us Morgantonians: J. Gordon Queen (Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1973) Come to think of it, that section of South Green Street halfway to the depot is a busy area. Here we have Tux Bowers Motor Company, another business next door, an auto sales lot, the Mull Furniture Company, a doctors office, an insurance company, a service station, the large Bell Telephone Company and the handsome Dr. Wellborn building also housing a wig sales place, a dry-cleaning business, the large Nite Furniture and other business places. Yes, sisters and brothers, South Green is a busy thoroughfare and more will come later on, proving that Morganton will grow whether we like it or not. We are beginning to wonder when we will get another bus terminal. The city is too large to be without one right? Right! Time now to begin thinking about the Fourth of July parade. Lets make it bigger, better and grander than ever this year. What say you? One of my top priorities this legislative session is strengthening Montanas position against hostile foreign nations like China. National security is primarily a responsibility of the federal government, but as a Marine who served in Iraq, I believe elected officials at all levels of government should be improving our security. One thing we can do at the state level is work to keep our adversaries out of our critical infrastructure. My Senate Bill 203 prohibits foreign adversaries from buying or leasing things like telecommunications equipment, transmission lines, and oil refineries in Montana. Unlike other states that are pursuing similar legislation, Im also taking it a step further by including agricultural land as critical infrastructure. Ive included agricultural land in my bill for two primary reasons. One is that agriculture is critical to Montanas economy and our food security. The second is that sensitive sites in our state, like Malmstrom Air Force Bases nuclear missiles, are surrounded by rural farm and ranch land. China recently purchased 300 acres of farm land near Grand Forks Air Force Base next door to us in North Dakota, raising alarm bells in Washington, D.C., national security circles about potential espionage. I know many Montanans would like the Legislature to ban all foreign and even out-of-state ownership of our land. I understand that sentiment, but its not constitutional under the U.S. Constitution. Targeting adversarial foreign nations and corporations controlled by them is a reasonable step that we can take. Other nations are becoming more bold and more creative in how they challenge the United States. The recent incident with the Chinese balloon highlighted these issues for the general public, but China in particular has been using asymmetric tactics against us for years. As a nation, we need to focus our national security to strategically engage with China for the long term. Our goal needs to be to move away from dependence on China for goods and manufacturing capabilities, while at the same time avoiding direct conflict. We should avoid another endless foreign war and the devastation that kinetic modern warfare between major powers would bring. At the same time, we must push back on human rights violations, intellectual property theft, and the invasion of Americans privacy. Policies like SB 203 are actions we can take to communicate our resolve and displeasure without engaging in military tactics that escalate tensions between our nations and increase the risk of miscalculation by either side. Governor Gianfortes decision to ban the social media app TikTok, which can function as a mass surveillance tool of the Chinese Communist Party, from state government equipment and networks is a step in the right direction. Legislation was recently introduced in Congress to crack down on foreign ownership of land, but we all know how slow and dysfunctional the federal government is, so we shouldnt hold our breath while we wait for them to act. Senate Bill 203 is a serious move we can make immediately to improve our national security. NEW YORK It was Valentine's Day 1917 in the Minnesota farming village of Lewiston, and Fred Roth a fourth grader seems to have come up with just the way to express his love for his sweetheart, Louise Wirt. He gave her a card. The folding, pop-up Valentine's Day card, on stock so heavy it remains in good shape 106 years later, reads: "Forget me not!/I ask of thee/Reserve one spot/In your heart for me." And so she did. Years later they married, and Louise displayed the cherished card, tucked into the fretwork of a bedroom dresser, for decades to come. She pointed it out to her daughter, and later to a granddaughter, me, and it remained near her bedside until her death at 91, a token of lasting love. Although the message was in English, the card is printed with the word "Germany" and is seemingly imported, as were many cards of that era. Small companies in the U.S. also were part of a flourishing commercial card business. Hallmark, which began offering Valentine's Day cards in 1913, estimates that today, 145 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, not including the kids' valentines popular for classroom exchanges. Fertility-related customs and rituals have been celebrated in mid-February since pagan times, says Emelie Gevalt, curator of folk art and curatorial chair for collections at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. Tokens of affection varied: In the 1600s, the practice was to give pairs of gloves in mid-February, she says. "By the 18th century, we start to see something that really begins to resemble modern Valentine's cards," she says. "In the 19th century, this evolved further to the point where popular ladies' magazines like Harper's Weekly published instructions for readers on how to craft them." There have long been both earnest, heartfelt Valentines like Grandpa Fred's, and ones in a more teasing, playful vein. The museum's collection includes a number of lovingly crafted tokens of affection from various periods. "You see the heart motif quite a lot," Gevalt says. Although not specifically linked to Valentine's Day, an exhibit at the museum opening March 17, "Material Witness: Folk and Self-Taught Artists at Work," features two examples of "fraktur," exuberantly decorated watercolors made by German immigrants in Pennsylvania. One is called "Inverted Heart," and another depicts a labyrinth. "They were really dazzling objects, including motifs of flowers or hearts. The playfulness and cleverness of these objects is one of the most interesting aspects they have in common," Gevalt says. In the mid-19th century, some people shared "Vinegar Valentines," a sort of anti-Valentine that featured playfully insulting verses, not unlike a modern-day roast. Sometimes, cards involved writing in a circle or upside down, like a puzzle. Some had a decorative folded border or verses on the folds; cutwork resembling lace; or watercolor decorations of pierced hearts, lovebirds and flowers. Lover's knots and labyrinths were also common elements. "They remind me of games, like plucking the petals of a flower saying 'she loves me, she loves me not,'" Gevalt says. The boom in commercial Valentine's Day cards in the mid-1800s was a reflection of changing courtship patterns, says Elizabeth White Nelson, associate professor of history at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "The idea of companionate marriage and love became a part of the calculus of marriage, and Valentine's Day cards became a part of courtship," she says. These days, the cards continue to evolve. "Over the last few years, trends have been less about romantic love but more about letting someone know they matter," says Jen Walker, vice president of trends and creative studios at Hallmark Cards, Inc. There are "more inclusive visuals, and a larger representation of relationships love, chosen family, friendships, parents and children, self-care," she says. A bit of mystery surrounds my Grandma Louise's precious Valentine. It would have been out of character for Fred to buy a commercial card as opposed to, say, presenting her with a bouquet of pussy willows he had picked. "That period would have been the beginning of an organized practice of exchanging Valentines in school," says Nelson. In some classrooms, everyone was required, or at least encouraged, to give a Valentine. "The giving and receiving of Valentines was always partly about performing love, for an audience," says Nelson, "and once that Valentine's Day card got saved, it would have become a talisman of all that love is supposed to be." Photos: Earnest or playful, Valentine's Day cards have long history Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Valentine's Day Cards Pregnant and scared, Natasha Valle went to a Tennova Healthcare hospital in Clarksville, Tennessee, in January 2021 because she was bleeding. She didnt know much about miscarriage, but this seemed like one. In the emergency room, she was examined then sent home, she said. She went back when her cramping became excruciating. Then home again. It ultimately took three trips to the ER on three consecutive days, generating three separate bills, before she saw a doctor who looked at her bloodwork and confirmed her fears. At the time I wasnt thinking, Oh, I need to see a doctor,' Valle recalled. But when you think about it, its like, Well dang why didnt I see a doctor? Its unclear whether the repeat visits were due to delays in seeing a physician, but the experience worried her. And shes still paying the bills. The hospital declined to discuss Valles care, citing patient privacy. But 17 months before her three-day ordeal, Tennova had outsourced its emergency rooms to American Physician Partners, a medical staffing company owned by private equity investors. APP employs fewer doctors in its ERs as one of its cost-saving initiatives to increase earnings, according to a confidential company document obtained by KHN and NPR. This staffing strategy has permeated hospitals, and particularly emergency rooms, that seek to reduce their top expense: physician labor. While diagnosing and treating patients was once their domain, doctors are increasingly being replaced by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, collectively known as midlevel practitioners, who can perform many of the same duties and generate much of the same revenue for less than half of the pay. APP has numerous cost saving initiatives underway as part of the Companys continual focus on cost optimization, the document says, including a shift of staffing between doctors and midlevel practitioners. In a statement to KHN, American Physician Partners said this strategy is a way to ensure all ERs remain fully staffed, calling it a blended model that allows doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide care to their fullest potential. Critics of this strategy say the quest to save money results in treatment meted out by someone with far less training than a physician, leaving patients vulnerable to misdiagnoses, higher medical bills, and inadequate care. And these fears are bolstered by evidence that suggests dropping doctors from ERs may not be good for patients. A working paper, published in October by the National Bureau of Economic Research, analyzed roughly 1.1 million visits to 44 ERs throughout the Veterans Health Administration, where nurse practitioners can treat patients without oversight from doctors. Researchers found that treatment by a nurse practitioner resulted on average in a 7% increase in cost of care and an 11% increase in length of stay, extending patients time in the ER by minutes for minor visits and hours for longer ones. These gaps widened among patients with more severe diagnoses, the study said, but could be somewhat mitigated by nurse practitioners with more experience. The study also found that ER patients treated by a nurse practitioner were 20% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital for a preventable reason within 30 days, although the overall risk of readmission remained very small. Yiqun Chen, who is an assistant professor of economics at the University of Illinois-Chicago and co-authored the study, said these findings are not an indictment of nurse practitioners in the ER. Instead, she said, she hopes the study will guide how to best deploy nurse practitioners: in treatment of simpler patients or circumstances when no doctor is available. Its not just a simple question of if we can substitute physicians with nurse practitioners or not, Chen said. It depends on how we use them. If we just use them as independent providers, especially for relatively complicated patients, it doesnt seem to be a very good use. Chens research echoes smaller studies, like one from The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute that found nonphysician practitioners in ERs were associated with a 5.3% increase in imaging, which could unnecessarily increase bills for patients. Separately, a study at the Hattiesburg Clinic in Mississippi found that midlevel practitioners in primary care not in the emergency department increased the out-of-pocket costs to patients while also leading to worse performance on nine of 10 quality-of-care metrics, including cancer screenings and vaccination rates. But definitive evidence remains elusive that replacing ER doctors with nonphysicians has a negative impact on patients, said Dr. Cameron Gettel, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Yale. Private equity investment and the use of midlevel practitioners rose in lockstep in the ER, Gettel said, and in the absence of game-changing research, the pattern will likely continue. Worse patient outcomes havent really been shown across the board, he said. And I think until that is shown, then they will continue to play an increasing role. For Private Equity, Dropping ER Docs Is a Simple Equation Private equity companies pool money from wealthy investors to buy their way into various industries, often slashing spending and seeking to flip businesses in three to seven years. While this business model is a proven moneymaker on Wall Street, it raises concerns in health care, where critics worry the pressure to turn big profits will influence life-or-death decisions that were once left solely to medical professionals. Nearly $1 trillion in private equity funds have gone into almost 8,000 health care transactions over the past decade, according to industry tracker PitchBook, including buying into medical staffing companies that many hospitals hire to manage their emergency departments. Two firms dominate the ER staffing industry: TeamHealth, bought by private equity firm Blackstone in 2016, and Envision Healthcare, bought by KKR in 2018. Trying to undercut these staffing giants is American Physician Partners, a rapidly expanding company that runs ERs in at least 17 states and is 50% owned by private equity firm BBH Capital Partners. These staffing companies have been among the most aggressive in replacing doctors to cut costs, said Dr. Robert McNamara, a founder of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and chair of emergency medicine at Temple University. Its a relatively simple equation, McNamara said. Their No. 1 expense is the board-certified emergency physician. So they are going to want to keep that expense as low as possible. Not everyone sees the trend of private equity in ER staffing in a negative light. Jennifer Orozco, president of the American Academy of Physician Associates, which represents physician assistants, said even if the change to use more nonphysician providers is driven by the staffing firms desire to make more money, patients are still well served by a team approach that includes nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Though I see that shift, its not about profits at the end of the day, Orozco said. Its about the patient. The shift is nearly invisible to patients because hospitals rarely promote branding from their ER staffing firms and there is little public documentation of private equity investments. Dr. Arthur Smolensky, a Tennessee emergency medicine specialist attempting to measure private equitys intrusion into ERs, said his review of hospital job postings and employment contracts in 14 major metropolitan areas found that 43% of ER patients were seen in ERs staffed by companies with nonphysician owners, nearly all of whom are private equity investors. Smolensky hopes to publish his full study, expanding to 55 metro areas, later this year. But this research will merely quantify what many doctors already know: The ER has changed. Demoralized by an increased focus on profit, and wary of a looming surplus of emergency medicine residents because there are fewer jobs to fill, many experienced doctors are leaving the ER on their own, he said. Most of us didnt go into medicine to supervise an army of people that are not as well trained as we are, Smolensky said. We want to take care of patients. I Guess Were the First Guinea Pigs for Our ER Joshua Allen, a nurse practitioner at a small Kentucky hospital, snaked a rubber hose through a rack of pork ribs to practice inserting a chest tube to fix a collapsed lung. It was 2020, and American Physician Partners was restructuring the ER where Allen worked, reducing shifts from two doctors to one. Once Allen had placed 10 tubes under a doctors supervision, he would be allowed to do it on his own. I guess were the first guinea pigs for our ER, he said. If we do have a major trauma and multiple victims come in, theres only one doctor there. We need to be prepared. Allen is one of many midlevel practitioners finding work in emergency departments. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are among the fastest-growing occupations in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Generally, they have masters degrees and receive several years of specialized schooling but have significantly less training than doctors. Many are permitted to diagnose patients and prescribe medication with little or no supervision from a doctor, although limitations vary by state. The Neiman Institute found that the share of ER visits in which a midlevel practitioner was the main clinician increased by more than 172% between 2005 and 2020. Another study, in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, reported that if trends continue there may be equal numbers of midlevel practitioners and doctors in ERs by 2030. There is little mystery as to why. Federal data shows emergency medicine doctors are paid about $310,000 a year on average, while nurse practitioners and physician assistants earn less than $120,000. Generally, hospitals can bill for care by a midlevel practitioner at 85% the rate of a doctor while paying them less than half as much. Private equity can make millions in the gap. For example, Envision once encouraged ERs to employ the least expensive resource and treat up to 35% of patients with midlevel practitioners, according to a 2017 PowerPoint presentation. The presentation drew scorn on social media and disappeared from Envisions website. Envision declined a request for a phone interview. In a written statement to KHN, spokesperson Aliese Polk said the company does not direct its physician leaders on how to care for patients and called the presentation a concept guide that does not represent current views. American Physician Partners touted roughly the same staffing strategy in 2021 in response to the No Surprises Act, which threatened the companys profits by outlawing surprise medical bills. In its confidential pitch to lenders, the company estimated it could cut almost $6 million by shifting more staffing from physicians to midlevel practitioners. 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). Nonprofit hospitals are fighting Montanas attempt to boost oversight of the ways they claim they provide benefits to their communities in exchange for millions of dollars in tax breaks. Its the latest clash in a national struggle between policymakers and the industry over whether hospitals charitable giving is enough to justify their tax-exempt status. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services officials have asked state lawmakers to pass a bill authorizing the agency to create standards and reporting requirements for the community benefits nonprofit hospitals report, saying the information collected now is insufficient. Montana hospitals get state and federal tax breaks each year with little oversight of how thats earned. The Montana Hospital Association opposes the bill despite initially saying it would support the measure if it didnt conflict with federal rules. Now, the association is seeking changes to the bill that state officials said would actually shrink the departments oversight, gutting the bill of its original purpose. The Montana debate illustrates a power struggle playing out nationally between state policymakers who want more of a watchdog role and tax-exempt hospitals resistant to added oversight, said Ge Bai, a professor of accounting and health policy at Johns Hopkins University who studies hospital giving. There is a question of whether they are nonprofits or for-profit in disguise, Bai said. The fundamental issue is the contract between taxpayers and nonprofit hospitals. Were witnessing a national trend that this contract has been overlooked for a long time. More than half of acute care hospitals in the United States are nonprofit hospitals, which must record community benefits such as covering a patients bill or offering mental health services at a loss with the IRS for their tax exemptions. But federal rules around how hospitals tally charitable acts are broad, with oversight lacking. Pressure for more transparency has mounted as about 6 in 10 adults in the U.S. with household incomes below $40,000 have medical debt, and altogether Americans owe an estimated $195 billion or more. Brenton Craggs, the Montana health departments information and regulatory affairs coordinator, said in a Jan. 25 legislative committee hearing that some of the changes the hospital association proposed would limit information the state could collect from hospitals to reports they already submit to the federal government. Those documents have too few details for the agency to discern whether what nonprofit hospitals count as aid improves the health of their communities, he said. We want transparency and we want accountability, Craggs said. Twenty-five states have outlined some community benefit requirements through state laws, though those rules can be broad. For example, Montana requires all hospitals to have a charity care policy consistent with industry standards. Just five states Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah have set minimum standards for hospitals to maintain their tax-exempt status. Bai is among national researchers who have argued that federal standards for community benefits are too broad. She said tax-exempt organizations can count things that are part of normal business as community health improvement, such as renting billboards to outline treatment options, or holding a news conference to announce a hospital expansion even though both double as advertising. Despite their charitable status, nonprofit health systems often accumulate millions of dollars in assets and can become the biggest business in town. Additionally, a national 2021 study showed nonprofit hospitals actually spent less on services for patients unable to afford care than did for-profit hospitals. Some of Montanas wealthiest tax-exempt hospitals lag behind state and national averages in charitable giving, according to a KHN analysis of the hospitals IRS filings. A 2020 audit found that the way hospitals fill out community benefit reports varies, reducing transparency. The audit in part blamed the broad federal rules and called for increased state oversight. The bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Bob Keenan, would require the health department to define what hospitals can count as a community benefit, detail how they must report their giving, and create penalties for hospitals that fall short. When the state first proposed setting standards for the charitable contributions, Montana Hospital Association representatives said they would work with officials. In the Jan. 25 hearing before lawmakers, Duane Preshinger, an association vice president, said it opposes the bill because it couldnt come to an agreement with the state. Preshinger said that the bill would increase hospitals administrative burden and that hospitals are already highly regulated by the federal government. All the information the state needs is in the documents hospitals submit to the IRS, he said. In the past, association leaders and hospital administrators have said those documents arent a fair measuring stick to compare hospitals community benefit because there has been so much variety in filling out the reports. Bob Olsen, interim president and CEO of the association, said hospitals generally support the effort to clarify and standardize community benefit reporting practices. In recent years, the association worked with hospitals to create reporting standards that align with federal requirements. That led to a handbook for members and a goal for hospitals in the state to uniformly report their benefits under self-imposed standards. The association didnt expand or change the federal criteria but created new tools, examples, and answers to common questions about how to fill out the reports. Olsen said the association launched a training series in January for hospitals on how to use the guidebook. Olsen said Montanas 48 nonprofit hospitals provided $435 million in community benefits in 2019, according to a recent study commissioned by the American Hospital Association. Still, hospitals agree there is room to improve reporting and have taken their own steps to do so, he said. Craggs, with the state health department, said that as the law stands the agency could have created standards without legislation, but it wanted to show it intends to work with hospitals to outline ways to collect more information without creating unnecessary burdens. We dont want to scare away the hospital association. Wed rather bring them to the table and have these conversations, Craggs said. But there are issues. As of early February, at least one lawmaker has sided with the hospital association. Republican Rep. Ed Buttrey requested an amendment that largely mirrors the associations requests. Buttrey is chair of the board of directors of Benefis Health System, one of the states largest nonprofit hospital systems. 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). This month and next month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Mississippi Valley will offer free educational programs for families who may need advice or knowledge on how to properly communicate with and advocate for any loved ones living with a mental health condition. From 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, Muscatine Community College will host NAMI Family & Friends Seminar at Strahan Classroom 8. During this seminar, topics such as understanding diagnoses, treatment and recovery, communication strategies, the importance of self-care and various crisis preparation strategies. Then, starting Tuesday, March 7, NAMI will hold an eight-week free education program called NAMI Family-to-Family at Muscatine Community College. This course is meant to go more in-depth with topics that can help family members and significant others support their adult loved ones who may be living with a mental health condition. Some of the course topics that will be discussed over the eight weeks include family response to trauma, diagnosis and dealing with critical periods, problem solving, communication skills and self-care for caregivers. Additionally, the course is going to be taught by trained family members who can offer experience based on their own lives alongside the planned material. According to Laurie Edge, education and support programs coordinator for NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley, 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begins by age 14, and 75% of these illnesses begin by age 24. Based on how long it may take for adults to receive help for their mental health illnesses, in some cases taking over a decade to be received, this in turn makes the help and support received from family and loved ones all the more important to those dealing with mental health issues. The sooner families can find help, the better the chance for recovery, Edge stated. NAMI offers programs to help family members understand how to support their loved ones and gain access to help. To register for either program, visit https://eicc.edu/nami. To learn more about NAMIs other programs, visit www.namigmv.org. President Joe Biden ordered US warplanes to shoot down another mysterious object, this time near Lake Huron on Sunday, "out of abundance of caution," a senior administration official said. The target of the fourth such intervention in just over a week -- described as an octagonal structure with strings hanging off it -- was not deemed to be a military threat to anything on the ground, but it could have posed a hazard to civil aviation as it flew at about 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) over Michigan, the official said. WASHINGTON After seeing promising results in Eastern Europe, Google will initiate a new campaign in Germany that aims to make people more resilient to the corrosive effects of online misinformation. The tech giant plans to release a series of short videos highlighting the techniques common to many misleading claims. The videos will appear as advertisements on platforms like Facebook, YouTube or TikTok in Germany. A similar campaign in India is also in the works. It's an approach called prebunking, which involves teaching people how to spot false claims before they encounter them. The strategy is gaining support among researchers and tech companies. "There's a real appetite for solutions," said Beth Goldberg, head of research and development at Jigsaw, an incubator division of Google that studies emerging social challenges. "Using ads as a vehicle to counter a disinformation technique is pretty novel. And we're excited about the results." While belief in falsehoods and conspiracy theories isn't new, the speed and reach of the internet has given them a heightened power. When catalyzed by algorithms, misleading claims can discourage people from getting vaccines, spread authoritarian propaganda, foment distrust in democratic institutions and spur violence. It's a challenge with few easy solutions. Journalistic fact checks are effective, but they're labor intensive, aren't read by everyone, and won't convince those already distrustful of traditional journalism. Content moderation by tech companies is another response, but it only drives misinformation elsewhere, while prompting cries of censorship and bias. Prebunking videos, by contrast, are relatively cheap and easy to produce and can be seen by millions when placed on popular platforms. They also avoid the political challenge altogether by focusing not on the topics of false claims, which are often cultural lightning rods, but on the techniques that make viral misinformation so infectious. Those techniques include fear-mongering, scapegoating, false comparisons, exaggeration and missing context. Whether the subject is COVID-19, mass shootings, immigration, climate change or elections, misleading claims often rely on one or more of these tricks to exploit emotions and short-circuit critical thinking. Last fall, Google launched the largest test of the theory so far with a prebunking video campaign in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The videos dissected different techniques seen in false claims about Ukrainian refugees. Many of those claims relied on alarming and unfounded stories about refugees committing crimes or taking jobs away from residents. The videos were seen 38 million times on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter a number that equates to a majority of the population in the three nations. Researchers found that compared to people who hadn't seen the videos, those who did watch were more likely to be able to identify misinformation techniques, and less likely to spread false claims to others. The pilot project was the largest test of prebunking so far and adds to a growing consensus in support of the theory. "This is a good news story in what has essentially been a bad news business when it comes to misinformation," said Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise, a media literacy initiative of the Poynter Institute that has incorporated prebunking into its own programs in countries including Brazil, Spain, France and the U.S. Mahadevan called the strategy a "pretty efficient way to address misinformation at scale, because you can reach a lot of people while at the same time address a wide range of misinformation." Google's new campaign in Germany will include a focus on photos and videos, and the ease with which they can be presented of evidence of something false. One example: Last week, following the earthquake in Turkey, some social media users shared video of the massive explosion in Beirut in 2020, claiming it was actually footage of a nuclear explosion triggered by the earthquake. Tech companies like prebunking because it avoids touchy topics that are easily politicized, said Sander van der Linden, a University of Cambridge professor considered a leading expert on the theory. Van der Linden worked with Google on its campaign and is now advising Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, as well. But together with traditional journalism, content moderation and other methods of combating misinformation, prebunking could help communities reach a kind of herd immunity when it comes to misinformation, limiting its spread and impact. "You can think of misinformation as a virus. It spreads. It lingers. It can make people act in certain ways," Van der Linden told the AP. "Some people develop symptoms, some do not. So: if it spreads and acts like a virus, then maybe we can figure out how to inoculate people." CHARLESTON, S.C. Few have navigated the turbulent politics of the Trump era like Nikki Haley. In early 2016, the then-South Carolina governor said she was "embarrassed" by candidate Donald Trump and decried his reluctance to condemn white supremacists. Nine months later, she agreed to join his Cabinet, serving as a key validator as Trump sought to win over skeptical world leaders and voters at home. Shortly after Trump left the White House, Haley, whose resume by then included an ambassadorship to the United Nations, vowed not to step in the way if he ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Yet on Wednesday, she is poised to become the first major Republican candidate to enter the race against him. "It's going to be quite the high-wire act," said veteran Republican strategist Terry Sullivan. "She says she's always been an underdog. She will be again." Haley may be the first to take on Trump, but a half-dozen or more high-profile Republicans are expected to join the GOP's 2024 presidential nomination contest over the coming months. Some would-be competitors may be more popular than Haley even in South Carolina, where she lives and established a campaign headquarters. Likely rivals include Sen. Tim Scott, a fellow South Carolinian and perhaps the most celebrated elected official in a state where Trump already locked up endorsements from the governor and its senior senator, Lindsey Graham. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence could also be formidable foes should they run, as widely expected. Indeed, on the eve of this week's announcement, there is broad agreement that Haley the only Republican woman of color expected in the 2024 contest is about to be tested as never before. Trump stepped up his attacks on Haley in recent weeks. But allies describe the former governor, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, as a savvy executive uniquely positioned to lead a new generation of Republicans. Perhaps more than anyone this young presidential primary season, Haley personifies the Republican Party's shifting views on Trump. Her reversal on whether to challenge the former president was based less on concerns about his divisive leadership or policy disagreements than the growing belief within the GOP that Trump is losing political strength. Haley, like the vast majority of her party, largely supported Trump even after he inspired a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. It wasn't until Trump-backed candidates across several key states lost in last fall's midterm elections that a wave of high-profile Republicans began to openly weigh 2024 bids against him. New York-based Republican donor Eric Levine says he's convinced that another Trump Republican nomination would lead to his party's destruction. Haley, he said, is among the three favorite Trump alternatives. "I think as a woman of color and a daughter of legal immigrants from India, she'd give the Democratic Party no reason to exist. All their woke crap goes out the window," Levine said. "I think she's a spectacular candidate." Haley's announcement will take place Wednesday in Charleston, the historic coastal city where her campaign will be based. Almost immediately, she'll travel to meet voters in New Hampshire and Iowa. She entrusted her campaign to a collection of senior staff led by longtime aides. Betsy Ankney, who heads up Haley's PAC, will manage the campaign, with the PAC's development director, Mary Kate Johnson, as finance director, Haley's team told The Associated Press. Longtime Haley adviser Chaney Denton and Nachama Soloveichik, who was a spokeswoman for recently retired Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, will head up communications. Strategist Jon Lerner will serve as senior adviser, and Barney Keller of Jamestown Associates will be Haley's media consultant. For Haley, this week's launch marks a significant step on a long road that began in South Carolina's "Good Old Boys Club," she wrote in a Friday fundraising appeal. "People thought I was too brown too female too young too conservative too principled," she wrote. Born in 1972 in rural South Carolina, Haley has long spoken of a Southern rural childhood in which she felt she didn't fit. She was raised in the Sikh faith with a mother who wore traditional saris, and a father clad in a turban. "Nikki has been regularly underestimated," said Catherine Templeton, a Republican who served Haley in two roles, leading South Carolina's labor and public health agencies. "But it makes her work harder." WASHINGTON As Indonesia's fisheries minister, Edhy Prabowo was tasked with protecting one of his country's most precious resources: baby lobsters so tiny one can fit on the tip of a finger. The waters off the nation's many islands and archipelagos once teemed with lobster. But overfishing in recent decades decimated the crustacean's population, so much so that fishermen turned to catching the hatchlings. They scooped them up by the thousands and shipped them to Vietnamese lobster farms, where the babies are raised to adulthood and sold mostly to dealers in China to meet its enormous demand for seafood. Concerned that such harvesting was harming lobster populations, Indonesia's fishing ministry in 2016 prohibited the export of the tiny crustaceans. Shortly after taking office, Prabowo lifted the ban. Court documents show that just a month later, in June 2020, the minister accepted a $77,000 bribe from a seafood supplier to grant it a permit to sell the hatchlings abroad. The money kept flowing. In his short stint as minister, Prabowo accepted bribes of nearly $2 million. He was arrested in 2020 by Indonesian authorities, having used the graft to purchase 26 road bikes, Old Navy children's clothes, Louis Vuitton bags, Rolex watches and two luxury pens. Prabowo, 50, was sentenced to five years in prison for corruption. His attorney declined to comment. Prabowo's case is not an outlier. At least 45 government officials were accused of corruption in the past two decades, the AP found. The allegations range from high-ranking officials like Prabowo, accepting large payments from fishing companies to obtain lucrative contracts, to low-level civil servants accepting a few thousand dollars to ignore fishermen bringing illegal catch ashore. "Fisheries corruption can have devastating impacts on marine ecosystems and local communities that may depend on them," said Ben Freitas, manager of ocean policy at the World Wildlife Fund, based in Washington. "It is a global problem." The situation is most critical in areas managed by developing nations because many industrialized countries already overfished their own waters, forcing their trawlers to go afar. Many coastal developing countries depend on fish for millions of jobs and to feed their people. Those wishing to conceal their operations or pay bribes to get around restrictions have found fishing to be a welcoming industry. "The lack of accountability, I think, is even greater in the fisheries sector than it is in other environmental-related activities," said Juhani Grossmann at the Basel Institute on Governance, which is working on anti-corruption efforts with Indonesia's fishing ministry. The AP review found that most cases of corruption and graft were low-level schemes, like one in India in which prosecutors last year alleged two fisheries officers extorted $1,100 to approve subsidies for a fish farm. Another involved fishermen said to have bribed Malaysian officers with at least $11,000 for every boat they agreed not to report. But some involve global financial institutions. In 2021, the Swiss bank Credit Suisse admitted to fraudulently financing a massive loan to Mozambique to expand its tuna fishing fleet. A contractor handling the loan paid kickbacks of $150 million to Mozambican government officials. And in the "Fishrot" scandal, Namibian authorities allege the Icelandic seafood company Samherji paid roughly $6 million in bribes to Namibian officials to be permitted to fish in the country's waters. Samherji denied committing crimes. Stephen Akester, a fisheries management adviser who has worked in Africa and South Asia for four decades, cited a long history of foreign companies particularly from China forging corrupt relationships with fisheries officials. "They exploited the weakness of these governments for whom any kind of revenue was big money, even small dollars," he said. "And that still continues today." In Gambia, a small West African nation nestled along Senegal's coast, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources, Bamba Banja, was charged in 2021 with accepting a bribe from a Chinese company to free a vessel detained for illegal fishing. The case is ongoing; Banja's lawyer told AP that the fisheries secretary denies any wrongdoing. Corruption is not limited to developing countries. Malta's fisheries director in 2019 was linked to a criminal network that sought to launder illegally caught bluefin tuna that arrived in Spain from Italy and Malta via French ports. The newspaper El Confidencial said Spanish police intercepted a phone call in which the director was heard telling a tuna magnate, "You have to pay me." Malta's fisheries ministry said the director was on unpaid leave. The cases reviewed by AP likely represent a small fraction of the corruption that takes place daily as seafood is transported and sold around the world. A freeze watch has been issued for the San Francisco Bay Area for Wednesday morning when temperatures could fall as low as the upper 20s in interior valleys, according to the National Weather Service. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. The freeze watch begins at 2 a.m. and ends at 9 a.m. Outside of the interior valleys, temperatures could fall to 30 degrees. People who are unsheltered and marginally sheltered will be at risk, weather officials said. The low temperatures could kill crops and other vegetation and damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Residents are urged to start now to protect plants and outdoor water pipes. Pipes should be wrapped and drained or allowed to drip slowly. People with in-ground sprinkler systems should drain the systems and cover above-ground pipes. Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, February 12, 2023 Aram Nikolyan: My only desire is to ensure that Azerbaijan's flag doesn't fly in Yerevan IMF and World Bank unable to reach agreement on communique Biden demands stricter protection of secret information Most destructive games: What games cause people to break phones and walls? 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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 The 12th protest against pension reform takes place in France Russia MOD: No ceasefire violations recorded in Karabakh during last 24 hours Lemkin Institute issues statement on Azerbaijan noncompliance with ICJ order to unblock Lachin corridor MFA: Shushi is Artsakhs integral part in territorial, cultural, economic, historical aspects Bankrupt FTX may resume work: It has recovered $7.3 billion in assets 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 What kind of photos does the world's most expensive camera phone Xiaomi 13 Ultra take? 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? Astrophotographer captures 100,000 km high 'plasma waterfall' on Sun Kev Orkian speaks about latest Azerbaijan military aggression against Armenia 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 NHL: Stanley Cup playoff participants are decided 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 Europa League: Matches of the day Champions League: Real beat Chelsea, Milan defeat Napoli (PHOTOS, VIDEOS) 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 The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will not get the much-discussed new technology 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 The airborne object that the US military shot down over Lake Huron on Sunday was "a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities," the US Department of Defense said in a statement. "Based on its flight path and data we can reasonably connect this object to the radar signal picked up over Montana, which flew in proximity to sensitive DOD sites," the statement reads. "We did not assess it to be a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground, but assess it was a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities," the Pentagon added. According to the statement, the object was shot down by an F-16 aircraft "at the direction of President Biden, and based on the recommendations of Secretary [of Defense] Austin and military leadership." "The location chosen for this shoot down afforded us the opportunity to avoid impact to people on the ground while improving chances for debris recovery. There are no indications of any civilians hurt or otherwise affected," the Pentagon said, adding: "Our team will now work to recover the object in an effort to learn more." Reuters reported earlier, citing a US official, that the US military had shot down an octagonal object over Lake Huron. A Pentagon spokesperson said on Friday that a US F-22 fighter jet had shot down an unidentified object flying over Alaska. On Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter that the North American Aerospace Defense Command had shot down an unidentified object over northern Canada. Pentagon Spokesperson Patrick Ryder specified that the object had been initially detected over Alaska. The US authorities earlier identified a Chinese balloon at an altitude exceeding the norm for commercial flights, which posed no threat to people on the ground. On February 4, the US Air Force downed what the Pentagon said was a spy balloon collecting vital information in US airspace. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his visit to China over the incident. For two months now, Azerbaijan, resorting to criminal and terroristic actions, has been keeping around 120,000 people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) under blockade, aiming at carrying out ethnic cleansing in Artsakh. The latters president, Arayik Harutyunyan, wrote about this on Facebook. He added as follows: This illegal blockade contradicts all the norms of international law and the obligations assumed by Azerbaijan, including those within the framework of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020. The blockade, based on the Azerbaijani state policy of racial hatred against Armenians, is all-encompassing: it deprives 120,000 citizens of Artsakh of natural access to food, energy, healthcare and other vital goods and services, and is, therefore, a serious, deliberate and massive attack on the right to life and other rights of our compatriots. Since January 20, in order to solve the acute food shortage caused by the blockade, the Artsakh government has been forced to restrict access to food by introducing coupons: one kilogram of rice, buckwheat, pasta, sugar and vegetable oil per person per month, the scope of which will be increased in the near future. Azerbaijan exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh by disrupting the electricity and gas supplies in harsh winter conditions. Due to problems with heating and food, all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in the country have been closed, depriving about 20,000 children and adolescents of the country of the opportunity to receive education. The work of many economic enterprises has also been suspended, leaving thousands of citizens unemployed. The construction of about 3,700 apartments and houses intended for people forcibly displaced from the territories occupied by Azerbaijan, as well as other construction works, have been halted. Scheduled surgeries in medical institutions have been cancelled, jeopardising the health and lives of around 600 citizens. We are grateful to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the RF peacekeeping mission for their efforts to ensure the transfer of about 90 persons in critical health conditions to Armenia, to reunite dozens of separated families and to transport the minimum amount of food to Artsakh that allows us to prevent famine in the country. However, the situation remains unbearable amid severe shortage of food, medicine and other essentials, continuous disruption of gas and electricity supplies, separation of thousands of families, collapse of the economy and other crisis conditions. We welcome the clear appeals of the executive and legislative authorities of many countries, as well as international organizations, to Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally lift the blockade. Those demands and positions, however, are ineffective in the conditions of Azerbaijan's fanatical and hateful intransigence. This is why the international community must act, as it has done in other regions when there are early warning signs of genocide. We appeal primarily to Russia, the USA and France, which co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as to all members of the international community, to jointly or individually take effective measures to open Artsakhs road of life and prevent new crimes. In that context, we urge them to impose sanctions against all perpetrators and supporters of crimes against the people of Artsakh, and the state of Azerbaijan, among other sanctions, by banning them from entering their own territories and freezing their movable and immovable properties in their countries. Azerbaijan's attempted ethnic cleansing of the people of Artsakh complies with the legal concept of crimes against humanity (erga omnes). Its prevention is a moral, legal and political obligation binding on all signatories of the United Nations Charter. Therefore, it is the duty of every member of the international community to do their best to protect the people of Artsakh and their dignified life in their own homeland. Aram Nikolyan: My only desire is to ensure that Azerbaijan's flag doesn't fly in Yerevan IMF and World Bank unable to reach agreement on communique Biden demands stricter protection of secret information Moodys reaffirms "Export Insurance Agency of Armenia"s rating The newly appointed Human Rights Defender conducted fact-finding activities in Tegh village Armenia ambassador to Canada, newly elected mayor of Ottawa discuss cooperation Investigative Committee: Criminal proceeding launched into wounded soldiers case Woman who threw umbrella at Armenia premier is charged Zakharova responds to Armenia parliament majority faction secretary: They probably mistranslated it to him shamshyan.com: Man found dead, car found on train tracks in Yerevan Matviyenko: Russia hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed soon as possible Armenia, Russia FMs discuss matter of Yerevan-Baku relations normalization Smart solution from AraratBank: electric car loans at an interest rate starting at 9% Armenian legislature speaker: We call on international community to clearly condemn Azerbaijan aggressive actions Ameriabank CEO Artak Hanesyan sums up Triple Best campaign: We believe in potential of our team, Armenia Armenia MOD: Soldier wounded by own weapon Karabakh NSS deputy director, head of presidential Central Information Department are dismissed Armenia official: I wouldn't call this a vector change, I would call it a search for certain security guarantees Armenia parliament speaker expresses concern to Ashimbayev regarding Kazakhstan collaboration with Azerbaijan Armenia, Russia FMs meet in Uzbekistan GeoProMining Gold develops social cooperation with Ararat region Armenia Security Council chief briefs OSCE Minsk Group US co-chair on Azerbaijan provocation near Tegh village CIS FMs next meeting slated for October in Kyrgyzstan Armenia Security Council secretary: International presence needed to resolve many security issues in Karabakh Armenia ruling force lawmaker: PMs orders are mandatory for execution Armenia police hand over Azerbaijani found in Kapan city area to National Security Service Security Council head on CSTO: Not possible that Armenia be offered arms, ammunition help and it refuses Armenia ruling force MP to Zakharova: If we hadn't fought, given casualties, Russia MFA could call as much as it wants USD depreciating against several other major currencies Armenia Security Council chief on Azerbaijan border stability: We expect Brussels to take appropriate steps Armenia Security Council head: There were arrangements with Azerbaijan but most of them were broken CIS FMs to hold meeting in Uzbekistan Armenia Security Council chief: Azerbaijan is preparing for military escalation Newspaper: Army General Staff chief admits that Tegh village incident was Armenian sides omission as well Armenia MOD: Sanitary vehicle staff not hospitalized shamshyan.com: Armenia MOD driver, 2 medical assistants hospitalized after truck, MOD sanitary vehicle collide 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 The 12th protest against pension reform takes place in France Russia MOD: No ceasefire violations recorded in Karabakh during last 24 hours Lemkin Institute issues statement on Azerbaijan noncompliance with ICJ order to unblock Lachin corridor 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 The U.S. military shot down a flying object over Lake Huron near the U.S.-Canada border, U.S. officials said on Sunday, in the fourth such interception by American fighters this month. Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the military had shot down the object. Separately, U.S. Representative Jack Bergman said an object had been "decommissioned." Meanwhile, Canadian investigators are hunting for the wreckage of an unidentified flying object that was shot down by a U.S. jet over Yukon territory on Saturday. "Recovery teams are on the ground, looking to find and analyze the object," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Sunday. "The security of citizens is our top priority and that's why I made the decision to have that unidentified object shot down," he said, adding that it had posed a danger to civilian aircraft. North America has been on high alert for aerial intrusions following the appearance of a white, eye-catching Chinese airship over American skies earlier this month. The 200-foot-tall (60-meter-high) balloon - which Americans have accused Beijing of using to spy on the United States - caused an international incident, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call off a planned trip to China only hours before he was set to depart. Surveillance fears appear to have U.S. officials on high alert. Twice in 24 hours, U.S. officials closed airspace - only to reopen it swiftly. On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration briefly closed space above Lake Michigan. On Saturday, the U.S. military scrambled fighter jets in Montana to investigate a radar anomaly there. U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat who represents a district in Michigan, said the military had an "extremely close eye" on an object above Lake Huron, which is east of Lake Michigan on the U.S.-Canada border. Canada also closed airspace on Sunday near Tobermory, Ontario, which is on Lake Huron near the U.S. border, according to Nav Canada, a private non-profit that operates Canada's air traffic control system. China denies the first balloon was being used for surveillance and says it was a civilian research craft. It condemned the United States for shooting it down off the coast of South Carolina last Saturday. With military and intelligence officials newly focused on airborne threats, at least two other flying objects have since been destroyed over North America. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told U.S. broadcaster ABC that U.S. officials think the two latest objects were also balloons. The original balloon was brought down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. A second was shot down over sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska, on Friday. The third was destroyed over the Yukon on Saturday. "They believe they were (balloons), yes, but much smaller than the first one," Schumer said. The White House said only that the recently downed objects "did not closely resemble" the Chinese balloon, echoing Schumer's description of them as "much smaller." "We will not definitively characterize them until we can recover the debris, which we are working on," a spokesperson said. Schumer said he was confident U.S. investigators scouring the ocean off South Carolina to recover debris and electronic gadgetry from the original balloon would get to the bottom of what it was being used for. Starting from September 1, Russian medical institutions will be allowed to repair equipment with non-original spare parts and components, Kommersant newspaper reported on Monday, February 13, referring to the draft order of Roszdravnadzor. As the newspaper notes, the agency fears the introduction of Western sanctions against the Russian healthcare industry, one of the last still unaffected by the restrictions amid Russia's war against Ukraine. At the same time, most of the high-tech medical equipment in Russian hospitals and clinics is manufactured abroad and must be regularly exported for repairs abroad. For example, X-ray tubes for computer tomographs must be replaced every year and a half, but their main manufacturers are companies from the Netherlands, Germany, the United States and Japan, and cooperation with them may not be possible if new sanctions are imposed, the newspaper points out. As Kommersant notes, so far Russian state clinics have had no problems with exporting medical equipment for repair abroad. At the same time, according to one of the newspaper sources, in summer 2022 one of the Swiss manufacturers of ventilators refused to service ventilators already delivered to Russia in one of the major Moscow clinics. In the spring of 2022, the Russian government banned the export of a number of goods, including medical equipment, from the country. Then the Ministry of Health said that companies can get a temporary permission to take medical equipment out of the country for repairs. At the same time the return of medical equipment to Russia can also be complicated, for example, if the repair requires components of the category of dual-use goods, such as chips. In order to avoid the risks of non-return, the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Health Care and Social Development suggested allowing the use of components not provided by the manufacturer for repair and maintenance of medical equipment in Russia. According to experts, a significant portion of medical equipment in Russia is still serviced by non-certified service centers, but they can only provide standard parts. High-tech medical equipment often consists of unique elements, the technology for the creation of which only the manufacturer knows, and it will take several years to recreate it. In addition, the development of their own components or models of medical equipment will be more expensive than buying them abroad, according to Kommersant. According to the analytical company MEDITEX, the share of domestic producers in the Russian market is now no more than 30 percent. Most medical equipment, according to IMEDA, especially CT scanners, MRIs and ultrasound machines, is manufactured in Europe, Asia and the United States. Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin warned about the consequences of involving the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in the settlement process in Nagorno-Karabakh, he said during a meeting with Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova. According to him, the situation must be thoroughly thought over before calling on the European Parliament and PACE. "We need to answer: and in general, with the participation of the European Parliament, PACE any acute issue or conflict situation have been resolved?" explained Volodin, quoted by the website of the State Duma. In his turn, the Duma Speaker warned against attempts to involve European structures, in particular, the European Parliament and PACE, in the solution of the situation in the region, reminding what their activities in Ukraine had led to. Vyacheslav Volodin stressed that the settlement of the conflict should be based on the agreement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia. "Let us proceed from the fact that there is a decision taken at the level of the heads of states - Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation. We will be guided by it and from our side we will do everything to implement these agreements," said Vyacheslav Volodin. "And those who make statements in the direction of European institutions, can simply lose the country." "Before you call for the European Parliament to be involved in the solution of certain issues, you should answer: were any acute issues or conflicts resolved with the participation of the European Parliament or the PACE? There is no example of this," said the Chairman of the State Duma. "Look at what happened in Ukraine and what statements were made by German Chancellor Merkel and then French President Hollande. As it turns out now, they fooled the whole world, they lied, they deceived, and they themselves were preparing for war." "Where is Ukraine now? Today Ukrainians are expendable material, a country that is simply stuffed with weapons. A huge number of people die, statehood is lost, culture is lost, religion is trampled, the church is divided, the language offered is English - inter-ethnic communication. The result is a colony of the United States of America," said Vyacheslav Volodin. "Just as the U.S. under the guise of goodwill and a desire to help reduced everything to the destruction of Yugoslavia. By the way, when a peaceful Belgrade was bombed, no European Parliament or PACE intervened in this situation," the Speaker of the State Duma reminded. "Therefore, if we want to involve the European Parliament and PACE, we should think 10 times and weigh up what this may result in, using Ukraine, Yugoslavia and other countries as an example. Those who want peace, who want to settle the situation, must not just stay away from these quasi-parliaments - the PACE and European Parliament - but clearly understand that their involvement will aggravate the situation, will create more and more problems. And if they do this, they must bear responsibility for the consequences," stressed Vyacheslav Volodin. Eagle Hills Muscat, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi developer Eagle Hills and Oman-based Izz International, has announced that its premium project - The Residences at Mandarin Oriental - has been approved as an integrated tourism complex (ITC). Omans first luxury branded residences - The Residences at Mandarin Oriental - comprise 156 exclusive homes at Mandarin Oriental with a mix of three-bedroom luxury apartments and four-bedroom penthouses. Strategically located in Shati Al Qurum area, the Mandarin Oriental hotel will open by the end of this year. The development introduces a new concept of luxury living to the sultanate, providing the first branded offering in the heart of Muscat. Eagle Hills Muscat said the residents will benefit from outstanding facilities including 24-hour concierge, a private drop-off area, valet parking, an exclusive residents-only lounge, an expansive beachfront and a waterfront sanctuary boasting multiple retail and food and beverage outlet. The project is aligned with Omans 2040 Tourism Strategy of attracting 11.6 million visitors and raising the tourism sectors GDP contribution to over 6% by 2040, it stated. According to experts, the ITCs are opening up Omans real estate sector, as they allow foreign investors to own freehold property and get a residence visa based on this ownership. These complexes are gaining popularity due to their luxurious facilities, better security and prime locations. As an ITC, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental will welcome international buyers and expatriates, offering them inspired community living in the heart of Muscat, they added.-TradeArabia News Service Leading Sharjah developer Arada has successfully closed a $50 million second tap of its existing $450 million sukuk, which was issued last June and listed on the London Stock Exchange. The five-year tap is the UAE developers third approach to the capital markets in the last nine months and the investor reoffer yield was 8.488%. Mashreq acted as sole manager and bookrunner for the second tap. Arada's second tap follows a first tap executed in October 2022 for $100 million. At that time, the Emirati group had received an exceptional response from international debt capital markets, which led to an oversubscribed transaction with orders of $185 million. As part of Arada's continuing investor engagement and interaction, more recently via extensive roadshows across the UK and GCC before the October tap, this tap issue was executed on the back of investor feedback and enquiries. Group Group Ahmed Alkhoshaibi said: "Were extremely happy to have achieved a size of $500 million on our inaugural sukuk via the last two tap transactions. This achievement is testament to the fact that investors have been tracking our story since May last year and have begun to appreciate and acknowledge our investor proposition, good governance record and credit strength." "Were especially pleased to have reached benchmark size of this instrument, which will further enhance the liquidity and trading of our paper. Id also like to put on record our thanks to Mashreq as the sole arranger on this tap, and for being part of all three transactions in our debut issuance," he noted. Aradas existing five-year fixed rate RegS debut Sukuk issuance was rated BB- by Fitch and B1 by Moodys. The proceeds for the sukuk will be used for general corporate purposes and to support development at Aradas existing projects, it added.-TradeArabia News Service More Chinese supplies heading for quake-hit Syria The first batch of Chinese supplies arrived in Damascus earlier. File photo: Xinhua China sent the second batch of supplies to earthquake-hit areas of Syria and has asked Chinese rescue teams that have not left for disaster zones in Turkey and Syria to cancel trips in order to ease the burden on rescue operations. The China Association for Disaster Prevention on Saturday called on Chinese rescue teams to cancel or suspend their trips to not increase the burden on hard-hit areas, and avoid risks due to inclement weather. Cotton tents, family kits, jackets and other daily necessities, as well as medical supplies, were being provided to Syria by the Red Cross Society of China, CCTV reported on Monday. China has already committed financial aid to Turkey and Syria, and has sent a number of rescue teams from several parts of the country, including 82 members dispatched by the Chinese government, as the death toll tops 33,000. China's 53 tonnes of tents to aid Turkey have arrived in Istanbul, CCTV said on late Sunday. Beijing has said more emergency aid is planned in the near future. Shipped on large cargo planes, according to video from CCTV, the tents will help aid in relief operations as rescues continue. The first batch of supplies from China's government, 40,000 blankets, arrived in Istanbul on Saturday, according to CCTV. The country is planning to send more medical equipment, including electrocardiogram machines, ultrasound diagnostic instrument, and medical vehicles and hospital beds, CCTV said. (Reuters) Protestors gather after Cambodian news outlet closed Ith Sothoeuth, media director of the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM), which oversees VOD, speaks to reporters. Photo: AFP A handful of protesters gathered in Phnom Penh on Monday to condemn the shutdown of one of Cambodia's last independent media outlets, with rights groups also decrying the portal's closure just months before national elections. Prime Minister Hun Sen who is among the world's longest-serving leaders ordered the shuttering of the online Khmer- and English-language outlet Voice of Democracy (VOD) on Sunday over what he said was an erroneous report about his eldest son. Outside the outlet's offices, protester Prum Chantha said: "It's only VOD that speaks about the truth... The government must not shut them down. They are cracking down (on VOD) so that other media outlets don't dare to rise up, to speak the truth." A dozen police officers blocked the road as information ministry officials delivered the closure notice. In the now-empty VOD studio, Ith Sothoeuth, media director of the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media which oversees VOD, told reporters: "For now we will stay silent. We hope that this is not the end of everything yet." In the run-up to the election later this year, Hun Sen has increasingly cracked down on dissent. Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday condemned the "outrageous and ridiculous order" to shut VOD, which "barely masks the government's real intent to further suppress media freedom". "Going after VOD is a good indication that (the) scheduled July 23 poll will be neither free nor fair," HRW deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said in a statement. VOD, which has broadcast since 2003, published a story on February 9 alleging that Hun Sen's son, Lieutenant General Hun Manet, had signed off on funds to help earthquake-hit Turkey. Hun Manet has denied the claim, with Hun Sen stating that he himself authorised the $100,000 relief package. The Cambodian leader demanded an apology from VOD, but has refused to reconsider his decision to revoke its licence even after the outlet complied. As of Monday afternoon, some Cambodian internet service providers had blocked access to the site. (AFP) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 13 (ANI/PRNewswire): FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC (earlier FTTH Council Asia-Pacific) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia Smart Cities Alliance at Malaysia (MSCA) today. The MoU entails collaborations in capacity building for sustainable and Smart Cities project performance evaluation, as well as exploring potential large market reach in IR 4.0 technologies-based education and training segments. The Council convened the country's leading telecommunication (telco) industry players at Malaysia FIBERTalk 2023 conference to discuss industry updates and address Fiber to Home challenges and opportunities in enabling 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) for Smart Cities. Along with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), responsible for regulating the industry, the event was attended by top executives from Telekom Malaysia, Celcom Digi and local government from Penang, Melaka and Selangor to discuss updates, trends, challenges and opportunities in the industry. "Keeping the future global prospects and inclusiveness of the industry in mind, we have re-branded the council to FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC to crystalize our message further and keep pace with the industry and forge a new growth path that will create a seamlessly connected future," said Venkatesan Babu, President FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC on the MoU. Adding to it, Dr Raslan Ahmad, Chairman of MSCA also said, "Next-generation technology like 5G and IoT are a key part of developing Smart Cities that require a lot of sensors communicating with each behind the scenes. For this to be in real time with low latency internet, a fiber solution integrated within the city's infrastructure is essential. We are committed towards creating the best in quality and delighted that FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC has taken the lead in championing an essential change for a truly smart global world of the future." The MoU between FIBER NETWORK COUNCIL APAC and MSCA, will enable the former to leverage on the latter's network of members to collectively drive collaborations in the development of Smart Cities. This will involve frequent exchange of knowledge, expertise, technologies and know-how to provide sustainable long-term telecommunication solutions to develop Smart Cities. All the above announcements were part of the Malaysia FIBERTalk 2023. This is a non-profit organization established in 2005 in Singapore. The organization is building on the success of its sister organizations in the US and Europe to educate the industry and the general public on the opportunities and benefits of Fiber Network solutions. The council members represent all areas of broadband industries, including telecommunications, computing, networking, system integration, engineering and content-provider companies, as well as traditional telecommunications service providers, utilities and municipalities. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], February 13 (ANI/PRNewswire): TUV Rheinland can start offering audits as part of the ICTI Ethical Toy Program (IETP) with immediate effect. The globally active testing service provider has now qualified to neutrally and independently audit companies' compliance with the standards defined by the IETP. To become part of the program, TUV Rheinland successfully went through a qualification process that included scrutinizing the quality of TUV Rheinland's audits and the company's own compliance systems. In the future, TUV Rheinland auditors will audit supplier companies in the toy industry, primarily in China and Southeast Asia. Compliance with social and environmental standards in the supply chain is becoming increasingly important, not least due to legal requirements. By getting certified according to the standards of the IETP, suppliers can show their customers that they reliably comply with the required social and environmental standards. The standards defined in the IETP deal, for example, with occupational safety, exclusion of child labor and all forms of modern slavery, and compliance with environmental regulations. The IETP is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 2004 to secure and improve ethical and sustainable standards in the global supply chain of the toy industry. Member companies include the likes of Mattel, Lego and Walmart. Further information on supply chain audits by TUV Rheinland is available at www.tuv.com/supply-chain-audits. TUV Rheinland stands for safety and quality in virtually all areas of business and life. The company has been operating for more than 150 years and ranks among the world's leading testing service providers. It has more than 20,000 employees in over 50 countries and generates annual revenues of around 2.1 billion euros. TUV Rheinland's highly qualified experts test technical systems and products around the world, support innovations in technology and business, train people in numerous professions and certify management systems according to international standards. In doing so, the independent experts generate trust in products as well as processes across global value-adding chains and the flow of commodities. Since 2006, TUV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website: www.tuv.com This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) Olaparib is indicated primarily for certain forms of ovarian, breast, pancreatic and prostrate cancer. It is marketed in the US by AstraZeneca under brand Lynparza. "NATCO and its co-development and marketing partner Alembic Pharmaceuticals believe that the ANDA is possibly sole first-to-file based on its filing date and may be eligible for 180 days of marketing exclusivity at the time of launch of the product," the pharma company said in a regulatory filing to the exchanges. In 2022, Lynparza has recorded sales of USD 1,226 million in the US market, the filing said, citing AstraZeneca results presentation. (ANI) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 13 (ANI/NewsVoir): Er. Kailash Joshi, a B.Tech graduate of IIT Kanpur and one of India's top math wizards, is the Founder of Joshi Classes. For over 25 years, Joshi Classes has been providing excellent instruction and a friendly atmosphere that encourages success at the highest level possible. The main objectives of Joshi Classes are conceptual clarity and nurturing students' abilities in a loving environment. When asked to students what is unique in his pedagogy, they replied, "Joshi Sir is a unique teacher who uses creative and innovative methods to teach mathematics. He encourages students to solve mathematical problems through visual aids, helping them to better understand the concepts. Instead of just solving pre-existing problems, he encourages students to develop their own problems and think critically about how to solve them. This approach fosters a love for learning and helps students to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. Joshi Sir's unique teaching methods have made a lasting impact on his students, inspiring them to approach mathematics with curiosity and creativity." 3EA, a highly-regarded global management consulting firm, has joined forces with Joshi Classes to launch an Advanced Placement (AP) programme named AP Calculus. The main aim of the program is to provide high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses and exams, and to prepare them for the rigors of college-level work. The program is designed to challenge students and help them develop the critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills necessary for success in college and beyond. The College Board administers the AP exam, often known as an advance placement exam, in particular areas. From high school onwards students applying in universities for undergraduate studies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Singapore, among other nations, can appear in Advance Placement admission exam. The AP exams are recognised by many prestigious institutions and colleges such as the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, John Hopkins University, Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Boston University. The collaboration between 3EA and Joshi Classes will provide students with access to the expertise and resources of both organizations. 3EA's experience in management consulting will support the implementation and execution of the program, while Joshi Classes' 25 years of experience in providing high-quality education and a friendly learning environment will ensure that students receive the best possible instruction and support. Dr Vibhor Misra, CEO of 3EA, stated that this course will be a great opportunity for students studying under different education boards in India, as they will be able to learn from Joshi's method, which will help them to have stress-free learning and enhance their mastery of various subjects. Er. Kailash Joshi's goal is to assist the following generation of learners by converting a demanding learning environment into one that encourages enjoyable learning. He believes that talent has no boundaries and may be found anywhere. He stated at a conference that in order for talent to thrive, it is necessary to recognize and develop one's skills. Advance placement exams are often administered in the first or second week of May and they include a variety of topics, including English, history, mathematics, physics, and a number of foreign languages. Each test's content is based on a particular course that is generally provided at colleges, and it is intended to measure the knowledge and abilities that students should have by the end of the course. Depending on the subject, the test's format can change, although it typically includes both multiple-choice and free-response questions. A 5-point system is used to grade AP tests. A score of three or above will be regarded as passing the test. The majority of foreign universities accept AP exam scores greater than 4. Even more stringent universities will not accept credits unless you receive a 5 out of 5. This partnership between 3EA and Joshi Classes is a significant step towards providing high school students with access to high-quality education and preparing them for the challenges of college-level work. With the support and resources of both organizations, students will have the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success in college and beyond. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) New Delhi [India], February 13 (ANI/PNN): NextBigBox, one of the leading SAAS-based Fintech of the current milieu, has launched its new CRM software to aid its customers further. The NextBigBox Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software intends to boost business leads, sales, and targeted services for customers. The CRM software from NextBigBox is designed to streamline a business's services to its target customers and cater promptly to their requirements. The software can facilitate automated messaging, which is crucial in keeping up with lead generation and customer feedback. CRM alias Customer Relationship Management is a one-stop tool to enhance business relations. It is technically advanced software with numerous tools and features that co-ordinates a company's business relations with previous and potential customers. An efficient CRM system or software can track the progress in a business's customer relationship, consider the feedback closely, monitor the customer behaviour pattern, and devise appropriate strategies to boost customer engagement. An ideal CRM software makes sure to record crucial information regarding the customers and purchases, collect potential contact information, identify possible business opportunities, carry out marketing campaigns, record and provide remedies to customer complaints, etc. The clear overview offered by the CRM software on the customers helps with the policy creation, marketing strategy development, etc., of a business. The CRM software about to be launched by NextBigBox incorporates all the essential features and tools of CRM and more. The NextBigBox CRM helps businesses to realize a personalized relationship with their customers. It also functions as an all-in-one tool that will contain all the necessary data for the operation of the business. The automated interface of the NextBigBox CRM is highly advanced and, thus, makes sure that businesses stay on top of their game, even offline. NextBigBox is a reputed Fintech company based in Delhi. The company specializes in devising and realizing efficient business solutions for companies, especially Fintech companies, in marketing and promoting their products and services. The experienced marketing team at NextBigBox excels in developing streamlined marketing plans and campaigns to boost business customer generation. They even assist business enthusiasts in set-up a company from scratch. NextBigBox stands out from the other digital marketing service providers for its sheer volume of services. From conception to taking off, their assistance can be availed by any business owner. The website building and related SEP services provided by NextBigBox are more than enough for any business to build up a positive online presence and profile. The team at NextBigBox is keen on promoting the growth of their client's businesses and establishing them as reputed brands. The latest addition of an able CRM software further ensures that the clients are provided with top-tier marketing services. The activities and projects at NextBigBox are overseen and monitored under the efficient supervision of the founder duo, Avisekh Sharma has an engineering degree from PIET, Nagpur University, and Deepesh Kashyapa has an engineering degree from GH Raisoni College of Engineering. Avisekh Sharma has been in the banking industry and worked with leading banks like ICICI Bank and IndusInd Bank for over seven years before finding several successful entrepreneurial ventures. His proficiency in the finance and engineering sector immensely benefits NextBigBox and its future assignments. Deepesh Kashyapa has proved his mettle in the supply chain industry with eight years of work experience. Both have co-founded NextBigBox and are pursuing the long-term goal of growing into a reputed global brand for Fintech solutions. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 13 (ANI/NewsVoir): HomeTown, among the country's most loved home improvement brands, today announced the appointment of iconic designer Pinakin Patel as a Creative Director. Pinakin will build, lead and mentor a team of interior designers, furniture designers and architects who will be involved in creating exclusive lines of furniture and interior decor for HomeTown customers. The team will also offer customized interior design services for HomeTown customers through the chain's HomeTown Design & Build platform which offers, end-to-end solutions for everything related to your home - interior design, room planning, project execution, furniture, modular solutions, and home decor. A pioneer in design, Pinakin Patel launched 'Etcetera' - India's first lifestyle and home decor store in 1984. Over the past four decades Pinakin has created iconic villas, vacation homes, residential interiors, and bespoke furniture for India's leading industrialists, celebrities, and aesthetes. Considered a legend in his field, Pinakin's most noted projects includes the Dashrath Patel Museum in Alibag, that houses his guru Padma Bhushan Dashrath Patel's Art and Design legacies and the neighbouring iconic villa, Pinakin Prive. Speaking of this partnership, Pinakin Patel said, "Through HomeTown, I am excited to democratise my rich experiences to a wider audience base. This visionary move was much needed by a multi-billion dollar industry and an equally large consumer base. India cannot remain a supplier of cheap merchandise for the world. The time has come to showcase the versatility of the Indian aesthetic, our artisanal sustainable manufacturing practises and our shrewd market sense. A national as well as global audience has been long awaiting this moment." Through this partnership, Pinakin and HomeTown will develop four distinct lines of furniture. The Modern Chic Collection and the Perennial Classic collection will feature everyday bestsellers. The Rooted Cosmopolitan will incorporate India Modern aesthetics, while the Art Deco collection will feature geometric detailing and shapes, exotic woods, jewel-tone colors, lacquer, and mirrored finishes. Mahesh Shah, MD, Praxis Home Solutions added, "We are privileged to onboard Pinakin Patel as the Creative Director of HomeTown to lead the transformation into a design-led, complete interior solutions provider offering customers the entire bouquet of products and services - from loose furniture and furnishings, customized wardrobes and kitchens to interior decor and project execution. With this partnership our customers will have access to designs and aesthetics that was so far limited only to a very few in the country." HomeTown, launched in 2007, is among the most trusted brands in the home improvement space, operating 34 stores across 24 cities in India and a popular ecommerce site and mobile app. HomeTown products are also available across leading online marketplaces. The retail chain is owned and operated by Praxis Home Solutions Private Limited. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal has asked Food Corporation of India to use modern technologies in foodgrain management and for quality control, thus bringing more transparency and minimum human interface. Goyal reviewed the operations of its procuring agency Food Corporation of India, UP Region, in Lucknow on Sunday. As per a release, minister Goyal, during the review meeting, directed FCI officials to use their expertise in the field of foodgrain management and suggest the better design of godowns in order to create higher capacities in limited areas of land. While reviewing the issues related to wheat and paddy procurement, he directed that FCI should open more procurement centres covering almost all revenue districts so the farmers have the option to sell their produce to the procuring agencies. Keeping in view the demand, population and vast geographic area of Uttar Pradesh, the Union Minister directed that more quantity of wheat should be offered in the open market sale scheme to control the market price of wheat. On January 25, the government said FCI would offload 30 lakh tonnes of wheat from the central pool in the markets under the Open Market Sale Scheme, within the next two months, for containing the rising domestic prices of the staple foodgrain. Food Corporation of India offered 22 lakh tonnes of wheat out of 25 lakh tonnes earmarked in the first e-auction through the open market sale that took place last week. The next e-auction of wheat under the open market sale scheme will be held across states on Wednesday. The commencement of the e-auction of wheat in the open market in order to cool the staple food grain's prices has already left an impact as the government said they retreated over 10 per cent in the past one week. The e-auction will continue throughout the country every Wednesday till the second week of March 2023. (ANI) GLinks Group, a UAE-based international educational consultant, is organising a six-day Gulf-wide regional roadshow Study in Canada with GLinks that features 19 Canadian universities. Kicking off on Wednesday, February 15, in Bahrain and closing in Dubai on February 20, 2022, the roadshow will be attended by 19 premier universities of Canada who will meet students, parents to discuss their choice of subject, academic ambition and the scholarship opportunities as well as work permit related issues. Among these, officials from the University of Waterloo, University of New Brunswick, University of Prince Edward Island, University of Alberta, Brock University, Acadia University, Western University, Brescia University College, Trent University, MacEwan University, University of Windsor, University of Guelph, Georgian University, NAIT, Durham College, North Island College, Columbia College and Huron at Western, will be attending the roadshows to help enroll students. Study in Canada with GLinks roadshow moves from Bahrain on Wednesday, February 15, to Doha, Qatar on February 16, to Kuwait on Friday, February 17, 2023. Muscat, Oman will host the roadshow on Saturday, February 18, 2023 before it shifts to Dubai on Sunday, February 19, 2023. Smooth experience Glinks International has designed processes to make studying abroad a smooth and organised experience for aspiring students. It ensures that students are completely satisfied with overseas education consultancy services. Prabhjeet Singh, Chief Executive Officer of GLinks Group, says: We work closely with leading international universities and colleges that offer some of the best academic programmes. The idea of organising the Study in Canada with GLinks roadshow is to bridge the gap between the parents and students of the GCC countries and the student recruiters and academic leaders of Canada and help them come closer to understand their needs and the processes involved in admission. We pre-select students for selected universities and the roadshow helps them to make their choices. As educational consultants, our key objective is to help the students get the best academic curriculum of their choice and get going. We pride ourselves on the relationships we build. We share excellent bonds with our students and match them individually with counsellors who guide them through every step: from selecting a country of study to choosing a suitable programme, study permit assistance and both travel and housing, Singh says. Working hours Meanwhile, foreign students in Canada can now avail higher working hours to cover their tuition fees in addition to obtaining greater employment opportunities as well as higher immigration intake due to strong economic growth prospects. According to the National Statistics Office of Canada, in 2021, as many as 621,565 international students held study permits intended for different study levels. The number of international students in Canada enrolled in higher education only is currently 388,782 students. From January 1, 2022, to the end of August 2022, more than 452,000 study permit applications have been processed, according to EduCanada, the official education department of the Government of Canada. During the same period in 2021, which was a record year, 367,000 applications were processed. This represents an increase of 23 percent, it said. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processed nearly 119,000 study permit extension applications in 2021, with an approval rate of 97 percent. From January 1, 2022, to the end of August 2022, more than 135,000 were processed, with an approval rate of 96 percent. Scholarships Government of Canada allocates C$8 million ($6 million) scholarships to international students per year. In addition to these, foreign students could avail provincial government and other private sector scholarships as well as community work programme and on-the-job training and internships. The Government of Canada had earlier launched its International Education Strategy for 201-2024. In 2018, international students in Canada contributed an estimated $21.6 billion to Canadas GDP and supported almost 170,000 jobs for Canadas middle class. This is a significant economic contributionand one that is felt right across the country, James Gordon Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, Government of Canada, said in a statement. With a Budget 2019 allocation of $147.9 million over five years followed by $8 million per year of ongoing funding, our new International Education Strategy will, in collaboration with the provinces, territories, associations and institutions, increase support for Canadian education sector institutions to help grow their export services and explore new opportunities. Immigration destination Canadas appeal as an immigration destination has been increasing over the past two decades, with a total of 492,984 people immigrating to the country between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, many of them being former students who had been living on work visa. This figure is an increase from 2000-2001, when approximately 252,527 immigrants came to Canada, and is more than double the figure recorded for 2020-2021, due to a higher demand for work. With the economy growing at a faster rate than employers can hire new workers, Canada needs to look at every option so that we have the skills and workforce needed to fuel our growth. Immigration will be crucial to addressing our labour shortage, Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Government of Canada, said in a recent statement. By allowing international students to work more while they study, we can help ease pressing needs in many sectors across the country, while providing more opportunities for international students to gain valuable Canadian work experience and continue contributing to our short-term recovery and long-term prosperity. In order to attract more international students, the Government of Quebec Province has announced that international students who are selected by an educational institution and who meet the criteria will pay the same tuition fees as Quebec students. This measure will take effect in the Fall 2023 term. Starting in September 2023, a limited number of exemptions from differential tuition fees will be granted to international students enrolled at and selected by a university or college located outside the territory of the Montreal metropolitan community, the announcement said.-- TradeArabia News Service The central government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that SEBI is competent to handle the situation and it has agreed to constitute a committee to protect investor interests, following Hindenburg's report on Adani Group. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that SEBI is completely equipped to deal with the situation that took place due to recent report by Hindenburg. He also said that the government has no objection to appointing a committee to suggest how to ensure investors are protected in future. However, he said that remit of committee is important since it has an effect internationally. He also said that the government will provide names in a sealed cover. The court adjourned the hearing on two petitions related to Hindenburg report on Friday. The court asked the Centre to apprise it about the remit of the committee by the next hearing. Last week, the Supreme Court sought a response from Ministry of Finance and SEBI on how to ensure that Indian investors are protected in future against sudden volatility observing the recent crash due to the Hindenburg Research report. The court has also asked SEBI to apprise it on how to ensure that investors are protected in future. Supreme Court asked SEBI to show it what is the existing structure and how to strengthen the regulatory framework. The bench has also suggested the need to form a committee of experts from various areas like the securities area, international financial law experts, and someone from the regulatory body led by the wise guidance of a former judge. The court has also suggested that the regulatory body could think of ways to modify statutory regulatory provisions in such a way that in the future the Indian investors could be protected. The court has clarified that this is an open dialogue to ensure Indian investors are protected and are not on a witch-hunt. One of the petitions filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari sought to Constitute a Committee under the Monitoring of the retired Supreme Court Judge to enquire about and investigate the Hindenburg Research Report. Another petitioner, advocate ML Sharma, has sought a probe against the US-based firm, whose report has led to shares of Adani group plunging on the bourses. Over the past week, share prices of companies in the Adani Group have dropped significantly. The report alleged stock manipulation and fraud by the conglomerate. The Adani Group had termed Hindenburg as "an unethical short seller" and stated that the report by the New York-based entity was "nothing but a lie". The continued sell-offs in the group's stocks led its flagship firm, Adani Enterprises Limited, to cancel a fully subscribed Rs 20,000 crore follow-on public offer. Adani Group on January 29, in a long 413-page report, said the recent report by Hindenburg Research was not an attack on any specific company but a "calculated attack" on India, its growth story, and ambitions. (ANI) Under its 'Operation Eastern Gateway', the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested eight persons for allegedly smuggling gold from the Bangladesh border and seized 24.4 kg gold worth Rs 14 crore. A syndicate based in Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal was smuggling huge quantities of gold from the neighbouring country to India through the Indo-Bangla border in the state of Tripura, an official release said on Monday. The DRI has launched an operation codenamed 'Operation Eastern Gateway', which involved developing the intelligence over a substantial period of time to bust the smuggling modus operandi, the release said. In the operation, the revenue intelligence agency teams were strategically placed at different locations in the states of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura including at the Indo-Bangladesh border so that the modus operandi used by the smuggling syndicate could be unearthed, it said. Based on intelligence inputs, eight persons of the syndicate were apprehended. "The team at Siliguri apprehended four persons, while they were travelling in a train from Badarpur Junction in Assam to Sealdah, at Dalkhola Railway Station in West Bengal and recovered 90 gold strips from their possession, collectively weighing 18.66 kg, valued at Rs 10.66 crores. These strips were hidden in specially-tailored waist belts worn by each of them." Simultaneously, the team at Agartala apprehended one person who was driving a four-wheeler near the Indo-Bangladesh border near Agartala and found two gold bars weighing 2.25 kg, valued at Rs 1.30 crore. Another team of the agency at Karimganj in Assam apprehended three persons while they were travelling in a train from Agartala to Sealdah and seized eight bars of gold weighing 3.50 kg valued at Rs 2.03 crore, from their possession. Further investigations are on. So far in the financial year 2022-23, the all-India gold seizure by the DRI crossed 1,000 kg, the statement said. (ANI) Television actress Erica Jennifer Fernandes, who featured in a new music video titled 'Ishq Hua', had a gala time shooting for the song in Chandigarh as she got to experience the rural side of the city and also witnessed the making of jaggery and got to roam about mustard fields. The track has been composed by music director duo Javed-Mohsin, who are known for big hits such as 'Pal', 'Baarish Aayi Hai', 'Kabhii Tumhhe', Dhol Bajaa', 'I Love Dubai', 'Teri Bhabhi' and 'Kaali Teri'. The song also features actor Suraj Jumani. Speaking about her experience, Erica said, "It was fun to shoot in Chandigarh with that cool weather and to experience a different side of it. While I have mostly shot in the city side, this time we got to see something different. Suraj and I experienced the beautiful rural side of Chandigarh as we were able to witness the making of jaggery and the very famous 'sarson ka khet'." The music video tells the story of a couple who were childhood sweethearts and meet again after years. Describing the experience of 'Ishq Hua', composer Javed said, "'Ishq Hua' has been a very special song for all of us, and I hope that the audience will feel the same about it." Written by Danish Sabri, the track has been sung by Javed Ali and Aakritti Mehra. The music video has been directed by Druwal Patel and produced by Ravinder Soni. 'Ishq Hua' is out on Blue Music Label YouTube channel. --IANS aa/prw ( 265 Words) 2023-02-13-19:54:05 (IANS) According to a new assessment published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, digital systems for patients to remotely monitor and report symptoms may offer a way to minimise outpatient waiting lines. The review, led by researchers from the Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research (CPROR), Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham, looked at international examples of the use of electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) systems to triage clinical care. ePROs allow patients to fill out questionnaires at home or location of their choice, with the results sent back to the clinician in near real-time to use in clinical decision-making. Studies of various groups of patients, including those with epilepsy, sleep apnoea, type 1 diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and HIV, were included in the review. In Denmark Ambuflex, a generic ePRO system, has been used in over 40,000 patients across a range of chronic conditions and has led to substantial reductions in outpatient appointments. In epilepsy clinics, the system led to reductions of up to 48% in in-person outpatient appointments. Lead author Dr Lee Aiyegbusi, Associate Professor and Deputy Director at CPROR, said: "The use of PROs is well established in research settings to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and tolerability of interventions from a patient perspective. Clinicians are now interested in using patient-level symptom reporting for the clinical management of individual patients in routine practice." The review provides evidence to support the implementation of ePRO systems for outpatient care, including significant reductions in outpatient appointments without compromising patient outcomes or satisfaction with care. Dr Aiyegbusi said: "ePROs for outpatient care could facilitate the tailoring of care to patient needs. Stable patients can be monitored remotely using ePROs, thereby avoiding unnecessary check-ups in outpatient clinics and associated costs, such as travel and time off work, without lowering the quality of treatment. This efficient use of scarce healthcare resources could free up outpatient clinics for patients with high symptom burden or concerning symptoms, so they can be seen more quickly." The authors say it is important to acknowledge that a proportion of patients, especially the elderly, may prefer face-to-face or telephone outpatient consultations regardless of their health status and may be concerned about or averse to the use of ePROs as a triaging tool. They also say the findings demonstrate why it is crucial that the use of ePROs for outpatient care is carefully considered, planned and implemented to ensure that people from underserved populations are not further disadvantaged. They concluded: "The use of ePROs in outpatient care could potentially allow a more responsive healthcare system, reduce demand for clinic appointments, reduce time to care with associated improved outcomes, and enhance cost-effectiveness of healthcare delivery - all of which are beneficial to patients, their families and society." (ANI) An international team of researchers led by Lithuanian experts adds to the evidence that intracranial pressure is significant in normal-tension glaucoma, which accounts for up to 50 per cent of all glaucoma cases. A recent clinical investigation found that low intracranial pressure is associated with poor patient sight, particularly in the nose zone. Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60, is caused by optic nerve damage. Often, increased pressure inside the eye (called intraocular pressure or IOP) is detected in glaucoma patients. However, not all people with ocular hypertension develop glaucoma. Moreover, glaucoma can develop in cases of normal IOP. A so-called normal tension glaucoma (NTG) prevalence among patients in the global population ranges from 30 to 90 per cent according to different studies. "Contemporary medicine has methods to treat elevated eye pressure and to slow or even stop the damage to the optic nerve. However, these methods do not work in the case of normal tension glaucoma. There is a growing awareness among the scientific community, that glaucoma is a condition caused by two pressures - inside the eye and the skull," says professor Arminas Ragauskas from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania. Ragauskas, the Head of the Health Telematics Science Institute at KTU, is the inventor of the non-invasive intracranial pressure measurement technology, used in the study described below. He goes on to explain that anatomically, the optic nerve is connected to the brain, and is surrounded by the cerebrospinal fluid. Both intracranial pressure (ICT), which is pressure inside our skull, measured in the cerebrospinal fluid, and intraocular pressure (IOP) can affect the condition of the optic nerve. Recently, researchers have focused on the balance between the two pressures, i.e. translaminar pressure difference (TPD) and its connection to glaucoma development. 80 early-stage normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients were enrolled in a recent study conducted by researchers from Lithuanian, Israeli and American universities. The subjects were selected from the 300 NTG patients referred to the Eye Clinic at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences between January and October 2018. Several measurements including intraocular (IOP), intracranial pressures (ICP), and visual field perimetry were recorded during the study. The translaminar pressure difference (TPD) was calculated according to the formula TPD = IOP - ICP. The visual field was divided into five zones: nasal, temporal, peripheral, central, and paracentral. The study revealed several statistically significant correlations between intracranial pressure, TPD, and visual field changes. The higher the TPD, the more significant damages to the patient's visual field were registered. The most significant visual field losses occurred in the nasal zone. "Visual field loss means only one thing - a person is becoming blind. That's why it is so important to understand the causes of this condition and to reverse it. We are all aware of the dire outcome," says Prof Ragauskas. Researchers conclude that higher TPD could be estimated as a risk factor for the negative development of normal tension glaucoma. As translaminar pressure difference is calculated by subtracting ICP from IOP, the lower the intracranial pressure measure, the higher the TPD. Thus, in normal-tension glaucoma, lowered intracranial pressure is a possible risk factor. "The idea that brain pressure is related to the visual field is not new. Several years ago, we conducted a series of experiments studying the links between visual field and intracranial pressure, using the non-invasive technology developed here, at KTU. In the conferences that followed, I saw how our new idea was met with excitement by the international community of ophthalmologists," says Prof Ragauskas. Intracranial pressure's correlation with glaucoma opens new avenues for medical professionals to research the reason and possible treatment of this pathology. Also, in recent years, evidence supporting this hypothesis poured in from science groups working around the world. Prof Ragauskas says that his research has, directly and indirectly, contributed to the growing pool of data on the topic. In the above-described study, the intracranial pressure measurement was obtained via a two-depth Transcranial Doppler (Vittamed UAB, Lithuania) developed by Prof Ragauskas' team at the Kaunas University of Technology labs. Unlike the usual intracranial pressure measuring procedure, which involves the drilling of a small-sized hole into the patient's skull, Prof Ragauskas' invention allows measuring brain pressure non-invasively through the eye using ultrasound. Various industrial applications of the invention were patented in the US and Europe. "We are not competing with invasive methods, but heading towards an entirely new direction. At the moment, I see that ophthalmology is the field where our technology is needed most, and we are using it for research purposes. However, we are constantly developing our invention and have recently patented a couple of new applications, which might be used in other contexts where measuring intracranial pressure is crucial. For example, in long-term space missions," says KTU professor Ragauskas. (ANI) Along with the state's people, Goans staying abroad or other Indian states too joined the 'Save Mhadei Save Goa' movement by lighting diyas and candles on Sunday evening to mark their support to save the river. The 'Save Mhadei Save Goa' front had appealed to the people of Goa to light a candle or diya on Sunday evening, and share the images and videos of worshipping 'water' on social media, to mark their support. Not only politicians, but people of all faiths supported the movement and vowed to protect the Mhadei. Youths were seen in large number supporting the cause. Prof Prajal Sakhardande, convener of the campaign, had urged everyone to come together as one to participate in a united effort to save the 'revered' river Mhadei. "Let us show the world that we are a people who cherish and protect the natural blessings of our land. Let us rise to the occasion and take a stand for the future generations to inherit a better world," he said. While in north Goa people carried out rally with candles, in South Goa, people were seen gathered in groups and worshipping the 'water' by lighting diyas. Ever since Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that the Centre has cleared the much disputed Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project in his state, people have started holding public meetings against the Central government's decision. Goa and Karnataka are currently battling out a dispute over the Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project across the water of Mhadei river at a central tribunal. Mhadei originates in Karnataka and meets the Arabian Sea in Panaji. While the river traverses 28.8 km in Karnataka, it is 81.2 km in length in Goa. Karnataka plans to construct dams on the river, aimed at diverting the water into its water-starved Malaprabha basin in the state's northern region. --IANS sbk/vd ( 315 Words) 2023-02-12-22:36:03 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Sunday that they have arrested two terror suspects in a case related to activities of the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The NIA on Saturday conducted raids in Bengaluru and Thane and detained the suspected persons. On Sunday, the agency confirmed that they have made two arrest in the matter. The accused were identified as Mohammad Ari, a resident of Karnataka and Hamraz Worshid Shaikh, a resident of Maharashtra. "Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused, Arif and Shaikh were in contact with foreign-based online handlers affiliated to proscribed terrorist organisations. They had also made elaborate plans to leave for Afghanistan to progress their terrorist activities," the NIA said. The suspected accused Arif was the first to be arrested by the NIA, he was planning to go Syria via Iraq to join ISIS. He was held from Bengaluru in a joint operation between Internal Security Division (ISD) of Bengaluru and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Later on Shaikh was arrested. The NIA sources have claimed that Arif was in touch with abroad-based terrorists and was held for his suspicious activities. Sources said that Arif was allegedly radicalising gullibe youths. The Central agencies have found several suspected transactions made by him and done into his account. The NIA recovered electronic gadgets from his possession and recovered tons of data from his laptop which is said to be highly objectionable and anti-India. Arif was repoetedly working in a private tech firm as a software engineer. Sources said that Arif was planning to flee Karnataka in the month of March and was about to sell all his home furniture and electronics gadgets online. The source claimed that Arif had also booked tickets for Iraq and from there he had planned to go to Syria. "He confessed that he received money from abroad based handlers of ISIS and Al-Qaeda to radicalise youth. He wanted to join ISIS. He was contacting his handlers through Telegram app. We were keeping an eye on him for past two years. This morning we conducted raids and have held him," sources claimed. Further probe in the matter is on. --IANS atk/sha ( 372 Words) 2023-02-12-23:04:02 (IANS) Reservation for the SC community has been hiked from 15 to 17 per cent and for the Scheduled Tribe community from three per cent to seven per cent. While the Justice Nagmohan Das Commission report was long pending, Bommai had called a special Assembly session to pass the bill for hiking the reservation for the SCs and STs. He also called an all-party meeting to support hiking reservation for the SCs and STs, and directed his administration to work for their effective empowerment. For the welfare of the SC/ST community, the government granted 75 free units of power, Rs 25 lakh grants for farmers to buy land, Rs 2 lakh grant to build a house, and also enhancement in the number of hostels for students. Bommai has also enhanced scholarships of students from SCs and STs, while ensuring free transport both in urban and rural areas for them. By boosting Mid-Day Meal scheme with nutritional items, Karnataka government has also incentivised SCs & STs to send their children to the schools. --IANS dr/vd ( 212 Words) 2023-02-12-23:08:03 (IANS) Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya welcomed the new Governors appointed by President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday. Former Rajasthan Home Minister and current Leader in Assembly, Gulab Chand Kataria has been appointed as the new Governor of Assam replacing Prof Jagdish Mukhi, who also holds the additional charge of the gubernatorial post of Nagaland. Congratulating the new governor, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted: "Heartiest congratulations Shri Gulab Chand Kataria ji on being appointed as Hon'ble Governor of Assam. Your vast experience in public service will surely benefit Assam immensely. Looking forward to work with you to take our journey of progress further." Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his Deputy Chowna Mein on Sunday congratulated Lt Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik (retd) on his appointment as the new Governor of the bordering state. He replaces Brig Dr B.D Mishra (retd), who has been appointed as Lt Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh. Mishra had assumed office of the governor in the northeastern state on October 3, 2017. The Chief Minister called on the Governor at the Raj Bhavan here to wish him on his new assignment in Ladakh and said the state will remain grateful forever for his guidance. Khandu tweeted : "Hon Guv Brig Mishra Ji always guided & supported us in furthering Arunachal's development. On his appointment as Lt Guv of Ladakh, called on Hon Guv today at Raj Bhawan and wished him the best for his new assignment. Sir, we shall remain forever grateful for your margdarshan." "Respect and congratulations to Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, PVSM, UYSM, YSM (retired) on being appointed as Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. Look forward to learning from your vast experience, and working with you for prosperity of our state," Khandu said in another tweet. Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikye, has transferred to Manipur replacing La. Ganesan, who has been transferred to the gubernatorial post of Nagaland. Congratulating the new Governor, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh tweeted : "A hearty welcome to Smt Sushri Anusuiya Uikye Ji on being appointed as the new Governor of Manipur. I am confident that the people of Manipur will see great progress under your leadership. Also, I extend best wishes to Shri La Ganesan Ji on his new post as Governor of Nagaland." Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan was transferred to Meghalaya as Arunachal Pradesh's outgoing Governor Mishra was holding its additional charge. Of the five northeastern states, where governors were changed, assembly election process is going on in two states - Nagaland and Meghalaya. --IANS sc/vd ( 432 Words) 2023-02-12-23:20:05 (IANS) The CPI(M) and the Congress are jointly contesting the elections to the 60-member Tripura assembly, which will be held on February 16 but no top leaders of the Congress party were seen in any of the poll rallies or roadshows in the northeastern state. However, on the other hand, star campaigners of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and party president JP Nadda are leaving no stone unturned in Tripura and are extensively carrying out the campaigns, roadshows, door-to-door campaigns aiming to retain power with full majority in the state. With only two days left for campaigning in Tripura for Assembly elections, tall Congress leaders including party President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who are among the "star campaigners" are nowhere to be seen in any of the poll rallies. The Congress is contesting the 60-member Tripura Assembly in alliance with the CPI(M). The party has put up candidates in 13 seats. The last date of Campaigning in Tripura is February 14 and the state will go for polling on February 16. Congress in its manifesto for the Tripura Assembly election promised an old pension scheme for government employees, 50,000 new jobs, an increase in wages of agricultural labourers and free 150 units of electricity, if the party is voted to power. The party has focussed on employment, the welfare of employees, and poor and middle-class people in the manifesto. The Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting 55 seats while its partner Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) is contesting five. BJP in its manifesto promised welfare proposals such as special canteen meals to the poor three times a day at Rs 5 each, a Balika Samridddhi bond of Rs 50,000 to each underprivileged family on the birth of a girl child and scooters for meritorious college girls. The manifesto also promises smartphones to 50,000 meritorious students, two free LPG cylinders to all beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, land deeds to those without any holdings, and an annual payout of Rs 3,000 to all landless farmers. Trinamool Congress (TMC) released the party's election manifesto with a key promise to provide two lakh jobs in five years. The party promised 50,000 jobs in the first year itself. TMC said all existing government vacancies would be fulfilled and startup incubators would be set up in the state's eight districts. According to its manifesto, the party would give Rs 1,000 per month to one lakh unemployed youths, including to the 10,323 school teachers who lost their jobs in 2017 due to faulty recruitment if it comes to power. Besides, the party's key promises include, an additional secretariat in North Tripura to manage affairs of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), Rs 10,000 annual assistance to farmers, 2,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and the implementation of several schemes already operational in West Bengal. TMC is in full mood to spread its influence beyond West Bengal and is mulling to give a tough fight to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura and are contesting the polls in Mamata Banerjee's face. Elections will be held on 60 seats in Tripura on February 16. The counting of votes will be held on March 2. Pradyot Deb Barma, a member of an erstwhile royal family in the region, formed the Tipra Motha party and is demanding for a "Greater Tipraland '' state for the indigenous Tripuris. Pradyot claim that Tipraland comprises areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTADC) and the indigenous Tripuris living in the rest of Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and neighbouring Bangladesh.(ANI) With its commitment to inspire healthy lifestyles and offer superior value, Fresh Del Monte is returning to Gulfood 2023, the largest food exhibition for suppliers and manufacturers. Gulfoods 28th edition, scheduled to be held at Dubai World Trade Center Centre from February 20 to 24, aims to enhance the focus on sustainability and food costs and continue the shift towards more sustainable food production and consumption. Fresh Del Monte is dedicated to health and wellness driven by a passion for innovation, all of which inform our quest to produce healthy, whole fresh, or ready-to-eat fresh-cut options and juices, while caring for the environment and communities, commented Racha El Aawar, Director, Marketing Mena. Gulfood 2023 aims to inspire industry-wide transformation for the good of the entire ecosystem. Fresh Del Monte will leverage this dynamic platform to introduce new products and explore new channels to expand the business. The Fresh Del Monte stand at Gulfood 2023 will include National Poultry Company, a subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte, and will showcase their frozen and fresh poultry and meat products. Fresh Del Monte invests in the present to sustain the future. To do so, we choose to constantly innovate, rethink, explore, and create fresh, pioneering ideas for our products and processes, while ensuring excellence in everything we do, El Aawar continued. The Del Monte group of companies in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) is a leading producer, marketer and distributor of fresh and value-added fruits and vegetables and other fresh produce, ultra-fresh beverages and prepared food; refining the market and providing solutions for healthy eating. The company markets its products under the Del Monte brand (under license from Del Monte Foods, Inc), a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for over 125 years. Mena is an indirect subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc and is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Del Monte Foods, the US subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited, Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd.-TradeArabia News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 14th edition of Asia's largest aero show -- Aero India 2023 - in Bengaluru today. The five-day event will focus on displaying indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the theme of Aero India 2023 is "The Runway to a Billion Opportunities". The 'CEOs Round Table', under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will be held on February 13 on the theme 'Sky is not the limit: opportunities beyond boundaries'. "Prime Minister's emphasis on Aatmanirbharta in the Indian Defence sector will also be displayed, as the event will showcase the country's progress in design leadership, growth in UAVs Sector, Defence Space and futuristic technologies. Further, the event will promote the export of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)," the PMO said in a statement. The event will also help in integrating domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production. Aero India 2023 will witness participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of about 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023. Aero India 2023 exhibition will witness the participation of more than 800 Defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies. The Indian companies participating in the exhibition include MSMEs and start-ups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies, and growth in aerospace and defence capabilities in the country. Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. As per the Ministry of Defence, the five-day event will radiate the rise of a strong and self-reliant 'New India' by displaying India's growth in aerospace and defence capabilities. The focus will be on showcasing indigenous equipment or technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies, in line with the 'Make in India, Make for the World' vision for a secure and prosperous future. Addressing the curtain raiser press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the Aero India 2023 will showcase the country's manufacturing prowess and the progress achieved towards realising the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' as envisioned by the Prime Minister. "This event will significantly contribute to the development of the aerospace and aviation sector," he said. Singh said that February 13 to 15 will be business days, while 16 and 17 have been set as public days to allow people to witness the show. The event comprises a Defence Ministers' Conclave; a CEOs Round Table; a Manthan start-up event; Bandhan ceremony; breath-taking air shows; a large exhibition; India Pavilion and a trade fair of aerospace companies. "Organised at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in a total area of around 35,000 sqm, the event, the biggest-ever till date, is likely to witness the participation of 98 countries. The Defence Ministers of 32 countries, Air Chiefs of 29 countries and 73 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are expected to attend the event. Eight hundred and nine (809) defence companies, including MSMEs and start-ups, will showcase the advancement in niche technologies and the growth in the aerospace and defence sector," the Ministry said. Singh termed the record of international participation as the reflection of not just India's buyer-seller ties with different countries, but also their shared vision of global prosperity. The Defence Minister emphasised that Aero India 2023 will provide a renewed thrust to the Government's efforts to create a vibrant and world-class domestic defence industry in order to achieve the goal of 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence as well as the overall development of the nation. "A strong and self-reliant defence sector will play a pivotal role in helping India emerge as one of the top three world economies in the times to come. Achievements in the defence sector provide wide spin-off benefits to the Indian economy. The technologies developed in the field are equally useful for civilian purposes. In addition, a temperament towards science & technology and innovation is created in the society, which helps in the overall development of the nation," he said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also host Defence Ministers' Conclave on February 14. Defence Ministers of friendly foreign countries will participate in the meeting, which has been organised on the theme 'Shared Prosperity through Enhanced Engagements in Defence (SPEED). The conclave would address aspects related to deepening cooperation for capacity building (through investments, R&D, joint venture, co-development, co-production and provisioning of defence equipment), training, space, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and maritime security to grow together. The conclave is an opportunity for the defence ministers to engage with each other to carry forward the 'Make in India, Make for the World' vision. Singh termed the Defence Ministers' Conclave as an extremely important event, which he said, will justify its theme by providing 'SPEED' to the increasing defence cooperation with friendly countries. A number of bilateral meetings will be held on the sidelines of Aero India among defence ministers, ministers of state for defence, chiefs of defence staff and defence secretaries. The annual defence innovation event, Manthan, will be the flagship technology showcase event to be held on February 15. Being organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the Manthan platform will bring the leading innovators, start-ups, MSMEs, incubators, academia and Investors from defence and aerospace ecosystem under one roof. The Raksha Mantri will preside over the event. The 'India Pavilion', based on 'Fixed Wing Platform' theme, will showcase India's growth in the area, including the future prospects. There will be a total of 115 companies, displaying 227 products. It will further showcase the growth of India in developing an ecosystem for Fixed Wing platform which includes the demonstrating of various structural modules, simulators, systems (LRUs) etc. of LCA-Tejas aircraft being produced by Private Partners. There will also be a section for Defence space, New Technologies and a UAV section which will give an insight about the growth of India in each sector. A full scale LCA-Tejas aircraft in Full Operational Capability (FOC) configuration will be at the center stage of India Pavilion. (ANI) As many as 27 fire tenders were rushed to the spot and were carrying out the firefighting operations at the time of filing this report. Further details are awaited on the incident. Earlier on Saturday, a fire broke out at the Punjab National bank (PNB) located in the Karol Bagh area of Delhi. 16 fire engines reached the spot as soon as word of the fire was received, and eventually brought the fire under control. No casualties were reported in the incident. (ANI) National Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar claimed on Sunday that Maharashtra government could fall again as court verdicts on pleas with regard to the politcal crisis in the state last year were pending. The deputy chief minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Pawar said power has a way of changing hands as the status doesn't remain the same forever. Pawar made remarks while addressing a campaign event for the Kasba Assembly bye-election in Pune. "Power does not remain with anyone forever. No one is born with a silver spoon. Power comes, power goes. The decision of the Supreme Court (on the pleas on Maharashtra political crisis) is yet to come. The decision of the Election Commission is yet to come, anything can happen. If the MLAs get disqualified, then there may be a change (of government) again. Everyone should keep this in mind," Pawar said on Sunday. A split in the Shiv Sena triggered the collapse of the MVA government last year, eventually resulting in Uddhav Thackeray stepping down as chief minister on June 30, 2022. Eknath Shinde, who led the dissident Sena MLAs, took oath as chief minister, with support of the BJP. However, the battle for primacy between the rival Sena factions is far from over, with the Supreme Court posting for February 14 the hearing on a batch of petitions filed by Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in connection with last year's political crisis. A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha on January 10, said, "We will hear it (the batch of pleas on Maharashtra political crisis) on February 14." Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray-led group told the apex court that an unconstitutional government was running Maharashtra. Bypolls in Pune is going to take place on February 26 and the results will be declared on March 2. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of Kasba Peth MLA Mukta Tilak on December 22 last year. The Chinchwad Assembly seat of Pune, which fell vacant following the demise of sitting MLA Laxman Jagtap on January 3, will go to bypoll on the same day. From Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the NCP fielded Nana Kate from the Chinchwad assembly constituency. As part of an agreement arrived at between the MVA partners, the Congress will contest the Kasba bypoll. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi lashed out at the DMK government, holding it "responsible for a rise in the number of attacks" against Dalits in Tamil Nadu. The Governor said law enforcement and the criminal justice system has failed 'awfully' to stop alleged crimes against Dalits. "In our state, we are talking so much about social justice but every other day you hear some atrocities against Dalits," TN Governor R N Ravi said at the launch of the Tamil edition of the book 'MODI @ 20' (Dreams Meet Delivery) and 'Ambedkar & Modi (Reformer's Idea, Performers Implementation)' in Chennai Guindy Anna University. Ravi emphasised that everyone should thank Prime Minister Modi as "because of him, everyone has started to think about Ambedkar". He lamented that partition could have been averted, had 'we' listened to BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution. "Earlier, people used BR Ambedkar's name for politics. People would swear by his name either to accuse someone or to praise oneself," the Governor added. Calling Ambedkar a great nationalist, Ravi recalled how he stood like a rock when the British tried to create a separate electorate for the Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe to divide the country. "He (Ambedkar) didn't allow that," the Governor said. "When Muslim leaders demanded a separate Pakistan, leaders of the Indian National Congress thought it could be managed," Ravi said. "If we had listened to Ambedkar, the partition could have been avoided or it would not have been as dramatic. Thousands died and millions were rendered homeless. The partition could have been less painful. But we didn't listen to him," Governor Ravi said. He also condemned the Vengaival incident reported last month in which human excreta was found in water tanks. "When it comes to crime against Dalits, the response of the law enforcement authorities and the criminal justice system is awful in the state," Governor said. "Human faeces are put in the water tanks of the Dalit colony. They are being publicly humiliated and assaulted or not being allowed to enter temples or Anganwadi schools," Governor Ravi said. He claimed that a conviction rate of 7 per cent in rape cases against Dalit women was 'painful' and, "we talk about social justice and Baba Saheb". Citing a CAG report, the Governor said 30 per cent of the funds allocated by the Centre for building homes for Dalits remained unspent. "So much for social justice," the Governor said, in a dig at the DMK regime. Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Fisheries L Murugan also participated at the event. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu has signed the warrants of appointment of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Justice Aravind Kumar to the Supreme Court. The new judges were inducted after a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, at 10.30 am, in the Supreme Court. On Friday, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju took to Twitter and announced fresh appointments to the top court. Justice Bindal was the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and Justice Kumar severed as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court before being elevated to the Supreme Court. After the oath ceremony, the strength of the top court has achieved its full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India, after a gap of nine months. The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended their names to the Centre for elevation on January 31. Justice Bindal, born on April 16, 1961, was to demit office in April this year on attaining the age of 62 years, however, because of his elevation to the Supreme Court, he now has three more years in service. The retirement age for High court judges retire is 62 years while Supreme Court judges retire at 65. Justice Kumar was born on July 14, 1962, and would turn 61 in July 2023. Last week, five judges took oath as Supreme Court judges after their elevation. (ANI) The Congress MP demanded a detailed discussion in the matter in the Lower House. "Since April 2020, China has engaged in what can only be described as a steady land grab. Until 16 January 2023, seventeen Commander-level talks have taken place between India and China with little success," Tewari said in the letter seeking adjournment. He claimed that China continues to build significant infrastructure, including bridges, roads and accommodation for its troops, adding that it was attempting to change the status quo unilaterally. He further stated that the clashes in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh was another indication of "China's steady aggression aimed at changing the status quo on the border". "What is more, such aggression is no longer limited in territorial scope as is evidenced by the clashes that took place in Arunachal Pradesh, around 2000 Kilometers away from the place of previous clashes," Tewari wrote. "There is growing concern that China is unwilling to restore the status quo ante, a situation that puts India at a the massive disadvantage," he stated. "Despite this, China's large trade surplus with us has continued to surge since the military confrontations began in 2020. The trade deficit for India stood at USD 101.02 billion, crossing the 2021 figure of USD 69.38 billion," the Congress MP wrote. "I urge the government to take up this matter with utmost seriousness and have a detailed discussion in Parliament with regard to the border situation with China," he stated. (ANI) The notice stated that public sector banks and LIC lost money invested in the Adani group of companies after the Hindenburg report. While, on Wednesday, last week, Singh had demanded suspension of business under rule 267. However, the chair rejected the notice following a walkout by the AAP members. Even on Thursday, last week, Singh moved a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha on Thursday demanding a discussion on the Hindenburg report against the Adani Group. The concerned report from US-based short-seller firm Hindenburg Research surfaced on January 24 claiming that the Adani Group had weak business fundamentals, and was involved in stock manipulation and accounting fraud, among others. According to a statement by the Adani Group, the Adani portfolio and the Adani verticals are focused on bringing India into the global economy and nation-building. In the summary of the long response by Adani Group, it said the report was "nothing but a lie". The report, however, triggered a sell-off of shares of all Adani Group companies. The Budget session of Parliament started on January 31 with a joint address by President Droupadi Murmu. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2023-24 on February 1. Since the presentation of the Budget, there has been no business in Parliament because of continued logjam over the Adani issue. The Opposition members demanded that the government respond in Parliament on Adani stocks, leading to disruptions and multiple adjournments in both Houses. (ANI) Expressing confidence that BJP will improve its performance compared to the last assembly polls, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the definition of politics and no arithmetic works in front of trust of people. In an exclusive interview with the ANI, the Chief Minister said that BJP has improved law and order situation in the state and there has been been a lot of improvement in railways, airways, national highways and internet connectivity. "You've heard of a tsunami, something like that will happen. Anything can happen but it will not be less than 2018. In 2018, we got 36 seats and our alliance partner got 8 seats. So this time we will get more than 36 seats," he said. The elections to 60-member Tripura assembly will be held on February 16. The BJP created a record in the 2018 poll by defeating the Left Front in its bastion. Asked about the pre-poll pact between the Congress and Left parties and possibility of Tipra Motha joining hands with any party after the polls, Saha said no arithmetic works in front of public's trust. "They (the opposition) is doing traditional politics. PM Modi changed the definition of politics...(Opposition) are doing arithmetic as to how many (votes) they can get but we work for public. No arithmetic works in front of public's trust," he said. The Chief Minister said BJP is busy working day and night for people to address their problems. "So, I don't know for how long (how many days) they (opposition) will remain in politics with these types of tactics." BJP's ally IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura) won eight seats in the 2018 polls. BJP is contesting 55 seats in this election and its partner IPFT is contesting five seats. The Chief Minister accused opposition parties of indulging in vote bank politics. Replying to queries, BJP leader said that there are "remote chances" of any post-poll alliance with Tipra Motha. "The kind of figures we have, on the basis of that figures we can say that there are remote chances," he said. Tipra Motha, chaired by Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the Tirpura royal scion, is demanding "Greater Tipraland". Saha said the government has improved the law and order situation in the state and there has been a significant reduction in crime. "As per the NCB data among the 29 states Tripura is in the fifth position from the bottom in crime. In many subjects like murder, dacoity, political violence, theft, eve-teasing, the crime rate has decreased. Earlier there were many cases but now it is very low. The crime rate has decreased in the state and this is a big change," he said. "Communists ruled here for so many years and said the Centre is not giving (aid for development). But after PM Modi came to power, there has been a lot of improvement in railways, airways, national highways and internet connectivity here. It's just the beginning," he added. Saha said people are happy with the steps taken by the government across sectors. "You will be astonished to know that doctors were not promoted here since 22 years. We have promoted them after 22 years. In many families, father, mother and children were in the same grade. But now all doctors are very happy," he said. The counting of votes for Tripura polls will be held on March 2 along with that of Meghalaya and Nagaland. (ANI) Murmu was gracing the 10th convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow on Monday. The President, who is on a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh starting Monday, will participate in various events, including the Valedictory Session of UP Global Investors Summit-2023 in Lucknow. She will also visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Kal Bhairav Temple before attending the Ganga Aarti at Varanasi. In the evening, the President will attend a civic reception to be hosted in her honour by the Uttar Pradesh government at Lok Bhavan in Lucknow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 in Lucknow. The summit is the flagship investment meet of the state government, aimed at bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, think-tanks and leaders from across the world to collectively explore business opportunities and forge partnerships. Investor UP 2.0 is a comprehensive, investor-centric and service-oriented investment ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh that endeavors to deliver relevant, well-defined, standardized services to investors, said an official statement. (ANI) The man who allegedly made the call was traced to Hyderabad and detained by the Telangana Police. A team of Mumbai Police has left for Telangana to bring the accused to Mumbai. According to the police, the caller didn't have a number for the Google office in Pune, so he dialled Google office headquarters in Mumbai and made the threatening call. Upon being alerted about the call, Mumbai Police connected with their counterparts in Pune who rushed to the multinational company's office located in a multi-storey commercial building in Pune's Mundhwa area. The Pune police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad carried out extensive searches but did not find anything suspicious. According to the police the caller has been identified as Panayam Shivanand, who hails from Hyderabad. After receiving the threat call, a complaint was lodged by Google at the BKC police station in Mumbai. The BKC Police has registered a case against the caller under Section 505(1)(b) and 506(2) of IPC. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) The Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah continues to soar as a top global destination for premium investments with the latest move by Indian company, Arima Minerals. Arima Group has opened a cutting-edge plant for the separation of industrial minerals and heavy minerals in the free zone, with an initial investment of AED 15 million ($4.08 million). This facility sets a new standard in the region, standing apart as one of the rare few outsides of China to master this specialized field. The Indian company, a member of a large Indian conglomerate with expertise in diverse industries like dyes, cement, textiles, and mining, has revealed that its latest addition to the Hamriyah Free Zone sprawls 83,000 sq ft. The plant boasts a yearly production capacity of 100,000-120,000 tons of mineral concentrates and employs a dedicated team of 45 skilled workers. The grand opening of the Indian company's new factory was attended by Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA). He was welcomed by V Subramanian, Managing director of Arima Minerals, and taken on a tour of the facilities. Al Mazrouei was joined by several officials from HFZA, as he gained insights into the plant's operations, production processes, and the products offered to both local and international clients. He was also introduced to the latest innovations in mineral separation technology, including magnetic, electrical, and gravity separation equipment. The addition of Arima Minerals to the Hamriyah Free Zone solidifies the HFZAs position as a prime destination for major international industrial players looking to establish and expand in global markets. Arima Minerals' expertise in producing and manufacturing industrial metals adds to the zone's reputation as a hub for specialized heavy industries. Attracting industrial investments Al Mazrouei emphasized that Sharjah boasts unique qualities and great flexibility in attracting high-quality industrial investments thanks to the astute leadership and unwavering support of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Al Mazrouei said that the free zones in Sharjah are a prime destination for international companies looking to invest and tap into a vast pool of customers, consumers, and target markets. Al Mazrouei stated: "The opening of Arima Minerals' mining factory in Hamriyah Free Zone is a testament to the growing global recognition of Sharjah and its free zones as a hub for the industrial sector and a premier location for specialized heavy industries. This has been made possible by our steadfast commitment to fulfilling the needs of our customers with high efficiency, in alignment with Sharjah's vision and industrial strategies for the future. He went on to say that HFZA will continue to offer all necessary facilities and support to investors and investments of all sizes and types. The Free Zone will spare no effort to provide an exceptional work environment that fosters growth, development, and prosperity for all companies operating within its boundaries, Al Mazrouei added. Privileges & incentives For his part, V Subramanian, Managing Director of Arima Mineral Processing, stated that Hamriyah free zone was selected as a base for the company's growth and factory for numerous advantages and incentives provided to investors. He emphasized that the low operating costs, strategic location, modern logistical infrastructure, supportive investment policies, and accessible port for exports to global markets were the key factors that motivated the company to make Hamriyah their base for regional and global operations. V Subramanian added: Our factory in Sharjah will help us export our metal and other products to China, India, the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and serve the local UAE market as well. We also have plans to expand our operations to the continents of Africa and Asia, catering to a wide range of customers including oil companies, contractors, dye manufacturers, and zircon mills. In addition to offering industrial and commercial plots of land, HFZA, one of the largest industrial-free zones in the UAE, provides advanced infrastructure and modern facilities that strengthen external expansion plans for investors, especially in importing and re-exporting, to the worlds markets. It also provides countless competitive advantages, most notably a single-window operation that boosts efficiency and eases procedures for doing business, along with multiple tax exemptions, repatriation of capital and profits, full foreign ownership of the business, and quick access to regional and global markets.--TradeArabia News Service CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Monday wrote to the Union Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav calling for the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on higher pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme. He pointed out the impertinence by EPFO in complying with the judgment dated November 4, 2022, of the Supreme Court. Dr. John Brittas in a Letter to Union Minister said that there are 75,33,166 pensioners under EPS as of date and 6,79,78,581 contributing members during the last year. "A majority of these EPF pensioners get a minimum pension of Rs. 1000/-. Out of the total 75.33 lakh pensioners in the country, around 40 lakhs are getting less than Rs.1,500 p.m. It is at a time when around 4000 crores are lying in inoperative accounts. The quantum of corpus available with EPFO as of 31.03.2022 was Rs. 18,64,136 crore, of which the share of EPS was Rs. 6,89,210.72 crore," the letter read. "To add to the woes of these hapless pensioners, EPFO had adopted an all-out strategy of challenging the pensioner-friendly verdicts of various high courts to disburse higher pension commensurate to the employers' contribution paid on the actual salary, which culminated in the promulgation of the latest Supreme Court Judgment. Through years of agonising legal battle brought on some solace by virtue of this judgment, the EPFO is out to snatch even this higher pension facility which would be a boon to around 10 lakh old aged pensioners for whom employers contributed on actual salary," he added. "The Supreme Court categorically directed EPFO vide para 44(ix) of the judgment to comply with its directives within a period of eight weeks," he added. John Brittas MP, in his letter, demanded the Union Minister to give urgent directions to EPFO to issue a circular and roll out an online facility in no time so as to enable those employees, who have continued in service on or after September 1, 2014, to submit joint options online with EPFO to claim higher pension, considering the fact that the time period of four months granted by Supreme Court for the employees for submitting fresh option will soon expire on March 4, 2023. (ANI) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday chaired a meeting of like-minded Opposition parties to devise a joint strategy for the day's proceedings. Talking to ANI, earlier in the day, Kharge said, "Since today is the last day (of the first part of the Budget session) in the Parliament, we will discuss how we can resolve this Adani issue and what will our Chairman be doing. We will also seek the opinion of the leaders of other parties." The Upper House of Parliament witnessed ruckus after parts of Congress president Kharge's speech claiming that the House was acting under pressure from the government were expunged. Kharge objected to expunging his remarks during the discussion of the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, and suspension of Congress MP Rajni Patil earlier. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar objected to Kharge, saying "You are forfeiting your right. You always raise questions on a chair that it takes decisions under pressure," Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, meanwhile, said "it is truly an insult of the House...", and requested the chair to adjourn the house for some time and warn the members. As the ruckus continued, the Chairman adjourned the House to meet at 11.50 am after naming a few members with a warning. The Chairman allowed the 'Question Hour' after the House again assembled at 11.50 am but he had to adjourn it till 11 am on March 13, the second part of the Budget Session, after a brief attempt to run the House amid the din. (ANI) They have been suspended by the Disciplinary Committee for their activities against state leadership. The Disciplinary Committee had recommended the suspension of Alok Dubey, Lal Kishor Nath Shahdeo, Dr. Rajesh Gupta, and Sadhu Sharan Gope. Earlier on January 8, Jharkhand Congress Disciplinary Committee recommended suspending 5 party leaders for their 'anti-party' activities and 'false' remarks against the party's state chief Rajesh Thakur and the state-in-charge. The leaders against whom the suspension notice has been recommended include Jharkhand Congress general secretary Alok Dubey, Rajesh Gupta, Sadhu Sharan Gop, Sunil Kumar Singh, and Lal Kishore Nath Shahdev. Brijendra Prasad Singh, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, said that in the past, clarification was sought from 7 party leaders for tarnishing the image of the party and making statements against the State President, for which a meeting of the Disciplinary Committee was held at the Congress office today. "Out of 7 leaders, three leaders gave their explanation, in which we are satisfied after reading the explanation of General Secretary Anil Ojha, Rakesh Tiwari, while the explanation of Sadhu Sharan Gop was not satisfactory, suspension action has been recommended against them," he said. Singh said that three leaders had sought time, about which "there is no provision" in the Congress party. "Party general secretary Alok Dubey, Rajesh Gupta, Congress leader Lal Kishore Nath Shahdev demanded time from the disciplinary committee, there is no provision for giving time in the Congress party, so suspension has been recommended against them as well," he said. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the 'India Pavilion' at the Aero India show in Bengaluru. Earlier today the prime minister inaugurated the 14th edition of Asia's biggest aero show - Aero India 2023 - at Air Force Station in Yelahanka here. A commemorative stamp was also released by the Prime Minister on the occasion. The five-day event, on the theme 'The runway to a billion opportunities', will showcase India's growth in aerospace and defence capabilities. It will display indigenous equipment/technologies and forge partnerships with foreign companies, in line with the 'Make in India, Make for the World' vision for a secure and prosperous future. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that Bengaluru sky is bearing testimony to the capabilities of New India. "This new height is the reality of New India, today India is touching new heights and transcending them too", the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said that Aero India 2023 is a shining example of India's growing capabilities and the presence of around 100 nations at this event shows the trust that the entire world shows in India. He noted the participation of more than 800 exhibitors including Indian MSMEs and startups along with the well-renowned companies of the world. Throwing light on the theme of Aero India 2023 'The Runway to a Billion Opportunities', the Prime Minister expressed that the strength of Aatmanirbhar Bharat keeps on growing with each passing day. Referring to the Defence Minister's Conclave and CEOs Round Table that is being organised along with the show, Modi said that active participation in the sector will enhance the potential of Aero India. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of Aero India taking place in Karnataka which is the hub of India's technological advancement. He said that this will open new avenues for the youth of Karnataka in the aviation sector. The Prime Minister called upon the youth of Karnataka to deploy their technological expertise in the field of defence to strengthen the country. "When the country moves forward with new thinking, new approach, then its systems also start changing according to the new thinking", the Prime Minister said as he highlighted that Aero India 2023 reflects the changing approach of New India. The Prime Minister recalled when Aero India used to be 'just a show' and a window to 'sell to India' but the perception has changed now. "Today, Aero India is India's strength and not just a show", the Prime Minister said as he stated that it not only showcases the scope of the defence industry but also showcases the self-confidence of India". The Prime Minister said that India's successes are bearing witness to its capabilities. Tejas, INS Vikrant, advanced manufacturing facilities in Surat and Tumkur, said the Prime Minister, are the potential of Aatmanirbhar Bharat with which the world's new alternatives and opportunities are linked. "The new India of the 21st century will neither miss any opportunity nor will it lack any effort", the Prime Minister said as he noted the revolution brought in every sector with the help of reforms. He underlined that the nation which used to be the largest defence exporter for decades has now started exporting defence equipment to 75 countries in the world. Referring to the transformation of the defence sector in the last 8-9 years, the Prime Minister said that the aim is to take defence exports from 1.5 billion to 5 billion by 2024-25. "From here India will take rapid strides to be included among the largest defence manufacturing countries and our private sector and investors will play a big role in that", the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister called upon the private sector to invest in the defence sector which will create new opportunities for them in India and in many other countries. "The India of today thinks fast, thinks far and takes quick decisions", Modi said as he drew the analogy of India in Amrit Kaal to a fighter jet pilot. The Prime Minister said that India is a nation which is not afraid but excited to soar to new heights. India is always rooted however high it flies howsoever is its speed, the Prime Minister stressed. "Aero India's deafening roar echoes India's message of Reform, Perform and Transform", the Prime Minister remarked. He mentioned that the entire world is taking note of the reforms made for 'Ease of Doing Business' in India and touched upon the various steps taken to create an environment that favours global investments as well as Indian innovation. He touched upon the reforms made in Foreign Direct Investments in defence and other sectors and the simplification of processes for issuing licenses to industries while also increasing their validity. The Prime Minister said that in this year's Budget, tax benefits for manufacturing units have been enhanced. The Prime Minister said where there is demand, expertise as well experience, Industry growth is natural. He assured the gathering that efforts to strengthen the sector will keep going forward even stronger. In his address, the Defence Minister lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for guiding India on the political and economic map of the world and made special mention of his unwavering commitment towards the industrial and economic growth of the country. He described Aero India as an expression of that resolve. Rajnath Singh asserted that India has become a promising manufacturing destination due to its business-friendly environment and cost-competitiveness. "India has become the fifth largest economy in the world due to the vision and determination of our Prime Minister. It is well on course to become the third-largest economy in the next 4-5 years. India's G-20 presidency this year is also a reflection of India's growing stature on the international platforms," he said. The Defence Minister also shed light on the growth story of the Indian defence sector, saying that it has come a long way in the last few years and is marching ahead on the path of empowering the nation with full zeal and dedication. He termed Aero India as one of the pillars which have strengthened the defence sector and given it a new identity. Rajnath Singh welcomed the Defence Ministers, Service Chiefs, CEOs, officials and delegates from many countries participating in this 14th edition of Aero India. He appreciated the fact that over 800 exhibitors from India and abroad will present showcase their products and technologies during the five-day event. He termed the huge participation as a testimony to a new confidence of the domestic and global business community in India's emerging business potential. He called upon the participants to become a part of India's journey towards becoming a defence manufacturing hub. He also commended Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for organising the event on a grand scale. He described Karnataka as a pioneer in industrialisation and one of the most prominent states contributing to India's economic growth. Governor of Karnataka Thawar Chand Gehlot, Chief Minister of Karnataka Basvaraj Bommai, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia and Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt were among those present on the occasion. (ANI) The Rajya Sabha was on Monday adjourned till the beginning of the next part of the Budget Session on March 13 amid pandemonium created by a joint Opposition led by Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, as the chair declined the notices of several members on various issues. The Upper House saw two adjournments -- first till 11.50 am and the second till 11 am on March 13 -- as the Opposition leaders continued their protest sloganeering in the House demanding Joint Parliamentary Committee on Adani row. Before the first adjournment, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar named several MPs and warned them for not to indulge in such acts that disrupt the proceedings of the House as several members from Opposition parties trooped into the well of the House sloganeering, the Chairman named a few of them including Raghav Chaddha, Imran Pratapgarhi, Shakti Sinh Gohil, Kumar Ketkar and Sandeep Pathak. The ruckus started soon after the House assembled for the day at 11 am and 'Zero House' was allowed following papers were laid on the table. As the Chairman declined the notices of several Opposition leaders, the members started raising slogans and many of them trooped into the well-sloganeering "JPC se Jaanch Karao" (investigate through JPC) were raised in the House. Some other slogans were also raised in the House by the Opposition members. Amid the din, Dhankhar tried to run the House and said he "expect everyone in the House to help in running it smoothly." "I appeal all of you that we have to maintain our conduct so that people of the country like it." Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge objected to expunging his remarks during the discussion of the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, and suspension of Congress MP Rajni Patil earlier. Dhankhar objected to Kharge, saying "You are forfeiting your right. You always raise questions on a chair that it takes decisions under pressure," Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, meanwhile, said "it is truly an insult of the House...", and requested the chair to adjourn the house for some time and warn the members. As the ruckus continued, the Chairman adjourned the House to meet at 11.50 am after naming a few members with a warning. The Chairman allowed the 'Question Hour' after the House again assembled at 11.50 am but he had to adjourn it till 11 am on March 13, the second part of the Budget Session, after a brief attempt to run the House amid the din. (ANI) The man was arrested from Bengaluru airport while he was scheduled to leave for Britain on Monday morning, they added. "The incident took place on October 2022, but came to light earlier this month after his wife, aged 36, filed a police complaint in east Delhi's Kalyanpuri," a police officer said. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act 2019, which the Parliament passed in July 2019, makes the practice of instant divorce through the 'triple talaq' among Muslims a punishable offence. Triple talaq (instant divorce) and talaq-e-mughallazah (irrevocable divorce) are now banned instruments of divorce previously available to Muslims in the country, especially adherents of Hanafi Sunni Islamic schools of jurisprudence. They have been made punishable with up to three years in jail for the husband. Under the new law, an aggrieved woman is entitled to maintenance for her dependent children. On August 22, 2017, the Supreme Court deemed instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddah) unconstitutional. A Muslim man could legally divorce his wife by proclaiming three times consecutively the word talaq (the Arabic word for 'divorce') (in spoken, written or, more recently, electronic form). The Centre first introduced the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament on August 22, 2017. MPs from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Biju Janata Dal, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League opposed the Bill. Several Opposition lawmakers called for it to be sent to a select committee for scrutiny. It was passed on December 28, 2017 by the Lok Sabha, where the ruling BJP was in the majority. The Bill followed a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that the practice of instant Triple Talaq was unconstitutional and a divorce pronounced by uttering 'talaq' three times in one sitting is void and illegal. (ANI) The Delhi High court issued a notice on the appeal moved by Delhi Police against the discharge of Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Zargar and eight others in the Jamia violence case of 2019. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice to some respondents as some of them appeared on advance notice. However, the high court summoned the trial court record (TCR) in digitised form. Though the HC has refused the observations made by the trial court judge, it said the observations will not affect further investigation that the police undertake or the trial of any accused in the matter. While the HC has not summoned the case diary, it was submitted by one of the counsels that the TCR and case diary may be summoned. The trial court made some serious remarks while discharging the accused persons on February 4. The trial court record has been summoned in digitised form. The observations have not been expunged. The ASG, appearing for Delhi Police, said the observations were misconceived and will prejudice further investigation. The matter was listed for further hearing on March 16. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain argued that the observations made by the trial court are misconceived and prejudicial to further investigation. ASG submitted that there was an FIR and one main charge sheet and three supplementary chargesheets. The third chargesheet was disregarded by the trial court on the basis of reasoning, which is misconceived in law, he said. On the other hand, the counsel for Asif Iqbal Tanha argued that the supplementary charge sheet was filed to fill the lacunae of the investigation. She also argued that there is a difference between dissent and peaceful protest. The persons named in the second charge sheet were students of Jamia Milia Islamia University, therefore, their presence was not unusual there. The Delhi High court on Friday allowed the urgent listing of the plea. The division bench headed by chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma allowed the urgent listing of the matter on Monday. The matter was mentioned by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who urged the bench to list the matter urgently. Delhi Police have moved the HC against the discharge granted to Sharjeel Imam and other accused in the Jamia Violence case. It is submitted that the Impugned Order is null and void, non-est and in the teeth of well-settled principles of law, the Delhi Police said in its plea. "Vide the said order, not only has the Trial Court discharged the Respondents but also swayed by emotional and sentimental feelings, it cast aspersions on the prosecuting agency and passed gravely prejudicial and adverse remarks against the prosecuting agency and the investigation," it stated. The trial court, while not considering and weighing the evidence on record, proceeded to discharge the respondents at the stage of framing of charges, the Delhi Police stated further, adding that the trial court erred in not only holding a mini-trial at this stage but also recorded perverse findings which are contrary to the record to arrive at the finding that a case of discharge was made out against the respondents. "It is submitted that a bare perusal of the Impugned Order would reveal that Trial Court has proceeded to make observations on the merits of the matter. It is also submitted that at the stage of discharge, the Trial ought to have only merely to sift the evidence in order to find out whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused," the plea stated further. "In other words, the sufficiency of grounds would take within its fold the nature of the evidence recorded by the police or the documents produced before the court which ex facie disclose that there are suspicious circumstances against the accused so as to frame a charge against him," the petition stated. "It is further submitted that while exercising its judicial mind to the facts of the case in order to determine whether a case for trial has been made out by the prosecution, the Trial Court ought not to enter into the pros and cons of the matter or into a weighing and balancing of evidence and probabilities which is done at the stage of the trial," it added. Delhi's Saket court on February 4, discharged Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Zargar and other eight accused in the Jamia Milia Islamia University violence case registered in 2019. However, the court had directed framing of charges against Mohd. Iliyas alias Allen in the matter. The trial court had said the accused were made scapegoats in the matter. It added that police had no evidence against the accused persons. This case pertains to violence at Jamia and its surrounding areas in December 2019. Violence erupted after a clash between people protesting against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the police. Sharjeel was granted bail in 2021. A case was registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station in connection with the violence on December 13, 2019. Delhi police named 12 persons as accused in the case. Delhi police charged the accused with rioting and unlawful assembly while also booking them under IPC sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 332, 333, 308, 427, 435, 323, 341, 120(B) and 34. Sharjeel, however, will remain in custody as he is accused in a larger conspiracy in the Delhi riots case and a sedition case. His bail in the larger conspiracy and sedition cases was dismissed by the Karkardooma court. (ANI) Terming the democratic ouster of Left Front government in Tripura in the last assembly polls by the BJP as "historic" and something "that has barely happened in India's history," Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has said that "Communists committed murders and violence" and it is important that they do not return to power in the state. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Saha said the BJP works for the last man in society and the state and central governments have taken several initiatives for welfare of tribal community. "It's a history that after 35 years of rule, BJP removed the Communist government here in a democratic way...It has barely happened in India's history," he said. The Left Parties have ruled Tripura for 35 years since 1978. The Chief Minister said that the Communists indulged in "santras" and BJP is campaigning hard so that they do not return to power. BJP's top leaders including Prime Minister Narnendra Modi have campaigned in the state. "Communists committed murders and violence here, so it is important that they do not return to power as violence cannot lead to development. Numerous people had to sacrifice their lives. All of us are very concerned. " He was responding to a query about why Tripura is important for the BJP with PM Modi and other senior leaders campaigning while Congress star campaigners including members of Gandhi family are missing. Saha said BJP was a national party and there is a sense of commitment among its members. He said Congress is losing the polls and one leader comes for campaigning and another does not. "The BJP is a family. Everyone comes here during this time (elections). We're not just Tripura BJP, we're a national party. In Congress, one leader comes, another doesn't,but there is a commitment in our party," he said: "Nobody came in the local body elections, we (local leaders) managed everything. We came out to be 100 per cent successful in the local body polls. Now when there are Assembly polls, elections are not being held only in Tripura," he added. He said senior party leaders were like "guardians" and were contributing to making the future of Tripura bright . "The Prime Minister always says that we do not do politics for power but for social change. We work for the last man in society. The welfare schemes of the Centre and the state is made to reach to all. So everyone (top leaders of the BJP) come here to make sure that there is no disruption in this process," he said. The Congress and Left parties have entered into an pact for the assembly polls. Tipra Motha, chaired by Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the Tirpura royal scion, is fighting on its own and is demanding "Greater Tipraland" . Saha asked where is boundary of 'Greater Tipraland' . He said BJP government has taken a lot of initiatives for the welfare of tribal community. "I said, again and again, where is the boundary of 'Greater Tipraland'? Sometimes they say it is in Bangladesh and sometimes they say it is also in parts of Assam, Mizoram. It can't be defined properly... PM Modi and Tripura government are doing a lot for Tribal," he said. Referring to the BJP's poll pitch of double-engine government, he said people can feel the difference as there is greater pace of development. The Chief Minister also referred to the party's thrust on 'HIRA' - Highway, Internet, Railway, Airport - in the state. He said five tribal people from the state have been awarded Padma Shri in the last few years. " The airport has been named after Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya. We declared two-days holiday for Garia Puja festival, which earlier used to be of one day. We have also declared the birth anniversary of Maharaja Bir Bikram as a holiday. We do a lot of work for the tribal everywhere. Tripura government as well as PM Modi have been undertaking welfare work for the tribals everywhere," he said. The Chief Minister exuded confidence that the BJP will return to power in Tripura will a thumping majority and will secure more seats than in the 2018 Assembly elections. BJP leaders have said in their rallies that the Congress, Communists and Motha are all together "If the vote is given to Motha or Congress, it will be a vote to the Communists. If you want development and peace, press the 'lotus' button," Home Minister Amit Shah had said at an election rally. The elections to 60-member Tripura assembly will be held on February 16. While the BJP won 36 seats in the 2018 election, BJP's ally IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura) won eight seats. BJP is contesting 55 seats in this election and IPFT is contesting five seats. BJP in its manifesto promised welfare proposals such as special canteen meals to the poor, a Balika Samridddhi bond and scooties for college girls. The manifesto also promises two free LPG cylinders to all beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and welffare measures for landless farmers. Campainging will end in Tripura on February 14. The counting of votes in Tripura will be held on March 2 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya, which will also go the polls later this month. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held a discussion with the Defence Minister of Nepal, Hari Prasad Uprety on the sidelines of Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a tweet said that the country looks forward to continuing cooperation to deepen the close partnership. "Wonderful interaction with the Defence Minister of Nepal, Shri Hari Prasad Uprety on the sidelines of #AeroIndiaShow in Bengaluru. We look forward to continued cooperation to further deepen our close partnership and shared interests," Tweeted Rajnath Singh. https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1625036737885118471/photo/1 Earlier today the prime minister inaugurated the 14th edition of Asia's biggest aero show - Aero India 2023 - at Air Force Station in Yelahanka here. A commemorative stamp was also released by the Prime Minister on the occasion. The five-day event, on the theme 'The runway to a billion opportunities', will showcase India's growth in aerospace and defence capabilities. It will display indigenous equipment/technologies and forge partnerships with foreign companies, in line with the 'Make in India, Make for the World' vision for a secure and prosperous future. In his address, the Defence Minister lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for guiding India on the political and economic map of the world and made special mention of his unwavering commitment towards the industrial and economic growth of the country. He described Aero India as an expression of that resolve. Rajnath Singh asserted that India has become a promising manufacturing destination due to its business-friendly environment and cost-competitiveness. "India has become the fifth largest economy in the world due to the vision and determination of our Prime Minister. It is well on course to become the third-largest economy in the next 4-5 years. India's G-20 presidency this year is also a reflection of India's growing stature on the international platforms," he said. The Defence Minister also shed light on the growth story of the Indian defence sector, saying that it has come a long way in the last few years and is marching ahead on the path of empowering the nation with full zeal and dedication. He termed Aero India as one of the pillars which have strengthened the defence sector and given it a new identity. Rajnath Singh welcomed the Defence Ministers, Service Chiefs, CEOs, officials and delegates from many countries participating in this 14th edition of Aero India. He appreciated the fact that over 800 exhibitors from India and abroad will present and showcase their products and technologies during the five-day event. He termed the huge participation as a testimony to the new confidence of the domestic and global business community in India's emerging business potential. He called upon the participants to become a part of India's journey towards becoming a defence manufacturing hub. (ANI) "Our party candidate EVKS Elangovan is going to win by a great margin," the Congress State unit chief said, adding that on February 15 party state in-charge Dinesh Gundurao is going to campaign in Erode East constituency. Earlier in January, Election Commission announced a byelection to the Erode East constituency in Tamil Nadu on February 27. The counting of votes will be done on March 2. The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of the Congress MLA Thirumagan, the great-grandson of social reformer 'Periyar' E V Ramasamy and son of former Union minister E V K S Elangovan. Last month, while addressing the party cadres in a protest against TN Governor RN Ravi in Chennai, Alagiri also said that even lord Rama would cast his vote for the Congress party in the bypolls. "If Lord Ram is asked whom will you vote for? Lord Ram will cast his vote for Congress and not BJP," Tamil Nadu Congress President claimed. Congress is looking to retain the constituency, which is one of the 25 seats allotted to it in the DMK's Secular Progressive Alliance. In the last elections, Yuvaraja M of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) had come second by contesting on the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (AIADMK) two-leaves symbol. The bypoll is being keenly watched as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might decide to go for it alone. (ANI) Rockwell Automation, the worlds largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has appointed Hussain Al Khater as Managing Director for Saudi Arabia. His appointment marks the latest milestone in the company's more than 50-year commitment to Saudi Arabias long-term growth strategy, playing a vital role in the kingdoms expanding energy and chemicals supply chain. The appointment of Al Khater will herald a reorganisation of Rockwell Automation business operations in the region. The new organisation, headed by Al Khater, will focus on Saudi market growth. The new structure allows Rockwell Automation to align with the requirements of the kingdom's vision and aligns it for future growth, the company said. This realignment will support the MoU that Rockwell Automation signed with Saudi Aramco last year during IKTVA Forum, the worlds largest integrated energy and chemicals company, to support the oil giants In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) programme, designed to drive local value creation, and to encourage the development of a diverse, sustainable, and globally competitive energy sector in the kingdom. Sebastien Grau, Regional Vice President, Middle East, Turkey & Africa (META) for Rockwell Automation, said: "With full responsibility for the development of Rockwell Automation business operations in Saudi Arabia, Hussain Al Khater will play a pivotal role in reinforcing and expanding our presence in the Kingdom. At Rockwell Automation, we recognize the importance of Saudi Arabias 2030 Vision. This appointment will reinforce synergies for joint advocacy and support of the IKTVA initiative, another demonstration of our successful presence in Saudi Arabia. Rockwell Automation will continue to focus on several areas of collaboration with Aramco and its major customers, from product localisation and digital transformation, to workforce development and training. The goal of the collaboration is to increase the companies contributions to Saudi Arabias localization efforts and create additional employment opportunities as a result. Rockwell Automation has developed a five-year plan of investment in Saudi Arabia to support this collaboration. One important piece of this strategy is training and technology-sharing around digital technologies such as augmented reality and Industry 4.0. To facilitate this, Rockwell Automation is investing in a center of excellence at its Saudi Arabia headquarters, where customers can learn more about industrial digital transformation solutions, it said. - TradeArabia News Service Kerala Leader of Opposition (LoP) VD Satheesan on Monday claimed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is travelling in vehicles escorted by 40 police vehicles in the wake of ongoing protests against the government in the state. "The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is protesting in 72 panchayats on the buffer zone issue along with the agitation against the state Budget. All the parties, students, youth, and women's organisations are in protest. The chief minister, who said the UDF only knows how to hold Satyagraha, is travelling in Kerala accompanied by 40 police vehicles. Who is the chief minister afraid of?" he said. He said that UDF is protesting to highlight people's issues. Neither the UDF nor the Congress has taken a U-turn like the CPIM, as they did earlier during the anti-computer, anti-tractor and anti-Asian Development Bank (ADB) protests. Last week, UDF MLAs and the youth wing of the Congress party protested against the Left government's refusal to roll back the tax proposals and social security cess on fuel and liquor, announced in the Budget. The MLAs took out a march against the state Budget from MLA Hostel to the state Legislative Assembly to attend the Budget session in Kerala Assembly. While the youthwing of the Congress protested in Kochi and clashed with the police personnel who used water cannons to disperse the protestors. The protesters said they will continue the protest till the government change its decision. This comes after the Kerala Finance Minister on February 7 said that government will not cut the cess imposed on fuel and liquor. Earlier, too, LoP Satheesan had criticised the state Budget, terming it unscientific. The Congress leader said, "For the last few days, we have been agitating inside and outside of the Assembly. Not only the Opposition, even the general public believes that the government will be forced to withdraw some of the taxes. Unfortunately, the government is not ready to pull down the taxes." He claimed that all these taxes are unscientific as they will lead more price hikes and derail the state's economy. Satheesan also attacked the government over the death of a literacy prerak, who was reportedly upset over the delay in the release of salary and committed suicide at his home in Pathanapuram, last week. "In the state, literacy campaigners have not been paid for six months. The beneficiaries of Social Security pensions, who are sitting at home, have not been paid for the last 14 months. Inspite of all this, the Kerala CM is saying that there is no debt crisis in the state," he said. (ANI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said the NPP-led state government has been proactive and worked overtime to ensure that peace and development prevail in the State. Addressing an election rally here on Sunday, the chief minister also praised the intelligence units of the state for working tirelessly to prevent anti-social activities and create a peaceful environment. "Many might have thought that the State is prone to insurgency and will remain the same, however, we were committed to ensure that peace and tranquillity prevails in the State. Our intelligence is always on alert to extortion and other anti-social activities, and we have been able to bust such cases to ensure that such activities do not occur," Conrad said. Referring to the violence sponsored by pressure groups in Shillong, the NPP chief said people are afraid to walk in the streets of Shillong after certain instances. "There are many instances of law and order problems, but it doesn't mean that the Government has been silent. Our police have worked overtime to overcome the situation to ensure that peace could be restored during such a situation," he assured. Also talking about his government's vision to have Meghalaya among the top 10 states in the country, he said, "Many ridiculed our vision. We have endured that we have made Meghalaya proud in various sectors." He highlighted that Meghalaya was ranked best in the start-up ecosystem in the country, improved its rank from 27th to 2nd today in immunisation and through the JJM scheme, it connected 2.5 lakh plus households with water pipe connections from 4000 in 2018. "Our Government has worked on a mission mode with set targets to ensure that Meghalaya is put on a fast track mode," he said and added that the people have changed their mindset to achieve the desired targets. Talking about the development in his constituency of South Tura in 5 years, he said people have been demanding street lights, community halls, access to water, approach road to the locality in South Tura, once these were completed in many localities, there was one particular locality that even demanded for a swimming pool. "People's expectations in Tura have raised, people of Tura were deprived for years, but today we have managed to ensure that people's aspirations were fulfilled. We have managed to ensure visible development in Tura through the Smart Town project, Town Beautification," he said. He further informed that over 250 internal locality roads are undergoing construction in Tura, and 70-80 percent of the population in Tura has access to piped water connections. Stressing that there is a new push for development in Tura, the NPP chief said, five years back many localities in Tura had water scarcity problems, but his government has been able to minimise it to a large extent. "My promise to the citizens of Tura is that we will work to further the lives of our people. People of Tura are electing not just an MLA but CM of Meghalaya," he announced. He further said the NPP is forming the government with an absolute majority and people should not miss this opportunity. Voting in assembly elections for Meghalaya is set to be held on February 27 and counting will be held on March 2. (ANI) Parents took to the streets of Vadodara in Gujarat to protest after the government decided to cap admission at the age of six years as of June 1, 2023 for children to get enrolled in Class 1 in schools The protest was held on Sunday and parents claimed that due to such a rule, many children, who are a few months or even days away from turning six, will have to study in senior KG thus wasting a year. The protesting parents claimed that three lakh children of the state will be deprived of admissions to Class 1 and their one year would be wasted. Parents formed a human chain to protest at the Sayaji Bagh in the city. Students too participated in the protests wearing black bands on their faces and carrying posters and banners that read 'Save our One year'. The parents demanded relaxation in age by a few months so that their wards don't miss out on a year. "We have gathered here with our demand of relaxation in the age of children so that their one year is not wasted. If the government can listen to all other people, why doesn't it listen to our demands?" said Ripu, a parent who participated in the protest. "Nearly three lakh students of Gujarat are being affected due to this policy of the government and are being forced to repeat senior KG. The policy was brought by the government just before the Covid-19 set in. Hence, the policy could not be implemented and our kids were admitted according to the old policy. Now the government is trying to implement this policy. Hence, the schools are asking the parents to repeat their kids in Senior KG," said another parent. We are demanding a relaxation of only six months from the government. The future of three lakh students of the state can be saved with this relaxation," he added. However, state Education Minister Kuber Dindoor has already made it clear that the age of admission to class 1 has been made one year and will remain so. (ANI) "Issues related to Himachal's development, promotion of tourism and trade in both the states and prevention of drugs and intoxicants were also discussed," an official statement said. Stressing a joint strategy, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that "Himachal and Goa are the best tourism states in India and have tremendous potential to become a combined unique destination for the world, thereby boosting the economy and providing more job opportunities to their people." "A wide range of tourist-specific packages, interlinking both the States will be designed, which will enhance foreign and domestic tourist influx in both states", he said. CM Sukhu also talked about developing a specific mechanism for promoting tourism. "Both states will also work on evolving a mechanism for specific purposes in the area of Tourism and Trade", he said. The leaders also discussed having a series of marine-mountain-themed science workshops and events exchange programmes between the students of both states in the future to understand the marine and mountain ecosystems better. Earlier, Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also met Union Minister of Tourism, G. Kishan Reddy in the national capital and urged him to include the places of tourist interests in the State under Swadesh Darshan Yojna II in the next phase. The chief minister apprised the Tourism Minister that the State is blessed with immense tourism potential, which includes water bodies (reservoirs), religious destinations, a lot for adventure lovers and striking mountain ranges. Chief Minister also advocated for including the State in the development of heritage sites. (ANI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh alleged that when he was in jail, he was offered a "deal" for getting out, and had he accepted it, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government could not have lasted even 2.5 years. Addressing an event in Wardha, Deshmukh said, "You all know I was kept in jail for 14 months under false allegations. I had received an offer for a deal. Had I accepted, I wouldn't have been in jail." "The MVA government would have got toppled even before 2.5 years, if I had accepted the offer, but I didn't go for settlement," he added. Deshmukh, who was booked in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore extortion case, was granted conditional bail by the Bombay High Court on December 12, 2022, on a bond of Rs 1 lakh. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November 2021, which stated that he had misused his position as state home minister and collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars in Mumbai through some police officers. Earlier on January 6, Deshmukh was granted permission to visit Nagpur, after he moved a petition before a special PMLA court in Mumbai. Among the bail conditions imposed by the HC was that Deshmukh cannot leave Mumbai without the prior approval of the trial court and must cooperate with the investigation. Deshmukh had previously denied the allegations against him, claiming they were baseless "Param Bir Singh (then Mumbai Police commissioner), in an affidavit submitted in court, stated that the accusations against me were based on hearsay and that he had no evidence against me," Deshmukh said earlier. He said, "Param Bir Singh and Sachin Vaze (Mumbai Ex-cop) made false allegations and I had to stay in jail." Notably, Anil Deshmukh held office as the Home Minister of Maharashtra, under the MVA rule, before ED arrested him in the alleged money laundering case. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narayanan Thirupathy on Monday lashed out at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its mouthpiece Murasoli saying that the party doesn't have any hold in the state. It comes after Murasoli slammed BJP for having an alliance with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) despite having a fallout with the party in the past. Talking to ANI, the BJP leader said, "DMK doesn't have any right to talk about alliances and dependence on the party. Right from its inception, it has been dependent on alliances. In 1967, it won due because of C Rajagopalachari. In 1971, it was in alliance with Indira Gandhi. In 1989 and 1996, it was again in the alliance. In 2006, it was called the 'Minority Government'. So DMK takes its oxygen from other parties." He alleged that DMK "bribes" parties to get into an alliance with them and has "no hold" in Tamil Nadu. "DMK pays money to parties for getting into an alliance. It paid 10 crores for two seats to CPI(M) and 15 crores to CPI for two seats. Even in the last elections in 2021, DMK won only because of the alliance. DMK has no hold in Tamil Nadu, and Murasoli has no right to talk about alliances of the BJP. We have contested only two times in alliance, and every other time, we have contested alone. We have even challenged them many times to contest alone, but they haven't because they are weak," he said. The BJP leader further called the 1998 fallout as an 'old issue', and attacked DMK for an alliance with Congress. "What happened in 1998 is an old issue, DMK itself stamped Congress, it got out of alliance with them in 2013, but later came back. So DMK has no right to talk about this. Also, Congress is a shameless party which is in alliance with a party, whose chief embraced the convicts of the murder of former PM Rajiv Gandhi," he added. He also attacked the Tamil Nadu government over the last year's incident when human excreta was found inside a water tank. "Stalin has himself said that DMK is an extended arm of the Justice Party, which is nothing but Anti-Brahmin and Anti-Dalit. In a recent incident in a village near Pudukkotai, human excreta was mixed in the water tank. Till now the culprits are not arrested. It again shows that DMK is Anti-Dalit," he further said. Reacting to the detention of BJP workers who were protesting against the screening of BBC documentary on PM Modi, Narayanan Thirupathy called it "appeasement" politics". "The Madurai Police should have arrested those who had screened the movie because it was violation of law. Even our National Secretary for Minority Affairs, Syed Ibrahim was stopped from going there. This is not just the misuse of power, but also the appeasement of minorities in the name of secularism," he added. Earlier, DMK mouthpiece Murasoli attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its alliance with AIADMK. The mouthpiece wrote, "Prime Minister Modi did not answer any questions which were raised by DMK Parliamentary members but he has asked how the DMK can be in alliance with Congress as they have dismissed DMK governments in the past." The newspaper alleged that the questions raised by DMK were related to government and administration, but the reply of the PM was "political". "So we also need to give a political reply to that," the newspaper wrote. It further attacked BJP referring to the collapse of the NDA government in 1998, after former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa led AIADMK exited the alliance. "Because of your present alliance party AIADMK only, the Vajpayee government fell, BJP can forget that but people won't forget this," the newspaper wrote. During 1998-1999, then AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalitha went to Delhi to meet President K R Narayanan and withdrew AIADMK support to the BJP. Because of this Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government lost its majority and fell. Intensifying its attack further, Murasoli wrote, "Two days back Edapadi Palanisamy said that they don't need any alliance and they can face election individually. But in reply, BJP is saying we are in alliance with AIADMK. Don't you all feel ashamed to say this?" "BJP was talking about 'Tamil Nadu without Kazgangal', but now BJP is itself surviving on the oxygen of AIADMK," the DMK mouthpiece further wrote. (ANI) Delhi Police conducted a raid and busted a racket of preparing forged documents in Jahangirpuri and also arrested three persons in this connection, officials said on Monday. They were running this racket from a cyber cafe situated in the Jahangirpuri area of Delhi, an official said. "A team of Northern Range, crime Branch has busted a racket involved in preparing fake Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Voter Card and Driving License," the official said. The three accused have been identified as Rohit, a resident of Mukandpur, Pintu, a resident of Village Wazirabad and Anurag, a resident of Baprola in New Delhi. The official added that a case of forgery has been registered at the police station crime branch. The modus operandi was that the occupants of the Cyber Cafe agreed to prepare PAN cards, and Aadhar cards through fraudulent means and also provided a SIM card for using the documents in the bank. "On confirmation, the cyber cafe was raided and three persons were apprehended. Forged Aadhaar Cards, PAN Cards, and Driving License along with articles used in preparing these documents were seized," an official familiar with the matter said. Out of them, 7 PAN Cards, 9 Aadhar Cards & 2 Voter Cards were found issued under different names but had photographs of the same person, the official added. "This person was later established to be the owner of the cyber cafe namely Mohammed Kareem. Many of the PAN Cards issued under different names were found in NSDL envelopes mentioning therein the holder's address as Jahangirpuri, Delhi, which happens to be the same address where the alleged cyber cafe was being run," the official added. Police said, on interrogation, it emerged that they used ordinary persons who don't have any Aadhar, PAN Card and other ID documents for preparing these documents and further misusing these documents. "It also came out that in some cases instead of fingerprints, they used toe prints. They have opened a large number of bank accounts under different names. Many chequebooks have also been recovered," the official added. (ANI) Accusing the governing BJP of "ruining the country" with its communal agenda" Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and asked what kind of danger the latter had sensed in the southern state to prompt him to take a jibe at it. Addressing a CPI (M) party programme near Kottayam on Sunday, Vijayan said "There is no communal violence in Kerala, no religion is facing discrimination or any attacks. Home Minister Amit Shah said he is not telling much about Kerala. It is dangerous to stay here. He has to say what kind of risk he had seen in Kerala." "There is Kerala near you (Karnataka). I don't want to say much. If you want to keep Karnataka safe, only BJP can do this. Only a BJP government in Karnataka, under the leadership of PM Modi can do this," Shah, had said in his rally at Puttur, Karnataka on Saturday. "Let him complete what he has to say. Actually, he has to say the people in Kerala live there without any discrimination and enjoy security," Vijayan had said in response. The Kerala CM accused the 'Sangh Parivar' of communal propaganda in the country. He further said that governing BJP is curtailing funds for the common man and "pushing them to poverty". "You're ruling for the rich people. The rich gets richer and the poor became poorer. People are starving and poverty is rising. After 75 years, we are not able to sort it," he said. The chief minister warned of a public agitation, "You (BJP) deviate attention from real issues by raking up communal tensions in the nation. Kerala will not work according to your communal agendas." "We can't allow BJP to rule this nation again. They will ruin the country with their communal agenda," he said adding, "We should join and fight the BJP keeping in view the 2024 assembly elections." Vijayan on Saturday claimed that some people are running "false propaganda" to tarnish Kerala's image and that young people should stay away from it. Addressing the inaugural summit of the Professional Student Summit 2023, Vijayan had said, "Rumours like Kerala is not a good place to live and not industry-friendly and has fewer employment opportunities, etc being spread. Some are trying to create a false image of Kerala. Young people should be able to recognize and defend against such false propaganda." (ANI) The Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed the petitions seeking suspension of the sentence of three persons who were convicted for attempting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group. A Division Bench of Justice Alexander Thomas and Justice Sophy Thomas noted that releasing them is not safe. The argument of the petitioners who were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of seven years was that "The appellants have undergone more than five years in custody and were even never released on bail during the trial. A major portion of the sentence is already over. The prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and there was every chance for them to succeed in the appeal against conviction." On this, the court observed and said, "We do not know whether the appellants are having sleeping volcanoes of terrorism in their mind to indulge in violent jihad. Here is a case where the appellants acted against the interest of the nation as they wanted to wage war against Syria, an Asiatic power at peace with the Government of India. So, even if the appellants have undergone a major portion of the sentence imposed on them, it is not safe to release them on bail, as we do not know whether they still entertain the idea of performing Hijra in Syria for indulging in violent jihad." "The allegations against the appellants are very serious in nature and the merits of the applications would have to be considered in order to prima facie ascertain whether there are strong compelling reasons for the grant of bail, especially when the presumption of innocence has vanished and the accused have been convicted. Though a detailed examination of evidence and elaborate documentation of the merits of the case need not be undertaken, there is a need to indicate in such orders reasons for prima facie concluding, why bail was being granted particularly where the accused is charged of having committed a serious offence. In considering an application for suspension of sentence, the appellate court has to examine if there is any patent illegality in the order of conviction, which renders the order prima facie erroneous. Where there is evidence that has been considered by the trial court, it is not open to a court considering an application under Section 389 to reassess and/or re-analyse the same evidence and take a different view, to suspend the execution of the sentence and release the convict on bail." The court further observed that "Considering the nature and gravity of the offences alleged, which are affecting the integrity of the nation and security and liberty of its citizens, the discretion has to be exercised with more care and caution, and not in a casual manner. Prima facie nothing is there, cogent enough to raise substantial doubts regarding the validity of the conviction." The case pertains that the DSP, who conducted the probe found that six accused named in the charge sheet, had attempted to join ISIS/Daesh. Three of the six accused were intercepted by Turkish authorities while they were trying to cross over to Syria, and were deported back to India. Another accused was intercepted at the Mangalore Airport by the immigration authorities while he was allegedly travelling to Syria through UAE. One of the masterminds in teaching ISIS/Daesh ideology in Kerala had booked tickets to exit India but cancelled the same on knowing of the arrest of the other accused. According to the prosecution, there is also an unconfirmed report that the sixth accused had crossed over to Syria and was killed there. The accused was arrested on October 25, 2017. NIA later took over the investigation and filed a chargesheet against the four accused. Two of the accused turned approvers. In July 2022, the accused were convicted by a special NIA court. They were convicted under 38 and 39 of UAPA and section 120B r/w section 125 of IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years and a fine. (ANI) According to the police the caller was identified as Yashwant Mane who dialled the top cop and asked police to send personnel to Mira-Bhaydar immediately. When the officer questioned him further, he disconnected the phone using abusive words following which the Joint Commissioner alerted the Mumbai Police Control. Mumbai police and Mira Bhayander Police are investigating this matter. Further details into the matter are awaited. Meanwhile, Google's office in Pune city today received a bomb call, which later turned out to be a hoax, police said. The man who allegedly made the call was traced to Hyderabad and detained by the Telangana Police. A team of Mumbai Police has left for Telangana to bring the accused to Mumbai. According to the police, the caller didn't have a number for the Google office in Pune, so he dialled Google office headquarters in Mumbai and made the threatening call. Upon being alerted about the call, Mumbai Police connected with their counterparts in Pune who rushed to the multinational company's office located in a multi-storey commercial building in Pune's Mundhwa area. The Pune police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad carried out extensive searches but did not find anything suspicious. According to the police the caller has been identified as Panayam Shivanand, who hails from Hyderabad. After receiving the threat call, a complaint was lodged by Google at the BKC police station in Mumbai. The BKC Police has registered a case against the caller under Section 505(1)(b) and 506(2) of IPC. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) GE has renewed its commitment to build local talent in Kuwait and advance students understanding and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields with a two-day event organised along with Injaz Kuwait. It promoted hands-on learning and aimed to foster vital skills of problem-solving, analytical and critical thinking, and build a strong foundation in science, technology and innovation. More than 100 students from the American Creativity Academy in Kuwait gained critical knowledge of advanced technologies required to pursue STEM fields at the event organised to commemorate the 8th International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated annually on February 11. Students also had the opportunity to connect with inspiring female role models in the industry and benefited from a valuable and immersive learning experience during a tour of the GE Kuwait Technology Center (GEKTC), an initiative that aims to transform the energy sector in Kuwait. Interactive challenge Hosted at the Salmiya Campus, the opening day of the event commenced with an introduction to STEM, followed by an interactive challenge on the subject and was led by Injaz with the help of four GE volunteers. Reflecting GEs strong commitment to its community in Kuwait and to propel young girls towards their goals, students were taken on a tour of GEKTC the next day where they learnt how STEM skills could be applied to drive innovation, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. Successful female leaders also spoke at the event, urging students to develop their skills in STEM to become agents of change and pursue jobs of the future. Dana AlQattan, Sales and Proposals Manager at GEKTC, inspired the future leaders by outlining how her deep-seated passion for science and spirit of curiosity allowed her to pursue a role in a traditionally male-dominated field. Creating the future Mariam Al-Rushaid, Director, GE Kuwait Technology Center, said: To help create the future we want to see, and to build a stronger and more diverse pipeline for the future, talented young girls and boys must be encouraged to nurture their interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Businesses must also do more to actively address the talent shortage for women in STEM roles. Through our partnership with Injaz Kuwait, GE seeks to empower young students in this field to support and realise the goals envisioned under Kuwait Vision 2035 to foster competitiveness, support sustainable economic growth and diversification, and further strengthen industrial capabilities. Laila Hilal Al-Mutairi, CEO, Injaz Kuwait, said: "Investing in the education and empowerment of young women in STEM fields is not just a social responsibility, but a crucial step towards building a diverse and innovative future. Our goal is to ignite a passion for STEM in young women, and to give them the confidence, skills, and support they need to pursue their dreams and make a meaningful impact in the world. -- TradeArabia News Service Seven BJP workers were booked after they protested against the screening of a BBC documentary on PM Narendra Modi by the Communist Party in a private hall in Madurai's Meenakshi Nagar area on Sunday evening, police said. A few Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members reached the spot on receiving information. The BJP members, who arrived on the scene, attempted to prevent the documentary from being screened also started protests. The police reached the spot and detained BJP members. On Sunday night, more BJP members protested at the gate of Avaniyapuram police station to condemn the police action against the BJP. Avaniyapuram Assistant Commissioner of Police Selva Kumar confirmed to ANI, "The BBC documentary was screened at the Jamaat-owned indoor mahal on Sunday. The BJP protested against it. We have filed a case against seven BJP workers and are investigating the matter." The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL seeking a complete ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and BBC India from operating from Indian territory in the wake of airing the documentary titled, 'India: The Modi Question' relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and MM Sundresh said that the plea was misconceived and the court cannot impose censorship. Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta sought a ban on BBC operations in India alleging that it was taking an "anti-India" position. The PIL also sought direction from the NIA to initiate a probe against the anti-India and anti-Indian-government reporting/documentary films/short films including its employee journalist in India and to submit an inquiry report before the apex court. The PIL said a recent BBC documentary on Prime Minister is a result of a deep conspiracy against the global rise of India and its Prime Minister. UK's BBC two-part series attacking PM Modi's tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002 sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms. As per the sources, on January 21, the Centre issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary on Narendra Modi. Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to the Centre and sought its response on pleas seeking direction to restrain the Central government from censoring the BBC documentary relating to the 2002 Gujarat Riots. (ANI) Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Monday flew in the Light Combat Helicopter at Aero India at Bengaluru in Karnataka and discussed how Indian forces would be ready to fight future wars with made-in-India weapon systems in the next 8-10 years. Speaking to ANI here, General Pande said that he reviewed the Light Combat Helicopter and he is quite impressed with its features as it has all the qualities which are required by the Indian Army. General Pande said, "It was a very satisfying and meaningful experience. I was quite impressed with the kind of features that the Light Combat Helicopter has, especially in terms of manoeuvrability and capabilities that we in the Army are requiring from a combat helicopter." "If I were to start with Infantry, we are initially looking at making an Infantry soldier or empowering him to carry out his task on a battlefield in terms of protection, increasing situational awareness, giving him better surveillance capability, ability to fight at night," General Pande added. He further said, "If you look at the armour of the tanks, we are looking at a future-ready tank which we want to be night-enabled - there also we are looking at better protection and better situational awareness. In the case of artillery, we're looking at a range of capability starting from a mounted gun, improving the precision, improving to engage targets at very long ranges as also looking at our capability to strategically lift our artillery from one sector to another." He further said that as soon as we will move forward with these kinds of mobility we will be able to meet the security challenges strongly in the next 8-10 years. The Defence Ministry's firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is all set to display 15 made-in-India helicopters, including an advanced light helicopter, which has been delivered to Mauritius ahead of schedule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 14th edition of Asia's largest aero show -- Aero India 2023 -- in Bengaluru on Monday. "The event will showcase multiple variants of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. (ANI) Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its order on the bail plea of Gulfisha Fatima, an accused in Northeast Delhi violence larger conspiracy case. Her bail plea was earlier dismissed by the trial court on March 17, 2022. A special bench comprising justices Sidharth Mridul and Rajanish Bhatnagar reserved the order after hearing the submission of the accused and Delhi Police. During the hearing on bail plea, Gulfisha Fatima denied the allegations and said there is no evidence which shows that she gave any speech during the protest and used chilly powder. She also contended that mere presence at a meeting is not culpable. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that there is no clear statement of any witness related to any incident. There is no recovery made from the petitioner. There was the statement of only one witness when the petitioner was arrested. It was submitted by the counsel for the petitioner that in order to establish that Gulfisha was part of Maujpur area violence, Delhi Police recorded the statement of another witness on September 15, 2020. Her counsel submitted that an FIR was registered in relation to what happened in Maujpur and the petitioner is not named in that FIR. The counsel added that the petitioner was part of a sit-in protest at Jafrabad metro station. Delhi Police registered two cases in this regard. In March last year, a Delhi Court dismissed the bail plea of Gulfisha Fatima. She was booked by Delhi Police Special Cell under Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. It is alleged she was organising a protest at Jafrabad. The court held that the allegations against the accused are prima facie true. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat of Karkardooma Court had dismissed the bail plea of student activist Gulfisha Fatima. However, she was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in another related FIR in connection with violence at Jafrabad in which a person Aman died. It was alleged by the prosecution that three WhatsApp groups of Jamia Co-ordination Committee (JCC) were created by Gulfisha Fatima instead of Safoora and Asif was not made a part of this group. The three groups were JCC JMI Officials, JMI and JCC-JMI. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad vehemently argued that the Delhi riots 2020 was a large-scale and deep-rooted conspiracy hatched after the passing of the resolution by the Cabinet Committee to present CAB in both Houses of Parliament on December 4, 2019. SPP argued that in this entire conspiracy, there were various organisations like Pinjra Tod, AAZMI, SIO, SFI, etc through which individuals participated. There was a centrality of JCC in the ecosystem. 23 protest sites were created in Muslim-majority areas close to mosques and majar and close to main roads. The idea was to escalate the protest to chakka-jam, once critical is generated and at an appropriate time to eventually lead to violence against police and then others. Her counsel had argued that the accused Gulfisha was only participating in the anti-CAA protest which is not a crime. In fact, such protests were happening all across India. The chargesheet is silent on the aspect of why the violence took place in Delhi. There were also pro-CAA protests going on, which is not reflected in the contents of the chargesheet but is mentioned in several other FIR registered by Delhi Police in riots cases, the counsel argued. (ANI) The central government on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that Haryana has become a 'Har Ghar Jal state' as all the 30.41 lakh rural households in the state have tap water supply in their homes. "Out of 19.39 crore rural households in the country, 11.12 crore (57.36 per cent) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes as on February 9 this year," Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel told the Upper House while giving a written reply to a query. At the time of the announcement of the Jal Jeevan Mission, 3.23 crore (17 per cent) rural households were reported to have tap water connections, the minister said, adding "more than 7.88 crore rural households have been provided with tap water connections since the announcement of JJM as reported by states and the Union territories (UTs). "Haryana State has become 'Har Ghar Jal state', as all the 30.41 lakh rural households in the state have tap water supply in their homes," Patel said. The minister also mentioned that the Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal, since August 2019, in partnership with states, to make provision for potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular and long-term basis to every rural household by 2024. "Under Jal Jeevan Mission, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards' IS:10500 standard is to be adopted for ensuring safe drinking water supply," added the minister while replying to the question raised by Kartikeya Sharma. The MoS also said, "under JJM, while allocating the funds to states and UTs, 10 per cent weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants." "States and UTs have been advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes of bulk water transfer based on safe water sources such as surface water sources or alternative safe groundwater sources for the villages with water quality," the Minister said. "Since, planning, implementation and commissioning of piped water supply scheme based on a safe water source may take time, purely as an interim measure, states and UTs have been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs), especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8-10 litre per capita per day (lpcd) to meet their drinking and cooking requirements." States and UTs have been advised to undertake testing of water quality on a periodic basis such as once in a year for chemical and physical parameters, and twice a year for bacteriological parameters and take remedial action wherever necessary, to ensure that the water supplied to households is of prescribed quality, said the MoS. "To enable states and UTs to test water samples for water quality, and for sample collection, reporting, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water sources, an online JJM - Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed. "As reported by states/UTs on WQMIS, more than 45.04 lakh water samples have been tested in the water testing laboratories and 79.68 lakh water samples using Field Testing Kits, during 2022-23," said Patel. As reported by states and UTs, as of date, there are 2,076 drinking water quality testing laboratories at different levels in state, district, sub-division and block levels in the country said Patel. To encourage water quality testing to ensure a potable drinking water supply, states and UTs have opened water quality testing laboratories to the general public for testing of their water samples at a nominal rate. States and UTs have been advised to identify and train five persons preferably women from every village to conduct water quality testing using FTKs and bacteriological vials at the village level and report the same on the WQMIS portal. So far, as reported by states and UTs, the Minister said, about 18.18 lakh women have been trained. In line with the operational guidelines for the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, this department through a 3rd party agency undertakes an assessment of the functionality of tap connections provided to rural households as well as public institutions like schools and Anganwadi centres. "Last such assessment have been carried out in 2021-22 and according to that, about 79 per cent of the surveyed household wherein female members used to fetch water prior to the installation of the household tap water connection, reported a reduction in drudgery in the collection of water after the installation of the tap connections," said the MoS. Further, he added, about 26 per cent of the surveyed households reported improvement in attendance of school-going girls. (ANI) As per the official release by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, cash seized was Rs 2,84,52,365. Indian-made foreign liquor (IMLF) seized was 40925.65 litres worth Rs 4,26,40,420. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer further informed through a press release that Drugs and Narcotics seized were 3.06 Kilograms worth Rs. 26,36,80,380. Freebies and other items worth Rs 3,51,81,340 were also seized, informed the electoral officer through a press release. It added that precious metal Silver weighing 0.02332 Kgs and worth Rs 1,664.882 was also seized. As per information received, the following seizures were made on February 12, 2023, cash Rs 5,00,000, liquor 1211.05 litres worth Rs 3,53,630, and a total monetary value of Rs 8,53,630. Notably, the monetary value of the seizures made by the various Enforcement Agencies till February 3, 2023, was Rs 28 crore. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Monday while hearing around 10 pleas, directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to maintain the status quo in the demolition action in Mehrauli till Tuesday. The matter has been listed for February 14 for the next hearing. The DDA, on Friday, started a demolition drive in the Mehrauli area amid police security. The bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed the DDA that no demolition shall take place till tomorrow. "The order shall be communicated to the officials," the court directed. This order has been passed in relation to 10 petitions moved by the residents of different colonies of the Mehrauli area amid the demolition in the area. In another plea moved by the residents of Masjid Gandhak Ki Bawali Colony, no stay has been granted by the court as the petitioner was not able to produce any title documents. However, another bench of justice Mini Pushkarna, directed a demarcation of the said colony. This matter was listed on February 27. Advocate Kamlesh Kumar Mishra appeared for the petitioner Resident Welfare Association (RWA). The petitioner in the present case is the RWA of Masjid Gandhak Ki Bawali Colony, Mehrauli and represents 14 families, who are members of the association, the petition stated. The members of the association are residing near Jamila Masjid (Gandhak Ki Bawali Masjid) situated in Khasra No. 163 of Village Mehrauli, Ward No. 1, Delhi, the petition said. It is the case of the petitioner that the members of the petitioner association have been residing on the above land for the past several decades and have documents to substantiate the said claim. It is stated in the petition that since admittedly the structure/building/residences belonging to the members of the petitioner association is in existence much prior to the deadline of the year 2006 set by the Delhi Special Laws Act. Hence, the petitioners' properties are protected against demolition even if there is an order from the Court. The Delhi High Court on Friday pulled up DDA over demolition in Mehrauli despite a stay order till the next date of hearing. The residents have challenged the demolition order issued on December 12, 2022. The matter was listed on February 16. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora had expressed her displeasure with the standing counsel for DDA and said, "we can't have a situation like contempt. You take the plot number and convey it to the authorities to stop the demolition." Earlier an order of status quo till February 16 was passed by the bench after hearing the petitioners. Despite this fact, the demolition was not stopped. Thereafter the matter was mentioned before the bench which expressed its displeasure on the situation. The court stayed the demolition till the next date of hearing. The bench had issued notice to the DDA and listed the matter for further hearing on February 16. The notice of December 12, 2022, for demolition and communication of February 9, 2023, has been challenged and sought to be quashed. This matter pertains to the demolition drive inward no. 8 Mehrauli by the DDA. The notices were pasted on the identified properties and demolition was scheduled for Friday. The action was challenged through several petitions filed in the matter. This matter pertains to different colonies falling under ward no. 8. (ANI) The fire broke out in the slums of the Malad area in Mumbai, and fire personnel were at the spot fighting the blaze. The Police control room got a call about the fire at around 11.11 AM on Monday. The fire officials reached the spot with fire tenders. The fire department reported a level 2 fire at the Jamrishi Nagar in the Malad East area of Mumbai. One district fire officer, 2 additional district fire officials and three fire officers are present at the spot. The fire was confined to 50-100 hutments killing one person. Several injuries have also been reported in the incident. (ANI) Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan on Monday hit out at the BJP-led Modi government and said that the government doesn't want the opposition should openly talk about these scams. She added that even though foreign investors are pulling out investments from the country due to the alarm sent out by the decline or rout in the shares of the Adani Group firms, the BJP government's loyalty towards Adani continues. "I think everyone should wait. After Hindenburg reports, foreign investors have pulled out of Indian stocks. Adani's stocks have fallen down. He lost Rs 10 lakh crore. Despite all this, PM Modi's loyalty towards Adani continues," Ranjan told ANI. She added that the government doesn't want the opposition should talk openly about these scams. "All we can say is that all these scams are not benefitting the country. Government is scared and wants to save their friend," she further stated. Furthering her attack on BJP, Ranjan said that the saffron party is diverting attention from real issues like unemployment, scams, etc. "They promised two crore jobs to the youth, nine years have passed by where are the jobs?" she stated. Several opposition MPs have moved a Suspension of Business notice in RS over the Adani issue. The Budget session of Parliament started on January 31 with a joint address by President Droupadi Murmu. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2023-24 on February 1. Since the presentation of the Budget, there has been no business in Parliament because of the continued logjam over the Adani issue. The Opposition members demanded that the government respond in Parliament on Adani stocks, leading to disruptions and multiple adjournments in both Houses. (ANI) Amid the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 in the state, the Faruwahi folk dance event was organized at the egalitarian intersection of Gomti Nagar to enhance the charm of the G20 conference being held in Lucknow. The folk dance was performed on behalf of Ramgyan Yadav's team from Gorakhpur at the equitable intersection of Gomti Nagar. Ramgyan Yadav, Team leader of Faruwahi folk dance said, "People watching the folk dance said that this kind of initiative of the government promotes our civilization and culture, along with it the folk dances which are becoming extinct are saved. All the viewers praised our hard work." Cultural programs are being presented everywhere in Lucknow on the occasion of the G20 summit. A light and sound show was organized for the G20 delegation at Agra Fort on Saturday. The event was marked by the presence of the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani. Speaking at the event, Smriti Irani said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of preserving the country's heritage is being carried forward through these types of shows in the country. "PM Modi always talks about preserving our heritage. We have taken forward this message of PM. All the delegates were stunned after seeing the show and realising that this is not only the capability of India but also the history of India," Smriti Irani said. Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 was inaugurated by PM Modi on Friday in Lucknow. Highlighting the country's development strides and investment-friendly environment and pointing out that Uttar Pradesh is leading the country's growth, the PM said that India is reforming not out of compulsion, but out of conviction. UP Global Investors Summit 2023 is the flagship investment summit of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The mega event is aimed to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, think tanks and leaders from across the world to explore business opportunities and forge partnerships collectively. Investor UP 2.0 is a comprehensive, investor-centric and service-oriented investment ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh that endeavours to deliver relevant, well-defined, standardized services to investors, said an official statement. (ANI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel hit back at the allegations of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) about the removal of the security of their leaders on Monday. CM Baghel said, "It is absolutely wrong. BJP leaders, Kedar Kashyap and Mahesh Gagda have lost their elections, still we have given Z plus security to them. Similarly, look at former CM Raman Singh, he never even goes to Naxal-affected areas and he has more security than that of the Chief Minister. He is under the protection of the National Security Guard (NSG)." "They (BJP) have removed the security of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. So BJP has done the work of removing the security," he added. Reacting to BJP's remark about target killing in Bastar, CM Baghel said, "It is true that some leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party have been killed and it is unfortunate. But the way Naxals are entering the house and killing personally, it means that the Naxals have become very weak and are making their presence known. "In view of the security in such a time, I have just instructed the DGP to hold a meeting with all the Superintendent of Police (SP) to instruct them to tell all the political parties and other parties in Naxal affected districts to inform the police before going somewhere. Security is very important for us whether it is from any party," he added. When asked about meeting with Chhattisgarh former governor Anusuiya Uikey, he said that he met with Uikey and congratulated her for being appointed as a new governor of Manipur. "During her three and half years tenure in the state, she praised the government from the public platform. There is a lot of experience with her and we used to attend every program in the state. Earlier, I said that I respect her a lot, she is a very good woman, very well behaved," the chief minister said. He added, "As far as the matter of reservation is concerned, she wanted to sign it within an hour, but if she would be allowed to do it. Everyone knows the people who did not allow her to do so, they are BJP, Raman Singh and many people who did not want the youth of the state to get the benefit of reservation." CM Baghel further said, "What BJP National President, J P Nadda said in West Bengal's assembly elections campaign, he is repeating the same here in Chhattisgarh. They will keep on flattering their pool of lies. The BJP has not helped the tribal people reclaim any land. They have snatched 1000 acres of land from the tribal people. We have not taken land from tribal, if we have, our government has compensated for the same." "It's not a double-engine government, it's a trouble engine government. Under BJP's rule, former CM Raman Singh and his family's wealth increased enormously. The BJP government in its 15 years of power in the state just looted the public," he further added. (ANI) Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital Dewa, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (PJSC), has signed a strategic partnership with Intelligent Security Systems (ISS), a global leader in video management and analytics. The agreement will oversee both parties work hand in hand to provide comprehensive line of digital video surveillance solutions that are at the forefront of security. The agreement was signed between Arif AlMalik, Chief Digital Products Officer of Moro Hub and Aluisio Figueiredo, CEO of Intelligent Security Systems. The partnership entails offering video management, native video analytics and Auto License Plate Recognition to small- and large-scale government entities and private companies in the region. Safety and security form the core of our services at Moro Hub. This partnership with Intelligent Security Systems is another effort to advance our solutions and bring to market a new generation of video AI applications that make the worlds most important spaces and operations safer and efficient. While this partnership will further elevate and improve critical operational efficiency and safety of the enterprises in the region, it will also help them get closer to achieving their digital transformation goals, said Arif AlMalik, Chief Digital Products Officer of Moro Hub. As part of the agreement, Moro Hub will be able to provide its clients an end-to-end video management solution focusing on video management systems and more. In addition, Moro Hub will also deliver the ANPR, Facial Recognition and Under Vehicle Surveillance Scanner (UVSS) which will offer government and enterprise clients the ability to accurately capture vehicle plate number information in all kinds of weather including fog and rain. It is indeed a pleasure to collaborate with Moro Hub to deliver our best-in-class video management solutions. The Middle East is accelerating towards a digital era, and we are thrilled to be a part of this journey. Our association with Moro Hub will enable us to tap new customers and witness impressive growth, while at the same time propel our market share to the next level, said Aluisio Figueiredo, CEO of Intelligent Security Systems. ISS provides a comprehensive line of digital security and surveillance video solutions which are on the forefront of on-demand security, allowing for centralized command and control of an entire enterprise security network. TradeArabia News Service A division bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia adjourned the matter after adjournment was sought on behalf of the Central government. "Accommodation has been sought on behalf of the Solicitor General. List the matter as the first item on Tuesday, February 21," the bench said. Gonsalves and Ferreira had approached the Supreme Court against an order by which the Bombay High Court denied them default bail, even as the same benefit was granted to another co-accused, Sudha Bharadwaj. In 2018 FIR was lodged in Pune in relation to certain offences in the Bhima Koregaon case. (ANI) Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy on Monday said that conferences regarding G20 are going to be held in 56 cities in India and during this time there will be a special focus on tourism. Speaking to ANI, G Kishan Reddy said, "According to the statistics of ASI, there are more than 3,600 monuments in the country and it will be a center of attraction for guests and tourists coming from all over the world." He said that more than one lakh tourists are likely to come from G20 countries. "In terms of tourism, the government is making such wonderful arrangements that on their way back, lakhs of tourists will talk about the whole world as brand ambassadors of Indian tourism", he added. Reddy said, "Apart from domestic tourists, tourists coming from abroad should not face any problem in reaching the 56 cities which are sites of archaeological tourism." Also, for the convenience of tourists, attention is being paid to beauty ranging from road connectivity to rail connectivity and airport. G Kishan Reddy said that the Civil Aviation and Tourism Departments are working together worldwide and efforts are being intensified in India as well. "In 2023, the government aims to increase the number of foreign tourists, for this, the government is investing a lot of money to fix the infrastructure in the civil aviation sector. From the number of aircraft to the number of airports, India is also increasing it rapidly," he concluded. (ANI) In the meeting, detailed discussions were held about freight rates. State Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan was also present at the meeting. The state government was committed to protecting the rights of the truck operators of the state and the deadlock will be resolved in a way that both parties should not suffer any losses, said the Chief Minister. Emphasizing ending the deadlock, he said that both sides should resolve this issue amicably. The government intends to resolve this issue at the earliest and another meeting scheduled under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister with the senior officers of the company and representatives of the truck unions on Tuesday to end the deadlock, said the official statement. (ANI) This is a matter of pride for the State that the Police Orchestra has made its appearance at the National and International levels in a short span of time, an official statement said. A team of Himachal Pradesh Police Orchestra Band consisting of IGP Administration DK Yadav, AIG headquarters Kartikeyan Gokulchandran and Head Inspector of Band Vijay Kumar called on Chief Minister here today and apprised the Chief Minister about this achievement. Chief Minister wished all success to Harmony of The Pines,' Himachal Pradesh Police Orchestra Band for their future endeavours. (ANI) The Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has implemented a new scheme in Kerala called 'OPPAM' which aims to deliver ration articles at the doorsteps of extremely poor families with the cooperation of auto rickshaw employees, the department informed on Monday. In an official statement, the department said, "The scheme has been implemented without imposing any additional financial burden on the beneficiaries. The pilot project of this scheme was inaugurated by Advocate G R Anil, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs on February 13 in Nadathara Panchayath of Ollur Constituency in Thrissur District." "Even though the auto-rickshaw employees have been engaging in various welfare activities in society, it is for the first time a project has been implemented with their full support at the Government level. This scheme was implemented similar to the project, which was implemented earlier in Kerala to provide ration articles in Tribal Areas through Mobile Ration Shops," the statement added. According to the statement, the scheme aims to deliver ration articles by obtaining the acknowledgement of beneficiaries for the receipt of stock and on the same day the issue details are recorded in the E-POS machine under the supervision of concerned Rationing Inspectors, by which the department can ensure error-free distribution without arising any complaints. "The extremely poor families in Thrissur District have been identified by the Nodal Officer, Poverty Alleviation Unit and Local Self Government Departments. The Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department has full faith and confidence in the distribution of ration articles to the doorsteps of around 400 such families before the 10th of every month," the statement further added. (ANI) Days after joining the Congress, bureaucrat-turned-politician Bijay Kumar Patnaik on Monday alleged that Odias are being exploited in their own state. After joining the Congress in Delhi, Patnaik returned to Odisha on Monday where he was given a rousing welcome by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) at the Congress Bhawan here. Speaking to mediapersons, Patnaik said, "Odia people are being exploited in their own state. Perhaps Odisha is the only state where a conspiracy is being hatched to exploit its own people." "Odia contractors are not getting work here. Even tenders for small works are also made in such a way that Odia contractors are not able to qualify for them," he said. If small and C class contractors from other states get all the works here, where will the Odia contractors go, the Congress leader asked. Stating that unemployment is a big problem in Odisha, he claimed that graduates are moving to other states to get job while labourers are also migrating to other states in search of livelihood. Refraining from making any direct attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he said, "He was my boss. So, I don't want to criticise him. However, I can say, this Naveen Patnaik is not the same under whom I was serving." The former Chief Secretary said that he joined politics because he was unable to see the style of functioning of the present government in the state. "The common people in the state do not know whom to approach to get their grievances redressed. Be it an MLA or a minister, all claim that they do not have powers and everything is being controlled by the 'third floor' (chief minister's office)," he alleged. "Neither common man nor journalists have any access to the 'third floor'. Forget about the third floor, the journalists are restricted from entering the state secretariat," Patnaik claimed. Reacting to the allegations levelled by him, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said Patnaik wanted to go to Rajya Sabha after joining the BJD. As this could not happen, he joined the Congress now, but he is making statements like a BJP spokesperson, Mohanty said. --IANS bbm/arm ( 370 Words) 2023-02-13-19:42:02 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a PIL questioning non-fulfilment of post of Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha and state assemblies of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, after hearing submissions from senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, representing petitioner Shariq Ahmed, agreed to examine the matter. The plea argued that the present (17th) Lok Sabha was constituted in the month of May, 2019 and Om Birla was chosen as the Speaker and assumed the office on June 19, 2019, however no Deputy Speaker has been elected. It further added that the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is still vacant despite the lapse of more than three and half years since the constitution of the present Lok Sabha, and working has been continuing without its Deputy Speaker which is against the letter and spirit of the Constitution as provided under Articles 93 to 96 of the Constitution. "Similarly, the post of Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assemblies of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are lying vacant though the legislative Assemblies in those states have been constituted long back", it added. The plea contended that Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies are not subordinate to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies, rather the Deputy Speaker is responsible to the Lok Sabha and is the second- highest-ranking legislative officer of the Lok Sabha and performs very important functions. "Similarly, the Deputy Speaker of a Legislative Assembly is responsible to that Legislative Assembly and is the second-highest-ranking legislative officer of that Legislative Assembly and performs very important functions. The Deputy Speakers act as the presiding officer and also assumes the administrative powers in case of leave or in absence caused by death or illness of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies respectively. A situation of constitutional void rather than a situation of constitutional crisis may be created if the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Speaker of a Legislative Assembly becomes vacant...", added the plea. --IANS ss/vd ( 386 Words) 2023-02-13-20:40:03 (IANS) In wake of the Centre telling the Supreme Court that the government has no objections on committee to probe the matter in wake of the Adani-Hindenburg Group episode, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday questioned the government on why it was not agreeing to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC). "Today in Supreme Court Solicitor General said Govt has no objection to a commitee to examine the Hindenburg report on Adani. Then why the stubborn refusal to a JPC which will anyway be dominated by BJP & its allies? But will the proposed committee investigate Hindenburg or Adani?" he said. Various opposition parties have been demanding a JPC to examine the whole issue as they alleged that many PSBs and LIC have lost money. The Central government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the existing structure, which includes the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and others agencies, are fully equipped to handle the situation which occurred after Hindenburg report on Adani group, and it would not oppose the court's suggestion to constitute a committee to strengthen the existing regime. It stressed that the court could permit it to suggest the remit of that committee with possible suggestions of names of the committee. --IANS miz/vd ( 223 Words) 2023-02-13-21:14:04 (IANS) Congress MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi, told a public meeting at his constituency on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the last person he would be scared of. "It doesn't matter if he has all the agencies with him, because truth is not with him. One day he will have to face the truth," Rahul Gandhi said. At the public meeting, the Congress leader distributed keys of newly-built homes by the party in his constituency to 25 beneficiaries. Rahul Gandhi used the latter part of his speech to take on Modi, saying that he spoke at length in the Parliament about Modi's equation with Gautam Adani but the PM didn't reply to any question. "The truth will always come out," he said. "The only thing he told me was why I am not being called Nehru instead of Gandhi. In India, the surname that we use is that of our father," the COngress leader said. --IANS sg/arm ( 174 Words) 2023-02-13-21:18:02 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday asked all Chief Justices of high courts to take a favourable view on the infrastructure in place for virtual hearings and not insist on physical presence of lawyers before the court. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, said: "What some of the Chief Justices are doing is... all the money which we have spent, they're just disbanding the technological infrastructure which we have created for virtual hearings". "Irrespective of whether a Chief Justice is technology-friendly or not, this is not how you deal with public money. You have to ensure that infrastructure is available." The top court noted the government has announced in the budget that Rs 7,000 crore would be made available for e-courts, which will be used for infrastructure improvement in all the district courts also. The bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, stressed that the high courts need to learn that technology has to be used and this is public money (budget allocation). It further pointed out that some of the Chief Justices are not allowing virtual hearings and it is disturbing. It said the judges must understand that technology is not just for the pandemic, instead it is here to stay for future and they should not insist on physical presence of lawyers. "We'll formulate an order and pass." "Our mission is to reach out to people. Lawyers who cannot understand English. We will translate judgments for them. Technology is doing that..." it said. The bench asked Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on why he cannot call a report from Bar Councils of various states on steps to be taken to improve the use of technology for the lawyers. The bench told Mishra, "Technology should not result in exclusion and you can collect the data and place it before the court..." The top court made these observations while hearing a matter for declaring a virtual hearing as part of fundamental rights. --IANS ss/vd ( 349 Words) 2023-02-13-21:18:03 (IANS) The importance of collaboration between industry players was highlighted by experts as the second GDA International Conference and Exhibition began at the newly opened Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, Bahrain. The three-day event, which runs till February 15, is being held under the patronage of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. It focuses on the theme 'Downstream Turning Points - Capitalising on Transformation'. More than 4,000 delegates and subject matter experts are participating in this key event for the downstream sector. Spread over 9,000 sq m of exhibition space, it is hosting 500 companies from across the globe. The event comes at a time when the worlds energy markets are being challenged by energy transition, sustainability, conflicts and price fluctuations. Mohammed Al Shahrani, the Secretary General, Gulf Downstream Association (GDA), gave the opening address, which was followed by a panel discussion on business transformation in the downstream sector. The speakers, who included Yahya Abushal, CEO of Sadara Chemical Company; Leon De Bruyan, President and CEO of Lummus Technology; Afaf Zainalabedien, Deputy Chief Executive Corporation Services of Bapco; and Sultan Albigishi, Senior Vice-President of Projects & Technical for Adnoc Refining, stressed on the importance of partnership, joint investment and issues of sustainability and the challenges it presents the sector. They also highlighted the importance of the adoption of digitalisation, including AI and other data tools. The session was moderated by Naif Aldandeni, Senior Director of Baker Hughes. The GDA conference and exhibition brings together key players in the GCC including international stakeholders from operators and technology providers to policy makers and academia to the leading event in the region for downstream industries. The Gulf Downstream Association (GDA) was established by its founding companies Saudi Aramco, Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc). Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday said that the "experiment of regime change has failed" by the new military leadership, reported Geo News. "I'm sure amongst the new military leadership there is a realization that this experiment of regime change has gone wrong," he said in an interview with the US broadcaster, Voice of America. Since his ouster from power in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence last April, Khan has had a public falling out with the military, despite previously enjoying a close relationship with the country's most powerful institution. While responding to a question regarding his relationship with the military as the premier, the PTI chief said that all the policies of the military in Pakistan depend on one individual. "Military [in Pakistan] means one man, the army chief. So, the whole policy of military vis-a-vis their dealing with the civilian government depends on the personality of one man." The deposed prime minister went on to say that the positive side of his relationship with the then-army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, was his government having the "organized strength of Pakistan Army to help us". He said that the effect of this relationship was seen in the form of Pakistan's successful response to COVID-19. He accused then-army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa of conspiring with his political opponents to remove him from office with help from the United States -- allegations that Washington, the Pakistani military, and the government have repeatedly denied. The "problem", according to Imran Khan, occurred when Gen Bajwa "favoured some of the biggest crooks in this country". He claimed that the former army chief wanted his government to turn a blind eye to the "biggest problem" and work in cooperation with the corrupt leaders, "giving them immunity from their corruption cases". Khan further stated that the former COAS had close ties with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and they "conspired", and as a result the "regime change took place". According to the ousted premier, Pakistan's economy has gone into a tailspin and the country is facing the worst political and economic crisis in history, reported Geo News. Khan further stated that it was the security forces' negligence that allowed the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, to resume its activities. He expressed hope that the military would stop interfering in politics and would build good relations with Washington -- despite accusing it of conspiring in his ouster, reported VOA. Sharing his views on his demand for general elections, the PTI chief said that staging "free and fair elections is not possible anymore" as the credibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as an impartial electoral body had been destroyed. "There was a local government election in Sindh, that all the political parties rejected." While talking about Pakistan's bilateral ties, Imran Khan said that having a good relationship with Afghanistan, regardless of any government in the neighbouring country, "is inevitable for Pakistan," reported Geo News. "Whatever government is in Afghanistan, Pakistan must have a good relationship with them," he said, adding that as the prime minister of Pakistan, he tried his best to keep up with the Ashraf Ghani-led government on good terms in order to get Kabul's help in dealing with terrorism. (ANI) The collective self-defence air strike, which was carried out on Friday at the request of the Somali government, occurred in a remote area about 45 km southwest of Hobyo, Somalia, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a joint statement by the forces. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has declared an all-out war against al-Shabab, which is affiliated with the al-Qaida-linked terrorist network, since he was sworn into office in May 2022. The Somali government forces backed by local militia have intensified the onslaught against the militants who have claimed credit to a series of terrorist attacks across the country. --IANS int/sha ( 138 Words) 2023-02-12-23:18:03 (IANS) Amid increasing China's assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, it has become imperative for nations to check Beijing's attempt to legitimise its dominance, reported UK-based Europe-Asia Foundation (EAF). Beijing has already begun shaping its strategy by generating territorial disputes that have resulted in many of its neighbours reassessing their stances with respect to their bilateral relations with China. In these circumstances, crucial nations including India and Japan are beginning to fortify their relationship with the United States, a country with which China has been at loggerheads given its quest to gain influence over the region, reported EAF. China's growing regional domination and global aspirations have also caused long-term frictions against other emerging powers such as India and Japan. Under this pretext, both Japan and India's immediate interest have been prioritised in forging greater bilateral ties with the US that has the required capabilities to counter China's hegemonic characteristics not only in the Indo-Pacific but also in other strategic regions as well. In particular, the 1996 Taiwan strait crisis, invoked much attention towards China's assertiveness when the United States was compelled to send its aircraft carrier to the region as a countermeasure to Chinese missile testing meant to intimidate Taiwan. However, Beijing's attempts turned out to be counterproductive as this invariably led Washington to begin forging strategic partnerships in Asia rigorously ever since, reported EAF. Consecutive administrations in Washington have since then focused specifically on building alliances in Asia in order to limit Chinese aspirations in the region. Moreover, China's unilaterally generated disputes against emerging powers such as Japan (with the Senkaku Islands), Southeast Asian nations (with the South China Sea dispute) and India (with the border disputes) have cautioned neighbouring countries against China's true intentions as well. Moreover, reoccurring meetings between defence officials of the US nad Japan have strongly stated the need to strengthen security relations amongst the two, extending cooperation to integrating weapons systems for timely intervention given China's growing military impressions. The two countries have also expanded the scope of Article V of the decades-long US-Japan Security Treaty which calls on both sides to come to each other's defence in the time of conflict. The two allies have also extended the same to the Senkaku Islands to which Japan has reiterated its prime importance, reported EAF. Notwithstanding the fact that China has been notorious for causing frictions at the border from time to time, India at present is required to strategically utilise its capabilities against Beijing's subversive actions. Many analysts have rightly pointed out that with growing animosity at the territorial borders, India is more likely to push for greater cooperation with its counterparts in limiting Chinese aggression in all of the sensitive regions where it aims to stroke up tensions. Beijing's unilaterally promoted territorial disputes that have caused massive overlays with one of its largest border-sharing neighbours, India, has downgraded the bilateral relationship between the two countries to a significant low in the past couple of years. The actions of the Chinese military and its political leadership have also resulted in enhanced India-US ties that have begun taking greater shape given the larger threat that the countries face against growing Chinese domination. Apart from shared cooperation with Japan, the United States is also considering elevating its strategic partnership with India. This could very well result in isolating Beijing in its endeavour of gaining significantly in the Indo-Pacific region but could also pacify the friction amongst other nations that are invariably affected by China's extended assertions, reported EAF. These reassessments from India and likewise Japan have reoriented their foreign policies in many ways, including India's decision to align with the QUAD, a pact that had remained on its table for far too long. The Quadrilateral pact has posed significant opportunities for all the countries involved to look beyond the Chinese threat and call its aggression for what it truly stands to mean. Moreover, the inclusion of the United States in the equation has significantly shifted the balance against China. A united front involving India, Japan and the United States is in the right position to limit such aspirations that seem to be built upon hegemonic characteristics, one perhaps which will be met with resistance from alliances navigated through that multilateral security pacts in the near future, reported EAF. (ANI) Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday (local time) was elected as the next President of Cyprus, reported Al Jazeera. With a clear foreign policy vision due to his diplomatic and government background, he is expected to set out priorities for Cyprus bilaterally and regionally amplifying its geostrategic role. Christodoulides, 49, defeated fellow diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis with 51.9 per cent of the vote compared to 48.1 per cent on the divided Mediterranean island, reported Al Jazeera. Mavroyiannis, 66, told reporters: "Tonight a journey has ended, a great journey that I shared with thousands of people. I regret we couldn't achieve the change that Cyprus needed." Widely tapped as the election favourite during the campaign, Christodoulides is seen likely to take a hard line on moribund United Nations-backed talks on ending the island's decades-old division, reported Al Jazeera. Former top diplomat Christodoulides earlier voiced confidence about a win when he told reporters, "The Cypriot people know and understand what is at stake ... I have complete confidence in their judgement." "Congratulations & best wishes to President Elect @Christodulides! #UKCYties are long, strong and important to the UK & its people. I look forward to working with you & your team across our bilateral & #Commonwealth partnership & in support of your efforts on Cyprus Settlement," tweeted Irfan Siddiq, British High Commissioner to Cyprus. Voter turnout was 72.4 per cent with more than 405,000 citizens casting a ballot, a fraction higher than in the first round. Top concerns for many voters are the cost of living crisis, irregular immigration, and the island's almost half-century of division between the Greek-speaking south and a Turkish-occupied breakaway statelet in the north that is recognised only by Ankara, reported Al Jazeera. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces occupied its northern third in response to a Greek-sponsored coup, but voters appeared split over whether the division was a priority in the election. The current issue between Cyprus and Turkey is an ongoing dispute between Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north. According to a recent report by American broadcaster Voice of America (VOA), tensions between Greece and Turkey over the divided island of Cyprus appear to be escalating. Moreover, as per the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Security Council expressed concern over unauthorized activities in the buffer zone separating Greek and Turkish communities in the northern and southern regions of the Mediterranean island since 1974.(ANI) In response to terrorist attacks in Jerusalem at a bus stop on Friday that claimed three lives, including two children, Israel has decided to approve the construction of new residential units in existing communities in Judea and Samaria. "In response to the murderous terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, the Security Cabinet decided unanimously to authorize nine communities in Judea and Samaria. These communities have existed for many years; some have existed for decades," tweeted the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. The nine new settlements will be formed from the following outposts: Avigayil, Beit Hogla, Givat Harel, Givat Ha-Roeh, Givat Arnon, Mitzpe Yehuda, Malchai HaShalom, Asa-el, Sde Boaz and Shaharit, reported Jerusalem Post. Both Finance Minister and head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir took responsibility for the authorizations, which they had pushed. "The Israeli government is sending a clear message today to all our enemies: in the face of your attempts to harm us and weaken our hold on our land, we are deepening our roots, building and establishing settlements. Terrorism will not weaken us. On the contrary, whenever it tries to harm us, it will be answered with further construction and development in all parts of our country." "We made a commitment before the elections, today we begin to fulfill it," he said, reported Jerusalem Post. Israel earlier had said that it was considering a bigger offensive against Palestine, East Jerusalem and West Bank. Netanyahu promised the strongest response in dealing with the spate of Palestinian attacks including a deadly ramming attack on the outskirts of Jerusalem. "The Civil Administration Higher Planning Committee will be convened in the coming days to approve the construction of new residential units in existing communities in Judea and Samaria," tweeted Netanyahu. The Security Cabinet made a series of additional decisions in the framework of the determined fight against terrorism, including reinforcing Police and Border Police units in Jerusalem, and expanded Police operations against inciters and supporters of terrorism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the security forces will take focused action against terrorists and that there will be no collective punishment. (ANI) Aramane met General Manager Industrial Relations Saudi Arabia Engr Turki Saad and held discussions on a number of bilateral defence cooperation issues. The US delegation led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Jedijiah P. Royal, and accompanied by Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, charge d'affairs US Embassy and US Air Force, met Defence Secretary Julian Cheator and the Union Defence Secretary. Later Aramane also met another delegation from Oman led by Secretary General Ministry of Defence Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, reviewing the ongoing defence cooperation. During the meeting with the Union Defence Secretary, the discussions centred on increasing the depth and scope of engagements. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Aero India at Bengaluru on Monday. Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, led the Gurukul formation during the flypast at the inaugural ceremony of the mega air show. The five-day event will focus on displaying indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the theme of Aero India 2023 is 'The Runway to a Billion Opportunities'. The event will also help integrate domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production. Aero India 2023 has enlisted participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023. The even will also see the participation of more than 800 defence companies, including about 100 foreign and 700 Indian firms. Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen and Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. (ANI) Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan had a stopover at Sydney on his way to Fiji to attend the World Hindi Conference During his halt in Sydney the Union minister met with Australia India Business Council National Chair, Jodi McKay and discussed ways to foster trade and business relationships between their countries. "As I arrived in Sydney en route to Fiji for World Hindi Conference, had a productive discussion with Australia India Business Council National Chair, Ms Jodi McKay, and a few other members. Discussed ways to foster trade and business relationship in the growing bilateral space," MoS tweeted. MoS Muraleedharan, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will attend the 12 th edition of the World Hindi Conference, which will be co-hosted by the Governments of India and Fiji, will take place on February 15-17 in Nadi. "This would be EAM's first visit to Fiji. The visit, first by an incoming Ministerial delegation after the formation of the new Government in Fiji in December 2022, would include bilateral meetings with the new leadership of Fiji. The visit comes close on the heels of the first high-level visit to India by Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad on 5-10 February 2023," the statement read. Earlier this month, MEA said that the decision to hold the event in Fiji was taken during the World Hindi Conference in Mauritius last year. Addressing a special media briefing, MEA (East), Saurabh Kumar said, "The Prime Minister always uses Hindi and has given various speeches in the language in India as well as abroad. This has increased the language's value and more people have been motivated to use it." A 270-member delegation from India will visit Fiji for the event and representatives from 50 countries are expected to participate in it. Fiji is an archipelago of more than 300 islands in the South Pacific. "The theme for the event is 'Hindi - Traditional Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence' where on one side we are respecting our traditional knowledge and on the other side, showing that Hindi has been successful in walking along with the technological advancements," Kumar said. The MEA Secretary said that the Indian government is giving large importance to the Hindi language but the language has made limited progress at the United Nations. "UN press releases are now available in Hindi. We are trying to get Hindi its rightful place at the UN," Kumar said. The upcoming conference will comprise 10 parallel sessions. (ANI) "Welcomes Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra who is visiting Nepal from 13-14 February 2023. During the visit, Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal and hold discussions on the entire range of multifaceted India-Nepal cooperation," Indian Embassy in Nepal said in a tweet. Kwatra visited Nepal at the invitation of the Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal. The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement on Friday. During the visit, the two Foreign Secretaries will hold discussions on the entire range of multifaceted cooperation between India and Nepal. Notably, this will be Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's first independent trip to Nepal since assuming charge, the MEA statement read. Kwatra assumed charge as the new Foreign Secretary of the country on May 1 last year. Both Nepal and India have historical and civilizational linkages with each other and bilateral cooperation between the two countries has only strengthened in recent years. The ties between New Delhi and the Himalayan nation have bolstered over the years, with several major infrastructure and cross-border connectivity projects completed with India's assistance. The visit will be an opportunity to further advance bilateral relations between the two nations. (ANI) The two discussed various aspects of Nepal-India relations including the power sector cooperation, trade, and transit. "Various aspects of Nepal-India relations including the power sector cooperation, trade, transit, education, culture, healthcare, and connectivity infrastructure were discussed during the meeting," according to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kwatra arrived in Kathmandu today on a two-day visit at the invitation of his Nepal counterpart Bharat Paudyal, according to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. Kwatra and Paudyal in a meeting earlier today, reviewed Nepal-India relations, according to a tweet by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Indian foreign secretary has also made a courtesy call to Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari. Indian Embassy in Nepal in a tweet on Monday said: "Welcomes Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra who is visiting Nepal from 13-14 February 2023. During the visit, Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal and hold discussions on the entire range of multifaceted India-Nepal cooperation." The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement on Friday. (ANI) Bhutan National Assembly Speaker Wangchuk Namgyel met with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in Mumbai last week and discussed how they could enhance tourism ties, reported Bhutan Live. While speaking on the occasion, Namgyel said Maharashtra had many sites related to Buddhism just like Bhutan. Stating that Maharashtra is the home to the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, he felt that tourism cooperation with Maharashtra will help people from both sides to visit each other. Yet in another incident related to Buddhist tourism. For the first time, India is hosting 108 Buddhist pilgrims from South Korea as the two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties. The pilgrimage, organized by the Sangwol Society, will cover over 1,100 km and visit Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India, before moving on to Nepal, the report claimed. This pilgrimage aims to increase friendship and collaboration between India and south Korea. Regarding the matter India's Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Apurva Chandra said that "it was the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote Buddhist tourism circuit in India to the world. In the current scenario Buddhism is not a religion in Bhutan but a way of life. As Rinpung Dzong in Paro, Tango Monastery in Thimphu, and Nalanda Buddhist Institute overlooking the Punatsangchu River in Punakha, all offer travellers a uniquely personal account of Buddhism in Bhutan. The already existing ties in between Bhutan and India because of strong tourism visiting Bhutan on an organised tour provides tourists a chance to learn more about Buddhism as they talk to accommodation hosts, local guides and visit some of the country's most significant places of worship and sacred symbolism. In another recent event group of 36 tour operators from India went to Bhutan and met different authorities to discuss ways to promote the country as a quality tourist destination. An Indian tour operator from Assam Lohit Sharma had brought these 36 other tour operators with him to Bhutan. This tourist group tour operators from India also appreciated the policy of 'high quality and low volume tourism 'recently adapted by Bhutan. These tour operators from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi said they were impressed with the new tourism policy and that the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) was a noble move to invest in the tourism sector and make it a high-end destination. (ANI) NH Collection Oasis Doha Hotel has appointed Daniel Mendez as General Manager of the hotel and beach club, ahead of its opening early in 2023. A Spanish national, Daniel possesses close to two decades of executive management experience with NH Hotels, part of Minor Group. With a focus on exceptional guest satisfaction and operational efficiency, Mendezs executive career started in his native Madrid followed by an assignment in Capetown as General Manager of NH The Lord Charles. Mendez has a proven track record in leading change to impact performance. His extensive career took him to three different continents in roles where he ensured that, not only his guests are very well looked after, but that his team members are cared for, inspired to grow and developed. Mendez previouly led two notable NH Collection projects, the NH Collection Flower Market and NH Museum Quarter in Amsterdam as Cluster General Manager and NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon, contributing to maintain their market leader status. With his ample knowledge of luxury hotel management, he will further enhance NH Collection Oasis Doha Hotel positioning regionally and globally, said a statement. NH Collection Oasis Doha Hotel will feature a selection of signature food and beverage venues, including restaurants with indoor and al fresco seating, two lounges and a relaxing pool bar. Other hotel facilities will include a fully-equipped fitness centre, a kids club, NH Collection Spa, four padel courts and a relaxing rooftop lounge with impressive views of Doha skyline. TradeArabia News Service According to eyewitnesses, multiple vehicles were set on fire. Videos showed vehicles on fire and people crowding at the scene. Further details are awaited. On Saturday, at least four persons were injured after two groups clashed in Brindaban Municipality of Nepal's Rautahat district following a dispute over tax on aggregates, The Kathmandu Post reported. A hut was set up by locals to collect tax on fire. The locals accused Mayor Vinod Patel of taking a sudden decision on collecting the tax on aggregates extracted from local rivers. According to Bir Bahadur Budha Magar, Rautahat chief district officer, police personnel have been fanned out to take the situation under control, according to The Kathmandu Post. Local leaders of the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, the CPN (Maoist Centre), and the Janata Samajbadi Party on Friday requested the mayor not to levy tax on the extraction of aggregates. According to Kathmandu Post, despite assurance from the mayor, taxes were collected on extraction which led to the clash between supporters of the mayor and locals, said UML leader Prem Shankar Yadav. (ANI) Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Sunday said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been granted permission to arrest former finance minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Tarin, ARY News reported. The announcement was made by Sanaullah while addressing the media in Karachi. The interior minister said that the federal government is working on improving security. He also informed that the premier held an important meeting regarding security affairs two days ago, the ARY News report said. Sanaullah also alleged that Imran Khan has become a 'political terrorist' after bringing disasters in the country during his 3.5-year tenure. According to the report he had also blamed the former premier for signing the IMF agreement on wrong conditions which increased economic hardships for Pakistan and had further alleged that the PTI chief is running a campaign to destabilise Pakistan. Earlier, days after Pakistan witnessed a deadly attack on its security forces inside a Peshawar mosque, Sanaullah admitted inside the National Assembly that it was a collective mistake to prepare the mujahideen to go to war with a global force. "We did not need to make Mujahideen. We created Mujahideen and then they became terrorists," Sanaullah said while addressing the country's upper house of Parliament on Tuesday. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also speaking in the National Assembly said that the country's National Security Committee will decide on the operation against terrorists. The Interior Minister also claimed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI government had released members of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Pakistani Taliban who were serving death sentences. Sanaullah's remarks came after the proscribed TTP on Monday claimed responsibility for the January 30 mosque attack in Peshawar which left 100 people dead and over 220 injured. The explosion occurred in the mosque's central hall on Monday at around 1 pm after a suicide bomber blew himself up.Pakistan's Interior Minister admitted the belief that the TTP, formally called the Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan, is an umbrella organization of various Islamist armed militant groups operating along the Afghan-Pakistani border. would lay down their arms and submit to the law was mistaken. (ANI) "Had fruitful discussions with the Security Advisor to Bangladesh PM, Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique on the sidelines of Aero India show in Bengaluru," Singh tweeted on Monday. Defence minister Rajnath Singh also met Defence Minister of Zimbabwe Oppah Charm Zvinpange Muchinguri, Tanzania's Defence Minister Basungwa Innocent Lugha and Congo's Minister of National Defence Charles Richard Mondjo. Singh had bilateral meetings with Bangladesh Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Nepal Defence minister Hari Prasad Uprety and Sri Lanka State State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon. After his meeting with Nepal's Defence Minister, Uprety, Singh tweeted: "Wonderful interaction with the Defence Minister of Nepal, Shri Hari Prasad Uprety on the sidelines of #AeroIndiaShow in Bengaluru. We look forward to continued cooperation to further deepen our close partnership and shared interests." Earlier today, the prime minister inaugurated the 14th edition of Asia's biggest aero show - Aero India 2023 - at Air Force Station in Yelahanka, Bengaluru. A commemorative stamp was also released by the Prime Minister on the occasion. The five-day event, on the theme 'The runway to a billion opportunities', will showcase India's growth in aerospace and defence capabilities. It will display indigenous equipment/technologies and forge partnerships with foreign companies, in line with the 'Make in India, Make for the World' vision for a secure and prosperous future. In his address, the Defence Minister lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for guiding India on the political and economic map of the world and made special mention of his unwavering commitment towards the industrial and economic growth of the country. He described Aero India as an expression of that resolve. Rajnath Singh asserted that India has become a promising manufacturing destination due to its business-friendly environment and cost-competitiveness. "India has become the fifth largest economy in the world due to the vision and determination of our Prime Minister. It is well on course to become the third-largest economy in the next 4-5 years. India's G-20 presidency this year is also a reflection of India's growing stature on the international platforms," he said. (ANI) India will engage with G20 countries to build international cooperation on policy approach to crypto assets, the Lok Sabha was told today. Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply that the government is engaging with G20 countries to build international coordination on policy approach to crypto assets. The Indian Presidency of G20 provides an opportunity to place different priorities, including priority on crypto assets, on the agenda for international collaboration, he said according to a release issued by Press Information Bureau on Monday. Crypto Assets are by definition borderless and require international collaboration to prevent regulatory arbitrage. Therefore, any legislation for regulation or for banning can be effective only with significant international collaboration on the evaluation of the risks and benefits and evolution of common taxonomy and standards, the Minister stated. Earlier, on a query posed over crypto mining in Lok Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said under India's Presidency, G20 members are working together to bring a collective standard operating procedure on it. While replying to a query from DMK MP T Sumathy, the Finance Minister said, "At the moment, they (cryptocurrencies) are largely unregulated in India; whether it is mining or the asset or whether it is the transaction, we recognise that it is completely driven by technology and a standalone country's effort to control and regulate is not going to be effective." After saying that China is tracking down crypto miners, India could be an alternate destination if regulation is certain and infra is provided, the member of Parliament asked how the government was planning to regulate crypto mining in India. Sitharaman also added, "There is an evolving consensus and that's why we are raising this issue in the G20 and having a detailed discussion over the issue so that a standard operating procedure emerges after the discussions in the G20, and so that there is a coherent, comprehensive and all-country-working-together kind of approach in bringing some regulations, whether it is mining or transacting and all these would have been looked into with comprehension..." On Saturday, during a joint conference of the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India, Union Finance Minister said that crypto is 99 per cent technology. It is "under discussion with G20 nations," if all countries could achieve a standard operating procedure that will be effective while following a regulatory framework, she added. (ANI) India and Kazakhstan during the 8th Foreign Office Consultations (FoC), reiterated their commitment to further strengthen India-Kazakhstan multi-faceted relations and deepen strategic partnership. During the consultations held in New Delhi on Monday, both sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations on a mutually convenient date in Astana, according to an official release. The Indian side was led by Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West), Sanjay Verma, and the Kazakh side was led by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kanat Tumysh. According to the official release, India and Kazakhstan enjoy extremely close and friendly relations. During the FOC, the two sides reviewed the entire range of bilateral cooperation within the framework of their Strategic Partnership and expressed satisfaction at the present level of engagement. The FOC provided an opportunity to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) GC Murmu recently signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with audit institutions of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan to strengthen cooperation and exchange of expertise in the field of auditing, according to an official statement. The MoUs signed on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Supreme Audit Institutions (SCO SAI) Leaders' meeting in Lucknow, will provide a platform for the exchange of auditing professionals and technical teams, collaboration in training programs, and mutual assistance in conducting audits, it said. The agreements are a step forward in promoting closer ties and collaboration among the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of the three nations, the statement. Murmu stated that the SAIs commit to cooperating within their areas of competence to enhance and improve their respective external audit practices. This cooperation will encompass the exchange of experience in methodologies and procedures, joint efforts in professional training and personnel development, and sharing of information and best practices through workshops, conferences, and technical meetings. The MoU with SAI Tajikistan was signed with the Chairman, Accounts Chamber of the Republic of Tajikistan, Karakhon Chillazoda. The MoU will develop and strengthen the respective institution's professional capacity and improve methodologies in the field of audit. Both SAIs also agreed to explore means of capacity development, support and cooperation on areas that are mutually beneficial. (ANI) Kwatra arrived in Kathmandu today on a two-day visit at the invitation of his Nepal counterpart Bharat Paudyal, according to the Indian Embassy. "Foreign Secretary Kwatra called on Rt. Hon. PM @cmprachanda and held productive discussions on bilateral issues across various sectors, including economic and development cooperation," according to a tweet by Indian Embassy in Nepal. Kwatra on Monday met with Nepal foreign minister Bimala Rai Paudyal and discussed strengthening comprehensive bilateral relations. The two discussed various aspects of Nepal-India relations including the power sector cooperation, trade, and transit. "Various aspects of Nepal-India relations including the power sector cooperation, trade, transit, education, culture, healthcare, and connectivity infrastructure were discussed during the meeting," according to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kwatra and his Nepal counterpart Bharat Paudyal in a meeting earlier today, reviewed Nepal-India relations. Indian Embassy in Nepal in a tweet on Monday said: "Welcomes Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra who is visiting Nepal from 13-14 February 2023. During the visit, Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal and hold discussions on the entire range of multifaceted India-Nepal cooperation." (ANI) A solidarity rally was held and human chai was formed under the aegis of Muktijoddha Mancha in front of the National Museum, Shahbag in Dhaka. The protesters were carrying banners "China Fails Human Rights", "Tibet is Not Part of China", "Free Tibet China Out" and many more. The Tibetans mark February 13 as Independence Day as on this day in 1913 the 13th Dalai Lama declared Tibetan independence in the declaration of the "Proclamation of Independence". Tibet was occupied by China in March 1959 and since then the Tibetans are facing the worst human rights violations. In a recent report, the UN experts warned that around a million children of the Tibetan minority were being affected by Chinese government policies aimed at assimilating Tibetan people culturally, religiously, and linguistically through a residential school system. "We are very disturbed that in recent years, the residential school system for Tibetan children appears to act as a mandatory large-scale program intended to assimilate Tibetans into majority Han culture, contrary to international human rights standards," the UN experts said. Rising Chinese atrocities have forced a large number of Tibetans to migrate from Tibet and take shelter in different parts of the world. They are demanding Free Tibet and seeking urgent intervention from United Nations and the international community to provide them justice. The solidarity march in Dhaka is a testimony of the growing Bangladeshi support for protecting the human rights of Tibetans. (ANI) According to a Bloomberg report, District Judge Chhabria wrote in an order that the fine is "loose change" for Facebook and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP for deceitfully denying that it shared users' private information with third parties. The San Francisco judge said that Facebook relied on "delay, misdirection, and frivolous arguments" to make the litigation unfairly difficult and expensive. "Perhaps realising they had no real argument for withholding these documents, Facebook and Gibson Dunn contorted various statements" of opposing lawyers and the court acebeyond recognition," Chhabria wrote, according to Bloomberg. "And again, after being told repeatedly that these arguments made no sense, Facebook and Gibson Dunn insisted on pressing them," he said. The judge added that Facebook also attempted to push the users, who had filed a complaint against it, into settling for a lesser compensation. The lawsuit was filed in a California court on behalf of Facebook users impacted by Meta's partnership with research firm Cambridge Analytica. The $925,078.51 penalty comes after Meta had agreed a $725 million settlement in December 2022 to resolve a class-action lawsuit, which claimed that Facebook illegally shared user data with Cambridge Analytica. In March 2018, whistleblower Christopher Wylie publicly revealed that Cambridge Analytica exfiltrated personal data of 87 million Facebook users in the US in order to influence the results of the 2016 US presidential election. This data trove included Facebook users' ages, interests, pages they liked, groups they followed, physical locations, political and religious affiliations, relationships, and photos, as well as their full names, phone numbers, and email addresses. --IANS mi/vd ( 305 Words) 2023-02-13-19:12:03 (IANS) During his meeting with Prachanda at Baluwatar, Kwatra is believed to have discussed Nepal-India cooperation in the areas of energy, trade, connectivity, agriculture, education and culture. Kwatra also paid a courtesy visit to President Bhandari at Sheetal Niwas and conveyed greetings on behalf of Indian President Droupadi Murmu, the Indian Embassy in Nepal tweeted after the meeting. Earlier in the day, Kwatra met his Nepali counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal and reviewed the wide-ranging bilateral relationship. The two Foreign Secretaries reviewed various aspects of Nepal-India relations covering connectivity, trade and transit, power sector cooperation, agriculture, education, culture, health sector and people to people relations, among others, said Nepal's foreign ministry. This is the first high-level visit of an Indian official after Prachanda became the Prime Minister on December 25 last year. Kwatra is also expected to hand over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to the Nepal Prime Minister to visit India. --IANS ag/prw/bg ( 196 Words) 2023-02-13-19:16:03 (IANS) Chishti order had a far-reaching impact on the Indian subcontinent, shaping its religious, cultural, and political landscape. Its teachings continue to be relevant and inspiring, and its legacy is still felt in the region today. In a webinar on "Impact and Reflection of Chishti order in Indian Sub-continent," Professor Syed Liaqat Husain Moini Chishti, Director of Indo-Islamic Heritage Center and Gaddi Nasheen of Ajmer Dargah said that the Indian Chishti Order had a significant impact on the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the realm of spirituality and religion. The order was founded in the 11th century by the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, who was known for his emphasis on devotion, love, and the personal experience of union with God. Speaking at the webinar, Prof Shah Kausar Chishti Abululayi, Chairman, the Department of Philosophy in the University of Dhaka Bangladesh and Director of Dev Centre for Philosophical Studies said that the impact of Indian Islam in Bangladesh has been significant, shaping the country's religious, cultural, and social landscape. Bangladesh was part of the Indian subcontinent for much of its history, and its cultural and religious traditions were heavily influenced by the Indian traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. "One of the most notable impacts of Indian Islam in Bangladesh is the spread of Sufism, a mystical form of Islam that emphasizes personal devotion and the experience of union with God," said Prof Shah. Sufism was introduced to Bangladesh by Indian Sufi saints and mystics, and it became popular among the masses due to its emphasis on spiritual fulfillment and its rejection of religious formalism. Sufi shrines and tombs remain an important part of Bangladesh's religious and cultural landscape. He further explained that Indian Islam also had an impact on the development of the Bengali language and literature. Many Bengali Muslim scholars and poets were influenced by Indian Sufi traditions and their works reflect this influence. The Sufi emphasis on devotion and love is a recurring theme in Bengali literature, and Sufi saints are celebrated in poems and songs. "Indian Islam also played a role in shaping the political landscape of Bangladesh. Sufi leaders and scholars often played an important role in mediating conflicts and promoting peace and justice in society. They also helped to foster a sense of unity and solidarity among the diverse religious and ethnic communities in Bangladesh," said Prof Shah. Another Speaker from Sri Lanka Inthikab Zufer, Associate Professor & COO for International Medical Campus said in this speech that Chishti order and teaching of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti has had a profound impact on Sri Lanka, shaping its religious, cultural, and political landscape. Its legacy continues to be felt in the country, and Sufi traditions and practices remain an important part of its cultural heritage. He said that the ideals of Sufism, as taught by the Chishtis, helped to create a more tolerant and pluralistic society in Sri Lanka, where people of different religions and backgrounds could coexist peacefully. Additionally, the Chishti Order's emphasis on generosity and hospitality inspired some Sri Lankan Sufi communities to establish communal kitchens and hospices, which served as centers of social and spiritual life for local communities. This helped to promote a culture of generosity and compassion, and provided support for the poor and needy. Dr Shujaat Ali Quadri who was the moderator of the webinar said that the Chishti order also had a profound impact on the cultural and political life of the Indian subcontinent. "The order's teachings of love and tolerance influenced the attitudes of the rulers and the ruled, and helped to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and harmony. The Chishtis played a significant role in promoting pluralism and tolerance in a region that was marked by religious and ethnic diversity," said Dr Shujaat. (ANI) Additional District Judge-I (ADJ-I) Praful Kamal allowed the Hindu litigants to appeal in a lower court for a survey of the Teele Wali masjid in Lucknow. TCN Special Correspondent LUCKNOW (UTTAR PRADESH) The order passed by a district court allowing Hindu litigants to appeal for the survey of Lucknows 16-century Teelewali Wali Masjid is against the direction of Allahabad High Court, said Imam Syed Fazlul Manan Rahmani. On Thursday, Additional District Judge-I (ADJ-I) Prafulla Kamal held that the civil suit filed by Hindu litigants seeking the survey and possession of the mosque complex is maintainable, rejecting the objections raised by the mosque authorities. First of all, this case was filed in the lower court. We lost this case there and went to the session court, Rahmani, who has been the imam of the mosque for three decades, told TwoCircles.net. While the matter was pending in the session court, the opposite party moved to the high court. The high court directed them to go to the lower court. As the matter was pending in the lower court, we again moved to the high court. In the direction of the high court, a survey was conducted in 2013. In the survey, nothing was found as per their claim. If the survey was conducted by the High court, the lower court should not give directions against the high court, he said. In 2013, a suit was filed in a lower court on behalf of Lord Sheshnagesth Tileshwar Mahadev Virajman, Laxman Tila Sheshnag Teerth Bhoomi. They claimed that during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a Hindu religious structure was demolished to make way for a mosque and demanded that a portion of the Teelewali mosque should be handed over to them. They also claimed that the Teele Wali Masjid is Laxaman Tila which was converted into a mosque. In May last year, a controversy erupted when Hindu Mahasabha wanted to take out a rally to the mosque and recite Hanuman Chalisa. However, noted historians of Lucknow city rejected the claims made by the Hindu party about the mosque. They said that there are no documents and evidence to connect Laxman with Lucknow. There is also no evidence of the fact that the mosque was built in place of Laxman Teela. Nowhere in history is there a mention of the name Lakshman Teela. In fact, the name is not even mentioned in the first Census, carried out by the British government in Oudh. In Lucknows 1000-year history, there is no mention of Lakshman Teela, Roshan Taqui, noted historian who has penned several books on the state capitals history, was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying. Rahmani said that nothing has come out as per the claims made by the Hindu party even when the excavations were being made for the expansion and the beautification of the area. I think that their claims are just propaganda. These things are aimed at creating division between Hindus and Muslims, damaging the culture of the city, and disturbing peace and law and order. I urged the authorities to take cognizance of such moves and issue orders against such elements, he said. The imam raised the question as to how Lord Sheshnagesth can be part of a case. Man can be a party to any case but how did Lord become a party in this case? This, I dont understand, he said. The Teele Wali mosque is among several religious places belonging to the Muslims across the country which are claimed by Hindus. Earlier, a Varanasi court ordered the survey of Gyanvapi mosque. During the survey, a portion of the mosque, a wuzu khana (ablution place), was seized with the claim that a Shivling was found inside the mosque. However, the mosque committee said that the fountain of the mosque has falsely been termed as Shivling. Shahi Idgah mosque, which is situated adjacent to Krishnajanmbhoomi temple in Mathura, is also claimed by Hindus. In December last year, a district court ordered the survey of the mosque. In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the building of a temple at the site where the Babri masjid once stood. The Mughal-era mosque was razed to the ground by Hindutva mobs in 1992 claiming that the mosque was built after demolishing the Ram temple. Concerning Teelewali mosque, Rahmani said that they have complete faith in the judiciary. We have faith in the constitution and the judiciary. We have not violated any court order or the constitution. The court order is supreme and acceptable to all. We have also accepted the Supreme Court order in the case of Babri mosque, he said. A pet cat died and another cat was rescued after a 2-alarm house fire that displaced four people in Dracut on Sunday afternoon, fire officials said. At 3:56 p.m., the Dracut Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a fire in a two-story, single-family home at 1317 Lakeview Ave. When crews arrived at the home at 4 p.m., they found heavy fire showing from the front of the home. A second alarm was struck shortly after crews arrived. The homes balloon-frame construction allowed the fire to spread between walls, so firefighters had to cut open walls to reach all the flames, said Dracut Fire Chief Richard Patterson. Companies did a great job containing the fire to the two rooms in the kitchen and the breezeway, said Patterson. Companies were able to limit the fire damage throughout the rest of the house, though there was heat and smoke damage throughout. Fire damage was contained to the homes kitchen and breezeway, but the home sustained smoke and water damage throughout. Crews brought the fire under control at 5:42 p.m. The displaced residents were staying with family members Sunday night, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firefighters from the Lowell, Tyngsborough, Methuen, and Pelham and Hudson, New Hampshire fire departments provided mutual aid at the scene. Off-duty Dracut firefighters and Nashua, New Hampshire firefighters covered Dracut fire stations. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW In this piece, we will take a look at the 11 most profitable Canadian stocks. For more great Canadian stocks, head on over to 5 Most Profitable Canadian Stocks. Canada is one of the largest, richest, and most developed countries in the world. In terms of land mass, it is the second largest, coming second only to the Russian Federation, and in terms of the economy, its nominal gross domestic product (GDP) was worth $2.2 trillion by the end of last year, ranking 15th globally. At the same time, Canada's GDP per capita, which is the per person economic output stood at $56,794. The country is rich in natural resources, and it is one of the few developed nations in the world that also relies on the primary sector for its export earnings. Canada's economy also benefits from its close proximity to the United States. The U.S. border is Canada's largest land border, and as of 2021, the U.S. and Canada had traded in $665 billion of products and services (For more on America's biggest trading partners, be sure to check out 30 Largest Trading Partners of the U.S.). The pair have a close partnership in several key sectors, and Canada has a crucial role in American economic strength as it is the largest importer of U.S. origin products. These stood at $307 billion as of 2021 end, and the largest imports were of machinery and vehicles, which stood at a whopping $88 billion. Yet, while Canada buys cars from the U.S., it sells its southern neighbor the fuel on which it runs its own vehicles. As of 2021 end, Canada had exported $365 million of goods and services to the U.S., and more than one third of these, or $109 billion were of mineral fuels and derivatives. At the same time, while Canada was America's largest export destination, the U.S. was also the largest importer of Canadian goods - indicating a key and enduring partnership between the two North American countries. Therefore, it is unsurprising that some of the largest Canadian companies are traded directly on U.S. exchanges instead of as over the counter stocks. This trend is often absent globally, as corporate behemoths from other regions and countries such as South Korea see their shares trade over the counter. However, Canada also has a well-developed financial industry of its own. The Canadian Toronto Stock Exchange (XTSE) is the third largest exchange in North America as of 2022 with the cumulative market capitalization of all the firms trading on it sitting at $2.76 trillion. Globally, the TSX comes in at an eleventh place. Business is booming for the exchange as well, with the latest data showing that in December 2022 total financing grew by 521% over November and by 27% annually. Finally, a total of 1,791 companies were listed on the exchange in December 2022. Story continues True to its form of reliance on energy exports for foreign exchange, the oil and gas sector is one of the largest components of the Canadian stock market. At the same time, Canada is also one of the hottest regions for venture capital investments. In fact, data from the Canadian government points out that as of 2021, venture capital investment in the country stood at $14.7 billion - making Canada the third largest VC destination among the Organization of Economic Coordination and Development (OECD) countries. The Canadian government itself is also stimulating this investment as it has promised up to $450 million in support for VC investments in industry sectors such as life sciences and support for marginalized communities and women. Canada also has a well-developed science and technology industry, evidenced particularly by its regular contribution to the International Space Station (ISS). One major Canadian equipment that is central to the space station's operation is the Canadarm. This is a robotic arm that is used to both capture uncrewed vehicles that dock with the ISS and to aid the astronauts when they repair the orbiting laboratory. It also has an astronaut corps, with Colonel Chris Austin Hadfield of the Canadian Air Command famous for his science experiments (and songs!) onboard the ISS that have captured public attention for decades. Today's piece will focus on the most profitable Canadian stocks. Almost all major Canadian firms also have a secondary listing on U.S. stock markets, and some top performers in today's piece are Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO), Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY), and The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD). 11 Most Profitable Canadian Stocks Our Methodology We dug through all Canadian companies that have listed their shares both on American and local markets and then sorted them through their net income. 11 Most Profitable Canadian Stocks 11. Tourmaline Oil Corp. (OTCMKTS:TRMLF) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $4.12 billion (1CAD = 075USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: N/A Tourmaline Oil Corp. (OTCMKTS:TRMLF) is an oil and gas company that is headquartered in Calgary. The firm focuses its operations on the back end of the energy industry, and it is primarily involved in exploring and developing oil and gas properties. Tourmaline Oil Corp. (OTCMKTS:TRMLF) is another oil company that rode the 2022 oil price wave to new heights. Not only did the firm announce a special dividend of CAD2.25 per share, but it also raised its ordinary dividend by 11% to 25 Canadian cents. The firm is the largest natural gas producer in Canada, and it is also one of the few Canadian companies that is responding to the growing demand for liquefied natural gas in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has seen European demand for the fuel grow for non Russian sources. Along with Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY), Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO), and The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD), the Tourmaline Oil Corp. (OTCMKTS:TRMLF) is a Canadian top performer in profitability. 10. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $4.64 billion (1CAD = 075USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: 12 The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) is one of the largest banks in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, it has a diverse client list that ranges from everyday consumers to also cover the institutional, public sector, and corporate clients. The bank provides a host of different services such as accounts, loans, lines of credit, and insurance services. A technology company announced in February 2023 that the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) is partnering up with JPMorgan and other banks to increase its revolving credit facility to $600 million. 12 of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey during the third quarter of last year had invested in the bank. Out of these, Joseph Sirdevan's Galibier Capital Management is The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM)'s largest investor. It owns 828,762 shares that are worth $33 million. 9. Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $5.39 billion (1CAD = 075USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: 14 Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC) is a Toronto based financial services firm. The company's product portfolio spans wealth management, insurance, asset management, corporate services, and annuities. Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC) was one of the companies that attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2023 where the firm announced two innovation challenges for a sustainable forest economy. By the end of 2022's third quarter, 14 of the 920 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey's research had owned a stake in the company. Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC)'s largest hedge fund shareholder in our database is Joseph Sirdevan's Galibier Capital Management which owns 2.5 million shares that are worth $45 million. 8. Imperial Oil Limited (NYSE:IMO) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $5.46 billion (1CAD = 075USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: 19 Imperial Oil Limited (NYSE:IMO) is an oil and gas company based in Calgary. The firm was set up in 1880, and it is a diversified energy company that both explores for and produces oil and associated products and sells them to the general public as well. Imperial Oil Limited (NYSE:IMO) has more than three hundred million barrels of proven oil reserves. Imperial Oil Limited (NYSE:IMO) is currently at the center of a controversy as the Albertan energy regulator has issued an environmental protection order against the firm after leaks were discovered in the company's oil sands facility. Insider Monkey took a look at 920 hedge fund holdings for last year's third quarter and discovered that 19 had held the company's shares. Imperial Oil Limited (NYSE:IMO)'s largest investor is Jean-Marie Eveillard's First Eagle Investment Management which owns 23 million shares that are worth $1.2 billion. 7. Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $5.84 billion (1CAD = 075USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: 45 Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU) is another Calgary based oil and gas company. It has oil exploration and production assets in Canada, Libya, and Syria. Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU) announced in February 2023 that it had finished the process of buying a $688 million stake in an Alberta project in which the oil giant Total is also involved. After plowing through 920 hedge fund holdings, Insider Monkey discovered that 45 funds had bought Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU)'s shares. Out of these, Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke, and John Campbell's Arrowstreet Capital is Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU)'s largest investor. It owns 19.7 shares that are worth $556 million. 6. The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $7.41 billion (1CAD = 075USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: 15 The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) is one of the biggest banks in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, it has operations in a variety of different countries such asthe U.S., Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) announced in February 2023 that it is hiring Wall Street executives from a French investment firm to expand its presence in the $1 trillion U.S. structured loan market. 15 of the 920 hedge funds profiled by Insider Monkey in 2022's September quarter had owned a stake in The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS). The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS)'s largest investor is Jim Simons' Renaissance Technologies which owns 1.9 million shares that are worth $90 million. The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS), Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO), Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY), and The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD) are some of the most profitable publicly traded Canadian companies. Click to continue reading and see 5 Most Profitable Canadian Stocks. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 11 Most Profitable Canadian Stocks is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this piece, we will take a look at the 11 most profitable European stocks. For more stocks, head on over to 5 Most Profitable European Stocks. In today's highly divided and turbulent political and economic environment, if there's one thing that everyone can agree on, it's that 2022 was not a good year for Europe. Just as Europeans (and the world) were recovering from the pain of the coronavirus and the lockdowns, the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine started. This invasion shocked the global energy market and it made for a rude awakening for Europe which had come to rely on easily accessible Russian gas and oil. As nations scuttered to diversify their energy supply chains, inflation surged across the European nations. In the Eurozone area, which does not include the United Kingdom, inflation from July to December was caused primarily by soaring energy prices. In fact, data from Eurostat shows that energy inflation peaked in October 2022, when prices grew by 4.4% - more than a full percentage higher than the next biggest item which was food (2.47%). These top two contributors to inflation were because of the Russian invasion since both Russia and Ukraine are among the largest grain producers in the world. Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that Ukraine was the world's fourth largest corn exporter and the fifth largest wheat exporter in April 2022 - only a couple of months after the Russian invasion. So naturally, a disruption in Ukraine creates a scarcity, which has been alleviated to an extent now after diplomatic efforts. Europe's biggest economy, Germany, was the most impacted by the energy disruptions. The German economy, which is a European powerhouse and dominated by large automakers such as Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BMWYY), was still stuttering to maintain growth as recently as December 2022. Data from the German federal statistics office showed that the December slowdown managed to surprise analysts. German industrial production dropped by 3.1% over the previous month, while analysts had expected it to slow down by 'only' 0.7%. Highlighting the addiction to Russian energy, the energy intensive sectors dropped by an even larger 6.1% in December. For the full year, the German industry slowed down by 5% over 2019 - the last 'normal' year the world has witnessed since the coronavirus pandemic broke out. Overall, the GDP grew by 1.9% in 2022, down from the 2.6% growth that was recorded in 2021. Another European nation - and one that isn't part of the EU - that saw blistering inflation last year is the United Kingdom. The U.K.'s consumer price index (CPI) soared to 9.6% in October - the same year that the Eurozone as a whole also saw its prices peak. This shattered a three-decade old record for a country that had seen such high levels previously in November 2022 when the inflation sat at 9.2%. Once again, this was also fueled by high energy costs, since gas prices in Britain rose by an unbelievable 128.9% in December 2022 while electricity prices jumped by 65.4%. The U.K. was doubly hit, as a global economic slowdown and the strength of the U.S. dollar drove down the value of the British Pound. Since the country is a net importer, a cheaper pound makes imports more expensive, and further burdens an already troubled population. Turning towards the corporate sector, high prices also affected firms' daily business operations. The difficulties of October are clear in the performance of the flagship British FTSE stock market. Called the 'footsie', this index opened 2022 at 7,485 points but would tank to 6,826 by mid-October to mark an 8% drop. For the Euronext 100, the drop would be more painful. This index closed at 1,361 points in December 2021 and then dropped to 1,114 in October which saw it bleed 18% of its value. The French CAC 40 and the German DAX wouldn't fare any better either. The CAC 40 also dropped by 18% between January and October 2022, and the DAX bled an even larger 24% of its value in the same time period. Zooming in on the German industry, the automotive giant Volkswagen AG (OTC:VWAGY) saw its profit drop by a whopping 28% in the second quarter of 2022. Things did not improve much in the next quarter either, as the firm posted another profit drop of 26.5% during the third quarter. With these details in mind, it becomes crucial to look at which European companies managed to survive a brutal year and are among the top profit makers. Out of the 11 firms in our list today, the top three are Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE), and A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S (OTCMKTS:AMKBY). 11 Most Profitable European Stocks Image credit: Pixabay/Public Domain Our Methodology In order to sift out the most profitable European stocks, we took a look at different sectors such as shipping, automotive manufacturing, energy, telecommunications, and healthcare to identify the biggest companies. These were ranked through their net income and the top performers are listed. 11 Most Profitable European Stocks 11. Eni S.p.A. (NYSE:E) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $17.8 billion (1EUR = 1.07USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: 6 Eni S.p.A. (NYSE:E) is an Italian energy giant. The firm is based in Rome, and it explores and sells both natural gas and crude oil. Additionally, the company also has a renewable energy division. Eni S.p.A. (NYSE:E) disappointed Pakistan in February 2023 when it apologized from delivering a crucial Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargo to the energy starved country. By the end of last year's third quarter, six of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey had invested in the company. Eni S.p.A. (NYSE:E)'s largest shareholder is Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke, and John Campbell's Arrowstreet Capital which owns 2.4 million shares that are worth $51 million. Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), Eni S.p.A. (NYSE:E), TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE), and A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S (OTCMKTS:AMKBY) are among the most profitable companies in Europe. 10. Volkswagen AG (OTC:VWAGY) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $17.87 billion (1EUR = 1.07USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: N/A Volkswagen AG (OTC:VWAGY) is a German automotive giant. The firm makes and sells cars, trucks, buses, engines, and other mechanical products. It is based in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen AG (OTC:VWAGY) is another big traditional car maker that is speeding the transition to electrification as it announced in February 2023 that it has submitted a five year plan to its supervisory board for speeding up the process. 9. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $17.98 billion (1GBP = 1.21USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: 37 GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world. It makes and sells a variety of different drugs for cancer and immune system disorders and also has a consumer wellness division. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) scored a big win in February 2023 when it received full approval from the FDA for a cancer drug. Insider Monkey took a look at 920 hedge fund holdings for 2022's final quarter and found out that 37 had bought the company's shares. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK)'s largest investor is Ken Fisher's Fisher Asset Management which owns 12.1 million shares that are worth $358 million. 8. Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:HPGLY) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $18.4 billion (1EUR = 1.07USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: N/A Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:HPGLY) is a German marine shipping company. The firm operates both shipping vessels and container fleets, and it ships commodities as well as other products. Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:HPGLY) has more than two hundred ships in its fleet, and millions of tons of container and cargo carry capacity. It also lets customers ship their containers inland, and is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. Amidst the global shipping crisis that has refused to go away since the coronavirus pandemic upended the industry, Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:HPGLY) won some respite in January 2023 when a Canadian court ordered a trading company to pay it $3.2 million for a plastics shipment that was rejected at a Thailand port due to a change in the country's environmental regulations. The disputed containers were left at the port for more than two years and some had to be destroyed. 7. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $19.3 billion (1EUR = 1.07USD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: N/A Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is the official name for one of the most popular car companies in the world, commonly known as BMW. The company sells different cars such as sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, and motorcycles. Additionally, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) also sells some of the most luxurious vehicles in the world under the Rolls-Royce branding. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) and Volkswagen won a court battle in the U.K. in February 2023 when the judge ruled that they were under no obligation to provide the British antitrust watchdog CMA with any data for companies based outside the U.K. 6. Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) Trailing Twelve Months Net Income: $28.7 billion Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2022: 17 Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) is a Norwegian state owned oil company. The firm has more than five billion barrels of oil equivalent reserves. Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) made a big oil discovery in February 2023, as it announced that it has found up to 47 million barrels of new oil reserves in the Troll field. Insider Monkey took a look at 920 hedge fund holdings for last year's third quarter to discover that 17 had held a stake in the firm. Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR)'s largest investor is Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke, and John Campbell's Arrowstreet Capital which owns 9.9 million shares that are worth $329 million. Along with Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE), and A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S (OTCMKTS:AMKBY), Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) is another profitable European stock. Click to continue reading and see 5 Most Profitable European Stocks. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 11 Most Profitable European Stocks is originally published on Insider Monkey. A group of 13-year-old boys crashed a stolen vehicle into a 71-year-old driver, killing him as he exited a church parking lot, Illinois police told news outlets. An officer with the Robbins Police Department spotted the stolen vehicle, a Kia with a busted driver side window, at about 2:30 p.m. Feb. 12, the department told WFLD. Moments later, the officer started to follow but noticed smoke rising up from a few blocks ahead, the outlet reported. The Kia had slammed into a Ford Taurus leaving the parking lot of St. Peter Claver Mission Church, WLS reported. First responders found the Taurus badly damaged in a ditch, while the Kia hit a tree, according to WBBM. The driver of the Taurus was removed from the wreckage and taken to a hospital where he died, police told WLS. The guy was coming out of his parking lot down there, and they hit him. And he spun out three or four times, a witness told WBBM. Police arrested the teens at the scene, according to the outlet. Officials have not announced any charges. Robbins is about 20 miles south of Chicago. Driver of stolen car slams into building, causing fatal collapse, Baltimore cops say Porsche SUV lands upside down in Colorado home, photos show. Driver was trapped inside Mom of 3 killed after accused drunk driver in forklift strikes SUV, Washington cops say Three teens killed when their car goes airborne, slams into tree, Missouri cops say Christoph Heusgen revealed the first details of the security conference in Munich Heusgen said over 45 leaders from various countries, and top officials from their governments are expected to attend the conference, Ukrainian outlet Ukrinform reported. Read also: Missiles, jets, NATO membership are Ukraines priorities at Munich Security Conference Also attending will be 83 ministers of defence and foreign affairs, as well as other senior officials. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda will be among the leaders attending the conference. The leaders of the Scandinavian countries, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and the largest ever delegation to the conference from the U.S. Congress will also come to Munich. Ukraine will be presented by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and about 20 parliamentarians. Read also: Russian officials not invited to Munich Security Conference, says chairman Heusgen also explained his decision not to invite any Russia representatives to Munich: "We have been watching the ongoing events intensively in recent months and weeks, he said. Putin hasn't changed his statement even one iota. He negates Ukraines right to exist. Traces of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash obviously lead to the Kremlin, as well." Read also: Chairman of Munich Security Conference supports Ukraine's initiative on peace summit MPs of the German Bundestag from the far-right AfD party were also denied an invite to the conference. Iran, which has helped Russia attack Ukraine by supplying Moscow with flying bomb drones, isn't invited at the conference either, although developments in Iran will be discussed there. The 59th Munich Security Conference will be held on Feb. 17-19. One of its main topics will be an analysis of the situation a year after the start of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine [Source] Police in Japan have uncovered a voyeurism ring of men who secretly photographed and filmed at least 10,000 women bathing in hot springs across the country over the past 30 years. On Feb. 1, the Shizuoka Prefectural Police Life Security Division announced that the voyeurs had been taken into custody in connection with the uncovered case. The ringleader was identified to be Karin Saito, 50. He was arrested in December 2021 in Japan's Hyogo prefecture and was charged for violating a nuisance prevention ordinance, a local law against illicit photography. More from NextShark: Japanese lawmaker doesn't back down after peers laugh at her push to protect teens from porn industry Saito reportedly admitted to secretly filming more than 10,000 women in more than 100 locations for over three decades. He told investigators that he started participating in voyeurism at the age of 20 and that he has communicated with around 100 other voyeurs over the years. While Saitos case is still being heard in the courts, police have reportedly rounded up a total of 16 men in 11 prefectures whom he shared explicit images and videos with. More from NextShark: Man, teen accused of Sacramento robberies targeting Asian women face hate crime enhancements A doctor from Tokyo, senior company executives and local government officials were among those arrested in relation to the case. Saitos voyeurism ring mainly targeted women in open-air baths. The men would reportedly hide in the mountains and secretly film and photograph the bathing women with a camera through a telephoto lens. The men would also photograph or film the same women while clothed to compare their naked photos to their dressed images. More from NextShark: Why the 1,022 fake SpaceX employees from China could be part of an elaborate scam Police said the men would then edit the footage with obscene subtitles and host get-togethers to screen them. Additionally, the men held parties where they committed lewd acts and filmed their female acquaintances after drugging them with sleeping pills, according to police. Story continues Yutaka Seki, an executive director at the Japan Hot Springs Association, told the South China Morning Post that new technology has made it difficult to fully prevent illicit and unauthorized photography. More from NextShark: Fourth Doctor Who Worked With Coronavirus Whistleblower Dies This is shocking and I have to say that voyeurism for the purpose of obtaining naked images of someone of the opposite sex simply has to be severely punished. Illicit and unauthorized photography and filming is, of course, prohibited in all onsen and similar establishments. But new technology, such as miniaturization of cameras, makes it quite difficult to eradicate entirely. Seki expressed fear that the recent investigation would scare women from visiting hot springs across Japan. This is especially a concern given that the industry has already been struggling to attract customers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities are continuing to investigate the case to round up more men involved in Saitos voyeurism ring. In this article, we will discuss the 16 Most Valuable Korean Companies In The World. You can skip our industry overview and go directly to the 5 Most Valuable Korean Companies In The World. The economy of South Korea is the 13th largest economy in the world, with a nominal GDP of $1.73 trillion in 2022. The GDP per capita in Korea stood slightly above $33000 in 2022. Over the past few decades, South Korea has undergone a remarkable transformation from an agricultural-based economy to a new, technologically advanced, industrialized economy, which has been facilitated by government policies aimed at promoting economic growth. Industries such as automobiles, electronics, chemicals, steel, shipbuilding, and textile hold great significance in Korea. Statistics from World Bank reveal that these industries contributed to 32.4% of GDP in 2021. The lax policies of the government and ease of doing business have ensured that large conglomerates continue to operate out of South Korea. The policy measures taken by the government to spur economic growth in the country include investment in research and development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and tax incentives for businesses. The government has also made significant investments in infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports, to support the country's export-oriented economy. It is no surprise that South Korea ranks 19th on the list of the 2022 Index of Economic Freedom with a freedom score of 74.6. 16 Most Valuable Korean Companies in The World One of the key drivers of the South Korean economy is the export sector. The country is a major exporter of electronics, automobiles, steel, and other manufactured goods. As of May 2022, Samsung Group remained the largest business group operating in South Korea, with a revenue of approximately 379 trillion South Korean won. However, the Korean economy is also feeling the effects of the global economic slowdown, and its exports declined by 16.6% YoY in January 2023. A major cause of this includes a deterioration in foreign demand, cost pressures, rising borrowing costs, and overall global monetary tightening. The chips industry saw the highest decline of 44.5%, followed by a slump of 25.9% in the steel industry. In addition to exports, South Korea has a thriving services sector, which includes finance, healthcare, and tourism. The country has a well-developed financial sector with a large number of banks and insurance companies. The tourism industry is also growing, with the number of visitors to South Korea increasing every year. The Korean government continues to be supportive of small businesses and set a budget of KRW 13520.5 billion for SMEs and startups in 2023. The continued government support is the reason why startups like Bemyfriends, ONDA, and Energy X have emerged and created their mark in the market by bringing sustainable market solutions. To sum it up, South Korea has a thriving and dynamic economy that has undergone significant transformation over the past few decades. The country's focus on exports, innovation, and government support has helped it to become one of the largest and most advanced economies in the world. While the country still faces challenges, such as an aging population and high levels of household debt, its strong economic growth and potential for further expansion make it an attractive investment destination for businesses and individuals alike. Our Methodology To come up with the 16 most valuable Korean companies in the world, we sorted data of the biggest Korean companies from the Fortune 500 Global 2022 rankings. After this, we ranked the companies in ascending order of their market capitalization. Our list contains only one private company for which we have used a revenue multiple of 0.5x to estimate the companys market value. 16 most valuable Korean companies in the world 16. CJ Corporation (001040.KS) Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $1.78 billion CJ Corporation (001040.KS) is a South Korean conglomerate that manages investments and offers a range of products and services. The company operates in retail, restaurants, TV shopping, online shopping, and other mediums to offer food ingredients, clothing, and home goods under brands such as Olive Young, Mnet, BYO, Bibigo, and Seasons Table. CJ Corporation (001040.KS) also invests in, produces, and commercializes pharmaceuticals and healthcare products and develops real estate, including housing, commercial buildings, resorts, and leisure facilities. 15. Hanwha Corporation (000880.KS) Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $1.94 billion Hanwha Corporation (000880.KS) is a South Korean company that specializes in the production and supply of explosives, machinery, and defense products. Its machinery offerings include aerospace equipment, solar products, machine tools, power trains, factory automation, and more. Additionally, the company provides demolition, cladding, drilling, blasting, and firework services. Hanwha Corporation (000880.KS)s products are utilized in various industries, including undersea equipment, rockets, fuses, grenades, fireworks, aerospace, petroleum, and livestock. Hanwha's products are sold through a network of distributors in South Korea, Asia, North America, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. 14. SK Inc. (034730.KS) Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $8.70 billion SK Inc. (034730.KS) is a holding company with a presence across various industries, including energy and chemicals, information technology (IT) and telecommunications, life sciences, semiconductors, marketing, and others. The company offers a diverse range of products, such as gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, pharmaceutical intermediaries, polyester films, and IT devices. Additionally, SK Inc. (034730.KS) provides wireless and fixed-line services and conducts R&D for new pharmaceutical and IT products. The company operates in regions including North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. 13. Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (032830.KS) Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $9.59 billion Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (032830.KS) is the leading insurance company based in South Korea. The company provides a range of insurance products in life, health, and accident insurance categories and asset management services. Additionally, Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (032830.KS) offers retirement solutions such as annuities and pensions, as well as financial products like mortgage loans. 12. Korea Electric Power Corporation ( NYSE: KEP Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $9.76 billion Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:KEP) was established under the Korea Electric Power Corporation Act with the aim of supporting the development of electric power sources, meeting the nation's electric power needs, and driving economic growth. The company has a workforce comprising of more than 48000 employees. The company is involved in the production, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The business activities include the sale of electric power, development of power resources, investment, and real estate. 11. Samsung C&T Corporation (028260.KS) Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $14.75 billion Samsung C&T Corporation (028260.KS) provides a diverse range of business support services and manages resort operations. Its services encompass areas such as clothing retail, construction, energy, real estate, food service, and resort accommodations. In addition to these services, Samsung C&T Corporation (028260.KS) operates a resort that includes amusement rides, a zoo, a water park, golf clubs, and restaurants, and also engages in building, civil infrastructure, urban development, plant, and housing construction. The company has an employee base of more than 15,000 individuals. 10. LG Electronics Inc. (066570.KS) Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $14.86 billion LG Electronics Inc. (066570.KS) and its subsidiaries design, manufacture, and market consumer electronics, mobile communications, and home appliances globally. LG Electronics Inc. (066570.KS) operates through its five segments: Home Appliance & Air Solution, Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Vehicle Components Solutions, and Business Solutions. The companys product and service portfolio include refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, air conditioners, air purifiers, mobile communication products, a broad range of energy solutions, commercial laundry products, and a cloud service called LG Smart Solution, Digital. LG Electronics Inc. (066570.KS) has a large workforce with over 84,000 employees. 9. Hyundai Mobis Co.,Ltd (012330.KS) Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $14.95 billion With its headquarters in Seoul, Hyundai Mobis Co.,Ltd (012330.KS) is a South Korean manufacturer of automobile parts and components. It is a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group, one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. The company's product portfolio includes automotive parts such as steering systems, suspension systems, braking systems, airbag systems, lighting systems, electronic systems, and energy storage systems. 8. GS Caltex Corporation Estimated Market Value: $15.09 billion Revenue Multiple Used: 0.5x Annual Revenue 2021: $30.18 billion GS Caltex Corporation is a South Korean oil refining company jointly owned by Chevron and GS Group. It was established in May 1967 as South Korea's first privately owned oil company. In 1969, the company began producing lubricating oil at its Incheon plant and, over the past 50 years, has supplied lubricants to customers both in Korea and globally. Currently, the Incheon plant has a yearly output of 9,000 barrels of lubricating oil products and 8,000 tons of grease products. GS Caltex Corporation utilizes base oil to manufacture approximately 180 different types of lubricants under the Kixx brand. 7. KB Financial Group Inc. ( NYSE: KB Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $17.30 billion KB Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:KB) provides a range of financial products and services, including banking and insurance, through its subsidiary companies. The company offers personal and business loans, deposits, debit and credit cards, and life and non-life insurance. Additionally, KB Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:KB) provides trading, asset management, brokerage, treasury services, IT outsourcing, capital market, and international banking services. The company has a global client base of small and medium-sized businesses and large corporations. 6. POSCO Holdings Inc. ( NYSE: PKX Market Cap as of February 11, 2023: $18.20 billion POSCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PKX) is a leading steel manufacturer that produces and markets rolled steel products and plates. The company offers a wide selection of hot and cold rolled products, wire rods, plates, silicon steel sheets, and stainless-steel products for industries such as automotive, shipbuilding, home appliances, engineering, and machinery. Furthermore, POSCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PKX) is also engaged in services such as planning, designing, and constructing industrial plants, civil engineering projects, and commercial and residential buildings. The company is also involved in the business of power generation, trading of steel and raw materials, and network and system integration. Click to continue reading and 5 Most Valuable Korean Companies In The World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 16 Most Valuable Korean Companies In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey. A 16-year-old Boston girl charged in connection with a deadly double stabbing in Boston over the weekend has been ordered held without bail. Wilmary Mejia, of the citys Roxbury section, hid her face behind a wall as she was arraigned Monday in West Roxbury Municipal Court on charges of murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in an alleged stabbing attack that left Brianna Brown, 21, of Boston dead, and a 17-year-old girl seriously hurt on Saturday afternoon. Officers responding to a report of a stabbing in the area of 5 Woodside Avenue in Jamaica Plain neighborhood shortly before 2 p.m. learned Brown and the other victim had made their way over to the Boston Police Departments District 13 headquarters on Washington Street, according to law enforcement officials. Boston 25 obtained a video showing the aftermath when the victims ran over to the substation and surveillance video from a nearby business that shows first responders rushing to the police substation where the victims ran for help. Both victims, suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest and neck, were transported to separate Boston hospitals. Brown later died from her injuries. The 17-year-old girl is expected to survive. Her name has not been released. A woman who knows both victims told Boston 25 she could not believe the altercation escalated to murder. She did not want to appear on camera or provide her name but told us the woman who was killed is a young mother. Now she is not going to be able to raise her own son because of a mistake. People shouldnt be doing that, the friend said. The double stabbing stemmed from explicit photos that Mejias boyfriend allegedly sent to the victims, a prosecutor said. That was a problem for the defendant. The defendant sought to fight one or both of the victims, and she made her way to their neighborhood, which required at least one bus to get there, the prosecutor said. She made clear several times that she was there to fight. She was determined to fight. Story continues The prosecutor noted that two male friends who were with Mejia attempted to dissuade her from carrying out her plan, but they were unable to stop her. Mejia and her boyfriend fled the scene following the incident and were later found at a nearby construction site. A knife was said to be located in the vicinity of Mejia. Mejias attorney argued that there is a significant amount of evidence that needs to be sorted out because self-defense or heat of passion may have played a role. In wake of the incident, a community activist called for more resources for troubled young people. We definitely need more resources in our schools, within our churches and congregations within our community centers. We need tools. We need people to help equip our young people in terms of dealing with violence in the streets and dealing with violence between each other, Rev. Kevin Peterson of The New Democracy Coalition said. Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden called the incident tragic. The scope of this tragedy is immense. One young woman is dead, another is seriously injured, and a third is entering a life-altering journey through the court system, Hayden said in a statement. The trauma of this incident touches all of them, and all of their families. It also touches anyone who hopes and prays for a community less beset by pain and loss. Under Massachusetts law, arraignments for 14- to 17-year-olds charged with murder happen in regular session and not juvenile session. An investigation remains ongoing. Mejia is being held without bail. Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) February 13, 2023 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 Cheshire Police Department British authorities are investigating the killing of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, who was stabbed to death in a park in northwestern England this past weekend. Ghey, who was transgender, maintained a popular TikTok account with thousands of followers where she posted dance and lip-synching videos. She posted her final video hours before she was killed in Cheshire on Saturday. She was a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her. Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless, and one of a kind, her family said in a statement. The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same. Two 15-year-old teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder, police said , adding that the suspects, a boy and a girl from the area, are currently in custody and cooperating with the investigation. A chief detective told the Times , a British newspaper, that Gheys murder was a targeted attack, but her death is not being treated as a hate crime . As news of Gheys death spread across the UK, many British publications misgendered Ghey and used her deadname in their coverage. Some advocates have noted that because the countrys Conservative government chose not to allow trans people to self-identify their gender on official documents, Ghey will likely not have her chosen name and gender marker on her death certificate. Because Britain does not have Self ID, trans teenager Brianna Ghey cannot be buried as her true self. She wont be allowed the dignity of having beloved daughter on her gravestone. Or a correct death certificate. All because the mob oppose something they dont understand. 02:09 AM - 13 Feb 2023 In the wake of her death, friends of Gheys family set up a GoFundMe to support her funeral costs, and many have spoken out to share their condolences and support of Gheys family. Story continues Nadia Whittome, a Labour MP, tweeted that Brianna deserved a chance to become a beautiful adult woman, and to live to see a world where trans people are safe and respected. Whittome also criticized British media for their anti-trans coverage of her death. Rest in peace, Brianna Ghey Brianna deserved a chance to become a beautiful adult woman, and to live to see a world where trans people are safe and respected.Anyone in the media who is using her deadname and erasing Briannas identity should be ashamed of themselves. 10:02 AM - 13 Feb 2023 A tree service company allowed three minors to use a woodchipper forbidden under federal child labor laws before one of them was killed using the machine, according to federal authorities. The 17-year-old worker was feeding entangled material into the woodchipper on Aug. 9 at a work site in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, when he was partially pulled in, the U.S. Department of Labor said in a Feb. 13 news release. He later died of his injuries. His death prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to open an investigation into the teens employer, a Lehigh Valley tree service company owned by Adam Atiyeh. The company goes by several names, including Adams Tree Service, officials said. Atiyeh did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Feb. 13. Investigators found that Adams Tree Service failed to: Provide personal protective equipment and make sure employees used safety shoes, glasses, gloves and hard hats Train workers on how to safely use the woodchipper Have first aid-trained workers on site Keep portable fire extinguishers at the work site He and his company received 10 serious safety violation citations and face $136,613 in penalties. These safety violations were in addition to violating child labor laws, authorities said. The Wage and Hour Division is investigating those allegations. The dangers of tree-trimming and operating a woodchipper are obvious and widely known, and yet this employer exposed a teenager to deadly risks. Now his family, friends and co-workers are left to mourn, OSHA Area Office Director Jean Kulp said in the release. The willingness of this company and its owner Adam Atiyeh to expose workers without proper safety equipment and training to such hazardous work is hard to understand. Employing minors to do this work is unconscionable. Atiyeh has 15 business days from when he received notice of the citations to either comply, request a meeting with OSHA, or contest the findings. Story continues Schnecksville is about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Worker clearing jam dies after machine pulls him in, feds say. Kansas company cited Steam explosion burns worker after molten metal spill, feds say. Now Ohio firm must pay Forklift with makeshift brake rolls, kills 18-year-old worker in Arkansas, feds say On March 6, 2020, the Centre constituted a three-member delimitation commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjana Desai to redraw the constitutional boundaries of the UT. Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net SRINAGAR (JAMMU & KASHMIR) The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the petition challenging the delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu & Kashmir, the LiveLaw reported. A Bench comprising Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice A.S. Oka passed the order in a plea challenging the delimitation exercise undertaken in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Justice Oka, reading out the operative portion of the judgment, said that the judgment has clarified that the dismissal of the petition should not be construed as giving imprimatur to the decisions taken in relation to Article 370 as the said issue is pending before a Constitution Bench. Senior Advocate, Ravi Shankar Jandhyala, representing the petitioners had contended that the delimitation exercise violated the scheme of the Constitution of India, especially Article 170(3), which had frozen delimitation till the first census after 2026. He had argued that the delimitation exercise was being carried out in the teeth of constitutional and statutory provisions. He had further submitted that after the delimitation order was passed in the year 2008, no further delimitation exercise could have been undertaken. The Senior Counsel had emphasised that post-2008, all delimitation-related exercises can be carried out only by the Election Commission and not a Delimitation Commission. On March 6, 2020, the Centre constituted a three-member delimitation commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjana Desai. Its two other members were Chief Election Commissioner and J&Ks State Election Commissioner. The commission was entrusted with the work of delimiting the Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir based on the 2011 Census and in accordance with the provisions of Part-V of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) and the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002(33 of 2002). The Commission unveiled its final order on May 5, 2022, and allocated six additional seats to Jammu and one to Kashmir. It also reserved nine seats for scheduled tribessix in Jammu region and three in Kashmir. The Commissions recommendations sparked a row in Kashmir with political parties in the region saying it will disempower the erstwhile state with the political observers noting that the recommendations will create electoral autocracy in the region, TwoCircles.net reported in May 2022. Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib Russians have sent 200 members of the National Guard of Russia to the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson Oblast and restricted the movement of local residents. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "The enemy has sent about 200 soldiers from the Russian National Guard to the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson Oblast in order to strengthen counter-sabotage measures there." Details: According to the General Staff, Russian soldiers have been deployed at the Chaika recreation centre in the village of Lazurne, and the movement of local residents in the village has been restricted for the safety of the occupiers. In addition, the General Staff reported, the number of servicemen of the Russian occupation force with signs of frostbite on their extremities has increased significantly since January of this year due to the low level of winter uniform provision. "So, the number of patients with such a diagnosis is up to 30 percent of all wounded in the medical facilities in Horlivka, Donetsk Oblast," the message said. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! In this article, we shall be looking at the 25 best countries for solo female travelers. To skip our detailed analysis of the global tourism sector in 2023, go directly and see 10 Best Countries for Solo Female Travelers. As recession fears materialize in 2023, Bloomberg notes that international tourists have boosted spending in popular tourist localities across the globe in 2022 and were one of the key contributors in driving economic recovery. According to the report, 2022 saw more than 900 million international tourists, almost 70% of pre-pandemic levels. However, as costs surge amid increasing global economic uncertainty, the United National World Tourism Organization notes that the demand for domestic and regional travelling is projected to remain reasonably strong and is expected to drive the sector's overall recovery from the pandemic. Travel Trends Affecting The Industry in 2023: An Overview According to a report by Bloomberg, the plummeting macroeconomic projections are expected to influence travel patterns in 2023. Although the Middle East and Europe are recovering considerably fast and are projected to meet pre-pandemic visitor volumes in 2023, a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization expects financial constraints to cause tourists seeking more value for money and travelling only close to home this year. Furthermore, according to a report on consumer travel attitudes by the European Travel Commission, price, proximity, and value for money seem to be the overriding decision factors when it comes to international tourism in 2023. Even in the United States, a recent sentiment survey by Longwoods International demonstrated that 56% of respondents cited airfare as a major deciding factor. More than 30% of respondents have claimed that economic concerns will influence and determine their travel decisions, a 7% increase in such sentiment since August 2022. Countries which can adapt their tourism sectors to meet these new trends are expected to see a faster growth pace in 2023. In a conversation with McKinsey's Nina Wittkamp, here is what Axel Hefer, CEO and Managing Director of Trivago, had to say about the short and long term outlook on global tourism in 2022/23: "Im less optimistic about long-haul, intercontinental travel, even in the long term. The opening up of the transatlantic routes can lead to significant demand for international tourism, but travel across geographies is more complicated because of the need to implement safety measures that are in sync between the departing country and the country of destination. For instance, if one region is investing heavily in hygiene and safety measures but there is still a quarantine restriction on a return from another region, that becomes prohibitive." Globally, tourism is expected to continue on its strong-recovery path, both domestically and internationally. International travel is expected to surge by almost 40% in 2023, as compared to an 80% growth rate in 2022. However, a report by Euromonitor claims that the decline in growth pace doesn't necessarily signify a decline a trips but simply a difference in growth, owing to inflationary pressures. In this article, we shall take a look at the 25 Best Countries for Solo Female Travelers. Best Countries for Solo Female Travelers Photo by Andrew Ruiz on Unsplash Our Methodology For this article, we looked at the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Index of 2021, which ranks countries based on a variety of factors that facilitate the sustainability and resilient development of the Travel and Tourism sector within that respective locality. In order to ascertain the best tourist destinations, we only shortlisted countries which ranked in the upper two quintiles of the report. We then cross-referenced the resultant list with Georgetown Institute's Women Peace and Security Index for 2021/22 and averaged out the rankings to derive an average score for each country. For example, since France ranks 4th in the Travel and Tourism Index and at 15th in the GIWPS index, its average score for the purpose of this article is 9.5. After replicating the process for every country, we chose the top 25 countries based on their average score and ranked them from lowest to highest. 25 Best Countries for Solo Female Travelers 25. Estonia WEF TTI Ranking: 29 GIWPS Ranking: 20 Average Score: 24.5 Although relatively unknown, tourism in the Baltic nation of Estonia is an integral component of the country's economy, and makes up for nearly 7.8% of its GDP. Considered one of the safest countries to visit in the world according to a report by OECD, the number of tourist arrivals in Estonia, both domestic and international have been exponentially increasing since 2006. Popular destinations in Estonia include Tartu, Parnu, Saaremaa, and the national capital of Tallinn. Old Town in Tallinn is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2020, the Government of Estonia kicked off the Tourism Program 2021-24 to further incentivise growth in the tourism sector by investing more than 140 million euros in the travel industry. 24. United Arab Emirates WEF TTI Ranking: 25 GIWPS Ranking: 24 Average Score: 24.5 A tourist behemoth of the Middle East, the UAE's travel industry employs more than 605,000 people and is projected to account for nearly 12.4% of the oil-rich country's total GDP by 2027. From the futuristic metropolitan of Dubai to the scenic landscapes of Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates attracts a diverse variety of tourists every year. The Government of the UAE have revealed plans to further 'Emiratize' the industry which will help the country overcome macroeconomic challenges in 2023. 23. Republic of Korea WEF TTI Ranking: 15 GIWPS Ranking: 33 Average Score: 24 Since the liberalization policies of international travel in the 1980s, the Republic of Korea has slowly been emerging as a hub of tourist attention in Asia. One of the most visited countries in the world, the majority of Korea's tourism industry is supported by domestic tourism. Seoul is the primary tourist destination, with other major attractions including Busan, the Seorak-san national park, the historic city of Gyeongju and the subtropical Jeju Island. The recent popularity of Korean popular culture, also known as the 'Korean Wave', has boosted the growth of the industry in the country. 22. Belgium WEF TTI Ranking: 22 GIWPS Ranking: 22 Average Score: 22 Belgium is considered one of the go-to destinations in Europe, attracting a record 3.4 million tourists in 2022. The tourism industry constituted more than 20 billion euros to the country's overall GDP in 2022. Whether it be the country's world famous chocolates and diamonds, or a UNESCO World Heritage site in Bruges, Belgium remains a top choice for travelers across the world. 21. Ireland WEF TTI Ranking: 24 GIWPS Ranking: 19 Average Score: 21.5 Ireland is home to a diverse plethora of archeological and cultural heritage, attracting millions of tourists every year. Famous sites to visit are the Rock of Cashel, Killarney National Park, and the Cliffs of Moher. 20. New Zealand WEF TTI Ranking: 27 GIWPS Ranking: 13 Average Score: 20 Tourism is an integral component of New Zealand's economy, constituting more than 6% of the country's GDP as of 2022. Although it is one of the most expensive localities in the world, New Zealand also has with one of the lowest crime rates and is considered exceptionally safe and secure for solo women travelers. 19. Italy WEF TTI Ranking: 10 GIWPS Ranking: 28 Average Score: 19 With more than 56 million tourist arrivals in 2022, Italy is the fifth most visited destination in the world. Considered the hub of modern European culture and tradition, Italy houses the great relics of ancient European glory. From the Colosseum and the Forum to churches and chapels of the Vatican, Italy appeases the young and the old alike. 18. Japan WEF TTI Ranking: 1 GIWPS Ranking: 35 Average Score: 18 From scenic landscapes and cultural sites to modern theme parks and tourist retreats, Japan offers a plethora of activities for tourists. Tourism is a massive industry in Japan, with the country attracting more than 3.8 million visitors in 2022. The country is fast emerging as one of the central hubs of Asian culture. 17. Portugal WEF TTI Ranking: 16 GIWPS Ranking: 18 Average Score: 17 Portugal is a relatively small country, making it easier and cost-effective to travel and explore. From the cosmopolitan city of Lisbon to traditional villages, tourists tend to have a diverse range of travel options. The tourism sector accounted for a massive 17% of the country's GDP (including indirect effects) pre-pandemic, making Portugal one of five southern European nations most dependant on the sector. 16. Australia WEF TTI Ranking: 7 GIWPS Ranking: 24 Average Score: 15.5 Whether one is looking to relax on the country's sparkling beaches, spend time with friendly wildlife, or catch a show at the Sydney Opera House, Australia is a go-to destination for tourists across the globe. The tourism sector employs more than five percent of the country's workforce and makes up for more than 8.2% of Australia's export earnings. 15. Sweden WEF TTI Ranking: 20 GIWPS Ranking: 7 Average Score: 13.5 Although tourism is a relatively small part of the Swedish economy, the industry has been picking up favor amongst tourists of late. The country is known for its beautiful palaces, ancient towns, anow-capped landscapes and the famous Ice Hotel. 14. Iceland WEF TTI Ranking: 23 GIWPS Ranking: 3 Average Score: 13 Tourism in Iceland has grown considerably in economic significance in the past decade, becoming one of the central pillars of the Icelandic economy. The industry contributes more than 39% to the total export revenue of the country, and although numbers haven't quite returned to pre-pandemic levels, tourism in Iceland is recording one of the fastest growth rates in Northern Europe. 13. Luxembourg WEF TTI Ranking: 21 GIWPS Ranking: 5 Average Score: 13 Considered one of the best destinations in Europe for a city break, Luxembourg is widely known for the Old Quarter of Luxembourg City, the National Museum of History and Art, the Bock Casements and much more. 12. Canada WEF TTI Ranking: 13 GIWPS Ranking: 12 Average Score: 12.5 Known for its expansive and beautiful national parks, scenic landscapes and vibrant cosmopolitan life, the tourism sector in Canada is uniquely inclusive and contributes 10% of all full-year jobs. The sector makes up for an estimated $102.5 billion to the Canadian economy. 11. Netherlands WEF TTI Ranking: 14 GIWPS Ranking: 10 Average Score: 12 Although the tourism sector is a relatively small sector of the country's economy, contributing a meagre 5.4% of Netherlands' GDP, the Netherlands is the go-to destination for tourists wanting to learn more about ancient Viking culture, visit the Van Gogh Museum, explore the canals and cosmopolitan life of Amsterdam and much more. Click here to continue reading and see 10 Best Countries for Solo Female Travelers. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: none. 25 Best Countries to Visit for Solo Female Travelers is originally published on Insider Monkey. Lebanon City Police arrested a 29-year-old for allegedly firing in the direction of houses in the 1300 block of Brandywine Street Saturday. Police were dispatched around 10 p.m. to the area for a report of gunshots fired, according to a release Sunday. Upon arrival, police confirmed that gunshots were fired in the direction of a residence on that block. Police arrested Christopher Fojo-Candelaria of Lebanon. Fojo-Candelaria's charges include aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. He was arraigned and bail was set at $250,000, according to police. The parties involved were known to each other, and this was not a random act of gun violence, according to police. Officials have not released the names of anyone else involved as of Sunday morning. Shooter wanted:Police are looking for shooter in a non-lethal incident Thursday in downtown Lebanon Alex Torres-Santos:22-year-old arrested in alleged involvement in two shootings in Lebanon city, police say Fojo-Candelaria is being held at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, according to court documents. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb 23 before Lebanon County Magisterial District Judge Maria Dissinger. Anyone with information about these shootings are asked to contact the Lebanon City Police Department at 717-272-6611 or Crime Stoppers at 717-270-9800. This investigation is ongoing. Please check back with the Lebanon Daily News for updates. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: 29-year-old Lebanon man allegedly fired near a residence Saturday EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) Three more chemicals have been found on the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in Ohio just over a week ago, and they are being described as dangerous. We basically nuked a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open, said Sil Caggiano, a hazardous materials specialist. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to Norfolk Southern stating that ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene were also in the rail cars that were derailed, breached and/or on fire. The freight train derailment on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania state line left a mangled and charred mass of boxcars and flames as authorities launched a federal investigation and monitored air quality from the various hazardous chemicals in the train. Caggiano said ethylhexyl acrylate is especially concerning since its a carcinogen and contact with it can cause burning and irritation of the skin and eyes. Breathing it in can irritate the nose and throat and cause coughing and shortness of breath. East Palestine water quality testing continues Isobutylene is also known to cause dizziness and drowsiness when inhaled. I was surprised when they quickly told the people they can go back home, but then said if they feel like they want their homes tested, they can have them tested. I wouldve far rather they did all the testing, Caggiano said. Caggiano says its possible some of these chemicals could still be present in homes and on objects until you clean them thoroughly. Theres a lot of what-ifs, and were going to be looking at this thing five, 10, 15, 20 years down the line and wondering, Gee, cancer clusters could pop up, you know, well water could go bad,' Caggiano said. Caggiano recommends that anyone in the East Palestine area should get a health check-up so there is documentation in the event of any effects possibly related to the train derailment. Story continues About 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in a fiery crash on Feb. 3. Vinyl chloride was later released into the air from five of those cars before crews ignited it to get rid of the highly flammable, toxic chemicals in a controlled environment, creating a dark plume of smoke. Residents from nearby neighborhoods in Ohio and Pennsylvania were evacuated because of health risks from the fumes, but have since been allowed to return. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Since late January, four vessels, including a suspected Chinese spy balloon, have been seen in U.S. and Canadian airspace and were all subsequently shot down by the U.S. military. Some details link the incidents, including all of them occurring within a few days of each other, but there are key differences as well -- with U.S. officials saying that the objects, which were not all flying at the same height or following the same path, did not necessarily resemble one another. Despite the first balloon being described as a Chinese reconnaissance vessel -- an assessment China has sought to undercut -- the origins and purpose of the other objects have not been confirmed by the U.S. military. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on ABC's "This Week," before a fourth object was downed, that he had been briefed that three of them were balloons. Below is a timeline of key moments involving all four objects. One U.S. official attributed the rise in the sightings to boosted surveillance capabilities by the military and not a rush of new foreign objects flying over American airspace. "Northern Command has adjusted the parameters of their radar capabilities in a way that they can see more than they could before," this official said. "That's not to say they were blissfully ignorant before," the official said, "but there are lots of things floating around and now we are more finely attuned to it." The first balloon Jan. 28 The balloon entered U.S. airspace on Jan. 28 north of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, according to a senior military official. Photos from later sightings appear to show the craft was an enormous white dirigible with an undercarriage described by one U.S. official as the size of three buses. Jan. 30 The vessel then entered Canadian airspace over the Northwest Territories on Jan. 30, the senior military official said. Jan. 31 The balloon then traveled south and reentered U.S. airspace over northern Idaho on Jan. 31, according to a senior military official. The White House later said that President Joe Biden was briefed the same day, for the first time, about the balloon. Story continues PHOTO: A balloon floats over Columbia, Mo., on Feb. 3, 2023. A huge, high-altitude Chinese balloon sailed across the U.S. on Friday, drawing severe Pentagon accusations of spying despite China's firm denials. (Anna Griffin/Missourian via AP) Feb. 1 4:21 p.m. ET: One of the earliest sightings confirmed by ABC News was in Reed Point, Montana, on Feb. 1. From Montana, the balloon traveled southeast through South Dakota and Nebraska, according to U.S. officials. The administration later said that Feb. 1 is when President Biden first ordered the balloon to be taken down once it was feasible, with the threat of harm to civilians ultimately delaying military action. Feb. 4 11:15 a.m.: The balloon was captured over South Carolina, in Lancaster, as it continued moving southeastward toward the coast. 2:39 p.m. ET: Footage captured the balloon being shot down over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina. The balloon was ultimately downed in U.S. airspace over U.S. territorial waters by fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command, according to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The balloon was struck by an F-22 firing a missile roughly six nautical miles off the South Carolina coast, according to a senior U.S. defense official. The Chinese foreign ministry criticized the United States for downing its balloon. "China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and protest against the U.S. using force to attack civilian unmanned airships," officials said in a statement. The ministry asserted that they told the U.S. that the balloon was an airship "for civilian use and entered the US due to force majeure, which was completely accidental." Chinese spy balloon sightings (ABC News Illustration / Google Earth) Feb. 6 U.S. Navy vessels swarmed a widespread debris field with divers and cranes to retrieve pieces of the balloon. A senior government said the FBI was expected to take custody of any recovered components of the balloons payload and to ship those to its laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis and intelligence gathering. Feb. 8 The Pentagon's Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder disclosed that China had conducted four balloon surveillance missions over "sensitive sites" within U.S. territory during recent years, but did not disclose exactly where or when the incidents occurred. PHOTO: Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 5, 2023, after it was shot down. (Department of Defense) Feb. 9 Senior FBI officials familiar with the operation said in a conference call with reporters that the bureau's evidence response team had retrieved only a small amount of the balloon and didn't yet have enough evidence to conclude what China's intent was. Only an "extremely limited" amount of the vessel was recovered so far and brought to the FBI's evidence collection lab at Quantico, the officials said. Separately, State Department official said that the Biden administration was looking into "taking action" against China for the surveillance balloons sent over U.S. territory. An official confirmed that the U.S. assesses that China has overflown surveillance balloons above 40 countries, which ABC News and other outlets have previously reported. The downed balloon "had multiple antennas to include an array likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications. It was equipped with solar panels large enough to produce the requisite power to operate multiple active intelligence collection sensors," a State Department official said. Administration officials also revealed more information on China's prior balloon operations targeting the U.S. In a television interview, Defense Secretary Austin said the aircraft had been detected over parts of Florida and Texas. A senior U.S. official previously told ABC Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz that incursions into American airspace had also taken place over Hawaii and off the coast of the continental U.S. -- specifically near Coronado, California, and Norfolk, Virginia -- where two of the nation's largest naval bases are located. PHOTO: FBI Special Agents assigned to the Evidence Response Team process material recovered from the High Altitude Balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina. The material was processed and transported to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, VA. (FBI) Feb. 10 U.S. officials said the undercarriage of the balloon was located in waters off South Carolina. An official told ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz it was found on Feb. 9 and was largely intact. It had not yet been retrieved, the officials said, but would likely be done with a crane or a winch from a vessel. A second flying object, over Alaska Feb. 9 Another object was seen late on Feb. 9, White House spokesman John Kirby later told reporters. He said it was a small object and, according to the Pentagon, it was traveling "northeasterly across Alaska" and two F-35 fighter jets were sent up to identify it. Feb. 10 The jets did another flight "early this morning," on Feb. 10, to try to learn more and that flight "ended in a shootdown," Kirby said. Two F-22s tracked the object and one of them fired the AIM-9X sidewinder missile near the location of Deadhorse, Alaska, which is right on Prudhoe Bay, according to the Pentagon. Fighter aircraft checked if the object was manned and determined it wasn't, Kirby said. "It was difficult for the pilots to glean a whole lot of information," he said, adding, "There was a limit to how much they could divine." PHOTO: National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House, Feb. 10, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) The object was described as "cylindrical and silver-ish gray" and seemed to be floating, a U.S. official said. Asked if was "balloon-like," the official said, "All I say is that it wasn't 'flying' with any sort of propulsion, so if that is 'balloon-like' well -- we just don't have enough at this point." President Biden, briefed on Feb. 9, gave the order to shoot it down on the morning of Feb. 10. Kirby said the "predominant" reason Biden ordered it shot down was the "safety" of flights traveling at that altitude and the fact that it was at the mercy of prevailing winds made its flight path less predictable. "And the president just wasn't able to take that risk." "We don't know who owns this object," Kirby said. At the Pentagon, Brig Gen. Ryder said the object was detected by ground radar. He said it was shot down at 1:45 p.m. ET. A third object, over Canada Feb. 10 The North American Aerospace Defense Command detected a high-altitude object over Alaska late on Feb. 10, according to Ryder, the Pentagon spokesperson. Two U.S. F-22 aircraft monitored the object over Alaska, then Canadian aircraft joined as it crossed into Canadian airspace, he said. PHOTO: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks to the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Feb. 1, 2023. (Blair Gable/Reuters) Feb. 11 Following a call from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to President Biden, Biden authorized that U.S. aircraft take down the new high-altitude object and a U.S. F-22 shot it down with a sidewinder missile, Ryder said. The leaders authorized that the "unidentified, unmanned object" be taken down "out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of their militaries," according to a White House readout of Trudeau and Biden's call. They also stressed the importance of recovering the object to determine its purpose or origin, the readout stated. "Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object," Trudeau tweeted. The object was shot down approximately 100 miles from the Canada-U.S. border in central Yukon, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand told reporters during a press briefing on Feb. 11. It appears to have been a "small, cylindrical object" that was flying at about 40,000 feet, she said. "These objects did not closely resemble and were much smaller than the [suspected Chinese] balloon and we will not definitively characterize them until we can recover the debris, which we are working on," a spokesperson for the White House Security Council later told ABC News. A fourth flying object, over Lake Huron Feb. 12 Another high-altitude object was shot down on the afternoon of Feb. 12, this one over Lake Huron, three U.S. officials confirmed to ABC News, marking the latest in a string of such incidents. The object was shot down by a U.S. military aircraft, according to one of the officials. A senior administration official said Biden directed that the object be shot down "out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of military leaders." PHOTO: The lighthouse at Fort Gratiot by Lake Huron in Port Huron, Mich., in an undated stock image. (Grandriver/Getty Images) This official said the object was detected on radar over Montana on Feb. 11 and was seen again on radar over Wisconsin and Michigan on Feb. 12. The object was octagonal in structure, unmanned and traveling at about 20,000 feet, the official said. There was no indication of surveillance capabilities but the administration could not rule that out. ABC News' Luke Barr, Victoria Beaule, Adam Carlson, Shannon K. Crawford, Jack Date, Meredith Deliso, Layla Ferris, Justin Fishel, Cheryl Gendron, Ben Gittleson, Kerem Inal, Julia Jacobo, Chris Looft, Luis Martinez, Josh Margolin and Matt Seyler contributed to this report. 4 flying objects have been shot down over North America: Timeline of key moments originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Every investor in RPC, Inc. (NYSE:RES) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 40% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). 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. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of RPC, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for RPC What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About RPC? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that RPC does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at RPC's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. RPC is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is LOR, Inc. with 37% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 7.3% and 6.1% of the stock. To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 3 shareholders have a majority ownership in the company, meaning that they are powerful enough to influence the decisions of the company. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Story continues Insider Ownership Of RPC While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. We can report that insiders do own shares in RPC, Inc.. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own US$132m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership With a 14% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over RPC. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 39%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research. 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. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for RPC you should know about. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here pixelfit / iStock.com Side gigs used to be temporary hustles used by the few and far between, but now they are a permanent part of the American economy. The problem when it comes to filing taxes, however, is that side hustles dont always feel like real jobs, with an employer who issues a W-2 at the end of the year and withholds taxes. In some cases, those working side gigs may not feel as if they even owe taxes on their earnings, as they are just from spare-time work. But the truth is that the IRS views gig workers as sole proprietors running their own business. With that in mind, here are some things many Americans dont but should know about side hustles and taxes. The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to Money Read: 3 Ways Smart People Save Money When Filing Their Taxes Side Gig Income Is Taxable Side gig income may feel like something you do in your spare time for some extra cash, but its actual taxable income. Now, if your side gig is your only income, you may not ultimately end up with any tax liability, thanks to credits and deductions. But youll most likely have to file a tax return at the very least. While the minimum income required for singles to file a tax return is $12,950 if under age 65, with gig income, youll likely have to file a return after net earnings of just $400. Side Gig Income Is Likely Self-Employment Income Part of the reason the gig income filing requirement is so low is that unless youre working an extra job as a W-2 employee side hustle income is generally considered self-employment income, which has a $400 net income filing requirement. From a tax perspective, this puts you in the same category as a sole proprietor with 100 employees. The unfortunate side consequence of this classification is that youll owe twice as much Social Security tax as if you were an employee. As a worker, you are responsible for a 7.65% tax that covers Social Security and Medicare. But since youre considered both an employer and an employee as a side gig worker, youre responsible for both halves of the Social Security and Medicare taxes, which amounts to 15.3%. Story continues Take Our Poll: How Much of a Tax Refund Do You Expect in 2023? You Can Take More Deductions To Offset Your Side Hustle Income For every rain cloud, theres a silver lining, and this applies to your classification as a self-employed worker as well. By working for yourself, the IRS allows you to claim a boatload of additional tax deductions, from office supplies and insurance payments to utility costs and even a portion of your rent or mortgage, if you use your home or another building as your office. There are some gray areas when it comes to self-employed tax deductions, and they are often scrutinized more closely by the IRS, so youll want to talk with a seasoned tax professional before you file taxes on your gig income. You Should Keep All Your Receipts, Just Like Any Other Taxpayer Depending on how you view your side hustle, you may not think that keeping receipts for expenses like your cellphone bill, travel costs and even restaurant tabs is important. But if you incur these costs in the course of earning your side hustle income, they may be deductible. For example, if you buy a new computer and use it occasionally as a freelance editor, you may be able to write off part of that expense. If you sell arts and crafts out of your garage, you can likely deduct the cost of your materials and perhaps even part of your electricity bill. Talk with your tax advisor about which receipts might be directly applicable to your side gig business. Forms Youll Need To File for Your Side Hustle Income As a gig worker, you might have to file tax forms that youre not used to using as a W-2 wage or salary earner. In addition to Form 1040, to which all your income and deductions flow, youll need to file a Schedule C for your side gig business. Youll also need to file Form SE to report your self-employment taxes. You might also have to file Form 1040-ES to report and pay your estimated taxes every quarter since you wont have an employer withholding those for you. Again, circumstances can vary from gig to gig, so youll likely want to speak with a tax professional or at the very least use tax software to help ensure you file your taxes correctly. More From GOBankingRates Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting of this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Things Most Americans Dont Know About Side Hustles and Taxes This post is excerpted from a recent edition of our School (in)Security newsletter. Sign up to receive Mark Keierlebers regular updates right here. Five years since the Valentines Day school shooting in Parkland, Florida, which resulted in 17 deaths, the heinous attack is no longer the subject of televised prime-time town halls or congressional hearings. But the debates that came in its wake are far from settled. The school shooting, among the deadliest in U.S. history, continues to divide the suburban Fort Lauderdale community and drive intense arguments over missed warning signs, prevention measures and guns. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter A new generation of activists: Overnight, high school student organizers of March for Our Lives became the face of the gun control movement, an overwhelming experience that came at a serious cost. Im still trying to figure out what type of activism I want to engage in, since I dont want to be passive for the rest of my life but I cannot exist in the way that I used to, X Gonzalez wrote for New York magazine last month. I dont know how Im alive after all that. Federal action: Their nationwide protests secured incremental changes only after another mass school shooting, this time in Uvalde, Texas, with President Joe Biden last year signing the first gun control measures in nearly three decades. During his State of the Union Address last week, Biden cited the Uvalde massacre in repeating his plea to ban assault rifles. Yes @POTUS @JoeBiden LET'S FINISH THE JOB!!! Next week will be 5 years since Jaime was murdered in the Parkland school shooting because of someone who should not have had an assault weapon. It does not need to be this way in America. Let's do the work to put safety first. https://t.co/EftWkAi7Ax Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) February 8, 2023 Armed guards, red flags: After state lawmakers mandated an armed security guard at every Florida campus post-Parkland, many police departments still lack procedures on how to stop a mass shooter, while the states red flag gun law designed to remove weapons from people deemed dangerous has experienced wildly inconsistent enforcement. Story continues No permits necessary: Just last month, the Florida Supreme Court upheld a law that prevents local governments from passing more restrictive gun laws than those dictated by the state. And in Florida where more guns has been a prevailing policy response to the shooting, Republican lawmakers have faced pushback for announcing plans to eliminate permit requirements for concealed weapons just weeks before the tragedys five-year remembrance. In November, the shooter a former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student who is now 24 was sentenced to life in prison after a jury could not unanimously agree on whether to impose the death penalty. More from The 74: These decadent chocolates top our Valentine's wish list. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Purchases you make through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. A bouquet of roses and a box of chocolates are popular Valentine's Day gifts for a reason: They satisfy the senses, are generally well-received, and don't impart any unnecessary clutter in your home (we're looking at you, stuffed bears). But when it comes to your special someone, you don't want just any box of drugstore Valentine's Day chocolate. You want the gift to reflect how you feel about them, and to provide that wow-factor of opening an above-average gift that you can share together (or indulge in all alonewe're not judging). We did the hard work of testing delicious chocolates to provide our formal recommendations. That's why we went through the trouble of trying out a variety of luxurious chocolates to provide our formal recommendations. (Hard work, we know.) These six Valentine chocolates made the cut; they're seasonal, festive, and mouth-wateringly deliciousyou'll probably want to buy an extra box for yourself. Make smart choices without hours of googling. Subscribe to The Checklist newsletter for expert product advice and recommendations. 1. Sheila Kearns Assorted Luxury Chocolates These eye-catching treats are worth splurging on. This isn't your run-of-the-milll box of chocolates. Crafted from organic, fair trade, Italian Agostoni chocolate, Sheila Kearns confections are just as delectable as they are beautiful. This box features an assortment of traditional chocolates, truffles, hand-painted bonbons, and colorfully dipped ganaches. They're (almost!) too pretty to eat. $55 at Williams Sonoma 2. Raaka Chocolate Library Gift Box These unroasted chocolate bars come in a variety of flavors for long-term indulgence. We can't get enough of Raaka chocolates. This Brooklyn-based producer specializes in unroasted dark chocolate made from single-origin cacao that gets fermented for several days. The result is a distinctly flavorful chocolate bar that's good enough for gifting. Luckily, Raaka's Chocolate Library Gift Box is perfect for wrapping and topping with a bow for your special someone, with flavors like Bourbon Cask Aged, Pink Sea Salt, and Green Tea Crunch. Story continues $30 at Food52 3. Compartes Valentine's Chocolate Heart Gift Box Each beautiful square in this box is its own indulgent experience. This bright and colorful box isn't just a treat for the eyes. With nine luxurious squares of chocolate filled with creamy, fruity centers, this festive and elegant box is a special way to say "I love you." But grab them fast: These boxes are made in a limited quantity, and will only be available for a limited time. If you're looking for a decadent treat that's available anytime, Compartes Gourmet Chocolate Bars are a feast for all the senses with their artful packaging and unique flavor inclusions. $40 at Compartes $10-$12 at Compartes 4. Vosges Love Frequency Red Energy Collection Vosges chocolates are more than a wrappable gift; they're an experience. The vision of master chocolatier Katrina Markoff is alive in this one-of-a-kind box. With pops of red throughout and unique truffle-filled ingredients like yuzu and mascarpone, Ancho chili, and Sicilian pistachio, your giftee will remember this treat for years to come. Plus, each purchase from Vosges's Love Frequency Heart Collection comes with two mini Haut-Chocolat Bars. One of which is infused with a 528 Hz sound frequency, making it part of a unique tasting experience (guided through Markoff via the wrapper's QR code) to immerse you in the universe of chocolate. What's more romantic than that? $65 at Vosges Haut Chocolat 5. Chocolove Valentine's Collection With Valentine-imagined flavors, this pack is designed for the special day. This collection is kind of like a two-for-one gift. Each handcrafted bar features a romantic poem within each wrapper, so you can show and tell that special someone how you feel. The collection features three seasonal chocolate bars: Cherry Cordial, Raspberry Rose, and Cinnamon Ganache. With hints of coziness and romanceand a variety of flavor profilesthis one will keep the joy going beyond the special day. $8 at Amazon 6. La Maison du Chocolat Valentine's Day Gift Box Indulge in a taste of Paris with these French treats. What says romance like a heart-shaped box filled with Parisian chocolates? La Maison du Chocolat is an iconic French chocolatier that has been hand making luxury confections just outside of Paris for over 45 years. This special gift box was imagined by chef Nicolas Cloiseau, who includes a variety of dreamy chocolates like ganaches, pralines, and almond pastes to make your loved one swoon. $55 at Food52 The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews and more. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 6 best Valentine's day chocolates to shop right now To get a sense of who is truly in control of The Berkeley Group Holdings plc (LON:BKG), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. With 76% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Berkeley Group Holdings, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Berkeley Group Holdings What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Berkeley Group Holdings? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. Berkeley Group Holdings already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Berkeley Group Holdings, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. It looks like hedge funds own 5.8% of Berkeley Group Holdings shares. That's interesting, because hedge funds can be quite active and activist. Many look for medium term catalysts that will drive the share price higher. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is First Eagle Investment Management, LLC with 11% of shares outstanding. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership is the second largest shareholder owning 6.6% of common stock, and Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd holds about 6.0% of the company stock. Additionally, the company's CEO Rob Perrins directly holds 1.1% of the total shares outstanding. Story continues A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 15 shareholders have a combined ownership of 51% implying that no single shareholder has a majority. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Berkeley Group Holdings 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. Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in The Berkeley Group Holdings plc. It is a pretty big company, so it is generally a positive to see some potentially meaningful alignment. In this case, they own around UK88m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 16% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Berkeley Group Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Berkeley Group Holdings (of which 2 are a bit concerning!) you should know about. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here 27 rights organisations from Maharashtra have written a letter to the police urging them to act tough against hate speech and book the culprits. MUMBAI (MAHARASHTRA) Several Maharashtra-based organizations have come down heavily on the Sakal Hindu Samaj for hate-mongering and inflaming divisive sentiments during Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha rally held in Mumbai on January 29. The organizations led by the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) has asked the police and Maharashtra state authorities to investigate and prosecute the incidents of communal hate speech made at several rallies held in Maharashtra under the banner of Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha and take all measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. The rally held on January 29 in Mumbais Dadar area, used divisive narratives like love jihad, land jihad and theories of population explosion amongst Muslims, and made inciteful and provocative hate speeches to incite the public and further hatred among communities. The rally was organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj, an umbrella organisation of several Hindutva organisations such as Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Shiv Pratishthan and Sanatan Sanstha. The rally ended with a provocative speech by Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh also calling for a boycott of Muslim-owned businesses and for Hindus to slit throats. Chayanika, a member of the Forum Against Oppression of Women told TwoCircles.net that at these rallies, the RSS and its allied organisations are spreading untruths about Muslim men enticing Hindu women into marriages to convert them. She said they have no basis to make these claims. They are just repeating an untruth to create animosity and enmity between communities. She said that in the process they are actually controlling Hindu women and their right as adult citizens to make friends and relationships with whoever they want to. The assumption is that they do not have the intelligence to make decisions about their life, she said. These rallies are also demonizing Muslim men and attacking their right of freedom of association as Indian citizens. The hate-filled cries of violence from the rallies make Muslim men vulnerable to possible attacks, she said. Chayanika said that these rallies are changing the whole social ethos where communities interact with each other, make friends across communities and castes, and thereby become more diverse, plural and richer in their outlook. So, it is an attack on all of us even if we may not choose to be in inter-religious marriages. During the rally on January 29, a provocative booklet containing misinformation and rumours with anti-Muslim sentiment to influence public opinion on communal lines was also distributed. In spite of such highly provocative and inciteful hate speeches being made, no action has been taken by the Mumbai Police against the perpetrators including the organisers of the rally, speakers and MLA T Raja Singh. Lara Jesani, Secretary General of PUCL Maharashtra said that it is reported that Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha has held at least 30 rallies on love jihad and other communalizing subjects in Maharashtra. Hate speeches and calls for violence against Muslims have also been reported, she said. Yet the authorities have allowed these events to happen and also continue with impunity. While common citizens and activists are not given permission to hold peaceful protests on social issues, often they are served notices or FIRs are filed against them, such kind of communal hate speech is being allowed to go on freely. She said that the Maharashtra government must make sure that hate speech is not allowed anymore in the state. It is criminal and unconstitutional. Meanwhile, over two dozen human rights and other groups have written to the Maharashtra Police chief and asked him to act against the organizers. The groups have said that they cannot be silent spectators to attempts being made to communalize the state of Maharashtra and sow seeds of hate and violence through the inciteful propaganda being made at these rallies and events. The state of Maharashtra has a long history of syncretism and secularism, where different communities have coexisted harmoniously. Earlier attempts to communalize the state and spark violence like the 1992 Bombay riots have had disastrous consequences on the people and this cannot be allowed to take place again, the letter states. The letter urges the police to take a tough stance on hate speech. As those responsible for maintaining law and order in the city, it is your responsibility to ensure that the hate speech is prevented and the perpetrators are punished, instead of granting them impunity and a free hand, it said. We accordingly call upon you to strictly implement the directions passed by the Supreme Court in the order dated 3rd February 2023 in letter and spirit, and to in any case take strict action against the increasing incidents of hate speech against Muslims in Maharashtra, the letter reads. LPETTET / iStock.com If you have a Costco membership, you're probably already familiar with all of the in-store and online savings you can find on household goods, groceries, electronics and more. But there may be other ways your membership can score you big savings that you may not be taking advantage of. Costco's Best Deals? Employee Reveals 10 Standout Buys for Your Money Find Out: 3 Ways Smart People Save Money When Filing Their Taxes Here are a few lesser-known Costco membership perks you should be using to save money. powerofforever / Getty Images/iStockphoto Travel Deals Save on your next vacation by booking through Costco Travel. The site can help you score discounts on hotels, cruises and rental cars, and also offers complete vacation packages that usually include some major perks, like resort credits, room upgrades and more. Take Our Poll: How Much of a Tax Refund Do You Expect in 2023? Natnan Srisuwan / Getty Images/iStockphoto Gasoline Although gas prices have dropped from their record highs, it still costs a pretty penny to fill up at the pump. Costco routinely offers lower gas prices than other stations, so it could be worth it to get a membership for the gas prices alone. Shutterstock.com Pharmacy Did you know that Costco offers pharmacy services? You can have your prescriptions filled at the warehouse store and either pick them up in person or opt to have them shipped to your home. cihatatceken / Getty Images/iStockphoto Tires Costco's tire center sells name-brand tires at great prices. All tire purchases come with a warranty for mileage, road hazards and manufacturer defects. Korrawin / Getty Images/iStockphoto Insurance Costco members can score savings on all types of insurance coverage, including home insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and even pet insurance. Fahroni / Getty Images/iStockphoto Car Deals Costco's Auto Progam helps you find deals on new cars, used cars and RVs. You may even get incentives toward new car purchases. For example, right now Costco is offering its members a $1,000 incentive when they purchase or lease select new Cadillac models. In addition, you can score 15% off parts, services and accessories from participating service centers. Story continues s-cphoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Water Delivery Costco members can receive exclusive pricing on bottled water delivery to their homes or workplaces. You can currently get a 5-gallon water bottle for $6.99. ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com Installation Services Save on a number of installation services with your Costco membership. Services you can get through Costco include heating and air conditioning system installation, window treatments, carpet and hardwood flooring installation, garage door installation, cabinet refacing and residential solar system installation. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Money-Saving Costco Membership Features Youre Not Taking Advantage Of slobo / iStock.com When buying in bulk, Sams Club and Costco both offer great deals. However, you might be surprised to learn that some items and overall product categories are cheaper at Sams Club. See: 10 Best New Items Coming to Dollar Tree in 2023 Find Out: 3 Ways Smart People Save Money When Filing Their Taxes Maybe you have memberships to both warehouse clubs or perhaps youre trying to decide which one to join. Regardless, Rebecca Gramuglia, consumer expert at TopCashback.com said comparison shopping is the key to finding the best deals. When it comes to wholesale clubs, comparing cost per unit can help you make better choices on where to buy your products, she said. Heres a look at eight items and product categories where you can save by shopping at Sams Club instead of Costco. Beef Patties Whether youre hosting a party or simply stocking your freezer, Gramuglia said you can save big on beef patties by shopping at Sams Club. You can score a 40-count [box] of frozen patties at Sams Club for $33.48 or opt to pay nearly $11 more at Costco for the same amount of meat, she said. Chicken Wings If youre buying wings, Gramuglia said opting to shop at Sams Club can save you serious money. You can score a 10-pound bag of frozen chicken wings at Sams Club for $17.98(8), she said. In comparison, youll pay $31.99 for the same amount of wings at Costco. This results in savings of $14. Take Our Poll: How Much of a Tax Refund Do You Expect in 2023? Popchips Ideal for a party, lunch or an afternoon snack, Gramuglia said a bulk box of 0.8-ounce bags of Popchips is cheaper at Sams Club. A 30-count variety box of Popchips will run you about $15 at Sams Club, whereas the same box will cost you about $2 more at Costco, she said. Bakery Cakes Sams Club takes the cake when it comes to their bakery cakes, said Marie Clark, managing editor of CostContessa.com. They offer two- and three-tier cakes in addition to single layer round and sheet cakes, and they offer a number of designs that rival fancy bakeries. Story continues Additionally, she said Sams Club also offers custom cupcakes. Not only are the cakes a bargain compared to cakes at Costco, but the cake at Sams Club is delicious, she said. Sams Club bakery cakes win on all three points for design [and] style, price and taste. Clark offered a pro tip when ordering cupcakes at Sams Club. Ask for them to use the smooth tip on the frosting that will get you the look of expensive bakeries, she said. Same-Day Grocery Delivery If youre looking for grocery delivery, Clark said youll save a significant amount by opting for Sams Club same-day delivery service instead of going with Costco. Sams Club charges a flat fee of $8 for Plus members and $12 for standard members, she said. On same-day Costco, youll pay a markup of about 17%-20%, which adds up quickly. For example, on a $150 grocery order, she said youll pay $12 for delivery at Sams Club, but face around $30 in markups at Costco. Limited-Edition Varieties Like other warehouse clubs, Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst with DealNews.com, said Sams Club carries well-known brands, but sometimes also has exclusive flavors you cant find anywhere else. For example, the Fannie May Smores Mix is available at Costco during the holiday season, but Sams Club has a peppermint variety during the same time that I havent seen anywhere else, she said. While you may be able to shop direct from Fannie May in those cases, these special seasonal flavors may be a better value at warehouse clubs, because you can buy a bigger amount for usually a better unit price. Specific Select Brands Costco and Sams Club carry many of the same brands, but Ramhold said the latter may offer a bigger selection. For example, Sams Club has around six Burts Bees items right now, including lip balm, toothpaste, cough syrup, immune gummies, sore throat pops and a comfort pack with items like chest rub, saline spray and drops, she said. Sams Club also has a couple of things from the brand Zarbees, but Costco doesnt have any Burts Bees items currently and only one Zarbees product. She said shopping at Costco can be a good place to find more premium brands youre not familiar with and give them a try for less, while Sams Club may be the best place to shop your favorite tried-and-true brands. In general, Sams Club also tends to have more variety with things like LaCroix sparkling water, whereas Costco may only have one or two different variety packs available, she said. Baby Items While she noted this might be largely dependent on your local area, Ramhold said Sams Club may offer a bigger selection of baby items than Costco. For example, when I looked for baby wipes, Costco had three kinds online, two of which were their own Kirkland Signature brand, she said. But Sams Club had 10 different baby wipes listed, two of which were their own Members Mark brand, the other eight were varying kinds of Huggies, Pampers and Seventh Generation. As for diapers, she said Costco had around seven different types, while Sams Club offered 23 varieties. Sams Club also has a bigger selection of things like formula, baby food, teething wafers, cereal snacks and more, she said. If youre shopping for baby supplies, theres a good chance that Sams Club will have a better variety to shop than Costco. Ultimately, both Sams Club and Costco have great deals. However, this guide should help you save more by knowing where to spot the greatest money-saving opportunities at Sams Club. More From GOBankingRates Disclaimer: Prices and availability may vary by location. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Products To Buy in Bulk at Sams Club Instead of Costco Floridas Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues. The reports are public information. During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, restaurants were cited for issues including unclean kitchens and lack of employee food safety training. Here is what inspectors found: Stone River Retirement Community, 7360 55th Ave. E., Bradenton An employee cracked raw shell eggs and then failed to change gloves/was hands before handling a clean plate. Raw animal foods (pork and beef) not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Shell eggs and butter were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken. A can opener was soiled with mold-like substance. A manager or person in charge lacked food manager certification. No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink. There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Food was stored on the floor in a dry storage area, in a walk-in cooler and in a walk-in freezer. An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside. Two employees were preparing food without hair restraints. Corrective action was taken. A follow-up inspection was required. Thai Spice & Sushi, 8209 Natures Way #111, Lakewood Ranch The establishment was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. A server handled soiled dishes and handled then clean dishes without first washing hands. Corrective action was taken. Shell eggs were not being stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees or less. Corrective action was taken. A certified food manager or person in charge lacked knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils and/or single-service items. Pans were blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was not at the proper minimum strength. Corrective action was taken. Fish was thawing in standing water. Corrective action was taken. The exterior of all kitchen equipment was soiled. Hood filters were soiled. All shelves under food prep tables were soiled. Several cases of food were stored on the floor. An employee was eating in a food prep area. Corrective action was taken. There was an accumulation of debris inside a warewashing machine. The restaurant met inspection standards. Story continues Tide Tables, 12507 Cortez Road W., Bradenton Grouper and milk were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken. Sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Corrective action was taken. Raw chicken was stored over fries in a reach-in cooler. Corrective action was taken. A spray hose at a dish sink was lower than the flood rim of the sink. Corrective action was taken. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was not at the proper minimum strength. Corrective action was taken. The floor was soiled in corners of the kitchen area. The ceiling was soiled above a food prep area. There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine. The restaurant met inspection standards. Subway, 5810 Ranch Lake Blvd., Bradenton (inside Walmart) There was no certified food manager for the establishment. A person in charge lacked knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils and/or single-service items. There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Single-service items were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken. A follow-up inspection was required. Siam Thai Bistro, 5763 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton Raw animal foods (chicken and pork) were not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken. Shrimp, scallops and calamari were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken. A can opener blade was soiled. A chair was blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken. A kitchen wall was soiled. Reach-in cooler doors were soiled. Floors throughout the kitchen were soiled. An employee drink was stored in a restricted area. Corrective action was taken. There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine. A follow-up inspection was required. The Taco King, 491 Cortez Road W., Bradenton (mobile food business) There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees. Wastewater was improperly draining to the grass underneath the food truck. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Reach-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust. Multiple food items were stored on the floor. A microwave was soiled with grease and dried food. A follow-up inspection was required. Dominos Pizza, 4874 Cortez Road W., Bradenton There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. The floor was soiled under a three-compartment sink. An employee with facial hair was not wearing a beard guard while preparing food. The restaurants current license was not on display. Corrective action was taken. A follow-up inspection was required. Calu Comfort Food, 2119 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton There was no proof of required training for any employees. There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Corrective action was taken. Beef and pork in a reach-in cooler were not date-marked. Hood filters were soiled with grease. A follow-up inspection was required. La Belle Fourchette, 5108 15th St. E. #209, Bradenton (inisde Oneco Farmers Market) During a follow-up inspection for previous violations, an inspector found unresolved issues. There was again no proof of required food safety training for any employees. Another follow-up visit was required. Editors Note: According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, these reports are a snapshot of the conditions present at the time of the inspection and are public record. The agency is required to inspect every licensed restaurant at least once per year, but new and high-risk establishments tend to be inspected more frequently. When an emergency shutdown order is given by an inspector, it must first be reviewed and approved by agency supervisors. In order for a business to reopen, an inspector will continue visiting the establishment daily until compliance is met. Some citations may include a financial penalty. Inspectors may also respond to complaints, which can be filed at www.myfloridalicense.com. The Bradenton Heralds weekly dirty dining reports list restaurants where inspectors found issues that might concern the average diner such as unsafe food temperatures, employee hand-washing issues or moldy drink machines regardless of whether or not the businesses passed inspection. A new neighborhood thats not even completed yet is already seeing an exodus of people who no longer want to live there. They say bullet holes in multiple homes and live fire from a nearby gun range are to blame. Action News Jax Investigator Emily Turner talked with four families who are abandoning their plans for a forever home in a new Dream Finders Homes neighborhood in St. Johns County. One woman calls it a nightmare, absolute nightmare. She didnt want to be identified because shes still trying to get her $20,000 in earnest money back from the builder and doesnt want to put that in jeopardy. But she said the whole ordeal has been the most stressful few weeks of our lives. She found out the builder found multiple houses had been hit by bullets in the under construction subdivision off U.S. 1 and workers were almost hit by live fire. Thats when her family made the call to pull the plug. Read: Its possessed: Family claims glass from oven exploded in front of homeowner Were afraid or scared to move into the neighborhood, she said, and fear that a stray bullet is going to hit my kids. Shes one of four families Action News Jax found who are all backing out of their Dream Finders new build in the Cordova Palms development. Realtor Emily Eriksen represents one of them. This isnt getting cold feet at the end of the transaction. This is a safety aspect, Eriksen said. Send Ben: Local woman wound up over Bulova watch Action News Jax checked and the Dream Finders website for the Cordova Palms neighborhood boasts a dog park a splash pad and a childrens play area. But it doesnt disclose a gun range nearby that you can very easily hear. Saltwaters Shooting Club is about a mile to the south of the development. It has a long rifle range that for the last decade pointed into the woods. But like much of St. Johns County, those woods are being developed into housing for a quickly growing population. Story continues Action News Jax pulled incident reports from the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office. On December 30, the construction manager told deputies he has found multiple new construction homes ... with bullet holes and recovered 4 unknown caliber rifle rounds from them. Action News Jax Investigates: Odometer fraud on the rise in Jacksonville Eight days later, there was a similar call for service, followed by an even more alarming one on January 16. According to the report, workers were out setting new home sites when bullets started hitting the ground around them. The site manager reported it the next day, but Eriksen said it was never reported to the homeowners. Thats when her clients backed out and the real estate company called its attorney in, asking the county to review the permitting for the development. Thats their job as a builder, Ericksen said. When theyre picking a location, it needs to be verified that that area will be safe for homes and residential areas to be placed there and not when bullets are flying through. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] We reached out to Dream Finders. The company sent a statement that says, in part, the safety and well-being of our customers, employees and vendors is the paramount priority. It goes on to add, it was advised by the ranges owner that the rifle range has been shut down indefinitely until such time as the rifle range is satisfactorily relocated and repositioned. You can read the companys full statement below. But for the families involved, thats not enough. We wanted nothing more than to move into this house, said the anonymous homeowner, but we dont feel safe and we just want to be able to break ties fully. Just give us our money back. Let us move on. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Action News Jax asked Dream Finders if it plans to give these families their money back. They told us, Our primary focus has been and remains the safety of Dream Finders Homes customers and all other individuals who may be on site at Cordova Palms. While it is not appropriate to publicly discuss specific contract-related matters with any of our customers, we have encouraged any customers with concerns to reach out directly in order to engage with us to ensure we address those concerns. Here is Dream Finders full statement: The safety and well-being of our customers, employees and vendors is the paramount priority for Dream Finders Homes. Immediately upon becoming aware that bullets impacted vacant homes under construction at the Cordova Palms neighborhood, Dream Finders Homes filed a police report with the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office and took other immediate on-site safety measures. Simultaneously, Dream Finders Homes met in-person with the proprietor of the gun range located approximately one mile to the south of Cordova Palms to advise and provide notice of the health and safety hazards presented by the potential negligent or reckless discharge of firearms at the range. As of today, Dream Finders Homes was advised by the ranges owner that the rifle range has been shut down indefinitely until such time as the rifle range is satisfactorily relocated and repositioned. Notwithstanding this, Dream Finders Homes continues to evaluate all additional appropriate steps to further ensure the safety of our customers, employees and vendors. 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. Reed Sigmund had just stepped out of the shower on Jan. 24 when he heard his wife, Autumn Ness, yell, Fire! In a panic, Sigmund rushed up the stairs of the couples Stillwater home to grab some clothes, but was only able to nab a pair of jeans before the thick, black smoke threatened to overcome him. He broke through a window in his sons bedroom, climbed onto a low roof and jumped down to his back porch. Two and a half weeks later, he recalled sitting in the back of a police car that day, wearing nothing but that pair of jeans. I remember watching our house burn, he said. I was barefoot, shirtless and bleeding. I was paralyzed, I had no idea what to do. Who do you call? Who do you talk to? What happens next? Somehow, every day since, Ive met the (next person who can help). Its little, baby steps forward. Sigmund and Ness, who are Childrens Theatre Company members and well-known actors in the Twin Cities theater community, were in remarkably good spirits during an interview Friday. Theyre both doing well, as is their dog Kermit. The couples sons Sawyer and Sullivan were at school during the fire and are adjusting to their disrupted lives. Were trying to give them the feeling they have some permanence in their lives, and getting them back to their routines, Ness said. Our oldest one is doing better, but the youngest doesnt love change. Were trying to help them work through it. We stay positive for them. Were here, weve got our dog. After brief stints at an Airbnb and a hotel in Woodbury, the family is now settling into a Stillwater rental home where they will stay as their home is being rebuilt. Construction should be done by the holidays, possibly as early as Halloween. Theyre going to knock all the walls down, unless its load-bearing, Sigmund said. The ceilings and floors all collapsed. Its heartbreaking, Ness added. Its a beautiful, historical house. I have tremendous guilt about that, losing a house with so much history. Story continues Little miracles The fire broke out in the wall of the laundry room behind the dryer and destroyed nearly everything inside the house. Theyve been able to sort through the charred remains to find a few sentimental items her grandparents cake topper, a clock theyll attempt to get restored. Weve had some really weird luck, Ness said. We found Reeds wedding ring he had taken it off for Hello, Dolly! We found a wedding photo CD in perfect shape. Its been little miracles. After taking a few days off to recover, the couple went back to work. Sigmund is starring in Theater Latte Das Hello, Dolly!, which opened Feb. 4. Ness is currently getting ready for her next show, CTCs Corduroy, which debuts on Valentines Day. Thats been something we can get back to, Ness said. Its come as a relief. Doing tech is a known quantity in my life. Its something I can control. Sigmund said its helped finding comforts in the familiar. I go into work with such gorgeous spirits. The people in this community are just unnaturally empathetic and amazing and kind. The family has been overwhelmed by the support given from the theater community, family and friends. To wit, Sigmunds niece started a GoFundMe with a $5,000 fundraising goal. On Friday, it stood at nearly $73,000. Theyve also started rebuilding life things, starting with their wardrobe. The first couple of nights were bizarre, Ness said. I was wearing my moms bra and neighbors socks. The first couple of days, you put on what you find. Then people started bringing us stuff. Spare boots, spare coats, its been amazing. And, then, like, Heres a Lego set for the kids. People brought us food and other things I wasnt thinking about, like a box of hangers and Tupperware. Everybodys thinking of details you dont have the brains to wrap around. Sigmund said the couple was given an envelope from their sons school with $14.32 inside. A girl broke her piggy bank and offered every cent she had to us, he said. That kind of generosity is astounding. The amount of goodness in the world is overwhelming. It sounds like a Christmas movie, but its not a cliche. Its happening to us. Related Articles By Sam Tobin LONDON (Reuters) -Eight Afghan journalists who worked for the BBC broadcaster won a legal challenge on Monday against Britain's refusal to relocate them from Afghanistan, which they said put them at high risk of being killed by the Taliban rulers. The journalists' lawyers told London's High Court in December that the government had "betrayed the debt of gratitude" owed to them by refusing to relocate them after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. Representatives for the government had argued that none of the eight were eligible for relocation under its Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) programme. David Blundell, a lawyer for the Ministry of Defence, said the Taliban's perception that the BBC is a part of the British government was irrelevant. But Judge Peter Lane said in a written ruling that the perception was "clearly relevant" to the risks the journalists faced. The decision on whether to relocate the eight will now have to be taken again, which their lawyers said would have be done within three weeks. The journalists were embedded with military personnel and worked on British government-funded projects, the lawyers said. As part of their work, they spoke out against the Taliban and exposed corruption and abuse, resulting in numerous threats and attacks by Taliban fighters, the lawyers added. Erin Alcock, who represented the journalists, said her clients have been "living in fear for over 18 months". A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said the department does not comment in detail on specific legal cases, but was considering potential next steps. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Alex Richardson and Andrew Cawthorne) Africas gas share in the global market will increase to over 11% of all gas supplies by 2050, according to a report by Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), from 6% in 2021. Production is projected to increase from 260 billion cubic meters in 2021, to 585 billion cubic meters in 2050, on the back of the maximal exploitation of local energy resources by governments. Read more This will make Africa responsible for the second largest growth in gas supply, by volume, globally, after the Middle East during the period. GECF is an intergovernmental organization that provides a framework for exchanging experience and information among its 12 member countries and seven observer countries. From Africa, the report features Algeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Angola, and Mozambique. Africas demand for natural gas is growing According to the report, the demand for natural gas in the continent will rise by 82% by 2050, and gas will account for 30% of Africas energy mix. With renewables, gas will be crucial in driving energy access across the continent. Besides Africa using natural gas to alleviate energy poverty in the continent, it will also be key to economic growth. The narrative that Africa should not develop its natural resources, particularly natural gas it is misguided, said Mohamed Hamel, the Secretary General of GECF. A prosperous Africa will be more capable to protect its environment. The right of Africa to develop its vast natural resources can be preserved, and its access to finance and technology, facilitated, he explained. Africas population is expected to increase from 1.4 billion to 2.5 billion by 2050, increasing the demand for resources, among them energy. Natural gas will be a key part of Africas energy mix With about 900 million people in need of clean cooking fuels and another 600 million in need of reliable electricity, natural gas will play a key function in alleviating energy poverty. Story continues Increased investment in Africas rich gas reserves and the revival of LNG, especially for exports, will facilitate the achievement of the projections. It is estimated that African LNG export capacity will reach 199 million tons per annum for the period, with Mozambique, Nigeria, Mauritania, and Senegal driving this increase. However, the lions share of the supply is expected from Nigeria and Mozambique, contributing more than 63% of Africas natural gas output. Already, active investments have been pitched in these countries, pointing to the potential the sector holds. According to the report, midstream investment in the sector is expected to be driven by the new projects in Mozambique, Tanzania and Mauritania. Nigeria, Egypt, and Senegal will also contribute critically to Africas sector thanks to the newly launched projects. Overall, GECF estimates that investment spending in Africas natural gas will top $115 billion, roughly 61% of the total expected in the 2030s. $33 billion will be allocated this decade, 2021-30; about $70 billion -the next decade, 2031-40; and $12 billion - in 2041-50. Gabriel Lima, Equatorial Guineas Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons and also president of the GECF, considers the report a progressive indication for the sector. The uncertainties have never been so large, and the challenges so profound, he expressed, referring especially to Africa. What is nevertheless clearer, and more crucial, is the energy trilemma: how to ensure a secure, affordable, and sustainable energy system over the short- to long-term? Nigeria, Mozambique, and the Republic of Congo launched floating terminals (FLNG) over the past three months to tap into the rising demand as European countries race to secure natural gas from Africa. While Congo deployed two FLNG vessels with a combined production capacity of 3 million tons per year, Nigeria and Mozambique vessels have a capacity of 1.2 million and 3.4 million tons per year, respectively. 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 Chinese balloon was observed by the U.S. Air Force Central Command in the fall of 2022 but was not closely inspected because it did not appear to pose a threat, according to the top general for the region that includes the Middle East and Afghanistan. Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT), said that forces had observed a high-altitude, stratospheric balloon transiting the region late last year, but that the balloon stayed primarily over the water and didnt prompt a closer inspection. Was it a weather balloon? Was it some sort of a surveillance balloon? We never got up close to it because it was never a threat. We never had to go inspect it and get a visual identification of it, Grynkewich told reporters in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Center for a New American Security. His remarks come as the Biden administration has uncovered a worldwide Chinese-surveillance balloon program, sparking concern that the hovering aircraft have observed critical military infrastructure and picked up sensitive communications while deployed. The U.S. shot down at least one high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon earlier this month and downed three other unidentified flying objects in Alaska, Michigan and Canada over the past few days. Grynkewich, who identified the balloon as Chinese in the sighting last year, said that AFCENT had not observed these types of balloons hovering over American bases or posing a threat to our forces whatsoever. The Biden administration has condemned the discovery of the Chinese surveillance balloon, first revealed on Feb. 3, as a brazen violation of U.S. sovereignty and abruptly called off a trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing. The administrations discovery of the Chinese balloon has prompted a closer look at unidentified flying objects previously observed, with at least four balloons observed transiting U.S. territory three during the previous Trump administration and one discovered months ago during the Biden administration, officials have said. Story continues The Chinese have taken responsibility for the balloon revealed over the U.S. in early February, saying they regretted the incursion into American airspace, but condemned the U.S. response as an overreaction to what they described as a weather balloon, rejecting accusations of espionage. We have made it clear several times that the unintended entry of Chinas civilian unmanned airship into the US airspace is an entirely unexpected, isolated event caused by force majeure. The US downing of the airship is an abuse of the use of force and overreaction. We are firmly opposed to it, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Alex Murdaughs high-profile double murder trial has been disrupted yet again as two jurors were released after testing positive for Covid-19. Judge Clifton Newman made the bombshell announcement on Monday morning in what marks the latest drama for the high-profile case. One of the two jurors is asymptomatic while the other has a cough and sore throat, he said. Following the revelation, the defence raised concerns that others could be infected but may not be testing positive yet something which could threaten to derail the trial altogether if more jurors test positive in the coming days. Defence attorney Dick Harpootlian asked Judge Newman for a delay to the trial, saying that while it would be costly to the defence it could prevent a bigger problem down the line. Prosecutor Creighton Waters agreed with the defence in asking for a delay for a few days, saying that neither side wants to see a mistrial declared because they are suddenly left without 12 jurors. This could well be a real possibility as now only three out of the original six juror alternates remain. Despite the concerns raised, Judge Newman declined to postpone the trial. Instead, he recommended that jurors and others in court wear masks going forwards and said that the remaining jurors will be tested again on Wednesday. Jurors 441 and 326 were then selected from the alternates and seated to replace the two jurors who tested positive. This latest saga comes after a bomb threat, controversial GoFundMe account and the Murdaugh familys bad behaviour sparked issues in the trial last week. Last week, Mr Murdaughs family members have been warned that they will be thrown out of his murder trial after his surviving son Buster appeared to flip the bird at a witness. Judge Newman has reportedly issued multiple warnings to several members of the disgraced attorneys family about their behaviour in court, where they have put on a united front since the start of his trial. Story continues The family members have already been moved to the back of the courtroom and are now only one wrong move away from being booted out altogether. Maggie and Mr Murdaughs surviving son Buster was caught appearing to make a rude gesture to Mark Tinsley as he took the witness stand on Thursday about a lawsuit he brought against the accused killer. Footage from the courtroom shows Buster apparently flipping the bird as he stared down the witness. Sources also told FITS News that when Buster was asked to move to the back of the courtroom, he allegedly kicked over a water bottle in anger. Alex Murdaugh and his defense attorney Jim Griffin listen to testimony during Murdaughs double murder trial (AP) Among some of the other bad behaviour from the powerful family which has reigned over the Hampton County justice system for the last century, Mr Murdaughs sister Lynn allegedly passed the disgraced attorney an undisclosed item. When she was told to stop, Lynn like Buster allegedly didnt take it well, becoming demonstrative with court staff. It also prompted the court to order a drug test for Mr Murdaugh, who has previously revealed he has been addicted to opioids for the last two decades. The results of that drugs test remain unclear. The refusal of some of the Murdaugh family members to abide by court rules in the high-profile trial is perhaps most intriguing given that the Murdaughs are notoriously familiar with the court system coming from a long line of local prosecutors. But, while some of the family members have sparked the ire of the judge, sources said that Mr Murdaughs brothers Randy and John Marvin Murdaugh had been nothing but compliant with the court and told court officials they were happy to sit anywhere in the room. Since the start of Mr Murdaughs trial, the family has put on a show of support, sitting in the row directly behind the man accused of killing two of their their loved ones. However, notably, in the hours where testimony was heard in the absence of the jury, the Murdaughs were nowhere to be seen. They would then enter the courtroom before the jury was seated. The ruckus around the Murdaugh familys courtroom antics is just the latest in a growing list of sagas disrupting the high-profile trial in a week that has included a bomb threat and controversy around the GoFundMe launch for a witness who delivered damning testimony against Mr Murdaugh. In another dramatic moment in court on Thursday, the defence moved to strike the testimony of attorney Mr Tinsley after it emerged he had donated $1,000 to a GoFundMe set up for Mr Murdaughs mothers caregiver for her bravery in testifying at his murder trial. Mushell Shelly Smith gave emotional testimony on Monday, where she cast doubts on part of Mr Murdaughs alibi on the night of the murders revealing he lied about how long he had spent at his sick mothers house. Breaking down in tears at points, she described how a fidgety Mr Murdaugh showed up at the house for a brief 20-minute visit on 7 June 2021 but later asked her to tell authorities he had been there double the length of time. In the aftermath of the killings, he then offered to help Ms Smith both financially and with her other job and brought a mystery blue item to leave at his parents home, she told jurors. On Wednesday, Ms Smiths daughter Rachelle Buckner launched a GoFundMe campaign to reward her for her bravery and her honesty as it was one of the hardest things she had to do. As of Friday morning, the GoFundMe had raised more than $24,000 for Ms Smith with Mr Tinsley making a $1,000 donation. Mr Tinsley filed a lawsuit against the Murdaughs on behalf of the family of Mallory Beach, the 19-year-old killed in a boat crash where Paul was allegedly drunk behind the wheel in 2019. He testified how the lawsuit was putting Mr Murdaughs finances under increased scrutiny at the time of the murders. Separate from the murder trial, Mr Murdaugh is now facing around 100 charges from multiple indictments for stealing almost $8.5m from clients dating back to 2011. Police block off roads near the courthouse due to a bomb threat during Alex Murdaughs double murder trial (AP) The attorney, who has since been disbarred, represented the clients in wrongful death lawsuits before allegedly pocketing the settlement money for himself. On 3 September 2021 three months on from the double murders on 7 June he was confronted by PMPED partners about the stolen money and forced to resign. He was slapped with a string of charges soon after. Defence attorney Phil Barber asked to strike Mr Tinsleys testimony due to the fact that he made a financial payment to a witness in the middle of a trial ... as a reward for her honesty. Judge Clifton Newman denied the motion. The controversy around the GoFundMe came after another dramatic day in the double-murder trial on Wednesday when the courthouse was suddenly evacuated due to a bomb threat. The bomb threat came in to staff at Colleton County Courthouse just before 12.30pm ET, prompting a sudden evacuation of the entire building. Multiple sources told FITS News that the threat was called in from Ridgeland, South Carolina, and came from a prison inmate. By 2.30pm the threat was marked all-clear and testimony resumed at around 3.10pm. Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case around mid-week paving the way for Mr Murdaughs defence. Mr Murdaugh, 54, is facing life in prison for the murders of his wife and son. He has pleaded not guilty. The murders of Maggie and Paul who were shot dead on the familys sprawling 1,700-acre estate in Islandton back on 7 June 2021 catapulted the Murdaugh name to notoriety across the US, bringing to light a series of scandals ncluding unexplained deaths, a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme and a botched hitman plot. At the time of the murders, Paul was awaiting trial over the death of Mallory Beach a 19-year-old woman who died in a 2019 crash in the Murdaugh family boat. Paul was allegedly drunk driving the boat at the time and crashed it, throwing Beach overboard. Her body washed ashore a week later. Paul was charged with multiple felonies over the boat wreck and was facing 25 years in prison at the time of his murder. The Beach family sued Mr Murdaugh and a lawsuit hearing was scheduled for the week of the murders. It was postponed following Maggie and Pauls murders. Days on from the shootings, an investigtion was then reopened into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, who was found dead in the middle of the road in Hampton County. The openly gay teenager, 19, had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and his death was officially ruled a hit-and-run. But the victims family have long doubted this version of events, with the Murdaugh name cropping up in several police tips and community rumours. In September 2021 three months on from the murders Mr Murdaugh was shot in the head in what turned out to be a botched hitman plot which he had orchestrated with alleged accomplice, distant cousin and drug dealer Curtis Eddie Smith. He checked into rehab for a 20-year opioid addiction days later. It then emerged that he had been ousted from his law firm PMPED for stealing millions of dollars from law firm clients. Separate to the murder trial, Mr Murdaugh is charged with a slew of around 100 charges from multiple indictments for embezzling almost $8.5m from clients in fraud schemes dating back around a decade to 2011. The attorney, who has since been disbarred, represented the clients in wrongful death lawsuits before allegedly pocketing the settlement money for himself. An investigation was also reopened into another mystery death connected to the Murdaugh family that of the Murdaughs longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died in 2018 in a mystery trip and fall accident at the family home. Mr Murdaugh then allegedly stole around $4m in a wrongful death settlement from her sons. (Bloomberg) -- US labor board prosecutors have concluded that Amazon.com Inc. illegally used subpoenas to coerce staff and try to interfere with labor activism at a New York warehouse. Most Read from Bloomberg A regional director of the National Labor Relations Board has determined that, in doing so, the e-commerce giant violated employees rights, agency spokesperson Kayla Blado said. Absent a settlement, the director will issue a complaint on behalf of the labor boards general counsel, Blado said in an email. The dispute stems from Amazons ongoing effort to overturn the Amazon Labor Unions historic election victory last spring at an 8,000-employee facility on Staten Island. ALU attorney Seth Goldstein says Amazon sought in that case to obtain extensive records including text messages among employees, which had a chilling effect on workers willingness to be involved with the organization. They violated their rights by requesting protected information, Goldstein said Monday. They asked for everything in their fishing expedition to overturn the election. Amazon denied wrongdoing. Requesting information through subpoenas is standard practice and necessary to support our objections in this case, spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis said in an emailed statement. There was no unlawful activity and we look forward to showing that as this process continues. The company is currently appealing a ruling from another NLRB regional director who rejected its objections to the Staten Island election - a conflict which could stretch on for years and end up in federal court. Complaints issued by NLRB regional directors are considered by agency judges, whose rulings can be appealed to labor board members in Washington, and from there to federal court. The agency has authority to order companies to change policies, but not to make them pay any punitive damages for violations of the law. Story continues (Updates with Amazon comment in fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. According to our friends at the U.S. Census Bureau, 91,275 individual housing units were providing shelter for homeowners and tenants in Dona Ana County on July 1, 2020. Housing units include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, mobile homes, apartments, or a group of rooms or a single room that is used as separate living quarters. Just over 37 percent of those units, or just over 32,000, were occupied by renters. Census also noted that 11.4 percent of those rental units were occupied by persons deemed to be under 65-years of age and disabled. By my fuzzy math, thats roughly 3,648 renters in Dona Ana County whose housing situations fell under the protection of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the New Mexico Human Rights Act. Even more residents are covered by the acts if you count people over the age of 65. If you are a landlord, you are also governed by the acts when it comes to accommodating our disabled friends, family and neighbors. How so? The answer is abundantly clear. Gary Sandler The laws require landlords, condominium associations and other housing providers to make reasonable accommodations for the disabled, including reasonable accommodations for service animals. Whats a reasonable accommodation? According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): A reasonable accommodation is a change, exception or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice or service that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including public and common space. Okay, thats clear enough. The next question is what constitutes a service animal? Under federal law, only dogs are recognized as service animals under titles II and III of the ADA, with the single possible exception of miniature horses. The Fair Housing Amendment describes it as being any animal that assists someone who is disabled. Story continues Service dogs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and provide numerous and diverse types of assistance for people with virtually any type of disability. Service dog is actually the generic term for dogs that help physically or mentally disabled persons. The animals are trained to provide specific types of assistance and are categorized by the type of assistance they provide. Here are just a few of their categories and job descriptions. Mobility Assist Dogs pull a persons wheelchair, carry items in a backpack, retrieve dropped items, open and close doors, and help his or her handler dress and undress. Hearing dogs, on the other hand, are specially trained to assist deaf people; alerting their owners to such noises as doorbells, phones, crying babies, and even teakettle whistles. Seizure Alert/Response Dogs are trained to respond to a persons seizures and either stay with the person or go for help. Some are even trained to push a button that dials 911, then bark when the operator answers the call. A Psychiatric Service Dog helps people with mental disabilities, such as agoraphobia (not being able to go outside alone) and can help their handlers stay focused. There are also dogs that have been trained to assist people suffering from autism. Some dogs are cross-trained to assist people with multiple disabilities, such as a guide dog that also assists with mobility. Read more Real Estate Connection: While landlords and housing providers are bound by law to make accommodations for service animals, they are strictly prohibited from inquiring into the nature of a persons disability. Landlords are not allowed to question applicants about a disability or illness, or ask to see medical records. Even if it is obvious that a tenant is disabled - for example, using a wheelchair or wearing a hearing aid - it is nevertheless illegal to inquire how severely the person is disabled. In fact, the only two questions landlords may ask are 1) Is that a service animal and 2) what type of service does the animal provide? What if a landlord already knows about the disability and the need is readily apparent or known? In that case, the landlord is prohibited from inquiring further into the nature of the disability. For example, if it is obvious that a person is blind and that person asks permission to keep a seeing-eye dog on the premises, the permission must be given without further inquiry. The same holds true for disabled persons who request that a parking space be enlarged to accommodate a wheel chair. Emotional support animals are in another category altogether and do not fall under ADA regulations. However, landlords are allowed to require a doctors note attesting to the fact that the animal is needed for emotional support. If a tenant provides a legitimate note from the doctor, the landlord must allow the emotional support animal. Well, there you have it. If youre a landlord, and one of your tenants or prospective tenants asks to bring a service or emotional support animal onto your premises, you may want to think twice before you ask illegal questions or just say no. The consequences for noncompliance can be steep Federal law allows fines of up to $75,000 for the first violation and $150,000 for additional ADA violations. States and local governments may allow additional fines. See you at closing. Gary Sandler is a full-time Realtor and president of Gary Sandler Inc., Realtors in Las Cruces. He loves to answer questions and can be reached at (575)642-2292 or Gary@GarySandler.com. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Dona Ana county landlords must make exceptions for service animals SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Slashed prices have given Tesla's China sales a pop, but analysts, and even fans, warn the U.S. automaker needs to up its long-term game to avoid choking on the dust of fast-moving rivals in the world's biggest electric vehicle market. Most immediately, Tesla's January price cuts drove deliveries of its China-made vehicles up 18% from December. Tesla's thick profit margins have put it in a position to take a price war to competitors in China and beyond, analysts say. But they say Tesla has lagged competitors in China in introducing new models, improving navigation systems and adding luxe interior touches or white-glove customer service to serve the developing range of consumer preferences for EVs. "Tesla's facing a serious problem of a very limited product mix," said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). "Its slowness to respond to Chinese consumers' preferences has led to a very passive positioning for Tesla to rely on few means such as price cuts to stay competitive." Even Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk himself has conceded that China is where his firm could face its toughest competition. Tesla did not respond to Reuters' request for comment on its China business. Grace Tao, Tesla's vice president in charge of external communications in China, said previously the price cuts in China reflected engineering innovation and answered Beijing's call to encourage economic development and consumption. China's Association of Automobile Manufacturers expects sales of EVs and plug-in hybrids to surge by 35% in 2023 to 9 million vehicles - nearly a third of China's total new vehicle sales. While Tesla has increased sales in China, its second-largest market, it has also lost share. From 15% in 2020, its share of the China EV market fell by a third to just 10% in 2022, according to data from the CPCA. Tesla offers two models in China, the Model 3 sedan and the Model Y crossover. That keep-it-simple approach has driven scale and driven down costs. Story continues After the latest price cuts, the Model 3 starts at about $34,000 and the Model Y at $38,000. But Chinese car shoppers, back out in showrooms this year after the end of China's tough COVID-19 curbs, are being courted by competitors offering a broad range of alternatives. BYD, which overtook Tesla by global sales volume last year and has a market value well over $100 billion, offers more than 60 different versions of EV and plug-in hybrid cars. Much smaller but ambitious peer Nio has gone from two models to six over the same period and plans to launch five more this year. "The aging product line is a real problem for Tesla," said Yale Zhang, managing director at Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight. "Once BYD and other EV startups follow to lower prices, the effect of Tesla's price cuts could vanish in the blink of an eye." NO U-TURN AT TIANANMEN Tesla's self-driving software and navigation systems, touted by CEO Musk as competitive strengths, have also come under criticism from customers about slow updates and errors on Chinese roads. Luxury EV buyers who employ drivers are less interested in paying more for the software. Chang Yan, a 34-year-old Chinese auto blogger, who was among Model 3 buyers in China in 2018, said his car still asks him to make U-turns on strictly guarded Chang'an Avenue near Tiananmen Square, where such moves are banned. "This is a sharp contrast with Nio, (EV brands) Xpeng and Li Auto, whose navigation aids have been working almost perfectly," said Chang, who also drives a Nio sedan. Tesla has been considering a shift in its marketing in China, focusing more on energy efficiency, practical features and less on cutting-edge functionality, a person with knowledge of the matter said. It has also been studying how its Chinese rivals, led by BYD, win over customers in showrooms, especially in smaller cities, the person said, declining to be identified citing lack of authorisation to speak to media. One takeaway: BYD ensures that bottles of drinking water offered to showroom visitors are warm in winter in a nod to local preferences. Tesla, which early this year promoted its China Chief Tom Zhu to head global sales and production, is also giving its China sales team a more direct line to product development engineers to provide local feedback, the person with knowledge of the matter said. LESS IS MORE? To be sure, the Tesla design aesthetic, with sparse interiors and synthetic leather, still appeals to many. Cui Yang, a 31-year-old doctor shopping for a Tesla in Beijing after the recent price cut, said he was won over by "the minimalist interior style and tech feeling". On the flipside, Chinese brands like Nio and Zeekr tout their butter-smooth Napa leather and traditional luxury features like seats with massage functions aimed as much at the passenger experience as the driver's. Some EV makers see that premium segment of the market growing fast in coming years. Li Auto is targeting EV buyers looking for cars that can transport families, who expect to pay above Tesla's current pricing, starting at about $44,000, a sales category it expects will represent 10 million vehicles in market-wide sales by 2025. Then there is a 'buy local' challenge for Tesla. Chinese consumers like 50-year-old Lin Wenwei, who want to support a Chinese brand - even though Tesla makes the EVs it sells in China. "I have always been more inclined to buy a domestic EV brand for the national industry," said Lin while he was trying out a Seal sedan for his son in a BYD dealership store in suburban Shanghai - after getting a BYD Dolphin hatchback for himself. ($1 = 6.7973 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) -His private army is pushing hard to give Russia a battlefield win in Ukraine, but mounting evidence suggests the Kremlin has moved to curb what it sees as the excessive political clout of Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary group. Prigozhin, a 61-year-old ex-convict, has grabbed headlines in recent months over his bloody role in Ukraine and is sometimes portrayed in the West as a real-life James Bond villain. Shaven-headed and fond of coarse language, he has made a splash in Russian-language media too where he has revelled in being sanctioned by the West, publicly insulted Russia's top military brass, tried to parlay battlefield success into Kremlin favour, and detailed his recruitment of tens of thousands of convicts for his private army. His profile became so prominent that allies and analysts began speculating he was angling for an official job or career in politics. There is growing evidence now though that the Kremlin has moved to nip such speculation in the bud, ordering Prigozhin to halt his public criticism of the defence ministry while advising state media to stop mentioning him or Wagner by name. Prigozhin confirmed last week he had also been stripped of the right to recruit convicts from prisons - a key pillar of his nascent political influence and one which has helped his forces make small but steady gains in eastern Ukraine where they appear to be inching closer to capturing the city of Bakhmut. Olga Romanova, director of a prisoner rights group, said the Ministry of Defence had taken over convict recruitment earlier this year. The ministry has not confirmed that. "The position of the (Kremlin) political bloc is not to let him into politics. They are a little afraid of him and find him an inconvenient person," Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser who remains close to the authorities, told Reuters. POLITICAL PLAYER? Tatiana Stanovaya, a veteran Kremlin scholar, wrote in a paper for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace that, while Prigozhin's downfall did not appear imminent, his ties with the presidential administration were starting to crack. Story continues "The domestic policy overseers don't like his political demagogy, his attacks on official institutions, or his attempts to troll Putin's staff by threatening to form a political party, which would be a headache for everyone in the Kremlin," she wrote. "He hasn't just become a public figure; he is visibly transforming into a full-fledged politician with his own views." According to Markov, the Kremlin has got a promise from Prigozhin that he would not create his own political movement or join a parliamentary party unless asked to do so by the Kremlin. "(The message) is we will give you military resources, but do not get involved in politics for now," said Markov. Prigozhin told a Russian interviewer on Friday that he had "zero" political ambitions. Markov, who described Prigozhin as extremely confrontational, said he believed Putin had told Prigozhin to halt public criticism of the top brass at a St Petersburg meeting around Jan. 14. Markov said he did not know full details of who said what at the meeting and Reuters was not able to confirm the accuracy of his assertion. Prigozhin has since moderated his criticism and made a point on Friday in a rare interview of looking into the camera to say he wasn't criticising anyone. The St Petersburg meeting, which did not appear on the Kremlin website, was confirmed by at least one other attendee who posted about it on social media. The Kremlin says it does not comment on private meetings. The Kremlin did not immediately reply to a request for comment about whether and why it had reined in Prigozhin, but on Saturday, Grey Zone, an influential social media channel associated with Wagner, published what looked like a leaked guidance document for state media from the Kremlin. It advised recipients to stop mentioning Prigozhin or Wagner and suggested generic phrases to describe his forces instead. Reuters could not verify the document and state media are not allowed to share such guidance notes. 'HIS STAR HAS DIMMED' Prigozhin, in comments on Monday, said it looked like Russian media mentions of Wagner had fallen recently, something he blamed on unnamed "losers" trying to damage his group. Markov, who has written about Prigozhin a lot in a mostly positive light, said he was among those to have been requested not to promote the mercenary leader. "They underlined that 'we don't ban you but it's better not to do it'," he said. Dmitri Alperovitch, the Russian-born chairman of U.S. think-tank Silverado Policy Accelerator, said he felt Prigozhin's room for manoeuvre was shrinking. "Prigozhin's star has dimmed. He had overreached in his criticism of the military and other elites," Alperovitch wrote on Twitter. "Now his wings are getting clipped." After years of denials, Prigozhin stepped out of the shadows in September to admit he had founded Wagner in 2014. By then, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, something Moscow calls a special military operation, had gone badly wrong for the top brass, with a chaotic retreat from Kyiv followed by a rout in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, and an impending forced retreat from the southern city of Kherson. The wealthy catering tycoon quickly put himself at the heart of a frenzied public relations campaign and, through social media, state TV and feature films, promoted his private army as an elite fighting force who could work military alchemy. He cast himself as a ruthlessly efficient patriotic operator and Russia's top brass as incompetent and out-of-touch. Prigozhin, whose mercenaries are active in Africa and the Middle East, suggested last week that he and his men could one day disappear as fast as they appeared, something his many enemies may doubt. "When we are no longer needed, we will pack up and go back to Africa," he said. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alex Richardson) By John O'Donnell and Simon Jessop BERLIN/LONDON (Reuters) -A Russian scheme to grant loan payment holidays to troops fighting in Ukraine, and for banks to write off the entire debt if they are killed or maimed, has added to growing pressure for the remaining overseas lenders in Russia to leave. Almost a year since Moscow launched what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine, a handful of European banks, including Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International and Italy's UniCredit, are still making money in Russia. The loan relief scheme has not only triggered criticism from Ukraine's central bank, which said it had appealed to Raiffeisen and other banks to stop doing business in Russia, but also from investors concerned about any reputational impact. Raiffeisen and UniCredit are both deeply embedded in the Russian financial system and are the only foreign banks on the central bank's list of 13 "systemically important credit institutions", underscoring their importance to Russia's economy, which is grappling with sweeping Western sanctions. Their role in supporting the Russian economy at a critical time for President Vladimir Putin has prompted some investors to go public with their misgivings. "Companies should be very careful," said Kiran Aziz, of Norwegian pension fund KLP, cautioning of a major risk that the banks could be used to "in other ways finance the war". KLP funds hold shares in both Raiffeisen and UniCredit. At the time the payment holiday law was going through parliament in September, Vyacheslav Volodin, the influential speaker of the lower house, made clear its importance to Russia. "Soldiers and officers ensure the security of our country and we must be sure that they will be taken care of," he said. Eric Christian Pederson of Nordea Asset Management, which has more than 300 billion euros ($320 billion) under management, said he too was concerned about Raiffeisen and UniCredit's Russian presence and had raised this with them. Story continues The requirement that the banks grant payment holidays to soldiers "illustrates the dangers of operating in jurisdictions where companies can be forced into actions that go directly against their corporate values," he added. "We feel that it is right for companies to withdraw from Russia, given its unprovoked attack on Ukraine," said Pederson. Refinitiv data shows Nordea owns shares in UniCredit. Banks restructured a total of 167,600 loans for military personnel or their family members, worth more than 800 million euros, between Sept. 21 and the end of last year, Russian central bank data shows. Raiffeisen said that only 0.2% of its Russian loans are affected by the "government-imposed loan moratorium", a sum it described as "negligible". The bank has a total of almost 9 billion euros of loans in Russia, where it has been for more than 25 years, including to companies. It made a net profit of roughly 3.8 billion euros last year, thanks in large part to a 2 billion euro plus profit from its Russia business. UniCredit, which entered the Russian market almost 20 years ago when it acquired an Austrian bank, said that the rule was "mandatory under the federal law for all banks", declining to say how many of its loans had been forgiven. The Italian bank added that its business in Russia was focused on companies rather than individuals. Of UniCredit's more than 20 billion euro total revenue last year, Russia accounted for more than 1 billion euros. But despite an initial sharp fall, UniCredit's shares are now significantly higher than before Russia moved its troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year, while Raiffeisen's, with a more limited free float, have not recovered. "Any profiteering on the ongoing war is not acceptable or aligned with our view of responsible investments," said a spokesperson for Swedbank Robur, one of Scandinavia's top investors, adding that reputational risk was a worry. Swedbank Robur said it has stakes in both banks, but did not disclose figures. Larger institutional investors, including France's Amundi and Norway's sovereign wealth fund, which advocates responsible investing, declined to comment when asked for their views. WINDOW CLOSING? Some foreign banks have made relatively quick exits. France's Societe Generale severed its Russia ties in May by selling Rosbank to businessman Vladimir Potanin's Interros Group. But the continued presence of two of Europe's biggest banks is attracting the attention of regulators at the European Central Bank (ECB), one person familiar with the matter said. Andrea Enria, the ECB's chief supervisor, said the window to quit was "closing a bit" because Russian authorities were taking a more "hostile" approach. But he also voiced support for any bank wanting to reduce their business there or leave. Raiffeisen and UniCredit confirmed they were in discussions about Russia with the ECB. UniCredit said it kept the ECB "fully and regularly up to date on our strategy of orderly de-risking our exposure to Russia". But with money still to be made, Raiffeisen saw profit from its business in Russia more than triple last year. Meanwhile, Russian savers lodged more than 20 billion euros with the bank, which offers a place to deposit funds with fewer sanctions risks. This means there is no great impetus for banks to leave Russia, despite regulatory pressure. And in Austria, which has close historical and economic ties to eastern Europe and Russia, politicians are largely silent on Raiffeisen's continuing Russian presence, which in recent months prompted protests outside its headquarters. Johann Strobl, Raiffeisen's CEO, has said he is examining options for the Russian business, although points out that any move is complicated, having earlier said that the bank is not "a sausage stand" that could be closed overnight. For some the question is more about morality than money. Heinrich Schaller, head of RBI's third largest shareholder Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberoesterreich and deputy chairman of Raiffeisen, is among those to have aired doubts about staying. "Of course it is a question of morals," he said recently. "No doubt about it." Whatever shareholders may say, a decree by Putin is likely to make getting out of Russia difficult. It banned investors from so-called unfriendly countries from selling shares in banks, unless the Russian President grants an exemption. ($1 = 0.9376 euros) (Additional reporting by Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich in Vienna and Tom Sims in Frankfurt; Writing by John O'Donnell; Editing by Alexander Smith) As potential jurors waited upstairs from the courtroom Monday, accused killer Austin Sharrod Mason had a decision to make. Prosecutors were offering him a deal: 20 years in prison in exchange for his guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter in the Nov. 7, 2019, killing of a Macon woman and the serious wounding of her 2-year-old daughter. Mason, 24, could accept the terms or take his chances at trial. But if convicted of murder and other serious charges he could be sent away for life plus 45 years. Dressed in all black, Mason, who stands 5-10 and looks lankier than the 150 pounds he is listed as on his jail booking sheet, decided to roll the dice, to go to trial. Then after apparently thinking it over during the lunch-hour recess, Mason changed his mind. The case against him, though strong, had its shortcomings for prosecutors. Some potential electronic evidence put Mason in the area of the killing of Shakema A. Dickson and the wounding of her daughter at their house on Pio Nono Circle. Bibb County sheriffs investigators also found a gun, an alleged murder weapon linked to Dicksons death, hidden in an air duct at a house where Mason lived some 3 miles away. But a key witness in the shooting, a man prosecutors say had been the Masons intended target, was apparently going to testify or provide a statement that said Mason was not the gunman. Dickson was shot nine times as she and her daughter, also hit by nine bullets, returned to their house just east of Pio Nono Avenue and not far south of Newberg Avenue. Prosecutors said Mason had sneaked into the house and was lying in wait for a man who was with the mother and daughter that day. That man was still outside when the shooting began. Prosecutors said that man returned fire with an assault rifle but that Mason got away. Mason was arrested a couple of months later. In Bibb Superior Court on Monday, as Judge David L. Mincey III looked on, Dicksons mother approached the bench to offer a victims impact statement. Story continues As the mother, Dikema Waller, her face blank, slowly made her way to the front of the courtroom, the shackled Mason stepped aside. Sensing Wallers sadness at the loss of her only daughter, the judge said, I cant make it better. I wish I could. Waller then turned to Mason. She said she wanted to look him in the eyes as she spoke her piece. As it happened, Waller said, she and her daughter were kin to Mason, cousins. I forgive you ... but I dont think that you should ever, ever, ever, ever, ever see daylight again, Waller said. You took a life and shot my child. ... Im angry, Im mad, but I am a child of God and so are you. Just pick your Bible up. While Waller said she didnt think the 20-year prison term was enough punishment, in the end she apparently understood the hurdles prosecutors faced and the reason for the plea offer. Most of all, she told the court, referring to her slain daughter and surviving granddaughter, I would like an apology for me and the girls. Several minutes later, the judge, just before sentencing Mason to the 20 years behind bars, asked Mason if he had anything to say. No, sir, said Mason, who did not apologize. There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. Having said that, unprofitable companies are risky because they could potentially burn through all their cash and become distressed. So should Aptamer Group (LON:APTA) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. View our latest analysis for Aptamer Group When Might Aptamer Group Run Out Of Money? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at June 2022, Aptamer Group had cash of UK6.7m and such minimal debt that we can ignore it for the purposes of this analysis. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through UK2.8m. That means it had a cash runway of about 2.4 years as of June 2022. Arguably, that's a prudent and sensible length of runway to have. Importantly, if we extrapolate recent cash burn trends, the cash runway would be noticeably longer. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. How Well Is Aptamer Group Growing? Aptamer Group actually ramped up its cash burn by a whopping 94% in the last year, which shows it is boosting investment in the business. Of course, the truly verdant revenue growth of 215% in that time may well justify the growth spend. On balance, we'd say the company is improving over time. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company. How Hard Would It Be For Aptamer Group To Raise More Cash For Growth? While Aptamer Group seems to be in a fairly good position, it's still worth considering how easily it could raise more cash, even just to fuel faster growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations. Aptamer Group's cash burn of UK2.8m is about 9.7% of its UK29m market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. So, Should We Worry About Aptamer Group's Cash Burn? Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Aptamer Group's revenue growth was relatively promising. Considering all the factors discussed in this article, we're not overly concerned about the company's cash burn, although we do think shareholders should keep an eye on how it develops. On another note, we conducted an in-depth investigation of the company, and identified 4 warning signs for Aptamer Group (2 are potentially serious!) that you should be aware of before investing here. If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentina's center-left President Alberto Fernandez will elevate the country's current spy chief to lead the Cabinet, an important reshuffle as the embattled Peronist government looks to win back voters ahead of an October general election. Fernandez on Wednesday will swear in Agustin Rossi, a former defense minister who now heads the country's intelligence agency, the presidency said in a statement on Monday, replacing current Cabinet chief Juan Manzur. Manzur has said he would return to the northern province of Tucuman, where he is from, to lead the campaign for the ruling coalition's governor candidate in upcoming local elections. The Peronists, Argentina's foremost political power, are reeling in opinion polls with inflation running at nearly 100% and fears over increasing debt, with infighting between factions over who should even be its main presidential candidate. The Peronists were badly beaten in 2021 congressional elections, which showed the conservative opposition well ahead. The main opposition party, however, also has yet to unite behind a single candidate, leaving many questions open about the race. "Rossi is a recognized activist and political leader," the government said in a statement, adding he had previously served in the governments of Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Fernandez Kirchner, the current powerful vice president. Manzur will lead the campaign for the Tucuman governor race for Osvaldo Jaldo in what is expected to be a key regional election for the ruling center-left Peronist coalition. President Fernandez could seek re-election in October though he is facing splits with his coalition. (Reporting by Nicolas Misculin and Kylie Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland, Caitlin Webber and Will Dunham) TikTok An Arkansas cop accused last summer of viciously beating a handcuffed manthe shocking scene caught on video by a horrified bystanderwiped his department-issued phone to destroy evidence that further implicated him, an FBI search warrant affidavit obtained by The Daily Beast alleges. Then-Crawford County Sheriffs Deputy Levi Garrett White performed a factory reset that erased all data on his department-issued iPhone 11 Pro Max after he brutally assaulted a shackled Randal Ray Worcester, states the affidavit. White deleted a series of incriminating text messages roughly 90 minutes before department brass arrived to pick it up two weeks after the incident, it claims. The feds say White, 32, was worried the bystanders video, which showed him punching Worcester in the head and slamming his skull into the pavement, would ruin his life and cost him his job. On the evening of the incident, White allegedly texted a former colleague from his personal phone, Ill fight back with someone trying to do that stupid shit every time. I dont care. Levi White, after joining the Crawford County Sheriffs Office in February 2021. Crawford County Sheriffs Office The ugly scene took place on Aug. 21, 2022, outside a Mulberry, Arkansas convenience store, after which footage of the interaction quickly went viral. In it, Worcester, a resident of Goose Creek, South Carolina, can be seen on the ground in the parking lot of the Kountry Xpress market, being punched in the head again and again. Shit, dude, the person filming can be heard saying off-camera. This is bad. A second officer, identified by authorities as Deputy Zack King, can also be seen in the footage assaulting Worcester. He and White were fired in October. A third officer, Thell Riddle of the Mulberry Police Department, was there but did not participate in Worcesters beating, according to the FBI. He was placed on paid leave, receiving a certificate of appreciation from the mayor at a Christmas party two months later. Riddle subsequently told a federal grand jury that he was appalled by Whites actions and that they violated morals and human decency, according to the affidavit, which was filed on Jan. 19. Story continues Shortly after the video of the beating became public, Worcesters stepfather, Eric Wedding, told The Daily Beast of White and King, I hope they burn. Enough is enough. The assault on Worcester It all began with a phone call. Several hours prior to the violent confrontation, a gas station attendant in a nearby town told police he had been threatened by a man with a knife, according to Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante. Worcester, 27, who witnesses said had appeared to be in mental distress, then rode away on a bicycle. King, White, and Riddle later spotted Worcester sitting on a curb outside the Kountry Xpress, where Worcester became agitated, Damante said at the time. Dashcam video from Riddles cruiser showed the trio speaking to Worcester for nearly four minutes. Worcester, who is white, then stood up quickly, and White attempted to grab him around the neck, the affidavit states. But Worcester escaped from Whites grasp and tackled him to the ground, it says. Riddle and King then jumped in, below the dashcams field of viewand prior to the bystander showing up. Crawford sheriff dept Arkansas pic.twitter.com/KZAmwzwwmV Naomi Johnson (@NaomiRHelm) August 21, 2022 Although White later wrote up an official report claiming Worcester had pinned him down and punched him multiple times during the period he wasnt visible to the dashcam or bystander video, Riddle later told grand jurors that he did not see [Worcester] throw any punches at White, according to the affidavit. Worcester, who surrendered a folding utility knife to White before the assault, seemed somewhat discombobulated, the affidavit says. Are you going to make this a conspiracy, he asked. Are you going to tell them I killed you? Im not dead, Im standing right here, Riddle responded. Randal Ray Worcester. via attorney David Powell The bystander, who is identified only as E.L. in the affidavit, told the FBI that she pulled out her phone and started recording when she saw the level or force the cops were using against Worcester. She further explained that she was frozen in shock because the police beating was so violent, according to the affidavit. Her 34-second video showed Riddle did not strike Worcester, it says. That same day, Crawford County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) Capt. Michael Dawa told White that the Arkansas State Police would be opening an investigation into the incident. On Aug. 22, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a former director of the Drug Enforcement Administration, announced that the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice was launching a second investigation. This is not what our law enforcement community represents, Hutchinson said at a press conference. Its not the proper response and they will be reviewed and appropriate action taken. Also on Aug. 22, the FBI asked CCSO officials to retrieve Whites work cell phone, according to the affidavit, which says King had already turned his over to investigators. However, when a CCSO commander called White, he didnt pick up. Two employees then went to Whites house and spoke with his mother, but they could not retrieve Whites phone, as he was not at home, the affidavit states. On Sept. 7, Crawford County attorneys contacted Whites lawyer to schedule a pickup of his phone at 11 a.m. the next day, it says. Fired Crawford County Deputy Zack King. Crawford County Sheriffs Office On Sept. 8, Dawa and another officer showed up at Whites home, where they found him waiting for them on the front porch, according to the affidavit. White went inside to get his phone, and came back out in a matter of seconds with the cell phone in his hand, it says. He said the battery was dead and that he didnt have a charger. Four days later, an FBI agent retrieved the phone from the CCSO, where Dawa and Testerman had been charging it. When the phone was taken off the charger, [I] noticed that the cell phone screen came on and appeared on the hello screen, the affidavit states. Based on my training and experience, this hello screen occurs when an Apple iPhone is first being set up or it has been factory reset. A forensic examiner was able to see that Whites phone had been reset on Sept. 8 at 9:35 a.m. CSTan hour and a half prior to the scheduled pickup by the CCSO, according to the affidavit. As a result, the FBI analyst was not able to retrieve any data from the phone, including call records, text messages, pictures, or any other information that may have been relevant to the federal investigation, it says. Incriminating texts On Sept. 28, White was terminated. In a voluntary statement during his hearing, he claimed he reset the phone to remove personal information like credit card and banking information. At the same time, the FBI obtained records for Whites personal iPhone, according to the affidavit. On Aug. 20, the day before the incident with Worcester, White hadnt sent or received any text messages and had only made two calls. But the next day, he made or received 12 calls and 51 texts, the affidavit states. On Aug. 22, he made or received 26 calls and 48 texts, the feds say. Among them were texts that indicate White and other officers recognized that White used excessive force, according to the affidavit. In one, Riddle allegedly sent White a text describing the incident as an ass whipping. He also told White, prior to White filing his official report, that the camera had been largely blocked by the hood of his cruiser. A text from Riddle to White about the ass whipping. U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas In texts and calls with a childhood friend, White said that he was worried about going to jail over the incident and losing his job. We may have gone too far, but I had just had my head hit on the ground and was concussed, he claimed in one, according to the affidavit. after we got him down and secured, maybe it went too far. After watching the video, White allegedly admitted to the friend that the footage does look bad, and that my punches look horrible, but insisted that he had only been lightly hitting him to get him to stop moving around, according to the affidavit. A third set of apparently incriminating texts came from the cell phone of a deputy in Johnson County, Arkansas, who had previously worked with White. In one screenshot that the deputy provided to the FBI, White said he had taken the fight to Worcester for trying to do that stupid shit. Mulberry PD Officer Thell Riddle. City of Mulberry Repeat offender This wasnt Whites first obstruction rodeo, the affidavit says. In 2020, the FBI claims White lied to investigators who were probing former Franklin County Sheriff Anthony Boen, who had been accused of beating a shackled detainee so badly that another deputy said his bloody face resembled a horror movie, according to the affidavit. However, White, who had taken custody of the detainee after his arrest, told the FBI that he did not recall whether [the detainee] had facial injuries like cuts, bruising, or blood when he arrived at the jail, the affidavit states. White also said he dragged [the detainee] to a holding cell because [he had] dead-weighted when he got out of Boens vehicle. Yet, White had told a completely different story after speaking with Boen, claiming the detainee had banged his own head against the wall while being taken to a jail cell. The newly-unsealed search warrant seeks a judges permission to search Whites personal cell phone for additional evidence. It also asks for authorization for investigators to press the fingers (including thumbs) of White to the Touch ID sensor of the Cellular Phone or present Whites iris or face to the devices camera in an attempt to unlock the device via Touch ID or Facial Recognition to search the contents as authorized by this warrant. On Jan. 19, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark E. Ford signed off on the request. Worcester was later hit with six charges related to the Aug. 21 incident, including battery and resisting arrest. A lawsuit he filed against White, King, and Riddle is pending in federal court. Last month, White and King were indicted on federal civil rights charges for use of excessive force. A lawyer for the pair previously told The Daily Beast that the violence had been a necessity to subdue Worcester. If convicted, White, who was unable to be reached for comment on Monday, faces up to a decade in prison. 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. An asteroid that crashed into the Earths atmosphere over the UK and France was spotted just hours before it crashed. The world was given only seven hours warning that it was being approached by the one-meter asteroid, which burnt up safely over Europe on Monday morning. But spotting it all was hailed as a triumph and one that has only happened a handful of times before. In all, the asteroids impact was only the seventh time that such an event has been predicted in advance. That is a sign of the rapid advancements in global asteroid detection capabilities, said the European Space Agency, which was just one of a range of organisations scrambled to monitor the asteroid as it hurtled towards Earth. From the beginning, those monitoring the asteroid were also able to predict that it was small at about one-meter across, and unlikely to cause any damage. Spotting the asteroid in advance also meant that scientists around the world were able to watch it as flew towards Earth and lit up in our atmosphere. A wide array of observatories were able to watch the event, according to the International Astronomical Unions Minor Planet Centre, which tracks such objects as well as helping to ensure that scientists are aware of any approaches that might be of interest. The impact was also monitored by devoted systems such as Nasas Scout and the European Space Agencys Meerkat, both of which are used to monitor imminent impacts with Earth. Of the seven asteroid impacts that were spotted and predicted in advance, two have now been found by the same person. Before he spotted the latest visitor, Krisztian Sarneczky also saw another asteroid that hit over the Arctic Ocean in March last year, and he has found hundreds of minor planets and other objects in all. The latest asteroid also fell almost on the exact 10-year anniversary of the Chelyabinsk explosion, which occurred over Russia on 15 February, 2023. It was the most powerful asteroid strike in more than 100 years, and left around 1,500 people injured as well as causing significant damage to buildings and blowing out windows. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Fifteen years after the Australian Parliaments historic apology to its Indigenous people for past wrongs, the government on Monday announced 424 million Australian dollars ($293 million) in new funding to improve the lives of Australias original inhabitants. In 2008, a newly elected center-left Labor Party government apologized to the Indigenous population for "laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. The focus of the apology was the so-called Stolen Generations 100,000 children who were taken from Indigenous mothers under assimilation policies throughout most of the 20th century. The apology was accompanied by the ambitious pledge to close the gap in life expectancies between Indigenous Australians and the wider population within a generation. Key measures of disparities between the Indigenous population and others have been tracked annually in Closing the Gap Reports to identify and reduce a range of disadvantages. The report shows gaps widening in some areas, including with increasing rates of suicide and incarceration among Indigenous people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose Labor government was elected in May after nine years in opposition, told Parliament the new funding reaffirms Closing the Gap as a top priority for my government. Indigenous people, accounting for 3.2% of Australias population in the 2021 census, are the most disadvantaged ethnic group in country. They die younger than other Australians, are less likely to be employed, achieve lower education levels and are overrepresented in prison populations. These arent gaps, theyre chasms, Albanese said of measures of Indigenous disadvantage. On top of the AU$1.2 billion ($830 million) in Indigenous spending announced in October, the new funding includes AU$150 million ($104 million) over four years to provide clean drinking water to Outback Indigenous communities. Story continues AU$22 million ($15 million) would be spent over five years on combating family violence. Indigenous women and children were 34 times more likely to experience family and domestic violence than other Australians, the government said. In three years immediately before the apology and the Close the Gap pledge, Indigenous men died 11.4 years before the average Australian man and Indigenous women died 9.6 years younger than other Australian women, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A decade later, that gap had narrowed to 8.6 years for men and 7.8 years for women, the bureaus latest data shows. Indigenous men have a life expectancy of 71 years and Indigenous women 75 years. By Praveen Menon SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia on Monday committed about $300 million to improve life outcomes of its Aboriginal people, as the country marked 15 years since a national apology for forcibly removing Indigenous children from families under old assimilation policies. The government announced A$424 million ($293 million) would go towards "Closing the Gap", which includes providing safe and reliable water for remote Indigenous communities, building of new homes, making essential food affordable and accessible, and supporting families impacted by family violence. Australia's roughly one million Indigenous citizens have inhabited the land for roughly 60,000 years but track well below national averages on most socio-economic measures and suffer disproportionately high rates of suicide, domestic violence and imprisonment. As many as one in three Indigenous children were removed from their families between 1910 and the 1970s in a bid to assimilate them into white society, an action described by former prime minister Kevin Rudd as a "great stain" on the nation's soul during a formal apology to the so-called 'Stolen Generation' in 2008. In November last year, the country was still failing to meet almost half its targets for improving the lives of Indigenous people, including the problems of adult incarceration and suicide. Speaking in parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the gap between life outcomes of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people not only persist, but some are getting bigger. "These are not gaps, they are chasms. It is clear that not enough support has been directed towards organisations to deliver for communities, Albanese said. "It will be a long time before we can say we have done enough, but we have to do this work together. Day after day, week after week," he said. Opposition leader Peter Dutton apologised for boycotting the national apology in 2008. Story continues "I've apologised for that in the past and I repeat that apology again today," Dutton told parliament in his speech. "I failed to grasp at the time the symbolic significance to the Stolen Generation of the Apology." Albanese is seeking bipartisan support for a landmark referendum this year to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution. The referendum will establish a so-called Indigenous "Voice", that can make representations to parliament on policies affecting them. There is no mention of the Indigenous community in Australia's constitution at the moment. "For all of us, I am optimistic about the success of the referendum because I am optimistic that Australians will support this embrace of truth, justice, decency and respect," Albanese told parliamentarians in the speech. Australias First Nations people were not included in the census and recognised as part of the Australian population until 1967. ($1 = 1.4468 Australian dollars) (Additional reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Michael Perry) It might be of some concern to shareholders to see the Australian Agricultural Company Limited (ASX:AAC) share price down 12% in the last month. But the silver lining is the stock is up over five years. In that time, it is up 42%, which isn't bad, but is below the market return of 50%. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. Check out our latest analysis for Australian Agricultural While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During the five years of share price growth, Australian Agricultural moved from a loss to profitability. That's generally thought to be a genuine positive, so we would expect to see an increasing share price. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). It's probably worth noting we've seen significant insider buying in the last quarter, which we consider a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Australian Agricultural's earnings, revenue and cash flow. A Different Perspective Australian Agricultural provided a TSR of 2.8% over the last twelve months. Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. If we look back over five years, the returns are even better, coming in at 7% per year for five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks, for example - Australian Agricultural has 2 warning signs (and 1 which is a bit unpleasant) we think you should know about. Story continues There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Reuters) - Australia's Aurizon Holdings on Monday reported a 34% fall in its first-half underlying profit and slashed its annual core earnings forecast, as prolonged wet weather and a derailment dented the rail-haulage firm's freight volumes. The Queensland-based firm said it lowered the underlying EBITDA forecast for fiscal 2023 by 4% to between A$1.42 billion ($981.50 million) and A$1.47 billion, owing to the persistent rainy weather and a two-week derailment on the Blackwater line. Aurizon's underlying EBITDA for fiscal 2022 was A$1.47 billion. It was "a challenging period operationally, with prolonged flooding on the East Coast together with a number of significant third-party derailments and incidents that resulted in reduced volumes and revenue," said Chief Executive Officer Andrew Harding. For the first-half of 2023, the company's underlying net profit after tax stood at A$169 million, compared with A$257 million a year ago. Aurizon also declared an interim dividend of 7.0 Australian cents per share, down 33% from the 10.5 Australian cents dividend it declared a year ago. "Overall, (the earnings were) soft with misses across all lines, which will surprise given the regulated nature of part of the business," Citi said, adding that income investors will be disappointed with the dividend. Shares of the firm fell 9.2% to A$3.35 after the earnings update. ($1 = 1.4468 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Riya Sharma in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V) Austria does not want to train Ukrainian soldiers on the Leopard 2 main battle tanks. Source: Austrian Defence Minister Claudia Tanner in a written statement to the O1 Morgenjournal news outlet, as European Pravda reports, citing Kurier Details: It is "a sovereign decision of each state to support Ukraine within the framework of its laws," the statement said. International law expert Ralph Yanik told the TV channel that the neutrality of the training is not an obstacle, as there is an EU decision on this. In addition, foreign soldiers, for example, from NATO countries, like Hungary and the Czech Republic, are undergoing training on Austrian Leopard 2 tanks, O1 reports, citing an army source. Austria has a single tank battalion with 48 Leopard 2 main battle tanks. Janik emphasised that Austrian neutrality is retreating if there is a relevant decision of the EU Council. As for military support for Ukraine, it has been in place since October. If you don't train Ukrainian soldiers, "you do it for political reasons," he said, alluding to the sensitive domestic political debate over neutrality. "We prefer to live with this remnant of neutrality instead of testing the boundaries that the law does not see so narrowly," Yanik said. The Austrian interpretation seems harsh compared to other neutral countries in Europe. For example, neutral Ireland trains Ukrainian soldiers to clear mines. In Switzerland, on the other hand, there is a fierce debate over whether to allow supplies of locally produced weapons to Ukraine. This is also about the interests of the Swiss arms industry, which is worried about its markets. Previously: Austria and Hungary agree not to supply weapons to Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Svea Herbst-Bayliss NEW YORK (Reuters) -Bath & Body Works named a veteran consumer products executive as a new director on Monday as the specialty retailer faces pressure from hedge fund Third Point LLC to cut costs and refresh its board. Lucy Brady, a senior executive at Conagra Brands, expands the board to 11 from 10 members. Previously, she worked at McDonald's Corp where she spearheaded efforts to grow the company's digital business. Before that she was a managing director and senior partner at The Boston Consulting Group. Bath & Body Works Chair Sarah Nash said Brady would bring "expertise in global digital strategy and customer loyalty and engagement." The stock closed up 0.93% at $44.73. The appointment comes weeks after Third Point, which owns a 6% stake in the company, hinted it might push for board seats. Last week, Third Point founder Daniel Loeb told his fund investors in a letter seen by Reuters that he was closely watching the company and its new chief executive. In December Third Point announced its stake in a regulatory filing and criticized the company's high costs, including generous executive pay. Third Point declined to comment on Monday. Last week Loeb called the appointment of Chief Executive Gina Boswell, a former Unilever executive, in December "an encouraging first step." But he also said hard work lay ahead and that the stock price could climb if executives get the core business back on track. Bath & Body Works, best known for selling soaps, candles and lotions, is valued at $10 billion. "The real prize, however, would be if Ms. Boswell can seize on the potential to transform the business from a largely U.S. retailer of soaps, lotions, fragrances, and candles into a more global direct-to-consumer home and personal care brand," Loeb's letter said. Third Point spent an average of $38.16 per share on the stock which is now trading at $44.48. The period for nominating directors opened on Friday. Story continues Third Point has called for board changes at other companies and settled with Walt Disney Co on a new director late last year. Third Point in 2018 ran a board challenge at Campbell Soup, leading to a settlement days before investors were scheduled to vote on who would sit on the board. Companies often try to stymie activists' plans by refreshing the board and addressing some of the criticisms investors might use to persuade others to back them. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Richard Chang) MILAN (AP) Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has blamed Ukraine's president for Russia's invasion, again putting him at odds with Premier Giorgia Meloni's support for Kyiv. Berlusconi, whose party is part of Meloni's right-wing coalition government, is a long-time friend and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said the war in Ukraine would have never happened" had Zelenskyy ceased attacking the two autonomous republics of Donbass." Berlusconi said he judged Zelenskyys behavior very, very negatively.'' He also criticized Meloni for meeting with Zelenskyy, telling reporters Sunday that he wouldnt have done the same if he were premier. The comments drew a quick rebuttal from Melonis office, which said that the governments support for Ukraine is solid and unwavering. Her office said support for Ukraine is clear in both government policy and in parliament, manifesting itself in weapons deliveries to Ukrainian forces. Meloni met with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of a summit in Brussels last week, and she plans to travel to Ukraine before the year anniversary of the war. Meloni has previously warned Berlusconi over his friendship with Putin, and has asserted a strong pro-NATO, pro-European position on Russias war in Ukraine. The last warning came after Berlusconi boasted of having re-established contact with Putin and exchanged gifts of vodka and wine on his 86th birthday in September. In his latest remarks, Berlusconi said that U.S. President Joe Biden could help bring an end to the fighting by offering Zelenskyy trillions in dollars in rebuilding funds, similar to the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II. "Only something like that will convince this gentleman to agree to a cease-fire,'' Berlusconi said. WASHINGTON Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and progressive Democrats on Monday reintroduced a bill to increase Social Security retirement benefits and shore up the programs finances solely by taxing corporations and the wealthy. Sanders has introduced identical bills in the past, including in 2022, but the newest version of the legislation comes out amid a national debate over Social Security between President Joe Biden and congressional Republicans. Seizing on proposals like Florida Sen. Rick Scotts plan to force Congress to renew all federal programs every five years and a House GOP plan to raise the programs eligibility age, Biden has accused Republicans of wanting to use debt ceiling negotiations to force cuts to the popular program. The GOP has forcefully denied that it would include Social Security in debt-ceiling talks a concession that Biden sounded prepared to accept at last weeks State of the Union address. Sanders legislation pushes the boundaries of the present debate over Social Security still further to the left by asking Republicans to respond to the prospect of both bigger benefits and heftier taxes. At a time when nearly half of older Americans have no retirement savings and almost 50 percent of our nations seniors are trying to survive on an income of less than $25,000 a year, our job is not to cut Social Security, Sanders said in a release. Our job is to expand Social Security so that every senior in America can retire with the dignity that they deserve and every person with a disability can live with the security they need. Sanders Social Security Expansion Act is unlikely to become law, but it lays down a marker for the progressive position namely that theres no need to cut future benefits in order close the gap between the programs projected spending and revenue. The bill serves as an implicit response to complaints from conservative policy experts that the programs funding gap cannot be closed entirely through tax increases on high earners. Story continues Brian Riedl, a fiscal policy scholar at the conservative Manhattan Institute, acknowledged last week that Sanders 2022 proposal, which is identical to the new one, would extend the programs solvency for a few decades. But, Riedl wrote on Twitter, That leaves few tax the rich options to close the Medicare gap that is 2-3 times larger. The math doesnt work. Unlike most other federal programs, Social Security is entirely self-funded, meaning that it cannot borrow to pay out promised benefits. As a result of the ongoing retirement of the historically large Baby Boomer generation, the program is slated to fall short of the revenue needed to pay out future benefits in the coming years. If Congress fails to make any changes to the program, Social Security will only have enough money to fund 80% of scheduled benefits beginning in 2035. That would amount to an across-the-board 20% cut in benefits. To ensure the program can pay out future benefits and then some, Sanders proposes subjecting earnings over $250,000 to the 12.4% payroll tax while not counting the new taxed earnings toward a persons benefits. As of this year, only $160,200 of wage income is subject to payroll taxes. Sanders proposes levying other taxes as well, such as subjecting investment income over $200,000 to payroll taxes. Sanders released a letter Monday from Social Securitys Office of the Chief Actuary declaring that his legislation would extend the ability of the [Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance] program to pay scheduled benefits in full and on time throughout the 75-year projection period. In addition, the new revenue Sanders bill would generate for Social Security enables him to finance a more generous benefit formula that would increase the benefits of low- and moderate-income earners by about 15%. He would also tie the size of benefits to a consumer price index designed to account for seniors higher living costs. Republicans have signaled since last year that they would demand major cuts to federal spending in exchange for supporting legislation to raise the federal governments borrowing limit this year. The Treasury Department hit the limit last month and has resorted to extraordinary measures in order to pay the governments bills. If the cap isnt lifted, the government could fail to make payments to bondholders and even beneficiaries of federal programs like Social Security. A financial crisis and recession could result. In recent weeks, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has said Social Security and Medicare should be off the table in debt ceiling negotiations, though lawmakers such as House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) had previously said they should be in the mix. In hallway interviews, Republican lawmakers last week said they dont want to touch the programs, but that Congress will eventually have to do something and that Democrats will have to support benefit cuts as part of some future bargain. Theres no question, long term, that Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt within 10 years, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) told HuffPost last week. Nobody is talking about cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits for those retired now, nearing retirement, but long term, its going to have to be reformed to make it solvent for the future. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, suggested Republicans would be open to tax increases if they were part of a bipartisan deal. What we know is that doing nothing guarantees insolvency, Johnson said. We know that any one solution is going to be unpopular with half of America. And so there probably is going to be a comprehensive solution here thats going to take a few ideas from the right and a few ideas from the left to really get us to a responsible place. Add this new affordable staple to your basket. (John Lewis & Partners) During these days of watching every penny, when we make a clothing purchase, it needs to work hard to deserve its spot in our wardrobes. Even if it's an affordable basic, it needs to be great quality so it'll stand the test of time. Of course, it also needs to look good with several things we already own and it has to be classic enough that we'll wear it for years to come. Meet your new wardrobe best friend this John Lewis Navy Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt, 14. Simple chic at its best which is what John Lewis always does so well. Why we rate it We're calling it: this is the dream basic. Made from super-soft organic cotton, this long-sleeved crew neck is a staple you'll turn to again and again over the years. It's great quality so it'll stay looking as good as new no matter how much you wash and wear it. Designed in-house, it's cut for a flattering fit rather than clinging. And the crew neck cut covers your chest and decolletage without feeling restrictive. This crew neck top is one of the best basics you'll buy all year. (John Lewis) This is a classic staple that'll look great with everything from jeans to maxi skirts. (John Lewis) Shop now It's the perfect piece for layering underneath jumpers and cardigans, but when the weather gets warmer, it's the ideal top to wear for those spring days when it's not quite warm enough to go without sleeves. Available in nine colours including classic black, navy and white, as well as spring hues of green, grey, pink and light blue, there's no shortage of colours to choose from. It also comes in sizes 8-20. It doesn't have to be just for casual wear, either. Because as chic as it looks with your jeans or athleisure, you can smarten it up for work by wearing it with a well-cut pencil skirt or wide-legged trousers. Cut to be flattering, not clingy, it's a stylish wardrobe addition. (John Lewis) You can throw this top on with pretty much anything, and it'll look good. (John Lewis) Made from the softest, organic cotton, this will look good wash after wash for years to come. (John Lewis) 14 at John Lewis Shop now It'll also look super-stylish under a leather biker jacket and teamed with a floaty maxi skirt and trainers for a coffee or movie date with friends. It's such a great basic that you'll have fun playing around with it and working it into various looks. This will become such an important essential to you, that we predict within a couple of weeks the 'price per wear' will be virtually nil. What the reviews say As it has only just dropped on the site, there are only a couple of (seriously rave) reviews at the moment. However, loads of canny customers are snapping up this brilliant buy in droves. As an indicator of how popular John Lewis Navy Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt is, while we're writing this, notifications are constantly flashing up warning us that it's selling fast. And that over 80 customers have purchased it in the last 24 hours... and counting. It's no surprise the black version has already sold out so if you like it, don't delay in snapping it up. "These are such good quality cotton tops, and very nice colours, I have them in several different colours, and they wash well, would recommend." "I bought these T-shirts for layering in the winter and they are perfect. Good quality cotton and a good fit, very pleased." Shop now: John Lewis Navy Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt | 14 from John Lewis & Partners Like that? You'll love this too There's a similar Pure Cotton Long Sleeved Crew Neck T-shirt in John Lewis that's just 12. The main difference? It comes in fewer colourways. Be aware though that the black in this style is selling fast (it has already sold out in sizes 18 and 20). But you can still nab one if you're sized 8-16. It also comes in navy and white and is available sizes 8-20. Another popular goes-with-everything basic, customers love the quality, fit and price point. 'What's not to like?!' commented one customer. We couldn't agree more. Here are some other rave reviews: "This is exactly as described, lovely cotton, good length and fit. Delighted with it." "Good value for money, washes up well and keeps its shape. A must buy for all year round wear in cool cotton." "I bought this T-shirt in black. I found the material very soft and comfortable. The sizing is true to size. Washed well. I purchased another three." "Nice quality, nice fit & good value. What's not to like?!" Buy it now: Pure Cotton Long Sleeved Crew Neck T-shirt | 12 from John Lewis & Partners It also has rave reviews. (John Lewis) Shop now JetBlue Spirit Merger As previously reported on Travel Noire, JetBlue is looking to acquire Spirit Airlines. Experts believe the JetBlue Spirit merger could reshape the economy of the airline industry as we know it. Since the announcement of JetBlues intentions back in July of 2022, many people and entities have opposed the merger. Some people who oppose it believe that the acquisition will drive up consumer prices and many jobs could be at stake. The Department of Justice believes that the union would be illegal. Now, another set of naysayers has thrown their hats in the ring: President Joe Biden and his administration. Recently, the president and the Department of Transportation have been targeting the airline industry for their lack of transparency with consumers. The administration is ready to pick apart the industry one by one. History of JetBlue Photo by Joe Raedle Founded in 1998 by David Neeleman in New York City. The airlines purpose was to disrupt the industry by providing low-cost flights at a fraction of the price. Their first flight was in the year 2000. It went from New York Citys JFK Airport to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. At this time, JetBlues tickets were 65 percent less than its competitors. After a couple of rough years, due to the tragedy of 9/11, JetBlue had its first international flight going from New York to the Dominican Republic in 2004. Two decades later, JetBlue operates 280 aircraft valued at $2.8 billion. The airline has nearly 1,000 flights a day and serves over 100 domestic and international destinations. History of Spirit Airlines Spirit Airlines The airline was founded in the early 90s under its previous name, Charter One. Its initial purpose was to offer flights from Detroit to popular destinations such as Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and the Bahamas. Now, Spirit is valued to be worth close to $2.2 billion. Spirit currently has 194 aircraft in service and makes close to 500 flights a day to over 80 destinations, including the United States, South America, and the Caribbean. Story continues All the Details about the JetBlue Spirit Merger JetBlues acquisition of Spirit was announced in the summer of 2022. Then, Spirit shareholders had to approve the deal before moving forward. However, it was expected that the Department of Justice would interject on the deal since JetBlue was currently in court for their Northeast Alliance with American Airlines. If government regulators approve the merger, JetBlue will be the fifth-largest airline company in the United States. The DOJ believes this would make JetBlue a monopoly on low-cost carriers. However, JetBlue argues that it would create competition for the current four major airlines in the industry. We are now waiting to see whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit to block the deal or allows us to proceed, stated Spirit CEO Edward Christie. If the DOJ blocks the deal, JetBlue will go to court as early as March to appeal their decision. A lot is riding on the current case between the DOJ and the NEA (JetBlue & American Airlines Alliance in Massachusettes), which experts believe could affect the governments decision to allow the merger to be completed between JetBlue and Spirit. The White House dismissed the U.S. architect of the Capitol on Monday after he was accused in an internal watchdog report of impersonating a police officer and regularly misusing government vehicles to take personal trips. In a hearing before House lawmakers last week, J. Brett Blanton denied that he had engaged in any unethical during his service, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. But the White House confirmed Monday that Blanton was terminated at President Joe Bidens direction, after doing our due diligence. In his position, Blanton managed a staff of about 2,400, and was in charge of the operations and care of the U.S. Capitol complex, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress. Blantons firing comes after an Office of Inspector General report released in October found that he regularly commandeered government vehicles from the federal agency for personal use, costing taxpayers almost $14,000. Blanton used the cars for trips as far away as Florida and South Carolina, according to the report. On another occasion, Blanton told Fairfax County police officers that he was a member of law enforcement while trying to pursue a suspect in a hit-and-run crash that took place near his house, according to the report. Biden has faced mounting pressure to fire Blanton in recent weeks from both sides of the political aisle. The architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) tweeted on Monday. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 13, 2023 The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC. His refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately, House Administration Committee chairman, Bryan Steil (R., Wis.), said in a statement on Monday. Story continues Fellow committee member Joseph Morelle (D., N.Y.) called for Blantons resignation last week after hearings during which Blanton adamantly denied any wrongdoing. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I have engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country while serving in this particular role, I have taken my commitment to transform the agencys culture to promote positive workplace for every AOC employee, Blanton told the House Committee on Administration on Thursday. Former president Donald Trump appointed Blanton in January 2020. More from National Review A bill introduced Monday in the North Carolina General Assembly could give people something to cheer about. State Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, is pushing for the state to legalize happy hour. A bill filed today by @JasonSaine97th would make happy hours legal in North Carolina @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/uKpHNV7guq Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) February 13, 2023 House Bill 94 would allow bars and restaurants to get a permit for $100. Establishments could offer discounts on drinks, and for multiple drinks to be sold for one price and provide cents-off coupons. Happy hours are currently illegal in North Carolina. The bill will be discussed over the coming months. VIDEO: North Carolina alcohol sales reveal who spends more on booze: Charlotte or Raleigh? Few Democratic candidates suffered more heartbreak on election night than Mandela Barnes. The Wisconsin Democrat, having been largely left for dead politically, came within 1 percentage point of ousting Sen. Ron Johnson. But for Barnes aides, it was something more than a missed opportunity it was a painful example of how candidates of color continue to face questions about their ability to win. Had the campaign gotten just a wee bit more air cover from super PACs at the races critical closing juncture, they reasoned, Barnes would have won. There's no question in my mind, said Kory Kozloski, Barnes campaign manager. If we were able to communicate at the same levels as Ron Johnson, Mandela Barnes would be in the United States Senate today. The postmortems that Barnes aides undertook were similar to the ones that advisers to other high-profile Black Senate candidates conducted after an election in which Democrats fared well, but those contenders fell short. While there are numerous reasons why none of the Black candidates trying to flip seats won, theyve gravitated to a common theme, one thats more personal than a typical after-action campaign report: Black candidates needed more trust and, with it, funding from the Democratic Partys infrastructure. Hindsight is always 20/20 and there's no doubt that Cheri Beasley and Val Demings were in tough races, but given the right investment they both could have won, said Rep. Barbara Lee, a California Democrat and chair emeritus of the Congressional Black Caucus, referencing the two Democratic Black women who ran for Senate in North Carolina and Florida. Lee may be speaking out of self-interest. She has told colleagues that she plans to run for the Senate. And in Demings' case, it's unclear how more funding could have overcome a decisive 16-point loss. But her analysis overall of the 2022 results was echoed by 10 elected officials, strategists and campaign operatives who spoke to POLITICO. They dont just see the issue as one of campaign money but, rather, of Black candidates getting the same institutional support as their white peers. Story continues Generally speaking what I've seen since I've gotten here is not enough Black unity across the country, from a political perspective, and not a strong enough Black political infrastructure to support Black candidates across the country, said Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who is Black. That's something that's very concerning to me. And something I want to use my voice and platform to help build going forward. At the beginning of the midterm election cycle, many Democrats were optimistic about the Black Senate contenders on the ballot, even with the historical challenges the party faced given that it controlled the White House and Congress. Past high-profile Black candidates like Sen. Raphael Warnock, Stacey Abrams, Jaime Harrison and Barack Obama had been some of the partys star fundraisers. And there was a sense that the long-standing belief that Black candidates couldnt compete financially with their white counterparts had finally been put aside. The numbers ended up supporting that theory. Barnes raised $42 million compared to Johnsons $36 million in the 2022 election cycle, according to newly released data from the Federal Election Commission. Beasley brought in nearly $39 million in 2022, versus Republican opponent Ted Budds almost $15 million. Demings, meanwhile, was the third-best Senate fundraiser of the cycle, bringing in $81 million, while Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.) collected about $51 million. And it wasnt just Democrats. Two Black Republicans, Sen. Tim Scott and Senate challenger Herschel Walker, also smashed fundraising expectations, raising roughly $54 million and $74 million, respectively But in the modern political system, raising money is only one component of a successful campaign. Getting outside help is the other. And as the 2022 cycle came to a close, operatives on some of the high-profile races said they felt ill-equipped to compete against GOP super PACs as Democratic Party groups looked to protect incumbents and poured money into other races, like Pennsylvania. Barnes, for one, was hit with $62 million in outside spending from Republican groups including the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC tied to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), according to an analysis of general election spending by OpenSecrets. By contrast, Democratic outside groups, including the top Senate Democratic super PAC Senate Majority PAC, spent $41 million on the Wisconsin race. September was particularly difficult for Barnes, according to his campaign. That month, Democrats were outspent $28 million to $20 million on the airwaves in the Wisconsin Senate race, per AdImpact, which tracks campaign media spending, including broadcast, cable, radio, digital and satellite. The vast majority of GOP spending came from its outside groups. Barnes aides didn't point fingers at any specific group they said the extra money they needed could have come from super PACs or to their own campaign but said the key fact is they were outmatched. People were seeing three negative ads for every one good thing they were seeing about the lieutenant governor. That has a pretty significant impact, said Kozloski. Unfortunately, it certainly cost us 26,000 votes. The Pennsylvania Senate contest, another major midterm battleground, received the most outside spending of all federal elections in 2022, according to OpenSecrets. Almost $113 million was spent on now-Sen. John Fettermans behalf by Democratic outside groups, while GOP organizations bolstered Mehmet Oz with more than $95 million in the general election. Fetterman was the only candidate to flip a Senate seat in 2022, where he won by almost 5 percent of the vote, and received investments from both Senate Democrats campaign arm and its super PAC ally, Senate Majority PAC, as well as other outside groups. Beasley, for her part, was the only Democratic Senate candidate in a state that Trump carried in 2020 to receive outside spending help from Senate Majority PAC, which invested about $13 million in her race, according to its FEC filings. Other outside groups spent almost $9 million more backing her in the general election, according to OpenSecrets. But there wasnt a direct expenditure from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the contest. (According to a DSCC aide, the group sent out tandem emails for direct fundraising and bundled money on her behalf.) And the total outside spending in the general for Beasley didnt match what the GOP did for Budd. Republican outside groups spent almost $62 million, with money coming from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senate Leadership Fund and other organizations, according to OpenSecrets. Demings received no outside support from the DSCC or Senate Majority PAC. Like with Beasley, the DSCC sent tandem fundraising emails and bundled money for her, the DSCC aide said. But in Demings case, Democrats were not outspent. Outside groups invested just under $3 million on Demings behalf, while Republican organizations spent more than $3 million to help Rubio during the general election, according to OpenSecrets. A Demings spokesperson declined to comment. A person close to the campaign said that while Demings didnt struggle with a spending disparity in her own contest, that wasnt the case in the Florida governors race, where the GOP dominated in spending and earned media. In their view, that blew back on Demings. Anything that we talked about was sort of a sideshow, which is pretty unusual in a Senate race, the person said. Democratic officials noted that, as a rule, party committees and outside groups prioritize protecting incumbents. While Barnes, Beasley and Demings were all either challengers or open-seat contenders, Warnock was running for reelection and receiving the full-throated support of Democratic outside groups. Georgia Honor, which is tied to Senate Majority PAC, spent more than $60 million in the race, according to the FEC. The DSCC also invested nearly $11 million in opposing Walker. Were proud to have invested over $62 million in Wisconsin and North Carolina this cycleand to have helped level the playing field for our candidates as they faced an avalanche of fear-mongering attacks from a handful of right-wing billionaires, said Senate Majority PAC spokesperson Veronica Yoo. In the end, SMPs strategic investments accomplished our mission: defending and expanding our Democratic Senate majority against the odds. Those officials have also defended their funding decisions by noting that, in some cases, Black Senate candidates in 2022 were competing in difficult states. While Wisconsin is a perpetual toss-up, Florida has been trending redder in recent years. And North Carolina has been just out of grasp for Democrats in many statewide elections. Beasley lost by 3 points. Demings fell short by 16 points. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), head of the DSCC, said that there wasnt any more support that the group could have given to the non-incumbent Black candidates. We provided support. In Wisconsin, we provided major support, he said, referring to the groups $3 million independent expenditure to oppose Johnson. I think they're the strongest candidates that we could have had in each of those states, Peters said. I was very excited about all of them. But part of the problem was just that they were running in challenging states. They're just difficult states for a Democrat to win. They all had great runs and came close. And Barnes, in particular, came really close. Democrats who object to complaints about spending decisions also note that outside group support isnt as important as a candidates own fundraising. Thats because candidates receive discounted rates to air their advertising while outside groups have to pay market rates, allowing a candidates money to stretch further on the airwaves. But other veterans of the 2022 cycle, including those who worked for those high-profile Black Senate candidates, said that significant outside investment can help provide additional messaging that has a cumulative impact for voters. Republicans decided that their path to victory involved tearing down this incredibly accomplished woman, said Travis Brimm, Beasleys campaign manager. And they were going to spend as much money as they needed to get across that finish line. And ultimately, to be in a position to get through that and win in a Trump state, we were going to need outside investment to be a lot closer to parity. In addition to boosting candidates in outside spending, some Black politicians and strategists believe there should be more tailor-made support to help Black candidates campaigns. Bowman, for one, said more infrastructure should focus on grassroots organizing and communicating Democrats positive message to voters. He said that after the midterm elections, he and Harrison, who is now Democratic National Committee chair, discussed diversity issues in the party, including supporting more Black candidates and better ways to campaign for Black voters. You know, we both have bald heads, but we go to barbershops all the time. And we have conversations at barbershops about how people feel, Bowman said. And you know, people have felt like Democrats aren't fighting hard enough for Black men in particular. In the wake of his loss, Barnes has decided to take on that initiative as well. He has launched a new PAC called The Long Run to support diverse candidates running for office. Though he proved to be an adept fundraiser, his aides said that he had to contend with the fact that donors routinely questioned his electability. There's always this question to younger candidates, candidates of color. You know, when you don't look like the majority of the electorate, there's always the question: Can you win? Barnes told POLITICO. I get it. That's valid, Can you win? is a valid question. But there comes a certain point where it's like, you've proven that you can actually win, where you have done the work. And, you know, the question still exists." Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), herself a one-time Senate candidate, said that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, DSCC and DNC could all be doing more to support the specific needs of Black candidates, and candidates of color generally. People have to see Black candidates as, you know, Senate leaders, Bush said, talking about Democratic organizations and voters. I remember my very first race, I ran for U.S. Senate, and what they said to me was, You're a Black woman. Black women, Black people don't win statewide in Missouri. As she gears up for her own Senate run, Lee said she has had similar experiences. When she first ran for Congress, she recalled being told not to do so because it was too difficult. There's no doubt that Black women have the highest systemic barriers to success, said Lee. Smaller donor networks, less organizational support, and more barriers to entry. The other more establishment and overly-funded candidates have the resources, but we are the backbone of the party. EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story listed the incorrect time line of William Murphy's eviction. A lot has happened since constables showed up at the Wilmington doorsteps of William Murphy two years ago this month with a notice to evict the blind man and his two daughters. A federal lawsuit filed against the state and the landlord after the wrongful eviction is making its way through the court system. A federal judge recently denied a state's motion to remove the Delaware Justice of the Peace Court system, which facilitated Murphy's eviction, from the lawsuit. And state lawmakers are again trying to amend the landlord-tenant code to provide legal representation to some people facing eviction to avoid wrongful evictions. Murphy, along with his two daughters, moved to Salisbury, Maryland, for financial reasons, according to his attorney. William Murphy, center, stands for a portrait with his daughters Aaliyah, left, and Kylah in front of their former home on Townsend Street on Feb. 24, 2021, in Wilmington. "He finds living in Maryland definitely more hospitable than living here in Wilmington, where they had to undergo the nightmare they lived through," said Thomas S. Neuberger, one of Murphy's attorneys. The eviction that shouldn't have happened Murphy and his two youngest daughters were forced from their Southbridge home on Feb. 11, 2021, when Justice of the Peace Court constables showed up at their Townsend Street door and presented eviction documents that named a previous tenant who was a woman. Murphy showed constables his lease, which he later shared with Delaware Online/The News Journal. The lease, which ran from Nov. 15, 2020, through Nov. 30, 2021, was signed by the landlord, Kenneth Stanford and Murphy. Murphy also provided the constable a copy of the social services assistance paperwork, dated Nov. 17, 2020, which highlighted funds for the initial rent. Stanford, however, told constables the Murphys were not supposed to be at the house and so the eviction was carried out. The Murphys were forced to leave behind school laptops; an urn holding the ashes of Murphy's wife, who died in 2018; and several other belongings. Story continues Deputy Chief Magistrate Sean McCormick said during an emergency hearing on Feb. 18, 2021, after Murphy filed wrongful eviction motions, that Stanford likely perjured himself in court filings and went so far as to read the landlord his rights against self-incrimination after he said he "misrepresented" the facts to the court. Looking for justice in federal court In March 2021, Murphy filed a federal lawsuit against his landlord and the Justice of the Peace Court system, Delaware's Justice of the Peace Chief Magistrate Alan Davis and three constables. Lawsuit filed:Blind man wrongfully evicted from Wilmington home sues court system, landlord The state argued the matter against the court system be dismissed, but according to Neuberger, U.S. District Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly denied their motion on Dec. 19. "He asked us to refocus our case on violations of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and to file an amended complaint based on the discovery we had so far," Neuberger told Delaware Online/The News Journal. Murphy's attorneys did that by zeroing in on just the Justice of the Peace Court system's treatment of evictions of the blind and other disabled and violations of federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements in handling such disability cases. "We claim that there's an evict first, ask questions later policy," Neuberger said, explaining how despite finding concerns with the paperwork, constables were still ordered to evict Murphy and his two daughters. "That is so, so wrong." Neuberger said they're seeking permanent supervision over the magistrate court system. "We're going to ask this judge to issue an injunction of some sort making sure this doesn't happen again," he said. Lawmakers reintroduce the eviction bill As Murphy's case moves through federal court, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark/Bear, recently introduced a bill that would give the right of free legal counsel to people whose income is no more than twice the federal poverty guideline, which is determined and updated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (View Senate Bill 1 below.) "We are hopeful that this year's version has made a couple changes in particular, it exempts small landlords," said Townsend, adding these would-be landlords who own three or fewer units. "Hopefully, that helps us get across the finish line." Townsend introduced a similar bill two years ago that failed to pass in 2021 and 2022. The failure to support that initiative came from the House of Representatives. But unlike the previous attempts, Townsend said this time around Gov. John Carney included funding for this in his recommended budget. Townsend's original bill:Why lawmakers want to protect people who may face eviction in Delaware "Having something in the Governor's Recommended Budget (GRB) can be very, very helpful because it indicates the governor supports it," he said. "It can indicate it's a priority of the governor, priority that the Legislature that the governor is honoring. It can mean a few different things." The cost for this is estimated to start at more than $1 million and go up to $3 million. The program would be administered by a legal aid organization that would hire attorneys and non-attorney advocates. In addition to providing representation to certain impoverished tenants, the proposed legislation would also create a diversion program to resolve most landlord-tenant disputes before they result in legal action. Townsend wanted to make clear the proposed legislation doesn't mean tenants who can't pay get to stay for free. "The idea of having an advocate in the process for the tenants to sort out whether it's a tenant who can find a way to pay or a tenant who does need to move along," he said. "The whole idea is that having an advocate in the process can lead to better outcomes for everybody." Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Blind man's lawsuit against Delaware court system allowed to continue Following a chase through multiple jurisdictions, it was a crash with a Metro bus on Central Parkway that eventually knocked a shotgun away from an armed suspect, police said. Carlos Ramirez, 21, was indicted Monday on multiple felony charges. He faces 10 charges including felonious assault, failing to comply with an officer, inducing panic and aggravated menacing. Body camera footage from the incident was also released. It began when Evendale officers heard a gunshot in the area of Reading Road just before midnight on Feb. 2, according to press releases from the department and the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office Monday. Investigating the incident, Sgt. Marc Terhar went to a nearby Speedway after a bystander directed police there, the release said. The shotgun Carlos Ramirez is accused of using to threaten people and fire at an Evendale police officer. "Ramirez came out from behind a gas pump holding a shotgun," prosecutors said. "The officer gave verbal commands for Ramirez to drop the gun. Ramirez raised the shotgun at the officer, causing the officer to believe Ramirez would shoot him." Terhar fired several rounds at Ramirez, and Ramirez fired one round back toward the officer, according to prosecutors. No one was injured by the gunfire, police said. Video from the body camera clearly shows Terhar telling Ramirez to drop the gun and then firing at least 12 shots. It is difficult to see Ramirez pointing or firing the weapon on the video. Ramirez was pursued into Cincinnati where he crashed into a Metro bus at the corner of Race Street and Central Parkway, investigators said. "His shotgun fell out of the driver's window landing in the street near his vehicle," Evendale police reported. The release said Ramirez initially complied with officers after the crash but then went for the gun. Police shot him with a pepper ball gun and released a dog, then Ramirez was taken into custody, investigators reported. Evendale police chief praises officer for his actions On Monday, Evendale Chief Tim Holloway praised Terhar saying he acted "quickly, courageously and decisively" at the Speedway, and saying the officers who arrested Ramirez showed "great restraint." Story continues Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers said Terhar's use of his firearm was justified and Ramirez's behavior will not be tolerated. "This man is an obvious danger to our community and I am thankful he was taken off the streets without anyone being injured," Powers said. Investigators said Ramirez had threatened five people with the shotgun prior to the shooting, and just seven hours prior had been released from the Warren County jail following an arrest on charges of OVI and improperly handling a firearm. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was asked by Evendale to investigate the shooting. The department's policy states BCI will be called in to investigate any officer-involved shooting. On Monday, that investigation had not been completed. Prosecutor office: BCI is conducting investigation The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office reported that BCI had completed the parts of the investigation prosecutors needed to make their decisions. "If anything changes, (BCI) will keep us informed and we can reevaluate the information at that time, if necessary, the prosecutors office said. Ramirezs lawyer, Derek Gustafson, said he is just beginning his investigation into what happened. He said the affadavits filed in the case make no mention of his client pointing a weapon or firing it. The court documents state: The defendant failed to comply with commands from officers and proceeded towards his vehicle. (The) officer discharged his firearm at the above defendant. Gustafson said he plans to review the body camera of the incident to determine if there was an active threat against the officer. Ramirez has not entered a plea in the case. He is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $780,000 bond. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Evendale officer to return to work after firing at man with shotgun Kody Durfee agreed to give police his blood to see his infant daughter, who he believed was in critical condition. But he said he didnt understand why he was giving it. He had no idea that his 10-day-old baby, Journee, had already died. In December 2021, Durfee was charged with two felonies, injury to a child and an infliction of great bodily injury enhancement, in connection to the death of his daughter after hed fallen asleep with Journee on his chest. She ended up wedged between the couch and her fathers arm, which caused her to stop breathing. Durfee had been drinking at the time of the incident, police said, in violation of his parole. A memorandum filed by public defender Abby Broyles, who was representing Durfee, alleged that Ada County Detective Ryan Pacheco violated Durfees constitutional rights during the arrest by collecting his blood without consent, waiting to read him his Miranda rights and denying him his right to an attorney. Broyles said in the memorandum that Durfees blood was collected without a warrant, and that while evidence may be obtained without a warrant, it must be voluntary. Durfees blood draw was coerced and not voluntary, Broyles said. A motion filed by Broyles asked the court to suppress a sample of Durfees blood, any exams and any statements he made to Pacheco. Attorneys were expected to meet in January regarding Broyles motion. Instead, a plea deal was struck and one felony was dismissed. Durfee pleaded guilty to the injury to a child charge and was sentenced to 391 days in jail, or time served which means he wont face any additional time behind bars in this particular case. The maximum sentence for felony injury to a child under Idaho law is 10 years. Because Durfee was found to be in violation of his parole for drinking and having alcohol in his home the night his daughter died, he is in the Ada County Jail on an Idaho Department of Correction parole violation hold, spokesperson Jeff Ray told the Statesman and he might spend a lot more time incarcerated. Story continues Durfee coerced to have blood drawn, attorney says On Dec. 15, when Durfee found his daughter wedged in the couch cushion, he, a family member and a friend called 911 and started CPR, a police report said. Journee was then transported to a local hospital, where she was in critical care and later died, according to the police report and a news release from the Ada County Sheriffs Office. Pacheco didnt inform Durfee of his Miranda rights until much later in the interrogation, according to the memorandum. The memorandum said Durfee repeatedly asked Pacheco for an attorney, but Pacheco ignored those requests, which is a violation of the Sixth Amendment, Broyles argued. In the police report written by Pacheco, he said that he read Durfee his rights after his blood had been collected and after having conversations with Durfee. Pacheco said in the report that Durfee asked him whether he needed to call a lawyer. Pacheco said he told him it was Durfees choice but that Pacheco didnt need to wait for an attorney to get a detention order and draw his blood. In the police report, when Durfee asked to go to the hospital, Pacheco told him that the longer they had a conversation like this, the longer it would be before they were done. Pacheco was also likely aware of the fact that Journee had died before Durfee had his blood drawn, according to testimony during a preliminary hearing. Durfee found out about his babys death while his blood was being drawn, according to the police report. Durfee had asked the paramedic drawing his blood if his daughter was OK. The paramedic responded that she wasnt. She didnt make it? Durfee asked the paramedic. No, the paramedic said. Kodys head dropped. The paramedic said, Im sorry to have to tell you here, according to the police report. Kody sobbed. The blood draw was done. Sheriffs Office confident in detectives handling of case Broyles alleged that Durfees Fourth Amendment rights, protecting him from unreasonable search and seizure, were violated when Pacheco and a paramedic collected Durfees blood without consent. She also alleged that Pacheco violated Durfees Fifth Amendment rights when he didnt read Durfee his Miranda rights and violated his Sixth Amendment rights by denying Durfee his right to an attorney. Prosecutors responded to Broyles allegations in a memorandum, but Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Sean Watson asked that the court seal the documents because of the sensitive nature of the memorandum, according to a motion. Its unclear whether the alleged constitutional rights violations played into the plea deal. Ada County Prosecutors Office spokesperson Emily Lowe told the Statesman by email that Durfees parole status for a 2015 DUI conviction could provide some context regarding the plea deal. With Durfee in jail on the Department of Correction hold, the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole is expected to decide whether to revoke or reinstate his parole, Ray said. If his parole is revoked, he could receive a new parole date or spend the remainder of his parole which is until 2025 incarcerated. Ada County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Patrick Orr told the Statesman in an email that the agency is 100% confident in our detectives handling of the case. He said he was 100% confident that Broyles motion would have been denied if there had been a hearing. Ultimately, the person in question willingly withdrew their motion and then willingly entered a guilty plea to felony injury to child, Orr said by email. Broyles did not respond to a request for comment. SAO PAULO (AP) Police in Brazil arrested a teenager accused of trying to attack a school with explosives while wearing a Nazi armband Monday in a small city outside Sao Paulo. No-one was injured in the incident in Monte Mor, a municipality of 56,000 residents about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo, the city hall said in a statement. Sao Paulo police said the 17-year-old was arrested with explosives and a hatchet, and that he had been filmed removing these items from a car parked outside the school. Police also said they seized an airsoft gun and Nazi propaganda at the teenagers home. The Monte Mor city government published a photo of the suspect wearing a Nazi armband when he was arrested. School attacks are uncommon in the South American nation, but have happened with somewhat greater frequency in recent years. On Nov. 26, a former student armed with a semiautomatic pistol and a revolver killed four people and wounded 12 in two schools in the small town of Aracruz in Espirito Santo state in southeastern Brazil. He had a swastika pinned to his vest and had been planning the attacks for two years, police said. Brianna Ghey, 16, was found with multiple stab wounds on a path in Linear Park, Culcheth, on Saturday afternoon and died at the scene. (GoFundMe/Victoria Potter) A GoFuneMe fundraiser for the family of a girl found stabbed to death in a park on Saturday has topped 70,000 in donations in the days since she was killed. Brianna Ghey suffered multiple stab wounds on Saturday afternoon in Culcheth near Warrington, Cheshire. A boy and girl, both aged 15, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody. Police have said the murder of a 16-year-old girl in a park was "targeted" with detectives now investigating whether her death was a hate crime. Cheshire Police previously said there was no evidence to suggest Brianna, who was a transgender girl, was the victim of a hate crime. But on Tuesday, the force issued a statement which said all lines of inquiry were being explored. Candlelit vigils are also set to take place in memory of Brianna, with events organised by members of the transgender community due to be held in cities such as London, Glasgow, Leeds and Belfast. Friends Victoria and Jacob Potter launched a GoFundMe page to help Brianna's family in the aftermath of her death. Police investigators remained at the scene in Culcheth, Cheshire, on Monday. (Getty Images) They wrote: "We would like to help the Ghey family who has had their beautiful daughter cruelly taken from them in the most shocking and heartbreaking way. "Brianna was an outgoing, confident girl. She brought a lot of laughter to those who knew her. She was looking forward to taking her exams this year and beginning her journey into the adult world." The pair said they set up the page to help the family "at this truly devastating time". They added: "We need your support to help them with funeral costs we want to make this pink and colourful to match her personality and ask if you can spare anything no matter how small to try to relieve their stress and allow them to grieve their beautiful daughter." By Tuesday afternoon the fundraiser had received 72,000 and was still increasing. Watch: Teenage trans girl's final TikTok videos before she was stabbed to death In the coming days, vigils organised by members of the transgender community are due to be held in cities such as London, Glasgow, Leeds and Belfast with events in Liverpool and Bristol due to take place on Tuesday evening. Story continues Friends have paid tribute to Brianna saying she "deserved the world". In a statement, her family said: "Brianna was a much-loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister. "She was a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her. "Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless and one of a kind. "The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same." Floral tributes have been left where Brianna Ghey was found with multiple stab wounds. (Getty Images) Brianna was born male and charity Stonewall UK issued a statement in reaction to her death. It said: "Our thoughts are with Brianna Ghey, a young trans woman, and her loved ones, following her tragic murder in Cheshire. We urge anyone who may have information which will help the police with their enquiries to come forward." Emma Mills, Brianna's headteacher at Birchwood Community High School, said: "We are shocked and truly devastated to hear of the death of Brianna. "This is understandably a very difficult and distressing time for many and we will do our utmost to support our pupils and wider school community." Police forensics officers remain at the scene. A boy and girl, both aged 15, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. (Getty Images) Read more: Ex-student who stabbed university lecturer 12 times is sectioned indefinitely A Cheshire Police spokesman confirmed on Monday that the attack was not being classed as a hate crime. Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans said police are pursuing several lines of inquiry and appealed for anyone with information to come forward. He said: "We are doing all that we can to establish the exact circumstances of what has happened. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the circumstances surrounding Briannas death are hate related." He appealed for witnesses or anyone with information connected to the incident to contact police. By Sam Tobin LONDON (Reuters) - A security guard at the British embassy in Berlin collected highly sensitive information for more than three years, including "secret" government communications with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, prosecutors told a London court on Monday. David Ballantyne Smith, 58, scanned copies of a letter from two cabinet ministers to Johnson and other documents relating to "sensitive trade matters", prosecutor Alison Morgan told London's Old Bailey. Smith, who has pleaded guilty to eight charges, is alleged to have collected information from as early as March 2018 until his arrest in August 2021 the day after meeting "Irina", an MI5 officer posing as a member of Russia's military intelligence service. Morgan said a search of Smith's home in Potsdam, Germany, after his arrest recovered a USB stick which contained several photos of embassy staff and diplomatic passports. Smith also filmed a number of sensitive documents he found in trays including a November 2020 letter from then-Trade Minister Liz Truss and then-Business Minister Alok Sharma to Johnson, which was classified as "secret", she said. Morgan said Smith sent a letter containing "highly sensitive information about the British embassy and those who worked within it" to General Major Sergey Chukhrov, the Russian military attache to Berlin, in November 2020. The letter which was written on British embassy-headed notepaper provided the names, home addresses and phone numbers of embassy staff and enclosed documents authored by the British embassy's lead officer dealing with Russia, Morgan said. She added that the discovery of Smith's letter to Chukhrov prompted a joint investigation between British and German authorities. This first involved getting an MI5 officer to pose as "Dmitry", a Russian national providing assistance to Britain. Covertly recorded footage was played in court showing Smith filming CCTV footage of "Dmitry" from within the embassy's security kiosk. Story continues Smith was later approached by "Irina", who told him that she needed assistance as someone had "passed information to the British and the information could be damaging to Russia". In hidden camera footage played to the court, "Irina" asks if Smith can help and he replies: "Well, like what?" "ANTI-WEST VIEWS" Smith pleaded guilty in November to eight offences under the Official Secrets Act, including one charge relating to passing information to Chukhrov. He admitted seven other charges which relate to collecting information which might be useful to the Russian state. Smith denies intending to cause prejudice to Britain, Morgan told the court, and says he pleaded guilty on the basis that he simply wanted to cause "inconvenience and embarrassment". He also denies receiving any payment. However, the prosecution argues that Smith who told colleagues of his "strong anti-UK views", as well as his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin had a "clear intention to cause prejudice to the UK". Morgan said Smith expressed "anti-West and anti-NATO views" to colleagues and spoke of his support for Russia and President Vladimir Putin. "He expressed views about the war in Ukraine that were opposed to the Ukrainian government and supportive of Russia," she added. Judge Mark Wall is expected to rule on Wednesday on the basis on which Smith will be sentenced, which is expected to take place on Friday. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Alison Williams) UK Defence Intelligence believes that despite the current operational focus on central Donbas, maintaining defences in Zaporizhzhia Oblast is also critically important for the Russians. Source: European Pravda, referring to the UK Ministry of Defences intelligence report Details: As the UK MoD noted, with reference to open source imagery, as of 7 February 2023, Russia had likely further bolstered defensive fortifications in central Zaporizhzhia Oblast, southern Ukraine, particularly near the town of Tarasivka. In addition, as of 8 January 2023, Russia had established defensive fortifications between the towns of Vasylivka and Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Quote: "Despite the current operational focus on central Donbas, Russia remains concerned about guarding the extremities of its extended front line." As the UK MoD said, this is demonstrated by continued construction of defensive fortifications in Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk oblasts and deployments of personnel. Russias front line in Ukraine amounts to approximately 1,288 km with the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast frontline at 192 km. "A major Ukrainian breakthrough in Zaporizhzhia would seriously challenge the viability of Russias land bridge linking Rostov Oblast, Russia, and Crimea; Ukrainian success in Luhansk would further undermine Russias professed war aim of liberating the Donbas," UK Defence Ministry believes. "Deciding which of these threats to prioritise countering is likely one of the central dilemmas for Russian operational planners," the report said. Background: As British Intelligence has previously reported, since 7 February 2023, Russian forces have likely made tactical gains in two key sectors near Bakhmut and Vuhledar. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Brittney Griner has been spotted at the Super Bowl, cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles with her wife Cherelle Griner. Earlier in the weekend, Ms Griner made just her second appearance in public after her dramatic release from a Russian prison in December. The WNBA star, 32, appeared happy and relaxed as she waved to the crowd at the 16th hole of the Phoenix Golf Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Saturday, images captured by the Associated Press showed. A crowd of nearly 200,000 joined Ms Griner in watching top golfers including Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy in action. They included an estimated 17,000 who packed into stands surrounding the 16th hole, which the New York Times describes as the loudest hole on the rowdiest stop on the PGA Tour. Last month, Ms Griner turned out for the Martin Luther King Jr Day march in Phoenix. The two-time Olympic gold medallist is still recovering from her 10-month ordeal in Russian custody after she was arrested for possession of a small amount of cannabis oil at a Moscow Airport last February. Last week, her close friend and teammate Diana Taurasi revealed she had elected to skip a training camp with the national womans basketball team in Minnesota. Ms Taurasi told the Associated Press she had been working out and training with Ms Griner as she eases her way back into competitive basketball. Every single day we suffered and hoped shed be back and not until I saw her, did I really believe it, Ms Taurasi said. And just to see her smile, just to see her free, was really emotional for everyone. Story continues Brittney Griner acknowledges the crowd at the Phoenix Open Golf on Saturday (Associated Press) Ms Griner has said she intends to return to play for the Phoenix Mercury when the WNBA season begins in May, but remains a free agent. The 69 centre was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony after she was found guilty of drug possession at a show trial in Moscow in October. After months of negotiations between the US and Russia, Ms Griner was released on 8 December in a contentious exchange for Viktor Bout, a notorious weapons trafficker dubbed the Merchant of Death. Ms Griner has said she wants to become an advocate for other Americans imprisoned in Russia, and has spoken out several times since her release about her hopes that former Marine Paul Whelan will be freed. Phoenix also hosts Sundays Super Bowl 57 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. TRENTON - Police have charged a Burlington man in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman here. The victim, 34-year-old Stephanie Vil of Burlington, was found with gunshot wounds around 9:05 a.m. Sunday in the area of Prospect Street and West Hanover Avenue, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. Vil, who was lying in the street near a heavily damaged car, was pronounced dead at the scene. The prosecutor's office on Monday announced the arrest of 38-year-old Jamar Leonard, who is charged with murder and weapons offenses. Verdict in medical-office murder:Inside the case of a South Jersey medical worker's homicide The charges against Leonard are only allegations. He has not been convicted in the case. Leonard is being held in Mercer County Jail. The prosecutors office said it has filed a motion to detain him pending trial. Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Trenton: Burlington NJ man charged in fatal shooting John Malone - Matthew Staver/Bloomberg A US billionaire known as the cable cowboy has snapped up a near-5pc stake in Vodafone as the FTSE 100 telecoms company struggles to revive its languishing share price. John Malone's business Liberty Global, which owns UK mobile and broadband company Virgin Media O2 and the rights to Formula 1, said it had made the opportunistic investment after Vodafone's share price dropped to multi-year lows. Chaired by Mr Malone, an 81-year-old telecoms entrepreneur known as the cable cowboy, Liberty will acquire 1.3 billion Vodafone shares for 225m. Vodafone has been under mounting pressure as its share price hangs close to the lowest level for 25 years. Its former chief executive, Nick Read, was ousted after failing to turn around the business's fortunes following a spate of dealmaking and it is hunting for a permanent replacement. Under interim chief executive Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone is considering cost-cutting measures that could shed hundreds of jobs. It also remains locked in talks with rival Three, owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, about a potential merger of their UK mobile divisions. Mike Fries, chief executive of Liberty Global, said: We believe, like many others, that Vodafone's current share price does not reflect the underlying long-term value of their operating businesses, or their announced consolidation and infrastructure opportunities. He added Liberty expected its investment would be replenished with the sale of certain non-core assets over time. Vodafone previously took over Liberty's German broadband business in a 16bn deal. But this division has since struggled and suffered from a steady exodus of customers. The pair also jointly control the Dutch telecom company VodafoneZiggo. Liberty said it had no plans to make a full takeover offer for Vodafone, meaning it will be barred under City rules from an approach for at least six months. However, the stake-building will raise expectations of future dealmaking among Britain's telecoms companies as various suitors seek to consolidate their operations and gain scale. Story continues Vodafone, which is currently valued at around 25bn, has been in talks since last year with Three about combining their mobile operations, while in 2021, Liberty secured a blockbuster 31bn merger between its Virgin Media broadband business and UK mobile network provider O2. While Liberty ruled itself out of an imminent bid for Vodafone, Mr Fries said he expected further consolidation of the UK's telecoms market. There are currently four major mobile companies: BT-owned EE, Vodafone, Virgin Media O2, and Three. Analysts expect this market will ultimately shrink to three, fuelling speculation around future mergers. Mr Fries told the Financial Times: We only [operate in] one market with four mobile players the UK is an anomaly. Liberty had previously eyed further deals in the UK market, holding early talks with internet provider TalkTalk about merging their broadband assets, but these fell apart last year. It joins a roster of Vodafone shareholders already agitating for change at the FTSE 100 stalwart. The French telecom billionaire Xavier Niel took a 2.5pc stake in Vodafone in November, calling for fresh dealmaking that would accelerate both the streamlining of Vodafone's footprint and the separation of its infrastructure assets. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern telecoms company Etisalat has built a 13pc stake. Vodafone has already carved off several European divisions, spinning out its German mobile towers business through a float in Frankfurt, and selling operations in Hungary and Egypt. Shares in Vodafone have fallen by more than 30pc in the last 12 months. The stock ended the day flat. A Vodafone spokesman declined to comment. By Krisztina Fenyo BUDAPEST (Reuters) - When Hungarian animal behaviourist Fanni Lehoczki noticed the frequent howls of her Siberian husky "Bizsu" didn't always provoke other dogs into a wolf-like response, it prompted the question - why are certain dogs more prone to howling? Researchers at Budapest's Eotvos Lorand University where Lehoczki works examined whether certain dog breeds are more prone to howling and if this had anything to do with their genetic closeness to wolves. Lehoczki and her team examined how a dog's breed, age and sex impacted its reaction to howling, by testing 68 purebred family dogs by playing three-minute recordings of wolf howls and observing their reactions. The dogs in the experiment belonged to 28 different breeds ranging from ancient breeds such Shiba inu, Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, and Pekingese, to bull terriers and boxers. "The main finding was that ... those breeds which are genetically closer to wolves are more prone to respond with howling, and they also show more stress signals than dogs which are less related to wolves," Lehoczki said, noting this was true only for dogs older than five years. Among younger dogs there was no difference between the breeds, so researchers will examine this aspect further. Older dogs of more ancient breeds responded with longer howls and showed more stress-related behaviours too, while more modern breeds seemed to react with barking. The research also concluded that breeds which tend to howl more also show more stress-related behaviour such as yawning, shaking their body, licking their mouth or scratching the body. The study is the first specifically investigating howling in domestic dogs. "Domestication and selective breeding by humans fundamentally changed dogs' vocal repertoire and both the perception and production of howling in dogs," it concluded. (Reporting by Krisztina Fenyo; Editing by David Holmes) By Amindeh Blaise Atabong DOUALA/YAOUNDE (Reuters) - Edith Kah Walla was at the front of a crowd of students that welcomed Cameroon's new president Paul Biya on a tour of the United States in 1984, full of hope that the young leader would bring stability and democracy, and end corruption. Four decades on, Biya, now the world's oldest leader, turns 90 on Monday. When he cuts a large cake, as he usually does on his birthday, Kah Walla, who was one of Biya's challengers in the 2011 presidential election, will not be celebrating. Her support for Biya evaporated over the years as economic progress stalled, dissenting voices were silenced, and the oil-producing country of 27 million people became split by a separatist uprising that has killed thousands, and Boko Haram attacks in the north. At 90, Biya should spend his days playing with his grandchildren, she said. "We live in a violent, brutal dictatorship. Over the past 40 years it has gotten more and more violent and brutal," said Kah Walla, now a civil society activist. "These 40 years are a huge setback for Cameroon." A government spokesperson did not respond to calls requesting comment. HANDPICKED IN 1982 Biya has repeatedly defended his record in the past and says that the government has made strides to return peace to the minority English-speaking regions where separatists are trying to form their own state. He touts his Vision 2035 plan as a blueprint to boost development over the next 12 years. Biya was born in Mvomeka'a, a village in the southern equatorial forest, in 1933, the year prohibition ended in the United States and Adolf Hitler became Chancellor in Germany. After studying in Paris, he returned to Cameroon in 1962 as a top civil servant and quickly rose to become the Prime Minister in 1975. He was hand-picked as successor after the country's first post-independence president Ahmadou Ahidjdo decided to resign suddenly in November 1982. Story continues In Africa, only President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea has ruled longer. Millions still support Biya, although international observers have raised doubts about the fairness of elections that he routinely wins with ease. He spends long stretches in comfortable European hotels with his wife Chantal, frustrating many at home who believe the country's crises require closer attention. In 2020, he was not seen in public for weeks, prompting speculation that he had died of COVID-19. Biya has ruled with openness and tolerance, said former minister Elvis Ngolle Ngolle. Old age, he said, has its advantages. "The more you add up the age, the wiser you become the more experienced, tolerant, logical you become," Ngolle said. AGE OLD WOES Popular journalist and whistleblower Paul Chouta disagrees. Chouta, an outspoken critic of Biya, has been repeatedly beaten and tortured in recent years. He lives in fear: just the sound of his floorboards creaking sends him into a panic. On March 9 last year, unknown assailants bundled him into the back of a car and drove him to an isolated spot near Yaounde airport. They beat him with stones and batons and left him for dead, he said. Chouta is one of several reporters who have been beaten or killed. Two journalists were killed in the last month, prompting condemnation from the United Nations. "If he (Biya) loves Cameroonians, let him fix things and go. The woes are deep," Chouta told Reuters. It is not only well-known reporters who are wary. Kouam Yves, a motorcycle taxi driver, last week stood at a newspaper stand discussing the news headlines with colleagues. He struggles to make a living and is critical of Biya and what he describes as rampant corruption. But he paused as he spoke, worried about who might be listening. "I can't celebrate the Head of State's birthday. For more than 20 years, I have not seen anything which we have executed in this country that went well like in other countries," he said. (Editing by Edward McAllister, William Maclean) Queen Consort Camilla. Pool Getty Camilla, Queen Consort and wife of King Charles III, has tested positive for COVID-19. Buckingham Palace confirmed the test result on Monday. It's not clear if King Charles currently has a positive or negative diagnosis. Camilla, Queen Consort, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Buckingham Palace, almost exactly one year after she last tested positive for the virus. "After suffering the symptoms of a cold, Her Majesty The Queen Consort has tested positive for the Covid virus," Buckingham Palace said in a statement shared with Insider. "With regret, she has therefore cancelled all her public engagements for this week and sends her sincere apologies to those who had been due to attend them." Camilla, 75, was scheduled to visit Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, Telford's Southwater One Library, and join her husband, King Charles III, for an appearance in Milton Keynes, according to People magazine. She has maintained a busy schedule of royal engagements since becoming Queen Consort. On Wednesday, Camilla and Charles planted a tree in London's Altab Ali Park, named for a British Bangladeshi man who was murdered there in 1978, and met with members of the local Bangladeshi community. On Thursday, Camilla visited the STORM Family Center to mark the domestic-violence charity's 19th anniversary. Camilla previously tested positive for the virus on February 14, 2022 almost exactly one year ago, minus one day. At that time, Charles, who was then Prince of Wales, had also contracted COVID. This time around, Buckingham Palace has not yet said if Charles, 74, has taken a test. The palace did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The BBC reported last year that Camilla had received COVID-19 vaccine shots at least three times. This story is developing. Please check back for updates. Read the original article on Insider Caroline Flacks mother has received an apology from the Metropolitan Police for not keeping a record of the reason it charged her daughter with assault. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out a review into the case after complaints from the late Love Island presenters mother, Christine. The IOPCs review did not identify any misconduct by the Met, but it did criticise the police for the handling of Christines complaint. Caroline took her own life in February 2020, ahead of a court appearance for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, Lewis Burton. Despite the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recommending she receive only a caution, the Met Police appealed against the CPS decision, resulting in Caroline facing a charge of assault by beating. Christine made complaints about the decision to charge her daughter, claiming that Caroline had been treated differently because she was famous. According to theEastern Daily Press, the apology letter from chief superintendent Andy Carter said: I am sincerely sorry for our inability to previously capture an adequate contemporaneous record of streamlined, balanced and transparent decision-making regarding the CPS appeal and statistical data. Twins Jody and Caroline Flack with their mother Christine in Norfolk, 1980s (Channel 4/Flack family) Christine told the publication in response: They have apologised for how they handled my complaint but what they really should be apologising for is the way Carrie was treated. The fact new guidelines have been brought in means something was wrong. I believe if I had not said anything, nothing would have changed either. A lot of the apology letter felt copied and pasted and I feel like they have only done it because the IOPC suggested they ought to. Late last year, Christine spoke out against Jeremy Clarksons column in The Sun, in which he wrote about how much he hated Meghan Markle. She compared Clarksons words to the negative press coverage about Caroline. Read more here. 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 based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. Ark Invest, the investment house led by Cathie Wood, bought another 162,325 shares in crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) last Friday, according to an investor email seen by Decrypt. The latest purchase, worth $9.26 million and split across the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW)139,105 and 23,220 shares, respectivelybrings Arks total investment in COIN to approximately $19.73 million since the start of the year. This follows a series of purchases made between January 5 and January 11, when Ark Invest bought a total of $10.47 million worth of Coinbase stock. Cathie Woods Ark Invest Boosts Coinbase Holdings by Another $1.45M The most notable purchase occurred on January 5 when Ark scooped up a total of 172,276 shares of Coinbase, worth $5.77 million, followed by a January 11 purchase of 74,792 COIN worth $3.275 million. ARKKs banner month The vast majority of Coinbase shares purchased by Ark this year were added to ARKK, the firms flagship fund that seeks long-term capital growth from companies involved with, or that benefit from, disruptive innovation. COINs weight in ARKK currently stands at 4.62%, according to the company. ARKW, which actively invests in internet-based products and services, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and media innovations, as well as the ARKF fund focusing on fintech companies with long-term growth potential, have been the two other recipients of Coinbase stock this year. COIN peaked at $81.6 this year at the beginning of February amid the strong January performance for crypto markets; however it fell almost 22% last week to $57.09 at Fridays close bell. Coinbase Bull Cathie Woods Ark Innovation ETF Has Best Month Ever January was also a banner month for ARKK, with the funds shares soaring 28% from the end of December, marking its best monthly performance since 2014. The February downturn in crypto markets, which took the price of Bitcoin down 9.5% over the past two weeks, appears to have taken its toll on Arks leading investment product too, with ARKKs price falling to $39.17 on Friday from $44.41 at the beginning of the month. Story continues The overall drop in ARKKs price was partly softened by its soaring Tesla stock holdings; the electric car manufacturer's shares, which account for 10.58% of the fund, rallyed over 60% in the past month. "Decentralization wins" Crypto exchanges have found themselves in the regulatory spotlight over their staking services, after Kraken was slapped with a $30 million fine by the SEC for offering unregistered staking services in the U.S. With Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stating that the crypto exchange is prepared to go to court to defend its own staking offering, Wood has also weighed in on the SEC's actions. So, activity moves to offshore exchanges or to self custody, self sovereignty, and self control? Decentralization wins. Great! Given regulatory arbitrage, however, US exchanges lose to foreign exchanges, not so good for US competitiveness in the crypto revolutions, in my view. https://t.co/1Lv4IqVsmn Cathie Wood (@CathieDWood) February 11, 2023 "So, activity moves to offshore exchanges or to self custody, self sovereignty, and self control? Decentralization wins," Wood said, responding to a tweet from Ark Invest director of research Frank Downing, who compared the SEC action against Kraken to Chinas 2021 ban on Bitcoin mining. "Given regulatory arbitrage, however, US exchanges lose to foreign exchanges," Wood addedsomething she deemed, "not so good for US competitiveness in the crypto revolutions." Sexual attacks and other traumatic experiences have led to an unprecedented level of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts among America's young women, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. "Our teenage girls are suffering through an overwhelming wave of violence and trauma, and its affecting their mental health," said Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDCs Division of Adolescent and School Health. Results from the CDC's 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey show startling trends. Nearly 3 in 5 teen girls (57%) said they felt "persistently sad or hopeless." That's the highest rate in a decade. And 30% said they have seriously considered dying by suicide a percentage that's risen by nearly 60% over the past 10 years. "As a parent to a teenage girl, I am heartbroken. As a public health leader, Im driven to act," the CDCs chief medical officer, Dr. Debra Houry, said at an unusually emotional briefing Monday. The survey, which has been conducted every other year for three decades, includes responses from 17,232 U.S. high school students. Overall, more than 40% of boys and girls said that they'd felt so sad or hopeless within the past year that they were unable to do their regular activities, such as schoolwork or sports, for at least two weeks. When researchers looked at gender differences, girls were far more likely to report such feelings than boys. LGBTQ students and students who had any same-sex partners were more likely than their peers to experience poor mental health. (CDC) "It was so striking to us, the consistency with which girls were faring more poorly than boys," Ethier said. At least 52% of teenagers who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning said they struggled with mental health. (The survey did not ask whether a person was transgender.) LGBTQ kids "experience much more interpersonal stress from schools, from peers and from home, unfortunately," Julie Cerel, a licensed psychologist and director of the Suicide Prevention & Exposure Lab at the University of Kentucky, told NBC News. The CDC survey found that more than 1 in 5 such youth 22% had attempted suicide within the past year. Stigma and violence toward LGBTQ teenagers largely contributed to their poor mental health. Story continues In 2021, 22% of high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide during the previous year. Female students were more likely than male students to seriously consider attempting suicide. (CDC) Indeed, a dramatic rise in violent behavior, targeting girls in particular, was a stark finding in the CDC report. One such assault received national attention this month when Adriana Kuch, 14, was attacked as she walked down a high school hallway in New Jersey. Video of the incident was posted online in an attempt to make fun of her, Kuchs father said. Kuch died by suicide days later. Sexual violence, too, has risen among girls, with 1 in 5 saying they'd experienced it within the past year, the CDC said. Fourteen percent said they had been forced into having sex. That's a jump from 11% of teen girls who said they'd been sexually assaulted in 2019. "For every 10 teenage girls you know, at least one of them, and probably more, has been raped," Ethier said at the briefing. Houry recounted Monday a time when, as an emergency room physician, she treated a college student who had been sexually assaulted. "She was embarrassed and thought she hadnt done enough to stop it," Houry said. The survey also found that alcohol use continues to decline, with 23% of high school students saying they drank alcohol in the prior 30 days in 2021, compared with 39% in 2011. Only 16% said they currently use marijuana, compared with 23% in 2011. About 12% said they had ever misused prescription opioids, down from 14% in 2019 and 2017, the first year opioid use was included in the report. The survey did not ask students about reasons for their feelings of sadness or thoughts of harming themselves. While anxiety and depression increased among teens during the pandemic, the trends, especially among girls, have been building for years. Red flags parents should watch for Signs of a problem can be subtle, especially because it's normal for teens to act moody or pull away from their families during adolescence. Houry suggested asking teenagers about any unusual changes in eating and sleeping habits. It's critical to normalize conversations about mental health and give young people tools to handle crises before they happen, said Cerel, who was not involved in the CDC report. Ask teenagers whom they would call if they were feeling overwhelmed. Identify trusted adults and have their phone numbers handy. Figure out distractions that could help a young person get through a tough time until he or she is able to get help. Cerel calls the strategy "universal safety planning." "The idea is that everyone needs to be ready for their worst day," she said. Houry advised parents to be as involved as possible. "Know who their friends are. Know who those friends' parents are," Houry said. The CDC report calls for more programs in schools, such as sex ed, to address the ongoing and growing mental health crisis. We suggest that our schools start by educating their staff and their families all what mental health is, what supports are available and how they can access their services," said Anna King, president of the National PTA, who was part of the briefing Monday. She also called on Congress to target funding toward kids who have suffered traumas. Cerel said that with limited funding, schools are ill-equipped to do more. "It's a lot to ask schools with teachers who are underpaid and not necessarily trained" to address the wave of mental health problems, she said. "What we've been doing hasn't been working." If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Challenger search engine Neeva wants to replace the familiar "10 blue links" in search results with something more fitting for the modern AI age. Back in December, Neeva co-founder and CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy, who previously spearheaded Googles advertising tech business, teased new "cutting edge AI" and large language models (LLMs), positioning itself against the ChatGPT hype train. "ChatGPT cannot give you real time data or fact verification," Ramaswamy wrote at the time. "In our upcoming upgrades, Neeva can." Fast-forward to January, and Neeva formally launched NeevaAI to the U.S. market, pitched as "authentic, real-time AI search." While it was technically possible for users around the globe to access NeevaAI before now, it required a little jiggery-pokery in the account settings, involving changing language and location preferences. Today, however, NeevaAI is officially rolling out internationally to logged-in users, including Canada, the U.K., Germany, France and Spain. Additionally, the Neeva search engine itself (not NeevaAI) will be rolling out to Australia and New Zealand. The timing of today's announcement is particularly notable, coming a week after Microsoft reignited the search engine wars with the introduction of ChatGPT to its Bing search engine and, with it, the promise of a completely reimagined search experience. What the ChatGPT? Most years can pretty much be defined by at least one over-arching tech trend. In 2022, web3 was one of the big buzzwords in town, with the metaverse and tangential immersive technologies also jostling for mindshare. While there is nothing to indicate that such trends will wither any time soon, it's clear from the first six weeks of the new year that generative AI will be the big talking point of 2023. Generative AI, essentially, describes the process of using algorithms to create ("generate") new content. The poster child of this movement is ChatGPT, a chatbot-style technology trained on large language models (LLMs) capable of producing scarily good (but far from flawless) work such as essays, articles, poems, lyrics and even computer programs. The handiwork of OpenAI, a Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence (AI) research body, ChatGPT has taken the world by storm since its prototype was first introduced back in November, with some arguing that its launch signals AI's arrival into the mainstream. Story continues With OpenAI already commercializing the service through a premium subscription, the mighty Google last week scrambled into action to unveil a new "experimental conversational AI service" called Bard, showcasing how AI might transform search engines by powering synthesized responses collated from multiple sources to provide more nuanced answers to online queries. And that is what Microsoft actually launched two days later -- an all-new incarnation of Bing powered by a more advanced version of ChatGPT, customized for real-time search. Rather than serving the usual laddered list of links, the new AI-infused search engine takes a request, scans for answers and generates a response replete with citations to the original sources. The new AI-infused Bing search engine in action. Image Credits: Microsoft And this, effectively, is what Neeva is now bringing to international markets, a month on from its U.S. launch. The story so far By way of a brief recap, Mountain View, California-based Neeva first launched a subscription-only search engine in its domestic U.S. market in June 2021, and later went on to add a free "basic" tier to the mix with certain restrictions in place. The company brought the search engine to Europe back in October, and has since rolled it out to additional markets around the world. Neeva's core selling point is that it doesn't monetize through advertising, and it prevents third-party trackers from using personal data to display personalized ads -- Neeva wants to make money through good old-fashioned paid subscriptions. An ad-free search environment means that users don't have to scroll through myriad sponsored results to get to the organic links they want. However, Neeva's basic look-and-feel is much the same as search engines have been since before even Google arrived on the scene -- row after row of links to individual sources, with a few aesthetic deviations thrown into the mix. Neeva: Only organic search results. Image Credits: Neeva But with NeevaAI, the startup is looking to do its part in reinvent search. TechCrunch has been dabbling with NeevaAI over the past few weeks, and from our tests it performed pretty impressively, comfortably handling questions such as "Why were the Beatles so big?" or "What is the world 5k [running] record?," with Neeva generating a response from multiple cited sources in real time. These citations are key to avoiding the "black box" controversies that engulf many AI technologies. The idea here is that by showing people where it's sourcing its information from, this not only promotes transparency, but also gives those who have published content to the web the credit they deserve and increases their chances of follow-on referral traffic. NeevaAI in action. Image Credits: TechCrunch But some questions it simply isn't equipped to deal with. In those cases, it defaults to the familiar website-specific links and excerpts for users to peruse and figure out the answer for themselves. Neeva returning normal results. Image Credits: TechCrunch In an interview with TechCrunch for this story, Ramaswamy explained some of the rationale that went into developing NeevaAI, including how it decides when and where to generate answers from multiple sources. "Roughly speaking, it works for questions that we can find authority websites that answer that question," Ramaswamy explained. So, unlike many of the quirky examples we've seen so far of ChatGPT being tasked with writing lyrics in the style of Nick Cave, for instance, NeevaAI won't help you here. Likewise, if you ask it a trick question -- deliberately or otherwise -- it likely won't return an answer, reverting to the usual list of links for you to research yourself. "Our goal with NeevaAI was to -- first and foremost -- be fail-safe, we don't want to be telling you incorrect things," Ramaswamy continued. "So we opted for safety in how we retrieve (information)." An example here might be if someone was to ask NeevaAI when Boris Johnson served as the king of the United Kingdom, rather than the more accurate question of when he served as prime minister. It's the sort of question that could potentially trick any search engine, because there will undoubtedly be pages on the internet that contain all the words in the question -- so the onus is very much on NeevaAI to ensure that it understands the question, and gives an appropriate response. Or no response at all, which is what it will do with questions where it's not confident of the answer. NeevaAI refusing to answer a question. Image Credits: TechCrunch Clearly, NeevaAI's response here isn't perfect. A smarter response -- one that a human would undoubtedly deliver -- would be to tell the user that Boris Johnson wasn't in fact the king, but he did serve as prime minister. Or at the very least, generate a more satisfactory response that steers the user to refine the question. And this is something that could come to NeevaAI in a future iteration, though what form this ultimately takes isn't clear. "If you ask it some some silly question, it's just not going to say anything because there's nothing on the web that suggests that this is true or false," Ramaswamy said. "So when there's not an answer to be had, we decline to answer. But we will be fixing that soon." State of play TechCrunch's conversation with Ramaswamy took place before Bing's big reveal last week, so today's expansion into global markets has a slightly different feel to it than it might've done prior to the knowledge that Microsoft was basically doing the same thing -- with billions more dollars in its coffers to help. And it's clear now that Google will be doing something similar in the future. Elsewhere, other search engine upstarts are following a similar trajectory to that of Neeva. Back in December, venture-backed You.com launched similar ChatGPT-style AI smarts to that of Neeva. It's clear that Neeva has its work cut out if it's to differentiate in a market that includes long-established billion-dollar incumbents, and other agile startups, with much the same goals. However, Neeva is hopeful that its ad-free approach will win it enough supporters to see it flourish more generally as a search engine, at a time when the world has grown increasingly weary of big tech's big data harnessing. The likes of You.com doesn't yet deliver ads, but it has said it may offer "non-privacy invading" ads in the future. But more than all that, Neeva is betting on its future by developing its own search stack, rather than leaning on the same engine used by Google or Microsoft's Bing, as most other challengers do. None of this is to say, however, that Neeva is an entirely independent, self-sufficient entity. While it is pushing toward relying entirely on its own search stack, for now it does lean on Bing for some web search activity. And specific to NeevaAI, Ramaswamy confirmed that it works with "large language model companies" including OpenAI's GPT-3.5 and Claude from the heavily-venture backed Anthropic, which was founded by former OpenAI employees. "We use them for things like generating training data for us, and sometimes we will make calls to them to help with the summaries," Ramaswamy said. "Most models we use for NeevaAI are our own -- we pre-train or fine-tune them for custom tasks like question-answering or summarization." Founded four years ago, Neeva has taken on some $77.5 million in venture capital funding from Silicon Valley VC heavyweights, including Sequoia Capital and Greylock. So while it is up against the likes of Google and Microsoft, among other well-funded startups, it's not exactly without friends and finances itself. Irrespective of where Neeva goes from here, it's clear that 2023 is shaping up to be a big year for generative AI, evidenced by the likes of Shutterstock's recently-launched toolkit for creating stock images based on text prompts. Similarly, Neeva has no plans to limit the scope of its AI endeavors to simple search engine-based information retrieval, and is likely to expand into related verticals in the future. "Vivek [Neeva co-founder Vivek Raghunathan] and I are like kids in a candy shop, we don't know what to work on next," Ramaswamy joked. "There's just so much -- simple, natural follow-on things. Generative AI is one direction, doing site-specific search is another super-interesting direction. These are things that are easily adjacent to what we're doing." NeevaAI is available today in English for logged-in users on both the free and premium plans in the U.K. and Canada, as well as local language incarnations in Germany, France, and Spain. Two popular family-owned North Carolina beverage companies have partnered to create a new drink. Cheerwine and NoDa Brewing Company have released Cheerwine Ale, a wheat beer brewed using the iconic southern soft drink. ALSO READ: Cheerwine Festival returns to Salisbury this spring While this isnt the first Cheerwine-inspired beer created, this collaboration does mark a milestone for the 106-year-old soda: its the first time a canned beer offering featuring the soft drink will be available year-round in stores. For years, people have incorporated Cheerwine into barbecue sauces, cocktails, desserts and more, and now were adding beer to that list, Joy Ritchie Harper, vice-president of marketing for Cheerwine and fifth-generation founding family member, said in a news release. Like Cheerwine, NoDa is an iconic Carolina original, Harper added. As one of Charlottes first craft breweries, its a classic brand led by passionate people and the perfect partner to produce a Cheerwine-infused beer. Beginning this week, Cheerwine Ale, which comes in 16 oz. four-pack cans, is available at all North Carolina Food Lion grocery stores and select Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, and Total Wine locations. Its also on draft at select Charlotte and Triangle restaurants and bars as well as NoDa Brewing Companys four locations. In the coming weeks, it will be available at Publix, Ingles, and local bottle shops throughout the Carolinas. For more information, go to nodabrewing.com/cheerwine. VIDEO: Charlotte restaurateurs aim to preserve buildings history Chelseas midfield must compensate for the lack of a recognised striker if Graham Potter is to stand a chance of turning the clubs fortunes around, according to Glenn Hoddle. Potter takes his side to face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday on the back of a three-game winless Premier League run that has brought just a single goal. Saturdays draw against West Ham at the London Stadium left the Blues lagging 10 points behind in the race to finish in the top four, with little uplift in performances or results since owner Todd Boehly completed his whirlwind 315million January transfer spend. Kai Havertz continued in his role as a makeshift striker after the club failed to recruit an established goalscorer during January. The club are in desperate need of a positive result in Germany as supporters look for signs that the owners faith in Potter is justified, with a long run in Europe a possible tonic to domestic performances that, though showing flashes of promise, have failed to convince. Hes under pressure at the moment, Hoddle told the PA news agency. But I think hes got a set of owners that want him to survive, want him to get through this sticky time. The Champions League, if they get through Dortmund, could be the tipping point for him going on a really good run, for getting the confidence in the squad. If it goes well for Graham in Germany then it could be the foundation. It could be a stepping stone for him to get things really going. The problem is they dont look like a functioning team at the moment. They missed out on a striker, which was surprising. The key to their success will be the likes of Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Kai Havertz all chipping in scoring. They havent got a 20-plus goalscorer, so everyones got to come to the table to get Chelsea over the line in games. Potter currently has 34 first-team players at his disposal following Januarys recruitment and the extent of his options was illustrated by when he was forced to cut Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the clubs only proven goalscorer at this level from his Champions League selection. Story continues With a bloated squad beefed up by eight new faces during the transfer window, the manager is under pressure to figure out his best XI quickly, with the top-four seeming increasingly out of reach and success in Europe offering a possible back door into next seasons competition. Hoddle thinks Potter is equipped to take his side deep into the tournament but warned that the managers toughest job may yet come in maintaining harmony, not on the Stamford Bridge terraces, but within his own ranks. Your team spirit is only as good as the players that are off the pitch, said Hoddle. Particularly if youve got personalities that just wont look at the bigger picture. You can only play 11. If youve got a few people who arent going to play ball, that is disruptive. Theres no manager on earth that would be able to keep them all happy. Youve got to understand that, but so have the owners. Thirty-four into 11 just doesnt happen. Its going to be the toughest part of his management. You could get (Sir Alex) Ferguson, (Jose) Mourinho and (Bill) Nicholson at their best all rolled into one, they still wouldnt be able to manage that properly. But the owners see him as a longer project. Theyre desperate for him to do well, desperate for him to turn this corner and start planning. A new manager coming in tomorrow, Im not sure they could say theyll win the Champions League with a new manager, or well get in the top four with a new manager. There are reasons why theyre where they are and theyll want to give Graham that time to turn things around. :BT Sport is the exclusive home of the UEFA Champions League. Watch AC Milan v Spurs exclusively live on BT Sport 1 on Tuesday, February 14 from 7pm. For more info, visit btsport.com OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) As a child welfare specialist for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma more than a decade ago, Juli Skinner saw firsthand the impact of the opioid crisis on Cherokee families. Parents who began using the powerful painkillers after a surgery or injury became hooked and were losing custody of their children, babies were being born addicted and young people who ended up in foster care were aging out of the system and becoming addicted themselves, resulting in a generational impact. We didnt know what hit us. We were just floundering, recalled Skinner, now the director of behavioral health for the Cherokee Nation, which is headquartered in Tahlequah in northeast Oklahoma. Now, the nation's largest Native American tribe, with more than 440,000 enrolled citizens, plans to use a portion of its $98 million in opioid settlement funds to construct a 50-bed, 17,000-square-foot treatment facility in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where the tribe is headquartered. The facility, which tribal officials announced on Monday, will be completely operated by the tribe and provide no-cost treatment for Cherokee Nation citizens struggling with substance abuse. The $18 million treatment center is part of $73 million the tribe plans to spend building facilities across its reservation to address behavioral health needs, including drug treatment and prevention. Another $5 million will go into a tribal endowment to help pay for Cherokees to go to college and grad school to become therapists and medical professionals needed to staff the facilities. These will truly be drug treatment centers developed by Cherokees, for Cherokees, said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin. "It's not a federal government-imposed facility. The symbolism is also important, which is we are paying for this over the next five years and making the opioid industry pay for everything. There's a real sense of justice just making that statement. Story continues Native American tribes across the country settled with drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and the nation's largest drug distribution companies for $590 million that will be divvied up among hundreds of tribal nations, but the Cherokee Nation negotiated its own separate settlement with drug manufacturers and distributors. One of the things Hoskin and other Cherokee Nation officials are excited about is incorporating aspects of the tribe's culture into the recovery program. In addition to having peer recovery specialists who are Cherokees, the recovery curriculum includes traditional activities like bead making, talking circles and stickball. A person in recovery needs to know theyre not alone, Hoskin said. If youre Cherokee, theres a real cultural reason why youre not alone. We share traditions, even if those traditions in some families havent been practiced in generations. For Jennifer Lasiter, a 38-year-old Cherokee Nation citizen who struggled for years with opioid addiction after she began taking hydrocodone for a back injury, having a connection with other Cherokee citizens at her workplace has been an important part of her recovery. Just from working here at the Cherokee Nation, I believe that Cherokees band together and lift each other up, said Lasiter, a single mother of three children who works for the tribe's food distribution center and has been sober for five years. As a tribe, we all feel connected in some way. ___ Follow Sean Murphy at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters China's state-run refiners have been increasing purchases of Russian oil, and Beijing could give them the greenlight to ramp up further, according to Energy Aspects. Analysts said Chinese companies have been waiting for clear direction from Beijing on how much Russian oil to buy. China could see its daily Russian oil imports increase by 500,000 barrels per day this year, to about 2.2 million. Chinese state-run refiners have been increasing purchases of Russian oil, and it signals that imports could ramp up further once Beijing gives the greenlight, according to a note from Energy Aspects. Energy giants PetroChina and CNOOC have recently resumed buying waterborne Russian oil, Energy Aspects strategists said, and at least three supertankers of Urals crude were marked with China as a destination. Analysts noted China Petroleum and Sinopec could also see an uptick in imports in the coming months. Chinese refiners have maintained a low profile in making purchases of Russian supplies including Urals, primarily waiting for more clear guidance from Beijing, Energy Aspects said. But recent movement suggests officials are ready to give the go-ahead. "Majors had been waiting on the sidelines to increase imports of Russian crude beyond ESPO given no clear instruction from the government," strategists wrote, referring to a grade of Russian oil typically consumed in Asia. "Incremental growth in demand for Russian crude will mean we will now have to reassess our assumptions for Russian production shut-ins." China has been a top buyer of Russian oil since President Vladimir Putin launched his war on Ukraine last year. But since the European Union banned seaborne imports of Russian oil and set a price cap in December, some buyers had turned more cautious. China this year could see its daily imports from Russia climb by as much as 500,000 barrels per day to hit roughly 2.2 million barrels, Energy Aspects added. That figure could jump again to 2.5 million barrels if the Chinese government chooses to import more Urals for its reserves. Story continues "We expect growth in imports from Russian to be notable from March onwards and the China Customs data release in early April may fully confirm the trend," Energy Aspects explained. Moscow, for its part, has reiterated its "no limits" strategic partnership with Beijing, and is aiming to hit $200 billion of trade with China this year and bring the relationship to a "new level." Meanwhile, Russian crude is being ferried by Iran's growing "ghost" armada to get around Western sanctions, per the Financial Times. The report said the volume of Russian crude shipped on these types of ships surged to 9 million barrels in January, up from less than 3 million barrels in November. Read the original article on Business Insider By Martin Quin Pollard and Trevor Hunnicutt BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -China said on Monday that U.S. high altitude balloons had flown over its airspace without permission more than 10 times since the beginning of 2022, drawing a swift denial from Washington. China's accusation widened a dispute with the United States that began after the U.S. military shot down on Feb. 4 what it says was a Chinese spy balloon, whose appearance prompted top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken to cancel a trip to Beijing designed to ease tensions. Since then, the U.S. military has shot down three other flying objects over North America, most recently on Sunday, when an octagonal object was downed over Lake Huron, the Pentagon said. "Since last year, the U.S.' high-altitude balloons have undergone more than 10 illegal flights into Chinese airspace without the approval of the relevant Chinese departments," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular briefing in Beijing in response to a question. Wang did not specifically describe the balloons as military, or for espionage purposes and did not provide further details. The White House promptly denied China's accusation, which National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson dismissed as an effort at damage control by Beijing. "Any claim that the U.S. government operates surveillance balloons over the PRC (People's Republic of China) is false," she said in a statement. "It is China that has a high altitude surveillance balloon program for intelligence collection, connected to the Peoples Liberation Army, that it has used to violate the sovereignty of the United States and over 40 countries across five continents." China has failed to offer "any credible explanations" for the intrusions, she added. Earlier, national security spokesman John Kirby told MSNBC in an interview: "Just absolutely not true. We are not flying balloons over China." Story continues The U.S. Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment. China's assertion comes after the United States shot down what it called a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4 after it had drifted across the continental United States for days. China said the balloon was a civilian research craft that had mistakenly blown off course and accused the United States of overreacting. Chinese foreign ministry's Wang said he had no information on the latest three objects shot down by the United States. Gregory Poling, an Indo-Pacific maritime security expert at Washingtons Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said he was not aware of any U.S. use of balloons for surveillance, although he added "I suspect none of us would know for sure." He noted that China considers the airspace over Taiwan, over territory it disputes with Japan, and much if not all of the South China Sea to be its territorial air space. (Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard in Beijing, Trevor Hunnicutt, Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Alex Richardson, Sharon Singleton, Nick Zieminski and Marguerita Choy) BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top diplomat Wang Yi will attend the Munich Security Conference this month and plans to visit several countries including Russia, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday. Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will also visit France, Italy and Hungary this month, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing. The 59th Munich Security Conference will be held over Feb. 17-19, with several global leaders attending, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. (This story has been refiled to correct to Wang on second reference in paragraph 2) (Reporting by Martin Pollard; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Himani Sarkar) (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines said China should restrict its forces to prevent committing any provocative act after a Chinese ship directed a military-grade laser light at a Philippine coast guard vessel in an area claimed by both nations in the South China Sea. Most Read from Bloomberg It is time for the Chinese government to restrain its forces so that it does not commit any provocative act that will endanger the lives of people, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Medel Aguilar told reporters on Monday. His comments followed a report by the Philippine Coast Guard that a Chinese coast guard ship illuminated the green laser light twice toward a Philippine vessel while it was on a rotation and resupply mission near Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, on Feb. 6, causing temporary blindness to the crew. The deliberate blocking of Philippine government ships...is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights, Manilas coast guard said in a statement. The Chinese coast guard also prevented Philippine ships from coming closer to Ayungin Shoal while on a resupply mission in August, it added. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the Philippine ship intruded in the area without authorization. We urge the Philippine side to respect Chinas sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and avoid actions that might escalate the situation, Wang told reporters during a regular briefing on Monday. Asked if China did use lasers, Wang said: That is incorrect. Tensions between Manila and Beijing have risen recently as China increases its presence in the South China Sea, with Chinese ships regularly seen trailing Philippine fishing vessels, often intercepting them and forcing them to divert from contested areas. Story continues Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to discuss maritime differences amicably during Marcoss visit to Beijing in January. Earlier this month, the US and the Philippines have agreed to resume joint patrols in the South China Sea amid lingering tensions with China in the disputed waters. --With assistance from Colum Murphy. (Adds comments from Philippine military, Chinese foreign ministry) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. WADE VANDERVORT/AFP via Getty Images Christie called it a "big mistake" for the GOP to heckle Biden at the State of the Union. Christie said that by booing Biden, Republicans were falling for the president's "bait." A better response from the GOP, Christie said, would have been to laugh and move on. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said it was a mistake for Republicans to heckle President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address. "Big mistake. Look, you know, you don't want to you don't want to rise to the bait. And they did, a number of them did, and it was a big mistake," Christie told ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. Christie was referring to the moment in Biden's speech when the president accused some members of the GOP of wanting to "sunset" Medicare and Social Security. The comment was met with a chorus of boos from the GOP. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was also seen shouting "liar" at Biden. "Look, the better response would have been to respond to that with laughter," Christie said, adding that Republicans should have just "moved on." "The yelling and the screaming stuff, look, I think that's always bad. It doesn't get you anywhere," Christie said. "And it gave Joe Biden an opportunity to engage them back in a way that was spontaneous, that I think was probably the best part of his entire speech." And Biden did immediately rebut the Republicans who booed him on Tuesday. "So folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right? Alright," Biden said, going off-script in response to the rowdy GOP lawmakers. Republican lawmakers heckled Biden despite House Speaker Kevin McCarthy issuing a warning to the GOP earlier that day, cautioning them against resorting to "childish" behavior during the speech. Greene was one of the rowdiest when Biden talked about the tense relationship between the US and China, she was heard shouting: "China spied on us." Meanwhile, Greene told The New York Times on Wednesday that she is not worried about being reprimanded by McCarthy for her behavior at the State of the Union address. Story continues "I have the speaker's support, and he has mine," she told The Times. Representatives for Greene and Christie's team at the Christie Institute for Public Policy did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider (Getty Images) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that a ban on TikTok in the United States should be looked at as tensions with China escalate. The Beijing-based company Bytedance owns the popular social media app. Former president Donald Trump explored the idea of banning TikTok and Republicans like Senator Josh Hawley have supported doing so. It's something that should be looked at, Mr Schumer said in an interview with ABC News. We do know there's Chinese ownership of the company that owns TikTok. Mr Schumer said some members of the Senate Commerce Committee were exploring the idea. We'll see - we'll see where they come out, he said. The majority leaders words come after the United States shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of the Carolinas. Mr Schumer noted how Senator Jon Tester of Montana was looking into why it took so long to shoot down the device when it was spotted over Montana. I think our military, our intelligence are doing a great job, present and future, he said. I feel a lot of confidence in what they're doing. But why -- why as far back as the Trump administration did no one know about this? Mr Schumer noted that he has long been a critic of China but added that China is the second biggest economic and geopolitical superpower in the world. We can't just have a cold war with them. We have to have a relationship with them. But China has taken advantage of us over and over and over again. And this administration has been just about tougher than any other. Last year, Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed legislation to manufacture more semiconductors in the United States to compete with China and added that the companies that manufacture the balloons are sanctioned. So I think this administration is strong and tough on China, but mindful of the fact that we just -- you know, we can't stop talking to them. We have to try to have some kind of relationship, he said. Residents in Clinton who use Verizon Wireless may be having trouble connecting to 911 dispatchers, police say. Findlay Township Police Department said a Verizon Wireless outage is causing the disconnect. Authorities are asking anyone who may run into an emergency to use whatever is available to them for help. They recommend using landline phones, contacting a family member with a different carrier or using a Wi-Fi-based calling system if they are connected to the internet. Channel 11 has reached out to a Verizon Wireless spokesperson who said the company is looking into the situation. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Local teacher charged after investigation into alleged inappropriate relationship with student Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority issues boil water advisory in some neighborhoods Fire burns through roof at Elizabeth Forward High School VIDEO: South Fayette native heading to Super Bowl with Kansas City Chiefs, hoping for second win DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The Coast Guard rescued two people from a wayward rowboat in Hood Canal Sunday night, according to a media release from the United States Coast Guard. At about 6:18 p.m. Sunday, the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a report of two people in a rowboat that were struggling to maneuver for over two hours due to strong currents and winds. Crews responded to the scene to assist with the rescue and arrived at 7:45 p.m. A rescue swimmer was deployed and hoisted both people into a helicopter. They were transported to waiting family members at Bremerton National Airport in stable condition. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida at a news conference in Miami, Fla., on January 26, 2023. AP Photo/Marta Lavandier Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration blocked the teaching of AP African American studies last month. The College Board clapped back on Saturday, defending the course. The board also denounced the education department's political agenda. The College Board on Saturday clapped back at Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education. In a statement, the board discussed the importance of critical conversation around what is taught to students but condemned DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education from deviating from healthy debate. Instead, the College Board said the administration has leaned into spreading misinformation: "We need to clear the air and set the record straight." The FDOE claimed the proposed AP course was "inexplicably contrary to Florida law" and "significantly lacks educational value," according to ABC News. The College Board described the AP African American class as a course that "reaches into a variety of fields literature, the arts and humanities, political science, geography, and science to explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans." "We deeply regret not immediately denouncing the Florida Department of Education's slander, magnified by the DeSantis administration's subsequent comments, that African American Studies 'lacks educational value,'" the board wrote on Sunday. "Our failure to raise our voice betrayed Black scholars everywhere and those who have long toiled to build this remarkable field." The College Board maintained that the course framework was just an outline for the pilot course. It also said that they should have been clearer about "contemporary events like the Black Lives Matter movement, reparations, and mass incarceration" being optional components in the course framework. The board wrote that these two actions left their motives up to interpretation. The organization also slammed the administration for taking credit for changes that the College Board made to the course and said that there have not been any negotiations between the College Board and the FDOE. Story continues "They also claimed that we removed terms like "systemic marginalization" and "intersectionality" at their behest. This is not true. The notion that we needed Florida to enlighten us that these terms are politicized in several states is ridiculous. We took a hard look at these terms because they often are misunderstood, misrepresented, and co-opted as political weapons," the board's statement read. The course is set to use actual examples of concepts rather than focusing on utilizing specific language and terminology. The organization also highlighted the importance of scholars and educators that are helping to pilot the course. "The College Board condemns this uninformed caricature of African American Studies and the harm it does to scholars and students," the statement continues. "This new AP course can be historic what makes history are the lived experiences of millions of African Americans, and the long work of scholars who have built this field. We hope our future efforts will unmistakably and unequivocally honor their work." The state has aimed to limit the teaching of race and gender through various legislation like the Stop Woke Act, the ban on Critical Race Theory, and the Don't Say Gay Act. Hillsborough County School Board member Jessica Vaughn previously told Insider that Florida has been "slowly eroding traditional public education" and pushing "a lot of far-right politics in education." "We have made the mistake of treating FDOE with the courtesy we always accord to an education agency, but they have instead exploited this courtesy for their political agenda," the board also said. DeSantis and FDOE did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider The College Board is responding to state officials over Floridas ban on a new AP African American Studies course. The organization released a statement saying it should have addressed the Florida Department of Education sooner. This statement marks the first time we heard from the College Board since the state rejected the course last month. Read: What we know about AP African American Studies, and why Florida doesnt want it The course is the latest addition to the College Boards AP program, which allows high school students to take classes for college credit. The state rejected the program because it included topics like the Black Lives Matter Movement, Black feminism and reparations. The state also questioned the inclusion of some Black authors and historians in writings that discuss critical race theory. Channel 9 has heard from multiple organizations, elected officials and attorneys about the issue over the past several weeks. Read: NAACP responds to DeSantis banning AP African American Studies course Now, the College Board said the dialogue surrounding the course has moved from a healthy debate to misinformation. In the letter, the College Board addresses its late response to the rejection of the course. The statement reads, We deeply regret not immediately denouncing the Florida Department of Educations slander, magnified by the DeSantis administrations subsequent comments, that African American Studies lacks educational value. Our failure to raise our voice betrayed Black scholars everywhere and those who have long toiled to build this remarkable field. Read: Orange County library honors African American literature during Black History Month Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a number of laws to restrict what can be taught in Florida schools. He made a statement about the issue earlier this month. Most universities in this country have gone in the direction of using education for ideology, DeSantis said. Story continues In the letter, the College Board also said the course framework is only an outline, and specific topics were always meant to be optional in the pilot program. The Florida Department of Education is expected to review the course for AP consideration next fall. Channel 9 has reached out to the governors office for an updated response to the letter and is still awaiting a response. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. The College Board on Saturday accused the Florida Department of Education of "slander," after ongoing critiques of its Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course, which was rolled out in a pilot program across 60 unnamed U.S. high schools this year. It is unclear if any of those schools are in Florida. "Our commitment to AP African American Studies is unwavering," wrote the College Board in a statement, before expressing regret for the way it had handled the ongoing tension with the state's Education Department. "We deeply regret not immediately denouncing the Florida Department of Education's slander, magnified by the DeSantis administration's subsequent comments, that African American Studies 'lacks educational value.' Our failure to raise our voice betrayed Black scholars everywhere and those who have long toiled to build this remarkable field," read the statement. The College Board went on to say that "we have made the mistake of treating FDOE with the courtesy we always accord to an education agency, but they have instead exploited this courtesy for their political agenda." DeSantis criticized the College Board's letter in a Monday press conference, saying they put in subjects like Black queer theory and intersectionality into the course, "not us." He continued to characterize the course's proposed syllabus as "indoctrination that runs afoul of our standards." Student Samaya Robinson, 17, holds a sign in protest of the district's ban of critical race theory curriculum at Great Oak High School in Temecula, California, on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. / Credit: Watchara Phomicinda/The Press-Enterprise via Getty Images Without naming specifics, DeSantis suggestd that other states agreed with his administration's move to reject the course, but that Florida was the "only ones that had the backbone to stand up and do it." "I'm so sick of people not doing what's right because they're worried people are going to call them names," he said. DeSantis said that "there are probably some other vendors who may be able to do that job as good or maybe even a lot better" than the College Board for the Advanced Placement course system. He said he has talked with Florida House Speaker Paul Ranner about the legislature re-evaluating "how Florida is doing that." Story continues "Of course, our university can or can't accept College Board courses for credit... but at the end of the day, we highlighted things that were very problematic," he said. "Why don't we just do and teach the things that matter? Why is it always someone has to try and jam their agenda down our throats?" Last month, DeSantis' administration blocked the introduction of AP African American Studies. In a Jan. 12 letter to the College Board, the state Education Department's Office of Articulation said that "in its current form" the "course lacks educational value and is contrary to Florida law." Just weeks later, the College Board posted the course curriculum for AP African American Studies online, which was now missing some of the subjects DeSantis had expressed particular concerns about, such as writings associated with critical race theory, the queer experience, and Black feminism, the New York Times reported. On Feb. 7, the state's Office of Articulation wrote to the College Board in response to its revised curriculum, saying that "by no coincidence, we were grateful to see that the College Board's revised February 1, 2023, framework removed 19 topics, many of which FDOE cited as conflicting with Florida law, including discriminatory and historically fictional topics." "In Florida's effort to engineer a political win, they have claimed credit for the specific changes we made to the official framework, none of which they ever asked us to remove, and most of which remain in the official framework," the College Board responded in its statement Saturday. On the characterization of some topics as "historically fictional," the statement continued: "The College Board condemns this uninformed caricature of African American Studies and the harm it does to scholars and students." Last March, DeSantis signed the "Stop WOKE Act," which prohibits the teaching of critical race theory in Florida schools. The College Board said Saturday that allegations that the board was in "frequent dialogue" with Florida officials regarding the "content" of the course was a "false and politically motivated charge." FILE -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reacts after signing House Bill 7 also dubbed the "We had no negotiations about the content of this course with Florida or any other state, nor did we receive any requests, suggestions or feedback," read the College Board's statement. Henry-Louis Gates, Jr., one of the country's foremost experts on African American history and who helped develop the AP African American Studies program told Time magazine that the course specifically "is not CRT." "It is a mainstream, rigorously vetted, academic approach to a vibrant field of study, one half a century old in the American academy, and much older, of course, in historically Black colleges and universities," he said. The AP program, which gives high school students an opportunity to take college-level courses before graduation, covers 38 subjects, including English literature and composition, U.S. government and politics, statistics and art history. The AP African American Studies course is the College Board's first new offering since 2014, according to Time, and will cover more than 400 years of African American history. It had been in the works for over a decade before its initial pilot, and the curriculum will span several topics, including literature, political science and geography. Aaron Navarro contributed to this report. At least 8 people injured after U-Haul truck strikes pedestrians in Brooklyn U.S. military shoots down unidentified objects Michigan Congressman says Americans "deserve far more answers" on shot down objects Professor Yacoub on the French Recognition of the Assyrian Genocide Professor Joseph Yacoub and his wife Claire Yacoub. ( AINA) Paris (AINA) -- The French Senate passed a resolution on Wednesday, February 8th (AINA 2023-02-09), calling on the government to recognize the genocide of the Assyrian-Chaldeans of 1915-1918 and to make the day of April 24 a joint day of commemoration for the Armenian and Assyrian-Chaldean genocides. After the discussion the resolution was adopted by 300 votes to 2. In the shadow of WWI, the Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs), living in sountheastern region of the Ottoman Empire, too were deported, expelled and massacred by the Ottoman Empire, in the same manner as the Armenians. France recognized the genocide of the Armenians in January 29, 2001. The proposal for the resolution under the title On the recognition of the genocide of the Assyro-Chaldeans of 1915-1918, was tabled by Senator Valerie Boyer (Member of the Republicans - LR) and co-singed by LR Group leaders Bruno Retailleau and Herve Marseille. It gained immediate support from more than 70 senators when it was recorded into the Senate on January 6, 2023. The five-page explanatory section of the resolution cites Professor Joseph Yacoub as an expert. According to Professor Yacoub, this "genocide and looting of land and property was accompanied by severe attacks on the cultural heritage: Historical monuments were destroyed and left abandoned, churches desecrated and schools demolished. Libraries of rare books and valuable manuscripts were squandered and destroyed, such as those of the Chaldean diocese of Seert or the Assyrian patriarchal seat in Kotchanes, a small village in Hakkari now abandoned, or the monasteries of the Syriac Churches in the Tur Abdin region." I had the opportunity to talk o Professor Yacoub right after the resolution passed. He was not only present among the Assyrian personalities and representatives of various institutions following the historic Senate session, but also had a decisive part along the process to this resolution, In this interview, he speaks about the importance of this decision and the process that lead to it. Abdulmesih BarAbraham AB: Professor Yacoub, thank you for your readiness to this interview. Please allow me first to congratulate the Assyrians in France and in particular you as a scholar and expert for pushing for the recent recognition of the Assyro-Chaldeans Genocide by the French Senate, which was accepted by an impressive majority. It seems it was the first time in France that the question of the genocide of the Assyrian-Chaldeans has been submitted to the Senate, followed by a vote. Professor Joseph Yacoub JY: First of all, thank you very much dear friend Abdulmesih. Wednesday February 8, 2023 is not an ordinary day. We are facing history. The motion for a resolution to recognize the Assyro-Chaldean Genocide of 1915-1918 was examined in a public session by the French Senate and adopted by an overwhelming majority of votes casted: 300 for and 2 against! We owe this to the initiative of these noble children of France: Senator Valerie Boyer and Senator Bruno Retailleau, whose perseverance and tenacity have paid off. We salute in the same vein the continuous work accomplished by our dear and faithful friend Francois Pupponi, former MP of Val d'Oise and former mayor of Sarcelles. We express our deepest thanks and gratitude to these three pioneers. How to explain this positive vote of the senators and how to analyze it? The current dramatic news related to the Eastern Christians in Iraq, Syria and Turkey undoubtedly contributed to this. In this context, the situation of the Assyro-Chaldeans, a community that suffered persecution, migration and dispersion, has led us to re-visit the history. In doing so, parallels were drawn between the persecutions by the Islamic State (ISIS) and the genocidal and ethnocidal tragedy committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1918. This explains why this tragedy has gradually entered people's consciousness, and French politicians have seized upon it to place it in the public debate, since 2013, hoping to bring it to a successful conclusion. AB: Indeed, the decision marks a historic event. Reading the explantory section of the passed resolution, you are particulary cited there. This speaks for your engagement in the background in the preparation of this resolution. Could you elaborate on this. JY: It is the result of a long work of research and memory, which today finds a favorable echo. Let's start at the beginning. In my opinion, there can be no recognition without prior knowledge, knowledge being the mother of all battles, then comes communication. This work focused on our people, small in size, began in the 1980s. This renewal has two components: intellectual and political. At the intellectual level, this meant serious academic research, which consisted of consulting unpublished rare documents and archives of various Western countries, to which must be added literature in Aramaic-Syriac and Arabic, written by eyewitnesses. It was then necessary to classify them in a synthetic way and to analyze them in the light of the international norms adopted on genocide, thinking in particular of the work of the lawyer Raphael Lemkin. This work made it possible to break the silence surrounding the Assyrian question by giving it a solid basis and a foundation that validates it. It now enjoys a scientific status. This has resulted in publications in the form of books, studies in periodicals and numerous press articles and interviews. Since then, symposia and conferences have followed one another, with echoes in the media. At the political level, the research work was accompanied by fieldwork aimed at public authorities (local, departmental and regional elected officials and government authorities) and the media. Here, we must mention the tireless work undertaken by the Assyro-Chaldean community, particularly in the Val d'Oise Department, which, having fled Turkey from 1980 onwards, had kept the memories of the suffering and calamities endured by their people in 1915. The role of the associations is important to note. Active for 35 years, interlocutor of the public authorities, the two oldest associations, Association des Assyro-Chaldeens de France (AACF) and Union des Assyro-Chaldeens de France (UACF), must be mentioned for their activities of publicizing the question, as well as the role of the Assyrian diaspora in the world (Germany, Sweden, the United States), which drives a growing fight on this subject, the motto being: Not to forget! In this context, I must also mention the work done by people like yourself, dear Abdulmesih. Thus, gradually, a broad consensus has emerged to position the issue in the public debate. AB: Following your writings and published book over the last years, they appeared in very prestigious publications. Key themes are history, culture, religion and the genocide of Assyro-Chaldeans. Just about two weeks in the run-up for the decision of the French Senate, an important article of yours was published in the internationally renowned Le Figaro under the title The official recognition of the Assyrian-Chaldean genocide is a duty of memory. In it, you appeal to the long French tradition of solidarity with Oriental Christians. What historical circumstances do you base that solidarity on? JY: Indeed, to grasp the significance of this act of recognition, we must go back in time in order to discover that France has always shown solidarity with the oppressed minorities of the Middle East and has shown particular benevolence towards the Assyro-Chaldeans. Here, the past is remembered in our memory. With respect to the genocidal and ethnocidal tragedy of 1915-1918, France had taken a particular interest. Political and religious circles, intellectuals and the media had denounced these massacres. Let us recall that between 1915 and 1925, the Assyro-Chaldean question was an international topic, widely debated, even if the memory of their tragedy was somewhat obliterated between 1925 and 1970, to reappear from 1980 on. Author of numerous works and a canon of Beauvais, Eugene Griselle (1861-1923), was an active advocate of the cause of the Assyro-Chaldeans in 1917 through his publications and his actions. Denys Cochin (1851-1922), MP of Paris, minister, writer and member of the French Academy, published an article in Le Figaro, on July 13, 1919, entitled Pour L'Armenie (for Armenia), in which we read: "A new massacre of Christians is imminent. The rest of Urmia's women and children are in danger. The Nestorian and Armenian people ask for help immediately. Any delay may be fatal." Further he added: "Turkish fury did not distinguish between the Greek Orthodox, the Catholics, the Nestorians, the Chaldeans, or even the Yezidis, who are neither Christians nor Muslims and preserve, it is said, sacred books of fabulous antiquity, and the worship of the gods of Nineveh and Babylon." Men of letters have also been noted for their defense of the Assyro-Chaldeans, such as Frederic Masson (1847-1923), perpetual secretary of the French Academy. It should also be remembered that Frenchmen fell with the Assyrians in June-July 1918 on the Turkish-Persian front, in Urmia and Khosrava. We think in particular of Mgr. Jacques-Emile Sontag, son of Alsace, and Mathurin L'Hotellier, son of Brittany, along with two Assyrian martyrs: Francois Miraziz and Nathanael Dinkha. That being said, France's relationship with the Eastern Christians and the Assyro-Chaldeans date from before the tragedy of 1915, connections having been woven over the centuries. James (Yacoub) of Assyria in Tarentaise and Abraham of the Euphrates in Auvergne already mark a presence of Mesopotamia in Gaul in the 5th century. The historian Gregory of Tours in the 6th century (540-594) evokes these Orientals present in France who welcomed the Merovingian king Gontran in Orleans. Moreover, these Orientals spoke Aramaic, the language of Christ. The nineteeth century inaugurates a crucial period. Through its works, France contributed to resurrect a people and its civilization, namely Nineveh and Babylon, long disappeared under the rubble. Thus, the funerary slab that enclosed it was lifted, to borrow this beautiful metaphor from Doctor Paul Caujole, head of the French Ambulance in Urmia. A world that we thought had become forever mute, collapsed and lifeless, is now coming back to life. In this respect, the role of the French consuls in Mosul, in particular Paul-Emile Botta and Victor Place, was decisive. As early as 1847, archaeological pieces arrived by river to Le Havre to be placed in the Louvre Museum. AB: You just cited the article on the front page of the Le Figaro from July 13, 1919, in which the French readers were informed that "a new massacre of Christians is imminent. The rest of the women and children of Urmia are in danger. The Nestorian and Armenian people ask for help immediately. Any delay may be fatal ...Turkish fury did not distinguish between the Orthodox Greeks, the Catholics, the Nestorians, the Chaldeans, or even the Yezidis." Can we say that at the end of WW I the French authorities and public were aware of the deportations and massacres took place in East Anatolia and along the Border of Persia? JY: Yes, that is absolutely correct. Studying the French documents of the time and by scrutinizing the accounts and testimonies, we can see that the orders came from above, conceived by the Ottoman central power, the overall organization was methodically planned, the acts premeditated, and the execution systematic. The Dominican Hyacinthe Simon, who witnessed the massacres in Mardin, wrote in 1919: "The spring was not in our mountains, but in the capital; and I will deny the existence of the sun rather than the truth of this axiom: "The Young Turks of Constantinople have massacred the Christians of Turkey." Speaking of responsibilities, another Dominican, Jacques Rhetore (1841-1921), who was also present in Mardin, challenged the Turkish authorities for their crimes in these terms: "These ministers of Constantinople who decreed the massacres, and these high officials who accepted the mission carrying them out." Even the daily American press reported. The New York Times for instance published on January 13, 1915, an article entitled: Christians in great peril, reporting on the precarious situation of the Christians of Turkey. The subtitle pointed to a clear ideological intentions of the government and its desire to homogenize the country by turquifying it. Talaat Bey declared, the newspaper wrote, "that there is room only for Turks in Turkey". As for the massacres of Christians in Persia, conducted on the orders of the Turks, we can quote the American Presbyterian missionary Dr. William A. Shedd, who clearly blames Turkey during its occupation of the Urmia region from early January until May 20, 1915: "The Turks recruited large Kurdish forces from the region of Sujbulak and from the eastern districts of Turkey; with minor forces from Urmia and Salamas they assembled against Khoi and came to join the Turkish forces in Van under the leadership of Djevdet Bey. (...) During the months of Turkish occupation, there was never a moment of real security for the Christians. (...) During this period, the Turks were guilty not only of the actual failure to protect the Christians, but also of the direct massacres committed under their orders." It was the same in 1918 on the Turkish-Persian front, where French diplomacy was very active. AB: Could you briefly remark on the position of France with regards to the demands of the Assyro-Chaldean delegations consisting of civil and religious leaders from all denominations during the post-war peace conference held in Paris 1919-20? Was France attentive to their demands? JY: Yes, at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, many Assyro-Chaldean delegates, both civil and religious, presented themselves, demanding autonomy for their homeland. One of the texts presented, we found it at the Municipal Library of Lyon, as a document of President Edouard Herriot. AB: It seems France had very extensive knowledge of and interaction with the Assyro-Chaldeans and their Churches, which certainly served as a historical reference for the present Senators and facilitated their decision. But, what were the key arguments of the resolution that at the end of the day convinced the overwelming majority of the Senators? JY: In my opinion, it was the discovery of the genocide of 1915-1918, along with that of the Armenians, that was the driving force. AB: A Le Figaro article cites Senator Pierre Ouzoulias clearly saying that Assyro-Chaldeans were co-victims of the Armenian Genocide, but their genocide needs to be recognized on its own. In addition Senator Valerie Boyer was cited talking about France's role as a protective power towards the Christians in the Ottoman Empire and history that goes back to the capitulation in the 16th century. Could you explain this in more detail? JY: Indeed, the 16th century saw the beginning of the era of Capitulations with the Ottoman Empire, by King Francois I and Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Since then, agreements have been concluded which allowed France, through its diplomatic and cultural representatives, to play an important role in the East, particularly in the field of education, until today. France has also established since the 16th century, missions in Persia, where Assyrians have lived for more than 2000 years. AB: How did the French press comment on this recognition and the Senate's decision? JY: The event was widely and positively reported by the French media. I will mention in particular the daily newspaper Le Figaro. The journalist Jean Chichizola, deputy editor-in-chief, devoted two articles to the event, one before the vote, the other after the vote, whose titles and dates are as follows: "Towards a recognition of the genocide of the Assyro-Chaldeans" (February 6) and "The Senate recognizes the Assyro-Chaldean Genocide" (February 10) AB: The resolution calls on the government to recognize the genocide of the Assyro-Chaldeans of 1915-1918 and to make the day of April 24 a joint day of commemoration for the Armenian and Assyro-Chaldean genocides. How are the chances that the French government accepts this call? The reason I raise the question is that German government up to know did not act on the Genocide Resolution passed by the Bundestag in 2016. JY: At the outset, what is important to note is that the resolution adopted by the Senate recognizes the Assyro-Chaldean people as a distinct people, as well as its tragedy. In other words, the Senate text goes beyond commemoration, calling for the inclusion of this genocide as such. By emphesizing it as non-collateral to other massacres, that is to say, as singular, which cannot be confused with others. However, if we look at the texts recognizing the Armenian Genocide, adopted by the US House of Representatives and the German Bundestag, we see that they recognize, indirectly if I may say so, the Assyrian Genocide (under different names), which nevertheless remains confined to the explanatory memoranda, without going further. Hence the importance of direct recognition, as the French Senate is doing today, is very important. It was therefore important to make the Assyrian-Chaldean Genocide a separate theme, to do justice to it and endow them with the status as a distinct people, with their own uniqueness, added to that of our Armenian brothers. For years, personalities have been fighting for the recognition of the Assyro-Chaldean genocide, in the name of truth and to honor the memory of the victims. Members of Parliament are now working to have a text tabled in the National Assembly. Steps are underway. We hope that the French government will give a favorable response to this resolution. With this resolution, a new page is opened which marks the passage of the Assyro-Chaldeans from a people classified on the margins of history to a people now included in history. Professor Joseph Yacoub is honorary professor of political science at the Catholic University of Lyon and was the first holder of UNESCO's Chair of "Memory, Cultures and Interculturality." He is an expert on minority issues, human rights and Eastern Christianity. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the Assyro-Chaldeans and the Oriental Christians. His most recent book (co-written with his wife Claire Yacoub) is Martyrs par amour en Perse. Mgr Sontag et ses trois compagnons (Martyrs for Love in Persia. Bishop Sontag and his three Companions). Joseph Yacoub is born in Hassake, Syria. His parents, originally from Iranian Azerbaijan (Salamas district), suffered during the Turkish genocide of Assyrians during World War I, taking refuge in Georgia before settling in Syria in 1921. The interview was conducted in French and translated. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, believes that Ukraine's victory should mean not only the liberation of territories, but also the strengthening of the Ukrainian army so that Russia will never attack Ukraine again. Source: Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces on Facebook and Telegram Details: Zaluzhnyi expressed this opinion in a phone conversation with General Christopher Cavoli, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander of U.S. European Command. The conversation took place on the eve of a meeting of the Ramstein Defence Contact Group. Zaluzhnyi and Cavoli discussed the supply of international military aid to Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian units in partner countries. The Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces shared with his American counterpart his assessment of the operational situation on the front line of the Russian-Ukrainian war and plans for further actions. Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "I am grateful to General Cavoli for his deep understanding of the situation and significant efforts to the acceleration of our Victory, the vision of which I shared today with my interlocutor. The Victory of Ukraine will mean not only the liberation of its territories, but also the creation of such conditions and such Armed Forces that will not give the Russians the opportunity to attack our country at any time in the future." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Mississippi has been hit with a rise of congenital syphilis (CS) in newborns, as theres been a 900 per cent increase of babies diagnosed with the disease. Dr Thomas Dobbs, the medical director for the Mississippi State Department of Healths Crossroads Clinic in Jackson, shared an analysis of the hospitals billing data in a recent interview with NBC News. More than 102 newborns were treated for sexually transmitted diseases in the state in 2021, while only 10 were treated for it in 2016, according to the data. This shows a 900 per cent increase in cases over the last five years. The STDs are a result of CS, which occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy, as noted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although the Mississippi State Department of Health doesnt officially track the number of deaths due to CS, there was at least one baby who died from the infection in 2021. Additionally, the data shared with NBC showed racial disparities in Mississippi. Black newborns were 70 per cent of the states CS cases in 2020. Dobbs, who is the former health officer of Mississippi, also told the publication that she and other health care providers are absolutely horrified about babies being born with and dying of this disease. This seems like something that should have happened a hundred years ago, not last year, she said. Theres really kind of a shock. Heres everything you need to know about congenital syphilis. What is CS and how common is it? The condition occurs when a mother has a syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection, that has been passed on to their newborn while shes pregnant. Along with the data from the Mississippi State Department of Healths Crossroads Clinic, other studies have found a rise in CS cases in the US over the years. In 2020, there were more than 2,000 cases reported, per the CDC. This is an increase from 2019, when there were 1,870 cases of congenital syphilis reported, including 94 stillbirths and 34 infant deaths. Story continues The site also shared a 2017 report which explained that if a mothers syphilis goes untreated, there is an 80 per cent chance it could be passed on to her child. How does CS impact newborns and what are the symptoms of it? If a mother has syphilis, it can affect her childs health during her pregnancy and delivery. The child could be miscarried or stillborn, per the CDC. The baby could also be born premature or at a low weight. When babies are born with CS, the symptoms can include deformed bones, severe anaemia, skin rashes, and meningitis. Newborns can also have brain and nerve problems, including the inability to hear or see, or an enlarged liver and spleen. The CDC also notes that not every baby with CS is born with symptoms. While newborns health problems usually develop within a few weeks after being born, there can be some causes where health issues can happen years later. How to diagnose CS ? The effective prevention and detection of congenital syphilis depends on if a pregnant woman is identified with syphilis, says the CDC. With that in mind, the health organisation recommends that pregnant women get tested for the STI during their first checkup. Patients should be screened according to their states guidelines and the organization adds that certain states have recommended screening three times during pregnancy for all women. Any newborn at risk for congenital syphilis should receive a full evaluation and testing for HIV, they recommend. What are the different forms of treatment? Once a baby is evaluated after experiencing symptoms of CS, they should be treated right away with antibiotics. The recommended regimens for confirmed cases of CS have been Aqueous crystalline penicillin G and Procaine penicillin G, which are usually taken over the course of 10 days, according to CDC. Newborns who are allergic to penicillin should be desensitised and then treated with penicillin G. It's been a mission of the Argus Leader for quite sometime now to better reflect the diversity of the people it serves. Sioux Falls, and South Dakota as a whole, is more racially and culturally diverse than it's ever been. Sioux Falls public schools alone include more than 90 different languages and our population has now surprassed 200,000. Our demographics are changing, as are the opportunities to better understand different world views. That said, a couple years ago, we brought forth a cohort of writers from the community, called "Perspectives," by working with leaders like Taneeza Islam, executive director of South Dakota Voices for Peace. This group is comprised of a variety of backgrounds, races, cultures and upbringings to highlight various aspects of lived experiences across our great state whether they were familiar or otherwise. More:'Perspectives' columns will embrace, lift up our community's diverse voices We're relaunching that effort, but this time we're doing it under the new moniker of "Speaking Truth to Power," with these similar goals still in mind: Bring together a diverse group of individuals to weigh in on current events, from those with voices you dont usually hear from in media, to those who can speak to the more uncomfortable or quieter issues our communities are facing today. Highlight the good in the community through different lenses. Build something long term and sustainable that involves community engagement and inclusiveness with our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) and LGBTQ residents with broader social conversations about current events. What that last one looks like is still to be determined, but this is a wonderful opportunity to help push conversations forward. Yet as South Dakota grows and changes, we have to be willing to elevate marginalized voices and directly address fears about uncomfortable feelings, wrongful decisions and difficult topics that continue to hold power over us as we work to better understand each other and make space for all. Story continues More:From the Editor: Working to cover, and reflect, our diverse community "The Argus Leader was recognized by the South Dakota Newspaper Association in its annual awards ceremony for this column," Islam said about the change to "Perspectives. "We are excited to unveil the next iteration of this column we are now calling,'Speaking Truth to Power.' We brought together well-known BIPOC community leaders to highlight opinions on current events in our community. We are launching the 'Truth to Power' column with reactions to the legislative session." Here's a look at who you'll hear from this year, some of whom are returning columnists and familiar faces and others brand new: More:Census 2020 data shows Sioux Falls' population is growing and becoming more diverse Taneeza Islam, executive director of South Dakota Voices for Peace and an immigration attorney Julian Beaudoin, co-founder of The Hub, a BIPOC leadership, networking and professional development organization, in Sioux Falls. Jen Dreiske, Deputy Director with South Dakota Voices for Peace Cody Ingle, Board Secretary of Sioux Falls Pride Rachida Mahamed, a student at Augustana University with a focus on political science and government, and host of "In the Know" a local podcast focused on "de-stigmatizing what it means to be informed and aware." April Matson, outreach coordinator at South Dakota at Urban and Indian Health If you would like to weigh in on their perspectives, we look forward hearing from you as you contribute to the conversation. Submit a letter to the editor to sconlon@argusleader.com or through this entry form here. More:South Dakotas multilingual population is growing. Advocates say more resources are needed. What to know about letters to the editor: Letters need to be no more than about 300 words, and will need to include first and last name, address, city and title. Addresses wont be publicized, of course, but its a way for us to make sure those who submit a letter are who they say they are. Letters will run on Sundays in print and online as we receive them. There may be moments, however, when we don't have any as we work to solicit interest and actively rebuild this part of our coverage for readers. We look forward from hearing from you as we continue to bring you closer to the news in South Dakota through a variety of perspectives. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: We're relaunching 'Perspectives' under a new name, with new views Whatcom Countys newly-elected District Court judge will be required to remove himself from hearing more than 100 drunken driving cases, a judge ordered late Monday afternoon. Just days after he took the bench in early January, the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorneys Office took drastic steps to stop District Court Judge Jonathan Rands from hearing roughly 123 DUI-related criminal cases. Prosecuting attorneys didnt believe Rands, a former DUI defense attorney, could fairly handle them. Prosecutors filed a restraining order temporarily barring Rands from hearing the cases, and asked a higher court to order Rands to remove himself permanently from handling the cases. Rands pushed back, arguing the prosecutors office was attempting to intimidate him in his first few weeks as judge, The Bellingham Herald previously reported. The situation has concerned judges statewide, who say the actions of the prosecutors office are impeding judicial independence and the will of the voters. But a judge in Whatcom County Superior Court disagreed Monday, ruling that Rands was required to remove himself from hearing the cases and acted unlawfully by not doing so. Whatcom County District Court consists of two elected judges who serve four-year terms and preside over cases that include criminal misdemeanors, no-contact orders, general civil actions, small claims and infractions, such as traffic tickets and code violations. Rands was elected to the District Court bench after winning the November election with 62.3% of the vote. Rands won against senior deputy prosecuting attorney Gordon Jenkins, who remains an attorney within the county prosecutors office. Rands was sworn in as judge Jan. 9 and took over the caseload of his predecessor, former Judge Matthew Elich, who retired. Courtroom packed Monday Dozens of current and former judges, attorneys and other court officials packed the courtroom in person and virtually for a hearing Monday morning, Feb. 13, that ultimately determined whether Rands would be allowed to hear roughly 6% of the cases before him. Story continues Attorneys for both the county prosecutors office and District Court made arguments as to whether a higher court should take extraordinary measures to require Rands to remove himself from the affidavited cases. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Levi Uhrig said Rands had a clear and legal duty to remove himself from handling the cases once affidavits of prejudice were filed against him in the cases. By refusing to recuse, Rands deprived the state of its right to file affidavits and exceeded his judicial authority, Uhrig said. Affidavits of prejudice are filed against judges in cases where attorneys dont believe they can have an impartial trial or hearing before the judge. Uhrig said that Rands also acted illegally by continuing to issue rulings in some of the cases after declining to remove himself, which made those rulings void. Prosecutors argued Rands was not an official judge who had the authority to act in cases until he took the judicial oath of office in early January. The prosecutors office could not have filed its affidavits until after Rands was sworn in as judge, Uhrig argued. Rands also does not get to choose which cases he maintains jurisdiction over and unlawfully denied recusing himself, Uhrig said Monday. The prosecutors office concluded by asking a Whatcom County Superior Court judge to issue writs of mandamus and certiorari, which would require Rands to remove himself from hearing the affidavited cases and would void any rulings Rands had made in the cases since prosecutors requested he not hear them. Senior appellate deputy prosecuting attorney Kimberly Thulin said the petition for the writs was not about politics, or an attempt to micromanage or intimidate a lower court. Prosecutors sought the writs to correct an obvious legal error, Thulin said. By filing affidavits of prejudice, prosecutors were doing nothing more than protecting the states right to obtain a fair trial and fulfilling necessary obligations and responsibilities to the community, Thulin said. The writs sought by the prosecutors office are an extraordinary remedy that the court should think hard about before granting, said Shane Brady, a special attorney appointed Jan. 27 to represent District Court, and by extension Rands, in the writs case. Brady said Monday that Rands did not act illegally or unlawfully. There is no basis for the prosecutors office to have sought the writs and no basis for either of them to be granted, Brady argued. Rands was following court rules and law when declining to remove himself from handling the cases, Brady said. He argued prosecutors were reading too much into court rules and said their argument was a metaphysical one focused on determining when a judge becomes a judge. Prosecuting attorneys knew since Rands won the election in early November, and since the results were certified later that month, that Rands would be taking over the cases handled by his predecessor come January, Brady said. Nothing about Rands denying to recuse himself affects the 123 criminal cases or prosecuting attorneys abilities to prosecute them, Brady said, echoing arguments he made in earlier court filings in the writs case. Brady said the cases are still free to be prosecuted, the accused people still have their rights to fair trials and that no harm would be done by having Rands handle the cases. Judicial duties But Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Rob Olson disagreed with Bradys assessment. Before ruling, Olson said the issues before him contained significant political dimensions that were playing out in the court of public opinion. Olson drew attention to an editorial opinion authored by several seated judges across the state. He said the publicized opinion could be seen as an attempt to influence or intimidate Whatcoms Superior Court, and cautioned seated judicial officials from making such public opinions before the proper court could hold a hearing and consider the facts. Olson ultimately determined Rands had no judicial authority to act as a judge prior to Jan. 9, which is the day Rands took the judicial oath of office. According to state law, judicial duties do not begin for a judge until they take the judicial oath of office. Their formal term of office also does not begin until the second Monday in January after their election, the law states. Because Rands judicial authority did not start until Jan. 9, he did not have the ability to reassign cases to a different judge once prosecuting attorneys requested he not hear them, Olson said. Had prosecutors filed affidavits against Rands prior to Jan. 9, and then something prevented Rands from taking office, prosecutors acting on behalf of the state of Washington would have squandered their right to disqualify a judge, Olson said. Either party can only seek to disqualify one judge in any given case. Under state laws and court rules, Rands was required to immediately remove himself from hearing the 123 cases prosecutors had filed affidavits of prejudice in, and transfer the cases to another judge, Olson said. By not doing so, Rands unlawfully deprived the state of Washington of its right to disqualify judges and committed an obvious error, Olson ruled. Rands actions so far departed from the accepted and usual course of judicial proceedings that it required a higher court to step in and take action to reverse the situation, Olson said. Olson determined that there was no other remedy available to rectify the situation and granted the writs of mandamus and certiorari late Monday afternoon. DUI evidence Mondays court case links back to an issue over DUI evidence, and ultimately back to Rands himself. While running a multi-county DUI defense law firm, Rands partnered with a fellow DUI defense attorney to file so-called Kitsap motions in November and December in two Whatcom County District Court cases. The motions alleged the software used by breath test machines, and whose results are often entered by prosecutors in drunken driving cases, didnt follow state law. The two cases became representative for all DUI cases in Whatcom County, according to court records. The then-sitting District Court judges ruled in December that the breath test results could be used as evidence during trial, denying the so-called Kitsap motions. The breath test issue, first brought up in Kitsap County, has now been taken up by the Washington State Supreme Court. The case could be heard during the high courts spring or fall term. Concerns grow District Court prosecuting attorneys grew concerned after Rands made several comments his second day as judge saying he would rehear the Kitsap motions. Rands also said attorneys could present him with records from one of the two cases he had handled as a private defense attorney so he could make his own ruling on the breath test motion, the court records state. Prosecutors then filed approximately 50 affidavits of prejudice against Rands in cases where a breath test motion may be possible. The cases included DUI, physical control and minor operating cases filed before Nov. 6, court records show. During a court session on Jan. 17, Rands declined to remove himself from handling the affidavited cases, saying the affidavits were untimely, and then made rulings in some of the cases. Prosecutors believed Rands was revealing he couldnt remain impartial in DUI cases and filed affidavits in all remaining DUI cases before him. In total, 133 affidavits of prejudice were filed against Rands within his first three weeks on the bench. The prosecutors office also filed petitions Jan. 20 seeking writs of mandamus and certiorari from Whatcom County Superior Court that would require Rands to recuse himself in all the affidavited cases and would void any rulings Rands had made in the cases since prosecutors requested he not hear them. The same day, a temporary restraining order was also issued against Rands, barring him from handling the affidavited criminal cases, The Herald previously reported. After Olsons ruling late Monday afternoon, Brady said District Court and Rands would comply with writs that were issued. Even before the first dollar has been sent out to pregnancy resource centers, Iowa lawmakers are considering expanding a program to fund the anti-abortion nonprofits across the state. A proposal before the Iowa Legislature would fund another $1.5 million for the "More Options for Maternal Support" or MOMS program. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services would contract with pregnancy resource centers or facilities that counsel women to choose alternatives to abortion. Here's what we know about the program and the centers they would fund: What do crisis pregnancy centers do? Crisis pregnancy centers, also known as pregnancy resource centers, are usually religiously affiliated organizations that encourage women to keep their pregnancies or consider adoption. They typically offer free ultrasounds, counseling and physical items, such as diapers, baby clothes, car seats and cribs, without cost. According to Iowa Right to Life, there are about 55 centers across the state. What will Iowa's MOMS program do? The MOMS program was established during last year's Legislature, which appropriated $500,000 to fund it. A program manager was hired in December, but no money has been distributed to centers, Iowa HHS spokesperson Sarah Ekstrand said. The state plans to issue a request for proposals in July for a program administrator to oversee "a statewide network of subcontractors to provide pregnancy support services," according to a legislative brief provided to the Des Moines Register. Pregnancy support services are defined as "nonmedical services that promote childbirth." The program administrator will begin administering the program in September 2023. Sen. Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire, said the MOMS program is part of Republican lawmakers' priority to create wraparound support for women with unintended pregnancies. It includes reducing barriers to help prevent unwanted pregnancies, such as prescription-free birth control, she said. "We need to make sure we've got tools in the toolbox, so doing our part to prevent unplanned pregnancies to begin with, but also supporting women that do find themselves in a crisis pregnancy so that they don't believe that abortion is the only option for them, because it truly is not," she said. Story continues The bill to increase funding also directs the state health and human services agency to fund "fatherhood" programming directed at men involved with unintended pregnancies. That includes parenting classes and programs to help fathers find jobs or transition from incarceration. Informational pamphlets are seen in the lobby at the Women's Choice Center, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Bettendorf, Iowa. Do crisis pregnancy centers support the MOMS program? Center leaders say they support the funding but have questions before they would consider a contract with the state. They've voiced concerns about oversight attached to this funding. Oftentimes if you take government money, you have to follow government regulations," said Rita Baker, executive director of Pregnancy Center of Central Iowa in Newton. "We dont take government money to avoid that situation. But Jeanne Wonio, a member of the board of directors for the Women's Choice Center in Bettendorf, said any additional support would be a major boost to help offer more services. "Im glad Gov. Reynolds and her team thought this was important enough to fund," Wonio said. What do opponents dislike about crisis pregnancy centers? Abortion-rights supporters and some top medical groups have denounced the facilities for posing as legitimate clinical settings even though many are not licensed. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, it's a common tactic for centers to use emotional manipulation, including performing ultrasounds, to "shame pregnant people under the guise of informing." Others say the centers mislead pregnant women by giving them false information to deter them from considering an abortion. What are Iowa's current abortion laws? Abortion is still legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks. Reynolds has pursued stricter abortion bans through Iowa's court system. In December, an Iowa district court judge declined the governor's request to revive a 2018 state law that banned abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, when the earliest cardiac activity is detected in an embryo. Reynolds has pledged to continue pursuing stricter abortion bans. Michaela Ramm covers health care for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at mramm@registermedia.com, at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at @Michaela_Ramm. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why Iowa wants to fund crisis pregnancy centers to deter abortions By Anett Rios and Nelson Acosta HAVANA (Reuters) - Cubans suffering long lines for food, fuel and medicine now have a new problem: painfully slow internet. Internet service, never speedy in a country that first authorized cellular data only five years ago, has slowed to a crawl in recent months, leading to an outcry from many island residents, who say it is hitting both work and pleasure. Jorge Noris, a 36-year-old IT engineer, said he has begun waking up at odd hours of the morning, when most Cubans are still asleep and offline, to upload his content to online servers. "The internet keeps getting worse and worse and we're reaching the point where getting online is becoming impossible for the average Cuban," he said. Cable.co.uk, a company that compares internet speeds, ranked Cuba 203 of 220 countries surveyed during a 12-month period ending June 30, 2022, the slowest in Latin America. A five gigabyte movie that downloads in little more than 5 minutes in the United States can take 3.5 hours to transfer in Cuba, the survey showed. Cubans like Noris have little choice. A state-run telecommunications firm, ETECSA, has a monopoly on the market in the communist-run country. ETECSA head Tania Velazquez recently told state-run media a vast increase in users in 2022 had bogged down already decrepit infrastructure in need of modernization. "In 2022 we registered ... more than one million new users seeking access to the internet," she said. That had contributed to a 63% increase in the volume of traffic, she said, noting that Cuba's sputtering economy had made it impossible to upgrade vital technology at the same rate. Cuba's telecommunications revenue in foreign currency began to slide after Cuba devalued its peso in January 2021, spawning a black market exchange sometimes eight times the official rate. Cubans who once depended on family to recharge their internet accounts from abroad using foreign currency exchanged at the official rate now opt to exchange dollars on the black market, then purchase internet data in peso packages. Story continues As a result, Cuba's revenue in dollars derived from the "export" of telecommunication and information services plunged 80% in 2021 alone, from a peak of over $8 billion in 2020, according to national statistics agency ONEI. Data for 2022 is not yet available. Cuba's ETECSA has since launched promotions to encourage purchases outside Cuba in dollars. "We are very pleased to offer (packages in pesos) that satisfy the majority of our customers, but it is also important to offer alternatives to attract the foreign currency that allows us to sustain our service and do it with quality," Velasquez said. TOUCHY SUBJECT Cuba's government has made strides in increasing online access for citizens since 2013, when the internet was first rolled out to the general public via a telecoms cable from Venezuela. But getting online can still be a touchy subject. Certain websites, including some media outlets, are inaccessible from Cuba without the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) that encrypt data and obscure where a user is located, letting them circumvent censorship. Global internet watchdogs have also said Cuba has restricted internet access during recent protests to suppress coverage of the demonstrations and limit their spread. Following widespread anti-government protests in Cuba in July 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden vowed his government would work to make the internet more accessible to Cubans. But the Biden administration in 2022 proposed to scrap a plan to install a new undersea telecommunications cable to Cuba which would have significantly bolstered capacity, citing national security concerns. Cuba's government has since announced another cable project, called Arimao, which aims to connect Cuba to the Caribbean island of Martinique by April. (Reporting by Nelson Acosta and Anett Rios; Additional reporting by Marc Frank and Dave Sherwood; Writing by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Daniel Wallis) A cyclone has hammered northern New Zealand by causing relentess rain and strong winds that have led to evacuation warnings. Cyclone Gabrielle has come as the Auckland, the countrys largest city, barely recovered from extensive damage caused by extreme flooding and record rain at the end of last month. The worst is yet to come, warned prime minister Chris Hipkins, ahead of officials concerns and alarm over the storm surge caused on Monday night. Eight North Island regions, including Auckland, are under states of emergency and at least 30 severe weather warnings and watches are in place as some areas experienced heavy inundation, damage from winds and power outages. Thousands of residents in Auckland hunkered down after the cyclone dumped 220mm (9 inches) of rain in New Zealands largest city. The cyclone caused widespread power outages, cutting electricity to about 58,000 homes. The MetService warned Aucklanders to be on alert for heavy rain, flooding and landslips as well as storm surges during high tides in the east coast area after 2am. At an emergency response conference in Auckland, deputy controller Rachel Kelleher issued a self-evacuation warning and said: Were certainly not out of the woods yet. I cant stress this enough, please have a plan to leave if you see water levels rising around you. Do not wait to be told to leave if you think youre in danger. People out looking at the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle at Mathesons Bay Beach on the Matakana Coast (Getty Images) The city came to a grinding halt after train services were cancelled and offices as well as most schools were closed. Air New Zealand canceled more than 500 flights till Tuesday, affecting more than 10,000 international customers, the airline said, with thousands still to be rebooked. Air New Zealand canceled all domestic flights to and from Auckland through Tuesday morning and grounded many international flights. But the airlines said some international routes would continue operating after diverted flights from Auckland. The carrier also canceled domestic flights to and from the cities of Hamilton, Tauranga and Taupo. Story continues Garry Towler, a government official at the Thames Coromandel district that attracts many tourists, said were on one knee now. The storm surge is their biggest concern as it could lead to a big blow, he told radio network Newstalk ZB. Its going to be a miserable, uncomfortable night for the Coromandel, he said. Several houses were beginning to flood in Coromandel towns and people in the low-lying areas were asked by officials to evacuate due to the risk of high tidal flooding. A general view of a damaged road after a storm battered Titirangi, a suburb of New Zealand's West Auckland area (AFP via Getty Images) In ApAtiki, more than 300km southeast of Auckland, more than 500 homes will be evacuated by Tuesday. We are expecting large sea swells and inundation along low-lying areas of ApAtikis coastline, said the local council. We are taking action now to avoid a scramble in the middle of the night as the situation worsens. The worst is yet to come. We have to adapt and respond as the weather that we are dealing with changes, warned Mr Hipkins, who was himself stuck in Auckland briefly after domestic air services were grounded. He acknowledged peoples frustration because of the incredibly challenging weather since the start of the year for people in Auckland and other northern areas. Extreme weather event has come on the back of extreme weather event, Mr Hipkins said. For families and businesses, I know that that has been just exhausting, and I want to acknowledge how hard many of them are doing it. In the Whitianga area of New Zealands North Island, a record storm surge was been recorded on Monday. Winds as high as 160km/h (100 miles) were recorded in the northern Coromandel Peninsular and other islands that were in the path of the cyclone. Gales in Auckland hit 130km/h after windspeed was downgraded. MetService warned people to prepare for extreme, impactful, and unprecedented weather over many regions, with heavy rain, strong winds and large waves. The cyclone was tracking northeast of New Zealand and the eye of the storm is expected to be off the coast of Auckland by late Monday or early Tuesday. Mr Hipkins said the storm has not yet met the threshold for a national state of emergency but officials are on alert and are updating the government every four hours. His government has announced an NZ$11.5mn ($7m) package for relief and rescue work. The cyclone has battered New Zealanders two weeks after Auckland experienced the wettest day on record as the amount of rain that would typically fall over an entire summer hit in a single day. Extreme weather conditions, including floodwaters and landslides, had killed four people, caused widespread disruption and left hundreds of homes damaged. (Bloomberg) -- Nicos Christodoulides was elected president of Cyprus on Sunday, securing his bid to oversee the Mediterranean island whose economy was buffeted first by the pandemic and now by Russias war in Ukraine and its associated rise in living costs. Most Read from Bloomberg Christodoulides, 49, stood as an independent candidate and won 51.9% of the vote in the run-off, compared with 48.1% for Andreas Mavroyiannis, 66, a career diplomat who also ran as an independent, with all votes counted, according to Cypriot Interior Ministry figures. A first-round vote on Feb. 5 failed to deliver a victory to any candidate. I will engage with political parties to appoint a council of ministers with a broad consensus, Christodoulides said following his win. My main objective is Cypriot reunification as soon as possible. The newly-elected president said he had already spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and that he told them that Cypriot foreign policy will continue on the same line. Christodoulides served as government spokesman and foreign minister in the first and second administrations of outgoing President Nicos Anastasiades, who was ineligible to stand again after completing two five-year terms in office. Rival Cyprus Leaders Fail to Find Way Forward at UN Talks Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey occupied the northern third of the island following a coup by supporters of the countrys union with Greece. Cyprus Gas Discoveries Boosted by EU Move From Russia Supplies A long-time member of Anastasiadess center-right Disy party, Christodoulides was ejected from the group after deciding to stand as an independent against Averof Neofytou, Disys official candidate. Between the two election rounds, Disy said it would support neither presidential candidate nor the winners government. Story continues In addition to overcoming economic challenges, the new president will also need to re-engage with breakaway Turkish Cypriots to resolve the division of the European Union member, while at the same time making best use of Cypruss natural gas deposits amid a reshaping of the global energy landscape. The new leader must also confront voter concerns over perceived corruption in political circles. --With assistance from Sotiris Nikas. (Updates with comments from new president from third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P.